bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sparse Regression in Cancer Genomics: Comparing Variable Selection and Predictions in Real World Data
Authors: O’Shea Robert J , Tsoka Sophia , Cook Gary JR , Goh Vicky 
Published: November 2021

Background: Evaluation of gene interaction models in cancer genomics is challenging, as the true distribution is uncertain. Previous analyses have benchmarked models using synthetic data or databases of experimentally verified interactions – approaches which are susceptible to misrepresentation and incompleteness, respectively. The objectives of this analysis are to (1) provide a real-world data-driven approach for comparing performance of genomic model inference algorithms, (2) compare the performance of LASSO, elastic net, best-subset selection, [Formula: see text] penalisation and [Formula: see text] penalisation in real genomic data and (3) compare algorithmic preselection according to performance in our benchmark datasets to algorithmic selection by internal cross-validation. Methods: Five large [Formula: see text] genomic datasets were extracted from Gene Expression Omnibus. ‘Gold-standard’ regression models were trained on subspaces of these datasets ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]). Penalised regression models were trained on small samples from these subspaces ([Formula: see text]) and validated against the gold-standard models. Variable selection performance and out-of-sample prediction were assessed. Penalty ‘preselection’ according to test performance in the other 4 datasets was compared to selection internal cross-validation error minimisation. Results: [Formula: see text]-penalisation achieved the highest cosine similarity between estimated coefficients and those of gold-standard models. [Formula: see text]-penalised models explained the greatest proportion of variance in test responses, though performance was unreliable in low signal:noise conditions. [Formula: see text] also attained the highest overall median variable selection F1 score. Penalty preselection significantly outperformed selection by internal cross-validation in each of 3 examined metrics. Conclusions: This analysis explores a novel approach for comparisons of model selection approaches in real genomic data from 5 cancers. Our benchmarking datasets have been made publicly available for use in future research. Our findings support the use of [Formula: see text] penalisation for structural selection and [Formula: see text] penalisation for coefficient recovery in genomic data. Evaluation of learning algorithms according to observed test performance in external genomic datasets yields valuable insights into actual test performance, providing a data-driven complement to internal cross-validation in genomic regression tasks.
Microbial colonisation associated with conventional and self-ligating brackets: a systematic review
Authors: Parmar Nidhi P , Thompson Gabrielle L , Atack Nikki E , Ireland Anthony J , Sherriff Martyn , Haworth Jennifer A 
Published: November 2021

Background: Decalcification and gingivitis caused by plaque accumulation around brackets are common iatrogenic effects of fixed appliances. The influence of conventional versus self-ligating bracket design on microbial colonisation is unknown. Objective: To assess the levels of microbial colonisation associated with conventional and self-ligating brackets. Search sources: Three databases were searched for publications from 2009 to 2021. Data selection: Randomised controlled trials comparing levels of microbial colonisation before and during treatment with conventional and self-ligating brackets were assessed independently and in duplicate. Data extraction: Data were extracted independently by two authors from the studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Risk of bias assessments were made using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for randomized trials. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme Checklist. Results: A total of 11 randomised controlled trials were included in this systematic review. Six of the studies were found to be at low risk of bias and five presented with some concerns. The studies were considered moderate to high quality. Five trials reported no statistically significant difference in microbial colonisation between bracket types. The remaining studies showed mixed results, with some reporting increased colonisation of conventional brackets and others increased colonisation of self-ligating brackets. The heterogeneity of study methods and outcomes precluded meta-analysis. Conclusion: Of the 11 studies included in this systematic review, five found no differences in colonisation between conventional and self-ligating brackets. The remaining studies showed mixed results. The evidence is inconclusive regarding the association between bracket design and levels of microbial colonisation.
EVAR in Patients With Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Horseshoe Kidney: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gonzalez-Urquijo Mauricio , Padilla-Armendariz Diana Paola , Hinojosa-Gonzalez David Eugenio , Lozano-Balderas Gerardo , Flores-Villalba Eduardo , Fabiani Mario Alejandro 
Published: November 2021

Purpose: A systematic review of all patients that have been reported in the literature with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) concomitant with horseshoe kidney (HSK) treated electively by endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is presented. A new grouping system for describing HSK vasculature is implemented. Materials and Methods: We searched for published manuscripts using the Medical Subject Headings terms “abdominal aortic aneurysm,” “AAA,” “EVAR,” “endovascular aneurysm repair,” and “horseshoe kidney” in PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and National Center for Biotechnology Information databases. Inclusion criteria include all published material of patients with AAA with HSK treated electively by an endovascular approach. We excluded patients who were treated by a hybrid or open repair or patients with ruptured AAA. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS Statistics version 25 (IBM Corp, Armonk, New York) software. Results: A total of 50 patients from 30 studies were included for analysis. Males made up 88% (n=44) of the population. The median age for this cohort was 70 years (range: 47–86 years). Median aneurysmal diameter was 6.0 cm (range: 4.0–10.3 cm). The median operative time for endovascular repair was 84 minutes (range: 40–332 minutes). The most common graft used was Zenith, used in 40% (n=20) of the cases, followed by Endurant in 14% (n=7). The overall complication rate was 14% (n=7). The median follow-up was 19 months (range: 1–108 months). While comorbidities did not appear to impact outcomes significantly, median operative times for smokers were higher than those in nonsmokers, 84 versus 118 minutes, respectively (p=0.048). Univariate linear regression modeling of aneurysmal size with age, operative time, and length of stay revealed a significant coefficient association between aneurysmal size and operative times. After adjusting for comorbidities and aneurysmal size, prior history of chronic kidney disease significantly increased odds for renal infarction. Conclusion: This review presents the most complete data set possible of patients with concomitant HSK and AAA treated by an endovascular approach. Furthermore, the A + B + C classification for grouping the HSK vasculature is implemented. This systematic review suggests EVAR to be an excellent option with low complication rates for the treatment of AAA in patients with HSK.
Retrograde Approach for Antegrade Inner Branches in a Precannulated Off-the-Shelf Multibranch Device
Authors: Schaefers Johannes Frederik , Murtaja Ahmed , Oberhuber Alexander 
Published: November 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this technical note was to describe the application of the combination of precannulated branches and a femoral approach for bridging stent graft deployment in branched endovascular aneurysm repair. Technique: The technique is shown in a 65-year-old woman treated for thoracoabdominal aneurysm type I with endovascular repair using a multibranched device. The stent graft is an off-the-shelf device with 4 precannulated inner branches. Access to the precannulated branches is gained using a steerable sheath from retrograde femoral access instead of using access via the upper extremities. For this purpose, a 0.018ʺ wire introduced to the precannulated tube is snared into the steerable sheath. Next, the steerable sheath is guided into a stable position inside the branch. With this technique, the implantation of this off-the-shelf multibranch device could be completed safe and quickly with a full femoral approach avoiding upper extremity access. Conclusion: The combination of a precannulated multibranch stent graft with a full femoral approach for target vessel revascularisation is a feasible and quick method for complex endovascular repair.
Therapeutic Potential of Selected Medicinal Plants Against Carrageenan Induced Inflammation in Rats
Authors: Fatima Hina , Shahid Muhammad , Jamil Amer , Naveed Muhammad 
Published: November 2021

The current study was aimed to analyze the therapeutic effect of selected medicinal plants, that is, Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Trigonella graceum-foenum, Nigella sativa, and Syzygium aromaticum against carrageenan-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in rats. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of diverse range of bioactives. IC50 values for antioxidant assays including DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), metal chelating, ABTS scavenging (2, 2′-Azino-Bis-3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-Sulfonic Acid), β-carotene bleaching, and H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) scavenging ranged from 37-294, 71-243.4, 69.66-191.8, 98.92-228.5, and 82-234.9 μg/mL, respectively. All tested plants extract were found active against tested pathogenic microorganisms with lowest minimum inhibitory concentrations. Oral administration of tested plants extracts in different doses (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg b. w) did not exhibit any toxicological effects on hemato-biochemical profile of treated rats in comparison to control group rats. Further, plants extract exhibited considerable anti-inflammatory activity in rats paw inflammation and decreased cellular infiltration to inflammatory site in dose dependent manner. Pretreatment of animals with tested plants extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg b. w.) caused significant alteration in total antioxidants, oxidants, and enzymes activities in paw tissue homogenate and the effect was more pronounced at higher concentration (400 mg/kg b. w.). Results showed that tested plants extract are rich source of diverse classes of phenolics and have therapeutic potential against oxidative stress and inflammation.
What Would Become of Nuclear Risk if Governments Changed Their Regulations to Recognize the Evidence of Radiation’s Beneficial Health Effects for Exposures That Are Below the Thresholds for Detrimental Effects?
Authors: Cuttler Jerry M. , Calabrese Edward J. 
Published: November 2021

The 1953 Atoms for Peace Speech to the United Nations proposed applying nuclear energy to essential needs, including abundant electrical energy. The widespread fear of ionizing radiation from nuclear facilities and medical procedures began after the United States National Academy of Sciences performed a study of radiation dangers to the human genome. This study, initiated and managed by an oil industry benefactor, recommended in 1956 that the risk of radiation-induced mutations be assessed using the linear no-threshold dose-response model instead of the threshold model. It was followed by a study that wrongly linked low radiation to cancer among the atomic bomb survivors. The ensuing controversy resulted in a compromise. The National Committee on Radiation Protection adopted the precautionary principle policy in 1959, justified by fear of cancer and lack of knowledge. The United States and all other countries followed this recommendation, which remains unchanged 62 years later. Its impact on nuclear energy and medicine has been profound. Many costly regulations have been enacted to prevent very unlikely human or equipment failures—failures that would lead to radiation exposures that are below the dose thresholds for lasting harmful effects. Potential low-dose radiation therapies, against inflammation, cancer, autoimmune, and neurodegenerative diseases, are shunned.
British Menopause Society tools for clinicians: Progestogens and endometrial protection
Authors: Hamoda Haitham ,   on behalf of the BMS medical advisory council
Published: November 2021

Progestogen administration is required to oppose naturally produced or administered estrogens to provide endometrial protection. Within HRT regimens, this should be delivered for at least the same duration as that produced during the luteal phase of the monthly cycle and in the recommended doses to protect against the risk of endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer. This includes progestogens administered for 12–14 days a month in sequential regimens and continuous daily intake in continuous combined HRT regimens. Shorter durations and lower doses of progestogen intake are likely to be associated with an increased risk of breakthrough bleeding, endometrial hyperplasia, and endometrial cancer.
Assessing resilience of hospitals to cyberattack
Authors: Ghayoomi Hadi , Laskey Kathryn , Miller-Hooks Elise , Hooks Charles , Tariverdi Mersedeh 
Published: November 2021

Objective This paper investigates the impact on emergency hospital services from initiation through recovery of a ransomware attack affecting the emergency department, intensive care unit and supporting laboratory services. Recovery strategies of paying ransom to the attackers with follow-on restoration and in-house full system restoration from backup are compared. Methods A multi-unit, patient-based and resource-constrained discrete-event simulation model of a typical U.S. urban tertiary hospital is adapted to model the attack, its impacts, and tested recovery strategies. The model is used to quantify the hospital's resilience to cyberattack. Insights were gleaned from systematically designed numerical experiments. Results While paying the ransom was found to result in some short-term gains assuming the perpetrators actually provide the decryption key as promised, in the longer term, the results of this study suggest that paying the ransom does not pay off. Rather, paying the ransom, when considered at the end of the event when services are fully restored, precluded significantly more patients from receiving critically needed care. Also noted was a lag in recovery for the intensive care unit as compared with the emergency department. Such a lag must be considered in preparedness plans. Conclusion Vulnerability to cyberattacks is a major challenge to the healthcare system. This paper provides a methodology for assessing the resilience of a hospital to cyberattacks and analyzing the effects of different response strategies. The model showed that paying the ransom resulted in short-term gains but did not pay off in the longer term.
Predicting therapy outcome in a digital mental health intervention for depression and anxiety: A machine learning approach
Authors: Hornstein Silvan , Forman-Hoffman Valerie , Nazander Albert , Ranta Kristian , Hilbert Kevin 
Published: November 2021

Objective Predicting the outcomes of individual participants for treatment interventions appears central to making mental healthcare more tailored and effective. However, little work has been done to investigate the performance of machine learning-based predictions within digital mental health interventions. Therefore, this study evaluates the performance of machine learning in predicting treatment response in a digital mental health intervention designed for treating depression and anxiety. Methods Several algorithms were trained based on the data of 970 participants to predict a significant reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms using clinical and sociodemographic variables. As a random forest classifier performed best over cross-validation, it was used to predict the outcomes of 279 new participants. Results The random forest achieved an accuracy of 0.71 for the test set (base rate: 0.67, area under curve (AUC): 0.60, p = 0.001, balanced accuracy: 0.60). Additionally, predicted non-responders showed less average reduction of their Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) (−2.7, p = 0.004) and General Anxiety Disorder Screener-7 values (−3.7, p < 0.001) compared to responders. Besides pre-treatment Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and General Anxiety Disorder Screener-7 values, the self-reported motivation, type of referral into the programme (self vs. healthcare provider) as well as Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire items contributed most to the predictions. Conclusions This study provides evidence that social-demographic and clinical variables can be used for machine learning to predict therapy outcomes within the context of a therapist-supported digital mental health intervention. Despite the overall moderate performance, this appears promising as these predictions can potentially improve the outcomes of non-responders by monitoring their progress or by offering alternative or additional treatment.
Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulates lipopolysaccharide-altered polarizations of RAW264.7 cells and alveolar macrophages in mouse lungs
Authors: Yang Jiali , Wang Ying , Yang Dandan , Ma Jia , Wu Shuang , Cai Qian , Xue Jing , Yuan Chao , Wang Jing , Liu Xiaoming 
Published: November 2021

Introduction Macrophages are capable of exerting both proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory functions in response to distinct environmental stimuli, by polarizing into classically inflammatory state (M1) and anti-inflammatory phenotype (M2), respectively. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays an important role in the tissue homeostasis and immune regulations, including the macrophage polarizations. However, the molecular mechanism of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in regulating alveolar macrophage polarization in an inflammatory state remains unclear. Methods The Wnt/β-catenin signaling-altered phenotypes of murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells in vitro and alveolar macrophage in vivo in both of naïve and lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation states were accessed by immunoblotting and immunostaining assays. Results The activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibited macrophage M1 polarization, but promoted alternative M2 polarization in murine RAW264.7 cells under a naïve state. Interestingly, in an LPS-induced inflammation condition, the enhanced Wnt/β-catenin activity suppressed both M1 and M2 polarizations in RAW264.7 cells in vitro, and primary alveolar macrophages of LPS-challenged mice in vivo. Molecular analysis further demonstrated an involvement of Stat signing in regulating Wnt/β-catenin signaling-altered polarizations in mouse alveolar macrophages. Conclusion These results suggest a mechanism by which Wnt/β-catenin signaling modulates macrophage polarization in an inflammation state by regulating the Stat signaling pathway.
Effect of Deformation on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Medium Carbon Steel During Heat Treatment Process
Authors: Peng Yan , Liu Caiyi , Wang Ningning 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe current research of the Q-P and Q-P-T process has been focused on controlling the heating temperature and holding time, or adding alloy elements into the steel to induce precipitation strengthening and improve the strength and plasticity of the steel. In this article, based on a quenching-partitioning-tempering (Q-P-T) process combined with a hot deformation technology, a deforming-quenching-partitioning-tempering (D-Q-P-T) process was applied to medium carbon steel. The effect of the heat treatment parameters on the microstructure and mechanical properties of experimental steel under deformation was studied. Through use of a scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and tensile tests, the optimal heat treatment conditions for realizing high strength and plasticity that meet the safety requirements were obtained. The mechanism for the D-Q-P-T process to improve the strength and plasticity of experimental steel was discussed. A multiphase composite structure of lath martensite and retained austenite was obtained. Compared with the Q-P-T process, use of the D-Q-P-T process can increase the strength of steel by 57.77 MPa and the elongation by 5%. This study proposes a method to improve the strength and plasticity of steel.
Effect of Thermal Cyclic Loading on Stress-Strain Response and Fatigue Life of 3D Chip Stacking Structure
Authors: Zhang Liang , Long Weimin , Zhong Sujuan 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe thermo-mechanical reliability of IMCs (Ni3Sn4, Cu3Sn, Cu6Sn5) solder joints and Sn-3.9Ag-0.6Cu solder joints was investigated systematically in 3D chip stacking structure subjected to an accelerated thermal cyclic loading based on finite element simulation and Taguchi method. Effects of different control factors, including high temperature, low temperature, dwell time of thermal cyclic loading, and different IMCs on the stress-strain response and fatigue life of solder joints were calculated respectively. The results indicate that maximum stress-strain can be found in the second solder joint on the diagonal of IMC solder joints array; for Sn-3.9Ag-0.6Cu solder joints array, the corner solder joints show the obvious maximum stress-strain, these areas are the crack propagated locations. The stress-strain and fatigue life of solder joints is more sensitive to dwell temperature, especially to high temperature; increasing the high temperature, dwell time, or decreasing the low temperature, can reduce the stress-strain and enlarge the fatigue life of solder joints. Finally, the optimal design in the 3D-IC structure has the combination of the Cu6Sn5/Cu3Sn, 373 K high temperature, 233 K low temperature, and 10 min dwell time. The fatigue lives of Sn-3.9Ag-0.6Cu under 218–398 K loading in the 3D assembly based on the creep strain are 347.4 cycles, which is in good agreement with experimental results (380 cycles).
Case report: “an unexpected origin of coma in a young adult”
Authors: Chandrikasing Ranjana , Ramnarain Sudeshkoemar , Bansie Rakesh , Yang Harvey , Ponssen Huibert , Ramdhani Navin 
Published: November 2021

AbstractWe report a peculiar case of acute non-traumatic coma due to neuromuscular hypoventilation syndrome caused by a non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI). A 21-year-old patient presented to the emergency room complaining of sudden onset weakness in his lower limbs and shortness of breath. While in the ER, he briefly became comatose and labs revealed an acute respiratory acidosis. Detailed neurologic examination ultimately revealed upper motor neuron signs and quadriplegia. He was ultimately diagnosed with a non-traumatic spinal cord injury, in particular, a cervical transverse myelitis which had caused acute diaphragmatic weakness. Although a very rare cause of coma, emergency medicine physicians need to be aware of transverse myelitis, a disorder that may result in rapidly progressive neurologic decline and is treated with immunomodulation.