bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Value of B7-H3 Expression in Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma and Its Impact on Immunotherapy Response
Authors: Özalp Faruk Recep , Yörükoğlu Kutsal , Yıldırım Eda Çalışkan , Uzun Mehmet , Semiz Hüseyin Salih 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background:
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is characterised by its immunogenic and proangiogenic nature and its resistance to conventional therapies. The advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has significantly improved patient survival, but resistance to these treatments remains a challenge. B7-H3, a potential immune checkpoint, has been implicated in modulating the tumour microenvironment and immune escape mechanisms in RCC.
Methods:
Immunohistochemical analysis of B7-H3 expression was performed in 84 metastatic RCC patients. Tissue microarrays and separate sections of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue were used for immunohistochemical staining. Membranous taining of the tumor cells was scored and statistical analyses were performed to assess the correlation between B7-H3 expression and treatment outcome.
Results:
B7-H3 expression was absent in 31% of patients, while 33.3% had a score of 1+, 31% had 2+, and 4.8% had 3+. High B7-H3 expression correlated with poorer OS (20 months vs. 45 months, p=0.012). In patients receiving nivolumab, those with high B7-H3 expression had shorter PFS (2 months vs. 8 months, p=0.037) and OS (17 months vs. 51 months, p=0.01). B7-H3 expression was the only factor significantly affecting PFS and OS in multivariate analysis.
Conclusion:
High B7-H3 expression is associated with poorer survival outcomes and reduced response to nivolumab in metastatic RCC patients. B7-H3 may serve as a predictive biomarker for immunotherapy response. Future studies should explore targeting B7-H3 in combination with existing therapies to enhance treatment efficacy.
Mutation profile and molecular heterogeneity in mismatch repair deficient endometrial carcinoma
Authors: Cai Yumeng , Wang Jing , Zhang Zijuan , Li Pan , Fang Jiuyuan , Cui Liang , Zhang Yuhan , Pang Junyi , You Yan , Wu Huanwen , liang zhiyong 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) with deficient DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) is a specific molecular entity with unique clinicopathological features. Herein, we depicted the mutation profile of dMMR ECs and explored the molecular heterogeneity among dMMR subgroups with different etiologies. Next-generation sequencing based on a 1021-gene panel was applied to 74 dMMR ECs and 43 proficient MMR (pMMR) ECs. In addition, methylation-specific PCR was applied for accessing MLH1 promoter hypermethylation (MLH1me+) in dMMR cases. The mutation rates of PTEN, ARID1A, KRAS, and MSH2 were significantly higher in dMMR group, while the CTNNB1 and MSH3 mutations were more commonly observed in pMMR group (p < 0.05). Compared to pMMR ECs, dMMR ECs had significantly higher alteration frequencies in RTK-RAS, NOTCH, Cell Cycle and HRR pathway (p < 0.05). Remarkably, the interaction patterns within and across pathways were different between dMMR and pMMR groups. Intriguingly, no CTNNB1 mutation were found in dMMR ECs, while half of the WNT-activated pMMR ECs were CTNNB1 mutated, which were generally mutually exclusive with other WNT pathway key genes. The median tumor mutational burden (TMB) of dMMR ECs was significantly higher than pMMR ECs. However, ultra-high TMB value was related to pathogenic POLE mutation both in dMMR and pMMR ECs. As for dMMR subgroups, KEAP1 and FBXW7 mutations, which may have potential predictive effect of immunotherapy, were more prevalent in the Lynch subgroup. The Lynch subgroup also had significantly higher median TMB than the MLH1me+ subgroup and Lynch-like subgroup. dMMR ECs has distinctive genomic profile with molecular heterogeneity, which may have potential prognostic and therapeutic implications.
The level of cognitive functioning in school-aged children is predicted by resting EEG Directed Phase Lag Index
Authors: Charlebois-Poirier Audrey-Rose , Davoudi Saeideh , Lalancette Ève , Knoth Inga Sophia , Lippé Sarah 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Quantifying cognitive potential relies on psychometric measures that do not directly reflect cortical activity. While the relationship between cognitive ability and resting state EEG signal dynamics has been extensively studied in children with below-average cognitive performances, there remains a paucity of research focusing on individuals with normal to above-average cognitive functioning. This study aimed to elucidate the resting EEG dynamics in children aged four to 12 years across normal to above-average cognitive potential. Our findings indicate that signal complexity, as measured by Multiscale Entropy (MSE), was not significantly predictive of the level of cognitive functioning. However, utilizing Directed Phase Lag Index (DPLI) as an effective connectivity measure, we observed consistent patterns of information flow between anterior and posterior regions. Fronto-parietal as well as local connectivity patterns were seen across most of the cognitive functions. Moreover, specific connectivity patterns were obtained for each intellectual quotient index (namely verbal comprehension, visuospatial, fluid reasoning, and processing speed indexes as well as full-scale intellectual quotient). These results underscore the presence of long-range connections and support fronto-parietal theories of cognitive abilities within the resting state brain dynamics of children.
Homogeneous Boiling over Melting Ice
Authors: Vasel-Be-Hagh Ahmad , Hagan Ty 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

We report on discovering the homogeneous boiling of water film above the interface of liquid water and solid ice. This phenomenon was induced via longwave infrared radiation generated by a continuous wave CO$_2$ laser. This experimental investigation employed a high-speed camera and the Schlieren visualization technique. The study discovered that the minimum power intensity required for homogeneous boiling to occur within a liquid film residual resting in equilibrium over a melting ice block is substantially lower than values reported in the literature for a liquid water medium without ice. The article explains how ice as the irradiation medium promotes thermocavitation bubble generation. This observation is counterintuitive, as one might intuitively believe ice presence would result in enhanced cooling, demanding a higher power to initiate boiling. We offer three reasons for this observation: 1) the suppression of convective dissipation of the heat via the ice below the melted water, 2) instabilities caused by substantial temperature gradients between the irradiated meltwater and ice surface, and 3) instabilities caused by pressure gradients due to uneven melting of the ice surface. Experiments were also performed where irradiated borated ice exhibited simultaneous homogeneous and heterogeneous boiling, demonstrating an even lower power intensity to initiate thermocavitation.
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Myricetin on 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Male Rats
Authors: Hassan Farah Ahmed , Al-Shawi Nada Naji 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

5- Fluorouracil (5-FU) is widely-used as an anticancer drug to treat solid cancers, such as those of the colon, breast, rectum, and pancreas. However, its clinical application is limited due to its gastrointestinal and hematological toxicity. Myricetin (3, 3′, 4′, 5, 5′,7-hexahydroxyflavone) is a naturally-occurring flavanol found in fruits, vegetables, teas, and medicinal plants that has antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-aging, and anti-diabetic activities. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of two doses of myricetin on 5-flurouracil-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar rats. Forty-two male Wistar rats were divided into six groups of seven rats each: Control (group 1) rats received distilled water daily for 20 days; group 2 rats were intraperitoneally (IP)-injected with a single toxic dose (150 mg/kg) of 5-FU on day 20; groups 3 and 4 rats orally-received either 25 or 50 mg/kg/day of myricetin, respectively, for 20 days. Group 5 and 6 rats orally-received 25 or 50 mg/kg/day of myricetin, respectively, for 20 days, and were IP-injected with 5-FU on day 20. From the results obtained from this study, it can be concluded that myricetin increases antioxidant levels and reduces liver inflammation, decreasing negative side-effects. The inclusion of myricetin with 5-FU resulted in positive histological changes that enhanced liver function.
A Hybrid Semidefinite and Bilinear Programming Approach to Aligning Partially Overlapping Point Sets
Authors: Lian Wei , Ma Fei , Cui Zhesen , Pan Hang 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

In many applications, the demand arises for algorithms that can align partially overlapping point sets while remaining invariant to corresponding transformations. This research introduces a method to meet these requirements by minimizing the objective function of the robust point matching (RPM) algorithm. First, we transform the RPM problem into the minimization of a quadratic function with a quadratic constraint through variable substitution. By leveraging semidefinite relaxation and the convex envelope of bilinear monomials, we relax the problem, creating a lower bound problem that can be efficiently solved using linear assignment and low-dimensional semidefinite programming. Additionally, we develop a branch-and-bound (BnB) algorithm that branches only over the transformation variable, ensuring good convergence. Empirical evaluations demonstrate that the proposed methodology is robust against various types of disturbances when compared with state-of-the-art methods.
Stagewise Boosting Distributional Regression
Authors: Wetscher Mattias , Seiler Johannes , Stauffer Reto , Umlauf Nikolaus 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Forward stagewise regression is a simple algorithm that can be used to estimate regularized
models. The updating rule adds a small constant to a regression
coefficient in each iteration, such that the underlying optimization problem is solved slowly with
small improvements. This is similar to gradient boosting, with the essential difference
that the step size is determined by the product of the gradient and a step length parameter in the
latter algorithm. One often overlooked challenge in gradient boosting for distributional regression
is the issue of a vanishing small gradient,
which practically halts the algorithm's progress. We show that gradient boosting in this case
oftentimes results in suboptimal models, especially for
complex problems certain distributional parameters are never updated due to the vanishing gradient.
Therefore, we propose a stagewise boosting-type algorithm for distributional regression, combining stagewise regression ideas with gradient boosting.
Additionally, we extend it with a novel regularization method, correlation filtering,
to provide additional stability when the problem involves a large number of covariates. Furthermore, the algorithm includes best-subset selection for parameters and can be applied to big data problems by leveraging stochastic approximations of the updating steps. Besides the advantage of processing large datasets, the stochastic nature of the approximations can lead to better results, especially for complex distributions, by reducing the risk of being trapped in a local optimum. The performance of our proposed stagewise boosting distributional regression approach is investigated in an extensive simulation study and by estimating a full probabilistic model for lightning counts with data of more than 9.1 million observations and 672 covariates.
Production and characterization of PLZT ceramic materials for pieozoelectric applications in aerospace sector
Authors: Yeni Huseyin Aykut , Ebeoglugil Mehmet Faruk , Sutcu Mucahit , Sahin Korhan , Celik Erdal 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

This paper details the production and characterization of PLZT ceramics for piezoelectric applications in the aerospace sector. The PLZT ceramics were successfully synthesized using the mixed-oxide method, employing PbO, La2O3, ZrO2 and TiO2 powders. The preparation of PLZT materials involved wet ball milling, followed by calcination, pressing, and sintering at 1250 °C for 4 hours. The densities, water absorption, and apparent porosities of the ceramics were quantified using the Archimedes method. Comprehensive characterization of the PLZT materials’ structural, microstructural, mechanical, dielectric, and vibrational properties was conducted using XRD, SEM, DUH, HRDA, and LCVA techniques. It was observed that increasing the La content in PLZT resulted in increased weight loss, decreased bulk density, and apparent specific gravity, with a positive correlation to linear shrinkage in diameter. The linear shrinkage in thickness and linear volumetric shrinkage initially increased and subsequently decreased. XRD analysis confirmed the presence of a perovskite phase in PLZT with both rhombohedral and tetragonal symmetry. SEM analysis revealed that the grain size of the PLZT (8/65/35) sample ranged from 1 to 5 μm. DUH studies indicated an increase in hardness and better resistance to deformation and penetration with higher La mole fractions, with elastic moduli of 119.40 GPa, 150.10 GPa, and 85.50 GPa for PLZT samples containing 2%, 8%, and 15% mole La, respectively. The dielectric response analysis showed that samples with 8 mole % La exhibited the highest dielectric constant. Additionally, the study assessed the efficacy of the PLZT material in vibration attenuation and generation, highlighting its potential for energy generation applications.
Comprehensive Prediction of Regional Natural Gas Hydrate Resources Based on Volume Method Evaluation
Authors: Jiang Dongxun , Li Zhaocheng 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

As a clean backup energy source, natural gas hydrates have garnered significant global attention, making it crucial to establish models for predicting the total volume of regional resources. This article employs the volumetric method as the foundation for predictions, utilizing data from 14 wells within the study area as test dataset. Initially, we choose the KNN interpolation algorithm to establish the nearest neighbor value, subsequently estimating the effective area and delineating the distribution range of hydrate resources. Subsequently, using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test (KS test), we discover that the parameters of natural gas hydrate resources approximately adhere to both the Weber and Poisson distributions, depending on the coordinates. And we delineate the general distribution pattern of natural gas hydrates and estimate the resource quantity within each well as well as the total regional volume. Lastly, employing a combination of local search algorithms—greedy, simulated annealing, and Monte Carlo—along with a global search algorithm (genetic algorithm), we predict the location of wells with the greatest potential future resource volume. After thorough consideration, we identify five potential well locations and assess the applicability of our current algorithmic model in various environments, along with its future prospects.
Climatological Analysis of Rainfall over Hinatuan City, Surigao del Sur in eastern Mindanao—the wettest location in the Philippines
Authors: Olaguera Lyndon Mark , Manalo John 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Analysis of the daily rainfall records from 43 synoptic stations of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) from 1979 to 2019 reveal that the wettest station in the Philippines is in Hinatuan City, Surigao del Sur, in eastern Mindanao Island in terms of mean annual total rainfall. Despite being located at a low elevation (~ 3 meters above sea level), the mean annual total rainfall in this station is about 4554 mm, which is roughly 700 mm more than the mean annual total rainfall in Baguio City station, the station with the highest elevation (~ 1500 meters above sea level) in the country. Further analysis of the statistical characteristics of rainfall and comparison with other stations in terms of intensity, frequency, duration (i.e., short, medium, long, and very long events), and extremes show that this station has the highest number of wet months (200–500 mm month− 1) and heavy rainfall months (> 500 mm month− 1). It also ranks first in terms of monthly rainfall amounts from January to April. This station has varying ranks across the different duration categories and is not superior compared to the other stations. The contributions of multiscale disturbances such as Tropical Cyclones (TCs), Low Pressure Systems (LPSs), and the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) to the rainfall extremes over Hinatuan City station are also quantified. The results show that TCs, LPSs, and MJO contribute by about 4–17%, 2–48%, 3–40% to the monthly extremes over Hinatuan City station. The impact of LPS is more apparent between June to November. Still, the largest portion of extremes are associated with other disturbances, which contribute about 30–70%. The results of this study may serve as a basis for future characterization of the spatial variation of rainfall including the variations in extremes and their potential causes over the Philippines.
Comparative analysis of floristic richness and diversity in six central forest reserves of north eastern Uganda
Authors: Ojelel Samuel , Katuura Esther , Mucunguzi Patrick , Kalema James 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

As the extinction risk of plants increases globally, there is need to prioritize areas with high floristic richness and diversity to inform the design of evidence-based conservation interventions. As such, this study aimed to; (i) determine the floristic richness and diversity in six central forest reserves of north eastern Uganda and (ii) evaluate the similarity and complementarity of floristic composition. Data was collected from nested quadrats (20 x 20 m for trees, 10 x 10 m for shrubs and 5 x 5 m for herbaceous climbers, forbs and grasses) placed at intervals of 100 m along a transect of 1000–1500 m. Species richness, diversity and evenness were determined for each forest reserve. Binary similarity coefficients were computed because only presence/absence data of plant species was recorded. A sum of 417 plant species in 76 families were recorded representing 8.7% of known vascular plants reported in Uganda. All the CFRs had high diversity indices ranging from 4.2 in Kano CFR to 4.47 in Bululu hill CFR. In terms of floristic similarity, the CFRs clustered into two groups namely Onyurut and Ogera hills cluster and Akur, Kano, Bululu hills and Mount Moroto cluster. The CFRs complement one another by supporting plant species not recorded elsewhere. Notably, three CFRs (Bululu hills, Mount Moroto and Onyurut) account for 81.53% of the plant taxa. Addition of the fourth (Ogera hills) accommodates nearly 90% of the species and the fifth (Akur CFR) accounts for more than 95% of the species. The highest threat level on taxa in these CFRs is Vulnerable (4 species) and Near Threatened (4 species) with 137 Least Concern and 270 Not Evaluated. The CFRs in NE Uganda have richness and floristic diversity with up to 8.7% of the known plants in Uganda present. The two similarity clusters depict variation in altitudinal, proximity and climatic conditions. Five CFRs are required to conserve 95% of the species recorded. There is need to assess the population of the threatened species, and investigate the edaphic factors which influence plant distribution.
Flash flood risk mapping using Analytic Hierarchy Process and machine learning: case of Souk-Ahras City, Northeastern Algeria
Authors: Mechentel Elhadi , Dairi Sabri , Djebbar Yassine , HAMMAR Yahia 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

As the frequency and severity of floods increase, owing mostly to climate change and anthropogenic activities, identifying flood-prone locations is becoming an increasingly critical task. This study applies a new modeling technique for mapping flash-flood susceptibility in the urban basin of Souk-Ahras, Northeastern Algeria. The study area has been frequently affected by flash floods triggered by torrential rains, steep slopes, and high urbanization rates. The methodology used combines the multi-criteria Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with machine learning, represented by the XGBoost Algorithm. Nine flash-flood conditioning factors were considered, including Land Use Land Cover (LULC), Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI), Rainfall, Topographic Wetness Index (TWI), Slope, Elevation, Curvature, distance to road, and Lithology. The model training procedure used 46 flood spots and 109 no-flood points, which were randomly chosen from sites without a flood history. Model validation, represented by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, revealed that the AHP-XGBoost model achieved an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 84.5%, compared to 80% and 83% for the standalone AHP and XGBoost models, respectively. This clearly shows an optimal performance for the hybrid model considered.
Maleated cassava starch/poly (vinyl alcohol)/clay nanocomposite films for banana preservation: Physical properties and application
Authors: Riyajan Saad 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Maleated cassava starch (MCS)/poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/ kaolin clay (KC) nanocomposite films with high mechanical and barrier properties were prepared by casting film. Based on the MCS /PVA matrix, the effects of KC content on the MCS /PVA/KC nanocomposite films were investigated. X-ray diffraction results demonstrated that the MCS/PVA/KC nanocomposite films exhibited KC good dispersion in the polymer matrix. FTIR spectra showed that the molecular interactions in the MCS/PVA/KC films with higher PVA content enhanced. The maximum tensile strength and elongation at break for the MCS/PVA/KC composite films were 18 MPa and 330%, respectively. The MCS/PVA/KC composite was applied to extend the shelf-life of the banana and results showed that the good shelf-life of the banana was accepted. The MCS/PVA/KC composite film is a promising material for high-barrier food packaging.
Computational Identification and Illustrative Standard for Representation of Unimolecular G-Quadruplex Secondary Structures (CIIS-GQ)
Authors: Doluca Osman , Direk Tugay 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

G-quadruplexes refer to a large group of nucleic
acid-based structures. In recent years, they have been attracting
attention due to their biological roles in the telomeres and
promoter regions. These structures show wide diversity in
topology, however, development of methods for structural
classification of G-quadruplexes has been evaded for a long time.
There has been a limited number of studies aiming to bring forth
a secondary structure classification method. The situation was
even more complex than imagined, since the discovery of bulged
and mismatched G-quadruplexes while most of the available
tools fail to distinguish these non-canonical G-quadruplex motifs.
Moreover, the interpretation of their analysis output still
requires expert knowledge. In this study, we propose a new
method for identification of unimolecular G Quadruplexes and
classification by secondary structures based on three-dimensional
structural data. Briefly, coordinates of guanines are processed to
identify tetrads, loops and bulges. Then, we present the
secondary structure in the form of a depiction which shows the
loop types, bulges and guanines that participate in each tetrad.
Finally, the results of our study are compared with DSSR and
ElTetrado classification methods, and the advantages of the proposed depiction
method for representing secondary structures were discussed.