bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Intestinal Microbiome Associated with Efficacy of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Inukai Yosuke , Yamamoto Kenta , Honda Takashi , Yokoyama Shinya , Ito Takanori , Imai Norihiro , Ishizu Yoji , Nakamura Masanao , Ishigami Masatoshi , Kawashima Hiroki 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Backgrounds:
The combination of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab has become the first-line treatment for patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, no studies have reported on specific intestinal microbiota associated with the efficacy of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab. In this study, we analyzed fecal samples collected before treatment to investigate the relationship between the intestinal microbiome and the efficacy of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab.
Methods:
A total of 37 patients with advanced HCC who were treated with Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab were enrolled. Fecal samples were collected from the patients, and they were divided into responder (n = 28) and non-responder (n = 9) groups. We compared the intestinal microbiota of the two groups and analyzed the intestinal bacteria associated with prognosis using QIIME2.
Results:
The alpha and beta diversities were not significantly different between both groups, and the proportion of microbiota was similar. The relative abundance of Bacteroides stercoris and Parabacteroides merdae was higher in the responder group than in the non-responder group. When the prognosis was analyzed by the presence or absence of those bacteria, patients without both had a significantly poorer prognosis.
Conclusion:
Differences in intestinal microbiome are involved in the therapeutic effect of Atezolizumab and Bevacizumab.
Theoretical and Experimental Studies on Mechanical Impact Dynamics in Multibody Systems
Authors: DUMITRU Sorin , GEONEA Ionut , DUMITRU Nicolae , CONSTANTIN Andra , COPILUSI Cristian 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
The dynamics of mechanical impact is studied for a planar kinematic chain consisting of a freely moving bar and a fixed plate. Through mathematical modelling and virtual prototyping, the dynamic components of the impact function are identified. The structure of the impact function thus determined is used to study the dynamic response of an articulated quadrilateral mechanism. This mechanism is part of the structure of an experimental stand used for fatigue testing of a torsion spring-bar. It was considered that due to errors in execution and assembly or due to wear, radial clearance occurs in the rotational joint between the rod pivot and the rocker arm bearing. This clearance will lead to the generation of a mechanical impact with considerable effects for fast moving mechanisms, thus the effect of the impact force on the kinematic and dynamic parameters of the mechanism will be studied. The evolution of the kinematic and dynamic parameters before and after the impact is studied under the assumption that the contacting bodies are deformable.
Clinical Outcomes and Risk Stratification in Unresectable Biliary Tract Cancers Undergoing Radiation Therapy
Authors: Amit Uri , Shagun Misra , Plastaras John P , Metz James M , Karasic Thomas B , Lubas Maryanne J , Ben-Josef Edgar 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Background
Biliary tract cancers (BTC) are rare and aggressive malignancies originating from intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts and the gallbladder. Surgery is the only curative option, but due to late-stage diagnosis, is frequently not feasible, leaving chemotherapy as the primary treatment. Radiotherapy (RT) can be an effective alternative for patients with unresectable, non-metastatic BTC despite the generally poor prognosis and significant variability. To help manage patients with unresectable BTC who receive RT, we aimed to identify prognostic markers that could aid in predicting overall survival (OS).
Methods
A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, involving seventy-eight patients with unresectable BTC treated with definitive intent RT. Comprehensive demographic, clinical, and treatment-related data were extracted from the electronic medical records. Univariate and multivariate Cox regressions were employed to identify predictors of OS. A biomarker model was developed for refined survival prediction.
Results
The cohort primarily comprised patients with good performance status without significant hepatic dysfunction at presentation. The predominant treatment approach involved hypofractionated RT or concurrent 5FU-based chemoRT. Median OS was 12.3 months, and 20 patients (15.6%) experienced local progression with a median time of 30.1 months. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified CA19-9 (above median) and higher albumin-bilirubin (ALBI) grades at presentation as significant predictors of poor OS. Median OS was 24 months for patients with no risk factors and 6.3 months for those with both.
Conclusions
Our study demonstrates generally poor but significantly heterogeneous OS in patients with unresectable BTC treated with RT. We have developed a biomarker model based on CA19-9 and ALBI grade at presentation that can distinguish sub-populations with markedly diverse prognoses. This model can aid the clinical management of this challenging disease.
Instantons for the process of ice nucleation in fresh and sea water
Authors: Kutschan Bernd , Thoms Silke , Thom Andrea , Pathak Raghav , Ricken Tim 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Ice crystals and snowflakes are out-of-equilibrium growth shapes which are a result of a nonlinear growth dynamics as a consequence of the extremal property of the associated thermodynamical potential. A special role during the pattern formation play kink solutions that represent the different state of order at the phase boundaries. The mechanisms of the kink formation give an insight into the dynamics of phase transitions in particular the formation and growth of ice nuclei. In this paper is derived a relationship between the classical nucleation theory and Kobayashi's phase field theory for ice crystal growth. The critical radius of the nuclei is derived from the linear stability analysis for the phase field model and is found to be in agreement with the classical nucleation theory. We modify original Kobayashi’s phase field model by including freezing point depression due to salt in order to describe the phase boundary of the fine network and cavities filled with brine which are formed during the freezing process in sea ice.
Mathematics Subject Classification (2010). 35Q56, 70K05, 70K20.
Early Onset and Increasing Disparities in Neurocognitive Delays From Birth to Age 6 in Children from Low Socioeconomic Backgrounds
Authors: Han Tae Hwan , Chae Kyu Young , Han Bo Eun , Kim Ju Hee , Ha Eun Kyo , Rhie Seonkyeong , Han Man Yong 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Importance:
The relevance of socioeconomic conditions to neurocognitive function in children is increasingly emphasized in the current discourse; however, a comprehensive body of knowledge on this is lacking.
Objective
To analyze the complex interplay between socioeconomic backgrounds and neurocognitive developmental achievements by investigating the temporal dynamics of these associations from birth to 6 years of age.
Design:
A retrospective cohort study over a 6-year period.
Setting:
Population-based data from the National Health Insurance Service, and integrated data from the National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children.
Participants:
Children born between 2009 and 2011 in Korea without neurocognitive delays with potential developmental implications.
Exposures:
Economic status at birth, categorized into three levels based on the amount of insurance copayment: <25th percentile as low, 25-75th percentile as intermediate, and > 75th percentile as high status.
Main Outcomes and Measures:
Overall judgement and six domains of neurocognitive development at 66–71 months of age, analyzed using the Korean Developmental Screening Test, to assess gross and fine motor function, cognition, language, sociality, and self-care. The secondary outcome was to determine when neurocognitive outcomes began after birth and how these differences evolved over time.
Results
Among 276 167 individuals (49.2% males), 66 325 had low status, 138 980 intermediate, and 60 862 high. Overall, neurocognitive developmental delays observed across all developmental domains were more prevalent in the low-status group than in the high-status group (adjusted odds ratio, 1.328; 95% confidence interval, 1.105–1.597). Interestingly, disparities in neurocognitive development according to these statuses became apparent as early as 2 years of age, with the gap tending to widen over time (interaction, P < 0.001). Notably, the cognition and language domains exhibited the most substantial disparities between the socioeconomic levels. These disparities persisted in the subgroup analyses of sex, birth weight, head circumference, birth data, and breastfeeding variables.
Conclusions and Relevance:
Low SES was significantly associated with an increased risk of adverse neurocognitive developmental outcomes in preschool children, particularly those affecting the cognitive and language domains. These differences manifested in early childhood and tended to widen over time. Therefore, proactive interventions at a young age are essential to mitigate these disparities.
Genetic Lag in a Demographically Recovering Carnivore: The Case of the British Pine Marten (Martes martes)
Authors: O’Reilly Catherine , Sheehy Emma , MacPherson Jenny , Birks Johnny , Martin John , Croose Elizabeth , Fletcher Kathy , Lambin Xavier , Curran Thomas , Synnott Rebecca , O’Meara Denise 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

We investigated the genetic diversity of the contemporary Scottish pine marten population using neutral microsatellite markers, sampling 206 individuals across an area of almost 32,000 km2. Our results revealed that the genetic diversity in the Scottish population is modest with the levels of observed and expected heterozygosity ranging from the Highlands (Ho 0.52, He 0.55) to the Cairngorms (Ho 0.44, He 0.42), and the number of alleles ranged from 3.3 in the Highlands and Central to 2.3 in Dumfries and Galloway, but there were high levels of genetic admixture across the country, some of which may be attributed to natural demographic recovery from previously isolated refuges, and unofficial translocations have also influenced the genetic mixing evident in the population today. Genetic sub structuring, resulting in the Wahlund effect, complicated evaluations of diversity, effective population size, and bottlenecks, and commonly used linkage disequilibrium methods for estimating effective population size yielded improbably low figures. A less commonly used method relying on sibship proved more resilient to the effects of genetic sub structuring, but still yielded estimates under 200, below the viability threshold for long-term population survival. Despite demographic expansion, genetic recovery lagged, suggesting the need for increased gene flow through wildlife corridors.
Whole-Genome Analysis of Stress Resistance-Related Genes in Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Dou Xin , Liu Yangtai , Panagou Efstathios Z. , Zhu Huajian , Li Zhuosi , Dong Qingli 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Listeria monocytogenes is a crucial foodborne pathogen with significant public health implications. This study analyzed whole-genome sequences (WGS) of L. monocytogenes strains from public databases, examining associations between resistance genes, lineage, strain type, isolation source, and geography. Results revealed that after eliminating duplicates and strains with incomplete WGS, a total of 316 strains were deemed suitable for subsequent analyses. Within these strains, lineages I and II were extensively distributed, predominantly isolated from clinical and food sources. 56.65% of these strains fell into seven major Clonal Complexes (CC), identified by Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST), correlating significantly with isolation information. Analysis of 46 resistance-related genes showed a high consistency of resistance genes in the same type of strains, hinting at a potential causal chain of ‘habits-foods-environments evolutions’. Moreover, the standard strains exhibit similar gene carriage rates as the sample strains, with multiple variations observed in acid-resistance genes. In conclusion, through a comprehensive analysis of the L. monocytogenes genome sequences, this study deepens our understanding of the differences and associations between its lineage, strain typing, isolation sources, geographical distribution, and resistance genes. It has also explored the potential impact of environmental noise on the expression of these genes, offering a scientific foundation for devising more effective prevention and control strategies against L. monocytogenes. Future endeavors should further dissect the functions of stress resistance genes and the variations in their expression, with the aim of gaining a deeper insight into the risks posed by L. monocytogenes to public health safety.
Treatment-free remission after discontinuation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zheng Zhenxiang , Tang Hao , Zhang Xinxia , Zheng Liling , Yin Zhao , Zhu Yangmin 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Treatment-free remission (TFR) is a new long-term goal for the treatment of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), but the appropriate group in which TFR can be attempted and the factors influencing it have not yet been identified. This meta-analysis aimed to explore TFR in chronic myeloid leukemia chronic phase (CML-CP) patients who achieved a deep molecular response (DMR) before Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) discontinuation and to explore possible factors influencing TFR and the safety of discontinuation.
METHODS: We performed a systematic review and single-arm meta-analysis with a systematic search of published literature up to September 2023 in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CNKI databases. The assessment was performed using the MINORS scale. Random-effects models were used to calculate outcome metrics, including overall mean TFR rates at 12 and 24 months and subgroup differences. Data synthesis and analysis were done by Revman5.4 software.
RESULTS: A total of 19 single-arm trials involving 2336 patients were included in this meta-analysis, with an overall mean TFR rate of 60% [95CI:0.56-0.63] at 12 months and 55% [95CI:0.52-0.59] at 24 months, and a cumulative total of 2 CML-related deteriorations or deaths reported during the TFR period. Our subgroup analysis showed that better TFR was associated with prior interferon therapy (12months: P<0.001,24months: P=0.006), and molecular response depth MR5.0 (12months:P=0.005,24months: P=0.02).
CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that prior interferon therapy and attainment of a molecular response depth of MR5.0 or greater were associated with higher TFR rates, with patients who attained MR5.0 or greater achieving a TFR rate of up to 61% in the second year after TKI discontinuation. Considering the high heterogeneity of the included trials, the above influences still require further validation and more detailed subgroup analysis in future discontinuation trials.
Systematic Review Registration:https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ (Registration No. CRD42023471334)
On the effectiveness of Bayesian discrete feedback for quantum information reclaiming
Authors: Rexiti Milajiguli , Oskouei Samad Khabbazi , Mancini Stefano 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

We consider discrete time feedback aimed at reclaiming quantum information after a channel action.
We compare Bayesian and Markovian strategies. We show that the former does not offer any advantage for qubit channels, while its superior performance can appear in higher dimensional channels. This is witnessed by cases study for qutrit channels.
Silicon-based Ultra-broadband Mid-IR and LWIR Near-perfect Metamaterial Absorber
Authors: Abouelez Ahmed Elsayed , Eldiwany Essam A. , Swillam Mohamed A. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Ultra-broadband metamaterial absorbers (UBMA) that are compatible with CMOS technology for use in the mid-infrared (mid-IR) and long-wave infrared (LWIR) regions are crucial for a variety of applications, including radiative cooling, thermal photovoltaic, and thermal imaging. In this regard, we propose, in this work, a design of a UBMA based on the heavily doped silicon (D-Si) and silicon carbide (SiC). The 3D finite-difference time-domain method is used to numerically calculate the optical characteristics of the proposed UBMA. The absorber, which is made up of a periodic array of symmetrical multilayered square rings of D-Si and SiC, achieves high absorption with an average absorption of 95% over a wavelength range of 2.5 µm to 22 µm. This broad range of wavelength absorption is attained, encompassing the mid-, long-wave, and partial far-infrared regions. In addition to the materials' inherent absorption, the stimulation of magnetic polaritons, surface plasmon polaritons, localized surface plasmon resonance, and cavity resonance are responsible for the nearly perfect broadband absorption. The proposed UBMA is polarization-independent due to the symmetrical design of the absorber. Furthermore, the impact of the incidence angle on the absorption of transverse electric-polarized and transverse magnetic waves is examined.
Design and Simulation of a Hybrid Inkjet Printhead for Ejecting High Viscous Inks
Authors: Shah Muhammad Ali , Kim Youngsoo , Haider Turab , Lee Youngjin , Lee Duck-Gyu , Hur Shin 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Printing high-viscosity inks continues to remain a challenge in inkjet technology, and thus far, extensive numerical simulations have been performed to resolve this issue. In this paper, we present a novel hybrid inkjet printhead that combines piezoelectric and electrohydrodynamic (EHD) forces. The hybrid inkjet printhead is designed using multi-physics numerical simulation technology and by investigating jetting high-viscous ink. The proposed method enables precise control of the droplet volume and velocity. We also investigated the performance of our hybrid inkjet printhead and optimized the piezoelectric and EHD waveforms with rising, dwell, and falling times. Further, we designed an EHD driving device to generate the EHD jetting force. We used a hybrid inkjet printing simulation to jet a high-viscous ink of up to 100 cp, which confirms that the jetting performance of the hybrid inkjet printing method is superior to that of the existing piezoelectric inkjet printing methods. The proposed high-viscosity hybrid inkjet head technology can be applied to various industrial fields, including display manufacturing processes, semiconductor packaging processes, 3D printing, and manufacturing processes for biomedical artificial structures.
Highly efficient encoder-decoder network based on multi-scale edge enhancement and dense connectivity for LDCT image denoising
Authors: Jia Lina , He Xu , Huang Aimin , Jia Beibei , Xinfeng Wang 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Aiming at the problem of low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) image quality degradation, this paper proposes a highly efficient encoder decoder CNN network(HEDCNN) based on multi-scale edge enhancement and dense connectivity. Firstly, The network uses the multi-scale feature learnable edge enhancement block to extract the edge information of the original image and fuses it into all the network model through dense connectivity, which enhances the ability of the network to recover the edge information. Secondly, this network uses hybrid dilated convolution to achieve multi-scale receptive field coverage and improve the model's ability to process details. Finally uses the multi-scale reconstruction block to help the network to reconstruct the recovered image. A compound loss that combines the Huber loss and the SSIM loss is introduced to overcome the problem of the model's over-smoothing, and to strengthen the network's denoising ability. The performance of the proposed method is validated and evaluated based on the LDCT Challenge Abdomen data set from the AAPM-Mayo clinic. Compared with state-of-the-art model designs in different architectures, HEDCNN achieves optimal metrics without a large number of learned parameters, 33.6653 for PSNR, 8.4334 for RMSE, and 0.9138 for SSIM. The experiments demonstrate that the designed HEDCNN is a excellent model for noise suppression and structure preservation.
Preoperative contrast-enhanced CT-based deep learning radiomics model for distinguishing retroperitoneal lipomas and well‑differentiated liposarcomas
Authors: Xu Jun , Miao Lei , Wang Chen-xi , Wang Hong-hao , Wang Qi-zheng , Li Meng , Chen Hai-song , Lang Ning 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Objectives To assess the efficacy of a preoperative contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) –based deep learning radiomics nomogram (DLRN) for predicting murine double minute 2 (MDM2) gene amplification as a means of distinguishing between retroperitoneal well-differentiated liposarcomas (WDLPS) and lipomas.
Methods This retrospective multi-centre study included 167 patients (training/external test cohort, 104/63) with MDM2-positive WDLPS or MDM2-negative lipomas. Clinical data and CECT features were independently measured and analysed by two radiologists. A clinical model, radiomics signature (RS), deep learning and radiomics signature (DLRS), and a DLRN incorporating radiomics and deep learning features were developed to differentiate between WDLPS and lipoma. Model utility was evaluated on the basis of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).
Results In the external test cohort, the DLRN showed a higher AUC (0.861; 95% confidence interval, 0.737-0.985), accuracy (0.810), and net benefit than the RS, DLRS, and clinical model. The calibration curve analysis and DCA demonstrated that the nomogram exhibited good calibration and offered substantial clinical advantages.
Conclusions The DLRN can accurately distinguish between WDLPS and retroperitoneal lipomas by predicting MDM2 amplification status.
Clinical relevance statement The DLRN shows good diagnostic capability in predicting WDLPS and retroperitoneal lipomas preoperatively. It holds promise as an imaging biomarker for facilitating personalised management and precision medicine.
Application of Dual-Energy CT for assessing bone mineral density in ancient human skeletal remains
Authors: Yi Min , Liu Jianhua , Zhang Quanchao , Qin Yanguo 
Published: March 2024

Abstract

Evaluating the bone quality of archaeological remains can provide valuable insights into the lifestyle and health of ancient hominins. Archaeologists have attempted various non-destructive techniques to accurately quantify bone mass, but each method has its limitations and its accuracy is debated. We utilized dual-energy CT to evaluate the bone density of 30 hominid individuals ranging from the Late Bronze Age to the early Iron Age. Our results show that compared with single-energy CT, dual-energy CT color-coded imaging can better display the preservation of cancellous bone in the medullary cavity. The virtual calcium measurement technology based on air-water substance can assess the bone calcium content, and the virtual calcium value can accurately show the bone loss pattern of trabecular bone related to age, with the measurement demonstrating good repeatability. The color-coded imaging technique and virtual calcium value technique of dual-energy CT are a reliable and non-invasive technique to evaluate the quality of ancient human bone.