bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of immunotherapy in HER2-mutated non-small cell lung cancer: a single-arm meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Juguang , Han Weizhong , Guo Jun , Zhang Chufeng , Cao Lijun , Peng Lixiu , Han Xiao , Wang Zhehai 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) harboring Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 (HER2) mutations represent a distinct subset with unique therapeutic challenges. Although immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been transformative in lung cancer treatment, the efficacy of ICIs in HER2-mutated NSCLC remains to be established.

Methods
We systematically searched for real-world studies investigating the use of ICIs in treating HER2-mutated NSCLC, sourced from the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases. Outcomes including objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and progression-free survival (PFS) were extracted for further analysis.

Results
Twelve studies involving 260 patients were enrolled in this meta-analysis. Pooled data revealed an ORR of 0.26 (95% CI 0.17–0.34), a DCR of 0.68 (95% CI 0.55–0.81), and a median PFS (mPFS) of 5.36 months (95% CI 3.50–7.21). Notably, in the subgroup receiving combined immune and chemotherapy, the ORR increased to 0.37 (95% CI 0.26–0.49), the DCR to 0.79 (95% CI 0.70–0.87), and the mPFS to 7.10 months (95% CI 5.21–8.99).

Conclusions
ICIs demonstrate promising anti-tumor activity and safety in patients with HER2-mutated NSCLC. Furthermore, the combined regimen of ICIs and chemotherapy may provide a significant therapeutic option for this patient population.
BAP1, Wilms’ tumor 1, and calretinin in predicting survival and response to first-line chemotherapy in patients with pleural mesothelioma
Authors: Yuce Tuna Han , Ak Guntulu , Metintas Selma , Dundar Emine , Roe Oluf Dimitri , Panou Vasiliki , Metintas Muzaffer 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Purpose
There are currently no methods to predict response to chemotherapy in pleural mesothelioma (PM). The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive and prognostic role of BAP1, WT1 and calretinin expression and their combinations in pre-treatment tumor samples by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining.

Methods
The study included consecutive PM patients treated with chemotherapy alone at a University hospital between 2009 and 2020. BAP1 analyses were performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue samples of the patients, while WT1 and calretinin information were obtained from the histopathological diagnosis records.

Results
Of the total 107 patients included, 64% had loss of BAP1 expression, whereas 77% had WT1 and 86% had calretinin expression. Patients with the presence of BAP1 expression, one or both of the other two markers, or loss of expression of all three markers (unfavorable status) were more likely to not respond to chemotherapy than those with the presence of all three markers or loss of BAP1 expression and expression of one or two other markers (favorable status) (p = 0.001). Median survival time of patients with favorable and unfavorable status was 15 ± 1.7 and 8.0 ± 2.4 months, respectively (p = 0.027). After adjustment for histopathology and stage, loss of BAP1 (HR = 0.54, 95%CI 0.35–0.83), WT1 (1.75, 1.06–2.90), calretinin (2.09, 1.14–3.84) expression and favourable panel (0.50, 0.27–0.92) was associated with prognosis.

Conclusions
The IHC biomarkers BAP1, WT1, and calretinin, used in the routine diagnosis of PM and their combinations, are the first biomarkers associated with response to chemotherapy and may be a useful tool to select patients for first-line platinum pemetrexed treatment in PM patients. Validation in a large cohort is ongoing.
Head and neck cancer patient journey’s health literacy: a multidisciplinary team perspective. VOICE study
Authors: Joaquim Ana , Vieira Cláudia , Ribeiro Leonor , Barros Anabela , Leão Inês , Alvim Cecília , Pinheiro Sara , Nogueira Mafalda , Morais Catarina 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Health literacy is a current Public Health priority in Portugal. The participation of well-informed patients in their care and shared decision making are essential, especially in chronic aggressive and debilitating pathologies such as recurrent or metastatic (R/M) Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC).

Aims
This study aimed to characterize R/M HNSCC patients’ and caregivers’ information needs identified by healthcare professionals (HCPs).

Methods
Two online Focus Groups, one with only medical doctors and the other with other HCPs involved in the treatment of R/M HNSCC patients, were conducted, using a modified Metaplan, Lean or adapted PDCA methodology. The discussions were audio recorded in full and content analysis was performed using ATLAS.ti qualitative data analysis software.

Results
Topics addressed were diagnosis, treatment, quality of life, and global evaluation. In general, all experts agreed that only essential information should be cautiously given, according to patients’ and caregivers’ wishes. It was consensual that patients are given the necessary information to adhere to treatment. Two main barriers were identified: one barrier was associated with verbal communication due to the lack of health literacy of these patients, and the other barrier regarded healthcare access. It was also considered important to remind patients of the daily and social activities that they could and should maintain, as well as providing sufficient social resources and problem-solving training to caregivers.

Conclusions
This qualitative study highlights the complexity of R/M HNSCC patients’ care. Immediate availability of psychologists and psychiatrists should be implemented in all centers that treat HNSCC patients. The differences found between the physicians' Focus Group and other HCPs’ Focus Group in some of the addressed topics emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary and holistic approach, in a biomedical model integrated with a biopsychosocial model.
Determination of a cut-off COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) for identifying cost-related treatment nonadherence and impaired health-related quality of life among Chinese patients with cancer
Authors: Xu Binbin , So Winnie K. W. , Choi Kai Chow 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to determine a cut-off for the simplified Chinese version of the COmprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST) that could identify cost-related treatment nonadherence among Chinese patients with cancer. The study also sought to validate this cut-off score by using it to assess impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the same population.

Methods
A secondary analysis was conducted using data from a cross-sectional survey of 1208 Chinese patients with cancer who were recruited from 12 hospitals in six cities across three provinces of the Chinese mainland. Sociodemographic information and data on financial toxicity (FT), cost-related treatment nonadherence, and HRQoL were used in the analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off for the simplified Chinese version of the COST.

Results
The ROC analysis identified a COST cut-off of 18.5 for identifying cost-related treatment nonadherence, yielding a sensitivity of 76.5% and specificity of 71.4%. In the validation study, this cut-off score yielded a sensitivity of 64.2% and a specificity of 67.1% for identifying impaired HRQoL.

Conclusion
Early and dynamic assessment of cancer-related FT in routine clinical practice may play a crucial role in the early identification and management of FT. Accordingly, a COST cut-off of 18.5 was identified to indicate cost-related treatment nonadherence and impaired HRQoL in a population of patients with cancer from the Chinese mainland. This finding may facilitate the implementation of universal FT screening among patients with cancer in specific settings such as the Chinese mainland.
Malnutrition prevalence in cancer patients in Belgium: The ONCOCARE study
Authors: Rasschaert Marika , Vandecandelaere Pieter , Marechal Stéphanie , D’hondt Randal , Vulsteke Christof , Mailleux Marie , De Roock Wendy , Van Erps Joanna , Himpe Ulrike , De Man Marc , Mertens Geertrui , Ysebaert Dirk 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Rationale
Unintentional weight loss and malnutrition are common among cancer patients. Malnutrition has been associated with impaired health-related quality of life, less well-tolerated chemotherapy regimens and shorter life duration. In Belgium there is a lack of epidemiological data on malnutrition in oncology patients at advanced stages of the disease.

Methods
Malnutrition assessment data was collected through a prospective, observational study in 328 patients who started a neoadjuvant anticancer therapy regimen or who started 1st, 2nd or 3rd line anticancer therapy for a metastatic cancer via 3 visits according to regular clinical practice (baseline visit (BV) maximum 4 weeks before start therapy, 1st Follow up visit (FUV1) ± 6 weeks after start therapy, FUV2 ± 4 months after start therapy). Malnutrition screening was evaluated using the Nutritional Risk Screening score 2002 (NRS-2002)and the diagnosis of malnutrition by the GLIM criteria. In addition, SARC-F questionnaire and Fearon criteria were used respectively to screen for sarcopenia and cachexia.

Results
Prevalence of malnutrition risk at BV was high: 54.5% of the patients had a NRS ≥ 3 (NRS 2002) and increased during the study period (FUV1: 73.2%, FUV2: 70.1%). Prevalence of malnutrition based on physician subjective assessment (PSA) remained stable over the study period but was much lower compared to NRS results (14.0%—16.5%). At BV, only 10% of the patients got a nutrition plan and 43.9% received ≤ 70% of nutritional needs, percentage increased during FU period (FUV1: 68.4%, FUV2: 67.6%). Prevalence of sarcopenia and cachexia were respectively 12.4% and 38.1% at BV and without significant variation during the study period, but higher than assessed by PSA (11.6% and 6.7% respectively). Figures were also higher compared to PSA. There were modifications in cancer treatment at FUV1 (25.2%) and at FUV2 (50.8%). The main reasons for these modifications at FUV1 were adverse events and tolerability. Patient reported daily questionnaires of food intake showed early nutritional deficits, preceding clinical signs of malnutrition, and therefore can be very useful in the ambulatory setting.

Conclusions
Prevalence of malnutrition and cachexia was high in advanced cancer patients and underestimated by physician assessment. Earlier and rigorous detection of nutritional deficit and adjusted nutritional intake could lead to improved clinical outcomes in cancer patients. Reporting of daily caloric intake by patients was also very helpful with regards to nutritional assessment.
Evaluation of surgical treatment strategies and outcome for cerebral arachnoid cysts in children and adults
Authors: Schmutzer-Sondergeld Michael , Gencer Aylin , Niedermeyer Sebastian , Quach Stefanie , Stoecklein Veit M. , Teske Nico , Schichor Christian , Terpolilli Nicole Angela , Kunz Mathias , Thon Niklas 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Objective
The best treatment strategies for cerebral arachnoid cysts (CAC) are still up for debate. In this study, we present CAC management, outcome data, and risk factors for recurrence after surgical treatment, focusing on microscopic/endoscopic approaches as compared to minimally invasive stereotactic procedures in children and adults.

Methods
In our single-institution retrospective database, we identified all patients treated surgically for newly diagnosed CAC between 2000 and 2022. Microscopic/endoscopic surgery (ME) aimed for safe cyst wall fenestration. Stereotactic implantation of an internal shunt catheter (STX) to drain CAC into the ventricles and/or cisterns was used as an alternative procedure in patients aged ≥ 3 years. Treatment decisions in favor of ME vs. STX were made by interdisciplinary consensus. The primary study endpoint was time to CAC recurrence (TTR). Secondary endpoints were outcome metrics including clinical symptoms and MR-morphological analyses. Data analysis included subdivision of the total cohort into three distinct age groups (AG1, < 6 years; AG2, 6–18 years; AG3, ≥ 18 years).

Results
Sixty-two patients (median age 26.5 years, range 0–82 years) were analyzed. AG1 included 15, AG2 10, and AG3 37 patients, respectively. The main presenting symptoms were headache and vertigo. In AG1 hygromas, an increase in head circumference and thinning of cranial calvaria were most frequent. Thirty-five patients underwent ME and 27 STX, respectively; frequency did not differ between AGs. There were two (22.2%) periprocedural venous complications in infants (4- and 10-month-old) during an attempt at prepontine fenestration of a complex CAC, one with fatal outcome in a 10-month-old boy. Other complications included postoperative bleeding (2, 22.2%), CSF leaks (4, 44.4%), and meningitis (1, 11.1%). Overall, clinical improvement and significant volume reduction (p = 0.008) were seen in all other patients; this did not differ between AGs. Median follow-up for all patients was 25.4 months (range, 3.1–87.1 months). Recurrent cysts were seen in 16.1%, independent of surgical procedure used (p = 0.7). In cases of recurrence, TTR was 7.9 ± 12.7 months. Preoperative ventricular expansion (p = 0.03), paresis (p = 0.008), and age under 6 years (p = 0.03) were significant risk factors for CAC recurrence in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions
In patients suffering from CAC, both ME and STX can improve clinical symptoms at low procedural risk, with equal extent of CAC volume reduction. However, in infants and young children, CAC are more often associated with severe clinical symptoms, stereotactic procedures have limited use, and microsurgery in the posterior fossa may bear the risk of severe venous bleeding.
Wind energy potential of weather systems affecting South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province
Authors: Landwehr Greg , Lennard Chris , Engelbrecht Francois 
Published: January 2024

AbstractAs a percentage of the total global energy supply, wind energy facilities could provide 10% of the total global energy supply by 2050 as reported in IEA World Energy Outlook (2022). Considering this, a just transition to renewable and sustainable energy in South Africa is a genuine possibility if steps are taken immediately to achieve this. The Eastern Cape Province exhibits a strong wind resource which can be exploited towards expediting such a just energy transition. No research and related modelling have, to date, been undertaken in quantifying and relating the detailed P50 energy yield analyses of representative wind energy facilities in temporal and spatial dimensions to the occurrence of specific synoptic types in South Africa. To quantify this energy meteorology climatology for a suitably sized geospatial area in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa (spatial focus area, latitude −30 to −35, longitude 20 to 30), the approach of using self-organising maps is proposed. These maps are used to identify the most common synoptic circulation types occurring in the Eastern Cape and can subsequently be mapped onto an equivalent time resolution wind energy production timeseries calculated based on probable wind energy facility sites. This paper describes comprehensive methodologies used to model the wind energy facilities, calculate with high confidence the P50 energy production, and then identify the predominant synoptic weather types responsible for the wind energy production in this spatial focus area. After quantifying the energy production, running a self-organising map software generates a purposely selected 35 node map that characterises archetypal synoptic patterns over the 10-year period. The synoptic types can be ranked by the highest energy production. It is shown that in this spatial area, monthly wind energy production is higher during the winter months. When the well-established high-pressure cells move northward, synoptic types associated with higher energy production are frequent and include tropical and temperate disturbances across South Africa, patterns resembling a ridging anticyclone off the west coast of South Africa and low-pressure cells occurring to the north and south. Low energy producing patterns show characteristics of the high-pressure cells moving southwards producing fine weather and mildly disturbed conditions. The purpose of this methodology is that it provides the foundation required to derive long-term frequency changes of these synoptic weather systems using global climate model ensembles and thus changes in wind energy production.
Sakawa River plume in Sagami Bay, Japan under weak wind condition: numerical simulation of coastal ocean dynamics and in situ observations for validation
Authors: Arai Riwa , Nishi Yoshiki , Fujiwara Yasunori , Zhao Jinrui , Jamil Muhammad Zeeshan 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThis study proposes a method for estimating river plume length from water levels and river discharge rates. A numerical model for coastal ocean dynamics was refined by comparing thermohaline fields calculated using the model with those measured off the mouth of the Sakawa River in Sagami Bay, Japan. The model successfully captured the reduction in salinity within the surface 1.0-m layer caused by riverine water transport. The simulated surface salinity maps revealed that the dynamic motions of the river plumes were primarily driven by one of the two diurnal occurrences of tidal current intensification. Regression analyses of the simulated results demonstrated that the river plume lengths were closely correlated with the water levels and river discharge rates, and that they could be accurately estimated from preceding river discharge rates under weak wind condition.
Exploiting the untapped functional potential of Memento aggregators beyond aggregation
Authors: Kelly Mat 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWeb archives capture, retain, and present historical versions of web pages. Viewing web archives often amounts to a user visiting the Wayback Machine homepage, typing in a URL, then choosing a date and time significant of the capture. Other web archives also capture the web and use Memento as an interoperable point of querying their captures. Memento aggregators are web accessible software packages that allow clients to send requests for past web pages to a single endpoint source that then relays that request to a set of web archives. Though few deployed aggregator instances exist that exhibit this aggregation trait, they all, for the most part, align to a model of serving a request for a URI of an original resource (URI-R) to a client by first querying then aggregating the results of the responses from a collection of web archives. This single tier querying need not be the logical flow of an aggregator, so long as a user can still utilize the aggregator from a single URL. In this paper, we discuss theoretical aggregation models of web archives. We first describe the status quo as the conventional behavior exhibited by an aggregator. We then build on prior work to describe a multi-tiered, structured querying model that may be exhibited by an aggregator. We highlight some potential issues and high-level optimization to ensure efficient aggregation while also extending on the state-of-the-art of memento aggregation. Part of our contribution is the extension of an open-source, user-deployable Memento aggregator to exhibit the capability described in this paper. We also extend a browser extension that typically consults an aggregator to have the ability to aggregate itself rather than needing to consult an external service. A purely client-side, browser-based Memento aggregator is novel to this work.
Adjustability in robust linear optimization
Authors: Wei Ningji , Zhang Peter 
Published: January 2024

AbstractWe investigate the concept of adjustability—the difference in objective values between two types of dynamic robust optimization formulations: one where (static) decisions are made before uncertainty realization, and one where uncertainty is resolved before (adjustable) decisions. This difference reflects the value of information and decision timing in optimization under uncertainty, and is related to several other concepts such as the optimality of decision rules in robust optimization. We develop a theoretical framework to quantify adjustability based on the input data of a robust optimization problem with a linear objective, linear constraints, and fixed recourse. We make very few additional assumptions. In particular, we do not assume constraint-wise separability or parameter nonnegativity that are commonly imposed in the literature for the study of adjustability. This allows us to study important but previously under-investigated problems, such as formulations with equality constraints and problems with both upper and lower bound constraints. Based on the discovery of an interesting connection between the reformulations of the static and fully adjustable problems, our analysis gives a necessary and sufficient condition—in the form of a theorem-of-the-alternatives—for adjustability to be zero when the uncertainty set is polyhedral. Based on this sharp characterization, we provide two efficient mixed-integer optimization formulations to verify zero adjustability. Then, we develop a constructive approach to quantify adjustability when the uncertainty set is general, which results in an efficient and tight poly-time algorithm to bound adjustability. We demonstrate the efficiency and tightness via both theoretical and numerical analyses.
Bone turnover and mineralisation kinetics control trabecular BMDD and apparent bone density: insights from a discrete statistical bone remodelling model
Authors: Castoldi Natalia M. , Pickering Edmund , Sansalone Vittorio , Cooper David , Pivonka Peter 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe mechanical quality of trabecular bone is influenced by its mineral content and spatial distribution, which is controlled by bone remodelling and mineralisation. Mineralisation kinetics occur in two phases: a fast primary mineralisation and a secondary mineralisation that can last from several months to years. Variations in bone turnover and mineralisation kinetics can be observed in the bone mineral density distribution (BMDD). Here, we propose a statistical spatio-temporal bone remodelling model to study the effects of bone turnover (associated with the activation frequency $$\mathrm {Ac.f}$$

Ac
.
f

) and mineralisation kinetics (associated with secondary mineralisation $$T_\textrm{sec}$$

T
sec

) on BMDD. In this model, individual basic multicellular units (BMUs) are activated discretely on trabecular surfaces that undergo typical bone remodelling periods. Our results highlight that trabecular BMDD is strongly regulated by $$\mathrm {Ac.f}$$

Ac
.
f

and $$T_\textrm{sec}$$

T
sec

in a coupled way. Ca wt% increases with lower $$\mathrm {Ac.f}$$

Ac
.
f

and short $$T_\textrm{sec}$$

T
sec

. For example, a $$\mathrm {Ac.f}=$$

Ac
.
f

=

4 BMU/year/mm$$^3$$

3

and $$T_\textrm{sec}$$

T
sec

= 8 years result in a mean Ca wt% of 25, which is in accordance with Ca wt% values reported in quantitative backscattered electron imaging (qBEI) experiments. However, for lower $$\mathrm {Ac.f}$$

Ac
.
f

and shorter $$T_\textrm{sec}$$

T
sec

(from 0.5 to 4 years) one obtains a high Ca wt% and a very narrow skew BMDD to the right. This close link between $$\mathrm {Ac.f}$$

Ac
.
f

and $$T_\textrm{sec}$$

T
sec

highlights the importance of considering both characteristics to draw meaningful conclusion about bone quality. Overall, this model represents a new approach to modelling healthy and diseased bone and can aid in developing deeper insights into disease states like osteoporosis.