bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relationship of nutritional status with anticancer immunity and its prognostic value for head and neck cancer
Authors: Chen Miao‐Fen , Chen Yu‐Yen , Chen Wen‐Cheng , Hsieh Ching‐Chuan 
Published: June 2023

AbstractMalnutrition has been reported to be associated with reduced survival and deficient anticancer immunity, and undernourishment is a frequent comorbidity in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between nutritional status and immunologic factors, and its prognostic value for HNC. We retrospectively reviewed 212 HNC patients who had undergone a nutrition evaluation based on the Patient‐Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG‐SGA) and curative radiotherapy (RT). The role of nutritional status in the prognosis of HNC and its correlation with anticancer immune response was assessed in HNC patients, and in the 4‐nitroquinoline 1‐oxide (4NQO)‐induced tongue tumor animal model. Our data revealed that malnutrition (high PG‐SGA scores) was significantly associated with more advanced disease, lower body mass index, lower RT completion rates, and reduced survival. Patients in the group with high PG‐SGA scores had a higher neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, higher proportion of myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), and elevated IL‐6 levels in the peripheral circulation. Patients with increased PG‐SGA scores following treatment were more likely to developing locoregional failure. In the 4NQO‐induced tumor model, nutritional supplementation decreased the rate of invasive tumor formation and attenuated the immune‐suppressive microenvironment. Following ectopic tumor implantation in an immunocompetent host, nutrition supplements decreased tumor growth in association with attenuated MDSC recruitment and lower IL‐6 expression. In conclusion, malnutrition by PG‐SGA was associated with poor prognosis in HNC patients. Based on the data of HNC patients and the 4NQO‐tumor model, adequate nutritional supplementation might improve the prognosis associated with augmented anticancer immunity.
Insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in follicular fluid cooperatively promote the oncogenesis of high‐grade serous carcinoma from fallopian tube epithelial cells: Dissection of the molecular effects
Authors: Chu Tang‐Yuan , Khine Aye Aye , Wu Na‐Yi Yuan , Chen Pao‐Chu , Chu Sung‐Chao , Lee Ming‐Hsun , Huang Hsuan‐Shun 
Published: June 2023

AbstractIncessant ovulation is believed to be a potential cause of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Our previous investigations have shown that insulin‐like growth factor (IGF2) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the ovulatory follicular fluid (FF) contributed to the malignant transformation initiated by p53 mutations. Here we examined the individual and synergistic impacts of IGF2 and HGF on enhancing the malignant properties of high‐grade serous carcinoma (HGSC), the most aggressive type of EOC, and its precursor lesion, serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC). In a mouse xenograft co‐injection model, we observed that FF co‐injection induced tumorigenesis of STIC‐mimicking cells, FE25. Co‐injection with IGF2 or HGF partially recapitulated the tumorigenic effects of FF, but co‐injection with both resulted in a higher tumorigenic rate than FF. We analyzed the different transformation phenotypes influenced by these FF growth signals through receptor inhibition. The IGF signal was necessary for clonogenicity, while the HGF signal played a crucial role in the migration and invasion of STIC and HGSC cells. Both signals were necessary for the malignant phenotype of anchoring‐independent growth but had little impact on cell proliferation. The downstream signals responsible for these HGF activities were identified as the tyrosine‐protein kinase Met (cMET)/mitogen‐activated protein kinase and cMET/AKT pathways. Together with the previous finding that the FF‐IGF2 could mediate clonogenicity and stemness activities via the IGF‐1R/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin and IGF‐1R/AKT/NANOG pathways, respectively, this study demonstrated the cooperation of the FF‐sourced IGF and HGF growth signals in the malignant transformation and progression of HGSC through both common and distinct signaling pathways. These findings help develop targeted prevention of HGSC.
Implementing failure mode and effect analysis to improve the safety of volumetric modulated arc therapy for total body irradiation
Authors: Gray Tara , Antolak Alexander , Ahmed Saeed , Magnelli Anthony , Lu Lan , Cho Young‐Bin , Qi Peng , Xia Ping , Cherian Sheen , Murphy Erin , Kilic Sarah , Zura Kim , Rankin Emily , Schulte Jenna , Kovacs Tiffany , Guo Bingqi 
Published: June 2023

AbstractPurposeVolumetric‐modulated arc therapy for total body irradiation (VMAT‐TBI) is a novel radiotherapy technique that has been implemented at our institution. The purpose of this work is to investigate possible failure modes (FMs) in the treatment process and to develop a quality control (QC) program for VMAT‐TBI following TG‐100 guidelines.MethodsWe formed a multidisciplinary team to map out the complete treatment process of VMAT‐TBI following the AAPM TG‐100 guidelines. This process map gives a visual representation of the VMAT‐TBI workflow from the CT simulation, image processing, contouring, treatment planning, to treatment delivery. From the process map, potential FMs were identified. The occurrence (O), detectability (D), and severity of impact (S) of each FM were assigned according to scoring criteria (1–10) by the multidisciplinary team. A risk priority number (RPN) was calculated from average O, S, and D of each FM (RPN = O x S x D). High risk FMs were identified as 20% of the FMs having the highest RPN scores. After the FMEA analysis, fault‐tree analysis (FTA) was performed for each major step of the treatment process to determine the effects of potential failures to the treatment outcome. Effective QC methods were identified to prevent the high risk failures and to improve the safety of the VMAT‐TBI program.ResultsWe identified a total of 55 sub‐processes and 128 FMs from the VMAT‐TBI workflow. The top five high‐risk FMs were: (1) Prescription and/or OAR constraints changed during planning and not communicated to the planner, (2) Patient moves or breathes too heavily during the upper body CT scan (3) Patient moves during the lower body CT scan, (4) Treatment planning system not calculating total body DVH metrics correctly for TBI, (5) Improper optimization criteria used or not sufficient optimization, resulting in suboptimal dose coverage, OAR sparing or excessive hotspots during treatment planning. Two FMs have average severity scores ≥8: Incorrect PTV subdivision/isocenter placement and Prescription and/or OAR constraints changed during planning and not communicated to the planner. Quality assurance and QC interventions including staff training, standard operating procedures, and quality checklists were implemented based on the FMEA and FTA.ConclusionFM and effect analysis was performed to identify high‐risk FMs of our VMAT‐TBI program. FMEA and FTA were effective in identifying potential FMs and determining the best quality management (QM) measures to implement in the VMAT‐TBI program.
Progressively refined deep joint registration segmentation (ProRSeg) of gastrointestinal organs at risk: Application to MRI and cone‐beam CT
Authors: Jiang Jue , Hong Jun , Tringale Kathryn , Reyngold Marsha , Crane Christopher , Tyagi Neelam , Veeraraghavan Harini 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundAdaptive radiation treatment (ART) for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) requires consistently accurate segmentation of the extremely mobile gastrointestinal (GI) organs at risk (OAR) including the stomach, duodenum, large and small bowel. Also, due to lack of sufficiently accurate and fast deformable image registration (DIR), accumulated dose to the GI OARs is currently only approximated, further limiting the ability to more precisely adapt treatments.PurposeDevelop a 3‐D Progressively refined joint Registration‐Segmentation (ProRSeg) deep network to deformably align and segment treatment fraction magnetic resonance images (MRI)s, then evaluate segmentation accuracy, registration consistency, and feasibility for OAR dose accumulation.MethodProRSeg was trained using five‐fold cross‐validation with 110 T2‐weighted MRI acquired at five treatment fractions from 10 different patients, taking care that same patient scans were not placed in training and testing folds. Segmentation accuracy was measured using Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and Hausdorff distance at 95th percentile (HD95). Registration consistency was measured using coefficient of variation (CV) in displacement of OARs. Statistical comparison to other deep learning and iterative registration methods were done using the Kruskal‐Wallis test, followed by pair‐wise comparisons with Bonferroni correction applied for multiple testing. Ablation tests and accuracy comparisons against multiple methods were done. Finally, applicability of ProRSeg to segment cone‐beam CT (CBCT) scans was evaluated on a publicly available dataset of 80 scans using five‐fold cross‐validation.ResultsProRSeg processed 3D volumes (128 × 192 × 128) in 3 s on a NVIDIA Tesla V100 GPU. It's segmentations were significantly more accurate () than compared methods, achieving a DSC of 0.94 ±0.02 for liver, 0.88±0.04 for large bowel, 0.78±0.03 for small bowel and 0.82±0.04 for stomach‐duodenum from MRI. ProRSeg achieved a DSC of 0.72±0.01 for small bowel and 0.76±0.03 for stomach‐duodenum from public CBCT dataset. ProRSeg registrations resulted in the lowest CV in displacement (stomach‐duodenum : 0.75%, : 0.73%, and : 0.81%; small bowel : 0.80%, : 0.80%, and : 0.68%; large bowel : 0.71%, : 0.81%, and : 0.75%). ProRSeg based dose accumulation accounting for intra‐fraction (pre‐treatment to post‐treatment MRI scan) and inter‐fraction motion showed that the organ dose constraints were violated in four patients for stomach‐duodenum and for three patients for small bowel. Study limitations include lack of independent testing and ground truth phantom datasets to measure dose accumulation accuracy.ConclusionsProRSeg produced more accurate and consistent GI OARs segmentation and DIR of MRI and CBCTs compared to multiple methods. Preliminary results indicates feasibility for OAR dose accumulation using ProRSeg.
MagMet: A fully automated web server for targeted nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics of plasma and serum
Authors: Rout Manoj , Lipfert Matthias , Lee Brian L. , Berjanskii Mark , Assempour Nazanin , Fresno Rosa Vazquez , Cayuela Arnau Serra , Dong Ying , Johnson Mathew , Shahin Honeya , Gautam Vasuk , Sajed Tanvir , Oler Eponine , Peters Harrison , Mandal Rupasri , Wishart David S. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractNuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectral analysis of biofluids can be a time‐consuming process, requiring the expertise of a trained operator. With NMR becoming increasingly popular in the field of metabolomics, there is a growing need to change this paradigm and to automate the process. Here we introduce MagMet, an online web server, that automates the processing and quantification of 1D 1H NMR spectra from biofluids—specifically, human serum/plasma metabolites, including those associated with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM). MagMet uses a highly efficient data processing procedure that performs automatic Fourier Transformation, phase correction, baseline optimization, chemical shift referencing, water signal removal, and peak picking/peak alignment. MagMet then uses the peak positions, linewidth information, and J‐couplings from its own specially prepared standard metabolite reference spectral NMR library of 85 serum/plasma compounds to identify and quantify compounds from experimentally acquired NMR spectra of serum/plasma. MagMet employs linewidth adjustment for more consistent quantification of metabolites from higher field instruments and incorporates a highly efficient data processing procedure for more rapid and accurate detection and quantification of metabolites. This optimized algorithm allows the MagMet webserver to quickly detect and quantify 58 serum/plasma metabolites in 2.6 min per spectrum (when processing a dataset of 50–100 spectra). MagMet's performance was also assessed using spectra collected from defined mixtures (simulating other biofluids), with >100 previously measured plasma spectra, and from spiked serum/plasma samples simulating known IEMs. In all cases, MagMet performed with precision and accuracy matching the performance of human spectral profiling experts. MagMet is available at http://magmet.ca.
Refined mean‐field approximation for discrete‐time queueing networks with blocking
Authors: Pan Yang , Shi Pengyi 
Published: June 2023

AbstractWe study a discrete‐time queueing network with blocking that is primarily motivated by outpatient network management. To tackle the curse of dimensionality in performance analysis, we develop a refined mean‐field approximation that deals with changing population size, a nonconventional feature that makes the analysis challenging within the existing literature. We explicitly quantify the convergence rate for this approximation as with being the system size. Not only is this convergence better than the convergence proven in prior work, but our approximation shows a significant improvement in performance prediction accuracy when the system size is small, compared to the conventional (unrefined) mean‐field approximation. This accuracy makes our approximation appealing to support decision‐making in practice.
Frailty in Non‐geriatric Patients With Head and Neck cancer
Authors: Bakas Ajay T. , Polinder‐Bos Harmke A. , Streng Fleur , Mattace‐Raso Francesco U.S. , Ziere Gijsbertus , de Jong Rob J. Baatenburg , Sewnaik Aniel 
Published: June 2023

AbstractObjectivePatients with head and neck cancer (HNC) are characterized by a poor lifestyle and comorbidity. The Geriatric 8 (G8) is an established screening tool to identify frail older patients with cancer. However, studies evaluating frailty in younger HNC patients are lacking. The aim of this study is to evaluate if the G8 can identify frailty and if it is related to mortality in younger HNC patients.Study DesignCase‐control study design.SettingTertiary cancer center.MethodsWe studied patients <70 years with HNC. Patients with G8 ≤ 14 were considered frail. Patients were matched to nonfrail (G8 > 14) control patients. Patients were matched according to sex, age, smoking, tumor location, and period of first consultation. Baseline health characteristics were compared between frail patients and nonfrail controls. Second, the treatment plan and adverse outcomes were compared.ResultsForty‐five patients with G8 ≤ 14 were included and matched to 90 nonfrail controls. The median follow‐up time was 357 days. Frail patients had a significantly lower body mass index and level of education, a worse World Health Organization performance status, and reported lower experienced overall health. 28.9% of the frail patients died after 1 year versus 10% of the nonfrail control patients (hazard ratio: 3.87 [95% confidence interval: 1.32‐11.36], p = 0.014).ConclusionThe G8 is a valid screening tool to identify frail patients in younger HNC patients.
Branchio‐oto‐renal syndrome with submucous cleft palate: A case report
Authors: Takaoka Shohei , Yanagawa Toru , Kimura Airi , Uchida Fumihiko , Yamagata Kenji , Bukawa Hiroki 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundBranchio‐oto‐renal (BOR) syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by malformations of the second branchial arch, hearing impairments, and renal anomalies.Case presentationA male infant diagnosed with BOR syndrome presents with an asymmetrical face, forehead protrusion, auricle dysplasia, left external auditory canal closure, hearing impairment, mandibular hypoplasia, submucous cleft palate, facial nerve palsy, renal atrophy, and malalignment of the second toe. Palatoplasty was performed.ConclusionThis case report and related literature review have contributed to existing knowledge regarding BOR syndrome, a rare disorder.
Fabrication of pectin biopolymer‐based biocompatible freestanding electrodes for supercapacitor applications
Authors: Harikumar M. E. , Batabyal Sudip K. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractImplantable energy storage devices that are soft, flexible, biocompatible, and biodegradable are the focus of current bio‐instrumentation research. Polymer gel‐based electrodes for energy storage applications such as supercapacitors and rechargeable batteries have a wide attraction for modern technology. This work proposes a flexible, transparent, and biodegradable electrode using pectin biopolymer with a biocompatible electrolyte as a supercapacitor. The biopolymer pectin can be a promising candidate for such energy storage devices. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) was added with pectin, which forms side chains for better stability and conductivity, improving the electrode materials' ionic conduction. Two devices were fabricated using pectin only (PO) and pectin/PEG (PP) composite as electrode materials. The interesting observation with PO was that it has slightly higher specific capacitance (CSP) than PP composite, but the long‐time retention was poor. Graphite was incorporated in the Pectin/PEG composite and fabricated two more devices with Pectin/PEG/Graphite (PPG) composite‐based biosupercapacitors using a 10% and 20% weight ratio of graphite to pectin. An electrochemical study was performed to understand the energy storage capacity of the fabricated electrodes. It was found that the 10% graphite incorporated sample showed excellent retention of 98.74% of capacitance with a specific capacitance of 11.48 mF/cm2 over 2500 cycles. With the increased stability and higher specific capacitance, pectin biopolymer‐based electrodes have a powerful impact on developing flexible and portable solid‐stat energy storage e systems.
Study on impact resistance and parameter optimization of patch‐repaired plain woven composite based on multi‐scale analysis
Authors: Sun Zhenhui , Pi Xiaofan , Tie Ying , Li Cheng 
Published: June 2023

AbstractPatch‐repaired plain woven composite structures were exposed to internal damage caused by impact during service, which reduced mechanical properties. A multi‐scale modeling strategy was proposed to study the impact resistance characteristics of patch‐repaired plain woven carbon‐fiber‐reinforced‐polymer (CFRP) laminates. The micro representative volume element (RVE) was extracted from the yarn; a local homogenization method was used to obtain the equivalent cross‐ply laminate (ECPL) cells corresponding to the mesoscale RVE. The finite element model (FEM) of patch‐repaired plain woven laminate was established by extending the ECPL cells. The FEM was checked by the low‐velocity impact (LVI) tests, and the impact parameter errors were within 10%. Furthermore, impact resistance of repaired specimens under different impact conditions (e.g., the impact energy was 3 ~ 20 J) was studied. Finally, patch parameters (patch thickness, patch size, off‐axis angle) of the repaired specimen were optimized by multi‐objective optimization based on the surrogate model and response surface method (RSM). After multi‐objective function optimization, the optimal patch parameter configuration (the thickness of the patch was 0.87 mm, the diameter was 66 mm, and the off‐axis angle was 44.2°) reduced the absorbed energy value of the repaired specimen from 4.9089 to 4.1640 J, and the delamination area of the repaired specimen from 605 to 280 mm2. All the results provide a reference for patch repair of plain woven composites.
The clinical impact of the first‐trimester nuchal translucency between the 95th–99th percentiles
Authors: Fantasia Ilaria , Catagini Silvia , Zamagni Giulia , Greco Pantaleo , Bianchini Irene , Bussolaro Sofia , Quadrifoglio Mariachiara , Lo Bello Leila , Monasta Lorenzo , Ricci Giuseppe , Faletra Flavio , Feresin Agnese , Stampalija Tamara 
Published: June 2023

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the clinical significance of nuchal translucency (NT) between the 95th–99th percentile in terms of typical and atypical chromosomal abnormalities (ACAs), associated fetal congenital defects and postnatal outcome.MethodsA retrospective cohort study of fetuses with NT between the 95th–99th percentile. Data regarding the rate of associated fetal defects, genetic abnormalities and postnatal outcome were collected.ResultsA total of 306 cases of fetuses with an NT between the 95th–99th percentiles were included. The overall rate of genetic abnormalities was 12.1% (37/306). Chromosomal abnormalities were found in 10.1% (31/306) of cases and 2% were ACA (6/306). Within this group, two were pathogenic Copy Number Variants (CNVs) and four were single gene disorders. The overall rate of fetal congenital defects was 13.7% (42/306). All ACAs were found in fetuses with congenital defects. Postnatally, a new diagnosis of a single gene disorder was made in 0.85% of cases (2/236).ConclusionsThe presence of an NT between the 95th–99th percentiles carries a 10‐fold increased risk of fetal defects, representing an indication for referral for a detailed fetal anatomy evaluation. The risk of ACA is mainly related to the presence of fetal defects, irrespective of the combined test risk.
Synthesis and characterization of isocyanic bonding agents by the reaction of TDI and 5,5‐dimethylhydantoin for use in composite propellants
Authors: Cosentino Garcia Miguel Adriana , Augusto Barbieri de Oliveira Thiago , de Oliveira Ademir , Sciamareli Jairo , da Costa Mattos Elizabeth 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThis paper aims to present the study of obtaining a potential isocyanic bonding agent. The process is based on introducing free isocyanate groups into hydantoin ring. In addition to acting as bonding agents, they can act as curing agents, promoting the formation of cross‐links with the binder so that the propellant cures. The synthesis process consisted of the reaction between toluene diisocyanate (TDI) and 5,5‐dimethylhydantoin (DMH) under different parameters (time, temperature, reaction atmosphere, solvent, and product purification). The reactions were monitored by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in the mid‐infrared region (FT‐IR). Furthermore, the product obtained was characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), elemental analysis (CHN), and volumetric chemistry (determination of the isocyanate‐NCO index). Changes in physical characteristics and the results of the determination of index NCO, FT‐IR, TGA, DSC, and CHN analysis indicate that the proposed reactions occurred. It is concluded that, among the parameters studied, those most suitable for the reaction system between isocyanic reagents TDI and DMH are a temperature of 90 °C, coupling of a nitrogen cylinder, and use of toluene solvent in the reaction system.