bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phase II Study Of S-1 Plus Cisplatin With Concurrent Radiotherapy For Locally Advanced Thymic Carcinoma: Results Of The LOGIK1605/JART-1501 Study
Authors: Fukuda Minoru , Yamaguchi Masafumi , Yamazaki Takuya , Funaki Soichiro , Mukae Hiroshi , Fukuoka Junya , Nabeshima Kazuki , Tateyama Hisashi , Ashizawa Kazuto , Tomiyama Noriyuki , Hara Masaki , Seto Takashi , Okumura Meinoshin , Sugio Kenji 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background: Combination chemotherapy including platinum agents is used to treat advanced thymic carcinoma; however, the therapeutic effects of such treatment are insufficient. A phase II study was conducted to investigate the efficacy and safety of concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced thymic carcinoma. Methods: Patients fulfilling the following eligibility criteria were enrolled: unresectable locally advanced thymic carcinoma, no prior treatment, a good performance status (PS; PS=0-1), being aged 20-75, and adequate organ function. The patients received 80 mg/m2/day S-1 orally on days 1-14 and 60 mg/m2/day cisplatin intravenously on day 1. Two cycles of chemotherapy were repeated every 4 weeks. Thoracic radiotherapy (2 Gy, once daily, commencing on day 1; total dose: 60 Gy) was also administered. The primary endpoint of this study was to estimate the objective response rate with a target sample size of 30.Results: Three patients were enrolled. Toxicity and survival were assessable in all patients, but the treatment response was only assessable in one patient. The study was terminated because of poor case recruitment. The patients’ characteristics were as follows: male/female = 2/1; PS 0/1 = 2/1; median age (range) = 59 (55-72); and stage III/IV = 2/1. The patient in which the treatment response was assessed exhibited SD (response rate: 0%). In both non-evaluable cases, the second course of chemotherapy was judged to be post-protocol treatment because it was delayed by ≥14 days, but a complete response (CR) and partial response were achieved after the end of the study, respectively. Grade 4 leukopenia/neutropenia and grade 3 febrile neutropenia occurred in one patient each (33%). There were no treatment-related deaths. The median time to tumor progression was 17.6 months, and the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year survival rates were 67%, 33%, 33%, and 33%, respectively. The median overall survival time was not reached, and the 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-year survival rates were 100%, 67%, 67%, and 67%, respectively. Conclusions: Although it was difficult to recruit patients, there was a long-term survivor, who survived for >4 years and seemed to have achieved a CR, indicating that such chemoradiotherapy may be effective against locally advanced thymic carcinoma.
Cortical glutamatergic projection neuron types contribute to distinct functional subnetworks
Authors: Mohan Hemanth , An Xu , Kondo Hideki , Zhao Shengli , Matho Katherine , Musall Simon , Mitra Partha , Huang Z. Josh 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
The cellular basis of cerebral cortex functional architecture remains not well understood. A major challenge is to monitor and decipher neural network dynamics across broad cortical areas yet with projection neuron (PN)-type resolution in real time during behavior. Combining genetic targeting and wide-field imaging, we monitored activity dynamics of subcortical-projecting (PTFezf2) and intratelencephalic-projecting (ITPlxnD1) types across dorsal cortex of mice during different brain states and behaviors. ITPlxnD1 and PTFezf2 neurons showed distinct activation patterns during wakeful resting, spontaneous movements, and upon sensory stimulation. Distinct ITPlxnD1 and PTFezf2 subnetworks were dynamically tuned to different sensorimotor components of a naturalistic feeding behavior, and optogenetic inhibition of subnetwork nodes disrupted specific components of this behavior. Lastly, ITPlxnD1 and PTFezf2 projection patterns are consistent with their subnetwork activation patterns. Our results show that, in addition to the concept of columnar organization, dynamic areal and PN type-specific subnetworks are a key feature of cortical functional architecture linking microcircuit components with global brain networks.
Geographic and Ecological Invasion of the Cattle Egret (Bubulcus I. Ibis) In The Americas and Its Current Seasonal Patterns
Authors: Daniel Trinidad-Domínguez Carlos , Mota-Vargas Claudio , Rojas-Soto Octavio 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is a native species of the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and the Iberian Peninsula. This species is mainly sedentary but includes migratory populations and inhabits diverse vegetation types including perturbed areas, which probably has facilitated its dispersion. In this study, we describe the geographic patterns during its invasion process in the Americas, characterize the environmental conditions that could favor this process and identify the areas of migration in North America. We obtained the occurrence records in chronological order from its arrival to the Americas to the present, and we made a climatic profile of the occurrence records. Then, we identified and characterized seasonally the environments associated with America's migration areas using temperature and precipitation variables. Starting in 1937 from Guiana, the species colonized the continent via three fronts: 1) through the Antilles until it reached Florida (United States); 2) towards South America until Patagonia; and 3) through Central America to Mexico, the central and western United States (US), and southern Canada. Since its arrival, the species continuously colonized America's new geographic and climatic conditions. However, in the 1970s, it seems to have reached its environmental limits in the northern extreme of its distribution (southern Canada and the US), where the minimum temperatures in winter (-25°C) apparently determine their physiological tolerance limits. Therefore, migrate from those regions to the south to search for more favorable climatic conditions. Currently, the Cattle Egret ranges from southern Canada to Patagonia (Argentina).
Gene Teams are on the Field: Evaluation of Variants in Gene-Networks Using High Dimensional Modelling
Authors: Tuna Suha , Gulec Cagri , Yucesan Emrah , Cirakoglu Ayse , Arguden Yelda Tarkan 
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Variation is a key concept in every biological aspect, particularly in medical genetics. In this field, each genetic variant is evaluated mostly as an independent entity in respect to its clinical importance. This approach may be sufficient to detect the pathogenic variants in single-gene disorders. However, in most of the complex diseases, the combination of the variants in specific gene networks, rather than the presence of a certain single variant predominates. Therefore, while considering a complex disease, the disease status can be evaluated as the success of a team composed of certain variants. To apply this approach, we tested the efficiency of high-dimensional modelling of gene-network restricted variants in distinguishing a disease status. To evaluate the proposed method, we select two gene networks, mTOR and TGF-β. For each pathway, we generate 400 control and 400 patient group samples. The considered mTOR and TGF-β pathways contain 31 and 93 genes of varying sizes, respectively. We performed Chaos Game Representation to each gene sequence to obtain 2-D binary patterns. Produced patterns are ordered successively, and a 3-D tensor structure is achieved for each gene network. Features for each data sample are acquired by exploiting Enhanced Multivariance Products Representation to 3-D data. The features are split as training and testing vectors. The training vectors are employed to train a Support Vector Machines classification model. We manage to achieve more than 96% and 99% classification accuracies for mTOR and TGF-β networks, respectively, using a limited amount of training samples.
Using Fly Larvae to Convert Food Waste for Growing Oujiang Color Common Carps: Health Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Authors: Gao Meng , Yang Zhan-Biao , Xu Xiao-Xun , Xian Jun-Ren , Yang Yuan-Xiang , Yang Song , Man Yu-Bon , cheng zhang 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
The present study used Chrysomya megacephala larvae (CML) to transform food waste into safe and high-quality fish feed to substitute fish meal as a source of protein for growing Oujiang color common carps followed by a human health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The pretreatment significantly reduced the concentrations of PAHs in dish waste (118 ± 27.3 µg kg− 1 dry weight, p < 0.05), and the proportion of 5,6-ring PAHs from 35–17%. Concentrations of ∑PAHs (314 ± 60.4 µg kg− 1) and 5,6-ring PAHs (283 ± 66.4 µg kg− 1) in the CML were the highest when the culturing density was 1.0 g kg− 1. In addition, concentrations of BaP in the CML decreased with the increase of culturing density (p > 0.05), and the proportion of BaP in ∑PAHs decreased by 62.8–93.7%. 5,6-ring PAHs were the most abundant component of PAHs in the residue (p < 0.05), accounting for 91.3% PAHs. The residues as organic fertilizers have no potential ecological risk for PAHs. Furthermore, the consumption of Oujiang color common carps fed with the CML feed does not pose any health risks of PAHs for humans.
Changes in gene expression and cellular localization of insulin-like growth factor 3 in gonads of a seasonal breeding teleost, silver pomfret, Pampus argenteus
Authors: Li Yaya , Yang Yang , Zhang Youyi , Hu Jiabao , Zhang Man , Sun Jiachu , Tian Xinyue , Jin Yuxuan , Zhang Dingyuan , Wang Yajun , Xu Shanliang , Yan Xiaojun 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
As a new member of IGFs, insulin-like growth factor 3 (igf3) plays an important role in the development of gonads of teleost fish. Previous studies have found that igf3 was specifically expressed in the gonads of silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus). Different with other fish, the igf3 protein of silver pomfret is a membrane protein, and its specific role in the gonads was not yet clear. Here, we further studied the importance of igf3 in oogenesis and spermatogenesis in silver pomfret by analyzing its gene expression and cellular localization. During follicular development, igf3 mRNA and protein were significantly expressed in ovaries stayed in the critical period of vitellogenesis (Ⅳ - Ⅵ). Localization studies found that igf3 mRNA and protein were significantly and obviously expressed in somatic cells including theca and granulosa cells around oocytes. Meanwhile, similar with cathepsin L and cathepsin K, igf3 had a high and consistent expression levels in ovaries during vitellogenesis, suggesting igf3 might play a key role in the process of vitellogenesis of oocytes. In the process of spermatogenesis, the expression of igf3 mRNA and protein were high in stages Ⅱ, Ⅳ and Ⅴ, which was similar with the expression of sycp3 and dmc1. And the highest expression level of igf3 mRNA and protein reached in stage Ⅵ. At the same time, positive signals of igf3 mRNA and protein were detected in spermatogonium, spermatocytes, spermatid and surrounding Sertoli cells, but not expressed on spermatozoon, which indicated that igf3 might be involved in the differentiation and meiosis of spermatogonium.
GMMchi: Gene Expression Clustering Using Gaussian Mixture Modeling
Authors: Liu Ta-Chun , Kalugin Peter N. , Wilding Jennifer L. , Bodmer Walter F. 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background: Cancer evolution consists of a stepwise acquisition of genetic and epigenetic changes, which alter the gene expression profiles of cells in a particular tissue and result in phenotypic alterations acted upon by natural selection. The recurrent appearance of specific genetic lesions across individual cancers and cancer types suggests the existence of certain “driver mutations,” which likely make up the major contribution to tumors’ selective advantages over surrounding normal tissue and as such are responsible for the most consequential aspects of the cancer cells’ gene expression patterns and phenotypes. We hypothesize that such mutations are likely to cluster with specific dichotomous shifts in the expression of the genes they most closely control, and propose GMMchi, a Python package that leverages Gaussian Mixture Modeling to detect and characterize bimodal gene expression patterns across cancer samples, as a tool to analyze such correlations using 2x2 contingency table statistics.Results: Using well-defined simulated data, we were able to confirm the robust performance of GMMchi, reaching 85% accuracy with a sample size of n = 90. We were also able to demonstrate a few examples of the application of GMMchi with respect to its capacity to characterize background florescent signal in microarray data, filter out uninformative background probe sets, as well as uncover novel genetic interrelationships and tumor characteristics. Our approach to analysing gene expression analysis in cancers provides an additional lens to supplement traditional continuous-valued statistical analysis by maximizing the information that can be gathered from bulk gene expression data.Conclusions: We confirm that GMMchi robustly and reliably extracts bimodal patterns from both colorectal cancer (CRC) cell line-derived microarray and tumor-derived RNA-Seq data and verify previously reported gene expression correlates of some well-characterized CRC phenotypes.
Design and Evaluation of a Multi-level Reactive Power Market
Authors: Bozionek Jan , Wolgast Thomas , Nieße Astrid 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
The shift from conventional power plants on transmission level to distributed energy resources in the distribution grids requires procedures to enable efficient and economic reactive power exchange across different voltage levels. In this paper, we propose a multi-level reactive power market that enables reactive power provision from distributed energy resources to higher voltage levels. Each grid operator operates a local reactive power market and offers local reactive power potential, as an intermediary, to superordinate grid operators by passing on its aggregated cost curve and flexibility range. As a result, there is a low requirement of communication between the market participants and each grid operator is free to choose its local market rules as well as the optimization algorithm used. First results from a case study show that our decentralized market approach can realize an economically efficient multi-level reactive power provision that is close to a centrally computed optimal solution, without violating local grid constraints.
Topological Analysis of the CT Based Parametric Response Map in a Large COPD Population: a COPDGene Study
Authors: Bell Alexander J. , Ram Sundaresh , Labaki Wassim W. , Hoff Benjamin A. , Murray Susan , Kazerooni Ella A. , Galban Stefanie , Lynch David A. , Humphries Steven M. , Martinez Fernando J. , Hatt Charles R. , Han MeiLan K. , Galban Craig J. 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) functional small airways disease (fSAD) has been identified as a transitional state between healthy lung and irremediable emphysema. Topological analysis of the CT-based parametric response map (PRM) spatially quantifies distribution and arrangement of fSAD and emphysema. We present a cross sectional analysis of topological PRM (tPRM) in 8,972 participants from the COPDGene study, covering a complete spectrum of COPD severity. We aimed to evaluate tPRM dynamics with respect to GOLD and test association of tPRM with pulmonary function using Spearman correlation and stepwise linear regression. Baseline CT and clinical data were included, and tPRM was computed as whole lung averages summarizing disease volume density, surface area, curvature and perforation (measured by Ⲭ). Strong correlation (ρ = -0.74, p < 0.001) was determined between degree of perforation in healthy lung (ⲬNorm) and fSAD regions (ⲬfSAD), transposing from predominantly healthy lung perforated with fSAD (GOLD 2, ⲬNorm = -0.84, ⲬfSAD = 0.47) to fSAD perforated with healthy lung (GOLD 4, ⲬNorm = 0.39, ⲬfSAD = -0.36). tPRM significantly (p < 0.05) contributed to regression modelling of FEV1/FVC (R2 = 0.71), where surface area of emphysema had the most notable effect (β = -0.49, p < 0.01). Thus, tPRM provided insight into topology of fSAD and emphysema in COPD and associated statistically with clinical lung function measures.
Association Between the Risk of Hepatitis Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma and EGF Polymorphism: An Updated Meta-Analysis
Authors: Xu Lingling , Wu Qianbo , Zhang Min 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
The study aims to provide a comprehensive account of the association of the EGF 61A/G polymorphism (rs4444903) and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Methods
Electronic searches of the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP), PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically conducted to select studies by two independent researchers. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated to assess the strength of the association.
Results
In general, a total of 18 articles were enrolled with 2692 cases and 5835 controls for rs4444903. The meta-analysis results of the pooling all studies showed that the EGF + 61A/G polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased risk of virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma in all genetic models. In subgroup analyzes based upon ethnicity, a significantly elevated association was observed between EGF + 61A/G polymorphism and the risk of virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma in Asian populations (G vs. A: OR = 1.15, P < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.02–1.29, I2 = 40.1%), European populations (G vs. A: OR = 1.59, P < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.05–2.41, I2 = 0.0%) and African populations (G vs. A: OR = 4.46, P < 0.001, 95% CI 1.53–13.02, I2 = 93%)
Conclusions
EGF gene + 61A/G polymorphism is significantly associated with the increased risk of HCC, particularly in Asian populations.
Does mesna (mercapto-ethanesulphonate sodium) protect ovarian reserve after cyclophosphamide treatment: an in vivo study with rats
Authors: Baghaki Hayriye Sema , Kaya Cihan , Soztutar Erdem , Aksoy Nilay , Yasar Levent , Ekin Murat , Ekin Deniz 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Purpose
This study sought to investigate the protective effect of 2-mercaptoethane sodium sulfonate (mesna) on the ovarian reserve of rats being treated with cyclophosphamide.
Methods
Twenty-four adult female Wistar albino rats were equally divided into three groups. Group A (n = 8) received saline injections, Group B (n = 8) received cyclophosphamide, and Group C (n = 8) received cyclophosphamide + mesna. Preoperative blood samples (1 ml) were taken from all of the rats prior to any medication being given. The rats in all of the groups underwent bilateral oophorectomy and 1 ml of blood samples were taken 24 hours after the surgery. The difference in the anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) level between the pre- and postoperative blood samples was determined. The rats’ ovaries were histomorphologically evaluated. Immune staining was performed to detect the AMH receptor expression level in the ovarian tissue. Finally, a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) analysis was performed to assess the level of apoptosis.
Results
A considerable increase was noted in the AMH receptor expression level in Group C when compared with Group B (122 vs. 117, respectively; p: 0.007). In addition, the number of atretic follicles was found to be significantly lower in Group C than in Group B (10 vs. 5 respectively; p: 0.002). However, the TUNEL analysis revealed no significant difference between Group B and Group C with regard to apoptosis.
Conclusion
Mesna could decrease follicular atresia and increase the expression of AMH receptors in the follicles following acute cyclophosphamide toxicity.
Challenge and Competence between natural bio-adsorbent green microalgae and synthetic adsorbent magnetic nanoparticles for copper (II) ion in water
Authors: Hamadamin Shireen Ibrahim , Anwer Sewgil Saaduldeen , Abdulkareem Parween Mohsin , Sdiq Kwestan Hasan 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
The present work investigated the more competent and challenging adsorbent to remove copper ions from aqueous solutions, comparing the efficiency between the natural microalgae bio-adsorbent chlorella species (that are present in Greater Zab River near Erbil city, which is known as hyper accumulate heavy metal ions) and synthetic magnetic nanoparticles coated with silica (SiO2) (that are gaining popularity for the treatment of heavy metals in water because of there smaller size, highly dispersible in different pH and magnetically resonant efficient). All the materials synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis, the morphology observed by Scanning electron microscope (SEM), crystalline structure, and grain size provided by Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The maximum Cu+ 2 ion adsorption was for 100mg/L for the copper solution was 57.2%, at pH8 was 59.7%, and at the temperature, 30°C was 80.2% are the optimum conditions obtained for each adsorbent. The more efficient adsorbent for copper ion acquired was low cost, and environmentally friendly natural bio-adsorbent chlorella spices (sp.) was 0.24mg/g, due to high surface functional group and has high selective as compared to magnetic nanoparticles that are coated with SiO2 are lower capacity for adsorption 0.16mg/g.
Urinary Dielectric Properties for Bladder Cancer
Authors: Zhu Chao-Zhe , Ting Hua-Nong , Ng Kwan-Hoong , Mun Kein-Seong , Ong Teng-Aik , Wang Nan 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
The study investigated the urinary dielectric properties for bladder cancer in a non-invasive manner. 10 healthy subjects and 10 subjects with bladder cancer were recruited for the study. The urine samples were analyzed using urinalysis and urine cytology assessment. A vector network analyzer was used to measure the dielectric constant (Ɛ’) and loss factor (Ɛ’’) of urine at microwave frequencies between 0.2 GHz to 50 GHz at 25°C, 30°C, 37°C, respectively. Statistically significant differences in dielectric constant and loss factor were observed between healthy subjects and subjects with bladder cancer especially at frequencies between 25 GHz and 40 GHz at 25°C. Correlation was observed between urinary exfoliated urothelial cell number and the dielectric properties of subjects with bladder cancer at 25°C. Subjects with bladder cancer had statistically significant lower dielectric constant value and higher loss factor value than those of healthy subjects. The dielectric constant correlated negatively with urinary exfoliated urothelial cell number while loss factor correlated positively with urinary exfoliated urothelial cell number.