bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dual-energy CT with virtual monoenergetic images and iodine maps improves tumor conspicuity in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Liang Hongwei , Zhou Yang , Zheng Qiao , Yan Gaowu , Liao Hongfan , Du Silin , Zhang Xiaohui , Lv Fajin , Zhang Zhiwei , Li Yong-mei 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Objectives
To evaluate the value of monoenergetic images (MEI [+]) and iodine maps in dual-source dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) for assessing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), including the visually isoattenuating PDAC.

Materials and methods
This retrospective study included 75 PDAC patients, who underwent contrast-enhanced DECT examinations. Conventional polyenergetic image (PEI) and 40–80 keV MEI (+) (10-keV increments) were reconstructed. The tumor contrast, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of the tumor and peripancreatic vessels, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the pancreas and tumor, and the tumor diameters were quantified. On iodine maps, the normalized iodine concentration (NIC) in the tumor and parenchyma was compared. For subjective analysis, two radiologists independently evaluated images on a 5-point scale.

Results
All the quantitative parameters were maximized at 40-keV MEI (+) and decreased gradually with increasing energy. The tumor contrast, SNR of pancreas and CNRs in 40–60 keV MEI (+) were significantly higher than those in PEI (p < 0.05). For visually isoattenuating PDAC, 40–50 keV MEI (+) provided significantly higher tumor CNR compared to PEI (p < 0.05). The reproducibility in tumor measurements was highest in 40-keV MEI (+) between the two radiologists. The tumor and parenchyma NIC were 1.28 ± 0.65 and 3.38 ± 0.72 mg/mL, respectively (p < 0.001). 40–50 keV MEI (+) provided the highest subjective scores, compared to PEI (p < 0.001).

Conclusions
Low-keV MEI (+) of DECT substantially improves the subjective and objective image quality and consistency of tumor measurements in patients with PDAC. Combining the low-keV MEI (+) and iodine maps may yield diagnostically adequate tumor conspicuity in visually isoattenuating PDAC.
Radiochemotherapy-induced DNA repair promotes the biogenesis of gastric cancer stem cells
Authors: Lu Yu , Zhang Xiaobo 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
Clinically, metastasis and recurrence occurred after routine radiochemotherapy in dozens of cases of gastric cancer, mainly attributed to the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Actually, radiochemotherapy could induce DNA damages, leading to activation of DNA repair which might be associated with acquisition of stem cell phenotype. Hitherto, the contribution made by active DNA repair to stemness induction has not been extensively explored.

Methods
Cisplatin/doxorubicin treatment and X-ray exposure were conducted in gastric cancer cell lines and gastric cancer cells derived from solid tumors to model clinical therapy. Quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot, and tumorsphere/tumor formation assay were further used to characterize CSCs and assess activation of DNA repair. RNA-seq was performed to identify which DNA repair genes were crucial for CSC traits induction, followed by the investigation of underlying mechanism and functional significance via in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Results
Here, we report a mechanism through which gastric cancer cells in response to radiochemotherapy were reprogrammed into gastric cancer stem cell-like cells. In this mechanism, radiochemotherapy triggers DNA damage response accompanied by elevated levels of EID3, a typical DNA repair gene, which interacts with NAMPT to promote stemness via upregulating Wnt signaling pathway, manifested by enhanced tumorsphere/tumor formation in gastric cancer. In addition to involvement of EID3 in stemness acquisition, it also shows impacts on proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis and therapy resistance to maintain the characteristics of CSC populations.

Conclusion
Our study indicates that gastric cancer cells can be endowed with stemness traits via EID3-NAMPT-Wnt/β-catenin axis in response to radiochemotherapy. Blocking this axis (i.e., targeting EID3) along with radiochemotherapy might represent a potential strategy to sensitize CSCs to radiochemotherapy and further reinforce the anti-tumor effects of conventional treatments.
Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosome-educated macrophages alleviate systemic lupus erythematosus by promoting efferocytosis and recruitment of IL-17+ regulatory T cell
Authors: Zhang Mingchao , Johnson-Stephenson Takerra K. , Wang Weiran , Wang Yang , Li Jing , Li Limin , Zen Ke , Chen Xi , Zhu Dihan 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
Anti-inflammatory polarized macrophages are reported to alleviate systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Our previous studies have demonstrated that exosomes from adipose-derived stem cells promote the anti-inflammatory polarization of macrophages. However, the possible therapeutic effect of exosomes from stem cells on SLE remains unexplored.

Methods
Exosomes were isolated from the conditioned medium of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells using ultrafiltration and size-exclusion chromatography and were identified by nanoparticle tracking analysis and immunoblotting of exosomal-specific markers. Macrophages were collected from the MRL/lpr mouse kidney. The phenotype of macrophages was identified by immunoblotting for intracellular markers-inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and arginase-1 (Arg-1), and flow cytometry for macrophage markers F4/80, CD86, CD206, B7H4, and CD138. Pristane-induced murine lupus nephritis models were employed for in vivo study.

Results
When macrophages from the kidney of the MRL/lpr mice were treated with exosomes from bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs), the upregulation of CD206, B7H4, CD138, Arg-1, CCL20, and anti-inflammatory cytokines was observed, which suggested that the macrophages were polarized to a specific anti-inflammatory phenotype. These anti-inflammatory macrophages produced low levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) but had a high efferocytosis activity and promoted regulatory T (Treg) cell recruitment. Moreover, exosome injection stimulated the anti-inflammatory polarization of macrophages and increased the production of IL-17+ Treg cells in a pristane-induced murine lupus nephritis model. We observed that exosomes from BMMSCs depleted of microRNA-16 (miR-16) and microRNA-21 (miR-21) failed to downregulate PDCD4 and PTEN in macrophages, respectively, and attenuated exosome-induced anti-inflammatory polarization.

Conclusion
Our findings provide evidence that exosomes from BMMSCs promote the anti-inflammatory polarization of macrophages. These macrophages alleviate SLE nephritis in lupus mice by consuming apoptotic debris and inducing the recruitment of Treg cells. We identify that exosomal delivery of miR-16 and miR-21 is a significant contributor to the polarization of macrophages.

Graphical abstract
A homozygous PIWIL2 frameshift variant affects the formation and maintenance of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived spermatogonial stem cells and causes Sertoli cell-only syndrome
Authors: Wang Xiaotong , Li Zili , Qu Mengyuan , Xiong Chengliang , Li Honggang 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
The most serious condition of male infertility is complete Sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS), which refers to the lack of all spermatogenic cells in the testes. The genetic cause of SCOS remains to be explored. We aimed to investigate the genetic cause of SCOS and assess the effects of the identified causative variant on human male germ cells.

Methods
Whole-exome sequencing was performed to identify potentially pathogenic variants in a man with complete SCOS, and Sanger sequencing was performed to verify the causative variant in this man and his father and brother. The pathogenic mechanisms of the causative variant were investigated by in vitro differentiation of human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into germ cell-like cells.

Results
The homozygous loss-of-function (LoF) variant p.His244ArgfsTer31 (c.731_732delAT) in PIWIL2 was identified as the causative variant in the man with complete SCOS, and the same variant in heterozygosis was confirmed in his father and brother. This variant resulted in a truncated PIWIL2 protein lacking all functional domains, and no PIWIL2 expression was detected in the patient’s testes. The patient and PIWIL2−/− hiPSCs could be differentiated into primordial germ cell-like cells and spermatogonial stem cell-like cells (SSCLCs) in vitro, but the formation and maintenance of SSCLCs were severely impaired. RNA-seq analyses suggested the inactivation of the Wnt signaling pathway in the process of SSCLC induction in the PIWIL2−/− group, which was validated in the patient group by RT-qPCR. The Wnt signaling pathway inhibitor hindered the formation and maintenance of SSCLCs during the differentiation of normal hiPSCs.

Conclusions
Our study revealed the pivotal role of PIWIL2 in the formation and maintenance of human spermatogonial stem cells. We provided clinical and functional evidence that the LoF variant in PIWIL2 is a genetic cause of SCOS, which supported the potential role of PIWIL2 in genetic diagnosis. Furthermore, our results highlighted the applicability of in vitro differentiation models to function validation experiments.
TNFAIP6 defines the MSC subpopulation with enhanced immune suppression activities
Authors: Li Lingyun , Yang Lei , Chen Xian , Chen Xiangjuan , Diao Lianghui , Zeng Yong , Xu Jianyong 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackgroundMesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) have been intensively investigated in both pre-clinical and clinical studies. However, the therapeutic efficacy varies resulting from the heterogenicity of MSCs. Therefore, purifying the specific MSC subpopulation with specialized function is necessary for their therapeutic applications.MethodsThe large-scale RNA sequencing analysis was performed to identify potential cell markers for the mouse MSCs. Then, the immune suppression activities of the purified MSC subpopulation were assessed in vitro and in vivo.ResultsThe TNFAIP6 (tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 6) has been identified as a potential cell marker for mouse MSCs, irrespective of tissue origin and laboratory origin. The TNFAIP6+mouse MSCs showed enhanced immune suppression activities and improved therapeutic effects on the mouse model of acute inflammation, resulting from faster response to immune stimulation.ConclusionsTherefore, we have demonstrated that the TNFAIP6+MSC subpopulation has enhanced immune suppression capabilities.
Herpesviridae lung reactivation and infection in patients with severe COVID-19 or influenza virus pneumonia: a comparative study
Authors: Luyt Charles-Edouard , Burrel Sonia , Mokrani David , Pineton de Chambrun Marc , Luyt Domitille , Chommeloux Juliette , Guiraud Vincent , Bréchot Nicolas , Schmidt Matthieu , Hekimian Guillaume , Combes Alain , Boutolleau David 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
Lung reactivations of Herpesviridae, herpes simplex virus (HSV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) have been reported in COVID-19 patients. Whether or not those viral reactivations are more frequent than in other patients is not known.

Methods
Retrospective monocentric cohort study of 145 patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia requiring invasive mechanical ventilation and who were tested for HSV and CMV in bronchoalveolar lavage performed during fiberoptic bronchoscopy for ventilator-associated pneumonia suspicion. Rates of HSV and CMV lung reactivations, and HSV bronchopneumonitis were assessed and compared with an historical cohort of 89 patients with severe influenza pneumonia requiring invasive mechanical ventilation.

Results
Among the 145 COVID-19 patients included, 50% and 42% had HSV and CMV lung reactivations, respectively, whereas among the 89 influenza patients, 63% and 28% had HSV and CMV lung reactivations, respectively. Cumulative incidence of HSV lung reactivation (taking into account extubation and death as competing events) was higher in influenza than in COVID-19 patients (p = 0.03), whereas the rate of HSV bronchopneumonitis was similar in both groups (31% and 25%, respectively). Cumulative incidence of CMV lung reactivation (taking into account extubation and death as competing events) was similar in COVID-19 and influenza patients (p = 0.07). Outcomes of patients with HSV or CMV lung reactivations were similar to that of patients without, whatever the underlying conditions, i.e., in COVID-19 patients, in influenza patients, or when all patients were grouped.

Conclusions
HSV and CMV lung reactivations are frequent in COVID-19 patients, but not more frequent than in patients with influenza-associated severe pneumonia, despite a higher severity of illness at intensive care unit admission of the latter and a longer duration of mechanical ventilation of the former. Although no impact on outcome of HSV and CMV lung reactivations was detected, the effect of antiviral treatment against these Herpesviridae remains to be determined in these patients.
Directional modulation techniques for secure wireless communication: a comprehensive survey
Authors: Ansari Omar , Amin Muhammad 
Published: September 2022

AbstractDirectional Modulation (DM) techniques provide wireless communication security against passive eavesdropping by means of specific physical layer characteristics. The original symbol constellations are transmitted along pre-specified spatial direction of legitimate users, while phase-amplitude distorted symbols are transmitted along the undesired directions of eavesdropper. In this paper, a comprehensive review of DM techniques and the most recent developments in this area are discussed. An analysis from three independent Physical Layer Security (PLS) viewpoints; communications, information-theoretic and cryptographic perspective is presented. Different performance metrics in literature are compared and the need for unified PLS approach is emphasized. As DM techniques constitute a relatively new class of PLS, there is no systematic organization of these techniques so far. This paper presents a classification framework for DM comprising of two main categories; angular (1D) and range-angular (2D) techniques. The former secures data along angular direction of physical space, while the latter provides security within certain range (distance) from the transmitter along desired angular direction. Further sub-categorization is based on the under-lying physical layer parameters exploited to achieve security, i.e. space, time, frequency, phase and polarization. The proposed framework is generic, flexible and extend-able to future research. In the end, limitations of existing techniques are pointed out and research directions are suggested.
60 GHz RF module with beam-steering optimization algorithm for high data rate access and backhaul communications
Authors: Aziz Imran , Franzén Björn , Öjefors Erik , Dancila Dragos 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThis paper presents an 802.11ad-based radio frequency module for high data rate fixed wireless access and backhaul communications. The transceiver chip is manufactured in SiGe BiCMOS technology covering 57–71 GHz, providing 16 RX and 16 TX paths with combined output power of more than 20 dBm. The chip is packaged using embedded wafer-level BGA technology of the size $$12.6\times 12.6\times 0.8~{\text{ mm }}^3$$

12.6
×
12.6
×
0.8

mm

3

and employs advanced dielectric materials with 2 metallic redistribution layers. The package integrates the transceiver chip with RX and TX high gain PCB antenna arrays, allowing effective isotropic radiated power (EIRP) of more than 40 dBm. Beam steering is achieved in ± 50$$^{\circ }$$

∘

by the transceiver through providing appropriate weights to the antenna arrays. The paper presents generation of beamforming lookup table along with optimization of the power distribution to the array. This optimization results in flattening of the EIRP over the whole beam-steering range and frequency bandwidth. The module allows for data rates up to 10 Gbps by employing full-channel 128 QAM and half-channel 256 QAM single-carrier modulation.
Adapting step size algorithms for solving split equilibrium problems with applications to signal recovery
Authors: Mekruksavanich Sakorn , Kaewyong Nattakarn , Jitpattanakul Anuchit , Sitthithakerngkiet Kanokwan 
Published: September 2022

AbstractRecent developments in split equilibrium problems (SEPs) have found practical applications in convex optimization problems, information theory, and signal processing. In this paper, we present three novel algorithms with no prior knowledge of the operator norm of a bounded linear operator to approximated solutions for SEPs. Strong convergence results are well presented under appropriate conditions. In addition, we illustrate our main results by providing various numerical examples. Their computational performances are compared with those previously studied in the literature, and the results are presented by showing numerical implementation of the sparse sensor signal recovery problem.
Equal-norm Parseval K-frames in Hilbert spaces with a new inequality
Authors: Sadri Vahid , Rahimlou Gholamreza 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe focus of this paper is mainly on the frames of operators orK-frames on Hilbert spaces in Parseval cases. Since equal-norm tight frames play an important role for transmitting robust data, we aim to study this topic on ParsevalK-frames. We find that each finite set of equal-norm of vectors can be extended to an equal-normK-frame. We also find a correspondence between ParsevalK-frames and the set of all closed subspaces of a finite Hilbert space. Furthermore, we provide a construction of dual equal-normK-frames.
Study protocol for an adapted personal project analysis to measure vertical inter-goal relations on physical activity and diet
Authors: Kassas Sara , Culot Catherine , Crombez Geert , Smeding Annique , Leys Christophe , Thompson Debbe , DeSmet Ann 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
The promotion of multiple healthy lifestyles has been implemented as part of public health efforts to prevent and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases. However, these interventions have shown a heterogeneity in their effectiveness. The pursuit of multiple daily goals may influence overall progress in achieving health goals. Horizontal inter-goal relations can be conflicting (due to time constraints) or facilitating (due to goal compatibility) and impact progress towards goal achievement. Personal values also play an important role in health promotion. Personal values direct attention towards accomplishing a higher-level goal through goal setting. Identifying the conflicting or facilitating relationships between health goals and personal values would provide insights in how individuals value health and the personal values that may support the adoption of a healthy behavior. The health goals that this study will focus on are physical activity and a healthy diet.

Methods
Participants between 18 and 30 years old residing in Belgium and interested in a healthy diet and/or physical activity, will be recruited. The study will be a mixed-methods research study based on an adapted personal project analysis for goal elicitation, goal appraisal, and rating of inter-goal conflicting or facilitating relations on a cross-impact matrix. The main objectives include examining the conflicting and facilitating relations between health goals and personal values. Secondary objectives include: examining correlations between horizontal and vertical goal relations; and the goal self-concordance score as a method of data triangulation of facilitating relations between goals and personal values.

Discussion
This study will provide insights into how the emerging adult population relate healthy behaviors, specifically physical activity and a healthy diet, to their personal values. The degree to which individuals are able to pursue a health goal is also influenced by other life goals, and therefore the conflicting and facilitating relations between health goals and other life goals will also be examined. This study contributes to multiple health behavior change theories and has implications for the formulation of interventions for the promotion of healthy behaviors.
Stem cambial variants of Taiwan lianas
Authors: Yang Sheng-Zehn , Chen Po-Hao , Chen Jian-Jhong 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
Cambium in lianas, responsible for secondary growth, develop diverse and diagnostic traits during the climbing phase. Studies on the cross-section of Taiwanese liana cambial variants are scarce. We collected multiple stem cross-sections from 287 liana species belonging to 52 families. Each sample was examined on five occasions, and the observations were documented.

Results
The results showed that approximately 22 cambial variants types were displayed in Taiwan lianas. Among these, axial vascular elements in radial segments were the most common, followed by the variants with the irregular conformation and intraxylary phloem. Based on our assessment, we provide the following identification features of a few families: Apocynaceae had intraxylary phloem; Convolvulaceae had intraxylary phloem combined with successive cambia; Lardizabalaceae, Menispermaceae, and Ranunculaceae possessed axial vascular elements in segments; Piperaceae had external primary vascular bundle cylinder combined with axial vascular elements in segments; Vitaceae had axial vascular elements in segments combined with irregular conformation. Axial vascular elements in segments and intraxylary phloem appeared in six or five combination types, showing that these two types combined with many variants are helpful for the identification of lianas. Two species, Momordica charantia var. abbreviata, and Momordica cochinchinensis had a cambium element in the outer cylinder of cortical bicollateral vascular bundles and formed directional layers of successive cambia.

Conclusions
Our study documented regular secondary growth with a single cambium in 36 species and cambial variants present in 16 species of Taiwanese lianas. Furthermore, we provide crucial baseline data on liana cambial variations, thereby improving our understanding of their morphology and identification.