Probing the link between oestrogen receptors and oesophageal cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human oesophageal carcinoma is considered to be one of the most aggressive malignancies and has a very poor prognosis. The incidence of oesophageal cancer shows a gender bias and is higher in males compared with females, the ratio between males and females varying from 3:1 to 7:1. This sex ratio is not entirely attributable to differences in the prevalence of known risk factors between the sexes. The potential role of oestrogen receptors (ER) in oesophageal cancer has been debated for several years but the significance of the receptors in this cancer remains unknown. Most of the work has been based on immunohistochemistry and has not been validated with other available techniques. The inconsistencies in the published literature on the link between ER expression and oesophageal cancer warrant a thorough evaluation of the potential role of ERs in this malignancy. Even the expression of the two ER isoforms, ERα and ERβ, and its implications for outcome of treatments in histological subtypes of oesophageal tumours is ill defined. The aim of this article is to provide updated information from the available literature on the current status of ER expression in oesophageal cancer and to discuss its potential therapeutic role.</p> <p>Methods and Results</p> <p>We performed a comprehensive literature search and analysed the results regarding ER expression in oesophageal tumours with special emphasis on expression of different oestrogen receptors and the role of sex hormones in oesophageal cancer. This article also focuses on the significance of the two main ER subtypes and mechanisms underlying the presumed male predominance of this disease.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We postulate that differential oestrogen receptor status may be considered a biomarker of poor clinical outcome based on tissue dedifferentiation or advanced stage of the disease. Further, if we can establish the importance of oestrogen and its receptors in the context of oesophageal cancer, then this may lead to a new future direction in the management of this malignancy.</p

Two approaches for synthesizing scalable residential energy consumption data

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. Many fields require scalable and detailed energy consumption data for different study purposes. However, due to privacy issues, it is often difficult to obtain sufficiently large datasets. This paper proposes two different methods for synthesizing fine-grained energy consumption data for residential households, namely a regression-based method and a probability-based method. They each use a supervised machine learning method, which trains models with a relatively small real-world dataset and then generates large-scale time series based on the models. This paper describes the two methods in details, including data generation process, optimization techniques, and parallel data generation. This paper evaluates the performance of the two methods, which compare the resulting consumption profiles with real-world data, including patterns, statistics, and parallel data generation in the cluster. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methods and their efficiency in generating large-scale datasets

A reinforcement learning recommender system using bi-clustering and Markov Decision Process

Collaborative filtering (CF) recommender systems are static in nature and does not adapt well with changing user preferences. User preferences may change after interaction with a system or after buying a product. Conventional CF clustering algorithms only identifies the distribution of patterns and hidden correlations globally. However, the impossibility of discovering local patterns by these algorithms, headed to the popularization of bi-clustering algorithms. Bi-clustering algorithms can analyze all dataset dimensions simultaneously and consequently, discover local patterns that deliver a better understanding of the underlying hidden correlations. In this paper, we modelled the recommendation problem as a sequential decision-making problem using Markov Decision Processes (MDP). To perform state representation for MDP, we first converted user-item votings matrix to a binary matrix. Then we performed bi-clustering on this binary matrix to determine a subset of similar rows and columns. A bi-cluster merging algorithm is designed to merge similar and overlapping bi-clusters. These bi-clusters are then mapped to a squared grid (SG). RL is applied on this SG to determine best policy to give recommendation to users. Start state is determined using Improved Triangle Similarity (ITR similarity measure. Reward function is computed as grid state overlapping in terms of users and items in current and prospective next state. A thorough comparative analysis was conducted, encompassing a diverse array of methodologies, including RL-based, pure Collaborative Filtering (CF), and clustering methods. The results demonstrate that our proposed method outperforms its competitors in terms of precision, recall, and optimal policy learning

Optimized image processing and clustering to mitigate security threats in mobile ad hoc network

Since there are provisions of many attributes that are not possible or difficult to follow by networks conventionally, mobile ad-hoc networks are extensively deployed. This application starts through the defense sectors, the sensory node presents in the hostile territories down to the gadgets for congestion communication in traffic by general transportation when travelling for adequate provision of infrastructure during disaster recovery. As a lot of importance related to (mobile ad hoc network) MANET application, one important factor in ad-hoc networks is security. Using image processing for securing MANET is the area of focus of this research. Therefore, in this article, the security threats are assessed and representative proposals are summarized in ad-hoc network’s context. The study reviewed the current situation of the art for original to security provision called mobile ad hoc network for wireless networking. The threats to security are recognized while the present solution is observed. The study additionally summarized education erudite, talks on general issues and future instructions are recognized. Also, in this study, the forecast weighted clustering algorithm (FWCA) is employed as a cluster head over weighted clustering algorithm (WCA) is examined as quality in cluster-based routing, service is highly significant with MANET

A novel mutation in the Choroideremia gene in a Turkish family.

Choroideremia is an X-linked recessive genetic disorder caused by mutations in the CHM gene. It is a rare retinal dystrophy that manifests as nyctalopia and vision loss, progressing to blindness in later stages. We report a 21-year Turkish man who presented with nyctalopia for the past 4-5 years. His mother and maternal grandmother had similar, but less pronounced complaints. Fundus examination revealed pigmentary changes and retinal atrophy in both eyes. Optical coherence tomography showed outer retinal loss, with central island of preserved autofluorescence surrounded by absent autofluorescence on fundus autofluorescence examination. Goldmann visual fields were constricted. Microperimetry detected retinal sensitivity losses, and full-field electroretinogram demonstrated extinguished cone responses. Genetic analysis revealed a novel nonsense mutation in the CHM gene, namely p.E480X: c.1438G \u3eT. The mutation causes a premature stop codon in exon 12. This is the first report of a G1438T mutation resulting in an E480X premature stop in the CHM gene

Accidental finding of a toothpick in the porta hepatis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Unintentional ingestion of a toothpick is not an uncommon event. Often the ingested toothpicks spontaneously pass through the gut without sequelae. However, serious complications can happen when these sharp objects migrate through the gastrointestinal wall.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>In the current report, we describe the case of a 37-year-old Caucasian woman with an incidental finding of a toothpick in the porta hepatis during laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic gall stones.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Toothpick ingestion is not an uncommon event and can predispose patients to serious complications. In this particular case, the toothpick was only discovered at the time of unrelated surgery. Therefore, it was important during surgery to exclude any related or missed injury to the adjacent structures by this sharp object.</p