Multiparametric MRI radiomics fusion for predicting the response and shrinkage pattern to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer

PurposeDuring neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT), breast tumor morphological and vascular characteristics are usually changed. This study aimed to evaluate the tumor shrinkage pattern and response to NACT by preoperative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI), diffuse weighted imaging (DWI) and T2 weighted imaging (T2WI).MethodIn this retrospective analysis, female patients with unilateral unifocal primary breast cancer were included for predicting tumor pathologic/clinical response to NACT (n=216, development set, n=151 and validation set, n=65) and for discriminating the tumor concentric shrinkage (CS) pattern from the others (n=193; development set, n=135 and validation set, n=58). Radiomic features (n=102) of first-order statistical, morphological and textural features were calculated on tumors from the multiparametric MRI. Single- and multiparametric image-based features were assessed separately and were further combined to feed into a random forest-based predictive model. The predictive model was trained in the testing set and assessed on the testing dataset with an area under the curve (AUC). Molecular subtype information and radiomic features were fused to enhance the predictive performance.ResultsThe DCE-MRI-based model showed higher performance (AUCs of 0.919, 0.830 and 0.825 for tumor pathologic response, clinical response and tumor shrinkage patterns, respectively) than either the T2WI or the ADC image-based model. An increased prediction performance was achieved by a model with multiparametric MRI radiomic feature fusion.ConclusionsAll these results demonstrated that multiparametric MRI features and their information fusion could be of important clinical value for the preoperative prediction of treatment response and shrinkage pattern

The prospective outcome of the monkeypox outbreak in 2022 and characterization of monkeypox disease immunobiology

A new threat to global health re-emerged with monkeypox’s advent in early 2022. As of November 10, 2022, nearly 80,000 confirmed cases had been reported worldwide, with most of them coming from places where the disease is not common. There were 53 fatalities, with 40 occurring in areas that had never before recorded monkeypox and the remaining 13 appearing in the regions that had previously reported the disease. Preliminary genetic data suggest that the 2022 monkeypox virus is part of the West African clade; the virus can be transmitted from person to person through direct interaction with lesions during sexual activity. It is still unknown if monkeypox can be transmitted via sexual contact or, more particularly, through infected body fluids. This most recent epidemic’s reservoir host, or principal carrier, is still a mystery. Rodents found in Africa can be the possible intermediate host. Instead, the CDC has confirmed that there are currently no particular treatments for monkeypox virus infection in 2022; however, antivirals already in the market that are successful against smallpox may mitigate the spread of monkeypox. To protect against the disease, the JYNNEOS (Imvamune or Imvanex) smallpox vaccine can be given. The spread of monkeypox can be slowed through measures such as post-exposure immunization, contact tracing, and improved case diagnosis and isolation. Final Thoughts: The latest monkeypox epidemic is a new hazard during the COVID-19 epidemic. The prevailing condition of the monkeypox epidemic along with coinfection with COVID-19 could pose a serious condition for clinicians that could lead to the global epidemic community in the form of coinfection

Fabrication et modélisation de nanostructures SIGe guidées par l' élasticité hétéro-épitaxiale

We investigate here the heteroepitaxy of silicon-germanium (SiGe), a system which is commonly regarded as the stereotype of semiconductor epitaxy. While this system has already attracted a tremendous amount of attention due to its applications for band-gap engineering in microelectronic industry, the major challenge facing the development of new SiGe-based devices remains the con- trollable epitaxial growth of self-assembled nanostructures. It is well-known that SiGe follows a Stranski-Krastanov growth mode, which proceeds via the growth of bi-dimensionnal layers followed by the growth of three-dimensional islands. Under this generic “Stranski-Krastanov” designation, several different behaviors can be identified. An overall understanding of all these behavior is still partially missing due to the complexity and the interplay of kinetics and energetic driving forces, preventing the development of new devices.In this work we focus on the self-assembly of SiGe nanostructures following the quest of light emission for integrated Si-based photonic, optoelectronic and nanoelectronic devices.Even if the innovation in Si-based devices has been boosted recently by the development of ultra-thin body fully depleted silicon on insulator transistors, a real breakthrough would be the demonstration of light emission and/or absorption by group IV elements since it allows the conve- nient integration into the nowadays semiconductors.In this work we first demonstrate the different growth regimes of strained films, i.e. instability versus nucleation regimes. We develop a model which resolves the race of these two growth pathways and unveil the mechanisms of different modes of morphological evolution driven by elasticity.In the second part, we examine in details the natural self-organisation of coherent islands. The direct elastic effect induces repulsion between coherent islands. However, the strain-dependent surface energy which has been overlooked previously in analysis of the island-island interaction is revealed to cause an attraction between islands. It may compensate the direct elastic repulsion during the initial state of nucleation and lead to the clustering of coherent islands.In a third part we study the influence of miscut steps of vicinal substrate on the formation and self-organisation of islands. We demonstrate that the strain relaxation anisotropy produced by the step edges, is at the origin of the instability elongation perpendicular to steps. Quantitative agreement between the instability elongation and the anisotropy of strain relaxation is found, which deepens the understandings of hetero-epitaxial growth on vicinal substrate.In the fourth part we develop a new process based on Ge condensation during thermal oxidation of dilute SiGe. The kinetics of SiGe condensation process is investigated and the fully strained SiGe epilayer is fabricated via this particular condensation process. This process can be applied in fabrication of SiGe core-shell nanostructures, for which the direct deposition and growth process is found to be cumbersome in terms of the control of morphology and composition.As a whole, we studied the nanostructures of SiGe driven by its hetero-epitaxial elasticity. We proposed a model to compare two pathways of morphological evolution of SK growth and unearthed the mechanisms of the race and transition. We studied kinetics of island nucleation under the impact of elastic filed produced by an existing island. The peculiar role of strain-dependent surface energy is highlighted. Then the elasticity anisotropy induced by miscut steps on vicinal substrate is studied theoretically and experimentally. This anisotropy effectively induces the elongation of islands in one direction to form nanowires in good alignment. Then the kinetics of condensation of SiGe is studied, which is found to be an effective method in fabricating strained SiGe nanostructures.Nous étudions ici l’heteroepitaxie du silicium-germanium (SiGe), un système qui est couramment considéré comme le stéréotype de l’´épitaxie des semi-conducteurs. Bien que ce système ait déjà attiré une attention considérable en raison de ses applications pour l’ingénierie des bandes dans l’industrie microélectronique, le défi majeur du développement de nouveaux dispositifs à base de SiGe reste la croissance épitaxiale contrôlable des nanostructures auto-assemblées. Il est bien connu que SiGe suit un mode de croissance de Stranski-Krastanov, qui passe par la croissance de couches bidimensionnelles suivie par la croissance d’ılots tridimensionnels. Sous cette dénomination générique ”Stranski-Krastanov”, plusieurs comportements différents peuvent être identifiés. Une compréhension globale de tous ces comportements est encore partiellement manquante en raison de la complexité et de l’interaction de la cinétique et des forces motrices dynamiques, empêchant le d´développement de nouveaux dispositifs. Dans ce travail, nous nous concentrons sur l’auto- assemblage des nanostructures SiGe à la suite de la quête de l’émission de lumière pour les dispositifs photoniques, optoélectroniques et nanoélectroniques à base de Si. Par Même si l’innovation dans les dispositifs à base de Si a été stimulée récemment par le d´développement de silicium complétement épuisé sur les transistors isolants, une véritable percée serait la démonstration de l´émission de lumière et / ou l’absorption par les éléments du groupe IV, car il permet une intégration pratique dans les semi-conducteurs actuels. Dans ce travail, nous montrons d’abord les différents régimes de croissance des films contraints, c’est-à-dire l’instabilité par rapport aux régimes de nucléation. Nous d´développons un modèle qui résout la course de ces deux voies de croissance et d´dévoile les mécanismes des différents modes d’évolution morphologique entrainés par l’élasticité. Dans la seconde partie, nous examinons en détail l’auto-organisation naturelle des îles cohérentes. L’effet élastique direct induit la répulsion entre les îles cohérentes. Cependant, l’énergie de surface dépendant de la déformation qui a été négligée précédemment dans l’analyse de l’interaction île-île est révélée pour provoquer une attraction entre les iles. Il peut compenser la répulsion élastique directe au cours de l´état initial de la nucléation et conduire au regroupement d’îlots cohérents. Dans une troisième partie, nous étudions l’influence des échelons du substrat vicinal sur la formation et l’auto-organisation des îles. Nous démontrons que l’anisotropie de relaxation de la contrainte produite par les bords des gradins est à l’origine de l’allongement de l’instabilité perpendiculaire aux marches. Un accord quantitatif entre l’allongement de l’instabilité et l’anisotropie de relaxation de la souche est trouvé, ce qui approfondit les compréhensions de la croissance hétéroépitaxiale sur le substrat vicinal. Dans la quatrième partie, nous développons un nouveau procédé basé sur la condensation Ge lors de l’oxydation thermique du SiGe dilué. On étudie la cinétique du procédé de condensation SiGe et on fabrique la couche épandeuse de SiGe totalement contrainte par ce procédé de condensation particulier

<i>Lactiplantibacillus plantarum</i> A1, C1 and C10 Are Potential Probiotics Isolated from Pineapple Residual Silage

The production and consumption of pineapple creates large quantities of residues. Ensiling these residues might help to minimize the waste burden and meet the intensive feed demand for ruminants. Proper lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are not only responsible for pineapple residual silage fermentation, but might also deliver probiotics. The aim of this study was to isolate LAB strains with probiotic functions, and to enhance intestinal antioxidant capacity from naturally fermented pineapple residues. A total of 47 LAB isolates with gram-positive, catalase-negative, nonhemolytic properties were used for probiotic screening. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (L. plantarum) A1, C1 and C10 were susceptible to rifampicin, gentamicin and erythromycin, did not contain virulence factor-coding genes and showed good tolerance to acid (pH 3.0), 0.5% bile salt and simulated gastric and intestinal fluid. Their hydrophobicity indices were 71.92%, 45.50% and 66.90%, respectively. All of them were able to adhere to bovine jejunum epithelial cells (BJECs) and to antagonize Escherichia coli F5 and Salmonella Dublin. These three LAB strains tolerated hydrogen peroxide and significantly decreased (p L. plantarum C1 and C10 significantly increased (p L. plantarum A1, C1 and C10 are potential probiotics isolated from pineapple residual silage. This study aims to promote pineapple residue’s utilization in the feed industry

Air valve arrangement criteria for preventing secondary pipe bursts in long-distance gravitational water supply systems

Pipe burst incidents in long-distance gravitational water supply systems (LGWSSs) result in hydraulic characteristic variations and pose significant challenges. This study aims to prevent secondary pipe bursts by addressing the propagation of water hammer waves triggered by primary pipe bursts. Based on an analysis of pipe burst incidents and considering different pipe laying methods, air valve arrangement criteria are developed to mitigate the risk of secondary bursts in LGWSS pipelines. The principal results include a reasonable mathematical analysis model for understanding pipe bursts and the determination of air valve arrangement criteria which considers potentially dangerous pressure variations resulting from primary pipe bursts. This model aims to mitigate the adverse effects of pipe bursts and minimize the likelihood of secondary bursts. Implementing the proposed criteria has important engineering applications, thus improving the reasonable and effective placement of air valves to prevent secondary pipe bursts in LGWSSs. The conclusion involves optimizing the placement of air valves to enhance the flexibility and reliability of LGWSSs. By implementing the proposed air valve arrangement criteria, water supply systems can minimize the potential damage caused by pipe bursts and improve overall operational efficiency. HIGHLIGHTS The traditional arrangement of air valves with a certain distance apart cannot effectively prevent the secondary tube explosion in the long-distance gravity flow water supply project.; This paper obtained the installation elevation requirements of air valves that can effectively prevent the secondary tube explosion in the long-distance gravity flow water supply project.

Zika virus dysregulates the expression of astrocytic genes involved in neurodevelopment.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a kind of flavivirus emerged in French Polynesia and Brazil, and has led to a worldwide public health concern since 2016. ZIKV infection causes various neurological conditions, which are associated with fetus brain development or peripheral and central nervous systems (PNS/CNS) functional problems. To date, no vaccine or any specific antiviral therapy against ZIKV infection are available. It urgently needs efforts to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms of ZIKV-induced neural pathogenesis. ZIKV favorably infects neural and glial cells specifically astrocytes, consequently dysregulating gene expression and pathways with impairment of process neural cells. In this study, we applied a model for ZIKV replication in mouse primary astrocytes (MPAs) and profiled temporal alterations in the host transcriptomes upon ZIKV infection. Among the RNA-sequencing data of 27,812 genes, we examined 710 genes were significantly differentially expressed by ZIKV, which lead to dysregulation of numerous functions including neurons development and migration, glial cells differentiation, myelinations, astrocytes projection, neurogenesis, and brain development, along with multiple pathways including Hippo signaling pathway, tight junction, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and focal adhesion. Furthermore, we confirmed the dysregulation of the selected genes in MPAs and human astroglioma U251 cells. We found that PTBP1, LIF, GHR, and PTBP3 were upregulated while EDNRB and MBP were downregulated upon ZIKV infection. The current study highlights the ZIKV-mediated potential genes associated with neurodevelopment or related diseases

Correction: EV71 3D Protein Binds with NLRP3 and Enhances the Assembly of Inflammasome Complex.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006123.]

Correction: GP73 represses host innate immune response to promote virus replication by facilitating MAVS and TRAF6 degradation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1006321.]