Circulating tumor cells in pancreatic cancer:The prognostic impact in surgical patients

Pancreatic cancer is associated with a poor prognosis,even in the early stages,mainly due to metastatic progression.New diagnostic techniques that predict unfavorable outcomes are needed in order to improve treatment strategies.Circulating tumor cells(CTCs)are showing promising results as a predictive biomarker for various tumors.In this editorial we comment on the article by Zhang et al,who published the first systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the prognostic value of CTCs as biomarkers in early-stage pancreatic cancer patients undergoing surgery.CTCs were detected in peripheral or central venous system blood,before or during surgery.Positive CTCs showed a correlation with decreased overall survival and decreased relapse-free,disease-free and progression-free survival in this meta-analysis.However,the heterogeneity was significant.The authors suggest that this result was related to the separation methods used between studies,but other differences such as the margin status or the neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatments used are also important to consider.CTCs may be a potential prognostic biomarker in pancreatic cancer patients,but it is necessary to compare and standardize the platforms used to isolate CTCs,to compare different biomarkers from liquid biopsy and to determine the impact on prognosis when therapeutic changes are made based on CTCs levels.

Hyoid metastasis an unusual location from lung cancer

Bone metastases from lung cancer account for 8.5%,with those located in the hyoid bone being extremely rare.In this editorial,we made a review about Hsu et al case report highlighted the importance of palliative radiotherapy,even with an unusual but effective scheme in pain control in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer in stage IV.

Vitamin D and prostate cancer prevention

Vitamin D is a hot topic nowadays,especially its relationship with cancer pre-vention.Normally,vitamin D is associated with bone health principally,but the new research has discovered an impact on immune function and cellular sig-naling,even in same studies talk about a hormone,however,the most important relationship is its implication in cellular processes,inhibiting cancer growth.For now,the recent studies are oriented about a benefit and a cause-effect relationship between prostate cancer and normal levels of vitamin D.This premise opens a lot of questions in this scenario.This editorial highlighted the most important studies in this area.

Potential role of transmembrane 9 superfamily member 1 as a biomarker in urothelial cancer

Bladder cancer is a urological tumor with high rates of recurrence despite recent advances in novel therapies.Many proteins involved in the molecular mechanisms are currently an enigma,especially the transmembrane 9 superfamily member 1 which has an unclear function.Wei et al published the function and mechanism of this protein,and showed that it could participate in the proliferation,migration and invasion of tumor cells in bladder cancer,therefore treatments directed against this protein may be beneficial in avoiding this condition.

Elucidating regulatory processes of intense physical activity by multi-omics analysis

Background:Physiological and biochemical processes across tissues of the body are regulated in response to the high demands of intense physical activity in several occupations,such as firefighting,law enforcement,military,and sports.A better understanding of such processes can ultimately help improve human performance and prevent illnesses in the work environment.Methods:To study regulatory processes in intense physical activity simulating real-life conditions,we performed a multi-omics analysis of 3 biofluids(blood plasma,urine,and saliva)collected from 11 wildland firefighters before and after a 45 min,intense exercise regimen.Omics profiles post-vs.pre-exercise were compared by Student’s t-test followed by pathway analysis and comparison between the different omics modalities.Results:Our multi-omics analysis identified and quantified 3835 proteins,730 lipids and 182 metabolites combining the 3 different types of samples.The blood plasma analysis revealed signatures of tissue damage and acute repair response accompanied by enhanced carbon metabolism to meet energy demands.The urine analysis showed a strong,concomitant regulation of 6 out of 8 identified proteins from the renin-angiotensin system supporting increased excretion of catabolites,reabsorption of nutrients and maintenance of fluid balance.In saliva,we observed a decrease in 3 pro-inflammatory cytokines and an increase in 8 antimicrobial peptides.A systematic literature review identified 6 papers that support an altered susceptibility to respiratory infection.Conclusions:This study shows simultaneous regulatory signatures in biofluids indicative of homeostatic maintenance during intense physical activity with possible effects on increased infection susceptibility,suggesting that caution against respiratory diseases could benefit workers on highly physical demanding jobs.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients with COVID-19 in Parakou in 2021

Introduction: Coronavirus 19 disease (COVID-19) often presents several serious complications in patients. 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] deficiency is considered a risk factor for severe forms of the disease. Objective: The objective of this work was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with vitamin D deficiency in patients with COVID-19 in Parakou in 2021. Methods: The method used was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study with prospective data collection that covered the period of August 1, 2021, to December 30, 2021. It concerned patients with COVID-19, symptomatic or not, in the commune of Parakou, selected by non-probability sampling. The 25(OH)D assay was performed by an enzyme immunoassay using the heterogeneous phase competition technique. Logistic regression was used to determine the factors associated with 25(OH)D deficiency at the 5% threshold. Results: A total of 197 patients with COVID-19 were included in the study with a mean age of 35.4 ± 15.2 years;with a female predominance (52.3%). The overall prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency was 31.5% (95% CI [25.1 - 38.5]);it was 32.0% in females and 30.8% in males. 25(OH)D deficiency was more observed in patients ≥ 60 years than in patients < 60 years with no significant difference (p = 0.121), and in females (32.0%) than in males (30.8%) with no significant difference either (p = 0.857). Diabetes (p = 0.036), overweight or obesity (p = 0.032), severe disease forms (p = 0.003) and rhinitis (p = 0.009) were significantly associated with 25(OH)D deficiency. Conclusion: One-third of patients with COVID-19 in Parakou in 2021 were 25(OH)D deficient. 25(OH)D deficiency is associated with the severe form of the disease and with comorbidities justifying supplementation of this vitamin to patients with COVID-19.

Effects of stand types on recreational preferences of society in the Sub-Alpine Zone,northern Turkey

The main objective of this study was to examine how different stand types influenced the tendency of visitors for varying recreational activities(i.e.,hiking,trekking,camping and hunting)from 1993 to 2018 in the surrounding areas of Uluyayla Natural Recreation Site in Bart1n,northern Turkey.A total of 627 visitors were selected on a voluntary basis,and questioned in the form of questionnaire.Most of the participants were in the age of 21-40 years old,and they were mostly(62.4%)male.Most of the participants(82.7%)lived in cities,while 62.8%of them were tourists when visiting the site.In determining the preferences of the visitors regarding the stand types for different recreational activities,several images of each stand were shared with them,and they were asked which stand type they would prefer for a given recreation activity(i.e.,hiking,tracking,camping and hunting).A range of options from 1 to 5 in Likert's scale was used in evaluating the given responses.The degree of positive and negative effects was examined via trend analysis.It was found that stand type had influence on the preferences of visitors regarding the recreational activities.In general,unmanaged and moderately treated stands were more preferred by visitors for the recreational purposes,compared to the previously managed stands.On the other hand,visitors'preference for the activities were different during two periods(i.e.,1993-2005 and 2006-2018).For each recreational activity,there was an increasing trend from 1993 to 2018.There had been a continuous increase for hunting since 1996,and for trekking and camping after 1999.The increases between 1993-1996 and 1996-1999 were likely due to the increasing awareness of the society as a result of the training and consciousness raising activities for nature conservation.The demand on the recreational activities continuously increased in unmanaged and moderately treated stands,while no significant changes were examined in the previously managed stands.The study points out that forest planning and management should consider different needs of visitors for recreational infrastructure.

Geolocator study reveals east African migration route of Central European Common Terns

Background: The majority of European Common Terns(Sterna hirundo) migrate south along the western coast of Europe and Africa, while birds from eastern regions are known to cross the Mediterranean Sea from east to west or migrate along the eastern African coast. The migration route of north European terns wintering along the coast of western Africa was already described using geolocator data, while knowledge about movements of the European inland populations is based only on relatively scarce recoveries of ringed birds.Methods: We used light-level geolocators in inland Common Tern colonies in Hungary and Croatia to study their migration route and to identify wintering areas along with stopover sites. Results revealed by geolocators were compared with recoveries of ringed birds.Results: All tracked birds used the east African migration route with autumn stopovers at Lower Nile and in the southern part of the Red Sea, and short spring stopover in Israel. Terns wintered along Kenyan coasts and in the southern Mozambique Channel. Autumn migration lasted four times longer than spring migration.Conclusions: This is the first geolocator study that describes the east African migration route of the Common Tern. Important stopover sites were identified. More studies of inland populations are needed to better elucidate tern winter movements.

Characterization and Risk Assessment of the Collapse of the Woody Stand of Ecosystems of the Fathala Forest (Saloum Delta Biosphere Reserve-Senegal)

The objective of this study is to characterize and assess the risk of collapse of woody plant formations in the Fathala forest. In recent years, this forest has suffered a sharp reduction in its plant cover to the point of compromising the survival of populations of certain animal species such as the Red colobuses. The methods used are respectively constituted by the transect method, the dendrometric statements method and that of establishing the red list of ecosystems of the IUCN. The specific richness comprises 56 species divided into 47 genera and 22 families. The density is higher in the unfenced area (369 ind/ha in clear forest and 53 ind/ha in gallery forest) compared to the fenced area (160 ind/ha in clear forest versus 48 ind/ha in gallery forest). A study of the plant formations shows a strong degradation of the ecosystems passing from a clear and dry Sudanese forest to a wooded savannah. The cover rate in the fenced area is 20% in gallery forests and 25% in clear forests;in the unfenced area, it is 19% and 23% in gallery forests and clear forests, respectively. The application of the IUCN criteria shows an annual rate of collapse is -6 ind/ha in gallery forests and -4 ind/ha in clear forests. The annual rate of cover collapse would be -3.75% and -2.9% for gallery forests and clear forests, respectively. These results classify the forest in the Critically Endangered category. The main factors responsible for this degradation are, among others, anthropogenic actions and climatic pejoration. These results could constitute a basic tool for undertaking an improvement in the management of this forest, which is a living environment for an animal species.

A Comparison of the Genetic Shaft Types of Some Karst Areas Based on Their Specific Shaft Lengths

Shaft development can be documented on the basis of comparative studies of specific shaft lengths and shaft patterns.We calculated the specific length of shafts and the average specific shaft length of the shafts in some karst areas and we investigated the relation between the altitude of shaft floors and the specific shaft length.Taking the registered specific shaft lengths and the shaft patterns into consideration,it can be stated that some parts of the shafts developed paragenetically in the studied karst areas.In the Bakony Region,this was caused by surface water influx,rise of karst water level,and their simultaneous effect.As a result,shaft systems,bifurcating shafts and storeyed shafts developed.On glaciokarst areas,shafts may constitute a system with phreatic passages:either because a phreatic environment developed in the vadose zone due to the permanent impoundment of karst water or because a phreatic passage got into the vadose zone since the karst became elevated.On the studied karst areas,the following shaft development types are distinguished:glacial-high mountain surface flood development type(1),glacial-high mountain karst water and surface flood development type(2),glacial karst water and surface flood later phreatic development type(3),shaft with a passage that got into the vadose zone(4).

Machine learning for automated experimentation in scanning transmission electron microscopy

Machine learning(ML)has become critical for post-acquisition data analysis in(scanning)transmission electron microscopy,(S)TEM,imaging and spectroscopy.An emerging trend is the transition to real-time analysis and closed-loop microscope operation.The effective use of ML in electron microscopy now requires the development of strategies for microscopy-centric experiment workflow design and optimization.Here,we discuss the associated challenges with the transition to active ML,including sequential data analysis and out-of-distribution drift effects,the requirements for edge operation,local and cloud data storage,and theory in the loop operations.Specifically,we discuss the relative contributions of human scientists and ML agents in the ideation,orchestration,and execution of experimental workflows,as well as the need to develop universal hyper languages that can apply across multiple platforms.These considerations will collectively inform the operationalization of ML in next-generation experimentation.

Rapid and flexible segmentation of electron microscopy data using few-shot machine learning

Automatic segmentation of key microstructural features in atomic-scale electron microscope images is critical to improved understanding of structure–property relationships in many important materials and chemical systems.However,the present paradigm involves time-intensive manual analysis that is inherently biased,error-prone,and unable to accommodate the large volumes of data produced by modern instrumentation.While more automated approaches have been proposed,many are not robust to a high variety of data,and do not generalize well to diverse microstructural features and material systems.Here,we present a flexible,semi-supervised few-shot machine learning approach for segmentation of scanning transmission electron microscopy images of three oxide material systems:(1)epitaxial heterostructures of SrTiO_(3)/Ge,(2)La_(0.8)Sr_(0.2)FeO_(3) thin films,and(3)MoO_(3) nanoparticles.We demonstrate that the few-shot learning method is more robust against noise,more reconfigurable,and requires less data than conventional image analysis methods.This approach can enable rapid image classification and microstructural feature mapping needed for emerging high-throughput characterization and autonomous microscope platforms.

Estimation of age and growth and mortality parameters of the sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus (Ludwig, 1875) and implications for the management of its fishery in the Galapagos Marine Reserve

The fishery of the sea cucumber Isostichopus fuscus was the most important one in the early 2000s in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.Its overexploitation leads to its total closure from 2016 to 2021.At the end of this period,if the co-management system of the Galapagos Marine Reserve decides to open this fishery,a total allowed catch must be established using the methodology of Wolff,Schuhbauer,and Castrejón(2012).The objective of this paper is to evaluate this methodology and improve the total allowed catch calculation.We replicated Wolff et al.‘s methodology that uses the Cadima equation of Maximum Sustainable Yield(in Troadec,1977).We determined the age and growth parameters of I.fuscus to estimate total mortality and improved the calculation of the area of fishing and habitat of this species in Galapagos to estimate its abundance.We found inconsistences in Wolff et al.‘s estimations of mortality and abundance and we recommend that the Maximum Sustainable Yield be used not as the total allowed catch,but as a limit reference point for this fishery.We propose,instead,to use a dynamic abundance model that is capable of estimating a variety of reference points,including the fishing mortality for optimal fishing that is recommended to use to establish a total allowed catch.In addition,for the first time,the age and growth parameters of I.fuscus for Galapagos and the eastern-central region of the Pacific Ocean are determined(L∞=42.5 cm;K=0.21/year).

Forecasting of in situ electron energy loss spectroscopy

Forecasting models are a central part of many control systems,where high-consequence decisions must be made on long latency control variables.These models are particularly relevant for emerging artificial intelligence(AI)-guided instrumentation,in which prescriptive knowledge is needed to guide autonomous decision-making.Here we describe the implementation of a long short-term memory model(LSTM)for forecasting in situ electron energy loss spectroscopy(EELS)data,one of the richest analytical probes of materials and chemical systems.We describe key considerations for data collection,preprocessing,training,validation,and benchmarking,showing how this approach can yield powerful predictive insight into order-disorder phase transitions.Finally,we comment on how such a model may integrate with emerging AI-guided instrumentation for powerful high-speed experimentation.

China and Africa:Friendship and Revival In the New Century

China’s emergence as a key player in Africa, the impact of its presence and its challenges to traditional Western pre-eminence in African economies are one of the hallmarks of the 21st century. Two-way trade, which stood at less than＄1 billion in 2000, has surged to nearly＄40 billion in 2006, while in the same period China’s share of