In this study, we identified five strains isolated from soil and sediments able to degrade kraft lignin, aromatic dyes and lignin derivatives. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the isolates were ...identified as Serratia sp. JHT01, Serratia liquefacien PT01, Pseudomonas chlororaphis PT02, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia PT03 and Mesorhizobium sp. PT04. All the isolates showed significant growth on lignin with no water‐extractable compounds. Synthetic aromatic dyes were used to assess the presence of oxidative enzymes. All the isolates were able to use the thiazine dye Methylene blue and the anthraquinone dye Remazol Brilliant Blue R as the sole carbon source. Guaiacol, veratryl alcohol and biphenyl were also mineralized by all the strains isolated. These results suggest they could be used for the treatment of aromatic pollutants and for the degradation of the lignocellulosic biomass.
Significance and Impact of the Study
The valorization of waste lignin and lignocellulosic biomass by biocatalysis opens up new possibilities for the production of value‐added substituted aromatics, biofuel and for the treatment of aromatic pollutants. Bacteria with ligninolytic potential could be a source of novel enzymes for controlled lignin depolymerization. In this work, five soil bacteria were isolated and studied. Every isolate showed significant growth on lignin and was able to degrade several lignin monomers and ligninolytic indicator dyes. They could thus be a source of novel ligninolytic enzymes as well as candidates for a bacterial consortium for the delignification of lignocellulosic biomass.
Significance and Impact of the Study: The valorization of waste lignin and lignocellulosic biomass by biocatalysis opens up new possibilities for the production of value‐added substituted aromatics, biofuel and for the treatment of aromatic pollutants. Bacteria with ligninolytic potential could be a source of novel enzymes for controlled lignin depolymerization. In this work, five soil bacteria were isolated and studied. Every isolate showed significant growth on lignin and was able to degrade several lignin monomers and ligninolytic indicator dyes. They could thus be a source of novel ligninolytic enzymes as well as candidates for a bacterial consortium for the delignification of lignocellulosic biomass.
Summary
This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to quantify weight gain after smoking cessation and the difference in weight gain between quitters and continuing smokers. Five electronic ...databases were searched before January 2015. Population‐based prospective cohort studies were included if they recorded the weight change of adult smokers from baseline (before smoking cessation) to follow‐up (at least 3 months after cessation). Thirty‐five cohort studies were identified, including 63,403 quitters and 388,432 continuing smokers. The mean weight gain was 4.10 kg (95% confidence interval CI: 2.69, 5.51) and body mass index (BMI) gain was 1.14 kg m−2 (95% CI: 0.50, 1.79) among quitters. Compared with continuing smoking, quitting smoking was significantly associated with absolute weight (adjusted mean difference MD: 2.61 kg; 95% CI: 1.61, 3.60) and BMI gain (adjusted MD: 0.63 kg m−2; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.80). Subgroup analyses using geographic region found that the difference in weight gain was considerably greater in studies from North America than from Asia. Follow‐up length was identified as a source of heterogeneity, such that studies with longer follow‐up showed greater difference in weight gain. Effective strategies are needed to encourage smokers to quit irrespective of potential weight gain and to help quitters avoid excess weight gain.
Background
The extent of lymphadenectomy in the treatment of gastric cancer has been debated for more than two decades. This meta‐analysis sought to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of extended ...lymphadenectomy in patients with gastric cancer.
Methods
A comprehensive search was performed to identify randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing the outcomes of D1 and D2 dissection for gastric cancer in PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Science Citation Index, Web of Science and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database in any language from inception of the database to March 2012. Meta‐analyses were performed using Review Manager software.
Results
Eight RCTs including a total of 2044 patients (D1, 1042; D2, 1002) were eligible for meta‐analysis. Five‐year survival and haemorrhage rates were similar in the two groups. There were significant differences in morbidity, anastomotic leakage, pancreatic leakage, reoperation rates, wound infection, pulmonary complications and postoperative mortality, all of which favoured D1 dissection. Subgroup analysis indicated a trend towards lower gastric cancer‐related mortality in patients undergoing D2 dissection who did not also have resection of the spleen or pancreas.
Conclusion
D2 dissection was associated with a significantly higher postoperative risk. A trend towards lower gastric cancer‐related mortality was found following D2 dissection that did not include resection of the spleen or pancreas, but further long‐term survival data are needed to determine whether there is a specific survival benefit after D2 dissection.
Still no certainty about the best operation
In real-time remote sensing application, frames of data are continuously flowing into the processing system. The capability of detecting objects of interest and tracking them as they move is crucial ...to many critical surveillance and monitoring missions. Detecting small objects using remote sensors is an ongoing, challenging problem. Since object(s) are located far away from the sensor, the target's Signal-to-Noise-Ratio (SNR) is low. The Limit of Detection (LOD) for remote sensors is bounded by what is observable on each image frame. In this paper, we present a new method, a "Multi-frame Moving Object Detection System (MMODS)", to detect small, low SNR objects that are beyond what a human can observe in a single video frame. This is demonstrated by using simulated data where our technology-detected objects are as small as one pixel with a targeted SNR, close to 1:1. We also demonstrate a similar improvement using live data collected with a remote camera. The MMODS technology fills a major technology gap in remote sensing surveillance applications for small target detection. Our method does not require prior knowledge about the environment, pre-labeled targets, or training data to effectively detect and track slow- and fast-moving targets, regardless of the size or the distance.
We present a catalog of 5290 RR Lyrae stars (RRLs) with metallicities estimated from spectra of the LAMOST Experiment for Galactic Understanding and Exploration (LEGUE) and the Sloan Extension for ...Galactic Understanding and Exploration (SEGUE) surveys. Nearly 70% of them (3642 objects) also have systemic radial velocities measured. Given the pulsating nature of RRLs, metallicity estimates are based on spectra of individual exposures that have been matched with their synthetic templates. The systemic radial velocities are measured by fitting the observed velocity as a function of phase assuming an empirical pulsating velocity template curve. Various tests show that our analyses yield metallicities with a typical precision of 0.20 dex and systemic radial velocities with uncertainties ranging from 5 to 21 km s−1 (depending on the number of radial-velocity measurements available for a given star). Based on the well-calibrated near-infrared PMW1Z or , and MV-Fe/H relations, precise distances are derived for these RRLs. Finally, we include Gaia DR2 proper motions in our catalog. The catalog should be very useful for various Galactic studies, especially of the Galactic halo.
Preoperative evaluation of the number of lymph node metastasis (LNM) is the basis of individual treatment of locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC). However, the routinely used preoperative ...determination method is not accurate enough.
We enrolled 730 LAGC patients from five centers in China and one center in Italy, and divided them into one primary cohort, three external validation cohorts, and one international validation cohort. A deep learning radiomic nomogram (DLRN) was built based on the images from multiphase computed tomography (CT) for preoperatively determining the number of LNM in LAGC. We comprehensively tested the DLRN and compared it with three state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, we investigated the value of the DLRN in survival analysis.
The DLRN showed good discrimination of the number of LNM on all cohorts overall C-indexes (95% confidence interval): 0.821 (0.785–0.858) in the primary cohort, 0.797 (0.771–0.823) in the external validation cohorts, and 0.822 (0.756–0.887) in the international validation cohort. The nomogram performed significantly better than the routinely used clinical N stages, tumor size, and clinical model (P < 0.05). Besides, DLRN was significantly associated with the overall survival of LAGC patients (n = 271).
A deep learning-based radiomic nomogram had good predictive value for LNM in LAGC. In staging-oriented treatment of gastric cancer, this preoperative nomogram could provide baseline information for individual treatment of LAGC.
•Evaluation of the lymph node metastasis (LNM) is the basis of individual treatment of locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC).•Deep leaning radiomic nomogram (DLRN) based on CT images can preoperatively determine the number of LNM in LAGC.•DLRN is significantly superior to the routinely used clinical N stages, tumor size, and clinical model.•DLRN is significantly associated with the overall survival of LAGC.
Occult peritoneal metastasis (PM) in advanced gastric cancer (AGC) patients is highly possible to be missed on computed tomography (CT) images. Patients with occult PMs are subject to late detection ...or even improper surgical treatment. We therefore aimed to develop a radiomic nomogram to preoperatively identify occult PMs in AGC patients.
A total of 554 AGC patients from 4 centers were divided into 1 training, 1 internal validation, and 2 external validation cohorts. All patients’ PM status was firstly diagnosed as negative by CT, but later confirmed by laparoscopy (PM-positive n = 122, PM-negative n = 432). Radiomic signatures reflecting phenotypes of the primary tumor (RS1) and peritoneum region (RS2) were built as predictors of PM from 266 quantitative image features. Individualized nomograms of PM status incorporating RS1, RS2, or clinical factors were developed and evaluated regarding prediction ability.
RS1, RS2, and Lauren type were significant predictors of occult PM (all P < 0.05). A nomogram of these three factors demonstrated better diagnostic accuracy than the model with RS1, RS2, or clinical factors alone (all net reclassification improvement P < 0.05). The area under curve yielded was 0.958 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.923–0.993, 0.941 (95% CI 0.904–0.977), 0.928 (95% CI 0.886–0.971), and 0.920 (95% CI 0.862–0.978) for the training, internal, and two external validation cohorts, respectively. Stratification analysis showed that this nomogram had potential generalization ability.
CT phenotypes of both primary tumor and nearby peritoneum are significantly associated with occult PM status. A nomogram of these CT phenotypes and Lauren type has an excellent prediction ability of occult PM, and may have significant clinical implications on early detection of occult PM for AGC.
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