bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tagger effects in aquatic telemetry: Short-term and delayed effects of surgery in Atlantic Salmon smolts
Authors: Heim Kurt C. , Withers Jonah , Castro-Santos Theodore
Published: December 2023

Objective

An assumption of biotelemetry is that animal performance is unaffected by the tagging process and tag burden, yet this assumption is often untested or not thoroughly explored. Our objective was to explore how transmitter implantation procedures influenced Atlantic Salmon Salmo salar smolt survival and migratory performance.

Methods

We monitored radio-tagged smolts, first in the hatchery and then in a river with a receiver array. We assessed survival and in-river performance in relation to surgeon, surgery duration, processing order, and fish size.

Result

Mortality was 13.3% during an 8-day hatchery-observation period but was higher for fish that were processed by one of two experienced surgeons (25% vs. 2%). Mortality peaked 3 days postsurgery and was higher for smaller fish and fish that were tagged during morning tagging sessions (versus afternoons). The size effect changed over time, being greatest during the first 2 days postsurgery and continuing thereafter at a diminished level. Fish performance once released into a river also differed between surgeons (migration initiation 66% vs. 82%; to-lake migration success 22% vs. 43%) and, consistent with hatchery observations fish that were tagged in the morning by one surgeon, performed poorly once released.

Conclusion

We highlight the immediate and lingering effects of surgical procedures on smolt survival that, if not accounted for, could bias inferences about the study population. Researchers should anticipate tagger effects during study design to ensure potential tagger effects (i.e., surgeon, order tagged, conditions during tagging) are balanced across study groups of interest. Testing for a fixed tagger effect in analyses may not always be adequate because a tagger effect may covary with processing order and fish size and may change over time.
Bladder outlet obstruction in women: Scope of the problem and differential diagnosis
Authors: Bouchard Béatrice , Campeau Lysanne
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The prevalence, formal definition, and diagnostic criteria of bladder outlet obstruction in owmen have not been clearly defined.

Methods

This is a literature review of the definition of BOO in women, its prevalence, as well as its differential diagnosis.

Results

The main causes of BOO in women are divided into functional and anatomic conditions. Functional etiologies include detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia, dysfunctional voiding, Fowler's syndrome, and primary bladder neck obstruction. Anatomic causes can be further divided into extrinsinc and intrinsic conditions. Intrinsic etiologies include urethral stricture and urethral diverticula, whereas extrinsic causes comprise pelvic organ prolapse, post anti‐incontinence surgery, and Skene's gland cyst or abscess.

Conclusions

There are multiple etiologies to BOO in women, and this condition is most probably underdiagnosed, owing to a lack of consensus for a standard definition.
The effect of lying on memory in daily life: Does motivation matter?
Authors: Li Yan , Liu Zhiwei
Published: December 2023

Recently, there has been renewed interest in the effect of lying on memory. A growing body of studies has documented that lying can impair memories and cause memory disruptions, such as forgetting and false memories, to a greater degree than telling the truth. This study aimed to investigate whether motivation plays a role in the effect of lying on memory. The present study utilized a daily life paradigm and manipulated three conditions: truth telling, internally motivated lying, and externally motivated lying. We asked participants to engage in a shopping task and to tell lies (externally motivated lying group) or to choose between telling the truth (truth‐telling group) and telling lies (internally motivated lying group) in the interview. Forty‐eight hours later, the participants were instructed to truthfully carry out multiple memory assessments. The principal findings of this research are that lying can result in memory impairments, and internally motivated lying can lead to greater impairment in source memory than externally motivated lying. Moreover, no significant differences between the two lying groups were found in the memory tests. The empirical findings of this study provide new insights into the effect of lying on memory.
Moderate similarity leads to empathic concern, but high similarity can also induce personal distress towards others’ pain
Authors: Salles Bruno M. , Fadel João V. , Mograbi Daniel C.
Published: December 2023

Empathic concern and personal distress are common vicarious emotional responses that arise when witnessing someone else's pain. However, the influence of perceived similarity on these responses remains unclear. In this study, we examined how perceived similarity with an injured target impacts vicarious emotional responses. A total of 87 participants watched a video of an athlete in pain preceded by a clip describing the athlete's trajectory, which indicated either high, moderate, or low similarity to the participants. Emotional self‐reports, facial expressions, gaze behavior, and pupil diameter were measured as indicators of the participants' emotional responses. Participants in the moderate‐ and high‐similarity groups exhibited greater empathic concern, as evidenced by their display of more sadness compared with those in the low‐similarity group. Furthermore, those in the moderate‐similarity group exhibited less avoidance by displaying reduced disgust, indicating lower personal distress compared with those in the low‐similarity condition. Nevertheless, the high‐similarity group displayed just as much disgust as the low‐similarity group. These findings suggest that perceived similarity enhances empathic concern to others' suffering, but that high similarity can also lead to personal distress. Future studies on empathy should explore distinct vicarious states using multimodal measurements to further advance our understanding of these processes.
Structural insights into the unique recognition module between α‐synuclein peptide and nanobody
Authors: Islam Zeyaul , Vaikath Nishant N. , Hmila Issam , El‐Agnaf Omar M. A. , Kolatkar Prasanna R.
Published: December 2023

Nanobodies are single‐domain fragments of antibodies with comparable specificity and affinity to antibodies. They are emerging as versatile tools in biology due to their relatively small size. Here, we report the crystal structure of a specific nanobody Nbα‐syn01, bound to a 14 amino acid long peptide of α‐synuclein (αSyn), a 140‐residue protein whose aggregation is associated with Parkinson's disease. The complex structure exhibits a unique binding pattern where the αSyn peptide replaces the N‐terminal region of nanobody. Recognition is mediated principally by extended main chain interaction of the αSyn peptide and specificity of the interaction lies in the central 48–52 region of αSyn peptide. Structure‐guided truncation of Nbα‐syn01 shows tighter binding to αSyn peptide and improved inhibition of α‐synuclein aggregation. The structure of the truncated complex was subsequently determined and was indistinguishable to full length complex as the full‐length form had no visible electron density for the N‐terminal end. These findings reveal the molecular basis for a previously unobserved binding mode for nanobody recognition of α‐synuclein, providing an explanation for the enhanced binding, and potential for an alternate framework for structure‐based protein engineering of nanobodies to develop better diagnostic and therapeutic tools.
A pooled patient‐reported outcomes analysis of moderately hypofractionated proton beam therapy and photon‐based intensity modulated radiation therapy for low‐ or intermediate‐risk prostate cancer
Authors: Lukez Alexander , Handorf Elizabeth , Mendenhall Nancy P. , Henderson Randal H. , Stish Bradley J. , Davis Brian J. , Hallman Mark , Horwitz Eric M. , Vapiwala Neha , Wong Jessica Karen
Published: December 2023

Background

We sought to characterize and compare late patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) after moderately hypofractionated intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and proton beam therapy (PBT) for localized prostate cancer (PC).

Methods

This multi‐institutional analysis included low‐ or intermediate‐risk group PC patients treated with moderately hypofractionated radiation to an intact prostate stratified by treatment modality: IMRT or PBT. The primary outcomes were prospectively collected patient‐reported late gastrointestinal (GI) and genitourinary (GU) toxicity assessed by International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Expanded PC Index Composite (EPIC). Multivariable regression analysis (MVA) controlling for age, race, and risk group tested the effect of time, treatment, and their interaction.

Results

287 IMRT and 485 PBT patients were included. Intermediate risk group (81.2 vs. 68.2%; p < 0.001) and median age at diagnosis (70 vs. 67 years; p < 0.001) were higher in the IMRT group. On MVA, there was no significant difference between modalities. PBT IPSS did not differ from IMRT IPSS at 12 months (odds ratio [OR], 1.19; p = 0.08) or 24 months (OR, 0.99; p = 0.94). PBT EPIC overall GI function at 12 months (OR, 3.68; p = 0.085) and 24 months (OR 2.78; p = 0.26) did not differ from IMRT EPIC overall GI function. At 24 months, urinary frequency was no different between PBT and IMRT groups (OR 0.35; p = 0.096).

Conclusions

This multi‐institutional analysis of low‐ or intermediate‐risk PC treated with moderately hypofractionated PBT and IMRT demonstrated low rates of late patient‐reported GI and GU toxicities. After covariate adjustment, late GI and GU PROs were not significantly different between PBT or IMRT cohorts.
Design, synthesis, antifungal activity and molecular docking of novel pyrazole‐4‐carboxamides containing tertiary alcohol and difluoromethyl moiety as potential succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors
Authors: Su Yanhao , Zhang Tingting , An Xinkun , Ma Haoyun , Wang Mingan
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND

Resistance problems with the long‐term and frequent use of existing fungicides, and the lack of structure diversity of traditional pyrazole‐4‐carboxamide succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors, it is highly required to design and develop new fungicides to address the resistance issue.

RESULTS

Different from previous pyrazole‐4‐carboxamide succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors by breaking the norm of difluoromethyl at the C‐3 position of pyrazole and introducing a tertiary alcohol group at the C‐3 position, 27 novel pyrazole‐4‐carboxamide derivatives were designed, synthesized and characterized by proton (1H) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), carbon‐13 (13C) NMR, fluorine‐19 (19F) NMR and high‐resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR‐ESI‐MS). The crystal structures of compounds A14 and C5 were analyzed by single crystal X‐ray diffraction. Their in vitro antifungal activities were evaluated against phytopathogen Fusarium graminearum, Botrytis cinerea, Phytophthora capsica, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Thanatephorus cucumeris. The results displayed that most of them exhibited significant antifungal activities against S. sclerotiorum at 50 mg/L, the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) data of A8 and A14 were 3.96 and 2.52 mg/L, respectively. Their in vivo antifungal activities were evaluated against Pseudoperonospora cubensis, Puccinia sorghi Schw, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, F. graminearum, Erysiphe graminis, Thanatephorus cucumeris, the control efficacies of A6, B3, C3, and C6 against E. graminis reached 100% at a concentration of 400 mg/L. The molecular docking results showed that the binding mode of the target compounds containing tertiary alcohols were similar to that of fluxapyroxad in succinate dehydrogenase. In addition, tertiary alcohols were involved in the formation of hydrogen bonds.

CONCLUSION

The excellent in vitro and in vivo inhibitory activities of novel pyrazole‐4‐carboxamide derivatives against succinate dehydrogenase were reported for the first time, and they could be used as the potential lead compounds. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Reassessment of performance evaluation of EWMA control chart for exponential process
Authors: Rasheed Zahid , Zhang Hongying , Anwar Syed Masroor
Published: December 2023

Memory control charts or charts, such as cumulative sums and exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA), are widely used for tracking minor to moderate changes in process parameters. The literature presented an EWMA chart for monitoring exponential processes, assuming probability limits to determine both in‐ and out‐of‐control average run length (ARL). The use of probability limits for memory charts is an incorrect method. So, we are aiming to correct the EWMA chart by Aslam et al. and the proposed EWMA chart (represented by ) for the exponential process using the run‐length (RL) method based on the simulation method instead of the probability‐based method. The ARL, standard deviation of RL, and median of RL are used to evaluate the proposed chart's performance. For practical consideration of the proposed chart, a real‐world example of a urinary tract infection is also presented.
Sliding mode control for disturbance rejection and estimation under measurement delay with PDE‐backstepping predictor
Authors: Pinto Hardy L. C. P. , Oliveira Tiago Roux , Rodrigues Victor H. P. , Hsu Liu , Krstic Miroslav
Published: December 2023

In this article, we address the disturbance rejection problem for linear plants with delayed measured output. The output delay is allowed to be time‐varying and of arbitrary duration. The disturbances that may represent actuator faults are generated by an exogenous dynamic system and can be matched or unmatched. A predictor–based observer is designed via the PDE–backstepping (Partial Differential Equation–backstepping) method so that an estimate of the current state vector, as well as that of unmeasured disturbance, can be obtained. These estimates are used in to regulate the output and reject the disturbance by output feedback sliding mode control. In addition, a solution for finite‐time disturbance rejection (rather than exponential only) is also introduced when the sensor delay is constant. Numerical examples illustrate the performance and robustness of the both proposed predictor‐feedback control systems.
Selective Uptake Into Inflamed Human Intestinal Tissue and Immune Cell Targeting by Wormlike Polymer Micelles
Authors: Gardey Elena , Cseresnyes Zoltan , Sobotta Fabian H. , Eberhardt Juliane , Haziri Drilon , Grunert Philip C. , Kuchenbrod Maren T. , Gruschwitz Franka V. , Hoeppener Stephanie , Schumann Michael , Gaßler Nikolaus , Figge Marc T. , Stallmach Andreas , Brendel Johannes C.
Published: December 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has become a globally prevalent chronic disease with no causal therapeutic options. Targeted drug delivery systems with selectivity for inflamed areas in the gastrointestinal tract promise to reduce severe drug‐related side effects. By creating three distinct nanostructures (vesicles, spherical, and wormlike micelles) from the same amphiphilic block copolymer poly(butyl acrylate)‐block‐poly(ethylene oxide) (PBA‐b‐PEO), the effect of nanoparticle shape on human mucosal penetration is systematically identified. An Ussing chamber technique is established to perform the ex vivo experiments on human colonic biopsies, demonstrating that the shape of polymeric nanostructures represents a rarely addressed key to tissue selectivity required for efficient IBD treatment. Wormlike micelles specifically enter inflamed mucosa from patients with IBD, but no significant uptake is observed in healthy tissue. Spheres (≈25 nm) and vesicles (≈120 nm) enter either both normal and inflamed tissue types or do not penetrate any tissue. According to quantitative image analysis, the wormlike nanoparticles localize mainly within immune cells, facilitating specific targeting, which is crucial for further increasing the efficacy of IBD treatment. These findings therefore demonstrate the untapped potential of wormlike nanoparticles not only to selectively target the inflamed human mucosa, but also to target key pro‐inflammatory cells.
Enhancing Cutting Efficiency and Minimizing Forces for Nomex Honeycomb Core Using Grey Relational Analysis and Desirability Function Analysis
Authors: Habib Hassan , Khan Muhammad Salman , Munir Adnan , Zahid Danyal , McDermott Olivia
Published: December 2023

Nomex Honeycomb core is the foundational building block for manufacturing aerospace composite components. Its usage requires machining honeycomb in complex aerodynamic profiles where the quality of the core is governed by accuracy and precision of cut profiles. The assessment of accuracy and precision is directly related to forces induced in the cutting tool and cutting efficiency. These two parameters form the basis of a multi‐objective function that this paper aims to optimize for the milling operation. The parameter of depth of cut considered in this paper has not been analyzed in a multi‐objective optimization study of the Nomex Honeycomb core previously. A Taguchi‐based array of Design of Experiments followed by Analysis of Variance and correlation analysis is utilised. The results indicate that the most significant factor is the feed rate, with a percentage contribution of 72% for the cutting forces and depth of cut, with a percentage contribution of 85% in the case of cutting efficiency. The two parameters are optimized using Desirability Function Analysis and Grey Relational Analysis. The results are validated through experimental runs with an error within 5% of the statistical predictions, with the percentage improvement in cutting forces for optimum runs as compared to the worst experimental run at 47.8%. The percentage improvement in cutting efficiency likewise is 11%.
Display of Polyvalent Hybrid Antibodies on the Cell Surface for Enhanced Cell Recognition
Authors: Wang Xuelin , Wang Yixun , Lee Kyungsene , Davis Brandon , Wen Connie , Jia Bei , Zheng Hong , Dong Cheng , Wang Yong
Published: December 2023

Cell surface engineering with exogeneous receptors holds great promise for various applications. However, current biological methods face problems with safety, antigen escape, and receptor stoichiometry. The purpose of this study is to develop a biochemical method for displaying polyvalent antibodies (PAbs) on the cell surface. The PAbs are synthesized through the self‐assembly of DNA‐Ab conjugates under physiological conditions without the involvement of any factors harsh to cells. The data show that PAb‐functionalized cells can recognize target cells much more effectively than monovalent controls. Moreover, dual Ab incorporation into the same PAb with a defined stoichiometric ratio leads to the formation of a polyvalent hybrid Ab (DPAb). DPAb‐functionalized cells can effectively recognize target cell models with antigen escape, which cannot be achieved by PAbs with one type of Ab. Therefore, this work presents a novel biochemical method for Ab display on the cell surface for enhanced cell recognition.
Pyrogallol promotes growth arrest by activating the p53‐mediated up‐regulation of p21 and p62/SQSTM1‐dependent degradation of β‐catenin in nonsmall cell lung cancer cells
Authors: Zhou Beixian , Wang Linxin , Ren Zhixian , Liang Yueyun , Yang Sushan , Zhang Yuehan , Che Siyao , Fang Weiyi
Published: December 2023

Pyrogallol (1,2,3‐trihydroxybenzene), a polyphenolic natural compound, has attracted considerable attention with regard to its potential anticancer activity. However, further study is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanism related to the antiNSCLC activity of pyrogallol and provide a comprehensive theoretical basis for better clinical utilization of pyrogallol. Our current study aims to investigate the effects and potential underlying mechanisms of pyrogallol on the inhibition of NSCLC growth. Our results showed that pyrogallol treatment induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and apoptosis in two different NSCLC cell lines. Mechanistically, we found that the induction of cell cycle arrest in NSCLC cells at the G2/M phase by pyrogallol was due to the upregulation of p21 in a p53‐dependent manner. And blockade of p53 and p21 effectively abolished the cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Meanwhile, p53 inhibition has been found to abrogate the pyrogallol‐induced apoptosis of the two NSCLC cells. Moreover, we revealed that the inhibitory effects of pyrogallol on β‐catenin signaling resulted from autophagy initiation depending on p53 activation, accompanied by an increase in p62/SQSTM1 expression, thus p62 subsequently interacting with ubiquitinated β‐catenin and facilitating autophagic destruction of β‐catenin. Furthermore, in vivo experiments demonstrated that pyrogallol exerted growth inhibition on NSCLC with low toxicity through the same molecular mechanism as observed in vitro. Our findings could contribute to the understanding of the mechanism by which pyrogallol negatively regulates NSCLC growth, which could be effective in treating NSCLC.
Striga as a Constraint to Cereal Production in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Role of Host Plant Resistance
Authors: Rich Patrick J.
Published: December 2023

This chapter provides an overview on the biology of the parasitic weeds of the genus Striga, specifically S. asiatica and S. hermonthica, and their impact on three cereal staples of sub-Saharan Africa, maize, rice and sorghum. Host plant resistance to Striga mitigates the yield losses to these crops. Improvement of Striga resistance in these three crops is discussed including the possibility of expanding resistance sources through mutagenesis.
Anther Culture of Rice for Haploidy Induction and Accelerated Development of Striga Resistant Germplasm
Authors: Şen Ayşe , Beşer Necmi
Published: December 2023

Doubled haploidy is the fastest way of achieving completely homozygous plants in one generation. It shortens the time required for the development of mutant varieties allowing rapid response against threats to sustainable food production caused by changing climate and stresses due to emerging pests like Striga. In this chapter, we describe step-by-step protocols to obtain doubled haploid rice with fixed novel mutant variants by anther culture from gamma ray irradiated M1 populations to accelerate mutation breeding for resistance to Striga in rice.
An Agar-Based Method for Determining Mechanisms of Striga Resistance in Sorghum
Authors: Rich Patrick J.
Published: December 2023

This chapter describes an agar-based method for co-culturing sorghum and Striga that can be used to determine Striga germination stimulant activity, haustorial initiation activity and other pre-attachment and early post-attachment resistance mechanisms in sorghum.
Histological Analysis of Striga Infected Plants
Authors: Muttaqin Mafrikhul , Cui Songkui , Yoshida Satoko
Published: December 2023

Post-attachment resistance can be verified by observing the infection and growth rates of Striga attached to host roots. These protocols explain how to infect Striga hermonthica on host roots using rhizotron chambers, a semi-in vitro system that allows one to observe Striga infection without disturbing the host's roots. Sectioning parasitic attachments and subsequent histological methods are also described, which allow closer investigations of the extent to which the Striga haustoria penetrate host tissues. Such observations can reveal whether any mechanical resistance exists in the host. These histological methods help further characterize resistance mechanisms in rice or sorghum.
Unterstützung für Familien mit einem psychisch erkrankten Elternteil
Authors: Bienioschek Stefanie , Nolkemper Daria , Schroth Jennifer , Behr Joachim , Heinze Martin , Ziegenhain Ute , Schmauss Max , Kölch Michael
Published: December 2023

Hintergrund

In Deutschland besteht ein Hilfs- und Versorgungssystem für Familien, das sich aus verschiedenen Sektoren speist und vielfältige Angebote aufweist.

Fragestellung

Erfassung der in Anspruch genommenen Unterstützungsangebote, Ermittlung kindbezogener Faktoren, die mit der Inanspruchnahme in Zusammenhang stehen, sowie der elterlichen Wünsche nach Hilfe.

Material und Methode

Befragung von 160 (teil-)stationär in psychiatrischen Kliniken aufgenommenen Eltern in einem mündlichen Interview mittels standardisierter und teilstandardisierter Fragebögen.

Ergebnisse

Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass nichtprofessionelle Hilfe durch Familie und Freunde sowie ambulante Hilfen des fünften Sozialgesetzbuches (SGB V) am meisten in Anspruch genommen werden. Familien, in denen die Kinder als stärker auffällig eingeschätzt werden, nehmen mehr hochschwellige Hilfen in Anspruch als Familien mit Kindern, die weniger auffällig bewertet werden. Regionale Unterschiede gibt es insbesondere bei der Inanspruchnahme hochschwelliger Hilfen aus dem achten Sozialgesetzbuch (SGB VIII).

Diskussion

Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass Familien mit einem psychisch erkrankten Elternteil Hilfen erhalten und intensive Hilfen auch gerade bei stärker belasteten Familien ankommen. Jedoch gibt es regionale Unterschiede bei der Inanspruchnahme von und dem Wunsch nach Unterstützung.
Club cell protein (CC16) in serum as an effect marker for small airway epithelial damage caused by diesel exhaust and blasting fumes in potash mining
Authors: Neumann Savo , Casjens Swaantje , Hoffmeyer Frank , Rühle Katrin , Gamrad-Streubel Lisa , Haase Lisa-Marie , Rudolph Katharina K. , Giesen Jörg , Neumann Volker , Taeger Dirk , Pallapies Dirk , Birk Thomas , Brüning Thomas , Bünger Jürgen
Published: December 2023

Objective

The effect marker club cell protein (CC16) is secreted by the epithelium of the small respiratory tract into its lumen and passes into the blood. Increased amounts of CC16 in serum are observed during acute epithelial lung injury due to air pollutants. CC16 in serum was determined as part of this cross-sectional study in underground potash miners on acute and chronic health effects from exposures to diesel exhaust and blasting fumes.

Methods

Nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and diesel particulate matter were measured in 672 workers at a German potash mining site on a person-by-person basis over an early shift or midday shift, together with CC16 serum concentrations before and after the respective shift. CC16 concentrations and CC16 shift-differences were evaluated with respect to personal exposure measurements and other quantitative variables by Spearman rank correlation coefficients. CC16 shift-differences were modeled using multiple linear regression. Above-ground workers as reference group were compared to the exposed underground workers.

Results

Serum concentrations of CC16 were influenced by personal characteristics such as age, smoking status, and renal function. Moreover, they showed a circadian rhythm. While no statistically significant effects of work-related exposure on CC16 concentrations were seen in never smokers, such effects were evident in current smokers.

Conclusion

The small airways of current smokers appeared to be vulnerable to the combination of measured work-related exposures and individual exposure to smoking. Therefore, as health protection of smokers exposed to diesel exhaust and blasting fumes, smoking cessation is strongly recommended.
2023 updated MASCC/ESMO consensus recommendations: prevention of nausea and vomiting following multiple-day chemotherapy, high-dose chemotherapy, and breakthrough nausea and vomiting
Authors: Rapoport Bernardo Leon , Herrstedt Jørn , Snow Rebecca Clark , Radhakrishnan Venkatraman , Saito Mitsue , Navari Rudolph M. , Smit Teresa
Published: December 2023

Purpose

This review is an update of the MASCC/ESMO 2015 recommendations for the prophylaxis of acute and delayed nausea and vomiting induced by multiple-day chemotherapy, high-dose chemotherapy, and breakthrough nausea and vomiting.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed from June 1, 2015, through February 1, 2023.

Results

We identified 56 references (16 were duplications or invalid), leaving 40 manuscripts for this search. The panel classified level I evidence (three manuscripts) and level II evidence (14 manuscripts). High-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant were discussed in four of these manuscripts, and multiple-day chemotherapy treatment in 15. Some manuscripts covered both topics. Additionally, a search for breakthrough nausea and vomiting resulted in 12 “hits.” No new relevant studies were identified.

Conclusions

The recommendations for patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplants and patients undergoing multiple-day cisplatin were updated. For patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy for stem cell transplant, a combination of a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist with dexamethasone and aprepitant is recommended. Olanzapine could be considered part of the antiemetic regimen. Patients receiving multiple-day cisplatin should receive a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist plus dexamethasone plus aprepitant plus olanzapine. For patients experiencing breakthrough nausea and vomiting, the available evidence suggests using a single dose of olanzapine daily for 3 days.
Normal-beta exponential stochastic frontier model: Maximum simulated likelihood approach
Authors: Nigusie Misgan Desale
Published: December 2023

This paper considers the beta exponential distribution as a distribution function of inefficacy score in a stochastic frontier model. The beta exponential distribution is a three-parameter distribution, and it is more flexible than commonly used probability density functions in a stochastic frontier model (SFM). This new model, a “Normal-Beta Exponential SFM”, nests another five SFMs. This paper presents a simulated log-likelihood function and simulated inefficiency estimator of a normal-beta exponential SFM, a closed form log-likelihood function and closed form inefficiency estimator of a normal-weighted exponential SFM, and an empirical study using a normal-beta exponential SFM. In our empirical study, we have used a likelihood ratio test to compare the performance of SFMs and a normal-beta exponential SFM fits the data better than other nested special case SFMs. Furthermore, the empirical result shows that parameters of a normal-beta exponential SFM can be estimated with less standard error or high certainty than a normal-gamma SFM.
Stakeholder Pressures and Decarbonization Strategies in Mittelstand Firms
Authors: Block Jörn H. , Sharma Pramodita , Benz Lena
Published: December 2023

This study examines the influence of stakeholder pressures and family ownership on strategic decarbonization choices of German Mittelstand firms. It distinguishes between symbolic strategies focusing on compensating CO2-emissions and substantive strategies directed toward reducing carbon emissions. The relative pressure exerted by internal and external stakeholders on these strategic choices is examined. Data from 443 manufacturing firms reveal that overall stakeholder pressures increase the pursuit of decarbonization strategies. Internal stakeholders pressures are associated with increased reliance on substantive decarbonization strategies both in family-owned and non-family-owned firms. Pressure from external stakeholders are associated with increased reliance on both substantive and symbolic decarbonization strategies only in non-family-owned firms. No effect of external pressures was found in family-owned firms. Implications for theory, management practice, and policy makers are discussed.
Adaptation of Betula pendula Roth., Pinus sylvestris L., and Larix decidua Mill. to environmental stress caused by tailings waste highly contaminated by trace elements
Authors: Świątek Bartłomiej , Kraj Wojciech , Pietrzykowski Marcin
Published: December 2023

The seedlings of some tree species can successfully develop in areas polluted by heavy metals. Research on such species is important in order to explore the possibility of introducing tree species for the permanent biological stabilization and reclamation of post-flotation tailings, especially after the final recycling of trace metals, but where concentrations remain much higher than in natural soils. To better understand the adaptation and reaction of Betula pendula Roth., Pinus sylvestris L., and Larix decidua Mill. seedlings to heavy metals pollution caused by tailings waste highly contaminated by trace elements: 1) the relationships between the concentration of heavy metals in the soil substrate, the efficiency of heavy metal ions accumulation in plant organs, and the biometric parameters of the seedlings; and 2) the threshold content of heavy metals in the roots above which the plant physiological response is triggered was determined. We assume that there are certain limit concentrations of heavy metals in the soil and fine roots, which depend on the tree species and beyond which the plant responds strongly to stressThe obtained results showed that Betula is a suitable species for the phytostabilization of post-flotation tailings due to its rapid growth rate and production of root biomass. The accumulation of metals in Betula roots was found to be much greater than in Pinus and Larix. Despite the high concentrations of heavy metals in the prepared substrates, there was only a slight transfer of these elements to the aboveground parts of the plant. At high soil concentrations, the heavy metals adversely affected the cellular and physiological processes of plants. In plants growing in such conditions, the activity of the antioxidant system depended both on the species and organ of the plant, as well as on the type and metal concentration.
Measuring magnetic susceptibility of particulate matter collected on filters
Authors: Górka-Kostrubiec Beata , Werner Tomasz , Karasiński Grzegorz
Published: December 2023

The magnetic susceptibility (κ) of particulate matter (PM) is a useful tool in estimation concentration of iron-rich particles and provides useful information on the emission sources and pathways of spread of PM in the atmosphere. However, there is currently no established protocol for measuring the magnetic susceptibility of PM collected on filters used in standard monitoring of PM concentration. This paper presents a step-by-step process for collecting PM on filters in automatic samplers and measuring their κ. The procedure outlines requirements for data quality, measurement uncertainty, exposure time and conditions, and the amount of material collected on the filters. The study analyzed a 2-year dataset of magnetic susceptibility measurements by MFK-1 kappabridge (Agico, Czech Republic) for PM10 and PM2.5 collected at two locations, Warsaw and Cracow, in Poland using low-volume PM samplers. By strictly following the procedure for conditioning filters, measuring magnetic susceptibility and mass of PM, the study found that it is possible to obtain repeatable data with good measurement accuracy and acceptable errors. This makes magnetic susceptibility an additional reliable parameter for tracking of emission sources of iron-rich particles. Successful implementation of this magnetic method as a standard procedure for monitoring PM in addition to the PM mass collected on filters could be used to analyze sources of emission of Fe-particles and their contribution to the PM mass, especially in urban and industrial environments.
Coverage, Trends, and Inequalities of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Indicators among the Poor and Non-Poor in the Most Populous Cities from 38 Sub-Saharan African Countries
Authors: Blumenberg Cauane , Costa Janaina Calu , Ricardo Luiza I. , Jacobs Choolwe , Ferreira Leonardo Z. , Vidaletti Luis Paulo , Wehrmeister Fernando C , Barros Aluisio J. D. , Faye Cheikh , Boerma Ties
Published: December 2023

Rapid urbanization is likely to be associated with suboptimal access to essential health services. This is especially true in cities from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where urbanization is outpacing improvements in infrastructure. We assessed the current situation in regard to several markers of maternal, newborn, and child health, including indicators of coverage of health interventions (demand for family planning satisfied with modern methods, at least four antenatal care visits (ANC4+), institutional birth, and three doses of DPT vaccine[diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus]) and health status (stunting in children under 5 years, neonatal and under-5 mortality rates) among the poor and non-poor in the most populous cities from 38 SSA countries. We analyzed 136 population-based surveys (year range 2000–2019), contrasting the poorest 40% of households (referred to as poor) with the richest 60% (non-poor). Coverage in the most recent survey was higher for the city non-poor compared to the poor for all interventions in virtually all cities, with the largest median gap observed for ANC4+ (13.5 percentage points higher for the non-poor). Stunting, neonatal, and under-5 mortality rates were higher among the poor (7.6 percentage points, 21.2 and 10.3 deaths per 1000 live births, respectively). The gaps in coverage between the two groups were reducing, except for ANC4, with similar median average annual rate of change in both groups. Similar rates of change were also observed for stunting and the mortality indicators. Continuation of these positive trends is needed to eliminate inequalities in essential health services and child survival in SSA cities.
Multi-objective parameter optimization for stacking and sintering of screen-printed magnetic sheets
Authors: Schmidt Alexander , Wieprecht Nico , Weinrich Tim , Franke Jörg , Kuehl Alexander
Published: December 2023

Screen printing enables the production of very thin magnetic sheet laminations in near net shape geometry. This minimizes material waste in production and simultaneously reduces losses during machine operation and in-creases geometric design freedom. The subsequent sintering process step is particularly relevant, since the geometrical and magnetic properties are defined, and relevant process costs are caused by the heat treatment. This paper presents the requirements of the debinding and sintering process for magnetic sheets and identifies relevant influencing factors to achieve defined product specifications in multiple iterations, using design of experiments. It focuses on the influencing factors furnace atmosphere, sintering temperature, holding time and stacking height and their impact on the magnetic and geometric properties of sintered magnetic sheets.
Magnetic Co-doped 1D/2D structured γ-Fe2O3/MoS2 effectively activated peroxymonosulfate for efficient abatement of bisphenol A via both radical and non-radical pathways
Authors: Xu Junge , Wang Dong , Hu Die , Zhang Ziwei , Chen Junhong , Wang Yingmu , Zhang Yifeng
Published: December 2023

Iron-based catalysts have been widely used to treat refractory organic pollutants in wastewater. In this paper, magnetic Co-γ-Fe2O3 was synthesized by a facile tartaric acid-assisted hydrothermal method, and Co-γ-Fe2O3/MoS2 nanocomposite catalyst was obtained via in situ growth of MoS2 nanosheets on Co-γ-Fe2O3 nanoparticles. The nanocomposite catalysts were used to decompose bisphenol A (BPA) by activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS). It was shown that only 0.15 g/L catalyst and 0.5 mmol/L PMS degraded 10 mg/L of BPA (99.3% within 10 min) in the pH range of 3–9. PMS was activated due to redox cycling among the pairs Co(III)/Co(II), Fe(III)/Fe(II), and Mo(VI)/Mo(IV). Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrated that both radical and non-radical pathways were involved in BPA degradation, in which active radical sulfate radical and non-radical singlet oxygen were the main reactive oxygen species. Ten intermediates were identified by liquid chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry, and three possible BPA degradation pathways were proposed. The toxicity of several degradation intermediates was lower, and Co-γ-Fe2O3/MoS2 exhibited excellent reusability and could be magnetically recovered.
Simple solutions first—energy savings for domestic hot water through flow restrictors
Authors: Cabrera Daniel J. , Njem Njem Hulda , Bertholet Jean-Luc , Patel Martin K.
Published: December 2023

Domestic hot water production is the second most important energy use in the European residential sector, nowadays accounting for 14% of the sector’s total final energy consumption. Despite its importance, the energy efficiency improvement rates for domestic hot water are lower than for other residential energy services, hence calling for energy-saving measures. One key measure is to install flow restrictors. Their advantages are the low upfront cost, easy installation, and suitability for integration into energy efficiency programs. Focusing on flow restrictors, this paper presents different methods for quantifying the energy savings using ex-ante and ex-post approaches: deemed savings (DES), dedicated measurements (DMs), and monthly and yearly billing analysis (SMBA and ABA). These methods were tested using information based on measurements (water flow, temperatures), historical billing analysis, a survey among inhabitants, and interviews with field experts. While measurements made at individual faucets or showerheads show significant water savings (20% and 33% respectively), energy savings associated with hot water production in the boiler (final energy) are significantly lower (around 10%) but far from being negligible. The main reasons for the difference are thermal losses related to hot water distribution in central heating systems, usages not affected by flow restrictors, and inhabitants removing them. We conclude that flow restrictors offer promising potential for short- to medium-term implementation. Given the simplicity of this solution, we recommend including it systematically in energy efficiency programs, as well as implementing a ban on fixtures with flow rates beyond a predefined level.
Diagnosis and management of mediastinal extragonadal germ cell tumors
Authors: Heidenreich Axel , Paffenholz Pia , Pfister David
Published: December 2023

Extragonadal germ cell tumors (EGCT) are rare and comprise only 2–3% of all testicular germ cell tumors. The majority of EGCT are located in the mediastinum, followed by the retroperitoneum. Although histologically similar to germ cell tumors (GCT), EGCT have distinct histological patterns which result in a biologically aggressive variant of GCT with the need for interdisciplinary care in highly specialized centers. The majority of mediastinal EGCT harbor teratoma or yolk sac tumor elements. Treatment usually consists of a combination of systemic cytotoxic therapy and aggressive postchemotherapeutic surgery. First-line treatment for extragonadal seminomas and nonseminomas consists of three and four cycles of PEB or PEI, respectively. In patients with significantly elevated markers, a personalized approach based on adequate marker decline can be used, and in poor-risk patients, first-line high-dose chemotherapy might be discussed. Postchemotherapeutic surgery remains an integral part of the multidisciplinary treatment for nonseminomatous EGCT and it is of utmost importance that all residual masses, independent of size and location, are resected completely. Residual masses in seminomatous EGCTs rarely harbor vital cancer and might be followed by serial imaging studies or FDG-PET/CT. The prognosis of nonseminomatous EGCT is poor, with 5‑year overall survival rates of 17%, 60–70%, and 90% for poor, intermediate, and excellent prognosis, respectively. Prognosis for seminomatous EGCT is excellent, with 5‑year overall survival rates of 95% and 88% for good and intermediate prognosis, respectively. Salvage chemotherapy consists of high-dose chemotherapy or targeted therapy in very selected patients.
Sport als middel om sociale kwetsbaarheid te verkleinen: waar zit de kracht?
Authors: Verkooijen Kirsten
Published: December 2023

Samenvatting

Sport kan als middel dienen om sociale kwetsbaarheid te verkleinen. Een gangbare redenering is dat mensen in een sportcontext vaardigheden leren die ze vervolgens buiten de sportcontext kunnen inzetten. Deze vaardigheden vormen daarom vaak de kern in onderzoek naar de maatschappelijke impact van sport. De vraag is of een nauwe focus op vaardigheden terecht is. Volgens minder instrumentele visies op persoonlijke ontwikkeling speelt emotie een essentiële rol in de persoonlijke groei. Daarnaast benadrukt de theorie over existentieel leren en salutogenese het belang van niet-instrumentele leerervaringen voor persoonlijke ontwikkeling. Dit vraagt om meer aandacht voor deze processen in sport-als-middelonderzoek.
Analyzing online public opinion on Thailand-China high-speed train and Laos-China railway mega-projects using advanced machine learning for sentiment analysis
Authors: Nokkaew Manussawee , Nongpong Kwankamol , Yeophantong Tapanan , Ploykitikoon Pattravadee , Arjharn Weerachai , Siritaratiwat Apirat , Narkglom Sorawit , Wongsinlatam Wullapa , Remsungnen Tawun , Namvong Ariya , Surawanitkun Chayada
Published: December 2023

Sentiment analysis is becoming a very popular research technique. It can effectively identify hidden emotional trends in social networks to understand people’s opinions and feelings. This research therefore focuses on analyzing the sentiments of the public on the social media platform, YouTube, about the Thailand-China high-speed train project and the Laos-China Railway, a mega-project that is important to the country and a huge investment to develop transportation infrastructure. It affects both the economic and social dimensions of Thai people and is also an important route to connect the rail systems of ASEAN countries as part of the Belt and Road Initiative. We gathered public Thai reviews from YouTube using the Data Application Program Interface. This dataset was used to train six sentiment classifiers using machine learning and deep learning algorithms. The performance of all six models by means of precision, recall, F1-score and accuracy are compared to find the most suitable model architecture for sentiment classification. The results show that the transformer model with the WangchanBERTa language model yields best accuracy, 94.57%. We found that the use of a Thai language-specific model that was trained from a large variety of data sources plays a major role in the model performance and significantly increases the accuracy of sentiment prediction. The promising performance of this sentiment classification model also suggests that it can be used as a tool for government agencies to plan, make strategic decisions, and improve communication with the public for better understanding of their projects. Furthermore, the model can be integrated with any online platform to monitor people's sentiments on other public matters. Regular monitoring of public opinions could help the policy makers in designing public policies to address the citizens’ problems and concerns as well as planning development strategies for the country.