bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peri‐urbanisation in Papua: A participatory and geospatial impact assessment of peri‐urban development and transmigration in Port Numbay
Authors: Korwa Johni R. V. , Metherall Nicholas , Rumabar Barrisen , Mampioper John Herman , Ranathunga Tironi
Published: May 2021

This article aims to shed light on the impacts of peri‐urbanisation processes across two case studies in Port Numbay within the Province of Papua. Five methods were used to gather data: focus group discussions, semi‐structured interviews, archival research, ethnographic observations, and remote sensing imagery and geospatial analysis tools. The results generated insights into: (1) the lasting legacy of historical transmigration and decentralisation policies that have influenced the processes of peri‐urbanisation in shaping the social and economic conditions within peripheral communities; (2) how peri‐urbanisation has impacted biophysical environments including social‐ecological systems and environmental health systems; (3) a range of peri‐urbanisation trends (land clearing, deforestation and expansion of settlements over time). The article tests an interdisciplinary method for monitoring processes of peri‐urbanisation. It concludes that approaches to decentralisation, health service delivery and sustainable development interventions into peri‐urban zones should consider local conditions. Recommendations for policy and further research are also provided.
Formation of Dehydrohexahydroxydiphenoyl Esters by Oxidative Coupling of Galloyl Esters in an Aqueous Medium Involved in Ellagitannin Biosynthesis
Authors: Yamashita Takako , Matsuo Yosuke , Saito Yoshinori , Tanaka Takashi
Published: May 2021

Hexahydroxydiphenoyl (HHDP) and dehydrohexahydroxydiphenoyl (DHHDP) groups are the major acyl components of ellagitannins, which are polyphenols whose biosynthesis have attracted considerable attention; however, the mechanisms of the production of HHDP and DHHDP in the ellagitannin biosynthesis have not been clarified. With the aim of elucidating such a mechanism, this study investigates the CuCl2‐mediated oxidation of simple galloyl derivatives in an aqueous medium. It is shown that the oxidation of methyl gallate affords a DHHDP‐type dimer, whose reduction with Na2S2O4 yields an HHDP‐type dimer. However, the oxidation of the HHDP‐type product over CuCl2 does not afford the parent DHHDP ester. The oxidation of 1,4‐butanediol digallate under the same conditions produces a DHHDP‐type product via the intramolecular coupling of galloyl groups. These results strongly suggest that the DHHDP group is the initial product of the oxidative coupling of two galloyl groups in the ellagitannin biosynthesis, and subsequent reductive metabolism affords HHDP esters.
Selective Construction of Trefoil knots and a Molecular Borromean Ring Induced by Steric Hindrance of Thioether Ligands
Authors: Zhang Hai‐Ning , Lin Yue‐Jian , Jin Guo‐Xin
Published: May 2021

Two Cp*−RhIII based trefoil knots were obtained in high yield under ambient conditions via the coordination‐driven self‐assembly of semi‐rigid thioether dipyridyl ligand 1,4‐bis[(pyridin‐4‐ylthio)methyl]benzene (L1), ligand chloranilic acid (H2−CA) and 6,11‐dihydroxytetracene‐5,12‐dione (H2‐TtDo) with Cp*RhIII metal corner units, respectively. Furthermore, using the bulkier 4,4′‐{[(2,5‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene)bis(methylene)]bis(sulfanediyl)}dipyridine (L2) in the place of ligand L1 in the construction process resulted in the formation of a teranuclear metallacycle and a template‐free Borromean ring in high yields thanks to significantly altered intermolecular forces between the constituent ligands induced by the sterically‐hindering methyl groups of L2, as demonstrated via a detailed X‐ray crystallographic analysis and NMR spectroscopy.
Effects of self–other decision‐making on time‐based intertemporal choice
Authors: Zhao Cui‐Xia , Shen Si‐Chu , Li Yan , Liu Xin , Li Shu
Published: May 2021

The effects of self–other decision‐making on intertemporal choice have been revealed in many studies using a monetary outcome. However, the outcome of intertemporal choice is not restricted to money; time is also a scarce and nonrenewable resource outcome. Thus, we conducted a series of experiments to address the effects of self–other decision‐making on time‐based intertemporal choice, a type of intertemporal choice that uses time as an outcome. Over the course of three experiments, differences in self–other decision‐making were evidenced. Participants who made decisions for others were more likely to prefer the smaller but sooner (SS) option over the larger but later (LL) option and considered the gain of the SS option to be significantly greater than that of the LL option. Participants who made decisions for themselves were likely to prefer the LL option over the SS option. However, they considered the gains of the LL and the SS option to be indifferent. Changing the role of decision‐making could affect the ability of individuals to consider the future consequences of their decisions. The effects of self–other decision‐making on time‐based intertemporal choice could be explained by the accounts of economic reasoning and construal level theory. The findings indicated that the effects of self–other decision‐making on time‐based intertemporal choice, which could be generated simply by rewording questions, can help individuals make optimal long‐term choices without the need for increased control.
Assessing mediating effects of high‐dimensional microbiome measurements in dietary intervention studies
Authors: Binder Nadine , Lederer Ann‐Kathrin , Michels Karin B. , Binder Harald
Published: May 2021

Habitual diet can influence health‐related outcomes directly, but such effects may also be modulated indirectly by gut microbiota. We consider randomized trials and the question to what extent the effect of diet on an outcome of interest is mediated through the gut microbiome or whether there is a diet–microbiome interaction identifying subgroups of individuals who are more susceptible to specific dietary effects. The baseline microbiome by itself may be a modifier of the effects of diet on health. Yet, the high dimensionality of microbiome data requires innovative statistical approaches to identify potential mediating or moderating effects. To motivate our proposal for an appropriate analysis workflow, we consider a randomized trial that investigates the effect of a 4‐week vegan diet on the diversity of gut microbiota and branched‐chain amino acid metabolism in healthy omnivorous volunteers. To address the challenge of compositional microbiome data, we consider an adaptation of the lasso for penalized estimation of multivariable regression models with a large number of microbiotic taxa. This is plugged into a classical regression mediation effect analysis strategy. The interaction effects are obtained via an approach that can directly estimate them without having to deal with main effects. As a result we obtain signatures comprised of microbiotic taxa with potential mediating and moderating effects. Some taxa no longer show up as mediating, when taking moderating effects into account. Thus, the proposed analysis strategy allows to identify specific mediating effects, while avoiding potential erroneous conclusions, where moderating effects might have believed to be mediating effects.
Cognitive deficit is correlated with sleep stability in insomnia: A cardiopulmonary coupling study
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Song Bingxin , Liu Yanyan , Wan Yahui , Zhou Kaili , Xue Rong
Published: May 2021

Objectives

To assess the correlation of cognitive function with sleep stability and depressive‐anxious symptoms in insomnia patients.

Methods

Twenty‐two insomnia patients with cognitive impairment (insomnia‐CI), 21 insomnia patients with normal cognition (insomnia‐CN), and 15 matched healthy control subjects (HCs) were enrolled and completed neuropsychological tests, the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Scales (HAMD and HAMA), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI),the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) examination. Ratios of high‐frequency coupling (HFC), low‐frequency coupling (LFC), and very low‐frequency coupling (VLFC) measured by CPC analysis represent stable sleep, unstable sleep, and wake/rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, respectively.

Results

The HAMD, HAMA, PSQI, and ISI scores were higher in the insomnia‐CN patients than in the HCs (all p < .01). However, no differences were found in the HFC, LFC, and VLFC ratio between the HCs and insomnia‐CN groups. Compared with the insomnia‐CN patients, insomnia‐CI patients exhibited higher scores on the HAMD, HAMA (all p < .01), and PSQI (p < .05), performed worse on the Auditory Verbal Learning Test, Trial Making Test B, and Stroop Test B (all p < .01), had a lower HFC ratio, and had a higher LFC ratio in the CPC analysis (all p < .01). Furthermore, in the insomnia patients, poorer cognition was correlated with a decreased HFC ratio and an increased VLFC ratio (r = .356, p = .019; r = −.339, p =.026, respectively) and increased HAMD and HAMA scores (r = −.507, p < .001; r = −.561, p < .001, respectively); a higher VLFC ratio was correlated with an increased ISI score (r = .346, p = .023).

Conclusions

Cognitive deterioration in insomnia patients was associated with a decreased stable sleep ratio, an increased wake/REM sleep ratio and more severe symptoms of depression and anxiety. CPC analysis can reflect the severity of insomnia.
Does clean technology weaken the environmental impact on the financial performance? Insight from global oil and gas companies
Authors: Brahmana Rayenda Khresna , Kontesa Maria
Published: May 2021

This study aims to clarify the relationship between environmental performance and financial performance by introducing clean technology as the moderating variable. We contest two major theories, natural resource‐based view theory and neoclassical theory, to reveal a comprehensive understanding of environmental performance's impact on financial performance. The hypotheses are tested on 111 global oil and gas companies using dynamic panel generalized method of moments (GMM). Our analysis reveals three key findings. First, lower environmental performance leads to lower financial performance confirming the natural resource‐based view theory. Second, clean technology has no significant effect on financial performance, arguing the marginal abatement cost. Finally, our results report that clean technology has no impact on increasing financial performance during high waste spills or high emissions. Theoretical and practical implications resulting from the adoption of clean technology to moderate the environmental impact on financial performance are also discussed.
Hydrolysis of lignocellulose by anaerobic fungi produces free sugars and organic acids for two‐stage fine chemical production with Kluyveromyces marxianus
Authors: Hillman Ethan T. , Li Mengwan , Hooker Casey A. , Englaender Jacob A. , Wheeldon Ian , Solomon Kevin V.
Published: May 2021

Development of the bioeconomy is driven by our ability to access the energy‐rich carbon trapped in recalcitrant plant materials. Current strategies to release this carbon rely on expensive enzyme cocktails and physicochemical pretreatment, producing inhibitory compounds that hinder subsequent microbial bioproduction. Anaerobic fungi are an appealing solution as they hydrolyze crude, untreated biomass at ambient conditions into sugars that can be converted into value‐added products by partner organisms. However, some carbon is lost to anaerobic fungal fermentation products. To improve efficiency and recapture this lost carbon, we built a two‐stage bioprocessing system pairing the anaerobic fungus Piromyces indianae with the yeast Kluyveromyces marxianus, which grows on a wide range of sugars and fermentation products. In doing so we produce fine and commodity chemicals directly from untreated lignocellulose. P. indianae efficiently hydrolyzed substrates such as corn stover and poplar to generate sugars, fermentation acids, and ethanol, which K. marxianus consumed while producing 2.4 g/L ethyl acetate. An engineered strain of K. marxianus was also able to produce 550 mg/L 2‐phenylethanol and 150 mg/L isoamyl alcohol from P. indianae hydrolyzed lignocellulosic biomass. Despite the use of crude untreated plant material, production yields were comparable to optimized rich yeast media due to the use of all available carbon including organic acids, which formed up to 97% of free carbon in the fungal hydrolysate. This work demonstrates that anaerobic fungal pretreatment of lignocellulose can sustain the production of fine chemicals at high efficiency by partnering organisms with broad substrate versatility.
Stage‐dependent conditional survival and failure hazard of non‐metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma after intensity‐modulated radiation therapy: Clinical implications for treatment strategies and surveillance
Authors: Wang Jingbo , Huang Xiaodong , Sun Shiran , Wang Kai , Qu Yuan , Chen Xuesong , Wu Runye , Zhang Ye , Liu Qingfeng , Zhang Jianghu , Luo Jingwei , Xiao Jianping , Gao Li , Xu Guozhen , Hu Chen , Li Ye‐Xiong , Yi Junlin
Published: May 2021

Purpose

Conditional survival (CS) and failure hazard estimations can provide important dynamic prognostic information for clinical decision‐making and surveillance counseling. The current study aimed to investigate the CS and dynamic failure hazard in non‐metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (IMRT).

Methods

Conditional overall survival (COS) and progression‐free survival (CPFS) estimates adjusted for age and gender against each AJCC 8th stage were calculated. Multivariable Cox regression (MCR) models were fitted in the entire population at baseline and subsequently separate MCR models were fitted in patients who have maintained event‐free time of 1 to 10 years to generate respective hazard ratio (HR). Annual hazard rates of death and progression over 10 years for each stage were also estimated.

Results

A total of 1993 patients were eligible for analysis. The estimated 5‐year OS and PFS for entire cohort were 79.0% and 70.7% at initial diagnosis. After 5 years of event‐free follow‐up, additional 5‐year COS and CPFS increased to 85.9% and 85.5%, respectively. Stage I/II maintained dramatically favorable CS and low hazard (< 5%) of death and progression over time. Relative to stage I/II, stage III manifested non‐significantly higher failure hazard for the first 3 years of survivorship and approached to similar level of stage I/II afterwards. Stage IVA presented most impressive improvement in terms of both COS (∆=9.8%) and CPFS (∆ = 16.8%) whereas still drastically inferior to that of stage I‐III across all conditional time points. After 4 years of follow‐up, progression hazard of stage IVA became relatively steady of approximate 6%.

Conclusions

Survival prospect of non‐metastatic NPC improves over years with distinct dynamic patterns across stages, providing important implications for personalized decision‐making in terms of both clinical management and surveillance counseling. Stage‐dependent and hazard‐adapted clinical management and surveillance are warranted.
Patient–provider discussion about emotional and social needs, mental health outcomes, and benefit finding among U.S. Adults living with cancer
Authors: Hong Young‐Rock , Yadav Sandhya , Suk Ryan , Khanijahani Ahmad , Erim Daniel , Turner Kea
Published: May 2021

Background

A discussion about patient's nonmedical needs during treatment is considered a crucial component of high‐quality patient–provider communication. We examined whether having a patient–provider discussion about cancer patients’ emotional and social needs is associated with their psychological well‐being.

Methods

Using the 2016–2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey‐Experiences with Cancer Survivorship Supplement (MEPS–ECSS) data, we identified the cancer survivors in the United States (US) who reported having a detailed discussion about emotional and social needs during cancer care. We used multivariable logistic regression to assess the association between having a patient–provider discussion and the patients’ psychological well‐being outcomes (depressive symptoms, severe psychological distress, and worrying about cancer recurrence/worsening condition) and benefit finding experience after a cancer diagnosis.

Results

Among 1433 respondents (equivalent to 13.8 million cancer survivors in the US), only 33.6% reported having a detailed patient–provider discussion about their emotional and social needs. Having a discussion was associated with 55% lower odds (odds ratio [OR], 0.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26–0.77) of having depressive symptoms and 97% higher odds (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.46–2.66) of having benefit finding experience. There was no statistically significant association between patient–provider discussion and psychological distress or worrying about cancer recurrence/worsening.

Conclusion

Detailed patient–provider discussion about the cancer patients’ emotional and social needs was associated with a lower likelihood of depressive symptoms and a higher likelihood of experiencing benefit finding. These findings stress the importance of improving the patient–provider discussion about psychosocial needs in cancer survivorship.
The efficacy of radiofrequency ablation versus cryoablation in the treatment of single hepatocellular carcinoma: A population‐based study
Authors: Chen Lei , Ren Yanqiao , Sun Tao , Cao Yanyan , Yan Liangliang , Zhang Weihua , Ouyang Tao , Zheng Chuansheng
Published: May 2021

Background

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is an effective treatment for single hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but it is difficult to use against tumors in some locations and often leads to incomplete ablation as a result of the heat‐sink effect. This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of cryoablation compared with that of RFA in the treatment of single HCC.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. From 2004 to 2015, patients aged 40 to 79 diagnosed with HCC were included in the study. A propensity score matching (PSM) model was used to reduce selection biases.

Results

Before PSM, the median overall survival (mOS) and median cancer‐specific survival (mCSS) in the RFA group were slightly longer than those in the cryoablation group (p > 0.05). In the subgroup analysis, the mOS and mCSS of patients with tumor sizes <3, 3–5, and >5 cm who received RFA treatment were longer than those of patients given cryoablation treatment, but there was no significant difference (p > 0.05). Similar results were presented in patients at American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stages I and II. After PSM, the mOS and mCSS were slightly better in the RFA group than the cryoablation group but without significant differences. Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that cryoablation treatment was not an unfavorable factor for OS and CSS before or after PSM (p > 0.05). In the multivariable competing risk model, non‐cancer‐specific death was taken as a competing factor and cryoablation was also not unfavorable for the survival of patients before and after PSM (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Cryoablation is non‐inferior to RFA therapy for single HCC patients without lymph node invasion or distant metastasis.
Coating Porous MXene Films with Tunable Porosity for High‐Performance Solid‐State Supercapacitors
Authors: Abdolhosseinzadeh Sina , Heier Jakob , Zhang Chuanfang (John)
Published: May 2021

Two‐dimensional MXenes with their outstanding physical and chemical properties have been extensively used in numerous fields such as electrochemical energy storage, catalysis, and sensing. In these applications, high active surface area and facilitated diffusion of ions/atoms/molecules are crucial. While these features can be offered by porous films and structures, their fabrication at ambient conditions, especially with scalable methods such as printing and coating has proven to be quite challenging. Here, we have developed MXene inks containing a space‐holder agent, based on which porous films with tunable porosities can be easily coated. The whole fabrication process lasts only a few minutes and is carried out at room temperature and pressure, making it suitable for continuous scalable production. Films with different porosities (up to 80 %) have been coated and used for the fabrication of solid‐state microsupercapacitors with enhanced rate capability and improved capacitance (241 mF/cm2).
Self‐assembly of Amphiphilic Porphyrins To Construct Nanoparticles for Highly Efficient Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Jiang Meiyu , Wu Jiasheng , Liu Weimin , Ren Haohui , Zhang Wenjun , Lee Chun‐Sing , Wang Pengfei
Published: May 2021

Hydrophobic photosensitizers greatly affect cell permeability and enrichment in tumors, but they cannot be used directly for clinical applications because they always aggregate in water, preventing their circulation in the blood and accumulation in tumor cells. As a result, amphiphilic photosensitizers are highly desirable. Although nanomaterial‐based photosensitizers can solve water solubility, they have the disadvantages of complicated operation, poor reproducibility, low drug loading, and poor stability. In this work, an efficient synthesis strategy is proposed that converts small molecules into nanoparticles in 100 % aqueous solution by molecular assembly without the addition of any foreign species. Three photosensitizers with triphenylphosphine units and ethylene glycol chains of different lengths, TPP−PPh3, TPP−PPh3−2PEG and TPP−PPh3−4PEG, were synthesized to improve amphiphilicity. Of the three photosensitizers, TPP−PPh3−4PEG is the most efficient (singlet oxygen yield: 0.89) for tumor photodynamic therapy not only because of its definite constituent, but also because its amphiphilic structure allows it to self‐assemble in water.
Spectroscopic and Molecular Docking Study of the Interaction between Neutral Re(I) Tetrazolate Complexes and Bovine Serum Albumin
Authors: Lazniewska Joanna , Agostino Mark , Hickey Shane M. , Parkinson‐Lawrence Emma , Stagni Stefano , Massi Massimiliano , Brooks Douglas A. , Plush Sally E.
Published: May 2021

Re(I) complexes have potential in biomedical sciences as imaging agents, diagnostics and therapeutics. Thus, it is crucial to understand how Re(I) complexes interact with carrier proteins, like serum albumins. Here, two neutral Re(I) complexes were used (fac‐[Re(CO)3(1,10‐phenanthroline)L], in which L is either 4‐cyanophenyltetrazolate (1) or 4‐methoxycarbonylphenyltetrazole ester (2), to study the interactions with bovine serum albumin (BSA). Spectroscopic measurements, calculations of thermodynamic and Förster resonance energy transfer parameters, as well as molecular modelling, were performed to study differential binding between BSA and complex 1 and 2. Induced‐fit docking combined with quantum‐polarised ligand docking were employed in what is believed to be a first for a Re(I) complex as a ligand for BSA. Our findings provide a basis for other molecular interaction studies and suggest that subtle functional group alterations at the terminal region of the Re(I) complex have a significant impact on the ability of this class of compounds to interact with BSA.
Experimental Considerations for Operando Metal‐Ion Battery Monitoring using X‐ray Techniques
Authors: Saurel D. , Pendashteh A. , Jáuregui M. , Reynaud M. , Fehse M. , Galceran M. , Casas‐Cabanas M.
Published: May 2021

Operando experiments represent a powerful tool for the monitoring of internal processes upon battery cycling that provide valuable insights regarding the fundamental electrochemical redox mechanisms and ageing phenomena in battery materials. However, obtaining high‐quality, representative and exploitable data from operando measurements requires careful control of many experimental parameters such as the cell configuration, the nature of the cell components, the electrode preparation approach, the optical/goniometer geometry, data acquisition protocols and data interpretation methodology. In this work we discuss the impact of all these factors in X‐ray scattering and spectroscopic techniques based on experimental results obtained from different electrode materials using a multifunctional electrochemical in situ cell developed at our laboratory.
Oncologic outcomes of human papillomavirus–associated oropharynx carcinoma treated with surgery alone: A 12‐institution study of 344 patients
Authors: Ryan William R. , Xu Mary J. , Ochoa Edgar , Plonowska‐Hirschfeld Karolina A. , Zebolsky Aaron L. , Ha Patrick K. , Bewley Arnaud F. , Mallen‐St. Clair Jonathan , Joshi Arjun S. , Coffey Charles S. , Faraji Farhoud , MacDonald Bridget V. , Houlton Jeffrey J. , Gobillot Theodore A. , Curry Joseph M. , Philips Ramez , Hackman Trevor G. , Richmon Jeremy D. , Holcomb Andrew J. , Coughlin Andrew M. , Panwar Aru , Smith Russell B. , Herberg Matthew E. , Fakhry Carole , Cognetti David M.
Published: May 2021

Background

The oncologic outcomes of surgery alone for patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer 7th edition (AJCC 7th) pN2a and pN2b human papillomavirus–associated oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (HPV+OPSCC) are not clear.

Methods

The authors performed a 12‐institution retrospective study of 344 consecutive patients with HPV+OPSCC (AJCC 7th pT0‐3 N3 M0) treated with surgery alone with 6 months or more of follow‐up using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

The 2‐year outcomes for the entire cohort were 91% (182 of 200) disease‐free survival (DFS), 100% (200 of 200) disease‐specific survival (DSS), and 98% (200 of 204) overall survival (OS). The 18 recurrences within 2 years were 88.9% (16 of 18) local and/or regional recurrences and 11.1% (2 of 18) distant metastases. Recurrences were not significantly associated with smoking, pT stage, or pN stage. The 16 patients with locoregional recurrences within 2 years all underwent successful salvage treatments (median follow‐up after salvage: 13.1 months), 43.8% (7 of 16) of whom underwent salvage surgery alone for a 2‐year overall salvage radiation need of 4.5% (9 of 200). The 2‐year outcomes for the 59 evaluable patients among the 109 AJCC 7th pT0‐2 N2a‐N2b patients with 1 to 3 pathologic lymph nodes (LNs) were as follows: local recurrence, 3.4% (2 of 59); regional recurrence, 8.4% (5 of 59); distant metastases, 0%; DFS, 88.1% (52 of 59); DSS, 100% (59 of 59); OS, 96.7% (59 of 61); and salvage radiation, 5.1% (3 of 59).

Conclusions

With careful selection, surgery alone for AJCC 7th pT0‐T2N0‐N2b HPV+OPSCC with zero to 3 pathologic LNs without perineural invasion, extranodal extension, or positive margins results in high DFS, DSS, OS, and salvage treatment success. Because of the short‐term follow‐up, these data support further investigation of treatment de‐escalation in this population.
Correlations between DW‐MRI and 18F‐FDG PET/CT parameters in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma following definitive chemo‐radiotherapy
Authors: Connor Steve , Sit Cherry , Anjari Mustafa , Szyszko Teresa , Dunn Joel , Pai Irumee , Cook Gary , Goh Vicky
Published: May 2021

Background

Posttreatment diffusion–weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW‐MRI) and 18F‐fluorodeoxygluocose (18F‐FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) with computed tomography (PET/CT) have potential prognostic value following chemo‐radiotherapy (CRT) for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Correlations between these PET/CT (standardized uptake value or SUV) and DW‐MRI (apparent diffusion coefficient or ADC) parameters have only been previously explored in the pretreatment setting.

Aim

To evaluate stage III and IV HNSCC at 12‐weeks post‐CRT for the correlation between SUVmax and ADC values and their interval changes from pretreatment imaging.

Methods

Fifty‐six patients (45 male, 11 female, mean age 59.9 + − 7.38) with stage 3 and 4 HNSCC patients underwent 12‐week posttreatment DW‐MRI and 18F‐FDG PET/CT studies in this prospective study. There were 41/56 patients in the cohort with human papilloma virus‐related oropharyngeal cancer (HPV OPC). DW‐MRI (ADCmax and ADCmin) and 18F‐FDG PET/CT (SUVmax and SUVmax ratio to liver) parameters were measured at the site of primary tumors (n = 48) and the largest lymph nodes (n = 52). Kendall's tau evaluated the correlation between DW‐MRI and 18F‐FDG PET/CT parameters. Mann‐Whitney test compared the post‐CRT PET/CT and DW‐MRI parameters between those participants with and without 2‐year disease‐free survival (DFS).

Results

There was no correlation between DW‐MRI and 18F‐FDG PET/CT parameters on 12‐week posttreatment imaging (P = .455‐.794; tau = −0.075‐0.25) or their interval changes from pretreatment to 12‐week posttreatment imaging (P = .1‐.946; tau = −0.194‐0.044). The primary tumor ADCmean (P = .03) and the interval change in nodal ADCmin (P = .05) predicted 2‐year DFS but none of the 18F‐FDG PET/CT parameters were associated with 2‐year DFS.

Conclusions

There is no correlation between the quantitative DWI‐MRI and 18F‐FDG PET/CT parameters derived from 12‐week post‐CRT studies. These parameters may be independent biomarkers however in this HPV OPC dominant cohort, only selected ADC parameters demonstrated prognostic significance.

Study was prospectively registered at http://www.controlled-trials.com/ISRCTN58327080
The convolutional neural network approach from electroencephalogram signals in emotional detection
Authors: Türk Ömer , Özerdem Mehmet Siraç
Published: May 2021

Although brain‐computer interfaces (BCI) progress rapidly, the desired success has not been achieved yet. One of these BCI is to detect emotional states in humans. An emotional state is a brain activity consisting of hormonal and mental reasons in the face of events. Emotions can be detected by electroencephalogram (EEG) signals due to these activities. Being able to detect the emotional state from EEG signals is important in terms of both time and cost. In this study, a method is proposed for the detection of the emotional state by using EEG signals. In the proposed method, we aim to classify EEG signals without any transform (Fourier transform, wavelet transform, etc.) or feature extraction method as a pre‐processing. For this purpose, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are used as classifiers, together with SEED EEG dataset containing three different emotional (positive, negative, and neutral) states. The records used in the study were taken from 15 participants in three sessions. In the proposed method, raw channel‐time EEG recordings are converted into 28 × 28 size pattern segments without pre‐processing. The obtained patterns are then classified in the CNN. As a result of the classification, three emotion performance averages of all participants are found to be 88.84%. Based on the participants, the highest classification performance is 93.91%, while the lowest classification performance is 77.70%. Also, the average f‐score is found to be 0.88 for positive emotion, 0.87 for negative emotion, and 0.89 for neutral emotion. Likewise, the average kappa value is 0.82 for positive emotion, 0.81 for negative emotion, and 0.83 for neutral emotion. The results of the method proposed in the study are compared with the results of similar studies in the literature. We conclude that the proposed method has an acceptable level of performance.
Turning Waste into Wealth: Remotely NIR Light‐Controlled Precious Metal Recovery by Covalently Functionalized Black Phosphorus
Authors: Zhang Siyu , Zhao Qing , Wang Dongsheng , Deng Shuo , Li Dengyu , Liu Xue , Wu Shuyao , Zhang Xuejiao , Xing Baoshan
Published: May 2021

It is a great challenge to refine precious metals from e‐wastes under mild conditions without hazardous reagents. Herein, black phosphorus (BP) was covalently functionalized with poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) to obtain thermo/near‐infrared (NIR)‐responsive BP−P for precious metal recovery. Precious metals (Au, Ag, and Pd) with higher redox potentials than BP−P could be efficiently recovered by reduction‐driven enrichment. Taking Au as an example, the recovery process presented fast kinetics (<15 min), excellent selectivity, and high efficiency (≈98 %). Remote operation with NIR light could generate heat by BP, which induced the hydrophilic‐to‐hydrophobic transition of PNIPAM, allowing the spontaneous gathering, facile collection, and practical recycle of BP−P following Au extraction. Thanks to the unique features of BP−P, not only could high‐quality Au nanoparticles (20–30 nm) be economically extracted (cost: $0.731–1.222 g−1Au nanoparticles; 5–6 orders of magnitude lower than the market price), but also the formed BP−P‐Au nanocomposites have potential application in hydrogen evolution reaction.
Single‐stage pulse frequency controlled AC–AC resonant converter for different material vessel induction cooking applications
Authors: Khatroth Srinivas , Shunmugam Porpandiselvi
Published: May 2021

This paper presents a single‐stage AC–AC resonant converter configuration for different material vessel induction cooking. The proposed configuration features input power factor correction, boost operation, and integrated bridge inverter configuration for multiple loads. In this topology the inverter legs are operated at two different frequencies to power induction cooking loads of steel and aluminum vessels. The induction cooking loads are operated at frequencies closer to their respective resonant frequencies. The load powers are independently controlled by pulse frequency modulation (PFM) technique. The proposed topology eliminates the use of electromechanical switches. The proposed single‐stage AC–AC resonant converter configuration has been tested with two different vessels of steel and aluminum. The simulation and experimental results of the proposed configuration are in good agreement. This topology offers the advantages of low component count, high efficiency, and suitability for different material induction cooking.
Mutated GM‐CSF‐based CAR‐T cells targeting CD116/CD131 complexes exhibit enhanced anti‐tumor effects against acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Hasegawa Aiko , Saito Shoji , Narimatsu Shogo , Nakano Shigeru , Nagai Mika , Ohnota Hideki , Inada Yoichi , Morokawa Hirokazu , Nakashima Ikumi , Morita Daisuke , Ide Yuichiro , Matsuda Kazuyuki , Tashiro Haruko , Yagyu Shigeki , Tanaka Miyuki , Nakazawa Yozo
Published: May 2021

Objectives

As the prognosis of relapsed/refractory (R/R) acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) remains poor, novel treatment strategies are urgently needed. Clinical trials have shown that chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)‐T cells for AML are more challenging than those targeting CD19 in B‐cell malignancies. We recently developed piggyBac‐modified ligand‐based CAR‐T cells that target CD116/CD131 complexes, also known as the GM‐CSF receptor (GMR), for the treatment of juvenile myelomonocytic leukaemia. This study therefore aimed to develop a novel therapeutic method for R/R AML using GMR CAR‐T cells.

Methods

To further improve the efficacy of the original GMR CAR‐T cells, we have developed novel GMR CAR vectors incorporating a mutated GM‐CSF for the antigen‐binding domain and G4S spacer. All GMR CAR‐T cells were generated using a piggyBac‐based gene transfer system. The anti‐tumor effect of GMR CAR‐T cells was tested in mouse AML xenograft models.

Results

Nearly 80% of the AML cells predominant in myelomonocytic leukaemia were found to express CD116. GMR CAR‐T cells exhibited potent cytotoxic activities against CD116+ AML cells in vitro. Furthermore, GMR CAR‐T cells incorporating a G4S spacer significantly improved long‐term in vitro and in vivo anti‐tumor effects. By employing a mutated GM‐CSF at residue 21 (E21K), the anti‐tumor effects of GMR CAR‐T cells were also improved especially in long‐term in vitro settings. Although GMR CAR‐T cells exerted cytotoxic effects on normal monocytes, their lethality on normal neutrophils, T cells, B cells and NK cells was minimal.

Conclusions

GMR CAR‐T cell therapy represents a promising strategy for CD116+ R/R AML.
Memory binding and theta EEG during middle childhood
Authors: Rajan Vinaya , Cuevas Kimberly , Bell Martha Ann
Published: May 2021

The ability to bind together the contextual details associated with an event undergoes dramatic improvement during childhood. However, few studies have examined the neural correlates of memory binding encoding and retrieval during middle childhood. We examined age‐related encoding and retrieval differences using continuous electroencephalogram (EEG) measures in a sample of 6‐ and 8‐year‐olds. For the memory binding task, children were tested on memory for individual items (i.e., objects and backgrounds only) and combined object–backgrounds pairings (combination condition). Memory for individual item information was comparable across both age groups. However, younger children experienced greater difficulty (i.e., higher false alarm rate) in the combination condition. Theta (4–7 Hz) neuronal oscillations were analyzed to compare memory encoding and retrieval processes. Widespread retrieval‐related increases in theta band EEG power (compared with baseline and encoding‐related activation) were evident in both 6‐ and 8‐year‐olds. Regression analyses revealed that parietal theta EEG power during retrieval accounted for variability in memory binding performance. These findings suggest that theta rhythms are intricately linked to memory binding processes during middle childhood.
The DNA history of a lonely oak: Quercus humboldtii phylogeography in the Colombian Andes
Authors: Zorrilla‐Azcué Sofía , González‐Rodríguez Antonio , Oyama Ken , González Mailyn A. , Rodríguez‐Correa Hernando
Published: May 2021

The climatic and geological changes that occurred during the Quaternary, particularly the fluctuations during the glacial and interglacial periods of the Pleistocene, shaped the population demography and geographic distribution of many species. These processes have been studied in several groups of organisms in the Northern Hemisphere, but their influence on the evolution of Neotropical montane species and ecosystems remains unclear. This study contributes to the understanding of the effect of climatic fluctuations during the late Pleistocene on the evolution of Andean mountain forests. First, we describe the nuclear and plastidic DNA patterns of genetic diversity, structure, historical demography, and landscape connectivity of Quercus humboldtii, which is a typical species in northern Andean montane forests. Then, these patterns were compared with the palynological and evolutionary hypotheses postulated for montane forests of the Colombian Andes under climatic fluctuation scenarios during the Quaternary. Our results indicated that populations of Q. humboldtii have high genetic diversity and a lack of genetic structure and that they have experienced a historical increase in connectivity from the last glacial maximum (LGM) to the present. Furthermore, our results showed a dramatic reduction in the effective population size followed by an expansion before the LGM, which is consistent with the results found by palynological studies, suggesting a change in dominance in Andean forests that may be related to ecological factors rather than climate change.
Effects of temperature and photoperiod on the seasonal timing of Western honey bee colonies and an early spring flowering plant
Authors: Villagomez Gemma N. , Nürnberger Fabian , Requier Fabrice , Schiele Susanne , Steffan‐Dewenter Ingolf
Published: May 2021

Temperature and photoperiod are important Zeitgebers for plants and pollinators to synchronize growth and reproduction with suitable environmental conditions and their mutualistic interaction partners. Global warming can disturb this temporal synchronization since interacting species may respond differently to new combinations of photoperiod and temperature under future climates, but experimental studies on the potential phenological responses of plants and pollinators are lacking. We simulated current and future combinations of temperature and photoperiod to assess effects on the overwintering and spring phenology of an early flowering plant species (Crocus sieberi) and the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera). We could show that increased mean temperatures in winter and early spring advanced the flowering phenology of C. sieberi and intensified brood rearing activity of A. mellifera but did not advance their brood rearing activity. Flowering phenology of C. sieberi also relied on photoperiod, while brood rearing activity of A. mellifera did not. The results confirm that increases in temperature can induce changes in phenological responses and suggest that photoperiod can also play a critical role in these responses, with currently unknown consequences for real‐world ecosystems in a warming climate.
Effect of hypoglycaemia on measures of myocardial blood flow and myocardial injury in adults with and without type 1 diabetes: A prospective, randomised, open‐label, blinded endpoint, cross‐over study
Authors: Noh Radzi M. , Graveling Alex J. , Lang Ninian N. , White Audrey C. , Lee Kuan Ken , Mills Nicholas L. , Newby David E. , Lang Chim C. , Frier Brian M.
Published: May 2021

Aims

This study examined the effect of experimentally‐induced hypoglycaemia on measures of myocardial blood flow and myocardial injury in adults with, and without, type 1 diabetes.

Methods

In a prospective, randomised, open‐label, blinded, endpoint cross‐over study, 17 young adults with type 1 diabetes with no cardiovascular risk factors, and 10 healthy non‐diabetic volunteers, underwent hyperinsulinaemic‐euglycaemic (blood glucose 4.5–5.5 mmol/L) and hypoglycaemic (2.2–2.5 mmol/L) clamps. Myocardial blood flow was assessed using transthoracic echocardiography Doppler coronary flow reserve (CFR) and myocardial injury using plasma high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs‐cTnI) concentration.

Results

During hypoglycaemia, coronary flow reserve trended non‐significantly lower in those with type 1 diabetes than in the non‐diabetic participants (3.54 ± 0.47 vs. 3.89 ± 0.89). A generalised linear mixed‐model analysis examined diabetes status and euglycaemia or hypoglycaemia as factors affecting CFR. No statistically significant difference in CFR was observed for diabetes status (p = .23) or between euglycaemia and hypoglycaemia (p = .31). No changes in hs‐cTnI occurred during hypoglycaemia or in the recovery period (p = .86).

Conclusions

A small change in CFR was not statistically significant in this study, implying hypoglycaemia may require more than coronary vasomotor dysfunction to cause harm. Further larger studies are required to investigate this putative problem.
Heart failure and atrial fibrillation: tachycardia‐mediated acute decompensation
Authors: Park Jin Joo , Lee Hae‐Young , Kim Kye Hun , Yoo Byung‐Su , Kang Seok‐Min , Baek Sang Hong , Jeon Eun‐Seok , Kim Jae‐Joong , Cho Myeong‐Chan , Chae Shung Chull , Oh Byung‐Hee , Choi Dong‐Ju
Published: May 2021

Aims

Tachycardia is a reversible event that may cause hemodynamic decompensation but may not necessarily cause direct damages to the myocardium. To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF), whose acute decompensation was tachycardia mediated.

Methods and results

The Korean Acute Heart Failure registry was a prospective registry that consecutively enrolled 5625 patients with acute HF. Patients were classified into three groups according to the rhythm and aggravating factor: (i) 3664 (65.1%) patients with sinus rhythm (SR), (ii) 1033 (18.4%) patients with AF whose decompensation was tachycardia‐mediated, AF‐TM (+), and (iii) N = 928 (16.5%) patients with AF whose decompensation was not tachycardia‐mediated, AF‐TM (−). The primary outcomes were in‐hospital and post‐discharge 1 year all‐cause mortality. At admission, the mean heart rate was 90.8 ± 23.4, 86.8 ± 26.8, and 106.3 ± 29.7 beats per minute for the SR, AF‐TM (−), and AF‐TM (+) groups, respectively. The AF‐TM (+) group had more favourable characteristics such as de novo onset HF, less diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, and higher blood pressure than the AF‐TM (−) group. In‐hospital mortality rates were 5.1%, 6.5%, and 1.7% for SR, AF‐TM (−), and AF‐TM (+) groups, respectively. In logistic regression analysis, the AF‐TM (+) group had lower in‐hospital mortality after adjusting the significant covariates (odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.26–0.93). The mortality rate did not differ between SR and AF‐TM (−) groups. During 1 year follow‐up, 990 (18.5%) patients died. In univariate and multivariate Cox proportional regression analyses, there was no difference in 1‐year all‐cause mortality between the three groups.

Conclusions

In patients with HF and AF, patients whose acute decompensation is tachycardia‐mediated have better in‐hospital, but similar post‐discharge outcomes compared with those with SR or those with AF whose decompensation is not tachycardia‐mediated.

Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrial.gov NCT01389843.
Aggregation‐Induced Emission‐Active Carbazolyl‐Modified Benzo[4,5]thiazolo[3,2‐c]oxadiazaborinines as Mechanochromic Fluorescent Materials
Authors: Potopnyk Mykhaylo A. , Volyniuk Dmytro , Luboradzki Roman , Lazauskas Algirdas , Grazulevicius Juozas Vidas
Published: May 2021

Two highly emissive donor‐acceptor type organoboron dyes, based on carbazole donor and benzothiazole‐fused oxadiazaborinine acceptor, were designed and synthesized. The compounds demonstrated high positive solvatofluorochromism in solutions, caused by intramolecular charge transfer. Such carbazolyl‐containing N,O‐chelated organoboron dyes exhibited aggregation‐induced emission properties: in tetrahydrofuran/water mixture with a high water amount, they formed highly emissive nanoaggregates. Both materials demonstrated efficient solid‐state emission in the crystalline and thin film state (PLQY of up to 48 %), as well as significant mechanofluorochromic properties (Δλem=30–38 nm). Moreover, a compound with unsubstituted carbazole unit was isolated as two distinct crystalline polymorphs with different photophysical properties.
Kinetic and Structure‐Activity Studies of the Triazolium Ion‐ Catalyzed Intramolecular Stetter Reaction
Authors: Collett Christopher J. , Young Claire M. , Massey Richard S. , O'Donoghue AnnMarie C. , Smith Andrew D.
Published: May 2021

Mechanistic studies of the triazolium ion‐catalyzed intramolecular Stetter reaction using initial rates analysis in NEt3/NEt3 ⋅ HCl buffered methanol showed the reaction to be first‐order in catalyst and zero‐order in aldehyde over a broad range of aldehyde concentrations. The observed reaction rate is higher for catalysts bearing N‐aryl substituents with electron‐withdrawing groups. A concurrent, NHC‐independent substrate isomerization was also observed and found to demonstrate a first‐order dependence on aldehyde concentration. The reported data are consistent with deprotonation to form the Breslow intermediate being turnover‐limiting in this process.