bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A broad analysis in clinical and in vitro models on regulator of G‐protein signalling 10 regulation that is associated with ovarian cancer progression and chemoresistance
Authors: Kucuk Burak , Kibar Beyza , Cacan Ercan
Published: December 2020

Ovarian cancer is one of the deadliest types of gynaecological cancers and more than half of the patients die within 5 years after diagnosis. Recurrence in advanced staged patients after chemotherapy is associated with increased chemoresistance, which results in poor prognosis. Regulator of G‐protein signalling 10 (RGS10) negatively regulates cell proliferation, migration and survival by attenuating G‐protein coupled‐receptors mediated signalling pathways. Recent studies have shown that loss of RGS10 expression is significantly associated with proliferation and cisplatin resistance in ovarian cancer cells.

Significance of the study

In this study, we analysed differential RGS10 expression levels using public microarray datasets from clinical and in vitro ovarian cancer samples. We validated that cancer progression and chemotherapy exposure change RGS10 expression. We enriched our study to evaluate the relationship between chemoresistance and differential RGS10 expression against ovarian cancer potential chemotherapeutic agent, palbociclib. Results showed that palbociclib treatment reduced cell viability, despite significantly decreased RGS10 expression in chemoresistant cells. Overall, the results confirmed that cancer progression and chemoresistance are significantly associated with the down‐regulation of RGS10 while some chemotherapeutics seem to be beneficial in decreasing chemoresistance in ovarian cancer.
Atypical presentation of Abiotrophia defectiva infective endocarditis in an octogenarian
Authors: Forde Gerard , Lucey Mary , O'Shea Paula M. , Okiro Julie , Shatwan Ramadan , Mulkerrin Eamon C.
Published: December 2020

Blood cultures should be performed in non‐specifically unwell older adults following nonspecific presentations. Prompt diagnosis and commencement of targeted antimicrobial therapy are essential in older patients with A. defectiva IE.
COVID‐19 pneumonia in a patient with sarcoidosis: A case report
Authors: Ramdani Hanae , Benelhosni Khadija , Moatassim Billah Nabil , Nassar Ittimade
Published: December 2020

Key prognostic elements to consider in sarcoidosis patients who contract COVID‐19 pneumonia are pulmonary involvement, the underlying immune system dysfunction, immunosuppressive therapies’ use, and the increased risk for hypercoagulability.
Comments on “Molecular Chirality in Classical Spacetime: Solving the Controversy about the Spinning Cone Model of Rotating Molecules”
Authors: Barron Laurence D. , Cintas Pedro
Published: December 2020

A recent mathematical analysis by Michel Petijean aimed at solving the Barron/Mislow controversy concerning the chirality or otherwise of a non‐translating spinning cone concluded that both are right: the controversy is a matter of an arbitrary choice of a conversion factor. This reassessment highlights the different physicochemical properties of a stationary spinning cone and a chiral molecule and concludes that Petitjean's analysis is misleading.
Echte Zufallszahlen durch DNA‐Synthese
Authors: Harrer Roswitha
Published: December 2020

Zufallszahlen stammen heutzutage aus Algorithmen – oder, was besonders sicher ist, aus statistischen physikalischen Prozessen. Wissenschaftler haben jetzt den ersten Zufallszahlengenerator entwickelt, der auf chemischer Synthese basiert. Zufalls‐DNA‐Sequenzen werden synthetisiert, sequenziert und dann von einem Computer in Bitströme übersetzt und auf Fehler korrigiert. Das soll ähnlich schnell sein wie physikalische Verfahren und auch preislich vergleichbar.
Fragments‐Expert: A graphical user interface MATLAB toolbox for classification of file fragments
Authors: Teimouri Mehdi , Seyedghorban Zahra , Amirjani Fatemeh
Published: December 2020

The classification of file fragments of various file formats is an essential task in various applications such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, antiviruses, web content filtering, and digital forensics. However, the community lacks a suitable software tool that can integrate major methods for feature extraction from file fragments and classification among various file formats. In this article, we present Fragments‐Expert that is a graphical user interface MATLAB toolbox for the classification of file fragments. It provides users with 23 categories of features extracted from file fragments. These features can be employed by seven categories of machine learning algorithms for the task of classification among various file formats.
Exploring CO2@sI Clathrate Hydrates as CO2 Storage Agents by Computational Density Functional Approaches
Authors: Cabrera‐Ramírez Adriana , Arismendi‐Arrieta Daniel J. , Valdés Álvaro , Prosmiti Rita
Published: December 2020

The formation of specific clathrate hydrates and their transformation at given thermodynamic conditions depends on the interactions between the guest molecule/s and the host water lattice. Understanding their structural stability is essential to control structure‐property relations involved in different technological applications. Thus, the energetic aspects relative to CO2@sI clathrate hydrate are investigated through the computation of the underlying interactions, dominated by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces, from first‐principles electronic structure approaches. The stability of the CO2@sI clathrate is evaluated by combining bottom‐up and top‐down approaches. Guest‐free and CO2 guest‐filled aperiodic cages, up to the gradually CO2 occupation of the entire sI periodic unit cells were considered. Saturation, cohesive and binding energies for the systems are determined by employing a variety of density functionals and their performance is assessed. The dispersion corrections on the non‐covalent interactions are found to be important in the stabilization of the CO2@sI energies, with the encapsulation of the CO2 into guest‐free/empty cage/lattice being always an energetically favorable process for most of the functionals studied. The PW86PBE functional with XDM or D3(BJ) dispersion corrections predicts a lattice constant in accord to the experimental values available, and simultaneously provides a reliable description for the guest‐host interactions in the periodic CO2@sI crystal, as well as the energetics of its progressive single cage occupancy process. It has been found that the preferential orientation of the single CO2 in the large sI crystal cages has a stabilizing effect on the hydrate, concluding that the CO2@sI structure is favored either by considering the individual building block cages or the complete sI unit cell crystal. Such benchmark and methodology cross‐check studies benefit new data‐driven model research by providing high‐quality training information, with new insights that indicate the underlying factors governing their structure‐driven stability, and triggering further investigations for controlling the stabilization of these promising long‐term CO2 storage materials.
Resolving Breakpoints of Chromosomal Rearrangements at the Nucleotide Level Using Sanger Sequencing
Authors: Nalbandian Katarena , Piña‐Aguilar Raul E. , Morton Cynthia C.
Published: December 2020

Novel cytogenetic tools are increasingly based on genome sequencing for detecting chromosomal abnormalities. Different sequence‐based techniques optimized for diagnosis of structural variants can be useful for narrowing down the localization of breakpoints of chromosomal abnormalities, but do not offer nucleotide resolution of breakpoints for proper interpretation of gene disruption. This protocol presents the characterization of structural variants at nucleotide resolution using Sanger sequencing after low‐pass large‐insert genome sequencing or other long‐molecule methods. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Primer design for junction amplification at translocations and inversions

Basic Protocol 2: Amplification of derivative chromosomes using a long‐range polymerase

Alternate Protocol: Amplification of derivative chromosomes using a hot‐start polymerase

Basic Protocol 3: Preparation of DNA for Sanger sequencing

Basic Protocol 4: Interpretation and reporting of breakpoints based on Sanger sequencing
Highly Strained Nanoscale Bicyclophane Monolayers Entering the Third Dimension: A Combined Synthetic and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy Investigation
Authors: Henzel Sebastian , Becker Steven , Hennen Daniel , Keller Tristan J. , Bahr Joshua , Jester Stefan‐S. , Höger Sigurd
Published: December 2020

Tetrabromo aromatics can be synthesized by the Fischer‐Zimmermann condensation of appropriate pyrylium salts with arylene dicarboxylic acid salts. Their cyclization by intramolecular Yamamoto coupling yields strained bicyclophanes with adjustable sizes and different intraannular bridges. All compounds adsorb at the solid/liquid interface on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) and are investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) with submolecular resolution. The observed two‐dimensional (2D) supramolecular nanopatterns depend only on the sizes and alkoxy periphery of the cyclophanes and are independent of the specific structures of the intraannular bridges. Since the central arylene moieties of the smaller species are oriented perpendicular to the planes of the bicyclophanes, their substituents protrude from the surface by up to 1.6 nm after adsorption. Therefore, these molecules are attractive platforms for addressing the volume phase above the graphite surface.
Direct Oxidative Nitrogen Fixation from Air and H2O by a Water Falling Film Dielectric Barrier Discharge Reactor at Ambient Pressure and Temperature
Authors: Liu Zhuo , Tian Yonghui , Niu Guanghui , Wang Xu , Duan Yixiang
Published: December 2020

Current industrial production of HNO3 relies on the Ostwald process via catalytic oxidation of NH3, which is responsible for the vast bulk of CO2 emission. An attractive alternative route to HNO3 is direct N2 oxidation to aqueous HNO3, which avoids the NH3 intermediate. Herein, we for the first time report a non‐thermal plasma‐assisted nitrogen fixation process characteristic of a large gas‐liquid contact based on the water falling film dielectric barrier discharge, wherein HNO3 is produced directly from ambient air and H2O at atmospheric pressure and room temperature without the presence of any catalytic material. By optimizing the plasma reaction conditions, a relatively high synthesis rate and low energy consumption was achieved at the same time with good product selectivity.
Variation cascades: resource pulses and top‐down effects across time scales
Authors: Simon Franz W. , Vasseur David A.
Published: December 2020

Top‐down and bottom‐up theories of trophic control have been fundamental to our understanding of community dynamics and structure. However, most ecological theories have focused on equilibrium dynamics and do not provide predictions for communities’ responses in temporally fluctuating environments. By deriving the frequency response of populations in different trophic communities, we extend the top‐down and bottom‐up theories of ecology to include how temporal fluctuations in potential primary productivity percolate up the food chain and are re‐expressed as population variability. Moreover, by switching from a time‐based representation into the frequency domain, we provide a unified method to compare how the time scale of perturbations determines communities’ responses. At low frequencies, primary producers and secondary consumers have the highest temporal variability, while the primary consumers are relatively stable. Similar to the Exploitation Ecosystem Hypothesis, top‐down effects drive this alternating pattern of variability. We define the top‐down effect of consumers on the variability of lower trophic levels as a variation cascade. However, at intermediate frequencies, variation cascades can amplify temporal variation up the food chain. At high frequencies, variation cascades weaken, and fluctuations are attenuated up the food chain. In summary, we provide a novel theory for how communities will respond to fluctuations in productivity, and we show that indirect species interactions play a crucial role in determining community dynamics across the frequency spectrum.
Simulation analyses of stabilization control of power system frequency fluctuations resulting from wind farm output by gas turbine thermal power plant
Authors: Takahashi Rion , Umemura Atsushi , Tamura Junji , Kimura Mamoru , Hino Noriaki
Published: December 2020

This paper presents a basic study about the control ability of LNG thermal power plant driven by Motor‐assisting Gas Turbine (MGT) for frequency stabilization of power grid system. An analytical model of the regulation system with assisting motor and gas turbine is developed, and its performance for frequency stabilization under fluctuating power due to renewable energy sources is investigated by numerical simulation analyses.
Synthesis of Carbonyl‐substituted Tetracyanodihydrotetraaza[14]annulenes
Authors: Pawluczyk Konrad , Sanjuan‐Szklarz W. Fabiola , Woźniak Krzysztof , Kowalski Jarosław
Published: December 2020

A number of novel tetracyano‐substituted dihydrotetraaza[14]annulene (DH‐TAA) analogues were obtained in a simple and convenient way by one‐pot synthesis. The ligands, as well as their complexes with nickel(II), copper(II) and palladium(II) ions were characterised, including X ray structures for seven compounds. The X‐ray analysis shows relatively short distances between tetraazamacrocyclic rings (3.0–3.3 Å), resulting from the presence of strong π‐π interactions. Moreover, some of synthesised compounds can easily be modified in order to attach commonly used reactive groups, which makes them very promising as future components of π‐interaction based supramolecular systems
‘Over‐communication’ keeps students in the loop and increases enrollment despite COVID‐19 uncertainty
Authors: Bannister Mary
Published: December 2020

“We've worked to speak to the student as much as we can,” said Rosaria Guastella, Vice President for Enrollment Management at the University of Holy Cross. Although campus tours and orientation happened virtually this year, UHC officials worked to get to know the students they were admitting and to convey the spirit of the university. Using both in‐person and virtual events, social media, texting, and enthusiastic student ambassadors, UHC officials maintained enrollment numbers for the class of 2024. With students engaging from both near and far, many virtually, “we're meeting them where they are — literally in this case,” Guastella said.
Environmental impact and performance assessment of a new Zigbee‐based shotgun training system
Authors: Ben Ali Boubaker , Fraj Chawki , Oueslati Olfa , Dugas Éric
Published: December 2020

Only a few research works have studied the risks involving young athletes in shooting activities such as noise and risk of projectile impact. Besides, limited studies have explored the environmental concerns caused by remaining projectile fragments scattered into the environment. In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in integrating computing, modeling, and IoT‐based applications and used connected add‐ons (e.g., steams Virtual Reality VR, virtual guns, and game controllers) in sports activities displayed in virtual reality gaming environments. The aim of this paper is, first, to present a multi‐aspect Zigbee‐based protocol system used to assess and to improve reaction time and score prediction abilities of Shotgun sports practitioners indoor and outdoor. Second, B‐percept would be presented as a training solution to reduce environmental scattered wastes of used Clays. After 8 weeks of training, there was significant improvement (p < .001) of participants' reaction time by using the B‐percept simulator. In addition, improvement in real clay shotgun results (p < .0002) but it was difficult to correctly predict more than 60% of correct scores after the test. The results of this study encourage continuing to improve the B‐percept to use wireless moving targets for training purposes.
Geometry of obstacle marks at instream boulders—integration of laboratory investigations and field observations
Authors: Schlömer Oliver , Grams Paul E. , Buscombe Daniel , Herget Jürgen
Published: December 2020

Obstacle marks are instream bedforms, typically composed of an upstream frontal scour hole and a downstream sediment accumulation in the vicinity of an obstacle. Local scouring at infrastructure (e.g. bridge piers) is a well‐studied phenomenon in hydraulic engineering, while less attention is given to the time‐dependent evolution of frontal scour holes at instream boulders and their geometric relations (depth to width, and length ratio). Furthermore, a comparison between laboratory studies and field observations is rare. Therefore, the morphodynamic importance of such scour features to fluvial sediment transport and morphological change is largely unknown. In this study, obstacle marks at boulder‐like obstructions were physically modelled in 30 unscaled process‐focused flume experiments (runtime per experiment ≥ 5760 min) at a range of flows (subcritical, clear‐water conditions, emergent and submerged water levels) and boundary conditions designed to represent the field setting (i.e. obstacle tilting, and limited thickness of the alluvial layer). Additionally, geometries of scour holes at 90in‐situboulders (diameter ≥ 1 m) located in a 50‐km segment of the Colorado River in Marble Canyon (AZ) were measured from a 1 m‐resolution digital elevation model. Flume experiments reveal similar evolution of local scouring, irrespective of hydraulic conditions, controlled by the scour incision, whereas the thickness of the alluvial layer and obstacle tilting into the evolving frontal scour hole limit incision. Three temporal evolution phases—(1) rapid incision, (2) decreasing incision, and (3) scour widening—are identified based on statistical analysis of spatiotemporal bed elevation time series. A quantitative model is presented that mechanistically predicts enlargement in local scour length and width based on (1) scour depth, (2) the inclination of scour slopes, and (3) the planform area of the frontal scour hole bottom. The comparison of field observations and laboratory results demonstrates scale invariance of geometry, which implies similitude of processes and form rather than equifinality.
“You Were Gonna Leave Them Out?”: Locating Black Women in a Transfeminist Anthropology of Religion
Authors: Pérez Elizabeth
Published: December 2020

This article summons a transfeminist anthropology of religion and asserts that such an orientation (with a subfield to match) would be impossible to conceptualize without the scholarship of Black women—feminist, Womanist, and otherwise critically situated. Through the ethnographic analysis of interviews, documentary footage, newspaper reportage, social media, and videos, the article pays tribute to the late Reverend BobbieJean Baker (1964‐2014). The article argues that Black transgender Christian women's religious subjectivity encompasses the innovative inhabitation of Black ecclesiastical linguistic codes and gestural idioms; the elaboration of transfeminist biblical hermeneutics and discursive mechanisms of legitimation; and the simultaneous performance of culinary and relational virtuosity. The article further contends that Baker's account of her subjectivity cannot be understood without the insights of Christina Sharpe, Hortense J. Spillers, Monica A. Coleman, Yvette A. Flunder, Savannah Shange, Geneva Smitherman, Psyche A. Williams‐Forson, and Karen Baker‐Fletcher. Together, they assist in revealing that Baker's efforts to increase the livability of trans women's worlds were inseparable from her religious convictions, as communicated through (and constituted by) the discourses of the Black church. Equally so, her ministerial vocation and vision of beloved community proceeded from her experience as a seasoned—and expertly seasoning—southern‐born‐and‐raised Black trans woman.
Synthesis and Biological Studies of O3‐Aryl Galactosides as Galectin Inhibitors
Authors: Kervefors Gabriella , Pal Kumar Bhaskar , Tolnai Gergely L. , Mahanti Mukul , Leffler Hakon , Nilsson Ulf J. , Olofsson Berit
Published: December 2020

β‐Galactose derivatives have recently been reported to selectively inhibit galectin‐3, and a library of O3‐arylated galactosides with varying substitution patterns was designed to study such inhibitions further. The O3‐arylated galactosides were synthesized using diaryliodonium salts under mild and transition metal free conditions, providing the target products in moderate to good yields. An O3‐trifluoroethylated galactoside was also synthesized using iodonium salt chemistry. Azido‐substituted products were subsequently transformed into the corresponding triazoles. After deprotection, a selection of galactoside derivatives were evaluated for inhibitory potencies against galectins‐1, 3, 4 N (N‐terminal domain), 4 C (C‐terminal domain), 7, 8 N, 8 C, 9 N, and 9 C and one compound with promising affinity and selectivity for both the N‐ and C‐terminal domain of galectin‐9 was discovered.
Association between changes in mammographic density category and the risk of breast cancer: A nationwide cohort study in East‐Asian women
Authors: Kim Soyeoun , Park Boyoung
Published: December 2020

Breast density is strongly associated with breast cancer risk; however, studies on the association between density changes and breast cancer risk have controversial results. The aim of our study was to determine the association between breast density changes and breast cancer risk in East‐Asian women. We included 3 301 279 women aged ≥40 years screened for breast cancer twice during 2009 to 2010 and 2011 to 2012. Data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database. Breast density was evaluated using the Breast Imaging‐Reporting and Data System (BI‐RADS). Relative risk (RR) and 5‐year risk of developing breast cancer according to density category changes were calculated. Overall, 23.0% of the women had a higher breast density and 22.2% of the women had a lower breast density in second screening compared to the first. An increase in the BI‐RADS density category between two subsequent mammographic screenings was associated with an increase in breast cancer risk and vice versa in terms of RR. The 5‐year breast cancer risk was affected by the initial BI‐RADS density category, changes in density category and patients' characteristics such as age, menopausal status and family history of breast cancer. In patients with breast cancer family history, the 5‐year breast cancer risk was prominent, at a maximum of 2.39% (95% CI = 1.23‐3.55) in women with breast density category of 2 to 4. Changes in the BI‐RADS density category were associated with breast cancer risk. Longitudinal measures of BI‐RADS density may be helpful in identifying high‐risk women, especially those with a breast cancer family history.
Intimate partner violence among prenatal care attendees amidst the COVID‐19 crisis: The incidence in Ethiopia
Authors: Teshome Abel , Gudu Wondimu , Bekele Delayehu , Asfaw Mariamawit , Enyew Ruhama , Compton Sarah D.
Published: December 2020

Objective

To assess the incidence and predictors of intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy amidst the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted at the prenatal care clinic of St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, among pregnant women from 31 August to 2 November 2020. Participants were interviewed using Open Data Kit. Logistic regression was used to assess predictors.

Results

Among the 464 pregnant women, 33 (7.1%) reported IPV during pregnancy, and among these 24 (72.7%) reported emotional violence, 16 (48.5%) reported sexual violence, and 10 (30.3%) reported physical violence. Among the study participants, only 8 (1.7%) were screened for IPV. IPV was reported 3.27 times more often by women who reported that their partner chewed Khat compared with those women whose partner did not (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45–7.38), and 1.52 times more often women who reported that their partner drank alcohol compared with those women whose partner did not (aOR 1.52; 95% CI 1.01–2.28).

Conclusion

Very few women were screened for IPV. Partners drinking alcohol and chewing Khat are significantly positively associated with IPV during pregnancy. IPV screening should be included in the national management protocol of obstetric cases of Ethiopia.
The significance of anatomic tumor location in gallbladder cancer
Authors: Leigh Natasha , Pletcher Eric , Solomon Daniel , Sarpel Umut , Labow Daniel M. , Magge Deepa R. , Golas Benjamin J.
Published: December 2020

Background and Objectives

Current management guidelines recognize the impact of hepatic versus peritoneal sided gallbladder cancers (GBC) on survival. However, no data exist regarding the significance of anatomic tumor location within the gallbladder.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed all GBC that underwent surgical resection with curative intent in our health system from 2007 to 2017. We evaluated the effect of anatomic pathologic tumor location (fundus/body, neck, and multifocal) on clinicopathologic, perioperative, and oncologic outcomes.

Results

About 97 patients met criteria; 63% fundus/body, 22% multifocal, and 15% neck. Compared with fundus/body, neck tumors more frequently presented with preoperative jaundice (53% vs. 13%, p < .001), were smaller (20 mm vs. 30 mm, p = .068) and had significantly more biliary tree invasion (33% vs. 13%, p = .030) on histopathology. Although tumor characteristics (pTNM stage, liver invasion, lymphovascular invasion, prognostic nutritional index, and grade) were similar, neck tumors had significantly higher rates of R0 resection (53% vs. 11%, p < .001). Rates of adjuvant therapy were similar. Median PFS was similar between cohorts (p = .356). However, median overall survival (OS) was significantly shorter in neck (21 months) than fundus/body tumors (NR > 109 months), p = .015.

Conclusions

Neck tumors were rare, small and more likely to result in jaundice secondary to biliary tree invasion. Despite higher R0 resection rates, these tumors had significantly worse OS.
Robotic rectal surgery: Outcomes of the first 102 totally robotic cases handled using the single‐docking technique in a reference institution
Authors: Denadai Marcos V. A. , Melani Armando G. F. , Neto Maximiliano C. , Romagnolo Luis G. C. , Diniz Felipe D. , Véo Carlos A. R.
Published: December 2020

Background and Objective

Rectal cancer is often surgically treated, but it is still associated with morbidity rates. Minimally invasive techniques are increasingly being used to reduce complications, and the use of such techniques can be found in the literature. This study aims to report our experience in a reference oncology center.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was performed on a prospective database of patients who underwent robotic surgery for rectal cancer using the single‐docking technique from September 2014 to April 2018. Clinical and surgical variables, as well as morbidity and mortality rates, were analyzed.

Results

One hundred and two patients underwent robotic surgery. Intraoperative complications occurred in six patients (4.9%), and postoperative complications in 24 patients (23.5%), of which anastomotic fistula represented 3.9%. The conversion rate was 1.96%. Two cases (1.9%) faced death within 30 days. The median length of hospitalization was 3 days. The median number of lymph nodes dissected was 15. Clinical and surgical data were correlated with postoperative complications, and no statistically significant differences were found.

Conclusion

Robotic surgery is a safe and feasible approach to manage rectal cancer. The method presents satisfactory results with regard to the rate of operative complications, conversion rate, oncologic outcomes, and length of hospitalization.
Primary mesenteric sarcomas: Collaborative experience from the Trans‐Atlantic Australasian Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Working Group (TARPSWG)
Authors: Tattersall Hannah L. , Hodson James , Cardona Kenneth , Lee Rachel M. , Nessim Carolyn , Gladdy Rebecca , Van Der Hage Jos , Schrage Yvonne , Tseng William W. , van Houdt Winan , Novak Marko , Grignani Giovanni , Tolomeo Francesco , Goel Neha , Ryon Emily , Gyorki David , Bagaria Sanjay P. , Gonzalez Jose A. , Arnau Ana B. M. , Sayyed Raza , Tirotta Fabio , Evenden Caroline , Desai Anant , Almond Max , Glasbey James , Fiore Marco , Gronchi Alessandro , Ford Samuel J.
Published: December 2020

Background

Primary mesenteric soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare and limited evidence is available to inform management. Surgical resection is challenging due to the proximity of vital structures and a need to preserve enteric function.

Objectives

To determine the overall survival (OS) and recurrence‐free survival (RFS) for patients undergoing primary resection for mesenteric STS.

Methods

The Trans‐Atlantic Australasian Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Working Group (TARPSWG) is an intercontinental collaborative comprising specialist sarcoma centers. Data were collected retrospectively for all patients with mesenteric STS undergoing primary resection between 2000 and 2019.

Results

Fifty‐six cases from 15 institutions were included. The spectrum of pathology was similar to the retroperitoneum, although of a higher grade. R0/R1 resection was achieved in 87%. Median OS was 56 months. OS was significantly shorter in higher‐grade tumors (p = .018) and extensive resection (p < .001). No significant association between OS and resection margin or tumor size was detected. Rates of local recurrence (LR) and distant metastases (DM) at 5 years were 60% and 41%, respectively. Liver metastases were common (60%), reflecting portal drainage of the mesentery.

Conclusion

Primary mesenteric sarcoma is rare, with a modest survival rate. LR and DM are frequent events. Liver metastases are common, highlighting the need for surveillance imaging.
Preparation of a zirconium terephthalate metal‐organic framework coated magnetic nanoparticle for the extraction of berberine prior to high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis
Authors: Wang Yuan , Yin Shi‐Jun , Zhao Cong‐Peng , Chen Guo‐Ying , Yang Feng‐Qing
Published: December 2020

In this study, a zirconium terephthalate metal‐organic framework‐coated magnetic nanoparticle (UiO‐66@PA@PEI@Fe3O4) was synthesized for the extraction of berberine prior to high‐performance liquid chromatography analysis. The phytic acid, which could be grafted onto the magnetic nanoparticle through electrostatic interaction with the abundant amino groups of polyethylenimine, possesses outstanding metal ion coordination ability for the immobilization of metal‐organic frameworks UiO‐66. The physicochemical properties of the obtained nanoparticle were thoroughly investigated by a series of characterization techniques. Then, the factors that will affect the extraction efficiency and recovery of berberine were investigated. Results indicated that the material had good stability and reusability, and high adsorption capacity (50.01 mg/g) to berberine through single‐layer adsorption. In addition, a molecular docking study indicated that the interactions between the material and berberine were mainly π‐π stacking and hydrophobic interaction. Finally, the material was successfully applied to the extraction of berberine in Rhizoma Coptidis and Cortex Phellodendri extracts with the recoveries of 76.1% and 71.6%, respectively.
Reconsideration of the phytoplankton seasonality in the open Black Sea
Authors: Yunev Oleg A. , Carstensen Jacob , Stelmakh Ludmila V. , Belokopytov Vladimir N. , Suslin Vyacheslav V.
Published: December 2020

Chlorophyll a (Chl a) observations from satellites exhibit a unimodal seasonal variation in the open Black Sea that peaks during winter, which has led to the hypothesis that phytoplankton production is sustained by convective mixing of nitrate from deeper layers. We compiled in situ carbon‐to‐Chl a ratios for the entire year, displaying an expected seasonal pattern ranging from 46 in February to 195 mg C mg Chl−1 in September. We combined monthly ratios with satellite Chl a to obtain a comprehensive proxy data set for phytoplankton carbon biomass, and used this to examine the seasonal variation in phytoplankton biomass and bloom occurrences. Contrary to current understanding, our results showed that phytoplankton accumulation is predominantly taking place from July to September, when biomass increased threefold despite nitrate transport from below being negligible. We hypothesize that nitrate harvesting at depths and endosymbiont nitrogen fixation by large diatoms could be important, albeit unexplored mechanisms.
Summary of third annual MCBK public meeting: Mobilizing computable biomedical knowledge—Accelerating the second knowledge revolution
Authors: Williams Michelle , Richesson Rachel L. , Bray Bruce E. , Greenes Robert A. , McIntosh Leslie D. , Middleton Blackford , Perry Gerald , Platt Jodyn , Shaffer Christopher
Published: December 2020

The volume of biomedical knowledge is growing exponentially and much of this knowledge is represented in computer executable formats, such as models, algorithms, and programmatic code. There is a growing need to apply this knowledge to improve health in Learning Health Systems, health delivery organizations, and other settings. However, most organizations do not yet have the infrastructure required to consume and apply computable knowledge, and national policies and standards adoption are not sufficient to ensure that it is discoverable and used safely and fairly, nor is there widespread experience in the process of knowledge implementation as clinical decision support. The Mobilizing Computable Biomedical Knowledge (MCBK) community was formed in 2016 to address these needs. This report summarizes the main outputs of the third annual MCBK public meeting, which was held virtually from June 30 to July 1, 2020 and brought together over 200 participants from various domains to frame and address important dimensions for mobilizing CBK.
Fabrication of gold nanohybrids modified with antibody and functional dendrimers for targeted photothermal theranostics
Authors: Setiawan Herlan , Yuba Eiji , Harada Atsushi , Aoki Ichio , Kono Kenji
Published: December 2020

Targeted theranostics can improve benefits of therapeutics or imaging probes by minimizing the dose and by selective delivery to a target site. For this study, a gold nanorod (AuNR)‐based nanohybrid was designed for efficient cancer treatment and diagnosis. The AuNR was functionalized with polyamidoamine dendrimers having poly(ethylene glycol) and Gd‐DOTA residues to provide biocompatibility and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging properties. Furthermore, trastuzumab was conjugated to the obtained nanohybrids to enhance the delivery performance to HER2‐expressing tumor cells. Fabricated nanohybrids possessed uniform hydrodynamic diameter and showed typical surface plasmon absorption, which is useful to convert light energy to heat for photothermal therapy. Nanohybrids exhibited T1‐weighted relaxation and comparable MR imaging property to that of commercially available MR contrast reagent. In vitro experiments demonstrated that photothermal effects of nanohybrid under near infrared (NIR) irradiation were sufficient to kill 80%–90% of cancer cells. The combination of the targeted nanohybrid and NIR laser irradiation strongly suppressed tumor growth and extended the survival of HER2‐positive SKOV3 tumor‐bearing nude mice. Therefore, fabricated nanohybrids are promising for targeted photothermal therapy and imaging.
Increased Association With Malnutrition and Malnourishment in Older Adults Admitted With Hip Fractures Who Have Cognitive Impairment and Delirium, as Assessed by 4AT
Authors: Han Thang S. , Lisk Radcliffe , Osmani Ahmad , Sharmin Rifat , El Gammel Sarah , Yeong Keefai , Fluck David , Fry Christopher H.
Published: December 2020

Background

The Royal College of Physicians recently introduced the 4AT (Alertness, Abbreviated Mental Test‐4, Attention, and Acute change or fluctuating course) for screening cognitive impairment and delirium. Here, we examined the association of the 4AT with nutrition status in patients admitted to a hospital with hip fractures between January 1, 2016, and June 6, 2019.

Methods

Nutrition status was assessed using the Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool, and the 4AT was assessed within 1 day after hip surgery. χ2Tests and logistic regression were conducted to assess the association of nutrition status with 4AT scores, adjusted for age and sex.

Results

From 1082 patients aged 60–103 years, categorized into 4AT scores of 0, 1–3, or ≥4, the prevalence of malnutrition risk was 15.5%, 27.3%, and 39.6% and malnourishment was 4.1%, 13.2%, and 11.3%, respectively. Compared with the 4AT = 0 cohort, a 4AT score = 1–3 was associated with an increased malnutrition risk (odds ratio [OR], 2.3; 95% CI, 1.6–3.1) or malnourishment (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 2.1–6.3). For a 4AT score ≥4, corresponding ORs were 4.0 (95% CI, 2.8–5.9) and 3.6 (95% CI, 1.9–6.8). Overall, there was a significant positive association: as 4AT scores increased, so did malnutrition risk.

Conclusions

Among older adults admitted with hip fractures, high 4AT scores, which are suggestive of cognitive impairment and delirium, identified patients at increased malnutrition risk. These findings lend further support for the use of 4AT to identify patients who are at increased health risk.
Crypto‐giving and surveillance philanthropy: Exploring the trade‐offs in blockchain innovation for nonprofits
Authors: Howson Peter
Published: December 2020

A blockchain is a smart electronic database, distributed to all users, immutably tracking every transaction that has ever taken place between nodes on a network. The technology is being used by some nonprofits to address various operational challenges, including attaching automated conditions to charitable donations facilitated by programmable “crypto‐giving” platforms. Drawing from analysis of technical documents provided by active crypto‐giving projects, this review considers how these platforms enable radical shifts in sectoral power relations through “surveillance philanthropy”. This algorithmic surveillance ensures project funding fully reflects the interests of donors, while potentially restricting nonprofits in meeting the dynamic and complex needs of project beneficiaries. The paper considers the benefit trade‐offs from crypto‐giving platforms in three areas of utilization: (a) new forms of donor engagement and fundraising, (b) new tools for organizational governance, and (c) novel provision of development assistance. Despite the possible efficiency and transparency benefits of crypto‐giving platforms, more research and practitioner engagement is required to ensure the sector's funding is secure and sustainable, without entailing significant risks for proposed beneficiaries.
A combined meshfree exponential Rosenbrock integrator for the third‐order dispersive partial differential equations
Authors: Koçak Hüseyin
Published: December 2020

The aim of this study is to propose a combined numerical treatment for the dispersive partial differential equations involving dissipation, convection and reaction terms with nonlinearity, such as the KdV‐Burgers, KdV and dispersive‐Fisher equations. We use the combination of the exponential Rosenbrock–Euler time integrator and multiquadric‐radial basis function meshfree scheme in space as a qualitatively promising and computationally inexpensive method to efficiently exhibit behavior of such fruitful interactions resulting in antikink, two solitons and antikink‐breather waves. Obtained numerical solutions are compared with the existing results in the literature and discussed using illustrations in detail.
A class of new stable, explicit methods to solve the non‐stationary heat equation
Authors: Kovács Endre
Published: December 2020

We present a class of new explicit and stable numerical algorithms to solve the spatially discretized linear heat or diffusion equation. After discretizing the space and the time variables like conventional finite difference methods, we do not approximate the time derivatives by finite differences, but use constant‐neighbor and linear‐neighbor approximations to decouple the ordinary differential equations and solve them analytically. During this process, the time step size appears not in polynomial, but in exponential form with negative exponents, which guarantees stability. We compare the performance of the new methods with analytical and numerical solutions. According to our results, the methods are first and second order in time and can be much faster than the commonly used explicit or implicit methods, especially in the case of extremely large stiff systems.
Enhancing composition control of alloy nanoparticles from gas aggregation source by in operando optical emission spectroscopy
Authors: Drewes Jonas , Vahl Alexander , Carstens Niko , Strunskus Thomas , Polonskyi Oleksandr , Faupel Franz
Published: December 2020

The use of multicomponent targets allows the gas‐phase synthesis of a large variety of alloy nanoparticles (NPs) via gas aggregation sources. However, the redeposition of sputtered material impacts the composition of alloy NPs, as demonstrated here for the case of AgAu alloy NPs. To enable NPs with tailored Au fractions, in operando control over the composition of the NPs is in high demand. We suggest the use of optical emission spectroscopy as a versatile diagnostic tool to determine and control the composition of the NPs. A strong correlation between operating pressure, intensity ratio of Ag and Au emission lines, and the obtained NP compositions is observed. This allows precise in operando control of alloy NP composition obtained from multicomponent targets.
To err is human, or is it?
Authors: Correa Gustavo
Published: December 2020

Human errors occur for multiple reasons; therefore, multiple preventative actions are needed to avoid different types of error. It is necessary to avoid inadvertently inducing errors or delivering latent conditions (traps) in the workplace that can result in accidents. After reviewing both Reason's and Rasmussen's human error theories, the importance of intervening in the process design to make it difficult for the error occurs stands out. Lack of focus on Human Factors in designing the workplace and/or human machines interfaces can lead to severe losses associated with major accidents.
Strategies for sequential design of experiments and augmentation
Authors: Lu Lu , Anderson‐Cook Christine M.
Published: December 2020

The benefits of sequential design of experiments have long been described for both model‐based and space‐filling designs. However, in our experience, too few practitioners take advantage of the opportunity afforded by this approach to maximize the learning from their experimentation. By obtaining data sequentially, it is possible to learn from the early stages to inform subsequent data collection, minimize wasted resources, and provide answers for a series of objectives for the overall experiment. This paper provides methods and algorithms to create augmented distance‐based space‐filling designs, using both uniform and non‐uniform space‐filling strategies, that can be constructed at each stage based on information learned in earlier stages. We illustrate the methods with several examples that involve different initial data, types of space‐filing designs and experimental goals.
Nonlinear profile monitoring with single index models
Authors: Iguchi Takayuki , Barrientos Andrés F. , Chicken Eric , Sinha Debajyoti
Published: December 2020

We consider change‐point detection and estimation in sequences of functional observations. This setting often arises when the quality of a process is characterized by such observations, called profiles, and monitoring profiles for changes in structure can be used to ensure the stability of the process over time. We propose a nonparametric approach using a single index model (SIM), where instead of monitoring the profile itself for a change, we monitor an ‐based statistic on the coefficients generated by the SIM. Through simulation we show our novel method outperforms existing multivariate profile monitoring methods.
Greenhouse gas emissions under winter wheat‐based organic and conventional crop productions
Authors: Sainju Upendra M. , Hatfield Patrick G. , Ragen Devon L.
Published: December 2020

Information on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in organic crop production using sheep (Ovis aries L.) grazing to control weeds is lacking. We examined GHG emissions from May 2013 to April 2016 under wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)‐based sequences in organic and conventional crop productions in the northern Great Plains. Organic crop production included sheep grazing to control weeds without N application (OCP) and conventional crop production included herbicides, pesticides, and N applications (CCP). Cropping sequences in a 5‐yr rotation of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)/sweetclover cover crop [Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam.]–sweetclover cover crop–winter wheat–lentil (Lens culinaris L.)–winter wheat were lentil after winter wheat (L–W), winter wheat after sweetclover cover crop (W–C), and winter wheat after lentil (W–L). The CO2 and N2O fluxes peaked immediately after tillage, planting, fertilization, intense precipitation, and snowmelt, but CH4 uptake increased in the autumn. Cumulative CO2 flux was lower with OCP than CCP for W–C in 2014–2015 and for W–L in 2015–2016. Cumulative N2O flux was also lower with OCP than CCP for W–C in 2014–2015, but was greater with OCP than CCP for L–W in 2015–2016. Treatments did not affect cumulative CH4 flux. The global warming potential (GWP) was lower with OCP than CCP for W–C in 2014–2015 and for W–L in 2015–2016. Organic crop production using sheep grazing with no chemical input reduced GHG emissions under winter wheat following clover cover crop or lentil compared with conventional crop production using chemical inputs under lentil following winter wheat.
Recyclable and Photocatalytic Properties of ZnFe2O4/ZnO for Wastewater Treatment and Disinfection
Authors: Maynez‐Navarro Oscar D. , Mendez‐Rojas Miguel A. , Flores‐Cervantes Deborah X. , Kuri Ulises Salazar , Sanchez‐Salas Jose L.
Published: December 2020

In this work, the magnetic and photocatalytic ZnFe2O4/ZnO, at two different ratios (1 : 1 and 1 : 8), have been prepared via a simple one‐step method. Characterization of the nanocomposite was performed using Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) isotherm. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated by monitoring the photodegradation of methylene blue and the photo‐assisted bleaching of p‐nitrosodimethylaniline, under UV365nm irradiation. The photocatalytic performance is related to the amount of ZnO on the composite. Therefore, using ZnFe2O4/ZnO at 1 : 8 ratio (0.1 mg mL−1), efficiency of 80 % was achieved after 120 min. The material can be recovered magnetically and reused for at least three consecutive cycles without losing their activity. Water disinfection performance was also determined by measuring E. coli inactivation. Remarkably, ZnFe2O4/ZnO at 1 : 8 (0.1 mg mL−1) proved to be more effective for bacterial inactivation than ZnO alone, with an inactivation performance of 90 % after 15 min. Interestingly, these composites can be used as highly efficient photocatalysts for wastewater treatment and water disinfection, and are magnetically separable and reusable.