bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does COVID‐19 pandemic impact cancer outcomes in metastatic setting? A comparative cohort study among metastatic patients treated at day care hospital
Authors: Quilan Florian , Lequesne Justine , Cherifi François , Bastien Etienne , Morel Adeline , Delcambre Corinne , Da Silva Angélique , Grellard Jean‐Michel , Leconte Alexandra , Faveyrial Audrey , Clarisse Bénédicte , Joly Florence
Published: July 2023

Introduction

COVID‐19 outbreak rapidly spread since early 2020 leading to the implementation of nationwide lockdowns. To cope with this sudden change, management guidelines were quickly published to adapt oncological care, with potential impact on cancer outcomes.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective comparative cohort study to assess the impact of the COVID‐19 outbreak in 2020 on cancer outcomes in metastatic patients. Two cohorts of metastatic patients receiving intravenous (iv) therapy in a French oncological day care hospital were assessed: a 2020 cohort during the first French lockdown, and a 2018 historical cohort before the COVID‐19 pandemic. We performed a propensity score analysis to match patients from the two cohorts. After one‐year follow‐up, we compared progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) between cohorts. Adaptations of medical oncological treatments in 2020 were also analysed.

Results

The 376 patients of the 2020 cohort were matched with 376 of the 2018 cohort. No SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was observed in the 2020 cohort. The adjusted PFS was significantly shorter in 2020 compared to 2018 (HR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.03–1.46), as well as among patients without treatment adaptation compared to matched patients of the 2018 cohort (HR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.10–1.61). We did not observe any significant difference of PFS among the group with treatment adaptations. OS was not significantly different.

Conclusion

Metastatic cancer patients treated during the first lockdown had a higher risk of disease progression 1 year after COVID‐19 outbreak. However, oncological treatment adaptations or SARS‐CoV‐2 infections do not explain these results. A longer follow‐up is needed to observe the impact on OS.
Transcatheter edge‐to‐edge repair for mitral regurgitation using PASCAL or MitraClip
Authors: Elbadawi Ayman , Dang Alexander T. , Hamed Mohamed , Ali Abdelrahman , Saad Marwan , Jneid Hani , Chhatriwalla Adnan K. , Goel Sachin , Bhatt Anish , Mani Preethi , Bavry Anthony , Kumbhani Dharam J.
Published: July 2023

Background

There is a paucity of data regarding the comparative efficacy and safety of Mitral valve transcatheter edge‐to‐edge repair (MTEER) using the PASCAL or MitraClip systems for patients with mitral regurgitation (MR).

Methods

An electronic search was conducted for MEDLINE, COCHRANE, and EMBASE, through February 2023, for studies comparing the clinical outcomes of MTEER using PASCAL versus MitraClip systems among patients with severe MR. The primary study outcome was residual MR ≤ 2 at discharge. Data were pooled using a random‐effects model.

Results

The final analysis included six studies with a total of 1581 patients, with a weighted follow‐up period of 3.5 months. Two studies only included patients with degenerative MR, while the remaining studies included both degenerative and functional MR. There was no significant difference in procedure duration between MTEER with the PASCAL or MitraClip systems. There was no difference in residual MR ≤ 2 at discharge (94.7% vs. 91.9%; odds ratio [OR]: 1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.92–2.27) or residual MR ≤ 2 at the mid‐term follow‐up (94.6% vs. 91.0%, p = 0.05) among the PASCAL versus MitraClip systems. There was no difference between both groups in residual MR ≤ 1 at discharge (73.1% vs. 63.8%, p = 0.12), while there was greater incidence of residual MR ≤ 1 at midterm follow‐up with the PASCAL system (71.3% vs. 56.2%, p < 0.001). There was no difference between the PASCAL and MitraClip MTEER systems in technical success (97.0% vs. 97.9%, p = 0.15), procedural success (89.1% vs. 87.1%, p = 0.78), single leaflet detachment (1.8% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.55), or all‐cause mortality (3.6% vs. 4.6%, p = 0.71).

Conclusion

In this meta‐analysis, we demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety between the PASCAL and MitraClip MTEER systems at short‐ and mid‐term assessments. Randomized trials are warranted to evaluate the comparative long‐term outcomes between both MTEER systems.
Ultrathin bioresorbable polymer sirolimus‐eluting stents in US patients undergoing coronary revascularization: 1‐Year outcomes from the BIOFLOW VII trial
Authors: Kandzari David E. , Garcia‐Garcia Hector M. , Stoler Robert C. , Wang John , Picone Mark , Ben‐Dor Itsik , Garcia Santiago A.
Published: July 2023

Background

Ultrathin strut coronary drug‐eluting stents (DES) have demonstrated improved safety and efficacy in large contemporary trials. The evaluation of an ultrathin strut DES in a post‐market United States (US) patient population was undertaken.

Objective

The purpose of this post‐approval study is to confirm that the clinical performance of an ultrathin strut bioresorbable polymer sirolimus‐eluting stent (BP SES) in clinical practice is similar to that observed with BP SES in the BIOFLOW V pivotal trial.

Methods

BIOFLOW VII is a prospective, multicenter, single‐arm US post‐market approval study to confirm the clinical performance of BP SES in a real‐world setting. The primary endpoint of 1‐year target lesion failure (TLF) was compared with a performance goal of 6.9% based on an adapted BIOFLOW V trial BP SES TLF rate and TLF rates from other US market‐released DES utilizing the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions definition for peri‐procedural myocardial infarction (MI). Subjects undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with BP SES were consented within 24 h post‐index procedure with planned follow‐up through 5 years.

Results

Among 556 enrolled patients, clinical demographics included: 34.7% female, 35.6% with diabetes mellitus, and 56.8% with acute coronary syndromes. The average stent length (mean ± standard deviation) was 20.2 ± 11.8 mm, and the mean number of stents per patient was 1.3 ± 0.6. Procedure success was 99.1% (551/556), and device success was 99.9% (689/690). Among 531 subjects included in the primary endpoint analysis, the 1‐year rate of TLF rate was 1.7% (9/531), and the primary endpoint was met compared with the performance goal (p < 0.0001, 95% confidence interval: 0.69%, 3.43%). Rates of target vessel MI and clinically driven target lesion revascularization were 1.3% (7/531) and 0.9% (5/531), with no occurrence of cardiac death. Definite stent thrombosis was observed for two cases (0.4%; 2/556) with one acute (≤24 h) and one late (>30 days and ≤1 year) event.

Conclusion

In a post‐approval study, 1‐year clinical outcomes with BP SES were consistent with prior trials supporting the safety and effectiveness of ultrathin BP SES.
Prognostic impact of new permanent pacemaker implantation following transcatheter aortic valve replacement
Authors: Zheng Hua‐Jie , Yan Chao‐Jun , Lin De‐Qing , Cheng Yong‐Bo , Yu San‐Jiu , Li Jun , Zhang Xian‐Pu , Cheng Wei
Published: July 2023

Background

Conduction disturbances requiring permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) are common following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). There were conflicting data regarding the impact of new PPI on clinical outcomes after TAVR.

Objectives

The study sought to evaluate the impact of new PPI on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing TAVR.

Methods

This study was a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data. Data were from 210 consecutive patients without prior PPI who underwent TAVR due to severe symptomatic aortic stenosis at our center between June 2018 and July 2020. Clinical, echocardiographic, and pacing data were assessed at 30‐day, 1‐ and 2‐year follow‐up.

Results

New PPI was required in 35 (16.7%) patients within 30 days after TAVR. The median time from TAVR to PPI was 3 days. The most common indication for PPI was high‐degree or complete atrioventricular block. The median follow‐up was 798.0 (interquartile range, 669.0–1115.0) days. There were no differences in all‐cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.85–2.36; p = 0.415) and cardiovascular mortality (adjusted HR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.57–1.89; p = 0.609) between groups. However, PPI group had a higher risk of heart failure (HF) rehospitalization (adjusted HR: 1.53; 95% CI: 1.26–2.28; p = 0.027). Echocardiography showed no significant improvement of LVEF over time in patients with PPI. At the latest follow‐up, 31.3% of patients exhibited low (≤10%) pacing burdens, whereas 28.1% of patients had near constant (>90%) right ventricular pacing.

Conclusions

New PPI within 30 days following TAVR was not associated with an increased risk of all‐cause or cardiovascular mortality. However, patients with PPI had a higher risk of HF rehospitalization and lack of LVEF improvement.
Modeling Reactivity of Nitrite and Nitrous Acid at a Phenolate Bridged Dizinc(II) Site: Insights into NO Signaling at Zinc
Authors: Kolliyedath Gayathri , Chattopadhyay Taraknath , Mondal Aditesh , Panangattu Aiswarya , Muralikrishnan Girish , Kundu Subrata
Published: July 2023

Although nitrite‐to‐NO transformation at various transition metals including Fe and Cu are relatively well explored, examples of such a reaction at the redox‐inactive zinc(II) site are limited. The present report aims to gain insights into the reactivity of nitrite anions, nitrous acid (HONO), and organonitrite (RONO) at a dizinc(II) site. A phenolate‐bridged dizinc(II)‐aqua complex [LHZnII(OH2)]2(ClO4)2 (1H‐Aq, where LH=tridentate N,N,O‐donor monoanionic ligand) is illustrated to react with tBuONO to provide a metastable arene‐nitrosonium charge‐transfer complex 2H. UV‐vis, FTIR, multinuclear NMR, and elemental analyses suggests the presence of a 2 : 1 arene‐nitrosonium moiety. Furthermore, the reactivity of a structurally characterized zinc(II)‐nitrite complex [LHZnII(ONO)]2 (1H‐ONO) with a proton‐source demonstrates HONO reactivity at the dizinc(II) site. Reactivity of both RONO (R=alkyl/H) at the phenolate‐bridged dizinc(II) site provides NO+ charge‐transfer complex 2H. Subsequently, the reactions of 2H with exogenous reductants (such as ferrocene, thiol, phenol, and catechol) have been illustrated to generate NO. In addition, NO yielding reactivity of [LHZnII(ONO)]2 (1H‐ONO) in the presence of the above‐mentioned reductants have been compared with the reactions of complex 2H. Thus, this report sheds light on the transformations of NO2−/RONO (R=alkyl/H) to NO/NO+ at the redox‐inactive zinc(II) coordination motif.
Donor‐Acceptor Activation of Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Pérez‐Jiménez Marina , Corona Helena , de la Cruz‐Martínez Felipe , Campos Jesús
Published: July 2023

The activation and functionalization of carbon dioxide entails great interest related to its abundance, low toxicity and associated environmental problems. However, the inertness of CO2 has posed a challenge towards its efficient conversion to added‐value products. In this review we discuss one of the strategies that have been widely used to capture and activate carbon dioxide, namely the use of donor‐acceptor interactions by partnering a Lewis acidic and a Lewis basic fragment. This type of CO2 activation resembles that found in metalloenzymes, whose outstanding performance in catalytically transforming carbon dioxide encourages further bioinspired research. We have divided this review into three general sections based on the nature of the active sites: metal‐free examples (mainly formed by frustrated Lewis pairs), main group‐transition metal combinations, and transition metal heterobimetallic complexes. Overall, we discuss one hundred compounds that cooperatively activate carbon dioxide by donor‐acceptor interactions, revealing a wide range of structural motifs.
Mini‐Review: Progress on the Controllable Synthesis of Micro/Nanoscale Bi2S3 Functional Materials
Authors: Yang Chen , Zhao Yijing , Liu Pengchao , Wang Didi , Sun Yan , Li Chunsheng , Dong Yongping , Ye Mingfu , Zhang Ning , Zhu Zhu , Jiang Huidong , Zhu Jiahao , Shuai Miaoxi , Wei Tonghui , Zhao Yuzhen
Published: July 2023

Bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) with micro/nanostructures as an important semiconductor material has attracted considerable attention due to its high ionic conductance, high photoelectric conversion efficiency, and large absorption coefficient, which is widely applied in the areas of photocatalysis, energy conversion, sensors, biomedicine, and pollutant disposal. Up to now, various strategies are reported for the morphology‐controlled synthesis of micro‐nanoscale Bi2S3 and Bi2S3‐based materials via manipulating the thermodynamics and kinetics in the chemical fabricating process. However, the Bi2S3 with designed shapes still remains to be developed to well adapt these diverse usages. To conclude, the designed preparation strategies, advanced applications, current challenges, and future expectations of Bi2S3 are discussed to provide some potential suggestions for further promotion of Bi2S3 functional materials.
Integration of Internet of Things and blockchain technology in healthcare domain: A systematic literature review
Authors: Kamangar Zainab Umair , Memon Raheel Ahmed , Murtaza Memon Ghulam , Kamangar Umair Ayaz
Published: July 2023

Healthcare is a vitally important field in the industry and evolving day by day in the aspect of technology, services, computing, and management. Its potential significance can be increased by incorporating Internet of Things (IoT) technology to make it smart in the aspect of automating activities, which is then further reformed in the healthcare domain with the help of blockchain technology. Blockchain technology provides many features to IoT‐based healthcare domain applications such as restructuring by securing traditional practices, data management, data sharing, patient remote monitoring, and drug analysis. In this study, a systematic literature review has been carried out in which a total of 52 studies were selected to conduct systematic literature review from databases PubMed, IEEE Access, and Scopus; the study includes IoT technology and blockchain integration in healthcare domain‐related application areas. This study also includes taxonomy that mentions the aspects and areas in healthcare domain incorporating the traditional system with the integration of IoT and blockchain to provide transparency, security, privacy, and immutability. This study also includes the incorporation of related sensors, platforms of blockchain, the objective focus of selected studies, and future directions by incorporating IoT and blockchain in healthcare domain. This study will help researchers who want to work with IoT and blockchain technology integration in healthcare domain.
Improved separation of fentanyl isomers using metal cation adducts and high‐resolution ion mobility‐mass spectrometry
Authors: Aderorho Ralph , Chouinard Christopher D.
Published: July 2023

Fentanyl is a potent synthetic opioid that has attracted significant attention due to its illegal production and distribution, resulting in misuse, overdose, and fatalities. Because numerous fentanyl analogs, including structural isomers, with different potency have been discovered in the field, there is a critical need to continue developing analytical methodologies capable of accurate identification in forensic and clinical laboratories. This study aimed to develop a rapid method for detecting and separating fentanyl isomers based on ion mobility–mass spectrometry (IM‐MS), where IM separates gas‐phase ions based on differences in their size, shape, and charge. Several strategies for improved differentiation were implemented, including using unconventional cation adducts (e.g., alkali and transition metals) and data post‐processing by high‐resolution demultiplexing. A collection of collision cross section (CCS) values for the various metal ion adducts was gathered, which can be used to improve confidence of identification in future samples. Notable examples, such as [M + Cu]+ and [M + Ag]+ adducts, contributed to significant improvement of resolution between isomers. Furthermore, the addition of high‐resolution post‐processing provided resolving power of >150, which constitutes a significant increase in comparison with the normal 50–60 obtained with low‐resolution drift tube instruments. Collectively, these improved separation strategies allowed for confident detection and subsequent quantitative analysis. The optimized IM‐MS method resulted in quantification of fentanyl in human urine with limits of detection and quantification of 13 pg/mL and 40 pg/mL, respectively.
Feeding the fever: Complex host‐pathogen dynamics along continuous resource gradients
Authors: Borer Elizabeth T. , Kendig Amy E. , Holt Robert D.
Published: July 2023

Food has long been known to perform dual functions of nutrition and medicine, but mounting evidence suggests that complex host‐pathogen dynamics can emerge along continuous resource gradients. Empirical examples of nonmonotonic responses of infection with increasing host resources (e.g., low prevalence at low and high resource supply but high prevalence at intermediate resources) have been documented across the tree of life, but these dynamics, when observed, often are interpreted as nonintuitive, idiosyncratic features of pathogen and host biology. Here, by developing generalized versions of existing models of resource dependence for within‐ and among‐host infection dynamics, we provide a synthetic view of nonmonotonic infection dynamics. We demonstrate that where resources jointly impact two (or more) processes (e.g., growth, defense, transmission, mortality, predation), nonmonotonic infection dynamics, including alternative states, can emerge across a continuous resource supply gradient. We review the few empirical examples that concurrently measured resource effects on multiple rates and pair this with a wide range of examples in which resource dependence of multiple rates could generate nonmonotonic infection outcomes under realistic conditions. This review and generalized framework highlight the likely generality of such resource effects in natural systems and point to opportunities ripe for future empirical and theoretical work.
Functional diversity of snakes is explained by the landscape composition at multiple areas of influence
Authors: Rincón‐Aranguri Mónica , Toro‐Cardona Felipe A. , Galeano Sandra P. , Roa‐Fuentes Lilia , Urbina‐Cardona Nicolás
Published: July 2023

Roadkill and landscape composition affect snakes at different spatial scales, depending on the functional trait value of the species, which is reflected in the functional diversity indices at the assemblage level. This study evaluated the effect of roads and landscape composition on snakes' functional diversity at different areas of influence (250, 500, 1000, and 2000 m buffer areas). We compared roadkill snake species with those assemblages inhabiting the adjacent vegetation in the Orinoco region, Colombia. We surveyed snakes using transects on the road and adjacent areas on 13 landscapes along the road. We evaluated the effect of 16 landscape metrics at six land cover classes on the snake's functional diversity at four different areas of influence (from 250 to 2000 m around the sampled sites). The functional redundancy index was higher for roadkill species, suggesting that roads eliminate species that play similar roles in the assemblage and ecosystem processes. Likewise, the low values of functional redundancy in the adjacent vegetation call attention to the fact that each species surviving in this transformed landscape has a crucial active role in ecosystem processes in snake assemblages. For roadkill snakes, forest metrics explained changes in functional richness and functional evenness at a 250 m area of influence. In comparison, transient crop and pasture metrics explained changes in functional evenness and divergence at 2000 m. For snakes inhabiting the adjacent vegetation, the cohesion of pasture explained changes in functional richness at 250 m, and forest metrics explained changes in functional redundancy and evenness at 2000 m. Anthropogenic landscape transformation may have a greater effect on snake functional diversity at local scales than roadkill. In savanna ecosystems, the presence of native forest at 2000 m radius around roads promotes the conservation of snake assemblages. However, within a 250 m radius, the risk of snake roadkill increases when the road borders native forest. Therefore, it is necessary to implement wildlife crossing in these sections of the road.
Genomic insights into the genetic basis of eagle‐beak jaw, large head, and long tail in the big‐headed turtle
Authors: Gong Shiping , Ge Yan , Wei Yufeng , Gao Yangchun
Published: July 2023

The big‐headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) is an endemic chelonian species in Asia. Unlike most other turtles in the world, P. megacephalum is characterized with eagle‐beak jaw, large head, and long tail. Although these unique characteristics are well recognized, the underlying genetic basis remains largely elusive. Here, we performed comparative genomic analysis between P. megacephalum and other representative species, aiming to reveal the genetic basis of the unique morphological features. Our results revealed that the eagle‐beak jaw is most likely enabled by combined effects of expansion of SFRP5, extraction of FGF11, and mutation of both ZFYVE16 and PAX6. Large head is supported by mutations of SETD2 and FGRF2 and copy number variations of six head circumference modulation‐related genes (TGFBR2, Twist2, Rdh10, Gas1, Chst11, and SNAP25). The long tail is probably involved in a genetic network comprising Gdf11, Lin 28, and HoxC12, two of which showed a consistent expression pattern with a model organism (mice). These findings suggest that expansion, extraction, and mutation of those genes may have profound effects on unique phenotypes of P. megacephalum.
Stoichiometry of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus released from the leaf litter of various temperate tree species
Authors: Ho Pei‐Chi , Nakajima Suzuna , Urabe Jotaro
Published: July 2023

Dissolved organic matter and inorganic nutrients released from forest leaf litter through leaching are the important energy and nutrient sources that support the production of aquatic food webs. Leaf litter‐derived dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a critical energy source for aquatic heterotrophic microbes, and inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus can enhance primary production. In this study, we experimentally measured the release efficiencies and amounts of DOC, total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), and total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) of the leaf litter from 11 temperate tree species by soaking the leaf litter in water for 28 days. We found that the maximal release efficiency (% of element released per estimated mass of the element) was the highest for P and lowest for N. These efficiencies were species‐specific. Additionally, the DOC:TDP, DOC:TDN, and TDN:TDP ratios varied among the leachate of different leaf litter species. DOC:TDP increased with the C:P ratio in leaf litter biomass but is considerably lower; TDN:TDP was lower than the N:P ratio in leaf litter biomass as well; DOC:TDN ratio was higher than the C:N ratio in leaf litter biomass. These results suggest that the ratios of DOC to dissolved N and P nutrients released into water are related to, but not the same as, the stoichiometry of leaf litter biomass. Based on these findings, we concluded that changes in the vegetations with different leaf litter stoichiometry can alter the relative importance of detrital and grazing food chains in aquatic ecosystems.
Seed sources and safe sites as drivers of Larix cajanderi regeneration following wildfire in the Siberian Arctic
Authors: Borth Eric B. , Alexander Heather D. , Zimov Nikita , McEwan Ryan W.
Published: July 2023

Larix cajanderi forests, which occupy vast regions of Siberia, grow atop and protect carbon‐rich permafrost. Regeneration of these forests has important implications for long‐term feedbacks into the climate system and their regeneration is strongest following stand‐replacing fires. The goal of this project was to assess sources of regeneration limitation in L. cajanderi forests in northeastern Siberia. We focused on (1) regeneration potential of stands varying in tree density and (2) analyzing seedling establishment patterns in relationship to microsite conditions (safe sites) in the landscape. Seed sources were assessed through cone counts and stand surveys in the summers of 2017 and 2018 in 17 mature L. cajanderi stands. L. cajanderi recruitment patterns in relationship to safe site availability were assessed in 15 areas, spanning approximately 800 km2 along the northern portion of the Kolyma River (69.5477° N, 161.3641° E). Density of trees in a stand was negatively related to the number of cones that the average tree produced and stands of moderate density produced more cones per area than either high‐ or low‐density stands. L. cajanderi seedling establishment was facilitated by safe sites in the landscape. We discovered strong evidence that safe sites are considerably more important for seedling establishment in lowland sites than upland areas. The biological explanation for this pattern is presently unknown; however, we hypothesize this pattern is driven by persistently wet (marshy) soils in some lowland sites as a limiter of seedling establishment. Overall, these data suggest the potential for complex linkages between forest density, propagule availability, fire, safe sight colonization, and seedling establishment that may regulate long‐term dynamics in the understudied L. cajanderi forests of the Siberian Arctic.
Electrochemical Sulphenylation/Cyclization of Quinones: A Rapid, Green, and Efficient Access to Cytotoxic Compounds
Authors: Diogo Emilay B. T. , Delolo Fábio G. , Graça Gabriela A. P. , Paz Esther R. S. , Bozzi Ícaro A. O. , Diniz Renata , Passos Juliano P. , Matencio Tulio , Soares Liane K. , Alves Diego , Costa Pedro M. S. , Pessoa Claudia , Pereira Cynthia L. M. , Ackermann Lutz , da Silva Júnior Eufrânio N.
Published: July 2023

Undivided electrochemical cells enable economical preparation of sulphur‐containing naphthoquinones through electrochemical sulphenylation of quinoidal compounds. The environmentally friendly and efficient protocol eliminates the use of chemical oxidants and facilitates the synthesis of the desired molecules. This approach offers an efficient and versatile method to synthesize quinones that exhibit cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines.
Diastereoselective and Enantioselective Heck Alkenylation of Cyclopent‐3‐en‐1‐ylmethanol with Alkenyl Triflates and Evaluation of Noncovalent Effects
Authors: de Oliveira Valdeir C. , Angnes Ricardo A. , Batista João M. , Correia Carlos Roque D.
Published: July 2023

This work describes an effective method to obtain chiral vinyl cyclopentenols with a high degree of enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity through Heck desymmetrization of cyclopent‐3‐en‐1‐ylmethanol using vinyl triflates as coupling agents and chiral N,N ligands. This Heck vinylation protocol allowed the synthesis of several structurally complex cyclopentenols in isolated yields of up to 80 % in enantiomeric ratios of up to 97 : 3 and diastereoselectivities higher than 20 : 1 in most cases. Experiments using (E) or (Z) vinyl triflates, and desymmetrization of protected olefin 1‐(cyclopent‐3‐en‐1‐ylmethoxy)‐4‐nitrobenzene (17) were instrumental in rationalizing the observed diastereoselectivities of Heck products involving the interaction of vinyl triflate carbonyl and the hydroxyl group moiety of the substrate with the cationic Pd(II) complex. The absolute configuration of the vinylated Heck products was determined by Vibrational Circular Dichroism (VCD) spectroscopy.
Growth Dynamics‐Dependent Chemical Approach to Accomplish Nanostructured Cobalt Vanadium Oxide Thin Film Electrodes with Controlled Surface Area for High‐Performance Solid‐State Hybrid Supercapacitor Devices
Authors: Kumbhar Sambhaji S. , Bhosale Shraddha B. , Pujari Sachin S. , Patil Vinod V. , Kumar Nitish , Salunkhe Rahul R. , Lokhande Chandrakant D. , Patil Umakant M.
Published: July 2023

Rational designing of electrode materials having high surface area can accomplish the enhanced charge‐storing ability of the electrochemical energy storage devices. Therefore, the surface area of cobalt vanadium oxide (CVO) material is controlled by changing growth dynamics in successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction methods. Structural analysis confirms the formation of hydrous cobalt vanadium oxide nanoparticles (Co3V2O8⋅nH2O) thin film electrodes, and alteration in the surface area with change in growth dynamics is observed in Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis. The CVO1:1 thin film electrode prepared at optimal growth dynamics illustrates high specific capacitance (Cs) (capacity) of 793 F g−1 (396.7 C g−1) at 0.5 A g−1, respectively. Moreover, aqueous hybrid supercapacitor devices constructed using CVO1:1 as cathode exhibit high Cs of 133.5 F g−1 at 1.1 A g−1, specific energy (SE) of 47.7 Wh kg−1 with specific power (SP) of 0.90 kW kg−1. The solid‐state hybrid supercapacitor devices also offer high Cs of 102.9 F g−1 at 0.3 A g−1, SE of 36.6 Wh kg−1 at SP of 0.30 kW kg−1. In the SILAR approach, the dipping time plays a critical role in improving the surface area of the material and, consequently, electrochemical performance, as the current work amply indicates.
Susceptibility to preoperative seizures in glioma patients with elevated homocysteine levels
Authors: Chi Xiaohan , Lu Jingjing , Guo Zhengguang , Wang Junmei , Liu Gaifen , Jin Zeping , Wang Yi , Zhang Qianhe , Sun Tai , Ji Nan , Zhang Yang
Published: July 2023

Objective

Seizures are a common clinical presentation in patients with glioma and substantially impact patients' quality of life. Hyperhomocysteinemia is defined as abnormally high serum levels of homocysteine (Hcy) and is reportedly linked to susceptibility to various nervous system diseases. However, it remains unclear whether and how hyperhomocysteinemia and its associated genetic polymorphisms promote seizures in glioma patients.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all medical data from 127 patients with malignant gliomas, who underwent initial tumor resection by our team between July 2019 and June 2021 and had preoperative measurements of serum Hcy levels. According to whether they had at least one seizure before surgery, they were divided into the seizure and nonseizure groups. We also detected polymorphisms in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene and measured intratumoral Hcy levels in these patients.

Results

Hyperhomocysteinemia was a susceptibility factor for preoperative seizures in glioma patients according to both univariate analyses (P < 0.001) and multivariate logistic regression analyses (OR 1.239, 95% CI 1.062–1.445, P = 0.007). Patients with the MTHFR C677T variant exhibited elevated serum Hcy levels (P = 0.027) and an increased prevalence of preoperative seizures (P = 0.019). Intratumoral Hcy levels were positively correlated with serum Hcy levels (R = 0.231, P = 0.046) and were elevated in patients with hyperhomocysteinemia (P = 0.031), the MTHFR C677T variant (P = 0.002) and preoperative seizures (P = 0.003). High intratumoral Hcy levels, rather than hyperhomocysteinemia or the MTHFR C677T variant, emerged as an independent risk factor for preoperative seizures (OR 1.303, 95% CI 1.015–1.673, P = 0.038). Furthermore, the effects of hyperhomocysteinemia on epileptic susceptibility were reduced to nonsignificance when intratumoral Hcy was controlled to the same level between groups.

Significance

Glioma patients with hyperhomocysteinemia and the MTHFR C677T variant were susceptible to preoperative seizures, suggesting their potential as biomarkers for the management of seizures in glioma patients. The elevation of intratumoral Hcy is a possible mechanism underlying this susceptibility.
Identification of potential antioxidant peptides from protein hydrolysates of pearl oil apricot almonds: Combination of in vitro and molecular docking studies
Authors: Chen Mo , Guo Xu , Li Ning‐yang , Chen Ying‐ying , Garcia‐Oliveira Paula , Sun Jin‐yue , Prieto Miguel A. , Niu Qing‐lin , Liu Chao
Published: July 2023

Pearl oil apricot almonds are rich in proteins, being a valuable raw material for preparing antioxidant peptides. In this study, almond protein hydrolysates (APHs) were obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis and divided into APHs‐1 (<3 kDa), APHs‐2 (3–10 kDa), and APHs‐3 (>10 kDa). APHs‐1‐c, purified from APHs‐1, was proved to show the strongest antioxidant effect through activity tracking experiments. APHs‐1‐c also can protect HepG2 cells against oxidative damage by reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species and MDA levels, elevating glutathione levels as well as increasing superoxide dismutase and catalase activities, and its protective effect is related to the Keap1–Nrf2 signaling pathway. Forty bioactive peptide sequences were identified from APHs‐1‐c, and Thr‐Glu‐Asp‐Asp‐Trp‐Arg‐Trp‐His (TEDDWRWH; P1), Trp‐Tyr‐Asp‐Asn‐Glu‐Trp‐Gly‐Tyr‐Arg (WYDNEWGYR; P2), and Ala‐Glu‐Asp‐His‐Glu‐Trp‐Trp‐Arg (AEDHEWWWR; P3) had the most potential for antioxidant activity by molecular docking studies. P1, P2, and P3 showed desirable 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.634–3.381 mmol/L), 2,2′‐azino‐bis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) diammonium salt radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.221–0.309 mmol/L), and ferric‐reducing antioxidant power. These results suggested that almonds protein hydrolysates and its derived antioxidant peptides could serve as potential ingredients applied in functional foods.
Time‐lapse VSP integration and calibration of subsurface stress field utilizing machine learning approaches: A case study of the morrow B formation, FWU
Authors: Ampomah William , Acheampong Samuel Appiah , McMillan Marcia , Bratton Tom , Will Robert , Huang Lianjie , El‐Kaseeh George , Lee Don
Published: July 2023

This study aims to develop a methodology for calibrating subsurface stress changes through time‐lapse vertical seismic profiling (VSP) integration. The selected study site is a region around the injector well located within Farnsworth field unit (FWU), where there is an ongoing CO2‐enhanced oil recovery (EOR) operation. In our study, a site‐specific rock physics model was created from extensive geological, geophysical, and geomechanical characterization through 3D seismic data, well logs, and core assessed as part of the 1D MEM conducted on the characterization well within the study area. The Biot‐Gassmann workflow was utilized to combine the rock physics and reservoir simulation outputs to determine the seismic velocity change due to fluid substitution. Modeled seismic velocities attributed to mean effective stress were determined from the geomechanical simulation outputs, and the stress‐velocity relationship developed from ultrasonic seismic velocity measurements. A machine learning‐assisted workflow comprised of an artificial neural network and a particle swarm optimizer (PSO) was utilized to minimize a penalty function created between the modeled seismic velocities and the observed time‐lapse VSP dataset. The successful execution of this workflow has affirmed the suitability of acoustic time‐lapse measurements for 4D‐VSP geomechanical stress calibration pending measurable stress sensitivities within the anticipated effective stress changes and the availability of suitable and reliable datasets for petroelastic modeling. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quantitative susceptibility mapping identifies hippocampal and other subcortical grey matter tissue composition changes in temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Kiersnowski Oliver C. , Winston Gavin P. , Caciagli Lorenzo , Biondetti Emma , Elbadri Maha , Buck Sarah , Duncan John S. , Thornton John S. , Shmueli Karin , Vos Sjoerd B.
Published: July 2023

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is associated with widespread brain alterations. Using quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) alongside transverse relaxation rate (), we investigated regional brain susceptibility changes in 36 patients with left‐sided (LTLE) or right‐sided TLE (RTLE) secondary to hippocampal sclerosis, and 27 healthy controls (HC). We compared three susceptibility calculation methods to ensure image quality. Correlations of susceptibility and with age of epilepsy onset, frequency of focal‐to‐bilateral tonic–clonic seizures (FBTCS), and neuropsychological test scores were examined. Weak‐harmonic QSM (WH‐QSM) successfully reduced noise and removed residual background field artefacts. Significant susceptibility increases were identified in the left putamen in the RTLE group compared to the LTLE group, the right putamen and right thalamus in the RTLE group compared to HC, and a significant susceptibility decrease in the left hippocampus in LTLE versus HC. LTLE patients who underwent epilepsy surgery showed significantly lower left‐versus‐right hippocampal susceptibility. Significant changes were found between TLE and HC groups in the amygdala, putamen, thalamus, and in the hippocampus. Specifically, decreased R2* was found in the left and right hippocampus in LTLE and RTLE, respectively, compared to HC. Susceptibility and were significantly correlated with cognitive test scores in the hippocampus, globus pallidus, and thalamus. FBTCS frequency correlated positively with ipsilateral thalamic and contralateral putamen susceptibility and with in bilateral globi pallidi. Age of onset was correlated with susceptibility in the hippocampus and putamen, and with in the caudate. Susceptibility and changes observed in TLE groups suggest selective loss of low‐myelinated neurons alongside iron redistribution in the hippocampi, predominantly ipsilaterally, indicating QSM's sensitivity to local pathology. Increased susceptibility and in the thalamus and putamen suggest increased iron content and reflect disease severity.
Relationships are essential but not always easy: The role of methodology in embedding Aboriginal community and Country in academic research
Authors: McKnight Anthony David Blake , Probst Yasmine , O'Flynn Gabrielle , Tillott Sarah , Stanley Rebecca Megan
Published: July 2023

This article is told as a story about how a project, Strong culture, healthier lifestyles, took steps towards decolonisation as an evolving methodological journey with Country. The story is primarily about how our methodology moved from a Western model of ‘doing’ research, to the research team being part of the research process, as team members with Country and the participating local community members: a methodology of partnership. First, we provide a general overview of the initial project to set up how we came to understand its disconnection to community and Country. Second, we unpack the storying approach as methodology that is bound with the local Country: Yuin on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Third, using the storying approach, we reflect through Country and the community to discover ways forward in Aboriginal and non‐Aboriginal knowledge partnerships. We share our story in an attempt to limit colonial practice (decolonisation) and replace it with a re‐culturalising approach; the re‐connecting of Country as a source of interconnectedness into the research process. Country includes all the living communities of nature, and we explore how this relationship in the human element (community) impacted and developed our methodology of partnership.
Understanding the drivers of patient satisfaction with home health care services: An empirical study of two care pathways
Authors: Ponsignon Frédéric , Mathieu Léa , Durrieu François
Published: July 2023

This research aims to empirically determine the drivers of patient satisfaction with home health care services and to develop an instrument for measuring patient satisfaction in this context. The empirical study focuses on insulin and respiratory assistance therapies. Two large patient samples of a private home care provider in France are surveyed. Two distinct, yet complementary, analytical procedures are performed to maximize the validity and reliability of the results. We identify four core concepts (interpersonal relationship, support and guidance, delivery of consumables, and equipment use) that play a key role in influencing patient satisfaction across the two therapies studied. The results also reveal that the relative role of each factor in driving overall patient satisfaction varies across these therapies, possibly due to differences in the characteristics of the therapies and related care services. Our empirical results enrich the existing literature, largely focused on hospital and primary care settings, by providing evidence to capture patient satisfaction drivers at the level of specificity required to account for the unique context of home care services. The article's main theoretical contribution is to establish, from the patient's perspective, a core set of drivers that determine patient satisfaction in the context of home health care services. The instrument provides practitioners and policy makers with a practical tool that supports them in achieving patient satisfaction and in understanding why and how such satisfaction is achieved. The suitability of the patient satisfaction instrument to other forms of home care services needs examining.
Retrieval of parameters in micromixer with obstacle by cascade‐forward‐type artificial neural network: Comparison of four training algorithms under noisy data
Authors: Acharya Swagatika , Mishra Vijay Kumar , Patel Jitendra Kumar , Chaudhuri Sumanta
Published: July 2023

Two parameters are retrieved in a passive Y‐type micromixer with circular obstacle by cascade‐forward‐type artificial neural network (CFANN). The governing equations are solved by the finite volume method, under specific boundary conditions. The numerical model is then used to compute velocity profile and mixing efficiency, for different values of the Reynolds number. Thus, the velocity profiles along with Reynolds number (Re) and mixing efficiency (η) constitute the input–output pair of data. These data are used to train CFANN, and the network is monitored through different means, like, histograms, performance curves, and so forth. For inverse analysis, the trained CFANN model is fed with a new velocity profile as input, and corresponding values of Reynolds number and mixing efficiency are obtained as output. In an attempt to construct the optimum CFANN model, various combinations were explored, like, (1) different numbers of neurons in the hidden layer, (2) different noise levels in input data, and (3) different algorithms in the training stage. Finally, the CFANN with 10 hidden layer neurons with Levenberg–Marquardt (LM) algorithm was found to give retrieved values with up to 0.96% absolute error for all levels of noise in the input data. Also, the CFANN model with the LM algorithm has a very high value of regression coefficient of greater than 0.998, under all the noise values. Scaled conjugate gradient algorithm gives good results for the no‐noise case, but fails poorly with the rise of noise. Other algorithms, like, Bayesian regularization and resilient backpropagation, perform poorly even in the no‐noise case. The present approach is highly simple, accurate, and time efficient for applying inverse analysis in micromixers.
Differences in site‐specific cancer incidence by individual‐ and area‐level income in Canada from 2006 to 2015
Authors: Tope Parker , Morais Samantha , El‐Zein Mariam , Franco Eduardo L. , Malagón Talía
Published: July 2023

Income, a component of socioeconomic status, influences cancer risk as a social determinant of health. We evaluated the independent associations between individual‐ and area‐level income and site‐specific cancer incidence in Canada. We used data from the 2006 and 2011 Canadian Census Health and Environment Cohorts, which are probabilistically linked datasets constituted by 5.9 million and 6.5 million respondents of the 2006 Canadian long‐form census and 2011 National Household Survey, respectively. Individuals were linked to the Canadian Cancer Registry through 2015. Individual‐level income was derived using after‐tax household income adjusted for household size. Annual tax return postal codes were used to assign area‐level income quintiles to individuals for each year of follow‐up. We calculated age‐standardized incidence rates (ASIR) and rate ratios for cancers overall and by site. We conducted multivariable negative binomial regression to adjust these rates for other demographic and socioeconomic variables. Individuals of lower individual‐ and area‐level income had higher ASIRs compared to those in the wealthiest income quintile for head and neck, oropharyngeal, esophageal, stomach, colorectal, anal, liver, pancreas, lung, cervical and kidney and renal pelvis cancers. Conversely, individuals of wealthier individual‐ and area‐level income had higher ASIRs for melanoma, leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast, uterine, prostate and testicular cancers. Most differences in site‐specific incidence by income quintile remained after adjustment. Although Canada's publicly funded healthcare system provides universal coverage, inequalities in cancer incidence persist across individual‐ and area‐level income gradients. Our estimates suggest that individual‐ and area‐level income affect cancer incidence through independent mechanisms.
A 3D U‐Net based two stage deep learning framework for predicting dose distributions in radiation treatment planning
Authors: Chandran Lekshmy P. , Kochannan Parampil Abdul Rahiman Abdul Nazeer , Puzhakkal Niyas , Makuni Dinesh
Published: July 2023

Automation of the various steps of radiotherapy is gaining importance nowadays. Predicting the amount of radiation dose received by the tumor and nearby organs is one among them. Many deep learning architectures that predict the 3D dose distribution images from corresponding CT and contour images have been proposed in the literature. However, a detailed investigation has yet to be done on the significance of input images (CT and contour) in predicting dose distributions. This study introduces a novel two‐stage deep learning framework using a transfer learning technique for the same domain. The main objective of this approach is to accurately extract valuable information from the CT and contour images to determine the amount of radiation dose received by the organs. Training and testing are performed on the public dataset—OpenKBP, consisting of 340 oropharyngeal cancer patient data. The model performance is evaluated using the metrics dose score and DVH score. The proposed model outperforms the single‐stage deep learning models by 0.34% for the DVH score and 0.14% for the dose score. While comparing the mean dose difference between the predicted and actual dose values for each organ, the proposed model shows better performance in almost all cases. The results imply that medical professionals can utilize the predicted dose distributions to aid the optimization process in the treatment planning systems.