bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Survival Differences Between Pediatric Head and Neck Versus Body Melanoma in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program
Authors: Shi Kevin , Camilon P. Ryan , Roberts Jared M. , Meier Jeremy D.
Published: May 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

To review the demographics, treatment, and survival of pediatric melanoma of the head and neck and to determine if melanoma of the head and neck has worse survival than melanoma of other body sites.

Study Design

Retrospective database review.

Methods

Pediatric patients from 0 to 21 years in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 registries database were included from 1975 to 2016 based on a diagnosis of melanoma of the skin using the primary site International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, Third Edition codes from C44.0‐C44.9.skin of lip, C44.1‐eyelid, C44.2‐external ear, C44.3‐skin other/unspecified parts of face, C44.4‐skin of scalp and neck, C44.5‐skin of trunk, C44.6‐skin of upper limb and shoulder, C44.7‐skin of lower limb and hip, C44.8‐overlapping lesion of skin, and C44.9‐skin, NOS (not otherwise specified).

Results

A total of 4,561 pediatric melanomas of the skin were identified. There were 854 (18.7%) cases of melanoma of the head and neck (MHN) and 3,707 (81.3%) cases of melanoma of the body (MOB). The hazard ratio for MHN versus MOB was 1.6 (95% confidence interval: 1.3‐2.1) after accounting for sex, race, and age. Of MHN sites, the hazard ratio for melanoma of the scalp and neck was 2.2 (1.1‐4.7). The 2‐ and 5‐year Kaplan‐Meier overall survival for MHN were 94.6% and 90.7%, respectively, compared with 96.6% and 94.7%, respectively, for MOB (P < .01).

Conclusions

Survival outcomes of pediatric melanoma are notably related to anatomic site. Children with melanoma of the scalp and neck have the worst survival of all sites. Additionally, children who are older/white/male are at greater risk for worse survival outcomes.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 131:E635–E641, 2021
2–10 µm Mid‐Infrared Fiber‐Based Supercontinuum Laser Source: Experiment and Simulation
Authors: Venck Sébastien , St‐Hilaire François , Brilland Laurent , Ghosh Amar N. , Chahal Radwan , Caillaud Céline , Meneghetti Marcello , Troles Johann , Joulain Franck , Cozic Solenn , Poulain Samuel , Huss Guillaume , Rochette Martin , Dudley John M. , Sylvestre Thibaut
Published: May 2020

Mid‐infrared supercontinuum (mid‐IR SC) sources in the 2–20 µm molecular fingerprint region are in high demand for a wide range of applications including optical coherence tomography, remote sensing, molecular spectroscopy, and hyperspectral imaging. Herein, mid‐IR SC generation is investigated in a cascaded silica‐ZBLAN‐chalcogenide fiber system directly pumped with a commercially available pulsed fiber laser operating in the telecommunications window at 1.55 µm. This fiber‐based system is shown to generate a flat broadband mid‐IR SC covering the entire range from 2 to 10 µm with several tens of mW of output power. This technique paves the way for low cost, practical, and robust broadband SC sources in the mid‐IR without the requirement of mid‐infrared pump sources or Thulium‐doped fiber amplifiers. A fully realistic numerical model used to simulate the nonlinear pulse propagation through the cascaded fiber system is also described and the numerical results are used to discuss the physical processes underlying the spectral broadening in the cascaded system. Finally, recommendations are provided for optimizing the current cascaded system based on the simulation results.
Risk Factors and Center‐Level Variation in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Under‐Staging for Liver Transplantation
Authors: Mahmud Nadim , Hoteit Maarouf A. , Goldberg David S.
Published: May 2020

Liver transplantation (LT) is curative for most patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, 10%‐15% of patients experience HCC recurrence. Patients who are reported as within Milan criteria by imaging are frequently found to be outside the criteria on explant. This under‐staging of HCC worsens post‐LT outcomes. However, risk factors for under‐staging have not been elucidated. Furthermore, it is not known if there is regional or center‐level variation in under‐staging. We conducted a retrospective analysis of adult patients transplanted for HCC in the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database between 2012 and 2016. Under‐staging was determined on the basis of comparing pre‐LT imaging to explant findings. Kaplan‐Meier methods and Cox regression were used to evaluate the impact of under‐staging on HCC recurrence and post‐LT survival. Mixed effects logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for under‐staging and to study regional and center‐level variation in adjusted analyses. A total of 5424 patients were included in the cohort, of whom 24.9% (n = 1353) were under‐staged. Post‐LT HCC recurrence and death were significantly associated with under‐staging (each P < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, independent predictors of under‐staging included age (odds ratio [OR], 1.13 per 10 years; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03‐1.25), male sex (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.36‐1.89), down‐staging (OR, 4.03; 95% CI, 2.65‐6.11), and pre‐LT alpha‐fetoprotein (P < 0.001). There was also significant variation in under‐staging between UNOS regions and among transplant centers, ranging from 14.8% to 38.1%. We report novel risk factors for HCC under‐staging, which worsens post‐LT outcomes. Significant center‐level and regional variation in under‐staging highlights the need for standards that achieve greater uniformity in staging.
A fibered description of the vector‐valued spectrum
Authors: Dimant Verónica , Singer Joaquín
Published: May 2020

For Banach spaces X and Y we study the vector‐valued spectrum , that is the set of non null algebra homomorphisms from to , which is naturally projected onto the closed unit ball of . The aim of this article is to describe the fibers defined by this projection, searching for analytic balls and considering Gleason parts.
High‐Performance Polymer Foams by Thermally Induced Phase Separation
Authors: Rusakov Dmitrii , Menner Angelika , Bismarck Alexander
Published: May 2020

Macroporous, low‐density polyetheretherketone, polyetherketoneketone, and polyetherimide foams are produced using a high‐temperature, thermally induced phase separation method. A high‐boiling‐point solvent, which is suitable to dissolve at least 20 wt% of these high‐performance polymers at temperatures above 250 °C, is identified. The foam morphology is controlled by the cooling procedure. The resulting polymer foams have porosities close to 80% with surface areas up to 140 m2g−1and elastic moduli up to 97 MPa.
A Chemographic Audit of anti‐Coronavirus Structure‐activity Information from Public Databases (ChEMBL)
Authors: Horvath Dragos , Orlov Alexey , Osolodkin Dmitry I. , Ishmukhametov Aydar A. , Marcou Gilles , Varnek Alexandre
Published: May 2020

Discovery of drugs against newly emerged pathogenic agents like the SARS‐CoV‐2 coronavirus (CoV) must be based on previous research against related species. Scientists need to get acquainted with and develop a global oversight over so‐far tested molecules. Chemography (herein used Generative Topographic Mapping, in particular) places structures on a human‐readable 2D map (obtained by dimensionality reduction of the chemical space of molecular descriptors) and is thus well suited for such an audit. The goal is to map medicinal chemistry efforts so far targeted against CoVs. This includes comparing libraries tested against various virus species/genera, predicting their polypharmacological profiles and highlighting often encountered chemotypes. Maps are challenged to provide predictive activity landscapes against viral proteins. Definition of “anti‐CoV” map zones led to selection of therein residing 380 potential anti‐CoV agents, out of a vast pool of 800 M organic compounds.
Global strong solutions and time decay of 2D tropical climate model with zero thermal diffusion
Authors: Zhai Xiaoping , Chen Yiren
Published: May 2020

The global small solutions of the tropical climate model are obtained with the fractional dissipative terms Λαu in the equation of the barotropic mode u and Λαv in the equation of the first baroclinic mode v. More precisely, we prove for 1<α ≤ 2 that the couple system has global unique strong solutions for small initial data with critical regularities. Moreover, the smallness assumption imposed on the initial barotropic mode of the velocity can be removed if α=2. We also study the large time behavior of the constructed solutions and obtain optimal time decay rates by a pure energy argument.
"Jeden Schritt mit Respekt": Detlef Günther, Vizepräsident der ETH Zürich
Authors: Zbikowski Frauke
Published: May 2020

Fast seine gesamte wissenschaftliche Karriere hat der analytische Chemiker Detlef Günther an der ETH Zürich verbracht. Heute ist er Vizepräsident für Forschung der Hochschule. Ein Gespräch über gute wissenschaftliche Praxis, internationale Zusammenarbeit und die Schweiz.
Weg mit dem Lignin
Authors: Keplinger Tobias , Frey Marion , Burgert Ingo
Published: May 2020

Aus Holz entstehen nicht nur Zellstoff und Papier, sondern auch hochfeste funktionale Zellulosekomposite. Dabei bleibt im Prozess die natürliche hierarchische Struktur des Holzes mit seiner charakteristischen Vorzugsrichtung der Fasern erhalten.
Alles open oder was?
Authors: Renn Oliver , Betschart Leo
Published: May 2020

Das wissenschaftliche Verlagswesen und die wissenschaftliche Kommunikation sind wie kaum eine andere Branche im Umbruch. Technischer Fortschritt, Open Access und Open Science haben einen disruptiven Prozess in Gang gesetzt.
Bilanz Clariant
Authors: Bulmahn Maren
Published: May 2020

Das Schweizer Unternehmen Clariant hat im Jahr 2019 seine Geschäfte umstrukturiert und fokussiert sich nun auf Spezialchemie. Im laufenden Jahr feiert es sein 25‐jähriges Bestehen.
Iupac Global Women‘s Breakfast in Weinheim: Netzwerktreffen für Frauen
Authors: Pecher Lisa
Published: May 2020

Unter dem Motto „Empowering Women in Chemistry“ veranstalteten Wiley‐VCH und die GDCh Mitte Februar ein Netzwerk‐Event in Weinheim. Anlass war das Global Women‘s Breakfast der International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (Iupac). 45 Forscherinnen von deutschen Universitäten und aus der Industrie diskutierten gemeinsam mit 20 Wiley‐VCH‐Redaktionsmitgliedern über geschlechtsspezifische Herausforderungen in der Chemie und sammelten Ideen für eine faire Forschungs‐ und Publikationslandschaft.
Regionales Fonds‐Stipendiatentreffen an der Universität Bochum
Authors: Waffel Daniel , Sivendran Nardana
Published: May 2020

Anfang Dezember lud Lukas Gooßen, Inhaber des Lehrstuhls für organische Chemie der Universität Bochum, zum regionalen Stipendiatentreffen in Bochum ein. Die Liebig‐ und Kekulé‐Stipendiaten nutzten diese Gelegenheit, ihre Arbeitsgebiete von Biochemie über (an‐)organische Chemie bis hin zur technischen und theoretischen Chemie vorzustellen und Kontakte zu knüpfen.
Does weather trigger urologic chronic pelvic pain syndrome flares? A case‐crossover analysis in the multidisciplinary approach to the study of the chronic pelvic pain research network
Authors: Li Jieni , Yu Tiange , Javed Irum , Siddagunta Chaitanya , Pakpahan Ratna , Langston Marvin E. , Dennis Leslie K. , Kingfield Darrel M. , Moore David J. , Andriole Gerald L. , Lai H. Henry , Colditz Graham A. , Sutcliffe Siobhan ,   for the MAPP Research Network
Published: May 2020

Background

To investigate whether meteorological factors (temperature, barometric pressure, relative humidity, ultraviolet index [UVI], and seasons) trigger flares in male and female urologic chronic pelvic pain patients.

Methods

We assessed flare status every 2 weeks in our case‐crossover study of flare triggers in the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain 1‐year longitudinal study. Flare symptoms, flare start date, and exposures in the 3 days preceding a flare or the date of questionnaire completion were assessed for the first three flares and at three randomly selected nonflare times. We linked these data to daily temperature, barometric pressure, relative humidity, and UVI values by participants’ first 3 zip code digits. Values in the 3 days before and the day of a flare, as well as changes in these values, were compared to nonflare values by conditional logistic regression. Differences in flare rates by astronomical and growing seasons were investigated by Poisson regression in the full study population.

Results

A total of 574 flare and 792 nonflare assessments (290 participants) were included in the case‐crossover analysis, and 966 flare and 5389 nonflare (409 participants) were included in the full study analysis. Overall, no statistically significant associations were observed for daily weather, no patterns of associations were observed for weather changes, and no differences in flare rates were observed by season.

Conclusions

We found minimal evidence to suggest that weather triggers flares, although we cannot rule out the possibility that a small subset of patients is susceptible.
Predicting the Photoelectron Spectra of Quasi Octahedral Al6Mo‐ Cluster
Authors: Acioli Paulo H.
Published: May 2020

We have recently developed a computational methodology to separate the effects of size, composition, symmetry and fluxionality in explaining the experimental photoelectron spectra of mixed‐metal clusters. This methodology was successfully applied first in explaining the observed differences between the spectra of Al13‐ and Al12Ni‐ and more recently to explain the measured spectra of AlnMo‐, n=3–5,7 clusters. The combination of our approach and new synthesis techniques can be used to prepare cluster‐based materials with tunable properties. In this work we use the methodology to predict the spectrum of Al6Mo‐. This system was chosen because its neutral counterpart is a perfect octahedron and it is distorted to a D3d symmetry and was not observed in the recent experiments. This high symmetry cluster bridges the less symmetric Al5Mo‐ and Al7Mo‐structures.The measured spectra of Al5Mo‐ has well defined peaks, while that of Al7Mo‐does not. This can be explained by the fluxionality of Al7Mo‐, as at least 6 different structures lie within the range that can be reached by thermal effects. We predict that Al6Mo‐ has well defined peaks, but some broadening is expected as there are two low‐lying isomers, one of D3d and the second of D3h symmetry that are only 0.052 eV apart.
Round‐robin weathering test of various polymeric back‐sheets for PV modules with different ultraviolet irradiation and sample temperatures
Authors: Koehl Michael , Hacke Peter , Wu Hung‐Sen , Zielnik Allen
Published: May 2020

Durability assessment of materials exposed to natural weathering with expected service lifetimes of more than 20 years requires accelerated testing of the UV stability, especially for polymeric materials. Fraunhofer ISE organized an interlaboratory comparison for testing different back‐sheets in various test laboratories using different UV sources. The five participating test laboratories used three different types of UV sources. The interaction of the UV radiation with the polymers used in PV modules is main subject of this round‐robin. Laminates were produced by using solar glass and a suitable EVA encapsulant combined with 10 different back‐sheets. The simultaneous usage of different optical filters allowed to investigate roughly the spectral sensitivity and the intensity impact.

The degradation was followed by spectral reflectance and transmittance measurements and calculation of the yellowness index as degradation indicator. Clear differences in the degradation behavior of the different products were found.
Wer wird Meister?
Authors: Heuer Andreas
Published: May 2020

Die Beschäftigung mit der möglichst optimalen Vorhersage von Fußballspielen liefert neue Einsichten. Mittels des statistischen Verfahrens der Minderungskorrektur können relevante Indikatoren identifiziert werden. Diese spiegeln zum einen möglichst gut die Leistungsstärke wider und enthalten zum anderen wenig Rauscheffekte. Anschließend können auf Basis der Leistungsstärken die systematischen Anteile individueller Spielergebnisse vorhergesagt werden. Die Zufallsbeiträge folgen in guter Näherung aus der Annahme unkorrelierter Poisson‐Verteilungen. Mit Elo‐Zahlen lässt sich auch der Ausgang der nun auf 2021 verschobenen Europameisterschaft statistisch untersuchen.
Reflexionen in und über eine gewöhnliche Wasserpfütze
Authors: Schlichting Hans Joachim
Published: May 2020

Was man beim Blick in eine Wasserpfütze zu sehen bekommt, hängt vor allem davon ab, aus welcher Richtung man in die Pfütze schaut.
Atome sichtbar gemacht
Authors: Walther Paul
Published: May 2020

Die Abbildung einzelner Atome schien lange Zeit unmöglich. Doch vor 50 Jahren sorgte eine Gruppe von Physikern für Aufsehen, weil sie mit einem Elektronenmikroskop „schwere Atome“ abgebildet hatte. Wo stehen wir heute?
Ästhetik und Kernspinresonanz
Authors: Loos Andreas
Published: May 2020

Der Vater, der den örtlichen Telefonladen betreibt und später als Manager einer Telefongesellschaft arbeitet, überlässt dem Gesuchten kaputte Telefone. Mit Hufeisenmagneten und Kupferkabeln schärft der seinen Sinn für Technik und Physik, und er darf bei Papa im „Bell System Technical Journal“ schmökern, einem Magazin für Ingenieure und heranwachsende Nobelpreisträger. „Da konnte ich in eine wunderbare Welt hineinspitzen, in der Elektrizität und Mathematik und Ingenieurkunst und schöne Diagramme zusammenkamen.“
Uncovering the inactivation kinetics of Escherichia coli in saline by atmospheric DBD plasma using ATR FT‐IR
Authors: Zhang Liyang , Wang Hao , Luo Haiyun
Published: May 2020

Plasma–liquid interactions play an important role in plasma‐mediated bacterial inactivation. Attenuated total reflectance Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy is employed to probe the molecular changes occurring in Escherichia coli suspension during the direct plasma treatment and subsequent after‐charge storage. The recorded spectra are correlated to the germicidal effect. Successive changes in protein secondary structures and DNA conformation are observed. It is found that spectral range around 1,345 cm−1 is most susceptible to plasma. With respect to after‐charge storage, it is shown that the cell debris is mainly composed of DNA/RNA and nitric acids with fewer proteins, and the leakage of cell inclusions becomes more severe with longer plasma treatment time. Morphology alteration revealed by transmission electron microscopy suggests cell membrane injuries and cell leakage, consistent with the FT‐IR results. All these findings indicate that cell membrane damage may be the principal cause of plasma‐induced inactivation.
Pulmonary function sequelae after respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection in children: A systematic review
Authors: Verwey Charl , Nunes Marta C. , Dangor Ziyaad , Madhi Shabir A.
Published: May 2020

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) during early childhood may be associated with subsequent pulmonary sequelae, including recurrent wheezing and asthma. We undertook a systematic review to investigate the pulmonary function sequelae following RSV LRTI in the first 3 years of life. The systematic review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018087168). PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and World Health Organization Global Index Medicus, as well as ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, were searched up until 15 June 2019 for published and unpublished interventional and observational studies with the end‐point outcome of pulmonary function testing (PFT) after a proven RSV LRTI in the first 3 years of life. Two independent reviewers screened all the titles, abstracts and full texts. Data were extracted using a standardized data extraction form. Corresponding authors were contacted for additional information if required. All studies were assessed for risk of bias using the Newcastle‐Ottawa quality assessment scale. The final analysis included 31 studies. Thirteen studies using spirometry reported no association between RSV LRTI and pulmonary function sequelae. The remaining 16 reported abnormal spirometry; 12 obstructive airways disease, three restrictive lung disease, and one mixed lung disease. The heterogeneity in PFT techniques, different ages at testing, and methods used for reporting outcomes made direct comparisons or pooled effect estimates impossible. Children with confirmed RSV LRTI during the first 3 years of life often have abnormal PFTs, favoring obstructive airways disease. The evidence, however, is not overwhelming with conflicting results between studies.
Static and dynamic postural control: Comparison between community old adults and people with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Lazarotto Leilane , Bobbo Giovana Z. G. , Siega Juliana , da Silva Adriano Z. , Iucksch Dielise D. , Israel Vera L. , Bento Paulo C. B.
Published: May 2020

Aims

To compare the static and dynamic postural control of people with Parkinson's disease and community old adults.

Methods

Thirty‐five people were in the Parkinson's disease group (PDG; 12 women, 62.4 ± 11.0 years, 77.9 ± 15.6 kg, 166.5 ± 11.0 cm, 27.9 ± 3.8 kg/m2, 1.9 ± 0.5 Hoehn & Yahr) and 32 were in the old adults group (OAG; 13 women, 69.5 ± 6.0 years, 74.2 ± 12.3 kg, 165.0 ± 8.3 cm, 27.2 ± 4.0 kg/m2). The static balance was measured on a force platform, three 30‐s trials in four conditions: feet side‐by‐side (FSBS) and semi‐tandem stance (ST) positioning, eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). The total sway path length (SPL), sway area (SA), anterior–posterior (APSR) and medial‐lateral (MLSR) sway range of the centre of pressure were obtained. Dynamic balance was assessed using the timed‐up‐and‐go test (TUG). For comparison between groups and repeated‐measures, a mixed‐design ANOVA was carried out and the Mann–Whitney U test to compare TUG between groups. The significance level was set at p ≤ .05.

Results

Between groups, PDG presented higher mean values for SPL, APSR and SA in feet side‐by‐side eyes open compared to the OAG, for SPL in feet side‐by‐side eyes closed, for SPL and SA in STEO. For repeated‐measures, both groups had higher mean values in the EC condition compared to EO and MLSR compared to APSR. No significant difference was found between groups for TUG.

Conclusion

Balance disorders are found early in people with Parkinson's disease compared to healthy older adults. Thus, Parkinson's disease seems to advance the process of alterations in the postural control system.
Packaging paper with improved mechanical and oil absorption properties based on novel ingredients
Authors: Ahmed Nivin Mohamed , Adel Abeer M. , Diab Mohamed A.
Published: May 2020

A novel cost‐saving coat was applied on paper sheets to enhance their air, water vapor, and oil resistance to be used in the packaging purposes. This coat is based on new ingredients including core‐shell pigment CoO.ZnO/SiO2, which is composed of silica fume waste comprising 80% of the new pigment covered with the chemically and thermally stable binary oxide of CoO.ZnO with very low cobalt oxide content. This pigment was bind to the cellulosic fibers using sodium alginate, which is now broadly used due to its high oil resistance and enhanced grease proof properties. The addition of this novel coat to paper sheets changed drastically their mechanical and barrier properties rendering them with higher air, water vapor, and oil resistance.
Robust dynamic state feedback for underactuated systems with linearly parameterized disturbances
Authors: Franco Enrico , Rodriguez y Baena Ferdinando , Astolfi Alessandro
Published: May 2020

This article investigates the control problem for underactuated port‐controlled Hamiltonian systems with multiple linearly parameterized additive disturbances including matched, unmatched, constant, and state‐dependent components. The notion of algebraic solution of the matching equations is employed to design an extension of the interconnection and damping assignment passivity‐based control methodology that does not rely on the solution of partial differential equations. The result is a dynamic state‐feedback that includes a disturbance compensation term, where the unknown parameters are estimated adaptively. A simplified implementation of the proposed approach for underactuated mechanical systems is detailed. The effectiveness of the controller is demonstrated with numerical simulations for the magnetic‐levitated‐ball system and for the ball‐on‐beam system.
Singular L2‐gain control for switched nonlinear control systems under arbitrary switching
Authors: Wu Jenq‐Lang
Published: May 2020

This article concerns with the synthesis of L2‐gain state feedback controllers, without the standard regular assumption, for multi‐input switched nonlinear control‐affine systems under arbitrary switching. A common control storage function approach is developed for deriving sufficient conditions for the existence of uniform L2‐gain controllers. Moreover, an explicit formula for constructing L2‐gain controllers is presented. A numerical example is given for illustration.
Delay‐dependent criteria for general decay synchronization of discontinuous fuzzy neutral‐type neural networks with time‐varying delays
Authors: Kong Fanchao , Sakthivel Rathinasamy
Published: May 2020

This paper aims to investigate the general decay synchronization analysis of discontinuous fuzzy neutral‐type neural networks. Under the framework of Filippov solutions, based on functional differential inclusions theory, inequality technique and by constructing a modified delay‐dependent Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional, some new delay‐dependent criteria are provided to guarantee the general decay synchronization via the effective nonlinear feedback controller. The neural network model considered is more generalized, some previous fuzzy neural networks can be regard as the special cases. Moreover, some recent results on the delay‐independent criteria ensuring the general decay synchronization can also be extended and concluded. These can be seen from the given corollaries and remarks which are provided to make the comparisons and show the advantages. Finally, some numerical examples and simulations are provided to illustrate the correctness.
Point and interval estimation in two‐stage adaptive designs with time to event data and biomarker‐driven subpopulation selection
Authors: Kimani Peter K. , Todd Susan , Renfro Lindsay A. , Glimm Ekkehard , Khan Josephine N. , Kairalla John A. , Stallard Nigel
Published: May 2020

In personalized medicine, it is often desired to determine if all patients or only a subset of them benefit from a treatment. We consider estimation in two‐stage adaptive designs that in stage 1 recruit patients from the full population. In stage 2, patient recruitment is restricted to the part of the population, which, based on stage 1 data, benefits from the experimental treatment. Existing estimators, which adjust for using stage 1 data for selecting the part of the population from which stage 2 patients are recruited, as well as for the confirmatory analysis after stage 2, do not consider time to event patient outcomes. In this work, for time to event data, we have derived a new asymptotically unbiased estimator for the log hazard ratio and a new interval estimator with good coverage probabilities and probabilities that the upper bounds are below the true values. The estimators are appropriate for several selection rules that are based on a single or multiple biomarkers, which can be categorical or continuous.
Improving the Catalytic Activity of Carbon‐Supported Single Atom Catalysts by Polynary Metal or Heteroatom Doping
Authors: Fan Mengmeng , Cui Jiewu , Wu Jingjie , Vajtai Robert , Sun Dongping , Ajayan Pulickel M.
Published: May 2020

Single atom catalysts (SACs) are widely researched in various chemical transformations due to the high atomic utilization and catalytic activity. Carbon‐supported SACs are the largest class because of the many excellent properties of carbon derivatives. The single metal atoms are usually immobilized by doped N atoms and in some cases by C geometrical defects on carbon materials. To explore the catalytic mechanisms and improve the catalytic performance, many efforts have been devoted to modulating the electronic structure of metal single atomic sites. Doping with polynary metals and heteroatoms has been recently proposed to be a simple and effective strategy, derived from the modulating mechanisms of metal alloy structure for metal catalysts and from the donating/withdrawing heteroatom doping for carbon supports, respectively. Polynary metals SACs involve two types of metal with atomical dispersion. The bimetal atom pairs act as dual catalytic sites leading to higher catalytic activity and selectivity. Polynary heteroatoms generally have two types of heteroatoms in which N always couples with another heteroatom, including B, S, P, etc. In this Review, the recent progress of polynary metals and heteroatoms SACs is summarized. Finally, the barriers to tune the activity/selectivity of SACs are discussed and further perspectives presented.
Protein Encapsulation Using Complex Coacervates: What Nature Has to Teach Us
Authors: Blocher McTigue Whitney C. , Perry Sarah L.
Published: May 2020

Protein encapsulation is a growing area of interest, particularly in the fields of food science and medicine. The sequestration of protein cargoes is achieved using a variety of methods, each with benefits and drawbacks. One of the most significant challenges associated with protein encapsulation is achieving high loading while maintaining protein viability. This difficulty is exacerbated because many encapsulant systems require the use of organic solvents. By contrast, nature has optimized strategies to compartmentalize and protect proteins inside the cell—a purely aqueous environment. Although the mechanisms whereby aspects of the cytosol is able to stabilize proteins are unknown, the crowded nature of many newly discovered, liquid phase separated “membraneless organelles” that achieve protein compartmentalization suggests that the material environment surrounding the protein may be critical in determining stability. Here, encapsulation strategies based on liquid–liquid phase separation, and complex coacervation in particular, which has many of the key features of the cytoplasm as a material, are reviewed. The literature on protein encapsulation via coacervation is also reviewed and the parameters relevant to creating protein‐containing coacervate formulations are discussed. Additionally, potential opportunities associated with the creation of tailored materials to better facilitate protein encapsulation and stabilization are highlighted.
Ionic Exchange of Metal−Organic Frameworks for Constructing Unsaturated Copper Single‐Atom Catalysts for Boosting Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Ma Shenghua , Han Zheng , Leng Kunyue , Liu Xiaojie , Wang Yi , Qu Yunteng , Bai Jinbo
Published: May 2020

Regulating the coordination environment of atomically dispersed catalysts is vital for catalytic reaction but still remains a challenge. Herein, an ionic exchange strategy is developed to fabricate atomically dispersed copper (Cu) catalysts with controllable coordination structure. In this process, the adsorbed Cu ions exchange with Zn nodes in ZIF‐8 under high temperature, resulting in the trapping of Cu atoms within the cavities of the metal−organic framework, and thus forming Cu single‐atom catalysts. More importantly, altering pyrolysis temperature can effectively control the structure of active metal center at atomic level. Specifically, higher treatment temperature (900 °C) leads to unsaturated Cu–nitrogen architecture (CuN3 moieties) in atomically dispersed Cu catalysts. Electrochemical test indicates atomically dispersed Cu catalysts with CuN3 moieties possess superior oxygen reduction reaction performance than that with higher Cu–nitrogen coordination number (CuN4 moieties), with a higher half‐wave potential of 180 mV and the 10 times turnover frequency than that of CuN4. Density functional theory calculation analysis further shows that the low N coordination number of Cu single‐atom catalysts (CuN3) is favorable for the formation of O2* intermediate, and thus boosts the oxygen reduction reaction.
Redescription of the cranial skeleton of the Early Devonian (Emsian) sarcopterygianDurialepis edentatusOtto (Dipnomorpha, Porolepiformes)
Authors: Mondéjar‐Fernández Jorge , Friedman Matt , Giles Sam
Published: May 2020

Porolepiforms represent a clade of Devonian stem lungfishes, divided into the cosmine‐bearing and probably paraphyletic ‘Porolepidae’ (e.g.Porolepis,Heimenia) and the cosmine‐free and stratigraphically younger Holoptychiidae (e.g.Holoptychius,Glyptolepis,Laccognathus). Data on the dermoskeleton are available for both groups, but are more limited for ‘porolepids’. Here we present new information on the ‘porolepid’Durialepis edentatusfrom the Emsian (Early Devonian) of Germany based on micro‐computed tomography. The material comprises an articulated skull of a single three‐dimensionally preserved individual. The arrangement of the cheekbones ofDurialepis edentatusrecalls that ofPorolepis brevis, with the occurrence of two subsidiary squamosals. However, the parieto‐ethmoidal and postparietal shields are roughly equal in size, a condition similar to that ofGlyptolepis groenlandicaand intermediate betweenPorolepis brevisand holoptychiids. A large parasymphysial tooth plate displays five tooth rows with three large tusks in the median row, another intermediate arrangement between the primitive condition ofPorolepissp. (eight rows) and holoptychiids (five or fewer rows). Remarkably among porolepiforms, this dental plate is perfectly symmetrical. Despite the occurrence of cosmine and rhombic scales, the combination of traits displayed inDurialepisdeviates fromPorolepisin several ways, reflecting features shared with holoptychiids to the exclusion of other ‘porolepids’.Durialepis edentatusis thus a key addition to our knowledge of ‘porolepid’ anatomy. BecauseDurialepis edentatuspreserves much of the cranial and postcranial skeleton in a single individual, it represents a suitable early dipnomorph representative for inclusion in phylogenetic analyses on sarcopterygians and early osteichthyans.
A method for calculating the Lyapunov exponent spectrum of DC‐DC converter feeding with a switching constant power load
Authors: Huang Liangyu , Lu Yimin
Published: May 2020

Nonlinear dynamic behaviors such as the bifurcation and chaos of DC‐DC converters with switching constant power load are studied in this paper. Based on the consideration of constant power load switching, a discrete iterative mapping model of the system including the switching process is established, and its Lyapunov exponent spectrum algorithm is derived. The main procedure of the algorithm is as follows: Firstly, the system is divided into six smooth segments, and the zero‐time discontinuous mapping of the load and mode switching is introduced. Secondly, the local mapping of each smooth segment and the zero‐time discontinuous mapping of the switching phase are used to construct the composite Poincaré mapping of the system by the chain rule, and then the discrete iterative mapping model of the system is established. Finally, the Lyapunov exponent spectrum algorithm of the system is derived based on the model to determine the type of nonlinear dynamic behavior of the system. This algorithm overcomes the problems of the existing methods, which lead to inaccurate results due to the neglect of the switching process, and achieves the purpose of accurately describing the dynamic characteristics of power electronic circuits. The simulation and experimental results have verified the validity of the proposed model and algorithm. © 2020 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Quantification of soluble recalcitrant compounds in commercial thermal hydrolysis digestates
Authors: Svennevik Oda K. , Nilsen Pål J. , Solheim Odd E. , Westereng Bjørge , Horn Svein J.
Published: May 2020

Solid residues such as primary sludge (PS), waste activated sludge (WAS), and food waste (FW) can be stabilized through anaerobic digestion (AD). Application of the thermal hydrolysis process (THP) prior to AD results in several benefits in AD and dewatering. However, soluble recalcitrant compounds associated with Maillard reactions have been identified after THP which can impact downstream processes and water discharge limits. In this study, the soluble colloidal chemical oxygen demand, color, ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm and dissolved organic nitrogen in seven full‐scale THP facilities were quantified and compared. The THP substrate influenced the concentration of soluble melanoidin‐associated compounds in the digestates. THP implementation in five water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) was modeled and found to give a 3–8 mg/L increase on the water effluent COD concentration depending on the PS/WAS ratio. The results provide novel information useful in planning new WRRFs and optimization of existing facilities.

Practitioner points

High amounts of WAS in substrate resulted in higher concentrations of CODsc, color and dissolved organic nitrogen in the digestate.

Food waste treated at 145°C showed equal or lower concentrations of all components compared with sludge operated at 165°C.

Installation of THP will increase the COD concentration in the water effluent of a water resource recovery facility.

The characteristics of the THP substrate are important to consider in cost/benefit analysis when planning the installation of THP.
The multi-Regge limit from the Wilson loop OPE
Authors: Bargheer Till , Chestnov Vsevolod , Schomerus Volker
Published: May 2020

Abstract

The finite remainder function for planar, color-ordered, maximally helicity violating scattering processes in $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 super Yang-Mills theory possesses a non-vanishing multi-Regge limit that depends on the choice of a Mandelstam region. We analyze the combined multi-Regge collinear limit in all Mandelstam regions through an analytic continuation of the Wilson loop OPE. At leading order, the former is determined by the gluon excitation of the Gubser-Klebanov-Polyakov string. We illustrate the general procedure at the example of the heptagon remainder function at two loops. In this case, the continuation of the leading order terms in the Wilson loop OPE suffices to determine the two-loop multi-Regge heptagon functions in all Mandelstam regions from their symbols. The expressions we obtain are fully consistent with recent results by Del Duca et al.
Information radiation in BCFT models of black holes
Authors: Rozali Moshe , Sully James , Van Raamsdonk Mark , Waddell Christopher , Wakeham David
Published: May 2020

Abstract

In this note, following [1–3], we introduce and study various holographic systems which can describe evaporating black holes. The systems we consider are boundary conformal field theories for which the number of local degrees of freedom on the boundary (cbdy) is large compared to the number of local degrees of freedom in the bulk CFT (cbulk). We consider states where the boundary degrees of freedom on their own would describe an equilibrium black hole, but the coupling to the bulk CFT degrees of freedom allows this black hole to evaporate. The Page time for the black hole is controlled by the ratio cbdy/cbulk. Using both holographic calculations and direct CFT calculations, we study the evolution of the entanglement entropy for the subset of the radiation system (i.e. the bulk CFT) at a distance d > a from the boundary. We find that the entanglement entropy for this subsystem increases until time a + tPage and then undergoes a phase transition after which the entanglement wedge of the radiation system includes the black hole interior. Remarkably, this occurs even if the radiation system is initially at the same temperature as the black hole so that the two are in thermal equilibrium. In this case, even though the black hole does not lose energy, it “radiates” information through interaction with the radiation system until the radiation system contains enough information to reconstruct the black hole interior.
Dysregulated signalling pathways in innate immune cells with cystic fibrosis mutations
Authors: Lara-Reyna Samuel , Holbrook Jonathan , Jarosz-Griffiths Heledd H. , Peckham Daniel , McDermott Michael F.
Published: May 2020

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common life-limiting recessive genetic disorders in Caucasians, caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). CF is a multi-organ disease that involves the lungs, pancreas, sweat glands, digestive and reproductive systems and several other tissues. This debilitating condition is associated with recurrent lower respiratory tract bacterial and viral infections, as well as inflammatory complications that may eventually lead to pulmonary failure. Immune cells play a crucial role in protecting the organs against opportunistic infections and also in the regulation of tissue homeostasis. Innate immune cells are generally affected by CFTR mutations in patients with CF, leading to dysregulation of several cellular signalling pathways that are in continuous use by these cells to elicit a proper immune response. There is substantial evidence to show that airway epithelial cells, neutrophils, monocytes and macrophages all contribute to the pathogenesis of CF, underlying the importance of the CFTR in innate immune responses. The goal of this review is to put into context the important role of the CFTR in different innate immune cells and how CFTR dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of CF, highlighting several signalling pathways that may be dysregulated in cells with CFTR mutations.
Toolbox zur Website-Evaluation: Erfassung der User Experience von Onlinegesundheitsinformationen
Authors: Thielsch Meinald T. , Salaschek Martin
Published: May 2020

Das Internet ist heutzutage eine zentrale Quelle für Gesundheitsinformationen. Eine optimale Gestaltung von Webangeboten und E‑Health-Maßnahmen erfordert valide Evaluationen der Wahrnehmung von Nutzenden, der sogenannten User Experience. Im Rahmen eines Forschungsprojektes der Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA) wurde zu diesem Zweck eine Toolbox zur Website-Evaluation (für Screening und Monitoring) aus frei verfügbaren, quantitativ-empirischen Fragebögen zusammengestellt. Mit dieser lassen sich zentrale Aspekte der User Experience im Internet reliabel und valide erfassen. In diesem Beitrag sollen die Komponenten der Evaluationstoolbox, die zugrunde liegenden Qualitätskriterien sowie Erfahrungen aus dem Praxiseinsatz dargestellt werden.

Das Ziel der Toolbox ist es, methodisch hochwertige, umfassende und zeitökonomische Analysen zu vereinfachen. Dokumentiert sind 9 standardisierte Fragebogeninstrumente sowie ergänzende Einzelitems aus 3 Bereichen. In der Standardvariante der Toolbox werden 35 Items verwendet, die in unter 10 min beantwortet werden können. Für eine erweiterte Untersuchung einer Website sind zusätzliche Verfahren zu Website-Inhalt, Usability (Gebrauchstauglichkeit) und Ästhetik dokumentiert. Sowohl Vorteile als auch Grenzen der Toolbox werden diskutiert und geben einen Ausblick auf mögliche zukünftige Weiterentwicklungen.
Nutzung von Gesundheitsinformationen im Internet: personenbezogene und motivationale Einflussfaktoren
Authors: Link Elena , Baumann Eva
Published: May 2020

Hintergrund und Ziele

Die Übernahme einer aktiven Patient*innen-Rolle kann nur auf einer entsprechenden Informationsgrundlage gelingen. Die eigene Suche nach Gesundheitsinformationen im Internet kann zu einer solchen adäquaten Wissensbasis beitragen. Daher erscheint es zentral zu fragen, was die derzeitige Nutzung von Onlineangeboten und Gesundheits-Apps in Deutschland auszeichnet und welche personenbezogenen und motivationalen Einflussfaktoren beeinflussen, ob und wie häufig die Bürger*innen online nach Gesundheitsinformationen suchen oder Gesundheits-Apps nutzen.

Methoden

Zur Beantwortung der Fragestellungen wurde eine an der deutschen Gesamtbevölkerung stratifizierte Onlinebefragung (N = 3000) durchgeführt. Der Fragebogen erfasste die gesundheitsbezogene Nutzung des Internets und von Apps sowie mögliche personenbezogene und motivationale Einflussfaktoren. Die Bedeutung dieser Faktoren für die Internetnutzung wurde mittels Regressionsanalysen ermittelt.

Ergebnisse

Die gesundheitsbezogene Informationssuche mittels Internet ist in Deutschland weitverbreitet, während Gesundheits-Apps noch deutlich seltener genutzt werden. Am häufigsten werden auf Gesundheitsportalen Informationen zu Krankheitssymptomen gesucht. Die Zuwendung zum Internet wird besonders durch motivationale Faktoren geprägt. Akute Betroffenheit von körperlichen Beschwerden und entsprechende Informationskompetenzen sind die einflussreichsten Faktoren für die Internetnutzung.

Diskussion

Um die mit der Informationssuche im Internet verbundenen Potenziale zu entfalten, ist es notwendig, dass sich Bürger*innen zur eigenen Suche motiviert und befähigt fühlen. Besonders entsprechende Fähigkeiten gilt es zu fördern, um das Risiko der Verstärkung informationaler, gesundheitlicher und sozialer Unterschiede zu reduzieren.
Defining the phenotype, pathogenesis and treatment of Crohn’s disease associated spondyloarthritis
Authors: Kumar Anand , Lukin Dana , Battat Robert , Schwartzman Monica , Mandl Lisa A. , Scherl Ellen , Longman Randy S.
Published: May 2020

Peripheral and axial spondyloarthritis are the most common extra-intestinal manifestations reported in patients with Crohn’s disease. Despite the frequency of Crohn’s disease associated spondyloarthritis, clinical diagnostic tools are variably applied in these cohorts and further characterization with validated spondyloarthritis disease activity indexes are needed. In addition, the pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease associated spondyloarthritis is not well understood. Evidence of shared genetic, cellular, and microbial mechanisms underlying both Crohn’s disease and spondyloarthritis highlight the potential for a distinct clinicopathologic entity. Existing treatment paradigms for Crohn’s disease associated spondyloarthritis focus on symptom control and management of luminal inflammation. A better understanding of the underlying pathogenic mechanisms in Crohn’s disease associated spondyloarthritis and the link between the gut microbiome and systemic immunity will help pave the way for more targeted and effective therapies. This review highlights recent work that has provided a framework for clinical characterization and pathogenesis of Crohn’s disease associated spondyloarthritis and helps identify critical gaps that will help shape treatment paradigms.