bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PP585 A New Hope For Breast Cancer Survivors: Early Assessment Of A Breast Cancer Vaccine
Authors: Jamaluddin Norrina , Ghazali Izzuna Mudla Mohamed , Sabirin Junainah
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer among women globally, impacting 2.1 million women each year, causing the greatest number of cancer-related deaths among women. In Malaysia, the new cases of breast cancer comprised of 32.7 percent of all new cancer cases in women as reported by The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The recurrence rate was about 16.4 percent post-mastectomy. This early assessment is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of a breast cancer vaccine.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted. Searches were done through PubMed, Medline and ClinicalTrial.gov. The articles were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and appraised using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) checklist. More than twenty cancer vaccines under development were identified.

Results

The most advanced breast cancer vaccine is Nelipepimut-S (NPS). In a Phase 2b clinical trial, improvement disease-free survival (DFS) in the NPS group was 89.8 percent. The DFS rate in the NPS group was 92.6 percent for triple negative patients. Median DFS in the NPS group [hazard ratio (HR): 0.26 (95% confidence interval, Cl: 0.08–0.81)] showed a significant difference. A projection study showed the cost-effectiveness will be 90 percent success if the cost less than USD1,000 per patient. No safety issues were reported.

Conclusions

Early assessment showed potential benefit in patient with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, further research is required to ensure its efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
PP613 The Cost Analysis Of Subcutaneous And Intravenous Dosage Forms For Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Treatment In Ukraine
Authors: Masheiko Alona , Piniazhko Oresta , Romanenko Iryna , Leleka Mariya , Serediuk Valeriia
Published: December 2020

Introduction

The Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Department of the “State Expert Center of the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Ukraine” was established in 2019 for conducting assessments and development of recommendations for informing decisions for the Ministry of Health of Ukraine (MoH) regarding the financing of health technologies based on HTA. The study aimed to conduct cost analysis and compare the treatment costs of two available dosage forms of tocilizumab for subcutaneous and intravenous administration for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis in Ukraine. Currently there is a central procurement program financed by the state budget with pharmaceuticals provided to patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis approved by the Cabinet of Ministers Decree of Ukraine №255 dated 13.03.2019.

Methods

The cost analysis was carried out for tocilizumab over a 1-year horizon per one patient. The analysis included drug manufacturers' prices from the registry of the MoH dated 19.09.2019. The annual number of tocilizumab vials for intravenous infusion for each weight category of patients is approved by the order MoH №334 from 14 February 2019. The direct medical costs were included in the analysis omitting cost of administration.

Results

The direct medical costs of treatment with intravenous tocilizumab per one patient for one budgetary year ranged from between USD7,563.83 and USD30,255.30 depending on patient's weight that was in the range of 10–80 kg. The direct medical costs of treatment per one patient for one year with subcutaneous tocilizumab was USD7,782.40 for patients < 30 kg and USD15,564.80 for patients ≥ 30 kg.

Conclusions

The introduction of subcutaneous tocilizumab can potentially lead to cost savings on average USD 4,041.97 (34.2%) for patients < 30 kg and USD 5,245.82 (25.2%) for patients ≥ 30 kg per one patient for 1-year treatment compared to the intravenous route. Intravenous tocilizumab has an economic advantage over the subcutaneous route solely for the pediatric population of certain weight categories. The cost of intravenous tocilizumab was USD 218.58 lower (2.9%) for patients ≤ 13 kg and USD 2,320.25 lower (17.5%) for patients with weight 31–35 kg, compared to the cost of subcutaneous tocilizumab.
Legal Professionalism and the Ethical Challenge for Legal Education: Insights from a Comparative Study of Future Lawyers in Greater China
Authors: Wu Richard Wai-Sang , Lo Carlos Wing-Hung , Liu Ning
Published: December 2020

This article uses data gathered from a survey that probed the career orientations and values of more than 1,000 law students in Beijing, Hong Kong and Taipei to examine the legal professionalism of future lawyers being trained under different legal education systems in Greater China. Our findings suggest that these future lawyers have a “materialistic” career orientation, although those studying in a system whose legal education goal is to train professional lawyers are more inclined to pursue professional legal ideals, and those trained in a system that emphasizes legal ethics are more likely to pursue public interest issues. On the basis of the findings, we argue that legal education systems in Greater China, while different in their traditions, share the same need to strengthen legal professionalism by according greater emphasis to legal ethics in their respective law school curricula.
Graph interpolating activation improves both natural and robust accuracies in data-efficient deep learning
Authors: WANG BAO , OSHER STAN J.
Published: December 2020

Improving the accuracy and robustness of deep neural nets (DNNs) and adapting them to small training data are primary tasks in deep learning (DL) research. In this paper, we replace the output activation function of DNNs, typically the data-agnostic softmax function, with a graph Laplacian-based high-dimensional interpolating function which, in the continuum limit, converges to the solution of a Laplace–Beltrami equation on a high-dimensional manifold. Furthermore, we propose end-to-end training and testing algorithms for this new architecture. The proposed DNN with graph interpolating activation integrates the advantages of both deep learning and manifold learning. Compared to the conventional DNNs with the softmax function as output activation, the new framework demonstrates the following major advantages: First, it is better applicable to data-efficient learning in which we train high capacity DNNs without using a large number of training data. Second, it remarkably improves both natural accuracy on the clean images and robust accuracy on the adversarial images crafted by both white-box and black-box adversarial attacks. Third, it is a natural choice for semi-supervised learning. This paper is a significant extension of our earlier work published in NeurIPS, 2018. For reproducibility, the code is available athttps://github.com/BaoWangMath/DNN-DataDependentActivation.
Cognitive appraisals of dissociation in psychosis: a new brief measure
Authors: Černis Emma , Bird Jessica C. , Molodynski Andrew , Ehlers Anke , Freeman Daniel
Published: December 2020

Background:

Catastrophic cognitive appraisals, similar to those in anxiety disorders, are implicated in depersonalisation, a form of dissociation. No scales exist to measure appraisals of dissociative experiences. Dissociation is common in psychosis. Misinterpretations of dissociative experiences may maintain psychotic symptoms. Therefore, assessing appraisals in this context may be valuable.

Aims:

The primary aim was to develop a measure of key appraisals of dissociation in psychosis. Secondary aims were to test the relationship between appraisals and psychotic experiences (paranoia and hallucinations), and determine whether appraisals explain additional variance in psychotic symptoms above dissociative symptoms.

Method:

Fifty items were generated from transcripts of interviews with patients. The measure was developed and psychometrically validated via factor analysis of data from 9902 general population participants and 1026 patients with psychosis. Convergent validity, test–re-test reliability, and internal reliability were assessed. Regression analyses tested relationships with psychotic symptoms.

Results:

A 13-item single-factor measure was developed. Factor analysis indicated good model fit [χ2(65) = 247.173, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.960, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.052]. The scale had good convergent validity with a rumination (non-clinical: r = 0.71; clinical: r = 0.73) and dissociation measure (r = 0.81; r = 0.80), high internal consistency (α = 0.93; α = 0.93), and excellent 1-week test–re-test reliability [intraclass correlation (ICC) = 0.90]. It explained variance in psychotic symptoms (paranoia: 36.4%; hallucinations: 35.0%), including additional variance compared with dissociation alone (paranoia: 5.3%; hallucinations: 2.3%).

Conclusions:

The Cognitive Appraisals of Dissociation in Psychosis (CAD-P) measure is a psychometrically robust scale identifying appraisals of dissociative experiences in psychosis and is associated with the presence of psychotic experiences. It is likely to prove useful for clinical assessment and research.
In the midst of theory and practice
Authors: Peltonen Hannes , Traisbach Knut
Published: December 2020

This cross-disciplinary symposium on Friedrich Kratochwil's The Status of Law in International Society engages with the interconnections between social knowledge (theory) and action (practice). Each contributor reflects critically on one of Kratochwil's nine meditations. These co-meditations cover not only Kratochwil's work, but they deepen discussions on the role of legal norms in international society, the practice turn, pragmatism, the production of knowledge, and human action. Kratochwil's reply to his co-meditators pushes the limits of prevailing thought on praxis. As a whole, the symposium exemplifies how we find ourselves always in the midst of theory and practice.
On concepts, conceptions, and conceptors: remarks ‘On the concept of law’
Authors: Traisbach Knut
Published: December 2020

In order to understand the concept of law, that is to understand what law is and does, Friedrich Kratochwil proposes to look at how we ‘use’ norms and relate them to actions. His approach promises less theoretical impasses and the ability ‘to go on’. These comments contend that a focus on ‘norm practice’ can only provide a particular understanding of how law functions. The article further suggests that the proposition and contestation of conceptions of law, including the uses of law these conceptions enable and legitimize, form part of the social practice of law. This calls for a comparative perspective.
Meditating on rights and responsibility: remarks on ‘the limits and burdens of rights’
Authors: Sikkink Kathryn
Published: December 2020

Kratochwil's critique of rights as a dominant moral theory that cannot avoid ‘hegemonic’ politics appears to be too crude. This article suggests that more theoretical and practical attention to the responsibilities necessary to implement rights could address some of Kratochwil's concerns. The language of political and ethical responsibilities is often missing from the practical action discourse of human rights. The article emphasizes the multitude of potential ‘agents of justice’ and how they can discharge forward-looking responsibilities in open and discretionary ways.
Global Wet‐Reduced Nitrogen Deposition Derived From Combining Satellite Measurements With Output From a Chemistry Transport Model
Authors: Liu Lei , Yang Yuyu , Xi Ruipeng , Zhang Xiuying , Xu Wen , Liu Xuejun , Li Yi , Liu Pu , Wang Zhen
Published: December 2020

Wet‐reduced nitrogen (NH4+) is the main component of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition. Due to the poor coverage of ground‐based measurements, it is still challenging to characterize the global wet‐reduced NH4+ deposition. Here we utilize NH3 measurements from satellite retrievals (Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer) to estimate global wet NH4+ deposition at 0.1° grids for nine years (2008–2016). We achieve this by developing a novel approach by calculating the feedback ratio between wet NH4+ concentration in precipitation and atmospheric NH3 columns using a global chemistry transport model (GEOS‐Chem). Satellite‐based wet NH4+ concentration and deposition is relatively highly correlated with the ground‐based measurements (r = 0.88 and bias = 12% for wet deposition). The largest increase in the satellite‐derived wet NH4+ deposition occurs in southern China (>0.5 kg N ha−1 yr−1), followed by northeastern India, North America, and Western Europe. The proposed method is simple, fast, and effective in estimating wet NH4+ deposition using the satellite observations without depending on the ground‐based measurements for constructing the models. It is particularly helpful in estimating wet NH4+ deposition over regions with few monitoring sites. Our unique satellite‐derived wet NH4+ deposition can be applied for evaluating its impacts on ecosystems in the future.
Reconstructing Paleo‐oxygenation for the Last 54,000 Years in the Gulf of Alaska Using Cross‐validated Benthic Foraminiferal and Geochemical Records
Authors: Sharon  , Belanger Christina , Du Jianghui , Mix Alan
Published: December 2020

Holocene and Pleistocene marine sediment records in the North Pacific record multiple dysoxic events proximal to continental margins and oxygen minimum zones (OMZs). High‐resolution paleoenvironmental studies in the Gulf of Alaska (GoA) were previously restricted to the last ∼17,000 years, limiting our knowledge of oxygenation in the high latitude North Pacific. Here we develop a ∼54,000‐year‐long record of co‐registered benthic foraminiferal assemblages and redox sensitive metal concentrations (Mo/Al and U/Al) at Site U1419 in the upper OMZ of GoA to reconstruct the history of OMZ extent and intensity at multi‐centennial resolution. Using multivariate analyses of total benthic foraminiferal assemblages, we develop quantitative dissolved oxygen estimates that are robust to differences in the benthic foraminiferal size fraction analyzed, replicate modern oxygenation patterns in the GoA, and are cross‐validated by redox sensitive metal concentrations. We identify dysoxic events in the early Holocene and in the Bølling‐Allerød (B/A), consistent with previous studies, as well as two dysoxic events during MIS 3 that are comparable in severity to the B/A event and lower in oxygen than the modern GoA OMZ. We further record short‐duration (<300 years) dysoxic events during glacial times similar to those recorded at more southern latitudes. Rates of oxygenation change can be abrupt with transitions exceeding 1 ml/L O2 in 100 years. Quantitative estimates of paleo‐oxygenation, such as those possible with benthic foraminiferal assemblages, are important for forecasting future oxygenation changes in OMZs and their potential impacts on the marine ecosystems.
Modeling Nitrate Export From a Mesoscale Catchment Using StorAge Selection Functions
Authors: Nguyen Tam V. , Kumar Rohini , Lutz Stefanie R. , Musolff Andreas , Yang Jie , Fleckenstein Jan H.
Published: December 2020

StorAge Selection (SAS) functions describe how catchments selectively remove water of different ages in storage via discharge, thus controlling the transit time distribution (TTD) and solute composition of discharge. SAS‐based models have been emerging as promising tools for quantifying catchment‐scale solute export, providing a coherent framework for describing both velocity‐driven and celerity‐driven transport. Due to their application in headwaters only, the spatial heterogeneity of catchment physiographic characteristics, land use management practices, and large‐scale validation have not been adequately addressed with SAS‐based models. Here, we integrated SAS functions into the grid‐based mHM‐Nitrate model (mesoscale Hydrological Model) at both grid scale (distributed model) and catchment scale (lumped model). The proposed model provides a spatially distributed representation of nitrogen dynamics within the soil zone and a unified approach for representing both velocity‐driven and celerity‐driven subsurface transport below the soil zone. The model was tested in a heterogeneous mesoscale catchment. Simulated results show a strong spatial heterogeneity in nitrogen dynamics within the soil zone, highlighting the necessity of a spatially explicit approach for describing near‐surface nitrogen processing. The lumped model could well capture instream nitrate concentration dynamics and the concentration–discharge relationship at the catchment outlet. In addition, the model could provide insights into the relations between subsurface storage, mixing scheme, solute export, and the TTDs of discharge. The distributed model shows results that are comparable to the lumped model. Overall, the results reveal the potential for large‐scale applications of SAS‐based transport models, contributing to the understanding of water quality‐related issues in agricultural landscapes.
Superspreading in early transmissions of COVID-19 in Indonesia
Authors: Hasan Agus , Susanto Hadi , Kasim Muhammad Firmansyah , Nuraini Nuning , Lestari Bony , Triany Dessy , Widyastuti Widyastuti
Published: December 2020

This paper presents a study of early epidemiological assessment of COVID-19 transmission dynamics in Indonesia. The aim is to quantify heterogeneity in the numbers of secondary infections. To this end, we estimate the basic reproduction number$$\mathscr {R}_0$$R0and the overdispersion parameter$$\mathscr {K}$$Kat two regions in Indonesia: Jakarta–Depok and Batam. The method to estimate$$\mathscr {R}_0$$R0is based on a sequential Bayesian method, while the parameter$$\mathscr {K}$$Kis estimated by fitting the secondary case data with a negative binomial distribution. Based on the first 1288 confirmed cases collected from both regions, we find a high degree of individual-level variation in the transmission. The basic reproduction number$$\mathscr {R}_0$$R0is estimated at 6.79 and 2.47, while the overdispersion parameter$$\mathscr {K}$$Kof a negative-binomial distribution is estimated at 0.06 and 0.2 for Jakarta–Depok and Batam, respectively. This suggests that superspreading events played a key role in the early stage of the outbreak, i.e., a small number of infected individuals are responsible for large numbers of COVID-19 transmission. This finding can be used to determine effective public measures, such as rapid isolation and identification, which are critical since delay of diagnosis is the most common cause of superspreading events.
Neonatal hyperoxia enhances age-dependent expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptors in mice
Authors: Yee Min , David Cohen E. , Haak Jeannie , Dylag Andrew M. , O’Reilly Michael A.
Published: December 2020

The severity of COVID-19 lung disease is higher in the elderly and people with pre-existing co-morbidities. People who were born preterm may be at greater risk for COVID-19 because their early exposure to oxygen (hyperoxia) at birth increases the severity of respiratory viral infections. Hyperoxia at birth increases the severity of influenza A virus infections in adult mice by reducing the number of alveolar epithelial type 2 (AT2) cells. Since AT2 cells express the SARS-CoV-2 receptors angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE2) and transmembrane protease/serine subfamily member 2 (TMPRSS2), their expression should decline as AT2 cells are depleted by hyperoxia. Instead, ACE2 was detected in airway Club cells and endothelial cells at birth, and then AT2 cells at one year of age. Neonatal hyperoxia stimulated expression of ACE2 in Club cells and in AT2 cells by 2 months of age. It also stimulated expression of TMPRSS2 in the lung. Increased expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptors was blocked by mitoTEMPO, a mitochondrial superoxide scavenger that reduced oxidative stress and DNA damage seen in oxygen-exposed mice. Our finding that hyperoxia enhances the age-dependent expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptors in mice helps explain why COVID-19 lung disease is greater in the elderly and people with pre-existing co-morbidities.
Inclusive groups can avoid the tragedy of the commons
Authors: Hintze Arend , Staudacher Jochen , Gelhar Katja , Pothmann Alexander , Rasch Juliana , Wildegger Daniel
Published: December 2020

The public goods game is a famous example illustrating the tragedy of the commons (Hardin in Science 162:1243–1248, 1968). In this game cooperating individuals contribute to a pool, which in turn is distributed to all members of the group, including defectors who reap the same rewards as cooperators without having made a contribution before. The question is now, how to incentivize group members to all cooperate as it maximizes the common good. While costly punishment (Helbing et al. in New J Phys 12:083005, 2010) presents one such method, the cost of punishment still reduces the common good. The selfishness of the group members favors defectors. Here we show that including other members of the groups and sharing rewards with them can be another incentive for cooperation, avoiding the cost required for punishment. Further, we show how punishment and this form of inclusiveness interact. This work suggests that a redistribution similar to a basic income that is coupled to the economic success of the entire group could overcome the tragedy of the commons.
Cognitive impairment without altered levels of cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in patients with encephalitis caused by varicella-zoster virus: a pilot study
Authors: Eckerström Marie , Nilsson Staffan , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Grahn Anna
Published: December 2020

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) is one of the most common agents causing viral infections of the central nervous system (CNS). VZV encephalitis is associated with severe neurological sequelae, despite antiviral treatment. Cognitive impairment has been reported and VZV has been associated with dementia. Our aim was to investigate the cognitive impairment and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers in a follow-up study of patients with VZV encephalitis. Thirteen patients with VZV encephalitis, diagnosed by detection of VZV DNA in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by PCR and concomitant symptoms of encephalitis, were included. Neuropsychological assessment in parallel with a lumbar puncture to obtain CSF was performed 1.5–7 years after acute disease. The CSF biomarkers neurofilament light chain (NFL), S100B, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), amyloid-β (Aβ) 40 and Aβ42, total tau (t-tau) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau) were analysed and compared to controls (n = 24). Cognitive impairment was shown in the domains of executive functions and speed/attention and to a minor degree in the domains of learning/memory and language, indicated by a significantly poorer performance on seven neuropsychological test variables. No convincing evidence of alterations in concentrations of biomarkers in the CSF were shown. Our results indicate that patients with VZV encephalitis suffer from cognitive impairment long time after acute disease. Importantly, these impairments do not seem to be accompanied by biomarker evidence of ongoing neuronal or astrocytic injury/activation or induction of dementia-related brain pathologies by the infection.
A meta-analysis of accuracy and sensitivity of chest CT and RT-PCR in COVID-19 diagnosis
Authors: Khatami Fatemeh , Saatchi Mohammad , Zadeh Seyed Saeed Tamehri , Aghamir Zahra Sadat , Shabestari Alireza Namazi , Reis Leonardo Oliveira , Aghamir Seyed Mohammad Kazem
Published: December 2020

Nowadays there is an ongoing acute respiratory outbreak caused by the novel highly contagious coronavirus (COVID-19). The diagnostic protocol is based on quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and chests CT scan, with uncertain accuracy. This meta-analysis study determines the diagnostic value of an initial chest CT scan in patients with COVID-19 infection in comparison with RT-PCR. Three main databases; PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and EMBASE were systematically searched for all published literature from January 1st, 2019, to the 21st May 2020 with the keywords "COVID19 virus", "2019 novel coronavirus", "Wuhan coronavirus", "2019-nCoV", "X-Ray Computed Tomography", "Polymerase Chain Reaction", "Reverse Transcriptase PCR", and "PCR Reverse Transcriptase". All relevant case-series, cross-sectional, and cohort studies were selected. Data extraction and analysis were performed using STATA v.14.0SE (College Station, TX, USA) and RevMan 5. Among 1022 articles, 60 studies were eligible for totalizing 5744 patients. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of chest CT scan compared to RT-PCR were 87% (95% CI 85–90%), 46% (95% CI 29–63%), 69% (95% CI 56–72%), and 89% (95% CI 82–96%), respectively. It is important to rely on the repeated RT-PCR three times to give 99% accuracy, especially in negative samples. Regarding the overall diagnostic sensitivity of 87% for chest CT, the RT-PCR testing is essential and should be repeated to escape misdiagnosis.
Ultra-low temperature water–gas shift reaction catalyzed by homogeneous Ru-complexes in a membrane reactor – membrane development and proof of concept
Authors: Logemann Morten , Wolf Patrick , Loipersböck Jürgen , Schrade Alexander , Wessling Matthias , Haumann Marco
Published: December 2020

Supported ionic liquid-phase (SILP) catalyzed water–gas shift reaction with in situ product removal is presented. A facilitated transport membrane coated onto the smooth outside of the SiC monolith allowed preferential removal of CO2 compared to H2.
Solar water oxidation using TaON–BiVO4 photoanodes functionalized with WO3
Authors: Wei Tingting , Jin Zhanbin , Li Fengyan , Sun Zhixia , Xu Lin
Published: December 2020

Enhancements in the water oxidation photocurrent densities at 1.23 V (vs. RHE) by 9.2-fold compared to unmodified TaON–BiVO4 were achieved with the use of the WO3/TaON–BiVO4 photoanodes under visible-light irradiation in this work.
Aryl radical initiators accumulated within layered silicates realize polystyrene with directly and regioselectively bonded aryl-terminal groups
Authors: Kishimoto Fuminao , Hisano Kyohei , Wakihara Toru , Okubo Tatsuya
Published: December 2020

A novel aryl radical initiator accumulated within a saponite clay resulted in polystyrenes with regioselectively and directly bonded anthracene, naphthalene, and pyrene terminal groups.
Concentrations and properties of ice nucleating substances in exudates from Antarctic sea-ice diatoms
Authors: Xi Yu , Mercier Alexia , Kuang Cheng , Yun Jingwei , Christy Ashton , Melo Luke , Maldonado Maria T. , Raymond James A. , Bertram Allan K.
Published: December 2020

Field Antarctic sea-ice diatom supernatant samples showed ice nucleating abilities.
Fluorescent plastic nanoparticles to track their interaction and fate in physiological environments
Authors: Caldwell Jessica , Lehner Roman , Balog Sandor , Rhême Christian , Gao Xin , Septiadi Dedy , Weder Christoph , Petri-Fink Alke , Rothen-Rutishauser Barbara
Published: December 2020

This work aims to establish a production and characterization protocol for fluorescent plastic nanoparticles of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) that can be tracked in biological environments.
Optical properties and photochemical production of hydroxyl radical and singlet oxygen after ozonation of dissolved organic matter
Authors: Leresche Frank , Torres-Ruiz Jeremy A. , Kurtz Tyler , von Gunten Urs , Rosario-Ortiz Fernando L.
Published: December 2020

This study focuses on the effects of ozonation on the optical and photochemical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM).
Influence of lipid nanoparticle physical state on β-carotene stability kinetics under different environmental conditions
Authors: de Abreu Martins Heloísa Helena , Turmo-Ibarz Ana , Hilsdorf Piccoli Roberta , Martín-Belloso Olga , Salvia-Trujillo Laura
Published: December 2020

Carotenoids are lipophilic compounds that provide important health-related benefits for human body functions.
Recent advances in 3D printing of nanocellulose: structure, preparation, and application prospects
Authors: Ee Liang Ying , Yau Li Sam Fong
Published: December 2020

Emerging cellulose nanomaterials extracted from agricultural biomasses have recently received extensive attention due to diminishing fossil resources, with optimistic 3D printing applications in biomedical, electronics, and environmental fields.
Investigating the use of conducting oligomers and redox molecules in CdS–MoFeP biohybrids
Authors: Harris Alexander W. , Roy Shambojit , Ganguly Saheli , Parameswar Ashray V. , Lucas Francisco W. S. , Holewinski Adam , Goodwin Andrew P. , Cha Jennifer N.
Published: December 2020

We report the effect of incorporating conducting oligophenylenes and a cobaltocene-based redox mediator on photodriven electron transfer between thioglycolic acid capped CdS nanorods and the native nitrogenase MoFe protein by following the reduction of H+ to H2.
Tuning the magnetic properties of Sn1−x−yCe4+xCe3+yO2 nanoparticles: an experimental and theoretical approach
Authors: Aragón F. F. H. , Villegas-Lelovsky L. , Cabral L. , Lima M. P. , Mesquita A. , Coaquira J. A. H.
Published: December 2020

We present an accurate study of the mechanisms involved in the oxidation states of Ce-ions during the doping process of SnO2 nanoparticles prepared by the polymeric precursor method.
The improved photocatalytic activity of highly expanded MoS2 under visible light emitting diodes
Authors: Lai Magdeline Tze Leng , Lee Kian Mun , Yang Thomas Chung Kuang , Pan Guan Ting , Lai Chin Wei , Chen Chia-Yun , Johan Mohd Rafie , Juan Joon Ching
Published: December 2020

Improved photocatalytic activity of highly expanded MoS2 under visible light emitting diode.
Hybrid Ag–LiNbO3 nanocomposite thin films with tailorable optical properties
Authors: Huang Jijie , Zhang Di , Qi Zhimin , Zhang Bruce , Wang Haiyan
Published: December 2020

Ag nanostructures exhibit extraordinary optical properties, which are important for photonic device integration.
The selective conversion of furfuryl alcohol to ethyl levulinate over Zr-modified tungstophosphoric acid supported on β-zeolites
Authors: Yogita  , Rao B. Srinivasa , Subrahmanyam Ch. , Lingaiah N.
Published: December 2020

Catalysts of zirconium-exchanged proton-containing tungstophosphoric acid (TPA) supported on β-zeolites were prepared by an impregnation method for the selective alcoholysis of furfuryl alcohol into ethyl levulinate.
Tunable electronic properties and band alignments of InS–arsenene heterostructures via external strain and electric field
Authors: Yao Hui , Zhang Chao , Wang Qiang , Li Jianwei , Yu Yunjin , Xu† Fuming , Wang Bin , Wei Yadong
Published: December 2020

van der Waals heterostructures (vdWHs) based on two-dimensional (2D) materials have been extensively recognized as promising candidates for fabricating multi-functional novel devices.
New multifunctional benzophenone-based photoinitiators with high migration stability and their applications in 3D printing
Authors: Liu Shaohui , Brunel Damien , Noirbent Guillaume , Mau Alexandre , Chen Hong , Morlet-Savary Fabrice , Graff Bernadette , Gigmes Didier , Xiao Pu , Dumur Frédéric , Lalevée Jacques
Published: December 2020

A series of photoinitiators based on benzophenone scaffold are developed for LED photopolymerization. Excellent photoinitiation abilities are obtained and 3D printing experiments are carried out successfully.
An easily available ratiometric AIE probe for nitroxyl visualization in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Li Chunbin , Jiang Guoyu , Liu Xiang , Lai Qingfang , Kang Miaomiao , Wang Dong , Zhang Pengfei , Wang Jianguo , Tang Ben Zhong
Published: December 2020

An easily available ratiometric fluorescent probe (TCFPB-HNO) with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics was developed for the first time for the detection and visualization of nitroxyl (HNO) in vitro and in vivo.
An electrochemical perspective on the roles of ligands in the merger of transition-metal catalysis and electrochemistry
Authors: Zhong Jun-Song , Yu Yi , Shi Zhaojiang , Ye Ke-Yin
Published: December 2020

A perspective on the roles of ligands in transition-metal catalysis under electrochemical conditions is provided.
Ultra-low amount Pt-doped Co2P/Ni2P on nickel foam as an efficient electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction in an alkaline electrolyte
Authors: Xiao Xin , Sun Dongping , Liu Xiaoheng , Qiu Bo , Xu Xingyou , Zhang Dongen , Yang Tao
Published: December 2020

It is still a challenge to design an efficient and low-cost electrocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in an alkaline electrolyte.
Record power conversion efficiencies for iron(ii)-NHC-sensitized DSSCs from rational molecular engineering and electrolyte optimization
Authors: Reddy Marri Anil , Marchini Edoardo , Cabanes Valentin Diez , Argazzi Roberto , Pastore Mariachiara , Caramori Stefano , Gros Philippe C.
Published: December 2020

The highest efficiency ever reported for an iron-sensitized solar cell has been obtained using a Fe(ii) pyridylNHC-carboxylic heteroleptic complex. Mg2+ cations and NBu4I in the electrolyte, substantially boosted the photocurrent.
Enhancement of the ionic conductivity of a composite polymer electrolyte via surface functionalization of SSZ-13 zeolite for all-solid-state Li-metal batteries
Authors: Jamal Hasan , Khan Firoz , Hyun Suyeon , Min Sang Won , Kim Jae Hyun
Published: December 2020

The uniformly distributed modified SSZ-13 zeolites endows conductive patch for the movement of electrons, which results in outstanding ionic conductivity value of 5.34 × 10−2 S cm−1 (@ 70 °C).
Flexible single-crystalline GaN substrate by direct deposition of III-N thin films on polycrystalline metal tape
Authors: Shervin Shahab , Moradnia Mina , Alam Md Kamrul , Tong Tain , Ji Mi-Hee , Chen Jie , Pouladi Sara , Detchprohm Theeradetch , Forrest Rebecca , Bao Jiming , Dupuis Russell D. , Ryou Jae-Hyun
Published: December 2020

Demonstration of a mechanically flexible single-crystalline GaN substrate by direct epitaxial growth on metal foil with significantly reduced processing costs and versatile functionality on flexible electronics and photonics.
Umsetzung eines Delirmanagements
Authors: Kilian Jessica
Published: December 2020

Ein erfolgreiches Delirmanagement ist mit einer Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Maßnahmen verbunden. Bei der Umsetzung in der Klinik ist die Unterstützung durch eine Advanced Practice Nurse von großem Vorteil.
Successful Endoscopic Removal of a Transmural Internally Migrating Gossypiboma
Authors: Agarwal Ashish , Chauhan Ashish , Sharma Sanchit , Madhusudhan Kumble Seetharama , Panwar Rajesh
Published: December 2020

An accidentally retained sponge inside the body of a patient (gossypiboma) is a rare and serious adverse event after a surgical procedure with serious medicolegal implications and complications. It is commonly associated with abdominal surgeries with cholecystectomy most commonly implicated. Whorl-like appearance or mottled translucencies and radiopaque marker on imaging is diagnostic. Transmural migration into a hollow viscous has been infrequently reported. The preferred approach for the removal of gossypiboma is surgery. However, in cases of complete transmural migration, endoscopic removal remains a viable option.
A Novel Method to Prevent Migration of Gastric Stent
Authors: Singla Vikas , Khare Shivam , Arora Anil , Anikhindi Shrihari Anil
Published: December 2020

Self expandable metal stent (SEMS) are widely used in patients with gastric outlet obstruction. Stent migration can occur in these patients, and is an important issue, which needs to be addressed. We used a novel technique for prevention of migration of gastric stent in an 80 year old female. Patient presented with recurrent vomiting due to gastric outlet obstruction by a growth in the antrum. SEMS was placed for palliation of symptoms. A nylon thread multiloop and through the scope clips were used to fix the SEMS with the gastric wall. The technique was used successfully to prevent the migration of SEMS.
Successful Treatment of an Early Barrett's Adenocarcinoma in a High-Risk Patient with Portal Hypertension: The “Band and Leave” Strategy
Authors: Fraile-López Miguel , Ortiz-Fernández-Sordo Jacobo , James Martin , Kaye Philip , Ragunath Krish
Published: December 2020

“Band and leave” strategy has been described for the resection of submucosal tumors of the digestive tract to reduce the complications related to deep submucosal resection such as bleeding and perforation. We present the case of a patient with multiple comorbidities, chronic liver disease, and portal hypertension diagnosed to have T1 adenocarcinoma in Barrett's esophagus overlying a column of varix. This was successfully treated by band ligation and allowing the neoplastic mucosa to slough. We propose this technique as an alternative therapeutic option for the management of early Barrett's neoplasia in such high-risk patients with portal hypertension.
Electron diffraction method tracks molecules in solutions
Authors: Patrick Chris
Published: December 2020

Liquid Ultrafast Electron Diffraction reveals the structural dynamics of photochemical reactions in water with femtosecond and picosecond resolution.
Singlet fission in core-linked terrylenediimide dimers
Authors: Zhao Xingang , Bae Youn Jue , Chen Michelle , Harvey Samantha M. , Lin Chenjian , Zhou Jiawang , Schaller Richard D. , Young Ryan M. , Wasielewski Michael R.
Published: December 2020

We have studied two regioisomeric terrylenediimide (TDI) dimers in which the 1-positions of two TDIs are linked via 1,3- or 1,4-phenylene spacers, mTDI2 and pTDI, respectively. The nature and the dynamics of the multiexciton state are tuned by altering the through-bond electronic couplings in the ground and excited states and by changing the solvent environment. Our results show that controlling the electronic coupling between the two chromophores by an appropriate choice of linker can result in independent triplet state formation, even though the initial correlated triplet pair state is confined to a dimer. Moreover, even in polar solvents, if the electronic coupling is strong, the correlated triplet pair state is observed prior to symmetry-breaking charge separation. These results point out the close relationship between the singlet, correlated triplet pair, and charge transfer states in molecular dimers.
Brillouin light scattering investigations of films and magnetic tunnel junctions with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy at the CoFeB–MgO interface
Authors: Tacchi S , Casoli F , Pini M G , Rettori A , Madami M , Åkerman J , Le T T , Pham Q N , Pham H L , Anh Nguyen T N
Published: December 2020

Alternating gradient force magnetometry and Brillouin light scattering (BLS) experiments were exploited to investigate the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) localized at the CoFeB–MgO interface, both in Ta/CoFeB/MgO heterostructures (bottom samples) and in the inverted ones MgO/CoFeB/Ta (top samples). Thermal treatment was found to induce a marked increase of the PMA with respect to the as grown state. Using linear spin wave theory, an analysis of the spin wave frequencies was performed which allowed to estimate the thickness dependence of the PMA in the single CoFeB film. Magnetic tunnel junctions with the Ta/CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB/Ta structure were also studied by BLS. The analysis of the experimental results, performed via the linear spin wave theory, revealed that there is an antiferromagnetic interlayer exchange coupling between the free and the fixed CoFeB layers which increases after the annealing procedure.
Robust and ultrafast fiducial marker correspondence in electron tomography by a two-stage algorithm considering local constraints
Authors: Han Renmin , Li Guojun , Gao Xin
Published: December 2020

Motivation

Electron tomography (ET) has become an indispensable tool for structural biology studies. In ET, the tilt series alignment and the projection parameter calibration are the key steps toward high-resolution ultrastructure analysis. Usually, fiducial markers are embedded in the sample to aid the alignment. Despite the advances in developing algorithms to find correspondence of fiducial markers from different tilted micrographs, the error rate of the existing methods is still high such that manual correction has to be conducted. In addition, existing algorithms do not work well when the number of fiducial markers is high.

Results

In this article, we try to completely solve the fiducial marker correspondence problem. We propose to divide the workflow of fiducial marker correspondence into two stages: (i) initial transformation determination, and (ii) local correspondence refinement. In the first stage, we model the transform estimation as a correspondence pair inquiry and verification problem. The local geometric constraints and invariant features are used to reduce the complexity of the problem. In the second stage, we encode the geometric distribution of the fiducial markers by a weighted Gaussian mixture model and introduce drift parameters to correct the effects of beam-induced motion and sample deformation. Comprehensive experiments on real-world datasets demonstrate the robustness, efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Especially, the proposed two-stage algorithm is able to produce an accurate tracking within an average of  ⩽ 100 ms per image, even for micrographs with hundreds of fiducial markers, which makes the real-time ET data processing possible.

Availability and implementation

The code is available at https://github.com/icthrm/auto-tilt-pair. Additionally, the detailed original figures demonstrated in the experiments can be accessed at https://rb.gy/6adtk4.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A network-based deep learning methodology for stratification of tumor mutations
Authors: Liu Chuang , Han Zhen , Zhang Zi-Ke , Nussinov Ruth , Cheng Feixiong
Published: December 2020

Motivation

Tumor stratification has a wide range of biomedical and clinical applications, including diagnosis, prognosis and personalized treatment. However, cancer is always driven by the combination of mutated genes, which are highly heterogeneous across patients. Accurately subdividing the tumors into subtypes is challenging.

Results

We developed a network-embedding based stratification (NES) methodology to identify clinically relevant patient subtypes from large-scale patients’ somatic mutation profiles. The central hypothesis of NES is that two tumors would be classified into the same subtypes if their somatic mutated genes located in the similar network regions of the human interactome. We encoded the genes on the human protein–protein interactome with a network embedding approach and constructed the patients’ vectors by integrating the somatic mutation profiles of 7344 tumor exomes across 15 cancer types. We firstly adopted the lightGBM classification algorithm to train the patients’ vectors. The AUC value is around 0.89 in the prediction of the patient’s cancer type and around 0.78 in the prediction of the tumor stage within a specific cancer type. The high classification accuracy suggests that network embedding-based patients’ features are reliable for dividing the patients. We conclude that we can cluster patients with a specific cancer type into several subtypes by using an unsupervised clustering algorithm to learn the patients’ vectors. Among the 15 cancer types, the new patient clusters (subtypes) identified by the NES are significantly correlated with patient survival across 12 cancer types. In summary, this study offers a powerful network-based deep learning methodology for personalized cancer medicine.

Availability and implementation

Source code and data can be downloaded from https://github.com/ChengF-Lab/NES.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Hyperperfusion in the thalamus on arterial spin labelling indicates non-convulsive status epilepticus
Authors: Ohtomo Satoru , Otsubo Hiroshi , Arai Hiroaki , Shimoda Yoshiteru , Homma Yoichiro , Tominaga Teiji
Published: December 2020

Non-convulsive status epilepticus describes the syndrome of unexplained impaired consciousness in critically ill patients. Non-convulsive status epilepticus is very likely to lead to delayed diagnosis and poor outcomes because of the absence of convulsive symptoms. EEG is essential for the diagnosis of non-convulsive status epilepticus to establish the association between periodic discharges and rhythmic delta activity in addition to ictal epileptiform discharges according to the Salzburg criteria. Arterial spin labelling, a type of perfusion MRI, has been applied for rapid and non-invasive evaluation of the ictal state. Ictal cerebral cortical hyperperfusion is the most common finding to demonstrate focal onset seizures. Hyperperfusion of the thalamus on single photon emission computed tomography was found in patients with impaired awareness seizures. We hypothesized that thalamocortical hyperperfusion on arterial spin labelling identifies non-convulsive status epilepticus and such thalamic hyperperfusion specifically associates with periodic/rhythmic discharges producing impaired consciousness without convulsion. We identified 27 patients (17 females; age, 39–91 years) who underwent both arterial spin labelling and EEG within 24 h of suspected non-convulsive status epilepticus. We analysed 28 episodes of suspected non-convulsive status epilepticus and compared hyperperfusion on arterial spin labelling with periodic/rhythmic discharges. We evaluated 21 episodes as a positive diagnosis of non-convulsive status epilepticus according to the Salzburg criteria. We identified periodic discharges in 15 (12 lateralized and 3 bilateral independent) episodes and rhythmic delta activity in 13 (10 lateralized, 1 bilateral independent and 2 generalized) episodes. Arterial spin labelling showed thalamic hyperperfusion in 16 (11 unilateral and 5 bilateral) episodes and cerebral cortical hyperperfusion in 24 (20 unilateral and 4 bilateral) episodes. Thalamic hyperperfusion was significantly associated with non-convulsive status epilepticus (P = 0.0007; sensitivity, 76.2%; specificity, 100%), periodic discharges (P < 0.0001; 93.3%; 84.6%), and rhythmic delta activity (P = 0.0006; 92.3%; 73.3%). Cerebral cortical hyperperfusion was significantly associated with non-convulsive status epilepticus (P = 0.0017; 100%; 57.1%) and periodic discharges (P = 0.0349; 100%; 30.8%), but not with rhythmic delta activity. Thalamocortical hyperperfusion could be a new biomarker of non-convulsive status epilepticus according to the Salzburg criteria in critically ill patients. Specific thalamic hyperexcitability might modulate the periodic discharges and rhythmic delta activity associated with non-convulsive status epilepticus. Impaired consciousness without convulsions could be caused by predominant thalamic hyperperfusion together with cortical hyperperfusion but without ictal epileptiform discharges.