bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract IA017: Metabolic reprogramming and kidney cancer progression
Authors: DeBerardinis Ralph J.
Published: August 2023

Many human diseases, including cancer, involve alterations of cellular metabolism caused either directly or indirectly by mutations in genes that regulate the metabolic network. In cancer, reprogrammed metabolic activities arising from mutations in tumor suppressors and oncogenes are thought to contribute both to cancer initiation and progression, particularly metastasis. In clear cell renal cell carcinoma, as with many other kinds of cancer, mortality is largely dictated by metastatic dissemination. It is therefore of interest to identify aspects of metabolic reprogramming that promote metastasis in ccRCC patients. We used a multidisciplinary clinical approach to infuse 13C-labeled nutrients during surgical tumor resection in ccRCC patients. Compared to the adjacent kidney, ccRCCs displayed suppressed labelling of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates, both in vivo and in organotypic slices cultured ex vivo, indicating that suppressed labeling is a tissue intrinsic property of these tumors. Infusions of 13C-acetate and 13C-glutamine in patients, coupled with metabolic analysis of mitochondria isolated from kidney and tumor tissue, revealed primary defects in mitochondrial function in human ccRCC. However, ccRCC metastases unexpectedly had enhanced labeling of TCA cycle intermediates compared to primary ccRCCs, indicating a divergent metabolic program during ccRCC metastasis in patients. Using a syngeneic RCC mouse model capable of spontaneous metastasis from the kidney, we found that inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation reduced metastasis to the lung without impacting tumor growth in the kidney. In human ccRCC cells, stimulating respiration was sufficient to promote metastatic colonization in the lung. Altogether, these findings indicate that metabolic properties evolve during human ccRCC progression, and suggest that mitochondrial respiration may be limiting for ccRCC metastasis but not for ccRCC growth at the site of origin.

Citation Format: Ralph J. DeBerardinis. Metabolic reprogramming and kidney cancer progression [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Kidney Cancer Research; 2023 Jun 24-27; Austin, Texas. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(16 Suppl):Abstract nr IA017.
Abstract IA025: The cell of origin is the dominant constraint in evolution of VHL related neoplasms
Authors: Shepherd Scott , Coulton Alex , Vocke Cathy , Ricketts Chris , Linehan Marston , Turajlic Samra
Published: August 2023

Cancer is an evolutionary process, and an evolutionary framework can be used to decipher cancer initiation, progression and treatment resistance. In the context of VHL disease with repeat evolution of malignancies across different tissue contexts we can examine the factors that constrain tumour evolution. In the largest analysis of VHL-related tumours to date (1321 tumours across 132 patients), we observe the second hits on the background of germline VHL mutation vary and include loss of chromosome 3p, narrow deletion of VHL locus, VHL mutation or methylation. Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGL) and solid renal tumours show a higher frequency of 3p loss, while pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) and renal cysts, exhibited a higher frequency of somatic VHL mutations, without 3p loss. Tumour size and progression were contingent on the nature of the second hit, suggesting potential evolutionary "dead-ends" where the tumor initiating event does not involve 3p loss. The type of germline VHL mutation (whether a complete deletion or missense) determined the distribution of cancers and their burden, but beyond this, multiple renal tumours in individual patients did not converge onto the same trajectory. This observation suggests that following malignant transformation evolutionary contingency and chance dominate tumour evolution. Metastases from renal tumours were driven by loss of chromosomes 9p and 14q, reminiscent of sporadic renal tumours, suggesting that acquisition of metastatic competence is associated with a high degree of bottlenecking and highlighting these events as important targets for metastasis prevention.

Citation Format: Scott Shepherd, Alex Coulton, Cathy Vocke, Chris Ricketts, Marston Linehan, Samra Turajlic. The cell of origin is the dominant constraint in evolution of VHL related neoplasms [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Kidney Cancer Research; 2023 Jun 24-27; Austin, Texas. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(16 Suppl):Abstract nr IA025.
Abstract PR011: Downregulation of the HIF2a target cyclin D1 underlies the efficacy of the HIF2a inhibitor belzutifan in kidney cancer
Authors: Shirole Nitin H. , Kesar Devishi , Sellers William R. , Kaelin William G.
Published: August 2023

Abstract: Most clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) are caused by loss of the pVHL tumor suppressor function. Inactivation of pVHL leads to increased accumulation of HIF2a, which drives ccRCC in preclinical models. HIF2a interacts with ARNT and functions as a heterodimeric transcription factor. HIF2a can activate hundreds of downstream target genes, including many that are suspected of playing a role in ccRCC pathogenesis based on their biological functions. Peloton Therapeutics developed a specific allosteric HIF2a inhibitor named PT2399, which disrupts the HIF2a-ARNT interaction and silences the HIF2a transcription program. Furthermore, PT2399 suppresses the growth of ccRCC cells in in-vitro and in-vivo assays. A more advanced version of PT2399, Belzutifan, was recently approved for treating tumors in patients with germline VHL mutations (VHL disease) and is in Phase 3 testing for sporadic ccRCCs. Since HIF2a is a transcriptional activator, we hypothesized that PT2399’s ability to suppress ccRCC is linked to repression of one or more HIF2a target genes. To identify these genes, we performed a pooled whole genome CRISPR activation (CRISPRa) screen in the presence or absence of PT2399. This screen identified multiple genes (“hits”) that, when activated, likely conferred resistance to PT2399. To further differentiate between direct vs indirect HIF2a targets that confer resistance to PT2399, we performed nascent RNA-seq (Pro-seq) after acute treatment of ccRCC cells with PT2399. Comparison of the CRISPRa and Pro-Seq data, together with secondary validation assays, identified CCND1, which encodes Cyclin D1, as a direct target gene of HIF2a that, when activated, confers complete resistance to PT2399 in multiple ccRCC cell lines. Additionally, we showed that wild-type Cyclin D1 (WT), but not a mutant (KE) that fails to activate CDK4/6, confers resistance to PT2399. Interestingly, Cyclin D1 overrides the growth inhibitory effect of PT2399 in ccRCC cells irrespective of pRB status. To identify the relevant Rb-independent substrates of Cyclin D1, we performed IP-MS experiments in RB1-/- ccRCC cells under substrate trapping conditions. Our preliminary data from these experiments suggests that RBL1 (p107) and RBL2 (p130) substitute for pRB in RB1-/- ccRCC cells. Our findings provide further support for CDK4/6 as a therapeutic target in ccRCC.

Citation Format: Nitin H. Shirole, Devishi Kesar, William R. Sellers, William G. Kaelin Jr. Downregulation of the HIF2a target cyclin D1 underlies the efficacy of the HIF2a inhibitor belzutifan in kidney cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Advances in Kidney Cancer Research; 2023 Jun 24-27; Austin, Texas. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(16 Suppl):Abstract nr PR011.
The Effect of Service Quality and Location on Consumer Decisions at Vista Hotel in Prabumulih City
Authors: Tusri Yudi , Betriana Meirani , Adelina Chairani
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to determine whether the implementation of Service Quality and Location carried out at Hotel Vista in Prabumulih City was in accordance with the program that applied to hotels. Fro the result showed that when testing the quality of service all the questions in the questionnaire were said to be valid with the provisions that exceed the r table value where the r table value wa 0.185. And for the reliability value, a value of 0.849 was obtained with the conditions above 0.185, it could be said that the existing questionnaire was declared reliable for further testing. At the time of testing the location, all the questions in the questionnaire were said to be valid with the condition that it exceeded the r table value, where the r table value was 0.185. And for the reliability value, a value of 0.853 was obtained with the conditions above 0.185, it could be said that the existing questionnaire was declared reliable for further testing. For the calculated f value of 33.505 and for the f table value from the results n-k-1 (n=respondents, k=independent variable) of 2.76. In this way, for the calculated f value of 33.505 > the f table value of 2.76, the service quality and location variables had a positive effect on consumer decisions.
Antioxidant Property and Inhibition of Tyrosinase and Melanin Synthesis of the Korean Fir (Abies koreana Wilson) Needle Extracts
Authors:   oxicology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology (Biomaterials), College of Applied Life Science, Jeju Na-tional University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea, Kim Ji , Kim Min ,   oxicology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology (Biomaterials), College of Applied Life Science, Jeju Na-tional University, Jeju, 63243, Republic of Korea
Published: August 2023

Korean fir (Abies koreana Wilson) is traditionally used in folk medicine for its antibacterial, memory-enhancing, and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant and skin-whitening effects of the methanol and ethanol extracts of Korean fir needles. The extracts were tested for their antioxidant capacity using various assays, including radical scavenging (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, O2-, H2O2 and NO), SOD-like, ferrous ion chelating, and reducing power assays. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The non-toxic doses of the extracts were determined by MTT assay using human malignant melanoma SK mel-100 cells, and the tyrosinase activity and melanin contents were measured using an enzyme-substrate assay. The results showed that the antioxidant activity of the Korean fir needle extracts increased in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by their radical scavenging activities in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays. The Korean fir needle extract significantly reduced tyrosinase activity and melanin content in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.01), suggesting its potential use as a skin-whitening agent. The methanol extracts of the Korean fir needles exhibited significantly higher phenolic (8306 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g) content, with higher superoxide (IC50 = 4.22 mg/mL) and nitric oxide (IC50 = 1.50 mg/mL) radical scavenging activities and inhibition of tyrosinase and melanin synthesis than those of ethanol extracts (p < 0.05). Overall, our results demonstrate the potential of Korean fir (Abies koreana Wilson) needles as a source of tyrosinase inhibitors and antioxidants for inhibiting melanin biosynthesis, which could have applications in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.
Identification and Evaluation of Regulatory Role of miR164b in Malaysian Rice Variety (MR303) under Drought Stress
Authors:   Department of Biosciences,FacultyofScience,Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,Skudai 81310, JohorBharu,Johor, Malaysia, Xin Catherine , Teng Chay ,   Department of Biosciences,FacultyofScience,Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,Skudai 81310, JohorBharu,Johor, Malaysia, Samad Abdul ,   Department of Biosciences,FacultyofScience,Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,Skudai 81310, JohorBharu,Johor, Malaysia
Published: August 2023

MR303 is a newly released Malaysian rice cultivar that comes with special traits as it can be cultivated in less fertile soils. Previous studies stated that miR164b is a key molecule that is responsible for regulating drought stress tolerance in many rice varieties. Thus, this study aims to identify the presence and regulatory role of miR164b in the MR303 variety using both computational and experimental approaches. The stem-loop structure of miR164b (pre-miR164b) was identified through reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) with a size of ~ 100 bp. The target prediction by psRNA target revealed that the target gene of miR164b is the NAM protein of the NAC transcription factor. A gene expression study by RT-PCR followed by Image J analysis in both control and drought-treated plants demonstrated low expression of miR164b was observed in the drought sample, which led to the accumulation of its target, NAM1. This study provides preliminary knowledge of the presence of miR164b and its regulatory role in the MR303 rice variety.
Interações socioestatais: aspectos epistemológicos e contribuições a partir da Abordagem Estratégico-Relacional e da Perspectiva da Pólis
Authors: Marques Marcelo de Souza
Published: August 2023

Recentemente, passou-se a observar a sedimentação de uma nova agenda de pesquisa no Brasil voltada às relações entre Estado e sociedade civil. Contra leituras essencialistas,  fronteiriças e contextualistas, essa abordagem, denominada de interações socioestatais, tem assumido como perspectiva ontoepistemológica o argumento de que as esferas societária e institucional são fenômenos mutuamente constitutivos. Inserindo-se nessa agenda, objetiva-se avançar sobre as bases epistemológicas percebidas nos argumentos desse enfoque,  destacando o pós-fundacionalismo, a contingência e ressaltando seu caráter relacional.  Buscando novas contribuições, esses objetivos são explorados a partir da discussão de duas tradições intelectuais distintas, a Abordagem Estratégico-Relacional (AER) e a Perspectiva da Pólis (PP). Conclui-se que, quando lidas a partir dessas bases epistemológicas, ambas se complementam e informam elementos centrais para se pensar em termos de uma perspectiva de mútua constituição.
Da centelha de vida da criatura do Dr. Frankenstein à metamorfose do Dr. Jekyll: a influência dos contos de terror vitorianos e o papel da ciência na criação e consolidação de estereótipos
Authors: Pertile Rosangela de Almeida
Published: August 2023

Nos avanços tecnológicos e científicos descritos nos contos de terror do século XIX, a sociedade que ainda desconhecia os mecanismos de atuação da ciência, se assombra com a verossimilhança entre a ciência e os causadores dos males da época. Pestes, experiências desconhecidas, outras etnias, são causadores de medo por parte da sociedade. Comunidades invisíveis são impelidas para os guetos sujos e insalubres, são párias em contraponto de uma sociedade progressiva, abastada, branca e educada. Nestes guetos habitam os miseráveis, os monstros, ou seja, todos que podem representar, de alguma forma, o inimigo da sociedade que se delineia com as conquistas do progresso da ciência e da tecnologia.
The Role of Multiscale Interaction in the Maintenance and Propagation of MJO in Boreal Winter
Authors: Ma Jiwang , Liang X. San , Chen Dake
Published: August 2023

The multiscale interaction and its role in the maintenance and propagation of the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) has been investigated using the newly developed multiscale window transform (MWT), the theory of canonical transfer, and the MWT-based multiscale energetics analysis (here particularly for this study, dry energetics analysis). The field variables are reconstructed/filtered with MWT onto three scale windows, namely a high-frequency window, intraseasonal window, and low-frequency window. Compositing the intraseasonal fields with respect to the real-time multivariate MJO (RMM) index unambiguously shows that the zonal extents of the easterlies and westerlies of MJO vary with the RMM phases, among which phases 4 and 2 are representative. In the former phase, the MJO has easterlies and westerlies within the same extent, while in the latter their extents are quite different. In phase 4, besides the previously discovered mechanisms such as pressure work and buoyancy conversion, the MJO is also energized by the canonical kinetic energy (KE) transfer from the low-frequency window to the intraseasonal window (signifying barotropic instability) on the west of its convection. But on the eastern side, MJO loses KE to the low-frequency window. The KE transport also functions like an energy sink. In phase 2, the MJO variabilities can be divided into an eastern part and a western part. The former is essentially the same as that in phase 4; for the latter, barotropic instability dominates. On the available potential energy (APE) budget, baroclinic instability and intraseasonal APE transport help produce and maintain the temperature anomalies. In contrast to previous energetics studies, our findings highlight the essential role played by multiscale interactions.
Understanding Broadcast Meteorologists’ Current and Future Use of Severe Weather Watches, Warnings, and Probabilistic Hazard Information
Authors: Obermeier Holly B. , Berry Kodi L. , Trujillo-Falcón Joseph E.
Published: August 2023

Broadcast meteorologists are essential in the communication of National Weather Service (NWS) warnings to the public. Therefore, it is imperative to include them in a user-centered approach for the design and implementation of new warning products. Forecasting a Continuum of Environmental Threats (FACETs) will modernize the way meteorologists forecast and communicate NWS warning information to the general public using rapidly updating probabilistic hazard information (PHI). Storm-scale PHI consists of probabilistic forecasts for severe wind/hail, tornadoes, and lightning hazards. Hence, NWS warnings would have the capacity to be supplemented by a quantitative or qualitative likelihood of hazard occurrence. The researchers conducting this study wanted to know what broadcast meteorologists thought about the inclusion of this likelihood information and how it could impact their decision-making and communication process. Using a nationwide survey, this team of researchers first asked broadcast meteorologists about their current practices for severe weather coverage using NWS watches and warnings. Next, broadcast meteorologists were introduced to multiple iterations of PHI prototypes and queried for their input. Findings indicated that broadcast meteorologists already face a complex decision-making and communication process under today’s warning paradigm. In addition, respondents were split on whether to explicitly communicate probabilities with their viewers. Respondents’ choices were also somewhat inconclusive regarding nomenclature, definitions of PHI and representations of PHI with warning polygons. These results suggest that PHI should feature user-driven, customizable options to fulfill broadcast meteorologists’ needs and that the iterative nature of the research-and-development process of PHI should continue.

Significance Statement

Broadcast meteorologists are vital communicators of dangerous weather to the public, leading researchers to study them more closely. Using a nationwide survey, this team of researchers wanted to know how broadcast meteorologists talk about tornadoes, large hail, and high winds to their viewers under today’s system of National Weather Service warnings. Survey findings indicated that broadcast meteorologists face a complex decision-making process when communicating dangerous weather. Any effort to modernize the current warning system, such as including hazard probability, should consider this complex process. Modernization should complement the role of broadcast meteorologists to ultimately serve the public and user-driven options should be a key component of any probabilistic information that is included in a future National Weather Service warning system.
Rallying Fiscal Patriotism: War Taxes in the Contemporary World
Authors: Frizell Jakob
Published: August 2023

Constituting a central historical link between war and long-term fiscal capacity, war taxes are generally perceived to be a thing of the past. This article corrects the picture by presenting new, global data on war taxes, 68 in total, introduced between 1960 and 2020. Far from having been abandoned, war taxes have remained a crucial war-time fiscal instrument, leaving long-term imprints on tax systems across the contemporary world. Serving the twin imperatives of revenue maximisation and generation of taxpayer consent, I argue that the use of war taxes is conditioned by the relative intensity and the perceived legitimacy of a war, be it civil or inter-state. The proposed logic aligns with case evidence, further supported by macro-quantitative analysis. The results speak to the large literature on war and state-building, challenge the standard disintegrative view of civil wars, and provide new empirical insights into the political economy of conflict-affected countries.
Sanctuaries or Battlegrounds? State Penetration in Places of Worship, University Campuses, and State Bureaucracy for Pro-Government Mobilization: Evidence from Iran (2015–2019)
Authors: Khani Saber , Kadivar Mohammad Ali
Published: August 2023

What factors shape different levels of pro-government mobilization in authoritarian regimes? The existing literature has considered the threat of anti-regime protests as the primary driver of pro-government mobilization. While we confirm this finding in the literature, we argue that the regime’s organizational infrastructure significantly contributes to pro-regime mobilization. We identify places of worship, university campuses, and state bureaucracy as three main sites where states could extend their organizations for pro-government mobilization. Previous scholarship has considered universities and places of worship as free spaces for oppositional activities, but we argue that states might try to penetrate these sectors to extend their organizational reach. The statistical analyses of our original data on pro-government mobilization in Iran from 2015 to 2019 at the district level ( n = 429) provide robust support for this argument.
Daily Sedative Interruption in Mechanically Ventilated Patients: Limited Data, Numerous Concerns
Authors: Bruno Jeffrey J. , Canada Todd W.
Published: August 2023

Objective

To review the literature regarding daily interruption of sedation in mechanically ventilated patients, the associated clinical outcomes, and the theoretical concerns that remain regarding such practice. Data Sources: A Medline search (1966 to February 2006) was performed using key search terms: critical illness, intensive care units, (analgesics, opioid), hypnotics and sedatives, (infusions, parenteral), drug administration schedule, and sedative interruption. References of identified manuscripts were also evaluated.

Study Selection and Data Extraction

All English-language articles identified from the data sources were evaluated and deemed relevant if they included an assessment of clinical outcomes.

Data Synthesis

Continuous IV infusion of analgesics and sedatives is commonly used in critically ill patients to help maintain a constant level of patient comfort. In mechanically ventilated patients, use of continuous IV sedation has been linked to a prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation, as well as a longer ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS). Daily sedative interruption has been shown to reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU LOS, and incidence of ICU-related complications without causing long-term (post-discharge) psychological sequelae. Although available data are limited, this information may be used to develop ICU sedation protocols in an attempt to minimize the incidence of oversedation and associated complications.

Conclusion

Daily interruption of continuous IV sedation may hold much promise for optimizing outcomes in the mechanically ventilated critically ill patient. However, theoretical concerns still remain including the practicality and safety of such practice.
Nutrition Support Pharmacist
Authors: Dickerson Roland N.
Published: August 2023

Nutrition Support Pharmacist features issues pertinent to the practice of clinical pharmacy in the area of nutritional support. The column is edited by Dr. Roland Dickerson, Professor of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center; Memphis, TN. Address correspondence to Dr. Roland N. Dickerson, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 26 South Dunlap St., Memphis, TN 38163.

This article provides a summary of our approach to the management of acute hypocalcemia in critically ill patients receiving specialized nutrition support. It must be pointed out that there are other alternative effective approaches to managing this complication. Additionally, there are exceptions to the outlined treatment guidelines that the astute clinical must be able to identify. However, this approach will provide a sound foundation upon which to build your practice in the management of these difficult patients.
Forgotten and Exploited: The Plight of Migrant Female Domestic Workers Interrelated to Human Rights Violation in Ethiopian Towns
Authors: Tagesse Lombebo , Asres Kassahun , Erulkar Annabel S.
Published: August 2023

This study aims to investigate the experiences of migrant female domestic workers (FDWs) in relation to social exclusion, policy exclusion, and human rights violations in the studied area. The pragmatic paradigm, with an embedded design, was employed as the dominant approach. Convenience sampling was used to gather a sample of domestic workers who are not officially recorded. A total of 130 participants took part in the quantitative study, and 28 participated in the qualitative study. Quantitative data were analyzed using the SPSS software, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The results indicate that migrant FDWs are marginalized and excluded from the country’s labor laws, and the Council of Ministers has delayed issuing laws to protect them. As a result, most respondents do not have legally binding work contracts and instead have contractual arrangements that are drafted by brokers and favor employers. This leads to various human rights abuses, including the denial of the right to education and access to health care. In addition, employers were found to be reluctant to send their employees to school, and some even fired employees due to their illnesses. These experiences have led to mental health issues such as low self-esteem, feelings of despair and insecurity, and resentment toward employers and society at large. Therefore, it is recommended that the government and stakeholders take steps to advocate for the rights of FDWs and initiate programs to raise social awareness and inclusion in labor laws.
What is Unique in the Brains of Frontline Employees? A Structural Neuroimaging Study
Authors: Chark Robin , McCartney Glenn
Published: August 2023

Picking up nuances of facial expression is a crucial part of frontline employee–guest interaction, yet little is known about its neurocognitive mechanism. We use a neuroimaging approach to explore the individual differences in cognitive processing style of front-of-house (FoH) employees by comparing their brain structures with those back-of-house (BoH). A voxel-based morphometry analysis of 63 senior hotel executives’ brain images reveals that the grey matter volume in the occipital and fusiform face areas of FoH employees is greater than that of BoH employees and does not depend on the length of frontline experience. These regions have been implicated in facial expression recognition that is critical to the success in frontline roles. Our findings support the social brain hypothesis. To support sophisticated social cognition, resources are diverted to brain development associated with facial expression recognition. This development trajectory follows deferred adaptation, rather than conditional adaptation, proposed in developmental evolutionary psychology.
Density and Strength of Plastic Foams
Authors: Vidyarthi Sunil K.
Published: August 2023

A general density/compressive strength relationship for low density cellular material was tested for open cell phenolic, closed cell polyurethane and closed cell polystyrene insulation foams. There is a good fit between theory and experimental data for phenolic foams but the simple relationship is not adequate for others. The deviation is not caused by the intricate differences in the dodecahedral geometry but can be largely reduced by the inclusion of an elliptical distortion factor in the model equation.
Study on Reactive Polyurethane Filler for Polyurethane Foam
Authors: Imai Yoshio , Hidai Takao , Asano Tsuneo , Kondo Satoshi
Published: August 2023

A rigid polyurethane foam chip made from industrial scrap was used as a filler for flexible polyurethane foam. Functional groups were introduced into the rigid polyurethane foam chip by the reaction of the foam chip with 2-aminoethanol in the presence of a solvent. TDI-based rigid polyurethane foam chip reacted more readily with 2-aminoethanol than an MDI-based chip. Both TDI-based and MDI-based foam chips showed similar reaction behaviour in a polyether polyol used to prepare flexible polyurethane foam under the same processing conditions, showing that these reactant dispersion mixtures could be used as additives in composite foaming recipes.
Development of a High Performance Hydrophilic Polyurethane Foam
Authors: Ishino Takayoshi
Published: August 2023

Specialised grades of flexible polyurethane foams which absorb large quantities of water have been developed. This paper describes unique hydrophilic foams developed and manufactured by Achilles Corporation, Japan. Particular applications in the horticultural/agricultural area, where the foam is used as an artificial soil, and in the surgical/medical areas are described.
Foams based on Phenolic and Urea-formaldehyde Resins Mixtures and their Applications for Heat Insulation of Pipelines. 4. Investigation of the Behaviour of Phenolic foams under Short-term Temperature Effects
Authors: Shutov F.A. , Ivanov V.V.
Published: August 2023

The relationship between strength properties and temperature of the curing process for foam is presented, as well as ageing of foam under short-term conditions. Thermo-oxidative stability of foam in air under different temperature-time conditions is studied. Deformation and shrinkage of foam were analysed, and thermal gravimetric analysis was applied to explain the behaviour of foam under short-term temperature loads.
The Fire Hazards Associated with the Use of Cellular Polymers on HM Ships
Authors: Sawyer L.J.E. , Thundercliffe T.C.
Published: August 2023

Fire onboard any ship is extremely serious but even more so on a warship packed with high explosives surrounded by flammable fuel and subject to possible enemy action. Due to the construction of a warship with its many watertight subdivisions which create closed environments containing vital fighting equipment, smoke and toxic fume generation in a fire situation are of particular concern and any material used in construction has to be closely examined for this aspect. Cellular polymers because of their inherent light weight are particularly attractive for use as insulation materials but their fire characteristics have to be closely monitored so that they do not present an unacceptable hazard.
Study on Isocyanurate-Modified MDI. 1 — Preparation
Authors: Imai Yoshio , Hidai Takao , Inukai Takao , Nakanishi Takehisa
Published: August 2023

Isocyanurate-modification of MDI was investigated. Certain modified MDIs which were stable liquids with lower viscosity were obtained.

Direct trimerization of pure MDI resulted in crystallization at room temperature. After modification by diol with lower molecular weight, for instance tripropyleneglycol or tetrapropyleneglycol, at a molar ratio to isocyanate of more than 7·5/100, trimerization then produced a stable isocyanurate-modified isocyanate having an NCO content of about 25%.

The trimerization of polymeric MDI by a tertiary amine catalyst, such as 2, 4, 6–tris(dimethylaminoethyl) phenol or N, N’, N”-tris(dimethylaminopropyl) hexahydro-s-triazine, followed by adding reaction-stopper and heating, also resulted in stable modified isocyanate with a 25 % NCO content.
Fire Properties of Isocyanate Based Rigid Foams
Authors: Wiedermann R.
Published: August 2023

This paper deals with three different aspects of fire properties: (1) ignitability, (2) flame spread and (3) contribution to heat release. The results in different national fire tests of PU- and PIR-foams are discussed.

It is found that results in some cases depend on the thickness and density of test samples.

Comparison between small-scale and large-scale fire tests are made, the conclusion reached is that no correlation can be seen.
The After-shrinkage of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and a Method to Eliminate it at the Working Temperature Range
Authors: Järvelä Pentti , Pohjonen Timo , Sarlin Juha , Törmälä Pertti , Järvelä Pirkko
Published: August 2023

The shrinkage of cellular polystyrene depends on both raw material and process parameters. Factors of most influence on shrinkage are temperature and time. The crucial elements of after-shrinkage are shrinking rate and total shrinkage. A rapid shrinking rate and small total shrinkage are desirable as far as the use of cellular polystyrene is concerned On the basis of the results it is, however, evident that there are no such factors that would simultaneously accelerate shrinking rate and decrease total shrinkage. The results also lend support to the assumption that after-shrinkage is caused by the relaxation of residual stresses through molecular relaxations.

Experiments on the shrinkage of cellular polystyrene have proved that shrinkages occurring at different temperatures are additive both in the case of increasing and decreasing temperatures. If cellular polystyrene is pre-shrunk at a sufficiently high temperature, after-shrinkages at lower temperatures are eliminated almost completely.

Our results for their part verify the basic hypothesis of this study, namely that after-shrinkage of cellular polystyrene is caused by the relaxation of residual stresses through molecular relaxations.

The results may be applied in practice as a method for producing cellular polystyrene that will not shrink at the working temperature range. This improves the applicability of cellular polystyrene in various sandwich constructions.
The Ozone Issue: A Review of Recent Scientific and Political Developments
Authors: Mills J. F. D.
Published: August 2023

The theory that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) might deplete the ozone layer was first proposed by Rowland and Molina over a decade ago. Extensive research since 1974 has considerably improved our understanding of atmospheric science and suggests that the total impact of man's activities on stratospheric ozone is probably less than originally feared.

The political response to the ozone issue has resulted in a variety of measures in different countries. The ‘ Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer’ was recently signed by many countries but a proposal for a global CFC Protocol to the Convention is still controversial.
Cell Size Determination of Polymeric Foams
Authors: Richardson M. O. W. , Nandra D. S.
Published: August 2023

The measurement of cell diameters and cell size distributions in polymeric foams can be hampered by poor visual contrast whilst they are under examination by optical or other types of microscopy. A technique of improving this situation by filling exposed cells with pigmented resin is described as a contribution to facilitating their structural analysis.
Polyurethane Microcellular Elastomers. 5. Effect of Catalysts on the Foam Formation Kinetics
Authors: Korodi T. , Tolgyi S. , Marcu N. , Tirnaveanu A.
Published: August 2023

The influence of aliphatic tertiary amines: tetramethylethanediamine 1,2 (TMEDA), tetramethylpropanediamine 1,3 (TMPDA), dimethylcyclohexylamine PMCyHA); of cyclic amine: DABCO, as well as of the tin(II) octoate, on the rise rate, gelling and temperature during the foaming process of microcellular elastomers used in RIM technology has been studied. Aliphatic tertiary amines have a moderate catalytic effect, acting in a comparable extent on both the blowing and chain extender processes, while DABCO will influence predominantly the molecular mass increasing phenomenon. The Tin(II) octoate influences just the urethane formation process.
Full-Scale Fire Testing of Upholstered Furniture and the Use of Test Data
Authors: Sundstrom B.
Published: August 2023

A full scale fire test procedure for upholstered furniture is tried out. The tested item is ignited with a small wood crib and allowed to burn freely without restriction of air supply.

Rate of heat release, mass burning rate, production of light obscuring smoke and production of carbon monoxide are measured.

Measured test data are applied to simple existing room fire models in order to illustrate risk for further fire spread, visibility for escape and toxicity due to production of carbon monoxide.
Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Poly(urethane-urea) Elastomers and their Relations with the Structure of their Chemical Constituent-Monomers
Authors: Pandya M.V. , Shah C.S.
Published: August 2023

A new series of PoIy(urethane-urea) elastomers was prepared using polydiethyleneadipate (I), 2,6 tolylene diisocyanate (II-A), 1-6 hexamethylene diisocyanate (II-B) and 4-4’ diaminodiphenylsulphone (III) by a modified solution casting technique, to study the relation between the structure and properties of the polymer.

Two series of elastomers were prepared by taking (I) and (III) in 1 : 2 molar ratio and by varying the concentration of (II-A) from 3.40 to 2.40 in molar proportions and by varying the concentration of a mixture of the diisocyanates (II-A) and (II-B) in the molar proportion of 70 : 30.

The mechanical properties of polymers prepared using only the single diisocyanate (II-A) were found to be superior to those using combinations of (II-A) and (II-B). An interesting feature of the findings was that the % elongation at break of the II-A series increased with decrease of the concentration of (II-A), whereas with mixed diisocyanates the opposite trend resulted.

Thermal stability of the first series of polymers was found to be higher than polymers of the second series, a DTA technique being used to measure this property. The presence of 30% of (II-B) in a polyurethane polymer gives a large increase in the glass transition temperature.

Thus addition of aliphatic diisocyanate to an aromatic one, reduces the mechanical strength and thermal stability of polyurethane elastomers.
Nineteen-year, real-world experience of first-line combination chemotherapy in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: a propensity score analysis from southern Thailand
Authors: Wonglhow Jirapat , Sathitruangsak Chirawadee , Dechaphunkul Arunee , Sunpaweravong Patrapim
Published: August 2023

Objective

Combination fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy is the standard first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). We performed a propensity score (PS)-based analysis to report our real-world experience with long-term follow-up of this regimen for metastatic CRC.

Methods

In this retrospective study, 170 patients with newly diagnosed metastatic CRC treated with first-line combination chemotherapy between January 2003 and March 2021 were identified. Cox proportional hazards regression analysis and PS-based approaches with the logistic regression model were adopted, and the results were compared.

Results

The hazard ratio for overall survival (OS) in the oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based groups was 0.79 (95% confidence interval = 0.56–1.11), and the median OS times in these groups were 16.8 and 13.0 months, respectively. The median time to progression (TTP) for these regimens were 9.0 and 8.9 months, respectively. The objective response rates for the oxaliplatin- and irinotecan-based groups were 42.7% and 34.6%, respectively. OS and TTP did not differ between these regimens in all PS matching models.

Conclusions

First-line treatment using fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy regimens in combination with oxaliplatin or irinotecan in patients with metastatic CRC provided comparable efficacy and tolerable toxicity profiles in a real-world setting with long-term follow-up.
Development of the Social Force Model Considering Pedestrian Characteristics and Behavior
Authors: Siddharth S. M. P. , Perumal Vedagiri
Published: August 2023

Use of pedestrian facilities like sidewalks is influenced by pedestrian characteristics like age, gender, and purpose, for example, walking in social groups, shopping. Helbing and Molnár’s base social force model (SFM) has proven reliable at simulating pedestrian behavior, However, only a small number of simulation models, including SFM and its variations, have concentrated on modeling pedestrian walking while taking into account their traits and behavior. This study’s goal was to simulate bidirectional pedestrian walking behavior by taking into account various pedestrian characteristics (age, gender, behavior) by introducing a novel pedestrian simulation model: the social force model considering pedestrian characteristics and behavior (SFMPCB). Pedestrian gender alone was considered as a modification in our earlier study. The current study also implements a multistep global calibration framework based on a genetic algorithm that takes into account the bidirectional flow of pedestrians from various sidewalks. For calibration and validation, videographic data of pedestrian traffic from four sidewalks in Mumbai, India, were employed. The SFMPCB could be utilized to simulate pedestrian walking on sidewalks reflecting different characteristics and behavior. The quality of service and sidewalk design could also be better studied by utilizing the SFMPCB by generating pedestrian equivalent factors for pedestrian characteristics, similar to passenger car units.
In-Depth Appraisal of Bus Transport Services for Sustainability Performance: A Cost–Benefit Analysis Approach
Authors: Alogdianakis Filippos , Dimitriou Loukas
Published: August 2023

Public transport is arguably considered the backbone of today’s urban mobility ecosystem and is generally regarded as an important element of the sustainable mobility paradigm. As systems, they comprise vast societal investment owing to the infrastructures and operations required to provide the designated service. As projects, public transport systems have financial, societal, and environmental impacts that ought to be assessed through the scope of sustainability. Through sustainability, future generations’ financial, societal, and environmental needs are not compromised to meet the present generation’s needs. Thus, sustainability assessments can assist decision makers in perceiving the impacts and implications of an existing or under-consideration system on society and deciding on corrective actions. For the case of public transport systems, such assessments can assist in evaluating the expenditure distribution of the system and suggest actions that could maximize welfare gains under financial, social, and environmental criteria. Within this scope, the current paper proposes a methodological framework for unraveling transport systems’ sustainability to reveal their spatiotemporal dependencies. The study proposes a cost–benefit analysis framework where a public transport system is segmented and assessed into three levels: stops, lines, and administrative areas. Stop and line levels incorporate essential characteristics allowing their independent evaluation. The assessment of administrative areas aggregates characteristics from previous levels, spatially distributing the public transport system’s evaluation. By incorporating additional sociodemographic data, the administrative area level’s assessment links the evaluated transport system to societal characteristics, enhancing the decision maker’s perspective. The framework is showcased with Nicosia’s public bus transport system.
Rapid Sequence Intubation, is it Time to Find an Alternative Induction Agent? A Narrative Review
Authors: Faine Brett A. , Carroll Elisabeth , Sharma Archit , Mohr Nicholas
Published: August 2023

Objective: To review the efficacy, safety, and place in therapy of fentanyl as an induction agent for rapid sequence intubation (RSI) in critically ill patients. Data Sources: A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, and clinical trial registries (1964-June 2021) was performed utilizing the keywords fentanyl, rapid sequence intubation, intubation, induction, anesthesia, hemodynamics, operating room (OR), and emergency. Study Selection and Data Extraction: Only primary literature evaluating fentanyl in combination with a sedative or as the sole induction agent was included in the final analysis. Primary literature included peer-reviewed publications and results posted on ClinicalTrials.gov actively recruiting participants. Data Synthesis: Fentanyl has been used for decades as an adjunct, and sole induction agent in the OR. Questions surrounding the use of fentanyl as a sole induction agent include optimal dosing and safety in critically ill patients as evaluation in non-OR settings remain limited. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: Commonly used induction agents (eg, etomidate and ketamine) are associated with adverse events that may increase risk of morbidity and mortality. Fentanyl, a high-potency opioid could serve as an alternative induction agent for RSI due to its neutral hemodynamic response and fast onset of action. This paper compiles and describes existing data on the use of fentanyl as an induction agent for RSI. Conclusion: Fentanyl in combination with sedatives provides optimal intubating conditions with minimal impact on hemodynamic parameters. Future studies should focus on safety and impact of awareness during paralysis before fentanyl can be considered as a sole induction agent.
Is the process of urbanization good for efficiency in the construction industry: Applying the SBM-DEA model based on energy use and CO2 emissions
Authors: Lin Yi-Nuo , Chiu Yung-Ho , Lin Tai-Yu , Lin I-Fang , Chang Tzu-Han , Wang Shu-Mei
Published: August 2023

This research employs the modified undesirable slack-based measure dynamic exogenous data envelopment analysis model to evaluate the construction industry efficiency in 30 provinces of China from 2006 to 2017. It considers the differences in urbanization levels in three (east, central, west) regions and evaluates the profitability, resource allocation, energy consumption, and carbon emission efficiency of the construction industry. The results are as follows. First, the construction industry efficiency is the best in the east, followed by the central region, and lowest in the west. Second, the changing trends in this industry's efficiency are widespread across the nation's regions. The highest point of efficiency in the east region is at the beginning of the research period, but it then declines. The efficiency value of the central region reaches its peak around 2012 and then falls. The west region experiences increasing efficiency year-by-year until peaking in 2017. Third, depending on the degree of urbanization, its effects are also diverse. Therefore, the China government must examine the degree of urbanization to avoid environmental problems brought by urbanization that can bring about a drop in efficiency of the construction industry.