bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distress in soft‐tissue sarcoma and gastrointestinal stromal tumours patients—Results of a German multicentre observational study (PROSa)
Authors: Eichler Martin , Hentschel Leopold , Singer Susanne , Hornemann Beate , Hohenberger Peter , Kasper Bernd , Andreou Dimosthenis , Pink Daniel , Jakob Jens , Arndt Karin , Kirchberg Johanna , Richter Stephan , Bornhäuser Martin , Schmitt Jochen , Schuler Markus K.
Published: August 2022

Objective

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) are a group of rare malignant tumours with a high and heterogenous disease burden. As evidence is scarce, we analysed the prevalence of increased emotional distress and identified distress‐associated factors in these patients.

Methods

The PROSa‐study (Burden and medical care of sarcoma) was conducted between 2017 and 2020 in 39 study centres. Cross‐sectional data from adult STS and GIST patients were analysed. Distress was measured with the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐4). The relation of socioeconomic and clinical factors with distress was explored in adjusted logistic regression models.

Results

Among 897 patients, 17% reported elevated anxiety and 19% reported depression. Unemployed patients (odds ratio [OR] 6.6; 95% CI 2.9–15.0), and those with a disability pension (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.9–5.0) were more likely to experience distress compared to employed patients. Also, patients with a disability pass had higher odds of increased distress than those without (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.2–2.7). Lowest distress was observed in patients 2 to <5 years and ≥5 years after diagnosis (comparison: <6 months) (OR 0.4; 95% CI 0.2–0.6) and (0.3; 95% CI 0.2–0.6). Patients with thoracic STS (vs. lower limbs) had twice the odds to experience distress (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.1–3.6). Distress was seen almost twice as often in patients with progressive disease (vs. complete remission) (OR 1.7; 95% CI 1.1–2.8).

Conclusion

The prevalence of elevated distress in STS and GIST patients is high. In unemployed patients, in those with a disability pension and in newly diagnosed patients a noticeable increase was observed. Clinicians should be aware of these factors and consider the social aspects of the disease.
Mechanical effects of obesity on central and peripheral airway resistance in nonasthmatic early pubescent children
Authors: Wilhite Daniel P. , Bhammar Dharini M. , Martinez‐Fernandez Tanya , Babb Tony G.
Published: August 2022

Background

In children, obesity typically reduces functional residual capacity (FRC), which reduces airway caliber and increases airway resistance. Whether these obesity‐related changes in respiratory function can alter bronchodilator responsiveness is unknown.

Objective

To investigate bronchodilator responsiveness in nonasthmatic children with and without obesity.

Methods

Seventy nonasthmatic children, 8−12 years old, without (n = 19) and with (n = 51) obesity, completed spirometry, impulse oscillometry, and airway resistance measurements through plethysmography pre/post 360 µg of inhaled albuterol. FRC was assessed pre albuterol. A two‐way analysis of variance determined the effects of obesity (group) and inhaled albuterol (pre−post) on outcome measures.

Results

FRC (%total lung capacity) was 16% lower in children with obesity compared with those without obesity. There was no significant group by pre−post albuterol interaction on any outcome variables. Albuterol inhalation reduced total, central and peripheral airway resistance and increased airway reactance (i.e., less negative) to a similar degree in children with and without obesity. In children with obesity, airway resistance was increased whether measured by impulse oscillometry or plethysmography. However, once airway resistance was adjusted for lung volumes (i.e., specific airway resistance or sRaw), there were no differences between children with and without obesity. In addition, significant but moderate associations were detected between chest mass and FRC (r = −0.566; p < 0.001), FRC and total airway resistance (i.e., Raw; r = −0.445; p < 0.001).

Conclusions

In nonasthmatic early pubescent children, obesity increases total, central, and peripheral respiratory system resistance. However, the added respiratory system resistance and low lung volume breathing with obesity are not sufficient to reduce bronchodilator responsiveness.
Analysis of adverse drug reactions of Osimertinib in the 2nd‐line treatment of EGFR mutant advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer
Authors: Jiang Yingying , Shi Yue , Wang Zihan , Li Hang , Wang Zhitong , He Kang , Ma Yuxin , Xue Jingjing , Shi Yumeng , Lu Jianwei , Shi Meiqi , Shen Bo , Zhou Guoren , Wang Xiaohua , Chen Cheng , Feng Jifeng
Published: August 2022

The aim was to analyze the clinical characteristics of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) induced by Osimertinib and their effects on the prognosis, so as to further provide reference for clinical medication. This was a retrospective study, and 66 nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients who had ADR in the 2nd‐line treatment with Osimertinib from January 2017 to December 2018 were included. Clinical characteristics and survival in subgroups of Osimertinib‐related ADRs were analyzed. The majority of patients who developed ADRs after the 2nd‐line treatment of Osimertinib were mainly middle‐aged and elderly women. Osimertinib‐related ADRs were mainly found in the skin, respiratory and digestive systems. The most common ADRs were rash (69.70%), diarrhea (66.67%), stomatitis (54.55%), and fatigue (51.52%). The degree of Osimertinib‐related ADRs was tolerable. Only seven patients experienced grade 3 ADRs, all of which involved the skin system. Exactly 92.42% of patients had more than two adverse reactions. The median PFS was influenced by the type, quantity, and severity of Osimertinib‐related ADRs. Osimertinib‐related ADRs are closely related to the prognosis of patients so that more attention should be paid to monitoring the occurrence of ADRs in clinical use of Osimertinib, especially ADRs in the skin, respiratory system and digestive system.
Ab initio study of hypothetical Ti3AlB2 and two new designed layered ordered double‐transition metals MAX compound Ti2ZrAlB2
Authors: Feng Shiquan , Guo Feng , Wang Yongqiang , Yuan Chaosheng , Cheng Xuerui , Miao Feng
Published: August 2022

We have designed Ti3AlB2 and two new layered ordered double‐transition metals MAX compound Ti2ZrAlB2 based on the structure of Ti3AlC2. By first‐principles calculations with density functional theory, their structure, phase stability, elastic properties, electronic properties, and thermal properties have been further investigated. Results show that they are all energetic, thermodynamically and mechanically stable. The bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, and Debye temperature were computed to discuss their elastic and thermal properties. Results show that they are all good ductile materials with high melting points. Density of states and electron localization function of these three phases were presented to research the chemical bonds and explore the reason limiting their melting points.
Pd/Cu2O/CuO as Active Sites on the Cyclometalated Pd(II)/Cu(II) Nanosheet: Active Centre Formation, Synergistic and Catalytic Mechanism
Authors: Zhu Shuiqing , Li Zihan , Ren Ruirui , Zhao Wuduo , Li Tiesheng , Liu Minghua , Wu Yangjie
Published: August 2022

A key to understand relationships between structure and activity is help for rational designing high active catalytic films. In this research, a new bi‐cyclometallic ferrocene imine Pd(II)/Cu(II) catalytic monolayer supported on graphene oxide (GO@Fcl−Pd/Cu) was fabricated, which exhibited a higher activity (TOF=1.48×106 h−1) in Suzuki coupling reaction. Enhanced higher activity was related to the in situ formed Pd/ Cu2O (CuO) active centre on the surface during catalysis. Fe in ferrocene had the redox ability for making Pd0 more stability, meaning that Fe3+ was electron withdraw or donor during catalytic process, which could tune the electronic properties of the Pd and Cu in one complex and improve their electronic transferring to boost the activity. CuO/Cu2O could make Pd0 more negative and stability. Ensemble synergistic effect, including the metals, metal oxide, ligand and GO could be described as that the electron transferred from GO via ferrocene to Pd or via Cu(II) to Pd made more negative, improving the oxidative addition. Meanwhile, aryl boronic acid adsorbed on the vicinal Cu(II), Cu2O and CuO around Pd0 synergetic reaction easily with the Pd intermediate to form next intermediate.
Electrochemically Tuned Synergistic Nano‐Interface of a Tertiary Ni(OH)2−NiO(OH)/NixP Heterojunction Material for Enhanced and Durable Alkaline Water Splitting
Authors: Manappadan Zinoy , Selvaraj Kaliaperumal
Published: August 2022

Making water splitting cheaper is the need of the hour.The present work reports a nickel‐based, non‐precious catalytic system, synthesized by a two‐step electrodeposition (ED) process followed by a short‐term heat treatment. The Ni(OH)2−NiO(OH)/NixP heterojunction has been synthesized and optimized through an unprecedented, energy‐conserving method to achieve its best OER performance. Further, it has been carefully tuned for the first time by thoroughly optimizing the ED parameters to exhibit Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER). At high current regimes, the performance surpassed that of the Ru/C and Pt/C (≥500 mA and ≥600 mA) respectively. The full cell electrolyzer configuring NOPO||NOPH further establishes the supremacy of the present electrocatalysts over the benchmark Ru/C||Pt/C. Moreover, the present electrocatalyst displayed 60 and 70 hours of HER and OER performances at −100 mA and 100 mA currents respectively. In short, this work is an example that illustrates how a single chemical system gets to exhibit two complementary catalytic behaviors that is, water oxidation and reduction when certain synthetic parameters are meticulously optimized.
Photometric and Colorimetric Cyanide Detection Sensor Using Amine Based Nitrobenzoxadiazole Derivatives
Authors: Balagurusamy Balajothi , Ilayaperumal Pradeep , Chellaiah Raja
Published: August 2022

The fluorescent probes 7‐nitro‐N‐phenylbenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazol‐4‐amine (1), and 4‐((7‐nitrobenzo[c][1,2,5]oxadiazol‐4‐yl)amino)benzonitrile (2) were synthesised for the detection of cyanide ion (CN−). A new correlative approach with nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD)‐based probes to detecting CN− by the Donor‐Acceptor D‐A (1) and Acceptor‐Donor‐Acceptor (A‐D‐A) (2) with the aid of DFT calculations are reported. Given their design features, these NBD probes 1 and 2 provide useful insights into the dual‐channel (fluorometric and colorimetric) sensor activity with good selectivity for CN− detection, considerable fluorescence amplification in the presence of CN− ion, and the desirable “Off–on” fluorescent responses toward CN− in the semi‐aqueous medium. The photophysical studies confirmed the A‐D‐A type molecule has a detection limit 0.163 μM for CN− sensing, which is lower than the WHO′s cyanide in water permitted limit. The simple synthetic probes 1 and 2 will offer up new possibilities for industrial effluent CN− detection and bio‐imaging of CN− in a variety of cell lines. This will undoubtedly aid in the understanding of the basic mechanism of CN− poisoning in the bloodstream.
Fully Fibrous Large‐Area Tailorable Triboelectric Nanogenerator Based on Solution Blow Spinning Technology for Energy Harvesting and Self‐Powered Sensing
Authors: Xu Huayu , Tao Juan , Liu Yue , Mo Yepei , Bao Rongrong , Pan Caofeng
Published: August 2022

An all‐fibrous large‐area (20 × 50 cm2) tailorable triboelectric nanogenerator (LT‐TENG) is prepared using a one‐step solution blow spinning technology, which has the advantages of easy operation, scale‐up in the area, and high production efficiency. The prepared LT‐TENG is composed of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/MXene (Ti3C2Tx) nanofibers (NFs) and conductive textile. Benefiting from the fibrous materials and large‐area properties, the LT‐TENG possesses the merits of good tailorability, breathability, hydrophobicity, and washability. When optimized by mixing the MXene into PVDF NFs, the LT‐TENG has a preferable output and sensing property, with a detection range over 16 kPa and a relatively high sensitivity of 12.33 V KPa−1. At maximum applied pressure, the voltage, current, and charge are 108 V, 38 µA, and 35 nC, respectively. This LT‐TENG can serve as a biomechanical energy harvester when used as wearable devices with an output power density of 12.6 mW m−2 at an external load resistance of 500 MΩ, and it also has the ability of self‐powered tactile sensing for pressure mapping and slide sensing. Thus, this LT‐TENG exhibits great potential prospects in wearable devices, intelligent robots, and human–machine interaction.
A Sandwich‐Type Electrochemical Immunosensor for Insulin Detection Based on Au‐Adhered Cu5Zn8 Hollow Porous Carbon Nanocubes and AuNP Deposited Nitrogen‐Doped Holey Graphene
Authors: Sakthivel Rajalakshmi , Prasanna Sanjay Ballur , Tseng Ching‐Li , Lin Lu‐Yin , Duann Yeh‐Fang , He Jr‐Hau , Chung Ren‐Jei
Published: August 2022

Rapid, accurate, and sensitive insulin detection is crucial for managing and treating diabetes. A simple sandwich‐type electrochemical immunosensor is engineered using gold nanoparticle (AuNP)‐adhered metal–organic framework‐derived copper–zinc hollow porous carbon nanocubes (Au@Cu5Zn8/HPCNC) and AuNP‐deposited nitrogen‐doped holey graphene (NHG) are used as a dual functional label and sensing platform. The results show that identical morphology and size of Au@Cu5Zn8/HPCNC enhance the electrocatalytic active sites, conductivity, and surface area to immobilize the detection antibodies (Ab2). In addition, AuNP/NHG has the requisite biocompatibility and electrical conductivity, which facilitates electron transport and increases the surface area of the capture antibody (Ab1). Significantly, Cu5Zn8/HPCNC exhibits necessary catalytic activity and sensitivity for the electrochemical reduction of H2O2 using (i–t) amperometry and improves the electrochemical response in differential pulse voltammetry. Under optimal conditions, the immunosensor for insulin demonstrates a wide linear range with a low detection limit and viable specificity, stability, and reproducibility. The platform's practicality is evaluated by detecting insulin in human serum samples. All these characteristics indicate that the Cu5Zn8/HPCNC‐based biosensing strategy may be used for the point‐of‐care assay of diverse biomarkers.
Neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Mey Gabrielle M. , Mahajan Kedar R. , DeSilva Tara M.
Published: August 2022

Axonal loss in multiple sclerosis (MS) is a key component of disease progression and permanent neurologic disability. MS is a heterogeneous demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with varying presentation, disease courses, and prognosis. Immunomodulatory therapies reduce the frequency and severity of inflammatory demyelinating events that are a hallmark of MS, but there is minimal therapy to treat progressive disease and there is no cure. Data from patients with MS, post‐mortem histological analysis, and animal models of demyelinating disease have elucidated patterns of MS pathogenesis and underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration. MRI and molecular biomarkers have been proposed to identify predictors of neurodegeneration and risk factors for disease progression. Early signs of axonal dysfunction have come to light including impaired mitochondrial trafficking, structural axonal changes, and synaptic alterations. With sustained inflammation as well as impaired remyelination, axons succumb to degeneration contributing to CNS atrophy and worsening of disease. These studies highlight the role of chronic demyelination in the CNS in perpetuating axonal loss, and the difficulty in promoting remyelination and repair amidst persistent inflammatory insult. Regenerative and neuroprotective strategies are essential to overcome this barrier, with early intervention being critical to rescue axonal integrity and function. The clinical and basic research studies discussed in this review have set the stage for identifying key propagators of neurodegeneration in MS, leading the way for neuroprotective therapeutic development.

This article is categorized under:

Immune System Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology

Neurological Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology
QCD factorization of quasi generalized quark distributions
Authors: Ma J. P. , Pang Z. Y. , Zhang G. P.
Published: August 2022

Abstract

We study the factorization of quasi generalized quark distributions with twist-2 generalized parton distributions. We use an approach which is different than that used in literature. Using the approach we derive the factorization relations of all quasi generalized quark distributions at one-loop. The contributions from twist-2 generalized gluon distributions are included. Our results apply not only to the quasi distributions of a spin-1/2 hadron but also to those of a hadron with any spin.
Super-resolution data assimilation
Authors: Barthélémy Sébastien , Brajard Julien , Bertino Laurent , Counillon François
Published: August 2022

Increasing model resolution can improve the performance of a data assimilation system because it reduces model error, the system can more optimally use high-resolution observations, and with an ensemble data assimilation method the forecast error covariances are improved. However, increasing the resolution scales with a cubical increase of the computational costs. A method that can more effectively improve performance is introduced here. The novel approach called “Super-resolution data assimilation” (SRDA) is inspired from super-resolution image processing techniques and brought to the data assimilation context. Starting from a low-resolution forecast, a neural network (NN) emulates the fields to high-resolution, assimilates high-resolution observations, and scales it back up to the original resolution for running the next model step. The SRDA is tested with a quasi-geostrophic model in an idealized twin experiment for configurations where the model resolution is twice and four times lower than the reference solution from which pseudo-observations are extracted. The assimilation is performed with an Ensemble Kalman Filter. We show that SRDA outperforms both the low-resolution data assimilation approach and a version of SRDA with cubic spline interpolation instead of NN. The NN’s ability to anticipate the systematic differences between low- and high-resolution model dynamics explains the enhanced performance, in particular by correcting the difference of propagation speed of eddies. With a 25-member ensemble at low resolution, the SRDA computational overhead is 55% and the errors reduce by 40%, making the performance very close to that of the high-resolution system (52% of error reduction) that increases the cost by 800%. The reliability of the ensemble system is not degraded by SRDA.
Artificial intelligence-enabled prediction model of student academic performance in online engineering education
Authors: Jiao Pengcheng , Ouyang Fan , Zhang Qianyun , Alavi Amir H.
Published: August 2022

Online education has been facing difficulty in predicting the academic performance of students due to the lack of usage of learning process, summative data and a precise prediction of quantitative relations between variables and achievements. To address these two obstacles, this study develops an artificial intelligence-enabled prediction model for student academic performance based on students’ learning process and summative data. The prediction criteria are first predefined to characterize and convert the learning data in an online engineering course. An evolutionary computation technique is then used to explore the best prediction model for the student academic performance. The model is validated using another online course that applies the same pedagogy and technology. Satisfactory agreements are obtained between the course outputs and model prediction results. The main findings indicate that the dominant variables in academic performance are the knowledge acquisition, the participation in class and the summative performance. The prerequisite knowledge tends not to play a key role in academic performance. Based on the results, pedagogical and analytical implications are provided. The proposed evolutionary computation-enabled prediction method is found to be a viable tool to evaluate the learning performance of students in online courses. Furthermore, the reported genetic programming model provides an acceptable prediction performance compared to other powerful artificial intelligence methods.
Probabilistic Learning of Cue-Outcome Associations is not Influenced by Autistic Traits
Authors: Ong Jia Hoong , Liu Fang
Published: August 2022

According to Bayesian/predictive coding models of autism, autistic individuals may have difficulties learning probabilistic cue-outcome associations, but empirical evidence has been mixed. The target cues used in previous studies were often straightforward and might not reflect real-life learning of such associations which requires learners to infer which cue(s) among many to track. Across two experiments, we compared adult learners with varying levels of autistic traits on their ability to infer the correct cue to learn probabilistic cue-outcome associations when explicitly instructed to do so or when exposed implicitly. We found no evidence for the effect of autistic traits on probabilistic learning accuracy, contrary to the predictions of Bayesian/predictive coding models. Implications for the current Bayesian/predictive coding models are discussed.
Automatic pore size measurements from scanning electron microscopy images of porous scaffolds
Authors: Hojat Nilly , Gentile Piergiorgio , Ferreira Ana M. , Šiller Lidija
Published: August 2022

Pore sizes and distribution are amongst the main morphological characteristics of porous scaffolds which indicate the suitability of scaffolds for many biological applications. Scaffolds usually have complex structures and are designed to have a specific range of pore sizes appropriate for target cells. Pore sizes are commonly estimated manually or based on semi-automatic techniques requiring high level of human intervention. Such methods are time consuming and subject to error, mainly due to lack of consistency in the process and subjective nature of the results following operator involvement. In this work, we present a novel image processing method for the measurement pore size distribution (the main morphological characteristics of scaffolds) independent from their complexity. We use thresholding, based on the histogram analysis, to segment pore areas from scaffold, followed by morphological filters to separate pores from each other. This algorithm provides robust detection and measurement of pore sizes and the distribution. The performance of the algorithm is assessed using standard calibration kit which is used for calibration of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) imaging systems. The results showed consistent output with 1.3% average error as compared against their true size.

The algorithm was applied to 3D Apatite-Wollastonite scaffolds manufactured using the Thermally Induced Phase Separation technique. The results were robust and consistent with visual evaluation of SEM images. The algorithm also provides the morphology of each pore and, subsequently, offering further comprehension of the influence of microstructures across a range of fields, such as tissue engineering processes.
Narrative entrepreneurship: bringing (his)story back to entrepreneurship
Authors: Audretsch David B. , Lehmann Erik E.
Published: August 2022

Narrative entrepreneurship is the study of the spread and dynamics of popular narratives and stories focusing on the role and impact of entrepreneurs (stories of human interest and emotions), and how these change through time, to understand variation and heterogeneity in entrepreneurial activities across time and space. The term ‘narrative’ refers to a simple story or expressed explanation of events that many people want to bring up in conversation or on the news or social media because it can be used to stimulate the concerns or emotions of others and/or because it appears to advance self-interest. The field of entrepreneurship should be expanded to include serious quantitative study of changing popular narratives (theory development, experiments and econometric regressions). Narrative entrepreneurship is not only a product of reverse causality, from the outcomes to the narrative, but also from the narrative to the outcome (as we know from other fields such as marketing, philanthropy or education). The goal of this paper is to distil what we know, and should know, about narratives and stories to consider reasons to expect that stories and narratives might be thought of as important in the field of entrepreneurship and to stimulate future research to apply the concept of narrative into the field of entrepreneurship for both theory building and empirical analysis.
The role of similarity and complementarity in the selection of potential partners for open innovation projects in family firms
Authors: de Groote Julia K. , Schell Sabrina , Kammerlander Nadine , Hack Andreas
Published: August 2022

Despite the increasing importance of open innovation endeavors, the process by which firms select partners for open innovation is not well understood. Even less is known about how family firms, which are characterized by their resource scarcity and desire for control, handle these processes. We aim to address this gap in the literature by investigating this selection process using a qualitative approach. Our findings are based on data gathered in 53 interviews from ten case studies and expert interviews, as well as secondary data. We find that, in order to engage in collaboration, family firms must manage their perceptions of the similarities and complementarities between themselves and their potential partner and integrate these into an accepted level of anticipated fit. During the selection phase, the elements of fit are weighed in light of the openness of the given firm and preferred levels and mechanisms of control, which are influenced by the family in the family firm. If the fit is deemed sufficient to enter into a partnership, the partnership is then advanced to the collaboration phase, where anticipated fit is translated into experienced fit, and aspects of similarity and complementarity are reassessed; this may potentially end existing partnerships, feeding back to future evaluations of fit and accordingly influencing future partnerships.
Modeling Mixing in Stratified Heterogeneous Media: The Role of Water Velocity Discretization in Phase Space Formulation
Authors: Soler-Sagarra Joaquim , Carrera Jesus , Bonet Enrique , Roig Carles , Becker Pablo
Published: August 2022

Modeling solute transport in heterogeneous porous media faces two challenges: scale dependence of dispersion and reproducing mixing separately from spreading. Both are crucial since real applications may require km scales whereas reactions, often controlled by mixing, may occur at the pore scale. Methods have been developed in response to these challenges, but none has satisfactorily characterized both processes. In this paper, we propose a formulation based on the Water Mixing Approach extended to account for velocity variability. Velocity is taken as an independent variable, so that concentration depends on time, space and velocity. Therefore, we term the formulation the Multi-Advective Water Mixing Approach. A new mixing term between velocity classes emerges in this formulation. We test it on Poiseuille’s stratified flow using the Water Parcel method. Results show high accuracy of the formulation in both dispersion and mixing. Moreover, the mixing process exhibits Markovianity in space even though it is modeled in time.
A real-world analysis of the influence of age on maintenance hemodialysis patients: managing serum phosphorus with sucroferric oxyhydroxide as part of routine clinical care
Authors: Rhee Connie M. , Zhou Meijiao , Woznick Rachael , Mullon Claudy , Anger Michael S. , Ficociello Linda H.
Published: August 2022

Objective

Despite the growing number of elderly hemodialysis patients, the influence of age on nutritional parameters, serum phosphorus (sP), and use of phosphate-binder (PB) medications has not been well characterized. We aimed to describe age-related differences in patient characteristics in a large, real-world cohort of maintenance hemodialysis patients, and to examine the impact of age on sP management with sucroferric oxyhydroxide (SO).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed de-identified data from 2017 adult, in-center hemodialysis patients who switched from another PB to SO monotherapy as part of routine clinical care. Changes in baseline PB pill burden, sP levels, and nutritional and dialytic clearance parameters were assessed across varying age groups through 6 months.

Results

At baseline, older patients had lower mean sP, serum albumin, and pre-dialysis weights compared with younger patients. Prescription of SO was associated with a 62% increase in the proportion of patients achieving sP ≤ 5.5 mg/dl and a 42% reduction in daily pill burden. The proportion of patients achieving sP ≤ 5.5 mg/dl after transitioning to SO increased by 113, 96, 68, 77, 61, 37 and 40% among those aged 19–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, and ≥ 80 years, respectively.

Conclusions

Older patients had worse nutritional parameters, lower pill burden, and lower sP at baseline versus younger counterparts. Prescription of SO was associated with improved sP control and reduced pill burden across all ages.
iChip increases the success of cultivation of TBT-resistant and TBT-degrading bacteria from estuarine sediment
Authors: Polrot A. , Kirby J. R. , Olorunniji F. J. , Birkett J. W. , Sharples G. P.
Published: August 2022

Standard methods of microbial cultivation only enable the isolation of a fraction of the total environmental bacteria. Numerous techniques have been developed to increase the success of isolation and cultivation in the laboratory, some of which derive from diffusion chambers. In a diffusion chamber, environmental bacteria in agar medium are put back in the environment to grow as close to their natural conditions as possible, only separated from the environment by semi-permeable membranes. In this study, the iChip, a device that possesses hundreds of mini diffusion chambers, was used to isolate tributyltin (TBT) resistant and degrading bacteria. IChip was shown to be efficient at increasing the number of cultivable bacteria compared to standard methods. TBT-resistant strains belonging to Oceanisphaera sp., Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp. and Shewanella sp. were identified from Liverpool Dock sediment. Among the isolates in the present study, only members of Pseudomonas sp. were able to use TBT as a sole carbon source. It is the first time that members of the genus Oceanisphaera have been shown to be TBT-resistant. Although iChip has been used in the search for molecules of biomedical interest here we demonstrate its promising application in bioremediation.
Metabolic and molecular responses of human patellar tendon to concentric- and eccentric-type exercise in youth and older age
Authors: Crossland Hannah , Brook Matthew S. , Quinlan Jonathan I. , Franchi Martino V. , Phillips Bethan E. , Wilkinson Daniel J. , Maganaris Constantinos N. , Greenhaff Paul L. , Szewczyk Nathaniel J. , Smith Kenneth , Narici Marco V. , Atherton Philip J.
Published: August 2022

Exercise training can induce adaptive changes to tendon tissue both structurally and mechanically; however, the underlying compositional changes that contribute to these alterations remain uncertain in humans, particularly in the context of the ageing tendon. The aims of the present study were to determine the molecular changes with ageing in patellar tendons in humans, as well as the responses to exercise and exercise type (eccentric (ECC) and concentric (CON)) in young and old patellar tendon. Healthy younger males (age 23.5 ± 6.1 years; n = 27) and older males (age 68.5 ± 1.9 years; n = 27) undertook 8 weeks of CON or ECC training (3 times per week; at 60% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM)) or no training. Subjects consumed D2O throughout the protocol and tendon biopsies were collected after 4 and 8 weeks for measurement of fractional synthetic rates (FSR) of tendon protein synthesis and gene expression. There were increases in tendon protein synthesis following 4 weeks of CON and ECC training (P < 0.01; main effect by ANOVA), with no differences observed between young and old males, or training type. At the transcriptional level however, ECC in young adults generally induced greater responses of collagen and extracellular matrix-related genes than CON, while older individuals had reduced gene expression responses to training. Different training types did not appear to induce differential tendon responses in terms of protein synthesis, and while tendons from older adults exhibited different transcriptional responses to younger individuals, protein turnover changes with training were similar for both age groups.
Theories of Independent Intelligences as a Lakatosian Research Program
Authors: Egeland Jonathan
Published: August 2022

Theories of different and independent types of intelligence constitute a Lakatosian research program, as they all claim that human intelligence has a multidimensional structure, consisting of independent cognitive abilities, and that human intelligence is not characterized by any general ability that is of greater practical importance, or that has greater predictive validity, than other, more specialized cognitive abilities. This paper argues that the independent intelligences research program is degenerating, since it has not led to novel, empirically corroborated predictions. However, despite its flaws, the program provides an illustrative example of some of the philosophical problems that inhere in Lakatos’s so-called “methodology”. Indeed, Lakatos’s conceptions of the negative heuristic, the positive heuristic, and the relationship between scientific appraisal and advice are all vulnerable to objections. The upshot is that theories of independent intelligences indeed teach us more about philosophy of science than about the nature of human intelligence.
Acid Gelation Properties of Camel Milk—Effect of Gelatin and Processing Conditions
Authors: Ho Thao M. , Zhao Jiadi , Bansal Nidhi
Published: August 2022

This study investigated the effects of glucono-delta-lactone (GDL) concentrations (0.8–1.2%, w/w), gelatin content (0.6–1.0%, w/w) and processing conditions on the properties of camel milk acid gels. Although the pH of camel milk reduced to 4.3 within 4 h of acidification at 1.0% GDL, it was unable to form a suitable gel for a yoghurt-like product unless gelatin was added. At 0.8% gelatin, camel milk gels had similar hardness, lower viscosity and rheological strength, and higher water holding capacity as compared to cow milk gels. Heating of camel milk (85 °C/15–20 min), 2-stage homogenization (150/50 bar) or their combination did not significantly affect the water holding capacity, hardness, viscosity, rheological strength and microstructure of camel milk gels. These processing conditions did not affect protein integrity as confirmed by sodium dodecyl-sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis.
Applying the Energy Efficiency First principle based on a decision-tree framework
Authors: Yu Songmin , Mandel Tim , Thomas Stefan , Brugger Heike
Published: August 2022

Energy Efficiency First (EEF) is an established principle for European Union (EU) energy policy design. It highlights the exploitation of demand-side resources and prioritizes cost-effective options from the demand-side over other options from a societal cost-benefit perspective. However, the involvement of multiple decision-makers makes it difficult to implement. Therefore, we propose a flexible decision-tree framework for applying the EEF principle based on a review of relevant areas and examples. In summary, this paper contributes to applying the EEF principle by defining and distinguishing different types of cases — (1) policy-making, and (2) system planning and investment — identifying the most common elements, and proposing a decision-tree framework that can be flexibly constructed based on the elements for different cases. Finally, we exemplify the application of this framework with two example cases: (1) planning for demand-response in the power sector, and (2) planning for a district heating system.
Social Connection, (Im)material Gains and Experiences of Inclusion of Asylum Seekers’ and Refugees’ Volunteering in Glasgow
Authors: Ramachandran Niroshan , Vathi Zana
Published: August 2022

Volunteering is an activity based on a non-profit idea of engagement in productive transactions. This paper examines why and how asylum seekers and refugees (ASRs) partake in volunteering focusing particularly on the everyday, mundane experiences of volunteering and the role of the material and financial gains as part of it. Data is drawn from 30 interviews conducted with ASRs from 15 countries residing in Glasgow, 20 interviews with the third sector and state agency staff, and supplemented by participant observation conducted in third sector organisations involved in ASRs’ integration and settlement. Despite the individual and situational differences, volunteering appeals to ASRs as it enables them to gain familiarity with and social connectivity in their new environs as well as supplements subsistence needs, providing material and financial benefits. These mundane and seemingly secondary gains from volunteering consist of the flesh of the otherwise abstract processes of inclusion, due to the symbolic and logistic significance they have in the ASRs’ lives.
The relationship between cognitive reserve and cognition in healthy adults: a systematic review
Authors: Panico Francesco , Sagliano Laura , Magliacano Alfonso , Santangelo Gabriella , Trojano Luigi
Published: August 2022

The concept of Cognitive Reserve (CR) refers to the individual differences allowing some people to cope better with brain pathology. The aim of the present review was to explore the relationship between CR and cognition in adulthood. This association has been addressed in several neuro(psycho)logical disorders and in healthy elderly people. However, few studies explored this issue in adulthood (age range 18–65), when individuals might take advantage the most from psychoeducational approaches aimed at increasing CR. For our systematic review, we selected studies assessing CR and adopting neuropsychological and experimental tasks for evaluation of cognitive functioning in healthy individuals. In the selected articles, we examined the relationship of singular proxies, composite indexes or standardized scales of CR with measures of general cognition, attention, inhibitory control, verbal fluency, constructional abilities, and verbal and spatial memory. The results suggested a positive relationship between singular CR proxies, composite indexes or standardized scales, and almost all the explored cognitive domains. No clear conclusion could be made on constructional abilities due to the scarcity of available studies. CR seems associated with better cognitive performance in adulthood, but definite methodological improvements and the use of standardized scales for CR are necessary to reduce inconsistencies among studies.
Tumor-to-tumor metastasis of colon cancer metastasizing to a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease: a case report
Authors: Natsui Hiroki , Kohisa Junji , Yoshikawa Seiichi , Takeuchi Manabu , Yagi Ryoma , Minagawa Masahiro , Tani Tatsuo , Usuda Hiroyuki , Terai Shuji
Published: August 2022

Von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL) is frequently associated with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). Here, we report a case of tumor-to-tumor metastasis in a VHL patient in whom colon cancer metastasized to the interior of a PNET. A 65-year-old man had undergone bilateral adrenalectomy for pheochromocytomas in both adrenal glands in his 50 s. Genetic screening was performed considering his family history of pheochromocytoma, and he was diagnosed with VHL. PNET was detected, for which the patient was regularly monitored by follow-up imaging. One year ago, the patient underwent right hemicolectomy to remove a tumor in the ascending colon (pT3N0M0, pStage IIA). He was admitted to our department for detailed examination because the pancreatic tumor had grown, and thus, pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. Diagnostic imaging and histological findings indicated tumor-to-tumor metastasis, in which the patient’s previous colon cancer had metastasized to and proliferated within the PNET. Colon cancer metastasizing to a PNET is extraordinarily rare and has never been reported in the literature. Thus, practitioners should be vigilant for tumor-to-tumor metastasis when performing imaging surveillance of PNETs.
Telomerase-targeting compounds Imetelstat and 6-thio-dG act synergistically with chemotherapy in high-risk neuroblastoma models
Authors: Fischer-Mertens Janina , Otte Felix , Roderwieser Andrea , Rosswog Carolina , Kahlert Yvonne , Werr Lisa , Hellmann Anna-Maria , Berding Maya , Chiu Bill , Bartenhagen Christoph , Fischer Matthias
Published: August 2022

Background

The majority of high-risk neuroblastomas harbor telomerase activity, and telomerase-interacting compounds, such as 6-thio-2’-deoxyguanosine (6-thio-dG), have been found to impair the growth of telomerase-positive neuroblastoma cell lines. It has remained unclear, however, how such drugs can be combined with other compounds used in current treatment concepts for neuroblastoma patients.

Methods

Growth-inhibitory effects of varying concentrations of 6-thio-dG in combination with etoposide, doxorubicin or ceritinib were determined in eight telomerase-positive neuroblastoma cell lines with distinct genetic backgrounds. Tumor growth inhibition of subcutaneous xenografts from three different cell lines was assessed upon treatment with 6-thio-dG, the competitive telomerase inhibitor imetelstat, etoposide, or combinations of these compounds.

Results

Robust synergistic anti-tumor effects were observed for combinations of 6-thio-dG and etoposide or doxorubicin, but not for 6-thio-dG and ceritinib, in telomerase-positive neuroblastoma cell lines in vitro. Treatment of mouse xenografts with combinations of 6-thio-dG and etoposide significantly attenuated tumor growth and improved mouse survival over etoposide alone in two of three cell line models. Treatment of xenograft tumors by imetelstat monotherapy decreased telomerase activity by roughly 50% and significantly improved survival over control in all three models, whereas treatment with imetelstat plus etoposide led to enhanced survival over etoposide monotherapy in one model. Mechanistically, the synergistic effect was found to be due to both increased apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

Conclusion

Our study indicates that telomerase is an actionable target in telomerase-positive neuroblastoma, and demonstrates that combination therapies including telomerase-interacting compounds may improve the efficacy of established cytotoxic drugs. Targeting telomerase may thus represent a therapeutic option in high-risk neuroblastoma patients.
Centile Charts of Fetal Kidney and Adrenal Gland Length: A Prospective Study in Indian Population in the State of Bihar
Authors: Aparna S. , Kumar Prem , Kumar Bindey , Agarwal Mukta , Sinha Rishikant
Published: August 2022

Normal development of the fetal kidneys and adrenal glands is essential for a good crucial neonatal outcome. There is, however, paucity of data on normal fetal adrenal gland and renal length in populations of North India and this poses a not infrequent dilemma when an anomaly is suspected during the anomaly scan. The objective of this study was to obtain gestation wise data of fetal renal length and adrenal length for 18, 19, 20 and 21 weeks of gestation and construct a gestation age wise size chart. This was a cross sectional study of 128 consecutive normal pregnancies after exclusion of multiple gestations, maternal complications, congenital anomalies and a family history of congenial adrenal hyperplasia. Gestational age of the fetus was calculated from fetal biometry. Measurements were made in the sagittal plane as length including renal and adrenal, longest pole to pole length of kidney and adrenal gland length calculated as the difference between the values. The values were analysed to yield the 95% confidence interval along with the 50th centile for gestational age groups of 18–21 weeks.
Experimental and numerical study for the adsorption behavior of Cu(II) and Mn(II) in quartz sand
Authors: Gharbia Abdalkarim S. , Zákányi Balázs , Tóth Márton
Published: August 2022

Heavy metals such as Cu(II) and Mn(II) are prevalent in the environment. The effect of heavy metals on the soils environment is based on the ability of soils to mobilize these contaminants. According to the soil decontamination perspective, examining the reaction technique between heavy metals and soil is indispensable. This study carried out experiments to investigate Cu(II) and Mn(II) adsorption behaviour in quartz sand. The isothermal adsorption results for Cu(II) and Mn(II) presented that the adsorption capacity reached the peak value when the initial concentration was about 10 mg/L. The declines of H+ ions could uprise the adsorption rate activity for Cu(II) and Mn(II) and decrease the soil ability of the desorption for Cu(II) and Mn(II) ions. The adsorption rate of Cu(II) and Mn(II) is lower than the desorption rate under the situation of a low pH range with a solid acidic and low concentration of Cu(II) and Mn(II). The Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherm models were applied to investigate the adsorption isotherm of Cu(II) and Mn(II). The study results confirmed that the Freundlich model synchronous the best with the observed experimental data compared with the Langmuir solution.
Autonomy in Japan: What does it Look Like?
Authors: Akabayashi Akira , Nakazawa Eisuke
Published: August 2022

This paper analysed the nature of autonomy, in particular respect for autonomy in medical ethics/bioethics in Japan. We have undertaken a literature survey in Japanese and English and begin with the historical background and explanation of the Japanese wordJiritsu (autonomy). We go on to identify patterns of meaning that researchers use in medical ethics / bioethics discussions in Japan, namely, Beauchamp and Childress’s individual autonomy, relational autonomy, and O’Neill’s principled autonomy as the three major ways that autonomy is understood. We examine papers discussing these interpretations. We propose using the term ‘a form of autonomy’ first used by Edmund Pellegrino in 1992 and examine the nature of ‘a form of autonomy.’ We finally conclude that the crux of what Pellegrino calls ‘something close to autonomy,’ or ‘a form of autonomy' might best be understood as the minimization of physician paternalism and the maximization of respect for patient preference. Simultaneously, we introduce a family-facilitated approach to informed consent and respond to criticism by Laura Sullivan. Finally, we discuss cross-cultural approaches and global bioethics. Furthermore, we use the term ‘Bioethics across the Globe’ instead of ‘Global Bioethics’, calling for international scholars to write works to provide an in-depth understanding of each country. We conclude that deep understanding of others is pivotal for dialogue to be of value. We hope this article will deepen the reader’s understanding of Japan and will contribute to the progress of bioethics worldwide.