bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Specimen Collection Volumes for Laboratory Tests
Authors: Dale Jane C. , Ruby Stephen G.
Published: January 2021

Context.—Unnecessary tests, inefficient ordering practices, and collection of more blood than is required for testing contribute to iatrogenic anemia in hospitalized patients. Laboratories accredited by the College of American Pathologists are expected to review phlebotomy practices for specimen collection volumes periodically.

Objective.—To report specimen collection, analytic, and discard volumes for routine laboratory tests and to identify practice variables associated with overcollection and blood wastage.

Design.—Clinical laboratories participating in the College of American Pathologists Q-Probes laboratory improvement program recorded collection container size, laboratory-defined requested volume, manufacturer-defined analytic volume, and average discard volume for routine complete blood cell counts and electrolyte panels ordered for patients in intensive care units. Participants provided information about their specimen collection, processing, and analytic practices in a questionnaire.

Setting and Participants.—A total of 140 public and private institutions.

Main Outcome Measures.—Overcollections for routine collections and for situations in which a reduced volume of specimen is collected, and average discard volume per tube.

Results.—Laboratories collected a median of 2.76 mL (or 8.5 times) more than their instrument's analytic volume for routine complete blood cell counts and 1.75 mL (or 12 times) more than their instrument's analytic volume for routine electrolyte panels. For clinical situations in which reduced collection volumes were necessary, overcollection for the same analytes was 0.5 mL (3 times) and 0.44 mL (4.2 times), respectively. The median discard volume was 2.8 mL/tube for complete blood cell counts and 2.0 mL/tube for electrolyte panels. Specimen collection container size was directly associated with overcollections and discard volumes. Instrument analytic volume was not a determinant of blood wastage.

Conclusions.—Most laboratories can decrease collection volumes without compromising the ability of the laboratory to report a reliable and timely result. Use of smaller collection tubes can help reduce blood wastage.
Results of the Survey of the Quality Assurance for Commercially Prepared Microbiology Media
Authors: Jones Ronald N. , Krisher Karen , Bird Deborah S.
Published: January 2021

Context.—Beginning in 1985, state-of-the-art surveys by the College of American Pathologists (CAP) led to M22-A guidelines by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) for quality assurance (QA) of various commercially prepared isolation and diagnostic microbiology media. Some medium types were declared exempt from routine QA testing by each laboratory user, but manufacturer QA was maintained and specified in great detail. No update has occurred in more than 15 years as more complex media have been introduced into clinical microbiology practice.

Objective.—To reassess the quality of commercially prepared microbiology media in the United States for the revision of NCCLS document M22-A2.

Methods.—A questionnaire was designed to conform to that used by the CAP in 1985 and 1988, and was updated by lists of 52 recently introduced diagnostic media. Queries included details of laboratory QA in the last 12 months, such as number of lots tested, number of items in a lot, number of items in a quality control (QC) sample, number of lots failed, and reasons for lot failure. All CAP Microbiology Surveys participants received the document in late 2001.

Results.—Data from nearly 300 000 media lots representing 32.7 million medium items were received from more than 3000 CAP Surveys subscribers. Lot raw data failure rates for all media ranged from 0.10% to 9.87% (average, 1.01%). Failures with media having a significant QC experience (≥1000 lots or ≥100 000 items) adjusted for QC strain-based failures (so-called extrapolated failure rate) ranged from 0.04% to 1.34% (average, 0.40%). The threshold rate for QA exemption from 1985 analyses was expanded to 0.50% or less and now allows exemption of 27 media evaluated in this study. Local laboratory QA must remain in force (M22-A2) for the other 25 products.

Conclusions.—Generated QA failure results from the CAP Microbiology Surveys supplement recent results of the NCCLS M22 Subcommittee that will lead to more practical media QA guidelines and could significantly decrease costs for clinical microbiology laboratories through focusing QC on a smaller number of the most at-risk diagnostic products.
Colorectal Carcinoma Nodal Staging
Authors: Turner Roderick R. , Nora Dean T. , Trocha Steven D. , Bilchik Anton J.
Published: January 2021

Context.—Nodal staging accuracy is important for prognosis and selection of patients for chemotherapy. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping improves staging accuracy in breast cancer and melanoma and is being investigated for colorectal carcinoma.

Objective.—To assess pathologic aspects of SLN staging for colon cancer.

Design.—Sentinel lymph nodes were identified with a dual surgeon-pathologist technique in 51 colorectal carcinomas and 12 adenomas. The frequency of cytokeratin (CK)–positive cells in mesenteric lymph nodes, both SLN and non-SLN, was determined along with their immunohistochemical characteristics.

Results.—The median number of SLNs was 3; the median number of total nodes was 14. The CK-positive cell clusters were detected in the SLNs of 10 (29%) of 34 SLN-negative patients. Adjusted per patient, SLNs were significantly more likely to contain CK-positive cells than non-SLNs (P < .001). Cell clusters, cytologic atypia, and/or coexpression of tumor and epithelial markers p53 and E-cadherin were supportive of carcinoma cells. Single CK-positive cells only, however, could not be definitively characterized as isolated tumor cells; these cells generally lacked malignant cytologic features and coexpression of tumor and epithelial markers and in 2 cases represented mesothelial cells with calretinin immunoreactivity. Colorectal adenomas were associated with a rare SLN CK-positive cell in 1 (8%) of 12 cases.

Conclusions.—Sentinel lymph node staging with CK-immunohistochemical analysis for colorectal carcinomas is highly sensitive for detection of nodal tumor cells. Cohesive cell clusters can be reliably reported as isolated tumor cells. Single CK-positive cells should be interpreted with caution, because they may occasionally represent benign epithelial or mesothelial cells.
Comparison of Voice-Automated Transcription and Human Transcription in Generating Pathology Reports
Authors: Al-Aynati Maamoun M. , Chorneyko Katherine A.
Published: January 2021

Context.—Software that can convert spoken words into written text has been available since the early 1980s. Early continuous speech systems were developed in 1994, with the latest commercially available editions having a claimed accuracy of up to 98% of speech recognition at natural speech rates.

Objectives.—To evaluate the efficacy of one commercially available voice-recognition software system with pathology vocabulary in generating pathology reports and to compare this with human transcription. To draw cost analysis conclusions regarding human versus computer-based transcription.

Design.—Two hundred six routine pathology reports from the surgical pathology material handled at St Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton, Ontario, were generated simultaneously using computer-based transcription and human transcription. The following hardware and software were used: a desktop 450-MHz Intel Pentium III processor with 192 MB of RAM, a speech-quality sound card (Sound Blaster), noise-canceling headset microphone, and IBM ViaVoice Pro version 8 with pathology vocabulary support (Voice Automated, Huntington Beach, Calif). The cost of the hardware and software used was approximately Can $2250.

Results.—A total of 23 458 words were transcribed using both methods with a mean of 114 words per report. The mean accuracy rate was 93.6% (range, 87.4%–96%) using the computer software, compared to a mean accuracy of 99.6% (range, 99.4%–99.8%) for human transcription (P < .001). Time needed to edit documents by the primary evaluator (M.A.) using the computer was on average twice that needed for editing the documents produced by human transcriptionists (range, 1.4–3.5 times). The extra time needed to edit documents was 67 minutes per week (13 minutes per day).

Conclusions.—Computer-based continuous speech-recognition systems in pathology can be successfully used in pathology practice even during the handling of gross pathology specimens. The relatively low accuracy rate of this voice-recognition software with resultant increased editing burden on pathologists may not encourage its application on a wide scale in pathology departments with sufficient human transcription services, despite significant potential financial savings. However, computer-based transcription represents an attractive and relatively inexpensive alternative to human transcription in departments where there is a shortage of transcription services, and will no doubt become more commonly used in pathology departments in the future.
Multifocal Subcutaneous Phaeohyphomycosis Caused byPhialophora verrucosa
Authors: Kimura Masatomo , Goto Akio , Furuta Tomoko , Satou Takao , Hashimoto Shigeo , Nishimura Kazuko
Published: January 2021

An otherwise healthy 85-year-old woman presented with purulent multifocal subcutaneous nodules on the dorsal side of the right forearm and hand. Histopathologic examination of the biopsied specimen showed a subcutaneous granuloma with central abscess and necrosis, consistent with phaeomycotic cyst. Faint brown septate hyphae and moniliform fungal elements were found in the granuloma. Culture of the discharge grew Phialophora verrucosa. This fungus has rarely been reported as a pathogen of subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis. Subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis usually presents as a single lesion. In this case of multifocal lesions, initial imperfect excision seems to have caused satellite lesions. To our knowledge, this is the first report of multifocal subcutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by P verrucosa. The disease responded to oral itraconazole administration.
Metastatic Infiltrating Syringomatous Adenoma of the Breast
Authors: Chang C. K. , Jacobs Ira A. , Calilao Gabriel , Salti George I.
Published: January 2021

Infiltrating syringomatous adenoma of the breast is classified as a benign, locally invasive neoplasm. To our knowledge, there have been no reported cases of metastasizing syringomatous adenomas. We used sentinel lymph node mapping to identify metastatic cells, leading to a diagnosis of infiltrating syringomatous adenoma of the breast.
Relato de experiência sobre a coordenação de um projeto de extensão em avaliação neuropsicológica infanto-juvenil
Authors: Roama-Alves Rauni
Published: January 2021

Objetivou-se realizar um relato de experiência sobre as vivências de um coordenador de um projeto de extensão em avaliação neuropsicológica infanto-juvenil. As Diretrizes de Extensão que se encontram no Plano Nacional de Extensão foram utilizadas como eixos temáticos e norteadores para o relato: (a) indissociabilidade entre ensino, pesquisa e extensão, especialmente impacto na formação do estudante e na geração do novo conhecimento; (b) interdisciplinaridade; (c) impacto social; (d) relação dialógica com a sociedade. Buscou-se pontuar os caminhos percorridos desde sua organização metodológica às experiências obtidas junto aos resultados dos próprios atendimentos realizados, bem como à integração entre o ensino e a pesquisa.
EDUCANDO PARA PARTO ATIVO POR VIA REMOTA: uma realidade no contexto da PANDEMIA.
Authors: APL Amanda Paganini Lourencini
Published: January 2021

Na década de 70 houve um movimento pela autonomia feminina no parto, para que o ato de parir fosse algo natural e guiado pela mulher/mãe. O Grupo PEMEDUTS/UFMT com o objetivo de socializar saberes e fazeres, realizou oficina voltada para área saúde, com o tema “Parto Ativo Multiprofissional” com expertise no tema. Este estudo é de abordagem qualitativa, sobre ação de extensão com elaboração de e-book. que possibilitou participação ativa e consolidação do saber. A pandemia e o isolamento social devem servir de incentivos para a utilização da extensão como educação em saúde, contribuindo para as mudanças no cenário e do olhar sobre o protagonismo feminino na parição, com a mudança da práxis.
Medieret diaspora mellem tro og politik
Authors: Galal Ehab
Published: January 2021

Nye medieteknologier har forkortet distancen mellem diasporagrupper og deres oprindelseslande, samtidig med at de har intensiveret muligheden for at orientere sig både nationalt og transnationalt. I denne artikel undersøges, hvordan muslimske mænd i Danmark med forskellige etniske baggrunde bruger islamiske medier til at identificere sig med en islam, de både forstår som lokal, national og transnational. Ved at anvende diasporabegrebet argumenteres for, hvordan seks mænd på tværs af alder, etnicitet, uddannelse og religiøs overbevisning orienterer sig mod flere samtidige “destinationer”. Der sættes fokus på, hvordan islam forstås i hverdagen via deres mediebrug, og hvilken rolle medier spiller i deres forskellige diasporiske konfigurationer. Mens deres mediebrug og mål er forskellige, bliver deres udsagn om tilvalg og fravalg af islamisk tv en italesættelse af en personlig udvikling frem mod det at blive en bedre muslim. På den ene side deler de idealet om en universel ren islam fri fra nationale og personlige interesser, hvorved islam fremstilles som en moralsk destination og ummaen som en afterritorialiseret destination. På den anden side får en politisk begivenhed som Det Arabiske Forår mændene til at orientere sig mod politiske forhold og dermed mod konkrete nationale eller transnationale destinationer, hvor forståelsen af islamisk tv spejler deres forskelligartede politiske og geografiske orientering.
Forskeren og journalisten krydser klinger
Authors: Kühle Lene
Published: January 2021

Debatten om islam og muslimer har – som en central dimension af debatten om integration – været en af de sidste årtiers mest ophedede og polariserede politiske debatter i Danmark. Forskningen har bl.a. kigget på mediernes rolle som videreformidlere såvel som skabere af forenklede og fortegnede forestillinger om islam og muslimer, fx gennem en selektiv udvælgelse af kilder og overfokusering på bestemte typer af historier. Men debatten har også rakt langt ind i forskningsfeltet, idet bestemte politikere gentagende gange har kritiseret både navngivne islamforskere og forskningsfeltet i sin helhed for at være ukritiske, hvis ikke direkte islamapologetiske. Denne artikel undersøger gennem anvendelse af autoetnografisk metode, hvordan debattens dikotomier indlejres i det konkrete møde mellem forsker og journalist, hvor de forskellige, fagligt baserede spørgehorisonter kan opleves som en gensidig mistillid, som kan udvikle sig til en decideret modvilje. Men artiklen beskriver også, hvordan modviljen blev udfordret i forbindelse med et usædvanligt samarbejde om at formidle en historie om en konflikt i Danmarks dyreste moske, Hamad bin Khalifa Civilization Center. Der er store forskelle på, hvordan henholdsvis forskere og journalister går til en historie, og hvad der i det hele taget skal til, for at noget er en (vigtig) historie. Disse forskelle forsvinder ikke og skal ikke overvindes, men hvis de bringes konstruktivt og nysgerrigt i spil, kan de bidrage til nyhedshistorier af såvel god journalistisk som akademisk kvalitet.
On Area-Universal Quadrangulations
Authors: Evans William , Felsner Stefan , Kleist Linda , Kobourov Stephen
Published: January 2021

We study drawings of plane quadrangulations such that every inner
face realizes a prescribed area. A plane graph is area-universal if for
every assignment of non-negative weights to the inner faces,
there exists a straight-line drawing such that the area of each
inner face equals the weight of the face. It has been conjectured
that all plane quadrangulations are area-universal. We develop
methods to prove area-universality via reduction to the
area-universality of related graphs. This allows us to establish
area-universality for large classes of plane quadrangulations.
In particular, our methods are strong enough to prove
area-universality of all plane quadrangulations with up to 13
vertices.
Fast Generation of Unlabelled Free Trees using Weight Sequences
Authors: Brown Paul , Fenner Trevor
Published: January 2021

In this paper, we introduce a new representation for ordered trees, the weight sequence representation. We then use this to construct new representations for both rooted trees and free trees, namely the canonical weight sequence representation. We construct algorithms for generating the weight sequence representations for all rooted and free trees of order $n$, and then add a number of modifications to improve the efficiency of the algorithms. Python implementations of the algorithms incorporate further improvements by using generators to avoid having to store the long lists of trees returned by the recursive calls, as well as caching the lists for rooted trees of small order, thereby eliminating many of the recursive calls. We further show how the algorithm can be modified to generate adjacency list and adjacency matrix representations for free trees. We compared the runtimes of our Python implementation for generating free trees with the Python implementation of the well-known WROM algorithm taken from NetworkX. The implementation of our algorithm is over four times as fast as the implementation of the WROM algorithm. The runtimes for generating adjacency lists and matrices are somewhat longer than those for weight sequences, but are still over four times as fast as the corresponding implementations of the WROM algorithm.
Teletrabajo docente durante el confinamiento por COVID19 en Argentina. Condiciones materiales y perspectivas sobre la carga de trabajo, la responsabilidad social y la toma de decisiones
Authors: Meo Analía Inés , Dabenigno Valeria
Published: January 2021

En Argentina las medidas para enfrentar la pandemia del COVID 19 incluyeron la suspensión de las clases presenciales en todos los niveles educativos y la implementación de una política de continuidad educativa. El objetivo de este artículo es analizar, por un lado, cuáles han sido las condiciones materiales y temporales del teletrabajo docente al inicio del confinamiento. Por el otro, examina las percepciones docentes respecto del grado de participación en la toma de decisiones respecto de su tarea remota mediada por TIC; la carga mental que el teletrabajo forzado implicó; y su responsabilidad frente al sostenimiento de las trayectorias educativas de sus estudiantes. Nuestro abordaje se nutre de la perspectiva de Condiciones y Medio Ambiente de Trabajo y de estudios recientes sobre el teletrabajo. Los hallazgos de este estudio se basan en una encuesta en línea realizada a 678 docentes secundarios en el Área Metropolitana de Buenos Aires a fines de abril y principios de mayo. Mostramos que se ha dado un proceso de ampliación de la jornada laboral, en un contexto de fuertes desigualdades de condiciones materiales básicas de los/as docentes y diferentes tipos de culturas institucionales (en términos de participación docente en la toma de decisiones, clima de trabajo y experiencia previa en el uso de TIC), impactando negativamente en la carga mental de más de la mitad de los/as docentes -aunque sin todavía mellar la confianza de la mayoría de los/as docentes respecto de su capacidad de acompañar a sus estudiantes.
NAD+ enhances ribitol and ribose rescue of α-dystroglycan functional glycosylation in human FKRP-mutant myotubes
Authors: Ortiz-Cordero Carolina , Magli Alessandro , Dhoke Neha R , Kuebler Taylor , Selvaraj Sridhar , Oliveira Nelio AJ , Zhou Haowen , Sham Yuk Y , Bang Anne G , Perlingeiro Rita CR
Published: January 2021

Mutations in the fukutin-related protein (FKRP) cause Walker-Warburg syndrome (WWS), a severe form of congenital muscular dystrophy. Here, we established a WWS human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived myogenic model that recapitulates hallmarks of WWS pathology. We used this model to investigate the therapeutic effect of metabolites of the pentose phosphate pathway in human WWS. We show that functional recovery of WWS myotubes is promoted not only by ribitol but also by its precursor ribose. Moreover, we found that the combination of each of these metabolites with NAD+ results in a synergistic effect, as demonstrated by rescue of α-dystroglycan glycosylation and laminin binding capacity. Mechanistically, we found that FKRP residual enzymatic capacity, characteristic of many recessive FKRP mutations, is required for rescue as supported by functional and structural mutational analyses. These findings provide the rationale for testing ribose/ribitol in combination with NAD+ to treat WWS and other diseases associated with FKRP mutations.
Effects of coconut water on blood sugar and retina of rats with diabetes
Authors: Dai Yanan , Peng Li , Zhang Xiaohua , Wu Qingjing , Yao Jie , Xing Qiu , Zheng Yunyan , Huang Xiaobo , Chen Shaomei , Xie Qing
Published: January 2021

Background

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of coconut water on the general condition (fasting blood sugar and body weight) and retina of diabetic rats.

Methods

Forty-eight Sprague–Dawley male rats were divided into normal controls (NC), diabetes mellitus (DM), diabetes+coconut water (DM+CW), and diabetes+glibenclamide (DM+Gli) groups. After 4 weeks of normal feeding, coconut water was given to group III-DM+CW and 0.6 mg/kg glibenclamide to group IV–DM+Gli. The blood sugar, body weight, total retinal thickness, pathological changes, and VEGF expression in the retina were analyzed at different time points.

Results

The fasting blood sugar was 4–6 mmol/L in group I-NC and continuously increased in group II-DM, whereas gradually decreased after the 4th experiment week in the remaining two groups. The rats, except in group I-NC, have lost weight. In group II-DM, the total retinal thickness was significantly increased after the 8th and 12th experiment week, and the pathological changes in retina were observed. VEGF was almost fully expressed in the ganglion cell layer and inner granular layer and partially expressed in the outer granular layer in group II-DM, and mainly expressed in the ganglion cell layer and inner layer in group I-NC, with a lighter color. Group III-DM + CW and group IV-DM + Gli demonstrated similar VEGF expression as in group I-NC.

Conclusions

Coconut water has the potential to reduce blood sugar and diabetic retinal damage, serving as a candidate drug or nutrient for treating diabetes and its complications.
Morphological data indicate the subspecies of Leionema elatius (Rutaceae) are not conspecific
Authors: Telford Ian R.H. , Bruhl Jeremy J.
Published: January 2021

Morphological data show that the two subspecies currently assigned to Leionema elatius (Benth.) Paul G.Wilson (Rutaceae), namely L. elatius subsp. elatius and L. elatius subsp. beckleri (F.Muell.) Paul G.Wilson, are not conspecific. Leionema elatius subsp. beckleri is reinstated to the rank of species as L. beckleri (F.Muell.) I.Telford & J.J.Bruhl. The distributions of both species are mapped and their conservation status discussed. Images comparing the morphological attributes of the two species and a table comparing selected attributes of the species and the newly described L. praetermissum P.R.Alvarez & Duretto are presented. A key to species of Leionema found in New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland is provided.
A new species of Syzygium (Myrtaceae) from the Bird’s Head Peninsula, western New Guinea
Authors: Mustaqim Wendy Achmmad , Low Yee Wen , Heatubun Charlie Danny
Published: January 2021

Syzygium oransbariense Mustaqim, Y.W.Low & Heatubun (Myrtaceae) is here formally described. This species is found in the lowlands on the eastern flank of the Arfak Mountains, Bird’s Head Peninsula, western New Guinea. The species is similar to Syzygium longipes (Diels) Merr. & L.M.Perry, but differs based on a set of diagnostic morphological characters. Species description, distribution, a preliminary conservation status assessment, and notes on the new species are presented here.
Association of Anti-TPO Antibodies with Insulin Resistance in Patients of Hypothyroidism with Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Jain Amit , Dholariya Sagar , Masroor Mirza , Lali P , Chandra L , Dhanwal Dinesh
Published: January 2021

Introduction: Hypothyroidism and Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) are associated with insulin resistance. Exact reason for development of insulin resistance in hypothyroidism is still unclear. Aim: To determine the association between Anti-Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies (Anti-TPO Abs) and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) with components of MetS, Fasting Insulin (FSI) and Homeostatic Model Assessment Index for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Materials and Methods: Total 118 subjects of hypothyroidism were included in this cross-sectional study. The diagnosis of MetS was made based on National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. Independent association of components of MetS, FSI and HOMA-IR with TSH and anti-TPO Abs was analysed by multivariate linear regression analysis. Results: MetS was more prevalent in subclinical hyperthyroidism (53.0%) compared to overt hypothyroidism (49.3%). Serum anti-TPO Abs level was significantly high in MetS group compared to non-MetS group in both overt (200.0±170.2 and 122.8±98.9, p=0.02*) and subclinical (184.9±142.9 and 114.5±90.9, p=0.04*) hyperthyroidism. Waist Circumference (WC), Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG), FSI and HOMA-IR were independently associated with anti-TPO Abs in both overt and subclinical hypothyroidism. Anti-TPO was also increased significantly in linear trend along with increased in the number of MetS components in both overt and subclinical hypothyroidism. Conclusion: MetS is highly prevalent in hypothyroidism and anti-TPO Abs rather than TSH and is more associated with insulin resistance in patients of hypothyroidism with MetS.
Earnings Management versus Capital Structure: What Are the Chances of Companies Occurring Within the Discretionary Limit?
Authors: Lima Samuel Lyncon Leandro de , Gomes Adhmir Renan Voltolini , Souza Roberto Francisco de , Dal Vesco Delci Grapégia
Published: January 2021

The discussions about companies' debts have been pertinent to researches for decades, but it is still a puzzle issue. The mainly aspect this issue is how managers chooses funding sources. In this sense, the purpose of this study is analyzing the chances of occurring companies within the discretionary limit in relation to their capital structure. This research was conducts by logistic regressions with a sample of 706 energy sector firms from 37 countries around the world, with financial data from the period 2015 to 2017, making the total of 2.118 observations. So, results shows that profitability, investment opportunities, firm size, low capital structure are variables that affect to the chances of companies occurring within the discretionary limit. These results evidenced that the discretionary limit can be greater than 1% of the return on asset (ROA). Based on this findings we suggest that for some sectors, the discretionary limit may be different from the energy sector. Besides this, it depends by the attention of the regulatory agents of each country, as well as the relevance of the companies sector to the others.
Factors that Determine the Purchase of Portable Electronic Devices
Authors: GUIDI ANTONIO CARLOS , PIZZINATTO NADIA KASSOUF , MONTEBELO MARIA IMACULADA
Published: January 2021

The study aims to discover the consumer profile and the main factors that lead them to acquire a portable electronic device (PED). An online survey was conducted, with a sample of 145 consumers involved in the beneficiation of the ornamental stone sector. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression were applied for data analysis. This article makes advances in the development of concepts of management design, the electronic market and information systems, and uses a revised bibliography, proposing interaction with the list of strategies. The results show that, at the time of purchase, consumers of portable electronic devices take into account interconnected factors, such as brand, design and utility. Thus, we conclude that there is an interest in products that have proven multifunctionality, and also encourages research that confirms the consumer profile in expanded samples. The implications are discussed, with an emphasis on developing the new competencies that retailers need to develop, to interact with their physical configurations, through technological opportunities with mobile functionalities.
The interconnection between entrepreneurship and dynamic capabilities: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Cruzara Giovani , Kaniak Vivien Mariane Massaneiro , Caciatori Junior Itamir , Teixeira Rivanda Meira
Published: January 2021

This study uses a bibliometric approach to analyze how the scientific production of entrepreneurship and the theoretical approach of the dynamic capabilities is corelated. With a sample of 701 studies from the Web of Science database we identified 88 articles concentrated in four different journals, pointing the most productive authors, the most cited references and clusters of keywords mainly related to entrepreneurship and dynamic capabilities.  The results demonstrates that entrepreneurship and dynamic capabilities are two research streams that still need to have their relationships better explored, since the bibliometric maps demonstrated that most studies appear to have a main focus on dynamic capabilities but only addressing entrepreneurship related either to the entrepreneur itself, or to its entrepreneurial orientation, not exploring other important entrepreneurship issues. This work contributes theoretically by addressing a relationship still underexplored at the academy, thus encouraging future studies on the theme.
Single‐cell transcriptomics reveal the intratumoral landscape of infiltrated T‐cell subpopulations in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chen Jingtao , Yang Jiefeng , Li Huan , Yang Zhongyuan , Zhang Xing , Li Xiyuan , Wang Jia , Zhang Ying , Chen Shuwei , Song Ming
Published: January 2021

Systematic analysis of tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes is essential for the development of new cancer treatments and the prediction of clinical responses to immunotherapy. Immunomodulatory drugs are used for the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), depending on immune infiltration profiles of the tumor microenvironment. In this study, we isolated 11,866 single T cells from tumors and paired adjacent normal tissues of three patients with OSCC. Using single‐cell RNA sequencing, we identified 14 distinct T‐cell subpopulations within the tumors and 5 T‐cell subpopulations in the adjacent normal tissues and delineated their developmental trajectories. Exhausted CD8+ T cells and regulatory CD4+ T cells (CD4+ Tregs) were enriched in OSCC tumors, potentially linked to tumor immunosuppression. Programmed death protein 1 (PD‐1) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 (CTLA4) were identified as marker genes in exhausted CD8+ T cells, whereas forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) and CTLA4 were identified as markers of CD4+ Tregs. Furthermore, our data revealed that thymocyte selection‐associated high‐mobility group box (TOX) may be a key regulator of T‐cell dysfunction in the OSCC microenvironment. Overexpression of TOX upregulated expression of genes related to T‐cell dysfunction. In vitro experiments demonstrated that cytotoxic activity and proliferation efficiency of CD8+ T cells overexpressing PD‐1 or TOX were reduced. Notable, the transcription factor PRDM1 was found to transactivate TOX expression via a binding motif in the TOX promoter. Our findings provide valuable insight into the functional states and heterogeneity of T‐cell populations in OSCC that could advance the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
LncRNA NKX2‐1‐AS1 promotes tumor progression and angiogenesis via upregulation of SERPINE1 expression and activation of the VEGFR‐2 signaling pathway in gastric cancer
Authors: Teng Fei , Zhang Ju‐Xiang , Chen Yi , Shen Xiao‐Dong , Su Chang , Guo Yan‐Jiao , Wang Pu‐Hua , Shi Chen‐cheng , Lei Ming , Cao Yi‐Ou , Liu Shao‐Qun
Published: January 2021

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) can compete with endogenous RNAs to modulate the gene expression and contribute to oncogenesis and tumor metastasis. lncRNA NKX2‐1‐AS1 (NKX2‐1 antisense RNA 1) plays a pivotal role in cancer progression and metastasis; however, the contribution of aberrant expression of NKX2‐1‐AS1 and the mechanism by which it functions as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) in gastric cancer (GC) remains elusive. NKX2‐1‐AS1 expression was detected in paired tumor and nontumor tissues of 178 GC patients by quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT‐PCR). Using loss‐of‐function and gain‐of‐function experiments, the biological functions of NKX2‐1‐AS1 were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Further, to assess that NKX2‐1‐AS1 regulates angiogenic processes, tube formation and co‐culture assays were performed. RNA binding protein immunoprecipitation (RIP) assay, a dual‐luciferase reporter assay, quantitative PCR, Western blot, and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assays were performed to determine the potential molecular mechanism underlying this ceRNA. The results indicated that NKX2‐1‐AS1 expression was upregulated in GC cell lines and tumor tissues. Overexpression of NKX2‐1‐AS1 was significantly associated with tumor progression and enhanced angiogenesis. Functionally, NKX2‐1‐AS1 overexpression promoted GC cell proliferation, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis, while NKX2‐1‐AS1 knockdown restored these effects, both in vitro and in vivo. RIP and dual‐luciferase assays revealed that the microRNA miR‐145‐5p is a direct target of NKX2‐1‐AS1 and that NKX2‐1‐AS1 serves as a ceRNA to sponge miRNA and regulate angiogenesis in GC. Moreover, serpin family E member 1 (SERPINE1) is an explicit target for miR‐145‐5p; besides, the NKX2‐1‐AS1/miR‐145‐5p axis induces the translation of SERPINE1, thus activating the VEGFR‐2 signaling pathway to promote tumor progression and angiogenesis. NKX2‐1‐AS1 overexpression is associated with enhanced tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and poor prognosis in GC. Collectively, NKX2‐1‐AS1 functions as a ceRNA to miR‐145‐5p and promotes tumor progression and angiogenesis by activating the VEGFR‐2 signaling pathway via SERPINE1.
Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis of Test Accuracy and Benefits and Harms of Common Treatments
Authors: Springer Jason M. , Kalot Mohamad A. , Husainat Nedaa M. , Byram Kevin W. , Dua Anisha B. , James Karen E. , Chang Lin Yih , Turgunbaev Marat , Villa‐Forte Alexandra , Abril Andy , Langford Carol A. , Maz Mehrdad , Chung Sharon A. , Mustafa Reem A.
Published: January 2021

Objective

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is part of a group of vasculitides commonly referred to as antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis (AAV), in addition to granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and renal‐limited vasculitis. Patients with EGPA characteristically have asthma and marked peripheral eosinophilia with only approximately 30% to 35% of patients being myeloperoxidase (MPO)‐ANCA positive, distinguishing it from other forms of AAV (1,2). The aim of this systematic review is to support the development of the American College of Rheumatology/Vasculitis Foundation guideline for the management of EGPA.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted of the literature for seven forms of primary systemic vasculitis (GPA, MPA, EGPA, polyarteritis nodosa, Kawasaki disease, giant cell arteritis, and Takayasu arteritis). The search was done for articles in English using Ovid Medline, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Articles were screened for suitability in addressing population/patients, intervention, comparator, and outcomes (PICO) questions, with studies presenting the highest level of evidence given preference. Two independent reviewers conducted a title/abstract screen and full‐text review for each eligible study.

Results

The initial search, conducted in August 2019, included 13 800 articles, of which 2596 full‐text articles were reviewed. There were 190 articles (addressing 34 PICO questions) reporting on the diagnosis and management of EGPA.

Conclusion

This comprehensive systematic review synthesizes and evaluates the accuracy of commonly used tests for EGPA as well as benefits and toxicities of different treatment options.
Adjusting the Si Phase and Forming Nanoprecipitation to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Al–Si–Cu–Mg Alloy by Heat Treatment
Authors: Hao Jianfei , Yu Baoyi , Bian Jiancong , Liu Jinmin , Sun Wanting , Shi Yuanji , Li Runxia
Published: January 2021

To adjust the morphology of the Si phase and improve the mechanical properties of Al–Si–Cu–Mg alloy formed by semisolid squeeze casting, the effects of solution time on microstructure evolution and mechanical properties are systematically studied. Results show that spheroidization occurs in the Si phase, and the content of Cu in the matrix increases simultaneously after solution treatment at 525 °C for 1 h. As solution time increases to 8 h, the content of Cu in the matrix increases from 1.15% to 1.41% and the dislocation density decreases. After an aging treatment at 180 °C for 12 h, the β′, θ′, and Q′ phases precipitate. After heat treatment, the alloy strength value shows a “double peak” phenomenon. After a 1 h solution treatment, the tensile strength of the alloy reaches the first peak, which is mainly ascribed to the large dislocation density induced by the semisolid squeeze casting process. When the solution time is 8 h, the tensile strength of the alloy is 323 MPa and the tensile strength reaches the second peak, which is ascribed to the rounding of the Si phase and the strengthening effects of fine precipitates.
Anion Constructor for Atomic‐Scale Engineering of Antiperovskite Crystals for Electrochemical Reactions
Authors: Lee Sehyun , Jung Jae Young , Jang Injoon , Choi Daeil , Lee Myeong Jae , Lee Dong Wook , Jang Jue‐Hyuk , Lee Jeong Hee , Jin Haneul , Im Kyungmin , Lee Eungjun , Kim Seung‐hoon , Kim Nam Dong , Lee Soo‐Hyoung , Kang Yun Sik , Park Hee‐Young , Chun Dongwon , Ham Hyung Chul , Lee Kug‐Seung , Ahn Docheon , Kim Pil , Yoo Sung Jong
Published: January 2021

Among the Pt group metals, Pd has been considered the most efficient for application in electrocatalysts as an alternative to Pt. Despite the comparable electrochemical activities of Pd and Pd‐metal alloys, they are vulnerable to liquid acidic electrolytes, leading to degradation of catalytic activity. Pd–Ni alloys have been used to enhance catalytic activity because the electronic structure of Pd can be easily changed by adding Ni. In other studies, N atoms have been introduced for more stable M–Ni catalysts by inducing the formation of Ni4N species; however, the structural analysis and the role of nitrogen have not been fully understood yet. Herein, the Pd–Ni alloy nitride with a unique crystal structure shows a promising catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The nitride PdNi nanoparticles have a novel monolithic antiperovskite structure of chemical formula (PdxNi1−x)NNi3. The unique antiperovskite crystal (PdxNi1−x)NNi3 possesses superior ORR activity and stability, originating from the downshifted d‐band center of the monolayer Pd/antiperovskite surface and the lower formation energy of the antiperovskite core nanocrystal. Consequently, (PdxNi1−x)NNi3, as a Pt‐free Pd‐based electrocatalyst, overcomes the stability issue of Pd under acidic conditions by achieving 99‐times higher mass activity than commercial Pd/C, as shown by the durability test.
Side‐Chain Engineering for High‐Performance Conjugated Polymer Batteries
Authors: Li Xiaoyi , Li Yilin , Sarang Kasturi , Lutkenhaus Jodie , Verduzco Rafael
Published: January 2021

Conjugated polymers are attractive for energy storage but typically require significant amounts of conductive additives to successfully operate with thin electrodes. Here, side‐chain engineering is used to improve the electrochemical performance of conjugated polymer electrodes. Naphthalene dicarboximide (NDI)‐based conjugated polymers with ion‐conducting ethylene glycol (EG) side chains (PNDI‐T2EG) and non‐ion‐conducting 2‐octyldodecyl side chains (PNDI‐T2) are synthesized, tested, and compared. For thick (20 µm, 1.28 mg cm−2) electrodes with a 60 wt% polymer, the PNDI‐T2EG electrodes exhibit 66% of the theoretical capacity at an ultrafast charge–discharge rate of 100C (72 s per cycle), while the PNDI‐T2 electrodes exhibit only 23% of the theoretical capacity. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements on thin (5 µm, 0.32 mg cm−2), high‐polymer‐content (80 wt%) electrodes reveal that PNDI‐T2EG exhibits much higher lithium‐ion diffusivity (DLi+ = 7.01 × 10−12 cm2 s−1) than PNDI‐T2 (DLi+ = 3.96 × 10−12 cm2 s−1). PNDI‐T2EG outperforms most previously reported materials in thick, high‐polymer‐content electrodes in terms of rate performance. The results demonstrate that the rate performance and capacity are significantly improved through the incorporation of EG side chains, and this work demonstrates a route for increasing the rate of ion transport in conjugated polymers and improving the performance and capacity of conjugated‐polymer‐based electrodes.
Constructing Li‐Rich Artificial SEI Layer in Alloy–Polymer Composite Electrolyte to Achieve High Ionic Conductivity for All‐Solid‐State Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Liu Yuxuan , Hu Renzong , Zhang Dechao , Liu Jiangwen , Liu Fang , Cui Jie , Lin Zuopeng , Wu Jinsong , Zhu Min
Published: January 2021

To achieve high ionic conductivity for solid electrolyte, an artificial Li‐rich interface layer of about 60 nm thick has been constructed in polymer‐based poly(ethylene oxide)‐lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide composite solid electrolyte (briefly noted as PEOm) by adding Li‐based alloys. As revealed by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy, an artificial interface layer of amorphous feature is created around the Li‐based alloy particles with the gradient distribution of Li across it. Electrochemical analysis and theoretical modeling demonstrate that the interface layer provides fast ion transport path and plays a key role in achieving high and stable ionic conductivity for PEOm‐Li21Si5 composite solid electrolyte. The PEOm‐5%Li21Si5 composite electrolyte exhibits an ionic conductivity of 3.9 × 10–5 S cm−1 at 30 °C and 5.6 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 45 °C. The LiFePO4 | PEOm‐5%Li21Si5 | Li all‐solid‐state batteries could maintain a stable capacity of 129.2 mA h g−1 at 0.2 C and 30 °C after 100 cycles, and 111.3 mA h g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.5 C and 45 °C, demonstrating excellent cycling stability and high‐rate capability.
RhSe2: A Superior 3D Electrocatalyst with Multiple Active Facets for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction in Both Acid and Alkaline Solutions
Authors: Zhong Wenwu , Xiao Beibei , Lin Zhiping , Wang Zongpeng , Huang Liangai , Shen Shijie , Zhang Qinghua , Gu Lin
Published: January 2021

Layered 2D materials are a vital class of electrocatalys for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), due to their large area, excellent activity, and facile fabrication. Theoretical caculations domenstrate, however, that only the edges of the 2D nanosheets act as active sites, while the much larger basal plane exhibits passive activity. Here, from a distinguishing perspective, RhSe2 is reported as a “3D” electrocatalyst for HER with top‐class activity, synthesized by a facile solid‐state method. Superior to 2D materials, multiple crystal facets of RhSe2 exhibit near‐zero free energy change of hydrogen adsorption (ΔGH), which guarantees high performance in most common morphologies. Density functional theory calculations reveal that the low‐coordinated Rh atoms act as the active sites in acid, which enables the modified Kubas‐mediated pathway, while the Se atoms act as the active sites in an alkaline medium. The overpotentials of HER activity of RhSe2 are measured to be 49.9 and 81.6 mV at 10 mA cm–2 in acid and alkaline solutions, respectively. This work paves the way to new transition metal chalcogenide catalysts.
Synthesis of Perinaphthenones via BF3.Et2O Mediated One‐Pot Cascade 4,5‐Annulation Reactions of 1‐Naphthols and Ynones
Authors: Kuo Chun‐Wei , Rao Naidu Sambasiva , Patil Prakash Bhimrao , Chiang Ting‐Ta , Kavala Veerababurao , Yao Ching‐Fa
Published: January 2021

C4‐C5 periannulation of 1‐naphthols and ynones via BF3.Et2O mediated one‐pot cascade under metal and solvent‐free conditions have been developed for the synthesis of perinaphthenones. Furthermore, this strategy features the formation of new periannulation at C4‐C5 positions of α‐naphthol, synthesis of highly substituted perinaphthenones, broad substrate scope, readily available starting materials and good to moderate yields. The perinaphthenones products synthesized here have exhibited interesting photo physical properties

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Understanding the Outstanding High‐Voltage Performance of NCM523||Graphite Lithium Ion Cells after Elimination of Ethylene Carbonate Solvent from Conventional Electrolyte
Authors: Klein Sven , van Wickeren Stefan , Röser Stephan , Bärmann Peer , Borzutzki Kristina , Heidrich Bastian , Börner Markus , Winter Martin , Placke Tobias , Kasnatscheew Johannes
Published: January 2021

The increase of specific energy of current Li ion batteries via further increase of the cell voltage, for example, to 4.5 V is typically accompanied by a sudden and rapid capacity fade, known as “rollover” failure. This failure is the result of Li dendrite formation triggered in the course of electrode cross‐talk, that is, dissolution of transition metals (TMs) from the cathode and deposition on the anode. It is shown herein, that the elimination of ethylene carbonate (EC) from a state‐of‐the‐art electrolyte, that is, from 1.0 m LiPF6 in a 3:7 mixture of EC and ethyl methyl carbonate prevents this failure in high‐voltage LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2||graphite cells, even without any electrolyte additives. While the oxidative stability on the cathode side is similar in both electrolytes, visible by a decomposition plateau at 5.5 V versus Li|Li+ during charge, the anode side in the EC‐free electrolyte reveals significantly less TM deposits and Li metal dendrites compared to the EC‐based electrolyte. The beneficial effect of EC‐free electrolytes is related to a significantly increased amount of degraded LiPF6 species, which effectively trap dissolved TMs and suppress the effect of detrimental cross‐talk, finally realizing rollover‐free performance under high voltage conditions.
Sustainable Battery Materials for Next‐Generation Electrical Energy Storage
Authors: Yu Xingwen , Manthiram Arumugam
Published: January 2021

While renewable energy sources are deemed as a preponderant component toward building a sustainable society, their utilization depends on the efficiency and sustainability of energy‐storage technologies. The development of battery‐storage technologies with affordable and environmentally benign chemistries/materials is increasingly considered as an indispensable element of the whole concept of sustainable energy technologies. Lithium‐ion batteries are at the forefront among existing rechargeable battery technologies in terms of operational performance. Considering materials cost, abundance of elements, and toxicity of cell components, there are, however, sustainability concerns for lithium‐ion batteries. Herein, a discussion of the existing rechargeable battery technologies from a sustainability perspective is provided. Then, recent research strategies toward enhancing the sustainability of Li+‐ion technologies are first discussed. After that, emerging novel battery systems, beyond lithium‐ion technology, with sustainable chemistries and materials are highlighted and prospected.