bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi‐decadal changes in the relationships between rainfall characteristics and debris‐flow occurrences in response to gully evolution after the 1990–1995 Mount Unzen eruptions
Authors: Tsunetaka Haruka , Shinohara Yoshinori , Hotta Norifumi , Gomez Christopher , Sakai Yuichi
Published: May 2021

Explosive volcanic eruptions can cause long‐term landscape change, leading to increased sediment discharge that continues after the cessation of the eruptions. During the period 1990–1995, eruptions of Mount Unzen, Japan, generated large amounts of pyroclastic material, resulting in 57 debris‐flow events during 1991–2018. To investigate changes in the relationships between rainfall characteristics and debris‐flow occurrence, we conducted the following: geometric analysis of two gullies (i.e., debris‐flow initiation zones) using LiDAR (light detection and ranging)‐generated 1 m DEMs (digital elevation models); rainfall analysis, based on the relationship between rainfall duration and mean intensity (i.e., considering the intensity–duration, or ID, threshold); and debris‐flow monitoring during 2016–2018. Since 1991, rainfall runoff has caused erosion of the supplied pyroclastic material, generating a channel network consisting of incised gullies. With sufficient rainfall, debris flows formed, accompanied by further gully erosion; this resulted in both vertical and lateral adjustments of the cross‐sectional geometry. In the two decades since the eruptions ceased, readily mobilized pyroclastic material has become scarce as the gullies have adjusted to local hydrographic conditions. At the same time, the infiltration capacity of the volcanic flank has increased, reducing the capacity for overland flow. As a result, since 2000, rainfall events with intensities above the ID threshold have occurred; however, the lack of sediment supplied by the gullies appears to have hindered the occurrence and development of debris flows. This suggests that debris flows in volcanically perturbed landscapes may occur at lower rainfall thresholds as long as the corresponding upland channels are evolving as a result of intense overland flow. However, as such channels evolve towards equilibrium geometries, the frequency of debris flows decreases in response to the reduction in sediment availability.
A numerical study on effects of heat transfer fluids, copper mesh in packed bed and porosity, on charging time of paraffin based packed bed thermal energy storage
Authors: Rabbi Jawad , Asif Muhammad
Published: May 2021

In this study, a novel configuration of the latent heat thermal energy storage module based on the packed bed of encapsulated phase change material is investigated. The module is modeled and simulated using a Multiphysics tool COMSOL. The simulation results are validated with the experimental data. Using the validated model, initially, water was used as heat transfer fluid, and then refrigerant R‐134 and R‐22 were also used as heat transfer fluid (HTF) to predict the impact on the charging time. The comparison in terms of their thermo‐physical properties is also carried out. The results indicated that by using refrigerants (R‐134 and R‐22) as HTF, decreased the charging time. When the water was used as HTF, it took 11 hours to completely charge the system. Whereas, the charging time for R‐134 and R‐22 was 8.75 and 8.4 hours, respectively. It was also observed that edges of packed bed were melting much slower than the remaining bed. Therefore, to increase the transfer of heat near the edges, geometry of the module is modified and their impact is investigated.
Polysaccharides isolated from Laminaria japonica attenuates gestational diabetes mellitus by regulating the gut microbiota in mice
Authors: Lin Huiting , Zhang Jiawen , Li Shiyang , Zheng Baodong , Hu Jiamiao
Published: May 2021

The current study was aimed to explore the beneficial effects of polysaccharides isolated from Laminaria japonica (LP) on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) mice. The obtained results demonstrated that the LP improved serum biochemical index, body weight index, and glucose tolerance. Furthermore, the evidence also suggested that the beneficial effects of LP might be attributed to the alternation in gut microbiota by LP supplementation. Particularly, the Turicibacter, a short‐chain fatty acids‐producing bacterium, was found to be up‐regulated. In conclusion, the obtained results indicated that the LP might serve as prebiotic, and might have a great potential to be used as food supplementation for GDM patients.
Market concentration, supply, quality and prices paid by local authorities in the English care home market
Authors: Espuny Pujol Ferran , Hancock Ruth , Hviid Morten , Morciano Marcello , Pudney Stephen
Published: May 2021

We investigate the impact of exogenous local conditions which favor high market concentration on supply, price and quality in local markets for care homes for older people in England. We extend the existing literature in: (i) considering supply capacity as a market outcome alongside price and quality; (ii) taking account of the chain structure of care home supply and differences between the nursing home and residential care home sectors; (iii) using an econometric approach based on reduced form relationships that treats market concentration as a jointly determined outcome of a complex market. We find that areas susceptible to a high degree of market concentration tend to have greatly restricted supply of care home places and (to a lesser extent) a higher average public cost, than areas susceptible to low degree of market concentration. There is no significant evidence that conditions favoring high market concentration affect average care home quality.
Maxillectomy defects: Virtually comparing fibular and scapular free flap reconstructions
Authors: Nguyen Sally , Tran Khanh Linh , Wang Edward , Britton Heidi , Durham James Scott , Prisman Eitan
Published: May 2021

Background

This study virtually compares patient‐specific fibular and scapular reconstructions for maxillectomies.

Methods

Nine maxillectomy defects were created on 10 maxillas and virtually reconstructed with patient‐specific fibulas and scapulas. Reconstructions were compared for restoring midface cephalometrics, dental implantability, and pedicle length.

Results

Of 90 maxillectomy defects, the vertically oriented scapula provided improved orbital floor and maxillary height reconstructions (p < 0.001), albeit at the cost of dental implantability compared to the fibula (p < 0.001). In two defects crossing the midline, the fibula, allowing for more osteotomies, provided improved maxillary projection. In the remaining three defects crossing the midline, the horizontally oriented scapula was comparable to the fibula. Fibular and scapular reconstructions were amenable for dental implantation and had similar pedicle lengths, although favoring scapula in extensive defects.

Conclusion

Fibular and scapular reconstructions of maxillectomy defects provide unique strengths. This virtual analysis can guide a goal‐oriented reconstruction based on defect type and patient‐specific goals.
Current and Past Infections of HBV Do Not Increase Mortality in Patients With COVID‐19
Authors: Yip Terry Cheuk‐Fung , Wong Vincent Wai‐Sun , Lui Grace Chung‐Yan , Chow Viola Chi‐Ying , Tse Yee‐Kit , Hui Vicki Wing‐Ki , Liang Lilian Yan , Chan Henry Lik‐Yuen , Hui David Shu‐Cheong , Wong Grace Lai‐Hung
Published: May 2021

Background and Aims

We compared risk of acute liver injury and mortality in patients with COVID‐19 and current, past, and no HBV infection.

Approach and Results

This was a territory‐wide retrospective cohort study in Hong Kong. Patients with COVID‐19 between January 23, 2020, and January 1, 2021, were identified. Patients with hepatitis C or no HBsAg results were excluded. The primary outcome was mortality. Acute liver injury was defined as alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase ≥2 × upper limit of normal (ULN; i.e., 80 U/L), with total bilirubin ≥2 × ULN (i.e., 2.2 mg/dL) and/or international normalized ratio ≥1.7. Of 5,639 patients included, 353 (6.3%) and 359 (6.4%) had current and past HBV infection, respectively. Compared to patients without known HBV exposure, current HBV‐infected patients were older and more likely to have cirrhosis. Past HBV‐infected patients were the oldest, and more had diabetes and cardiovascular disease. At a median follow‐up of 14 (9‐20) days, 138 (2.4%) patients died; acute liver injury occurred in 58 (1.2%), 8 (2.3%), and 11 (3.1%) patients with no, current, and past HBV infection, respectively. Acute liver injury (adjusted HR [aHR], 2.45; 95% CI, 1.52‐3.96; P < 0.001), but not current (aHR, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.61‐2.70; P = 0.507) or past (aHR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.56‐1.46; P = 0.681) HBV infection, was associated with mortality. Use of corticosteroid, antifungal, ribavirin, or lopinavir–ritonavir (adjusted OR [aOR], 2.55‐5.63), but not current (aOR, 1.93; 95% CI, 0.88‐4.24; P = 0.102) or past (aOR, 1.25; 95% CI, 0.62‐2.55; P = 0.533) HBV infection, was associated with acute liver injury.

Conclusion

Current or past HBV infections were not associated with more liver injury and mortality in COVID‐19.
Hippocampal subfield‐specific Homer1a expression is triggered by learning‐facilitated long‐term potentiation and long‐term depression at medial perforant path synapses
Authors: Hoang Thu‐Huong , Böge Juliane , Manahan‐Vaughan Denise
Published: May 2021

Learning about general aspects, or content details, of space results in differentiated neuronal information encoding within the proximodistal axis of the hippocampus. These processes are tightly linked to long‐term potentiation (LTP) and long‐term depression (LTD). Here, we explored the precise sites of encoding of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus that are mediated by information throughput from the perforant path. We assessed nuclear Homer1a‐expression that was triggered by electrophysiological induction of short and long forms of hippocampal synaptic plasticity, and compared it to Homer1a‐expression that was triggered by LTP and LTD enabled by different forms of spatial learning. Plasticity responses were induced by patterned stimulation of the perforant path and were recorded in the dentate gyrus (DG) of freely behaving rats. We used fluorescence in situ hybridization to detect experience‐dependent nuclear encoding of Homer1a in proximodistal hippocampal subfields. Induction of neither STP nor STD resulted in immediate early gene (IEG) encoding. Electrophysiological induction of robust LTP, or LTD, resulted in highly significant and widespread induction of nuclear Homer1a in all hippocampal subfields. LTP that was facilitated by novel spatial exploration triggered similar widespread Homer1a‐expression. The coupling of synaptic depression with the exploration of a novel configuration of landmarks resulted in localized IEG expression in the proximal CA3 region and the lower (infrapyramidal) blade of the DG. Our findings support that synaptic plasticity induction via perforant path inputs promotes widespread hippocampal information encoding. Furthermore, novel spatial exploration promotes the selection of a hippocampal neuronal network by means of LTP that is distributed in an experience‐dependent manner across all hippocampus subfields. This network may be modified during spatial content learning by LTD in specific hippocampal subfields. Thus, long‐term plasticity‐inducing events result in IEG expression that supports establishment and/or restructuring of neuronal networks that are necessary for long‐term information storage.
Safety and efficacy of autologous whole cell vaccines in hematologic malignancies: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Bastin Donald J. , Khan Sarwat T. , Montroy Joshua , Kennedy Michael A. , Forbes Nicole , Martel Andre B , Baker Laura , Gresham Louise , Boucher Dominique M. , Wong Boaz , Shorr Risa , Diallo Jean‐Simon , Fergusson Dean A. , Lalu Manoj M. , Auer Rebecca C. , Kekre Natasha
Published: May 2021

Autologous cell vaccines use a patient's tumor cells to stimulate a broad antitumor response in vivo. This approach shows promise for treating hematologic cancers in early phase clinical trials, but overall safety and efficacy remain poorly described. We conducted a systematic review assessing the use of autologous cell vaccination in treating hematologic cancers. Primary outcomes of interest were safety and clinical response, with secondary outcomes including survival, relapse rate, correlative immune assays and health‐quality related metrics. We performed a search of MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials including any interventional trial employing an autologous, whole cell product in any hematologic malignancy. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified Institute of Health Economics tool. Across 20 single arm studies, only 341 of 592 enrolled participants received one or more vaccinations. Primary reasons for not receiving vaccination included rapid disease progression/death and manufacturing challenges. Overall, few high‐grade adverse events were observed. One death was reported and attributed to a GM‐CSF producing allogeneic cell line co‐administered with the autologous vaccine. Of 58 evaluable patients, the complete response rate was 21.0% [95% CI, 10.4%‐37.8%)] and overall response rate was 35.8% (95% CI, 24.4%–49.0%). Of 97 evaluable patients for survival, the 5‐years overall survival rate was 64.9% (95% CI, 52.6%–77.2%) and disease‐free survival was 59.7% (95% CI, 47.7%–71.7%). We conclude that, in hematologic malignancies, based on limited available data, autologous cell vaccines are safe and display a trend towards efficacy but that challenges exist in vaccine manufacture and administration.
Retaining the learning professional: A survival study on workplace learning in professional service firms
Authors: Grohnert Therese , Meuwissen Roger H. G. , Gijselaers Wim H.
Published: May 2021

Lowering professional turnover is of paramount importance for professional service firms, as with each professional, crucial proprietary knowledge leaves the firm. Based on the need to retain this crucial knowledge in the firm, this study explores whether factors that drive learning at work also mitigate professionals' turnover behavior. Building on insights from both workplace learning and turnover research, this study follows 96 professional auditors across a period of 5 years to determine how drivers for workplace learning at the organizational, the social interaction, and the individual level relate to turnover behavior. Through survival analysis, we find that those auditors who experience a supportive learning climate at the organizational level were less likely to leave their firm and profession, while those who score high on individual‐level reflection were more likely to leave their firm and profession. We also found that professionals scoring high on reflection leave more quickly when they perceive to work in an unsupportive learning climate—when they experience low synergy across workplace learning levels. Especially observable behaviors, such as providing help and feedback, discussing errors, and building trust, made a significant difference. This study adds to extant research in three principal ways: exploring actual turnover behavior, approaching turnover behavior through a lens of workplace learning, and analyzing interactions between individual‐, social‐ and organizational‐level learning. The findings of this study lead to specific insights for HRD practice.
The timing and magnitude of changes to Hortonian overland flow at the watershed scale during the post‐fire recovery process
Authors: Liu Tao , McGuire Luke A. , Wei Haiyan , Rengers Francis K. , Gupta Hoshin , Ji Lin , Goodrich David C.
Published: May 2021

Extreme hydrologic responses following wildfires can lead to floods and debris flows with costly economic and societal impacts. Process‐based hydrologic and geomorphic models used to predict the downstream impacts of wildfire must account for temporal changes in hydrologic parameters related to the generation and subsequent routing of infiltration‐excess overland flow across the landscape. However, we lack quantitative relationships showing how parameters change with time‐since‐burning, particularly at the watershed scale. To assess variations in best‐fit hydrologic parameters with time, we used the KINEROS2 hydrological model to explore temporal changes in hillslope saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksh) and channel hydraulic roughness (nc) following a wildfire in the upper Arroyo Seco watershed (41.5 km2), which burned during the 2009 Station fire in the San Gabriel Mountains, California, USA. This study explored runoff‐producing storms between 2008 and 2014 to infer watershed hydraulic properties by calibrating the model to observations at the watershed outlet. Modelling indicates Ksh is lowest in the first year following the fire and then increases at an average rate of approximately 4.2 mm/h/year during the first 5 years of recovery. The estimated values for Ksh in the first year following the fire are similar to those obtained in previous studies on smaller watersheds (<1.5 km2) following the Station fire, suggesting hydrologic changes detected here can be applied to lower‐order watersheds. Hydraulic roughness, nc, was lowest in the first year following the fire, but increased by a factor of 2 after 1 year of recovery. Post‐fire observations suggest changes in nc are due to changes in grain roughness and vegetation in channels. These results provide quantitative constraints on the magnitude of fire‐induced hydrologic changes following severe wildfires in chaparral‐dominated ecosystems as well as the timing of hydrologic recovery.
Do mixing models with different input requirement yield similar streamflow source contributions? Case study: A tropical montane catchment
Authors: Ramón Jorge , Correa Alicia , Timbe Edison , Mosquera Giovanny M. , Mora Enma , Crespo Patricio
Published: May 2021

Hydrogeochemical based mixing models have been successfully used to investigate the composition and source identification of streamflow. The applicability of these models is limited due to the high costs associated with data collection and the hydrogeochemical analysis of water samples. Fortunately, a variety of mixing models exist, requiting different amount of data as input, and in data scarce regions it is likely that preference will be given to models with the lowest requirement of input data. An unanswered question is if models with high or low input requirement are equally accurate. To this end, the performance of two mixing models with different input requirement, the mixing model analysis (MMA) and the end‐member mixing analysis (EMMA), were verified on a tropical montane headwater catchment (21.7 km2) in the Ecuadorian Andes. Nineteen hydrogeochemical tracers were measured on water samples collected weekly during 3 years in streamflow and eight potential water sources or end‐members (precipitation, lake water, soil water from different horizons and springs). Results based on 6 conservative tracers, revealed that EMMA (using all tracers) and MMA (using pair‐combinations out of the 6 conservative ones), identified the same end‐members: rainfall, soil water and spring water., as well as, similar contribution fractions to streamflow from rainfall 21.9% and 21.4%, soil water 52.7% and 52.3%, and spring water 26.1% and 28.7%, respectively. Our findings show that a hydrogeochemical mixing model requiring a few tracers can provide similar outcomes than models demanding more tracers as input data. This underlines the value of a preliminary detailed hydrogeochemical characterization as basis to derive the most cost‐efficient monitoring strategy.
Storage‐discharge characteristics of an active rock glacier catchment in the Innere Ölgrube, Austrian Alps
Authors: Wagner Thomas , Seelig Simon , Krainer Karl , Winkler Gerfried
Published: May 2021

The active rock glacier “Innere Ölgrube” and its catchment area (Ötztal Alps, Austria) are assessed using various hydro(geo)logical tools to provide a thorough catchment characterization and to quantify temporal variations in recharge and discharge components. During the period from June 2014 to July 2018, an average contribution derived from snowmelt, ice melt and rainfall of 35.8%, 27.6% and 36.6%, respectively, is modelled for the catchment using a rainfall‐runoff model. Discharge components of the rock glacier springs are distinguished using isotopic data as well as other natural and artificial tracer data, when considering the potential sources rainfall, snowmelt, ice melt and longer stored groundwater. Seasonal as well as diurnal variations in runoff are quantified and the importance of shallow groundwater within this rock glacier‐influenced catchment is emphasized. Water derived from ice melt is suggested to be provided mainly by melting of two small cirque glaciers within the catchment and subordinately by melting of permafrost ice of the rock glacier. The active rock glacier is characterized by a layered internal structure with an unfrozen base layer responsible for groundwater storage and retarded runoff, a main permafrost body contributing little to the discharge (at the moment) by permafrost thaw and an active layer responsible for fast lateral flow on top of the permafrost body. Snowmelt contributes at least 1/3rd of the annual recharge. During droughts, meltwater derived from two cirque glaciers provides runoff with diurnal runoff variations; however, this discharge pattern will change as these cirque glaciers will ultimately disappear in the future. The storage‐discharge characteristics of the investigated active rock glacier catchment are an example of a shallow groundwater aquifer in alpine catchments that ought to be considered when analysing (future) river runoff characteristics in alpine catchments as these provide retarded runoff during periods with little or no recharge.
Environmental flow assessment in a lake‐marsh system with reverse seasonal hydrological patterns
Authors: Qin Jinglan , Yin Xin‐an , Qiu Xintian , Liu Hongrui , Zhang Enze , Sun Yuanyuan
Published: May 2021

Environmental flow (e‐flow) assessment is essential for the ecological protection and restoration of lake‐marsh systems. Previous studies on e‐flow assessment for lake‐marsh systems focused on lake‐marsh systems with natural seasonal hydrological patterns (i.e., low water level in winter and high water level in summer). However, they have not considered lake‐marsh systems with reverse seasonal hydrological patterns (i.e., high water level in winter and low water level in summer). The reverse seasonal hydrological patterns impose seriously negative impacts on waterbirds, because the hydrological patterns could lead to limited plant germination in spring and massive plant death in summer, leaving few plants available as food for waterbirds in winter, and could consequently reduce the sheltering and forageable areas for waterbirds. This study took Hongze Lake Wetland National Nature Reserve in China as the study area. Based on the habitat requirements of waterbirds, the sheltering and forageable areas for waterbirds under different water‐depth and aquatic plant distribution scenarios were calculated. By exploring the impacts of reverse seasonal hydrological processes on waterbird habitats, we determined the necessary e‐flows for lake‐marsh systems with reverse seasonal hydrological patterns to meet the needs of waterbird habitat. The results showed that the water level of Hongze Lake should be controlled to 13.0–13.1 m in March, 12.5–12.6 m in July, and 12.9–13.0 m in October, which can meet the needs of waterbirds for both shelter and foraging.
International trends in incidence of osteosarcoma (1988‐2012)
Authors: Rojas Gabriela A. , Hubbard Aubrey K. , Diessner Brandon J. , Ribeiro Karina B. , Spector Logan G.
Published: May 2021

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone tumor in children and adolescents. The etiology of OS is largely unknown but may be informed by comparisons of incidence and trends between geographic regions. Using the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5) data from 1988 to 2012, we present OS age‐standardized incidence rates (ASRs; cases/million) and average annual percent change (AAPC) and 95% confidence interval (CI) by geographic region among the age groups 0‐9, 10‐19, 20‐29, 30‐59, 60‐79, 0‐79. Among the 10‐19 age group, we also used the most recent data (2008‐2012) to present the ASRs for each country. We observed little variation in OS incidence between geographic regions in 2008‐2012 across all age groups. Overall, the ASR for 0‐79 ranged from 2 cases per million in Southern Asia to 4.2 in Sub‐Saharan Africa. A bimodal distribution in incidence was observed with peaks in the 10‐19 and 60‐79 age groups across all regions over time. Overall, OS incidence was relatively stable across 1988‐2012 with the only statistically significant increases in the 0‐79 age group observed in Eastern Asia (AAPC: 1.8; 95% CI: 0.6, 1.9) and Sub‐Saharan Africa (AAPC: 3.1; 95% CI: 0.5, 5.8). The small variation in incidence between regions and the stability in incidence over time suggests that OS carcinogenesis is not influenced by environmental or time‐varying exposures.
Comparative international incidence of Ewing sarcoma 1988 to 2012
Authors: Spector Logan G. , Hubbard Aubrey K. , Diessner Brandon J. , Machiela Mitchell J. , Webber Beau R. , Schiffman Joshua D.
Published: May 2021

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is the second most common primary bone tumor in children and adolescents. There are few known epidemiological or genetic risk factors for ES. Numerous reports describe incidence rates and trends within the United States, but international comparisons are sparse. We used the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5) data to estimate age standardized incidence rates (ASRs; cases per million) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), male‐to‐female incidence rate ratios (IRRs; 95% CI), and the average annual percent change in incidence (AAPC; 95% CI) for ES by geographic region for children and adults aged 0 to 49 years. We also estimated the ASR for each country or country subpopulation among the 10‐ to 19‐year‐old age range; capturing the peak incidence of ES. In total, 15 874 ES cases ages 0 to 49 were reported in the CI5 series between 1988 and 2012. AAPC estimates varied by age group and geographic region. Most of the statistically significant AAPCs showed an increased incidence over time; the only statistically significant decreases in incidence were observed among 20‐ to 29‐year‐olds and 30‐ to 39‐year‐olds in Southern Asia at −1.93% and −1.67%. When categorized by predominant ancestry, we observed countries and subpopulations with predominately African, East Asian, and Southeast Asian ancestry had the lowest incidence rates, whereas Pacific Islanders and populations with predominantly European and North African/Middle Eastern ancestry had the highest. An excess incidence in males was observed in most regions. Our results highlight substantial variation in ES incidence across geographic populations, reflecting potential ancestral influence on disease risk.
Prediagnosis and postdiagnosis leisure time physical activity and survival following diagnosis with ovarian cancer
Authors: Wang Tianyi , Townsend Mary K. , Eliassen A. Heather , Terry Kathryn L. , Song Mingyang , Irwin Melinda L. , Tworoger Shelley S.
Published: May 2021

Little is known about the influence of prediagnosis and postdiagnosis physical activity on ovarian cancer survival. We investigated this association in two large cohorts, the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and NHSII. Analyses included 1461 women with confirmed invasive, epithelial ovarian cancer and data on physical activity. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for ovarian cancer‐specific mortality. Ovarian cancer‐specific mortality was not associated with physical activity reported 1‐8 years before diagnosis overall (≥7.5 vs <1.5 MET‐hours/week, HR = 0.96), for high‐grade serous/ poorly differentiated tumors, or non‐serous/ low‐grade serous tumors (P‐heterogeneity = .45). An inverse association was observed for activity 1‐4 years after diagnosis (≥7.5 vs <1.5 MET‐hours/week, HR = 0.67, 95%CI: 0.48‐0.94), with similar results by histotype (P‐heterogeneity = .53). Women who decreased their activity from ≥7.5 MET‐hours/week 1‐8 years before diagnosis to <7.5 MET‐hours/week 1‐4 years after diagnosis, compared to those with <7.5 MET‐hours/week across periods, had a 49% increased risk of death (HR = 1.49, 95%CI: 1.07‐2.08). Physical activity after, but not before, ovarian cancer diagnosis was associated with better prognosis.
A new method for volumetric measurement of the normal female cervix by three‐dimensional transvaginal ultrasound
Authors: Prka Matija , Despot Albert , Brnčić Fischer Alemka , Haller Herman , Tikvica Luetić Ana , Habek Dubravko
Published: May 2021

Synopsis

A new and simple method for volumetric measurement of a normal female cervix by three‐dimensional transvaginal ultrasound, using a geometric formula for elliptic cylinders.
Caregiver stress and cultural identity in families of preschoolers with developmental delay and behavioral problems
Authors: Conroy Kristina , Frech Natalie , Sanchez Amanda L. , Hagan Mary B. , Bagner Daniel M. , Comer Jonathan S.
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Research on families of young children with developmental delay and disruptive behavior problems has failed to examine caregiver stress in the context of cultural factors.

Methods

Families of 3‐year‐old children with developmental delay and behavior problems were recruited from Early Intervention sites. All caregivers in the current analysis (n = 147) were from immigrant and/or cultural minority backgrounds. Regarding income‐to‐needs, most families (57.8%) fell into the extreme poverty, poor, or low‐income categories. Caregivers reported on their own experiences of acculturation and enculturation as well as their child's problems.

Results

Path analyses revealed that higher caregiver acculturation was associated with less parenting‐specific stress, and higher caregiver enculturation was associated with less caregiver general stress. Severity of child problems was associated with more parenting‐specific stress and general stress. Exploratory analysis yielded significant differences in associations between acculturation, enculturation, and caregiver stress in Black/African American caregivers versus Hispanic White caregivers.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that among cultural minority caregivers of young children with developmental and behavioral problems, acculturation and enculturation may influence caregiver stress. While the cross‐sectional nature of the study precludes causal conclusions, clinicians should consider how cultural factors can be harnessed to strengthen caregiver resiliency and improve engagement in parenting interventions.
Investigation of water‐insoluble hydrophobic polyethylenimines as RNAi vehicles in chronic myeloid leukemia therapy
Authors: Ansari Aysha S. , K.C. Remant , Jiang Xiaoyan , Uludaǧ Hasan
Published: May 2021

The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi) more than two decades ago opened avenues for avant‐garde cancer treatments that possess the ability to evade issues hampering current chemotherapeutic strategies, owing to its specific gene sequence‐driven mechanism of action. A potent short interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery vehicle designed to overcome physiological barriers is imperative for successful RNAi therapy. For this purpose, this study explored the characteristics and therapeutic efficacy of low‐molecular weight (MW) polyethylenimine (PEI) with high cholesterol substitution, yielding water‐insoluble polymers, in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) K562 cells. A strong impact of cholesterol grafting on the physicochemical attributes of the resultant polymers and their corresponding complexes with siRNA was observed, with the siRNA binding capacity of polymers increasing and complex dissociation sensitivity decreasing with increase in cholesterol content of the polymers. The modified polymer complexes were significantly smaller in size and possessed higher cationic charge compared to the parent polymer. The interaction with anionic heparan sulfate preoteoglycans present on the cell surface was significant in cellular uptake of the complexes. The therapeutic efficacy of siRNA/polymer complexes was reflected in their ability to effectively silence the reporter green fluorescent protein gene and endogenous CML oncogene BCR‐ABL as well as significantly inhibit colony formation by K562 cells post BCR‐ABL silencing. The results of this study demonstrated beneficial effects of high levels of hydrophobic substitution on low MW PEI on their functional performance bestowing them the potential to be potent RNAi agents for CML therapy.
Mechanical and in vitro biological properties of uniform and graded Cobalt‐chrome lattice structures in orthopedic implants
Authors: Pagani Stefania , Liverani Erica , Giavaresi Gianluca , De Luca Angela , Belvedere Claudio , Fortunato Alessandro , Leardini Alberto , Fini Milena , Tomesani Luca , Caravaggi Paolo
Published: May 2021

Human bones are biological examples of functionally graded lattice capable to withstand large in vivo loading and allowing optimal stress distribution. Disruption of bone integrity may require biocompatible implants capable to restore the original bone structure and properties. This study aimed at comparing mechanical properties and biological behavior in vitro of uniform (POR‐FIX) and graded (POR‐VAR) Cobalt‐chrome alloy lattice structures manufactured via Selective Laser Melting. In compression, the POR‐VAR equivalent maximum stress was about 2.5 times lower than that of the POR‐FIX. According to the DIC analysis, the graded lattice structures showed a stratified deformation associated to unit cells variation. At each timepoint, osteoblast cells were observed to colonize the surface and the first layer of both scaffolds. Cell activity was always significantly higher in the POR‐VAR (p < 0.0005). In terms of gene expression, theOPG/RANKLratio increased significantly over time (p < 0.0005) whereasIL1βandCOX2significantly decreased (7 day vs 1 day;p < 0.0005) in both scaffolds. Both uniform‐ and graded‐porosity scaffolds provided a suitable environment for osteoblasts colonization and proliferation, but graded structures seem to represent a better solution to improve stress distribution between implant and bone of orthopedic implants.
Extracorporeal photopheresis vs standard therapies for steroid‐refractory chronic graft‐vs‐host disease: Pharmacoeconomic assessment of hospital resource use in Spain
Authors: Boluda Blanca , Solana‐Altabella Antonio , Cano Isabel , Acuña‐Cruz Evelyn , Rodríguez‐Veiga Rebeca , Ballesta‐López Octavio , Megías‐Vericat Juan Eduardo , Martínez‐Cuadrón David , Gómez Ines , Solves Pilar , Lorenzo Ignacio , Piñana Jose Luis , Sanz Jaime , Guerreiro Manuel , Montoro Gómez Juan , Díaz‐González Alvaro , Marco Javier , Blanco Albert , Sanz Miguel Á. , Montesinos Pau
Published: May 2021

Background

This study assessed pharmacoeconomic costs associated with extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) compared with other available second‐line therapies for chronic graft‐vs‐host disease (cGvHD) in a tertiary Spanish institution.

Methods

Patients (≥18 years) diagnosed with steroid‐refractory cGvHD were eligible. Data were collected retrospectively from index date until 1 year or relapse. Patients were distributed in two cohorts (ECP vs non‐ECP), matched by age (≤ or > 40), hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HLA‐identical sibling donor or other) and number of previous immunosuppressive lines (1, 2, or ≥ 3). Costs were assigned using the 2016 diagnosis‐related group (DRG) system: DRG 579 (€22 383) overnight stay due to major complication (ie, sepsis, pneumonia, parenteral nutrition, or respiratory failure), and DRG 875 (€5154) if no major complication. The primary endpoint was healthcare resource utilization per patient.

Results

Forty patients (n = 20 per cohort) were included. Median age was 49, and 37.5% were female. Mean total cost per patient was €25 319 (95% CI: €17 049–€33 590) across the two cohorts, with a slightly lower mean cost per ECP‐treated patient (€23 120) compared with the non‐ECP cohort (€27 519; P = .597). Twenty‐seven inpatient hospitalizations occurred among ECP‐treated patients, vs 33 in the non‐ECP cohort. Day hospital and external consultations were more frequent in the ECP cohort. However, fewer inpatient admissions included DRG 579 compared with the non‐ECP cohort (44% vs 58%). Inpatient length of stay was slightly shorter in the ECP cohort (30 vs 49 days; P = .298).

Conclusions

ECP treatment may yield economic savings in Spain through resource savings and moving costs toward outpatient care.
Exposure to stressful and traumatic life events in hoarding: Comparison to clinical controls
Authors: Ouellette Mélise J. , Rowa Karen , Soreni Noam , Elcock Ashleigh , McCabe Randi E.
Published: May 2021

Background

Individuals with hoarding report stressful and traumatic life events at an elevated rate compared with those with obsessive‐compulsive disorder and healthy controls, but have not been compared with other clinical groups. This study compared rates of traumatic life events between those with clinically significant hoarding, anxiety disorders, or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), hypothesizing that rates would be higher in the hoarding and PTSD groups than the anxiety group.

Methods

Rates of traumatic and stressful events were compared across groups.

Results

All comparisons across groups on types of events were significant (partial‐eta squared 0.051–0.162). The hoarding group endorsed significantly more crime‐related events but similar rates of other events as compared to the PTSD and anxiety disorder groups.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that many stressful and traumatic life events are not uniquely elevated in hoarding when compared with other clinical populations.
The impact of illness identity on recovery from severe mental illness: A test of the model
Authors: Yanos Philip T. , Adams Shane , Roe David , Lysaker Paul H.
Published: May 2021

Objective

The Illness Identity model posits that self‐stigma reduces hope and self‐esteem among persons with severe mental illnesses, impacting a range of outcomes. The “insight paradox” anticipates that the negative effects of self‐stigma are amplified by insight. This study tested these predictions using both cluster and path analyses.

Method

A total of 117 participants meeting the criteria for schizophrenia‐spectrum disorders completed measures of self‐stigma, self‐esteem, hopelessness, insight, social functioning, coping, and symptoms.

Results

Cluster analysis supported the insight paradox; persons with low self‐stigma/high insight had fewer psychiatric symptoms and better interpersonal functioning than persons with high self‐stigma/low insight. Path analysis did not support the insight paradox, but indicated that self‐stigma and insight impact different outcomes.

Discussion

Findings suggest that support for the predictions of the Illness Identity model and insight paradox are supported may depend on analytic method.

Conclusions

Finding suggest that the benefits of self‐stigma reduction may be constrained by insight.
A qualitative exploration of psychosocial well‐being experiences in a South African rural community
Authors: Koen Vicki , Robertson Neville D.
Published: May 2021

The aim of this study was to explore and describe the psychosocial well‐being experiences of a South African rural community. The study employed a qualitative explorative‐descriptive research design in which participants (n = 20) were sampled through purposive sampling and participated in a world café session. Data were analyzed thematically. The findings identify three main themes with subthemes, namely contributing factors to psychosocial well‐being (such as spirituality/religion and community cohesion), hindering factors to psychosocial well‐being (such as crime and unemployment), and means to promote psychosocial well‐being (such as provision of infrastructure). The findings provide insight into the psychosocial well‐being experiences of an understudied and vulnerable South African rural community and makes recommendations for future research.
Robotics‐assisted high‐throughput catalytic investigation of PVP nanoparticles in the oxidation of morin
Authors: Potgieter Kariska , Meijboom Reinout
Published: May 2021

BACKGROUND

Conventional methods used to evaluate the activity of catalysts are time consuming and tedious, which only several catalysts can successfully be discovered. By employing robotics, this approach can be shorted tremendously. A robotics‐assisted high‐throughput system for the fast and effective catalytic evaluation of Pd‐ and Au‐polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated.

RESULTS

Palladium and gold PVP NPs were synthesised by employing ethylene glycol in the polyol method. These NPs were evaluated for the oxidation of morin using a high‐throughput system, including a liquid handling robot, a 96‐well plate and a microplate reader. The catalyst concentration variation step for both catalysts (Pd‐ and Au‐PVP NPs) was performed in one experiment in a 96‐well plate. A concentration range, including 12 concentrations in four replicates, was investigated simultaneously. Therefore, with one experiment, the optimal concentration of both catalysts could be determined. A similar approach was followed for the concentration variation steps of morin and hydrogen peroxide at different temperatures. This was done to determine the effect of concentration on the observed rate (kobs).

CONCLUSION

The catalytic oxidative degradation of morin can be investigated in a fast and effective way by employing robotics and a high‐throughput system. This system can also be applied to screen catalysts (homogeneous and heterogeneous catalyst) and the parallel synthesis of nanoparticles – particularly dendrimer‐encapsulated nanoparticles. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Stem cell culture media enriched with plant‐derived compounds: Cell differentiation enhancement
Authors: Chairez‐Cantu Karolina , Ornelas‐González Alonso , Ortiz‐Martínez Margarita , González‐González Mirna , Rito‐Palomares Marco
Published: May 2021

The development of cell therapies to replace lost or damaged cells has attracted interest in the regenerative medicine field due to the multilineage differentiation ability of stem cells. However, there are some drawbacks regarding optimization in the differentiation protocols to obtain high efficiency and further translation into clinic settings, which have led to the identification of specific compounds that could overcome these challenges. For years, plants have been associated with useful therapeutic effects for the treatment of some human diseases due to their high content of bioactive compounds. These plant derivatives act as growth factors that could either modulate or promote cell differentiation by the activation of specific signaling pathways. In this context, the administration of stem cells supplemented with these compounds could have better outcomes as a treatment. Hence, supplementing stem cell culture with plant derivatives represents a cost‐effective strategy, as the purification of plant extracts is of relatively low cost compared to the production of recombinant growth factors, and also their use facilitates the compliance of good manufacturing practice guidelines compared to xenogeneic compounds. This review aims to describe the mechanism of action of the most well‐studied plant derivatives involved in cell differentiation enhancement, particularly in osteogenic and neural lineages. Additionally, current trends and challenges that must be addressed for successful implementation in clinical applications are discussed. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
In situ product recovery as a strategy for bioprocess integration and depletion of inhibitory products
Authors: Salas‐Villalobos Ulises A , Gómez‐Acata Rígel V , Castillo‐Reyna Josefina , Aguilar Oscar
Published: May 2021

Microbial growth inhibition by end‐products is an undesirable behavior that causes low yields and reduces the overall productivity and feasibility of fermentative bioprocesses. Classic downstream processing techniques have been explored widely to attenuate this behavior by integrating them with the upstream operations. These in situ extraction techniques appear as an attractive alternative to increase titers and consequently total recovery and/or purification. This also reduces the number of downstream operations and thus the time and final cost of the bioprocess. In the present work, process integration at the earliest stage of a bioprocess – the bioreactor – is presented as an attractive strategy to facilitate primary recovery and in some cases to overcome end‐product microbial inhibition. A careful revision of selected strategies, from classical to hybrid techniques for in situ product recovery, is presented along with pros and cons, to give the reader a general overview of different experimental strategies and selection criteria that can be generally applied to different bioproducts/bioprocesses. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
An intelligence design for detection and classification of COVID19 using fusion of classical and convolutional neural network and improved microscopic features selection approach
Authors: Amin Javaria , Anjum Muhammad Almas , Sharif Muhammad , Saba Tanzila , Tariq Usman
Published: May 2021

Coronavirus19 is caused due to infection in the respiratory system. It is the type of RNA virus that might infect animal and human species. In the severe stage, it causes pneumonia in human beings. In this research, hand‐crafted and deep microscopic features are used to classify lung infection. The proposed work consists of two phases; in phase I, infected lung region is segmented using proposed U‐Net deep learning model. The hand‐crafted features are extracted such as histogram orientation gradient (HOG), noise to the harmonic ratio (NHr), and segmentation based fractal texture analysis (SFTA) from the segmented image, and optimum features are selected from each feature vector using entropy. In phase II, local binary patterns (LBPs), speeded up robust feature (Surf), and deep learning features are extracted using a pretrained network such as inceptionv3, ResNet101 from the input CT images, and select optimum features based on entropy. Finally, the optimum selected features using entropy are fused in two ways, (i) The hand‐crafted features (HOG, NHr, SFTA, LBP, SURF) are horizontally concatenated/fused (ii) The hand‐crafted features (HOG, NHr, SFTA, LBP, SURF) are combined/fused with deep features. The fused optimum features vector is passed to the ensemble models (Boosted tree, bagged tree, and RUSBoosted tree) in two ways for the COVID19 classification, (i) classification using fused hand‐crafted features (ii) classification using fusion of hand‐crafted features and deep features. The proposed methodology is tested /evaluated on three benchmark datasets. Two datasets employed for experiments and results show that hand‐crafted & deep microscopic feature's fusion provide better results compared to only hand‐crafted fused features.
A note on uniquely 10‐colorable graphs
Authors: Kriesell Matthias
Published: May 2021

Hadwiger conjectured that every graph of chromatic number admits a clique minor of order . Here we prove for , that every graph of chromatic number with a unique ‐coloring (up to the color names) admits a clique minor of order . The proof does not rely on the Four Color Theorem.