bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Betulinic acid abates N‐nitrosodimethylamine‐induced changes in lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the liver and kidney of Wistar rats
Authors: Adeleke Gbadebo E. , Adaramoye Oluwatosin A.
Published: September 2021

N‐nitrosamines have been linked with cancer in humans due to their presence in drinking water and diets. This study evaluated the role of betulinic acid (BA) in abating oxidative stress, inflammation, and hyperlipidemia in rats treated with N‐nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). Twenty‐four male rats were assigned into four equal groups. Group I served as the control, Group II received BA (25 mg/kg), Group III received NDMA (5 mg/kg) and, Group IV received BA (25 mg/kg) and NDMA (5 mg/kg). Results showed that the administration of NDMA significantly (p < 0.05) elevated malondialdehyde in the liver and kidney relative to controls. Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione‐S‐transferase, and the level of glutathione were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased by NDMA, while treatment with BA elevated the activities of these enzymes in the liver and kidney. The BA lowered serum interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha levels against the NDMA effect. Furthermore, NDMA increased hepatic and renal triglyceride while phospholipids levels were decreased. NDMA significantly modulated the activities of drug‐metabolizing enzymes (aniline hydroxylase, aminopyrine‐N‐demethylase, and uridyldiphosphoglucuronyltransferase), while BA was able to restore these enzymes to values close to controls. Histology revealed the presence of infiltration and fibroplasia in the liver, while cortical degeneration was noticed in the kidney in NDMA‐administered rats. These lesions were reduced in the NDMA rats treated with BA. The findings suggest that BA improves NDMA‐induced damage in the liver and kidney of rats through reactions that can be linked with antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and lipid‐lowering pathways.
Efficiencies of anaerobic hybrid and UASB reactors to alleviate the adverse effect of elevated salinity in wastewater
Authors: Hudayah Nasrul , Krainara Saowaluk , Kongduan Varunee , Chaiprasert Pawinee , Suraraksa Benjaphon
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND

Untreated high‐strength salinity wastewaters pose a serious threat to the environment. Anaerobic treatment is an effective process with double advantages of waste stabilization and energy production. However, high organic compound and sodium toxicity in high‐salinity wastewaters adversely affect the performance of anaerobic treatment. In this study, anaerobic hybrid (AH) and upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors were investigated for their efficiencies to alleviate the negative effects of high‐salinity wastewater.

RESULTS

Double increases in the NaCl concentration drastically deteriorated the performances of both reactors. The activities of acetoclastic methanogens (ACM) and hydrogenotrophic methanogens (HTM) in both reactors decreased to 22–28% and 36–40% compared to the previous period, respectively. However, the methanogen population (Methanosarcinales and Methanobacteriales) was not affected negatively. The AH reactor exhibited excellent performance during the recovery and restart periods, which only required 7 days to complete the recovery period. Furthermore, during the restart period, the AH reactor showed high chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, methane (CH4) production and yield as ≈90%, 2600 mL day−1 and 0.30 m3 CH4 kg−1 CODremoved, respectively. The rate of biomass washout from the AH reactor also was lower compared to the UASB reactor. The concentration of attached biomass in the packed zone of the AH reactor gradually increased indicating the growth of an active microbial biofilm.

CONCLUSION

The excellent performance of the AH reactor was presumably a result of its packed zone configuration which provided the supporting media to entrap smaller microbial aggregates, reduce biomass washout and support the growth of active biofilm. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Impact of lymph node dissection on clinical outcomes of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: Inverse probability of treatment weighting with survival analysis
Authors: Umeda Yuzo , Mitsuhashi Toshiharu , Kojima Toru , Satoh Daisuke , Sui Kenta , Endo Yoshikatsu , Inagaki Masaru , Oishi Masahiro , Yagi Takahito , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi
Published: September 2021

Background

Lymph node metastasis (LNM) has been established as a critical risk factor for prognosis in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The clinical implications of lymph node dissection (LND) have been debated. This study aimed to clarify the prognostic impact of LND by multicenter retrospective analysis.

Methods

A total of 310 ICC patients who had undergone curative resection between 2000 and 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The prognostic impact of LND was estimated under an inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) approach using propensity scores.

Results

LND was performed for 224 patients (72%), with LNM pathologically confirmed in 90 patients (40%). Prognosis was poorer for patients with LNM (median survival, 16.9 months) than for those without (57.2 months; P < .0001). One‐, 3‐, and 5‐year overall survival rates (OS) were comparable among LND+ (81.6%, 48.0%, and 37.5%, respectively) and LND– groups (81.6%, 55.4%, and 44.6%, respectively). However, advanced tumor, as characterized by larger tumor, multinodular lesions, and serosal invasion, was significantly more frequent in the LND+ group than in the LND– group. After IPTW adjusting for imbalances, 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year OS were better in the LND+ group (83.5%, 52.2%, and 42.8%, respectively) than in the LND– group (71.9%, 32.4%, and 23.4%, respectively; P = .046). LND thus showed significant prognostic impact (hazard ratio = 0.58, 95%CI = |0.39|–|0.84|, P = .005), especially in hilar ICC. However, peripheral ICC displayed no therapeutic benefit from LND.

Conclusions

LND could have a significant role to play in improving oncologic outcomes. Therapeutic LND should be implemented on the basis of tumor location and tumor advancement.
Ten‐year outcome results of cT4 breast cancer after neoadjuvant treatment
Authors: Corso Giovanni , Kahler‐Ribeiro‐Fontana Sabrina , Pagan Eleonora , Bagnardi Vincenzo , Magnoni Francesca , Munzone Elisabetta , Bottiglieri Luca , Veronesi Paolo , Galimberti Viviana
Published: September 2021

Background and Objectives

cT4 breast cancer (BC) is classified as noninflammatory breast cancer (non‐IBC) or inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). The outcome often is considered worse. The purpose of this study was to determine recurrence and outcomes in overall survival (OS), invasive disease‐free survival (IDFS), distant disease‐free survival (DDFS) according to pathological complete response (pCR), and inflammatory status.

Methods

From 2000 to 2015 we selected 634 nonmetastatic cT4 BC patients treated with neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery at the European Institute of Oncology. OS, IDFS, and DDFS were estimated with the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

The median follow‐up was 9.0 years. Twenty patients underwent only sentinel node biopsy (SNB), 13 SNB + AD, and 601 only AD. Considering the 614 patients with AD, only 2.5% of non‐IBC patients reported pCR compared to 15% of IBC cases. Only two axillary recurrences were reported. Ten‐year results were 52.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 47.8–56.5) for OS, 37.0% (95% CI: 32.6–41.3) for IDFS, and 49.8% (95% CI: 45.0–54.4) for DDFS. OS, IDFS, and DDFS were better in all BC with pCR (irrespective of inflammatory status).

Conclusion

Our long‐term results demonstrated that pCR significantly improves survival, reducing locoregional and distant recurrence risk in cT4 tumors with respect to patients with no pCR and according to inflammatory status of cT4 BC.
Investigation of Adult Post‐Tonsillectomy Hemorrhage Rates and the Impact of NSAID Use
Authors: McLean James E. , Hill Christopher J. , Riddick Jeanelle B. , Folsom Craig R.
Published: September 2021

Objectives/Hypothesis

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common ambulatory surgeries performed in the United States, yet the incidence of post‐tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) in adults remains unclear. In addition, any association between non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and PTH in adults is currently unknown. The aim of this study is to examine the incidence and management of adult PTH at a single academic center and to assess for any association between NSAID use and PTH in adults.

Study Design

Retrospective chart review.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of adult tonsillectomies performed at our institution between January 1, 2012, and December 30, 2019. Demographics, past medical history, medications, NSAID use, surgical indication, bleeding events, and interventions were documented. The rate of PTH was calculated, logistic regression was performed to assess for any predictive factors, and odds ratios were calculated for NSAID use and PTH.

Results

A total of 1,057 adult tonsillectomies were performed within the aforementioned time period. A total of 126 patients experienced 163 bleeding events for a postoperative hemorrhage rate of 11.9%. Most were controlled with bedside interventions, while 29 (23%) bled more than once. The hemorrhage rate for those who were not prescribed NSAIDs postoperatively (n = 625) was 11.7%, compared to 12.6% for those who did receive NSAIDs postoperatively (n = 432), which was not significantly different (adjusted odds ratio 1.01, 95% confidence interval 0.69–1.49; P = .95).

Conclusions

This retrospective cohort study of 1,057 adult patients found the incidence of PTH to be 11.9%. This study found no association between the use of NSAIDs and the rate of PTH, although a higher‐powered study is needed.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 132:949–953, 2022
Improved Maxwell Model Approach and its Applicability toward Lifetime Prediction of Biobased Viscoelastic Fibers
Authors: Schippers Christina , Tsarkova Larisa A. , Bahners Thomas , Gutmann Jochen S. , Cleve Ernst
Published: September 2021

The evaluation of relaxation measurements is a well‐established technique for predicting the lifetime of polymer materials, with research primarily focusing on increasing prediction accuracy and minimizing material testing time. The current study presents a novel approach toward describing the long‐term behavior of viscoelastic polymers based on the Maxwell model. It assumes a mean relaxation time of the polymer chains in conjunction with a dimensionless number that accounts for averaged polymer chain inhomogeneities. This coefficient is analogous to the dimensionless number, which successfully describes the asymmetry of both the Weibull distribution and of particle size distribution according to the Rosin, Rammler, Sperling and Bennet model. In comparison to earlier models based on time‐superposition principles, the current approach enables lifetime prediction using a single short‐term measurement, which must be taken at a properly chosen applied strain. The applicability of the new model in predicting the long‐term behavior has been demonstrated by the analysis of the relaxation behavior of semi‐crystalline bio‐based fibers.
Effect of Initiator Structure on Thiol‐Ene Polymerization: A DFT Study
Authors: Degirmenci Isa
Published: September 2021

The performance of commercial initiators on thiol‐ene polymerization has been investigated by utilizing the M062X/6‐31++G(d,p) level of theory. The reactivity of initiators has been explained by the rate coefficients of addition (ki), which is considered side reaction and hydrogen abstraction (kHA) reactions. In this respect, radicals generated from azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) and 2,2‐dimethoxy‐2‐phenylacetophenone (DMPA) have been modeled. In the case of AIBN and the propene‐methyl thiol couple as reactants, it has been illustrated that side reaction is highly possible because the calculated rate coefficients ki and kHA are close to each other 1.02E+00 and 1.50E+02 l mol–1 s–1, respectively. In styrene, methyl methacrylate, and maleimide applications, the discrepancy between these reaction rates is relatively less. The high reactivity of DMPA has been explained by possessing high kHA values of formed radicals. The hydrogen abstraction reaction is significantly faster than the addition reactions for generated radicals methyl (CH3•) and benzoyl (C6H5CO•). For methyl methacrylate, side reaction is probable even in the application of DMPA since relatively fast addition reactions (the ki for CH3• and C6H5CO• radicals are 4.71E+04 and 3.42E+04 l mol–1 s–1 respectively.). Styrene and maleimide show a similar reactivity tendency with methyl methacrylate.
Eugenol modulates genomic methylation and inactivates breast cancer‐associated fibroblasts through E2F1‐dependent downregulation of DNMT1/DNMT3A
Authors: Al‐Kharashi Layla A. , Bakheet Tala , AlHarbi Wejdan A. , Al‐Moghrabi Nisreen , Aboussekhra Abdelilah
Published: September 2021

Active cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are major components of the tumor microenvironment, which promote carcinogenesis and modulate response to therapy. Therefore, targeting these cells or reducing their paracrine pro‐carcinogenic effects could be of great therapeutic value. To this end, we sought to investigate the effect of eugenol, a natural phenolic molecule, on active breast CAFs. We have shown that decitabine (5‐Aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine, DAC) and eugenol inhibit the expression of the DNA methyltransferase genes DNMT1 and DNMT3A at both the protein and mRNA levels in breast CAF cells. While the effect of eugenol was persistent, DAC had only a transient inhibitory effect on the mRNA level of both DNMT genes. Furthermore, eugenol and DAC suppressed the invasive/migratory and proliferative potential of CAF cells as well as their paracrine pro‐carcinogenic effects both in vitro and in humanized orthotopic tumor xenografts. Interestingly, these inhibitory effects of decitabine and eugenol were mediated through E2F1 downregulation. Indeed, ectopic expression of E2F1 upregulated both genes and attenuated the effects of eugenol. Additionally, we provide clear evidence that eugenol, like DAC, strongly modulates the methylation pattern in active CAF cells, through methylating several oncogenes and demethylating various important tumor suppressor genes, which affected their mRNA expression levels. Importantly, the E2F1 promoter was also hypermethylated and the gene downregulated in response to eugenol. Together, these findings show that the active features of breast CAF cells can be normalized through eugenol‐dependent targeting of DNMT1/DNMT3A and the consequent modulation in gene methylation.
Applications of medicinal chemistry for drug discovery against Acanthamoeba infections
Authors: Ahmed Usman , Anwar Ayaz , Ong Seng‐Kai , Anwar Areeba , Khan Naveed Ahmed
Published: September 2021

Acanthamoeba is a genus of free‐living amoebae, pervasively found in the environment. Most of its pathogenic species are the causative agent of sight‐threatening Acanthamoeba keratitis and fatal granulomatous amoebic encephalitis. Despite the advancements in the field of chemotherapy, treating Acanthamoeba infections is still challenging due to incomplete knowledge of the complicated pathophysiology. In case of infection, the treatment regimen for the patients is often ineffective due to delayed diagnosis, poor specificity, and side‐effects. Besides the resistance of Acanthamoeba cysts to most of the drugs, the recurrence of infection further complicates the recovery. Thus, it is necessary to develop an effective treatment which can eradicate these rare, but serious infections. Based on various computational and in vitro studies, it has been established that the synthetic scaffolds such as heterocyclic compounds may act as potential drug leads for the development of antiamoebic drugs. In this review, we report different classes of synthetic compounds especially heterocyclic compounds which have shown promising results against Acanthamoeba. Moreover, the antiamoebic activities of synthetic compounds with their possible mode of actions against Acanthamoeba, have been summarized and discussed in this review.
A comparative analysis of two computational schemes for solving local fractional Laplace equations
Authors: Dubey Ved Prakash , Singh Jagdev , Alshehri Ahmed M. , Dubey Sarvesh , Kumar Devendra
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we implement the semi‐analytical schemes, namely, local fractional homotopy perturbation Sumudu transform method (LFHPSTM) and local fractional homotopy analysis Sumudu transform method (LFHASTM), for finding the approximate analytical solutions of local fractional Laplace equations under different initial conditions on Cantor sets. The novelty of the work lies in the application of these suggested schemes which were never used to solve the local fractional Laplace equation. The Laplace equation mainly contributes to electrostatistics, mechanical engineering, and theoretical physics. This equation also helps in formulation of the electrostatic problem of a rod under a torsion load. Moreover, it helps in handling potential field problems also. These aspects enhance the significance of getting a solution of the local fractional Laplace equation in fractal media. The suggested methods are copulation of local fractional homotopy perturbation method and local fractional homotopy analysis method with the local fractional Sumudu transform, respectively. The computational process indicates that the schemes are very efficient to obtain nondifferentiable solutions for given equations in a smooth way. Moreover, the solution analysis depicts that both the local fractional hybrid homotopy schemes are in a good agreement with each other. These methods depict the accuracy and efficiency of the implemented methods in view of correspondence with solutions obtained with other methods in previous works. The numerical simulations for obtained results are discussed for various values of order of a local fractional derivative. The 3D graphs on the Cantor set are constructed with the help of Matlab software.
Recommendations for photoprotection of parenteral nutrition for premature infants: An ASPEN position paper
Authors: Robinson Daniel T. , Ayers Phil , Fleming Barbara , Gura Kathleen M. , Gutsul Liliia , Michalski Austin , Holcombe Beverly , Sacks Gordon S.
Published: September 2021

Although crucial in improving health outcomes in the preterm infants, parenteral nutrition (PN) is not without risk, especially if handled improperly. A growing body of evidence suggests that components of PN admixtures, including lipid injectable emulsions (ILEs), are susceptible to degradation, including oxidation when exposed to light (ie, photo‐oxidation), resulting in the production of reactive oxygen species. Infants, especially those born preterm, are considered more susceptible to consequences of oxidative stress than children and adults. Oxidative stress is associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, and intestinal failure–associated liver disease. The American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) assembled a working group to provide recommendations on clinical practice surrounding photoprotection of PN.This Position Paper reviews the scientific literature on the formation of quantifiable peroxides and other degradation products when PN admixtures and ILEs are exposed to light and reports adverse clinical outcomes in premature infants exposed to PN. Recommendations for photoprotection of PN admixtures and ILEs are provided, as well as the challenges in achieving complete photoprotection with the equipment, supplies, and materials currently available in the US. ASPEN and the authors understand that the full implementation of complete photoprotection may not currently be feasible given current product availability; recommendations provided in this paper serve to represent the goal to which to strive as well as to highlight the importance of product availability to achieve these practices. This paper has been approved by the ASPEN Board of Directors.
Comparative efficacy of non‐pharmacological interventions on behavioural and psychological symptoms in elders with dementia: A network meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Wenjie , Xu Xiaofeng , Wu Fen , Ni Yuanyuan , Lan Jun , Hu Xiuying
Published: September 2021

Aim

To explore the best non‐pharmaceutical interventions for improving the behavioural and psychological symptoms in elders with dementia.

Design

Bayesian network meta‐analysis.

Methods

A comprehensive electronic literature search was performed in five English databases and four Chinese databases to identify relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that were published up to 31 October 2019.

Results

A total of 41 RCTs were included in this network meta‐analysis involving 5 different non‐pharmacological interventions: therapeutic recreation (TC), reminiscence therapy (RT), behaviour therapy (BT), massage therapy (MT) and individualized nursing (IN).The results of network meta‐analysis showed that individualized nursing was the best in improving depression, cognitive function, and activities of daily living of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Behaviour therapy was the best in improving anxiety symptoms. Reminiscence therapy was the best in improving neuropsychiatric symptoms.
Bond behavior of BFRP bars in concrete under lateral pressure
Authors: Zhao Yushuai , Zhang Yingying , Yu Penghao , Xu Junhao
Published: September 2021

Basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars have been widely studied because of its advantages in corrosive environment. At present, the researches on the bond properties of basalt FRP bars mainly focus on the types of bars, bond length and environmental effects. In this paper, the bond properties of 12 mm diameter glass fiber reinforced bars with unilateral and bilateral compressive stresses of 0, 0.15, 0.3, 0.45, 0.6 and 0.75 were studied for revealing the effects of lateral stress. In addition, based on the analysis of the influence of compressive stress on the failure mode, a theoretical analysis model is established. Based on the fitting of ultimate bond strength and slip amount, the bond slip constitutive model of basalt fiber embedded in concrete is proposed, which can work under different compressive stress.
Amorphous High‐Entropy Hydroxides of Tunable Wide Solar Absorption for Solar Water Evaporation
Authors: Pan Jie , Bao Yan , Wang Hao , Lyu Fucong , Liu Lu , Wang Chong , Tang Xinxue , Lu Jian , Li Yang Yang
Published: September 2021

The high‐entropy materials have raised much attention in recent years due to their extraordinary performances in mechanical, catalysis, energy storage fields. Herein, a new type of high‐entropy hydroxides (e.g., NiFeCoMnAl(OH)x) that are amorphous and capable of broad solar absorption is reported. A facile one‐pot co‐precipitation method is employed to synthesize these amorphous high‐entropy hydroxides (a‐HEHOs) under ambient conditions. The a‐HEHOs thus obtained display widely tunable bandgap (e.g., from 2.6 to 1.1 eV) due to their high‐entropy and amorphous characteristics, enabling efficient light absorbance and photothermal conversion in the solar regime. Further solar water evaporation measurements show that the a‐HEHOs delivered a considerable energy conversion efficiency of 55%, comparable to black titanium oxides that are synthesized using more complex and expensive methods.
Is cardiorespiratory disease associated with increased susceptibility of SARS‐CoV‐2 in children?
Authors: Du Berry Cassidy , Saunders Thomas , McMinn Alissa , Tosif Shidan , Shanthikumar Shivanthan , Vandeleur Moya , Harrison Joanne , Burgner David , Ranganathan Sarath , Crawford Nigel , Wurzel Danielle
Published: September 2021

Background

There are limited data in pediatric populations evaluating whether chronic cardiorespiratory conditions are associated with increased risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). We aimed to compare the rates of chronic cardiac and respiratory disease in children testing positive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2[+]) compared with those testing negative (SARS‐CoV‐2[−]) at our institution.

Method

Prospective cohort with nested case–control study of all children tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for SARS‐CoV‐2 by nasopharyngeal/oropharyngeal sampling between March and October 2020. Children were identified prospectively via laboratory notification with age and sex‐matching of SARS‐CoV‐2[+] to SARS‐CoV‐2[−] (1:2). Clinical data were extracted from the electronic medical record.

Results

In total, 179 SARS‐CoV‐2[+] children (44% females, median age 3.5 years, range: 0.1–19.0 years) were matched to 391 SARS‐CoV‐2[−] children (42% female, median age 3.7 years, range: 0.1–18.3 years). The commonest comorbidities showed similar frequencies in the SARS‐CoV‐2[+] and [−] groups: asthma (n = 9, 5% vs. n = 17, 4.4%, p = 0.71), congenital heart disease (n = 6, 3.4% vs. n = 7, 1.8%, p = 0.25) and obstructive sleep apnoea (n = 4, 2.2% vs. n = 10, 2.3%, p = 0.82). In the SARS‐CoV‐2[+] group, the prevalence of symptomatic disease was similar among children with and without cardiorespiratory comorbidities (n = 12, 75% vs. n = 103, 57%, p = 0.35). A high proportion of children hospitalized with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection had cardiac comorbidities (23.8%).

Conclusions

In this single site data set, rates of pre‐existing cardiorespiratory disease were similar in SARS‐CoV‐2[+] and SARS‐CoV‐2[−] children. Rates of symptomatic infection were similar between children with and without cardiorespiratory comorbidity. High rates of comorbid cardiac disease were observed among hospitalized children with COVID‐19 warranting further research to inform vaccine prioritization.
Cost‐utility of as‐needed combination low‐dose budesonide‐formoterol in adolescents mild asthma
Authors: Buendía Jefferson Antonio , Guerrero Patiño Diana , Talamoni Hernan Lucio
Published: September 2021

Background

Previously evidence has demonstrated that as‐needed combination low‐dose budesonide‐formoterol reduced the risk of severe exacerbations compared with short‐acting β2‐agonist (SABA) reliever therapy in an adolescent with mild asthma. Concerns as if the extra benefit offered by this drug outweighs the additional cost. This study aimed to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of as‐needed combination low‐dose budesonide‐formoterol compared with short‐acting β2‐agonist (SABA) reliever therapy in adolescents with mild asthma in Colombia.

Methods

A probabilistic Markov model was created to estimate the cost and quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs) of patients with mild asthma in Colombia. Total costs and QALYs of low‐dose budesonide‐formoterol compared with short‐acting β2‐agonist (SABA) were calculated over a lifetime horizon. Multiple sensitivity analyses were conducted. Cost‐effectiveness was evaluated at a willingness‐to‐pay value of $19,000.

Results

The model suggests a potential gain of 0.03 QALYs and per patient per year on low‐dose budesonide‐formoterol. The cost difference per person was US$−4 per patient per year in favor of budesonide‐ formoterol. The position of dominance negates the need to calculate an incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio. In the one‐way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses, our base‐case results were robust to variations of all assumptions and parameters.

Conclusion

In conclusion, low‐dose budesonide‐formoterol as a reliever was found to be cost‐effective when added to usual care in adolescents with mild asthma. This evidence should promote economic evaluations in developed and developing countries for the inclusion of new drugs in health insurance plans.
When homologous sequences meet structural decoys: Accurate contact prediction by tFold in CASP14—(tFold for CASP14 contact prediction)
Authors: Shen Tao , Wu Jiaxiang , Lan Haidong , Zheng Liangzhen , Pei Jianguo , Wang Sheng , Liu Wei , Huang Junzhou
Published: September 2021

In this paper, we report our tFold framework's performance on the inter‐residue contact prediction task in the 14th Critical Assessment of protein Structure Prediction (CASP14). Our tFold framework seamlessly combines both homologous sequences and structural decoys under an ultra‐deep network architecture. Squeeze‐excitation and axial attention mechanisms are employed to effectively capture inter‐residue interactions. In CASP14, our best predictor achieves 41.78% in the averaged top‐L precision for long‐range contacts for all the 22 free‐modeling (FM) targets, and ranked 1st among all the 60 participating teams. The tFold web server is now freely available at: https://drug.ai.tencent.com/console/en/tfold.
Modeling and Analysis of Yielding and Strain Hardening in Metastable High‐Entropy Alloys
Authors: Ren Siwei , Li Li , Fang Qihong , Li Jia
Published: September 2021

Metastable dual‐phase high‐entropy alloys (HEAs) have become an attractive paradigm as structural materials due to their outstanding mechanical properties compared with single‐phase HEAs, which originate from the multiple strengthening mechanisms. Herein, a theoretical model is established by integrating the effects of lattice distortion, dislocation, grain boundary, and phase transformation, to study the mechanical responses of metastable HEAs during uniaxial tensile deformation. The results show the contribution of various mechanisms to the strength, and strain hardening can be determined quantitatively. In particular, the face‐centered cubic (FCC) to body‐centered cubic (BCC) phase transformation would dominate the flow stress with plastic strain to exceed 6%, due to the strong phase interface strengthening and the formation of hard BCC phase. This work provides a microstructure‐based constitutive model for predicting the flow stress and strain hardening properties of metastable HEAs.
Reappraisal of Peak Shape Method Based on Average Geometrical Symmetry Factor and Its Application to Thermoluminescence Glow Curves
Authors: Kundu Mohan , Chakrabarty Saurish , Bhattacharyya Sukhamoy , Majumdar Partha Sarathi
Published: September 2021

A new set of peak shape formulas at different fractional intensities is proposed to extract the activation energy from a thermoluminescence (TL) glow curve. The peak shape coefficients are formulated on the basis of the average geometrical symmetry factor which is estimated considering its dependence on the relevant TL parameters. An empirical dependence of the geometrical symmetry factor on order of kinetics and other parameters is also reported. The present method is used on TL peaks generated in general order kinetics (GOK) approximation and in one trap one recombination center (OTOR) model using a wide range of TL parameters. During the course of TL peak simulation, an alternative analytical approach to evaluate the “temperature integral” is developed. The present method seems to be useful to evaluate the activation energy for all peaks except for the heavy retrapping cases when the initial trap saturation is considerably high. A probable reason behind this limitation is also explored by examining the correspondence between the temperature average of order of kinetics and the retrapping‐to‐recombination probability. Finally, the new peak shape formulas are tried on isolated single peaks deconvoluted from composite experimental TL curves reported in the literature and the results are quite satisfactory.
Vertical Distribution in Inverted Nonfullerene Polymer Solar Cells by Layer‐by‐Layer Solution Fabrication Process
Authors: Xie Xiangdong , Liao Jianping , Liu Junqin , Meng Yilong , Huang Wenyin , Zhan Xiaozhi , Wang Li-Ming , Li Qingduan , Zhu Tao , Liu Shengjian , Cai Yue-Peng
Published: September 2021

The layer‐by‐layer (LBL) solution process is a potential technology for future application of polymer solar cells (PSCs), while the vertical composition distribution evolution of the LBL active layer is still unknown. In this work, taking advantage of the LBL method and inverted device structure, inverted LBL‐processed PSCs are fabricated with polymer donor PM6 and nonfullerene small‐molecule acceptor Y6. As‐prepared devices with PM6 as the bottom layer and Y6 as the top layer exhibit low power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), while the post‐treatment brings a significant boost on the device performance (from 8.5% to 14.4%). The vertical composition distribution evolution of LBL photoactive layer is investigated by the combination of surface atom distribution analysis via X‐ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS) and composition distribution across the bulk of the films via neutron reflectivity (NR). The findings can potentially offer positive guidance for the further utilization of organic photovoltaics.
Probing Intervalence Band Coupling via High‐Harmonic Generation in Binary Zinc‐Blende Semiconductors
Authors: Hagen Maria K. , Koch Stephan W.
Published: September 2021

A systematic microscopic theory is presented for high‐harmonic generation in III–V semiconductors that are excited by strongly detuned high‐intensity electromagnetic pulses. As a mechanism for the appearance of even harmonic orders, the quantum interference of different transition paths is analyzed. For the binary zinc‐blende semiconductors, InAs, InP, and GaAs, the intensity ratio between even‐ and odd‐order harmonic emission depends on the strength of the respective intervalence band dipole coupling. However, the large intervalence band dipole in InP leads to even and odd harmonics of similar intensity, no or only very minor even‐order emission due to quantum interference is predicted for InAs where the fundamental transition is strongly favored over intervalence band transitions.
Ni–Graphene Composite Obtained by Pressure–Temperature Treatment: Atomistic Simulations
Authors: Safina Liliya R. , Baimova Julia A. , Krylova Karina A. , Murzaev Ramil T. , Shcherbinin Srepan A. , Mulyukov Radik R.
Published: September 2021

The incorporation of metal nanoparticles into novel carbon structures, such as crumpled graphene (CG), is a promising way to obtain a composite with better mechanical properties. Molecular dynamics simulation is used to investigate the deformation behavior of Ni–graphene composites, obtained by high‐temperature treatment, under uniaxial tension. The effect of temperatures between 1000 and 2000 K as well as the effect of nanoparticle size and anisotropy of the structure on the mechanical properties of the composite are studied. It is found that temperature from 1000 to 2000 K slightly affects the process of composite formation under hydrostatic compression. During the elastic regime of tension of the composite, the same values of Young's modulus are found for structures obtained at different temperatures. However, the ratio of nickel and carbon atoms considerably affects the mechanical properties under uniaxial tension: the less the number of Ni atoms, the higher the composite strength. Two of the three considered morphologies demonstrate close Young modulus and high strength. It is shown that the important advantage of the proposed structure is its homogeneity, which results in almost isotropic deformation. The obtained results open new prospects in using CG for composite fabrication.
Gold‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines Regioselectively via 6‐endo‐dig Cyclization
Authors: Sreenivasulu Gottam , Kadiyala Veerabhushanam , Raju Chittala Emmaniel , Sridhar Balasubramanian , Karunakar Galla V.
Published: September 2021

An efficient gold‐catalyzed synthesis of pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines have been developed from pyrazolo substituted propargyl alcohols via 6‐endo‐dig cyclization. In this intramolecular cyclization reaction a new C−N bond was formed regioselectively and good to excellent yields of pyrazolo[1,5‐a]pyridines were obtained in one‐pot.
Bringing Color to Sugars: The Chemical Assembly of Carbohydrates to BODIPY Dyes
Authors: Gomez Ana M. , Lopez J. Cristobal
Published: September 2021

The combination of carbohydrates with BODIPY fluorophores gives rise to a family of BODIPY‐carbohydrate hybrids or glyco‐BODIPYs, which mutually benefit from the encounter. Thus, from the carbohydrates standpoint, glyco‐BODIPYs can be regarded as fluorescent glycoconjugate derivatives with application in imaging techniques, whereas from the fluorophore view the BODIPY‐carbohydrate hybrids benefit from the biocompatibility, water‐solubility, and reduced toxicity, among others, brought about by the sugar moiety. In this Account we have intended to present the collection of available methods for the synthesis of BODIPY‐carbohydrate hybrids, with a focus on the chemical transformations on the BODIPY core.
Introduction: The Personal Is Still Political
Authors: Distiller Natasha
Published: September 2021

This chapter lays out the argument for a psychological humanities, as well as the theoretical framework for ideas developed in the rest of the book. It explains the concept of complicity, which is the term developed in the book to argue against binary thinking as a way of understanding human being and human psychology. The history of psychology as a discipline is outlined, in order to connect it to processes of Western modernity. The chapter defines binary thinking, the notion of self and other, and outlines the relationships between the different branches of psychology.
Well-Intentioned White People and Other Problems with Liberalism
Authors: Distiller Natasha
Published: September 2021

This chapter focuses on liberalism and neoliberalism as both constituents and consequences of the emergence of the psy disciplines through specific processes of modernity in the West. It explores the unified Cartesian subject on which psychology initially depended. It addresses American and South African versions of liberalism and their relationship to race. It also addresses the notion of universal humanity and its relation to the idea of complicity, and begins to apply the idea to intersubjective psychology. The chapter also summarizes the place of Freud’s Oedipus complex in this matrix of ideas and history, and the idea of the Western subject that has emerged accordingly, through and for psychology.
Thought Bodies: Gender, Sex, Sexualities
Authors: Distiller Natasha
Published: September 2021

This chapter continues to explore what the theory of complicity brings, this time to gender, sex and sexuality. It offers a history of the emergence of binary gender and its relation to Western modernity as well as to race and other intersectionalities. It explores a complicitous understanding of transgender personhood in and through queer, feminist and psychological discourses. It also applies complicity to the idea of consent in heterosexual relations, and to transnational LGBTQ+ identities and colonial histories, with a focus on South Africa.
Love and Money
Authors: Distiller Natasha
Published: September 2021

This chapter extends the analysis beyond the subjectivities enabled by Enlightenment liberalism to neoliberal millennial subjectivities. It explores how late capitalism interacts with social media. It argues that human connections have become commodified and structuring principles for human being have changed as a result of specific confluences of the historical and psychological forces tracked so far in previous chapters.
The Complicit Therapist
Authors: Distiller Natasha
Published: September 2021

This chapter explores therapeutic modalities that fit with a complicit theory of human being: feminist therapy, Interpersonal Neurobiology, Polyvagal Theory, Internal Family Systems and intersubjectivity. It examines how to be both systems-oriented and work from a depth approach which is an element of complicit thinking. In exploring how to work therapeutically within this frame, the chapter reiterates the importance of a nonbinary understanding of human being, which has been one of the main points argued throughout the book. This, ultimately, is why the psychological humanities is important: It allows for both the art and the science of psychotherapy to co-exist in a nonbinary way. The chapter also addresses another of the ongoing themes of the book, a complicit approach to identity politics, which is connected to a social-justice-oriented psychotherapy practice.
Why Bad Policies Spread (and Good Ones Don't)
Authors: Shipan Charles R. , Volden Craig
Published: September 2021

Building on a deep theoretical foundation and drawing on numerous examples, we examine how policies spread across the American states. We argue that for good policies to spread while bad policies are pushed aside, states must learn from one another. The three ingredients for this positive outcome are observable experiments, time to learn, and favorable incentives and expertise among policymakers. Although these ingredients are sometimes plentiful, we also note causes for concern, such as when policies are complex or incompatible with current practices, when policymakers give in to underlying political biases, or when political institutions lack the capacity for cultivating expertise. Under such conditions, states may rely on competition, imitation, and coercion, rather than learning, which can allow bad policies, rather than good ones, to spread. We conclude with lessons for reformers and policymakers and an assessment of our overall argument based on state responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Irish Political Writings after 1725
Authors: Swift Jonathan
Published: September 2021

This latest volume of The Cambridge Edition of the Works of Jonathan Swift is the first fully annotated edition of Swift's Irish prose writings from 1726 to 1737. Works in this volume include the famous A Modest Proposal, the acerbic A Short View of the State of Ireland, Swift's contributions to The Intelligencer, and other prose pieces of satire, polemic and intervention into contemporary Irish politics. Most of these works have never previously been published with full scholarly annotation, or with a complete and textually authoritative apparatus. This volume offers a comprehensive introduction, setting Swift's writings of the period into their full historical, political and economic context. In addition to a critical introduction and appendices, there is also an up-to-date bibliography. The volume enables Swift's role as a political and social commentator in the years after the publication of Gulliver's Travels to be understood with new clarity.
Interpretation of Corporate Acquisition Contracts in Japan: A Legal Transplant through Contract Drafting
Authors: Hoshi Akio
Published: September 2021

This article explores Japanese transactional lawyers’ attempts to transplant American legal practice concerning corporate acquisition contracts into Japan. Despite their extensive efforts to disseminate legal concepts originating from the common law into the Japanese legal community, their transplantation attempts produced somewhat unexpected results by the promoters of the transplant. Faced with unfamiliar drafting styles and legal concepts, Japanese courts interpreted American-style corporate acquisition contracts in accordance with traditional Japanese-style contract interpretation. As a result, attempts by Japanese practitioners at transplantation were incomplete. This incompleteness is attributable to their inattention to the differences in approaches to contract interpretation between Japanese and New York courts. New York's approach is much more formalistic and literal than Japan's. If fully aware, however, they could have filled the gap by using functional substitutes for American techniques of controlling adjudicators’ contract interpretation which would effectively operate under Japanese law. Japan's experience confirms that a widely supported view in comparative law scholarship that transplanted law does not necessarily operate in the recipient jurisdiction as it did in its host jurisdiction is applicable to the transplantation of contract drafting practices.
Leukodystrophy Due to eIF2B Mutations in Adults
Authors: Shivaram Sumanth , Nagappa Madhu , Seshagiri Doniparthi Venkata , Saini Jitender , Govindaraj Periyasamy , Sinha Sanjib , Bindu Parayil Sankaran , Taly Arun B.
Published: September 2021

Vanishing white matter disease (VWMD) due to eIF2B mutations is a common leukodystrophy characterised by childhood onset, autosomal recessive inheritance, and progressive clinical course with episodic worsening. There are no reports of genetically confirmed adult patients from India. We describe the phenotype of two adults with genetically confirmed VWMD and typical radiological findings. Both had spastic ataxia and cognitive and behavioural disturbances. Other neurological features included myoclonic jerks and parkinsonism. At the last follow-up (duration: 2–9 years), one patient was wheelchair-bound. VWMD is rare in adults but should be suspected based on radiological findings and confirmed by eIF2B mutation.
Indigenous Epistemologies of North America
Authors: Allen Barry
Published: September 2021

Indigenous cultures of North America confronted a problem of knowledge different from that of canonical European philosophy. The European problem is to identify and overcome obstacles to the perfection of knowledge as science, while the Indigenous problem is to conserve a legacy of practice fused with a territory. Complicating the difference is that one of these traditions violently colonized the other, and with colonization the Indigenous problem changes. The old problem of inter-generational stability cannot be separated from the post-colonial problem of sovereignty in the land where the knowledge makes sense. I differentiate the question of the value of knowledge (Part 1), and its content (Part 2). The qualities these epistemologies favor define what I callceremonial knowledge, that is, knowledge that sustains a ceremonial community. The question of content considers the interdisciplinary research of Indigenous and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, as well as the issue of epistemic decolonization.
Strategic Transformation in Japan’s SMEs, 1990–2008: Flexible Specialization, Industrial Restructuring, and Technological Change
Authors: Fitzgerald Robert , Dyerson Romano , Mishimagi Tatsuya
Published: September 2021

The bursting of the “bubble economy” in 1989–1990 brought decades of challenge for Japanese Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), which had assumed the role of subcontractor within production networks dominated by large companies. This article explores the impact of a rapidly altered business environment, due to economic crisis, the decline of relational subcontracting, and technological change, on the management and organization of firms. It provides a needed historical account of Japanese SMEs striving to avoid “hollowing out,” and detailed case studies explain what gaining greater independence as a flexible specialist meant in practice. A focus on the immediate advantages of computerized tools could not bring about the intended strategic objectives, whereas the systemizing of new and existing resources in skills and equipment enabled sustainable competitive differentiation in production and products. The case studies map out the internal competence transformations of SMEs over time, and indicate the value of historical approaches to exploring strategic and organizational change.
Reeb orbits that force topological entropy
Authors: ALVES MARCELO R. R. , PIRNAPASOV ABROR
Published: September 2021

We develop a forcing theory of topological entropy for Reeb flows in dimension three. A transverse link L in a closed contact

$3$

-manifold

$(Y,\xi )$

is said to force topological entropy if

$(Y,\xi )$

admits a Reeb flow with vanishing topological entropy, and every Reeb flow on

$(Y,\xi )$

realizing L as a set of periodic Reeb orbits has positive topological entropy. Our main results establish topological conditions on a transverse link L, which imply that L forces topological entropy. These conditions are formulated in terms of two Floer theoretical invariants: the cylindrical contact homology on the complement of transverse links introduced by Momin [A. Momin. J. Mod. Dyn.5 (2011), 409–472], and the strip Legendrian contact homology on the complement of transverse links, introduced by Alves [M. R. R. Alves. PhD Thesis, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 2014] and further developed here. We then use these results to show that on every closed contact

$3$

-manifold that admits a Reeb flow with vanishing topological entropy, there exist transverse knots that force topological entropy.