bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FDA Supplemental Approval Summary: Lenvatinib for the Treatment of Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Nair Abhilasha , Reece Kelie , Donoghue Martha B. , Yuan Weishi (Vivian) , Rodriguez Lisa , Keegan Patricia , Pazdur Richard
Published: October 2020

On August 16, 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved lenvatinib (Lenvima, Eisai Inc.) for first-line treatment of patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Approval was based on an international, multicenter, randomized, open-label, noninferiority trial (REFLECT; NCT01761266) conducted in 954 patients with previously untreated metastatic or unresectable HCC. Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive lenvatinib (12 mg orally once daily for patients with a baseline body weight ≥60 kg and 8 mg orally once daily for patients with a baseline body weight <60 kg) or sorafenib (400 mg orally twice daily) until radiological disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. REFLECT demonstrated that lenvatinib was noninferior but not statistically superior to sorafenib for overall survival (OS; hazard ratio, [HR] 0.92; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.79–1.06), with median OS of 13.6 and 12.3 months in the lenvatinib and sorafenib arms, respectively. REFLECT also demonstrated statistically significant improvements in investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS; HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.57–0.77]; p < 0.001), corresponding to median PFS of 7.4 and 3.7 months and overall response rate of 24.1% vs 9.2% per modified RECIST for HCC (mRECIST) in the lenvatinib and sorafenib arms, respectively. Consistent results were observed by an independent review facility per RECISTv1.1 and per mRECIST. The most common adverse reactions observed in the lenvatinib-treated patients (≥20%) in decreasing frequency were hypertension, fatigue, diarrhea, decreased appetite, arthralgia/myalgia, decreased weight, abdominal pain, palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome, proteinuria, dysphonia, hemorrhagic events, hypothyroidism, and nausea.

Implications for Practice

This article describes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's review of data from a single trial, REFLECT, that supported the approval of lenvatinib, as a single agent, for the first-line treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). REFLECT was an open-label, noninferiority trial that randomized 954 patients with HCC who were ineligible for liver-directed therapy with no prior systemic therapy for HCC to lenvatinib or sorafenib. REFLECT demonstrated that lenvatinib-treated patients had similar survival, more responses, and longer time to progression than those receiving sorafenib. Serious side effects were more common among lenvatinib-treated patients. Lenvatinib is an effective treatment for patients with previously untreated HCC.
Combined resistance and aerobic exercise intervention improves fitness, insulin resistance and quality of life in survivors of childhood haemopoietic stem cell transplantation with total body irradiation
Authors: Davis Nikki L. , Tolfrey Keith , Jenney Meriel , Elson Ruth , Stewart Claire , Moss Andrew D. , Cornish Jacqueline M. , Stevens Michael C. G. , Crowne Elizabeth C.
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To investigate the effects of a supervised combined resistance and aerobic training programme on cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition, insulin resistance and quality of life (QoL) in survivors of childhood haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) with total body irradiation (TBI).

Participants

HSCT/TBI survivors (n = 20; 8 females). Mean (range) for age at study and time since HSCT/TBI was 16.7 (10.9‐24.5) and 8.4 (2.3‐16.0) years, respectively.

Methods

After a 6‐month run‐in, participants undertook supervised 45‐ to 60‐minute resistance and aerobic training twice weekly for 6 months, with a 6‐month follow‐up. The following assessments were made at 0, 6 (start of exercise programme), 12 (end of exercise programme) and 18 months: Body composition via dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), cardiorespiratory fitness (treadmill‐based peak rate of oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) test), QoL questionnaires (36‐Item Short Form Health Survey (SF‐36) and Minneapolis‐Manchester Quality of Life Instrument (MMQL).

Results

Results expressed as mean (standard deviation) or geometric mean (range). There were significant improvements in VO2 peak (35.7 (8.9) vs 41.7 (16.1) mL/min/kg, P = 0.05), fasted plasma insulin (16.56 (1.48‐72.8) vs 12.62 (1.04‐54.97) mIU/L, P = 0.03) and HOMA‐IR (3.65 (0.30‐17.26) vs 2.72 (0.22‐12.89), P = 0.02) after the exercise intervention. There were also significant improvements in the SF‐36 QoL general health domain (69.7 (14.3) vs 72.7 (16.0), P = 0.001) and the MMQL school domain (69.1 (25.2) vs (79.3 (21.6), P = 0.03) during the exercise intervention. No significant changes were observed in percentage body fat, fat mass or lean mass.

Conclusion

The supervised 6‐month combined resistance and aerobic exercise programme significantly improved cardiorespiratory fitness, insulin resistance and QoL in childhood HSCT/TBI survivors, with no change in body composition, suggesting a metabolic training effect on muscle. These data support a role for targeted physical rehabilitation services in this group at high risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Designing stapled peptides to inhibit protein‐protein interactions: An analysis of successes in a rapidly changing field
Authors: Bluntzer Marie T. J. , O'Connell James , Baker Terry S. , Michel Julien , Hulme Alison N.
Published: October 2020

Two decades after their discovery, stapled peptide methodologies have evolved to a point where they can be used with confidence to generate therapeutic leads. Research groups across the world are testing innovative methodologies for their design, with dozens of publications released every month. A number of stapled peptide drug candidates have recently entered clinical trials. In this review, we provide an overview of successful methods for their construction, highlight trends in the deposited crystal structures of stapled peptide complexed to their targets and discuss properties that contribute towards improved pharmacological profiles.
How Are Personality States Associated with Smartphone Data?
Authors: Rüegger Dominik , Stieger Mirjam , Nißen Marcia , Allemand Mathias , Fleisch Elgar , Kowatsch Tobias
Published: October 2020

Smartphones promise great potential for personality science to study people's everyday life behaviours. Even though personality psychologists have become increasingly interested in the study of personality states, associations between smartphone data and personality states have not yet been investigated. This study provides a first step towards understanding how smartphones may be used for behavioural assessment of personality states. We explored the relationships between Big Five personality states and data from smartphone sensors and usage logs. On the basis of the existing literature, we first compiled a set of behavioural and situational indicators, which are potentially related to personality states. We then applied them on an experience sampling data set containing 5748 personality state responses that are self–assessments of 30 minutes timeframes and corresponding smartphone data. We used machine learning analyses to investigate the predictability of personality states from the set of indicators. The results showed that only for extraversion, smartphone data (specifically, ambient noise level) were informative beyond what could be predicted based on time and day of the week alone. The results point to continuing challenges in realizing the potential of smartphone data for psychological research. © 2020 The Authors. European Journal of Personality published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of European Association of Personality Psychology
Calculation of information entropies for the 1s2 state of helium‐like ions
Authors: Nasser Ibraheem , Zeama Mostafa , Abdel‐Hady Afaf
Published: October 2020

This work presents analytical and numerical results for the position‐ and momentum‐space information entropies of the 1s2 state of helium‐like ions using different interaction potentials. The potentials that we used are the Yukawa potential and the exponential‐cosine‐screened Coulomb potential. The investigated studies allow us to relate the position‐space information with the momentum‐space information of Shannon and Fisher, as well as Shannon entropy power and the Fisher‐Shannon information product, through different famous relations. The calculation is performed using the one‐electron charge density of entangled two‐parameter wavefunction. On one hand, the results that are presented for 10 members in the helium isoelectronic sequence demonstrate with precision the effect of correlation on bare charge distributions. On the other hand, it leads to some very important results for both the correlated and uncorrelated values of the informatic entropies. Analytical formulas for the momentum‐space information entropies are given. The effect of the nuclear charge and the screening parameter on the information expressions has been studied for both potentials. Detailed computational and numerical values and characteristics of these information quantities, as a function of the screening parameter, are reported here for the first time. New inequality has been proposed with Fisher's total value to measure the correlation of two electrons.
Attractive ellipsoid design for robust sliding‐mode observation error in stochastic nonlinear discrete‐time systems
Authors: Velázquez David , Poznyak Alex
Published: October 2020

In this paper the observation process of stochastic discrete‐time nonlinear system is analyzed. The system to be observed is assumed to be uncertain, but fulfilling the global "quasi‐Lipschitz" condition and is subjected to stochastic input and output disturbances of a white noise type. The combination of a traditional Luenberger residual term with a discontinuous one is considered. The designing of the best observer gain matrices is realized by using the Robust Attractive Ellipsoid Method for the analysis of the averaged observation error. The construction of this attractive ellipsoid is based on the numerical solution of some matrix optimization problem under specific constraints of Bilinear and Linear Matrix Inequalities (BMI's and LMI's) type applied to improve the attractiveness zone estimation. Two numerical xamples illustrate the effectiveness of the suggested approach.
Event‐triggered anti‐disturbance attitude control for rigid spacecrafts with multiple disturbances
Authors: Cao Songyin , Guo Lei , Ding Zhengtao
Published: October 2020

This article is devoted to the problem of attitude control for rigid spacecraft subject to multiple disturbances. Due to the limited communication and storage resource, an event‐triggered anti‐disturbance attitude control approach is proposed for the attitude control system (ACS) with multiple disturbances. Different from some existing event‐triggered attitude control methods, the multiple disturbances are considered and can be divided into an uncertain modeled disturbance and a norm bounded equivalent disturbance. A disturbance observer is designed to estimate the modeled disturbance. Based on the framework of disturbance observer‐based control, the proposed event‐triggered anti‐disturbance controller can guarantee that the ACS converges toward a small invariant set, which successfully avoids continuous communication and Zeno phenomenon. Finally, simulation results are given to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach.
Polydimethylsiloxane–graphene oxide composite improving performance by ion beam irradiation
Authors: Cutroneo Mariapompea , Havránek Vladimír , Torrisi Alfio , Mackova Anna , Malinsky Petr , Slepicka Petr , Sofer Zdenek , Torrisi Lorenzo
Published: October 2020

A hybrid film consisting of graphene oxide covered with poly(dimethylsiloxane) was prepared via spin coater and followed by thermal annealing to improve the bond strength of the polymerized systems. Direct patterning on both graphene oxide and hybrid graphene oxide–poly(dimethylsiloxane) foils by ion microbeam was performed to induce localized reduction in the ion irradiated material. It is well established that the ion irradiation of graphene oxide induces modifications in its electrical, mechanical, and optical properties and disorder in the carbon crystal structure and defect production. The presence of poly(dimethylsiloxane) can be useful as it confers flexibility to the produced pattern and oxygen permeability from the graphene oxide surface. Rutherford backscattered spectroscopy and elastic recoil detection analysis were performed to evaluate the compositional changes in the composite. Atomic force microscopy studied the pattern fidelity. The electrical conductivity of the hybrid material was used to evaluate the changes induced during the proton irradiation of the material.
Fabrication of biomimetic slippery liquid‐infused porous surface on 5086 aluminum alloy with excellent antifouling performance
Authors: Yang Zongcheng , He Xiaoyan , Chang Jiangfan , Bai Xiuqin , Cao Pan , Yuan Chengqing
Published: October 2020

Biofouling triggers extensive research in ship tribology. Antifouling technology has garnered great attention as a solution for biofouling; thus, biomimetic lubricant‐infused surfaces are developed as alternatives to superhydrophobic surfaces. In this study, we developed slippery liquid‐infused porous surfaces (SLIPS) by infusing perfluoropolyether oil into porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) surfaces using a vacuum impregnation device. The oil settled firmly in the AAO surfaces owing to the strong capillary forces in the pores, thus forming a lubricating layer with a low contact angle hysteresis and long‐term slippery condition. SLIPS exhibited an excellent antifouling performance by reducing 98.4% of Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The coefficient of biofilm formed by the microorganisms was also investigated. The results confirmed that the lubricating layer impeded the formation of biofilm. This research provides valuable information for the fabrication of SLIPS and its antifouling mechanism.
Internalized Carbon Dots for Enhanced Extracellular Electron Transfer in the Dark and Light
Authors: Liu Shurui , Yi Xiaofeng , Wu Xuee , Li Qingbiao , Wang Yuanpeng
Published: October 2020

Cellular internalization of nanomaterials to endow cells with more functionalities is highly desirable. Herein, a straightforward strategy for internalizing red‐emission carbon dots (CDs) into Shewanella xiamenensis is proposed. This suggests that the internalized CDs not only afford enhanced conductivity of bacteria but also trigger the cellular physiological response to secrete abundant electron shuttles to aid the boosting of extracellular electron transfer (EET) efficiency. Additionally, once illuminated, internalized CDs can also serve as light absorbers to allow for photogenerated electrons to be transferred into cellular metabolism to further facilitate light‐enhanced EET processes. Specifically, the findings advance the fundamental understanding of the interaction between internalized carbon‐based semiconductor and cells in the dark and light, and provide a facile and effective strategy for enhancing EET efficiency.
Poly(ADP‐ribose) glycohydrolase silencing‐mediated H2B expression inhibits benzo(a)pyrene‐induced carcinogenesis
Authors: Zeng Zhuoying , Lu Jingjing , Wu Desheng , Zuo Ran , Li Yuxi , Huang Haiyan , Yuan Jianhui , Hu Zhangli
Published: October 2020

Poly(ADP‐ribose) glycohydrolase (PARG) as a main enzyme hydrolyzing poly(ADP‐ribose) in eukaryotes, and its silencing can inhibit benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)‐induced carcinogenesis. A thorough understanding of the mechanism of PARG silenced inhibition of BaP‐induced carcinogenesis provides a new therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of environmental hazard induced lung cancer. We found that the expression of several subtypes of the histone H2B was downregulated in BaP‐induced carcinogenesis via PARG silencing as determined by label‐free proteomics and confirmed by previous cell line‐ and mouse model‐based studies. Analysis using the GEPIA2 online tool indicated that the transcription levels of H2BFS, HIST1H2BD, and HIST1H2BK in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) tissues and squamous cell lung carcinoma (LUSC) tissues were higher than those in normal lung tissues, while the transcription levels of HIST1H2BH in LUSC tissues were higher than those in normal lung tissues. The expression levels of HIST1H2BB, HIST1H2BH, and HIST1H2BL were significantly different in different lung cancer (LC) stages. Moreover, the expression of H2BFS, HIST1H2BD, HIST1H2BJ, HIST1H2BK, HIST1H2BL, HIST1H2BO, HIST2H2BE, and HIST2H2BF was positively correlated with that of PARG in LC tissues. Analysis of the Kaplan‐Meier plotter database indicated that high H2B levels predicted low survival in all LC patients suggesting that H2B could be a new biomarker for determining the prognosis of the LC, and that its expression can be inhibited by PARG silencing in BaP‐induced carcinogenesis.
Ganoderma tsugae suppresses the proliferation of endometrial carcinoma cells via Akt signaling pathway
Authors: Tsai Yi‐Ting , Kuo Pin‐Hung , Kuo Han‐Peng , Hsu Chih‐Yu , Lee Yi‐Jen , Kuo Chao‐Lin , Liu Jah‐Yao , Lee Shou‐Lun , Kao Ming‐Ching
Published: October 2020

Ganoderma is one of the common medicinal mushrooms in traditional Chinese medicine. Previous researches have unveiled the multifaceted biological activity of Ganoderma extract. Ganoderma tsugae has been investigated the potential on curing prostate, colon, lung, epidermoid, breast and ovarian cancers, but not including endometrial cancer. Endometrial cancer is a gynecological malignant tumor with serious drug resistance problem in clinical cancer treatment. This study aimed to demonstrate the first study of Ganoderma on treating endometrial cancer. The Ganoderma tsugae ethanol extract (GTEE) could suppress the proliferation of endometrial cancer cells HEC‐1‐A, KLE, and AN3 CA. GTEE also induced G1/S phase arrest and mitochondria‐mediated apoptosis in endometrial cancer cells. Furthermore, the Akt signaling pathway could be suppressed by GTEE. Therefore, our results suggest for the first time that GTEE has the potential to be an adjuvant therapeutic agent in the treatment of endometrial cancer.
Kirenol regulates the cell proliferative and inflammatory markers in DMBA‐induced oral squamous cell carcinogenesis in hamster
Authors: Deng Yunzhen , Ma Min , Guo Gang , Tang Zhen
Published: October 2020

This present findings hypothesized the modulatory effects of kirenol on expression pattern of cell proliferative and inflammatory markers during DMBA induced HBP carcinogenesis. The machinery pathways for chemomodulatory effect of kirenol was investigated by analyzing the levels of antioxidants histological changes, lipid peroxidation and molecular expression pathway of PCNA, NF‐κB in the DMBA only painted HBPC. Oral cancer was developed in the HBP model by DMBA (0.5%) three times a week for 14th weeks. We analyzed body weight with deregulated molecular expressions pattern of PCNA and NF‐κB was noticed in the DMBA induced hamsters compared to control hamsters. Oral administration of kirenol 30 mg/kg bw, to DMBA induced hamster models reverted the activity of the biochemical markers in Group 4. Besides, tumor tissues of hamsters receive antioxidant capability from kirenol exclaimed significant modifications in DMBA induced causes: inhibits cell proliferation (inhibits PCNA expression) and suppresses inflammation (decreased NF‐κB expression) of markers. Taken together, the protective effect of that kirenol an augmenting inflammation of the started cells and exhibited antiproliferative, anti‐inflammatory, antilipid peroxidative and restores the xenobiotic enzymes levels (phase I and II) system and enhances antioxidant properties in oral carcinoma hamsters, in which turn, is reflected diminished tumor burden, volume, and multiplicity.
Global insights into duplicated gene expression and alternative splicing in polyploid Brassica napus under heat, cold, and drought stress
Authors: Lee Joon Seon , Adams Keith L.
Published: October 2020

Polyploidy has been a prevalent process during plant evolution and it has made a major impact on the structure and evolution of plant genomes. Many important crop plants are polyploid. There is considerable interest in expression patterns of duplicated genes in polyploids. Alternative splicing (AS) is a fundamental aspect of gene expression that produces multiple final transcript types from a single type of mRNAs. The effects of abiotic stress conditions on AS in polyploids has received little attention. We conducted a global transcriptome analysis of Brassica napus, an allotetraploid derived from B. rapa (AT) and B. oleracea (CT), by RNA‐Seq of plants subjected to cold, heat, and drought stress treatments. Analyses of 27,360 pairs of duplicated genes revealed overall AT subgenome biases in gene expression and CT subgenome biases in the extent of alternative splicing under all three stress treatments. More genes increased in expression than decreased in response to the stresses. Negative correlations were found between expression levels and AS frequency for each type of AS. Cold stress produced the greatest changes in gene expression and AS. Cold‐induced AS changes were more likely to be shared with those generated by drought than by heat stress. We used homeologs of FLC and CCA1 as case studies to show the dynamics of how duplicates in a polyploid respond to cold stress. Our results suggest that divergence in gene expression and AS patterns between duplicated genes may increase the flexibility of polyploids when responding to abiotic stressors.
Computational aspects towards understanding the photoprocesses in eumelanin
Authors: Ghosh Debashree
Published: October 2020

Eumelanin is the active ingredient in skin pigment found in human beings. It is also present in animals, plants, and some bacteria and fungi. However, there are still open questions about its biological activity. The detailed molecular mechanism of its photoprotective property is topic of intense research. While it has been implicated in photo‐damage in certain conditions, the extent of this effect is largely unknown. Furthermore, its involvement in a wide range of metal chelation and radical scavenging properties remain unclear. This rather sparse knowledge about such as important biological system is mainly due to the extreme level of heterogeneity in eumelanin structure, its low solubility, and lack of unique structural features. Due to these difficulties theoretical studies and modeling appear to be a crucial cornerstone towards the understanding of eumelanin system. This review aims to report the current status of the understanding in molecular mechanism of photoprocesses in eumelanin and the theoretical approaches that are used for that. Furthermore, the outstanding open questions and difficulties in understanding the eumelanin system will be dealt with.

This article is categorized under:

Software > Quantum Chemistry

Structure and Mechanism > Computational Biochemistry and Biophysics

Structure and Mechanism > Molecular Structures
Quantifying errors in GNSS antenna calibrations
Authors: Bergstrand Sten , Jarlemark Per , Herbertsson Magnus
Published: October 2020

We evaluated the performance of GNSS absolute antenna calibrations and its impact on accurate positioning with a new assessment method that combines inter-antenna differentials and laser tracker measurements. We thus separated the calibration method contributions from those attainable by various geometric constraints and produced corrections for the calibrations. We investigated antennas calibrated by two IGS-approved institutions and in the worst case found the calibration’s contribution to the vertical component being in excess of 1 cm on the ionosphere-free frequency combination L3. In relation to nearby objects, we gauge the $$1\sigma $$

1
σ

accuracies of our method to determine the antenna phase centers within $$\pm \,0.38$$

±

0.38

 mm on L1 and within $$\pm \,0.62$$

±

0.62

 mm on L3, the latter applicable to global frame determinations where atmospheric influence cannot be neglected. In addition to antenna calibration corrections, the results can be used with an equivalent tracker combination to determine the phase centers of as-installed individual receiver antennas at system critical sites to the same level without compromising the permanent installations.
Is interactive air sea coupling relevant for simulating the future climate of Europe?
Authors: Gröger M. , Dieterich C. , Meier H. E. M.
Published: October 2020

The majority of regional climate change assessments for the Euro-CORDEX region is based on high resolution atmosphere models. These models use prescribed lower boundary conditions, such as sea surface temperatures (SST) from global ocean General Circulation Models (GCMs), that do not respond to changes simulated by the regional atmosphere model, thus lacking an important feedback to the atmosphere. However, research during the past decade indicated that the use of coupled atmosphere–ocean models can lead to significantly altered model solutions compared to standalone atmosphere models for the present day climate imposing some uncertainty on the widely used uncoupled future scenarios. We here present the first multi-model and multi scenario (RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP8.5) ensemble of future climate change scenarios downscaled with a coupled atmosphere—ocean model in which sea surface temperature and sea ice fields are explicitly simulated by a coupled state-of-the-art high resolution ocean model and communicated to the atmosphere at 3-hourly time steps. Our ensemble generally confirms results of previous uncoupled ensembles over land areas implying that the coupling effect is restricted mainly to the coupled area and the adjacent coastal zone. By contrast, over the North Sea and Baltic Sea small scale processes point to important coupling effects that mediate the response to climate change and that can not be simulated by uncoupled models. Our results therefore impose general uncertainty on the usage of regional climate change data from uncoupled ensembles over marine areas such as for purposes of offshore wind or mussel farming, the planing of marine protected areas, and marine recreation along the coastal zone. It further sets in question the usage of uncoupled scenario data (such as Euro-CORDEX) to force high resolution ocean models. Comparing coupled and uncoupled hindcast simulations reveals that the coupling effect over land is most pronounced during the warm season when prescribed and modelled sea surface temperatures (SST) differ strongest. In addition, a generally weaker wind regime in summer damps the heat dispersion in the atmosphere so that air temperature anomalies can extent further over land compared to winter. Future projections are discussed under consideration of land-sea warming characteristics for selected climate indices as well as mean seasonal climate change. At the end of the century a clear land-sea pattern is seen in all scenarios with stronger warming over land than over open sea areas. On average land areas warm at a rate 1.5 times faster than areas over the open ocean. Over the coupled area, i.e. the North Sea and Baltic Sea tropical nights are impacted strongest and the Baltic Sea turns out to be a hot spot in future climate. This has been unrecognized in previous studies using high resolution atmosphere models with prescribed SSTs from global models which do not represent small scale ocean processes in the Baltic Sea adequately.
Correlation of postoperative fluid balance and weight and their impact on outcomes
Authors: Butti Fabio , Pache Basile , Winiker Michael , Grass Fabian , Demartines Nicolas , Hübner Martin
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Normovolemia after major surgery is critical to avoid complications. The aim of the present study was to analyze correlation between fluid balance, weight gain, and postoperative outcomes.

Methods

All consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency major abdominal surgery needing intermediate care unit (IMC) admission from September 2017 to January 2018 were included. Postoperative fluid balances and daily weight changes were calculated for postoperative days (PODs) 0–3. Risk factors for postoperative complications (30-day Clavien) and prolonged length of IMC and hospital stay were identified through uni- and multinominal logistic regression.

Results

One hundred eleven patients were included, of which 55% stayed in IMC beyond POD 1. Overall, 67% experienced any complication, while 30% presented a major complication (Clavien ≥ III). For the entire cohort, median cumulative fluid balance at the end of PODs 0–1–2–3 was 1850 (IQR 1020–2540) mL, 2890 (IQR 1610–4000) mL, 3890 (IQR 2570–5380) mL, and 4000 (IQR 1890–5760) mL respectively, and median weight gain was 2.2 (IQR 0.3–4.3) kg, 3 (1.5–4.7) kg, and 3.9 (2.5–5.4) kg, respectively. Fluid balance and weight course showed no significant correlation (r = 0.214, p = 0.19). Extent of surgery, analyzed through Δ albumin and duration of surgery, significantly correlated with POD 2 fluid balances (p = 0.04, p = 0.006, respectively), as did POD 3 weight gain (p = 0.042). Prolonged IMC stay of ≥ 3 days was related to weight gain ≥ 3 kg at POD 2 (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.01–8.9, p = 0.049).

Conclusion

Fluid balance and weight course showed only modest correlation. POD 2 weight may represent an easy and pragmatic tool to optimize fluid management and help to prevent fluid-related postoperative complications.
Childhood HIV-associated nephropathy: 36 years later
Authors: Ray Patricio E. , Li Jinliang , Das Jharna R. , Tang Pingtao
Published: October 2020

HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN) predominantly affects people of African ancestry living with HIV who do not receive appropriate antiretroviral therapy (ART). Childhood HIVAN is characterized by heavy proteinuria and decreased kidney function. Kidney histology shows mesangial expansion, classic or collapsing glomerulosclerosis, and microcystic renal tubular dilatation leading to kidney enlargement. The pathogenesis of HIVAN involves the kidney recruitment of inflammatory cells and the infection of kidney epithelial cells. In addition, both viral and genetic factors play key roles in this disease. Modern ART has improved the outcome and decreased the prevalence of childhood HIVAN. However, physicians have had modest success providing chronic ART to children and adolescents, and we continue to see children with HIVAN all over the world. This article discusses the progress made during the last decade in our understanding of the pathogenesis and treatment of childhood HIVAN, placing particular emphasis on the mechanisms that mediate the infection of kidney epithelial cells, and the roles of cytokines, the HIV-Tatgene, and the Apolipoprotein-1 (APOL1) gene risk variants in this disease. In view of the large number of children living with HIV at risk of developing HIVAN, better prevention and treatment programs are needed to eradicate this disease.
Concentration-cancellation in the Ericksen–Leslie model
Authors: Kortum Joshua
Published: October 2020

We establish the subconvergence of weak solutions to the Ginzburg–Landau approximation to global-in-time weak solutions of the Ericksen–Leslie model for nematic liquid crystals on the torus $${\mathbb {T}^2}$$

T

2

. The key argument is a variation of concentration-cancellation methods originally introduced by DiPerna and Majda to investigate the weak stability of solutions to the (steady-state) Euler equations.
Low diversity or poorly explored? Mesophotic molluscs highlight undersampling in the Eastern Mediterranean
Authors: Albano Paolo G. , Azzarone Michele , Amati Bruno , Bogi Cesare , Sabelli Bruno , Rilov Gil
Published: October 2020

Mesophotic assemblages are the next frontier of marine exploration in the Mediterranean Sea. Located below recreational scuba diving depths, they are difficult to access but host a diverse array of habitats structured by large invertebrate species. The Eastern Mediterranean has been much less explored than the western part of the basin and its mesophotic habitats are virtually unknown. We here describe two mesophotic (77–92 m depth) molluscan assemblages at a rocky reef and on a soft substrate off northern Israel. We record 172 species, of which 43 (25%) are first records for Israel and increase its overall marine molluscan diversity by 7%. Only five of these species have been reported in recent surveys of the nearby Lebanon, suggesting that our results are robust at a broader scale than our study area and that the reported west-to-east declining diversity gradient in the Mediterranean needs a reappraisal based on proper sampling of the eastern basin. We found only four (2%) non-indigenous species, represented by seven (0.5%) specimens. These results suggest that pristine native assemblages still thrive at this depth in Israel, in contrast to the shallow subtidal heavily affected by global warming and biological invasions, calling for strong conservation actions for these valuable but vulnerable habitats.
Biosorption of copper using nopal fibres: moolooite formation and magnesium role in the reactive crystallization mechanism
Authors: Carballo-Meilan Ara , Hernández-Francisco Elizabeth , Sosa-Loyde Gustavo , Bonilla-Cruz José , Russell Paul , Ali Zulfiqur , García-García Alejandra , Arizpe-Zapata Alejandro , Longoria-Rodríguez Francisco , Lara-Ceniceros Tania E. , Yin Chun-Yang
Published: October 2020

In this contribution, we present findings on biosorption of Cu (II) ions using novel alkali-treated nopal fibres. The biosorption data at equilibrium were fitted to several isotherm models and the biosorbent was characterized by XRD and SEM–EDX. The biosorption mechanism was investigated using a holistic approach of pH shifts, apparent colour variations and changes in the concentration of Cu(II) and dissolved hard ions (calcium and magnesium) in the Cu(II) solution. The correlation between the colour, XRD analysis, pH shifts and hard cations released from the biosorbent into the solution suggested the existence of two crystal formations, malachite and moolooite, in what appears to be a microprecipitation mechanism via reactive crystallization. The role of magnesium during the transformation of malachite into moolooite during the copper binding mechanism is analysed. Magnesium cations were released into the solution during malachite growth but were taken up from the solution during the moolooite crystal growth phase. The shift of the molar ratio Mg/Ca was located between the two inflexion points of the crystal growth transition. This specific location at the sorption isotherm was correlated with the colour evolution by a linear discriminant model confirming its association with the polymorphs.

Graphic abstract
How evaluation of global hydrological models can help to improve credibility of river discharge projections under climate change
Authors: Krysanova Valentina , Zaherpour Jamal , Didovets Iulii , Gosling Simon N. , Gerten Dieter , Hanasaki Naota , Müller Schmied Hannes , Pokhrel Yadu , Satoh Yusuke , Tang Qiuhong , Wada Yoshihide
Published: October 2020

Importance of evaluation of global hydrological models (gHMs) before doing climate impact assessment was underlined in several studies. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of six gHMs in simulating observed discharge for a set of 57 large catchments applying common metrics with thresholds for the monthly and seasonal dynamics and summarize them estimating an aggregated index of model performance for each model in each basin. One model showed a good performance, and other five showed a weak or poor performance in most of the basins. In 15 catchments, evaluation results of all models were poor. The model evaluation was supplemented by climate impact assessment for a subset of 12 representative catchments using (1) usual ensemble mean approach and (2) weighted mean approach based on model performance, and the outcomes were compared. The comparison of impacts in terms of mean monthly and mean annual discharges using two approaches has shown that in four basins, differences were negligible or small, and in eight catchments, differences in mean monthly, mean annual discharge or both were moderate to large. The spreads were notably decreased in most cases when the second method was applied. It can be concluded that for improving credibility of projections, the model evaluation and application of the weighted mean approach could be recommended, especially if the mean monthly (seasonal) impacts are of interest, whereas the ensemble mean approach could be applied for projecting the mean annual changes. The calibration of gHMs could improve their performance and, consequently, the credibility of projections.
Friend or foe? Social ties in bribery and corruption
Authors: Di Zheng Jin , Schram Arthur , Doğan Gönül
Published: October 2020

This paper studies how social ties interact with bribery and corruption. In the laboratory, subjects are in triads where two ‘performers’ individually complete an objective real-effort task and an evaluator designates one of them as the winner of a monetary prize. In one treatment dimension, we vary whether performers can bribe the evaluator—where any bribe made is non-refundable, irrespective of the evaluator’s decision. A second treatment dimension varies the induced social ties between the evaluator and the performers. The experimental evidence suggests that both bribes and social ties may corrupt evaluators’ decisions. Bribes decrease the importance of performance in the decision. The effect of social ties is asymmetric. While performers’ bribes vary only little with their ties to the evaluator, evaluators exhibit favoritism based on social ties when bribes are not possible. This ‘social-tie-based’ corruption is, however, replaced by bribe-based corruption when bribes are possible. We argue that these results have concrete consequences for possible anti-corruption policies.
COVID-19 Highlighting Inequalities in Access to Healthcare in England: A Case Study of Ethnic Minority and Migrant Women
Authors: Germain Sabrina , Yong Adrienne
Published: October 2020

Our commentary aims to show that the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified existing barriers to healthcare in England for ethnic minority and migrant women. We expose how the pandemic has affected the allocation of healthcare resources leading to the prioritisation of COVID-19 patients and suspending the equal access to healthcare services approach. We argue that we must look beyond this disruption in provision by examining existing barriers to access that have been amplified by the pandemic in order to understand the poorer health outcomes for women in ethnic minority and migrant communities. The reflection focuses on racialised medical perceptions, gendered cultural norms including information barriers and stigma, and specific legal barriers.
Assessment framework of actor strategies in international river basin management, the case of Deltarhine
Authors: Renner Tobias , Meijerink Sander , van der Zaag Pieter , Smits Toine
Published: October 2020

The combined effects of socio-economic growth as well as climate change exert increasing pressure on international river basins and require dedicated cooperative efforts to jointly manage international rivers. Cooperative strategies drawn from scientific literature, empirical research and practitioner’s handbooks are explored and clustered into six key dimensions of goals, instruments, structures, actors, leadership and resources to provide an assessment tool of actor strategies for both scientists and practitioners. The exploratory framework is applied to Dutch–German cooperation in the delta of the Rhine catchment, testing its conceptual validity and applicability in international river basin management as well as providing policy recommendations for the study area. The assessment framework can serve as an instrument to inventory, map and evaluate the importance of specific actor strategies and to facilitate dialogue and cross-border cooperation between riparian countries. Alternatively, the framework can be put to use, for example by downstream countries, to assess and coordinate their range of strategies on the national, regional and local level in order to engage and influence their counterparts.
‘Two countries-two labs’: the transnational gamete donation (TGD) programme to support egg donation
Authors: Coccia Maria Elisabetta , Rizzello Francesca , Wakunga Savio , Badolato Laura , Evangelisti Paolo , Bertocci Francesco , Giachini Claudia , Criscuoli Luciana , Micelli Elisabetta , Picone Rita
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and safety of a transnational gamete donation (TGD) programme based on the shipping of vitrified donor oocytes.

Methods

A retro-prospective observational study was conducted in the Assisted Reproductive Technology Center of the University Hospital of Florence, Italy. The study population included 622 consecutive donor oocyte cycles. A mean number of 6 vitrified oocytes per couple were shipped from two Spanish biobanks. In the receiving centre, gametes were warmed and inseminated and the subsequent embryo transfer (ET) was performed. The main outcome measurement was LBR. Secondary outcomes included oocyte survival rate, ICSI damage rate, normal fertilization, cleavage, and implantation rate (IR) in both ‘fresh’ and cryotransfer cycles.

Results

A total number of 3536 mature oocytes were warmed with 81.4% surviving oocytes. 2PN oocytes were 1941 with an ICSI normal fertilization rate of 70.4% and a cleavage rate of 93.4%; 857 day-3 embryos were transferred in 498 women, 63 blastocysts in 44. Couples with at least one vitrified embryo were 181 (32.3%). IR was 25.1% and 33.1% for day-3 ET and blastocyst stage respectively. Crude pregnancy rate and LBR after the first ET were 35.5% and 27% correspondingly with a conservative cumulative LBR of 34% and an optimal LBR of 51.4%.

Conclusion

Imported vitrified donor oocytes retain their competence and are capable of resulting in ongoing pregnancies and healthy babies in a proportion comparable to other existing systems as egg donation with vitrification/warming in the same laboratory and transnational fresh oocyte donation.
Electro-discharge sintering of nanocrystalline NdFeB magnets: process parameters, microstructure, and the resulting magnetic properties
Authors: Leich Lennart , Röttger Arne , Kuchenbecker Rene , Theisen Werner
Published: October 2020

This study investigates the compaction of nanocrystalline NdFeB magnet powder by electro-discharge sintering (EDS). On this account, process parameters, microstructure, and the associated magnetic properties of the EDS-densified nanocrystalline NdFeB specimens were investigated by varying the discharge energy EEDS and compression load pEDS. Although optimized process parameters could be evaluated, three different microstructures (fully densified zone, insufficiently densified zone, and melted zone) are present in the EDS-compacted specimens. Thereby, volume fractions of these formed three different microstructures determine the resulting mechanical and magnetic properties of the specimens. For all specimens, the intrinsic coercivity Hc,J deteriorates with increasing discharge energy, as the generated Joule heat leads to microstructural changes (grain growth, dissolution of magnetic phases), which reduces the magnetic properties. The compression load has less influence on the coercivity Hc,J, as it only affects the initial resistance of the pre-compacted powder loose. The residual induction Br deteriorates with increasing the discharge energy due to microstructural changes. An increase in the compression load pEDS results in an increase in the specimens’ density and thus promotes the residual induction Br.
Adaptive Reuse of Religious Heritage and Its Impact on House Prices
Authors: Liu Caixia , Liu Xiaolong
Published: October 2020

Due to social demographic change and secularization, religious heritage sites in Europe are on the verge of losing their original functions. While the adaptive reuse seems to be a proactive strategy to preserve the historical and cultural value embedded in religious heritage sites, little is known concerning its external impact. This paper aims to fill this gap by investigating the external effect of reusing religious heritage on surrounding house prices. Employing both the parametric and non-parametric difference-in-differences hedonic model on a sample of 42 projects of reusing religious heritage and a rich dataset of housing transactions in the Netherlands, we find significant positive externality of reusing religious heritage on local house prices. The external effects are heterogeneous across differentiated project size and monumental status. Larger religious heritage reuse projects and those listed as national monuments exert greater influence on surrounding house prices.
Le droit et ses limites: le juridique et le non-juridique
Authors: Moor Pierre
Published: October 2020

Sommaire

1. Tout système juridique est production d’une histoire et d’une culture politiques déterminée, qui lui ont donné une organisation spécifique. Parler des limites de telles organisations peut s’entendre en deux sens, qui interagissent: premièrement, elles peuvent servir à différencier ces systèmes par rapport à d’autres ordres normatifs. Secondement, elles désignent ce que, par sa texture, le droit est hors d’état de réussir. 2. On comprend le concept de système comme une organisation aux structures différenciées de textes, de normes, d’acteurs. Ce qui caractérise un système est son autoréférentialité et ses modes de clôture (qui lui permettent de rester identique à lui-même) et ses modes d’ouverture (qui permettent les échanges avec son environnement). 3. Concernant la limite dans le second sens, on observera que la normativité comme mode d’action propre au droit le met souvent dans l’incapacité d’assumer pleinement les tâches de régulation qui lui sont confiées. Il s’agit d’une part d’une limite factuelle: celle de la technicité et du volume de ces tâches. D’autre part, la nécessité de plus en plus fréquente de prendre en compte les circonstances individuelles concrètes de l’application entraîne une légistique de diminution de la densité normative et, par conséquent, de déplacer une épistémologie fondée sur la répétition en direction de l’innovation. 4. Ces deux facteurs notamment font du droit un univers qui ne peut plus prétendre à une complétude cohérente: c’est un univers en constante évolution, qui exige pour sa mise en œuvre, de manière continue, l’apport d’informations provenant de son environnement. Ces apports circulent dans les modes d’ouverture du droit—la diminution de la densité normative et le recours à des expertises, des savoirs, des déontologies extérieures. Cependant, en vertu de l’autoréférentialité du droit, ces apports doivent être sélectionnés et juridicisés pour être intégrés dans le système juridique et préserver ainsi sa clôture. Il y a là une double programmation à respecter: la sélection doit d’une part respecter le cadre normatif du droit et de l’autre porter sur un choix correspondant aux attentes sociales qu’il s’agit de convaincre de son bien-fondé. Les limites du droit par rapport à d’autres ordres normatifs est ainsi définie par l’ordre juridique lui-même, dans le respect de cette double programmation. 5. Ce système a des présupposés politiques, culturels et historiques qui empêchent d’élaborer sans autre une essence du droit, valable urbi et orbi: notamment séparation des pouvoirs et liberté d’expression. Il n’est même pas certain qu’il puisse perdurer. En particulier, l’internalisation croissante du droit n’est guère conciliable avec son organisation telle que l’Occident l’a conçue. En outre, de plus en plus le droit devient l’objet d’une normativité supérieure, au nom de laquelle il est lui-même jugé: c’est le phénomène de l’économisation du droit.