bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Challenges and prospects of nanosized silicon anodes in lithium-ion batteries
Authors: Zhao Xiuyun , Lehto Vesa-Pekka
Published: September 2020

Batteries are commonly considered one of the key technologies to reduce carbon dioxide emissions caused by the transport, power, and industry sectors. We need to remember that not only the production of energy needs to be realized sustainably, but also the technologies for energy storage need to follow the green guidelines to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases effectively. To reach the sustainability goals, we have to make batteries with the performances beyond their present capabilities concerning their lifetime, reliability, and safety. To be commercially viable, the technologies, materials, and chemicals utilized in batteries must support scalability that enables cost-effective large-scale production.

As lithium-ion battery (LIB) is still the prevailing technology of the rechargeable batteries for the next ten years, the most practical approach to obtain batteries with better performance is to develop the chemistry and materials utilized in LIBs—especially in terms of safety and commercialization. To this end, silicon is the most promising candidate to obtain ultra-high performance on the anode side of the cell as silicon gives the highest theoretical capacity of the anode exceeding ten times the one of graphite. By balancing the other components in the cell, it is realistic to increase the overall capacity of the battery by 100%–200%. However, the exploitation of silicon in LIBs is anything else than a simple task due to the severe material-related challenges caused by lithiation/delithiation during battery cycling. The present review makes a comprehensive overview of the latest studies focusing on the utilization of nanosized silicon as the anode material in LIBs.
Optical coronae and iridescence: some simple hands-on activities
Authors: Turner H C , Whitt D P , Kelly T J
Published: September 2020

In this article we put forward a simple idea to demonstrate cloud iridescence. The activity is aimed at upper level primary school children and above, to see that some oft-observed optical phenomena in real life are the result of diffraction through droplets on a surface or in a cloud. We use the example of polar stratospheric clouds which displays the phenomenon of iridescence. A simple hands-on activity is explained whereby spherical droplets in a cloud are modelled by small glass beads suspended in silly-putty and the iridescence effect arises from a non-uniform size distribution of these beads.
Determination of the friction coefficient of an inclined plane using the Doppler effect and smartphones
Authors: Pathak Praveen , Patel Yogita
Published: September 2020

A phone emitting sound of a fixed frequency is sliding on an inclined plane and approaching a second phone kept at the bottom of the plane. The detected frequency versus time data by the second phone are used to calculate the acceleration of the sliding phone. The primary objective of this paper is to calculate the sliding friction between the phone and the plane from the acceleration values. It demonstrates that the sliding friction is constant irrespective of the inclination of the plane. Results are in good agreement with the one obtained from the video analysis.
An educational software for measurements demonstrations and data logging with Arduino boards
Authors: Perea Martins J E M
Published: September 2020

This work presents an educational freeware software that operates as a data logger and a large display to allow a satisfactory viewing of the numerical information, even by students far from the experiment, and therefore it is a tool designed to help experimentations and demonstrations based on Arduino boards in educational physics laboratories.
Investigating family non universal Z′ model via semileptonic

B⃗a1ℓ+ℓ−

decays
Authors: Paracha M Ali
Published: September 2020

The exclusive semileptonic

B
→

a

1

ℓ

+

ℓ

−

decay has been analyzed in the framework of the Standard Model and in the family non-universal

Z

′

model. To see the effects of new

Z

′

gauge boson via

B
→

a

1

ℓ

+

ℓ

−

decay, the observables which we discuss are branching ratios, forward-backward asymmetry, unpolarized and polarized lepton flavor universality ratio. The transition form factors used to compute these physical observables were calculated in the framework of light cone sum rules. It is found that the physical observable which we consider for analysis are sensitive to

Z

′

parameters. It is hoped that in future the measurement of these observables will not only useful to test the SM parameters but also useful to probe the signature of

Z

′

boson at LHC and at circular positron electron collider (CPEC).
Effect of tufting technique on sound insulation of multi-layer glass woven fabrics
Authors: Shen Hao , Yang Yong , Wang Peng , Hong Yan , Legrand Xavier , Yang Xuhong , Wu Jiankun
Published: September 2020

A new idea to influence the sound insulation property of multi-layered woven fabric by the embedded tufting yarns is presented in this paper. The effect of layer number, layer orientation, tufting density and tufting pattern is investigated respectively, in the basis of sound transmission loss (STL) analysis measured by an impedance tube. The experimental results show that the sound insulation can be enhanced by increasing the number of layers or maintaining the same lay-up orientations. Moreover, the effect of tufting yarns on sound insulation is more sensitive in the low-middle frequency range and relatively more complicated. The obtained results can be applied in the part design, the preform engineering, and the positioning of tufting process.
Sparse-view, short-scan, dedicated cone-beam breast computed tomography: image quality assessment
Authors: Tseng Hsin Wu , Karellas Andrew , Vedantham Srinivasan
Published: September 2020

The purpose of this study is to quantify the impact of sparse-view acquisition in short-scan trajectories, compared to 360-degrees full-scan acquisition, on image quality measures in dedicated cone-beam breast computed tomography (BCT). Projection data from 30 full-scan (360-degrees; 300 views) BCT exams with calcified lesions were selected from an existing clinical research database. Feldkamp-Davis-Kress (FDK) reconstruction of the full-scan data served as the reference. Projection data corresponding to two short-scan trajectories, 204 and 270-degrees, which correspond to the minimum and maximum angular range achievable in a cone-beam BCT system were selected. Projection data were retrospectively sampled to provide 225, 180, and 168 views for 270-degrees short-scan, and 170 views for 204-degrees short-scan. Short-scans with 180 and 168 views in 270-degrees used non-uniform angular sampling. A fast, iterative, total variation-regularized, statistical reconstruction technique (FIRST) was used for short-scan image reconstruction. Image quality was quantified by variance, signal-difference to noise ratio (SDNR) between adipose and fibroglandular tissues, full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of calcifications in two orthogonal directions, as well as, bias and root-mean-squared-error (RMSE) computed with respect to the reference full-scan FDK reconstruction. The median values of bias (8.6 × 10−4–10.3 × 10−4 cm−1) and RMSE (6.8 × 10−6–9.8 × 10−6 cm−1) in the short-scan reconstructions, computed with the full-scan FDK as the reference were close to, but not zero (P < 0.0001, one-sample median test). The FWHM of the calcifications in the short-scan reconstructions did not differ significantly from the reference FDK reconstruction (P > 0.118), except along the superior-inferior direction for the short-scan reconstruction with 168 views in 270-degrees (P = 0.046). The variance and SDNR from short-scan reconstructions were significantly improved compared to the full-scan FDK reconstruction (P < 0.0001). This study demonstrates the feasibility of the short-scan, sparse-view, compressed sensing-based iterative reconstruction. This study indicates that shorter scan times and reduced radiation dose without sacrificing image quality are potentially feasible.
A neuro-evolution approach to infer a Boolean network from time-series gene expressions
Authors: Barman Shohag , Kwon Yung-Keun
Published: September 2020

In systems biology, it is challenging to accurately infer a regulatory network from time-series gene expression data, and a variety of methods have been proposed. Most of them were computationally inefficient in inferring very large networks, though, because of the increasing number of candidate regulatory genes. Although a recent approach called GABNI (genetic algorithm-based Boolean network inference) was presented to resolve this problem using a genetic algorithm, there is room for performance improvement because it employed a limited representation model of regulatory functions.

In this regard, we devised a novel genetic algorithm combined with a neural network for the Boolean network inference, where a neural network is used to represent the regulatory function instead of an incomplete Boolean truth table used in the GABNI. In addition, our new method extended the range of the time-step lag parameter value between the regulatory and the target genes for more flexible representation of the regulatory function. Extensive simulations with the gene expression datasets of the artificial and real networks were conducted to compare our method with five well-known existing methods including GABNI. Our proposed method significantly outperformed them in terms of both structural and dynamics accuracy.

Conclusion

Our method can be a promising tool to infer a large-scale Boolean regulatory network from time-series gene expression data.

Availability and implementation

The source code is freely available at https://github.com/kwon-uou/NNBNI.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
What can physiological capacity and behavioural choice tell us about thermal adaptation?
Authors: Salachan Paul Vinu , Sørensen Jesper Givskov , Maclean Heidi Joan
Published: September 2020

To date, behavioural responses and their role in thermal adaptation have largely been overlooked in small ectotherms. Here, we measure reproductive output using four adult acclimation temperatures in Drosophila melanogaster and quantify egg-laying at restricted temperatures (thermal capacity) and across a thermal gradient (thermal preference). We demonstrate that different conclusions about insect responses to changing environmental temperatures can be drawn based on whether individuals are temperature restricted or allowed a behavioural choice of temperature. When measuring physiological capacity at forced temperatures, we find an acclimation response to increasing temperatures. In contrast, when measuring behavioural choice, we find limited variation in thermal preference regardless of the acclimation temperature. Although flies are physiologically capable of increased performance at higher temperatures, these benefits might not be realized in heterogeneous environments. Our data serve as an example to illustrate why it is important to understand how behaviour and physiology contribute to thermal biology and, ultimately, the ecology of organisms. To do this, we should consider the behavioural avenues available to the organism when estimating ecologically relevant fitness consequences in varying thermal environments.
Neutral Sphingomyelinase is an Affective Valence-Dependent Regulator of Learning and Memory
Authors: Kalinichenko Liubov S , Abdel-Hafiz Laila , Wang An-Li , Mühle Christiane , Rösel Nadine , Schumacher Fabian , Kleuser Burkhard , Smaga Irena , Frankowska Malgorzata , Filip Malgorzata , Schaller Gerd , Richter-Schmidinger Tanja , Lenz Bernd , Gulbins Erich , Kornhuber Johannes , Oliveira André W C , Barros Marilia , Huston Joseph P , Müller Christian P
Published: September 2020

Sphingolipids and enzymes of the sphingolipid rheostat determine synaptic appearance and signaling in the brain, but sphingolipid contribution to normal behavioral plasticity is little understood. Here we asked how the sphingolipid rheostat contributes to learning and memory of various dimensions. We investigated the role of these lipids in the mechanisms of two different types of memory, such as appetitively and aversively motivated memory, which are considered to be mediated by different neural mechanisms. We found an association between superior performance in short- and long-term appetitively motivated learning and regionally enhanced neutral sphingomyelinase (NSM) activity. An opposite interaction was observed in an aversively motivated task. A valence-dissociating role of NSM in learning was confirmed in mice with genetically reduced NSM activity. This role may be mediated by the NSM control of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit expression. In a translational approach, we confirmed a positive association of serum NSM activity with long-term appetitively motivated memory in nonhuman primates and in healthy humans. Altogether, these data suggest a new sphingolipid mechanism of de-novo learning and memory, which is based on NSM activity.
Association Between Hospital Outbreaks and Hand Hygiene: Insights from Electronic Monitoring
Authors: Kovacs-Litman Adam , Muller Matthew P , Powis Jeff E , Ricciuto Dan , McGeer Allison , Williams Victoria , Kiss Alex , Leis Jerome A
Published: September 2020

Background

Hand hygiene (HH) is an important patient safety measure linked to the prevention of health care-associated infection, yet how outbreaks affect HH performance has not been formally evaluated.

Methods

A controlled, interrupted time series was performed across 5 acute-care academic hospitals using group electronic monitoring. This system captures 100% of all hand sanitizer and soap dispenser activations via a wireless signal to a wireless hub; the number of activations is divided by a previously validated estimate of the number of daily HH opportunities per patient bed, multiplied by the hourly census of patients on the unit. Daily HH adherence 60 days prior and 90 days following outbreaks on inpatient units was compared to control units not in outbreaks over the same period, using a Poisson regression model adjusting for correlations within hospitals and units. Predictors of HH improvement were assessed in this multivariate model.

Results

In the 60 days prior to outbreaks, units destined for outbreaks had significantly lower HH adherence compared to control units (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], .90–.93; P < .0001). Following an outbreak, the HH adherence among the outbreak units increased above that of the controls (IRR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02–1.06; P < .0001). Greater improvements were noted for outbreaks on surgical units, for outbreaks involving antibiotic-resistant organisms and enteric pathogens, and in those outbreaks where health-care workers became ill.

Conclusions

Hospital outbreaks tend to occur in units with lower HH adherence and are associated with rapid improvements in HH performance. Group electronic monitoring of HH could be used to develop novel, prospective feedback interventions designed to avert hospital outbreaks.
20 TREATMENT OPTIMIZATION AND PROGNOSTIC FACTORS IN ADVANCED ESOPHAGEAL CANCER
Authors: Jakšić B , Prpić M , Murgić J , Prgomet Sečan A , Zovak M , Tomašić V , Frӧbe A
Published: September 2020

Esophageal cancer is a disease with high mortality due to advanced stage at the time of diagnosis in patients with poor general condition and/or multiple comorbidities which makes them unsuitable for radical treatment. The goal of this clinical trial is finding optimal treatment for this group of patients.

Methods

Hypothesis of this clinical trial is that sequential use of high dose rate intraluminal brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy and chemotherapy decreases symptoms of disease, improves quality of life and prolongs overall survival in patients with esophageal cancer that are not candidates for radical treatment.

We have included patients with esophageal cancer that are not candidates for radical treatment. Statistical analysis was done only for the patients that have completed planned treatment and not for the intent to treat population. Therefore, statistical analysis was done for 39 patients, 22 in control group and 17 in interventional group.

Results

In a survival analysis adapted for AJCC stage of the disease, addition of sequential chemotherapy improves overall survival statistically significant (P = 0.004). Sequential use of high dose rate intraluminal brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy decreases the degree of: dysphagia (P = 0.001), odynophagia (P = 0.002) and regurgitation (P = 0.008) statistically significant. Decrease of a pain degree is statistically significant only with the use of sequential chemotherapy (P = 0.031). Sequential use of chemotherapy does not improve control over dysphagia (P = 0.872), odynophagia (P = 0.872) and regurgitation (P = 0.872) any further. Patients of female gender have greater improvement of regurgitation score (P = 0.068), pain score (P = 0.09) and quality of life (P = 0.019).

Conclusion

Sequential use of high dose rate intraluminal brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy provides a safe use of high radiotherapy doses with minimal exposure of organs at risk, according to dose-volume histogram analysis. Sequential use of chemotherapy, after high dose rate intraluminal brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy, improves overall survival in patients with esophageal cancer that are not candidates for radical treatment, in comparison to patients who do not receive chemotherapy (P = 0.09).
411 LEARNING CURVES IN MINIMALLY INVASIVE ESOPHAGECTOMY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Authors: Prasad P , Wallace L , Navidi M , Wahed S , Immanuel A , Phillips A
Published: September 2020

Minimally invasive techniques are being increasingly used in the treatment of esophageal cancer. The learning curve for minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is variable and can have an impact upon training delivered within residency and fellowship programmes. The aims of this review are to critically appraise current literature on the learning curve for MIE, identify what parameter(s) is used to quantify achieving competence and determine if there is evidence of resultant impact on surgical training.

Methods

A search of the major reference databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane) was performed with no time limits up to the date of the search (February 2020). Results were screened in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and study quality assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for cohort studies.

Results

Twenty-one studies comprising 2720 patients were included- 17 studies reported on a combination of thoracoscopic, hybrid and total MIE, 3 studies reported robotic assisted alone and 1 study evaluated robotic assisted and thoracoscopic esophagectomy. 3 studies used a cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis to define learning, 1 study used CUSUM and another parameter and 17 studies used one or more parameters. Quantification of surgical competence was variable and ranged from 12–80 cases for robotic surgery and 12–60 cases for other modes of MIE. One study reported trainees achieving MIE skills quicker if mentoring surgeons had attained proficiency on the learning curve.

Conclusion

Learning curves in MIE remain ill-defined with limited evidence on impact upon training received by residents and fellows. Additionally, the parameters used to define achievement of surgical competency is heterogenous. As minimally invasive techniques are increasingly adopted, specific standards to help define competence need to be identified and agreed on. This could help in designing training programmes and improve the rate of achieving competency.
75 LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF LAPAROSCOPIC HELLER–DOR OPERATION: RESULTS AT A MEDIAN 20-YEAR FOLLOW UP.
Authors: Costantini A , Salvador R , Provenzano L , Capovilla G , Nicoletti L , Pierobon E , Moletta L , Valmasoni M , Merigliano S , Costantini M
Published: September 2020

Since its introduction in 1993, Laparoscopic Heller-Dor (LHD) operation has been the gold standard treatment for esophageal achalasia. Little is known, however, of the natural story of the operated patients in the long run. The aim of this study was to assess the long-term outcome of patients who underwent LHD more than 20 years ago, in order to provide benchmark data to which new techniques should compare.

Methods

All the patients who underwent LHD from 1992 to 1999 at our Institution were evaluated. Patients with previous endoscopic treatment with pneumatic dilations (PD) or Botox were included, whereas patients with previous myotomy were ruled out. Symptoms were prospectively collected and scored using a detailed questionnaire. Barium swallow, endoscopy and manometry were performed before and 6–12 months after the operation, when also pH-metry was performed. Endoscopy was then suggested every 2 years. Treatment failure was defined as a postoperative symptom score > 10th percentile of the preoperative score (i.e. > 8) or the need for further treatment.

Results

Eighty-seven patients with a minimum 10-year follow-up were evaluated (median f/u 20 years). One patient died for esophageal cancer 11.5 years after LHD; 8 patients died 11–24 years after LHD for unrelated causes. All were highly satisfied with the results of the operation. Symptoms recurred in 23 patients (26.4%) 1 month to 13.5 years after LHD: all received 1 to 6 PD, effective in 16: 3 required revisional myotomy and 3 need periodic PD. Good long-term outcome was recorded in 73.6% of patients, and in 92% with combined treatment. Post-operative reflux (pH and/or endoscopy-proven) developed in 10 patients only (11.5%).

Conclusion

LHD can durably relieve symptoms in the majority of patients, though some of them may require complementary PD to maintain effective symptom control. LHD confirms to be an excellent long-term treatment for achalasia and these results represent the reference point for all other treatments.
465 VISUALISATION OF THORACIC DUCT DURING ESOPHAGECTOMY BY REAL-TIME FLUORESCENT IMAGING—A TECHNIQUE IN EVOLUTION
Authors: Thammineedi S
Published: September 2020

Recognition and repair of thoracic duct and it’s injury make the management of chyle leak difficult. Traditional methods like lymphoscintigraphy, lymphangiography and preoperative oral cream ingestion to identify the thoracic duct find limited use in intraoperative identification with poor contrast and precision. Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence by indocyanine green dye (ICG) provides a feasible, real-time imaging of thoracic ductal anatomy during thoracoscopic surgery, thereby potentially reducing injury of thoracic duct.

Methods

We describe successful identification of the thoracic duct in real-time during minimally invasive esophagectomy by Indocyanine green (ICG) lymphangiography in a series of 10 patients with carcinoma esophagus post chemoradiotherapy. Intraoperative fluorescence lymphangiography was performed by injecting 2.5 to 7.5 mg of ICG. into small bowel mesentery in 5, groin in 2 and both mesentery and groin in 3.

Results

Time required for appearance of ICG fluorescence in thoracic duct ranged from 60 to 120 min. Thoracic duct was successfully identified and delineated in 8 cases, and not detected in 2 cases. There were no chyle leaks in the postoperative period, and all the patients were discharged uneventfully.

Conclusion

ICG fluorescence lymphangiography provides a feasible, reliable, and real-time imaging of thoracic duct during esophagectomy, thereby potentially reducing the thoracic duct injuries. In this series the non detection of thoracic duct in cases and the appearance of fluorescence at varied interval of time might be due to erratic expression of ICG fluorescence owing to extensive fibrosis in thorax secondarily to chemoradiation. This study should serve as a bench mark for larger studies in future.
505 SURPRISING LACK OF CORRELATION BETWEEN INTEGRATED RELAXATION PRESSURE LEVEL AND SYMPTOM SEVERITY IN PATIENTS WITH ACHALASIA
Authors: Nguyen A , Zhang J , Ward M , Podgaetz E , Leeds S , Ramesh M , Souza R , Spechler S , Konda V
Published: September 2020

With high resolution manometry (HRM), achalasia is defined as an elevated integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) and the absence of normal esophageal peristalsis. Since achalasia symptoms are attributed in part to incomplete LES relaxation, IRP values might be expected to directly correlate with symptom severity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between IRP values and symptom severity assessed by the Eckardt score in patients with achalasia.

Methods

We searched the database of our Center for Esophageal Diseases for patients who had HRM showing achalasia (IRP > 15 mmHg and absent peristalsis) between May 2017 and August 2019. All patients with achalasia seen in our Center routinely complete the Eckardt score questionnaire evaluating the severity of achalasia symptoms in each of four categories (dysphagia, chest pain, regurgitation and weight loss). Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between median IRP and Eckardt score; an R2 value >0.5 was considered clinically meaningful.

Results

We identified 91 subjects with achalasia (mean age 62.9 ± 16.5 years; 39 men, 52 women; 27 Type 1, 28 Type 2, 36 Type 3). We found no clinically meaningful correlation between median IRP and the total Eckardt score (R2 = 0.043) (Figure 1). Furthermore, we found no clinically meaningful correlation between median IRP and any individual component of the Eckardt score (dysphagia R2 = 0.008, chest pain R2 = 0.001, regurgitation R2 = 0.035, weight loss R2 = 0.049). Finally, in subgroup analyses we found no clinically meaningful correlation between median IRP and Eckardt scores (total or any of its individual components) for any of the 3 achalasia subtypes.

Conclusion

We found no clinically meaningful correlation between IRP and total Eckardt score, or between IRP and any individual component of the Eckardt score for patients with achalasia of any type. This suggests that once the IRP value exceeds 15 mmHg, further elevations in IRP have little effect on symptoms, and that factors other than IRP such as esophageal body dysmotility and hypersensitivity might contribute to symptom perception in achalasia.
525 SURGICAL MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY FROM THE NEORESII TRIAL: STANDARD VS. PROLONGED TIME TO SURGERY AFTER NEOADJUVANT CHEMORADIOTHERAPY FOR ESOPHAGEAL CANCER
Authors: Nilsson K , Klevebro F , Rouvelas I , Lindblad M , Szabo E , Halldestam I , Smedh U , Wallner B , Johansson J , Johnsen G , Kjus Ahlin E , Johannessen H , Hjortland G , Bartella I , Schröder W , Bruns C , Nilsson M
Published: September 2020

For carcinoma of the esophagus or esophagogastric junction the time to surgery (TTS) has traditionally been 4-6 weeks after completed neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). However, the optimal timing is not known. A majority of previous non-randomized studies addressing this issue, have not detected any significant differences in complication rates comparing patients operated with standard TTS compared to prolonged TTS. The aim of this sub-study was to investigate if prolonged TTS after completed nCRT improves postoperative outcomes.

Methods

A multicenter clinical trial was performed with randomized allocation to standard TTS (4–6 weeks) or prolonged TTS (10–12 weeks). All patients received nCRT according to the CROSS regimen. Patients were enrolled between 2015–2019 from 10 University Hospitals in Sweden, Norway and Germany. The primary endpoint of this sub-study was overall postoperative complications defined as Clavien-Dindo grade II-V. Secondary endpoints included complication severity according to Clavien-Dindo grade IIIb-V, postoperative 90-day mortality and length of hospital stay. The study was registered in Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02415101).

Results

In total 248 patients were randomized. There were no significant differences between standard TTS and prolonged TTS regarding overall complications Clavien-Dindo II-V (59.0% vs. 69.8%, P = 0.092) or Clavien-Dindo IIIb-V (31.6% vs. 35.0%, P = 0.603). Furthermore, there were no significant differences regarding anastomotic leak (P = 0.601), conduit necrosis (P = 0.524), chyle leak (P = 0.427), pneumonia (P = 0.548) or respiratory failure (P = 0.723). The 90-day postoperative mortality was 4.3% (5 patients) in the standard TTS, and 3.8% (4 patients) in the prolonged TTS arm (P = 1.0). Median length of hospital stay was 15 days in the standard TTS arm and 17 days in the prolonged TTS arm (P = 0.220).

Conclusion

The timing of surgery after completed nCRT for carcinoma of the esophagus or esophagogastric junction is not of major importance with regard to short-term postoperative outcomes.
78 INTESTINAL METAPLASIA IN THE ESOPHAGEAL REMNANT IS RARE AFTER IVOR LEWIS ESOPHAGECTOMY
Authors: Corsini E , Mitchell K , Zhou N , Antonoff M , Mehran R , Rajaram R , Rice D , Roth J , Sepesi B , Swisher S , Vaporciyan A , Walsh G , Hofstetter W
Published: September 2020

Most patients undergoing esophagectomy will experience intermittent reflux of gastric and biliary content into the remnant esophagus over the course of their lives. The incidence of new or recurrent intestinal metaplasia (IM) following chemoradiation and surgery has not been well-described. Furthermore, post-resection guidelines do not exist regarding surveillance for IM in the esophageal remnant. We hypothesized that the incidence of IM in patients who underwent active post-treatment surveillance would be low.

Methods

Patients undergoing Ivor Lewis esophagectomy after concurrent chemoradiation for a diagnosis of esophageal adenocarcinoma at a single institution from 2006–2018 were identified. Pathology records were reviewed for the presence of IM on pretreatment biopsies, surgical specimen, or post-resection biopsies. Categorical variables were compared using Pearson’s chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, where appropriate, and continuous variables were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test. Time-to-event outcomes were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

621 patients were included, and 242 (39%) were known to have had IM prior to esophagectomy. An additional 26 (4%) patients without a preexisting diagnosis of IM were found to have IM in the surgical specimen. During a median follow-up of 62 months, development of new IM was rare, occurring only in 12 (2%) patients, 7 of whom had a prior history of IM(Table); incidence was 0.6 cases per patient-years. Of these 12, 3 (25%) developed local adenocarcinoma recurrence. Overall, local recurrence of adenocarcinoma was uncommon, and occurred at similar rates in patients with and without a history of IM(p = 0.774).

Conclusion

Despite several factors predisposing to mucosal damage following esophagectomy, occurrence of new IM after trimodality therapy in our patient population appears to be rare, even among patient with a previous history of metaplasia.
526 MICROSATELLITE INSTABILITY IN GASTRO-ESOPHAGEAL ADENOCARCINOMAS
Authors: Katz A , Evaristo G , Issac M , Ramirez-GraciaLuna J , Park M , Camilleri-Broët S , Marcus V , Vinh Thai D , Bailey S , Sangwan V , Fiset P , Bass A , Ferri L
Published: September 2020

Microsatellite instability (MSI) in gastro-esophageal adenocarcinomas (GEAs) is associated with poor response to chemotherapy; however, this association is poorly understood. The aim of this study is to better understand the clinical relevance and mutational landscape of MSI in GEA.

Methods

In order to assess the status of mismatch repair (MMR) proteins, we performed immunohistochemistry for MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, PMS2 and BRAF V600E on tissue microarrays constructed from 161 patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma and 65 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, operated between 2011 to 2019. MMR- deficient (MMR-D) status was confirmed using full sections of tumors. Demographics, tumor, and treatment details, operative variable and overall survival were evaluated. Genomic characterization of 3 MSI-H and 10 MSS patients was performed using deep targeted sequencing of 234 potential oncogenic genes. Statistical analysis was performed using Cox regression, logistic regression, ANOVA or Chi-square tests.

Results

Among the 28 (12%) MMR-D immunophenotype patients identified: 25 showed a combined MLH1/PMS2 loss, one case with MSH2/MSH6 loss and two cases with isolated MSH6 or MSH2 loss. Patients in the MMR-D were older (74 ± 14 vs 67 ± 11 years, p = 0.01) and with more Siewert-III and sub-cardia tumors [64%(18) vs 40%(79), p = 0.002] compared to MMR-Stable patients. All other variables including sex, stage and grade were not significantly different. MMR-D immunophenotype was associated with better overall survival (Median survival of 5.7vs2.3 years, p < 0.04) (Figure 1A). Genomic analysis linked patients with D-MMR with a higher mutational burden with some potentially targetable mutations (Figure 1B).

Conclusion

The significant proportion of MMR-D immunophenotype identified in this gastroesophageal cohort and the different pattern of overall survival and genetic mutations associated with this phenotype, highlight the importance of further characterization and understanding the mechanisms and role of MMR status in GEAs.
207 ESOPHAGEAL BIOPSY AND SWAB MICROBIAL CHARACTERIZATION WITH HEALTH AND ESOPHAGEAL DISEASE IN CHINA
Authors: Li M , Shao D , Song G , Meng F , Hao C , Li X , Wei W
Published: September 2020

Little is known about the esophageal microbiota and esophageal health or disease in China, especially esophageal squamous cell precancerous lesions. And there is currently no optimal sampling method for esophageal microbiota. Consequently, we compared microbial signature between and within esophageal biopsy and swab specimens from participants in healthy or with esophageal diseases.

Methods

A total of 236 subjects were recruited in the Linxian Cancer Hospital (Henan, China), including 5 groups as 70 healthy cases, 70 esophagitis cases, 70 low grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN) cases, 19 high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) cases and 7 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cases. Sterile biopsies and swabs were used to collect paired samples from the same participants under the endoscopy examination. DNA was extracted with the MoBio PowerSoil Kit. Data from 16S rRNA gene sequencing were processed using QIIME2 and R to evaluate differences in alpha and beta diversity and taxonomic relative abundances.

Results

Alpha diversity was not significantly different between specimens (biopsy = 116.2, swab = 118.0, P > 0.05). In swabs, there were differences of observed OTUs among groups but not Shannon index, detailly, there was an inconspicuous decreasing from Health (125.0) to ESCC (114.0). About beta diversity, no distinct clustering by specimen was observed for weighted Unifrac distance and unweighted Unifrac distance. The 10 dominant genera were similar between specimens and among groups. Specially, Streptococcus was the most abundant except ESCCs; Fusobacterium was in the top ten only in ESCCs. And there was a decreasing of Prevotella 7 and an increasing of Haemophilus as progression.

Conclusion

Esophageal biopsy and swab specimens could yield similar bacterial composition. Both can be used to find clues of microbiota and disease. And esophageal microbial composition and progression characterizations could provide new idea and basis for large scale, prospective cohort studies in the future.
314 LONG-TERM QUALITY OF LIFE FOLLOWING TRANSTHORACIC AND TRANSHIATAL ESOPHAGECTOMY FOR ESOPHAGEAL CANCER
Authors: Jezerskyte E , Saadeh L , Hagens E , Sprangers M , Noteboom L , van Laarhoven H , Eshuis W , Hulshof M , van Berge Henegouwen M , Gisbertz S
Published: September 2020

Both a transthoracic (TTE) and a transhiatal (THE) esophagectomy may be possible in patients with a distal esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. A number of studies report conflicting results in long-term health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) following these operations. This study investigates long-term HR-QoL in TTE and THE in a tertiary referral center.

Methods

Disease-free patients after a TTE or THE for distal esophageal or GEJ carcinoma with a follow-up >2 years were included. Patients who visited the outpatient clinic of a tertiary referral center in the Netherlands between 2014–2018 were asked to complete the EORTC QLQ-C30 and EORTC QLQ-OG25 questionnaires. Outcome measures were all 31 HR-QoL domains.

Results

During the study period, 132 patients underwent a TTE and 56 a THE. A better HR-QoL score was found for “problems with hair loss” (mean score 85.0 vs 114.4, p = 0.016) following TTE. Patients after minimally invasive TTE had better scores in ´physical functioning´ compared to minimally invasive THE (mean score 103.2 vs 88.6, p = 0.020). Patients following neoadjuvant therapy and TTE reported better “social functioning” compared to patients after neoadjuvant therapy and THE (mean scores 76.1 vs 59.9, p = 0.040).

Conclusion

Long-term HR-QoL results are largely comparable in disease-free patients following TTE or THE for distal esophageal or GEJ carcinoma. Some domains in the whole cohort and in subgroups differed at the advantage of a TTE. These findings may aid in providing information to esophageal or GEJ cancer patients on what can be expected following treatment.
Agroholdings and land rental markets: a spatial competition perspective
Authors: Graubner Marten , Ostapchuk Igor , Gagalyuk Taras
Published: September 2020

With the emergence of large, horizontally integrated farm enterprises especially in Eastern European countries, the question arises whether these agroholdings exercise market power in (local) land markets. Using a theoretical framework of spatial competition that accounts for the presence of multi-farm agroholdings, we derive equilibrium prices under alternative spatial competition settings. Based on the investigation of Ukrainian farms, we provide theoretical explanations and empirical support for farms affiliated with an agroholding possessing (ceteris paribus) more land and setting higher land rental prices compared to independent farms. The results indicate that agroholdings may act as price leaders in local land markets.
No Abuse Potential of Silexan in Healthy Recreational Drug Users: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Seifritz Erich , Möller Hans-Jürgen , Volz Hans-Peter , Müller Walter E , Hopyan Talar , Wacker Anna , Schläfke Sandra , Kasper Siegfried
Published: September 2020

Background

Silexan is a lavender essential oil with established anxiolytic and calming efficacy. Here we asked whether there is a potential for abuse in human patients.

Methods

We carried out a phase I abuse liability single-center, double-blind, 5-way crossover study in healthy users of recreational central nervous system depressants. They received single oral doses of 80 mg (therapeutic dose) and 640 mg Silexan, 2 mg and 4 mg lorazepam (active control) and placebo in randomized order, with 4- to 14-day washout periods between treatments. Pharmacodynamic measures included validated visual analogue scales assessing positive, negative, and sedative drug effects and balance of effects; a short form of the Addiction Research Center Inventory; and a drug similarity assessment. The primary outcome measure was the individual maximum value on the drug liking visual analogue scale during 24 hours post-dose.

Results

Forty participants were randomized and 34 were evaluable for pharmacodynamic outcomes. In intraindividual head-to-head comparisons of the drug liking visual analogue scale maximum value, both doses of Silexan were rated similar to placebo whereas differences were observed between Silexan and lorazepam and between placebo and lorazepam (P < .001). These data were supported by all secondary measures of positive drug effects and of balance of effects. Differences between placebo and both doses of Silexan were always negligible in magnitude. Moreover, Silexan showed no sedative effects and was not perceived to be similar to commonly used drugs that participants had used in the past.

Conclusions

Silexan did not exhibit any abuse potential in a standard abuse potential detection screen study and is unlikely to be recreationally abused.
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 17? An Empirical Investigation of the Effectiveness of Aid Given to Boost Developing Countries’ Tax Revenue and Capacity
Authors: Seelkopf Laura , Bastiaens Ida
Published: September 2020

Developing economies need to increase their tax revenue. The international community is keenly aware of this challenge and recently dedicated substantial resources and advocacy to assist countries in mobilizing domestic tax revenue as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Considering, however, the extensive research that foreign aid is often ineffective, it is not obvious that this tax assistance will help developing countries raise revenue. In this article, we assess the impact of international assistance programs for tax purposes (i.e., tax aid) on tax revenue generation, indirect taxation reform, and informality across the developing world. We analyze panel data of 137 developing countries between 1972 and 2013 from the AidData, International Centre for Tax and Development, and World Development Indicators, and World Bank Project Data datasets. We also assess survey data from the World Bank's Enterprise Survey and World Values Survey. Our findings indicate that tax aid does not robustly increase the number of taxpayers, especially in the short run. However, tax aid is effective in generating domestic tax revenue in precisely the way international agencies advocate, namely a strong reliance on the value-added tax.

The data underlying this article are available on the ISQ Dataverse, at https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataverse/isq.
Transition to Adult IBD Care: A Pilot Multi-Site, Telehealth Hybrid Intervention
Authors: Gray Wendy N , Wagoner Scott T , Schaefer Megan R , Reed Bonney , Morgan Pamela , Holbrook Erin , Yacyshyn Bruce , Mackner Laura , Young Margaret , Maddux Michele , Saeed Shehzad A , Denson Lee A , Hommel Kevin
Published: September 2020

Objective 

Transition to adult IBD care continues to be a challenge. Efficacious models of improving transition to adult care in the United States are lacking. We present data from a pilot, prospective, non-randomized, intervention implemented at IBD centers in the Midwest and Southeast United States.

Design and Methods 

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs; 16–20 years) with IBD and their parents completed a 4- to 5-month transition program (1 in-person group session; 4 individual telehealth sessions). Primary outcomes were feasibility (i.e., recruitment, retention, fidelity) and acceptability (i.e., program satisfaction). Secondary outcomes were changes in transition readiness, self-management skill acquisition, perceived readiness to transfer to adult care, and disease knowledge.

Results 

The study exceeded goals for recruitment (target N = 20; actual: 36) and retention (target: 80%; actual: 86.11%). On average, it took participants 20.91 ± 3.15 weeks to complete our 4- to 5-month intervention and there were no deviations from the study protocol. Participant ratings for overall program satisfaction, perceived helpfulness, and program length and format were positive. Increases in transition readiness, t(30) = 8.30, d = 1.49, p < .001, self-management skill acquisition, t(30) = 3.93, d = 0.70, p < .001, and disease knowledge, t(30) = 8.20, d = 1.58, p < .001 were noted. AYA- and parent-perceived transfer readiness also improved (p’s < .05; d’s = 0.76–1.68).

Conclusions 

This article presents feasibility and acceptability data for a 4- to 5-month transition intervention. Improvements in AYA transition readiness, self-management skill acquisition, IBD knowledge, and AYA/parent perceived transfer readiness were also observed.
Surveillance of COVID-19 in migrant reception centres: a call for action
Authors: Ceccarelli Giancarlo , Lopalco Maurizio , d’Ettorre Gabriele , d’Ettorre Gabriella , Ciccozzi Massimo
Published: September 2020

Teaser The management of the coronavirus disease pandemic in reception centres for migrants is burdened by significant critical issues mainly due to linguistic, cultural and social differences related to the heterogeneity of the migrants hosted. Here we reported the field analysis of these critical issues and adopted solutions.
Measuring the mixing scale of the ISM within nearby spiral galaxies
Authors: Kreckel Kathryn , Ho I-Ting , Blanc Guillermo A , Glover Simon C O , Groves Brent , Rosolowsky Erik , Bigiel Frank , Boquíen Médéric , Chevance Mélanie , Dale Daniel A , Deger Sinan , Emsellem Eric , Grasha Kathryn , Kim Jenny J , Klessen Ralf S , Kruijssen J M Diederik , Lee Janice C , Leroy Adam K , Liu Daizhong , McElroy Rebecca , Meidt Sharon E , Pessa Ismael , Sanchez-Blazquez Patricia , Sandstrom Karin , Santoro Francesco , Scheuermann Fabian , Schinnerer Eva , Schruba Andreas , Utomo Dyas , Watkins Elizabeth J , Williams Thomas G
Published: September 2020

The spatial distribution of metals reflects, and can be used to constrain, the processes of chemical enrichment and mixing. Using PHANGS-MUSE optical integral field spectroscopy, we measure the gas-phase oxygen abundances (metallicities) across 7138 H ii regions in a sample of eight nearby disc galaxies. In Paper I, we measure and report linear radial gradients in the metallicities of each galaxy, and qualitatively searched for azimuthal abundance variations. Here, we examine the 2D variation in abundances once the radial gradient is subtracted, Δ(O/H), in order to quantify the homogeneity of the metal distribution and to measure the mixing scale over which H ii region metallicities are correlated. We observe low (0.03–0.05 dex) scatter in Δ(O/H) globally in all galaxies, with significantly lower (0.02–0.03 dex) scatter on small (<600 pc) spatial scales. This is consistent with the measurement uncertainties, and implies the 2D metallicity distribution is highly correlated on scales of ≲600 pc. We compute the two-point correlation function for metals in the disc in order to quantify the scale lengths associated with the observed homogeneity. This mixing scale is observed to correlate better with the local gas velocity dispersion (of both cold and ionized gas) than with the star formation rate. Selecting only H ii regions with enhanced abundances relative to a linear radial gradient, we do not observe increased homogeneity on small scales. This suggests that the observed homogeneity is driven by the mixing introducing material from large scales rather than by pollution from recent and on-going star formation.