bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetics of betamethasone in twin and singleton pregnancy
Authors: Ballabh Praveen , Lo E. S. , Kumari J. , Cooper T. B. , Zervoudakis I. , Auld P. A. M. , Krauss A. N.
Published: August 2002

Objective

The aims of the study were to compare the pharmacokinetics of betamethasone in singleton pregnancy with the pharmacokinetics in twin pregnancy and to assess the adrenal suppression produced by betamethasone.

Study Design

We measured serial betamethasone and cortisol levels in 30 singleton and 21 twin pregnancies after the first dose of betamethasone and calculated the pharmacokinetic parameters for betamethasone including volume of distribution, half‐life, and clearance. We also measured cord and maternal blood levels of betamethasone at the birth of infants of 13 singleton and 9 twin pregnancies.

Results

The half‐life of betamethasone in mothers with twin pregnancies was significantly shorter than that in mothers with singleton pregnancies (7.2 ± 2.4 versus 9.0 ± 2.7 hours; P < .017). Clearance of betamethasone in the twin pregnancies appeared greater than in singleton pregnancies (8.4 ± 6.4 versus 5.7 ± 3.1 L/h; P = .06) but did not reach statistical significance. Volume of distribution was similar in the two groups. Because the time between the last dose of betamethasone and birth varied widely (range, 2–158 hours), mothers with a longer interval after treatment tended to have a higher cord–to–maternal betamethasone ratio than did mothers with a shorter interval in both twin and singleton pregnancies. This finding indicated delayed fetal clearance, but the correlation was weak (R2 = 0.29 for twins and 0.08 for singletons).

Conclusion

The shorter half‐life of betamethasone in twin pregnancy than in singleton pregnancy may cause the level of betamethasone to be subtherapeutic for lung maturation in twin pregnancy.

Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2002) 71, 39–45; doi: 10.1067/mcp.2002.120250
Measuring Economic Globalization: Spatial Hierarchies and Market Topologies
Authors: Shin Michael E
Published: August 2002

Measuring the degree and extent of economic globalization is subject to a variety of issues ranging from theoretical conceptualization to the selection of appropriate data. This examination of economic globalization underscores the importance of a geographic perspective that is necessarily situated within a temporal context. International trade data and exploratory spatial data analyses are used to assess patterns of economic globalization between 1970 and 1997. Results indicate that preserving topological relationships between states in the global economy can guide, inform, and extend future studies of the processes and patterns of economic globalization.
Vocabulary of the New Europe: Code Words for the Millennium
Authors: Clark Gordon L
Published: August 2002

Drawing upon a recent Council of Europe conference on markets and social solidarity and related interviews with financial industry elites on the prospects for pan-European pensions, this paper sets out the code words used to describe the ‘new’ Europe. After a century of enormous destruction and fragmentation, those now wishing to join Western Europe look towards the institutions of the European Union with hope and ambition. In doing so, the language of vision has become an essential reference point in understanding contested futures. In this context, elites are particularly self-conscious about their use of code words. These code words are especially relevant to issues such as the expanding geographical borders of Europe, the value and practice of democracy, and the apparent threat posed by Anglo-Saxon financial markets to continental nation-state social contracts. In large part, the paper is an exercise in documentation—identifying defining and explaining the contested status of selected code words I believe to be important in the European project. But the paper is also quite contentious, theoretically speaking. In order to explain the significance of these code words, the paper begins with the relationship between words and concepts in the context of arguments by Fodor and Jackson. Here, a way is threaded between those who see words as the essence of political ideas, and those who believe words are simply the reflection of a robust material world. Political concepts are disputed, especially their relationships to one another and their place in specific institutional and geographical settings. To do so requires explaining how and why my approach goes beyond Raymond Williams's Keywords. In conclusion, implications are drawn with respect to the current debate over the likely long-term impacts of territorial incorporation for Western Europe.
An Oblique Effect in Aesthetics: Homage to Mondrian (1872–1944)
Authors: Latto Richard , Brain Douglas , Kelly Brian
Published: August 2002

The effect of the orientation of Mondrian's paintings on their aesthetic appeal was examined. Eight paintings, four with horizontal/vertical frames in the original and four with oblique frames, were presented in eight different orientations and rated for aesthetic appeal on a 7-point scale. There was a stronger preference for pictures presented so that their component lines were horizontal and vertical than for pictures presented with their component lines in an oblique orientation. In addition, subjects showed a preference for the original orientation, perhaps because rotation changes the lateral balance of the paintings as well as the orientation of the component lines. There was no overall preference for one frame orientation over another, but there was an interaction between frame orientation and component orientation, resulting in a preference for paintings where the components were parallel to the surrounding frame. It is suggested that the aesthetic oblique effect reported here is related to the oblique effect in orientation perception and the privileged access which horizontal and vertical lines have to the visual system. This offers a possible mechanism for aesthetic judgments of abstract patterns: we find pleasing those stimuli which are closely tuned to the properties of the human visual system.
The Absence of Depth Constancy in Contour Stereograms
Authors: Vreven Dawn , Welch Leslie
Published: August 2002

Stereoscopic surfaces constructed from Kanizsa-type illusory contours or explicit luminance contours were tested for three-dimensional (3-D) shape constancy. The curvature of the contours and the apparent viewing distance between the surface and the observer were manipulated. Observers judged which of two surfaces appeared more curved. Experiment 1 allowed eye movements and revealed a bias in 3-D shape judgment with changes in apparent viewing distance, such that surfaces presented far from the observer appeared less curved than surfaces presented close to the observer. The lack of depth constancy was approximately the same for illusory-contour surfaces and for explicit-contour surfaces. Experiment 2 showed that depth constancy for explicit-contour surfaces improved slightly when fixation was required and eye movements were restricted. These experiments suggest that curvature in depth is misperceived, and that illusory-contour surfaces are particularly sensitive to this distortion.
Is it a Bird? Is it a Plane? Ultra-Rapid Visual Categorisation of Natural and Artifactual Objects
Authors: VanRullen Rufin , Thorpe Simon J
Published: August 2002

Visual processing is known to be very fast in ultra-rapid categorisation tasks where the subject has to decide whether a briefly flashed image belongs to a target category or not. Human subjects can respond in under 400 ms, and event-related-potential studies have shown that the underlying processing can be done in less than 150 ms. Monkeys trained to perform the same task have proved even faster. However, most of these experiments have only been done with biologically relevant target categories such as animals or food. Here we performed the same study on human subjects, alternating between a task in which the target category was ‘animal’, and a task in which the target category was ‘means of transport’. These natural images of clearly artificial objects contained targets as varied as cars, trucks, trains, boats, aircraft, and hot-air balloons. However, the subjects performed almost identically in both tasks, with reaction times not significantly longer in the ‘means of transport’ task. These reaction times were much shorter than in any previous study on natural-image processing. We conclude that, at least for these two superordinate categories, the speed of ultra-rapid visual categorisation of natural scenes does not depend on the target category, and that this processing could rely primarily on feed-forward, automatic mechanisms.
The Role of Attention in Temporal Integration
Authors: Visser Troy A W , Enns James T
Published: August 2002

When two visual patterns are presented in rapid succession, their contours may be combined into a single unified percept. This temporal integration is known to be influenced by such low-level visual factors as stimulus intensity, contour proximity, and stimulus duration. In this study we asked whether temporal integration is modulated by an attentional-blink procedure. The results from a localisation task in experiment 1 and a detection task in experiment 2 pointed to two separate effects. First, greater attentional availability increased the accuracy of spatial localisation. Second, it increased the duration over which successive stimuli could be integrated. These results imply that theories of visible persistence and visual masking must account for attentional influences in addition to lower-level effects. They also have practical implications for use of the temporal-integration task in the assessment of group and individual differences.
The Effect of Name Category and Discriminability on the Search Characteristics of Colour Sets
Authors: Guest Steve , Van Laar Darren
Published: August 2002

Within (and between) cultures, people tend to agree on which parts of colour space are easiest to name and what the names for these regions are. Therefore it is likely that the manipulation of ease of naming (nameability) of colours should change performance in tasks where categorisation by colour name is important. More specifically, highly ‘nameable’ colour sets should lead to better performance than metrically equivalent but less categorically distinct sets, when the task requires categorisation. This hypothesis was investigated by testing observers on a name-based task, the naming and subsequent identification by name of colour sets with up to sixteen members. These sets were designed to be easy to name (nameable), maximally discriminable, or matched discriminable. The first were derived from previously generated data, the second by a standard algorithm to space colours widely in colour space, and the latter by closely matching their metric characteristics to those of an easy-to-name colour set. This final condition was metrically (but not categorically) equivalent to the nameable set. It was found that sets designed to be nameable did indeed lead to superior performance as measured by response times, confidence ratings, and response accuracy. Perceptual colour similarity, measured by a ΔE metric, did not predict errors. Nameability may thus be a valid, manipulable, aspect of sets of colours, and one which is not otherwise duplicated in the metric characteristics of such sets.
Is Optic Flow Used to Guide Walking While Wearing a Displacing Prism?
Authors: Harris Mike G , Carré Giles
Published: August 2002

Rushton et al (1998 Current Biology8 1191–1194) recently showed that walkers wearing displacing prisms follow curved trajectories determined by the perceived direction of their target. This suggests that optic flow is not important in guidance, since flow cues are unaffected by the prism and should allow a straight, direct trajectory. We replicated Rushton et al's result but also tried to rule out an important artifact associated with the prism. Prisms restrict the field of view and, particularly, access to the foreground optic flow that is likely to be important in providing guidance cues. We found that performance did not improve when walkers directed their gaze to include the foreground flow, suggesting that Rushton et al's results were not due to this artifact. On the other hand, performance did reliably improve when subjects reduced their viewing height by crawling towards the target. This improvement may be due to coarsening of the visual texture or to increased salience of alignment and motion-parallax cues. Whatever its cause, the improvement demonstrates that guidance is not determined only by perceived target direction and that, under some conditions, flow may be important.
A Matching Advantage for Dynamic Human Faces
Authors: Thornton Ian M , Kourtzi Zoe
Published: August 2002

In a series of three experiments, we used a sequential matching task to explore the impact of non-rigid facial motion on the perception of human faces. Dynamic prime images, in the form of short video sequences, facilitated matching responses relative to a single static prime image. This advantage was observed whenever the prime and target showed the same face but an identity match was required across expression (experiment 1) or view (experiment 2). No facilitation was observed for identical dynamic prime sequences when the matching dimension was shifted from identity to expression (experiment 3). We suggest that the observed dynamic advantage, the first reported for non-degraded facial images, arises because the matching task places more emphasis on visual working memory than typical face recognition tasks. More specifically, we believe that representational mechanisms optimised for the processing of motion and/or change-over-time are established and maintained in working memory and that such ‘dynamic representations’ (Freyd, 1987 Psychological Review94 427–438) capitalise on the increased information content of the dynamic primes to enhance performance.
Documenting the fungal biodiversity of Australasia: from 1800 to 2000 and beyond
Authors: May Tom W.
Published: August 2002

In the 200 years since Labillardière named
Aseroë rubra from Tasmania, a rich and diverse
mycota has been documented from Australasia. In the 19th century, the
systematic study of Australasian fungi was mostly carried out by Northern
Hemisphere mycologists, who were sent material by numerous local collectors.
Documentation of the mycota in the 20th century was concentrated on fungi of
importance in plant and forest pathology, but workers in these fields also
contributed to knowledge of native fungi. In the last few decades there has
been a greater emphasis on biodiversity inventory of native fungi, which was
the focus in the 19th century. Most contributions have been by relatively
isolated individuals and by visitors and there remains a paucity of systematic
mycologists in the region. In recent times stronger links have developed among
the mycologists of Australasia and there has been increased community
involvement. Species from the region tend to be based on few specimens and
type and other collections are scattered across many herbaria, including many
outside of the region. There are few up-to-date monographs, but a flora series
(Fungi of Australia) has recently been initiated.
Knowledge of distribution, substrates and habitats is poor for most species,
with the exception of common plant pathogens. The task of documenting the
mycota of Australasia is enormous, but its achievement in a reasonable time
frame (a century rather than a millennium) needs to be considered. Better
estimates of the magnitude of biodiversity are required to guide the task. The
region is well-served by checklists, censuses, catalogues and databases of
fungal names and specimens. Some integration of these various data sets would
be beneficial, as would availability of nomenclatural and specimen data
through on-line databases. Measures are suggested for making existing
information accessible, such as through interim and virtual floras.
A METHOD FOR EVALUATING THE EXPECTED LOAD OF DYNAMIC TREE EMBEDDINGS IN HYPERCUBES
Authors: LI KEQIN
Published: August 2002

A key issue in performing tree structured parallel computations is to distribute process components of a parallel program over processors in a parallel computer at run time such that both the maximum load and dilation are minimized. The main contribution of this paper is the application of recurrence relations in studying the performance of a dynamic tree embedding algorithm in hypercubes. We develop recurrence relations that characterize the expected load in randomized tree embeddings where, a tree grows by letting its nodes to take random walks of short distance. By using these recurrence relations, we are able to calculate the expected load on each processor. Therefore, for constant dilation embeddings, we are able to evaluate expected loads numerically and analytically. The applicability of recurrence relations is due to the recursive structure of trees and the fact that embeddings of the subtrees of a process node are independent of each other. Our methodology does not depend on the hypercube topology. Hence, it can be applied to studying dynamic tree growing in other networks.
THE OPERATORS MIN AND MAX ON THE POLYNOMIAL HIERARCHY
Authors: HEMPEL HARALD , WECHSUNG GERD
Published: August 2002

By defining a general max and a general min operator for complexity classes we obtain that there are other interesting classes of optimization functions besides Krentel's class OptP. We investigate the behavior of these operators on the polynomial hierarchy, in particular we study the inclusion structure of the classes max · P, max · NP, max · coNP, min · P, min · NP, and min · coNP. It turns out that our operators when applied to the polynomial hierarchy yield a refinement of Krentel's hierarchy of optimization functions. We prove that this refinement is strict unless the polynomial hierarchy collapses and show that the refinement is useful to exactly classify optimization functions. Moreover, our investigations shed new light on Krentel's result that every function from some level of the polynomial hierarchy can be characterized in terms of an optimization function.
THE SIGNATURE OF 2-ALMOST POSITIVE KNOTS
Authors: Stoimenow A.
Published: August 2002

We show a result, announced by Przytycki and Taniyama, that 2-almost positive knots, except the twist knots with negative clusp, have positive signature. We also describe the positive diagrams of positive genus three knots with signature 4.
MANAGING CHANGE AND TIME IN DYNAMIC WORKFLOW PROCESSES
Authors: SADIQ SHAZIA W. , MARJANOVIC OLIVERA , ORLOWSKA MARIA E.
Published: August 2002

Business environments have become exceedingly dynamic and competitive in recent times. This dynamism is manifested in the form of changing process requirements and time constraints. Workflow technology is currently one of the most promising fields of research in business process automation. However, workflow systems to date do not provide the flexibility necessary to support the dynamic nature of business processes. In this paper we primarily discuss the issues and challenges related to managing change and time in workflows representing dynamic business processes. We also present an analysis of workflow modifications and provide feasibility considerations for the automation of this process.
COVID-19 and Patient Safety—Lessons From 2 Efforts to Keep People Safe
Authors: Wachter Robert M.
Published: January 2024

This Viewpoint examines the similarities between medical errors and COVID-19 and discusses lessons applicable to ongoing and emerging health challenges.
COVID-19 Immunization Coverage Among People With Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Peng Hannah K. , Dombkowski Kevin J. , Plegue Melissa A. , Latta Krista , Malosh Ryan , Creary Melissa S. , Reeves Sarah L.
Published: January 2024

This cross-sectional study compares the completion of the primary COVID-19 vaccine series in Michigan residents with vs without sickle cell disease and by age group.
Trigeminal Ganglionopathy on Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging—A Rare Etiology
Authors: Gomes Noel William , Chakor Rahul Tryambak , Nadaf Swaleha
Published: January 2024

This case report describes a 56-year-old man with periorbital swelling and hyperpigmentation on the right side of the face and a hypopigmented patch on the anterior chest.
Capitated, Multisector, Universal Preventive Health Care for Children and Youth
Authors: Schor Edward L.
Published: January 2024

This Viewpoint discusses the need to reorganize the provision of well-child care whereby responsibility for services is formally divided and coordinated and funding is free from traditional, risk-based health insurance.
Functionalized Microwires‐Based Bundle Electrodes for Detection of Multiplexed Metabolites in Interstitial Space
Authors: Huang Shuang , Yao Chuanjie , He Mengyi , Huang Xinshuo , Liu Zhengjie , Chen Jiayi , Jiang Lelun , Chen Hui‐jiuan , Xie Xi
Published: January 2024

Metabolic substances play a pivotal role in maintaining the body's regular physiological functions. When these processes are disrupted, it can lead to metabolic disorders which may cause severe damage to various organs. Diabetes mellitus, a prevalent metabolic disorder, arises from disturbances in sugar metabolism among other substances. Consequently, there's a pressing need to monitor metabolite levels for early diagnosis. To address this, in this study, a semi‐implantable metabolite sensing system developed around functionalized microwires‐based bundle electrodes (FMBE) is introduced. This FMBE device tracks glucose, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and uric acid (UA) levels in vivo in real time, sensitively, and continuously. The FMBE is coated with Au nanoclusters and carbon nanotube–2D carbides and nitride (MXene) nanocomposites to enhance sensing surface area. In vitro characterizations affirm the FMBE's linear responsivity, detection sensitivity, and selectivity toward glucose, H2O2, and UA sensing. In addition, in in vivo testing in healthy and diabetic rats, it is demonstrated that FMBE is able to continuously monitor interstitial glucose, H2O2, and UA concentrations after implantation. The FMBE system, thus, stands out as a promising platform for real‐time, in situ monitoring of metabolite concentrations, potentially assisting in the diagnosis of diabetes and associated complications.
Ferrous/Ferric Ions Crosslinked Type II Collagen Multifunctional Hydrogel for Advanced Osteoarthritis Treatment
Authors: Wang Lili , Chen Xian , Wang Shenghong , Ma Jianrui , Yang Xiaxia , Chen Hongli , Xiao Jianxi
Published: January 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a highly prevalent and intricate degenerative joint disease affecting an estimated 500 million individuals worldwide. Collagen‐based hydrogels have sparked immense interest in cartilage tissue engineering, but substantial challenges persist in developing biocompatible and robust crosslinking strategies, as well as improving their effectiveness against the multifaceted nature of OA. Herein, a novel discovery wherein the simple incorporation of ferrous/ferric ions enables efficient dynamic crosslinking of type II collagen, leading to the development of injectable, self‐healing hydrogels with 3D interconnected porous nanostructures, is unveiled. The ferrous/ferric ions crosslinked type II collagen hydrogels demonstrate exceptional physical properties, such as significantly enhanced mechanical strength, minimal swelling ratios, and remarkable resistance to degradation, while also exhibiting extraordinary biocompatibility and bioactivity, effectively promoting cell proliferation, adhesion, and chondrogenic differentiation. Additionally, the hydrogels reveal potent anti‐inflammatory effects by upregulating anti‐inflammatory cytokines while downregulating pro‐inflammatory cytokines. In a rat model of cartilage defects, these hydrogels exhibit impressive efficacy, substantially accelerating cartilage tissue regeneration through enhanced collagen deposition and increased proteoglycan secretion. The innovative discovery of the multifunctional role of ferrous/ferric ions in endowing type II collagen hydrogels with a myriad of beneficial properties presents exciting prospects for developing advanced biomaterials with potential applications in OA.
Phenotypic Screening of Prospective Analgesics Among FDA‐Approved Compounds using an iPSC‐Based Model of Acute and Chronic Inflammatory Nociception
Authors: Black Bryan James , Ghazal Rasha El , Lojek Neal , Williams Victoria , Rajput Jai Singh , Lawson Jennifer M.
Published: January 2024

Classical target‐based drug screening is low‐throughput, largely subjective, and costly. Phenotypic screening based on in vitro models is increasingly being used to identify candidate compounds that modulate complex cell/tissue functions. Chronic inflammatory nociception, and subsequent chronic pain conditions, affect peripheral sensory neuron activity (e.g., firing of action potentials) through myriad pathways, and remain unaddressed in regard to effective, non‐addictive management/treatment options. Here, a chronic inflammatory nociception model is demonstrated based on induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) sensory neurons and glia, co‐cultured on microelectrode arrays (MEAs). iPSC sensory co‐cultures exhibit coordinated spontaneous extracellular action potential (EAP) firing, reaching a stable baseline after ≈27 days in vitro (DIV). Spontaneous and evoked EAP metrics are significantly modulated by 24‐h incubation with tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), representing an inflammatory phenotype. Compared with positive controls (lidocaine), this model is identified as an “excellent” stand‐alone assay based on a modified Z’ assay quality metric. This model is then used to screen 15 cherry‐picked, off‐label, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐approved compounds; 10 of 15 are identified as “hits”. Both hits and “misses” are discussed in turn. In total, this data suggests that iPSC sensory co‐cultures on MEAs may represent a moderate‐to‐high‐throughput assay for drug discovery targeting inflammatory nociception.
Copper‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Synthesis of Silicon‐Stereogenic Benzoxasiloles
Authors: Gan Wan‐Er , Wu Yong‐Shun , Wu Bin , Fang Chun‐Yuan , Cao Jian , Xu Zheng , Xu Li‐Wen
Published: January 2024

A Cu‐catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of silicon‐stereogenic benzoxasiloles has been realized via intramolecular Si−O coupling of [2‐(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]silanes. Cu(I)/difluorphos is found to be an efficient catalytic system for enantioselective Si−C bond cleavage and Si−O bond formation. In addition, kinetic resolution of racemic substituted [2‐(hydroxymethyl)phenyl]silanes using Cu(I)/ PyrOx (pyridine‐oxazoline ligands) as the catalytic system is developed to afford carbon‐ and silicon‐stereogenic benzoxasiloles. Ring‐opening reactions of chiral benzoxasiloles with organolithiums and Grignard reagents yield various enantioenriched functionalized tetraorganosilanes.
Predicting the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele carrier status based on gray matter volumes and cognitive function
Authors: Kim Hyug‐Gi , Tian Yunan , Jung Sue Min , Park Soonchan , Rhee Hak Young , Ryu Chang‐Woo , Jahng Geon‐Ho
Published: January 2024

Background

Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) ε4 carriers have a higher risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and show brain atrophy and cognitive decline even before diagnosis.

Objective

To predict ApoE ε4 status using gray matter volume (GMV) obtained from magnetic resonance imaging images and demographic data with machine learning (ML) methods.

Methods

We recruited 74 participants (25 probable AD, 24 amnestic mild cognitive impairment, and 25 cognitively normal older people) with known ApoE genotype (22 ApoE ε4 carriers and 52 noncarriers) and scanned them with three‐dimensional (3D) T1‐weighted (T1W) and 3D double inversion recovery (DIR) sequences. We extracted GMV from regions of interest related to AD pathology and used them as features along with age and mini–mental state examination (MMSE) scores to train different ML models. We performed both receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and the prediction analysis of the ApoE ε4 carrier with different ML models.

Results

The best model of ML analyses was a cubic support vector machine (SVM3) that used age, the MMSE score, and DIR GMVs at the amygdala, hippocampus, and precuneus as features (AUC = .88). This model outperformed models using T1W GMV or demographic data alone.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that brain atrophy with DIR GMV and cognitive decline with aging can be useful biomarkers for predicting ApoE ε4 status and identifying individuals at risk of AD progression.
Recurrence‐free survival dynamics following adjuvant chemotherapy for resected colorectal cancer: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Vail Emma , Choubey Ankur P. , Alexander H. Richard , August David A. , Berry Abril , Boland Patrick M. , Eskander Mariam F. , Grandhi Miral S. , Haliani Brittany , In Haejin , Kennedy Timothy J. , Langan Russell C. , Maggi Jason C. , Pitt Henry A. , Ganesan Shridar , Ecker Brett L.
Published: January 2024

Background

Several cytotoxic chemotherapies have demonstrated efficacy in improving recurrence‐free survival (RFS) following resection of Stage II–IV colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the temporal dynamics of response to such adjuvant therapy have not been systematically quantified.

Methods

The Cochrane Central Register of Trials, Medline (PubMed) and Web of Science were queried from database inception to February 23, 2023 for Phase III randomized controlled trials (RCTs) where there was a significant difference in RFS between adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery only arms. Summary data were extracted from published Kaplan–Meier curves using DigitizeIT. Absolute differences in RFS event rates were compared at matched intervals using multiple paired t‐tests.

Results

The initial search yielded 1469 manuscripts. After screening, 18 RCTs were eligible (14 Stage II/III; 4 Stage IV), inclusive of 16,682 patients. In the absence of adjuvant chemotherapy, the greatest rate of recurrence was observed in the first year (mean RFS event rate; 0–0.5 years: 0.22 ± 0.21; 0.5–1 years: 0.20 ± 0.09). Adjuvant chemotherapy was associated with significant decreases in the RFS event rates for the intervals 0–0.5 years (0.09 ± 0.09 vs. 0.22 ± 0.21, p < 0.001) and 0.5–1 years (0.14 ± 0.11 vs. 0.20 ± 0.09, p = 0.001) after randomization, but not at later intervals (1–5 years). In Stage IV trials, RFS event rates significantly differed for the interval 0–0.5 years (p = 0.012), corresponding with adjuvant treatment durations of 6 months. In Stage II/III trials, which included therapies of 6–24 months duration, there were marked differences in the RFS event rates between surgery and chemotherapy arms for the intervals 0–0.5 years (p < 0.001) and 0.5–1 years (p < 0.001) with smaller differences in the RFS event rates for the intervals 1–2 years (p = 0.012) and 2–3 years (p = 0.010).

Conclusions

In a systematic review of positive RCTs comparing adjuvant chemotherapy to surgery alone for Stage II–IV CRC, observed RFS improvements were driven by early divergences that occurred primarily during active cytotoxic chemotherapy. Late recurrence dynamics were not influenced by adjuvant therapy use. Such observations may have implications for the use of chemotherapy for micrometastatic clones detectable by cell‐free DNA‐based methodologies.
Outcomes with and without postmastectomy radiotherapy for pT3N0‐1M0 breast cancer: An institutional experience
Authors: Rao Xinxin , Wang Xuanyi , Jin Kairui , Yang Yilan , Zhao Xu , Pan Zhe , Lv Weiluo , Zhang Zhen , Zhang Li , Yu Xiaoli , Guo Xiaomao
Published: January 2024

Aim

The objective of this study is to comprehensively evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in treating patients with pT3N0‐1M0 breast cancer within the context of modern therapeutic strategies.

Methods

Clinical data from patients with pT3N0‐1M0 breast cancer who underwent mastectomy from January 2005 to December 2018 at our institution were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

The study involved a total of 222 participants, with 112 individuals undergoing PMRT and 110 individuals not receiving it. The median follow‐up duration was 77 months (range: 6–171 months). The entire cohort demonstrated 5‐year disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates of 85.1% and 91.0%, respectively, along with a locoregional recurrence (LRR) rate as low as 7.2%. The PMRT group showed significantly better 5‐year DFS (90.2% vs. 80.0%, p = 0.02) and OS (95.5% vs. 86.4%, p = 0.012) rates, as well as a lower LRR rate (4.5% vs. 10.0%, p = 0.122), compared to the group without PMRT. Cox regression analysis confirmed the independent prognostic significance of PMRT for both DFS (p = 0.040) and OS (p = 0.047). Following propensity score matching (PSM), the analysis included 100 matched patients, revealing an improved prognosis for those who received PMRT (DFS: p = 0.067; OS: p = 0.043).

Conclusions

Our study reveals favorable prognoses for pT3N0‐1M0 breast cancer patients treated within contemporary therapeutic approaches. The pivotal role of PMRT in this context is evident. However, due to the retrospective design of our study and the relatively limited sample size, further investigation is imperative to validate and enhance these initial findings.
Synthesis and Modular Reactivity of Low Valent Al/Zn Heterobimetallics Supported by Common Monodentate Amides
Authors: Dankert Fabian , Hevia Eva
Published: January 2024

Recent advances on low valent main group metal chemistry have shown the excellent potential of heterobimetallic complexes derived from Al(I) to promote cooperative small molecule activation processes. A signature feature of these complexes is the use of bulky chelating ligands which act as spectators providing kinetic stabilization to their highly reactive Al−M bonds. Here we report the synthesis of novel Al/Zn bimetallics prepared by the selective formal insertion of AlCp* into the Zn−N bond of the utility zinc amides ZnR2 (R=HMDS, hexamethyldisilazide; or TMP, 2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidide). By systematically assessing the reactivity of the new [(R)(Cp*)AlZn(R)] bimetallics towards carbodiimides, structural and mechanistic insights have been gained on their ability to undergo insertion in their Zn−Al bond. Disclosing a ligand effect, when R=TMP, an isomerization process can be induced giving [(TMP)2AlZn(Cp*)] which displays a special reactivity towards carbodiimides and carbon dioxide involving both its Al−N bonds, leaving its Al−Zn bond untouched.
Technical language analysis of online explanatory videos concerning redox chemistry
Authors: Lohrmann Friederike , Peetz Michael , Belova Nadja
Published: January 2024

Im Vermittlungsprozess chemischer Fachinhalte ist ein reflektierter Gebrauch der chemischen Fachsprache unumgänglich. Diesem Anspruch müssen auch Online‐Erklärvideos als beliebtes Lernmedium deutscher Schüler:innen gerecht werden. Diese Studie untersucht die fachsprachliche Qualität von Online‐Erklärvideos mit dem übergeordneten Ziel herauszufinden, inwiefern sich Unterschiede zwischen verschiedenen Erklärvideoproduzent:innen feststellen lassen. Allgemein lässt sich festhalten, dass die fachsprachliche Qualität aktueller Online‐Erklärvideos unzureichend ist. Verschiedene Kriterien, die unter Berücksichtigung fachdidaktischer Forschungsergebnisse als lernhinderlich beschrieben werden, kommen in den instruktionalen Erklärungen der Videos vor. Darüber hinaus gehen die Videos der Lehrer:innen und Organisationen als didaktische Expert:innen gleichermaßen mit fachlichen Fehlkonzepten und fachsprachlichen Unstimmigkeiten einher, wie auch die von Privatpersonen und Fachwissenschaftler:innen.
Production of Highly Efficient Activated Carbons for Wastewater Treatment from Post‐Consumer PET Plastic Bottle Waste
Authors: Alabi‐Babalola Olajumoke , Aransiola Elizabeth , Asuquo Edidiong , Garforth Arthur , D'Agostino Carmine
Published: January 2024

Chemical activated carbons (PET‐H2SO4 and PET‐KOH) were prepared from post‐consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes using pyrolysis under moderate reaction temperatures by changing pyrolysis time and chemical activating agents. The produced carbons were characterized and tested in adsorption reactions of manganese, chromium, and cobalt ions in aqueous solutions. Results showed a high percentage removal of these inorganic ions from water: 98 % for Mn2+, 87 % for Cr3+, and 88 % for Co2+. Freundlich isotherms gave a better fit to the experimental data obtained with good correlation coefficient values in the range of 0.99‐1 compared to other isotherms. The pseudo‐second order kinetic model best described the chemical adsorption process as an exchange of electrons between the carbon and inorganic ions in solutions. The diffusion models showed that the process is controlled by a multi‐kinetic stage adsorption process. In summary, this work demonstrates that the production of activated carbon from PET waste bottles is a potential alternative to commercial activated carbon and can be considered a sustainable waste management technology for removing these non‐biodegradable plastic wastes from the environment.
Green Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) for Sustainable Metal Recovery from Thermally Treated PCBs: A Greener Alternative to Conventional Methods
Authors: Mishra Snigdha , Hunter T. N. , Pant K. K. , Harbottle David
Published: January 2024

Waste PCBs the core of e‐waste is rich in copper, tin, zinc, iron, and nickel. Leaching base metals from PCB used to be done in toxic, corrosive acidic/alkali mediums. In this work, an environmentally friendly method for leaching metals from thermally treated PCBs (TPCBs) of mobile phones was proposed using choline chloride based deep eutectic solvents (DES). DES selectivity and solubility of metals from metal oxides were the main screening criteria. FA−ChCl had the maximum solubility of Cu, Fe, and Ni, while Urea−ChCl had high Zn selectivity and solubility. Oxalic acid has high selectivity for Sn. FA−ChCl extracted Cu and Fe best at 16 h, 100 °C, and 1/30 g/mL. Urea−ChCl extracted Zn (90.4±2.9 %) from TPCBs at 100 °C, 21 h, 1/20 g/mL, and 400 rpm. Oxalic acid (1 M) removed 92.3±2.1 % Sn from TPCBs in 1 h at 80 °C and 1/20 g/mL. The shrinking core model‐based kinetic investigation of FA−ChCl for Cu extraction showed a diffusion‐controlled process. The proposed method is greener than mineral acids utilized for metal extraction.
Amorphous Nickel Nanofilms for Efficient Hydrogen Generation from ammonia borane
Authors: Chen Yumei , Li Mingbin , Guan Shuyan , Li Qing , Peng Qiuming , Han Shumin , Liu Baozhong
Published: January 2024

Clean and sustainable hydrogen production through liquid hydrogen storage material requires highly active and stable earth‐abundant non‐noble metal to replace expensive and rare noble metals. Herein, nickel nanofilms (Ni/NiO‐NFs) were prepared by the ionic liquid/water interface route. The cationic carbon chain length of the ionic liquid affects the phase composition of the nickel nanofilm, and the ionic liquid with [OMIm][PF6] as the anion has good thermal stability during the synthesis process. The efficiency of Ni/NiO‐NFs catalysts was tested by comparative kinetic analysis of the AB hydrolysis for hydrogen production. The as‐prepared Ni/NiO‐NFs catalyst exhibits excellent hydrogen generation performances, including a hydrogen production rate (2917 ml min−1 gNi−1), and a low activation energy (48.1 kJ/mol). The transition of nickel oxide to metallic nickel and the destruction of the catalyst structure is responsible for the decreased durability. This work highlights the significance of amorphous nanofilms catalysts via the ionic interface method on the regulation of activity for AB hydrolysis.
Sealing Performance of Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer Seals for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Xiaohui Jiang , Lei Liu , Xi Yang , Shirong He , Meng Gu , Yonggang Wang , Kehui Xiong
Published: January 2024

The reliability of the sealing system of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is a prerequisite for ensuring the efficient and safe operation of the cell stack. In consideration of the actual assembly process, a local model of single‐cell sealing structure is constructed using a rounded corner rectangular sealing gasket structure. Apart from that, the effects of fluid pressure, bipolar plate offset, sealing gasket size, steady‐state temperature field, and seal structure on the sealing performance of PEMFC are investigated. As shown by results, with the increase of fluid pressure and sealing gasket width, the contact pressure is increased and the sealing performance is also improved. However, the increase of sealing gasket height is unfavorable to the stability and sealing performance of the stack. Meanwhile, excessive offset error leads to a sharp decrease in contact length and contact pressure at the sealing interface, which reduces the stability of the stack. With the increase of the operating temperature, the thermal expansion of the gasket increases and the contact performance improves significantly. Seals with rectangular structure have some advantages in terms of contact stability and standard deviation of contact pressure.
Modification Strategies and Challenges of High‐Performance Lithium‐Rich Manganese‐Based Cathode Materials
Authors: Tang Weihao , Zhu Jiping , Chen Chao , Ye Qin , Zeng Fuhao , Ma Zeping
Published: January 2024

Lithium‐rich manganese‐based (LRM) cathode materials have recently gained increasing attention for their remarkable reversible capacity of up to 378 mAh g−1. However, the development of these materials is hindered by several challenges, including oxygen deficiency, migration of transition metal ions, and structural changes from lamellar to spinel phases. As a result, these limitations result in a low initial Coulomb efficiency, capacity/voltage decay, and inadequate cycle life. To address these issues, the modification of layered lithium‐rich materials proves to be an effective approach. In this review, the structure and electrochemical properties of layered LRM materials are introduced and various systematic modification strategies are discussed. Herein, the current state and future prospects of several strategies such as doping, surface coating, and structure control are delved into. Furthermore, development ideas for achieving high‐capacity and long‐cycle‐layered LRM cathode materials are presented.
Large eddy simulations fire modeling of JIS A 1310 façade calibration test with respect to sidewall
Authors: Sun Xukun , Yoshioka Hideki , Noguchi Takafumi , Nishio Yuhei , Ohmiya Yoshifumi , Hayakawa Tetsuya , Zhou Biao
Published: January 2024

The full‐scale façade standard test is widely employed as a comprehensive method to assess the façade fire spread. Within this approach, the calibration test without combustible façade decouples the intricate interaction between gas‐phase combustion and material pyrolysis, which simplifies diagnostics and provides an ideal scenario for model validation. This paper presents large eddy simulations (LES) accompanied by comparisons of calibration tests in accordance with JIS A 1310. The calibration tests were conducted to obtain the flame morphologies, gas‐phase temperature, and heat flux of over‐ventilated façade fires, and the LES modeling is complemented by the modified eddy dissipation model for combustion, the one‐equation model for the sub‐grid scale turbulence, and the discrete ordinate method with the gray mean absorption‐emission approach for thermal radiation. The accuracy of LES data is discussed by comparing with measurements, and the mesh resolution is optimized as 2.5 cm for achieving mesh independency with good qualitative agreement. Furthermore, simulations are conducted to investigate the impact of sidewall distances on façade flame spread. The results highlight that the enhancement of sidewall in façade flame spread occurs under external heat release rate, and the 0.2 m sidewall distance for the designated JIS test is identified as a critical threshold increasing façade thermal load.
Dynamic local mRNA localization and translation occurs during the postnatal molecular maturation of perivascular astrocytic processes
Authors: Avila‐Gutierrez Katia , Slaoui Leila , Alvear‐Perez Rodrigo , Kozlowski Esther , Oudart Marc , Augustin Emma , Claveau Camille , Mailly Philippe , Monnet Héloïse , Mignon Virginie , Saubaméa Bruno , Boulay Anne‐Cécile , Cohen‐Salmon Martine
Published: January 2024

Astrocytes are highly ramified and send out perivascular processes (PvAPs) that entirely sheathe the brain's blood vessels. PvAPs are equipped with an enriched molecular repertoire that sustains astrocytic regulatory functions at the vascular interface. In the mouse, PvAP development starts after birth and is essentially complete by postnatal day (P) 15. Progressive molecular maturation also occurs over this period, with the acquisition of proteins enriched in PvAPs. The mechanisms controlling the development and molecular maturation of PvAPs have not been extensively characterized. We reported previously that mRNAs are distributed unequally in mature PvAPs and are locally translated. Since dynamic mRNA localization and local translation influence the cell's polarity, we hypothesized that they might sustain the postnatal maturation of PvAPs. Here, we used a combination of molecular biology and imaging approaches to demonstrate that the development of PvAPs is accompanied by the transport of mRNA and polysomal mRNA into PvAPs, the development of a rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) network and Golgi cisternae, and local translation. By focusing on genes and proteins that are selectively or specifically expressed in astrocytes, we characterized the developmental profile of mRNAs, polysomal mRNAs and proteins in PvAPs from P5 to P60. We found that some polysomal mRNAs polarized progressively towards the PvAPs. Lastly, we found that expression and localization of mRNAs in developing PvAPs is perturbed in a mouse model of megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts. Our results indicate that dynamic mRNA localization and local translation influence the postnatal maturation of PvAPs.
Impact of social media usage on academic performance of university students: Mediating role of mental health under a cross‐sectional study in Bangladesh
Authors: Mosharrafa Rana Al , Akther Taslima , Siddique Fahimul Kader
Published: January 2024

Background and Aim

Social media is undeniably more accessible and more appreciated today. It is undoubtedly one of the most crucial instruments for student communication. Mental health status can also meaningfully influence the students at the higher levels of the educational institutions. This study aims to evaluate the social media usage of university students and its impact on academic performance and mental health.

Methods

To examine under confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) several scale measurements were confirmed by justifying the validity and reliability of several necessary indices and structural equation model. The mediation analysis was also estimated to evaluate the students' Social media addiction (employed Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale) under maximum likelihood estimation with 2000 bootstrapping and 95% bias‐corrected bootstrap confidence intervals.

Results

This study shows that the usage of social media significantly improves academic performance on psychological well‐being, with a Comparative Fit Index of 0.921 and an RMSEA of 0.06 indicating a good fit of the CFA model. Finally, we exhibit a strong statistically significant positive impact of social media usage on academic success, and as supporting the hypothesis, the study observed a positive mediating role of mental health between social media addiction and academic performance.

Conclusion

The present research investigations produced unique results, that is, online social media enhances mental health and mediates the link between social media addiction and academic performance in Bangladeshi students. This finding also add to the empirical database on social media usage and have significant theoretical and practical ramifications.