bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development and validation of a mathematical model to simulate human cardiovascular and respiratory responses to battlefield trauma
Authors: Jin Xin , Laxminarayan Srinivas , Nagaraja Sridevi , Wallqvist Anders , Reifman Jaques
Published: November 2022

Mathematical models of human cardiovascular and respiratory systems provide a viable alternative to generate synthetic data to train artificial intelligence (AI) clinical decision‐support systems and assess closed‐loop control technologies, for military medical applications. However, existing models are either complex, standalone systems that lack the interface to other applications or fail to capture the essential features of the physiological responses to the major causes of battlefield trauma (i.e., hemorrhage and airway compromise). To address these limitations, we developed the cardio‐respiratory (CR) model by expanding and integrating two previously published models of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. We compared the vital signs predicted by the CR model with those from three models, using experimental data from 27 subjects in five studies, involving hemorrhage, fluid resuscitation, and respiratory perturbations. Overall, the CR model yielded relatively small root mean square errors (RMSEs) for mean arterial pressure (MAP; 20.88 mm Hg), end‐tidal CO2 (ETCO2; 3.50 mm Hg), O2 saturation (SpO2; 3.40%), and arterial O2 pressure (PaO2; 10.06 mm Hg), but a relatively large RMSE for heart rate (HR; 70.23 beats/min). In addition, the RMSEs for the CR model were 3% to 10% smaller than the three other models for HR, 11% to 15% for ETCO2, 0% to 33% for SpO2, and 10% to 64% for PaO2, while they were similar for MAP. In conclusion, the CR model balances simplicity and accuracy, while qualitatively and quantitatively capturing human physiological responses to battlefield trauma, supporting its use to train and assess emerging AI and control systems.
Validation of an Announced Telephone Pill Count Compared to a Home‐Visit Pill Count in People With Type 2 Diabetes or Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Langendoen‐Gort Marlous , Rutters Femke , Huijts Daniëlle , Elders Petra JM , Terwee Caroline B. , Hugtenburg Jacqueline G.
Published: November 2022

We aimed to assess the validity of an announced telephone pill count in people with type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease by comparing this method to a home‐visit pill count. We also assessed whether a second telephone pill count improved accuracy. People aged ≥35 years using oral type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease medication were included. Thirty‐four participants completed a telephone pill count followed by a home‐visit pill count, and a subsample of this population (n = 11) completed a second telephone pill count. Scatterplots were used for a visual representation of the number of pills counted with both methods, intraclass correlation coefficients for agreement, and Bland‐Altman plots for absolute differences and outliers. A total of 203 pill counts were conducted. The study population consisted of 53% men, with a mean age of 69.6 (±9.2) years and an average of 6.1 (±2.8) medication prescriptions per participant. Scatterplots showed that pills counted with both methods were mostly scattered around they = xequation. Agreement between the first telephone pill count and home‐visit pill count was high, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.96 (medication count level) and 0.98 (individual level). No learning effects were observed in the subsample (n = 11), the intraclass correlation coefficient for the first telephone pill count was 0.88 versus 0.89 for the second telephone pill count. Bland‐Altman plots indicated high agreement between the two methods. An announced telephone pill count is considered a valid alternative for a home‐visit pill count in people with type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease. A single pill count appears sufficient.
Cluster Amplitudes and Their Interplay with Self‐Consistency in Density Functional Methods
Authors: Jacobson Greta , Marmolejo‐Tejada Juan M. , Mosquera Martín A.
Published: November 2022

Density functional theory (DFT) provides convenient electronic structure methods for the study of molecular systems and materials. Regular Kohn‐Sham DFT calculations rely on unitary transformations to determine the ground‐state electronic density, ground state energy, and related properties. However, for dissociation of molecular systems into open‐shell fragments, due to the self‐interaction error present in a large number of density functional approximations, the self‐consistent procedure based on the this type of transformation gives rise to the well‐known charge delocalization problem. To avoid this issue, we showed previously that the cluster operator of coupled‐cluster theory can be utilized within the context of DFT to solve in an alternative and approximate fashion the ground‐state self‐consistent problem. This work further examines the application of the singles cluster operator to molecular ground state calculations. Two approximations are derived and explored: i) A linearized scheme of the quadratic equation used to determine the cluster amplitudes. ii) The effect of carrying the calculations in a non‐self‐consistent field fashion. These approaches are found to be capable of improving the energy and density of the system and are quite stable in either case. The theoretical framework discussed in this work could be used to describe, with an added flexibility, quantum systems that display challenging features and require expanded theoretical methods.
Engineering Coupled NiSx‐WO2.9 Heterostructure as pH‐Universal Electrocatalyst for Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Lin Zheng , Li Kaixun , Tong Yun , Wu Wenbo , Cheng Xiaoxiao , Wang Huijie , Chen Pengzuo , Diao Peng
Published: November 2022

Exploiting highly active and low‐cost materials as pH‐universal electrocatalysts for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and achieving high‐purity hydrogen fuel is highly desirable but remains challenging. Herein, a novel type of coupled heterostructure was designed by simple electrodeposition followed by a sulfurization treatment. This hierarchical structure was composed of nickel sulfides (NiS, NiS2, denoted as NiSx) and oxygen‐deficient tungsten oxide (WO2.9), which was directly grown on nickel foam (NF) as self‐supporting electrodes (NiSx‐WO2.9/NF) for HER over a wide pH range. The systematic experimental characterizations confirmed that the material had abundant catalytic active sites, fast interfacial electron transfer ability, and strong electronic interaction, resulting in the optimized reaction kinetics for HER. Consequently, the NiSx‐WO2.9/NF catalyst required low overpotentials of 96 and 117 mV to reach current densities of 50 and 100 mA cm−2 in an alkaline medium, outperforming most of the reported non‐noble metal‐based materials. Moreover, this self‐supported electrode exhibited impressive performance over a wide pH range, only requiring 220 and 304 mV overpotential at 100 mA cm−2 in 0.5 m H2SO4 and 1 m phosphate‐buffered saline electrolytes. This work may offer a new approach to the development of advanced pH‐universal electrodes for hydrogen production.
Soft‐switched full‐bridge converter for LED lighting applications with reduced switch current
Authors: Patakamoori Aswini , Udumula Ramanjaneya Reddy , Nizami Tousif Khan , Ch Kasi Ramakrishna Reddy , Padmanaban Sanjeevikumar
Published: November 2022

Lighting systems using light‐emitting diode (LED) have drawn significant attention across the world. This is due to their promising features such as high energy efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emission, and eco‐friendly nature. However, these systems require constant current regulators to provide constant illumination. This article proposes a soft‐switched full‐bridge LED driver circuit for dc‐grid applications with dimming control operation. The circuit consists of a soft‐switched full‐bridge converter to power different LED lamps with reduced device count from dc‐grid voltage. The semiconductor switches of the full‐bridge converter conduct a small current during on time due to interleaved inductor and equal current sharing of lamp‐2 and lamp‐3. This feature reduces the conduction losses. In addition, the proposed converter yields less component count per lamp, dimming operation through on–off control and zero voltage switching, which results in low switching losses. The detailed steady‐state analysis of the proposed converter for dc‐grid applications with dimming control operation is presented in this work. The performance of the proposed converter is compared with other similar topologies available in the recent literature. Numerical simulations and real‐time experimental validations are conducted to evaluate the steady‐state performance of the proposed converter topology for LED applications, driving multiple lamp loads from dc‐grid. It has been established that the efficiency of the proposed full‐bridge converter is 97.52% at the rated power.
Preparing students to engage with science‐ and technology‐related misinformation: The role of epistemic insight
Authors: Billingsley Berry , Heyes Joshua M.
Published: November 2022

Helping students to become more resilient to online misinformation is widely recognised as an essential task for education in a rapidly digitalising world. Students need both scientific knowledge and epistemic insight to navigate online spaces containing sensationalised reports of scientific and technological developments. Epistemic insight involves epistemic curiosity and the ability to think critically about the nature, application and communication of knowledge. This includes developing an understanding of the power and limitations of science and a curiosity regarding its relationship with other disciplines. We present a workshop designed for school students aged 16–18 titled ‘Can science and technology cure loneliness?’, designed to develop students' epistemic insight through investigating loneliness through a multidisciplinary perspective. We discuss how the design and pedagogy of this workshop might help students to build epistemic humility—the recognition that no single disciplinary perspective can complete our knowledge about a given topic. As part of a broader programme, epistemic insight‐based pedagogies have the potential to develop students' resistance to science‐ and technology‐related misinformation and prepare them for their potential role in shaping our scientific and technological future.
Health‐related quality of life outcomes in PARAGON‐HF
Authors: Chandra Alvin , Polanczyk Carisi A. , Claggett Brian L. , Vaduganathan Muthiah , Packer Milton , Lefkowitz Martin P. , Rouleau Jean L. , Liu Jiankang , Shi Victor C. , Schwende Heike , Zile Michael R. , Desai Akshay S. , Pfeffer Marc A. , McMurray John J.V. , Solomon Scott D. , Lewis Eldrin F.
Published: November 2022

Aims

Heart failure (HF) is associated with poor health‐related quality of life (HRQL). Patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) have similar HRQL impairment as those with reduced ejection fraction. This study describes the impact of sacubitril/valsartan on HRQL in patients with HFpEF enrolled in the PARAGON‐HF trial.

Methods and results

Patients completed the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ) and EuroQol (EQ‐5D) at randomization, 4, 8 months, and annually thereafter. Changes in HRQL scores were evaluated using repeated measures models adjusted for treatment, baseline values and region. The pre‐specified principal efficacy assessment was at 8 months at which time patients randomized to sacubitril/valsartan had borderline higher KCCQ clinical summary score (CSS) with least squares mean (LSM) adjusted difference of 1.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.0, 2.1; p = 0.051). Including all visits up to 36 months, the LSM difference in KCCQ‐CSS favoured sacubitril/valsartan with average adjusted difference of 1.1 (95% CI 0.1, 2.0; p = 0.034). Patients treated with sacubitril/valsartan had greater odds of clinically meaningful improvement (≥5‐point increase) in KCCQ‐CSS (odds ratio 1.31; 95% CI 1.06, 1.61) at 8 months. At 8 months, there was no significant difference in the EQ visual analogue scale between the treatment arms, but sacubitril/valsartan was associated with higher EQ‐5D utility score (US‐based) with LSM adjusted difference of 0.01 (95% CI 0.00, 0.02; p = 0.019).

Conclusion

Compared with valsartan, sacubitril/valsartan had a borderline benefit on KCCQ‐CSS at 8 months in patients with HFpEF. This benefit became more significant when data from all visits up to 36 months were included. This modest overall benefit was also supported by greater odds of patients reporting a clinically meaningful improvement in HRQL with sacubitril/valsartan.
Ruthenium Complexes of Rigid, Dianionic, Tetradentate N‐Donor Ligands and their Potential as Catalysts for Water Oxidation
Authors: Rajabi Sheida , Rüttger Franziska , Lücken Jana , Dechert Sebastian , John Michael , Meyer Franc
Published: November 2022

Two mononuclear ruthenium(II) complexes based on dianionic {N4} ligands and with axial pyridines have been prepared and characterized crystallographically (1) or by 2D NMR spectroscopy using residual dipolar couplings (2). The {N4} ligands provide a constrained equatorial coordination with one large N−Ru−N angle, and additional non‐coordinating N atoms in case of 2. Their redox properties have been investigated (spectro)electrochemically, and their potential to serve as water oxidation catalysts has been probed using cerium ammonium nitrate (CAN) at pH 1.0. Complex 1 undergoes rapid degradation, likely via ligand oxidation, whereas 2 is more rugged and exhibits 80 % efficiency in the CeIV‐driven water oxidation, with a high initial turnover frequency (TOFi) of 3.07×10−2 s−1 (at 100 equiv. CAN). The initial rate of O2 evolution exhibits 1st order dependence on catalyst concentration, suggesting a water nucleophilic attack mechanism. Repeated addition of CAN and control experiments show that high ionic strength conditions (both NO3− and CeIII) significantly decrease the TOF.
Electrochemical Glyphosate Sensor Based on Hybrid Material SiO2/Sm2O3/Carbon Modified with Meldola Blue
Authors: Vieira Blasques Rodrigo , Fernandes‐Junior Wilson S. , Vieira Mendes Ana Márcia Rabelo , Rose Castro Costa Andressa , Canevari Thiago C. , Ticona Arenas Leliz , Barcellos da Rosa Marcelo , Nunes Gilvanda Silva , Campos Janegitz Bruno , Chagas Silva Maria Raimunda , Pividori María Isabel , Mendes Villis Paulo Cesar
Published: November 2022

In this work, we have proposed an electrochemical sensor for the detection of pesticides by using a ceramic composite with a SiO2 surface modified with Sm2O3 nanoparticles and C‐graphite (SSMG), obtained by the sol‐gel process and immobilized by adsorption in Meldola Blue cationic dye (MB). The composite was called (SSMG/MB), which was characterized by spectroscopic, electrochemical techniques, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, and Cyclic Voltammetry. The proposed sensor was applied for the glyphosate electrochemical detection, using Differential Pulse Voltammetry, and, under optimized parameters has presented the linear response for the pesticide in the concentration range from 0.99 to 7.94 (μmol L−1; R2=0.9963; n=8). The calculated values for the detection limit and the quantification limit were 0.15 and 0.49 μmol L−1, respectively. Therefore, the new electrochemical sensor based on SiO2, NPsSm2O3, C‐graphite, and MB hybrid material was developed for the first time for glyphosate determination, which has demonstrated high potential for the development of new hybrid devices for environmental control.
Host‐guest Assembly Based on γ‐Cyclodextrin‐functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes for Rutin Electrochemical Sensing
Authors: Gomes dos Santos Neto Antônio , de Matos Morawski Franciele , Caroline Ferreira Santos Ana , Quintino da Rocha Cláudia , Batista de Lima Roberto , Oliveira Fonseca Goulart Marília , Costa dos Santos Clenilton , Colmati Flávio , Euzébio Goulart Santana Antônio , Aurélio Suller Garcia Marco , Atsushi Tanaka Auro
Published: November 2022

Here, we report multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) functionalized with γ‐cyclodextrins (γCD) as a novel electrochemical strategy for Rutin determination, showing superior performance than β‐cyclodextrins (βCD) modified MWCNTs, suggesting an adequate environment for host‐guest interactions. Under optimized conditions, the sensor showed a linear range of 39–975 nmol L−1 and a limit of detection of 7 nmol L−1. When tested with quercetin, catechin, and caffeine, the platform presented high selectivity with an interference response <10 %. The method was employed to quantify Rutin in spiked pharmaceutical and herbal extracts, providing recovery of 93–98.4 %. Also, HPLC‐PDA confirmed the method‘s accuracy.
Protective effects of Isodon Suzhouensis extract and glaucocalyxin A on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through SOCS3–JAKs/STATs pathway
Authors: Zhai Kefeng , Wang Wei , Zheng Mengqing , Khan Ghulam Jilany , Wang Qunbo , Chang Jingwen , Dong Zeng , Zhang Xingtao , Duan Hong , Gong Zipeng , Cao Hui
Published: November 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an irreversible disease with the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and several physical limitations. Isodon Suzhouensis is a unique Chinese medicinal plant used for both medicine and food. It possesses strong anti‐inflammatory effects that may treat COPD. Considering the fact that the effects of Isodon Suzhouensis extract (WZZE) and its active ingredient glaucocalyxin A (GLA) on COPD have never been reported before, this study aimed to investigate the effects of WZZE and GLA against COPD and its underlying mechanistic pathway in COPD model rats or in CSE‐induced NR8383 cells. The variation in lung physiology was measured through spirometry while histopathological changes were studied via H&E staining of the COPD model rats lung samples. The levels of cytokine and other immunomodulatory proteins were determined by ELISA. Apoptosis of lung tissue cells was detected by TUNEL staining. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of related pathways and other proteins. The results show that WZZE improved the relevant lung function indicators, while restoring the activity of immunoglobulins (Ig A, IgG) and inhibiting the levels of TNF‐α and IL‐1β in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, thereby improving the body's immunity and inhibiting inflammation of the airways and lungs, slowing the progression of COPD. The results of H&E staining indicated that WZZE is capable of improving the pathological injury associated with COPD. In addition, the administration of WZZE reduced the expression of MUC5AC protein induced and the apoptosis rate of lung tissue cells in COPD model rats. The results also showed that WZZE significantly increased the expression of SOCS3 and inhibited the expression of JAKs/STATs pathway‐related proteins in COPD rats. In addition, GLA can also upregulate the expression of SOCS3 protein, inhibit JAKs/STATs pathway, inhibit the expression level of MUC5AC, upregulate the expression level of immunoglobulin, and downregulate the expression level of proinflammatory factors in NR8383 cells induced by CSE. Present study findings suggest that WZZE and GLA may ameliorate the progression of COPD via the SOCS3–JAKs/STATs pathway in COPD rats or in CSE‐induced NR8383.
Effects of paramylon‐rich Euglena gracilisEOD‐1 powder on visceral fat obesity in moderately obese Japanese adults: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐group trial
Authors: Aoe Seiichiro , Kawano Takanori , Naito Junko , Nishida Norihisa , Takahashi Madoka
Published: November 2022

To investigate whether supplementation of paramylon (PM)‐rich Euglena gracilis EOD‐1 powder (EOD‐1) reduces visceral fat obesity in moderately obese Japanese subjects. A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled intervention study was conducted involving 36 Japanese adults with a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 and <30 kg/m2. Subjects were randomly assigned into two groups to consume EOD‐1 capsules (EOD‐1 group, 2.6 g PM/day) or cellulose capsules (placebo group) for a 12‐week period. Anthropometric measurements including visceral fat area (VFA) and blood samples were measured at baseline and throughout the trial. There was no significant difference in VFA between the two groups, although subgroup analysis by gender showed a significant decrease in VFA in the male EOD‐1 group compared with the placebo group. Serum adiponectin levels in all subjects from the EOD‐1 group were significantly higher than in the placebo group. By comparison with the placebo group, the subjects in the EOD‐1 group showed a significant reduction in serum HbA1c levels. EOD‐1 intake led to a significant reduction in VFA in male subjects with moderate obesity (BMI 25–30 kg/m2). PM in EOD‐1 may contribute to preventing visceral fat obesity in male Japanese subjects. Moreover, PM may also contribute to improving glucose homeostasis in moderately obese Japanese adults.
Geochemical and mineralogical contrasts between economic and uneconomic granite porphyries in the Beiya giant Au deposit, southwest China: Implications for petrogenesis and Cu–Au mineralization
Authors: Bao Xinshang , He Wenyan , Mao Jingwen , Liang Ting , Zhou Yunman
Published: November 2022

The Beiya giant porphyry Au deposit is the largest Cenozoic Au deposit in the Jinshajiang Cu–Mo–Au metallogenic belt. Many granite porphyries of ~36 Ma were exposed in the Beiya deposit, including the Wandongshan (WDS) and Hongnitang monzogranite porphyries (HNT–MPs) with economically important Au metal resources, the uneconomic WDS biotite MP, and Putaishan granite porphyry (GP), and subeconomic MPs at Nandaping (NDP) and Matouwan (MTW) prospects. To reveal the fundamental factors that lead to the different fertility of these granitic porphyries, this study uses the biotite and zircon geochemical compositions to evaluate their petrogenetic and magmatic conditions (e.g., F content, pressure, fO2). The results show that biotites from economic WDS and HNT–MPs exhibit moderate F contents (0.85%–2.16%), low n(FeT)/n(FeT + Mg) ratios (average of 0.36), and shallow emplacement depths of 0.19–1.76 km. In contrast, the uneconomic granite porphyries are characterized by variable F contents (0.17%–2.75%), high n(FeT)/n(FeT + Mg) ratios (average of 0.43), and deep emplacement depths of 2.76 to 5.02 km. Moreover, the economic WDS and HNT–MPs display higher average zircon fO2 (ΔFMQ [fayalite–magnetite–quartz] of +0.88) than uneconomic granite porphyries (ΔFMQ of −0.19), further confirming a higher fO2 of the economic granitic porphyries. These features indicate that magmatic fO2 is a critical factor controlling Cu–Au mineralization at the Beiya Au deposit. In comparison with the economic WDS and HNT–MPs, the subeconomic MPs in the MTW and NDP prospects exhibit higher average biotite n(FeT)/n(FeT + Mg) ratios of 0.47 and 0.45, and lower average zircon ΔFMQ of −0.05 and −0.23, suggesting lower magmatic fO2 and thus have relatively weak potentials to form Cu–Au mineralization. Notably, the economic WDS and HNT–MPs have higher biotite XMg ratios than those of the subeconomic and uneconomic granitic porphyries, indicating that the economic MPs were formed by the partial melting of mixed lower crustal materials with more mantle‐derived materials. Therefore, the addition of mantle‐derived materials played an important role in determining the fO2 of the granitic porphyry, thus primarily controlling its fertility of Cu–Au mineralization.
Generative adversarial network constrained multiple loss autoencoder: A deep learning‐based individual atrophy detection for Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Shi Rong , Sheng Can , Jin Shichen , Zhang Qi , Zhang Shuoyan , Zhang Liang , Ding Changchang , Wang Luyao , Wang Lei , Han Ying , Jiang Jiehui
Published: November 2022

Exploring individual brain atrophy patterns is of great value in precision medicine for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, the current individual brain atrophy detection models are deficient. Here, we proposed a framework called generative adversarial network constrained multiple loss autoencoder (GANCMLAE) for precisely depicting individual atrophy patterns. The GANCMLAE model was trained using normal controls (NCs) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative cohort, and the Xuanwu cohort was employed to validate the robustness of the model. The potential of the model for identifying different atrophy patterns of MCI subtypes was also assessed. Furthermore, the clinical application potential of the GANCMLAE model was investigated. The results showed that the model can achieve good image reconstruction performance on the structural similarity index measure (0.929 ± 0.003), peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (31.04 ± 0.09), and mean squared error (0.0014 ± 0.0001) with less latent loss in the Xuanwu cohort. The individual atrophy patterns extracted from this model are more precise in reflecting the clinical symptoms of MCI subtypes. The individual atrophy patterns exhibit a better discriminative power in identifying patients with AD and MCI from NCs than those of the t‐test model, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.867 (95%: 0.837–0.897) and 0.752 (95%: 0.71–0.790), respectively. Similar findings are also reported in the AD and MCI subgroups. In conclusion, the GANCMLAE model can serve as an effective tool for individualised atrophy detection.
A nomogram for predicting overall survival in patients with endometrial carcinoma: A SEER‐based study
Authors: Li Ruoqiao , Yue Qi
Published: November 2022

Objective

To construct and validate a nomogram for patients with endometrial carcinoma to predict the 3‐ and 5‐year overall survival (OS) based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database.

Methods

Demographic and clinical pathologic characteristics of patients with endometrial carcinoma diagnosed between 1973 and 2015 were extracted from the SEER database. Univariate and multivariate Cox analyses were carried out to identify the independent characteristics and further included into the construction of a nomogram. Finally, concordance index and calibration curves were used to validate the nomogram.

Results

A total of 49 844 patients were enrolled into our analysis. The results of univariate Cox analysis showed that age, race, marital status, FIGO Stage, grade, and metastatic status to bone, brain, lung, or liver were significant factors. Multivariate Cox analysis was performed and it confirmed all factors as independent variables. Next, a nomogram was constructed using these independent variables in prediction of the 3‐ and 5‐year OS. Furthermore, results with concordance indices (0.852 in training set and 0.861 in validation set) and calibration curves closer to ideal curves indicated the accurate predictive ability of this nomogram.

Conclusions

The individualized nomogram demonstrated a good ability in prognostic prediction for patients with endometrial carcinoma.
Impact of sarcopenia and phase angle on mortality of the very elderly
Authors: Kwon Young Eun , Lee Jung Sun , Kim Jee‐young , Baeg Song In , Choi Hye Min , Kim Hong‐Bae , Yang Joon Young , Oh Dong‐Jin
Published: November 2022

Background

Sarcopenia is a major component of geriatric syndrome and associated with poor clinical outcomes and mortality. However, diagnosing sarcopenia in the very elderly is difficult, and data on its epidemiology and devastating effects in this group are scarce. Phase angle (PA) is measured using bioimpedance spectroscopy and known to reflect cellular integrity and health. This study aimed to clarify the impact of sarcopenia and PA on mortality risk in very elderly people living in long‐term care facilities.

Methods

This prospective cohort study enrolled elderly residents living in nine long‐term care facilities. We collected the participants' data, such as body mass index (BMI), comorbidities and laboratory data, from September to October 2017 and mortality data until October 2019. Nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score, and multifrequency bioimpedance spectroscopy was used to assess body composition including PA. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass was calculated using the body composition monitor‐derived equation of Taiwan's researchers. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People 2 (EWGSOP2) definition (sarcopenia vs. normal group). We divided the participants into two groups according to the median PA value of 3.65° (high vs. low group) and performed multivariate regression analyses to verify the association with mortality risk according to sarcopenia diagnosis or PA group.

Results

A total of 279 elderly participants were enrolled; of them, 238 (85.3%) were diagnosed with sarcopenia according to EWGSOP2 guidelines. The median patient age was 83 years, 211 (75.6%) were female and the median BMI was 20.4 kg/m2. The sarcopenia group was older than the normal group (84 vs. 81 years; P = 0.002), had a lower mean BMI (19.8 vs. 26.6 kg/m2, P < 0.001) and had a lower MNA score (9 vs. 12 points, P < 0.001). Sarcopenia was associated with a higher mortality risk after the adjustment for age, sex and diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio [HR], 3.744; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.155–12.134; P = 0.028). A low PA was associated with sarcopenia, older age, female sex, low MNA score and overhydration volume; it was also a significant predictor of mortality after the adjustment for age, sex, diabetes mellitus and MNA score (HR, 0.593; 95% CI, 0.420–0.837; P = 0.003).

Conclusions

Sarcopenia is prevalent among the very elderly patients in long‐term care facilities. Sarcopenia and low PA are significantly associated with higher mortality risk.
Efficient synthesis of some novel pyrimido[4,5‐e][1,3]oxazine dione derivatives via one‐pot three‐component reaction under thermal and thermal microwave‐assisted conditions
Authors: Asadi Sara , Mehrabi Hossein
Published: November 2022

Concise and attractive synthesis of a new class of pyrimido[5,4‐e][1,3]oxazine diones was attained with impressive yields, using a convenient and elegant condensation reaction between thiobarbituric acid and aryl glyoxals in the presence of N‐methyl urea in EtOH under thermal and thermal microwave‐assisted conditions. Some specific merits of the current procedure, include the availability of the starting materials, low reaction time, high reaction yield, operational simplicity, no harmful by‐products, and the high purity of the isolated products. Structures of all the freshly synthesized products have been deduced by their FT‐IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, and elemental analysis.
Soil science challenges—An interdisciplinary overview of current and future topics
Authors: Pohl Lydia , Maurischat Philipp , Schiedung Marcus , Weber Tobias K. D. , Winkler Pauline
Published: November 2022

This editorial was written by early career scientists in soil science and gives an overview of the articles published in the special issue “Soil Science Challenges—An Interdisciplinary Overview of Current and Future Topics” on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science. A broad range of articles addressing soil carbon dynamics from the microscale to landscape scale, multi‐dimensional modeling, improved land management practices, nutrient cycles, soil hydrology, plastic in soils, and interdisciplinarity of soil science is covered in this issue.
Impact of adjuvant therapy on outcomes after curative‐intent resection for distal cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Hou Jing‐Jing , Maithel Shishir K. , Weber Sharon M. , Poultsides George , Wolfgang Christopher L. , Fields Ryan C. , He Jin , Scoggins Charles , Idrees Kamron , Shen Perry , Zhang Xu‐Feng , Pawlik Timothy M.
Published: November 2022

Background

The benefit of adjuvant therapy (AT) after curative resection of distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC) remains unclear. The objective of the current study was to investigate the impact of AT on long‐term survival of patients who underwent curative‐intent resection for DCC.

Methods

Patients who underwent curative‐intent resection for DCC between 2000 and 2020 were identified from a multi‐institutional database. The primary outcomes included overall (OS) and recurrence‐free survival (RFS).

Results

Among 245 patients, 150 (61.2%) patients received AT (chemotherapy alone: n = 43; chemo‐ and radiotherapy: n = 107) after surgical resection, whereas 95 (38.8%) patients underwent surgery only. Patients who received AT were younger, and more likely to have an advanced tumor with the presence of perineural invasion (PNI), lymph node metastasis (LNM), lymph‐vascular invasion, and higher T categories (all p < 0.05). Overall, there was no difference in OS (median, surgery + AT 25.5 vs. surgery alone 24.5 months, p = 0.27) or RFS (median, surgery + AT 15.8 vs. surgery alone 18.9 months, p = 0.24) among patients who did versus did not receive AT. In contrast, AT was associated with improved long‐term survival among patients with PNI (median OS, surgery + AT 25.9 vs. surgery alone 17.8 months, p = 0.03; median RFS, surgery + AT 15.9 vs. surgery alone 11.9 months, p = 0.04) and LNM (median, surgery + AT 20.0 vs. surgery alone 17.8 months, p = 0.03), but not among patients with no PNI or LNM (all p > 0.1).

Conclusions

AT was commonly utilized among patients with DCC. Patients with more advanced disease, including the presence of PNI or LNM, benefited the most from AT with improved long‐term outcomes among this subset of patients.
Analysis and Comparison of the Malignant Thyroid Nodules Not Recommended for Biopsy in ACR TIRADS and AI TIRADS With a Large Sample of Surgical Series
Authors: Cui Yiyang , Fu Chao , Si Caifeng , Li Jing , Kang Yaning , Huang Yuanjing , Cui Kefei
Published: November 2022

Objective

To determine if the artificial intelligence‐based Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (AI TIRADS) would perform better than the American College of Radiology (ACR) TIRADS in monitoring malignant thyroid nodules not recommended for biopsy using follow‐up thresholds.

Methods

A total of 3499 thyroid nodules with surgical histopathology and ultrasound features were retrospectively reviewed and categorized using ACR TIRADS and AI TIRADS. The recommendations for biopsy and follow‐up divided nodules into three groups 1) fine needle aspiration (FNA), 2) follow‐up ultrasound, and 3) no further evaluation.

Results

Of the total 1608 malignant nodules in this study, 974 malignant nodules would not be biopsied in ACR TIRADS compared with 967 in AI TIRADS. While 60.0% (584/974) of these non‐biopsied malignancies could be followed‐up by ultrasound in ACR TIRADS and 62.8% (607/967) in AI TIRADS. For the malignancies of no further evaluation, 97.4% (380/390) were sized <10 mm in ACR TIRADS and 93.3% (336/360) in AI TIRADS. Compared with ACR TIRADS, AI TIRADS had lower unnecessary FNA rate and missing cancer rate (41.0% vs 47.8% and 22.8% vs 27.5%, P < .05, respectively) while having higher specificity and AUC as well as lower sensitivity (65.0% vs 57.9%, 0.895 vs 0.881, and 96.1% vs 97.8%, all P < .05).

Conclusions

Using the follow‐up thresholds, more than half of the malignancies not being biopsied were monitored by ultrasound in both ACR TIRADS and AI TIRADS, and AI TIRADS had lower missing cancer rate. More than 90% of malignancies recommended for no further evaluation were <10 mm in diameter.
Development of an interdisciplinary microtia‐atresia care model: A single‐center 20‐year experience
Authors: Patel Krupa R. , Benchetrit Liliya , Ronner Evette A. , Occhiogrosso Jessica , Hadlock Tessa , Shaye David , Quesnel Alicia M. , Cohen Michael S.
Published: November 2022

Objectives

Microtia and aural atresia are congenital ear anomalies with a wide‐ranging spectrum of phenotypes and varied functional and psychosocial consequences for patients. This study seeks to analyze the management of microtia‐atresia patients at our center over a 20‐year period and to propose recommendations for advancing microtia‐atresia care at a national level.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of data from patients presenting to the Massachusetts Eye and Ear (Boston, MA) for initial otolaryngology consultation for congenital microtia and/or aural atresia between 1999 and 2018.

Results

Over the 20‐year study period, 229 patients presented to our microtia‐atresia center at a median age of 7 years. The severity of microtia was most commonly classified as grade III (n = 87, 38%), 61% (n = 140) of patients had complete atresia, the median Jahrsdoerfer grading scale score was 6 (range 0–10), and 81 patients (35%) underwent surgery for microtia repair. For hearing rehabilitation, 30 patients (64%) underwent bone conduction device implantation and 17 patients (36%) underwent atresiaplasty. The implementation of an interdisciplinary, longitudinal care model resulted in an increase in patient (r = 0.819, p < .001) and surgical volume (microtia surgeries, r = 0.521, p = .019; otologic surgeries, r = 0.767, p < .001) at our center over time.

Conclusion

An interdisciplinary team approach to microtia‐atresia patient care may result in increased patient volume, which could improve aesthetic and hearing outcomes over time by concentrating care and surgical expertise. Future work should aim to establish standardized clinical consensus recommendations to guide the creation of high‐quality microtia‐atresia care programs.

Level of Evidence

4.
Poly(oxanorbornene)‐Based Polyzwitterions with Systematically Increasing Hydrophobicity: Synthesis, Physical Characterization, and Biological Properties
Authors: Paschke Stefan , Marx Franziska , Bleicher Vera , Eickenscheidt Alice , Lienkamp Karen
Published: November 2022

Surfaces coated with polyzwitterions are known to resist protein adhesion and to be generally bio‐inert. In recent reports, several polyzwitterionic coatings with carboxylate groups and intrinsic antimicrobial activity due to the pH‐responsivity of that group are described, but the design rules to obtain such activity remain unclear. Therefore, in this work, a set of surface‐attached polyzwitterions with carboxylate groups and varying alkyl residues is studied. The gradually increasing hydrophobicity of these surfaces (verified by contact angle and swellability measurements) has an impact on their biological properties. Hydrophilic surfaces (polyzwitterions bearing short alkyl residues) behave like “classical” polyzwitterions: they repel proteins and human cells and are non‐toxic to bacteria. The more hydrophobic polyzwitterionic surfaces are protein‐adhesive, cell‐toxic, and can kill bacteria. This indicates that the hydrophobicity of polyzwitterionic surfaces needs to be balanced precisely to combine protein‐repellency and antimicrobial activity in a single material.
Templated Synthesis of 2D Polyimide Covalent Organic Framework for Rechargeable Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Shehab Mohammad K. , Weeraratne K. Shamara , El‐Kadri Oussama M. , Yadavalli Vamsi K. , El‐Kaderi Hani M.
Published: November 2022

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) hold great promise for electrochemical energy storage because of their high surface area, readily accessible redox‐active sites, and environment‐friendly chemical composition. In this study, the synthesis of a redox‐active pyrene‐containing polyimide COF (PICOF‐1) by linker exchange using an imine‐linked COF as a template is reported and its performance in sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) is demonstrated. The reported synthetic route based on linker exchange mitigates the challenges typically encountered with crystallizing chemically stable polyimide COFs from typical condensation reactions; thus, facilitating their rapid synthesis and purification. Using this approach, PICOF‐1 exhibits high crystallinity with very low refinement parameters RP and RWP of 0.415% and 0.326%, respectively. PICOF‐1 has a high Brunauer–Emmette–Teller (BET) surface area of 924 m2 g−1 and well‐defined one‐dimentional (1D) channels of 2.46 × 1.90 nm, which enable fast ion transport and charge transfer, reaching a capacity at 0.1 C of almost nearly as its theoretical capacity and maintaining 99% Coulombic efficiency over 175 cycles at 0.3 C. The study demonstrates that imine‐linked COFs are effective templates for integrating carbonyl‐rich polyimide moieties into high‐surface COFs to advance electrochemical energy storage applications.
Impact of terminal tip location of midline catheters on catheter‐related complications and indwelling duration in elderly patients
Authors: Fu Jing , Zhao Lingling , Tian Yingmei , Liu Yinmeng , Zhang Hongyu , Li Haijun
Published: November 2022

Aim

To investigate the relationship between the position of the midline catheter tip and the frequency and type of complications associated with its placement.

Design

A cohort study was performed on patients between May 2018 and December 2021 who underwent midline catheter placement at our institution. Patients were divided into two groups, superficial implementation and deep implementation, based on the midline catheter tip location relative to the clavicle.

Methods

Clinical data and outcome parameters, including the numbers and types of midline catheter‐related complications, day of occurrence and catheter indwell duration, were recorded.

Results

Catheter‐related complications occurred in 14 individuals. Compared with the superficial implementation group, the incidence of complications in the deep catheterization group was significantly reduced, with a delayed first occurrence time, and a prolonged catheter indwelling time. The results suggested that locating the midline catheter tip in the distal segment of the axillary vein may reduce catheter‐related complication incidence and prolong the indwelling duration.
Development of resistance to FGFR inhibition in urothelial carcinoma via multiple pathways in vitro
Authors: Pettitt Geoffrey A , Hurst Carolyn D , Khan Zubeda , McPherson Helen R , Dunning Matthew C , Alder Olivia , Platt Fiona M , Black Emma VI , Burns Julie E , Knowles Margaret A
Published: November 2022

Alterations of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are common in bladder and other cancers and result in disrupted signalling via several pathways. Therapeutics that target FGFRs have now entered the clinic, but, in common with many cancer therapies, resistance develops in most cases. To model this, we derived resistant sublines of two FGFR‐driven bladder cancer cell lines by long‐term culture with the FGFR inhibitor PD173074 and explored mechanisms using expression profiling and whole‐exome sequencing. We identified several resistance‐associated molecular profiles. These included HRAS mutation in one case and reversible mechanisms resembling a drug‐tolerant persister phenotype in others. Upregulated IGF1R expression in one resistant derivative was associated with sensitivity to linsitinib and a profile with upregulation of a YAP/TAZ signature to sensitivity to the YAP inhibitor CA3 in another. However, upregulation of other potential therapeutic targets was not indicative of sensitivity. Overall, the heterogeneity in resistance mechanisms and commonality of the persister state present a considerable challenge for personalised therapy. Nevertheless, the reversibility of resistance may indicate a benefit from treatment interruptions or retreatment following disease relapse in some patients. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
An introduction to causal inference for pharmacometricians
Authors: Rogers James A. , Maas Hugo , Pitarch Alejandro Pérez
Published: November 2022

As formal causal inference begins to play a greater role in disciplines that intersect with pharmacometrics, such as biostatistics, epidemiology, and artificial intelligence/machine learning, pharmacometricians may increasingly benefit from a basic fluency in foundational causal inference concepts. This tutorial seeks to orient pharmacometricians to three such fundamental concepts: potential outcomes, g‐formula, and directed acyclic graphs (DAGs).
SH2 Domain-Containing Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase-2 is Enriched in Eyelid Specimens of Rosacea
Authors: Chebolu Apoorv , Ramos Ramon Bossardi , Arunachalam Thilaka , Adam Alejandro Pablo , Wladis Edward J.
Published: November 2022

Background

Rosacea is a cutaneous disease that may secondarily affect the ocular surface. Due to the vision threatening, cosmetic, psychological, and work productivity impact, the identification of cellular targets that govern rosacea would enhance our understanding of the biology of the disease and delineate targets for therapeutic manipulation.

Objective

To characterize the involvement of SH2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase-2 (SHP2) in the pathogenesis of rosacea.

Methods

Specimens from elective ectropion surgery (n = 20) were processed from patients with rosacea (n = 10) and control patients (n = 10). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and quantitative western blotting (WB) were performed to identify and quantify the presence of SHP2 and 4G10 (a phosphotyrosine antibody) in rosacea compared to normal tissue. IHC samples were graded according to an intensity scale (0–4). Mann-Whitney statistical analyses were performed via a dedicated computerized software package.

Results

On WB, SHP2 was expressed in higher concentrations in rosacea specimens (p < 0.05). On IHC, SHP2 was enriched in the epidermis in rosacea (p < 0.05), although 4G10 levels were not statistically significantly different between the two groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

SHP2 is enriched in cutaneous specimens of rosacea, suggesting a critical role for this protein in the disease and indicating a modifiable therapeutic moiety.
A Phthalocyanine with an Olefin at Its Center as PotentialG‐Quadruplex Ligand
Authors: Petroselli Manuel
Published: November 2022

We report the synthesis of a polycyclic dicationic phthalocyanine through N‐functionalization of the internal core with an olefin (C=C) and compared with its porphyrin analogues. Potential application of this new class of molecules as G‐quadruplex (G4)‐targeting ligand has been investigated by computational point of view, showing encouraging results with respect to the current benchmarks.
Preparation and Characterization of PAM‐b‐DOPOAA by ATRP
Authors: Wang Yazhen , Yang Qing , Zu Liwu , Dong Shaobo , Lan Tianyu
Published: November 2022

Polyacrylamide has been a hot topic of research in recent years, however, the preparation of block copolymers of polyacrylamide using ATRP method has been little studied. In this paper, polyacrylamide with reactive group bromine (PAM−Br) was synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) using acrylamide (AM) as the monomer and water as the solvent, and polyacrylamide was used as the macromolecular initiator for the next reaction step. Then 9,10‐dihydro‐9‐oxa‐10‐phosphafi‐10‐oxide (DOPO) was organically modified to obtain acrylate monomers with DOPO functional groups (DOPOAA), and a mixture of water and N, N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) was used as the solvent to obtain PAM‐b‐DOPOAA block copolymers with controllable molecular mass and narrow molecular mass distribution. The effects of the molecular mass of the macromolecular initiator, polymerization time, and the molar ratio of catalyst to the ligand on the polymerization process were investigated. The structure and properties of the products were also characterized by 1H‐NMR, FTIR, XPS, DSC, TG, etc. The PAM‐b‐DOPOAA prepared by ATRP method can artificially design the length and ratio of the two chain segments, realizing one additive with two functions and the permanent existence of the function of polymer additives.