bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fire-safe unsaturated polyester resin nanocomposites based on MAX and MXene: a comparative investigation of their properties and mechanism of fire retardancy
Authors: Hai Yun , Jiang Saihua , Zhou Chilou , Sun Ping , Huang Yubin , Niu Shichao
Published: April 2020

This study perfects the flame-retardant mechanism of MXene for polymer nanocomposites by comparing with MAX, demonstrating the significance of MXene's chemical component during the flame-retardant process, in addition to its physical barrier effect.
Introducing deep eutectic solvents as flux boosting and surface cleaning agents for thin film composite polyamide membranes
Authors: Maalige R. Nidhi , Dsouza Sweedal A. , Pereira Matheus M. , Polisetti Veerababu , Mondal Dibyendu , Nataraj Sanna Kotrappanavar
Published: April 2020

This study introduced DESs as versatile and multi-tasking agents to modify the surface roughness and wettability of a TFC-PA membrane to boost the permeate flux rate and they also proved to be cleaning agents for organically fouled TFC-PA membranes.
Basic knowledge in battery research bridging the gap between academia and industry
Authors: Ue Makoto , Sakaushi Ken , Uosaki Kohei
Published: April 2020

The basic knowledge in battery research bridging the gap between academia and industry was reviewed by the authors from both fields.
Solution-processed one-dimensional CsCu2I3 nanowires for polarization-sensitive and flexible ultraviolet photodetectors
Authors: Li Ying , Shi Zhifeng , Wang Lintao , Chen Yancheng , Liang Wenqing , Wu Di , Li Xinjian , Zhang Yu , Shan Chongxin , Fang Xiaosheng
Published: April 2020

We demonstrated a polarization-sensitive and flexible ultraviolet photodetector based on one-dimensional CsCu2I3 nanowires with a photocurrent anisotropy ratio of 3.16.
Ruthenium(iii) complexes containing thiazole-based ligands that modulate amyloid-β aggregation
Authors: Huffman Samantha E , Yawson Gideon K , Fisher Samuel S , Bothwell Paige J , Platt David C , Jones Marjorie A , Hamaker Christopher G , Webb Michael I
Published: April 2020

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder where one of the commonly observed pathological hallmarks is extracellular deposits of the peptide amyloid-β (Aβ). These deposits contain a high concentration of metals and initially presented a promising target for therapy; however it has become increasingly evident that the soluble form of the peptide is neurotoxic, not the amyloidogenic species. Metal-based therapeutics are uniquely suited to target soluble Aβ and have shown considerable promise to prevent the aggregation and induced cytotoxicity of the peptide in vitro. Herein, we have prepared a small series of derivatives of two promising Ru(iii) complexes NAMI-A (imidazolium [trans-RuCl4(1H-imidazole)(dimethyl sulfoxide-S)]) and PMRU20 (2-aminothiazolium [trans-RuCl4(2-aminothiazole)2]), to determine structure–activity relationships (SAR) for Ru(iii) therapeutics for AD. Using the three complementary methods of Thioflavin T fluorescence, dynamic light scattering (DLS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), it was determined that the symmetry around the metal center did not significantly impact the activity of the complexes, but rather the attached thiazole ligand(s) mitigated Aβ aggregation. Across both families of Ru(iii) complexes the determined SAR for the functional groups on the thiazole ligands to modulate Aβ aggregation were NH2 > CH3 > H. These results highlight the importance of secondary interactions between the metallotherapeutic and the Aβ peptide where hydrogen-bonding has the greatest impact on modulating Aβ aggregation.
Dinuclear aluminum complexes bearing methylene-bridged phenoxy-imine ligands and their application in the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide
Authors: Yuntawattana Nattawut , Nakornkhet Chutikan , Nanok Tanin , Upitak Kanokon , Hormnirun Pimpa
Published: April 2020

The first report on the use of dinuclear aluminum complexes supported by methylene-bridged phenoxy-imine ligands for the ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide.
Experimental results and computational insight into sequential reactions of β-(2-aminophenyl)-α,β-ynones with aryl isocyanates/benzoyl isothiocyanate
Authors: Arcadi Antonio , Aschi Massimiliano , Chiarini Marco , Marinelli Fabio , Marsicano Vincenzo , Portalone Gustavo
Published: April 2020

The selective formation of quinazoline vs. benzoxazine  and benzothiazine derivatives from β-(2-aminophenyl)-α,β-ynones and aryl isocyanates/benzoyl isothiocyanate was explored. DFT calculations provide a plausible rationale.
Mixed anion/cation redox in K0.78Fe1.60S2 for a high-performance cathode in potassium ion batteries
Authors: Han Su Cheol , Park Woon Bae , Sohn Kee-Sun , Pyo Myoungho
Published: April 2020

A new cathode material (K0.78Fe1.60S2) shows mixed anion/cation redox (Fe(i) ⇆ Fe(ii) ⇆ Fe(iii) and 2S2− ⇆ S22−) during charge/discharge for high performance electrodes in potassium ion batteries.
Charge density modulation on asymmetric fused-ring acceptors for high-efficiency photovoltaic solar cells
Authors: Zhang Zhuohan , Yang Linqiang , Hu Zhenghao , Yu Jiangsheng , Liu Xin , Wang Hongtao , Cao Jinru , Zhang Fujun , Tang Weihua
Published: April 2020

Charge density modulation on thieno[2′′,3′′:5′,6′]-s-indaceno[2′,1′:4,5]dithieno[3,2-b:2′,3′-d]pyrrole core has been conducted for a systematic study of its impact on the electronic structure, molecular packing and photovoltaic performance of asymmetric fused-ring acceptors.
Production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) from rice-straw biomass using a HSO3–ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst under assistance of sonication
Authors: Hoang Phan Huy , Dat Nguyen Minh , Cuong Thai Dinh , Tung Duong Thanh
Published: April 2020

A porous HSO3–ZSM-5 zeolite was successfully synthesized and applied for conversion of biomass-derived glucose to HMF.
Lattice self-consistent field calculations of confined symmetric block copolymers of various chain architectures
Authors: Zhang Jingxue , Wu Jiaping , Jiang Run , Wang Zheng , Yin Yuhua , Li Baohui , Wang Qiang
Published: April 2020

The effects of chain architecture on the structural details and orientation of confined lamellae formed by symmetric AB-type block copolymer melts are studied.
Modulating charge migration in photoredox organic transformation via exquisite interface engineering
Authors: Xu Shuai , Huang Ming-Hui , Li Tao , Wei Zhi-Quan , Lin Xin , Dai Xiao-Cheng , Hou Shuo , Fu Xiao-Yan , Xiao Fang-Xing
Published: April 2020

An ionic polyelectrolyte was for the first time revealed to serve as an unexpected high-efficiency cascade charge transfer mediator toward versatile photoredox organic transformations under visible light irradiation.
Tunable optoelectronic response multifunctional materials: exploring switching and photoluminescence integrated in flexible thin films/crystals
Authors: Luo Ya-Yuan , Zhang Zhi-Xu , Su Chan-Yuan , Zhang Wan-Ying , Shi Ping-Ping , Ye Qiong , Fu Da-Wei
Published: April 2020

We report a tunable optoelectronic dual response material with integrated switchable dielectric and photoluminescence properties, which could be applied to smart electronic devices.
Improved luminescence properties of a novel red dodec-fluoride phosphor Ba3Sc2F12:Mn4+ with extraordinary thermal stability for WLED application
Authors: Dong Xinlong , Pan Yuexiao , Jia Yajun , Liu Rongjing , Lian Hongzhou , Lin Jun
Published: April 2020

A red phosphor, Ba3Sc2F12:Mn4+, with extraordinary thermal stability and for application in “warm” white LEDs for backlighting, was obtained at room temperature and its luminescence intensity has been improved by optimizing its synthetic parameters.
Digital manufacturing of functional materials for wearable electronics
Authors: Lin Jing , Zhu Zhaoran , Cheung Chi Fai , Yan Feng , Li Guijun
Published: April 2020

A review of the recent developments of digital manufacturing methods of functional materials for wearable electronics applications.
Hereditary hemochromatosis disrupts uric acid homeostasis and causes hyperuricemia via altered expression/activity of xanthine oxidase and ABCG2
Authors: Ristic Bojana , Sivaprakasam Sathish , Narayanan Monisha , Ganapathy Vadivel
Published: April 2020

Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is mostly caused by mutations in the iron-regulatory gene HFE. The disease is associated with iron overload, resulting in liver cirrhosis/cancer, cardiomegaly, kidney dysfunction, diabetes, and arthritis. Fe2+-induced oxidative damage is suspected in the etiology of these symptoms. Here we examined, using Hfe−/− mice, whether disruption of uric acid (UA) homeostasis plays any role in HH-associated arthritis. We detected elevated levels of UA in serum and intestine in Hfe−/− mice compared with controls. Though the expression of xanthine oxidase, which generates UA, was not different in liver and intestine between wild type and Hfe−/− mice, the enzymatic activity was higher in Hfe−/− mice. We then examined various transporters involved in UA absorption/excretion. Glut9 expression did not change; however, there was an increase in Mrp4 and a decrease in Abcg2 in Hfe−/− mice. As ABCG2 mediates intestinal excretion of UA and mutations in ABCG2 cause hyperuricemia, we examined the potential connection between iron and ABCG2. We found p53-responsive elements in hABCG2 promoter and confirmed with chromatin immunoprecipitation that p53 binds to this promoter. p53 protein was reduced in Hfe−/− mouse intestine. p53 is a heme-binding protein and p53-heme complex is subjected to proteasomal degradation. We conclude that iron/heme overload in HH increases xanthine oxidase activity and also promotes p53 degradation resulting in decreased ABCG2 expression. As a result, systemic UA production is increased and intestinal excretion of UA via ABCG2 is decreased, causing serum and tissue accumulation of UA, a potential factor in the etiology of HH-associated arthritis.
Mining TCGA database for tumor mutation burden and their clinical significance in bladder cancer
Authors: Lv Jia , Zhu Yongze , Ji Alin , Zhang Qi , Liao Guodong
Published: April 2020

Background: Bladder cancer is the ninth most-common cancer worldwide and it is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Tumor mutational burden (TMB) is an emerging biomarker in cancer characterized by microsatellite instability. TMB has been described as a powerful predictor of tumor behavior and response to immunotherapy.

Methods: A total of 443 bladder cancer samples obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were analyzed for mutation types, TMB values, and prognostic value of TMB. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified from the TMB groupings. Functional analysis was performed to assess the prognostic value of the first 30 core genes. CIBERSORT algorithm was used to determine the correlation between the immune cells and TMB subtypes.

Results: Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and C>T were reported as the most common missense mutations and we also identified a high rate of mutations in TP53, TTN, KMT2D. Bladder cancer patients with high TMB showed a better prognosis. Enrichment analysis of the DEGs revealed that they were involved in the regulation of the P13K-Akt signaling pathway, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, and Ras signaling pathway. The high expression of hub genes ADRA2A, CXCL12, S1PR1, ADAMTS9, F13A1, and SPON1 was correlated with poor overall survival. Besides, significant differences in the composition of the immune cells of T cells CD8, T cells CD4 memory activated, NK cells resting and Mast cells resting were observed.

Conclusions: The present study provides a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the prediction of TMB in bladder cancer and its clinical significance. Also, the study provides additional prognostic information and opportunities for immunotherapy in bladder cancer.
High‐speed graded‐channel AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with power added efficiency >70% at 30 GHz
Authors: Moon J.S. , Grabar R. , Wong J. , Antcliffe M. , Chen P. , Arkun E. , Khalaf I. , Corrion A. , Chappell J. , Venkatesan N. , Fay P.
Published: April 2020

The authors report on highly scaled 60 nm gate length graded‐channel AlGaN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) with a record power added efficiency (PAE) of 75% at 2.1 W/mm power density at Vdd = 10 V and the PAE of 65% at 3.0 W/mm power density at 30 GHz at Vdd = 14 V. Under two‐tone power measurement, the graded‐channel AlGaN/GaN HEMTs demonstrated similar power performance with peak PAE >70% at 30 GHz. This novel channel design shows great promise for high‐efficiency millimetre‐wave (mmW) power amplifiers up to 3 W/mm RF power density operation.
Model predictive power control for grid‐connected ac–dc converters with trajectory optimisation of the modulated voltage vector
Authors: Liu Bi , Song Wensheng , Chen Jinhui , Feng Xiaoyun
Published: April 2020

As a classical control algorithm for grid‐connected ac–dc converters, the conventional proportional–integral (PI) based direct power control (DPC) has several disadvantages, including the complexity of tuning PI parameters and poor dynamic performance. To tackle those drawbacks, this study presents a simple model predictive power control (MPPC) scheme with pulse‐width modulation stage for single‐phase ac–dc converters. Distinct from previous MPPC schemes, the proposed approach is formulated in terms of the terminal trajectory of modulated voltage vector, which is defined as an elliptic region. From the elliptical trajectory point of view, the proposed approach applies a cost function to predict an optimal radius of elliptic trajectory instead of the outputs of inner‐loop PI controllers in PI‐based DPC. To solve the parameter sensitiveness problem of MPPC schemes, a quantitative relationship between the predicted powers and their references considering inductance mismatch is analysed in detail. Then, an inductance estimation method is developed according to the analysis. A comprehensive experimental comparison with conventional PI‐based DPC, and finite‐control‐set MPPC schemes have been conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Guided filter‐based multi‐scale super‐resolution reconstruction
Authors: Feng Xiaomei , Li Jinjiang , Hua Zhen
Published: April 2020

The learning‐based super‐resolution reconstruction method inputs a low‐resolution image into a network, and learns a non‐linear mapping relationship between low‐resolution and high‐resolution through the network. In this study, the multi‐scale super‐resolution reconstruction network is used to fuse the effective features of different scale images, and the non‐linear mapping between low resolution and high resolution is studied from coarse to fine to realise the end‐to‐end super‐resolution reconstruction task. The loss of some features of the low‐resolution image will negatively affect the quality of the reconstructed image. To solve the problem of incomplete image features in low‐resolution, this study adopts the multi‐scale super‐resolution reconstruction method based on guided image filtering. The high‐resolution image reconstructed by the multi‐scale super‐resolution network and the real high‐resolution image are merged by the guide image filter to generate a new image, and the newly generated image is used for secondary training of the multi‐scale super‐resolution reconstruction network. The newly generated image effectively compensates for the details and texture information lost in the low‐resolution image, thereby improving the effect of the super‐resolution reconstructed image.Compared with the existing super‐resolution reconstruction scheme, the accuracy and speed of super‐resolution reconstruction are improved.
Null space gradient flows for constrained optimization with applications to shape optimization
Authors: Feppon F. , Allaire G. , Dapogny C.
Published: April 2020

The purpose of this article is to introduce a gradient-flow algorithm for solving equality and inequality constrained optimization problems, which is particularly suited for shape optimization applications. We rely on a variant of the Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) approach proposed by Yamashita (Math. Program. 18 (1980) 155–168) for equality constrained problems: the search direction is a combination of a null space step and a range space step, aiming to decrease the value of the minimized objective function and the violation of the constraints, respectively. Our first contribution is to propose an extension of this ODE approach to optimization problems featuring both equality and inequality constraints. In the literature, a common practice consists in reducing inequality constraints to equality constraints by the introduction of additional slack variables. Here, we rather solve their local combinatorial character by computing the projection of the gradient of the objective function onto the cone of feasible directions. This is achieved by solving a dual quadratic programming subproblem whose size equals the number of active or violated constraints. The solution to this problem allows to identify the inequality constraints to which the optimization trajectory should remain tangent. Our second contribution is a formulation of our gradient flow in the context of – infinite-dimensional – Hilbert spaces, and of even more general optimization sets such as sets of shapes, as it occurs in shape optimization within the framework of Hadamard’s boundary variation method. The cornerstone of this formulation is the classical operation of extension and regularization of shape derivatives. The numerical efficiency and ease of implementation of our algorithm are demonstrated on realistic shape optimization problems.
Rapid Screening Procedure for Buildings Damaged by Earthquakes: The Need for Retrofitting
Authors: Boen Teddy
Published: April 2020

Right after an earthquake disaster, many universities and or “experts” were performing rapid screening of buildings/facilities damaged during the earthquake. Many of the buildings, houses, were tagged with red labels, which means that those buildings are dangerous, cannot be occupied and should be demolished. Demolishing buildings without thorough analysis is an irresponsible act. The rapid screening of buildings damaged by earthquakes shall be done repeatedly by experts with track records in the field of structural earthquake engineering, utilizing the same criteria and subsequently converting the findings into a well-established scoring system. The damaged buildings must be evaluated, analyzed by acknowledged structural earthquake engineers with track records prior to the final decision. If the analysis showed positive results, the buildings should be retrofitted, and not demolished. Retrofitting of buildings damaged by earthquakes shall be made a culture in Indonesia.
New 2019 Risk-Targeted Ground Motions for Spectral Design Criteria in Indonesian Seismic Building Code
Authors: Sengara I Wayan , Irsyam Masyhur , Sidi Indra Djati , Mulia Andri , Asrurifak Muhamad , Hutabarat Daniel , Partono Windu
Published: April 2020

Indonesia has followed development of new seismic design criteria in the new seismic building codes, from hazard-based in the former SNI-03-1726-2002 to the current risk-based SNI-1726-2012. The major changes in SNI-1726-2012 are using Risk-Targeted Maximum Considered Earthquake (MCER) Spectral Response Acceleration maps. Five years later (2017), the seismic hazard maps have been updated adopting the most recent data and current state of knowledge in probabilistic and deterministic seismic hazard assessment methodologies. To establish the New 2019 Risk Targeted Ground Motion (RTGM) of spectral acceleration (Ss and S1), and risk coefficients (CRS and CR1), for both short (T=0.2s) and 1-second (T=1s) periods, respectively have been developed based on the 2017 Indonesian hazard maps. The RTGM was calculated as the spectral value resulting in 1% probability of building collapse in 50 years through numerical integration of hazard curves and structural capacity. The log-normal standard deviation (?) of the structural capacity envelope has been revised from 0.70 to 0.65. This paper presents the new resulted RTGM maps. Furthermore, the paper also presents revision of seismic amplification factors for 0, 0.2, and 1 second periods (FPGA, Fa, and, Fv) to generate ground surface maximum and design spectra associated with the siteclassifications.
One-period stability analysis of polygonal sweeping processes with application to an elastoplastic model
Authors: Gudoshnikov Ivan , Kamenskii Mikhail , Makarenkov Oleg , Voskovskaia Natalia
Published: April 2020

We offer a finite-time stability result for Moreau sweeping processes on the plane with periodically moving polyhedron. The result is used to establish the convergence of stress evolution of a simple network of elastoplastic springs to a unique cyclic response in just one cycle of the external displacement-controlled cyclic loading. The paper concludes with an example showing that smoothing the vertices of the polyhedron makes finite-time stability impossible.
The impact of competition between cancer cells and healthy cells on optimal drug delivery
Authors: Cho Heyrim , Levy Doron
Published: April 2020

Cell competition is recognized to be instrumental to the dynamics and structure of the tumor-host interface in invasive cancers. In mild competition scenarios, the healthy tissue and cancer cells can coexist. When the competition is aggressive, competitive cells, the so called super-competitors, expand by killing other cells. Novel chemotherapy drugs and molecularly targeted drugs are commonly administered as part of cancer therapy. Both types of drugs are susceptible to various mechanisms of drug resistance, obstructing or preventing a successful outcome. In this paper, we develop a cancer growth model that accounts for the competition between cancer cells and healthy cells. The model incorporates resistance to both chemotherapy and targeted drugs. In both cases, the level of drug resistance is assumed to be a continuous variable ranging from fully-sensitive to fully-resistant. Using our model we demonstrate that when the competition is moderate, therapies using both drugs are more effective compared with single drug therapies. However, when cancer cells are highly competitive, targeted drugs become more effective. The results of the study stress the importance of adjusting the therapy to the pre-treatment resistance levels. We conclude with a study of the spatiotemporal propagation of drug resistance in a competitive setting, verifying that the same conclusions hold in the spatially heterogeneous case.
Extinction and ergodic stationary distribution of a Markovian-switching prey-predator model with additional food for predator
Authors: Guo Xiaoxia , Ruan Dehan
Published: April 2020

In this work we have studied a stochastic predator-prey model where the prey grows logistically in the absence of predator. All parameters but carrying capacity have been perturbed with telephone noise. The prey’s growth rate and the predator’s death rate have also been perturbed with white noises. Both of these noises have been proved extremely useful to model rapidly fluctuating phenomena Dimentberg (1988). The conditions under which extinction of predator and prey populations occur have been established. We also give sufficient conditions for positive recurrence and the existence of an ergodic stationary distribution of the positive solution, red which in stochastic predator-prey systems means that the predator and prey populations can be persistent, that is to say, the predator and prey populations can be sustain a quantity that is neither too much nor too little. In our analysis, it is found that the environmental noise plays an important role in extinction as well as coexistence of prey and predator populations. It is shown in numerical simulation that larger white noise intensity will lead to the extinction of the population, while telephone noise may delay or reduce the risk of species extinction.
Microtubules (MT) a key target in oncology: mathematical modeling of anti-MT agents on cell migration
Authors: Denicolai Emilie , Honoré Stéphane , Hubert Florence , Tesson Rémi
Published: April 2020

Microtubules (MTs) are protein filaments found in all eukaryotic cells which are crucial for many cellular processes including cell movement, cell differentiation, and cell division, making them a key target for anti-cancer treatment. In particular, it has been shown that at low dose, MT targeted agents (MTAs) may induce an anti-migratory effect on cancer and endothelial cells, leading to new prospects in cancer therapy. In that context, we propose to better understand the role of MT dynamics and thus of MTAs on cell migration using a mathematical cell centered model of cell migration taking into account the action of microtubules in the process. The model use a fluid based approach that describes, through level-set techniques, the deformation of the membrane during cell migration. The fluid part of the model is mainly composed of Stokes equations and the biochemical state of the cell is described using Reaction-Diffusion equations. Microtubules act on the biochemical state by activating or inactivating proteins of the Rho-GTPases family. The numerical simulation of the model is performed using Discrete Duality Finite Volume techniques. We describe the different schemes used for the simulation, focusing on the adaptation of preexisting methods to our particular case. Numerical simulation are performed, showing a realistic behavior of the simulated cells in term of shape, speed and microtubules dynamics. Different strategies for a depolymerizing MTA (Vincristin) mechanisms are investigated and show the robutness of our model.
Global stability in a competitive infection-age structured model
Authors: Richard Quentin
Published: April 2020

We study a competitive infection-age structured SI model between two diseases. The well-posedness of the system is handled by using integrated semigroups theory, while the existence and the stability of disease-free or endemic equilibria are ensured, depending on the basic reproduction number R0x and R0y of each strain. We then exhibit Lyapunov functionals to analyse the global stability and we prove that the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable whenever max{R0x, R0y} ≤ 1. With respect to explicit basin of attraction, the competitive exclusion principle occurs in the case where R0x ≠ R0y and max{R0x, R0y} > 1, meaning that the strain with the largest R0 persists and eliminates the other strain. In the limit case R0x = Ry0 > 1, an infinite number of endemic equilibria exists and constitute a globally attractive set.
ASCO-GU 2019: Metastasiertes Hormon-sensibles Prostatakarzinom
Authors: Kretzschmar Alexander
Published: April 2020

Männer mit metastasiertem Hormon-sensiblen Prostatakarzinom (mHSPC) erreichen ein signifikant höheres medianes progressionsfreies Überleben anhand radiologischer Befunde (rPFS) und haben eine höhere objektive Responserate, wenn sie zusätzlich zu einer Androgen-depravierenden Therapie (ADT) auch Enzalutamid erhalten (jeweils p < 0,0001). Dies zeigt die randomisierte, doppelblinde Phase-III-Studie ARCHES (NCT02677896), deren Ergebnisse auf dem Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU) vorgestellt wurden.
S2e-Leitlinie „Therapie der rheumatoiden Arthritis mit krankheitsmodifizierenden Medikamenten“ – Was ist neu?
Authors: Fiehn Christoph
Published: April 2020

Was ist neu?

Übergeordnete Prinzipien Das Prinzip des Treat-to-Target (Remission als Ziel) wie auch die Notwendigkeit, Glukokortikoide (GC) auszuschleichen, werden betont.

Remission als Ziel des Treat-to-Target Das Therapieziel ist die Remission nach den EULAR-Kriterien (z. B. SDAI < 3,3); wenn dies nicht möglich ist, dann ist die niedrige Krankheitsaktivität (DAS28 < 3,2) eine Alternative.

Konventionell synthetische krankheitsmodifizierende Medikamente Die parenterale Gabe von Methotrexat (MTX) hat eine bessere Pharmakokinetik als die perorale und kann u. U. helfen, die Umstellung auf ein biologisches (b) oder zielgerichtetes synthetisches (ts) krankheitsmodifizierendes Medikament (DMARD) zu verzögern oder unnötig zu machen.

Glukokortikoide Klare Vorgaben zu Dosisreduktion und Absetzen: Startdosis bis max. 30 mg/d Prednisolon, Reduktion auf max. 5 mg/d innerhalb 8 Wochen, Gesamtdauer der GC-Therapie, wenn möglich, max. 3–6 Monate.

Therapieanpassung und Evaluation Eine frühe Evaluation nach 6 Wochen dient zur Kontrolle der Adhärenz, Verträglichkeit und der Ausräumung von Kommunikationsproblemen. Nach 12 Wochen soll ein Ansprechen (mind. 50 %ige Verbesserung des Composite-Scores, z. B. des DAS28), nach 24 Wochen das Therapieziel erreicht sein. Zielgerichtete synthetische DMARD (JAK-Inhibitoren) sind im Therapiealgorithmus gleichwertig mit bDMARD.

Deeskalation Eine Deeskalation kann erwogen werden. Voraussetzung ist eine anhaltende Glukokortikoid-freie Remission über mind. 6 Monate und die Beachtung des Prinzips der Shared Decision. Deeskalation erfolgt über Dosisreduktion oder Abstandsverlängerung von Injektionen. Ein komplettes Absetzen führt dagegen relativ häufig zu einem Verlust der Remission.
Kardiovaskuläre Infektionen – ein Update
Authors: Rieg Siegbert
Published: April 2020

Was ist neu?

Vergleich von Endokarditis-Risikokonstellationen Aus der Hochrisikogruppe der Endokarditis-prädisponierenden Erkrankungen sticht die durchgemachte Endokarditis (Risiko 266-fach) hervor – Präventionsmaßnahmen wie gute Oral-/Zahnhygiene, Antibiotikaprophylaxe bei orodentalen Eingriffen und Aufklärung sind essenziell.

Neues zur Enterococcus-faecalis-Endokarditis Bei Patienten mit ambulant erworbener E. faecalis-Bakteriämie sollte eine transösophageale Echokardiografie durchgeführt werden – laut neueren Untersuchungen beträgt die Endokarditisprävalenz in dieser Patientengruppe > 20 %. Es verdichten sich die Hinweise, dass eine Assoziation zwischen E. faecalis-Endokarditis und kolorektalen Karzinomen bzw. Adenomen mit Dysplasiezeichen existiert.

Orale Therapie der Endokarditis? Die Nichtunterlegenheit einer oralen Sequenztherapie bei Endokarditispatienten ist bislang nur für eine sehr ausgewählte Subgruppe (stabiler Verlauf, kleine Vegetation, keine paravalvulären Komplikationen) gezeigt. Eine frühe und unkritische Oralisierung der Antibiotika birgt die Gefahr schlechterer Behandlungsergebnisse.

Kunstherzinfektionen/Infektionen linksventrikulärer Assist-Devices Kunstherzinfektionen/Infektionen linksventrikulärer Assist-Devices (LVAD) treten bei einem Drittel der Patienten im Laufe des ersten Jahres nach der Implantation auf. Neben einer suffizienten Antibiotikatherapie ist ggf. ein chirurgisches Débridement erforderlich.
Geschlechtsunterschiede in Glucocorticoidkonzentrationen und Entzündungsparametern im Zusammenhang mit Depression
Authors: Schneider Lena , Walther Andreas
Published: April 2020

Hintergrund: Frauen erkranken fast doppelt so häufig wie Männer an einer Major Depression. Eine Hyperaktivität der Hypothalamus-Hypophysen-Nebennierenrinden-Achse (HHNA) und eine chronisch niedrig-gradige Inflammation sind 2 der konsistentesten biologischen Befunde bei schweren Depressionen. Inwiefern diese Parameter für die Existenz von Geschlechtsunterschieden bei Depression eine Rolle spielen, ist noch unzureichend untersucht worden. Methoden: Es wurde eine systematische Literaturrecherche mittels der elektronischen Fachdatenbanken (PubMed, Web of Science, PsycARTICLES) durchgeführt. Die Suche umfasste alle englischsprachigen Artikel, die bis zum 29. Juni 2019 aufgenommen wurden. Als MeSH terms wurden depression, sex differences, inflammation, hpa axis, mit Zusätzen wie cortisol, crp, IL-6, TNF-alpha, dex/crh oder tsst verwendet. Ergebnisse: Insgesamt konnten 62 Primärstudien mit einem Total von 91318 Probanden (52 % Frauen) eingeschlossen werden. Basale Glucocorticoidkonzentrationen scheinen für beide Geschlechter tendenziell positiv mit dem Vorliegen oder der Schwere einer Depressionssymptomatik assoziiert zu sein. Konsistente Geschlechtsunterschiede konnten für die Cortisolreaktion auf einen Stressor sowie für Entzündungsmarker identifiziert werden. Fazit: Geschlechtsunterschiede in der Neurobiologie der Depression sind identifizierbar und geben Anlass für geschlechtsspezifische Untersuchungen der Pathophysiologie von Depressionen und deren geschlechtsspezifischer Behandlungen.
Wir sind Rechtsstaat
Authors: Wildner Manfred
Published: April 2020

„Wir sind Rechtsstaat“: Siebzig Jahre nach Ausarbeitung des
Grundgesetzes wirbt der so geschaffene Rechtsstaat im Rahmen des „Paktes
für den Rechtsstaat“ für sich selbst (www.wir-sind-rechtsstaat.de),
einer Vereinbarung von Bund und Ländern 1. Einen weiteren Schwerpunkt bilden 71 zusätzliche Planstellen
beim Generalbundesanwalt, zusätzliche 2000 Richter und Staatsanwälte
zuzüglich zugehörigen Büropersonals, 7500
zusätzliche Planstellen für Polizeiaufgaben. Hinzu kommen
IT-Anpassungen, Beschleunigungen und Vereinfachungen durch Änderungen von
Prozessordnungen und Schaffung eines „Forum Recht“. So notwendig der
Schutz des Rechtsstaats ist und so verständlich die Maßnahmen in
einer unmittelbaren Reaktion auf sich abzeichnende Herausforderungen sind: bergen
sie nicht auch Risiken? Stärken diese Maßnahmen nicht vor allem das
staatliche Gewaltmonopol, welches ohne eine begleitende kritische Diskussion
wiederum selbst zur Gefahr für den Rechtsstaat werden kann 2? Die Grenzen einer zu einseitigen
Herangehensweise an ein gelingendes Gemeinwesen illustrieren die 11 Millionen
Menschen, die in den USA jährlich einen Gefängnisaufenthalt erleben
3. Primärpräventive
Investitionen in Bildung und Berufschancen sind z. B. zur Prävention
von Jugendgewalt deutlich effizienter und nachhaltiger als eine
Sekundärprävention durch Therapien oder Strafen 4.
Prä-/Post-Untersuchung des Effektes von Umzug und Neubau einer psychiatrischen Klinik auf die Stationsatmosphäre in der Wahrnehmung von Patienten und Mitarbeitern
Authors: Brieger Peter , Steck Sarah , Kilian Reinhold , Hamann Johannes
Published: April 2020

Ziel der Studie Vergleich der Stationsatmosphäre eines psychiatrischen Versorgungskrankenhauses vor und nach dem Umzug in einen Neubau.

Methodik Patienten und Mitarbeiter füllten den Stationsbeurteilungsbogen (SBB) vor bzw. nach dem Umzug aus. Prä-/Post-Vergleich der Mittelwerte mittels Regressionsanalysen unter Berücksichtigung personenbezogener Daten.

Ergebnisse 171 Patienten und 44 Mitarbeiter beteiligten sich an der Befragung. Der Umzug der Klinik in einen Neubau hatte keinen Einfluss auf die Stationsatmosphäre, weder bei Patienten noch beim Personal. Die Organisationsform der Stationen (vor allem Tagesklinik vs. Aufnahmestation) hat dagegen einen großen Einfluss auf die Bewertungen von Patienten und Mitarbeitern.

Schlussfolgerung Räumliche Verbesserungen und kleinere strukturelle Änderungen bewirken alleine keine Verbesserungen der Stationsatmosphäre.
Die Nachsorge des Lungenkarzinoms
Authors: Tufman Amanda , Duell Thomas , Schneider Christian
Published: April 2020

Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es, die aktuellen Leitlinien bzw. Empfehlungen zur Nachsorge des Lungenkarzinoms zu präsentieren und eine evidenzbasierte Herangehensweise für die Erstellung von individualisierten Nachsorgeplänen aufzuzeigen.
Immediate Effects of Kinesio Taping of Tibialis Anterior and Ankle Joint on Mobility and Balance Ability for Chronic Hemiparesis: Randomized Controlled Cross-Sectional Design
Authors: Kim Kyung-Hun , Lee Yang-Jin
Published: April 2020

Background Stroke patients with hemiparesis are generally described as being slow and suffering a balance disability.

Objective The purpose of this cross-sectional single-blind study was to evaluate the immediate effects of Kinesio taping of tibialis anterior and quadriceps on the mobility and balance ability in individuals with chronic hemiparetic stroke.

Methods Thirty-three subjects participated in this study. Participants were divided into 3 groups: Ankle Kinesio taping (AKT) group, a placebo (PKT) group, and a control (NKT) group. The AKT group underwent Kinesio tapping of ankle joint and tibialis muscle, PKT group underwent placebo taping, and NKT group underwent no Kinesio taping. All participants were assessed before and after taping training using timed up and go test (TUG), timed up and down stairs test (TUDS), and balance ability.

Results After taping training, the AKT group showed significant improvement in mobility and balance ability compared to the PKT group and NKT group (p < 0.05). The results of this study confirmed that Kinesio taping was effective to the balance and mobility abilities of patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke.

Conclusions This study suggested Kinesio taping as an effective intervention to increase the mobility and balance abilities of patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke. Therefore, this study are believed to provide the baseline information to effectively improve the balance and mobility abilities of patients with chronic hemiparetic stroke during the rehabilitation treatment in the future.
Rechtsfragen der Ressourcenzuteilung in der COVID-19-Pandemie – Zwischen Utilitarismus und Lebenswertindifferenz
Authors: Hübner Joachim , Schewe Denis M. , Katalinic Alexander , Frielitz Fabian-S.
Published: April 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic poses unprecedented challenges for the German health care system. What is already the case in some other countries, may occur in Germany in the near future also: Faced with limited ICU resources, doctors will be forced to decide which patients to treat and which to let die. This paper examines the legal implications of such decisions. It takes up arguments from the general discussion on prioritization in medicine. A constitutional hurdle for the application of utilitarian criteria (in particular patients’ age or social role) comes from the principle that every human life is of equal value and must not be traded off against others (“life value indifference”). However, the limits that the Grundgesetz (German Basic Law) sets for state actions do not apply directly to doctors. According to the Musterberufsordnung (professional code of conduct), doctors act based on their conscience and the requirements of medical ethics and humanity. The implications of this normative standard for the prioritizing in an exceptional situation as the COVID 19 pandemic have not been sufficiently clarified. This uncertainty leads to emotional and moral burdens for doctors. The authors conclude that the German law grants a limited freedom of choice that allows physicians to apply utilitarian criteria in addition to purely medical decision algorithms.
A Convenient One-pot Synthesis of Chromenyl Acrylates and Acrylonitriles
Authors: Proença Fernanda , Lopes Diogo , Costa Marta , Louçano João
Published: April 2020

2H-Oxo-chromenyl acrylates and 2H-imino-chromenyl acrylonitriles have been prepared from a salicylaldehyde and ethyl cyanoacetate or 2-amino-1,1,3-tricyanopropene, respectively. The reaction occurs in the presence of 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane (DABCO) and the products were isolated in good to quantitative yields. Despite the simplicity of the synthesis, this is the first time that these substituted chromenes have been isolated.
Current Image-Guided Interventions in Pediatric Surgery
Authors: Rubalcava Nathan S. , Jarboe Marcus D.
Published: April 2020

Traditionally, surgical technique has not included imaging modalities. Image guidance had largely been left to radiology specialties. However, in recent years, tremendous advances in imaging have taken place with improvements in image quality, portability, and accessibility. With these advances, surgeons have begun to realize the benefits of fusing image guidance with traditional surgical approaches. Subsequently, many novel surgical approaches utilizing image guidance have been developed that allow for precise, safe, and minimally invasive management of conditions that previously required open surgical intervention.
Effect of an Alternative Newborn Naming Strategy on Wrong-Patient Errors: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Pfeifer Ethan , Lozovatsky Margaret , Abraham Joanna , Kannampallil Thomas
Published: April 2020

Objectives Newborns are often assigned temporary names at birth. Temporary newborn names—often a combination of the mother's last name and the newborn's gender—are vulnerable to patient misidentification due to similarities with other newborns or between a mother and her newborn. We developed and implemented an alternative distinct naming strategy, and then compared its effectiveness on reducing the number of wrong-patient orders with the standard distinct naming strategy.

Methods This study was conducted over a 14-month period in the newborn nursery and neonatal intensive care units of three hospitals that were part of the same health care system. We used a quasi-experimental study design using interrupted time series analysis to compare the differences in wrong-patient orders (an indicator of patient misidentification) before and after the implementation of the alternative distinct naming strategy.

Results Overall, there were 25 wrong-patient errors per 10,000 orders during entire study period (36.8 per 10,000 before and 19.6 per 10,000 after). However, there was no statistically significant change in the rate of wrong-patient ordering errors after the transition from the distinct to the alternative distinct naming strategy (β = 0.832, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.83 to 2.49, p = 0.326). We also found that, overall, 1.7% of the clinicians contributed to 62% of the wrong-patient errors.

Conclusion Although we did not find statistically significant differences in wrong-patient errors, the alternative distinct naming approach provides pragmatic advantages over its predecessors. In addition, the localization of wrong-patient errors within a small set of clinicians highlights the potential for developing strategies for delivering training to clinicians.
Marijuana Use during Pregnancy and Preterm Birth: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Klebanoff Mark A. , Wilkins Diana G. , Keim Sarah A.
Published: April 2020

Objective The aim of this study is to estimate the association between marijuana use during pregnancy and total, spontaneous and indicated preterm birth.

Study Design Prospective cohort study of women receiving antenatal care at The Ohio State University from 2010 to 2015. Marijuana use was assessed by questionnaire, record abstraction, and urine toxicology. Women were followed through the end of pregnancy. Relative risks were assessed with Poisson regression and time to delivery with proportional hazard models.

Results Of 363 eligible women, 119 (33%) used marijuana in pregnancy by at least one measure. In this high-risk cohort, preterm birth occurred to 36.0% of users and 34.6% of nonusers (p = 0.81). The unadjusted relative risk of all preterm birth was 1.06 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.76–1.47); the adjusted relative risk was similar 1.04 (95% CI: 0.72–1.50). Spontaneous preterm birth was nonsignificantly elevated among users before 1.32 (95% CI: 0.89–1.96), and after 1.21 (95% CI: 0.76–1.94) adjustment. Indicated preterm birth was nonsignificantly reduced before 0.52 (95% CI: 0.22–1.23) and after 0.75 (95% CI: 0.29–2.15) adjustment. The unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) for time to preterm birth was 1.26 (95% CI: 0.84–2.00); the adjusted HR was 1.32 (95% CI: 0.80–2.07). Both unadjusted 1.77 (95% CI: 1.06–2.93) and adjusted 2.16 (95% CI: 1.16–4.02) HRs for spontaneous preterm birth were significantly elevated, primarily due to an increased risk of spontaneous birth <28 weeks among users. The unadjusted and adjusted HRs for time to indicated preterm birth were 0.69 (95% CI: 0.33–1.43) and 0.58 (95% CI: 0.23–1.46).

Conclusion Marijuana use was not associated with total preterm birth in this cohort, suggesting that among women already at high risk of preterm birth, marijuana does not increase risk further. However, there was a suggestion that pregnant women who use marijuana may deliver earlier, particularly from spontaneous preterm birth, than women who do not use marijuana.

Key Points
Mathematical modeling for adsorption process of dye removal nonlinear equation using power law and exponentially decaying kernels
Authors: Qureshi Sania , Yusuf Abdullahi , Ali Shaikh Asif , Inc Mustafa , Baleanu Dumitru
Published: April 2020

In this research work, a new time-invariant nonlinear mathematical model in fractional (non-integer) order settings has been proposed under three most frequently employed strategies of the classical Caputo, the Caputo–Fabrizio, and the Atangana–Baleanu–Caputo with the fractional parameter χ, where 0<χ≤1. The model consists of a nonlinear autonomous transport equation used to study the adsorption process in order to get rid of the synthetic dyeing substances from the wastewater effluents. Such substances are used at large scale by various industries to color their products with the textile and chemical industries being at the top. The non-integer-order model suggested in the present study depicts the past behavior of the concentration of the solution on the basis of having information of the initial concentration present in the dye. Being nonlinear, it carries the possibility to have no exact solution. However, the Lipchitz condition shows the existence and uniqueness of the underlying model’s solution in non-integer-order settings. From a numerical simulation viewpoint, three numerical techniques having first order convergence have been employed to illustrate the numerical results obtained.
Conditions for the genesis of early afterdepolarization in a model of a ventricular myocyte
Authors: Chu Zhikun , Yang Dongping , Huang Xiaodong
Published: April 2020

Early afterdepolarization (EAD) is a major arrhythmogenic factor in the long QT syndrome (LQTS), whose conditions for genesis have puzzled people for several decades. Here, we employ the phase I Luo–Rudy ventricular myocyte model to investigate EAD using methods from nonlinear dynamics and provide valuable insights into EAD genesis from a physical perspective. Two major results are obtained: (i) Sufficient parametric conditions for EAD are analytically determined and then used to analyze in detail the effects of the physiological parameters. (ii) The normal form of the Hopf bifurcation that leads to EAD is derived and then used to determine whether the Hopf bifurcation is subcritical or supercritical for EAD genesis and the corresponding amplitude and period of the EAD oscillation. Our work here paves the way for further studies of more complicated multi-scale dynamics of EAD and may lead to effective treatments for LQTS arrhythmias.
Reproducing the low-temperature excitation energy transfer dynamics of phycoerythrin 545 light-harvesting complex with a structure-based model Hamiltonian
Authors: Tong Zhengqing , Huai Zhe , Mei Ye , Mo Yan
Published: April 2020

To elucidate the energy transfer mechanism of the PE545 light-harvesting complex, an exciton model is constructed with the full Hamiltonian obtained from structure-based calculations. The electronic couplings and spectral densities are evaluated on the basis of the site energies and transition dipole moments obtained from our recent Molecular Dynamics–Quantum Mechanical/Molecular Mechanical (MD–QM/MM) study [Tong et al., J. Phys. Chem. B 123, 2040–2049 (2019)]. The polarized protein-specific charge model is employed both in the MD simulation and in the QM/MM calculations to account for the environmental fluctuation of the protein scaffold. The energy transfer pathways are, thus, derived, which agree well with the phenomenological models based on the spatial organization of the chromophores and the experimental observations. Moreover, the simulated linear absorption spectra using the dissipaton equation of motion approach agree well with the experimental ones, and the resulting population dynamics indicates that an optimal energy transfer efficiency is reproduced.