bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Considering degradation kinetics of pesticides in plant uptake models: proof of concept for potato
Authors: Li Zijian , Fantke Peter
Published: November 2022

BACKGROUND

Degradation kinetics of pesticides in plants are crucial for modeling mechanism‐based pesticide residual concentrations. However, due to complex open‐field conditions that involve multiple pesticide plant uptake and elimination processes, it is difficult to directly measure degradation kinetics of pesticides in plants. To address this limitation, we proposed a modeling approach for estimating degradation rate constants of pesticides in plants, using potato as a model crop. An operational tool was developed to backward‐estimate degradation rate constants, and three pesticides were selected to perform example simulations.

RESULTS

The simulation results of thiamethoxam indicated that the growth dynamics of the potato had a significant impact on the degradation kinetic estimates when the pesticide was applied during the early growth stage, as the size of the potato determined the uptake and elimination kinetics via diffusion. Using mepiquat, we demonstrated that geographical variations in weather conditions and soil properties led to significant differences in the dissipation kinetics in both potato plants and soil, which propagated the variability of the degradation rate constant. Simulation results of chlorpyrifos differed between two reported field studies, which is due to the effect of the vertical distribution of the residue concentration in the soil, which is not considered in the majority of recent studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Our proposed approach is adaptable to plant growth dynamics, preharvest intervals, and multiple pesticide application events. In future research, it is expected that the proposed method will enable region‐specific inputs to improve the estimation of the degradation kinetics of pesticides in plants. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Bayesian D‐optimal design for life testing with censoring
Authors: Taylor Dustin , Rigdon Steven E. , Pan Rong , Montgomery Douglas C.
Published: November 2022

The assumption of normality is usually tied to the design and analysis of an experimental study. However, when dealing with lifetime testing and censoring at fixed time intervals, we can no longer assume that the outcomes will be normally distributed. This generally requires the use of optimal design techniques to construct the test plan for specific distribution of interest. Optimal designs in this situation depend on the parameters of the distribution, which are generally unknown a priori. A Bayesian approach can be used by placing a prior distribution on the parameters, thereby leading to an appropriate selection of experimental design. This, along with the model and number of predictors, can be used to derive the D‐optimal design for an allowed number of experimental runs. This paper explores using this Bayesian approach on various lifetime regression models to select appropriate D‐optimal designs in regular and irregular design regions.
Inhibition of Fusarium Graminearum Growth and Deoxynivalenol Biosynthesis by Phenolic Compounds
Authors: Ma Yue , Zhou Rui , Luo Xiong‐Fei , Li An‐Ping , Wang Rui , Zhang Bao‐Qi , Zhou Han , Wu Tian‐Lin , Wang Yi‐Rong , An Jun‐Xia , Zhang Zhi‐Jun , Zhao Wen‐Bin , Yang Cheng‐Jie , Ding Yan Yan , Liu Ying‐Qian
Published: November 2022

Phytopathogenic fungi infections have become a major threat to reduce crop yields and dampen human health globally. The mycelium growth inhibition method was adopted to evaluate the antifungal activity of commercially available natural and natural‐like phenols, bioassay results showed that most phenolic compounds exhibited excellent fungicidal activity against Fusarium graminearum, Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Vasinfectum, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, and Magnaporthe oryzae. Particularly, compound Z‐5 exhibited an excellent inhibition rate of 100.00 % at 100 μg/mL and EC50 value of 3.20 μg/mL against Fusarium graminearum. In addition, compound Z‐5 displayed the best efficacy and superior fungicidal activity compared to azoxystrobin (EC50=9.78 μg/mL) based on mycelial growth and spore germination. Significantly, compound Z‐5 at 200 μg/mL reduced 4‐deoxynivalenol production by over 98 % compared to the control, through down‐regulation of the gene expression of Tri5 and Tri6. Preliminary mechanism studies revealed that compound Z‐5 might exert its fungicidal activity by inducing accumulation of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, and causing cell membrane destruction and DNA synthesis interference. This study demonstrated the potent fungicidal activity of the natural‐like phenolic compound Z‐5 and highlighted its potential as an alternative agent to control F. graminearum.
L‐Proline Catalyzed Synthesis of Steroidal Pyridones And Their DFT Studies
Authors: Iqbal Arfeen , Khan Asna , Alam Mohammad Jane , Siddiqui Tabassum , Ali Abad
Published: November 2022

A steroidal‐based synthetic protocol has been developed for the synthesis of substituted steroidal pyridones in the presence of L‐proline. A wide variety of steroidal pyridones were synthesized in better yields. Initially, steroidal benzylidenes were prepared by the aldol condensation of pregnenolone with various substituted aromatic aldehydes under basic conditions. After that heterocyclization of resulting benzylidenes with cyanoacetamide in the presence of L‐proline gives the desired products. With the mild reaction conditions, good conversions, operational simplicity, and inexpensive and readily available catalyst, it is a practical and appealing approach for pyridone synthesis. Structural and quantum chemical insights of synthesized steroidal pyridone derivatives have been also presented using the density functional theory (DFT) approach.
Chronic Inflammation and Chronic Diseases: Potential Healing with Glutathione‐Inspired Fragments
Authors: Bouazzaoui Wafaa , Xiao Pan , Couve‐Bonnaire Samuel , Bouillon Jean‐Philippe , Mulengi Joseph Kajima
Published: November 2022

Glutathione is one of the foremost human body antioxidant that enables him to cope with the oxidative stress and its by‐products. This compound is depleted by age, illness, viral infections, including Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome infections (SARS). Restoring its levels is therefore crucial to good health. Since its oral bioavailability is very poor, it is important to develop stable derivatives or fragments with improved antioxidant properties. The relationship between chronic inflammation, chronic diseases and oxidative stress is widely documented. Compounds that have high antioxidant activities arouse much interest as they could contribute to cope with detrimental health conditions because of oxidative stress, thus chronic inflammation. We synthesized some interesting glutathione‐inspired fragments from available starting materials and assessed their antioxidant power. Our compounds were analysed and identified by usual physicochemical and spectroscopic techniques. Their antioxidant activity was assessed using Diphenylpicrylhydrazine radical and Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power assays. Our results showed interesting antioxidant activities IC50values ranging from 1.35 mg/mL to 3.40 mg/mL, some among them with values (2.32 mg/mL) better than cysteine (IC50=3.025 mg/mL) (IC50=3.03), which is the best precursor of glutathione.
Comparison of Thermodynamic Energies for Elementary Steps of Anionic Hydrides to Release Hydride Ions in Acetonitrile
Authors: Fu Yan‐Hua , Yang Li‐Guo , Zhou Zhong‐Yuan , Jia Taixuan , Shen Guang‐Bin , Zhu Xiao‐Qing
Published: November 2022

In this work, six thermodynamic parameters of 10 anionic hydrides XH− ascorbic acid (iAscH−), alcohol anions, imine anion, activated olefin anions and diene anions and their intermediates in hydride transfer process were researched. The hydride‐donating, hydrogen‐atom‐donating and election‐donating abilities of XH−, and the electron‐accepting abilities of X were also discussed. Two physical parameters of free radical XH⋅, homolytic Gibbs free energy to release hydrogen atom ΔGoHD(XH⋅), heterolytic Gibbs free energy to release proton ΔGoPD(XH⋅), were determined to evaluate the antioxidant ability and acidity of intermediate XH⋅ in thermodynamics. The structure‐activity relationship of XH−, XH⋅ and X were carefully discussed. It's easy to find that the hydride‐donating abilities of XH− are stronger than their neutral compounds XH2; except for iAscH−; the hydride‐donating abilities of XH− are stronger than their hydrogen‐atom‐donating abilities; the hydrogen‐atom‐donating abilities of XH− are weaker than their intermediate radicals XH⋅; the unsaturated compounds X are easier to accept electrons than the anionic hydrides XH− to donate electrons. This paper plays an important role in determining the mechanism of anionic hydride to release hydride ion and provides a new idea for the design and synthesis of more active hydride, hydrogen and electron donors.
Cascading innovation: R&D team design and performance implications of mobility
Authors: Chang Melody H.
Published: November 2022

Research Summary

Given the high cost of external hiring and uncertainty related to performance benefits, how can organizations foster an environment that maximizes the post‐mobility performance of external hires and their collaborators? In this article, I posit that R&D team design is an important factor that could shape the post‐mobility performances of both groups. Building on the interfirm mobility, innovation, and teams literatures, I argue that technological knowledge diversity within teams and across teams could differently impact innovation performance. Analyzing 63,976 interfirm moves of engineers and scientists, I find that the post‐mobility performances of external hires and teammates are conditioned by team design. A high level of within‐team diversity improves the performances of both groups, while a high level of across‐team diversity hurts their innovation outcomes.

Managerial Summary

In the war for talent, firms often offer premium wages to source external hires. Yet there have been unclear expectations about the post‐mobility outcomes of these hires and the implications for team performance. To better assess the value of hiring, managers should look beyond the performance of external hires and also consider team member performance. In the context of knowledge production activities, external hires, on average, experience an improvement in innovation performance after they move. Working with an external hire reduces the productivity of immediate collaborators but leads to more breakthrough innovations with greater technological impact. Most importantly, the performances of external hires and their teammates can be further improved by effectively designing R&D teams. Recomposing teams such that a high level of diversity exists within a team but minimal divergence across teams creates an environment that appears to enhance post‐mobility innovation activities.
Bio‐Functionalized Manganese Nanoparticles Suppress Fusarium Wilt in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus L.) by Infection Disruption, Host Defense Response Potentiation, and Soil Microbial Community Modulation
Authors: Noman Muhammad , Ahmed Temoor , Ijaz Usman , Shahid Muhammad , Nazir Muhammad Mudassir , Azizullah  , White Jason C. , Li Dayong , Song Fengming
Published: November 2022

The use of nanofabricated materials is being explored for the potential in crop disease management. Chemically synthesized micronutrient nanoparticles (NPs) have been shown to reduce crop diseases; however, the potential of biogenic manganese NPs (bio‐MnNPs) in disease control is unknown. Here, the potential and mechanism of bio‐MnNPs in suppression of watermelon Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. niveum (Fon) are reported. Bio‐MnNPs are synthesized by cell‐free cultural filtrate of a waterrmelon rhizosphere bacterial strain Bacillus megaterium NOM14, and are found spherical in shape with a size range of 27.0–65.7 nm. Application of bio‐MnNPs at 100 µg mL−1 increases Mn content in watermelon roots/shoots and improves growth performance through enhancing multiple physiological processes, including antioxidative capacity. Bio‐MnNPs at 100 µg mL−1 suppress Fusarium wilt through inhibiting colonization and invasive growth of Fon in watermelon roots/stems, and inhibit Fon vegetative growth, conidiation, conidial morphology, and cellular integrity. Bio‐MnNPs potentiate watermelon systemic acquired resistance by triggering the salicylic acid signaling upon Fon infection, and reshape the soil microbial community by improving fungal diversity. These findings demonstrate that bio‐MnNPs suppress watermelon Fusarium wilt by multiple ex planta and in planta mechanisms, and offer a promising nano‐enabled strategy for the sustainable management of crop diseases.
Electrochemical Bonding of Hydrogels at Rigid Surfaces
Authors: Qiu Xiaxin , Huang Xiaowen , Zhang Lidong
Published: November 2022

Flexible hydrogels can be chemically/physically bonded on soft surfaces. However, there is a lack of a facile method to build strong interfacial adhesion between hydrogel and various rigid surfaces. Herein, an electrochemical bonding protocol, which improves the interfacial adhesion energy of hydrogel from initial 8 to 3480 J m−2, ≈435 times enhancement at rigid glass surface, superior to the most of traditional methods, is proposed. A series of electrochemical bonding models to analyze the bonding mechanism, is demonstrated. The results indicate that the electrode reactions generate Fe3+ ions at the anode and OH− ions at the cathode, which migrate and react to form nanoparticles of Fe(OH)3. These nanoparticles form hump‐like physical structures at the interface and work as mechanical‐bonding sites, enabling the strong interfacial adhesion. Upon applying acidic solution to decompose the nanoparticles, the strong adhesion can be weakened to easily remove hydrogel from the bonded surface. The electrochemically‐bonded hydrogel can maintain its adhesion in water, which enables the electrochemical bonding of hydrogels for repairing various damaged surfaces such as plastic water tubes/bags, indicating promising potential for adhesive engineering applications.
Cathode Buffer Layer for Energy‐Level Matching and Interface Passivation
Authors: Chen Bingbing , Chen Yongliang , Zhu Zhao , Hou Guofu , Huang Qian , Zhao Ying , Zhang Xiaodan
Published: November 2022

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have demonstrated high‐power conversion efficiency (PCE) and exhibit great application potential in photovoltaic systems. Generally, a typical PSC is accompanied with multiinterfaces; therefore, charge extraction and transport in PSCs are strongly affected by these interfaces. In fact, interfacial energy‐level mismatch of carrier transport layer and anode/cathode is also deeply limiting the electrical performance of PSCs. Herein, a low‐temperature‐processed indium tin oxide (ITO‐LT) cathode buffer layer is developed and used for optimizing the energy‐level alignment and suppressing defects at the electron transfer layer and cathode interface. It is revealed that a 3 nm ITO‐LT cathode buffer layer with an appropriate energy alignment and effective defect suppression could enhance interfacial charge transfer, resulting in a PCE of 21.13% in a planar PSC.
Experimentelle Untersuchungen zur Dauerhaftigkeit von reaktiven Brandschutzsystemen
Authors: Mund Maximilian , Häßler Dustin , Schaumann Peter , Hothan Sascha , Schartel Bernhard
Published: November 2022

Reaktive Brandschutzsysteme finden im baulichen Brandschutz Anwendung zur Erhöhung des Feuerwiderstands von Stahlkonstruktionen. Neben den Anforderungen an die Feuerwiderstandsdauer können damit auch Ansprüche an die Ästhetik erfüllt werden. Die profilfolgende Applikation und die geringen Trockenschichtdicken der Produkte ermöglichen es, das filigrane Erscheinungsbild von Stahlkonstruktionen aufrechtzuerhalten. Neben der thermischen Schutzwirkung muss auch die Dauerhaftigkeit der Brandschutzbeschichtung sichergestellt werden. Die Bewertungsmethoden, die auf europäischer Ebene durch das EAD 350402‐00‐1106 zur Verfügung stehen, zielen auf eine Nutzungsdauer von zehn Jahren ab. Prüfverfahren für einen darüber hinausgehenden Zeitraum sind nicht beschrieben. In diesem Beitrag werden experimentelle Untersuchungen zum Einfluss der Bewitterung auf das Expansionsverhalten, zur thermischen Schutzwirkung und zu den während des Aufschäumens im Brandfall stattfindenden Reaktionen vorgestellt. Die Versuche wurden an einem wasserbasierten und einem epoxidharzbasierten reaktiven Brandschutzsystem durchgeführt. Die Ergebnisse wurden im Rahmen des IGF‐Forschungsvorhabens 20470 N erzielt.
Rate of surgical site and urinary tract infections in dogs after cessation of antibiotics following spinal surgery
Authors: Korytárová Natália , Kramer Sabine , Schnepf Anne , Kreienbrock Lothar , Volk Holger A.
Published: November 2022

Background

Excessive use of antimicrobials and the increasing occurrence of antimicrobial resistance are major challenges in both human and veterinary medicine. The role of prophylactic antimicrobial therapy in orthopaedic and neurosurgeries in dogs can be questioned. The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of surgical site infections (SSI) and urinary tract infections (UTI) in dogs after cessation of antibiotics following spinal surgery.

Methods

Electronic patient records from January 2018 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed to identify dogs that underwent spinal surgery (n = 158). Antimicrobial drug use and the presence of SSI and UTI were recorded.

Results

Overall, SSI developed in 1.3% of dogs that underwent spinal surgery, while UTI developed in 8.2%. Multidrug‐resistant (MDR) bacteria were detected in 5.1% of dogs. The rates of SSI, UTI and MDR did not differ significantly between dogs that received postoperative antimicrobial therapy and those that did not.

Limitations

The main limitation of this study was its retrospective design.

Conclusion

Overall, the SSI rate in this study was low. Cessation of postoperative antimicrobial use in dogs following spinal surgery did not have a negative effect on either SSI development or the occurrence of UTI.
Impact of ergosterol content on acetic and lactic acids toxicity to Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Ferraz Luís , Vorauer‐Uhl Karola , Sauer Michael , Sousa Maria J. , Branduardi Paola
Published: November 2022

Organic acid stress often represents a major hurdle in industrial bio‐based microbial processes. Organic acids can be released from lignocellulosic feedstocks pretreatment and can also be desirable products obtained by microbial fermentation with applications in different industrial sectors. Yeasts are prominent cell factories. However, the presence of organic acids can compromise yeast metabolism, impairing fermentation performances and limiting the economic feasibility of the processes. Plasma membrane remodeling is deeply involved in yeast tolerance to organic acids, but the detailed mechanisms and potentials of this phenomenon remain largely to be studied and exploited. We investigated the impact of ergosterol on Saccharomyces cerevisiae tolerance against organic acid stress by coupling in vitro and in vivo assays. In the in vitro assay, synthetic lipid vesicles were prepared containing different concentrations of ergosterol. We observed changes in organic acids diffusion through the membrane as a function of ergosterol content. Then, we extended our approach in vivo, engineering S. cerevisiae with the aim of changing the ergosterol content of cells. We focused on ECM22, an important transcription factor, involved in the regulation of ergosterol biosynthesis. The overexpression of ECM22 was sufficient to increase ergosterol levels in S. cerevisiae, resulting in an enhanced tolerance toward lactic acid stress. In this work we propose an in vitro approach, using synthetic lipid vesicles, as a complementary method to be used when studying the impact of the plasma membrane lipid composition on the diffusion of organic acids.
Pharma Tender Processes: Modeling Auction Outcomes
Authors: Mekler Philipp , Sun Jingshu
Published: November 2022

This chapter summarizes the overall tendering and contracting process in the pharmaceutical industry by providing an overview of the first-sealed price auction theory, auction rules, and drug pricing mechanism of different countries. Comparing procurement systems across Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America, the review casts light on various pharmaceutical bidding systems across the world and their impact on drug prices. Then, this review focuses on the empirical estimation of first-price auction models. In terms of model specification, we compare the two most commonly used empirical methods for bidding price estimation: structural models and reduced form approaches to test the auction theory. Maximum likelihood estimation is the most frequently used method for structural estimation in literature and selection bias correction is widely adopted using reduced form models. In addition to parametric model construction, we also provide an extensive introduction of non-parametric testing methodologies, including non-parametric estimation and quantile-based estimation to reduce the computation complexity and further illustrate how auction theory could be validated by real-world applications. Additional thoughts and adjustments on non-parametric testing are brought up based on a real-world tendering use case from a large multi-national pharmaceutical company.
Multi-Echelon Inventory Optimization Using Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Hammler Patric , Riesterer Nicolas , Mu Gang , Braun Torsten
Published: November 2022

In this chapter, we provide an overview of inventory management within the pharmaceutical industry and how to model and optimize it. Inventory management is a highly relevant topic, as it causes high costs such as holding, shortage, and reordering costs. Especially the event of a stock-out can cause damage that goes beyond monetary damage in the form of lost sales. To minimize those costs is the task of an optimized reorder policy. A reorder policy is optimal when it minimizes the accumulated cost in every situation. However, finding an optimal policy is not trivial. First, the problem is highly stochastic as we need to consider variable demands and lead times. Second, the supply chain consists of several warehouses incl. the factory, global distribution warehouses, and local affiliate warehouses, whereby the reorder policy of each warehouse has an impact on the optimal reorder policy of related warehouses. In this context, we discuss the concept of multi-echelon inventory optimization and a methodology that is capable of capturing both, the stochastic behavior of the environment and how it is impacted by the reorder policy: Markov decision processes (MDPs). On this basis, we introduce the concept, its related benefits and weaknesses of a methodology named Reinforcement Learning (RL). RL is capable of finding (near-) optimal (reorder) policies for MDPs. Furthermore, some simulation-based results and current research directions are presented.
Principles of Anesthesia
Authors: Nery Emily Rose
Published: November 2022

Minimally invasive surgery offers a better surgical experience with a wide-range of application across several surgical procedures. Understanding the physiologic changes related to the interaction of intraperitoneal insufflation, the effects of carbon dioxide, patient positioning and patient-specific factors will guide anesthetic management. An enhanced recovery program is a complimentary approach to minimally invasive surgery through the integration of various elements including short fasting time, multi-modal pain management, early mobilization and post operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) prophylaxis. Mitigating the cardiovascular and ventilatory consequences, optimizing patient’s preoperative status and close coordination of care in a team-based approach will result in early recovery, cost-effectiveness and improve over-all patient experience as well as minimize adverse outcomes.
Perforated Ulcer Treatment
Authors: Yamamoto Mika , Imamura Kiyotaka
Published: November 2022

The perforated ulcers were treated by open gastrectomy or simple suture until 1937 then Graham introduced the method using a free omental graft, which is called the “Graham patch procedure” [1]. This procedure has long been a golden standard of surgical treatment for perforated peptic ulcers. The idea of laparoscopic treatment had arisen in the 1990s, and the comparison of superiority between laparoscopy and open surgery has long been discussed [2].
Laparoscopic Subtotal Cholecystectomy
Authors: Lawenko Michael M.
Published: November 2022

Severely inflamed gallbladders due to acute or chronic infections are challenging to operate on laparoscopically. This is due to the difficulty of adequate ductal identification using the critical view of safety (CVS), which increases the risk of bile duct injury. The safer method would be to avoid dissection in the hepatocystic triangle and perform a subtotal laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The two types of subtotal cholecystectomy, based on the remaining remnant gallbladder would be fenestrating (no remnant) and reconstituting (remnant present) [1].
Emergency Laparoscopic Small Bowel Resection
Authors: Mubarak Abdul Gafoor
Published: November 2022

The small bowel forms the majority of “real estate” particularly in the lower abdomen and remains to this day one of the most formidable challenges that a laparoscopic surgeon faces when he is performing surgery [1]. The common conditions that will require the laparoscopist attention includes.
Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy Abdominal Approach
Authors: Chua Henry , Roble Vincent Matthew
Published: November 2022

Since its first description by Gagner et al., in 1992, laparoscopic adrenalectomy has become the gold standard for the surgical treatment of most adrenal conditions [1]. It has generally replaced open adrenalectomy for small- and medium-sized adrenal lesions [2]. The advantages of LA include shorter hospital stays, less postoperative pain, and better cosmetic results [3].
Esophageal Cysts
Authors: Oo Aung Myint
Published: November 2022

Esophageal cysts are rare congenital anomalies of gastrointestinal tract first described by Blasius in 1711. In 1881, Roth also described esophageal cysts and there are two categories namely simple epithelial lined cysts and esophageal duplication cysts. Esophageal duplication cysts are embryologic duplication of part of the esophageal mucosa and submucosa without epithelial duplication. The prevalence of esophageal duplication cysts is 0.0122% and accounts for 10–15% of duplication cysts in the gastrointestinal tract. [1] Esophageal cysts and duplications usually do not have communication with the lumen and they can be found in the neck, chest, and abdomen. Most of the esophageal duplication cysts (two-thirds) are found in the lower esophagus in the right posteroinferior mediastinum while 1/3 in the upper/middle third of esophagus and sometimes lesions can be found in the intra-abdominal esophagus. Surgical removal is the treatment of choice for symptomatic patients. While asymptomatic patients can be opted for surveillance and follow up, surgical removal can also be considered due to the potential risks of complications including mucosal ulceration, bleeding, perforation, and rarely the malignant transformation.
Laparoscopic Left Liver Resection
Authors: Hai Pham Minh , Tuan Le Quan Anh
Published: November 2022

Liver resection is basically parenchymal transection and vessels, bile ducts control which is related to risk of major bleeding, bile leak, and unwanted injury of hepatic remnant. Distribution of vessels and bile ducts consists of two parts. One is hepatic veins. The other is hepatic pedicles which are covered by Glisson’s capsule and located deeply in the hepatic parenchyma. This leads to technical difficulties as controlling inflow and outflow. This is explanation for limitation of applying laparoscopic surgery in major anatomical hepatectomy such as right hepatectomy and left hepatectomy.
Laparoscopic Internal Drainage of Pancreatic Pseudocysts
Authors: Tuan Le Quan Anh , Hai Pham Minh
Published: November 2022

According to revised Atlanta criteria, pancreatic pseudocyst (PP) is a chronic (>4 weeks) fluid collection within pancreatic parenchyma or adjacent space of pancreas which has no solid debris [1]. Pancreatic pseudocyst is consequence of acute pancreatitis in most cases. However, it may be consequence of chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic trauma, or pancreatic operation [2].
Intraoperative Splenic Injuries
Authors: Chua Henry , Roble Vincent Matthew
Published: November 2022

Intraoperative splenic injuries can occur in any abdominal surgical procedure. Reports range from vascular surgeons performing abdominal aortic aneurysm repairs to thoracic surgeons performing Nissen fundoplication to urologists performing radical nephrectomies [1]. Injury to the spleen during laparoscopic urological surgery has a reported incidence of 0.25% [2]. The reported incidence of splenic injury resulting in splenectomy during colonic surgery is 1.2–8%. The highest percentage of all incidental splenectomies are due to colonic surgeries, primarily to a large number of these operations and the close proximity between the colonic splenic flexure and the spleen [3]. Injuries to the spleen during laparoscopic adrenalectomy may be either access-related or caused by powerful retraction and handling of the organ [4].
Laparoscopic Management of Recurrent and Re-recurrent Hernia
Authors: Malik Sajid , Kit James Lee Wai , Wijerathne Sujith , Lomanto Davide
Published: November 2022

Despite the best surgical techniques and measures, we still see recurrence rates between 0.5 and 15% in the current literature, following primary hernia repair and this depends on the hernia site, method of repair as well as circumstances of the timing of surgery [1]. With such a growing number of patients presenting with hernia recurrence, it is imperative that general surgeons are familiar and comfortable with various modalities of repair [2].
Endoscopic Anterior Component Separation Technique (eACS)
Authors: Imamura Kiyotaka , Radu Victor Gheorghe
Published: November 2022

Component separation technique (CST) provides a substantial amount of medial advancement of myofascial components of the abdominal wall and is useful in addressing large and complex hernia defects during open ventral hernia repair. Classic anterior CST is associated with high rates of surgical site occurrences and infection [1]. To reduce wound complications, endoscopic approach was developed [2]. Although endoscopic anterior CS (eACS) has lost popularity due to recent trend toward TAR for complex abdominal wall reconstruction cases [3], eACS result in a similar wound morbidity and recurrence rate as TAR [4]. eACS could be another option in the armamentarium to deal with complex ventral hernias.
Endo-laparoscopic Retromuscular Repair
Authors: Lauro Enrico , Scudo Giovanni , Rizzo Salvatore
Published: November 2022

Although few data exist to guide the management of rectus abdominis diastasis (RAD), during past decades many articles were published to describe techniques to correct RAD and concomitant abdominal midline defects. Among these, stapled techniques are acquiring an increasing interest.In this chapter we present the main surgical steps to perform an endoscopic retromuscular repair with the use of staplers.
Endoscopic Subcutaneous Onlay Laparoscopic Approach
Authors: Jacopo Andreuccetti , Alberto Di Leo , Lauro Enrico
Published: November 2022

In recent years, abdominal wall surgery has shown a clear interest in reproducing traditional open techniques and avoiding intraperitoneal mesh placement. The endoscopic Subcutaneous Onlay Laparoscopic Approach (SCOLA) is very popular in South American countries, especially for small umbilical and epigastric hernias with concomitant rectus muscles diastasis. In these cases, a full midline reconstruction should be scheduled, because hernia repair alone is affected by a higher recurrences rate compared to simultaneous hernia and diastasis repair [1–5]. Through an endoscopic dissection of the preaponeurotic subcutaneous space is possible to reconstruct the abdominal wall by placing an onlay prosthesis in those patients without excess skin or subcutaneous tissue. Although SCOLA repair is safe and feasible to correct diastasis recti and symptomatic midline hernias with excellent cosmetic results, seroma and abdominal numbness are frequent complications.
The daily mobility of older adults: Urban/rural differences in ten developed countries
Authors: Giménez-Nadal José Ignacio , Molina José Alberto , Velilla Jorge
Published: November 2022

This paper explores the mobility patterns of older adults in ten countries, with a focus on the differences produced by urban environments in their non-work trips. Using detailed time use diaries from the Multinational Time Use Study for the last two decades, we analyze the trips associated with leisure and housework of non-working older adults. The results show that older adults in urban areas spend more time in leisure trips than similar individuals in rural areas. On the other hand, male older adults in urban areas spend less time in housework trips than do their counterparts in rural areas. However, such correlations are found to differ by country, gender, type of trip, and mode of transport, revealing complex correlations between urban forms and older adults’ daily mobility. Furthermore, factors such as the number of railway kilometers, gross domestic product growth rates, and the percentage of urban population in the country seem to be associated with differences in the behavior of older adults in their non-work daily trips.
VTd-PACE and VTd-PACE-like regimens are effective salvage therapies in difficult-to-treat relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma: a single-center experience
Authors: Ghandili Susanne , Alihodzic Dzenefa , Wiessner Christian , Bokemeyer Carsten , Weisel Katja , Leypoldt Lisa B.
Published: November 2022

Although treatment options for multiple myeloma (MM) are rapidly evolving, there still remain difficult-to-treat situations, especially in relapsed and/or refractory (r/r) disease. When modern therapies are exhausted, or emergency treatment is needed for high tumor burden, classic chemotherapy combination regimens like the VTd-PACE regimen and its modifications (PACE-M) may also be beneficial as bridging to subsequent treatment options. This single-center retrospective analysis aimed to investigate the outcome of VTd-PACE and PACE-M salvage therapy in 31 heavily pretreated r/r MM patients. The primary objective was the overall response rate (ORR). Secondary objectives were median progression-free survival (mPFS), median overall survival (mOS), safety, and renal response. Median age was 59 years (range 39–75), and 71% of patients were male. R-ISS stratification showed high-risk MM in 48%. The median number of prior therapies was 3, with 23 patients being triple- and 12 penta-refractory (74% and 39%). ORR was 71%, including 23% of patients achieving a very good partial response. Median duration of follow-up was 15 months (range 0–29 months). mPFS and mOS were 3 months (95% CI 0.27–5.74) and 11 months (95% CI 3.66–18.35), respectively. In 26 patients (83.9%), at least one subsequent treatment (stem cell transplant or BCMA-directed) was administered. Renal function significantly improved after VTd-PACE or PACE-M treatment (p = 0.032). Non-hematological adverse events ≥ grade 3 were predominantly infections. VTd-PACE and PACE-M are effective salvage therapies in difficult-to-treat situations in heavily pre-treated r/r MM, including patients with impaired renal function. VTd-PACE and PACE-M can be successfully used as bridging therapy for subsequent treatment.
Composite fabrication and characterization of crosslinked polyaniline/Pterocladia capillacea-activated carbon for adsorption of direct blue-86 dye from water
Authors: Shoaib Amany G. M. , El Nemr Ahmed , Ramadan Mohamed S. , Masoud Mamdouh S. , El Sikaily Amany
Published: November 2022

The fabrication of crosslinked polyaniline/Pterocladia capillacea-activated carbon composite (CrossPANI/P-AC) at different ratios (1:0, 1:0.2, 1:0.6, and 1:1) was studied. CrossPANI/P-AC composites were fabricated by the in situ polymerization of aniline using hydrogen chloride as an acidic dopant, and ammonium persulfate as initiator, whilePterocladia capillacea-activated carbon was synthesized by the chemical activation method and incorporated into the polymer matrix. The samples were characterized by the terms such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). FTIR spectroscopy showed the main characteristic peak positions of CrossPANI/P-AC; XRD showed low crystallinity of CrossPANI/P-AC. A high specific surface area for CrossPANI/P-AC was achieved at a ratio of 1:0.2 where Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area, total pore volume, and mean pore diameter values were 166.10 m2/g, 0.0141 cm3/g, and 3.40 nm, respectively. The capability of CrossPANI/P-AC (1:0.2) composite as adsorbent for Direct blue-86 (DB-86) dye from aqueous solution was investigated. The impact of initial dye concentration, temperature, pH, and contact time on the DB-86 dye adsorption from its water solution was examined. The equilibrium adsorption data were well represented by the Langmuir isotherm achieving maximum monolayer capacity (Qm) of 163.93 mg/g at a dose of 0.5 g/L. In contrast, the kinetic adsorption data were well fit by the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic analysis demonstrated that DB-86 dye adsorption occurs spontaneously, endothermically, and physically in nature. The results demonstrated that these composites effectively removed DB-86 dye from aqueous solutions and could be recycled.

Graphical abstract
Pepsin enhances glycolysis to promote malignant transformation of vocal fold leukoplakia epithelial cells with dysplasia
Authors: Li Haitong , Zhang Shasha , Zhou Shuihong , Bao Yangyang , Cao Xiaojuan , Shen Lifang , Xu Bin , Gao Weimin , Luo Yunzhen
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The mechanism underlying malignant transformation of vocal fold leukoplakia (VFL) and the precise role of the expression of pepsin in VFL remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of acidified pepsin on VFL epithelial cell growth and migration, and also identify pertinent molecular mechanisms.

Methods

Immunochemistry and Western blotting were performed to measure glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1), monocarboxylate transporters 4 (MCT4), and Hexokinase-II (HK-II) expressions. Cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis, and migration were investigated by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry and Transwell chamber assay, respectively. Glycolysis-related contents were determined using the corresponding kits. Mitochondrial HK-II was photographed under a confocal microscope using Mito-Tracker Red.

Results

It was found: the expression of pepsin and proportion of pepsin+ cells in VFL increased with the increased dysplasia grade; acidified pepsin enhanced cell growth and migration capabilities of VFL epithelial cells, reduced mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I activity and oxidative phosphorylation, and enhanced aerobic glycolysis and GLUT1 expression in VFL epithelial cells; along with the transfection of GLUT1 overexpression plasmid, 18FFDG uptake, lactate secretion and growth and migration capabilities of VFL epithelial cell were increased; this effect was partially blocked by the glycolysis inhibitor 2-deoxy-glucose; acidified pepsin increased the expression of HK-II and enhanced its distribution in mitochondria of VFL epithelial cells.

Conclusion

It was concluded that acidified pepsin enhances VFL epithelial cell growth and migration abilities by reducing mitochondrial respiratory complex I activity and promoting metabolic reprogramming from oxidative phosphorylation to aerobic glycolysis.
Neighborhood disadvantage is associated with KRAS-mutated non-small cell lung cancer risk
Authors: Wing Sam E. , Jankowska Marta M. , Zou Xiaoke , Sosa Ernesto , Yang Jiue-An , Benmarhnia Tarik , Neuhausen Susan L. , Nelson Rebecca , Salgia Ravi , Gray Stacy W. , Erhunmwunsee Loretta
Published: November 2022

Purpose

It remains unclear why individuals living in disadvantaged neighborhoods have shorter non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) survival. It is possible that living in these deprived areas is linked with increased risk of developing aggressive NSCLC biology. Here, we explored the association of somatic KRAS mutations, which are associated with shorter survival in NSCLC patients, and 11 definitions of neighborhood disadvantage spanning socioeconomic and structural environmental elements.

Methods

We analyzed data from 429 NSCLC patients treated at a Comprehensive Cancer Center from 2015 to 2018. Data were abstracted from medical records and each patient’s home address was used to assign publicly available indices of neighborhood disadvantage. Prevalence Ratios (PRs) for the presence of somatic KRAS mutations were estimated using modified Poisson regression models adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, cancer stage, and histology.

Results

In the NSCLC cohort, 29% had KRAS mutation-positive tumors. We found that five deprivation indices of socioeconomic disadvantage were associated with KRAS mutation. A one decile increase in several of these socioeconomic disadvantage indices was associated with a 1.06 to 1.14 increased risk of KRAS mutation. Measures of built structural environment were not associated with KRAS mutation status.

Conclusion

Socioeconomic disadvantage at the neighborhood level is associated with higher risk of KRAS mutation while disadvantage related to built environmental structural measures was inversely associated. Our results indicate not only that neighborhood disadvantage may contribute to aggressive NSCLC biology, but the pathways linking biology to disadvantage are likely operating through socioeconomic-related stress.
Type-2 intuitionistic fuzzy TODIM for intelligent decision-making under uncertainty and hesitancy
Authors: Shukla Amit K. , Prakash Vishnu , Nath Rahul , Muhuri Pranab K.
Published: November 2022

The classical TODIM considers the crisp numbers to handle the information. However, in a real-world applicative context, this information is bounded by noise and vagueness and hence uncertain. There are wide range of works in the literature which utilizes fuzzy sets to handle the uncertainty in the various dimensions. However, there is a constraint of hesitancy in such decision-making problems due to the involvement of various decision-makers. Also, in the TODIM method, decision-maker’s bounded rationality and psychological behavior are also taken into consideration which adds up the hesitation and considers the problem with higher dimension of uncertainty. There are various applications of fuzzy TODIM using type-2 fuzzy numbers where uncertainty is being handled in more than one dimensions and also the introduction of intuitionistic fuzzy numbers where hesitancy factor of a decision-maker is taken into account. This paper targets to handle the uncertainty in more than one dimension keeping the hesitancy part into consideration for intelligent decision-making. Therefore, a novel trapezoidal type-2 intuitionistic fuzzy set (TrT2 IFS) is proposed, which is an aggregation of several triangular IFSs having upper and lower membership along with a non-membership value. For this TrT2 IFS, we have defined the generation procedure, operations, comparison and distance between such TrT2 IFSs. In addition, the decision-maker weights and criterion weight computation are also presented with respect to the TODIM approach. Furthermore, we have applied this extended TrT2 IFS-based TODIM method into a renewable energy resource selection problem of multi-criteria decision-making.
Incidence of spinal cord injuries in Germany
Authors: Rau Yannick , Schulz Arndt-Peter , Thietje Roland , Matrisch Ludwig , Frese Jasper , Hirschfeld Sven
Published: November 2022

Purpose

The goal of this study was to provide recent data on incidence of spinal cord injuries (SCI) in Germany.

Methods

The source of information was data collected via the mandatory submission of ICD-10 GM Codes by German public hospitals after patient discharge. Data from 2013 to 2020 were retrieved from the databases of the Federal Bureau of Statistics. ICD-10 Codes for acute SCI were identified. Statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi and Excel.

Results

A total of 10,360 patients were reported, of whom 58.7% suffered from a cervical, 30.8% a thoracic and 10.4% a lumbar lesion. Two peaks in incidence were observed at approximately 30 and 70 years old. A population-size-adjusted overall incidence of 15.73 (SD 0.77) per million per year was calculated. We calculated the incidences in several subpopulations and discovered significantly higher incidences among males and among those over the age of 60. We discovered that differences in age groups mainly concerned injuries of the upper spine, with the incidence in the lumbar spine being similar among age groups. In addition, we found that while the probability of suffering from SCI increases with age, the relative risk of suffering from a complete injury decreases.

Conclusions

This study closes a long-lasting gap in epidemiological data regarding SCI in Germany, specifically by updating the incidence rates. We found that incidence depends on age, gender and type of lesion. We also provide some new angles for future research, especially considering the relative reduction in complete injuries among the elderly.
Comparison of the prognostic factors of total en bloc spondylectomy and total piecemeal spondylectomy in patients with Enneking stage III giant cell tumor in the thoracic and lumbar spine
Authors: Zhou Hua , Wu Fengliang , Dang Lei , Li Yan , Liu Xiaoguang , Liu Zhongjun , Wei Feng
Published: November 2022

Purpose

To compare total en bloc spondylectomy with marginal margins against piecemeal spondylectomy with intralesional margins in the surgical treatment of Enneking stage III spinal giant cell tumor (GCT) in terms of local recurrence.

Methods

A retrospective survival analysis of patients with Enneking stage III GCT who underwent TES with marginal margins or total piecemeal spondylectomy with intralesional margins was performed between January 2006 and April 2020. Local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) was the time between the date of surgery and recurrence. Factors with p-values < 0.05 in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate analysis using proportional hazard analysis.

Results

Sixty patients (25 men and 35 women) with a mean age of 35.6 (range 11–71) years were included. The mean follow-up duration was 93 (range 24–198) months. Two patients were lost to follow-up 6 and 14 years after the procedure. Over a 10-year period, the recurrence rate was 13.3%. The 2-, 5-, and 10-year LRFS rates were 95%, 88%, and 78%, respectively. Univariate analysis identified total piecemeal spondylectomy and no adjuvant radiotherapy as prognostic factors for LRFS. Multivariate Cox‐regression models showed a significant association between local recurrence and total piecemeal spondylectomy and no adjuvant radiotherapy.

Conclusion

TES with marginal margins is better than total piecemeal spondylectomy with intralesional margins owing to its lower postoperative recurrence rate. Adjuvant radiotherapy should be administered to reduce postoperative recurrence rates.