bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in Asia
Authors: Tromp Jasper , Teng Tiew‐Hwa , Tay Wan Ting , Hung Chung Lieh , Narasimhan Calambur , Shimizu Wataru , Park Sang Weon , Liew Houng Bang , Ngarmukos Tachapong , Reyes Eugene B. , Siswanto Bambang B. , Yu Cheuk‐Man , Zhang Shu , Yap Jonathan , MacDonald Michael , Ling Lieng Hsi , Leineweber Kirsten , Richards A. Mark , Zile Michael R. , Anand Inder S. , Lam Carolyn S.P. ,   on behalf of the ASIAN‐HF Investigators
Published: August 2018

Background

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a global public health problem. Unfortunately, little is known about HFpEF across Asia.

Methods and results

We prospectively studied clinical characteristics, echocardiographic parameters and outcomes in 1204 patients with HFpEF (left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%) from 11 Asian regions, grouped as Northeast Asia (Hong Kong, Taiwan, China, Japan, Korea, n = 543), South Asia (India, n = 252), and Southeast Asia (Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, n = 409). Mean age was 68 ±12 years (37% were < 65 years) and 50% were women. Seventy per cent of patients had ≥2 co‐morbidities, most commonly hypertension (71%), followed by anaemia (57%), chronic kidney disease (50%), diabetes (45%), coronary artery disease (29%), atrial fibrillation (29%) and obesity (26%). Southeast Asian patients had the highest prevalence of all co‐morbidities except atrial fibrillation, South Asians had the lowest prevalence of all co‐morbidities except anaemia and obesity, and Northeast Asians had more atrial fibrillation. Left ventricular hypertrophy and concentric remodelling were most prominent among Southeast and South Asians, respectively (P < 0.001). Overall, 12.1% of patients died or were hospitalized for heart failure within 1 year. Southeast Asians were at higher risk for adverse outcomes, independent of co‐morbidity burden and cardiac geometry.

Conclusion

These first prospective multinational data from Asia show that HFpEF affects relatively young patients with a high burden of co‐morbidities. Regional differences in types of co‐morbidities, cardiac remodelling and outcomes of HFpEF across Asia have important implications for public health measures and global HFpEF trial design.
Optimization of a reduced volume PCR amplification for PowerPlex® Fusion kit using FTA™ cards and generation of population genetic data for Brunei population
Authors: Liew Paul Vun Onn , Riccardi Laura Natalia , Afolabi Abimbola Olatunde , Goodwin William , Hadi Sibte
Published: August 2018

The commercial PowerPlex® Fusion kit is an autosomal STR multiplex kit that has high discrimination power and is more informative in forensic, paternity, and relationship‐testing cases. Key features of this multiplex system are the possibility to direct amplify FTA™ card punches as well as non‐FTA cards and commonly used swabs; optimised inhibitor tolerance and high sensitivity generating full profiles from amount as little as 100 pg of human DNA. This study focused on the optimization of performance variables such as FTA™ punch sizes, reduced reaction volumes, and FTA™ purification reagent aiming to increase the analytical sensitivity, decrease the sample consumption, and cost effectiveness. LOD and LOQ values demonstrated high sensitivity of the PowerPlex® Fusion system. In addition, population databases of Brunei Malay and Chinese from the Brunei Darussalam were established, and parameters of forensic importance were calculated. Overall, the forensic parameters indicated an enhanced utility of the PowerPlex® Fusion kit for forensic evidence analysis and paternity testing in Brunei Malay and Chinese populations.
Production of astaxanthin at moderate temperature in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous using a two‐step process
Authors: Liu Shiwen , Liu Bingnan , Wang Han , Xiao Shan , Li Ying , Wang Jihui
Published: August 2018

In order to achieve continuous industrial production of astaxanthin in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous, a moderate temperature (25–37°C) fermentation process was needed. In this study, a two‐step process with a 20°C pre‐culture for 18 h and a 30°C culture for 30 h was performed to achieve the astaxanthin yields of 116.42 μg g−1 dry cell weight, which was lower than that in the normal process (20°C, 96 h). However, cell yield (YX/S) and product yield (YP/S) showed no significant differences between the two processes, suggesting that moderate temperature did not affect the productivity of astaxanthin. The transcriptional levels of genes involved in astaxanthin synthesis were compared in different culture times and a negative correlation between temperature and expression of carotenogenic genes was found. This work provided a potential method for continuous production of astaxanthin using X. dendrorhous at moderate temperature throughout the year.
Capacity design: Early history
Authors: Fardis Michael N.
Published: August 2018

The paper documents the little‐known story behind the development of the concept of capacity design and sheds new light regarding the individual contributions, which led to it becoming an important design tool for the control of inelastic response. The basic concept was laid out in the 1961 book by Blume, Newmark, and Corning, Design of Multistory Reinforced Concrete Buildings for Earthquake Motions, with the notable sections written by Mete Sozen; the basic concept was included in the 1967 to 1968 revision of the Structural Engineers Association of California (SEAOC) recommendations. John Hollings, a prominent structural designer in New Zealand, quoted the SEAOC recommendations and Blume, Newmark, and Corning when he used these ideas in a design procedure he proposed in 1968 to 1969 for the control of the inelastic response in concrete buildings. The term “capacity design” for that procedure seems to have been coined by a select team of structural designers of New Zealand's public buildings under the leadership of Otto Glogau, who had already introduced the new SEAOC rules in the 1968 New Zealand design code for public buildings. Tom Paulay is credited with publicizing and further development of capacity design as a holistic approach for the control of inelastic response. He was instrumental in disseminating the concept, especially in Europe, and often is called the “father” of capacity design.
Research on structure design and flow field characteristics of the novel jet bit for radial horizontal drilling
Authors: Bi Gang , Li Mengmeng , Dou Liangbin , Qu Zhan
Published: August 2018

The self‐propelled swirling jet bit was designed to ensure the rock‐breaking efficiency of radial horizontal drilling and meet the roundness of borehole diameter and borehole shape. The jet bit provides swirling jet through internal rotating impellers and increases the drilling depth by jetting through the central holes on the impeller. Based on numerical simulation method,RNGk−εturbulence model was employed to analyze the three‐dimensional flow characteristics of flow field inside and outside of the two kinds of jet bits. Moreover, the rock‐breaking efficiency of the two jet bits was also compared and analyzed in accordance with the laboratory experiments. The results show that the simulated bottom‐hole flow field for the two jet bits can be both divided into bottom‐hole overflow area, forward jetting area, and backward jetting area. The forward jet is a jet beam which consists of a central jet and four circumferentially equispaced jets, which generates more complex overflow area at the bottom hole. The maximum jet speed and the jet impact energy of forward jetting from the combined swirling and round multijet bit are larger than that of the swirling multijet bit. The speed attenuation law of forward jet nozzle from the two kinds of jet bits is similar. They both increase slowly in the mixing zone, while increase remarkably when approach to the nozzle. Then decrease linearly in the impact zone, and decline straightly when get close to the impact area. The simulation results of flow field characteristics are in coincidence with the actual rock‐drilling features. Therefore, the simulation results of flow field characteristics can provide guidance for jet bit design and structure parameter optimization for radial horizontal drilling.
EdgePlace: Availability‐aware placement for chained mobile edge applications
Authors: Zhu He , Huang Changcheng
Published: August 2018

Mobile edge computing (MEC) literally pushes cloud computing from remote datacenters to the life radius of end users. By leveraging the widely adopted European Telecommunications Standards Institute network function virtualization architecture, MEC provisions elastic and resilient mobile edge applications with proximity. Typical MEC virtualization infrastructure allows a configurable placement policy to deploy mobile edge applications as virtual machines (VMs): affinity can be used to put VMs on the same host for inter‐VM networking performance, whereas anti‐affinity is to separate VMs for high availability. In this paper, we propose a novel model to track the availability and cost impact from placement policy changes of the mobile edge applications. We formulate our model as a stochastic programming problem. To minimize the complexity challenge, we also propose a heuristic algorithm called EdgePlace. With our model, the unit resource cost increases when there are less resources left on a host. Applying affinity would take up more resources of the host but saves network bandwidth cost because of colocation. When enforcing anti‐affinity, experimental results show increases of both availability and interhost network bandwidth cost. For applications with different resource requirements, our model is able to find their sweet points with the consideration of both resource cost and application availability, which is vital in a less robust MEC environment.
360‐degree video offloading using millimeter‐wave communication for cyberphysical system
Authors: Kim Hyun‐Wook , Le Tuan Thanh , Ryu Eun‐Seok
Published: August 2018

This paper describes an adaptive scheme of 360‐degree video streaming over millimeter‐wave (mmWave) communication for cyberphysical system. It consists of two parts, ie, (1) 360‐degree video streaming and offloading over mmWave 802.11ad 60 GHz wireless link and (2) 360‐degree video decoding, postprocessing, and display by using scalable high‐efficiency video coding. The mmWave communication is high‐speed wireless technology to increase the capacity of video transmission. However, current studies on video streaming over mmWave focus on long distance, and mobile devices process many tasks such as video decoding, postprocessing, and display by themselves. Therefore, the performance of mobile device seriously degrades in the case of high‐resolution video streaming, such as 4K. Furthermore, the synchronization of real‐time video streaming at high speed is an important issue to ensure the quality of service (QoS), especially when the mobile device is moving. Thus, this paper focuses on real‐time video streaming over mmWave with optimized QoS for high‐resolution video. Furthermore, this study implemented an offloading mechanism to handle the offloading tasks between a powerful GPU‐based PC and a mobile device. The experimental results show that the proposed method provides high‐performance 360‐degree video streaming in QoS‐sensitive video streaming applications.
Ageing with a silver-spoon: A meta-analysis of the effect of developmental environment on senescence
Authors: Cooper Eve B. , Kruuk Loeske E. B.
Published: August 2018

What determines variation between individuals in how they senesce, and are environmental conditions experienced during development relevant to late-life performance? We report a meta-analysis of studies of wild populations to determine how the quality of the environment experienced during development affects rates of survival and reproductive senescence. From studies of 14 bird or mammal species, we calculated effect sizes for the interaction between the effects of environmental quality during development and age in predicting survival (N = 18) or reproduction (N = 30) over time in late life. We found no evidence that developmental environment affected rates of survival senescence (βmean = –1.2 × 10−4 ± 0.022SE). However, a better developmental environment was associated with slower rates of reproductive senescence in late life (βmean = 0.062 ± 0.023SE), indicating a small, but significant, “silver-spoon” effect of early-life conditions that persisted through to late life. Our results illustrate how the effects of environmental conditions during development can persist throughout life, and indicate one possible cause of phenotypic plasticity in senescence.
Ore‐forming physicochemical conditions of tellurium–gold deposits: A case study from the Guilaizhuang deposit, eastern North China
Authors: Liu Yuan , Li Sheng‐Rong , Santosh M. , Xu Hong , Li Chang‐Ping , Liu Shunhao
Published: August 2018

Tellurium–gold deposits differ from normal gold mineralization in their significant content of tellurium‐bearing minerals with a close relation between Au and Te. The Guilaizhuang gold deposit is a major tellurium–gold deposit in the Shandong Province of China, and is located in the eastern margin of the North China Craton. The main sulfide minerals in this deposit are pyrite, As‐bearing pyrite, arsenopyrite, chalcopyrite, galena, sphalerite, chalcocite, and argentite. Tellurides contain native tellurium, altaite, coloradoite, petzite, and calaverite. Here, we investigate the fluid characteristics based on fluid inclusion studies and evaluate the intensive variables through thermodynamic computations to evaluate the ore genesis. We identify four stages for the mineralization: quartz‐pyrite stage, gold‐polymetallic sulfide stage, gold‐telluride stage, and carbonate stage. The gold‐telluride stage represents the main stage of gold precipitation. In gold‐polymetallic sulfide stage, Au formed within pyrite and As‐bearing pyrite in the form of invisible gold, whereas in the gold‐telluride stage, Au occurs as visible gold, such as native gold, electrum, calaverite, and petzite. Our data show that the mineralizing fluids were partly acidic and reduced during the gold‐polymetallic sulfide stage. Gold was transported as AuCl2− and Au(HS)2− complexes which was reduced by Fe2+. Gold might also occur as submicroscopic Au0 inclusions in pyrite and As‐bearing pyrite. The acidic state of the fluids favoured Au leaching from the surrounding rocks. During the gold‐telluride stage, gold might have migrated mostly as Au(HTe)2− and the Te combined at first with Ag to form hessite and subsequently with Au and Ag to form petzite and calaverite. With the decrease in Te content and increase in Au saturation, tellurium and native gold were precipitated. Our study provides insights into the physicochemical conditions of the formation of Te–Au deposits.
Defining Misprescribing to Inform Prescription Opioid Policy
Authors: Dineen Kelly K.
Published: August 2018

Prescription opioid policies too often reflect over a century's worth of moralizing about the nature of opioid use disorder, the value of pain, and the meaning of suffering. The social and legal penalties to prescribers run in one direction—avoid overprescribing, however defined, at all costs. The lack of shared definitions is problematic for formulating and evaluating opioid policy. For example, the variant definitions of “misuse,” “abuse,” and “addiction” complicate estimates of morbidity. There are also no widely accepted definitions of misprescribing and overprescribing. I offer here a modest attempt at the categorization of misprescribing: inadvertent overprescribing, corrupt overprescribing, qualitative overprescribing, quantitative overprescribing, multiclass overprescribing, and underprescribing.
Caring for Patients with Substance Use Disorders: Addressing a Missed Opportunity in the Hospital
Authors: Simon Rachel Elizabeth , Tobey Matthew
Published: August 2018

As physicians, we have seen patients with substance use disorders leave the hospital against medical advice, slipping through the cracks of our health care system. In fact, despite a high burden of life‐threatening illnesses, patients with SUDs are at a nearly threefold increased risk of leaving the hospital against medical advice. Leaving against medical advice is associated with an increased thirty‐day mortality rate as well as an increased rate of hospital readmission. When a patient leaves in this way, the health care system loses the opportunity to engage with someone who is struggling with an SUD and whose health is at imminent risk. Fortunately, there are ways to address some of these challenges within existing organizational frameworks. Addiction consult teams and supervised injection facilities are two interventions that have proven successful.
Advance Directives and Discrimination against People with Dementia
Authors: Dresser Rebecca
Published: August 2018

In the article “On Avoiding Deep Dementia,” Norman Cantor defends a position that I suspect many readers share. In my years writing and speaking on advance directives and dementia, I've found that most people support one of two positions. They are convinced either that advance choices should control the treatment dementia patients receive or that the welfare of a person with dementia should sometimes take priority over earlier choices. As Cantor points out, I support the second position.

I agree with several of Cantor's arguments. Where Cantor and I part ways is over the degree of control that advance directives should exert over the care of persons with moderate dementia. Although I don't welcome the prospect of living with dementia, I believe that people with the condition should be represented in the debate over treatment standards. It's not surprising that many, perhaps most, people unaffected by dementia think that their preferences should control the care they would receive as dementia patients. But people taking this position are neglecting the concerns and interests they may have as dementia patients.
Bigger, Faster, Stronger, More Ethical
Authors: Parent Brendan
Published: August 2018

Consider four elite female runners who trained hard for a 1500‐meter race. Runner 1 took extra‐strength aspirin before the race. Runner 2 has a genetic condition that results in greater levels of testosterone in her body than the typical range for a woman. Runner 3 has been on a carefully scheduled regimen of the hormone erythropoietin (EPO), which has increased her red blood cell count. Runner 4 has a team of diet, sleep, and exercise experts who ensured that she coordinated the exactly right balance of carbs and protein with her rest and workouts. Which of them cheated? Thomas Murray's Good Sport: Why Our Games Matter—and How Doping Undermines Them does not answer this question, but it provides tools to figure it out, and it argues that trying to answer is important.
Contribution of the results‐based financing strategy to improving maternal and child health indicators in Burkina Faso
Authors: Zizien Zawora Rita , Korachais Catherine , Compaoré Philippe , Ridde Valéry , De Brouwere Vincent
Published: August 2018

In response to the poor performance of its public health care provision, Burkina Faso decided, to implement results‐based financing (RBF). This strategy relies on a strategic purchase of the quantity and quality of services provided by health workers, monitored by a set of indicators. However, there is a lack of evidence on its effects. The objective of this article is to appreciate the effect of RBF on a set of maternal and child health (MCH) indicators in Burkina Faso. The study design is quasi‐experimental comparative with a control group before and after the implementation of the RBF. To estimate the effect of RBF, we used two methods of analysis: (1) the segmented regression to measure the effect of RBF in the health districts (HD) implementing RBF (RBF HD) and (2) the difference‐in‐difference test to estimate the effect of RBF considering the differences in mean between RBF HD and HD that did not implement RBF (non–RBF HD). We found among five indicators studied that only the postnatal consultation coverage in RBF HD was significantly higher (7.68%; P = 0.04) than in the non–RBF HD. Overall, our findings do not clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of RBF in improving MCH indicators in Burkina Faso.
Are health care facilities and programs in Western Uganda encouraging or discouraging men's participation in maternal and child health care?
Authors: Muheirwe Florence , Nuhu Said
Published: August 2018

Introduction

In patriarchal communities, men are in control of health care decisions of their families. As spouses, their health status impacts on the health of their partners and children as well. The participation of men in maternal and child health (MCH) is thus crucial for the reduction of infant and maternal mortality, as spouses and parents. Hence, the government of Uganda has been encouraging male participation in MCH, and healthy facilities have been mandated to implement mandatory male participatory programs such as in antenatal care among others. Despite these initiatives, health facilities and programs have been failing the government's vision.

Methods

The study was done in Muko Health Center IV and Mparo Health Center IV, Kabale District in Western Uganda. Case study approach was used with the application of questionnaires, in‐depth interviews, document analysis, observation, and focus group discussions.

Results

Men relatively participate in programs that have services they can consume as health seekers mostly reproductive health programs such as family planning, prevention of mother‐to‐child transmissions, and elimination of mother‐to‐child transmission. Low participation of men in MCH was attributed to institutional and health facility challenges such as feminization of health messages, inadequate structures, unfriendly health workers, and social cultural factors.

Conclusion

Male participation in MCH leaves a lot to be desired. Health facilities and structures are neither conducive nor encouraging participation. Therefore, health institutions should design innovative strategies mainstreaming male involvement in line with development trends as well as enhance ethics and integrity among health care workers.
Acculturation gaps in diaspora immigrant adolescent–mother dyads: The case for a domain‐, group‐ and context‐specific view on family adaptation
Authors: Aumann Lara , Titzmann Peter F.
Published: August 2018

Intergenerational value mismatch in immigrant families, also termed acculturation gap, is well documented. However, in increasingly diverse societies, the generalizability of this phenomenon across immigrant groups, across dimensions and domains of acculturation, and across different receiving societies is questionable. This comparative study investigated mother–adolescent acculturation gaps of two diaspora immigrant samples, who had lived in the former Soviet Union for generations, across two receiving societies (Germany vs. Israel), across two dimensions (ethnic vs. host) in two domains of adaptation (behavioural: language vs. cognitive: identity). In addition, we investigated whether these acculturation gaps are detrimental or beneficial for mother–adolescent communication. Participants comprised 342 diaspora immigrants divided into 80 German repatriate mother–adolescent dyads in Germany (adolescents' mean age: 16.9 years, 48.8% female) and 91 Russian Jewish mother–adolescent dyads in Israel (adolescents' mean age: 15.8 years, 51.6% female) who were interviewed in person at their homes. Results indicated diaspora‐specific effects in ethnic identity, with adolescents identifying more closely with their ethnic culture than their mothers. Our study highlights that acculturation gaps can undermine parent–child‐communication across both contexts, although we also found some context‐specific effects.
Cultural differences in attitude toward and effects of self‐doubt
Authors: Zhao Qin , Gong Liming
Published: August 2018

It has been argued that the high achievement of Confucian Asian students is at the cost of their psychological well‐being, since high self‐doubt consistently accompanies their high achievement. However, other researchers cautioned that the attitude toward self‐doubt could be different in Asian versus Western cultures. This study examined the debate with a survey of both American and Chinese college students that measured level of self‐doubt, attitude toward self‐doubt, beliefs about ability, and psychological well‐being outcomes. As hypothesized, Chinese students showed a more positive attitude toward self‐doubt than American students, despite having higher level of self‐doubt. Furthermore, self‐doubt engendered less negative consequences on Chinese students' psychological well‐being, relative to American students. Implications for theories and research on cultural differences in the effects of self‐constructs are discussed.
A detailed theoretical study on the excited‐state hydrogen‐bonding dynamics and the proton transfer mechanism for a novel white‐light fluorophore
Authors: Gao Haiyan , Yang Guang , Jia Min , Song Xiaoyan , Zhang Qiaoli , Yang Dapeng
Published: August 2018

In this work, density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent DFT (TDDFT) methods were used to investigate the excited‐state dynamics of the excited‐state hydrogen‐bonding variations and proton transfer mechanism for a novel white‐light fluorophore 2‐(4‐[dimethylamino]phenyl)‐7‐hyroxy‐6‐(3‐phenylpropanoyl)‐4H‐chromen‐4‐one (1). The methods we adopted could successfully reproduce the experimental electronic spectra, which shows the appropriateness of the theoretical level in this work. Using molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) as well as the reduced density gradient (RDG) versus the product of the sign of the second largest eigenvalue of the electron density Hessian matrix and electron density (sign[λ2]ρ), we demonstrate that an intramolecular hydrogen bond O1–H2···O3 should be formed spontaneously in the S0 state. By analyzing the chemical structures, infrared vibrational spectra, and hydrogen‐bonding energies, we confirm that O1–H2·O3 should be strengthened in the S1 state, which reveals the possibility of an excited‐state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) process. On investigating the excitation process, we find the S0 → S1 transition corresponding to the charge transfer, which provides the driving force for ESIPT. By constructing the potential energy curves, we show that the ESIPT reaction results in a dynamic equilibrium in the S1 state between the forward and backward processes, which facilitates the emission of white light.
Influence of light on lignin‐degrading activities of fungal genus Polyporus s. str
Authors: Grassi Emanuel , Robledo Gerardo , Levin Laura
Published: August 2018

Six strains belonging to five species of Polyporus (P. arcularius, P. arcularioides, P. tricholoma, P. cfr. tricholoma, and P. varius), collected from an Atlantic Forest area in Misiones (Argentina), where species usually grow exposed to high temperatures and humidity, were identified by morphological and molecular analyses. P. tricholoma (BAFC 4536) and P. arcularioides (BAFC 4534) were selected by their lignin‐degrading enzyme production, their ability to produce primordial of basidiomes under submerged fermentation, and the decrease in lignin content caused in Poplar wood (up to 29% after 45 days). Among several variables evaluated with a Plackett–Burman design (glucose, copper, vanillic acid and manganese concentration, incubation period, and light incidence), the most important factor affecting laccase and Mn‐peroxidase (MnP) production by both strains, was light incidence. Light induced fruit body development but diminished laccase and MnP production. Moreover, a modified isoenzymatic laccase pattern was observed, showing additional isoenzymes when fungi were cultivated under darkness and differences in optimal temperature. Although the studied strains did not produce high laccase and MnP titers (uppermost detected 4230 and 90 U L−1, respectively), their laccases showed thermal stability and optimal temperature above 70 °C, representing an interesting source in the search of thermo‐tolerant enzymes for biotechnological applications.
Transposons: the agents of antibiotic resistance in bacteria
Authors: Babakhani Sajad , Oloomi Mana
Published: August 2018

Transposons are a group of mobile genetic elements that are defined as a DNA sequence. Transposons can jump into different places of the genome; for this reason, they are called jumping genes. However, some transposons are always kept at the insertion site in the genome. Most transposons are inactivated and as a result, cannot move. Transposons are divided into two main groups: retrotransposons (class І) and DNA transposons (class ІІ). Retrotransposons are often found in eukaryotes. DNA transposons can be found in both eukaryotes and prokaryotes. The bacterial transposons belong to the DNA transposons and the Tn family, which are usually the carrier of additional genes for antibiotic resistance. Transposons can transfer from a plasmid to other plasmids or from a DNA chromosome to plasmid and vice versa that cause the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria. The treatment of bacterial infectious diseases is difficult because of existing antibiotic resistance that part of this antibiotic resistance is caused by transposons. Bacterial infectious diseases are responsible for the increasing rise in world mortality rate. In this review, transposons and their roles have been studied in bacterial antibiotic resistance, in detail.
Survival benefits with the addition of adjuvant hysterectomy to radiochemotherapy for treatment of stage I‐II adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix
Authors: Huang Xiao‐Bin , Zhang Wen‐Wen , Wu San‐Gang , Sun Jia‐Yuan , He Zhen‐Yu , Zhou Juan
Published: August 2018

Background and Objectives: To determine the survival benefits of additional adjuvant hysterectomy in the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I‐II cervical adenocarcinoma patients treated with radiochemotherapy.

Methods: Patients with FIGO stage I‐II cervical adenocarcinoma were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results 18 Regs research database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance patient baseline characteristics. Patient characteristics and outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results: A total of 530 patients were included, 389 (73.4%) underwent definitive radiochemotherapy and 141 (26.6%) underwent an additional adjuvant hysterectomy. The multivariate Cox analysis surgery was shown to be an independent predictor of survival. Before PSM, the hazard ratios for cause‐specific survival and overall survival in the surgery group were 0.632 (P = 0.036) and 0.674 (P = 0.041), respectively. After PSM, the respective hazard ratios were 0.392 (P < 0.001) and 0.465 (P = 0.001). The surgery group had significantly better 5‐year cause‐specific survival (80.5% vs 59.1%; P = 0.001) and overall survival than the nonsurgery group (76.3% vs 56.0%; P = 0.002).

Conclusions: Additional adjuvant hysterectomy after radiochemotherapy may improve survival outcomes in patients with FIGO stage I‐II cervical adenocarcinoma.
Dynamic risk stratification in papillary thyroid carcinoma measuring 1 to 4 cm
Authors: Lee Yu‐Mi , Cho Jae Won , Hong Suck Joon , Yoon Jong Ho
Published: August 2018

Background and Objectives

This study aimed to validate the dynamic risk stratification (DRS) system, evaluate its correlation with structural recurrence, and assess the clinicopathological risk factors associated with a nonexcellent response to initial therapy in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) measuring 1 to 4 cm.

Methods

A total of 762 patients with classic PTC measuring 1 to 4 cm were classified into four categories based on their response to initial therapy 2 years postoperatively.

Results

Structural recurrent disease occurred in 4.7%, 17.1%, 48.4%, and 83.9% of patients with excellent, indeterminate, biochemically incomplete, and structurally incomplete responses, respectively, at the time of the last follow‐up. The response to initial therapy in the DRS was one of the independent risk factors for structural recurrence. The disease‐free survival curves of patients with different responses showed significant differences (P < 0.001). Extensive extrathyroidal extension, lymph node (LN) metastasis, number of metastatic LNs greater than 2.0, metastatic LN ratio greater than 0.22, and extranodal extension were independent risk factors for nonexcellent response to initial therapy.

Conclusions

DRS can be a useful tool in predicting structural recurrence and guiding postoperative management and follow‐up strategies in patients with PTC measuring 1 to 4 cm.
Impact of neoadjuvant therapy on postoperative outcomes after pancreaticoduodenectomy
Authors: Cools Katherine S. , Sanoff Hanna K. , Kim Hong Jin , Yeh Jen Jen , Stitzenberg Karyn B.
Published: August 2018

Background

Surgical resection provides the only potentially curative treatment of pancreatic cancer. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiation (NAT) is used to downstage patients with borderline resectable tumors. The objective of this study was to examine the postoperative morbidity and mortality of NAT after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA).

Methods

Using the American College of Surgeons‐National Surgical Quality Improvement Project Targeted Pancreatectomy data, we identified patients who underwent a PD for PDA from 2014 to 2015. Patients were grouped by receipt of NAT 90 days before PD. Bivariable and multivariable analyses was used to compare postoperative outcomes.

Results

A total of 3748 patients with PDA underwent PD; 926 (24.7%) received NAT. Those in the NAT group had more major vein resections, and longer operating times (all P < 0.001). On pathologic staging, those in the NAT group had smaller tumors (T1, 10.9% vs 5.1%; P < 0.001) and fewer nodes positive (N0, 49% vs 28%; P < 0.001). There were no differences in 30‐day postoperative mortality or overall complications. On multivariable analysis, patients who received NAT had a lower likelihood of pancreatic fistula (OR, 0.67; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

NAT does not increase the overall postoperative morbidity or mortality of PD for PDA. There is a decreased likelihood of pancreatic fistulas in patients that receive neoadjuvant therapy.
Donor‐Specific Antibodies in Pediatric Intestinal and Multivisceral Transplantation: The Role of Liver and Human Leukocyte Antigen Mismatching
Authors: Talayero Paloma , Ramos Boluda Esther , Gómez Massa Elena , Castro Panete María José , Prieto Bozano Gerardo , Hernández Oliveros Francisco , López Santamaría Manuel , Calvo Pulido Jorge , Paz‐Artal Estela , Mancebo Esther
Published: August 2018

Rejection is one of the most important drawbacks for graft and patient survival in intestinal and multivisceral transplantation. However, there is no consensus on the diagnostic criteria for humoral rejection, and the literature about the role of donor‐specific antibodies (DSA) on allograft outcome and the risk factors that contribute to their development is scant with contradictory results. The present study analyzes the role of DSA exclusively in a pediatric cohort of 43 transplants. Among our patients, 11.6% showed preformed DSA, but they did not correlate with more rejection or less allograft survival. Having previous transplants was the main sensitization factor with an odds ratio (OR) = 44.85 (P = 0.001). In total, 16.3% of recipients developed de novo donor‐specific antibodies (dnDSA), mostly directed against human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II, polyspecific and complement fixing. Additionally, the presence of dnDSA had a deleterious effect on graft rejection (hazard ratio [HR] = 11.00; P = 0.01) and survival (HR = 66.52; P < 0.001) in an observational period of 5 years after transplantation. The inclusion of the liver emerged as the main protective factor against dnDSA development with an OR = 0.07 (P = 0.007). The analysis of HLA compatibility at the serological and epitope level with the computational tools HLAMatchmaker and PIRCHE revealed no association between HLA mismatching and dnDSA. In conclusion, this study performed in pediatric recipients shows the deleterious effect of dnDSA on intestinal transplantation supported by the complement‐fixing activity observed. Additionally, the liver inclusion in the allografts showed to be a protective factor against dnDSA generation.
Examining customer‐created guilt in a service context
Authors: Pounders Kathrynn R. , Moulard Julie Guidry , Babin Barry J.
Published: August 2018

Previous research in retailing contexts finds customers feel guilty after violating a social norm and that such customer‐induced guilt leads to increased repatronage intention, despite guilt being a negative emotion. However, prior research has neither identified the mechanism through which this occurs nor how relationship type may influence this process. Additionally, previous work has not considered how service providers should react when a customer experiences guilt. This paper advances research on guilt by first proposing that affective and normative commitment are intermediate e‐motivations, mediating the effect of guilt on repatronage intention, but that these e‐motivations differ depending on the strength of the customer's commercial friendship with the service provider. Second, this research investigates whether service providers, when faced with a guilty customer, should emphasize or downplay the customer's norm violation (CNV). Survey findings reveal that affective commitment fully mediates the relationship between guilt and repatronage intention for those in strong commercial friendships, whereas guilt directly affects repatronage intention for those in weak commercial friendships. Normative commitment does not play a mediating role. Additionally, experimental findings suggest that enhancing the CNV increases guilt. However, doing so also increases perceived guilt induction, which ultimately decreases repatronage intention.
Going green to be morally clean: An examination of environmental behavior among materialistic consumers
Authors: Tang Yihui (Elina) , Hinsch Christian
Published: August 2018

Materialism and environmentalism have emerged as megatrends in developed western societies. Prior research has suggested that these two values are incompatible. The current research shows that materialistic values can strengthen the positive relationship between environmental knowledge and environmental behaviors under certain conditions. The results suggest moral compensation as the underlying cause. Across four studies, this research uses experimental, survey, and secondary data to show that materialistic values can have a positive impact on indirect environmental behaviors when an individual possesses sufficient environmental knowledge. This effect is stronger in individuals who are highly self‐conscious as well as those primed to be self‐conscious, consistent with the moral compensation paradigm. In summary, the impact of environmental attitudes on environmental behaviors through environmental knowledge is most pronounced when one's materialistic values and self‐consciousness are high. Conceptual, policy‐making, and managerial implications are discussed.
Rheological Properties of Xanthan Gum, Hydroxypropyl Starch, Cashew Gum and Their Binary Mixtures in Aqueous Solutions
Authors: Silva Ítalo G.M. , Lucas Elizabete F.
Published: August 2018

Large volumes of drilling fluids are used while drilling oil wells. Water‐based fluids are widely used because they are generally less expensive and more environmentally correct than synthetic fluids. Polymers are used in drilling fluids with different functions. This article reports a study of the rheological behavior of solutions containing xanthan gum (XG), hydroxypropyl starch (HPS) and cashew gum (CG), as well as their binary mixtures, to evaluate the applicability of CG (an abundant product in Brazil's northeastern region) in aqueous fluid formulations. The results show the potential to use CG in mixtures with XG. The thixotropic effect is confirmed by hysteresis loop analysis; the rheological behavior is satisfactorily described by the Ostwald‐de Waele and Casson models; the aqueous solutions containing XG/HPS mixtures present higher consistency indexes than the XG/CG mixtures; and the activation energy values of the XG/CG mixtures are governed by the CG fraction.
Experimental Design Optimization of Castor Oil, Phthalic Anhydride, and Glycerin Magnetic Nanocomposites Useful as Oil Spill Cleanup Tool
Authors: Lopes Magnovaldo C. , Marques Fernanda , Souza Fernando G. , Oliveira Geiza E.
Published: August 2018

Experimental design technique (DoE) is applied to determine the best chemical composition of alkyd resins used as a matrix in magnetizable composites, which are an excellent tool in aquatic environmental cleanup processes. The alkyd resins are obtained from phthalic anhydride, castor oil, and glycerin, a byproduct of biodiesel production, that makes this kind of matrix ecologically friendly polymeric materials. Maghemite nanoparticles are used as filler in the prepared magnetizable composites. Obtained materials are characterized using wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction (WAXD), small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), infrared spectroscopy with Fourier transformed (FTIR), and ultraviolet‐visible spectroscopy (UV‐Vis). Besides, magnetic force test and oil removal capability test, which is the most important property in this case, are also performed. According to experimental results, melt mixing process used to prepare these nanocomposites do not change the monodomains size of the nanoparticles. On the other hand, the nanocomposites present magnetic force higher than the one from the pure maghemite, probably due to a better distribution of the nanoparticles inside the matrix. Also, composites present an excellent oil cleanup capability, since, in the best case, 1 g of the hybrid material is able to remove more than 20 g of the oil from the water.
Paclitaxel‐Loaded PLA/PEG/Magnetite Anticancer and Hyperthermic Agent Prepared From Materials Obtained by the Ugi's Multicomponent Reaction
Authors: Peña Icart Luis , Fernandes dos Santos Edson , Agüero Luztonó Lissette , Zaldívar Silva Dionisio , Andrade Leonardo , Lopes Dias Marcos , Trambaioli da Rocha e Lima Luis M. , Gomes de Souza Fernando
Published: August 2018

In this study, Magnetic microspheres formed by Magnetite, Paclitaxel (PCT), poly(lactic acid) (PLA), and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) diblock copolymers material, synthesized by the Ugi four‐component condensation reaction (UFCC), are prepared by single emulsion and solvent evaporation procedure. Prepared PCT‐loaded magnetic microspheres (PCTMMS) are characterized by magnetic induction hyperthermia (MIH), SEM, and LDS techniques. Microencapsulation process yielded PCT encapsulation efficiency (Ee) between 70 and 80%, determined by HPLC analysis of the resulting supernatant after the microencapsulation process. A kinetic study of drug release in vitro using HPLC showed a sustained and controlled release of PCT. Also, the presence of an external magnetic field speeds up the kinetic release profile of PCT. Anticancer activity of release medium against intestine cancer cell line (Caco2) is determined using the cell viability assay. PCTMMSs are able to inhibit cancer cell growth and colony formation. The main contribution of these results is to propose a new application for UFCC in the preparation of one anticancer and hyperthermic drug delivery systems (DDS) able to improve the cancer treatment and even the welfare of the patients.
The Effect of Ionic Liquid on the Development of Polyaniline/Natural Fibers and Biodegradable Conductive Composites Based on Poly(Butylene Adipate‐co‐Terephthalate)
Authors: Pontes Ketly , Soares Bluma G. , Barra Guilherme M. O. , Livi Sebastien
Published: August 2018

Natural fiber produced from the peach palm trees (PPF) as agricultural waste is used to prepare polyaniline (PAni)‐based hybrid conductive fibers, through the in situ emulsion polymerization of aniline in isopropanol/water medium in the presence of dodecyl benzenesulfonic acid as protonating agent. Polyaniline is uniformly deposited on the fiber surface during the synthesis, as indicated by scanning electron microscopy. The presence of ionic liquid, 1‐butyl‐3‐methyl imidazolium tetrafluoroborate (bmim.BF4) during the PAni synthesis results in conductive fiber with conductivity of around 1.2 × 10−1 S cm−1, which is slightly higher than those obtained for neat PAni samples. The hybrid fibers are compounded with poly(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) in different proportion to develop conductive biodegradable composites. For the same composite composition, those prepared with polyaniline/ionic liquid‐fiber (PAni.IL‐PPF) display higher dielectric constant, higher dielectric low, higher AC electrical conductivity and good electromagnetic interference shielding effectiveness (EMI SE) measured in the X‐band frequency range. In all conducting composites, an absorption dominated EMI shielding mechanism is observed, which make them promising microwave‐absorbing compound.
Development and Modification of Cellulose Acetate/Carboxy Methyl Cellulose Blend Films for Enhanced Adsorption of Methylene Blue
Authors: Gopi Sreerag , Balakrishnan Preetha , Pius Anitha , Thomas Sabu
Published: August 2018

Herein, we report polysaccharide blend film such as cellulose acetate/carboxymethyl cellulose (CA/CMC) developed using acetic acid and water mixture using solvent casting method. The material prepared here subsequently treated using potassium hydroxide solution in order to remove acetate content from CA/CMC film to make them more active adsorbent. FTIR analysis is carried out to understand the chemical moieties present in CA/CMC films and to confirm the disappearance of acetate group from the blend films. Morphological analysis revealed the surface changing due to the addition of CMC on CA and the deacetylation of CA/CMC. Dye wastewater treatment has been carried out using synthetic methylene blue water solution and found that deacetylated film with higher amount of CMC has more adsorption capacity compared to all other films displayed in this study.
The Effect of Cellulose Nanofibers on the Properties of Starch Biopolymer
Authors: Fazeli Mahyar , Simão Renata A.
Published: August 2018

The current study deals with the preparation and characterization of polysaccharide‐based biocomposite films acquired by the incorporation of cellulose nanofiber within glycerol plasticized matrix formed by starch. The application of starch‐based films is restricted owing to highly hydrophilic nature and poor mechanical properties. These problems are solved by forming a nanocomposite of thermoplastic starch (TPS) as matrix and cellulose nanofiber (CNF) as reinforcement. CNF is successfully synthesized from short pure cellulose fibers by a chemo‐mechanical process. TPS/CNF composite films are prepared by the polymer solution casting method, and their characterizations are obtained by water vapor transmission rate, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), atomic force microscopy (AFM), oxygen transmission rate, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), light transmittance, and tensile test. Even at the low concentration of CNF filled TPS, the composite film shows improvement in properties. The 0.4 wt% CNF loaded TPS films show approximately the maximum improvement in tensile strength. Above 0.5 wt% CNF, tensile strength starts to deteriorate. Water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) and oxygen transmission rate (OTR) results show improvement in water vapor barrier properties of TPS matrix. The DSC thermograms of TPS and composite films do not show any significant effect on the melting point of the composite film compared with the base polymer TPS. The AFM analysis shows the topography of the surface of the nanocomposite. The morphology of nanofibers is studied by using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the transmission electron microscopy (TEM).