bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Project-based Learning Management Process for Vocational and Technical Education
Authors: Nilsook Prachyanun , Chatwattana Pinanta , Seechaliao Thapanee
Published: February 2021

This research is an analysis and a synthesis of research papers and case studies concerning the project-based learning management. The brainstorming among experts as well as their opinions on learning management process are utilized to define an appropriate learning process for students in vocational and technical education in Thailand. The results of this research reveal that the project-based learning management process for vocational education consists of 5 steps, i.e. preparation, topic definition, creation and test, presentation, and evaluation. This is compliant with the concepts of experts, aligning the teacher and student roles in the same direction, which can be used as a learning management process as to the vocational curricula. Thus, the project-based learning management is an approach of instructional management that is in consistence with the development of vocational students in Thailand. The objective thereof is to provide learners with skills in creating inventions and innovations in the form of projects. Also, learners are encouraged to have attributes and skills of presentation, talk and communication with others, originality, critical thinking, creative thinking, and ability to work well with others; all of these are in accordance to the 21st century skills.
Exploring the Influence of Teacher-Student Interaction on University Students’ Self-Efficacy in the Flipped Classroom
Authors: Li Lin , Yang Shanshan
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this study is to explore the impact of teacher-student interaction on undergraduate students’ self-efficacy in a Chinese university setting. Students came from natural science, management, economics, medicine, engineering and humanities. The empirical results demonstrate that teacher-student interaction has positive impact on students’ self-efficacy and their preference of the flipped classroom. Furthermore, the positive relationship between teacher-student interaction and students’ self-efficacy is partially mediated by students’ preference of the flipped classroom. Educators should focus on student-centered learning and motivate students’ preference of the flipped classroom. Students should be encouraged to actively participate in the flipped learning as well. It contributes to the reform of the flipped classroom and improvement of teaching quality in the universities.
SystEM-Env: um Ambiente para Avaliação de Linhas de Produto de Software baseadas em UML
Authors: Cordeiro André F. R. , Oliveira Junior Edson A.
Published: February 2021

A avaliação de linhas de produto de software é uma atividade importante no contexto de criação e evolução em engenharia de linha de produto. Tal atividade permite analisar potenciais produtos que podem ser gerados e os possíveis riscos relacionados ao desenvolvimento desses. Este artigo apresenta o desenvolvimento do SystEM-Env, um Ambiente para avaliação de linhas de produto de software modeladas em UML. O ambiente foi implementado, a princípio, com base no método SystEM-PLA para avaliação de arquiteturas de linha de produto e permite o gerenciamento de variabilidades, a geração de configurações de produtos específicos e a aplicação de métricas para análises de trade-off.
LoTuS: uma Ferramenta Gráfica Extensível para Modelagem, Análise e Verificação de Modelos LTS e PLTS
Authors: Correia Emerson , Barbosa Bruno , Vieira Lucas , Jesuíno Ranniery , Filho Messias , Maia Paulo Henrique Mendes
Published: February 2021

Este artigo apresenta LoTuS, uma ferramenta para modelagem gráfica, análise e verificação de comportamento de software usando LTS e PLTS. Suas principais contribuições são: facilitar o processo de modelagem formal através de um mecanismo de drag and drop que permite criar tanto modelos não probabilísticos como probabilísticos; permitir a geração de modelos a partir de outras fontes, como diagramas de sequencia da UML ou rastros de execução; prover um conjunto de técnicas de análise de modelos, como simulação, execução, detecção de deadlock e verificação probabilísticas de propriedades de alcançabilidade; e por fim, fornecer uma API para que desenvolvedores possam adicionar novas funcionalidades através da criação de plugins. A ferramenta foi avaliada em termos de sua usabilidade e desempenho e através de um estudo de caso no qual suas principais funcionalidades foram exercitadas.
Clustering consensual para a detecção eficiente de comunidades em redes pela modularidade ajustada
Authors: Nascimento Mariá , Santos Camila
Published: February 2021

A maximização da modularidade é a abordagem mais utilizada para detectar comunidades em redes. Contudo, ela pode falhar em encontrar comunidades pequenas, devido a um problema de escala. Para superar esse problema, uma versão ajustada da modularidade foi proposta na literatura. Apesar de seu potencial, não foram encontrados estudos que utilizassem essa medida para encontrar agrupamentos de maneira automática. Neste artigo, é proposto um método para determinar automaticamente comunidades por meio da modularidade ajustada, usando o conceito de clustering consensual. Experimentos com diversos grafos atestaram um melhor desempenho da estratégia proposta sobre diversos algoritmos de agrupamento em grafos da literatura.
Ciclos e Caminhos Longos em Grafos Ímpares
Authors: Bueno Letícia , Mesquita Felipe
Published: February 2021

O grafo ímpar Ok é o grafo cujos vértices são todos os subconjuntos de tamanho k de um conjunto com (2k+1) elementos e dois vértices são adjacentes se eles são disjuntos. Uma conjectura atribuída a Biggs afirma que o grafo Ok é hamiltoniano para k > 4 e uma conjectura atribuída a Lovász implica que Ok tem um caminho hamiltoniano para k > 2. A partir de um ciclo hamiltoniano em Ok-1, mostramos como construir um ciclo em Ok com pelo menos 75% dos vértices de Ok. Adicionalmente, nós provamos que, para todo k, o grafo ímpar tem um caminho com pelo menos 50% dos vértices de Ok.
Caracterização e Modelagem Temporal de Chamadas de Telefonia Móvel em Grandes Eventos
Authors: Marques-Neto Humberto , Silveira Lucas
Published: February 2021

O uso cada vez maior de telefones celulares desafia as operadoras a evoluírem e melhorarem os seus serviços com base no comportamento de seus usuários. Em particular, eventos de grande escala podem impor padrões que diferem fortemente daqueles observados normalmente no uso diário das redes das operadoras de telefonia celular. Este trabalho apresenta os impactos de jogos de futebol na carga de trabalho de uma rede de telefonia móvel a partir do uso de uma metodologia proposta. Os resultados mostram a dinâmica da carga de trabalho no entorno do horário dos eventos e apresentam características do aumento de uso dos serviços de voz da operadora em consequência tanto do deslocamento dos participantes quanto da natureza do próprio evento.
Effects of Garlic Powder and Satureja Khuzestanica Essential Oil on Male Ross 308 Chickens Performance, Blood Lipid Profile, Immune Responses, Intestinal Microflora, and Morphology
Authors: Rahimi Drakhshandah , Mansoori Yarahmadi Hossein , Yaghobfar Akbar , Fakhraei Jafar
Published: February 2021

Background: Herbal antioxidants have beneficial effects on health and performance. Meanwhile, medicinal plants and their derivations are utilized as growth and immunity promoter. Objectives: This research aimed to evaluate the effects of garlic powder and Satureja Khuzestanica essential oil (SKEO) on broiler performance, blood lipid profile, immune responses, intestinal microflora, and morphology. Methods: In total, 400 male chickens were randomly divided into five groups. Treatments included garlic powder (2 and 4%) and SKEO (400 and 500 mg/kg). Those in the control group received no intervention. On the 35th day of the experiment, the immune system of subjects was investigated, and at the end of the study, performance and blood lipid profile were analyzed. Also, the jejunal and ileal contents were separated to investigate the intestinal morphology and microflora. Results: Administration of herbal extracts was associated with improved performance, such as feed intake, BWG, and FCR (P < 0.05). Treatments could diminish the serum concentrations of lipid profile, including cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the number of harmful intestinal bacteria was reduced by garlic (4% of diet) and SKEO (500 mg/kg) treatments (P < 0.05). Also, morphological characteristics of the intestine were improved (P < 0.05). Herbal plant supplement remarkably increased the villus length, villus length to crypt depth, and villus area (P < 0.05), but did not affect the immune responses (P > 0.05). Conclusions: This study demonstrated that dietary inclusion of herbal extracts is potentially an effective strategy for improving health and performance in broiler chickens.
Uso de Brassica Juncea (L.) Czern, Helianthus Annus L. e mimosa bimucronata (dc) o. Kuntze na fitorremediação de solos contaminados com chumbo e níquel
Authors: Tokuho Maryiá Yuki , Consolin Filho Nelson , Medeiros Flávia Vieira da Silva , Araújo José Hilton Bernardino de
Published: February 2021

A fitorremediação é uma técnica de descontaminação de solos em que utiliza-se o potencial de espécies vegetais para extrair metais e outros contaminantes do ambiente. Neste trabalho foram utilizadas as espécies Brassica juncea (L.) Czern (Mostarda), Helianthus annus L. (Girassol) e Mimosa bimucronata (DC.) O. Kuntze (Maricá) para fitoextrair chumbo e níquel de solos. Para a realização do procedimento, foi feito o acompanhamento ao longo de 11 semanas de dois experimentos simultâneos em que o solo utilizado foi Latossolo Vermelho coletado dentro dos limites da Universidade Tecnológica federal do Paraná. No experimento 1, utilizaram-se 2 kg (massa seca) em potes de polipropileno contaminados com acetato de chumbo e sulfato de níquel em concentrações de 0,5, 1,0, 2,0 e 5,0 g/kg de chumbo e níquel, para identificar o potencial fitorremediador de Brassica juncea (L.) Czern e Helianthus annus L. Para o segundo experimento, foi utilizado 1 kg (massa seca) de solo contaminado com acetato de chumbo em concentrações de 0,25, 0,5 e 1,0 g/kg para verificar se a Mimosa bimucronata (DC.) e O. Kuntze possuem potencial fitorremediador.
Impactos ambientais oriundos do crescimento urbano/demográfico: um estudo no bairro da Pedreira, Belém/PA
Authors: Furtado Leonardo Seabra , Alves Lucas Renan de Moraes , Macedo Ana Beatriz Fernandes de , Pinto Álvaro José de Almeida , Tourinho Helena Lucia Zagury , Raiol Roberta Dannyele Oliveira
Published: February 2021

Com a intensificação dos processos industriais a partir o século XVIII, a população urbana cresceu de forma significativa, provocando graus de urbanização que podem chegar aos 90% no Brasil. O avanço da urbanização acelerada e desordenada, a expansão das metrópoles e o uso irregular do solo implicaram em diversos impactos ao meio ambiente – tanto natural quanto construído – e transtornos a sociedade. Diante disso, o presente estudo apresenta como objetivo analisar o crescimento do bairro da Pedreira, situado na cidade de Belém/PA, articulando problemas do meio ambiente urbano com a evolução histórica do bairro. A fim relacionar essas questões foram feitas, primeiramente, revisões bibliográficas, para análise das consequências urbanas e ambientais presentes no bairro; realizou-se também pesquisa documental, utilizando cenas de sensoriamento remoto disponíveis no site do United States Geological Survey (USGS) da plataforma Global Visualization Viewer (GloVis), assim como imagens satélites fornecidas pelo Google Earth. As cenas geradas foram tratadas no software spring©, disponibilizado pelo site do Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE) e ArcGIS, para visualização mais contrastante das áreas verdes e urbanizadas. Por fim, utilizou-se a pesquisa exploratória com observações in loco para reforçar os dados sobre os impactos ambientais decorrentes da urbanização da Pedreira. Este estudo espera contribuir para demonstrar como o processo de urbanização acelerado está relacionado com a qualidade ambiental do referido bairro.
A Socio-pragmatic Investigation of Language of Insults in the Utterances of Yoruba Natives in Nigeria
Authors: R.O. Farinde , H.O. Omolaiye
Published: February 2021

An utterance is neither seen nor touched but capable of making or marring an individual, group or a nation depending on how it is used. Thus, positive utterances ensure peace and tranquility in a society while negative utterances usually tear a nation apart. Language of insult is a negative utterance that usually produces, hatred, war, or disunity in the society. This paper, therefore, investigated the language of tribal insult in the utterances of Yoruba language users. Adopting conversational Implicature and Referential Theory as a theoretical framework, the study examined the language of tribal insults in the utterances of Yoruba users of Yoruba language. Employing participatory observation and recorded utterances in informal settings with the native speakers of Yoruba, the researchers discovered that the use of language of tribal insults among the Yoruba speakers has presented some tribes less humans. Also, some words are carelessly used to insult a nation, abuser’s insults are being transferred to ethnic groups with he use simile and metaphor, and negative attitude of a particular person becomes an insult to an ethnic group. The insults ranges from “theft”, “promiscuity”, “stinginess”, “privilege abuse”, “dirtiness” to “inferiority complex”. The implication of the insults is that some tribes are seen as being worthiness. The study, therefore, recommends that government should put machinery in motion to check this menace in order to promote unity in diversity.
Brother-Sister Relationships in Early Modern Drama
Authors: Al-Ibia Salim E. , Oldman Ruth M.E.
Published: February 2021

This study aims to evaluate the commodified brother-sister relationship in Early Modern drama. It examines three different samples from three major playwrights of this time period: Isabella and Claudio in William Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure (1603), Charles and Susan in Thomas Heywood’s A Woman Killed with Kindness (1603), and Giovanni and Annabella in John Ford’s Tis Pity She’s a Whore (1632). The three aforementioned cases are closely evaluated through a Marxist-feminist lens. The study finds out that the brothers in the three examined plays are not very different since they all encourage their sisters to sacrifice their chastity to achieve some sort of personal interest. Interestingly enough, the sisters vary in their responses to their brothers’ requests of offering their bodies to help their brothers. Obviously, Shakespeare offers the ideal version of a sister who does everything in her power to save a brother. Yet, she refuses to offer her body in return to his freedom in spite of her brother’s desperate calls to offer her virginity to Angelo to save the former’s life. Susan of Heywood is also similar to Isabella of Shakespeare since she refuses to sell herself in return to the money needed to save her brother. However, Ford offers the ugliest version of a brother-sister relationship. The brother wants to have a love affair with his sister who yields to his sexual advances and eventually gets pregnant.
An Investigation of Omission and Addition Phenomena in Quranic English Translation of Nessim Joseph Dawood: A Morpho-Syntactic and Ideo-Cultural Analytical Study
Authors: Mohammed Alhaj Ali Albashir
Published: February 2021

Omission and addition Phenomena in Quranic English Translation are two important issues that grasped the attention of many researchers in translation studies. This study aimed at investigating of omission and addition phenomena in Quranic English Translation of Nessim Joseph Dawood: with special reference to eight selected translated ayah -Surat Yusuf- Ayah-verse (18), Surat Al-Ma’arij, Verse( ayah:17), Surrat Al-Muddathir, ayah (11), Surat Maryam, Ayah (35), Surat Al-Qalam, Ayah (1), Surat Al-Baqarah, Ayah (186), Surat Al’Imran, Ayah:41), and Surrat Al-Jaathiya, Ayah:28).-Qualitative descriptive approach was adopted by the researcher to analyze the data extracted from Nessim Joseph Dawood’s English translation of the aforementioned Surahs. The study revealed losses occurring in translating some morpho-syntactic dimensions such as omitting and admission of important Quranic lexemes. contributed to semantic losses. One kind of such losses is a morph-syntactic loss, which sometimes takes place because of ideo-cultural divergences between the source language and the target language, (that is, Quranic Arabic language and the intended language, English language) This study recommended that omission and addition translation strategies should not be employed by the translators of the Holy Quran to reduce loss in the Quranic translation to maintain the intensity of the Message.
Analysis of the Queen’s Speech on COVID-19 from the Perspective of Transitivity
Authors: Yu Luo
Published: February 2021

The Queen Elizabeth II recently made her fifth public speech on coVID-19 since taking office. Through the use of systemic functional linguistics to analyze her speech text, this article mainly analyzes the text from the perspective of the concept of function and finds this speech text involves only four processes: material process, metal process, relational process and verbal process. This article discusses the political, economic and cultural characteristics of the UK’s response to coVID-19. In addition, this paper compares China and the UK, and discusses the different measures taken in the face of the epidemic and the underlying cultural background. This study found out that the Queen’s speech is mainly aimed at expressing gratitude to those working on the front lines of the fight against the epidemic and encouraging people to respond to the call of the British government and face the epidemic positively. The analysis of speech with the transitivity can enrich and update the study contents of transitivity.
Prevenção de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica: estudo de intervenção - Prevention of pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation: intervention study
Authors: Polycarpo Rodrigo Dos Santos , Cebriano Gabriel Conde y Martin , Ludovico Andréia Da Silva Gomes , Viana Ádane Domingues , Da Conceição Silvio Cesar
Published: February 2021

Objetivo: verificar como o conhecimento sobre os bundles de prevenção de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica interfere na prática profissional e na incidência de casos. Método: estudo do tipo pesquisa-intervenção, com abordagem quantitativa, conduzido em um grande hospital público de emergência do Município de Rio de Janeiro-RJ. A coleta de dados foi realizada nas unidades de terapia intensiva da instituição, entre outubro e novembro de 2017. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 71 profissionais de saúde. Verificamos que 100% dos participantes classificaram a intervenção como relevante, 63,24% apontaram a estratégia utilizada como muito adequada e 95,65%  relataram que a intervenção poderia mudar sua prática profissional. No mês seguinte à realização do estudo houve queda no número de casos de pneumonia geral e de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica. Conclusão: foi possível avaliar o impacto da intervenção na prática profissional dos participantes.
Gestão de tecnologia em saúde: avaliação de equipamentos eletromédicos em unidade de centro cirúrgico - Health technology management: evaluation of electromedical equipment in a surgical center unit
Authors: Lima Rafael Abrantes de , Da Rocha Izabella Andrade
Published: February 2021

Objetivo: discutir como se dá a gestão dos equipamentos eletromédicos em saúde, adotado pela unidade de centro cirúrgico de um hospital universitário estadual situado no município do estado do Rio de Janeiro à luz da RDC Nº2 de 25 de janeiro de 2010. Método: trata-se de um estudo descritivo, exploratório do tipo estudo de caso. Realizado em um hospital universitário do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Pesquisa autorizada através do CAAE 67955617.0.0000.5259. Resultados: os resultados permitiram construir a discussão do caso, levando em conta os pontos mais significativos e gerando então 2 categorias. Categoria 1: gestão de equipamentos eletromédicos. Categoria 2: relação e usabilidade de equipamentos eletromédicos. Conclusão: conclui-se que não há conformidade com a RDC No 2, de 25 de janeiro de 2010 com a ausência de diversos fatores exigidos pela resolução, porém o caminho a ser percorrido pela Unidade de Centro Cirúrgico.
Analysis‐of‐Marginal‐Tail‐Means: A Robust Method for Discrete Black‐Box Optimization
Authors: Mak Simon , Wu C. F. Jeff
Published: February 2021

We introduce a robust optimization method, called the
Analysis‐of‐marginal‐Tail‐Means
(ATM), which was proposed for discrete black‐box optimization. ATM has applications in a variety of engineering problems (e.g., manufacturing optimization and product design), where the objective function is black box, and the design space is discrete. The key novelty in ATM is a data‐tuned compromise between rank‐ and model‐based optimization via marginal tail means, which allows it to adaptively exploit marginal structure for robust optimization. We demonstrate the effectiveness of ATM in two real‐world problems: the first on robust parameter design of a circular piston and the second on product family design of a thermistor network.
Factor Modeling for High‐Dimensional Time Series
Authors: Yau Chun Yip
Published: February 2021

This article investigates the analysis of high‐dimensional time series via factor modeling, with a focus on the methodological and computational aspects of estimating factor models. In particular, we review various estimation methods for the factor loadings and factor process, covering time‐ and frequency‐domain, likelihood‐ and principle‐component‐based procedures. Moreover, determination of the number of factors is briefly discussed.
A Panel of Biomarkers Associates With Increased Risk for Cardiovascular Events in Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Skaggs Brian J. , Grossman Jennifer , Sahakian Lori , Perry Lucas , FitzGerald John , Charles‐Schoeman Christina , Gorn Alan , Taylor Mihaela , Moriarty John , Ragavendra Nagesh , Weisman Michael , Wallace Daniel J. , Hahn Bevra H. , McMahon Maureen
Published: February 2021

Objective

The increase in cardiovascular events (CVEs) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is not fully explained by traditional risk factors. We previously identified four biomarkers (proinflammatory high‐density lipoprotein, leptin, soluble TNF‐like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK), and homocysteine) that we combined with age and diabetes to create the predictors of risk for elevated flares, damage progression, and increased cardiovascular diseasein patients with SLE (PREDICTS) risk profile. PREDICTS more accurately identified patients with SLE at risk for progression of subclinical atherosclerosis than any individual variable. We examined whether PREDICTS can also identify patients with SLE at risk for future CVEs.

Methods

A total of 342 patients with SLE and 155 matched control subjects participated in this longitudinal prospective study. A high PREDICTS score was defined as three or more predictors or diabetes + one or more predictor. The biomarkers were measured at baseline using published methods. All major adverse CVEs (MACEs) were confirmed by medical record review.

Results

During 116 months of follow‐up, 5% of patients with SLE died, 12% had a cerebrovascular event, and 5% had a cardiac event. Overall, 20% of patients with lupus experienced any new MACE compared with 5% of control subjects (P < 0.0001). More patients with SLE with a new MACE had high PREDICTS score at baseline (77%) versus patients with no new events (34%) (P < 0.0001). High baseline PREDICTS score also associated with cerebrovascular (P < 0.0001) and cardiac events (P < 0.0001) in SLE. Using Cox regression, a baseline high PREDICTS score associated with a 3.7‐fold increased hazard ratio (HR) for a new MACE (P < 0.0001) in SLE. Hypertension (HR = 2.1; P = 0.006) was also a risk.

Conclusion

A high PREDICTS score and hypertension confer increased risk for new MACEs in patients with SLE.
Update on new boxed warning for benzodiazepines
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: February 2021

Last fall, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered a new boxed warning for benzodiazepines, citing “the serious risks of abuse, addiction, physical dependence, and withdrawal reactions” (see ADAW, Oct. 5, 2020). The new language required the old boxed warning to be updated. It raises questions about prescribing or dispensing methadone or buprenorphine when a patient is taking benzodiazepines, even though the FDA had cleared such prescribing or dispensing in 2017. These questions still need clarification, despite a response from the FDA to ADAW last week that there is no conflict. Currently, many physicians have simply decided never to give methadone or buprenorphine to patients who test positive for benzodiazepines, due to the most recent boxed warning update, ADAW has learned.
Liquid Metals‐Assisted Synthesis of Scalable 2D Nanomaterials: Prospective Sediment Inks for Screen‐Printed Energy Storage Applications
Authors: Azadmanjiri Jalal , Thuniki Naveen Reddy , Guzzetta Fabrizio , Sofer Zdeněk
Published: February 2021

The advents in flexible and smart technology like wearable electronics have accelerated the demand for high‐performance energy‐storage devices. These devices could significantly reduce the size of the next‐generation wearable smart electronics. A selection of suitable printing technology and its product typically offer a reasonable manufacturing pathway like high deposition rate, low materials waste, scalable fabrication, and high‐performance production. Therefore, the production of novel functional inks with desirable rheological properties that authorize high‐resolution printing, are some major challenges of this technology. This work has an emphasis on the recent advancements in supporting and utilizing liquid metals chemistry to synthesis high‐quality and scalable 2D nanomaterials by liquid‐phase free exfoliation and facile sonication‐assisted methods. These are novel concepts in synthesizing 2D nanomaterials particularly for those which either have not intrinsic layered crystal structures or those with strong interaction between their crystal layers which are difficult to synthesized using conventional approaches. It also provides some potentials to make sustainable ink formulation of such 2D nanostructures for the fabrication of high‐quality screen‐printed patterns for sustainable energy applications. Subsequently, it deals with the possibilities and challenges of printing such 2D nanomaterials (namely, 2D metal oxides) for micro‐supercapacitor and micro‐battery applications on an industrially viable scale.
Engineered Nanoscale Vanadium Metallodrugs for Robust Tumor‐Specific Imaging and Therapy
Authors: Li Shihua , Chen Yongling , Zhu Wei , Yang Wen , Chen Zhaowei , Song Jibin , Song Xiaorong , Chen Xian , Yang Huanghao
Published: February 2021

Therapeutic metallodrugs have gained substantial success in cancer treatment and also motivate the active exploration of metallodrugs for cancer theranostics. However, it remains a challenge to engineer metallodrugs with desired therapy efficacy and safety because of their frequent in vivo limited bioavailability and off‐target delivery. Herein, an efficient strategy to design vanadium nanodrugs (VNDs) with cancer‐specific theranostic capability for visualizing/treating in vivo mice tumors, is developed. The VNDs are controllably constructed via a non‐covalent coordination triggered self‐assembly strategy, which allows the general synthesis of diverse nanoscale metallodrugs. Significantly, the VNDs exert an approximately tenfold enhancement of therapy efficacy in comparison with vanadium compounds and the clinically used cisplatin due to their improved bioavailability and multiple pathways‐mediated tumor‐selective therapy. Moreover, the VNDs feature intense near‐infrared (NIR) absorption and undergo specific disassembly in the tumor microenvironment, thus enabling tumor‐specific molecular imaging by the turn‐on NIR fluorescence of embedded labels upon disassembly. Hence, the vanadium nanoprodrugs propose a new paradigm for in vivo tumor‐selective therapy and imaging and may propel the design of effective anticancer metallodrugs.
Enhancing the Photovoltaic Performance of Ladder‐Type Heteroheptacene‐based Nonfullerene Acceptors by Incorporating Halogen Atoms on Their Ending Groups
Authors: Wan Shuo , Ma Yunlong , Cai Dongdong , Lin Wenyuan , Wang Pengsong , Wang Jinyun , Zheng Qingdong
Published: February 2021

Ending group halogenation is an effective strategy for modulating the energy levels, bandgaps, and intermolecular interactions of nonfullerene acceptors. Understanding the influence of different halogen atoms on the acceptor properties is of great importance for designing high‐performance nonfullerene acceptors. Here, three acceptor–donor–acceptor (A‐D‐A) type nonfullerene acceptors (M5, M6, and M7), which are constructed by using a ladder‐type heteroheptacene core without the traditional sp3 carbon‐bonded side chains as the electron‐rich core, and 2‐(3‐oxo‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐inden‐1‐ylidene)malononitrile without or with halogen atoms as the ending groups. The nonfullerene acceptors with chlorinated (M6) and brominated (M7) ending groups exhibit broadened absorption spectra, down‐shifted energy levels, and enhanced molecular ordering compared to the counterpart without any halogenated ending groups (M5). Among the nonfullerene acceptors, M6 has the strongest intermolecular ππ interaction with its shortest ππ interaction distance and the longest coherent length which are beneficial for enhancing the charge transport and therefore boosting the photovoltaic performance. An excellent power conversion efficiency of 15.45% is achieved for the best‐performing polymer solar cell based on M6. These results suggest that the halogenated ending groups are essential for high‐performance heteroheptacene‐based nonfullerene acceptors considering their simultaneous enhancements in both the light‐harvesting and the charge transport.
Thermal Reductive Perforation of Graphene Cathode for High‐Performance Aluminum‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Kong Yueqi , Tang Cheng , Huang Xiaodan , Nanjundan Ashok Kumar , Zou Jin , Du Aijun , Yu Chengzhong
Published: February 2021

Controlling the structure of graphene‐based materials with improved ion intercalation and diffusivity is crucial for their applications, such as in aluminum‐ion batteries (AIBs). Due to the large size of AlCl4− ions, graphene‐based cathodes have specific capacities of ≈60 to 148 mAh g−1, limiting the development of AIBs. A thermal reductive perforation (TRP) strategy is presented, which converts three‐layer graphene nanosheets to surface‐perforated graphene materials under mild temperature (400 °C). The thermal decomposition of block copolymers used in the TRP process generates active radicals to deplete oxygen and create graphene fragments. The resultant material has a three‐layer feature, in‐plane nanopores, >50% expanded interlayer spacing, and a low oxygen content comparable to graphene annealed at a high temperature of ≈3000 °C. When applied as an AIB cathode, it delivers a reversible capacity of 197 mAh g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1 and reaches 92.5% of the theoretical capacity predicted by density‐functional theory simulations.
Precision Embolism: Biocompatible Temperature‐Sensitive Hydrogels as Novel Embolic Materials for Both Mainstream and Peripheral Vessels
Authors: Wang Qi , He Yang , Shen Ming , Huang Lili , Ding Li , Hu Jian , Dong Yang , Fu Hao , Wang Quan , Sun Ying , Zhang Lin , Cao Jun , Duan Yourong
Published: February 2021

Complete blood blockage and low ectopic embolism risk are urgently needed for transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment. However, the clinically available embolic reagents still face the huge challenges of fast recanalization and undesirable migration. In the present work, a temperature‐sensitive poloxamer 407 (F127)/hydroxymethyl cellulose (HPMC)/sodium alginate (SA)‐derived hydrogel (FHSgel) is explored as a novel embolic material in the TACE treatment. With increasing temperature, this FHSgel undergoes sensitive phase transition process, so as to block both mainstream and peripheral vessels. Meanwhile, taking advantage of the close fitness between shapeable FHSgel and vessels, the embolism time is extremely extended. Moreover, the leaked FHSgel could be diluted below the gelation concentration, thus effectively preventing from ectopic embolism. TACE treatment is further conducted for rabbit liver and kidney tumors, wherein the atrophic blood vessels and necrotic tissue demonstrate superior therapy effect. In addition, all three pharmaceutical excipients are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In contrast with the clinical embolic reagents, the temperature‐sensitive FHSgel for the first time completely blocks both mainstream and peripheral vessels with totally biocompatible pharmaceutical excipients, and makes a breakthrough in terms of largely reducing the ectopic embolism risk, thus providing a new generation for interventional embolization.
Profiles of institutional departments affect operative outcomes of eight gastroenterological procedures
Authors: Konno Hiroyuki , Kamiya Kinji , Takahashi Arata , Kumamaru Hiraku , Kakeji Yoshihiro , Marubashi Shigeru , Hakamada Kenichi , Miyata Hiroaki , Seto Yasuyuki
Published: February 2021

Aim

We evaluated the association of profiles of institutional departments with operative outcomes of eight major gastroenterological procedures.

Methods

We administered a 15‐item online survey to 2634 institutional departments in 2016 to investigate the association of questionnaire responses with operative mortality for the procedures. The proportions of conditions met were listed according to institutional volume and classified according to annual operative cases in 1464 departments. Group A included departments with annual performance of <40 cases of the eight procedures, B 40‐79 cases, C 80‐199 cases, D 200‐499 cases, and E ≥ 500 cases. We evaluated the number of conditions met for 10 of 15 items that could be improved by efforts of institutional departments, to assess whether the profiles of institutional departments had impacts on operative mortality. We built a multivariable logistic regression model for operative mortality with facilities categorized based on the number of conditions met and procedure‐specific predicted mortality as explanatory variables using generalized estimating equation to account for facility‐level clustering. We also examined how operative outcomes differed between facilities meeting nine or more conditions and those that did not.

Results

We recognized meeting nine out of the 10 conditions as being a good indicator for having appropriate structural and process measures for gastroenterological surgery. The facilities meeting nine or more of the conditions had better operative mortality for all eight procedures.

Conclusions

Our findings reveal that the profiles of institutional departments can reflect the outcomes of gastroenterological surgery in Japan.
Thrombomodulin expression impacts the recurrence and long‐term survival in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Sugano Hiroshi , Shirai Yoshihiro , Sato Shun , Hamatani Shigeharu , Hamura Ryoga , Taniai Tomohiko , Horiuchi Takashi , Gocho Takeshi , Eto Ken , Ikegami Toru
Published: February 2021

Background

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive digestive cancers. The tumor expression of thrombomodulin (TM) is correlated with favorable prognosis in several types of cancer. However, this correlation has not been confirmed in hepato‐pancreato‐biliary cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of TM expression in resected pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Methods

The data of patients who underwent pancreatic resection for pancreatic invasive ductal adenocarcinoma were obtained from a prospectively maintained database. A total of 131 patients were included. Paraffin sections of tumor tissues were stained immunohistochemically using TM antibody. The patients were divided into two groups: the TM‐positive or TM‐negative group.

Results

The specimens were TM‐positive in 72 cases. TM expression was a significant factor of favorable prognosis in univariate analysis for disease‐free (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The median OS in the TM‐positive patients was 32.9 mo, which was better than the 20.0 mo in TM‐negative patients (P =.006). TM positivity retained its significance on multivariate analysis for DFS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.651, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.433–0.979, P =.039) and OS (HR 0.569, 95% CI 0.376–0.862, P =.008).

Conclusions

The tumor expression of TM is a favorable factor for OS in resected pancreatic invasive ductal adenocarcinoma.
Effectiveness of multimodality treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma patients with portal vein thrombosis: A real world experience
Authors: Kuo Fei‐Pang , Cheng Tzu‐Hsuan , Cheng Yu‐Ming , Wu Chao‐Chuan , Wang Chia‐Chi
Published: February 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer‐related deaths worldwide. Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) can induce intrahepatic metastasis, deteriorate liver reserves, and worsen the prognosis of HCC. Although systemic therapy is currently standard treatment, multimodality treatment is used in clinical practices. HCC patients with PVT registered in the Cancer center of Taipei Tzu‐Chi Hospital from January 2010 to January 2016 were retrospectively enrolled. PVT was categorized according to Japanese Vp classification. A total of 101 HCC patients with PVT were included for final analysis. The 1‐, 3‐, or 5‐year survival rate was 33.7%, 11.9%, or 5%, respectively. The median overall survival was significantly better in HCC patients with branch PVT (BPV) than those with main PVT (MPV) (7 vs 4.8 months, P = .009) and in those receiving surgical resection than those without (12.8 vs 5.6 months, P < .001). Using Cox regression analysis after adjustment with confounding factors, surgical resection was the only favorable predictor of a survival rate (hazard ratio 0.14; 95% confidence interval 0.05‐0.38) in HCC patients with PVT. In conclusion, the overall survival was better in HCC patients with branch PVT and those receiving surgical resection. Surgical resection is the only favorable predictor of overall survival for HCC patients with PVT rather than other multimodality treatment including sorafenib, suggesting surgical resection is not contra‐indicated for HCC patients with PVT especially branch type PVT.
Haplo‐identical or mismatched unrelated donor hematopoietic cell transplantation for Fanconi anemia: Results from the Severe Aplastic Anemia Working Party of the EBMT
Authors: Zubicaray Josune , Pagliara Daria , Sevilla Julian , Eikema Dirk‐Jan , Bosman Paul , Ayas Mouhab , Zecca Marco , Yesilipek Akif , Kansoy Savas , Renard Cécile , Dalle Jean H. , Campos Antonio , Faraci Maura , Kupesiz Alphan , Smiers Frans J. W. , Velardi Andrea , Abecasis Manuel , Corti Paola , Fagioli Franca , González Muñiz Soledad , Kriván Gergely , Dufour Carlo , Risitano Antonio , Corbacioglu Selim , Peffault de Latour Régis
Published: February 2021

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is the only curative option for bone marrow failure or hematopoietic malignant diseases for Fanconi anemia (FA) patients. Although results have improved over the last decades, reaching more than 90% survival when a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐identical donor is available, alternative HCT donors are still less reported. We compared HCT outcomes using HLA‐mismatched unrelated donors (MMUD; n = 123) or haplo‐identical donors (HDs), either using only in vivo T cell depletion (n = 33) or T cells depleted in vivo with some type of graft manipulation ex vivo (n = 59) performed for FA between 2000 and 2018. Overall survival (OS) by 24 months was 62% (53–71%) for MMUD, versus 80% (66–95%) for HDs with only in vivo T cell depletion and 60% (47–73%) for HDs with in vivo and ex vivo T cell depletion (p = .22). Event‐free survival (EFS) was better for HD‐transplanted FA patients with only in vivo T cell depletion 86% (73–99%) than for those transplanted from a MMUD 58% (48–68%) or those with graft manipulation 56% (42–69%) (p = .046). Grade II‐IV acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) was 41% (MMUD) versus 40% (HDs with no graft manipulation) versus 17% (HDs with T cell depleted graft), (p = .005). No differences were found for the other transplant related outcomes. These data suggest that HDs might be considered as an alternative option for FA patients with better EFS using unmanipulated grafts.
Efficacy of dupilumab in patients with a history of prior sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Authors: Hopkins Claire , Wagenmann Martin , Bachert Claus , Desrosiers Martin , Han Joseph K. , Hellings Peter W. , Lee Stella E. , Msihid Jérôme , Radwan Amr , Rowe Paul , Amin Nikhil , Deniz Yamo , Ortiz Benjamin , Mannent Leda P. , Rout Rajesh
Published: February 2021

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a type 2 inflammatory disease treated with sinus surgery when refractory to medical intervention. However, recurrence postsurgery is common. Dupilumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody, blocks the shared receptor for interleukin 4 (IL‐4) and IL‐13, key and central drivers of type 2 inflammation. We report the efficacy of dupilumab in patients with CRSwNP from the SINUS‐24/SINUS‐52 trials (NCT02912468/NCT02898454), by number of prior surgeries and time since last surgery.

Methods

Patients were randomized to placebo or dupilumab 300 mg every 2 weeks. Post hoc subgroup analyses were performed for patients with 0, ≥1, 1/2, or ≥3 prior surgeries, and for patients who had surgery within <3, 3 to <5, 5 to <10, or ≥10 years. Efficacy outcomes at 24 weeks included co‐primary endpoints nasal polyp score (NPS) and nasal congestion (NC), and Lund‐Mackay (LMK), 22‐item Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22), and smell scores.

Results

Of 724 patients randomized, 459 (63.4%) had ≥1 prior surgery. Baseline sinus disease (NPS, NC, LMK) and olfactory dysfunction (University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test [UPSIT] and loss of smell) scores were worse for patients with ≥3 prior surgeries vs no surgery. Baseline NPS and LMK were worse in patients with <3 years since last surgery than in patients with ≥5 years since last surgery. Dupilumab significantly improved all outcome measures vs placebo in all subgroups by number of surgeries and by time since last surgery. Improvements in NPS and LMK were greater in patients with <3 years since last surgery than patients with ≥5 years. Safety results were consistent with the known dupilumab safety profile.

Conclusion

Dupilumab improved CRSwNP outcomes irrespective of surgery history, with greater improvements in endoscopic outcomes in patients with shorter duration since last surgery.
In‐hospital mortality among patients with invasive non‐group A β‐hemolytic Streptococcus treated with clindamycin combination therapy: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Hamada Shoichiro , Nakajima Mikio , Kaszynski Richard H. , Kumazawa Ryosuke , Matui Hiroki , Fushimi Kiyohide , Goto Hideaki , Yamaguchi Yoshihiro , Yasunaga Hideo
Published: February 2021

Aim

Combination treatment with clindamycin is recommended in patients with invasive group A Streptococcus infection; however, whether the same treatment is effective in invasive group B Streptococcus and S. dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis infections remains unknown. We aimed to investigate whether clindamycin added to standard of care therapy would be effective in patients with invasive non‐group A β‐hemolytic Streptococcus infections.

Methods

This was a nationwide retrospective cohort study using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database focusing on the period between 2010 and 2018. We extracted data on patients diagnosed with sepsis due to non‐group A β‐hemolytic Streptococcus. One‐to‐four propensity score‐matching was undertaken to compare patients who were treated with clindamycin within 2 days of admission (clindamycin group) and those who did not (control group). The primary outcome was in‐hospital mortality.

Results

We identified 3754 eligible patients during the study period. The patients were divided into the clindamycin (n = 296) and control groups (n = 3458). After one‐to‐four propensity score matching, we compared 289 and 1156 patients with and without clindamycin, respectively. In‐hospital mortality did not significantly differ between the two groups (9.7% versus 10.3%; risk difference 0.3%; 95% confidence interval, –3.5% to 4.2%).

Conclusions

This nationwide database study showed that combination therapy involving the use of clindamycin was not associated with lower in‐hospital mortality in patients with invasive non‐group A β‐hemolytic Streptococcus.
Simultaneous analysis of 44 frequently abused corticosteroid drugs using polysaccharide‐based chiral column‐HRMS approach
Authors: Karakka Kal Abdul Khader , Karatt Tajudheen K. , Nalakath Jahfar , Subhahar Michael Benedict , Koshy Shino Ann , Perwad Zubair , M.P Muhammed Ajeebsanu
Published: February 2021

Corticoids have found their way into the globe of sports, due to their anti‐inflammatory properties, and have often found to be added to dietary supplements for illegally improving the effectiveness of their products. Earlier studies describe the detection of corticoids in several matrices, but this can be an incessant and continuous process as long because the doping practices continue. In this study, we report a technique to verify concurrently 44 of the foremost commonly abused synthetic corticoids (including chiral analogs) in equine plasma supported chiral liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Polysaccharide i‐cellulose‐5 column was used for chromatographic separation with a gradient mode. The validation studies were also meted out by using equine plasma so as to judge the suitability of the strategy. Detection limits were determined between 0.01 and 0.05 ng/mL and therefore the limit of quantification was between 0.1 and 0.5 ng/mL. Recovery and matrix effect on the analytes was further assessed. Since the developed method was ready to separate the corticoids and to differentiate chiral analogs at very low levels (in picograms), this separation techniques may be employed for the determination (confirmatory analysis) of the corticoids in the forensic and anti‐doping application.
Antibacterial carbon dots derived from polyethylene glycol/polyethyleneimine with potent anti‐friction performance as water‐based lubrication additives
Authors: Tang Wentao , Li Peili , Zhang Gaoke , Yang Xu , Yu Meizhe , Lu Haojie , Xing Xiaodong
Published: February 2021

Carbon dots (CDs) are obtained from polyethylene glycol and polyethyleneimine by a simple hydrothermal method at 200°C. The water dispersion of CDs (0.2 wt%) remains transparent even after standing for a month. Next, the tribological properties of CDs as water lubricating additives are evaluated by multifunctional micro‐friction tester. Specifically, after adding 0.2 wt% of CDs, the mean friction coefficient and wear volume of water‐based lubrication are reduced by 59.77 and 57.97%, respectively. Meanwhile, the antibacterial properties of CDs are evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentrations test, long‐lasting antibacterial stability, and biological scanning electron microscopy experiment. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of CDs against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are 62.5 and 15.56 μg ml−1, respectively. And the result show that, after co‐cultivation with CDs, the integrity of the bacteria is seriously destroyed, which accelerates the leakage of the cell contents and eventually leads to the death of bacteria. More importantly, the antibacterial performance can be maintained stably at least for 1 month even if the continuously adding of bacterial suspensions. Therefore, as an advanced lubricating additive with antibacterial and anti‐friction functions, the prepared CDs have a bright future in the field of water lubrication.