bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Flood, Livelihood Displacement, and Poverty in Nigeria: Plights of Flood Victims, 2012–2018
Authors: Okafor Joachim Chukwuma
Published: June 2020

The impacts of flood on the Nigerian population over the years have been enormous. This is because the attendant associated risks such as destruction of lives and properties, livelihood displacement, and impoverishment of victims arising from increasing flood cases have constituted a threat to the citizens’ survival and therefore inform the attention the menace has drawn among scholars, policy analyst. This chapter has as its primary aim, a critical assessment of the impacts of government responses over the plight of victims of flooding in Nigeria over the years under review. Thus, special attention is given in this chapter to the various barriers or challenges facing government response to the plight of flood victims in Nigeria. Finally, some valuable steps, which if taken will reduce these barriers or challenges, are outlined. Though, the study adopted the use of secondary sources of data collection via content analysis, the experiences and knowledge gathered in this chapter will be strategically useful to people and organizations interested in the government of Nigeria’s response to the plight of flood victims, barriers inhibiting the success of fund utilization in reducing the suffering and impoverishment of the flood victims, number of deaths, and population displaced as a result.
Canonical description of T-duality with NSNS background
Authors: Klusoň J.
Published: June 2020

Abstract

We study T-duality with non-zero components of NSNS two form field along directions we dualize with the help of canonical formalism. As a result of this procedure we determine generalized Buscher’s rules. We also apply the same procedure to the case of non-relativistic string.
Micromagnetics of curved thin films
Authors: Di Fratta Giovanni
Published: June 2020

In this paper, we aim at a reduced 2d-model describing the observable states of the magnetization in curved thin films. Under some technical assumptions on the geometry of the thin-film, it is well-known that the demagnetizing field behaves like the projection of the magnetization on the normal to the thin film. We remove these assumptions and show that the result holds for a broader class of surfaces; in particular, for compact surfaces. We treat both the stationary case, governed by the micromagnetic energy functional, and the time-dependent case driven by the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation.
Cytotoxicity of fractured quartz on THP-1 human macrophages: role of the membranolytic activity of quartz and phagolysosome destabilization
Authors: Leinardi Riccardo , Pavan Cristina , Yedavally Harita , Tomatis Maura , Salvati Anna , Turci Francesco
Published: June 2020

The pathogenicity of quartz involves lysosomal alteration in alveolar macrophages. This event triggers the inflammatory cascade that may lead to quartz-induced silicosis and eventually lung cancer. Experiments with synthetic quartz crystals recently showed that quartz dust is cytotoxic only when the atomic order of the crystal surfaces is upset by fracturing. Cytotoxicity was not observed when quartz had as-grown, unfractured surfaces. These findings raised questions on the potential impact of quartz surfaces on the phagolysosomal membrane upon internalization of the particles by macrophages. To gain insights on the surface-induced cytotoxicity of quartz, as-grown and fractured quartz particles in respirable size differing only in surface properties related to fracturing were prepared and physico-chemically characterized. Synthetic quartz particles were compared to a well-known toxic commercial quartz dust. Membranolysis was assessed on red blood cells, and quartz uptake, cell viability and effects on lysosomes were assessed on human PMA-differentiated THP-1 macrophages, upon exposing cells to increasing concentrations of quartz particles (10–250 µg/ml). All quartz samples were internalized, but only fractured quartz elicited cytotoxicity and phagolysosomal alterations. These effects were blunted when uptake was suppressed by incubating macrophages with particles at 4 °C. Membranolysis, but not cytotoxicity, was quenched when fractured quartz was incubated with cells in protein-supplemented medium. We propose that, upon internalization, the phagolysosome environment rapidly removes serum proteins from the quartz surface, restoring quartz membranolytic activity in the phagolysosomes. Our findings indicate that the cytotoxic activity of fractured quartz is elicited by promoting phagolysosomal membrane alteration.
The Impact of Hybrid Minimally Invasive Esophagectomy with Neck‐Abdominal First Approach on the Short‐ and Long‐Term Outcomes for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Hoshino Akihiro , Nakajima Yasuaki , Kawada Kenro , Tokairin Yutaka , Okada Takuya , Matsui Toshihiro , Yamaguchi Kazuya , Kawano Tatsuyuki , Kinugasa Yusuke
Published: June 2020

Background

Currently, there is no consensus for an optimal minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) approach. This study aimed to compare hybrid MIE (hMIE) with neck‐abdominal first approach to standard open esophagectomy (OE).

Methods

Data from a cohort of 301 patients were retrospectively analyzed. All participants received either hMIE or OE for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma at Tokyo Medical and Dental University between January 2003 and December 2013. Analyses included propensity score matching and the Kaplan–Meier statistical method to determine overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) of the cohort.

Results

After one‐to‐one propensity score matching, there were 68 patient pairs. The hMIE group had significantly lower incidence of severe postoperative complications (20.1% vs. 7.4%; p = 0.026) and severe respiratory complications (7.4% vs. 0%; p = 0.058) than the OE group. The 5‐year oncological outcomes of the two groups were almost equivalent (OS: OE, 55.0%; hMIE, 69.0%; p = 0.063 and DFS: OE, 54.0%; hMIE, 62.0%; p = 0.28).

Conclusions

This study compared hMIE with neck‐abdominal first approach to standard OE. The results showed significantly less severe postoperative complications for hMIE with neck‐abdominal first approach in comparison with OE, without a compromise in long‐term oncological outcomes.
Transgenic animal models of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: a comprehensive overview of candidate genes and signaling pathways
Authors: Nakamura Hiroki , Doi Takashi , Puri Prem , Friedmacher Florian
Published: June 2020

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a relatively common and life-threatening birth defect, characterized by incomplete formation of the diaphragm. Because CDH herniation occurs at the same time as preacinar airway branching, normal lung development becomes severely disrupted, resulting almost invariably in pulmonary hypoplasia. Despite various research efforts over the past decades, the pathogenesis of CDH and associated lung hypoplasia remains poorly understood. With the advent of molecular techniques, transgenic animal models of CDH have generated a large number of candidate genes, thus providing a novel basis for future research and treatment. This review article offers a comprehensive overview of genes and signaling pathways implicated in CDH etiology, whilst also discussing strengths and limitations of transgenic animal models in relation to the human condition.
Patient sex does not affect endoscopic outcomes of biologicals in inflammatory bowel disease but is associated with adverse events
Authors: Lie Mitchell R. K. L. , Paulides Emma , van der Woude C. Janneke
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Biological therapies are currently the mainstay in the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Several factors are known to influence the efficacy and tolerability of biologicals, such as CRP levels or previous biological use. Whether patient sex affects the efficacy or tolerability is unclear but would help with better risk and benefit stratification. This systematic review assesses patient sex on the efficacy and tolerability of biological therapies in IBD patients.

Methods

A systematic literature review was performed using Embase (including MEDLINE), MEDLINE OvidSP, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science and PubMed. The primary outcome was the influence of patient sex on endoscopic outcomes in IBD patients treated with biologicals. The secondary outcome was the influence of patient sex on adverse events. Studies were included in the assessment regardless of study type or setting.

Results

The search yielded 19,461 citations; after review, 55 studies were included in the study, involving 28,465 patients treated with adalimumab, certolizumab pegol, infliximab, or vedolizumab. There was no significant association between patient sex and endoscopic efficacy in 41 relevant studies. Increased adverse events were associated with female sex in 7 out of 14 relevant studies.

Conclusions

There is no evidence for a sex difference in endoscopically measured response to biological therapies in IBD patients. However, there is an influence of sex on the occurrence of adverse events.
Structure, function and regulation of mammalian glucose transporters of the SLC2 family
Authors: Holman Geoffrey D.
Published: June 2020

The SLC2 genes code for a family of GLUT proteins that are part of the major facilitator superfamily (MFS) of membrane transporters. Crystal structures have recently revealed how the unique protein fold of these proteins enables the catalysis of transport. The proteins have 12 transmembrane spans built from a replicated trimer substructure. This enables 4 trimer substructures to move relative to each other, and thereby alternately opening and closing a cleft to either the internal or the external side of the membrane. The physiological substrate for the GLUTs is usually a hexose but substrates for GLUTs can include urate, dehydro-ascorbate and myo-inositol. The GLUT proteins have varied physiological functions that are related to their principal substrates, the cell type in which the GLUTs are expressed and the extent to which the proteins are associated with subcellular compartments. Some of the GLUT proteins translocate between subcellular compartments and this facilitates the control of their function over long- and short-time scales. The control of GLUT function is necessary for a regulated supply of metabolites (mainly glucose) to tissues. Pathophysiological abnormalities in GLUT proteins are responsible for, or associated with, clinical problems including type 2 diabetes and cancer and a range of tissue disorders, related to tissue-specific GLUT protein profiles. The availability of GLUT crystal structures has facilitated the search for inhibitors and substrates and that are specific for each GLUT and that can be used therapeutically. Recent studies are starting to unravel the drug targetable properties of each of the GLUT proteins.
Untargeted metagenomics shows a reliable performance for synchronous detection of parasites
Authors: Wylezich Claudia , Caccio Simone M. , Walochnik Julia , Beer Martin , Höper Dirk
Published: June 2020

Shotgun metagenomics with high-throughput sequencing (HTS) techniques is increasingly used for pathogen identification and characterization. While many studies apply targeted amplicon sequencing, here we used untargeted metagenomics to simultaneously identify protists and helminths in pre-diagnosed faecal and tissue samples. The approach starts from RNA and operates without an amplification step, therefore allowing the detection of all eukaryotes, including pathogens, since it circumvents the bias typically observed in amplicon-based HTS approaches. The generated metagenomics datasets were analysed using the RIEMS tool for initial taxonomic read assignment. Mapping analyses against ribosomal reference sequences were subsequently applied to extract 18S rRNA sequences abundantly present in the sequence datasets. The original diagnosis, which was based on microscopy and/or PCR, could be confirmed in nearly all cases using ribosomal RNA metagenomics. In addition to the pre-diagnosed taxa, we detected other intestinal eukaryotic parasites of uncertain pathogenicity (of the genera Dientamoeba, Entamoeba, Endolimax, Hymenolepis) that are often excluded from routine diagnostic protocols. The study clearly demonstrates the applicability of untargeted RNA metagenomics for the parallel detection of parasites.
Ten-year follow-up after Gamma Knife radiosurgery of meningioma and review of the literature
Authors: Lippitz Bodo E. , Bartek Jiri , Mathiesen Tiit , Förander Petter
Published: June 2020

Objectives

With regard to the generally slow growth of meningioma, it is essential to analyse clinical treatment results in a long-term perspective. The purpose of the present analysis is to provide clinical data after Gamma Knife radiosurgery of meningioma in a 10-year perspective together with a review of the current literature.

Methods

The current study is a retrospective analysis of 86 consecutive Swedish patients with meningiomas treated using Gamma Knife radiosurgery at the Karolinska Hospital Stockholm between March 1991 and May 2001. A total of 130 tumours were treated in 115 treatment sessions. The median radiological follow-up was 10 years (1.8–16.5 years), and the median clinical follow-up was 9.4 years (2.1–17.4 years).

Results

After a median follow-up period of 10 years, local tumour control was achieved in 87.8% of meningiomas (108/123 tumours). The median latency between initial treatment and local (in-field) recurrence (n = 15) was 5.8 years (1.9–11.5). Recurrences adjacent but outside the initial radiation field occurred in 15.1% of patients (13/86) at a median of 7.5 years (1.3–15.7). New meningiomas were seen in 10.5% after a median of 5.4 years (0.9–10.8). In 72% of patients, no further treatment was required, 17.4% (15/86) underwent a second Gamma Knife treatment, 4.7% (4/86) required later open surgery and 5.8% (5/86) required both secondary treatments. Eighty-six percent of patients were neurologically unchanged or improved. A significantly lower rate of local (in-field) recurrences was seen in meningiomas treated with a prescription dose of > 13.4 Gy (7.1% vs. 24%, p = 0.02).

Conclusions

The current retrospective analysis provides a 10-year follow-up and comprises one of the longest available follow-up studies of radiosurgically treated meningiomas. The current series documents a persistent high local tumour control after Gamma Knife treatment, while providing an estimation of a necessary minimum dose for long-term tumour control in meningiomas. The study confirms the validity of previous short-term data in a long-term perspective.
On the Convergence and Capability of the Large-Eddy Simulation of Concentration Fluctuations in Passive Plumes for a Neutral Boundary Layer at Infinite Reynolds Number
Authors: Ardeshiri Hamidreza , Cassiani Massimo , Park Soon Young , Stohl Andreas , Pisso Ignacio , Dinger Anna Solvejg
Published: June 2020

Large-eddy simulation (LES) experiments have been performed using the Parallelized LES Model (PALM). A methodology for validating and understanding LES results for plume dispersion and concentration fluctuations in an atmospheric-like flow is presented. A wide range of grid resolutions is shown to be necessary for investigating the convergence of statistical characteristics of velocity and scalar fields. For the scalar, the statistical moments up to the fourth order and the shape of the concentration probability density function (p.d.f.) are examined. The mean concentration is influenced by grid resolution, with the highest resolution simulation showing a lower mean concentration, linked to larger turbulent structures. However, a clear tendency to convergence of the concentration variance is observed at the two higher resolutions. This behaviour is explained by showing that the mechanisms driving the mean and the variance are differently influenced by the grid resolution. The analysis of skewness and kurtosis allows also the obtaining of general results on plume concentration fluctuations. Irrespective of grid resolution, a family of Gamma p.d.f.s well represents the shape of the concentration p.d.f. but only beyond the peak of the concentration fluctuation intensity. In the early plume dispersion phases, the moments of the p.d.f. are in good agreement with those generated by a fluctuating plume model. To the best of our knowledge, our study demonstrates for the first time that, if resolution and averaging time are adequate, atmospheric LES provides a trustworthy representation of the high order moments of the concentration field, up to the fourth order, for a dispersing plume.
Sensory profile of hemicellulose-rich wood extracts in yogurt models
Authors: Kirjoranta Satu , Knaapila Antti , Kilpeläinen Petri , Mikkonen Kirsi S.
Published: June 2020

Wood is an abundant and sustainable source of emerging food ingredients, namely hemicelluloses that fulfil a number of requirements for functional hydrocolloids. Hemicelluloses, especially spruce galactoglucomannans (GGM) and birch glucuronoxylans (GX), have potential to be used as stabilizers in various foods such as yogurts, beverages, dressings, and desserts. However, in addition to good technological functionality, safety, and low price, the applicability and market potential of new hydrocolloids is determined by their sensory properties. The present study reports, for the first time, the sensory profile of spruce GGM and birch GX in food. Sensory profiles from generic descriptive analysis of GGM- and GX-rich extracts, processed by spray drying or ethanol precipitation, were compared in three types of model food systems: water solutions, yogurt with solutions, and yogurt with emulsions stabilized by GGM or GX. Gum Arabic was included for comparison with a commercial ingredient known to have a mild flavor. The results showed that GGM and GX have a woody flavor, which can be reduced by ethanol precipitation and, in yogurt, masked by other food ingredients.

Graphic abstract
Trauma and Parenting Beliefs: Exploring the Ethnotheories and Socialization Goals of Palestinian Mothers
Authors: Kankaanpää Saija L. , Isosävi Sanna , Diab Safwat Y. , Qouta Samir R. , Punamäki Raija-Leena
Published: June 2020

Parenting beliefs are important to infant wellbeing, but there is a lack of research into their role in war conditions. We examined (1) how maternal traumatic experiences (war events and childhood abuse) and mental health would be associated with parenting beliefs about good childrearing practices (ethnotheories) and desirable child characteristics (socialization goals) and (2) whether parenting beliefs mediate the impact of traumatic experiences and mental health on mother–infant interaction and infant development. Palestinian mothers (N = 510) participated during pregnancy and at four and 12 months postpartum. They reported current traumatic war events, emotional and physical abuse in their own childhood and mental health (posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety symptoms), their ethnotheories and socialization goals and the quality of dyadic mother–infant interactions and infant developmental skills (language, fine-motor, and gross-motor). High maternal exposure to traumatic war events was associated with higher autonomy-enhancing—and lower relatedness-enhancing—socialization goals. Conversely, maternal childhood abuse was associated with higher relatedness-enhancing—and lower autonomy-enhancing—socialization goals. High maternal exposure to traumatic war events was associated with high levels of positive dyadic interaction, whereas high emotional and physical abuse and mental health problems were associated with low levels of positive dyadic interaction. Parenting beliefs did not mediate the impact of maternal traumatic experiences and mental health on dyadic interaction or infant development. The nature of maternal traumatic experiences was central for the socialization goals in unique and specific ways. The findings emphasize the meaningfulness of parenting values, goals, and practices among mothers caring for their infants in war conditions.
Attraction of Chrysotropia ciliata (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae) Males to P-Anisaldehyde, a Compound with Presumed Pheromone Function
Authors: Thöming Gunda , Koczor Sándor , Szentkirályi Ferenc , Norli Hans R. , Tasin Marco , Knudsen Geir K.
Published: June 2020

In a field-trapping experiment with plant volatiles, we observed notably high attraction of green lacewing (Chrysotropia ciliata) males to the compound p-anisaldehyde. Based on this finding, we initiated the present study to elucidate this phenomenon and to investigate the chemical ecology of C. ciliata. Scanning electron microscopy revealed elliptical glands abundantly distributed on the 2nd to 6th abdominal sternites of C. ciliata males, whereas females of the species completely lacked such glands. No p-anisaldehyde was found in extractions of body parts of C. ciliata. Methyl p-anisate and p-methoxybenzoic acid were identified exclusively in the extract from abdominal segments 2–8 of males. Field-trapping experiments revealed no attraction of C. ciliata to either methyl p-anisate or p-methoxybenzoic acid. In contrast, males showed marked attraction to p-anisaldehyde in the field and antennae showed strong responses to this compound. Headspace collections in the field from living insects in their natural environment and during their main daily activity period indicated that p-anisaldehyde was emitted exclusively by C. ciliata males. Our overall results suggest that p-anisaldehyde might serve as a male-produced pheromone that attracts conspecific C. ciliata males. Here, we discuss hypotheses regarding possible mechanisms involved in regulation of p-anisaldehyde production, including involvement of the compounds methyl p-anisate and p-methoxybenzoic acid, and the potential ecological function of p-anisaldehyde in C. ciliata.
Magnetospheric Studies: A Requirement for Addressing Interdisciplinary Mysteries in the Ice Giant Systems
Authors: Kollmann P. , Cohen I. , Allen R. C. , Clark G. , Roussos E. , Vines S. , Dietrich W. , Wicht J. , de Pater I. , Runyon K. D. , Cartwright R. , Masters A. , Brain D. , Hibbits K. , Mauk B. , Gkioulidou M. , Rymer A. , McNutt R. , Hue V. , Stanley S. , Brandt P.
Published: June 2020

Uranus and Neptune are the least-explored planets in our Solar System. This paper summarizes mysteries about these incredibly intriguing planets and their environments spurred by our limited observations fromVoyager 2and Earth-based systems. Several of these observations are either inconsistent with our current understanding built from exploring other planetary systems, or indicate such unique characteristics of these Ice Giants that they leave us with more questions than answers. This paper specifically focuses on the value of all aspects of magnetospheric measurements, from the radiation belt structure to plasma dynamics to coupling to the solar wind, through a future mission to either of these planets. Such measurements have large interdisciplinary value, as demonstrated by the large number of mysteries discussed in this paper that cover other non-magnetospheric disciplines, including planetary interiors, atmospheres, rings, and moons.
A brief measure of disgust propensity
Authors: Schienle Anne , Zorjan Sasa , Wabnegger Albert
Published: June 2020

In the context of large-scale surveys, pre-screening or longitudinal studies, researchers may be faced with the choice of using a brief measure of disgust propensity (DP: the general tendency to respond with the emotion of disgust to any given situation) or using no measure at all. The goal of the present study was to develop and validate such a short scale based on the Questionnaire for the Assessment of Disgust Propensity (QADP); Schienle et al., 2002). The participants (n = 1367; 80% female; mean age = 28 years) completed the QADP, and scales on disgust sensitivity and self-disgust. Brain structural data and disgust rating data were available for subsets of the total sample. Factor analysis revealed a five-factor structure of the QADP. A total of 10 items (two items for each factor) with the highest item-total correlations were selected. The resulting five-factor QADP (Cronbach’s alpha = .76) covers a broad range of disgust domains. The short QADP is correlated with the original questionnaire (r = .90), disgust sensitivity, disgust ratings for gustatory, olfactory and visual disgust elicitors, and volume in the insular cortex (a brain region involved in disgust processing). For future investigations, the QADP_brief can be a useful tool for assessing DP with high time efficiency.
Tageszeitabhängige Körpertemperaturrhythmen regulieren die Genexpression
Authors: Preussner Marco , Heyd Florian
Published: June 2020

Alternative splicing is a dynamically regulated mechanism that dramatically increases the genomes coding capacity. Alternative splicing is regulated in a time-of-day dependent manner and depends on mammalian body temperature cycles. This observation let to the discovery of a body temperature sensitive kinase, which acts as sensor translating small changes in temperature (∼ 1 °C) into altered phosphorylation of RNA-binding proteins, which in turn control over 1.500 splicing events.
Wie Licht beim Aufbau von Geweben helfen kann
Authors: Müller Marc , Wegner Seraphine V.
Published: June 2020

Building tissues from cells as their basic building block is a promising approach in tissue engineering and allows assembling cells into micro-tissues with high precision, which is not possible with material-based approaches. The challenge lies in controlling when and where cells bind to each other. Using visible light as a trigger for cell-cell interactions provides the required spatiotemporal control without interfering with other cellular processes. This provides a new way to assemble multicellular structures with numerous potential applications in cell biology and regenerative medicine.
Mikrophysiologisches Retinamodell als Alternative zu Tiermodellen
Authors: Chuchuy Johanna , Achberger Kevin , Liebau Stefan , Loskill Peter
Published: June 2020

The visual system is one of the most important human senses. Hence, blindness leads to an unimaginable reduction of life quality. However, most diseases leading to the loss of vision are still incurable, because current models used in ophthalmic research fail to recapitulate the human eye in many crucial aspects. Combining human retinal organoids with Organ-on-a-chip technology may lead to a paradigm shift in the way we study pathogenesis and treatment of retinal diseases.
Sequential Treatment of Arsenic Trioxide Followed by All Trans Retinoic Acid with Anthracyclines has Excellent Long-Term Cure in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia
Authors: Devadas Santhosh Kumar , Jain Hasmukh , Bagal Bausaheb , Sengar Manju , Dangi Uma , Khattry Navin , Amre Pratibha , Patkar Nikhil , Subramaniam P. G. , Nair Reena , Menon Hari
Published: June 2020

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) remains the most curable myeloid leukemia made feasible through effective use of two differentiating agents, all trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO) with or without chemotherapy (CT). However, early morbidity and mortality remains a problem. With the objective of reducing early death a strategy of sequential induction ATO followed by consolidation ATRA in combination with CT was adopted by our group. The long-term outcomes of patient of APL treated on this sequential approach at our center was analyzed. In this retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained database consecutive adult patients with APL irrespective of their Sanz risk group were treated using a protocol of ATO (10 mg IV infusion over 3 h daily for 45 days) in the first phase followed by ATRA (45 mg/m2 for 60 days) in combination with Daunorubicin (60 mg/m2 for 3 days × 3 cycles) in second phase. All patients received maintenance ATRA (45 m/m2 for 15 days every 3 months) for a period of 18 months in phase 3. Patients were monitored for cytogenetic and molecular responses after phase 1 and 2. All patients were followed up for toxicity, event free and overall survival. 131 consecutive patients were treated in this study. At a median follow up of 60 months, 84.81% patients are alive with an overall event free survival (EFS) of 77.82%. Sanz low risk patients fared better (85%) versus intermediate and high-risk patients who had a 76% EFS. Proportion of patients alive at last follow up were 100% in Sanz low risk group and 82% in intermediate and high-risk group. The sequential schedule showed excellent tolerance and toxicity profile when treating newly diagnosed APL. The long-term follow-up data shows comparable if not better survival compared with the published real-world data and this has been consistent across all risk group.
Surgical intervention for portal hypertension caused by oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy: a case report and a review of literature regarding radiological and/or surgical interventions for oxaliplatin-associated portal hypertension
Authors: Morioka Daisuke , Izumisawa Yusuke , Yamaguchi Kazuya , Sato Kei , Komiyama Satoshi , Nakagawa Kazuya , Kakizoe Manabu , Murakami Takashi , Sato Yoshiki
Published: June 2020

A 63-year-old man showed massive ascites, massive pleural effusion, severe lower-extremity edema, and repeated esophageal variceal bleeding. Two-year previously, he received 13-courses of oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy (OBC) followed by associating liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) for multiple colorectal cancer liver metastases but developed a solitary remaining liver metastasis and multiple lung metastases 2 months after the ALPPS, for which multiple regimens of chemotherapy were conducted. The symptoms were considered attributable to the OBC-associated portal-hypertension. Water-retention symptoms were mitigated by the use of tolvaptan but the variceal bleeding necessitated frequent endoscopic treatments and disallowed restarting antineoplastic treatment. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) was considered undesirable because TIPS in this patient might have prohibited future repeat hepatectomy. Thus, the patient underwent splenectomy and surgical portosystemic shunting. Since then, the portal-hypertension symptoms were completely resolved. Thereafter, chemotherapy was able to be recommenced. Moreover, repeat hepatectomy was performed. A literature review demonstrated that radiological and/or surgical interventions for the OBC-associated portal-hypertension have been reported in 31 cases to date. However, this report is the first to show a case of successful treatment of the OBC-associated portal-hypertension with splenectomy and surgical portosystemic shunting, which allowed subsequent chemotherapy followed by repeat hepatectomy.
Source governed trace metal anomalies in groundwater of foothill aquifer and its health effect
Authors: Panda Banajarani , Chidambaram S. , Thilagavathi R. , Ganesh N. , Prasanna M. V. , Vasudevan U.
Published: June 2020

An integrated study of health risk assessment, pollution indices and cluster analysis has been carried out to assess the pollution and heavy metal sources in the groundwater. Certain elements analyzed exceed the prescribed limits of WHO standard. Health risk index reveals risk of toxicity through oral pathways is less, as almost all trace elements are < 1. The distribution pattern of heavy metal pollution index, heavy metal evaluation index and degree of contamination indicates the pollution is due to urban activities. Sources were determined by cluster analysis, and it resulted in three clusters.
A Fire Danger Index for the early detection of areas vulnerable to wildfires in the Eastern Mediterranean region
Authors: Xofis Panteleimon , Tsiourlis Georgios , Konstantinidis Pavlos
Published: June 2020

Wildfires continue to be a major factor of disturbance to Mediterranean ecosystems, and are often associated with significant losses of properties and human lives. Fast fire detection and suppression within the first few minutes after ignition are crucial to successfully managing wildfires and preventing their potentially catastrophic consequences. In this study, remote-sensing methods and data were integrated wih fire behavior simulation and field data to develop a Fire Danger Index (FDI) that can be used to detect the areas most vulnerable to wildfires. This FDI will be integrated into an automatic fire detection system that utilizes optical and thermal land cameras and an unmanned aerial vehicle. The FDI was calculated for a nature reserve in Southern Greece based on fire behavior, pyric history, and anthropogenic influence. Fire behavior was estimated using the FlamMap fire simulation model, while the fuel types to include in the model were determined using state-of-the-art remote-sensing methods and field data. The pyric history was represented by point data on fire occurrences over a period of 40 years. The anthropogenic influence was estimated based on an inverse relationship of this influence with the Euclidean distance from roads and settlements. The calculated FDI demonstrated that a large part of the reserve, including its most ecologically important ecosystems, is highly vulnerable to wildfires. Integrating the FDI into the automatic fire detection system is expected to significantly improve its detection accuracy.
Zur kapitalwertorientierten Bewertung (nicht nur) von immateriellen Vermögenswerten in der internationalen Rechnungslegung
Authors: Schüler Andreas
Published: June 2020

Der Beitrag ist der Bewertung (nicht nur) immaterieller Vermögenswerte mit kapitalwertorientierten Verfahren in der internationalen Rechnungslegung gewidmet. Unter der Annahme, dass das Problem der Zuordnung von Zahlungsüberschüssen zu einzelnen Vermögenswerten bzw. Gruppen von Vermögenswerten (Assets) gelöst ist, wird insbesondere die Wahl des kapitalwertorientierten Bewertungsverfahrens und die Ermittlung der zugehörigen Diskontierungssätze diskutiert. Es werden Empfehlungen zur Abbildung des Investitionsrisikos und der Finanzierung bei der Bewertung von Vermögenswerten unter Berücksichtigung der Marktwertadditivität erarbeitet. Es wird gezeigt, dass der in der Praxis beliebte WACC-Ansatz dafür häufig weniger geeignet ist als der Adjusted-Present-Value (APV) -Ansatz. Dieser sollte soweit es die Datenlage zulässt, Bottom-up ausgefüllt werden. Sofern auf die Daten als vergleichbar eingestufter Unternehmen (Peer Group) zurückgegriffen wird, muss die Vergleichbarkeit im ersten Schritt hinsichtlich des Investitionsrisikos gegeben sein, um so die Eigenkapitalkosten bei Eigenfinanzierung vermögenswertspezifisch zu schätzen. Weitere pragmatische Lösungsansätze, wie Top-down erfolgende Zu- oder Abschläge zum bzw. vom unternehmensweiten WACC oder der sog. WARA (Weighted Average Return on Assets) -Ansatz, werden hinsichtlich der implizierten Fremdkapital- und Wertzuordnungen sowie hinsichtlich der Einhaltung des Marktwertadditivitätsprinzips kritisch gewürdigt.
Atomic and Close-to-Atomic Scale Manufacturing: A Review on Atomic Layer Removal Methods Using Atomic Force Microscopy
Authors: Mathew Paven Thomas , Rodriguez Brian J. , Fang Fengzhou
Published: June 2020

Manufacturing at the atomic scale is the next generation of the industrial revolution. Atomic and close-to-atomic scale manufacturing (ACSM) helps to achieve this. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a promising method for this purpose since an instrument to machine at this small scale has not yet been developed. As the need for increasing the number of electronic components inside an integrated circuit chip is emerging in the present-day scenario, methods should be adopted to reduce the size of connections inside the chip. This can be achieved using molecules. However, connecting molecules with the electrodes and then to the external world is challenging. Foundations must be laid to make this possible for the future. Atomic layer removal, down to one atom, can be employed for this purpose. Presently, theoretical works are being performed extensively to study the interactions happening at the molecule–electrode junction, and how electronic transport is affected by the functionality and robustness of the system. These theoretical studies can be verified experimentally only if nano electrodes are fabricated. Silicon is widely used in the semiconductor industry to fabricate electronic components. Likewise, carbon-based materials such as highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, gold, and silicon carbide find applications in the electronic device manufacturing sector. Hence, ACSM of these materials should be developed intensively. This paper presents a review on the state-of-the-art research performed on material removal at the atomic scale by electrochemical and mechanical methods of the mentioned materials using AFM and provides a roadmap to achieve effective mass production of these devices.
3D Printing of Well Dispersed Electrospun PLGA Fiber Toughened Calcium Phosphate Scaffolds for Osteoanagenesis
Authors: Zhao Guoru , Cui Rongwei , Chen You , Zhou Sijie , Wang Chen , Hu Zhangmei , Zheng Xiaoke , Li Maohong , Qu Shuxin
Published: June 2020

Although the toughening of Calcium phosphate (CaP) scaffold by the addition of fiber has been well recognized, integrated mechanical, structural and functional considerations have been neglected in the design and fabrication of CaP scaffold implant. The emerging 3D printing provides a promising technique to construct CaP scaffold with precise size and elaborate microstructure. However, the most challenge is to extrude smoothly the CaP paste containing fibers for frequently-used extrusion-based 3D printing. In this study, frozen section and chemical dispersant (Pluronic F127, F127) were employed jointly to prepare non-aggregated polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) fibers. The injectability of CaP pastes with well dispersed PLGA fibers was more than 90% when the content of PLGA fibers was no more than 3 wt%. Meanwhile rheological property of CaP pastes with well dispersed fibers showed shear thinning, which were both beneficial to extrude CaP paste with well dispersed fibers for 3D printing. Moreover, these CaP scaffolds showed ductile fracture behavior due to the pullout and bridging effect of PLGA fibers. The cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity indicated that 3D printed CaP scaffold containing PLGA fibers possesses excellent biocompatibility and facilitate osteogenic differentiation ability. Thus, it was feasible to print CaP pastes with well dispersed PLGA fibers to construct toughening CaP scaffolds with the higher shape fidelity and complex structures, which had significant clinical potentials in osteoanagenesis due to their higher toughness and excellent biocompatibility.
WAVELET-BASED FEATURE EXTRACTION FOR MORTALITY PROJECTION
Authors: Hainaut Donatien , Denuit Michel
Published: June 2020

Wavelet theory is known to be a powerful tool for compressing and processing time series or images. It consists in projecting a signal on an orthonormal basis of functions that are chosen in order to provide a sparse representation of the data. The first part of this article focuses on smoothing mortality curves by wavelets shrinkage. A chi-square test and a penalized likelihood approach are applied to determine the optimal degree of smoothing. The second part of this article is devoted to mortality forecasting. Wavelet coefficients exhibit clear trends for the Belgian population from 1965 to 2015, they are easy to forecast resulting in predicted future mortality rates. The wavelet-based approach is then compared with some popular actuarial models of Lee–Carter type estimated fitted to Belgian, UK, and US populations. The wavelet model outperforms all of them.
Psychological Test Adaptation and Development – A New Beginning
Authors: Ziegler Matthias
Published: June 2020

Abstract. Introductory editorial for the open access journal Psychological Test Adaptation and Development.
Human Resources in Chinese Youngsters – A Chinese Adaptation of the QARCA
Authors: Teuber Ziwen , Wang Qichen , Su Yanjie , Lohaus Arnold , Nussbeck Fridtjof W.
Published: June 2020

Abstract. Background: The German Questionnaire to Assess Resources for Children and Adolescents (QARCA; Lohaus & Nussbeck, 2016 ) is a diagnostic questionnaire that estimates six personal resources and four environmental resources. This study aimed to develop a Chinese version of the QARCA. Due to the important cultural differences between China and Western countries, we focused on whether these resources in a Chinese sample could be similarly assessed with Western samples and whether the association between the subscales of the QARCA was comparable across cultures. Methods: The validation sample consisted of 2,600 Chinese students and 393 parents. Results and Discussion: The results indicated that the Chinese version was soundly adapted with its postulated factorial structure. Reliability estimates for the subscale scores were good and expected correlations within the QARCA, as well as with external criteria. It is the first Chinese measure that simultaneously assesses personal and environmental resources for youngsters.
Seismic Monitoring of a Subarctic River: Seasonal Variations in Hydraulics, Sediment Transport, and Ice Dynamics
Authors: Polvi L. E. , Dietze M. , Lotsari E. , Turowski J. M. , Lind L.
Published: June 2020

High‐latitude rivers are commonly covered by ice for up to one third of the year. Our understanding of the effects of ice on channel morphodynamics and bedload transport is hindered by the difficulties of sensing through the ice and dangers of field work on thin ice or during ice break‐up. To avoid this drawback, we used seismic signals to interpret processes and quantify water and sediment fluxes. Our objective was to determine seasonal differences in hydraulics and bedload sediment transport under ice‐covered versus open‐channel flow conditions using a small seismic network and to provide a first‐order estimation of sediment flux in a Fennoscandian river. Our study reach was on a straight, low‐gradient section of the Sävar River in northern Sweden. Interpretations of seismic signals, from a station 40 m away from the river, and inverted physical models of river stage and bedload flux indicate clear seasonal differences between ice‐covered and open‐channel flow conditions. Diurnal cycles in seismic signals reflecting turbulence and sediment transport are evident directly after ice break‐up. Analysis of seismic signals of ice‐cracking support our visual interpretation of ice break‐up timing and the main ice break‐up mechanism as thermal rather than mechanical. Assuming the bulk of sediment moves during ice break‐up and the snowmelt flood, we calculate a minimum annual sediment flux of 56.2 ± 0.7 t/km2, which drastically reduces the uncertainty from previous estimates (0–50 t/km2) that exclude ice‐covered or ice break‐up periods.
COVID-19, domestic violence and abuse, and urgent dental and oral and maxillofacial surgery care
Authors: Coulthard Paul , Hutchison Iain , Bell Joseph A. , Coulthard Imogen D. , Kennedy Helena
Published: June 2020

Household isolation measures to reduce coronavirus transmission during the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in increased risk of domestic violence and abuse (DVA). DVA physical injury most frequently involves the face. Dentists, dental care professionals, oral surgeons and oral and maxillofacial surgeons all have a critical part to play in identifying patients experiencing DVA, who present with dental and facial injury, and in making referrals to specialist agencies. This paper describes how to ask questions about DVA sensitively and how to make an appropriate referral. Early intervention and referral to a DVA advocate can prevent an abusive situation becoming worse with more intense violence. It can save lives.
Exploiting metabolic acidosis in solid cancers using a tumor-agnostic pH-activatable nanoprobe for fluorescence-guided surgery
Authors: Voskuil F. J. , Steinkamp P. J. , Zhao T. , van der Vegt B. , Koller M. , Doff J. J. , Jayalakshmi Y. , Hartung J. P. , Gao J. , Sumer B. D. , Witjes M. J. H. , van Dam G. M. ,   the SHINE study group, Albaroodi Y. , Been L. B. , Dijkstra F. , van Etten B. , Feng Q. , van Ginkel R. J. , Hall K. , Havenga K. , Haveman J. W. , Hemmer P. H. J. , Jansen L. , de Jongh S. J. , Kats-Ugurlu G. , Kelder W. , Kruijff S. , Kruithof I. , van Loo E. , Roodenburg J. L. N. , Shenoy N. , Schepman K. P. , de Visscher S. A. H. J.
Published: June 2020

Cancer cell metabolism leads to a uniquely acidic microenvironment in solid tumors, but exploiting the labile extracellular pH differences between cancer and normal tissues for clinical use has been challenging. Here we describe the clinical translation of ONM-100, a nanoparticle-based fluorescent imaging agent. This is comprised of an ultra-pH sensitive amphiphilic polymer, conjugated with indocyanine green, which rapidly and irreversibly dissociates to fluoresce in the acidic extracellular tumor microenvironment due to the mechanism of nanoscale macromolecular cooperativity. Primary outcomes were safety, pharmacokinetics and imaging feasilibity of ONM-100. Secondary outcomes were to determine a range of safe doses of ONM-100 for intra-operative imaging using commonly used fluorescence camera systems. In this study (Netherlands National Trial Register #7085), we report that ONM-100 was well tolerated, and four solid tumor types could be visualized both in- and ex vivo in thirty subjects. ONM-100 enables detection of tumor-positive resection margins in 9/9 subjects and four additional otherwise missed occult lesions. Consequently, this pH-activatable optical imaging agent may be clinically beneficial in differentiating previously unexploitable narrow physiologic differences.
Elastomeric polyamide biomaterials with stereochemically tuneable mechanical properties and shape memory
Authors: Worch Joshua C. , Weems Andrew C. , Yu Jiayi , Arno Maria C. , Wilks Thomas R. , Huckstepp Robert T. R. , O’Reilly Rachel K. , Becker Matthew L. , Dove Andrew P.
Published: June 2020

Biocompatible polymers are widely used in tissue engineering and biomedical device applications. However, few biomaterials are suitable for use as long-term implants and these examples usually possess limited property scope, can be difficult to process, and are non-responsive to external stimuli. Here, we report a class of easily processable polyamides with stereocontrolled mechanical properties and high-fidelity shape memory behaviour. We synthesise these materials using the efficient nucleophilic thiol-yne reaction between a dipropiolamide and dithiol to yield an α,β − unsaturated carbonyl moiety along the polymer backbone. By rationally exploiting reaction conditions, the alkene stereochemistry is modulated between 35–82%ciscontent and the stereochemistry dictates the bulk material properties such as tensile strength, modulus, and glass transition. Further access to materials possessing a broader range of thermal and mechanical properties is accomplished by polymerising a variety of commercially available dithiols with the dipropiolamide monomer.