bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient preferences for active surveillance vs standard surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in oesophageal cancer treatment: The NOSANO‐study
Authors: Hermus Merel , van der Wilk Berend J. , Chang Rebecca T. H. , Collee Gerlise , Noordman Bo J. , Coene Peter‐Paul L. O. , Dekker Jan Willem T. , Hartgrink Henk H. , Heisterkamp Joos , Nieuwenhuijzen Grard A. P. , Rosman Camiel , Timmermans Liesbeth , Wijnhoven Bas P. L. , van der Zijden Charlène J. , Busschbach Jan J. , van Lanschot J. Jan B. , Lagarde Sjoerd M. , Kranenburg Leonieke W.
Published: October 2022

Active surveillance may be a safe and effective treatment in oesophageal cancer patients with a clinically complete response after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). In the NOSANO‐study we gained insight in patients' motive to opt for either an experimental treatment called active surveillance or for standard immediate surgery. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses methods were used. Forty patients were interviewed about their treatment preference, 3 months after completion of nCRT (T1). Data were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed according to the principles of grounded theory. In addition, at T1 and T2 (12 months after completion of nCRT) questionnaires on health‐related quality of life, coping, anxiety and decisional regret (only T2) were administered. Interview data analyses resulted in a conceptual model with ‘dealing with threat of cancer’ as the central theme. Patients preferring active surveillance tend to cope with this threat by confiding in their bodies and good outcomes. Their mind‐set is one of ‘enjoy life now’. Patients preferring surgery tend to cope by minimizing uncertainty and eliminating the source of cancer. Their mind‐set is one of ‘don't give up, act now’. Furthermore, questionnaire results showed that patients with a preference for standard surgery had a lower quality of life. Patient preferences are individualized and thus difficult to predict. Our model can help healthcare professionals to determine patient preferences for treatment. Coping style and mind‐set seem to be determining factors here.
Incidence of cervical precancerous lesions and cervical cancer in Denmark from 2000 to 2019: Population impact of multi‐cohort vaccination against human papillomavirus infection
Authors: Ring Linea Landgrebe , Munk Christian , Galanakis Michael , Tota Joseph E. , Thomsen Louise T. , Kjaer Susanne K.
Published: October 2022

In Denmark, vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) has been implemented in the children's vaccination program (January 2009) and in multiple catch‐up cohorts (October 2008 in girls 13‐15 years and in August 2012 in women up to 27 years). In the present study we estimate incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3), adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma (AC) during 2000‐2019. All cases of CIN3 and AIS were identified from the nationwide Pathology Data Bank, while SCC and AC were identified from the Danish Cancer Registry. We calculated age‐standardized incidence rates and estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for the periods before vaccination implementation (2000‐2005), early after implementation of childhood HPV vaccination and the first catch‐up vaccination program (2006‐2012), and after implementation of the second catch‐up program (2013‐2019). For CIN3 and AIS, age‐specific incidence rates and EAPCs were calculated. An increasing age‐standardized incidence was observed before introduction of HPV vaccination (2000‐2005) for CIN3 [EAPCCIN3: 3.0 (95% CI 1.7 to 4.3)] and AIS [EAPCAIS: 3.5 (95% CI 0.7 to 6.4)]. In the most recent period (2013‐2019), following implementation of the second catch‐up program, a decrease was observed for both CIN3 [EAPCCIN3: ‐6.5 (95% CI ‐8.3 to −4.8)], AIS [EAPCAIS: ‐8.7 (95% CI ‐12.3 to −5.1)] and for SCC [EAPCSCC: ‐3.9 (95% CI ‐7.5 to −0.2)]. In this study we document a decrease in the incidence of CIN3, AIS and SCC in the period after implementation of multi‐cohort HPV vaccination in Denmark.
More than a buzz word: Building diversity, equity, and inclusion into pharmacy residency recruitment
Authors: Hovey Sara W. , Arif Sally A. , Khan Ayesha M. , Hyderi Alifiya F. , Varughese Christy , Peksa Gary D. , Flint Nora
Published: October 2022

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are increasingly recognized as important within the health care environment, however, persons of marginalized backgrounds remain underrepresented in the health care workforce. In recent years, pharmacy organizations have risen to the national call to address structural racism by summoning an increased focus on DEI within the profession, including post‐graduate pharmacy training programs. Despite this increased focus, specific steps to increase DEI and decrease discrimination within individual programs remain difficult to ascertain. In this “How To” article, we discuss steps taken to increase DEI within a pharmacy residency program at a major academic medical center including changes made to residency recruitment practices and preceptor education.
Studying the genotoxic effects of high intensity terahertz radiation on fibroblasts and CNS tumor cells
Authors: Sitnikov Dmitry S. , Revkova Veronika A. , Ilina Inna V. , Gurova Svetlana A. , Komarov Pavel S. , Struleva Evgenia V. , Konoplyannikov Mikhail A. , Kalsin Vladimir A. , Baklaushev Vladimir P.
Published: October 2022

The data is obtained on the effect of high‐intensity pulses of terahertz (THz) radiation with a broad spectrum (0.2–3 THz) on cell cultures. We have evaluated the threshold exposure parameters of THz radiation causing genotoxic effects in fibroblasts. Phosphorylation of histone H2AX at Ser 139 (γH2AX) was chosen as a marker for genotoxicity and a quantitative estimation of γH2AX foci number in fibroblasts was performed after cell irradiation with THz pulses for 30 min. No genotoxic effects of THz radiation were observed in fibroblasts unless peak intensity and electric field strength exceeded 21 GW cm−2 and 2.8 MV cm−1, respectively. In tumor cell lines (neuroblastoma (SK‐N‐BE (2)) and glioblastoma (U87)), exposure to THz pulses with peak intensity of 21 GW cm−2 for 30 min caused no morphological changes as well as no statistically significant increase in histone phosphorylation foci number.
Degradation of Bone Quality in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer′s Disease
Authors: LLabre Joan E , Gil Cristianel , Amatya Neha , Lagalwar Sarita , Possidente Bernard , Vashishth Deepak
Published: October 2022

Alzheimer′s disease (AD) patients present with symptoms such as impairment of insulin signaling, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Furthermore, there are comorbidities associated with AD progression. For example, osteoporosis is common with AD wherein patients exhibit reduced mineralization and a risk for fragility fractures. However, there is a lack of understanding on the effects of AD on bone beyond loss of bone density. To this end, we investigated the effects of AD on bone quality using the 5XFAD transgenic mouse model in which 12-month-old 5XFAD mice showed accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ42) compared with wild-type (WT) littermates (n = 10/group; 50% female, 50% male). Here, we observed changes in cortical bone but not in cancellous bone quality. Both bone mass and bone quality, measured in femoral samples using imaging (micro-CT, confocal Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction [XRD]), mechanical (fracture tests), and chemical analyses (biochemical assays), were altered in the 5XFAD mice compared with WT. Micro-CT results showed 5XFAD mice had lower volumetric bone mineral density (BMD) and increased endocortical bone loss. XRD results showed decreased mineralization with smaller mineral crystals. Bone matrix compositional properties, from Raman, showed decreased crystallinity along with higher accumulation of glycoxidation products and glycation products, measured biochemically. 5XFAD mice also demonstrated loss of initiation and maximum toughness. We observed that carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) and mineralization correlated with initiation toughness, whereas crystal size and pentosidine (PEN) correlated with maximum toughness, suggesting bone matrix changes predominated by advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and altered/poor mineral quality explained loss of fracture toughness. Our findings highlight two pathways to skeletal fragility in AD through alteration of bone quality: (i) accumulation of AGEs; and (ii) loss of crystallinity, decreased crystal size, and loss of mineralization. We observed that the accumulation of amyloidosis in brain correlated with an increase in several AGEs, consistent with a mechanistic link between elevated Aβ42 levels in the brain and AGE accumulation in bone. © 2022 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Relief of CoA sequestration and restoration of mitochondrial function in a mouse model of propionic acidemia
Authors: Subramanian Chitra , Frank Matthew W. , Tangallapally Rajendra , Yun Mi‐Kyung , White Stephen W. , Lee Richard E. , Rock Charles O. , Jackowski Suzanne
Published: October 2022

Propionic acidemia (PA, OMIM 606054) is a devastating inborn error of metabolism arising from mutations that reduce the activity of the mitochondrial enzyme propionyl‐CoA carboxylase (PCC). The defects in PCC reduce the concentrations of nonesterified coenzyme A (CoASH), thus compromising mitochondrial function and disrupting intermediary metabolism. Here, we use a hypomorphic PA mouse model to test the effectiveness of BBP‐671 in correcting the metabolic imbalances in PA. BBP‐671 is a high‐affinity allosteric pantothenate kinase activator that counteracts feedback inhibition of the enzyme to increase the intracellular concentration of CoA. Liver CoASH and acetyl‐CoA are depressed in PA mice and BBP‐671 treatment normalizes the cellular concentrations of these two key cofactors. Hepatic propionyl‐CoA is also reduced by BBP‐671 leading to an improved intracellular C3:C2‐CoA ratio. Elevated plasma C3:C2‐carnitine ratio and methylcitrate, hallmark biomarkers of PA, are significantly reduced by BBP‐671. The large elevations of malate and α‐ketoglutarate in the urine of PA mice are biomarkers for compromised tricarboxylic acid cycle activity and BBP‐671 therapy reduces the amounts of both metabolites. Furthermore, the low survival of PA mice is restored to normal by BBP‐671. These data show that BBP‐671 relieves CoA sequestration, improves mitochondrial function, reduces plasma PA biomarkers, and extends the lifespan of PA mice, providing the preclinical foundation for the therapeutic potential of BBP‐671.
Evaluation of CORDEX‐CORE regional climate models in simulating rainfall variability in Rwanda
Authors: Safari Bonfils , Sebaziga Joseph Ndakize , Siebert Asher
Published: October 2022

In this study, three regional climate models (RCMs), CCLM5‐0‐15, RegCM4‐7 and REMO2015, from CORDEX‐CORE (AFR‐22) are evaluated in their ability to reproduce rainfall variability in Rwanda for the period 1981–2005. They are driven by three different global climate models (GCMs), namely MPI‐M‐MPI‐ESM‐LR, NCC‐NorESM1‐M and MOHC‐HadGEM2‐ES, and the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis (ECMWF‐ERAINT). Simulated rainfall is evaluated against observations from Rwanda Meteorology Agency to assess models' performance. A set of metrics are used to quantify discrepancies of models' simulations from observations. A possible association of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) to rainfall over Rwanda is investigated. It is found that in general, all RCMs, their ensemble and multimodel ensemble means reproduce satisfactorily the spatial distribution of the mean seasonal rainfall (MSR), the mean rainfall annual cycle, and the interannual variability of the MSR for both March–April–May (MAM) and October–November–December (OND). However, significant biases in individual RCMs are observed with varying magnitude of bias in space. Observed MSR indicates a positive trend of 0.045 and 0.058 mm·day·year−1, respectively, for MAM and OND at 0.05 significance level, but almost all models indicate no significant trend (at 0.05 significance level). The seasonal correlations between observed rainfall anomalies and sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies indices across the tropical Pacific (Niño1+2 and Niño3.4) and Indian Oceans associated, respectively, with ENSO and IOD, although relatively weak, are reproduced by the three RCMs driven by ECMWF‐ERAINT and the multimodel ensemble means of ECMWF‐ERAINT and MPI‐M‐MPI‐ESM‐LR. Analysis of the Taylor diagram indicates that CCLM5‐0‐15_MPI‐M‐MPI‐ESM‐LR and the multimodel ensemble mean of MPI‐M‐MPI‐ESM‐LR outperform individual models. Overall, the evaluation finds reasonable model skill in representing seasonal rainfall climatology and variability, suggesting the potential use of CORDEX‐CORE (AFR‐22) RCMs for the assessment of future climate projections in Rwanda.
Redox‐ and pH‐Responsive Water‐Soluble Flexible Organic Frameworks Realize Synergistic Tumor Photodynamic and Chemotherapeutic Therapy
Authors: Feng Yuxin , Long Yan , Guo Jiahe , Yang Xiaofan , Song Heng
Published: October 2022

Water‐soluble 3D polymers with inherent nanoscale pores have been shown to be ideal platforms for the inclusion and delivery of drugs and hold a great promise as biocompatible materials for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Herein, a low cytotoxic water‐soluble flexible organic framework FOF‐S6 with a hydrodynamic diameter of about 127.5 nm is synthesized through the formation of a hydrazone bond from a semirigid tetraaldehyde and a flexible biacylhydrazines which contains a disulfide bond (1:2). FOF‐S6 has the ability to dissociate and release inclusion complexes in response to weakly acidic media and glutathione (GSH) overexpressed in tumor cells. More importantly, a facile strategy is developed to contain and deliver aggregation‐induced emission photosensitizers (AIE PS, TBD‐DQA‐540) and chemotherapeutic drugs (Doxorubicin hydrochloride, DOX). DOX‐PS@FOF‐S6 is synthesized by a one‐pot method, which can realize efficient photo‐chemotherapy under the guidance of fluorescence imaging, thereby improving the multidrug resistance of tumor cells and the instability of photosensitizers, so as to improve the tumor treatment efficacy.
Perspectives in the vaccine development against Opisthorchis viverrini liver fluke
Authors: Shalash Ahmed O. , Skwarczynski Mariusz , Toth Istvan
Published: October 2022

Liver flukes, Opisthorchis viverrini, infect around 10 million individuals in Southeast Asia, alone, and cause 26,000 deaths in the region per year. Despite being classified as a Group 1 carcinogen, and presenting one of the leading causes of cholangiocarcinoma in epidemic areas, O. viverrini infection is a neglected tropical disease. Control measures were implemented in epidemic areas to limit the outspread of infection; however, prophylactic vaccines are urgently needed to protect against future reinfections. This holds especially true due to the limited curative efficacy of the approved anthelmintic drug. In this article, we have briefly summarized the recently reported information regarding hepatobiliary cancer pathogenesis, approved treatment, and control measures against infection. Further, we highlighted the progress in the identification of protective antigens against Opisthorchiasis and proposed the investigation of additional promising antigens relying on vaccine progress against related infectious parasites. We highlighted the relative efficacies of the developed preclinical vaccines, suggested alternative vaccine designs and combinations, and commented on the required immunological responses. Moreover, we also reviewed biomaterials used in vaccine delivery against O. viverrini infections, summarized all the reported vaccine design approaches against the disease, and provided future perspectives regarding vaccine development, the utilization of biomaterials, and the discovery of highly protective antigens.
A novel variant in the HX repeat motif of ATN1 in a Chinese patient with CHEDDA syndrome and literature review
Authors: Luo Sukun , Hu Yanqiu , Xiong Ping , Tan Li , Zhao Peiwei , Huang Yufeng , Xiao Cuiping , Zhu Hongmin , He Xuelian
Published: October 2022

Background

CHEDDA syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental syndrome caused by heterozygous missense or indel variants in the HX repeat motif of ATN1 gene. To date, CHEDDA has been identified in a few ethnic groups, and only 17 patients have been reported in literature, and no case has been reported in any country or region in Asia.

Methods

Trio‐exome sequencing (Trio‐ES) examination was conducted in a Chinese girl with global developmental delay and in her parents. Sanger sequencing was performed to confirm the candidate variant.

Results

This patient presented with mental and motor developmental delay, speech delay, and mild dysmorphic facial features, and had no epilepsy and visual impairment. Brain MRI did not show obvious structural abnormality. Through ES we identified a novel and de novo variant, c.3176_c.3177insGCACCT (p.Ser1059_His1060insHisLeu), within the HX motif of ATN1. No other pathogenic variant in another gene was found to support an alternative clinical and molecular diagnosis.

Conclusions

This is the first described case of CHEDDA from China. Together with the available literature data, we found that either disruption of HX motif or alteration of the HX repeat number would lead to ATN1‐associated CHEDDA. We also noted that CHEDDA is a clinical heterogenous syndrome, and patients carrying the same or similar variant might have different clinical manifestations and prognosis.
Discrete exterior calculus for photonic crystal waveguides
Authors: Mönkölä Sanna , Räty Joona
Published: October 2022

The discrete exterior calculus (DEC) is very promising, though not yet widely used, discretization method for photonic crystal (PC) waveguides. It can be seen as a generalization of the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The DEC enables efficient time evolution by construction and fits well for nonhomogeneous computational domains and obstacles of curved surfaces. These properties are typically present in applications of PC waveguides that are constructed as periodic structures of inhomogeneities in a computational domain. We present a two‐dimensional DEC discretization for PC waveguides and demonstrate it with a selection of numerical experiments typical in the application area. We also make a numerical comparison of the method with the FDTD method that is a mainstream method for simulating PC structures. Numerical results demonstrate the advantages of the DEC method.
Development of generic student engagement scale in higher education: An application on healthcare students
Authors: Li Shuang , Kwok Stephen Wai Hang , Siu Summer Cho Ngan , Chung Jessie Yuk Seng , Lam Hemio Chung Yan , Tsang Eva Yuen Mei , Li Kam Cheong , Yeung Joanna Wing Yan , Lam Simon Ching
Published: October 2022

Aim

Student engagement is an important factor to the success of higher education. This study aimed to develop a Generic Student Engagement Scale (GSES) for face‐to‐face and online learning.

Design

This was a cross‐sectional psychometric study.

Methods

We tested the psychometric properties of GSES in 451 students at the school of nursing and health studies undertaking online and face‐to‐face learning at a local university in Hong Kong between 2016 and 2018.

Results

Content validity, face validity and test–retest reliability of GSES were satisfactory. The 29‐item GSES contains five factors “self‐regulated learning,” “cognitive strategy use,” “experienced emotion,” “teacher–student interaction,” and “enjoyment of school life” with the good model fit. The GSES is a reliable and valid psychometric instrument to measure student engagement in face‐to‐face and online learning among undergraduates and higher diploma students. Our results implied that student engagement can be assessed in routine or research by using our instrument.
Easing the transition from nurse clinician to nurse educator in Ghana: Exploring novice nurse educators' perspectives
Authors: Laari Timothy Tienbia , Apiribu Felix , Mensah Adwoa Bemah Boamah , Dzomeku Veronica Millicent , Amooba Philemon Adoliwine
Published: October 2022

Aim

To explore novice nurse educators' perspectives on easing the transition from nurse clinician to nurse educator in Ghana.

Design

A descriptive qualitative study.

Methods

In total, 12 novice nurse educators (NNEs) were recruited from three health training institutions in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Between June and August 2020, individual in‐depth interviews were conducted using a semi‐structured interview guide. The audio‐recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed manually using thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes emerged: mentoring, orientation to educator role, pedagogical preparation and postgraduate studies. To ease the transition, NNEs stressed on developing individual mentoring programmes to mentor novices before they start to teach. They endorsed the development of college‐specific orientation programmes to orientate novices before they assume full teaching roles. Participants also urged nurse clinicians to obtain pedagogical preparation and postgraduate degree before moving into academia or immediately after being employed.
Question banks for effective online assessments in introductory science courses
Authors: Krzic Maja , Brown Sandra
Published: October 2022

The transition of our large (∼300 student) introductory soil science course to the online setting created several challenges, including engaging first‐ and second‐year students, providing meaningful hands‐on learning activities, and setting up online exams. The objective of this paper is to describe the development and use of question banks for online exams and other forms of assessment in an introductory soil science course. Use of question banks for the development of the online exams, especially in large classes, may be advantageous due to time saving features such as automatic marking of quiz style questions, the ability to easily setup practice exams, and question randomization to reduce the risk of misconduct. Instructors should keep in mind that questions in the question banks should be aligned with course learning outcomes, and organized by theme and level of difficulty. Through a case study of this course, we hope to provide lessons learned which may be applicable to other large introductory science courses.
Targeting the β2‐adrenergic receptor increases chemosensitivity in multiple myeloma by induction of apoptosis and modulating cancer cell metabolism
Authors: Satilmis Hatice , Verheye Emma , Vlummens Philip , Oudaert Inge , Vandewalle Niels , Fan Rong , Knight Jennifer M , De Beule Nathan , Ates Gamze , Massie Ann , Moreaux Jerome , Maes Anke , De Bruyne Elke , Vanderkerken Karin , Menu Eline , Sloan Erica K , De Veirman Kim
Published: October 2022

While multi‐drug combinations and continuous treatment have become standard for multiple myeloma, the disease remains incurable. Repurposing drugs that are currently used for other indications could provide a novel approach to improve the therapeutic efficacy of standard multiple myeloma treatments. Here, we assessed the anti‐tumor effects of cardiac drugs called β‐blockers as a single agent and in combination with commonly used anti‐myeloma therapies. Expression of the β2‐adrenergic receptor correlated with poor survival outcomes in patients with multiple myeloma. Targeting the β2‐adrenergic receptor (β2AR) using either selective or non‐selective β‐blockers reduced multiple myeloma cell viability, and induced apoptosis and autophagy. Blockade of the β2AR modulated cancer cell metabolism by reducing the mitochondrial respiration as well as the glycolytic activity. These effects were not observed by blockade of β1‐adrenergic receptors. Combining β2AR blockade with the chemotherapy drug melphalan or the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib significantly increased apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells. These data identify the therapeutic potential of β2AR‐blockers as a complementary or additive approach in multiple myeloma treatment and support the future clinical evaluation of non‐selective β‐blockers in a randomized controlled trial. © 2022 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Imaging of pediatric bone tumors: A COG Diagnostic Imaging Committee/SPR Oncology Committee White Paper
Authors: Cederberg Kevin B. , Iyer Ramesh S. , Chaturvedi Apeksha , McCarville M. B. , McDaniel Janice D. , Sandberg Jesse K. , Shammas Amer , Sharp Susan E. , Nadel Helen R.
Published: October 2022

Malignant primary bone tumors are uncommon in the pediatric population, accounting for 3%–5% of all pediatric malignancies. Osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma comprise 90% of malignant primary bone tumors in children and adolescents. This paper provides consensus‐based recommendations for imaging in children with osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma at diagnosis, during therapy, and after therapy.
Synergistic effect of hybrid hydroxylated boron nitride and cellulose nanocrystals for enhancing the thermal, mechanical, and hydrophobic properties of composite film
Authors: Sathwane Manoj , Chhajed Monika , Verma Chhavi , Gaikwad Kirtiraj K. , Maji Pradip K.
Published: October 2022

Hybrid composite films are largely preferred over neat films because of their superior thermal, mechanical, chemical, and hydrophobic properties. The hybrid composite film has a wide range of use, including space, defense, electronics, packaging, and engineering applications. Fabricating multifunctional hybrid composite films with biodegradable polymer and biodegradable filler such as cellulose nanocrystals has become popular in recent years as an alternative to conventional plastics. In this paper, hybrid hydroxylated boron nitride (BN) nanoparticles with CNC nano‐filer reinforced composite PVA films were fabricated. The obtained composite films were characterized for morphological, chemical, physical, thermal, and hydrophobic properties. The morphological analysis indicates that the hybrid nano‐filler was well dispersed in the poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) matrix. The reaction and hydrogen bond interactions between CNC and BN in composite films are confirmed by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and x‐ray diffraction pattern. The contact angle method is used to confirm the enhancement of the hydrophobic property. The physical properties of the composite films and neat PVA film were analyzed by tensile test method using a universal testing machine. The thermal stability of the neat PVA film and the composite films were analyzed by the thermo‐gravimetric analysis method. The effect of hybridization of nanoparticles on the thermal, mechanical, and hydrophobic properties was studied. The hybrid composite film with enhanced properties allows it for multifunctional applications.
Quality of rheumatoid arthritis recording in United Kingdom Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum
Authors: Vasilakis‐Scaramozza Catherine , Hagberg Katrina Wilcox , Persson Rebecca , Yelland Eleanor , Williams Tim , Myles Puja , Jick Susan S.
Published: October 2022

Purpose

While several studies have assessed quality and completeness of recording acute medical events in Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum, evaluation of additional chronic conditions is warranted.

Methods

We selected patients with a first diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) coded in their CPRD Aurum record between 2005 and 2019. We assessed quality of RA diagnosis by evaluating additional information in the patient record that would corroborate the diagnosis. We report recording of diagnoses, prescriptions, labs, and referrals expected to be present based on NICE guidelines for RA management.

Results

There were 53 083 patients with a first recorded RA diagnosis during the study period: 43606 (82%) patients had RA drug treatments in their record, 7596 (14%) had supporting codes without drug treatment, and 1881 (4%) patients had only a RA diagnoses recorded in their medical record with no supporting codes or RA treatments. Patients with RA diagnosis only were more likely to be first diagnosed in the earliest time period of study. Labs for diagnosing and monitoring RA were most common among patients with RA treatment. Analgesic and glucocorticoid prescriptions were common in all study patients but were highest among patients with RA treatment. Among patients with RA diagnosis only, the overwhelming majority had only one RA diagnosis recorded (76%).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that codes expected for monitoring and treatment of RA are routinely recorded in CPRD Aurum. These results support previous assessments, which found data recorded in CPRD Aurum to be of good quality for use in research.
Extruded polymer instability study of the polylactic acid in fused filament fabrication process: Printing speed effects on tensile strength
Authors: Akhoundi Behnam , Hajami Faramarz
Published: October 2022

In recent years, additive manufacturing (AM) processes have allowed the building of complex parts and objects with favorable geometric shapes without the need for fabricating special tools. In AM, objects are built layer by layer. Advantages include the possibility of forming complex shapes, reduced waste, no special requirements, and so forth. A critical parameter to consider in AM technologies is the processing (printing) speed, which, if increased, can reduce production (printing) time and expenses. Thus, speeding up the production time in AM has always been paramount. In recent years, fused filament fabrication (FFF) has been extensively developed due to straightforward processing, reliability, and ability to build complex objects and parts from thermoplastic materials. In addition to simplicity, this method has some shortcomings, including low printing speed and instability during the rasters deposition when speeding up the printing process, which is investigated in this study. The results showed that the nozzle height from the work‐piece surface and nozzle diameter play a critical role in the process instability. Additionally, there is a critical limit in the formation of molten instability independent of the printing speed. Furthermore, the effect of printing speed on tensile strength was investigated. The results showed that optimizing the nozzle temperature and the extra extrusion multiplier allows printing a high‐quality part having optimum tensile and mechanical properties by the maximum printing speed.
Advances in laser powder bed fusion thanks to beam shaping
Authors: Bayol Julien , Pallier Gwenn
Published: October 2022

Cailabs have designed a reconfigurable beam shaper dedicated to the laser powder bed fusion process that is able to produce an ellipse, ring or round top‐hat beam profile in the processing plane. This study highlights the potential of beam shaping to improve the quality and productivity of the additive manufacturing process. Using a machine which was not initially able to print Inconel 939, the round top‐hat shape made it possible with a large scan speed process window.
The relative favorability of placing substituents ortho or para in the cationic intermediate for electrophilic aromatic substitution
Authors: Rablen Paul R. , Yett Ariana
Published: October 2022

Regioselectivity in electrophilic aromatic substitution (EAS) is partly governed by how well a preexisting substituent stabilizes or destabilizes the cationic intermediate formed by addition of an electrophile. Such intermediates were modeled computationally (G4) by adding a proton ortho, meta, or para to an existing substituent on a benzene ring. The effect of a meta substituent depends on the electronic character, as measured by the Hammett substituent constant σm or, better yet, σ+m. Similarly, the effect of a para or ortho substituent correlates with σ+p (= σ+). However, the influence of a substituent at the para position is 10% stronger than at the ortho position. Frontier molecular orbital arguments rationalize this observation. Consequently, the ortho:para product ratio in EAS is expected to depend, at least in part, on σ+p, with greater electron‐donating character associated with a greater preference for para over ortho. The ortho‐substituted cationic intermediate can even be favored over both meta and para if the electron‐withdrawing character is sufficient to favor ortho over para but insufficient to favor meta over either. This phenomenon is observed to occur in at least some cases when the quantity σ+p–σm falls between –0.5 and 0.
International collaboration for assessing unmet needs of cancer survivors and family caregivers: Lens of healthcare professionals
Authors: Kim Youngmee , Ting Amanda , Carver Charles S. , Bahcivan Ozan , Bergerot Cristiane Decat , Csaba Degi , Estape Tania , Fujisawa Daisuke , Goswami Savita S. , Tak Lam Wendy Wing , Parvu Andrada , Shim Eun‐Jung , Serpentini Samantha , Takeuchi Emi , Wang Ashley
Published: October 2022

Objective

Cancer patients and their family caregivers have reported various needs that are not met. Recognition of the unmet needs by healthcare professionals may be a first step to adequately and systematically addressing them. Thus, the International Psycho‐Oncology Society Survivorship Online Survey was developed to measure healthcare professionals' evaluation about the unmet needs of their patients and family caregivers around the globe.

Methods

The survey was developed in English and translated to additional 14 different languages. The survey was distributed on the web‐based REDCap application to over 50 psycho‐oncology societies and their networking platforms as well as social media and to authors who have published in psycho‐oncology journals globally.

Results

A total of 1472 participants from 36 countries at least partially completed the survey. Healthcare professionals evaluated needs for managing one's emotional distress and patients' medical care and symptoms as the most common concerns for both patients and their family caregivers across all patient age groups. Less than two‐thirds of the participating healthcare professionals reported that their institution had services or programs to address the needs of the patients or caregivers.

Conclusions

Findings suggest several directions for further analyses to provide more specific information that would be readily translated into clinical practices, research, and policy aimed to enhance the quality of life of cancer patients, survivors, and family caregivers around the globe. In addition, this collaborative effort also hints at the importance of establishing international networks to promote equity in care for people touched by cancer worldwide.
ArtiaX: An electron tomography toolbox for the interactive handling of sub‐tomograms in UCSF ChimeraX
Authors: Ermel Utz H. , Arghittu Serena M. , Frangakis Achilleas S.
Published: October 2022

Cryo‐electron tomography analysis involves the selection of macromolecular complexes to be used for subsequent sub‐tomogram averaging and structure determination. Here, we describe a plugin developed for UCSF ChimeraX that allows for the display, selection, and editing of particles within tomograms. Positions and orientations of selected particles can be manually set, modified and inspected in real time, both on screen and in virtual reality, and exported to various file formats. The plugin allows for the parallel visualization of particles stored in several meta data lists, in the context of any three‐dimensional image that can be opened with UCSF ChimeraX. The particles are rendered in user‐defined colors or using colormaps, such that individual classes or groups of particles, cross‐correlation coefficients, or other types of information can be highlighted to the user. The implemented functions are fast, reliable, and intuitive, exploring the broad range of features in UCSF ChimeraX. They allow for a fluent human–machine interaction, which enables an effective understanding of the sub‐tomogram processing pipeline, even for non‐specialist users.
Experiments and Analysis of a Nonlinear Sickle‐Shaped Cantilever Beam Piezoelectric Energy Harvester for Wind Energy Harvesting
Authors: Yu Gang , He Lipeng , Wang Shuangjian , Tian Xiaochao , Zheng Xiaotian , Cheng Guangming
Published: October 2022

Achieving broadband energy harvesting at low frequencies is a difficult area of research today. To solve the aforementioned problems, herein, a nonlinear sickle‐shaped cantilever beam piezoelectric energy harvester (S‐PEH) for wind energy harvesting is proposed. It has a high‐voltage output in the wind speed range of 5.37–18.23 m s−1. The S‐PEH is consists of a collector and a transducer. The collector converts wind energy into rotating mechanical energy and excites the transducer by means of magnetic coupling, thus realizing the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical energy. The special structure of the transducer's sickle‐shaped cantilever beam type can effectively harvest wind energy in low‐frequency environment and broaden the range of harvesting wind speed in high voltage. The structure and principle of S‐PEH are analyzed by theory and simulation and are experimentally verified. The results show that when the magnet on the rotor is 15 mm away from the magnet of the piezoelectric sheet, the transducer angle is 90°, the load resistance is 100 kΩ, the voltage of the blower is kept at 120 V, and the system has a maximum power of 563 μW. Moreover, it can successfully make low‐power electronics work.
Effect of Erbium Oxide on Luminescence and Spectroscopy Properties of a Zinc Barium Boro‐Tellurite Glass System for Photonic Applications
Authors: Yasaka Patarawagee , Boonin Kitipun , Kaewkhao Jakrapong , Rajaramakrishna Rajanavaneethakrishna , Kothan Suchart
Published: October 2022

This research investigates the luminescence and spectroscopy properties of boro‐tellurite glass doped with Er3+ ions. The series of glass is (30−x)TeO2–30B2O3–10ZnO–30BaO–xEr2O3 where x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.50, 1.00, and 1.50 mol%. The glass is synthesized by melt‐quenching technique. The physical properties such as density and molar volume are evaluated. The concentration quenching effect is observed at 1.00 mol% of Er2O3 concentration. The molar volume and density of the present glasses show an opposite trend with increasing Er2O3 concentration suggesting more structural degradation due to non‐bridging oxygen. The strongest intensity of absorption spectra occurs at 525 nm. The emission spectra shows an emission peak at 1.54 μm of 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition when monitored at 525 nm. Judd–Ofelt (J–O) analysis is employed to calculate the oscillator strength, stimulated emission cross‐section, branching ratios, and a radiative lifetime of the prepared glass samples. McCumber theory is employed to understand the gain coefficients of the glasses. The data obtained reveal that these glasses doped Er3+ ion suits to be a potential candidate for C‐band optical communication devices.
The effect of bergamot (KoksalGarry) supplementation on lipid profiles: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Sadeghi‐dehsahraei Hamed , Esmaeili Gouvarchin Ghaleh Hadi , Mirnejad Reza , Parastouei Karim
Published: October 2022

This systematic review and meta‐analysis were conducted to evaluate the impact of bergamot (KoksalGarry) and its nutraceutical compounds on lipid profiles. PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, and Google Scholar searched for relevant articles. Trials investigating the effect of oral bergamot supplementation on serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) in adults were included. The mean differences and standard deviations were pooled using a random‐effects model. Fourteen trials were included in this systematic review and meta‐analysis. Bergamot supplementation significantly decreased serum levels of TC (weighted mean difference (WMD): −63.60 mg/dL; 95% CI: −78.03 to −49.18; p < .001), TG (WMD: −74.72 mg/dL; 95% CI: −83.58 to −65.87; p < .001), LDL‐C (WMD: −55.43 mg/dL; 95% CI: −67.26 to −43.60; p < .001), and increased HDL‐C (WMD: 5.78 mg/dL; 95% CI: 3.27 to 8.28; p < .001), respectively. Our systematic review of the effects of nutraceuticals containing bergamot on lipid markers showed inconsistent results. The results showed that bergamot supplementation might improve lipid profiles. The findings for nutraceutical compounds containing bergamot were inconsistent. However, the clinical efficacy of bergamot on lipid profiles needs to be further established through higher‐quality studies.
Chinese dragon's blood ethyl acetate extract suppresses gastric cancer progression through induction of apoptosis and autophagy mediated by activation of MAPK and downregulation of the mTOR‐Beclin1 signalling cascade
Authors: Ouyang Lishan , Li Jiaqi , Chen Xiaonan , Huang Huiming , Tian Yingying , Li Xingxing , Pang Daoran , Wei Xuejiao , Xie Jinxin , Wang Longyan , Liu Dongxiao , Tu Pengfei , Li Jun , Hu Zhongdong
Published: October 2022

Gastric cancer (GC) is a malignancy with high morbidity and mortality. Chinese dragon's blood is a traditional Chinese medicine derived from the red resin of Dracaena cochinchinensis (Lour.) S. C. Chen. However, the antigastric cancer effect of Chinese dragon's blood has not yet been reported. Herein, we demonstrated that Chinese dragon's blood ethyl acetate extract (CDBEE) suppressed the proliferative and metastatic potential of human gastric cancer MGC‐803 and HGC‐27 cells. CDBEE suppressed epithelial–mesenchymal transition in MGC‐803 and HGC‐27 cells. Moreover, CDBEE induced apoptotic and autophagic cell death in MGC‐803 and HGC‐27 cells. The cytotoxicity of CDBEE in human gastric epithelial GES‐1 cells was dramatically weaker than that in human gastric cancer cells. Mechanistically, the activation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signalling pathway was involved in the growth inhibition of MGC‐803 and HGC‐27 cells by CDBEE. Additionally, CDBEE‐induced autophagic cell death was mediated by downregulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)‐Beclin1 signalling cascade and upregulation of the ATG3/ATG7‐LC3 signalling cascade. Importantly, CDBEE exhibited potent anti‐GC efficacy in vivo without obvious toxicity or side effects. Therefore, CDBEE may be a promising candidate drug for the treatment of gastric cancer, especially for GC patients with aberrant MAPK signalling or mTOR signalling.
The impacts of putting the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in the line of fire
Authors: Tsagkaris Christos , Matiashova Lolita , Isayeva Anna
Published: October 2022

The armed forces of the Russian Federation captured the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station after their invasion to Ukraine in February 2022. In early August 2022, reports about shelling of the station ignited fear of a nuclear accident. Simultaneously, the disruption in the generation of electricity from nuclear energy has fueled a notable increase in the price of oil. The compounding effect of these developments on global health includes acute and chronic radiation exposure, food insecurity due to the potential contamination of the environment and the rise in the cost of essential commodities, and limited access to healthcare. International and national governance bodies need to take action in order to mitigate the effects of this incident on health and prevent similar events in the future.
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of macrophage polarization and metabolic reprogramming in endometriosis: A narrative review
Authors: Kobayashi Hiroshi , Imanaka Shogo
Published: October 2022

Background

Endometriosis is an estrogen‐dependent disease and causes pelvic pain and infertility. The limits of current pharmacotherapy in women who desire to become pregnant prompt the development of various targeted molecules for more effective treatment. A review article focused on the unique aspect of cellular metabolic reprogramming of endometriotic cells has been reported. The cellular metabolic pathways are reprogrammed to adapt to a variety of environmental stresses (e.g., nutrient starvation or glucose deprivation, hypoxic stress, excessive reactive oxygen species generation, and other environmental factors). This review aims to summarize macrophage polarization and metabolic reprogramming in endometriosis.

Methods

A literature search was performed between January 2000 and March 2022 in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases using a combination of specific terms.

Results

Macrophage cellular metabolism has a marked influence on its phenotype and function. Preclinical studies showed that metabolic conversion toward glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation drives macrophage polarization to M1 or M2 phenotype, respectively. Such cellular metabolic rewiring can offer new therapeutic opportunities.

Conclusion

A better understanding of metabolic reprogramming biology in endometriosis‐associated macrophages is essential in considering novel therapeutic approach for endometriosis. However, there are currently no detailed studies on therapeutic strategies targeting the cellular metabolic properties of endometriosis‐associated macrophages.
Fixed‐time distributed optimization for multi‐agent systems with external disturbances over directed networks
Authors: Yu Zhiyong , Sun Jian , Yu Shuzhen , Jiang Haijun
Published: October 2022

This article considers the fixed‐time distributed optimization problem of multi‐agent systems with external disturbances, in which the global optimization objective is a convex combination of local objective functions. To solve this issue, a directed communication network is carefully designed, and an integral sliding mode control protocol is proposed based on the gradient of global objective function first. Moreover, two distributed optimal protocols are designed by using the gradient and the Hessian matrix of local objective function, respectively. By employing Lyapunov stability theory, graph theory, convex analysis, and inequality techniques, we prove that all proposed protocols can make agents achieve consensus and converge accurately to the optimal solution of the considered problem in some fixed‐time intervals. Finally, some numerical simulations are given to verify the feasibility of the theoretical results.
10.1: Development of Ultra‐Large 95inch 8K 120Hz OLED Display
Authors: Wu Zhongyuan , Li Yongqian , Yan Liangchen , Ye Lankai , Peng Yuqing , Shih Huaiting , Yu Jianwei , Dong Xue
Published: October 2022

We presented so far the world's first largest 95inch 8K OLED display. To develop this OLED display with ultra‐large size and ultra‐high resolution, we have employed the new pixel structure, high speed driving technology and advanced compensation technique. The stunning ultra‐large OLED display not only reproduce the high quality image, but also create an immersive experience that allow the audience to feel as if they were a part of the scene.
13.2: Review of Subjective evaluation method of high‐quality TV images
Authors: Li Pengfei , Fang Qing , Wu Youzhao , Ji Honglei
Published: October 2022

Vision is the most direct and effective way for humans to obtain information from the outside world. More than 80% of the information is transmitted to the brain through eyes. With the development of display technology, the picture received by the eyes is brighter, more vivid and clear. For such high‐quality display images, the objective evaluation system is slightly insufficient. Merely describing the image quality with parameters such as brightness, color gamut, and contrast is not completely consistent with consumers' real feelings. Therefore, subjective evaluation based on human vision is necessary to add to the image quality evaluation system. This article focuses on the domestic and international standards of subjective assessment methods for image quality, and reviews it from the perspectives of viewing conditions, observers, test preparation, test methods, and result analysis. Based on the above research, a subjective evaluation method suitable for high‐quality display devices is summarized.