bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of chronomodulated irinotecan, oxaliplatin, 5‐fluorouracil and leucovorin combination as first‐ or second‐line treatment against metastatic colorectal cancer: Results from the International EORTC 05011 Trial
Authors: Innominato Pasquale F. , Karaboué Abdoulaye , Focan Christian , Chollet Philippe , Giacchetti Sylvie , Bouchahda Mohamed , Ulusakarya Ayhan , Torsello Angela , Adam René , Lévi Francis A. , Garufi Carlo 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe triplet combination of irinotecan, oxaliplatin and fluorouracil is an active frontline regimen in metastatic colorectal cancer, but scarce data exist on its use as salvage treatment. We aimed at assessing its safety and efficacy profiles with its circadian‐based administration (chronoIFLO5) as either first‐ or second‐line treatment, within the time‐finding EORTC 05011 trial. Five‐day chronoIFLO5 was administered every 3 weeks in patients with PS 0, 1 or 2. It consisted of chronomodulated irinotecan (180 mg/sqm), oxaliplatin (80 mg/sqm) and fluorouracil‐leucovorin (2800 and 1200 mg/sqm, respectively). For our study, toxicity and antitumour activity were evaluated separately in first‐ and second‐line settings. Primary endpoints included Grade 3‐4 toxicity rates, best objective response rate (ORR), progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). One‐hundred forty‐nine and 44 patients were treated in first‐line and second‐line settings, respectively, with a total of 1138 cycles with median relative dose intensities of about 90%. Demographics were comparable in the two groups. Thirty‐six (24.7%) and 10 (22.2%) patients experienced at least one episode of severe toxicity in first line and second line, respectively. Frontline chronoIFLO5 yielded an ORR of 62.3% [95% CI: 54.2‐70.4] and resulted in median PFS and OS of 8.7 months [7.5‐9.9] and 19.9 months [15.4‐24.5]. Corresponding figures in second line were 37.5% [22.5‐52.5], 6.7 months [4.8‐8.9] and 16.3 months [11.8‐20.8]. International and prospective evaluation revealed the favourable safety and efficacy profiles of chronoIFLO5, both as frontline and as salvage treatment against metastatic colorectal cancer. In particular, encouraging activity in second line was observed, with limited haematological toxicity.
A cross‐country study on informed herding
Authors: Chen Tao 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe access to fundamental information prompts traders to buy or sell a security collectively until its market price arrives at the equilibrium value, which this paper terms informed herding. Using a large sample covering the tick‐by‐tick data, we conduct a cross‐country study to examine whether informed herding pervades in the international markets. The empirical finding lends strong support to the global presence of informed herding. Moreover, the effect of informed herding remains significant despite using various robustness checks. Eventually, we discover that informed herding is likely to be driven by two macro‐level institutional characteristics: corporate transparency and foreign accessibility.
In utero antiretroviral exposure and sociodemographic characteristics on neurodevelopment of HIV‐exposed uninfected children versus HIV‐unexposed uninfected healthy children in Malawi
Authors: Zhang Xiaohua , Wang Lirong , Han Jucai , Xie Li , Wu Ning , Nyirenda Rose , Shumba Khumbo , Simwanza Winson , Kulyk Oleksandr , Chilapondwa Verydear , Li Xu 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundTo evaluate mental development index (MDI) and psychomotor development index (PDI) scores of HIV‐exposed uninfected (HEU) children by timing of in utero antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation (Option B+) and sociodemographic characteristics compared with HIV‐unexposed uninfected (HUU) children in Mzuzu, Malawi.MethodsOne hundred HEU children and 100 HUU children aged 2–30 months were recruited. The differences in MDI and PDI scores between HEU and HUU children were tested by Student's t test, analysis of variance, Mann–Whitney U test, and logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe differences in MDI and PDI scores might be related to number of children in the family, delivery, place of residence, family income, complementary feeding, father's or mother's occupation, and degree of education. No significant difference in MDI and PDI scores between HEU and HUU children (P = 0.076 and P = 0.407) was found. Among HEU children, ART in the third trimester and beyond produced a lower PDI score compared with ART before pregnancy and in the first or second trimester (P = 0.027).ConclusionThe MDI and PDI scores of HEU subgroups with different timing of ART (Option B+) initiation were comparable to those of the HUU group. Early in utero ART initiation was associated with better neurodevelopmental outcomes than ART initiation in the third trimester and beyond.
Automated detection and classification of skin diseases using diverse features and improved gray wolf‐based multiple‐layer perceptron neural network
Authors: Melbin K. , Jacob Vetha Raj Y. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractOne of the largest organs of the human body is the skin and its pigmentation differs among the population. During skin disease identification, the dermatologist requires a high level of expertise and accuracy. This study proposes different kinds of skin image feature extraction and classification methods. In this work, we have chosen six kinds of skin diseases such as melanoma, seborrheic keratosis, eczema, actinic keratoses, nevus, and lupus erythematosus. In the preprocessing stage, the color standardization is performed by gray world color constancy (GWCC) algorithm. The thick and thin hairs from the disease images are removed in the preprocessing stage. The circular kernel with morphological operation clearly segments the skin lesion region. Moreover, the combination of novel cumulative‐based level difference mean (NCLDM) and improved Asymmetry, Border Irregularity, Color Variation and Diameter (ABCD) features vector (ABCD‐fv) methods is more helpful to extract the shape, texture, and color feature of skin lesion. However, the more features never offer an accurate classification result, so we go for the ranking and selection of features. Finally, the improved gray wolf‐based multiple‐layer perceptron (IGWO‐MLP) technique is used to produce the relevant skin disease class. For the experimentation, there are six datasets such as DermNet, Xiangya, Medicine Net, PH2, Kaggle, and HAM‐10000, which are chosen for effective skin disease identification. The proposed method demonstrates better segmentation, feature extraction, and classification result in terms of accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, Jaccard similarity index, and Dice similarity index. As a result, the skin disease identification of the proposed IGWO‐MLP method yields 98% accuracy, 99% sensitivity, 98% specificity, 98% Jaccard Similarity Index, and 99% Dice similarity index when compared with state‐of‐the‐art methods. This work will certainly help dermatologists to make their work more efficient and help them to provide the correct treatment for the skin disease detected.
Cointegration and control: Assessing the impact of events using time series data
Authors: Harvey Andrew , Thiele Stephen 
Published: December 2020

SummaryControl groups can provide counterfactual evidence for assessing the impact of an event or policy change on a target variable. We argue that fitting a multivariate time series model offers potential gains over a direct comparison between the target and a weighted average of controls. More importantly, it highlights the assumptions underlying methods such as difference in differences and synthetic control, suggesting ways to test these assumptions. Gains from simple and transparent time series models are analysed using examples from the literature, including the California smoking law of 1989 and German reunification. We argue that selecting controls using a time series strategy is preferable to existing data‐driven regression methods.
Separation of Co(II), Ni(II), Mn(II) and Li(I) from synthetic sulfuric acid leaching solution of spent lithium ion batteries by solvent extraction
Authors: Nguyen Viet Nhan Hoa , Lee Man Seung 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDCobalt, nickel and lithium are crucial in the manufacture of batteries. Therefore, the recovery of these metals from spent lithium ion batteries (LIBs) has attracted much attention because of their benefits in terms of economics and the environment.RESULTSIn the present work, the recovery of metals such as cobalt, nickel, manganese and lithium from synthetic sulfuric acid leaching solutions of spent LIBs was performed by solvent extraction using synthetic ionic liquids (ILs) and a mixture of Cyanex 301 and Alamine 336. First, cobalt was selectively extracted over other metal ions by extraction with IL(ALi‐SCN). The role of SCN− during the extraction was also investigated, and the extraction reactions of cobalt by both ALi‐SCN and Aliquat 336 were verified. The cobalt in the loaded ALi‐SCN was stripped by ammonia solution. After adjusting the raffinate pH, extraction with the mixture of Cyanex 301 and Alamine 336 selectively extracted nickel over manganese and lithium. The extracted nickel was completely stripped by 75% aqua regia. Manganese was selectively extracted by IL(ALi‐CY) after adjusting the pH of the raffinate. The manganese in the loaded ALi‐CY was stripped by HCl solutions. Therefore, three‐step solvent extraction resulted in a raffinate containing only lithium.CONCLUSIONSA process was proposed to separate Co(II), Ni(II) and Mn(II) from the sulfuric acid solutions of spent LIBs. The mass balance of continuous experiments indicated that the purity of the stripping solution of Co(II) and Mn(II) was higher than 99.9%. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Preparation of ultrahigh‐water‐content nanofiber composite hydrogel for Cd2+ removal
Authors: Huang Xin , Hu Jue , Huang Jianmin , Zhou Guiyin , Tun Thein , Tang Jianxin , Liu Sihua 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe rising volumes of industrial wastewater discharge are causing an ecological crisis, which has become a challenge for humans. Herein, a novel ultrahigh‐water‐content nanofiber composite (NC) hydrogel was prepared as an efficient adsorbent for cadmium ion (Cd2+). This hydrogel has a porous and loose 3D cross‐linked structure and the polymer chains are interspersed with titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanofibers, which provide a supporting framework for the NC hydrogel.RESULTSThe adsorption of Cd2+ on the NC hydrogel could rapidly achieve the equilibrium and the maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 76.92 mg g−1 at pH 7 and 293 K. The intraparticle diffusion was the rate‐controlling step in the adsorption process, however, the diffusion coefficient (D) was just 2.57 × 10−10 m2 s−1 at 298 K, much lower than that of activated carbon. After five adsorption–desorption cycles, the NC hydrogel still maintained a certain adsorption efficiency, obtaining a regenerability close to 95.8%. Simultaneously, results of X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed that the adsorption was mainly caused by the ion exchange between Cd2+ and calcium ion (Ca2+), and partly due to the chemisorption of Cd2+ by hydroxyl groups.CONCLUSIONThese results suggest that the innovative NC hydrogel can be a potential adsorbent material for removing heavy metal ions from industrial effluent.© 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Morphine‐mediated release of miR‐138 in astrocyte‐derived extracellular vesicles promotes microglial activation
Authors: Liao Ke , Niu Fang , Hu Guoku , Yang Lu , Dallon Blake , Villarreal Delaney , Buch Shilpa 
Published: December 2020

AbstractOpioids, such as morphine, are the mainstay for the management of postsurgical pain. Over the last decade there has been a dramatic increase in deaths related to opioid overdose. While opioid abuse has been shown to result in increased neuroinflammation, mechanism(s) underlying this process, remain less understood. In recent years, microRNAs have emerged as key mediators of gene expression regulating both paracrine signaling and cellular crosstalk. MiRNAs constitute the extracellular vesicle (EV) cargo and can shuttle from the donor to the recipient cells. Exposure of human primary astrocytes to morphine resulted in induction and release of miR‐138 in the EVs isolated from conditioned media of cultured astrocytes. Released EVs were, in turn, taken up by the microglia, leading to activation of these latter cells. Interestingly, activation of microglia involved binding of the GUUGUGU motif of miR138 to the endosomal toll like receptor (TLR)7, leading, in turn, to cellular activation. These findings were further corroborated in vivo in wildtype mice wherein morphine administration resulted in increased microglial activation in the thalamus. In TLR7−/− mice on the other hand, morphine failed to induce microglial activation. These findings have ramifications for the development of EV‐loaded anti‐miRNAs as therapeutics for alleviating neuroinflammation in opioids abusers.
Tumour extracellular vesicle‐derived Complement Factor H promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis by inhibiting complement‐dependent cytotoxicity of tumour cells
Authors: Mao Xiaowen , Zhou Longyin , Tey Sze Keong , Ma Angel Po Yee , Yeung Cherlie Lot Sum , Ng Tung Him , Wong Samuel Wan Ki , Liu Bonnie Hei Man , Fung Yi Man Eva , Patz Edward F. , Cao Peihua , Gao Yi , Yam Judy Wai Ping 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe complement system is involved in the immunosurveillance of pathogens and tumour cells. Proteomic profiling revealed that extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells contained a significant number of complement proteins. Complement Factor H (CFH), an abundant soluble serum protein that inhibits the alternative complement pathway, was found to be highly expressed in EVs of metastatic HCC cell lines. Here, we investigated the functional role of EV‐CFH and explored the therapeutic efficacy of targeting EV‐CFH with an anti‐CFH antibody in HCC. The results showed that EVs that are enriched in CFH promoted HCC cell growth, migration, invasiveness and enhanced liver tumour formation in mice. EV‐CFH also promoted metastasis, which was significantly abrogated when treated with an anti‐CFH antibody. These findings demonstrate an unexplored function of EV‐CFH in protecting HCC cells by evading complement attack, thereby facilitating tumorigenesis and metastasis. Lastly, we demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of an anti‐CFH antibody in suppressing tumour formation in a syngeneic mouse model. This study suggests a new therapeutic strategy for HCC, by inhibiting EV‐CFH with a tumour specific anti‐CFH antibody.
Optimizing noncontact oxygen‐plasma treatment to improve the performance of a top‐down nanofabricated surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate with structurally responsive, high‐aspect‐ratio nanopillar array
Authors: Chevalier Robert B. , Dwyer Jason R. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractOur use of a commercially available monolithic surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate based on metallized arrays of nanopillars has been hindered by the structured and variable background spectrum found in as‐supplied substrates. We identify surface contamination—at minimum from the shipping container—as the root cause of the variability and observed that our cleaning protocol could enhance the spectral performance but could also significantly degrade it in some cases. These uniquely nanostructured substrates offer on‐demand hot spot formation by solvent‐evaporation‐induced nanopillar leaning, so that oxygen‐plasma treatment was used as a noncontact method to preserve this capability. Suitable plasma cleaning conditions produced less structured background spectra and yielded higher signal intensities. Detrimental plasma power and exposure durations could yield significantly cleaner background spectra but at the significant cost of response to analyte. Scanning electron micrographs showed the plasma could alter the surface morphology. Optimization of oxygen‐plasma settings must therefore balance favorable effects such as contaminant removal, improved substrate wetting, and signal enhancement with deleterious effects such as structural damage to the substrate.
Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound for Biliary Ischemia
Authors: Zheng Bo‐Wen , Wu Tao , Ju Jin‐Xiu , Wu Li‐Li , Zhang Hong‐Jun , Lian Yu‐Fan , Tong Ge , Li Qiao‐Jia , Qiu Chen , Zhou Hui‐Chao , Zheng Rong‐Qin , Ren Jie 
Published: December 2020

ObjectivesBiliary perfusion is considered to contribute to biliary diseases, but routine imaging methods are insufficient to show it. This research investigated the ability of contrast‐enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for biliary perfusion in a biliary ischemia model.MethodsThis research consisted of 2 parts. First, to determine whether CEUS enhancement of the tiny biliary wall represents biliary perfusion, a vascular tracer was used as a reference to evaluate the consistency with the enhancement of the biliary wall on CEUS and the staining by the vascular tracer under the conditions of occluded and recovered biliary perfusion. In the second part, the ability of CEUS for biliary ischemia was further evaluated with microvascular density measurement as a reference. The enhancement patterns were assigned CEUS scores, in which higher scores meant more decreased enhancement, and the diagnostic ability of CEUS was assessed by a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.ResultsThe biliary wall was unstained by the vascular tracer and nonenhanced on CEUS when biliary perfusion was interrupted and was stained blue and enhanced after recovery. The biliary wall in the ischemia surgery group showed lower microvascular density measurements (P < .001), decreased enhancement levels (P < .001), and higher CEUS scores (P < .001). When a CEUS score of 3 or higher (obvious decrease of the biliary wall to hypoenhancement or nonenhancement in the arterial phase or rapid wash‐out to nonenhancement in the portal venous phase) was applied, CEUS had sensitivity of 87.8%, specificity of 98.3%, accuracy of 93.8%, and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.98.ConclusionsContrast enhancement of the biliary wall on CEUS represents biliary perfusion and has reasonably good diagnostic performance for biliary ischemia in an experimental animal setting.
Transformative agreements: Do they pave the way to open access?
Authors: Borrego Ángel , Anglada Lluís , Abadal Ernest 
Published: December 2020

AbstractTransformative agreements, also known as ‘offsetting’, ‘read and publish’, or ‘publish and read’ agreements, have shifted the focus of scholarly journal licensing from cost containment towards open access publication. An analysis of 36 full‐text transformative agreements recorded in the ESAC registry shows that ‘transformative agreement’ is an umbrella term that encompasses different kinds of contracts. We differentiate between pre‐transformative, partially transformative, and fully transformative agreements. Pre‐transformative agreements are traditional subscription licences that grant article processing charge (APC) discounts or vouchers for open access publication of a limited number of articles. Partially transformative agreements differentiate between a read fee and a publish fee to cover the processing charges of a certain number of articles. Fully transformative agreements allow unlimited open access publication of the scholarly output of the subscribing institution. In all three categories, some agreements restrict open access publication to hybrid journals, whereas others allow publication in both hybrid and gold journals. Transformative agreements are more transparent than traditional journal licences, allow authors to retain copyright, and make provisions to facilitate the management of open access workflows. It is hard to assess whether these agreements are just a temporary phase in the transition towards open access or will perpetuate the current structure of the scholarly communication system and its associated high costs.
Substituent Effects Control Spiropyran–Merocyanine Equilibria and Mechanochromic Utility
Authors: Sommer Michael 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSpiropyran (SP) derivatives can be converted into the colored merocyanine (MC) form using a variety of triggers. Optical switching by light for memories and dynamic systems is long known. Recently, mechanical force has been reported as an additional stimulus that converts SP into MC. SP‐based mechanochromic systems are especially interesting for polymer scientists, as the covalent attachment of polymer chains is ideal to transduce force to the SP level. Whether such materials are investigated to better understand fundamental processes or long standing questions in polymer science, to design force sensors or to self‐report damage, or simply pose fascinating materials which turn colored upon deformation, they have intrigued polymer scientists for more than a decade. With the chemistry of SPs being feasible and SP functionalization important to modulate SP/MC equilibria, a significant amount of work on SP structure‐ mechanochromic function relations has accumulated. SPs can be used as bifunctional initiators, cross‐linkers, monomers, or be synthesized during polymerization. This feature article provides an overview of how the chemistry used sets the boundaries within which the mechanochromic response of SP containing polymers can be modulated.
Obesity Trends and Associations with Types of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in US Adults: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2007‐2016
Authors: Zhang Yun , Yang Joanna , Hou Wei , Arcan Chrisa 
Published: December 2020

ObjectivePhysical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) have been linked to adult adiposity. This research aims to explore 10‐year (2007‐2016) trends in obesity and abdominal obesity prevalence and associations with different types of PA and SB among US adults.MethodsNational Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data were used with 20‐ to 64‐year‐old adults (n = 20,360; mean age: 41.9 years; male: 50.5%; non‐Hispanic White: 64.3%). Sex‐ and sex‐ and race‐specific linear trends in the prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, and moderate and vigorous work‐ and recreation‐related PA and SB were estimated. Weighted logistic models explored the association between risk of obesity or abdominal obesity with each type of PA and SB by sex, adjusted for relevant confounders.ResultsThere were significant increasing trends in obesity and abdominal obesity in both sexes and in Hispanic adults. Men at higher vigorous work‐related PA levels (P = 0.045) and women at higher moderate recreational‐related PA (P = 0.005) levels had decreased risk of abdominal obesity. Women at the highest versus the lowest level of SB had increased risk of abdominal obesity (P = 0.017).ConclusionsThere was a significantly reduced risk for abdominal obesity with a few types of PA among both sexes and an increased risk with SB among women only.