bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Conventionally fractionated radiation therapy versus stereotactic body radiation therapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer (CRiSP): An international systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tchelebi Leila T. , Lehrer Eric J. , Trifiletti Daniel M. , Sharma Navesh K. , Gusani Niraj J. , Crane Christopher H. , Zaorsky Nicholas G. 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundThe goal of this study was to characterize the efficacy and safety of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) versus conventionally fractionated radiation therapy with concurrent chemotherapy (CFRT) for the definitive treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer. The primary outcome measure was efficacy, defined by 2‐year overall survival (OS). Secondary outcomes were incidence of any grade 3/4 toxicity and 1‐year OS.MethodsA PICOS/PRISMA/MOOSE selection protocol was used to identify eligible studies. Inclusion criteria were: 1) patients diagnosed with locally advanced N0‐1 M0 pancreatic cancer; 2) CFRT 1.8 to 2.0 Gy/fraction with chemotherapy per protocol or SBRT ≥5 Gy/fraction in ≤5 fractions; 3) either no control group or another definitive chemotherapy or radiation therapy arm; 4) at least 1 of the outcome measures reported; and 5) single or multi‐arm phase 2/3 prospective study for CFRT and/or phase 1/2 or retrospective study for SBRT. Neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant chemotherapy was prescribed per protocol specifications. Weighted random effects meta‐analyses were conducted using the DerSimonian and Laird method to characterize summary effect sizes for each outcome.ResultsA total of 470 studies were initially screened; of these, 9 studies assessed SBRT and 11 studies assessed CFRT. For SBRT, the median dose was 30 Gy, and the most common regimen was 30 Gy/5 fractions. For CFRT, doses ranged from 45 to 54 Gy in 1.8‐ to 2.0‐Gy fractions, with the majority of studies delivering 50.4 Gy in 28 fractions with concurrent gemcitabine. The random effects estimate for 2‐year OS was 26.9% (95% CI, 20.6%‐33.6%) for SBRT versus 13.7% (95% CI, 8.9%‐19.3%) for CFRT and was statistically significant in favor of SBRT. The random effects estimate for 1‐year OS was 53.7% (95% CI, 39.3%‐67.9%) for SBRT versus 49.3% (95% CI, 39.3%‐59.4%) for CFRT, and was not statistically significant. The random effects estimate for acute grade 3/4 toxicity was 5.6% (95% CI, 0.0%‐20.0%) for SBRT versus 37.7% (95% CI, 24.0%‐52.5%) for CFRT and was statistically significant in favor of SBRT. The random effects estimate for late grade 3/4 toxicity was 9.0% for SBRT (95% CI, 3.3%‐17.1%) versus 10.1% (95% CI, 1.8%‐23.8%) for CFRT, which was not statistically significant.ConclusionThese results suggest that SBRT for LAPC may result in a modest improvement in 2‐year OS with decreased rates of acute grade 3/4 toxicity and no change in 1‐year‐OS or late toxicity. Further study into the use of stereotactic body radiation therapy for these patients is needed.
Prognostic potential of liquid biopsy tracking in the posttreatment surveillance of patients with nonmetastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Chen Fo‐Ping , Huang Xiao‐Dan , Lv Jia‐Wei , Wen Dan‐Wan , Zhou Guan‐Qun , Lin Li , Kou Jia , Wu Chen‐Fei , Chen Yue , Zheng Zi‐Qi , Li Zhi‐Xuan , He Xiao‐Jun , Sun Ying 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundThe current study was performed to investigate whether circulating cell‐free Epstein‐Barr virus DNA (cfEBV DNA) would be useful for posttreatment surveillance in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).MethodsThe authors identified a total of 1984 nondisseminated NPC patients from an institutional big‐data research platform. Blood samples were collected within 3 months of the completion of radiotherapy and every 3 to 12 months thereafter for cfEBV DNA analysis. Patients were followed until disease recurrence was detected or for a median of 60 months. Diagnostic performance was assessed by calculating the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy based on the clinical detection of disease recurrence by conventional surveillance modalities (imaging scans and pathological examination).ResultsDuring follow‐up, a total of 767 patients (38.7%) had detectable cfEBV DNA. The recurrence rate among these patients was 63.8% (489 of 767 patients), which was significantly higher than that in patients with undetectable cfEBV DNA (8.6%; 105 of 1217 patients). cfEBV DNA sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 68.8%, 80.0%, and 78.2%, respectively, for local recurrence; 80.2%, 80.0%, and 85.9%, respectively, for regional recurrence; and 91.1%, 80.0%, and 92.8%, respectively, for distant metastasis. cfEBV DNA was found to have higher sensitivity for the detection of extrapulmonary metastases (94.9%‐96.5%) compared with pulmonary metastases (78.4%). It is interesting to note that among the patients with disease recurrence with detectable cfEBV DNA, positive cfEBV DNA results preceded radiological and/or clinical evidence of disease recurrence by a median of 2.3 months (interquartile range, 0.1‐9.5 months). In addition, of the 278 cfEBV DNA‐positive patients who did not develop disease recurrence, 227 (81.7%) had transiently positive cfEBV DNA that fell to undetectable levels during long‐term monitoring.ConclusionsPlasma cfEBV DNA in patients with NPC appears to be an early sign of tumor recurrence, especially extrapulmonary metastases.
Posttransplantation cyclophosphamide improves transplantation outcomes in patients with AML/MDS who are treated with checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Oran Betül , Garcia‐Manero Guillermo , Saliba Rima M. , Alfayez Mansour , Al‐Atrash Gheath , Ciurea Stefan O. , Jabbour Elias J. , Mehta Rohtesh S. , Popat Uday R. , Ravandi Farhad , Alousi Amin M. , Kadia Tapan M. , Konopleva Marina , DiNardo Courtney D. , Rezvani Katy , Shpall Elizabeth J. , Sharma Padmanee , Kantarjian Hagop M. , Champlin Richard E. , Daver Naval 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundThere have been concerns regarding increased peritransplantation complications, especially severe acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD), in patients with prior use of checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) before hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).MethodsThe authors performed a retrospective study of 43 patients with acute myeloid leukemia and/or myelodysplastic syndromes who were treated with an antiprogrammed cell death protein 1 (PD‐1) (32 patients) or anticytotoxic T‐lymphocyte–associated protein 4 (CTLA‐4) (9 patients) blockade or both (2 patients) prior to HSCT with the primary outcome of aGVHD by day 100 after HSCT. Outcome analyses were stratified by GVHD prophylaxis as use of post‐HSCT cyclophosphamide (PTCy) (22 patients) or not (non‐PTCy) (21 patients).ResultsThe PTCy group demonstrated a trend toward lower grade 3 to 4 aGVHD when compared with the non‐PTCy group (5% vs 22%), although the rates of grade 2 to 4 aGVHD were comparable (49% vs 56%). The interval between CPI and HSCT did not appear to impact the incidence of aGVHD. However, a higher incidence of grade 3 to 4 aGVHD was observed in patients who received >4 treatments of CPI prior to HSCT if they were not given PTCy as GVHD prophylaxis (43% vs 12%). Matched control analyses using patients with no prior use of CPI confirmed the increase in grade 3 to 4 aGVHD with those agents. However, that increased risk was limited to patients who did not receive PTCy and was not observed in patients who received PTCy as GVHD prophylaxis. Despite persistent improvement in GVHD with the use of PTCy, disease control was not compromised and progression‐free survival at 1 year was found to be superior for patients treated with PTCy compared with those not receiving PTCy among patients with prior use of CPI (55% vs 22%).ConclusionsThe results of the current study indicated that HSCT with prior use of CPI appears feasible in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and/or myelodysplastic syndromes and the use of PTCy as GVHD prophylaxis improves outcomes.
Co‐Crosslinked Water‐Soluble Biopolymers as a Binder for High‐Voltage LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4|Graphite Lithium‐Ion Full Cells
Authors: Kuenzel Matthias , Choi Hyeongseon , Wu Fanglin , Kazzazi Arefeh , Axmann Peter , Wohlfahrt‐Mehrens Margret , Bresser Dominic , Passerini Stefano 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe use of water‐soluble, abundant biopolymers as binders for lithium‐ion positive electrodes is explored because it represents a great step forward towards environmentally benign battery processing. However, to date, most studies that employ, for instance, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a binder have focused on rather low electrode areal loadings with limited relevance for industrial needs. This study concerns the use of natural guar gum (GG) as a binding agent for cobalt‐free, high‐voltage LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO), which realizes electrodes with substantially increased areal loadings, low binder content, and greatly enhanced cycling stability. Co‐crosslinking GG through citric acid with CMC allows for an enhanced rate capability and essentially maintains the beneficial impact of using GG as a binder rather than CMC only. Lithium‐ion full cells based on water‐processed LNMO and graphite electrodes provide a remarkably high cycling stability with 80 % capacity retention after 1000 cycles at 1 C.
Modelling characteristics of the impulse transformer in a wide frequency range
Authors: Górecki Krzysztof , Godlewska Małgorzata 
Published: March 2020

SummaryIn the paper, a new compact electrothermal model of the impulse transformer is proposed. This model has a form of a subcircuit dedicated for SPICE and could be used for low power impulse transformers applicable in switch‐mode power supplies used in electronics. It takes into account simultaneously electric, thermal, and magnetic phenomena occurring in the considered device and describe nonidealities of the core and windings. The form of the elaborated model and analytical dependences describing all its components are presented. Correctness of this model is verified experimentally in a wide range of frequency and load resistance for selected constructions of transformers. Satisfactory agreement between the results of computations and measurements is obtained
Characterization of the single nanosecond pulsed surface dielectric barrier plasma actuator: Geometric and electric effects
Authors: Xu Shuang Y. , Cai Jin S. , Wang Ji F. , Tang Sheng J. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe influence of the electrode length and the voltage pulses on the discharge characteristics of the surface dielectric barrier discharge actuators were investigated numerically by using the plasma kinetic model. The governing equations including the coupled continuity plasma discharge equation, drift‐diffusion equation, electron energy equation, Poisson's equation, and Navier–Stokes equation were solved in quiescent air at atmospheric pressure. The results show that the shorter pulse rising time results in higher discharge characteristics, more intense discharge, and bigger discharge region. Differently, the compared discharge characteristics for the electrodes with different lengths prove that the length of the powered and ground electrodes has little effect on the surface dielectric barrier discharge driven by nanosecond pulsed voltage.
Subtyping and EGFR mutation testing from blocks of cytological materials, based on liquid‐based cytology for lung cancer at bronchoscopic examinations
Authors: Tanaka Ryota , Ohtsuka Kouki , Ogura Wataru , Arai Nobuaki , Yoshida Tsutomu , Nakazato Yoko , Tachibana Keisei , Takata Saori , Fujiwara Masachika , Kamma Hiroshi , Shibahara Junji , Kondo Haruhiko 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundLiquid‐based cytology (LBC) allows immunohistochemistry (IHC), fluorescence in situ hybridization, and molecular testing to be performed in fixed cell materials. We examined the feasibility of subtyping and EGFR mutation testing of bronchoscopic samples from patients with lung cancer using cell blocks (CB) based on LBC fixation (LBC‐CB).MethodsWe included 35 consecutive patients with peripheral lung nodules who underwent endobronchial ultrasonography with a guide sheath in our hospital. Thirty of these patients were diagnosed with lung cancer by obtaining cytological samples. Cytological subtyping was performed with IHC using LBC‐CB, and the Cobas EGFR Mutation Test ver. 2 was performed using extracted genomic DNA from the LBC‐CB, formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) tissue, and matched plasma.ResultsOf the 30 cases, 25 were classified cytomorphologically as adenocarcinoma (ADC, n = 17) and squamous‐cell carcinoma (SQCC, n = 8). The remaining five cases were classified by IHC as favor ADC (n = 3) and favor SQCC (n = 2) according to the WHO criteria. In the final ADC group (n = 20), EGFR mutations on the LBC‐CB were identified in eight cases (40%; 1 exon 19 deletion, 6 L858R, and 1 L861Q). Mutations in FFPE samples were identified in seven cases (35%) at the same site in each case. Plasma EGFR mutations were identified in four cases (20%) at the same site. The CB detection rate was higher than for FFPE and plasma.ConclusionLBC‐CB is suitable for subtyping and EGFR mutation testing in lung cancers.
Unpredictable maternal behavior is associated with a blunted infant cortisol response
Authors: Noroña‐Zhou Amanda N. , Morgan Alyssa , Glynn Laura M. , Sandman Curt A. , Baram Tallie Z. , Stern Hal S. , Davis Elysia Poggi 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundDysregulation of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) axis is associated with poor physical and mental health. Early‐life adversity may dysregulate cortisol response to subsequent stress. This study examines the association between patterns of maternal behavior and infant stress response to a challenge. Specifically, we test whether infant exposure to unpredictable maternal sensory signals is related to the cortisol response to a painful stressor.MethodParticipants were 102 mothers and their children enrolled in a longitudinal study. Patterns of maternal sensory signals were evaluated at 6 and 12 months during a 10‐min mother–infant play episode. Entropy rate was calculated as a quantitative measure of the degree of unpredictability of maternal sensory signals (visual, auditory, and tactile) exhibited during the play episode. Infant saliva samples were collected for cortisol analysis before and after inoculation at 12 months.ResultsUnpredictable patterns of maternal sensory signals were associated with a blunted infant cortisol response to a painful stressor. This relation persisted after evaluation of covariates including maternal sensitivity and maternal psychological distress.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that unpredictable patterns of maternal sensory signals are one process through which caregiving affects the function of infant stress response systems.
Longitudinal studies of putative growth hormone (GH) biomarkers and hematological and steroidal parameters in relation to 2 weeks administration of human recombinant GH
Authors: Sieckmann Tobias , Elmongy Hatem , Ericsson Magnus , Bhuiyan Hasanuzzaman , Lehtihet Mikael , Ekström Lena 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe detection of low doses of recombinant growth hormone is a challenge in antidoping testing. Future testing may lead toward the longitudinal monitoring of IGF‐I and P‐III‐NP in an endocrine module. Additional biomarkers, for example vitamin D binding protein, alpha‐HS‐glycoprotein, fibronectin 1, and decorin have been identified in different omics studies. This was a longitudinal study of the usefulness of these putative biomarkers in relation to 2 weeks administration of low doses of recombinant growth hormone in healthy male volunteers. Moreover, the hematological parameters included in the athlete biological passport were studied as well as the serum concentration of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone. Fibronectin 1 increased by 20% during the treatment period (P ˂ 0.05), confirming the previous finding. Alpha‐HS‐glycoprotein decreased by 25% up to 3 weeks after treatment (P ˂ 0.05), contradicting previous results. The addition of fibronectin 1 increased the likelihood of detecting recombinant growth hormone intake based on individual calculated thresholds in some of the participants compared with the GH2000, IGF‐I, and P‐III‐NP. The multiplication of fibronectin 1 concentration by IGF‐I resulted in the most profound (up to 4‐fold) changes. A minor 15% increase (P = 0.003) in the reticulocyte percentage was observed, but the changes did not lead to any atypical profile based on individual passport thresholds. Vitamin D binding protein, decorin, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone were not affected by growth hormone. Dihydrotestosterone sulfate was negatively correlated with IGF‐I at baseline (R = –0.50, P = 0.003) and post dose (R = –0.59, P = 0.01). In conclusion, fibronectin 1 was verified as a promising future biomarker for detecting low doses of recombinant growth hormone.
An integrative approach combining molecular analyses and experiments to investigate predation of insect eggs by a mite
Authors: Desurmont Gaylord A. , Bon Marie‐Claude , Kerdellant Elven , Guermache Fatiha , Pfingstl Tobias , Tixier Marie‐Stéphane 
Published: March 2020

AbstractUncovering the predation habits of small arthropods such as mites can be a major challenge, as direct observations are not always feasible in natura. Therefore, PCR‐based analyses of gut content, or body content when gut dissection is not applicable, are being increasingly used to detect remains of prey items. Here, we present an integrative approach to investigate predation of eggs of the viburnum leaf beetle Pyrrhalta viburni, an invasive pest in North America, by the oribatid mite species Trichoribates trimaculatus, to assess the potential of this mite as a biological control agent. We combined (1) manipulative laboratory experiments exposing beetle eggs to mites under controlled conditions and (2) body content molecular analyses using quantitative PCR (qPCR) to detect traces of consumed P. viburni egg DNA in mites. To account for risks of false‐negative and false‐positive results, mainly due to detectability problems, body surface contamination, and non‐specific DNA amplification, we developed a stepwise procedure to analyze qPCR results. Egg integrity and survivorship were unaffected by mites in all experiments. However, traces of P. viburni DNA were detected in the body of mites exposed to P. viburni eggs, suggesting that they consumed either fragments of the chorion or fragments of the egg cap secreted by P. viburni females to protect the eggs, which was shown to contain P. viburni DNA. In conclusion, T. trimaculatus does not directly impact P. viburni eggs and should therefore not be considered as a biocontrol agent. The fact that mites did not directly predate eggs but contained traces of P. viburni DNA shows that detection of an organism's DNA within a presumed predator does not necessarily equal predation and that results of molecular analyses should be interpreted with caution in studies attempting to reconstruct trophic interactions.
The honest mirror: Morality as a moderator of spontaneous behavioral mimicry
Authors: Menegatti Michela , Moscatelli Silvia , Brambilla Marco , Sacchi Simona 
Published: March 2020

AbstractTwo studies examined whether morality‐related information has a greater impact than sociability‐ or competence‐related information upon the spontaneous mimicry of an interaction partner. Participants were video recorded during an interaction with a confederate previously presented as moral versus lacking morality, or sociable versus lacking sociability (Study 1), or competent versus lacking competence (Study 2). Two coders rated the extent to which participants imitated the gestures of the confederate, participants’ postural openness, and the general smoothness of the interaction. When the confederate lacked moral qualities, mimicry and postural openness were lower, and the interaction was less smooth than when the confederate was highly moral, unsociable, or incompetent. Moreover, our findings showed that global impression is the key mediating mechanism driving such an effect. Indeed, knowing that another person behaved immorally resulted in a negative impression, which in turn hindered behavioral mimicry.
Development and characterization of a fiber optical fluorescence sensor for the online monitoring of biofilms and their microenvironment
Authors: Schlaugat Jana , Patzer Kai , Hentrop Thorleif , Solle Dörte , Pepelanova Iliyana , Schröder Uwe , Scheper Thomas 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe growth of microorganisms on surfaces and interfaces as a biofilm is very common and plays important role in various areas such as material science, biomedicine, or waste treatment among others. Due to their inhomogeneous structure and the variance in the microorganism consortium, the analysis of biofilms represents a significant challenge. An online fluorescence sensor was developed that is able to measure the most important biological fluorophores (proteins, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, and flavin) in a noninvasive manner in biofilms, e.g. in bioelectrochemical applications. The sensor gives the opportunity to continuously draw conclusions on the metabolic state of the biofilm. The developed sensor has a diameter of 1 mm at the sensor tip and can be moved on and into the biofilm surface. In the first experiment, the measuring range of the sensor and the long‐term stability could be determined and the system applicability was confirmed. In addition, measurements in biofilm‐like structures could be performed. The formation of a wastewater‐based biofilm was monitored using the developed sensor, demonstrating the functionality of the sensor in a proof‐of‐principle experiment.
Effect of ceramic waste powder as partial fine aggregate replacement on properties of fiber‐reinforced aerated concrete
Authors: Hamad Ali Jihad , Sldozian Rami Joseph Aghajan , A. Mikhaleva Zoya 
Published: March 2020

AbstractResearchers have continuously attempted to reduce and recycle construction waste. Ceramic waste is mainly a byproduct of the manufacturing process. About 25% of the waste is produced because of dimension defects or incurring problems throughout the industrial process. This article aims to highlight the alternative uses of ceramic waste. In this research, ceramic waste at a powder status is reduced to fine aggregates. Here, ceramic waste powder (CWP) is used in different ratios of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% replacing the fine aggregate weight. Aluminum powder is used to obtain aerated concrete (AC). Glass fibers are added in ratios of 1%, 1.5%, and 2% of cement weight to obtain a fiber‐reinforced AC. The unit weight, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and thermal conductivity are estimated. Furthermore, scanning electron microscopy is performed to investigate the microstructure features of the composite. The results exhibit better performance in compressive and splitting tensile strength when fine aggregates were replaced by 25% and 50% of CWP. In addition, 1.5% of GFs enhance the compressive and splitting tensile strength. In addition, increasing the CWP decreases the unit weight of fiber‐reinforced AC. It is shown that CWP strongly influences the thermal conductivity of the fiber‐reinforced AC, resulting in a high composite resistant to heat transmission. The technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution method is used to obtain the optimal mix.