bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Transplant eligibility in elderly multiple myeloma patients: Prospective external validation of the international myeloma working group frailty score and comparison with clinical judgment and other comorbidity scores in unselected patients aged 65‐75 years
Authors: Belotti Angelo , Ribolla Rossella , Cancelli Valeria , Crippa Claudia , Bianchetti Nicola , Ferrari Samantha , Bottelli Chiara , Cattaneo Chiara , Tucci Alessandra , De La Fuente Barrigon Carmen , Rossi Giuseppe 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAutologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is feasible and effective in selected older patients with Multiple Myeloma, but specific criteria for evaluating ASCT eligibility in elderly patients are lacking. We evaluated 131 patients aged 65‐75 considered for ASCT at our center: The Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Hematopoietic cell transplantation comorbidity index (HCT‐CI) and IMWG frailty score were obtained at diagnosis, but the intensity of treatment was left to physician's choice. The scores and age's impact on outcome was analyzed: 85 patients were judged transplant eligible, whereas 46 patients received a less intensive treatment (median follow up 27 months). No patients classified as frail had been considered eligible to ASCT with a worse outcome compared to fit and unfit patients (median PFS (progression free survival): 7.9 vs 32.9 and 29.6 months; P < .001). PFS was superior in the ASCT group (35.6 vs 19.9 months, P .013). In the ASCT group, PFS was better in patients aged 65‐69 years than in patients ≥70 (51.5 vs 27.7 months, P.004). Indeed, in unfit patients aged ≥70 the PFS of the ASCT group was comparable to NO ASCT group (18 vs 27 months, P = .33) whereas in unfit patients aged 65‐69 PFS was superior in the ASCT group: 43.3 vs 18.4 months, P .01. ISS III and impaired functional status independently affected PFS in a multivariate analysis (P .011 and P .006). While CCI and HCT‐CI did not predict different outcome in ASCT patients, the IMWG frailty score would be of help in identifying unfit patients aged 70‐75, whose outcome with ASCT selected by clinical judgment was no better than with less intensive treatments.
Effect of high ligation on survival of patients undergoing surgery for primary colorectal cancer and synchronous liver metastases
Authors: Matsui S , Okabayashi K , Hasegawa H , Tsuruta M , Shigeta K , Ishida T , Yamada T , Kondo T , Yamauchi S , Sugihara K , Kitagawa Y 
Published: April 2020

Abstract

Background
Although R0 surgery is recommended for stage IV colorectal cancer, the degree of required lymphadenectomy has not been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic impact of high ligation (HL) of the feeding artery and the number of retrieved lymph nodes after R0 surgery for colorectal cancer and synchronous colorectal cancer liver metastasis (CRLM).

Methods
This was a multi-institutional retrospective analysis of patients with colorectal cancer and synchronous CRLM who had R0 surgery between January 1997 and December 2007. Clinical and pathological features were compared in patients who underwent HL and those who had a low ligation (LL). Kaplan–Meier analysis was performed to estimate the effect of HL on overall survival (OS). The impact of several risk factors on survival was analysed using the Cox proportional hazards model.

Results
Of 549 patients, 409 (74·5 per cent) had HL. Median follow-up was 51·4 months. HL significantly improved the 5-year OS rate (58·2 per cent versus 49·3 per cent for LL; P = 0·017). Multivariable analysis revealed HL to be a significant prognostic factor compared with LL (5-year mortality: hazard ratio (HR) 0·68, 95 per cent c.i. 0·51 to 0·90; P = 0·007). In subgroup analysis, the positive effect of HL on OS was greatest in patients with lymph node metastasis.

Conclusion
HL of the feeding artery was associated with improved OS in patients with colorectal cancer and synchronous CRLM after R0 surgery.
Dynamic Transactional Transformation
Authors: LaBorde Pierre , Lebanoff Lance , Peterson Christina , Zhang Deli , Dechev Damian 
Published: April 2020

SummaryTransactional data structures support threads executing a sequence of operations atomically. Dynamic transactions allow operands to be generated on the fly and allows threads to execute code in between the operations of a transaction, in contrast to static transactions which need to know the operands in advance. A framework called lock‐free transactional transformation (LFTT) allows data structures to run high‐performance transactions, but it only supports static transactions. We present dynamic transactional transformation, an extension to LFTT to add support for dynamic transactions and wait‐free progress while retaining its speed. The thread‐helping scheme of LFTT presents a unique challenge to dynamic transactions. We overcome this challenge by changing the input of LFTT from a list of operations to a function, forcing helping threads to always start at the beginning of the transaction, and allowing threads to skip completed operations through the use of a list of return values. We thoroughly evaluate the performance impact of support for dynamic transactions and wait‐free progress and find that these features do not hurt the performance of LFTT for our test cases.
Smart Fluorescence Materials that Are Controllable by Hydrostatic Pressure: Peptide−Pyrene Conjugates
Authors: Mizuno Hiroaki , Kitamatsu Mizuki , Imai Yoshitane , Fukuhara Gaku 
Published: April 2020

AbstractFluorogens or luminescence materials that show manipulatable emissive responses toward various external stimuli, such as, temperature, solvent, salt, and pH, hold great promise for some applications. Hydrostatic pressure, as one external stimulus, can manipulate conformational changes in the ground state and subsequent photophysical properties in the excited state of an appropriately designed material. In this study, we controlled not only the chiroptical but also the emissive properties of smart fluorescence materials, namely peptide−pyrene conjugates, and also examined the origins of the optical properties by means of several spectroscopic techniques under high pressure. The location of the chromophores and the appended bulky substituent on the peptide scaffold play pivotal roles in influencing the pressure‐induced properties. The present work gives new perspectives for energy‐related luminescent materials which respond to hydrostatic pressure, providing an attractive alternative to other common external stimuli.
Climatic variables influence the temporal dynamics of an anuran metacommunity in a nonstationary way
Authors: Ceron Karoline , Santana Diego J. , Lucas Elaine M. , Zocche Jairo José , Provete Diogo B. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractUnderstanding the temporal dynamics of communities is crucial to predict how communities respond to climate change. Several factors can promote variation in phenology among species, including tracking of seasonal resources, adaptive responses to other species, demographic stochasticity, and physiological constraints. The activities of ectothermic vertebrates are sensitive to climatic variations due to the effect of temperature and humidity on species physiology. However, most studies on temporal dynamics have analyzed multi‐year data and do not have resolution to discriminate within‐year patterns that can determine community assembly cycles. Here, we tested the temporal stability and synchrony of calling activity and also how climatic variables influence anuran species composition throughout the year in a metacommunity in the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil. Using a multivariate method, we described how the relationship between species composition and climatic variables changes through time. The metacommunity showed a weak synchronous spatial pattern, meaning that species responded independently to environmental variation. Interestingly, species composition exhibited a nonstationary response to climate, suggesting that climate affects species composition differently depending on the season. The species‐climate relationship was stronger during the spring, summer, and winter, mainly influenced by temperature, rainfall, and humidity. Thus, temporal community dynamics seem to be mediated by species life‐history traits, in which independent fluctuations promote community stability in temporally varying environments.
Generation of niche tuned antifibrotic fibroblasts and non‐viral mediated endothelial commitment using adipose stem cells for dermal graft development
Authors: Ajit Amita , Ramakrishnan Rashmi , Retnabai Santhoshkumar T. , Senan Manesh , Krishnan Lissy K. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractCell‐based skin substitute generation has seen considerable development. Combining synthetic scaffolds with biomimetic fibrin does direct both exogenous and endogenous stem cell differentiation, addressing needs for reliable tissue engineering. However, lack of immediate vasculature within implantable grafts remains critical for its sustenance and integration. Multipotency, high proliferation potential, ability to release multiple growth factors (GFs), and autologous availability highlight the use of human adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADMSCs) in tissue‐engineered dermal grafts (TEDG) construction. However, hADMSCs' insufficiency to independently establish angiogenesis within tissue constructs demands improvement of stem cell application for dermal graft survival. Approaches to harness microenvironmentally sensitive paracrine interactions could improve the angiogenic efficiency of hADMSCs within TEDG. This study conceptualized a fibrin‐based niche, to direct hADMSCs toward a nonfibrotic fibroblast commitment and incorporation of bioengineered hADMSCs, specifically releasing potent angiogenic factors within TEDG. Coexistence of tuned fibroblast and endothelial lineage committed cells contributed to well‐regulated extracellular matrix formation and prevascularization. Adequate cell proliferation; sustained transient release of angiogenic GFs till 20 days; directed dermal, endothelial, fibroblast, and vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation; and favored elastin and collagen deposition were achieved in vitro. In conclusion, specific niche composition and employment of bioengineered hADMSCs favor implantable TEDG construction.
Effects of Palmaria palmata on lipid metabolism and glycemic control in participants with hypercholesterolemia in a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Takase Takahiro , Nakamura Akinobu , Miyoshi Hideaki , Koga Minori , Toyomaki Atsuhito , Kusumi Ichiro , Kino Rikako , Konishi Yasuyuki , Kiso Yoshinobu , Atsumi Tatsuya 
Published: April 2020

BackgroundRed algae have been reported to improve lipid and glucose metabolism in rats. We investigated the effects of Palmaria palmata (P. palmata), a red alga from northern Japan, on lipid metabolism and glycemic control in participants with hypercholesterolemia.MethodsWe conducted an 8‐week, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, and parallel‐group comparison trial. The study enrolled Japanese participants with a serum low‐density protein cholesterol (LDL‐C) ≥120 mg/dL. The participants were randomly assigned to take either capsules containing P. palmata (2 g/day) or placebo capsules. The primary endpoint was the change in LDL‐C from baseline to week 8 and the secondary endpoints were the changes in other lipid parameters and glycemic control.ResultsOf the 104 participants completed the study protocol. There were no significant differences in change in LDL‐C, body mass index, waist circumference, or glycemic control between the two groups. However, serum triglyceride showed significantly greater improvement in women in the P. palmata group (−9.0 [−25.0, +5.0]) vs. those in the placebo group (−1.0 [−11.0, +19.0]; p = .03).ConclusionsThe present study did not show that P. palmata had significant effect on serum LDL‐C nor glycemic control, but hypertriglyceridemia could be ameliorated by administration of P. palmata in women.
Characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus loss in runoff from Quercus acutissima Carr. and Robinia pseudoacacia L. under simulated rainfall
Authors: Wang Rongjia , Gao Peng , Li Cheng , Dong Xuede , Zhou Rui , Gao Yuemeng , Xu Jingwei , Dun Xingjian 
Published: April 2020

AbstractSubsurface runoff is central to sloping land hydrology research. To explore the mechanism of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loss in surface and subsurface runoff in mountain forestland, we selected the typical tree species Quercus acutissima Carr. and Robinia pseudoacacia L. as our research objects and carried out simulated rainfall experiments to study the N and P loss characteristics of surface and subsurface runoff on different areas of slope land. Our results show that total N and total phosphorus P concentrations in surface runoff were initially high but tended to be stable as rainfall continued. Surface runoff accounted for most losses of both N and P, with a greater proportion found for forested land than for wasteland. Surface losses of N ranged from 70.8–88.8%, and those of P ranged from 82.2–87.5% of total losses in forest and wasteland, respectively. Our results show that the main pathway for N and P loss was surface runoff. However, N and P loss in subsurface runoff cannot be ignored in research on sloping land hydrology and the control by forestland of nonpoint source pollution in mountain forestland. Our research enriches sloping land hydrology research and provides a basis for the effective control of runoff, N, and P loss in forestland of the mountainous region of China and similar areas around the world.
An assessment of the environmental sustainability corridor: Investigating the non‐linear effects of environmental taxation on CO2 emissions
Authors: Ulucak Recep , Danish  , Kassouri Yacouba 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe effectiveness of environmental taxes for achieving carbon abatement has been subject to important debates on the sustainable development pathway. Theoretically, it is expected that environmental taxation (ERT) can reduce carbon emissions by enhancing innovation and energy efficiency that are the main drivers of environmental sustainability. The purpose of the study is to investigate the non‐linear effects of ERT on carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by controlling environmental technologies, patens and economic growth within the limitation of the available longest data set covering the period of 1994–2015. The study employs the panel smooth transition regression approach, which determines the threshold levels endogenously, by observing the lower and higher integration levels of countries through globalization as a transition variable. The empirical findings recommend that ERT decreases CO2 emissions at higher levels of globalization. The non‐linear effect of environmental‐related technologies and patents on CO2 emissions is also favourable at higher levels of globalization.
Genetic Evaluation of Population Structure in Tautog
Authors: Small Hamish J. , Song Jingwei , McDowell Jan R. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractTautogTautoga onitissupports both recreational and growing commercial fisheries from Virginia to Massachusetts. Tautogs, which aggregate around structured habitats (wrecks, rocks, bridge pilings, etc.), are slow to mature and have a low reproductive rate relative to other teleosts. Slow growth and easy catchability result in Tautogs being extremely vulnerable to overexploitation, and their populations are slow to rebuild. At present, Tautogs are managed by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission as four separate regions: Massachusetts–Rhode Island, Long Island Sound, New Jersey–New York Bight, and Delaware–Maryland–Virginia, despite a lack of genetic information to support this management scenario. The objective of the current study was to investigate the genetic connectivity of Tautogs throughout their management zone and provide stock structure information in support of fisheries management. We developed and used 18 variable microsatellite loci to evaluate the genetic structure of 789 Tautogs sampled across their effective U.S. East Coast range from Massachusetts to North Carolina. We also amplified and sequenced a 1,267 base pair portion of the mitochondrial DNA control region from Tautogs sampled from Massachusetts and Virginia. Comparison of pairwiseFSTvalues among samples collected from locations south of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, were low and nonsignificant, suggesting that gene flow is sufficient to prevent the accumulation of genetic differences. The collection from Cape Cod Bay, Massachusetts, was genetically distinct from all other samples (FST= 0.021 to 0.046), indicating that Cape Cod is a significant barrier to dispersal for Tautogs and suggesting that Tautogs north and south of Cape Cod should be managed as separate stocks.
Chromosome evolution in the cosmopolitan genus Lycium (Solanaceae)
Authors: Stiefkens Laura , Las Peñas M. Laura , Levin Rachel A. , Miller Jill S. , Bernardello Gabriel 
Published: April 2020

AbstractLycium is the only member of tribe Lycieae (Solanoideae, Solanaceae), and it has a cosmopolitan distribution with its greatest diversity in southern South America, southern Africa, and southwestern North America. To date, there has been no attempt to synthesize and evaluate the significance of the available cytogenetical data from a phylogenetic perspective, which is the objective of this study. Firstly, new data on 27 taxa from all its range of distribution (FISH in all of them, banding in 23, Feulgen technique in 14) were provided to fill gaps in the information. The chromosome numbers of L. australe, L. humile, and L. repens were recorded for the first time. Species showed x = 12 with different ploidy levels (mostly diploid or tetraploid), small chromosomes, and symmetrical karyotypes. Lycium fremontii and L. repens were outstanding for having the highest numbers reported for the genus: 10x and 11x, respectively. North American species showed comparatively longer chromosomes. Secondly, cytogenetical traits were mapped on a phylogenetic tree, using character mapping and ancestral states reconstruction, to understand the dynamics of the evolutionary changes. The main cytotaxonomical features were included: chromosome number, presence of polyploidy, total length of the haploid chromosome set, mean chromosome length, karyotype formula, A1 and A2 asymmetry indices, percentage of heterochromatin, number of CMA+/DAPI− NORs bands, and number and position of 5S and 18S‐5.8S‐26S sites. The mean chromosome length, total haploid chromosome length, number of 18S‐5.8S‐26S loci, number of CMA+/DAPI− NORs bands underwent comparatively few transitions compared with the ploidy level and number of 5S loci. The mapping of the characters on the phylogenetic tree showed that the most probable ancestral chromosome number was 2n = 24 with several independent polyploidization events and one pair of each rDNA locus. The most likely ancestral condition for the genus would be: diploid, with small chromosomes, scarce heterochromatin, asynteny of rDNA loci, and one pair of both 18S‐5.8S‐26S and 5S loci.
Is atypical rhythm a risk factor for developmental speech and language disorders?
Authors: Ladányi Enikő , Persici Valentina , Fiveash Anna , Tillmann Barbara , Gordon Reyna L. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAlthough a growing literature points to substantial variation in speech/language abilities related to individual differences in musical abilities, mainstream models of communication sciences and disorders have not yet incorporated these individual differences into childhood speech/language development. This article reviews three sources of evidence in a comprehensive body of research aligning with three main themes: (a) associations between musical rhythm and speech/language processing, (b) musical rhythm in children with developmental speech/language disorders and common comorbid attentional and motor disorders, and (c) individual differences in mechanisms underlying rhythm processing in infants and their relationship with later speech/language development. In light of converging evidence on associations between musical rhythm and speech/language processing, we propose the Atypical Rhythm Risk Hypothesis, which posits that individuals with atypical rhythm are at higher risk for developmental speech/language disorders. The hypothesis is framed within the larger epidemiological literature in which recent methodological advances allow for large‐scale testing of shared underlying biology across clinically distinct disorders. A series of predictions for future work testing the Atypical Rhythm Risk Hypothesis are outlined. We suggest that if a significant body of evidence is found to support this hypothesis, we can envision new risk factor models that incorporate atypical rhythm to predict the risk of developing speech/language disorders. Given the high prevalence of speech/language disorders in the population and the negative long‐term social and economic consequences of gaps in identifying children at‐risk, these new lines of research could potentially positively impact access to early identification and treatment.This article is categorized under:Linguistics > Language in Mind and BrainNeuroscience > DevelopmentLinguistics > Language Acquisition
Statistical Behaviour and Modelling of Fuel Mass Fraction Dissipation Rate Transport in Turbulent Flame-Droplet Interaction: A Direct Numerical Simulation study
Authors: Malkeson Sean P. , Wacks Daniel H. , Chakraborty Nilanjan 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThree-dimensional Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) data of statistically planar turbulent spray flames propagating into mono-disperse droplets for different values of droplet diameter ad and droplet equivalence ratio ϕd has been used to analyse the statistical behaviour of the fuel mass fraction dissipation rate $$ \overset{\sim }{\upvarepsilon_Y} $$εY~ and its transport in the context of Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations. Closures previously derived for high Damköhler number turbulent stratified mixture combustion have been shown not to capture the statistical behaviour of $$ \overset{\sim }{\upvarepsilon_Y} $$εY~ for turbulent spray flames, because the underlying assumptions behind the original modelling are invalid for the cases considered in this analysis. The modelling of the unclosed terms of the fuel mass fraction dissipation rate $$ \overset{\sim }{\upvarepsilon_Y} $$εY~ transport equation (i.e. the turbulent transport term T1, the density variation term T2, the scalar turbulence interaction term T3, the reaction rate term T4, the evaporation contribution terms T5 and T6, and the dissipation rate term −D2) has been analysed in the context of RANS simulations. The models previously proposed in the context of turbulent gaseous stratified flames have been considered here to assess their suitability for turbulent spray flames. Based on a-priori DNS analysis, suitable model expressions have been identified for T1, T2, T31, T32, T33, [T4 − D2 + f(D)] and [T5 + T6], which have been shown to perform generally satisfactorily for all cases considered here.