bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Timing of Palliative Care Referral Before and After Evidence from Trials Supporting Early Palliative Care
Authors: Hausner David , Tricou Colombe , Mathews Jean , Wadhwa Deepa , Pope Ashley , Swami Nadia , Hannon Breffni , Rodin Gary , Krzyzanowska Monika K. , Le Lisa W. , Zimmermann Camilla 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Background
Evidence from randomized controlled trials has demonstrated benefits in quality of life outcomes from early palliative care concurrent with standard oncology care in patients with advanced cancer. We hypothesized that there would be earlier referral to outpatient palliative care at a comprehensive cancer center following this evidence.

Materials and Methods
Administrative databases were reviewed for two cohorts of patients: the pre-evidence cohort was seen in outpatient palliative care between June and November 2006, and the post-evidence cohort was seen between June and November 2015. Timing of referral was categorized, according to time from referral to death, as early (&gt;12 months), intermediate (&gt;6 months to 12 months), and late (≤6 months from referral to death). Univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to determine demographic and medical factors associated with timing of referral.

Results
Late referrals decreased from 68.8% pre-evidence to 44.8% post-evidence; early referrals increased from 13.4% to 31.1% (p &lt; .0001). The median time from palliative care referral to death increased from 3.5 to 7.0 months (p &lt; .0001); time from diagnosis to referral was also reduced (p &lt; .05). On multivariable regression analysis, earlier referral to palliative care was associated with post-evidence group (p &lt; .0001), adjusting for shorter time since diagnosis (p &lt; .0001), referral for pain and symptom management (p = .002), and patient sex (p = .04). Late referrals were reduced to &lt;50% in the breast, gynecological, genitourinary, lung, and gastrointestinal tumor sites.

Conclusions
Following robust evidence from trials supporting early palliative care for patients with advanced cancer, patients were referred substantially earlier to outpatient palliative care.

Implications for Practice
Following published evidence demonstrating the benefit of early referral to palliative care for patients with advanced cancer, there was a substantial increase in early referrals to outpatient palliative care at a comprehensive cancer center. The increase in early referrals occurred mainly in tumor sites that have been included in trials of early palliative care. These results indicate that oncologists’ referral practices can change if positive consequences of earlier referral are demonstrated. Future research should focus on demonstrating benefits of early palliative care for tumor sites that have tended to be omitted from early palliative care trials.
A comparison of models with weight, height, and BMI as predictors of mortality
Authors: Sorjonen Kimmo , Nilsonne Gustav , Falkstedt Daniel , Hemmingsson Tomas , Melin Bo , Ingre Michael 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIntroductionBody mass index (BMI) is a composite variable of weight and height, often used as a predictor of health outcomes, including mortality. The main purpose of combining weight and height in one variable is to obtain a measure of obesity independent of height. It is however unclear how accurate BMI is as a predictor of mortality compared with models including both weight and height or a weight × height interaction as predictors.MethodsThe current study used conscription data on weight, height, and BMI of Swedish men (N = 48,904) in 1969/70 as well as linked data on mortality (3442 deaths) between 1969 and 2008. Cox proportional hazard models including combinations of weight, height, and BMI at conscription as predictors of subsequent all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality were fitted to data.ResultsAn increase by one standard deviation on weight and BMI were associated with an increase in hazard for all‐cause mortality by 5.4% and 11.5%, respectively, while an increase by one standard deviation on height was associated with a decrease in hazard for all‐cause mortality by 9.4%. The best‐fitting model indicated lowest predicted all‐cause mortality for those who weighed 60.5 kg at conscription, regardless of height. Further analyses of cause‐specific mortality suggest that this weight seems to be a compromise between lower optimal weights to avoid cancer and CVD mortality and a higher optimal weight to not die by suicide.ConclusionsAccording to the present findings, there are several ways to make better use of measured weight and height than to calculate BMI when predicting mortality.
Connecting governance interventions to ecosystem services provision: A social‐ecological network approach
Authors: Metzger Jean Paul , Fidelman Pedro , Sattler Claudia , Schröter Barbara , Maron Martine , Eigenbrod Felix , Fortin Marie‐Josée , Hohlenwerger Camila , Rhodes Jonathan R. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

The fulfilment of the benefits resulting from services provided by nature requires an integrated framework that combines appropriate ecosystem service governance with spatially explicit models of service provision.

Here, we propose using a social‐ecological network approach to develop a ‘landscape governance framework’ that identifies how different types of governance can act on supply, demand and flow of ecosystem services through changes in landscape structure and connections.

Starting from undesirable situations where demand exceeds supply, we exemplify the application of this conceptual model considering hierarchical (e.g. creation of protected areas), market (e.g. payments for environmental services) and community‐based (e.g. enhancing links between stakeholders) governance approaches.

We show how interventions associated with each of these approaches act in distinct ways to regulate different components of the service provision chain in heterogeneous landscapes. Filling such knowledge gaps can help identify appropriate governance interventions depending on factors that limit provision: restricted supply, demand or flow.

The application of the landscape governance framework entails challenges related to availability of data and limited understanding of key underlying mechanisms. However, it opens important new research questions at the interface between governance and ecosystem services, with great potential as a tool for landscape management that aims to achieve ecosystem service sustainability.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Fabrication of Forcespinning® nanofibers incorporating nopal extract
Authors: Rodriguez Cristobal , Padilla Victoria , Lozano Karen , McDonald Andrew , Materon Luis , Chapa Alejandra , Ahmad Fariha , De Leo Carlos Trevino , Gilkerson Robert 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn this study, nanofibers composed of Opuntia cochenillifera nopal mucilage (N) extract combined with chitosan (CH) and pullulan (PL) (N/CH/PL) were produced via Forcespinning®. The developed nonwoven composite membranes are composed of long, continuous and homogeneous fibers with average fiber diameter varying between 251 ± 77 nm and 406 ± 127 nm depending on the concentration of N. After crosslinking, the developed membranes were highly stable in water. The water absorption capacity of the N/CH/PL composite nanofiber membranes was shown to be 65% higher compared to CH/PL nanofiber membranes. Nopal dip‐coated membranes show inhibition of Gram‐negative Escherichia coli, indicating antibacterial properties. These findings suggest that the incorporation of naturally derived nopal extract into nanofiber systems could provide a natural alternative for dressings used in wound healing applications. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Zebrafish larvae as a toxicity model in plasma medicine
Authors: Gandhirajan Rajesh K. , Endlich Nicole , Bekeschus Sander 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPlasma technology has emerged as a promising tool in medicine that, however, requires not only efficacy but also toxicological assessments. Traditional cell culture systems are fast and economical, but they lack in vivo relevance; however, rodent models are highly complex and necessitate extended facilities. Zebrafish larvae bridge this gap, and many larvae can be analyzed in well plates in a single run, giving results in 1–2 days. Using the kINPen, we found plasma exposure to reduce hedging rates and viability in a dose‐dependent manner, accompanied with an increase in reactive oxygen species and a decrease of glutathione in plasma‐treated fish. Modest growth alterations were also observed. Altogether, zebrafish larvae constitute a fast, reliable, and relevant model for testing the toxicity of plasma sources.
Untangling a Gordian knot: the role of a GluCl3 I321T mutation in abamectin resistance in Tetranychus urticae
Authors: Xue Wenxin , Mermans Catherine , Papapostolou Kyriaki‐Maria , Lamprousi Mantha , Christou Iason‐Konstantinos , Inak Emre , Douris Vassilis , Vontas John , Dermauw Wannes , Van Leeuwen Thomas 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe cys‐loop ligand‐gated ion channels, including the glutamate‐gated chloride channel (GluCl) and GABA‐gated chloride channel (Rdl) are important targets for drugs and pesticides. The macrocyclic lactone abamectin primarily targets GluCl and is commonly used to control the spider mite Tetranychus urticae, an economically important crop pest. However, abamectin resistance has been reported for multiple T. urticae populations worldwide, and in several cases was associated with the mutations G314D in GluCl1 and G326E in GluCl3. Recently, an additional I321T mutation in GluCl3 was identified in several abamectin resistant T. urticae field populations. Here, we aim to functionally validate this mutation and determine its phenotypic strength.RESULTSThe GluCl3 I321T mutation was introgressed into a T. urticae susceptible background by marker‐assisted backcrossing, revealing contrasting results in phenotypic strength, ranging from almost none to 50‐fold. Next, we used CRISPR‐Cas9 to introduce I321T, G314D and G326E in the orthologous Drosophila GluCl. Genome modified flies expressing GluCl I321T were threefold less susceptible to abamectin, while CRISPRed GluCl G314D and G326E flies were lethal. Last, functional analysis in Xenopus oocytes revealed that the I321T mutation might reduce GluCl3 sensitivity to abamectin, but also suggested that all three T. urticae Rdls are affected by abamectin.CONCLUSIONThree different techniques were used to characterize the role of I321T in GluCl3 in abamectin resistance and, combining all results, our analysis suggests that the I321T mutation has a complex role in abamectin resistance. Given the reported subtle effect, additional synergistic factors in resistance warrant more investigation. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Early stopping in seamless phase I/IIclinical trials
Authors: Khan Noor M. , Alam M. Iftakhar 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIn recent years, seamless phase I/II clinical trials have drawn much attention, as they consider both toxicity and efficacy endpoints in finding an optimal dose (OD). Engaging an appropriate number of patients in a trial is a challenging task. This paper attempts a dynamic stopping rule to save resources in phase I/II trials. That is, the stopping rule aims to save patients from unnecessary toxic or subtherapeutic doses. We allow a trial to stop early when widths of the confidence intervals for the dose‐response parameters become narrower or when the sample size is equal to a predefined size, whichever comes first. The simulation study of dose‐response scenarios in various settings demonstrates that the proposed stopping rule can engage an appropriate number of patients. Therefore, we suggest its use in clinical trials.
Deterministic quantum mechanics: The role of the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution
Authors: Büchel Ralf C. , Rudolph Dominik A. , Frank Irmgard 
Published: December 2020

AbstractTo be accepted by the community, the claim that nuclear motion has to be treated classically must be tested for all kinds of phenomena. For the moment we claim that in a quantum chemical calculation, a classical description of nuclear motion is superior to the use of the Schrödinger equation, and investigate how far we get with this statement. In the present paper we address the question what nuclear quantum statistics means in this context. We will show that the Maxwell–Boltzmann velocity distribution evolves quickly in any molecular dynamics simulation and this guarantees the physically correct behavior of molecular systems. Using first‐principles molecular dynamics simulations, or more precisely Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics, we investigate what this means for Bose‐Einstein condensates and for Cooper pairs. It turns out that our approach can explain all relevant phenomena. As a consequence, we can introduce a deterministic formulation of quantum mechanics and can get rid of all the paradoxa in traditional quantum mechanics. The basic idea is to treat electrons and nuclei differently.
SPIX: A new software package to reveal chemical reactions at trace amounts in very complex mixtures from high‐resolution mass spectra dataset
Authors: Nicol Edith , Xu Yao , Varga Zsuzsanna , Kinani Said , Bouchonnet Stéphane , Lavielle Marc 
Published: December 2020

RationaleHigh‐resolution mass spectrometry based non‐targeted screening has a huge potential for applications in environmental sciences, engineering and regulation. However, it produces large datasets for which full appropriate processing is a real challenge; the development of processing software is the last building‐block to enable large‐scale use of this approach.MethodsA new software application, SPIX, has been developed to extract relevant information from high‐resolution mass spectral datasets. Dealing with intrinsic sample variability and reducing operator subjectivity, it opens up opportunities and promising prospects in many areas of analytical chemistry. SPIX is freely available at: http://spix.webpopix.org.ResultsTwo features of the software are presented in the field of environmental analysis. An example illustrates how SPIX reveals photodegradation reactions in wastewater by fitting kinetic models to significant changes in ion abundance over time. A second example shows the ability of SPIX to detect photoproducts at trace amounts in river water, through comparison of datasets from samples taken before and after irradiation.ConclusionsSPIX has shown its ability to reveal relevant modifications between two series of large datasets, allowing, for instance, the study of the consequences of a given event on a complex substrate. Most of all – and it is to our knowledge the only software currently available allowing this – it can reveal and monitor any kind of reaction in all types of mixture.
Comparing biological methods for soil health assessments: EL‐FAME, enzyme activities, and qPCR
Authors: Pérez‐Guzmán Lumarie , Phillips Lori A. , Acevedo Miguel A. , Acosta‐Martínez Verónica 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSoil health initiatives have categorized assays for enzyme activities (EAs) that measure p‐nitrophenol and ester‐linked fatty acid methyl ester (EL‐FAME) as Tier 2 indicators for biological activity and community structure analysis, respectively. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays of functional and taxonomic communities are emerging Tier 3 indicators. To facilitate comparisons of soil biological health between research groups that may employ different methods, we applied these current and emerging indicators to semiarid soils from the Texas High Plains sampled in the growing season and postharvest from 2014 through 2018. Microbial groups via EL‐FAME markers and EAs were strongly correlated (r > .79) with qPCR assays of equivalent taxonomic and functional genes. To further quantify the predictive power of these relationships, we modeled several genes as a function of EA or EL‐FAME markers, combined with other related covariates (e.g., soil texture, pH, irrigation, and soil organic C [SOC]) using a generalized linear model. The latter was trained using data from 2014, which was an average year in terms of temperature and precipitation for the region. Subsequently, the model was tested making predictions for 2015–2018, which represented high variability in climatic conditions, ensuring a thorough assessment of its predictive power. In most cases, soil texture, SOC, and Tier 2 indicators were identified as moderate to strong predictors of the biological responses. Our results suggest that the different approaches for assessing either function or community in these semiarid soils were highly comparable and provided similar information on how microbial communities were responding to both management and climate.
The role of values in shaping sustainable development perspectives and outcomes: A case study of Iceland
Authors: Knox‐Hayes Janelle , Chandra Shekhar , Chun Jungwoo 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSustainability is conceptualized as a process of balancing growth, equity, and preservation, a definition that is drawn from the 1987 Brundtland Commission report, Our Common Future. While making sustainability a universal objective, this definition conceptualizes sustainability as a one‐size fits all technocratic solution, which removes the concept from the context of specific societies that must engage with sustainable development. Social scientific data about the nature of values, where they come from, with whom they resonate, and what goals for conservation and development they establish are equally necessary for the understanding and framing of sustainability. Policies are more effective if they are embedded in the value systems they engage. Drawing on a case study of Iceland this study examines the nature of values in shaping sustainable outcomes. We argue that regulative, normative, cultural, and cognitive institutional structures are in constant interaction with value systems and sustainability conceptions. We find that institutional structures and pro‐sustainability values are mutually reinforcing: institutional structures and place amplify value orientation. In turn, values influence the orientation of status‐quo institutional structures. Working with interview data and using a grounded theory approach, we build a model for understanding how sustainability is conceptualized in Iceland working from values through agents and industrial bases to generate strategies of development. Icelanders operationalize concepts of sustainability through innovations that improve the efficiency and preservation of natural resources. Our findings add additional layers to conventional pathways of valuation and demonstrate the importance of place and context in situating values of development.
Ultralight Flexible Electrodes of Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Macrotube Sponges for High‐Performance Supercapacitors
Authors: Fu Min , Lv Ruitao , Lei Yu , Terrones Mauricio 
Published: December 2020

AbstractLight‐weight and flexible supercapacitors with outstanding electrochemical performances are strongly desired in portable and wearable electronics. Here, ultralight nitrogen‐doped carbon macrotube (N‐CMT) sponges with 3D interconnected macroporous structures are fabricated and used as substrate to grow nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4) nanoparticles by vapor diffusion–precipitation and in situ growth. This process effectively suppresses the agglomeration of NiFe2O4, enabling good interfacial contact between N‐CMT sponges and NiFe2O4. More remarkably, the as‐synthesized NiFe2O4/N‐CMT composite sponges can be directly used as electrodes without additional processing that could cause agglomeration and reduction of active sites. Benefiting from the tubular structure and the synergetic effect of NiFe2O4 and N‐CMT, the NiFe2O4/N‐CMT‐2 exhibits a high specific capacitance of 715.4 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1, and 508.3 F g−1 at 10 A g−1, with 90.9% of capacitance retention after 50 000 cycles at 1 A g−1 in an alkaline electrolyte. Furthermore, flexible supercapacitors are fabricated, yielding areal specific capacitances of 1397.4 and 1041.2 mF cm−2 at 0.5 and 8 mA cm−2, respectively. They also exhibit exceptional cycling performance with capacitance retention of 92.9% at 1 mA cm−2 after 10 000 cycles under bending. This work paves a new way to develop flexible, light‐weight, and high‐performance energy storage devices.
Unraveling the Friction Evolution Mechanism of Diamond‐Like Carbon Film during Nanoscale Running‐In Process toward Superlubricity
Authors: Wang Kang , Zhang Jie , Ma Tianbao , Liu Yanmin , Song Aisheng , Chen Xinchun , Hu Yuanzhong , Carpick Robert W. , Luo Jianbin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractDiamond‐like carbon (DLC) films are capable of achieving superlubricity at sliding interfaces by a rapid running‐in process. However, fundamental mechanisms governing the friction evolution during this running‐in processes remain elusive especially at the nanoscale, which hinders strategic tailoring of tribosystems for minimizing friction and wear. Here, it is revealed that the running‐in governing superlubricity of DLC demonstrates two sub‐stages in single‐asperity nanocontacts. The first stage, mechanical removal of a thin oxide layer, is described quantitatively by a stress‐activated Arrhenius model. In the second stage, a large friction decrease occurs due to a structural ordering transformation, with the kinetics well described by the Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov model with a modified load dependence of the activation energy. The direct observation of a graphitic‐layered transfer film formation together with the measured Avrami exponent reveal the primary mechanism of the ordering transformation. The findings provide fundamental insights into friction evolution mechanisms, and design criteria for superlubricity.
Additive‐Free Aqueous MXene Inks for Thermal Inkjet Printing on Textiles
Authors: Uzun Simge , Schelling Marion , Hantanasirisakul Kanit , Mathis Tyler S. , Askeland Ron , Dion Genevieve , Gogotsi Yury 
Published: December 2020

AbstractDirect printing of functional inks onto flexible substrates allows for scalable fabrication of wearable electronics. However, existing ink formulations for inkjet printing require toxic solvents and additives, which make device fabrication more complex, limit substrate compatibility, and hinder device performance. Even water‐based carbon or metal nanoparticle inks require supplemental surfactants, binders, and cosolvents to produce jettable colloidal suspensions. Here, a general approach is demonstrated for formulating conductive inkjet printable, additive‐free aqueous Ti3C2Tx MXene inks for direct printing on various substrates. The rheological properties of the MXene inks are tuned by controlling the Ti3C2Tx flake size and concentration. Ti3C2Tx‐based electrical conduits and microsupercapacitors (MSCs) are printed on textile and paper substrates by optimizing the nozzle geometry for high‐resolution inkjet printing. The chemical stability and electrical properties of the printed devices are also studied after storing the devices for six months under ambient conditions. Current collector‐free, textile‐based MSCs show areal capacitance values up to 294 mF cm−2 (2 mV s−1) in poly(vinyl alcohol)/sulfuric acid gel electrolyte, surpassing reported printed MXene‐based MSCs and inkjet‐printed MSCs using other 2D nanomaterials. This work is an important step toward increasing the functional capacity of conductive inks and simplifying the fabrication of wearable textile‐based electronics.