bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Declining ages at menarche in an agrarian rural region of Poland
Authors: Rogers Mary P. , Lee Katharine M. N. , Galbarczyk Andrzej , Klimek Magdalena , Klein Laura D. , Zabłocka‐Słowińska Katarzyna , Jasienska Grazyna , Clancy Kathryn B. H. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjectiveAge at menarche in Poland has varied with political and socioeconomic changes. An increase in age at menarche corresponded to a period of economic crisis and food rationing between 1976 and 1989. Experiencing food shortages in utero or during childhood development can affect menarcheal timing, but this national effect may be buffered in local agrarian regions growing their own food. Here we examine patterns of age at menarche over time in the rural, agrarian Beskid Wyspowy region of southern Poland.MethodsThis study examined menarcheal timing using data collected from Polish women (n = 1326) recruited at the Mogielica Human Ecology Study Site between 2003 and 2018. Simple linear regressions were used to assess changing ages at menarche over time. Comparisons between ages at menarche for women born before and after the fall of communism in 1989 were assessed via one‐way analysis of variance.ResultsAge at menarche has declined over time in the Beskid Wyspowy region of southern Poland from 1920 to 2000 (R2 = .08, P < .0001). There was not a statistically significant increase or decrease in age at menarche for women born and growing up during the period of food rationing.ConclusionsThe declining age at menarche is likely reflective of a transitioning environment, suggesting that major socioeconomic changes affect life history traits like pubertal timing. Living in agricultural regions may have helped buffer the increasing ages at menarche seen in other areas of Poland during times of food rationing.
Reference ranges for knee height in Argentine children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years
Authors: Ruiz Brunner Maria M. , Cuestas Eloisa , Cieri Maria E. , Cuestas Eduardo 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjectivesMeasurement of height is essential in the anthropometric assessment of growth and nutritional status. In some conditions, height measurement may be difficult or impossible. Proxy measurement such as knee height (KH) have been proposed to predict stature in such cases, but reference percentile ranges and charts for healthy, well‐nourished children are currently unavailable. This study was designed to develop sex‐specific KH reference percentile ranges and charts in Argentine children ranging from 2 to 18 years of age.MethodsWe collected and analyzed cross‐sectional data for KH from 861 Argentine children and adolescents aged 2 to 18 years. Generalized additive models for location, scale, and shape were used to calculate semiparametric smoothed percentile reference ranges, and charts by age and sex. Linear regression and correlation analyses were performed to know the association between KH and height.ResultsThe new reference ranges show that KH growth rose sharply until puberty. Peak KH velocity occurs 1 year earlier than peak height velocity. At puberty KH growth decelerated rapidly in females and increased slightly until 15 years and plateaued at this age, while it had a more gradual deceleration in males up to 11 years old, later increased slightly until 17 years and plateaued at this age. The correlation coefficient between height and KH was r = 0.98 for both sexes (p < .001).ConclusionsThe new reference percentile ranges for KH measures for healthy children and adolescents provide a useful growth and nutritional assessment tool in a wide variety of settings. KH has a strong agreement with stature.
Remote Implementation of a Fredkin Gate via Virtual Excitation of an Atom‐Cavity‐Fiber System
Authors: Sun Guang‐Qing , Wu Jin‐Lei , Niu Wei , Yu Wan‐Rang , Ji Xin 
Published: December 2019

AbstractSimple operations and robust results are always of interest for any quantum tasks. Herein, a novel scheme is proposed for implementing a Fredkin gate via the virtual excitation of an atom‐cavity‐fiber system. The scheme is to control the nonlocal state‐swap of two spatially separated target atoms according to the state of the control atom at hand. In the scheme, only the control atom at hand needs the laser to drive and the virtual excitation of the atom‐cavity‐fiber system effectively suppresses the decoherence. By numerical simulations, appreciated parameters are chosen and it is shown that the Fredkin gate can be implemented with high fidelity. Although the operation time error has slightly stronger influence on the fidelity than atom‐cavity coupling strength error, the robustness of the scheme can be effectively improved against the operation time error by adopting Gaussian pulse to replace the constant pulse. In addition, the scheme can be generalized to implement alternative Fredkin gates by controlling the non‐local state‐swap of two remote atoms or of two remote and spatially separated atoms, which will be undoubtedly of benefit to the distributed quantum computation and remote quantum information processing.
Efficient Ultraviolet Nanosources Based on Third‐Harmonic Generation in Dielectric–Metal Composite Nanodisks
Authors: Kim Kwang‐Hyon , An Jong‐Kwan , Rim Wi‐Song 
Published: December 2019

AbstractDielectric materials with high indices have recently attracted much attention in the community of nanophotonics. Severe optical losses in visible–ultraviolet (UV) region, however, limit their applications. This article proposes dielectric–metal nanocomposites as alternative high‐index materials for Mie‐resonance‐based applications. Such composite materials have high indices in the range of wavelength longer than plasmon resonance of inclusion metal nanoparticles, while they have much lower losses in the range from blue‐violet down to near‐UV compared with commonly used high‐index materials such as silicon, enabling near‐UV generation with high efficiency based on third‐harmonic generation (THG). The numerical results show that ZnO nanodisk containing silver nanoparticles can generate near‐UV radiation at 351.3 nm via THG with an efficiency about 20 times higher compared with silicon nanodisk under same pumping condition. Significantly high THG efficiency of 0.015% has been predicted with such a composite nanodisk supported by aluminum substrate under pumping with a peak intensity of 20 GW cm−2, a spot size of 0.8 , a duration of 50 fs at 1054 nm, respectively.
Amorphous Metal–Organic Framework‐Dominated Nanocomposites with Both Compositional and Structural Heterogeneity for Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Liu Chao , Wang Jing , Wan Jingjing , Cheng Yan , Huang Rong , Zhang Chaoqi , Hu Wenli , Wei Guangfeng , Yu Chengzhong 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAmorphous metal–organic frameworks (aMOFs) are an emerging family of attractive materials with great application potential, however aMOFs are usually prepared under harsh conditions and aMOFs with complex compositions and structures are rarely reported. In this work, an aMOF‐dominated nanocomposite (aMOF‐NC) with both structural and compositional complexity has been synthesized using a facile approach. A ligand‐competition amorphization mechanism is proposed based on experimental and density functional theory calculation results. The aMOF‐NC possesses a core–shell nanorod@nanosheet architecture, including a Fe‐rich Fe‐Co‐aMOF core and a Co‐rich Fe‐Co‐aMOF shell in the core–shell structured nanorod, and amorphous Co(OH)2 nanosheets as the outer layer. Benefiting from the structural and compositional heterogeneity, the aMOF‐NC demonstrates an excellent oxygen evolution reaction activity with a low overpotential of 249 mV at 10.0 mA cm−2 and Tafel slope of 39.5 mV dec−1.
Thrombolysis for submassive pulmonary embolism with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction
Authors: Chong M. S. F. , Aron J. 
Published: December 2019

SummaryThe decision to administer thrombolysis in submassive pulmonary embolism is undertaken based on risk stratification to prevent further cardiorespiratory deterioration. Although right ventricular dysfunction has been used to risk stratify haemodynamically stable patients with acute pulmonary embolism, there is still much controversy in the use of thrombolysis for its treatment. The European Society of Cardiology guidelines suggest thrombolysis should be reserved for rescue reperfusion. However, we present a unique case of submassive pulmonary embolism in which transthoracic echocardiography visualised dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction secondary to right ventricular dilatation, which led to the decision to instigate thrombolysis therapy. A 68‐year‐old man presented with submassive pulmonary embolism with evidence of right ventricular dysfunction but was haemodynamically stable. He was initially commenced on anticoagulation but echocardiography revealed significant right ventricular dilatation and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, signifying a high risk of impending cardiac arrest. After deliberation, full‐dose thrombolysis was administered. Subsequently the patient's symptoms and haemodynamics improved significantly and repeat echocardiography demonstrated that the right ventricular and left ventricular size and function had returned to normal. We suggest echocardiography is used to assess right heart, left heart and outflow dynamics to individualise thrombolysis therapy in patients with submassive pulmonary embolism.
Experimental and theoretical studies of Mn(II) and Co(II) metal complexes of a tridentate Schiff's base ligand and their biological activities
Authors: Jain Pallavi , Kumar Dinesh , Chandra Sulekh , Misra Namita 
Published: December 2019

We have used the condensation method to synthesize 2‐acetyl‐5‐methylsemicarbazone ligand. Manganese(II) and Cobalt(II) complexes having formula [ML2]X2 were synthesized where M = Mn(II) and Co(II), L = ligand, X = Cl−, CH3COO−, NO3−, ½SO42−. The characterization data suggests the octahedral geometry for all the synthesized complexes. Tridentate nature of the 2‐acetyl‐5‐methylsemicarbazone ligand was revealed by IR studies. Molar conductance analysis suggested the electrolytic nature of the complexes. The theoretical study includes geometrical optimization, HOMO‐LUMO energy gap, energetic parameters and dipole moment. These results also confirmed the tridentate nature of the ligand and the octahedral geometry of complexes. The molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) study suggested the reactive sites for an electrophilic or nucleophilic attack in the ligand. We tested the synthesized compounds for their antifungal and antibacterial action via well diffusion method and found that parent ligand after the coordination with the metal ion showed more effective inhibition against bacteria and fungi.
Effects of class‐specific, synthetic, and natural proteinase inhibitors on life‐history traits of the cotton bollworm Helicoverpa armigera
Authors: Kuwar Suyog S. , Pauchet Yannick , Heckel David G. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractHerbivorous insects have more difficulty obtaining proteins from their food than do predators and parasites. The scarcity of proteins in their diet requires herbivores to feed voraciously, thus heavily damaging their host plants. Plants respond to herbivory by producing defense compounds, which reduce insect growth, retard development, and increase mortality. Herbivores use both pre‐ and postdigestive response mechanisms to detect and avoid plant defense compounds. Proteinase inhibitors (PIs) are one example of plant compounds produced as a direct defense against herbivory. Many insects can adapt to PIs when these are incorporated into artificial diets. However, little is known about the effect of PIs on diet choice and feeding behavior. We monitored the diet choice, life‐history traits, and gut proteinase activity of Helicoverpa armigera larvae using diets supplemented with synthetic and natural PIs. In choice experiments, both neonates and fourth‐instar larvae preferred the control diet over PI‐supplemented diets, to varying degrees. Larvae that fed on PI‐supplemented diets weighed less than those that fed on the control diet and produced smaller pupae. Trypsin‐specific PIs had a stronger effect on mean larval weight than did other PIs. A reduction of trypsin activity but not of chymotrypsin activity was observed in larvae fed on PI‐supplemented diets. Therefore, behavioral avoidance of feeding on plant parts high in PIs could be an adaptation to minimize the impact of this plant's defensive strategy.
B Cell Synovitis and Clinical Phenotypes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Relationship to Disease Stages and Drug Exposure
Authors: Rivellese F. , Humby F. , Bugatti S. , Fossati‐Jimack L. , Rizvi H. , Lucchesi D. , Lliso‐Ribera G. , Nerviani A. , Hands R. E. , Giorli G. , Frias B. , Thorborn G. , Jaworska E. , John C. , Goldmann K. , Lewis M. J. , Manzo A. , Bombardieri M. , Pitzalis C. ,   the PEAC‐R4RA Investigators
Published: December 2019

ObjectiveTo define the relationship of synovial B cells to clinical phenotypes at different stages of disease evolution and drug exposure in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsSynovial biopsy specimens and demographic and clinical data were collected from 2 RA cohorts (n = 329), one of patients with untreated early RA (n = 165) and one of patients with established RA with an inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi‐IR; n = 164). Synovial tissue was subjected to hematoxylin and eosin and immunohistochemical staining and semiquantitative assessment for the degree of synovitis (on a scale of 0–9) and of CD20+ B cell infiltrate (on a scale of 0–4). B cell scores were validated by digital image analysis and B cell lineage–specific transcript analysis (RNA‐Seq) in the early RA (n = 91) and TNFi‐IR (n = 127) cohorts. Semiquantitative CD20 scores were used to classify patients as B cell rich (≥2) or B cell poor (<2).ResultsSemiquantitative B cell scores correlated with digital image analysis quantitative measurements and B cell lineage–specific transcripts. B cell–rich synovitis was present in 35% of patients in the early RA cohort and 47.7% of patients in the TNFi‐IR cohort (P = 0.025). B cell–rich patients showed higher levels of disease activity and seropositivity for rheumatoid factor and anti–citrullinated protein antibody in early RA but not in established RA, while significantly higher histologic synovitis scores in B cell–rich patients were demonstrated in both cohorts.ConclusionWe describe a robust semiquantitative histologic B cell score that closely replicates the quantification of B cells by digital or molecular analyses. Our findings indicate an ongoing B cell–rich synovitis, which does not seem to be captured by standard clinimetric assessment, in a larger proportion of patients with established RA than early RA.
Bauphysikalische und ökologische Bewertung adaptiver Fassadenkonstruktionen auf Raumebene
Authors: Harder Nadine , Schlegl Friederike , Flemming Daniela , Di Bari Roberta , Albrecht Stefan , Leistner Philip , Park Sumee 
Published: December 2019

AbstractEine Antwort auf den großen und fortschreitenden Ressourcenverbrauch im Bauwesen können leichte und zugleich adaptive Lösungsansätze für Gebäudehüllen und ‐strukturen darstellen. Dazu müssen sie sowohl für schadensfreie Bauwerke mit passender Aufenthaltsqualität als auch für eine deutlich höhere Ressourceneffizienz sorgen. Beides gilt für den gesamten Lebensweg und trotz der für die Adaptivität benötigen zusätzlichen Betriebsenergie. Im Rahmen einer vorangegangenen Untersuchung adaptiver Leichtbaukonstruktionen [1] für Fassaden wurde die bauphysikalische Funktionalität und Umweltwirkung einiger Beispiele auf Bauteilebene behandelt. Im hier vorliegenden Beitrag wird nun der Betrachtungshorizont auf die Raumebene erweitert, um z. B. neben Kennwerten für Wärme‐ und Feuchteschutz der Hülle auch die Behaglichkeit im Raum als Bewertungsmaßstab heranzuziehen. Natürlich erhöhen sich damit der Aufwand und die Komplexität der Bilanz, dafür lässt sich aber fundierter das Anwendungspotenzial adaptiver Alternativen einschätzen und über deren Weiterverfolgung entscheiden. Dazu werden drei herkömmliche, teils massive und teils leichte Konstruktionen, sowie vergleichbare adaptive Fassaden auf Raumebene untersucht und bewertet. Als wesentliche Bewertungskriterien gelten dabei quantitative Aussagen zur Erfüllung bauphysikalischer Anforderungen und zu ökologischen Umweltwirkungen. Im Ergebnis der methodenübergreifenden Forschung zeigt sich, dass adaptive Konstruktionen fallspezifisch, z. B. standortbezogen, beachtliches Potenzial zur Ressourcenreduktion ohne Funktionseinschränkungen mit sich bringen.
Continuous ultrafiltration/diafiltration using a 3D‐printed two membrane single pass module
Authors: Tan Ruijie , Franzreb Matthias 
Published: December 2019

AbstractA 3D printed ultrafiltration/diafiltration (UF/DF) module is presented allowing the continuous, simultaneous concentration of retained (bio‐)molecules and reduction or exchange of the salt buffer. Differing from the single‐pass UF concepts known from the literature, DF operation does not require the application of several steps or units with intermediating dilution. In contrast, the developed module uses two membranes confining the section in which the molecules are concentrated while the sample is passing. Simultaneously to this concentration process, the two membranes allow a perpendicular in and outflow of DF buffer reducing the salt content in this section. The module showed the continuous concentration of a dissolved protein up to a factor of 4.6 while reducing the salt concentration down to 47% of the initial concentration along a flow path length of only 5 cm. Due to single‐pass operation the module shows concentration polarization effects reducing the effective permeability of the applied membrane in case of higher concentration factors. However, because of its simple design and the capability to simultaneously run UF and DF processes in a single module, the development could be economically beneficial for small scale UF/DF applications.
An NIR‐based PAT approach for real‐time control of loading in Protein A chromatography in continuous manufacturing of monoclonal antibodies
Authors: Thakur Garima , Hebbi Vishwanath , Rathore Anurag S. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractControl of column loading in Protein A chromatography is a crucial part of development of robust and flexible process platforms for continuous production of monoclonal antibody (mAb) products. In this paper, we propose a control system that uses near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) flow cells to accomplish the above. Two applications have been demonstrated using a periodic counter‐current continuous chromatography setup. The first application involves use of single NIR flow cell before the inlet of the loading column to measure the concentration of mAb in the harvested broth. Measurement was in real‐time (every 3 s) and within ±0.05 mg/ml, significantly better than making UV‐based concentration estimations. The second application involved use of an additional NIR flow cell at the outlet of the loading column to measure column breakthrough in real time. The concentration data was transferred to a Python‐based monitoring and control algorithm layered over a Cadence BioSMB system. The program could successfully run a three‐column periodic counter current method on the BioSMB whereas controlling loading to ensure optimal resin utilization in each loading cycle phase based on precharacterized dynamic binding capacity models, whereas maintaining periodic elutions. The system was tested with multiple perturbations in harvest concentration, modeled after deviations that could arise downstream of a perfusion cell culture system. The results show that the proposed control is a spectroscopy‐based process analytical technology tool that facilitates real time monitoring and control of loading in process chromatography. It is adaptable to any continuous chromatography equipment and is very well suited for implementation in a continuous mAb production train.
Systematic review of learning curves in robot-assisted surgery
Authors: Soomro N. A. , Hashimoto D. A. , Porteous A. J. , Ridley C. J. A. , Marsh W. J. , Ditto R. , Roy S. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Background
Increased uptake of robotic surgery has led to interest in learning curves for robot-assisted procedures. Learning curves, however, are often poorly defined. This systematic review was conducted to identify the available evidence investigating surgeon learning curves in robot-assisted surgery.

Methods
MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched in February 2018, in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, alongside hand searches of key congresses and existing reviews. Eligible articles were those assessing learning curves associated with robot-assisted surgery in patients.

Results
Searches identified 2316 records, of which 68 met the eligibility criteria, reporting on 68 unique studies. Of these, 49 assessed learning curves based on patient data across ten surgical specialties. All 49 were observational, largely single-arm (35 of 49, 71 per cent) and included few surgeons. Learning curves exhibited substantial heterogeneity, varying between procedures, studies and metrics. Standards of reporting were generally poor, with only 17 of 49 (35 per cent) quantifying previous experience. Methods used to assess the learning curve were heterogeneous, often lacking statistical validation and using ambiguous terminology.

Conclusion
Learning curve estimates were subject to considerable uncertainty. Robust evidence was lacking, owing to limitations in study design, frequent reporting gaps and substantial heterogeneity in the methods used to assess learning curves. The opportunity remains for the establishment of optimal quantitative methods for the assessment of learning curves, to inform surgical training programmes and improve patient outcomes.
Influence of primary tumour and patient factors on survival in patients undergoing curative resection and treatment for liver metastases from colorectal cancer
Authors: Scherman P. , Syk I. , Holmberg E. , Naredi P. , Rizell M. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Background
Resection of the primary tumour is a prerequisite for cure in patients with colorectal cancer, but hepatic metastasectomy has been used increasingly with curative intent. This national registry study examined prognostic factors for radically treated primary tumours, including the subgroup of patients undergoing liver metastasectomy.

Methods
Patients who had radical resection of primary colorectal cancer in 2009–2013 were identified in a population-based Swedish colorectal registry and cross-checked in a registry of liver tumours. Data on primary tumour and patient characteristics were extracted and prognostic impact was analysed.

Results
Radical resection was registered in 20 853 patients; in 38·7 per cent of those registered with liver metastases, surgery or ablation was performed. The age-standardized relative 5-year survival rate after radical resection of colorectal cancer was 80·9 (95 per cent c.i. 80·2 to 81·6) per cent, and the rate after surgery for colorectal liver metastases was 49·6 (46·0 to 53·2) per cent. Multivariable analysis identified lymph node status, multiple sites of metastasis, high ASA grade and postoperative complications after resection of the primary tumour as strong risk factors after primary resection and following subsequent liver resection or ablation. Age, sex and primary tumour location had no prognostic impact on mortality after liver resection.

Conclusion
Lymph node status and complications have a negative impact on outcome after both primary resection and liver surgery. Older age and female sex were underrepresented in the liver surgical cohort, but these factors did not influence prognosis significantly.