bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ASCO 2020 non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) personal highlights
Authors: Horvath Lena , Pircher Andreas 
Published: January 2021

SummaryIn this article we summarize our personal non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) highlights of the virtual ASCO 2020 meeting, covering developments in early and advanced-stage NSCLC. Until recently early stage NSCLC patients were treated independently of their genetic profile. Now the ADAURA study proved that postoperative osimertinib significantly prolongs disease-free survival compared to standard chemotherapy in EGFR-mutated NSCLC , underlining the high efficacy of targeted therapies in early stages. In advanced-stage disease, of course immunotherapy (IO) was at the center of attention. Final analysis of KEYNOTE-189 (pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone) and 3‑year update of CheckMate 227 (nivolumab plus ipilimumab versus standard chemotherapy) proved the long-term overall survival benefit of IO combinations in the first-line setting independent of PD-L1 status. The innovative CheckMate 9LA study demonstrated rapid disease control with limited-course chemotherapy plus IO doublet, while sparing chemotoxicity and may soon become a new clinical treatment choice. Moreover, the phase II CITYSCAPE trial presented significant response rates of the TIGIT-inhibitor tiragolumab plus atezolizumab in PD-L1 positive NSCLC. For HER2-mutated patients a highly effective drug conjugate trastuzumab deruxtecan was presented in a phase II study, extending targeted agents in genetically driven NSCLC. Altogether, ASCO 2020 could excite with inspiring new data for an optimized and more individualized NSCLC treatment regimen, contributing to a better outcome for both early and late-stage diseased patients and continuing to decrease lung cancer mortality.
Organic consumers’ profile beyond the mean
Authors: Furno Marilena , Del Giudice Teresa , Cicia Gianni 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe European organic food market is characterized by very different consumer segments. There are significant differences concerning motivations for organic food consumption, preferences for various attributes, and frequency of purchase among consumers. Although the organic food sector has been studied for about 20 years, little is known about consumer behavior at different levels of consumption. The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of organic food consumption in various market segments characterized by different purchasing frequencies. The determinants of purchase frequency in Italy and Germany are analyzed not only at the mean regression, by OLS, but also at the median and at the mode. Differing estimates at these measures of central tendency generally occur with asymmetric distributions, and this occurs in the following analysis as well. Moreover, since in Germany the dependent variable presents more than one peak/mode, interpretation of the mode regression becomes problematic and a different tool is implemented, namely the finite mixture model. The latter clusters the observations in homogeneous groups while computing the regression coefficients within each group. Buyers are split into two groups, frequent and rare consumers of organic food, and two different sets of estimated coefficients explain frequency of purchases within each group.
Evaluation for the optimization of two conceptual 200,000 m3/day capacity RO desalination plant with different intake seawater of Oman Sea and Caspian Sea
Authors: Yusefi Fatemeh , Zahedi Mir Mahdi , Ziyaadini Morteza 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIran has faced with water scarcity problem for a long time. There is a strong tendency to desalinate seawater from Oman or the Caspian Sea as intake seawater and transfer it to central parts of the country. These projects face significant technical, economic, and environmental challenges. In this work, utilizing available economic theories about single-stage reverse osmosis (RO) desalination plants, the cost analysis of a conceptual plant with a production capacity of 200,000 m3/day, was accomplished assuming the use of Oman and Caspian seawater as feed. The effect of important parameters such as applied pressure, recovery ratio, total salt content of the feed, and produced water and the temperature has been studied theoretically. The results show that under the same working conditions, the final product price per cubic meter of freshwater from the Caspian Sea is $ 0.69 versus $ 1.24 for the Oman Sea, which is about 50% cheaper. The lower salinity of the Caspian Sea compared to the Oman Sea is the main reason, which lead to reduce in the capital cost of the RO membrane (62% difference), cost of the intake and pretreatment (20%), and cost of membrane elements replacement (13%) regardless of water transfer cost.
Hydro-morphometric characterization and prioritization of sub-watersheds for land and water resource management using fuzzy analytical hierarchical process (FAHP): a case study of upper Rihand watershed of Chhattisgarh State, India
Authors: Ghosh Milan , Gope Dipti 
Published: January 2021

AbstractRihand reservoir is continuously experiencing siltation due to erosion in upper basin; thus study of morphometric-based prioritization of sub-watershed has become prerequisite for implementation of measures for conservation of soil and water resource. In present study an attempted has been made to analyze characterization and prioritization of sub-watersheds in upper basin of Rihand watershed based on hydro-morphometric parameters, in an environment of Geographical Information System (GIS), with the help of Multicriteria Decision Making through Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) techniques in order to identify critical sub-watersheds for conservation and management of soil and water resource. The morphometric characterization has been done through measurement of linear, areal and relief aspect of over seven sub-watersheds using SOI topographical sheet and SRTM data with the help of Q GIS 3.10 and White box software. In the purpose prioritization of sub-watersheds FAHP method has been implemented through assigning fuzzy membership function to each of 15 morphometric parameters by deriving their relationships with erosional hazard and criterion weight has been obtained using Saaty’s (Fundamentals of decision making and priority theory with analytical hierarchical process, RWS Publications University of Pittsburgh, Pittusburgh, 1980) proposed method. Based on prioritization approach the entire sub-watershed has divided into 3 vulnerable zones, i.e., high, medium and low. This study reveals that about 29% area of the watershed is falls under high vulnerable zone as they obtained high priority value and required immediate measures. In addition, ideal locations for measure structure to prevent soil erosion and maximize infiltration has been proposed which will be useful to the decision maker for land and water resource conservation, management, and sustainable agricultural development.
Solar nanophotocatalytic pretreatment of seawater: process optimization and performance evaluation using response surface methodology and genetic algorithm
Authors: Joy Varghese Manappallil , Feroz Shaik , Dutta Susmita 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn reverse osmosis seawater treatment process, membrane fouling can be mitigated by degrading organic pollutants present in the feed seawater. The present study evaluates the effectiveness of employing solar photocatalysis using TiO2/ZnO/H2O2 to pretreat reverse osmosis (RO) feed seawater under solar irradiation. Process optimisation and performance evaluation were undertaken using response surface methodology-desirability function and RSM integrated with genetic algorithm (RSM-GA). Statistical analysis was performed to determine the interactive relationships and main effects of input factors such as TiO2 dosage, H2O2 dosage, pH, reaction time and ZnO dosage. The performance evaluation was determined in terms of percentage removal of total organic carbon (TOC) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The obtained optimum values using RSM-GA evaluation for TOC and COD removal were found to be 76.5% and 63.9%, respectively. The predicted RSM-GA results correspond well with the experimental results (TOC removal = 73.3%, COD removal = 61.2%). Utilization of renewable solar energy coupled with optimum utilisation of nanophotocatalysts enables this technique to be a unique treatment process for RO pretreatment of seawater and membrane fouling mitigation.
Implementation of Quality by Design (QbD) Principles in Regulatory Dossiers of Medicinal Products in the European Union (EU) Between 2014 and 2019
Authors: ter Horst Judith P. , Turimella Sada L. , Metsers Frans , Zwiers Alex 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Quality by Design (QbD) is a systematic risk-based approach to development, with predefined characteristics and quality risk management throughout the life cycle of a product. International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines Q8–Q11 give guidance on QbD applications with ICH Q8 (R2)—approved in 2009—describing the principles of QbD in detail. Since its adoption over 10 years ago, more information about QbD usage for the development of medicinal products is expected to be written in regulatory dossiers by companies.

Methods
The present study set out to evaluate the implementation of QbD principles and elements in all EU approved marketing applications (MA) (n = 494), based on information available in the European Public Assessment Reports (EPARs), for a period of six years (2014–2019), starting 5 years after QbD adoption.

Results
Of the 494 MAs, 271 were submitted with a full dossier (article 8(3)). According to EMA (38%), out of the 271 full dossier submissions, only 104 were developed using full QbD. This figure did not increase during this period. Interestingly, between 2014 and 2019, several MAs were not developed via full QbD implementation but used one or more QbD elements during development, including design space. In addition, a higher percentage of small molecule products were developed with QbD as opposed to biotechnology-derived products (78% vs. 22%, respectively).

Conclusion
Overall, QbD during development of medicinal products is still not commonly described in dossiers. However, more companies started mentioning QbD elements, thus making it a promising step toward QbD as the standard for development in the future.
Borehole inventory, groundwater potential and water quality studies in Ayede Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria
Authors: Ige Olusegun O. , Ameh Hycent O. , Olaleye Ifeoluwa M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study aims at determining the state of government provided boreholes, evaluating groundwater potential and quality assessment within the Ayede Ekiti community. 12 Vertical Electrical Soundings (VES) were conducted using Schlumberger array in order to determine geoelectric layers and fracture attributes. Also, 12 water samples were collected from the study area to evaluate physicochemical characteristics of the groundwater. The study revealed average values of total depth of boreholes, static water levels and water column in the boreholes to be 18.77 m, 6.77 m and 11.99 m respectively. 70% of the boreholes are either abandoned, damaged or with evidence of corrosion and encrustation. Geophysical investigation revealed weathered layer thickness ranging from 1.3 to 34.7 m with two regimes of fracture at 40–50 and 75–80 m. The frequency of curve types obtained shows 16.67%, 33.33%, 25%, 8.33%, 8.33% and 8.33% for AK, HA, KH, AA, QH and HK respectively while weathered and fractured basement are identified as the two types of aquifer unit. Results of water analysis unveiled that dominance cations are in order Ca2+ > Na+ > K+ > Mg2+while anions are in the order of HCO3− > Cl− > SO42−. Three types of hydrochemical facies present are CaHCO3 > NaHCO3 > CaCl in 66.67%, 25% and 8.33% respectively. The Wilcox plot suggests the suitability of the groundwater samples for irrigation purposes when compared with the World Health Organization standards. Despite potential for groundwater and good quality of analyzed samples, the problem of water in this community is traceable to inadequacy in exploration, shallow boreholes with consequent seasonal water availability.
Cavernous Branched Nerve Regeneration Using Non-Tubular Artificial Nerve Sheets Using Freeze-Dried Alginate Gel Combined With Polyglycolic Acid Mesh in a Rat Model
Authors: Narita Shintaro , Obara Takashi , Ishikawa Namiko , Suzuki Yoshihisa , Habuchi Tomonori 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Introduction
Neuroprotection and neuroregeneration of cavernous nerve plexus by biological/bioengineering solutions may have the potential to maintain erectile function.

Aims
We evaluated the efficacy of a newly developed artificial nerve sheet using freeze-dried alginate (ALG) with polyglycolic acid (PGA) mesh in a rat model. Methods: Bilateral cavernous nerves of male rats were excised to make an approximately 2 mm gap. A piece of the sponge-like freeze-dried sheet created by covalent cross-linking of ALG gel combined with PGA mesh was placed over the gap to cover each stump without any neural anastomosis. We compared erectile functions in the ALG groups with those in the sham group and the bilateral nerve excision group (n = 12, each).

Main Outcome Measures
Main outcome measure was a rat model with cavernous nerve excision.

Results
All rats in the sham group had erection at 63 or 64 days, and mating behavior was confirmed in 10 rats (83.3%) of the sham group at 56 to 62 days. No erection and mating behavior was observed in the excision group. Ten of the 12 (83.3%) rats in the ALG group had a mating behavior and an erection, and the rates of erection and mating behavior were significantly higher in the ALG group than those in the excision group (P &lt; .01, P &lt; .01, respectively). Using a retrograde FluoroGold, the rate of FluoroGold positive pelvic ganglia proximal to the gap at 61 or 62 days was significantly higher in the ALG group than that in the excision group (P = .014).

Conclusion
The results of our animal study have demonstrated that simply filling the cavernous nerve gap using the non-tubular artificial nerve sheets made of ALG with PGA mesh restored erectile function after cavernous nerve excision.
Bayesian Econometric Methods
Authors: Chan Joshua , Koop Gary , Poirier Dale J. , Tobias Justin L. 
Published: January 2021

Bayesian Econometric Methods examines principles of Bayesian inference by posing a series of theoretical and applied questions and providing detailed solutions to those questions. This second edition adds extensive coverage of models popular in finance and macroeconomics, including state space and unobserved components models, stochastic volatility models, ARCH, GARCH, and vector autoregressive models. The authors have also added many new exercises related to Gibbs sampling and Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods. The text includes regression-based and hierarchical specifications, models based upon latent variable representations, and mixture and time series specifications. MCMC methods are discussed and illustrated in detail - from introductory applications to those at the current research frontier - and MATLAB® computer programs are provided on the website accompanying the text. Suitable for graduate study in economics, the text should also be of interest to students studying statistics, finance, marketing, and agricultural economics.
A class of continuous non-associative algebras arising from algebraic groups including
Authors: Chayet Maurice , Garibaldi Skip 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
We give a construction that takes a simple linear algebraic group G over a field and produces a commutative, unital, and simple non-associative algebra A over that field. Two attractions of this construction are that (1) when G has type

$E_8$

, the algebra A is obtained by adjoining a unit to the 3875-dimensional representation; and (2) it is effective, in that the product operation on A can be implemented on a computer. A description of the algebra in the

$E_8$

case has been requested for some time, and interest has been increased by the recent proof that

$E_8$

is the full automorphism group of that algebra. The algebras obtained by our construction have an unusual Peirce spectrum.
COVID-19 pandemic: influence of relationship status on stress, anxiety, and depression in Canada
Authors: Nkire Nnamdi , Nwachukwu Izu , Shalaby Reham , Hrabok Marianne , Vuong Wesley , Gusnowski April , Surood Shireen , Greenshaw Andrew J. , Agyapong Vincent I. O. 
Published: January 2021

Objective:To examine the impact of relationship status on levels of stress, anxiety, and depression during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to identify relationship status groups who are at greater risk of mental health difficulties.Methods:The sample was drawn from individuals who subscribed to the Text4Hope program, a cognitive behavioral therapy inspired text messaging service developed to support Albertans during the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey link was sent to the subscribers to ascertain their relationship status and assess psychopathology using the Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Data analysis was carried out using SPSS-26 for descriptive statistics.Results:Within the first 6 weeks of the pandemic, 8267 of 44·992 subscribers responded to the online survey giving a response rate of 19.4%. Mean scores on the PSS, GAD-7, and PHQ-9 were highest among those who were single and lowest among those who were widowed. Overall, mean scores on the PHQ-9 were higher in groups who self-identified as separated or divorced when compared with groups who identified as having partners, including the categories of married or cohabiting.Conclusions:Relationship status during the COVID-19 pandemic has an influence on the mental health of individuals. Our findings highlight relationship groups at risk of mental health problems during the pandemic and for whom treatments and mitigation should be targeted.
Changes in diet quality and body weight over 10 years: the Multiethnic Cohort Study
Authors: Kang Minji , Boushey Carol J. , Shvetsov Yurii B. , Setiawan Veronica W. , Paik Hee-Young , Wilkens Lynne R. , Le Marchand Loic , Park Song-Yi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHigh-quality diets have been found to be beneficial in preventing long-term weight gain. However, concurrent changes in diet quality and body weight over time have rarely been reported. We examined the association between 10-year changes in diet quality and body weight in the Multiethnic Cohort Study. Analyses included 53 977 African Americans, Native Hawaiians, Japanese Americans, Latinos and Whites, who completed both baseline (1993–1996, 45–69 years) and 10-year follow-up (2003–2008) surveys including a FFQ and had no history of heart disease or cancer. Using multivariable regression, weight changes were regressed on changes in four diet quality indexes, Healthy Eating Index-2015, Alternative Healthy Eating Index-2010, alternate Mediterranean Diet and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension scores. Mean weight change over 10 years was 1·2 (sd 6·8) kg in men and 1·5 (sd 7·2) kg in women. Compared with stable diet quality (< 0·5 sd change), the greatest increase (≥ 1 sd increase) in the diet scores was associated with less weight gain (by 0·55–1·17 kg in men and 0·62–1·31 kg in women). Smaller weight gain with improvement in diet quality was found in most subgroups by race/ethnicity, baseline age and baseline BMI. The inverse association was stronger in younger age and higher BMI groups. Ten-year improvement in diet quality was associated with a smaller weight gain, which varied by race/ethnicity and baseline age and BMI. Our findings suggest that maintaining a high-quality diet and improving diet quality over time may prevent excessive weight gain.
The community structure of hyperiid amphipods associated with two seamount regions in the South-east Pacific
Authors: Espinosa-Leal Liliana , Medellín-Mora Johanna , Corredor-Acosta Andrea , Escribano Rubén 
Published: January 2021

AbstractOceanic islands and seamounts are considered biodiversity hotspots. Here, we present a taxonomy and community analyses of hyperiid amphipods collected near oceanic islands and over seamounts of the Juan Fernández Archipelago and Desventuradas Archipelago in the South-east Pacific. Both archipelagos are separated by about 800 km over the meridional gradient, suggesting the existence of different hyperiid communities because of apparent geographic isolation and distinctive oceanographic characteristics between regions. To test this hypothesis, zooplankton samples were collected from 19 stations during the CIMAR 22 ‘Oceanic Island’ cruise in October–November 2016. In total, 56 species of hyperiids were found, of whichPhrosina semilunata,Lestrigonus schizogeneios,Hyperietta stephenseni,Hyperioides longipes,Phronimella elongataandPrimno latreilleiwere the most abundant and recurrent species. The species richness (S), Shannon–Wiener diversity (H’) and dominance (D) of both the archipelagos were not significantly different. Additionally, except for a small group of rare species, the species composition was similar in both areas. Most species showed greater abundances than those observed in the coastal upwelling zone off Chile, whereas shared species between regions suggested the presence of a single biogeographic unit comprising the coastal transition zone and oceanic area off Chile within which both archipelagos are included. Correlation analysis indicated that salinity was the best predictor for the community structure, which provides evidence that the contributions of previously described water masses of the South-east Pacific may influence the spatial distribution and composition of the hyperiid community.
The impact of smoking status on cognition and brain morphology in schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Authors: Ringin Elysha , Cropley Vanessa , Zalesky Andrew , Bruggemann Jason , Sundram Suresh , Weickert Cynthia Shannon , Weickert Thomas W. , Bousman Chad A. , Pantelis Christos , Van Rheenen Tamsyn E. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundCigarette smoking is associated with worse cognition and decreased cortical volume and thickness in healthy cohorts. Chronic cigarette smoking is prevalent in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), but the effects of smoking status on the brain and cognition in SSD are not clear. This study aimed to understand whether cognitive performance and brain morphology differed between smoking and non-smoking individuals with SSD compared to healthy controls.MethodsData were obtained from the Australian Schizophrenia Research Bank. Cognitive functioning was measured in 299 controls and 455 SSD patients. Cortical volume, thickness and surface area data were analysed from T1-weighted structural scans obtained in a subset of the sample (n= 82 controls,n= 201 SSD). Associations between smoking status (cigarette smoker/non-smoker), cognition and brain morphology were tested using analyses of covariance, including diagnosis as a moderator.ResultsNo smoking by diagnosis interactions were evident, and no significant differences were revealed between smokers and non-smokers across any of the variables measured, with the exception of a significantly thinner left posterior cingulate in smokers compared to non-smokers. Several main effects of smoking in the cognitive, volume and thickness analyses were initially significant but did not survive false discovery rate (FDR) correction.ConclusionsDespite the general absence of significant FDR-corrected findings, trend-level effects suggest the possibility that subtle smoking-related effects exist but were not uncovered due to low statistical power. An investigation of this topic is encouraged to confirm and expand on our findings.