bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for incisional hernia according to different wound sites after open hepatectomy using combinations of vertical and horizontal incisions: A multicenter cohort study
Authors: Iida Hiroya , Tani Masaji , Hirokawa Fumitoshi , Ueno Masaki , Noda Takehiro , Takemura Shigekazu , Nomi Takeo , Nakai Takuya , Kaibori Masaki , Kubo Shoji 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackground: Although several risk factors for incisional hernia after hepatectomy have been reported, their relationship to different wound sites has not been investigated. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the risk factors for incisional hernia according to various wound sites after hepatectomy.Methods: Patients from the Osaka Liver Surgery Study Group who underwent open hepatectomy using combinations of vertical and horizontal incisions (J‐shaped incision, reversed L‐shaped incision, reversed T‐shaped incision, Mercedes incision) between January 2012 and December 2015 were included. Incisional hernia was defined as a hernia occurring within 3 y after surgery. Abdominal incisional hernia was classified into midline incisional hernia and transverse incisional hernia. The risk factors for each posthepatectomy incisional hernia type were identified.Results: A total of 1057 patients met the inclusion criteria. The overall posthepatectomy incisional hernia incidence rate was 5.9% (62 patients). In the multivariate analysis, the presence of diabetes mellitus and albumin levels <3.5 g/dL were identified as independent risk factors. Moreover, incidence rates of midline and transverse incisional hernias were 2.4% (25 patients), and 2.3% (24 patients), respectively. In multivariate analysis, the independent risk factor for transverse incisional hernia was the occurrence of superficial or deep incisional surgical site infection, and interrupted suturing for midline incisional hernia.Conclusions: Risk factors for incisional hernia after hepatectomy depend on the wound site. To prevent incisional hernia, running suture use might be better for midline wound closure. The prevention of postoperative wound infection is important for transverse wounds, under the presumption of preoperative nutrition and normoglycemia.
Sulfide‐Catalyzed Diastereoselective Spirocyclopropanation: Constructing Spiro‐cyclopropanyl‐pyrazolones From α‐Arylidenepyrazolones
Authors: Su Yingpeng , He Haiyang , Zhao Yanan , Li Qinling , Feng Yawei , Cao Guiyan , Huang Danfeng , Wang Ke‐Hu , Huo Congde , Hu Yulai 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAn efficient and diastereoselective [2+1] annulation of arylidenepyrazolones with bromides has been developed that relies on in situ formation of sulfur ylide via a direct sulfide‐catalyzed process. A variety of spirocyclopropanyl pyrazolones were achieved in good to excellent yields (up to 93% yield) with high diastereoselectives (up to 20 : 1 dr). Meanwhile, several spirocyclopropanyl compounds were also prepared from corresponding enones. This catalytic strategy exhibits good functional group tolerance, gram‐scale capacity and broad substrate scope, and provides various spirocyclopropanyl derivatives.
Development of ecofriendly active food packaging materials based on blends of cross‐linked poly (vinyl alcohol) and Piper betle Linn. leaf extract
Authors: Bui Quynh Thi Phuong , Nguyen Thuong Thi , Nguyen Lam Thi Truc , Kim Sang Hoon , Nguyen Hoa Ngoc 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDevelopment of active packaging materials for food preservation has been a topic of interest over the years. Herein we report the preparation and characterization of novel active films based on the combination of poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), maltodextrin, agar and Piper betle Linn. leaf extract (PBLLE) for application in food preservation. Agar and maltodextrin were co‐used as cross‐linking agents aiming at improving the hydrophobicity of the PVA film. All the additives exhibited high compatibility with the PVA matrix and provided significant enhancement in film properties compared to the unmodified PVA. PBLLE was found to impart strong antibacterial activities and UV blocking property to the films. Moreover, the addition of PBLLE also remarkably increased the film flexibility owing to chemical and physical interactions between chemical compounds in the extract and the polymer network. The as‐prepared blend films showed their effectiveness in prolonging the self‐life of bread and mango, demonstrating a great potential for their practical applications in active food packaging field.
Research at public policy schools in the Asia‐Pacific region ranked
Authors: Dressel Björn , Stern David I. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis article presents the first‐ever ranking of public policy schools in the Asia‐Pacific region based on their research publication output. We used Scopus as our bibliographic database to assess the publication output of 45 schools between 2014 and 2018, based on affiliations listed on the publications rather than current faculty. The results show substantial variation in terms of research output; elite research schools are located in China, Australia, and Singapore. Ranking by total citations, three schools stand out—the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University, the Lee Kuan Yew School at the National University of Singapore, and the School of Public Policy & Management at Tsinghua University in China. Ranking by impact factor shows that the School of Government at Peking University and the Melbourne School of Government at Melbourne University are the two top‐ranked schools, but because of their relatively small research output in this period, their true rank is very uncertain.
Pushed to the edge: Environmental factors drive ecological responses of Aphanius fasciatus when in sympatry with invasive Gambusia holbrooki
Authors: Monti Flavio , Marcelli Massimiliano , Fastelli Paolo , Fattorini Niccolò 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Interspecific competition may be particularly exacerbated when occurring between native and invasive alien species, with environmental conditions affecting drivers of natural selection and shaping spatio‐temporal dynamics of animal communities. The effects of invaders are particularly evident in aquatic ecosystems with delicate and complex balances, such as Mediterranean coastal wetlands, characterized by unpredictable water flows and variable reserves. Understanding how native species respond to human‐induced biological invasions is of paramount importance for planning management measures aiming at conservation purposes.
This study investigated whether the occurrence of a competing invader species resulted in changes in the ecological adaptations of a native species by comparing two coastal wetland fish species: the invasive eastern mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki and the native Mediterranean killifish Aphanius fasciatus of conservation concern. The hypothesis was tested by sampling fishes at a coastal Ramsar site in central Italy, over 2 years.
Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine the occurrence of killifish in relation to water parameters and the presence of its putative competitor. The aim was to determine whether salinity, temperature, and water depth influenced the presence and abundance of killifish when in sympatry with mosquitofish.
Both the probability of presence and abundance of killifish increased with water salinity, but this increase was stronger when mosquitofish was present. Increasing water temperature and water depth were associated with a higher probability of presence and abundance of killifish respectively, although the effect of water depth was small. Both salinity and the presence of the invader acted synergistically in characterizing and shaping the population structure of the native species.
Living in the most extreme and stressed environments, the killifish is potentially at higher risk of extinction. These results highlight the importance of considering the interplay between multiple abiotic stressors combined with comparative data between invasive and native species as increasingly critical to aid in conservation efforts.
HMGB1‐like dorsal switch protein 1 of the mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, acts as a damage‐associated molecular pattern
Authors: Mollah Md. Mahi Imam , Kim Yonggyun 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHigh‐mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a nuclear protein highly conserved in eukaryotes and ubiquitously expressed to regulate transcription and chromatin remodeling. Dorsal switch protein 1 (DSP1) is its insect homolog. A lepidopteran DSP1 acts as a damage‐associated molecular pattern (DAMP) in response to immune challenge. The objective of this study was to determine the role of DAMP in the mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor, a coleopteran insect. DSP1 of T. molitor (Tm‐DSP1) encodes 536 amino acids and shares sequence similarities with Homo sapiens HMGB1 (56.3%) and Spodoptera exigua DSP1 (59.2%). An antisera raised against S. exigua DSP1 was cross‐reactive to Tm‐DSP1. Like other insect DSPs, Tm‐DSP1 has a relatively long N‐terminal extension in addition to two conserved HMG box domains. It was expressed in all developmental stages of T. molitor and different larval tissues. Upon immune challenge, its expression level was upregulated. Its RNA interference (RNAi) treatment resulted in a significant reduction in immune responses measured by hemocyte nodule formation against bacterial infection. In addition, the induction of some antimicrobial peptide genes to the immune challenge was suppressed by its RNAi treatment. Interestingly, phospholipase A2 associated with eicosanoid biosynthesis was significantly suppressed in its catalytic activity by the RNAi treatment specific to Tm‐DSP1 expression. Without any pathogen infection, injection of a lepidopteran DSP1 induced both cellular and humoral immune responses. These results suggest that Tm‐DSP1 in T. molitor can act as a DAMP molecule and mediate immune responses upon immune challenge.
Clean development mechanism implementation: External and organizational factors drives expected business benefits
Authors: Zainuddin Zainorfarah , Iranmanesh Mohammad , Tseng Ming‐Lang , Foroughi Behzad , Tengku Hamzah Tengku Adeline Adura 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis study aims to deal with the challenge of rationalizing and testing the interrelationships assumptions of external and organizational factors in the case of clean development mechanism implementation. Prior studies are lacking to introduce the expected business benefits as a mediator between external factors and clean development mechanism implementation. The moderating effect of environmental resources was rationalized and evaluated. The data were collected from 130 ISO 14001 certified manufacturing firms and analyzed using the partial least squares technique. The results revealed that expected business benefits mediate the impacts of all considered external factors and cause an insignificant direct association between market pressure and mechanism implementation. Organizational resources moderate positively the impact of competitor pressure on mechanism implementation. The findings extend the literature by illustrating the dependency of external factors and organizational factors and challenging the results of the studies, which have been driven by independence assumption. The findings are enabling policy‐makers and managers to effectively modify the strategies for enhancing the extent of mechanism implementation.
A novel prognostic model predicts overall survival in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on clinical features and blood biomarkers
Authors: Lai Changchun , Zhang Chunning , Lv Hualiang , Huang Hanqing , Ke Xia , Zhou Chuchan , Chen Hao , Chen Shulin , Zhou Lei 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis study aims to develop and validate a novel prognostic model to estimate overall survival (OS) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients based on clinical features and blood biomarkers. We assessed the model's incremental value to the TNM staging system, clinical treatment, and Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) DNA copy number for individual OS estimation. We retrospectively analyzed 519 consecutive patients with NPC. A prognostic model was generated using the Lasso regression model in the training cohort. Then we compared the predictive accuracy of the novel prognostic model with TNM staging, clinical treatment, and EBV DNA copy number using concordance index (C‐index), time‐dependent ROC (tdROC), and decision curve analysis (DCA). Subsequently, we built a nomogram for OS incorporating the prognostic model, TNM staging, and clinical treatment. Finally, we stratified patients into high‐risk and low‐risk groups according to the model risk score, and we analyzed the survival time of these two groups using Kaplan–Meier survival plots. All results were validated in the independent validation cohort. Using the Lasso regression, we established a prognostic model consisting of 13 variables with respect to patient prognosis. The C‐index, tdROC, and DCA showed that the prognostic model had good predictive accuracy and discriminatory power in the training cohort than did TNM staging, clinical treatment, and EBV DNA copy number. Nomogram consisting of the prognostic model, TNM staging, clinical treatment, and EBV DNA copy number showed some superior net benefit. Based on the model risk score, we split the patients into two subgroups: low‐risk (risk score ≤ −1.423) and high‐risk (risk score > −1.423). There were significant differences in OS between the two subgroups of patients. Similar results were observed in the validation cohort. The proposed novel prognostic model based on clinical features and serological markers may represent a promising tool for estimating OS in NPC patients.
The cancer patient’s perspective of COVID‐19‐induced distress—A cross‐sectional study and a longitudinal comparison of HRQOL assessed before and during the pandemic
Authors: Koinig Karin A. , Arnold Christoph , Lehmann Jens , Giesinger Johannes , Köck Stefan , Willenbacher Wolfgang , Weger Roman , Holzner Bernhard , Ganswindt Ute , Wolf Dominik , Stauder Reinhard 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundTo permit timely mitigation of adverse effects on overall clinical outcome, it is essential to understand how the pandemic influences distress and health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) in cancer patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic.MethodsIn this cross‐sectional study, adult cancer patients, without COVID‐19 symptoms, completed a 13‐item questionnaire about the pandemic's impacts on distress and everyday‐life; associations with age, sex, or impaired HRQOL were then assessed by binary logistic regressions. In a subsample of patients with HRQOL assessment available from both before and during the pandemic, we evaluated the pandemic's impact on longitudinal changes in HRQOL reported within 6 months before versus during the COVID‐19 lockdown using McNemar's test, and thresholds for clinical importance.ResultsWe consecutively enrolled 240 patients with solid (50%) or hematological (50%) cancers. Median age was 67 years, 46% were females. The majority ranked heeding their health (80%) and keeping their appointment schedule in hospital (78%) as important. Being younger than 60, or aged 60–70 was independently associated with limitations in everyday life (OR = 3.57,p < 0.001; and 2.05,p = 0.038); female individuals and those with restricted emotional functioning were more distressed by the COVID‐19 situation (OR = 2.47,p = 0.040; and 3.17,p = 0.019); the latter group was also significantly more concerned about being a patient at risk (OR = 2.21,p = 0.029). Interestingly, in a subsample of patients (n = 47), longitudinal comparisons pre‐ versus during the pandemic revealed that HRQOL was not substantially affected by the pandemic.ConclusionParticularly younger and female cancer patients, and those with impaired emotional functioning are distressed by COVID‐19. During the first COVID‐19 lockdown, cancer patients remained predominantly resilient. This analysis highlights the need to mitigate distress situations in vulnerable patients and thereby enhance resilience during pandemics.
The enigma continues: Obesity in chronic total occlusion patients does not affect success or complications…but Americans are still too fat!
Authors: Patel Nachiket J. , Heuser Richard R. 
Published: May 2021

Key Points
Eighty‐five percent of patients undergoing chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the OPEN‐CTO registry were either overweight or obese.
There is no difference in procedure success and outcomes between overweight and obese patients undergoing CTO PCI compared to normal weight.
Overweight and obese patients derive similar health status benefits after CTO PCI.
Chronic coronary total occlusions: Let's make the long story short
Authors: Khera Sahil , Dangas George D. 
Published: May 2021

Key Points
Noninfarct‐related chronic total occlusions are encountered approximately in 15% of patients presenting with acute ST‐elevation myocardial infarction.
The presence of noninfarct‐related chronic total occlusion portends worse mid‐ and long‐term clinical outcomes in accordance with the “spare tire” hypothesis.
Numerous risk scores have been developed for ascertaining procedural success for chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary interventions.
Complete occlusion length over 20 mm is a readily available, important factor for unsuccessful chronic total occlusion recanalization, both in stable coronary artery disease and in patients with noninfarct‐related chronic total occlusion.
With great power comes great responsibility: When and how to use the retrograde approach to chronic total occlusion interventions
Authors: Guddeti Raviteja R. , Brilakis Emmanouil S. 
Published: May 2021

Key Points
The retrograde approach to chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a powerful tool for successful CTO crossing, especially in complex occlusions.
Compared with antegrade‐only CTO PCI, the retrograde approach is associated with increased risk of periprocedural complications.
The retrograde approach should be used when the anticipated benefits outweigh the potential risks and should be performed in a meticulous, systematic, and stepwise fashion to maximize the likelihood of success and minimize the risk of complications.
Should the mean left atrial pressure be the ultimate goal after TMVR?
Authors: Cilingiroglu Mehmet , Marmagkiolis Konstantinos 
Published: May 2021

Key Points
Transcatheter mitral valve repair (TMVR) using Mitraclip is now the standard of care for treatment of severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR) in patients who are at high‐surgical risk.
Although acute reduction in regurgitant MR volume has been the main goal of successful treatment, many other hemodynamic parameters also important for accurate assessment and confirmation of the acute procedural outcome.
Acute reduction of the mean left atrial pressure (MLAP) following TMVR seems to be well correlated with successful clinical outcomes at 30 days.
The inconsistency of manual thrombectomy and the role of contemporary thrombus grading in PCI for STEMI
Authors: Topaz On 
Published: May 2021

Key Points
Manual thrombectomy (MT) is a negative determinant for MVO occurrence and extent in STEMI patients with a high thrombus grade.
Integration of contemporary thrombus grading classification is essential to ensure efficacious and safe PCI.
Aiming to reduce MVO occurrence and extent in STEMI patients indicates a role for power sourced, real mechanical thrombectomy devices as the preferred revascularization tools in heavy thrombus burden.
Understanding the Origin of Structure Sensitivity in Nano Crystalline Mixed Cu/Mg−Al Oxides Catalyst for Low‐Pressure Methanol Synthesis
Authors: Sharma Sachin Kumar , Paul Bappi , Bhanja Piyali , Poddar Mukesh Kumar , Samanta Chanchal , Khan Tuhin Suvra , Haider M. Ali , Bal Rajaram 
Published: May 2021

AbstractCu nanoparticles of size 5–10 nm supported on Mg−Al mixed oxide were prepared by the sol‐gel method. Cu loading was varied from 2.5 to 10 wt % on the support to investigate the effect on particle size and activity/selectivity of the catalyst. The Cu/Mg−Al catalysts containing small copper nanoparticles favor high selectivity of methanol, while the rate of CO formation was higher for larger copper particles. The high methanol selectivity (∼99 %) and methanol formation rate (0.016 mol gCu−1 h−1) over the 4.8Cu/Mg−Al catalyst was due to the combined effect of the presence of high Cu dispersion, Cu surface area, and strong interaction between small Cu particles with Mg−Al support. The high stability of the catalyst was attributed to the strong binding of the Cu cluster (−179.7 kJ/mol) to the MgO/γ‐Al2O3 support, as shown by the DFT study. Additionally, the adsorption energy calculated using DFT showed preferential adsorption of CO2 and H2 at the Cu/MgO(100) active site (−120.9 kJ/mol, −130.4 kJ/mol) compared to the Cu/γ‐Al2O3(100) (−64.2 kJ/mol, −85.7 kJ/mol)active site. The high selectivity of the catalyst towards methanol can be attributed to the higher stability of the formate (HCOO) intermediate (−257.2 kJ/mol) compared to the carboxylate (COOH) intermediate (−131.0 kJ/mol).
Self‐Supported CoP‐Decorated Hierarchical CuO Nanowire Flowers Toward Enhanced Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Wang Ying , Du Ran , Qian Jinjie , Hu Yue 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe facile fabrication of high‐performance and low‐cost photo‐/electro‐catalysts for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) still presents a tough challenge. Herein, a type of hierarchically ultra‐fine CoP attached to CuO nanowire flowers (CuO NWF‐CoP/CF) has been obtained by a simple electrodeposition method. Due to the merits of the 3D hierarchical structure with large surface areas, rich active sites, and open‐channels for effective gas diffusion, as‐achieved CuO NWF‐CoP/CF catalysts exhibit outstanding OER activity with an overpotential of 230 mV for OER to achieve a current density of 50 mA cm−2 in alkaline media. This work provides a novel method to prepare hierarchical self‐supported electrocatalyst towards efficient water splitting.
A detailed reaction mechanism for elemental sulphur combustion in the furnace of sulphuric acid plants
Authors: Abumounshar Najah Mahmoud , Ibrahim Salisu , Raj Abhijeet 
Published: May 2021

AbstractElemental sulphur combustion is traditionally used to generate SO2 to produce sulphuric acid that is consumed in chemical industries, but is now also being considered as an energy vector for power generation. Despite the fact that sulphur combustion has been practiced for decades, there are limited reaction mechanisms for its combustion chemistry, which is critical for the optimization of the sulphuric acid production process to maximize efficiency and reduce cost. In this paper, a detailed reaction mechanism is developed and validated with different sets of experimental data from lab‐scale and industrial plant studies. The reaction mechanism is used to conduct sulphur furnace simulations, where the effects of feed air/sulphur ratio and oxygen enrichment of air stream on furnace temperature and the concentrations of SO2, SO3, and O2 are investigated. The dominant reaction pathways in sulphur combustion, particularly for the production of SO2 and SO3, are identified. It was found that the feed air/sulphur ratio monitors the furnace temperature and can be used to obtain the desired O2/SO2 ratio at the furnace exit for the optimal operation of catalytic converter (for SO2 oxidation to SO3) that follows the furnace in the sulphuric acid plant. Moreover, high oxygen enrichment above 35% (while maintaining the desired O2/SO2 ratio at the furnace exit) significantly increased the furnace capacity through reduced total gas flow (thus decreasing blower energy requirement and equipment size). The developed reaction mechanism provides a method to obtain optimized furnace parameters to achieve high efficiency and reduced costs in sulphuric acid plants.