bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Treatment approach, hospital practice patterns, and receipt of multimodality therapy as measures of quality for locally advanced gastric cancer
Authors: Portuondo Jorge I. , Tran Cao Hop S. , da Costa Wilson L. , Sada Yvonne H. , Harris Alex H. S. , Massarweh Nader N. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundAdequate lymphadenectomy (AL) during surgical resection and delivery of multimodality therapy (MMT) are considered important for optimizing oncologic outcomes in patients with locally advanced gastric cancer. Both neoadjuvant and adjuvant approaches to MMT delivery are considered acceptable treatment strategies. Our goal was to evaluate the association between MMT treatment approach, hospital practice patterns, and survival and to explore whether AL and MMT might represent measures of quality for locally advanced gastric cancer.MethodsA national cohort study of 5433 patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (≥cT2 and/or cN+) treated at 987 hospitals within the National Cancer Database (2006–2015). Patients were categorized as receiving a neoadjuvant therapy (NT) or adjuvant therapy (AT) approach. Patients were also categorized based on receipt of AL (≥15 nodes) and MMT (surgery with any preoperative, perioperative, or postoperative AT). Hospitals were stratified based on the predominant treatment approach and the proportion of patients that achieved performance benchmarks (AL ≥ 80%; MMT ≥ 75%). Multivariable Cox shared frailty modeling was used to evaluate the association with the overall risk of death.ResultsOverall, 54.5% of patients were treated with an AT and 45.6% with an NT approach. Relative to surgery alone, receipt of MMT by either approach was associated with decreased risk of death (NT—hazard ratio [HR]: 0.75, 95% confidence interval: [0.65–0.86]; AT—HR: 0.80 [0.71–0.90]). Relative to care at mixed pattern hospitals, care at predominantly AT hospitals was associated with an increased risk of death (HR: 1.28 [1.12–1.47]). Relative to patients whose care achieved no quality measures, AL (HR: 0.75, [0.67–0.82]) and MMT (HR: 0.68 [0.60–0.76]) were each associated with a reduced risk of death. Receipt of both measures was associated with an even greater reduction (HR: 0.47 [0.40–0.56]). Hospital performance on AL, MMT, or both measures was not associated with the risk of death.ConclusionBecause over half of patients are treated with surgery first (many having surgery alone) and care at hospitals favoring a surgery first approach is associated with worse outcomes, quality improvement (QI) efforts should focus on increasing the use of NT strategies. Furthermore, delivery of AL and MMT together may represent an actionable, generalizable target for gastric cancer QI efforts because it improves survival and is unrelated to the context in which care is provided.
Determining the effectiveness of some soil stabilizers in wind erosion prevention using wind tunnel experiments
Authors: Erci Vildan , Seker Cevdet , Basaran Mustafa , Erpul Gunay 
Published: March 2021

AbstractLaboratory wind tunnel simulations were carried out to determine the effectiveness of some soil stabilizers in reducing soil loss by wind erosion under turbulent flow conditions driven by the reference wind velocities of 9 and 11 m s−1. Particle fractions of 0.5–1 mm of two different soil types: silty clay loam (SiCL) and sandy loam (SL) were used in the experiments as erodible test surfaces after stabilizer treatments. Molasses (M), cement (Cm), a mixture of cement and molasses (Cm + M), and hydrogel (H) were applied at four different application doses, and later those materials were subjected to incubation at room temperature for 24 hr before the trays were placed in the tunnel for wind tests. During simulations under turbulent air‐flow conditions, soil losses [(qs), g m−2 min−1] were gauged for 10‐min duration immediately following the first lift‐off movement of the particles. Experimental results on qs were compared to those of two controls [untreated control (C) and water‐treated control (Cw)], which indicated that the H applications were highly effective at the doses ≥ 13.33 g m−2 for every soil type and wind velocity combination. In addition, at the application doses ≥ 13.33 g m−2, Cm and Cm + M treatments were as effective as H statistically in reducing qs at 9 m s−1 by successfully forming resistant crust layers against stronger turbulent swirls on the research test surfaces. From the point of being more easily accessible and more cost‐effective, using less expensive Cm and Cm + M treatments could be a good alternative to utilizing hydrogel in reducing wind erosion in wide field applications.
Patterns and determinants of woody encroachment in the eastern Eurasian steppe
Authors: Liu Xu , Feng Siwen , Liu Hongyan , Ji Jue 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe Eurasian steppe is the largest grassland on Earth, with its eastern part covering northern China, Mongolia, and southern Siberia in Russia. Past and future climate warming has been highlighted by previous works; however, how vegetation cover, particularly woody versus herbaceous cover, has and will respond remains an open question. Through the fractional woody vegetation cover (FWVC) and fractional herbaceous vegetation cover (FHVC) estimated by the random forest method based on multisource remote sensing images, we report here that a slight woody encroachment has occurred at a rate of ~1% /decade, mostly concentrated in the forest‐steppe ecotone at its humid edge since 2000. The woody encroachment was mainly driven by climate warming, especially when it became warmer and wetter, mainly in areas with weakened active fires. At the same time, grass recovery has occurred at the center of this region under slight warming and drying, while human disturbance has shown a more significant influence than the effects of climate warming on this change. Under the assumption that human disturbance remains constant, the woody cover and herbs cover are projected to increase by 2040, while the change of FHVC shows more spatial heterogeneity.
Effects of NH4+, Na+, and Mg2+ ions on the corrosion behavior of galvanized steel in wet–dry cyclic conditions
Authors: Neupane Shova , Hastuty Sri , Yadav Neelima , Singh Nilima , Gupta Dipak K. , Yadav Brahamdeo , Singh Sanjay , Karki Nabin , Kumari Das Anju , Subedi Vivek , Nakarmi Krishna B. , Yadav Amar P. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe effect of cations on the corrosion of galvanized steel (GS) is scarcely reported. In this study, a wet–dry cyclic test was conducted to study NH4
+, Na+, and Mg2+ cation effect on the corrosion behavior of GS available in Nepal. Fourteen wet–dry cycles (18 h wet and 6 h dry) were performed by exposing samples at 298 K with a relative humidity of 90% in a wet cycle and 50% in a dry cycle for 14 days. The cations strongly affect the corrosion rate of the GS sample estimated by weight loss and potentiodynamic polarization. The potentiodynamic polarization curves showed the inhibition of cathodic and anodic reactions by Mg2+ ion, while the NH4
+ ion only changed the cathodic reaction. Mg2+ ion was found to shift the corrosion potential to noble values compared with NH4
+ and Na+ ions. A compact and thin corrosion products layer was developed in Mg2+ salt solution in contrast to a thick and porous corrosion products layer in NH4
+ and Na+ salt solutions. Red rust due to corrosion of underlying steel appeared in the presence of NH4
+ and Na+ salt solutions. Finally, the weight loss data revealed that the corrosivity of cations for GS decreased in the order Na+ > NH4
+ > Mg2+.
Highly accelerated free‐breathing real‐time phase contrast cardiovascular MRI via complex‐difference deep learning
Authors: Haji‐Valizadeh Hassan , Guo Rui , Kucukseymen Selcuk , Paskavitz Amanda , Cai Xiaoying , Rodriguez Jennifer , Pierce Patrick , Goddu Beth , Kim Daniel , Manning Warren , Nezafat Reza 
Published: March 2021

PurposeTo develop and evaluate a real‐time phase contrast (PC) MRI protocol via complex‐difference deep learning (DL) framework.MethodsDL used two 3D U‐nets to separately filter aliasing artifact from radial real‐time velocity‐compensated and complex‐difference images. U‐nets were trained with synthetic real‐time PC generated from electrocardiograph (ECG) ‐gated, breath‐hold, segmented PC (ECG‐gated segmented PC) acquired at the ascending aorta of 510 patients. In 21 patients, free‐breathing, ungated real‐time (acceleration rate = 28.8) and ECG‐gated segmented (acceleration rate = 2) PC were prospectively acquired at the ascending aorta. Hemodynamic parameters (cardiac output [CO], stroke volume [SV], and mean velocity at peak systole [peak mean velocity]) were measured for ECG‐gated segmented and DL‐filtered synthetic real‐time PC and compared using Bland‐Altman and linear regression analyses. Additionally, hemodynamic parameters were quantified from DL‐filtered, compressed‐sensing (CS) ‐reconstructed, and gridding reconstructed prospective real‐time PC and compared to ECG‐gated segmented PC.ResultsSynthetic real‐time PC with DL showed strong correlation (R > 0.98) and good agreement with ECG‐gated segmented PC for quantified hemodynamic parameters (mean‐difference: CO = −0.3 L/min, SV = −4.3 mL, peak mean velocity = −2.3 cm/s). On average, DL required 0.39 s/frame to filter prospective real‐time PC, which was 4.6‐fold faster than CS. Compared to CS, DL showed superior correlation, tighter limits of agreement (LOAs), better bias for peak mean velocity, and worse bias for CO and SV. Compared to gridding, DL showed similar correlation, tighter LOAs for CO and SV, similar bias for CO, and worse bias for SV and peak mean velocity.ConclusionThe complex‐difference DL framework accelerated real‐time PC‐MRI by nearly 28‐fold, enabling rapid free‐running real‐time assessment of flow hemodynamics.
Two decades of childhood cancer care in Cameroon: 2000–2020
Authors: Afungchwi Glenn Mbah , Kruger Mariana , Kouya Francine , Tih Pius , McCormick Peter , Pondy‐Ongotsoyi Angele‐Hermine , Hesseling Peter B. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundBefore the year 2000, there was no dedicated childhood cancer service in Cameroon. The aim of this study was to investigate the progress made with pediatric oncology care in Cameroon from 2000 to 2020.MethodA literature search was conducted for published articles on childhood cancer in Cameroon and relevant documents, and conference abstracts were reviewed. The articles were analyzed under the themes: awareness, diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment, outcome, advocacy, partnerships, traditional and complementary medicine, palliative care, and capacity building.ResultsLow awareness on childhood cancer was addressed with education activities targeting the general population and health care professionals. Cancer diagnosis was achieved with cytology, histology, and simple imaging. Management for common and curable cancers was implemented with use of modified treatment regimens for low‐ and middle‐income settings. Nutritional support was shown to mitigate the effects of malnutrition on treatment toxicity, and support was provided for transportation and accommodation. There was good collaboration between the pediatric oncology professionals nationally and twinning with international partners. Capacity building activities led to the availability of three pediatric oncologists and pediatric oncology‐trained nurses. Advocacy nationally led to the support of the Ministry of Health with pediatric oncology‐specific priority actions in the latest national cancer control plan.ConclusionChildhood cancer should receive the necessary attention of health care policymakers in Cameroon. With continued commitment of government, nongovernmental organizations, charities, childhood cancer specialists, patient and parent groups, there should be an improved future for children with cancer in Cameroon.
Impact of location of inpatient cancer care on patients with Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma—A population‐based study
Authors: Alvarez Elysia , Malogolowkin Marcio , Pollock Brad H. , Li Qian , Johnston Emily , Marina Neyssa , Wun Ted , Thorpe Steven , Keegan Theresa 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundEwing sarcoma (EWS) and osteosarcoma (OS) require multidisciplinary treatment. Care at specialized cancer centers (SCC: Children's Oncology Group affiliated and/or National Cancer Institute‐designated cancer center) has been found to improve outcomes in patients with leukemia, but studies have not considered location of care and outcomes in EWS and OS patients, an ideal group to evaluate given their specialized multidisciplinary treatment needs.MethodsPatients hospitalized with primary EWS and OS (2000–2014) were identified using the California Cancer Registry linked with hospitalization data. Patients were divided into age groups (0–18, 19–39, ≥40 years), and classified on whether they received all versus part/none of their inpatient treatment at a SCC within 1 year of diagnosis. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression identified factors associated with survival.ResultsThere were 531 ES and 959 OS patients. Five‐year overall survival was better for patients with EWS (all: 63% vs. part/none: 42%) and OS (all: 64% vs. part/none: 47%) who received all of their treatment at a SCC. After adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors, receiving all inpatient cancer treatment at a SCC was associated with superior overall survival (EWS HR: 0.49, CI 0.37–0.67; OS HR: 0.78, CI 0.63–0.97).ConclusionOur results suggest that treatment for EWS and OS at a SCC is associated with significantly improved survival even after adjustment for known prognostic factors. The superior survival among those treated at SCCs may be due to having greater access to clinical trials and services at SCCs.
An escalating treatment strategy for children with severe chronic immune thrombocytopenia: Preliminary report from a single center
Authors: Fu Lingling , Ma Jie , Gu Hao , Ma Jingyao , Wei Yunyun , Chen Zhengping , Wu Runhui 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo analyze the effects of escalating treatment strategy in children with severe chronic immune thrombocytopenia (SCITP).MethodsThis was a single‐center, retrospective cohort study. Data from children with SCITP who received escalating treatment strategy in our center were collected between June 2017 and August 2019. The escalating strategy included three steps: Step I (six courses of high‐dose dexamethasone [HDD]), Step II (HDD combined with low‐dose rituximab), and Step III (eltrombopag).ResultsA total of 30 cases (18 males and 12 females) were included, with duration of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) of 20.5 (12.0–96.0) months. After treatment, the remission rate was 36.7% (11/30) and the sustained response (SR) rate was 68.2% (15/22). The distribution (remission rates) from Step I to III was as follows: nine of 30 (33.3%, 3/9); four of 30 (50%, 2/4); 17/30 (29.4%, 5/17), respectively. In eltrombopag (Step III) cases, 47.5% (8/17) maintained a platelet count of ≥50 × 109/L, 37.5% (3/8) had dose tapering, and 25% (2/8) have successfully discontinued the medication. The number of patients at 12, 24, and 36 months were 30, seven, and two, with a total response and remission rates of 80% (36.7%), 57.1% (28.6%), and 50% (50%), respectively. The total relapse rate was 26.7% (8/30), and three cases from Step II and five cases from Step III.ConclusionThe escalating strategy for children SCITP showed an effective improvement rate with 36.7% remission and 68.2% SR, and 30% could benefit and retain SR from HDD treatment. Combined treatment with eltrombopag can reduce the relapse rate of low‐dose rituximab.
Influence of volatile solvents and mixing ratios of binary solvent systems on morphology and performance of electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) nanofibers
Authors: Nuamcharoen Praewpanit , Kobayashi Takaomi , Potiyaraj Pranut 
Published: March 2021

AbstractElectrospinning process was used to fabricate electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) nanofibers using binary solvent systems of N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF) and 10 other volatile solvents, namely acetone, tetrahydrofuran, methyl acetate (MA), ethyl acetate (EA), propyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethanol, methanol, chloroform and hexane. The nanofibrous film was investigated and it was noted that the formation of resultant PVDF nanofibers was improved depending on an increase of the amount of the volatile solvent in the PVDF solution. The average diameters of the fibers in the electrospun films were 174–1150 nm. A large amount of volatile solvent was responsible for low dark spot and bead‐free morphological observation. The mechanical properties of the fibers were strongly influenced by the morphology, uniformity and crystalline structure of the PVDF fibers. The α phase of the PVDF was eliminated especially when the volatile solvent was in a ratio of 4:6. The surface area and the porosity of the PVDF nanofibers were also improved. Moreover, the penetration was also studied and reported as the relationship between the water contact angle and time. Among the volatile solvents that were studied, DMF with MA and EA at a ratio of 4:6 was the best solvent that provided fine electrospun PVDF nanofibers and the maximum tensile strength of 15.7 ± 1.3 MPa for EA and elongation of 175.3 ± 4.4% for MA, high water contact angle, speedy penetration rate and a high fraction of β crystalline phase. This research presented evidence of interesting binary solvent systems with a variety of volatile solvents. © 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Urban park visitor preferences for vegetation – An on‐site qualitative research study
Authors: Talal Michelle L. , Santelmann Mary V. , Tilt Jenna H. 
Published: March 2021

Societal Impact StatementWith more than half of the human population living in cities, urban parks are some of the most significant places for human–nature interactions and their vegetation can provide a range of ecosystem services; however, the vegetation may not always meet the preferences of visitors. By conducting qualitative semi‐structured interviews with visitors at a range of urban park types interspersed throughout a city, we explored vegetation preferences that may be used to improve park planning, design, and maintenance, as well as educate and engage visitors.Summary

Urban parks provide numerous cultural and ecological benefits, but may not always meet diverse visitor preferences. There is a need for additional on‐site research, which has the potential to gauge vegetation preferences in a more authentic and multi‐sensory context. We asked: how does vegetation in urban parks currently meet visitor preferences?

We performed on‐site semi‐structured interviews with visitors at 15 different parks of three general types (i.e., natural‐passive use, recreational‐active use, and multi‐use parks), using a case study of Portland, Oregon, a mid‐sized city in North America with a temperate climate. We transcribed the interviews and coded them for themes and patterns of meaning.

Visitors across demographics groups discussed trees, size, and diversity/variety as some of their favorite aspects of the vegetation. Trees were important for visitors, particularly for their large size/shade, but vegetation preferences tended to vary across park type and slightly more than half of participants suggested changes. Many recreational‐active and multi‐use park visitors desired more flowers, color, grass, middle growth, trees, and food‐bearing plants, as well as improved placement, while visitors to natural‐passive use parks preferred additional invasive/harmful plant removal.

Integrating visitor vegetation preferences into plant selection, layout, and maintenance has the potential to increase ecosystem services of urban parks. The incorporation of colorful, native flowers for visitors can also provide habitat for native species. Visitors across park types also desired to learn more about plants, and so additional interpretive signs/labels and multi‐sensory gardens can help to engage and educate visitors.
Dynamic characteristic of spur gear system with spalling fault considering tooth pitch error
Authors: Yang Lantao , Chen Qiuyuan , Yin Lei , Wang Liming , Shao Yimin 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThere have been many researches focusing on the dynamic characteristics of gear faults, such as spalling, crack and broken, to improve the accuracy of fault diagnosis methods. However, the tooth pitch error caused by actual gear manufacture precision is usually neglected, which may have a direct influence on the gear vibration response. In order to settle the problem of the underlying vibration mechanism with the combined effect of pitch error and spalling fault, a dynamic modeling method of the spalling gear coupling with pitch error is proposed, in which the relationship between the gear precision level and the pitch error is considered. The changes in both meshing stiffness phase and displacement excitation on the contact line caused by pitch error are analyzed, where the additional effect of spalling fault on stiffness excitation is also taken into consideration. Base on the proposed dynamic model, the dynamic responses and vibration characteristics of spur gear with coupling excitation of pitch error and spalling fault are investigated. The simulation results show that vibration characteristics caused by the early spalling fault are easy to be affected by the pitch error, especially when the gear precision is poor.
Coping flexibility: Variability, fit and associations with efficacy, emotion regulation, decentering and responses to stress
Authors: Zimmer‐Gembeck Melanie J. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCoping flexibility is a promising approach to understanding risk and resilience, but it has been conceptualized in various ways. The aim of this study was to test convergence of coping‐related flexibility measures with other coping‐related competencies (coping self‐efficacy, emotion regulation, decentering) and ways of coping. Participants were 885 students (Mage = 21.5 years) who completed measures of flexibility (seven subscales), coping self‐efficacy, emotion dysregulation, decentering, and ways of coping with recent interpersonal stressors. Breadth of coping was also examined, given its past use as a measure of flexibility. The seven flexibility subscales converged with each other as expected, and all were associated with greater coping‐related competence, with moderate or large positive associations between the four measures of coping flexibility ability and other measures of coping‐related competence. Regarding associations with ways of coping, multivariate models showed that perceived ability in coping flexibility had positive associations with engagement and negative associations with disengagement coping, but multiple situational/adaptive coping flexibility subscales were associated positively with both engagement and disengagement ways of coping. In addition, some findings were weak or counterintuitive, especially when ways of coping and breadth were considered, suggesting a need for more attention to precisely conceptualizing and appropriately measuring coping flexibility.