bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pulp and paper mill wastes: utilizations and prospects for high value-added biomaterials
Authors: Haile Adane , Gelebo Gemeda Gebino , Tesfaye Tamrat , Mengie Wassie , Mebrate Million Ayele , Abuhay Amare , Limeneh Derseh Yilie 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA wide variety of biomass is available all around the world. Most of the biomass exists as a by-product from manufacturing industries. Pulp and paper mills contribute to a higher amount of these biomasses mostly discarded in the landfills creating an environmental burden. Biomasses from other sources have been used to produce different kinds and grades of biomaterials such as those used in industrial and medical applications. The present review aims to investigate the availability of biomass from pulp and paper mills and show sustainable routes for the production of high value-added biomaterials. The study reveals that using conventional and integrated biorefinery technology the ample variety and quantity of waste generated from pulp and paper mills can be converted into wealth. As per the findings of the current review, it is shown that high-performance carbon fiber and bioplastic can be manufactured from black liquor of pulping waste; the cellulosic waste from sawdust and sludge can be utilized for the synthesis of CNC and regenerated fibers such as viscose rayon and acetate; the mineral-based pulping wastes and fly ash can be used for manufacturing of different kinds of biocomposites. The different biomaterials obtained from the pulp and paper mill biomass can be used for versatile applications including conventional, high performance, and smart materials. Through customization and optimization of the conversion techniques and product manufacturing schemes, a variety of engineering materials can be obtained from pulp and paper mill wastes realizing the current global waste to wealth developmental approach.
Urinary bladder cancer as a late sequela of traumatic spinal cord injury
Authors: Böthig Ralf , Tiburtius Christian , Schöps Wolfgang , Zellner Michael , Balzer Oliver , Kowald Birgitt , Hirschfeld Sven , Thietje Roland , Pietsch Aki , Kurze Ines , Forchert Martin , Kadhum Thura , Golka Klaus 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) is also a combat-related injury that is increasing in modern warfare. The aim of this work is to inform medical experts regarding the different course of bladder cancer in able-bodied patients compared with SCI patients based on the latest medical scientific knowledge, and to present decision-making aids for the assessment of bladder cancer as a late sequela of traumatic SCI.

Methods
A study conducted between January 1998 and December 2019 in the BG Trauma Hospital Hamburg formed the basis for the decision-making aids. Urinary bladder cancer was diagnosed in 40 out of 7396 treated outpatient and inpatient SCI patients. General patient information, latency period, age at initial diagnosis, type of bladder management and survival of SCI patients with bladder cancer were collected and analysed. T category, grading and tumour entity in these patients were compared with those in the general population. Relevant bladder cancer risk factors in SCI patients were analysed. Furthermore, relevant published literature was taken into consideration.

Results
Initial diagnosis of urinary bladder cancer in SCI patients occurs at a mean age of 56.4 years (SD ± 10.7 years), i.e., approximately 20 years earlier as compared with the general population. These bladder cancers are significantly more frequently muscle invasive (i.e., T category ≥ T2) and present a higher grade at initial diagnosis. Furthermore, SCI patients show a significantly higher proportion of the more aggressive squamous cell carcinoma than that of the general population in areas not endemic for the tropical disease schistosomiasis. Consequently, the survival time is extremely unfavourable. A very important finding, for practical reasons is that, in the Hamburg study as well as in the literature, urinary bladder cancer is more frequently observed after 10 years or more of SCI. Based on these findings, a matrix was compiled where the various influencing factors, either for or against the recognition of an association between SCI and urinary bladder cancer, were weighted according to their relevance.

Conclusions
The results showed that urinary bladder cancer in SCI patients differs considerably from that in able-bodied patients. The presented algorithm is an important aid in everyday clinical practice for assessing the correlation between SCI and bladder cancer.
Joint attention behaviour in remote collaborative problem solving: exploring different attentional levels in dyadic interaction
Authors: Pöysä-Tarhonen Johanna , Awwal Nafisa , Häkkinen Päivi , Otieno Suzanne 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe current article describes an exploratory study that focussed on joint attention behaviour—the basis of interaction predicting productive collaboration—to better understand collaborative problem solving, particularly its social aspects during remote dyadic interaction. The study considered joint attention behaviour as a socio-linguistic phenomenon and relied on detailed qualitative interaction analysis on event-related measures of multiple observational data (i.e. log files, eye-tracking data). The aim was to illustrate and exemplify how the diverse attentional levels of joint attention behaviour (i.e. monitoring, common, mutual and shared attention) delineated by Siposova and Carpenter (Cognition 89:260–274, 2019) were achieved in remote collaborative problem solving in dyads, including the underlying basis of joint attention behaviour (i.e. individual attention experience). The results made visible the complex functioning of the social aspects of remote collaborative problem solving and provided preliminary insights into how the hierarchical and nested levels of ‘jointness’ and common knowledge were achieved in this context. The analysis reproduced all the theorised attentional levels as both isolated and parallel individualistic attention experiences whilst acknowledging the restrictions of the remote interaction environment and the specific task structures.
Individual differences in cognitive offloading: a comparison of intention offloading, pattern copy, and short-term memory capacity
Authors: Meyerhoff Hauke S. , Grinschgl Sandra , Papenmeier Frank , Gilbert Sam J. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe cognitive load of many everyday life tasks exceeds known limitations of short-term memory. One strategy to compensate for information overload is cognitive offloading which refers to the externalization of cognitive processes such as reminder setting instead of memorizing. There appears to be remarkable variance in offloading behavior between participants which poses the question whether there is a common factor influencing offloading behavior across different tasks tackling short-term memory processes. To pursue this question, we studied individual differences in offloading behavior between two well-established offloading paradigms: the intention offloading task which tackles memory for intentions and the pattern copy task which tackles continuous short-term memory load. Our study also included an unrelated task measuring short-term memory capacity. Each participant completed all tasks twice on two consecutive days in order to obtain reliability scores. Despite high reliability scores, individual differences in offloading behavior were uncorrelated between the two offloading tasks. In both tasks, however, individual differences in offloading behavior were correlated with the individual differences in an unrelated short-term memory task. Our results therefore show that offloading behavior cannot simply be explained in terms of a single common factor driving offloading behavior across tasks. We discuss the implications of this finding for future research investigating the interrelations of offloading behavior across different tasks.
In vitro gastrointestinal digestion of a bisdemethoxycurcumin-rich Curcuma longa extract and its oral bioavailability in rats
Authors: Sudeep Venkataramana Heggar , Gouthamchandra Kuluvar , Chandrappa Siddappa , Naveen Puttaswamy , Reethi Budanuru , Venkatakrishna Karempudi , Shyamprasad Kodimule 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
Nonetheless curcumin has potential health benefits, its low bioavailability limits the application of conventional turmeric extract with curcumin as major curcuminoid. This is a comparative study to assess the stability, bioaccessibility and biological activity of BDMC in standardized C. longa extract (REVERC3) relative to curcumin in regular turmeric extract (RTE). Here we report the preparation of a standardized Curcuma longa extract (REVERC3™) standardized to contain 75 ± 5 w/w % bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC), 1.2 ± 0.8 w/w % curcumin and 10 ± 5 w/w % demethoxycurcumin (DMC). The turmeric extracts were subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and the curcuminoids in undigested and digested samples were analyzed using HPLC to determine the bioaccessibility. Further, the undigested and digested samples were evaluated for lipase inhibition and antioxidant activities. Male Wistar rats were administered with single dose (1000 mg/kg) of standardized C. longa extract and RTE to determine the plasma concentration of BDMC and curcumin respectively at different time points using LCMS/MS.

Results
The bioaccessibility of BDMC was significantly higher than curcumin (p < 0.05). BDMC was found superior to curcumin having significant lipase inhibitory effect (p < 0.01), ABTS radical scavenging (p < 0.05), and nitric oxide scavenging activities (p < 0.01). Interestingly, the relative bioavailability of BDMC in standardized C. longa extract was 18.76 compared to curcumin. The Cmax of BDMC was 4.4-fold higher than curcumin.

Conclusion
BDMC is reported to have higher bioaccessibility and bioavailability than curcumin. Our findings rationalize use of BDMC-enriched standardized C. longa extract for improved physiological benefits counteracting the regular turmeric extract with less bioavailable curcumin as major curcuminoid.
Simple and efficient method for the quantification of antiepileptic drugs in human plasma by using magnetic graphene oxide-β-cyclodextrin composite as a sorbent
Authors: Palakeeti Babji , Reddy K. Vijendar , Gobi K. Vengatajalabathy , Rao Pothuraju Nageswara , Chinta Jugun Prakash 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
Background
In recent days, solid-phase extraction methods are widely utilized for the extraction of drug molecules from plasma samples due to their easy operating procedures and low matrix effect. The trace-level solid-phase extraction of three structurally related antiepileptic drugs brivaracetam (BVC), eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL), and carbamazepine (CBZ) was investigated by using a magnetic porous material graphene oxide-β-cyclodextrin (MGO-CD). Morphology, magnetic properties, and structure of the synthesized MGO-CD were characterized by using FT-IR, SEM, XRD, and VSM.

Results
Solid-phase extraction (SPE) methods were used to extract the analytes from human plasma. Different extraction solvents such as acetonitrile (ACN), methanol (MeOH), acetone, chloroform (CHCl3), tertiary butyl diethyl ether (TBDE), and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) with variable polarities were used to extract drug molecules from MGO-CD. The linearity analysis showed good correlation coefficient values (R2) of 0.9989, 0.9995, and 0.9982 for BVC, ESL, and CBZ respectively. The LOD and LOQ ranges were found to be 6.14–28.32 ng mL−1 and 20.45–94.31 ng mL−1 respectively.

Conclusion
The high accuracy and precision made the developed HPLC method with MGO-CD a suitable alternative for the bioequivalence study of BVC, ESL, and CBZ in human plasma. This developed HPLC-UV method has good efficiency for recoveries and good linearity and is simple to handle. And also, it gave low retention time for the three antiepileptic drugs within 8 min. It provides high efficiency for the extraction of trace-level substances from human plasma.
Apalutamide in Patients With Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer: Final Survival Analysis of the Randomized, Double-Blind, Phase III TITAN Study
Authors: Chi Kim N. , Chowdhury Simon , Bjartell Anders , Chung Byung Ha , Pereira de Santana Gomes Andrea J. , Given Robert , Juárez Alvaro , Merseburger Axel S. , Özgüroğlu Mustafa , Uemura Hirotsugu , Ye Dingwei , Brookman-May Sabine , Mundle Suneel D. , McCarthy Sharon A. , Larsen Julie S. , Sun Weili , Bevans Katherine B. , Zhang Ke , Bandyopadhyay Nibedita , Agarwal Neeraj 
Published: April 2021

PURPOSE The first interim analysis of the phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled TITAN study showed that apalutamide significantly improved overall survival (OS) and radiographic progression-free survival in patients with metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) receiving ongoing androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Herein, we report final efficacy and safety results after unblinding and placebo-to-apalutamide crossover. METHODS Patients with mCSPC (N = 1,052) were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive apalutamide (240 mg QD) or placebo plus ADT. After unblinding in January 2019, placebo-treated patients were allowed to receive apalutamide. Efficacy end points were updated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional-hazards model without formal statistical retesting and adjustment for multiplicity. Change from baseline in Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate total score was assessed. RESULTS With a median follow-up of 44.0 months, 405 OS events had occurred and 208 placebo-treated patients (39.5%) had crossed over to apalutamide. The median treatment duration was 39.3 (apalutamide), 20.2 (placebo), and 15.4 months (crossover). Compared with placebo, apalutamide plus ADT significantly reduced the risk of death by 35% (median OS not reached v 52.2 months; hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.79; P < .0001) and by 48% after adjustment for crossover (hazard ratio, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.64; P < .0001). Apalutamide plus ADT delayed second progression-free survival and castration resistance ( P < .0001 for both). Health-related quality of life, per total Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Prostate, in both groups was maintained through the study. Safety was consistent with previous reports. CONCLUSION The final analysis of TITAN confirmed that, despite crossover, apalutamide plus ADT improved OS, delayed castration resistance, maintained health-related quality of life, and had a consistent safety profile in a broad population of patients with mCSPC.
A Liquid Africa
Authors: Eshun Ekow 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis essay coins the term liquid Africa to describe the continent as protean and fluid, a convergence point of diverse ideas and influences, shaped by the tidal wash of local, regional, and international cultural influences. The notion of a liquid Africa opposes long-standing representations of the continent in the Western imaginary as a homogenous landmass sunk in a perpetual past, suspended outside progress, and the antithesis of modernity. Through study of Samuel Bazawule's short film Diasporadical Trilogía (2017) and a number of other recent films primarily by creative practitioners of African origin, liquidity is addressed here as a curatorial category, denoting a shared versatility of practice, and in aesthetic, geographic, and temporal terms. Aesthetic strategies such as the use of water as a thematic device and of music to weave a tapestry of auditory affinities across place and time act as means of conjuring narratives of collective memory, of multiple pasts always within reach of the present, across the African diaspora. Finally, the essay considers how Diasporadical Trilogía in particular embraces fantasy as a liberatory form, a means of resistance to notions of Enlightenment progress, and a route toward an epistemic decentering based on Africa's vast cosmology of myths and beliefs.
dancing among the watery folds
Authors: DeFrantz Thomas F. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
This essay explores conceptual terms that might surround the dancing within watery folds of “liquid blackness.” A speculative invention, the essay proposes a shifting status of water-in-motion as a register for considering black faith and worldmaking through dancing. Written from a movement artist's perspective, the essay provokes with speculative formations that reveal citational activities always evident in black performance.
Safely achieving single prolonged breath-holds of &gt; 5 minutes for radiotherapy in the prone, front crawl position
Authors: Parkes MJ , De Neve Wilfried , Vakaet Vincent , Heyes Geoffrey , Jackson Timothy , Delaney Richard , Kirby Gavin , Green Stuart , Kilby Warren , Cashmore Jason , Ghafoor Qamar , Clutton-Brock Thomas 
Published: April 2021

Objective:
Breast cancer radiotherapy is increasingly delivered supine with multiple, short breath-holds. There may be heart and lung sparing advantages for locoregional breast cancer of both prone treatment and in a single breath-hold. We test here whether single prolonged breath-holds are possible in the prone, front crawl position.

Methods:
19 healthy volunteers were trained to deliver supine, single prolonged breath-holds with pre-oxygenation and hypocapnia. We tested whether all could achieve the same durations in the prone, front crawl position.

Results:
19 healthy volunteers achieved supine, single prolonged breath-holds for mean of 6.2 ± 0.3 min. All were able to hold safely for the same duration while prone (6.1 ± 0.2 min ns. by paired ANOVA). With prone, the increased weight on the chest did not impede chest inflation, nor the ability to hold air in the chest. Thus, the rate of chest deflation (mean anteroposterior deflation movement of three craniocaudally arranged surface markers on the spinal cord) was the same (1.2 ± 0.2, 2.0 ± 0.4 and 1.2 ± 0.4 mm/min) as found previously during supine prolonged breath-holds. No leakage of carbon dioxide or air was detectable into the facemask.

Conclusion:
Single prolonged (&gt;5 min) breath-holds are equally possible in the prone, front crawl position.

Advances in knowledge:
Prolonged breath-holds in the front crawl position are possible and have the same durations as in the supine position. Such training would therefore be feasible for some patients with breast cancer requiring loco-regional irradiation. It would have obvious advantages for hypofractionation.
Risk factors for COVID-19 mortality: The effect of convalescent plasma administration
Authors: Salazar Martín R. , González Soledad E. , Regairaz Lorena , Ferrando Noelia S. , González Martínez Verónica V. , Carrera Ramos Patricia M. , Muñoz Laura , Pesci Santiago A. , Vidal Juan M. , Kreplak Nicolás , Estenssoro Elisa 
Published: April 2021

Background
Convalescent plasma, widely utilized in viral infections that induce neutralizing antibodies, has been proposed for COVID-19, and preliminary evidence shows that it might have beneficial effect. Our objective was to determine the risk factors for 28-days mortality in patients who received convalescent plasma for COVID-19 compared to those who did not, who were admitted to hospitals in Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, throughout the pandemic.

Methods
This is a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of 2-month duration beginning on June 1, 2020, including unselected, consecutive adult patients with diagnosed COVID-19, admitted to 215 hospitals with pneumonia. Epidemiological and clinical variables were registered in the Provincial Hospital Bed Management System. Convalescent plasma was supplied as part of a centralized, expanded access program.

Results
We analyzed 3,529 patients with pneumonia, predominantly male, aged 62±17, with arterial hypertension and diabetes as main comorbidities; 51.4% were admitted to the ward, 27.1% to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 21.7% to the ICU with mechanical ventilation requirement (ICU-MV). 28-day mortality was 34.9%; and was 26.3%, 30.1% and 61.4% for ward, ICU and ICU-MV patients. Convalescent plasma was administered to 868 patients (24.6%); their 28-day mortality was significantly lower (25.5% vs. 38.0%, p<0.001). No major adverse effects occurred. Logistic regression analysis identified age, ICU admission with and without MV requirement, diabetes, and preexistent cardiovascular disease as independent predictors of 28-day mortality, whereas convalescent plasma administration acted as a protective factor.

Conclusions
Our study suggests that the administration of convalescent plasma in COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to the hospital might be associated with improved outcomes.
Sex differences in the case-fatality rates for COVID-19—A comparison of the age-related differences and consistency over seven countries
Authors: Green Manfred S. , Nitzan Dorit , Schwartz Naama , Niv Yaron , Peer Victoria 
Published: April 2021

Background
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, it was noted that males seemed to have higher case-fatality rates than females. We examined the magnitude and consistency of the sex differences in age-specific case-fatality rates (CFRs) in seven countries.

Methods
Data on the cases and deaths from COVID-19, by sex and age group, were extracted from the national official agencies from Denmark, England, Israel, Italy, Spain, Canada and Mexico. Age-specific CFRs were computed for males and females separately. The ratio of the male to female CFRs were computed and meta-analytic methods were used to obtained pooled estimates of the male to female ratio of the CFRs over the seven countries, for all age-groups. Meta-regression and sensitivity analysis were conducted to evaluate the age and country contribution to differences.

Results
The CFRs were consistently higher in males at all ages. The pooled M:F CFR ratios were 1.71, 1.88, 2.11, 2.11, 1.84, 1.78 and 1.49, for ages 20–29, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60–69, 70–79, 80+ respectively. In meta-regression, age group and country were associated with the heterogeneity in the CFR ratios.

Conclusions
The sex differences in the age-specific CFRs are intriguing. Sex differences in the incidence and mortality have been found in many infectious diseases. For COVID-19, factors such as sex differences in the prevalence of underlying diseases may play a part in the CFR differences. However, the consistently greater case-fatality rates in males at all ages suggests that sex-related factors impact on the natural history of the disease. This could provide important clues as to the mechanisms underlying the severity of COVID-19 in some patients.