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A low‐valent GaI complex with the superbulky β‐diketiminate ligand DIPePBDI (HC[C(Me)N−DIPeP]2, DIPeP=2,6‐C(H)Et2‐phenyl)) was obtained by reduction of (DIPePBDI)GaI2 (1) with KC8 in toluene. Considering that (BDI)GaI and analogue (BDI)AlI complexes are prone to decomposition and can generally only be obtained in low yields (20–40 %), the quantitative formation of (DIPePBDI)GaI (2) is remarkable and no doubt related to its excellent thermal stability even in refluxing toluene. Although the low‐valent metal center in 2 is sterically protected by the superbulky DIPePBDI ligand, it is readily oxidized by N2O to give intermediate (DIPePBDI)Ga=O which readily decomposed by abstracting a proton from the backbone Me‐substituent. Reaction with trimethylsilyl azide gave an intermediate imido complex (DIPePBDI)Ga=N(SiMe3)2 which reacted with a second equivalent of Me3SiN3 to a mixture of an azide/amido complex (DIPePBDI)GaN3[N(SiMe3)2] (4) and a tetrazagallole complex (DIPePBDI)Ga[N4(SiMe3)2] (5) in a 1 : 2 ratio. Whereas the azide/amido complex 4 could be structurally characterised, the tetraazagallole complex 5 was identified by NMR spectroscopy. DFT calculations on (DIPePBDI)GaI (2) and its reaction products complement this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To recognize patients at high risk of refractory disease, the identification of novel prognostic parameters improving stratification of newly diagnosed Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) is still needed. This study investigates the potential value of metabolic and texture features, extracted from baseline 18F‐FDG Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography (PET) and Contrast‐Enhanced Computed Tomography scan (CECT), together with clinical data, in predicting first‐line therapy refractoriness (R) of classical HL (cHL) with mediastinal bulk involvement. We reviewed 69 cHL patients who underwent staging PET and CECT. Lesion segmentation and texture parameter extraction were performed using the freeware software LIFEx 6.3. The prognostic significance of clinical and imaging features was evaluated in relation to the development of refractory disease. Receiver operating characteristic curve, Cox proportional hazard regression and Kaplan‐Meier analyses were performed to examine the potential independent predictors and to evaluate their prognostic value. Among clinical characteristics, only stage according to the German Hodgkin Group (GHSG) classification system significantly differed between R and not‐R. Among CECT variables, only parameters derived from second order matrices (gray‐level co‐occurrence matrix (GLCM) and gray‐level run length matrix (GLRLM) demonstrated significant prognostic power. Among PET variables, SUVmean, several variables derived from first (histograms, shape), and second order analyses (GLCM, GLRLM, NGLDM) exhibited significant predictive power. Such variables obtained accuracies greater than 70% at receiver operating characteristic analysis and their PFS curves resulted statistically significant in predicting refractoriness. At multivariate analysis, only HISTO_EntropyPET extracted from PET (HISTO_EntropyPET) and GHSG stage resulted as significant independent predictors. Their combination identified 4 patient groups with significantly different PFS curves, with worst prognosis in patients with higher HISTO_EntropyPET values, regardless of the stage. Imaging radiomics may provide a reference for prognostic evaluation of patients with mediastinal bulky cHL. The best prognostic value in the prediction of R versus not‐R disease was reached by combining HISTO_EntropyPET with GHSG stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Last-mile delivery (LMD) is a challenging and costly supply chain process that involves direct customer interaction. In a recent study by the World Economic Forum, it was emphasized that last-mile logistics is an emerging research area. In particular, the European Commission Directorate General for Energy and Transport provides guidelines for abnormal road transport, such as heavy, bulky, and oversized (HBO) products. In the last few years, many research articles have been published on the topic of LMD. Several literature review studies from the perspective of different stakeholders have also been published. The delivery of HBO products is more challenging in many ways compared to parcel delivery. Although HBO products yield the most profitable sales, the LMD of HBOs is less studied compared to parcel deliveries. Methods: This research employed a descriptive review method to scan 195 published articles and reports related to LMD and HBOs. Results: Our results identified the challenges in the field and identified the need for separate approaches for different customer segments, such as rural and urban customers, as well as older and younger customers, when formulating delivery strategies. Conclusions: This paper highlights the research gap in this field by using a descriptive literature review methodology and presents academic contributions available so far, as well as challenges for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) in 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) predicts patient outcome in follicular lymphoma (FL); however, it requires laborious segmentation of all lesions. We investigated the prognostic value of the metabolic bulk volume (MBV) obtained from the single largest lesion. Methods: Pretreatment FDG PET/computed tomography (CT) scans of 201 patients were analyzed for TMTV and MBV using a 41% maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) threshold. Results: During a median follow-up of 3.2 years, 54 events, including 14 deaths, occurred. Optimal cut-offs were 121.1 cm3 for TMTV and 24.8 cm3 for MBV. Univariable predictors of progression-free survival (PFS) included a high Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index 2 (FLIPI2) score, TMTV, and MBV. In the multivariable analysis, high TMTV and MBV were independent predictors of worse PFS (P =0.015 and 0.033). Furthermore, in a sub-group with FLIP2 scores of 0-2 (n = 132), high MBV could identify patients with worse PFS (P = 0.007). Conclusion: Readily measurable MBV is useful for stratifying risk in FL patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Accurate risk stratification can improve lymphoma management, but current volumetric 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) indicators require timeconsuming segmentation of all lesions in the body. Herein, we investigated the prognostic values of readily obtainable metabolic bulk volume (MBV) and bulky lesion glycolysis (BLG) that measure the single largest lesion. Methods: The study subjects were a homogeneous cohort of 242 newly diagnosed stage II or III diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients who underwent first-line R-CHOP treatment. Baseline PET/CT was retrospectively analyzed for maximum transverse diameter (MTD), total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), MBV, and BLG. Volumes were drawn using 30% SUVmax as threshold. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the Cox proportional hazards model assessed the ability to predict overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: During a median follow-up period of 5.4 years (maximum of 12.7 years), events occurred in 85 patients, including progression, relapse, and death (65 deaths occurred at a median of 17.6 months). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis identified an optimal TMTV of 112 cm3, MBV of 88 cm3, TLG of 950, and BLG of 750 for discerning events. Patients with high MBV were more likely to have stage III disease; worse ECOG performance; higher IPI risk score; increased LDH; and high SUVmax, MTD, TMTV, TLG, and BLG. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that high TMTV (p = 0.005 and < 0.001), MBV (both p < 0.001), TLG (p < 0.001 and 0.008), and BLG (p = 0.018 and 0.049) were associated with significantly worse OS and PFS. On Cox multivariate analysis, older age (> 60 years; HR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.58-4.75; p < 0.001) and high MBV (HR, 2.74; 95% CI, 1.05-6.54; p = 0.023) were independent predictors of worse OS. Older age (hazard ratio [HR], 2.90; 95% CI, 1.74-4.82; p < 0.001) and high MBV (HR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.15-6.54; p = 0.032) were also independent predictors of worse PFS. Furthermore, among subjects =60 years, high MBV remained the only significant independent predictor of worse OS (HR, 4.269; 95% CI, 1.03-17.76; Frontiers p = 0.046) and PFS (HR, 6.047; 95% CI, 1.73-21.11; p = 0.005). Among subjects with stage III disease, only greater age (HR, 2.540; 95% CI, 1.22-5.30; p = 0.013) and high MBV (HR, 6.476; 95% CI, 1.20-31.9; p = 0.030) were significantly associated with worse OS, while greater age was the only independent predictor of worse PFS (HR, 6.145; 95% CI, 1.10-4.17; p = 0.024). Conclusions: MBV easily obtained from the single largest lesion may provide a clinically useful FDG volumetric prognostic indicator in stage II/III DLBCL patients treated with R-CHOP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Last-mile delivery (LMD) is a challenging and costly supply chain process that involves direct customer interaction. In a recent study by the World Economic Forum, it was emphasized that last-mile logistics is an emerging research area. In particular, the European Commission Directorate General for Energy and Transport provides guidelines for abnormal road transport, such as heavy, bulky, and oversized (HBO) products. In the last few years, many research articles have been published on the topic of LMD. Several literature review studies from the perspective of different stakeholders have also been published. The delivery of HBO products is more challenging in many ways compared to parcel delivery. Although HBO products yield the most profitable sales, the LMD of HBOs is less studied compared to parcel deliveries. Methods: This research employed a descriptive review method to scan 195 published articles and reports related to LMD and HBOs. Results: Our results identified the challenges in the field and identified the need for separate approaches for different customer segments, such as rural and urban customers, as well as older and younger customers, when formulating delivery strategies. Conclusions: This paper highlights the research gap in this field by using a descriptive literature review methodology and presents academic contributions available so far, as well as challenges for further research.

Purpose: Lattice radiation therapy (LRT) is an innovative type of spatially fractionated radiation therapy. It aims to increase large tumors control probability by administering ablative doses without an increased toxicity. Considering the rising number of positive clinical experiences, the objective of this work is to evaluate LRT safety and efficacy. Method: Reports about LRT clinical experience were identified with a systematic review conducted on four different databases (namely, Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library) through the August 2022. Only LRT clinical reports published in English and with the access to the full manuscript text were considered as eligible. The 2020 update version PRISMA statement was followed. Results: Data extraction was performed from 12 eligible records encompassing 7 case reports, 1 case series, and 4 clinical studies. 81 patients (84 lesions) with a large lesion ranging from 63.2 cc to 3713.5 cc were subjected to exclusive, hybrid, and metabolism guided LRT. Excluding two very severe toxicity with a questionable relation with LRT, available clinical experience seem to confirm LRT safety. When a complete response was not achieved 3–6 months after LRT, a median lesion reduction approximately ≥50 % was registered. Conclusion: This systematic review appear to suggest LRT safety, especially for exclusive LRT. The very low level of evidence and the studies heterogeneity preclude drawing definitive conclusions on LRT efficacy, even though an interesting trend in terms of lesions reduction has been described.

Glioblastoma (GBM) are among the most common malignant central nervous system (CNS) cancers, they are relatively rare. This evidence suggests that the CNS microenvironment is naturally equipped to control proliferative cells, although, rarely, failure of this system can lead to cancer development. Moreover, the adult CNS is innately non-permissive to glioma cell invasion. Thus, glioma etiology remains largely unknown. In this review, we analyze the anatomical and biological basis of gliomagenesis considering neural stem cells, the spatiotemporal diversity of astrocytes, microglia, neurons and glutamate transporters, extracellular matrix and the peritumoral environment. The precise understanding of subpopulations constituting GBM, particularly astrocytes, is not limited to glioma stem cells (GSC) and could help in the understanding of tumor pathophysiology. The anatomical fingerprint is essential for non-invasive assessment of patients' prognosis and correct surgical/radiotherapy planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Bulky and residual tumor are considered to increase the risk of relapse in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Radiotherapy is conventionally used to reduce the risk, but the evidence is controversial. We performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the significance of bulky and residual tumor treated with or without radiotherapy in DLBCL patients. We analyzed 312 DLBCL patients treated from 2010‐2017 in Oulu University Hospital. A bulky tumor was detected in 123 patients and 55 of these patients (44.3%) received consolidative radiation therapy (RT) to the bulky tumor. Residual tumor meeting the required criteria was found in 138 (39.3%) patients, and 65 (45.5%) of these patients received consolidative RT to the site of residual tumor. iPET‐CT scans were performed in 102 patients. In multivariate analyses, bulky was an independent risk factor in limited stage patients in progression free survival (HR 6.43 [95%CI 1.609‐25.710]; P = .008) not related to International prognostic index (HR 1.35 [95% CI 0.256‐7.124]; P = .724) or age (HR 1.62 [95% CI 0.468‐5.638]; P = .445). This was not seen in advanced stage patients or in patients with residual tumor. Radiotherapy to the bulky or residual tumor was not able to improve the long‐term PFS of patients. In this study, it appears that performing iPET is the most convincing method in improving evaluation and in finding patients with increased risk of relapse. Evidently, patients with negative iPET will not benefit from including RT in the treatment after metabolic complete response (CR), and patients with primary refractory disease are most likely in the group of positive iPET.

Bulky and residual tumor are considered to increase the risk of relapse in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Radiotherapy is conventionally used to reduce the risk, but the evidence is controversial. We performed a retrospective analysis to evaluate the significance of bulky and residual tumor treated with or without radiotherapy in DLBCL patients. We analyzed 312 DLBCL patients treated from 2010‐2017 in Oulu University Hospital. A bulky tumor was detected in 123 patients and 55 of these patients (44.3%) received consolidative radiation therapy (RT) to the bulky tumor. Residual tumor meeting the required criteria was found in 138 (39.3%) patients, and 65 (45.5%) of these patients received consolidative RT to the site of residual tumor. iPET‐CT scans were performed in 102 patients. In multivariate analyses, bulky was an independent risk factor in limited stage patients in progression free survival (HR 6.43 [95%CI 1.609‐25.710]; P =.008) not related to International prognostic index (HR 1.35 [95% CI 0.256‐7.124]; P =.724) or age (HR 1.62 [95% CI 0.468‐5.638]; P =.445). This was not seen in advanced stage patients or in patients with residual tumor. Radiotherapy to the bulky or residual tumor was not able to improve the long‐term PFS of patients. In this study, it appears that performing iPET is the most convincing method in improving evaluation and in finding patients with increased risk of relapse. Evidently, patients with negative iPET will not benefit from including RT in the treatment after metabolic complete response (CR), and patients with primary refractory disease are most likely in the group of positive iPET. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to assess disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS) and treatment-related toxicity of two therapeutic strategies for treating bulky lymph nodes on imaging in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC): radiotherapy boost versus surgical debulking followed by radiotherapy. We performed a systematic review of studies published up to October 2023. We selected studies including patients with LACC treated by external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) boost or lymph node debulking followed by EBRT (with or without boost). We included two comparative (included in the meta-analysis) and nine non-comparative studies. The estimated 3-year recurrence rate was 28.2% (95%CI:18.3–38.0) in the EBRT group and 39.9% (95%CI:22.1–57.6) in the surgical debulking plus EBRT group. The estimated 3-year DFS was 71.8% and 60.1%, respectively (p = 0.19). The estimated 3-year death rate was 22.2% (95%CI:11.2–33.2) in the EBRT boost group and 31.9% (95%CI:23.3–40.5) in the surgical debulking plus EBRT group. The estimated 3-year OS was 77.8% and 68.1%, respectively (p = 0.04). No difference in lymph node recurrence between the two comparative studies (p = 0.36). The meta-analysis of the two comparative studies showed no DFS difference (p = 0.13) but better OS in the radiotherapy boost group (p = 0.006). The incidence of grade≥3 toxicities (ranging 0–50%) was not different between the two approaches in the two comparative studies (p = 0.31). No DFS and toxicity difference when comparing EBRT boost with surgical debulking of enlarged lymph nodes and EBRT in patients with cervical cancer was evident. Radiotherapy boost had better OS. Further investigation is required to better understand the prognostic role of surgical lymph node debulking in light of radiotherapy developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Para-aortic lymph nodes (PALNs) are common sites for the regional spread of cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)., Case Summary: We report the case of a 36-year-old woman who presented with cervical SCC with multiple bulky PALNs, largest measured 4.5 cm × 5 cm × 10 cm. The patient was treated with radical intent with definitive chemoradiation using sequential dose-escalated adaptive radiotherapy, followed by maintenance chemotherapy. The patient achieved a complete response; she has been doing well since the completion of treatment with no evidence of the disease for 2 years., Conclusion: Regardless of the size of PALN metastases of cervical carcinoma origin, it is still treatable (with radical intent) via concurrent chemoradiation. Adaptive radiotherapy allows dose escalation with minimal toxicity., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no conflict of interest., (©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite the advances in oncology, patients with bulky tumors have worse prognosis and often receive only palliative treatments. Bulky disease represents an important challenging obstacle for all currently available radical treatment options including conventional radiotherapy. The purpose of this study was to assess a retrospective outcome on the use of a newly developed unconventional stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) for PArtial Tumor irradiation of unresectable bulky tumors targeting exclusively their HYpoxic segment (SBRT-PATHY) that exploits the non-targeted effects of radiotherapy: bystander effects (local) and the abscopal effects (distant).Materials and Methods: Twenty-three patients with bulky tumors received partial bulky irradiation in order to induce the local non-targeted effect of radiation (bystander effect). The hypoxic tumor segment, called the bystander tumor volume (BTV), was defined using PET and contrast-enhanced CT, as a hypovascularized-hypometabolic junctional zone between the central necrotic and peripheral hypervascularized-hypermetabolic tumor segment. Based on tumor site and volume, the BTV was irradiated with 1-3 fractions of 10-12 Gy prescribed to 70% isodose-line. The pathologic lymph nodes and metastases were not irradiated in order to assess the distant non-targeted effects of radiation (abscopal effect). No patient received any systemic therapy.Results: At the time of analysis, with median follow-up of 9.4 months (range: 4-20), 87% of patients remained progression-free. The bystander and abscopal response rates were 96 and 52%, respectively. Median shrinkage of partially irradiated bulky tumor expressing intensity of the bystander effect was 70% (range 30-100%), whereas for the non-irradiated metastases (intensity of the abscopal effect), it was 50% (range 30-100%). No patient experienced acute or late toxicity of any grade.Conclusions: SBRT-PATHY showed very inspiring results on exploitation of the radiation-hypoxia-induced non-targeted effects that need to be confirmed through our ongoing prospective trial. Present study has been retrospectively registered by the local ethic committee under study number A 26/18. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A series of sterically and electronically modulated phenyl‐bridged α‐diimine ligands L1–L6 of the general formula Ar‐N=C(Me)‐C(Me)=N‐C6H4‐N=C(Me)‐C(Me)=N‐Ar have been synthesized (L1 : Ar = 2,6‐iPr2‐C6H3; L2: Ar = 2,6‐Me2‐C6H3; L3: 4‐Me‐C6H4; L4: Ar = 4‐Et‐C6H4; L5: Ar = 2,4,6‐Cl3‐C6H2; L6: Ar = 4‐Cl‐C6H4). All of which have been characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, IR, and elemental analysis. In addition, the effect of the electronic modification was studied by UV–Vis spectroscopy, and the structure of a representative ligand was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Moreover, a DFT electronic structure of the same ligand has been determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the detection rate, false-negative rate and sensitivity of SLN in LN staging in tumors over 2 cm on a large cohort of patients. Methods Data from patients with stages pT1a – pT2 cervical cancer who underwent surgical treatment, including SLN biopsy followed by systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy, were retrospectively analyzed. A combined technique with blue dye and radiocolloid was modified in larger tumors to inject the tracer into the residual cervical stroma. Results The study included 350 patients with stages pT1a - pT2. Macrometastases, micrometastases, and isolated tumor cells were found in 10%, 8%, and 4% of cases. Bilateral detection rate was similar in subgroups with tumors < 2 cm, 2–3.9 cm, and ≥ 4 cm (79%, 83%, 76%) (P = 0.460). There were only two cases with false-negative SLN ultrastaging for pelvic LN status among those with bilateral SLN detection. The false negative rate was very low in all three subgroups of different tumor sizes (0.9%, 0.9%, and 0.0%; P = 0.999). Sensitivity reached 96% in the whole group and was high in all three groups (93%, 93%, 100%; P = 0.510). Conclusions If the tracer application technique is adjusted in larger tumors, SLN biopsy can be equally reliable in pelvic LN staging in tumors smaller and larger than 2 cm. The bilateral detection rate and false negative rate did not differ in subgroups of patients with tumors < 2 cm, 2–3.9 cm, and ≥ 4 cm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Castleman disease (CD) is a rare lymphoproliferative disorder that is associated with an increased risk for lymphoma. The association between CD and classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is rare. The patient described here is a 44-year-old, HIV-seronegative male who presented with significant weight loss, fever, night sweats, and right axillary swelling. Imaging showed bulky infraclavicular, subpectoral, and axillary lymph nodes. A biopsy revealed classical HL on the background of a human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8)-negative plasma cell variant of CD. The patient had a complete remission after six cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vincristine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) that were followed by consolidative radiotherapy and continued to be disease-free for more than two years., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2023, Ma'koseh et al.)

As an objective necessity of restriction the scope of the steel timbering used for the current metalsupport of the underground excavations, resulting from the not correlation of the symmetric constructionsupporting system with uneven maximum vector manifestation of pressure, as well as economic considerations,generated by the high costs and labor for the lamination of metal profiles, by applying to the supplier aadditional treatments improve, it becomes increasingly necessary to introduce and generalization on how toconsolidate rocks by anchored support. The paper analyzes the possibility of generalization the anchoredsupport for underground excavations, as well as the specific features of this support system in its interactionwith the surrounding rock, with the aim of making the option for choosing this method of consolidation therocks.

Microinvasive squamous cell cervival carcinoma is characterized by an exceptional incidence of lymph nodal metastasis. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman affected by IA1 squamous cell carcinoma, found to have massive pelvic lymph nodal metastasis. After a systematic pelvic and aortic selective lymphadenectomy, at 16 months of follow-up, she is still disease-free. Patients suitable for conservative therapy should be carefully counselled about the established risks and benefits of nondestructive treatment options.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of carcass and the non-carcass components of lambs fed with different proportions of buffel grass hay (Cenchrus ciliaris L.) and 'jurema preta' (Mimosa tenuiflora (Willd.) Poir.). The study was developed at the Federal University of Campina Grande, Campus of Patos-PB. Twenty-eight uncastrated lambs with initial body weight of 20 ± 2.49 kg were used. The treatments were the different proportions of 'jurema preta' hays (BJH) and buffel grass hay (BGH) in the bulky portion of the diet: 0% of BJH + 100% of BGH; 33% of BJH + 67% of BGH; 67% of BJH + 33% of BGH; 100% of BJH + 0% of BGH. A quadratic effect was observed for loin eye area, conformation and GR measure ("grade rule"). The thickness measurements of subcutaneous fat and marbling presented negative linear behavior, with the substitution of BGH by BJH. The substitution of BGH in the proportion of 20 to 50% by the BJH of the bulky portion in the lambs' diet allows for a good conformation, loin eye area and non-carcass components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge of the international wool production is supported by two pillars. The first is the market, so we must be knowledgeable about the commercial prospects, but we cannot overlook some factors of production, which can directly reflect the increased quantity and quality of woolly product. The objective of this study is to compare the weight gain characteristics, serum levels of blood glucose and qualitative characteristics of wool in different offers mixed forage pastures of Avena strigosa Schreb. and Lolium multiflorum Lam. The experiment was conducted at the coordinates 31º52'00 "S, 52 21'24" W, altitude 13.24 m. They were used 29 sheep six teeth (estimate three years old) pregnant, Corriedale. Weight gain was evaluated in the period and also, were collected blood samples and wool. Blood samples were collected by jugular vein puncture into five phases: a monthly collection, wherein the first was made in the month before the start of the experiment and the latter at the end thereof. The wool samples were taken in the sidecut region on day 18 June and 24 September. The only significant difference was found (p<0.05) serum levels us blood glucose, and then for the other characteristics, such as weight gain during the period and qualitative aspects of the wool differences were not found difference. The found only difference in the serum levels of blood glucose difference did not affect the productive characteristics, properly not by present a practical importance, where neither body weight gain variable in time, or related to wool quality differ among treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approaches to promote the post-cure reaction of polyimide with pendant phthalonitrile unit (CN-PI) were first realized by introducing of hydroxyl groups via chemical copolymerization or physical blending. The post-cure reaction of the CN-PI was performed at 250 or 300 °C, and monitored by various techniques, such as infrared spectroscopy (IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). A significant result was found in that the trend of the increasing glass transition temperature T with nitrile conversion followed DiBenedetto's equation. This provided a chance to deeply discuss the relationship between molecular structure, segmental mobility, and cure behavior of CNPI. Chemical structure changes and morphology evolution of the polymer during post-cure process were investigated by IR, WAXD, and SEM. The thermal and mechanical properties of polymer films showed it to be a thermally stable and strong material. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A straightforward and scalable eight-step synthesis of new N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) has been developed from inexpensive and readily available 2-nitro- m-xylene. This process allows for the preparation of a novel class of NHCs coined ITent ('Tent' for 'tentacular') of which the well-known IMes ( N, N′-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), IPr ( N, N′-bis(2,6-di(2-propyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) and IPent ( N, N′-bis(2,6-di(3-pentyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) NHCs are the simplest and already known congeners. The synthetic route was successfully used for the preparation of three members of the ITent family: IPent ( N, N′-bis(2,6-di(3-pentyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene), IHept ( N, N′-bis(2,6-di(4-heptyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene) and INon ( N, N′-bis(2,6-di(5-nonyl)phenyl)imidazol-2-ylidene). The electronic and steric properties of each NHC were studied through the preparation of both nickel and palladium complexes. Finally the effect of these new ITent ligands in Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura and Buchwald-Hartwig cross-couplings was investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an objective necessity of restriction the scope of the steel timbering used for the current metal support of the underground excavations, resulting from the not correlation of the symmetric construction supporting system with uneven maximum vector manifestation of pressure, as well as economic considerations, generated by the high costs and labor for the lamination of metal profiles, by applying to the supplier a additional treatments improve, it becomes increasingly necessary to introduce and generalization on how to consolidate rocks by anchored support. The paper analyzes the possibility of generalization the anchored support for underground excavations, as well as the specific features of this support system in its interaction with the surrounding rock, with the aim of making the option for choosing this method of consolidation the rocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective To describe the technique and the surgical outcome of laparoscopic resection of bulky lymph nodes before adjuvant treatment. Design Prospective pilot study. Setting Gynaecological oncology cancer centre. Population From January 2006 to February 2008, 22 consecutive women presented with cervical cancer and bulky metastatic lymph nodes (>2 cm). Methods All women underwent resection of bulky lymph nodes by laparoscopy. A prospective record of the main surgical outcomes was performed. Main outcome measures Safety and efficacy of laparoscopic resection of bulky lymph nodes, conversion to laparotomy, intra- and perioperative morbidity. Results All the operations were completed by laparoscopy. Median operative time was 197 minutes (range 180–320). Median blood loss was 60 cc (range 10–100), two women experienced complications: one thermal injury of the sciatic root provoking postoperative leg palsy and one chylous ascites. The woman with the thermal injury has recovered most leg function with physiotherapy and the woman with chylous ascites recovered within 2 weeks, slightly delaying the adjuvant treatment. All women were discharged within 4 days from the operation (range 2–4). Pathology reports confirmed the presence of tumour metastases and the lymph nodes size. The adjuvant treatment started at a median time of 12 days (range 3–22). Conclusion Debulking of large pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes was effectively accomplished by laparoscopy in all 22 women with 9% complication rate. The surgical outcome is similar to historical series on women operated on by laparotomy, with the advantage of a faster recovery and an early start of adjuvant treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Novel optically transparent, low dielectric and highly organosoluble alicyclic polyamides derived from bulky alicyclic diamine containing trifluoromethyl group on either side, 1,1-bis[4-(2-trifluoromethyl-4-aminophenoxy)phenyl]-4-tert-butylcyclohexane (BTFAPBC), were prepared. The polyamides were obtained in almost quantitative yields and showed inherent viscosity values between 0.55 and 0.72dLg−1 in DMAc solution. Most of the polyamides showed excellent solubility in polar solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), N,N′-dimethyl acetamide (DMAc), N,N′-dimethyl formamide (DMF), pyridine, cyclohexanone, γ-butyrolactone and chloroform. The cut-off wavelength for polyamides ranged from 350 to 388nm. Polyamides with alicyclic tert-butylcyclohexyl cardo and trifluoromethyl substituents exhibited low dielectric constants ranging from 3.29 to 3.98 (at 100Hz) compared with commercially available polyamides [Amodel®, 4.2–5.7 at 100Hz]. Polyamides showed glass transition temperatures in the range of 244–266°C and possessed a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of 60–75ppm°C−1. Thermogravimetric analysis data showed that the polyamides were stable up to 430°C and the 10% weight loss temperature was found to be in the range of 437–466°C in nitrogen atmosphere. The polyamide films had a tensile strength in the range of 66–103MPa, elongation at break in the range of 5–8%, and tensile modulus in the range of 1.5–2.2GPa. Due to their properties, the polyamides could be considered as engineering plastic and photoelectric materials. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The coordination chemistry of bis(di-ortho-tolylphosphino)methane (dotpm) has been studied. It is an excellent chelating ligand and a range of low-valent mononuclear complexes have been prepared; cis-[M(CO)4(η2-dotpm)] (M = Cr, Mo, W; 1–3), [CpRuCl(η2-dotpm)] (4), and cis-[MX2(η2-dotpm)] (M = Pt, X = Cl, Br, I; 5a–5c, M = Pd, X = Cl; 6). The backbone protons are relatively acidic and can be deprotonated using n-BuLi or LiN(SiMe3)2. Subsequent alkylation by RX (X = halogen; R = Me, Et, CH2Ph) affords cis-[M(CO)4(η2-Rdotpm)] (M = Cr, Mo, W, R = Me; 7–9, M = Mo, W, R = Et, CH2Ph; 12–15), [CpRuCl(η2-Medotpm)] (10), and cis-[PtI2(η2-Medotpm)] (11). Thermolysis of cis-[Mo(CO)4(η2-Medotpm)] (8) yields what is believed to be the coordinately and electronically unsaturated complex [Mo(CO)3(η2-Medotpm)] (16), suggesting that derivatives of dotpm (cone angle 194°) are bulky enough to stabilize a 16-electron complex. Crystal structures of 2, 3, 7–9, 13, and 14 have been determined (diphosphine bite angles ranging from 66.58(3)° to 70.96(5)°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, prognostic models in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) fail to closely reflect patients' biological, clinical, and survival heterogeneity. We, therefore, assessed the impact of clinical, biological, immunohistochemical (IHC), baseline (0), and interim (after 2 and 4 treatment cycles) PET (PET0, PET2, and PET4) data not yet included in any scoring system on DLBCL outcome. The analysis was conducted on 89 previously untreated adult patients of the Finistere Observatory Cohort (O.Ly.Fin) with documented DLBCL, recruited between January 2010 and December 2017, with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) as primary and secondary endpoints, respectively. Seventy-eight patients were treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, hydroxyadriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP), while 11 received R-dose-adjusted etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and hydroxyadriamycin (EPOCH). Patients were followed up until June 20, 2020. On multivariate analysis, Ki67 ≥ 70% on IHC (K), bulky presentation ≥7.5 cm (B), meningeal lymphomatosis (M), and PET0-PET4 ΔSUVmax <71% (P4) were identified as strong independent predictors of PFS, and all variables but bulky disease also strongly and independently predicted OS. Using these 4 parameters, we designed a scoring model named KBMP4 stratifying patients into low- (0 parameter), intermediate- (1 or 2), and high-risk (≥3) subgroups by the Kaplan-Meier analysis. At a median follow-up of 43 months, PFS and OS were both 100% in the low-risk subgroup, 71.4 and 90.5%, respectively, in the intermediate-risk subgroup, and 0 and 55.5%, respectively, in the high-risk subgroup. Use of the KBMP4 model in clinical practice may improve accuracy in prognostic prediction and treatment decisions in de novo DLBCL patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Rebière, Maajem, Le Calloch, Raj, Le Bris, Malou, Salmon, Quintin-Roué, Tempescul, Bourhis, Samaison, Saad, Salaun, Berthou, Ianotto, Abgral and Eveillard.)

Electrochromic (EC)/electrofluorochromic (EFC) bifunctional materials are receiving great attention because of their promising applications in optoelectronic devices. However, the development of ideal EC/EFC bifunctional materials is still a great challenge because of the poor integration of EC/EFC performances (optical contrast, response speed, and switching stability). Herein, we reported two novel diphenylamine-based mixed valence (MV) polyamides (S-HPA and P-HPA) with spirobifluorene (2,7-positions) and pyrene (1,6-positions) as bridged fluorescence units, respectively, showing impressive cyclability and fluorescence contrast with rapid switching. Through the formation of an effective electronic coupling between the two nitrogen centers using spirobifluorene/pyrene bridges, we demonstrated that different bridges have significant effects on the thermal and electrooptical characteristics of polyamides. In addition to lower fluorescence quantum yield and glass transition temperature, the S-HPA exhibited superior cyclability (contrast change <3.4%/14% over 500/300 cycles for EC/EFC switching), higher color/fluorescence contrast (64%/304%), and faster switching time (<2.6 s), mainly owing to the shorter conjugated length and more twisted configuration of the spirobifluorene bridge. The design principle of MV polymers with fluorophore bridges proposed here will be a promising way to realize high-performance EC/EFC devices and will also provide new insights into their future development and applications.