Chemical upcycling of polybutadiene into size controlled α,ω-dienes and diesters sequential hydrogenation and cross-metathesis.

Plastic waste conversion into valuable chemicals is a promising alternative to landfill or incineration. In particular, the chemical upcycling of polybutadiene rubber (PBR) could provide a renewable route towards highly desirable α,ω-dienes with varying chain lengths, which can find ample industrial application. While previous research has shown that the treatment of polybutadiene with a consecutive hydrogenation and ethenolysis reaction can afford long-chain α,ω-dienes, achieving precise control over the product chain length remains an important bottleneck.

Thermal ablation versus surgical resection of small-size colorectal liver metastases (COLLISION): an international, randomised, controlled, phase 3 non-inferiority trial.

Background: For patients with small-size colorectal liver metastases, growing evidence suggests thermal ablation to be associated with fewer adverse events and faster recovery than resection while also challenging resection in terms of local control and overall survival. This study assessed the potential non-inferiority of thermal ablation compared with surgical resection in patients with small-size resectable colorectal liver metastases.

Methods: Adult patients (aged ≥18 years) from 14 centres in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy with ten or fewer small-size (≤3 cm) colorectal liver metastases, no extrahepatic metastases, and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2, were stratified per centre, and according to their disease burden, into low, intermediate, and high disease burden subgroups and randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either thermal ablation (experimental group) or surgical resection (control group) of all target colorectal liver metastases using the web-based module Castor electronic data capture with variable block sizes of 4, 6, and 8.

Iliac Crest Bone Graft and Fascia Lata Free Flap for Rescue of Mandibular Osteoradionecrosis.

Objective: Describe the use, indications, and outcomes of iliac crest bone graft (ICBG) with concomitant anterolateral thigh fascia lata (ALTFL) rescue flap for the management of mandibular osteoradionecrosis (ORN).

Study Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Single institution.

Use of Occipital Vessels in Head and Neck Microvascular Reconstruction: A Comprehensive Preclinical Evaluation.

Objectives: To assess the use of occipital vessels for microvascular anastomosis in head and neck free tissue transfer reconstruction.

Methods: A literature search was undertaken to identify studies utilizing the occipital vessels for microvascular anastomosis in free tissue transfer. Following literature review, 30 anatomic cadaveric dissections on 15 fresh unfixed cadavers were performed to evaluate the occipital artery and identify a reliable vein within reasonable proximity.

Palladium-catalyzed aerobic homocoupling of aliphatic olefins to dienes: evidence for rate-limiting concerted metalation-deprotonation.

Palladium(ii)-catalyzed dehydrogenative coupling of aliphatic olefins would enable an efficient route to (conjugated) dienes, but remains scarcely investigated. Here, 2-hydroxypyridine (2-OH-pyridine) was found to be an effective ligand for Pd(ii) in the activation of vinylic C(sp)-H bonds. While reoxidation of Pd(0) is challenging in many catalytic oxidations, one can avoid in this reaction that the reoxidation becomes rate-limiting, even under ambient O pressure, by working in coordinating solvents.