bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hepatitis B knowledge among women and men in the upper west region of Ghana: What sources of health information matter?
Authors: Anfaara Florence Wullo , Atuoye Kilian Nasung , Antabe Roger , Sano Yujiro , Luginaah Isaac
Published: July 2020

Despite the vital role of accurate health information in reducing the spread of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) in endemic contexts such as Ghana, little is known about how health information sources may influence disparities in the knowledge of HBV transmission among women and men. This study examines the association between sources of health information and knowledge of HBV transmission in the Upper West Region (UWR) of Ghana. Data from a cross‐sectional survey (n = 1061) was analyzed using gender‐specific multivariate ordered logistic regression models. The results show that, women who obtained health information from religious‐based programs (OR = 4.04, P < .05), higher‐level facilities (OR = 2.37, P < .05), and primary health facilities (OR = 1.83, P < .1) were more likely to have good knowledge of HBV transmission compared to non‐facility‐based programs. Similarly, men who accessed health information from religious‐based programs only, were more likely to have good knowledge of HBV transmission (OR = 2.14, P < .05) compared to non‐facility‐based programs. The results demonstrate the importance of health information sources on knowledge of disease transmission and prevention in a resource‐poor context. Based on our findings, we suggest the scaling‐up of information programs at health facilities in rural areas and the expansion of HBV services in the UWR in contribution towards the attainment of SDG #3.3.
Feasibility of using multiport minichannel as thermosyphon for cooling of miniaturized electronic devices
Authors: Manova Stephen , Asirvatham Lazarus Godson , Nimmagadda Rajesh , Bose Jefferson Raja , Wongwises Somchai
Published: July 2020

The feasibility of using multiport minichannel (MPMC) as thermosyphon for cooling miniaturized electronic products is experimentally investigated with acetone as the working fluid. A detailed analysis on thermal performance and entropy generation due to heat transfer and pressure drop with the effects of heat load (10‐50 W), filling ratio (FR; 40%, 50%, and 60%), and inclination angle (45°, 60°, and 90°) has been carried out. The results showed a reduction of 22.2% and 9.31% in thermal resistance and evaporator wall temperature at optimum filling ratio (OFR) of 50%. Reduction in entropy generation due to heat transfer and pressure drop of 16.6% and 12.3%, respectively, was observed at OFR. Internal fins in MPMC increase the surface area and evaporation rate by enhancing heat transfer leading to a decrease in the rate of entropy generation. Multiport increases surface tension of condensate at right angles to the flow direction along with the effects of gravity and enhancing rate of condensation. A new correlation is developed to predict evaporator wall temperature as a function of heat load and FR. The proposed correlation agrees well with a deviation of ±20% with present experimental results and also with the published literature. Thus, the obtained results will be useful in cooling miniaturized electronic devices.
Effectiveness, tolerability, and dropout rates of vortioxetine in comorbid depression: A naturalistic study
Authors: De Carlo Vera , Vismara Matteo , Grancini Benedetta , Benatti Beatrice , Bosi Monica Francesca , Colombo Anna , Viganò Caterina Adele , Dell'Osso Bernardo
Published: July 2020

Objective

Vortioxetine is a novel antidepressant whose safety, tolerability, and therapeutic action have been supported by several studies. The present naturalistic study aimed to characterize its effectiveness, tolerability, and dropout rate in the real world.

Methods

Total sample consisted of 66 outpatients with major depressive episode, treated with vortioxetine, whose clinical variables were evaluated over three time points.

Results

Most common primary diagnoses were major depressive disorder (45.5%) and bipolar disorder (33.4%), with an overall comorbidity rate of 48.5% and concomitant medications in the 89.4%. The mean vortioxetine daily dosage was 12.90 ± 5.65 mg. Effectiveness of vortioxetine through a significant improvement on specific psychometric scales emerged, while only a nonsignificant trend of association between higher dosage and effectiveness was found. In the total sample, 51.5% were classified as responders and 36.4% as remitters. Two‐thirds of subjects did not report side effects, while in the remaining patients, gastrointestinal ones were the most frequent (72.7%). Almost two‐thirds of the sample could complete the follow‐up, while 36.4% dropped out; the main reasons for dropout were side effects (37.5%) and lack of efficacy (29.2%).

Conclusions

Larger sample studies are warranted to better characterize vortioxetine effectiveness and tolerability in the real world.
Mercury Exposure and Toxicological Consequences in Fish and Fish-Eating Wildlife from Anthropogenic Activity in Latin America
Authors: Canham Rachel , González-Prieto Ana M , Elliott John E
Published: July 2020

Despite the risk of significant adverse toxicological effects of Hg to humans and wildlife, Hg use in anthropogenic activities, and artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in particular, is widespread throughout Latin America. However, there are few research and monitoring studies of Hg toxicity in fish and fish-eating wildlife in Latin America compared to North America. In the present paper, we reviewed the literature from published articles and reports and summarized and assessed data on Hg in fish from 10 391 individuals and 192 species sampled across Latin America. We compared fish Hg levels with toxicity reference values (TRVs) for fish and dietary TRVs for fish-eating wildlife. We determined that fish, piscivorous birds, and other wildlife are at risk of Hg toxicity. We observed a large disparity in data quantity between North and Latin America, and identified regions requiring further investigation. In particular, future biomonitoring and research should focus on exposure of wildlife to Hg in Peru, Chile, Uruguay, the eastern and northern regions of Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia. We also discuss Hg risk assessment methodological issues and recommend that future evaluations of Hg risk to wildlife must collect key physiological variables, including age, body size, and ideally Hg-to-Se molar ratios. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:13–26. © 2020 Environment and Climate Change Canada. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)

KEY POINTS

Fish and fish-eating wildlife in Latin America are at risk of Hg toxicity. Small-scale artisanal Au mining is a major source of Hg emissions globally. Comparatively far less research has investigated Hg toxicity in fish and piscivorous birds in South America than in North America. Key physiological variables, such as age, body size, and Hg-to-Se molar ratios, are important factors for evaluation of Hg risk to wildlife.
Selection of high‐risk individuals for esophageal cancer screening: A prediction model of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma based on a multicenter screening cohort in rural China
Authors: Chen Wanqing , Li He , Ren Jiansong , Zheng Rongshou , Shi Jufang , Li Jiang , Cao Maomao , Sun Dianqin , He Siyi , Sun Xibin , Cao Xiaoqin , Feng Shixian , Zhou Jinyi , Luo Pengfei , Zha Zhenqiu , Jia Shangchun , Wang Jialin , Ma Hengmin , Zeng Hongmei , Canfell Karen , He Jie
Published: July 2020

The mortality benefit of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) screening has been reported in several studies; however, the results of ESCC screening programs in China are suboptimal. Our study aimed to develop an ESCC risk prediction model to identify high‐risk individuals for population‐based esophageal cancer screening. In total, 86 745 participants enrolled in a population‐based esophageal cancer screening program in rural China between 2007 and 2012 were included in the present study and followed up until December 31, 2015. Models for identifying individuals at risk of ESCC within 3 years were created using logistic regressions. The area under the receiver operating curve (AUC) was determined to estimate the model's overall performance. A total of 298 individuals were diagnosed with ESCC within 3 years after baseline. The model of ESCC included the predictors of age, sex, family history of upper gastrointestinal cancer, smoking status, alarming symptoms of retrosternal pain, back pain or neck pain, consumption of salted food and fresh fruits and disease history of peptic ulcer or esophagitis (AUC of 0.81; 95% confidence interval: 0.78‐0.83). Compared to the current prescreening strategy in our program, the cut‐off value of 10 in the score‐based model could result in 3.11% fewer individuals subjected to endoscopies and present higher sensitivity, slightly higher specificity and lower number needed to screen. This score‐based risk prediction model of ESCC based on eight epidemiological risk factors could increase the efficiency of the esophageal cancer screening program in rural China.
Leaning against the wind policy and animal spirits in a general equilibrium model
Authors: Ilomäki Jukka , Laurila Hannu
Published: July 2020

We introduce a general equilibrium model with sticky prices and flexible wages. People live over two periods, investing and working in period 1, and consuming in period 2. In the financial market, some investors are informed about the fundamental stock value, while the rest are not, and trust their gut feeling (animal spirits). The informed investors are risk‐averse, and the correlated animal spirits of the uninformed ones affects the stock market equilibrium thus producing an irrational bubble. We find that central bank's leaning against the wind policy is effective in controlling the bubble, if the uninformed investors discount their animal spirits anticipation of future dividends. Moreover, the paper shows that an irrational bubble may have similar effects on stock market prices as a rational bubble.
Financial constraints and the export decision of Pakistani firms
Authors: Qasim Saira , Rizov Marian , Zhang Xufei
Published: July 2020

The payment of sunk costs associated with the entry to foreign export markets highlights the significance of financial dimension in the firm decision. The sunk costs become a challenge for the financially constrained firms. In this paper, we study the relationship between financial constraints and the export entry decision of the firms in a lower‐middle income country context. We use new measures of financial constraints in finance literature alongside widely used measures of financial health in trade literature to scrutinise the relationship for Pakistani listed manufacturing firms. We find that being less financially constrained is a vital determinant of the Pakistani firms' export participation decision irrespective the high firm leverage before entry. The undeveloped financial system and heavy reliance on bank loans for external finance in Pakistan may be the plausible explanations for our findings. Our results suggest that measures of financial constraints are more appropriate than the widely used measures of financial health in studying the determinants of the export participation decision. In addition, we find evidence that future exporters improve their financial conditions prior to entering the export markets. However, we do not find any evidence that exporting improves financial conditions of the firms after entry.
Influence of irrigation regimes on alfalfa dry matter yield and water productivity in a semiarid subtropical environment*
Authors: Darapuneni Murali K. , Lauriault Leonard M. , Vanleeuwen Dawn M. , Angadi Sangamesh V.
Published: July 2020

Managing water in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) production is crucial for sustaining the limited surface and groundwater resources. A 3‐year study in eastern New Mexico, USA, compared nine irrigation strategies that included various combinations of in‐season irrigations for six harvests (1–2–3–4–5–6, 1–2–3–4–5, 1–2–3–5, 1–2–3, 2–3–5, 1–2–5, 1–5, and 2–3) plus unirrigated control (none) to evaluate the dry matter (DM) yield production capability and irrigation efficiency. The number in each treatment structure represents irrigation provided for each cutting. For example, number ‘1’ represents irrigation provided for the first cutting; number ‘2’ represents irrigation provided for the second cutting, and so on. The results suggested that terminating irrigation for the last harvest (1–2–3–4–5), equivalent to 96 mm water saving, had no significant negative impact on annual DM yield of established alfalfa compared to season‐long full irrigation (1–2–3–4–5–6) (14.4 vs 13.3 t ha−1; P > 0.05) during the 3‐year study period. Irrigation water productivity was doubled when alfalfa was irrigated during the first three harvests (1–2–3), compared to 1–2–3–4–5–6 (0.050 vs 0.027 t ha−1 mm−1). The second and third harvests provided the greatest DM yields in alfalfa. The DM yields declined drastically after the third harvest, with the exception of the third year. Therefore, irrigating alfalfa early in the season during the initial three harvests is an important strategy when water is limited.
Methyl farnesoate regulatory mechanisms underlying photoperiod‐dependent sex determination in the freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna
Authors: Toyota Kenji , Sato Tomomi , Iguchi Taisen , Ohira Tsuyoshi
Published: July 2020

Freshwater zooplankton Daphnia magna has been widely used in ecotoxicology studies. During the last 20 years, it has been demonstrated that the topical application of juvenile hormone (JH) or JH analogs to mother daphnids induce male offspring production. Based on this finding, an in vivo screening validation method for chemicals with JH agonistic effect has developed. Although this screening system successfully identified a number of JH‐like chemicals, molecular mechanisms underlying the male sex‐determining process remain largely unknown. To address this issue, we established a reliable male‐ or female‐producing system using Daphnia pulex WTN6 strain by changing the rearing photoperiod. Taking advantage of this rearing system, we successfully found several factors involving male sex determination such as ionotropic glutamate receptors, protein kinase C and pantothenate. Here, we used two D. magna strains that can also control the production of female or male offspring by photoperiod differences as model species for ecotoxicology studies. We demonstrated that either treatment of antagonist of ionotropic glutamate receptors or inhibitor of protein kinase C strongly suppressed male offspring production even under male‐producing conditions. Moreover, we revealed that male sex‐determining processes are likely diverged between D. magna and D. pulex based on the current experiment. This study provides a fine experimental method for in vivo screening not only JH agonists but also JH antagonists. Moreover, using daphnids with photoperiod‐dependent sex determination manner will hugely contribute to understanding the mode‐of‐action of JH in daphnids.
Opportunities for biomaterials to address the challenges of COVID‐19
Authors: Chakhalian Daniel , Shultz Robert B. , Miles Catherine E. , Kohn Joachim
Published: July 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has revealed major shortcomings in our ability to mitigate transmission of infectious viral disease and provide treatment to patients, resulting in a public health crisis. Within months of the first reported case in China, the virus has spread worldwide at an unprecedented rate. COVID‐19 illustrates that the biomaterials community was engaged in significant research efforts against bacteria and fungi with relatively little effort devoted to viruses. Accordingly, biomaterials scientists and engineers will have to participate in multidisciplinary antiviral research over the coming years. Although tissue engineering and regenerative medicine have historically dominated the field of biomaterials, current research holds promise for providing transformative solutions to viral outbreaks. To facilitate collaboration, it is imperative to establish a mutual language and adequate understanding between clinicians, industry partners, and research scientists. In this article, clinical perspectives are shared to clearly define emerging healthcare needs that can be met by biomaterials solutions. Strategies and opportunities for novel biomaterials intervention spanning diagnostics, treatment strategies, vaccines, and virus‐deactivating surface coatings are discussed. Ultimately this review serves as a call for the biomaterials community to become a leading contributor to the prevention and management of the current and future viral outbreaks.
Rosmarinic acid attenuates chromium‐induced hepatic and renal oxidative damage and DNA damage in rats
Authors: Khalaf Azem A. , Hassanen Eman I. , Ibrahim Marwa A. , Tohamy Adel F. , Aboseada Mahmoud A. , Hassan Hossam M. , Zaki Amr R.
Published: July 2020

Hexavelant chromium (Cr (V1)) is a widely distributed environmental pollutant inducing damage in different organs of human and animals. The current study was designed to investigate the mechanistic role of rosmarinic acid (RA) to diminish chromium‐induced hepatorenal oxidative damage and preneoplastic lesions in rats. Plant material was collected, identified, and extracted. The isolated RA was elucidated relying on the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data. Twenty‐eight male Wistar rats received the following materials daily via oral gavage for 60 days; (Gp1): normal saline, (Gp2) 25 mg/kg.bwt RA, (Gp3) 10 mg/kg.bwt potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7), (Gp4) K2Cr2O7 + RA. All rats were euthanized at the end of the experiment by cervical dislocation and the liver and kidney were collected. Prolonged continuous exposure of rats to chromium‐induced oxidant/antioxidant imbalance manifested by significant elevation of malondialdehyde with reduction in reduced glutathione levels. Remarkable histopathological alterations in the liver and kidney tissue sections were recorded and confirmed by overexpression of the immunohistochemical staining of caspase‐3, placental glutathione‐S transferase, proliferating cell nuclear antigen together with a significant downregulation of nuclear factor erythroid‐2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) gene and upregulation of nibrin gene. Observable improvements in the entire toxicopathological parameters were recorded in group cotreated with RA. Our findings revealed that Cr‐induced preneoplastic lesions on the liver and kidney tissues of rats when exposed daily for long period of time, as well as confirmed the ability of RA to alleviate this toxicity through upregulation of Nrf2 pathway and its powerful antioxidant effects.
Arsenic(III) mixed derivatives having oximes and morpholinedithiocarbamate along with their cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and antioxidant studies
Authors: Beniwal Savita , Sangwan Reena , Singh Yashpal , Sharma Jyoti
Published: July 2020

Consecutive substitution reactions of arsenic(III)chloride with sodium salts of various oximes and morpholinedithiocarbamate (morphdtc) were carried out in 1:2:1 stoichiometry to obtain six new arsenic(III) mixed derivatives of the type: [(R)(R1)C = NO]2Sb[S2CN(CH2CH2)2O] [where R is –C6H5, R1 = –CH3 (1); R = –C6H4CH3, R1 = –CH3 (2); R = –C6H4Cl, R1 = –CH3 (3); R = –C6H4Br, R1 = –CH3 (4); R = –C6H4OH, R1 = –H (5); R(R1)C =  (6)]. These derivatives are characterized by elemental and physicochemical analyses and the tentative distorted trigonalbipyramidal geometry around arsenic assigned using spectral data of infrared (1H, 13C) nuclear magnetic resonance and liquid chromatography‐mass. Powder X‐ray diffraction study revealed their nanoranged particle size to be approximately 40 nm and crystalline nature. These derivatives examined against microbes and results revealed that these derivatives expressed more antifungal potential than antibacterial. The antioxidant activity was carried out by ferric reducing ability of plasma assay, and the cytotoxic study was performed in 3T3 fibroblast cell lines by tetrazolium‐based colorimetric assay.
Recent developments in the methods of quantitative analysis of microcystins
Authors: Kumar Piyush , Rautela Akhil , Kesari Vigya , Szlag David , Westrick Judy , Kumar Sanjay
Published: July 2020

Cyanotoxins are produced by the toxic cyanobacterial species present in algal blooms formed in water bodies due to nutrient over‐enrichment by human influences and natural environmental conditions. Extensive studies are available on the most widely encountered cyanotoxins, microcystins (MCs) in fresh and brackish water bodies. MC contaminated water poses severe risks to human health, environmental sustainability, and aquatic life. Therefore, commonly occurring MCs should be monitored. Occasionally, detection and quantification of these toxins are difficult due to the unavailability of pure standards. Enzymatic, immunological assays, and analytical techniques like protein phosphatase inhibition assay, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, high‐performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry, and biosensors are used for their detection and quantification. There is no single method for the detection of all the different types of MCs; therefore, various techniques are often combined to yield reliable results. Biosensor development offered a problem‐solving approach in the detection of MCs due to their high accuracy, sensitivity, rapid response, and portability. In this review, an endeavor has been made to uncover emerging techniques used for the detection and quantification of the MCs.
On split graphs with three or four distinct (normalized) Laplacian eigenvalues
Authors: Li Shuchao , Sun Wanting
Published: July 2020

It is well known to us that a graph of diameter has at least eigenvalues. A graph is said to be Laplacian (resp, normalized Laplacian) ‐extremal if it is of diameter having exactly distinct Laplacian (resp, normalized Laplacian) eigenvalues. A graph is split if its vertex set can be partitioned into a clique and a stable set. Each split graph is of diameter at most 3. In this paper, we completely classify the connected bidegreed Laplacian (resp, normalized Laplacian) 2‐extremal (resp, 3‐extremal) split graphs using the association of split graphs with combinatorial designs. Furthermore, we identify connected bidegreed split graphs of diameter 2 having just four Laplacian (resp, normalized Laplacian) eigenvalues.
Low serum albumin is an independent risk factor in elderly patients with aggressive B‐cell lymphoma: Results from prospective trials of the German High‐Grade Non‐Hodgkin's Lymphoma Study Group
Authors: Hohloch Karin , Ziepert Marita , Truemper Lorenz , Buske Christian , Held Gerhard , Poeschel Viola , Chapuy Bjoern , Altmann Bettina
Published: July 2020

Serum albumin a well‐known risk factor predicting outcome in many solid tumors. We explore the role of low serum albumin (≤3.5 g/dL) as an independent risk factor in elderly patients with aggressive B‐cell lymphoma. Outcome of 429 patients treated with R‐CHOP‐14 in the RICOVER‐60 trial and available serum albumin were analyzed in this retrospective study. Of the 429 patients in the RICOVER‐60 trial, 137 (32%) had low and 292 (68%) had normal serum albumin levels (>3.5 g/dL). In the low albumin group, patients had significantly higher International Prognostic Index (IPI), bulky disease, extralymphatic involvement, and B‐symptoms. Event‐free survival (EFS) (P < .001), progression‐free survival (PFS) (P < .001), and overall survival (OS) (P < .001) were significantly inferior for patients with low compared to those with normal serum albumin. Multivariate analysis adjusted for IPI shows following Hazard ratios (HR) for low serum albumin: EFS (HR = 1.5; 95% confidance interval [CI] [1.1; 2.1], P = .009), PFS (HR = 1.7; 95% CI [1.2; 2.4], P = .001) and OS (HR = 1.6; 95% CI [1.1; 2.3], P = .006). Results were confirmed in 185 patients from the DENSE‐R‐CHOP‐14 and SMARTE‐R‐CHOP‐14 trials. In conclusion, low serum albumin is an independent risk factor in elderly patients with aggressive B‐cell lymphoma treated with R‐CHOP.
Thiazole‐tethered biaryls as fluorescent chemosensors for the selective detection of Fe3+ ions
Authors: Mariammal Balasubramanian , Shylaja Adaikalam , Kumar Sundaravel Vivek , Rubina Stephen Raja , Kumar Raju Ranjith
Published: July 2020

3‐Amino‐5‐(thiazol‐2‐yl)‐[1,1′‐biaryl]‐2,4‐dicarbonitriles have been synthesized employing a facile one‐pot pseudo four‐component domino strategy. All these thiazole‐tethered biaryls exhibited blue fluorescence under UV lamp. Based on the high relative quantum yield, three compounds namely, 4a, 4d, and 4i, were chosen to explore the metal interference studies. Against several metal ions, these three thiazole‐tethered biphenyl probes were found to be effective fluorescent chemosensors for the selective and sensitive detection of Fe3+ ions with a lower detection limit of 0.18, 0.12, and 0.16 μM, respectively.
Aberrant Fiber Coherence of Amygdala−Accumbens−Pallidum Pathway Is Associated With Disorganized Nigrostriatal−Nigropallidal Pathway in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Guo Tao , Wu Jingjing , Zhou Cheng , Guan Xiaojun , Gao Ting , Bai Xueqin , Song Zhe , Xuan Min , Gu Quanquan , Huang Peiyu , Zhang Baorong , Pu Jiali , Xu Xiaojun , Xu Duan , Zhang Minming
Published: July 2020

Background

Motor disturbances in Parkinson's disease (PD) mainly result from the degeneration of classic motor pathways. Given that the specific limbic pathway participates in movements, it is reasonable to consider that limbic pathway have the pathologic potential of motor disturbance in PD.

Purpose

To explore the white matter changes of limbic and motor pathways and their relations in PD patients.

Study Type

Prospective.

Population

39 PD patients and 55 normal controls.

Sequence

Sagittal 3D T1‐weighted fast spoiled gradient recalled sequence, diffusion‐weighted spin echo‐echo planar imaging sequence on a 3T scanner.

Assessment

Probabilistic tractography was used to reconstruct the motor pathways (nigrostriatal−nigropallidal and basal ganglia−motor cortex pathways) and limbic pathway (amygdala−accumbens−pallidum pathway). White matter alterations of these pathways were evaluated by fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), axial diffusivity (AD), radial diffusivity (RD), neurite density (NDI), and orientation dispersion (ODI). Clinical assessment was conducted by a neurologist.

Statistical Tests

Group comparisons were performed using unpaired t‐tests. Pearson or Spearman correlation was used to explore the relationships between variables.

Results

Compared with normal controls, PD patients showed decreased ODI as well as increased MD and AD in the bilateral nigrostriatal−nigropallidal pathway (P < 0.05), decreased FA in left basal ganglia−motor cortex pathway (P < 0.05), and decreased ODI in left limbic pathway (P < 0.05). MD and AD in the left nigrostriatal−nigropallidal pathway was negatively correlated with FA in left basal ganglia−motor cortex pathway (r = −0.597, P < 0.05 and r = −0.433, P < 0.05, respectively). MD in the left nigrostriatal−nigropallidal pathway was significantly correlated with ODI in the left limbic pathway (r = −0.404, P < 0.05). ODI was associated with AD within each hemisphere of the nigrostriatal−nigropallidal pathway (r = −0.591, P < 0.05 for left; r = −0.589, P < 0.05 for right).

Data Conclusion

The relationship between the degenerated motor pathways and aberrant limbic pathway suggest the existence of neuronal modulation between motor and limbic pathways, providing novel evidence of the neuromechanism for motor disruption in PD patients.

Level of Evidence

2

Technical Efficacy Stage

1 J. MAGN. RESON. IMAGING 2020;52:1799–1808.
A novel and rapid extraction protocol for sensitive and accurate determination of prochloraz in orange juice samples: Vortex‐assisted spraying‐based fine droplet formation liquid‐phase microextraction before gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Dikmen Yaren , Güleryüz Aybüke , Metin Berfin , Bodur Süleyman , Öner Miray , Bakırdere Sezgin
Published: July 2020

A novel, ecofriendly, and easy extraction and preconcentration method named as vortex‐assisted spraying‐based fine droplet formation liquid‐phase microextraction was proposed for the determination of prochloraz at trace levels in orange juice samples by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). In this novel system, extraction solvent is dispersed by the help of spraying apparatus instead of dispersive solvent. Various parameters of the method were carefully optimized to increase signal‐to‐noise ratio of the analyte. Under the optimum chromatographic and extraction conditions, limit of detection and limit of quantification were calculated as 3.2 and 10.8 μg/kg, respectively. Moreover, enhancement in quantification power for the GC‐MS system was determined as 372 folds based on LOQ comparison. Relative recovery results for orange juice samples were found to be between 95.0–107.7% by utilizing matrix matching calibration. Furthermore, the developed method may be used to efficiently and simply extract other organic compounds for their determinations in several matrices.
Association of cytokines with hepatitis B virus and its antigen
Authors: Li Ming‐hui , Chen Qi‐qi , Zhang Lu , Lu Hui‐hui , Sun Fang‐fang , Zeng Zhan , Lu Yao , Yi Wei , Xie Yao
Published: July 2020

To investigate the characteristics of cytokines in patients with different HBV infection status and their correlation with HBV DNA, HBsAg, and HBeAg levels. Peripheral blood samples were collected from patients with chronic HBV infection in immune tolerance phase (IT), HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and acute hepatitis B (AHB) groups, and levels of cytokines were detected by Luminex technique, and analyzed by FLEXMAP 3D analyzer. The correlation between cytokines and HBV DNA load, HBsAg, HBeAg, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level in patients with chronic HBV infection was analyzed. In total 312 subjects (184 males and 128 females) were enrolled in the study. There were significant differences among IT, CHB, and AHB groups in Flt‐3L value (P = .003; H = 12.312), IFN‐γ (P = .001; H = 11.723), IL‐10 (P = .001; H = 18.736), IL‐17A ((P = .001; H = 12.735), and TGF‐β1 (P = .001; Z = 48.571). IFN‐α2 levels in CHB group were significantly higher than those in IT and AHB groups (15.24 vs 35.78 pg/mL, P = .000; Z = 3.727; 13.88 vs 35.78 pg/mL, P = .024; Z = −2.258. In CHB group, the levels of HBsAg and ALT were positively correlated with the levels of IL‐10 (r = .173; P = .006; r = 0.176; P = .006, respectively), while HBeAg level was positively correlated with the IFN‐α2 level (r = .153; P = .016). In AHB group, the HBsAg level was positively correlated with Flt‐3L, IFN‐α2, IL‐10, and IL‐6 (r = .402; P = .023; r = .436; P = .016; r = .524, P = .002; r = .405; P = .022, respectively). HBeAg level was positively correlated with IFN‐γ and IL‐17A levels (r = .400; P = .023; r = .373; P = .036, respectively), and ALT level was positively correlated with IL‐6 levels (r = .367; P = .039). In either AHB or CHB group, HBV DNA load was only related to TGF‐β level (r = .493; P = .004; r = −.218, P = 0.009 respectively). The correlation between Flt‐3L and HBsAg (F = 7.422; P = .007); IL‐17, IL‐6, and HBeAg (F = 5.757; P = .017; F = 6.156; P = .014) were statistically significant. There was significant correlation between TGF‐β2 and HBV DNA (F = 11.795; P = .001), and between ALT and HBsAg, HBV DNA (F = 26.089; P = .000; F = 4.724; P = .031). HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA were correlated with cytokines and ALT in patients with HBV infection. The level of IFN‐α2 was significantly higher in patients with CHB. HBV DNA load was only correlated with the level of TGF‐β in acute or CHB.
The 2018–2019 weak El Niño: Predicting the risk of a dengue outbreak in Machala, Ecuador
Authors: Petrova Desislava , Rodó Xavier , Sippy Rachel , Ballester Joan , Mejía Raul , Beltrán‐Ayala Efraín , Borbor‐Cordova Mercy J. , Vallejo G. Mauricio , Olmedo Alfredo J. , Stewart‐Ibarra Anna M. , Lowe Rachel
Published: July 2020

Between October 2018 ‐ May 2019, sea surface temperature conditions in the central‐eastern tropical Pacific indicated a mild El Niño event. In May 2019, the global El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) forecast consensus was that these generally weak warm patterns will persist at least until the end of the northern hemisphere summer. El Niño and its impact on local climatic conditions in southern coastal Ecuador influence the inter‐annual transmission of dengue fever in the region. In this study, we use an ENSO model to issue forecasts of El Niño for the year 2019, which are then used to predict local climate variables, precipitation and minimum temperature, in the city of Machala, Ecuador. All these forecasts are incorporated in a dengue transmission model, specifically developed and tested for this area, to produce out‐of‐sample predictions of dengue risk. Predictions are issued at the beginning of January 2019 for the whole year, thus providing the longest forecast lead time of 12 months. Preliminary results indicate that the mild and ongoing El Niño event did not provide the optimum climate conditions for dengue transmission, with the model predicting a very low probability of a dengue outbreak during the typical peak season in Machala in 2019. This is contrary to 2016, when a large El Niño event resulted in excess rainfall and warmer temperatures in the region, and a dengue outbreak occurred 3 months earlier than expected. This event was successfully predicted using a similar prediction framework to the one applied here. With the present study, we continue our efforts to build and test a climate service tool to issue early warnings of dengue outbreaks in the region.
Studying glass on metal: Raman analysis of medieval champlevé enamelled objects
Authors: Röhrs Stefan , Fenoglio Gaia , Reiche Ina , Lambacher Lothar
Published: July 2020

Medieval champlevé enamelled objects are from copper sheets decorated with glass. The enamels were analysed by Raman spectroscopy to study the compositional differences in the glass matrix. Additional analyses were carried out by element analytical methods such as μ‐X‐ray fluorescence analysis and environmental scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X‐ray analysis. The two most frequently used glass types are mineral soda lime glass opacified with antimony compounds and vegetal soda lime glass with a more significant addition of PbO, opacified with SnO2. The enamel composition can succour the classification of the object regarding production time and place.

The wavenumber of the bending and stretching regions, δmax and υmax, and the polymerization index Ip were extracted from Raman spectra, and results were interpreted with respect to the so‐called glass families from the literature. The two most frequently used glass types can be distinguished in the plot of Ip versus υmax. For further differentiation, the Si‐O stretching υmax against Si‐O bending δmax plot was exploited. This plot allowed a separation of glass types which superimposed in the plot of Ip versus υmax, such as mixed alkaline glass and soda lime glass with added PbO. The small spot size and sensitivity of Raman analysis for lead and alkaline components allow obtaining complimentary data on compositional differences and heterogeneities of the glass matrix, which are difficult to detect by common laboratory micro‐X‐ray fluorescence analysis.
The accuracy of Raman spectroscopy in the detection and diagnosis of oral cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhan Qi , Li Yuan , Yuan Yihang , Liu Jinchi , Li Yi
Published: July 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study was to systematically review and assess the diagnostic accuracy of Raman spectroscopy (RS) for oral cancer tissue, oral precancerous lesions, and normal oral tissue.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and gray literature were searched for all relevant articles published before July 2019. We used the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies tool to assess the quality of the included studies. We estimated the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR and NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and established summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves to identify the diagnostic accuracy of RS for oral cancer tissue, oral precancerous lesions, and normal oral tissue. In addition, the area under the curve (AUC) was reported to estimate the overall effectiveness of RS.

Results

A total of 41 articles were eligible for this meta‐analysis. The coalescent sensitivity and specificity of RS in diagnosing oral cancer in vivo were 0.91 and 0.85. The positive likelihood ratio, the negative likelihood ratio, and the area under the curve were 8.01, 0.10, and 0.9284. The frozen tissue subgroup in vitro oral cancer group showed improved diagnostic accuracy with an AUC of 0.9968. The in vitro frozen tissue group also showed better diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing between oral precancerous lesions and normal oral tissues.

Conclusions

RS has the advantages of being noninvasive and able to provide real‐time and in situ results, so it deserves to be studied and improved further to better serve clinical work.
Cultured beef: from small biopsy to substantial quantity
Authors: Melzener Lea , Verzijden Karin E , Buijs A Jasmin , Post Mark J , Flack Joshua E
Published: July 2020

Cultured meat is an emerging technology with the potential to solve huge challenges related to the environmental, ethical, and health implications of conventional meat production. Establishing the basic science of cultured meat has been the primary focus of the last decade but it is now feasible that cultured meat products will enter the market within the next 3 to 4 years. This proximity to market introduction demands an evaluation of aspects of the cultured meat production process that have not yet been outlined or discussed in significant detail. For example, one technological approach for the production of cultured meat uses adult muscle stem cells, the limited proliferative capacity of which necessitates repeated collection of tissue samples via biopsies of living donor animals. The selection of donor animals and the details of biopsy processes must be optimized, as this is a key bottleneck in the cultured meat production process. The number of stem cells harvested from a biopsy, together with their proliferative capacity, determines a ‘multiplicity factor’ achieved by a cultured meat production process, thus dictating the reduction in number of animals required to produce a given quantity of meat. This article considers potential scenarios for these critical upstream steps, focusing on the production of cultured beef as an example. Considerations related to donor selection and details of the biopsy process are discussed in detail. The practicalities of various scenarios for cultured beef production, the health of donor animals, and regulatory issues associated with the safety of cultured meat for consumers are also considered. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Enriched cereal bars with wine fermentation biomass
Authors: Borges Marana Sandini , Biz Ana Paula , Bertolo Angélica Patrícia , Bagatini Luciola , Rigo Elisandra , Cavalheiro Darlene
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND

Cereal bars are a sweet‐tasting, nutritious, and enjoyable source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Ingredients can be added to the formulation to improve certain characteristics, such as protein content. Some of these ingredients are derived from yeast from fermentation processes. This study aimed to add value to the residue resulting from the wine fermentation process (wine lees) by applying it in the formulation of cereal bars.

RESULTS

Three formulations of cereal bars with different concentrations of autolyzed yeast biomass were developed. The effect of the addition of biomass was investigated by chemical and sensorial analysis. The cereal bar with the highest concentration of autolyzed biomass (5%) showed the highest protein content (73.4 g kg−1). The findings regarding acceptance obtained by sensory analysis showed that the samples with 2.5% and 5% autolyzed biomass pleased consumers.

CONCLUSIONS

Formulations of autolyzed biomass‐based cereal bars have increased protein content as the autolyzed biomass concentration has increased. Moreover, the acceptance of the cereal bars with autolyzed biomass in concentrations of 2.5% and 5% was satisfactory. The use of wine lees in food products is therefore a possible way of adding value to this residue, including, for example, a significant increase in protein. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
The safety of hepatectomy after transarterial radioembolization: Single institution experience and review of the literature
Authors: Noda Christopher , Williams Gregory A. , Foltz Gretchen , Kim Hyun , Sanford Dominic E. , Hammill Chet W. , Fields Ryan C.
Published: July 2020

Background and Objectives

The liver is a frequent site of malignancy, both primary and metastatic. The treatment goal of patients with liver cancer may include transarterial radioembolization (TARE). There are limited reports on the safety of hepatectomy following TARE. Our study's purpose is to review patients who have received TARE followed by hepatectomy.

Methods

A retrospective study was performed on patients diagnosed with any liver cancer from 2013 to 2019 who underwent TARE followed by hepatectomy. Postoperative complications were prospectively collected. Descriptive statistics and the Kaplan‐Meier test were used to assess survival outcomes.

Results

Twelve patients were treated with a TARE followed by a hepatectomy (nine with ≥4 segments resected). Diagnoses included: six HCC, four cholangiocarcinoma, one metastatic neuroendocrine tumor, and one metastatic colorectal cancer. There were no 90‐day post‐hepatectomy mortalities and the overall morbidity was 66% (16% severe ≥MAGS 3). Hepatectomy‐specific complications after hepatectomy included two (16%) bile leaks and no post‐hepatectomy liver failures. The median recurrence free survival was 26 months. Overall survival at 1‐year was 78% and at 3 years was 47%.

Conclusions

Our results support the safety of hepatectomy in select patients after TARE. Additional comparison to patients who receive hepatectomy as a first‐line treatment for liver cancers should be investigated.
Mesoporous silica hybridized by ordered mesoporous carbon for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction
Authors: Loussala Herman Maloko , Han Sen , Feng Juanjuan , Sun Min , Feng Jiaqing , Fan Jing , Pei Meishan
Published: July 2020

To enhance the extraction performance, a mesoporous silica was modified with ordered mesoporous carbon for solid‐phase microextraction. Three stainless‐steel wires coated with the mesoporous material were placed in a polyetheretherketone tube for getting an extraction tube. The tube was coupled to high‐performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector, and the online analysis system was constructed. Then its extraction performance was evaluated using hydrophobic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalates, and hydrophilic neonicotinoids. The best selectivity was presented for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Several main conditions were optimized such as sampling volume, sampling rate, methanol concentration in the sample, and desorption time, a rapid and sensitive analytical method was established toward polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The analytical method exhibited wide linear range from 0.017 to 15 µg/L with acceptable correlation coefficients more than 0.9990, limits of detection in 0.005‐0.020 µg/L, limits of quantification ranging from 0.017 to 0.066 µg/L as well as large enrichment factors of 377‐2314. It was successfully applied to detect trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in some real water samples including tap water, snow water, and domestic sewage.
Early Pain and Other Somatic Symptoms Predict Posttraumatic Stress Reactions in Survivors of Terrorist Attacks: The Longitudinal Utøya Cohort Study
Authors: Stensland Synne Øien , Thoresen Siri , Jensen Tine , Wentzel‐Larsen Tore , Dyb Grete
Published: July 2020

Survivors of traumatic events commonly suffer from long‐term pain and related somatic symptomatology. To test the predominant hypothesis that survivors’ pain comprises sequela of persistent posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), we assessed the sequential order of symptom development among young survivors of a terrorist attack. All 490 survivors of the 2011 Utøya (Norway) attacks were invited to the longitudinal Utøya cohort study; 355 (72.4%) participated. The mean survivor age was 19.3 years (SD = 4.6) and 169 were female (47.6%). Somatic symptoms, including headache, other pain and fatigue, and PTSS, were measured 4–5 months (T1), 14–16 months (T2), and 32–33 months (T3) after the attack. Longitudinal associations between somatic symptoms and PTSS were assessed in cross‐lagged structural equation model (SEM) analyses, which were adjusted for known confounders. Higher pain levels and other somatic symptoms at T1 consistently predicted PTSS at T2 in SEM analyses, r = .473, p < .001. Beyond this early‐to‐intermediate posttraumatic phase, somatic symptoms did not significantly predict PTSS: T2–T3, r = .024, p = .831; T1–T3, r = −.074, p = .586. PTSS did not significantly predict later somatic symptomatology at T1–T2, r = .093, p = .455; T2–T3, r = .272, p = .234; or T1–T3, r = −.279, p = .077. The findings indicate that survivors’ early pain and related somatic symptoms strongly and consistently predict later psychopathology. After severe psychological trauma, early interventions may need to address individuals’ pain to hinder chronification.
Cumulative Trauma Exposure and Chronic Homelessness Among Veterans: The Roles of Responses to Intrusions and Emotion Regulation
Authors: Macia Kathryn S. , Moschetto Jenna M. , Wickham Robert E. , Brown Lisa M. , Waelde Lynn C.
Published: July 2020

Veterans with mental health problems and a history of interpersonal and military trauma exposure are at increased risk for chronic homelessness. Although studies have examined posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a predictor of homelessness, there is limited understanding of specific mechanisms related to cumulative trauma exposure. We sought to elucidate how cumulative interpersonal and military trauma exposure may be linked to homelessness chronicity by examining the role of factors that influence trauma recovery and functional impairment. Specifically, we examined the indirect association of cumulative trauma exposure with homelessness chronicity through distress and responses to trauma‐related intrusions and emotion regulation problems in a sample of 239 veterans in community‐based homeless programs. Participants completed measures of trauma exposure, responses to intrusions, intrusion distress, difficulties with emotion regulation, and duration and episodes of homelessness. Structural equation modeling was used to test a serial indirect effect model in which cumulative trauma exposure was indirectly associated with homelessness chronicity through distress from and responses to intrusions as well as emotion regulation problems. The results supported the hypothesized sequential indirect effect for episodes of homelessness, indirect effect odds ratio (IE ORs) = 1.12–1.13, but not for current episode duration, IE OR = 1.05. Overall, the present findings elucidate specific trauma‐related factors that may be particularly relevant to episodic patterns of homelessness and interfere with efforts to remain housed. These findings represent an important step toward shaping policy and program development to better meet mental health care needs and improve housing outcomes among homeless veterans.