bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Donor‐Acceptor‐Donor Thienopyrazine‐Based Dyes as NIR‐Emitting AIEgens
Authors: Goti Giulio , Calamante Massimo , Coppola Carmen , Dessì Alessio , Franchi Daniele , Mordini Alessandro , Sinicropi Adalgisa , Zani Lorenzo , Reginato Gianna
Published: March 2021

Organic Near‐Infrared luminophores have found broad application as functional materials, but the development of efficient NIR emitters is still a challenging goal. Here we report on a new class of thieno[3,4‐b]pyrazine‐based NIR emitting materials with Aggregation Induced Emission (AIE) properties. The dyes feature a donor–acceptor–donor (D−A−D) structure, with a thienopyrazine acceptor core connected to two triarylamine donor groups bearing a tetraphenylethylene (TPE) moiety. Fast and efficient synthesis allowed the modular preparation of three dyes of tunable absorption and emission profiles. These constructs were extensively characterized by spectroscopic studies in different solvents, which revealed intense light‐harvesting ability and emissions in the deep‐red and NIR region with large Stokes shift values. Remarkably, the dyes exhibited AIE properties, retaining emissive ability in the aggregate state, thus emerging as attractive materials for their potential application in the development of luminescent devices.
The Cross‐Dehydrogenative Coupling Reaction of β‐Ketoesters with Quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐ones
Authors: Zhang Hong‐Yu , Yang Zibing , Zhang Huizhen , Han Ya‐Ping , Zhao Jiquan , Zhang Yuecheng
Published: March 2021

The cross‐dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) reaction of β‐ketoesters with quinoxalin‐2(1H)‐one derivatives has been successfully performed by using a readily available Cu salt as the catalyst in moderate to excellent yields under mild conditions. Owing to the characteristic of handy operation and good functional group tolerance, this protocol affords a convenient access to α‐quinoxalinone‐substituted β‐ketoesters. Preliminary mechanistic investigations show this transformation possibly underwent an unusual ionic pathway.
Multifunctional CNT:TiO2 additives in spiro‐OMeTAD layer for highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells
Authors: Lou Qiang , Li Huilin , Huang Qingsong , Shen Zhitao , Li Fumin , Du Qing , Jin Mengqi , Chen Chong
Published: March 2021

Hole transport layer (HTL) is very important for the power conversion efficiency (PCE) and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). As current state‐of‐the‐art HTL, Li‐TFSI doped spiro‐OMeTAD often suffers low conductivity and the hydrolysis of the additive Li‐TFSI, which significantly hinders the further improvement of PCE of PSCs. Besides, conventional spiro‐OMeTAD has no functional of directly passivating the perovskite crystal defects. Herein, multifunctional TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs)‐modified CNT (CNT:TiO2) doped spiro‐OMeTAD (spiro‐OMeTAD+CNT:TiO2) HTL is reported for the first time. The incorporated CNT:TiO2 not only significantly increases the conductivity of spiro‐OMeTAD+CNT:TiO2, but also effectively passivates the crystal defects of perovskite layer. The optimized PSCs with spiro‐OMeTAD+CNT:TiO2 HTL achieved a peak PCE of 21.53%, much higher than that (17.90%) of the conventional spiro‐OMeTAD based PSCs and also show significantly improved stability.

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The Story of Aya: Penaealogy, Black Women's Kinship, and the Carceral State
Authors: Richards‐Calathes Whitney
Published: March 2021

This article sits at the intersection of Black feminist critical criminology and feminist ethnography. Based on ethnographic research and in‐depth interviews with lineages of system‐impacted Black women in Los Angeles (grandmothers, mothers, and daughters), this work introduces the term penaealogy. Penaealogy is a methodological and theoretical tool to unearth penal genealogies. It is a bricolage term to map how carceral histories and institutions splice their way into the strong, tender, and sinuous threads of Black women's kinship; a quadra‐directional lens that investigates the structural, the interpersonal, the past, and the future. Through the exploration of this concept, the paper interrogates how punishment systems impact Black women's kin and specifically Black daughterhood, while also discussing methodological intimacy and Black feminist criminology.
Cite Black Women: A Critical Praxis (A Statement)
Authors: Smith Christen A. , Williams Erica L. , Wadud Imani A. , Pirtle Whitney N. L. ,   The Cite Black Women Collective
Published: March 2021

This collective statement provides a general overview of the Cite Black Women movement, its principles, intellectual genealogy, charge, and history. It is both a reflection and an outline of the project's primary principles, hopes, and dreams.
Characterization of volatile compounds of Pixian Douban fermented in closed system of gradient steady‐state temperature field
Authors: Ding Wenwu , Liu Yan , Zhao Xiaoyan , Peng Changbo , Ye Xiaoqing , Che Zhenming , Liu Yi , Liu Ping , Lin Hongbin , Huang Jiaquan , Xu Min
Published: March 2021

As an essential flavor condiment in Sichuan cuisine, Pixian Douban (PXDB) is usually produced by open fermentation process in strip pools or ceramic vats. In this study, an experiment of PXDB fermentation was conducted for 90 days in a closed system of gradient steady‐state temperature field (GSTF). To investigate the characterization of volatile compounds of PXDB in the closed system, the volatiles in three kinds of samples including samples of GSTF (SGT), samples of constant temperature (SCT), and samples of traditional fermentation (STF) were analyzed. The results showed that 75, 67, and 68 volatile compounds were detected in SGT, SCT, and STF, respectively. Compared with the traditional fermentation, the process in the closed system of GSTF was conducive to produce more kinds of esters and alcohols. A total of 22 major aroma active compounds were identified in three samples by combination analyses of gas chromatography‐olfactometry (GC‐O) and odor activity value (OAV). The appearance, smell, texture, and taste of the three different samples had shown different changes, but the sensory characteristics of the SGT were more similar to those of the STF by quantitative descriptive analysis (QDA) and principal component analysis (PCA). This study indicated that the closed system of GSTF could be applied in PXDB fermentation to obtain higher quality products, which brought a bright prospect of replacing the traditional fermentation process to realize the controllable industrialized production of PXDB.
The link between plant‐based diet indices with biochemical markers of bone turn over, inflammation, and insulin in Iranian older adults
Authors: Shahinfar Hossein , Amini Mohammad Reza , Payandeh Nastaran , Naghshi Sina , Sheikhhossein Fatemeh , Djafarian Kurosh , Shab‐Bidar Sakineh
Published: March 2021

Background

The association of plant‐based diets and biomarkers of bone, insulin, and inflammation is still unclear.

Objectives

We investigated the associations between biomarkers of bone, insulin, and inflammation and three plant‐based diet indices: an overall plant‐based diet index (PDI); a healthy plant‐based diet index (hPDI); and an unhealthy plant‐based diet index (uPDI).

Methods

We included 178 elderly subjects who referred to health centers in Tehran. Blood and urine samples were collected to measure osteocalcin. The Human C‐telopeptide of type Ⅰ collagen (u‐CTX‐I), highly sensitive C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), parathyroid hormone (PTH), 25(OH) D, and insulin resistance and sensitivity. We created an overall PDI, hPDI, and uPDI from semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) data.

Results

Dietary groups of Vegetables (r = .15, p = .03), nuts (r = .16, p = .03), dairy (r = .25, p = .001), eggs (r = .27, p < .001), red meat, and animal products (r = .25, p = .001) were directly correlated with osteocalcin. Refined grains were also had a positive association with serum insulin concentration (r = .14, p = .04). PTH levels are inversely associated with PDI score (β = −0.18, p = .01). Also, serum insulin concentration was negatively associated with PDI score (β = −0.10, p = .04). Urine CTX‐1 levels were significantly associated with hPDI score (β = −0.06, p = .04). u‐CTX‐1 levels are inversely associated with uPDI score. This significance did not change with the adjustment of the confounders (β = −0.28, p < .001).

Conclusions

More adherence to PDI and hPDI and less in uPDI may have a beneficial effect on biomarkers of bone, inflammation, and insulin thus preserving chronic diseases.
Neural correlates of the impulse dyscontrol domain of mild behavioral impairment
Authors: Gill Sascha , Wang Meng , Mouches Pauline , Rajashekar Deepthi , Sajobi Tolulope , MacMaster Frank P , Smith Eric E , Forkert Nils D , Ismail Zahinoor ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: March 2021

Objectives

Agitation and aggression are common in dementia and pre‐dementia. The dementia risk syndrome mild behavioral impairment (MBI) includes these symptoms in the impulse dyscontrol domain. However, the neural circuitry associated with impulse dyscontrol in neurodegenerative disease is not well understood. The objective of this work was to investigate if regional micro‐ and macro‐structural brain properties were associated with impulse dyscontrol symptoms in older adults with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods

Clinical, neuropsychiatric, and T1‐weighted and diffusion‐tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DTI) data from 80 individuals with and 123 individuals without impulse dyscontrol were obtained from the AD Neuroimaging Initiative. Linear mixed effect models were used to assess if impulse dyscontrol was related to regional DTI and volumetric parameters.

Results

Impulse dyscontrol was present in 17% of participants with NC, 43% with MCI, and 66% with AD. Impulse dyscontrol was associated with: (1) lower fractional anisotropy (FA), and greater mean, axial, and radial diffusivity in the fornix; (2) lesser FA and greater radial diffusivity in the superior fronto‐occipital fasciculus; (3) greater axial diffusivity in the cingulum; (4) greater axial and radial diffusivity in the uncinate fasciculus; (5) gray matter atrophy, specifically, lower cortical thickness in the parahippocampal gyrus.

Conclusion

Our findings provide evidence that well‐established atrophy patterns of AD are prominent in the presence of impulse dyscontrol, even when disease status is controlled for, and possibly in advance of dementia. Our findings support the growing evidence for impulse dyscontrol symptoms as an early manifestation of AD.
Contemporary management of the neck in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Ng Wai Tong , Tsang Raymond K. Y. , Beitler Jonathan J. , de Bree Remco , Coca‐Pelaz Andrés , Eisbruch Avraham , Guntinas‐Lichius Orlando , Lee Anne W. M. , Mäkitie Antti A. , Mendenhall William M. , Nuyts Sandra , Rinaldo Alessandra , Robbins K. Thomas , Rodrigo Juan P. , Silver Carl E. , Simo Ricard , Smee Robert , Strojan Primož , Takes Robert P. , Ferlito Alfio
Published: March 2021

Up to 85% of the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma present with regional nodal metastasis. Although excellent nodal control is achieved with radiotherapy, a thorough understanding of the current TNM staging criteria and pattern of nodal spread is essential to optimize target delineation and minimize unnecessary irradiation to adjacent normal tissue. Selective nodal irradiation with sparing of the lower neck and submandibular region according to individual nodal risk is now emerging as the preferred treatment option. There has also been continual refinement in staging classification by incorporating relevant adverse nodal features. As for the uncommon occurrence of recurrent nodal metastasis after radiotherapy, surgery remains the standard of care.
A rare presentation of chronic ovarian ectopic pregnancy: A case report
Authors: Fessehaye Abraham , Gudu Wondimu , Gashawbeza Biruck
Published: March 2021

Synopsis

A 25‐year‐old para 1, abortion 1 patient underwent left oophorectomy for chronic ovarian ectopic pregnancy, which was confirmed both intra‐operatively and by histopathologic examination.
COVID‐19‐related psychiatric impact on Italian adolescent population: A cross‐sectional cohort study
Authors: Mensi Martina M. , Capone Luca , Rogantini Chiara , Orlandi Marika , Ballante Elena , Borgatti Renato
Published: March 2021

We investigated the prevalence rate and sociodemographic correlates of COVID‐19‐related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and COVID‐19‐related acute stress disorder (ASD) among Italian adolescents, their level of stress, perception of parental stress, and connection with mental health. Adolescents aged 12–18 years compiled an online questionnaire designed through validated diagnostic instruments. We enrolled 1262 adolescents who declared that they had not experienced any previous traumatic events. Participants were divided into two groups: 118 adolescents with psychiatric problems (APP+) and 1144 without (APP−). In total, 79.52% reported isolated COVID‐19‐related ASD (29.48%) or PTSD symptoms (50.04%). One adolescent met the diagnosis of COVID‐19‐related ASD and two met the diagnosis of COVID‐19‐related PTSD, according to DSM‐5. Adolescents with subthreshold COVID‐19‐related ASD and PTSD symptoms referred the highest levels of personal stress and adolescents with psychiatric/psychological conditions experienced higher stress. Health measures should be urgently employed prioritizing psychosocial stressors among adolescent population.
Understanding the binding conformation of ceftolozane/tazobactam with Metallo‐β‐lactamases VIM‐5 and IMP‐7 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A molecular docking and virtual screening process
Authors: Kullappan Malathi , Mallavarapu Ambrose Jenifer , Surapaneni Krishna Mohan
Published: March 2021

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is one of the community‐acquired and healthcare‐associated infections causing organisms. It has become resistant to most of the available antibiotics and is termed multi‐drug resistance (MDR). There are a limited number of antibiotics are available to treat such MDR organism causing infections. The ceftolozane/tazobactam is one among the combination drug therapy (CDT) prescribed for the treatment of MDR causing infections. The resistance for the same CDT was observed in the MDR P. aeruginosa harboring VIM‐5 and IMP‐7 Metallo beta (β)‐lactamases (MBLs). To explore the resistance mechanism at the molecular level, docking studies were carried out for antibiotics against VIM‐5 and IMP‐7 MBLs. The Zn2 metal ions carry out the nucleophile attack on the carbonyl carbon of the β‐lactam ring along with conserved water molecules. To find lead compounds against the MBLs, a virtual screening process was carried out. We have employed MODELLER for structure modeling, AutoDock for molecular docking and AutoDock Vina, Molinspiration, PASS prediction & admetSAR in virtual screening. The search of low binding energy ceftolozane analogs against VIM‐5 and IMP‐7 MBLs has resulted in the ZINC000029060075 and ZINC000009163636 analogs. Similarly, the screening of high binding energy inhibitors against VIM‐5 and IMP‐7 MBLs has resulted in ZINC000003831503 and ZINC000000897247 tazobactam analogs respectively. The ADMET prediction results in the non‐toxicity of the lead compounds. Our study may provide new insights for the scientist who are designing novel drugs against MDR P. aeruginosa causing infections.
Novel silicone laminating materials for improved index matching in automotive display applications
Authors: Lee Seung‐A. , Kim Young Jun
Published: March 2021

To improve display performance, refractive index matching between a laminating material and the substrate was considered a crucial interfacial issue in optical stack design. To control the refractive index of the silicone optical laminating material, phenyl groups were introduced into the polymer component. and novel vinyl‐ and phenyl‐terminated MTQ (MviTphQ or MTPQ) resins were prepared by hydrolysis and condensation‐polymerization of a mixture of ethyl polysilicate, phenyltriethoxysilane, and divinyltetramethyl disiloxane to enhance the performance of optical laminating materials.

These synthesized resins were utilized to formulate novel high‐refractive‐index silicone optical laminate compositions. The influence of refractive index on light transmittance was measured and compared with theoretical values. The influence of s‐MTPQ resin content on humidity resistance and transparency retention during aging were evaluated as crucial characteristics of an optical laminating material for automotive display applications.
Ultrasound‐Guided Thrombin Injection for the Treatment of Bleeding Following Kidney and Liver Biopsies
Authors: Hoegger Mark J. , Middleton William D.
Published: March 2021

The purpose of this study was to describe the technique and outcomes of percutaneous thrombin injection into the superficial aspect of actively bleeding liver and kidney biopsy tracks identified with color Doppler ultrasound with the aim of hemorrhage termination. After percutaneous thrombin injection, 15/16 (94%) patients did not require further intervention. Ultrasound‐guided thrombin injection into the superficial site of active bleeding is an effective technique for terminating bleeding in the immediate post‐procedure period following kidney and liver biopsies and should be considered if active bleeding persists on color Doppler after ≥30 minutes of compression and observation.
Choke ring horn antenna design for satellite payload data transmitters
Authors: Akan Volkan
Published: March 2021

In low earth orbiting satellite communication systems, antennas are key elements for radio frequency transmitters and receivers. There are different types of antennas used on satellite communication systems. One of them is the antenna used in payload data transfer communication subsystem. Payload data transmitters for space segment should utilize the radio frequency power efficiently due to the limited power budget of the spacecraft. For low elevation angles of a low earth orbiting satellite, the free space loss increases as expected and it should be compensated. One way of this compensation is to employ an antenna having isoflux pattern. Therefore, in this paper, a circularly polarized X‐Band choked ring horn antenna is designed, optimized and manufactured due to its isoflux radiation characteristic and medium power handling capability. Initially, an analytical approach from the literature is explained and then the physical dimensions of the proposed antenna are optimized, iteratively, employing a commercially available electromagnetic solver. Next, a prototype has been manufactured to verify the radiation, return loss and port isolation characteristics and they are presented in the related section. Moreover, the results of the presented antenna have been compared to the ones available in the literature. These comparisons show that gain of the designed antenna at ±64° elevation angle has higher gain with respect to the compared ones. In addition, its axial ratio value is smaller than 6.5 dB for different azimuth angles between 8025 and 8400 MHz. Unlike the other studies given in the literature that have gain higher than 2 dB at ±64° elevation angle, in this study all design parameters have been presented to utilize through the operating bandwidth.
Free‐breathing simultaneous T1, T2, and T2∗ quantification in the myocardium
Authors: Hermann Ingo , Kellman Peter , Demirel Omer B. , Akçakaya Mehmet , Schad Lothar R. , Weingärtner Sebastian
Published: March 2021

Purpose

To implement a free‐breathing sequence for simultaneous quantification of , , and for comprehensive tissue characterization of the myocardium in a single scan using a multi‐gradient‐echo readout with saturation and preparation pulses.

Methods

In the proposed Saturation And ‐prepared Relaxometry with Navigator‐gating (SATURN) technique, a series of multi‐gradient‐echo (GRE) images with different magnetization preparations was acquired during free breathing. A total of 35 images were acquired in 26.5 ± 14.9 seconds using multiple saturation times and preparation durations and with imaging at 5 echo times. Bloch simulations and phantom experiments were used to validate a 5‐parameter fit model for accurate relaxometry. Free‐breathing simultaneous , , and measurements were performed in 10 healthy volunteers and 2 patients using SATURN at 3T and quantitatively compared to conventional single‐parameter methods such as SASHA for , ‐prepared bSSFP, and multi‐GRE for .

Results

Simulations confirmed accurate fitting with the 5‐parameter model. Phantom measurements showed good agreement with the reference methods in the relevant range for in vivo measurements. Compared to single‐parameter methods comparable accuracy was achieved. SATURN produced in vivo parameter maps that were visually comparable to single‐parameter methods. No significant difference between , , and times acquired with SATURN and single‐parameter methods was shown in quantitative measurements (SATURN , , ; conventional methods: , , ; )

Conclusion

SATURN enables simultaneous quantification of , , and in the myocardium for comprehensive tissue characterization with co‐registered maps, in a single scan with good agreement to single‐parameter methods.
Dual polarity encoded MRI using high bandwidth radiofrequency pulses for robust imaging with large field inhomogeneity
Authors: Mullen Michael , Garwood Michael
Published: March 2021

Purpose

The ability to use dual polarity encoded MRI with the missing pulse steady‐state free precession (MP‐SSFP) sequence is demonstrated to perform robust MRI with low radiofrequency (RF) amplitude, where the field is distorted by embedding metallic screws in an agar phantom. Image‐based estimation of the 3D ΔB0 map and image distortion correction is shown to require ~1 minute to perform.

Theory and methods

Dual polarity encoded MP‐SSFP was implemented at 1.5T and used to image agar phantoms with one stainless steel and one titanium screw embedded inside. A multispectral fast spin‐echo acquisition was performed for comparison. Self‐consistent ΔB0 estimation is performed iteratively using a 3D B‐spline basis, which is compared to the ΔB0 estimate generated by the multispectral sequence.

Results

Dual polarity encoded MP‐SSFP yields image quality similar to the multispectral sequence used with substantially less imaging time, provided the MP‐SSFP experimental parameters are chosen well. The multispectral sequence appears to visualize modestly closer in proximity to the metallic screws used, despite the spectral bins covering the same bandwidth as the pulses used in MP‐SSFP. However, MP‐SSFP avoids ripple artifacts characteristic of the multispectral sequence. The ΔB0 estimate generated by MP‐SSFP is qualitatively similar to that generated by the multispectral sequence but larger in magnitude.

Conclusion

Despite longer processing time compared to multispectral imaging, MP‐SSFP yields similar image quality with significantly lower acquisition times in the absence of parallel imaging. The work herein demonstrates the ability to perform 3D ΔB0 estimation and image correction within a reasonable amount of time, ~1 minute.
From Sorcery to Laboratory: Pandemics and Yanyuwa Experiences of Viral Vulnerability
Authors: Norman Dinah , Miller Jemima , Timothy Mavis , Friday Graham , Norman Leonard , Friday Gloria , Friday Adrianne , Timothy Warren , Miller Joanne , Norman Lettie , Raggett Noeleen , Charlie Colleen , Hammer Rhoda , Timothy Marlene , Mawson Peggy , Kearney Amanda , Bradley John
Published: March 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic has prompted renewed attention among health professionals, Aboriginal community leaders, and social scientists to the need for culturally responsive preventative health measures and strategies. This article, a collaborative effort, involving Yanyuwa families from the remote community of Borroloola and two anthropologists with whom Yanyuwa have long associations, tracks the story of pandemics from the perspective of Aboriginal people in the Gulf region of northern Australia. It specifically orients the discussion of the current predicament of ‘viral vulnerability’ in the wake of COVID‐19, relative to other pandemics, including the Hong Kong flu in 1969 and the Spanish flu decades earlier in 1919. This discussion highlights that culturally nuanced and prescribed responses to illness and threat of illness have a long history for Yanyuwa. Yanyuwa cultural repertoires have assisted in the process of making sense of massive change, in the form of past pandemics and the onset of sickness, the threat of illness with COVID‐19 and the attribution of ‘viral vulnerability’ to this remote Aboriginal community. The aim is to centralise Yanyuwa voices in this story, as an important step in growing understandings of Aboriginal knowledge of pandemics and culturally relevant and controlled health responses and strategies for communal well‐being.
Discretion on the frontlines of the implementation of the Ghana School Feeding Programme: Street‐Level Bureaucrats adapting to austerity in northern Ghana
Authors: Mohammed Abdul‐Rahim
Published: March 2021

Ghana's economy faltered in 2012, culminating in the country requesting a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Typical of IMF financial assistance, the approval of this bailout was hinged on the government agreeing to implement some conditionalities. In fulfilment of the IMF conditionalities, the government in 2015 adopted fiscal austerity. Using Michael Lipsky's Street‐Level Bureaucrat conceptual framework, this paper investigates the implications of Ghana's fiscal austerity programme for the implementation of the country's school feeding programme. Specifically, the paper examines the coping strategies adopted by the service providers to endure the challenges of delivering the programme within the climate of austerity. The findings highlight how financial challenges can lead to inadequate service delivery, as the service providers adopt a host of discretionary practices such as compromising the quality of meals served, the delivery of cheaper‐to‐prepare diets and an inconsistent service delivery regime.
The diagnostic potential of targeted imaging of the fetal pancreas
Authors: Gilboa Yinon , Sukenik‐Halevy Rivka , Kassif Eran , Kivilevitch Zvi , Bardin Ron , Lopian Miriam , Achiron Reuven , Perlman Sharon
Published: March 2021

Objective

To report our experience with targeted scans of the fetal pancreas.

Methods

Targeted scans were performed in 16 cases referred for anatomical or genetic conditions associated with structural pancreatic malformations.

Results

Four fetuses were evaluated for nephromegaly and macroglossia. In three of them, the pancreas circumference was >90th percentile. Genetic testing revealed Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome. In the fourth case, the pancreas circumference was normal; exome sequencing revealed two heterozygous ETFDH gene mutations consistent with glutaric acidemia type II. In a case referred for non‐visualization of the gallbladder, the fetal pancreas was not visualized and genetic analysis revealed a mutation in the ONECUT1 gene encoding for HNF6. Targeted scan for heterotaxia revealed three cases with variable degrees of agenesis of the pancreas, one case with a normally structured right sided pancreas and one case with a normal pancreas. Cases referred following a genetic diagnosis included a case of maternal nesidioblastosis with an extremely large fetal pancreas; and five fetuses diagnosed with a TCF2 deletion all with a normal pancreas.

Conclusions

Prenatal assessment of the fetal pancreas may be a significant factor in prenatal diagnosis and counselling in cases presenting with anatomical and genetic conditions reported post‐natally to be associated with pancreatic structural and functional abnormalities.
A multi‐phase scale simulation of electrochemical chloride extraction in crack‐self‐healing concrete
Authors: Xu Jun , Peng Chen , Wang Guihua , Wang Peng‐gang
Published: March 2021

Electrochemical chloride extraction (ECE) is an effective method to remove chloride ions in reinforced concrete. In addition, cracks in concrete have self‐healing properties. The self‐healing properties of concrete may affect the ECE process. Based on moving mesh technology, this paper simulates the ion migration process of ECE in crack‐self‐healing concrete. According to the simulation results, the distribution of ions in the reinforced concrete and the electric potential change law inside the concrete are analyzed during the ECE process. The effects of cracks or no cracks in the anode area of ECE, self‐healing or no self‐healing, and different self‐healing rates on the efficiency of ECE were discussed. This research will have a positive impact on ECE's research.
The Indian surge into South Africa and Brazil: The economic opportunity triad
Authors: Gouvea Raul , Kapelianis Dimitri , Padovani Fernando
Published: March 2021

In the past two decades, Brazil, South Africa, and India have designed closer economic and political ties. Since the early 2000s, India has become an important economic and political partner for both Brazil and South Africa. International trade and foreign direct investment amongst them have expanded considerably, and closer political ties have evolved over the past two decades. This article elaborates on the increasing economic interdependence between India, Brazil and South Africa, addressing challenges, opportunities, and synergies between the three countries and their multinationals.
Polymorphism, expression and structure analysis of key genes in the ovarian steroidogenesis pathway in sheep (Ovis aries)
Authors: Hu Wen‐Ping , Liu Ming‐Qiu , Tian Zhi‐Long , Liu Qiu‐Yue , Zhang Zhuang‐Biao , Tang Ji‐Shun , He Xiao‐Yun , Zhu Yan‐Yan , Wang Yuan‐Yuan , Chu Ming‐Xing
Published: March 2021

Background

Litter size is an important factor that significantly affects the development of the sheep industry. Our previous TMT proteomics analysis found that three key proteins in the ovarian steroidogenesis pathway, STAR, HSD3B1, and CYP11A1, may affect the litter size trait of Small Tail Han sheep.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to better understand the relationship between polymorphisms of these three genes and litter size.

Material and Method

Sequenom MassARRAY detected genetic variance of the three genes in 768 sheep. Real‐time qPCR of the three genes was used to compare their expression in monotocous and polytocous sheep in relevant tissues. Finally, bioinformatics analysis predicted the protein sequences of the different SNP variants.

Result

Association analysis showed that there was a significant difference in litter size among the genotypes at two loci of the CYP11A1 gene (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was observed in litter size among all genotypes at all loci of the STAR and HSD3B1 genes (p > 0.05). However, STAR expression was significantly different in polytocous and monotocous sheep in the pituitary (p < 0.01). Tissue‐specific expression in the ovary was observed for HSD3B1 (p < 0.05), but its expression was not different between polytocous and monotocous sheep. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the g.33217408C > T mutation of CYP11A1 resulted in major changes to the secondary and tertiary structures. In contrast, gene polymorphisms in STAR and HSD3B1 had minimal impacts on their protein structures.

Discussion

This may explain why the CYP11A1 variant impacted litter size while the others did not. The single nucleotide polymorphism of the CYP11A1 gene would serve as a good molecular marker when breeding to increase litter size in sheep. Our study provides a basis for further revealing the function of the ovarian steroidogenesis pathway in sheep reproduction and sheep breeding.
Aquatic ecosystem metabolism as a tool in environmental management
Authors: Jankowski Kathi Jo , Mejia Francine H. , Blaszczak Joanna R. , Holtgrieve Gordon W.
Published: March 2021

Recent advances in high‐frequency environmental sensing and statistical approaches have greatly expanded the breadth of knowledge regarding aquatic ecosystem metabolism—the measurement and interpretation of gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (ER). Aquatic scientists are poised to take advantage of widely available datasets and freely‐available modeling tools to apply functional information gained through ecosystem metabolism to help inform environmental management. Historically, several logistical and conceptual factors have limited the widespread application of metabolism in management settings. Benefitting from new instrumental and modeling tools, it is now relatively straightforward to extend routine monitoring of dissolved oxygen (DO) to dynamic measures of aquatic ecosystem function (GPP and ER) and key physical processes such as gas exchange with the atmosphere (G). We review the current approaches for using DO data in environmental management with a focus on the United States, but briefly describe management frameworks in Europe and Canada. We highlight new applications of diel DO data and metabolism in regulatory settings and explore how they can be applied to managing and monitoring ecosystems. We then review existing data types and provide a short guide for implementing field measurements and modeling of ecosystem metabolic processes using currently available tools. Finally, we discuss research needed to overcome current conceptual limitations of applying metabolism in management settings. Despite challenges associated with modeling metabolism in rivers and lakes, rapid developments in this field have moved us closer to utilizing real‐time estimates of GPP, ER, and G to improve the assessment and management of environmental change.

This article is categorized under:

Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness
Advances in single‐molecule fluorescent nanosensors
Authors: Liu Meng , Qiu Jian‐Ge , Ma Fei , Zhang Chun‐Yang
Published: March 2021

Single‐molecule detection represents the ultimate sensitivity in measurement science with the characteristics of simplicity, rapidity, low sample consumption, and high signal‐to‐noise ratio and has attracted considerable attentions in biosensor development. In recent years, a variety of functional nanomaterials with unique chemical, optical, mechanical, and electronic features have been synthesized. The integration of single‐molecule detection with functional nanomaterials enables the construction of novel single‐molecule fluorescent nanosensors with excellent performance. Herein, we review the advance in single‐molecule fluorescent nanosensors constructed by novel nanomaterials including quantum dots, gold nanoparticles, upconversion nanoparticles, fluorescent conjugated polymer nanoparticles, nanosheets, and magnetic nanoparticles in the past decade (2011–2020), and discuss the strategies, features, and applications of single‐molecule fluorescent nanosensors in the detection of microRNAs, DNAs, enzymes, proteins, viruses, and live cells. Moreover, we highlight the future direction and challenges in this area.

This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > Biosensing

Diagnostic Tools > In Vitro Nanoparticle‐Based Sensing

Diagnostic Tools > Diagnostic Nanodevices
Income Inequality, Socio-Economic Status, and Residential Segregation in Greater Cairo: 1986–2006
Authors: Mohamed Abdelbaseer A. , Stanek David
Published: March 2021

Greater Cairo is a primate, monocentric metropolis with significant socio-economic disparities among its population and neighborhoods. This chapter examines the relationship between income inequality, the welfare regime, centralized governance, settlement type, housing policies, occupational status, and socio-economic segregation. Using data from the 1986, 1996, and 2006 censuses, we report the dissimilarity index to demonstrate the distribution of residents in the Greater Cairo Region by occupational status, we show patterns of socio-economic segregation based on the distribution of the population by categories of occupations across census tracts and employ the location quotient to compare the concentration of the top/bottom groups in each census tract relative to the city average. The results show that growing economic inequality does not necessarily result in greater socio-economic segregation. The results also suggest that social class contributes to residential clustering. While the poorer strata of the Greater Cairo Region were pushed to the periphery and the older urban core, affluent inhabitants were more likely to settle voluntarily in segregated enclaves to isolate themselves from the general population.
Correction to: The role of connexin proteins and their channels in radiation-induced atherosclerosis
Authors: Ramadan Raghda , Baatout Sarah , Aerts An , Leybaert Luc
Published: March 2021

A correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-021-03811-z
Quality assessment of pellets and briquettes made from glued wood waste
Authors: Cesprini Emanuele , Greco Rosa , Causin Valerio , Urso Tiziana , Cavalli Raffaele , Zanetti Michela
Published: March 2021

In accordance with sustainable economic and social development, Europe supports the use of energy from renewable sources to decrease the use of fossil fuels. Among renewable energy sources, wood, especially production wood waste from the supply chain, represents an exploitable source in line with a circular economy development. In this context, processing of residues produced by wood companies becomes an important resource. This work deals with the possible energy recovery of glued wood wastes. Two solid biofuels were produced from glued wood wastes: pellets and briquettes. They have been produced in collaboration with a local company and analyzed according to the applicable EN ISO international standards. The results were compared with the limits imposed by the standards in order to identify their quality class and their applicability to the current market. The amount of adhesive present in the wood wastes does not negatively affect the intrinsic characteristics of the material that is suitable for the production of solid biofuels. In addition, the amount of wood waste containing cross-linked polyurethane was calculated in order not to compromise the quality of solid biofuels made therefrom.
Individual motion perception parameters and motion sickness frequency sensitivity in fore-aft motion
Authors: Irmak Tugrul , de Winkel Ksander N. , Pool Daan M. , Bülthoff Heinrich H. , Happee Riender
Published: March 2021

Previous literature suggests a relationship between individual characteristics of motion perception and the peak frequency of motion sickness sensitivity. Here, we used well-established paradigms to relate motion perception and motion sickness on an individual level. We recruited 23 participants to complete a two-part experiment. In the first part, we determined individual velocity storage time constants from perceived rotation in response to Earth Vertical Axis Rotation (EVAR) and subjective vertical time constants from perceived tilt in response to centrifugation. The cross-over frequency for resolution of the gravito-inertial ambiguity was derived from our data using the Multi Sensory Observer Model (MSOM). In the second part of the experiment, we determined individual motion sickness frequency responses. Participants were exposed to 30-minute sinusoidal fore-aft motions at frequencies of 0.15, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 Hz, with a peak amplitude of 2 m/s2in five separate sessions, approximately 1 week apart. Sickness responses were recorded using both the MIsery SCale (MISC) with 30 s intervals, and the Motion Sickness Assessment Questionnaire (MSAQ) at the end of the motion exposure. The average velocity storage and subjective vertical time constants were 17.2 s (STD = 6.8 s) and 9.2 s (STD = 7.17 s). The average cross-over frequency was 0.21 Hz (STD = 0.10 Hz). At the group level, there was no significant effect of frequency on motion sickness. However, considerable individual variability was observed in frequency sensitivities, with some participants being particularly sensitive to the lowest frequencies, whereas others were most sensitive to intermediate or higher frequencies. The frequency of peak sensitivity did not correlate with the velocity storage time constant (r= 0.32,p= 0.26) or the subjective vertical time constant (r= − 0.37,p= 0.29). Our prediction of a significant correlation between cross-over frequency and frequency sensitivity was not confirmed (r= 0.26,p= 0.44). However, we did observe a strong positive correlation between the subjective vertical time constant and general motion sickness sensitivity (r= 0.74,p= 0.0006). We conclude that frequency sensitivity is best considered a property unique to the individual. This has important consequences for existing models of motion sickness, which were fitted to group averaged sensitivities. The correlation between the subjective vertical time constant and motion sickness sensitivity supports the importance of verticality perception during exposure to translational sickness stimuli.
Radiohistogenomics of pediatric low-grade neuroepithelial tumors
Authors: Bag Asim K. , Chiang Jason , Patay Zoltan
Published: March 2021

Purpose

In addition to histology, genetic alteration is now required to classify many central nervous system (CNS) tumors according to the most recent World Health Organization CNS tumor classification scheme. Although that is still not the case for classifying pediatric low-grade neuroepithelial tumors (PLGNTs), genetic and molecular features are increasingly being used for making treatment decisions. This approach has become a standard clinical practice in many specialized pediatric cancer centers and will likely be more widely practiced in the near future. This paradigm shift in the management of PLGNTs necessitates better understanding of how genetic alterations influence histology and imaging characteristics of individual PLGNT phenotypes.

Methods

The complex association of genetic alterations with histology, clinical, and imaging of each phenotype of the extremely heterogeneous PLGNT family has been addressed in a holistic approach in this up-to-date review article. A new imaging stratification scheme has been proposed based on tumor morphology, location, histology, and genetics. Imaging characteristics of each PLGNT entity are also depicted in light of histology and genetics.

Conclusion

This article reviews the association of specific genetic alteration with location, histology, imaging, and prognosis of a specific tumor of the PLGNT family and how that information can be used for better imaging of these tumors.
Supervised clustering for TSPO PET imaging
Authors: Schubert Julia , Tonietto Matteo , Turkheimer Federico , Zanotti-Fregonara Paolo , Veronese Mattia
Published: March 2021

Purpose

This technical note seeks to act as a practical guide for implementing a supervised clustering algorithm (SVCA) reference region approach and to explain the main strengths and limitations of the technique in the context of 18-kilodalton translocator protein (TSPO) positron emission tomography (PET) studies in experimental medicine.

Background

TSPO PET is the most widely used imaging technique for studying neuroinflammation in vivo in humans. Quantifying neuroinflammation with PET can be a challenging and invasive procedure, especially in frail patients, because it often requires blood sampling from an arterial catheter. A widely used alternative to arterial sampling is SVCA, which identifies the voxels with minimal specific binding in the PET images, thus extracting a pseudo-reference region for non-invasive quantification. Unlike other reference region approaches, SVCA does not require specification of an anatomical reference region a priori, which alleviates the limitation of TSPO contamination in anatomically-defined reference regions in individuals with underlying inflammatory processes. Furthermore, SVCA can be applied to any TSPO PET tracer across different neurological and neuropsychiatric conditions, providing noninvasivequantification of TSPO expression.

Methods

We provide an overview of the development of SVCA as well as step-by-step instructions for implementing SVCA with suggestions for specific settings. We review the literature on SVCAapplications using first- and second- generation TSPO PET tracers and discuss potential clinically relevant limitations and applications.

Conclusions

The correct implementation of SVCA can provide robust and reproducible estimates of brain TSPO expression. This review encourages the standardisation of SVCA methodology in TSPO PET analysis, ultimately aiming to improve replicability and comparability across study sites.
Arrhythmic risk during pregnancy and postpartum in patients with long QT syndrome
Authors: Asatryan Babken , Rieder Marina , Castiglione Alessandro , Odening Katja E.
Published: March 2021

Congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a genetic disorder characterized by a prolonged QT interval in the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) that predisposes affected individuals to arrhythmic syncope, ventricular torsades-de-pointes, and sudden cardiac death at a young age. Investigations of large patient cohorts revealed sex-related differences in the LQTS phenotype. Adult women with LQTS are at higher risk for cardiac arrhythmias than are adult men with LQTS. Sex hormones are thought to play the primary role for these gender differences. Clinical experience and translational studies indicated that females with LQTS have a lower risk for cardiac arrhythmias during pregnancy and elevated risk in the postpartum period due to contrasting effects of estradiol and progesterone, as well as postpartum hormones on the action potential and arrhythmia substrate. However, this pro- or anti-arrhythmic potential of hormones varies depending on the underlying genotype, partly since sex hormones have distinct effects on different (affected) cardiac ion channels. Thus, a comprehensive evaluation of women with LQTS prior to and during pregnancy, during labor, and in the postpartum period with consideration of the patient’s disease- and gene-specific risk factors is essential to providing precision management in this patient group. This review discusses the current understanding of hormonal influences in LQTS and provides practical guidance for the optimal management of LQTS patients during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period.
A heat and moisture-exchanging mask impairs self-paced maximal running performance in a sub-zero environment
Authors: Tutt Alasdair S. , Persson Hampus , Andersson Erik P. , Ainegren Mats , Stenfors Nikolai , Hanstock Helen G.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Heat-and-moisture-exchanging devices (HME) are commonly used by endurance athletes during training in sub-zero environments, but their effects on performance are unknown. We investigated the influence of HME usage on running performance at − 15 °C.

Methods

Twenty-three healthy adults (15 male, 8 female; age 18–53 years; $$\dot{V}{\text O}_{2peak}$$

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men 56 ± 7, women 50 ± 4 mL·kg−1·min−1) performed two treadmill exercise tests with and without a mask-style HME in a randomised, crossover design. Participants performed a 30-min submaximal warm-up (SUB), followed by a 4-min maximal, self-paced running time-trial (TT). Heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (fR), and thoracic area skin temperature (Tsk) were monitored using a chest-strap device; muscle oxygenation (SmO2) and deoxyhaemoglobin concentration ([HHb]) were derived from near-infra-red-spectroscopy sensors on m. vastus lateralis; blood lactate was measured 2 min before and after the TT.

Results

HME usage reduced distance covered in the TT by 1.4%, despite similar perceived exertion, HR, fR, and lactate accumulation. The magnitude of the negative effect of the HME on performance was positively associated with body mass (r2 = 0.22). SmO2 and [HHb] were 3.1% lower and 0.35 arb. unit higher, respectively, during the TT with HME, and Tsk was 0.66 °C higher during the HME TT in men. HR (+ 2.7 beats·min−1) and Tsk (+ 0.34 °C) were higher during SUB with HME. In the male participants, SmO2 was 3.8% lower and [HHb] 0.42 arb. unit higher during SUB with HME.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that HME usage impairs maximal running performance and increases the physiological demands of submaximal exercise.