bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Informing Food Security and Nutrition Strategies in Sub‐Saharan African Countries: An Overview and Empirical Analysis
Authors: Abdul Mumin Yazeed , Abdulai Awudu
Published: November 2020

This article presents a systematic review of the literature on policy options to improve food security and nutrition in developing countries, and an empirical analysis of the impact of smallholder market participation on food security and nutrition in Ghana. The review focuses on the impacts of policy strategies such as structural changes in relative prices, agricultural infrastructure, economic incentives, and agricultural technologies. To account for threats of selection bias and omitted variable problem, the empirical analysis uses an ordered probit selection model to jointly estimate households' market orientation decisions and food and nutrients consumption. The empirical results show that transitioning from one market orientation to another significantly increase households' food and nutrients consumption.
Leaf dorsoventrality candidate gene CpARF4 has conserved expression pattern but divergent tasiR‐ARF regulation in the water fern Ceratopteris pteridoides
Authors: Sun Jun , Li Gui‐Sheng
Published: November 2020

PREMISE

Leaves are traditionally classified into microphylls and megaphylls, and recently have been regarded as independently originating in lycophytes, ferns, and seed plants. The developmental genetics of leaf dorsoventrality, a synapomorphy in vascular plants, has been extensively studied in flowering plants. AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR4 (ARF4) genes are key to leaf abaxial identity in flowering plants, but whether they exist in ferns is still an open question.

METHODS

ARF4 genes from Ceratopteris pteridoides, Cyrtomium guizhouense, and Parathelypteris nipponica were mined from transcriptomes and investigated in terms of evolutionary phylogeny and sequence motifs, with a focus on the tasiR‐ARF binding site. In situ hybridization was used to localize expression of CpARF4 in Ceratopteris pteridoides. 5′RNA ligase‐mediated‐RACE was employed to verify whether CpARF4 transcripts were sliced by tasiR‐ARF.

RESULTS

ARF4 genes exist in ferns, and this lineage originates from a gene duplication in the common ancestor of ferns and seed plants. ARF4 genes are of a single copy in the ferns studied here, and they contain divergent and, at most, one tasiR‐ARF binding site. CpARF4 is expressed in the abaxial but not the adaxial domain of leaf primordia at various developmental stages. Transcript slicing guided by tasiR‐ARF is active in C. pteridoides, but CpARF4 probably has not been affected by it.

CONCLUSIONS

Fern ARF4 genes differ in copy number and tasiR‐ARF regulation relative to flowering plants, though they can be similarly expressed in the abaxial domain of leaves, revealing a key role for ARF4 genes in the evolution of leaf dorsoventrality of vascular plants.
Re‐Member MOVE: The Anatomy of a Reconciliation
Authors: Thompson Pauline B. , Slaughter Ulysses
Published: November 2020

On May 13, 1985, Philadelphia city officials authorized the dropping of a bomb on a house in a residential neighborhood, killing 11 people of the MOVE organization—including five children—destroying 61 homes and rendering nearly 250 residents homeless. The years leading up to this tragedy involved multiple instances of police brutality, one of which resulted in the more than 40‐year incarceration of nine MOVE members (commonly known as the MOVE 9). In this first‐person account, we review literature on reconciliation and apologies, explore the value of reconciliation in community psychology, and reflect on our involvement as a reconciliation strategist and a community psychologist in initiating, developing and facilitating a reconciliation process. A model of iterative reconciliation as a creative multilevel and multipurpose tool relevant for community psychology is proposed. The reconciliation process began in September 2018 between key players involved with the MOVE organization and Philadelphia officials and community members and family and involved multiple community gatherings and conversations with many stakeholders. Ultimately, through the extensive reconciliation process, the authors facilitated the issuing of an apology on May 13, 2020 by the Council of the City of Philadelphia.
Clinical charts for surveillance of growth and body proportion development in achondroplasia and examples of their use
Authors: Neumeyer Luitgard , Merker Andrea , Hagenäs Lars
Published: November 2020

Clinical surveillance of infants and children with achondroplasia necessitates syndrome‐specific charts due to extreme short stature with deviating body proportions. Height, arm span and leg length develop far below normal population ranges. We present growth and body proportion charts for ages 0–20 years, constructed from semi‐longitudinal standardized measurements of about 450 children, along with some examples of achondroplasia typical and atypical growth pattern. We combine head circumference, height and weight for 0–4 years into one (infancy) page and height and weight for 4–20 years in another (childhood–adolescence) using nonlinear axes to account for the rapidly decreasing growth velocity. Similarly, weight and BMI are based on nonlinear axes to balance wide SD‐channels at higher and narrow SD‐channels at lower levels of weight/BMI. Charts for following sitting height, sitting height/height ratio, arm span, leg and foot length are also presented. Clinical examples illustrating the applicability of the charts include cases of extreme prematurity, extreme head circumference development before and after shunting, achondroplasia complicated by chromosomal or additional genetic abnormality and by growth hormone deficiency as well as of evaluating growth promoting therapy.
Visible‐Light‐Enabled Enantioconvergent Synthesis of α‐Amino Acid Derivatives via Synergistic Brønsted Acid/Photoredox Catalysis
Authors: Che Chao , Li Yi‐Nan , Cheng Xiang , Lu Yi‐Nan , Wang Chun‐Jiang
Published: November 2020

An unprecedented radical cross‐coupling reaction was achieved between glycine esters and racemic α‐bromoketones catalyzed by synergistic Brønsted acid/photoredox catalysis, thus serving as an efficient platform for the synthesis of highly valuable enantioenriched unnatural α‐amino acid derivatives. This dual catalysis provides a powerful capability to control the reactive radical intermediate and iminium ion, thereby enabling enantioconvergent bond‐formation in a highly stereochemical manner. An array of valuable enantioenriched unnatural α‐amino acid derivatives bearing two contiguous stereogenic centers are readily accessible with high diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity, which include α‐amino acids with a unique β‐fluorinated quaternary stereocenter or its β‐all‐carbon counterpart. A strong chiral amplification effect was observed in this dual catalytic system.
Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Vinylogous Aldol‐Type Reaction of Allylazaarenes
Authors: Wang Si‐Qing , Liu Zong‐Ci , Yue Wen‐Jun , Yin Liang
Published: November 2020

A vinylogous aldol‐type reaction of allylazaarenes and aldehydes is disclosed that affords a series of chiral γ‐hydroxyl‐α,β‐unsaturated azaarenes in moderate to excellent yields with high to excellent regio‐ and enantioselectivities. With (R,RP)‐TANIAPHOS and (R,R)‐QUINOXP* as the ligand, the carbon‐carbon double bond in the products is generated in (E)‐form. With (R)‐DTBM‐SEGPHOS as the ligand, (Z)‐form carbon‐carbon double bond is formed in the major product. In this vinylogous reaction, aromatic, α,β‐unsaturated, and aliphatic aldehydes are competent substrates. Moreover, a variety of azaarenes, such as pyrimidine, pyridine, pyrazine, quinoline, quinoxaline, quinazoline, and benzo[d]imidazole are well‐tolerated. At last, the chiral vinylogous product is demonstrated as a suitable Michael acceptor towards CuI‐catalyzed nucleophilic addition with organomagnesium reagents.
Describing, organizing, and maintaining video game development artifacts
Authors: McDonald Claire , Schmalz Marc , Monheim Allee , Keating Stephen , Lewin Kelsey , Cifaldi Frank , Lee Jin Ha
Published: November 2020

Game development artifacts resulting from the creation process of video games, such as design documents, style guides, test builds, and marketing materials, provide rich contextual information about how and why the game was created. Better organizing and preserving these materials will not only enrich our understanding of the history of these media but also educate and inspire the next generation of video game creators. This research aims to improve our theoretical understanding of how to organize and represent game development artifacts by examining the various types of artifacts created and their attendant issues and challenges. We adopted a multimethod approach employing an examination of existing collections and 29 interviews with creators, information professionals, and game researchers. From these data, we analyze the current practices, expressed values, and perceived challenges of these stakeholders, produce a taxonomy of game development artifacts, and provide best practices recommendations for describing them.
The cost of non‐kidney conserving catheterization
Authors: Myla Madhura , Blankenship James C.
Published: November 2020

Key Points

Data from an administrative database with over 2 million patients from 2012 to 2017 shows that acute kidney injury (AKI) from contrast nephropathy is steadily increasing, is associated with death and complications, and costs $7,000 ‐ $9,000 per case.

Widespread recommendations to pre‐hydrate patients and limit contrast dose have not stemmed the tide of AKI over the past decade.

Several technologies to reduce AKI have been developed but none have reached widespread use. Considering the human and financial cost of AKI, the interventional community should resolve to more aggressively develop and test new technologies.
A look into stent‐related thrombus‐burden: Bivalirudin versus heparin
Authors: Rajagopalan Priya , Gilchrist Ian C.
Published: November 2020

Key Points

Use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) adds an assessment of thrombus burden remaining on stents after PCI for acute coronary syndromes.

Potential variations in stent‐related thrombus burden can be documented by OCT as a function of peri‐procedural pharmacology supporting the use of OCT in future hypothesis testing.

Bivalirudin remains a reliable and expensive alternative to heparin in cases of HIT or patients at high bleeding risk during transfemoral PCI.
A giant splenic hydatid cyst: Why calcified cysts should not be considered as a dead cyst
Authors: Hashemzadeh Shahriar , Rezabakhsh Aysa , Rahbarghazi Reza , Amini Hassan
Published: November 2020

Our case report showed that peripheral wall calcification of the hydatid cyst does not mean inactivation of the cyst and calcification of cyst wall may occur in all stages of disease.
Euglycemic DKA (euDKA) as a presentation of COVID‐19
Authors: Dass Bhagwan , Beck Andrew , Holmes Cody , Morton Glenville
Published: November 2020

COVID‐19 in the setting of SGLT2 inhibitor use may precipitate euglycemic DKA separate from known acute viral illness and dehydration precipitants. There should be consideration of proactive discontinuation of these medications in these patients.
An unexpected cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding
Authors: Murakami Daisuke , Harada Hideaki , Amano Yuji
Published: November 2020

Although appendiceal bleeding is rare, physicians should keep this finding in mind as a possible cause of bleeding from the right colon because the colonoscopic diagnosis may be essential in determining the need for surgical intervention.
Case report: Professional cyclist diagnosed osteoarthritis of the knee grade II
Authors: Velázquez‐Saornil Jorge , Campón Chekroun Angélica , Sánchez Jiménez Elena , Martín Jiménez Ana , Vicente García Manuel , Gómez Sánchez Sonia , Méndez Sánchez Encarnación , Sánchez Milá Zacarías
Published: November 2020

After a physical therapy treatment on the injured knee and a biomechanical study of the position on the bicycle, the symptomatology of the patient's injured knee has improved.
Metastatic follicular dendritic cell sarcoma treated with gemcitabine plus docetaxel with an outstanding survival: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Esmati Ebrahim , Kolahdouzan Kasra
Published: November 2020

Follicular dendritic cell sarcoma responded dramatically to chemotherapy with gemcitabine and docetaxel.
Ectopic insulin secretion by a large‐cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix
Authors: Wang Mawson , Vasey Quinlan , Varikatt Winny , Mclean Mark
Published: November 2020

In patients presenting with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia with a nonpancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, the diagnosis of an ectopic insulin‐secreting tumor should be considered, and investigated further with confirmatory insulin staining.
A rare cause of persistent hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Iconaru Laura , Spinato Linda , Duttmann Ruth , Hambye Anne‐Sophie , Devriendt Arnaud , Herchuelz Maxime , Mathey Celine , Karmali Rafik , Bergmann Pierre
Published: November 2020

In a case of patient with persistent hypercalcemia after parathyroidectomy, different imaging techniques and particularly 18F‐fluorocholine PET/CT are important to localize the adenoma even in a very unusual location.
Melanoma metastatic to the hyoid bone
Authors: Ryan John F. , Xie Deborah X. , Eytan Danielle F. , McCarthy Edward F. , Mandal Rajarsi , Gourin Christine G. , Lipson Evan J. , Meyer Christian F. , Vosler Peter S.
Published: November 2020

Metastatic melanoma may be included in the differential diagnosis of hyoid masses in patients with a history of melanoma. Hyoid resection is well tolerated and of diagnostic and therapeutic benefit in patients with tumors metastatic to the hyoid bone.
A turn‐on fluorescence assay for heparin based on DNA‐templated gold nanoclusters via ET
Authors: Ou LiJuan , Yang FaGuo , Luo JianXin , Duan JiaoJie , Sun Aiming , Chen LanLan , Wang LingYun
Published: November 2020

A novel fluorescence turn‐on assay for heparin has been developed based on DNA‐templated gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) and Cytochrome c (Cyt c). In the design, poly A (A15) ssDNA was selected as a template for fabricating AuNCs. AuNCs possess strong fluorescence emission at 471 nm. Upon addition of Cyt c, the fluorescence of AuNCs was quenched effectively by electron transfer (ET) between AuNCs and the heme cofactor of Cyt c. In the presence of heparin, the much higher electrostatic binding of heparin to Cyt c caused Cyt c to be away from AuNCs, leading to a recovery of fluorescence intensity of AuNCs. The proposed method was found to be simple, fast, and sensitive for heparin detection, with a linear range from 0.5 μg/mL to 12 μg/mL, and a detection limit of 0.15 μg/mL. Furthermore, this work was successfully applied to detection of heparin in fetal bovine serum samples, with good recoveries from 93.53% to 103.6%.
Deciphering the Electronic Transitions of Thiophene‐Based Donor‐Acceptor‐Donor Pentameric Ligands Utilized for Multimodal Fluorescence Microscopy of Protein Aggregates
Authors: Gustafsson Camilla , Shirani Hamid , Leira Petter , Rehn Dirk R. , Linares Mathieu , Nilsson K. Peter R. , Norman Patrick , Lindgren Mikael
Published: November 2020

Anionic pentameric thiophene acetates can be used for fluorescence detection and diagnosis of protein amyloid aggregates. Replacing the central thiophene unit by benzothiadiazole (BTD) or quinoxaline (QX) leads to large emission shifts and basic spectral features have been reported [Chem. Eur. J. 2015, 21, 15133‐13137]. Here we present new detailed experimental results of solvent effects, time‐resolved fluorescence and examples employing multi‐photon microscopy and lifetime imaging. Quantum chemical response calculations elucidate how the introduction of the BTD/QX groups changes the electronic states and emissions. The dramatic red‐shift follows an increased conjugation and quinoid character of the π‐electrons of the thiophene backbone. An efficient charge transfer in the excited states S1 and S2 compared to the all‐thiophene analogue makes these more sensitive to the polarity and quenching by the solvent. Taken together, the results guide in the interpretation of images of stained Alzheimer disease brain sections employing advanced fluorescence microscopy and lifetime imaging, and can aid in optimizing future fluorescent ligand development.
Encourage stakeholder engagement in sustainable development: Drivers of consumers themselves benefits and society welfares
Authors: Chang Hsiu‐Hua , Chuang Wei‐Jen
Published: November 2020

Sustainable development is viewed as a global goal to solve social, and encouraging stakeholders to become concerned about ecological conservation and to make efforts in engaging in sustainable activities is vital. Though the motivation behind consumer willingness to support the activities of social enterprises should be examined, the literature offers only limited work from the consumer perspective. This study thus integrates relationship marketing theory and an ethical decision‐making model to explore consumers' ethical judgments and behavioral intentions toward sustainability activities. The results show that the impact of perceived value influenced by social and economic benefits on consumers' ethical judgment and behavioral intentions toward sustainability activities is more powerful than that of altruism and environmental value. When consumers' judgments are positive and ethical, their ethical consumption involving sustainability activities and loyalty intentions toward social enterprise will improve. These findings identify research gaps for future research and offer important implications for businesses.
The colloidal gold nanoparticle‐based lateral flow immunoassay for fast and simple detection of plant‐derived doping agent, higenamine
Authors: Nuntawong Poomraphie , Ochi Akihiro , Chaingam Jiranan , Tanaka Hiroyuki , Sakamoto Seiichi , Morimoto Satoshi
Published: November 2020

Higenamine (HM), an alkaloid found in various plant species, is obtained when norcoclaurine synthase selectively condenses dopamine and 4‐hydroxyphenylacetaldehyde to give (S)‐higenamine ((S)‐HM). The World Anti‐doping Agency has listed HM as a prohibited agent in athletics. As a result, many commercial, academic, and regulatory bodies across the globe are invested in finding a rapid method for (S)‐HM detection. In the current study, a lateral flow immunoassay (LFA) was developed in which the relevant biosensor was generated as a conjugate of the monoclonal antibody against (S)‐HM (namely, MAb E8) and colloidal gold nanoparticles. The HM–γ‐globulin conjugates and rabbit anti‐mouse IgG antibodies were placed in the test and control zones, respectively. The free (S)‐HM molecules in the samples and the immobilized HM–γ‐globulin conjugates competitively reacted with the developed biosensor in the LFA. An inverse relationship existed between the biosensors' visible response, which was noted by the variation in the intensity of a pinkish spot in the test zone, and the content of the free (S)‐HM. The limit of detection of the developed LFA was 156 ng/mL. Various validation methods confirmed that the LFA exhibited sufficient sensitivity, selectivity, repeatability, and reliability, making it ideal for (S)‐HM detection in plant samples and plant‐containing products. The developed system required only a small sample volume (20 μL) and a concise sample preparation time compared with conventional LFAs. Thus, the LFA reported in this study could serve as a rapid response kit for the detection of (S)‐HM in plant samples.
FastD: Fast detection of insecticide target‐site mutations and overexpressed detoxification genes in insect populations from RNA‐Seq data
Authors: Chen Longfei , Lang Kun , Mei Yang , Shi Zhenmin , He Kang , Li Fei , Xiao Huamei , Ye Gongyin , Han Zhaojun
Published: November 2020

Target‐site mutations and detoxification gene overexpression are two major mechanisms conferring insecticide resistance. Molecular assays applied to detect these resistance genetic markers are time‐consuming and with high false‐positive rates. RNA‐Seq data contains information on the variations within expressed genomic regions and expression of detoxification genes. However, there is no corresponding method to detect resistance markers at present. Here, we collected 66 reported resistance mutations of four insecticide targets (AChE, VGSC, RyR, and nAChR) from 82 insect species. Next, we obtained 403 sequences of the four target genes and 12,665 sequences of three kinds of detoxification genes including P450s, GSTs, and CCEs. Then, we developed a Perl program, FastD, to detect target‐site mutations and overexpressed detoxification genes from RNA‐Seq data and constructed a web server for FastD (http://www.insect-genome.com/fastd). The estimation of FastD on simulated RNA‐Seq data showed high sensitivity and specificity. We applied FastD to detect resistant markers in 15 populations of six insects, Plutella xylostella, Aphis gossypii, Anopheles arabiensis, Musca domestica, Leptinotarsa decemlineata and Apis mellifera. Results showed that 11 RyR mutations in P. xylostella, one nAChR mutation in A. gossypii, one VGSC mutation in A. arabiensis and five VGSC mutations in M. domestica were found to be with frequency difference >40% between resistant and susceptible populations including previously confirmed mutations G4946E in RyR, R81T in nAChR and L1014F in VGSC. And 49 detoxification genes were found to be overexpressed in resistant populations compared with susceptible populations including previously confirmed detoxification genes CYP6BG1, CYP6CY22, CYP6CY13, CYP6P3, CYP6M2, CYP6P4 and CYP4G16. The candidate target‐site mutations and detoxification genes were worth further validation. Resistance estimates according to confirmed markers were consistent with population phenotypes, confirming the reliability of this program in predicting population resistance at omics‐level.
Analysis of echocardiographic video by dynamic mode decomposition
Authors: Mizuno Shuya , Oneyama Fuyuki , Sugino Masato , Semba Hiroaki , Jimbo Yasuhiko , Kotani Kiyoshi
Published: November 2020

Ultrasonography is a popular method used for medical diagnosis since it is non‐invasive and does not require extensive equipment. However, it requires appropriate control of the probe position and orientation, which is difficult even for experts. As an approach to realize automatic ultrasonography, we analyze echocardiography video using dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) to obtain its feature value. The feature value can be calculated from the dominant modes extracted using DMD. This gives the dynamics on the structure which exhibits pulsating modes, and the entire heart structure can be extracted as well from the stationary mode.
Seasonal grassland productivity forecast for the U.S. Great Plains using Grass‐Cast
Authors: Hartman Melannie D. , Parton William J. , Derner Justin D. , Schulte Darin K. , Smith William K. , Peck Dannele E. , Day Ken A. , Del Grosso Stephen J. , Lutz Susan , Fuchs Brian A. , Chen Maosi , Gao Wei
Published: November 2020

Every spring, ranchers in the drought‐prone U.S. Great Plains face the same difficult challenge—trying to estimate how much forage will be available for livestock to graze during the upcoming summer grazing season. To reduce this uncertainty in predicting forage availability, we developed an innovative new grassland productivity forecast system, named Grass‐Cast, to provide science‐informed estimates of growing season aboveground net primary production (ANPP). Grass‐Cast uses over 30 yr of historical data including weather and the satellite‐derived normalized vegetation difference index (NDVI)—combined with ecosystem modeling and seasonal precipitation forecasts—to predict if rangelands in individual counties are likely to produce below‐normal, near‐normal, or above‐normal amounts of grass biomass (lbs/ac). Grass‐Cast also provides a view of rangeland productivity in the broader region, to assist in larger‐scale decision‐making—such as where forage resources for grazing might be more plentiful if a rancher’s own region is at risk of drought. Grass‐Cast is updated approximately every two weeks from April through July. Each Grass‐Cast forecast provides three scenarios of ANPP for the upcoming growing season based on different precipitation outlooks. Near real‐time 8‐d NDVI can be used to supplement Grass‐Cast in predicting cumulative growing season NDVI and ANPP starting in mid‐April for the Southern Great Plains and mid‐May to early June for the Central and Northern Great Plains. Here, we present the scientific basis and methods for Grass‐Cast along with the county‐level production forecasts from 2017 and 2018 for ten states in the U.S. Great Plains. The correlation between early growing season forecasts and the end‐of‐growing season ANPP estimate is >50% by late May or early June. In a retrospective evaluation, we compared Grass‐Cast end‐of‐growing season ANPP results to an independent dataset and found that the two agreed 69% of the time over a 20‐yr period. Although some predictive tools exist for forecasting upcoming growing season conditions, none predict actual productivity for the entire Great Plains. The Grass‐Cast system could be adapted to predict grassland ANPP outside of the Great Plains or to predict perennial biofuel grass production.
Tree seedling trait optimization and growth in response to local‐scale soil and light variability
Authors: Umaña María Natalia , Arellano Gabriel , Swenson Nathan G. , Zambrano Jenny
Published: November 2020

At local scales, it has been suggested that high levels of resources lead to increased tree growth via trait optimization (highly peaked trait distribution). However, this contrasts with (1) theories that suggest that trait optimization and high growth occur in the most common resource level and (2) empirical evidence showing that high trait optimization can be also found at low resource levels. This raises the question of how are traits and growth optimized in highly diverse plant communities. Here, we propose a series of hypotheses about how traits and growth are expected to be maximized under different resource levels (low, the most common, and high) in tree seedling communities from a subtropical forest in Puerto Rico, USA. We studied the variation in the distribution of biomass allocation and leaf traits and seedlings growth rate along four resource gradients: light availability (canopy openness) and soil K, Mg, and N content. Our analyses consisted of comparing trait kurtosis (a measurement of trait optimization), community trait means, and relative growth rates at three resource levels (low, common, and high). Trait optimization varied across the three resource levels depending on the type of resource and trait, with leaf traits being optimized under high N and in the most common K and Mg conditions, but not at any of the light levels. Also, seedling growth increased at high‐light conditions and high N and K but was not related to trait kurtosis. Our results indicate that local‐scale variability of soil fertility and understory light conditions result in shifts in species ecological strategies that increase growth despite a weak trait optimization, suggesting the existence of alternative phenotypes that achieve similar high performance. Uncovering the links between abiotic factors, functional trait diversity and performance is necessary to better predict tree responses to future changes in abiotic conditions.
A Better Understanding of Diethylstilbestrol Electro‐oxidation: Towards the Design of an Electrochemical Sensor
Authors: Bibani Malek , Ktari Nadia , Fourati Najla , Zerrouki Chouki , Kalfat Rafik
Published: November 2020

The obstacle for the development of a reliable electrochemical technique to trace diethylstilbestrol (DES) lies in the complex electrochemical behavior of this illicit hormone. The present study targeted to thoroughly investigate and understand the electro‐oxidation of DES in acetonitrile on gold electrode by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) techniques. DES voltammogram has shown two anodic peaks, implicating two successive and irreversible processes. Adsorption and diffusion properties were studied and characterized using electrochemical, spectroscopic and morphological techniques. Avoiding adsorption, and under diffusion process only, a good linear correlation between peak current and DES concentration in the range of 0.25 to 1000 μmol/L was obtained with a detection and quantification limits of 0.2 μmol/L and 0.7 μmol/L, respectively, and a sensitivity of 0.016 A/mM. Competitivity tests, between DES and its structural analog hexestrol (HS), were carried out by chronoamperometry and SWV. HS even added in excess was found to merely affect DES electrochemical measurement. The established method exhibited high precision and reproducibility, and allows the easy and successful determination of DES in poultry feed sample. With a deep insight into its complex electrochemical behavior, this work paves the way to the development of selective, sensitive and easy‐to‐use electrochemical sensors directed towards this synthetic hormone and the related chemicals such as phenolic compounds.
Intolerance of uncertainty and maladaptive perfectionism as maintenance factors for eating disorders and obsessive‐compulsive disorder symptoms
Authors: Williams Brenna M. , Levinson Cheri A.
Published: November 2020

Objective

Eating disorders (EDs) are highly comorbid with obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD). In order to develop treatments which better address commonly comorbid ED and OCD symptoms, it is important to identify potential shared mechanisms. Two potential shared mechanisms are maladaptive perfectionism and intolerance of uncertainty (IU). We aimed to assess how maladaptive perfectionism and IU may contribute to the maintenance of ED and OCD symptoms in individuals with EDs.

Methods

In the current study (N = 168 individuals with an ED), we analysed cross‐sectional and prospective path models of maladaptive perfectionism and IU as maintenance factors of ED and OCD symptoms.

Results

We found that IU was associated with both ED and OCD symptoms, and maladaptive perfectionism was associated with ED symptoms. We also found that maladaptive perfectionism and IU prospectively predicted OCD symptoms, but not ED symptoms.

Conclusions

Overall, these findings suggest that it may be beneficial to target both maladaptive perfectionism and IU in individuals with a current ED diagnosis in order to prevent the development of OCD symptoms.
Point and density forecasting of macroeconomic and financial uncertainties of the USA
Authors: Salisu Afees A. , Gupta Rangan , Ogbonna Ahamuefula E.
Published: November 2020

We forecast macroeconomic and financial uncertainties of the USA over the period of 1960:Q3 to 2018:Q4, based on a large dataset of 303 predictors using a wide array of constant‐parameter and time‐varying models. We find that uncertainty is indeed forecastable, but while accurate point forecasts can be achieved without incorporating time variation in the parameters of the small‐scale models for macroeconomic uncertainty and large‐scale models for financial uncertainty, this is indeed a requirement, along with a large dataset, for producing precise density forecasts under both types of uncertainty.
Parahippocampal area three gray matter is reduced in first‐episode schizophrenia spectrum: Discovery and replication samples
Authors: Curtis Mark T. , Coffman Brian A. , Salisbury Dean F.
Published: November 2020

Early course schizophrenia is associated with reduced gray matter. The specific structures affected first and how deficits impact symptoms and cognition remain unresolved. We used the Human Connectome Project multimodal parcellation (HCP‐MMP) to precisely identify cortical areas and investigate thickness abnormalities in discovery and replication samples of first‐episode schizophrenia spectrum individuals (FESz). In the discovery sample, T1w scans were acquired from 31 FESz and 31 matched healthy controls (HC). Thickness was calculated for 360 regions in Freesurfer. In the replication sample, high‐resolution T1w, T2w, and BOLD‐rest scans were acquired from 23 FESz and 32 HC and processed with HCP protocols. Thickness was calculated for regions significant in the discovery sample. After FDR correction (q < .05), left and right parahippocampal area 3 (PHA3) were significantly thinner in FESz. In the replication sample, bilateral PHA3 were again thinner in FESz (q < .05). Exploratory correlation analyses revealed left PHA3 was positively associated with hallucinations and right PHA3 was positively associated with processing speed, working memory, and verbal learning. The novel use of the HCP‐MMP in two independent FESz samples revealed thinner bilateral PHA3, suggesting this byway between cortical and limbic processing is a critical site of pathology near the emergence of psychosis.
Political instability and birth outcomes: Evidence from the 1981 military coup in Spain
Authors: Aparicio Fenoll Ainoa , González Libertad
Published: November 2020

We study the effect of exposure to political instability in‐utero on health at birth. We exploit the coup d’état that took place in Spain on February 23, 1981. Although short‐lived and unsuccessful, the event generated stress and fear among the population, especially in areas that had suffered more repression during the Civil War and the recent dictatorship. We follow a difference‐in‐differences strategy and compare birth outcomes before and after the coup, in areas that were differentially “affected”. We find that children who were in utero during the coup in more affected areas were born with significantly lower birth‐weight (around 9 g lighter), especially if they were exposed to the coup in the first or second trimester of pregnancy. We contribute to the literature on the effects of maternal stress by focusing on an acute (and relatively common) source of distress that is unlikely to have affected newborn health via other channels.
Cardiac Risk Assessment in Liver Transplant Candidates: Current Controversies and Future Directions
Authors: Barman Pranab M. , VanWagner Lisa B.
Published: November 2020

In the changing landscape of liver transplantation (LT), we are now evaluating older and sicker patients with more cardiovascular comorbidities, and the spectrum of cardiovascular disease is uniquely physiologically impacted by end‐stage liver disease. Cardiac complications are now the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in LT recipients, and the pretransplant risk is exacerbated immediately during the transplant operation and continues long term under the umbrella of immunosuppression. Accurate risk estimation of cardiac complications before LT is paramount to guide allocation of limited health care resources and to improve both short‐term and long‐term clinical outcomes for patients. Current screening and diagnostic testing are limited in their capacity to accurately identify early coronary disease and myocardial dysfunction in persons with end‐stage liver disease physiology. Furthermore, a number of testing modalities have not been evaluated in patients with end‐stage liver disease. As a result, there is wide variation in cardiac risk assessment practices across transplant centers. In this review, we propose a definition for defining cardiac events in LT, evaluate the current evidence for surgery‐related, short‐term and long‐term cardiac risk assessment in LT candidates, propose an evidence‐based testing algorithm, and highlight specific gaps in knowledge and current controversies, identifying areas for future research.
Predicting early reading fluency based on preschool measures of low‐level visual temporal processing: A possible mediation by high‐level visual temporal processing skills
Authors: Liu Ningyu , Zhao Jing , Huang Chen , Xing Xiaopei , Lu Shan , Wang Zhengyan
Published: November 2020

Fluent reading, which involves visual serial processing of letters/characters (i.e., visual temporal processing, VTP), greatly contributes to our daily life. The present study thus explored the underlying mechanism of reading fluency from the perspective of VTP. A longitudinal method was adopted to examine whether VTP skills in preschool (mean age of 5.03 ± 0.06 years) could predict reading fluency after 2 years (mean age of 7.10 ± 0.18 years). Low‐ and high‐level VTP skills were systematically measured. The results showed that VTP skills at both levels could significantly predict later development of reading fluency. Moreover, the relationship between low‐level VTP skills and character reading fluency was mediated by high‐level VTP skills, suggesting a possible mechanism underlying the relationship between VTP and reading fluency in Chinese. The possible role of VTP in fluent reading, which would have implications for the early diagnosis and remediation of reading disability, has been further discussed.

Highlights

This study explored the power of visual temporal processing skills in preschool to predict later development of Chinese reading fluency.

Longitudinal methods were used to establish a systematic relationship between low‐/high‐level visual temporal skills and fluent reading.

A possible mechanism underlying reading fluency was uncovered from visual temporal aspect, which contributes to early diagnosis of reading dysfluency.
Inhibited histone deacetylase 3 ameliorates myocardial ischemia–reperfusion injury in a rat model by elevating microRNA‐19a‐3p and reducing cyclin‐dependent kinase 2
Authors: Song Kaiyou , Li Lianting , Quan Qingqing , Wei Yanjin , Hu Shunpeng
Published: November 2020

Objective

Over the years, the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) and histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) in human diseases have been investigated. This study focused on the effect of miR‐19a‐3p and HDAC3 in myocardial ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury (MIRI) by targeting cyclin‐dependent kinase 2 (CDK2).

Methods

The I/R rat models were established by coronary artery ligation, which were then treated with RGFP966 (an inhibitor of HDAC3), miR‐19a‐3p agomir or antagomir, or silenced CDK2 to explore their roles in the cardiac function, pathological changes of myocardial tissues, myocardial infarction area, inflammatory factors and oxidative stress factors in rats with MIRI. The expression of miR‐19a‐3p, HDAC3, and CDK2 was determined by RT‐qPCR and western blot assay, and the interaction among which was also verified by online prediction, luciferase activity assay and ChIP assay.

Results

The results indicated that HDAC3 and CDK2 were upregulated while miR‐19a‐3p was downregulated in myocardial tissues of I/R rats. The inhibited HDAC3/CDK2 or elevated miR‐19a‐3p could promote cardiac function, attenuate pathological changes, inflammatory reaction, oxidative stress, myocardial infarction area and apoptosis of myocardial tissues. HDAC3 mediates miR‐19a‐3p and CDK2 is targeted by miR‐19a‐3p.

Conclusion

Inhibited HDAC3 ameliorates MIRI in a rat model by elevating miR‐19a‐3p and reducing CDK2, which may contribute to the treatment of MIRI.
Description of parallel and sequential configurations for concurrent therapeutic plasma exchange and continuous kidney replacement therapy in adults
Authors: Kaushik Manish , Liew Zhong Hong , Sewa Duu‐Wen , Phua Ghee Chee , Cao Ling , Krishnamoorthy Thinesh Lee , Ng Shin Yi , Lim Amy Ee Lin , Ng Li Choo , Koniman Riece , Teo Su Hooi , Tan Han Khim ,   for the S.I.N:G.A.P.O.R.E Initiative (Science In Nephrology: Growth And Progress Of Research & Education Initiative)
Published: November 2020

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) and continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) are extracorporeal therapeutic procedures often implemented in management of patients. Critically ill patients may be afflicted with disease processes that require both TPE and CKRT. Performing TPE discontinuous with CKRT is technically easier, however, it disrupts CKRT and may compromise with CKRT efficiency or hemofilter life. Concurrent TPE with CKRT offers several advantages including simultaneous control of disease process and correction of electrolyte, fluid, and acid‐base disturbances that may accompany TPE. Additionally, TPE may be performed by either centrifugation method or membrane plasma separation method. The technical specifications of these methods may influence the methodology of concurrent connections. This report describes and reviews two different approaches to circuit arrangements when establishing concurrent TPE and CKRT.
How does corporate social responsibility decrease serious misstatement likelihood?
Authors: Hong Yongtao , Young Alex
Published: November 2020

In this article, we offer two explanations for the observed negative association between corporate social responsibility (CSR) performance and the likelihood of serious misstatements being detected (PSMD). We find that CSR significantly decreases the probability of engagement in a serious misstatement (PE) in general, whereas it increases the detection probability (PD) only when there are salient indicators of misstatement engagement. The asymmetrical impact of CSR on the engagement probability and detection probability provides the first explanation for the lower PSMD in CSR firms. Second, we provide evidence that CSR indirectly affects PSMD by attenuating the materiality and magnitude of misstatements. A path analysis suggests that the indirect path accounts for 33.3% of the total impact of CSR on serious misstatement likelihood. These findings advance our understanding of the mechanism through which CSR reduces PSMD.
Comment on “Martini force field for protonated polyethyleneimine”
Authors: Mahajan Subhamoy , Tang Tian
Published: November 2020

We comment on the recently published Martini forcefield for linear polyethylenimine (Beu et al., J. Comput. Chem., 2020, 41, 349). With supporting evidence, we demonstrate that the new coarse‐graining methodology presented in that work is inconsistent with the Martini methodology and lacks important validation steps which is usually required by Martini forcefields.
Short strides to important findings: A short interval longitudinal study of sleep quality, psychological distress and microstructure changes to the uncinate fasciculus in early adolescents
Authors: Jamieson Daniel , Schwenn Paul , Beaudequin Denise A. , Shan Zack , McLoughlin Larisa T. , Lagopoulos Jim , Hermens Daniel F.
Published: November 2020

Background

Developmental studies have shown adolescence is a period of ongoing white matter (WM) development, reduced sleep quality and the onset of many mental disorders. Findings indicate the WM development of the uncinate fasciculus (UF), a WM tract suggested to play a key role in mental disorders, continues throughout adolescence. While these studies provide valuable information, they are limited by long intervals between scans (1 to 4 years) leaving researchers and clinicians to infer what may be occurring between time‐points. To allow inferences to be made regarding the impact that sleep quality may be having on WM development, longitudinal studies with much shorter between‐scan intervals are required.

Methods

The current study reports longitudinal data of self‐reported sleep quality (PSQI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) measures of WM development and psychological distress (K10) for n = 64 early adolescents spanning the first twelve months (four time‐points; Baseline, 4, 8, & 12 months) of the Longitudinal Adolescent Brain Study (LABS) study currently underway at the Thompson Institute.

Results

Generalised Estimating Equation analysis showed a significant relationship between sleep quality and psychological distress over the four time‐points. Reduced radial diffusivity and increased fractional anisotropy of the UF is also reported with increasing age suggesting that ongoing myelination is occurring. Adding sleep quality to the model, however, negatively impacted this myelination process.

Conclusion

These findings represent an important step towards elucidating how sleep, psychological distress and maturation of the UF may co‐develop during early adolescence.
Gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestations of COVID‐19: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Dorrell Robert D , Dougherty Michael K , Barash Eric L , Lichtig Asher E , Clayton Steven B , Jensen Elizabeth T
Published: November 2020

Background and Aim

This review investigates the role of gastrointestinal and hepatic manifestations in COVID‐19, particularly with regard to the prevalence of isolated gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane library for COVID‐19 publications from 1 December 2019 to 18 May 2020. We included any study that reported the presence of GI symptoms in a sample of >5 COVID‐19 patients. Data collection and risk of bias assessment were performed independently by two reviewers. Where ≥3 studies reported data sufficiently similar to allow calculation of a pooled prevalence, we performed random effects meta‐analysis.

Results

This review included 17 776 COVID‐19 patients from 108 studies. Isolated GI symptoms only occurred in 1% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0–6%) of patients. GI symptoms were reported in 20% (95% CI 15–24%) of patients. The most common were anorexia (21%, 95% CI 15–27%), diarrhea (13%, 95% CI 11–16%), nausea or vomiting (8%, 95% CI 6–11%), and abdominal pain (4%, 95% CI 2–6%). Transaminase elevations were present in 24% (95% CI 17–31%) of patients. Higher prevalence of GI symptoms were reported in studies published after 1st April, with prevalence of diarrhea 16% (95% CI 13–20), nausea or vomiting 12% (95% CI 8–16%), and any GI symptoms 24% (95% CI 18–34%). GI symptoms were associated with severe COVID‐19 disease (odds ratio [OR] 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.2), but not mortality (OR 0.90, 95% CI 0.52–1.54).

Conclusions

Patients with isolated GI symptoms may represent a small but significant portion of COVID‐19 cases. When testing resources are abundant, clinicians should still consider testing patients with isolated GI symptoms or unexplained transaminase elevations for COVID‐19. More recent studies estimate higher overall GI involvement in COVID‐19 than was previously recognized.
Zeolite‐catalyzed synthesis of nicotinyl‐fused indolo‐pyrazoles and evaluation of their activities against Anopheles arabiensis and Lipoxygenase
Authors: Makhanya Talent R. , Gengan Robert M.
Published: November 2020

A series of nicotyl‐fused indolo‐pyrazoles (NFIPs) were synthesized by a one‐pot multicomponent reaction of aryl aldehydes, isoniazid, and indole in the presence of zeolite as a catalyst. Structures of all the synthesized compounds were established by IR, 1H‐NMR, 13C‐NMR, 2D‐NMR, TOF‐MS, and elemental analysis. The products were obtained in excellent yields and high purity. All 10 compounds were screened for larvicidal and insecticidal properties against Anopheles arabiensis and tested for their lipoxygenase inhibitory activity. Compounds (3‐(3‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydropyrazolo[4,3‐b]indol‐1(4H)‐yl)(pyridin‐4‐yl)methanone (4i) and (3‐(3‐bromo‐5‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydropyrazolo[4,3‐b]indol‐1(4H)‐yl)(pyridin‐4‐yl)methanone (4j) displayed highest larvae mortality at a 4 μg/ml dose in 24 h. Compounds (3‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydropyrazolo[4,3‐b]indol‐1(4H)‐yl)(pyridin‐4‐yl)methanone (4h) and (3‐(3‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydropyrazolo[4,3‐b]indol‐1(4H)‐yl)(pyridin‐4‐yl)methanone (4i) showed a significant knockdown activity after 24 h with 70% mortality. Furthermore, (3‐(4‐chlorophenyl)‐2,3‐dihydropyrazolo[4,3‐b]indol‐1(4H)‐yl)(pyridin‐4‐yl)methanone (4c) and (3‐(3‐bromo‐5‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydropyrazolo[4,3‐b]indol‐1(4H)‐yl)(pyridin‐4‐yl)methanone (4j) displayed promising lipoxygenase inhibitory activity with a mortality of 70% and 60%, respectively.