bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lagged effects of herbivory impact host‐choice but not nymphal survivorship in an ant‐protected treehopper
Authors: Morales Manuel A. , Kirsch Daniel G. , Sanchez Diana S.
Published: May 2022

Theoretical studies have shown that in protection mutualism, the modification of top‐down control by protectors may be destabilizing. Central to this prediction are the assumptions that (1) protection mutualism increases the abundance of protected partners, (2) this increased abundance generates a lagged effect on partner resources, and (3) spatial dynamics can be ignored. Although a number of studies have confirmed that protection mutualism can increase the abundance of protected herbivores, the evidence for a negative effect of protected herbivores on plant quality is mixed, and we are unaware of any studies that have explored the effect of protected herbivores on plant quality across growing seasons. Here, we use the protection mutualism between ants and the treehopper Publilia concava to evaluate the assumption that treehopper herbivory has a lagged effect on plant quality. We also evaluated whether ant protection exacerbated the negative effect of treehoppers on their host plants. We used a two‐way factorial design that manipulated ant and treehopper presence on goldenrod host plants in 1 year and assessed oviposition and survivorship on those same plants in the subsequent year. Treehopper herbivory was associated with a decrease in the probability of oviposition, and female treehoppers laid significantly fewer egg masses on plants that had been fed on the previous year, regardless of ant tending. In contrast, a prior history of herbivory had no impact on future treehopper performance as measured by nymph survival. Ant tending increased treehopper abundance and exacerbated the risk of plant mortality but otherwise did not significantly modify the negative effect of treehopper herbivory on plant quality or future treehopper performance. Although the increase in treehopper abundance associated with ant tending and the lagged oviposition response of treehoppers is consistent with the core assumptions of a model showing that mutualism can be destabilizing, the avoidance of previously occupied plants for oviposition is not. These results highlight the importance of future modeling studies that explore spatiotemporal dynamics in protection mutualism and long‐term field studies that track the effect of mutualism across years.
Community leaf dry matter content predicts plant production in simple and diverse grassland
Authors: Polley H. Wayne , Collins Harold P. , Fay Philip A.
Published: May 2022

Plant growth correlates with values of collinear (covarying) traits from the leaf economics spectrum. Environmental variation and differences in community composition may alter contributions of these traits to plant production and thereby limit the consistency of trait‐based growth predictions among years and plant communities. We tested effects of interannual variation in precipitation and differences in grassland community composition (planted monoculture of switchgrass, Panicum virgatum, and mixture of perennial herbaceous species) on the utility of two traits from the leaf economics spectrum (leaf dry matter content [LDMC] and plant [N]) to predict aboveground net primary production (ANP) during spring of 6 years. Spatial and temporal variation in spring production correlated with community‐scale (species abundance‐weighted) values of both traits, but community LDMC explained 66% of the variance in production and accounted for ≥89% of the variance explained by the two traits combined. The ANP response to trait variation and the variance in ANP explained by trait values differed with precipitation and between communities. Greater precipitation increased the production response to trait variation by increasing slopes of ANP–trait regression relationships and increased the variance in ANP explained by trait values. Communities differed in response to precipitation variation and in the role of annual variation in the [N]–LDMC relationship in explaining variance in ANP. Results indicate that mean trends in grassland production can be predicted using community‐scale values of LDMC. Trait‐based predictions of grassland production could be improved, however, by accommodating precipitation and community effects on production–trait relationships.
Analyzing dynamic species abundance distributions using generalized linear mixed models
Authors: Solbu Erik Blystad , van der Veen Bert , Herfindal Ivar , Hovstad Knut Anders
Published: May 2022

Understanding the mechanisms of ecological community dynamics and how they could be affected by environmental changes is important. Population dynamic models have well known ecological parameters that describe key characteristics of species such as the effect of environmental noise and demographic variance on the dynamics, the long‐term growth rate, and strength of density regulation. These parameters are also central for detecting and understanding changes in communities of species; however, incorporating such vital parameters into models of community dynamics is challenging. In this paper, we demonstrate how generalized linear mixed models specified as intercept‐only models with different random effects can be used to fit dynamic species abundance distributions. Each random effect has an ecologically meaningful interpretation either describing general and species‐specific responses to environmental stochasticity in time or space, or variation in growth rate and carrying capacity among species. We use simulations to show that the accuracy of the estimation depends on the strength of density regulation in discrete population dynamics. The estimation of different covariance and population dynamic parameters, with corresponding statistical uncertainties, is demonstrated for case studies of fish and bat communities. We find that species heterogeneity is the main factor of spatial and temporal community similarity for both case studies.
Enabling High‐Performance Sodium Battery Anodes by Complete Reduction of Graphene Oxide and Cooperative In‐Situ Crystallization of Ultrafine SnO2 Nanocrystals
Authors: Sang Junwu , Liu Kangli , Zhang Xiangdan , Zhang Shijie , Cao Guoqin , Shen Yonglong , Shao Guosheng
Published: May 2022

The main bottleneck against industrial utilization of sodium ion batteries (SIBs) is the lack of high‐capacity electrodes to rival those of the benchmark lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Here in this work, we have developed an economical method for in situ fabrication of nanocomposites made of crystalline few‐layer graphene sheets loaded with ultrafine SnO2 nanocrystals, using short exposure of microwave to xerogel of graphene oxide (GO) and tin tetrachloride containing minute catalyzing dispersoids of chemically reduced GO (RGO). The resultant nanocomposites (SnO2@MWG) enabled significantly quickened redox processes as SIB anode, which led to remarkable full anode‐specific capacity reaching 538 mAh g−1 at 0.05 A g−1 (about 1.45 times of the theoretical capacity of graphite for the LIB), in addition to outstanding rate performance over prolonged charge–discharge cycling. Anodes based on the optimized SnO2@MWG delivered stable performance over 2000 cycles even at a high current density of 5 A g−1, and capacity retention of over 70.4% was maintained at a high areal loading of 3.4 mg cm−2, highly desirable for high energy density SIBs to rival the current benchmark LIBs.
Synthetic Applications of Photocatalyzed Halogen‐Radical Mediated Hydrogen Atom Transfer for C−H Bond Functionalization
Authors: Bonciolini Stefano , Noël Timothy , Capaldo Luca
Published: May 2022

The opportunity to activate C(sp3)−H bonds via homolytic cleavage by means of halogen radicals has long been disregarded in synthetic endeavors due to the unpredictable selectivity. Nowadays, photocatalysis has established itself as a method of choice for the generation of such reactive intermediates under mild conditions. This Minireview collects recent examples showcasing how photocatalytic manifolds have been used to tame aggressive halogen radicals to activate C(sp3)−H bonds via Hydrogen Atom Transfer (HAT) for synthetic purposes. In the last section of this work, we address site‐selectivity issues posed by this methodology and show how it can be guided through the judicious choice of reaction conditions.
Framing data science, analytics and statistics around the digital earth concept
Authors: Scott E. Marian
Published: May 2022

Environmental data science can be shaped around the concepts of data streams (or the data deluge), and both data driven and process models. Together they lead to the concept of a digital earth. In this short opinion piece, I reflect on some of the challenges in truly realizing the digital earth concept.
Metabolic reprogramming of the intestinal microbiome with functional bile acid changes underlie the development of NAFLD
Authors: Smirnova Ekaterina , Muthiah Mark D. , Narayan Nicole , Siddiqui Mohamad S. , Puri Puneet , Luketic Velimir A. , Contos Melissa J. , Idowu Michael , Chuang Jen‐Chieh , Billin Andrew N. , Huss Ryan S. , Myers Robert P. , Boyett Sherry , Seneshaw Mulugeta , Min Hae‐Ki , Mirshahi Faridodin , Sanyal Arun J.
Published: May 2022

Background and Aims

Bile acids are hepatic metabolites and have many properties considered to be relevant to the pathophysiology of NAFLD. Circulating levels of the intestinal microbiome‐modified bile acid deoxycholate are increased in cirrhosis.

Approach and Results

To further elucidate the role of bile acids and intestinal microbiota linked to bile acids in progressively severe NAFLD, a multiomic study of feces including 16S rRNA sequencing, microbial transcriptomics and metabolomics was performed in a cohort with varying phenotypes of NAFLD. Several bile acids of microbial origin derived from deoxycholic acid (DCA) (glycodeoxycholate, 7‐ketodeoxycholic acid, dehydrocholic acid) increased with disease activity and fibrosis stage. These were linked to increased expression of microbial bile salt hydrolase, bile acid operon (BaiCD) and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (hdhA) required for DCA and downstream metabolite synthesis providing a mechanistic basis for altered bile acid profiles with disease progression. Bacteroidetes and several genera of Lachnospiraceae family containing DCA generating genes increased with increasing disease severity, whereas several potentially beneficial microbes sensitive to antibacterial effects of DCA e.g., Ruminococcaceae were decreased. The clinical relevance of these data was confirmed in an independent cohort enrolled in a clinical trial for NASH where at entry DCA and its conjugates were associated with advanced fibrosis. In patients treated with placebo, DCA declined in those with fibrosis regression and increased in those with fibrosis progression. DCA rose further in those with compensated cirrhosis when they experienced decompensation.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate a role for bile acids and the bile acid dependent microbiome in the development and progression of NAFLD and set the stage to leverage these findings for NASH biomarker development and for therapeutics.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease risk and histologic severity are associated with genetic polymorphisms in children
Authors: Goyal Nidhi P. , Rosenthal Sara B. , Nasamran Chanod , Behling Cynthia A. , Angeles Jorge E. , Fishbein Mark H. , Harlow Kathryn E. , Jain Ajay K. , Molleston Jean P. , Newton Kimberly P. , Ugalde‐Nicalo Patricia , Xanthankos Stavra A. , Yates Katherine , Schork Nicholas J. , Fisch Kathleen M. , Schwimmer Jeffrey B. ,   for the NASH Clinical Research Network
Published: May 2022

Background and Aims:

NAFLD is the most common chronic liver disease in children. Large pediatric studies identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with risk and histologic severity of NAFLD are limited. Study aims included investigating SNPs associated with risk for NAFLD using family trios and association of candidate alleles with histologic severity.

Approach and Results:

Children with biopsy‐confirmed NAFLD were enrolled from the NASH Clinical Research Network. The Expert Pathology Committee reviewed liver histology. Genotyping was conducted with allele‐specific primers for 60 candidate SNPs. Parents were enrolled for trio analysis. To assess risk for NAFLD, the transmission disequilibrium test was conducted in trios. Among cases, regression analysis assessed associations with histologic severity. A total of 822 children with NAFLD had mean age 13.2 years (SD 2.7) and mean ALT 101 U/L (SD 90). PNPLA3 (rs738409) demonstrated the strongest risk (p = 2.24 × 10−14) for NAFLD. Among children with NAFLD, stratifying by PNPLA3 s738409 genotype, the variant genotype associated with steatosis (p = 0.005), lobular (p = 0.03) and portal inflammation (p = 0.002). Steatosis grade associated with TM6SF2 (p = 0.0009), GCKR (p = 0.0032), PNPLA3 rs738409 (p = 0.0053), and MTTP (p = 0.0051). Fibrosis stage associated with PARVB rs6006473 (p = 0.0001), NR1I2 (p = 0.0021), ADIPOR2 (p = 0.0038), and OXTR (p = 0.0065). PNPLA3 rs738409 (p = 0.0002) associated with borderline zone 1 NASH.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrated disease‐associated SNPs in children with NAFLD. In particular, rs6006473 was highly associated with severity of fibrosis. These hypothesis‐generating results support future mechanistic studies of development of adverse outcomes such as fibrosis and generation of therapeutic targets for NAFLD in children.
Mid‐upper arm circumference is associated with liver steatosis and fibrosis in patients with metabolic‐associated fatty liver disease: A population based observational study
Authors: Wang Xiaoxiao , Li Xiaohe , Jin Rui , Yang Jia , Huang Rui , Wei Lai , Liu Feng , Rao Huiying
Published: May 2022

Metabolic‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a series of liver diseases based on liver steatosis and metabolic disorders. Steatosis, as the core factor in MAFLD diagnosis, and fibrosis, as the major determinant of adverse outcomes of MAFLD, need to be assessed simply and accurately. In this study, we explored the significance of mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC) in evaluating liver steatosis and fibrosis in patients with MAFLD. We included 2397 cases with MAFLD from the 2017–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) database. Liver steatosis and fibrosis were measured by vibration controlled transient elastography. Anthropometric parameters and demographic and serological data were obtained from the NHANES database. The association between MUAC and liver steatosis and fibrosis were evaluated by a multivariable linear regression model, a weighted generalized additive model, and smooth curve fitting using R. MUAC was positively associated with liver steatosis in every multivariate linear regression model (model 1: β = 3.3513; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.7722–3.9304; model 2: β = 3.8492; 95% CI, 3.2441–4.4542; model 3: β = 2.4987; 95% CI, 1.8371–3.1604), and this positive association was consistent in both men and women and among different race groups (Mexican American, other Hispanic, non‐Hispanic White, Black, Asian, and other race). On the other hand, MUAC was positively associated with liver fibrosis in every multivariate linear regression model, and this positive association also was consistent in both men and women and among non‐Hispanic White and Black populations. Increased MUAC was positively associated with liver steatosis and fibrosis in patients with MAFLD. This was particularly true for MUAC ≥ 42.0 cm. MUAC might be a simple and convenient evaluation tool for MAFLD.
Depth of focus extension in optical coherence tomography using ultrahigh chromatic dispersion of zinc selenide
Authors: Romodina Maria N. , Singh Kanwarpal
Published: May 2022

We report a novel technique to overcome the depth‐of‐focus limitation in optical coherence tomography (OCT) using chromatic dispersion of zinc selenide lens. OCT is an established method of optical imaging, which found numerous biomedical applications. However, the depth scanning range of high‐resolution OCT is limited by its depth of focus. Chromatic dispersion of zinc selenide lens allows to get high lateral resolution along extended depth of focus, because the different spectral components are focused at a different position along axes of light propagation. Test measurements with nanoparticle phantom show 2.8 times extension of the depth of focus compare to the system with a standard achromatic lens. The feasibility of biomedical applications was demonstrated by ex vivo imaging of the pig cornea and chicken fat tissue.
Experimental investigation of biofilm carriers of varying shapes, sizes, and materials for wastewater treatment in fixed bed biofilm reactor: a qualitative study of biocarrier performance
Authors: Al‐Amshawee Sajjad Khudhur Abbas , Yunus Mohd Yusri Bin Mohd , Alalwan Hayder A , Lee Woo Hyoung , Dai Fei
Published: May 2022

BACKGROUND

Biofilm carriers were introduced in the early 1990s mainly to abate chemical oxygen demand (COD). However, studies have continued investigating few biocarriers repeatedly, without studying a large number of carriers in a single study under similar conditions.

RESULTS

The current study investigated the performance of nine synthetic and eight natural biofilm carriers for 7 days of palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment in terms of COD removal. A fixed bed biofilm reactor (FBBR) was 100% packed with biocarriers and operated at 35 °C. Performance based on the 7th day COD removal could be ranked in the following order: green ammonia absorption stone (91%), K1 micro (88%), coral sand (87.8%), volcanic stone (86.6%), Micro Media (85.5%), 1.6 cm BioBall (85%), pebble (82.4%), porous ceramic ring (82.3), K1 (82.1%), non‐porous ceramic ring (80.9%), brown ammonia absorption stone (78.6%), biological filter (77.7%), Ultra Media (76.8%), blue media (69.3%), 3.0 cm BioBall (68.8%), 2.5 cm BioBall (66.5%), and loofah sponge (63%).

CONCLUSION

The smallest carrier, K1 micro, yielded the highest COD removal (88%) on day 7 among the other synthetic carriers, while green ammonia absorption stones provided the highest quality effluent from day 1 (3565 mg COD L−1) to day 7 (780 mg COD L−1) and delivered the shortest start‐up compared with all natural and synthetic carriers. The discussion revealed that all carrier functionalities (i.e., scale, shape, surface pores, roughness, material, surface area, porosity, and durability) play a key role in deciding carrier quality. The current study also introduced ‘carrier efficiency limit’, which refers to the carrier's capacity to entrap biomass and immobilize microorganisms. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Usefulness of the laser‐cut, fully covered, self‐expandable metallic stent for endoscopic ultrasound‐guided hepaticogastrostomy
Authors: Harai Shota , Hijioka Susumu , Nagashio Yoshikuni , Ohba Akihiro , Maruki Yuta , Sone Miyuki , Saito Yutaka , Okusaka Takuji , Fukasawa Mitsuharu , Enomoto Nobuyuki
Published: May 2022

Background/Purpose

Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided hepaticogastrostomy (EUS‐HGS) has many associated adverse events. We evaluated the clinical efficacy and safety of the laser‐cut, fully covered, self‐expandable metallic stent (FCSEMS) for this procedure.

Methods

This single‐center, retrospective study included cases where EUS‐HGS with a laser‐cut FCSEMS was performed for malignant biliary obstruction. Technical and clinical success, time to recurrent biliary obstruction (TRBO), procedure time, adverse events, and re‐interventions were evaluated.

Results

There were 95 eligible cases. Technical and clinical success rates were 100.0% and 95.8%, respectively. Median TRBO was 398 days. RBO causes were hyperplasia (7.4%), debris (3.2%), and migration (4.2%). Adverse events occurred in nine cases (9.5%). Non‐occlusion and focal cholangitis occurred in four cases (4.2%) each. Nineteen patients (20%) underwent combined EUS‐HGS (CH) procedures: antegrade stenting, bridging methods, plastic stent anchoring in SEMS, and EUS‐hepaticoduodenostomy. The solely EUS‐HGS (SH) group had significantly longer median TRBO than the CH group (398 vs 246 days, P = .04). There were no significant differences in adverse events between the two groups. Re‐intervention was performed in 29 cases (technical success rate: 100.0%).

Conclusions

Laser‐cut FCSEMS can be safely placed in the bile duct and easily applied during re‐intervention, making it useful in EUS‐HGS.
Biliary stones or ulcers at the choledochojejunal anastomotic site involving the jejunal mucosa at stent removal may be recurrent factors in patients with benign choledochojejunal anastomotic stenosis undergoing endoscopic biliary stenting using fully covered self‐expandable metal stents
Authors: Kida Akihiko , Shirota Yukihiro , Arihara Fumitaka , Asai Jun , Matsuda Koichiro , Kakinoki Kaheita , Matsuda Mitsuru , Sakai Akito , Terada Mitsuhiro , Urabe Takeshi
Published: May 2022

Background

Temporary fully covered self‐expandable metal stent (FCSEMS) placement is performed for benign choledochojejunal anastomotic stenosis (bCJS). However, recurrence may develop after stricture resolution. We investigated endoscopic biliary stenting using FCSEMS for bCJS.

Methods

Sixteen bCJS patients with FCSEMS placement were retrospectively analyzed. FCSEMS was removed endoscopically after 2 months. Technical success, stricture resolution, recurrence, and adverse events were evaluated.

Results

The technical success rate for FCSEMS placement was 94% (15/16). Biliary stones were detected and extracted in four patients. FCSEMS removal was successfully performed on 14 patients, excluding one with stent migration. At FCSEMS removal, stricture resolution was noted in 14 patients; however, four had anastomotic ulcers. The median follow‐up was 319 days. Three patients with a history of repeated plastic stent placement had no recurrence. Four out of 15 patients (27%) had recurrence, and three had no recurrence after additional interventions. Biliary stones before first FCSEMS placement (P = .003) or anastomotic ulcers at FCSEMS removal (P = .018) were associated with recurrence.

Conclusions

Although FCSEMS placement was useful for stricture resolution, recurrence was detected in patients with biliary stones before first FCSEMS placement or anastomotic ulcers at FCSEMS removal. Anastomotic ulcers are a risk factor for recurrence and only detected by endoscopy.
Assessments of agronomic traits, chemical characteristics, and sensory properties of six albino‐induced yellow tea (Camellia sinensis) cultivars grown in Ningbo, China
Authors: Han Zhen , Fan Shulei , Jiang Yanhua , Zhang Wenbiao , Xu Yanyang , Wang Dongmei , Lu Mengjun
Published: May 2022

Background

Albino‐induced yellow tea is becoming popular in East China because of its special sensory properties. More and more tea gardeners intend to grow albino‐induced yellow tea (Camellia sinensis) plants to meet market demand.

Results

To help them select the suitable cultivars to grow, agronomic traits (i.e., plant shape, survival rate, plant height, budding density, initial one bud with one leaf development date, albino grade of one bud with three leaves, length of one bud with three leaves, and the cumulative weight of 100 buds), chemical characteristics (i.e., water extract content, tea polyphenols content, free amino acids content, and caffeine content), and sensory evaluation score of six albino‐induced yellow tea cultivars which were introduced and cultivated in Ningbo (a city in East China) were assessed. The principal component analysis (PCA) was used for the comprehensive evaluation. It turned out that the six albino‐induced yellow tea cultivars were with distinguishable agronomic traits, chemical characteristics, and sensory properties. Four principal components were extracted by PCA and the cumulative variance contribution rate reached 96.773%. Among the six cultivars, “Jinguan Tea”, “Zhonghuang No.3”, and “Yujinxiang” got the top three highest principal component scores.

Conclusion

According to the results, albino‐induced yellow tea cultivars which are suitable to be introduced and cultivated in Ningbo, China, are “Jinguan Tea”, “Zhonghuang No.3”, and “Yujinxiang”.
Intranasal Spray Characteristics for Best Drug Delivery in Patients With Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Popper Carson , Martin Hannah , Shah Reanna , Sicard Ryan , Hodges Katrina , Frank‐Ito Dennis Onyeka
Published: May 2022

Objectives

To determine parameter combinations for effective drug delivery of intranasal spray steroids to the ostiomeatal complex (OMC) and maxillary sinus (MS) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Methods

Each patient's sinonasal cavity was reconstructed from computed tomography scans. Intranasal airflow and drug particle transport were simulated using computational fluid dynamic modeling. Airflow simulations were performed at 15 Pascal inhalation pressure. Intranasal spray particles of 1–100 μm were simulated at release speeds of 1, 5, and 10 m/s from 6 release locations (Bottom, Center, Top, Lateral, Lateral‐Bottom, and Lateral‐Top) at a nozzle insertion depth of 15 mm. Drug delivery simulations were performed in the head tilted forward position.

Results

Maximal OMC deposition was 0.78%–12.44%, while maximal MS deposition was 0.02%–1.03% across all simulations. In general, particles between 6 and 10 μm had the best OMC (at 1 m/s particle velocity) and MS (at 10 m/s particle velocity) deposition. Particles ranging from 21 to 30 μm also had superior OMC deposition. The lateral and lateral‐top spray release locations produced maximum OMC deposition, but no one release location demonstrated an increase in MS deposition.

Conclusion

This preliminary study suggests that it is challenging to determine a common set of intranasal spray parameter combinations for effective drug delivery to the OMC and MSs. Although drug particle size and spray particle velocity seem to impact particle deposition patterns, spray release location appears to vary with anatomical differences between subjects, particularly when the MS is the target location for particle deposition. Laryngoscope, 133:1036–1043, 2023
Systematic Review of CT Angiography in Guiding Management in Pediatric Oropharyngeal Trauma
Authors: Curry Steven D. , Christensen Dallin N. , Varman Pooja M. , Harp Kimberly A. , Jones Dwight T.
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Pediatric oropharyngeal trauma is common. Although most cases resolve uneventfully, there have been reports of internal carotid artery injury leading to devastating neurovascular sequelae. There is significant controversy regarding the utility of CT angiography (CTA) in children with seemingly minor oropharyngeal trauma. The goal of this study was to appraise changes in diagnosis and treatment based on CTA results.

Methods

A comprehensive search of PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register, and the ClinicalTrials.gov database was performed following PRISMA guidelines.

Results

The search yielded 5,078 unique abstracts, of which 8 articles were included. A total of 662 patients were included, with 293 having any CT head/neck imaging, and 255 with CTA. Eleven injuries/abnormalities of the carotid were found on CTAs, comprising edema around the carotid (n = 8), potential intimal tear (n = 1), carotid spasm (n = 1), and carotid compression (n = 1). The pooled proportion of imaging findings on CTA that could lead to changes in clinical management was 0.00 (95% CI 0.00–0.43). Angiography was obtained in 10 patients, in 6 cases due to abnormal CTA. Angiography identified 1 patient with vessel spasm and two patients with carotid intima disruption without thrombus. No patient underwent vascular repair or suffered cerebrovascular injury.

Conclusion

Imaging with CTA yielded radiological abnormalities in a few instances. These results do not support the routine use of CTA in screening pediatric oropharyngeal trauma when balanced against the risk of radiation, as it rarely resulted in management changes and was not shown to improve outcomes.

Level of Evidence

N/A Laryngoscope, 133:457–466, 2023
Generalized boundary triples, II. Some applications of generalized boundary triples and form domain invariant Nevanlinna functions
Authors: Derkach Volodymyr , Hassi Seppo , Malamud Mark
Published: May 2022

The paper is a continuation of Part I and contains several further results on generalized boundary triples, the corresponding Weyl functions, and applications of this technique to ordinary and partial differential operators. We establish a connection between Post's theory of boundary pairs of closed nonnegative forms on the one hand and the theory of generalized boundary triples of nonnegative symmetric operators on the other hand. Applications to the Laplacian operator on bounded domains with smooth, Lipschitz, and even rough boundary, as well as to mixed boundary value problem for the Laplacian are given. Other applications concern with the momentum, Schrödinger, and Dirac operators with local point interactions. These operators demonstrate natural occurrence of ‐generalized boundary triples with domain invariant Weyl functions and essentially selfadjoint reference operators A0.
LncRNAs and CircRNAs in cancer
Authors: Yin Xin , Lin Huiran , Lin Lei , Miao Lei , He Jing , Zhuo Zhenjian
Published: May 2022

It is well known that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) cannot encode proteins, but they can play important regulatory roles in tumors by combining with proteins, RNAs, and DNAs. As more and more studies reveal the important roles and underlying mechanisms of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in cancer, their huge application potential in cancer therapy cannot be ignored. For example, lncRNAs can be involved in tumor‐related signal transduction pathways, cell cycle control, DNA damage, epigenetic regulation, and microRNA control. A group of studies confirmed that abnormal expression of lncRNAs can affect cancer progression. Furthermore, as covalently closed continuous circular ncRNAs, many recent studies have shown that circRNAs have regulatory effects and other important biological significances in cancer. Interestingly, circRNAs were found to have translational functions. This has greatly attracted people's attention to circRNAs research. In this review, we introduce the important roles of lncRNAs and circRNAs in some representative cancers, respectively. Furthermore, we focus on the biological functions and important clinical therapeutic implications of lnRNAs and circRNAs in neuroblastoma. Our review also focuses on providing rationale and relevant references for novel biomarkers for neuroblastoma diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment.
Report suggests MH impacts of racism more far‐reaching than often assumed
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: May 2022

A report based in part on focus group sessions with Black adults finds that witnessing racism can have similar or worse mental health impacts as directly experiencing racism. The report's authors suggest that to address the effects of this collective experience, providers and policymakers alike must correct numerous inequities that have shut Black Americans out of effective mental health treatment.
Bill to address school MH crisis, hire providers introduced
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: May 2022

Observing the need to increase the number of mental health and substance use disorder care providers for schools and school‐based health centers, bipartisan lawmakers have introduced legislation that would establish a new grant initiative at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to hire and retain such providers.
Treatment outcomes among high‐risk neuroblastoma patients receiving non‐immunotherapy regimen: Multicenter study on behalf of the Thai Pediatric Oncology Group
Authors: Suwannaying Kunanya , Monsereenusorn Chalinee , Rujkijyanont Piya , Techavichit Piti , Phuakpet Kamon , Pongphitcha Pongpak , Chainansamit Su‐on , Chotsampancharoen Thirachit , Winaichatsak Angkana , Traivaree Chanchai , Sathitsamitphong Lalita , Kanjanapongkul Somjai , Komvilaisak Patcharee , Sanpakit Kleebsabai , Photia Apichat , Seksarn Panya , Wiangnon Surapon , Hongeng Suradej ,   Thai Pediatric Oncology Neuroblastoma Working Group
Published: May 2022

Background

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial malignant solid tumor during childhood. Despite intensified treatment, patients with high‐risk neuroblastoma (HR‐NBL) still carry a dismal prognosis. The Thai Pediatric Oncology Group (ThaiPOG) proposed the use of a multimodality treatment to improve outcomes of HR‐NBL in non‐immunotherapy settings.

Methods

Patients with HR‐NBL undergoing ThaiPOG protocols (ThaiPOG‐NB‐13HR or ‐18HR) between 2013 and 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographic data, treatment modalities, outcomes, and prognostic factors were evaluated and analyzed.

Results

A total of 183 patients with HR‐NBL undergoing a topotecan containing induction regimen were enrolled in this study. During the consolidation phase (n = 169), 116 patients (68.6%) received conventional chemotherapy, while 53 patients (31.4%) underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The 5‐year overall survival (OS) and event‐free survival (EFS) were 41.2% and 22.8%, respectively. Patients who underwent HSCT had more superior 5‐year EFS (36%) than those who received chemotherapy (17.1%) (p = .041), although they both performed similarly in 5‐year OS (48.7% vs. 39.8%, p = .17). The variation of survival outcomes was observed depending on the number of treatment modalities. HSCT combined with metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) treatment and maintenance with 13‐cis‐retinoic acid (cis‐RA) demonstrated a desirable 5‐year OS and EFS of 65.6% and 58.3%, respectively. Poorly or undifferentiated tumor histology and cis‐RA administration were independent factors associated with relapse and survival outcomes, respectively (p < .05).

Conclusion

A combination of HSCT and cis‐RA successfully improved the outcomes of patients with HR‐NBL in immunotherapy inaccessible settings.
Tri‐functional unit groups contained polyurethane composites with excellent antibacterial property and biocompatibility
Authors: Wang Chuyao , Xue Yunyun , Tian Hua , Zhao Zihao , Shen Shuyang , Fang Lifeng , Cui Ronglu , Han Jun , Zhu Baoku
Published: May 2022

As biomaterials, it is essential for polyurethane (PU) to have excellent antibacterial activity and biocompatibility at the same time. Herein, quaternary ammonium groups, sulfonic groups, and alkyl groups simultaneously introduced hyperbranched poly(amidoamine) (HPA‐QSA) was synthesized, which was further used to blend with PU and prepared as films. HPA‐QSA/PU blend films showed strong antibacterial activity to kill more than 99.99% of both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria due to the quaternary ammonium groups and long alkyl groups, as well as good biocompatibility through protein‐resistance, cytotoxicity, hemolysis assays under the combined action of cations and anions. Moreover, they exhibited stable antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity in aquatic solutions. Overall, HPA‐QSA/PU films prepared by facile blending process exhibit great promise as low‐cost, effective antibacterial, good biocompatible materials, indicating an appealing prospect in biomedical fields.
Effects of mycorrhizae, plants, and soils on phosphorus leaching and plant uptake: Lessons learned from a mesocosm study
Authors: Rubin Jessica A. , Görres Josef H.
Published: May 2022

Societal Impact Statement

Worldwide, farmers struggle to find the most efficacious practices which balance crop fertility needs and water quality protection. Through a greenhouse experiment, we investigated how soil status (high vs. low phosphorus [P] concentration), mycorrhizae (inoculated vs. not), and plant species (dogwood vs. willow) affected P plant uptake and leaching. We found mycorrhizae did not affect uptake or leaching, more P was leached from high than low P soil, dogwood uptook yet leached more P, and above ground biomass at the end of summer contained more P than roots. This study provides insights to be considered by researchers and practitioners who implement best management practices for water quality.

This research examined the effects of mycorrhizal inoculation in high and low phosphorus saturation soils on phosphorus uptake by Cornus sericea and Salix niger. The aim was to identify practices that improved water quality functions of riparian buffers to protect surface waters impacted by eutrophication.

A mesocosm experiment arranged as a random block design was conducted with mycorrhizal presence, soil phosphorus saturation status, and plant species as factors. Leachate, plant uptake, and soil phosphorus were measured to assess the effects.

Greater leachate and uptake of phosphorus were detected for C. sericea than for S. niger. Mycorrhizae had no effects on leaching nor on uptake of phosphorus in this experiment. High phosphorus saturated soils had greater leaching and uptake than the low phosphorus soils. Above ground biomass contained more phosphorus than below ground biomass in both species at time of harvest. Estimations of phosphorus removal through coppicing suggest a very slow removal rate in biodiverse multi‐functional riparian buffers.

Our results suggest that cyclical coppicing can be an improvement to Best Management Practices. Diverse riparian buffers are limited in the amount of phosphorus that they can store and mitigate, even with coppicing. The emphasis therefore should be on agricultural best management practices that reduce phosphorus export from upland fields. Further studies in phosphorus accumulating plant species with appropriate mycorrhizal symbionts are needed.
High‐resolution accurate mass approach to characterization of SCO‐267 metabolites using liquid chromatography hybrid quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhu Ying , Wang Ting , Zhao Na , Jiang Wenya
Published: May 2022

Rationale

SCO‐267 is a potent full agonist of G‐protein‐coupled receptor 40. As a promising therapeutic agent for type 2 diabetes mellitus, it is necessary to elucidate its metabolite profiles during the stage of drug development for safety considerations.

Methods

The in vitro metabolism was investigated by incubating SCO‐267 (5 μM) with liver microsomes and hepatocytes (rat and human). For in vivo metabolism, SCO‐267 (10 mg/kg) was orally administered to rats and plasma samples were collected. The metabolites were identified via measurements of accurate mass, elemental composition and product ions using liquid chromatography coupled to hybrid quadrupole Orbitrap high‐resolution mass spectrometry (LC‐Orbitrap‐MS).

Results

A total of 19 metabolites were structurally identified. M2 (hydroxyl‐SCO‐267), M15 (SCO‐267‐acyl‐glucuronide), M16 (desmethyl‐SCO‐267) and M17 (desneopentyl‐SCO‐267) were verified with reference standards. M2, M11, M16 and M17 were the major metabolites originating from hydroxylation, O‐demethylation and N‐dealkylation, respectively. Phenotyping study with recombinant human P450 enzymes demonstrated that hydroxylation (M2 and M11) was mainly catalyzed by CYP2C8 and 3A4; demethylation (M16) was mainly catalyzed by CYP2D6, and less catalyzed by CYP2C8 and 3A4; and N‐dealkylation (M17) was exclusively triggered by CYP3A4.

Conclusions

Hydroxylation, O‐demethylation, N‐dealkylation and acyl glucuronidation were the major metabolic pathways of SCO‐267. This study is the first to discover the metabolic fates of SCO‐267, which provides a basis for safety assessment of this drug candidate.
Correlations between dominant vegetation type and composition and diversity of soil bacterial communities in a subtropical forest
Authors: Cui Juyan , Yuan Ping , Zhang Qiufang , Yuan Xiaochun , Zeng Quanxin , Chen Yuehmin
Published: May 2022

Single and mixed vegetation types have significant effects on soil parameters and the composition and diversity of soil bacterial community. To understand the influence of different vegetation types on the structure of soil bacterial community across soil depth in a subtropical forest, we assessed the relative abundance of edaphic bacterial community and soil parameters, including pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and dissolved organic C in Daiyun Mountain Nature Reserve in Fujian Province, southeastern China. The study area constitutes pine coniferous forest (CF) of Pinus taiwanensis Hayata, broad‐leaved forest (BF) of Castanopsis fabri Hance, and a mixed forest comprising CF and BF (MF). Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Illumina sequencing of 16S ribosomal DNA were used to analyze the abundance, diversity, and composition of soil bacteria. The results showed that the pH, CEC, and diversity of tree species are all associated with the composition of bacterial community in the soil. It was found that CEC, soluble organic N, and pH largely affected the structure of soil bacterial community in A horizon, whereas CEC, moisture content, and organic P affected the structure of soil bacterial community in B horizon. We found that the dominant taxa in the CF and BF were Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria, respectively. The results of both mental and random forest analyses displayed groups according to vegetation types, indicating that the bacterial communities in the research site were significantly influenced by vegetation types in subtropical forests. The study highlights the ecological effects of forest management and elucidates the differences in the functional structure of soil bacterial communities under different vegetation types and soil depths.
Observational data from the adalimumab post‐marketing PYRAMID registry of patients with Crohn's disease who became pregnant: A post hoc analysis
Authors: Hart Ailsa , D’Haens Geert , Bereswill Mareike , Finney‐Hayward Tricia , Kalabic Jasmina , Levy Gweneth , Liang Huifang , Seow Cynthia H. , Loftus Edward V. , Panaccione Remo , Reinisch Walter , Satsangi Jack
Published: May 2022

Background

PYRAMID was an international post‐marketing registry that aimed to collect data on the long‐term safety and effectiveness of adalimumab treatment per local standard of care in patients with moderately to severely active Crohn's disease (CD). Here, we present post hoc analyses of observational data from patients who became pregnant while participating in this registry and receiving adalimumab.

Methods

From the subpopulation of patients receiving adalimumab who became pregnant while taking part in PYRAMID, data on patient characteristics, pregnancy outcomes, and complications of pregnancy were analysed retrospectively.

Results

Across the PYRAMID registry, 293 pregnancies occurred in patients who had gestational adalimumab exposure (average disease duration at last menstrual period: 8.6 years), resulting in 300 pregnancy outcomes. A total of 197 pregnancies (67.2%) were exposed to adalimumab in all trimesters per physician's decision. Of the known reported outcomes (96.3%), 81.7% (236/289) were live births, 10.4% (30/289) were spontaneous abortions, 4.8% (14/289) elective terminations, 2.8% (8/289) ectopic pregnancies, and 0.3% (1/289) was a stillbirth. Congenital malformations (pulmonary valve stenosis and tricuspid valve incompetence) were reported in one infant. In addition to the pregnancy outcomes described above, 23 complications of pregnancy were reported in 20 patients.

Conclusions

This analysis showed that adalimumab treatment in patients with CD, who became pregnant whilst participating in the PYRAMID registry, contributed no additional adverse effects during the pregnancy course or on pregnancy outcomes.
Multidrug resistant Enterococcus faecium isolate from cholangitis/cholecystitis in a dog
Authors: Sposato Alessio , Cordisco Marco , de Ruvo Giuseppe , Ferro Silvia , Raineri Rossana Alessandra , Trotta Adriana , Buonavoglia Domenico , Corrente Marialaura
Published: May 2022

Mucocele and cholecystitis were diagnosed in a 10 year‐old Shetland‐sheepdog presenting aspecific clinical signs. Blood examinations and ultrasonography investigation were performed before to surgical approach, which allowed to collect biopsies and samples for bacteriological analyses. In addition, the patient was subjected to cholecystectomy. A multidrug resistant Enterococcus faecium was isolated from the gallbladder specimens. On the basis of antimicrobial susceptibility test, nitrofurantoin was used. The correct bacteriological diagnosis is necessary to set up effective therapy, influencing the patient's prognosis and improving the recovery time.
Enchrony
Authors: Enfield N. J.
Published: May 2022

What are the properties of mind that make language the way it is, and languages the way they are? To answer those questions, it is necessary to look at the causal processes by which languagesbecomethe way they are. The relevant dynamic processes take place in different causal frames, including the familiar diachronic, phylogenetic, ontogenetic, and microgenetic frames. One frame is less frequently acknowledged and yet is arguably central to cognitive‐scientific explanations of language. This is theenchronicframe, which critically involves apublicsemiotic process (running at the time‐course of milliseconds and seconds) by which each utterance serves as an interpretant of—that is, a meaningful response to—what came before it, driving the progression of social interaction, the most experience‐near context of language usage. The notion of enchrony is needed for bringing together certain aspects of language that are typically handled by quite disparate conceptual and methodological approaches (e.g., lexical semantics, morphological typology, conversation analysis, sociolinguistic typology, diachronic linguistics). Situated within an integrated set of causal frames for language, enchrony provides conceptual tools for an account of language that foregrounds social cognition and interaction in a usage‐based model.

This article is categorized under:

Linguistics > Cognitive Linguistics
On wind turbine's loss of synchronisation during severe faults
Authors: Arasteh Amir , Cutululis Nicolaos A.
Published: May 2022

Grid codes mandate that wind turbines (WTs) remain connected even during severe faults. This requirement can lead to WTs' loss of synchronisation (LoS) with the AC grid under severe symmetrical faults. In this paper, the LoS is illustrated by the power balance principle. Then, a solution with improved performance for avoiding LoS during severe faults is proposed, implemented and verified by simulations. The results show that the solution eliminates the steady‐state frequency deviation during faults, resulting in a smoother WT transient during and post‐fault.
Magic zeroes and hidden symmetries
Authors: Craig Nathaniel , Garcia Isabel Garcia , Vainshtein Arkady , Zhang Zhengkang
Published: May 2022

Abstract

Selection rules arising from accidental or broken symmetries may be sufficiently obscure that their agency is hidden, leading to the appearance of “magic zeroes” — quantities that are suppressed without apparent recourse to a symmetry explanation. Magic zeroes and their corresponding hidden symmetries may shed new light on parametric hierarchies in the Standard Model and beyond. We identify the hidden symmetry responsible for a recently-discovered magic zero, the vanishing of the putative leading contribution to the anomalous dipole moments of the muon upon integrating out weak doublet and singlet vector-like fermions. Some of the tools involved — spurion analysis leveraging discrete symmetries of the free theory, field redefinitions, spectator fields, and non-supersymmetric non-renormalization theorems — may prove useful in the hunt for new magic zeroes and their hidden symmetries.