bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cover crop–based, rotational no‐till management tactics influence crop performance in organic transition within the Mid‐Atlantic United States
Authors: Wallace John M. , Barbercheck Mary E. , Curran William , Keene Clair Lynn , Mirsky Steven Brian , Ryan Matthew , VanGessel Mark
Published: July 2021

Reducing the intensityand frequency of tillage in an organic grain system requires an emphasis on utilizing ecological processes to manage pests and fertility. Cover crop–based, organic rotational no‐till (CCORNT) corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production systems utilize cover crop surface mulch as the primary within‐season weed control tactic. Winter‐sown cereal rye (Secale cereale L.) was grown preceding soybean and hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth) mixtures before corn. We conducted a 3‐yr cropping systems experiment in Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania to evaluate crop management (planting date) and integrated weed management (IWM) tactics for CCORNT corn and soybean production in a corn–soybean–winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) rotation during the transition to organic. Corn and soybean yields were sensitive to planting date, but optimal planting dates differed among locations. Delayed cover crop termination did not consistently increase total cover crop biomass production or reduce weed biomass levels. High‐residue cultivation reduced total weed biomass across locations, but this IWM tactic produced variable results on cash crop yields. Total weed biomass was negatively correlated to soybean yields but did not influence corn yields. At the Pennsylvania location, delaying corn planting dates was positively correlated with predatory athropod activity‐density, which was positively correlated with corn populations. Assessment of CCORNT practices on short‐term soil health indicators (labile carbon, aggregate stability, entomopathogenic fungi) at the Pennsylvania location produced variable results. Adaptive pest management strategies will need to be used in CCORNT systems within the Mid‐Atlantic United States.
Multiple inducers of endothelial NOS (eNOS) dysfunction in sickle cell disease
Authors: Hebbel Robert P. , Vercellotti Gregory M.
Published: July 2021

A characteristic aspect of the robust, systemic inflammatory state in sickle cell disease is dysfunction of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). We identify 10 aberrant endothelial cell inputs, present in the specific sickle context, that are known to have the ability to cause eNOS dysfunction. These are: endothelial arginase depletion, asymmetric dimethylarginine, complement activation, endothelial glycocalyx degradation, free fatty acids, inflammatory mediators, microparticles, oxidized low density lipoproteins, reactive oxygen species, and Toll‐like receptor 4 signaling ligands. The effect of true eNOS dysfunction on clinical testing using flow‐mediated dilation can be simulated by two known examples of endothelial dysfunction mimicry (hemoglobin consumption of NO; and oxidation of smooth muscle cell soluble guanylate cyclase). This lends ambiguity to interpretation of such clinical testing. The presence of these multiple perturbing factors argues that a therapeutic approach targeting only a single injurious endothelial input (or either example of mimicry) would not be sufficiently efficacious. This would seem to argue for identifying therapeutics that directly protect eNOS function or application of multiple therapeutic approaches.
The relationship between digit ratio (2D:4D) and muscular fitness: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Pasanen Brooke E. , Tomkinson Jordan M. , Dufner Trevor J. , Park Chan Woong , Fitzgerald John S. , Tomkinson Grant R.
Published: July 2021

Background

Digit ratio (2D:4D), a marker of prenatal testosterone exposure, is a weak negative correlate of sports/athletic/fitness performance. While numerous studies have examined the relationship between 2D:4D and physical fitness, there has never been a comprehensive study that has synthesized studies examining relationships between 2D:4D and muscular fitness.

Objectives

To systematically review and meta‐analyze the relationship between 2D:4D and muscular fitness measured as handgrip strength (HGS).

Methods

We systematically searched five electronic databases, reference lists, topical systematic reviews/meta‐analyses, and personal libraries in November 2020. Peer‐reviewed, cross‐sectional studies that reported Pearson's correlation coefficients between objectively measured 2D:4D and HGS were included. We used random‐effects meta‐analysis to estimate the pooled correlation and the 95% confidence interval (95%CI), and moderator analyses to estimate the influence of sex and age.

Results

Data from 22 studies, representing 5271 individuals from 11 countries ranging in (mean) age from 10.4 to 58.0 years, were included. Overall, there was a weak negative correlation between 2D:4D and HGS (r = −0.15, 95%CI = –0.20 to −0.09), indicating that individuals with low 2D:4Ds had high HGS. We found substantial heterogeneity between studies (Q = 123.4, p < .0001; I2 = 74%), but neither sex (Q = 0.003, p = .96) nor age (Q = 0.46, p = .50) significantly moderated the pooled correlation.

Conclusions

We found a weak negative relationship between 2D:4D and HGS, which showed substantial heterogeneity between studies, but was neither moderated by sex nor age. Our finding probably reflects both the long‐term (organizational) and short‐term (activational) benefits of testosterone.
Auditory and olfactory findings in patients with USH2A‐related retinal degeneration—Findings at baseline from the rate of progression in USH2A‐related retinal degeneration natural history study (RUSH2A)
Authors: Iannaccone Alessandro , Brewer Carmen C. , Cheng Peiyao , Duncan Jacque L. , Maguire Maureen G. , Audo Isabelle , Ayala Allison R. , Bernstein Paul S. , Bidelman Gavin M. , Cheetham Janet K. , Doty Richard L. , Durham Todd A. , Hufnagel Robert B. , Myers Mark H. , Stingl Katarina , Zein Wadih M. ,   Foundation Fighting Blindness Consortium Investigator Group
Published: July 2021

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is characteristic of Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2), but less is known about SNHL in nonsyndromic autosomal recessive retinitis pigmentosa (ARRP) and olfaction in USH2A‐associated retinal degeneration. The Rate of Progression of USH2A‐related Retinal Degeneration (RUSH2A) is a natural history study that enrolled 127 participants, 80 with USH2 and 47 with ARRP. Hearing was measured by pure‐tone thresholds and word recognition scores, and olfaction by the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). SNHL was moderate in 72% of USH2 participants and severe or profound in 25%, while 9% of ARRP participants had moderate adult‐onset SNHL. Pure‐tone thresholds worsened with age in ARRP but not in USH2 participants. The degree of SNHL was not associated with other participant characteristics in either USH2 or ARRP. Median pure‐tone thresholds in ARRP participants were significantly higher than the normative population (p < 0.001). Among 14 USH2 participants reporting newborn hearing screening results, 7 reported passing. Among RUSH2A participants, 7% had mild microsmia and 5% had moderate or severe microsmia. Their mean (±SD) UPSIT score was 35 (±3), similar to healthy controls (34 [±3]; p = 0.39). Olfaction differed by country (p = 0.02), but was not significantly associated with clinical diagnosis, age, gender, race/ethnicity, smoking status, visual measures, or hearing. Hearing loss in USH2A‐related USH2 did not progress with age. ARRP patients had higher pure‐tone thresholds than normal. Newborn hearing screening did not identify all USH2A‐related hearing loss. Olfaction was not significantly worse than normal in participants with USH2A‐related retinal degeneration.
Dysautonomia in hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome and hypermobility spectrum disorders is associated with exercise intolerance and cardiac atrophy
Authors: Ruiz Maya Tania , Fettig Veronica , Mehta Lakshmi , Gelb Bruce D. , Kontorovich Amy R.
Published: July 2021

Dysautonomia is a recognized manifestation in patients with joint hypermobility (JH) disorders. Symptoms can be highly debilitating and commonly include physical deconditioning and poor aerobic fitness. In this study, the prevalence of dysautonomia, range of associated symptoms, patient‐reported physical activity levels, and echocardiographic features were assessed retrospectively in a cohort of 144 patients (94% female) with hypermobile Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (hEDS) or hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD). Echocardiographic parameters of left ventricular size and function were compared between patients with and without dysautonomia as well as to reported values from healthy controls. Dysautonomia was identified in 65% of female and 44% of male subjects and was associated with a high burden of symptomatology, most commonly exercise intolerance (78%). Exercise capacity was limited by dysautonomia, often postural symptoms, in half of all patients. We observed a reduction in physical activity following the onset or significant flare of hEDS/HSD, most strikingly noting the proportion of dysautonomic patients with sedentary lifestyle, which increased from 44% to 85%. JH‐related dysautonomia was associated with smaller cardiac chamber sizes, consistent with the previous reports in positional orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Dysautonomia is prevalent in patients with hEDS/HSD, and exercise intolerance is a key feature and leads to drastic decline in physical activity. Unfavorable cardiac geometry may underlie dysautonomia symptoms and may be due to cardiac atrophy in the setting of aerobic deconditioning.
Intermetallic FePt@PtBi Core–Shell Nanoparticles for Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysis
Authors: Guan Jingyu , Yang Shaoxuan , Liu Tongtong , Yu Yihuan , Niu Jin , Zhang Zhengping , Wang Feng
Published: July 2021

The development of active and stable platinum (Pt)‐based oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts with good resistance to poisoning is a prerequisite for widespread practical application of fuel cells. An effective strategy for enhancing the electrocatalytic performance is to tune or control the physicochemical state of the Pt surface. Herein, we show a general surface‐engineering approach to prepare a range of nanostructured Pt alloys by coating with alloy PtBi shells. FePt@PtBi core–shell nanoparticles showed the best ORR performance with a mass activity of 0.96 A mgPt−1 and a specific activity of 2.06 mA cm−2, respectively 7 times and 11 times those of the corresponding values for benchmark Pt/C. Moreover, FePt@PtBi shows much better tolerance to methanol and carbon monoxide than conventional Pt‐based electrocatalysts. The observed comprehensive enhancement in ORR performance of FePt@PtBi can be attributed to the increased compressive strain of the Pt surface due to in‐plane shearing resulting from the presence of the large Bi atoms in the surface‐structured PtBi overlayers, as well as charge displacement via Pt‐Bi bonding which mitigates crossover issues.
Advanced Electrolyte Design for High‐Energy‐Density Li‐Metal Batteries under Practical Conditions
Authors: Yuan Shouyi , Kong Taoyi , Zhang Yiyong , Dong Peng , Zhang Yingjie , Dong Xiaoli , Wang Yonggang , Xia Yongyao
Published: July 2021

Given the limitations inherent in current intercalation‐based Li‐ion batteries, much research attention has focused on potential successors to Li‐ion batteries such as lithium–sulfur (Li‐S) batteries and lithium–oxygen (Li‐O2) batteries. In order to realize the potential of these batteries, the use of metallic lithium as the anode is essential. However, there are severe safety hazards associated with the growth of Li dendrites, and the formation of “dead Li” during cycles leads to the inevitable loss of active Li, which in the end is undoubtedly detrimental to the actual energy density of Li‐metal batteries. For Li‐metal batteries under practical conditions, a low negative/positive ratio (N/P ratio), a electrolyte/cathode ratio (E/C ratio) along with a high‐voltage cathode is prerequisite. In this Review, we summarize the development of new electrolyte systems for Li‐metal batteries under practical conditions, revisit the design criteria of advanced electrolytes for practical Li‐metal batteries and provide perspectives on future development of electrolytes for practical Li‐metal batteries.
Enhanced mechanical performance of aDGEBAepoxyresin‐basedshape memory polymer by introducing graphene oxide via covalent linking
Authors: Romero‐Zúñiga Gabriela Yolotzin , Navarro‐Rodríguez Dámaso , Treviño‐Martínez María Esther
Published: July 2021

Shape memory polymers (SMP) are prepared, via dual thiol‐epoxy/thiol‐ene reactions, from diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), a trithiol (TMP), a tetraallyl amine (TAA), and small amounts (0.1–0.5 wt.%) of graphene oxide either pristine (GO) or functionalized with methacrylate groups (GOM). The incorporation of GOMto the epoxy resin network permits a good load transfer, which is reflected in improved properties such as Young modulus (from 220 to 519 MPa), tensile strength (from 46.3 to 69.2 MPa), Izod impact strength (from 0.051 to 0.42 J/mm), torque (from 0.008 to 0.031 Nm), and glass transition temperature (from 75 to 105°C). Such improvement in properties is attributed to the incorporation of GOMvia covalent linking, which is a good strategy for improving polymer‐particle interaction and particle dispersion. The epoxy‐based SMP also show high storage modulus (up to 2.36 GPa) and high deformation capacity, which are reflected in good shape fixity (between 97% and 100%) and thermo‐induced shape recovery (between 97% to 99.7%) behaviors in flexion mode tests.
Boosting the mechanical and fracture resistance of asphalt via biomimetic poly dopamine‐octadecylamine aramid fiber interface
Authors: Zhu Zhaorong , Liu Yu , Subhan Sidra , Ma Liangcai , Zhao Zhenxia , Li Jing
Published: July 2021

Weak interfacial effect between fiber and asphalt is considered to be main limitation in the extensive improvement of composite materials. Herein, a weaker interfacial layer between fiber and asphalt has extensively been modified via non‐destructive grafting. For this, poly dopamine (PDA) with highly active sites and lipophilic octadecylamine (ODA) with strong absorption were aimed to composite with aramid fiber (AF) as AF‐PDA‐ODA following biomimetic chemistry; hence the interfacial influence on asphalt was investigated. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy showed that AF‐PDA‐ODA composite was successfully prepared, which generated an effective chemical coupling reaction with asphalt. Contact angle measurement and specific surface analyzer tests confirmed that AF‐PDA‐ODA has better lipophilicity and larger specific surface area. Fluorescence microscopy tests confirmed that AF‐PDA‐ODA formed a uniformly developed network structure over asphalt, whereas scanning electron microscopy confirmed the “wave” structure of AF‐PDA‐ODA asphalt with stress buffering. Additionally, the adhesion was calculated via dynamic rheological shear apparatus where the tensile test showed that PDA‐ODA polymer interface layer enhanced the asphalt's fracture resistance as well as the mechanical properties of the asphalt has effectively been improved. This could provide an alternative asphalt material with enhanced adhesion and mechanical resistance properties in construction and building.
Low‐unsaturated soybean oils in EPDM rubber compounds
Authors: Shafranska Olena , Jones Alexander , Perkins Alex , Dahlgren Joseph , Tardiff Janice , Webster Dean C.
Published: July 2021

High oleic soybean oil and hydrogenated soybean oils having a different degree of unsaturation were investigated as bio‐based plasticizers for ethylene‐propylene‐diene monomer (EPDM) rubber filled with carbon black and vulcanized with sulfur. The plasticizing effect of the oils with different unsaturation levels was studied by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) while the variation in crosslink density of EPDM rubbers was investigated by the equilibrium solvent swelling method. The linear thermal expansion coefficient (LTEC) at different temperatures for EPDM rubbers formulated with different oils was examined by thermomechanical analysis (TMA). The oil with the highest level of unsaturation demonstrates the greatest plasticizing effect but interacts with vulcanizing sulfur lowering crosslink density and deteriorating the mechanical properties of the EPDM rubber. Hydrogenated oil with all‐saturated fatty acid chains shows no decrease in crosslink density, improvements in the mechanical properties of rubber but is less effective as a plasticizer for EPDM. The results of tensile testing for EPDM rubbers formulated with different concentrations of soy‐based oils were studied, correlated, and discussed. The properties of soy‐based EPDM rubbers compared to the properties of EPDM rubbers formulated with petroleum‐based paraffinic oil.
Knockdown of ER‐α36 expression inhibits glioma proliferation, invasion and epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition
Authors: Zhao Bowen , Ye Xiang , Yang Yuanyuan , Wang Yuxing , Wang Ru , Pan Xiaohua , Wang Molin
Published: July 2021

Estrogen receptor‐α36 (ER‐α36), a subtype of the estrogen receptor, is reported to play roles in tumorigenesis and tamoxifen resistance in several tumors, especially breast cancer. However, the role of ER‐α36 in glioma proliferation and invasion remains unknown. Here, we explored the function of ER‐α36 in glioma cells, using U87 and U251 cell lines. We found that ER‐α36 was upregulated in glioma tissues compared to adjacent nontumor tissues. In U87 and U251 glioma cell lines, inhibition of ER‐α36 expression by shRNA suppressed cell proliferation and invasion. In addition, the expression of an epithelial marker, ZO‐1, was upregulated while that of one mesenchymal marker, N‐cadherin, was downregulated with ER‐α36 knockdown. We also found that inhibition of ER‐α36 inactivated both PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK signals. Taken together, these data indicated that overexpression of ER‐α36 is associated with glioma proliferation and progression but that inhibition of ER‐α36 leads to suppressed invasion and the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition via PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK pathway inactivation in glioma cells.
Alternative and Uncommon Acylating Agents – An Alive and Kicking Methodology
Authors: Sivaraj Chandrasekaran , Gandhi Thirumanavelan
Published: July 2021

Functionalizing and derivatising organic molecules is a centerpiece in organic synthesis. Succinctly manipulating and installing acyl moieties in organic molecules spurred the interest of chemists owing to its occurrence in natural products, bioactive molecules, pharmaceuticals, and advanced materials. Traditionally, access to acylation reaction was achieved by Friedel‐Crafts reaction, Schotten‐Baumann, and Vilsmeier‐Haack acylation, however, these protocols own pitfalls. Further to make the acylation process attractive and environmentally friendly, toluene, aldehydes, alcohols, α‐keto acids, amines, amides, esters, ethers, nitriles, alkynes, alkenes, ketenes, N‐acylbenzotriazoles, ketones, thioacids, oximes, thiazolium carbinols, PIDA, diacyl disulfides and acyl salts were used as an acyl surrogates/reagents. Amusingly, these acylating reagents are considered uncommon and alternative to carboxylic acids, acid chlorides and acetic anhydrides. This short review aims to encompass the usage of acylating agents in transition‐metal, metal‐free, light‐driven and other demanding conditions, and thus reveals their practicality.
UPLC‐MS/MS assay for the simultaneous determination of pyrotinib and its oxidative metabolite in rat plasma: Application to a pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Chai Hui , Ai Yanhong , Cao Zhigang
Published: July 2021

Pyrotinib is an irreversible EGFR/HER2 inhibitor that has been approved for the treatment of breast cancer. The aim of this work was to establish a quantification method for the simultaneous determination of pyrotinib and its metabolite pyrotinib‐lactam in rat plasma using UPLC‐MS/MS. After simple protein precipitation with acetonitrile, the analytes and internal standard (neratinib) were separated on an ACQUITY BEH C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 μm) using a mobile phase of water containing 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile. The detection was performed using selected reaction monitoring mode with precursor‐to‐product ion transitions at m/z 583.2 > 138.1 for pyrotinib, m/z 597.2 > 152.1 for pyrotinib‐lactam, and m/z 557.2 > 112.1 for internal standard. The assay exhibited excellent linearity in the concentration range of 0.5–1000 ng/mL for pyrotinib and pyrotinib‐lactam. The assay met the criteria of the United States Food and Drug Administration–validated bioanalytical methods and was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of pyrotinib and its metabolite for the first time. Our results demonstrated that pyrotinib rapidly converted into pyrotinib‐lactam, whose in vivo exposure was 21% that of pyrotinib.
MicroRNA‐410 serves as a candidate biomarker in hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy newborns and provides neuroprotection in oxygen‐glucose deprivation‐injured PC12 and SH‐SY5Y cells
Authors: Meng Qinghong , Yang Peipei , Lu Yuanyuan
Published: July 2021

Background

MicroRNA‐410 (miR‐410) has been found to be deregulated in neonatal hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). However, the clinical significance and biological function of miR‐410 remain largely elusive. This study aims to investigate the expression and diagnostic performance of miR‐410 in HIE newborns, and explores the neuroprotective effect of miR‐410 in an oxygen‐glucose deprivation (OGD)‐induced cell injury model.

Methods

Expression of miR‐410 was examined using quantitative real‐time PCR, and its diagnostic performance was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic analysis. We used OGD‐injured PC12 and SH‐SY5Y cells to construct an in vitro HIE model. The effect of miR‐410 on OGD‐induced cell injury was analyzed by assessing cell viability and apoptosis. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was used to evaluate inflammation in cell model. A target gene was assessed according to the luciferase reporter assay.

Results

Serum miR‐410 expression was significantly decreased in HIE newborns and OGD‐injured cell model. The reduced miR‐410 expression served as a biomarker for the diagnosis and progression of HIE. The OGD‐induced impaired cell viability, enhanced cell apoptosis, and activated neuroinflammation were abrogated by the overexpression of miR‐140 in both PC12 and SH‐SY5S cells. Regarding the mechanisms underlying the function of miR‐410, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was proposed as a direct target of miR‐410.

Conclusion

All data revealed that serum downregulated miR‐410 in HIE serves as candidate diagnostic biomarker, and that miR‐410 exerts a neuroprotective role in OGD‐injured cells by improving cell viability and inhibiting cell apoptosis through targeting PTEN.
A clinical variable‐based nomogram could predict the survival for advanced NSCLC patients receiving second‐line atezolizumab
Authors: Shang Xiaoling , Shi Jianxiang , Wang Xiaohui , Zhao Chenglong , Yu Haining , Wang Haiyong
Published: July 2021

Objective

A nomogram model based on clinical variables was conducted to predict the survival in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving second‐line atezolizumab.

Methods

Four hundred and twenty‐four patients with NSCLC receiving atezolizumab from OAK study were regarded as the training cohort. Next, a nomogram model based on clinical variables in the training cohort was established to predict the survival of patients receiving atezolizumab. The concordance index, area under curve (AUC), and calibration plots were used to assess the performance of the nomogram model. In addition, 144 patients with NSCLC receiving atezolizumab from POPLAR study were regarded as the test cohort to validate the nomogram model. Using Kaplan–Meier and log‐rank test, we compared the survival difference between the high‐ and low‐risk groups, atezolizumab and docetaxel treatment groups, respectively.

Results

We successfully constructed a nomogram model based on different variable scores for predicting the survival in NSCLC patients receiving atezolizumab using the training cohort. According to risk score, patients receiving atezolizumab were divided into the high‐ and low‐risk groups. Importantly, in the training cohort, patients had worse overall survival (OS) in high‐risk group compared with the low‐risk group (median survival: 252.3 vs. 556.9 days; p < 0.0001). As expected, in the test cohort, the high‐risk patients also showed a worse OS (median survival: 288.8 vs. 529.3 days, p = 0.0003). In addition, all the patients from the training and test cohorts could be found the OS benefit from atezolizumab compared with docetaxel (all, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The clinical variable‐based nomogram model could predict the survival benefit for NSCLC patients receiving second‐line atezolizumab.
Psychological implications and rehabilitation programmes due to football‐related injuries
Authors: Borg Anthea Fernanda , Falzon Ruth , Muscat Adele
Published: July 2021

Background

This research explored the experience of footballers who had experienced a sports‐related injury and sought psychological and/or counselling support. What interventions did athletes find helpful/not helpful for coping with such an experience?

Method

Drawing upon the principles of phenomenology, hermeneutics, and ideography, interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) was used to provide insight into the athletes’ experiences and their personal perceptions of the injury. Semi‐structured interviews with six Maltese top‐level football players who have sustained and overcome a sports‐related injury were used for the collection of data.

Findings

The athletes’ appraisals of their injury were explored, and their attitudes towards the different forms of support received and the psychological interventions used were identified. Despite the psychological support sought and received on a personal level, the participants suggested that their mental health was often overlooked by their clubs, leaving them with feelings of helplessness and insecurity.

Recommendations

Recommendations, which can be adopted to create sports environments that promote athletes’ psychological well‐being, are presented. These include recruiting professional service providers such as counsellors and sport psychologists within clubs, as well as the promotion of such services to diminish the stigma around athletes’ mental health. Since sport psychologists usually focus on sports’ performance enhancement, it may be wise for clubs to create transdisciplinary teams, which include other health professionals, such as counsellors, for more in‐depth one‐to‐one counselling related to readiness to play. This suggests the implementation of holistic sport education programmes promoting mental well‐being. Recommendations for further research are also discussed.
Ventral calcification in the common femoral artery: A risk factor for major transcatheter aortic valve intervention access site complications
Authors: Staudacher Dawid L. , Braxmeier Katrin , Stachon Peter , Hilgendorf Ingo , Schlett Christopher , Zehender Manfred , von zur Mühlen Constantin , Bode Christoph , Heidt Timo
Published: July 2021

Objectives

We aimed to identify risk factors for major transcatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVI) access site complications based on detailed analysis of the preprocedural computed tomography angiogram (CTA).

Background

Transfemoral TAVI has become the treatment of choice for severe aortic stenosis in elderly patients, especially with increased perioperative risk. Frailty, however, favors complications at the vascular access site due to the large bore vascular sheath devices necessary for valve deployment.

Methods

In this monocentric study, we retrospectively analyzed the preprocedural CTA of 417 consecutive patients that received transfemoral TAVI between 2015 and 2019 to quantify vessel diameter, calcification volume and calcified plaque location in detail within 10 cm proximal to the femoral bifurcation.

Results

The mean age of the study cohort was 81.4 ± 6.5 years with a STS of 8 ± 5.2 representing a population at increased periprocedural risk. 54.4% of patients were female. Major vascular access site complications occurred in 8.2% of patients. Major vascular complications correlated statistically with a sheath‐to‐vessel diameter (SFAR) when measured 1 cm proximal to the femoral bifurcation using a line‐derived diameter and ventral calcification within the first 5 cm proximal to the bifurcation. In contrast, overall calcification volume had no influence.

Conclusions

Transfemoral TAVI harbors a considerable risk for vascular access site complications especially if vessel diameter is too small to comfortably host the sheath diameter at the area of the femoral bifurcation. For preprocedural TAVI planning and risk assessment, location of calcification, especially if located ventrally, seems to be more relevant than consideration of overall calcification alone.
Applying Common Equations of State to Three Reference Fluids: Water, Carbon Dioxide, and Helium
Authors: König Martin , Weber Sutter Markus
Published: July 2021

Thermodynamic properties such as density, vapor pressure, heat of evaporation, and the speed of sound for three pure reference fluids were computed applying various common equations of state over a fairly wide range of pressures and temperatures. The results obtained by rather basic equations of state were held against those from sophisticated reference equations, and contour plots were drawn indicating the respective error margins. Thereby, it was quantitatively illustrated within which limits cubic equations of state can be used for reasonably accurate calculations of various properties.
A superhydrophobic material based on an industrial solid waste for oil/water separation
Authors: Ren Tongyan , Wang Yuechuan , Fu Xiaowei , Jiang Liang , Yuan Anqian , Wei Zhengkai , Xu Hualiang , Lei Jingxin , He Ping , Xiao Yao
Published: July 2021

In this study, we employed phosphogypsum, an important solid waste of the phosphorus chemical industry, to prepare a superhydrophobic material for oil/water separation using sodium metasilicate and stearic acid as the chemical modifiers through a facile method. This superhydrophobic material has rough micro–nano structure with low surface energy and possesses an average water contact angle of 151.5° as well as an average water sliding angle of 1.8°, showing extremely low adhesion to water. Due to its superhydrophobicity and superoleophilicity, this material can separate various oil/water mixtures with high separation efficiencies in the range from 92% to 97% by means of a simple apparatus driven by gravity. Additionally, the superhydrophobic material has high resistance to acidic solution and repeated separation, showing the reliability for harsh conditions and long‐term use. This superhydrophobic material prepared based on industrial solid waste is a good example of waste valorization.
Layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly of polyethersulphone microfiltration membranes for dye removal and flux recovery improvement
Authors: da Silva Luiz Henrique Biscaia Ribeiro , Paixão Rebecca Manesco , Bergamasco Rosangela , Vieira Angélica Marquetotti Salcedo , Vieira Marcelo Fernandes
Published: July 2021

Commercial polyethersulphone (PES) microfiltration (MF) membranes were modified with sulphuric acid, chitosan (CHS), and graphene oxide (GO) by the layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly method via electrostatic interaction using a pressurized filtration system. The sulphonation of the PES MF membranes was achieved through the filtration of a 10 wt.% sulphuric acid solution. The negatively charged surface of the PES MF membrane allowed the interaction between amino groups present in CHS, and finally, the membrane substrate received a negatively charged layer through the filtration of a GO solution. Characterization analysis such as contact angle, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and attenuated total reflectance‐Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR) proved that the membranes were successfully modified. The effect of CHS and GO masses were analyzed, the membrane that showed the best performance was MF CHS1GO0.5 with a rejection of 100% of the Reactive Black 5 (RB5) dye, hydraulic permeability of 10.18 L/m2 · h · bar, and flux recovery ratio of 71.21%. Also, this membrane was able to be reused in three cycles, maintaining a rejection of RB5 higher than 85% during the last cycle. Therefore, the study provides an interesting alternative for the removal of anionic dyes solubilized in water from the textile industry.
South American fires and their impacts on ecosystems increase with continued emissions
Authors: Burton Chantelle , Kelley Douglas I. , Jones Chris D. , Betts Richard A. , Cardoso Manoel , Anderson Liana
Published: July 2021

Unprecedented fire events in recent years are leading to a demand for improved understanding of how climate change is already affecting fires, and how this could change in the future. Increased fire activity in South America is one of the most concerning of all the recent events, given the potential impacts on local ecosystems and the global climate from the loss of large carbon stores under future socio‐environmental change. However, due to the complexity of interactions and feedbacks, and lack of complete representation of fire biogeochemistry in many climate models, there is currently low agreement on whether climate change will cause fires to become more or less frequent in the future, and what impact this will have on ecosystems. Here we use the latest climate simulations from the UK Earth System Model UKESM1 to understand feedbacks in fire, dynamic vegetation, and terrestrial carbon stores using the JULES land surface model, taking into account future scenarios of change in emissions and land use. Based on evaluation of model performance for the present day, we address the specific policy‐relevant question: how much fire‐induced carbon loss will there be over South America at different global warming levels in the future? We find that burned area and fire emissions are projected to increase in the future due to hotter and drier conditions, which leads to large reductions in carbon storage, especially when combined with increasing land‐use conversion. The model simulates a 30% loss of carbon at 4°C under the highest emission scenario, which could be reduced to 7% if temperature rise is limited to 1.5°C. Our results provide a critical assessment of ecosystem resilience under future climate change, and could inform the way fire and land‐use is managed in the future to reduce the most deleterious impacts of climate change.
Comparative Safety of Dipeptidyl Peptidase‐4 Inhibitors and Sudden Cardiac Arrest and Ventricular Arrhythmia: Population‐Based Cohort Studies
Authors: Dawwas Ghadeer K. , Hennessy Sean , Brensinger Colleen M. , Deo Rajat , Bilker Warren B. , Soprano Samantha E. , Dhopeshwarkar Neil , Flory James H. , Bloomgarden Zachary T. , Aquilante Christina L. , Kimmel Stephen E. , Leonard Charles E.
Published: July 2021

In vivostudies suggest that arrhythmia risk may be greater with less selective dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors, but evidence from population‐based studies is missing. We aimed to compare saxagliptin, sitagliptin, and linagliptin with regard to risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA)/ventricular arrhythmia (VA). We conducted high‐dimensional propensity score (hdPS) matched, new‐user cohort studies. We analyzed Medicaid and Optum Clinformatics separately. We identified new users of saxagliptin, sitagliptin (both databases), and linagliptin (Optum only). We defined SCA/VA outcomes using emergency department and inpatient diagnoses. We identified and then controlled for confounders via a data‐adaptive, hdPS approach. We generated marginal hazard ratios (HRs) via Cox proportional hazards regression using a robust variance estimator while adjusting for calendar year. We identified the following matched comparisons: saxagliptin vs. sitagliptin (23,895 vs. 96,972) in Medicaid, saxagliptin vs. sitagliptin (48,388 vs. 117,383) in Optum, and linagliptin vs. sitagliptin (36,820 vs. 78,701) in Optum. In Medicaid, use of saxagliptin (vs. sitagliptin) was associated with an increased rate of SCA/VA (adjusted HR (aHR), 2.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24–3.25). However, in Optum data, this finding was not present (aHR, 0.79, 95% CI 0.41–1.51). Further, we found no association between linagliptin (vs. sitagliptin) and SCA/VA (aHR, 0.65, 95% CI 0.36–1.17). We found discordant results regarding the association between SCA/VA with saxagliptin compared with sitagliptin in two independent datasets. It remains unclear whether these findings are due to heterogeneity of treatment effect in the different populations, chance, or unmeasured confounding.
Giant cell tumor of thyroid cartilage: A diagnostic dilemma on aspiration cytology
Authors: Anandani Garima M. , Yadav Rajni , Verma Hitesh , Jain Deepali , Mathur Sandeep , Iyer Venkateswaran K.
Published: July 2021

Giant cell tumor of the larynx is an uncommon entity with only 44 cases reported in the literature. These tumors occur most commonly in the epiphysis of the long bones of female patients in third decade. Here in we report a case of 23 years old male patient who presented with an anterior neck swelling since past 4 months. Ultrasound and computed tomography of neck revealed a heterogenously enhancing lesion involving posteroinferior half of right thyroid cartilage with extension into the extra laryngeal strap muscle and intralaryngeal right true vocal cord and false vocal cord. The findings were suggestive of a neoplastic cartilagenous lesion. A fine needle aspiration of the right anterior neck mass was performed which showed many mononuclear cells along with multinucleated osteoclast type giant cells. No thyroid follicular cells or inflammatory cells were seen. A diagnosis of giant cell tumor of the thyroid cartilage was rendered on cytology. A biopsy was subsequently performed for the patient which confirmed the same. Hence, although giant cell tumor of the larynx is a rare entity, with very few cases reported in the literature, these tumors should be included in the differential diagnosis of giant cell lesions of the neck and aspiration cytology can offer an accurate and quick diagnosis in such cases.
Phylogeographic analysis delimits three evolutionary significant units of least chipmunks in North America and identifies unique genetic diversity within the imperiled Peñasco population
Authors: Puckett Emily E. , Murphy Sean M. , Bradburd Gideon
Published: July 2021

Although least chipmunks (Neotamias minimus) are a widely distributed North American species of least concern, the southernmost population, N. m. atristriatus (Peñasco least chipmunk), is imperiled and a candidate for federal listing as a subspecies. We conducted a phylogeographic analysis across the N. minimus range to assess genomic differentiation and distinctiveness of the N. m. atristriatus population. Additionally, we leveraged the historical component of sampling to conduct a temporal analysis of N. minimus genetic diversity and also considered climate change effects on range persistence probability by projecting a species distribution model into the IPCC5 RCP 2.6 and 8.5 scenarios. We identified three geographically structured groups (West, North, and South) that were supported by both mitochondrial and nuclear data. N. m. atristriatus grouped within a unique South subclade but were not reciprocally monophyletic from N. m. operarius, and nuclear genome analyses did not separate N. m. atristriatus, N. m. caryi, and N. m. operarius. Thus, while least chipmunks in the Southwest represent an evolutionary significant unit, subspecies distinctions were not supported and listing of the Peñasco population as a Distinct Population Segment of N. m. operarius may be warranted. Our results also support consideration of populations with North and West mitogenomes as two additional evolutionary significant units. We found that N. minimus genetic diversity declined by ~87% over the last century, and our models predicted substantial future habitat contraction, including the loss of the full contemporary ranges of N. m. atristriatus, N. m. arizonensis, and N. m. chuskaensis.
Analysis of gut microbiota in three species belonging to different genera (Hemitragus, Pseudois, and Ovis) from the subfamily Caprinae in the absence of environmental variance
Authors: Sun Guolei , Xia Tian , Wei Qinguo , Dong Yuehuan , Zhao Chao , Yang Xiufeng , Zhang Lei , Wang Xibao , Sha Weilai , Zhang Honghai
Published: July 2021

This study aimed to identify the effects of host species on the gut microbial flora in three species (Hemitragus jemlahicus, Pseudois nayaur, and Ovis orientalis) from the subfamily Caprinae, by excluding the impact of environment factors. We investigated the differences in intestinal flora of three species belonging to Caprinae, which were raised in identical conditions. Fecal samples were collected from tahr, mouflon, and bharal, and the V3–V4 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was analyzed by high‐throughput sequencing. The analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences reveals that fecal samples were mainly composed of four phyla: Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes, and Proteobacteria. The most abundant phyla included Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes accounting for >90% of the bacteria, and a higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was observed in tahrs. Moreover, significant differences existed at multiple levels of classifications in the relative abundance of intestinal flora, differing greatly between species. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene indicated that mouflon is closely related to bharal, and it is inconsistent with previous reports in the species evolutionary relationships. In this study, we demonstrated that the gut microbiota in tahr had a stronger ability to absorb and store energy from the diet compared with mouflon and bharal, and the characteristics of host–microbiome interactions were not significant.
Corrosion protection of soft‐cast steel in 1 M HCl with Araucaria heterophylla leaves extract
Authors: Rathod Manohar R. , Rajappa S. K.
Published: July 2021

The mass‐loss, polarization tests, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic strategies were applied to assess the inhibition performance of the environmentally friendly inhibitor Araucaria heterophylla leaves extract (AHLE) for soft‐cast steel corrosion safety in 1 M HCl at 300 ± 1 K. The environmentally friendly inhibitor creates a protective coat on soft‐cast steel that decelerates the corrosion process in acidic environments. The percentage inhibition effectiveness, corrosion current density, corrosion potential, cathodic and anodic Tafel slopes are being assessed. The outcomes of chemical and electrochemical research are almost similar. The inhibitor's inhibition activity was well illustrated by the AHLE adsorption on soft‐cast steel follows the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. According to the study, AHLE is a mixed kind of inhibitor. Experiments were conducted with varying inhibitor amounts and temperatures. The calculated values were in the range of −33.75 to −34.40 kJ/mol, which discloses the corrosion inhibitory action is exothermic and spontaneous. Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and contact angle techniques were used to determine the association of the AHLE on the metal surface.
Engineering of aerogel‐based electrocatalysts for oxygen evolution reaction
Authors: Gao Cunyuan , Zhang Xin , Zhan Jinhua , Cai Bin
Published: July 2021

The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is considered as one of the major roadblocks for many renewable electrochemical energy technologies, such as water splitting, rechargeable metal‐air batteries. Thus the development of efficient and low‐cost OER electrocatalysts has achieved a lot of research and development attention. Aerogels, as featured by large surface area, high porosity, and self‐supportability, provide an excellent platform for the design of efficient electrocatalysts. This review summarizes the recent progress of the aerogel‐based design of catalysts in tackling the challenges in the field of OER electrocatalysis. The correlation between catalyst design strategy and catalytic performances is evaluated to provide a roadmap for the development of aerogel‐based OER electrocatalysts. Thereafter, the current state of our understanding of the application of the aerogel concept in OER electrocatalysis is provided, which could serve as a guide to the development of future aerogel electrocatalysts.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons induce endothelial injury through miR‐155 to promote atherosclerosis
Authors: He Xiao‐Nan , Xin Jin‐Yuan , Zhan Jin‐Liang , Wu Fang‐Kun , Hou Jian , Sun Zhao‐Bin , Wang Ji , Zhang Xiao‐Ling , Bai Ying‐Chen
Published: July 2021

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are considered as an external factor that induces atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Although miR‐155 is known to be involved in cardiovascular disease, whether it is involved in PAH‐induced arteriosclerosis remains unclear. We evaluated the effects of PAHs on vascularization, permeability, and miR‐155 expression in HUVECs. We found that PAHs‐induced sclerosis of HUVECs was characterized by increasing permeability, decreasing proliferation, and vascular lumen number. The expression of miR‐155 was upregulated by PAHs treatment, and transfection with miR‐155 inhibitor could reverse above effect of PAHs‐induced sclerosis. Meanwhile, transcriptome sequencing revealed that 63 genes were downregulated in the group of PAHs treatment alone, and were then upregulated in the miR‐155 inhibitor group. These genes were mainly involved in complement and coagulation cascades, cytokine‐cytokine receptor interaction, TNF signaling pathway, and NF‐kappa B signaling pathway. Among these 63 genes, SERPIND1 was directly targeted and regulated by miR‐155. Further in vivo experiments in ApoE−/− mice confirmed that PAH accelerates the development of arteriosclerosis by promoting the expression of miR‐155 to downregulate the SERPIND1. Therefore, PAH exaggerates atherosclerosis by activating miR‐155‐dependent endothelial injury. This study provides a fundamental insight on the miR‐155 mechanism for PAHs enhancing atherosclerosis and miR‐155 potentially serving as a novel drug target.
Impact of XRCC1 genetic variants on its tissue expression and breast cancer risk: A case–control study
Authors: Abdel Ghafar Muhammad Tarek , El‐Rashidy Mohamed Ali , Gharib Fatma , Al‐Ashmawy Ghada Mohammad
Published: July 2021

X‐ray repair cross‐complementing group 1 (XRCC1), a coordinator protein of the DNA repair complex, is thought to be involved in cancer progression. This case–control study aimed to investigate the association of two biallelic single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp) of the XRCC1 gene with its tissue expression level and breast cancer (BC) risk in Egyptian women. This study included 100 BC female patients (case group 1) and 100 healthy females (control group 2). The XRCC1 tissue expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Genotyping of the two XRCC1 SNPs (Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp) using real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was also conducted. The XRCC1 expression level was significantly lower in cancerous tissues than adjacent non‐cancerous tissues (p < .001). The XRCC1 399Gln/Gln genotype, 399Gln allele, the dominant, and recessive models were significantly associated with lower XRCC1 expression in breast cancerous tissues and increased risk for BC (3.390‐, 1.965‐, 2.241‐, and 2.429‐folds, respectively). The XRCC1 399Gln/Gln genotype was associated with lower incidence of advanced tumor grade (OR: 0.06; 95%CI: 0.01–0.74; p = .028). Conversely, the XRCC1 Arg194Trp polymorphism did not show any significant association with either XRCC1 expression in breast cancer tissues or BC risk in all genetic models. The XRCC1 haplotypes, 399Gln/194Arg and 399Gln/194Trp, were associated with 1.800‐ and 1.675‐folds risk for BC, respectively. The XRCC1 gene polymorphism (Arg399Gln) is associated with reduced XRCC1 tissue expression and enhanced BC risk with a well‐differentiated nature in Egyptian women. Moreover, XRCC1 haplotypes, 399Gln/194Arg and 399Gln/194Trp, were associated with increased BC risk.