bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Invasive vegetation affects amphibian skin microbiota and body condition
Authors: Hernández-Gómez Obed , Byrne Allison Q. , Gunderson Alex R. , Jenkinson Thomas S. , Noss Clay F. , Rothstein Andrew P. , Womack Molly C. , Rosenblum Erica B.
Published: February 2020

Invasive plants are major drivers of habitat modification and the scale of their impact is increasing globally as anthropogenic activities facilitate their spread. In California, an invasive plant genus of great concern is Eucalyptus. Eucalyptus leaves can alter soil chemistry and negatively affect underground macro- and microbial communities. Amphibians serve as excellent models to evaluate the effect of Eucalyptus invasion on ground-dwelling species as they predate on soil arthropods and incorporate soil microbes into their microbiotas. The skin microbiota is particularly important to amphibian health, suggesting that invasive plant species could ultimately affect amphibian populations. To investigate the potential for invasive vegetation to induce changes in microbial communities, we sampled microbial communities in the soil and on the skin of local amphibians. Specifically, we compared Batrachoseps attenuatus skin microbiomes in both Eucalyptus globulus (Myrtaceae) and native Quercusagrifolia (Fagaceae) dominated forests in the San Francisco Bay Area. We determined whether changes in microbial diversity and composition in both soil and Batrachoseps attenuatus skin were associated with dominant vegetation type. To evaluate animal health across vegetation types, we compared Batrachoseps attenuatus body condition and the presence/absence of the amphibian skin pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. We found that Eucalyptus invasion had no measurable effect on soil microbial community diversity and a relatively small effect (compared to the effect of site identity) on community structure in the microhabitats sampled. In contrast, our results show that Batrachoseps attenuatus skin microbiota diversity was greater in Quercus dominated habitats. One amplicon sequence variant identified in the family Chlamydiaceae was observed in higher relative abundance among salamanders sampled in Eucalyptus dominated habitats. We also observed that Batrachoseps attenuatus body condition was higher in Quercus dominated habitats. Incidence of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis across all individuals was very low (only one Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis positive individual). The effect on body condition demonstrates that although Eucalyptus may not always decrease amphibian abundance or diversity, it can potentially have cryptic negative effects. Our findings prompt further work to determine the mechanisms that lead to changes in the health and microbiome of native species post-plant invasion.
Religious Mosque Leaders (Khateebs): Awareness, Perceptions, Practices and Attitude towards Mental Health, Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alhabeeb Abdulhameed Abdullah , Khayat Abdulelah Ishaq , Makkawi Adnan Ahmed , Qureshi Naseem Akhtar
Published: February 2020

Background: Mosques are the most holy places in the eyes of Allah-Exalted and Glorified, and the religious mosque leaders (Khateebs) who read 15-20 minutes Khutbah prior to Friday Prayers have great knowledge in religion of Islam and are considered the peace-building leaders through delivering the pertinent Friday sermons around the world.

Objective: This online consenting cross-sectional survey explored the mental health awareness, perceptions, attitudes and practices of Khateebs of Riyadh region, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: This survey used 14-items self-designed culturally competitive questionnaire and sociodemographic proforma to tap religious mosque leaders’ knowledge, perceptions, practices and attitude towards mental health.

Results: Majority of mosque leaders were middle aged with higher education and extensive experience as a model of true interlocutor (Khateeb). Their knowledge and practices revealed were replete with religious and spiritual healing approaches but religious mosque leaders did not completely overlook the role of psychiatric medications and mental health professionals in the management of mentally ill persons. However, religious mosque leaders showed some negative attitudes towards patients with mental disorders, and recommended 10 corrective guides including integration of mosques and religious leaders into mental health system.

Conclusion: Despite mosque leader’s good mental health literacy, they need further training to plug certain loopholes traced in their mental health literacy. Researchers should conduct further similar research overcoming the caveats of this survey not only in Saudi Arabia but also globally in Muslim world.
Small Scales Dynamics Inferred from Tidal Measurements to Mitigate Daily Floodings in the City of Douala: A Case Study of the Besseke's Flood Drain
Authors: Felix Besack , Raphael Onguene , Rodrigue Ebonji Seth , Lawrence Oben Mbeng , Betsaleel Kouandji Bekoumb Joseph , Willy Sone Essoh , Minette Tomedi Eyango
Published: February 2020

The recently constructed Besseke’s flood drain is always filled with water due to individual or combined effect of the tide, urbanization drainage, underground plumes and precipitations runoffs. This study focused on the analysis of small scales dynamics inferred from short term tidal measurements to mitigate the daily flooding in the Besseke’s flood drain. The methodology used is based on field measurements observation. The sampling of water level was conducted during two (02) different tidal regimes in May 2019. The volume of brackish water moving in and out of the Besseke’s flood drain was calculated using the formula of O’Brien. The results showed that Spring conditions had greater amplitudes than Neap tide conditions. During Spring tides, the tidal prism that passed in the midsection of the Besseke’s flood drain (S4) was 3.5 × 101 m3. This means that only a negligible amount of the incoming brackish water reaches the Besseke’s flood drain, amplifies and causes the daily flooding. The unexpected stronger amplitudes and dynamics observed in S4 could be due to its sub estuary nature. Furthermore, the percentage composition of water in this section, showed that the fraction of brackish water changes from 85.7% during Spring tide to 77.8% in the Neap tide conditions. The overall spatial evolution revealed that, the trend in tidal prism (during Spring conditions) was (S0) > (S2) > (S1) > (S3) > (S4) with corresponding values of 2.1 × 104, 1.3 ×104, 1.0 × 104, 2.5 × 102 and 3.5 × 101 m3 respectively. Finally, Tidal prism and Cross-sectional area showed a perfect correlation (r2 = 0.96). The best fitted Cross-sectional area-Tidal prism relationship was obtained in S3 (Market) during Spring tide condition.
Environment
Authors: Cantrell Abigail , Phukan Arvind , Rosenberg Carl , McGee Cline , Watson Donald ,   Kenneth Labs, Sturz Doug , Rosenberg Carl , Rice Eb , Crittenden Edwin , Crittenden John , Beach Eric K. , Johnson GH. , Powell Gary L. , Cook J. , Pulaski Jay ,   lauckgroup, Cook Jeffrey , Johnson Jim , Yellott John I. , Dachs Joshua ,   Theater Consultants, Clark K. , Paylore P. , Wilkes K.E. , Rylander Mark , Fairey P. , Chandra S. , Kerestecioglu A. , Novak Peter , Anderson Richard O. , Parks Shawn , Flanders Stephen N. , Tobiasson Wayne , Olgyay Victor
Published: February 2020

The transitional or thermal sailing season occurs before and after the winter season and requires no intervention by environmental control systems. Good hearing environments should maximize the signal‐to‐noise ratio. Capitalize on climatic conditions by incorporating construction practices that respond in beneficial ways to the environment, including: insulate coolant and refrigerant pipes from remote evaporative towers and condensers for their entire length and In hot locations, use roof construction similar to the cold climate roof detail. The climatic factors such as wind, solar radiation, and air temperature play the most eminent role in orientation. Solar radiation data is necessary for solar heating and daylighting design. Positive psychological factors may override the negative physiological factors, though the physiological factors may have a greater impact on the design as a whole. An acoustics consultant can evaluate proposed layouts and materials as part of the design process.
Improving Cancer Immunotherapy with CRISPR‐Based Technology
Authors: Li Zexu , Fei Teng
Published: February 2020

The rapidly evolving field of immunotherapy has attracted great attention in the field of cancer research and already revolutionized the clinical practice standard for treating cancer. Genetically engineered T cells expressing either T cell receptors or chimeric antigen receptors represent novel treatment modalities and are considered powerful weapons to fight cancer. The immune checkpoint blockade, which harnesses the negative control signaling behind the anti‐tumor immune response with therapeutic antibodies by blocking cytotoxic T lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 or the programmed cell death 1 pathways are another mainstream direction for cancer immunotherapy. In addition to cytotoxic T cells, other immune cell types such as nature killer cells and macrophages also possess the ability to eradicate cancer cells, which may serve as the basis to develop novel cancer immunotherapies. The advent of cutting‐edge genome editing technology, especially clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)‐based tools, has greatly expedited many biomedical research areas, including cancer immunology and immunotherapy. In this review, the contribution of current CRISPR techniques to basic and translational cancer immunology research is discussed, and the future for cancer immunotherapy in the age of CRISPR is predicted.
Influence of farm size and insured type on crop insurance returns
Authors: Sharma Sankalp , Walters Cory G.
Published: February 2020

In this article, we empirically examine the impact of farm size and insured type on returns from crop insurance participation in four regions using unit‐level crop insurance contract data. Our quasi‐panel empirical model provides guidance on whether larger producers are riskier than smaller producers and whether cash producers are riskier than landlords. In our sample, we did not find evidence that large producers obtain higher returns from insurance participation than their smaller counterparts. In fact, we found evidence of the opposite that larger producers in Iowa and Nebraska receive less than their smaller counterparts. Our farm size results suggest that any legislation limiting crop insurance participation from large producers would negatively influence the insurance pool, driving up premiums and consequently administrative and operational subsidies and per‐acre premium subsidy dollars. We did find evidence that cash insured types get more back in insurance than landlords in both Montana and Oklahoma, suggesting the possibility of moral hazard in input usage. Our results also highlight spatial differences in crop insurance outcomes.
Can “green food” certification achieve both sustainable practices and economic benefits in a transitional economy? The case of kiwifruit growers in Henan Province, China
Authors: Liu Ruifeng , Gao Zhifeng , Nayga Rodolfo M. , Shi Lijia , Oxley Les , Ma Hengyun
Published: February 2020

The unique “green food” certification scheme in China, which is aimed to ensure environmental and product safety, has attracted increasing attention. In this study, using 398 household‐level survey data from kiwifruit growers in Xixia county of Henan Province, China, alongside a propensity score matching method, we examined the impact of “green food” certification scheme on economic and environmental effects. Our results showed that: (a) the “green food” certification program did not have significant environmental effect of sustainable production practices because kiwifruit growers did not significantly increase farmyard manure, reduce pesticide and chemical material inputs, except for employed labor inputs; (b) the certification did have significantly economic effect because certified growers received higher sale prices and had reasonable and even higher economic benefits. These findings suggest that the “green food” certification program did not significantly reduce the chemical material inputs, but it helped kiwifruit growers receive higher economic benefits. The “green food” certification program has not achieved its two major goals for kiwifruit production in China [EconLit citations: O13, O44, Q01].
Light availability and rhizobium variation interactively mediate the outcomes of legume–rhizobium symbiosis
Authors: Heath Katy D. , Podowski Justin C. , Heniff Stephanie , Klinger Christie R. , Burke Patricia V. , Weese Dylan J. , Yang Wendy H. , Lau Jennifer A.
Published: February 2020

Premise

Nutrients, light, water, and temperature are key factors limiting the growth of individual plants in nature. Mutualistic interactions between plants and microbes often mediate resource limitation for both partners. In the mutualism between legumes and rhizobia, plants provide rhizobia with carbon in exchange for fixed nitrogen. Because partner quality in mutualisms is genotype‐dependent, within‐species genetic variation is expected to alter the responses of mutualists to changes in the resource environment. Here we ask whether partner quality variation in rhizobia mediates the response of host plants to changing light availability, and conversely, whether light alters the expression of partner quality variation.

Methods

We inoculated clover hosts with 11 strains of Rhizobium leguminosarum that differed in partner quality, grew plants under either ambient or low light conditions in the greenhouse, and measured plant growth, nodule traits, and foliar nutrient composition.

Results

Light availability and rhizobium inoculum interactively determined plant growth, and variation in rhizobium partner quality was more apparent in ambient light.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that variation in the costs and benefits of rhizobium symbionts mediate host responses to light availability and that rhizobium strain variation might more important in higher‐light environments. Our work adds to a growing appreciation for the role of microbial intraspecific and interspecific diversity in mediating extended phenotypes in their hosts and suggests an important role for light availability in the ecology and evolution of legume–rhizobium symbiosis.
Synthesis and Diverse Transformations of a Dinitrogen Dititanium Hydride Complex Bearing Rigid Acridane‐Based PNP‐Pincer Ligands
Authors: Mo Zhenbo , Shima Takanori , Hou Zhaomin
Published: February 2020

Studies on N2 activation and transformation by transition metal hydride complexes are of particular interest and importance. The synthesis and diverse transformations of a dinitrogen dititanium hydride complex bearing the rigid acridane‐based acriPNP‐pincer ligands {[(acriPNP)Ti]2(μ2‐η1:η2‐N2)(μ2‐H)2} are presented. This complex enabled N2 cleavage and hydrogenation even without additional H2 or other reducing agents. Furthermore, diverse transformations of the N2 unit with a variety of organometallic compounds such as ZnMe2, MgMe2, AlMe3, B(C6F5)3, PinBH, and PhSiH3 have been well established at the rigid acriPNP‐ligated dititanium framework, such as reversible bonding‐mode change between the end‐on and side‐on/end‐on fashions, diborylative N=N bond cleavage, the formal insertion of two dimethylaluminum species into the N=N bond, and the formal insertion of two silylene units into the N=N bond. This work has revealed many unprecedented aspects of dinitrogen reaction chemistry.
Origins of Boosted Charge Storage on Heteroatom‐Doped Carbons
Authors: Cui Cuixia , Gao Yong , Li Jun , Yang Chao , Liu Meng , Jin Huile , Xia Zhenhai , Dai Liming , Lei Yong , Wang Jichang , Wang Shun
Published: February 2020

Although tremendous efforts have been devoted to understanding the origin of boosted charge storage on heteroatom‐doped carbons, none of the present studies has shown a whole landscape. Herein, by both experimental evidence and theoretical simulation, it is demonstrated that heteroatom doping not only results in a broadened operating voltage, but also successfully promotes the specific capacitance in aqueous supercapacitors. In particular, the electrolyte cations adsorbed on heteroatom‐doped carbon can effectively inhibit hydrogen evolution reaction, a key step of water decomposition during the charging process, which broadens the voltage window of aqueous electrolytes even beyond the thermodynamic limit of water (1.23 V). Furthermore, the reduced adsorption energy of heteroatom‐doped carbon consequently leads to more stored cations on the heteroatom‐doped carbon surface, thus yielding a boosted charge storage performance.
Phenethylamine@Pillar[5]arene Biointerface for Highly Enantioselective Adsorption of Protein
Authors: Yan Hewei , Ma Junkai , Zhu Fei , Quan Jiaxin , Dhinakaran Manivannan Kalavathi , Li Haibing
Published: February 2020

In the life system, the biointerface plays an important role in cell adsorption, platelet adsorption and activation. Therefore, the study of protein adsorption on the biointerface is of great significance for understanding life phenomena and treatment in vitro. In this paper, a chiral biointerface was constructed by the virtue of host‐guest interaction between a water‐soluble pillar[5]arene (WP5) and phenethylamine (PEA) over a gold surface for adsorption of lysozyme proteins. From the experimental results it was identified that the host‐guest biointerface has a high adsorption capacity and strong chiral selectivity. Furthermotre, it was identified that the host‐guest interaction plays the decisive role in the enhancement of chirality of the interface, which was much beneficial for increasing protein adsorption and amplifying the capacity of chiral discrimination. Therefore, this work provides a new idea for the construction of biointerface materials with high protein adsorption capacity and high chiral selectivity through supramolecular interaction, which will have potential applications in the fields of biosensors, biocatalysts, biomaterials.
Observationalversusantibiotic treatment for uncomplicated diverticulitis: an individual-patient data meta-analysis
Authors: van Dijk S T , Chabok A , Dijkgraaf M G , Boermeester M A , Smedh K
Published: February 2020

Background

Two RCTs (AVOD and DIABOLO) demonstrated no difference in recovery or adverse outcomes when antibiotics for acute uncomplicated diverticulitis were omitted. Both trials showed non-significantly higher rates of complicated diverticulitis and surgery in the non-antibiotic groups. This meta-analysis of individual-patient data aimed to explore adverse outcomes and identify patients at risk who may benefit from antibiotic treatment.

Methods

Individual-patient data from those with uncomplicated diverticulitis from two RCTs were pooled. Risk factors for adverse outcomes and the effect of observational management were assessed using logistic regression analyses. P < 0·025 was considered statistically significant owing to multiple testing adjustment.

Results

In total, 545 patients in the observational group and 564 in the antibiotics group were included. No statistical differences were found in 1-year follow-up rates of ongoing diverticulitis (7·2 versus 5·0 per cent in observation versus antibiotics groups respectively; P = 0·062), recurrent diverticulitis (8·6 versus 9·6 per cent; P = 0·610), complicated diverticulitis (4·0 versus 2·1 per cent; P = 0·079) and sigmoid resection (5·0 versus 2·5 per cent; P = 0·214). An initial pain score greater than 7, white blood cell count exceeding 13·5 × 109/l and previous diverticulitis at presentation were risk factors for adverse outcomes. Antibiotic treatment did not prevent adverse outcomes in patients at high risk of adverse events.

Conclusion

Observational management of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis is safe. Some statistical uncertainty remains, depending on the thresholds of clinical relevance, owing to small differences, but no subgroup that would benefit from antibiotic treatment was apparent.
Leptospirosis as an unusual culprit of acute pancreatitis and portal vein thrombosis in a New Yorker
Authors: Afzal Iman , Thaker Rishi , Weissman Simcha , Kothari Megha
Published: February 2020

Leptospirosis often takes clinicians by surprise when presenting in urban locations with unusual manifestations. This delays diagnosis and treatment which increases mortality rate. Our case illustrates the importance of taking into account the socioeconomic backgrounds, environmental exposures, and clinical presentations of patients to create a good differential diagnosis.
Fluorescent and Biocompatible Ruthenium‐Coordinated Oligo(p‐phenylenevinylene) Nanocatalysts for Transfer Hydrogenation in the Mitochondria of Living Cells
Authors: Dai Nan , Zhao Hao , Qi Ruilian , Chen Yanyan , Lv Fengting , Liu Libing , Wang Shu
Published: February 2020

It is challenging to design metal catalysts for in situ transformation of endogenous biomolecules with good performance inside living cells. Herein, we report a multifunctional metal catalyst, ruthenium‐coordinated oligo(p‐phenylenevinylene) (OPV‐Ru), for intracellular catalysis of transfer hydrogenation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) to its reduced format (NADH). Owing to its amphiphilic characteristic, OPV‐Ru possesses good self‐assembly capability in water to form nanoparticles through hydrophobic interaction and π–π stacking, and numerous positive charges on the surface of nanoparticles displayed a strong electrostatic interaction with negatively charged substrate molecules, creating a local microenvironment for enhancing the catalysis efficiency in comparison to dispersed catalytic center molecule (TOF value was enhanced by about 15 fold). OPV‐Ru could selectively accumulate in the mitochondria of living cells. Benefiting from its inherent fluorescence, the dynamic distribution in cells and uptake behavior of OPV‐Ru could be visualized under fluorescence microscopy. This work represents the first demonstration of a multifunctional organometallic complex catalyzing natural hydrogenation transformation in specific subcellular compartments of living cells with excellent performance, fluorescent imaging ability, specific mitochondria targeting and good chemoselectivity with high catalysis efficiency.
Effect of Phosphorylation on the Structural Behaviour of Peptides Derived from the Intrinsically Disordered C‐Terminal Domain of Histone H1.0
Authors: Chaves‐Arquero Belén , Pérez‐Cañadillas José M. , Jiménez M. Angeles
Published: February 2020

To investigate the structural impact of phosphorylation on the human histone H1.0 C‐terminal domain, we performed NMR structural studies of model peptides containing a single phosphorylation site: T118‐H1.0 (T118PKK motif) and T140‐H1.0 (T140PVK motif). Both model peptides are mainly disordered in aqueous solution in their non‐phosphorylated and phosphorylated forms, but become structured in the presence of trifluoroethanol. The peptides T118‐H1.0 and pT118‐H1.0 contain two helical regions, a long amphipathic α helix spanning residues 104–115 and a short α/310 helix (residues 119–123), that are almost perpendicular in T118‐H1.0 but have a poorly defined orientation in pT118‐H1.0. Peptides T140‐H1.0 and pT140‐H1.0 form very similar α helices between residues 141–147. The TPKK and TPVK motifs show the same backbone conformation, but differ in their side‐chain contacts; the Thr and pThr side chains interact with the i+2 Lys side chain in the TPKK motif, and with the i+3 Lys side chain in the TPVK motif. The pT phosphate group in pT118‐H1.0 and pT140‐H1.0 has pKa values below the intrinsic values, which can be explained by non‐specific charge–charge interactions with nearby Lys. The non‐polar Val in the TPVK motif accounts for the pT140 pKa being closer to the intrinsic pKa value than the pT118 pKa. Altogether, these results validate that minimalist strategies using model peptides can provide structural details difficult to obtain in short‐lived intrinsically disordered proteins and domains.
Tetrathiafulvalene‐Fused Heterabuckybowl: Protonation‐Induced Electron Transfer and Self‐Sensitized Photooxidation
Authors: Liu Lei , Yan Chaoxian , Li Yecheng , Liu Zhe , Yuan Chengshan , Zhang Hao‐Li , Shao Xiangfeng
Published: February 2020

The electron donor tetrathiafulvalene (D1) was fused onto the electron‐rich heterabuckybowl trichalcogenasumanene (D2) through an electron‐deficient pyrazine unit (A) to give 1 c, 1 d, 2 c, and 2 d, featuring the D1–A–D2 structure. Both D1 and D2 play a pivotal role in intramolecular charge‐transfer (ICT) transitions, consequently 1 c, 2 d, 2 c, and 2 d show a broad ICT band at 450–720 nm in steady state. They exhibit two charge‐separated transient states, CS1 and CS2, that appear in sequence. CS1 has a short lifetime (542 fs), and the D1 moiety on CS1 is in the radical cation state with an absorption maximum (λmax) at 889 nm. CS1 then converts into CS2 (λmax, 1105 nm) through an ICT between D1.+ and D2, affording D1(1−δ).+ and D2δ.+. Compounds 1 c, 1 d, 2 c, and 2 d show protonation‐induced intramolecular electron transfer that leads to absorption at λ=700–1300 nm. Owing to the existence of an electron‐rich C=C bond on the D1 moiety and in situ generation of 1O2 by the pyrazine‐fused D2 moiety, compounds 1 c, 1 d, 2 c, and 2 d display self‐sensitized photooxidation in 50 s.
Copper‐Catalyzed Oxidative Benzylic C(sp3)−H Cyclization for the Synthesis of β‐Lactams
Authors: Nozawa‐Kumada Kanako , Saga Satoshi , Matsuzawa Yuta , Hayashi Masahito , Shigeno Masanori , Kondo Yoshinori
Published: February 2020

β‐Lactams are important structural motifs because of their ubiquity in natural products and pharmaceuticals. We report herein a Cu‐catalyzed intramolecular oxidative C(sp3)−H amidation for the synthesis of β‐lactams using tBuOOtBu. This method is based on Kharasch–Sosnovsky amidation and does not require prefunctionalization of C(sp3)−H bonds or the installation of a directing group, thereby allowing for the straightforward synthesis of β‐lactams. Our intramolecular functionalization protocol can be extended to diverse benzylic C(sp3)−H bonds and shows excellent functional‐group tolerance.
A Study of Magnetic Relaxation in Dysprosium(III) Single‐Molecule Magnets
Authors: Ding You‐Song , Han Tian , Zhai Yuan‐Qi , Reta Daniel , Chilton Nicholas F. , Winpenny Richard E. P. , Zheng Yan‐Zhen
Published: February 2020

Although the development of single‐molecule magnets (SMMs) is rapid, there are only two families of high energy barrier (Ueff) dysprosium(III) SMMs known so far: the cyclopentadienyl (Cp) family with a sandwich structure and the pentagonal‐bipyramidal (PB) family with D5h symmetry. These high‐barrier SMMs, which usually possess Ueff>500 cm−1 allow the separate study of the four magnetic relaxation paths, namely, direct, quantum tunnelling, Raman and Orbach processes, in detail. Whereas the first family is chemically more challenging to modify the Cp rings, it is shown herein that the latter family, with the common formulae [DyX1X2(Leq)5]+, such as X1/X2=−OCMe3, −OSiMe3, −OPh, Cl− or Br−; Leq=THF/pyridine/4‐methylpyridine, can be readily fine‐tuned with a range of axial and equatorial ligands by simple substitution reactions. This allows unambiguous confirmation that the Ueff mainly depends on the identity of X1 and X2, rather than on Leq. More importantly, the fitted parameters are barrier dependent. If X1 is an O donor and X2 is a halide, 500<Ueff<600 cm−1, log τ0avg (s)=−10.66, log Cavg (s−1 K−n)= −5.05, navg=4.1 and TH=9 K (in which τ0 is the pre‐exponential factor for the Orbach relaxation process, C and n are parameters used to describe Raman relaxation, and TH is the highest temperature at which magnetic hysteresis is observed). For cases in which both X1 and X2 are O donors, 900<Ueff<1300 cm−1, log τ0avg (s)=−11.63, log Cavg (s−1 K−n)= −6.03, navg=4.1 and 18<TH<25 K. Based on these results, it can be further concluded that Ueff not only has a linear correlation to the axial Dy−X bond lengths, but also to TH for these PB SMMs. This represents the first systematic study of a family of lanthanide SMMs and derives the first magneto‐structural correlation in Dy SMMs.
A Silylene–Germylene Molecule Containing a SiI−GeI Single Bond
Authors: Qin Yingying , Zheng Gang , Guo Yan , Gao Fangfang , Ma Jiani , Sun Wei , Xie Gang , Chen Sanping , Wang Yaoyu , Sun Huaming , Li Anyang , Wang Wenyuan
Published: February 2020

The first isolable silylene–germylene complex 5 was assembled by a salt metathesis reaction between the germylene anion 3 and the N‐heterocyclic chlorosilylene 4, and structurally characterized. The central structure of 5 demonstrates a remarkable gauche‐bent geometry with the silylene and germylene units, which are interconnected by a Si−Ge bond with a length of 2.4498(9) Å. This value is not only perceptibly longer than the distances known in doubly bonded germasilenes, and also slightly longer than those in germylsilanes. The DFT calculations on 5 confirmed a nearly nonpolar SiI−GeI single‐bond nature and its bonding orbital, as well as the aromaticity of the C3NGe‐rings in 3 and 5. The latter increases the molecular stability of 3 and 5, and makes the preparation of silylene–germylene complex 5 a reality.
Villains or heroes? The raison d'être of viruses
Authors: Watanabe Tokiko , Kawaoka Yoshihiro
Published: February 2020

The relationship between humans and viruses has a long history. Since the first identification of viruses in the 19th century, we have considered them to be ‘pathogens’ and have studied their mechanisms of replication and pathogenicity to combat the diseases that they cause. However, the relationships between hosts and viruses are various and virus infections do not necessarily cause diseases in their hosts. Rather, recent studies have shown that viral infections sometimes have beneficial effects on the biological functions and/or evolution of hosts. Here, we provide some insight into the positive side of viruses.
The relationship between glycaemic variability and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in patients with type 1 diabetes: A systematic review
Authors: Helleputte Simon , De Backer Tine , Lapauw Bruno , Shadid Samyah , Celie Bert , Van Eetvelde Birgit , Vanden Wyngaert Karsten , Calders Patrick
Published: February 2020

Rigorous glycaemic control—reflected by low HbA1c goals—is of the utmost importance in the prevention and management of complications in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). However, previous studies suggested that short‐term glycaemic variability (GV) is also important to consider as excessive glucose fluctuations may have an additional impact on the development of diabetic complications. The potential relationship between GV and the risk of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN), a clinical expression of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction, is of increasing interest. This systematic review aimed to summarize existing evidence concerning the relationship between GV and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in T1DM. An electronic database search of Medline (PubMed), Web of Science and Embase was performed up to October 2019. There were no limits concerning year of publication. Methodological quality was evaluated using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale for observational studies. Six studies (four cross‐sectional and two prospective cohorts) were included. Methodological quality of the studies varied from level C to A2. Two studies examined the association between GV and heart rate variability (HRV), and both found significant negative correlations. Regarding cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests (CARTs), two studies did not, while two other studies did find significant associations between GV parameters and CART scores. However, associations were attenuated after adjusting for covariates such as HbA1c, age and disease duration. In conclusion, this systematic review found some preliminary evidence supporting an association between GV and cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in T1DM. Hence, uncertainty remains whether high GV can independently contribute to the onset or progression of CAN. The heterogeneity in the methodological approach made it difficult to compare different studies. Future studies should therefore use uniformly evaluated continuous glucose monitoring‐derived parameters of GV, while standardized assessment of HRV, CARTs and other potential cardiac autonomic function parameters is needed for an unambiguous definition of CAN.
Variations in aroma and specific flavor in strawberry under different colored light‐quality selective plastic film
Authors: Peng Xin , Wang Bin , Wang Xile , Ni Binbin , Zuo Zhaojiang
Published: February 2020

Strawberry aroma is beneficial to the quality of the fruits and derived foods, as well as consumer health. Light quality affects strawberry aroma emission, which can be conveniently supplied by colored light‐quality selective plastic films. To produce high‐aroma strawberry by using optical colored light‐quality selective plastic film, the aroma emission and key gene expression were investigated under transparent (T), red (R), yellow (Y), green (G), blue (B), and purple (P) films. Moreover, the content of sugar, soluble proteins, and anthocyanins as well as total titratable acidity was also investigated. Strawberry released an abundance of aroma, mainly including esters, terpenoids, alkanes, alcohols, acids, aldehydes, and ketones. T, R, and Y films increased FaAAT (alcohol acyltransferase) expression to promote ester emission. Among strawberry aroma components, trans‐nerolidol showed the maximum emission amount. R film promoted its emission by increasing FaNES1 (nerolidol synthase) expression. Meanwhile, R film was also beneficial to the accumulation of reducing sugar, sucrose, total sugar, anthocyanins, and soluble proteins, and total titratable acidity. Therefore, high‐aroma strawberry can be produced by using R light selective plastic film, with increasing fruit chemical properties.
OPTIMIZED IRRIGATION SCHEDULING USING SWAT FOR IMPROVED CROP WATER PRODUCTIVITY
Authors: Padhiary Jagadish , Swain Janaki Ballav , Patra Kanhu charan
Published: February 2020

The agricultural sector is the largest consumer of the water resources potential of India. The ever‐increasing demand for this finite resource has led to water shortage in the Anandapur sub‐basin of the Baitarani River basin, which comes under the hot and subhumid region of India. The yield of maize, green gram and winter wheat in the basin was simulated for the Rabi season (October–February) using SWAT, considering both rainfed and irrigated scenarios. As observed, water stress progressively increased with a shift in the sowing period of crops from 15 October to 5 November at an interval of 10 days. In the present work, irrigation was scheduled considering the early sowing period, i.e. 15 October. Model performance was evaluated in terms of Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE), coefficient of determination (R2) and percentage bias (PBIAS). The performance of the model was found to be satisfactory for crop yield simulation during the calibration and validation periods. An optimal irrigation strategy was analysed considering three irrigation settings, i.e. S2 (sufficient irrigation), S3 (50% depletion of available water content, i.e. AWC) and S4 (70% depletion of AWC). The reduction in crop yield in S4 (deficit irrigation) was found to be relatively insignificant compared to full irrigation under scenario S2. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Affectivity in schizophrenia: Its relations with functioning, quality of life, and social support satisfaction
Authors: Pinho Lara G. , Pereira Anabela , Chaves Cláudia , Sequeira Carlos , Sampaio Francisco , Correia Tânia , Gonçalves Amadeu , Ferré‐Grau Carme
Published: February 2020

Objective

To evaluate the relationship between affectivity and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, quality of life, functioning, and social support satisfaction in schizophrenia.

Method

Cross‐sectional study of a sample of 282 schizophrenic patients. An interview was performed using a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and scales to evaluate positive and negative affect, quality of life, social support satisfaction, and functioning.

Results

Participants' employment status, gender, whether they smoked, hospitalization in the last year, antidepressant medication and benzodiazepines, quality of life, functioning, and satisfaction with social support had relationships with positive or negative affect.

Conclusion

This study provides further understanding of the factors related to affectivity in schizophrenia. More studies are needed to prove these relations and their effects on rehabilitation in people with schizophrenia.
Splenic T1ρ as a noninvasive biomarker for portal hypertension
Authors: Hectors Stefanie J. , Bane Octavia , Stocker Daniel , Carbonell Guillermo , Lewis Sara , Kennedy Paul , Schiano Thomas D. , Thung Swan , Fischman Aaron , Taouli Bachir
Published: February 2020

Background

There is a need for noninvasive methods for the diagnosis and monitoring of portal hypertension (PH).

Purpose

To 1) assess the correlation of liver and spleen T1 and T1ρ measurements with portal pressures in patients with chronic liver disease, and 2) to compare the diagnostic performance of the relaxation parameters with radiological assessment of PH.

Study Type

Prospective.

Subjects

Twenty‐five patients (M/F 16/9, mean age 56 years, range 21–78 years) undergoing portal pressure (hepatic venous pressure gradient [HVPG]) measurements.

Field Strength/Sequence

1.5T abdominal MRI scan, including T1ρ and T1 mapping.

Assessment

Liver and spleen T1ρ and T1, radiological PH score, and (normalized) spleen length were evaluated.

Statistical Tests

Spearman correlation of all MRI parameters with HVPG was assessed. The diagnostic performance of the assessed parameters for prediction of PH (HVPG ≥5 mmHg) and clinically significant PH (CSPH, HVPG ≥10 mmHg) was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

Results

The mean HVPG measurement was 7.8 ± 5.3 mmHg (PH, n = 18 [72%] including CSPH, n = 9 [36%]). PH score, (normalized) spleen length and spleen T1ρ significantly correlated with HVPG, with the strongest correlation found for spleen T1ρ (r = 0.613, P = 0.001). Spleen T1ρ was the only parameter that showed significant diagnostic performance for assessment of PH (area under the curve [AUC] 0.817, P = 0.015) and CSPH (AUC = 0.778, P = 0.024). Normalized spleen length also showed significant diagnostic performance for prediction of CSPH, with a slightly lower AUC (= 0.764, P = 0.031). The radiological PH score, T1ρ and T1 of the liver and T1 of the spleen, did not show significant diagnostic performance for assessment of CSPH (P > 0.075).

Data Conclusion

Spleen T1ρ showed a significant correlation with portal pressure and showed improved diagnostic performance for prediction of CSPH compared to radiological assessment. These initial results need confirmation in a larger cohort.

Level of Evidence: 1

Technical Efficacy Stage: 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:787–794.
A decade‐long temporal analyses of human group‐A rotavirus among children with gastroenteritis: Prevaccination scenario in West Bengal, eastern India
Authors: Chawla‐Sarkar Mamta , Banerjee Anindita , Lo Mahadeb , Mitra Suvrotoa , Okamoto Keinosuke , Deb Alok , Dutta Shanta
Published: February 2020

Despite the significant reduction in the global infantile death toll due to rotaviral diarrhea, India still contributes substantially to rotavirus‐related hospitalization as well as mortality rates. The rotavirus surveillance study conducted from 2008 through 2017 among children (≤5 years) with moderate to severe gastroenteritis seeking healthcare facilities at two hospitals in eastern India, revealed a change in the proportion of rotavirus positivity, seasonality, and age‐group specificity along with the cycling of different usual and unusual genotypes in this endemic setting. G1 strains predominated during 2008‐2010, while G2 and G9 genotypes eventually upsurged during 2011‐2013. G1 strains re‐established their lead during 2013‐2015, while G3 emerged for the first time in eastern India in 2015 and rooted itself as the cardinal strain 2016 onwards. Evolutionary analyses of all the predominant genotypes (G1, G2, G3, and G9) revealed that they were mostly phylogenetically distant to the rotavirus vaccine strains as depicted in the phylogenetic dendrogram. These decade‐long epidemiological studies during the pre‐vaccination period in West Bengal (eastern India) underscore the cocirculation of multiple rotavirus genotypes in addition to sporadic occurrence of zoonotic strains like G10P[6] and G11P[25].
Assessing patient perceptions of cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy
Authors: Siegel Anne M. , Clinton Chelsea M. , Post Annalisa L. , Truong Tracy , Pieper Carl F. , Hughes Brenna L.
Published: February 2020

Pregnant women impacted by cytomegalovirus (CMV) make clinical decisions despite uncertain outcomes. Intolerance of uncertainty score (IUS) is a validated measure of tendency for individuals to find unacceptable that a negative event might occur. We investigated patient perceptions of CMV infection during pregnancy and correlated IUS and knowledge with decision‐making. Electronic questionnaire was sent to women from July to August 2017. The questionnaire evaluated knowledge of CMV, IUS, and responses regarding management to three clinical scenarios with escalating risk of CMV including choices for no further testing, ultrasound, amniocentesis, or abortion. For each scenario, logistic regression was used to model IUS on responses. A total of 815 women were included. The majority of participants was white (63.1%) and 42% had a postgraduate degree. Over 70% reported that they had not previously heard of CMV. In the scenario with only CMV exposure, participants with increasing IUS were more likely to choose abortion (odds ratio [OR]  =  1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01, 1.06) and no further testing (OR  =  0.97; 95% CI: 0.95, 0.99). In the scenario with mild ultrasound findings in setting of CMV exposure, increasing IUS was associated with higher odds of choosing no further testing (OR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.94, 0.99). No significant association was observed between IUS and responses in the scenario with severe ultrasound abnormalities in setting of CMV exposure. The majority of patients had no knowledge of CMV. Higher IUS was associated more intervention in low severity scenarios, but in severe scenarios, IUS was not associated with participants' choices.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Network Structures: A Comparison Between Men and Women
Authors: Gay Natalie G. , Wisco Blair E. , Jones Eric C. , Murphy Arthur D.
Published: February 2020

This study estimated gender differences in the posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom network structure (i.e., the unique associations across symptoms) using network analysis in a Latin American sample. Participants were 1,104 adults, taken from epidemiological studies of mental health following natural disasters and accidents in Mexico and Ecuador. Symptoms of DSM‐IV PTSD were measured dichotomously with the Spanish version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. We estimated the PTSD symptom network of the full sample and in male and female subsamples as well as indices of centrality, the stability and accuracy of the modeled networks, and communities of nodes within each network. The male and female networks were compared statistically using the Network Comparison Test (NCT). Results indicated strength centrality was the only stable centrality measure, with correlation stability (CS) coefficients of .59, .28, and .44 for the full, male, and female networks, respectively. We found the most central symptoms, measured by strength centrality, were loss of interest and flashbacks for men; and concentration impairment, avoiding thoughts/feelings, and physiological reactivity for women. The NCT revealed that the global structure (M = 0.84), p = .704, and global strength (S = 5.04), p = .556, of the male and female networks did not differ significantly. Although some gender differences in the most central symptoms emerged, thus offering some evidence for gender differences pending replication in larger samples, on the whole, our results suggest that once PTSD develops, the way the symptoms are associated does not differ substantially between men and women.
Effect of relevant factors on radiation‐induced nasopharyngeal ulcer in patients with primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with intensity‐modulated radiation therapy
Authors: Fei Zhaodong , Chen Taojun , Qiu Xiufang , Chen Chuanben
Published: February 2020

Objective

To analyze the correlation between relevant factors and radiation‐induced nasopharyngeal ulcer (RINU) in primary nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treated with intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

Methods

Clinical data were collected for 599 patients with newly diagnosed NPC who had completed IMRT. The entire cohort was randomly divided into two subgroups. The relationship between RINU and IMRT dose‐volume were statistically analyzed with ROC curves and the Chi‐square test. Nutritional status during and after treatment was compared between patients with vs without RINU.

Results

The results obtained showed that dose‐volume had no effect on the incidence of RINU (P > .05). Nutrition‐related parameters differed significantly between patients with vs without RINU (P < .05).

Conclusion

The results obtained show that the incidence of RINU is not related to IMRT dose‐volume in the treatment of primary NPC. The incidence of RINU was found to be related to nutritional status during and after radiation therapy.

Level of Evidence

2a