bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radical‐Induced 1,2‐Migrations of Boron Ate Complexes
Authors: Kischkewitz Marvin , Friese Florian W. , Studer Armido
Published: December 2019

1,2‐Boron ate rearrangements represent a fundamental class of transformations to establish new C−C bonds while retaining the valuable boron moiety in the product. In established ionic processes, the boron ate complex is activated by an external electrophile to induce a 1,2‐migration from boron to an adjacent sp3 or sp2 carbon atom. Recently, two complementary radical polar crossover approaches have been explored for both classes, 1,2‐migrations to sp2 and sp3 carbon centers. This review describes the general concepts in this emerging research field and summarizes recent developments of radical‐induced 1,2‐migrations from boron to carbon.

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Genome‐wide association study of cognitive performance in U.S. veterans with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
Authors: Harvey Philip D. , Sun Ning , Bigdeli Tim B. , Fanous Ayman H. , Aslan Mihaela , Malhotra Anil K. , Lu Qiongshi , Hu Yiming , Li Boyang , Chen Quan , Mane Shrikant , Miller Perry , Rajeevan Nallakkandi , Sayward Frederick , Cheung Kei‐Hoi , Li Yuli , Greenwood Tiffany A. , Gur Raquel E. , Braff David L. ,   Consortium on the Genetics of Schizophrenia (COGS), Brophy Mary , Pyarajan Saiju , O'Leary Timothy J. , Gleason Theresa , Przygodszki Ronald , Muralidhar Sumitra , Gaziano J Michael , Concato John , Zhao Hongyu , Siever Larry J.
Published: December 2019

Cognitive impairment is a frequent and serious problem in patients with various forms of severe mental illnesses (SMI), including schizophrenia (SZ) and bipolar disorder (BP). Recent research suggests genetic links to several cognitive phenotypes in both SMI and in the general population. Our goal in this study was to identify potential genomic signatures of cognitive functioning in veterans with severe mental illness and compare them to previous findings for cognition across different populations. Veterans Affairs (VA) Cooperative Studies Program (CSP) Study #572 evaluated cognitive and functional capacity measures among SZ and BP patients. In conjunction with the VA Million Veteran Program, 3,959 European American (1,095 SZ, 2,864 BP) and 2,601 African American (1,095 SZ, 2,864 BP) patients were genotyped using a custom Affymetrix Axiom Biobank array. We performed a genome‐wide association study of global cognitive functioning, constructed polygenic scores for SZ and cognition in the general population, and examined genetic correlations with 2,626 UK Biobank traits. Although no single locus attained genome‐wide significance, observed allelic effects were strongly consistent with previous studies. We observed robust associations between global cognitive functioning and polygenic scores for cognitive performance, intelligence, and SZ risk. We also identified significant genetic correlations with several cognition‐related traits in UK Biobank. In a diverse cohort of U.S. veterans with SZ or BP, we demonstrate broad overlap of common genetic effects on cognition in the general population, and find that greater polygenic loading for SZ risk is associated with poorer cognitive performance.
Improvements on electrical conductivity of the electrospun microfibers using the silver nanoparticles
Authors: Wei Zhimei , Qiu Fang , Wang Xiaojun , Long Shengru , Yang Jie
Published: December 2019

Conductive electrospun polymer fibers have attracted a great deal of interest in recent years. This study describes the preparation of electrically conductive microfibers composed of polyethersulfone/polydopamine/silver nanoparticles (PES/PDA/Ag NPs). Ag NPs acted as conductive centers, while hydroxyl‐ and amino‐rich functional groups and excellent adhesion properties of PDA served to connect the Ag NPs and PES microfibers. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that PDA was firmly adhered to PES microfibers. PES/PDA microfibers absorbed considerable amounts of silver ion from AgNO3 solution, resulting in Ag NPs. X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and SEM data represented the successful formation of PES/PDA/Ag NPs microfibers. Microfibers with optimal conductivity were obtained using a solution of 2% AgNO3 at pH 9 at 50 °C for 45 min. The electrical resistivity of our PES/PDA/Ag NPs microfibers was only 202 Ω/cm, much lower than that of regular PES microfibers (2.1 × 109 Ω/cm). These results show that the PES/PDA/Ag NPs microfibers are suitable for use as conductive polymer fibers in electromagnetic shielding, and conductivity‐sensing applications, and in flexible electronic devices and biosensors. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48788.
Novel insights into the development of the avian nasal cavity
Authors: Albawaneh Zahra , Ali Raana , Abramyan John
Published: December 2019

In embryonic amniotes, patterning of the oral and nasal cavities requires bilateral fusion between craniofacial prominences, ensuring an intact primary palate and upper jaw. After fusion has taken place, the embryonic nasal cavities open anteriorly through paired external nares positioned directly above the fusion zones and bordered by the medial nasal and lateral nasal prominences. In this study, we show that in the chicken embryo, the external nares initially form as patent openings but only remain so for a short period of time. Soon after the nasal cavities form, the medial nasal and lateral nasal prominences fuse together in stage 29 embryos, entirely closing off the external nares for a substantial portion of embryonic and fetal development. The epithelium between the fused prominences is then retained and eventually develops into a nasal plug that obstructs the nasal vestibule through the majority of the fetal period. At stage 40, the nasal plug begins to break down through a combination of cellular remodeling, apoptosis, as well as non‐apoptotic necrosis, leading to completely patent nasal cavities at hatching. These findings place chickens in a category with several species of nonavian reptiles and mammals (including humans) that have been found to develop a transient embryonic nasal plug. Our findings are discussed in the context of previously reported cases of nasal plugs as part of normal embryonic development and provide novel insight into the craniofacial development of a key model organism in developmental biology.
Comparison of oncological outcomes after open and laparoscopic re-resection of incidental gallbladder cancer
Authors: Vega E A , De Aretxabala X , Qiao W , Newhook T E , Okuno M , Castillo F , Sanhueza M , Diaz C , Cavada G , Jarufe N , Munoz C , Rencoret G , Vivanco M , Joechle K , Tzeng C-W D , Vauthey J-N , Vinuela E , Conrad C
Published: December 2019

Background

The safety and oncological efficacy of laparoscopic re-resection of incidental gallbladder cancer have not been studied. This study aimed to compare laparoscopic with open re-resection of incidentally discovered gallbladder cancer while minimizing selection bias.

Methods

This was a multicentre retrospective observational cohort study of patients with incidental gallbladder cancer who underwent re-resection with curative intent at four centres between 2000 and 2017. Overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) were analysed by intention to treat. Inverse probability of surgery treatment weighting using propensity scoring was undertaken.

Results

A total of 255 patients underwent re-resection (190 open, 65 laparoscopic). Nineteen laparoscopic procedures were converted to open operation. Surgery before 2011 was the only factor associated with conversion. Duration of hospital stay was shorter after laparoscopic re-resection (median 4 versus 6 days; P < 0·001). Three-year OS rates for laparoscopic and open re-resection were 87 and 62 per cent respectively (P = 0·502). Independent predictors of worse OS were residual cancer found at re-resection (hazard ratio (HR) 1·91, 95 per cent c.i. 1·17 to 3·11), blood loss of at least 500 ml (HR 1·83, 1·23 to 2·74) and at least four positive nodes (HR 3·11, 1·46 to 6·65). In competing-risks analysis, the RFS incidence was higher for laparoscopic re-resection (P = 0·038), but OS did not differ between groups. Independent predictors of worse RFS were one to three positive nodes (HR 2·16, 1·29 to 3·60), at least four positive nodes (HR 4·39, 1·96 to 9·82) and residual cancer (HR 2·42, 1·46 to 4·00).

Conclusion

Laparoscopic re-resection for selected patients with incidental gallbladder cancer is oncologically non-inferior to an open approach. Dissemination of advanced laparoscopic skills and timely referral of patients with incidental gallbladder cancer to specialized centres may allow more patients to benefit from this operation.
The trends of mortality and years of life lost of cancers in urban and rural areas in China, 1990‐2017
Authors: Cen Xingzu , Wang Dongming , Sun Weiwei , Cao Limin , Zhang Zhuang , Wang Bin , Chen Weihong
Published: December 2019

Background

With the rapid development of the socioeconomic status, the mortality of several cancers has been changed in China during the past 30 years. We aimed to estimate the trends of mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) of various cancers in urban and rural areas of China from 1990 to 2017.

Methods

The mortality data were collected from Chinese yearbooks and the age structure of population from the Chinese sixth population census were used as reference to calculate age‐standardized mortality rates (ASMRs) and YLLs rates. Joinpoint regression analysis was implemented to calculate the annual percent change (APC) of mortality rates and YLL rates for cancers. YLLs owing to premature death were calculated as age‐specific cancer deaths multiplied by the reference life expectancy at birth of 80 years for male and 82.5 years for female.

Results

The ASMRs of all cancers showed significant decreasing trends for urban residents from 1990 to 2017, such downward trend without significance was also observed among rural residents. Interestingly, ASMRs of lung cancer and breast cancer have raised continuously in rural areas since 1990. The age‐standardized YYL rates for urban and rural residents decreased with 1.02% and 0.85% per year, respectively. YLLs in rural areas were higher than those in urban areas, whereas YLLs of urban outstripped those of rural finally with the increasing in YLLs of urban areas (216.71% for men and 207.87% for women).

Conclusion

The ASMRs and YLL rates of all cancers have declined in urban and rural areas from 1990 to 2017. YLLs increased in urban areas and remained higher level in rural areas after 2014 year. Preventive measures should be strengthened to against cancer, especially for lung cancer.
How trainee therapists experience resilience: An interpretative phenomenological analysis
Authors: Roebuck Duncan Christopher , Reid Kate
Published: December 2019

While the importance of nurturing resilience in therapists (professionals in psychological therapies, e.g. counsellors, psychotherapists and counselling psychologists), and, in particular, trainees, is broadly recognised, there remains limited research directly exploring this area. The intention of the present study, therefore, is to explore how prequalification trainee therapists who have started seeing clients make sense of their experiences of resilience and to investigate what fosters and sustains their resilience. Four trainee therapists were recruited and one‐to‐one audio‐recorded interviews conducted. Interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyse the interview transcripts. Three overarching themes emerged from an analysis across the four cases: ‘Reframing resilience’, ‘Locating resilience’ and ‘Finding the right path’. Understanding how resilience is developed is integral to fuller understanding of trainee development. Trainees need to develop competence and confidence en route to becoming therapists. Perhaps somewhat paradoxically then, findings in the present study suggest that building resilience is about becoming more vulnerable. Trainees' feelings of empowerment, self‐efficacy and control may be fostered through a new less judging relationship to the experience of vulnerability. Indeed, a sense of confidence may emanate from the capacity for managed vulnerability.
2b or not 2b? Shoulder function after level 2b neck dissection: A double‐blind randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Dziegielewski Peter T. , McNeely Margaret L. , Ashworth Nigel , O’Connell Daniel A. , Barber Brittany , Courneya Kerry S. , Debenham Brock J. , Seikaly Hadi
Published: December 2019

Background

Selective neck dissection (SND) is a mainstay of head and neck cancer treatment. A common sequela is shoulder syndrome from spinal accessory nerve (SAN) trauma. Extensive dissection in neck levels 2 and 5 leads to SAN dysfunction. However, it is not known whether limited level 2 dissection reduces SAN injury. The purpose of this double‐blind randomized controlled trial was to determine whether omitting level 2b dissection would improve shoulder‐related quality of life and function.

Methods

Patients with head and neck cancers undergoing surgery were randomized 1:1 to SND without level 2b dissection (group 1) or with it (group 2) on their dominant‐hand side. Patients, caregivers, and assessors were blinded. The primary outcome was the change in the Neck Dissection Impairment Index (NDII) score after 6 months. An a priori calculation of the minimally important clinical difference in the NDII score was determined to establish a sample size of 15 patients per group (power = 0.8). Secondary outcomes included shoulder strength and range of motion (ROM) and SAN nerve conduction. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00765791).

Results

Forty patients were enrolled, and 30 were included (15 per group). Six months after the surgery, group 2 demonstrated a significant median decrease in the NDII from the baseline (30 points) and in comparison with group 1, whose NDII dropped 17.5 points (P = .02). Shoulder ROM and SAN conduction demonstrated significant declines in group 2 (P ≤ .05). No adverse events occurred.

Conclusions

Level 2b should be omitted in SND when this is oncologically safe and feasible. This allows for an optimal balance between function and cancer cure.
Centrifugal projections to the main olfactory bulb revealed by transsynaptic retrograde tracing in mice
Authors: Schneider Nanette Y. , Chaudy Sylvie , Epstein Alberto L. , Viollet Cécile , Benani Alexandre , Pénicaud Luc , Grosmaître Xavier , Datiche Frédérique , Gascuel Jean
Published: December 2019

A wide range of evidence indicates that olfactory perception is strongly involved in food intake. However, the polysynaptic circuitry linking the brain areas involved in feeding behavior to the olfactory regions is not well known. The aim of this article was to examine such circuits. Thus, we described, using hodological tools such as transsynaptic viruses (PRV152) transported in a retrograde manner, the long‐distance indirect projections (two to three synapses) onto the main olfactory bulb (MOB). The ß‐subunit of the cholera toxin which is a monosynaptic retrograde tracer was used as a control to be able to differentiate between direct and indirect projections. Our tracing experiments showed that the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, as a major site for regulation of food intake, sends only very indirect projections onto the MOB. Indirect projections to MOB also originate from the solitary nucleus which is involved in energy homeostasis. Other indirect projections have been evidenced in areas of the reward circuit such as VTA and accumbens nucleus. In contrast, direct projections to the MOB arise from melanin‐concentrating hormone and orexin neurons in the lateral hypothalamus. Functional significances of these projections are discussed in relation to the role of food odors in feeding and reward‐related behavior.
Lipschitz Bounds and Nonuniform Ellipticity
Authors: Beck Lisa , Mingione Giuseppe
Published: December 2019

We consider nonuniformly elliptic variational problems and give optimal conditions guaranteeing the local Lipschitz regularity of solutions in terms of the regularity of the given data. The analysis catches the main model cases in the literature. Integrals with fast, exponential‐type growth conditions as well as integrals with unbalanced polynomial growth conditions are covered. Our criteria involve natural limiting function spaces and reproduce, in this very general context, the classical and optimal ones known in the linear case for the Poisson equation. Moreover, we provide new and natural growth a priori estimates whose validity was an open problem. Finally, we find new results also in the classical uniformly elliptic case. Beyond the specific results, the paper proposes a new approach to nonuniform ellipticity that, in a sense, allows us to reduce nonuniform elliptic problems to uniformly elliptic ones via potential theoretic arguments that are for the first time applied in this setting. © 2019 the Authors.Communications on Pure and Applied Mathematicsis published by the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An adaptive interference‐aware and traffic‐aware channel assignment strategy for backhaul networks
Authors: Iqbal Saleem , Abdullah Abdul Hanan , Qureshi Kashif Naseer
Published: December 2019

The transformation of traditional networks is being done by incorporating billions of daily life devices to provide service centric facilities. With such transformation, the major traffic load will be shifted toward the backhaul networks, for which guaranteed bandwidth and low latency are the basic requirements. In order to meet varying and dynamic requirements of each service, the development of a traffic aware network is unavoidable. For achieving last mile connectivity, wireless mesh is considered among the best of the backhaul networks. Additionally, classical single radio mesh routers restrict the whole network on a single channel and hence the full potential of available multiple channels is not achieved. Mesh routers plugged with multiple radios allow parallel transmissions and increase the capacity of the whole network. To utilize network resources more efficiently, the key issue of channel assignment for wireless mesh networks is explored by incorporating the concept of time‐based traffic in a distributed environment. This paper discusses the problem of assigning a limited number of channels to a large number of radios while keeping in view the restrictions involved in maintaining a minimal level of interference and preservation of network topology. Bayesian estimation approach is used to gather knowledge from surroundings to determine the high‐interfered region and hence a distributed solution is proposed where mesh routers can find a more suitable alternative channel for respective region. The proposed algorithm is evaluated through traces on multiple flows, collected from simulations. Results show that the proposed algorithm performed better than existing ones in the presence of interference.
A platform architecture for occupancy detection using stream processing and machine learning approaches
Authors: Elkhoukhi Hamza , NaitMalek Youssef , Bakhouya Mohamed , Berouine Anass , Kharbouch Abdelhak , Lachhab Fadwa , Hanifi Majdoulayne , El Ouadghiri Driss , Essaaidi Mohamed
Published: December 2019

Context‐awareness in energy‐efficient buildings has been considered as a crucial fact for developing context‐driven control approaches in which sensing and actuation tasks are performed according to the contextual changes. This could be done by including the presence of occupants, number, actions, and behaviors in up‐to‐date context, taking into account the complex interlinked elements, situations, processes, and their dynamics. However, many studies have shown that occupancy information is a major leading source of uncertainty when developing control approaches. Comprehensive and real‐time fine‐grained occupancy information has to be, therefore, integrated in order to improve the performance of occupancy‐driven control approaches. The work presented in this paper is toward the development of a holistic platform that combines recent IoT and Big Data technologies for real‐time occupancy detection in smart building. The purpose of this work focuses mainly on the presence of occupants by comparing both static and dynamic machine learning techniques. An open‐access occupancy detection dataset was first used to assess the usefulness of the platform and the effectiveness of static machine learning strategies for data processing. This dataset is used for applications that follow the strategy aiming at storing data first and processing it later. However, many smart buildings' applications, such as HVAC and ventilation control, require online data streams processing. Therefore, a distributed real‐time machine learning framework was integrated into the platform and tested to show its effectiveness for this kind of applications. Experiments have been conducted for ventilation systems in energy‐efficient building laboratory (EEBLab) and preliminary results show the effectiveness of this platform in detecting on‐the‐fly presence of occupants, which is required to either make ON or OFF the system and then activate the corresponding embedded control technique (eg, ON/OFF, PID, state‐feedback).
Fat for fuel: lipid metabolism in haematopoiesis
Authors: Pernes Gerard , Flynn Michelle C , Lancaster Graeme I , Murphy Andrew J
Published: December 2019

The importance of metabolic regulation in the immune system has launched back into the limelight in recent years. Various metabolic pathways have been examined in the context of their contribution to maintaining immune cell homeostasis and function. Moreover, this regulation is also important in the immune cell precursors, where metabolism controls their maintenance and cell fate. This review will discuss lipid metabolism in the context of haematopoiesis, that is blood cell development. We specifically focus on nonoxidative lipid metabolism which encapsulates the synthesis and degradation of the major lipid classes such as phospholipids, sphingolipids and sterols. We will also discuss how these metabolic processes are affected by haematological malignancies such as leukaemia and lymphoma, which are known to have altered metabolism, and how these different pathways contribute to the pathology.
The role of task classification and design in curriculum making for preservice teachers of mathematics
Authors: Dempsey Majella , O’Shea Ann
Published: December 2019

This paper reports on a research project undertaken with a group (n = 19) of Irish preservice student teachers (PSTs) during the third year of a five‐year undergraduate education course. A series of workshops were carried out on the classification and design of mathematics tasks. The research is presented as a case study using mixed methods to gather data at three points, before the workshops, after the workshops, and two years later, when PSTs were in their final year. We argue that task classification and design are curriculum‐making activities for mathematics teachers. Through critically classifying and designing mathematics tasks, PSTs developed skills of evaluating the cognitive demand of tasks and showed evidence of using these skills in curriculum making. Through using frameworks to classify tasks, the PSTs demonstrated a capacity to take a more critical role in curriculum making. Our data show that the development of skills in these areas has lasting effects on PSTs’ practices and willingness to engage meaningfully with the curriculum in mathematics. The research highlights the need for PSTs to work on evaluating and designing tasks. How frameworks can support and enhance PSTs’ capacity to make curricular decisions is evidenced.
Modeling ocular lens disease in Xenopus
Authors: Viet Justine , Reboutier David , Hardy Serge , Lachke Salil A. , Paillard Luc , Gautier‐Courteille Carole
Published: December 2019

Background

Ocular lens clouding is termed as cataract, which depending on the onset, is classified as congenital or age‐related. Developing new cataract treatments requires new models. Thus far, Xenopus embryos have not been evaluated as a system for studying cataract.

Results

We characterized the developmental process of lens formation in Xenopus laevis tailbuds and tadpoles, and we disrupted the orthologues of three mammalian cataract‐linked genes in F0 by CRISPR/Cas9. We assessed the consequences of gene inactivation by combining external examination with histochemical analyses and functional vision assays. Inactivating the key metazoan eye development transcription factor gene pax6 produces a strong eye phenotype including an absence of eye tissue. Inactivating the genes for gap‐junction protein and a nuclease, gja8 and dnase2b, produces lens defects that share several features of human cataracts, including impaired vision acuity, nuclei retention in lens fiber cells, and actin fibers disorganization. We tested the potential improvement of the visual acuity of gja8 crispant tadpoles upon treatment with the molecular chaperone 4‐phenylbutyrate.

Conclusion

Xenopus is a valuable model organism to understand the molecular pathology of congenital eye defects, including cataracts, and to screen molecules with a potential to prevent or reverse cataracts.
Periphyton as an indicator of saltwater intrusion into freshwater wetlands: insights from experimental manipulations
Authors: Mazzei Viviana , Wilson Benjamin J. , Servais Shelby , Charles Sean P. , Kominoski John S. , Gaiser Evelyn E.
Published: December 2019

Saltwater intrusion has particularly large impacts on karstic wetlands of the Caribbean Basin due to their porous, carbonate bedrock and low elevation. Increases in salinity and phosphorus (P) accompanying saltwater intrusion into these freshwater, P‐limited wetlands are expected to alter biogeochemical cycles along with the structure and function of plant and algal communities. Calcareous periphyton is a characteristic feature of karstic wetlands and plays a central role in trophic dynamics, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling. Periphyton is extremely sensitive to water quality and quantity, but the effects of saltwater intrusion on these microbial mats remain to be understood. We conducted an ex situ mesocosm experiment to test the independent and combined effects of elevated salinity and P on the productivity, nutrient content, and diatom composition of calcareous periphyton from the Florida Everglades. We measured periphyton total carbon, nitrogen, and P concentrations and used settlement plates to measure periphyton accumulation rates and diatom species composition. The light and dark bottle method was used to measure periphyton productivity and respiration. We found that exposure to ~1 g P·m−2·yr−1 significantly increased periphyton mat total P concentrations, but had no effect on any other response variable. Mats exposed to elevated salinity (~22 kg salt·m−2·yr−1) had significantly lower total carbon and tended to have lower biomass and reduced productivity and respiration rates; however, mats exposed to salinity and P simultaneously had greater gross and net productivity. We found strong diatom species dissimilarity between fresh‐ and saltwater‐treated periphyton, while P additions only elicited compositional changes in periphyton also treated with saltwater. This study contributes to our understanding of how the ecologically important calcareous periphyton mats unique to karstic, freshwater wetlands respond to increased salinity and P caused saltwater intrusion and provides a guide to diatom indicator taxa for these two important environmental drivers.
Signaling from below: rodents select for deeper fruiting truffles with stronger volatile emissions
Authors: Stephens Ryan B. , Trowbridge Amy M. , Ouimette Andrew P. , Knighton W. Berk , Hobbie Erik A. , Stoy Paul C. , Rowe Rebecca J.
Published: December 2019

Many plant and fungal species use volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as chemical signals to convey information about the location or quality of their fruits or fruiting bodies to animal dispersers. Identifying the environmental factors and biotic interactions that shape fruit selection by animals is key to understanding the evolutionary processes that underpin chemical signaling. Using fourElaphomycestruffle species, we explored the role of fruiting depth, VOC emissions, and protein content in selection by five rodent species. We used stable isotope analysis of nitrogen (δ15N) in truffles to estimate fruiting depth, proton‐transfer‐reaction mass spectrometry to determine volatile emission composition, and nitrogen concentrations to calculate digestible protein of truffles. We coupled field surveys of truffle availability with truffle spore loads in rodent scat to determine selection by rodents. Despite presumably easier access to the shallow fruiting species,E. americanus(0.5‐cm depth) andE. verruculosus(2.5‐cm depth), most rodents selected for truffles fruiting deeper in the soil,E. macrosporus(4.1‐cm depth) andE. bartlettii(5.0‐cm depth). The deeper fruiting species had distinct VOC profiles and produced significantly higher quantities of odiferous compounds.Myodes gapperi(southern red‐backed vole), a fungal specialist, also selected for truffles with high levels of digestible protein,E. verruculosusandE. macrosporus. Our results highlight the importance of chemical signals in truffle selection by rodents and suggest that VOCs are under strong selective pressures relative to protein rewards. Strong chemical signals likely allow detection of truffles deep within the soil and reduce foraging effort by rodents. For rodents that depend on fungi as a major food source, protein content may also be important in selecting truffles.
Methodology for tDCS integration with fMRI
Authors: Esmaeilpour Zeinab , Shereen A. Duke , Ghobadi‐Azbari Peyman , Datta Abhishek , Woods Adam J. , Ironside Maria , O'Shea Jacinta , Kirk Ulrich , Bikson Marom , Ekhtiari Hamed
Published: December 2019

Understanding and reducing variability of response to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) requires measuring what factors predetermine sensitivity to tDCS and tracking individual response to tDCS. Human trials, animal models, and computational models suggest structural traits and functional states of neural systems are the major sources of this variance. There are 118 published tDCS studies (up to October 1, 2018) that used fMRI as a proxy measure of neural activation to answer mechanistic, predictive, and localization questions about how brain activity is modulated by tDCS. FMRI can potentially contribute as: a measure of cognitive state‐level variance in baseline brain activation before tDCS; inform the design of stimulation montages that aim to target functional networks during specific tasks; and act as an outcome measure of functional response to tDCS. In this systematic review, we explore methodological parameter space of tDCS integration with fMRI spanning: (a) fMRI timing relative to tDCS (pre, post, concurrent); (b) study design (parallel, crossover); (c) control condition (sham, active control); (d) number of tDCS sessions; (e) number of follow up scans; (f) stimulation dose and combination with task; (g) functional imaging sequence (BOLD, ASL, resting); and (h) additional behavioral (cognitive, clinical) or quantitative (neurophysiological, biomarker) measurements. Existing tDCS‐fMRI literature shows little replication across these permutations; few studies used comparable study designs. Here, we use a representative sample study with both task and resting state fMRI before and after tDCS in a crossover design to discuss methodological confounds. We further outline how computational models of current flow should be combined with imaging data to understand sources of variability. Through the representative sample study, we demonstrate how modeling and imaging methodology can be integrated for individualized analysis. Finally, we discuss the importance of conducting tDCS‐fMRI with stimulation equipment certified as safe to use inside the MR scanner, and of correcting for image artifacts caused by tDCS. tDCS‐fMRI can address important questions on the functional mechanisms of tDCS action (e.g., target engagement) and has the potential to support enhancement of behavioral interventions, provided studies are designed rationally.
Modulating the global orientation bias of the visual system changes population receptive field elongations
Authors: Merkel Christian , Hopf Jens‐Max , Schoenfeld Mircea Ariel
Published: December 2019

The topographical structure of the visual system in individual subjects can be visualized using fMRI. Recently, a radial bias for the long axis of population receptive fields (pRF) has been shown using fMRI. It has been theorized that the elongation of receptive fields pointing toward the fovea results from horizontal local connections bundling orientation selective units mostly parallel to their polar position within the visual field. In order to investigate whether there is a causal relationship between orientation selectivity and pRF elongation the current study employed a global orientation adapter to modulate the orientation bias for the visual system while measuring spatial pRF characteristics. The hypothesis was that the orientation tuning change of neural populations would alter pRF elongations toward the fovea particularly at axial positions parallel and orthogonal to the affected orientation. The results indeed show a different amount of elongation of pRF units and their orientation at parallel and orthogonal axial positions relative to the adapter orientation. Within the lower left hemifield, pRF radial bias and elongation showed an increase during adaptation to a 135° grating while both parameters decreased during the presentation of a 45° adapter stimulus. The lower right visual field showed the reverse pattern. No modulation of the pRF topographies were observed in the upper visual field probably due to a vertical visual field asymmetry of sensitivity toward the low contrast spatial frequency pattern of the adapter stimulus. These data suggest a direct relationship between orientation selectivity and elongation of population units within the visual cortex.
Analysis of patterns and risk factors regarding the onset of nodules in the contralateral thyroid lobe during follow‐up ultrasonography among patients after unilateral lobectomy for the treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Sun Chao , Wang Qian , Guo Qianqian , Chang Qing , Liang Xin , Wang Dong , Dai Hongbin , Hu Zhiguang , Xu Tianyu , Feng Wenqi , Li Zhengjiang , Niu Lijuan
Published: December 2019

Background

This study tries to find the patterns of new nodules in contralateral thyroid lobe among papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs) after lobectomy using ultrasonography.

Methods

Of note, 456 PTCs were enrolled. Clinicopathological features of primary tumors and sonographic patterns of new nodules in contralateral lobe were documented. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for new nodules.

Results

The overall incidence of new nodules was 41.9%. 96.3% of new nodules were no greater than 1 cm while only 10.5% of those were with high suspicion of malignancy. There was no difference in the incidence and sonographic patterns of new nodules between patients with an original tumor size <1 cm (n = 267) vs 1 to 4 cm (n = 189). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed age (OR, 1.021; 95% CI, 1.001‐1.041; P = .036) played risk factor for new nodules while tumor size >1 cm did not.

Conclusion

New nodules in the contralateral lobe were common, but usually small and benign by ultrasound features. Older age was found to be a risk factor to predict new nodules. This study supports lobectomy for 1‐4 cm PTC in terms of incidence of new nodules on the remnant lobe.
Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease With Additional Criteria to Predict Short‐Term Mortality in Severe Flares of Chronic Hepatitis B
Authors: Fung James , Mak Lung‐Yi , Chan Albert Chi‐Yan , Chok Kenneth Siu‐Ho , Wong Tiffany Cho‐Lam , Cheung Tan‐To , Dai Wing‐Chiu , Sin Sui‐Ling , She Wong‐Hoi , Ma Ka‐Wing , Seto Wai‐Kay , Lai Ching‐Lung , Lo Chung‐Mau , Yuen Man‐Fung
Published: December 2019

Background and Aims

The prognosis in severe acute flares of chronic hepatitis B (AFOCHB) is often unclear. The current study aimed to establish the predictive value using the Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score for short‐term mortality for severe AFOCHB.

Approach and Results

Patients with severe AFOCHB with bilirubin > 50 µmol/L, alanine aminotransferase > 10× upper limit of normal, and international normalized ratio > 1.5 were included. All patients were commenced on entecavir and/or tenofovir. Laboratory results and MELD scores were pooled to calculate mortality at four time points (days 7, 14, 21, and 28). A total of 240 patients were included. Median hepatitis B virus DNA was 7.77 log IU/mL (range, 4.11‐10.06), and 49 (20.4%) were hepatitis B e antigen–positive. The 7, 14, 21, and 28‐day survival was 96.7%, 88.5%, 79.5%, and 72.8%, respectively. Using pooled results derived from 4,201 blood samples, the area under the receiver operating curve for the MELD score to predict day 7, 14, 21, and 28 mortality was 0.909, 0.892, 0.883, and 0.871, respectively. For MELD ≤ 28, mortality at day 28 was low (<25%) compared with > 50% mortality for MELD ≥ 32. For MELD = 28‐32, higher day‐28 mortality was observed for four criteria: age ≥52 years, alanine aminotransferase > 217 U/L, platelets < 127, and abnormal baseline imaging (all P < 0.001). In this MELD bracket, the 28‐day mortality was 0%, 12.1%, 23.8%, 59.4%, and 78.8% for the presence of zero, one, two, three, and four criteria, respectively.

Conclusions

MELD score at any time points can accurately predict the short‐term mortality. Patients with MELD ≥ 28 should be worked up for liver transplantation, and those with MELD = 28‐32 with three to four at‐risk criteria, or MELD ≥ 32 should be listed.
The development of liquid biopsy for research and clinical practice in lymphomas: Report of the 15‐ICML workshop on ctDNA
Authors: Rossi Davide , Kurtz David M. , Roschewski Mark , Cavalli Franco , Zucca Emanuele , Wilson Wyndham H.
Published: December 2019

This report summarizes a closed workshop cosponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research, the European School of Oncology, and the 15th‐International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma to discuss critical open questions on liquid biopsy in lymphoid malignancies, develops a roadmap for their analytical and clinical validation, and prioritizes research areas.
Impact of heat advection on the thermal regime of roads built on permafrost
Authors: Chen Lin , Fortier Daniel , McKenzie Jeffrey M. , Sliger Michel
Published: December 2019

In northern regions, transportation infrastructure can experience severe structural damages due to permafrost degradation. Water infiltration and subsurface water flow under an embankment affect the energy balance of roadways and underlying permafrost. However, the quantification of the processes controlling these changes and a detailed investigation of their thermal impacts remain largely unknown due to a lack of available long‐term embankment temperature data in permafrost regions. Here, we report observations of heat advection linked to surface water infiltration and subsurface flow based on a 9‐year (from 2009 to 2017) thermal monitoring at an experimental road test site built on ice‐rich permafrost conditions in southwestern Yukon, Canada. Our results show that snowmelt water infiltration in the spring rapidly increases temperature in the upper portion of the embankment. The earlier disappearance of snow deposited at the embankment slope increases the thawing period and the temperature gradient in the embankment compared with the natural ground. Infiltrated summer rainfall water lowered the near‐surface temperatures and subsequently warmed embankment fill materials down to 3.6‐m depth. Heat advection caused by the flow of subsurface water produced warming rates at depth in the embankment subgrade up to two orders of magnitude faster than by atmospheric warming (heat conduction). Subsurface water flow promoted permafrost thawing under the road embankment and led to an increase in active layer thickness. We conclude that the thermal stability of roadways along the Alaska Highway corridor is not maintainable in situations where water is flowing under the infrastructure unless mitigation techniques are used. Severe structural damages to the highway embankment are expected to occur in the next decade.
Reducing overtreatment associated with overdiagnosis in cervical cancer screening—A model‐based benefit–harm analysis for Austria
Authors: Sroczynski Gaby , Esteban Eva , Widschwendter Andreas , Oberaigner Wilhelm , Borena Wegene , von Laer Dorothee , Hackl Monika , Endel Gottfried , Siebert Uwe
Published: December 2019

A general concern exists that cervical cancer screening using human papillomavirus (HPV) testing may lead to considerable overtreatment. We evaluated the trade‐off between benefits and overtreatment among different screening strategies differing by primary tests (cytology, p16/Ki‐67, HPV alone or in combinations), interval, age and diagnostic follow‐up algorithms. A Markov state‐transition model calibrated to the Austrian epidemiological context was used to predict cervical cancer cases, deaths, overtreatments and incremental harm–benefit ratios (IHBR) for each strategy. When considering the same screening interval, HPV‐based screening strategies were more effective compared to cytology or p16/Ki‐67 testing (e.g., relative reduction in cervical cancer with biennial screening: 67.7% for HPV + Pap cotesting, 57.3% for cytology and 65.5% for p16/Ki‐67), but were associated with increased overtreatment (e.g., 19.8% more conizations with biennial HPV + Papcotesting vs. biennial cytology). The IHBRs measured in unnecessary conizations per additional prevented cancer‐related death were 31 (quinquennial Pap + p16/Ki‐67‐triage), 49 (triennial Pap + p16/Ki‐67‐triage), 58 (triennial HPV + Pap cotesting), 66 (biennial HPV + Pap cotesting), 189 (annual Pap + p16/Ki‐67‐triage) and 401 (annual p16/Ki‐67 testing alone). The IHBRs increased significantly with increasing screening adherence rates and slightly with lower age at screening initiation, with a reduction in HPV incidence or with lower Pap‐test sensitivity. Depending on the accepted IHBR threshold, biennial or triennial HPV‐based screening in women as of age 30 and biennial cytology in younger women may be considered in opportunistic screening settings with low or moderate adherence such as in Austria. In organized settings with high screening adherence and in postvaccination settings with lower HPV prevalence, the interval may be prolonged.
Post‐Last Glacial Maximum evolution of a “fjord‐type” lake based on high‐resolution seismic data: the Lago Roca/Acigami (southern Tierra del Fuego, Argentina/Chile)
Authors: Bran Donaldo Mauricio , Lozano Jorge Gabriel , Civile Dario , Lodolo Emanuele , Cerredo María E. , Tassone Alejandro , Baradello Luca , Grossi Maurizio , Vilas Juan
Published: December 2019

Lago Roca/Acigami is a “fjord‐type” lake located in the southernmost part of South America, in the proximity of the Beagle Channel. A high‐resolution seismic survey was carried out to analyse the seismic stratigraphy of the lake and to shed some light on the post‐Last Glacial Maximum history of the area. Six seismic units were recognised, and their nature and depositional context were interpreted using seismic stratigraphy and acoustic facies analysis. A buried large ridge was identified within the glacial unit (SU1), interpreted as a frontal moraine that indicates a stabilisation phase. After retreat of the glacier from the basin, the trough was flooded by meltwater and a lake developed (SU2). The seismic facies, from bottom to top, depict a transition from ice‐contact (SU2; SU3) to ice‐distal proglacial conditions (SU4). A thick draping unit (SU5) marks a marine transgressive event and the instauration of a fjord environment in the basin. The marine transgression was a rapid event preceded by a fall in the lake level that caused an erosional unconformity. During the fjord phase the sedimentation remained controlled by meltwater discharge. Sea level fall, and subsequent disconnection from the Beagle Channel was accompanied by a progradation of the glaciofluvial deltaic sediments and the occurrence of several mass‐wasting deposits (SU6). © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Combining threshold analysis and GRADE to assess sensitivity to bias in antidepressant treatment recommendations adjusted for depression severity
Authors: Holper L
Published: December 2019

Threshold analysis has recently been proposed to be used in combination with the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) in order to assess the sensitivity to plausible bias of treatment recommendations derived from Bayesian network meta‐analysis (NMA). Here, it was aimed to apply the combination of threshold analysis and GRADE to judge quantitative and qualitative information on risk of bias in antidepressant treatment recommendations. The analysis was based on the data set provided by Cipriani et al. (The Lancet 2018) comparing 21 antidepressants in adult major depressive disorder (MDD). Primary outcomes were efficacy (response rate) and acceptability (dropout rate) adjusted for the covariate depression severity. The combined approach suggested sensitivity to plausible bias to be largest for antidepressant recommendations top ranked by Cipriani et al., that is, amitriptyline, duloxetine, paroxetine, and venlafaxine in terms of efficacy and agomelatine, escitalopram, paroxetine, and venlafaxine in terms of acceptability. Covariate ranges within which recommendations were most sensitive to plausible bias were very severe depression in terms of efficacy (smallest threshold, ie, the largest sensitivity, around 39 Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HDRS]) and moderate depression in terms of acceptability (smallest thresholds around 16 and 35 HDRS). This indicates that treatment recommendations within these ranges may likely change if plausible bias adjustments take place. The present findings may support decision makers in judging the sensitivity to plausible bias of current antidepressant treatment recommendations to accurately guide treatment decisions in MDD depending on depression severity.
Are All Deep Learning Architectures Alike for Point‐of‐Care Ultrasound?: Evidence From a Cardiac Image Classification Model Suggests Otherwise
Authors: Blaivas Michael , Blaivas Laura
Published: December 2019

Objectives

Little is known about optimal deep learning (DL) approaches for point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) applications. We compared 6 popular DL architectures for POCUS cardiac image classification to determine whether an optimal DL architecture exists for future DL algorithm development in POCUS.

Methods

We trained 6 convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with a range of complexities and ages (AlexNet, VGG‐16, VGG‐19, ResNet50, DenseNet201, and Inception‐v4). Each CNN was trained by using images of 5 typical POCUS cardiac views. Images were extracted from 225 publicly available deidentified POCUS cardiac videos. A total of 750,018 individual images were extracted, with 90% used for model training and 10% for cross‐validation. The training time and accuracy achieved were tracked. A real‐world test of the algorithms was performed on a set of 125 completely new cardiac images. Descriptive statistics, Pearson R values, and κ values were calculated for each CNN.

Results

Accuracy ranged from 96% to 85.6% correct for the 6 CNNs. VGG‐16, one of the oldest and simplest CNNs, performed best at 96% correct with 232 minutes to train (R = 0.97; κ = 0.95; P < .00001). The worst‐performing CNN was the newer DenseNet201, with 85.6% accuracy and 429 minutes to train (R = 0.92; κ = 0.82; P < .00001).

Conclusions

Six common image classification DL algorithms showed considerable variability in their accuracy and training time when trained and tested on identical data, suggesting that not all will perform optimally for POCUS DL applications. Contrary to well‐established accuracies for CNNs, more modern and deeper algorithms yielded poorer results.