bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long non coding RNAs involved in MAPK pathway mechanism mediates diabetic neuropathic pain
Authors: Ren Xinlu , Yang Runan , Li Lin , Xu Xiumei , Liang Shangdong
Published: August 2020

Diabetes is the largest global epidemic of the 21st century, and the cost of diabetes and its complications comprise about 12% of global health expenditure. Diabetic neuropathy is the most common complication of diabetes, affecting up to 50% of patients over the course of their disease. Among them, 30%–50% develop neuropathic pain, which has typical symptoms that originate from the toes and progress to foot ulcers and seriously influence quality of life. The pathogenesis of diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is complicated and incompletely understood and there is no effective treatment except supportive treatment. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a class of noncoding RNAs exceeding 200 nucleotides in length, have been shown to play key roles in fundamental cellular processes, and are considered to be potential targets for treatment. Recent research indicates that lncRNA is involved in the pathogenesis of DNP. Certain overexpressed lncRNAs can enhance the purinergic receptor‐mediated neuropathic pain in peripheral ganglia and inflammatory cytokines are released due to receptors activated by adenosine triphosphate. In recent years, our laboratory also has been exploring the relationship and pathogenesis between lncRNAs and DNP. In this review, we focus on the recent progress in functional lncRNAs associated with DNP and investigate their roles related to respective receptors.
Angiographic performance of everolimus‐eluting stents for the treatment of coronary in‐stent restenosis in daily practice
Authors: Wiebe Jens , Rai Himanshu , Kuna Constantin , Cassese Salvatore , Kessler Thorsten , Rheude Tobias , Colleran Roisin , Schunkert Heribert , Koch Tobias , Kufner Sebastian , Joner Michael , Kastrati Adnan , Byrne Robert A.
Published: August 2020

Objectives

The present study aims to analyze the angiographic anti‐restenotic performance of durable polymer everolimus‐eluting stents (EES) for the treatment of in‐stent restenosis (ISR) in daily practice.

Background

Randomized data is available supporting the use of drug‐coated balloons and drug‐eluting stents for the treatment of ISR; however, additional real‐world data including angiographic follow‐up is needed.

Methods

Patients who underwent EES‐implantation for the treatment of drug‐eluting stent ISR and attended for a 6–8 months angiographic surveillance were analyzed. Off‐line assessment of the angiograms was conducted at a central quantitative coronary angiographic core laboratory.

Results

A total of 426 patients with ISR were treated with EES and had undergone angiographic follow‐up. The mean age was 66.8 ± 9.9 years and 27.5% suffered from diabetes. A total of 459 lesions were treated. The diameter stenosis decreased from 64.3 ± 19.1% (preprocedural) to 12.0 ± 6.4% (postprocedural). At 6–8 months angiographic follow‐up, the in‐segment diameter stenosis was 38.3 ± 21.7% and the in‐stent late luminal loss was 0.54 ± 0.74 mm in the treated area analysis. The rate of recurrent binary restenosis was 25.7%.

Conclusions

In the setting of ISR, the angiographic anti‐restenotic efficacy of stenting with EES is comparable to that observed in randomized clinical trials and less favorable than its performance in patients undergoing stenting for de novo disease.
Enhancing the of Performance of Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries through Electrochemical Impregnation of Sulfur in Hierarchical Mesoporous Carbon Nanoparticles
Authors: Kim Seong‐Jun , Ahn Minchul , Park Jungjin , Jeoun Yunseo , Yu Seung‐Ho , Min Dal‐Hee , Sung Yung‐Eun
Published: August 2020

Hierarchical mesoporous carbon was studied as a key material for enhancing sulfur utilization in Li−S batteries. Commonly, thermal sulfur infiltration into mesoporous carbon was a representative method for S−C composites; however, these had some problems such as pore blocking or nonuniform deposition of sulfur. Electrochemical sulfur impregnation without chemical or thermal infiltration reduced the preprocess time and enabled efficient polysulfide diffusion into the carbon pores. As the soluble polysulfides are smaller and more mobile than solid‐state sulfur, they could be physically or chemically adsorbed into the pores of the carbon additives. This approach enhanced the cycle stability and rate performance of the batteries. This study will provide an efficient and economic use of porous carbons in the Li−S battery field.
Fabrication and characterization of zein/bioactive glass deposited on pretreated magnesium via electrophoretic deposition
Authors: Ahmed Yusra , Nawaz Aneeqa , Singh Virk Ranjot , Wadood Abdul , Ur Rehman Muhammad Atiq
Published: August 2020

In this study, zein/45S5 bioactive glass (BG) coatings were deposited via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) on pretreated pure magnesium (Mg) substrates to control the rapid degradation of magnesium and to improve the bioactive properties of Mg implants. The EPD parameters were first optimized on stainless steel (SS), and then, the optimum EPD parameters were applied to obtain zein/BG composite coatings on Mg substrates. The kinetics of the EPD process was studied by plotting the graph between current density and deposition time at fixed applied voltage. The morphology and chemical composition (qualitatively) of the obtained coatings were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), respectively. SEM and FTIR results showed that both zein and BG were successfully deposited, and a homogeneous film of zein/BG was formed on the surface of the substrate. The contact angle measurements confirmed that the zein/BG coatings are suitable for the initial protein attachment.
Enhanced Macroanion Recognition of Superchaotropic Keggin Clusters Achieved by Synergy of Anion–π and Anion–Cation Interactions
Authors: Qi Bo , An Sai , Luo Jiancheng , Liu Tianbo , Song Yu‐Fei
Published: August 2020

Keggin clusters are the most widely used polyoxometalate building blocks for the construction advanced materials, but effective methods for precisely recognizing the isostructural analogues of Keggins are still limited. In this study we employed the zwitterionic molecule 4,4′‐dipyridyl N,N′‐dioxide as a recognition receptor to specifically bind to the three Keggin analogues PW12O403−, PMo12O403−, and SiW12O404−, which separately co‐assembled into three different types of spherical charged colloids of different sizes. The recognition phenomena were confirmed by electrochemical methods and their crystallization behavior. Compared with solely anion–cation interaction‐driven systems, the synergism with the anion–π interactions between the superchaotropic Keggins and the electron‐deficient pyridine rings is believed to enhance the recognition. This observation is intriguing as the long‐range solution assembly of Keggins is mainly driven by short‐range anion–π interactions. Our results show that the little‐noticed hydration shell of Keggins is significantly influenced by the superchaotropic effect, leading to differentiated binding affinity to the receptors and more obvious recognition phenomena between tungsten/molybdenum Keggin analogues.
Dipolar Nanocars Based on a Porphyrin Backbone
Authors: Nishino Toshio , Martin Colin J. , Takeuchi Hiroki , Lim Florence , Yasuhara Kazuma , Gisbert Yohan , Abid Seifallah , Saffon‐Merceron Nathalie , Kammerer Claire , Rapenne Gwénaël
Published: August 2020

Invited for the cover of this issue is Gwénaël Rapenne and co‐workers from CEMES‐CNRS at University Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France and from NAIST, Nara, Japan. The image depicts an artistic representation of a nanocar race. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202001999.
Inter‐ and Intramolecular Aryl–Aryl Interactions in Partially Fluorinated Ethylenedioxy‐bridged Bisarenes**
Authors: Weddeling Jan‐Henrik , Vishnevskiy Yury V. , Neumann Beate , Stammler Hans‐Georg , Mitzel Norbert W.
Published: August 2020

Several ethylenedioxy‐bridged bisarenes with a variety of type and number of aryl groups were synthesized to study non‐covalent dispersion‐driven inter‐ and intramolecular aryl–aryl interactions in the solid state and gas phase. Intramolecular interactions are preferably found in the gas phase. DFT calculations with and without dispersion correction show larger interacting aromatic groups increase the stabilization energy of folded conformers and decrease the intermolecular centroid–centroid distance. Single‐molecule structures generally adopt folded conformations with short intramolecular aryl–aryl contacts. Gas electron diffraction experiments were performed exemplarily for 1‐(pentafluorophenoxy)‐2‐(phenoxy)ethane. A new procedure for structure refinement was developed to deal with the conformational complexity of such molecules. The results are an experimental confirmation of the existence of folded conformations of this molecule with short intramolecular aryl–aryl distances in the gas phase. Solid‐state structures are dominated by stretched structures without intramolecular aryl–aryl interactions but interactions with neighboring molecules.
Nickel‐Catalyzed Cross‐Coupling of Aryl Pivalates with Cyclobutanols Involving C—O and C—C Bond Cleavage†
Authors: Gan Yi , Zhang Ninghui , Huang Shaoxu , Liu Yuanhong
Published: August 2020

Summary of main observation and conclusion

An efficient nickel‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of aryl pivalates with cyclobutanols is described. The use of Ni(cod)2/PCy3/base as the catalytic system enables the cleavage of inert C—O bond and C—C bond under mild conditions, thus providing a facile access to γ‐arylated ketones in generally good to excellent yields. This transformation is also characterized by wide substrate scope and functional group compatibility, for example, methoxy, N,N‐dimethylamino, keto, ester, fluoro and TMS groups are well‐tolerated during the reaction process.
Experimentally Established Benchmark Calculations of 31P NMR Quantities
Authors: Shenderovich Ilya G.
Published: August 2020

The accuracy of different density function theory functionals and the MP2 approximation in 31P NMR calculations has been evaluated for ten phosphorous containing molecules in which the phosphorous atoms are not involved in intermolecular interactions. The obtained absolute chemical shielding tensors are compared to experimental ones. The dependence of the numerical values on the size of basis sets has been inspected from the 6‐311G(2d,p) to the pcSseg‐3 basis sets. General recommendations on the most reliable functionals and the smallest possible size of a basis set have been reported. For example, the use of the M06 L functional should be avoided. For five polycrystalline samples, the conformation of molecules has been identified with a high precision. These structures have been used to determine the reference values of the absolute chemical shielding for the TPSSh, B3LYP, and ωB97XD functionals and different basis sets. As reported in the supporting information, these structures can be used to determine the reference value of the absolute chemical shielding for any approximation of interest.
Next‐generation FNA: Expanding the role of cytology in cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Nishino Michiya , Krane Jeffrey F.
Published: August 2020

Advances in cell labeling, automated cell imaging, and image analysis are likely to augment the role of fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy in the precision medicine era. In this issue of Cancer Cytopathology, Pai and colleagues describe an innovative, conceptual, FNA–based approach for dynamic assessment of the tumor immune microenvironment during therapy.
Neural anatomy of echinoid early juveniles and comparison of nervous system organization in echinoderms
Authors: Formery Laurent , Orange François , Formery Antoine , Yaguchi Shunsuke , Lowe Christopher J. , Schubert Michael , Croce Jenifer C.
Published: August 2020

The echinoderms are a phylum of marine deuterostomes characterized by the pentaradial (five fold) symmetry of their adult bodies. Due to this unusual body plan, adult echinoderms have long been excluded from comparative analyses aimed at understanding the origin and evolution of deuterostome nervous systems. Here, we investigated the neural anatomy of early juveniles of representatives of three of the five echinoderm classes: the echinoid Paracentrotus lividus, the asteroid Patiria miniata, and the holothuroid Parastichopus parvimensis. Using whole mount immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy, we found that the nervous system of echinoid early juveniles is composed of three main structures: a basiepidermal nerve plexus, five radial nerve cords connected by a circumoral nerve ring, and peripheral nerves innervating the appendages. Our whole mount preparations further allowed us to obtain thorough descriptions of these structures and of several innervation patterns, in particular at the level of the appendages. Detailed comparisons of the echinoid juvenile nervous system with those of asteroid and holothuroid juveniles moreover supported a general conservation of the main neural structures in all three species, including at the level of the appendages. Our results support the previously proposed hypotheses for the existence of two neural units in echinoderms: one consisting of the basiepidermal nerve plexus to process sensory stimuli locally and one composed of the radial nerve cords and the peripheral nerves constituting a centralized control system. This study provides the basis for more in‐depth comparisons of the echinoderm adult nervous system with those of other animals, in particular hemichordates and chordates, to address the long‐standing controversies about deuterostome nervous system evolution.
Butterfly Methanes: Designing a Novel Class of anti‐van′t Hoff Carbons
Authors: Saumya M. J. , Raghi K. R. , Sherin D. R. , Haridas K. R , Manojkumar T. K.
Published: August 2020

Among different possible non‐classical structures, the stabilization of half‐planar tetracoordinate carbon conformation is believed to be the most difficult one. Herein, we designed three types of half‐planar tetracoordinate carbon compounds computationally by employing hybrid stabilization effects of substituents. The axial hydrogens of unstable half‐planar methane are substituted with π‐acceptor and σ‐donor substituents such as −BH2, −Li and the equatorial substituents selected are a combination of electropositive atoms (σ‐donors)/electronegative atoms (σ‐acceptors and π‐donors). To establish the stabilization factors, we conducted a detailed study on vibrational frequency analysis, molecular orbital analysis (including Natural Bond Orbitals) and electrostatic potential (ESP) analysis of optimized molecular geometries using density functional theory.
Eating disorders in times of the COVID‐19 pandemic—Results from an online survey of patients with anorexia nervosa
Authors: Schlegl Sandra , Maier Julia , Meule Adrian , Voderholzer Ulrich
Published: August 2020

Objective

The COVID‐19 pandemic and the resulting public restrictions pose a psychological burden for humans worldwide and may be particularly detrimental for individuals with mental disorders. Therefore, the current study explored effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on eating disorder (ED) symptoms and other psychological aspects in former inpatients with anorexia nervosa (AN).

Method

One‐hundred and fifty‐nine patients with AN—discharged from inpatient treatment in 2019—completed an online survey on contact history with COVID‐19, changes in ED symptoms and other psychological aspects, health care utilization, and strategies patients employed to cope during the pandemic.

Results

Approximately 70% of patients reported that eating, shape and weight concerns, drive for physical activity, loneliness, sadness, and inner restlessness increased during the pandemic. Access to in‐person psychotherapies and visits at the general practitioner (including weight checks) decreased by 37% and 46%, respectively. Videoconference therapy was used by 26% and telephone contacts by 35% of patients. Patients experienced daily routines, day planning and enjoyable activities as the most helpful among the most used coping strategies.

Discussion

The COVID‐19 pandemic poses great challenges to patients with AN. ED‐related thoughts and behaviors may be used as dysfunctional coping mechanisms to regain control over the current circumstances. E‐mental health interventions appear to be promising for supporting AN patients during these hard times. Furthermore, interventions addressing symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as intolerance of uncertainty might help them manage their ED symptoms.
Differences in distress: Variance and production of American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) distress calls in Belize
Authors: Boucher Miriam , Tellez Marisa , Anderson James T.
Published: August 2020

Acoustic communication of American Crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus) is relatively understudied. Our overall aim was to determine the acoustic structure of wild American Crocodile distress calls, distinguish call differences among size classes (hatchling, juvenile, sub‐adult, and adult), and investigate call production on a gradient of human disturbance. American Crocodile distress calls have strong frequency modulation and are comprised of multiple harmonics in a downsweeping pattern. Measured parameters (total duration, first quartile duration, maximal frequency, first quartile frequency, end frequency, slope of first quartile, slope of last quartiles) differed significantly among size classes (p < .05). Hatchling distress calls are higher in frequency and strongly modulated, whereas calls produced by sub‐adults and adults showed little modulation, are lower in frequency, and have greater overall duration. Proportion of crocodiles that produced distress calls during capture differed by size class and sampling location, particularly adult distress calls which are reported here to be produced with undocumented frequency. We determined that American Crocodiles of all size classes produce distress calls at varying rates among study sites. Our results demonstrate that American crocodiles produce distress call more frequently at sites with higher anthropogenic activity. Measured call parameters of juveniles and hatchling American crocodiles also varied among sites in relation to human disturbance. Calls recorded at sites of high anthropogenic impact have increased duration and less modulation which may adversely affect response to emitted distress calls. Proportional and call parameter variances suggest anthropogenic activity as a driver for increased call production and alteration of call parameters at high human‐impacted sites.
Are movements of daytime and nighttime passerine migrants as different as day and night?
Authors: Michalik Bianca , Brust Vera , Hüppop Ommo
Published: August 2020

Even after decades of research, the migration of songbirds still holds numerous secrets. Distinct stopover and routing behavior of diurnally and nocturnally migrating songbirds has been stated in the 1960s, but empirical confirmation is yet lacking widely. We studied the behavior of individual diurnally migrating dunnocks and nocturnally migrating blackcaps by means of large‐scale automated radio‐telemetry. Birds were radio‐tagged during their stopover at the German North Sea coast. Our data indicate longer initial stopover duration in the diurnally migrating dunnocks, opposing the hypothesis of nocturnal migrants needing more time to recover due to their longer migratory flights. Nonetheless, dunnocks stopped over more often along their tracks as when compared to the nocturnally migrating blackcaps. Behavior en route did not differ as clearly between species challenging the general view of contrasting routings of diurnal and nocturnal migrants with regard to landscape and open water. Our results imply additional factors of relevance other than differences in species or daily migration timing per se. We discuss and highlight the need of detailed and individual based data to better understand stopover and routing behavior of songbirds in the environmental context.
Effects of diatoms on erosion and accretion processes in saltmarsh inferred from field observations of hydrodynamic and sedimentary processes
Authors: Chen Dezhi , Li Mingliang , Zhang Yiyi , Zhang Longhui , Tang Jieping , Wu Hao , Wang Ya Ping
Published: August 2020

Microphytobenthos influence sediment dynamics via their growth and covering on the surface sediment of saltmarshes. To understand the sediment transport and morphological changes resulting from microphytobenthos in a saltmarsh, two parallelly located sites were established to measure the hydrodynamic forces, sediment characteristics and microphytobenthos properties both in winter and summer. Diatoms were not observed at any of the two sites in winter because of their growth cycles. In summer, however, diatoms were found in both sites, with a chlorophyll a (Chl‐a) concentration of 4.1 μg/g in the surficial sediment at the unvegetated site and a Chl‐a concentration of 1.4 μg/g at the vegetated site. Interactions between diatoms and fine particle accumulation induced positive feedbacks between the seabed stable states and the growth of diatoms. Furthermore, the critical erosion threshold value in the vegetated area was 0.33 N/m2, whereas the value in the adjacent unvegetated area reached up to 0.43 N/m2 because of the dense diatom armouring in summer, which increased 50% and 126% critical erosion threshold values than those at the corresponding sites in winter. Consequently, net sediment accumulation occurred in the unvegetated area in summer but opposite to that in winter. These results reveal that high coverage of diatoms contributes to substantial impacts on bed erodibility and sedimentary processes, which is vital for the understanding of the morphological evolution in saltmarshes, and provide valuable suggestions for coastal saltmarsh reconstruction.
The burden of pain in rheumatoid arthritis: Impact of disease activity and psychological factors
Authors: Vergne‐Salle Pascale , Pouplin Sophie , Trouvin Anne Priscille , Bera‐Louville Anne , Soubrier Martin , Richez Christophe , Javier Rose Marie , Perrot Serge , Bertin Philippe
Published: August 2020

Background

Pain remains a prevalent symptom for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients despite a wide therapeutic choice. The objective of this study was to provide a multidimensional evaluation of pain.

Methods

A total of 295 RA patients from 7 French rheumatology centres were enrolled in a cross‐sectional study. Patients completed a chronic pain assessment questionnaire approved by the French National Authority for Health, the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) as well as depression and anxiety scales (HAD, Beck Depression Inventory, STAI). Disease activity (DAS28) and ESR were recorded. A multivariate descriptive analysis was undertaken using principal component analysis (PCA).

Results

38.4% of patients had a pain score > 40 mm/100, although 83% were on biological treatment and 38.7% were in remission based on the RA activity score. The PCA analysis found four axes representing 70% of total variance. The axes, per cent of variance and variables represented were as follows: (a) axis 1, 41% variance, anxiety and depression scores, sensory and affective qualifier score, HAQ and pain impact on daily life; (b) axis 2, 13% variance, disease activity score (DAS28) and pain relief with current treatment; (c) axis 3, 9% of variance, RA duration and radiographic score and (d) axis 4, 6% of variance, DAS28 and ESR. Moderate to severe pain was significantly associated with axes 1 and 2.

Conclusions

Despite a high proportion of patients on biological treatments, 38.4% of patients continue to experience moderate to severe pain. Pain is associated with the RA activity score, but also with the depression and anxiety scores.

Significance

Substantial proportion of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients still experiences relevant pain, although more than 80% on biological treatment. Pain is primarily associated with anxiety and depression scores and with disease activity score. These findings highlight the need to assess patients’ mental well‐being alongside. Clinical measures of disease activity to better manage pain and guide treatment decisions.
Voltammetric Determination of an Anti‐rheumatoid Drug Acemetacin on Graphite Flake Paste Electrode and Glassy Carbon Electrode
Authors: Festinger Natalia , Smarzewska Sylwia , Mirčeski Valentin , Ciesielski Witold
Published: August 2020

In this study, a simple and sensitive square wave voltammetric procedure has been developed for the determination of acemetacin (ACM) at graphite flake paste electrode (GFPE) and glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Under optimized conditions, the dependence of ACM peak current on its concentration showed wide linear range: 0.03–1.0 μmol L−1 and 0.7–15.0 μmol L−1 at GFPE and GCE, respectively. The developed method was successfully applied for the determination of ACM in pharmaceuticals and spiked urine with satisfying recoveries. The electrochemical oxidation of ACM is an irreversible process controlled by mixed nature of the mass transfer process.
Pilot assessment of a virtual intensive outpatient program for adults with eating disorders
Authors: Blalock Dan V. , Le Grange Daniel , Johnson Craig , Duffy Alan , Manwaring Jamie , Tallent Casey N. , Schneller Karen , Solomon Ashley M. , Mehler Philip S. , McClanahan Susan F. , Rienecke Renee D.
Published: August 2020

Access to evidence‐based treatment for eating disorders is severely limited by patient barriers and available clinician training. While clinical parameters often point to the need for a high level of care, patients may resist pursuing higher levels of care due to these barriers. One option that might mitigate such obstacles is the provision of a higher level of care via internet‐based treatment for eating disorders. We sought to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary clinical outcomes associated with treatment of eating disorders through virtual intensive outpatient programming (VIOP). Fifty‐seven patients meeting DSM‐5 criteria for an eating disorder participated in VIOP. Of the 57 patients in VIOP treatment, 3 did not complete voluntary measures at admission or discharge, and 9 additional patients did not complete voluntary measures at discharge. Overall, 45 VIOP patients completed admission and discharge assessments, including a net promoter score (NPS) question assessing patient acceptability. Recruitment, treatment adherence, and completion of assessments in VIOP were feasible and acceptable. VIOP patients showed significant and clinically meaningful improvements in all outcomes measured, including self‐reported eating disorder symptoms, depression, self‐esteem, quality of life, and overall satisfaction. VIOP appears feasible, acceptable, and evidences clinically meaningful changes in eating and mood disorder symptoms.
Online reinforcement learning for adaptive interference coordination
Authors: Alcaraz Juan J. , Ayala‐Romero Jose A. , Vales‐Alonso Javier , Losilla‐López Fernando
Published: August 2020

Heterogeneous networks (HetNets), in which small cells overlay macro cells, are a cost‐effective approach to increase the capacity of cellular networks. However, HetNets have raised new issues related to cell association and interference management. In particular, the optimal configuration of interference coordination (IC) parameters is a challenging task because it depends on multiple stochastic processes such as the locations of the users, the traffic demands, or the strength of the received signals. This work proposes a self‐optimization algorithm capable of finding the optimal configuration in an operating network. We address the problem using a reinforcement learning (RL) approach, in which the actions are the IC configurations, whose performances are initially unknown. The main difficulty is that, due to the variable network conditions, the performance of each action may change over time. Our proposal is based on two main elements: the sequential exploration of subsets of actions (exploration regions), and an optimal stopping (OS) strategy for deciding when to end current exploration and start a new one. For our algorithm, referred to as local exploration with optimal stopping (LEOS), we provide theoretical bounds on its long‐term regret per sample and its convergence time. We compare LEOS to state‐of‐the‐art learning algorithms based on multiarmed bandits and policy gradient RL. Considering different changing rates in the network conditions, our numerical results show that LEOS outperforms the first alternative by 22%, and the second one by 48% in terms of average regret per sample.
Salivary and lacrimal dysfunction after radioactive iodine for differentiated thyroid cancer: American Head and Neck Society Endocrine Surgery Section and Salivary Gland Section joint multidisciplinary clinical consensus statement of otolaryngology, ophthalmology, nuclear medicine and endocrinology
Authors: Singer Michael C. , Marchal Francis , Angelos Peter , Bernet Vic , Boucai Laura , Buchholzer Samanta , Burkey Brian , Eisele David , Erkul Evren , Faure Frederic , Freitag Suzanne K. , Gillespie Marion Boyd , Harrell Richard Mack , Hartl Dana , Haymart Megan , Leffert Jonathan , Mandel Susan , Miller Barbra S. , Morris John , Pearce Elizabeth N. , Rahmati Rahmatullah , Ryan William R. , Schaitkin Barry , Schlumberger Martin , Stack Brendan C. , Van Nostrand Doug , Wong Ka Kit , Randolph Gregory
Published: August 2020

Background

Postoperative radioactive iodine (RAI) administration is widely utilized in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer. While beneficial in select patients, it is critical to recognize the potential negative sequelae of this treatment. The prevention, diagnosis, and management of the salivary and lacrimal complications of RAI exposure are addressed in this consensus statement.

Methods

A multidisciplinary panel of experts was convened under the auspices of the American Head and Neck Society Endocrine Surgery and Salivary Gland Sections. Following a comprehensive literature review to assess the current best evidence, this group developed six relevant consensus recommendations.

Results

Consensus recommendations on RAI were made in the areas of patient assessment, optimal utilization, complication prevention, and complication management.

Conclusion

Salivary and lacrimal complications secondary to RAI exposure are common and need to be weighed when considering its use. The recommendations included in this statement provide direction for approaches to minimize and manage these complications.
Factors influencing the inappropriate use of antibiotics in the Rupandehi district of Nepal
Authors: Nepal Anant , Hendrie Delia , Selvey Linda A. , Robinson Suzanne
Published: August 2020

Introduction

Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health crisis. A major driver of resistance is inappropriate antibiotic use, resulting from practices of prescribers, dispensers and patients. The purpose of this study was to identify the perception of service providers and policymakers about the inappropriate use of antibiotics in Nepal.

Methods

A qualitative study was conducted to explore factors influencing antibiotic use. Participants included 17 service providers and policymakers from the Rupandehi district in Nepal, with a semi‐structured interview schedule adopted. Data were analysed using thematic analysis to identify themes relating to the inappropriate use of antibiotics.

Results

Inappropriate use of antibiotics was found to result from the interaction of demand and supply factors, together with a weak regulatory environment. Lack of knowledge by consumers and financial constraints resulted in practices such as self‐medication and pressure being placed on providers to prescribe or dispense antibiotics. An insufficient choice of antibiotics, and health services not having investigation facilities, was also factors leading to inappropriate use of antibiotics. Additionally, in the private sector, the profit motive arising from incentives provided by pharmaceutical companies contributed to prescribing or dispensing antibiotics inappropriately.

Conclusion

Promoting appropriate antibiotic use is critical to reduce the growing public health threat of antibiotic resistance. A multi‐faceted approach involving policymakers, providers, and the general public using both educational and regulatory measures is required to address this problem in Nepal, and potentially also in other low‐income countries with a similar healthcare system.
The paths from insider to outsider: A review of employee exit transitions
Authors: Klotz Anthony C. , Swider Brian W. , Shao Yiduo , Prengler Melanie K.
Published: August 2020

Employees' roles as organizational members often do not end immediately after they have made the decision to leave or it has been made for them. Instead, this decision serves as a turning point initiating an exit transition process. The purpose of this article is to consolidate prior scholarship in order to gain an understanding of the state of the science, as it pertains to exit transitions. Our literature review yielded almost 200 articles that have directly or indirectly studied the exit transition process. In organizing the insights from these studies, four categories of exit transition scholarship emerged—exit transitions in the context of voluntary turnover, involuntary turnover, temporary transitions, and top management exits. Moreover, our review indicated that exit transitions are shaped by three critical forces—the permanence of the transition, the magnitude of the identity change associated with the exit, and the organizational impact of the exit. We review research on each of the four categories and show how each type of transition is shaped by these forces. Finally, we turn our focus to the future of work and discuss how changes in the way that work is structured may alter the study of employee exit transitions in the future.
Modelling renewable energy adoption across south Asian economies: Empirical evidence from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Authors: Murshed Muntasir , Abbass Kashif , Rashid Seemran
Published: August 2020

This paper aims to empirically shed light on the pertinence of enhancing trade and foreign capital flows with relevance to stimulating greater use of renewable energy resources across selected South Asian economies namely Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The economic transition from the use of non‐renewable energy tothe renewable alternatives is an interesting genre of research keeping the partial attainment of the United Nations' 2030 Sustainable Development Goals agenda into consideration. Against this milieu, trade and financial liberalization policies are anticipated to play a pivotal role in facilitating the renewable energy transition phenomenon across South Asia. The overall results from the econometric analyses imply that higher degrees of trade openness and greater foreign currency inflows can invariably play critically important roles in amplifying the shares of renewables in the total energy consumption levels across this region. Thus, these findings impose key policy implications for attainment of energy sustainability across South Asia.
Interdependence and portfolio optimisation of bank equity returns from developed and emerging Europe
Authors: Arreola Hernandez Jose , Kang Sang Hoon , Yoon Seong‐Min
Published: August 2020

We examine the spillovers, portfolio allocation, and diversification potential of bank equity portfolios from developed and emerging countries in Europe (henceforth, developed and emerging Europe) using a directional spillover index and nonlinear portfolio optimisation methods. Empirical results indicate that in developed Europe the largest spillover receivers and transmitters are the banks from France and Spain, whereas in emerging Europe are those from Greece and Poland. Cross‐country spillover transmission and reception is larger across banks from developed Europe than across banks from emerging Europe. Banks from emerging Europe offer greater diversification potential and have a lower risk for financial resource allocation.
Exosomes derived from regulatory T cells ameliorate acute myocardial infarction by promoting macrophage M2 polarization
Authors: Hu Hao , Wu Jiawei , Cao Cheng , Ma Likun
Published: August 2020

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a serious ischemic heart disease. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) participate in AMI. This article aims to investigate the mechanism of action of Tregs in AMI. We constructed AMI mouse model. Then, AMI mouse and mouse macrophages (RAW264.7) were treated with Tregs or Treg‐derived exosomes. The cardiac function of mice was detected. Triphenyl‐tetrazolium chloride and TdT‐mediated dUTP nick‐end labeling staining were performed to detect the myocardial infarct size or apoptosis. The proportions of macrophages were analyzed by flow cytometry. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative real‐time PCR was performed to estimate the levels of cytokines and genes. We found that Tregs ameliorated cardiac function, reduced myocardial infarct size and inhibited apoptosis of myocardial cells in AMI mice. Moreover, Treg‐derived exosomes reduced myocardial infarct size and repressed apoptosis of myocardial cells in AMI mice. Furthermore, Treg‐derived exosomes suppressed the expression of M1 macrophage markers, and promoted the expression of M2 macrophage markers in myocardial tissues of AMI mice and RAW264.7 cells. In conclusion, our work demonstrates that exosomes derived from Tregs ameliorate AMI by promoting macrophage M2 polarization. Thus, Tregs may be an essential cell for AMI treatment.
In situ measurement of the isoplanatic patch for imaging through intact bone
Authors: Forouhesh Tehrani Kayvan , Koukourakis Nektarios , Czarske Jürgen , Mortensen Luke J.
Published: August 2020

Wavefront‐shaping (WS) enables imaging through scattering tissues like bone, which is important for neuroscience and bone‐regeneration research. WS corrects for the optical aberrations at a given depth and field‐of‐view (FOV) within the sample; the extent of the validity of which is limited to a region known as the isoplanatic patch (IP). Knowing this parameter helps to estimate the number of corrections needed for WS imaging over a given FOV. In this paper, we first present direct transmissive measurement of murine skull IP using digital optical phase conjugation based focusing. Second, we extend our previously reported phase accumulation ray tracing (PART) method to provide in‐situ in‐silico estimation of IP, called correlative PART (cPART). Our results show an IP range of 1 to 3 μm for mice within an age range of 8 to 14 days old and 1.00 ± 0.25 μm in a 12‐week old adult skull. Consistency between the two measurement approaches indicates that cPART can be used to approximate the IP before a WS experiment, which can be used to calculate the number of corrections required within a given field of view.
The cultural persona as nexus between structural marginalization and youth risk behavior
Authors: Edberg Mark
Published: August 2020

Structural marginalization exerts its effects through multiple social‐ecological levels down to the individual behavior of youth violence and related risks. However, there is very little research or theoretical literature documenting or specifying mechanisms, paths, and linkages across levels. This paper traces one path in which long‐term structural constraints intersect with the adolescent development process via a construct called thecultural persona—a form of archetype or model that embodies the value‐structure, role, and performance of violence and related risk behavior within the kinds of underground or street economies that develop and persist in high‐poverty communities as an outcome of structural marginalization. This mechanism is described, together with its limitations, along with examples and recommendations for interventions and further research.
“It's the nature of the beast”: Community resilience among gender diverse individuals
Authors: Bowling Jessamyn , Vercruysse Chloe , Bello‐Ogunu Faustina , Krinner Lisa Maria , Greene Taryn , Webster Caitlan , Dahl Alicia Anne
Published: August 2020

Marginalization causes gender diverse individuals to experience increased stress compared with cisgender individuals, such as social stigma and discrimination, which can lead to poor physical and mental health outcomes. This population uses various resources to cope with these challenges, including community social support. This qualitative research aimed to understand how gender diverse individuals perceive their community resilience. Supported by a community partner organization, we recruitedN = 20 gender diverse participants for semi‐structured interviews analyzed through inductive thematic qualitative analysis. The data revealed similarities with community resilience factors observed among other minority groups as well as novelty. Themes emerged on both individual and group levels and include strengths (e.g., opening to the group, role modeling for resilience, and group resources) and threats to community resilience (e.g., social anxiety, physical health conditions, and stigma). This paper informs the development of community resilience interventions in the context of gender diversity.
Multifaceted behavior of PEST sequence enriched nuclear proteins in cancer biology and role in gene therapy
Authors: Sarfraz Muhammad , Afzal Attia , Khattak Saadullah , Saddozai Umair A. K. , Li Hui‐Min , Zhang Qian‐Qian , Madni Asadullah , Haleem Kashif S. , Duan Shao‐Feng , Wu Dong‐Dong , Ji Shao‐Ping , Ji Xin‐Ying
Published: August 2020

The amino acid sequence enriched with proline (P), glutamic acid (E), serine (S), and threonine (T) (PEST) is a signal‐transducing agent providing unique features to its substrate nuclear proteins (PEST‐NPs). The PEST motif is responsible for particular posttranslational modifications (PTMs). These PTMs impart distinct properties to PEST‐NPs that are responsible for their activation/inhibition, intracellular localization, and stability/degradation. PEST‐NPs participate in cancer metabolism, immunity, and protein transcription as oncogenes or as tumor suppressors. Gene‐based therapeutics are getting the attention of researchers because of their cell specificity. PEST‐NPs are good targets to explore as cancer therapeutics. Insights into PTMs of PEST‐NPs demonstrate that these proteins not only interact with each other but also recruit other proteins to/from their active site to promote/inhibit tumors. Thus, the role of PEST‐NPs in cancer biology is multivariate. It is hard to obtain therapeutic objectives with single gene therapy. An especially designed combination gene therapy might be a promising strategy in cancer treatment. This review highlights the multifaceted behavior of PEST‐NPs in cancer biology. We have summarized a number of studies to address the influence of structure and PEST‐mediated PTMs on activation, localization, stability, and protein–protein interactions of PEST‐NPs. We also recommend researchers to adopt a pragmatic approach in gene‐based cancer therapy.
Myostatin site‐directed mutation and simultaneous PPARγ site‐directed knockin in bovine genome
Authors: Ge Luxing , Kang Jian , Dong Xiangchen , Luan Deji , Su Guanghua , Li Guangpeng , Zhang Yong , Quan Fusheng
Published: August 2020

Most studies on the acquisition of advantageous traits in transgenic animals only focus on monogenic traits. In practical applications, transgenic animals need to possess multiple advantages. Therefore, multiple genes need to be edited simultaneously. CRISPR/Cas9 technology has been widely used in many research fields. However, few studies on endogenous gene mutation and simultaneous exogenous gene insertion performed via CRISPR/Cas9 technology are available. In this study, the CRISPR/Cas9 technology was used to achieve myostatin (MSTN) point mutation and simultaneous peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPARγ) site‐directed knockin in the bovine genome. The feasibility of this gene editing strategy was verified on a myoblast model. The same gene editing strategy was used to construct a mutant myoblast model with MSTN mutation and simultaneous PPARγ knockin. Quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction, immunofluorescence staining, and western blot analyses were used to detect the expression levels of MSTN and PPARγ in the mutant myoblast. Results showed that this strategy can inhibit the expression of MSTN and promote the expression of PPARγ. The cell counting kit‐8 cell proliferation analysis, 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine cell proliferation analysis, myotube fusion index statistics, oil red O staining, and triglyceride content detection revealed that the proliferation, myogenic differentiation, and adipogenic transdifferentiation abilities of the mutant myoblasts were higher than those of the wild myoblasts. Finally, transgenic bovine embryos were obtained via somatic cell nuclear transfer. This study provides a breeding material and technical strategy to breed high‐quality bovine and a gene editing method to realize the mutation of endogenous genes and simultaneous insertion of exogenous genes in genomes.
Prenatal exposure to hesperidin improves reflexive motor behaviors in mice offspring
Authors: Khodadadeh Ava , Hassanpour Shahin , Akbari Ghasem
Published: August 2020

Prenatal exposure during the embryonic period has positive or adverse effect on newborn brain development. Neuroprotective activity of the hesperidin is well documented but there is no evidence for maternal exposure to hesperidin on offspring reflexive motor behaviors. So, the aim of the current study was to determine the prenatal exposure to hesperidin on reflexive motor behaviors in mice offspring. Forty pregnant female NMRI mice (8–10 weeks old) were allocated into four groups. Group 1 kept as control and groups 2–4 intraperitoneal (i.p) injected with hesperidin (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg) on days of 5, 8, 11, 14, and 17 of pregnancy. The control group injected with saline at the same days. Following delivery, 20 pups from each litter were selected and reflexive motor behaviors determined using ambulation, hind‐limb foot angle, surface righting, hind‐limb strength, grip strength, front‐limb suspension, and negative geotaxis tests. At the end of the study serum Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels were determined. According to the results, maternal exposure to hesperidin (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg) increased ambulation score, front‐limb suspension time, and hind‐limb suspension score in mice offspring compared to the control group (p < .05). Hesperidin (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg) decreased hind‐limb foot angle in mice offspring compared to the control group (p < .05). Prenatal exposure to hesperidin (0.5 and 1 mg/kg) significantly increased the surface righting and grip strength in comparison to the control group (p < .05). Hesperidin (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg) decreased MDA and increased SOD and GPx levels in mice offspring (p < .05). These results suggested hesperidin exposure during pregnancy has positive effect on reflexive motor behaviors in mice offspring may be due to its antioxidant activity.