bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fate and Fathead Minnow Embryotoxicity of Weathering Crude Oil in a Pilot-Scale Spill Tank
Authors: Lara-Jacobo Lara R. , Gauthier Charles , Xin Qin , Dupont Félix , Couture Patrice , Triffault-Bouchet Gaëlle , Dettman Heather D. , Langlois Valerie S.
Published: October 2020

For several years now, the Natural Resources Canada research facility at CanmetENERGY Devon (AB, Canada) has been performing experiments in a pilot-scale spill tank using 1200 L of river water to examine the physical and chemical behaviors of various crude oil/water mixtures under varying water temperature regimes. Because oil toxicity can be modulated by weathering of the petroleum products, the present study aimed to assess changes in fish embryotoxicity to mixed sweet blend crude oil as it weathered at air and water temperatures of 14 °C and 15 °C, respectively, for 28 d. The physicochemical behavior of the oil was also monitored. Water samples were taken from the spill tank 5 times during the 28-d experiment on days 1, 6, 14, 21, and 28 and were used to perform toxicity exposures using fathead minnow embryos (Pimephales promelas). For each water sampling day, newly fertilized embryos were exposed to a serial dilution of the spill tank water, noncontaminated river water (used in the spill tank), and a reconstituted water laboratory control. Embryos were raised until hatching. Although mortality was not significantly altered by the oil contamination over the time period, malformation occurrence and severity showed concentration-dependent responses to all contaminated water collected. The results suggest that days 14, 21, and 28 were the most toxic time periods for the fish embryos, which corresponded to increasing concentrations of unidentified oxidized organic compounds detected by a quadropole–time-of-flight system. The present study highlights a novel area for oil research, which could help us to better understand the toxicity associated with oil weathering for aquatic species. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:127–138. © 2020 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Natural Resources Canada.
Increasing liana frequency in temperate European forest understories is driven by ivy
Authors: Perring Michael P , De Frenne Pieter , Hertzog Lionel R , Blondeel Haben , Depauw Leen , Maes Sybryn L , Wasof Safaa , Verbeeck Hans , Verheyen Kris ,   forestREplot
Published: October 2020

The increasing prevalence of woody liana species has been widely observed across the neotropics, but observations from temperate regions are comparatively rare. On the basis of a resurvey database of 1814 (quasi‐)permanent plots from across 40 European study sites, with a median between‐survey interval of 38 years, and ranging from 1933 (earliest initial survey) to 2015 (most recent resurvey), we found that liana occurrence has also increased in the understories of deciduous temperate forests in Europe. Ivy (Hedera helix) is largely responsible for driving this increase across space and time, as its proportional occurrence has grown by an average of 14% per site. Enhanced warming rates, increased shade, and historical management transitions explain only some of the variation in ivy frequency response across the dataset, despite surveys coming from across continental gradients of environmental conditions. Uncovering the mechanisms underlying ivy expansion, and the potential consequences for forest structure and functioning, requires further research. Given the magnitude of increases in understory ivy frequency and its possible impacts, scientists, policy makers, and resource managers must be mindful of the patterns, processes, and implications of potential “lianification” of temperate forests.
Observations on the Parameter Estimation Problem of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell Polarization Curves
Authors: Ohenoja M. , Leiviskä K.
Published: October 2020

The optimal operation of fuel cells in changing environmental and variable load conditions requires mathematical modeling. The electrochemical behavior of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) is commonly described with a semi‐empirical model requiring fuel cell specific model parameter values. A large number of different nature inspired, heuristic optimization methods have been proposed for this PEMFC parameter estimation problem. In this study, those studies are listed and critically reviewed. In particular, the aim is to elaborate the generalization ability of the results and discuss the fair comparison of the algorithms used for the parameter estimation of the polarization curve. The observations made in this review could further increase the quality of future contributions in this particular area, as well as applications of heuristic optimization methods in other related problems in fuel cell systems.
The sedimentological reservoir characteristics of the Jurassic Sangonghe Formation, Southern Mahu Slope, Junggar Basin, Northwestern China
Authors: Qiu Zhengke , He Naixiang , Wang Hui , Li Xiang , Li Ting , Zhou Qing , Wu Xin , Shi Le
Published: October 2020

The hydrocarbon discoveries are increasing in deltaic systems in Jurassic Sangonghe Formation in southern Mahu Slope of Junggar Basin in recent years. However, different scales of sedimentological heterogeneities influence reservoir quality and architecture. Consequently, the study aims to employ thin sections, core logs and wireline logs to conduct research to address the issues. The results show that the integrated analysis of conventional cores reveals three facies groups in Sangonghe Formation which are deposited in braided deltaic and lacustrine environment. Each facies group contains several lithofacies given their grain size, sedimentary structures. In addition, the lithofacies types, associations, and wireline responses indicates that Lower, Middle, and Upper Sangonghe Formation is deposited in braided delta plain, braided delta front, and pro‐delta respectively. Moreover, the Sangonghe Formation is characterized by variations regarding sandbody, thickness, geometry, and architecture. The facies distribution and sedimentary environment indicate that accommodation space plays essential controls. The sedimentological heterogeneity controls reservoir quality and architecture from macro‐ to micro‐scale. The macro‐scale insights reflect that the lower and middle Sangonghe Formation shows high connectivity of sandbodies while the upper Sangonghe Formation shows low connectivity of sandbodies. The micro‐scale insights indicate that sandstone types, texture, composition all plays significantly role in controlling reservoir porosity and permeability. Finally, the understandings and insights of reservoir sedimentological heterogeneities assist in better prediction and assessment of reservoir quality and architecture. Finally, it will make contributions to reservoir development, recovery, and productivity for areas with similar sedimentological settings.
Intracranial and subcortical volumes in adolescents with early‐onset psychosis: A multisite mega‐analysis from the ENIGMA consortium
Authors: Gurholt Tiril P. , Lonning Vera , Nerland Stener , Jørgensen Kjetil N. , Haukvik Unn K. , Alloza Clara , Arango Celso , Barth Claudia , Bearden Carrie E. , Berk Michael , Bohman Hannes , Dandash Orwa , Díaz‐Caneja Covadonga M. , Edbom Carl T. , van Erp Theo G. M. , Fett Anne‐Kathrin J. , Frangou Sophia , Goldstein Benjamin I. , Grigorian Anahit , Jahanshad Neda , James Anthony C. , Janssen Joost , Johannessen Cecilie , Karlsgodt Katherine H. , Kempton Matthew J. , Kochunov Peter , Krabbendam Lydia , Kyriakopoulos Marinos , Lundberg Mathias , MacIntosh Bradley J. , Rund Bjørn Rishovd , Smelror Runar E. , Sultan Alysha , Tamnes Christian K. , Thomopoulos Sophia I. , Vajdi Ariana , Wedervang‐Resell Kirsten , Myhre Anne M. , Andreassen Ole A. , Thompson Paul M. , Agartz Ingrid ,   For the ENIGMA‐EOP Working Group
Published: October 2020

Early‐onset psychosis disorders are serious mental disorders arising before the age of 18 years. Here, we investigate the largest neuroimaging dataset, to date, of patients with early‐onset psychosis and healthy controls for differences in intracranial and subcortical brain volumes. The sample included 263 patients with early‐onset psychosis (mean age: 16.4 ± 1.4 years, mean illness duration: 1.5 ± 1.4 years, 39.2% female) and 359 healthy controls (mean age: 15.9 ± 1.7 years, 45.4% female) with magnetic resonance imaging data, pooled from 11 clinical cohorts. Patients were diagnosed with early‐onset schizophrenia (n = 183), affective psychosis (n = 39), or other psychotic disorders (n = 41). We used linear mixed‐effects models to investigate differences in intracranial and subcortical volumes across the patient sample, diagnostic subgroup and antipsychotic medication, relative to controls. We observed significantly lower intracranial (Cohen's d = −0.39) and hippocampal (d = −0.25) volumes, and higher caudate (d = 0.25) and pallidum (d = 0.24) volumes in patients relative to controls. Intracranial volume was lower in both early‐onset schizophrenia (d = −0.34) and affective psychosis (d = −0.42), and early‐onset schizophrenia showed lower hippocampal (d = −0.24) and higher pallidum (d = 0.29) volumes. Patients who were currently treated with antipsychotic medication (n = 193) had significantly lower intracranial volume (d = −0.42). The findings demonstrate a similar pattern of brain alterations in early‐onset psychosis as previously reported in adult psychosis, but with notably low intracranial volume. The low intracranial volume suggests disrupted neurodevelopment in adolescent early‐onset psychosis.
Motor asymmetry related cerebral perfusion patterns in Parkinson's disease: An arterial spin labeling study
Authors: Shang Song'an , Wu Jingtao , Zhang Hongying , Chen Hongri , Cao Zhengye , Chen Yu‐Chen , Yin Xindao
Published: October 2020

Persisting asymmetry of motor symptoms are characteristic of Parkinson's disease (PD). We investigated the possible lateralized effects on regional cerebral blood flow (CBF), CBF‐connectivity, and laterality index (LI) among PD subtypes using arterial spin labeling (ASL). Forty‐four left‐sided symptom dominance patients (PDL), forty‐eight right‐sided symptom dominance patients (PDR), and forty‐five matched HCs were included. Group comparisons were performed for the regional normalized CBF, CBF‐connectivity and LI of basal ganglia (BA) subregions. The PDL patients had lower CBF in right calcarine sulcus and right supramarginal gyrus compared to the PDR and the HC subjects. Regional perfusion alterations seemed more extensive in the PDL than in the PDR group. In the PDL, correlations were identified between right thalamus and motor severity, between right fusiform gyrus and global cognitive performance. None of correlations survived after multiple comparisons correction. The significantly altered CBF‐connectivity among the three groups included: unilateral putamen, unilateral globus pallidus, and right thalamus. LI score in the putamen was significantly different among groups. Motor‐symptom laterality in PD may exhibit asymmetric regional and interregional abnormalities of CBF properties, particularly in PDL patients. This preliminary study underlines the necessity of classifying PD subgroups based on asymmetric motor symptoms and the potential application of CBF properties underlying neuropathology in PD.
A critical look at the Portuguese public–private partnerships in healthcare
Authors: Pereira Miguel A. , Ferreira Diogo C. , Marques Rui C.
Published: October 2020

The pre‐conceived idea that contracts in a public–private partnership (PPP) regime, in healthcare or in any other economic sector, are, as a rule, ruinous and appealing for only a share of the stakeholders, lacks a solid basis that confirms it. This idea, outset and nurtured by the media, has been instigating the distrust of the users who, in turn, demand a more rigorous and efficient utilisation of public resources. Being Portugal in the top of countries that resort to PPPs, it is urgent to inquire if its respective contracts originated an inefficient and ineffective management of resources. It is precisely this discussion that we address in this paper, focusing our efforts in the Portuguese healthcare sector.
Bioretention planter performance measured by lag and capture
Authors: Nissen Kiera A. , Borst Michael , Fassman‐Beck Elizabeth
Published: October 2020

Bioretention flow‐through planters manage stormwater with smaller space requirements or structural constraints associated with other forms of green infrastructure. This project monitored the hydrology of four bioretention planters at Stevens Institute of Technology to evaluate the system's ability to delay runoff and fully capture small rain events. The water depth in the outflow and the volumetric water content near the inflow were measured continuously over 15 months. Rainfall characteristics were documented from an on‐site rain gauge. This monitoring determined the time from the start of a rain event to the onset of outflow from each planter, which was defined as the lag. The initial moisture deficit (difference between pre‐event volumetric water content and maximum measured volumetric water content), approximate runoff volume, and approximate runoff volume in the first half hour were analysed to determine their effect on runoff capture and lag. During the monitoring period, 38% of observations did not produce measurable outflow. Logistic regression determined that the initial moisture deficit and approximate runoff volume were statistically significant in contributing to a fully captured storm. Despite the large hydraulic loading rate and concrete bottom, the planters demonstrate effective discharge lag, ranging from 5 to 1,841 min with a median of 77.5 min. Volumetric water content of the media and inlet runoff volume in the first half hour were significant in modelling the lag duration. These results represent a combination of controllable and uncontrollable aspects of green infrastructure: media design and rainfall.
Disruption in the balance between apolipoprotein A‐I and mast cell chymase in chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Authors: Inoue Yukihisa , Okamoto Tsukasa , Honda Takayuki , Nukui Yoshihisa , Akashi Takumi , Takemura Tamiko , Tozuka Minoru , Miyazaki Yasunari
Published: October 2020

Background

Apolipoprotein A‐I (apoA‐I) has an antifibrotic effect in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Although pulmonary fibrosis is associated with poor prognosis of patients with hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), little is known regarding the role of apoA‐I in the pathogenesis of HP.

Methods

Two‐dimensional electrophoresis, immunoblotting, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays were performed for the identification and quantification of apoA‐I in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from patients with acute and chronic HP. To investigate the degradation of apoA‐I, apoA‐I was incubated with BALF. Moreover, the role of apoA‐I in TGF‐β1‐induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition of A549 cells was examined.

Results

The concentration of apoA‐I in the BALF was significantly lower in chronic HP (n = 56) compared with acute HP (n = 31). The expression level of apoA‐I was also low in the lung tissues of chronic HP. ApoA‐I was degraded by BALF from HP patients. The number of chymase‐positive mast cells in the alveolar parenchyma was inversely correlated with apoA‐I levels in the BALF of chronic HP patients. In vitro experiment using A549 cells, untreated apoA‐I inhibited TGF‐β1‐induced epithelial–mesenchymal transition, although this trend was not observed in the chymase‐treated apoA‐I.

Conclusions

A decrease of apoA‐I was associated with the pathogenesis of chronic HP in terms of pulmonary fibrosis and mast cell chymase attenuated the protective effect of apoA‐I against pulmonary fibrosis. Furthermore, apoA‐I could be a crucial molecule associated with lung fibrogenesis of HP.
Oil and stock prices: New evidence from a time varying homogenous panel smooth transition VECM for seven developing countries
Authors: Ceylan Resat , Ivrendi Mehmet , Shahbaz Muhammed , Omay Tolga
Published: October 2020

This paper investigates the relationship between international oil price and stock prices applying the time varying causality testing over the period of 2000M1‐2017M3. The panel unit root and panel cointegration tests considering cross‐section dependence are also employed. A time varying panel smooth transition vector error correction (TV‐PSTRVEC) model is a developed and estimated for testing the presence of non‐linear short‐run and long‐run causality, and cointegrating relationship between stock and oil prices. The empirical findings indicate that short and long‐run causalities between oil price and stock prices are time‐dependent. Moreover, oil price cause stock prices in the long‐run. In the short‐run, neutral effect exists between oil price and stock prices. These two findings are evidence of a strong exogeneity of oil price in time‐dependent regimes which is also supporting the recent arguments and empirical findings.
Topological structures of transition metal dichalcogenides: A review on fabrication, effects, applications, and potential
Authors: Zhang Weifeng , Zhang Yan , Qiu Jiakang , Zhao Zihan , Liu Nan
Published: October 2020

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) have received tremendous attention owing to their potential for optoelectronic applications. Topological structures, such as wrinkles, folds, and scrolls, have been generated on TMDs, thereby exhibiting novel physical properties with improved optoelectronic performance, making them attractive prospects for both basic understanding and advanced applications in optoelectronics. In this review, the methods for fabricating wrinkles, folds, and scrolls on TMDs are outlined, including modification of the fabrication and transfer processes, and manipulation via auxiliary polymers. The effects on their physical and electronic properties are also discussed, with particular paid to the energy band structure, single‐photon sources, second harmonic generation (SHG), and interlayer coupling. In comparison to pristine TMDs, these topologies exhibit great advantages in optoelectronic devices, such as field‐effect transistors and photodetectors. Finally, existing challenges and opportunities of wrinkled, folded, and scrolled TMDs are outlined and an outlook is presented.

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Carbamazepine biodegradation and volatile fatty acids production by selectively enriched sulfate‐reducing bacteria and fermentative acidogenic bacteria
Authors: Tahir Khurram , Miran Waheed , Jang Jiseon , Shahzad Asif , Moztahida Mokrema , Kim Bolam , Lim Seong‐Rin , Lee Dae Sung
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

The micropollutant carbamazepine (CBZ) is persistent and resistant to conventional wastewater treatment. This study investigated the role of fermentative acidogenic bacteria (FAB) and sulfate‐reducing bacteria (SRB) for CBZ biodegradation and volatile fatty acid (VFA) production.

RESULTS

The experimental results demonstrated that CBZ biodegradation, total organic carbon and sulfate removal efficiency reached 46%, 36% and 98%, respectively, after 144 h of operation with VFA production of acetic acid (20.72 mmol L−1), propionic acid (3.67 mmol L−1) and butyric acid (4.90 mmol L−1). However, the acetate fraction decreased from 78% to 70% with a decrease in chemical oxygen demand/sulfate (COD:SO42−) ratios from 1.06 to 0.35, respectively, suggesting that acetate was partially oxidized by SRB under substrate/COD limiting conditions. The biodegradation performance of SRB + FAB was also compared with that of a mixed microbial community (MMC).

CONCLUSIONS

Upon increasing the initial CBZ concentration from 42.3 to 169.2 μmol L−1, SRB + FAB exhibited much higher CBZ biodegradation (33%) than MMC (12%). Microbial community analyses confirmed the enrichment of VFA‐producing species including phylum Firmicutes (2.4% to 36.8%) and class Clostridia (1.3% to 29.6%). Moreover, aromatic and nitroaromatic compound‐degrading bacteria such as Escherichia and Desulfovibrio were also enriched. This signifies the applicability of SRB + FAB to pharmaceutical pollutant biodegradation in the environment. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)
Molecular mechanisms and evolution of fertilization proteins
Authors: Carlisle Jolie A. , Swanson Willie J.
Published: October 2020

Sexual reproduction involves a cascade of molecular interactions between the sperm and the egg culminating in cell–cell fusion. Vital steps mediating fertilization include chemoattraction of the sperm to the egg, induction of the sperm acrosome reaction, dissolution of the egg coat, and sperm–egg plasma membrane binding and fusion. Despite decades of research, only a handful of interacting gamete recognition proteins (GRPs) have been identified across taxa mediating each of these steps, most notably in abalone, sea urchins, and mammals. This review outlines and compares notable GRP pairs mediating sperm–egg recognition in these three significant model systems and discusses the molecular basis of species‐specific fertilization driven by GRP function. In addition, we explore the evolutionary theory behind the rapid diversification of GRPs between species. In particular, we focus on how the coevolution between interacting sperm and egg proteins may contribute to the formation of boundaries to hybridization. Finally, we discuss how pairing structural information with evolutionary insights can improve our understanding of mechanisms of fertilization and their origins.
Seeking impact: Global perspectives on outcome measure selection for translational and clinical research for primary mitochondrial disorders
Authors: Goldstein Amy , Rahman Shamima
Published: October 2020

Primary mitochondrial disorders (PMDs) are challenging due to overall poor outcomes, no proven treatments, and a history of failed clinical trials, leading to a critical need to design future trials that can prove efficacy of an intervention. Selection of outcome measures for PMDs is complicated by extreme clinical, biochemical and genetic heterogeneity; PMDs are effectively a collection of nearly 400 individually ultrarare diseases. In clinical trials, outcome measures aim to evaluate, and ideally quantitate, the efficacy of an intervention in ameliorating clinical phenotype(s). The heterogeneity and multisystemic nature of PMDs makes it unlikely that a universal outcome measure will be applicable to all PMDs. Instead, a composite score of the individual's most worrisome symptoms may be a preferable endpoint. A further challenge arises from the tension between finding outcomes suitable for use in clinical trials (able to produce a measurable change in a relatively short period of time, namely the duration of a clinical trial) vs measures that are clinically meaningful to individual patients. A number of clinical rating scales and proposed biomarkers have emerged to capture the features of PMDs for natural history and interventional trials. Here we review our collective experiences with clinical rating scales, patient‐reported outcome measures, and physiological, imaging, biochemical and muscle phenotypes as outcome measures in paediatric and adult PMDs in natural history studies and recent clinical trials. There is a pressing need to agree on a set of validated, robust, clinically meaningful outcome measures internationally, to facilitate the multicentre international clinical trials needed for optimal evaluation of novel therapies for these ultrarare diseases.
Chinese outward foreign direct investment: The reasons why some Chinese firms fail in Norway
Authors: Wang Yuxia , Alon Ilan
Published: October 2020

Recent years have seen a dramatic rise in Chinese multinationals investing in various projects around the world. While there have been numerous studies of Chinese outward foreign direct investment (FDI), there have been far fewer that examine the factors that relate to their success or failure from the perspective of the Chinese investor. Here we present a cross‐case analysis of four examples of Chinese investments in Norway that failed to produce a profit. Using semi‐structured interviews with Chinese and local managers, government agencies, and data from secondary sources, we identify five factors that contributed to this: (a) legal factors, (b) cultural differences, (c) business strategies, (d) organizational structure, and (e) the selection of people. We believe that these four case studies contribute to our knowledge of the reasons why Chinese outward FDI fails, and that it offers guidance to the management of Chinese firms wishing to invest in Europe.
Protein Intake at the First Day of Full‐Oral Intake During Hospitalization Is Associated With Complications and Hospital Length of Stay
Authors: Dijxhoorn Dorian N. , IJmker‐Hemink Vera E. , Kievit Wietske , Wanten Geert J. A. , van den Berg Manon G. A.
Published: October 2020

Background

Malnutrition at admission is associated with complication‐related readmission and prolonged hospital stay. This underscores the importance of an adequate intake ‐ more particular, protein intake ‐ to prevent further deterioration and treat malnutrition during hospitalization. Our objective was to assess whether protein intake relative to requirements at the first day of full oral intake is associated with complications and hospital length of stay (LOS) in medical and surgical patients.

Methods

This was a post hoc analysis of a prospective cohort study in patients on the wards of gastroenterology, orthopedics, urology, and gynecology. Protein intake was measured by subtracting the weight of each dish at the end of each mealtime from the weight at serving time. Complications and LOS were reported using patients’ medical records.

Results

In total, complications were observed in 92 of 637 (14.4%) patients, with a median LOS of 5 days (3.0–7.0). An absolute increase of 10% protein intake relative to requirements reduced the relative complication risk by 10% (odds ratio, 0.900; 95% CI, 0.83–0.97;P< .05). Also, LOS was shortened by 0.23 days for each increase of 10% in protein intake relative to requirements (95% CI, –0.3 to –0.2;P< .05).

Conclusion

Protein intake relative to requirements at the first day of full‐oral intake is associated with the risk of complications and hospital LOS. This analysis bolsters the evidence for the importance of any hospital meal service that increases protein intake.
Good reductions of Shimura varieties of Hodge type in arbitrary unramified mixed characteristic. Part I
Authors: Vasiu Adrian
Published: October 2020

We prove the existence of good smooth integral models of Shimura varieties of Hodge type in arbitrary unramified mixed characteristic (0, p). As a first application we provide a smooth solution (answer) to a conjecture (question) of Langlands for Shimura varieties of Hodge type. As a second application we prove the existence in arbitrary unramified mixed characteristic (0, p) of integral canonical models of projective Shimura varieties of Hodge type with respect to h‐hyperspecial subgroups as pro‐étale covers of Néron models; this forms progress towards the proof of conjectures of Milne and Reimann. Though the second application was known before in some cases, its proof is new and more of a principle.
Reverse radiodorsal artery‐pedicled thumb metacarpal vascularized bone graft for osteochondral fracture of the thumb interphalangeal joint with a bone defect: A case report
Authors: Hirose Hitoshi , Komura Shingo , Hirakawa Akihiro , Okuda Ryota , Kato Koki , Kanamori Shigeo , Masuda Takahiro , Ito Yoshiki , Akiyama Haruhiko
Published: October 2020

Osteochondral fractures of the fingers are challenging to treat, and it is mandatory to acquire early bone union and joint surface reconstruction to obtain satisfactory outcomes. These injuries sometimes occur as open fractures with poor soft tissue condition and bone defect adjacent to osteochondral fragment. For such cases, surgical treatment can be more difficult, and vascularized bone graft (VBG) could be a useful method for joint reconstruction. Here, we report reverse‐pedicled VBG based on the radiodorsal artery of the thumb for reconstructing a traumatic bone defect of the thumb. A 36‐year‐old man, who had ulcerative colitis and was taking immunosuppressive agents, sustained open fracture‐dislocation of the thumb interphalangeal joint with a free osteochondral fragment of the proximal phalanx and 6 × 5 × 4 mm of subcondylar bone defect. We harvested 5 × 5 × 5 mm VBG at the base of the first metacarpal bone and dissected running the radiodorsal artery. The vascularized bone was grafted into the bone defect site through the subcutaneous tunnel created on the radial aspect of the proximal phalanx and fixed with a Kirschner wire. Bony union was obtained 2 months after surgery. At 7 months after the operation, the patient complained no pain, and the range of motion of the thumb interphalangeal joint was extension 0° and flexion 42°. Radiographs showed no avascular necrosis of the united fragment and osteoarthritis of the interphalangeal joint. This method could be a useful option for reconstruction of the thumb with bone defects.
The impact of edema and fiber crossing on diffusion MRI metrics assessed in an ex vivo nerve phantom: Multi‐tensor model vs. diffusion orientation distribution function
Authors: Ye Zezhong , Gary Sam E. , Sun Peng , Mustafi Sourajit Mitra , Glenn George Russell , Yeh Fang‐Cheng , Merisaari Harri , Song Chunyu , Yang Ruimeng , Huang Guo‐Shu , Kao Hung‐Wen , Lin Chien‐Yuan , Wu Yu‐Chien , Jensen Jens H. , Song Sheng‐Kwei
Published: October 2020

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) has been employed for over 2 decades to noninvasively quantify central nervous system diseases/injuries. However, DTI is an inadequate simplification of diffusion modeling in the presence of coexisting inflammation, edema and crossing nerve fibers. We employed a tissue phantom using fixed mouse trigeminal nerves coated with various amounts of agarose gel to mimic crossing fibers in the presence of vasogenic edema. Diffusivity measures derived by DTI and diffusion basis spectrum imaging (DBSI) were compared at increasing levels of simulated edema and degrees of fiber crossing. Furthermore, we assessed the ability of DBSI, diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI), generalized q‐sampling imaging (GQI), q‐ball imaging (QBI) and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging to resolve fiber crossing, in reference to the gold standard angles measured from structural images. DTI‐computed diffusivities and fractional anisotropy were significantly confounded by gel‐mimicked edema and crossing fibers. Conversely, DBSI calculated accurate diffusivities of individual fibers regardless of the extent of simulated edema and degrees of fiber crossing angles. Additionally, DBSI accurately and consistently estimated crossing angles in various conditions of gel‐mimicked edema when compared with the gold standard (r2= 0.92,P= 1.9 × 10−9, bias = 3.9°). Small crossing angles and edema significantly impact the diffusion orientation distribution function, making DKI, GQI and QBI less accurate in detecting and estimating fiber crossing angles. Lastly, we used diffusion tensor ellipsoids to demonstrate that DBSI resolves the confounds of edema and crossing fibers in the peritumoral edema region from a patient with lung cancer metastasis, while DTI failed. In summary, DBSI is able to separate two crossing fibers and accurately recover their diffusivities in a complex environment characterized by increasing crossing angles and amounts of gel‐mimicked edema. DBSI also indicated better angular resolution compared with DKI, QBI and GQI.
An improvised collocation algorithm with specific end conditions for solving modified Burgers equation
Authors: Shallu  , Kukreja Vijay Kumar
Published: October 2020

In this work, numerical solution of nonlinear modified Burgers equation is obtained using an improvised collocation technique with cubic B‐spline as basis functions. In this technique, cubic B‐splines are forced to satisfy the interpolatory condition along with some specific end conditions. Crank–Nicolson scheme is used for temporal domain and improvised cubic B‐spline collocation method is used for spatial domain discretization. Quasilinearization process is followed to tackle the nonlinear term in the equation. Convergence of the technique is established to be of order O(h4 + Δt2). Stability of the technique is examined using von‐Neumann analysis. L2 and L∞ error norms are calculated and are compared with those available in existing works. Results are found to be better and the technique is computationally efficient, which is shown by calculating CPU time.
Green training an effective strategy for a cleaner environment: Study on hotel employees
Authors: Alola Uju V. , Cop Serdar , Tarkang Marymagdaline Enowmbi
Published: October 2020

The call for tourism sector to contribute its quota to a cleaner and a greener environment is gaining momentum. Organization's green initiative and training are mainly on employee's contribution to the environment and its sustainability. Research related to green human resource management especially green training (GT), environmental performance, and behaviors have been given little attention in the hospitality industry. The particular examination of GT and its effect on organizational citizenship behavior (OCBE) and perceived behavioral control (PBC), the mediation effect of OCBE in the above relationship is the main aim of the study. Adopting the Ability‐Motivation‐Opportunity theory to explore the direct and indirect effect of GT on PBC, this study surveyed 306 respondents from employees in the hotel industry. The data were analyzed using AMOS 23 version. GT stands as an important implementation to directly stimulate employee organizational citizenship behavior towards the environment (OCBE) and PBC. The practical and theoretical implication is included; also suggestions for further research are listed below.
Sustainability crises are crises of relationship: Learning from Nyikina ecology and ethics
Authors: Milgin Annie , Nardea Linda , Grey Hilda , Laborde Sarah , Jackson Sue
Published: October 2020

In the context of the current global ecological and climate crisis, there are increasing calls in the environmental sustainability literature to recognize the validity and value of Indigenous knowledge systems. At the same time, the limitations of utilitarian frameworks of environmental decision‐making are becoming clearer to many researchers and practitioners, who see a need to engage with the underlying ethical questions of sustainability, such as ‘What is to be sustained, and for the benefit of which forms of life?’

At the interface between these two urgent imperatives, lies a question that has remained marginal in the sustainability literature: How can the environmental ethics of Indigenous societies help frame sustainability science and practice?

Based on a case study from Nyikina Country in northern Australia, we show here how the ethical principles embedded in an Indigenous hydro‐ecological knowledge system can help reframe, and address, sustainability crises as crises of relationships.

Learning from the linkages between custodial and hydro‐ecological relationships in Nyikina Country, we discuss three contributions of relational thinking to sustainability research and practice. First, at a governance level, the need to embed ontological plurality into state environmental policy. Second, at a management level, the priority of continued communication between the Country and its custodians. Third, at the level of knowledge production, the imperative for sustainability researchers and practitioners to bring to their research process the relational qualities of pluralism, reciprocity and care that are at the core of Nyikina and other Indigenous ecological ethics.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Identification of adolescents and young adults’ preferences and priorities for future cancer treatment using a novel decision‐making tool
Authors: Snaman Jennifer M. , Helton Gabrielle , Holder Rachel L. , Revette Anna , Baker Justin N. , Wolfe Joanne
Published: October 2020

Background

Adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer receive high‐intensity care and experience significant symptoms at the end of life. As novel cancer‐directed therapies increase, AYAs with advanced cancer may face multiple treatment options, each with unique risk/benefit profiles. To augment the AYAs’ voice in the decision‐making process, we developed MyPref, an adaptive conjoint analysis‐based tool.

Procedure

We conducted a three‐staged pilot study of MyPref utilizing an exploratory intervention mixed methods design. AYAs and their identified parent or trusted person (PTP) completed MyPref and received a summary of their preferences for nine treatment‐related factors. Participants later engaged in semi‐structured interviews to further explore their experience with MyPref. Responses to free text questions and interviews were analyzed using qualitative techniques.

Results

Fifteen AYAs with advanced cancer and seven PTPs participated in the pilot. While most participants identified time until cancer grows, quality of life, and side effects to be the most important factors when considering a future treatment, preferences were highly varied. Notably, MyPref‐calculated preferences differed from initial rank order, and participants indicated that calculated preferences were accurate in follow‐up interviews.

Conclusion

The MyPref‐calculated preferences varied by individual and differed from initial rank ordering. Additionally, there was variability in how individuals defined and prioritized treatment‐related factors. This novel tool may be a useful way to engage AYAs and their PTPs in discussions around preferences for treatment and prepare AYAs for future decision making. We plan to evaluate this tool longitudinally to evaluate the impact on actual treatment decisions.
Analysis of the negative charges injected into a SiO2/SiNx stack using plasma charging technology for field‐effect passivation on a boron‐doped silicon surface
Authors: Min Kwan Hong , Hwang Jeong‐Mo , Cho Eunwan , Song Hee‐eun , Park Sungeun , Rohatgi Ajeet , Kim Donghwan , Lee Hae‐Seok , Kang Yoonmook , Ok Young‐Woo , Kang Min Gu
Published: October 2020

We investigated field‐effect passivation by injecting negative charges into SiO2/SiNx stack using a plasma charge injection technique. The Si/SiO2/SiNx samples exhibited a very high flat‐band shift with a high injected negative charge density (>3.0 × 1013 cm2) after plasma negative charge injection; this density was higher than that for the well‐known Al2O3 layer. Most injected negative charges were present within approximately 90 nm of the surface of the SiNx layer deposited by plasma‐enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) when comparing the capacitance–voltage analysis results obtained while etching the SiNx film considering four assumptions of the injected negative charge distribution. The saturation current density in a 90‐ohm/sq boron emitter decreased from ~90 to 50 fA/cm2 after negative charge injection, which is equivalent to the J0e of the structure passivated with an Al2O3/SiNx stack. Six‐inch n‐type bifacial cells with an approximately 100‐ohm/sq boron emitter passivated with SiO2/SiNx displayed an approximately 0.2% increase in absolute cell efficiency after negative charge injection. In addition, n‐PERT bifacial cells with a high boron sheet resistance of ~150 ohm/sq exhibited a 1.0% or higher absolute efficiency enhancement from a relatively low precharging efficiency of approximately 19.0%. We also demonstrated that the final efficiency after charging was comparable with n‐PERT bifacial cells with Al2O3 passivation, suggesting that the proposed process is a potential low‐cost alternative method that could replace expensive Al2O3 processes.
Is vitamin D deficiency a risk factor for COVID‐19 in children?
Authors: Yılmaz Kamil , Şen Velat
Published: October 2020

Objective

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a global health problem that can result in serious complications. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and clinical importance of vitamin D deficiency in children with COVID‐19.

Material and Methods

This study includes 40 patients who were diagnosed to have COVID‐19 and hospitalized with the real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method, 45 healthy matched control subjects with vitamin D levels. The age of admission, clinical and laboratory data, and 25‐hydroxycholecalciferol (25‐OHD) levels were recorded. Those with vitamin D levels which are below 20 ng/ml were determined as Group 1 and those with ≥20 ng/ml as Group 2.

Results

Patients with COVID‐19 had significantly lower vitamin D levels 13.14 μg/L (4.19–69.28) than did the controls 34.81 (3.8–77.42) μg/L (p < .001). Patients with COVID‐19 also had significantly lower serum phosphorus (4.09 ± 0.73 vs. 5.06 ± 0.93 vs. (U/L) (p < .001)) values compared with the controls. The symptom of fever was significantly higher in COVID‐ 19 patients who had deficient and insufficient vitamin D levels than in patients who had sufficient vitamin D levels (p = .038). There was a negative correlation found between fever symptom and vitamin D level (r = −0.358, p = .023).

Conclusion

This is the first to evaluate vitamin D levels and its relationship with clinical findings in pediatric patients with COVID‐19. Our results suggest that vitamin D values may be associated with the occurrence and management of the COVID‐19 disease by modulating the immunological mechanism to the virus in the pediatric population.
High‐Resolution Numerical Simulation of Detonation Propagation and Dead Zones in LX‐17
Authors: Ma Tianbao , Ma Fanjie , Ning Jianguo
Published: October 2020

A modified Ignition & Growth model is used to calculate the detonation propagation and corner‐turning of LX‐17, based on the augmented model. The calculation results showed that the edges of dead zones are significantly smoothed, which is more physically realistic, as predicted by models such as CREST and WSD. In this work, a fifth‐order WENO‐JS scheme and a third‐order Runge‐Kutta method are used for space discretization and time integration respectively. Level set method is used for interface tracking, and RGFM (Real Ghost Fluid Method) is used for interface treatment.
Assessment of Recent Researches for Reliable Prediction of Density of Organic Compounds as well as Ionic Liquids and Salts Containing Energetic Groups at Room Temperature
Authors: Keshavarz Mohammad Hossein , Makvandi Leida
Published: October 2020

Organic and ionic compounds containing energetic groups have wide applications in industries because they can release their stored chemical energy upon external stimuli. Many different methods have been developed in recent years for reliable prediction of the densities of these compounds at room temperature because their detonation performance depends strongly on density. This work reviews the best available predictive models for important classes of energetic organic and ionic compounds that reduce the high costs of synthesis and development of the new proposed compounds. The advantages and limitations of different methods are discussed and compared for different kinds of neutral and ionic energetic compounds. Among different approaches, quantum‐chemical methods based on molecular surface electrostatic potential (MESP) and quantitative structure‐property relationship (QSPR) approaches are attractive for scientists and industries in recent years because they can be applied for a wide range of various types of compounds. For 25 neutral energetic organic compounds and 11 energetic ionic compounds where the percentages of deviations of the outputs of quantum‐chemical MESP‐based methods are large, it is shown that the outputs of the best available QSPR methods, which were embedded in new computer code (EMDB_1.0), are more accurate.
Consensus mutagenesis approach improves the thermal stability of system xc− transporter, xCT, and enables cryo‐EM analyses
Authors: Oda Kazumasa , Lee Yongchan , Wiriyasermkul Pattama , Tanaka Yoko , Takemoto Mizuki , Yamashita Keitaro , Nagamori Shushi , Nishizawa Tomohiro , Nureki Osamu
Published: October 2020

System xc− is an amino acid antiporter that imports L‐cystine into cells and exports intracellular L‐glutamate, at a 1:1 ratio. As L‐cystine is an essential precursor for glutathione synthesis, system xc− supports tumor cell growth through glutathione‐based oxidative stress resistance and is considered as a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment. System xc− consists of two subunits, the light chain subunit SLC7A11 (xCT) and the heavy chain subunit SLC3A2 (also known as CD98hc or 4F2hc), which are linked by a conserved disulfide bridge. Although the recent structures of another SLC7 member, L‐type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) in complex with CD98hc, have provided the structural basis toward understanding the amino acid transport mechanism, the detailed molecular mechanism of xCT remains unknown. To revealthe molecular mechanism, we performed single‐particle analyses of the xCT‐CD98hc complex. As wild‐type xCT‐CD98hc displayed poor stability and could not be purified to homogeneity, we applied a consensus mutagenesis approach to xCT. The consensus mutated construct exhibited increased stability as compared to the wild‐type, and enabled the cryoelectron microscopy (cryo‐EM) map to be obtained at 6.2 Å resolution by single‐particle analysis. The cryo‐EM map revealed sufficient electron density to assign secondary structures. In the xCT structure, the hash and arm domains are well resolved, whereas the bundle domain shows some flexibility. CD98hc is positioned next to the xCT transmembrane domain. This study provides the structural basis of xCT, and our consensus‐based strategy could represent a good choice toward solving unstable protein structures.
Immunotranscriptome analysis of Plutella xylostella reveals differences in innate immune responses to low‐ and high‐virulence Beauveria bassiana strain challenges
Authors: Wang Yulong , Zhou Qiumei , Zhang Hanghang , Qin Li , Huang Bo
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

Entomopathogenic fungi have developed multiple strategies to overcome the immune defenses of their target insects, whereas insect pests have devised various defense mechanisms to combat fungal infection. However, differences in the molecular mechanisms of the innate immune defense strategies of insects upon infection with different fungal strains from the same species have not been reported.

RESULTS

Two Beauveria bassiana strains were obtained that significantly varied in their pathogenicity but were comparable in terms of growth, conidial yield, and cuticle penetration. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the immune response of Plutella xylostella infected with these two strains, RNA‐Seq was performed 48 h after infection. A total of 1027 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, and more than 200 DEGs were enriched in Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) pathways involved in disease response, revealing differences in the immune response of P. xylostella to different B. bassiana infections at 48 h. Twenty‐eight of the DEGs were related to innate immune functions, such as pathogen recognition, immune system activation and antimicrobial reactions. RNA interference (RNAi)‐mediated gene silencing assays showed that PxApoLIII and PxCSP played critical roles in the P. xylostella immune response. PxApoLIII was expressed at higher levels during infection with the high‐virulence strain, whereas PxCSP showed the opposite expression pattern during infection with the low‐virulence strain, indicating that PxApoLIII and PxCSP might participate in P. xylostella innate immune defense against high‐ and low‐virulence B. bassiana strains.

CONCLUSION

The present findings demonstrate that strains of a single species of pathogenic fungi that differ in virulence can induce the expression of different genes in P. xylostella. These results advance our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying fungi–pest interactions.