bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxytocin modulates human chemosensory decoding of sex in a dose-dependent manner
Authors: Chen Kepu , Ye Yuting , Troje Nikolaus F , Zhou Wen
Published: January 2021

There has been accumulating evidence of human social chemo-signaling, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Considering the evolutionarily conserved roles of oxytocin and vasopressin in reproductive and social behaviors, we examined whether the two neuropeptides are involved in the subconscious processing of androsta-4,16,-dien-3-one and estra-1,3,5 (10),16-tetraen-3-ol, two human chemosignals that convey masculinity and femininity to the targeted recipients, respectively. Psychophysical data collected from 216 heterosexual and homosexual men across five experiments totaling 1056 testing sessions consistently showed that such chemosensory communications of masculinity and femininity were blocked by a competitive antagonist of both oxytocin and vasopressin receptors called atosiban, administered nasally. On the other hand, intranasal oxytocin, but not vasopressin, modulated the decoding of androstadienone and estratetraenol in manners that were dose-dependent, nonmonotonic, and contingent upon the recipients’ social proficiency. Taken together, these findings establish a causal link between neuroendocrine factors and subconscious chemosensory communications of sex-specific information in humans.
A transcriptomic taxonomy of Drosophila circadian neurons around the clock
Authors: Ma Dingbang , Przybylski Dariusz , Abruzzi Katharine C , Schlichting Matthias , Li Qunlong , Long Xi , Rosbash Michael
Published: January 2021

Many different functions are regulated by circadian rhythms, including those orchestrated by discrete clock neurons within animal brains. To comprehensively characterize and assign cell identity to the 75 pairs ofDrosophilacircadian neurons, we optimized a single-cell RNA sequencing method and assayed clock neuron gene expression at different times of day. The data identify at least 17 clock neuron categories with striking spatial regulation of gene expression. Transcription factor regulation is prominent and likely contributes to the robust circadian oscillation of many transcripts, including those that encode cell-surface proteins previously shown to be important for cell recognition and synapse formation during development. The many other clock-regulated genes also constitute an important resource for future mechanistic and functional studies between clock neurons and/or for temporal signaling to circuits elsewhere in the fly brain.
Antibiotic prescription practices and attitudes towards the use of antimicrobials among veterinarians in the City of Tshwane, South Africa
Authors: Samuels Ronita , Qekwana Daniel Nenene , Oguttu James W. , Odoi Agricola
Published: January 2021

Background

Understanding the prescription practices and attitudes of veterinarians towards antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is crucial in guiding efforts to curb AMR. This study investigated prescription practices and attitudes towards AMR among veterinarians in the City of Tshwane, South Africa.

Methods

Out of the 83 veterinarians invited to participate in the study, 54 signed the consent form and completed the questionnaire. Percentages and 95% confidence intervals of all categorical variables were computed. A multinomial logistic model was used to identify predictors of the veterinarians’ view towards antimicrobial use.

Results

The majority (88%) of respondents indicated that improper use of antimicrobials contributed to selection for AMR. Veterinarians relied on clinical signs and symptoms (88%, 48/54) to decide whether to prescribe antimicrobials or not. However, the choice of antimicrobials depended on the cost of antibiotics (77.2%), route of administration (81.5%), and risk of potential adverse reactions (79.6%; 43/54). Many (61.5%) veterinarians were of the view that often antimicrobials are appropriately prescribed and 88.7% agreed that improper use of antimicrobials contributed to selection for antimicrobial resistant organisms. Compared to females, males were significantly more likely (Relative Risk Ratio (RRR) = 9.0; P = 0.0069) to agree rather than to “neither agree nor disagree” that their colleagues over-prescribed antimicrobials.

Conclusions

The decisions to prescribe antimicrobials by the veterinarians depended on clinical presentation of the patient, while the choice of antimicrobial depended on cost, route of administration, and risk of potential adverse reactions. Most veterinarians were of the view that antimicrobials were prescribed judiciously.
Reduced recognition of facial emotional expressions in global burnout and burnout depersonalization in healthcare providers
Authors: Colonnello Valentina , Carnevali Luca , Russo Paolo Maria , Ottaviani Cristina , Cremonini Valeria , Venturi Emanuele , Mattarozzi Katia
Published: January 2021

The healthcare provider profession strongly relies on the ability to care for others’ emotional experiences. To what extent burnout may relate to an actual alteration of this key professional ability has been little investigated. In an experimentally controlled setting, we investigated whether subjective experiences of global burnout or burnout depersonalization (the interpersonal component of burnout) relate to objectively measured alterations in emotion recognition and to what extent such alterations are emotion specific. Healthcare workers (n = 90) completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory and a dynamic emotion recognition task in which faces with neutral emotional expressions gradually changed to display a specific basic emotion (happiness, anger, fear, or sadness). Participants were asked to identify and then classify each displayed emotion. Before the task, a subsample of 46 participants underwent two salivary cortisol assessments. Individuals with global burnout were less accurate at recognizing others’ emotional expressions of anger and fear, tending to misclassify these as happiness, compared to individuals without global burnout. Individuals with high burnout depersonalization were more accurate in recognizing happiness and less accurate in recognizing all negative emotions, with a tendency to misclassify the latter as positive ones, compared to healthcare workers with moderate/low depersonalization. Moreover, individuals with high depersonalization—but not participants with global burnout—were characterized by higher cortisol levels. These results suggest that the subjective burnout experience relates to an actual, but selective, reduction in the recognition of facial emotional expressions, characterized by a tendency to misclassify negative emotional expressions as positive ones, perhaps due to an enhanced seeking of positive social cues. This study adds to the understanding of emotional processing in burnout and paves the way for more nuanced studies on the role of altered processing of threat signals in the development and/or persistence of burnout.
Modeling the bidirectional glutamine/ammonium conversion between cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts
Authors: Hinow Peter , Pinter Gabriella , Yan Wei , Wang Shizhen Emily
Published: January 2021

Like in an ecosystem, cancer and other cells residing in the tumor microenvironment engage in various modes of interactions to buffer the negative effects of environmental changes. One such change is the consumption of common nutrients (such as glutamine/Gln) and the consequent accumulation of toxic metabolic byproducts (such as ammonium/NH4). Ammonium is a waste product of cellular metabolism whose accumulation causes cell stress. In tumors, it is known that it can be recycled into nutrients by cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Here we present monoculture and coculture growth of cancer cells and CAFs on different substrates: glutamine and ammonium. We propose a mathematical model to aid our understanding. We find that cancer cells are able to survive on ammonium and recycle it to glutamine for limited periods of time. CAFs are able to even grow on ammonium. In coculture, the presence of CAFs results in an improved survival of cancer cells compared to their monoculture when exposed to ammonium. Interestingly, the ratio between the two cell populations is maintained under various concentrations of NH4, suggesting the ability of the mixed cell system to survive temporary metabolic stress and sustain the size and cell composition as a stable entity.
Improved salt tolerance of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. contributed by Pseudomonas sp. strain M30-35
Authors: Cai Deyu , Xu Ying , Zhao Fei , Zhang Yan , Duan Huirong , Guo Xiaonong
Published: January 2021

Background

Plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) can promote plant growth and enhance plant tolerance to salt stress. Pseudomonas sp. strain M30-35 might confer abiotic stress tolerance to its host plants. We evaluated the effects of M30-35 inoculation on the growth and metabolite accumulation of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. during salt stress growth conditions.

Methods

The effects of M30-35 on the growth of C. quinoa seedlings were tested under salt stress. Seedling growth parameters measured included chlorophyll content, root activity, levels of plant- phosphorus (P), and saponin content.

Results

M30-35 increased biomass production and root activity compared to non-inoculated plants fertilized with rhizobia and plants grown under severe salt stress conditions. The photosynthetic pigment content of chlorophyll a and b were higher in M30-35-inoculated C. quinoa seedlings under high salt stress conditions compared to non-inoculated seedlings. The stability of P content was also maintained. The content of saponin, an important secondary metabolite in C. quinoa, was increased by the inoculation of M30-35 under 300 mM NaCl conditions.

Conclusion

Inoculation of M30-35 rescues the growth diminution of C. quinoa seedlings under salt stress.
La entrega, la alteridad y la identidad Tres radicalidades de una ontología trinitaria en clave steiniana
Authors:   Universidad Católica Argentina, Bertolini Alejandro
Published: January 2021

Desde el inicio de la modernidad, la metafísica clásica fue objeto de las más variadas críticas. Entre los argumentos más conocidos está el de haber rigidizado el ser y el ente bajo el predominio de una sustancia de corte parmenídeo, que no logra dar cuenta de la alteridad, la diferencia, la gratuidad, lo imprevisible de la novedad histórica, el amor y la donación. El siglo xx se caracteriza por una intensa búsqueda de un nuevo giro ontológico que incorpore estas nociones como pilares del nuevo pensamiento. Entre los muchos y muy variados intentos encontramos a E. Stein, quien se anima a cruzar el Rubicón de los límites de la razón para elaborar una ontología de cuño trinitario. Partiendo de la novedad absoluta del ser como don de sí, su perspectiva permite enlazar tres magnitudes: la entrega de sí, la alteridad y la identidad de tal modo que el incremento de una redunda en el crecimiento proporcionalmente directo de las otras dos. En este artículo analizaremos los argumentos que permiten comprender este abordaje.
Una modificación de la doctrina del tiempo y del ser según Edith Stein. Reflexiones acerca de La filosofía existencial de Martin Heidegger
Authors:   Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso (Chile), Lambert Ortiz César
Published: January 2021

El artículo analiza el breve escrito de Edith Stein titulado La filosofía existencial de Martin Heidegger. La autora solo conoce en ese momento (1935) los cuatro textos que Heidegger ha publicado, de modo que tiene una imagen diferente del autor que la actual. Stein argumenta que aquello que Heidegger llama ser se limita a la existencia humana. El Ser infinito o Dios no es parte de sus ideas, pues el enfoque del autor apunta más a la comprensión humana de ser que a la plenitud eterna. Por su parte, Edith Stein estima que la filosofía tiene que mostrar la fundamentación del ente finito en el eterno.
Indigenous People and Changing Socio-Cultural Behavior: A Case Study of Toto Tribes, Totopara
Authors: Upadhay Aakash , Jamal Sahid
Published: January 2021

As the saying goes “culture doesn't make people, it is the people who make culture”. The are several tribes living in India and are trying to preserve their rich cultural heritage. Toto is an aboriginal Indo-Bhutanese tribe found in some parts of Alipurduar district in North Bengal. Unique to their culture is the idea of having only single wife and strongly advocate anti-dowry system unlike neighbouring tribal practices. As per the reports they are recognized as the smallest tribe on the Earth and are on the verge of complete extinction. Various cultural transformation and other developmental activities around the region is leading to declining Toto’s population, which is further aggravated by Thalassemia virus, which is one of the silent killers of the tribe. It is alarming that an average lifespan of Toto's has suddenly declined to 35 years over the years. The basic objective of the study is to identify reasons beneath transformations of traditional livelihood and sudden decline of Toto tribe. Based on different research, global understandings and valuable readings, what instrumental steps can be taken to preserve and protect them. Primary survey and secondary data sources have been used for the data collection. A household survey was executed with the help of snowball sampling in December 2018 at Totopara in Madarihaat block of Alipurduar district, West Bengal. Remedial and descriptive methods and qualitative techniques have been used for analysis of data. After the analysis, it was concluded that increasing the education and awareness level through workshops, documentaries, camps, public meetings, discussions, discourse, rallies, seminars and cultural programs would play an instrumental role to put a cap on the declining population of the locals and would lead to their sustainable growth and development.  Keywords Culture-Aboriginal- Extinction- Thalassemia-Sustainable Growth
Conflict in commons: collective action and institutions
Authors: Sarkar Sukumar
Published: January 2021

Common pool resources (CPRs) are safe-guards and foundation for rural livelihood especially for the developing nations like India. Cooperation is needed to conserve CPRs due to its very features. Community institutions sometimes face conflicts to conserve commons cost-effectively. But, conflicts may simultaneously help and hamper the local governance of commons. For empirical verification, we have conducted a primary survey on 419 users of canal water, community forest and tank water in 11 CPRs dependent villages from West Bengal, India. We observed positive relations between conflict and collective action in conservation of commons. This finding seems to be conflicting with the notion that, conflict undermines collective action and therewith the potential for sustainability. We examined and found that successful informal communities are more conflictive and at the same time cooperative than formal one. The occurrences of supply, demand and policy side conflicts and conflict resolution methods are also not significantly different between formal and informal institutions. Therefore, conflict and informal institution have some positive impact for the successful conservation. We suggest that authorities have to study the nature and types of conflicts before implementing rules and institutional arrangements thereafter. Keywords – collective action, institutions, commons, conflicts, conservation
Structural Integration of Carbazole and Tetraphenylethylene: Ultrafast Excited‐State Relaxation Dynamics and Efficient Electroluminescence
Authors: McGregor Sarah K. M. , Govind Chinju , Wood Michael K. R. , Shukla Atul , Lim Hyunsoo , Lepage Romain J. , Krenske Elizabeth H. , K. N. Narayanan Unni , Ajayaghosh Ayyappanpillai , Karunakaran Venugopal , Namdas Ebinazar B. , Lo Shih-Chun
Published: January 2021

The synthesis, characterization, and spectroscopic investigations of a new solution‐processable N‐styrylcarbazole‐linked tetraphenylethylene (TPE) derivative (TPE‐BCzS) are reported, exhibiting green–orange emission. While the material displays weak photoluminescence (PL) in solution with a low PL quantum yield (PLQY of 4 ± 0.2%), significant PL enhancement in neat‐film PLQY (55 ± 8%) is observed. Studies using steady‐state spectroscopy, and femtosecond and nanosecond transient absorption spectroscopy reveal details of the excited‐state dynamics, consisting of the Franck–Condon (FC) state, nonradiative conformational relaxation, and formation and decay of the triplet excited state generated via intersystem crossing (ISC) upon ultrafast photoexcitation. Solution‐processed organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) based on TPE‐BCzS display maximum external quantum efficiencies of 1.8% and 1.7% for neat and blend films (20 wt% in a 4,4′‐bis(N‐carbazolyl)‐1,1′‐biphenyl host), approaching the theoretical efficiency limit for the determined PLQYs of the films. While TPE materials are typically associated with aggregation‐induced emission, it is reported that the enhanced PLQYs in the solid state are due to restriction of structural relaxations in the solid state and not due to the commonly misunderstood aggregation effect.
Tackling the Challenge of a Huge Materials Science Search Space with Quantum‐Inspired Annealing
Authors: Hatakeyama-Sato Kan , Kashikawa Takahiro , Kimura Koichi , Oyaizu Kenichi
Published: January 2021

Efficient screening of chemicals is essential for exploring new materials. However, the search space is astronomically large, making calculations with conventional computers infeasible. For example, an N‐component system of organic molecules generates >1060N candidates. Here, a quantum‐inspired annealing machine is used to tackle the challenge of the large search space. The prototype system extracts candidate chemicals and their composites with desirable parameters, such as melting temperature and ionic conductivity. The system can be at least 104–108 times faster than conventional approaches. Such dramatic acceleration is critical for exploring the enormous search space in virtual screening of materials.
Weathering modification of acrylic emulsion by introducing UV absorbing groups
Authors: Lei Huibin , Zhou Lei , Chen Zhanglian , Wang Qian , Yang Wei
Published: January 2021

A new kind of UV‐absorbing silicon‐fluorinated acrylic emulsion was prepared by emulsion polymerization with 4‐allyloxy‐2‐hydroxybenzophenone, 3‐methacryloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (MPS) and hexafluorobutyl methacrylate (HFMA) as functional monomers. The emulsion and its coating were characterized by transmission electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ultraviolet absorption spectrum，thermo‐gravimetric analysis, water contact angle (CA), and artificial accelerated aging test. The results indicated that the emulsion with core‐shell structure was synthesized and showed prominent absorption peaks at 320 and 350 nm. The water CA of the coating was increased from 70.2° to 86.7° because of the incorporated HFMAs and MPSs. Both of the initial and final decomposition temperatures of the coating were increased by more than 20°C compared with those of the unmodified coating. After 10 days of accelerated aging, the color difference (ΔE) and rate of loss of gloss (ΔG) were only 2.78% and 5.22%, while those of the unmodified coating were as high as 22.94% and 78.57%, respectively. Because of the UV absorbers were incorporated by chemical reaction, the new coating had a more durable and effective anti‐ultraviolet performance compared with the coatings the UV absorbers were introduced by physical blending.
The validation of the role of several genes related to Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus infection in vivo
Authors: Wang Xue‐yang , Zhao Chun‐xiao , Wang Xin , Zhao Zi‐qin , Su Zhi‐hao , Xu Ping‐zhen , Li Mu‐wang , Wu Yang‐chun
Published: January 2021

Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is one of primary silkworm pathogens and causes a serious damage of cocoon losses every year. Recent years, many works have been done to clarify the silkworm anti‐BmNPV mechanism, and a significant progress has been made in screening and studying of genes and proteins related to BmNPV infection, but several of them lacked the proofs in vivo. In this study, to further validate the function of seven newly reported genes in vivo, including BmAtlatin‐n, Bmferritin‐heavy chain (BmFerHCH), Bmthymosin (BmTHY), Bmseroin1, Bmseroin2, Bmnuclear hormone receptors 96 (BmNHR96), and BmE3 ubiquitin‐protein ligase SINA‐like 10 (BmSINAL10), the response of them in the midgut, fat body, and hemolymph of differentially resistant strains (resistant strain YeA and susceptible strain YeB) at 48 h following BmNPV infection were analyzed. The results showed that the relative stable or upregulated expression level of BmAtlatin‐n, BmTHY, Bmseroin1, and Bmseroin2 in YeA resistant strain following BmNPV infection further indicated their antiviral role in vivo, compared with susceptible YeB strain. Moreover, the significant downregulation of BmFerHCH, BmNHR96, and BmSINAL10 in both strains following BmNPV infection revealed their role in benefiting virus infection, as well as the upregulation of BmFerHCH in YeB midgut and BmSINAL10 in YeB hemolymph. These data could be used to complementary the proofs of the function of these genes in response to BmNPV infection.
Effective Separation of Human Milk Glycosides using Carbon Dioxide Supercritical Fluid Chromatography
Authors: Liou Shih‐Wei , Fang Jia‐Lin , Lin Hung‐Wei , Tsai Teng‐Wei , Huang Hsin‐Hui , Liang Chin‐Yu , Yang Cheng‐Ruel , Wei Guor‐Tzo , Yu Ching‐Ching
Published: January 2021

Carbohydrate purification remains problematic due to the intrinsic diversity of structural isomers present in nature. Although liquid chromatography‐based techniques are suitable for analyzing or preparing most glycan structures acquired either from natural sources or through chemical or enzymatic synthesis, the separation of regioisomers or linkage isomers with a clear resolution remains challenging. Herein, a carbon dioxide supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) method was devised to resolve 18 human milk glycosides: oligomers (disaccharides to hexasaccharides), fucosylated regioisomers (lacto‐N‐fucopentaose I, III, and V; lacto‐N‐neofucopentaose V; lacto‐N‐difucohexaose III; blood group H1 antigen; and TF‐LNnT), and connectivity isomers (lacto‐N‐tetraose/lacto‐N‐neotetraose and para‐lacto‐N‐hexaose/para‐lacto‐N‐neohexaose/type‐1 hexasaccharide). The analysis of these glycosides represents a major limitation associated with conventional carbohydrate analysis. The unprecedented resolution achieved by the SFC method indicates the suitability of this key technology for revealing complex human milk glycomes.
Microwave cell lysis for ADDA‐ELISA analysis of total microcystins and nodularins
Authors: Li Yongtao , Whitaker Joshua S. , Skibbe Shannon A. , Piaskowski Matthew A.
Published: January 2021

A fast and effective microwave treatment procedure was developed for the ADDA–enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay analysis of total extracellular and intracellular microcystins and nodularins in drinking water and ambient water. This microwave treatment procedure for a full batch of samples required 10–20 min versus the 3–4 hr typically needed for three freeze/thaw cycles. The obtained lowest‐concentration minimum reporting level and method detection limit were 0.21 and 0.09 μg/L microcystin‐LR (MC‐LR) equivalents, respectively. Mean recoveries of 80%–92% with relative standard deviations of 4.2%–9.0% were obtained for all studied water matrices fortified at concentrations of 0.3–2.0 μg/L MC‐LR. Compared with US Environmental Protection Agency Method 546, this alternate procedure provided more effective cell lysis and subsequently detected significantly higher concentrations of total microcystins and nodularins in a few water samples collected during harmful algal blooms, such as 61.0 versus 34.4 μg/L MC‐LR equivalents in Lake Erie and 11.5 versus 9.1 μg/L MC‐LR equivalents in an Indiana reservoir.
Spatial distribution of mechanical properties in Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, and their potential impacts on biofilm deformation
Authors: Pavissich Juan P. , Li Mengfei , Nerenberg Robert
Published: January 2021

The mechanical properties of biofilms can be used to predict biofilm deformation under external forces, for example, under fluid flow. We used magnetic tweezers to spatially map the compliance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms at the microscale, then applied modeling to assess its effects on biofilm deformation. Biofilms were grown in capillary flow cells with Reynolds numbers (Re) ranging from 0.28 to 13.9, bulk dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations from 1 mg/L to 8 mg/L, and bulk calcium ion (Ca2+) concentrations of 0 and 100 mg CaCl2/L. Higher Re numbers resulted in more uniform biofilm morphologies. The biofilm was stiffer at the center of the flow cell than near the walls. Lower bulk DO led to more stratified biofilms. Higher Ca2+ concentrations led to increased stiffness and more uniform mechanical properties. Using the experimental mechanical properties, fluid–structure interaction models predicted up to 64% greater deformation for heterogeneous biofilms, compared with a homogeneous biofilms with the same average properties. However, the deviation depended on the biofilm morphology and flow regime. Our results show significant spatial mechanical variability exists at the microscale, and that this variability can potentially affect biofilm deformation. The average biofilm mechanical properties, provided in many studies, should be used with caution when predicting biofilm deformation.
Polygonal surface processing and mesh generation tools for the numerical simulation of the cardiac function
Authors: Fedele Marco , Quarteroni Alfio
Published: January 2021

In order to simulate the cardiac function for a patient‐specific geometry, the generation of the computational mesh is crucially important. In practice, the input is typically a set of unprocessed polygonal surfaces coming either from a template geometry or from medical images. These surfaces need ad‐hoc processing to be suitable for a volumetric mesh generation. In this work we propose a set of new algorithms and tools aiming to facilitate the mesh generation process. In particular, we focus on different aspects of a cardiac mesh generation pipeline: (1) specific polygonal surface processing for cardiac geometries, like connection of different heart chambers or segmentation outputs; (2) generation of accurate boundary tags; (3) definition of mesh‐size functions dependent on relevant geometric quantities; (4) processing and connecting together several volumetric meshes. The new algorithms—implemented in the open‐source softwarevmtk—can be combined with each other allowing the creation of personalized pipelines, that can be optimized for each cardiac geometry or for each aspect of the cardiac function to be modeled. Thanks to these features, the proposed tools can significantly speed‐up the mesh generation process for a large range of cardiac applications, from single‐chamber single‐physics simulations to multi‐chambers multi‐physics simulations. We detail all the proposed algorithms motivating them in the cardiac context and we highlight their flexibility by showing different examples of cardiac mesh generation pipelines.
The Photophysics of Dibenzo[a,j]phenazine
Authors: Thom Kristoffer A. , Förster Tom , Weingart Oliver , Goto Shimpei , Takeda Youhei , Minakata Satoshi , Gilch Peter
Published: January 2021

The photophysics of dibenzo[a,j]phenazine (DBPHZ) in solution was investigated by steady‐state and time‐resolved spectroscopy. The nature of the solvent (methanol, acetonitrile, dichloromethane and cyclohexane were considered) only weakly affects the photophysical properties. The first excited singlet state features a lifetime of the order of 1 ns. Its fluorescence emission is centered around 420 nm and occurs with moderate yields of ≈0.1. The lowest triplet state is populated with yields of ≈0.3. Quantum chemical computations suggest that a
state energetically close to the primarily excited singlet state is responsible for the efficient intersystem crossing towards the triplet manifold.
Genotype‐specific nitrogen uptake dynamics and fertilizer management explain contrasting wheat protein concentration
Authors: Lollato Romulo P. , Jaenisch Brent R. , Silva Sergio R.
Published: January 2021

Increasing yield and grain protein concentration (GPC) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) without excessive nitrogen (N) rates requires increasing N use efficiency (NUE, yield per available N). We assessed the effects of N rate and timing on yield, GPC, and N nutritional indices of two winter wheat genotypes with similar yield but contrasting GPC. Factorial field experiments evaluated the wheat genotypes ‘LCS Chrome’ (high GPC) and ‘WB–Grainfield’ (low GPC), three N rates, and four N timings (‘Fall’, 100% of N rate applied at Zadoks GS20; ‘Spring’, 100% at GS25; ‘Split’, 40% Fall plus 60% Spring; and ‘Anthesis’, 40% fall, 50% spring, and 10% at GS61) in six Kansas environments. Yield ranged from 2,853 to 8,023 kg ha‐1 and GPC from 88 to 152 g kg‐1. Fall and spring N timing had the lowest and greatest yield difference from the zero‐N control and showed linear, linear‐plateau or no responses to N rate. ‘LCS Chrome’ had 5 to 19 g kg‐1 greater GPC than ‘WB–Grainfield’, which was associated with greater post‐anthesis N uptake (24 vs 15% of maturity‐N uptake), a greater spike N gain between anthesis and maturity (7.4 vs 6.5 g m‐2), and greater N recovery efficiency (0.34 vs 0.28 kg kg‐1). Greater N rates and Anthesis or Spring N timings increased GPC. The NUE (range: 20–311 kg kg‐1) was inversely related to N availability, and Fall N timing had the lowest NUE. Our results highlighted physiological reasons for genotype‐specific GPC performance and suggested agronomic opportunities to simultaneously improve wheat yield and GPC.
Biomarkers to predict staging and treatment response in opioid dependence: A narrative review
Authors: Vorspan Florence , Marie‐Claire Cynthia , Bellivier Frank , Bloch Vanessa
Published: January 2021

Opioid use disorder is a devastating disorder with a high burden in terms of overdose mortality, with an urgent need for more personalized prevention or therapeutic interventions. For this purpose, the description and validation of biological measures of staging or treatment response is a highly active research field. We conducted a narrative review on the pathophysiology of opioid use disorder to propose staging of the disease and search for research studies proposing or demonstrating the predictive value of biomarkers. We propose a IV stage description of opioid use disorder, from (I) vulnerability stage to (II) disease progression, (III) constituted opioid dependence and were several type of treatments can be applied, to the reach a (IV) modified health state. We classified biomarkers studies according to the stage of the disorder they were intended to predict, and to the three categories of methods they used: anatomical and functional aspects of the brain, genetic/transcriptomic/epigenetic studies, and lastly biomarkers of systemic modifications associated with opioid use disorder, especially regarding the immune system. Most studies predicting Stage III that we reviewed collected data from small samples sizes and were cross‐sectional association studies comparing opioid dependent patients and control groups. Pharmacogenetic biomarkers are proposed to predict treatment response. Future research should now emphasize prospective studies, replication in independent samples, and predictive value calculation of each biomarker. The most promising results are multimodal evaluations to be able to measure the state of the brain reward system in living individuals.
Quantitative assessment of fish larvae community composition in spawning areas using metabarcoding of bulk samples
Authors: Ratcliffe Frances C. , Uren Webster Tamsyn M. , Rodriguez‐Barreto Deiene , O'Rorke Richard , Garcia de Leaniz Carlos , Consuegra Sofia
Published: January 2021

Accurate assessment of larval community composition in spawning areas is essential for fisheries management and conservation but is often hampered by the cryptic nature of many larvae, which renders them difficult to identify morphologically. Metabarcoding is a rapid and cost‐effective method to monitor early life stages for management and environmental impact assessment purposes but its quantitative capability is under discussion. We compared metabarcoding with traditional morphological identification to evaluate taxonomic precision and reliability of abundance estimates, using 332 fish larvae from multinet hauls (0–50 m depth) collected at 14 offshore sampling sites in the Irish and Celtic seas. To improve quantification accuracy (relative abundance estimates), the amount of tissue for each specimen was standardized and mitochondrial primers (12S gene) with conserved binding sites were used. Relative family abundance estimated from metabarcoding reads and morphological assessment were positively correlated, as well as taxon richness (RS = 0.81, P = 0.007) and diversity (RS = 0.90, P = 0.002). Spatial patterns of community composition did not differ significantly between metabarcoding and morphological assessments. Our results show that DNA metabarcoding of bulk tissue samples can be used to monitor changes in fish larvae abundance and community composition. This represents a feasible, efficient, and faster alternative to morphological methods that can be applied to terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
Agar oligosaccharides ameliorate the intestinal inflammation of male Drosophila melanogaster via modulating the microbiota, and immune and cell autophagy
Authors: Ma Chao , Wang Yifan , Zhang Guocai , Dai Xianjun
Published: January 2021

Agar oligosaccharide (AOS) is a marine prebiotic with apparent improving health and longevity effects. In this study, the protective effect of AOS on the intestine was evaluated in the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)‐induced inflammatory model of male Drosophila. The results showed that AOS used as a nutritional additive in basal food could lengthen the life of SDS‐stimulated male Drosophila. Additionally, AOS could alleviate the injuries of SDS to microvilli and mitochondria in male Drosophila midgut epithelial cells. AOS could regulate the relative gene expressions in the antibacterial peptides (AMPs), mTOR pathway and autophagy process, and significantly improved the α‐diversity of midgut microbiota and decreased the abundance of Klebsiella aerogenes, a kind of bacteria easily causing infections. Collectively, AOS could ameliorate the intestinal inflammation by modulating the microbiota, and the gene expression of immune and cell autophagy.
Mixed convection hybrid nanofluids flow of MWCNTs–Al2O3/engine oil over a spinning cone with variable viscosity and thermal conductivity
Authors: Tulu Ayele , Ibrahim Wubshet
Published: January 2021

This work analyzed the effects of variable viscosity and thermal conductivity, with mixed convection, thermal radiation and viscous dissipation effects, on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)–aluminum oxide (Al2O3)/engine oil hybrid nanofluid flow due to a vertically inverted spinning cone embedded in a porous medium. Using suitable similarity transformation, the boundary layer fluid flow governing equations are transformed into dimensionless systems of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations. Then, the solutions are obtained numerically employing the spectral relaxation method. The influences of involved parameters are examined, and the results are presented with graphs and tables. The obtained results disclose that both the tangential and azimuthal skin friction coefficients increase with increasing values of temperature‐dependent viscosity and mixed convection parameters. The local heat transfer rate reduces with increasing values of the Eckert number and variable thermal conductivity parameter, whereas it enhances with greater values of the thermal radiation parameter. Generally, hybrid nanofluids of (MWCNTs–Al2O3)/engine oil show better flow distributions with good stability of thermal properties than MWCNTs/engine oil and Al2O3/engine oil mono‐nanofluids.
A study on utilization of ground source energy for space heating using a nanofluid as a heat carrier
Authors: Tarodiya Rahul , Verma Vikas , Thangavel Sivasakthivel
Published: January 2021

Ground source heat pump (GSHP) systems are well established as an energy‐efficient space conditioning device. However, for better utilization of the ground source, improvement in GSHP performance is desirable, which limits the small temperature difference between the ground and the circulating fluid. In this study, efforts have been made to investigate the performance of a ground heat exchanger (GHX) with a nanofluid as a heat carrier. Mathematical modeling is performed for the closed‐loop vertical U‐tube GHX with six different (Al2O3, CuO, graphite, multiwalled carbon nanotube, graphene, and Cu) water‐based nanofluids. The effect of different operating parameters on GHX length, fluid temperature, and pressure drop with nanofluids is determined. On the basis of the analytical results, it is found that the graphite particle‐based nanofluid plays a prominent role to enhance the performance of the GHX as compared with other nanoparticles. The maximum enhancement in the increase in outlet fluid temperature and reduction in pipe length with graphite particle‐based nanofluid are 68.3% and 63.3%, respectively, for an increase in temperature difference from 7°C to 15°C between the atmosphere and the ground. Also, with the graphite particle‐based nanofluid and the increase in pipe diameter from 20 to 50 mm, the fluid outlet temperature increases up to 11.2%, and the requirement in GHX length reduces up to 55%.
Effect of developmental time on Chaoborus‐induced phenotypic plasticity
Authors: Klintworth Sandra , von Elert Eric
Published: January 2021

Due to Daphnia's cosmopolitan distribution and the co‐occurrence with various predators, it has developed highly diverse antipredator defenses. In response to chemical cues of Chaoborus larvae, a major predator, neckteeth are induced in vulnerable juvenile instars of Daphnia pulex. As only early juvenile instars of D. pulex are vulnerable to predation by Chaoborus sp., increased developmental time extends the time span that D. pulex is in the vulnerable size, and thus increases the risk of being preyed upon. Here, we hypothesize that increased time spent in vulnerable instars leads to a higher degree of neckteeth formation in vulnerable D. pulex instars. To test this, we created a gradient of growth conditions for Daphnia that would cause an increase in developmental time by means of decreasing the temperature or increasing the proportion of dietary cyanobacteria in separate experiments. We determined the body size during the juvenile instars and calculated the time spent in vulnerable instars. Correlations of neckteeth induction to times spent in vulnerable instars were significant for the data set of the temperature experiment and the combined data set, but not for the data set of the cyanobacteria experiment. However, we cannot exclude that an increased bacterial degradation of the kairomone at elevated temperatures has contributed to this relationship, and dose–response curves revealed that neither the sensitivity to the kairomone nor maximum neckteeth induction in D. pulex was reduced at the elevated temperature. Our results suggest that neckteeth induction is affected by the time spent in vulnerable instars, based on the factors temperature and dietary toxic cyanobacteria, but its universal validity needs to be tested further by including other factors.
Development and implementation of a RT‐qPCR extraction‐free protocol for the detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 and impact on the turn‐around‐time
Authors: Blairon Laurent , Piteüs Sébastien , Beukinga Ingrid , Tré‐Hardy Marie
Published: January 2021

The occurrence of the COVID‐19 second‐wave outbreak in Europe has pushed laboratories performing molecular SARS‐CoV‐2 tests to increase their throughput and decrease the result rendering time. In this evaluation, we tested for the first time a new, extraction‐free, protocol with the Allplex SARS‐CoV‐2 Assay RT‐qPCR kit on a Nimbus platform. Ninety‐one samples, of which 71 previously tested positive with RT‐qPCR with extraction were immediately analyzed without extraction, using only a dilution and thermal shock protocol. The positive and negative percentage agreements were respectively 97.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.90–0.99) and 95.0% (95% CI: 0.76–0.99). The two false negatives observed were very weakly positive with the comparison method. Moderate variations in Ct of the targeted genes were observed (median ± 95% CI): E gene, +2.49 ± 0.44; N gene, +0.98 ± 0.54; RdRP/S genes, +2.64 ± 0.48. On the other hand, the number of tests performed within 24 h raised from 86.4% to 97.8%, the turn‐around time decreased from 19:18 to 09:03 (p < .0001), and the number of tests that can be performed per day doubled since this technique was introduced routinely in our laboratory.
COVID‐19 with and without anosmia or dysgeusia: A case‐control study
Authors: Dev Nishanth , Sankar Jhuma , Gupta Nitesh , Meena Ramesh Chand , Singh Charanjit , Gupta D. K. , Sen M. K.
Published: January 2021

Various new clinical signs and symptoms, such as dysfunction of smell (anosmia) and taste (dysgeusia) have emerged ever since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic begun. The objective of this study was to identify the clinical presentation and factors associated with 'new loss/change of smell (anosmia) or taste (dysgeusia)' at admission in patients positive by real time polymerase chain reaction for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. All adult COVID‐19 patients with new onset anosmia or dysgeusia at admission were included in study group. Equal number of age and gender matched COVID‐19 patients without anosmia or dysgeusia at admission were included in the control group. A total of 261 COVID‐19 patients were admitted during the study period of which 55 (21%) had anosmia and or dysgeusia. The mean (SD) age was 36 (13) years and majority were males (58%, n = 32). Comorbidity was present in 38% of cases (n = 21). Anosmia and dysgeusia were noted in more than 1/5th of the cases. Anosmia (96%, n = 53) was more common than dysgeusia (75%, n = 41). Presence of both ansomia and dysgeusia was noted in 71% of patients (n = 39). On comparing the cases with the controls, on univariate analysis, fever (higher in cases), rhinitis (lower in cases), thrombocytopenia, elevated creatinine and bilirubin (all higher in cases) were significantly associated with anosmia or dysgeusia. On multivariate analysis, only rhinitis (odds ratio [OR]: 0.28; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.09–0.83; p = .02) thrombocytopenia (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.99–0.99; p = .01) and elevated creatinine (OR: 7.6; 95% CI: 1.5–37.6; p = .01) remained significant. In this retrospective study of COVID‐19 patients, we found anosmia and dysgeusia in more than 1/5th of the cases. Absence of rhinitis, low platelet counts and elevated creatinine were associated with anosmia or dysgeusia in these patients.
Classification Tree–Based Machine Learning to Visualize and Validate a Decision Tool for Identifying Malnutrition in Cancer Patients
Authors: Yin Liangyu , Lin Xin , Liu Jie , Li Na , He Xiumei , Zhang Mengyuan , Guo Jing , Yang Jian , Deng Li , Wang Yizhuo , Liang Tingting , Wang Chang , Jiang Hua , Fu Zhenming , Li Suyi , Wang Kunhua , Guo Zengqing , Ba Yi , Li Wei , Song Chunhua , Cui Jiuwei , Shi Hanping , Xu Hongxia ,   the Investigation on Nutrition Status and Clinical Outcome of Common Cancers (INSCOC) Group
Published: January 2021

Background

The newly proposed Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) framework is promising to gain global acceptance for diagnosing malnutrition. However, the role of machine learning in facilitating its application in clinical practice remains largely unknown.

Methods

We performed a multicenter, observational cohort study including 3998 patients with cancer. Baseline malnutrition was defined using the GLIM criteria, and the study population was randomly divided into a derivation group (n = 2998) and a validation group (n = 1000). A classification and regression trees (CART) algorithm was used to develop a decision tree for classifying the severity of malnutrition in the derivation group. Model performance was evaluated in the validation group.

Results

GLIM criteria diagnosed 588 patients (14.7%) with moderate malnutrition and 532 patients (13.3%) with severe malnutrition among the study population. The CART cross‐validation identified 5 key predictors for the decision tree construction, including age, weight loss within 6 months, body mass index, calf circumference, and the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 score. The decision tree showed high performance, with an area under the curve of 0.964 (κ = 0.898, P < .001, accuracy = 0.955) in the validation group. Subgroup analysis showed that the model had apparently good performance in different cancers. Among the 5 predictors constituting the tree, age contributed the least to the classification power.

Conclusion

Using the machine learning, we visualized and validated a decision tool based on the GLIM criteria that can be conveniently used to accelerate the pretreatment identification of malnutrition in patients with cancer.
The “Speckle Sign” in the Diagnosis of Posterior Compartment Endometriosis
Authors: Balcacer Patricia , Jaramillo‐Cardoso Adrian , Gupta Sonia , Mortele Koenraad , Johnson Samuel C.
Published: January 2021

Objective

To determine usefulness of the “speckle sign” in the diagnosis of deep invasive endometriosis.

Materials and Methods

This HIPAA‐compliant, institutional review board‐approved retrospective study with informed consent waived included 25 women (mean age 20‐69 years) with histopathologically confirmed posterior cul‐de‐sac endometriosis between 2013 and 2018. Transvaginal ultrasound exams of these patients were reviewed by 2 expert radiologists searching for the “speckle sign,” defined as irregular obliteration of the posterior cul‐de‐sac and bright (hyperechoic) internal echoes. The frequency of additional findings such as “kissing ovaries,” endometriomas in the adnexa, bowel tethering in the posterior pelvic compartment, retroflexed uterus, adenomyosis, and pelvic free fluid were also analyzed. Data regarding clinical features, histopathologic findings and management were collected through a review of the medical record.

Results

Reader one identified posterior compartment endometriosis in 20/25 patients, and reader two in 22/25 patients, with 96% agreement. Adnexal endometriomas were found in 21/25 patients for both readers (k = 0.70) and were bilateral in 23% of patients.

The ovaries were adherent to each other in the midline (“kissing ovaries”) in 50% of patients; the bowel was tethered anteriorly in 20%; the presence of adenomyosis was seen in about 27%, and a retroflexed uterus was seen in 24% of patients.

Conclusions

The speckle sign could be helpful in making the diagnosis of posterior compartment endometriosis, and the sign is often found in conjunction with other imaging features of endometriosis.
Effect of initial CaCO3 saturation levels on the CO2 corrosion of 1Cr carbon steel
Authors: Rizzo Riccardo , Ambat Rajan
Published: January 2021

This paper presents the investigation on the effect of calcium on the corrosion behavior of 1Cr carbon steel under various levels of initial CaCO3 saturation () of the bulk solutions. All the experiments were performed at 80°C in 1 wt% aqueous NaCl solution saturated with CO2. Four initial levels were investigated, namely 0, 0.6, 2, and 10. The corrosion process was followed using linear polarization resistance, potentiodynamic sweeps, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The surface morphology of the corrosion products was analyzed with scanning electron microscopy and structural information using X‐ray powder diffraction. Precipitation of a substitutional solid solution of FexCayCO3 (x + y = 1) was found on the steel surface. The growth of this layer was delayed by Ca2+ ions in the solution, but its protectiveness was not affected and was comparable with the pure FeCO3 corrosion product. No signs of localized corrosion were detected on the material.