bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the genetic diversity of groundnut (Arachis hypogaeaL.) genotypes for kernel yield, oil and fodder quantity and quality under drought conditions
Authors: Abadya Seltene , Shimelis Hussein , Pasupuleti Janila , Mashilo Jacob , Chaudhari Sunil , Manohar Surendra S.
Published: February 2021

The objective of this study was to determine drought tolerance, kernel (KY) and fodder yield and quality amongst diverse groundnut genotypes for direct production or breeding. Hundred genotypes were evaluated at ICRISAT, India during 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 under drought‐stressed (DS) and nonstressed (NS) conditions. Data were collected on KY; oil content (OC); oil yield (OY); protein content; palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acid contents; haulm yield (HY); and fodder quality parameters such as the contents of dry matter, ash, nitrogen (NC), neutral detergent fiber (NDFDM), acid detergent fiber (ADFDM), acid detergent lignin (ADLDM), in vitro digestibility, and metabolizable energy. Data were subjected to parametric and nonparametric statistical analyses. Combined analysis of variance revealed significant (P < .05) genotype differences for all assessed traits. Genotype × water regime interaction effects were significant for KY, OC, ash, NC, NDFDM, and ADLDM. Kernel yield positively and significantly (P < .05) correlated with OY (r = .99), LAC (r = .13), ash (r = .32), and NDFDM (r = .54) under DS condition. Haulm yield was positively and significantly (P < .05) correlated with OC (r = .24), NDFDM (r = .19), ADFDM (r = .18), and ADLDM (r = .17) under DS condition. The study identified four genotypes with high kernel and haulm yields, and six genotypes with high oleic acid content. Further, 10 genotypes were selected with relatively better drought tolerance. The selected genotypes are recommended for further breeding and variety release adapted to drought conditions.
Identifying quantitative trait loci for lodging‐associated traits in the wheat doubled‐haploid population Avalon × Cadenza
Authors: Piñera‐Chavez Francisco J. , Berry Peter M. , Foulkes Michael J. , Sukumaran Sivakumar , Reynolds Matthew P.
Published: February 2021

Lodging affects grain quality and grain yield in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and is difficult to breed for because its sporadic incidence and laborious protocols to measure lodging traits. Thus, developing molecular markers for these traits can increase selection efficiency in breeding programs. The aim of this article is to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with stem/anchorage strength and leverage traits (lodging traits) in a doubled‐haploid population of UK bread wheat Avalon × Cadenza. Field experiments were conducted in the UK during 2012–2013 near High Mowthorpe and during 2013–2014 at Sutton Bonington. Phenotypic and genetic analysis indicated significant genetic variation for all traits. Stem strength (diameter, wall width, and material strength) and leverage (plant height) traits were highly heritable (0.64–0.95), whereas anchorage strength traits (root plate spread and structural rooting depth) and ear number per plant (leverage trait) were less heritable (0.21–0.33). This study identified 18 QTL for lodging traits and grain yield in chromosomes 1D, 2B, 2D, 3A, 3B, 4A, 4D, 5B, and 6B. Two QTL for stem strength on chromosome 1D and 3B explaining 49.6% of the total phenotypic variation (PVE) are estimated to reduce stem lodging risk and shortening the plant height by 12 cm. One QTL for root plate spread on chromosome 5B explaining 22.4% of the PVE could increase root lodging resistance.
The interplay of green servant leadership, self‐efficacy, and intrinsic motivation in predicting employees’ pro‐environmental behavior
Authors: Faraz Naveed Ahmad , Ahmed Fawad , Ying Ma , Mehmood Sultan Adal
Published: February 2021

Employees' pro‐environmental behavior serves as a cornerstone in realizing organizations' sustainability initiatives. Leadership plays a vital role in shaping and nurturing the desired employee behaviors. Building upon social learning and self‐determination theories, we developed and tested a research model that investigated the mediating role of employees' green intrinsic motivation and the moderating influence of their green self‐efficacy on the relationship between green servant leadership and pro‐environmental behavior. Data were collected in two waves from 323 pairs of employee‐manager working in Pakistan's energy sector and analyzed with partial least squares path modeling (PLS‐PM). The findings endorsed that green servant leadership influences pro‐environmental behavior through the mediating mechanism of green intrinsic motivation. Further, green self‐efficacy played an interactive role with green servant leadership in shaping pro‐environmental behavior. This research responds to multiple calls for research and advances the knowledge on servant leadership and pro‐environmental behavior.
Therapeutic and Diagnostic Applications of Multimetallic Rhenium(I) Tricarbonyl Complexes
Authors: Huang Zhouyang , Wilson Justin J.
Published: February 2021

By virtue of their favorable properties, rhenium(I) tricarbonyl (Re(CO)3) complexes have arisen as novel therapeutic agents and cellular imaging probes for addressing problems of biomedical relevance. Although great success has been found in monometallic complexes of this type, there has been recent interest in developing multimetallic compounds containing Re(CO)3 moieties to capitalize on the potential synergistic effects of different metal centers. This Minireview provides an overview of multimetallic Re(CO)3 complexes that have been developed specifically for biomedical applications. The promising therapeutic and diagnostic potential of such complexes and future needs in this field are discussed.
Tolerance of racism: A new construct that predicts failure to recognize and confront racism
Authors: Hunt Jennifer S. , Folberg Abigail M. , Ryan Carey S.
Published: February 2021

Often people who may not personally express racist beliefs nevertheless have a passive orientation to racism and tolerate racist statements and acts by others. We examine individual differences in willingness to accept racist views or acts in others, labelled tolerance of racism (TOR), in four online survey studies (total N = 2,008). We demonstrate that TOR is distinct from, although correlated with, established forms of bias, such as symbolic and modern racism and social dominance orientation, which measure bias toward marginalized groups rather than tolerance of people who express racism (typically members of dominant groups). Across studies, results indicate that Whites exhibited higher TOR than did people of color, although Black, Latinx, and other people of color still exhibit considerable TOR. Further, people high in TOR minimized the severity of racist acts and were less likely to confront them. They also expressed less concern about current events reflecting racial discrimination and hate and less support for the Black Lives Matter movement, which challenges societal racism. Thus, TOR reflects a passive orientation to racism that influences interpersonal behavior as well as views of macro‐level discrimination, leading to the perpetuation of racial inequality.
How mobile phase composition and column temperature affect enantiomer elution order of liquid crystals on amylose tris(3‐chloro‐5‐methylphenylcarbamate) as chiral selector
Authors: Vaňkátová Petra , Kubíčková Anna , Kalíková Květa
Published: February 2021

A comprehensive study into the effects of mobile phase composition and column temperature on enantiomer elution order was conducted with a set of chiral rod‐like liquid crystalline materials. The analytes were structurally similar and comprised variances such as length of terminal alkyl chain, presence of chlorine, number of phenyl rings, and type of chiral center. Experiments were carried out in polar organic and reversed‐phase modes using amylose tris(3‐chloro‐5‐methylphenylcarbamate) immobilized on silica gel as the chiral stationary phase. For all liquid crystals, reversal of elution order of enantiomers was observed based on type of used cosolvent and/or its content in the mobile phase; for some of the liquid crystals a temperature‐induced reversal was also observed. Both linear and nonlinear dependencies of natural logarithm of enantioselectivity on temperature were found. Tested mobile phases comprised pure organic solvents and binary and tertiary mixtures of acetonitrile with organic solvents and/or water. Effect of acidic/basic mobile phase additives was also tested. Effect of structure of chiral selector is briefly discussed.
Vegetation and cloud cover shape semi‐arid carbonate landform development
Authors: Al Abri Amani , Snyder Noah P. , Fagherazzi Sergio
Published: February 2021

We study the relationships among precipitation, vegetation, and morphological characteristics of watersheds draining either side of the Dhofar Mountains in southeastern Oman to understand the geomorphic signature of water availability in a semi‐arid carbonate landscape. Water availability is expressed in terms of vegetation and cloud cover. The integral and the statistical moments of the hypsometric curve were used to determine whether hyper‐arid, inland‐draining watersheds are significantly different from seasonally wet watersheds on the coast side of the mountain range. We demonstrate that the vegetation and cloud cover are correlated, with locations with longer cloud periods also having a longer period with a vegetation canopy. The analysis shows that the hypsometric curve and its statistical moments capture the morphological difference between wet watersheds shaped by groundwater sapping and dry watersheds with fluvial morphology. Specifically, the curves exhibit two shapes: watersheds with more vegetation and cloud cover are characterized by higher convexity, and those with less vegetation and cloud cover are characterized by higher concavity. A variance analysis of cloud cover, vegetation, and hypsometric integral shows that they are significantly different between the wet and dry watersheds. The link between hydrology and morphology is not strong at the scale of a single watershed, but it is significant when the watersheds are aggregated in zones. The statistical moments of the hypsometric curve in the range of values of the integral and skewness show good separation between watersheds dominated by sapping and fluvial erosion processes. We can separate the watersheds draining the mountain range in two distinct groups on the basis of their bimodal hydrological and morphological characteristics. Our findings support other studies that hypothesize a trade‐off from chemical‐ to mechanical‐dominated denudation in carbonate terranes as precipitation decreases.
Injection rate shaping in diesel engines key of improved volumetric energy storage
Authors: Boretti Alberto
Published: February 2021

Thanks to injection rate shaping enabled by high pressure, fast actuating, high atomization injectors, diesel engines can deliver fuel energy conversion efficiencies chemical to mechanical above 52%, with power densities up to 130 kW/L while satisfying peak pressure and gradient of pressure build‐up constraints. Despite further research for improving diesel engines and diesel engine vehicles have practically stopped with diesel gate, there are significant margins of further improvements of what is still the best option for the economy and the environment of onboard energy storage. Mechanical energy can be stored onboard, at about ~18.8 to 19.1 MJ/L and ~5.2 to 5.3 kWh/L, or ~22.2 to 22.6 MJ/kg and ~6.1 to 6.3 kWh/kg. This is much more than Li‐ion batteries at less than 0.100 to 0.265 kWh/kg or 0.250 to 0.670 kWh/L.
Evidence for Specific Receptor-Mediated Toxicity of Pharmaceuticals in Aquatic Organisms Derived from Acute and Chronic Standard Endpoints
Authors: Coors Anja , Falkenhain Anna-Maria , Scheurer Marco , Länge Reinhard
Published: February 2021

The toxicity of 17 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) was investigated using standardized acute and chronic tests with Daphnia magna and 2 algae species. Chronic toxicity was generally greater for Daphnia than for algae. Compilation of additional data resulted in 100 APIs for which the acute-to-chronic ratio (ACR) was determined for Daphnia. The frequency of high ACRs (~20% with ACRs > 100) indicates that specific receptor-mediated toxicity toward D. magna is rather common among APIs. The 11 APIs with ACRs > 1000 included lipid-modifying agents, immunosuppressants, antibiotics, antineoplastics, antiobesics, antivirals, and antihistamines. There was no consistent association between ACR and chronic toxicity, ionization status, or lipophilicity. High ACRs were not exclusively associated with the presence of orthologs of the pharmacological target in Daphnia. Statins, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, and antihistamines are discussed in more detail regarding the link between targets and toxic mode of action. For acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, receptor-mediated toxicity was already apparent after acute exposure, whereas the high ACR and chronic toxicity of some antihistamines probably related to interaction with a secondary rather than the primary pharmacological target. Acute or modeled chronic toxicity estimates have often been used for prioritizing pharmaceuticals. This may be seriously misleading because chronic effects are currently not predictable for APIs with specific receptor-mediated toxicity. However, it is exactly these APIs that are the most relevant in terms of environmental risks. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:601–613. © 2021 SETAC
Streamlining Freshwater Bioaccumulation Bioassays: Letting the Worms Do the Hard Work
Authors: Lotufo Guilherme R. , Melby Nicolas L. , Biedenbach James M. , Moore David W. , Farrar J. Daniel
Published: February 2021

When terminating sediment bioaccumulation tests with the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus, varying amounts of detrital material are retained along with the recovered worms after sieving, necessitating time-consuming, labor-intensive manual separation of worms from detritus prior to tissue residue analysis. A method to facilitate the worms self-extracting out of the detrital material into a column of gravel was developed, resulting in approximately 90% recovery test organisms (on a mass basis) at test termination. Following exposure to contaminated sediment, polychlorinated biphenyl tissue residues and residual sediment in the gut of self-extracted animals were not significantly different compared to worms recovered by manual separation followed by purging of gut contents. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1673–1677. Published 2021. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Abstract

When terminating sediment bioaccumulation tests with Lumbriculus variegatus, separating worms from detrital material can be time consuming. A method to facilitate the worms self extracting out of the detrital material into a column of gravel was developed to efficiently recover test organisms.
Arbitrary high‐order extended essentially non‐oscillatory schemes for hyperbolic conservation laws
Authors: Xu Chunguang , Zhang Fan , Dong Haibo , Jiang Hang
Published: February 2021

Achieving high numerical resolution in smooth regions and robustness near discontinuities within a unified framework is the major concern while developing numerical schemes solving hyperbolic conservation laws, for which the essentially non‐oscillatory (ENO) type scheme is a favorable solution. Therefore, an arbitrary‐high‐order ENO‐type framework is designed in this article. With using a typical five‐point smoothness measurement as the shock‐detector, the present schemes are able to detect discontinuities before spatial reconstructions, and thus more spatial information can be exploited to construct incremental‐width stencils without crossing discontinuities, ensuring ENO property and high‐order accuracy at the same time. The present shock‐detection procedure is specifically examined for justifying its performance of resolving high‐frequency waves, and a standard metric for discontinuous solutions is also applied for measuring the shock‐capturing error of the present schemes, especially regarding the amplitude error in post‐shock regions. In general, the present schemes provide high‐resolution, and more importantly, the schemes are more efficient compared with the typical WENO schemes since only a five‐point smoothness measurement is applied for arbitrary‐high‐order schemes. Numerical results of canonical test cases also provide evidences of the overall performance of the present schemes.
Evaluation of eight kinds of flavor enhancer of umami taste by an electronic tongue
Authors: Wang Kai , Zhuang Haining , Bing Fangling , Chen Da , Feng Tao , Xu Zhimin
Published: February 2021

The umami intensity of single flavor enhancer was detected by an electronic tongue and human sensory. The linear fit was performed to unravel the concentration–response values correlations of eight flavor enhancers. The electronic tongue response data were then analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and discriminant factor analysis (DFA) method. It was found that the umami response value of the electronic tongue and the flavor enhancer concentration showed a semi‐logarithmic function. Moreover, the PCA and DFA could successfully distinguish the variety and concentration of flavor enhancer. The umami intensities were also assessed by human sensory and showed consistency with those of electronic tongue tests. This implies the electronic tongue has a great potential as an alternative for biological tongue on sensing intensity of flavor enhancer.
The impact of COVID‐19 confinement on the eating habits and lifestyle changes: A cross sectional study
Authors: Galali Yaseen
Published: February 2021

Novel coronavirus (COVID‐19) emerged in December 2019 in the city of Wuhan, China causing severe respiratory infections and resulting in millions admissions to hospital and over a million deaths worldwide. Authorities imposed protective measures including confinement to flatten curves of casualties resulted in sudden lifestyle and eating habit changes. The objectives of this study were to observe the impact of the COVID‐19 lockdown on eating behavior and lifestyle of the Kurdish population in Iraqi Kurdistan. A structured cross‐sectional study was conducted from 1st to 14th of June when the lockdown finished with three different sections. Section one (6 questions) included socio‐demographic information section two (11 questions) composed of dietary behavior information including a) Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence using 14‐scaled items with a MD screener tool ranging from 0 to 14 b) and sections three (12 questions) composed of lifestyle habit changes such as physical activity, sleeping behavior, and smoking habit. The total number of included respondents was 2,137. The results showed that 12.0% (256) of participants stated that their lifestyle was improved, whereas 50.9% (1,087) declared their lifestyle deteriorated. In particular, the frequency of physical activity was decreased (McNemar value = 60.53, p <.001) and sleeping hours were significantly increased during lockdown (McNemar value = 447.93, p <.001). Regarding eating habits, it was noticed that 29.3% and 14.3% felt that appetite increased and decreased, respectively. The appetite change during lockdown was significantly associated with age (p =.0001), gender (p =.001), city (p =.007), and BMI (p =.001). Similarly, 32.4% reported weight gain. In conclusion, this study is among the earliest studies showing the effect of COVID‐19 on eating behavior and lifestyle changes. COVID‐19 confinement had a significant effect on lifestyle particularly reducing physical activity and changing eating habits.
Significant effects of cholinesterase inhibitors on tau pathology in the Alzheimer's disease continuum: An in vivo positron emission tomography study
Authors: Yasuno Fumihiko , Minami Hiroyuki
Published: February 2021

Objectives

No prior study has assessed the effects of cholinesterase inhibitors (ChEIs) on tau pathology in the brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Using positron emission tomography, this study aimed to investigate whether ChEIs reduce tau aggregation in amyloid‐positive participants.

Methods

We analyzed datasets from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and included amyloid‐positive participants who had undergone baseline and 1‐ or 2‐year follow‐up AV‐1451 positron emission tomography scans. We included participants treated with and without ChEIs (ChEIs group: n = 15, No‐ChEIs group, n = 45). The annual change in tau aggregation was calculated as the difference in AV‐1451‐ standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) between the two scans divided by the time between scans. Group differences in annual AV‐1451‐SUVR change were examined.

Results

We found a significantly lower annual change in AV‐1451‐SUVR in the Braak 1/2 regions (entorhinal cortex and hippocampus) of participants taking ChEIs. Increased AV‐1451‐SUVR between the first and second examinations were observed in 22 of 45 participants not taking ChEIs and 2 of 15 participants taking ChEIs. Fisher's exact test showed a significant difference in the ratio of participants with increased AV‐1451‐SUVR between the groups.

Conclusions

The findings of this positron emission tomography study suggest that the administration of ChEIs has some neuroprotective effects in patients of the AD continuum, at least in the early stage of the disease progression. This in vivo effect may be mediated via tau, preventing amyloid β‐induced neurotoxicity.
Diagnostic value of exosomal circMYC in radioresistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Methodological issues
Authors: Sabour Siamak , Ghajari Hadis
Published: February 2021

see page 1691
Reply: Diagnostic value of exosomal circMYC in radioresistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Methodological issues
Authors: Guo Jie , Gui Rong
Published: February 2021

see page 1690
The role of mother's prenatal substance use disorder and early parenting on child social cognition at school age
Authors: Flykt Marjo Susanna , Lindblom Jallu , Belt Ritva , Punamäki Raija‐Leena
Published: February 2021

This prospective longitudinal study examined how maternal prenatal substance use disorder (SUD) and early mother–infant interaction quality are associated with child social cognition (emotion recognition and mentalization) at school age. A sample of 52 poly‐substance‐using mothers receiving early interventions and 50 non‐users, along with their children, was followed from pregnancy to school age. First‐year mother–infant interaction quality was measured with EA scales. At school age, child facial emotion recognition was measured with DANVA and mentalization with LEAS‐C. SUD group children did not differ from comparison children in social cognition, but higher severity of maternal prenatal addiction predicted emotion recognition problems. High early mother–infant interaction quality predicted better emotion recognition and mentalization, and mother–infant interaction quality mediated the effect of prenatal SUD on emotion recognition. The results highlight the need for early treatments targeting both parenting and addiction, as well as long‐term developmental support for these children.

Highlights

We examined how mother's prenatal substance use disorder (SUD) and early mother–infant interaction predict child social cognition at school age.

Questionnaires, observational and computer tasks were used. Maternal prenatal addiction severity and early parenting problems predicted problematic child social cognition.

Early interventions should simultaneously target addiction and parenting. Attention should also be paid to the long‐term developmental support of children.
Delayed presentation of ectopic pregnancy during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A retrospective study of a collateral effect
Authors: Barg Moshe , Rotem Reut , Mor Pnina , Rottenstreich Misgav , Khatib Fayez , Grisaru‐Granovsky Sorina , Armon Shunit
Published: February 2021

Objective

We aimed to assess the rates of overall diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy (EP), treatment modality and associated complications during the COVID‐19 pandemic compared to the exact time period in the previous year (pre‐COVID‐19).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a single referral regional center (Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel). Prevalence of the diagnosis of EP, treatment modality and associated complications during the COVID‐19 lockdown period in the state of Israel (March 10–May 12, 2020) was compared to patients receiving the same diagnosis during the parallel timeframe in the previous year (2019).

Results

Overall there were 29 and 43 cases of EP during the COVID‐19 and pre COVID‐19 epoch, respectively. COVID‐19 period patients presented to the emergency room with significantly higher β‐human chorionic gonadotrophin level; median of 1364 versus 633 IU, P = 0.001. The rate of ruptured EP was; 20.7% versus 4.3% P = 0.031, and surgical approach; 55.2% versus 27.9%, P = 0.001. Significantly higher median volume of blood loss; median volume 852 versus 300 ml, P = 0.042 were observed in patients during the COVID‐19 epoch.

Conclusion

The COVID‐19 pandemic led to delayed presentation of patients with EP, and the requirement of subsequent emergency surgical management and excessive blood loss. Special attention should be given to the decline in routine medical care during the pandemic.
Integrated bioinformatic analysis revealed biological processes and immune cells implicated in autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Yu Kangkang , Yang Jingshu , Xie Wentao , Wu Feizhen , Wang Mei , Li Ning
Published: February 2021

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an immune‐mediated inflammatory liver disease for which the pathogenesis remains incompletely understood. The current study aimed to reveal key biological processes and immune cells implicated in AIH by integrated bioinformatic analysis. The global gene expression in livers from wild‐type BALB/c mice, mice with Tgfb1 deficiency, and mice with both Tgfb1 and Ifng deficiency was assessed by microarray data analysis. Differentially expressed genes were identified and subjected to functional enrichment analysis. AIH mice with Tgfb1 deletion showed significantly enhanced immune responses but impaired metabolic processes, whereas increased T cell activation and cytokine production, but weakened organic acid and lipid metabolic processes were observed in mice with deletion of both Tgfb1 and Ifng. In addition, infiltration of immune cells was evaluated by CIBERSORT. Increased infiltration of T cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells, and decreased infiltration of neutrophils, eosinophils, plasma cells, and B cells were observed in AIH mice. In conclusion, we identified potential biological processes and immune cells that contributed to AIH; further investigations are needed to confirm these findings and thus provide a potential novel therapeutic target for AIH treatment.
The Pharmacology, Efficacy, and Safety of Rivaroxaban in Renally Impaired Patient Populations
Authors: Ashton Veronica , Kerolus‐Georgi Sylvia , Moore Kenneth T.
Published: February 2021

Rivaroxaban is a factor Xa inhibitor oral anticoagulant first approved for use in the United States in 2011. Under the drug class commonly termed direct oral anticoagulants, rivaroxaban is approved for the most indications within its class, 7 indications, which are: (1) reduction of risk of stroke and systemic embolism (SE) in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, (2) treatment of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), (3) treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE), (4) reduction in the risk of recurrence of DVT and/or PE, (5) prophylaxis of DVT following hip or knee replacement surgery, (6) prophylaxis of venous thromboembolism in acutely ill medical patients at risk for thromboembolic complications not at high risk of bleeding, and (7) reduction of risk of major cardiovascular events in patients with chronic coronary artery disease or peripheral artery disease. Considering the relationship between cardiovascular disease, renal impairment, and the use of oral anticoagulants, the following targeted review was created. This review reports the results of the primary pharmacology, pharmacokinetic modeling, clinical safety and efficacy, and real‐world postmarketing effectiveness and safety of rivaroxaban in patients with various degrees of renal impairment. Based on these data, rivaroxaban is a viable option for when anticoagulation is needed in patients who have both cardiovascular disease and renal impairment. However, as with any therapy, the benefits and risks of intervention should be carefully assessed and balanced. Patients treated with rivaroxaban for several of its approved indications should have their kidney function assessed prior to and during continued therapy to ensure consistency with the drug label.
Is There a Bright Side to Destructive Leadership? How Gordon Ramsay Leads Change in Nightmare Kitchens
Authors: Balwant Paul T.
Published: February 2021

The change leadership literature is unsymmetrical with a heavy focus on constructive leadership theories and a dearth of research on the potential value of destructive leadership. In light of this imbalance, the purpose of the media review was to provide a pragmatic perspective on Gordon Ramsay's use of destructive leadership and its potential usefulness in transforming failing restaurants as shown in the television series, Kitchen Nightmares. Kitchen Nightmares showcases Ramsay's use of destructive leadership at various stages in the change process. Insight from Ramsay's leadership highlights a unique angle for destructive leadership in which Ramsay acts as a “Strategic Tyrant” by using hostile methods of influence to lead followers toward goals that align with (not contradict) the organization's interests. Ramsay's tyrannical role as a “Chosen One”‐“Hired Gun” hybrid is explained, including the extent to which he is successful in leading change in languid and inert organizations that seem almost destined for failure.
Preliminary assessment of viral metagenome from cancer tissue and blood from patients with lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Cai Hua‐Zhong , Zhang Heteng , Yang Jie , Zeng Jian , Wang Hao
Published: February 2021

In this study, using a viral metagenomic method, we investigated the composition of virome in blood and cancer tissue samples that were collected from 25 patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Results indicated that virus sequences showing similarity to human pegivirus (HPgV), anellovirus, human endogenous retrovirus (HERV), and polyomavirus were recovered from this cohort. Three different complete genomes of HPgV were acquired from the blood samples and one complete genome of polyomavirus was determined from the cancer tissue sample. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the three HPgV strains belonged to genotype 3 and the polyomavirus showed the highest sequence identity (99.73%) to trichodysplasia spinulosa‐associated polyomavirus. PCR screening results indicated that the three HPgVs were present in 5 out of the 25 blood samples and the polyomavirus only existed in a cancer tissue sample pool. Whether infections with viruses have an association with lung cancer needs further study with a larger size of sampling.
Exploring the relationship among dental caries, nutritional habits, and peri‐implantitis
Authors: Vilarrasa Javi , Peña Marta , Gumbau Laura , Monje Alberto , Nart José
Published: February 2021

Background

A study was made of the prevalence, co‐occurrence and association among caries, nutritional habits, and peri‐implant disease, with an analysis of the influence of other patient and implant factors upon peri‐implant disease.

Methods

The included subjects underwent a clinical examination and were asked to complete a questionnaire. Demographic data and potential lifestyle/behavioral variables were collected. Clinical and radiographic assessment allowed calculation of the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index and peri‐implant diagnosis. Uni‐ and multivariate multinomial logistic regression analyses were applied to identify predictors of peri‐implant disease.

Results

A total of 169 patients with 311 implants were studied. At patient level, 92.2% of the subjects presented at least one carious lesion, whereas 22.5% and 56.2% were diagnosed with peri‐implantitis and mucositis, respectively. Those patients with more than two caries had a higher risk of mucositis (OR = 3.33). Statistically significant associations for peri‐implantitis included full mouth periodontal indexes, sugar‐rich diets, keratinized mucosa width, number of missing teeth and interproximal untreated caries or fillings adjacent to implants.

Conclusion

High caries risk profiles and mucositis/peri‐implantitis tended to accumulate within subjects. A sugar‐enriched diet and untreated caries or fillings adjacent to implant sites may be further considered as risk indicators of peri‐implantitis.
High concentrations of sodium and chloride ions have opposing effects on the growth of the xerophyte Pugionium cornutum under saline conditions
Authors: Cui Yan-Nong , Wang Fang-Zhen , Yuan Jian-Zhen , Guo Huan , Wang Suo-Min , Ma Qing
Published: February 2021

Background: The research on plant salt tolerance has mainly focused on Na+, but Cl− has been relatively neglected. Previous studies have found that the xerophyte Pugionium cornutum, an important forage grass in the arid and semi‐arid regions of northwestern China, could synergistically accumulate high quintiles of Na+ and Cl− in its shoots under NaCl treatments. However, the separate effects of these ions on the adaptation of P. cornutum to saline conditions have not been investigated.

Aims: In this study, the response of P. cornutum to Na+ and Cl− was analyzed.

Methods: Four‐week‐old seedlings were treated with additional 50 mM NaCl, Na+‐specific solution containing 50 mM Na+ with a mix of
, H2
, and
as counter anions, and Cl−‐specific solution containing 50 mM Cl− with a mix of K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ as counter cations.

Results: Compared with the normal growth condition irrigated with Hoagland solution, the Na+‐specific solution severely impaired the growth and photosynthesis of P. cornutum due to the high accumulation of Na+ in shoots and the deterioration of tissue K+ homeostasis; while the Cl−‐specific solution significantly increased shoot fresh and dry biomass. The Cl−‐specific solution could also increase the turgor pressure in leaves for enhancing osmotic adjustment, which should be mainly attributed to the large accumulation of Cl−, since the concentrations of other ions, including K+, Mg2+, Ca2+, H2
, and
, in tissues under Cl−‐specific treatment were maintained at the same levels as those observed under the normal condition.

Conclusions: P. cornutum displays an excellent tolerance to moderate Cl− but not to Na+, and the large accumulation of Cl− should play a positive role in stimulating the growth of P. cornutum under salt stress.
Incidence and Prognosis of Brain Metastases in Head and Neck Cancer Patients at Diagnosis
Authors: Messing Ian , Goyal Sharad , Sherman Jonathan H. , Thakkar Punam , Siegel Robert , Joshi Arjun , Goodman Joseph , Ojong‐Ntui Martin , Rao Yuan James
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Limited data is available on head and neck cancer (HNC) patients presenting with brain metastases (BM) at initial diagnosis. We sought to evaluate the incidence, management, and treatment outcomes of these patients using the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

Methods

We identified 465,925 patients diagnosed with HNC between 2010 and 2015 in the NCDB. 14,583 of these patients presented with metastatic disease to any site. 440 of these patients had BM at the time of initial diagnosis. Overall survival was compared using the Kaplan–Meier method. Cox proportional hazard modeling, propensity score matching, and subgroup analyses were performed.

Results

The median age overall was 62.0 years. Nasopharynx NOS (13.2%) and Parotid Gland (10.9%) were the most common anatomical sites with the highest frequency of BM. The overall median survival time was 7.1 months. Predictors for the presence of BM included distant metastasis to the bone, liver, or lung on univariate analysis, and bone or lung on multivariate analysis. High‐risk Human Papilloma Virus status was associated with a lower chance of BM. No pattern was determined when comparing lymph node level involvement and BM. The median survival for patients receiving radiation therapy and multi‐agent chemotherapy was 8.4 and 11.7 months, respectively. Immunotherapy administered as first course therapy did not influence median survival. Most patients received radiation (62.7%) therapy and chemotherapy (50.2%).

Conclusions

The data extracted and analyzed from the NCDB should work to aid in the surveillance and management of BM in patients with HNC.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2543–E2552, 2021
Endoscopic Posterior Cricoid Split and Rib Graft Without Tracheostomy: Case and Literature Review
Authors: Jang Minyoung , Grunstein Eli
Published: February 2021

Endoscopic posterior cricoid split and rib grafting (EPCS/RG) for the treatment of posterior laryngeal stenosis has some advantages over traditional open approaches, including improved surgical visualization and decreased morbidity. Many pediatric patients who undergo EPCS/RG have indwelling tracheostomy, which may be utilized to help manage the airway perioperatively. The role for de novo tracheostomy placement at the time of EPCS/RG is less clear. We present three cases from a tertiary children's hospital in which EPCS/RG was safely performed without tracheostomy. For patients with posterior laryngeal stenosis but without tracheostomy, EPCS/RG with endotracheal tube stenting might be a safe option. Laryngoscope, 131:E2599–E2602, 2021
Submarine groundwater discharge drives nitrous oxide source/sink dynamics in a metropolitan estuary
Authors: Reading Michael J. , Tait Douglas R. , Maher Damien T. , Jeffrey Luke C. , Correa Rogger E. , Tucker James P. , Shishaye Haile A. , Santos Isaac R.
Published: February 2021

Coastal waterways can be significant sources of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) due to nitrogen inputs and eutrophication. Here, we quantify groundwater derived N2O inputs and atmospheric emissions within a modified urban embayment (Sydney Harbour, Australia). Overall, we found low N2O saturation (91–171%) and air–water fluxes (−2.2 to 24.6 μmol m−2 d−1). Concentrations were highest in upstream brackish areas and a commercial/industrial subembayment. Dissolved inorganic nitrogen concentrations were low and inversely correlated to N2O throughout the harbor. N2O surface water dynamics were apparently driven by saline submarine groundwater discharge, as quantified by the radioisotope tracer radon‐222. Groundwater discharge was highest within the embayments and mangrove‐lined upper estuary. While groundwater was a net N2O source to surface waters, two upstream sub‐embayments featured groundwater N2O concentrations lower than surface water, suggesting a sink driven by surface waters recirculating in intertidal sediments. Surface‐water N2O was undersaturated within one upstream embayment, likely due to N2O consumption within sediments. Contrastingly, the downstream embayments featured higher groundwater N2O and accounted for 45% ± 21% of the groundwater N2O flux. Sydney Harbour was a net source of N2O to the atmosphere (mean 0.6 ± 0.3 μmol m−2 d−1) with larger N2O fluxes occurring from relatively small areas. N2O emissions (expressed in CO2 equilivents) were equivalent to 17% of CO2 emission estimates from previous studies. The low N2O emissions in Sydney Harbour contrast with other modified estuaries which often emit higher N2O fluxes due to larger nitrogen inputs.
XPM‐Induced Vector Asymmetrical Soliton with Spectral Period Doubling in Mode‐Locked Fiber Laser
Authors: Cui Yudong , Zhang Yusheng , Song Youjian , Huang Lin , Tong Limin , Qiu Jianrong , Liu Xueming
Published: February 2021

Cross phase modulation (XPM) can induce soliton trapping in nonlinear medium, which has been employed to achieve vector soliton, optical switching, and optical analog of gravity‐like potentials. Here, the first observation of a novel soliton operation is reported whose wavelength exhibits redshift and blueshift periodically in a mode‐locked fiber laser under appropriate birefringence and dispersion map. XPM dominates the dynamics by inducing and sustaining the vector asymmetrical soliton (VAS) with spectral period doubling, and exhibits a unique trajectory of pulse trapping. The XPM‐induced VAS is an idiosyncratic steady state featured with asymmetry in the model based on the coupled Ginzburg–Landau equation, which depicts the distinct pulse features in comparison with vector soliton, soliton molecule, and traditional period‐doubling evolutions. The two orthogonal polarized directions of mode‐locked fiber laser can be regarded as the XPM‐coupled dissipative resonators guiding the further study of the optical nonlinear dynamics and chaos for soliton, which is helpful to laser design and brings useful insights into nonlinear science and applications.
A performance‐based payment: Signaling the quality of a credence good
Authors: Berg Nathan , Kim Jeong‐Yoo , Seon Ilgyun
Published: February 2021

We consider credence goods. A typical example of a credence good is an expert service. Experts often offer rebates contingent on their client's failure or bonus payments contingent on their client's success. This paper provides a different rationale for performance‐based payments than reducing moral hazard. We show that a performance‐based payment can be a signal of the seller's ability. Due to different success rates across expert abilities, a high‐ability expert can commit to offering larger indemnity payments contingent on a client's failure or smaller bonus payments contingent on a client's success. Thus, high quality is signaled by performance‐based pricing.
Gut Microbial and Metabolic Profiling Reveal the Lingering Effects of Infantile Iron Deficiency Unless Treated with Iron
Authors: Mayneris‐Perxachs Jordi , Amaral Wellington , Lubach Gabriele R. , Lyte Mark , Phillips Gregory J. , Posma Joram M. , Coe Christopher L. , Swann Jonathan R.
Published: February 2021

Scope

Iron deficiency (ID) compromises the health of infants worldwide. Although readily treated with iron, concerns remain about the persistence of some effects. Metabolic and gut microbial consequences of infantile ID were investigated in juvenile monkeys after natural recovery (pID) from iron deficiency or post‐treatment with iron dextran and B vitamins (pID+Fe).

Methods and Results

Metabolomic profiling of urine and plasma is conducted with 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Gut microbiota are characterized from rectal swabs by amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Urinary metabolic profiles of pID monkeys significantly differed from pID+Fe and continuously iron‐sufficient controls (IS) with higher maltose and lower amounts of microbial‐derived metabolites. Persistent differences in energy metabolism are apparent from the plasma metabolic phenotypes with greater reliance on anaerobic glycolysis in pID monkeys. Microbial profiling indicated higher abundances of Methanobrevibacter, Lachnobacterium, and Ruminococcus in pID monkeys and any history of ID resulted in a lower Prevotella abundance compared to the IS controls.

Conclusions

Lingering metabolic and microbial effects are found after natural recovery from ID. These long‐term biochemical derangements are not present in the pID+Fe animals emphasizing the importance of the early detection and treatment of early‐life ID to ameliorate its chronic metabolic effects.
Lean Thinking to manage a national working group on physics aspects of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy
Authors: Mancosu Pietro , Russo Serenella , Antonucci Adriana Rossella , Stasi Michele
Published: February 2021

Purpose

To report how the adoption of a Lean Thinking mindset in the management of a national working group (WG) on the physics of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) contributed to achieve SBRT standardization objectives.

Methods

Vision for the WG has been established as fragmentation reduction and process harmonization enhancement in SBRT for Italian centers. Two main research themes of the technical aspects of SBRT emerged as areas with major standardization improvement needs, small field dosimetry and SBRT planning comparisons, to be investigated through multi‐institutional studies. The management of the WG leveraged on the Lean concept of fostering self‐organization in a non‐hierarchical environment. Four progressive involvement levels were defined for each study. No specific “scientific” pre‐experience was required to propose and coordinate a project, just requiring a voluntary commitment. People engagement was measured in terms of number of published articles. The standardization goals have been conducted through a simplified “5S” (Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain) methodology, first considering a phase of awareness (the first three “S”), then identifying and implementing standardization actions (the last two “S”).

Results

Since the beginning, 157 medical physicists joined the AIFM/SBRT‐WG. Twenty‐four papers/reviews/letters have been published in the period 2014–2019 on major radiation oncology journals, authored by >100 physicists (>50% working in small hospitals). Six over 12 first authors worked in peripheral/small hospitals, with no prior publication as first author. These studies contributed to the awareness and standardization phases for both small‐field dosimetry and planning. In particular, errors in small‐field measurements in 8% of centers were detected thanks to a generalized output factor curve in function of the effective field size created by averaging data available from different Linacs. Furthermore, planner’s experience in SBRT was correlated with dosimetric parameters in the awareness phase; while sharing median dose volume histograms (DVHs) reduced variability among centers while keeping the same level of plan complexity. Finally, all the dosimetric parameters statistically significant to the planner experience during the awareness phase, were no longer significantly different in the standardization phase.

Conclusions

The experience of our SBRT‐WG has shown how a Lean Thinking mindset could foster the SBRT procedure standardization and spread the physics of SBRT knowledge, enhancing personal growth. Our expectation is to inspire other scientific societies that have to deal with fragmented contexts or pursue processes harmonization through Lean principles.