bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bestimmung der Abrasivität von Gesteinen mit mineralogisch‐petrographischen Verfahren
Authors: Plinninger Ralf J. , Käsling Heiko , Popp Till
Published: February 2021

Der Arbeitskreis AK 3.3 „Versuchstechnik Fels“ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Geotechnik e. V. (DGGT) erarbeitet Empfehlungen für felsmechanische Labor‐ und Feldversuche sowie Messungen im Gebirge und an geotechnischen Bauwerken. Die vorliegende Empfehlung Nr. 25 behandelt die Bestimmung von mineralogisch‐petrographischen Kennwerten an Festgesteinsproben zum Zwecke der Abrasivitätsbewertung. Es werden Anforderungen an Prüfeinrichtungen und Probekörper sowie Vorgehensweisen für die Durchführung und Auswertung von Dünnschliff‐ und Pulverröntgendiffraktometeranalysen sowie für die Ableitung verschiedener Indexwerte zur Abrasivitätsbewertung festgelegt.

Bei der petrographischen Analyse werden Informationen über Art und Anteile des Mineralinhalts sowie Gefügeeigenschaften eines Gesteins erhoben. Diese Informationen können entweder direkt, z. B. als Quarzgehalt, oder in Form abgeleiteter Indexwerte, z. B. Äquivalenter Quarzgehalt, Schimazek‐Verschleißindex oder Rock Abrasivity Index, zur Charakterisierung der Abrasivität herangezogen werden. In dieser Empfehlung werden der Zweck, die Begriffe, die Prüfeinrichtung, die Anforderungen an den Probekörper und die Versuchsdurchführung und ‐auswertung behandelt.
De Novo Colorectal and Pancreatic Cancer in Liver‐Transplant Recipients: Identifying the Higher‐Risk Populations
Authors: Nasser‐Ghodsi Navine , Mara Kristin , Watt Kymberly D.
Published: February 2021

Background and Aims

Gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies are common after liver transplantation. The aim of this study was to identify the risk and timing of the more common GI malignancies, colorectal and pancreatic cancer, to aid in optimizing potential posttransplant screening practices.

Approach and Results

Data from the United Network for Organ Sharing database of all adult liver‐transplant recipients from 1997 to 2017 were analyzed and a comparison made with cancer incidence from general population data using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data. Of 866 de novo GI malignancies, 405 colorectal and 216 pancreas were identified. The highest cumulative incidence for colorectal cancer occurred in recipients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), recipients over the age of 50 with non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)/cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), and females >50 years with alcohol‐associated liver disease and HCC/CCA, with risk increasing above the general population within 5 years of transplant. Patients with PSC and HCC/CCA or NASH and HCC/CCA have the highest cumulative incidence of pancreatic cancer also rising within 5 years following transplant, with those patients >50 years old conferring the highest risk.

Conclusions

These data identify a high‐risk cohort that warrants consideration for intensified individualized screening practices for colorectal cancer after liver transplantation. In addition to recipients with PSC, further study of recipients with NASH and HCC/CCA and females with alcohol‐associated liver disease and HCC/CCA may be better tailored to colorectal cancer screening ideals. Higher‐risk patient populations for pancreatic cancer (PSC and NASH with HCC/CCA) would benefit from further study to determine potential screening practices. GI malignancies occur at higher rates in liver‐transplant patients compared with the general population. In the era of individualized medicine, this study identifies the highest‐risk transplant recipients (PSC and NASH cirrhosis with coexisting HCC/CCA) who may benefit from altered screening practices for these malignancies.
Cross‐Sectional Imaging Useful in Melorheostosis
Authors: Hurley‐Novatny Amelia , Karantanas Apostolos H , Papadakis Georgios Z , Bhattacharyya Timothy , Jha Smita
Published: February 2021

Melorheostosis is a rare disease of bone overgrowth that is primarily diagnosed based on imaging studies. Recently, the association of different radiological patterns of the disease with distinct genetic cause was reported. Several case reports have described the radiological findings in patients with melorheostosis. However, the added value of cross‐sectional imaging with CT and MRI beyond X‐rays has not been investigated. The aim of the current study was to investigate this existing gap in knowledge. Forty patients with melorheostosis seen at the National Institute of Health Clinical Center were included in the study, and all their imaging studies were analyzed. The sequence of interpretation was X‐ray followed by CT and then MRI. CT images were extracted from whole‐body 18F‐sodium fluoride positron emission tomography/CT studies. The information from CT reclassified the initial X‐rays based radiological pattern in 13 patients. Additionally, CT comprehensively identified joint involvement and disease extent. In 76% of patients (n = 29) who underwent MRI, additional findings were noted, ranging from soft tissue edema to identification of soft tissue masses and incidental findings. MRI did not provide additional information on skeletal lesions beyond CT scans. However, it revealed the extension of soft tissue ossification into ischiofemoral space in four patients who complained of deep gluteal pain consistent with ischiofemoral impingement syndrome. In addition, MRI revealed soft tissue edema in 20 patients, 9 of whom had bone marrow edema and periosteal edema in the tibias consistent with shin splints. These findings suggest that select patients with melorheostosis should be evaluated with both CT and MRI, particularly patients in whom the distribution of pain does not correlate with the anatomic location of the disease in plain radiographs. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
High Cardiovascular Risk in Older Men with Poor Bone Microarchitecture—The Prospective STRAMBO Study
Authors: Szulc Pawel , Foesser Dominique , Chapurlat Roland
Published: February 2021

Data on the association between bone microarchitecture and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men are scarce. We studied the link of bone microarchitecture and areal bone mineral density (aBMD) with the risk of major adverse coronary event (MACE) in a cohort of men aged 60 to 87 years followed prospectively for 8 years. At baseline, aBMD was measured using a Hologic Discovery-A device. Bone microarchitecture was assessed at distal radius and tibia by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (XtremeCT Scanco device). During the study, 53 men had incident MACE. The analyses were adjusted for confounders related to bone and CVD. In 813 men (53 MACEs), higher aBMD at the lumbar spine, hip, whole body, and radius was associated with lower risk of MACE (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.44–0.71/SD, p < .025 to < .001). In 745 men having valid distal radius scan (47 MACEs), higher cortical density (Ct.BMD) and higher cortical thickness (Ct.Thd) were associated with lower risk of MACE. This risk was higher in men in the lowest quintile of cortical measures versus the four upper quintiles combined (Ct.BMD: HR = 2.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–4.17, p < .025). Findings were similar in 779 men having valid distal tibia scan (48 MACEs). At both sites, higher estimated stiffness and higher failure load were associated with a lower risk of MACE. The risk of MACE was higher in men in the lowest quintile of the measures of bone strength versus four upper quintiles jointly (distal radius stiffness: HR = 2.46, 95% CI 1.27–4.74, p < .01). Similar results were obtained in 638 men without prior fragility fracture and in 689 men without ischemic heart disease at baseline. Thus, in older men followed prospectively for 8 years, higher aBMD, preserved cortical bone status, and higher estimated bone strength were associated with lower risk of MACE after adjustment for relevant confounders. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Whole body‐diffusion weighted imaging for the assessment of treatment response in hairy cell leukaemia: A positive first step
Authors: Algudkar Ashwin , El‐Sharkawi Dima , Cross Matthew , Tunariu Nina , Attygalle Ayoma D , Sharma Bhupinder
Published: February 2021

We present the case of a patient diagnosed with hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) who subsequently developed biopsy confirmed bone lesions and underwent multiple lines of therapy. The reported incidence of bone lesions in HCL is 3%, and bony involvement can be associated with high tumour burden and aggressive disease. The commonly lytic bone lesions in HCL are difficult to accurately assess for response. Whole body diffusion weighted imaging (WB‐DWI) has been used clinically in multiple myeloma; we postulate clinical utility in HCL, where hypercellularity also applies. In our case, WB‐DWI appears to discriminate sites of active disease from bone response. We present the salient radiological and pathological images. To our knowledge, this is the first description of WB‐DWI in HCL; we support research of WB‐DWI in the staging, prognostication and response assessment of HCL.
To speak up effectively or often? The effects of voice quality and voice frequency on peers' and managers' evaluations
Authors: Brykman Kyle M. , Raver Jana L.
Published: February 2021

Prior research connecting employee voice with better career outcomes has almost exclusively focused on how frequently employees speak up. In the current research, we shift the focus to voice quality—recipients' perceptions of the value of an employee's voice communications, as inferred by message characteristics (i.e., rationale, feasibility, organizational‐focus, and novelty). Grounded within social exchange theory, we argue that peers and managers develop more positive evaluations (i.e., higher performance and promotion ratings) of employees who express higher‐quality voice, above and beyond how frequently they speak up, because voice quality better demonstrates employees' capability, commitment, and helpful intentions, which obligates the reciprocation of rewards. We further assert that voice frequency moderates these effects, such that high‐quality voicers are evaluated more positively, and low‐quality voicers are evaluated more negatively, as voice frequency increases. After conducting four studies through which we developed and validated a superordinate measure of voice quality, we conducted time‐lagged surveys with peers and managers to assess these hypotheses. Results fully supported our predictions for the direct benefits of voice quality on voicers' outcomes, above and beyond voice frequency; yet, the hypothesized interaction only emerged for peer‐rated outcomes.
Synergetic effect of El Niño‐Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole on particulate matter in Guangdong, China
Authors: Mo Huisi , Liu Run , Liu Shaw Chen , Mo Jiajia
Published: February 2021

The synergetic effect of Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) and El Niño‐Southern Oscillation on the particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration in Guangdong for October–November–December 1980–2016 has been investigated. Results indicate that, during a typical polluted episode, Guangdong is usually under the influence of a high‐pressure system behind the cold front, which is characterized by weakened southwesterly, subsidence/divergence, and stable atmospheric conditions. Persistent low values of PM2.5 are found to prevail during the years when concurrent IOD positive phase and El Niño occur. However, separate occurrence of El Niño and the positive phase of IOD had only marginal effect on PM2.5. The remarkable synergetic effect of El Niño and the positive phase of IOD is caused by a significantly strengthened ascending motion associated with anomalous southwesterly, which facilitates the transport of abundant moisture, increasing rainfall and thus suppressing PM2.5 pollution in Guangdong.
Effect of cooking temperature on cooked pasta quality and sustainability
Authors: Cimini Alessio , Cibelli Matteo , Taddei Anna R , Moresi Mauro
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND

Everyday pasta cooking has a large environmental impact. The aims of this work were to assess the effect of cooking temperatures (TC) that were lower than the water boiling point (TBW) on the main chemico‐physical quality parameters of two pasta shapes (i.e., ziti and spaghetti) cooked at the conventional and minimum water‐to‐pasta ratios, as well as their optimum cooking time (OCT), cooking energy consumption, and carbon footprint, by using a novel eco‐sustainable pasta cooker.

RESULTS

Once the effect of TC on OCT had been modeled in accordance with the Bigelow model, it was possible to estimate that the energy saved to heat the cooking water from ambient temperature to a lower temperature than TBW was smaller than the extra energy needed to complete the pasta cooking phase. After several cooking trials, the water uptake, cooking loss, textural properties, and thickness of the central nerve (as observed with a scanning electronic microscope) of cooked pasta were found to be independent of TC in the range of 85–98 °C.

CONCLUSIONS

By using smaller amounts of water (~3 L kg−1) and cooking at 85 °C with the eco‐sustainable pasta cooker, the energy consumption reduced from the default value of 2.8 kWh kg−1 to ~0.45 kWh kg−1 and GHG emissions to about one sixth of those resulting from the use of the average European home appliances. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Novel materials as capillary coatings for in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction for bioanalysis
Authors: Grecco Caroline Fernandes , de Souza Israel Donizeti , Queiroz Maria Eugênia Costa
Published: February 2021

In‐tube solid‐phase microextraction with a capillary column as extraction device can be directly coupled with high‐performance liquid chromatography systems (HPLC). The in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction technique has been continuously developed since it was introduced in 1997. New couplings have also been evaluated on the basis of state‐of‐the‐art HPLC instruments. Different types of capillaries (wall‐coated open tubular, porous layer open tubular, sorbent‐packed, porous monolithic rods, or fiber‐packed) with selective stationary phases (monoliths, magnetic nanoparticles, conducting polymers, restricted access materials, ionic liquids, carbon, deep eutectic solvents, and hybrid materials) have been developed to boost in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction performance (sorption capacity and selectivity). This technique has been successfully applied to analyze biological samples (serum, plasma, whole blood, hair, urine, milk, skin, and saliva) for therapeutic drug monitoring, to study biomarkers, to detect illicit drugs, to conduct metabolomics studies, and to assess exposure to drugs. This review describes current advances in in‐tube solid‐phase microextraction extraction devices and their application in bioanalysis.
Quantification of the sources of soluble organic N (SON) from new litter or indigenous soil in a typical subtropical forest
Authors: Ding Xianqing , Chang Yue , Hou Hongbo , Peng Peiqin , Xiang Wenhua
Published: February 2021

Decomposition of forest litter plays a major role in nitrogen (N) dynamics in soil. However, the effect of new litter on indigenous soil N and its contribution to soil N in natural forest remains unknown. An in situ soil column experiment was conducted and 15N labelled litter was added to decompose for 14 months to examine the effect of litter retention on soil N dynamics in a typical subtropical forest. Litter removal in the soil column was used as a control. The results showed that litter removal caused a continuous decrease in concentration of soil soluble organic N (SON) in the first 5 months (August in 2018‐January in 2019), and SON concentration went up in the eighth month. Litter retention accelerated the reduction of soil SON concentration in the first 2 months, and SON concentration maintained a high value after that period. Soil NH4+‐N derived from litter was nitrified rapidly, and the newly formed NO3−‐N was quickly immobilized or lost. Only 1.8% of soil SON came from litter N and 98.2% from indigenous soil N under the decomposition of labelled litter. Litter provided N to form new soil SON continuously, however, only a small part of SON was relatively stable. Soil SON and total N (TN) are formed after long‐term litter accumulation and decomposition, and litter retention plays an important role in soil N dynamics.
Multiple feature‐based portal vein classification for liver segment extraction
Authors: Wu Chan , Fu Tianyu , Gao Yuanjin , Liu Yuhan , Fan Jingfan , Ai Danni , Song Hong , Yang Jian
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The liver segments divided by Couinaud classification method are used to understand the functional anatomy of liver, which is significant in hepatic resection surgery. In Couinaud classification method, each third‐order branch of the portal vein (PV) defines the supplied territory of a corresponding liver segment. However, the accuracies of the reconstruction and classification of PV are affected by the complicated structure of the vein. The purpose of this paper is to develop a separation and classification method that can accurately extract the liver segments.

Methods

In this paper, a multiple feature‐based method is proposed to obtain liver segments. Because the portal and hepatic veins usually connect in the vessel segmentation result, the PV is first completely separated based on the different strategies for minimal node cut using fused features of topology and appearance. Meanwhile, all bifurcation nodes of PV are detected. The bifurcation nodes are initial ordered through their linkages to classify the branches. Then, the feature of the vascular topology is used to refine the orders of bifurcation nodes. The bifurcation nodes with the refined orders classify the branches between them, and the third‐order branches of PV are obtained. The liver segments are eventually obtained through the third‐order branches.

Results

The separation and classification in the proposed method are evaluated on the CT and MR datasets. The average values of Dice, Jaccard, Recall, and Precision obtained by the proposed method are 93.00%, 87.90%, 93.47%, and 93.19%, respectively. Compared with the state‐of‐the‐art methods, the separation results obtained by the proposed method are more accurate. The branches of PV are classified based on the separation result. According to the third‐order branches, eight liver segments correspond to the different functional areas are precisely extracted.

Conclusions

The proposed method achieves a high accuracy for the liver segment extraction. And the extracted liver segments are significant for the preplanning of resection surgery.
SAUN: Stack attention U‐Net for left ventricle segmentation from cardiac cine magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Sun Xiaowu , Garg Pankaj , Plein Sven , van der Geest Rob J.
Published: February 2021

Purpose

Quantification of left ventricular (LV) volume, ejection fraction and myocardial mass from multi‐slice multi‐phase cine MRI requires accurate segmentation of the LV in many images. We propose a stack attention‐based convolutional neural network (CNN) approach for fully automatic segmentation from short‐axis cine MR images.

Methods

To extract the relevant spatiotemporal image features, we introduce two kinds of stack methods, spatial stack model and temporal stack model, combining the target image with its neighboring images as the input of a CNN. A stack attention mechanism is proposed to weigh neighboring image slices in order to extract the relevant features using the target image as a guide. Based on stack attention and standard U‐Net, a novel Stack Attention U‐Net (SAUN) is proposed and trained to perform the semantic segmentation task. A loss function combining cross‐entropy and Dice is used to train SAUN. The performance of the proposed method was evaluated on an internal and a public dataset using technical metrics including Dice, Hausdorff distance (HD), and mean contour distance (MCD), as well as clinical parameters, including left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and myocardial mass (LVM). In addition, the results of SAUN were compared to previously presented CNN methods, including U‐Net and SegNet.

Results

The spatial stack attention model resulted in better segmentation results than the temporal stack model. On the internal dataset comprising of 167 post‐myocardial infarction patients and 57 healthy volunteers, our method achieved a mean Dice of 0.91, HD of 3.37 mm, and MCD of 1.08 mm. Evaluation on the publicly available ACDC dataset demonstrated good generalization performance, yielding a Dice of 0.92, HD of 9.4 mm, and MCD of 0.74 mm on end‐diastolic images, and a Dice of 0.89, HD of 7.1 mm and MCD of 1.03 mm on end‐systolic images. The Pearson correlation coefficient of LVEF and LVM between automatically and manually derived results were higher than 0.98 in both datasets.

Conclusion

We developed a CNN with a stack attention mechanism to automatically segment the LV chamber and myocardium from the multi‐slice short‐axis cine MRI. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach exceeds existing state‐of‐the‐art segmentation methods and verify its potential clinical applicability.
A novel exercise testing algorithm to diagnose mitochondrial myopathy
Authors: Bhatia Rajeev , Cohen Bruce H. , L. McNinch Neil
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) is a noninvasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) measurement based on oxygen uptake (V˙O2) and minute ventilation (V˙E) and is a marker of the efficiency of oxygen utilization by the body. However, it has not been studied in mitochondrial disorders. We explored noninvasive CPET parameters, including OUES, as a way to reliably diagnose mitochondrial myopathy.

Methods

We performed cycle ergometer maximal exercise testing on definite and suspected mitochondrial myopathy subjects (MM‐D and MM‐S) and their age‐ and sex‐matched controls. OUES was corrected for body surface area (OUES/BSA) to eliminate the effect of body size.

Results

A total of 40 participants, including 20 MM‐D (n = 13; 6 males; aged 14‐64 years) and 7 MM‐S (5 males, aged 11‐30 years) subjects and 20 controls, completed the study. MM‐D subjects showed lower aerobic fitness than controls. OUES/BSA was lower in MM‐D subjects, suggesting inefficient oxygen utilization. Area under the curve (AUC) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for OUES/BSA (AUC, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.80‐1.00), peak V˙O2 percent predicted (AUC, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.86‐1.00), and V˙O2/work slope (AUC, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.85‐1.00) showed excellent ability to diagnose mitochondrial myopathy in MM‐D subjects. We applied a diagnostic approach based on the parameters just noted to MM‐S subjects and their controls and were able to support or disprove the diagnosis of mitochondrial myopathy.

Discussion

We proposed and applied an approach based on the aformentioned three CPET parameters to diagnose mitochondrial myopathy reliably and found it to be clinically useful.
Parcel delivery cost minimization with time window constraints using trucks and drones
Authors: Coindreau Marc‐Antoine , Gallay Olivier , Zufferey Nicolas
Published: February 2021

We propose a model for solving a parcel delivery problem with a fleet of trucks embedded with drones. When appropriate, drones are loaded with a parcel, launched directly from the truck, and sent to a client. Afterward, the drones autonomously return to the truck to be replenished and recharged. Inspired by the case of a large European logistics provider, the proposed modeling framework confronts realistic delivery problems involving time windows, limited drone autonomy, and the eligibility of clients to be served by drones. The considered global cost function includes fixed daily vehicle fares, driver wages, and the fuel and electricity consumption to power trucks and drones. To solve the problems at hand, we propose a mixed‐integer linear programming formulation and an adaptive large neighborhood search. Moreover, we introduce an efficient modeling framework to manage the numerous synchronization constraints induced by the simultaneous use of trucks and drones. We analyze the benefits of this new transportation concept for delivery problems involving up to 100 parcels. Results show that truck‐and‐drone solutions can reduce costs up to 34% compared to traditional truck‐only delivery. From a managerial perspective, we show that a certain percentage of client locations must be reachable by drone to make truck‐and‐drone solutions competitive (i.e., if the fixed costs of the drones are compensated for by the savings on truck routes) and compare the cost structures of truck‐and‐drone versus truck‐only solutions.
Weight Loss Following Roux‐en‐Y Gastric Bypass Causally Implicated with Serum Levels of IL‐22: A Mendelian Randomization and Phenome‐Wide Association Study
Authors: Abdalla Moustafa , Jones Daniel B.
Published: February 2021

Objective

Laparoscopic Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (RYGB) modulates the low‐grade inflammatory state associated with severe obesity. This study sought to investigate whether weight loss is causally implicated with changes in serum levels of inflammatory molecules.

Methods

Using the largest genome‐wide association study (n = 1,020 individuals), this study curated five genetic variants associated with weight loss following RYGB. Phenome‐wide association studies (PheWAS) were performed to identify other phenotypes associated with these variants. Subsequently, two‐sample Mendelian randomization was used to study the causal effects of weight loss on the serum levels of 382 inflammatory proteins (measured in 3,033 individuals). This is the first systematic quasi‐experimental investigation of weight loss following RYGB and serum markers of inflammation.

Results

The PheWAS analysis revealed that four of the five variants are associated with phenotypes relating to metabolism and inflammation, including insulin response and levels of C‐reactive protein. Two‐sample Mendelian randomization of the 382 serum inflammatory markers revealed that weight loss following RYGB increases serum levels of interleukin 22 (IL‐22) (beta = 0.021, P < 10−3; 95% CI: 0.010‐0.031). Sensitivity analyses further supported the results and the causal direction.

Conclusions

Weight loss following RYGB may cause an increase in IL‐22 serum levels, suggesting that weight loss directly contributes to immune modulation following bypass. These results demonstrate the utility of genetic studies to disentangling molecular cause and effect following bariatric surgery.

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Prevalence of self‐reported obesity among diverse Latino adult populations in New York City, 2013–2017
Authors: Devia Carlos , Flórez Karen R. , Costa Sergio A. , Huang Terry T.‐K.
Published: February 2021

Introduction

Latinos in the United States represent a heterogeneous population disproportionally impacted by obesity. Yet, the prevalence of obesity by specific Latino group is unclear. Using the New York City Community Health Survey (2013–2017), this study compared self‐reported obesity in the city's largest Latino adult populations (Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, Dominicans, Ecuadorians, and Colombians).

Methods

Age‐standardized prevalence using the 2000 Census and prevalence ratios (PRs) for self‐reported obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) by country of origin were estimated using weighted multivariable logistic regression adjusting for socio‐demographic characteristics, health status, and behaviors.

Results

Obesity prevalence among Mexicans (36.8%; 95% CI [31.5, 42.4]) and Puerto Ricans (36.3%; 95% CI [31.7, 41.3]) was significantly higher than that among Colombians (23.8%; 95% CI [18.8, 29.5]), Ecuadorians (24.2%; 95% CI [20.7, 28.1]), and Dominicans (27.0%; 95% CI [25.0, 29.1]). After adjusting for covariates, compared to Mexicans, the PRs of obesity remained significantly lower for Colombians (PR = 0.80; 95% CI [0.64, 1.00]), Ecuadorians (PR = 0.72; 95% CI [0.61, 0.86]) and Dominicans (PR = 0.75; 95% CI [0.65, 0.85]). There was no significant difference between Mexicans and Puerto Ricans.

Conclusion

Obesity prevalence differs by country of origin, suggesting that clustering of Latinos in public health research may obscure unique risks among specific groups. Despite group differences, all Latino groups exhibit high prevalence of obesity and warrant renewed efforts tailored to the specific context and culture of each group to prevent and reduce obesity.
Implications of a granulocyte‐high glioblastoma microenvironment in immune suppression and therapy resistance†
Authors: Krishnan Shanmugarajan , Amoozgar Zohreh , Fukumura Dai , Jain Rakesh K
Published: February 2021

The failure of anti‐VEGF/R and immune checkpoint therapies to improve overall survival in Phase III clinical trials in glioblastoma (GBM) is considered to be due in part to the prevalent immunosuppression in the GBM tumor microenvironment. Immune suppression is mediated in part by resident microglia and bone‐marrow‐derived myeloid cells recruited during tumor progression. A paper by Blank et al published in a recent issue of The Journal of Pathology proposes a myeloid cell‐mediated mechanism that could contribute to resistance to anti‐VEGF/R in GBM patients. A granulocyte‐rich GBM tumor microenvironment may push the associated microglia/macrophages to exhibit an activated and immune suppressive phenotype. The identification of pro‐angiogenic factors produced by microglia/macrophages and granulocytes in such a tumor microenvironment may offer new targets for improving antiangiogenic therapy of GBM beyond VEGF. Further, consideration of parameters such as IDH status, corticosteroid dosage, tumor mutational burden, gender, vascular function, and pericyte coverage could exploit current immunotherapies to the fullest to reprogram the granulocyte‐rich immunosuppressive GBM tumor microenvironment to an immunostimulatory one. © 2021 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Health practitioners' perceptions of the barriers and enablers to the implementation of reproductive genetic carrier screening: A systematic review
Authors: Best Stephanie , Long Janet , Theodorou Tahlia , Hatem Sarah , Lake Rebecca , Archibald Alison , Freeman Lucinda , Braithwaite Jeffrey
Published: February 2021

Background

As interest in reproductive genetic carrier screening rises, with increased availability, the role of healthcare practitioners is central in guiding uptake aligned with a couples' values and beliefs. Therefore, practitioners' views on implementation are critical to the success of any reproductive genetic carrier screening programme.

Aim

To explore healthcare practitioners' perceptions of the barriers and enablers to implementation.

Materials & Methods

We undertook a systematic review of the literature searching seven databases using health practitioner, screening and implementation terms returning 490 articles.

Results

Screening led to the inclusion of 26 articles for full‐text review. We found three interconnected themes relating to reproductive genetic carrier screening: (i) use and impact, (ii) practitioners' beliefs and expectations and (iii) resources.

Discussion

Barriers and enablers to implementation were present within each theme and grouping these determinants by (a) community for example lack of public interest, (b) practitioner for example lack of practitioner time and (c) organisation for example lack of effective metrics, reveals a preponderance of practitioner barriers and organisational enablers. Linking barriers with potential enablers leaves several barriers unresolved (e.g., costs for couples) implying additional interventions may be required.

Conclusion

Future research should draw on the findings from this study to develop and test strategies to facilitate appropriate offering of reproductive genetic carrier screening by healthcare practitioners.
Neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with isolated congenital diaphragmatic hernia: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Van der Veeken Lennart , Vergote Simen , Kunpalin Yada , Kristensen Karl , Deprest Jan , Bruschettini Matteo
Published: February 2021

Background: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) reportedly has neurologic consequences in childhood however little is known about the impact in isolated CDH.

Aims: Herein we aimed to describe the risk of neurodevelopmental complications in children born with isolated CDH.

Materials & Methods: We systematically reviewed literature for reports on the neurological outcome of infants born with isolated CDH. The primary outcome was neurodevelopmental delay. Secondary outcomes included, motor skills, intelligence, vision, hearing, language and behavior abnormalities.

Results: Thirteen out of 87 (15%) studies reported on isolated CDH, including 2624 out of 24,146 children. Neurodevelopmental delay was investigated in four studies and found to be present in 16% (3‐34%) of children. This was mainly attributed to motor problems in 13% (2‐30%), whereas cognitive dysfunction only in 5% (0‐20%) and hearing in 3% (1‐7%). One study assessed the effect of fetal surgery. When both isolated and non‐isolated children were included, these numbers were higher.

Discussion: This systematic review demonstrates that only a minority of studies focused on isolated CDH, with neurodevelopmental delay present in 16% of children born with CDH.

Conclusion: To accurately counsel patients, more research should focus on isolated CDH cases and examine children that underwent fetal surgery.
Influence of digoxin on mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation: Overview of systematic reviews
Authors: Baker William L. , Sobieraj Diana M. , DiDomenico Robert J.
Published: February 2021

Once a routine part of atrial fibrillation (AF) management, digoxin use has declined. Likely hastening this decline are findings from several studies and systematic reviews identifying a potential association between digoxin use and all‐cause mortality in AF populations. However, inconsistency exists within some of these studies potentially leading to confusion among clinicians. To critically evaluate the current literature to contextualize the associations between digoxin and mortality risk in patients with AF by performing an overview of systematic reviews. We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Database of Systematic Reviews, and SCOPUS from their earliest date through October 12, 2020, to identify systematic reviews (SRs) that included studies enrolling patients with AF or atrial flutter and evaluated the association between digoxin use and all‐cause mortality. We used the AMSTAR 2 tool to assess the risk of bias for each included SR. Results from reviews are qualitatively synthesized. Our search identified 10 SRs that met our inclusion criteria. Of the 41 unique AF studies included in these SRs, 41% were cohort studies, 29% were post hoc analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 15% were RCTs, and 15% were registry studies. Based on our AMSTAR 2 assessment, the overall confidence in the results of the 10 reviews was rated as “moderate” in three SRs, “low” in three SRs, and “critically low” in the rest. Except for one review, each included SR shows that digoxin use in AF is associated with a 15 to 38% higher risk of all‐cause mortality. This association may be greater when AF‐only populations are considered compared with a mix of AF and heart failure populations. Serum digoxin concentration (SDC) data were infrequently considered, but available data suggested a greater association between increasing SDC and all‐cause mortality. This overview of reviews found general consistency regarding the association between digoxin use and higher all‐cause mortality in AF populations. However, heterogeneity exists among and between SRs and an unmet need exists for additional study in a RCT setting with close monitoring and reporting of SDC to better inform clinical practice.
Electrocatalytic Hydrolysis‐Modulated Multistate Resistive Switching Behaviors in Memristors
Authors: Guo Tao , Sun Bai , Ranjan Shubham , Du Cheng , Joseph Kieffer Bryce , Philip Mills Joel , Tong Yongcheng , Wei Lan , Norman Zhou Y. , Wu Yimin A.
Published: February 2021

Current rapid development of big data, Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence require exponentially higher data storage capacity. The memristor technology, which stores data by controlling resistance states, demonstrates great prospects in resistive random‐access memory (RRAM), synapse construction, and neuromorphic computing. However, traditional memristor devices can only store 1‐bit of data by tuning two separate resistance states, which limits their storage density. Herein, a water‐coupled Ag/TiO2_few‐layer graphene_TiO2/Al memristor is developed as a multibit data storage system. The high and low resistance state ratio (HRS/LRS) increases from 5 to 44 when water is coupled in the device. An electrocatalytic hydrolysis‐modulated resistive switching mechanism is proposed for the physical phenomenon. Herein, not only a multilevel per cell (MLC) storage device is developed, but also a novel electrocatalysis coupling mechanism for memristor technology is provided.
Precipitation of TiS in Al–Ti Simultaneously Deoxidized Steel
Authors: Jin Pengliang , Shang Deli , Wang Guocheng , Xiao Yuanyou , Cao Lei
Published: February 2021

Herein, the precipitation of TiS in an Al–Ti simultaneously deoxidized steel is observed, and the results confirm the precipitation of single TiS, two‐layered oxide (Al2O3 or TiOx)–TiS composite, and three‐layered Al2O3–TiOx–TiS composite inclusions in the steel. Thermodynamic calculations reveal that TiS precipitated in the experimental steel during the solidification process when the solid fraction (xs) is 0.880. In addition, the precipitation of TiOx during solidification depends on the equilibrium partition of O. When the O content in steel is very low, TiS rather than TiOx is precipitated. In addition, the enrichment of O in the residual liquid steel results in the precipitation of TiOx during the solidification process. Oxide–TiS is formed by TiS precipitation on the surface of Al2O3 and TiOx precipitation in the liquid steel or at the initial stage of solidification. However, Al2O3–TiS is formed only in preformed solid steel with low oxygen content. The lattice misfit results suggest that it is easier to match TiS to TiO and TiO2, while the misfit of TiS(001)/bcc Fe(100) is 6.06.
Characterization of Pulsed Laser Welded Titanium Alloy and Stainless Steel Joint Using Nb as Interlayer
Authors: Zhang Yan , Zhou JianPing , Sun DaQian , Gu XiaoYan
Published: February 2021

Herein, Nb is used as an intermediate layer to assist the pulsed laser welding of titanium (Ti) alloy/stainless steel (SS), and the formation of brittle Ti–Fe intermetallics is prevented. Microstructures of the joints are analyzed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Mechanical properties of the joints are evaluated by tensile tests. The laser is concentrated on the side of the Ti alloy, and the formation of the Ti–Fe intermetallics is avoided due to the unmelted Nb. A eutectic reaction occurs at the Nb–SS interface to form a reaction layer. The width of the reaction layer increases as the heat input increases. Reasonable control of laser offset and laser current can keep the thickness of the Nb–Fe composite layer at a low level to obtain a small amount of Nb–Fe intermetallics, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the reaction layer.
Intraperitoneal administration of lidocaine or tramadol alone or in combination on postoperative pain after ovariohysterectomy in dogs
Authors: Farokhzad Behnam , Sabiza Soroush , Razi Jalali Mohammad , Baniadam Ali
Published: February 2021

The present prospective randomized experimental study aimed to assess the intraperitoneal (ip) administration of lidocaine or tramadol, alone or in combination, on postoperative pain management following ovariohysterectomy in dogs. Eighteen healthy female mixed‐breed dogs, aged 1–2 years, weighed 16.7 ± 3.8 kg, were used. Animals were sedated with acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg, intramuscular). Forty minutes later, anaesthesia was induced through intravenous titration with diazepam (0.5 mg/kg) and ketamine (10 mg/kg) and maintained with isoflurane 1.5%. Afterwards, ovariohysterectomy was performed, and prior to the closure of the linea alba, animals received lidocaine containing epinephrine (8.8 mg/kg, ip) in group L, tramadol (4 mg/kg, ip) in group T and lidocaine containing epinephrine (8.8 mg/kg, ip) plus tramadol (4 mg/kg, ip) in the LT group. Cortisol, vital signs and pain scoring systems were evaluated at different time points. Vital signs did not change among the groups. Cortisol level in the LT group significantly decreased compared to the L and T groups one, three and six hours after surgery. Pain scores also did not change among the groups based on Sammarco and Simple descriptive (SDS) scoring method. However, pain scores in the LT group were higher than the two other groups according to the University of Melbourne pain scale (UMPS) and the short form of Glasgow pain scale (CMPS‐SF). According to the obtained results, the combination of lidocaine and tramadol seemed to be able to provide better analgesia compared with their separate administration. Therefore, combined intraperitoneal administration of lidocaine (8.8 mg/kg) and tramadol (4 mg/kg) with a final volume of (0.2 ml/kg) following ovariohysterectomy is recommended.
Effect of filling ratio and backwash on performance of a continuous‐flow SPD reactor packed with PCL as carbon source
Authors: Zhang Shiyang , He Xin , Prodanovic Veljko , Zhang Kefeng
Published: February 2021

In this study, three up‐flow fixed‐bed bioreactors, named as A, B, and C, packed with polycaprolactone (PCL) under different filling ratios (31%, 62%, and 93%, respectively), were investigated over a long period (96 days). During the stable period, the mean effluent
concentrations in reactors A, B, and C were 1.35 ± 0.50, 1.07 ± 0.41, and 1.03 ± 0.27 mg/L, respectively, which showed the removal of
was not closely related to filling ratio (p > 0.05, one‐way ANOVA). However, it was found that biomass in reactor A was 2.13 and 5.55 times in B and C, respectively. Excessively thick biofilm refrained the enzymatic hydrolysis of PCL and biofilm's specific denitrification rate (SDNR). Backwash stimulated organic matter release and enabled biofilm to restore its denitrification activity. The maximum cycle of backwash was 6 days for the lowest filling ratio reactor. Additionally, the utilization rates for denitrification were 83.3%, 86.4%, and 60.5% in reactors A, B, and C, respectively, which was higher after backwash than before backwash.

Practitioner points

Excessively thick biofilm refrained the enzymatic hydrolysis of PCL.

Backwash stimulated organic matter release and enabled biofilm to restore its denitrification activity.

The maximum cycle of backwash was 6 days for the lowest filling ratio reactor.

A higher utilization rate of PCL for denitrification was observed after backwash.
Dispersion of InPZnS/ZnSe/ZnS multishell quantum dots (QDs) in water: extension to QDs with different core sizes and identical shell thickness
Authors: Heyne Benjamin , Geßner André , Wedel Armin , Taubert Andreas
Published: February 2021

We have previously shown (Nanomaterials, 2020, 10 (9), 1858) that InPZnS/ZnSe/ZnS multishell quantum dots (QDs) with a variety of shell thicknesses can be dispersed in water using a ligand exchange reaction with mercaptocarboxylic acids. Here, we demonstrate that the concept can further be extended to a larger variety of QD core sizes while keeping the shell thickness constant. The photoluminescence quantum yield of the QDs in the aqueous phase depends on the QD size and the QDs only show a slight red‐shift upon dispersion in water. This provides access to a larger group of particles with different emission colors, which is interesting for application in e. g. biological or medical diagnostics.
Menace and Mitigation of Health and Environmental Hazards of Charcoal Production in Nigeria
Authors: Eniola Philip Olanrewaju
Published: February 2021

The use of biomass and biofuels, such as wood, charcoal, petroleum, kerosene, and gas, is becoming competitive based on the level of development of each nation. However, charcoal production (CP) and marketing now tends to be a major business among many households in both rural and urban communities with no consideration of its effects on climate change adaptation. While the research question considers the various definition of climate change adaptation, and the importance of charcoal production in Nigeria, the manuscript speaks mainly of the problems of charcoal production, the lack of planning to address these problems, and the lack of planning to move the communities away from this practice and out of poverty. It addresses the impacts of charcoal production on agriculture, such as lack or loss of labor and destruction of arable lands. The paper discusses the effect of charcoal production on health. Also, the environmental problems of CP are highlighted in the manuscript. The policy frameworks on forestry by the Federal Ministry of Environment 2006 with its flaws will be included. Remedy such as the establishment of a Land Use Planning Agency (LUPAG) and panacea for greening the charcoal value chain issues will be discussed. Lastly, attention is given to the agricultural adaptation strategies to climate change which are capable of reducing charcoal production, such as mixed cropping.
Alveolar bone heights of maxillary central incisors in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients using cone-beam computed tomography evaluation
Authors: Stasiak Marcin , Wojtaszek-Słomińska Anna , Racka-Pilszak Bogna
Published: February 2021

Purpose

The aims of this retrospective cross-sectional study were to measure and compare labial and palatal alveolar bone heights of maxillary central incisors in unilateral cleft lip and palate patients, following STROBE (Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines.

Patients and methods

The study group consisted of 21 patients with a mean age of 16 years. High-resolution cone-beam computed tomography was performed at least one year after secondary alveolar bone grafting. The experimental side was the cleft side and the contralateral side without congenital cleft was the control. Measurements were performed on incisors’ midsagittal cross-sections. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used for intergroup comparisons.

Results

The labial and palatal distances between alveolar bone crests and cementoenamel junctions were significantly greater on the cleft side than on the noncleft side. Mean differences were 0.75 and 1.41 mm, respectively. The prevalence of dehiscences at the cleft side maxillary central incisors was 52% on the labial surface and 43% on the palatal surface. In the controls, it was 19% and 14%, respectively.

Conclusion

The cleft-adjacent maxillary central incisors had more apically displaced alveolar bone crests on the labial and palatal sides of the roots than the controls. Higher prevalence of dehiscences was found on the cleft side. Bone margin differences predispose to gingival height differences of the central incisors. These differences could increase the demands of patients to obtain more esthetic treatment results with orthodontic extrusion and periodontal intervention on the cleft side.