bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Core/Shell Quantum Dots Solar Cells
Authors: Selopal Gurpreet Singh , Zhao Haiguang , Wang Zhiming M. , Rosei Federico
Published: February 2020

Semiconductor nanocrystals, the so‐called quantum dots (QDs), exhibit versatile optical and electrical properties. However, QDs possess high density of surface defects/traps due to the high surface‐to‐volume ratio, which act as nonradiative carrier recombination centers within the QDs, thereby deteriorating the overall solar cell performance. The surface passivation of QDs through the growth of an outer shell of different materials/compositions called “core/shell QDs” has proven to be an effective approach to reduce the surface defects and confinement potential, which can enable the broadening of the absorption spectrum, accelerate the carrier transfer, and reduce exciton recombination loss. Here, the recent research developments in the tailoring of the structure of core/shell QDs to tune exciton dynamics so as to improve solar cell performance are summarized. The role of band alignment of core and shell materials, core size, shell thickness/compositions, and interface engineering of core/thick shell called “giant” QDs on electron–hole spatial separation, carrier transport, and confinement potential, before and after grafting on the carrier scavengers (semiconductor/electrolyte), is described. Then, the solar cell performance based on core/shell QDs is introduced. Finally, an outlook for the rational design of core/shell QDs is provided, which can further promote the development of high‐efficiency and stable QD sensitized solar cells.
Cu–Cu2O Heterogeneous Architecture for the Enhanced CO Catalytic Oxidation
Authors: Ma Bo , Kong Chuncai , Lv Jian , Zhang Xiaojing , Yang Sen , Yang Tao , Yang Zhimao
Published: February 2020

Heterogeneous architecture of Cu2O‐based composite has exhibited beneficial effort in the CO oxidation, due to the low cost and the multiple oxidation states. In this work, Cu–Cu2O heterogeneous particles (HPs) comprising uniformly distributed Cu nanoparticles anchored on the Cu2O surface are synthesized by in situ reduction reaction. Comparing with the pure Cu2O particles, Cu–Cu2O HPs exhibit enhanced and stable catalytic performance during CO oxidation. Moreover, both the transformation of interface and the role of loaded Cu nanoparticle at a molecular level are investigated to analyze the promotion, suggesting that the surface of Cu–Cu2O HPs can be spontaneously oxidized to a composite interface during the CO oxidation. The density functional theory (DFT) simulations indicate that due to loaded Cu nanoparticles, the heterogeneous architecture promotes the catalytic reaction under both the Eley–Rideal mechanism as well as Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism. As a result, the composite interface and loaded Cu nanoparticles together play the synergistic effect of enhanced CO oxidation.
Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair versus open mesh plug repair for bilateral primary inguinal hernia
Authors: Takayama Yuichi , Kaneoka Yuji , Maeda Atsuyuki , Takahashi Takamasa , Uji Masahito
Published: February 2020

Aim

A few studies comparing laparoscopic and open techniques have reported that open repair with mesh is the optimal operation for unilateral primary hernia. The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) versus open mesh plug repair (MP) for bilateral primary inguinal hernia.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 107 patients with bilateral primary inguinal hernia between January 2008 and December 2016. Of these patients, 49 underwent TAPP and 58 underwent MP. The surgical outcomes and the long‐term outcomes using a questionnaire were compared between TAPP and MP.

Results

In the TAPP group, the operation time was significantly longer (103 vs 91 minutes; P = .019). The postoperative complication rate was not significantly different between the two groups. One patient (1.0%) in the TAPP group and five patients (4.3%) in the MP group suffered recurrence (P = .30). Postoperative groin pain was not significantly different (14% in the TAPP group vs 31% in the MP group; P = .065), but more patients required analgesics in the MP group (4.1% vs 17%; P = .036). The long‐term outcomes, according to a questionnaire, were not significantly different between the two groups. The median follow‐up period was 22 (range, 0.4‐52) months in the TAPP group and 40 (range, 0.5‐108) months in the MP group (P < .001).

Conclusion

TAPP for bilateral primary inguinal hernia achieved better results than MP relative to postoperative pain and the use of medication for pain relief without increasing the complication and recurrence rates.
Genotype‐phenotype correlation and molecular heterogeneity in pyruvate kinase deficiency
Authors: Bianchi Paola , Fermo Elisa , Lezon‐Geyda Kimberly , van Beers Eduard J. , Morton Holmes D. , Barcellini Wilma , Glader Bertil , Chonat Satheesh , Ravindranath Yaddanapudi , Newburger Peter E. , Kollmar Nina , Despotovic Jenny M. , Verhovsek Madeleine , Sharma Mukta , Kwiatkowski Janet L. , Kuo Kevin H. M. , Wlodarski Marcin W. , Yaish Hassan M. , Holzhauer Susanne , Wang Heng , Kunz Joachim , Addonizio Kathryn , Al‐Sayegh Hasan , London Wendy B. , Andres Oliver , van Wijk Richard , Gallagher Patrick G. , Grace Rachael F. F.
Published: February 2020

Pyruvate kinase (PK) deficiency is a rare recessive congenital hemolytic anemia caused by mutations in the PKLR gene. This study reports the molecular features of 257 patients enrolled in the PKD Natural History Study. Of the 127 different pathogenic variants detected, 84 were missense and 43 non‐missense, including 20 stop‐gain, 11 affecting splicing, five large deletions, four in‐frame indels, and three promoter variants. Within the 177 unrelated patients, 35 were homozygous and 142 compound heterozygous (77 for two missense, 48 for one missense and one non‐missense, and 17 for two non‐missense variants); the two most frequent mutations were p.R510Q in 23% and p.R486W in 9% of mutated alleles. Fifty‐five (21%) patients were found to have at least one previously unreported variant with 45 newly described mutations. Patients with two non‐missense mutations had lower hemoglobin levels, higher numbers of lifetime transfusions, and higher rates of complications including iron overload, extramedullary hematopoiesis, and pulmonary hypertension. Rare severe complications, including lower extremity ulcerations and hepatic failure, were seen more frequently in patients with non‐missense mutations or with missense mutations characterized by severe protein instability. The PKLR genotype did not correlate with the frequency of complications in utero or in the newborn period. With ICCs ranging from 0.4 to 0.61, about the same degree of clinical similarity exists within siblings as it does between siblings, in terms of hemoglobin, total bilirubin, splenectomy status, and cholecystectomy status. Pregnancy outcomes were similar across genotypes in PK deficient women. This report confirms the wide genetic heterogeneity of PK deficiency.
Chiral Spirocyclic Phosphoric Acid‐Catalyzed Synthesis of 4‐Alkyl‐3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2(1H)‐one Derivatives by Asymmetric Biginelli Reactions
Authors: Guo Yongbiao , Gao Zhenhua , Wang Kang , Li Junchen , Bi Xiaojing , Guo Lei , Liu Haibo , Shi Enxue , Xiao Junhua
Published: February 2020

A chiral spirocyclic phosphoric acid‐catalyzed asymmetric Biginelli reaction based on aliphatic aldehydes has been realized for the synthesis of biologically important and synthetically useful 4‐alkyl‐3,4‐dihydropyrimidin‐2‐(1H)‐one (4‐alkyl−DHPM) skeletons in good yield and with high levels of enantioinduction. The utility of this transformation was further demonstrated by direct thionation and C−C/C−N bond construction to provide a series of 4‐alkyl−DHPMs derivatives without any loss of optical activity, providing streamlined access to the formal synthesis of Batzelladine A.
Development of a noble aluminum‐pigmented metallic polymer: Recommendations for visible flow and weld line mitigation
Authors: Lim Jung Seop , Ban Soo Hyung , Kim Dong Sup , Kwon Kwang Yeol , Lee Sang Hoon , Lim Jong Kwan , Cho Sung Hwan
Published: February 2020

We investigated the appearance of flow and weld lines when metallic pigments are used in polymer blends and how such lines can be eliminated by improving the pigment particle shape and optimizing pigment loading. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer and two types of aluminum flakes, lamellar and three‐dimensional (3D), were blended in a twin‐screw extruder with a screw diameter of 25 mm. The temperatures from the hopper to the nozzle were 140, 180, 220, 220, 220, 220, and 220°C. Weld and flow lines were observed using field‐emission scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy of specially manufactured injection specimens. In the flow line region, traditional lamellar flakes were randomly oriented, while 3D flakes exhibited a distinct and stable orientation. Based on these observations, flow and weld lines in a finished metal/polymer blend can be minimized by using 3D metal particles in place of lamellar flakes. We also investigated the effects of aluminum flake loading on weld and flow line visibility. At low loading, weld lines were clearly visible due to the lack of pigmentation in the front of the polymer flow. Conversely, high loading resulted in relatively high concentrations of pigment near the weld line area, reducing weld line visibility. These findings suggest that there is an optimum metal loading level where the visibility of flow and weld lines is minimized.
Solution‐blow spun PLA/SiO2 nanofiber membranes toward high efficiency oil/water separation
Authors: Ye Beirong , Jia Chao , Li Ziwei , Li Lei , Zhao Qiang , Wang Jinshu , Wu Hui
Published: February 2020

With the ever frequent of industrial organic solvent emissions and oil spillages, the development of high efficiency oil/water separation materials has attracted extensive attention. Here, PLA‐based nanofiber membranes modified with metal oxides (SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, and CeO2) are fabricated through blow spinning the mixed solution of polylactic acid (PLA) and metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs). Results shows that the addition of SiO2 NPs significantly increases the hydrophobicity of the membranes, while maintaining the excellent superoleophilicity. The PLA/SiO2 nanofiber membranes demonstrate a higher separation performance than pure PLA, PLA/TiO2, PLA/Al2O3, and PLA/CeO2 nanofiber membranes with high separation efficiency (~100%) and permeation flux (17,800 L m−2 h−1 for n‐heptane), as well as prominent oil adsorption capacity (19.9 g/g for n‐hexane). The successful fabrication of metal oxides modified PLA nanofiber membranes with high separation and adsorption ability, and excellent durability hold great application potential in the field of oily wastewater treatment.
Investigations on the internal curing process and mechanical properties of winding composite considering the structure of plant fiber
Authors: Liu Meijun , Xu Jiazhong , Fu Tianyu , Yang Hai , Cheng Haitao , Wang Ge
Published: February 2020

In this study, the equivalent heat conduction model and internal curing process optimization model of the composite material based on the cavity and twisting structure of the plant fiber were established. Also, the effects of temperature, the volume fraction of the plant fiber cavity and twist on the temperature field, curing degree, and curing deformation during the internal curing process of the jute fiber winding composite pipe were analyzed. The accuracy of process simulation was verified by the internal curing experiment based on electromagnetic heating and was combined with using the microstructure test and tensile strength test of the NOL ring. However, in the case of twisted fiber, an extreme effect on the mechanical properties of the composite was noted.
LINC00961 inhibits the migration and invasion of colon cancer cells by sponging miR‐223‐3p and targeting SOX11
Authors: Wu Haixia , Dai Yuedi , Zhang Dexiang , Zhang Xiaoyu , He Zhiyun , Xie Xiaojun , Cai Chudong
Published: February 2020

Long noncoding RNAs play essential roles in colon cancer tumorigenesis. This study aimed to explore the potential function and molecular mechanisms of LINC00961 in colon cancer. qPCR results showed that LINC00961 was downregulated in colon cancer cells and tissues. Functional assays demonstrated that LINC00961 suppressed the migration and invasion of colon cancer cells in vitro. LINC00961 functioned as an endogenous sponge for miR‐223‐3p in colon cancer cells. SOX11 was confirmed as a target gene of miR‐223‐3p. The effect of miR‐223‐3p on colon cancer cells was then investigated. MiR‐223‐3p inhibition enhanced their migration and invasion. The effect of SOX11 on colon cancer cells was studied. SOX11 overexpression inhibited the invasion of colon cancer cells. LINC00961 acted as an anti‐oncogene and upregulated SOX11 expression by functioning as a miR‐223‐3p sponge. This research revealed the molecular mechanism of LINC00961 in colon cancer. LINC00961 might act as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for further clinical treatments.
Localized bullous pemphigoid: Four clinical cases and a literature review
Authors: Algoet Chloe , Mostinckx Sabine , Theate Ivan , Vanhooteghem Olivier
Published: February 2020

Localized bullous pemphigoid (LBP) rarely evolves into the generalized form, and the prognosis is better. In our opinion, the occurrence of LBP is underestimated because of incorrect diagnoses. It is therefore important to perform a skin biopsy each time a bullous rash is concerned in order to make a definite diagnosis.
Surgical treatment of peroneal calcific tendinitis in an uncommon localization: A case report
Authors: Taha Anas , Adamonis Saulius , Taha‐Mehlitz Stephanie , Maurer Andreas
Published: February 2020

Calcific tendinitis is a common pathology in the shoulder but is uncommon in the peroneus longus tendon, which is considered when patient presents with a palpable tenderness without signs of inflammation. Differential diagnosis is important, as the condition is often overlooked. Conservative treatment has proven successful, though surgery might be an alternative.
Facile Synthesis of Nanoporous Transition Metal‐Based Phosphates for Oxygen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Bhanja Piyali , Kim Yena , Paul Bappi , Lin Jianjian , Alshehri Saad M. , Ahamad Tansir , Kaneti Yusuf Valentino , Bhaumik Asim , Yamauchi Yusuke
Published: February 2020

Due to unique structural porosity, low‐cost, and good catalytic activity, oxygen evolution reactions over 3d transition elements have gained immense attention in recent years. Herein, we report the fabrication of three different metal phosphates, e. g. Co‐phosphate (CoPO), Ni‐phosphate (NiPO), and Ni−Co‐phosphate (NiCoPO) using the corresponding metal sources and phosphoric acid as a phosphorus source under hydrothermal conditions without using any structure‐directing agent. Since the as‐prepared metal‐based phosphates exhibit high surface area with good interparticle porosity and contain transition metals in the material frameworks, these materials have been investigated for electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Among the three metal phosphates, the as‐synthesized CoPO catalyst shows efficient electrocatalytic activity toward OER, with an overpotential of 350 mV at 10 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH solution and a relatively low Tafel slope of 60.7 mV dec−1. The good electrocatalytic performance of CoPO is attributed to its higher specific surface area and pore volume compared to other two catalysts. The CoPO‐modified electrode also shows a high stability up to 15 h at a constant potential of 1.58 V, suggesting its promising future for OER catalysis.
Photoelectrochemical Sensing of Hydrogen Peroxide on Hematite
Authors: Saada Hiba , Abdallah Rawa , Bergamini Jean‐François , Fryars Stéphanie , Dorcet Vincent , Joanny Loic , Gouttefangeas Francis , Ollivier Sophie , Loget Gabriel
Published: February 2020

Due to its abundance and chemical stability, hematite (α‐Fe2O3) is a promising n‐type semiconductor photoelectrode. This is particularly true in the frame of the rapidly developing area of photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing, where the short excited‐state lifetime and the small carrier diffusion length of hematite can be beneficially employed. On the other hand, H2O2 is an essential molecule for biological, environmental and industrial applications. In this article, we report a simple method to prepare photoelectroactive hematite layers on fluorine‐doped SnO2 (FTO) and we use these surfaces for H2O2 PEC sensing. The so‐created sensors allow to reliably detect H2O2 down to a sub‐μM concentration with a large linear range and a good reusability.
Quantification of the Interaction of SmI2 with Substrates and Ligands
Authors: De Suranjan , Gottlieb Hugo E. , Hoz Shmaryahu
Published: February 2020

The method developed and introduced here enables for the first time (to the authors’ knowledge), a quantitative assessment of the interaction of SmI2 with substrates prior to the electron transfer stage. As a proof of concept, equilibrium constants for some model substrates including carbonyl compounds and aromatic nuclei are reported here. In addition, the first equilibrium constants with some common ligands were also determined. The equilibrium constants range from approximately 0.07 m−1 for diisopropyl ketone to 2500 m−1 for hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA). It is shown that the data acquired by this method, which is based on the concept of shift reagents, can shed light on the most intimate details of the reaction mechanism, and this method is a useful tool for planning a synthetic process.
Alkylation of γ‐Azaproline Creates Conformationally Adaptable Proline Derivatives for pH‐Responsive Collagen Triple Helices
Authors: Aronoff Matthew R. , Egli Jasmine , Schmitt Adeline , Wennemers Helma
Published: February 2020

Cγ‐substituted proline derivatives are valuable tools for developing functionalized collagen peptides for biological and materials investigations, yet the stereochemistry at Cγ can produce undesired steric or stereoelectronic constraints. Alkylated γ‐azaproline (γ‐azPro) derivatives are proline mimetics that lack a stereogenic center at the γ‐position of the ring and can thus utilize the invertibility of nitrogen to adapt their conformation. NMR spectroscopic analyses and DFT calculations highlighted how alkylated γ‐azPro derivatives are conformationally dynamic and adopt conformational preferences through ring pucker flip along with nitrogen inversion. Lastly, incorporation of alkylated γ‐azPro into collagen peptides produced functionalized pH‐responsive triple helices with similar thermal stabilities, regardless of their placement in the Xaa or Yaa position within the characteristic Xaa‐Yaa‐Gly repeating unit of collagen peptides.
Implementation and assessment of an extended hydrogenic molecular model in UEDGE
Authors: Holm A. , Rognlien T.D. , Meyer W.H.
Published: February 2020

Two sets of pure deuterium plasmas are simulated using UEDGE, one including atoms and molecules and the other including atoms only as separate fluid species. Simulation results in one and two dimensions are reported to assess the role of molecules in tokamak plasmas. It is shown that thermal coupling of the molecules to the plasma can be relevant for the onset of detachment under highly collisional conditions in simple geometries, but play a modest role at low collisionality. Ion‐molecule equipartition presents an additional ion energy loss channel, dissipating ion energy that would otherwise heat the electrons by equipartition. The resulting reduced electron temperature increases the ion‐electron recombination by an order of magnitude as the plasma density is increased, yielding earlier and deeper detachment.
Pediatric neuroblastic tumors: A critical evaluation of cytomorphological features for risk stratification on aspiration cytology
Authors: Behera Gayatri , Chhabra Gaurav , Mishra Pritinanda , Sable Mukund
Published: February 2020

Background

Neuroblastic tumor (NT) is the most common extracranial solid tumor of childhood with variable outcome which again depends on risk stratification related to distinct biology of the tumor. The use of fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) material for evaluation of cytomorphological parameters and risk stratification in NTs using cytology prognostic score (PS) is limited in routine practice.

Methods

We reviewed 38 FNA cytology cases diagnosed as pediatric small round cell tumor between time period June 2017 to December 2019 for clinical, cytomorphological and immunohistochemical features.

Results

Ten out of 38 small round cell tumors were NTs. All 10 cases were further subclassified according to International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification into undifferentiated neuroblastoma (n = 1), poorly differentiated neuroblastoma (n = 5), differentiating neuroblastoma (n = 2), and ganglioneuroblastoma (n = 2). Cytologic PS was done using the morphological criteria as described previously in literature. The patients were divided into favorable and unfavorable cytomorphological prognostic categories with a cut off scoring of 12. A score of more than 12 is associated with high risk morphology and advanced stage. All cases with PS > 12 (n‐4) (unfavorable cytomorphology) had a poor outcome compared to six patients with PS < 12 (n‐6) (favorable cytomorphology).

Conclusion

Aspiration cytology can be used as a first line investigation to evaluate the cytomorphological features for risk stratification and diagnosis in patients with NTs using cytological prognostic scoring system. A larger multi‐centric validation study necessitates for cytological risk stratification.
Association of ELMO1 gene polymorphism and diabetic nephropathy among Egyptian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Bayoumy Nervana M. K. , El‐Shabrawi Mohamed M. , Leheta Ola F. , Abo El‐Ela Alaa El‐Din M. , Omar Hamdy H.
Published: February 2020

Background and Objective

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common cause of end stage renal failure or even death among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Genetic predisposition is widely studied among these patients to identify manageable aspects of the disease pathogenesis. This study was carried out to test the association of engulfment and cell motility 1 (ELMO1) gene polymorphism with DN among Egyptians. ELMO1 is required for phagocytosis of apoptotic cells and cell motility.

Methods

This case‐control study was conducted on type 2 diabetic patients who attended Suez Canal University Hospital, Egypt, between November 2016 and October 2017. Peripheral blood was collected from 200 diabetic patients (without nephropathy), 200 patients with DN, and 100 healthy controls for DNA extraction. The single nucleotide polymorphism of ELMO1 (rs741301) was genotyped using real‐time polymerase chain reaction and the allele discrimination technique.

Results

GG genotype was significantly associated with DN (odds ratio [OR] = 2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4‐5.3) (P = .016). The OR for the high‐risk allele (G) was 1.9 with 95% CI from 1.5 to 2.9 (P < .001).

Conclusion

ELMO1 gene (rs741301) polymorphism is a candidate variant in the predisposition to DN.
Decoding and word recognition in English as a native and a foreign language in students with and without dyslexia (English vs. Polish students)
Authors: Łockiewicz Marta , Jaskulska Martyna , Fawcett Angela
Published: February 2020

We aimed to investigate the relationship between reading difficulties in native language (NL: Polish) and English as a foreign language in dyslexia in English and Polish students, respectively, and to develop a model of relations between NL phonological awareness, rapid automatized naming, verbal short‐term memory, and reading in English. Thirteen English students with dyslexia (ED), 15 without (END) and 16 Polish students with dyslexia (PD) and 16 without (PND) participated. We found that dyslexic deficits and different phoneme‐to‐grapheme correspondence rules between Polish and English interfered with the accuracy and fluency of word and nonword decoding and word recognition. Whereas END scored higher than PD and PND in all reading measures, ED did not, despite a NL advantage. When compared with PND, ED performed equal in nonword decoding, which depends to a higher degree on phoneme‐to‐grapheme conversion rather than lexical access. When compared with PD, ED performed equally in nonword fluency, which is most likely a nonscript‐dependant skill. More variance in reading was explained by NL than FL factors, even if analogical NL/FL skills predicted a given variable. While in ED and END, these relationships agreed with the literature; in PD and PND, NL phonological awareness was not beneficial for English as a foreign language reading.
Burning savanna for avian species richness and functional diversity
Authors: Docherty Teegan D. S. , Hethcoat Matthew G. , MacTavish Lynne M. , MacTavish Dougal , Dell Stephen , Stephens Philip A. , Willis Stephen G.
Published: February 2020

Prescribed fire is used throughout fire‐prone landscapes to conserve biodiversity. Current best practice in managing savanna systems advocates methods based on the assumption that increased fire‐mediated landscape heterogeneity (pyrodiversity) will promote biodiversity. However, considerable knowledge gaps remain in our understanding of how savanna wildlife responds to the composition and configuration of pyrodiverse landscapes. The effects of pyrodiversity on functional diversity have rarely been quantified and assessing this relationship at a landscape scale that is commensurate with fire management is important for understanding mechanisms underlying ecosystem resilience. Here, we assess the impact of spatiotemporal variation in a long‐term fire regime on avian diversity in North West Province, South Africa. We examined the relationship between (1) species richness, (2) three indices of functional diversity (i.e., functional richness, functional evenness, and functional dispersion) and four measures of pyrodiversity, the spatial extents of fire age classes, and habitat type at the landscape scale. We then used null models to assess differences between observed and expected functional diversity. We found that the proportion of newly burned (<1‐yr post‐fire), old, unburned (≥10 yr post‐fire), and woodland habitat on the landscape predicted species and functional richness. Species richness also increased with the degree of edge contrast between patches of varying fire age, while functional dispersion increased with the degree of patch shape complexity. Lower than expected levels of functional richness suggest that habitat filtering is occurring, resulting in functional redundancy across our study sites. We demonstrate that evaluating functional diversity and redundancy is an important component of conservation planning as they may contribute to previously reported fire resilience. Our findings suggest that it is the type and configuration, rather than the diversity, of fire patches on the landscape that promote avian diversity and conserve ecological functions. A management approach is needed that includes significant coverage of adjacent newly burned and older, unburned savanna habitat; the latter, in particular, is inadequately represented under current burning practices.
Suicide attempts requiring hospitalization in patients with eating disorders: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Cliffe Charlotte , Shetty Hitesh , Himmerich Hubertus , Schmidt Ulrike , Stewart Robert , Dutta Rina
Published: February 2020

Objective

Suicide attempts requiring hospitalization are known to be common in patients who are diagnosed with eating disorders. Attempting suicide is a major indicator for those at risk of completed suicide. Both the specific eating disorder diagnosis and the influence of psychiatric comorbidities on suicide attempts requiring hospitalization were investigated, with demographic and socioeconomic variables as confounders, over a 10‐year observation period from January 2007 to March 2017.

Methods

Anonymized health‐record data from the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM) were retrieved through the Clinical Record Interactive Search (CRIS) data resource; this is linked to national Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data. These data include all diagnoses for inpatient admissions. Hazard ratios, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), were calculated from cox regression analyses and the effects of a number of confounders were estimated by performing multivariable analyses.

Results

In total, 4,895 patients were diagnosed with anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), or eating disorder otherwise not specified (EDNOS). Of these, 331 (6.7%) had attempted suicide requiring hospitalization and 21 (0.04%) completed suicide. The eating disorder category associated with the highest risk of a suicide attempt was AN (HR: 1.43, 95%CI: 1.08–1.89, p = .01). The risk was significantly increased further if the patient had a comorbid diagnosis of personality disorder, depression, bipolar affective disorder, and substance misuse.

Discussion

Suicide attempts requiring hospitalization have a high incidence rate among patients with eating disorders, and the risk is significantly increased in AN. Comorbid psychiatric illness and suicidal ideation should be carefully assessed in all eating disorder patients.
Estimating effective population size using RADseq: Effects of SNP selection and sample size
Authors: Marandel Florianne , Charrier Grégory , Lamy Jean‐Baptiste , Le Cam Sabrina , Lorance Pascal , Trenkel Verena M.
Published: February 2020

Effective population size (Ne) is a key parameter of population genetics. However, Ne remains challenging to estimate for natural populations as several factors are likely to bias estimates. These factors include sampling design, sequencing method, and data filtering. One issue inherent to the restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) protocol is missing data and SNP selection criteria (e.g., minimum minor allele frequency, number of SNPs). To evaluate the potential impact of SNP selection criteria on Ne estimates (Linkage Disequilibrium method) we used RADseq data for a nonmodel species, the thornback ray. In this data set, the inbreeding coefficient FIS was positively correlated with the amount of missing data, implying data were missing nonrandomly. The precision of Neestimates decreased with the number of SNPs. Mean Ne estimates (averaged across 50 random data sets with2000 SNPs) ranged between 237 and 1784. Increasing the percentage of missing data from 25% to 50% increased Ne estimates between 82% and 120%, while increasing the minor allele frequency (MAF) threshold from 0.01 to 0.1 decreased estimates between 71% and 75%. Considering these effects is important when interpreting RADseq data‐derived estimates of effective population size in empirical studies.
Behavioral plasticity mitigates the effect of warming on white‐tailed deer
Authors: Wolff Carter L. , Demarais Stephen , Brooks Christopher P. , Barton Brandon T.
Published: February 2020

Climate change is expected to create novel environments in which extant species cannot persist, therefore leading to the loss of them and their associated ecological functions within the ecosystem. However, animals may employ behavioral mechanisms in response to warming that could allow them to maintain their functional roles in an ecosystem despite changed temperatures. Specifically, animals may shift their activity in space or time to make use of thermal heterogeneity on the landscape. However, few studies consider the role of behavioral plasticity and spatial or temporal heterogeneity in mitigating the effects of climate change. We conducted experiments to evaluate the potential importance of behavior in mediating the net effects of warming on white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We used shade structures to manipulate the thermal environment around feeding stations to monitor deer feeding activity and measure total consumption. In individual experiments where deer only had access to unshaded feeders, deer fed less during the day but compensated by increasing feeding during times when temperature was lower. In group experiments where deer had access to both shaded and unshaded feeders, deer often fed during the day but disproportionally preferred the cooler, shaded feeders. Our results suggest that deer can capitalize on temporal and spatial heterogeneity in the thermal environment to meet nutritional and thermal requirements, demonstrating the importance of behavioral plasticity when predicting the net effects of climate change.
An edge computing‐based predictive evaluation scheme toward geological drilling data using long short‐term memory network
Authors: Yin Junluo , Luo Xiong , Zhu Yueqin , Wang Weiping , Wang Long , Huang Chao , Wang Jenq‐Haur
Published: February 2020

Edge computing has been identified as one of the new computing paradigms, while improving service response performance and reliability in cloud computing environment. Meanwhile, there has been a tremendous surge of interest in the study of analyzing geological data. Given the success of edging computing in some industrial applications, it is also expected that it can be applied in this field, with the ever‐increasing demand for effectively achieving mineral exploration. Then, a novel application is accordingly developed in this article, through the combination of edge computing devices and geological data analysis model. Specifically, on the basis of multiple drilling data in the mine, a predictive evaluation scheme is proposed. After preprocessing the complex original data and analyzing the relationship between mineral composition content change and depth, the long short‐term memory (LSTM) as a recurrent neural network in the field of deep learning, is used to model certain mineral components, due to the satisfactory performance of LSTM in addressing time series data. Moreover, an evolutionary computing method, that is, the particle swarm optimization algorithm, is also incorporated into our scheme to optimize some key parameters, in an effort to further improve the computational performance. Finally, in edge computing environment our scheme is deployed on a typical edge device, that is, the Raspberry Pi, to achieve mineral exploration in a more efficient manner, while avoiding the limitation of resource concentration. The experimental results show that our edge computing‐based predictive evaluation scheme can effectively improve the performance in analyzing geological drilling data.
An endoscopic anatomical study of the levator veli palatini and its relationship to the parapharyngeal internal carotid artery
Authors: Xu Xinni , Ong Yew Kwang
Published: February 2020

Background

The objectives of this study are to describe the levator veli palatini (LVP) as a landmark for the parapharyngeal internal carotid artery (pICA) and the endoscopic course of the pICA.

Methods

Cadaver dissection and illustrative case study.

Results

Seven cadaveric heads (12 sides) were dissected. In all 12 sides, the LVP was consistently located between the Eustachian tube and the pICA near the skull base, making the LVP just anterior to and the closest structure to the pICA. The distance between the pICA and the nares ranged from 9.0 to 12.7 cm. The distance between the pICA and the midpoint of the nasopharynx ranged from 1.9 to 3.7 cm. The case study illustrated the applicability of these findings.

Conclusion

The LVP is a reliable and precise landmark for the pICA. A safe working distance to the pICA is 1.9 cm from the midpoint of the nasopharynx and 9.0 cm from the nares.
Vocal emotion expressions in infant‐directed singing: The impact of war trauma and maternal mental health and the consequences on infant development
Authors: Punamäki Raija‐Leena , Vänskä Mervi , Quota Samir R. , Perko Kaisa , Diab Safwat Y.
Published: February 2020

Maternal singing is considered vital to infant well‐being. This study focuses on vocal emotion expressions in infant‐directed singing among mothers in war conditions. It examines the questions: (a) how traumatic war events and mental health problems are associated with the content and valence of vocal emotion expressions and (b) how these emotion expressions are associated with infant development. The vocal material consists of songs sung by 50 Palestinian mothers who participated at delivery (T1) as well as when their infants were 6 (T2) and 18 (T3) months of age. These mothers reported traumatic war events (T1); depressive and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (T2–T3); and infants' emotional, sensorimotor, and cognitive development (T2–T3). Student judges evaluated the valence and content of vocal emotion expressions in maternal infant‐directed singing (playfulness‐vivacity, fear, joy, sadness, love‐tenderness, anger, and tension). Severe traumatic war events and depressive symptoms were associated with low positive and high negative vocal emotion expressions. High levels of playfulness and joy, as well as low levels of fear and tension, were associated with infant positive affectivity, while low levels of fear, anger, and tension were associated with advanced infant language skills. Discussion focuses on the vocal markers of maternal mental health and infant development.

Highlights

How are maternal war trauma and mental health problems (symptoms of depression and post‐traumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) associated with the valence and content of mothers' vocal emotion expressions when they sing to their infants?

How are the maternal vocal emotion expressions associated with infant emotional and sensorimotor development?

Methodologically, the study involved cultural in‐ and out‐group judges to evaluate maternal vocal emotion expressions. The vocal material consisted of song excerpts of 50 Palestinian women from the Gaza strip, which is sung in Arabic. War trauma was photodocumented; mothers reported their symptoms of depression and PTSD; and infant emotion development by the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ), sensorimotor development, is based on the Bayley test.

Maternal vocal emotion expression in infant‐directed singing can provide a marker for her mental health in transition to parenthood. Further, valence and content of infant‐directed singing are vital for infant emotional and sensorimotor development.
Scaffolding Students’ Writing Processes Through Dialogic Assessment
Authors: Beck Sarah W. , Jones Karis , Storm Scott , Smith Holly
Published: February 2020

With dialogic writing assessment, teachers can scaffold students’ writing processes in ways that are flexible and responsive to students’ individual needs. Examples of teachers using this conference‐based method of classroom writing assessment illustrate how to practice assessment that is dynamic and relational rather than static and standardized, by allowing teachers to vary their support for student writers based on students’ unique needs. These examples also suggest that teachers’ epistemologies for writing instruction can influence how they practice dialogic writing assessment. The authors conclude with a discussion of how dynamic and responsive scaffolding can support an equity‐focused model for teaching academic writing and how teachers’ expertise may be a factor in how they apply dialogic writing assessment.
Relaxin enhances bone regeneration with BMP‐2‐loaded hydroxyapatite microspheres
Authors: Injamuri Sahitya , Rahaman Mohamed N. , Shen Youqu , Huang Yue‐Wern
Published: February 2020

Our aims were to 1) evaluate the capacity of hollow hydroxyapatite (HA) microspheres (212–250 μm) to serve as a delivery system for controlled release of BMP‐2 in vitro and 2) examine relaxin as an enhancer of BMP‐2 for bone regeneration. Hollow HA microspheres were converted from borate glass microspheres and characterized using X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller method. The microspheres loaded with BMP‐2 and relaxin were implanted for 6 weeks in Sprague Dawley rats with calvarial defects. BMP‐2 alone in the range up to 1 μg per defect exhibited dose‐dependent bone regeneration while relaxin alone in the range up to 0.25 μg per defect did not promote bone regeneration. When compared with BMP‐2 alone (1 μg per defect), a 50% reduction in the BMP‐2 dose was achieved with the addition of 0.05, 0.1, or 0.25 μg of relaxin per defect. These results show that loading HA microspheres with a combination of relaxin and BMP‐2 can significantly reduce the BMP‐2 dose required to regenerate an equivalent amount of bone.
Toward a less costly but accurate calculation of the CCSD(T)/CBS noncovalent interaction energy
Authors: Chen Jiu‐Li , Sun Tao , Wang Yi‐Bo , Wang Weizhou
Published: February 2020

The popular method of calculating the noncovalent interaction energies at the coupled‐cluster single‐, double‐, and perturbative triple‐excitations [CCSD(T)] theory level in the complete basis set (CBS) limit was to add a CCSD(T) correction term to the CBS second‐order Møller‐Plesset perturbation theory (MP2). The CCSD(T) correction term is the difference between the CCSD(T) and MP2 interaction energies evaluated in a medium basis set. However, the CCSD(T) calculations with the medium basis sets are still very expensive for systems with more than 30 atoms. Comparatively, the domain‐based local pair natural orbital coupled‐cluster method [DLPNO‐CCSD(T)] can be applied to large systems with over 1,000 atoms. Considering both the computational accuracy and efficiency, in this work, we propose a new scheme to calculate the CCSD(T)/CBS interaction energies. In this scheme, the MP2/CBS term keeps intact and the CCSD(T) correction term is replaced by a DLPNO‐CCSD(T) correction term which is the difference between the DLPNO‐CCSD(T) and DLPNO‐MP2 interaction energies evaluated in a medium basis set. The interaction energies of the noncovalent systems in the S22, HSG, HBC6, NBC10, and S66 databases were recalculated employing this new scheme. The consistent and tight settings of the truncation parameters for DLPNO‐CCSD(T) and DLPNO‐MP2 in this noncanonical CCSD(T)/CBS calculations lead to the maximum absolute deviation and root‐mean‐square deviation from the canonical CCSD(T)/CBS interaction energies of less than or equal to 0.28 kcal/mol and 0.09 kcal/mol, respectively. The high accuracy and low cost of this new computational scheme make it an excellent candidate for the study of large noncovalent systems.
The fat mass, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and chronic inflammation in type 2 diabetic patients
Authors: Šálek Tomáš , Adamíková Alena , Ponížil Petr
Published: February 2020

Background

The aim of the study was to analyze the degree of obesity and its associations with age, gender, inflammation, an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and liver function in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients.

Methods

A total of 874 consecutive adult Caucasian T2DM patients from outpatient diabetic clinic were included in the study. The relative fat mass (RFM) and body mass index (BMI) were used as obesity markers. Serum creatinine and cystatin C were used for the GFR estimation. Serum high‐sensitive C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) was used as the indicator of inflammation.

Results

The median, interquartile range (IQR) of RFM in females was higher than that in males (44.8 (42.3‐47.2) % vs 31.3 (28.8‐34.1) %, respectively; P < .0001). The median (IQR) of BMI in females was no higher than that in males (30 (27‐34) kg/m2 vs 30 (27‐34), respectively; P = .5152). The obesity prevalence was 99% in males and 98% in females according to RFM. BMI recognized obesity in 51% males and 53% females. RFM was positively associated with hsCRP in both males (rs = .296, P < .0001) and females (rs = .445, P < .0001). ALT was positively correlated with eGFRcys in both males (rs = .379, P < .0001) and females (rs = .308, P < .0001).

Conclusion

The RFM equation leads to higher obesity prevalence compared to BMI. Women have higher RFM compared to men. The kidney function was positively correlated with ALT serum concentrations.
Upregulation of SOX11 enhances tamoxifen resistance and promotes epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition via slug in MCF‐7 breast cancer cells
Authors: Xiao Yingsheng , Xie Qin , Qin Qingsong , Liang Yuanke , Lin Haoyu , Zeng De
Published: February 2020

Resistance to tamoxifen remains a prominent conundrum in the therapy of hormone‐sensitive breast cancer. Also, the molecular underpinnings leading to tamoxifen resistance remain unclear. In the present study, we utilized the Gene Expression Omnibus database to identify that SOX11 might exert a pivotal function in conferring tamoxifen resistance of breast cancer. SOX11 was found to be markedly upregulated at both the messenger RNA and protein levels in established MCF‐7‐Tam‐R cells compared to the parental counterparts. Moreover, SOX11 was able to activate the transcription of slug via binding to its promoter, resulting in promoting the progress of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition and suppressing the expression of ESR1. Downregulating SOX11 expression can restore the sensitivity to 4‐hydroxytamoxifen in MCF‐7‐Tam‐R cells. Survival analysis from large sample datasets indicated that SOX11 was closely related to poorer survival in patients with breast cancer. These findings suggest a novel feature of SOX11 in contributing to tamoxifen resistance. Hence, targeting SOX11 could be a potential therapeutic strategy to tackle tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer.
A preliminary investigation of wild pig (Sus scrofa) impacts in water quality
Authors: Brooks John P. , Smith Renotta K. , Aldridge Caleb A. , Chaney Brent , Omer Austin , Dentinger Jane , Street Garrett M. , Baker Beth H.
Published: February 2020

The United States, particularly the southern portion, has recently suffered drastic population expansion of wild pigs causing destruction of prime farmland. An associated concern, which has been understudied, is the potential transfer of nutrients and pathogens to surface water. This study aimed to identify the abiotic and biotic impacts of captive wild pigs on water quality, including nutrients, fecal indicator and pathogenic bacteria, and antimicrobial resistance. Overall, the study demonstrated that wild pigs harbored Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli, and Clostridium perfringens, which were found in water runoff collected directly beneath the hog paddock, often 2 log10 greater than above‐paddock levels. However, the impacts to downstream water quality were limited, perhaps because of a relatively large riparian buffer between the paddock and surface water. A higher rate of ammonium concentration changes over time was detected in the runoff water below the paddock; additionally, microbial releases detected in runoff were also time dependent, possibly associated with increasing pig numbers. Antibiotic resistance was generally not associated with the wild pigs. Antibiotic resistance genes were found in upstream as well as downstream surface water, suggesting that nonpoint sources of microbial contamination were present. Interestingly, intI1 levels were greater in below‐paddock runoff by nearly 2 log10. Overall, it appears that wild pigs potentially pose a threat to water quality but only if they have direct access to the water. Pathogen, fecal indicator bacteria, and some nutrient release were significantly associated with wild pigs, but riparian buffers limited water quality impairment.
Enhanced comparator‐based switched‐capacitor integrator using current conveyor
Authors: Chaharmahali Iman , Mianvelayat Mohammad Vafadar , Biabanifard Sadegh
Published: February 2020

New schematic for comparator‐based switched‐capacitor (CBSC) integrator is proposed. In comparison with conventional CBSC integrators, the presented circuit helps to reduce significantly the power consumption while improving the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and the defined figure of merit (FOM). This was obtained by using a second‐generation current conveyor (CCII) in charge scheme. The integrator design is based on the 0.18‐μm CMOS technology with a frequency of 5 MHz; the proposed first‐order CBSC integrator exhibits 22.87 dB as SNR and 60 μW as power dissipation at 1.8‐V supply voltage.