bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two new species ofPseudopimelodusBleeker, 1858 (Siluriformes: Pseudopimelodidae) from the Magdalena Basin, Colombia
Authors: Restrepo-Gómez Ana M. , Rangel-Medrano José D. , Márquez Edna J. , Ortega-Lara Armando
Published: September 2020

The family Pseudopimelodidae is widely distributed in South America and includes 51 described species organized in seven genera. Only two of four species of the genusPseudopimelodushave been recorded for the trans-Andean basins of Colombia,Pseudopimelodus bufoniusandP. schultzi, whose similarity in external morphology make their identification difficult. We performed a phylogenetic analysis using a fragment of the Cytochrome C Oxidase subunit 1 gene (COI), and analyzed osteological and traditional morphometric characters to studyPseudopimelodusfrom the Colombian trans-Andean region. Results provided strong support for two clades phylogenetically related toPseudopimelodus,that showed clear-cut molecular, osteological, and morphometric differences from previously described bumblebee catfishes. Based on these results, we describe twoPseudopimelodusspecies from the Magdalena-Cauca River Basin: P. magnussp. nov. with 43–44 vertebrae, dorsal-fin spine with serrations on its anterior margin; lateral margin of transverse process of the fourth vertebra of the Weberian complex forming an acute angle in ventral view andP. atricaudussp. nov. with 39 vertebrae, dorsal-fin spine smooth on its anterior margin and a dark, vertical band covering 3/4 of the caudal fin with base of rays and tip of caudal-fin lobes hyaline.
miR‐642a‐5p partially mediates the effects of lipopolysaccharide on human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells via eEF2
Authors: Fei Liming , Sun Gengyun , You Qinghai
Published: September 2020

Inhalation or systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can induce acute pulmonary inflammation and lung injury. The pulmonary vasculature is composed of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs), which form a semiselective membrane for gas exchange. The miRNA miR‐642a‐5p has previously been reported to be up‐regulated in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome; thus, here, we examined whether this miRNA is involved in the effects of LPS on PMVECs. The levels of miR‐642a‐5p and mRNA encoding eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2) were detected by quantitative RT‐PCR. Moesin and eEF2 protein levels were tested by western blot assay. Dual‐luciferase reporter assay was used to examine the relationship between miR‐642a‐5p and eEF2. Cell viability was assessed using the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and cell permeability was analyzed using the transendothelial electrical resistance assay. We report that miR‐642a‐5p levels are significantly up‐regulated in LPS‐stimulated PMVECs, and miR‐642a‐5p contributes to LPS‐induced hyperpermeability and apoptosis of PMVECs. LPS treatment results in down‐regulation of eEF2 in PMVECs. Overexpression of eEF2, a direct target of miR‐642a‐5p, inhibited the effect of LPS on PMVECs. miR‐642a‐5p promoted LPS‐induced hyperpermeability and apoptosis by targeting eEF2. Thus, miR‐642a‐5p and eEF2 may serve as potential targets for acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome diagnosis or treatment.
Adaptive compensation of persistent actuator failures of nonlinear systems
Authors: Wen Liyan , Tao Gang , Jiang Bin
Published: September 2020

In this article, adaptive compensation designs are developed for nonlinear systems with uncertainties from the system functions and persistent actuator failures of characterizations that (i) some unknown system inputs are stuck at some unknown fixed or varying values at unknown time instants and (ii) the failure pattern always switches from one to another and the switching does not stop. Such a controlled plant is described by an uncertain time‐varying nonlinear system, and some robust adaptive feedback linearization based failure compensation results are studied for closed‐loop system stabilization and bounded output tracking for some specific conditions. To improve the tracking performance in the presence of persistent actuator failures, a new adaptive control scheme is developed, using the failure indicator function which contains the failure pattern and failure time in the formulation. Detailed stability and tracking performance are shown. Simulation results are shown to verify the effectiveness of the proposed adaptive actuator failure compensation method.
Small but Fierce: Tracking the Role of Extracellular Vesicles in Glioblastoma Progression and Therapeutic Resistance
Authors: Schweiger Markus W. , Tannous Bakhos A.
Published: September 2020

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive brain tumor in adults. Most patients die within a year and long‐term survival remains rare, owing to a combination of rapid progression/degeneration, lack of successful treatments, and high recurrence rates. Extracellular vesicles are cell‐derived membranous structures involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes. In the context of cancer, these biological nanoparticles play an important role in intercellular communication, allowing cancer cells to exchange information with each other, the tumor microenvironment as well as distant cells. Here, light is shed on the role of extracellular vesicles in glioblastoma heterogeneity, tumor microenvironment interactions, and therapeutic resistance, and an overview on means to track their release, uptake, and cargo delivery is provided.
Spin–Orbit Controlled Excitation of Quantum Emitters in Hybrid Plasmonic Nanocircuits
Authors: Kan Yinhui , Kumar Shailesh , Ding Fei , Zhao Changying , Bozhevolnyi Sergey I.
Published: September 2020

On‐chip realization of complex photonic functionalities is essential for further progress in planar integrated nanophotonics, especially when involving nonclassical light sources such as quantum emitters (QEs). Spin–orbit interactions on subwavelength scales are increasingly explored in nanophotonics for realization and utilization of the spin‐dependent flow of light. Here, a dielectric‐loaded plasmonic nanocircuit with an achiral spin–orbit coupler is proposed and realized for unidirectional spin‐controlled routing of pump visible radiation into branched QE‐integrated waveguides. It is experimentally demonstrated that the circular‐polarized 532 nm pump laser light selectively, with a directionality contrast of ≈30, couples into corresponding dielectric‐loaded plasmonic branched waveguides. Two spatially separated (by a distance of ≈10 µm) QEs, nanodiamonds containing multiple nitrogen vacancy centers, embedded into a hybrid plasmonic nanocircuit, can thereby be selectively and remotely excited using an incident pump beam with different circular polarizations. The realization of on‐chip spin–orbit controlled excitation of different QEs coupled to branched waveguides may open new avenues for designing complex plasmonic nanocircuits exploiting the spin degree of freedom within chiral nanophotonics.
Recent Progress on Memristive Convolutional Neural Networks for Edge Intelligence
Authors: Qin Yi-Fan , Bao Han , Wang Feng , Chen Jia , Li Yi , Miao Xiang-Shui
Published: September 2020

Recently, due to the development of big data and computer technology, artificial intelligence (AI) has received extensive attention and made great progress. Edge intelligence pushes the computing center of AI from the cloud to individual users, making AI closer to life, but at the same time puts forward higher requirements for the realization of hardware, especially for edge acceleration. Taking convolutional neural networks (CNNs) as an example, which show excellent problem‐solving capabilities in different fields of academia and industry, it still faces issues of enormous computing volume and complex mapping architecture. Based on the computing‐in‐memory property and parallel multiply accumulate (MAC) operations of the emerging nonvolatile memristor arrays, herein the recent research progress of the edge intelligence memristive convolution accelerator is summarized. Furthermore, aiming at improving memristive convolutional accelerators, two potential optimization schemes are also discussed: The compression methods represented by quantization show great potential for static image processing, and the combination of a CNN with a long short‐term memory (LSTM) neural network makes up for the CNN's shortcomings of dynamic target processing. Finally, the future challenges and opportunities of edge intelligence accelerators based on memristor arrays are also discussed.
A cross‐national study of depression in preclinical dementia: A COSMIC collaboration study
Authors: Carles Sophie , Carrière Isabelle , Reppermund Simone , Davin Annalisa , Guaita Antonio , Vaccaro Roberta , Ganguli Mary , Jacobsen Erin P. , Beer Joanne C. , Riedel‐Heller Steffi G. , Roehr Susanne , Pabst Alexander , Haan Mary N. , Brodaty Henry , Kochan Nicole A. , Trollor Julian N. , Kim Ki Woong , Han Ji Won , Suh Seung Wan , Lobo Antonio , la Camara Concepción De , Lobo Elena , Lipnicki Darren M. , Sachdev Perminder S. , Ancelin Marie‐Laure , Ritchie Karen ,   for Cohort Studies of Memory in an International Consortium (COSMIC)
Published: September 2020

Introduction

Depression commonly accompanies Alzheimer's disease, but the nature of this association remains uncertain.

Methods

Longitudinal data from the COSMIC consortium were harmonized for eight population‐based cohorts from four continents. Incident dementia was diagnosed in 646 participants, with a median follow‐up time of 5.6 years to diagnosis. The association between years to dementia diagnosis and successive depressive states was assessed using a mixed effect logistic regression model. A generic inverse variance method was used to group study results, construct forest plots, and generate heterogeneity statistics.

Results

A common trajectory was observed showing an increase in the incidence of depression as the time to dementia diagnosis decreased despite cross‐national variability in depression rates.

Discussion

The results support the hypothesis that depression occurring in the preclinical phases of dementia is more likely to be attributable to dementia‐related brain changes than environment or reverse causality.
Data curation as collective action during COVID‐19
Authors: Shankar Kalpana , Jeng Wei , Thomer Andrea , Weber Nicholas , Yoon Ayoung
Published: September 2020

In this commentary, the authors, an international group data curation researchers and educators, reflect on some of the challenges and opportunities for data curation in the wake of the COVID‐19 pandemic. We focus on some topics of particular interest to the information science community: data infrastructures for scholarly communication and research, the politicization of data curation and visualization for public‐facing “dashboards,” and human subjects research and policies. We conclude with some areas of opportunity and need, including broader and richer data curation education in the information schools, the establishment of better data management policy implementations by research funders, the award of formal academic credit for data curation activities and data sharing, and engagement in cooperative action around data ethics and security.
Evaluation of a sterile filtration process for viral vaccines using a model nanoparticle suspension
Authors: Taylor Neil , Ma Wanli , Kristopeit Adam , Wang Sheng‐Ching , Zydney Andrew L.
Published: September 2020

There is growing interest in the development of new vaccines based on live‐attenuated viruses (LAVs) and virus‐like particles. The large size of these vaccines, typically 100–400 nm, significantly complicates the use of sterile filtration. The objectives of this study are to examine the performance of several commercial sterile filters for filtration of a cytomegalovirus vaccine candidate (referred to as the LAV) and to develop and evaluate the use of a model nanoparticle suspension to perform a more quantitative assessment. Data obtained with a mixture of 200‐ and 300‐nm fluorescent particles provided yield and pressure profiles that captured the behavior of the viral vaccine. This included the excellent performance of the Sartorius Sartobran P filter, which provided greater than 80% yield of both the vaccine and model particles even though the average particle size was more than 250 nm. The particle yield for the Sartobran P was independent of filtrate flux above 200 L/m2/h, but increased with increasing particle concentration, varying from less than 10% at concentrations around 107 particles/ml to more than 80% at concentrations above 1010 particles/ml due to saturation of particle capture/binding sites within the filter. These results provide important insights into the factors controlling transmission and fouling during sterile filtration of large vaccine products.
Transferring video to dynamic relief structures with water interaction
Authors: Tseng Yi‐Chun , Wong Sai‐Keung
Published: September 2020

In this article, we present a framework which transfers video to dynamic relief‐structures with water interaction. Our method enables the interaction between video content and waterflows. The key idea is that the dynamic 2.5D structures of the objects in video are constructed and then waterflows are simulated to interact with the 2.5D structures. We performed experiments for still images, and video in which objects had various motion styles. User interaction with our system was also demonstrated. The result of a user study indicated that our method could produce visually acceptable results.
Rational Design of Cobalt‐Platinum Alloy Decorated Cobalt Nanoparticles for One‐Pot Synthesis of Imines from Nitroarenes and Aldehydes
Authors: Gong Wanbing , Han Miaomiao , Chen Chun , Lin Yue , Wang Guozhong , Zhang Haimin , Zhao Huijun
Published: September 2020

Developing high‐performance heterogeneous catalysts for one‐pot reductive amination reactions is critically important for pharmaceutical and agrochemical synthetic industries. In this work, N‐doped carbon nanotubes supported CoPt alloy decorated Co nanoparticles (NPs) are successfully fabricated. As a consequence, the resultant catalyst exhibits desirable activity, selectivity and stability toward the one‐pot synthesis of imines. More importantly, the extensive experimental studies and density function theory (DFT) calculations results reveal that the high catalytic activity of the catalyst is mainly due to the co‐existence of CoPt alloy NPs and Co NPs with Co−Nx active sites. The high selectivity of imines could be ascribed to the following aspects: (1) competitively preferred adsorption of nitroarenes to avoid side‐hydrogenation of aldehydes; (2) weakened adsorption of imines to minimize its over‐hydrogenation. This work may provide a promising direction and strategy to design high‐performance reductive amination catalysts for industrial applications.
Treatment and outcomes for synovial sarcoma patients in Western Australia: the role of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Khan Yasir , Carey‐Smith Richard , Taylor Mandy , Woodhouse Jennifer , Jacques Angela , Wood David , Long Anne
Published: September 2020

Background

This is a retrospective review of synovial sarcoma (SS) patients treated over the last 12 years in Western Australia (WA). SS is both chemo and radiotherapy sensitive. Results of trials in adjuvant chemotherapy are conflicting and there is limited support for neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The use of combined chemoradiotherapy is based on institutional preferences.

Aim

We reviewed the outcomes for SS patients treated in WA over a 12 year period focusing on patients who received neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT).

Methods

Patient details including demographics, histopathology, treatment details, were obtained from the WA sarcoma database (2006‐2018). Progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were derived for whole cohort.

Results

Twenty seven patients were identified with SS with equal gender incidence. Median age of the cohort was 36 (14‐76) years. The most common primary site of disease was extremity (81.5%). 22/27 patients presented with only localized disease and 59.2% of these received neo‐adjuvant treatment. Of those who received neoadjuvant treatment, 56.2% had NACRT, while 25.0% and 18.7% of patients had chemotherapy and radiotherapy respectively. Mesna, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, dacarbazine (MAID) was the most commonly used chemotherapy regimen as neoadjuvant or adjuvant treatment while ifosfamide (93.7%) was the most commonly used chemotherapy drug in any setting. There was no reported case of disease progression in group of patients who received NACRT apart from one patient who had oligometastatic disease at diagnosis. Median OS of the whole cohort was 38 months while median PFS was 24 months. Bone marrow toxicity was the most commonly reported high grade toxicity in NACRT group (55.5%) but there were no treatment related deaths.

Conclusion

NACRT is not widely adopted and treatment is based on institutional preferences, however our data shows that NACRT is a feasible therapy option. NACRT should be evaluated prospectively in a randomized trial.
Retinoic acid receptor γ is a therapeutically targetable driver of growth and survival in prostate cancer
Authors: Petrie Kevin , Urban‐Wójciuk Zuzanna , Sbirkov Yordan , Graham Amy , Hamann Annika , Brown Geoffrey
Published: September 2020

Background

Prostate cancer (PC) tissue contains all‐trans retinoic acid (ATRA) at a very low level (10−9 M), at least an order of magnitude lower than in adjacent normal healthy prostate cells or benign prostate hyperplasia. When this is coupled with deregulated expression of the intracellular lipid‐binding proteins FABP5 and CRABP2 that is frequently found in PC, this is likely to result in the preferential delivery of ATRA to oncogenic PPARβ/δ rather than retinoic acid receptors (RARs). There are three isotypes of RARs (RARα, RARβ, and RARγ) and recent studies have revealed discrete physiological roles. For example, RARα and RARγ promote differentiation and self‐renewal, respectively, which are critical for proper hematopoiesis.

Aims

We have previously shown that ATRA stimulates transactivation of RARγ at sub‐nanomolar concentrations (EC50 0.24 nM), whereas an 80‐fold higher concentration was required for RARα‐mediated transactivation (EC50 19.3 nM). Additionally, we have shown that RAR pan‐antagonists inhibit the growth of PC cells (at 16‐34 nM). These findings, together with the low level of ATRA in PC, led us to hypothesize that RARγ plays a role in PC pathogenesis and that RARγ‐selective antagonism may be an effective treatment.

Methods and results

We found that concentrations of 10−9 M and below of ATRA promoted survival/proliferation and opposed adipogenic differentiation of human PC cell lines by a mechanism that involves RARγ. We also found that a RARγ‐selective antagonist (AGN205728) potently induced mitochondria‐dependent, but caspase‐independent, cell death in PC cell lines. Furthermore, AGN205728 demonstrated synergism in killing PC cells in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agents.

Conclusion

We suggest that the use of RARγ‐selective antagonists may be effective in PC (and potentially other cancers), either as a single agent or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy.
A short scale to evaluate supervision and supervisor competence—The SE‐SC8
Authors: Gonsalvez Craig J.
Published: September 2020

There is an urgent need for instruments to evaluate supervisor competence. The current study describes the development of the SE‐SC8, an eight‐item version of a previously published Supervision Evaluation and Supervisory Competence scale that has adequate reliability and validity. The current study analysed data from the sample (N = 142) used in the initial validation of the full scale to identify the best set of items for a short scale before testing the scale's psychometric properties in a new study (N = 122). The SE‐SC8 demonstrated good reliability and adequate convergent and divergent validity. The SE‐SC8 has two overall items respectively measuring supervisor effectiveness and supervision satisfaction and six items that represent supervisory competencies, namely, (1) Openness, Caring and Support, (2) Supervisor's Knowledge and Expertise as Therapist, (3) Supervision Planning and Management, (4) Goal‐Directed Supervision, (5) Restorative Competencies, and (6) Insight into and Management of Therapist–Client Dynamics and Reflective Practitioner Competencies. As with other subjective ratings, SE‐SC8 scores should be supplemented by other assessments for a holistic appraisal of supervisor competence.
A Rapid and Facile Purification Method for Glycan‐Binding Proteins and Glycoproteins
Authors: Welch Christina J. , Kadav Priyanka D. , Edwards Jared L. , Krycia Jessica , Talaga Melanie L. , Bandyopadhyay Purnima , Dam Tarun K.
Published: September 2020

Glycosylated proteins, namely glycoproteins and proteoglycans (collectively called glycoconjugates), are indispensable in a variety of biological processes. The functions of many glycoconjugates are regulated by their interactions with another group of proteins known as lectins. In order to understand the biological functions of lectins and their glycosylated binding partners, one must obtain these proteins in pure form. The conventional protein purification methods often require long times, elaborate infrastructure, costly reagents, and large sample volumes. To minimize some of these problems, we recently developed and validated a new method termed capture and release (CaRe). This method is time‐saving, precise, inexpensive, and it needs a relatively small sample volume. In this approach, targets (lectins and glycoproteins) are captured in solution by multivalent ligands called target capturing agents (TCAs). The captured targets are then released and separated from their TCAs to obtain purified targets. Application of the CaRe method could play an important role in discovering new lectins and glycoconjugates. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Preparation of crude extracts containing the target proteins from soybean flour

Alternate Protocol 1: Preparation of crude extracts from Jack bean meal

Alternate Protocol 2: Preparation of crude extracts from the corms of Colocasia esculenta, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, and from the bulbs of Allium sativum

Alternate Protocol 3: Preparation of Escherichia coli cell lysates containing human galectin‐3

Alternate Protocol 4: Preparation of crude extracts from chicken egg whites (source of ovalbumin)

Basic Protocol 2: Preparation of 2% (v/v) red blood cell suspension

Basic Protocol 3: Detection of lectin activity of the crude extracts

Basic Protocol 4: Identification of multivalent inhibitors as target capturing agents by hemagglutination inhibition assays

Basic Protocol 5: Testing the capturing abilities of target capturing agents by precipitation/turbidity assays

Basic Protocol 6: Capturing of targets (lectins and glycoproteins) in the crude extracts by target capturing agents and separation of the target‐TCA complex from other components of the crude extracts

Basic Protocol 7: Releasing the captured targets (lectins and glycoproteins) by dissolving the complex

Basic Protocol 8: Separation of the targets (lectins and glycoproteins) from their respective target capturing agents

Basic Protocol 9: Verification of the purity of the isolated targets (lectins or glycoproteins)
Channel stability in steep gravel–cobble streams is controlled by the coarse tail of the bed material distribution
Authors: Eaton Brett C. , MacKenzie Lucy G. , Booker William H.
Published: September 2020

Researchers have associated channel‐forming flows with reach‐average shear stresses close to the entrainment threshold for the surface D50. We conducted experiments using a model of a generic steep, gravel–cobble stream to test this association. Our results suggest that channel‐forming flows fully mobilize the D50, and produce shear stresses close to the entrainment threshold for the largest grains in the bed. The channel dimensions were set by flows capable of mobilizing between 85% and 90% of the bed surface, which produced a brief period of lateral instability lasting about 1 h, followed by a prolonged period of relative stability during which modest adjustments occurred, but during which the reach‐average hydraulics remained about the same. The adjustments during the unstable phase of the experiments are characterized by rapid bank erosion, extensive deposits on the channel bed and a restructuring of the major morphologic elements of the stream. The adjustments during the stable phase of the experiments involved barform migration and bed surface coarsening but did not appreciably modify the physical template established by the end of the unstable phase. The behaviour we observed is not consistent with the concept of a dynamic equilibrium associated with a formative flow that is just capable of entraining the bed surface D50. Instead, it suggests that rapid adjustments occur once a stability threshold is exceeded, which creates a template that constrains channel activity until another event drives the system across the stability threshold, and re‐sets the template. While we believe that it is probably too simplistic to associate a channel‐forming discharge with the entrainment threshold for a single grain size, our results suggest that the D95 is a more logical choice than the D50 © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Cognitive stimulation therapy for people with dementia in Brazil (CST‐Brasil): Results from a single blind randomized controlled trial
Authors: Marinho Valeska , Bertrand Elodie , Naylor Renata , Bomilcar Iris , Laks Jerson , Spector Aimee , Mograbi Daniel C.
Published: September 2020

Objective

The prevalence of dementia has been increasing particularly in developing countries but care provision is still limited in these regions. Psychosocial interventions are recognized as useful tools to improve cognitive and behavioral difficulties, as well as quality of life of people with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers. Cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) is an evidence‐based psychosocial intervention, recommended and implemented in many countries. In Brazil, there is no validated psychosocial intervention for dementia care. The present study aims to explore feasibility and obtain preliminary data on the efficacy of CST‐Brasil in a sample of 47 people with mild to moderate dementia attending an outpatient unit.

Methods

A single‐blind design was used, with participants being randomly allocated to either 14 sessions of CST + treatment as usual (TAU; n = 23) or TAU (n = 24) during 7 weeks. Changes in cognition, quality of life, depressive symptoms, caregiver burden and functionality were measured.

Results

PwD receiving CST and their family caregivers expressed good acceptance of the intervention, with low attrition and high attendance. Participants receiving CST exhibited significant improvements in mood and in activities of daily living compared to TAU. There were no significant effects in cognition, quality of life and caregiver burden.

Conclusions

CST‐Brasil proved to be a feasible and useful intervention to improve mood in PwD, with high acceptance between study participators. CST‐Brasil is a promising psychosocial intervention for dementia and should be explored in other clinical settings to allow generalization to a wider Brazilian context.
Uncovering investment management performance using SPIVA data
Authors: Shah Imran Hussain , Wanovits Hans Matthias , Hatfield Richard
Published: September 2020

Which performs better, passive or active funds management, a question that both fund managers and academics fiercely debate. Why does fund size matter? These are a number of typical questions that puzzle practitioners and academics alike. To date, the data has been shown to be somewhat problematic. This paper exploits the SPIVA and passive fund datasets with several novel methods in order to build a foundation for unbiased fund performance analysis and comparison. For this, we address a number of questions including: passive versus active management, fund size, time horizon and fund style on performance. We find that in general, passive funds outperform active funds due to lower management costs, larger funds tend to perform better and funds with longer (3+ years) records of accomplishment tend to perform better. Short termism tends to have a significant detrimental effect on performance. We introduce Dynamic Generalized Method of Moments to show that competition has a significant effect on fund performance. Furthermore, this demonstrates that SPIVA data has a significant dynamic panel time series that was largely ignored by prior research. This integrated dataset and associated methods that we illustrate here, provide both academic researchers and industry analysts alike with an environment to investigate and potentially draw conclusions about the fund factors that affect performance without the inherent limitations of the original sources.
Practical realities in the management of cervical cancer in low‐resource settings: The grey area between resource‐appropriate and substandard treatment
Authors: Lawal Ishak Kayode , Ibrahim Habiba Abdullahi , Chikezie Peter Chinasa
Published: September 2020

Clinicians in low‐resource settings should be encouraged to document any innovative adaptations in order to bridge gaps in the provision of oncology services.
The mitochondrial‐targeted reactive species scavenger JP4‐039 prevents sulfite‐induced alterations in antioxidant defenses, energy transfer, and cell death signaling in striatum of rats
Authors: Glänzel Nícolas Manzke , Grings Mateus , da Rosa‐Junior Nevton Teixeira , de Carvalho Leila Maria Cereta , Mohsen Al‐Walid , Wipf Peter , Wajner Moacir , Vockley Jerry , Leipnitz Guilhian
Published: September 2020

Sulfite oxidase (SO) deficiency is a disorder caused either by isolated deficiency of SO or by defects in the synthesis of its molybdenum cofactor. It is characterized biochemically by tissue sulfite accumulation. Patients present with seizures, progressive neurological damage, and basal ganglia abnormalities, the pathogenesis of which is not fully established. Treatment is supportive and largely ineffective. To address the pathophysiology of sulfite toxicity, we examined the effects of intrastriatal administration of sulfite in rats on antioxidant defenses, energy transfer, and mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPK) and apoptosis pathways in rat striatum. Sulfite administration decreased glutathione (GSH) concentration and glutathione peroxidase, glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase, glutathione S‐transferase, and glutathione reductase activities in striatal tissue. Creatine kinase (CK) activity, a crucial enzyme for cell energy transfer, was also decreased by sulfite. Superoxide dismutase‐1 (SOD1) and catalase (CAT) proteins were increased, while heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) was decreased. Additionally, sulfite altered phosphorylation of MAPK by decreasing of p38 and increasing of ERK. Sulfite further augmented the content of GSK‐3β, Bok, and cleaved caspase‐3, indicating increased apoptosis. JP4‐039 is a mitochondrial‐targeted antioxidant that reaches higher intramitochondrial levels than other traditional antioxidants. Intraperitoneal injection of JP4‐039 before sulfite administration preserved activity of antioxidant enzymes and CK. It also prevented or attenuated alterations in SOD1, CAT, and HO‐1 protein content, as well as changes in p38, ERK, and apoptosis markers. In sum, oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by sulfite injection are prevented by JP4‐039, identifying this molecule as a promising candidate for pharmacological treatment of SO‐deficient patients.
Heteromer formation between cannabinoid type 1 and dopamine type 2 receptors is altered by combination cannabinoid and antipsychotic treatments
Authors: Bagher Amina M. , Young Alexander P. , Laprairie Robert B. , Toguri James T. , Kelly Melanie E. M. , Denovan‐Wright Eileen M.
Published: September 2020

The cannabinoid type 1 (CB1) receptor and the dopamine type 2 (D2) receptor are co‐localized on medium spiny neuron terminals in the globus pallidus where they modulate neural circuits involved in voluntary movement. Physical interactions between the two receptors have been shown to alter receptor signaling in cell culture. The objectives of the current study were to identify the presence of CB1/D2 heteromers in the globus pallidus of C57BL/6J male mice, define how CB1/D2 heteromer levels are altered following treatment with cannabinoids and/or antipsychotics, and determine if fluctuating levels of CB1/D2 heteromers have functional consequences. Using in situ proximity ligation assays, we observed CB1/D2 heteromers in the globus pallidus of C57BL/6J mice. The abundance of the heteromers increased following treatment with the nonselective cannabinoid receptor agonist, CP55,940. In contrast, treatment with the typical antipsychotic haloperidol reduced the number of CB1/D2 heteromers, whereas the atypical antipsychotic olanzapine treatment had no effect. Co‐treatment with CP55,940 and haloperidol had similar effects to haloperidol alone, whereas co‐treatment with CP55,940 and olanzapine had similar effects to CP55,940. The observed changes were found to have functional consequences as the differential effects of haloperidol and olanzapine also applied to γ‐aminobutyric acid release in STHdhQ7/Q7 cells and motor function in C57BL/6J male mice. This work highlights the clinical relevance of co‐exposure to cannabinoids and different antipsychotics over acute and prolonged time periods.
Relationship between coarse F waves and thromboembolic events in patients with permanent atrial fibrillation
Authors: İçen Yahya Kemal , Koca Hasan , Sümbül Hilmi Erdem , Yıldırım Arafat , Koca Fadime , Yıldırım Abdullah , Ardıc Mustafa Lutfullah , Coşkun Mükremin , Uğurlu Mehmet , Koç Mevlüt
Published: September 2020

Background

The coarse F waves on the 12‐lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) are known as atrial viability and contractility indicator. Our aim in this study was to investigate the effect of coarse F wave on thromboembolism in patients with permanent AF.

Methods

In our study, 328 patients with permanent AF were included. Routine laboratory, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic parameters were examined. Cerebrovascular event (CVE) or acute artery occlusion was considered a thromboembolic event.

Results

In our study, 46 (14.0%) of the patients were found to have thromboembolic events and 282 (86%) of them were found without thromboembolic events. In the group with thromboembolic event, the number of patients with hypertension (HT) (P < .001) and history of coronary artery disease (P = .003) and elderly patients (P < .001) was significantly higher and warfarin use was significantly lower (P = .025). In the group of patients without thromboembolic events, the number of patients with a coarse F wave in surface ECG was significantly lower (P = .001). Age (OR: 1.105, 95% CI: 1.066‐1.145, P < .001), HT (OR: 2.831, 95% CI: 1.266‐6.331, P = .011), and coarse F wave (OR: 0.290, 95% CI: 0.126‐ 0.670, P = .004) were determined as independent variables for thromboembolic events.

Conclusion

Coarse F wave in 12‐lead surface ECG in patients with permanent AF may be associated with good prognosis.
Modified Marionette Technique for Unassisted In‐Office Access to the Submandibular Duct
Authors: Mulcahy Collin F. , Fassas Scott , Lloyd Ashley , Strum David , Badger Christopher , Joshi Arjun
Published: September 2020

View Video S1
Leverage Utility Management and Artificial Intelligence in Today's COVID‐19 World
Authors: Goldberg Lev , Quail Emma
Published: September 2020

An Illinois water utility's ability to optimize water distribution network monitoring through artificial intelligence and automation gives it operational resilience to meet current and future challenges.
Improve Customer Communication for Better Cross‐Connection Control
Authors: Ferreccio Marcos Aria
Published: September 2020

Although backflow assembly tests are essential, the public doesn't know much about them. But water utilities can educate consumers about backflow tests and cross‐connection threats while strengthening trust in drinking water providers.
The colonial legacy of India‐Nepal borderland disputes
Authors: Verma Shailen
Published: September 2020

This is not a history of cartography but focuses on the interlinkages between British rulers and decisions for shaping inadvertent borderlands, through imperial supremacy and spatial knowledge. In this sense, the paper fills in a gap in the geographical history of India’s unique borderland that holds a useful key to “cultural” and “geopolitical understandings” of south Asia and its impressions on modern Indo‐Nepal ties. The theme of the study is to analyze the chronological decisions and rationale of “historical faults” in the implementation by a colonial power in marshalling all available resources in surveying, mapping, and demarcating India’s only open border as the ever‐shifting “turbulent frontier” that attracted imperial concern for peace and stability.
External Sharī‘ah audit and review committee Vis‐a‐Vis Sharī‘ah compliance quality and accountability: A case of Islamic banks in Bangladesh
Authors: Alam Md. Kausar , Ahmad Abu U. F. , Muneeza Aishath
Published: September 2020

External Sharī‘ah Audit (ESA) is a control mechanism meant for formulating an objective view by an independent Sharī‘ah audit team about the obligation of Islamic banks' (IBs) management, personnel and other divisions towards Sharī‘ah compliance. This study principally aims to examine the relevancy of ESA and review committee in enhancing the level of Sharī‘ah compliance quality and accountability of IBs in Bangladesh. The study examines data from 17 respondents obtained via semi‐structured interviews and secondary sources in library. This study establishes that Sharī‘ah officers of IBs in Bangladesh are unable to perform audit functions properly which indicates the limitations of current Sharī‘ah audit functions. The study discovers the need for an independent ESA for proper auditing of IBs' operations in Bangladesh with a view to Sharī‘ah compliance. Thus, an ESA and review committee is imperative to enhance the quality of Sharī‘ah compliance and ensure accountability of all divisions within IBs. This audit is to be provided either by Bangladesh Bank (BB), the central bank of the country or a third party such as Islamic chartered accountants' firms or Sharī‘ah audit firms. The study would contribute to existing literature on the importance of ESA and its conditions in Bangladesh. The study also provides some instructions for global Islamic banking practice on the issues examined. The study contributes to agency, stakeholder and legitimacy theory via highlighting the inability of Sharī‘ah auditors to perform their function independently and efficiently.
Explaining the incidence of household healthcare expenditure in Nigeria under a regime of low fiscal provision: Is the exchange rate important?
Authors: Bature N. Bitrus , Ogba J. Likita , Iormom I. Bruce
Published: September 2020

This study investigates the effect of public health expenditure and the ever‐depreciating exchange rate on household health expenditure while controlling for gross domestic product per capita and consumer price index. We determined the stationarity properties of the series using the Lee and Strazicich, Economic Bulletin, 2013, 33, 2483–2492 and the Augmented Dickey Fuller test to confirm that none of the variables was integrated at an order higher than one. The ARDL bound test for cointegration and the Johansen procedure both confirmed the existence of long‐run relationship among the series. From the Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model results, study reveals that public health expenditure has decreasing impact on the incidence of household health expenditure in both the short‐ and long‐run. Household health expenditure is also found to be exchange rate elastic in the long‐run. The VECM Granger causality result reveals a long‐run unidirectional causality running from public health expenditure, exchange rate, income and domestic prices to household health expenditure. Our study suggests fiscal expansion for health, exchange rate appreciation measures and health risk protection for both the formal and informal sectors.
Teachers' war against terrorism: A mediated moderation model
Authors: Memon Ubedullah , Ali Anees Janee , Nisa Zaib Un
Published: September 2020

Although the past two decades have witnessed exponential growth in terrorist attacks on the schools, there is scant research on the teachers' vulnerability in Pakistan. Drawing on survey data gathered from the terrorism affected areas of Pakistan, the present study investigated the indirect effects of perceived threats of terrorism, and safety and security measures on the teachers' turnover intentions with the mediating role of job stress. The present study also capitalized belief in life‐after‐death and career commitment as the moderators to mitigate teachers' turnover intentions amid terrorism. The findings unveiled that perceived threats of terrorism and weak safety and security measures aggravated teachers' job stress which exacerbated their turnover intentions. The findings also affirmed moderating roles of teachers' belief in life‐after‐death and career commitment against their turnover intentions. The results showed that teachers' job stress accounted for 36.6% of the variance in their turnover intentions. The implications of the present study would be useful to cope with teachers' job stress and their turnover intentions in the unsafe work environment.
First‐principles study of f‐orbital‐dependent band topology of topological rare earth hexaborides
Authors: Majid Abdul , Batool Amber , Khan Salah Ud‐Din , Ahmad Ashfaq
Published: September 2020

The rare earth hexaboride (RE)B6 series of compounds (RE = Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd) was investigated using the first‐principles approach for exploring new topological insulators. The calculated structural, electronic, and magnetic properties of the materials are discussed in detail. To account for better f‐electron correlation, the Hubbard correction was also tested to correct the Kondo states. The lattice appeared contracted for materials from CeB6 to GdB6, and charge is transferred from RE to boron. The inspection of band structure points to spd hybridization between RE‐5d and B‐2s, 2p states at Fermi level. The application of spin‐orbit coupling revealed the conversion in the parity, and an odd number of Dirac cones is found at Γ and X points without Kondo mechanism. PrB6, GdB6, and PmB6 revealed a dispersive conic region near the Fermi level at high symmetry points, which enclosed Kramer's degenerate points with surface states of opposite parity. These materials prove to be a strong topological Kondo insulator with an SmB6‐like cubic structure without involvement of f‐orbitals in the formation of a Dirac cone. The Hubbard U parameter determined from atomic calculation of RE f‐orbital, apart from the few cases when f‐states remain close to the Fermi level, revealed that the band structures are semimetallic in most cases.
Rapid Classification of Quantum Sources Enabled by Machine Learning
Authors: Kudyshev Zhaxylyk A. , Bogdanov Simeon I. , Isacsson Theodor , Kildishev Alexander V. , Boltasseva Alexandra , Shalaev Vladimir M.
Published: September 2020

Deterministic nanoassembly may enable unique integrated on‐chip quantum photonic devices. Such integration requires a careful large‐scale selection of nanoscale building blocks such as solid‐state single‐photon emitters by means of optical characterization. Second‐order autocorrelation is a cornerstone measurement that is particularly time‐consuming to realize on a large scale. Supervised machine learning‐based classification of quantum emitters as “single” or “not‐single” is implemented based on their sparse autocorrelation data. The method yields a classification accuracy of 95% within an integration time of less than a second, realizing roughly a 100‐fold speedup compared to the conventional Levenberg–Marquardt fitting approach. It is anticipated that machine learning‐based classification will provide a unique route to enable rapid and scalable assembly of quantum nanophotonic devices.
The minimum intensity of a mixed exposure that increases the risk of an outcome
Authors: Bebu Ionut , Braffett Barbara H. , Lachin John M.
Published: September 2020

Semi‐quantitative exposures, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, are common in clinical studies. Their association with outcomes is captured using either a single quantitative variable that includes nonexposed with a value of zero, or using two variables by adding an additional binary variable exposed versus not exposed. Herein, we propose two approaches to determine a lower bound on the amount of such an exposure (eg, number of cigarettes smoked per day) that significantly increases the risk of outcomes. Using smoking as illustration, the first approach consists of sequentially testing the effect of 1, 2, and so on, cigarettes per day, which requires an adjustment for multiplicity to protect the overall type‐I error. An alternative gatekeeping approach is also described. The proposed methods are illustrated for the association of smoking with clinically confirmed neuropathy in a logistic regression model, and for the association of smoking with the risk of CVD in a Cox PH regression model.
Composite Films Based on Silver‐Zeolite/Polymer as Efficient Antifungals
Authors: Chiericatti Carolina A. , Lozano Luis A. , Zamaro Juan M.
Published: September 2020

This work analyzes the preparation and antifungal behavior of composite films formed by a mixed matrix of Ag‐zeolite crystals immobilized in a continuous polymer phase. The physicochemical qualities of films prepared with Ag‐exchanged mordenite (Ag‐MOR) dispersed in polysulfone (PSF), polyimide (PI) or polyetherimide (PEI) were thoroughly analyzed by means of various techniques such as SEM, EDS, XRD, UV‐VIS, FTIR‐ATR, TGA‐SDTA and XPS. Subsequently, the composites were evaluated as antifungal materials for the control of P. roqueforti isolated from contaminated foods of industrial origin. Of all the systems studied, Ag‐MOR/PI demonstrated an outstanding antifungal activity, acting effectively in the control of this mold and reducing the colony growth (CFU mL−1) by a factor of 5 Log after 24 h of contact. This activity was due to highly dispersed cationic silver species immobilized in the film which were effectively dosed towards the microorganism. The Ag‐mordenite/polymer nanocomposite films represent a technological alternative in the search of novel materials for the control of fungal growth.
Synthesis and Applications of Imidazothiazoles: An Overview
Authors: Afsina Abdulla C. M. , Neetha Mohan , Aneeja Thaipparambil , Anilkumar Gopinathan
Published: September 2020

Imidazothiazoles and its derivatives have vital role in medicinal chemistry as they exhibit biological activities such as anti‐tumor, anti‐cancer, anti‐inflammatory, antibacterial, analgesic etc. This review summarises the various methodologies used to synthesise imidazothiazoles, its derivatives and applications covering literature upto 2020 and it emphasizes the synthesis of imidazothiazoles from 2‐aminothiazole, mercaptoimidazole and imidazothiadiazole.