bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvements in Flow Cytometry‐Based Cytotoxicity Assay
Authors: Wu Xiaolong , Zhang Ying , Li Yutao , Schmidt‐Wolf Ingo G. H.
Published: October 2020

The flow cytometry‐based assay has been increasingly used to assess the cell‐mediated cytotoxicity since the 1980s due to its advantages over the conventional radioactive 51Cr release assay (CRA), such as higher sensitivity at the single‐cell level and nonradioactivity. The basic principle of this assay is the usage of two dyes, one nontoxic dye for labeling targets or effector cells to distinguish one from another, one viability dye for discrimination of dead from live cells. Due to the problem of spontaneous release or leakage of the nontoxic dye, the concern about the cross‐staining has not yet been clearly elucidated. In this study, carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE) was utilized to label target cells and Hoechst 33258 was used as the viability dye. We confirmed that no cross‐staining occurred between the effector and target cells after 4 h of coculture. We also found that the cytotoxicity would be overestimated if effector cells instead of target cells were labeled due to the exclusion of viable targets in effector‐target conjugates. Using EDTA at the end of culture or labeling targets can solve this problem. Furthermore, the gating strategy could be improved by plotting CFSE against forward scatter (FSC) to discriminate some early apoptotic events. Due to the loss of target cells lysed by effector cells, counting beads are normally preferable in this assay. Here, we found an alternative to the use of beads in standardizing the flow cytometry‐based assay. Instead of using beads, sample acquisition in a fixed time was shown to have the same effect in specific lysis evaluation as the beads application but have a greater stability than the latter. With a good quality control, the acquisition time for each sample could be shortened to 15 s, thus making this work to be done efficiently, especially in the case of larger sample sizes. Collectively, the findings in this study can improve the flow cytometric cytotoxicity assay to be carried out in a more accurate, efficient, and cost‐effective way. © 2020 International Society for Advancement of Cytometry
Consistency of EEG asymmetry patterns in infants of depressed mothers
Authors: Goodman Sherryl H. , Liu Ran , Lusby Cara M. , Park Ji Soo , Bell Martha Ann , Newport D. Jeffrey , Stowe Zachary N.
Published: October 2020

We evaluated frontal electroencephalogram (EEG) asymmetry across multiple contexts as an index of a general affective response predisposition in 12‐month‐old infants whose mothers were at elevated risk for perinatal depression due to their mother’s history of depression. We further examined mothers’ prenatal, postnatal, and concurrent depressive symptom levels in relation to infants’ frontal EEG asymmetry consistency. Mothers (n = 132) with a history of depression prior to pregnancy completed depressive symptom scales repeatedly during pregnancy and the first year postpartum. Their 12‐month‐old infants’ frontal EEG asymmetry was recorded across five contexts (baseline/bubbles, peek‐a‐boo, play, feeding, and distract). Frontal EEG asymmetries showed small to moderate correlations across contexts. Mothers’ prenatal depression symptom levels (not postnatal or concurrent) were associated with infants having consistent right, rather than left, frontal EEG asymmetry, even after controlling for infants’ observed affect. These findings demonstrate the consistency of EEG asymmetry scores across contexts in 12‐month‐old infants at risk for the development of psychopathology, providing support for relative right frontal EEG asymmetry as a trait marker of vulnerability to depression. Findings also suggest the importance of mothers’ prenatal, rather than postnatal or concurrent depression, in predicting infants’ consistent patterns of relative right frontal EEG asymmetry across contexts.
Landscape‐scale restoration minimizes tree growth vulnerability to 21stcentury drought in a dry forest
Authors: Bradford John B. , Andrews Caitlin M. , Robles Marcos D. , McCauley Lisa A. , Woolley Travis J. , Marshall Robert M.
Published: October 2020

Increasing aridity is a challenge for forest managers and reducing stand density to minimize competition is a recognized strategy to mitigate drought impacts on growth. In many dry forests, the most widespread and common forest management programs currently being implemented focus on restoration of historical stand structures, primarily to minimize fire risk and enhance watershed function. The implications of these restoration projects for drought vulnerability are not well understood. Here, we examined how planned restoration treatments in the Four Forests Restoration Initiative, the largest forest restoration project in the United States, would alter landscape‐scale patterns of forest growth and drought vulnerability throughout the 21st century. Using drought–growth relationships developed within the landscape, we considered a suite of climate and treatment scenarios and estimated average forest growth and the proportion of years with extremely low growth as a measure of vulnerability to long‐term decline. Climatic shifts projected for this landscape include higher temperatures and shifting seasonal precipitation that promotes lower soil moisture availability in the early growing season and greater hot‐dry stress, conditions negatively associated with tree growth. However, drought severity and the magnitude of future growth declines were moderated by the thinning treatments. Compared to historical conditions, proportional growth in mid‐century declines by ~40% if thinning ceases or continues at the status quo pace. By comparison, proportional growth declines by only 20% if the Four Forest Restoration Initiative treatments are fully implemented, and <10% if stands are thinned even more intensively than currently planned. Furthermore, restoration treatments resulted in dramatically fewer years with extremely low growth in the future, a recognized precursor to forest decline and eventual tree mortality. Benefits from density reduction for mitigating drought‐induced growth declines are more apparent in mid‐century and under RCP4.5 than under RCP8.5 at the end of the century. Future climate is inherently uncertain, and our results only reflect the climate projections from the representative suite of models examined. Nevertheless, these results indicate that forest restoration projects designed for other objectives also have substantial benefits for minimizing future drought vulnerability in dry forests and provide additional incentive to accelerate the pace of restoration.
Spatial and environmental effects on Coho Salmon life history trait variation
Authors: Tuor Kimberly M. F. , Heath Daniel D. , Shrimpton J. Mark
Published: October 2020

Adult size, egg size, fecundity, and mass of gonads are affected by trade‐offs between reproductive investment and environmental conditions shaping the evolution of life history traits among populations for widely distributed species. Coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch have a large geographic distribution, and different environmental conditions are experienced by populations throughout their range. We examined the effect of environmental variables on female size, egg size, fecundity, and reproductive investment of populations of Coho Salmon from across British Columbia using an information theoretic approach. Female size increased with latitude and decreased with migration distance from the ocean to spawning locations. Egg size was lowest for intermediate intragravel temperature during incubation, decreased with migration distance, but increased in rivers below lakes. Fecundity increased with latitude, warmer temperature during the spawning period, and river size, but decreased in rivers below lakes compared with rivers with tributary sources. Relative gonad size increased with latitude and decreased with migration distance. Latitude of spawning grounds, migratory distance, and temperatures experienced by a population, but also hydrologic features—river size and headwater source—are influential in shaping patterns of reproductive investment, particularly egg size. Although, relative gonad size varied with latitude and migration distance, how gonadal mass was partitioned gives insight into the trade‐off between egg size and fecundity. The lack of an effect of latitude on egg size suggests that local optima for egg size related to intragravel temperature may drive the variation in fecundity observed among years.
Regulatory T cell metabolism at the intersection between autoimmune diseases and cancer
Authors: Kurniawan Henry , Soriano‐Baguet Leticia , Brenner Dirk
Published: October 2020

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical for peripheral immune tolerance and homeostasis, and altered Treg behavior is involved in many pathologies, including autoimmunity and cancer. The expression of the transcription factor FoxP3 in Tregs is fundamental to maintaining their stability and immunosuppressive function. Recent studies have highlighted the crucial role that metabolic reprogramming plays in controlling Treg plasticity, stability, and function. In this review, we summarize how the availability and use of various nutrients and metabolites influence Treg metabolic pathways and activity. We also discuss how Treg‐intrinsic metabolic programs define and shape their differentiation, FoxP3 expression, and suppressive capacity. Lastly, we explore how manipulating the regulation of Treg metabolism might be exploited in different disease settings to achieve novel immunotherapies.
Zn Nanoparticles Modified Screen Printed Carbon Electrode as a Promising Sensor for Insulin Determination
Authors: Šišoláková Ivana , Hovancová Jana , Chovancová Frederika , Oriňaková Renáta , Maskaľová Iveta , Oriňak Andrej , Radoňak Jozef
Published: October 2020

Screen printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) modified by a combination of chitosan, multi walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and zinc nanoparticles (ZnNPs) were studied for the first time as a suitable candidate for non‐enzymatic insulin determination. In an effort to find the most suitable modification for electrochemical insulin determination, the stability, analytical characteristics, and selectivity were determined. The results confirmed that the ZnNPs/chitosan‐MWCNTs prepared with the Zn deposition time of 45 s displayed the best electrocatalytic activity towards insulin oxidation in a wide linear concentration range (0.5 μM to 5 μM), with low limit of detection and high sensitivity.
Epilepsy in Morocco: Realities, pitfalls and prospects
Authors: Kissani Najib , Cherkaoui Rhazouani Oussama , Souirti Zouhayr , Khramaz Mounia , Meryem Chettati , Mebrouk Yassine , Ouazzani Reda
Published: October 2020

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that about 50 million people of all ages have epilepsy and nearly 85% of whom live in low‐ and middle‐income (LMICs) countries. In Morocco, epilepsy is one of the major neurological health conditions, with an estimated prevalence of 1.1%. The management of patients is difficult due to multiple factors. The lack of neurologists whose number is currently 180, the uneven distribution of neurologists who are concentrated in large cities, 43% of whom are in Rabat and Casablanca alone; the low involvement of general practitioners in the management of epilepsy; the frequent consultation of traditional healers; and the low coverage of social security all contribute to the treatment gap. The management of epilepsy has advanced considerably since the early nineties. Several factors contributed to this progress: the increasing number of neurologists compared to previous years, the creation of well‐equipped new academic centers, and small units of general neurology, in addition to the disuse of several antiepileptic drugs. However, much work remains to be done against the use of many forms of traditional practices and the low involvement of general practitioners in the management of epilepsy. This is the first study on epilepsy conducted in Morocco.
Impact of an 0.2 km3 Rock Avalanche on Lake Eibsee (Bavarian Alps, Germany) – Part I: Reconstruction of the paleolake and Effects of the Impact
Authors: Knapp Sibylle , Mamot Philipp , Lempe Bernhard , Krautblatter Michael
Published: October 2020

Rock avalanches destroy and reshape landscapes in only a few minutes and are among the most hazardous processes on Earth. The surface morphology of rock avalanche deposits and the interaction with the underlying material are crucial for runout properties and reach. Water within the travel path is displaced, producing large impact waves and reducing friction, leading to long runouts. We hypothesize that the 0.2 km3 Holocene Eibsee rock avalanche from Mount Zugspitze in the Bavarian Alps overran and destroyed Paleolake Eibsee and left a unique sedimentological legacy of processes active during the landslide. We captured 9.5 km of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) profiles across the rock avalanche deposits, with up to 120 m penetration depth and more than 34 000 datum points. The ERT profiles reveal up to ~50 m thick landslide debris, locally covering up to ~30 m of rock debris with entrained fine‐grained sediments on top of isolated remnants of decametre‐wide paleolake sediments. The ERT profiles allow us to infer processes involved in the interaction of the rock avalanche with bedrock, lake sediments, and morainal sediments, including shearing, bulging, and bulldozing. Complementary data from drilling, a gravel pit exposure, laboratory tests, and geomorphic features were used for ERT calibration. Sediments overrun by the rock avalanche show water‐escape structures. Based on all of these datasets, we reconstructed both position and size of the paleolake prior to the catastrophic event. Our reconstruction of the event contributes to process an understanding of the rock avalanche and future modelling and hazard assessment. Here we show how integrated geomorphic, geophysical, and sedimentological approaches can provide detailed insights into the impact of a rock avalanche on a lake. © 2020 The Authors. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Testing a convolutional neural network‐based hippocampal segmentation method in a stroke population
Authors: Zavaliangos‐Petropulu Artemis , Tubi Meral A. , Haddad Elizabeth , Zhu Alyssa , Braskie Meredith N. , Jahanshad Neda , Thompson Paul M. , Liew Sook‐Lei
Published: October 2020

As stroke mortality rates decrease, there has been a surge of effort to study poststroke dementia (PSD) to improve long‐term quality of life for stroke survivors. Hippocampal volume may be an important neuroimaging biomarker in poststroke dementia, as it has been associated with many other forms of dementia. However, studying hippocampal volume using MRI requires hippocampal segmentation. Advances in automated segmentation methods have allowed for studying the hippocampus on a large scale, which is important for robust results in the heterogeneous stroke population. However, most of these automated methods use a single atlas‐based approach and may fail in the presence of severe structural abnormalities common in stroke. Hippodeep, a new convolutional neural network‐based hippocampal segmentation method, does not rely solely on a single atlas‐based approach and thus may be better suited for stroke populations. Here, we compared quality control and the accuracy of segmentations generated by Hippodeep and two well‐accepted hippocampal segmentation methods on stroke MRIs (FreeSurfer 6.0 whole hippocampus and FreeSurfer 6.0 sum of hippocampal subfields). Quality control was performed using a stringent protocol for visual inspection of the segmentations, and accuracy was measured as volumetric correlation with manual segmentations. Hippodeep performed significantly better than both FreeSurfer methods in terms of quality control. All three automated segmentation methods had good correlation with manual segmentations and no one method was significantly more correlated than the others. Overall, this study suggests that both Hippodeep and FreeSurfer may be useful for hippocampal segmentation in stroke rehabilitation research, but Hippodeep may be more robust to stroke lesion anatomy.
Construction and validation of a database of head models for functional imaging of the neonatal brain
Authors: Collins‐Jones Liam H. , Arichi Tomoki , Poppe Tanya , Billing Addison , Xiao Jiaxin , Fabrizi Lorenzo , Brigadoi Sabrina , Hebden Jeremy C. , Elwell Clare E. , Cooper Robert J.
Published: October 2020

The neonatal brain undergoes dramatic structural and functional changes over the last trimester of gestation. The accuracy of source localisation of brain activity recorded from the scalp therefore relies on accurate age‐specific head models. Although an age‐appropriate population‐level atlas could be used, detail is lost in the construction of such atlases, in particular with regard to the smoothing of the cortical surface, and so such a model is not representative of anatomy at an individual level. In this work, we describe the construction of a database of individual structural priors of the neonatal head using 215 individual‐level datasets at ages 29–44 weeks postmenstrual age from the Developing Human Connectome Project. We have validated a method to segment the extra‐cerebral tissue against manual segmentation. We have also conducted a leave‐one‐out analysis to quantify the expected spatial error incurred with regard to localising functional activation when using a best‐matching individual from the database in place of a subject‐specific model; the median error was calculated to be 8.3 mm (median absolute deviation 3.8 mm). The database can be applied for any functional neuroimaging modality which requires structural data whereby the physical parameters associated with that modality vary with tissue type and is freely available at www.ucl.ac.uk/dot-hub.
Social tariffs and democratic choice—Do population‐based health state values reflect the will of the people?
Authors: Schneider Paul Peter
Published: October 2020

In economic evaluations of health technologies, health outcomes are commonly measured in terms of quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs). QALYs are the product of time and health‐related quality of life. Health‐related quality of life, in turn, is determined by a social tariff, which is supposed to reflect the public's preference over health states. This study argues that, because of the tariff's role in the societal decision‐making process, it should not be understood as merely an operational (statistical) definition of health, but as a major instrument of democratic participation. I outline what implications this might have for both the method used to aggregate individual preferences, and the set of individuals whose preferences should count. Alternative tariff specifications and decision rules are explored, and future research directions are proposed.
Hybrid method combining superpixel, supervised learning, and random walk for glioma segmentation
Authors: Ait Mohamed Linda , Cherfa Assia , Cherfa Yazid , Belkhamsa Noureddine , Alim‐Ferhat Fatiha
Published: October 2020

Currently, the analysis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain images of pathological patients is performed manually, both for the recognition of brain structures or lesions and for their characterization. Physicians sometimes encounter difficulties in interpreting these images for a reliable diagnosis of the patient's condition. This is due to the difficulty of detecting the nature of the lesions, particularly glioma. Glioma is one of the most common tumors, and one of the most difficult to detect because of its shape, irregularities, and ambiguous limits. The segmentation of these tumors is one of the most crucial steps for their classification and surgical planning. This article presents a new, accurate, and automatic approach for the precise segmentation of early gliomas (benign tumors), combining the random walk (RW) algorithm and the simple linear iterative clustering algorithm. The study was carried out in four steps. The first step consisted of decomposing the image into superpixels to obtain an initial outline of the tumor. The superpixels were generated using the SLIC algorithm. In the second step, for each superpixel, a set of statistical and multifractal characteristics were calculated (gray‐level co‐occurrence matrix, multifractal detrending moving average). In the third step, the superpixels were classified using a supervised random forest (RF) type classier into healthy or tumorous brain tissue. In the final step, the contour of the detected tumor was enhanced using the customized RW algorithm. The proposed method was evaluated using the Brain Tumor Image Segmentation Challenge 2013 database. The results obtained are competitive compared to other existing methods.
Retinal image enhancement using adaptive histogram equalization tuned with nonsimilar grouping curvelet
Authors: Anilet Bala A , Aruna Priya P , Maik Vivek
Published: October 2020

Fundus images are broadly used by medical ophthalmologists to detect and assess any customary abnormalities. Fundus imaging sensors capture the eye's rigid portion, which characteristically covers the core, tangential retina, optic disc, and macula. Existing state‐of‐the‐art fundus sensors have the drawback of producing low contrast and noisy information, which makes scientific and algorithmic evaluation very complicated. This article proposes an Adaptive Histogram Equalization—Tuned with Nonsimilar Grouping Curvelet (HET‐NOSCU), which works through a joint denoising enhancement approach. The proposed algorithm's main contribution includes (i) use of curvelet features to better preserve edges during denoising. (ii) Adaptive enhancement using the histogram to prevent halo ringing and specular artifacts, which yields superior results than the very recently established state‐of ‐the‐art methods, using similar performing parameters such as peak signal to noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index (SSIM), and correlation coefficient (CoC). We observe an improvement of 17.66%, 0.93%, and 0.24%, respectively, for the above parameters.
Development of a novel flow cytometry‐based approach for reticulocytes micronucleus test in rat peripheral blood
Authors: Chen Yiyi , Huo Jiao , Liu Yunjie , Zeng Zhu , Zhu Xuejiao , Chen Xuxi , Wu Rui , Zhang Lishi , Chen Jinyao
Published: October 2020

The micronucleus test (MNT) is the most widely applied short‐term assay to detect clastogens or spindle disruptors. The use of flow cytometry (FCM) has been reported for micronucleated erythrocytes scoring in peripheral blood. The aim of this study was to develop a novel and practical protocol for MNT in rat peripheral blood by FCM, with the method validation. CD71‐fluorescein isothiocyanate and DRAQ5 were adopted for the fluorescent staining of proteins and DNA, respectively, to detect micronuclei. To validate the method, groups of male Sprague–Dawley rats (five per group) received two oral gavage doses at 0 and 24 h of six chemicals (four positive mutagens: ethyl methanesulphonate [EMS], cyclophosphamide [CP], colchicine [COL], and ethyl nitrosourea [ENU]; two nongenotoxic chemicals: sodium saccharin and eugenol). Blood samples were collected from the tail vein before and on the five continuous days after treatments; all of which were analyzed for micronuclei presence by both the manual (Giemsa staining) and FCM methods. The FCM‐based method consistently demonstrated highly sensitive responses for micronucleus detection at all concentrations and all time points for EMS, CP, COL, and ENU. Sodium saccharin and eugenol could be identified as negative in this protocol. Results obtained with the FCM‐based method correlated well with the micronucleus frequencies (r = 0.659–0.952), and the proportion of immature erythrocytes (r = 0.915–0.981) tested by Giemsa staining. The method reported here, with easy operation, low background, and requirement for a regular FCM, could be an efficient system for micronucleus scoring.
The determinants of residential property prices in Japan: Analyses of different monetary policy regimes
Authors: Ito Takayasu
Published: October 2020

Residential property prices in three regions in Japan are influenced by stock price, but not by interest rate, in the first period of sample period, from April 2008 to March 2013 The wealth effect from stock to the real estate market holds. The sensitivity of interest rates to residential property markets is not confirmed. Furthermore, the monetary policy adopted by the Bank of Japan (BOJ) is not as strong in the second period. Residential property prices are influenced both by stock price and interest rate in the second period, from April 2013‐ to August 2019. The wealth effect from stock to the real estate market holds. The aggressive non‐traditional monetary policy enacted by the BOJ flattens the yield curve of long‐term interest rates. Comparing the impact of stock price and interest rate in the three regions under study, Tokyo enjoys the greatest effects.
Giant Eustachian valve and Thebesian valve—A highly deceptive structures as atrial septal defect rims
Authors: Damodaran Srinath , Gourav Krishna Prasad , Negi Sunder , Halder Vikram , Azmeera Sreenivas
Published: October 2020

The Eustachian valve (EV) of the inferior vena cava and the Thebesian valve (TV) of the coronary sinus are incompletely regressed structures of embryonic sinus venosus. In the majority of cases, the EV and TV disappear completely after birth or are represented only by a thin crescentic fold. On echocardiography, these vestiges may mimic abnormal structures. We report a case with giant EV and TV which were initially misinterpreted as rims of an atrial septal defect (ASD) leading to the false diagnosis of ostium secundum ASD.
Predoctoral dental implant education techniques—students’ perception and attitude
Authors: Chaturvedi Saurabh , Elmahdi Asim Elsir , Abdelmonem Adel M. , Haralur Satheesh B. , Alqahtani Nasser M. , Suleman Ghazala , Sharif Rania A. , Gurumurthy Vishwanath , Alfarsi Mohammed A
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Dental implant (DI) therapy is in high demand and can only be rendered efficiently to graduating dentists by effective teaching methodologies. This study aimed to assess the perceptions and attitudes of dental graduates towards predoctoral DI education techniques and rehabilitation by DI.

Methods

A total of 26 well‐structured questionnaires were distributed to 120 final‐year students. Modified advanced teaching methodologies such as e‐learning, small‐group teaching–problem‐based learning (SGT–PBL), and team‐based learning were implemented for teaching DI. Its effects were assessed using a questionnaire set: the first section (DI Rehabilitation) with 12 questions and the second (DI teaching methods) with 14 questions. Statistical analysis was done using the Chi‐square test, and aP‐value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The response rate was 95.83%. Seventy‐five percent of the students recommended DI for patients, and 78% of them agreed to it themselves. On comparing teaching methods for DI, on and before level 12, small‐group teaching (PBL) was significantly at a higher proportion (P = 0.002), followed by seminars (P < 0.001). Students preferred small‐group teaching PBL (60%), followed by e‐learning (15%) and demonstration (10%). Ninety‐two percent of the students agreed that DI is an important subject in the “bachelor of dental surgery” (BDS) program, but 78% of them felt that time was insufficient to complete the DI syllabus.

Conclusions

The modified teaching methodologies used at level 12 for teaching DI enhanced students’ interest and knowledge. The SGT–PBL teaching method was the most preferred. It is recommended that dental implantology topics should be started early in the undergraduate curriculum, and the topics should be widely divided throughout BDS.
Outcomes of endoscopic ultrasound as a one‐off pancreatic cancer screening tool for 122 high‐ and moderate‐risk patients
Authors: Efthymiou Marios , Chandran Sujievvan , Zorron Cheng Tao Pu Leonardo , Collins Allison , Rajadurai Anton , Nikfarjam Mehrdad , Vaughan Rhys
Published: October 2020

Background and Aim

Pancreatic cancer (PC) carries a poor prognosis and is often detected at later stages. Screening programs for moderate‐ and high‐risk people are still under debate. We present the results from a prospective study on endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) as a one‐off screening tool for pancreatic cancer screening.

Methods

Asymptomatic patients with moderate‐ or high‐risk of PC were invited to participate. Moderate risk consisted of one first‐degree and at least one second‐degree relative with PC and no PC‐associated genetic mutations. High risk consisted of >1 first‐degree relatives with PC or PC‐associated mutations (i.e. BRCA2, Lynch Syndrome, Familial Atypical Multiple Mole Melanoma Syndrome, STK11, or PALB2). All included patients had genetic counseling and a screening EUS done. Primary outcome was the detection of PC on EUS. Secondary outcomes assessed the evolution of psychological symptoms based on the Impact of Events Scale (IES) and Personal Consequences Questionnaire (PCQ) before and after the screening took place.

Results

A total of 122 patients had a screening EUS performed between 2013 and 2019; 60 were male, 55.8 years was the mean age, 78 were at high risk for PC, and 25 had PC‐associated mutations. No pancreatic cancers were identified at the one‐off EUS screening. Overall, patients' IES/PCQ scores did not change after screening and feedback of no malignancy, with the exception of females (less concerned about PC after screening EUS).

Conclusions

EUS did not detect any PCs in either a moderate‐ or high‐risk population as a one‐off screening method. The EUS procedure and genetic counseling improved psychological symptoms for the female subset of this population.
Recent advances on the pesticidal activity evaluations of sulfone derivatives: A 2010 to 2020 decade inmini‐review
Authors: Li Pei , Wang Lijuan , Wang Xiang
Published: October 2020

Sulfone derivatives, an important synthetic strategy in drug discovery, are acquiring more importance in plant protection field in recent years because of their pesticide activities, such as antifungal, antibacterial, acaricidal, insecticidal, herbicidal, and antiviral activity. Introduction of different pharmacophores into sulfone framework can afford a series of sulfone derivatives to build some sulfone derivatives as novel active molecules. The purpose of this review was to collate literature work reported by researchers on sulfone derivatives for their various pesticidal activities from year 2010 to 2020.
Reconstructing serial homology with a special emphasis on the nature of limbs in vertebrates and with references to Cruveilhier, Wyman, Belogolowy, and Balinsky
Authors: Kuznetsov Alexander N.
Published: October 2020

This analysis was inspired by the recent paper by Siomava et al. (2020) who attempted to deconstruct the serial homology concept, but retain the special homology. The criticism against this attempt is presented based on reconsideration of the original Owen's trinitarian concept of the general, serial, and special homology, and on a number of evidence on the vertebrate limbs serial homologies and on the vertebrate occiput special homologies which are currently missed by the morphologist community. The research of Belogolowy (1911) proved that the concept of special homology can be deconstructed with the same reasoning as suggested by Siomava et al. (2020) against the serial homology concept. It is argued that the deconstruction attempts come from wrong expectations in respect of homology. It is argued, that, due to developmental singularities, such as the zygote, or spore, or bud (in vegetative reproduction), the true homogeny is possible for genes only. The organs do not arise from organs, and therefore their genetic basis, and hence homology, can be changed in the developmental singularities. Thus, the morphological homology is not static. It can be acquired and it can evolve. Genetically, the evolution of morphological homologies can be thought of as a succession of co‐options. The evidence for a succession of serial homologies in vertebrate limbs is suggested. It is argued that homology and analogy have a sense only in relation to each other. When two correspondences between two organs exist simultaneously, the older (deeper in time) is homology, and the newer (more superficial) is analogy. In this conceptual framework of evolvable homology, neither of the three Owen's types of homology can be abandoned. Three respective types of analogy should be added—the general analogy, the serial analogy, and the special analogy.
Observed and modelled cloud cover up to 6 km height at Station Nord in the high Arctic
Authors: Gryning Sven‐Erik , Batchvarova Ekaterina , Floors Rogier , Münkel Christoph , Skov Henrik , Sørensen Lise Lotte
Published: October 2020

We present results from an analyses of cloud cover based on profiles of the attenuated backscatter coefficient from an 8‐year‐long data series (July 2011–April 2019). The observations are carried out in the high Arctic by a ceilometer with a maximum range setting of 7.7 km from the Villum Research Station at Station Nord, Greenland. Results show that the hourly cloud cover turned out to follow a U‐shaped rather than Gaussian‐like distribution. Annual and seasonal cloud cover variation is illustrated. The cloud cover is larger during the autumn and winter as compared to summer and spring. The cloud cover exhibits a substantial variation from year to year without a clear trend. The cloud cover during spring is low and decreasing between 2012 and 2017. The cloud cover during the autumn of 2016 is lowest compared to the other years. The observed cloud cover is compared to the cloud cover provided in the ERA5 reanalysis dataset. The cloud cover for low clouds and medium clouds are combined to represent a total height of 6 km. Both the observed and modelled cloud cover is larger during winter as compared to summer‐time cloud cover. The measured reduction in the cloud cover for the autumn of 2016 is present in the reanalysis data as well but the measured low cloud cover during spring is not apparent in the reanalysis data. Because the cloud cover distribution is U‐shaped rather than of a Gaussian nature, standard metrics are not applicable. We apply a generalized skill score that is developed for contingency tables or joint histograms. Three skill scores were calculated. It was found that for all three methods, skills for the predictability of the cloud cover by the ERA5 modelling is better for winter than summer and is poor during the spring.
Temperature annual cycle variations and responses to surface solar radiation in China between 1960 and 2016
Authors: Zhao Runze , Wang Kaicun , Wu Guocan , Zhou Chunlue
Published: October 2020

The annual temperature cycle affects atmospheric circulation, biomass cycling, and human life. Its variation is influenced by surface solar radiation, which plays a key role in surface energy budgets. In this study, the Fourier transform method is used to analyse the spatial distribution and long‐term variations in temperature phase, amplitude, and baseline terms between 1960 and 2016 in China. Mean surface air temperature has a north–south gradient for phase, amplitude, and baseline. The regional mean phase values of the maximum, minimum, and mean temperatures in South China are larger than in North China, indicating that the timing of the annual cycle in Southern China is several days later than in Northern China. At the national scale, the annual maximum, minimum, and mean surface air temperature cycles are advancing, decreasing in range, and have a rising baseline. Linear regression is used to quantify the effect of surface solar radiation on temperature by removing its contribution on the raw maximum and mean temperatures. The surface solar radiation increases the phase of maximum and mean daily air temperatures, but reduces the amplitude and baseline. The surface solar radiation effect on maximum temperature is especially significant on the Yunnan‐Guizhou Plateau located in the south‐southwest. The phase of maximum temperature adjusted for solar radiation for the Plateau is similar to South China at the same latitude and later than the raw maximum temperature.
Time of emergence of climate signals over Vietnam detected from the CORDEX‐SEA experiments
Authors: Nguyen‐Thuy Huong , Ngo‐Duc Thanh , Trinh‐Tuan Long , Tangang Fredolin , Cruz Faye , Phan‐Van Tan , Juneng Liew , Narisma Gemma , Santisirisomboon Jerasorn
Published: October 2020

This study uses six regional climate model (RCM) experiments from the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment—Southeast Asia (CORDEX‐SEA) and their driving global climate models (GCM) to investigate the model performance and the time of emergence (ToE) of temperature and precipitation over Vietnam and its seven sub‐climatic regions. A simple delta (multiplicative) bias correction (BC) method has been applied to the model temperature (precipitation). Results show clear added values of the BC downscaled products compared to their driving GCMs, particularly for temperature. The projected trends of RCM temperature during 2006–2100 under two representative concentration pathway (RCP) RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios are similar to those of their driving GCMs. Consequently, the RCM‐based ToE and GCM‐based ToE are generally consistent for temperature, occurring in the beginning of the 21st century. The earliest and latest ToE occur in summer and winter, respectively. The seasonal differentiation for temperature‐ToEs is stronger in the northern areas compared to the southern areas of Vietnam. The ToE difference between two RCPs increases from the south to the north. As for precipitation, ToE occurs quite late, in the latter half of the 21st century at the earliest. Results from ToE estimations also indicate an opposite precipitation trend between the GCMs and RCMs. The largest difference is in summer over the southern region of Vietnam. The opposite trend between the GCM and RCM precipitation under a similar increasing temperature implies the uncertainty in assessing the impact of warming on hydrological cycles in Vietnam.
Polymers and protein‐associated vesicles for the microencapsulation of anthocyanins from grape skins used for food applications
Authors: Constantin Oana Emilia , Stănciuc Nicoleta , Yan Yinzhuo , Ghinea Ioana Otilia , Ungureanu Claudia , Cîrciumaru Adrian , Wang Deliang , Poklar Ulrih Natasa , Râpeanu Gabriela
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND

Anthocyanins were extracted from grape skins by a combination of ethanolic‐ultrasonic assisted methods and were then encapsulated by freeze‐drying in soy phosphatidylcholine vesicles with the addition of different polymers, such as pectin, acacia gum, and whey protein isolate. The goal of this research was to microencapsulate anthocyanin compounds extracted from grape skins, to characterize the stability and behavior of the vesicles and then to use them to obtain a new light formulated mayonnaise.

RESULTS

The particle size ranged from 900 nm in the control condition to 250 nm in vesicles loaded with whey proteins. The powders showed higher encapsulation efficiency for all variants, ranging from 81 to 96%. Vibrational spectroscopy revealed better inclusion of anthocyanins in polysaccharide‐based coacervates, whereas in protein‐based coacervates a possible interaction of anthocyanins with amine groups was observed. The vesicles were tested for in vitro release, and the results confirmed the gradual release of the anthocyanins in both stages of digestion, with a residual content of about 50% in the vesicles. The powders displayed high stability during storage in the dark at 4 °C. The panelists appreciated the new light formulated mayonnaises enriched with 10% dried vesicles compared with the control sample, in particular samples with acacia gum.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed that polymer‐loaded vesicles presented stability in simulated gastrointestinal fluids and have proved successful in obtaining new light enriched mayonnaises. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Catastrophic Hemorrhage After Chemoradiation for Advanced Stage Oropharyngeal Carcinoma: A Case Series
Authors: Chou Courtney T. , Rath Tanya J. , Johnson Jonas T. , Goyal Lindsey K.
Published: October 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

We have seen several incidences of catastrophic bleeding in patients with advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma treated nonoperatively. Aside from advanced disease, these patients have not had traditional risk factors for major hemorrhage.

Study Design

Retrospective chart review.

Methods

Patients treated nonoperatively for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were compared to determine characteristics that may predisposed to bleeding. Five patients with bleeding were identified and compared with a cohort of stage‐ and treatment‐matched patients without bleeding. Blinded imaging review was performed to characterize the tumor site and its relationship to vasculature using standardized systems.

Results

Comparing the bleeder versus nonbleeder groups pre‐treatment, the bleeder group had larger tumors (15.4 vs. 8.3 cm2), greater rates of parapharyngeal fat effacement (80% vs. 20%), and always involved the facial artery. Post‐treatment, endophytic ulcerated tumor beds occurred in 100% of bleeders versus 0% of nonbleeders.

Conclusions

Catastrophic oropharyngeal bleeding may be encountered after cytoreductive therapy. Large deeply invasive tumors seem to set the necessary circumstances. Rapid vascular control with interventional radiology has been largely effective therapy.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 131:1049–1052, 2021
A Meta‐Analysis of 67 Studies with Presenting Symptoms and Laboratory Tests of COVID‐19 Patients
Authors: Mair Manish , Singhavi Hitesh , Pai Ameya , Singhavi Jinesh , Gandhi Prachi , Conboy Peter , Baker Andrew , Das Sudip
Published: October 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

The objective of this meta‐analysis was to look at the pooled prevalence of symptoms, laboratory tests, and imaging of all COVID‐19 infected patients. This will allow better identification of potential COVID‐19 patients and take appropriate precautions.

Study design

Meta analysis.

Methods

We searched three databases, PubMed, EMBASE, and Ovid to identify studies published between Dec‐2019 and May‐2020. All studies reporting upper‐aerodigestive symptoms of COVID‐19 infection were included. The meta‐analysis was conducted following meta‐analyses of observational studies in epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines, which have evaluated the pooled prevalence of 14 symptoms and nine laboratory investigations.

Results

Based on inclusion criteria, 67 publications consisting of 8302 patients were included. Among adults, the pooled proportion of hypertensive and diabetic patients was 18% and 7%. Cough (53% [0.46–0.61]), anosmia (38% [0.19–0.58]), loss/distortion of taste (31% [0.17–0.45]), and nasal obstruction (26% [0.12–0.39]) were the most common ear, nose & throat (ENT) symptoms. Fever (69% [0.62–0.76]) and fatigue (31% [0.26–0.37]) were the commonest generalized symptoms. C‐reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were raised in 56% (0.41–0.71) and 49% (0.21–0.77), respectively. Interestingly, lymphopenia (41% [0.30–0.53]) and leucopenia (22% [0.16–0.29]) were more common than lymphocytosis (33% [0.02–0.64]) and leucocytosis (12% [0.09–0.16]). Fever (69% vs. 44%), cough (53% vs. 33%), and dyspnea (20% vs. 4%) were more common in adults as compared to the pediatric population. Diarrhea was more common among the pediatric cases (12%) versus (9%). The pooled estimate of fatality was 4%.

Conclusions

The most commonly experienced ENT symptom was cough followed by anosmia and dysguesia. Raised ESR and CRP with leukopenia and lymphopenia are common laboratory findings. Majority of the infected patients had abnormal computed tomography findings. COVID infection is less severe in pediatric patients. Laryngoscope, 131:1254–1265, 2021
The relationship and incidence of three editorial notices in PubPeer: Errata, expressions of concern, and retractions
Authors: Ortega José Luis
Published: October 2020

This article studies the incidence and relationship of three important relevant editorial notices: errata, expressions of concern, and retractions. The journal club PubPeer was used to extract 39,449 research articles and the 2,308 errata, 189 expressions of concern, and 1,531 retractions associated with these publications. The relationship, time delay, and evolution of these publications were then compared, as was their incidence in journals and disciplines. The results show that the relationship between them is scant, the increase in these notices is in proportion to the scientific literature, and the time delay between publication and editorial notice is frequently over 3 years. According to incidence, editorial notices are more frequent in journals specializing in biochemistry, medicine, and multidisciplinarity, and cancer journals release more errata. Research areas with more editorial notices are the life and health sciences. The research fields with the highest percentages of errata and retractions are Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, and Immunology and Microbiology. It is recognized that the use of PubPeer as a data source may have influenced the results.
The triple helix of clinical, research, and education missions in academic health centers: A qualitative study of diverse stakeholder perspectives
Authors: Gonzalo Jed D. , Dekhtyar Michael , Caverzagie Kelly J. , Grant Barbara K. , Herrine Steven K. , Nussbaum Abraham M. , Tad‐y Darlene , White Earla , Wolpaw Daniel R.
Published: October 2020

Introduction

Academic health centers are poised to improve health through their clinical, education, and research missions. However, these missions often operate in silos. The authors explored stakeholder perspectives at diverse institutions to understand challenges and identify alignment strategies.

Methods

Authors used an exploratory qualitative design and thematic analysis approach with data obtained from electronic surveys sent to participants at five U.S. academic health centers (2017‐18), with four different types of medical school/health system partnerships. Participants included educators, researchers, system leaders, administrators, clinical providers, resident/fellow physicians, and students. Investigators coded data using constant comparative analysis, met regularly to reconcile uncertainties, and collapsed/combined categories.

Results

Of 175 participants invited, 113 completed the survey (65%). Three results categories were identified. First, five higher‐order themes emerged related to aligning missions, including (a) shared vision and strategies, (b) alignment of strategy with community needs, (c) tension of economic drivers, (d) coproduction of knowledge, and (e) unifying set of concepts spanning all missions. Second, strategies for each mission were identified, including education (new competencies, instructional methods, recruitment), research (shifting agenda, developing partnerships, operations), and clinical operations (delivery models, focus on patient factors/needs, value‐based care, well‐being). Lastly, strategies for integrating each dyadic mission pair, including research‐education, clinical operations education, and research‐clinical operations, were identified.

Conclusions

Academic health centers are at a crossroads in regard to identity and alignment across the tripartite missions. The study's results provide pragmatic strategies to advance the tripartite missions and lead necessary change for improved patient health.