bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of Urinary Albumin Using a “Turn‐on” Fluorescent Probe with Aggregation‐Induced Emission Characteristics
Authors: Hu Qi , Yao Bicheng , Owyong Tze Cin , Prashanth Sharon , Wang Changyu , Zhang Xinyi , Wong Wallace W. H. , Tang Youhong , Hong Yuning
Published: March 2021

Human serum albumin (HSA) is a broadly used biomarker for the diagnosis of various diseases such as chronic kidney disease. Here, a fluorescent probe TC426 with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) characteristics is reported as a sensitive and specific probe for HSA. This probe is non‐emissive in aqueous solution, meanwhile it shows bright fluorescence upon interacting with HSA, which makes it applicable in detecting HSA with a high signal to noise ratio. Besides, the fluorescence of TC426 exhibits a high linear correlation with the concentration of albumin in the range of microalbumin (20–200 mg/L), which has a significant importance for the early diagnosis of glomerulus related diseases. Compared with previously reported HSA probes TPE‐4TA and BSPOTPE, TC426 shows comparable anti‐interference ability towards creatinine and other major components in urine but is excited by a longer excitation wavelength at the visible light range. Finally, with the established assay, TC426 shows excellent performance in detecting HSA in real human urine, indicating its great potential in practical urinalysis.
A lost generation? The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on early career ASD researchers
Authors: Harrop Clare , Bal Vanessa , Carpenter Kimberly , Halladay Alycia
Published: March 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic has disrupted autism research and services. Early career researchers (ECRs) are particularly vulnerable to the impact of the pandemic on job security and career development. The goal of this study was to capture the challenges ECRs are facing during the pandemic and the supports that are needed for career development and research. ECRs were invited to complete an online survey that focused on four major areas; the impact of COVID‐19 on their research; changes in productivity due to COVID‐19; changes to training due to COVID‐19; and current mental health. 150 ECRs were eligible and provided sufficient data for inclusion. All but one ECRs reported their research had been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Reductions in productivity were reported by 85% of ECRs. The biggest impacts included recruitment of participants, increased needs at home and personal mental health. ECRs reported a 3‐fold increase in burnout, as well as increased anxiety. ECR supports, such as funding, flexibility, and tenure extensions, are required to ensure ASD research does not suffer from a “lost generation” of researchers.

Lay Summary

The COVID‐19 pandemic has had negative impacts on research around the world. Loss of productivity impedes autism research discoveries. However, researchers in the earliest phases of their career, specifically postdoctoral fellows through individuals in assistant professor (or equivalent) positions, are particularly vulnerable to long‐lasting effects of pandemic‐related disruptions which may limit their ability to continue as autism researchers. This survey highlights the needs of this group and identifies mechanisms by which these early career researchers may be supported in this time. This is critical to ensure the next generation of ASD researchers and clinician scientists continue on the path to advancing understanding of autism in the decades to come.
A comprehensive review on anticancer mechanism of bazedoxifene
Authors: Zafar Erum , Maqbool Muhammad Faisal , Iqbal Asia , Maryam Amara , Shakir Hafiz Abdullah , Irfan Muhammad , Khan Muhammad , Li Yongming , Ma Tonghui
Published: March 2021

Cancer is counted as a second leading cause of death among nontransmissible diseases. Identification of novel anticancer drugs is therefore necessary for the effective treatment of cancer. Conventional drug discovery is time consuming and expensive process. Unlike conventional drug discovery, drug repositioning offers a novel strategy for urgent drug discovery since it is a cost‐effective and faster process. Bazedoxifene (BZA) is a synthetic selective estrogen receptor modulator, approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. BZA is now being studied for its anticancer activity in various cancers including breast cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, head and neck cancer, medulloblastoma, brain cancer, and gastrointestinal cancer. Studies have reported that BZA is effective in reducing cancer progression through multiple mechanisms. BZA could effectively inhibit STAT3, PI3K/AKT, and MAPK signaling pathways and induce apoptosis. In addition to its anticancer activity as monotherapy, BZA has been shown to enhance the chemotherapeutic efficacy of clinical drugs such as paclitaxel, cisplatin, palbociclib, and oxaliplatin in multiple neoplasms. This review mainly focused on the anticancer activity, cellular targets, and anticancer mechanism of BZA, which may help the further design and conduct of research and repositioning it for oncological clinic trials.
In Situ Synchrotron X‐Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Studies of Anode Materials for Rechargeable Batteries
Authors: Wu Zhibin , Kong Pang Wei , Chen Libao , Johannessen Bernt , Guo Zaiping
Published: March 2021

Taking advantage of a high‐flux light source, synchrotron X‐ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) beamline is able to perform in situ/ex situ, element‐selective, and qualitative/quantitative experiments to elucidate electrochemical reaction mechanisms of batteries accurately and efficiently. In situ synchrotron XAS probes dynamic electronic and local atomic structure information, including valence state, charge transfer, local geometry and symmetry, bond number/length/type and disorder degree, of target elements of significance during battery operation, which facilitates to promote the development of rechargeable batteries by building accurate structure‐performance relationships fundamentally. In this review, the basic principles for XAS are briefly introduced, design strategies for in situ XAS experiments are proposed, salient in situ XAS studies of battery anodes are summarized, and current challenges and future opportunities based on XAS measurements are also outlined.
Effect of organic solvents on solvatochromic, fluorescence, and electrochemical properties of synthesized thiazolylcoumarin derivatives
Authors: Bahadur Ali , Iqbal Shahid , Ujan Rabail , Channar Pervaiz Ali , AL‐Anazy Murefah Mana , Saeed Aamer , Mahmood Qaiser , Shoaib Muhammad , Shah Mazloom , Arshad Ifzan , Shabir Ghulam , Saifullah Muhammad , Liu Guocong , Qayyum Muhammad Abdul
Published: March 2021

In this present investigation, thiazolylcoumarin derivatives (5a–5k) were synthesized from thiosemicarbazide, ethyl acetoacetate, and naphthaldehyde through a multistep route. The formation of thiazolylcoumarin derivatives with bioactive scaffolds was confirmed through nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A solvatochromic study of synthesized thiazolylcoumarin derivatives was carried out using ultraviolet–visible methods for dimethylformamide (DMF), ethyl acetate, and ethanol solvents. The redox behaviour of as‐synthesized thiazolylcoumarin derivatives (5a–5k) was examined in dimethyl sulphoxide by conducting an electrochemical study. Fluorescence properties of thiazolylcoumarin derivatives were studied in DMF, ethanol, and ethyl acetate to visualize the solvent effect on the emitting ability of thiazolylcoumarin derivatives.
A machine learning‐based survival prediction model of high grade glioma by integration of clinical and dose‐volume histogram parameters
Authors: Chen Haiyan , Li Chao , Zheng Lin , Lu Wei , Li Yanlin , Wei Qichun
Published: March 2021

Purpose

Glioma is the most common type of primary brain tumor in adults, and it causes significant morbidity and mortality, especially in high‐grade glioma (HGG) patients. The accurate prognostic prediction of HGG is vital and helpful for clinicians when developing therapeutic strategies. Therefore, we propose a machine learning‐based survival prediction model by analyzing clinical and dose‐volume histogram (DVH) parameters, to improve the performance of the risk model in HGG patients.

Methods

Eight clinical variables and 39 DVH parameters were extracted for each patient, who received radiotherapy for HGG with active follow‐up. Ninety‐five patients were randomly divided into training and testing cohorts, and we employed random survival forest (RSF), support vector machine (SVM), and Cox proportional hazards (CPHs) models to predict survival. Calibration plots, concordance indexes, and decision curve analyses were used to evaluate the calibration, discrimination, and clinical utility of these three models.

Results

The RSF model showed the best performance among the three models, with concordance indexes of 0.824 and 0.847 in the training and testing sets, respectively, followed by the SVM (0.792/0.823) and CPH (0.821/0.811) models. Specifically, in the RSF model, we identified age, gross tumor volume (GTV), grade, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), and D99 as important variables associated with survival. The AUCs of the testing set were 92.4%, 87.7%, and 84.0% for 1‐, 2‐, and 3‐year survival, respectively. According to this model, HGG patients can be divided into high‐ and low‐risk groups.

Conclusion

The machine learning‐based RSF model integrating both clinical and DVH variables is an improved and useful tool for predicting the survival of HGG patients.
Angiographic characteristics and long‐term outcomes of single‐vessel chronic total occlusion percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with and without previous myocardial infarction
Authors: Hu Xiaoying , Qiao Shubin , Guan Changdong , Guo Chao , Duan Xin , Xie Lihua , Wu Fan , Yang Weixian , Song Lei , Xu Bo
Published: March 2021

Objective

This study evaluated the angiographic characteristics and clinical outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) among patients with and without a history of myocardial infarction (MI).

Background

The pathogenesis of CTO and myocardial viability are different in cases with or without previous MI. However, the lesion characteristics and clinical outcomes are unclear for these two groups.

Methods

We reviewed consecutive patients who underwent single‐vessel CTO PCI from 2010 to 2013. Patients were classified according to their history of MI. Acute procedural results were classified as optimal recanalization, suboptimal recanalization, or technical failure. The primary endpoint was the 5 year rate of cardiac death.

Results

We identified 2,191 eligible patients, including 859 patients (39.2%) with previous MI. The overall technical success rate was 74.4%. Relative to the non‐MI group, the MI group had a larger reference vessel diameter (3.0 ± 0.5 vs. 2.9 ± 0.4 mm, p = .002), a lower proportion of Werner grade ≥ 1 collateral circulation (65.4 vs. 79.2%, p < .001), a higher proportion of optimal recanalization (63.1 vs. 58.6%, p = .006), and a higher 5‐year rate of cardiac death (3.9 vs. 2.1%, p = .02). In the MI group, suboptimal recanalization was associated with a significantly higher 5‐year rate of spontaneous MI, relative to optimal recanalization and technical failure (11.7 vs. 4.6 vs. 4.1%, p = .006).

Conclusions

Patients with CTO and previous MI had a larger reference vessel diameter, lower level of collateral circulation, and higher proportion of optimal recanalization. However, suboptimal recanalization in these patients was associated with an increased risk of spontaneous MI.
Effects of partial preheated dough on its frozen characteristics: Baking, water mobility, thermal, and microstructural properties
Authors: Yuan Yirong , Hong Tingting , Ma Yongshuai , Xu Dan , Zhang Huang , Jin Yamei , Wu Fengfeng , Xu Xueming
Published: March 2021

Background and objectives

Flour heat treatment is commonly used to improve dough and bread quality. This study creatively proposed applying partial preheated dough (PPHD) to frozen dough and evaluated bread characteristics and its internal mechanism systematically.

Findings

Results suggested that moderate PPHD level presented higher specific volume, softer hardness, more appealing brown crust color and more uniform texture of frozen dough bread. Moisture status analysis showed that PPHD restricted the mobility of overall water molecules and the migration from bound water to semi‐bound water. DSC and RVA results suggested that the inter‐ and intramolecular association of starch granules, leading to abundant formation of hydrogen bonds, strengthened the gluten matrix network. Besides, gelatinized starch granules in PPHD served as a paste to promote the cross‐linking of starch and gluten, which was observed by SEM.

Conclusions

Partial preheated dough inhibited ice recrystallization by restricting water migration and formed a highly networked starch–gluten structure that delayed its destruction during freezing.

Significance and novelty

This study demonstrated obvious improvement of PPHD on frozen dough quality and further explained the mechanism systematically. Moreover, the method was innovative, simple, and easy to operate, so it could help to promote the development of the frozen dough industry.
Ocular heterotopic bone formation in a guinea pig: A case report with 7‐month follow‐up using advanced ophthalmic imaging technology
Authors: Goto So , Zhu Qiurong , Jensen Kelly , Torres Josue A. , Wildsoet Christine F.
Published: March 2021

Advanced ophthalmic imaging techniques can provide important clinical insights into the pathophysiological changes in heterotopic bone formation (HBF). This case report revealed progression of ocular HBF in the guinea pig over a period of 7 months.
The SP‐TLR axis, which locally primes the nasal mucosa, is impeded in patients with allergic rhinitis
Authors: Larsson Olivia , Sunnergren Ola , Bachert Claus , Kumlien Georén Susanna , Cardell Lars Olaf
Published: March 2021

Background

Substance P (SP) and toll‐like receptors (TLRs) contribute to airway disease, particularly during viral infection. We recently demonstrated that SP can act as an initial response to viral stimuli in the upper airway by upregulating TLRs in the nasal epithelia (the SP‐TLR axis). Patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) suffer from prolonged airway infections. The aim of the present study was to examine if patients with AR exhibit a disturbance in the SP‐TLR axis.

Method

Human nasal biopsies and human nasal epithelial cells (HNEC) from healthy volunteers and patients with AR were cultured in the presence of SP. Epithelial expression of TLR4, neutral endopeptidase (NEP) and neurokinin 1 (NK1) were evaluated with flow cytometry and/or quantitative polymerase chain reaction after 30 min to 24 h. The effect of SP on nasal lipopolysaccharide‐induced interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) release was investigated.

Results

SP stimulation of tissue from healthy volunteers resulted in a transient increase of the TLR4 expression, whereas stimulation of AR patient‐derived material led to a delayed and prolonged upregulation of TLR4. NEP expression in HNEC was lower in AR than healthy controls whereas NK1 receptor expression was increased. SP pretreatment increased TLR4‐dependent IL‐8 expression in healthy controls, but not in AR.

Conclusions

SP‐induced regulation of TLR4 in the human nasal mucosa is disturbed in AR. An altered SP‐mediated innate immune response may contribute to the dysfunctional and often prolonged responses to infection in AR.
A Novel CYP2C‐Haplotype Associated With Ultrarapid Metabolism of Escitalopram
Authors: Bråten Line Skute , Haslemo Tore , Jukic Marin M. , Ivanov Maxim , Ingelman‐Sundberg Magnus , Molden Espen , Kringen Marianne Kristiansen
Published: March 2021

Escitalopram is one of the most commonly used antidepressant drugs but exhibits a substantial interindividual variation in clinical response. A key factor underlying response differences is the polymorphic nature of the CYP2C19 gene encoding the major enzyme responsible for escitalopram metabolism. Although pre‐emptive CYP2C19 genotyping may improve escitalopram treatment outcome by dose individualization, much of the interindividual variability cannot be assigned to the currently known CYP2C19 gene variants. The aim of the present study was to search for novel CYP2C‐haplotypes for better genetic prediction of escitalopram metabolism. First, the CYP2C18/CYP2C19 locus was sequenced from gDNA obtained from 24 patients previously genotyped as CYP2C19*1/*1 showing consistently low serum concentrations of escitalopram (< 25 nM/10 mg). Three new haplotypes of the CYP2C locus (CYP2C:TG, CYP2C:TA, and CYP2C:CG) were here identified, and their functional roles were evaluated using gDNA from 875 previously genotyped escitalopram‐treated patients. The CYP2C:CG and CYP2C:TA haplotypes had no significant impact on escitalopram concentration. Based on the estimated effects of the novel CYP2C‐haplotypes on escitalopram exposure, the predicted serum concentrations of escitalopram in homozygous CYP2C:TG and CYP2C19*17 carriers were 24.8% and 17.3% lower compared with the baseline (CYP2C:CG and CYP2C:TA), respectively. In conclusion, a novel CYP2C‐haplotype defined by rs2860840T and rs11188059G associated with ultrarapid metabolism of escitalopram was identified. Further studies should clarify the genetic basis for the enhanced escitalopram metabolism and the impact of the CYP2C:TG haplotype on the metabolism of other CYP2C19 substrates like omeprazole, voriconazole, and clopidogrel.
The Oxidative Cleavage of 9,10‐Dihydroxystearic Triglyceride with Oxygen and Cu Oxide‐based Heterogeneous Catalysts
Authors: Vassoi Andrea , Tabanelli Tommaso , Sacchetti Annalisa , Di Gioia Francesca , Capuzzi Luigi , Cavani Fabrizio
Published: March 2021

This paper deals with a new heterogeneous catalyst for the second step in the two‐step oxidative cleavage of unsaturated fatty acids triglycerides derived from vegetable oil, a reaction aimed at the synthesis of azelaic and pelargonic acids. The former compound is a bio‐monomer for the synthesis of polyesters; the latter, after esterification, is used in cosmetics and agrochemicals. The reaction studied offers an alternative to the currently used ozonization process, which has severe drawbacks in terms of safety and energy consumption. The cleavage was carried out with oxygen, starting from the glycol (dihydroxystearic acid triglyceride), the latter obtained by the dihydroxylation of oleic acid triglyceride. The catalysts used were based on Cu2+, in the form of either an alumina‐supported oxide or a mixed, spinel‐type oxide. The CuO/Al2O3 catalyst could be recovered, regenerated, and recycled, yielding promising results for further industrial exploitation.
Stand‐alone PV water pumping system based on high‐gain resonant inverter fed induction motor serving two‐head for permanent water supply
Authors: Tripathi Prabhat R. , Thakura Parashuram , Laxmi Vijay , Keshri Ritesh Kumar
Published: March 2021

A vast community of developing countries, like India, is still deprived of a proper water supply system. Such communities often depend on hand‐pumps, ponds, and ravines for their daily water needs. Government‐subsidized PV‐based water pumps have emerged as a boon for such communities. But intermittent nature of solar irradiation and unavailability at night time poses a big challenge. To mitigate this challenge, the present article proposes a stand‐alone PV‐based induction motor‐driven water pumping system serving a dual‐head, that is, an overhead storage tank and ground level supply. A single‐stage three‐phase high‐gain resonant inverter (HGRI) is proposed for driving the induction motor. A back‐ended wide bandgap (WBG) device‐based boost converter is used to extract maximum power from PV by employing the MPPT algorithm. HGRI injects sinusoidal current to the induction motor while operating it through PV power matched modified V/f control algorithm, thus minimizing the torque ripple. HGRI coupled with boost converter provides a high‐gain voltage boost at the output; enabling wide input voltage operation, which increases the operability of the system in high as well as low irradiation level. The practicality of the system is validated on a laboratory‐developed hardware test bed with a 1.5HP induction motor.
An evaluation of bottleneck bandwidth and round trip time and its variants
Authors: Zhang Songyang , Lei Weimin , Zhang Wei , Li Hao
Published: March 2021

The congestion control mechanism is one of the most important components in Internet, which guarantees network normal operation and prevents network from congestion collapse. It is noticed that traditional loss‐based algorithms are not moving data very well in today's Internet. To get channel resource highly utilized, such algorithms maintain a standing queue of packets at bottleneck and cause large transmission delay. Recently, effort has been devoted from academia and industry to design new solution which could achieve high throughput and low transmission delay simultaneously. There are several fruitful results such as the bottleneck bandwidth and round trip time (BBR) and Vivace, Copa, Cellular Controlled delay TCP (C2TCP). Among them, BBR is the most eminent one. There are other variant algorithms by modifying some parameters in BBR for possible improvement, and BBR has also evolved drastically into version 2 (BBRv2). In this work, a framework is implemented to evaluate the performance of these algorithms on ns3. Interested readers could test other congestion control algorithms or design new methods. Moreover, this work can work as reference for engineers to tune parameters in BBR or choose other solutions for their applications.
Re‐enroll students who stopped out with debt forgiveness program
Authors: Pavlik Amelia
Published: March 2021

Not offering a program like this sooner. That's the only regret Dawn Medley has about the Warrior Way Back program she helped create at Wayne State University.
Setting a new precedent
Authors: Elfman Lois
Published: March 2021

Dr. Tracy Y. Espy, President of Mitchell College, understands what it means to forge new territory. Since beginning her presidency on July 1, 2020, she is the first African American woman to lead Mitchell, a small liberal arts college founded in 1938.
A missing link in the mid‐late Permian record of north‐eastern Pangea: A sedimentological evaluation of the Permian Belfast Harbour Evaporite Formation of County Antrim, Northern Ireland
Authors: Andeskie Anna Sofia , Benison Kathleen C.
Published: March 2021

Ancient salt deposits preserve a record of highly specific environmental, climatic and biological conditions, including past surface water chemistry and water depths, local air temperatures, atmospheric composition and halophilic microorganisms. This paper presents the first sedimentological study of the mid‐Late Permian Belfast Harbour Evaporite Formation of Northern Ireland. This formation is dominated by bedded halite, contains some siliciclastic mudstone and bedded anhydrite, and is cross‐cut by intrusive igneous rocks. The bedded halite lithology contains bottom‐growth chevron and cornet crystals, efflorescent crusts and dissolution pipes, which are evidence of a saline surface brine that underwent periods of evapoconcentration, desiccation and flooding. The mudstone lithology contains dewatering structures, intraclasts and mudcracks, which indicate flooding and desiccation in dry mudflats. Bedded anhydrite was deposited as beds of gypsum cumulate crystals in saline surface waters. The Belfast Harbour Evaporite Formation was formed by saline lakes with associated mudflats, based on sedimentary characteristics and supported by mineralogical, geochemical and stratigraphic context. Diagenetic features reflect dissolution and cementation at the surface and shallow subsurface in the depositional environment and limited late‐stage alterations. Syndepositional dissolution pipes in bedded halite were formed by flooding events. Early halite cement is present in dissolution pipes and mudstones. Gypsum/anhydrite repeatedly dehydrated and rehydrated to form an interlocking crystal mosaic. Later features include fluid migration and the intrusion of mafic rocks. The Belfast Harbour Evaporite Formation was deposited by an ephemeral saline lake and dry mudflat system in an arid climate. This study, when compared to age‐equivalent continental deposits elsewhere, suggests that arid settings with saline lakes existed across much of Pangea during the Permo‐Triassic. The Belfast Harbour Evaporite Formation stratigraphically underlies the extremely low pH saline lakes of the Mercia Mudstone Group, implying that it aids in understanding the formation of Pangean acid brine lakes.
Gene expression patterns associated with dental replacement in the rabbit, a new model for the mammalian dental replacement mechanisms
Authors: Bertonnier‐Brouty Ludivine , Viriot Laurent , Joly Thierry , Charles Cyril
Published: March 2021

Background

Unlike many vertebrates with continuous dental replacement, mammals have a maximum of two dental generations. Due to the absence of dental replacement in the laboratory mouse, the mechanisms of the mammalian tooth replacement system are poorly known. In this study, we use the European rabbit as a model for mammalian tooth development and replacement.

Results

We provide data on some key regulators of tooth development. We detected the presence of SOX2 in both the replacement dental lamina and the rudimentary successional dental lamina of unreplaced molars, indicating that SOX2 may not be sufficient to initiate and maintain tooth replacement. We showed that Shh does not seem to be directly involved in tooth replacement. The transient presence of the rudimentary successional dental lamina in the molar allowed us to identify genes that could be essential for the initiation or the maintenance of tooth replacement. Hence, the locations of Sostdc1, RUNX2, and LEF1 vary between the deciduous premolar, the replacement premolar, and the molar, indicating possible roles in tooth replacement.

Conclusion

According to our observations, initiation and the maintenance of tooth replacement correlate with the presence of LEF1+ cells and the absence of both mesenchymal RUNX2 and epithelial Sostdc1+ cells.
The co‐occurrence of neurodevelopmental problems in dyslexia
Authors: Brimo Katarzyna , Dinkler Lisa , Gillberg Christopher , Lichtenstein Paul , Lundström Sebastian , Åsberg Johnels Jakob
Published: March 2021

The primary aim of this study was to explore the overlaps between dyslexia and a range of neurodevelopmental disorders and problems (NDPs), specifically symptoms of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, atypical sensory perception and developmental coordination disorder. Capitalizing on a population‐based sample of twins, secondary aims included estimating the heritability of dyslexia and reporting on the measurement characteristics of the scale used to assess dyslexia. A telephone interview regarding symptoms of dyslexia and other NDPs was conducted with parents of 1,688 nine‐year‐old twins. The prevalence and the heritability of dyslexia were estimated at 8 and 52%, respectively. The boy: girl ratio was 1.5:1. Results revealed that there was more than an eight‐fold increase in (diagnostic proxy) NDPs prevalence in the dyslexia group as compared to typical readers. Quantitatively measured symptoms of inattention, oral language problems and atypical sensory perception significantly predicted dyslexia status in a multivariate analysis. By contrast, ASD‐related inflexibility was inversely associated with dyslexia in the multivariate model. In sum, dyslexia often overlaps with other NDPs. The current study provides new knowledge supporting the position to move beyond isolated diagnostic categories into behavioural profiles of co‐occurring problems when trying to understand the pattern of strengths and needs in individuals with dyslexia.
Putting a dollar value on eating disorders: What is next?: Commentary on Streatfeild et al. (2021)
Authors: Le Long Khanh‐Dao , Mihalopoulos Cathrine
Published: March 2021

Eating disorders (EDs) have been associated with economic and quality of life burden. Several cost‐of‐illness studies has been reported, however, the study by Streatfeild et al. (2021) for the first time provided a comprehensive analysis of the economic burden of EDs in the United States. This study provides an opportunity to highlight the critical need for evaluating effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of preventive and treatment interventions for EDs. However, to be able to do, this further enhancement and inclusion of EDs into population health surveillance and health services data are required. While there were some limitations in the cost‐of‐illness study undertaken by Streatfeild et al. (2021), it does nonetheless present very reasonable recommendations as to what is required next. We agree that the likely impacts and costs of EDs are substantive and there is certainly a strong case for further research investment in this traditionally underinvested area.
Regional movements of satellite‐tagged whale sharks Rhincodon typus in the Gulf of Aden
Authors: Andrzejaczek Samantha , Vély Michel , Jouannet Daniel , Rowat David , Fossette Sabrina
Published: March 2021

To gain insight into whale shark (Rhincodon typus) movement patterns in the Western Indian Ocean, we deployed eight pop‐up satellite tags at an aggregation site in the Arta Bay region of the Gulf of Tadjoura, Djibouti in the winter months of 2012, 2016, and 2017. Tags revealed movements ranging from local‐scale around the Djibouti aggregation site, regional movements along the coastline of Somaliland, movements north into the Red Sea, and a large‐scale (>1,000 km) movement to the east coast of Somalia, outside of the Gulf of Aden. Vertical movement data revealed high occupation of the top ten meters of the water column, diel vertical movement patterns, and deep diving behavior. Long‐distance movements recorded both here and in previous studies suggest that connectivity between the whale sharks tagged at the Djibouti aggregation and other documented aggregations in the region are likely within annual timeframes. In addition, wide‐ranging movements through multiple nations, as well as the high use of surface waters recorded, likely exposes whale sharks in this region to several anthropogenic threats, including targeted and bycatch fisheries and ship‐strikes. Area‐based management approaches focusing on seasonal hotspots offer a way forward in the conservation of whale sharks in the Western Indian Ocean.
Brucella spp. and Francisella tularensis from an invasive alien species (Sus scrofa) in the southcentral USA
Authors: Peper Steven T. , Hoffarth Anna , Athanasiou Kevin , Hawkins Samuel L. , Wilson‐Fallon Alexander N. , Gibson Anna , Reinoso Webb Cynthia , Gaskamp Joshua A. , Webb Stephen L. , Haydett Katelyn M. , Tiffin Hannah S. , Presley Steven M.
Published: March 2021

Wild pig (Sus scrofa) populations in the United States are expanding and increasing in distribution and abundance and are known to reservoir a variety of pathogens that can have economic and agricultural impacts. We examined wild pigs for exposure to Brucella spp. and Francisella tularensis from Oklahoma and Texas to determine their potential role as a regional reservoir for these pathogens since wild pigs co‐occur with livestock, especially on rangelands in this region. Antibodies to Brucella spp. and F. tularensis were found in every location sampled and during multiple years. Overall, wild pigs had a 12.5% prevalence of Brucella spp. and a 14.8% prevalence of F. tularensis in this study. Wild pig prevalence of Brucella spp. was 43 times higher in southcentral Oklahoma compared to previously published results. Understanding and monitoring regional disease prevalence rates in wild pigs are necessary, especially on rangelands managing for livestock that may be susceptible to these diseases.
Climate‐induced yellow‐cedar decline on the island archipelago of Haida Gwaii
Authors: Comeau Vanessa M. , Daniels Lori D. , Zeglen Stefan
Published: March 2021

The global rise in temperature and associated changes in climate have led to decline of forests around the globe, across multiple species and ecosystems. Yellow‐cedar (Callitropsis nootkatensis) decline is one of the most severe in North America. We found abundant evidence of tree decline and mortality on Haida Gwaii across multiple watersheds and over a range of elevations. This decline on Haida Gwaii parallels the broader yellow‐cedar decline in terms of spatial distribution, symptoms, magnitude, and timing. However, Haida Gwaii has a more temperate climate and ephemeral snowpack than declining yellow‐cedar forests in Alaska where the link to climate was first uncovered. Given these important differences, we investigated several possible drivers both at the local and at the regional scale, using population demography, dendrochronology, and daily weather data. We explored stand dynamics as a driver and tested the known link to climate. Our results are inconsistent with stand dynamics as a driver of elevated decline and mortality. Neither increased competition nor aging of a cohort explains the decline. Alternatively, the magnitude and timing of the decline are consistent with well‐documented long‐term directional trends in regional climate. Onset of basal area increment decline and mortality have been accumulating over time, with increased rates since the 1980s. Our sites were located at the edge of the expected range of mortality, and we found only four thaw–freeze events over the past ~80 yrs. However, superposed epoch analysis using daily weather data revealed that mortality and onset of decline events were associated with warmer winter conditions, consistent with the drivers from Alaska. Rather than isolated extreme thaw–freeze events, warmer winter temperatures on Haida Gwaii may mean less cold hardening throughout the winter, which exposes yellow‐cedar’s fine roots to varying degrees of freezing damage over multiple winter thaw–freeze cycles, causing physiological stress, tree decline, and eventual death.
Exploration of the 2016 Yellowstone River fish kill and proliferative kidney disease in wild fish populations
Authors: Hutchins Patrick R. , Sepulveda Adam J. , Hartikainen Hanna , Staigmiller Ken D. , Opitz Scott T. , Yamamoto Renee M. , Huttinger Amberly , Cordes Rick J. , Weiss Tammy , Hopper Lacey R. , Purcell Maureen K. , Okamura Beth
Published: March 2021

Proliferative kidney disease (PKD) is an emerging disease that recently resulted in a large mortality event of salmonids in the Yellowstone River (Montana, USA). Total PKD fish mortalities in the Yellowstone River were estimated in the tens of thousands, which resulted in a multi‐week river closure and an estimated economic loss of US$500,000. This event shocked scientists, managers, and the public, as this was the first occurrence of the disease in the Yellowstone River, the only reported occurrence of the disease in Montana in the past 25 yr, and arguably the largest wild PKD fish kill in the world. To understand why the Yellowstone River fish kill occurred, we used molecular and historical data to evaluate evidence for several hypotheses: Was the causative parasite Tetracapsuloides bryosalmonae a novel invader, was the fish kill associated with a unique parasite strain, and/or was the outbreak caused by unprecedented environmental conditions? We found that T. bryosalmonae is widely distributed in Montana and have documented occurrence of this parasite in archived fish collected in the Yellowstone River prior to the fish kill. T. bryosalmonae had minimal phylogeographic population structure, as the DNA of parasites sampled from the Yellowstone River and distant water bodies were very similar. These results suggest that T. bryosalmonae could be endemic in Montana. Due to data limitations, we could not reject the hypothesis that the fish kill was caused by a novel and more virulent genetic strain of the parasite. Finally, we found that single‐year environmental conditions are insufficient to explain the cause of the 2016 Yellowstone River PKD outbreak. Other regional rivers where we documented T. bryosalmonae had similar or even more extreme conditions than the Yellowstone River and similar or more extreme conditions have occurred in the Yellowstone River in the recent past, yet mass PKD mortalities have not been documented in either instance. We conclude by placing these results and unresolved hypotheses into the broader context of international research on T. bryosalmonae and PKD, which strongly suggests that a better understanding of bryozoans, the primary host of T. bryosalmonae, is required for better ecosystem understanding.
Incidence and clinical/laboratory correlates of early hypotension in takotsubo syndrome
Authors: Ong Gao Jing , Girolamo Olivia , Stansborough Jeanette , Nguyen Thanh Ha , Horowitz John David
Published: March 2021

Aims

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a form of acute myocardial inflammation, often triggered by catecholamine release surges, which accounts for approximately 10% of ‘myocardial infarctions’ in female patients above the age of 50. Its associated substantial risk of in‐hospital mortality is mainly driven by the development of hypotension and shock. While hypotension is induced largely by factors other than low cardiac output, its precise cause is unknown, and clinical parameters associated with hypotension have not been identified previously. We therefore sought to identify the incidence and clinical/laboratory correlates of early hypotension in TTS.

Methods and results

We analysed the in‐hospital data of patients recruited to the South Australian TTS Registry. Associations between the development of hypotension, patient demographics, severity of the acute TTS attack, and key biochemical markers were sought. One hundred thirteen out of 319 patients (35%) were hypotensive (median systolic blood pressure 80 mmHg) during their index hospitalization. Development of hypotension preceded all in‐hospital deaths (n = 8). On univariate analyses, patients who developed hypotension had lower left ventricular ejection fraction (P = 0.009), and higher plasma N‐terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide and troponin‐T concentrations (P = 0.046 and 0.008, respectively), all markers of severity of the TTS attack; hypotension also occurred less commonly in male than in female patients (P = 0.014). On multivariate linear regression analysis, female sex and lower left ventricular ejection fraction were independent correlates of the development of hypotension (P = 0.009 and 0.010, respectively).

Conclusions

Early development of hypotension is very common in TTS, and its presence is associated with a substantial risk of in‐hospital mortality. Hypotension is a marker of severe TTS attacks and occurs more commonly in female TTS patients.
Visual illusions modulate body perception disturbance and pain in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: A randomized trial
Authors: Lewis Jennifer S. , Newport Roger , Taylor Gordon , Smith Mike , McCabe Candida S.
Published: March 2021

Background

Effective treatment of longstanding Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a challenge, as causal mechanisms remain elusive. People with CRPS frequently report distorted subjective perceptions of their affected limb. Evidence of pain reduction when the affected limb is visually altered in size suggests that visual illusions used to target central processing could restore coherence of this disrupted limb representation. We hypothesized that using virtual reality that alters hand image to match the patient's desired hand appearance would improve body perception disturbance and pain. Also, repeated exposure would maintain any therapeutic effect.

Methods

A blinded randomized controlled trial of 45 participants with refractory upper‐limb CRPS and body perception disturbance (BPD) viewed a digital image of their affected hand for 1 min. The image was digitally altered according to the patient's description of how they desired their hand to look in the experimental group and unaltered in the control group. BPD and pain were measured pre‐ and post‐intervention. A subgroup was followed up 2 weeks after a course of repeated interventions.

Results

BPD (mean‐6, ±SD 7.9, p = 0.036, effect size [ES] = 0.6) and pain intensity (mean‐0.43, ±SD 1.3, p = 0.047, ES = 0.5) reduced in 23 participants after single exposure compared to controls (n = 22). At follow‐up, the subgroup (experimental n = 21; control n = 18) showed sustained pain reduction only (p = 0.037, ±SD 1.9, ES = 0.7), with an overall 1.2 decrease on an 11‐point scale.

Conclusions

Visually changing the CRPS hand to a desired appearance modulates BPD and pain suggesting therapeutic potential for those with refractory CRPS. Further research to optimize this therapeutic effect is required.

Significance

Visual bodily illusions that change the shape and appearance of the painful CRPS hand to that desired by the patient result in a rapid amelioration of pain and body perception disturbance in people with longstanding CRPS. These findings highlight the future potential of this drug‐free approach in the treatment of refractory CRPS.
Human surrogate models of central sensitization: A critical review and practical guide
Authors: Quesada Charles , Kostenko Anna , Ho Idy , Leone Caterina , Nochi Zahra , Stouffs Alexandre , Wittayer Matthias , Caspani Ombretta , Brix Finnerup Nanna , Mouraux André , Pickering Gisèle , Tracey Irene , Truini Andrea , Treede Rolf‐Detlef , Garcia‐Larrea Luis
Published: March 2021

Background

As in other fields of medicine, development of new medications for management of neuropathic pain has been difficult since preclinical rodent models do not necessarily translate to the clinics. Aside from ongoing pain with burning or shock‐like qualities, neuropathic pain is often characterized by pain hypersensitivity (hyperalgesia and allodynia), most often towards mechanical stimuli, reflecting sensitization of neural transmission.

Data treatment

We therefore performed a systematic literature review (PubMed‐Medline, Cochrane, WoS, ClinicalTrials) and semi‐quantitative meta‐analysis of human pain models that aim to induce central sensitization, and generate hyperalgesia surrounding a real or simulated injury.

Results

From an initial set of 1569 reports, we identified and analysed 269 studies using more than a dozen human models of sensitization. Five of these models (intradermal or topical capsaicin, low‐ or high‐frequency electrical stimulation, thermode‐induced heat‐injury) were found to reliably induce secondary hyperalgesia to pinprick and have been implemented in multiple laboratories. The ability of these models to induce dynamic mechanical allodynia was however substantially lower. The proportion of subjects who developed hypersensitivity was rarely provided, giving rise to significant reporting bias. In four of these models pharmacological profiles allowed to verify similarity to some clinical conditions, and therefore may inform basic research for new drug development.

Conclusions

While there is no single “optimal” model of central sensitization, the range of validated and easy‐to‐use procedures in humans should be able to inform preclinical researchers on helpful potential biomarkers, thereby narrowing the translation gap between basic and clinical data.

Significance

Being able to mimic aspects of pathological pain directly in humans has a huge potential to understand pathophysiology and provide animal research with translatable biomarkers for drug development. One group of human surrogate models has proven to have excellent predictive validity: they respond to clinically active medications and do not respond to clinically inactive medications, including some that worked in animals but failed in the clinics. They should therefore inform basic research for new drug development.
Indigenous Fish–Based Assessment of Genotoxic Potentials of the Helong Reservoir in Guangzhou, China
Authors: Xian Hongyi , Tang Meilin , Chen Ying , Lian Zhenwei , Li Yanfeng , Peng Xiaowu , Hu Dalin
Published: March 2021

The present study was conducted to assess the genotoxic potential of water from the Helong Reservoir, which was designated as a strategic drinking water source by the Guangdong Provincial Government of China in October 2016. Four kinds of common indigenous fish samples (Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus molitorella, red tilapia, and Oreochromis niloticus) were collected at 6 sampling sites during the period from July to November 2020. Fish from the clean drinking water source of the upper reaches of the Liuxihe Reservoir in Guangzhou were collected as the control. Both the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis assay and the micronucleus test were used to detect DNA damage and the micronucleus rate in erythrocytes of fish samples, respectively. The results indicated that there was a significant increase in comet tail length, Olive tail moment, and micronucleus rates of all fish samples compared with those of the control (p < 0.05). The order of sensitivity to DNA damage and micronucleus formation was Labeo rohita > Cirrhinus molitorella > red tilapia > Oreochromis niloticus. The results of the 2 kinds of experiments were in perfect agreement with each other. We conclude that there are obvious genotoxic effects from the water in the Helong Reservoir. As a strategic drinking water source, the safety of the Reservoir water quality should be considered. The local government should put the restoration of the Helong Reservoir water quality on the agenda as soon as possible. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1917–1925. © 2021 SETAC
Joint relay and channel selection in relay‐aided anti‐jamming system: A reinforcement learning approach
Authors: Huang Luying , Xu Tao , Chen Xueqiang , Xu Yitao , Zhang Xiao , Fang Gui
Published: March 2021

In this article, a joint relay and channel selection problem is investigated in multi‐relay anti‐jamming communication system. Considering the jamming pattern and the relay node (RN) location distribution are unknown, the relay and channel selection problem is formulated as Markov decision processes (MDPs). Different from the existing research on anti‐jamming communication, in this article, the source node (SN) and all RNs are considered as agents who collaboratively learn the environment and make anti‐jamming decisions. A reinforcement‐learning‐based joint relay and channel selection method is proposed to achieve relay‐aided anti‐jamming communication. Specifically, the SN tries to make the optimal selection of relay which is under the least jamming threat, while the RN will access the jamming‐free channels. Various simulation results show that the algorithm can quickly learn the unknown changing pattern of the jamming environment, and make the effective joint relay and channel decisions to obtain high communication throughput which is close to the optimal.