bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opportunity costs and the response of birds and mammals to climate warming
Authors: Cunningham Susan J , Gardner Janet L , Martin Rowan O
Published: March 2021

As global temperatures reach record highs, threats posed by climate change to biodiversity become ever more severe. For endotherms, maintaining body temperature within safe bounds is fundamental for performance and survival. Animals routinely modify their behavior to buffer physiological impacts of high temperatures (eg ceasing activity, seeking shade). However, this can impose substantial costs related to missed opportunities to engage in other important activities, with potentially large but often overlooked consequences for survival and reproduction. Here, we outline behavioral trade‐offs birds and mammals face in navigating thermal landscapes and associated challenges of balancing energy, water, and time budgets; review the rapidly expanding knowledge in this field; and summarize examples – across taxa – of fitness costs during hot weather. We argue that a shift is needed in evaluating the impacts of heat on birds and mammals, and that fitness costs of missed opportunities must be explicitly integrated into climate‐change vulnerability frameworks.
A comparative study: Influence of various drying methods on essential oil components and biological properties of Stachys lavandulifolia
Authors: Hazrati Saeid , Lotfi Kazem , Govahi Mostafa , Ebadi Mohammad‐Taghi
Published: March 2021

The genus Stachys is a member of the Lamiaceae family. These are important medicinal plants which grow all over the world and are known for their flavoring and therapeutic effects and Stachys lavandulifolia is an endemic species of Iran. To acquire high‐quality essential oil (EO), drying technique was implemented which is an essential part of this process. The present study designed to evaluate the influences of different drying techniques (fresh sample, shade, sunlight, freeze‐drying, microwave, and oven‐drying (40, 60, and 80°C) on EO yield and composition of S. lavandulifolia. The results indicated that the maximum EO yield was obtained by the shade‐drying method. The main compounds found in the fresh samples were spathulenol, myrcene, β‐pinene, δ‐cadinene, and α‐muurolol, while spathulenol, cyrene, δ‐cadinene, p‐cymene, decane, α‐terpinene, β‐pinene, and intermedeol were found to be the dominant compounds in the dry samples. Drying techniques were found to have a significant impact on the values of the main compositions, for example, monoterpene hydrocarbons such as α‐pinene, β‐pinene, myrcene, and β‐phellandrene were significantly reduced by microwave drying, oven‐drying (40, 60, and 80°C), and sunlight‐drying methods. Drying techniques increased the antioxidant activity of S. lavandulifolia EOs especially those acquired by freeze‐drying with the half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values 101.8 ± 0.8 mg/ml in DPPH assay and 315.2 ± 2.1 mg/ml in decreasing power assay. As a result, shade‐, sun‐, and oven‐drying (40°C) were found to be the most important techniques for attaining maximum yields of EO.
Affective symptoms and regional cerebral tau burden in early‐stage Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Tommasi Nicole S , Gonzalez Christopher , Briggs Danielle , Properzi Michael J , Gatchel Jennifer R , Marshall Gad A ,   Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: March 2021

Objective

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are often present in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. NPS are associated with structural and functional changes in the brain such as atrophy, regional hypometabolism, and hypoperfusion, considered proxies of neurodegeneration. Our objective was to evaluate the association between NPS and regional cerebral tau burden, a more direct representation of neurodegeneration, in cognitively normal (CN), MCI, and AD dementia individuals.

Methods

Cross‐sectional NPS were assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) in 410 CN, 199 MCI, and 61 AD dementia participants who underwent flortaucipir tau positron emission tomography as part of the AD Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). Total NPI score and two factors of NPS (affective and hyperactive) were used in analyses. Linear regression models with backward elimination were employed with NPI as dependent variable and regional tau or tau‐amyloid interaction as predictor of interest. Covariates included education, age, sex, Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test Total Learning, and Trail Making Test B.

Results

There were significant associations (p < 0.05) between the NPI variables (total score, Affective factor) and entorhinal and precuneus tau across all participants. These associations were also significant for the tau‐amyloid interaction. These effects were significant in cognitively symptomatic participants (MCI and AD dementia), but not in CN participants.

Conclusions

Increased tau burden in the entorhinal and precuneus cortices was modestly associated with greater NPS in MCI and AD dementia. Further evaluation of NPS and their effect on early‐stage AD could aid in finding new interventions and slowing disease progression.
Mapping of multiple muscles with transcranial magnetic stimulation: absolute and relative test–retest reliability
Authors: Nazarova Maria , Novikov Pavel , Ivanina Ekaterina , Kozlova Ksenia , Dobrynina Larisa , Nikulin Vadim V.
Published: March 2021

The spatial accuracy of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may be as small as a few millimeters. Despite such great potential, navigated TMS (nTMS) mapping is still underused for the assessment of motor plasticity, particularly in clinical settings. Here, we investigate the within‐limb somatotopy gradient as well as absolute and relative reliability of three hand muscle cortical representations (MCRs) using a comprehensive grid‐based sulcus‐informed nTMS motor mapping. We enrolled 22 young healthy male volunteers. Two nTMS mapping sessions were separated by 5–10 days. Motor evoked potentials were obtained from abductor pollicis brevis (APB), abductor digiti minimi, and extensor digitorum communis. In addition to individual MRI‐based analysis, we studied normalized MNI MCRs. For the reliability assessment, we calculated intraclass correlation and the smallest detectable change. Our results revealed a somatotopy gradient reflected by APB MCR having the most lateral location. Reliability analysis showed that the commonly used metrics of MCRs, such as areas, volumes, centers of gravity (COGs), and hotspots had a high relative and low absolute reliability for all three muscles. For within‐limb TMS somatotopy, the most common metrics such as the shifts between MCR COGs and hotspots had poor relative reliability. However, overlaps between different muscle MCRs were highly reliable. We, thus, provide novel evidence that inter‐muscle MCR interaction can be reliably traced using MCR overlaps while shifts between the COGs and hotspots of different MCRs are not suitable for this purpose. Our results have implications for the interpretation of nTMS motor mapping results in healthy subjects and patients with neurological conditions.
Identifying healthcare cost drivers in Palestine
Authors: Morrar Rabeh , Jabr Samer , Ghandour Rula , Abu‐Rmeileh Niveen ME , Forgione Dana A. , Younis Mustafa
Published: March 2021

We examine the relationship between national health expenditure and its drivers to help inform resource allocation policy decisions in Palestine. We forecast health expenditures from the financing agency perspective, and examine Granger‐Causality relationships to assess implied causality between health spending and exogenous variables, using estimates of vector autoregressions. We forecast national health expenditure to be US$1.45 billion in 2015 and grow at 7% annually through 2020. This is due to expected increases in government health expenditure, and household spending, at 5% and 7%, respectively, compared to 2014. The proportion of household spending on health services is expected to increase, while the government proportion is expected to decrease over the long run due to budget constraints. Population growth, ageing and changes in chronic disease patterns contribute significantly as drivers of the increase in healthcare costs. Our results suggest a need to review and modify the current health insurance scheme.
Computational analysis of gas permeability of slip flow through microannulus replete by based‐circular Sierpinski porous medium
Authors: Hader Montasir , Al‐Azzam Munis , Al‐Kouz Wael
Published: March 2021

There are wide applications for flow in a microporous medium. In this study, a computational analysis of airflow through a porous microannulus constructed by circular‐based Sierpinski has been performed in a slip flow regime, where several parameters played an important role in the flow characteristics. These parameters are the Knudsen number, the average friction factor, radius ratio, and porosity. The impacts of these parameters on permeability and the gas flow characteristics are examined and analyzed thoroughly. The ranges of the investigated parameters are as follows (0.001 ≤ Kn ≤ 0.1 and the porosity range is 0.75 ≤ ε ≤ 0.95). The results showed that porosity has a significant impact on the velocity distribution and Darcy number. The Knudsen number has also a direct effect on the velocity distribution, while it has a positive logarithmic proportionality with a dimensionless permeability but the radius ratio does have a neglected effect on the Darcy number. Moreover, the effect of the average friction factor has an inverse proportional relationship to the Darcy number.
An edge guided cascaded U‐net approach for accelerated magnetic resonance imaging reconstruction
Authors: Dhengre Nikhil , Sinha Saugata
Published: March 2021

Magnetic resonance imaging, despite of its significant role in today's healthcare, suffers from long image acquisition time which leads to patient discomfort and cost increment. Compressive sensing magnetic resonance imaging, where clinically acceptable images are reconstructed using partially sampled k‐space data, is one possible approach to mitigate this problem. The recent evolution in compressive sensing magnetic resonance imaging field is the model based deep learning approach, which is comprised of cascaded convolutional neural network based denoizer and data consistency layer. In this paper, we propose an edge guided model based deep learning approach employing U‐net module as an artifact removal unit. The proposed model contains cascaded U‐net architectures with interleaved data consistency layer. To effectively retain the fine details in the reconstructed output, along with the image, edge maps of the image were also applied at the input of each stage in the cascaded structure and the edge map loss was incorporated in the objective function along with the pixel loss. Experiments were performed on MR‐PD and MR‐T1 images with different sampling patterns. Qualitative and quantitative comparison of the results obtained with the proposed method with other model based and deep learning methods validates the superiority of the proposed method in reconstructing high quality magnetic resonance images.
Calling for a Global Turn to Inform Digital Literacies Education
Authors: Lammers Jayne C. , Astuti Puji
Published: March 2021

Literacies researchers have long argued that the new literacies made possible by the internet facilitate global connectedness. However, much of the research about digital literacies has centered the experiences of participants and researchers from only certain parts of the world. The field needs to embrace a more inclusive understanding of global, acting intentionally to seek out, include, and learn from people in the Global South to truly realize the role that digital literacies have in the life of a global meaning maker. In calling for a global turn in digital literacies research to inform education, the authors share stories from a study with Indonesian secondary students to spark dialogue about how conceptualizations of digital literacies need to shift as voices from the Global South get invited into the conversation.
The who, what, where, how, and why of endoscopic submucosal dissection in Canada: A survey among Canadian endoscopists
Authors: Rai Mandip , Motomura Douglas , Hookey Lawrence , Antillon Mainor R , Bechara Robert
Published: March 2021

Background and Aim

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is an internationally accepted technique for the resection of superficial gastrointestinal neoplasia. ESD allows for en‐bloc removal when endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is unsuitable due to the size or depth of the lesion. The aim of this survey was to examine Canadian clinicians' experience and perceptions of ESD as its prevalence increases across the country.

Methods

An electronic survey consisting of 24 multiple‐choice questions was distributed via the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology email database and directly to those known to be performing or interested in ESD. The survey covered training, practice, obstacles in implementation, and perceptions of the future of ESD in Canada.

Results

A total of 21 participants completed the survey. ESD was performed primarily in the endoscopy suite exclusively (71%), and most operators (64%) performed it on an outpatient basis. Procedure time was selected as the greatest technical challenge in the performance of ESD by 86% of the participants. Both lack of formalized training and long procedure times were the highest ranked barriers to the adoption of ESD. Over the next 5 years, 95% believed there would be an increase in ESD volume in Canada, and 43% believed ESD was ready for adoption by more therapeutic endoscopists.

Interpretation

In this survey, we explored the current practice, attitude, and challenges of ESD in the Canadian landscape. As the performance of ESD increases and gains more acceptance across Canada, there are opportunities to address technical challenges and barriers through the formalization of training, education, and practice guidelines.
Morquio‐like dysostosis multiplex presenting with neuronopathic features is a distinct GLB1‐related phenotype
Authors: Stockler‐Ipsiroglu Sylvia , Yazdanpanah Nahid , Yazdanpanah Mojgan , Moisa Popurs Marioara , Yuskiv Nataliya , Schmitz Ferreira Santos Mara Lúcia , Ae Kim Chong , Fischinger Moura de Souza Carolina , Marques Lourenço Charles , Steiner Carlos Eduardo , Federhen Andressa , Giugliani Luciana , Bastos Pereira Débora Maria , Durán‐Carabali Luz Elena , Giugliani Roberto
Published: March 2021

Background

Morquio B disease (MBD) is a distinct GLB1‐related dysostosis multiplex presenting a mild phenocopy of GALNS‐related Morquio A disease. Previously reported cases from European countries carry the W273L variant on at least one GLB1 allele and exhibit a pure skeletal phenotype (pure MBD). Only a minority of MBD cases have been described with additional neuronopathic findings (MBD plus).

Objectives and Methods

With the aim to further describe patterns of MBD‐related dysostosis multiplex, we analyzed clinical, biochemical, and genetic features in 17 cases with GLB1‐related dysostosis multiplex living and diagnosed in Brazil.

Results

About 14 of the 17 individuals had three or more skeletal findings characteristic of Morquio syndrome. Two had no additional neuronopathic features (pure MBD) and 12 exhibited additional neuronopathic features (MBD plus). Three of the 17 cases had mild dysostosis without distinct features of MBD. Seven of the 12 MBD plus patients had signs of spinal cord compression (SCC), as a result of progressive spinal vertebral dysostosis. There was an age‐dependent increase in the number of skeletal findings and in the severity of growth impairment. GLB1 mutation analysis was completed in 10 of the 14 MBD patients. T500A occurred in compound heterozygosity in 8 of the 19 alleles.

Conclusion

Our study extends the phenotypic spectrum of GLB1‐related conditions by describing a cohort of patients with MBD and GM1‐gangliosidosis (MBD plus). Targeting the progressive nature of the skeletal manifestations in the development of new therapies for GLB1‐related conditions is warranted.
Adaptive variation in the development of extraembryonic membranes of gekkotan embryos: A meta‐analytical approach
Authors: Andrews Robin M.
Published: March 2021

Highly mineralized rigid‐shelled eggs characterize one lineage of gekkotans. In contrast, poorly mineralized flexible‐shelled eggs characterize basal lineages of gekkotans and all other squamates. Low oxygen permeability of rigid‐shelled eggs is associated with small eggs and hatchlings, and long incubation lengths compared to flexible‐shelled gekkotan eggs. These features represent a demographic cost for species with rigid‐shelled eggs. This cost is offset, at least in part, because mortality due to desiccation and predation is reduced for rigid‐shelled eggs relative to flexible‐shelled eggs. Developmental traits may also compensate for the low oxygen permeability of rigid‐shelled eggs. Oviposition, for example, occurs at earlier developmental stages for gekkotans with rigid‐ versus flexible‐shelled eggs. Such early oviposition facilitates development because eggs move from the relatively hypoxic oviduct to the much better oxygenated nest environment. In this study, I tested the hypothesis that the growth of the yolk sac (YS) and chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of gekkotans with rigid‐shelled eggs is initiated and completed earlier than those of gekkotans with flexible‐shelled eggs. I measured the surface area of eggs covered by the YS and CAM from oviposition to hatching and determined which of four nonlinear models provide the best fit for growth curves. I also compiled a data set on embryonic metabolism of gekkotans and other lizards in order to place growth of the YS and CAM in the context of energy utilization of lizard embryos overall. Growth of the YS and CAM of gekkotans with rigid‐shelled eggs is accelerated relative to that of gekkotans with flexible‐shelled eggs and may serve to separate the cost of YS and CAM development from that of the embryo itself. Adaptive variation in YS and CAM development may extend to birds, crocodilians, and turtles as they also exhibit life history variation that affects oxygen availability to embryos during development.
In soil measurement of radiation dose caused by X‐ray computed tomography
Authors: Lippold Eva , Kleinau Philip , Blaser Sebastian R. G. A. , Schlüter Steffen , Phalempin Maxime , Vetterlein Doris
Published: March 2021

Radiation damage to plants through X‐ray exposure has been reported to impair root growth. The literature on the critical dose for growth impairment is inconclusive, partly as dose measurements in soil are scarce. Here we fill this gap and show that the dose in a typical single pot scan amounts to 1.2 Gy. In addition, we demonstrate the shortcomings of estimating the dose from scan settings using the RadPro Calculator and highlight the efficient reduction of X‐ray exposure by a lead shield.
Effect of soil characteristics on cadmium absorption and plant growth of Theobroma cacao L. seedlings
Authors: Correa Juan Esteban , Ramírez Ramiro , Ruíz Orlando , Leiva Edna Ivonne
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Cadmium uptake by cacao plants can affect plant growth, consumer health and commercialisation. To develop mitigation strategies, it is essential to identify the soil characteristics that could influence this absorption. To determine the relationships between cadmium absorption and the soil characteristics of cacao areas, the responses at concentrations of 0, 2, 5, 10 and 20 μg g−1 of cadmium in three soils of these areas and an andisol were evaluated, using 120‐day‐old seedlings of four cultivars of Theobroma cacao L.

RESULTS

In the present study, several relationships were found between chemical and physical soil characteristics and available cadmium, such as real and bulk densities, as well as contents of iron, sand, magnesium, potassium, sodium and copper. Additionally, moderate to strong correlations between potassium (r2 = −0.56) and real density (r2 = 0.42), with foliar cadmium, were found. Moreover, a differential deleterious effect on cacao growth in variables such as biomass was corroborated in cadmium concentrations from 5 μg g−1 in soils. There were no statistical differences between cultivars with respect to cadmium uptake or plant growth. Finally, a multiple linear regression model is proposed to estimate the foliar cadmium content (r2 = 0.878).

CONCLUSION

Some soil characteristics such as density, as well as sand, clay, aluminium, potassium and iron contents, should be considered before establishing cacao crops to avoid cadmium accumulation. The correlation between potassium with foliar cadmium indicated that potassium could be significant in cadmium uptake mitigation strategies. The high correlation between available cadmium and foliar cadmium indicates that the quantification methodology developed using ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid extractant may be a useful diagnostic tool. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Quality evaluation and geographical classification of immature rape and acacia honeys in China
Authors: Yuan Yuan , Deng Zeyuan , Zhang Bing , Li Guangyan , Zhang Jinwu , Liu Rong , Li Hongyan
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

To reflect and understand the real situation regarding immature honey, the quality parameters of 141 honey samples from different regions of China were evaluated. The possibility of classifying Chinese honey from different geographical origins was also considered.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the values of diastase, sucrose, proline and 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) met the international honey standard, although moisture, total glucose and fructose, and invertase content in most of the honey samples failed to meet the standards. In addition, honey from different geographical locations could be well separated based on the contents of maltose, sucrose, HMF and glucose oxidase.

CONCLUSION

The maturity of honey has a great impact on its quality, and the geographical origin of immature honey could be classified according to the physicochemical parameters. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Monitoring the behavior of imazalil and its metabolite in grapes, apples, and the processing of fruit wine at enantiomeric level
Authors: Li Runan , Pan Xinglu , An Xiaokang , Wang Kuan , Dong Fengshou , Xu Jun , Liu Xingang , Wu Xiaohu , Zheng Yongquan
Published: March 2021

BACKGROUND

Imazalil is widely used in agriculture, which may pose a threat to food safety. This study aimed to investigate the fate of imazalil and its main metabolite, R14821 (imazalil‐M), in field grapes and apples, and in the processing of fruit wine at the enantiomeric level.

RESULTS

Analysis method was established to determine imazalil and imazalil‐M enantiomers in grape, apple, fruit wine and pomace. The method showed acceptable recoveries of 71.6–99.9% and precision with relative standard deviation of 0.3–11.7%. Processing factors (PFs) were 0.15–0.40 (for imazalil enantiomers) and <0.13–0.83 (for imazalil‐M enantiomers) during the wine‐making process. The PFs after individual steps including washing, peeling, fermentation, and clarification were all less than 1. No enantioselective dissipation of imazalil was found in grapes under field conditions with half‐lives of 23.82–24.49 days. R‐(−)‐imazalil degraded slightly faster than S‐(+)‐imazalil in apples under field conditions with half‐lives of 9.82–10.09 days. S‐(+)‐imazalil‐M preferentially degraded in field grapes and apple. No significant enantioselectivity of imazalil and imazalil‐M was observed during the wine‐making process. The enantiomeric fraction (EF) values of imazalil were 0.484–0.511 and 0.509–0.522 in grape wine and cider, respectively. The EFs were 0.484–0.501(in grape wine) and 0.484–0.504 (in cider) for imazalil‐M.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that the wine‐making process could reduce imazalil and imazalil‐M residues in grapes and apples. The finding of non‐enantioselectivity of imazalil during the processing of fruit wine was useful for accurate risk assessment for imazalil in raw and processing fruits. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Protein‐induced conformational change in glycans decreases the resolution of glycoproteins in hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography
Authors: Bupp Charles R. , Schwartz Cameron , Wei Bingchuan , Wirth Mary J.
Published: March 2021

An understanding of why hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography gives a higher resolution for glycans than for glycoproteins would facilitate column improvements. Separations of the glycoforms of ribonuclease B compared to its released glycans were studied using a commercial hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography column. The findings were used to devise a new hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography column. For the commercial column, chromatograms and van Deemter plots showed that selectivity and efficiency are comparable factors in the higher resolution of the released glycans. The higher selectivity for the released glycans was associated with more water molecules displaced per added mannose. To investigate why, three‐dimensional structures of the glycoprotein and the glycan were computed under chromatographic conditions. These showed that hydrogen bonding within the free glycan makes its topology more planar, which would increase contact with the bonded phase. The protein sterically blocks the hydrogen bonding. The more globular‐shaped glycan of the glycoprotein suggests that a thicker bonded phase might improve selectivity. This was tested by making a column with a copolymer bonded phase. The results confirmed that selectivity is increased. The findings are possibly broadly relevant to glycoprotein analysis since the structural motif involved in internal hydrogen bonding is common to N‐linked glycans of human glycoproteins.
A comprehensive quality evaluation method of Corydalis yanhusuo by HPLC fingerprints, chemometrics, and correlation analysis
Authors: Huang Wei , Pan Yan , Jiang Huijie , Chen Yi , Hu Linshui , Zhang Hui , Yan Jizhong
Published: March 2021

A novel quality evaluation method of Corydalis yanhusuo was established by researching the high‐performance liquid chromatography behavior of alkaloids under different buffer solutions and exploring the correlation between alkaloids in C. yanhusuo. The retention times of tetrahydropalmatine and corydaline were significantly influenced by pH, while the peak shape was affected by buffer types and ionic strength. The resolution of compounds in fingerprint was satisfactory under acetonitrile–0.2% phosphoric acid buffer (adjusted pH to 5.0 with triethylamine). Twelve common peaks were found by comparing 20 batches of C. yanhusuo fingerprints, and three tertiary alkaloids and four quaternary alkaloids were identified. The fingerprints were analyzed by similarity analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, principal component analysis, and partial least squares discriminant analysis. All samples were divided into three groups, and the contents of dehydrocorydaline and coptisine from Zhejiang province were relatively higher than other origins. There were six components performing more contributions to the quality of C. yanhusuo. The correlations between alkaloids were conducted by Pearson correlation analysis and mathematical model analysis. The content correlation between palmatine and berberine was y = 0.28x2 + 0.03x + 0.03, and the dehydrocorydaline and coptisine was y = −7.54/(1 + (x/0.14)0.5) + 2.61. The established mathematical model of alkaloids provided a guiding significance for the quality control of C. yanhusuo.
Open tubular capillary column immobilized with sulfobutylether‐β‐cyclodextrin for chiral separation in capillary electrochromatography
Authors: Zhou Lifen , Lu Yao , Sun Genlin
Published: March 2021

A novel chiral open tubular capillary column was fabricated with sulfobutylether‐β‐cyclodextrin and glycidyl methacrylate for enantioseparation in capillary electrochromatography. First, the pretreated silica‐fused capillary was treated with 3‐trimethoxysilyl propyl methacrylate to attach double bond ligand onto the surface. A copolymer layer was formed on the surface of capillary using glycidyl methacrylate and ethylene dimethacrylate by in situ one‐pot polymerization. Sulfobutylether‐β‐cyclodextrin was encapsulated inside the copolymerized layer. The morphology of the developed column was characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy. The effect of organic percentage and pH value of the mobile phase on electroosmotic flow and resolution was also investigated. The performance of the fabricated column was validated by separation of amlodipine besilate, 2,3‐diphenylpropionic acid, tropic acid, and pantoprazole enantiomers with good resolutions of 3.67, 4.82, 3.34, and 2.61, respectively. The repeatabilities of column‐to‐column and day‐to‐day through relative standard deviation were found better than 4%, exhibiting satisfactory repeatability of the developed column. The results reveal that open tubular capillary columns modified with β‐cyclodextrin show a great prospect for enantioseparation of chiral drugs in capillary electrochromatography.
COVID‐19 Rapid Review cross‐publisher initiative: What we have learned and what we are going to do next
Authors: Hurst Phil , Greaves Sarah
Published: March 2021

Key points

The global crisis sparked collaboration between publishers and service providers to successfully address an immediate problem and demonstrated the possibility for future partnerships.

Encouraging experts to join a reviewer pool and quickly review the preprint and journal submissions, we were able to publish COVID‐19 research more quickly.

The initiative confirmed little author uptake of inter‐publisher journal transfer option.

The collaboration showed wide consensus on open science practices which will ensure faster and more reliable research findings.
High‐Fidelity Image Reconstruction through Multimode Fiber via Polarization‐Enhanced Parametric Speckle Imaging
Authors: Fan Weiru , Chen Ziyang , Yakovlev Vladislav V. , Pu Jixiong
Published: March 2021

High‐quality signal transmission and imaging through a multimode fiber is essential for optical communications and medical endoscopic imaging, as it can provide high fidelity of the transferred information. Multiple mode superposition and mode coupling distort the incident wave, and a speckle pattern formed at the exit end of a multimode fiber makes the reconstruction of the original object challenging. The transmission matrix method is proposed to characterize the complex mesoscopic optical transmission channels, allowing light to traverse through the random medium. Here, a novel approach, namely polarization‐enhanced parametric speckle imaging, is proposed to improve imaging quality through a multimode fiber by utilizing the properties of polarization evolution through a multimode fiber. The demonstrated superior performance of polarization‐enhanced parametric speckle imaging opens novel avenues for optical communication system and photonics‐based endoscopic diagnosis.
Investigations into dry‐sliding wear behaviour of a novel composite (aluminium‐magnesium‐silicon‐copper‐silicon carbide) produced by powder metallurgy route
Authors: Behera R.K. , Samal B.P. , Panigrahi S.C.
Published: March 2021

Metal‐matrix aluminium composites are satisfactory successor not only for steels, but also for aluminium‐alloys in several automotive units and components. There are various paths to get light‐weight materials with‐out compromising their toughness, strength and safety demands. Tests on dry‐sliding or un‐lubricated pin‐on‐disc tests can be performed to obtain the wear‐characteristics of metal‐matrix composites built on aluminum. In the present study, we studied the behavior of wear resistance during sliding of metal matrix aluminium composites (AMMC) at sliding speeds of 1.5 m/s and loads of 20 N and 40 N in a normal environment, and experiments have been conducted using pin‐on‐disk tribometer (Make: DUCOM tribometer). The composites were manufactured by powder treatment and presented a number of problems, such as defective bonds and inter‐facial product reactions, which alter the tribological and mechanical properties. The results have shown that wear‐rates of the prepared composites are much lesser than those of matrix‐alloy and decreased further with increasing silicon carbide content. As the normal loads increases, the cracks and combination of abrasions, delimitation and wear of the adhesives of silicon carbide particles were observed. The composite samples were studied using a scanning electron microscope before and after the wear tests and systematically analysed.
Dataset of patient‐derived digital breast phantoms for in silico studies in breast computed tomography, digital breast tomosynthesis, and digital mammography
Authors: Sarno Antonio , Mettivier Giovanni , di Franco Francesca , Varallo Antonio , Bliznakova Kristina , Hernandez Andrew M. , Boone John M. , Russo Paolo
Published: March 2021

Purpose

To present a dataset of computational digital breast phantoms derived from high‐resolution three‐dimensional (3D) clinical breast images for the use in virtual clinical trials in two‐dimensional (2D) and 3D x‐ray breast imaging.

Acquisition and validation methods

Uncompressed computational breast phantoms for investigations in dedicated breast CT (BCT) were derived from 150 clinical 3D breast images acquired via a BCT scanner at UC Davis (California, USA). Each image voxel was classified in one out of the four main materials presented in the field of view: fibroglandular tissue, adipose tissue, skin tissue, and air. For the image classification, a semi‐automatic software was developed. The semi‐automatic classification was compared via manual glandular classification performed by two researchers. A total of 60 compressed computational phantoms for virtual clinical trials in digital mammography (DM) and digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) were obtained from the corresponding uncompressed phantoms via a software algorithm simulating the compression and the elastic deformation of the breast, using the tissue’s elastic coefficient. This process was evaluated in terms of glandular fraction modification introduced by the compression procedure. The generated cohort of 150 uncompressed computational breast phantoms presented a mean value of the glandular fraction by mass of 12.3%; the average diameter of the breast evaluated at the center of mass was 105 mm. Despite the slight differences between the two manual segmentations, the resulting glandular tissue segmentation did not consistently differ from that obtained via the semi‐automatic classification. The difference between the glandular fraction by mass before and after the compression was 2.1% on average. The 60 compressed phantoms presented an average glandular fraction by mass of 12.1% and an average compressed thickness of 61 mm.

Data format and access

The generated digital breast phantoms are stored in DICOM files. Image voxels can present one out of four values representing the different classified materials: 0 for the air, 1 for the adipose tissue, 2 for the glandular tissue, and 3 for the skin tissue. The generated computational phantoms datasets were stored in the Zenodo public repository for research purposes (http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4529852, http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4515360).

Potential applications

The dataset developed within the INFN AGATA project will be used for developing a platform for virtual clinical trials in x‐ray breast imaging and dosimetry. In addition, they will represent a valid support for introducing new breast models for dose estimates in 2D and 3D x‐ray breast imaging and as models for manufacturing anthropomorphic physical phantoms.
Comparison of reliability, construct validity and responsiveness of the IPAQ‐SF and PASE in adults with osteoarthritis
Authors: Smith R.D. , McHugh G.A. , Quicke J.G. , Dziedzic K.S. , Healey E.L.
Published: March 2021

Background

This study assessed the measurement properties of two commonly used self‐report physical activity (PA) measures: the International Physical Activity Questionnaire—Short Form (IPAQ‐SF) and the Physical Activity Scale for the elderly (PASE) in adults with osteoarthritis.

Methods

Secondary analysis of the MOSAICS cluster randomised controlled trial baseline and 3‐month follow‐up questionnaires, total scores and subdomains of the IPAQ‐SF and PASE were compared. Intra‐class correlations (ICC) were used to assess test–retest reliability, measurement error was assessed using standard error of measurement (SEM), smallest detectable change (SDC) and 95% limits of agreement (LoA). Responsiveness was assessed using effect size (ES), standard responsive measurement (SRM) and response ratio (RR).

Results

There was moderate correlation (r = 0.56) between the total IPAQ‐SF scores (score ranges 0–16,398) and the total PASE scores (score ranges 0–400). Subdomain correlations were also moderate (ranges 0.39–0.57). The PASE showed greater reliability compared to the IPAQ‐SF (ICC = 0.68; 0.61–0.74 95% CI and ICC = 0.64; 0.55–0.72, respectively). Measurement errors in both measures were large: PASE SEM = 46.7, SDC = 129.6 and 95% LoA ranges = −117 to 136, the IPAQ‐SF SEM = 3532.2 METS−1 min−1 week, SDC = 9790.8 and 95% LoA ranges = −5222 to 5597. Responsiveness was poor: ES −0.14 and −0.16, SRM −0.21 and −0.21, and RR 0.12 and 0.09 for the IPAQ‐SF and PASE, respectively.

Discussion

The IPAQ‐SF and PASE appear limited in reliability, measurement error and responsiveness. Researchers and clinicians should be aware of these limitations, particularly when comparing different levels of PA and monitoring PA levels changes over time in those with osteoarthritis.
3D formulation of the deformable discrete element method
Authors: Rojek Jerzy , Nosewicz Szymon , Thoeni Klaus
Published: March 2021

This work presents a 3D extension of the deformable discrete element method (DDEM) developed previously for 2D problems. The 3D formulation employs spherical particles. The particle deformation is made up of a global and local deformation mode. The global mode is assumed to be produced by uniform stress due to the contact forces. Particle deformability yields a nonlocal contact model, in which one contact between particles is influenced by contacts with other particles. It also leads to the formation of new contacts in the particle assembly. The DDEM affects the behavior of the granular material at the macroscopic level and gives new possibilities in material modeling by the discrete element method (DEM). The new algorithm is verified on a unconfined uniaxial compression test of a cuboid specimen discretized with equal‐size bonded particles aligned in a simple cubic pattern using an analytical solution. Enhanced modeling capabilities are presented by simulating cylindrical specimens discretized with a nonuniform size of bonded particles. The micro–macro relationships for elastic parameters are obtained. It is shown that the DDEM extends the range of the Poisson's ratio achievable with the DEM. Additional simulations are performed to determine the stability limits of the DDEM.
Prostate Cancer: Community Education and Disparities in Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Carthon Bradley , Sibold Hannah C. , Blee Shannon , D. Pentz Rebecca
Published: March 2021

Prostate cancer remains the leading diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of death among American men. Despite improvements in screening modalities, diagnostics, and treatment, disparities exist among Black men in this country. The primary objective of this systematic review is to describe the reported disparities in screening, diagnostics, and treatments as well as efforts to alleviate these disparities through community and educational outreach efforts. Critical review took place of retrospective, prospective, and socially descriptive data of English language publications in the PubMed database. Despite more advanced presentation, lower rates of screening and diagnostic procedures, and low rates of trial inclusion, subanalyses have shown that various modalities of therapy are quite effective in Black populations. Moreover, patients treated on prospective clinical trials and within equal-access care environments have shown similar outcomes regardless of race. Additional prospective studies and enhanced participation in screening, diagnostic and genetic testing, clinical trials, and community-based educational endeavors are important to ensure equitable progress in prostate cancer for all patients.

Implications for Practice

Notable progress has been made with therapeutic advances for prostate cancer, but racial disparities continue to exist. Differing rates in screening and utility in diagnostic procedures play a role in these disparities. Black patients often present with more advanced disease, higher prostate-specific antigen, and other adverse factors, but outcomes can be attenuated in trials or in equal-access care environments. Recent data have shown that multiple modalities of therapy are quite effective in Black populations. Novel and bold hypotheses to increase inclusion in clinical trial, enhance decentralized trial efforts, and enact successful models of patient navigation and community partnership are vital to ensure continued progress in prostate cancer disparities.
Pseudohypoxic pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas dominate in children
Authors: Redlich Antje , Pamporaki Christina , Lessel Lienhard , Frühwald Michael C. , Vorwerk Peter , Kuhlen Michaela
Published: March 2021

Objective

Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors that are associated with cancer predisposition syndromes in up to 80% of affected children. PPGLs can be divided into molecularly defined groups with comparable pathogenesis and biology: (1) pseudohypoxic, (2) kinase signaling, and (3) Wnt‐altered.

Methods

We report the data of children and adolescents diagnosed with PPGL who have been registered with the German GPOH‐MET registry since 1997.

Results

By December 2019, a total of 88 patients with PPGL were reported. Pheochromocytoma occurred in 56%, paraganglioma in 35%, and synchronous PPGLs in 9.1%. A total of 16% of patients presented with lymph node (5.7%) and distant metastases (10%). Median follow‐up was 4.2 years (range 0–17.1). Overall and disease‐free survival (DFS) were 98.6% and 54.0%, respectively. Local relapses, metastases, and subsequent PPGLs occurred in 11%, 4.5%, and 15% of patients. Germline mutations were detected in 83% of patients (51% in VHL, 21% in SDHB, 7.8% in SDHD, and one patient each in RET and NF1). One patient was diagnosed with Pacak–Zhuang syndrome. A total of 96% of patients presented with PPGL of the pseudohypoxic subgroup (34% TCA cycle‐related, 66% VHL/EPAS1‐related). In multivariate analyses, extent of tumor resection was a significant prognostic factor for DFS.

Conclusions

Most pediatric PPGLs belong to the pseudohypoxia subgroup, which is associated with a high risk of subsequent PPGL events and metastatic disease. Comprehensive molecular profiling of children and adolescents with newly diagnosed PPGLs will open new avenues for personalized diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance.
Not all low fetal fraction cell‐free DNA screening failures are at increased risk for aneuploidy
Authors: Caldwell Samantha , Almasri Eyad , Schmidt Lindsey , Xu Chen , Dyr Brittany , Wardrop Jenna , Cacheris Philip
Published: March 2021

Objective

To evaluate cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) redraws and pregnancy outcomes following low fetal fraction (FF) cfDNA failures, as it has been suggested that a failed cfDNA screen due to insufficient FF carries increased risk for fetal aneuploidy.

Methods

Here >200,000 consecutive samples were reviewed and >1,100 patients were identified with a failed cfDNA due to low FF using genome‐wide massively parallel sequencing. Redraw results following the initial low FF failure were analyzed, as well as pregnancy outcomes for patients with repeated low FF failure on redraw.

Results

Upon redraw 84.2% of samples yielded a reportable result with no enrichment of aneuploidy observed (p = 0.332). Higher maternal weights and multifetal pregnancy rates were observed in samples with insufficient FF. In patients with repeated low FF failure on redraw, almost all pregnancies resulted in apparently healthy liveborns.

Conclusion

Insufficient FF was not an indicator of aneuploidy risk or adverse pregnancy outcomes in this study. Caution should be taken in generalizing aneuploidy risk to all low FF cfDNA failures. Redrawing may be an appropriate next step, as proceeding directly with diagnostic testing for aneuploidy may be unwarranted for most patients.
Waterproof Light‐Emitting Metal Halide Perovskite–Polymer Composite Microparticles Prepared via Microfluidic Device
Authors: Kim Kyung Hak , Park Jin Kyoung , Im Sang Hyuk , Park Bum Jun
Published: March 2021

Waterproof light‐emitting perovskite–polymer composite microparticles are synthesized by a continuous one‐step microfluidic reactor, which enables in situ production of metal halide perovskite nanoparticles (MHP‐NPs) by the ligand‐assisted reprecipitation process (LARP) and the encapsulation of MHP‐NPs by UV cross‐linking polymerization in the microfluidic channel. Successful encapsulation of MHP‐NPs in polymer microparticles is attributed to the co‐dispersion of an LARP solution and UV polymerizable solution in an aqueous continuous phase within the microfluidic channel, in which N,N‐dimethylformamide, in co‐dispersion droplets, is continuously extracted to the aqueous medium upon UV polymerization. MHP‐NPs–polymer composite microparticles show enhanced stability against air and moisture.
New Perspectives of Using Chitosan, Silver, and Chitosan–Silver Nanoparticles against Multidrug‐Resistant Bacteria
Authors: Polinarski Marcos A. , Beal Ana L. B. , Silva Felipe E. B. , Bernardi‐Wenzel Juliana , Burin Glaucia R. M. , de Muniz Graciela I. B. , Alves Helton J.
Published: March 2021

Nanomaterials with antimicrobial activity are promising alternatives to overcome microbial resistance in medical devices. Catheters, probes, and wound dressings are among the medical devices mostly affected by microbial contamination and the formation of polymicrobial biofilms. Nanoparticles (NPs) derived from natural sources, such as chitosan nanoparticles (CsNPs), and metal‐based nanoparticles, including silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), are receiving increased interest in nanomedicine. CsNPs have been widely explored as a coating material and antimicrobial agent. AgNPs have a strong antimicrobial effect against bacteria and fungi. The nanocomposite chitosan–silver nanoparticles (Cs‐AgNPs) can be more effective against several microorganisms, including multidrug‐resistant bacteria, due to the synergistic effect between chitosan and silver. This review addresses the most used synthesis methods, including green routes, to produce CsNPs, AgNPs, and Cs–AgNPs. It also discusses physicochemical characteristics and antimicrobial properties of these NPs in medical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological areas.