bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Employing supervised classification techniques in determining playability status of polyester‐urethane magnetic audio tapes
Authors: Fuenffinger Nathan C. , Ratnasena Nilmini H. , Cassidy Brianna M. , Lu Zhenyu , Abraham Alyssa A. , Breitung Eric M. , Morgan Stephen L.
Published: December 2020

As magnetic audio tapes age, various chemical and physical degradation processes can affect the playability of the tapes. The extent that a tape is degraded, however, is often difficult to observe without actually playing the tape. Attempting to play an extensively degraded tape can result in damage to the tape as well as to the instrument used to play the tape. Our recent work has focused on less destructive methods for determining the degree to which a tape is degraded before playing. The development of such methods would allow conservationists to predetermine if a tape should be subjected to a restoration process such as baking and eliminate any further damage from occurring. In this study, attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy was used as a rapid and objective method for determining the playability of polyester‐urethane magnetic tapes. A collection of 95 tapes was used to generate chemometric models based on partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA), support vector machine discriminant analysis (SVM‐DA), artificial neural networks (ANNs), and naïve Bayes classification (NBC). Classification accuracies for playability of greater than 90% were achieved when applying the models to a separate collection of 50 tapes.
Local hydrodynamics investigation of industrial scaled‐down upflow moving‐bed hydrotreater reactor using a two‐tip optical probe
Authors: Alexander Vineet , Albazzaz Hamza , Al‐Dahhan Muthanna
Published: December 2020

Upflow moving‐bed hydrotreater (MBR) is used in refineries as a guard reactor to a fixed‐bed residual desulfurization reactor. Uniform local flow distribution in these reactors is critical to avoid issues like coking, catalyst agglomeration, and hotspots in the catalyst bed. Local maldistribution is investigated on a scaled‐down MBR at a scaled‐down industrial flow condition using an experimental technique called two‐tip optical probe (TTOP), which gives local phase saturations, phase velocities, backmixing, and maldistribution at voids of a two‐phase‐flow packed bed. TTOP implemented at local radial/axial locations indicates highly fluctuating phase saturations inside the catalyst bed, with zones having low‐to‐high gas or liquid saturations, indicating severe local maldistribution. The local phase backmixing and local maldistribution is more on the upper part of the bed.
Adsorption performance of organic dyes in single and binary systems onto poly(itaconic acid)/magnetite sepiolite composite prepared via the green synthetic methods
Authors: Ge Hucheng , Zhang Ze , Zhao Xiaowei , Li Hai , Sun Jingyi , Jv Xiaojun
Published: December 2020

Since organic dyes are poorly biodegradable and completely soluble, they are difficult to be efficiently and rapidly removed. Therefore, a poly(itaconic acid)/magnetite sepiolite composite (PIA/MSEP) is prepared via a simple and environmentally friendly approach. The resulting adsorbent is employed for adsorption of methylene blue (MB) and methyl violet (MV). Factors influencing dyes adsorption efficiency are systemically researched, such as pH, contact time, temperature, and initial concentration of dye. Under optimal experimental conditions, the adsorption behaviour is satisfactorily modelled by the Langmuir model, and the maximum adsorption capacity reaches 196.08 and 175.44 mg · g−1 for MB and MV, respectively. Adsorption is a fast process, well represented by pseudo‐second‐order rate expression, and being the equilibrium reached as short as 30 minutes for both MB and MV. The thermodynamic parameters suggest a favourable, spontaneous, and endothermic process. Fast, kinetic, and convenient magnetic separation, and a high adsorption capacity, make PIA/MSEP composite an impressive adsorbent for adsorption of organic dyes.
Gingival crevicular fluid biomarkers in type 1 diabetes mellitus: A case–control study
Authors: Sereti Maria , Roy Margaux , Zekeridou Alkisti , Gastaldi Giacomo , Giannopoulou Catherine
Published: December 2020

Objective

The aim of the study is to compare the levels of Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF) interleukin 8 (IL‐8), matrix metalloproteinase 8 (MMP‐8) and advanced glycated‐end products (AGEs) in a cohort of type 1 diabetic (T1D) subjects and healthy controls.

Material and methods

GCF samples and periodontal examination were assessed in 50 subjects with T1D (30 males and 20 females; mean age: 35.2 years) recruited from the Diabetology Unit of the Geneva University Hospitals and in 50 control subjects matched for gender, age and smoking status. Samples were assessed for IL‐8 and MMP‐8 using a bead array multianalyte detection system and for AGEs the ELISA. The two groups were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results

The mean HbA1c differed significantly between the groups (8.3% for the T1D group vs. 5.2% for the control group, p < 0.001). T1D subjects had significantly more plaque and gingival inflammation and presented more sites with bleeding on probing compared to the controls. The GCF levels of IL‐8, MMP‐8 and AGEs did not differ significantly between the groups. Further analysis of the GCF markers in younger (<40 years) and older (≥40 years) cohorts, revealed no significant differences between younger diabetics and controls or between older diabetics and controls. When the groups were divided according to their glycemic status (HbA1c 6.1–8, and > 8%), again no significant differences could be identified for any of the biochemical markers.

Conclusions

T1D subjects, particularly the younger ones, exhibited more inflammation compared to the matched healthy controls. Results on the GCF expression of IL‐8, MMP‐8 and AGEs did not differ between the groups. The diabetic population of our cohort was for the most part fairly‐controlled, with little if any complications and with presence of only mild type of periodontal disease, as 68% had gingivitis.
Hierarchical CoP Nanostructures on Nickel Foam as Efficient Bifunctional Catalysts for Water Splitting
Authors: Cao Hongshuai , Li Zhibin , Xie Ying , Xiao Fang , Wang Honglei , Wang Xiaoyan , Pan Kai , Cabot Andreu
Published: December 2020

A highly active and cheap catalyst is also key to hydrogen production by water splitting. However, most of the high‐efficiency catalysts reported to date only are catalytically active for either the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) or the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which makes the development of multifunctional catalysts more meaningful. Here, for the first time, Co(CO3)0.5OH.0.11 H2O (CHCH) as precursor with different microstructures on the surface of nickel foam (NF) was obtained using a facile hydrothermal method. The CoP/NF catalyst was obtained after thermal phosphating that retained the microhierarchical structure of the precursor and greatly improved the catalytic performance, with a highly efficiency performance as HER and OER dual‐functional catalyst. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that the possible reason for the excellent performance of the CoP/NF layered structure is an increase in the number of of surface defects and an increased active surface area. The results reported in this paper show that CoP/NF, a layered bifunctional electrocatalyst, is a cost‐effective and efficient water‐splitting electrode. This finding can offer the opportunity for the commercial use of excess electric energy for large‐scale water splitting hydrogen production.
Regulation of vertebrate forelimb development and wing reduction in the flightless emu
Authors: Newton Axel H. , Smith Craig A.
Published: December 2020

The vertebrate limb is a dynamic structure which has evolved into many diverse forms to facilitate complex behavioral adaptations. The principle molecular and cellular processes that underlie development of the vertebrate limb are well characterized. However, how these processes are altered to drive differential limb development between vertebrates is less well understood. Several vertebrate models are being utilized to determine the developmental basis of differential limb morphogenesis, though these typically focus on later patterning of the established limb bud and may not represent the complete developmental trajectory. Particularly, heterochronic limb development can occur prior to limb outgrowth and patterning but receives little attention. This review summarizes the genetic regulation of vertebrate forelimb diversity, with particular focus on wing reduction in the flightless emu as a model for examining limb heterochrony. These studies highlight that wing reduction is complex, with heterochronic cellular and genetic events influencing the major stages of limb development. Together, these studies provide a broader picture of how different limb morphologies may be established during development.
A dual preconcentration method by combining micro matrix solid‐phase dispersion extraction with field‐enhanced sample injection and micelle to cyclodextrin stacking for sensitive analysis of neutral coumarins
Authors: Chu Chu , Liu Caijing , Yang Fei , Lian Linmin , Li Jing , Mao Hui , Yan Jizhong
Published: December 2020

A rapid, sensitive, environmental friendly dual preconcentration method by combining micro matrix solid‐phase dispersion extraction with field‐enhanced sample injection and micelle to cyclodextrin stacking has been developed for the determination of furocoumarins. Molecular sieve, KIT‐6, was used as an adsorbent in micro matrix solid‐phase dispersion process. The important parameters affecting off‐line and online CE preconcentration efficiency were optimized. Under the optimal experimental conditions, all analytes showed good linearity (R2 > 0.999). The LODs of notopterol, isoimperatorin, and imperatorin were 0.1 μg/mL, 1.2 mg/kg, and 1.0 mg/kg, respectively. Compared with the normal CE method, the enrichment times were up to 300. Moreover, Angelicae Dahuricae Radix was used as the mode of complex solid sample matrix to demonstrate the prospect of application of this methodology. The results showed the proposed strategy is promising for determining trace furocoumarins in complex matrix samples, which might be applied as a powerful and economic tool in monitoring illegal cosmetic adding.
Prediction of some quality properties of rice and its flour by near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) analysis
Authors: Fazeli Burestan Nasrollah , Afkari Sayyah Amir Hossein , Taghinezhad Ebrahim
Published: December 2020

The measurement of different quality properties requires particular tools and chemical materials, most of which are time‐using. The present research was accomplished to survey the possibility of using NIRS (870–2450 nm) to predict the amylose content (AC), protein content (PC), breakdown (BDV), and setback viscosity (SBV) of white rice (Khazar variety) and its flour. Determination coefficients of calibration models to flour samples of AC, PC, BDV, and SBV generated by the partial least‐squares (PLS) regression were obtained as R2cal ≥ .85 and R2pre ≥ .80. Root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) was calculated as 0.393, 0.07, 2.55, and 1.33, respectively. Similarly to grain samples, were obtained as R2cal ≥ .88 and R2pre ≥ .71 for calibration and prediction. RMSEC was measured as 0.303, 0.27, 2.59, and 3.11, respectively. NIRS has the potential to be used as a quick technique for predicting the quality attributes of kernel specimens.
Subject‐specific segregation of functional territories based on deep phenotyping
Authors: Pinho Ana Luísa , Amadon Alexis , Fabre Murielle , Dohmatob Elvis , Denghien Isabelle , Torre Juan Jesús , Ginisty Chantal , Becuwe‐Desmidt Séverine , Roger Séverine , Laurier Laurence , Joly‐Testault Véronique , Médiouni‐Cloarec Gaëlle , Doublé Christine , Martins Bernadette , Pinel Philippe , Eger Evelyn , Varoquaux Gaël , Pallier Christophe , Dehaene Stanislas , Hertz‐Pannier Lucie , Thirion Bertrand
Published: December 2020

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has opened the possibility to investigate how brain activity is modulated by behavior. Most studies so far are bound to one single task, in which functional responses to a handful of contrasts are analyzed and reported as a group average brain map. Contrariwise, recent data‐collection efforts have started to target a systematic spatial representation of multiple mental functions. In this paper, we leverage the Individual Brain Charting (IBC) dataset—a high‐resolution task‐fMRI dataset acquired in a fixed environment—in order to study the feasibility of individual mapping. First, we verify that the IBC brain maps reproduce those obtained from previous, large‐scale datasets using the same tasks. Second, we confirm that the elementary spatial components, inferred across all tasks, are consistently mapped within and, to a lesser extent, across participants. Third, we demonstrate the relevance of the topographic information of the individual contrast maps, showing that contrasts from one task can be predicted by contrasts from other tasks. At last, we showcase the benefit of contrast accumulation for the fine functional characterization of brain regions within a prespecified network. To this end, we analyze the cognitive profile of functional territories pertaining to the language network and prove that these profiles generalize across participants.
Manipulation of focal Wnt activity via synthetic cells in a double‐humanized zebrafish model of tumorigenesis
Authors: Wang Lei , Long Jiang , Chen Huan , Sun Shaoyang , Lv Kunpeng , Li Qiang , Wang Xu
Published: December 2020

The canonical Wnt signaling pathway is activated in numerous contexts, including normal and cancerous tissues. Here, we describe a synthetic cell‐based therapeutic strategy that inhibits aberrant Wnt activity in specific focuses without interfering with the normal tissues in vivo. As a proof of principle, we generated a triple transgenic zebrafish liver cancer model that conditionally expressed human MET and induced ectopic Wnt signaling in hepatocytes. Then, we generated a customized synthetic Notch receptor (synNotch) cascade to express Wnt inhibitor DKK1 in Jurkat T cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after recognizing MET as antigen. After that, the synNotch PBMCs were sorted and microinjected into different tissues of the zebrafish model. In MET‐expressing cancerous liver tissues, the injected cells expressed DKK1 and inhibited the local proliferation and Wnt activity; while in the yolk sac without MET, the injected cells remained inactive. Overall, our studies revealed the use of synthetic cells with antigen receptors to improve the spatiotemporal accuracy of anti‐Wnt therapy, and proposed that the genetically humanized zebrafish model may serve as a small‐scale and highly optically accessible platform for the functional evaluation of human synthetic cells.
Association between ovarian and breast masses among Chinese women in Chongqing based on ultrasonography screening: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Li Shu , Li Hao , Tian Shen , Wu Juan , Chen Yu‐Ling , Xiao Jun , Wei Jia‐Ying , Liang Xin‐Yu , Ran Liang , Kong Ling‐Quan
Published: December 2020

Objective

To explore associations between breast and ovarian tumors among the general healthcare population.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional retrospective study that enrolled 47 951 consecutive Chinese women who took health check‐ups between January 2015 and July 2018 and accepted both breast and gynecologic ultrasound scans during one healthcare examination in The Quality Control Center of Health Examination in Chongqing (China). Prevalence of breast and ovarian tumors was addressed. Multivariable logistic regressions were applied to assess the association between breast and ovarian lesions after adjusting for age, height, and body mass index, using ultrasonographic reports.

Results

Among participants, 8481 (17.7%) had breast masses (BM), and 2994 (6.2%) had ovarian masses (OM). After adjusting for age, height and body mass index (BMI), women with OM had an increased risk of BM (odds ratio [OR] 1.139, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.040–1.249, P = 0.005) than those without OM. Furthermore, subgroup analysis based on menopausal status revealed a positive association between the occurrence of OM and BM in premenopausal women (adjusted OR 1.155, 95% CI 1.052–1.269, P = 0.012) but this was not significant in perimenopausal or postmenopausal women. In subgroup analysis on BMI, positive correlations between OM and BM were found in women with an underweight BMI (OR 1.433, 95% CI 1.048–1.960, P = 0.024) and with a normal BMI (OR 1.130, 95% CI 1.018–1.253, P = 0.021), but this was not significant in overweight or obese cohorts.

Conclusion

A high prevalence of ultrasound‐revealed breast and ovarian tumors were found in Chinese women. Women with OM or BM have an increased prevalence of BM or OM, particularly among younger women and women with a lower BMI.
Evaluating in vitro fertilization outcomes of patients with low body mass index following frozen‐thawed embryo transfer
Authors: Oliva Margeaux , Nazem Taraneh G. , Lee Joseph A. , Copperman Alan B.
Published: December 2020

Objective

To determine the relationship between patients with a low body mass index (BMI; calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes following frozen‐thawed embryo transfer (FET).

Methods

Retrospective cohort study including 12 618 women aged 20–46 years with an underweight (<18.5) or normal weight (18.5–24.9) BMI who underwent controlled ovarian stimulation for IVF in a private and academic IVF center between August 2002 and December 2019.

Results

Anti‐Müllerian hormone, peak estradiol levels, number of MII oocytes, and fertilized oocytes were greater in the underweight group compared with the normal weight group. The total required gonadotropin dose was lower in the underweight patients compared with the normal weight patients. MII, fertilization, blastulation, and euploid rates did not differ before and after adjusting for confounders between BMI groups. In a cohort of 316 patients who underwent preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy and single euploid FET, pregnancy loss, pregnancy, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates before and after controlling for covariates were similar between groups.

Conclusion

Although there are known fetal growth or obstetrical issues associated in patients with a low BMI, it is reassuring that these risks do not extend to embryologic or clinical outcomes from IVF treatment.
Not all mitochondrial DNAs are made equal and the nucleus knows it
Authors: Lechuga‐Vieco Ana Victoria , Justo‐Méndez Raquel , Enríquez José Antonio
Published: December 2020

The oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system is the only structure in animal cells with components encoded by two genomes, maternally transmitted mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), and biparentally transmitted nuclear DNA (nDNA). MtDNA‐encoded genes have to physically assemble with their counterparts encoded in the nucleus to build together the functional respiratory complexes. Therefore, structural and functional matching requirements between the protein subunits of these molecular complexes are rigorous. The crosstalk between nDNA and mtDNA needs to overcome some challenges, as the nuclear‐encoded factors have to be imported into the mitochondria in a correct quantity and match the high number of organelles and genomes per mitochondria that encode and synthesize their own components locally. The cell is able to sense the mito‐nuclear match through changes in the activity of the OXPHOS system, modulation of the mitochondrial biogenesis, or reactive oxygen species production. This implies that a complex signaling cascade should optimize OXPHOS performance to the cellular‐specific requirements, which will depend on cell type, environmental conditions, and life stage. Therefore, the mitochondria would function as a cellular metabolic information hub integrating critical information that would feedback the nucleus for it to respond accordingly. Here, we review the current understanding of the complex interaction between mtDNA and nDNA.
Decreased serum exosomal miR‐29a expression and its clinical significance in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Wen Qiuting , Wang Yulou , Li Xingjiang , Jin Xiangguo , Wang Guimei
Published: December 2020

Background

Aberrant levels of circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are potential biomarkers in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) diagnosis and therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum exosomal miR‐29a expression as a non‐invasive biomarker for PTC diagnosis and prognosis.

Methods

Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was applied to measure serum exosomal miR‐29a expression levels in blood samples of 119 patients with PTC and 100 control subjects.

Results

Serum exosomal miR‐29a expression levels were significantly decreased in PTC cases. In addition, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed serum exosomal miR‐29a could well differentiate PTC from normal controls. Moreover, serum exosomal miR‐29a levels increased progressively and significantly 30 days and 90 days after surgery. Furthermore, PTC patients with lower serum exosomal miR‐29a expression had higher risk of recurrence. Decreased serum exosomal miR‐29a expression was significantly associated with worse clinical variables including tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, and TNM stage, as well as shorter survival. Finally, both univariate and multivariate identified serum exosomal miR‐29a as an independent prognostic indicator for overall survival.

Conclusion

These results demonstrated that serum exosomal miR‐29a might serve as a potential biomarker for PTC diagnosis and prognosis.
TMEM173 protects against pressure overload‐induced cardiac hypertrophy by modulating autophagy
Authors: Jin Ya‐Ge , Zhou Heng , Fan Di , Che Yan , Wang Zhao‐Peng , Wang Sha‐Sha , Tang Qi‐Zhu
Published: December 2020

TMEM173 has been reported to participate in endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation and immunology, all of which closely involved with cardiac hypertrophy. But its role in autophagy is not fully figured out. In our research, Tmem173 global knockout (KO) mice manifested more deteriorated hypertrophy, fibrosis, inflammatory infiltration and cardiac malfunction compared with wild type C57BL/6 mice after 6 weeks of transverse aortic constriction. And KO mice showed inhibited autophagosome degradation in myocardium observed under transmission electron microscope and in protein level. In in vitro experiments conducted in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes under phenylephrine treatment, the abundance of Tmem173 gene was negatively related to the abundance of LC3‐Ⅱ and the number of red and yellow fluorescent dots, of which reflected the capacity of autophagosome degradation. These results indicated that TMEM173 might be a promoter of autophagic flux and protected against pressure overload‐induced cardiac hypertrophy. It may serve as a potential therapeutic target for cardiac hypertrophy in the future.
Microvascular anatomy of the urinary bladder in the adult African clawed toad, Xenopus laevis: A scanning electron microscope study of vascular casts
Authors: Lametschwandtner Alois , Minnich Bernd
Published: December 2020

We studied urinary bladders of adult male and female Xenopus laevis using light microscopy of stained tissue sections and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of vascular corrosion casts (VCCs). Results showed that bilaterally a vesical artery branched off the femoral artery. At the dorso‐lateral serosal surface of the body of the bladder each artery splitted within a short distance into up to five smaller arteries that supplied body and neck regions. Arteries gave off short and long terminal arterioles, which fed the mucosal capillary meshwork. Long terminal arterioles followed dimensional changes of the bladder, while short ones anchored the capillary network to the arterial system. Capillary mesh sizes and shapes varied according to the filling state of the urinary bladder. In the highly to moderately distended (filled) bladder, capillaries were rather straight or undulated only slightly, in the contracted (emptied) bladder they undulated strongly and lay side by side. Postcapillary venules formed by two equally sized capillaries or from capillaries, which serially drained into a small postcapillary venule. Vesical venules formed a large dorsal vesical and a varying number of smaller lateral and ventral vesical veins. The dorsal vesical vein drained either directly or via the posterior hemorrhoidal vein into the common pelvic vein. Lateral and ventral vesical veins also drained into the latter. The vascular patterns found were discussed in respect to the bladder spatial movements during distention (filling) and relaxation (emptying). Furthermore, it was hypothesized that an extensively filled bladder could compress the overlaying abdominal vein forcing part of the blood otherwise drained towards the liver to be detoured via the renal portal veins to the kidneys.
Evidence of asymmetric change in diurnal temperature range in recent decades over different agro‐climatic zones of India
Authors: Mall Rajesh Kumar , Chaturvedi Manisha , Singh Nidhi , Bhatla Rajeev , Singh Ravi Shankar , Gupta Akhilesh , Niyogi Dev
Published: December 2020

Diurnal temperature range (DTR) is an important indicator of climatic change and a critical thermal metric to assess the impact on agriculture and human health. This study investigates the seasonal, annual and decadal changes in the spatio‐temporal trend in DTR and air temperatures (maximum: Tmax and minimum: Tmin) during 1951–2016 and solar radiation (Srad) during 1984–2016 over 14 different agro‐climatic zones (ACZs) in India. The changes in the DTR trend between two time periods:1951–2016 and 1991–2016 (recent period) are also assessed. The results indicate an overall increasing trend in DTR (0.038°C/decade), Tmax (0.078°C/decade, significant), Tmin (0.049°C/decade) during 1951–2016 and Srad (0.10 MJ/m2/day/decade) during 1984–2016. However, a decreasing trend in DTR (−0.02°C/decade) and a significant increasing trend in Tmin (0.210°C/decade) was noted during 1991–2016. The decadal changes showed an evident decline in DTR during the recent period since 1991. The relative increase in Tmin (0.21°C/decade, significant) compared to Tmax (0.18°C/decade) resulted in a decreasing DTR trend. This was evident across the 5 out of the 14 agro‐climatic zones for the 1991–2016 period. The seasonal analysis showed a significant (95%) increasing trend in DTR during pre‐monsoon and monsoon (1951–2016), and a negative trend for the post‐monsoon and monsoon since 1991. There were also interesting spatial differences found with the ACZs in the north‐west, parts of Gangetic plain, north‐east, and central India exhibiting negative DTR trends. The effect of Srad is larger on Tmax than Tmin; therefore, the decrease in Srad in parts of Gangetic plain likely contributed to a smaller increase in Tmax relative to Tmin and led to a decreasing trend in DTR. At the same time, the west coast, east coast, and southern region show positive trends. The observational analysis finds a distinct increase in the Tmin and also highlights the need for future assessments to continue investigate the causes of these spatio‐temporal changes found in this study.
Measuring 3D growth plate shape: Methodology and application to cam morphology
Authors: Horenstein Rachel E. , Meslier Quentin , Spada Julia A. , Halverstadt Anne , Lewis Cara L. , Gimpel Mo , Birchall Richard , Wedatilake Thamindu , Fernquest Scott , Palmer Antony , Glyn‐Jones Siôn , Shefelbine Sandra J.
Published: December 2020

Physeal changes corresponding to cam morphology are currently measured using two‐dimensional (2D) methods. These methods are limited by definitions of the femoral neck axis and head center that are dependent on the radiographic plane of view. To address these limitations, we developed three‐dimensional (3D) methods for analyzing continuous growth plate shape using magnetic resonance imaging scans. These new methods rely on a single definition of the femoral neck axis and head center that are both nondependent on the radiographic plane of view and allow for analysis of growth plate shape across the growth plate surface (performed using statistical parametric mapping). Using our 3D method, we analyzed the position of the growth plate in the femoral head (relative to a plane tangent to the femoral head) and the curvature of the growth plate (relative to a plane through the center of the growth plate) in 9–16‐year‐old males at risk for cam morphology and their recreationally active peers (n = 17/cohort). These two measurements provide an avenue to separately analyze the effects of these variables in the overall growth plate shape. We detected differences in growth plate shape with age in recreationally active adolescents but did not detect differences between at risk and recreationally adolescents.
Why productive lakes are larger mercury sedimentary sinks than oligotrophic brown water lakes
Authors: Schütze Martin , Gatz Philipp , Gilfedder Benjamin‐Silas , Biester Harald
Published: December 2020

Mercury accumulation in lake sediments is a widespread environmental problem due to the biomagnification of Hg in the aquatic food chain. Soil Hg concentrations, catchment vegetation, erosion, and lake productivity are major factors controlling the accumulation of Hg in lakes. However, their influence on the Hg mass balance in lakes with different catchment characteristics and trophic state is poorly understood. In this multilake study, we decipher the effects of catchment vegetation (coniferous vs. deciduous forest), soil Hg content, and trophic state on Hg sedimentation at six lakes in Germany. We investigated Hg concentrations in leaves, soils, and the lake's water phase. Soils under coniferous stands show slightly higher Hg concentrations than under deciduous forest. Hg concentrations in the water phase were higher in the oligotrophic brown water lakes (8.1 ± 5.6 ng L−1 vs. 3.0 ± 1.9 ng L−1). Lower Hg concentrations in sediment trap material indicate dilution by algae organic matter in the mesotrophic lakes (0.12–0.17 μg g−1 vs. 0.57–0.89 μg g−1). However, Hg accumulation rates in sediment traps were up to 14‐fold higher in the mesotrophic lakes (113–443 μg m−2 yr−1) than in the brown water lakes (32–144 μg m−2 yr−1), which could not be explained by higher Hg fluxes to the productive lakes. Hg mass balance calculation reveals that water phase Hg scavenging by algae is the major reason for the intense Hg export to the sediments of productive lakes which makes them significantly larger sedimentary sinks than oligotrophic brown water lakes.
Innovative monochromatic x‐ray source for high‐quality and low‐dose medical imaging
Authors: Silver Eric H. , Shulman Seth D. , Rehani Madan M.
Published: December 2020

Purpose

An estimated 377 million diagnostic and interventional radiological exams are performed annually in the United States and approximately 4 to 5 billion globally. All use x‐ray tubes that emit x‐rays over a broad energy band, a technology that is more than a century old. Only a small fraction of the radiation is useful for imaging while the remaining fraction either increases the radiation dose received by the patient or degrades the image. Monochromatic x‐rays can provide lower dose images in many of these radiological applications while maintaining or improving image quality. We report the development of the first monochromatic x‐ray source suitable for low‐dose, high‐quality imaging in the clinic and demonstrate its first application and performance with mammography phantoms.

Methods

X‐ray fluorescence was used to generate monochromatic x‐rays with selectable energies from 18 to 60 keV. This patented technology was incorporated into a laboratory prototype of a monochromatic x‐ray mammography system. Image quality was evaluated as a function of radiation dose in standard breast phantoms using the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) measured for high and low contrast masses and microcalcifications. Spatial imaging properties were assessed from these images as well as from modulation transfer function (MTF) analysis. Measurements using an iodine contrast agent were also performed. The results were compared to those obtained using a commercially available, conventional x‐ray mammography system.

Results

Our prototype system reduced radiation dose by factors of five to ten times for the same SNRs as obtained from the conventional system. This performance was demonstrated in phantoms simulating a wide range of lesion sizes and microcalcifications in a variety of breast thicknesses. The high SNRs for very thick breast phantoms provide evidence that screening with less breast compression is possible while maintaining image quality. Contrast‐enhanced digital mammography (CEDM) with monochromatic x‐rays was shown to provide a simpler and more effective technique at substantially lower radiation dose. The MTF value at 20% was 9 lp/mm.

Conclusions

The monochromatic x‐ray system is more sensitive for imaging a wide range of breast sizes and compositions than conventional broadband mammography. High image quality and lower dose are its hallmarks. It also makes CEDM much more effective than current methods developed for use with conventional broadband mammography systems.
Origin and evolution of a gibberellin‐deactivating enzyme GAMT
Authors: Zhang Chi , Chaiprasongsuk Minta , Chanderbali Andre S. , Chen Xinlu , Fu Jianyu , Soltis Douglas E. , Chen Feng
Published: December 2020

Gibberellins (GAs) are a major class of plant hormones that regulates diverse developmental programs. Both acquiring abilities to synthesize GAs and evolving divergent GA receptors have been demonstrated to play critical roles in the evolution of land plants. In contrast, little is understood regarding the role of GA‐inactivating mechanisms in plant evolution. Here we report on the origin and evolution of GA methyltransferases (GAMTs), enzymes that deactivate GAs by converting bioactive GAs to inactive GA methylesters. Prior to this study, GAMT genes, which belong to the SABATH family, were known only from Arabidopsis. Through systematic searches for SABATH genes in the genomes of 260 sequenced land plants and phylogenetic analyses, we have identified a putative GAMT clade specific to seed plants. We have further demonstrated that both gymnosperm and angiosperm representatives of this clade encode active methyltransferases for GA methylation, indicating that they are functional orthologs of GAMT. In seven selected seed plants, GAMT genes were mainly expressed in flowers and/or seeds, indicating a conserved biological role in reproduction. GAMT genes are represented by a single copy in most species, if present, but multiple copies mainly produced by whole genome duplications have been retained in Brassicaceae. Surprisingly, more than 2/3 of the 248 flowering plants examined here lack GAMT genes, including all species of Poales (e.g., grasses), Fabales (legumes), and the large Superasterid clade of eudicots. With these observations, we discuss the significance of GAMT origination, functional conservation and diversification, and frequent loss during the evolution of flowering plants.
An accurate and computationally cheap microwave scattering method for ice aggregates: the Independent Monomer Approximation
Authors: McCusker Karina , Westbrook Chris D. , Tyynelä Jani
Published: December 2020

The Discrete Dipole Approximation (DDA) is widely used to simulate scattering of microwaves by snowflakes, by discretising the snowflake into small ‘dipoles’ which oscillate in response to (a) the incident wave, and (b) scattered waves from all the other dipoles in the particle. It is this coupling between all dipole pairs which makes solving the DDA system computationally expensive, and that cost grows nonlinearly as the number of crystals n within an aggregate is increased. Motivated by this, many studies have ignored the dipole coupling (the Rayleigh–Gans Approximation, RGA). However, use of RGA leads to systematic underestimation of both scattering and absorption, and an inability to predict polarimetric properties. To address this, we present a new approach (the Independent Monomer Approximation, IMA) which solves the DDA system for each crystal ‘monomer’ separately, then combines them to construct the full solution. By including intra‐monomer coupling, but neglecting inter‐monomer coupling, we save a factor of n in computation time over DDA. Benchmarking IMA against DDA solutions indicates that its accuracy is greatly superior to RGA, and provides ensemble scattering cross‐sections which closely agree with their more expensive DDA counterparts, particularly at size parameters smaller than ∼ 5 . Addition of rime to the aggregates does not significantly degrade the results, despite the increased density. The use of IMA for radar remote sensing is evaluated, and we show that multi‐wavelength and multi‐polarisation parameters are successfully captured to within a few tenths of a dB for aggregates probed with frequencies between 3 and 200 GHz, in contrast to RGA where errors of up to 2.5 dB are observed. Finally, we explore the realism of the IMA solutions in greater detail by analysing internal electric fields, and discuss some broader insights that IMA provides into the physical features of aggregates that are important for microwave scattering.
Forecasts of “normal”
Authors: Mason Simon J. , Ferro Christopher A. T. , Landman Willem A.
Published: December 2020

The difficulty of forecasting “normal” climate conditions is demonstrated in the context of bivariate normally distributed forecasts and observations. Deterministic and probabilistic skill scores for the normal category are less than for the outer category for all‐but‐perfect models. There are two important mathematical properties of the normal category in a three‐category climatologically equiprobable forecast system that affect the scores for this category. First, the normal category can achieve the highest probability less frequently than the outer categories, and far less frequently in contexts of weak to moderate skill. Second, there are upper limits to the probability the normal category can reach. These mathematical constraints suggest that summary measures of skill may underestimate the predictability and forecast‐skill of extreme events, and that subjective inputs to probabilistic forecasts may need to take greater account of limitations to the predictability of normal conditions.
Self‐information‐based weighted CUSUM charts for monitoring Poisson count data with varying sample sizes
Authors: Zhang Yang , Shang Yanfen , Li An‐Da
Published: December 2020

In many applications, the Poisson count data with varying sample sizes are monitored using statistical process control charts. Among these applications, the weighted CUSUM charts are developed to deal with the effect of the varying sample sizes. However, some of them use limited information of the sample size or the count data while assigning the weights. To gain more information of the process, the self‐information weight functions are developed based on both the sample size and the observed count data. Then, the weighted CUSUM charts are proposed with the self‐information‐based weight. Simulation studies show the self‐information‐based weighted CUSUM charts perform better than the benchmark methods in detecting small shifts. Moreover, the performance of proposed method with estimated parameters is investigated via simulation. Finally, an example is given to illustrate the application of the proposed weighted CUSUM charts.
Differentiation of alkyl radicals: A route through chemical graph theory
Authors: Chatterjee Subhojyoti , Liu Fengyi , Wang Feng
Published: December 2020

Alkyl radicals play important roles such as intermediary metabolism, cell damage/injury and death leading to potential mutations. The present investigation using chemical graph theory studied two sets of carboxyl radicals, that is, deprotonated (DPro, radical) and protonated (Pro, radical anion) forms of 5‐ethyl heptanoic acid and 5‐ethenyl hept‐6‐enoic acid (Set I) radicals and 6‐ethyl octanoic acid and 6‐ethenyl oct‐7‐enoic acid (Set II) radicals. The study reveals that the largest eigenvalue (LEV) spectra of the adjacency matrix have a unique value, where the spectra increase from DPro to Pro and from single to double bonded alkyl radical structures, thus forming a scoring function for molecular topological indices. This topological index is presented as a measure for molecular connectivity/branching, where the index is used to predict the refractivity of a series of carboxyl radicals. The statistical correlation coefficient obtained for quantitative structure–property relationship between chemical structure (alkyl radical) and its physical property (refractivity) through heat maps are excellent and ranges within 0.97–0.99. It is further discovered that the vector component of the LEV gives an insight to its structural details, where it captures the node with the highest degree along with the important weighted node, that holds the complete structure (i.e., the radical site), in case of the Pro radical structures. Node centrality, which captures the structural makeup, divides DPro radical T‐shaped structures into two subunits for the signal transduction of important biological process like oral toxicity. Size of the largest clusters is also studied, illustrating the parameter to be less sensitive for differentiating the CC double bonds in the Pro radicals. To our knowledge, this is the first study where pattern recognition has been exemplified through the lower‐diagonal‐upper decomposition matrix of the chemical graph that forms a fingerprint signature to differentiate the alkyl radicals. The present study innovatively digitalizes the chemical structures of alkyl radicals that enables the discovery of structure–property relationship reflected by their molecular branching through machine learning.
Salen type additives as corrosion mitigator for Ni–W alloys: Detailed electronic/atomic‐scale computational illustration
Authors: Uppalapati Pramod Kumar , Berisha Avni , Velmurugan Krishnasamy , Nandhakumar Raju , Khosla Ajit , Liang Tongxiang
Published: December 2020

It is imperative to study the long‐term corrosion problems of nickel alloys in acidic medium due to breakdown of their passive oxide film. Focus of this work is to enhance the knowledge of adsorption of organic additives ‐1‐((E)‐(2‐((E)‐(2‐hydroxynaphthalen‐1‐yl)methyleneamino)phenylimino)methyl)naphthalen‐2‐ol (OPD) and 1‐((E)‐(2‐((E)‐(2‐hydroxynaphthalen‐1‐yl)methyleneamino)phenylimino)methyl)naphthalen‐2‐ol (PPD) onto the surface of Ni–W alloy. Deducing the scenario of competitive adsorption of salen‐type symmetrical Schiff bases (OPD and PPD) as additive molecules on Ni–W alloy surface at molecular level was studied by density functional theory (DFT), Monte Carlo simulation (MC), molecular dynamics simulation (MD) and radial distribution function (RDF) analysis. Obtained intrinsic molecular parameters from DFT shows a strong conformity to the corrosion efficiencies of experimental results. From the simulation results, PPD showed the higher polarization (650.707 a.u.), higher binding energy (Ebinding = 1132.241 kJ/mol), larger negative interaction energy (Einteraction = −1132.241 kcal/mol), and negative value of adsorption energy (Eadsorption = −195.55 kcal/mol) and flat‐lying spatial orientation than that of OPD. These results suggested that the role of spacers play a vital role in the adsorption process, that is, larger spacer containing PPD has strong binding interaction and high surface area coverage with Ni–W alloy surface than shorter spacer OPD. Significant findings from DFT global descriptors, MC, MD and RDF analysis ratifies the corrosion efficiencies (PPD > OPD) of experimental outcomes, which correlates positively with the larger isomeric spacer. Overall, the present study, reports offers the corrosion resistance impact of OPD and PPD additives, revealing the fact of PPD as effective one and OPD as moderate ones for Ni–W alloys, thus validating the experimental results.
Background to new treatments for COVID‐19, including its chronicity, through altering elements of the cytokine storm
Authors: Clark Ian A.
Published: December 2020

Anti‐tumour necrosis factor (TNF) biologicals, Dexamethasone and rIL‐7 are of considerable interest in treating COVID‐19 patients who are in danger of, or have become, seriously ill. Yet reducing sepsis mortality by lowering circulating levels of TNF lost favour when positive endpoints in earlier simplistic models could not be reproduced in well‐conducted human trials. Newer information with anti‐TNF biologicals has encouraged reintroducing this concept for treating COVID‐19. Viral models have had encouraging outcomes, as have the effects of anti‐TNF biologicals on community‐acquired COVID‐19 during their long‐term use to treat chronic inflammatory states. The positive outcome of a large scale trial of dexamethasone, and its higher potency late in the disease, harmonises well with its capacity to enhance levels of IL‐7Rα, the receptor for IL‐7, a cytokine that enhances lymphocyte development and is increased during the cytokine storm. Lymphoid germinal centres required for antibody‐based immunity can be harmed by TNF, and restored by reducing TNF. Thus the IL‐7‐ enhancing activity of dexamethasone may explain its higher potency when lymphocytes are depleted later in the infection, while employing anti‐TNF, for several reasons, is much more logical earlier in the infection. This implies dexamethasone could prove to be synergistic with rIL‐7, currently being trialed as a COVID‐19 therapeutic. The principles behind these COVID‐19 therapies are consistent with the observed chronic hypoxia through reduced mitochondrial function, and also the increased severity of this disease in ApoE4‐positive individuals. Many of the debilitating persistent aspects of this disease are predictably susceptible to treatment with perispinal etanercept, since they have cerebral origins.
Singapore’s first large-scale dual-mode desalination plant is now on stream
Authors: Atkinson Simon
Published: December 2020

Keppel Marina East Desalination Plant – Singapore’s fourth desalination plant and the island city-state’s first large-scale, dual-mode desalination facility – is now up and running. Over three years ago Keppel Infrastructure Holdings Pte Ltd and national water agency PUB unveiled the innovative design for the facility at a ground-breaking ceremony conducted at the Marina Barrage (Membrane Technology, July 2017, pages 1 & 16). This article provides an update to previous coverage of this major project.