bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential Role of Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibition in Myocardial Ischemia and Current Clinical Trials
Authors: Pepine Carl J.
Published: September 2020

The understanding of the atherosclerotic disease process has broadened during the past few years to include the roles of the endothelium and of tissue angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) as regulators of a complex interaction of events that may lead to the development of atherosclerosis and, eventually, to the occurrence of clinical ischemia‐related events. Several large clinical trials using ACE inhibitors have previously demonstrated a reduced risk of morbidity and mortality in patients with coronary artery disease and left ventricular dysfunction and in patients with heart failure or who had experienced an acute myocardial infarction. The effects of ACE inhibition are now being evaluated in other ongoing or recently completed trials in patients with evidence of coronary artery disease, but who have preserved left ventricular function and do not have an acute infarction. The results of these trials can be expected to enhance further our ability to intervene in the atherosclerotic process, resulting in improved outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease.
Low 25‐Hydroxyvitamin D in Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Enhanced Conversion Into 1,25‐Hydroxyvitamin D May Not Be “True” Deficiency
Authors: Kabadi Udaya M
Published: September 2020

Vitamin D deficiency is reported in individuals with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP). However, decreased 25OHD may be attributed to enhanced conversion into 1,25‐hydroxyvitamin D [1,25(OH)D]. To examine vitamin D metabolism in individuals with PHP, serum calcium, PTH, 25OHD, and 1,25(OH)D levels were determined in 210 adults: 102 with PHP, 40 with normal 25OHD, and 68 with vitamin D deficiency. Concentrations were redetermined in 37 individuals with PHP following vitamin D supplementation and 43 patients postsurgery. Comparisons were conducted by Student's t test and ANOVA. Correlations were assessed between PTH and 25OHD, 1,25(OH)D, and 1,25(OH)D/25OHD in individuals with PHP. Calcium, PTH, and 1,25(OH)D were higher (p < 0.001) in individuals with PHP (11.4 ± 0.4, 116 ± 21, 79 ± 6) than in individuals with normal 25OHD (9.6 ± 0.2, 49 ± 5, 57 ± 6) and vitamin D deficiency (9.3 ± 0.2, 62 ± 6, 32 ± 4). Compared with individuals with normal 25OHD (47 ± 5), 25OHD was lower (18 ± 3), but not different from subjects with vitamin D deficiency (15 ± 2). In individuals with PHP, vitamin D2 supplementation induced rises in 1,25(OH)D and calcium without lowering PTH, whereas postsurgery, calcium, PTH, 25OHD, and 1,25(OH)D normalized. Finally, in individuals with PHP, significant correlations (p < 0.01) were documented between PTH and calcium (r = 0.74), 25OHD (r = −0.43), 1,25(OH)D (r = 0.52), and 1,25(OH)D/25OHD (r = 0.46); and between 1,25(OH)D/25OHD and calcium (r = 0.47). Subnormal 25OHD in most individuals with PHP may be attributed to enhanced conversion to 1,25(OH)D—not “true” vitamin D deficiency—although in some patients, both PHP and vitamin D deficiency coexisted. Moreover, vitamin D supplementation exaggerated hypercalcemia in individuals with PHP. © 2020 The Author. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Secrets and Likes: The Drive for Privacy and the Difficulty of Achieving It in the Digital Age
Authors: Acquisti Alessandro , Brandimarte Laura , Loewenstein George
Published: September 2020

We review different streams of social science literature on privacy with the goal of understanding consumer privacy decision making and deriving implications for policy. We focus on psychological and economic factors influencing both consumers' desire and consumers' ability to protect their privacy, either through individual action or through the implementation of regulations applying to firms. Contrary to depictions of online sharing behaviors as careless, we show how consumers fundamentally care about online privacy, and present evidence of numerous actions they take to protect it. However, we also document how prohibitively difficult it is to attain desired, or even desirable, levels of privacy through individual action alone. The remaining instrument for privacy protection is policy intervention. However, again for both psychological and economic reasons, the collective impetus for adequate intervention is often countervailed by powerful interests that oppose it.
Relationship of grit and resilience to dental students’ academic success
Authors: Montas Mackenson , Rao Sowmya R. , Atassi Hamza Al , Shapiro Michael C. , Dean Jason , Salama Andrew R.
Published: September 2020

Objectives

This study assesses the levels of grit (the perseverance and passion for long‐term goals), and resilience (the ability to bounce back or recover from stress), reported by U.S. dental students, and its possible association with academic achievements.

Methods

An anonymous 27 question cross‐sectional online survey with sections on demographics, grit, resilience, and academic achievement was e‐mailed to all dental students in the U.S. The Short Grit and Brief Resilience scales were used. Scores for both scales ranged from 1 to 5, and were grouped into low, moderate, and high tertiles based on distribution. Dental school grade point average (GPA), and class rank were used to measure academic achievement, and were similarly grouped. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were obtained from multinomial logistic regression models assessing the relationship of grit and resilience to the outcomes adjusting for gender, dental school year, race, geographic origin, and a variable combining education and income.

Results

Of the 3292 (17%) respondents, 58% were female. Hispanics reported significantly higher grit and resilience scores while Asian students reported the lowest. 18% of Hispanics were ranked in the top 20 percentile versus 37% of whites.

Conclusion

Results indicate that dental students with high grit (high vs. low scores: OR [95% CI]: 2.06 [1.57–2.72]) and resilience (high vs. low scores: 1.36 [1.04–1.76]) achieved higher GPA and better class ranks. Therefore, it is crucial for students wanting to achieve academic success to consider the value that these non‐cognitive characteristics might have on their overall progress.
How drawing prompts can increase cognitive engagement in an active learning engineering course
Authors: Wu Sally P. W. , Van Veen Barry , Rau Martina A.
Published: September 2020

Background

Recent engineering education research has found improved learning outcomes when instructors engage students actively (e.g., through practice problems) rather than passively (e.g., in lectures). As more instructors shift toward active learning, research needs to identify how different types of activities affect students' cognitive engagement with concepts in the classroom. In this study, we investigate the effects of prompting novice students to draw when solving problems, a professional practice of engineers.

Purpose

We investigate whether implementing instructional prompts to draw in an active learning classroom (a) increases students' use and value of drawing as a problem‐solving strategy and (b) enhances students' problem‐solving performance.

Method

We compared survey data and exam scores collected in one undergraduate class that received prompts to draw in video lectures and in‐class problems (drawing condition) and one class that received no drawing prompts (control condition).

Results

After drawing prompts were implemented, students' use and value of drawing increased, and these effects persisted to the end of the semester. Students were more likely to draw when provided drawing prompts. Furthermore, students who received prompts outperformed students who did not on exam questions that target conceptual understanding.

Conclusions

Our findings reveal how implementing drawing prompts in an active learning classroom may help students engage in drawing and solve problems conceptually. This study contributes to our understanding of what types of active learning activities can improve instructional practices in engineering education. Particularly, we show how prompts that foster authentic engineering practices can increase cognitive engagement in introductory‐level engineering courses.
Protective effects of PX478 on gut barrier in a mouse model of ethanol and burn injury
Authors: Morris Niya L , Cannon Abigail R , Li Xiaoling , Choudhry Mashkoor A
Published: September 2020

Ethanol remains a confounder in postburn pathology, which is associated with an impaired intestinal barrier. Previously, we demonstrated that ethanol and burn injury reduce intestinal oxygen delivery (hypoxia) and alters microRNA (miR) expression in small intestinal epithelial cells. Hypoxia has been shown to influence expression of miRs and miR biogenesis components. Therefore, we examined whether hypoxia influences expression of miR biogenesis components (drosha, dicer, and argonaute-2 [ago-2]) and miRs (-7a and -150) and whether these changes impacted other parameters following ethanol and burn injury. Mice were gavaged with ethanol (∼2.9 g/kg) 4 h before receiving a ∼12.5% total body surface full thickness burn. Mice were resuscitated at the time of injury with normal saline with or without 5 mg/kg PX-478, a hypoxia-inducible factor-1α inhibitor. One day following injury mice were euthanized, and the expression of miRs and their biogenesis components as well as bacterial growth, tight junction proteins, intestinal transit, and permeability were assessed. Ethanol combined with burn injury significantly reduced expression of drosha, ago-2, miRs (-7a and -150), occludin, zonula occludens-1, claudin-4, zonula occludens-1, mucins-2 and -4, and intestinal transit compared to shams. Furthermore, there was an increase in intestinal permeability, total bacteria, and Enterobacteriaceae populations following the combined injury compared to shams. PX-478 treatment improved expression of drosha, ago-2, miRs (-7a and -150), occludin, claudin-4, zonula occludens-1, and mucin-2. PX-478 treatment also improved intestinal transit and reduced dysbiosis and permeability. These data suggest that PX-478 improves miR biogenesis and miR expression, and restores barrier integrity while reducing bacterial dysbiosis following ethanol and burn injury.
N‐terminally truncated nucleocapsid protein of SARS‐CoV‐2 as a better serological marker than whole nucleocapsid protein in evaluating the immunogenicity of inactivated SARS‐CoV‐2
Authors: Yue Lei , Cao Han , Xie Tianhong , Long Runxiang , Li Hua , Yang Ting , Yan Min , Xie Zhongping
Published: September 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome‐coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) had led to a serious public health crisis, and no specific treatments or vaccines are available yet. A nucleocapsid protein (NP)‐based enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detection method is not only important in disease diagnosis, but is required for the evaluation of vaccine efficacy during the development of an inactivated SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine. In this study, we expressed both the NP and N‐terminally truncated NP (ΔN‐NP) of SARS‐CoV‐2 in an Escherichia coli expression system and described the purification of the soluble recombinant NP and ΔN‐NP in details. The identities of the NP and ΔN‐NP were confirmed with mass spectrometry. We then used immunoglobulin G detection ELISAs to compare the sensitivity of NP and ΔN‐NP in detecting anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 antibodies. ΔN‐NP showed greater sensitivity than NP in the analysis of serially diluted sera from mice and rabbits vaccinated with inactive SARS‐CoV‐2 and in human sera diluted 1:400. ΔN‐NP showed a positive detection rate similar to that of the SARS‐CoV‐2 S protein in human sera. We conclude that ΔN‐NP is a better serological marker than NP for evaluating the immunogenicity of inactivated SARS‐CoV‐2.
Association between histone deacetylase activity and vitamin D‐dependent gene expressions in relation to sulforaphane in human colorectal cancer cells
Authors: Hossain Sharmin , Liu Zhenhua , Wood Richard J
Published: September 2020

BACKGROUND

It is relatively unknown as to how dietary bioactive compound sulforaphane (SFN) and vitamin D regulate gene expression in colorectal cancer. We hypothesized that a combination of SFN with vitamin D would prove beneficial in colorectal cancer. A combinatorial chemo‐preventive strategy was employed to investigate the impact of SFN on chromatin remodeling in colorectal carcinoma. To understand the epigenetics‐mediated changes in gene expression in response to SFN and vitamin D, Caco‐2 cells were exposed for 24 h to vitamin D (100 nmol L−1) either alone or in combination with SFN and trichostatin A (20 and 1 μmol L−1, respectively) at 70% confluency (proliferating) and after 13 days post‐confluency (fully differentiated). Changes to VDR, CYP24A1, CYP27B1 and TRPV6 gene expressions were quantified using real‐time PCR‐based assays. Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor activity was assessed using HDAC I/II assay that measured global changes in acetylation status.

RESULTS

In differentiated Caco‐2 cells, none of the genes had significant changes from D alone group. D + SFN (P = 0.99) demonstrated an opposing effect from D alone and decreased VDR expression. However, in proliferating Caco‐2 cells, D + SFN (P < 0.04) increased VDR expression and decreased CYP27B1 (P < 0.01) more than D alone (P = 0.38 and 0.07, respectively). Although statistically significant, D + SFN (P = 0.01) effect on HDAC inhibitor activity was less than trichostatin A alone group (P < 0.0004) or SFN alone group (P < 0.0014).

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest that colon cancer cells respond to dietary components differently under different conditions. The effect of vitamin D and SFN is selective and gene‐specific in the complex multistep process of colorectal carcinogenesis in vitro. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Characteristics of Olfactory Disorder With and Without Reported Flavor Loss
Authors: Negoias Simona , Meves Benjamin , Zang Yunpeng , Haehner Antje , Hummel Thomas
Published: September 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

Quality of life related to olfactory disorder (OD) depends on the perceived impairment. It is not known why some patients with OD report smell and flavor loss while others report smell loss only. In order to understand this, we compared the two clinical presentation forms in terms of demographics, clinical features, and orthonasal olfaction test results.

Study Design

Observational, analytic, cross‐sectional study.

Methods

A total of 401 patients with measured orthonasal OD presenting at a tertiary referral center were divided in 2 groups according to their subjective reports (smell loss only = 129 patients vs. smell and flavor loss = 272 patients). Groups were compared in terms of demographic (age, sex), clinical features (duration of disease, type of onset, etiology, degree of impairment due to the disorder) and test results (taste and orthonasal olfaction).

Results

Groups did not differ in terms of age, sex distribution, orthonasal olfactory, or taste function. Patients reporting smell and flavor loss were characterized by a mainly sudden onset of the disorder and a predominance of postinfectious olfactory loss. They also have a shorter disease duration and a higher disease impairment. For patients reporting smell loss only, disease duration is longer, they feel less impaired, the onset of the disorder is to a higher degree protracted and the main cause is idiopathic.

Conclusions

Patients with orthonasal OD reporting smell and flavor loss feel more impaired and present significant different clinical features compared to patients reporting smell loss only. Future studies measuring retronasal olfaction are necessary to fully understand flavor perception in OD.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 130:2869–2873, 2020
Misperception of Visual Vertical in Peripheral Vestibular Disorders. A Systematic Review With Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Obrero‐Gaitán Esteban , Molina Francisco , Montilla‐Ibañez María‐de‐Alharilla , Del‐Pino‐Casado Rafael , Rodriguez‐Almagro Daniel , Lomas‐Vega Rafael
Published: September 2020

Objective

The main aim was to assess the misperception of visual verticality (VV) in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders (PVD) in comparison with healthy controls. As secondary objectives, we checked if vestibular, visual, and somatosensory postural pathways can be affected in patients with PVD as well as the characteristics of PVD that could influence on the VV perception.

Methods

A systematic review with meta‐analysis was carried out. The bibliographic search was performed in January, 2020 in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), CINAHL, SciELO. Two reviewers selected the studies that met the inclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed the methodological quality using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale (NOS). The VV perception was assessed in two meta‐analysis according the used test: The Subjective Visual Vertical test (SVV) or the Rod and Frame Test (RFT) in comparison with healthy subjects. The Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) and its 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) was used to estimate the pooled effect. Publication bias was assessed using the Egger's test and Trim and Fill Method.

Results

Thirty‐four studies were included reporting 3,524 participants. PVD patients showed a misperception of the VV with SVV (SMD = 1.510; 95%CI: 1.190–1.830) and the RFT (SMD = 0.816; 95% CI: 0.234–1.398) respect healthy controls. A subgroup of patients in the acute phase (SMD = 2.5; 95%CI: 2.022–2.978) and who underwent a vestibular surgery (SMD = 2.241; 95%CI: 1.471–3.011) had the greater misperception of VV.

Conclusion

Patients with PVD show an alteration in the perception of VV, being greater in the acute phase and after a vestibular surgery. Laryngoscope, 131:1110–1121, 2021
Type 2 Inflammatory Shift in Chronic Rhinosinusitis During 2007–2018 in Belgium
Authors: Karin Jonstam , Tim Delemarre , Gabriele Holtappels , Cardell Lars‐Olaf , Marit Westman , Claus Bachert
Published: September 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a heterogenic disease with different inflammatory patterns depending on the presence (CRSwNP) or absence (CRSsNP) of polyps and geographical location. A shift toward type 2 endotype has been seen in Asia. We aim to investigate whether there has been type 2 shift in Belgium and to further endotype CRS based on clinical markers.

Study design

Prospective descriptive study.

Methods

Four hundred and thirty eight patients with CRS undergoing sinus surgery at Ghent University Hospital between 2007 and 2018 were included and stratified based on phenotype, comorbidities, inflammatory markers in tissue, and two different time points of surgery. Tissue samples from surgery were analyzed for type 2 markers. In a subgroup of CRSwNP blood eosinophils (EBC) was available.

Results

There was an increase in type 2 inflammatory markers in the latter group versus the earlier, in non‐asthmatic, non‐allergic CRS patients regardless of phenotype. The proportion of IL‐5+ patients was elevated in the latter group in CRSwNP. Inflammatory markers and comorbidities differ between IL‐5+ CRSsNP and CRSwNP subjects, no difference was seen in IL‐5− CRS. EBC can together with information on comorbidities help identify type 2 CRSwNP in a clinical setting.

Conclusion

There is a shift toward type 2 inflammation within the CRS population over recent 8 years also in Belgium. This shift implies that we expect to see more cases of severe and difficult to treat CRS in the future. Polyp formation is not directly linked to the presence or concentrations of type 2 inflammatory markers. Clinical parameters and EBC > 300 cells/μL can be used to identify type 2 CRSwNP.

Level of Evidence

3. Laryngoscope, 131:E1408–E1414, 2021
Coral reef benthic community structure is associated with the spatiotemporal dynamics of submarine groundwater discharge chemistry
Authors: La Valle Florybeth Flores , Kantar Michael B. , Nelson Craig E.
Published: September 2020

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is an important transporter of solutes and fresh water in coastal systems worldwide. In high island systems with a mixed semidiurnal tidal cycle driving SGD, coastal biogeochemistry is temporally and spatially variable. Past studies have shown that SGD covaries with the local species composition, diversity, and richness of biological communities on a scale of meters. Empirical orthogonal function analyses (EOF)—a method analogous to principal components analysis which finds spatial patterns of variability and their time variation period—were used to define both the spatial and temporal variation in SGD using spatially resolved time series of salinity. The first two EOFs represented variability at the tidal 12‐h period and the daily 24‐h period, respectively, and were responsible for more than 50% of the SGD‐derived salinity variability. We used the first two EOFs to explore spatiotemporally explicit patterns in SGD variability and their relationships with benthic community structure in reef systems. Distance‐based linear models found significant relationships between multivariate community structure and variability in SGD at different periods. Taxa‐specific logistic regressions showed that zoanthids and turf are more likely to be present in areas with high tidally driven SGD variability, while the inverse relationship is true for the invasive rhodophyte Acanthophora spicifera, calcifying macroalgae, the native rhodophyte Pterocladiella sp., the cyanobacteria Lyngbya sp., and the invasive chlorophyte Avrainvillea amadelpha. These results show that benthic communities vary with respect to SGD derived salinity at the scale of hundreds of meters resulting in spatially heterogeneous biotic patches.
Toroidal Metaphotonics and Metadevices
Authors: Ahmadivand Arash , Gerislioglu Burak , Ahuja Rajeev , Mishra Yogendra Kumar
Published: September 2020

Toroidal moments in artificial media have received growing attention and considered as a promising framework for initiating novel approaches to manage intrinsic radiative losses in nanophotonic and plasmonic systems. In the past decade, there has been substantial attention on the characteristics and excitation methods of toroidal multipoles—in particular, toroidal dipole—in 3D bulk and planar metaplatforms. The remarkable advantages of toroidal resonances have thrust the toroidal metasurface technology from relative anonymity into the limelight, in which researchers have recently centered on developing applied optical and optoelectronic subwavelength devices based on toroidal metaphotonics and metaplasmonics. In this focused contribution, the key principles of 3D and flatland toroidal metastructures are described, and the revolutionary tools that have been implemented based on this topology are briefly highlighted. Infrared photodetectors, immunobiosensors, ultraviolet beam sources, waveguides, and functional modulators are some of the fundamental and latest examples of toroidal metadevices that have been introduced and studied experimentally so far. The possibility of the realization of strong plexciton dynamics and pronounced vacuum Rabi oscillations in toroidal plasmonic metasurfaces are also presented in this review. Ultimate efficient extreme‐subwavelength scale devices, such as low‐threshold lasers and ultrafast switches, are thus in prospect.
Functionalised h‐BN as an effective lubricant additive in PAO oil for MoN coating sliding against Si3N4 ball
Authors: Liu Chaolin , Tang Gongbin , Su Fenghua , Xu Xing , Li Zhujun
Published: September 2020

Hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) exhibits great potential for tribological applications due to its attractive 2D layered structure. In this work, functionalised hexagonal boron nitride (f‐BN) was prepared by ultrasonic exfoliation of pristine h‐BN in water and subsequent hydrothermal modification with sodium oleat. Fourier infrared spectra and X‐ray photoelectron spectra analyses showed that long alkyl‐chains were successfully grafted on the surface of f‐BN by modification process. The tribological properties of the as‐prepared f‐BN as lubricant additive in poly‐alpha‐olefin 10 (PAO10) for lubricating MoN coating sliding against Si3N4 ball were evaluated by a ball‐on‐disc friction tester. The friction coefficient and wear rate of the oil dispersed with 2 mg/mL f‐BN was respectively reduced by 42% and 29% in comparison with the pure PAO10 oil, suggesting that f‐BN was an effective lubricating additive for reducing friction and wear. Finally, the lubricating mechanism of f‐BN dispersed in PAO10 was discussed and proposed.
Lasers, Birthmarks, and Sturge‐Weber Syndrome: A Pilot Survey
Authors: Sabeti Sara , Tackett Kelly J. , Ball Karen L. , Terrell Julia , Kelly Kristen M. , Burkhart Craig
Published: September 2020

Background and Objectives

There is limited or no data on the experience of patients with Sturge‐Weber Syndrome (SWS) and/or their parents who seek out laser treatments for their port‐wine birthmark (PWB). Our study aimed to develop a survey to understand patient perspectives on laser therapy and subsequent behaviors while focusing on three elements of the health belief model: perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and perceived barriers.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

A 31 item survey was developed and sent to 650 members of the Sturge‐Weber Foundation. The survey included questions regarding four domains: demographics, disease severity, laser experience, and perceptions and behaviors. Logistic regression models and bivariate analyses were conducted to analyze the results.

Results

Among the 123 respondents, earlier initiation of laser treatments was associated with greater birthmark satisfaction. Overall satisfaction increased up to 20 treatments and then leveled off. Color satisfaction increased up to 100 laser treatments; however, the flatness of the PWB was not associated with the number of laser treatments. The perceived benefits of lasers were not associated with the number of lifetime treatments or with spending. However, the perceived susceptibility was associated with greater spending on travel and medical expenses.

Conclusion

The results of our survey provide insight into SWS patient experiences, beliefs, and behaviors regarding laser therapy. Further exploration of these variables may allow for the improvement of the care experience. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC
A New Two‐Step Strategy for Encapsulating Amorphous Polymer Chains in Thiourea Crystals
Authors: Li Shanshan , Lv Dongxu , Ai Ning , Shen Jialong , Tonelli Alan E.
Published: September 2020

The establishment of methodologies for encapsulating polymers in small molecular hosts is not only highly desirable to facilitate new material functions but also very important for the development of fundamental science. Herein a new strategy for encapsulating noncrystalline polymer chains with bulky side groups in thiourea (TU) crystals is disclosed. In the process, the noncrystalline polymer is first complexed with TU and 1,4‐dioxane molecules, forming a crystalline metastable complex structure with melting temperature below 110 °C. Subsequent removal of 1,4‐dioxane through heating the complex at 120 °C collapses the metastable complexes, but surprisingly affords a polymer‐TU inclusion compound (IC) structure, as demonstrated by infrared radiation, differential scanning calorimetry, and X‐ray powder diffraction. The strategy is applicable to both atactic‐poly (methyl methacrylate) and ‐polystyrene, suggesting that it might be a universal method for encapsulating noncrystalline polymer chains in thiourea crystal canals.
In Vitro Biocompatibility of Diazirine‐Grafted Biomaterials
Authors: Djordjevic Ivan , Wicaksono Gautama , Solic Ivan , Steele Terry W. J.
Published: September 2020

Photoactivation of aryl‐diazirines is an emerging method of rapid, covalent crosslinking under ambient conditions. These attributes make those compounds candidates for grafting onto inert polymer backbones in order to produce stimuli‐sensitive biomaterials. However, no risk assessments are available to gauge the toxicity of the leachable components after crosslinking activation. Herein, a stimuli‐sensitive biomaterial is formulated from diazirine‐grafted polycaprolactone tetrol. Also known as CaproGlu, this biomaterial undergoes UVA‐activated crosslinking, with many positive attributes toward bioadhesive applications; hydrophobic, solvent‐free, liquid at room temperature, and transitions into a foam biorubber after mild UVA illumination. As a model diazirine‐grafted biomaterial, hydrolyzed CaproGlu leachates are evaluated for genotoxicity and skin sensitization, namely, Ames test, direct peptide reactivity, and ARE‐Nrf2 luciferase assays. The degradation products of diazirine‐mediated crosslinking observe little to no risk of in vitro genotoxicity or skin sensitization.
The effect of sulfamonomethoxine treatment on the gut microbiota of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Ming Junchao , Fu Zhengyi , Ma Zhenhua , Zhou Lijun , Zhang Zongli , Song Chao , Yuan Xinhua , Wu Qinglong
Published: September 2020

To investigate the possible effects of sulfamonomethoxine (SMM) on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), we quantitatively evaluated the microbial shifts in the intestines of Nile tilapia in response to different doses of SMM (200 and 300 mg/kg) using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. At the phylum level, the control group (0 mg kg−1 SMM) was dominated by Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes. In the treatment groups, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Chloroflexi were the dominant phyla. Cluster analysis indicated that the two groups treated with SMM clustered together. Similarly, the bacterial families that dominated the control group differed from those dominating the treatment groups. The changes in intestinal microbial composition over time were similar between the two SMM treatment groups. In both groups, the abundances of some families, including the Bacillaceae, Streptococcaceae, and Pseudomonadaceae, increased first and then decreased. Overall, the addition of SMM to the feed changed the structure of the intestinal microbiota in Nile tilapia. This study improves our understanding of the impact of SMM on the intestinal microenvironment of Nile tilapia. Our results provide guidelines for the feasibility of SMM use in aquaculture production.
Feasibility study of preoperative microvessel evaluation and characterization in perforator flaps using various modes of color‐coded duplex sonography (CCDS)
Authors: Kehrer Andreas , Lonic Daniel , Heidekrueger Paul , Bosselmann Talia , Taeger Christian D. , Lamby Philipp , Kehrer Michael , Jung Ernst Michael , Prantl Lukas , Platz Batista da Silva Natascha
Published: September 2020

Background

Color‐coded duplex sonography (CCDS) is useful for perforator flap design showing the highest sensitivity in identifying microvessels. This prospective study evaluates the feasibility of different ultrasound (US) modes applied by the microsurgeon in daily practice suggesting quantifiable reference values.

Methods

Twenty‐four patients aged between 17 and 68 years (mean 43.3 ± 14.2 years) with 18 anterolateral thigh (ALT) and 6 superficial circumflex iliac artery (SCIP) flaps were included. Indications were traumatic (n = 12), infectious (n = 6), ischemic (n = 4), or tumor‐associated defects (n = 2). Different US modes were evaluated regarding applicability using multifrequency linear probes (5–15 MHz). Vessels diameter, peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistance index (RI) were measured. Preoperative results were correlated to intraoperative findings.

Results

In the examined patient group with 24 perforator flaps a 100% correlation was seen when comparing perforators detected with CCDS/PD with intraoperative findings using optimized US settings. Sensitivity, PPV, and accuracy of CCDS were 100% respectively. Mean PSV of 16.99 ± 6.07 cm/s, mean EDV of 5.01 ± 1.84 cm/s and RI of 0.7 ± 0.07 were measured in microvessels (PW‐mode). CCDS proved to be superior compared to PD in correct diameter assessment showing a mean diameter of 1.65 ± 0.45 mm, compared to PD‐mode 1.31 ± 0.24 mm. Mean PSV and EDV were higher in ALT than in SCIP flaps, RI was slightly higher in SCIP flaps (p > .05). There were no significant differences in size of different flaps' perforators (p > .05).

Conclusion

CCDS represents a highly valuable tool in the daily practice of free flap reconstructions using optimized low flow US settings and multifrequency linear probes.
Pharmacoinformatic Investigation of Medicinal Plants from East Africa
Authors: Simoben Conrad V. , Qaseem Ammar , Moumbock Aurélien F. A. , Telukunta Kiran K. , Günther Stefan , Sippl Wolfgang , Ntie‐Kang Fidele
Published: September 2020

Medicinal plants have widely been used in the traditional treatment of ailments and have been proven effective. Their contribution still holds an important place in modern drug discovery due to their chemical, and biological diversities. However, the poor documentation of traditional medicine, in developing African countries for instance, can lead to the loss of knowledge related to such practices. In this study, we present the Eastern Africa Natural Products Database (EANPDB) containing the structural and bioactivity information of 1870 unique molecules isolated from about 300 source species from the Eastern African region. This represents the largest collection of natural products (NPs) from this geographical region, covering literature data of the period from 1962 to 2019. The computed physicochemical properties and toxicity profiles of each compound have been included. A comparative analysis of some physico‐chemical properties like molecular weight, H‐bond donor/acceptor, logPo/w, etc. as well scaffold diversity analysis has been carried out with other published NP databases. EANPDB was combined with the previously published Northern African Natural Products Database (NANPDB), to form a merger African Natural Products Database (ANPDB), containing ∼6500 unique molecules isolated from about 1000 source species (freely available at http://african‐compounds.org). As a case study, latrunculins A and B isolated from the sponge Negombata magnifica (Podospongiidae) with previously reported antitumour activities, were identified via substructure searching as molecules to be explored as putative binders of histone deacetylases (HDACs).
Application of Perov type fixed point results to complex partial differential equations
Authors: Altun Ishak , Qasim Muhammad
Published: September 2020

In this paper, we characterize a new generalization of Perov fixed point result via Λ‐admissibility and Ψ‐contractivity on vector‐valued metric space and provide a comparative example. Then we investigate the existence of solution of a complex partial differential equation of the form,

via obtained new fixed point results under suitable conditions.
Impact of Extreme Obesity and Diet‐Induced Weight Loss on the Fecal Metabolome and Gut Microbiota
Authors: Nogacka Alicja M. , de los Reyes‐Gavilán Clara G. , Martínez‐Faedo Ceferino , Ruas‐Madiedo Patricia , Suarez Adolfo , Mancabelli Leonardo , Ventura Marco , Cifuentes Alejandro , León Carlos , Gueimonde Miguel , Salazar Nuria
Published: September 2020

Scope

A limited number of human studies have characterized fecal microbiota and metabolome in extreme obesity and after diet‐induced weight loss.

Methods and results

Fecal samples from normal‐weight and extremely obese adults and from obese participants before and after moderate diet‐induced weight loss are evaluated for their interaction with the intestinal adenocarcinoma cell line HT29 using an impedance‐based in vitro model, which reveals variations in the interaction between the gut microbiota and host linked to obesity status. Microbiota composition, short chain fatty acids, and other intestinal metabolites are further analyzed to assess the interplay among diet, gut microbiota, and host in extreme obesity. Microbiota profiles are distinct between normal‐weight and obese participants and are accompanied by fecal signatures in the metabolism of biliary compounds and catecholamines. Moderate diet‐induced weight loss promotes shifts in the gut microbiota, and the primary fecal metabolomics features are associated with diet and the gut–liver and gut–brain axes.

Conclusions

Analyses of the fecal microbiota and metabolome enable assessment of the impact of diet on gut microbiota composition and activity, supporting the potential use of certain fecal metabolites or members of the gut microbiota as biomarkers for the efficacy of weight loss in extreme obesity.
Development of high‐resolution YAP(Ce) x‐ray camera for the imaging of astatine‐211(At‐211) in small animals
Authors: Nakanishi Kouhei , Yamamoto Seiichi , Watabe Tadashi , Kaneda‐Nakashima Kazuko , Shirakami Yoshifumi , Ooe Kazuhiro , Toyoshima Atsushi , Shinohara Atsushi , Teramoto Takahiro , Hatazawa Jun , Kamada Kei , Yoshikawa Akira
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Astatine‐211 (At‐211) is a promising alpha emitter for radionuclide therapy. High‐resolution in vivo imaging of At‐211 in small animals is needed for the development of At‐211 radiopharmaceuticals. For this purpose, we developed a low‐energy x‐ray camera using a thin YAlO3:Ce (YAP(Ce)) plate to image the low‐energy x rays (73–87 keV) from the daughter radionuclide of At‐211 (Po‐211).

Method

We optically coupled a 38 × 38 × 1‐mm YAP (Ce) plate to a position‐sensitive photomultiplier (PSPMT) to develop an imaging detector. A pinhole or a parallel hole collimator was attached to the imaging detector, and the performance was measured for 60‐keV gamma photons. With the developed x‐ray camera, we carried out imaging of a mouse that had been administered At‐211‐NaAt.

Results

The intrinsic spatial resolution of the YAP (Ce) x‐ray camera was approximately 1.2 mm FWHM, and the energy resolution was 22% FWHM. With a 5‐mm‐thick parallel hole collimator, the spatial resolution was 3.8 mm FWHM with a sensitivity of 8 × 10−4 at 10 mm, which is a typical distance from the surface of the collimator to a subject in mouse imaging. Using a 1‐mm diameter pinhole collimator, the spatial resolution was 1.8 mm FWHM with a sensitivity of 3.5 × 10−4 at 10 mm from the collimator. In the mouse images measured by the developed x‐ray camera, we could clearly observe that the At‐211 accumulated in the thyroid gland and the stomach of the mouse.

Conclusion

We concluded that the YAP (Ce) x‐ray camera is useful for in vivo imaging of At‐211.
Effect of uncertainties in quantitative 18F‐FDG PET/CT imaging feedback for intratumoral dose‐response assessment and dose painting by number
Authors: Chen Shupeng , Yan Di , Qin An , Maniawski Piotr , Krauss Daniel J. , Wilson George D.
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Intratumoral dose response can be detected using serial fluoro‐2‐deoxyglucose‐(FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) imaging feedback during treatment and used to guide adaptive dose painting by number (DPbN). However, to reliably implement this technique, the effect of uncertainties in quantitative PET/CT imaging feedback on tumor voxel dose‐response assessment and DPbN needs to be determined and reduced.

Methods

Three major uncertainties, induced by (a) PET imaging partial volume effect (PVE) and (b) tumor deformable image registration (DIR), and (c) variation of the time interval between FDG injection and PET image acquisition (TI), were determined using serial FDG‐PET/CT images acquired during chemoradiotherapy of 18 head and neck cancer patients. PET imaging PVE was simulated using the discrepancy between with and without iterative deconvolution‐based PVE corrections. Effect of tumor DIR uncertainty was simulated using the discrepancy between two DIR algorithms, including one with and one without soft‐tissue mechanical correction for the voxel displacement. The effect of TI variation was simulated using linear interpolation on the dual‐point PET/CT images. Tumor voxel pretreatment metabolic activity (SUV0) and dose–response matrix (DRM) discrepancies induced by each of the three uncertainties were quantified, respectively. Adverse effects of tumor voxel SUV0 and DRM discrepancies on tumor control probability (TCP) in DPbN were assessed.

Results

Partial volume effect and TI variations of 10 mins induced a mean ± standard deviation (SD) of tumor voxel SUV0 discrepancies to be −0.7% ± 9.2% and 0% ± 4.8%, respectively. Tumor voxel DRM discrepancies induced by PVE, tumor DIR discrepancy, and TI variations were 0.6% ± 8.9%, 1.7% ± 9.1%, and 0% ± 7%, respectively. Partial volume effect induced SUV0 and DRM discrepancies correlated significantly with the tumor shape and FDG uptake heterogeneity. Tumor DIR uncertainty‐induced DRM discrepancy correlated significantly with the tumor volume and shrinkage during treatment. Among the three uncertainties, PVE dominated the adverse effects on the TCP, with a mean ± SD of TCP reduction to be 12.7% ± 9.8% for all tumors if no compensation was applied for.

Conclusions

Effect of uncertainties in quantitative FDG‐PET/CT imaging feedback on intratumoral dose–response quantification was not negligible. These uncertainties primarily caused by PVE and tumor DIR were highly dependent on individual tumor shape, volume, shrinkage during treatment, and pretreatment SUV heterogeneity, which can be managed individually. The adverse effects of these uncertainties could be minimized by using proper PVE corrections and DIR methods and compensated for in the clinical implementation of DPbN.
Anisotropic dual‐continuum representations for multiscale poroelastic materials: Development and numerical modelling
Authors: Ashworth Mark , Doster Florian
Published: September 2020

Dual‐continuum (DC) models can be tractable alternatives to explicit approaches for the numerical modelling of multiscale materials with multiphysics behaviours. This work concerns the conceptual and numerical modelling of poroelastically coupled dual‐scale materials such as naturally fractured rock. Apart from a few exceptions, previous poroelastic DC models have assumed isotropy of the constituents and the dual‐material. Additionally, it is common to assume that only one continuum has intrinsic stiffness properties. Finally, little has been done into validating whether the DC paradigm can capture the global poroelastic behaviours of explicit numerical representations at the DC modelling scale. We address the aforementioned knowledge gaps in two steps. First, we utilise a homogenisation approach based on Levin's theorem to develop a previously derived anisotropic poroelastic constitutive model. Our development incorporates anisotropic intrinsic stiffness properties of both continua. This addition is in analogy to anisotropic fractured rock masses with stiff fractures. Second, we perform numerical modelling to test the DC model against fine‐scale explicit equivalents. In doing, we present our hybrid numerical framework, as well as the conditions required for interpretation of the numerical results. The tests themselves progress from materials with isotropic to anisotropic mechanical and flow properties. The fine‐scale simulations show that anisotropy can have noticeable effects on deformation and flow behaviour. However, our numerical experiments show that the DC approach can capture the global poroelastic behaviours of both isotropic and anisotropic fine‐scale representations.
Long‐term outcomes of transobturator midurethral slings: A critical evaluation of a real‐world population
Authors: Valadez Librado , Frilot Clifton F. , Gomelsky Alex
Published: September 2020

Aims

The American Urological Association/Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine and Urogenital Reconstruction stress urinary incontinence (SUI) guidelines strongly recommend the midurethral sling (MUS) for the index female patient with SUI. While numerous studies report long‐term outcomes and complications for the retropubic MUS, these are largely absent for the transobturator MUS and are assessed in this study.

Methods

This is an Institutional Review Board approved retrospective chart review of all women who underwent a transobturator MUS at a single institution from 2004 to 2010. Pre‐ and postoperative assessment included a cough–stress test, SEAPI assessment, and validated quality‐of‐life (QoL) questionnaires. SUI resolution was defined as no subjective or objective SUI, and no additional surgery to achieve stress continence.

Results

Of 437 women, 305 (70%) had a minimum follow‐up of 48 months (mean 88; median 92). SUI was resolved in 69% of the entire cohort and 58% of the 78 women who had MUS only. The median time to SUI recurrence was 38 months in the entire cohort and 18 months in the MUS only group. Perioperative complications were infrequent and typically associated with concomitant surgery. A statistically significant improvement was observed in SEAPI scores and all QoL indices postoperatively.

Conclusions

Long‐term resolution of SUI after the transobturator MUS is achieved by 69%, which is commensurate with success rates reported in the literature. Overall, women experience a significant improvement in their QoL after transobturator MUS; however, late recurrences and delayed sequelae may occur. Thus, long‐term follow‐up is warranted in this population.
Designing practical coordinating contracts in decentralized projects
Authors: Chen Shi , Klastorin Ted , Wagner Michael R.
Published: September 2020

Managing decentralized projects (DPs) effectively is a critical issue today as projects have become increasingly complex, costly, and strategically important (especially IT and new product development projects). In this article, we consider a DP that is composed of n serial stages with stochastic durations; the project is planned, organized, and funded by a client organization that contracts the work at each stage to independent contractors. Following previous research and practice, we assume that the client and contractors incur time‐dependent costs (including indirect/overhead costs), resource‐related direct costs, and incentive payments. We initially propose a general linear time‐based incentive contract and show that a simplified version of this contract can indeed coordinate a DP when discounting is not considered. The proposed contract sets the penalty due date to the start of each contractor's stage, and the optimal penalty cost rate is set equal to the client's overhead/indirect cost; it actually implies that the contractor is required to compensate for the client's indirect/overhead cost for the duration of the stage. This greatly simplifies the design and implementation of an optimal (coordinating) contract in a DP as the coordinating contract does not require the contractor's private cost information. When discounting is present, we show that a nonlinear contract coordinates the project and provide numerical evidence for when the linear time‐based incentive contract is a good approximation.