bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generation of Recombinant SARS‐CoV‐2 Using a Bacterial Artificial Chromosome
Authors: Chiem Kevin , Ye Chengjin , Martinez‐Sobrido Luis
Published: October 2020

SARS‐CoV‐2, the causative agent of COVID‐19, has been responsible for a million deaths worldwide as of September 2020. At the time of this writing, there are no available US FDA−approved therapeutics for the treatment of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Here, we describe a detailed protocol to generate recombinant (r)SARS‐CoV‐2 using reverse‐genetics approaches based on the use of a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC). This method will allow the production of mutant rSARS‐CoV‐2—which is necessary for understanding the function of viral proteins, viral pathogenesis and/or transmission, and interactions at the virus‐host interface—and attenuated SARS‐CoV‐2 to facilitate the discovery of effective countermeasures to control the ongoing SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol: Generation of recombinant SARS‐CoV‐2 using a bacterial artificial chromosome

Support Protocol: Validation and characterization of rSARS‐CoV‐2
Evolving Landscape of New Drug Approval in Japan and Lags from International Birth Dates: Retrospective Regulatory Analysis
Authors: Tanaka Mototsugu , Idei Mayumi , Sakaguchi Hiroshi , Kato Ryosuke , Sato Daisuke , Sawanobori Kenji , Kawarasaki Shuichi , Hata Toshiyuki , Yoshizaki Asako , Nakamura Miki , Ikuma Mutsuhiro
Published: October 2020

The Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency (PMDA) has approved hundreds of new drugs in recent years. We retrospectively analyzed the new drugs approved in Japan from 2008 to 2019, and identify the first‐in‐world approvals and clarify the current drug lag. The new drug and the drug lag were defined as a drug with a new active substance and a difference between the approval date in Japan and the international birth date, respectively. Among 400 new drugs approved in Japan during the last 12 years, 80 (20.0%) were first approved in Japan, and 320 were outside Japan (the United States: 202, 50.5%; Europe: 82, 20.5%; other regions: 36, 9.0%). Of these, 45 new drugs have not yet been approved outside Japan, and the remaining 355 have been globally approved in Japan and overseas. The number of new drug approvals were the largest in oncology followed by metabolic/endocrine and infectious diseases. The median drug lags (year) among all 400 new drugs and 355 new drugs with global approvals were 4.3 and 4.7 in the first tertile (2008–2011), 1.5 and 2.6 in the second tertile (2012–2015), and reduced to 1.3 and 2.2 in the third tertile (2016–2019), respectively. Substantial drug lag remains in neurology, psychiatry, and therapeutic areas where the number of new drug approvals was relatively small. Collectively, one‐fifth of the new drugs approved in Japan are first‐in‐world approvals. Drug lag has been greatly decreased, although it still exists.
In Situ Formation of “Dimethyl Sulfoxide/Water‐in‐Salt”‐Based Chitosan Hydrogel Electrolyte for Advanced All‐Solid‐State Supercapacitors
Authors: Wang Hongfei , Deng Yongqi , Qiu Jun , Wu Juan , Zhang Kefu , Shao Jingwen , Yan Lifeng
Published: October 2020

Biodegradable hydrogel electrolytes are particularly attractive in the fabrication of all‐solid‐state supercapacitors due to environmental benignity and avoiding of leakage. The introduction of “water‐in‐salt” (WIS) electrolytes into hydrogels will further broaden the electrochemical stability window of aqueous supercapacitors significantly. Meanwhile, the addition of an organic co‐solvent can effectively overcome the inevitable salt precipitation and extend the temperature adaptability. Herein, an in situ cross‐linking approach was demonstrated without any extra binder to obtain a “dimethyl sulfoxide/water‐in‐salt”‐based (DWIS) chitosan hydrogel electrolyte. Interestingly, the addition of 4–7 mol L−1 of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) salts not only conforms to the criterion of WIS, but also promoted the successful gelation through the supramolecular complexation between Li+‐solvated complexes and chitosan chains. A hydrogel‐based all‐solid‐state supercapacitor was fabricated using the DWIS chitosan hydrogel as the electrolyte and separator while nitrogen‐doped graphene hydrogel (NG) was used as the electrode. The optimized supercapacitor with a wide operating voltage of 2.1 V showed a high specific capacitance of 107.6 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, remarkable capacitance retention of 80.1 % after 5000 cycles, a superior energy density of 62.9 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 1025.5 W kg−1, and excellent temperature stability in the range of −20 to 70 °C. These findings suggest that the as‐prepared hydrogel electrolyte holds great potential in the practical application of high‐performance solid‐state energy storage devices.
Chemistry, Sustainability and Naturality of Perfumery Biotech Ingredients
Authors: Lecourt Mathilde , Antoniotti Sylvain
Published: October 2020

Invited for this month′s cover is the group of Sylvain Antoniotti at the University Côte d'Azur. The image shows a perfume dispenser containing bacterial cells delivering odorants molecules with a wide diversity and complexity of structures and olfactory notes. The person wears an art nouveau pendant featuring an enzyme and is peacefully hanging in a green and floral landscape. The Minireview itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.202001661.
Melanin‐based ornament darkness positively correlates with across‐season nutritional condition
Authors: Hegyi Gergely , Laczi Miklós , Kötél Dóra , Csörgő Tibor
Published: October 2020

Sexually dimorphic ornamental traits are widely regarded as indicators of nutritional condition. However, variation of nutritional condition outside the reproductive and the ornament production seasons has rarely been considered, although it affects the generality of information content, especially for ornaments that may be used across the year. We measured several indicators of migratory and molt condition in male and female blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla) during their autumn migration, and quantified their crown reflectance. We detected robust correlations between migratory and molt condition indices, and the correlation structure was similar in the two sexes. Furthermore, the across‐season measure of body condition was positively related to the darkness of the black crown in males, while being unrelated to reflectance traits of the reddish crown in females. Our results reinforce the possibility that some melanin‐based ornaments may be year‐round indicators of individual quality via their dependence on nutritional condition.
Increasing plant water stress and decreasing summer streamflow in response to a warmer and wetter climate in seasonally snow‐covered forests
Authors: Christensen Lindsey , Adams Hallie R. , Tai Xiaonan , Barnard Holly R. , Brooks Paul D.
Published: October 2020

Warming temperatures and precipitation changes are expected to alter water availability and increase drought stress in western North America, yet uncertainties remain in how concurrent changes in the amount and seasonality of precipitation interact with warming to affect hydrologic partitioning. We combined over a century of streamflow (Q) and climate observations with two decades of tree growth data and remotely sensed vegetation activity to quantify how temperature and precipitation interact to control hydrologic partitioning in the Front Range of Colorado, Boulder Creek Watershed. Temperature and precipitation significantly increased over the last five decades, with precipitation increasing primarily in winter (11.2 mm decade−1) and temperature increasing primarily during the growing season (0.12°C decade−1). In response to wetter winters and warmer summers, streamflow decreased −9.8 mm decade−1, with largest declines occurring during summer and autumn baseflow (−8.4 mm decade−1). Spring warming was associated with increases in episodic, short spring melt events, earlier and slower snowmelt and an increase in fraction of precipitation available to plants (catchment wetting or W). Warming during the growing season resulted in an increase in the fraction of W lost as evapotranspiration (ET), earlier and lower peaks in remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and lower tree ring width index (RWI). These analyses highlight that vegetation is becoming increasingly water limited even as increases in precipitation and slower melt increase plant water availability. Further, catchment‐derived metrics like the Horton Index (ET/W) provide insight in to how simultaneous changes in temperature, precipitation and melt impact vegetation across complex watersheds.
Expanding the feasibility of fish and wildlife assessments with close‐kin mark–recapture
Authors: Marcy‐Quay Benjamin , Sethi Suresh A. , Therkildsen Nina O. , Kraft Clifford E.
Published: October 2020

Close‐kin mark–recapture (CKMR) is a powerful new method for the assessment of fish and wildlife population dynamics. Unlike traditional mark–recapture techniques, the use of kinship as an identifying mark is robust to many forms of capture heterogeneity including variation in gear efficiency and tagging‐based effects such as loss and differential mortality. In addition, close‐kin methods can be applied to a wider range of sampling designs than traditional methods (e.g., single‐occasion surveys and lethal capture), can provide retrospective historical abundance estimates, and can produce survival estimates from as few as two sampling occasions. We evaluated the ability of CKMR to provide estimates of abundance and adult survival and then compared results to those from traditional mark–recapture. This analysis incorporated data from a three‐year study of lake resident brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) where individuals were both physically (PIT) tagged and genotyped for 44 de novo developed microsatellites with high throughput sequencing. Traditional mark–recapture estimates were derived using Pollock’s Robust Design, relying upon three primary open sampling occasions and four secondary closed occasions. We found that close‐kin methods produced contemporary estimates of adult abundance and survival that were similar to those produced by traditional mark–recapture in both magnitude and precision. Furthermore, CKMR provided abundance estimates for multiple years prior to sampling and, when restricted to data from a single year, still produced reliable abundance estimates for at least one and as many as three years. Retrospective abundance estimates corresponded with those from a separate historical two‐sample mark–recapture dataset. This study provides support for the use of CKMR as a robust and sampling‐efficient alternative to traditional mark–recapture methods of assessing population parameters.
Warming and shifting phenology accelerate an invasive plant life cycle
Authors: Keller Joseph A. , Shea Katriona
Published: October 2020

Numerous studies have documented changes in the seasonal timing of organisms’ growth and reproduction in response to climate warming. These changes correlate with documented changes in species’ abundance, but mechanisms linking these trends remain elusive. We investigated the joint demographic effects of advanced reproductive phenology and warming on a globally invasive plant (Carduus nutans) in a field experiment, documenting a substantial shift toward completion of the life cycle at younger ages. Demographic modeling projected 71% of warmed individuals flower as annuals, compared to 61% under current conditions. As this species only reproduces once, this represents a major acceleration of the life cycle. We project a 15% increase in this invader’s population growth rate. We show that rising temperatures accelerate this invasive species’ population growth by increasing the average size of reproducing individuals; increasing the proportion of individuals that survive to reproduce; and increasing the fraction that reproduce as annuals. Major increases in population growth in this, and potentially many other, invasive species will threaten food security and require careful planning to avoid significant environmental and economic impacts.
Interactive impacts of climate change and land‐use change on the demography of montane birds
Authors: Srinivasan Umesh , Wilcove David S.
Published: October 2020

Climate change and habitat degradation are amongst the two greatest threats to biodiversity. Together, they can interact to imperil species. However, how climate change and land‐use change jointly affect the demographic vital rates that underpin population viability remains unknown. Here, using long‐term data on birds from the increasingly degraded and rapidly warming Himalayas, we show that survival trends over time are linked to species’ elevational ranges in primary, but not in selectively logged forest. In primary forest, populations at their cold‐edge elevational range limit show increases in survival rates over time, whereas those at their warm‐edge elevational range limit suffer survival declines. This pattern is consistent with species tracking favorable climatic conditions over time, leading to improved demographic outcomes at progressively higher elevations with climate change, which in turn lead to upslope range shifts. In logged forest, however, survival rates remain relatively constant over time. This suggests that, in response to climate change in the long term, individuals of the same species can maintain demographic vital rates in higher‐elevation primary forest, but not in logged forest. This is the first demonstration of how two of the most disruptive anthropogenic influences on biodiversity interact to threaten survivorship in natural populations. Ignoring interactions between climate change and land‐use change can potentially undermine accurate forecasting of the future of species in an increasingly warm and degraded world. Importantly, large tracts of well‐protected primary forests across Earth’s tropical elevational gradients may be essential to enable tropical montane species to persist in the face of climate change.
Voltammetric Detection of Ethinylestradiol in Water and Synthetic Urine Samples using a Ni(II) Phthalocyanine/Iron Oxide Nanocomposite Electrode
Authors: de L. Ribeiro Camila , de Souza Jurandir R. , Pereira‐da‐Silva Marcelo A. , Paterno Leonardo G.
Published: October 2020

A novel nickel phthalocyanine/iron oxide nanoparticle (NiTsPc/ION) nanocomposite electrode is proposed for the voltammetric detection of ethinyl estradiol. The method shows a wide linear range (0.07–30 μmol L−1, R2 >0.99), sensitivity of 0.308 μA cm−2/μmol L−1 and limit of detection of 7.8 nmol L−1 (3.3 Sb/b). Recoveries are above 95 % for quantification in tap and treatment plant water samples and synthetic urine. A single electrode can be used in seven consecutive runs (RSD=2.85 %) and responses of different electrodes vary only 7–9 %. The excellent sensing performance of the proposed sensor is ascribed to its porous morphology and efficient charge‐transfer between ION and NiTsPc.
Real‐time moving object detection and removal from 3D pointcloud data for humanoid navigation in dense GPS‐denied environments
Authors: Kumar Rath Prabin , Ramirez‐Serrano Alejandro , Kumar Pratihar Dilip
Published: October 2020

Robot perception in dynamic confined unstructured environments is a challenging task due to unanticipated changes that take place in the surroundings. Although 3D perception sensors are able to capture terrain topology with high precision, the interim variations between collected sensor data that are caused due to the motion of moving entities with respect to the robot lead to noisy mappings of the environment. In this article, a real‐time 3D perception filter is presented that is capable of detecting and eliminating moving point clusters from the input pointcloud data collected in an indoor environment. Using LiDAR and IMU sensors the proposed mechanism can help in precise 3D pointcloud map generation in dynamic and unstructured GPS‐denied environments. In this article, a novel approach has been proposed based on the concepts of data clustering, relative motion, pointcloud change detection and confidence tracking. The novelty of this approach lies in its ability to detect within cluster movements and the proposal of a generic tracking method for handling inconsistent motion of objects typically found in indoor environments. For the detection of moving objects, the proposed mechanism does not require any prior knowledge about the target entity. For pointcloud preprocessing, a ground plane removal approach has been proposed based on voxel grid covariance along the axis normal to the ground. The approach was experimented on a humanoid robot in indoor office environments using Velodyne VLP‐16 LiDAR and Intel T265 IMU. The results show that the proposed approach is efficient in detecting indoor moving objects in real time.
Altered thalamic connectivity in insomnia disorder during wakefulness and sleep
Authors: Zou Guangyuan , Li Yuezhen , Liu Jiayi , Zhou Shuqin , Xu Jing , Qin Lang , Shao Yan , Yao Ping , Sun Hongqiang , Zou Qihong , Gao Jia‐Hong
Published: October 2020

Insomnia disorder is the most common sleep disorder and has drawn increasing attention. Many studies have shown that hyperarousal plays a key role in the pathophysiology of insomnia disorder. However, the specific brain mechanisms underlying insomnia disorder remain unclear. To elucidate the neuropathophysiology of insomnia disorder, we investigated the brain functional networks of patients with insomnia disorder and healthy controls across the sleep–wake cycle. EEG‐fMRI data from 33 patients with insomnia disorder and 31 well‐matched healthy controls during wakefulness and nonrapid eye movement sleep, including N1, N2 and N3 stages, were analyzed. A medial and anterior thalamic region was selected as the seed considering its role in sleep–wake regulation. The functional connectivity between the thalamic seed and voxels across the brain was calculated. ANOVA with factors “group” and “stage” was performed on thalamus‐based functional connectivity. Correlations between the misperception index and altered functional connectivity were explored. A group‐by‐stage interaction was observed at widespread cortical regions. Regarding the main effect of group, patients with insomnia disorder demonstrated decreased thalamic connectivity with the left amygdala, parahippocampal gyrus, putamen, pallidum and hippocampus across wakefulness and all three nonrapid eye movement sleep stages. The thalamic connectivity in the subcortical cluster and the right temporal cluster in N1 was significantly correlated with the misperception index. This study demonstrated the brain functional basis in insomnia disorder and illustrated its relationship with sleep misperception, shedding new light on the brain mechanisms of insomnia disorder and indicating potential therapeutic targets for its treatment.
Long term outcomes with linear accelerator stereotactic radiosurgery for treatment of jugulotympanic paragangliomas
Authors: Patel Ankur K. , Rodríguez‐López Joshua L. , Hirsch Barry E. , Burton Steven A. , Flickinger John C. , Clump David A.
Published: October 2020

Background

Data supporting linear accelerator (linac) stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for jugulotympanic paragangliomas (JTPs) come from small series with minimal follow‐up. Herein, we report a large series of JTPs with extended follow‐up after frameless linac‐based SRS.

Methods

JTPs treated with linac‐based SRS from 2002 to 2019 with 1+ follow‐up image were reviewed for treatment failure (radiographic or clinical progression, or persistent symptoms after SRS requiring intervention) and late toxicities (CTCAE v5.0).

Results

Forty JTPs were identified; 30 were treated with a multifraction regimen. Median clinical and radiographic follow‐up was 79.7 (interquartile range [IQR] 31.7‐156.9) and 54.4 months (IQR 17.9‐105.1), respectively, with a median 4.5 follow‐up scans (IQR 2‐9). Seven‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) was 97.0% (95% confidence interval 91.1%‐100.0%). PFS was similar between single‐ and multifraction regimens (log rank P = .99). Toxicity was seen in 7.7% (no grade III).

Conclusions

With extended clinical and radiographic follow‐up, frameless linac‐based SRS provides excellent local control with mild toxicity <8%.
Synthesis of 1,4‐Cyclohexadiene Carboxylates through a Formal [2+4]‐Cycloaddition of Propiolates under Cobalt Catalysis
Authors: Charpentier Julie , Voirol Francis , Flachsmann Felix , Tanner Silvia , Aeberli Natalie , Brunner Gerhard , Goeke Andreas
Published: October 2020

A low‐valent cobalt(I) complex, formed from the reduction of CoBr2(dppe) with zinc, acts as catalyst for the efficient [2+4] cycloaddition of β‐alkyl, cycloalkyl and aryl substituted propiolates to dienes. This transformation yields synthetically relevant 1,4‐cyclohexadiene carboxylates in good to excellent yields. Furthermore, the target compounds are novel lead structures for the discovery of fragrance ingredients from the fruity, floral and spicy odor family.
Finance‐growth nexus: New insight from Ghana
Authors: Appiah‐Otoo Isaac , Song Na
Published: October 2020

We re‐examine the links between financial development and the real economy in Ghana given the gaps in the literature, recent happenings in the financial sector, new dataset, and the more active interventions by the Bank of Ghana to inform good policy decisions. By employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag Bounds Cointegration approach (ARDL) and the Fully Modified OLS model (FMOLS), the study documented broad money supply, domestic credit provided by the financial sector, domestic credit to the private sector, bank deposit to GDP, liquid liabilities to GDP, deposit money banks assets to GDP, deposit money bank assets to deposit money bank assets and central bank assets, non‐life insurance premium volume to GDP, stock market capitalization to GDP and the number of listed companies to have a significant negative effect on Ghana's economic growth in the long‐run. The joint effect of financial development was also found to have a significant negative effect on Ghana's economic growth from the FMOLS model. The study recommended the imperative for policymakers to increase infrastructure investment by promoting reforms to boost cooperation between civil societies, the public sector, and the private sector to address the high cost of investment to improve the macroeconomic performance of the country. The study further recommended policymakers to support the financial sector by injecting liquidity during these distress times.
C-Terminal, but Not Intact, FGF23 and EPO Are Strongly Correlatively Elevated in Patients With Gain-of-Function Mutations in HIF2A: Clinical Evidence for EPO Regulating FGF23
Authors: Roszko Kelly Lauter , Brown Sydney , Pang Ying , Huynh Thanh , Zhuang Zhengping , Pacak Karel , Collins Michael T
Published: October 2020

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a key phosphate- and vitamin D-regulating hormone. FGF23 circulates as an intact 251 amino acid protein or N- and C-terminal degradation products. Hormone activity resides in the intact molecule, but it has been suggested that high levels of the C-terminal protein can interfere with intact FGF23 (iFGF23) activity. New evidence points to involvement of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)/erythropoietin (EPO)/iron pathway as important in FGF23 physiology. Exactly how this pathway regulates FGF23 is not clear. Various in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies involving perturbations in this pathway at various points have yielded conflicting results. Many of these studies are complicated by the confounding, independent effect of renal insufficiency on FGF23. To gain insight into FGF23 physiology, we studied 8 patients with a rare paraganglioma/somatostatinoma syndrome who had elevated blood EPO levels as a result of somatic gain-of-function mutations in HIF2A (EPAS1) that stimulate tumoral EPO production. All patients had normal renal function. EPO levels varied; most were very elevated and highly correlated with C-terminal FGF23 (cFGF23) levels that were also markedly elevated. Blood phosphate and intact FGF23 levels were normal. These data from patients with normal renal function in whom HIF activation was the inciting event suggest a direct role of the HIF/EPO pathway in FGF23 transcription and translation. They also demonstrate that posttranslational regulation was finely tuned to maintain normal blood phosphate levels. Additionally, normal phosphate and intact FGF23 levels in the setting of markedly increased C-terminal FGF23 levels suggest intact FGF23 action is not attenuated by C-terminal FGF23. Published 2020. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Analysis of antinuclear antibody titers and patterns by using HEp‐2 and primate liver tissue substrate indirect immunofluorescence assay in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases
Authors: Wei Qiujing , Jiang Yutong , Xie Jiewen , Lv Qing , Xie Ya , Tu Liudan , Xiao Min , Wu Zhongming , Gu Jieruo
Published: October 2020

Background

Indirect immunofluorescence assay (IIFA) is viewed as a preliminary standard to assess antinuclear antibodies (ANAs). Our aim was to explore ANA positivity rate, titers, and patterns in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD), including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), systemic sclerosis (SSc), and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), compared with healthy controls (HC).

Methods

Assess antinuclear antibody titers and patterns were retrospectively identified and compared by IIFA using human epithelial cells (HEp‐2) and primate liver tissue substrate according to international consensus in SARD. Serum complement 3 (C3), C4, and immunoglobulin G were compared among subgroups with different ANA titers. The positive predictive values (PPV) for different ANA titers were calculated.

Results

There were a total of 3510 samples, including 2034 SLE, 973 RA, 155 SSc, 309 pSS, and 39 MCTD cases. There was no difference in age between HC and SARD, excluding RA. ANA positivity rate in SARD and HC was 78.7% and 12.2%, respectively. A titer of ≥1:320 revealed a PPV of 84.0% in SARD. SLE patients with ANA titers ≥1:320 had significantly lower levels of C3 and C4. AC‐4 (31.2%) was the major pattern in patients with SARD, followed by AC‐5 (23.9%) and AC‐1 (18.8%). SLE mostly presented with AC‐4 (30.3%). Several mixed patterns provided a significant hint for SSc and SLE. The major pattern in HC was AC‐2 (12.2%).

Conclusions

Assess antinuclear antibody positivity, titers, and patterns display differences in various SARD, contributing to the classification of SARD.
Curvatures, graph products and Ricci flatness
Authors: Cushing David , Kamtue Supanat , Kangaslampi Riikka , Liu Shiping , Peyerimhoff Norbert
Published: October 2020

In this paper, we compare Ollivier–Ricci curvature and Bakry–Émery curvature notions on combinatorial graphs and discuss connections to various types of Ricci flatness. We show that nonnegativity of Ollivier–Ricci curvature implies the nonnegativity of Bakry–Émery curvature under triangle‐freeness and an additional in‐degree condition. We also provide examples that both conditions of this result are necessary. We investigate relations to graph products and show that Ricci flatness is preserved under all natural products. While nonnegativity of both curvatures is preserved under Cartesian products, we show that in the case of strong products, nonnegativity of Ollivier–Ricci curvature is only preserved for horizontal and vertical edges. We also prove that all distance‐regular graphs of girth 4 attain their maximal possible curvature values.
Short‐term outcomes of pelvic floor peritoneum closure in endoscopic low anterior resection of rectal cancer: A propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Chuan Li , Linfeng Gao , Hongchang Liu , Xiaosong Wang , Huaxing Luo , Chao Zhang , Yu Peiwu , Bo Tang
Published: October 2020

Background

The efficacy of pelvic floor peritoneum closure (PC) during endoscopic low anterior resection (E‐LAR) of rectal cancer remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify whether pelvic floor PC affected short‐term outcomes.

Methods

The study group comprised patients with the pathologically confirmed diagnosis of rectal cancer who underwent E‐LAR with pelvic floor PC or with no PC (NPC) between January 2013 and December 2018 in Southwest Hospital. After propensity score matching (PSM), 584 patients (292 who underwent PC and 292 who underwent NPC) were evaluated. Postoperative indicators, including the rates of complications, anastomotic leakage (AL), reoperation, and inflammation, were observed in the two groups.

Results

No significant difference was observed in the rates of postoperative complications between the PC and NPC groups. The rates of AL were similar (11.3% vs. 9.2%, p = .414). However, the reoperation rate of patients in the PC group was significantly lower than that of patients in the NPC group after AL (36.4% vs. 11.1%, p = .025). The hospital costs were higher in the NPC leakage subgroup (p = .001). Additionally, the serum C‐reactive protein levels were lower in the PC group on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3, and 5, whereas procalcitonin levels on POD 1 and 3 were lower in the PC group but did not differ significantly on POD 5.

Conclusion

Pelvic peritonization did not affect the rate of complications, especially AL; however, it effectively reduced the reoperation and inflammation rates and reduced hospitalization costs. Other short‐term outcomes were similar, which warrant the increased use of pelvic peritonization in endoscopic surgery.
Hepatic Fatty Acid and Transcriptome Profiles during the Transition from Vegetable‐ to Fish Oil‐Based Diets in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Cleveland Beth M. , Gao Guangtu , Radler Lisa M. , Picklo Matthew J.
Published: October 2020

A finishing diet strategy is effective at increasing fillet long‐chain n‐3 fatty acid content in fish consuming sustainable plant oil‐based diets. This study investigates the outcomes of a fish oil finishing diet upon the hepatic fatty acid and transcriptome profile in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fish were placed on one of three feeding treatments: (1) FO: a fish oil (FO) diet for 20 weeks, (2) VO/FO: a vegetable oil (VO) diet during weeks 1–12 then the FO diet for 8 weeks, or (3) VO/fd/FO: the VO diet between weeks 1–12, 2 weeks of feed deprivation, then the FO diet for 6 weeks. Hepatic fatty acid and transcriptome profiles were analyzed at week 12, 14, and 20. Hepatic fatty acid profiles at week 12 were similar to dietary profiles; transcriptomic analyses indicated 131 differentially regulated genes (DEG) between VO‐ and FO‐fed fish, characterized by VO‐induced up‐regulation of cholesterol and long‐chain fatty acyl‐CoA synthesis and oxidation–reduction processes. At week 14, the hepatic fatty acid profile was similar between VO/FO and FO, although concentrations of 18:3n‐3 remained higher in the VO/FO group. Thirty‐three DEG were detected at week 14 with enrichment of genes associated with extracellular matrix assembly, supporting liver remodeling during the early finishing diet period. Only five DEG were detected at week 20 between VO/FO and FO. Collectively, these findings suggest that it takes several weeks for liver to reach a homeostatic state, even after the hepatic fatty acid equilibration following a finishing diet.
The Fatty Acid Composition of Human Follicular Fluid Is Altered by a 6‐Week Dietary Intervention That Includes Marine Omega‐3 Fatty Acids
Authors: Kermack Alexandra J. , Wellstead Susan J. , Fisk Helena L. , Cheong Ying , Houghton Franchesca D. , Macklon Nicholas S. , Calder Philip C.
Published: October 2020

The fatty acid composition of human follicular fluid is important for oocyte development and for pregnancy following in vitro fertilization (IVF). This study investigated whether a dietary intervention that included an increase in marine omega‐3 fatty acids, olive oil and vitamin D alters the fatty acid composition of human follicular fluid. The association of lifestyle factors with follicular fluid fatty acid composition was also investigated. Fifty‐five couples awaiting IVF were randomized to receive the 6‐week treatment intervention of olive oil for cooking, an olive oil‐based spread, and a daily supplement drink enriched with vitamin D and the marine omega‐3 fatty acids docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 56 couples were randomized to receive placebo equivalents. Dietary questionnaires were completed, and samples of blood were taken before and after the intervention. Follicular fluid was collected at oocyte retrieval and the fatty acid profile assessed using gas chromatography. In the control group, individual fatty acids in red blood cells and follicular fluid were significantly correlated. Furthermore, a healthier diet was associated with a lower percentage of follicular fluid arachidonic acid. The follicular fluid of women in the treatment group contained significantly higher amounts of EPA and DHA compared to the control group, while the omega‐6 fatty acids linoleic, γ‐linolenic, dihomo‐γ‐linolenic, and arachidonic were lower. This is the first report of a dietary intervention altering the fatty acid composition of follicular fluid in humans. Further research is required to determine whether this intervention improves oocyte quality.
Influence of Cadmium Substitution on Structural and Mechanical Properties of Co‐Ni Nano Ferrite Synthesized by Co‐Precipitation Method
Authors: Kulkarni Akshay B. , Hegde Nagaraj D. , Gowda H. Shashidhara , Mathad S. N.
Published: October 2020

The objective of this work is to synthesize cadmium doped cobalt nickel ferrite (Co0.5Ni0.5Cd1.5xFe2‐xO4) series with x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 by co‐precipitation method and analysis of structural properties using X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterization. The XRD characterization of the samples confirms the cubic spinel structure. Grains in the samples are granular in nature as depicted by SEM images. The FTIR spectra of synthesized ferrites show two strong absorption bands (ν1 and ν2) in the range 400–600 cm‐1 belonging to tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (B) interstitial sites. Williamson Hall and size‐strain plot results show the variation in the grain size with change in doping concentration. Crystallite size D, lattice constant a, micro strain ε, x‐ray density Δx, dislocation density ρD, hopping lengths(LA and LB), bond lengths (A–O and B–O), ionic radii (rA and rB), texture coefficients [TC(hkl)], and mechanical properties are also reported.
Porous TiN/Red Phosphorus Nanocomposite for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Raykar Vijay S. , Patil Sharad B. , Patil Pramod S.
Published: October 2020

The visible light induced photocatalytic H2 evolution from water with the help of photogenerated electrons in the TiN/red phosphorous (RP) nanocomposite is studied. The porous TiN nanotubes are obtained by nitridation (heat treatment under NH3 flow) process on hydrothermal synthesized TiO2 fibers. The RP is incorporated into the porous TiN nanotubes by heat treatment in the sealed ampules. The porous TiN nanotube provide an effective conducting channel for the photogenerated electrons, which is reflected in the enhanced photocatalytic H2 evolution compared to the pristine RP.
Synthesis and Characterizations of 3D TiO2 Nanoflowers Thin Film: Hydrothermal Method
Authors: Wategaonkar Sandeep B. , Pawar Rani P. , Parale Vinayak G. , Pakhare Keshav S. , Sargar Balasaheb M. , Mane Raghunath K.
Published: October 2020

The present paper reports the study of synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline rutile titanium dioxide thin film. TiO2 is an excellent semiconducting nanomaterial used to enhance the efficiency of DSSC. TiO2 thin film is prepared by single‐step hydrothermal route. Titanium (IV) isopropoxide is used as a precursor for titanium. In this synthesis, TiO2 thin film is grown on fluorine‐doped tin oxide substrate (F:SnO2) at 140 °C temperature for 3 h. Morphological, structural, and optical properties are analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), energy dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy (EDS), and UV–vis spectrophotometer, respectively. Morphological analysis gives the growth of 3D nanoflowers on 1D nanorods. Also, it gives the formation of nanorods with width ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 µm and length of ∼3.5 µm. XRD pattern reveals that, there is formation of tetragonal rutile crystal structure having crystallite size 19 nm. The structural and elemental composition is determined by FT‐IR and EDS. The FT‐IR technique is used to confirm the Ti‐O bond formation at 407, 760, and 886 cm−1. The optical study reveals indirect band gap energy of 3 eV. The optical absorption of synthesized TiO2 thin film is mainly in the ultraviolet region. The enhancement of the photoelectrochemical activity allowed substitution of the TiO2 nanoflower/nanorod thin film for the traditional TiO2 nanorods used in solar cells.
Complex Optical Studies on Conducting Polypyrrole Doped with ZnO Nanoparticles
Authors: Basavaraj Bharati , G. Metri Pushapajali , Shweta G. C. , Sannakki Basavaraja
Published: October 2020

The conducting polymer polypyrrole and polypyrrole/ZnO nanocomposites are synthesized by in situ polymerization method at 0°C–5°C temperature with ammonium persulphate as an oxidizing agent. The optical band gap of polypyrrole/ZnO nanocomposites have been studied at different weight percentage such as 10%, 30%, and 50%, at room temperature. The obtained absorption spectra in the wavelength range 200–800 nm by T90+ UV/Vis Spectrophotometer. The PXRD pattern confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite structure of the ZnO product. The particle size is calculated by using the Debye–Scherrer relation and it is found to be in the range of 20–50 nm. The absorption spectra at 385 nm obtained is the characteristic peak of ZnO and it is observed for all weight percentages of nanocomposites. Further, the peaks that occurred at 300and 469 nm (3.71 eV) confirm the formation of polypyrrole in nanocomposites. The optical properties of such conducting polymer nanocomposites are used in the field of optoelectronic devices and its wide band gap is useful in biomedical applications.
Nanoparticles‐assisted delivery of antiviral‐siRNA as inhalable treatment for human respiratory viruses: A candidate approach against SARS‐COV‐2
Authors: Ullah Ata , Qazi Javaria , Rahman Lutfur , Kanaras Antonios G. , Khan Waheed S. , Hussain Irshad , Rehman Asma
Published: October 2020

The current pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) has challenged healthcare structures across the globe. Although a few therapies are approved by FDA, the search for better treatment options is continuously on rise. Clinical management includes infection prevention and supportive care such as supplemental oxygen and mechanical ventilatory support. Given the urgent nature of the pandemic and the number of companies and researchers developing COVID‐19 related therapies, FDA has created an emergency program to move potential treatments with already approved drugs to patients as quickly as possible in parallel to the development of new drugs that must first pass the clinical trials. In this manuscript, we have reviewed the available literature on the use of sequence‐specific degradation of viral genome using short‐interfering RNA (siRNA) suggesting it as a possible treatment against SARS‐CoV‐2. Delivery of siRNA can be promoted by the use of FDA approved lipids, polymers or lipid‐polymer hybrids. These nanoparticulate systems can be engineered to exhibit increased targetability and formulated as inhalable aerosols.
Effect of Gastrostomy Tube Feeding Education on Parents of Children with Gastrostomy
Authors: Suluhan Derya , Yildiz Dilek , Surer Ilhami , Fidanci Eren Berna , Balamtekin Necati
Published: October 2020

Background

Success in long‐term enteral feeding is, in part, dependent on careful selection of the appropriate enteral access device and placement technique together with proper maintenance and care. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of education on satisfaction with gastrostomy tube feeding, quality of life, caregiver burden, and anxiety.

Methods

A quasi‐experimental, pretest and posttest research design without a control group was used. A total 78 mothers were included in the study. The child and parent data form, Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale, Satisfaction Questionnaire with Gastrostomy Feeding (SAGA‐8), State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), 36‐Item Short‐Form quality‐of‐life scale (SF‐36), complication control form, and the gastrostomy care skill assessment checklist were used.

Results

There was a significant decrease in participants’ burden as caregivers (anxiety, P < .001) and a significant increase in positive outcomes in caregivers’ satisfaction with gastrostomy feeding and in the physical component summary and mental component summary scores (P < .05). Posteducation, the mean score of subdimensions showed increases (P < .05).

Conclusion

The intervention increased positive outcomes and decreased negative outcomes for caregivers during the first 3 months postgastrostomy placement.
Looking‐glass‐self: Tale of happiness, self‐esteem, and satisfaction with life among transgender from Kinner community
Authors: Tiwari Mansi , Narula Sumit , Mathur Garima
Published: October 2020

Social adjustment, and feeling isolated, is one of the critical issues faced by the Hijra's from our society, due to sexual prejudices and stigmas. However, no one bothers how they actually feel, how they see themselves? The idea behind the paper is to identify the impact of looking‐glass self (self‐concept) on happiness, self‐esteem, and satisfaction with life, among transgender from Hijra community, to accentuate the reality of how they feel, what is their self‐concept, and its relationship with the mentioned constructs. The current study was conducted in India; snowball sampling is used to contact the respondents of the mentioned category, and variance‐based structural equation modeling techniques on second‐order construct, using two‐stage approach, were used to study the relationships between the constructs used for the current study. The outcome of the study depicts that there is a presence of significant relationships between the mentioned variables, which show that the respondents are strongly maintaining their self‐concept but that does not mean anyway that they are also happy and enjoying the social treatment given to them. This study is for the social workers, government as well as for the society, who pretends as a flag bearer of quality and promotes diversity in India. It will be an eye‐opener for all those who really want to support such marginalized community as they have already achieved a place in the gender column under the gender category as other “Third Gender.” The current study is original and contributes in understanding the truth behind the real journey of the mentioned community. How they feel, what they expect is still untapped; this paper will raise voice for them to contribute in respectful living in Indian society.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of effects of psychosocial interventions on spiritual well‐being in adults with cancer
Authors: McLouth Laurie E. , Ford C. Graham , Pustejovsky James E. , Park Crystal L. , Sherman Allen C. , Trevino Kelly , Salsman John M.
Published: October 2020

Objective

Spiritual well‐being (SpWb) is an important dimension of health‐related quality of life for many cancer patients. Accordingly, an increasing number of psychosocial intervention studies have included SpWb as a study endpoint, and may improve SpWb even if not designed explicitly to do so. This meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluated effects of psychosocial interventions on SpWb in adults with cancer and tested potential moderators of intervention effects.

Methods

Six literature databases were systematically searched to identify RCTs of psychosocial interventions in which SpWb was an outcome. Doctoral‐level rater pairs extracted data using Covidence following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. Standard meta‐analytic techniques were applied, including meta‐regression with robust variance estimation and risk‐of‐bias sensitivity analysis.

Results

Forty‐one RCTs were identified, encompassing 88 treatment effects among 3883 survivors. Interventions were associated with significant improvements in SpWb (g= 0.22, 95% CI [0.14, 0.29],p< 0.0001). Studies assessing the FACIT‐Sp demonstrated larger effect sizes than did those using other measures of SpWb (g= 0.25, 95% CI [0.17, 0.34], vs.g= 0.10, 95% CI [−0.02, 0.23],p= 0.03]. No other intervention, clinical, or demographic characteristics significantly moderated effect size.

Conclusions

Psychosocial interventions are associated with small‐to‐medium‐sized effects on SpWb among cancer survivors. Future research should focus on conceptually coherent interventions explicitly targeting SpWb and evaluate interventions in samples that are diverse with respect to race and ethnicity, sex and cancer type.
Cardiopulmonary phenotypic variability and discordance in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: Implications for new therapies
Authors: Birnkrant David J. , Carter John C.
Published: October 2020

Neuromuscular respiratory medicine has traditionally focused on assisted lung ventilation and mucus clearance. These therapies have prolonged survival for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, the field is rapidly evolving in a new direction: it is being revolutionized by molecular and genetic therapies. A good correlation between a patient's dystrophin mutation and his cardiopulmonary phenotype would allow accurate prediction of patient prognosis and would facilitate the design of studies that assess new DMD therapies. Instead, patient prognosis and the design of valid therapeutic studies are complicated by cardiopulmonary phenotypic discordance and variability, by which a notable proportion of DMD patients have unexpectedly good or poor cardiopulmonary function. The likely cause of phenotypic variability and discordance is genetic modifiers. Once the modifiers that affect cardiopulmonary function are better understood, it should be possible to create a personalized genetic profile that accurately predicts the prognosis of each individual DMD patient. This would allow investigators to assess the effect of new therapies in the context of each patient's particular cardiopulmonary natural history. Amplification of beneficial cardiopulmonary genetic modifiers and blocking of detrimental modifiers is a promising strategy for creating new DMD therapies. When patients with chronic respiratory failure are treated with assisted ventilation, cardiac function determines their survival. Therefore, prioritizing new cardiac therapies is most likely to prolong patient survival. By focusing on these topics we aim to move neuromuscular respiratory medicine beyond assisted ventilation and coughing and into the age of translational medicine.