bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three‐dimensional hydromagnetic hybrid nanoliquid flow and heat transfer between two vertical porous plates moving in opposite directions: Sensitivity analysis
Authors: Mathew Alphonsa , Neethu T. S. , Areekara Sujesh
Published: May 2021

The hydromagnetic convective flow between two parallel plates has been analyzed frequently. However, only a countable number of studies are accounted for the flow between parallel plates moving in opposite directions. The present work aims to analytically explore the three‐dimensional (3D) convective hydromagnetic hybrid nanoliquid (with suspended and nanoparticles) flow between two oppositely moving vertical porous plates utilizing the perturbation technique. The consequence of effectual parameters on the flow profiles is analyzed with the aid of graphs using MATLAB software. It is perceived that nanoparticle volume fraction ascends drag coefficient and descends temperature and main flow velocity. Furthermore, the rate of heat transfer is statistically scrutinized utilizing response surface methodology and sensitivity analysis. It is noted that the Nusselt number is most sensitive with the injection parameter. 3D surface plots are used to illustrate the parallel effect of pertinent parameters on the drag coefficient. Moreover, the present study finds applications in several engineering, geophysical, and industrial fields, such as in heat exchangers and faulting.
Durable response of chemotherapy for cancer of unknown primary with unfavorable subset developed in retroperitoneal space
Authors: Matsukawa Atsuki , Kato Taigo , Kondo Fuki , Kawasaki Keisuke , Kawashima Atsunari , Kiuchi Hiroshi , Imamura Ryoichi , Uemura Motohide , Fukuhara Shinichiro , Morii Eiichi , Nonomura Norio
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Carcinoma of unknown primary site is a heterogeneous group of cancer that is defined by the presence of metastatic disease with no identified primary tumor at initial presentation. Carcinoma of unknown primary site patients with unfavorable subsets particularly show poor prognosis with a median survival of 6–9 months with the treatment of empirical pactitaxel and carboplatin therapy (TC therapy). Recently, several studies have attempted to increase the response rate on the basis of prediction of the primary site by immunohistochemical tests or molecular profiling assays.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 77‐year‐old woman who presented with a mass on the left side of the abdominal aorta. Careful clinical and laboratory examinations could not identify the site of primary cancer. Pathologic examination of biopsied tissue revealed the tumor as undifferentiated carcinoma, which reached the diagnosis of carcinoma of unknown primary site with unfavorable subsets. She received empirical TC therapy and had prolonged survival of 26 months. After reviewing the pathological findings carefully, we noticed that Gross Cystic Disease Fluid Protein‐15 showed positive in the tumor, leading to the suspicion of breast cancer as the primary site. The specific therapy for breast cancer is similar to the empirical TC therapy in carcinoma of unknown primary site, which may contribute durable response in this patient.

Conclusion

Site‐specific therapy based on careful immunohistochemical tests may improve the efficacy for carcinoma of unknown primary site patients with unfavorable prognosis subset.
In vitro screening of turfgrass species and cultivars for resistance to dollar spot
Authors: Espevig Tatsiana , Sundsdal Kristine , Aamlid Trygve S. , Crouch Jo Anne , Normann Karin , Usoltseva Marina , Entwistle Kate , Torp Torfinn , Brurberg May Bente
Published: May 2021

Dollar spot, caused by at least five Clarireedia species (formerly Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F. T. Benn.), is one of the economically most important turfgrass diseases worldwide. The disease was detected for the first time in Scandinavia in 2013. There is no available information from Scandinavian variety trials on resistance to dollar spot in turfgrass species and cultivars (http://www.scanturf.org/). Our in vitro screening (in glass vials) of nine turfgrass species comprising a total of 20 cultivars showed that on average for ten Clarireedia isolates of different origin, the ranking for dollar spot resistance in turfgrass species commonly found on Scandinavian golf courses was as follows: perennial ryegrass = slender creeping red fescue > strong creeping red fescue > Kentucky bluegrass = velvet bentgrass > colonial bentgrass = Chewings fescue ≥ creeping bentgrass = annual bluegrass. Significant differences in aggressiveness among Clarireedia isolates of different origin were found in all turfgrass species except annual bluegrass (cv. Two Putt). The U.S. C. jacksonii isolate MB‐01 and Canadian isolate SH44 were more aggressive than C. jacksonii isolates from Denmark and Sweden (14.10.DK, 14.15.SE, and 14.16.SE) in velvet bentgrass and creeping bentgrass. The Swedish isolate 14.112.SE was generally more aggressive than 14.12.NO despite the fact that they most likely belong to the same Clarireedia sp. The U.S. C. monteithiana isolate RB‐19 had similar aggressiveness as the Scandinavian C. jacksonii isolates, but was less aggressive than two U.S. C. jacksonii isolates MB‐01 and SH44. Thus, aggressiveness of Clarireedia isolates was more impacted by their geographic origin and less by species of the isolate and/or the host turfgrass species.
Urinary proteomic analysis to identify a potential protein biomarker panel for the diagnosis of tuberculosis
Authors: Liu Liguo , Deng Jiaheng , Yang Qianting , Wei Candong , Liu Bo , Zhang Haoran , Xin Henan , Pan Shouguo , Liu Zisen , Wang Dakuan , Pang Yu , Chen Xinchun , Gao Lei , Zheng Jianhua , Liu Rongmei , Jin Qi
Published: May 2021

Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is one of the primary causes of death worldwide. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of TB is one of the most direct means to reduce the incidence of TB. In this study, urinary proteomic profiling of TB patients and non‐TB individual controls (HCs) was performed, and differentially expressed urinary proteins between TB and HCs were compared and exclusively expressed proteins in TB patients were selected to establish a clinically useful disease marker panel. In total, these top 11 targeted proteins with 265 peptides were scheduled for multiple reaction monitoring validation analysis by using urine samples from 52 TB patients and 52 HCs. The result demonstrated that a three‐protein combination out of the five‐protein panel (namely P22352, Q9P121, P15151, Q13291, and Q8NDA2) exhibited sensitivity rate of 82.7% in the diagnosis of TB. Furthermore, the three‐protein combination could differentiate TB from the latent tuberculosis (LTB) effectively, which exhibited specificity rate of 92.3% for the diagnosis of TB from the LTB category. Although more numbers of clinical samples are required for further verification, the results provided preliminary evidence that this “three‐protein combination” out of the five‐protein panel could probably be a novel TB diagnostic biomarker in clinical application.
PLK2 protects retinal ganglion cells from oxidative stress by potentiating Nrf2 signaling via GSK‐3β
Authors: Fan Yazhi , Wang Jianming , He Na , Feng Haixiao
Published: May 2021

Oxidative stress of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) has been established as a main contributor to retinal degeneration in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. Polo‐like kinase 2 (PLK2) has recently been reported to be a potent antioxidant protein that enhances cell survival in response to oxidative stress. To date, the involvement of PLK2 in RGC‐associated oxidative stress is undermined. In the present work, we evaluated whether PLK2 regulates oxidative stress evoked by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in RGCs. PLK2 expression was induced by H2O2 stimulation in RGCs. Upregulation of PLK2 had a profoundly cytoprotective effect on H2O2‐stimulated RGCs by attenuating cellular apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Further data revealed that upregulation of PLK2 strikingly enhanced the activation of Nrf2 signaling. Moreover, PLK2 overexpression promoted glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)‐3β phosphorylation, whereas PLK2 knockdown reduced the levels of GSK‐3β phosphorylation. Notably, GSK‐3β inhibition using a chemical inhibitor markedly abrogated the suppressive effects of PLK2 knockdown on Nrf2 activation. Repression of Nrf2 blocked the PLK2 overexpression‐induced protective effects in H2O2‐stimulated RGCs. Overall, this study elucidates that upregulation of PLK2 protects RGCs against H2O2‐induced oxidative stress injury by upregulating Nrf2 activation via modulation of GSK‐3β phosphorylation. These findings underline the pivotal role of PLK2 in mediating oxidative stress‐evoked retinal degeneration in the pathogenesis of glaucoma.
tRNAIniCAT inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma cells
Authors: Li Jun , Shen Zhisen , Luo Lin , Ye Dong , Deng Hongxia , Gu Shanshan , Zhou Chongchang
Published: May 2021

Background

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) brings a heavy blow to the patient's voice. Transfer RNA (tRNA) is a common RNA, the roles of tRNAs in LSCC are largely unknown.

Methods

The tRNA expression profile in LSCC tissues and adjacent normal tissues was measured by a tRNA qRT‐PCR array. The expression level of tRNAIniCAT in LSCC tissues and plasmas was detected by qRT‐PCR. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was established. tRNAIniCAT was upregulated by a lentivirus vector in the LSCC cell line. Moreover, tRNAIniCAT was upregulated in LSCC xenograft nude mouse model and the xenografts were used for pathological analysis and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation.

Results

The top 10 upregulated tRNAs were tRNALysCTT‐1, tRNALeuTAA, tRNAPheGAA, tRNALeuCAG, tRNATyrATA, tRNAMetCAT, tRNATyrGTA‐1, tRNAThrCGT, tRNATyrGTA‐2, tRNAAlaAGC; and the top 10 downregulated tRNAs were tRNAIniCAT, mt‐tRNAGluTTC, tRNAValCAC‐3, mt‐tRNATrpTCA, mt‐tRNATyrGTA, mt‐tRNALysTTT, mt‐tRNAThrTGT, mt‐tRNAAspGTC, mt‐tRNAAsnGTT, mt‐tRNAProTGG. tRNAIniCAT was downregulated in LSCC tissues and plasma. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) in LSCC tissues and the plasma of patients with LSCC was 0.717 and 0.808, respectively. tRNAIniCAT inhibited LSCC cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis. The in vivo results showed that tRNAIniCAT inhibited the growth of the xenografts and promoted apoptosis.

Conclusions

This is the first study to provide tRNA expression profiles for LSCC tissues. tRNAIniCAT may be used as a new biomarker for the early diagnosis of LSCC. tRNAIniCAT inhibits cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.
Novel lateral whole‐body dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry of lumbar paraspinal muscle mass: results from the SarcoSpine study
Authors: Lee Sang Yoon , Kim Dong Hyun , Park Sang Joon , Park Jinhee , Chung Sun Gun , Lim Jae‐Young
Published: May 2021

Background

Here, we aimed to propose novel lateral whole‐body dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (lateral DXA) as a simple tool for measuring spinal muscle mass and investigate the feasibility of lateral DXA to measure lumbar paraspinal muscle (LPM) mass compared with lumbosacral spine three‐dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (3D MRI).

Methods

Twenty consecutive participants were enrolled from a prospective observational cohort (SarcoSpine study). Lateral DXA was scanned with each participant in the lateral decubitus position. The region of interest was defined to analyse the LPM mass. LPM total volume, LPM cross‐sectional area at the L3 mid‐vertebra and L4/5 mid‐disc levels and each signal intensity were measured by 3D MRI. Isokinetic and isometric back extensor muscle strengths as well as back extensor endurance were examined. The correlation between lateral DXA‐based mass (weight) and 3D MRI‐based LPM volume was analysed.

Results

The mean age of the 20 participants (15 women, 5 men) was 72.2 ± 4.9 years. LPM mass by lateral DXA was positively correlated with LPM volume by 3D MRI (β = 0.333,r = 0.692,p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with signal intensity of the total LPM (β = −0.263,r = −0.530,p = 0.016). LPM mass was also correlated with appendicular limb muscle mass, handgrip strength and gait speed as well as back extensor endurance (r = 0.620,p = 0.004).

Conclusions

Our data suggest that LPM mass assessed by lateral DXA was positively correlated with LPM volume by 3D MRI in older adults. Lateral DXA may be a potential substitute for the cross‐sectional area measurement of LPM mass. Further studies are required to validate this lateral DXA technique.
Evaluating mercury concentrations in edible plant and fungi species in the Canadian Arctic environment
Authors: Bergin Ryan , Koch Iris , Rutter Allison , Shirley Jamal , Zeeb Barbara
Published: May 2021

Levels of environmental mercury (Hg) within the Canadian Arctic are a current area of concern. Although efforts have been made to reduce Hg released into the environment, levels remain elevated in flora and fauna. This study examined the concentrations of Hg in soil and naturally occurring edible plant and fungi species, identified by local Inuit residents, from eight locations in Iqaluit, Nunavut, and the surrounding area during the summers of 2018 and 2019. Total Hg concentrations were obtained in 24 soil samples, 112 flora samples from 23 plant and five lichen species, and 157 fungal samples from eight species. Median Hg concentrations in plant species ranged from 0.005 μg g−1 Hg dry weight (dw) in Saxifraga cernua to 0.19 μg g−1 Hg dw in Oxytropis maydelliana. Median concentrations in edible fungi species ranged from 0.084 μg g−1 Hg dw in the Cortinarius croceus (non‐puffball species) to 1.6 μg g−1 Hg dw in Lycoperdon perlatum (a puffball mushroom). Additionally, median Hg concentration in puffball species (1.4 μg g−1) were higher than non‐puffball species (0.12 μg g−1). Three puffball species were assessed for methylmercury (MeHg), with mean concentrations ranging from 0.013 to 0.085 μg g−1 MeHg dw. Limited research has been conducted on Hg uptake in naturally occurring edible plant and fungi species of the Canadian Arctic. This study contributes important information on Hg accumulation and processes in edible plant and fungi Arctic species, is the first to focus on plants used by the local Indigenous community, and demonstrates a need for further studies to assess Hg in Arctic environments.
Institutional development and the dowry death curve across states in India
Authors: Mitchell Austin M. , Soni Suparna
Published: May 2021

Why do some informal institutions increase in prevalence while other informal institutions decline? We study why dowry deaths have increased with economic development in some Indian states but have decreased in others. We argue that when economic development is low, traditional institutions rather than state institutions govern behaviour. But as economic development increases to a high level, modern formal institutions replace traditional informal institutions. Women are increasingly exploited and murdered over dowry as incomes increase from a low level, but fewer deaths occur as incomes increase from a high level. We test this argument using a dataset of dowry deaths in years 2001–2011 for 32 Indian states and territories. Our paper contributes to understanding how exploitation through informal institutions rises and falls with economic development.
Gut microbiota contributes to sexual dimorphism in murine autoimmune cholangitis
Authors: Huang Meng-Xing , Yang Si-Yu , Luo Pan-Yue , Long Jie , Liu Qing-Zhi , Wang Jinjun , He Yi , Li Liang , Zhao Zhi-Bin , Lian Zhe-Xiong
Published: May 2021

The data demonstrated that a transgenic murine model of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), expressing dominant negative TGF-β receptor Ⅱ (dnTGFβRⅡ) under the CD4 promoter, showed similarity to PBC patients that is female-dominant. Female dnTGFβRII mice developed more severe lymphocytic infiltration in the liver and had higher levels of inflammatory cytokines, including IFN-γ and TNF-α, than the male mice. Interestingly, elimination of testosterone through gonadectomy in male dnTGFβRII mice did not influence disease severity, supporting that testosterone is an unessential factor in sustaining liver immune homeostasis. Meanwhile, it was observed that treating dnTGFβRII mice with oral antibiotics markedly reduced the differences in the levels of lymphocytic infiltration and cytokines between males and females, suggesting that the commensal gut microbiome plays a role in determining the observed sexual differences in dnTGFβRII mice. Furthermore, the diversity of gut microbiota composition and their metabolic functions in the male and female groups through metagenomic sequencing analysis were identified. The results revealed a testosterone-independent and commensal gut microbiota-mediated female bias in PBC.
Role of the non‐invasive imaging techniques in monitoring and understanding the evolution of brain edema
Authors: Obenaus Andre , Badaut Jérôme
Published: May 2021

Human brain injury elicits accumulation of water within the brain due to a variety of pathophysiological processes. As our understanding of edema emerged two temporally (and cellular) distinct processes were identified, cytotoxic and vasogenic edema. The emergence of both types of edema is reflected by the temporal evolution and is influenced by the underlying pathology (type and extent). However, this two‐edema compartment model does not adequately describe the transition between cytotoxic and vasogenic edema. Hence, a third category has been proposed, termed ionic edema, that is observed in the transition between cytotoxic and vasogenic edema. Magnetic resonance neuroimaging of edema today primarily utilizes T2‐weighted (T2WI) and diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI). Clinical diagnostics and translational science studies have clearly demonstrated the temporal ability of both T2WI and DWI to monitor edema content and evolution. DWI measures water mobility within the brain reflecting cytotoxic edema. T2WI at later time points when vasogenic edema develops visualizes increased water content in the brain. Clinically relevant imaging modalities, including ultrasound and positron emission tomography, are not typically used to assess edema. In sum, edema imaging is an important cornerstone of clinical diagnostics and translational studies and can guide effective therapeutics manage edema and improve patient outcomes.
Digging behavior discrimination test to probe burrowing and exploratory digging in male and female mice
Authors: Pond Heather L. , Heller Abigail T. , Gural Brian M. , McKissick Olivia P. , Wilkinson Molly K. , Manzini M. Chiara
Published: May 2021

Digging behavior is often used to test motor function and repetitive behaviors in mice. Different digging paradigms have been developed for behaviors related to anxiety and compulsion in mouse lines generated to recapitulate genetic mutations leading to psychiatric and neurological disorders. However, the interpretation of these tests has been confounded by the difficulty of determining the motivation behind digging in mice. Digging is a naturalistic mouse behavior that can be focused toward different goals, that is foraging for food, burrowing for shelter, burying objects, or even for recreation as has been shown for dogs, ferrets, and human children. However, the interpretation of results from current testing protocols assumes the motivation behind the behavior often concluding that increased digging is a repetitive or compulsive behavior. We asked whether providing a choice between different types of digging activities would increase sensitivity to assess digging motivation. Here, we present a test to distinguish between burrowing and exploratory digging in mice. We found that mice prefer burrowing when the option is available. When food restriction was used to promote a switch from burrowing to exploration, males readily switched from burrowing to digging outside, while females did not. In addition, when we tested a model of intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder that had shown inconsistent results in the marble burying test, the Cc2d1a conditional knockout mouse, we found greatly reduced burrowing only in males. Our findings indicate that digging is a nuanced motivated behavior and suggest that male and female rodents may perform it differently.
Performance of China's journals indexed in SCIE: An evaluation based on megajournal metrics
Authors: Chen Lu , Zhang Min , Xiong Wan , Liu Qian
Published: May 2021

The Chinese government has issued a series of policies and measures in recent years to enhance the international impact of its academic journals. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of such support measures on the overall performance of China's Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE)‐indexed journals. We aggregated China's SCIE journals together into a virtual, multi‐disciplinary ‘megajournal’, which we call Mega China. Based on Journal Citation Reports from 2015 to 2019, we compared Mega China with the two largest real megajournals, Scientific Reports and PLoS ONE, in terms of journal output and citation performance. The number of SCIE‐indexed journals in China and their impact factors have increased continuously every year. The total citations and h‐index of Mega China reached 489,036 and 247 in 2019, respectively. The immediacy index and impact factor of Mega China have gradually increased, in contrast to those of Scientific Reports and PLoS ONE, and reached 0.735 and 2.601, respectively, in 2019. Our analysis, by viewing all China's SCIE journals as one megajournal, provides evidence that their performance has improved under the Chinese government's new policies. Further improving China's academic journals will require fundamental reforms of the traditional Chinese publishing system.
Challenging the Traditional Paradigm of Supply and Demand in Pediatric Liver Transplantation Through Nondirected Living Donation: A Case Series
Authors: Yoeli Dor , Jackson Whitney E. , Adams Megan A. , Wachs Michael E. , Sundaram Shikha S. , Sater Anna , Cisek Jaime R. , Choudhury Rashikh A. , Nydam Trevor L. , Pomposelli James J. , Conzen Kendra D. , Kriss Michael S. , Burton James R. , Pomfret Elizabeth A.
Published: May 2021

A gap exists between the demand for pediatric liver transplantation and the supply of appropriate size‐matched donors. We describe our center’s experience with pediatric liver transplantation using anonymous nondirected living liver donors (ND‐LLD). First‐time pediatric liver transplant candidates listed at our center between January 2012 and June 2020 were retrospectively reviewed and categorized by donor graft type, and recipients of ND‐LLD grafts were described. A total of 13 ND‐LLD pediatric liver transplantations were performed, including 8 left lateral segments, 4 left lobes, and 1 right lobe. Of the ND‐LLD recipients, 5 had no directed living donor evaluated, whereas the remaining 8 (62%) had all potential directed donors ruled out during the evaluation process. Recipient and graft survival were 100% during a median follow‐up time of 445 (range, 70‐986) days. Of ND‐LLDs, 69% were previous living kidney donors, and 1 ND‐LLD went on to donate a kidney after liver donation. Of the ND‐LLDs, 46% were approved prior to the recipient being listed. Over time, the proportion of living donor transplants performed, specifically from ND‐LLDs, increased, and the number of children on the waiting list decreased. The introduction of ND‐LLDs to a pediatric liver transplant program can expand the benefit of living donor liver transplantation to children without a suitable directed living donor while achieving excellent outcomes for both the recipients and donors.
Recent advances in top‐down proteome sample processing ahead of MS analysis
Authors: Nickerson Jessica L. , Baghalabadi Venus , Rajendran Subin R. C. K. , Jakubec Philip J. , Said Hammam , McMillen Teresa S. , Dang Ziheng , Doucette Alan A.
Published: May 2021

Top‐down proteomics is emerging as a preferred approach to investigate biological systems, with objectives ranging from the detailed assessment of a single protein therapeutic, to the complete characterization of every possible protein including their modifications, which define the human proteoform. Given the controlling influence of protein modifications on their biological function, understanding how gene products manifest or respond to disease is most precisely achieved by characterization at the intact protein level. Top‐down mass spectrometry (MS) analysis of proteins entails unique challenges associated with processing whole proteins while maintaining their integrity throughout the processes of extraction, enrichment, purification, and fractionation. Recent advances in each of these critical front‐end preparation processes, including minimalistic workflows, have greatly expanded the capacity of MS for top‐down proteome analysis. Acknowledging the many contributions in MS technology and sample processing, the present review aims to highlight the diverse strategies that have forged a pathway for top‐down proteomics. We comprehensively discuss the evolution of front‐end workflows that today facilitate optimal characterization of proteoform‐driven biology, including a brief description of the clinical applications that have motivated these impactful contributions.
Systematic characterization of extracellular glycoproteins using mass spectrometry
Authors: Sun Fangxu , Suttapitugsakul Suttipong , Wu Ronghu
Published: May 2021

Surface and secreted glycoproteins are essential to cells and regulate many extracellular events. Because of the diversity of glycans, the low abundance of many glycoproteins, and the complexity of biological samples, a system‐wide investigation of extracellular glycoproteins is a daunting task. With the development of modern mass spectrometry (MS)‐based proteomics, comprehensive analysis of different protein modifications including glycosylation has advanced dramatically. This review focuses on the investigation of extracellular glycoproteins using MS‐based proteomics. We first discuss the methods for selectively enriching surface glycoproteins and investigating protein interactions on the cell surface, followed by the application of MS‐based proteomics for surface glycoprotein dynamics analysis and biomarker discovery. We then summarize the methods to comprehensively study secreted glycoproteins by integrating various enrichment approaches with MS‐based proteomics and their applications for global analysis of secreted glycoproteins in different biological samples. Collectively, MS significantly expands our knowledge of extracellular glycoproteins and enables us to identify extracellular glycoproteins as potential biomarkers for disease detection and drug targets for disease treatment.
Massachusetts awareness campaign stresses young adults' resilience
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: May 2021

Data shows that young adults have experienced worsening mental health challenges to a greater extent than other age groups during the COVID‐19 crisis, but the answer to addressing this does not always lie in traditional mental health inter‐ventions. An awareness campaign launched this month by the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health (MAMH) emphasizes the resilience of young adults and the important role of key people in their lives, while also pointing its target audience to sources of help in the community when their own resources are not enough.
Characterizations of Tzitzeica curves using Bishop frames
Authors: Eren Kemal , Ersoy Soley
Published: May 2021

In this study, the conditions of a regular curve to be Tzitzeica curve according to Type‐1 and Type‐2 Bishop frames in Euclidean 3‐space are formulated. Also, the conditions for each Bishop spherical images of a regular curve to be Tzitzeica curves are obtained. Moreover, comprehensive investigations are given for a curve to be a Tzitzeica curve in the special cases of the curvatures of this curve. Also, the curves lying in different planes spanned by different elements of Type‐1 and Type‐2 Bishop frames are considered, and the conditions of these curves to be Tzitzeica curves are expressed in these cases.
Bilinear Bäcklund transformation, N‐soliton, and infinite conservation laws for Lax–Kadomtsev–Petviashvili and generalized Korteweg–de Vries equations
Authors: Wael Shrouk , Seadawy Aly R. , Moawad Salah M. , El‐Kalaawy Omar H.
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we obtain the bilinear form for the Lax–Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (Lax–KP) and the generalized (3 + 1)‐dimensional Korteweg–de Vries equations based on the binary Bell polynomials. Accordingly, N‐soliton solutions, bilinear Bäcklund transformation, Lax pair, and infinite conservation laws will be constructed to Lax–KP and the generalized (2 + 1)‐dimensional Korteweg–de Vries equation
. At the same time, we get another bilinear Bäcklund transformation. Finally, exact solutions were obtained by using the exchange formulas for Hirota's bilinear operators.
Impulsive control and global stabilization of reaction‐diffusion epidemic model
Authors: Rao Ruofeng
Published: May 2021

In this paper, by using the variational method, a sufficient condition for the unique existence of the stationary solution of the reaction‐diffusion ecosystem is obtained, which directly leads to the global asymptotic stability of the unique equilibrium point. Moreover, delayed feedback ecosystem with reaction‐diffusion item is considered, and the above sufficient condition may not warrant the global stability for it. Utilizing impulse control results in its globally exponential stability. Besides, one of numerical examples shows that applying Laplacian semigroup in a newly obtained criterion is better than applying impulsive differential inequations, for the impulse condition becomes less harsh. It is worth mentioning that the Neumann zero‐boundary value that the infected and the susceptible people or animals should be controlled in the epidemic prevention area and not allowed to cross the border, which is a good simulation of the actual situation of epidemic prevention. And numerical simulations indicate the effectiveness of impulse control, which has a certain enlightening effect on the actual epidemic prevention work. That is, in the face of the epidemic situation, taking a certain frequency of positive and effective epidemic prevention measures is conducive to the stability and control of the epidemic situation. Particularly, the newly obtained theorems quantifies this feasible step.
Soyasaponin A2 Alleviates Steatohepatitis Possibly through Regulating Bile Acids and Gut Microbiota in the Methionine and Choline‐Deficient (MCD) Diet‐induced Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) Mice
Authors: Xiong Fei , Zheng Zhongdaixi , Xiao Lingyu , Su Chuhong , Chen Junbin , Gu Xiangfu , Tang Jiaqi , Zhao Yue , Luo Huiyu , Zha Longying
Published: May 2021

Scope

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic progressive disease with complex pathogenesis of which the bile acids (BAs) and gut microbiota are involved. Soyasaponins (SS) exhibits many health‐promoting effects including hepatoprotection, but its prevention against NASH is unclear. This study aims to investigate the preventive bioactivities of SS monomer (SS‐A2) against NASH and further clarify its mechanism by targeting the BAs and gut microbiota.

Methods and Results

The methionine and choline deficient (MCD) diet‐fed male C57BL/6 mice were intervened with obeticholic acid or SS‐A2 for 16 weeks. Hepatic pathology is assessed by hematoxylin‐eosin and Masson's trichrome staining. BAs in serum, liver, and colon are measured by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC‐TQMS). Gut microbiota in caecum are determined by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. In the MCD diet‐induced NASH mice, SS‐A2 significantly reduces hepatic steatosis, lobular inflammation, ballooning, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS) scores, and fibrosis, decreases Erysipelotrichaceae (Faecalibaculum) and Lactobacillaceae (Lactobacillus) and increases Desulfovibrionaceae (Desulfovibrio). Moreover, SS‐A2 reduces serum BAs accumulation and promotes fecal BAs excretion. SS‐A2 changes the BAs profiles in both liver and serum and specifically increases the taurohyodeoxycholic acid (THDCA) level. Faecalibaculum is negatively correlated with serum THDCA.

Conclusion

SS‐A2 alleviates steatohepatitis possibly through regulating BAs and gut microbiota in the MCD diet‐induced NASH mice.
Efficient T2 mapping with blip‐up/down EPI and gSlider‐SMS (T2‐BUDA‐gSlider)
Authors: Cao Xiaozhi , Wang Kang , Liao Congyu , Zhang Zijing , Srinivasan Iyer Siddharth , Chen Zhifeng , Lo Wei‐Ching , Liu Huafeng , He Hongjian , Setsompop Kawin , Zhong Jianhui , Bilgic Berkin
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To rapidly obtain high isotropic‐resolution T2 maps with whole‐brain coverage and high geometric fidelity.

Methods

A T2 blip‐up/down EPI acquisition with generalized slice‐dithered enhanced resolution (T2‐BUDA‐gSlider) is proposed. A RF‐encoded multi‐slab spin‐echo (SE) EPI acquisition with multiple TEs was developed to obtain high SNR efficiency with reduced TR. This was combined with an interleaved 2‐shot EPI acquisition using blip‐up/down phase encoding. An estimated field map was incorporated into the joint multi‐shot EPI reconstruction with a structured low rank constraint to achieve distortion‐free and robust reconstruction for each slab without navigation. A Bloch simulated subspace model was integrated into gSlider reconstruction and used for T2 quantification.

Results

In vivo results demonstrated that the T2 values estimated by the proposed method were consistent with gold standard spin‐echo acquisition. Compared to the reference 3D fast spin echo (FSE) images, distortion caused by off‐resonance and eddy current effects were effectively mitigated.

Conclusion

BUDA‐gSlider SE‐EPI acquisition and gSlider‐subspace joint reconstruction enabled distortion‐free whole‐brain T2 mapping in 2 min at ~1 mm3 isotropic resolution, which could bring significant benefits to related clinical and neuroscience applications.
Chemical exchange saturation transfer imaging for epilepsy secondary to tuberous sclerosis complex at 3 T: Optimization and analysis
Authors: Wen Qingqing , Wang Kang , Hsu Yi‐Cheng , Xu Yan , Sun Yi , Wu Dan , Zhang Yi
Published: May 2021

The homeostasis of various metabolites is impaired in epilepsy secondary to the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) imaging is an emerging molecular MRI technique that can detect various metabolites and proteins in vivo. However, the role of CEST imaging for TSC‐associated epilepsy has not been assessed. Here, we aim to investigate the feasibility of applying CEST imaging to TSC‐associated epilepsy, optimize the CEST acquisition parameters, and provide an analysis method for exploring the dominant molecular contributors to the CEST signal measured. Nine TSC epilepsy patients were scanned on a 3‐T MRI system. The CEST saturation frequencies were swept from −6 to 6 ppm with 12 different combinations of saturation power (4, 3, 2 and 1 μT) and duration (1000, 700 and 400 ms). Furthermore, a two‐stage simulation method based on the seven‐pool Bloch‐McConnell model was proposed to assess the contribution of each exchangeable pool to the CEST signal in normal‐appearing white matter and cortical tubers, which avoided the complexity and uncertainty of full Bloch‐McConnell fitting. The results showed that under the optimal saturation duration of 1000 ms, the greatest contrast between tubers and normal tissues occurred around 3, 2.5, 1.75 and 3.5 ppm for B1 of 4, 3, 2 and 1 μT, respectively. At the optimal frequency offsets, the CEST values of tubers were significantly higher than those in the normal brain tissues (P < 0.01). Furthermore, the two‐stage analysis suggested that the amine pool played a dominant role in yielding the contrast between cortical tubers and normal tissues. These results indicate that CEST MRI may serve as a potentially useful tool for identifying tubers in TSC, and the two‐stage analysis method may provide a route for investigating the molecular contributions to the CEST contrast in biological tissues.
Resiliency tactics during financial crisis: The nonprofit resiliency framework
Authors: Searing Elizabeth A. M. , Wiley Kimberly K. , Young Sarah L.
Published: May 2021

The ability of nonprofits to weather hard times is a popular theme in the literature, yet most of the research is spent on predicting organizational closure. Unfortunately, this offers little guidance to nonprofits attempting to both survive and deliver services during crises. We use the lived experiences of 31 nonprofits—a mix of umbrella groups and direct human service providers—during the Illinois state budget impasse to understand nonprofit organization resilience in times of crisis. We establish the Nonprofit Resiliency Framework using qualitative analysis, mapping tactics in five areas: financial, human resources, outreach, program and services, and management and leadership. This study not only provides further empirical investigation of organizational resilience, but also useful advice for nonprofits on how to weather a complex financial crisis.
Impact of executive functioning on health‐related quality of life of pediatric brain tumor survivors
Authors: Murphy Camara , Upshaw Naadira C. , Thomas Amanda S. , Fong Grace , Janss Anna , Mazewski Claire , Ingerski Lisa M.
Published: May 2021

Background

Brain tumor survivors are at risk for significant late effects following treatment completion that may adversely impact health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). The current study examines the relationship between executive functioning (EF) and HRQOL in pediatric brain tumor survivors within a longitudinal framework. We hypothesized that early deficits in EF would be related to less optimal HRQOL in this population.

Procedure

The current study utilized retrospective medical chart review to identify neurocognitive correlates of HRQOL in 137 youth previously treated for a pediatric brain tumor. Participants completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) and neuropsychological assessment, including a well‐validated measure of executive functioning (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function; BRIEF). General linear regression and multivariate models were utilized to examine the relationship between child executive functioning and HRQOL.

Results

Multiple domains of child executive functioning, as reported by parents on the BRIEF, significantly predicted parent‐proxy reported HRQOL after controlling for demographic and medical covariates, including child intellectual functioning (IF). Similarly, after controlling for covariates, the BRIEF Cognitive Regulation Index was a significant predictor of self‐reported physical and school functioning domains of HRQOL.

Conclusion

Current data demonstrate EF is a significant predictor of HRQOL during survivorship for youth previously diagnosed with a pediatric brain tumor. Results suggest that opportunities may exist to intervene and improve HRQOL of pediatric brain tumor survivors by targeting EF.
Childhood‐onset systemic lupus erythematosus and immune thrombocytopenia: Prevalence and risk factors
Authors: Kittivisuit Sirinthip , Vachvanichsanong Prayong , McNeil Edward , Chotsampancharoen Thirachit
Published: May 2021

Background

There are few studies examining the prevalence and clinical risk factors for subsequent systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) development after long‐term follow‐up in childhood immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The aims of this study were to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for subsequent SLE development in childhood ITP.

Methods

The medical records of childhood ITP patients aged under 15 years in a major tertiary care center in Southern Thailand were retrospectively reviewed. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate the cumulative probability of subsequent SLE development after ITP. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk factors for SLE development.

Results

A total of 473 childhood ITP cases were included in the study. During a mean follow‐up time of 6.1 ± 6.7 years, the prevalence of subsequent SLE development was 2.96%. Older age at ITP diagnosis (odds ratio [OR]: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.07–1.45) and chronic ITP (OR: 24.67, 95% CI: 3.14–100.0) were independent risk factors. The cumulative probabilities of subsequently developing SLE at 5 and 10 years after diagnosis of ITP were 3.8% (95% CI: 1.4–6.2) and 6.5% (95% CI: 2.9‐9.8), respectively.

Conclusion

Older age at ITP diagnosis and chronic ITP were risk factors for subsequent SLE developed in childhood ITP.
Feasibility of Detonation in Porous Silicon Nanoenergetics
Authors: Guerieri Philip M. , Fuchs Brian , Churaman Wayne A.
Published: May 2021

Porous silicon with sodium perchlorate oxidizer is hypothesized to be a detonable explosive, which is atypical for heterogenous fuel/oxidizer composites. The existence of detonation in energetic porous silicon remains contested and would theoretically feature several unique behaviors illustrated by this study. Calculations to predict detonation performance are performed using CHEETAH thermochemical code for silicon porosities of 45–85 % surrounding 69 %, which represents an experimentally typical case. Uniquely, e‐PS detonation is predicted to produce low gas volume. At 69 % porosity, condensed detonation products comprise 78 % of the mass (varying from 86 % to 46 % for 45–85 % porosity), and therefore a low TNT equivalent mechanical energy of 0.429 (but 1.32 when comparing total detonation energy). The calculated pressure of detonation for 69 % porosity is 1.065 GPa, only about 4 % of that of typical military explosives but over 50 times greater than compression wave amplitudes estimated for fast‐burning nanothermites, which are comparable heterogenous fuel/oxidizer composites. At porosities above 67 %, computed detonation velocities are shown to exceed estimates for the unreacted speed of sound and therefore a detonation structure consistent with classical CJ theory is proposed. Indeed, published maximum experimental propagation speeds for energetic porous silicon in this upper porosity range when pore size is optimal agree well with CHEETAH computations of detonation velocity, thereby supporting that detonation is possible. Below 66 % porosity, sound speed in unreacted material overtakes the calculated detonation velocities. Traditionally this precludes formation of a detonation wave since the shockwave would decay as energy propagates ahead acoustically into unreacted material. However, experimental agreement is still observed between 60–67 % porosity. By comparing computed detonation pressure with estimates for the strength of unreacted porous silicon, this range is proposed to be a transition zone in which a detonation‐like structure could be maintained, despite the inverted sound speed comparison, by rapid catastrophic fracture of porous silicon at the detonation front. This hypothesis implies that a sonic precompression wave must precede the detonation wave since at least a minor fraction of shock energy would propagate ahead in unreacted material. Finally, comparisons are made with baseline primary explosives and nanothermites showing that among metal‐based composite energetics on the basis of reaction rate and detonation pressure, energetic porous silicon currently exhibits the most promise for replacing primary explosives at reasonable densities in igniters and augmenting initiator formulations.
Slaying the dragons that sabotage protection measures to feed on the ash of your plant
Authors: Chastain‐Knight Denise
Published: May 2021

Dragons are legendary winged monsters that breathe fire and feed on ash. Or so we think. This is a tale of three dragons that have evolved to hide in plain sight and quietly feed on the underpinnings of protection layers, eroding the effectiveness of process safety mitigation measures. These dragons are mischievous and feed off process upsets, near misses, and accidents. The Invisible Dragon roams around the plant breaking devices and causing people to make mistakes that set off alarms and causes safety instrumented systems (SIS) trips to initiate. Its special joy is creating initiating events that were not considered in the design. Tiny and Giant Dragons specialize in defeating the SIS protection layers, so that all three dragons can feed on the ash of an accident. The Tiny Dragon baits SIS designers with devices having extremely low failure rate data causing the humans to believe safety instrumented functions (SIF) are more reliable than they actually are. The Giant Dragon works alongside the Tiny Dragon to further undermine the SIS with its song of near perfect proof testing. This paper will illustrate the impacts of underestimating SIF demand rate, using overly optimistic failure rate data, and overestimating proof test coverage. We will discuss techniques to identify and correct these issues and suggest metrics to monitor SIS performance thus slaying the dragons.
Impact of High Pressure on Reversible Structural Relaxation of Metallic Glass
Authors: Ngan Nguyen K. , Phan Anh D. , Zaccone Alessio
Published: May 2021

The temperature dependence of the reversible structural relaxation time and diffusion constant of metallic glasses under pressure is theoretically investigated. The compression not only changes the glassy dynamics, but also generates a metastable state along with a higher‐energy state where the system can rejuvenate. The relaxation times for forward and backward transitions in this two‐state system are nearly identical and much faster than the relaxation time without accounting for barrier recrossing. At ambient pressure, the expected irreversible relaxation process is recovered, and the numerical results agree well with prior experimental results. An increase in pressure has a minor effect on the relaxation time and diffusion constant that one computes without considering the influence of the metastable state, but it leads to a large reduction of the reversible relaxation time computed upon considering the metastable state. The presence of external compression is also shown to trigger a fragile‐to‐strong crossover in metallic glasses.
Effects of aggregate packing optimization and cement paste volume on the properties of natural and recycled aggregate concrete
Authors: Jiang Yuan , Liu Shu , Li Bo , He Jun , Hernandez Alvaro Garcia
Published: May 2021

This paper investigates the influence of aggregate packing optimization based on a particle packing method (PPM) and cement paste volume (CPV) on the workability and mechanical properties of both natural aggregate concrete (NAC) and recycled aggregate concrete (RAC). The slump, compressive strength, flexural strength and Young's modulus of concrete were first examined, followed with the characterization of macro‐pore structure inside RAC by using X‐ray computed tomography (CT). The results indicate that the PPM can help to densify the granular skeleton of aggregates in concrete by reducing the void around the aggregates and the cement paste film thickness, and subsequently enhances the mechanical properties of the concrete with a constant CPV. This enhancement is higher for RAC than NAC, particularly for the Young's modulus. The particle packing optimization can also decrease the number of macro pores in RAC, contributing to the enhancement in the mechanical properties of RAC. Moreover, increasing CPV in concrete with a maximum aggregate packing status considerably decreases the mechanical properties of concrete, whereas increases its workability. This is mainly caused by the increased number of macro pores in the cement paste and at the interfaces between RCAs and hardened cement paste.