bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A case with cardiac, skeletal, speech, and motor traits narrows the subtelomeric 19p13.3 microdeletion region to 46 kb
Authors: Peter Beate
Published: October 2022

Subtelomeric 19p13.3 deletions have been associated with diverse anatomical and developmental phenotypes. A recent study of eight patients with subtelomeric interstitial 19p13.3 microdeletions at 0.3–1.4 Mb (hg 19) showed associations with growth restrictions, skeletal deformities, craniofacial anomalies, congenital heart defects, renal malformations, hernias, immune system deficits, fine and gross motor delays, speech delays, and developmental and learning delays. The authors defined two small regions of overlap containing four and 11 genes, respectively, with potential haploinsufficiency. Here, we present a new case with a de novo 184 kb deletion containing eight genes, three of which fall into the second previously identified small region of overlap, reducing the shared region to 46 kb. Phenotypic traits include most of the core findings in the previously reported cases but not growth restrictions, craniofacial anomalies, renal malformation, and learning disability. A closer look at the speech and motor delays reveals apraxic speech and discoordination in the fine and gross motor domain, consistent with cerebellar involvement across motor systems. Findings are consistent with a role of AZU1 in the observed immune deficiencies and PTBP1 in the observed skeletal, abdominal, speech, language, motor, and sensory traits. This case thus contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the subtelomeric 19p13.3 deletion region.
Dynamic Covalent Michael Acceptors to Penetrate Cells: Thiol‐Mediated Uptake with Tetrel‐Centered Exchange Cascades, Assisted by Halogen‐Bonding Switches
Authors: Shybeka Inga , Maynard John R. J. , Saidjalolov Saidbakhrom , Moreau Dimitri , Sakai Naomi , Matile Stefan
Published: October 2022

Chalcogen‐centered cascade exchange chemistry is increasingly understood to account for thiol‐mediated uptake, that is, the ability of reversibly thiol‐reactive agents to penetrate cells. Here, reversible Michael acceptors are shown to enable and inhibit thiol‐mediated uptake, including the cytosolic delivery of proteins. Dynamic cyano‐cinnamate dimers rival the best chalcogen‐centered inhibitors. Patterns generated in inhibition heatmaps reveal contributions from halogen‐bonding switches that occur independent from the thyroid transporter MCT8. The uniqueness of these patterns supports that the entry of tetrel‐centered exchangers into cells differs from chalcogen‐centered systems. These results expand the chemical space of thiol‐mediated uptake and support the existence of a universal exchange network to bring matter into cells, abiding to be decoded for drug delivery and drug discovery in the broadest sense.
Oxovanadium(IV)‐salophen covalently immobilized on silica‐coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles: A magnetically recoverable nanocatalyst for the selective oxidation of sulfides
Authors: Bagherzadeh Mojtaba , Navi Hossein , Bayrami Arshad , Kia Reza , Amini Mojtaba
Published: October 2022

The current study introduces an approach toward the development of heterogeneous, magnetically recoverable oxovanadium(IV)‐salophen complex to employ in the selective oxidation of sulfides using H2O2 as oxidant. A salophen ligand containing hydroxyl functional group was synthesized, which is conducive to successful, covalent immobilization of metal complex onto the silica‐modified Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles (SMNPs). This type of metal anchoring is achieved through an intermolecular condensation reaction. The in‐depth investigation on the catalyst (Fe3O4@SiO2@VO(salophen)) productivity and lifetime in the oxidation of a wide range of linear and aromatic sulfides is well represented and discussed. The use of the current catalyst in the selective oxidation of prototype substrate (methyl phenyl sulfide) resulted in an appreciable increase in the selectivity toward the desired sulfoxide (92%) and conversion rate (95%) compared with similar studies, reported to this day. Analytical techniques such as field emission scanning electron micrograph (FE‐SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP‐OES) provided data on structural/compositional characterization of materials in catalyst preparation steps.
Assessment of mechanical and healing behaviors of glass fibers‐epoxy composite containing the microcapsules with the nanocomposite shell
Authors: Ebrahimnezhad‐Khaljiri Hossein , Eslami‐Farsani Reza , Mirzamohammadi Sadegh
Published: October 2022

In the current study, the effect of adding the encapsulated healing agent with neat polymeric and nanocomposite shells on the mechanical‐healing features of glass fibers/epoxy composite under various loads was investigated. Therefore, the microcapsules with urea‐formaldehyde (UF) nanocomposite shell containing the various weight fraction of silica nanoparticles (0, 1, 2, 3) were synthesized. After that, the flexural, tensile, and interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) samples were destructed by using the quasi‐static penetration method with the damaging force of 500, 1050, and 2900 N, respectively. The maximum healing efficiency in the flexural loads belonged to the composite with the 3 wt% nanosilica on the surface of microcapsules, which was 83.9%. Also, it was found the increment in the weight fraction of silica nanoparticles had a negligible effect on the healing ability of composite under tensile loading. Achieving 135.8% healing efficiency in the composite with the 2 wt% nanosilica under the shear loads can be one of the most important findings in this work.
New data on the cranial anatomy ofPterogonaspis(Tridensaspidae, Galeaspida) from the lower Devonian of Yunnan, China and its evolutionary implications
Authors: Meng Xin‐Yuan , Zhu Min , Li Qiang , Gai Zhi‐Kun
Published: October 2022

New material of the tridensaspidPterogonaspis yuhaiiis described from the Xujiachong Formation in Qujing City, Yunnan Province, revealing the morphology of the ventral side of the headshield for the first time. Most significantly, the cranial anatomy ofPterogonaspisprovides the first fossil evidence for the position of the esophagus in galeaspids. The esophagus and dorsal aortae display a central placement in the postbranchial region and do not share a common canal as in osteostracans. Moreover, the paired and symmetrically extending dorsal aortae in galeaspids strikingly resemble those of jawed vertebrates, probably representing a plesiomorphic condition for vertebrates because they are also present in amphioxus and hagfishes. In contrast, the unpaired and asymmetrically extending dorsal aorta in osteostracans is similar to that of lampreys, probably resulting from convergent evolution. In addition, our new data also exhibit some characters that galeaspids uniquely share with osteostracans, such as the complete endoskeletal postbranchial wall and the extensive lateral expansion of the headshield with the marginal arteries and veins.
Paleobiological inferences from paleopathological occurrences in the Arctic ceratopsian Pachyrhinosaurus perotorum
Authors: Fiorillo Anthony R. , Tykoski Ronald S.
Published: October 2022

As a key tool for understanding how animals lived in the past, paleopathology informs us about the lives and deaths of fossil animals. We identify paleopathologies within an assemblage of bones of the pachyrostran centrosaurine Pachyrhinosaurus perotorum, an Arctic ceratopsian. More than 1,000 bones of this dinosaur were collected from the Prince Creek Formation of North Slope, Alaska from fossil sites along the Colville River. Our survey shows the occurrence of paleopathology to be very low and comparable to other populations of horned dinosaurs from the lower latitudes, suggesting that the ancient Arctic environment did not impose intense hardships on these dinosaurs greater than in other environments, as expressed by paleopathological modification of the skeleton. This result may be due to the more equable mean annual temperatures in the Arctic region during the Cretaceous. Also of interest, the frequency of occurrence of paleopathology in the Arctic Pachyrhinosaurus population is very low compared to populations of fossil and historic quadrupedal artiodactyls that are recognized as long distance wanderers.
Ru‐, Rh‐ and Ir‐Catalyzed Enantioselective sp3C−H Functionalization
Authors: Kaur Ramandeep , Jain Nidhi
Published: October 2022

The development of novel methodologies that enable the construction of complex chiral molecular scaffolds in an atom and step‐economic manner has always been an area of immense interest and significant synthetic value. The transition metal‐catalyzed enantioselective sp3C−H activation and functionalization reactions serve as an expeditious means for introducing diverse functionalities in a straightforward manner. However, controlling the chemo‐ and stereoselectivity of these reactions is a significant challenge owing to their ubiquity and low reactivity. In this review, we present a comprehensive account on the recent advances in inter‐ and intramolecular asymmetric sp3C−H bond functionalization utilizing ruthenium, rhodium, and iridium catalysts and get insights into the mechanistic aspects of these transformations.
Impact of Tibetan Plateau vertical heating on the Asian summer monsoon on the interdecadal scale
Authors: Yu Liwei , Si Dong , Shen Xinyong , Lang Xianmei , Zhang Ran , Li Qingquan
Published: October 2022

This study investigated the impacts of Tibetan Plateau vertical heating (TPVH) on the Asian summer monsoon (ASM) on the interdecadal scale since the beginning of the 20th century. The ASM, corresponding to TPVH, generally enhances on the interdecadal scale. In the upper troposphere, the upper‐level westerly and easterly jet streams shift northwards in Asia, with two meridional “southern low and northern high” wave‐like patterns dominating in East Asia and India, respectively. In the lower troposphere, the summer monsoonal airflow and convergence zone migrate northwards in Asia, and two meridional “southern high and northern low” patterns appear in East Asia and India, respectively. Thus, TPVH can strengthen the baroclinicity over northern East Asia and northern India, but weaken it over southern East Asia and southern India. Moreover, two anomalous meridional circulation cells are identified in East Asia and India, with ascending branches in their northern parts and descending branches in their southern parts. Eventually, the ASM strengthens, leading to a southern dry and northern wet pattern in East Asia and India.
Does the gender matter?: Anxiety symptoms and emotion dysregulation in adults with autism and intellectual disabilities
Authors: Sáez‐Suanes Gema P. , García‐Villamisar Domingo , Pozo Armentia Araceli del
Published: October 2022

Research shows high rates of anxious symptoms in people autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). Finding factors related to the development of anxiety in ASD is necessary. Emotion regulation (ER) is associated with anxiety in ASD. Moreover, some studies find higher rates of anxiety in women with ASD. A total of 121 adults (M = 35.46 years, SD = 9.46) with ASD and intellectual disabilities were evaluated to verify moderating role of gender and mediating role of ER. A moderated mediation analysis supported the moderated role of gender in the relationship mediated by emotional dysregulation between ASD and anxiety. These findings suggest that interventions designed to prevent or reduce anxiety symptoms in women with ASD should include among their goals emotional regulation.

Lay Summary

If we want to reduce or prevent anxiety symptoms in women with ASD we must work on emotional regulation.
Apple pomace management by anaerobic digestion and composting: a life cycle assessment
Authors: Ampese Larissa Castro , Ziero Henrique Di Domenico , Velásquez Jean , Sganzerla William Gustavo , Martins Gilberto , Forster‐Carneiro Tânia
Published: October 2022

The food industry generates large volumes of organic by‐products, which require proper environmentally friendly disposal. In the case of the apple‐processing industry, apple pomace constitutes 25–30% of the original apple weight. The conventional treatment of food industry by‐products involves composting, which releases greenhouse gases and contributes to climate change. This study presents an environmental assessment of apple pomace management technologies for industrial juice processing. The life cycle analysis (LCA) methodology was applied as a tool for evaluating the technological routes of composting (method conventionally used) and anaerobic digestion (AD) (an innovative technological route). The main change proposed to the current process would be the implementation of anaerobic reactors in the apple industry, avoiding the transport of apple pomace to the composting unit and producing bioenergy from the burning of methane‐rich biogas. The results showed a reduction in the environmental impacts in the system composed of AD of apple pomace. In the categories related to eutrophication and acidification, a reduction of approximately 50% was obtained when comparing AD with composting. The global warming potential and greenhouse gas emissions showed a significant reduction with the adoption of AD, due to the conversion of biogas into energy and its use by the industry. In conclusion, the implementation of AD technology for the management of apple pomace can be a promising alternative to recover bioenergy and decrease the environmental impacts caused by the apple‐juice processing industry. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Biorefinery concepts in the transition to the bioeconomy: A Q‐analysis from the Brazilian experts’ perspectives
Authors: Conteratto Caroline , Artuzo Felipe Dalzotto , Santos Omar Inácio Benedetti , Talamini Edson
Published: October 2022

Bioeconomy development requires the adoption of a comprehensive concept of biorefinery. This study analyzes the experts’ perceptions regarding biorefinery concepts and discusses the implications for development of the bioeconomy in Brazil. Forty‐five statements about biorefinery concepts were prepared. Statements were grouped accordingly to assess whether the experts agree more with a conventional, transitional or comprehensive biorefinery concept. The statements were organized and submitted to the experts following the procedures outlined by Q‐methodology. Thirty‐six experts from the government (13), academia (17) and industry (6) participated in the study. Government, academic and industry experts answered ‘what is a biorefinery?’ differently. Biorefinery as a biobased value chain, a bioecological economic model and the basis for sustainable energy production were the most relevant among the eight factors explaining the experts’ perspectives on biorefinery (63.35% of the total variation). Since the perspectives on biorefinery vary among experts from different sectors, we conclude that joint efforts should be made to adopt a comprehensive biorefinery concept to enhance the transition to the bioeconomy. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The protective effects of nesfatin‐1 in neurological dysfunction after spinal cord injury by inhibiting neuroinflammation
Authors: Jin Xin , Guan Kai , Chen Zhengyu , Sun Yongwei , Huo Hongjun , Wang Jinle , Dong Huihui
Published: October 2022

Aims

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one of the most severe neurological diseases. However, there is still no effective treatment for it. Nesfatin, a precursor neuropeptide derived from nucleobindin 2 (NUCB2), has displayed a wide range of protective effects in different types of cells and tissue. However, the effects of nesfatin‐1 in SCI have not been reported before.

Materials and methods

A SCI model was established. The behavior of mice was assessed using the Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) assessment.

Results

Here, we report that the administration of nesfatin‐1 improved neurological recovery in SCI mice by increasing BBB scores, reducing lesion area volume and spinal cord water content. Also, nesfatin‐1 ameliorated oxidative stress by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and increasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. We also found that nesfatin‐1 prevented neuronal apoptosis in SCI mice by reducing caspase 3 activity and the expression of Bax, as well as increasing B‐cell lymphoma‐2 (Bcl‐2). Additionally, nesfatin‐1 reduced the levels of interleukin 6 (IL‐6), interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β), and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α). Nesfatin‐1 also promoted microglia towards M2 polarization by increasing the marker CD206 but reducing CD16. Importantly, nesfatin‐1 enhanced the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) but reduced the expression levels of toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) and phosphorylated nuclear factor kappa‐B p65 (p‐NF‐κB p65).

Conclusion

Our findings imply that nesfatin‐1 exerts neuroprotective actions in SCI by promoting the activation of M2 microglia, and its underlying mechanisms might be related to the activation of STAT1 and inhibition of the TLR4/NF‐κB signaling pathway.
An integrated view of eco‐innovation in the service sector: Dynamic capability, cooperation and corporate environmentalism
Authors: Arranz Nieves , Arroyabe Marta F. , Li Jun , Arranz Carlos F. A. , Fernandez de Arroyabe Juan Carlos
Published: October 2022

This study integrates the insights of the dynamic capabilities theory with the perspective of strategic orientations to provide an integrated view of eco‐innovation in service organizations. We empirically test this integrated view of eco‐innovation in the case of Spain with a sample of 3192 service firms from the Spanish Technological Innovation Panel from 2012 and 2015. Our results allow the verification of the properties of persistence, complementarity and dependence on resources for eco‐innovation, thus being able to conceptualize it as an innovation capability. Moreover, we support that both eco‐innovation and cooperation, once set in motion, could reinforce each other, suggesting that the relationship between cooperation and eco‐innovation is complementary and sequential. We also argue that the strength of strategic orientations, particularly corporate environmentalism, will spur service firms to integrate and adapt capabilities to undertake more cooperative innovation in order to deliver outcomes in tandem with their strategic objectives.
Three‐dimensional cardiac computed tomography compared with autopsied material for the assessment of the mitral valve
Authors: Krawczyk‐Ożóg Agata , Hołda Mateusz K. , Batko Jakub , Bartuś Stanisław , Rajtar‐Salwa Renata
Published: October 2022

To compare the morphometrical features of non‐diseased mitral valves imaged in three‐dimensional (3D) cardiac computed tomography with those analyzed macroscopically in autopsied healthy human hearts. A total of 51 cardiac computed tomography scans and 120 adult autopsied human hearts without cardiovascular disease were examined. The 3D reconstruction and visualization software (Mimics Innovation Suite 22, Materialise) was used for heart chambers semi‐automatic segmentation and myocardial manual segmentation to visualize a 3D structure of the mitral valve complex and to perform all measurements. Direct comparison of corresponding mitral valve parameters revealed significant differences between obtained results. Significantly larger intercommisural diameter, aorto‐mural diameter, and perimeter of the mitral annulus were observed in tomographic scans (all p < 0.0001). However, the intercommissural/aorto‐mural diameter ratio showed comparable values for both groups. Nevertheless, the size of anterior mitral leaflet was higher in autopsied material. The height of the P2 scallops was the only parameter that show no significant difference between two groups (p = 0.3). The use of 3D postprocessing algorithms provides a very accurate image of the mitral valve structure, which could be useful for the precise non‐invasive assessment of mitral valve size and structure. Three‐dimensional contrast enhanced cardiac computed tomography significantly overestimates the measurements of the mitral annulus compared to postmortem analysis.
Correlation between individual physical characteristics and spinal cerebrospinal fluid volume
Authors: Liu Hu , Zhou Hong‐Mei , Wu Xin‐Wei , Zhou Qing‐He
Published: October 2022

Spinal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) volume is the primary determinant for the spread of spinal anesthesia. However, it cannot generally be obtained during spinal anesthesia, and patient physical characteristics are always adopted to obtain a suitable spinal spread. In this study, we sought to explore the relationship between individual physical characteristics and thoracosacral CSF volume to provide a theoretical basis for more accurate spinal anesthesia. In total 35 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Three‐dimensional magnetic resonance imaging was used to reconstruct and measure the spinal CSF volume. Physical characteristics and spinal CSF volume were recorded. Bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses were used to analyze the correlation between the individual physical characteristics and thoracosacral CSF volume. Total of 31 participants were included in the final analysis. Bivariate linear correlation analysis showed that the volume of thoracosacral CSF was correlated with both individual dorso‐sacral distance and height (both p < 0.01), but not with abdominal girth (p > 0.05). Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that the adjusted R2 values were 0.404 for the regression equation between thoracosacral CSF volume, dorso‐sacral distance, and abdominal girth. Our study showed that dorso‐sacral distance and abdominal girth were essential factors contributing to thoracosacral CSF volume. A longer dorso‐sacral distance and smaller abdominal girth mean larger spinal CSF volume.
The anatomical growth of the thoracic cage in adolescents with specific reference to axial growth comparing the right and left hemithorax
Authors: Archer James E. , Dong Huan , Berryman Fiona , Pynsent Paul , Gardner Adrian
Published: October 2022

This study has demonstrated the changing volume of both the anterior and posterior thorax in normal adolescents (without spinal or thoracic deformity), differentiating for both sex and age, to further understand how the thorax grows, along with the differences in growth between the anterior and posterior thorax. The thorax was measured on axial CT slices at every vertebral level from T3 to T12 in a series of scans previous taken for routine clinical care. Measurements taken were the anteroposterior thoracic distance and the area of the anterior and posterior rib prominences on either side of the thorax. Data was analyzed per vertebral level, differentiating for age and sex. There were 486 CT scans analyzed (257 males and 229 females) between the ages of 8 and 18 years. The analysis identified that for the anterior thorax, there are three phases of growth with an initial slow increase in volume, followed by a stabilization of little growth, followed by another phase of a more rapid increase in volume. For the posterior thorax, there was a gradual increase in area with increasing age. This study demonstrates that the shape of the thorax is age and sex dependent, with males having both a greater width and depth of thorax compared to females. Of particular note is the difference in patterns of growth between the anterior and posterior thorax. This information will add to the understanding of normal growth, which will aid in the management of conditions where that growth is disturbed.
Front‐line treatment efficacy and clinical outcomes of elderly patients with multiple myeloma in a real‐world setting: A multicenter retrospective study in China
Authors: Bao Li , Liu Ai‐Jun , Chu Bin , Wang Qian , Dong Yu‐Jun , Lu Min‐Qiu , Shi Lei , Gao Shan , Wang Yu‐Tong , Wang Li‐Fang , Chen Wen‐Ming , Zhuang Jun‐Ling
Published: October 2022

Background

The use of proteasome inhibitors (PIs), new immune modulators (IMiDs), and other new drugs, as well as high‐dose chemotherapy combined with autologous stem cell transplantation has considerably improved the survival of young patients with multiple myeloma (MM). However, the improvement in survival among elderly patients remains insufficient. Optimal treatment recommendation models for elderly patients with MM have not been developed especially there are quite few study in the real world.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the treatment patterns and outcomes of 328 Chinese patients (≥65 years) with MM in a real‐world setting. Patients were divided into three groups according to induction regimens.

Results

The median age of the cohort was 70 (65–86) years. The patients were divided into group 1 (PIs based regimens, n = 218), group 2 (IMiDs based regimens, n = 48) and group 3 (PIs + IMiDs, n = 62). Induction regimens in group 3 produced higher overall response rate than group 1 and 2 (85.42% vs. 71.08% vs. 66.67%, p = 0.016). The median follow‐up of the cohort was 30 (interquartile range [IQR] 18–36) months. For the entire cohort median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 26 (IQR 12.00–42.89) months and overall survival (OS) was 60 (IQR 40.00–67.20) months. The PFS were not significantly different among the three groups (28 months vs. 18 months vs. 26 months, p = 0.182). So were the OS (60 months vs. 59 months vs. not reached, p = 0.067). Multivariate analysis revealed that age >70 year, frailty status (Geriatric vulnerability score), induction efficacy < partial remission, and no maintenance treatment were independent poor prognostic factors for OS.

Conclusion

Front‐line induction regimens combining PIs and IMiDs developed more deep response than single PI or IMiD based regimens. Maintenance treatment can further improve the clinical outcome in elderly MM patients in real‐world setting.
Cost‐effectiveness analysis of pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy as the first‐line treatment for advanced esophageal cancer
Authors: Ye Zhuo‐Miao , Xu Zhe , Wang Hao‐Lun , Wang Ying‐Yuan , Chen Ze‐Chang , Zhou Qin , Li Xiang‐Ping , Zhang Ying‐Ying
Published: October 2022

Objective

The KEYNOTE‐590 trial showed that individuals with advanced esophageal cancer who received Pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy as a first‐line regimen achieved a significant extension of survival. However, this treatment option increases the financial burden on patients and the economic benefits remain to be further evaluated.

Methods

A Markov model was used to simulate 10‐year survival of patients with esophageal cancer from the perspective of United States (US) Medicare payers. We evaluated the economics of Pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in the PD‐L1 positive score (CPS ≥10) and any PD‐L1 expression groups, respectively. We estimated total costs, quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs), and calculated incremental cost effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Sensitivity analyses were conducted to explore the impact of uncertainties on the results. Subgroup analysis was also performed.

Results

The analysis results showed that the ICER for pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone was $293,513.17/QALYs in the any PD‐L1 expression group. This exceeded the threshold of willingness to pay ($150,000/QALYs). ICERs were most sensitive to the cost of pembrolizumab and the ICERs exceeded $150,000/QALYs in all subgroups.

Conclusions

Evidence suggests that first‐line pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy is not a cost‐effective option for advanced esophageal cancer in the US, regardless of PD‐L1 expression status.
Immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy improved clinical outcomes over bevacizumab combined with chemotherapy as first‐line therapy in adenocarcinoma patients
Authors: Wang Min , Li Ji , Xu Shuhui , Li Yuying , Li Jiatong , Yu Jinming , Tang Xiaoyong , Zhu Hui
Published: October 2022

Purpose

No definite conclusion has yet to be reached for the first‐line treatment combined with chemotherapy for advanced adenocarcinoma NSCLC patients with negative driver genes. This study sought to compare the clinical outcomes of Beva+ChT and IO+ChT as first‐line treatment for this population and investigated whether the statuses of BM, PD‐L1 expression, and KRAS and TP53 mutations could influence the results.

Patients and methods

The clinical data of patients with adenocarcinoma NSCLC who received first‐line therapy were retrospectively collected and the patients were assigned to the IO+ChT and Beva+ChT groups. The disease control rate (DCR), progression‐free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated between the two groups. The survival effects of BM, PD‐L1 expression, and KRAS and TP53 mutations were also evaluated.

Results

From April 2018 to October 2020, a total of 105 patients with first‐line therapy were included in our analysis; 54 (51.4%) patients were included in the IO+ChT group and 51 (48.6%) patients were included in the Beva+ChT group. The results showed that OS (NR vs. 18.3 m, p = 0.011) and PFS (14.9 m vs. 6.3 m, p < 0.001) were superior in patients in the IO+ChT group than in patients in the Beva+ChT group. Further analysis revealed that the OS (median OS: NR vs. 14.7 months, p = 0.039) and PFS (median PFS: 18.5 vs. 5.5 months, p < 0.001) advantages of the IO+ChT group were also seen in the PD‐L1 > 1% subgroup but were not seen in the PD‐L1 < 1%, BM or KRAS mutation subgroups.

Conclusions

ICIs combined with ChT improved clinical outcomes over Beva combined with ChT as first‐line therapy for adenocarcinoma patients without driver gene alterations, especially in patients with PD‐L1 ≥ 1%.
Integrated tumor genomic and immune microenvironment analysis identifies predictive biomarkers associated with the efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy for triple‐negative breast cancer
Authors: Zhu Yanhui , Zhang Hongfei , Pan Chaohu , He Gao , Cui Xiaoli , Yu Xiafei , Zhang Xiaoqiang , Wu Dongfang , Yang Junzhe , Wu Xian , Luo Haitao , Liu Xiaoan
Published: October 2022

Background

Although neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is currently the best therapy for triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC), resistance still occurs in a considerable proportion, thus it is crucial to understand resistance mechanisms and identify predictive biomarkers for patients selection.

Methods

Biopsy samples were collected from 21 patients with TNBC who underwent NAC. Whole‐exome sequencing (WES), targeted sequencing, and multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) were carried out on the clinical samples and used to identify and validate potential biomarkers associated with response to NAC. In addition, data on 190 TNBC patients who had undergone chemotherapy were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and analyzed to further validate our findings.

Results

Both the tumor mutational burden (TMB) and tumor neoantigen burden (TNB) were significantly higher in responders than in non‐responders. Higher response rates and longer survival rates were observed in patients with higher TMB. Patients with higher ratios of CD8 to M2 macrophages had higher response rates and improved survival rates. Finally, the integrated analysis demonstrated that the combination of TMB and the ratio of CD8 T cells to M2 macrophages could further distinguish patients who benefitted from the treatment in both enrolled patients and public data.

Conclusions

The findings of this study indicated that the combination of TMB and the ratio of CD8 T cells to M2 macrophages may be a potential biomarker for improving the recognition of NAC responders, thereby providing a basis for developing precision NAC regimens.
Mycobacterium iranicum pulmonary disease in an elderly patient with extensive usual interstitial pneumonia: Case report
Authors: Kalra Salil , Rubinstein Israel
Published: October 2022

We report the first case of Mycobacterium iranicum pulmonary disease in an elderly patient with extensive usual interstitial pneumonia and traction bronchiectasis. He was treated with oral doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim daily for 9 months. This was associated with eradication of the microorganism in the sputum and steady weight gain.
Lipschütz's ulcers in an adolescent with SARS‐CoV2 infection
Authors: Morais Mariana Lira , Moura Mário , Moreira Ana
Published: October 2022

Lipschütz's ulcers (LU) are rare entities, which occur mostly in nonsexually active young women. LU appears to be associated with infectious conditions such as Epstein‐Barr virus or cytomegalovirus. We report a case that revealed that SARS‐CoV‐2 infection could be considered a trigger event for the appearance of acute vulvar ulceration.
Effect of the fibre diameter polydispersity on the permeability of nonwoven filter media
Authors: Thomas Dominique , Bardin‐Monnier Nathalie , Charvet Augustin
Published: October 2022

This paper studies the permeability values of air filter media obtained by 3‐D simulations using the GeoDict® code. 3‐D fibrous structures with different specific characteristics that can be encountered in air filtration (0.03 ≤ solid volume fraction [α] ≤ 0.25, monodisperse fibres [1 μm ≤ df ≤8 μm], or polydisperse fibres) were generated. For monodisperse fibres, the permeability values obtained were compared with various correlations identified in the literature. After confirming that Davies' or Jackson and James' relations allowed a good estimate of the permeability, it is shown that the modified Happel's correlation provides a better prediction. In the case of normal (standard deviation: σ ≤ 1.5) or lognormal fibre size distribution (geometric standard deviation: σG ≤ 2), this modified Happel's correlation, in which the fibre diameter is replaced by an equivalent fibre diameter, leads to a relative deviation of less than ±8% and ±4% for lognormal and normal fibre distributions, respectively. The comparison with experimental permeability values obtained on real media provides quite encouraging results.
Time‐dependent viscosity of structured clay suspensions
Authors: Zhou Joe Z.
Published: October 2022

Time‐dependent viscosity of structured clay suspensions under a fixed shear was revealed in the prepared slurry samples of clay lenses from the Athabasca oil sands deposit, differing from thixotropic or rheopectic suspensions. At a lower salt (Na or Ca) concentration, the viscosity oscillated with time, which was slowly damped with increasing salt concentrations. The viscosity increased without reaching a maximum plateau, even after a run of a few hours. At 1000 ppm Na concentration, a maximum viscosity was reached, followed by viscosity fluctuation within a narrow range to approach an equilibrium value with time. Both sample ageing and shear history affected the slurry viscosity. It was speculated that the Brownian motion of colloidal clay particles and the applied shear induced rearrangement and continued formation of clay microstructures with time, due to the rotation of anisotropic colloidal clay particles under simple shear flow. Its implications to oil sands research and operation were briefly discussed.
Octanuclear Palladacycles with B(3)–H Bond Activation of o‐Carborane†
Authors: Yuan Run‐Ze , Cui Peng‐Fei , Lin Yue‐Jian , Jin Guo‐Xin
Published: October 2022

Comprehensive Summary

Herein, we describe the synthesis of a carborane‐supported octanuclear palladacycle complex, Pd8(o‐C2B10H10CS2CH3)4Cl4(CH3CN)4 (complex 1), with B(3)–H activations on o‐carborane ligand. The substitution reaction of 1 has been explored, and three of its substituted complexes Pd8(o‐C2B10H10CS2CH3)4Cl4(L)4 (L = tBuNC, 2; L = C5H5N, 3; L = C4H8S, 4) have been synthesized. The m‐ and p‐carborane disubstituted ligands m‐ and p‐C2B10H10(CS2CH3)2 (ligands 5 and 6) as well as their B—H activated carborane complexes [m‐C2B10H9(CS2CH3)2PdCl] (7) and [p‐C2B10H8(CS2CH3)2][PdCl(tBuNC)]2 (8) have also been synthesized by the similar method. All of these complexes have been characterized, including X‐ray single crystal diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis methods.
Bin mapping of water stress tolerance‐related, fruit quality, and horticultural traits in tomato introgression lines derived from wild Solanum habrochaites
Authors: Kubond Bryce A. , St. Clair Dina A.
Published: October 2022

Climate change is reducing water availability for crop production. Cultivated tomato, Solanum lycopersicum, has a limited genetic base for improvement. A wild tomato, Solanum habrochaites, is water stress tolerant and may serve as a genetic source of abiotic stress‐tolerance traits. A set of 24 introgression lines (ILs) derived from S. habrochaites and processing tomato inbred cultivar E6203 were evaluated in the field in replicated experiments over 3 years for 15 traits, including water stress tolerance‐related, fruit quality, and horticultural traits. A split plot experimental design was employed with reduced and full irrigation treatments as main plots. Subplots consisted of the ILs and control E6203, and trait data were collected on a per‐subplot basis. Statistical data analyses and bin mapping were performed on a per‐trait basis. Trait‐genomic region associations (TGRAs) were detected in ILs when a significant difference between E6203 and an IL was present. A total of 268 TGRAs were detected for all 15 traits. Traits mapped to introgressions in 22 of the 24 ILs and in 11 of 12 tomato chromosomes. ILs contributed both positive and negative allelic effects at TGRAs. TGRA with positive allelic effects from S. habrochaites were identified for soluble solids content, fruit weight, degree of fruit sunburn, canopy cover, and maturity. Our results suggest that S. habrochaites may be a useful resource for breeding improvement of certain fruit quality and horticultural traits in cultivated tomato. Overall, S. habrochaites alleles did not contribute to increased water stress tolerance relative to E6203 at the milder level of water stress used in this study.
Optimal reactive power control for dual‐active‐bridge converter using improved dual‐phase‐shift modulation strategy for electric vehicle application
Authors: Chilakalapudi Ganesh , Kumar Amritesh
Published: October 2022

Dual active bridge (DAB) based DC‐DC converters are in high demand for offering quick charging capacity to Electric vehicles (EVs). The conventional technique for DAB is based on single‐phase‐shift (SPS), though it provides simple control but suffers from high peaking in the inductor current under varying charging rates for EV and dc‐link voltage ratio. In this paper, initially the expression for optimal reactive power flow into DAB converter under SPS and dual phase‐shift (DPS) control techniques are thoroughly examined. Based on the analytical analysis, an improved dual‐phase‐shift modulation (IDPSM) method for real and reactive power control through a DAB converter is proposed for varying charging rates of an EV and dc‐link voltage ratio. The proposed IDPSM control technique is implemented using the inverse perturb and observe (IPO) method that provides optimum inner phase‐shift between the legs of the H‐bridge to track minimum reactive power or back power flow into the system. This method automatically adjusts the inner and outer phase shift ratios under different loading conditions. Further, the proposed IDPSM scheme enhances the range of ZVS operation even under light load conditions, which is lacking with the conventional control techniques. The Lyapunov theory used to determine the stability of the DAB DC/DC converter. To validate the proposed control scheme, a detailed simulation is carried out using MATLAB/Simulink with a 2 kW system under varying charging rates of an EV. Further, to support the effectiveness of the proposed scheme, a comparison with different phase shift modulation schemes is also presented. Finally, an experimental prototype for DAB is developed to confirm the feasibility of the control technique.
Study of the energy deposition of helicon plasmas driven by machine learning algorithms
Authors: Cheng Yuguo , Xia Guangqing , Yang Xiong
Published: October 2022

To find a fast and reliable way predicting the energy deposition of helicon plasmas, this work focuses on machine learning algorithms. Data generation model and the distribution property of the source data are studied, then the classical algorithms and deep neural network (DNN) are built, and these algorithms are studied to test the performance on the energy deposition datasets. Both decision tree classifier (DTC) and support vector machine (SVM) find the electron temperature is the noise feature, and when it is included in the feature vector, the performance will degrade. Therefore feature selection needs be done to obtain high accuracy. For DNN, by directly changing the numbers of the hidden layers and units, test accuracy exceeds 0.95 when hidden layer is greater than three. The feature selection is automatically performed and the learning process is simpler in DNN. When the splitting ratio is varied, the generalization performance of DTC and SVM fluctuates, whereas DNN exhibits no evident change. Compared with the classical algorithms, DNN shows better stability when the source data are changed. The calculations suggest machine learning technique is a promising choice to predict the energy deposition of helicon plasmas.
Community‐engaged learning to broaden the impact of applied ecology: A case study
Authors: Vance‐Chalcraft Heather D. , Jelks Na'Taki Osborne
Published: October 2022

Ecological changes are creating disruptions that often disproportionately impact communities of color and economically disadvantaged areas. Scientists who study the consequences experienced by these communities are uniquely suited to bring the public into their work as a way of setting conditions that enable impacted residents to empower themselves to advance environmental and community change. In addition to involving community stakeholders in the process of science, community science can be used to motivate learning and increase engagement of students. Here we highlight a case study of one way a historically Black college involved local communities and students in water quality monitoring efforts to examine the role of the environment in human health. Students in an introductory‐level environmental toxicology course collaborated with community members to track pollution and monitor conditions in an urban, impaired stream. Students participated in bi‐monthly water quality monitoring alongside community watershed researchers and an annual day‐long multisite sampling event with community residents and organizations. Through this engagement, students and community members contributed to the collection of data, learned about the significance of their results, and translated findings into strategies to advance watershed restoration, health, quality of life, and environmental justice goals.
Differential equity in access to public and private coastal infrastructure in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Beauvais Jeffrey , Nibbelink Nathan P. , Byers James E.
Published: October 2022

Despite the ubiquity of coastal infrastructure, it is unclear what factors drive its placement, particularly for water access infrastructure (WAI) that facilitates entry to coastal ecosystems such as docks, piers, and boat landings. The placement of WAI has both ecological and social dimensions, and certain segments of coastal populations may have differential access to water. In this study, we used an environmental justice framework to assess how public and private WAI in South Carolina, USA are distributed with respect to race and income. Using publicly available data from State agencies and the US Census Bureau, we mapped the distribution of these structures across the 301 km of the South Carolina coast. Using spatially explicit analyses with high resolution, we found that census block groups (CBGs) with lower income are more likely to contain public WAI, but racial composition has no effect. Private docks showed the opposite trends, as the abundance of docks is significantly, positively correlated with CBGs that have greater percentages of White residents, while income has no effect. We contend that the racially unequal distribution of docks is likely a consequence of the legacy of Black land loss, especially of waterfront property, throughout the coastal southeast during the past half‐century. Knowledge of racially uneven distribution of WAI can guide public policy to rectify this imbalance and support advocacy organizations working to promote public water access. Our work also points to the importance of considering race in ecological research, as the spatial distribution of coastal infrastructure directly affects ecosystems through the structures themselves and regulates which groups access water and what activities they can engage in at those sites.
Making outdoor field experiences more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community
Authors: Lundin Mo , Bombaci Sara
Published: October 2022

Outdoor field experiences have not historically been welcoming to marginalized communities. Recent calls to address the lack of diversity in outdoor field experiences have accelerated efforts to make programs more inclusive for multiple marginalized identity groups. Despite these efforts, many cultural and procedural changes are still needed to support the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ+) community when participating in outdoor field experiences. Here we use results from a survey of leaders from 17 outdoor programs and expertise gained from our own experiences cultivating inclusion in field programs to outline strategies that outdoor field experience providers can use to foster greater support for the LGBTQ+ community. We define key terminology to increase awareness of LGBTQ+ identities and pronouns. We then highlight important actions that field experience leaders can take to make their internships, education programs, and trips more accessible and inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community. We use results from our survey of outdoor programs to highlight practices currently being used to support LGBTQ+ inclusion and accessibility and synthesize how current practice aligns with our overall recommendations. The LGBTQ+ community deserves to be welcomed into outdoor field experiences and to participate fully as students, researchers, educators, recreators, and professionals.