bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Non‐Uniform Chemical Corrosion of Metal Electrode of p–i–n Type of Perovskite Solar Cells Caused by the Diffusion of CH3NH3I
Authors: Guo Shuxuan , Sun Xue , Ding Changzeng , Huang Rong , Tan Mingxi , Zhang Lanping , Luo Qun , Li Fangsen , Jin Jing , Ma Chang-Qi
Published: May 2020

Although perovskite solar cells have shown high power conversion efficiency, performance stability is still insufficient. Herein, the decay kinetics of the p–i–n type of perovskite cells under light illumination is monitored. It is found that the degradation of the performance is mainly caused by the decrease in short‐circuit current (JSC), which is directly related to the loss of active area. Secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) analysis confirms that both CH3NH3+ and I− migrate toward the metal electrode during aging through the thin PC61BM layer. Atomic force microscope (AFM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses reveal that some part of the PC61BM layer is too thin to cover the rough surface of the perovskite film fully. Therefore, chemical corrosion of the metal electrode by CH3NH3I leads to the loss of active area and the consequent short circuit current is proposed to be the performance decay mechanism of perovskite solar cells, which is further supported by the stability improvement of the cells by inserting a thin bathocuproine (BCP) buffer layer between the metal electrode and PC61BM, where the CH3NH3I migration is blocked by the BCP layer.
Statistical estimation of hourly diffuse radiation intensity of Budapest City
Authors: Al‐Ghussain Loiy , Al‐Oran Otabeh , Lezsovits Ferenc
Published: May 2020

The vulnerability of fossil fuel prices to worldwide events such as the recent coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemics increases the interest in renewable energy resources that offer more stable energy generation costs. Solar energy is one of the most abundant renewable energy resources that have gained significant interest in the last decades with various challenges related to the forecastingof the energy production from these systems. Solar radiation intensity varies due to the daily and seasonal changes in the sun's position in addition to the variation in the sky clearness from one location to another which is considered as an important factor that affects the deployment of solar energy systems. This study aims to develop statistical models—mainly regression models and parametric model based on ASHRAE model—to estimate the hourly diffuse radiation in Budapest as a case study using the measured hourly global and diffuse radiation between 2011 and 2018. The prediction models relate the clearness index (which is obtained from the extraterrestrial and global radiation) and the global radiation through a generalized equation. The parametric model was developed by finding the optimal site‐specific constants of ASHRAE model for Budapest using the measured data that minimize the root mean square error. In addition, this study presents a comparison between the results from the developed models and the models reported in the literature. The results indicate that all the developed regression models had close correlation coefficients (R2) where the linear, power, and exponential models had the largest R2 (.69). Finally, the linear model was evaluated on a dataset outside the test data range where the linear model was capable of predicting the diffuse radiation with much better R2 (.93).
Differentiation of stx1A gene for detection of Escherichia coli serotype O157: H7 and Shigella dysenteriae type 1 in food samples using high resolution melting curve analysis
Authors: Pakbin Babak , Akhondzadeh Basti Afshin , Khanjari Ali , Azimi Leila , Karimi Abdollah
Published: May 2020

Escherichia coli serotype O157: H7 and Shigella dysenteriae type 1 as the Shiga toxin‐producing bacteria cause some acute gastrointestinal and extraintestinal diseases such as hemorrhagic uremic syndrome and bloody diarrhea in human. Stx genes are the key virulence factors in these pathogens. The aim of this study was to develop HRMA assay to differentiate stx1A gene for detection of E. coli serotype O157: H7 and Sh. dysenteriae type 1 and determine the prevalence of these pathogens in food samples using this method. PCR‐HRMA assay and gold standard methods have been carried out for identification of pathogens among 135 different food samples. We found HRMA method a sensitive and specific assay (100 and 100%, respectively) for differentiation of stx1A gene, consequently, detection of these pathogens in food samples. Also, the highest prevalence of E. coli serotype O157: H7 and Sh. dysenteriae type 1 harboring stx1A gene was observed in raw milk and vegetable salad samples, respectively. HRMA as a rapid, inexpensive, sensitive and specific method is suggested to be used for differentiation of stx1A gene to detect E. coli serotype O157: H7 and Sh. dysenteriae type 1 as the key pathogens for safety evaluation of food samples.
The informativeness of estimation moments
Authors: Honoré Bo , Jørgensen Thomas , de Paula Áureo
Published: May 2020

This paper introduces measures for how each moment contributes to the precision of parameter estimates in generalized method of moments settings. For example, one of the measures asks what would happen to the variance of the parameter estimates if a particular moment was dropped from the estimation. The measures are all easy to compute. We illustrate the usefulness of the measures through two simple examples as well as an application to a model of joint retirement planning of couples. We estimate the model using the British Household Panel Survey, and we find evidence of complementarities in leisure. Our sensitivity measures illustrate that the estimate of the complementarity is primarily informed by the distribution of differences in planned retirement dates. The estimated econometric model can be interpreted as a bivariate ordered‐choice model that allows for simultaneity. This makes the model potentially useful in other applications.
LncRNAs GACAT3 and LINC00152 regulate each other through miR‐103 and are associated with clinicopathological characteristics in colorectal cancer
Authors: Ye Shazhou , Lu Yicong , Ru Yuqing , Wu Xiaoyue , Zhao Ming , Chen Jiayi , Xu Mingjun , Huang Qin , Wang Yibo , Shi Shanping , Bu Shizhong , Xi Yang
Published: May 2020

Background

Long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) perform pivotal regulatory roles in tumor development. Our previous work revealed that the lncRNA gastric cancer‐associated transcript 3 (GACAT3) was significantly overexpressed and associated with tumor size and metastasis in gastric cancer.

Methods

Total RNAs were extracted from colorectal cancer (CRC) and reverse transcribed, and then quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) was conducted. Cell counting was performed to assess the effect of GACAT3 on CRC cell line proliferation. Bioinformatics prediction, dual luciferase assay, miRNA mimics, siRNAs, and transfection experiments were applied to determine whether GACAT3 and LINC00152 are reciprocally regulated by miR‐103. The relationship between their expression levels and clinicopathological factors of patients was explored. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the potential diagnostic value of GACAT3 and LINC00152.

Results

GACAT3 was identified to be highly expressed in CRC tissues and associated with cell proliferation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that GACAT3 acted as a competing endogenous RNA of LINC00152 and they were both regulated by miR‐103. Moreover, analysis of clinicopathological characteristics revealed that GACAT3 and LINC00152 were positively correlated with the depth of invasion, TNM stage, lymph node metastasis, and CA19‐9 level. Importantly, a combination of GACAT3 and LINC00152 showed a superior diagnostic capacity compared with the use of the two molecules alone.

Conclusion

Our work shows that GACAT3 and LINC00152 are both overexpressed in CRC and they act as a ceRNA network. Therefore, our data suggest that GACAT3 and LINC00152 may be a promising potential diagnostic biomarker for CRC.
Dysphagia lusoria: A vascular etiology?
Authors: Coles Michael , Madray Victoria M. , Mareddy Chinmaya , Kapoor Deepak , Sharma Amol
Published: May 2020

Dysphagia lusoria is difficulty swallowing as a result of extrinsic esophageal compression by an aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA). We present the case of a 59‐year‐old patient with ARSA and history of chronic dysphagia. Vascular decompressive surgery was performed, but it failed to resolve his symptoms. Esophageal manometry indicated concomitant esophageal gastric junction outflow obstruction in the setting of a small hiatal hernia. Our case highlights the diagnostic dilemma surrounding dysphagia lusoria and identification of cases that should undergo surgical repair. Based on a thorough review of the literature and our case, we propose a complete foregut workup for possible other causes as potential etiologies of dysphagia prior to surgical treatment of dysphagia lusoria.
Asia precipitation tripole during boreal summer: Anomalous water vapour transport along the “Southern Silk Road”
Authors: Zhang Mengke , Jin Dachao , Liu Xi , Wang Xudong , Xia Yang
Published: May 2020

East Asia and central India (CI) are significantly affected by the Asian summer monsoon. On the inter‐annual time scale, the precipitation in the Hetao region (HT, [35°–42°N, 103°–114°E]) is prominently positively correlated with that in CI (19°–23°N, 78°–83.5°E) during boreal summer, but it is significantly negatively correlated with precipitation over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River valleys (YRV, [30°–34°N, 114°–122°E]), which is manifested as the Asia precipitation tripole (APT). Positive APT represents above‐normal precipitation in HT and CI regions, and below‐normal precipitation in YRV, which is closely related to a developing La Niña episode. The enhanced Walker circulation and the associated anomalous ascent branch over the western Pacific favour the convective activities in the vicinity of the Philippines, thus stimulating the East Asian‐Pacific/Pacific‐Japan teleconnection wave trains. In the lower atmosphere, an anomalous anticyclonic circulation is located over the YRV and Japan, corresponding to a cyclonic circulation over the South China Sea and the Philippines islands. In the positive phase of APT, water vapour is transported from the Kuroshio extension area to the YRV along the easterly airflow, while YRV is a divergent region with water vapour deficiency, which is not conducive to the generation of precipitation in this area. One part of the water vapour is transported to the northwest of the YRV and converges in HT, which is in favour of the above‐normal summer precipitation in this area. The other part of water vapour is transported westward through an anomalous water vapour transport channel which is called the “Southern Silk Road”, which could weaken the water vapour transport from the Arabian sea to East Asia, or vice versa.
Impact of tumor regression grade on recurrence after preoperative chemoradiation and gastrectomy for gastric cancer
Authors: Stark Alexander P. , Estrella Jeannelyn S. , Chiang Yi‐Ju , Das Prajnan , Minsky Bruce D. , Blum Murphy Mariela A. , Ajani Jaffer A. , Mansfield Paul , Badgwell Brian D. , Ikoma Naruhiko
Published: May 2020

Background and Objectives

It is unknown whether the degree of response to preoperative therapy correlates with locoregional recurrence (LR) or distant recurrence (DR) after resection of gastric cancer.

Methods

Patients who underwent resection of gastric adenocarcinoma following chemotherapy and chemoradiation (1995‐2015) were reviewed. The tumor regression grade (TRG) was defined by the percentage of viable tumor cells in the specimen (TRG0 = 0%; TRG1 = 1%‐2%; TRG2 = 3%‐50%; TRG3 ≥ 50%). The relationships among TRG, recurrence‐free survival (RFS), LR, and DR were examined.

Results

Two hundred forty‐seven patients met the inclusion criteria (TRG0, 52 [21%]; TRG1, 49 [20%]; TRG2, 98 [40%]; TRG3, 48 [19%]). LR and DR occurred in 6.1% and 32.0% of patients, respectively. No patient with TRG0 experienced LR. R1 resection (6%‐15%) and LR (6%‐8%) rates were similar among TRG1‐3 patients. R1 resection was associated with LR (hazard ratio [HR], 17.85; P < .001). ypN status (HR, 2.44; P = .004) and linitis plastica (HR, 2.90; P < .001) were associated with DR. TRG was not independently associated with RFS, LR, or DR.

Conclusions

TRG0 imparted excellent local control. However, TRG1‐3 patients had similar R1 resection rates and therefore similar LR. DR is associated with ypN status and linitis plastica, not TRG.
Quality of Life in Bell's Palsy: Correlation with Sunnybrook and House‐Brackmann Over Time
Authors: Bylund Nina , Hultcrantz Malou , Jonsson Lars , Marsk Elin
Published: May 2020

Objectives

To compare patient‐graded facial and social/well‐being function with physician‐graded facial function in Bell's palsy over time.

Study Design

A prospective follow‐up study at two tertiary otorhinolaryngological centers.

Methods

A total of 96 patients, 36 women and 60 men, aged 18–77 years, were included. Facial Clinimetric Evaluation (FaCE) scale and Facial Disability Index (FDI) scores were compared with Sunnybrook and House‐Brackmann scores.

Results

Inclusion was on mean day 7 (96 patients) and follow‐up on days 53 (81 patients) and 137 (32 patients). Initially, correlations between FaCE total score, FaCE domains, FDI physical function, FDI social/well‐being function and Sunnybrook and House‐Brackmann scores were low to fair, except for FaCE facial movement (r = 0.55). Correlations between FaCE total score and Sunnybrook score were very good to excellent at visits 2 (r = 0.83) and 3 (r = 0.81). Women scored FaCE social and FDI social/well‐being function lower than men, despite similar Sunnybrook scores.

Conclusion

In early stages of Bell's palsy, there were low to fair correlations between FaCE/FDI (except for facial movement) and Sunnybrook score. This implies that the design of the quality of life (QoL) instruments is less suited for the acute phase. The high correlations at follow‐ups suggest that the questionnaires can be used for evaluation of QoL over time. Our results indicate that women experience more facial palsy‐related psychosocial dysfunction.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E612–E618, 2021
Predicting length of stay in head and neck patients who undergo free flap reconstruction
Authors: Lindeborg Michael M. , Sethi Rosh K. V. , Puram Sidharth V. , Parikh Anuraag , Yarlagadda Bharat , Varvares Mark , Emerick Kevin , Lin Derrick , Durand Marlene L. , Deschler Daniel G.
Published: May 2020

Objective

Understanding factors that affect postoperative length of stay (LOS) may improve patient recovery, hasten postoperative discharge, and minimize institutional costs. This study sought to (a) describe LOS among head and neck patients undergoing free flap reconstruction and (b) identify factors that predict increased LOS.

Methods

A retrospective cohort was performed of 282 head and neck patients with free flap reconstruction for oncologic resection between 2011 and 2013 at a tertiary academic medical center. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, and surgical and infectious complications were characterized. Multivariable regression identified predictors of increased LOS.

Results

A total of 282 patients were included. Mean age was 64.7 years (SD = 12.2) and 40% were female. Most tumors were located in the oral cavity (53.9% of patients), and most patients underwent radial forearm free flap (RFFF) reconstruction (RFFF—73.8%, anterolateral thigh flap—11.3%, and fibula free flap—14.9%). Intraoperative complications were rare. The most common postoperative complications included nonwound infection (pneumonia [PNA] or urinary tract infection [UTI]) (15.6%) and wound breakdown/fistula (15.2%). Mean and median LOS were 13 days (SD = 7.7) and 10 days (interquartile range = 7), respectively. Statistically significant predictors of increased LOS included flap take back (Beta coefficient [C] = +4.26, P < .0001), in‐hospital PNA or UTI (C = +2.52, P = .037), wound breakdown or fistula (C = +5.0, P < .0001), surgical site infection (C = +3.54, P = .017), and prior radiation therapy (C = +2.59, P = .004).

Conclusion

Several perioperative factors are associated with increased LOS. These findings may help with perioperative planning, including the need for vigilant wound care, optimization of antibiotics prophylaxis, and institution‐level protocols for postoperative care and disposition of free flap patients.

Level of Evidence

2b; retrospective cohort.
Food nutrient availability affects epibiont prevalence and richness in natural Daphnia populations
Authors: Reyserhove Lien , Bulteel Lore , Liu Jing , Souffreau Caroline , Brans Kristien I. , Engelen Jessie M.T. , De Meester Luc , Hendrickx Frederik , Muylaert Koenraad , Declerck Steven A. J. , Decaestecker Ellen
Published: May 2020

The increased input of nutrients into biological systems has been shown to result in altered biotic interactions through changes in food availability. The aim of this study was to test for an association between phytoplankton nutrient content and epibiont variables in natural zooplankton populations. Via a field survey, we studied how a gradient in food quantity and quality impacted host population density and epibiont variables in Daphnia pulex. We found a significant decrease in epibiont prevalence and infracommunity richness, which could mainly be attributed to a changing phytoplankton N : P ratio (caused by P‐limitation). We performed a lab experiment in which we exposed Daphnia magna to different algal nutrient ratios and the epibionts detected in the field study. P‐limitation in the algae affected D. magna performance and resulted in similar trends of food quality effects in the epibiont variables. The experiment, however, also reflected subtle differences between different epibiont species.
Cutting Glass, Sapphire, Ceramics and Other Brittle Materials
Authors: Haloui Hatim , Lee Tony , Müllers Ludger
Published: May 2020

Over the past decade, glass has become an increasingly sophisticated structural and functional component in uses as varied as flat panel displays, automobiles and architecture. For the manufacturer, this has created a drive to enhance the physical characteristics of the glass itself, to develop more advanced coatings, and also to improve the process for cutting glass in terms of higher precision, greater speed, reduced environmental impact, and lower cost.
Machine Learning for Process Monitoring Systems
Authors: Grünberger Thomas
Published: May 2020

Machine learning (ML) as part of artificial intelligence will be a key technology of the future in many areas of our life, so also in laser materials processing. This data‐driven approach will use digital twins – digital equivalents of real parts covering the whole process chain. Optical process monitoring systems observe process steps in real time yielding in a digital process twin as part of the twin. ML will enable us to extract information from data, assisting experts in answering questions from “Ship the part?” to “How I can produce a part with a lot size of one at a given quality level?”
Obesity is a risk factor for exercise‐induced bronchospasm in asthmatic adolescents
Authors: Souza de Almeida Anderson H. , Rodrigues Filho Edil de Albuquerque , Lubambo Costa Eduarda , de Albuquerque Cláudio G. , Sarinho Emanuel S. C. , Medeiros Peixoto Décio , Dela Bianca Ana C. C. , Correia Júnior Marco A. V. , Rizzo José Â.
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Exercise‐induced bronchospasm (EIB) is common in young asthmatics and obesity is becoming an epidemic in this population. Both conditions can give rise to or worsen respiratory symptoms upon exercise and may interfere with recreational and sports activities.

Objective

To investigate the association between obesity and the risk and severity of EIB in asthmatic children and adolescents.

Methods

This study included data from asthmatic patients aged between 7 and 19 years undergoing treadmill running tests to evaluate EIB, defined as a reduction greater than or equal to 10% in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) compared to baseline. Eutrophic, obese, and overweight individuals were categorized according to body mass index z‐score (eutrophic, −0.5 < z ≤ 1; overweight, 1 < z < 2; and obese, z ≥ 2).

Results

Of the 156 individuals studied (42% female), 58% were eutrophic, 22% overweight, and 19% obese. Seventy‐three individuals (47%) presented with EIB, with higher risk among obese (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.00‐8.14; P = .05). Asthma severity was another independent risk factor for EIB (OR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.36‐6.42; P = .006). The number of patients in whom FEV1 returned to baseline values (difference less than 10% from baseline) at the 13th minute after challenge was lower in obese individuals compared to eutrophic and overweight ones (P = .04). Baseline FEV1, gender, or age were not found to be risk factors for EIB in any of the groups.

Conclusion

Obese youngsters with asthma present a greater risk for EIB with slower recovery than their nonobese peers. Clinicians should be aware of this association, especially in those with more severe disease, for adequate recognition and treatment.
First cases of combined full robotic partial nephrectomy and colorectal resections: Results and new perspectives
Authors: Piccoli Micaela , Pecchini Francesca , Esposito Sofia , Sighinolfi Chiara , Gozzo Davide , Trapani Vincenzo , De Carne Cosimo , Rocco Bernardo Maria Cesare
Published: May 2020

Background

Nowadays the robotic platform is widespread in general surgery, urology, and gynecology. Combined surgery may represent an alternative to sequential procedures and it allows the treatment, at the same time, of coexisting lesions; in this perspective, full‐robotic multiorgan surgery is starting to gain interest from surgeons worldwide.

Methods

Between April and June 2019, two patients presenting with synchronous colorectal and kidney cancers underwent, respectively, full‐robotic right colectomy with right partial nephrectomy and anterior rectal resection with left partial nephrectomy. Surgeries were performed by both the general surgery and urology team.

Results

No intraoperative complications were registered and the postoperative course was uneventful in both cases.

Conclusions

Combined multiple organ surgery with full robotic technique is safe and offers oncological adequate results. A multi‐team surgical pre‐planning is mandatory to reduce invasiveness and operative time. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first reports of full robotic partial nephrectomy combined with colorectal procedures.
Automated Optical‐Tweezers Assembly of Engineered Microgranular Crystals
Authors: Chizari Samira , Lim Miles P. , Shaw Lucas A. , Austin Sydney P. , Hopkins Jonathan B.
Published: May 2020

In this work, a scalable automated approach for fabricating 3D microgranular crystals consisting of desired arrangements of microspheres using holographic optical tweezers and two‐photon polymerization is introduced. The ability to position microspheres as desired within lattices of any configuration allows designers to engineer the behavior of new metamaterials that enable advanced applications (e.g., armor that mitigates or redirects shock waves, acoustic lens for underwater imaging, damage detection, and noninvasive surgery, acoustic cloaking, and photonic crystals). Currently, no self‐assembly or automated approaches exist with the flexibility necessary to place specific microspheres at specific locations within a crystal. Moreover, most pick‐and‐place approaches require the manual assembly of spheres one by one and thus do not achieve the speed and precision required to repeatably fabricate practical volumes of engineered crystals. In this paper, the rapid assembly of 4.86 µm diameter silica spheres within differently packed 3D crystal‐lattice examples of unprecedented size using fully automated optical tweezers is demonstrated. The optical tweezers independently and simultaneously assemble batches of spheres that are dispensed to the build site via an automated syringe pump where the spheres are then joined together within previously unattainable patterns by curing regions of photocurable prepolymer between each sphere using two‐photon polymerization.
Determination of aflatoxins in rice samples after magnetic solid phase extraction using MIL‐101(Cr)/magnetite nanocomposite
Authors: Sabeghi Mohammad Bagher , Ghasempour Hamid Reza , Koohi Mohammad Kazem , Karimi Nasser
Published: May 2020

An easy and fast method named magnetic solid phase extraction was developed using a magnetite/metal–organic framework nanocomposite for extraction and quantification of four toxic aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2) in rice samples. The synthesis of nanoadsorbent was confirmed with various characterization methods. The high‐performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence instrument was used for the subsequent analysis. Optimization of effective variables was conducted via experimental design strategy. After optimization, detection limits are obtained in the range of 0.03–0.1 ng/g and calibration plots were linear in the domain of 0.1–4.0 ng/g. Method precision was 7.3–12% (within‐day precision, n = 3 sample, 0.5 ng/g; between‐day precision, n = 3 day, 0.5 ng/g). The accuracy of the current method was confirmed by the official method based on the immunoaffinity column procedure. The statistical t‐test analysis exhibited that there is no significant difference between the two methods at 95% confidence level and hence the new method is accurate. Finally, the new method was utilized for determining and extracting of the aflatoxins in rice samples.
Biogenic nanoparticles as immunomodulator for tumor treatment
Authors: Cheng Keman , Kang Qinglin , Zhao Xiao
Published: May 2020

In the past few decades, cancer immunotherapy has developed rapidly. Cancer immunotherapy, either used alone or in combination with a variety of immunotherapies (such as cancer therapeutic vaccines, adoptive cell therapy, or immune checkpoint blocking therapy), is a very attractive class of cancer therapy. However, so far, the clinical effect of most cancer immunotherapy is not satisfactory. It has been widely recognized that nanotechnology can enhance the efficacy of cancer immunotherapy. A variety of biogenic nanoparticles have been developed, which have excellent immunogenicity and modifiability, and can carry tumor therapeutic drugs to achieve combined therapy, so as to improve the effectiveness and durability of antitumor immunity while reducing adverse side effects. In this review, we summarized the key parameters and futures of three kinds of biogenic nanomaterials in cancer immunotherapy; we highlighted the progress of cancer immunotherapy based on outer membrane vesicles, virus‐like particles, and exosomes.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease

Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in Biology
Soft gluon emission at two loops in full color
Authors: Dixon Lance J. , Herrmann Enrico , Yan Kai , Zhu Hua Xing
Published: May 2020

Abstract

The soft emission factor is a central ingredient in the factorization of generic n-particle gauge theory amplitudes with one soft gluon in the external state. We present the complete two-loop soft factor, capturing the leading power behavior in the soft-gluon momentum. At two loops, the color structure and the kinematic dependence of the soft factor become nontrivial as the soft gluon can couple to three hard partons for the first time (tripole terms). The nontrivial kinematic dependence of the tripole terms is of uniform, maximal transcendental weight, and can be expressed (in a “Euclidean” region) in terms of single-valued harmonic polylogarithms. Our results are consistent with the behavior of the recently computed symbol of the two-loop five-particle amplitude in

$$ \mathcal{N} $$

N

= 4 super-Yang-Mills theory. In the limit where the outgoing soft gluon is also collinear with an incoming hard parton, potentially dangerous factorization-violating terms can arise.
Intervertebral disc degeneration associated with vertebral marrow fat, assessed using quantitative magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Ji Yayun , Hong Weifeng , Liu Mouyuan , Liang Yuying , Deng YongYan , Ma Liheng
Published: May 2020

Objective

To investigate the potential clinical application of quantitative MRI in assessing the correlation between lumbar vertebrae bone marrow fat deposition and intervertebral disc degeneration.

Materials and methods

A total of 104 chronic lower-back pain volunteers underwent 3.0-T MRI with T2-weighted imaging, T2 mapping, and iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least squares estimation (IDEAL-IQ) between August 2018 and June 2019. Each disc was assessed with T2 value by T2 mapping, and the L1-S1 vertebral bone marrow fat fraction was assessed by IDEAL-IQ. The differences and relationship between T2 value and the adjacent vertebral bone marrow fat fraction values within the five Pfirrmann groups, five age groups, and five lumbar levels were statistically analyzed.

Results

The vertebral bone marrow fat fraction had a significant negative correlation with T2 values of nucleus pulposus’ T2 values (p < 0.001). However, the significant negative correlation was only found between T2 values of nucleus pulposus and adjacent vertebral bone marrow fat in Pfirrmann II–III, L1/2-L5/S1 level, and 40–49 years’ age groups. Pfirrmann grades of the intervertebral disc were positively correlated with adjacent vertebrae bone marrow fat fraction (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Lumbar bone marrow fat deposition significantly increases during the early stages of intervertebral disc degeneration. Quantitative measurements of bone marrow fat deposition and water content of intervertebral discs have a predictive value and are an important supplement to the qualitative traditional classification strategies for the early stages of intervertebral disc degeneration.
A CT-based radiomics model to detect prostate cancer lymph node metastases in PSMA radioguided surgery patients
Authors: Peeken Jan C. , Shouman Mohamed A. , Kroenke Markus , Rauscher Isabel , Maurer Tobias , Gschwend Jürgen E. , Eiber Matthias , Combs Stephanie E.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

In recurrent prostate carcinoma, determination of the site of recurrence is crucial to guide personalized therapy. In contrast to prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)–positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, computed tomography (CT) has only limited capacity to detect lymph node metastases (LNM). We sought to develop a CT-based radiomic model to predict LNM status using a PSMA radioguided surgery (RGS) cohort with histological confirmation of all suspected lymph nodes (LNs).

Methods

Eighty patients that received RGS for resection of PSMA PET/CT-positive LNMs were analyzed. Forty-seven patients (87 LNs) that received inhouse imaging were used as training cohort. Thirty-three patients (62 LNs) that received external imaging were used as testing cohort. As gold standard, histological confirmation was available for all LNs. After preprocessing, 156 radiomic features analyzing texture, shape, intensity, and local binary patterns (LBP) were extracted. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (radiomic models) and logistic regression (conventional parameters) were used for modeling.

Results

Texture and shape features were largely correlated to LN volume. A combined radiomic model achieved the best predictive performance with a testing-AUC of 0.95. LBP features showed the highest contribution to model performance. This model significantly outperformed all conventional CT parameters including LN short diameter (AUC 0.84), LN volume (AUC 0.80), and an expert rating (AUC 0.67). In lymph node–specific decision curve analysis, there was a clinical net benefit above LN short diameter.

Conclusion

The best radiomic model outperformed conventional measures for detection of LNM demonstrating an incremental value of radiomic features.
A clinical pathway for pre-operative screening of COVID-19 and its influence on clinical outcome in patients with traumatic fractures
Authors: Meng Yutong , Leng Kunpeng , Shan Lei , Guo Meng , Zhou Junlin , Tian Qingxian , Hai Yong
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a worldwide pandemic. The toughest issue traumatic orthopaedic surgeons are faced with is how to maintain a balance between adequate COVID-19 screening and timely surgery. In this study, we described our experience with pre-operative COVID-19 screening in patients with traumatic fractures. Furthermore, we analysed the clinical results of fracture patients undergoing confined or emergency surgery during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods

This was a case series study. Patients with traumatic fractures who were admitted to our hospital for surgery were enrolled in this study during the COVID-19 outbreak from March to April 2020. All patients were enrolled and managed using the standardized clinical pathway we designed for preoperative COVID-19 screening. Clinical, laboratory and outcome data were analysed.

Results

The average surgery waiting time from injury to surgery was 8.7 ± 3.4 days. The average waiting time from admission to surgery was 5.3 ± 2.8 days. These average waiting times were increased by 4.1 days and 2.0 days, respectively, compared with 2019 data. Cardiovascular complications, venous thromboembolism and pneumonia occurred in one, two and one patient, respectively. Three and two patients developed pre-operative and postoperative fevers, respectively.

Conclusions

We introduced a novel clinical pathway for pre-operatively screening of COVID-19 in traumatic orthopaedic patients. The delay in surgery caused by COVID-19 screening was minimized to a point at which reasonable and acceptable clinical outcomes were achieved. Doctors should pay more attention to perioperative complications, such as cardiovascular complications, venous thromboembolism, pneumonia and fever.
Integration and Sustainability of Electronic Surgical Logbooks in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Harrington Cuan M. , Jang Sophie S. , Mangaoang Deirdre , O'Flynn Eric , Minja Christopher , Chikoya Laston , Bekele Abebe , Borgstein Eric
Published: May 2020

Background

Countries in Sub‐Saharan Africa lack adequate surgical workforces to achieve safe and affordable care for their populations. The Global Surgery movement highlights the urgent need to address this situation. Interventions include not only financial, material and infrastructural support, but also collaborative information flow to support surgical training. In 2015, an electronic logbook was launched for surgical trainees across Sub‐Saharan Africa.

Objectives

To assess the integration and context sustainability of surgical e‐logbooks in Sub‐Saharan Africa.

Methods

In January 2019, a survey analysis of surgical trainees was employed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Participants (active trainees and recent fellows) completed an anonymous internet‐based questionnaire evaluating end‐user feedback, perceptions and self‐reported compliance. Multi‐point Likert Scale measures and free‐text thematic analysis were used.

Results

358 (68.19%) eligible individuals across 21 Sub‐Saharan countries and seven surgical specialties voluntarily participated. The e‐resource demonstrated integration into local curricula with the majority of users maintaining activity and reporting moderate‐high compliance. Context appropriateness measures were high with 203 (69.76%) deeming it convenient to use. The principle obstacle to compliance was internet connectivity (74, 25.96%), while behavioural factors including supervisor engagement were implicated. The e‐logbook demonstrated future sustainability with the majority (243, 78.14%) of participants intent on maintaining usage beyond completion of surgical training.

Conclusions

We describe the successful integration and sustainability of electronic surgical logbooks for trainees across Sub‐Saharan Africa. However context‐appropriate resources are essential for Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries. Internet connectivity may hinder the achievement of several Global Surgery objectives in Sub‐Saharan Africa.
Early detection of ovarian cancer
Authors: Forstner Rosemarie
Published: May 2020

Early detection is the only way to achieve a high cure rate in women with ovarian cancer. Unfortunately, to date, there is no effective strategy for early detection, despite rapidly emerging biomarkers. The low prevalence of ovarian cancer, low specificity and high rates of false positives have been limitations of screening programs. In the hands of experts, transvaginal sonography and MRI are effective tools to characterise ovarian masses. Currently, ongoing efforts in standardization of technique and analysis are likely to improve diagnostic capabilities in clinical routine, as well as the introduction of predictive risk models of malignancy. Radiomics and radiogenomics potentially offer a broad spectrum of complementary information in ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Key Points

• Transvaginal sonography and MRI are effective tools to characterise ovarian masses.

• Standardisation of imaging technique and implementation of predictive models of risk of malignancy contribute to early detection of ovarian cancer.
Effect of Cadmium on the Level of Isoprenoid-Derived Phytohormones in Duckweed Wolffia arrhiza
Authors: Chmur Magdalena , Bajguz Andrzej , Piotrowska-Niczyporuk Alicja
Published: May 2020

Wolffia arrhiza (L.) Horkel ex Wimm. is an aquatic plant belonging to the Lemnaceae family. It does not have leaves, stems, and roots, flowers rarely occur, while body size can reach 1 mm of width and 1.3 mm of length. The present study demonstrates the endogenous level of isoprenoid-derived phytohormones and their changes under the influence of different cadmium (Cd) concentrations (0.1, 1, 10, and 100 µM). A liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis indicated the presence of abscisic acid, eight brassinosteroids (6-deoxocastasterone, 6-deoxotyphasterol, cathasterone, typhasterol, castasterone, 24-epicastasterone, brassinolide, and 28-homobrassinolide), seven free bases of cytokinins [trans-zeatin (tZ), cis-zeatin (cZ), dihydrozeatin (DHZ), N6-isopentenyladenine, N6-isopentenyladenosine, ortho-topolin, and meta-topolin], eight conjugates of cytokinins (tZ riboside, tZ-9-glucoside, tZ-7-glucoside, tZ-O-glucoside riboside, cZ-9-glucoside, DHZ riboside, DHZ-O-glucoside, and N6-isopentenyladenosine-7-glucoside) and gibberellic acid (GA3) in this duckweed. The level of phytohormones in plants treated with Cd has changed, e.g., the ABA level increased while GA3 decreased. Whereas the amount of BRs and CKs was different in Cd dose-dependent manner. Besides, it is worth noting that the distribution of 25 various phytohormones in the Wolffia arrhiza is reported for the first time.
Intragenus F1-hybrids of African weakly electric fish (Mormyridae: Campylomormyrus tamandua ♂ × C. compressirostris ♀) are fertile
Authors: Korniienko Yevheniia , Nguyen Linh , Baumgartner Stephanie , Vater Marianne , Tiedemann Ralph , Kirschbaum Frank
Published: May 2020

Hybridization is widespread in fish and constitutes an important mechanism in fish speciation. There is, however, little knowledge about hybridization in mormyrids. F1-interspecies hybrids between Campylomormyrus tamandua ♂ × C. compressirostris ♀ were investigated concerning: (1) fertility; (2) survival of F2-fish and (3) new gene combinations in the F2-generation concerning the structure of the electric organ and features of the electric organ discharge. These F1-hybrids achieved sexual maturity at about 12–13.5 cm total length. A breeding group comprising six males and 13 females spawned 28 times naturally proving these F1-fish to be fertile. On average 228 eggs were spawned, the average fertilization rate was 47.8%. Eggs started to hatch 70–72 h after fertilization, average hatching rate was 95.6%. Average mortality rate during embryonic development amounted to 2.3%. Average malformation rate during the free embryonic stage was 27.7%. Exogenous feeding started on day 11. In total, we raised 353 normally developed larvae all of which died consecutively, the oldest specimen reaching an age of 5 months. During survival, the activities of the larval and adult electric organs were recorded and the structure of the adult electric organ was investigated histologically.
Ring-widths of Abies at tree-line ecotone reveal three centuries of early winter season temperature changes in Yunnan, China
Authors: Bi Yingfeng , Cory Whitney , Fan Zenxin , Yang Jingchao , Wu Zhikun , Huang Wei , Li Jianwen , Yang Xuefei
Published: May 2020

Variation in winter temperature is less well understood than in annual and summer temperatures over long timescales, particularly in low-latitude (0–30° N) montane regions with large spatial and topographic heterogeneity. Understanding these variations could be critical for forest manageemnt in these important tree growing regions. We collected tree-ring cores from Yunnan Province in montane southwest China, to determine how winter temperature has varied in the past and to explore its possible drivers in this region. Six highly correlated site chronologies were combined into a long and well-replicated regional composite (RC) chronology. The RC chronology correlated strongest with mean early winter season temperature (EWST) from November to January during 1959–2015. We applied RC chronology to reconstruct EWST from 1653 to 2015. The reconstruction shows five relatively warm historic intervals (1658–1718, 1743–1755, 1771–1791, 1929–1959, and 1995–2015) and cold intervals (1720–1742, 1792–1852, 1860–1883, 1905–1928, and 1960–1994). The 1950s with six anomalous warm seasons and 1980s with five anomalous cold seasons were the warmest and coldest decades, respectively. The EWST reconstruction generally agreed with other winter temperature reconstructions from nearby areas and with historical documents. Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) might be a key forcing of multidecadal winter temperature variations in montane southwest China over the past three and half centuries. Both warm and cold temperature periods coincide with respective positive and negative phases of AMO. Besides, the cold intervals during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries may also have been influenced by large volcano eruptions in low-latitude regions of south and east Asia. Our EWST reconstruction not only improves our understanding of the trends and variations of winter climate history, but also supports planning for resilience in conservation, agriculture, and forestry management in montane southwest China into the future.
Expression of H3K4me3 and H3K9ac in breast cancer
Authors: Berger Luisa , Kolben Thomas , Meister Sarah , Kolben Theresa M. , Schmoeckel Elisa , Mayr Doris , Mahner Sven , Jeschke Udo , Ditsch Nina , Beyer Susanne
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in females. Histone modifications have been shown to have an influence on the gene expression. This study focusses on the histone modifications H3K9ac and H3K4me3 in breast cancer and their impact on survival

Methods

H3K4me3 and H3K9ac expression was immunohistochemically examined in 235 tissue samples.

Results

Positive estrogen receptor status was correlated with a higher IRS of the nuclear (p = 0.033), and of the cytoplasmic H3K4me3 staining (p = 0.009). H3K9ac intensity was associated to the Her2 status (p = 0.045) and to poor prognosis in cells with positive Ki67 status (p = 0.013). A high intensity of nuclear H3K4me3 staining was found to be correlated with a lower 10-year-survival (p = 0.026) and with lower breast cancer-specific survival (p = 0.004). High percentage score (> 190) of H3K9ac expression was correlated to worse breast cancer-specific survival (p = 0.005). Shorter progression-free survival was found in patients with nuclear (p = 0.013) and cytoplasmic H3K4me3expression (p = 0.024) and H3K9ac expression (p = 0.023).

Conclusion

This analysis provides new evidence of histone modifications in breast cancer. High H3K4me3 and H3K9ac expression was correlated with survival rates. Further investigation of histone modifications in breast cancer could lead to a more profound understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cancer development and could result in new therapeutic strategies.
Late-stage groundmass differentiation as a record of magma stagnation, fragmentation, and rewelding
Authors: Mujin Mayumi , Nakamura Michihiko
Published: May 2020

In the 2011 eruption of Shinmoedake of the Kirishima volcano group, sub-Plinian eruptions were followed by lava extrusion with intermittent Vulcanian explosions. The interstices of microlites and relatively large nanolites (> 0.4 nm width) in the groundmass of pyroclasts (“groundmass interstices”) were studied to reveal shallow magmatic processes that lead to different eruption styles. The pumice of the sub-Plinian eruption has the least differentiated groundmass interstices composition. The groundmass interstices of the dense juvenile fragments of the Vulcanian explosions are divided into two groups. The first group is the most differentiated as expected from their lava-like texture, whereas the second group is less differentiated and covers the range of sub-Plinian pumice. The Vulcanian pumice overlaps the dense juvenile fragments despite their high vesicularity. This seemingly contradictory relationship of composition in the interstitial groundmass indicates the clastogenic lava origin of the less-differentiated group of dense juvenile fragments. In contrast, magmas stagnated in the shallow conduit maintained elevated temperature and water content, allowing groundmass interstices to differentiate by microlite growth. These magmas then erupted as pumice in the Vulcanian explosions and were effused as lava that was fragmented by subsequent explosions to be later sampled as a dense juvenile fragment. The groundmass crystallinity increased by 9.1 vol.% in 5–45 days between the sub-Plinian and Vulcanian eruptions, increasing initial melt and magma viscosity from 106.1–7.4 and 107.0–8.3 Pa s to 106.9–8.4 and 108.2–9.7 Pa s, respectively. This viscosity increase by nanolite crystallization could have facilitated the stress fragmentation of conduit magma, leading to Vulcanian explosions. Post-fragmentation expansion of the sub-Plinian pumice could have been suppressed by this viscosity increase, resulting in their low vesicularity. Late-stage groundmass differentiation can thus control shallow magmatic processes.
Do changes in snow conditions have an impact on snowmaking investments in French Alps ski resorts?
Authors: Berard-Chenu Lucas , Cognard Jonathan , François Hugues , Morin Samuel , George Emmanuelle
Published: May 2020

This study investigates the relationship between snow conditions and snowmaking investments for over 100 French Alps ski resorts. Investment trends represent a critical issue in capital-intensive sectors such as the ski industry. The data are based on snow reliability indicators and snowmaking investments covering 1997–2014. Descriptive statistics reveal that snowmaking has been the second investment item for ski resorts regardless of the elevation or ski resort size. The study finds that snowmaking investments are highly negatively correlated to snow conditions of the prior year for small and medium-sized ski resorts. Other factors are also likely to play a significant role in driving snowmaking investment dynamics.