bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in the surgical treatment of esophageal cancer since 1965
Authors: Matsubara Hisahiro
Published: April 2020

In Japan, the treatment of esophageal cancer has undergone significant development since the Japanese Society for Esophageal Diseases was established in 1965 by Doctors Komei Nakayama, Shigetsugu Katsura, and Ichiro Akakura. When the Society was established, surgery was the first‐line treatment for esophageal cancer. Since then, the Society has been led by three successive chairpersons—Doctors Katsura, Nakayama, and Satoh. Over this time, surgery‐related mortalities declined to 5%‐6% because of the rapid improvements in surgical technique. Beginning in 1980, the bilateral cervical lymph node dissection technique gained attention, and favorable long‐term outcomes were gradually reported. A nationwide questionnaire survey, conducted by the Society in 1990, showed that more favorable long‐term outcomes were achieved by following the three‐field lymph node dissection technique than by following the two‐field lymph node dissection technique. Since then, the three‐field lymph node dissection technique has been recognized and widely used as the standard surgical procedure for treating esophageal cancer. After clinical studies examined the utility of various pre‐ and postoperative adjunctive therapies in outcome improvements, preoperative chemotherapy was recognized as the standard treatment in the therapy guidelines. Additionally, less invasive surgical methods have been developed, including endoscopic and robot‐assisted surgeries, which are applied in general practice now. However, unresectable and recurrent esophageal cancers remain difficult to treat, and additional treatments should be developed.
Effort‐reward imbalance at work and weight changes in a nationwide cohort of workers in Denmark
Authors: Nordentoft Mads , Rod Naja Hulvej , Bonde Jens Peter , Bjorner Jakob Bue , Cleal Bryan , Larsen Ann Dyreborg , Madsen Ida E.H. , Magnusson Hanson Linda L. , Nexo Mette Andersen , Pedersen Line Rosendahl Meldgaard , Sterud Tom , Xu Tianwei , Rugulies Reiner
Published: April 2020

Objective

To investigate the relation between effort‐reward imbalance (ERI) at work and subsequent weight changes.

Methods

We included participants from a population‐based cohort of workers in Denmark (mean age = 47 years, 54% women) with two (n = 9005) or three repeated measurements (n = 5710). We investigated the association between (a) ERI (ie, the mismatch between high efforts spent and low rewards received at work) at baseline and weight changes after a 2‐year follow‐up (defined as ≥5% increase or decrease in body mass index (BMI) vs stable), and (b) onset and remission of ERI and subsequent changes in BMI. Using multinomial logistic regression we calculated risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusted for sex, age, education, cohabitation, migration background, and follow‐up time.

Results

After 2 years, 15% had an increase and 13% a decrease in BMI. Exposure to ERI at baseline yielded RRs of 1.09 (95% CI: 0.95‐1.25) and 1.04 (95% CI: 0.90‐1.20) for the increase and decrease in BMI, respectively. There were no differences between sex and baseline BMI in stratified analyses. The onset of ERI yielded RRs of 1.04 (95% CI: 0.82‐1.31) and 1.15 (95% CI: 0.84‐1.57) for subsequent increase and decrease in BMI. The RRs for the remission of ERI and subsequent increase and decrease in BMI were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.71‐1.20) and 0.78 (95% CI: 0.53‐1.13), respectively. Of the ERI components, high rewards were associated with a lower risk of BMI increase.

Conclusion

ERI was not a risk factor for weight changes. Future studies may investigate whether this result is generalizable to other occupational cohorts and settings.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Mechanisms of Thalamic Pathology in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Mahajan Kedar R. , Nakamura Kunio , Cohen Jeffrey A. , Trapp Bruce D. , Ontaneda Daniel
Published: April 2020

Objective

Thalamic atrophy is among the earliest brain changes detected in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and the degree of thalamic atrophy is a strong predictor of disability progression. The causes of thalamic atrophy are not fully understood. Here, we investigate the contributions of thalamic demyelinated lesions, thalamic neuronal loss, and cerebral white matter (WM) lesions to thalamic volume.

Methods

We used postmortem in situ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 95 subjects with MS to correlate thalamic lesion volumes with global MRI metrics. We histologically characterized thalamic demyelination patterns and compared neuronal loss and neuritic pathology in the thalami with the extremes of volume.

Results

Grossly apparent thalamic discolorations in cm‐thick brain slices were T2/fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) hyperintense, T1‐hypointense, and appeared as perivascular demyelinated lesions with dystrophic neurons/axons. Subependymal demyelinated lesions with axonal loss and microglial/macrophage activation were also observed. The 12 subjects with the least thalamic volume had a 17.6% reduction of median neuronal density in the dorsomedial/ventrolateral and pulvinar nuclei compared with the 14 subjects with the greatest thalamic volume (p = 0.03). After correcting for age, disease duration, sex, and T2 lesion volume, the total (p = 0.20), ovoid (p = 0.31), or subependymal (p = 0.44) MRI thalamic lesion volumes correlated with thalamic volume. Thalamic volume correlated with cerebral T2 lesion volume (Spearman’s rho = −0.65, p < 0.001; p < 0.0001 after correcting for age, disease duration, and sex).

Interpretation

Our findings suggest the degeneration of efferent/afferent thalamic projections and/or a neurodegenerative process as greater contributors to thalamic atrophy than thalamic demyelinating lesions. ANN NEUROL 2020 ANN NEUROL 2020;88:81–92
All‐Angle Self‐Collimation‐Based Invisibility Cloaking in 2D Square Lattice Photonic Crystals
Authors: Karimpour Saied , Noori Mina
Published: April 2020

Here, a two‐dimensional (2D) hole‐type square lattice photonic crystal is shown to achieve invisibility cloaking based on all‐angle self‐collimation. The proposed structure, which is composed of the high‐refraction‐index dielectric material PbTe (nPbTe ≈ 6), is applicable in the mid‐infrared (mid‐IR) frequency range. The cloaking region is capable of hiding any object of any shape and size since the incoming wave does not interact with the cloaked object. The optimization process and the functionality of the proposed structure are investigated by equal frequency contour analysis and the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method.
Conformational Design Principles in Total Synthesis
Authors: Chen Renzhi , Shen Yang , Yang Sihan , Zhang Yandong
Published: April 2020

Conformation is one of the most fundamental concepts in organic chemistry for chemists to visualize a molecule as a three‐dimensional object in addition to its constitution and configuration. Conformational factors significantly affect the physical properties, chemical reactivities, and biological activities of a molecule. The significance of conformational design has been generally recognized since its successful application in the total synthesis of complex natural products, such as vitamin B12 and erythronolide. Conformational analysis, especially intentional control of conformational preferences by conformational design, could play a critical role in the synthesis of complex organic molecules by guiding the formation of bonds, stereocenters, or rings. This Minireview highlights selected examples of conformational design in natural‐product synthesis, with particular emphasis on the applications and new insights advanced in the last 20 years. The examples discussed herein are divided into three categories by structural features of the substrates: open‐chain type, cyclohexane type, and medium‐ and large‐ring type.
Influence of oxygen enrichment on performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of a stationary diesel engine fuelled with Calophyllum Inophyllum biodiesel blend
Authors: S. Padmanaba Sundar , P. Vijayabalan , M. Balachandar , Sathyamurthy Ravishankar , Chamkha Ali J.
Published: April 2020

Biodiesel‐fuelled diesel engine with oxygen enrichment technique is one of the promising attempts for improving the performance and combustion characteristics of an engine without compromising emissions. The present study emphasizes the utilization of Calophyllum Inophyllum biodiesel with three different percentages of oxygen rates, namely, 1%, 2%, and 3%, were inducted in the intake manifold of stationary diesel engine; and the results were compared with B20 (without oxygen enrichment) and conventional diesel. Results indicated that biodiesel blend B20 with 2% oxygen enrichment substantially improved the BTE to about 28.1%, which is higher than B20 and diesel fuel. The BTE is improved by 43.5 and 15% as compared with B20 and diesel fuel, respectively. Results also revealed that the cylinder pressure using B20 with 2% oxygen enrichment is improved to about 9.6% with B20 and diesel. The precombustion phase was reduced along with ignition delay, producing longer diffusion phase for all oxygen‐enriched fuels. Also, significant reduction in stringent emissions of CO (67% with B20 and 50% with diesel) and smoke (85% with B20 and 63% with diesel) but NOx emissions were increased. The experimental study reveals that the impact of oxygen enrichment on biodiesel blended fuel offered superior engine characteristics than diesel fuel.
Effect of squid fin bionic surface and magnetic nanofluids on CPU cooling performance under magnetic field
Authors: Qi Cong , Wang Yuxing , Tang Jinghua
Published: April 2020

In order to improve the low cooling efficiency of electronic component, a squid fin bionic surface and composite magnetic nanofluids were developed and applied in CPU cooling. Effects of squid fin bionic surface and composite nanofluids Fe3O4‐CNTs (FCNT)/water nanofluids on CPU cooling performance under magnetic field were systematically studied. The impacts of nanofluids mass fraction, wave frequency of squid fin bionic surface, magnetic induction intensity, and Reynolds number on the flow and heat exchange characteristics of magnetic nanofluids were considered. The experimental results demonstrated that the cooling capacity of magnetic nanofluids increases with the increasing wave frequency, magnetic induction intensity, and nanofluids mass fraction. Lastly, the whole experimental system was evaluated by a comprehensive performance index, and it was found that the comprehensive performance is better with higher wave frequency and stronger magnetic field.
Water loss due to evaporation from open reservoirs under weather conditions in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Thi Bang Tuyen , Nguyen Thi Hong Nhung , Pham Quoc Thai
Published: April 2020

Water reservoirs play a significant role in agricultural irrigation systems in Vietnam. It is necessary to quantify and monitor the water storage levels in reservoirs on a timely basis in order to properly forecast the water supply for the local agriculture. For this reason, the amount of water loss due to evaporation at the open surface should be properly quantified. This study evaluated different evaporation models in the literature using published experimental data to select an appropriate model for calculating the evaporation rate at the free water surface under the local weather conditions in Da Nang city and Quang Nam province of Vietnam. Water loss calculations were made for a number of major reservoirs in these two regions, which are located in a tropical monsoon climate region of Vietnam. The results show that water loss for a typical dry day is 11.31 mm/day, whereas it is 6.82 mm/day for a typical rainy day. Estimations of the water loss per day calculated for different reservoirs that may be useful for the agricultural irrigation system management board. The results reported in this study may also benefit the future designs of the irrigation reservoirs.
Generation and characterization of inner photoreceptor‐specific enhancer‐trap lines using a novel piggyBac‐Gal4 element in Drosophila
Authors: Terzioğlu Kara Ece , Kiral Ferdi Rıdvan , Öztürk Çolak Arzu , Çelik Arzu
Published: April 2020

The Drosophila inner photoreceptors R7 and R8 are responsible for color vision and their differentiation starts at the third instar larval stage. Only a handful of genes with R7 or R8‐cell‐specific expression are known. We performed an enhancer‐trap screen using a novel piggyBac transposable element, pBGay, carrying a Gal4 sequence under the control of the P promoter to identify novel genes expressed specifically in R7 or R8 cells. From this screen, three lines were analyzed in detail: piggyBacAC109 and piggyBacAC783 are expressed in R8 cells and piggyBacAC887 is expressed in R7 cells at the third instar larval stage and pupal stages. Molecular analysis showed that the piggyBac elements were inserted into the first intron of CG14160 and CG7985 genes and the second intron of unzipped. We show the expression pattern in the developing eye imaginal disc, pupal retina as well as the adult retina. The photoreceptor‐specific expression of these genes is reported for the first time and we propose that these lines are useful tools for studying the development of the visual system.
Systematic response of staurosporine scaffold‐based inhibitors to drug‐resistant cancer kinase mutations
Authors: He Yongkang
Published: April 2020

Human protein kinases have been established as promising druggable targets in cancer therapy. However, a large number of acquired drug‐resistant kinase mutations are observed after first‐ and second‐line kinase inhibitor treatments, largely limiting the application of small‐molecule inhibitors in the targeted cancer therapy. Previously, the pan‐kinase inhibitor staurosporine and its derivatives have been reported to selectively inhibit gatekeeper mutants over wild‐type kinases, suggesting that the staurosporine scaffold is potentially helpful in developing wild‐type‐sparing inhibitors of drug‐resistant kinase mutants. Here, a systematic response profile of 32 staurosporine scaffold‐based inhibitors (SSBIs) for 61 ontology‐enriched drug‐resistant cancer kinase mutations is created using a combination of in silico analysis and in vitro assay, from which it is possible to identify those mutations that have the potential to cause resistance or confer sensitivity to SSBIs. The profile reveals that SSBIs exhibit distinct responses to kinase gatekeeper and nongatekeeper mutations, and SSBIs bearing p7 substituents can considerably influence their response to kinase gatekeeper mutations, particularly for the mutations of the Ile residue, which possesses a Cβ methyl group that tends to cause steric clash with bound SSBIs. Nongatekeeper mutations generally have a moderate and unfavorable effect on SSBI activity, as most of them are outside the kinase active site and do not directly contact inhibitor ligands. In addition, it is found that resistance is commonly caused by mutation‐induced hindrance effects, whereas sensitivity is primarily conferred by mutation‐established additional interactions.
Recent Developments in Alloying‐type Anode Materials for Potassium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Xu Yanan , Zhang Jianmin , Li Dan
Published: April 2020

As an energy‐storage system, rechargeable potassium‐ion batteries (PIBs) have aroused widespread attention in recent years due to their earth abundance, low standard redox potential, and high ionic conductivity. The development of high‐performance electrode materials is key to optimize the battery performance and useful to improve the feasibility of PIB technology. In this sense, a minireview on alloying‐type anode materials for advanced PIBs is provided, covering the potassium storage properties, reaction mechanisms, theoretical analysis, electrochemical performance, and suitable binders and electrolytes.
Effekt der Boden‐Bauwerksinteraktion auf die Dynamik rahmenartiger Eisenbahnbrücken
Authors: Salcher Patrick , Onay Abdurrahman , Adam Christoph
Published: April 2020

Kritische Resonanzerscheinungen an Eisenbahnbrücken verursacht durch Hochgeschwindigkeitszüge führen zu großen Verformungen, Beschleunigungen und Spannungen am Tragwerk und werden maßgeblich von den Eigenfrequenzen beeinflusst und nur durch die Dämpfung begrenzt. Gerade bei Rahmentragwerken mit kurzen Spannweiten ist durch ihre Einbindung in den Untergrund eine starke Boden‐Bauwerksinteraktion zu erwarten, die zu einer hohen geometrischen Dämpfung durch Wellenausbreitung im Boden führt. In der vorliegenden Studie wird mittels numerischer Simulationen der Einfluss der Boden‐Bauwerksinteraktion auf die Dynamik von rahmenartigen Eisenbahnbrücken anhand von Eigenfrequenzen, Eigenschwingungsformen und äquivalenten Dämpfungskoeffizienten bewertet. Grundlage sind einfache ebene Finite‐Elemente(FE)‐Modelle, bestehend aus Rahmenstruktur und umliegendem Boden. Aus der nach einem Kraftstoß in der Mitte des Riegels bzw. Stiels folgenden freien Schwingungsantwort wird die Grundfrequenz der Eigenschwingungen in vertikaler bzw. horizontaler Richtung ermittelt. Das Abklingverhalten dieser Antwort dient der Identifikation der effektiven Dämpfung. Um einen umfassenderen Einblick zur Dynamik dieser Tragwerke zu erhalten, werden in einer Parameterstudie die Geometrie des Rahmentragwerks und die Bodenparameter variiert.
A novel biallelic splice‐site variant in the LRP4 gene causes sclerosteosis 2
Authors: Bukowska‐Olech Ewelina , Sowińska‐Seidler Anna , Szczałuba Krzysztof , Jamsheer Aleksander
Published: April 2020

The LRP4 gene encodes the highly conserved low‐density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 4 (LRP4), which acts as a co‐receptor for sclerostin. Sclerostin and LRP4 negatively regulate WNT/β‐catenin signaling pathway and lack of their inhibitory activity leads to constant osteoblastic differentiation. Consequently, increased bone formation occurs, which in the case of LRP4 mutations results in sclerosteosis type 2 (SOST2). Alterations within the LRP4 may also cause Cenani‐Lenz syndactyly syndrome (CLSS), congenital myasthenia or isolated syndactyly. Here, we have reported a patient, in whom we found a novel homozygous splice‐site variant c.1048+6T>C in LRP4 using whole exome sequencing. The patient was initially misdiagnosed with isolated CLSS‐like or Malik‐Percin‐like syndactyly. However, we have finally refined the diagnosis after comprehensive radiological examination and molecularly confirmed SOST2. Additionally, we have pointed here to the splicing variants as important causative alterations that may be overlooked in the molecular analysis due to the lack of advanced, reliable algorithms, built‐into the standard diagnostic pipelines. Using advanced in silico prediction tools of splice‐site alterations, including Alamut Visual software, we have demonstrated that the c.1048+6T>C LRP4 variant affects the native donor site and impairs an SC35 enhancer activity. Based on our experience, we recommend comprehensive radiological imaging, including X‐ray of the skull in each case of isolated syndactyly resulting from pathogenic variants of LRP4. We suggest that all previously reported patients carrying biallelic LRP4 mutations, who were diagnosed with isolated syndactyly, could actually present with SOST2 that had been unrecognized due to the incomplete clinical and radiological assessment.
Spatial auto‐correlation and auto‐regressive models estimation from sample survey data
Authors: Benedetti Roberto , Suesse Thomas , Piersimoni Federica
Published: April 2020

Maximum likelihood estimation of the model parameters for a spatial population based on data collected from a survey sample is usually straightforward when sampling and non‐response are both non‐informative, since the model can then usually be fitted using the available sample data, and no allowance is necessary for the fact that only a part of the population has been observed. Although for many regression models this naive strategy yields consistent estimates, this is not the case for some models, such as spatial auto‐regressive models. In this paper, we show that for a broad class of such models, a maximum marginal likelihood approach that uses both sample and population data leads to more efficient estimates since it uses spatial information from sampled as well as non‐sampled units. Extensive simulation experiments based on two well‐known data sets are used to assess the impact of the spatial sampling design, the auto‐correlation parameter and the sample size on the performance of this approach. When compared to some widely used methods that use only sample data, the results from these experiments show that the maximum marginal likelihood approach is much more precise.
A Bayesian decision‐theoretic approach to incorporate preclinical information into phase I oncology trials
Authors: Zheng Haiyan , Hampson Lisa V.
Published: April 2020

Leveraging preclinical animal data for a phase I oncology trial is appealing yet challenging. In this paper, we use animal data to improve decision‐making in a model‐based dose‐escalation procedure. We make a proposal for how to measure and address a prior‐data conflict in a sequential study with a small sample size. Animal data are incorporated via a robust two‐component mixture prior for the parameters of the human dose–toxicity relationship. The weights placed on each component of the prior are chosen empirically and updated dynamically as the trial progresses and more data accrue. After completion of each cohort, we use a Bayesian decision‐theoretic approach to evaluate the predictive utility of the animal data for the observed human toxicity outcomes, reflecting the degree of agreement between dose–toxicity relationships in animals and humans. The proposed methodology is illustrated through several data examples and an extensive simulation study.
Antipsychotic agents deteriorate brain and retinal function in schizophrenia patients with combined auditory and visual hallucinations: A pilot study and secondary follow‐up study
Authors: Zhuo Chuanjun , Xiao Bo , Chen Ce , Jiang Deguo , Li Gongying , Ma Xiaoyan , Li Ranli , Wang Lina , Xu Yong , Zhou Chunhua , Lin Xiaodong
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Schizophrenia patients often experience auditory hallucinations (AHs) and visual hallucinations (VHs). However, the degree and type of brain and retinal alterations associated with combined AHs and VHs in schizophrenia patients remain unknown. There is an urgent need for a study that investigates the trajectory of brain and retinal alterations in patients with first‐episode untreated schizophrenia accompanied by combined AHs and VHs (FUSCHAV).

Methods

FUSCHAV patients (n = 120), divided into four groups according to AH and VH symptom severity (severe AHs combined with severe VHs [FUSCHSASV, 20 patients]; middle‐to‐moderate AHs combined with severe VHs [FUSCHMASV, 23 patients]; severe AHs combined with middle‐to‐moderate VHs [FUSCHSAMV, 28 patients]; and middle‐to‐moderate AHs combined with middle‐to‐moderate VHs [FUSCHMAMV, 26 patients]), were compared to healthy controls (n = 30). Gray matter volume (GMV) was adopted for brain structural alteration assessment. Total retinal thickness was adopted as a measure of retinal thickness impairment.

Results

In the pilot study, the rate of GMV reduction showed an inverted U‐shaped pattern across the different FUSCHAV patient groups according to AH and VH severity. The degree of retinal impairment remained stable across the groups. More notably, in the secondary follow‐up study, we observed that, after 6 months of treatment with antipsychotic agents, all the GMV reduction‐related differences across the different patient groups disappeared, and both GMV and retinal thickness demonstrated a tendency to deteriorate.

Conclusions

These findings indicate the need for heightened alertness on brain and retinal impairments in patients with FUSCHAV. Further deteriorations induced by antipsychotic agent treatment should be monitored in clinical practice.
Perampanel in brain tumor‐related epilepsy: Observational pilot study
Authors: Maschio Marta , Zarabla Alessia , Maialetti Andrea , Giannarelli Diana , Koudriavtseva Tatiana , Villani Veronica , Zannino Silvana
Published: April 2020

Objective

Possible loss of efficacy and potential interactions between antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and chemotherapy could complicate the management of patients with brain tumor‐related epilepsy (BTRE) that may expose patients to an increased risk of adverse events. Perampanel (PER) is a highly selective, noncompetitive, alpha‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazole propionic acid (AMPA)‐type glutamate receptor antagonist. This study evaluates the effectiveness, QoL, cognition, and mood of PER in add‐on therapy in BTRE patients.

Material and Methods

Observational pilot study on the effectiveness of PER as add‐on therapy in BTRE patients with uncontrolled seizures with a 6‐month follow‐up.

Results

We recruited 26 BTRE patients. During the follow‐up, 16 underwent chemotherapy and 11 radiotherapy; 11 had disease progression. Five patients dropped out. Mean daily PER dosage was 6.6 mg in the 21 patients who completed the follow‐up and 6.4 mg in the ITT population. The mean number of seizures/month decreased from 10.8 ± 15.03 at baseline to 1.7 ± 4.34 in the 21 patients who reached the final follow‐up. Responder rate was 88.4%: Eight patients were seizure‐free, 15 had ≥50% seizure reduction, and 3 remained stable. Four patients (15.4%) reported AEs: 2 required PER dose reduction, and 2 dropped out. Neuropsychological, mood, and QoL questionnaires were not statistically different compared to baseline. There were no significant differences in seizure control in patients with/without IDH1 mutation and with/without MGMT methylation.

Conclusions

Perampanel proved to be effective on seizure control in BRTE patients and to be well tolerated without negative effects on cognition and QoL. Perampanel could be a valid therapeutic option in BTRE.
Ultrasound‐Facilitated Direct meta‐C−H Functionalization of Arenes: A Time‐Economical Strategy under Ambient Temperature with Improved Yield and Selectivity
Authors: Jayarajan Ramasamy , Chandrashekar Hediyala B. , Dalvi Aishwarya K. , Maiti Debabrata
Published: April 2020

The horizon of ultrasound‐assistance has been expanded to palladium‐catalyzed distal C−H functionalization of arenes. Compared to thermal conditions, operationally simple ultrasound mediated distal C−H functionalization occurred with a shorter reaction time and enhanced reactivity of reactants to give superior yields with improved selectivity both in terms of meta:others and mono:di. A wide variety of meta‐functionalizations such as olefination, alkylation, acetoxylation, allylation and cyanation were successfully carried out under ambient temperature.
Formation of Functional Cyclooctadiene Derivatives by Supramolecularly‐ Controlled Topochemical Reactions and Their Use as Highly Selective Fluorescent Biomolecule Probes†
Authors: Gan Ming‐Ming , Han Ying‐Feng
Published: April 2020

Summary of main observation and conclusion

Controlling the regio‐ and stereochemistry of the photoproducts in solution is far more challenging for polyenes than for monoalkenes. Herein, a supramolecularly‐controlled topochemical reaction of conjugated dienes in homogeneous system is developed, ultimately providing two cyclooctadiene‐cored tetraimidazolium molecular receptors exclusively. These cyclooctadiene derivatives exhibited highly sensitive and selective fluorescence sensing for thymine relative to other biologically relevant species in aqueous solution at physiological pH. Both the cyclooctadiene moieties and imidazolium units play important roles in the selective recognition observed. The presented supramolecularly‐controlled method allows the simple yet rare selective photoconversion of flexible cyclooctadiene derivatives in solution. This study offers a new synthetic strategy for the preparation of functional molecules with potential for use in biological applications.
Detection and comparison of EGFR mutations from supernatants that contain cell‐free DNA and cell pellets from FNA non–small cell lung cancer specimens
Authors: Wu Wei , Huang Yan , Guo Junhong , Xie Xiaofeng , Li Hui , Cao Ziyang , Wei Haiting , Wu Chunyan
Published: April 2020

Background

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an important marker for targeted therapy in patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The samples obtained with minimally invasive biopsy techniques are usually small, and this limits their application in tissue subtyping or molecular profiling. The supernatants obtained after centrifugation of fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) samples are typically discarded. However, these fractions might contain cell‐free DNA that could be tested for EGFR mutations by genotyping methods that are normally used for plasma analysis.

Methods

In this study, 214 patients with known or suspected NSCLC who underwent FNA were enrolled. The workflow of the supernatants before molecular detection was as follows. The discarded FNA samples (15 mL) were stored in CytoLyt, a cleaning, fixation solution, and 10 mL of each sample was placed in a preservation solution for separation by low‐speed centrifugation. The primary supernatants (8 mL) were then separated by high‐speed centrifugation to obtain secondary supernatants. DNA was extracted from the supernatants with QIAamp circulating nucleic acid kits (Qiagen) and circulating DNA kits (AmoyDx), and EGFR mutations were assessed with Super‐ARMS EGFR detection kits (AmoyDx). The DNA was then extracted from corresponding cell pellets with tissue DNA kits (AmoyDx), and the EGFR status was analyzed with the amplification refractory mutation system and next‐generation sequencing methods.

Results

All 214 samples yielded an adequate amount of cell‐free DNA for EGFR detection. The use of different DNA commercial extraction kits and the DNA contents of tumor cells did not affect the yield of DNA from the supernatants. The external controlled cycle threshold value of the EGFR test was affected by the concentration of the DNA in the supernatants (P < .05). However, the difference in the concentrations of the DNA in the supernatants did not affect the EGFR mutation status. The EGFR‐positive rate was 57.5% (123 of 214) in both the supernatants and the pellets from the 214 FNA samples. The concordance between EGFR variants in the supernatants and the corresponding pellets was 97.2%. EGFR mutations were also detected in 3 pellets but not in their corresponding supernatants and in 3 supernatants but not in their corresponding pellets. The supernatants of FNA biopsy samples might represent a new source for gaining information regarding the molecular characteristics of patients for targeted therapy.

Conclusions

Discarded supernatants provided an adequate amount of cell‐free DNA for EGFR detection, and this means that the pellets can be reserved for additional morphological and molecular analyses or to avoid repeat biopsies. Analyzing the EGFR status in cell supernatants and pellets might improve detection sensitivity and confer benefits to patients.
Don't forget about synchronization! Guidelines for using locks on graphics processing units
Authors: Nelson Jacob , Miller dePaul , Palmieri Roberto
Published: April 2020

Heterogeneous devices are becoming necessary components of high performance computing infrastructures, and the graphics processing unit (GPU) plays an important role in this landscape. Given a problem, the established approach for exploiting the GPU is to design solutions that are parallel, without data dependencies. These solutions are then offloaded to the GPU's massively parallel capability. This design principle often leads to developing applications that cannot maximize GPU hardware utilization. The goal of this article is to challenge this common belief by empirically showing that allowing even simple forms of synchronization enables programmers to design solutions that admit conflicts and achieve better performance. Our experience shows that lock‐based solutions to the k‐means clustering problem, implemented using two well‐known locking strategies, outperform the well‐engineered and parallel KMCUDA on both synthetic and real datasets; with an average 8× faster runtimes across all locking algorithms on a synthetic dataset and 1.7× faster on a real world dataset across all locking algorithms (and max speedups of 71.3× and 2.75×, respectively). We validate these results using a more sophisticated clustering algorithm, namely fuzzy c‐means and summarize our findings by identifying three guidelines to help make concurrency effective when programming GPU applications.
Novel low complexity decoding method for the binary coded frequency shift keying modulation
Authors: Najjar Safa , Rouissi Fatma , Gassara Héla , Vinck AJ Han , Ghazel Adel
Published: April 2020

This paper proposes a coded modulation scheme based on frequency shift keying (FSK) modulation and a simple binary permutation code. FSK detection is based on the knowledge of the probability density function (PDF) of the noise and the attenuation of the channel, called FSK “Soft‐Decision” (FSK/SD) detection. We introduce an approximation of the FSK/SD, called FSK “Select Largest” (FSK/SL). We compare the FSK/SL detection with the classical PDF‐based detection techniques, such as FSK/SD and spread‐FSK (SFSK), for both coded and uncoded transmission. As a practical application, we use the power line communication (PLC) channel. We analyze and compare the performances for a narrowband PLC channel with attenuation and impulse noise.
Alexithymia, empathy, negative affect and physical symptoms in patients with asthma
Authors: Khosravani Vahid , Samimi Ardestani Seyed Mehdi , Alvani Amin , Amirinezhad Ali
Published: April 2020

Although alexithymia has been found to be associated with physical symptoms in psychosomatic disorders such as asthma, mechanisms linking this association are unknown. However, affective alexithymic features may be associated with physical symptoms in the presence of deficits in affective characteristics such as low empathy and high negative affect. This study aimed to assess direct effects of alexithymic traits on physical symptoms and indirect effects of these subscales through empathy and negative affect (e.g. depressive, anxious and stress symptoms) by controlling for asthma severity in patients with asthma. Three hundred patients with asthma completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale‐20 (TAS‐20), the Basic Empathy Scale (BES), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales‐21 (DASS‐21) and the Physical Symptoms Inventory (PSI). After controlling for asthma severity, the results showed that alexithymia subscales of the TAS‐20 had no direct effects on physical symptoms, but the difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF) subscale of the TAS‐20 was associated with affective empathy and negative affect. Affective empathy was significantly related to negative affect. Affective empathy and negative affect were associated with physical symptoms. The affective subscale of alexithymia on the TAS‐20, that is DIF, indirectly affected physical symptoms through affective empathy and negative affect. Findings suggest that patients with asthma who have high levels of DIF may show high physical symptoms in the presence of low affective empathy and high negative affect.
Linking human values to consumer CSR perception: The moderating role of consumer skepticism
Authors: Ramasamy Santhiya , Dara Singh Karpal S. , Amran Azlan , Nejati Mehran
Published: April 2020

This paper examines the effect of human values on consumer CSR perception towards cosmetic companies. Since consumer skepticism is on the rise, its moderating effects are also investigated in this paper. Questionnaires were collected from 479 consumers of seven cosmetic companies which were subsequently analyzed via structural equation modelling. Findings revealed that human values such as self‐enhancement and openness to change have a significant influence on consumer CSR perception. Consumer skepticism was also found to moderate the relationship between human values of openness to change, self‐transcendence and conservation towards consumer CSR perception. The results allow decision‐makers to better understand the influence of consumers' value system on their CSR perception while elucidating the boundary conditions played by consumer skepticism, amplifying the need for organizations to engage in authentic and sincere CSR practices. This study tested the boundaries of the Schwartz Human Values Theory which has been expanded to measure consumer CSR perception.
Synchrotron X‐ray Radiography and Tomography of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries—Cell Design, Electrolyte Flow Geometry, and Gas Bubble Formation
Authors: Eifert László , Bevilacqua Nico , Köble Kerstin , Fahy Kieran , Xiao Liusheng , Li Min , Duan Kangjun , Bazylak Aimy , Sui Pang‐Chieh , Zeis Roswitha
Published: April 2020

The wetting behavior and affinity to side reactions of carbon‐based electrodes in vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) are highly dependent on the physical and chemical surface structures of the material, as well as on the cell design itself. To investigate these properties, a new cell design was proposed to facilitate synchrotron X‐ray imaging. Three different flow geometries were studied to understand the impact on the flow dynamics, and the formation of hydrogen bubbles. By electrolyte injection experiments, it was shown that the maximum saturation of carbon felt was achieved by a flat flow field after the first injection and by a serpentine flow field after continuous flow. Furthermore, the average saturation of the carbon felt was correlated to the cyclic voltammetry current response, and the hydrogen gas evolution was visualized in 3D by X‐ray tomography. The capabilities of this cell design and experiments were outlined, which are essential for the evaluation and optimization of cell components of VRFBs.
Scalable Synthesis of Microsized, Nanocrystalline Zn0.9Fe0.1O‐C Secondary Particles and Their Use in Zn0.9Fe0.1O‐C/LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 Lithium‐Ion Full Cells
Authors: Asenbauer Jakob , Binder Joachim R. , Mueller Franziska , Kuenzel Matthias , Geiger Dorin , Kaiser Ute , Passerini Stefano , Bresser Dominic
Published: April 2020

Conversion/alloying materials (CAMs) are a potential alternative to graphite as Li‐ion anodes, especially for high‐power performance. The so far most investigated CAM is carbon‐coated Zn0.9Fe0.1O, which provides very high specific capacity of more than 900 mAh g−1 and good rate capability. Especially for the latter the optimal particle size is in the nanometer regime. However, this leads to limited electrode packing densities and safety issues in large‐scale handling and processing. Herein, a new synthesis route including three spray‐drying steps that results in the formation of microsized, spherical secondary particles is reported. The resulting particles with sizes of 10–15 μm are composed of carbon‐coated Zn0.9Fe0.1O nanocrystals with an average diameter of approximately 30–40 nm. The carbon coating ensures fast electron transport in the secondary particles and, thus, high rate capability of the resulting electrodes. Coupling partially prelithiated, carbon‐coated Zn0.9Fe0.1O anodes with LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 cathodes results in cobalt‐free Li‐ion cells delivering a specific energy of up to 284 Wh kg−1 (at 1 C rate) and power of 1105 W kg−1 (at 3 C) with remarkable energy efficiency (>93 % at 1 C and 91.8 % at 3 C).
CO2‐Enabled Biomass Fractionation/Depolymerization: A Highly Versatile Pre‐Step for Downstream Processing
Authors: Li Hu , Wu Hongguo , Yu Zhaozhuo , Zhang Heng , Yang Song
Published: April 2020

Lignocellulosic biomass is inevitably subject to fractionation and depolymerization processes for enhanced selectivity toward specific products, in most cases prior to catalytic upgrading of the three main fractions—cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Among the developed pretreatment techniques, CO2‐assisted biomass processing exhibits some unique advantages such as the lowest critical temperature (31.0 °C) with moderate critical pressure, low cost, nontoxicity, nonflammability, ready availability, and the addition of acidity, alongside easy recovery by pressure release. This Review showcases progress in the study of sub‐ or supercritical CO2‐mediated thermal processing of lignocellulosic biomass—the key pre‐step for downstream conversion processes. The auxo‐action of CO2 in biomass pretreatment and fractionation, along with the involved variables, direct degradation of untreated biomass in CO2 by gasification, pyrolysis, and liquefaction with relevant conversion mechanisms, and CO2‐enabled depolymerization of lignocellulosic fractions with representative reaction pathways are summarized. Moreover, future prospects for the practical application of CO2‐assisted up‐ and downstream biomass‐to‐bioproduct conversion are also briefly discussed.
Assessing the Viability of Recovery of Hydroxycinnamic Acids from Lignocellulosic Biorefinery Alkaline Pretreatment Waste Streams
Authors: Karlen Steven D. , Fasahati Peyman , Mazaheri Mona , Serate Jose , Smith Rebecca A. , Sirobhushanam Sirisha , Chen Mingjie , Tymokhin Vitaliy I. , Cass Cynthia L. , Liu Sarah , Padmakshan Dharshana , Xie Dan , Zhang Yaoping , McGee Mick A. , Russell Jason D. , Coon Joshua J. , Kaeppler Heidi F. , de Leon Natalia , Maravelias Christos T. , Runge Troy M. , Kaeppler Shawn M. , Sedbrook John C. , Ralph John
Published: April 2020

Invited for this month's cover is the research team from the D.O.E. Great Lake Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The cover image shows how a diverse team with expertise in many different fields works together in an integrated fashion to address complex problems. Only when the whole system, from field to the liquid fuels and co‐products, is assessed, can we identify the key parameters needed to design an economically viable biorefinery‐based economy. Cover art by Chelsea Mamott. The Full Paper itself is available at 10.1002/cssc.201903345.
Targeting Toll‐like receptor‐4 to tackle preterm birth and fetal inflammatory injury
Authors: Robertson Sarah A , Hutchinson Mark R , Rice Kenner C , Chin Peck‐Yin , Moldenhauer Lachlan M , Stark Michael J , Olson David M , Keelan Jeffrey A
Published: April 2020

Every year, 15 million pregnancies end prematurely, resulting in more than 1 million infant deaths and long‐term health consequences for many children. The physiological processes of labour and birth involve essential roles for immune cells and pro‐inflammatory cytokines in gestational tissues. There is compelling evidence that the mechanisms underlying spontaneous preterm birth are initiated when a premature and excessive inflammatory response is triggered by infection or other causes. Exposure to pro‐inflammatory mediators is emerging as a major factor in the ‘fetal inflammatory response syndrome’ that often accompanies preterm birth, where unscheduled effects in fetal tissues interfere with normal development and predispose to neonatal morbidity. Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are critical upstream gatekeepers of inflammatory activation. TLR4 is prominently involved through its ability to sense and integrate signals from a range of microbial and endogenous triggers to provoke and perpetuate inflammation. Preclinical studies have identified TLR4 as an attractive pharmacological target to promote uterine quiescence and protect the fetus from inflammatory injury. Novel small‐molecule inhibitors of TLR4 signalling, specifically the non‐opioid receptor antagonists (+)‐naloxone and (+)‐naltrexone, are proving highly effective in animal models for preventing preterm birth induced by bacterial mimetic LPS, heat‐killed Escherichia coli, or the TLR4‐dependent pro‐inflammatory lipid, platelet‐activating factor (PAF). Here, we summarise the rationale for targeting TLR4 as a master regulator of inflammation in fetal and gestational tissues, and the potential utility of TLR4 antagonists as candidates for preventative and therapeutic application in preterm delivery and fetal inflammatory injury.
First presentation of restrictive early onset eating disorders in Asian children
Authors: Chew Chu Shan Elaine , Kelly Siobhan , Baeg Amerie , Oh Jean Yin , Rajasegaran Kumudhini , Davis Courtney
Published: April 2020

Objective

This study aims to describe the spectrum of children with restrictive early onset eating disorders (EOEDs), defined as below 13 years of age, presenting to a tertiary institution in Asia and comparing them with older adolescents with eating disorders.

Methods

This is a retrospective case review of Asian children who were treated in an eating disorder center. Baseline characteristics and inpatient management at first presentation of children younger than 13 years of age (EOED) were compared to those in older adolescents.

Results

A total of 288 patients with restrictive eating disorders were analyzed with 53 (18%) patients having onset younger than age 13 at initial presentation. There were no significant differences in percentage weight loss and hospitalization rates between the two age groups. Patients with EOED presented with significantly shorter duration of symptoms, and lower rates of secondary amenorrhea. More patients with EOED required phosphate supplementation compared to those in older age group.

Conclusion

Despite having a shorter duration of illness, Asian children with EOED had similar percentage weight loss and rates of admission due to malnutrition as those in older Asian adolescent patients. This study underlined the severity of EOEDs and the need for early recognition and medical assessment.
Use of non‐LDL‐C lipid‐lowering medications in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Arnold Suzanne V. , Gosch Kensey , Wong Nathan D. , Hejjaji Vittal , Goyal Abhinav , Leiter Lawrence A. , Kosiborod Mikhail
Published: April 2020

Background

A number of non‐low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol lipid abnormalities are associated with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance, which may lead practitioners to use medications targeting these abnormal lipid fractions despite a lack of evidence or guideline recommendations.

Methods and Results

Among 382 921 US patients with type 2 diabetes (69% with cardiovascular disease, 76% on a statin), 95 995 (26%) were on some nonstatin lipid‐lowering medication—19 265 (5%) on niacin, 32 919 (9%) on a fibrate and 69 513 (18%) on fish oil. Use of all three medications was stable over time and higher in patients with cardiovascular disease and with higher triglyceride levels, although even among patients with triglyceride levels <2.3 mmol/L, 6% were on a fibrate and 17% were on fish oil.

Conclusion

As clinical trials demonstrate little to no cardiovascular benefit from taking these medications, greater attention is needed to focus the use of lipid‐lowering medications to those with proven benefit.
Spectroelectrochemical Evaluation of a ZnO Optically Transparent Electrode Prepared by the Spin‐spray Technique
Authors: Okazaki Takuya , Taniguchi Hiroaki , Wagata Hajime , Ito Mizuki , Kuramitz Hideki , Watanabe Tomoaki
Published: April 2020

We present a novel zinc oxide (ZnO) optically transparent electrode (OTE) prepared by the spin‐spray technique for spectroelectrochemistry. The spin‐spray technique can deposit ZnO film at a low cost, high rate deposition, and at a low temperature (<100 °C) in a single step. This new technique provides good optical transparency and electrical conductivity for ZnO. The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of the ZnO electrode were investigated for varying thicknesses of ZnO using methylene blue as a redox indicator. A ZnO OTE chip that includes three electrodes on a glass chip was developed for thin‐layer spectroelectrochemistry. Moreover, the ZnO films were successfully applied in an electrochemical‐localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) method for methylene blue detection by using them as a transparent conducting substrate for loading gold nanoparticles.