bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding rosacea‐prone skin: Understanding the correlations between clinical manifestations and underlying pathophysiology
Authors: Del Rosso James Q.
Published: May 2021

Over the past two decades, our understanding of the pathophysiology of rosacea has increased dramatically. As a result, a rational overall management approach can be planned by the clinician based on the individual clinical manifestations affecting the patient. The improved understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of the disease and the modes of action of many of the available therapies that can be used to treat rosacea provides the clinician with the ability to provide targeted treatments and incorporate scientifically sound therapeutic combinations. This article reviews the current understanding of rosacea pathophysiology, its correlation with specific clinical manifestations of rosacea, and appropriate selection of therapies to address these individual clinical manifestations.
Outcomes in patients with anthracycline‐induced cardiomyopathy undergoing left ventricular assist devices implantation
Authors: Guha Avirup , Caraballo Cesar , Jain Prantesh , Miller P. Elliott , Owusu‐Guha Jocelyn , Clark Katherine A.A. , Velazquez Eric J. , Ahmad Tariq , Baldassarre Lauren A. , Addison Daniel , Weintraub Neal L. , Desai Nihar R.
Published: May 2021

Aims

Improved cancer survivorship has led to a higher number of anthracycline‐induced cardiomyopathy patients with end‐stage heart failure. We hypothesize that outcomes following continuous‐flow LVAD (CF‐LVAD) implantation in those with anthracycline‐induced cardiomyopathy are comparable with other aetiologies of cardiomyopathy.

Methods and results

Using the Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support (INTERMACS) from 2008 to 2017, we identified patients with anthracycline‐induced cardiomyopathy who received a CF‐LVAD and compared them with those with idiopathic dilated (IDM) and ischaemic cardiomyopathies (ICM). Mortality was studied using the Cox proportional hazards model. Other adverse events were evaluated using competing risk models. Overall, 248 anthracycline‐induced cardiomyopathy patients underwent CF‐LVAD implantation, with a median survival of 48 months, an improvement compared with those before 2012 [adjusted hazards ratio (aHR): 0.53; confidence interval (CI): 0.33–0.86]. At 12 months, 85.1% of anthracycline‐induced cardiomyopathy, 86.0% of IDM, and 80.2% of ICM patients were alive (anthracycline‐induced cardiomyopathy vs. IDM: aHR: 1.12; CI: 0.88–1.43 and anthracycline‐induced cardiomyopathy vs. ICM: aHR: 0.98; CI: 0.76–1.28). Anthracycline‐induced cardiomyopathy patients had a higher major bleeding risk compared with IDM patients (aHR: 1.23; CI: 1.01–1.50), and a lower risk of stroke and prolonged respiratory support compared to ICM patients (aHR: 0.31 and 0.67 respectively; both P < 0.05). There was no difference in the risk of major infection, acute kidney injury, and venous thromboembolism.

Conclusions

After receiving a CF‐LVAD, survival in patients with anthracycline‐induced cardiomyopathy is similar to those with ICM or IDM. Further research into differential secondary endpoints‐related disparities is warranted.
Techno‐economic optimization of a grid‐connected hybrid energy system considering electric and thermal load prediction
Authors: Qiu Ting , Faraji Jamal
Published: May 2021

Optimal planning of hybrid energy systems has always been a considerable task. While several studies have conducted techno‐economic analysis on hybrid energy systems, most of them have neglected to consider appropriate electric and thermal load growth rates. This paper proposes an efficient strategy for optimizing a grid‐connected hybrid energy system considering electric and thermal load growth rates. HOMER software is used for optimizing hybrid energy systems. It uses a nonderivative optimization to recognize the system with the minimum net present cost (NPC) among hundreds of configurations. The exponential smoothing method is also used for predicting upcoming load peak values based on historical data. The proposed hybrid system includes solar photovoltaic (SPV) system, wind turbine (WT) system, converter, battery storage system (BSS), gas generator (GasGen), fuel cell (FC), fuel‐fired boiler, and resistive boiler. Unlike previous studies, electricity price growth and SPV degradation rates are considered in this study. The grid‐connected system has also been compared to the stand‐alone system to understand grid connection impacts on the optimization results. Environmental analysis has been performed to analyze the greenhouse gas emissions of each system. The effects of growth rates in thermal and electric loads and electricity price are comprehensively investigated. Neglecting load growth rates affected the financial results severely. In this condition, the NPC and COE are achieved −11 383.4 US$ and −0.02376 US$/kWh. Results indicate that the combination of WT system (15 kW), converter (10 kW), resistive, and fuel‐fired (10 kW) boilers is the most economical configuration in grid‐connected mode. The WT system plays an essential role in the electric power provision and revenues of the hybrid system. The net present cost (NPC) and the cost of energy (COE) for grid‐connected operating mode are achieved −0.0162272 US$/kWh and −5243.956 US$, respectively. For off‐grid operating mode, the NPC and COE are obtained 47 024.19 US$ and 0.1983879 US$/kWh, respectively. Thanks to the feed‐in‐tariff (FiT) policy, the proposed grid‐connected system is more economical and environmentally friendly than the stand‐alone system. In off‐grid operating mode, 63 575.45285 kg CO2 is produced, which is higher than CO2 production in the grid‐connected mode (more than 8262 kg).
Optical genome mapping, a promising alternative to gold standard cytogenetic approaches in a series of acute lymphoblastic leukemias
Authors: Lestringant Valentin , Duployez Nicolas , Penther Dominique , Luquet Isabelle , Derrieux Coralie , Lutun Anne , Preudhomme Claude , West Michaela , Ouled‐Haddou Hakim , Devoldere Catherine , Marolleau Jean‐Pierre , Garçon Loïc , Jedraszak Guillaume , Ferret Yann
Published: May 2021

Acute lymphoblastic leukemias (ALL) are characterized by a large number of cytogenetic abnormalities of clinical interest that require the use of several complementary techniques. Optical genome mapping (OGM) is based on analysis of ultra‐high molecular weight DNA molecules that provides a high‐resolution genome‐wide analysis highlighting copy number and structural anomalies, including balanced translocations. We compared OGM to standard techniques (karyotyping, fluorescent in situ hybridization, single nucleotide polymorphism‐array and reverse transcription multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification) in 10 selected B or T‐ALL. Eighty abnormalities were found using standard techniques of which 72 (90%) were correctly detected using OGM. Eight discrepancies were identified, while 12 additional anomalies were found by OGM. Among the discrepancies, four were detected in raw data but not retained because of filtering issues. However, four were truly missed, either because of a low variant allele frequency or because of a low coverage of some regions. Of the additional anomalies revealed by OGM, seven were confirmed by another technique, some of which are recurrent in ALL such as LMO2‐TRA and MYC‐TRB fusions. Despite false positive anomalies due to background noise and a case of inter‐sample contamination secondarily identified, the OGM technology was relatively simple to use with little practice. Thus, OGM represents a promising alternative to cytogenetic techniques currently performed for ALL characterization. It enables a time and cost effective analysis allowing identification of complex cytogenetic events, including those currently inaccessible to standard techniques.
COVID‐19 and Pregnancy: A Case Study
Authors: Long Rui , Wu Di , Lin Xingguang , Lv Dan , Wang Renjie , Jin Lei , Liao Shujie , Liu Weiliang , Deng Dongrui
Published: May 2021

The 2019 novel coronavirus disease is spreading all over the world. Pregnant women and infants require particular concern, owing to the special immune conditions. A case of a pregnant woman who was exposed to SARS‐CoV‐2 at 34+1 weeks gestation and chose to continue pregnancy is reported. Without obvious symptoms or signs, the woman did not receive any treatment before delivery, and gave birth at 37+5 weeks to a neonate with positive immunoglobulin G for SARS‐CoV‐2 and negative nucleic acid tests. The mother was given anti‐infection, oxytocin, and fluid rehydration treatment after delivery. Both mother and infant recovered well after a three‐month follow‐up. Continued expectation to deliver at term instead of preterm can decrease the potential risk of severe perinatal and infant complications and is beneficial to the development of the neonate. More studies are required to confirm the presence of vertical transmission.
The interplay of resting and inhibitory control‐related theta‐band activity depends on age
Authors: Pscherer Charlotte , Bluschke Annet , Mückschel Moritz , Beste Christian
Published: May 2021

Resting‐state neural activity plays an important role for cognitive control processes. Regarding response inhibition processes, an important facet of cognitive control, especially theta‐band activity has been the focus of research. Theoretical considerations suggest that the interrelation of resting and task‐related theta activity is subject to maturational effects. To investigate whether the relationship between resting theta activity and task‐related theta activity during a response inhibition task changes even in young age, we tested N = 166 healthy participants between 8 and 30 years of age. We found significant correlations between resting and inhibitory control‐related theta activity as well as behavioral inhibition performance. Importantly, these correlations were moderated by age. The moderation analysis revealed that higher resting theta activity was associated with stronger inhibition‐related theta activity in individuals above the age of ~10.7 years. The EEG beamforming analysis showed that this activity is associated with superior frontal region function (BA6). The correlation between resting and superior frontal response inhibition‐related theta activity became stronger with increasing age. A similar pattern was found for response inhibition performance, albeit only evident from the age of ~19.5 years. The results suggest that with increasing age, resting theta activity becomes increasingly important for processing the alarm/surprise signals in superior frontal brain regions during inhibitory control. Possible causes for these developmental changes are discussed.
Doxycycline Significantly Enhances Induction of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells to Endoderm by Enhancing Survival Through Protein Kinase B Phosphorylation
Authors: Peaslee Caitlin , Esteva‐Font Cristina , Su Tao , Munoz‐Howell Antonio , Duwaerts Caroline C. , Liu Zhe , Rao Sneha , Liu Ke , Medina Marisa , Sneddon Julie B. , Maher Jacquelyn J. , Mattis Aras N.
Published: May 2021

Background and Aims

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) provide an important tool for the generation of patient‐derived cells, including hepatocyte‐like cells, by developmental cues through an endoderm intermediate. However, most iPSC lines fail to differentiate into endoderm, with induction resulting in apoptosis.

Approach and Results

To address this issue, we built upon published methods to develop an improved protocol. We discovered that doxycycline dramatically enhances the efficiency of iPSCs to endoderm differentiation by inhibiting apoptosis and promoting proliferation through the protein kinase B pathway. We tested this protocol in >70 iPSC lines, 90% of which consistently formed complete sheets of endoderm. Endoderm generated by our method achieves similar transcriptomic profiles, expression of endoderm protein markers, and the ability to be further differentiated to downstream lineages.

Conclusions

Furthermore, this method achieves a 4‐fold increase in endoderm cell number and will accelerate studies of human diseases in vitro and facilitate the expansion of iPSC‐derived cells for transplantation studies.
Analytical study of heat and mass transfer effects on unsteady Casson fluid flow over an oscillating plate with thermal and solutal boundary conditions
Authors: Endalew Mehari Fentahun
Published: May 2021

In this study, the impacts of heat and mass transfer characteristics on an isotropic incompressible Casson fluid flow over an oscillatory plate with the incidences of solutal and thermal boundary conditions have been investigated. Exact solutions of the fundamental equations governing the fluid flow are determined by using the Laplace transform technique. Numerical results based on analytical solutions are presented in graphical and tabular illustrations to clarify the behaviors of the fluid. Most interestingly, both fluid velocity and species concentration increase with an increment of mass transfer coefficient, whereas the fluid velocity diminishes as oscillating frequency increases near the surface of the plate. This happens due to the presence of high fluctuation of the plate in the flow system. Finally, this investigation is helpful to the scientific community, and the obtained results can be used as benchmark solutions for solving nonlinear flow governing problems fully via various numerical methods.
Induction of dormancy by confinement: An agarose‐silica biomaterial for isolating and analyzing dormant cancer cells
Authors: Preciado Julian , Lam Tiffany , Azarin Samira M. , Lou Emil , Aksan Alptekin
Published: May 2021

The principal cause of cancer deaths is the residual disease, which eventually results in metastases. Certain metastases are induced by disseminated dormancy‐capable single cancer cells that can reside within the body undetected for months to years. Awakening of the dormant cells starts a cascade resulting in the patient's demise. Despite its established clinical significance, dormancy research and its clinical translation have been hindered by lack of in vitro models that can identify, isolate, and analyze dormancy‐capable cells. We have previously shown that immobilization of cells in a stiff microenvironment induces dormancy in dormancy‐capable cell lines. In this communication, we present a novel biomaterial and an in vitro immobilization method to isolate, analyze, and efficiently recover dormancy‐capable cancer cells. MCF‐7, MDA‐MB‐231, and MDA‐MB‐468 cells were individually coated with agarose using a microfluidic flow‐focusing device. Coated cells were then immobilized in a rigid and porous silica gel. Dormancy induction by this process was validated by decreased Ki‐67 expression, increased p38/ERK activity ratio, and reduced expression of CDK‐2, cyclins D1, and E1. We showed that we can reliably and repeatedly induce dormancy in dormancy‐capable MCF‐7 cells and enhance the dormancy‐capable sub‐population in MDA‐MB‐231 cells. As expected, dormancy‐resistant MDA‐MB‐468 cells did not survive immobilization. The dormant cells could be awakened on demand, by digesting the agarose gel in situ, and efficiently recovered by magnetically separating the silica gel, making the cells available for downstream analysis and testing. The awakened cells were shown to regain motility immediately, proliferating, and migrating normally.
Age‐stratified and gender‐specific reference intervals of six tumor markers panel of lung cancer: A geographic‐based multicenter study in China
Authors: Li Yan , Li Ming , Zhang Yi , Zhou Jianping , Jiang Li , Yang Chen , Li Gang , Qu Wei , Li Xinhui , Chen Yong , Chen Qing , Wang Wei , Wang Shukui , liang Xing Jin , Huang Huayi
Published: May 2021

Background

Serum biomarkers have been widely adopted in clinical practice for assisting lung cancer diagnoses, therapeutic monitoring, and prognostication. The function of a well‐performing tumor biomarker depends on a reliable reference interval (RI) with consideration of the study subjects’ age, gender, and geographical location. This study aimed to establish a RI for each of 6 lung cancer biomarkers for use in the whole country of China on Mindray platform.

Methods

The levels of serum 6 lung cancer biomarkers—namely progastrin‐releasing peptide (ProGRP), neuron‐specific enolase (NSE), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cytokeratin‐19 fragment (CYFRA21‐1), and human epididymis protein 4 (HE4)—were measured utilizing the chemiluminescence immunoassay on the Mindray CL‐6000i platform following the laboratory standard operating procedures in apparently healthy Chinese individuals on large cohort, multicenter, and geographical consideration bases. The CLSI EP28‐A3C guideline was followed for the enrollment of study subjects.

Results

The age‐stratified, gender‐specific RIs for ProGRP, NSE, SCC, CEA, CYFRA21‐1, and HE4 lung cancer biomarkers in the Chinese population have been established as described in the results and discussion in this work. In addition, various levels of the six lung cancer biomarkers among nine geographical locations in China have been observed.

Conclusions

The sample volume of study cohort, age, and geographical location should be considered upon establishing a reliable biomarker RI. A RI for each of six lung cancer biomarkers has been established. The results from this study would be helpful for clinical laboratories in interpreting the analytical results and for clinicians in patient management.
Applicability of Western protocols in resource‐limited setting: Real‐world data of long‐term outcome of intensive treatment of adult acute myeloid leukaemia in Sri Lanka
Authors: Hewamana Saman , Kandabadage Lakmali , Skandarajah Thurairajah , Pieris Natasha , Perera Eranga , Harischandra Mahesh , Wijewickrama Ananda , Wickramarathna Chandana , Somasundaram Gnani , Srinivasan Vadivelu , Somiah Surjit , Jayawardena Priyankara , Perera Mehendra , Gunasekera Dehan , Jayasinghe Chathuri , Constantine Godvin , Munasinghe Sanjeewa , De Silva Chandu , Wijesiriwardena Bandula , Balawardena Jayantha
Published: May 2021

There are no published data on long‐term survival and applicability of treatment protocols from developed countries in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) in Sri Lanka. Eighty‐seven AML patients were reviewed; there were 56 newly diagnosed patients between 18 and 65 years. Thirty‐one out of 33 who started treatment achieved complete remission after first cycle of treatment. The induction mortality was one of 33. Twelve out of 20 patients who completed treatment are alive at the time of analysis. The estimated 5‐year overall survival rate is 0.629. Strict infection control and treatment and superior clinical experience may have contributed towards better outcome.
Intensity and microphysical properties surrounding the rapid intensification in landfalling Super Typhoons over China during the summer and autumn seasons
Authors: Deng Lin , Zhao Yang , Gao Wenhua , Xue Lulin , Duan Yihong
Published: May 2021

This study investigates the seasonal intensity variabilities of typhoons (TYs) over the western North Pacific that made landfall in the mainland China during the summer (June–August) and autumn (September–November) seasons for the period of 1979–2017. Using the latest climate reanalysis dataset (ERA5), cloud microphysical properties surrounding the rapid intensification (RI) period within the Super TYs (the maximum wind speed exceeding 51 ms−1) are explored to verify whether there exists microphysical precursor in TY intensity change like RI. The major results are: (a) The total number of landfalling TYs in summer is 188, almost two times of the number in autumn, and 25.5% of them can reach the Super TYs category, while 39.5% of the landfalling TYs in autumn became Super TYs with a shorter lifespan. (b) At least half of the summer and autumn cases have undergone the RI before they reached their maximum intensity, and more autumn cases experienced RI as they approached the coastal areas. (c) Snow and rain contents within the vortex exhibit consistent increasing trends during the RI period in both seasons. It is found that ice and snow contents show relatively distinct increase prior to the intensity change during the RI period in autumn cases, while no obvious signal exists in summer. The short‐term microphysical change and the released latent heat may be insufficient in supporting the onset of RI in Super TYs, and the differences of large‐scale environmental conditions between summer and autumn are mostly responsible for the distinct evolutions of intensity and microphysical characteristics in such strong systems.
Raman characterization of phonon confinement and strain effects from latent ion tracks in α‐quartz
Authors: Garcia Toro Maria C. , Crespillo Miguel L. , Olivares Jose , Graham Joseph T.
Published: May 2021

This study reports phonon confinement and strain effects in the Raman spectrum of ion‐irradiated and subsequently etched α‐quartz. Y‐ and Z‐cut α‐quartz single crystals were irradiated at room temperature with 20‐MeV Ni6+ and 40‐MeV I7+ ions. Latent ion tracks were produced with areal densities ranging from the isolated track regime to the overlapping track regime (nominal fluences of 1 × 109, 1 × 1010, and 1 × 1011 ions cm−2). Nanowell structures were revealed after vapor etching with hydrofluoric acid (HF) aqueous solutions. A phonon confinement model was invoked to explain the observed changes in the shape of the strong Raman peak located around 463 cm−1. Phonon coherence lengths of the irradiated samples were determined by fitting the confinement model to the experimental data. It was found that the phonon coherence lengths (L) decreased with increasing fluence (L ~ 66 nm for samples irradiated with 1 × 109 ions cm−2, L ~ 58 nm at 1 × 1010 ions cm−2, and L ~ 45 nm at 1 × 1011 ions cm−2), suggesting that ion tracks may confine optical phonons in quartz. An additional contribution to the upshift was observed at the highest fluence. This was attributed to a contribution from lattice strain when track separations are small and the overlapping strain fields around ion tracks extend through a large volume fraction of the crystal. Through an empirical correlation, the induced stress was estimated to be on the order of 100 MPa.
Identification of microduplications at Xp21.2 and Xq13.1 in neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Kokkonen Hannaleena , Siren Auli , Määttä Tuomo , Kamila Kadlubowska Magda , Acharya Anushree , Nouel‐Saied Liz M. , Leal Suzanne M. , Järvelä Irma , Schrauwen Isabelle
Published: May 2021

Background

Microduplications are a rare cause of disease in X‐linked neurodevelopmental disorders but likely have been under reported due challenges in detection and interpretation.

Methods

We performed exome sequencing and subsequent microarray analysis in two families with a neurodevelopmental disorder.

Results

Here, we report on two families each with unique inherited microduplications at Xp21.2 and Xq13.1, respectively. In the first family, a 562.8‐kb duplication at Xq13.1 covering DLG3, TEX11, SLC7A3, GDPD2, and part KIF4A was identified in a boy whose phenotype was characterized by delayed speech development, mild intellectual disability (ID), mild dysmorphic facial features, a heart defect, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. By interrogating all reported Xq13.1 duplications in individuals affected with a neurodevelopmental disorder, we provide evidence that this genomic region and particularly DLG3 might be sensitive to an increased dosage. In the second family with four affected males, we found a noncontinuous 223‐ and 204‐kb duplication at Xp21.2, of which the first duplication covers exon 6 of IL1RAPL1. The phenotype of the male patients was characterized by delayed speech development, mild to moderate ID, strabismus, and neurobehavioral symptoms. The carrier daughter and her mother had learning difficulties. IL1RAPL1 shows nonrecurrent causal structural variation and is located at a common fragile site (FRAXC), prone to re‐arrangement.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we show that comprehensive clinical and genetic examination of microduplications on the X‐chromosome can be helpful in undiagnosed cases of neurodevelopmental disease.
LAMB2 novel variant c.2885‐9 C>A affects RNA splicing in a minigene assay
Authors: Wang Xiaoyuan , Xiao Huijie , Su Baige , Ren Yali , Ding Jie , Wang Fang
Published: May 2021

Background

Both Pierson syndrome (PS) and isolated nephrotic syndrome can be caused by LAMB2 biallelic pathogenic variants. Only 15 causative splicing variants in the LAMB2 gene have been reported. However, the pathogenicity of most of these variants has not been verified, which may lead to incorrect interpretation of the functional consequence of these variants.

Methods

Using high‐throughput DNA sequencing and Sanger sequencing, we detected variants in a female with clinically suspected PS. A minigene splicing assay was performed to assess the effect of LAMB2 intron 20 c.2885‐9C>A on RNA splicing. We also performed the immunohistochemical analysis of laminin beta‐2 in kidney tissues.

Results

Two novel LAMB2 heteroallelic variants were found: a paternally inherited variant c.2885‐9C>A in intron 20 and a maternally inherited variant c. 3658C>T (p. (Gln1220Ter)). In vitro minigene assay showed that the variant c.2885‐9C>A caused erroneous integration of a 7 bp sequence into intron 20. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed the absence of glomerular expression of laminin beta‐2, the protein encoded by LAMB2.

Conclusion

We demonstrated the impact of a novel LAMB2 intronic variant on RNA splicing using the minigene assay firstly. Our results extend the mutational spectrum of LAMB2.
Approximation algorithms for Steiner forest: An experimental study
Authors: Ghalami Laleh , Grosu Daniel
Published: May 2021

In the Steiner forest problem, we are given a set of terminal pairs and need to find the minimum cost subgraph that connects each of the terminal pairs together. Motivated by the recent work on greedy approximation algorithms for the Steiner forest, we provide efficient implementations of existing approximation algorithms and conduct a thorough experimental study to characterize their performance. We consider several approximation algorithms: the influential primal‐dual 2‐approximation algorithm due to Agrawal, Klein, and Ravi, the greedy algorithm due to Gupta and Kumar, and a randomized algorithm based on probabilistic approximation by tree metrics. We also consider the simplest heuristic greedy algorithm for the problem, which picks the closest unconnected pair of terminals and connects it using the shortest path between the terminals in the current graph. To characterize the performance of the algorithms, we created a new library with more than one thousand Steiner forest problem instances and conducted an extensive experimental analysis on those instances. Our analysis reveals that for the majority of instances the primal‐dual algorithm is the fastest among all the algorithms considered here, and obtains solutions that are very close to the optimal solutions obtained by solving the integer program formulation of the problem.
Predictors of long‐term weight loss trajectories during a behavioral weight loss intervention: An exploratory analysis
Authors: Ostendorf Danielle M. , Blankenship Jennifer M. , Grau Laura , Arbet Jaron , Mitchell Nia S. , Creasy Seth A. , Caldwell Ann E. , Melanson Edward L. , Phelan Suzanne , Bessesen Daniel H. , Catenacci Victoria A.
Published: May 2021

Background

Substantial interindividual variability in response to behavioral weight loss interventions remains a critical challenge in obesity treatment. An improved understanding of the complex factors that contribute to this variability may improve obesity treatment outcomes.

Objective

To identify weight change trajectories during a behavioral weight loss intervention and to explore differences between trajectory groups in sociodemographic, biologic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors.

Methods

Adults (n = 170, 40 ± 9 years, BMI 34 ± 4 kg/m2, 84% female) participated in an 18‐month behavioral weight loss intervention. Weight was measured at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 24 months. Among participants with at least two weights after baseline (n = 140), clusters of longitudinal trajectories of changes in weight were identified using a latent class growth mixture model. The association between baseline factors or changes in factors over time and trajectory group was examined.

Results

Two weight change trajectories were identified: “weight regainers” (n = 91) and “weight loss maintainers” (n = 49). Black participants (90%, 19/21) were more likely than non‐Black participants to be regainers versus maintainers (p < 0.01). Maintainers demonstrated greater increases in device‐measured physical activity, autonomous motivation for exercise, diet self‐efficacy, cognitive restraint, and engagement in weight management behaviors and greater reductions in barriers for exercise, disinhibition, and depressive symptoms over 24 months versus regainers (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Maintainers and regainers appear to be distinct trajectories that are associated with specific sociodemographic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors. Study results suggest potential targets for more tailored, multifaceted interventions to improve obesity treatment outcomes.
Communication in dyads of adult children at the end of life with their parents and parents at the end of life with their adult children: Findings from a mixed‐methods study
Authors: Gawinski Laura , Stiel Stephanie , Schneider Nils , Herbst Franziska A.
Published: May 2021

Objective

Patient–family member communication plays a decisive role in coping with an end‐of‐life situation and is strongly influenced by the dyadic relationship. There is a lack of research exploring and comparing the specifics of communication between (1) terminally ill adult children and their parents and (2) terminally ill parents and their adult children. The present study aimed at describing and comparing communication specifics within these two dyads.

Methods

As part of the research project Dy@EoL on parent–adult child interactions, this mixed‐methods study combined qualitative interviews and the Berlin Social Support Scales self‐report questionnaire. Participants in both dyads were recruited via 12 inpatient and ambulatory palliative/hospice care providers between February 2018 and September 2019.

Results

Participants included 65 patients (dyad 1: 19; dyad 2: 46) and 42 family members (dyad 1: 13; dyad 2: 29). Qualitative interviews revealed communication changes in the terminal illness situation and provided insight into each dyad partner's perception of openness and avoidance in the dyadic communication. The quantitative results showed that patients in both dyads provided significantly less informational support relative to family members. A strong similarity present in both dyads was the central motivation for limiting information sharing.

Conclusions

Individual preferences for information sharing suggest that the divergent needs of dyad partners must be carefully negotiated to ensure that patients are able to address important topics without putting too great an emotional burden on their family members. Tailored psychosocial support measures are needed to achieve this goal.

The study was registered prospectively in the German Clinical Trials Register (registration N° DRKS00013206).
Rock glacier inventory of the western Nyainqêntanglha Range, Tibetan Plateau, supported by InSAR time series and automated classification
Authors: Reinosch Eike , Gerke Markus , Riedel Björn , Schwalb Antje , Ye Qinghua , Buckel Johannes
Published: May 2021

The western Nyainqêntanglha Range on the Tibetan Plateau reaches an elevation of 7,162 m and is characterized by an extensive periglacial environment under semi‐arid climatic conditions. Rock glaciers play an important part of the water budget in high mountain areas and recent studies suggest that they may even act as climate‐resistant water storages. In this study we present the first rock glacier inventory of this region containing 1,433 rock glaciers over an area of 4,622 km. To create the most reliable inventory we combine manually created rock glacier outlines with an automated classification approach. The manual outlines were generated based on surface elevation data, optical satellite imagery and a surface velocity estimation. This estimation was generated via InSAR time series analysis with Sentinel‐1 data from 2016 to 2019. Our pixel‐based automated classification was able to correctly identify 87.8% of all rock glaciers in the study area at a true positive rate of 69.5%. In total, 65.9% of rock glaciers are classified as transitional with surface velocities of 1–10 cm/yr. In total, 18.5% are classified as active with higher velocities of up to 87 cm/yr. The southern windward side of the mountain range contains more numerous and more active rock glaciers. We attribute this to higher moisture availability supplied by the Indian Monsoon.
SCLpred‐MEM: Subcellular localization prediction of membrane proteins by deep N‐to‐1 convolutional neural networks
Authors: Kaleel Manaz , Ellinger Liam , Lalor Clodagh , Pollastri Gianluca , Mooney Catherine
Published: May 2021

The knowledge of the subcellular location of a protein is a valuable source of information in genomics, drug design, and various other theoretical and analytical perspectives of bioinformatics. Due to the expensive and time‐consuming nature of experimental methods of protein subcellular location determination, various computational methods have been developed for subcellular localization prediction. We introduce “SCLpred‐MEM,” an ab initio protein subcellular localization predictor, powered by an ensemble of Deep N‐to‐1 Convolutional Neural Networks (N1‐NN) trained and tested on strict redundancy reduced datasets. SCLpred‐MEM is available as a web‐server predicting query proteins into two classes, membrane and non‐membrane proteins. SCLpred‐MEM achieves a Matthews correlation coefficient of 0.52 on a strictly homology‐reduced independent test set and 0.62 on a less strict homology reduced independent test set, surpassing or matching other state‐of‐the‐art subcellular localization predictors.
A 3D, Magnetically Actuated, Aligned Collagen Fiber Hydrogel Platform Recapitulates Physical Microenvironment of Myoblasts for Enhancing Myogenesis
Authors: Shi Nianyuan , Li Yuhui , Chang Le , Zhao Guoxu , Jin Guorui , Lyu Yi , Genin Guy M. , Ma Yufei , Xu Feng
Published: May 2021

Many cell responses that underlie the development, maturation, and function of tissues are guided by the architecture and mechanical loading of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Because mechanical stimulation must be transmitted through the ECM architecture, the synergy between these two factors is important. However, recapitulating the synergy of these physical microenvironmental cues in vitro remains challenging. To address this, a 3D magnetically actuated collagen hydrogel platform is developed that enables combined control of ECM architecture and mechanical stimulation. With this platform, it is demonstrated how these factors synergistically promote cell alignment of C2C12 myoblasts and enhance myogenesis. This promotion is driven in part by the dynamics of Yes‐associated protein and structure of cellular microtubule networks. This facile platform holds great promises for regulating cell behavior and fate, generating a broad range of engineered physiologically representative microtissues in vitro, and quantifying the mechanobiology underlying their functions.
Designing Modules to Prevent Reverse Bias Degradation in Perovskite Solar Cells when Partial Shading Occurs
Authors: Wolf Eli J. , Gould Isaac E. , Bliss Lyle B. , Berry Joseph J. , McGehee Michael D.
Published: May 2021

When a solar cell in a panel is shaded, the illuminated cells can place a large reverse bias on the shaded cell to attempt to force current through it. Although the panel can continue to produce power, the reverse bias can cause significant problems for the shaded cell. In the case of perovskite solar modules, Joule heating and irreversible electrochemical reactions will degrade the cell. Some photovoltaic technologies use bypass diodes to solve this problem. To prevent both a perovskite cell and an all‐perovskite tandem cell from falling into reverse bias breakdown while shaded, no more than two cells per bypass diode are allowed, which is likely to be prohibitively expensive for many applications. Herein, how many solar cells can be protected by one bypass diode in single‐junction and multijunction perovskite modules is explored. It is easier to incorporate bypass diodes into modules with singulated cells than with monolithic panels. It is shown that perovskite–silicon tandems can be protected with fewer bypass diodes than with single‐junction perovskite modules. It is suggested that if bypass diodes cannot be feasibly incorporated, then the panels should be deployed in utility‐scale power plants.
Numerical analysis of high and low‐cycle flexural fatigue for reinforced concrete beams under full‐range of varying amplitudes
Authors: Huang Wenteng , Gong Fuyuan , Jin Weiliang , Maekawa Koichi
Published: May 2021

Structural reinforced concrete (RC) experiences cyclic loads during their service life, and in practice, the load amplitude can always change, which will lead to a mixed high and low‐cycle fatigue failure. This paper aims to investigate the fatigue behaviors of RC beams under different load levels and more importantly, their sequential effects. Based on the path‐dependent constitutive models, the structural degradation under different repeated loads are comprehensively investigated by numerical simulation of higher consistency with the reality. It is fairly indicated that a clear bi‐linear character may exist in the so‐called S‐N diagram, of which the high‐cycle fatigue failure is attributed to rupture of main reinforcement under tension, while the low‐cycle fatigue failure is controlled by the concrete failure in flexural compression zone. A simple design method to consider mixed low and high cycle fatigue is proposed to quantify this bi‐linear character. For the varying amplitude of cyclic loads, the high‐to‐low loading sequence may cause a shortened fatigue life. More interestingly, if a rather high heavy load (0.85 or 0.95 of the static capacity) is applied just once before ordinary fatigue loads (ex. 0.6), the deflection may significantly increase, while the stiffness and final fatigue life would be slightly reduced in view of nonlinear mechanics.
A Three‐stage programmable impedance scaling circuit
Authors: Ohbuchi Takeshi , Matsumoto Fujihiko
Published: May 2021

Large capacitances are needed for low‐frequency active filters to process biomedical signals. The large capacitance can be implemented on a chip by an impedance scaling circuit. However, the characteristics of the circuit are affected by process variations. Then, we have proposed a digitally programmable impedance scaling circuit using electrical switches to compensate for the process variations. This paper describes a technique to reduce power consumption as compared with the conventional circuit. The proposed circuit is composed of a three‐stage current mirror circuit and electrical switches. To reduce the power consumption, the only signal current is amplified by current mirror circuits and bias current sources. The tuning range of the scaling factor of capacitance is from −35% to +28%, and the tuning accuracy is 1% using six switches. The validity of the proposed method is confirmed by simulations using HSPICE. The power consumption of the proposed circuit is reduced by 51% as compared with the conventional circuit. The proposed circuit is applied to a filter whose cutoff frequency is 100 Hz. From the tuning result, the tuning error is less than 1% for ±30% of ±3σ global variation and ± 3% of ±3σ local variation. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Association between menopausal hormone therapy and risk of neurodegenerative diseases: Implications for precision hormone therapy
Authors: Kim Yu Jin , Soto Maira , Branigan Gregory L , Rodgers Kathleen , Brinton Roberta Diaz
Published: May 2021

Introduction

The impact of menopausal hormone therapy (HT) on age‐associated Alzheimer's and neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) remains unresolved. To determine the effect of HT, formulation, type, and duration on risk of NDDs, a retrospective analysis was performed using a 10‐year Humana claims dataset.

Methods

Study population included women aged 45 years or older with or without claim records of HT medications. Patients diagnosed with NDDs including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia, multiple sclerosis (MS), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) were identified. Relative risk (RR) ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for combined NDDs, or AD, PD, dementia, MS, and ALS were determined. Cumulative hazard ratios were determined to investigate the association between HT and NDDs at different age groups.

Results

In 379,352 women with or without claim records of HT, use of HT was associated with significantly reduced risk for combined NDDs (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.40–0.43, P < 0.001). Average follow‐up time was 5.1 [2.3] years. Formulations containing natural steroids 17β‐estradiol and/or progesterone were associated with greater reduction in NDD risk. Oral‐ HT users showed significantly reduced RRs (0.42, 0.41–0.44, P < 0.001) for combined NDDs compared to non‐HT users. The RRs for transdermal‐HT users were significantly decreased for all‐cause dementia (0.73, 0.60–0.88, P = 0.001) and MS (0.55, 0.36–0.84, P = 0.005). Greatest reduction in risk of NDD, AD, and dementia emerged in patients aged 65 years or older. Further, the protective effect of long‐term therapy (>1 year) on combined NDDs, AD, PD, and dementia was greater compared to short‐term therapy (≤1 year).

Discussion

HT was associated with reduced risk of all NDDs including AD and dementia, with greater duration of therapy and natural steroid formulations associated with greater efficacy. These findings advance precision HT to prevent NDDs including AD.
“Teacher, Teacher, can’t Catch Me!”: Teaching Vocabulary and Grammar using Nursery Rhymes to Children for Whom English is an Additional Language
Authors: Concannon-Gibney Tara
Published: May 2021

Children who are learning English as an additional language (EAL) need opportunities to learn English in playful, engaging ways. Nursery rhymes offer an effective forum to explore a wide range of vocabulary and grammar knowledge in a manner that is comprehensible to EAL pupils by using gestures, visuals, and props to support oral language development. This article explores how a pre‐kindergarten teacher used nursery rhymes to teach vocabulary and grammar in her diverse early years’ classroom.
Hyperpolarized MRI with silicon micro and nanoparticles: Principles and applications
Authors: Pudakalakatti Shivanand , Enriquez José S. , McCowan Caitlin , Ramezani Saleh , Davis Jennifer S. , Zacharias Niki M. , Bourgeois Dontrey , Constantinou Pamela E. , Harrington Daniel A. , Carson Daniel , Farach‐Carson Mary C. , Bhattacharya Pratip K.
Published: May 2021

Silicon‐based micro and nanoparticles are ideally suited for use as biomedical imaging agents because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and simple surface chemistry that facilitates drug loading and targeting. A method to hyperpolarize silicon particles using dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP), which increases magnetic resonance (MR) imaging signals by several orders‐of‐magnitude through enhanced nuclear spin alignment, was developed to allow silicon particles to function as contrast agents for in vivo magnetic resonance imaging. In this review, we describe the application of the DNP technique to silicon particles and nanoparticles for background‐free real‐time molecular MR imaging. This review provides a summary of the state‐of‐the‐science in silicon particle hyperpolarization with a detailed protocol for hyperpolarizing silicon particles. This information will foster awareness and spur interest in this emerging area of nanoimaging and provide a path to new developments and discoveries to further advance the field.

This article is categorized under:

Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies
From Fiat to Crypto: The Present and Future of Money
Authors: Dapp Marcus M.
Published: May 2021

This chapter aims to offer readers an entry point to the deep discussion of this volume and the rationale for the “Finance 4.0” system described in later chapters. What is money, why is it designed this way, and what could it become in the crypto age? The chapter contains three parts. The first part describes in rough strokes the basic functions of money and how today’s fiat money system implements them. The second part offers a modest critique of the fiat money system, arguing that many problems take root in the intimate power relationship between “money and state.” The final part presents two cases that address some of the shortcomings. The first is Bitcoin that infamously pursues a state-independent, decentralized conception of money. The second is Finance 4.0, a system that proposes a participatory multi-dimensional money system with built-in incentives for sustainable behavior. If more readers feel empowered to enter the public debate for a better money system in the twenty-first century, this short introduction achieved its aim.
QCD factorization for twist-three axial-vector parton quasidistributions
Authors: Braun Vladimir M. , Ji Yao , Vladimirov Alexey
Published: May 2021

Abstract

The transverse component of the axial-vector correlation function of quark fields is a natural starting object for lattice calculations of twist-3 nucleon parton distribution functions. In this work we derive the corresponding factorization expression in terms of twist-2 and twist-3 collinear distributions to one-loop accuracy. The results are presented both in position space, as the factorization theorem for Ioffe-time distributions, and in momentum space, for the axial-vector quasi- and pseudodistributions.
Renormalization of the flavor-singlet axial-vector current and its anomaly in dimensional regularization
Authors: Ahmed Taushif , Chen Long , Czakon Michał
Published: May 2021

Abstract

The renormalization constantZJof the flavor-singlet axial-vector current with a non-anticommutingγ5in dimensional regularization is determined to order$$ {\alpha}_s^3 $$αs3in QCD with massless quarks. The result is obtained by computing the matrix elements of the operators appearing in the axial-anomaly equation$$ {\left[{\partial}_{\mu }{J}_5^{\mu}\right]}_R=\frac{\alpha_s}{4\pi }{n}_f{\mathrm{T}}_F{\left[F\tilde{F}\right]}_R $$∂μJ5μR=αs4πnfTFFF˜Rbetween the vacuum and a state of two (off-shell) gluons to 4-loop order. Furthermore, through this computation, the equality between the$$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$MS¯renormalization constant$$ {Z}_{F\tilde{F}} $$ZFF˜associated with the operator$$ {\left[F\tilde{F}\right]}_R $$FF˜Rand that ofαsis verified explicitly to hold true at 4-loop order. This equality automatically ensures a relation between the respective anomalous dimensions,$$ {\gamma}_J=\frac{\alpha_s}{4\pi }{n}_f{\mathrm{T}}_F{\gamma}_{FJ} $$γJ=αs4πnfTFγFJ, at order$$ {\alpha}_s^4 $$αs4given the validity of the axial-anomaly equation which was used to determine the non-$$ \overline{\mathrm{MS}} $$MS¯piece ofZJfor the particularγ5prescription in use.