bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemical Composition and in Vitro Antioxidant, Anti‐Alzheimer, Anti‐Diabetic, Anti‐Tyrosinase, and Antimicrobial Properties of Essential Oils and Extracts Derived from Various Parts of the Algerian Calendula Suffruticosa Vahlsubsp. boissieri Lanza
Authors: Samai Zakaria , Toudert Nadia , Djilani Salah Eddine , Dadda Noureddine , Zakkad Farida , Hamel Tarek
Published: December 2022

Calendula suffruticosa Vahl subsp. boissieri Lanza is well‐known for its medicinal properties in northeastern Algeria. As far as literature has been able to prove, no study has attempted to make a phytochemical or biological activity evaluation (antioxidants, enzyme inhibitors and antimicrobial potential). This work intends to evaluate, for the first time, the chemical constituents and study the previously mentioned biological activities of C. suffruticosa boissieri essential oil and different sections (flowers, leaves, roots) as well as the effect of changing the solvent (ethanol 70 %) and (methanol 70 %) on these activities. The essential oil of aerial parts of this plant was investigated using GC/MS, and 45 compounds were discovered, accounting for 98.01 % of the essential oil, including 23 monoterpenes, 6 sesquiterpenes, 12 diterpenes, 1 coumarin, 3 alkanes, methyl‐cyclohexane (23.73 %), limonene (25.02 %), and o‐cymene (13.20 %). Five methods were used to study the antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, CUPRAC, reducing power, and β‐carotene bleaching assay), where the results were impressive, especially for the essential oil. In addition, the hydroethanolic solvent (70 %) was found to be the most effective solvent for extraction in general compared to the hydromethanolic solvent (70 %). The extracts and essential oils of C. suffruticosa boissieri also showed a strong inhibiting ability against cholinesterase, tyrosinase, anti‐α‐amylase, α‐glucosidase, and antimicrobials, a very valuable antioxidant, which is a real discovery. Based on these results, it can be said that this plant has important biological activities, so it can be used in the phytotherapy, food, or pharmaceutical sectors.
A Modular Olefination of Aldehydes with Thiols as Coupling Partners
Authors: Bognar Sabine , van Gemmeren Manuel
Published: December 2022

Olefins range amongst the most important motifs in organic chemistry. Hence, the development of novel olefin syntheses has remained a constant field of research in synthetic chemistry to date. Herein, we report the development of a modular olefination that converts aldehydes into olefins with thiols as reaction partners. The simple, transition metal‐free protocol proceeds via an unsymmetrical bissulfone intermediate which is converted into the respective alkene in a Ramberg‐Bäcklund‐type process. Differently substituted olefins can be synthesized from readily available starting materials in typically good yields and stereoselectivities using basic laboratory chemicals exclusively. Complementary reaction conditions differing in the choice of solvent favor the E/Z‐products respectively under kinetic control rendering this protocol an interesting economical addition to the family of olefin syntheses.
ACHEMA 2022 – Heat Exchanger
Authors: Hohm Manuel
Published: December 2022

ACHEMA is an international exhibition for innovation and development in the process industry. Heat exchangers are necessary parts of many process engineering plants. This report intends to highlight the presented novelties in relation to heat exchangers at ACHEMA 2022. The trends and challenges of heat exchangers were explored in discussions with exhibitors and through presentations at the congress. The field of application for heat exchangers broadens as well as their performance increases. Existing designs are enhanced, traditional types of heat exchangers are combined, and software is developed based on both traditional models and artificial intelligence. An overview of relevant innovations and developments in heat exchangers is given.
Fabrication of CeO2 microspheres by internal gelation process using flow‐focusing droplet generator
Authors: Yadav Satyajeet , Chaturvedi Animesh Rajeev , Gaikwad Ganesh , Ananthasivan Krishnamurthy , Pandit Aniruddha Bhalchandra , Jain Ratnesh D.
Published: December 2022

Sphere‐pac fuel is an alternative nuclear fuel technology in which microspheres of two or more sizes are utilized to fill the cladding tube in place of the more conventional single‐size fuel pellets. This provides leeway for adjusting the fuel pellet packing density and resulting cladding tube porosity. The current investigation makes use of a flow‐focusing droplet generator made from stainless steel (S.S.) 316 L, with a channel internal diameter (I.D.) of 0.5, 0.8, 1, and 3 mm. These microspheres were supposed to be of actinide oxide but here, cerium has been chosen as a surrogate of plutonium. Detailed information about the flow‐focusing droplet generator, internal gelation process, and sphere‐pac fuel has been provided. The size and size distribution of ceria microspheres were investigated by varying the flow rates of the continuous and dispersed phase. The characterization of ceria microspheres has been conducted using techniques such as scanning electron microscope (SEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analyses. The size of prepared monodisperse microspheres was controlled precisely (within ±2%) in the range of 498–2888 μm using four S.S. 316 L flow‐focusing droplet generators with channel I.D. 0.5, 0.8, 1, and 3 mm, respectively, and the coefficient of variation of the size distribution was found to be less than 2%.
Dscam1 overexpression impairs the function of the gut nervous system in Drosophila
Authors: Hernández Karla , Godoy Luis , Newquist Gunnar , Kellermeyer Riley , Alavi Maryam , Mathew Dennis , Kidd Thomas
Published: December 2022

Background

Down syndrome (DS) patients have a 100‐fold increase in the risk of Hirschsprung syndrome of the colon and rectum (HSCR), a lack of enteric neurons in the colon. The leading DS candidate gene is trisomy of the Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (DSCAM).

Results

We find that Dscam1 protein is expressed in the Drosophila enteric/stomatogastric nervous system (SNS). Axonal Dscam1 phenotypes can be rescued equally by diverse isoforms. Overexpression of Dscam1 resulted in frontal and hindgut nerve overgrowth. Expression of dominant negative Dscam1‐ΔC led to a truncated frontal nerve and increased branching of the hindgut nerve. Larval locomotion is influenced by feeding state, and we found that the average speed of larvae with Dscam1 SNS expression was reduced, whereas overexpression of Dscam1‐ΔC significantly increased the speed. Dscam1 overexpression reduced the efficiency of food clearance from the larval gut.

Conclusion

Our work demonstrates that overexpression of Dscam1 can perturb gut function in a model system.
Recovery from heat‐induced infertility—A study of reproductive tissue responses and fitness consequences in male Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Canal Domenech Berta , Fricke Claudia
Published: December 2022

The predicted temperature increase caused by climate change is a threat to biodiversity. Across animal taxa, male reproduction is often sensitive to elevated temperatures leading to fertility loss, and in more adverse scenarios, this can result in sterility when males reach their upper thermal fertility limit. Here, we investigate temperature‐induced changes in reproductive tissues, fertility reduction, sterility, and the associated fitness loss during the subsequent recovery phase in male Drosophila melanogaster. We heat‐stressed males during development and either allowed them to recover or not in early adulthood while measuring several determinants of male reproductive success. We found significant differences in recovery rate, organ sizes, sperm production, and other key reproductive traits among males from our different temperature treatments. Sperm maturation was impaired before reaching the upper thermal sterility threshold. While some effects were reversible, this did not compensate for the fitness loss due to damage imposed during development. Surprisingly, developmental heat stress was damaging to accessory gland growth, and female post‐mating responses mediated by seminal fluid proteins were impaired regardless of the possibility of recovery. We suggest that sub‐lethal thermal sterility and the subsequent fertility reduction are caused by a combination of inefficient functionality of both the accessory gland and testes.
Shake table tests on a reinforced concrete waffle‐flat plate structure with new hybrid energy dissipation devices
Authors: Benavent‐Climent Amadeo , Escolano‐Margarit David , Yurkin Yuriy , Ponce‐Parra Hermes , Arcos‐Espada Julio
Published: December 2022

This paper presents a new hybrid energy dissipation device and investigates experimentally its capability to improve the seismic response of an inherently very flexible structural system: a reinforced concrete waffle‐flat plate structure. The new device combines in parallel within a single device a low‐cost viscoelastic (VE) component and a metallic yielding (MY) component. The device has a gap that prevents deformations on the MY component in the range of displacements caused by wind or low intensity earthquakes, to avoid high‐cycle fatigue damage. The MY component is expected to activate under the design or the maximum credible earthquake, providing the main structure with lateral stiffness, and a reliable and large source of energy dissipation capacity. Six new hybrid energy dissipation devices (energy dissipation system) were installed in a scaled two‐story portion of a prototype RC waffle‐flat plate structure (main structure) designed only for gravity loads, without considering special ductility detailing or capacity design rules for the columns. The VE component of the hybrid energy dissipation devices reduced the translational periods with largest effective modal mass along the horizontal directions X and Y to 60%, and increased the fraction of damping to about 12%. The main structure with the energy dissipation system was subjected to bidirectional shake table tests that represented frequent, design and maximum credible earthquakes. In the tests, the main structure remained basically undamaged under the frequent and the design earthquakes, whereas it suffered minor (reparable) damage under the maximum credible earthquake. The MY component remained undeformed under low intensity earthquakes.
Is workplace violence against health care workers in Mozambique gender related?
Authors: Ferrinho Paulo , Patrício Sérgio Roques , Craveiro Isabel , Sidat Mohsin
Published: December 2022

This report revisits data used to describe the typology and the perceived impact of violence against health care workers (VHCW) at the health services of the City of Lichinga in Mozambique, based on an observational, descriptive, cross‐sectional study, carried out from March to May 2019. In this report we attempt to understand if our reanalysis of VHCW in Niassa can explain it as an example of gender‐based violence. Our findings—particularly that women more than men reported not knowing if the health services had any policies or procedures to deal with VHCW, felt that they were not encouraged to report acts of VHCW and were more frequently threatened/violented by different sex aggressors—although not conclusive, support the need to consider gender as a dimension when conducting research on VHCW. If we do not do so, gender will continue to be an invisible and ignored dimension of intervention strategies to prevent and address VHCW.
Brain tumor segmentation using a deep Shuffled‐YOLO network
Authors: Kavitha Angamuthu Rajasekaran , Palaniappan Karthikeyan
Published: December 2022

Brain tumor is an anomalous proliferation of cells in the brain that can evolve to malignant and benign tumors. Currently, segmentation of brain tumor is the most important surgical and pharmaceutical procedures. However, manually segmenting brain tumors is hard because it is hard to find erratically shaped tumors with only one modality; the MRI modalities are integrated to provide multi‐modal images with data that can be utilized to segment tumors. The recent developments in machine learning and the accessibility of medical diagnostic imaging have made it possible to tackle the challenges of segmenting brain tumors with deep neural networks. In this work, a novel Shuffled‐YOLO network has been proposed for segmenting brain tumors from multimodal MRI images. Initially, the scalable range‐based adaptive bilateral filer (SCRAB) pre‐processing technique was used to eliminate the noise artifacts from MRI while preserving the edges. In the segmentation phase, we propose a novel deep Shuffled‐YOLO architecture for segmenting the internal tumor structures that include non‐enhancing, edema, necrosis, and enhancing tumors from the multi‐modality MRI sequences. The experimental fallouts reveal that the proposed Shuffled‐YOLO network achieves a better accuracy range of 98.07% for BraTS 2020 and 97.04% for BraTS 2019 with very minimal computational complexity compared to the state‐of‐the‐art models.
Faculty perception on clinical shadowing: A concurrent mixed methods study
Authors: Chaitanya Penmatsa , Bhadila Ghalia , Dragan Irina F.
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This mixed methods study aims to investigate faculty members’ perceptions of early clinical exposure through clinical shadowing program (CSP) at one academic dental institution.

Methods

After ethical approval was received, concurrent data collection using quantitative and qualitative methods was integrated for this study design. For the quantitative data, a validated instrument (Likert scale) was distributed to all basic and clinical science faculty members regarding the CSP. Qualitative semi‐structured interviews of basic and clinical science faculty members were conducted to explore their perceptions of the CSP. Descriptive statistics were completed for the quantitative data, and thematic analysis was carried out for the transcribed interviews.

Results

Faculty members from basic and clinical sciences participated in this mixed methods study, 97% (n = 74) participants in the quantitative and 12 participants in the qualitative. The majority of faculty (67%; n = 44) strongly agreed that CSP helps predoctoral students in the application of basic science knowledge to clinical practice. All basic science respondents (n = 10; 100%) and many clinical science faculty (60%; n = 35) strongly agreed that CSP requires coordination between basic and clinical science educators (p = 0.042). Some faculty suggested the inclusion of training for educators on the program and regular periodic student assessments of the program's effectiveness.

Conclusion

The current study reported positive faculty perception toward the proposed method of integration. Furthermore, opportunities to foster coordination between basic and clinical science educators may be provided by administrators to strengthen the existing CSP framework.
Cost‐effectiveness of hepatitis C virus test‐and‐treat and risk reduction strategies among men who have sex with men living with HIV in France
Authors: Castry Mathieu , Cousien Anthony , Champenois Karen , Supervie Virginie , Velter Annie , Ghosn Jade , Yazdanpanah Yazdan , Paltiel A. David , Deuffic‐Burban Sylvie
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Studies suggest that hepatitis C virus (HCV) micro‐elimination is feasible among men who have sex with men (MSM) living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), through treatment‐as‐prevention and interventions aimed at reducing risk behaviours. However, their economic impact is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess the cost‐effectiveness of HCV screening and risk reduction strategies in France.

Methods

A compartmental deterministic mathematical model was developed to describe HCV disease transmission and progression among MSM living with HIV in France. We evaluated different combinations of HCV screening frequency (every 12, 6 or 3 months) and risk reduction strategies (targeting only high‐risk or all MSM) from 2021 onwards. The model simulated the number of HCV infections, life‐expectancy (LYs), quality‐adjusted life‐expectancy (QALYs), lifetime costs and incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) over a lifetime horizon (leading to an end of the simulation in 2065).

Results

All strategies increased QALYs, compared with current practices, that is yearly HCV screening, with no risk reduction. A behavioural intervention resulting in a 20% risk reduction in the high‐risk group, together with yearly screening, was the least expensive strategy, and, therefore, cost‐saving compared to current practices. The ICER per QALY gained for the strategy combining risk reduction for the high‐risk group with 6‐month HCV screening, compared to risk reduction with yearly screening, was €61,389. It also prevented 398 new HCV infections between 2021 and 2065, with a cost per infection averted of €37,790. All other strategies were dominated (more expensive and less effective than some other available alternative) or not cost‐effective (ICER per QALY gained > €100,000).

Conclusions

In the French context, current HCV screening practices without risk reduction among MSM living with HIV cannot be justified on economic grounds. Risk reduction interventions targeted to high‐risk individuals—alongside screening either once or twice a year—could be cost‐effective depending on the policymaker's willingness‐to‐pay.
トラゾドン塩酸塩の過量内服により致死性不整脈を呈した1例(Trazodone overdose–induced life–threatening arrhythmia: a case report)
Authors: 亮太郎 西方 , 慧 吉川 , 良平 西沢 , 賢彦 海田 , 剛明 松田 , 芳裕 山口
Published: December 2022

トラゾドンの過量内服による致死性不整脈の報告は少ない。今回，同薬剤の過量内服によりQT延長症候群（long QT syndrome: LQTS）からtorsades de pointes（TdP）を含む致死性不整脈を呈した1例を経験したので報告する。30歳代の女性。来院3時間前に自殺目的にトラゾドン50mgを124錠内服し救急搬送された。来院時，意識障害を認めるものの呼吸・循環は安定しており，QTc時間は0.466secであった。急性トラゾドン中毒の診断で，救命救急センター入院となった。来院3時間後に心室性期外収縮を契機とした非持続性心室頻拍を認め，来院4時間後QTc時間が0.490secに延長した。来院5時間後にはTdPを認め，カルディオバージョンによりTdPは改善したが，心室性期外収縮の散発を認めた。その後無脈性心室頻拍を繰り返し，来院14時間後にテンポラリーペースメーカーを挿入し循環動態の改善を得た。QTc時間は来院21時間後に最大0.610secまで延長したが，その後徐々に改善し，来院40時間後にペーシングから，また41時間後に人工呼吸器から離脱した。QTc時間は来院61時間後に0.421secまで改善し，精神科での入院加療が可能と判断されたため，来院67時間後に転院となった。トラゾドンの過量内服においては，致死性不整脈の発症に厳重な警戒が必要である。
脊椎骨折と胸骨骨折を合併した症例（sternovertebral fracture）の治療成績(Outcomes of patients with vertebral and sternum fractures (sternovertebral fractures))
Authors: 泰明 山川 , 多栄子 降幡 , 比呂人 伊與田 , 浩平 宮下 , 篤史 盛實 , 朋子 杉村 , 雄一 齋坂
Published: December 2022

【目的】脊椎と胸骨の同時骨折はsternovertebral fracturesとされ，体幹前後の不安定性により胸骨骨折・脊椎骨折の治癒に悪影響を及ぼす可能性がある。その背景・治療成績を調査し，治療選択について考察した。【対象】脊椎骨折と胸骨骨折の診断がCTでなされた27例を対象とした。それぞれの骨折部位，骨折の転位・Denis分類，合併した胸部外傷，治療法，骨癒合，痛みや疲労感などの臨床症状について調査した。【結果】胸骨骨折部位は胸骨柄が3例，体部が22例，柄部・体部合併が2例であり，転位型の胸骨骨折を9例に認めた。脊椎は頚椎2例，胸椎17例，腰椎4例，多部位損傷4例であり，Denis分類は1，2，3 column損傷がそれぞれ4，13，10例であった。多発肋骨骨折を12例，血気胸7例，肺挫傷6例に合併していた。胸骨骨折のうち26/27例（96%）は保存治療であり，脊椎骨折は保存治療が10例（37%），手術治療が17例（63%）であった。胸骨・脊椎骨折とも画像経過の確認ができた全例で骨癒合が得られていた。臨床症状を胸骨骨折2/27例（7%），脊椎骨折14/27例（52%）に認めた。【結語】胸骨体部と胸椎骨折の組み合わせの頻度が高かった。胸骨骨折の96%は保存治療が行われていたが全例骨癒合が得られ，7%のみに臨床症状を認め，胸骨骨折に対しては保存的治療も可能と考えられた。
受傷翌日に著明な膵液漏を来した外傷性膵損傷に対し，早期膵切除を選択した多発外傷の1例(A case of polytrauma requiring pancreatectomy for traumatic pancreatic injury with significant pancreatic leakage)
Authors: 亮平 松居 , 麻子 松嶋 , 真実 坪田 , 謙 坪井 , 洋一 松尾 , 修司 瀧口
Published: December 2022

症例は産後うつ病のある20歳代女性。自宅アパート5階から墜落し，computed tomography（CT）で外傷性くも膜下出血，右下顎骨開放骨折，両側顎関節突起骨折および第1腰椎圧迫骨折と診断された。受傷当日のCTで腹腔内には臓器損傷所見を認めなかったが，翌日のCTで後腹膜に著明な膵液漏を伴う外傷性膵損傷が顕在化した。主膵管損傷を疑い，緊急開腹膵体尾部切除術を施行した。切除標本の病理所見では主膵管損傷を認めず，経過と画像所見から分枝膵管損傷と判断した。主膵管損傷を伴わない膵損傷はnon–operative management（NOM）が推奨されているが，後腹膜へ広がる膵液漏ではNOMが困難な場合がある。とくに精神疾患がある場合や多発外傷では合併する損傷と治療の経過を考慮して，短期間で治療が完了する膵切除術も考慮するべき治療戦略と考える。
Effective doses for common paediatric diagnostic general radiography examinations at a major Australian paediatric hospital and the communication of associated radiation risks
Authors: Earl Victoria J. , Potter Amanda O. G. , Perdomo Amanda A.
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Health professionals in paediatric medical imaging are routinely required to communicate radiation risks to carers and patients. Effective dose alone cannot be used to specify and communicate the radiation risk for an individual as risks are dependent on many factors including age and patient sex. In this study, we estimated typical effective doses for 20 commonly performed paediatric general radiography examinations using the weight‐based imaging protocols employed at a major Australian specialist paediatric hospital. Effective doses were used to estimate and categorise associated age‐based stochastic risks with commonly used risk terminology to facilitate communication of risk.

Methods

Paediatric protocols for common general radiography examinations and World Health Organization 50th percentile weight‐for‐age data for females and males aged up to 18 years were used to estimate typical effective doses using Monte Carlo software and lifetime risk of cancer incidence using published data. Results were used to determine standardised levels of risk using the Calman risk model.

Results

Effective doses, corresponding lifetime risk of cancer incidence and level of risk category from 20 general radiography examinations for paediatric patients were calculated and presented for ease of communication. Doses ranged from <0.001 mSv (negligible risk) to 1.6 mSv (low risk).

Conclusion

Typical effective doses from common paediatric general radiography examinations, the associated lifetime risk of cancer incidence and level of risk have been established for our institution. This can be used to convey risks to health professionals, patients and carers in ways that are easy to understand and compare with other everyday risks.
Early plasma interferon‐β levels as a predictive marker of COVID‐19 severe clinical events in adult patients
Authors: Berri Fatma , N'Guyen Yohan , Callon Domitille , Lebreil Anne‐Laure , Glenet Marie , Heng Laetitia , Pham Bach‐Nga , Bani‐Sadr Firouze , Andreoletti Laurent ,   the Reims COVID‐19 Study Group
Published: December 2022

We assessed relationships between early peripheral blood type I interferons (IFN) levels, clinical new early warning scores (NEWS), and clinical outcomes in hospitalized coronavirus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) adult patients. Early IFN‐β levels were lower among patients who further required intensive care unit (ICU) admission than those measured in patients who did not require an ICU admission during severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 infection. IFN‐β levels were inversely correlated with NEWS only in the subgroup of patients who further required ICU admission. To assess whether peripheral blood IFN‐β levels could be a potential relevant biomarker to predict further need for ICU admission, we performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses that showed for all study patients an area under ROC curve of 0.77 growing to 0.86 (p = 0.003) when the analysis was restricted to a subset of patients with NEWS ≥5 at the time of hospital admission. Overall, our findings indicated that early peripheral blood IFN‐β levels might be a relevant predictive marker of further need for an ICU admission in hospitalized COVID‐19 adult patients, specifically when clinical score (NEWS) was graded as upper than 5 at the time of hospital admission.
Production of N‐methyldiethanolamine di‐ester via heterogeneous transesterification of palm methyl ester over modified calcium oxide catalyst by metal oxides
Authors: Abdul Aziz Haliza , Yusoff Rozita , Cheng Ngoh Gek , Idris Zainab , Ramli Nur Aainaa Syahirah
Published: December 2022

The production cycle of the heterogeneous catalyzed‐transesterification of methyl ester and alkanolamine for the production of esterquats precursor can be considered as a cleaner and sustainable process. This process is an important alternative route as opposed to the conventional homogeneous catalysis as it can eliminates the formation of wastewater, consumes less toxic chemical and reduce the production cost through catalyst reuse. Calcium oxide (CaO)‐based catalysts which include pure CaO and modified CaO by other metal oxides were employed in this study for the production of alkanolamine ester, a precursor of esterquats. The basicity and textural properties of these catalysts were characterized using TPD‐CO2 and N2 physisorption, respectively. Transesterification activity of CaO‐based catalysts successfully showed a high di‐ester yield of more than 85% at 160°C, 80 mbar, 4 wt% of catalyst dosage, 6 h reaction time, methyl palmitate to N‐methyldiethanolamine mole ratio of 2:1 and agitation speed of 150 rpm. ZnO/CaO catalyst rendered the best durability characteristic as it exhibited constant activities for three subsequent runs with 85% di‐ester yield. ZnO/CaO showed high catalytic activity similar to pure CaO catalyst with low leaching of Ca active phase and better reusability than that of pure CaO catalyst, that shows loss of its activity after the first cycle.
Social Perception of External Laryngeal Anatomy Related to Gender Expression in a Web‐based Survey
Authors: Kiessling Patrick , Balakrishnan Karthik , Fauer Alex , Sanan Akshay , McDonald Daniella , Thomas James , Erickson‐Direnzo Elizabeth , Sung C. Kwang , Nuyen Brian
Published: December 2022

Objective(s)

To quantify the effect of laryngeal prominence size on socially perceived attributes relating to gender expression. Chondrolaryngoplasty (“tracheal shave”) is a common procedure performed for transgender women to feminize neck appearance. The extent of thyroid cartilage resection needed to convey socially‐perceived feminine gender expression without destabilizing the voice is incompletely understood.

Methods

Cross‐sectional evaluation of a randomized allocation of images of varying laryngeal prominence to a non‐repeated, random sample from November 2021 to December 2021. Photos of laryngeal prominence were isolated against a constant neck baseline with lateral, oblique, and frontal views. The images were embedded into a web‐based survey with visual analog scales to capture perceived scaled gender expression (masculinity, femininity) and social traits (e.g., attractiveness, friendliness, leadership). We performed bivariate and multivariate analyses relating the laryngeal prominence to perceived gender expression and social traits.

Results

The analytic sample included 1,026 respondents. Laryngeal grades similar to the demonstrated “grade M” in this study and smaller demonstrated similar perceptions of increased femininity and decreased masculinity. Grades larger than M demonstrate significantly increased perceived masculinity and significantly decreased perceived femininity. The lateral and oblique views of the neck appear to be the most gender‐informative.

Conclusion

This crowd‐sourced analysis of external laryngeal anatomy by a large population of observers provides clear, reproducible insights into social perceptions of gender identity and specifically femininity. These data will meaningfully inform patient counseling and surgical planning for gender‐affirming interventions by establishing normative data representing the general public's perceptions.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 133:2292–2300, 2023
Estimating ocean net primary productivity from daily cycles of carbon biomass measured by profiling floats
Authors: Stoer Adam C. , Fennel Katja
Published: December 2022

The dependence of net primary productivity (NPP), a central metric in ecology and biogeochemistry, on sunlight drives daily cycles in carbon biomass in the ocean's euphotic zone. In this study, we infer NPP from the daily cycle of biomass. These estimates were extracted from bio‐optical measurements collected by an array of robotic profilers distributed across temperate and polar regions of the southern hemisphere. We estimate NPP in the region south of 30°S as ~11.4 Pg C yr−1, and south of 50°S (the Southern Ocean) as ~4.6 Pg C yr−1. We obtain comparable estimates when complementary daily cycles of oxygen are used instead (11.7 and 3.5 Pg C yr−1). This approach will be valuable for providing the basin‐scale, ground‐truthed information necessary to assess changes in subsurface primary productivity related to climate.
Development of Pure Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) with Excellent 3D Printability and Macro‐ and Micro‐Structural Properties
Authors: Rahmatabadi Davood , Soltanmohammadi Kianoosh , Aberoumand Mohammad , Soleyman Elyas , Ghasemi Ismaeil , Baniassadi Majid , Abrinia Karen , Bodaghi Mahdi , Baghani Mostafa
Published: December 2022

Unmodified polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has low thermal stability and high hardness. Therefore, using plasticizers as well as thermal stabilizers is inevitable, while it causes serious environmental and health issues. In this work, for the first time, pure food‐grade PVC with potential biomedical applications is processed and 3D printed. Samples are successfully 3D printed using different printing parameters, including velocity, raster angle, nozzle diameter, and layer thickness, and their mechanical properties are investigated in compression, bending, and tension modes. Scanning electron microscopy is also used to evaluate the bonding and microstructure of the printed layers. Among the mentioned printing parameters, raster angle and printing velocity influence the mechanical properties significantly, whereas the layer thickness and nozzle diameter has a little effect. Images from scanning electron microscopy  also reveal that printing velocity greatly affects the final part's quality regarding defective voids and rasters’ bonding. The maximum tensile strength of 88.55 MPa is achieved, which implies the superiority of 3D‐printed PVC mechanical properties compared to other commercial filaments. This study opens an avenue to additively manufacture PVC that is the second most‐consumed polymer with cost‐effective and high‐strength features.
Institutional investors' site visits, market attention, and stock market information efficiency—Evidence from stock price synchronicity
Authors: Chen Hong , Zhang Mengyun , Zeng Jun , Pu Hongjing
Published: December 2022

As external governance factors, institutional investors' governance mechanisms and governance effect have been focus areas of research. Based on the data of A‐share listed companies in the Shenzhen Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2019, this study discusses the impact of institutional investors' site visits on capital market information efficiency. The study finds that institutional investors' site visits can significantly reduce stock price synchronicity, indicating the potential of site visits to improve capital market information efficiency. Market attention can play an amplifying role in the relationship between institutional investors' site visits and stock price synchronicity, which manifests as their sensitivity enhancement. Further, institutional investors' site visits are more effective for reducing stock price synchronicity in non‐state‐owned enterprises and those in areas with low marketization. Moreover, institutional research increases information asymmetry between investors. This study demonstrates the positive role of institutional research from the perspective of capital market information efficiency and confirms the effectiveness of institutional investors as external governance factors.
Quantification of Radiomics features of Peritumoral Vasogenic Edema extracted from fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery images in glioblastoma and isolated brain metastasis, using T1‐dynamic contrast‐enhanced Perfusion analysis
Authors: Parvaze P. Suhail , Bhattacharjee Rupsa , Verma Yogesh Kumar , Singh Rakesh Kumar , Yadav Virendra , Singh Anup , Khanna Gaurav , Ahlawat Sunita , Trivedi Richa , Patir Rana , Vaishya Sandeep , Shah Tejas J. , Gupta Rakesh K.
Published: December 2022

The peritumoral vasogenic edema (PVE) in brain tumors exhibits varied characteristics. Brain metastasis (BM) and meningioma barely have tumor cells in PVE, while glioblastoma (GB) show tumor cell infiltration in most subjects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the PVE of these three pathologies using radiomics features in FLAIR images, with the hypothesis that the tumor cells might influence textural variation. Ex vivo experimentation of radiomics analysis of T1‐weighted images of the culture medium with and without suspended tumor cells was also attempted to infer the possible influence of increasing tumor cells on radiomics features. This retrospective study involved magnetic resonance (MR) images acquired using a 3.0‐T MR machine from 83 patients with 48 GB, 21 BM, and 14 meningioma. The 93 radiomics features were extracted from each subject's PVE mask from three pathologies using T1‐dynamic contrast‐enhanced MR imaging. Statistically significant (< 0.05, independent samples T‐test) features were considered. Features maps were also computed for qualitative investigation. The same was carried out for T1‐weighted cell line images but group comparison was carried out using one‐way analysis of variance. Further, a random forest (RF)‐based machine learning model was designed to classify the PVE of GB and BM. Texture‐based variations, especially higher nonuniformity values, were observed in the PVE of GB. No significance was observed between BM and meningioma PVE. In cell line images, the culture medium had higher nonuniformity and was considerably reduced with increasing cell densities in four features. The RF model implemented with highly significant features provided improved area under the curve results. The possible infiltrative tumor cells in the PVE of the GB are likely influencing the texture values and are higher in comparison with BM PVE and may be of value in the differentiation of solitary metastasis from GB. However, the robustness of the features needs to be investigated with a larger cohort and across different scanners in the future.
Pseudo multishot echo‐planar imaging for geometric distortion improvement
Authors: Chen Hao , Dai Ke , Bao Jianfeng , Zhong Sijie , Hu Chenxi , Liu Yiling , Zhang Zhiyong
Published: December 2022

Conventional echo‐planar imaging (EPI) uses a radiofrequency pulse for excitation and a prolonged echo train to sample k space, while off‐resonance and T2* decay effects caused by magnetic susceptibility variation accumulate within each echo, leading to geometric distortion. Multishot EPI methods, which divide k space into segments, can shorten the effective echo spacing and reduce the distortion on EPI images. But multiple shots cost longer scan time and render susceptibility to motion. In this study, we propose a new “multishot” EPI method termed pseudo multishot EPI (pmsEPI), in which phase‐encoding lines are segmented as in multishot EPI but are collected within a single shot. With the magnetization divided into different pathways via interleaved excitation instead of refocusing in a single long echo train, the total phase error accumulation is reduced in each segmented acquisition, thereby improving distortion of the resultant EPI image. The performance of the pmsEPI method is demonstrated by phantom and in vivo brain experiments on a 3‐T scanner. The experimental results show that the distortion displacements of pmsEPI acquisition compared with conventional EPI decrease by 50% with two pseudo shots and 66% with three pseudo shots, validating the ability of the method to obtain images with reduced distortion in a single shot, although magnetization splitting may induce more than 40% SNR loss and minor artifacts. Specifically, the ability of pmsEPI in diffusion‐weighted imaging with different trajectory options is highlighted, and the flexibility is demonstrated in a single‐shot blip up and down acquisition.
Standardizing and optimizing nutrition evaluation frequency of enterally fed patients in an ambulatory pediatric gastroenterology practice: A single‐center study
Authors: Ngai Derek , Kotamraju Swetha , Do Phinga , Luffy Robin , Winser‐Bean Christine , Rockwell Jill , Hollaway Lauren , Wright Victoria , Barlow Sarah , Sathe Meghana
Published: December 2022

Background

Nutrition monitoring is essential in feeding tube–dependent patients receiving home enteral nutrition (HEN). We identified lack of consistency in dietitian evaluations for our pediatric patients receiving HEN. Consequently, after establishing an institutional standard for nutrition reassessment intervals, we underwent a quality improvement (QI) initiative to improve rates of adherence to standard frequency of dietitian consults and referrals among patients receiving HEN.

Methods

A prospective QI initiative from April 2021 to December 2021 was performed using multiple plan‐do‐study‐act (PDSA) cycles. Interventions included (1) a reminder placard, (2) the display of feeding tube status and date of the last dietitian note in the electronic health record (EHR) clinic schedule dashboard, and (3) an autotext smart element to the EHR default clinic note template. The goal was to enable clinicians to quickly identify the need for nutrition evaluation with either a same‐day dietitian consult or a referral to nutrition clinic.

Results

Among 111 HEN patients with >6 months since last nutrition encounter, the dietitian referral/consult rate prior to any interventions was 58%. The placard (PDSA 1) was abandoned before obtaining reportable data because of sampling bias and clinic workflow inefficiencies. The clinic schedule dashboard modification (PDSA 2) improved the dietitian referral/consult rate to 66%. Subsequently, the clinic note smart element (PDSA 3) increased the rate to 77%. An 8‐week postintervention check revealed a compliance rate of 78%.

Conclusion

Implementation of minimally interruptive EHR enhancements showed a sustained increase in dietitian referrals and consults for patients receiving HEN, which may improve nutrition outcomes.
Differential involvement of LUBAC‐mediated linear ubiquitination in intestinal epithelial cells and macrophages during intestinal inflammation
Authors: Sakamoto Yusuke , Sasaki Katsuhiro , Omatsu Mayuki , Hamada Kensuke , Nakanishi Yuki , Itatani Yoshiro , Kawada Kenji , Obama Kazutaka , Seno Hiroshi , Iwai Kazuhiro
Published: December 2022

Disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier and dysregulation of macrophages are major factors contributing to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Activation of NF‐κB and cell death are involved in maintaining intestinal homeostasis in a cell type‐dependent manner. Although both are regulated by linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex (LUBAC)‐mediated linear ubiquitination, the physiological relevance of linear ubiquitination to intestinal inflammation remains unexplored. Here, we used two experimental mouse models of IBD (intraperitoneal LPS and oral dextran sodium sulfate [DSS] administration) to examine the role of linear ubiquitination in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and macrophages during intestinal inflammation. We did this by deleting the linear ubiquitination activity of LUBAC specifically from IECs or macrophages. Upon LPS administration, loss of ligase activity in IECs induced mucosal inflammation and augmented IEC death. LPS‐mediated death of LUBAC‐defective IECs was triggered by TNF. IEC death was rescued by an anti‐TNF antibody, and TNF (but not LPS) induced apoptosis of organoids derived from LUBAC‐defective IECs. However, augmented TNF‐mediated IEC death did not overtly affect the severity of colitis after DSS administration. By contrast, defective LUBAC ligase activity in macrophages ameliorated DSS‐induced colitis by attenuating both infiltration of macrophages and expression of inflammatory cytokines. Decreased production of macrophage chemoattractant MCP‐1/CCL2, as well as pro‐inflammatory IL‐6 and TNF, occurred through impaired activation of NF‐κB and ERK via loss of ligase activity in macrophages. Taken together, these results indicate that both intraperitoneal LPS and oral DSS administrations are beneficial for evaluating epithelial integrity under inflammatory conditions, as well as macrophage functions in the event of an epithelial barrier breach. The data clarify the cell‐specific roles of linear ubiquitination as a critical regulator of TNF‐mediated epithelial integrity and macrophage pro‐inflammatory responses during intestinal inflammation. © 2022 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Impact of Asp/Glu‐ADP‐ribosylation on protein‐protein interaction and protein function
Authors: Pei Jimin , Zhang Jing , Wang Xu‐Dong , Kim Chiho , Yu Yonghao , Cong Qian
Published: December 2022

PARylation plays critical role in regulating multiple cellular processes such as DNA damage response and repair, transcription, RNA processing, and stress response. More than 300 human proteins have been found to be modified by PARylation on acidic residues, that is, Asp (D) and Glu (E). We used the deep‐learning tool AlphaFold to predict protein‐protein interactions (PPIs) and their interfaces for these proteins based on coevolution signals from joint multiple sequence alignments (MSAs). AlphaFold predicted 260 confident PPIs involving PARylated proteins, and about one quarter of these PPIs have D/E‐PARylation sites in their predicted PPI interfaces. AlphaFold predictions offer novel insights into the mechanisms of PARylation regulations by providing structural details of the PPI interfaces. D/E‐PARylation sites have a preference to occur in coil regions and disordered regions, and PPI interfaces containing D/E‐PARylation sites tend to occur between short linear sequence motifs in disordered regions and globular domains. The hub protein PCNA is predicted to interact with more than 20 proteins via the common PIP box motif and the structurally variable flanking regions. D/E‐PARylation sites were found in the interfaces of key components of the RNA transcription and export complex, the SF3a spliceosome complex, and H/ACA and C/D small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein complexes, suggesting that systematic PARylation have a profound effect in regulating multiple RNA‐related processes such as RNA nuclear export, splicing, and modification. Finally, PARylation of SUMO2 could modulate its interaction with CHAF1A, thereby representing a potential mechanism for the cross‐talk between PARylation and SUMOylation in regulation of chromatin remodeling.
Physicians' ability to recognize adventitious lung sounds
Authors: Moriki Dafni , Koumpagioti Despoina , Kalogiannis Michalis , Sardeli Olympia , Galani Angeliki , Priftis Kostas N. , Douros Konstantinos
Published: December 2022

Background

Lung auscultation is an important tool for diagnosing respiratory diseases. However, the ability of observers to recognize respiratory sounds varies considerably and depends on the sound. The present study aimed to assess the auscultatory skills of healthcare professionals and medical students.

Methods

A total of 295 physicians (185 pediatricians, 69 pulmonologists, and 41 physicians of general/internal medicine and subspecialties), 55 residents, and 50 medical students participated in the survey. They listened to five audio‐recorded respiratory sounds and described them in free‐form answers.

Results

The rates of correct answers were 55.2% for fine crackles, 74.5% for coarse crackles, 72.2% for wheezes, 18.75% for squawks, and 11.25% for pleural friction rub. The medical specialty was correlated with the correct answers and both pediatricians and physicians of general/internal medicine and subspecialties recognized fewer sounds compared with respiratory physicians (odds ratio [OR]: 0.37; confidence interval [CI]: 0.22–0.62; p < 0.001 and, OR: 0.47; CI: 0.22–0.99, p = 0.048, respectively). Years of experience were negatively correlated with the number of correct answers (OR: 0.73; CI:0.62–0.84; p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Gaps remain in both terminology and recognition of lung sounds among a wide population of Greek physicians. Less experienced physicians perform better on lung auscultation, indicating that continuing education with critical feedback should be offered.
IRAA: A statistical tool for investigating a protein–protein interaction interface from multiple structures
Authors: Belapure Jaydeep , Sorokina Marija , Kastritis Panagiotis L.
Published: December 2022

Understanding protein–protein interactions (PPIs) is fundamental to infer how different molecular systems work. A major component to model molecular recognition is the buried surface area (BSA), that is, the area that becomes inaccessible to solvent upon complex formation. To date, many attempts tried to connect BSA to molecular recognition principles, and in particular, to the underlying binding affinity. However, the most popular approach to calculate BSA is to use a single (or in some cases few) bound structures, consequently neglecting a wealth of structural information of the interacting proteins derived from ensembles corresponding to their unbound and bound states. Moreover, the most popular method inherently assumes the component proteins to bind as rigid entities. To address the above shortcomings, we developed a Monte Carlo method‐based Interface Residue Assessment Algorithm (IRAA), to calculate a combined distribution of BSA for a given complex. Further, we apply our algorithm to human ACE2 and SARS‐CoV‐2 Spike protein complex, a system of prime importance. Results show a much broader distribution of BSA compared to that obtained from only the bound structure or structures and extended residue members of the interface with implications to the underlying biomolecular recognition. We derive that specific interface residues of ACE2 and of S‐protein are consistently highly flexible, whereas other residues systematically show minor conformational variations. In effect, IRAA facilitates the use of all available structural data for any biomolecular complex of interest, extracting quantitative parameters with statistical significance, thereby providing a deeper biophysical understanding of the molecular system under investigation.
Sustainable development of factory aquaculture through automation of ultraviolet parasiticide for the prevention and control of cryptocaryoniasis
Authors: Zhou Liyao , Wu Jiankun , Kang Tianjing , Wang Lingling , Yuan Yongchao , Jiang Linhua , Yu Youbin , Xie Xiao , Yin Fei
Published: December 2022

Background

Cryptocaryon irritans infestations on marine teleosts are a considerable burden on factory mariculture. Ultraviolet (UV) light can kill C. irritans under laboratory conditions. However, a rational method for using UV in factory aquaculture to control cryptocaryoniasis has not been developed. This study focused on evaluating the killing effect of UV on protomonts and tomonts of C. irritans and established an automatic UV parasiticide device for the prevention and control of cryptocaryoniasis in marine teleosts.

Results

The survival rate of protomonts and tomonts decreased with an increase in the UV irradiation dose. All the protomonts and tomonts died within 14 and 24 min, respectively. The lowest UV lethal doses of protomonts and tomonts of C. irritans were 2.0 × 106 and 3.5 × 106 μWs cm−2, respectively. Exposure of protomonts and tomonts to lethal doses of UV radiation led to shrinkage and severe dissolution of the protoplasm, causing abnormal development of cells. The survival rate of artificially infected Larimichthys crocea (treatment group, group A) was 83.33% at the end of the test (day 14) after disinfection using the automatic UV parasiticide device, whereas that of the control group (group C) was 90.00% (p < 0.05). However, all artificially infected L. crocea without disinfection using the automatic UV parasiticide device (untreated group, group B) died on day 8.

Conclusion

The automation of traditional physical methods conforms to the sustainable development of aquaculture and provides a theoretical reference for the prevention and control of cryptocaryoniasis in mariculture. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.