bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Species‐level termite methane production rates
Authors: Zhou Yong , Staver A. Carla , Davies Andrew B.
Published: October 2022

Termites consume substantial amounts of plant material across tropical and subtropical ecosystems. During the process of lignocellulose digestion, the symbiotic methanogenesis within termites' guts produces the potent greenhouse gas methane (CH4). Termites contribute an estimated 1%–5% of global CH4 emissions, with these estimates derived from the product of termite biomass and termite CH4 production rate per unit of termite biomass. However, termite CH4 production rates vary significantly across species, genus, family, and feeding group, yet our understanding of this variation remains poor. Here, we reviewed papers published from 1975 to 2021 to create a single consistently derived list of species‐level termite CH4 production rates. We searched the Google Scholar using two key words: termite and methane. We only included studies that had measured termite CH4 production rates using the incubation method. For each eligible study, we extracted and tabulated termite CH4 production rates and other relevant variables (e.g., feeding groups). We used μg CH4 g−1(termite) h−1 as the standardized unit, and if other units were presented, we converted them into this standardized unit. Overall, these data include 134 termite species from 65 genera and 5 families. Termite CH4 production rates ranged from 0 to 25.26 μg CH4 g−1(termite) h−1, with an average rate of 3.74 (standard deviation = 4.08, n = 251). Reported CH4 production rates were largely concentrated in the family Termitidae. Across feeding groups, soil feeders tended to have higher CH4 production rates than wood feeders. However, published data represent fewer than 5% of described termite species, and therefore we hope that our study will initiate a community‐wide effort to fill data gaps and advance our understanding of the role of termites in critical biogeochemical cycles and other ecosystem processes. The data set is in the public domain under a Creative Commons Zero (CC0) license waiver.
Catalytic Pyrolysis of Single‐Use Waste Polyethylene for the Production of Liquid Hydrocarbon Using Modified Bentonite Catalyst
Authors: Rahman Mahmudur , Shuva Zunayed Mahmud , Rahman Md. Arifur , Ahmed Nafees , Sharmin Ayesha , Laboni Aysha Akter , Khan Mala , Islam Md. Waliul , Al‐Mamun Md. , Roy Subrata Chandra , Saha Joyanta K.
Published: October 2022

Bentonite has been modified using H2SO4 at various concentrations to alter the Si/Al ratio that is responsible for catalytic pyrolysis of waste polyethylene. The XRF analysis confirmed a gradual decrease of Al2O3 content with an increasing concentration of H2SO4. The highest liquid hydrocarbon yield (87.48 %) was obtained at a Si/Al ratio of 34.24. To further activate acid‐modified bentonite, bimetals (Cu/Ni, Fe/Ni, and Co/Ni) impregnation was conducted. The catalytic performance was compared with monometals (Ru, Co, Ni, Cu, and Fe) impregnated bentonite counterparts. The Co, Ni, or Cu impregnated bentonite catalysts (with 86, 83, and 86 % yield respectively) outperformed Fe and Ru impregnated bentonite catalysts (with 68 % and 79 % yield respectively). However, bimetallic (Cu/Ni, Fe/Ni and Co/Ni) catalysts provided less amount of liquid (70–80 %). The Fe/bentonite and Fe/Ni/bentonite increased the amount of 2‐Octene, 3,7‐dimethyl‐, (Z) compared to acid‐treated bentonite and Ni/ bentonite catalysts. Moreover, Fe/Ni/bentonite has also increased the amount of 2‐Octene, 2,6‐dimethyl. The BET analysis shows that both surface area and pore diameter increased due to acid treatment resulting in an increase in the percent yield of liquid compared to raw bentonite.
Diastereoselective Preparation of Spiro[2,3‐dihydrofuran‐3,3’‐oxindole] Derivatives by an Atom‐Economic Tandem Reaction in Water
Authors: Yao Wen‐Bo , Chen Li‐Jun , Xie Xuan‐Sheng , Cui Meng , Xie Jian‐Wu
Published: October 2022

A catalyst‐free tandem reaction was developed for the clean synthesis of spiro[2,3‐dihydrofuran‐3,3’‐oxindole] derivatives from 2‐(2‐oxoindolin‐3‐yl)malononitriles and aldehydes in water. This method has an extensive substrate scope. The targeted products were easily isolated by filtration in high yields and excellent diastereoselectivities. The reaction also features numerous advantages, including step/atom economy, both catalyst and additive‐free, no organic solvents, simple work‐up, short reaction times, and environmentally friendly conditions. The present strategy utilizes simple conditions, demonstrating the potential application in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and biologically active compounds.
Bifunctional Sulfonamide as Hydrogen Bonding Catalyst in Catalytic Asymmetric Reactions: Concept and Application in the Past Decade
Authors: Zhu Yi‐Ren , Xu Jie , Jiang Hui‐Fang , Fang Rui‐Jing , Zhang Yan‐Jun , Chen Lu , Sun Chen , Xiong Fei
Published: October 2022

Since the first report of bifunctional sulfonamide organocatalysts in 2004, these chiral compounds have proven to be a reliable hydrogen‐bonding catalyst and have been wildly employed in asymmetric organocatalysis due to its strong acidity and self‐aggregation‐free property. Herein, we review the application of bifunctional sulfonamide as hydrogen‐bonding catalyst after 2011, and our highlights will cover asymmetric process including aldol reaction, Michael addition, Mannich reaction, desymmetrization and cyclization.
Incidence and risk factors for central nervous system relapse in patients with primary mediastinal large B‐cell lymphoma in the rituximab era
Authors: Vassilakopoulos Theodoros P. , Panitsas Fotios , Mellios Zois , Apostolidis John , Michael Michalis , Gurion Ronit , Ferhanoglu Burhan , Hatzimichael Eleftheria , Karakatsanis Stamatios , Dimou Maria , Kalpadakis Christina , Katodritou Eirini , Leonidopoulou Theoni , Kotsianidis Ioannis , Giatra Hara , Kanellias Nick , Sayyed Ayman , Tadmor Tamar , Akay Olga Meltem , Angelopoulou Maria K. , Horowitz Netanel , Bakiri Maria , Pangalis Gerassimos A. , Panayiotidis Panayiotis , Papageorgiou Sotirios G.
Published: October 2022

Central nervous system (CNS) involvement is rare in primary mediastinal large B‐cell lymphoma (PMLBCL). We aimed to evaluate the incidence of CNS relapse as first treatment failure event and the effect of the induction chemotherapy regimen, central nervous system ‐ international prognostic index (CNS‐IPI) and other clinical and laboratory variables on the risk of CNS relapse in 564 PMLBCL patients treated with immunochemotherapy. Only 17 patients (3.0%) received CNS prophylaxis. During a 55‐month median follow‐up only 8 patients experienced CNS relapse as first event, always isolated. The 2‐year cumulative incidence of CNS relapse (CI‐CNSR) was 1.47% and remained unchanged thereafter. The CI‐CNSR was not affected by the chemotherapy regimen (R‐CHOP or R‐da‐EPOCH). None of the established International Prognostic Index factors for aggressive lymphomas predicted CNS relapse in PMLBCL. The 2‐year CI‐CNSR in patients with versus without kidney involvement was 13.3% versus 0.96% (p < 0.001); 14.3% versus 1.13% with versus without adrenal involvement (p < 0.001); and 10.2% versus 0.97% with versus without either kidney or adrenal involvement. CNS‐IPI was also predictive (2‐year CI‐CNSR in high‐risk vs. intermediate/low‐risk: 10.37% vs. 0.84%, p < 0.001). However, this association may be driven mainly by kidney and/or adrenal involvement. In conclusion, in PMLBCL, CNS relapse is rare and appears to be strongly associated with kidney and/or adrenal involvement.
The characteristics and outcomes of COVID‐19 among diabetic patients in Wad‐Medani isolation center from September to December 2020: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Mustafa Maali , Attaallah Alaaeldeen , Amir Osman , Elbalal Moawia , Gibriel Abdallah Abd AL‐Kareem
Published: October 2022

Background and Aims

Corona virus disease‐19 (COVID‐19) is a recently discovered infection that transmitted briskly worldwide. In this disease (COVID‐19), it was discovered that several disorders, such diabetes, increased the severity and fatality rate. Until now, studies investigating the correlation between diabetes and COVID‐19 in Sudan have not yet been conducted. Thus we aimed to evaluated the characteristics and outcomes of COVID‐19 among diabetic patients

Methods

A prospective study included 70 diabetic patients with COVID‐19 in Wad‐Medani Isolation Center from September to December 2020. Data concerning demographics and clinical characteristics, as well as outcomes were collected.

Results

Out of 70 patients, 46 (66%) were men and 24 (34%) were women; the average age was 63 ± 12 years. In diabetes mellitus (DM) types, 69 (98.6%) patient were T2DM. The average of DM duration was 10 ± 6.2 years. Insulin was the major DM medication used by more one‐half of study patients (n = 37; 52.9%). Newly discovered DM after COVD‐19 infection was encountered in 5 (7.1%) patients. Most of the study subjects (n = 44; 63%) had moderately severe form of disease. Hypertension was the commonest comorbid in 29 (41.4%) patients. The intensive care unit admission rate among our study group was 10% (n = 7). The mortality rate among our study patients was found to be 11.4% (n = 8). Dead patients were significantly had high HbA1c levels (11.6 ± 7% vs. 8.8 ± 5%; p = 0.001). Additionally, all individuals with a severe COVID‐19 illness (n = 6; 100%) were dead comparing to no patient died with mild covid illness and 4.5% patients with moderately severe infection (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The majority of COVID‐19 diabetic patients were males and older in age. Most of the patients presented with moderate severity and moderately uncontrolled DM. Hypertension was the major comorbidity. The mortality rate was as high as 11.4% and associated with high HbA1c levels and severe form of COVID‐19 as well.
Characteristics of MHD nanofluid flow towards a vertical cone under convective cross‐diffusion effects through numerical solutions
Authors: Sathyanarayana M. , Ramakrishna Goud T.
Published: October 2022

In this study, the aim is to find the numerical solutions of steady, two‐dimensional, incompressible, viscous, electrically conducting magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) boundary‐layer nanofluid flow towards a vertical cone in the presence of thermal diffusion, diffusion thermo, thermophoresis, and Brownian motion effects subject to porous medium and convective boundary condition. For this investigation, the method of similarity transformations is used for the objective of converting nonlinear partial differential equations into the system of ordinary differential equations. Approximate solutions are obtained using a numerical method of the Runge–Kutta method with the shooting technique for the flow, heat, and mass transfer equations together with boundary conditions. For this flow, the impact of various engineering parameters on MHD, thermal, and solutal boundary layers is investigated and the results are displayed graphically. In addition, the numerical values of the local skin‐friction coefficient, rate of heat transfer, and rate of mass transfer coefficients are calculated, and the results are presented numerically. Finally, the comparison with previously published work is made and found in good agreement.
Clinical, laboratory and ultrasonographic risk factors for uterine artery arteriosclerosis: Insights for uterus transplantation
Authors: Raimondo Diego , Raffone Antonio , Renzulli Federica , Raimondo Ivano , Raspollini Arianna , Rovero Giulia , Franceschini Camilla , Maletta Manuela , Carbone Luigi , Lenzi Jacopo , Mollo Antonio , Seracchioli Renato , Casadio Paolo
Published: October 2022

Objective

To assess uterine artery arteriosclerosis prevalence in women undergoing total hysterectomy for benign diseases, and any associations between clinical, laboratory, and ultrasound factors and uterine artery arteriosclerosis occurrence.

Methods

A single center, observational, prospective, cohort study was performed enrolling all symptomatic patients scheduled for total hysterectomy from May to December 2021. Our outcomes were: uterine artery arteriosclerosis prevalence and the difference in clinical, laboratory, and ultrasonographic factors between patients with and without uterine artery arteriosclerosis.

Results

Forty women were included. Uterine artery arteriosclerosis prevalence was 70%. Body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.04) and triglycerides (P = 0.04) were significantly higher in patients with uterine artery arteriosclerosis than in patients without; while high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) (P = 0.02) was significantly lower. Uterine arteries with arteriosclerosis showed higher peak systolic velocity (PSV) values compared with vessels without arteriosclerosis (P = 0.05).

Conclusions

Uterine artery arteriosclerosis shows a high prevalence in women undergoing total hysterectomy for benign diseases. Higher BMI, serum triglycerides, and PSV, and lower serum HDL appear as risk factors for uterine artery arteriosclerosis.
Overexpression of Copines‐1 is associated with clinicopathological parameters and poor outcome in gastric cancer
Authors: Yang Jun , Wang Yingjing , Ge Rong , Jia Xiupeng , Ge Congshan , Cen Youqing , Pan Deng
Published: October 2022

Background

Copines‐1 (CPNE1) is a soluble membrane‐binding protein that includes two tandem C2 domains at the N‐terminus and a C terminal A domain. Importantly, it is associated with the prognosis of various tumors, but there are only a few studies regarding the role of CPNE1 in gastric cancer (GC). This study aimed to explore the clinicopathological significance and prognostic potential of CPNE1 expression in GC.

Methods

Data from the TIMER2.0 and UALCAN were analyzed to assess CPNE1 mRNA levels in GC. The prognostic role of CPNE1 mRNA was examined via the Kaplan–Meier plotter. CPNE1 protein expression in tumor tissues was analyzed via immunohistochemistry of clinical samples from 99 GC patients. The relationship of CPNE1 expression with clinicopathological parameters and overall survival (OS) was evaluated using Cox proportional hazards regression models and Kaplan–Meier survival curves.

Results

Copines‐1 mRNA levels were higher in GC tissues than in adjacent normal tissue (ANT) (p < 0.05). Further, high CPNE1 mRNA expression indicated poor OS (p = 9.4 e‐10) and was significantly associated with first progression (FP) (p = 1.6 e‐06) and post‐progression survival (PPS) (p = 1.5 e‐12). In addition, CPNE1 protein expression was higher in GC tissues than in ANT (p < 0.0001). Moreover, CPNE1 high expression was significantly related to advanced tumor‐node‐metastasis (TNM) stage (p = 0.004), lymph node metastasis (p = 0.003), and vascular invasion (p = 0.001). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that GC patients with high expression CPNE1 group had worse OS than low expression group (p = 0.003). Univariate analysis showed that age (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.992; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.009–3.934; p = 0.047), advanced TNM stage (HR = 4.941; 95% CI, 2.052–11.897; p = 0.000), tumor invasion (HR = 3.472; 95% CI, 1.349–8.937; p = 0.010), lymph node metastasis (HR = 8.846; 95% CI, 2.708–28.897; p = 0.000), vascular invasion (HR = 3.237; 95% CI, 1.521–6.891; p = 0.002), nervous invasion (HR = 2.324; 95% CI, 1.205–4.479; p = 0.012), and CPNE1 expression (HR = 3.464; 95% CI, 1.440–8.334; p = 0.006) were correlated with OS. In the multivariate analysis, age (HR = 2.514; 95% CI, 1.264–4.999; p = 0.009), lymph node metastasis (HR = 8.441; 95% CI, 2.553–27.906; p < 0.05), and CPNE1 expression (HR = 2.549; 95% CI, 1.051–6.186; p = 0.039) were significant prognostic predictors for GC.

Conclusions

Copines‐1 overexpression in GC is significantly associated with poor prognosis. Thus, CPNE1 levels may serve as a prognostic biomarker in GC patients.
The rise of chatbots: The effect of using chatbot agents on consumers' responses to request rejection
Authors: Yu Shubin , Xiong Ji (Jill) , Shen Hao
Published: October 2022

This research investigates consumers’ perceptions and evaluations of robot service agents compared with human service agents when service requests are rejected. Six studies were conducted. The results show that when consumers receive a rejection of their service request, they evaluate the service less negatively if the service is handled by a chatbot agent versus a human agent. The reason is that consumers have lower expectations that robots will be able to provide flexible services to them. Consequently, their dissatisfaction with the request rejection is lower when the service is handled by robots. However, the aforementioned effect is not observed (1) when consumers have not experienced the service yet, (2) when their service request has been accepted, or (3) when the service agent conveys emotions to apologize for request rejection.
Characterization of nutrient runoff from perennial and annual forages following broiler litter application
Authors: Katuwal S. , Ashworth A. J. , Moore P. A. , Owens P. R.
Published: October 2022

Information on how forage species influence sediment and nutrient transport in runoff is required for limiting non‐point source pollution from broiler litter applications. In this study, we examined the effects of five forage species (eastern gamagrass [Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L.], Kernza [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey], silphium [Silphium integrifolium Michx.], switchgrass [Panicum virgatum L.], and winter wheat [Triticum aestivum L.]) on runoff nutrient losses from broiler litter–amended (5.6 Mg ha−1) and non‐amended plots (control) following four simulated rainfall (5 cm h−1) events that were applied to these plots in late spring and early fall of 2019 and 2021. Runoff collected for 30 min was analyzed for total suspended solids (TSS) and nutrients (total organic carbon [TOC], soluble reactive phosphorus [SRP], total dissolved phosphorus [TDP], total phosphorus [TP], total nitrogen [TN], ammonium‐nitrogen [NH4–N], and nitrate‐nitrogen [NO3–N]). Total sediment and nutrient losses increased 5‐ to 19‐fold following litter application for all species, which reduced to background levels during fall rainfall events. Across the four simulated rainfall events, switchgrass resulted in lower cumulative losses of TSS, TOC, SRP, TDP, TP, and NO3–N than gamagrass and wheat but did not differ from Kernza and silphium for litter‐amended treatments. The performance of newly introduced perennial crops (Kernza and silphium) was similar or better than that of gamagrass in terms of cumulative runoff sediment and nutrient losses. Results show high potential for Kernza, silphium, and switchgrass to improve water quality when used in forage–vegetative filter strip systems.
Impact of ABCB1, ABCC1, ABCC2, and ABCG2 variants in predicting prognosis and clinical outcomes of north Indian lung cancer patients undergoing platinum‐based doublet chemotherapy
Authors: Sharma Parul , Singh Navneet , Sharma Siddharth
Published: October 2022

Background

ABC transporters are membrane proteins expressed in the lungs and are crucial for efflux of various chemotherapeutic agents. Polymorphisms of ABC transporters have a certain impact on the transporter activity because their expression levels may influence the extent and longevity of chemotherapeutic drug outflow, affecting patient outcomes. The present study aimed to assess the impact of ABCB1, ABCC1/2, and ABCG2 gene variants in predicting prognosis and clinical outcomes in lung carcinoma patients.

Methods

In total, 502 lung cancer patients undergoing platinum‐based chemotherapy were recruited in this prospective study. Genotyping of ABCB1 (C1236T, C3435T, and G2677T/A), ABCC1 (G3173A and G2168A), ABCC2 (G4544A), and ABCG2 (C421A) polymorphisms in Northern Indian lung carcinoma patients were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis.

Results

Poor survival outcomes were noted in patients carrying a heterozygous genotype (CT) for the ABCB1 C1236T polymorphism compared to the wild‐type genotype (CC) (p = 0.04). The mutant genotype (AA) for ABCC1 G3173A exhibited a lower median survival time compared to the reference genotype (GG) (p = 0.009). Lower survival was observed in individuals carrying a heterozygous genotype (GA) for ABCC2 G4544A polymorphism compared to the wild‐type genotype (GG) (p = 0.017). Small cell lung cancer patients with the ABCB1 G2677A polymorphism having a heterozygous genotype (GA) showed poor survival compared to the wild‐type genotype (GG) (p = 0.03). For ABCC1 G3173A, adenocarcinoma patients having a mutant genotype (AA) had reduced survival compared to the wild‐type (GG) genotype (p = 0.03). For ABCB1 C3435T, individuals carrying a heterozygous (CT) (p = 0.018) and mutant (TT) genotype (p = 0.007) had poor survival compared to the wild‐type (CC) genotype in patients treated with pemetrexed and cisplatin. The patients administered cisplatin and irinotecan and having mutant alleles (AA) for the ABCB1 G2677A polymorphism showed a lower survival compared to the individuals carrying wild‐type alleles (GG) (p = 0.009).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that ABCB1 C1236T, ABCB1 C3435T, ABCB1 G2677A, ABCC1 G3173A, and ABCC2 G4544A are involved in predicting prognosis. Genotyping of the ABC polymorphism is essential for predicting prognosis in lung carcinoma patients.
Ecomorphology of the cervid intermediate phalanx and its implications for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction
Authors: Gruwier Ben J. , Kovarovic Kris
Published: October 2022

This paper reports on newly developed ecomorphological models for the cervid intermediate phalanx. Using a geometric morphometric approach, we quantitatively assess the overall gracility of the bone, the depth and concavity of the proximal articulation and the roundness and symmetry of the distal articulation in the intermediate phalanx, to establish relationships between morphology, locomotor behavior and environment. The morphology of the phalanx was found to vary along a gradient from gracile phalanges with shallow proximal articulations in forms adapted to yielding substrate, to robust phalanges with deeper proximal articulations in taxa adapted to firm substrate. Phylogeny and allometry are accounted for using regressions and phylogenetic comparative methods. Although the results indicate phylogeny explains part of the morphological variation, overall the shape of the intermediate phalanx appears mainly driven by differences in function. Consequently, this element promises to be a useful palaeoenvironmental proxy that can be applied on fossil assemblages with cervid remains.
It is time to move on from homology in comparative biology
Authors: Cracraft Joel
Published: October 2022

The continued use of the idea of homology is questionable on philosophical and scientific grounds. It is based on the widespread idea that a “homologue” in extant taxa can be “traced back” to a feature in common ancestor. In contrast, Richard Owen, who first used the term in 1846, saw homology (homologue) differently, as “sameness”: “the same organ in different animals under every variety of form and function.” At that point in time, he was not influenced by evolutionary thinking, and more focused on the details and approaches to biological comparison and description. His was a perceptive approach to comparison. This paper argues that the concept of homology no longer plays a useful role in comparative biology. It is a conceptual idea with little or no empirical implications for modern comparisons among phenotypes. Comparative biology now uses formal phylogenetic analysis in which similar features in individuals of two or more taxa are treated as characters on a tree and tested for historical “sameness” in terms of the concept of synapomorphy. If we are to understand the complexities of phenotypic evolution, applying this method to detailed comparative data will be essential. At the same time, a deep understanding of the phenotype and its history will emerge only through the use of multidisciplinary approaches that address historical changes at different hierarchical levels.
Quantum chemical, spectroscopic and molecular docking investigations of potential pulmonary fibrosis drug methyl 2‐chloro 4‐iodonicotinate
Authors: Pandimeena G. , Mathavan T. , Samuel E. James Jebaseelan , Milton Franklin Benial A.
Published: October 2022

In this work, the methyl 2‐chloro 4‐iodonicotinate (MCIN) was investigated to study the structural, spectroscopic and electronic properties using density functional theory (DFT) quantum chemical calculations. The most stable structure of MCIN was optimized by DFT/B3LYP method with a LanLD2Z basis set. The optimized parameters and vibrational wavenumbers were determined. The vibrational task of the molecule was done by potential energy distribution calculations. The 13C NMR spectrum of the MCIN molecule was simulated by the Gauge‐Invariant‐Atomic Orbital method using a dimethyl sulfoxide solution and the isotropic chemical shift values of the molecule were calculated and observed. Ultraviolet‐visible spectra were simulated and observed. The pharmaceutical activity was predicted using frontier molecular orbital and natural bond orbital analysis. The reactive sites of the MCIN molecule were determined using Mulliken atomic charge distribution, molecular electrostatic potential surface and the local reactivity analysis. The molecular docking analysis confirms that the title molecule can be used in drug design for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.
Pulmonary MRA During Pregnancy: Early Experience With Ferumoxytol
Authors: Starekova Jitka , Nagle Scott K. , Schiebler Mark L. , Reeder Scott B. , Meduri Venkata N.
Published: October 2022

Background

Ferumoxytol, an intravenous iron supplement, is commonly used to treat anemia in pregnancy. Ferumoxytol‐enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (Fe‐MRA) is a viable off‐label alternative to gadolinium‐enhanced MRA for assessment of pulmonary embolism (PE) in pregnancy.

Purpose

To describe our clinical experience with Fe‐MRA in pregnant women with suspected PE.

Study type

Retrospective, observational, cohort.

Population

A total of 98 Fe‐MRA exams (consecutive sample) performed in 94 pregnant women.

Field Strength/Sequence

A 1.5 T and 3.0 T, 3D T1‐weighted MRA.

Assessment

After IRB approval including a waiver of informed consent, electronic health records were reviewed retrospectively for all Fe‐MRA exams performed at our institution in pregnant between January, 2017 and March, 2022. The Fe‐MRA protocol included 3D‐MRA for assessment of pulmonary arteries, and T1‐weighted imaging for ancillary findings. Fe‐MRA exam duration was measured from image time stamps. Fe‐MRA exams were reviewed by three cardiovascular imagers using a 4‐point Likert scale for image quality and confidence for PE diagnosis (score 4 = best, 1 = worst), and tabulation of ancillary findings.

Statistical tests

Continuous data are presented as mean ± standard deviation. The overall image quality and confidence score is given as the mean of three readers.

Results

The 98 Fe‐MRA exams were performed in 94 pregnant women (age 30 ± 6, range 19–48 years, gestational week 23 ± 10, range 3–38 weeks), with four undergoing two Fe‐MRA exams during their pregnancy. Median Fe‐MRA exam durration was 8 minutes (interquantile range 6 minutes). Overall image quality score was 3.3 ± 0.9. Confidence score for diagnosing PE was 3.5 ± 0.8. One subject was positive for PE (1/94, 1%); 42 of the 94 (45%) subjects Fe‐MRA had ancillary findings including hydronephrosis or pneumonia.

Conclusion

Ferumoxytol enhanced MRA is a radiation‐ and gadolinium‐free alternative for diagnosis of PE during pregancy.

Evidence Level

4

Technical Efficacy

Stage 5
T1 Mapping From MPRAGE Acquisitions: Application to the Measurement of the Concentration of Nanoparticles in Tumors for Theranostic Use
Authors: Lavielle Audrey , Boux Fabien , Deborne Justine , Pinaud Noël , Dufort Sandrine , Verry Camille , Grand Sylvie , Troprès Irène , Vecco‐Garda Clément , Le Duc Géraldine , Mornet Stéphane , Crémillieux Yannick
Published: October 2022

Background

The measurement of the concentration of theranostic agents in vivo is essential for the assessment of their therapeutic efficacy and their safety regarding healthy tissue. To this end, there is a need for quantitative T1 measurements that can be obtained as part of a standard clinical imaging protocol applied to tumor patients.

Purpose

To generate T1 maps from MR images obtained with the magnetization‐prepared rapid gradient echo (MPRAGE) sequence. To evaluate the feasibility of the proposed approach on phantoms, animal and patients with brain metastases.

Study Type

Pilot.

Phantom/Animal model/Population

Solutions containing contrast agents (chelated Gd3+ and iron nanoparticles), male rat of Wistar strain, three patients with brain metastases.

Field Strength/Sequence

A 3‐T and 7‐T, saturation recovery (SR), and MPRAGE sequences.

Assessment

The MPRAGE T1 measurement was compared to the reference SR method on phantoms and rat brain at 7‐T. The robustness of the in vivo method was evaluated by studying the impact of misestimates of tissue proton density. Concentrations of Gd‐based theranostic agents were measured at 3‐T in gray matter and metastases in patients recruited in NanoRad clinical trial.

Statistical Tests

A linear model was used to characterize the relation between T1 measurements from the MPRAGE and the SR acquisitions obtained in vitro at 7‐T.

Results

The slope of the linear model was 0.966 (R2 = 0.9934). MPRAGE‐based T1 values measured in the rat brain were 1723 msec in the thalamus. MPRAGE‐based T1 values measured in patients in white matter and gray matter amounted to 747 msec and 1690 msec. Mean concentration values of Gd3+ in metastases were 61.47 μmol.

Data Conclusion

The T1 values obtained in vitro and in vivo support the validity of the proposed approach. The concentrations of Gd‐based theranostic agents may be assessed in patients with metastases within a standard clinical imaging protocol using the MPRAGE sequence.

Evidence Level

2.

Technical Efficacy

Stage 1.
Effect of COVID‐19 vaccination on semen parameters: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Huang Jialyu , Fang Zheng , Huang Lingling , Fan Lu , Liu Yiqi , Xia Leizhen , Xu Dingfei , Liu Peipei , Chen Jia , Chen Mengyi , Tian Lifeng , Tan Jun , Wu Qiongfang
Published: October 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) vaccination on semen parameters through systematic review and meta‐analysis. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were comprehensively searched by June 2022. Studies were considered eligible if they compared semen parameters before and after COVID‐19 vaccination or between vaccinated and unvaccinated men, with no restrictions on vaccine types or doses. The effect size was calculated as mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using a random‐effects model. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the sources of heterogeneity measured by the I2 statistic, with publication bias evaluated by Egger's test. Twelve cohort studies involving 914 participants fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In a comparison of vaccinated versus unvaccinated group, the pooled data revealed no significant differences in semen volume (MD = 0.18 ml, 95% CI −0.02 to 0.38), sperm concentration (MD = 1.16 million/ml, 95% CI −1.34 to 3.66), total sperm motility (MD = −0.14%, 95% CI −2.84 to 2.56), progressive sperm motility (MD = −1.06%, 95% CI −2.88 to 0.77), total sperm count (MD = 5.92 million, 95% CI −10.22 to 22.05), total motile sperm count (MD = 2.18 million, 95% CI −1.28 to 5.63), total progressively motile sperm count (MD = −3.87 million, 95% CI −13.16 to 5.43), and sperm morphology (MD = 0.07%, 95% CI −0.84 to 0.97). The results also remained similar across messenger ribonucleic acid, viral‐vector, and inactivated COVID‐19 vaccines. Sensitivity analysis identified two individual studies that contributed to heterogeneity, while the effect size was not materially altered. No obvious publication bias was detected among included studies. Our finding suggested that COVID‐19 vaccination had no detrimental impact on semen quality, which could be potentially helpful to reduce male vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccination coverage.
Subspace foliations and collapse of closed flat manifolds
Authors: Bettiol Renato G. , Derdzinski Andrzej , Mossa Roberto , Piccione Paolo
Published: October 2022

We study relations between certain totally geodesic foliations of a closed flat manifold and its collapsed Gromov–Hausdorff limits. Our main results explicitly identify such collapsed limits as flat orbifolds, and provide algebraic and geometric criteria to determine whether they are singular.
Odd‐dimensional counterparts of abelian complex and hypercomplex structures
Authors: Andrada Adrián , Dileo Giulia
Published: October 2022

We introduce the notion of abelian almost contact structures on an odd‐dimensional real Lie algebra . We investigate correspondences with even‐dimensional Lie algebras endowed with an abelian complex structure, and with Kähler Lie algebras when carries a compatible inner product. The classification of 5‐dimensional Sasakian Lie algebras with abelian structure is obtained. Later, we introduce abelian almost 3‐contact structures on real Lie algebras of dimension , obtaining the classification of these Lie algebras in dimension 7. Finally, we deal with the geometry of a Lie group G endowed with a left invariant abelian almost 3‐contact metric structure. We determine conditions for G to admit a canonical metric connection with skew torsion, which plays the role of the Bismut connection for hyperKähler with torsion (HKT) structures arising from abelian hypercomplex structures. We provide examples and discuss the parallelism of the torsion of the canonical connection.
Aspartate Alleviates Colonic Epithelial Damage by Regulating Intestinal Stem Cell Proliferation and Differentiation via Mitochondrial Dynamics
Authors: Wang Dan , Kuang Yanling , Wan Zhicheng , Li Pei , Zhao Jiangchao , Zhu Huiling , Liu Yulan
Published: October 2022

Scope

Proliferation and differentiation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) are crucial for functional restoration after injury, which can be regulated by nutritional molecules. Aspartate is implicated in maintaining intestinal barrier after injury, but underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, this study seeks to investigate if aspartate alleviates colonic epithelial damage by regulating ISC function, and to elucidate its mechanisms.

Methods and results

Eight‐week‐old male C57BL/6 mice supplement with or without 1% L‐aspartate are subjected to drinking water or 2.5% DSS to induce colitis. In this study, aspartate administration alleviates the severity of colitis, as indicated by reduced body weight loss, colon shortening, and inhibited pro‐inflammatory cytokine expression in DSS‐challenged mice. Additionally, aspartate promotes colonic epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation after DSS‐induced damage in mice. Pretreatment with aspartate not only enhances ISC proliferation but also induces ISC differentiation toward enterocytes and goblet cells, which prevent TNF‐α‐induced colonoid damage. Mechanistically, aspartate ameliorates DSS/TNF‐α‐induced perturbation of mitochondrial metabolism and maintains mitochondrial dynamics in colonic epithelium and colonoids. Moreover, aspartate‐mediated ISC proliferation and differentiation are primarily dependent on mitochondrial fusion rather than fission.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that aspartate promotes ISC proliferation and differentiation to alleviate colonic epithelial damage by regulation of mitochondrial metabolism and dynamics.
Segmentation by test‐time optimization for CBCT‐based adaptive radiation therapy
Authors: Liang Xiao , Chun Jaehee , Morgan Howard , Bai Ti , Nguyen Dan , Park Justin , Jiang Steve
Published: October 2022

Purpose

Online adaptive radiotherapy (ART) requires accurate and efficient auto‐segmentation of target volumes and organs‐at‐risk (OARs) in mostly cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) images, which often have severe artifacts and lack soft‐tissue contrast, making direct segmentation very challenging. Propagating expert‐drawn contours from the pretreatment planning CT through traditional or deep learning (DL)‐based deformable image registration (DIR) can achieve improved results in many situations. Typical DL‐based DIR models are population based, that is, trained with a dataset for a population of patients, and so they may be affected by the generalizability problem.

Methods

In this paper, we propose a method called test‐time optimization (TTO) to refine a pretrained DL‐based DIR population model, first for each individual test patient, and then progressively for each fraction of online ART treatment. Our proposed method is less susceptible to the generalizability problem and thus can improve overall performance of different DL‐based DIR models by improving model accuracy, especially for outliers. Our experiments used data from 239 patients with head‐and‐neck squamous cell carcinoma to test the proposed method. First, we trained a population model with 200 patients and then applied TTO to the remaining 39 test patients by refining the trained population model to obtain 39 individualized models. We compared each of the individualized models with the population model in terms of segmentation accuracy.

Results

The average improvement of the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and 95% Hausdorff distance (HD95) of segmentation can be up to 0.04 (5%) and 0.98 mm (25%), respectively, with the individualized models compared to the population model over 17 selected OARs and a target of 39 patients. Although the average improvement may seem mild, we found that the improvement for outlier patients with structures of large anatomical changes is significant. The number of patients with at least 0.05 DSC improvement or 2 mm HD95 improvement by TTO averaged over the 17 selected structures for the state‐of‐the‐art architecture VoxelMorph is 10 out of 39 test patients. By deriving the individualized model using TTO from the pretrained population model, TTO models can be ready in about 1 min. We also generated the adapted fractional models for each of the 39 test patients by progressively refining the individualized models using TTO to CBCT images acquired at later fractions of online ART treatment. When adapting the individualized model to a later fraction of the same patient, the model can be ready in less than a minute with slightly improved accuracy.

Conclusions

The proposed TTO method is well suited for online ART and can boost segmentation accuracy for DL‐based DIR models, especially for outlier patients where the pretrained models fail.
Interview mit Chemienobelpreisträger David MacMillan
Authors: Wetterau Jörg
Published: October 2022

Dieses Jahr trafen sich Ende Juni bei der Lindauer Nobeltagung 500 junge Wissenschaftler aus 90 Ländern mit mehr als 30 Chemienobelpreisträgern. Einer von ihnen war David MacMillan, der sich im vergangenen Jahr den Nobelpreis mit Benjamin List teilte. Für die Nachrichten aus der Chemie sprach Jörg Wetterau in Lindau mit MacMillan.
Industrie: An der Forschung gespart
Authors: Bulmahn Maren
Published: October 2022

Unternehmen stecken nicht mehr jedes Jahr mehr Geld in Forschung und Entwicklung, und der Staat zieht sich aus gemeinsamen Projekten zurück.
Simulationen: Die Realität nachbilden und sparen
Authors: Quennet Marcel , Pohl Vincent , Krause Oskar
Published: October 2022

Neue Materialien einfach und schnell finden, Prozesse verbessern und Potenziale erschließen – dafür hat das Start‐up Quantistry eine Software entwickelt. Das Unternehmen bereitet sie schon jetzt darauf vor, auch auf Quantencomputern zu laufen.
Schwerpunktwoche Green Chemistry
Authors: Schneider Walter
Published: October 2022

GÖCH‐Minisymposien, 19. Chemietage und Green Chemical Deal Konferenz
Wie viel Wasserstoff verträgt die Atmosphäre?
Authors: Zellner Reinhard
Published: October 2022

Wasserstoff reagiert mit Hydroxylradikalen und beeinflusst so die Lebensdauer von Methan in der Atmosphäre. Dieser Effekt ist aufgrund der geringen Wasserstoffmengen in der Atmosphäre zurzeit vernachlässigbar. Wird Wasserstoff jedoch zukünftig als Energieträger genutzt, könnte sich das ändern.
Knowledge, attitudes and practices of enhanced recovery after surgery among paediatric surgical nurses in China: A Cross‐Sectional study
Authors: Liu Ke‐Xian , Lv Meng , Liu Xiao‐Shu , Wang Hong‐Qin , Chen Zhi‐Min , Xu Hong‐Zhen
Published: October 2022

Aim

To investigate paediatric surgical nurses' knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) regarding enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS).

Design

A cross‐sectional study.

Methods

A 34‐question survey was developed. An electronic version of the questionnaire was distributed to nurses working in paediatric surgical departments of 22 tertiary hospitals from 14 provinces of China by means of convenience sampling from February to April 2021. A total of 855 nurses' data was used as the final sample. The statistical analysis included nonparametric test, Spearman′s correlation and multiple linear regression.

Results

There is still room for improvement regarding the KAP of paediatric surgical nurses, especially in the knowledge of “postoperative recovery” and “preoperative preparation”. The influencing factors of KAP were educational level, geographical region (South, Central, North, Northwest), years of work experience, hospital category (general hospital, women and children′s hospital), and familiarity with ERAS.
A virtual element method‐based positivity‐preserving conservative scheme for convection–diffusion problems on polygonal meshes
Authors: Sheng Meihua , Yang Di , Gao Zhiming
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we propose a positivity‐preserving conservative scheme based on the virtual element method (VEM) to solve convection–diffusion problems on general meshes. As an extension of finite element methods to general polygonal elements, the VEM has many advantages such as substantial mathematical foundations, simplicity in implementation. However, it is neither positivity‐preserving nor locally conservative. The purpose of this article is to develop a new scheme, which has the same accuracy as the VEM and preserves the positivity of the numerical solution and local conservation on primary grids. The first step is to calculate the cell‐vertex values by the lowest‐order VEM. Then, the nonlinear two‐point flux approximations are utilized to obtain the nonnegativity of cell‐centered values and the local conservation property. The new scheme inherits both advantages of the VEM and the nonlinear two‐point flux approximations. Numerical results show that the new scheme can reach the optimal convergence order of the virtual element theory, that is, the second‐order accuracy for the solution and the first‐order accuracy for its gradient. Moreover, the obtained cell‐centered values are nonnegative, which demonstrates the positivity‐preserving property of our new scheme.
Robust H∞ control for fractional order singular systems 0 < α < 1 with uncertainty
Authors: Li Bingxin , Zhao Xin
Published: October 2022

This article studies robust control for fractional order singular systems (FOSS) with uncertainty. First, the condition based on the linear matrix inequality (LMI) is obtained for fractional order systems with in Corollary 1. Compared with existing results, by using two matrices to replace the complex matrix, the condition is easier to solve. Based on Corollary 1, the condition of control based on non‐strict LMI for FOSS without uncertainty is proposed. The strict LMI‐based conditions of control are improved to overcome the equality constraints. Finally, the LMI‐based conditions of robust control are proposed for FOSS. Four examples are shown to illustrate the effectiveness of the method.
Discrete‐time dynamic event‐triggered H∞ control of uncertain neural networks subject to time delays and disturbances
Authors: Huong Dinh Cong
Published: October 2022

The event‐triggered control problem for uncertain neural networks subject to time‐varying delays and disturbances was considered in this article. A method based on a novel discrete‐time dynamic event‐triggered mechanism and an event‐triggered control is proposed to solve the problem of event‐triggered control for the considered neural networks. By employing the Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional method, the Cauchy matrix inequality, and the Schur complement lemma, we derive a sufficient condition to guarantee the event‐triggered control problem is solved. This sufficient condition is formed in terms of linear matrix inequalities, which can be effectively solved by using the MATLAB LMI Control Toolbox. Two examples and simulations are provided to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed method.
Increased use of diagnostic testing after increased nuchal translucency: The influence of non‐invasive prenatal testing and chromosomal microarray
Authors: Bunnell Megan E. , Adams Sophie , Pelletier Andrea , Hoffman Sage Yael
Published: October 2022

Objective

The utilization of non‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and chromosomal microarray (CMA) has significantly altered the options for testing following the diagnosis of an increased nuchal translucency (NT). This study defines the rates of utilization of diagnostic testing in the pre‐NIPT, pre‐CMA, and post‐CMA eras.

Methods

We retrospectively examined NT scans performed in our department from January 2010 to December 2020 and identified all NTs ≥3.0 mm for analysis. We divided our data into three distinct periods (2010–2012, 2013–2016, and 2017–2020) corresponding to our institutional practice shifts in recommending and offering use of NIPT (2013) and CMA (2016), respectively.

Results

689 patients with NT ≥ 3.0 mm met inclusion criteria in our study, of which 355 (51.5%) individuals underwent diagnostic testing and 334 (48.5%) did not. There was a significant decline in rates of diagnostic testing with NIPT (2013), which has returned to pre‐NIPT levels with the availability of microarray.

Conclusions

Since the routine use of CMA (2016), the rates of diagnostic testing for increased NT have returned to pre‐NIPT levels. This study validates data suggesting an initial decline in the rates of diagnostic testing following abnormal NT but suggests that the decline may be reversing in the post‐CMA era due to a rise in rates of chorionic villus sampling.
The impact of maternal and geographical factors on the uptake of non‐invasive prenatal testing: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Tweneboa Kodua Ama Adutwumwaa , Fell Deshayne Blayre , Armour Christine , Dougan Shelley , Bellai‐Dussault Kara , Little Julian
Published: October 2022

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to investigate recent trends in non‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) utilisation, including factors associated with geographical variation, and to determine whether maternal or regional characteristics are associated with uptake the of NIPT.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included pregnant individuals in Ontario with an expected date of delivery from August 1st, 2016 to March 31st, 2020. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate rate ratios for NIPT use adjusted for maternal and healthcare covariates.

Results

We found substantial variation in NIPT uptake between regions within the province. The highest uptake was found in urban areas, highest quintile of neighbourhood income and education, for those who were ≥40 years of age and had a history of previous aneuploidy, for those with a prenatal care visit in the first trimester, multiple pregnancy, multigravidity and body mass index within the normal range (18.5–24.9 kg/m2).

Conclusion

Our study demonstrated significant regional and maternal differences in NIPT uptake across Ontario. Given the large sample size and diverse population, our study may have implications for other jurisdictions with large, socio‐demographically and geographically diverse populations.