bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mid‐term outcomes of the Pulsta transcatheter pulmonary valve for the native right ventricular outflow tract
Authors: Lee Sang‐Yun , Kim Gi Beom , Kim Seong‐Ho , Jang So‐Ick , Choi Jae Young , Kang I. Seok , Kim Young‐Hwue
Published: July 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study is to present the mid‐term outcomes of Pulsta valve.

Background

The Pulsta valve is a Self‐expandable knitted nitinol‐wire stent mounted with a treated tri‐leaflet α‐Gal‐free porcine pericardial valve for percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) in patients with native right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) lesions.

Methods

A multi‐center clinical trial using Pulsta valve® was designed for patients with severe pulmonary regurgitation (PR) in the native RVOT in multiple centers in South Korea and 25 patients were enrolled. Before PPVI, severe PR (mean PR fraction: 45.5 ± 6.9%) and enlarged RV volume (mean indexed RV end‐diastolic volume; 169.7 ± 13.0 ml/m2) was present. The mean age was 21.6 ± 6.6 years old.

Results

All patients were successfully implanted with 26, 28, or 32 mm diameter of Pulsta valve loaded on the 18 or 20 French delivery catheters. At 6 months follow up, indexed RV end‐diastolic volume was decreased to 126.9 ± 16.9 ml/m2. At mean 33.1 ± 14.3 months follow‐up, the mean value of mean pressure gradient in Pulsta valve was 6.5 ± 3.0 mmhg without significant PR. There was no serious device‐related adverse event.

Conclusions

A multi‐center clinical trial was completed successfully with planned Pulsta valve implantation and demonstrated good mid‐term effectiveness without device‐related serious adverse events.
Chronic pain and opioid analgesic use: A case report
Authors: Quah Michael C. H. , Marney Bethany C. , Cooper Richard J. , Dickson Jon M.
Published: July 2021

Relationship‐based medical care is essential in the management of chronic pain. Opioids are often ineffective and can cause significant harm. However, there is significant time pressure, and there are insufficient resources and guidelines for GPs to be able to offer alternatives, putting the NHS at risk of a growing opioid epidemic.
Lung carcinoma–associated cognitive impairment in a patient with Alzheimer’s disease pathology: A case report
Authors: Takigawa Kiyoto , Takaya Masahiko , Ishii Kazunari , Saigoh Kazumasa , Shirakawa Osamu
Published: July 2021

A patient with Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology when cognitive impairment is detected tends to be diagnosed with AD. However, before diagnosing, we make an effort to exclude other diseases, for example, carcinoma.
Coombs‐negative hemolytic anemia in a male with COVID‐19
Authors: Bae Ju Young , Jeon June Evelyn , Hussein Khalil Ian , Lee Merlin Sung
Published: July 2021

This case illustrates the need to consider SARS‐CoV‐2 infection as a catalyst for Coombs‐negative hemolytic anemia as well as the potential for IVIG to serve as an effective treatment for the condition.
3D reconstruction based on photoelastic fringes
Authors: Tao Bo , Liu Yao , Huang Licheng , Chen Guanjun , Chen Baojia
Published: July 2021

A three‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction method of structured light based on photoelastic fringes was proposed in this research. The photoelastic fringes are produced by both simulation and a polycarbonate disk under diametric compression load. Six fringes are projected onto an object by using the six‐step phase shifting technique. Therefore, the isochromatic phase image is calculated. After phase unwrapping, the isochromatic phase image can be used for 3D reconstruction. In order to verify the effectiveness of this method, two experiment devices were built by using projector and photoelastic instrument, respectively. The results show that the fringe pattern based on photoelasticity can be used for 3D reconstruction as a structured light pattern. Compared to the simulation results, the fringes produced by load are more blurred. In order to obtain a better reconstruction result, a large load should be applied to produce dense fringes.
Improving Water Quality Impacts from Agriculture
Authors: Coronel Eric , Young Kelly
Published: July 2021

This article is brought to you by the SPARC Initiative created in partnership between the American Society for Agronomy, the Agricultural Retailers Association, Environmental Defense Fund, and Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture to empower trusted advisers to deliver services that drive continuous improvement in the productivity, profitability, and environmental outcomes of farmers’ operations. Learn more about the SPARC Initiative and access additional resources, including the six‐module series on sustainability at https://www.fieldtomarket.org/SPARC. Earn 1 CEU in Sustainability by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://www.certifiedcropadviser.org/education/classroom/classes/1002.
Regenerative Agriculture: What Every CCA Needs to Know
Authors: Green Thomas , van den Brink Rozemarijn , Talbert Josie , Sarode Shruti
Published: July 2021

Regenerative agriculture is more than a buzzword. A growing number of food and fiber companies have regenerative ag initiatives underway, and CCAs should be prepared to answer questions from clients and others about regenerative ag and have a plan for accessing expertise, pursuing professional development, and minimizing client risk if called on to help a client implement such systems. The business models of CCAs and their employers may need to be adjusted to ensure healthy revenue from expertise and services to replace reduced input sales revenue. This is the final article in the three‐part series in Crops & Soils magazine. It is part of an American Society of Agronomy training series sponsored by the Kellogg Company. Earn 1 CEU in Integrated Pest Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at www.certifiedcropadviser.org/education/classroom/classes/998.
An efficient on‐demand charging scheduling scheme for mobile charging vehicle
Authors: Zhong Ping , Xu Aikun , Gao Jianliang , Zhang Yiming , Chen Yingwen
Published: July 2021

Shared transportation is a new way of traveling generated by the rapid development of the “Internet +” and the sharing economy. Due to the limited energy carried by shared e‐bikes, the energy problem becomes the primary obstacle restricting its development. At present, one way to solve the energy problem is to use mobile charging vehicles (MCVs). However, how to schedule MCVs to achieve fast response, reduce energy consumption, and improve charging efficiency is crucial. In this paper, we propose a Charging Scheduling scheme based on Dynamic Characteristic of shared e‐bike in Obstacle Space (CSDC‐OS). Firstly, we design two MCV departure mechanisms to solve the problems of low utilization of MCVs and long waiting time for shared e‐bikes. Then, we design the schedulability conditions based on the A‐star algorithm and the dynamic change of e‐bikes to ensure that MCVs can return to the service station in time. Finally, we propose a charging sequence algorithm based on linear skyline query and a selective insertion algorithm to improve the charging efficiency of MCVs. Simulation results show that the CSDC‐OS can improve the response time, mobile consumption, and charging efficiency by more than 8% on average.
Chordacentrum mineralization is delayed in zebrafish betaglycan‐null mutants
Authors: Molina‐Villa Tonatiuh , Ramírez‐Vidal Lizbeth , Mendoza Valentín , Escalante‐Alcalde Diana , López‐Casillas Fernando
Published: July 2021

Background

The Transforming Growth Factor β (TGFβ) family is a group of related proteins that signal through a type I and type II receptors. Betaglycan, also known as the type III receptor (Tgfbr3), is a coreceptor for various ligands of the TGFβ family that participates in heart, liver and kidney development as revealed by the tgfbr3‐null mouse, as well as in angiogenesis as revealed by Tgfbr3 downregulation in morphant zebrafish.

Results

Here, we present CRISPR/Cas9‐derived zebrafish Tgfbr3‐null mutants, which exhibited unaltered embryonic angiogenesis and developed into fertile adults. One reproducible phenotype displayed by these Tgfbr3‐null mutants is delayed chordacentra mineralization, which nonetheless does not result in vertebral abnormalities in the adult fishes. We also report that the canonical TGFβ signaling pathway is needed for proper chordacentra mineralization and that Tgfbr3 absence decreases this signal in the notochordal cells responsible for this process.

Conclusion

Betaglycan's “ligand presentation” function contributes to the optimal TGFβ signaling required for zebrafish chordacentra mineralization.
Demographic history shapes genomic ancestry in hybrid zones
Authors: Frayer Megan E. , Payseur Bret A.
Published: July 2021

Demographic factors such as migration rate and population size can impede or facilitate speciation. In hybrid zones, reproductive boundaries between species are tested and demography mediates the opportunity for admixture between lineages that are partially isolated. Genomic ancestry is a powerful tool for revealing the history of admixed populations, but models and methods based on local ancestry are rarely applied to structured hybrid zones. To understand the effects of demography on ancestry in hybrids zones, we performed individual‐based simulations under a stepping‐stone model, treating migration rate, deme size, and hybrid zone age as parameters. We find that the number of ancestry junctions (the transition points between genomic regions with different ancestries) and heterogenicity (the genomic proportion heterozygous for ancestry) are often closely connected to demographic history. Reducing deme size reduces junction number and heterogenicity. Elevating migration rate increases heterogenicity, but migration affects junction number in more complex ways. We highlight the junction frequency spectrum as a novel and informative summary of ancestry that responds to demographic history. A substantial proportion of junctions are expected to fix when migration is limited or deme size is small, changing the shape of the spectrum. Our findings suggest that genomic patterns of ancestry could be used to infer demographic history in hybrid zones.
Dominance determines fish community biomass in a temperate seagrass ecosystem
Authors: Eger Aaron M. , Best Rebecca J. , Baum Julia K.
Published: July 2021

Biodiversity and ecosystem function are often correlated, but there are multiple hypotheses about the mechanisms underlying this relationship. Ecosystem functions such as primary or secondary production may be maximized by species richness, evenness in species abundances, or the presence or dominance of species with certain traits. Here, we combine surveys of natural fish communities (conducted in July and August 2016) with morphological trait data to examine relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem function (quantified as fish community biomass) across 14 subtidal eelgrass meadows in the Northeast Pacific (54°N, 130°W). We employ both taxonomic and functional trait measures of diversity to investigate whether ecosystem function is best predicted by species diversity (complementarity hypothesis) or by the presence or dominance of species with particular trait values (selection or dominance hypotheses). After controlling for environmental variation, we find that fish community biomass is maximized when taxonomic richness and functional evenness are low, and in communities dominated by species with particular trait values, specifically those associated with benthic habitats and prey capture. While previous work on fish communities has found that species richness is often positively correlated with ecosystem function, our results instead highlight the capacity for regionally prevalent and locally dominant species to drive ecosystem function in moderately diverse communities. We discuss these alternate links between community composition and ecosystem function and consider their divergent implications for ecosystem valuation and conservation prioritization.
Conservation planning for pollinators in the U.S. Great Plains: considerations of context, treatments, and scale
Authors: Niemuth Neal D. , Wangler Brian , LeBrun Jaymi J. , Dewald David , Larson Scott , Schwagler Todd , Bradbury Curtis W. , Pritchert Ronald D. , Iovanna Rich
Published: July 2021

Populations of many species of grassland‐associated butterflies, moths, and bumblebees in the Great Plains of North America are experiencing steep declines due to habitat loss and degradation—primarily conversion of grasslands to row‐crop agriculture and invasion of woody plants and exotic cool‐season grasses—and insecticide use. These declines are exacerbated by the generally limited dispersal ability of insects, which make local populations susceptible to extirpation following habitat fragmentation. Interest in pollinator conservation has grown substantially in recent years, but information to guide pollinator conservation across the region is limited. We used pollinator biology along with principles of landscape ecology and metapopulation dynamics to develop a simple decision matrix based on patch size and inter‐patch distances to guide landscape‐scale grassland conservation efforts in the U.S. northern Great Plains. When applied to spatial land cover data depicting potential pollinator habitat, the matrix uses landscape characteristics to guide placement of conservation treatments to help ensure persistence of target pollinator populations. Patch size and connectivity thresholds can be set to match characteristics of target species, but in all cases, local management will be necessary to ensure that fine‐grained features such as nectar sources and host plants are present. Applying the matrix to habitat layers for a nine‐state analysis region showed substantial geographic variation in conservation needs, opportunities, and potential treatments. We also demonstrate that non‐native planted cover such as alfalfa and certain grasslands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program can substantially enhance landscape structure by increasing grassland patch size and core area while decreasing distance between patches. Pollinators dependent on native prairie will also benefit from planted cover that provides nectar sources and serves as a buffer from pesticides associated with croplands. Consistent with the principles of strategic habitat conservation, targeted monitoring and research will be necessary to validate and adapt the model to meet local conditions.
Evidence‐based conservation in a changing world: lessons from waterbird individual‐based models
Authors: Brown Sally , Stillman Richard A.
Published: July 2021

Drivers of environmental change are causing novel combinations of pressures on ecological systems. Prediction in ecology often uses understanding of past conditions to make predictions to the future, but such an approach can breakdown when future conditions have not previously been encountered. Individual‐based models (IBMs) consider ecological systems as arising from the adaptive behavior and fates of individuals and have potential to provide more reliable predictions. To demonstrate potential, we review a lineage of related IBMs addressing the effects of environmental change on waterbirds, comprising 53 case studies of 28 species in 32 sites in 9 countries, using the Drivers‐Pressures‐State‐Impact‐Response (DPSIR) environmental management framework. Each case study comprises the predictions of an IBM on the effects of one or more drivers of environmental change on one or more bird species. Drivers exert a pressure on the environment which is represented in the IBMs as changes in either area or time available for feeding, the quality of habitat, or the energetic cost of living within an environment. Birds in the IBMs adapt to increased pressure by altering their behavioral state, defined as their location, diet, and the proportion of time spent feeding. If the birds are not able to compensate behaviorally, they suffer a physiological impact, determined by a decrease in body energy reserves, increased mortality, or decreased ability to migrate. Each case study assesses the impact of alternative drivers and potential ways to mitigate impacts to advise appropriate conservation management responses. We overview the lessons learned from the case studies and highlight the opportunities of using IBMs to inform conservation management for other species. Key findings indicate that understanding the behavioral and physiological processes that determine whether or not birds survive following a change in their environment is vital, so that mitigation measures can be better targeted. This is especially important where multiple hazards exist so that sensitivities and worse‐case scenarios can be better understood. Increasing the involvement of stakeholders to help inform and shape model development is encouraged and can lead to better representation of the modeled system and wider understanding and support for the final model.
Cetacean conservation planning in a global diversity hotspot: dealing with uncertainty and data deficiencies
Authors: Stephenson Fabrice , Hewitt Judi E. , Torres Leigh G. , Mouton Théophile L. , Brough Tom , Goetz Kimberly T. , Lundquist Carolyn J. , MacDiarmid Alison B. , Ellis Joanne , Constantine Rochelle
Published: July 2021

Many cetacean species are at risk from anthropogenic disturbances including climate change, pollution, and habitat degradation. Identifying cetacean hotspots for conservation management is therefore required. Aotearoa–New Zealand waters are used by 53% of the world’s cetacean species and are a global cetacean diversity hotspot. Using geographic predictions of cetacean taxa, we aimed to identify important areas within New Zealand waters using two methods: estimates of cetacean richness and a spatial prioritization analysis. For both methods, we investigated how varying levels of uncertainty in predictions of the taxa’ occurrence layers would affect our interpretation of cetacean hotspots. Despite some marked spatial differences in distribution of important areas for cetacean diversity, both methods, across all uncertainty scenarios, highlighted six distinct deep offshore regions as important habitat. Generally, inshore areas had lower richness estimates than offshore areas, but these remain important for conservation for species with limited ranges (e.g., the endemic Māui and Hector’s dolphins), and in some places had similar richness values to offshore hotspots. Furthermore, inshore hotspots had lower uncertainty in predicted taxa distribution and richness estimates. The use of two different uncertainty estimates allows the integration of distributional information from differing sources (different modeling methods with varying numbers of cetacean records) to be integrated in a robust and conservative way. Identification of cetacean hotspots with varying levels of uncertainty provides a robust and efficient step toward prioritizing areas for conservation management in a participatory process.
Innovations to expand drone data collection and analysis for rangeland monitoring
Authors: Gillan Jeffrey K. , Ponce‐Campos Guillermo E. , Swetnam Tyson L. , Gorlier Alessandra , Heilman Philip , McClaran Mitchel P.
Published: July 2021

In adaptive management of rangelands, monitoring is the vital link that connects management actions with on‐the‐ground changes. Traditional field monitoring methods can provide detailed information for assessing the health of rangelands, but cost often limits monitoring locations to a few key areas or random plots. Remotely sensed imagery, and drone‐based imagery in particular, can observe larger areas than field methods while retaining high enough spatial resolution to estimate many rangeland indicators of interest. However, the geographic extent of drone imagery products is often limited to a few hectares (for resolution ≤1 cm) due to image collection and processing constraints. Overcoming these limitations would allow for more extensive observations and more frequent monitoring. We developed a workflow to increase the extent and speed of acquiring, processing, and analyzing drone imagery for repeated monitoring of two common indicators of interest to rangeland managers: vegetation cover and vegetation heights. By incorporating a suite of existing technologies in drones (real‐time kinematic GPS), data processing (automation with Python scripts, high performance computing), and cloud‐based analysis (Google Earth Engine), we greatly increased the efficiency of collecting, analyzing, and interpreting high volumes of drone imagery for rangeland monitoring. End‐to‐end, our workflow took 30 d, while a workflow without these innovations was estimated to require 141 d to complete. The technology around drones and image analysis is rapidly advancing which is making high volume workflows easier to implement. Larger quantities of monitoring data will significantly improve our understanding of the impact management actions have on land processes and ecosystem traits.
Comparing the performance of 12S mitochondrial primers for fish environmental DNA across ecosystems
Authors: Polanco F. Andrea , Richards Eilísh , Flück Benjamin , Valentini Alice , Altermatt Florian , Brosse Sébastien , Walser Jean‐Claude , Eme David , Marques Virginie , Manel Stéphanie , Albouy Camille , Dejean Tony , Pellissier Loïc
Published: July 2021

Through the development of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding, in situ monitoring of organisms is becoming easier and promises a revolution in our approaches to detect changes in biodiversity over space and time. A cornerstone of eDNA approach is the development of primer pairs that allow amplifying the DNA of specific taxonomic groups, which is then used to link the DNA sequence to taxonomic identification. Here, we propose a framework for comparing primer pairs regarding (a) their capacity to bind and amplify a broad coverage of species within the target clade using in silico PCR, (b) their capacity to not only discriminate between species but also genera or families, and (c) their in situ specificity and efficiency across a variety of environments. As a case study, we focus on two mitochondrial 12S primer pairs, MiFish‐U and teleo, which were designed to amplify fishes. We found that the performance of in silico PCRs were high for both primer pairs, but teleo amplified more genera across Actinopterygii, Chondrichthyes, and Petromyzontomorphi than MiFish‐U. In contrast, the discriminatory power for species, genera, and families were higher for MiFish‐U than teleo, likely associated with the greater length of the amplified DNA fragments. The evaluation of their in situ efficiency showed a higher recovered species richness of teleo compared to MiFish‐U in tropical and temperate freshwater environments, but that generally both teleo and MiFish‐U primers pairs perform well to monitor fish species. Since more species were detected when used together, those primer pairs are best used in combination to increase the ability of species detection.
Seismic response evaluation of a five‐story buckling‐restrained braced frame using multi‐element pseudo‐dynamic hybrid simulations
Authors: Mojiri Saeid , Mortazavi Pedram , Kwon Oh‐Sung , Christopoulos Constantin
Published: July 2021

Nonlinear time history analysis relies on accurate modeling of the critical structural components and their complex interaction with the structure. Previous research indicates that calibration of numerical models can be affected by several factors, including the loading protocols. It is, therefore, critical to study previously developed and calibrated numerical models under more realistic loading histories, and determine whether the calibration process, loading protocols, and the numerical model themselves are adequate for achieving the desired level of accuracy. High fidelity benchmark system‐level experimental‐based simulation results could allow for a more holistic assessment of such questions. The University of Toronto Ten Element Hybrid Simulation Platform (UT10) was developed to produce such benchmark test results using hybrid simulations with multiple experimental elements subjected to realistic earthquake loads. This paper presents the first such experiment in the UT10 with multi‐element and single‐element experimental hybrid simulations on a five‐story steel structure with buckling‐restrained braces, representative of systems with a stable yielding hysteretic response. An adjustable yielding brace system was developed to capture the response of buckling‐restrained braces’ yielding core. The implications of modeling choices, such as using commonly available models in BRBFs, are studied. The experimental results are then presented and compared with numerical results. The limitations of existing models are identified. Such experimental results can be used by subsequent studies to improve the calibration of numerical models and allow for the development of more robust models, while also justifying the need for new loading protocols that could be used in the calibration process.
The American Pond Belt: an untold story of conservation challenges and opportunities
Authors: Swartz Timothy M , Miller James R
Published: July 2021

Over the past century, millions of ponds have been constructed on farms across the eastern Great Plains of the US. Although these ponds have been built to provide water for livestock and reduce soil erosion, they also serve as habitat for native species in agricultural landscapes that historically lacked natural wetlands. Because this role in supporting biodiversity has been chronically underappreciated, approaches to managing these ponds effectively for conservation remain poorly developed. Here, we discuss the historical context of pond construction, the role of ponds in agriculture, and their present distribution across the “American Pond Belt”. On the basis of our review of their ecology and threats, we contend that farm pond conservation should focus on enhancing pondscapes – networks of ponds encompassing a range of successional stages – to support the broadest array of biodiversity at a landscape scale. We also highlight the role of scientists, agency personnel, policy makers, and landowners in the future conservation of pondscapes in the Great Plains.
Biodegradable carboxymethyl cellulose–polyvinyl alcohol composite incorporated with GlycyrrhizaGlabra L. essential oil: Physicochemical and antibacterial features
Authors: Bahrami Arash , Fattahi Reza
Published: July 2021

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. root essential oil (GGEO) has well‐known antimicrobial and therapeutic features. In this study, a new antimicrobial carboxymethyl cellulose–polyvinyl alcohol (CMC‐PVA) binary film was developed using GGEO as an active compound. The effects of various concentrations of GGEO (0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75%) were scrutinized on the physicochemical and antibacterial properties of composites. It was discovered that GGEO significantly reduced the composite ultimate tensile strength from 17.01 to 3.86 MPa. Further, by increasing the concentration of GGEO to 0.75%, the water vapor permeability and moisture content increased to 13.61 × 10−9 g/m s−1 Pa−1 and 41.06%, respectively. The results indicated that the active films possessed good inhibitory effects against the gram‐positive bacteria (L. monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus) and were less powerful against gram‐negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and S. typhimurium). Finally, the results highlighted that GGEO can act as an excellent antimicrobial agent in combination with CMC‐PVA composite.
Synthesis of oxygen vacancies enriched Cu/ZnO/CeO2 for CO2 hydrogenation to methanol
Authors: Guo Junxin , Luo Zhao , Hu GuoTao , Wang Zhao
Published: July 2021

Ternary CuO/ZnO/CeO2 catalysts for methanol synthesis from CO2 were successfully prepared and modified by electron etching with plasma as the electron source. Results indicate that the plasma decomposition leads to higher specific surface, unique structure, and the formation of copper species with a high dispersion, while enhancing reducibility of Cu particles and promoting the catalyst‐support interaction due to the especially low temperature of plasma process. Most interesting, electron bombardment produces more oxygen vacancy on CeO2, which facilitates to increase interaction between Cu, Zn, and CeO2. CO2 molecules are preferably adsorbed on the oxygen vacancies of CeO2 to generate carbonate species. Furthermore, the study shows that CeO2 is a highly tunable material, which has great catalytic potential for carbon dioxide due to its unique properties, such as rich oxygen vacancy and metal−support interaction, especially under plasma conditions. Surprisingly, Catalytic evaluation revealed that CuO/ZnO/CeO2 by plasma exhibited a remarkable space‐time yield of 162.7 g methanol·kg–1 cat·h–1 (1.5 times of that of conventional calcined catalyst) at 260 °C. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Abdominal aortic calcification and cognitive function among older adults: Cross‐sectional analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013‐2014
Authors: Wei Jingkai , Ali Mohammed K. , Wang Tiansheng , Xu Hanzhang
Published: July 2021

Objectives

Subclinical atherosclerotic disease is an emerging risk factor for cognitive function among older adults, though less is known about the association between abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and cognitive function. This study aimed to examine the cross‐sectional association of AAC with cognitive function in a nationally representative sample of population in the U.S.

Methods

A total of 1,209 older adults (60 years or older) in the 2013‐2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included. AAC was obtained with dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Cognitive function was examined using the CERAD Word Learning subtest (memory), Digit Symbol Substitution Test (executive function/processing speed), and Animal Fluency Test (language). Test‐specific and global cognition z‐scores were created based on means and standard deviations of cognitive tests. Multivariable linear regression models were used to examine the associations of presence of AAC and severity of AAC with cognition z‐scores.

Results

Adjusted for covariates, presence of AAC was associated with poorer global cognition (beta (β) = −0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.28, −0.06), memory (β = −0.20, 95% CI: −0.31, −0.09), and language ability (β = −0.15, 95% CI: −0.29, −0.01). More severe AAC was associated with poorer cognitive function. The associations were significant among participants <75 years.

Discussion

The presence of AAC and greater severity of AAC, were associated with poorer cognitive function, particularly among older adults <75 years. Future research is expected to assess whether lowering global vascular risk can slow cognitive decline.
Osteoradionecrosis of the hyoid presenting as acute airway compromise
Authors: Wang Sherrie , Stanisce Luke , Begun Zoe , Wilson Traeden , Ahmad Nadir , Kubicek Gregory J. , Koshkareva Yekaterina
Published: July 2021

Background

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the mandible is a well‐known complication of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer. However, few reports have described hyoid bone ORN and its clinical implications.

Methods

We describe a retrospective case series of previously irradiated patients who were seen with sudden airway compromise, found to have underlying pathological hyoid fractures secondary to osteoradionecrosis.

Results

Six patients within postchemoradiation period (3–9 months) for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were seen with acute‐onset dyspnea. Computed topography (CT) imaging was remarkable for severe airway luminal narrowing and pathological hyoid fractures. All six patients required urgent intervention with direct laryngoscopy and tracheostomy. Intraoperatively, five patients were seen with exposed necrotic hyoid bones.

Conclusion

The hyoid and its associated musculature strongly influence upper airway patency. ORN may compromise its physiological function and leads to acute airway compromise. Hyoid ORN may hold significant and imperative clinical implications in head and neck cancer post‐treatment surveillance.
Emerging role of cellular senescence in the pathogenesis of oral submucous fibrosis and its malignant transformation
Authors: Sharma Mohit , Hunter Keith D. , Fonseca Felipe Paiva , Radhakrishnan Raghu
Published: July 2021

Senescence is a common denominator in wound healing, fibrosis, and cancer. Although, senescence is transiently antifibrotic, when prolonged, promotes fibrosis and malignant transformation. Eligible studies indexed in MEDLINE, Embase and Web of Science were searched to understand the role of cellular senescence in the pathogenesis of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and its malignant transformation. The senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP) components like IL‐1, IL‐6, and GRO‐α induce double‐strand DNA breaks in keratinocytes and drive genetic instability. SASP derived from myofibroblasts induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition in OSF and facilitates cancer progression. The use of senolytics has been shown to eliminate senescent cells from the areas of fibrosis, thereby preventing malignancy. Naturally occurring agents such as apigenin and kaempferol inhibit SASP. Mechanistic insight into the emerging role of senescence in the pathogenesis of OSF and modalities to inhibit senescence‐associated antiapoptotic pathways as a supplementary therapy to prevent malignant transformation of OSF is underlined.
A comprehensive assessment framework for attributing trends in streamflow and groundwater storage to climatic and anthropogenic changes: A case study in the typical semi‐arid catchments of southern India
Authors: Nune Rajesh , George Biju A. , Western Andrew W. , Garg Kaushal K. , Dixit Sreenath , Ragab Ragab
Published: July 2021

The clearest signs of hydrologic change can be observed from the trends in streamflow and groundwater levels in a catchment. During 1980–2007, significant declines in streamflow (−3.03 mm/year) and groundwater levels (−0.22 m/year) were observed in Himayat Sagar (HS) catchment, India. We examined the degree to which hydrologic changes observed in the HS catchment can be attributed to various internal and external drivers of change (climatic and anthropogenic changes). This study used an investigative approach to attribute hydrologic changes. First, it involves to develop a model and test its ability to predict hydrologic trends in a catchment that has undergone significant changes. Second, it examines the relative importance of different causes of change on the hydrologic response. The analysis was carried out using Modified Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), a semi‐distributed rainfall‐runoff model coupled with a lumped groundwater model for each sub‐ catchment. The model results indicated that the decline in potential evapotranspiration (PET) appears to be partially offset by a significant response to changes in rainfall. Measures that enhance recharge, such as watershed hydrological structures, have had limited success in terms of reducing impacts on the catchment‐scale water balance. Groundwater storage has declined at a rate of 5 mm/y due to impact of land use changes and this was replaced by a net addition of 2 mm/y by hydrological structures. The impact of land use change on streamflow is an order of magnitude larger than the impact of hydrological structures and about is 2.5 times higher in terms of groundwater impact. Model results indicate that both exogenous and endogenous changes can have large impacts on catchment hydrology and should be considered together. The proposed comprehensive framework and approach demonstrated here is valuable in attributing trends in streamflow and groundwater levels to catchment climatic and anthropogenic changes.
Impact of adenomyosis on the prognosis of patients with endometrial cancer
Authors: Raimondo Diego , Raffone Antonio , Travaglino Antonio , Maletta Manuela , Casadio Paolo , Ambrosio Marco , Chiara Aru Anna , Santoro Angela , Franco Zannoni Gian , Insabato Luigi , Mollo Antonio , Zullo Fulvio , Seracchioli Renato
Published: July 2021

Background

Despite the high prevalence of adenomyosis in hysterectomy specimens of endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients, the relationship between adenomyosis and EC prognosis appears unclear.

Objective

To assess the prognostic value of coexistent adenomyosis in patients with EC.

Methods

A systematic review and meta‐analysis was performed by searching six electronic databases for studies reporting data on prognosis of EC patients with and without coexistent adenomyosis. Studies with patient selection based on prognostic factors were excluded. Pooled univariate hazard ratio (HR) analyses for overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DRF) were performed, using EC patients without adenomyosis as a control group. For DFS, pooled multivariate HR analysis was also evaluable.

Results

Three studies of 2505 EC patients (553 with and 1952 without adenomyosis) were included. Compared with EC patients without adenomyosis, EC patients with coexistent adenomyosis showed a pooled HR of 0.533 (CI 95%, 0.329–0.864) for OS at univariate analysis; 0.536 (CI 95%, 0.334–0.859) for DFS at univariate analysis; and 0.875 (CI 95%, 0.331–2.315) for DFS at multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

In EC patients with coexistent adenomyosis, the risk of death is halved compared with EC patients without adenomyosis. However, the independence of this association needs to be verified in future studies.
Influence of the solvent on the Lewis acidity of antimony pentahalides and group 13 Lewis acids toward acetonitrile and pyridine
Authors: Pomogaeva Anna V. , Timoshkin Alexey Y.
Published: July 2021

Energetic effects of solvation of SbF5, SbCl5, and 21 group 13 Lewis acids (LA) and their molecular complexes with acetonitrile and pyridine are evaluated using SMD approach. Compared to the gas phase, solvation increases the stability of boron‐ and aluminum‐containing complexes but decreases the stability of gallium and indium‐containing homologs due to larger solation energies of free LA. New Lewis acidity scales, based on the Gibbs energy of dissociation of the molecular complexes LA·pyridine and LA·acetonitrile in the gas phase, in benzene and acetonitrile solutions, are proposed.
Dental hygiene and public health students’ perception of an online interprofessional education applied learning activity
Authors: Claiborne Denise M. , Durgampudi Praveen K. , Patel Priyanka T. , Akpinar‐Elci Muge
Published: July 2021

Purpose/objectives

To pilot an online interprofessional education (IPE) applied learning activity (ALA), to understand students’ socialization and values towards IPE teams, and evaluate the IPE learning activity for future implementation.

Methods

A pre‐and post‐test design was used to assess interprofessional socialization and values utilizing the (ISVS‐9A/9B) surveys before and after the IPE ALA among dental hygiene (DH) and Master of Public Health (MPH) students (n = 86). Three statements from the ISVS‐9A/9B surveys were not included due to the nature of the activity. The IPE ALA was a case study related to a federally funded community health center seeking funding for a dental van within 14 local targeted communities (i.e., children, senior citizens, special needs). Student groups were randomly assigned to one targeted community and completed questions that required application of prevention, systems thinking and management and solutions of oral health issues. Students collaboratively developed an executive summary and presentation through an online learning platform.

Results

A total of 73 DH (n = 38) and MPH (n = 35) students (84.8% response rate) completed the ISVS 9‐A (modified), and 57 students DH (n = 33) and MPH (n = 24) students (66.3% response rate) completed the ISVS‐9B (modified) and IPE activity evaluation. A positive change (pre‐post) was observed based on the students’ responses (p < 0.05) and 64% agreed that the skills obtained from the IPE ALA would help them in their careers.

Conclusions

Overall, student learners’ ISVS toward IPE improved after engaging in the online ALA. The use of online platforms is one low resource strategy to integrate IPE experiences into allied health and dental education.
Effects of Home Care on patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with sorafenib
Authors: Moser Monika , Radu Iuliana‐Pompilia , Dufour Jean‐François
Published: July 2021

Background and Aim

Treatment with sorafenib causes diverse side effects, which limits adherence. This work assesses whether Home Care, a psychosocial nursing intervention, prolongs the duration of treatment in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and if it influences health‐related quality of life (HRQL).

Methods and Results

This is a cohort study using data from patients receiving sorafenib in the prospective Bern HCC Cohort at the University Hospital. Duration of treatment, overall survival, and HRQL using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Hepatobiliary questionnaire were compared in the two groups. A total of 173 patients were eligible for the analysis. Among them, 141 were in the Home Care program, and 32 were not. Patients with Home Care had a significantly longer duration of treatment (265 days vs 152 days, P = 0.003) and a better functional well‐being (17.7 vs 12.5, P = 0.015).

Conclusion

Psychosocial interventions such as Home Care are a valid method in improving adherence to sorafenib and can therefore be recommended.
Domination versus independent domination in regular graphs
Authors: Knor Martin , Škrekovski Riste , Tepeh Aleksandra
Published: July 2021

A set of vertices in a graph is a dominating set if every vertex of is in or is adjacent to a vertex in . If, in addition, is an independent set, then is an independent dominating set. The domination number of is the minimum cardinality of a dominating set in , while the independent domination number of is the minimum cardinality of an independent dominating set in . We prove that for all integers it holds that if is a connected ‐regular graph, then , with equality if and only if . The result was previously known only for . This affirmatively answers a question of Babikir and Henning.
Impedance calculation of power ground grid by using artificial neural network
Authors: Ding Li , Wei Xing‐Chang , Zou Guo‐Ping , Yang Zhi
Published: July 2021

The power distribution network (PDN) is an essential component in high speed circuits, and the impedance calculation of PDN becomes a hot topic. In this paper, we proposed a method to calculate the impedance of power ground grid (PGG), which is one type of the PDN, by using artificial neural network (ANN). First, the PGG is equivalent to a simple power ground plane (PGP). The equivalent PGP has the same dimension and port location but different relative permittivity and relative permeability of the substrate compared to the original PGG. Then, ANN is used to calculate the equivalent and of the equivalent PGP. Thus, the impedance of equivalent PGP can be obtained by using Green's function. The proposed method has been validated by numerical and measurement examples. The agreement and difference of the impedance results in both examples are also analyzed.
Doppler Ultrasound of the Fetal Descending Aorta: An Objective Tool to Assess Placental Blood Flow Resistance in Pregnancies With Discordant Umbilical Arteries
Authors: Cahill Lindsay S. , Mercer Grace V. , Jagota Dakshita , Ravi Chandran Anjana , Milligan Natasha , Shinar Shiri , Whitehead Clare L. , Hobson Sebastian R. , Serghides Lena , Parks W. Tony , Macgowan Christopher K. , Kingdom John C. , Sled John G. , Baschat Ahmet A.
Published: July 2021

Objectives

To determine the relationship between blood flow in the fetal descending aorta and discordant umbilical arteries (UAs).

Methods

Pulsed wave Doppler of both UAs and the descending aorta was performed at 4‐weekly intervals between 14 and 40 weeks of gestation in 209 pregnant women. In datasets with discordant UAs, a linear mixed effects model was used to determine the categorical relationship between the UA pulsatility index (PI) (high, low and average) and the descending aorta PI.

Results

Of the 209 cases, 81 had a discordance of greater than 25% in UA PI during one of their visits. There were no differences in birth outcomes between the groups with concordant and discordant UA PIs. In the cases with discordant UA PIs, the descending aorta PI was most strongly associated with both the average UA PI (P = .008), and with the UA with the lower PI (P = .008).

Conclusions

The relationship between blood flow in the descending aorta and UAs is consistent with the law for combining resistances in parallel. Measurements of the descending aorta PI, particularly in a scenario with discordant UAs, may inform the stability of the feto‐placental circulation where discordant UA PIs are found.
Grazing accelerates labile and recalcitrant soil carbon loss driving by rare microbial taxa in a desert steppe
Authors: Fan Jianling , Zhang Chuanhong , Jin Hao , Zhang Jun , Han Guodong
Published: July 2021

Livestock grazing in grasslands regulates the multifunctionality of those ecosystems and has an adverse effect on soil carbon (C) dynamics and fractions. However, our understanding of grazing‐induced changes in soil microbial community and their links to soil organic C (SOC) fractions is limited. By using a long‐term grazing experiment in desert steppe, we examined impacts of different grazing intensity on the diversity and composition of soil microbial community and their potential contribution to SOC content and fractions. The results showed that 15‐year grazing reduced total SOC (TSOC), albeit not significant, but induced a notable decrease in both labile and recalcitrant SOC fractions, especially under high grazing intensity. Soil prokaryotic communities were not significantly impacted by grazing intensity. However, we observed that sensitive operational taxonomic units (OTUs), identified by indicator taxa analysis, grouped in distinct modules that reflected the different grazing intensities, suggesting that groups of microbes may cluster together and respond to grazing intensity. Association networks of prokaryotic OTUs and organic C fractions showed that SOC fractions were significantly related to rare taxa, indicating that grazing practice may act as a kind of environmental filtering and strongly affected soil microbial rare taxa and thereafter SOC fractions. Together, our findings suggest that grazing intensity did not change total microbial community and TSOC but affected SOC fractions by altering rare taxa. Overall, our results indicated that soil C fractions and rare microbial taxa were more sensitive to grazing intensity, which could act as indicator of variations in ecosystem functions in the semi‐arid desert steppe.