bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nonmaleficence in Shaming: The Ethical Dilemma Underlying Participation in Online Public Shaming
Authors: Pundak Chen , Steinhart Yael , Goldenberg Jacob
Published: February 2021

We show that a decision of potential shamers to take part in (“share” and “retweet”) an online shaming campaign against alleged wrongdoers is shaped by two factors: the potential shamer’s level of adherence to the nonmaleficence principle (i.e., do no harm) and the wrongdoer identifiability (the extent to which a wrongdoer’s details are exposed). Each shaming campaign may promote social norms and prevention of similar harm (i.e., positive consequences) and yet at the same time create harm for the individual wrongdoer being shamed (i.e., negative consequences). We suggest that potential shamers with high adherence to the nonmaleficence principle are more likely to join a shaming campaign with a low‐identifiability wrongdoer compared to potential shamers with a low endorsement of the nonmaleficence principle. We term this phenomenon the Nonmaleficence in Shaming effect. Five studies consistently demonstrate this effect and its attenuation in the case of a shaming campaign with a high‐identifiability wrongdoer. We further show that what drives the effect is advancing the positive over the negative consequences of a shaming campaign. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of norm‐enforcement behavior in digital communications and the social media space.
The composition of the gut microbiome differs among community dwelling older people with good and poor appetite
Authors: Cox Natalie J. , Bowyer Ruth C.E. , Ni Lochlainn Mary , Wells Philippa M. , Roberts Helen C. , Steves Claire J.
Published: February 2021

Background

Anorexia of ageing is common and important in the development of sarcopenia in older individuals. Links have been proposed between the gut microbiota and sarcopenia. Disordered gut function is also recognized in anorexia of ageing, but how this may relate to resident gut microbiota is unexplored. Understanding this relationship may provide a basis for novel interventions for anorexia of ageing and sarcopenia. This study explores compositional differences of the gut microbiota between community dwelling healthy older adults with good or poor appetite, and associated differences in sarcopenia.

Methods

We assessed appetite by the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire (SNAQ) in members of the TwinsUK cohort aged ≥65 years. Using a pool of 776 individuals with existing microbiome data estimated from 16S rRNA sequencing data, we identified 102 cases (SNAQ score < 14) (95% female, mean age 68 years) matched to controls (SNAQ > 14) on body mass index, gender, age, diet, calorie consumption, frailty, antibiotic use, socio‐economic status, and technical variables to minimize confounding microbiota associations. Species abundance and diversity, compositional differences, and paired differences in taxa abundance were compared between cases and controls. Additionally, we compared case and controls for sarcopenia as measured by muscle mass (appendicular lean mass/height2) and strength (chair stand time in seconds).

Results

Cases with poor appetite had reduced species richness and diversity of their gut microbiome (adjusted OBSERVED: beta = −0.2,P < 0.001; adjusted SHANNON: beta = −0.17,P = 0.0135), significant compositional differences (adjusted non‐parametric multivariate analysis of variance,P = 0.0095), and significant differences in taxa abundance including reduction of genusLachnospira(logFC = −1.015,q = 0.023). In all‐female subgroup analysis, cases with poor appetite demonstrated reduction in muscle strength (11.03 s vs. 9.26 s,P = 0.02).

Conclusions

This study is the first to observe differences in the composition of gut microbiota between healthy community dwelling older individuals with good and poor appetite. We found female individuals with reduced muscle strength had poor appetite compared with those with normal strength. These associations require further examination to understand causality and mechanisms of interaction, to inform potential strategies targeting the gut microbiota as a novel intervention for anorexia of ageing and sarcopenia.
The influence of light‐curing time on fluoride release, surface topography, and bacterial adhesion in resin‐modified glass ionomer cements: AFM and SEM in vitro study
Authors: Olmos‐Olmos Gabriela , Teutle‐Coyotecatl Bernardo , Román‐Mendez Cristian D. , Carrasco‐Gutiérrez Rosendo , González‐Torres Maykel , Contreras‐Bulnes Rosalía , Rodríguez‐Vilchis Laura E. , de los Angeles Moyaho‐Bernal María
Published: February 2021

Reinforced glass ionomer cements have been widely used in pediatric dentistry to prevent dental caries. However, the influence of biomaterial light‐curing and its anti‐cariogenic effects remain unclear. This study evaluates the influence of the light‐curing time on fluoride release, surface topography, and bacterial adhesion in two types of resin‐modified glass ionomer cements (RMGICs). One hundred disks were made, and samples were divided into two groups (n = 50 per group), according to each dental material (Vitremer™ and Ketac™ N100), and also divided into different light‐cured times (10, 20, 30, 40, and 60 s). They were placed in phosphate‐buffered saline solution (PBS) to measure the fluoride release. Subsequently, an independent sample of RMGICs per group was examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Four disks per group were incubated in a brain heart infusion (BHI) medium that was inoculated with Streptococcus mutans GS5 to evaluate the bacterial adhesion by 3–4, [5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl]‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazolium bromide cell viability assay (MTT assay). The fluoride release was related to the light‐curing time and gradually decreased as the light‐curing time increased in both materials. Surface topography in Vitremer™ presents more irregular surfaces than Ketac™ N100. For S. mutans adhesion, the smallest number of cells per milliliter (cell/ml) was found at 40 s for Vitremer™ and at 30 s for Ketac™ N100. Thus, the shorter light‐curing times allowed for major fluoride release in both materials. However, the RMGICs showed different patterns of bacterial adhesion according to the brand and light‐curing time.
Synthesis, characterization, and biological screening of metal nanoparticles loaded gum acacia microgels
Authors: Ihsan Junaid , Farooq Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Aslam , Ghani Marvi , Shah Luqman Ali , Saeed Shaukat , Siddiq Mohammad
Published: February 2021

We report novel gum acacia (GA) based microgels composites for multifunctional biomedical application. High yield of spherical GA microgels particles within 5–50 μm size range was obtained via crosslinking the polymer in the reverse micelles of surfactant‐sodium bis (2‐ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate (NBSS) in gasoline medium. The prepared microgels were then utilized for in situ silver (Ag) and cobalt (Co) nanoparticles (NPs) synthesis to subsequently produce GNAg and GNCo nanocomposite microgels, respectively. Ag and Co NPs of particle of almost less than 40 nm sizes were homogenously distributed over the matrices of the prepared microgels, and therefore, negligible agglomeration effect was observed. Pristine GA microgels, and the nanocomposite microgels were thoroughly characterized through FTIR, DSC, TGA, XRD, SEM, EDS, and TEM. The well‐characterized pristine GA microgels and the nanocomposite microgels were then subjected to multiple in vitro bioassays including antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial activities as well as biocompatibility investigation. Our results demonstrate that the prepared nanocomposites in particular GNAg microgels exhibited excellent biomedical properties as compared to pristine GA microgels. Among the prepared samples, GNAg nanocomposites were highly active against Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus niger that show 47.73% ± 0.25 inhibition and 32.3% ± 2.0 with IC‐50 of 220 μg ml−1 and 343 μg ml−1, respectively. Moderate antidiabetic activity was also observed for GNAg nanocomposites with considerable inhibition of 15.34% ± 0.20 and 14.7% ± 0.44 for both α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase, respectively. Moreover, excellent antioxidant properties were found for both the GNAg and GNCo nanocomposites as compared to pristine GA microgels. A remarkable biocompatible nature of the nanocomposites in particular GNAg makes the novel GA composites, to be exploited for diverse biomedical applications.
Expanding the phenotype, genotype and biochemical knowledge of ALG3‐CDG
Authors: Alsharhan Hind , Ng Bobby G. , Daniel Earnest James Paul , Friedman Jennifer , Pivnick Eniko K. , Al‐Hashem Amal , Faqeih Eissa Ali , Liu Pengfei , Engelhardt Nicole M. , Keller Kierstin N. , Chen Jie , Mazzeo Pamela A. ,   University of Washington Center for Mendelian Genomics (UW‐CMG), Rosenfeld Jill A. , Bamshad Michael J. , Nickerson Deborah A. , Raymond Kimiyo M. , Freeze Hudson H. , He Miao , Edmondson Andrew C. , Lam Christina
Published: February 2021

Congenital disorders of glycosylation (CDGs) are a continuously expanding group of monogenic disorders of glycoprotein and glycolipid biosynthesis that cause multisystem diseases. Individuals with ALG3‐CDG frequently exhibit severe neurological involvement (epilepsy, microcephaly, and hypotonia), ocular anomalies, dysmorphic features, skeletal anomalies, and feeding difficulties. We present 10 unreported individuals diagnosed with ALG3‐CDG based on molecular and biochemical testing with 11 novel variants in ALG3, bringing the total to 40 reported individuals. In addition to the typical multisystem disease seen in ALG3‐CDG, we expand the symptomatology of ALG3‐CDG to now include endocrine abnormalities, neural tube defects, mild aortic root dilatation, immunodeficiency, and renal anomalies. N‐glycan analyses of these individuals showed combined deficiencies of hybrid glycans and glycan extension beyond Man5GlcNAc2 consistent with their truncated lipid‐linked precursor oligosaccharides. This spectrum of N‐glycan changes is unique to ALG3‐CDG. These expanded features of ALG3‐CDG facilitate diagnosis and suggest that optimal management should include baseline endocrine, renal, cardiac, and immunological evaluation at the time of diagnosis and with ongoing monitoring.
Maintenance of gut barrier integrity after injury: Trust your gut microRNAs
Authors: Morris Niya L , Choudhry Mashkoor A
Published: February 2021

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a highly dynamic structure essential for digestion, nutrient absorption, and providing an interface to prevent gut bacterial translocation. In order to maintain the barrier function, the gut utilizes many defense mechanisms including proliferation, apoptosis, and apical junctional complexes. Disruption of any of these parameters due to injury or disease could negatively impact the intestinal barrier function and homeostasis resulting in increased intestine inflammation, permeability, bacterial dysbiosis, and tissue damage. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNA sequences that are master regulators of normal cellular homeostasis. These regulatory molecules affect cellular signaling pathways and potentially serve as candidates for providing a mechanism of impaired gut barrier integrity following GI-related pathologic conditions, ethanol exposure, or trauma such as burn injury. MicroRNAs influence cellular apoptosis, proliferation, apical junction complex expression, inflammation, and the microbiome. Due to their widespread functional affiliations, altered expression of microRNAs are associated with many pathologic conditions. This review explores the role of microRNAs in regulation of intestinal barrier integrity. The studies reviewed demonstrate that microRNAs largely impact intestine barrier function and provide insight behind the observed adverse effects following ethanol and burn injury. Furthermore, these studies suggest that microRNAs are excellent candidates for therapeutic intervention or for biomarkers to manage gut barrier integrity following trauma such as burn injury and other GI-related pathologic conditions.
Accuracies of Chemical Shift In/Opposed Phase and Chemical Shift Encoded Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Detect Intratumoral Fat in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Rajlawot Kritisha , Jiang Ting , Zhou Jing , Lin ChuRong , Kuang Sichi , Chen Jingbiao , Zhang Yao , Yang Hao , Deng Ying , He Bingjun , Hernando Diego , Reeder Scott B. , Wang Jin
Published: February 2021

Background

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) being a noninvasive modality may help in preoperative evaluation of intratumoral fat in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) using chemical shift encoded (CSE) MRI and in‐/opposed‐phase (IOP) imaging sequences.

Purpose

To compare the diagnostic accuracy of chemical shift encoded fat fraction at three different flip angles (FAs) using quantitative chemical shift encoded MRI (CSE‐MRI) with in‐/opposed phase (IOP) imaging to evaluate intratumoral fat in HCC.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

Eighty‐six patients with 87 pathology proven HCCs.

Field Strength/Sequence

IOP (LAVA‐Flex) and CSE‐MRI (IDEAL IQ) a three‐dimensional spoiled gradient‐echo pulse sequences acquired at 3 T.

Assessment

Regions of interest (ROIs) were manually drawn by two observers in the tumors to measure mean fat fractions. Surgical specimens were reassessed for intratumoral fat content. Signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) were assessed for CSE‐MRI sequence at FA 3°, 8°, and 9°.

Statistical Tests

Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was expressed in terms of inter‐ and intra‐observer agreements. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed for the diagnostic performance followed by combined metric of both. SNR/CNR were analyzed by Kruskal–Wallis test.

Results

Excellent inter‐ and intra‐observer agreements (ICC >0.95, P < 0.001) were observed for both IOP and CSE‐MRI. IOP (86.4%) showed higher sensitivity than CSE‐MRI at FA 3° (72.5%), FA 8° (76.4%) and FA 9° (76.3%). In contrast, the specificity for CSE‐MRI at FA 3° (86%), FA 8° (87%), and FA 9° (87%) were greater than IOP (72%). A combined metric of IOP and CSE‐MRI derived fat fractions at FA 8° gave highest AUC of 87% and accuracy of 86%. SNR and CNR for CSE‐MRI were significantly higher at FA 8° and FA 9° than FA 3° (P < 0.05).

Data Conclusion

IOP and quantitative CSE‐MRI are both feasible methods to detect intratumoral fat in HCC with higher accuracy and SNR for CSE‐MRI at FA 8° and 9°.

Level of Evidence

3

Technical Efficacy

Stage 2
Altered Complexity of Spontaneous Brain Activity in Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder Patients
Authors: Zhang Nan , Niu Yan , Sun Jie , An Weichao , Li Dandan , Wei Jing , Yan Ting , Xiang Jie , Wang Bin
Published: February 2021

Background

Schizophrenia (SC) and bipolar disorder (BP) share elements of symptoms and the underlying neural mechanisms for both remain unclear. Recently, the complexity of spontaneous functional MRI (fMRI) signals in brain activity has been investigated in SC and BP using multiscale sample entropy (MSE) with inconsistent results.

Purpose

To perform MSE analysis across five time scales to assess differences in resting‐state fMRI signal complexity in SC, BP, and normal controls (NC).

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

Fifty SC, 49 BP, and 49 NC.

Field Strength/Sequence

A 3 T, T2* weighted echo planar imaging (EPI) sequence.

Assessment

The mean MSEs of all gray matter (GM) and of 12 regions of interest (ROIs) were extracted using masks across the five scales. The regional homogeneity (ReHo) and amplitude of low‐frequency fluctuation (ALFF) in these ROIs were also determined and the relationship between the three measures was investigated. The correlations between cognitive assessment scores and MSE values were also explored.

Statistical Tests

Bonferroni correction, One‐way ANOVA, Spearman rank correlation coefficient (r), Gaussian random field (GRF) correction.

Results

There were decreased GM MSE values in the patient groups (F = 9.629, P < 0.05). SC and BP patients demonstrated lower complexity than NCs in the calcarine fissure, precuneus, inferior occipital gyrus, lingual gyrus and cerebellum, and higher complexity in the median cingulate, thalamus, hippocampus, middle temporal gyrus and middle frontal gyrus. There were significant differences between SC and BP patients in the precuneus (F = 4.890, P < 0.05) and inferior occipital gyrus (F = 5.820, P < 0.05). Calcarine fissure, cingulate, temporal gyrus, occipital gyrus, hippocampus, precuneus, frontal gyrus, and lingual gyrus MSE values were significantly correlated with both ReHo (r > 0.282, P < 0.05) and ALFF (r > 0.278, P < 0.05). Furthermore, median temporal MSE (r = −0.321, P < 0.05) on scale 3 and (r = −0.307, P < 0.05) on scale 4 and median cingulate MSE (r = −0.337, P < 0.05) on scale 5 was significantly negatively correlated with cognitive assessment scores.

Data Conclusion

These data highlight different patterns of brain signal intensity complexity in SC and BP.

Level of Evidence

1

Technical Efficacy

Stage 1
The comprehensive clinic, laboratory, and instrumental evaluation of children with COVID‐19: A 6‐months prospective study
Authors: Isoldi Sara , Mallardo Saverio , Marcellino Alessia , Bloise Silvia , Dilillo Anna , Iorfida Donatella , Testa Alessia , Del Giudice Emanuela , Martucci Vanessa , Sanseviero Mariateresa , Barberi Antonio , Raponi Massimo , Ventriglia Flavia , Lubrano Riccardo
Published: February 2021

Objectives

To perform a comprehensive clinic, laboratory, and instrumental evaluation of children affected by coronavirus disease (COVID‐19).

Methods

Children with a positive result of nasopharyngeal swab for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) underwent laboratory tests, anal and conjunctival swab, electrocardiography, lung, abdomen, and cardiac ultrasound. Twenty‐four‐hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed if abnormal basal blood pressure. Patients were followed‐up for 6 months.

Results

Three hundred and sixteen children were evaluated; 15 were finally included. Confirmed family member SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was present in all. Twenty‐seven percent were asymptomatic. Anal and conjunctival swabs tests resulted negative in all. Patients with lower body mass index (BMI) presented significantly higher viral loads. Main laboratory abnormalities were: lactate dehydrogenase increasing (73%), low vitamin D levels (87%), hematuria (33%), proteinuria (26%), renal hyperfiltration (33%), and hypofiltration (13%). Two of the patients with hyperfiltration exhibited high blood pressure levels at diagnosis, and persistence of prehypertension at 6‐month follow‐up. No abnormalities were seen at ultrasound, excepting for one patient who exhibited B‐lines at lung sonography. Immunoglobulin G seroconversion was observed in all at 1‐month.

Conclusions

Our study confirm that intra‐family transmission is important. The significant higher viral loads recorded among patients with lower BMI, together with low vitamin D levels, support the impact of nutritional status on immune system. Renal involvement is frequent even among children with mild COVID‐19, therefore prompt evaluation and identification of patients with reduced renal function reserve would allow a better stratification and management of patients. Seroconversion occurs also in asymptomatic children, with no differences in antibodies titer according to age, sex and clinical manifestations.
Outpatient metformin use is associated with reduced severity of COVID‐19 disease in adults with overweight or obesity
Authors: Bramante Carolyn T. , Buse John , Tamaritz Leonardo , Palacio Ana , Cohen Ken , Vojta Deneen , Liebovitz David , Mitchell Nia , Nicklas Jacinda , Lingvay Ildiko , Clark Jeanne M. , Aronne Louis J. , Anderson Erik , Usher Michael , Demmer Ryan , Melton Genevieve B. , Ingraham Nicholas , Tignanelli Christopher J.
Published: February 2021

Observational studies suggest outpatient metformin use is associated with reduced mortality from coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19). Metformin is known to decrease interleukin‐6 and tumor‐necrosis factor‐α, which appear to contribute to morbidity in COVID‐19. We sought to understand whether outpatient metformin use was associated with reduced odds of severe COVID‐19 disease in a large US healthcare data set. Retrospective cohort analysis of electronic health record (EHR) data that was pooled across multiple EHR systems from 12 hospitals and 60 primary care clinics in the Midwest between March 4, 2020 and December 4, 2020. Inclusion criteria: data for body mass index (BMI) > 25 kg/m2 and a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 polymerase chain reaction test; age ≥ 30 and ≤85 years. Exclusion criteria: patient opt‐out of research. Metformin is the exposure of interest, and death, admission, and intensive care unit admission are the outcomes of interest. Metformin was associated with a decrease in mortality from COVID‐19, OR 0.32 (0.15, 0.66; p = .002), and in the propensity‐matched cohorts, OR 0.38 (0.16, 0.91; p = .030). Metformin was associated with a nonsignificant decrease in hospital admission for COVID‐19 in the overall cohort, OR 0.78 (0.58–1.04, p = .087). Among the subgroup with a hemoglobin HbA1c available (n = 1193), the adjusted odds of hospitalization (including adjustment for HbA1c) for metformin users was OR 0.75 (0.53–1.06, p = .105). Outpatient metformin use was associated with lower mortality and a trend towards decreased admission for COVID‐19. Given metformin's low cost, established safety, and the mounting evidence of reduced severity of COVID‐19 disease, metformin should be prospectively assessed for outpatient treatment of COVID‐19.
Three‐phase adaptive differential evolution for antenna array synthesis
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Jiang Fan , Chen Hongcai , Cheng Qingsha S.
Published: February 2021

Antenna array synthesis is a complex nonlinear optimization problem. Differential evolution (DE) is an efficient method to solve the problem of antenna array synthesis. Different mutation strategies applied in different evolutionary phases can improve the search ability of DE. In this paper, a three‐phase adaptive differential evolution (TADE) algorithm is proposed for antenna array synthesis problems. In TADE, the evolution process is divided into three phases according to the population fitness distribution and iterative information, namely, the initial phase, the stable phase, and the precise phase. Based on statistical information of population fitness values, a suitable mutation strategy of each phase is designed for enhancing the optimization performance. The performance of the TADE algorithm is verified by a CEC 2013 test suite, three circular antenna array problems, and a planar antenna array problem. The results show that the TADE algorithm achieves better performance in solving antenna array synthesis than several advanced DE variants and some non‐DE global optimization algorithms.
Coastal curios? An analysis of ex situ beach finds for mapping new Palaeolithic sites at Happisburgh, UK
Authors: Bynoe Rachel , Ashton Nick M. , Grimmer Tim , Hoare Peter , Leonard Joanne , Lewis Simon G. , Nicholas Darren , Parfitt Simon
Published: February 2021

Recent archaeological discoveries from exposures of the Cromer Forest‐bed Formation at Happisburgh, UK, have radically changed interpretations of the nature and timing of early hominin occupation of northern latitudes, but this in situ archaeology is only one part of the picture. Surface finds of Pleistocene mammalian remains have been found along this coastline for centuries, with stone tools adding to this record over the past 7 years. The ex situ nature of these finds, however, means they are often seen as limited in the information they can provide. This work contributes to a growing body of research from a range of landscape and environmental contexts that seeks to demonstrate the value and importance of these ex situ assemblages. Here the focus is on Palaeolithic flint artefacts and Pleistocene mammalian remains recovered by a group of local collectors through systematic, GPS‐recorded beach collection from 2013 to 2017, and their use in developing a methodology for working with ex situ Palaeolithic finds in coastal locations. The results demonstrate significant patterning that identifies unexplored exposures both onshore and offshore, considerably expanding the known extent of deposits and facilitating new insights into the wider archaeological landscape associated with the earliest occupation of northern Europe.
Fragrance addition improves visitation by honeybees and fruit quality in kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa)
Authors: Meroi Arcerito Facundo R , De Feudis Leonardo L , Amarilla Leonardo D , Galetto Leonardo , Mitton Giulia , Fernández Natalia , Szawarski Nicolás , Corti Camila , Olivera Eugenia , Iglesias Azucena , Gende Liesel , Damiani Natalia , Eguaras Martín , Maggi Matías
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND

Kiwifruit is an important horticultural crop all over the world and its development is important in Argentina. This dioecious crop has a short blooming period with nectarless flowers, and its fruit production depends on cross‐pollination. Here, we tested whether kiwifruit quality increases by using honeybees exposed to female flowers treated with an artificial fragrance. The three experimental treatments were: A, sprinkled female flowers with 1:1 sugar syrup + Lavandula hybrida extract solution (a new attractant substance especially developed for this study named Lavandin Grosso); B, sprinkled female flowers with 1:1 water + sugar syrup (female flowers with additional sugar syrup reward); C (control; female flowers exposed to honeybees).

RESULTS

The results showed a higher number of visits of honeybees to the female flowers sprinkled with the attractant substance, Lavandin Grosso, as well as higher fruit quality (weight, number of seeds, regularity in fruit size).

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrates the potential of fragrance‐treated flowers to improve yield production in kiwifruit. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
A Prospective Study of Mental Health During the COVID‐19 Pandemic in Childhood Trauma–Exposed Individuals: Social Support Matters
Authors: Seitz Katja I. , Bertsch Katja , Herpertz Sabine C.
Published: February 2021

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic and its unprecedented social restrictions may have serious mental health implications, especially in individuals who have experienced childhood traumatic experiences (CTEs). This prospective study aimed to investigate whether general psychopathology and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptom severity increased during the pandemic as compared to prepandemic baseline data collected approximately 1 year earlier. Furthermore, we investigated whether an increase in symptomatology was linked to CTEs and mediated by a lack of perceived social support and fear of COVID‐19. An online survey was administered to 85 individuals, including both participants with PTSD, major depression, or somatic symptom disorder (n = 63) and healthy volunteers (n = 22), during a period of the most severe social restrictions in Germany. The survey included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Brief Symptom Inventory, PTSD Checklist for DSM‐5, ENRICHD Social Support Inventory, and Fear of COVID‐19 Scale. In the whole sample, we found significant increases in general psychopathology and PTSD symptom severity, ω2 = .07–.08, during as compared to before the COVID‐19 pandemic, with CTEs predicting increased PTSD symptom severity, β = .245, p = .042. This effect was mediated by a lack of perceived social support, indirect effect = .101, 95% CI [.013, .209], but not fear of COVID‐19, indirect effect = .060, 95% CI [−.035, .167]. These findings emphasize the importance of interventions that promote social inclusion to mitigate the potentially detrimental effects of public health actions implemented against the COVID‐19 pandemic in individuals with CTEs.
Trends in Operative Complex Middle and Upper Maxillofacial Trauma: A 17‐Year Study
Authors: Su Peiyi , Paquet Christian , O'Dell Karla , Reinstadler David , Kokot Niels , Granzow Jay , Chambers Tamara N. , Kochhar Amit
Published: February 2021

Objectives/Hypothesis

Over 3 million incidents of facial trauma occur each year in the United States. This study aims to determine trends in operative middle and upper maxillofacial trauma in one of the largest US cities.

Study Design

Retrospective case‐control study.

Methods

Retrospective chart review of all operative middle and upper maxillofacial trauma from July 1993 to July 2010 presenting to Los Angeles County Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center. Data included demographics, mechanism of injury, and fracture characteristics.

Results

Analysis was performed for a total of 4,299 patients and 5,549 facial fractures. Mean patient age was 34.6, and most patients were male (88%). Between the two time periods (1993–2001 and 2002–2010), there was a 42% reduction in operative maxillofacial trauma (3,510 to 2,039). Orbital floor and zygomaticomaxillary complex fractures were the most prevalent types of fractures. Panfacial fractures demonstrated the largest reduction in number of fractures (325 to 5, P<0.01). Assault and motor vehicle accidents (MVA) were the two most common mechanisms of injury. Operative fractures due to MVAs decreased (390 to 214, P = .74), whereas fractures due to assault increased (749 to 800, P<0.01). Compared to adults, pediatric facial trauma (age < 18) were caused by a higher percentage of MVAs (27% vs. 13%), auto versus pedestrian (9% vs. 5%), and gunshot wounds (8% vs. 4%) (P<0.01).

Conclusions

Operative middle and upper maxillofacial trauma decreased over a 17‐year period. Assault was the most significant mechanism of trauma overall. These trends suggest that focusing future prevention strategies on curtailing interpersonal violence may more effectively address the burden of facial trauma.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 131:1985–1989, 2021
Outcomes After Tympanic Membrane Perforation During Primary Stapes Surgery for Otosclerosis
Authors: Luryi Alexander L. , Schettino Amy , Michaelides Elias M. , Babu Seilesh , Bojrab Dennis I. , Schutt Christopher A.
Published: February 2021

Objective/Hypothesis

Stapes surgery is occasionally complicated by an intraoperative tympanic membrane perforation (ITMP), traditionally indicating abortion of the procedure due to concerns for postoperative infection and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). This work examines outcomes and complications in completed primary stapes surgeries with and without ITMP.

Study Design

Retrospective review.

Methods

All patients diagnosed with otosclerosis between February 2008 and September 2017 at a tertiary otology referral center were reviewed retrospectively. Primary outcome measures were post‐operative air‐bone gap (ABG), air conduction and bone conduction pure tone averages, and post‐operative complications.

Results

Review revealed 652 primary stapes operations meeting inclusion criteria, of which ITMP occurred in 10. There were no significant differences in pre‐operative hearing metrics or demographic characteristics between ears with and without ITMP. There were also no significant differences in post‐operative ABG (6.4 vs. 8.0 dB HL, P = .43) or change in ABG after surgery (−21.6 vs. −18.2 dB, P = .34) between these two groups. Patients with ITMP were more likely to complain of post‐operative dysgeusia (30.0% vs. 5.3%, P = .015) but were no more likely to develop reparative granuloma, otitis media, or SNHL (P > .05).

Conclusions

The first review of ITMP and hearing outcomes after stapes surgery is presented. Our findings suggest that it is likely safe and appropriate to proceed with primary stapes surgery and concurrent tympanoplasty in the presence of a small ITMP with minimal risk of infection, SNHL, or worsened hearing outcomes.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2026–E2030, 2021
Biden Throws down the Gauntlet
Authors: Wich Scott
Published: February 2021

With a Democrat now controlling the White House, changes to the enforcement of labor law were to be expected. The only open question was when, in light of the myriad issues facing our nation, the Biden administration would begin seeking to change the labor law landscape. Five months? Five weeks? No. Five hours. Before sunset on the very first day of President Biden's administration, he took his first action to steer the NLRB towards a more union‐friendly tack. This was far from his last action in the early days of his administration to put in place a more pro‐union agency. These actions were a bold message that organized labor has President Biden's attention and this administration intends to move forward with a pro‐labor agenda.
Microemulsion‐Based Gels for Lipase‐Catalyzed Ester Synthesis in Organic Solvents
Authors: Catauro Michelina , Fiorentino Marika , D'Angelo Antonio , Dell'Anna Maria Michela , Mastrorilli Piero
Published: February 2021

Microemulsions are clear, stable, isotropic mixtures of oil, water, and surfactant, frequently in combination with a cosurfactant. These systems are currently of interest to the pharmaceutical scientist because of their considerable potential to act as drug delivery vehicles by incorporating a wide range of drug molecules. The purpose of this work is to solubilize in AOT [sodium bis(2‐ethylhexyl)sulphosuccinate] water‐in‐oil microemulsions at two different R‐values the Chromobacterium viscosum (CV) lipase and lipoprotein lipase ex Pseudomonas and to use them to catalyze the lactonization of 16‐hydroxyhexadecanoic acid at 40°C. CV lipase is also immobilized in gelatin‐containing microemulsion‐based gels (MBGs) with retention of catalytic activity. These lipase‐containing MBGs proved to be novel solid‐phase catalysts for use in apolar organic solvents. CV lipase‐containing MBGs are used to synthesize, on a preparative scale, a variety of different esters under mild conditions.
Physicochemical Properties of PEG‐Based Inorganic Hybrids Obtained via Sol‐Gel
Authors: Mustarelli Piercarlo , Piccolella Simona , Ferrara Chiara , Catauro Michelina
Published: February 2021

Organic‐inorganic composites can be conveniently obtained by sol‐gel recipes. They can find interesting applications in several fields, including drug delivery, scaffolding, bio‐sensing, energetics, etc. Herein, we reconsider and reinvestigate our previous work in the field, by considering the sol‐gel synthesis and physicochemical characterization of class‐I organic‐inorganic hybrids, and by trying to highlight some unifying elements that can be of help for the development of more efficient and precise synthesis methods. Systems based on poly(ethylene glycol) with SiO2 and ZrO2 as the ceramic phase will be discussed.

Emphasis will be put on the role played by solid‐state NMR spectroscopy in unveiling the interactions at the base of hybrid formation.
Cytokines and Gaucher Biomarkers in Glucocerebrosidase Carriers with and Without Parkinson Disease
Authors: Galper Jasmin , Balwani Manisha , Fahn Stanley , Waters Cheryl , Krohn Lynne , Gan‐Or Ziv , Dzamko Nicolas , Alcalay Roy N.
Published: February 2021

Background

Homozygous and compound heterozygous variants in glucocerebrosidase (GBA) can cause Gaucher disease (GD), whereas heterozygous variants increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD). GD patients display altered peripheral immune proteins. However, it is unknown if these are altered in GBA carriers with PD.

Objectives

To determine whether plasma cytokines and immune biomarkers associated with GD are also altered in GBA carriers with or without PD.

Methods

Inflammatory cytokines and established GD biomarkers, ferritin, CD162, CCL18, and chitotriosidase (28 biomarkers) were measured in GBA pathogenic variant carriers with (n = 135) and without (n = 83) PD, and non‐carriers with (n = 75) and without PD (n = 77).

Results

PD patients with biallelic pathogenic variants in GBA had elevated plasma levels of ferritin, CCL18, and MIP1α. These biomarkers were not elevated in heterozygous GBA carriers.

Conclusion

GD plasma biomarkers are not promising candidates for stratifying the risk for PD in carriers of heterozygous GBA pathogenic variants. © 2021 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
National learning health care system to advance early psychosis care, research
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: February 2021

A national initiative aiming to create a collaborative learning health care system culture that values communication among patients, clinicians and stakeholder communities is seeking to link early psychosis care clinics through standard clinical measures, uniform data collection methods and data sharing agreements, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. The (NIMH) announced the launch Jan. 22 of the Early Psychosis Intervention Network (EPINET).
Ohio bill would expand MH telehealth, service access
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: February 2021

Observing the ongoing need for Ohioans to access psychological services, an Ohio lawmaker has introduced legislation to allow psychologists to help patients in and out of state, joining more than a dozen states in facilitating telehealth and temporary in‐person, face‐to‐face psychological services across state boundaries.
ED visits for MH, suicide, violence increase during COVID‐19
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: February 2021

Emergency department (ED) rates for mental health conditions, substance abuse and opioid overdose in 2020 exceed rates over the same time period examined in 2019, according to new research published online first in JAMA Psychiatry. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) determined this project to be public health surveillance rather than research that involved human subjects.
Exponential and fixed‐time stabilization of memristive neural networks with mixed delays
Authors: Liu Yun , Gao Xingbao
Published: February 2021

In this paper, we study a class of memristive neural networks with mixed delays. The existence of its equilibrium point is proved without the boundedness and initial value of the activation function, and a criterion to ensure its exponential stabilization under a sampled‐data controller is obtained by constructing an appropriate Lyapunov function. Meanwhile, the fixed‐time stabilization of memristive neural networks is also proved by the Lyapunov method. The obtained results extend and enhance some existing ones, and are illustrated by numerical examples.
Accuracy improvement for multimetal analysis by laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy with least squares support vector machine
Authors: Che Changjin , Lin Xiaomei , Gao Xun , Lin Jingjun , Sun Haoran , Huang Yutao , Tao Siyu
Published: February 2021

An efficient method has been developed to analyze metal species by using laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). A least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) was applied to quantitative analysis of multimetal samples with different matrix content, as LSSVM can select the input variables and convert the mapping to the feature space to obtain the linear performance. In this work, three kinds of metal species (alloy steel, ferrochromium alloy, and ferromanganese alloy) were used to construct the LSSVM model. The correlation coefficients (R2), the root‐mean‐square error of prediction (RMSEP), and the average relative error (ARE) were calculated according to the estimated concentrations of chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), titanium (Ti), and molubdenum (Mo) using the LSSVM model. The results showed that RMSEP decreased from 1.7047%, 1.3453%, 1.9253%, and 2.9431% to 0.0747%, 0.0942%, 0.0192%, and 0.0809%. The ARE of Cr, Mn, Ti, and Mo decreased from 10.2370, 9.8276%, 13.2460%, and 16.2386% to 1.0179%, 1.3937%, 2.1228%, and 1.6257%, respectively. This study demonstrated that LSSVM is an effective algorithm to improve both the accuracy and stability for metal analysis using LIBS.
Multi‐institutional dose‐segmented dosiomic analysis for predicting radiation pneumonitis after lung stereotactic body radiation therapy
Authors: Adachi Takanori , Nakamura Mitsuhiro , Shintani Takashi , Mitsuyoshi Takamasa , Kakino Ryo , Ogata Takashi , Ono Tomohiro , Tanabe Hiroaki , Kokubo Masaki , Sakamoto Takashi , Matsuo Yukinori , Mizowaki Takashi
Published: February 2021

Purpose

To predict radiation pneumonitis (RP) grade 2 or worse after lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) using dose‐based radiomic (dosiomic) features.

Methods

This multi‐institutional study included 247 early‐stage nonsmall cell lung cancer patients who underwent SBRT with a prescribed dose of 48–70 Gy at an isocenter between June 2009 and March 2016. Ten dose–volume indices (DVIs) were used, including the mean lung dose, internal target volume size, and percentage of entire lung excluding the internal target volume receiving greater than x Gy (x = 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40). A total of 6,808 dose‐segmented dosiomic features, such as shape, first order, and texture features, were extracted from the dose distribution. Patients were randomly partitioned into two groups: model training (70%) and test datasets (30%) over 100 times. Dosiomic features were converted to z‐scores (standardized values) with a mean of zero and a standard deviation (SD) of one to put different variables on the same scale. The feature dimension was reduced using the following methods: interfeature correlation based on Spearman’s correlation coefficients and feature importance based on a light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM) feature selection function. Three different models were developed using LightGBM as follows: (a) a model with ten DVIs (DVI model), (b) a model with the selected dosiomic features (dosiomic model), and (c) a model with ten DVIs and selected dosiomic features (hybrid model). Suitable hyperparameters were determined by searching the largest average area under the curve (AUC) value in the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC–AUC) via stratified fivefold cross‐validation. Each of the final three models with the closest the ROC–AUC value to the average ROC–AUC value was applied to the test datasets. The classification performance was evaluated by calculating the ROC–AUC, AUC in the precision–recall curve (PR–AUC), accuracy, precision, recall, and f1‐score. The entire process was repeated 100 times with randomization, and 100 individual models were developed for each of the three models. Then the mean value and SD for the 100 random iterations were calculated for each performance metric.

Results

Thirty‐seven (15.0%) patients developed RP after SBRT. The ROC–AUC and PR–AUC values in the DVI, dosiomic, and hybrid models were 0.660 ± 0.054 and 0.272 ± 0.052, 0.837 ± 0.054 and 0.510 ± 0.115, and 0.846 ± 0.049 and 0.531 ± 0.116, respectively. For each performance metric, the dosiomic and hybrid models outperformed the DVI models (P < 0.05). Texture‐based dosiomic feature was confirmed as an effective indicator for predicting RP.

Conclusions

Our dose‐segmented dosiomic approach improved the prediction of the incidence of RP after SBRT.
A fast contact detection method for ellipsoidal particles
Authors: Kheradmand Elham , Prudhomme Serge , Laforest Marc
Published: February 2021

This paper presents a fast and robust algorithm for contact detection between elliptical and ellipsoidal particles. The algorithm belongs to the class of geometrical potential methods, which consider the solution of two minimization problems in order to determine a contact point between the particles. The efficiency of the algorithm relies on several ingredients, namely, a transformation that maps the pair of ellipses (ellipsoids) into an ellipse (ellipsoid) centered at the origin and a unit circle (sphere), the construction of an effective initial guess to the solution of the minimization problem, the use of Newton's method for the root finding problem, and the introduction of an additional constraint to guarantee convergence to the desired root. The performance of the new algorithm is compared with that of existing contact detection algorithms on large sets of randomly generated pairs of particles. In particular, the results from several numerical examples show that the present algorithm is several times faster than the existing algorithms for comparable accuracy.
Improvement in 3D topology optimization with h‐adaptive refinement using the Cartesian grid Finite Element Method
Authors: Muñoz David , Albelda José , Ródenas Juan José , Nadal Enrique
Published: February 2021

The growing number of scientific publications on topology optimization (TO) shows the great interest that this technique has generated in recent years. Among the different methodologies for TO, this article focuses on the well‐known solid isotropic material penalization (SIMP) method, broadly used because of its simple formulation and efficiency. Even so, the SIMP method has certain drawbacks, namely: lack of precision in definition of the edges of the optimized geometry and final results strongly influenced by the discretization used for the finite element (FE) analyses. In this article, we propose a combination of techniques to limit the effect of these drawbacks and, thus, to improve the behavior of TO. All these techniques are based on the use of the Cartesian grid finite element method (cgFEM), an immersed boundary method whose Cartesian grid structure and hierarchical data structure makes it specially appropriate for TO. All the proposed techniques are framed under the concept of mesh refinement. First, we propose the use of two meshes, the FE analysis mesh, and a finer mesh for integration and evaluation of sensitivities, to improve the resolution of the final solution at a marginal computational cost. Then we propose two h‐adaptive mesh refinement strategies. The first one will tend to refine the elements having intermediate density values and will have the effect of sharpening the definition of the edges of the optimized geometry. We will clearly show that if the accuracy of the FE analyses is not taken into account, stress constrained TO will generate solutions that, once manufactured, will not satisfy the constraints. Hence, we also propose an h‐refinement strategy based on the estimation of the discretization error in energy norm.
Dynamic cracking simulation by the nonlocal macro‐meso‐scale damage model for isotropic materials
Authors: Lu Guangda , Chen Jianbing
Published: February 2021

The newly proposed nonlocal macro‐meso‐scale damage (NMMD) model is extended to dynamic cracking simulation. For this purpose, the framework of continuum damage mechanics and damage constitutive model are firstly described. The NMMD, where the meso‐scale damage is determined according to the deformation of material bond and then the macroscopic topologic damage is endowed with the weighted averaging over the meso‐scale damage in the influence domain of the material point, is then elaborated and incorporated into the framework. Specifically, the criterion of meso‐scale damage is renormalized. The numerical algorithms including the spatial discretization by the finite element methods and the time integration methods by an explicit scheme are outlined. Several examples are studied in detail, showing the effectiveness of the proposed method. In particular, due to the nonlocal property, there is no spatial mesh size sensitivity. Owing to the scale renormalization of the meso‐scale damage, the results are insensitive to the influence radius in some examples. The dynamic cracking, including the crack propagation velocity, the damage dissipation rate, and the connection to the dynamic crack branching, is discussed in detail based on the computed results.