bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Probing the role of the right inferior frontal gyrus during Pain‐Related empathy processing: Evidence from fMRI and TMS
Authors: Li Yun , Li Wenjuan , Zhang Tingting , Zhang Junjun , Jin Zhenlan , Li Ling
Published: December 2020

Recent studies have suggested that the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) may be involved in pain‐related empathy. To verify the role of the rIFG, we performed a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiment to replicate previous research and further designed a noninvasive repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) experiment to probe the causal role of the rIFG in pain‐related empathy processing. We assigned 74 volunteers (37 females) to three groups. Group 1 (n = 26) performed a task in which participants were required to perceive pain in others (task of pain: TP) and we used fMRI to observe the activity of the rIFG during pain‐related empathy processing. Then, we applied online rTMS to the rIFG and the vertex site (as reference site) to observe the performance of Group 2 (n = 24; performing TP) and Group 3 (n = 24; performing a control task of identifying body parts; task of body: TB). fMRI experiment demonstrated stronger activation in the rIFG than in the vertex during the perception of pain in others (p < .0001, Bonferroni‐corrected). rTMS experiment indicated that when the rIFG was temporarily disrupted, participants perceived pain in others significantly more slowly (p < .0001, Bonferroni‐corrected) than when the vertex was disrupted. Our results provide evidence that the rIFG is involved in pain‐related empathy processing, which yields insights into how the brain perceives pain in others.
Structural Characterization of a High‐Nuclearity Niobium(V) Carboxylate Cluster Based on Pivalic Acid
Authors: Korzyński Maciej D. , Xie Lilia S. , Dincă Mircea
Published: December 2020

We report a novel Nb(V)−carboxylate cluster obtained from reaction of niobium(V) ethoxide and pivalic (trimethylacetic) acid. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction data reveal a structure composed of 16 Nb(V) ions featuring oxo‐, ethoxy‐ and pivalate moieties. The new cluster exhibits the highest nuclearity among structurally characterized niobium carboxylates reported to date.
Hsa_circ_0002483 regulates miR‐758‐3p/MYC axis to promote acute myeloid leukemia progression
Authors: Xiao Yi , Ming Xi , Wu Jiaying
Published: December 2020

Circular RNAs are relevant to progression of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Nevertheless, how and whether hsa_circ_0002483 (circ_0002483) participates in AML progression are largely uncertain. The bone marrow samples were harvested from 31 AML patients or 31 normal subjects. Circ_0002483, microRNA (miR)‐758‐3p and myelocytomatosis oncogene (MYC) abundances were examined via quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot. Cell proliferation, cycle process and apoptosis were analyzed via Cell Counting Kit‐8, flow cytometry, caspase 3 activity and related protein levels. Target relationship was investigated by dual‐luciferase reporter assay and RNA immunoprecipitation. Circ_0002483 expression was elevated in AML patients and cells. Circ_0002483 silence constrained AML cell proliferation and facilitated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. miR‐758‐3p was reduced in AML and decreased via circ_0002483. miR‐758‐3p down‐regulation mitigated the inhibitive influence of circ_0002483 interference on AML progression. MYC was decreased by miR‐758‐3p, and circ_0002483 could regulate MYC expression by miR‐758‐3p. miR‐758‐3p overexpression restrained cell proliferation and promoted cycle arrest and apoptosis via decreasing MYC. Circ_0002483 knockdown repressed AML cell proliferation and promoted cycle arrest and apoptosis via controlling miR‐758‐3p/MYC axis.
Potentially inappropriate medications prescribing to elderly patients with advanced chronic kidney by using 2019 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria
Authors: Chahine Bahia
Published: December 2020

Background and aims

A potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) is defined as a drug‐carrying risks outweighing the expected clinical benefits. Elderly patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are particularly at higher risk of drug‐related toxicities. In Lebanon, no studies have been conducted regarding the prescribing of PIMs in hospitalized CKD patients. This study aimed to check the prevalence of PIMs using the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Beers criteria in elderly patients with advanced CKD stages including dialysis and to identify possible risk factors that may be associated with prescribing PIMs in this population.

Methods

A retrospective cross‐sectional study was conducted on patients with advanced CKD above the age of 65 years and admitted between January 2019 and June 2019 to two University Hospitals in Beirut, Lebanon. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to determine which factors were associated with prescription of PIMs according to AGS Beers criteria‐2019.

Results

The study sample included 199 patients with renal dysfunction, 75.9% were aged 70 years or more, 53.8% were females, and 61.8% were prescribed five drugs or more. Eighty‐two patients were receiving hemodialysis (41.2%). PIMs prevalence was 34.1% (68/199 patients) according to Beers criteria in elderly patients with advanced CKD stages.

The most frequently prescribed PIMs were ranitidine (39.1%), enoxaparin (25%), tramadol (9.8%), and ciprofloxacin (5.4%). Polypharmacy (OR 2.1, CI 95% 1.58‐2.79), a higher number of comorbidities (OR 3.01, CI 95% 1.43‐6.30), and coronary artery diseases (OR 3.14 CI 95% 1.44‐6.85) were the factors associated with an increased risk of at least one PIM prescription.

Conclusion

Our study found that one out of three patients with advanced CKD had at least one PIM according to the latest Beers criteria. A large proportion of inappropriate prescribing is preventable by increasing awareness of prescribing physicians to the explicit lists of PIMs.
Thermal performance of U‐shaped serpentine microchannel heat sink using various metal oxide nanofluids
Authors: Sivakumar A. , Sathiyamoorthi R. , Alagumurthi N. , Jayaseelan V. , Sudhakar K.
Published: December 2020

This study aims to evaluate the thermal performance and friction factor characteristics of the U‐shaped serpentine microchannel heat sink using three different nanofluids. Two distinct nanoparticles, namely Al2O3 (alumina) and CuO (copper oxide), were used for the preparation of nanofluids using water and ethylene glycol (EG) as base fluids. Three nanofluids, namely nanofluid I (Al2O3 + water), nanofluid II (CuO + water), and nanofluid III (CuO + EG), have been prepared. The results showed that the thermal conductivity of nanofluids was increased for all concentrations (from 0.01 to 0.3%), compared with base fluids. The theoretical values derived from the relationship between the Darcy friction factor showed a clear understanding of the fully developed laminar flow. Thermal resistance for nanofluid III was lower than other nanofluids, resulting in a higher cooling efficiency. The nanofluid mechanism and the geometry of the U‐shaped serpentine heat sink have led to the improvement in the thermal performance of electronic cooling systems.
Entropy analysis of magnetohydrodynamic nanofluid transport past an inverted cone: Buongiorno's model
Authors: Vedavathi N. , Dharmaiah Gurram , Abdul Gaffar Shaik , Venkatadri Kothuru
Published: December 2020

The entropy analysis of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) thermal convection flow of a nanofluid past an inverted cone with suction/injection is presented in this article. The Buongiorno's model is adopted for nanofluid transport, considering the Brownian motion and thermophoresis effects. The governing partial differential conservation equations and wall and freestream boundary conditions are rendered into a nondimensional form and solved computationally using the Keller‐Box finite‐difference method. The entropy analysis due to MHD fluid flow and viscous dissipation is also included. The numerical results are presented graphically for the impact of various thermophysical parameters on velocity, temperature, nanoparticle volume fraction, shear stress rate, heat transfer rate, and mass transfer. Validations with earlier solutions in the literature are also included. A comprehensive description of the simulations is included. It is observed that velocity and temperature are enhanced with the increase in Brownian motion parameter values, whereas concentration, entropy, and Bejan number are reduced. An increase in the thermophoresis parameter and buoyancy ratio parameter reduces velocity and entropy, but increases temperature, concentration, and Bejan number. An increase in the magnetic parameter is found to decrease velocity, entropy generation number, and Bejan number, but it increases temperature and concentration. Also, an increase in the suction/injection parameter is seen to reduce velocity, temperature, concentration, and Bejan number, but the entropy generation number is observed to increase. The study finds applications in heat exchangers technology, materials processing, solar energy systems, cooling and heating processes, environmental applications, geothermal energy storage, and so on.
Clinical features and outcomes of COVID‐19 in patients with solid tumors: Turkish National Registry Data
Authors: Özdemir Nuriye , Dizdar Ömer , Yazıcı Ozan , Aksoy Sercan , Dede Didem Sener , Budakoğlu Burçin , Metan Gökhan , Alp Alpaslan , Budakoğlu Isıl Irem , Öksüzoğlu Ömür Berna Çakmak , Özet Ahmet , Kılıçkap Saadettin , Turhal Nazim Serdar , Çelik İsmail , Erman Mustafa , Ata Naim , Çelik Osman , Hayran Mutlu
Published: December 2020

We present demographic, clinical, laboratory characteristics and outcomes of the patients with solid malignancies and novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) collected from the National COVID‐19 Registry of Turkey. A total of 1523 patients with a current or past diagnosis of solid tumors and diagnosed with COVID‐19 (confirmed with PCR) between 11 March and 20 May 2020 were included. The primary outcome was 30‐day mortality. Median age was 61 (range: 18‐94), and 752 (49%) were male. The most common types of cancers were breast (19.8%), prostate (10.9%) and colorectal cancer (10.8%). 65% of the patients had at least one comorbidity. At least one COVID‐19‐directed therapy was given in 73% of the patients.. Hospitalization rate of the patients was 56.6% and intensive care unit admission rate was 11.4%. Seventy‐seven (5.1%) patients died within 30 days of diagnosis. The first multivariate model which included only the demographic and clinical characteristics showed older age, male gender and presence of diabetes and receipt of cytotoxic therapy to be associated with increased 30‐day mortality, while breast and prostate cancer diagnoses were associated with lower 30‐day mortality. In the second set, we further included laboratory parameters. The presence of leukocytosis (OR 6.7, 95% CI 3.3‐13.7, P < .001), lymphocytopenia (OR 3,1, 95% CI 1,6‐6,1, P = .001) and thrombocytopenia (OR 3,4 95% CI 1,5‐8,1, P = .005) were found to be associated with increased 30‐day mortality. Relatively lower mortality compared to Western countries and China mainly results from differences in baseline risk factors but may also implicate the importance of intensive supportive care.
A pyrazine‐bridged trimer of oxo‐centered triruthenium–carbonyl clusters and the supramolecular assembly built from multiple noncovalent contacts
Authors: Daicho Keita , Ozawa Yoshiki , Sugimoto Kunihisa , Abe Masaaki
Published: December 2020

The crystal structure of a new pyrazine‐bridged trimer of oxo‐centered triruthenium–carbonyl clusters formulated as [Ru3O(EtCOO)6(CO)(pyrazine)]2[Ru3O(EtCOO)6(CO)(μ‐pyrazine)2] (1) has been unequivocally determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (SC‐XRD) analysis at 100 K. A supramolecular cyclic assembly of two trimers was formed via intermolecular CO⋯CO contacts, which is further assembled into a three‐dimensional orthogonal layer‐by‐layer stack via hydrogen bonds.
Activation of yes‐associated protein mediates sphingosine‐1‐phosphate–induced proliferation and migration of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and its potential mechanisms
Authors: Shi Wenhua , Wang Qingting , Wang Jian , Yan Xin , Feng Wei , Zhang Qianqian , Zhai Cui , Chai Limin , Li Shaojun , Xie Xinming , Li Manxiang
Published: December 2020

The aims of the present study were to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P)–induced rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) proliferation/migration and to determine the effect of yes‐associated protein (YAP) activation on S1P‐induced PASMCs proliferation/migration and its potential mechanisms. S1P induced YAP dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation, upregulated microRNA‐130a/b (miR‐130a/b) expression, reduced bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2 (BMPR2), and inhibitor of DNA binding 1(Id1) expression, and promoted PASMCs proliferation and migration. Pretreatment of cells with Rho‐associated protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y27632 suppressed S1P‐induced YAP activation, miR‐130a/b upregulation, BMPR2/Id1 downregulation, and PASMCs proliferation/migration. Knockdown of YAP using small interfering RNA also suppressed S1P‐induced alterations of miR‐130a/b, BMPR2, Id1, and PASMCs behavior. In addition, luciferase reporter assay indicated that miR‐130a/b directly regulated BMPR2 expression in PASMCs. Inhibition of miR‐130a/b functions by anti‐miRNA oligonucleotides attenuated S1P‐induced BMPR2/Id1 downregulation and the proliferation and migration of PASMCs. Taken together, our study indicates that S1P induces activation of YAP through ROCK signaling and subsequently increases miR‐130a/b expression, which, in turn, downregulates BMPR2 and Id1 leading to PASMCs proliferation and migration.
Endogenous metabolite, kynurenic acid, attenuates nonalcoholic fatty liver disease via AMPK/autophagy‐ and AMPK/ORP150‐mediated signaling
Authors: Pyun Do Hyeon , Kim Tae Jin , Kim Myeong Jun , Hong Soon Auck , Abd El‐Aty A. M. , Jeong Ji Hoon , Jung Tae Woo
Published: December 2020

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress plays a causative role in the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Kynurenic acid (KA) is a tryptophan metabolite that has been shown to exert anti‐inflammatory effects in macrophages and endothelial cells. However, the role of KA in ER stress‐associated development of NAFLD has not been fully explored. In the current study, we observed decreased KA levels in the serum of obese subjects. Treated hepatocytes with KA attenuated palmitate‐induced lipid accumulation and downregulated lipogenesis‐associated genes as well as ER stress markers in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, KA augmented AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation, oxygen‐regulated protein 150 (ORP150) expression, and autophagy markers. The small interfering RNA‐mediated suppression of AMPK and ORP150, or 3‐methyladenine also abrogated the effects of KA on ER stress and lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. In accordance with in vitro observations, KA administration to mice fed a high‐fat diet ameliorated hepatic lipid accumulation and decreased the expression of lipogenic genes as well as ER stress. Moreover, KA treatment increased hepatic AMPK phosphorylation, ORP150 expression, and autophagy related markers in mouse livers. Knockdown of AMPK using in vivo transfection mitigated the effects of KA on hepatic steatosis and ER stress as well as autophagy and ORP150 expression. These results suggest that KA ameliorates hepatic steatosis via the AMPK/autophagy‐ and AMPK/ORP150‐mediated suppression of ER stress. In sum, KA might be used as a promising therapeutic agent for treatment of NAFLD.
RETRACTED: Mesoglycan exerts its fibrinolytic effect through the activation of annexin A2
Authors: Belvedere Raffaella , Morretta Elva , Pessolano Emanuela , Novizio Nunzia , Tosco Alessandra , Porta Amalia , Whiteford James , Perretti Mauro , Filippelli Amelia , Monti Maria Chiara , Petrella Antonello
Published: December 2020

Mesoglycan is a drug based on a mixture of glycosaminoglycans mainly used for the treatment of blood vessel diseases acting as antithrombotic and profibrinolytic drugs. Besides the numerous clinical studies, there is no information about its function on the fibrinolytic cascade. Here, we have elucidated the mechanism of action by which mesoglycan induces the activation of plasmin from endothelial cells. Surprisingly, by a proteomic analysis, we found that, following mesoglycan treatment, these cells show a notable amount of annexin A2 (ANXA2) at the plasma membrane. This protein has been widely associated with fibrinolysis and appears able to move to the membrane when phosphorylated. In our model, this translocation has proven to enhance cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. Furthermore, the interaction of mesoglycan with syndecan 4 (SDC4), a coreceptor belonging to the class of heparan sulfate proteoglycans, represents the upstream event of the ANXA2 behavior. Indeed, the activation of SDC4 triggers the motility of endothelial cells culminating in angiogenesis. Interestingly, mesoglycan can induce the release of plasmin in endothelial cell supernatants only in the presence of ANXA2. This evaluation suggests that mesoglycan triggers the formation of a chain mechanism starting from the activation of SDC4, and the related cascade of events, including src complex and PKCα activation, promoting the phosphorylation of ANXA2 and its translocation to plasma membrane. This indicates a connection among mesoglycan, SDC4‐(PKCα‐src), and ANXA2 which, in turn, links the tissue plasminogen activator bringing it closer to plasminogen. This latter is so cleaved to release the plasmin and degrade fibrin sleeves.
Performance of a local reference curve for predicting small for gestational age fetuses in pregnant women with HIV/AIDS
Authors: Kato Daniel Massamatsu Pianovski , Lorusso Liziane , Bruns Rafael Frederico , Pinhat Elisa Chicareli , Dalla Costa Natália Roberta Andrade , Pletsch Letícia , Araujo Júnior Edward
Published: December 2020

Purpose

To compare the performance of a local estimated fetal weight curve with curves established for other populations to predict small for gestational age (SGA) fetuses.

Methods

A retrospective and cross‐sectional study involving 231 fetuses in which the performance of a local curve (proposed model) was compared with the Hadlock and Intergrowth‐21st curves in the prediction of SGA fetuses, by applying them to a population of high‐risk pregnant woman with HIV/AIDS. For each model, a receiver operating characteristic curve was adjusted, considering the SGA classification by the neonatal Intergrowth method as the gold standard, and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated.

Results

The models presented linear correlations with each other. The agreement of the proposed model with Hadlock was very good (kappa = 0.83), whereas the proposed model and Intergrowth‐21st had moderate agreement (kappa = 0.44). The SGA fetus detection sensitivities of the proposed model and Hadlock were 61.9% and 57.1%, with specificity of 84.1% and 86.2% and accuracy of 80.1% and 81%, respectively, without statistical difference. The sensitivity of the Intergrowth‐21st model was 33.3%, while the accuracy was 85.7% and the specificity was 97.4%. The AUC estimated values for the Hadlock, proposed, and Intergrowth‐21st models were 0.834, 0.832, and 0.835, respectively.

Conclusion

The proposed model and Hadlock were interchangeable in the prediction of SGA fetuses and superior to the Intergrowth‐21st model.
Meta‐analysis of the effects of sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Sinha Binayak , Datta Debasis , Ghosal Samit
Published: December 2020

Background and Aim

Sodium glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT‐2i), by way of their unique mode of action, present an attractive strategy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which often coexist and may lead to severe complications. However, the evidence for treatment with SGLT‐2i is limited to small heterogeneous studies. Therefore, this meta‐analysis was conducted to deduce the effects of SGLT‐2i in NAFLD with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods

A web‐based search identified nine randomized controlled trials from the Cochrane Library, Embase, and PubMed for this meta‐analysis. The Comprehensive Meta‐Analysis Software version 3 was used to calculate the effect size.

Result

The outcomes of interest were analyzed from a pooled population of 11 369 patients—7281 on SGLT‐2i and 4088 in the control arm. SGLT‐2i therapy produced a statistically significant improvement in alanine aminotransferase [standardised mean difference (SDM), −0.21, 95% confidence interval (CI), −0.32 to −0.10, P < 0.01], aspartate aminotransferase (Standardised mean difference (SDM), −0.15, 95% CI, −0.24 to −0.07, P < 0.01), and liver fat as measured by proton density fat fraction (SDM, −0.98, 95% CI, −1.53 to −0.44, P < 0.01) in comparison to standard of care or placebo. In addition, there was a significant reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin (SDM, −0.37, 95% CI, −0.60 to −0.14, P < 0.01) and weight (SDM, −0.58, 95% CI, −0.93 to −0.23, P < 0.01) in the SGLT‐2i arm.

Conclusion

This meta‐analysis provides a convincing signal that SGLT‐2i have a salutary effect on NAFLD in type 2 diabetes (T2D), probably driven by an improvement of glycemia and body weight, which in turn attenuates hepatic inflammation and hepatic fat accumulation.
Analysis of balms taken from Egyptian human mummies using solid‐phase extraction and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Mezzatesta Elodie , Perraud Annie , Vieillescazes Cathy , Mathe Carole
Published: December 2020

The aim of this paper is to establish a protocol by solid‐phase extraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry leading to a wide and fine qualitative chemical characterization of the several natural substances present in human mummies’ balms, using a minimal quantity of samples. In this study, nine samples were analyzed from mummies dating back from the Third Intermediate Period to the Roman Period, and were provided by the Confluences Museum (Lyon, France). Using solid‐phase extraction, three fractions were examined in this protocol. The first one, eluted with hexane, concerned chemical families of hydrocarbons of bitumen. The second, eluted with ethanol, enabled terpenic compounds to be characterized and beeswax. The last one, composed of diethyl ether with 2% acetic acid, extracted carboxylic acids with a long aliphatic chain (fatty matter) and glycerides. This study also allowed the characterization of non‐saponified compounds from beeswax to be obtained while excluding the common saponification step. The analyzed mummification balms were shown to contain fatty matter, beeswax, bitumen, and diterpenic resinous material. This one‐pot solid‐phase extraction–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method was efficient in reducing both the number of analytical steps and the complexity of the archaeological balms subsequently analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.
3D Free‐breathing multichannel absolute Mapping in the human body at 7T
Authors: Dietrich Sebastian , Aigner Christoph S. , Kolbitsch Christoph , Mayer Johannes , Ludwig Juliane , Schmidt Simon , Schaeffter Tobias , Schmitter Sebastian
Published: December 2020

Purpose

To introduce and investigate a method for free‐breathing three‐dimensional (3D) mapping of the human body at ultrahigh field (UHF), which can be used to generate homogenous flip angle (FA) distributions in the human body at UHF.

Methods

A 3D relative mapping sequence with a radial phase‐encoding (RPE) k‐space trajectory was developed and applied in 11 healthy subjects at 7T. An RPE‐based actual flip angle mapping method was applied with a dedicated shim setting to calibrate the relative maps yielding absolute maps of the individual transmit channels. The method was evaluated in a motion phantom and by multidimensional in vivo measurements. Additionally, 3D gradient echo scans with and without static phase‐only shims were used to qualitatively validate shim predictions.

Results

The phantom validation revealed good agreement for maps between dynamic measurement and static reference acquisition. The proposed 3D method was successfully validated in vivo by comparing magnitude and phase distributions with a 2D Cartesian reference. 3D maps free from visible motion artifacts were successfully acquired for 11 subjects with body mass indexes ranging from 19 kg/m2 to 34 kg/m2. 3D respiration‐resolved absolute maps indicated FA differences between inhalation and exhalation up to 15% for one channel and up to 24% for combined channels for shallow breathing.

Conclusion

The proposed method provides respiration‐resolved absolute 3D maps of the human body at UHF, which enables the investigation and development of 3D shimming and parallel transmission methods to further enhance body imaging at UHF.
Correlation between Ethical Intelligence, Quality of Work Life and Caring Behaviour of Paediatric Nurses
Authors: Shakeri Fateme , Atashzadeh‐Shoorideh Foroozan , Varzeshnejad Maryam , Svetic Cisic Rosana , Oomen Ber
Published: December 2020

Aims

The aim of this study is to determine correlation between paediatric nurses' “ethical intelligence” with “quality of work life” and “caring behaviour.”

Design

Descriptive correlational study.

Methods

Data were collected with EIQ, QWL and CBI. Two hundred and one nurses and 201 caregivers of children hospitalized in a paediatric hospital in Tehran were randomly selected as participants. Data were analysed by SPSS. The data were collected in 2019.

Results

Comparison of the subscale “ethical intelligence” with the scale “quality of work life” indicated a significant positive correlation between “honesty” with “job and carrier satisfaction” and “forgiveness” with “job and carrier satisfaction”. In addition, findings showed a significant positive correlation between “honesty” and “control at work” and between “accountability” with “home–work interface.” There was no significant correlation between “ethical intelligence” and “caring behaviours” and between nurses' “quality of work life” and “caring behaviours.” Structural equation modelling showed a correlation between nurses' “ethical intelligence” and “quality of work life.”
Numerical simulations for the predator–prey model as a prototype of an excitable system
Authors: Khater Mostafa M. A. , Almohsen Bandar , Baleanu Dumitru ,   Mustafa Inc
Published: December 2020

This research paper investigates the numerical solutions of the predator–prey model through five recent numerical schemes (Adomian decomposition, El Kalla, cubic B‐spline, extended cubic B‐spline, exponential cubic B‐spline). We investigate the obtained computational solutions via the modified Khater methods. This model is considered as a well‐known bimathematical model to describe the prototype of an excitable system. The obtained solitary solutions emerge the localized wave packet as a persistent and dominant feature. The accuracy of the obtained numerical solutions is investigated by calculating the absolute error between the exact and numerical solutions. Many sketches are given to illustrate the matching between the exact and numerical solutions.
Timing of Palliative Care Referral Before and After Evidence from Trials Supporting Early Palliative Care
Authors: Hausner David , Tricou Colombe , Mathews Jean , Wadhwa Deepa , Pope Ashley , Swami Nadia , Hannon Breffni , Rodin Gary , Krzyzanowska Monika K. , Le Lisa W. , Zimmermann Camilla
Published: December 2020

Background

Evidence from randomized controlled trials has demonstrated benefits in quality of life outcomes from early palliative care concurrent with standard oncology care in patients with advanced cancer. We hypothesized that there would be earlier referral to outpatient palliative care at a comprehensive cancer center following this evidence.

Materials and Methods

Administrative databases were reviewed for two cohorts of patients: the pre-evidence cohort was seen in outpatient palliative care between June and November 2006, and the post-evidence cohort was seen between June and November 2015. Timing of referral was categorized, according to time from referral to death, as early (>12 months), intermediate (>6 months to 12 months), and late (≤6 months from referral to death). Univariable and multivariable ordinal logistic regression analyses were used to determine demographic and medical factors associated with timing of referral.

Results

Late referrals decreased from 68.8% pre-evidence to 44.8% post-evidence; early referrals increased from 13.4% to 31.1% (p < .0001). The median time from palliative care referral to death increased from 3.5 to 7.0 months (p < .0001); time from diagnosis to referral was also reduced (p < .05). On multivariable regression analysis, earlier referral to palliative care was associated with post-evidence group (p < .0001), adjusting for shorter time since diagnosis (p < .0001), referral for pain and symptom management (p = .002), and patient sex (p = .04). Late referrals were reduced to <50% in the breast, gynecological, genitourinary, lung, and gastrointestinal tumor sites.

Conclusions

Following robust evidence from trials supporting early palliative care for patients with advanced cancer, patients were referred substantially earlier to outpatient palliative care.

Implications for Practice

Following published evidence demonstrating the benefit of early referral to palliative care for patients with advanced cancer, there was a substantial increase in early referrals to outpatient palliative care at a comprehensive cancer center. The increase in early referrals occurred mainly in tumor sites that have been included in trials of early palliative care. These results indicate that oncologists’ referral practices can change if positive consequences of earlier referral are demonstrated. Future research should focus on demonstrating benefits of early palliative care for tumor sites that have tended to be omitted from early palliative care trials.
A comparison of models with weight, height, and BMI as predictors of mortality
Authors: Sorjonen Kimmo , Nilsonne Gustav , Falkstedt Daniel , Hemmingsson Tomas , Melin Bo , Ingre Michael
Published: December 2020

Introduction

Body mass index (BMI) is a composite variable of weight and height, often used as a predictor of health outcomes, including mortality. The main purpose of combining weight and height in one variable is to obtain a measure of obesity independent of height. It is however unclear how accurate BMI is as a predictor of mortality compared with models including both weight and height or a weight × height interaction as predictors.

Methods

The current study used conscription data on weight, height, and BMI of Swedish men (N = 48,904) in 1969/70 as well as linked data on mortality (3442 deaths) between 1969 and 2008. Cox proportional hazard models including combinations of weight, height, and BMI at conscription as predictors of subsequent all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality were fitted to data.

Results

An increase by one standard deviation on weight and BMI were associated with an increase in hazard for all‐cause mortality by 5.4% and 11.5%, respectively, while an increase by one standard deviation on height was associated with a decrease in hazard for all‐cause mortality by 9.4%. The best‐fitting model indicated lowest predicted all‐cause mortality for those who weighed 60.5 kg at conscription, regardless of height. Further analyses of cause‐specific mortality suggest that this weight seems to be a compromise between lower optimal weights to avoid cancer and CVD mortality and a higher optimal weight to not die by suicide.

Conclusions

According to the present findings, there are several ways to make better use of measured weight and height than to calculate BMI when predicting mortality.
Connecting governance interventions to ecosystem services provision: A social‐ecological network approach
Authors: Metzger Jean Paul , Fidelman Pedro , Sattler Claudia , Schröter Barbara , Maron Martine , Eigenbrod Felix , Fortin Marie‐Josée , Hohlenwerger Camila , Rhodes Jonathan R.
Published: December 2020

The fulfilment of the benefits resulting from services provided by nature requires an integrated framework that combines appropriate ecosystem service governance with spatially explicit models of service provision.

Here, we propose using a social‐ecological network approach to develop a ‘landscape governance framework’ that identifies how different types of governance can act on supply, demand and flow of ecosystem services through changes in landscape structure and connections.

Starting from undesirable situations where demand exceeds supply, we exemplify the application of this conceptual model considering hierarchical (e.g. creation of protected areas), market (e.g. payments for environmental services) and community‐based (e.g. enhancing links between stakeholders) governance approaches.

We show how interventions associated with each of these approaches act in distinct ways to regulate different components of the service provision chain in heterogeneous landscapes. Filling such knowledge gaps can help identify appropriate governance interventions depending on factors that limit provision: restricted supply, demand or flow.

The application of the landscape governance framework entails challenges related to availability of data and limited understanding of key underlying mechanisms. However, it opens important new research questions at the interface between governance and ecosystem services, with great potential as a tool for landscape management that aims to achieve ecosystem service sustainability.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Fabrication of Forcespinning® nanofibers incorporating nopal extract
Authors: Rodriguez Cristobal , Padilla Victoria , Lozano Karen , McDonald Andrew , Materon Luis , Chapa Alejandra , Ahmad Fariha , De Leo Carlos Trevino , Gilkerson Robert
Published: December 2020

In this study, nanofibers composed of Opuntia cochenillifera nopal mucilage (N) extract combined with chitosan (CH) and pullulan (PL) (N/CH/PL) were produced via Forcespinning®. The developed nonwoven composite membranes are composed of long, continuous and homogeneous fibers with average fiber diameter varying between 251 ± 77 nm and 406 ± 127 nm depending on the concentration of N. After crosslinking, the developed membranes were highly stable in water. The water absorption capacity of the N/CH/PL composite nanofiber membranes was shown to be 65% higher compared to CH/PL nanofiber membranes. Nopal dip‐coated membranes show inhibition of Gram‐negative Escherichia coli, indicating antibacterial properties. These findings suggest that the incorporation of naturally derived nopal extract into nanofiber systems could provide a natural alternative for dressings used in wound healing applications. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Zebrafish larvae as a toxicity model in plasma medicine
Authors: Gandhirajan Rajesh K. , Endlich Nicole , Bekeschus Sander
Published: December 2020

Plasma technology has emerged as a promising tool in medicine that, however, requires not only efficacy but also toxicological assessments. Traditional cell culture systems are fast and economical, but they lack in vivo relevance; however, rodent models are highly complex and necessitate extended facilities. Zebrafish larvae bridge this gap, and many larvae can be analyzed in well plates in a single run, giving results in 1–2 days. Using the kINPen, we found plasma exposure to reduce hedging rates and viability in a dose‐dependent manner, accompanied with an increase in reactive oxygen species and a decrease of glutathione in plasma‐treated fish. Modest growth alterations were also observed. Altogether, zebrafish larvae constitute a fast, reliable, and relevant model for testing the toxicity of plasma sources.
Untangling a Gordian knot: the role of a GluCl3 I321T mutation in abamectin resistance in Tetranychus urticae
Authors: Xue Wenxin , Mermans Catherine , Papapostolou Kyriaki‐Maria , Lamprousi Mantha , Christou Iason‐Konstantinos , Inak Emre , Douris Vassilis , Vontas John , Dermauw Wannes , Van Leeuwen Thomas
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

The cys‐loop ligand‐gated ion channels, including the glutamate‐gated chloride channel (GluCl) and GABA‐gated chloride channel (Rdl) are important targets for drugs and pesticides. The macrocyclic lactone abamectin primarily targets GluCl and is commonly used to control the spider mite Tetranychus urticae, an economically important crop pest. However, abamectin resistance has been reported for multiple T. urticae populations worldwide, and in several cases was associated with the mutations G314D in GluCl1 and G326E in GluCl3. Recently, an additional I321T mutation in GluCl3 was identified in several abamectin resistant T. urticae field populations. Here, we aim to functionally validate this mutation and determine its phenotypic strength.

RESULTS

The GluCl3 I321T mutation was introgressed into a T. urticae susceptible background by marker‐assisted backcrossing, revealing contrasting results in phenotypic strength, ranging from almost none to 50‐fold. Next, we used CRISPR‐Cas9 to introduce I321T, G314D and G326E in the orthologous Drosophila GluCl. Genome modified flies expressing GluCl I321T were threefold less susceptible to abamectin, while CRISPRed GluCl G314D and G326E flies were lethal. Last, functional analysis in Xenopus oocytes revealed that the I321T mutation might reduce GluCl3 sensitivity to abamectin, but also suggested that all three T. urticae Rdls are affected by abamectin.

CONCLUSION

Three different techniques were used to characterize the role of I321T in GluCl3 in abamectin resistance and, combining all results, our analysis suggests that the I321T mutation has a complex role in abamectin resistance. Given the reported subtle effect, additional synergistic factors in resistance warrant more investigation. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Early stopping in seamless phase I/IIclinical trials
Authors: Khan Noor M. , Alam M. Iftakhar
Published: December 2020

In recent years, seamless phase I/II clinical trials have drawn much attention, as they consider both toxicity and efficacy endpoints in finding an optimal dose (OD). Engaging an appropriate number of patients in a trial is a challenging task. This paper attempts a dynamic stopping rule to save resources in phase I/II trials. That is, the stopping rule aims to save patients from unnecessary toxic or subtherapeutic doses. We allow a trial to stop early when widths of the confidence intervals for the dose‐response parameters become narrower or when the sample size is equal to a predefined size, whichever comes first. The simulation study of dose‐response scenarios in various settings demonstrates that the proposed stopping rule can engage an appropriate number of patients. Therefore, we suggest its use in clinical trials.
Deterministic quantum mechanics: The role of the Maxwell–Boltzmann distribution
Authors: Büchel Ralf C. , Rudolph Dominik A. , Frank Irmgard
Published: December 2020

To be accepted by the community, the claim that nuclear motion has to be treated classically must be tested for all kinds of phenomena. For the moment we claim that in a quantum chemical calculation, a classical description of nuclear motion is superior to the use of the Schrödinger equation, and investigate how far we get with this statement. In the present paper we address the question what nuclear quantum statistics means in this context. We will show that the Maxwell–Boltzmann velocity distribution evolves quickly in any molecular dynamics simulation and this guarantees the physically correct behavior of molecular systems. Using first‐principles molecular dynamics simulations, or more precisely Car–Parrinello molecular dynamics, we investigate what this means for Bose‐Einstein condensates and for Cooper pairs. It turns out that our approach can explain all relevant phenomena. As a consequence, we can introduce a deterministic formulation of quantum mechanics and can get rid of all the paradoxa in traditional quantum mechanics. The basic idea is to treat electrons and nuclei differently.
SPIX: A new software package to reveal chemical reactions at trace amounts in very complex mixtures from high‐resolution mass spectra dataset
Authors: Nicol Edith , Xu Yao , Varga Zsuzsanna , Kinani Said , Bouchonnet Stéphane , Lavielle Marc
Published: December 2020

Rationale

High‐resolution mass spectrometry based non‐targeted screening has a huge potential for applications in environmental sciences, engineering and regulation. However, it produces large datasets for which full appropriate processing is a real challenge; the development of processing software is the last building‐block to enable large‐scale use of this approach.

Methods

A new software application, SPIX, has been developed to extract relevant information from high‐resolution mass spectral datasets. Dealing with intrinsic sample variability and reducing operator subjectivity, it opens up opportunities and promising prospects in many areas of analytical chemistry. SPIX is freely available at: http://spix.webpopix.org.

Results

Two features of the software are presented in the field of environmental analysis. An example illustrates how SPIX reveals photodegradation reactions in wastewater by fitting kinetic models to significant changes in ion abundance over time. A second example shows the ability of SPIX to detect photoproducts at trace amounts in river water, through comparison of datasets from samples taken before and after irradiation.

Conclusions

SPIX has shown its ability to reveal relevant modifications between two series of large datasets, allowing, for instance, the study of the consequences of a given event on a complex substrate. Most of all – and it is to our knowledge the only software currently available allowing this – it can reveal and monitor any kind of reaction in all types of mixture.
Comparing biological methods for soil health assessments: EL‐FAME, enzyme activities, and qPCR
Authors: Pérez‐Guzmán Lumarie , Phillips Lori A. , Acevedo Miguel A. , Acosta‐Martínez Verónica
Published: December 2020

Soil health initiatives have categorized assays for enzyme activities (EAs) that measure p‐nitrophenol and ester‐linked fatty acid methyl ester (EL‐FAME) as Tier 2 indicators for biological activity and community structure analysis, respectively. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays of functional and taxonomic communities are emerging Tier 3 indicators. To facilitate comparisons of soil biological health between research groups that may employ different methods, we applied these current and emerging indicators to semiarid soils from the Texas High Plains sampled in the growing season and postharvest from 2014 through 2018. Microbial groups via EL‐FAME markers and EAs were strongly correlated (r > .79) with qPCR assays of equivalent taxonomic and functional genes. To further quantify the predictive power of these relationships, we modeled several genes as a function of EA or EL‐FAME markers, combined with other related covariates (e.g., soil texture, pH, irrigation, and soil organic C [SOC]) using a generalized linear model. The latter was trained using data from 2014, which was an average year in terms of temperature and precipitation for the region. Subsequently, the model was tested making predictions for 2015–2018, which represented high variability in climatic conditions, ensuring a thorough assessment of its predictive power. In most cases, soil texture, SOC, and Tier 2 indicators were identified as moderate to strong predictors of the biological responses. Our results suggest that the different approaches for assessing either function or community in these semiarid soils were highly comparable and provided similar information on how microbial communities were responding to both management and climate.
The role of values in shaping sustainable development perspectives and outcomes: A case study of Iceland
Authors: Knox‐Hayes Janelle , Chandra Shekhar , Chun Jungwoo
Published: December 2020

Sustainability is conceptualized as a process of balancing growth, equity, and preservation, a definition that is drawn from the 1987 Brundtland Commission report, Our Common Future. While making sustainability a universal objective, this definition conceptualizes sustainability as a one‐size fits all technocratic solution, which removes the concept from the context of specific societies that must engage with sustainable development. Social scientific data about the nature of values, where they come from, with whom they resonate, and what goals for conservation and development they establish are equally necessary for the understanding and framing of sustainability. Policies are more effective if they are embedded in the value systems they engage. Drawing on a case study of Iceland this study examines the nature of values in shaping sustainable outcomes. We argue that regulative, normative, cultural, and cognitive institutional structures are in constant interaction with value systems and sustainability conceptions. We find that institutional structures and pro‐sustainability values are mutually reinforcing: institutional structures and place amplify value orientation. In turn, values influence the orientation of status‐quo institutional structures. Working with interview data and using a grounded theory approach, we build a model for understanding how sustainability is conceptualized in Iceland working from values through agents and industrial bases to generate strategies of development. Icelanders operationalize concepts of sustainability through innovations that improve the efficiency and preservation of natural resources. Our findings add additional layers to conventional pathways of valuation and demonstrate the importance of place and context in situating values of development.
A note on estimating the Cox‐Snell R2 from a reported C statistic (AUROC) to inform sample size calculations for developing a prediction model with a binary outcome
Authors: Riley Richard D. , Van Calster Ben , Collins Gary S.
Published: December 2020

In 2019 we published a pair of articles in Statistics in Medicine that describe how to calculate the minimum sample size for developing a multivariable prediction model with a continuous outcome, or with a binary or time‐to‐event outcome. As for any sample size calculation, the approach requires the user to specify anticipated values for key parameters. In particular, for a prediction model with a binary outcome, the outcome proportion and a conservative estimate for the overall fit of the developed model as measured by the Cox‐Snell R2 (proportion of variance explained) must be specified. This proposal raises the question of how to identify a plausible value for R2 in advance of model development. Our articles suggest researchers should identify R2 from closely related models already published in their field. In this letter, we present details on how to derive R2 using the reported C statistic (AUROC) for such existing prediction models with a binary outcome. The C statistic is commonly reported, and so our approach allows researchers to obtain R2 for subsequent sample size calculations for new models. Stata and R code is provided, and a small simulation study.