bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Notch signaling and the emergence of hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Lomelí Hilda , Castillo‐Castellanos Francisco
Published: July 2020

The hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) is able to give rise to all blood cell lineages in vertebrates. HSCs are generated in the early embryo after two precedent waves of primitive hematopoiesis. Canonical Notch signaling is at the center of the complex mechanism that controls the development of the definitive HSC. The successful in vitro generation of hematopoietic cells from pluripotent stem cells with the capacity for multilineage hematopoietic reconstitution after transplantation requires the recapitulation of the most important process that takes place in the hemogenic endothelium during definitive hematopoiesis, that is the endothelial‐to‐hematopoietic transition (EHT). To meet this challenge, it is necessary to thoroughly understand the molecular mechanisms that modulate Notch signaling during the HSC differentiation process considering different temporal and spatial dimensions. In recent years, there have been important advances in this field. Here, we review relevant contributions describing different genes, factors, environmental cues, and signaling cascades that regulate the EHT through Notch interactions at multiple levels. The evolutionary conservation of the hematopoietic program has made possible the use of diverse model systems. We describe the contributions of the zebrafish model and the most relevant ones from transgenic mouse studies and from in vitro differentiated pluripotent cells.
Novel co‐occurrence of functionally redundant consumers induced by range expansion alters community structure
Authors: Aguilera Moisés A. , Valdivia Nelson , Broitman Bernardo R. , Jenkins Stuart R. , Navarrete Sergio A.
Published: July 2020

Ongoing climate change is shifting the geographic distributions of some species, potentially imposing rapid changes in local community structure and ecosystem functioning. Besides changes in population‐level interspecific interactions, such range shifts may also cause changes in functional structure within the host assemblages, which can result in losses or gains in ecosystem functions. Because consumer‐resource dynamics are central to community regulation, functional reorganization driven by introduction of new consumer species can have large consequences on ecosystem functions. Here we experimentally examine the extent to which the recent poleward range expansion of the intertidal grazer limpet Scurria viridula along the coast of Chile has altered the role of the resident congeneric limpet S. zebrina, and whether the net collective impacts, and functional structure, of the entire herbivore guild have been modified by the introduction of this new member. We examined the functional role of Scurria species in controlling ephemeral algal cover, bare rock availability, and species richness and diversity, and compared the effects in the region of range overlap against their respective “native” abutted ranges. Experiments showed depression of per capita effects of the range‐expanded species within the region of overlap, suggesting environmental conditions negatively affect individual performance. In contrast, effects of S. zebrina were commonly invariant at its range edge. When comparing single species versus polycultures, effects on bare rock cover were altered by the presence of the other Scurria species, suggesting competition between Scurria species. Importantly, although the magnitude of S. viridula effects at the range overlap was reduced, its addition to the herbivore guild seems to complement and intensify the role of the guild in reducing green algal cover, species richness and increasing bare space provision. Our study thus highlights that range expansion of an herbivore can modify the functional guild structure in the recipient community. It also highlights the complexity of predicting how functional structure may change in the face of natural or human‐induced range expansions. There is a need for more field‐based examination of regional functional compensation, complementarity, or inhibition before we can construct a conceptual framework to anticipate the consequences of species range expansions.
A framework and standardized terminology to facilitate the study of predation‐risk effects
Authors: Peacor Scott D. , Barton Brandon T. , Kimbro David L. , Sih Andrew , Sheriff Michael J
Published: July 2020

The very presence of predators can strongly influence flexible prey traits such as behavior, morphology, life history, and physiology. In a rapidly growing body of literature representing diverse ecological systems, these trait (or “fear”) responses have been shown to influence prey fitness components and density, and to have indirect effects on other species. However, this broad and exciting literature is burdened with inconsistent terminology that is likely hindering the development of inclusive frameworks and general advances in ecology. We examine the diverse terminology used in the literature, and discuss pros and cons of the many terms used. Common problems include the same term being used for different processes, and many different terms being used for the same process. To mitigate terminological barriers, we developed a conceptual framework that explicitly distinguishes the multiple predation‐risk effects studied. These multiple effects, along with suggested standardized terminology, are risk‐induced trait responses (i.e., effects on prey traits), interaction modifications (i.e., effects on prey–other‐species interactions), nonconsumptive effects (i.e., effects on the fitness and density of the prey), and trait‐mediated indirect effects (i.e., the effects on the fitness and density of other species). We apply the framework to three well studied systems to highlight how it can illuminate commonalities and differences among study systems. By clarifying and elucidating conceptually similar processes, the framework and standardized terminology can facilitate communication of insights and methodologies across systems and foster cross‐disciplinary perspectives.
Heart failure signs and symptoms, hospital referrals, and prescription patterns in patients receiving sacubitril/valsartan in primary care and cardiologist settings in Germany
Authors: Wachter Rolf , Klebs Sven , Balas Bogdan , Kap Elisabeth , Engelhard Johanna , Schlienger Raymond , Bruce Wirta Sara , Fonseca Ana Filipa
Published: July 2020

Aims

The aim of this paper was to analyse heart failure (HF) signs and symptoms, hospital referrals, and prescription patterns in patients receiving sacubitril/valsartan (sac/val) in primary care and cardiology settings in Germany.

Methods and results

A retrospective cohort study of electronic medical records identified 1263 adults (aged ≥18 years) in the German IMS® Disease Analyzer database who were prescribed sac/val during 2016 and had at least 6 months of data following sac/val initiation. Clinical characteristics were collected during the 12 months before the first recorded sac/val prescription (index date) and 6 months post‐index. Details of sac/val dose and prescription patterns were also recorded in the 6 months post‐index. HF signs, symptoms, and all‐cause hospital referrals were evaluated for 90 days pre‐index and 30–120 days post‐index. Most patients (62%) were prescribed the lowest sac/val dose of 24/26 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) at index; only 14% of patients initiated on 24/26 mg or 49/51 mg b.i.d. were up‐titrated to the 97/103 mg b.i.d. target dose during the 6 months post‐index, while 6% of patients initiated on either 49/51 mg or 97/103 mg b.i.d. were stably down‐titrated. Evaluation of prescription patterns in relation to clinical characteristics did not clearly explain the reluctance to up‐titrate in the majority of patients. More patients experienced HF signs or symptoms or all‐cause referrals to hospital during the 90 days pre‐index than during the 30–120 days post‐index.

Conclusions

The majority of patients receiving sac/val are not up‐titrated, contrary to recommendations of the EU summary of product characteristics; this is not fully explained by patients' clinical characteristics. Further research is required to understand the reasons for clinician inertia.
NK1.1+ innate lymphoid cells in salivary glands inhibit establishment of tissue‐resident memory CD8+ T cells in mice
Authors: Woyciechowski Sandra , Weißert Kristoffer , Ammann Sandra , Aichele Peter , Pircher Hanspeter
Published: July 2020

NK1.1+ cells found in salivary glands (SG) represent a unique cell population of innate lymphoid cells (ILC) with characteristics of both conventional NK cells and ILC1. Here, we demonstrate that these NK1.1+ cells limit the accumulation and differentiation of virus‐specific tissue‐resident memory CD8+ T cells (TRM cells) in SG of mice infected with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV). The negative regulation of LCMV‐specific CD8+ TRM cells by NK1.1+ cells in SG is independent of NKG2D, NKp46, TRAIL, and perforin. Moreover, analysis of NKp46iCre+Eomesfl/fl mice revealed that Eomes‐dependent conventional NK cells are dispensable for negative regulation. Since the SG are prone to autoimmune reactions, regulation of TRM cells by tissue‐resident ILC may be particularly important to prevent immunopathology in this organ.
Long‐Lived Radicals of the Heavier Group 15 Elements Arsenic, Antimony, and Bismuth
Authors: Helling Christoph , Schulz Stephan
Published: July 2020

The syntheses and properties of long‐lived arsenic, antimony, and bismuth‐centered radicals are reviewed. In contrast to the rich phosphorus‐based radical chemistry, that of the heavier congeners is far less advanced, which can be attributed to the increased instability of coordinatively and electronically unsaturated heavy main‐group element centers. However, the development of new synthetic strategies and stabilization methods particularly in the last decade enabled the isolation and characterization of several unpaired electron‐containing heavy group 15 element species featuring various structural motifs and electronic properties. The long‐lived character of these radicals allowed for the elucidation of their electronic structures and bonding properties, as well as the exploration of their unique reactivity.
Separation and determination of alkyl sulfate surfactants in wastewater by capillary electrophoresis coupled with contactless conductivity detection after preconcentration by simultaneous adsorption using alumina beads
Authors: Pham Huy Dong , Dang Thi Huyen My , Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nhung , Nguyen Thi Anh Huong , Pham Thi Ngoc Mai , Pham Tien Duc
Published: July 2020

The aim of the present study is to determine four anionic alkyl sulfate (AS) surfactants with different alkyl chains, namely, C8, C10, C12, and C14, in wastewater by CE with capacitively coupled contactless conductivity detection (CE‐C4D). The conditions effective for the separation of the four AS surfactants were systematically optimized and found to be in a Tris‐His (50 mM/20 mM) BGE solution at a pH of 8.95, using a separation voltage of +15 kV, hydrodynamic injection by siphoning using a 20 cm injection height and an injection time of 20 s. The LODs for C8, C10, C12, and C14 were 2.58, 2.30, 2.08, and 3.16 mg/L, respectively. The conditions used to achieve the simultaneous adsorption and preconcentration of the AS surfactants using Al2O3 beads were pH of 3 and 0.1 mM NaCl. The adsorption efficiencies were found to be 45.6, 50.8, 81.7, and 99.9%, while the desorption efficiencies reached 66.1, 70.4, 83.9, and 100.0% for C8, C10, C12, and C14, respectively. The concentrations of the AS surfactants in wastewater samples were quantified by CE‐C4D after preconcentration by simultaneous adsorption using Al2O3 beads. The results obtained from the proposed method were consistent with those obtained by HPLC‐MS/MS, with a deviation of less than 15%. Our results indicate that the CE‐C4D performed after preconcentration by an adsorption technique using Al2O3 beads is a new, inexpensive, and suitable method for quantifying AS surfactants in wastewater samples.
Delta brush variant: A novel ictal EEG pattern in anti‐NMDAR encephalitis
Authors: Huang Qi , Liao Yuhan , Ma Meigang , Wu Yuan
Published: July 2020

Seizure is one of the main symptoms of anti‐NMDAR encephalitis, but data of ictal electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns remain limited. In this study, we aimed to introduce a unique ictal pattern. This delta brush variant (DBV) was characterized as generalized delta rhythm with fast spike activity riding on it. We retrospectively evaluated the ictal pattern from six patients with anti‐NMDAR encephalitis, and patients were grouped based on the presence of DBV. DBV was found in two patients who were in the florid phase of the disease: (a) A 17‐year‐old girl experienced rhythmical jerking of bilateral limbs. Corresponding EEG patterns showed generalized DBV. Seizure terminated after intravenous injection of midazolam, but oral‐facial dyskinesia reappeared; and (b) a 24‐year‐old man suffered stiffening of the right limbs and oral‐facial dyskinesia. The EEG pattern showed frontal DBV with left prominence. Seizure was controlled, but oral‐facial dyskinesia remained after intravenous injection of midazolam. Compared with patients without DBV, patients in this group were more likely to have prolonged excessive delta brush (100% vs 25%) and hyperpyrexia (39.7℃ vs 38.2℃). Duration in ICU (36 days vs 18 days) and hospital (52 days vs 36 days) was relatively longer in DBV group, and no significant difference was found in terms of the mRS score (1 vs 0.5) and seizure relapse rate (0% vs 25%) during 3‐month follow‐up. DBV is a peculiar pattern in anti‐NMDAR encephalitis. An EEG‐based monitoring should be considered to avoid misleading this ictal EEG pattern to the electromyographic artifact.
Simultaneous water and vapour transfer in an unsaturated mudstone in badlands terrain, southwestern Taiwan
Authors: Higuchi Kohei , Chigira Masahiro , Lee Der‐Her , Wu Jian‐Hong
Published: July 2020

The simultaneous transfer of pore fluid and vapour was studied in the unsaturated shallow subsurface of a Plio‐Pleistocene marine mudstone badland slope in southwestern Taiwan during the dry season using field monitoring data and numerical simulations. Data from field monitoring show mass‐basis water contents of ~0.05 to ~0.10 that decrease towards the unsaturated ground surface and were invariant during the middle part of the dry season, except for daily fluctuations. In addition, the observed daily fluctuations in water content correlate with fluctuations in bedrock temperature, especially at depths of 2.5–5.0 cm. Periodic increases in water content occurred most notably during the day, when the bedrock temperature showed the greatest increase. Water contents then decreased to the previous state as bedrock temperature decreased during the night. Calculated vapour fluxes within the mudstone during the day increased up to 6 × 10−6–1 × 10−5 kg m−2 s−1, deriving a 0.01–0.02 increase in mass‐basis water content at 2.5 cm depth for a 12‐h period. This agrees with field monitoring data, suggesting that increases in water content occurred due to vapour intrusions into the bedrock. Pore water electrical conductivity (EC) showed periodic variations due to vapour intrusion, and gradually increased between the ground surface and depths of 2.5–5.0 cm. In contrast, pore water EC gradually decreased between 15 and 40 cm depth. Calculated water fluxes at depths of 2.5–40.0 cm varied from −4 × 10−6 to −2 × 10−9 kg m−2 s−1. These fluxes generated an increase in solute concentrations at the ground surface, with negative values of water flux indicating an upwards movement of water towards the surface. We show that the increase in solute content due to solute transfer from depth is highly dependent on variations in water flux with depth. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Palynology of Ochnaceae from the Itatiaia National Park, Brazil
Authors: Ferreira de Sousa Hian Carlos , Gonçalves‐Esteves Vania , Trovó Marcelo , Mendonça Claudia Barbieri Ferreira
Published: July 2020

Itatiaia National Park was the first conservation unit created in Brazil and houses an important remnant of the Atlantic Forest in the Serra da Mantiqueira. The pollen morphology of six species that occur in this locality was analyzed. Pollen material was submitted to acetolysis, measured and photographed, and the data submitted to statistical treatment including multivariate analyses. In addition, pollen grains were submitted to scanning electron microscopy in order to perform a more detailed examination of sexine ornamentation. The results revealed small pollen; subprolate only in S. erecta and prolate spheroidal in the other species; 3‐colporate; sexine ornamentation varying among microreticulate‐striate, rugulate‐striate and striate. Cluster analysis revealed that Ouratea and Sauvagesia form distinct groups. Although the qualitative characters overlap, the genres Ouratea and Sauvagesia are clearly differentiated in multivariate analysis based on metric variables. This work provides, for the first time, descriptions of pollen morphology for Ouratea camposportoi. It can be concluded that the most informative pollen attribute for species delimitation was sexine ornamentation. Palynology proved to be a useful tool for delimiting species, thus aiding taxonomic studies of Ochnaceae.
Oilseed crop sunflower (Helianthus annuus) as a source of food: Nutritional and health benefits
Authors: Adeleke Bartholomew Saanu , Babalola Olubukola Oluranti
Published: July 2020

The use of biofertilizers in developing environmentally friendly agriculture as an alternative to chemical‐based fertilizers in enhancing food production is promising in sustainable agriculture for the improvement in the yield of some commercial crops such as sunflowers and other oilseed crops in terms of quality and quantity. Sunflower is an important oilseed crop native to South America and currently cultivated throughout the world. Generally, the sunflower is considered important based on its nutritional and medicinal value. Due to its beneficial health effects, sunflower has been recognized as functional foods or nutraceutical, although not yet fully harnessed. Sunflower contains mineral elements and phytochemicals such as dietary fiber, manganese, vitamins, tocopherols, phytosterols, triterpene glycosides, α‐tocopherol, glutathione reductase, flavonoids, phenolic acids, carotenoids, peptides, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, alkaloids, tannins, and saponins; and these compounds contribute to their functional and nutraceutical development. The extract from sunflower is known to be a potential source of antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, antitumor, and antioxidants agents that protect human cells against harmful reactive oxygen molecules and pathogenic microorganisms. Also, the pharmacological survey on sunflower had revealed its curative power to different kinds of diseases. The health benefits of sunflower include blood pressure and diabetic control, skin protection, and lowering cholesterol and other functions. This review is written with appropriate referencing to previously published work and provides updated information regarding the new method of organic farming for sunflower production, nutritional and health benefits, and its by‐products as human diet and livestock feed. Also, the constraints of sunflower production are elucidated.
CLASSnmat: A global night marine air temperature data set, 1880–2019
Authors: Cornes Richard C. , Kent Elizabeth.C. , Berry David.I. , Kennedy John J.
Published: July 2020

A new data set of Night Marine Air Temperature (NMAT) is presented that builds on the HadNMAT2 data set, which was released in 2013. In a similar manner to HadNMAT2, the new data set (CLASSnmat) provides uninterpolated, monthly global values at a 5° resolution back to 1880. In addition to being extended to the end of 2019, four main developments are made in CLASSnmat: (1) the NMAT values are extracted from the most recent version of the International Comprehensive Ocean‐Atmosphere Data Set (ICOADS Release 3) and a revised method of eliminating duplicated observations is used; (2) values of NMAT are adjusted to 2m and 20m heights in addition to the 10 m height used in HadNMAT2; (3) a refinement is made to the corrections necessary during World War 2, which uses more of the NMAT observations and hence results in a more extensive spatial coverage for this period than was possible in HadNMAT2; (4) an updated gridding method is used that allows for an improved propagation of uncertainty from the individual NMAT values through to the gridded estimates. In this paper, the method used to construct CLASSnmat (version 1.0.0.0) is described.
Moral hazard and selection for voluntary deductibles
Authors: Alessie Rob J. M. , Angelini Viola , Mierau Jochen O. , Viluma Laura
Published: July 2020

This paper investigates whether the voluntary deductible in the Dutch health insurance system reduces moral hazard or acts only as a cost reduction tool for low‐risk individuals. We use a sample of 14,089 observations, comprising 2,939 individuals over seven waves from the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social sciences panel for the analysis. We employ bivariate models that jointly model the choice of a deductible and health care utilization and supplement the identification with an instrumental variable strategy. The results show that the voluntary deductible reduces moral hazard, especially in the decision to visit a doctor (extensive margin) compared with the number of visits (intensive margin). In addition, a robustness test shows that selection on moral hazard is not present in this context.
Metabolic perturbations prior to hepatocellular carcinoma diagnosis: Findings from a prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Stepien Magdalena , Keski‐Rahkonen Pekka , Kiss Agneta , Robinot Nivonirina , Duarte‐Salles Talita , Murphy Neil , Perlemuter Gabriel , Viallon Vivian , Tjønneland Anne , Rostgaard‐Hansen Agnetha Linn , Dahm Christina C. , Overvad Kim , Boutron‐Ruault Marie‐Christine , Mancini Francesca Romana , Mahamat‐Saleh Yahya , Aleksandrova Krasimira , Kaaks Rudolf , Kühn Tilman , Trichopoulou Antonia , Karakatsani Anna , Panico Salvatore , Tumino Rosario , Palli Domenico , Tagliabue Giovanna , Naccarati Alessio , Vermeulen Roel C.H. , Bueno‐de‐Mesquita Hendrik Bastiaan , Weiderpass Elisabete , Skeie Guri , Ramón Quirós Jose , Ardanaz Eva , Mokoroa Olatz , Sala Núria , Sánchez Maria‐Jose , Huerta José María , Winkvist Anna , Harlid Sophia , Ohlsson Bodil , Sjöberg Klas , Schmidt Julie A. , Wareham Nick , Khaw Kay‐Tee , Ferrari Pietro , Rothwell Joseph A. , Gunter Marc , Riboli Elio , Scalbert Augustin , Jenab Mazda
Published: July 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development entails changes in liver metabolism. Current knowledge on metabolic perturbations in HCC is derived mostly from case‐control designs, with sparse information from prospective cohorts. Our objective was to apply comprehensive metabolite profiling to detect metabolites whose serum concentrations are associated with HCC development, using biological samples from within the prospective European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort (>520 000 participants), where we identified 129 HCC cases matched 1:1 to controls. We conducted high‐resolution untargeted liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry‐based metabolomics on serum samples collected at recruitment prior to cancer diagnosis. Multivariable conditional logistic regression was applied controlling for dietary habits, alcohol consumption, smoking, body size, hepatitis infection and liver dysfunction. Corrections for multiple comparisons were applied. Of 9206 molecular features detected, 220 discriminated HCC cases from controls. Detailed feature annotation revealed 92 metabolites associated with HCC risk, of which 14 were unambiguously identified using pure reference standards. Positive HCC‐risk associations were observed for N1‐acetylspermidine, isatin, p‐hydroxyphenyllactic acid, tyrosine, sphingosine, l,l‐cyclo(leucylprolyl), glycochenodeoxycholic acid, glycocholic acid and 7‐methylguanine. Inverse risk associations were observed for retinol, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, glycerophosphocholine, γ‐carboxyethyl hydroxychroman and creatine. Discernible differences for these metabolites were observed between cases and controls up to 10 years prior to diagnosis. Our observations highlight the diversity of metabolic perturbations involved in HCC development and replicate previous observations (metabolism of bile acids, amino acids and phospholipids) made in Asian and Scandinavian populations. These findings emphasize the role of metabolic pathways associated with steroid metabolism and immunity and specific dietary and environmental exposures in HCC development.
Racial and ethnic disparities in severity of COVID‐19 disease in pregnancy in the United States
Authors: Onwuzurike Chiamaka , Diouf Khady , Meadows Audra R. , Nour Nawal M.
Published: July 2020

Racial and ethnic disparities in the severity of COVID‐19 in pregnant women in the United States reflect the health consequences of the structural effects of racism.
The balance between side‐chain and backbone‐driven association in folding of the α‐helical influenza A transmembrane peptide
Authors: Stylianakis Ioannis , Shalev Ariella , Scheiner Steve , Sigalas Michael P. , Arkin Isaiah T. , Glykos Nikolas , Kolocouris Antonios
Published: July 2020

The correct balance between attractive, repulsive and peptide hydrogen bonding interactions must be attained for proteins to fold correctly. To investigate these important contributors, we sought a comparison of the folding between two 25‐residues peptides, the influenza A M2 protein transmembrane domain (M2TM) and the 25‐Ala (Ala25). M2TM forms a stable α‐helix as is shown by circular dichroism (CD) experiments. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with adaptive tempering show that M2TM monomer is more dynamic in nature and quickly interconverts between an ensemble of various α‐helical structures, and less frequently turns and coils, compared to one α‐helix for Ala25. DFT calculations suggest that folding from the extended structure to the α‐helical structure is favored for M2TM compared with Ala25. This is due to CH⋯O attractive interactions which favor folding to the M2TM α‐helix, and cannot be described accurately with a force field. Using natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis and quantum theory atoms in molecules (QTAIM) calculations, 26 CH⋯O interactions and 22 NH⋯O hydrogen bonds are calculated for M2TM. The calculations show that CH⋯O hydrogen bonds, although individually weaker, have a cumulative effect that cannot be ignored and may contribute as much as half of the total hydrogen bonding energy, when compared to NH⋯O, to the stabilization of the α‐helix in M2TM. Further, a strengthening of NH⋯O hydrogen bonding interactions is calculated for M2TM compared to Ala25. Additionally, these weak CH⋯O interactions can dissociate and associate easily leading to the ensemble of folded structures for M2TM observed in folding MD simulations.
Antioxidant and DNA damage protecting activities of newly synthesized thiol bridged bis‐benzimidazole derivative and its dicationic analogue
Authors: Yildiz Ufuk
Published: July 2020

Two new types of bis‐benzimidazole derivatives containing thiol group have been prepared and characterized. The compounds contain sulfur with imidazole ring show promising biological activities such as antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial and etc. The aim of this study was synthesis of benzimidazole derivatives which not only show antioxidant activity but also protect DNA from oxidative damage. Antioxidant activities of the synthesized compounds were investigated with DPPH and hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assays. DNA nicking assay was applied to establish activity of compounds to protect plasmid DNA from Fenton's reagent radicals. Both compounds had antioxidant activity, however, activity of dicationic analogue was greater than well‐known antioxidant Vit C. IC50 values calculated according to DPPH method were 14.5 μM for dicationic analogue (2) and 57.5 μM for 1,2‐bis(1‐methyl‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐ylthio)ethane (1). In hydrogen peroxide scavenge assay IC50 values of compounds were 638.6 μg/mL for 1,2‐bis(1‐methyl‐1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐ylthio)ethane (1), 398.9 μg/mL for dicationic analogue (2). Furthermore, dicationic analogue promised an effective DNA protection due to its positive charge interacting with negatively charged DNA. Also the high solubility of the dicationic analogue in water due to its positive charge could provide a great advantage in biological applications.
Water vapour transport changes associated with the interdecadal decrease in the summer rainfall over Northeast Asia around the late‐1990s
Authors: Piao Jinling , Chen Wen , Chen Shangfeng
Published: July 2020

This study reveals an obvious interdecadal change in the summer water vapour budget over Northeast Asia around the late‐1990s accompanied with the abrupt rainfall decrease. After the late‐1990s, water vapour transported into Northeast Asia is apparently reduced under control of a local anomalous anti‐cyclone. The water vapour transport is further explored by decomposing the water vapour flux into stationary and transient components, which are associated with the mean flow and transient eddy, respectively. The results indicate that the stationary component accounts for nearly 84% of the total water vapour budget change, much larger than the contribution from the transient component (16%). The correlation coefficient between the interdecadal variation of net and stationary (transient) water vapour budget is 0.95 (0.14). Hence, the stationary term plays a dominant role in contributing to interdecadal change in the total water vapour transport. In addition, change in the water vapour budget over Northeast Asia around the late‐1990s is primarily attributed to the wind field change at the lower troposphere. A further comparison of the water vapour budgets in four boundaries of Northeast Asia shows that the water vapour budgets via the southern and northern boundaries display remarkable changes around the late‐1990s, exerting significant influences on the total moisture budget change. The anomalous atmospheric water vapour transport circulations in association with the southern and northern boundaries both present a wave‐like teleconnection pattern over the Eurasia, whose formation may be partly due to the combined impacts from the Pacific Decadal Oscillation and Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation.
Moisture sources of summer precipitation over eastern China during 1979–2009: A Lagrangian transient simulation
Authors: Hu Qin , Jiang Dabang , Lang Xianmei , Yao Shibo
Published: July 2020

Using the Lagrangian model FLEXPART and the quantitative method WaterSip, moisture sources of summer (June–July–August) precipitation over eastern China are investigated for the period 1979–2009 in this study. It is found that the Indochinese Peninsula plus southern China, the South China Sea, the northwestern Pacific Ocean, the Asian continent, and the Bay of Bengal are the major moisture sources in our results, and the moisture from eastern China, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian subcontinent also has minor contributions. Note that the contribution of the oceanic sources substantially surpasses that of the continental sources, and the contributions of sources exhibit interannual variations during 1979–2009, especially in the Indochinese Peninsula plus southern China, the South China Sea, the northwestern Pacific Ocean, the Asian continent, and the Bay of Bengal. Moreover, moisture sources have evident monthly variations and seasonal cycle features, which are responsible for supplying moisture to precipitating over eastern China in the different monsoonal periods. In addition, the major moisture sources for different intensities of precipitation over eastern China vary considerably; for light and moderate precipitation, a great amount of moisture originates from the local and northwestern continental regions and eastern oceanic regions adjacent to eastern China, while more moisture comes from southwestern oceanic sources and the surrounding continental regions of them for heavy precipitation.
Intramedullary tissue cultures from the Reamer‐Irrigator‐Aspirator system for diagnosing fracture‐related infection
Authors: Onsea Jolien , Pallay Jan , Depypere Melissa , Moriarty Thomas Fintan , Van Lieshout Esther M.M. , Obremskey William T. , Sermon An , Hoekstra Harm , Verhofstad Michael H.J. , Nijs Stefaan , Metsemakers Willem‐Jan
Published: July 2020

Fracture‐related infection (FRI) is a serious complication following musculoskeletal trauma. Accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment depend on retrieving adequate deep tissue biopsies for bacterial culture. The aim of this cohort study was to compare intraoperative tissue cultures obtained by the Reamer‐Irrigator‐Aspirator system (RIA)‐system against standard tissue cultures obtained during the same surgical procedure. All patients had long bone fractures of the lower limbs and were assigned to the FRI or Control group based on the FRI consensus definition. The FRI group consisted of 24 patients with confirmed FRI and the Control group consisted of 21 patients with aseptic nonunion or chronic pain (in the absence of other suggestive/confirmatory criteria). Standard tissue cultures and cultures harvested by the RIA‐system showed similar results. In the FRI group, standard tissue cultures and RIA cultures revealed relevant pathogens in 67% and 71% of patients, respectively. Furthermore, in four FRI patients, cultures obtained by the RIA‐system revealed additional relevant pathogens that were not found by standard tissue culturing, which contributed to the optimization of the treatment plan. In the Control group, there were no false‐positive RIA culture results. As a proof‐of‐concept, this cohort study showed that the RIA‐system could have a role in the diagnosis of FRI as an adjunct to standard tissue cultures. Since scientific evidence on the added value of the RIA‐system in the management of FRI is currently limited, further research on this topic is required before its routine application in clinical practice.
Detailed chemomechanistic sensitivity study on the alkoxylation of fatty amines
Authors: Müller Pia , van Eeten Kevin , Winkenwerder Wyatt , van der Schaaf John , Filot Ivo
Published: July 2020

The mechanism of the autocatalytic alkoxylation of fatty amines was elucidated using a combined experimental and theoretical approach. The kinetic parameters of the elementary reaction steps are fitted to the experimental data gained in semibatch for propylene and butylene oxides with dodecylamine. A quality‐of‐fit sensitivity study was conducted to assess the robustness and accuracy of the model. Herein, we identified the kinetic parameters that are either crucial for a good fit or rate controlling in terms of the overall kinetics. It was found that the critical steps are the activation of the epoxide ring by a hydroxyl group present on either the intermediate or final product, highlighting the autocatalytic nature of the reaction. Furthermore, we introduced a so‐called degree of conversion control to characterize the importance of each elementary reaction step toward the epoxide conversion. The degree of conversion control showed that the uncatalyzed route toward the secondary amine is only influential at low conversion. At higher conversion the route via the catalytic intermediate dominates. Alternative mechanisms were investigated as well but did not significantly improve the quality of fitting and were thus discarded.
The Role of Indirect Laryngoscopy, Clinical and Ultrasonographic Assessment in Prediction of Difficult Airway
Authors: Altun Demet , Kara Hakan , Bozbora Erol , Ali Achmet , Dinç Tuğçe , Sonmez Said , Buget Mehmet , Aydemir Levent , Basaran Bora , Tuğrul Mehmet , Çamci Emre
Published: July 2020

Objectives

Pre‐operative airway evaluation is essential to decrease the proportion of possible mortality and morbidity due to difficult airway (DA). The study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of pre‐operative ultrasonographic airway assessment (UAA) and indirect laryngoscopy (IL) in predicting DA.

Study Design

Prospective obsevational study.

Methods

Preoperative clinical examination (body mass index [BMI], mallampati classification [MP], thyromental distance, sternomental distance, neck circumference), UAA (epiglottis‐skin distance [ESD], hyoid bone‐skin distance [HSD], the thickness of tongue root [ToTR], anterior commissure‐skin distance [ACSD]) and IL with the rigid 70‐degree laryngoscope were performed to predict DA (Cormack‐Lehane grade 3 and 4). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PP), and negative predictive values of the parameters were assessed.

Results

Twenty‐two of 140 (15.7%) patients were diagnosed with DA. The cut‐off points of ESD, HSD, ToTR, ACSD, and BMI were 2.09 cm, 0.835 cm, 4.05 cm, 0.545 cm, and 27.10, respectively. AUC values were 0.874, 0.885, 0.871, 0.658, and 0.751 in the same order. AUC values for IL and MP were 0.773 and 0.925, respectively. MP and HSD had the best sensitivity (91%), IL grading had the best specificity (100%), and PP (100%) value among all measurements. The best‐balanced sensitivity (91%), specificity (97%), and PP (88%) values were obtained by combining the IL with MP and ESD or with MP and HSD.

Conclusions

Ultrasonographic measurements and IL were found significantly correlated to predict DA. Combined parameters, the IL with MP and ESD or with MP and HSD, are the best parameters in predicting the DA.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E555–E560, 2021
Design of Hydrolytically Degradable Polyethylene Glycol Crosslinkers for Facile Control of Hydrogel Degradation
Authors: Kroger Stephanie M. , Hill Lindsay , Jain Era , Stock Aaron , Bracher Paul J. , He Fahu , Zustiak Silviya P.
Published: July 2020

Hydrogels, whose degradability can be controlled while also preserving cell viability or biomolecule stability, are in demand. Degradable polyethylene glycol crosslinkers are hydrolytically designed for use in hydrogels. Degradation is controlled by crosslinker chemical structure, such as introducing local hydrophobicity, steric hindrance, or electron‐withdrawing moieties near a degradable ester moiety. Hydrogels made using these crosslinkers have gelation times from 1 to 22 min, storage moduli from 3 to 10 kPa, mesh sizes from 10 to 13 nm, and degradation times from 18 h to 16 d. However, when reaction conditions are modified to achieve similar gelation time, hydrogels have similar initial properties but preserve the wide range of degradation times. All crosslinkers support high cell viability upon hydrogel encapsulation or exposure to leachables and degradation products. This innovation in controlling degradation can help realize the hydrogels’ potential for drug delivery or as matrices for cell encapsulation and transplantation.
Robust Grafting of Polyionenes: New Potent and Versatile Antimicrobial Surfaces
Authors: Bernardi Sarah , Renault Margareth , Malabirade Antoine , Debou Nabila , Leroy Jocelyne , Herry Jean‐Marie , Guilbaud Morgan , Arluison Veronique , Bellon‐Fontaine Marie‐Noelle , Carrot Geraldine
Published: July 2020

Polyionenes (PI) with stable positive charges and tunable hydrophobic spacers in the polymer backbone, are shown to be particularly efficient regarding antimicrobial properties. This effect can be modulated since it increases with the length of hydrophobic spacers, i.e., the number of methylene groups between quaternary ammoniums. Now, to further explore these properties and provide efficient antimicrobial surfaces, polyionenes should be grafted onto materials. Here a robust grafting strategy to covalently attach polyionenes is described. The method consisted in a sequential surface chemistry procedure combining polydopamine coating, diazonium‐induced polymerization, and polyaddition. To the best of knowledge, grafting of PI onto surfaces is not reported earlier. All chemical steps are characterized in detail via various surface analysis techniques (FTIR, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, contact angle, and surface energy measurements). The antibacterial properties of polyionene‐grafted surfaces are then studied through bacterial adhesion experiments consisting in enumeration of adherent bacteria (total and viable cultivable cells). PI‐grafted surfaces are showed to display effective and versatile bacteriostatic/bactericidal properties associated with a proadhesive effect.
Psychiatric Manifestations of ATP13A2 Mutations
Authors: Balint Bettina , Damasio Joana , Magrinelli Francesca , Guerreiro Rita , Bras Jose , Bhatia Kailash P.
Published: July 2020

Background

Biallelic mutations in ATP13A2 were identified as the cause of Kufor‐Rakeb disease, a pallido‐pyramidal syndrome characterized by young‐onset dystonia–parkinsonism with vertical supranuclear gaze palsy, spasticity, and cognitive decline. The phenotypic spectrum has broadened since, but predominantly psychiatric or behavioral manifestations have not been highlighted.

Cases

Here we report the clinical, radiological, and genetic findings in 2 unrelated patients with ATP13A2 mutations. One patient had a prominent behavioral (autistic spectrum) presentation and the other a psychiatric (paranoid psychosis) presentation. Both had additional features, such as delayed milestones, ataxia, pyramidal signs, upgaze restriction, or impaired cognition to varying extent, but these were partly subtle or developed later in the disease course.

Conclusion

Prominent behavioral or psychiatric features can be the first or most prominent manifestation of ATP13A2‐related disease. They may be a diagnostic clue in patients with ataxia, spasticity, or parkinsonism and may require an interdisciplinary neurological and psychiatric treatment approach.
On integral operators in weighted grand Lebesgue spaces of Banach‐valued functions
Authors: Kokilashvili Vakhtang , Meskhi Alexander
Published: July 2020

The paper deals with boundedness problems of integral operators in weighted grand Bochner‐Lebesgue spaces. We will treat both cases: when a weight function appears as a multiplier in the definition of the norm, or when it defines the absolute continuous measure of integration. Along with the diagonal case, we deal with the off‐diagonal case. To get the appropriate result for the Hardy‐Littlewood maximal operator, we rely on the reasonable bound of the sharp constant in the Buckley‐type theorem, which is also derived in the paper.
Spoof surface plasmon polaritons based microwave bandpass filter
Authors: Mittal Gaurav , Pathak Nagendra Prasad
Published: July 2020

Recently, Plasmonics and metamaterials have been receiving consideration. Spoof surface plasmon polaritons (SSPPs) are a type of electromagnetic surface wave that to a certain limit shares an analogous behavior with surface plasmon polariton (SPP) at microwave frequency domain. The significant point is that the dispersion relation of SSPP is principally controlled by the geometry of the pattern using plasmonic metamaterial. The motivation behind this work is to explore and implement the subwavelength propagation or nanoconfinement of wave beyond the diffraction limit using plasmonic metamaterial‐inspired SSPP structure in the microwave frequency domain. In this article, the conventional symmetric H‐shaped unit cell is modified into a new unit cell. Using this modified unit cell, a new SSPP structure is designed which provides broadband bandpass filter (BPF) characteristics. The measurement shows the passband of BPF is 1.2 to 6.0 GHz with insertion loss less than 2 dB. The size of the fabricated SSPP BPF is 26 × 4 cm.
Determinants of foreign exchange reserves in Brazil: An empirical investigation
Authors: Jena Nihar Ranjan , Sethi Narayan
Published: July 2020

This paper examines the determinants of foreign exchange reserves of Brazil for the period 1960–2018. We use empirically robust auto‐regressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing methodology to trace the determinants of foreign exchange reserves of Brazil. We incorporate other relevant variables in the model such as current account balance to GDP ratio, debt to GDP ratio, domestic credit to the private sector as a percentage of GDP, exchange rate, inflation, per capita GDP and real interest rate with foreign exchange reserves in impacting its size in Brazil. We find that long‐run relationship exists between foreign exchange reserves, current account balance to GDP ratio, debt to GDP ratio, domestic credit to the private sector as a percentage of GDP, exchange rate, inflation, per capita GDP and real interest rate. However, we find that variables under study also have unidirectional short‐run causality. Hence, the policymakers to give special attention to the fact maintain a foreign exchange reserve which is optimum keeping in mind their developmental needs.
Use of quality indicators in neuroblastoma treatment: A feasibility assessment
Authors: Dijkstra Suzan , Kraal Kathelijne C.J.M. , Tytgat Godelieve A.M. , van Noesel Max M. , Wijnen Marc H.W.A. , Hoogerbrugge Peter M.
Published: July 2020

Background

Quality indicators (QIs) may be used to monitor the quality of neuroblastoma (NBL) care during treatment, in addition to survival and treatment toxicity, which can only be evaluated in the years after treatment. The present study aimed to assess the feasibility of a new set of indicators for the quality of NBL therapy.

Procedure

Seven QIs have been proposed based on literature and consensus of experts: (a) duration of complete diagnostic work‐up, (b) prescription of thyroid prophylaxis before metaiodobenzylguanidine imaging, (c) treatment intensity, (d) use of tumor board meetings, (e) number of outpatient visits and sedation procedures during follow‐up, (f) protocolled follow‐up, and (g) required apheresis sessions. A retrospective data analysis from October 2014 to November 2017 including all patients with NBL in the centralized Princess Máxima Center in the Netherlands was performed to assess these parameters and determine practicality of measurement.

Results

A total number of 72 patients (aged between 2 weeks and 15 years) were analyzed. Adherence to all QIs could be determined for all eligible patients using their electronic medical records. Three indicators were compared over time, and an increase in adherence was observed.

Conclusions

Assessment of QIs in neuroblastoma treatment is feasible. Seven new QIs were found to be feasible to measure and showed improvement over time for three indicators. Monitoring of these QIs during treatment may provide tools for quality improvement activities and comparisons of treatment quality over time or between centers. Further study is required to investigate their association with long‐term outcomes.