bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Invasion origin, rapid population expansion, and the lack of genetic structure of cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) in the Americas
Authors: Gonçalves Rogério Martins , Mastrangelo Thiago , Rodrigues José Carlos Verle , Paulo Daniel Fernando , Omoto Celso , Corrêa Alberto Soares , de Azeredo‐Espin Ana Maria Lima
Published: June 2019

In 2013, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) was officially declared as present in Brazil and, after two years, the species was detected in the Caribbean and North America. Information on genetic features and accurate distribution of pests is the basis for agricultural protection policies. Furthermore, such knowledge is imperative to develop control strategies, understand the geographical range, and genetic patterns of this species in the Americas. Here, we carried out the widest sampling of H. armigera in the South American continent and Puerto Rico, after we estimated the diversity, demographic parameters, and genetic structure. The Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) nuclear marker was used to investigate the presence of putative hybrids between H. armigera and H. zea, and they were observed at a frequency of 1.5%. An ABC analysis, based in COI gene fragment, suggested Europe as the origin of South America specimens of H. armigeraand following a movement northward through the Caribbean. Three mtDNA genes and three nDNA markers revealed high genetic diversity distributed without the defined population structure of H. armigera in South America. Most of the genetic variation is within populations with a multidirectional expansion of H. armigera among morphoclimatic regions. High genetic diversity, rapid population expansion, and hybridization have implications for pest management since they suggest that adaptive alleles are spread through wide areas in South America that favor rapid local adaptation of H. armigera to new and disturbed environments (e.g., in agricultural areas).
Begging behavior as an honest signal of need and parent–offspring association during the postfledging dependency period
Authors: Davis Kayla L. , Karpanty Sarah M. , Spendelow Jeffrey A. , Cohen Jonathan B. , Althouse Melissa A. , Parsons Katharine C. , Luttazi Cristin F.
Published: June 2019

Honest signaling mechanisms can function to appropriate care to hungry offspring and avoid misdirected care of unrelated offspring. Begging, the behavior by which offspring solicit food and parental care, may be an honest signaling mechanism for need, as well as association of parents and offspring. Roseate terns (Sterna dougallii) exhibit prolonged parental care during the postbreeding staging period, offering an ideal system in which to study begging as an honest signaling mechanism. We conducted focal sampling during two premigratory staging seasons (2014 and 2015) at Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts, USA to determine whether postfledging tern begging behavior was an honest signal for need and parent–offspring association. Based on honest signaling theory, we expected begging behavior to be highest during times of high perceived need, and we expected to see a decrease in begging behavior as young terns became increasingly independent of the care‐giving parent. Also, we predicted that young terns would be more likely to beg at parents than nonparents. We found that young roseate terns begged at their parents more often than nonparents; however, they did not always beg at parents. Model predictions of begging probability showed a linear relationship between begging and time of day and date of season, such that begging increased with time of day and decreased with date of season, respectively. Our results provide evidence for honest parent–offspring interactions and are inconsistent with parent–offspring conflict theory but suggest that begging may play a complex role in postfledging parent–offspring interactions.

OPEN RESEARCH BADGES

This article has been awarded Open Data, Open materials Badges. All materials and data are publicly accessible via the Open Science Framework athttps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.2656718.
NHC‐Stabilized Nickel Olefin, Dialkyl, and Dicyanido Complexes
Authors: Berthel Johannes H. J. , Tendera Lukas , Kuntze‐Fechner Maximilian W. , Kuehn Laura , Radius Udo
Published: June 2019

The complexes trans‐[Ni(iPr2Im)2Br2] 1, trans‐[Ni(iPr2ImMe)2Br2] 2, trans‐[Ni(Me2Im)2I2] 3, and trans‐[Ni(Me2ImMe)2Br2] 4 (R2Im = 1,3‐diorganyl‐imidazolin‐2‐ylidene, R2ImMe = 1,3‐diorganyl‐4,5‐dimethyl‐imidazolin‐2‐ylidene) are useful precursor for the synthesis of NHC‐stabilized nickel olefin, alkyne, alkyl and cyanido complexes. [Ni(NHC)2(η2‐olefin)] and [Ni(NHC)2(η2‐alkyne)] can be prepared via metallic reduction in the presence of the olefin or alkyne, as exemplified by the synthesis of [Ni(Me2Im)2(η2‐C2H4)] 5, [Ni(Me2Im)2(η2‐C2Me2)] 6, [Ni(Me2Im)2(η2‐COE)] 7 and [Ni(Me2ImMe)2(η2‐COE)] 8 (COE = cyclooctene). The reaction of trans‐[Ni(iPr2ImMe)2Br2] 2 with MeMgCl, EtMgBr or nBuLi leads to trans‐[Ni(iPr2ImMe)2(CH3)2] 9, trans‐[Ni(iPr2ImMe)2(C2H5)2] 10 and trans‐[Ni(iPr2ImMe)2(n‐C4H9)2] 11. The reaction of 2 with iPrMgBr afforded minor amounts of [Ni(iPr2ImMe)2(η2‐H2C=CHCH3)] 12. Dicyanido complexes trans‐[Ni(iPr2Im)2(CN)2] 13, trans‐[Ni(iPr2ImMe)2(CN)2] 14, trans‐[Ni(Me2Im)2(CN)2] 15, and trans‐[Ni(Me2ImMe)2(CN)2] 16 were prepared from reaction of the dihalide complexes 1–4 and trimethylsilyl cyanide.
Asymmetric Cycloaddition Reactions of Oxindole α‐Keto Esters via Cascade Dienamine‐Enamine and Trienamine Strategies
Authors: Muthusamy Subramaniam , Kesavan Venkitasamy
Published: June 2019

An asymmetric [3 + 2] formal cycloaddition reaction between oxindole α‐keto esters and enals has been developed. This α,γ‐regioselective reaction afforded multifunctional carbocyclic oxindoles via dienamine‐enamine cascade reaction followed by isomerization. Furthermore, a highly enantioselective Diels‐Alder reaction was demonstrated between 2,4‐dienals and oxindole α‐keto esters via trienamine intermediates. Chiral secondary amine catalyzed the both reactions under mild conditions and the cyclized products were isolated in moderate to good yields with good diastereoselectivities (>20:1 dr) and enantioselectivities (up to 99 %).
Pseudo‐Seven‐Component Double Azido‐Ugi Reaction: an Efficient Synthesis of Bistetrazole Derivatives
Authors: Kutovaya Irina V. , Zarezin Danil P. , Shmatova Olga I. , Nenajdenko Valentine G.
Published: June 2019

Pseudo‐seven‐component double azido‐Ugi reactions were used for the synthesis of compounds bearing two 1,5‐disubstituted tetrazole rings in the structure. The influence of different inputs (amines, carbonyls, isocyanides) on the course of the reaction was studied. The method opened an efficient pathway to the construction of compounds having two tetrazole rings in the structure. Target compounds can be prepared from easily available starting materials. In the case of the azido‐Ugi reaction with benzyl isocyanide, the prepared N‐substituted bistetrazoles can be efficiently debenzylated under catalytic hydrogenation conditions to form the corresponding NH‐tetrazoles in quantitative yields.
Image‐based sorting and negative dielectrophoresis for high purity cell and particle separation
Authors: Thomas Rupert S. W. , Mitchell Peter D. , Oreffo Richard O. C , Morgan Hywel , Green Nicolas G.
Published: June 2019

Microelectrode arrays are used to sort single fluorescently labeled cells and particles as they flow through a microfluidic channel using dielectrophoresis. Negative dielectrophoresis is used to create a “Dielectrophoretic virtual channel” that runs along the center of the microfluidic channel. By switching the polarity of the electrodes, the virtual channel can be dynamically reconfigured to direct particles along a different path. This is demonstrated by sorting particles into two microfluidic outlets, controlled by an automated system that interprets video data from a color camera and makes complex sorting decisions based on color, intensity, size, and shape. This enables the rejection of particle aggregates and other impurities, and the system is optimized to isolate high purity populations from a heterogeneous sample. Green beads are isolated from an excess of red beads with 100% purity at a rate of up to 0.9 particles per second, in addition application to the sorting of osteosarcoma and human bone marrow cells is evidenced. The extension of Dielectrophoretic Virtual Channels to an arbitrary number of sorting outputs is examined, with design, simulation, and experimental verification of two alternate geometries presented and compared.
Accurate, rapid and reliable, fully automated MRI brainstem segmentation for application in multiple sclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases
Authors: Sander Laura , Pezold Simon , Andermatt Simon , Amann Michael , Meier Dominik , Wendebourg Maria J. , Sinnecker Tim , Radue Ernst‐Wilhelm , Naegelin Yvonne , Granziera Cristina , Kappos Ludwig , Wuerfel Jens , Cattin Philippe , Schlaeger Regina ,   for the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: June 2019

Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and progressive forms of multiple sclerosis (MS), can affect the brainstem and are associated with atrophy that can be visualized by MRI. Anatomically accurate, large‐scale assessments of brainstem atrophy are challenging due to lack of automated, accurate segmentation methods. We present a novel method for brainstem volumetry using a fully‐automated segmentation approach based on multi‐dimensional gated recurrent units (MD‐GRU), a deep learning based semantic segmentation approach employing a convolutional adaptation of gated recurrent units. The neural network was trained on 67 3D‐high resolution T1‐weighted MRI scans from MS patients and healthy controls (HC) and refined using segmentations of 20 independent MS patients' scans. Reproducibility was assessed in MR test–retest experiments in 33 HC. Accuracy and robustness were examined by Dice scores comparing MD‐GRU to FreeSurfer and manual brainstem segmentations in independent MS and AD datasets. The mean %‐change/SD between test–retest brainstem volumes were 0.45%/0.005 (MD‐GRU), 0.95%/0.009 (FreeSurfer), 0.86%/0.007 (manually edited segmentations). Comparing MD‐GRU to manually edited segmentations the mean Dice scores/SD were: 0.97/0.005 (brainstem), 0.95/0.013 (mesencephalon), 0.98/0.006 (pons), 0.95/0.015 (medulla oblongata). Compared to the manual gold standard, MD‐GRU brainstem segmentations were more accurate than FreeSurfer segmentations (p < .001). In the multi‐centric acquired AD data, the mean Dice score/SD for the MD‐GRU‐manual segmentation comparison was 0.97/0.006. The fully automated brainstem segmentation method MD‐GRU provides accurate, highly reproducible, and robust segmentations in HC and patients with MS and AD in 200 s/scan on an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 GPU and shows potential for application in large and longitudinal datasets.
Patients' Perspectives on Early Liver Transplantation in Alcohol‐Related Liver Disease
Authors: Wong Eric , Mullins Paul D. , Wallach Jean‐Philippe , Yoshida Eric M. , Erb Sigfried R. , Ford Jo‐Ann , Scudamore Charles H. , Marquez Vladimir
Published: June 2019

Liver transplant programs in Canada require a period of 6 months of abstinence from alcohol before considering a patient with liver disease secondary to alcohol for transplantation. Although some studies have demonstrated good outcomes following a transplant in carefully selected patients before the 6‐month abstinence period has been met, there have been arguments against this, including the claim that the public has a general negative perception of those with alcohol dependence. We performed a multicenter cross‐sectional survey to determine the perception of people in British Columbia, Canada, toward liver transplantation in patients with liver disease due to alcohol who have not demonstrated the capacity to remain abstinent from alcohol for 6 months. A total of 304 patient questionnaires were completed, and 83.1% agreed with a period of abstinence of 6 months. In those patients who were unlikely to survive 6 months without a transplant, 34.1% of respondents agreed with, 44.1% did not agree with, and 21.4% were neutral about, early transplantation; 42.8% would have less trust in the process of transplantation if a period of abstinence was not maintained, but relaxing the requirement for an abstinence period would not have an impact on the majority's decision to donate organs. Only 30.5% would support abandoning the abstinence criteria. Conclusion: Among patients followed at general gastroenterology, medicine, or transplant clinics, there is a willingness to relax the criteria in selected patients unlikely to survive without a transplant, although a general consensus remains in support of the existing 6‐month alcohol abstinence rule. A larger scale survey of all provinces in Canada would be required to assess support for such a change in policy.
Intimate partner violence and contraceptive use among married women in Nepal
Authors: Acharya Ajay , Weissman Amy , Thapa Basant , Chen Mario
Published: June 2019

Objective

To examine relationships between lifetime experience of intimate partner violence (IPV), and current contraceptive use and method among married women of reproductive age in Nepal.

Methods

A cross‐sectional analysis of 2016 Nepal Demographic Health Survey data on contraceptive use and IPV experience among ever‐married women of reproductive age. Weighted percentages were reported and multinomial logistic regression was used to assess associations between IPV (physical, sexual, emotional, or any form) and contraception use (modern reversible, sterilization, or traditional).

Results

Among 3562 women who responded to the violence module, 26% reported experiencing any form (physical, sexual or emotional) of IPV in their lifetime. Lifetime exposure to any form of IPV was associated with sterilization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–2.00) and lifetime exposure to physical violence only was significantly associated with having been sterilized (aOR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.17–2.16).

Conclusion

Experience of violence, particularly physical violence, was found to be associated with sterilization in Nepal. Research is needed to understand the causes of this association, and the decision‐making power dynamics related to contraceptive use, husbands’ attitudes toward sterilization, and the reasons why sterilization—relative to other contraceptive options—was the contraceptive method of choice.
Biphasic calcium phosphate and polymer‐coated bovine bone matrix for sinus grafting in an animal model
Authors: Sheftel Yevgeny , Ruddiman Frances , Schmidlin Patrick , Duncan Warwick
Published: June 2019

Autogenous bone grafting requires a donor site and may lose substantial volume during remodeling. Several bone replacement materials (BRMs) are under development to overcome these limitations, especially for indications for minimally intervention surgeries. The objective of our study was to assess the potential of an equine collagen cone reinforced with biphasic calcium phosphate (CC‐BCP) particles and deproteinized bovine bone matrix (BBM) coated with polylactic acid, and poly‐ε‐caprolactone copolymer (BBM‐PCC) and then to compare the outcomes with a deproteinized BBM and an equine CC without a filler in a sheep sinus grafting model in the Elleven female sheep were selected. Two experimental sites on each side of the animals were prepared using an extraoral approach for maxillary sinus wall. The four treatments were performed in each animal through a standardized 10‐mm access window. While the BBM access was covered with a collagen membrane, all other sites were closed with an equine collagen membrane. All animals were euthanized after 16 weeks. New bone (NB), residual graft particles, and connective tissue were measured in undemineralized resin‐embedded sections. As a result, one sheep did not survive the surgery. All sites in the remaining 10 sheep healed uneventfully. All CC and BBM‐PCC grafts resorbed and failed to augment the sinuses. BBM and CC‐BCP, in contrast, showed some histologic evidence of NB and surgical site augmentation. The NB fraction in the latter two groups accounted for 10 ± 9 and 4 ± 5%, respectively (p > 0.05). In conclusion, BBM‐PCC and collagen cone performed poorly for sinus floor augmentation, while deproteinised BBM and reinforced collagen cone demonstrated comparable outcomes
Osteocyte Death and Bone Overgrowth in Mice Lacking Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors 1 and 2 in Mature Osteoblasts and Osteocytes
Authors: McKenzie Jennifer , Smith Craig , Karuppaiah Kannan , Langberg Joshua , Silva Matthew J , Ornitz David M
Published: June 2019

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathways have well-established roles in skeletal development, with essential functions in both chondrogenesis and osteogenesis. In mice, previous conditional knockout studies suggested distinct roles for FGF receptor 1 (FGFR1) signaling at different stages of osteogenesis and a role for FGFR2 in osteoblast maturation. However, the potential for redundancy among FGFRs and the mechanisms and consequences of stage-specific osteoblast lineage regulation were not addressed. Here, we conditionally inactivate Fgfr1 and Fgfr2 in mature osteoblasts with an Osteocalcin (OC)-Cre or Dentin matrix protein 1 (Dmp1)-CreER driver. We find that young mice lacking both receptors or only FGFR1 are phenotypically normal. However, between 6 and 12 weeks of age, OC-Cre Fgfr1/Fgfr2 double- and Fgfr1 single-conditional knockout mice develop a high bone mass phenotype with increased periosteal apposition, increased and disorganized endocortical bone with increased porosity, and biomechanical properties that reflect increased bone mass but impaired material properties. Histopathological and gene expression analyses show that this phenotype is preceded by a striking loss of osteocytes and accompanied by activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. These data identify a role for FGFR1 signaling in mature osteoblasts/osteocytes that is directly or indirectly required for osteocyte survival and regulation of bone mass during postnatal bone growth. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Isometry invariant permutation codes and mutually orthogonal Latin squares
Authors: Janiszczak Ingo , Staszewski Reiner
Published: June 2019

Commonly, the direct construction and the description of mutually orthogonal Latin squares (MOLS) make use of difference or quasi‐difference matrices. Now there exists a correspondence between MOLS and separable permutation codes. We present separable permutation codes of length , , , and and minimum distance , , , and consisting of , , , and codewords, respectively. Using the correspondence, this gives 6 MOLS for , MOLS for , MOLS for , and MOLS for . The codes are given by generators of an appropriate subgroup of the isometry group of the symmetric group and ‐orbit representatives. This gives an alternative uniform way to describe the MOLS.
Long noncoding RNA LINC00473 drives the progression of pancreatic cancer via upregulating programmed death‐ligand 1 by sponging microRNA‐195‐5p
Authors: Zhou Wen‐Yang , Zhang Ming‐Ming , Liu Chang , Kang Ye , Wang Jin‐Ou , Yang Xiang‐Hong
Published: June 2019

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a great health burden to patients owing to its poor overall survival rate. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) interact with microRNAs (miRs) to participate in tumorigenesis. Therefore, we aim to uncover the role and related mechanism of LINC00473 in PC through the modulation of miR‐195‐5p and programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1). Increased LINC00473 and PD‐L1 but declined miR‐195‐5p were determined in PC tissues and cell lines, and it was found that LINC00473 mainly situated in the cytoplasm. Also, miR‐195‐5p was verified to bind with both LINC00473 and PD‐L1. Next, with the aim to examine the ability of LINC00473, miR‐195‐5p, and PD‐L1 on the PC progression, the expression of LINC00473, miR‐195‐5p and PD‐L1 were altered with mimics, inhibitors, overexpression vectors or siRNAs in PC cells and cocultured CD8+ T cells. It was demonstrated that LINC00473 sponged miR‐195‐5p to upregulate PD‐L1 expression. More important, the obtained results revealed that LINC00473 silencing or miR‐195‐5p upregulation elevated the expression of Bcl‐2 associated X protein (Bax), interferon (IFN)‐γ, and interleukin (IL)‐4 but reduced the expression of B‐cell lymphoma‐2 (Bcl‐2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2, MMP‐9, and IL‐10, thus inducing the enhancement of the apoptosis as along with the inhibition of proliferation, invasion, and migration of the PC cells. LINC00473 silencing or miR‐195‐5p elevation activated the CD8+ T cells. Taken together, LINC00473 silencing blocked the PC progression through enhancing miR‐195‐5p‐targeted downregulation of PD‐L1. This finding offers new therapeutic options for treating this devastating disease.
Alternative splicing events during adipogenesis from hMSCs
Authors: Yi Xia , Yang Yunzhong , Wu Ping , Xu Xiaoyuan , Li Weidong
Published: June 2019

Adipogenesis, the developmental process of progenitor‐cell differentiating into adipocytes, leads to fat metabolic disorders. Alternative splicing (AS), a ubiquitous regulatory mechanism of gene expression, allows the generation of more than one unique messenger RNA (mRNA) species from a single gene. Till now, alternative splicing events during adipogenesis from human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) are not yet fully elucidated. We performed RNA‐Seq coupled with bioinformatics analysis to identify the differentially expressed AS genes and events during adipogenesis from hMSCs. A global survey separately identified 1262, 1181, 1167, and 1227 ASE involved in the most common types of AS including cassette exon, alt3, and alt5, especially with cassette exon the most prevalent, at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days during adipogenesis. Interestingly, 122 differentially expressed ASE referred to 118 genes, and the three genes including ACTN1 (alt3 and cassette), LRP1 (alt3 and alt5), and LTBP4 (cassette, cassette_multi, and unknown), appeared in multiple AS types of ASE during adipogenesis. Except for all the identified ASE of LRP1 occurred in the extracellular topological domain, alt3 (84) in transmembrane domain significantly differentially expressed was the potential key event during adipogenesis. Overall, we have, for the first time, conducted the global transcriptional profiling during adipogenesis of hMSCs to identify differentially expressed ASE and ASE‐related genes. This finding would provide extensive ASE as the regulator of adipogenesis and the potential targets for future molecular research into adipogenesis‐related metabolic disorders.
SPTBN1 and cancer, which links?
Authors: Chen Shuyi , Li Jiajia , Zhou Ping , Zhi Xiuling
Published: June 2019

SPTBN1 is a dynamic intracellular nonpleckstrin homology‐domain protein, functioning as a transforming growth factor‐β signal transducing adapter protein which is necessary to form Smad3/Smad4 complex. Recently SPTBN1 is considered to be associated with many kinds of cancers. SPTBN1 expression and function differ between different tumor states or types. This review summarizes the recent advances in the expression patterns of SPTBN1 in cancers, and in understanding the mechanisms by which SPTBN1 affects the occurrence, progression, and metastasis of cancer. Identifying SPTBN1 expression and function in cancers will contribute to the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer and the investigation of anticancer drugs.
Evaluation of microalgae growth in a mixed‐type photobioreactor system for the phycoremediation of wastewater
Authors: Pacheco Marcondes M , Hoeltz Michele , Bjerk Thiago R , de Souza Maiara P , da Silva Lilian FF , Gressler Pablo D , Moraes Maria SA , Lobo Eduardo A , Schneider Rosana CS
Published: June 2019

BACKGROUND

Remediation of wastewater using microalgae is an alternative way of reducing environmental impacts associated with wastewater treatment while simultaneously generating biomass that can be converted into biofuels. In this study, the phycoremediation of a secondary urban effluent by native microalgae was investigated using a photobioreactor designed to receive carbon dioxide (CO2). The experiments were carried out with and without CO2 addition, and the physicochemical parameters of the effluent were monitored. The biomass yield was determined as the dry weight, and both the lipid and fatty acid profiles were obtained by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection.

RESULTS

With respect to biomass production, lipid content and phycoremediation of the secondary urban effluent, the best results were observed in the experiments using CO2. In these experiments, reductions of biological oxygen demand (54.34%), total phosphorus (92.4%), ammoniacal nitrogen (97.1%) and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (92.8%) were observed. The CO2 addition also enhanced microalgae growth, as the maximum cell density (MCD) was 54.26% higher after a shorter period of time compared to the MCD obtained without CO2 addition. The biomass yields were 0.5324 ± 0.007 g L−1 and 0.821 ± 0.014 g L−1 without and with CO2 addition, respectively. The lipid yields per unit of biomass for the CO2 supplemented cultures were not statistically different from cultures that were not supplemented with CO2, and the same was observed for fatty acid composition.

CONCLUSION

The use of the mixed‐type photobioreactor has been shown to be a potential alternative method for biomass production and wastewater phycoremediation. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Duration of High School Education and Youth Labour Market Outcomes: Evidence from a Policy Experiment in Ghana
Authors: Abekah‐Nkrumah Gordon , Asuming Patrick Opoku , Yusif Hadrat
Published: June 2019

This paper estimates the effects of an additional year in senior high school (SHS) on early labour market outcomes in Ghana. Using data from a nationally representative household survey, we find that an additional year in SHS increases the likelihood of being employed and being employed in the formal sector but has no effect on the likelihood of being in paid employment. Additionally, we find that the effects are concentrated in female samples. Although the results constitute an important contribution to the debate on duration of SHS in Ghana, we caution that policy interventions should be based on more extensive evidence. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Analysis of postprocessing steps for residue function dependent dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC)‐MRI biomarkers and their clinical impact on glioma grading for both 1.5 and 3T
Authors: Bell Laura C. , Stokes Ashley M. , Quarles C. Chad
Published: June 2019

Background

Dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC)‐MRI analysis pipelines differ across studies and sites, potentially confounding the clinical value and use of the derived biomarkers.

Purpose/Hypothesis

To investigate how postprocessing steps for computation of cerebral blood volume (CBV) and residue function dependent parameters (cerebral blood flow [CBF], mean transit time [MTT], capillary transit heterogeneity [CTH]) impact glioma grading.

Study Type

Retrospective study from The Cancer Imaging Archive (TCIA).

Population

Forty‐nine subjects with low‐ and high‐grade gliomas.

Field Strength/Sequence

1.5 and 3.0T clinical systems using a single‐echo echo planar imaging (EPI) acquisition.

Assessment

Manual regions of interest (ROIs) were provided by TCIA and automatically segmented ROIs were generated by k‐means clustering. CBV was calculated based on conventional equations. Residue function dependent biomarkers (CBF, MTT, CTH) were found by two deconvolution methods: circular discretization followed by a signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR)‐adapted eigenvalue thresholding (Method 1) and Volterra discretization with L‐curve‐based Tikhonov regularization (Method 2).

Statistical Tests

Analysis of variance, receiver operating characteristics (ROC), and logistic regression tests.

Results

MTT alone was unable to statistically differentiate glioma grade (P > 0.139). When normalized, tumor CBF, CTH, and CBV did not differ across field strengths (P > 0.141). Biomarkers normalized to automatically segmented regions performed equally (rCTH AUROC is 0.73 compared with 0.74) or better (rCBF AUROC increases from 0.74–0.84; rCBV AUROC increases 0.78–0.86) than manually drawn ROIs. By updating the current deconvolution steps (Method 2), rCTH can act as a classifier for glioma grade (P < 0.007), but not if processed by current conventional DSC methods (Method 1) (P > 0.577). Lastly, higher‐order biomarkers (eg, rCBF and rCTH) along with rCBV increases AUROC to 0.92 for differentiating tumor grade as compared with 0.78 and 0.86 (manual and automatic reference regions, respectively) for rCBV alone.

Data Conclusion

With optimized analysis pipelines, higher‐order perfusion biomarkers (rCBF and rCTH) improve glioma grading as compared with CBV alone. Additionally, postprocessing steps impact thresholds needed for glioma grading.

Level of Evidence: 3

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:547–553.
Differential expression profiling of lncRNAs related to Epstein‐Barr virus infection in the epithelial cells
Authors: Zhang Jing , Zhang Siwei , Zuo Lielian , Yue Wenxing , Li Shen , Xin Shuyu , Liu Lingzhi , Lu Jianhong
Published: June 2019

Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) is a prevalent γ‐herpesvirus associated with a variety of cancers, including epithelial nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and gastric carcinoma (GC). Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as powerful regulators that have demonstrated to play crucial roles in cancer development. In this approach, based on genome‐wide RNA sequencing, we examined the lncRNA expression profiles in four EBV genome‐infected and EBV‐negative 293 cells. A series of lncRNAs were found to be dysregulated in a comparative analysis. Then, eight typical lncRNAs were selected for validation of expression levels by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and were detected in EBV‐positive or EBV‐negative GC and NPC cells. The differential expression patterns of the eight lncRNAs for validation were fundamentally identical to those revealed in RNA sequencing. Particularly, the differential expression of these lncRNAs in GC and NPC cells indicated their possible roles in EBV infection and tumorigenesis. In addition, a predicted lncRNA‐microRNA‐messenger RNA network suggested their potential interactions. This study reveals the first lncRNAome related to EBV infection in the epithelial cells and provides novel clues for the study of viral role in epithelial cancers through the interaction between EBV and host lncRNAs.
Trends in summer heatwaves in central Asia from 1917 to 2016: Association with large‐scale atmospheric circulation patterns
Authors: Yu Shuang , Yan Zhongwei , Freychet Nicolas , Li Zhen
Published: June 2019

The changes in the frequency, duration, and intensity of summer heatwaves over central Asia during the period 1917–2016 were studied. On average, the frequency, duration, and intensity of heatwaves showed significant positive trends during the period 1917–2016, with enhanced rates during the last 50 years. During 1967–2016, the heatwave indices increased significantly in most of central Asia, especially in the western part. The number of heatwaves has increased by 1.3 times since the 1960s. Remarkable changes in the frequency and duration of heatwaves occurred during the 1990s in association with the inter‐decadal shift in the Silk Road pattern of atmospheric circulation around 1997. The results based on the ERA‐Interim reanalysis data set were well‐matched with the station observations during the period 1979–2016, whereas those based on the NCEP‐NCAR data set were less well matched. Heatwaves in central Asia were closely related to a zonal wave circulation pattern at 500 hPa with a centre of positive geopotential height anomalies over central Asia. This anomalous circulation pattern was rapidly enhanced during the 1990s, suggesting that large‐scale patterns of atmospheric circulation had a role in modulating the occurrence of heatwaves in central Asia.
Anticipated changes to the snow season in Alaska: Elevation dependency, timing and extremes
Authors: Lader Rick , Walsh John E. , Bhatt Uma S. , Bieniek Peter A.
Published: June 2019

Snowfall and snow season length across Alaska control the surface hydrology and underlying soil properties and also influence near‐surface air temperature by changing the energy balance. Current projections of warming suggest that considerable change will occur to key snow parameters, possibly contributing to extensive infrastructure damage from thawing permafrost, an increased frequency of rain‐on‐snow events and reduced soil recharge in the spring due to shallow end‐of‐winter snowpack. This study investigates projected changes to mean annual snowfall, dates of snow onset and snowmelt and extreme snowfall for Alaska, using dynamically downscaled reanalysis and climate model simulations. These include the ERA‐Interim reanalysis from 1981 to 2010, and two Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 models: Community Climate System Model version 4 (CCSM4) and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory Climate Model version 3 (GFDL‐CM3) from 1981 to 2100. The analysis is presented in 30‐year periods (i.e., 1981–2010, 2011–2040, 2041–2070 and 2071–2100) with the future scenarios from Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5. Late‐century projections of average annual snowfall at low elevations (0–1,000 m) show decreases of 41.3 and 40.6% for CCSM4 and GFDL‐CM3, respectively. At high elevations (1,000–2,000 m), the reductions are smaller at 13.5 and 14.2%, respectively. End‐of‐winter snow‐water equivalent displays reductions at all elevations in the future periods. Snow season length is shortened due to later snow onset and earlier snowmelt; many locations in southwest Alaska no longer experience continuous winter snowpack by the late‐century period. Maximum 2‐day snowfall amounts are projected to decrease near Anchorage and Nome, while Fairbanks and Utqiaġvik (Barrow) show no significant trend.
Shipstra: The lean start‐up of a digital freight‐forwarding marketplace
Authors: Giraldo‐Diaz Jorge Mario , Fuerst Sascha
Published: June 2019

The process of designing a business model is arduous, particularly when creating a digital platform aimed at disrupting a market that is used to operating in a non‐digital manner. The leaders of Shipstra (www.shipstra.com), a transformative digital marketplace for the freight‐forwarding and shipping sector, successfully met this challenge. The organization's lean start‐up illustrates how entrepreneurs and managers of new ventures in tradition‐bound industries can sidestep the pitfalls of building a business model for digital disruption. Underscoring the value of industry experience, attention to customer feedback, and personal relationships, it also sheds light on the conditions that make possible the rapid iterations essential to success in an ever‐evolving digital environment.
Optical tweezers combined with micro‐Raman investigation of alcohol‐induced changes on single, live red blood cells in blood plasma
Authors: Lukose Jijo , N Mithun , Mohan Ganesh , Shastry Shamee , Chidangil Santhosh
Published: June 2019

Alcohol is commonly used as sterilizing agent in hospital settings. Alcohol abuse is also associated with numerous medical complications. It influences the coagulation mechanics and erythropoiesis. Optical tweezers are being extensively used in research labs for the trapping as well as manipulation of biological cells. The biochemical investigation of trapped biological cells can be realized with the integration of Raman spectroscopic technique with optical tweezers, which is termed as Raman tweezers. In this work, we interrogate the influence of ethanol exposure on human red blood cells at single cell level using micro‐Raman spectroscopy. In order to mimic in vivo condition to an extent, the experiment is performed by optically trapping the live cell in blood plasma. In the present work, a 785‐nm diode laser was used for trapping and probing of single, live red blood cell. An intensity deduction was noted for porphyrin breathing mode at 752 cm‐1 in the Raman spectra as a function of ethanol concentration, which indicates the depletion in hemoglobin. Hemoglobin deoxygenation process in the presence of alcohol is also evident from the variations in major oxygenation marker bands at 1,209; 1,222; 1,544; 1,561 cm‐1, etc., in the Raman spectrum of red blood cell. The effect of alcohol on red blood cells in blood plasma induces membrane depletion and hemoglobin degradation. This is also accompanied by the conversion of oxygenated hemoglobin to more deoxygenated state. Present study has also demonstrated the capability of micro‐Raman spectroscopy as a promising tool for probing red blood cell oxygenation status.
Development of a colloidal gold strip‐based immunochromatographic assay for rapid detection of Fusarium oxysporum in ginger
Authors: Ray Monalisa , Achary K Gopinath , Nayak Sanghamitra , Singh Shikha
Published: June 2019

BACKGROUND

Rhizome rot, caused primarily by Fusarium oxysporum, is one of the most destructive diseases leading to significant loss in ginger worldwide. The loss can be greatly reduced by proper disease management practices steered by accurate and early diagnosis of pathogens. Pathogen detection at an early stage of infection can also reduce the incidence of disease epidemics. Classical methods are often time consuming, relying on culturing the putative pathogens and the availability of expert taxonomic skills for accurate identification, which leads to the delayed application of control measures. The development of a simple, rapid, sensitive and cost‐effective point‐of‐care diagnostic tool is thus one of the major research priorities for rhizome rot.

RESULTS

The 65 kDa, immunoreactive protein band was selected as a diagnostic marker and was subjected to MS analysis followed by blastp. Based on blast result, a synthetic antigenic peptide was synthesized, and used to generate pAbs. The peptide‐specific antibodies were used to develop a colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (ICA). The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of ICA were 92.59%, 81.25%, and 90%, respectively. The ICA has a visual detection limit of 2.122 μg mL−1 for infected rhizome samples and 5.065 μg mL−1 for leaf samples with optimal detection time within 5 min. Moreover, the ICA also detected early stage infected samples, of which 71.42% (50/70) were true positives.

CONCLUSION

Findings from this study indicated that the assay can be utilized as a tool for the investigation of rhizome rot infection in field samples. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
The degree of sclerosis is associated with prognosis in well‐differentiated liposarcoma of the retroperitoneum
Authors: Chrisinger John S. A. , Al‐Zaid Tariq , Keung Emily Z. , Leung Cheuk , Lin Heather Y. , Roland Christina L. , Torres Keila E. , Benjamin Robert S. , Ingram Davis R. , Khan Samia , Somaiah Neeta , Amini Behrang , Feig Barry W. , Lazar Alexander J. , Wang Wei‐Lien
Published: June 2019

Background and Objectives

Well‐differentiated liposarcomas (WDL) are often partly composed of sclerotic tissue, however, the amount varies widely between tumors, and its prognostic significance is unknown. We hypothesized that tumors with more sclerosis would behave more aggressively.

Methods

Primary retroperitoneal WDL from 29 patients resected at our institution with follow‐up were histologically evaluated by soft tissue pathologists blinded to outcome. Tumors with ≥ 10% sclerosis were designated “sclerotic” while tumors with < 10% sclerosis were designated as “minimally sclerotic”. Cellular and dedifferentiated tumors were excluded. Clinical parameters and radiologic assessments on computed tomography (CT) were recorded.

Results

Histological evaluation identified 13 minimally sclerotic WDL and 16 sclerotic WDL. Median follow‐up was 9 years (range, 3‐20). Median recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and median overall survival (OS) were 6.16 and 13.9 years, respectively. Compared with patients with sclerotic WDL, those with minimally sclerotic WDL had superior RFS (HR = 0.17 [95% CI, 0.06‐0.53], P = .002) and OS (log‐rank test, P = .002). Sclerotic WDL exhibited higher Houndsfield Units than minimally sclerotic WDL (26 vs 1, P = .040).

Conclusions

Minimally sclerotic WDL were associated with more favorable outcome compared with sclerotic tumors. Assessment of sclerosis in WDL is likely a useful prognostic marker.
Targeted muscle reinnervation in oncologic amputees: Early experience of a novel institutional protocol
Authors: Alexander John H. , Jordan Sumanas W. , West Julie M. , Compston Amy , Fugitt Jennifer , Bowen J. Byers , Dumanian Gregory A. , Pollock Raphael , Mayerson Joel L. , Scharschmidt Thomas J. , Valerio Ian L.
Published: June 2019

Background

We describe a multidisciplinary approach for comprehensive care of amputees with concurrent targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR) at the time of amputation.

Methods

Our TMR cohort was compared to a cross‐sectional sample of unselected oncologic amputees not treated at our institution (N = 58). Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (NRS, PROMIS) were used to assess postamputation pain.

Results

Thirty‐one patients underwent amputation with concurrent TMR during the study; 27 patients completed pain surveys; 15 had greater than 1 year follow‐up (mean follow‐up 14.7 months). Neuroma symptoms occurred significantly less frequently and with less intensity among the TMR cohort. Mean differences for PROMIS pain intensity, behavior, and interference for phantom limb pain (PLP) were 5.855 (95%CI 1.159‐10.55; P = .015), 5.896 (95%CI 0.492‐11.30; P = .033), and 7.435 (95%CI 1.797‐13.07; P = .011) respectively, with lower scores for TMR cohort. For residual limb pain, PROMIS pain intensity, behavior, and interference mean differences were 5.477 (95%CI 0.528‐10.42; P = .031), 6.195 (95%CI 0.705‐11.69; P = .028), and 6.816 (95%CI 1.438‐12.2; P = .014), respectively. Fifty‐six percent took opioids before amputation compared to 22% at 1 year postoperatively.

Conclusions

Multidisciplinary care of amputees including concurrent amputation and TMR, multimodal postoperative pain management, amputee‐centered rehabilitation, and peer support demonstrates reduced incidence and severity of neuroma and PLP.
Comprehensive characterization of multiple components and metabolites of Xiaojin Capsule based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Qi Xiaopo , Wang Xinyu , Cheng Taofang , Wu Qiuling , Mi Nan , Mu Xuemei , Guo Xin , Zhao Gang , Huang Zhijun , Ye Ji , Zhang Weidong
Published: June 2019

Xiaojin Capsule, a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula, has been used to treat mammary cancer, thyroid nodules, and hyperplasia of the mammary glands. However, its systematic chemical information remained unclear, which hindered the interpretation of the pharmacology and the mechanism of action of this drug. In this research, an ultra high performance liquid chromatography coupled with a quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry method was developed to identify the complicated components and metabolites of Xiaojin Capsule. Two acquisition modes, including the MSEnergy mode and fast data directed acquisition mode, were utilized for chemical profiling. As a result, 156 compounds were unambiguously or tentatively identified by comparing their retention times and mass spectrometry data with those of reference standards or literature. After the oral administration of Xiaojin Capsule, 53 constituents, including 24 prototype compounds and 29 metabolites, were detected in rat plasma. The obtained results were beneficial for a better understanding of the therapeutic basis of Xiaojin Capsule. A high‐resolution and efficient separation method was firstly established for systematically characterizing the compounds of Xiaojin Capsule and the associated metabolites in vivo, which could be helpful for quality control and pharmacokinetic studies of this medicine.
Patterns of Comorbidity Among Bereaved Family Members 14 Years after the September 11th, 2001, Terrorist Attacks
Authors: Cozza Stephen J. , Fisher Joscelyn E. , Fetchet Mary A. , Chen Shenglin , Zhou Jing , Fullerton Carol S. , Ursano Robert J.
Published: June 2019

Studies of terrorism‐related deaths are few and mostly focus on short‐term effects. To characterize long‐term bereavement outcomes, including resilience/recovery and patterns of comorbidity, following the September 11, 2001 (9/11), terrorist attacks, we report mental health conditions and grief‐related impairment in 454 9/11 bereaved family members. In addition, the contribution of non‐9/11 lifetime traumas, pre‐9/11 mental health conditions, post‐9/11 interim life events, grief services, income adequacy, and social support were examined. Latent class analyses yielded three groups: healthy, comorbid without PTSD (comorbid/noPTSD), and comorbid with PTSD and impaired (comorbid/PTSD+I). Participants in the healthy group (66.1%) were least likely to meet thresholds for mental conditions, whereas those in the comorbid/noPTSD (21.3%) and comorbid/PTSD+I (12.6%) groups had higher probabilities of meeting depression, grief, and anxiety thresholds. These groups also endorsed more negatively valenced post‐9/11 interim life events than the healthy group: comorbid/noPTSD vs. healthy, odds ratio (OR) = 0.84, 95% CI [0.76, 0.94]; comorbid/PTSD+I vs. healthy, OR = 0.85, 95% CI [0.76, 0.96]. Comorbid/PTSD+I was the only group with elevated probabilities of meeting clinical thresholds for PTSD (.64) and grief‐related impairment (.94). This group was also more likely to include bereaved parents: comorbid/PTSD+I vs. healthy, OR = 12.96, 95% CI [1.97, 85.41]; comorbid/PTSD+I vs. comorbid/noPTSD, OR = 15.55, 95% CI [1.63, 148.41]); and to experience more non‐9/11 lifetime traumas: comorbid/PTSD+I vs. healthy, OR = 4.34, 95% CI [1.28, 14.70]; comorbid/PTSD+I vs. comorbid/noPTSD, OR = 6.54, 95% CI [1.53, 27.95]. Clinical and community programs should target this high‐risk group to identify individuals in need of services.
Influence of iodide ions on corrosion of dual‐phase steel in sulfuric acid solution
Authors: Rosalbino Francesco , Scavino Giorgio
Published: June 2019

Potassium iodide was studied for its corrosion inhibition property on the corrosion of dual‐phase steel in 0.5 M sulfuric acid at 25°C by potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) techniques. Scanning electron microscopy was used to characterize the steel surface. The inhibition efficiency increases with the concentration of iodide ions. The thermodynamic parameters Kads and ΔG0ads are calculated and discussed. The probable inhibitive mechanism is proposed from the viewpoint of adsorption theory.
Rapid Polymerization of Aromatic Vinyl Monomers to Porous Organic Polymers via Acid Catalysis at Mild Condition
Authors: Cheng Guang , Wang Shaolei , He Jiang , Wang Ning , Tan Bien , Jin Shangbin
Published: June 2019

Porous organic polymers (POPs) have enormous applications in various fields and thus have received a lot of research attention in recent decades. Numerous synthetic methods have been developed, but mild synthesis conditions and fast polymerization rate are highly desired. Herein, high porous POPs with high surface areas from aromatic vinyl monomers by using acid catalysis method is reported. The polymerization is ultrafast and could be accomplished even in 5 min at room temperature. Furthermore, the surface area can be tuned by using various acid catalysts and controlling the reaction time. Due to the high surface area, these POPs show promising adsorption of carbon dioxide and hydrogen, respectively. Furthermore, the large π‐system of the building block and high surface area of the POPs also make them show potential applications in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution as well as promising catalyst support for metal nanoparticles.