bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visible‐Light‐Controlled Azobenzene‐Cyclodextrin Host‐Guest Interactions for Biomedical Applications and Surface Functionalization
Authors: Nie Chen , Liu Chengwei , Sun Shaodong , Wu Si
Published: June 2021

Azobenzene/cyclodextrin (CD) host‐guest complexes can dissociate and reform under light irradiation because of photoisomerization of azobenzene. Azobenzene/CD host‐guest interactions have been used to construct photo‐controlled supramolecular systems. However, typical azobenzene/CD host‐guest interactions are controlled using UV light that may damage organic and biological components. To broaden the applications of this type of supramolecular construct, visible‐light‐responsive azobenzene/CD host‐guest interactions have received growing attention in recent years. In this Concept, the host‐guest interactions of visible‐light‐responsive azobenzene derivatives with CDs and their applications are reviewed. In particular, the advantages of visible‐light‐responsive azobenzene/CD systems for biomedical applications and surface functionalization are discussed, such as photo‐controlled release, photoswitchable surfaces, and orthogonal supramolecular micropatterned surfaces. Challenges and perspectives for the field are summarized and discussed.
Bill introduced to make mental health visits more affordable
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: June 2021

The Primary and Behavioral Health Care Access Act would require insurance to cover three primary care visits and three outpatient mental health or substance use disorder treatment visits per year without charging patients out‐of‐pocket costs.
Making prevention of substance use or mental illness more professional
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: June 2021

It's important for prevention experts to continue their path to professionalization, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP).
FDA approves higher dosage of naloxone nasal spray to treat opioid overdose
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: June 2021

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a higher dose naloxone hydrochloride nasal spray product to treat opioid overdose.
Deep‐Level Transient Spectroscopy for Effective Passivator Selection in Perovskite Solar Cells to Attain High Efficiency over 23%
Authors: Ren Xiaodong , Zhang Bobo , Zhang Lu , Wen Jialun , Che Bo , Bai Dongliang , You Jiaxue , Chen Tao , Liu Shengzhong (Frank)
Published: June 2021

Most studies choose passivators essentially in a trial‐and‐error fashion in an attempt to attain high efficiency in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Using deep‐level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) measurements, the type of defects in perovskite films was determined to guide the passivator selection for PSCs. Three kinds of positively charged defects were found in the target PSC system. Fluorinated phenylethylamine hydroiodide (FPEAI) was chosen to passivate the surface defects due to the electronegativity and hydrophobicity of fluorine. Due to the decreased surface roughness, increased hydrophobicity, lowered defect density, and improved carrier dynamics as observed by ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS), a PSC with meta‐F‐PEAI had the best efficiency over 23 % with open‐circuit voltage of 1.155 V and fill factor of 80.15 %. In addition, the long‐term stability of the PSC was significantly improved. The present work provides a new means to select the best passivator for different types of defects.
Impact of age and gender on lymphocyte subset counts in patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Löhr Phillip , Schiele Stefan , Arndt Tim Tobias , Grützner Stefanie , Claus Rainer , Römmele Christoph , Müller Gernot , Schmid Christoph , Dennehy Kevin M. , Rank Andreas
Published: June 2021

In symptomatic patients with acute Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), lymphocytopenia is one of the most prominent laboratory findings. However, to date age and gender have not been considered in assessment of COVID‐19‐related cell count alterations. In this study, the impact of COVID‐19 as well as age and gender on a large variety of lymphocyte subsets was analyzed in 33 COVID‐19 patients and compared with cell counts in 50 healthy humans. We confirm that cell counts of total lymphocytes, B, NK, cytotoxic and helper T cells are reduced in patients with severe COVID‐19, and this tendency was observed in patients with moderate COVID‐19. Decreased cell counts were also found in all subsets of these cell types, except for CD4+ and CD8+ effector memory RA+ (EMRA) and terminal effector CD8+ cells. In multivariate analysis however, we show that in addition to COVID‐19, there is an age‐dependent reduction of total, central memory (CM), and early CD8+ cell subsets, as well as naïve, CM, and regulatory CD4+ cell subsets. Remarkably, reduced naïve CD8+ cell counts could be attributed to age alone, and not to COVID‐19. By contrast, decreases in other subsets could be largely attributed to COVID‐19, and only partly to age. In addition to COVID‐19, male gender was a major factor influencing lower counts of CD3+ and CD4+ lymphocyte numbers. Our study confirms that cell counts of lymphocytes and their subsets are reduced in patients with COVID‐19, but that age and gender must be considered when interpreting the altered cell counts.
A critical point in chiral chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis of ketamine metabolites
Authors: Barbarossa Andrea , Bardhi Anisa , Gazzotti Teresa , Pagliuca Giampiero
Published: June 2021

Ketamine is a widely used dissociative drug, whose quantification in plasma and urine can be of pharmacological, toxicological, and clinical interest. Although tandem mass spectrometry allows the reliable determination of ketamine and its metabolites in biological matrices, the structural similarity between norketamine (main active metabolite) and dehydronorketamine (a less relevant metabolite) can represent a critical aspect. These compounds differ exclusively in two hydrogen atoms, but the consequent two‐unit difference in their mass/charge ratio is partially nullified by the isotopic abundance of the chlorine atom present in their structure. This, along with their similar fragmentation pattern, can result in the incorrect identification of the enantiomers of these ketamine metabolites even with triple quadrupole instruments, if shared transitions are monitored after chiral chromatography. The key to prevent norketamine overestimation is therefore observing analyte‐specific MS/MS transitions. Here, we describe in detail how we investigated this issue, during the development of an analytical method for ketamine and norketamine enantiomer determination in plasma.
Mechanisms of density dependence in juvenile salmonids: prey depletion, interference competition, or energy expenditure?
Authors: Matte Jean‐Michel O. , Fraser Dylan J. , Grant James W. A.
Published: June 2021

Density dependence is a strong regulator of animal populations, operating primarily through intraspecific competition for a limiting resource. Because food is generally limited in natural environments, it is typically assumed that increasing animal density leads to reduced individual fitness through food depletion or monopolization. However, recent work demonstrates that density dependence can occur without apparent food depletion, or with virtually unlimited resources, suggesting that other mechanisms must also be important. Alternatively, density‐dependent regulation could be achieved through increasing energy costs rather than decreasing food abundance. The relative importance of these two processes (food depletion and energy costs) and their underlying mechanisms remains unclear. Here, we manipulated the density of juvenile stream‐dwelling brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in three neighboring populations over two consecutive summers to relate food availability and consumption to density‐dependent growth, survival, and their trade‐off. Despite strong patterns of density dependence and evidence of food limitation, increasing fish density did not lead to detectable prey depletion in the environment. Instead, behavioral observations suggested that increasing densities resulted in higher energetic costs, primarily via increasing interference competition and the use of less suitable foraging microhabitats. These results highlight that animal populations may be regulated by density dependence without necessarily impacting prey communities.
Analytical Modelling of Electron‐coupled Ion Transfers with Immobilized vs Soluble Redox Transducer at Thick Film‐modified Electrodes
Authors: González J. , Laborda E. , Molina A.
Published: June 2021

Analytical theoretical solutions are deduced for the current‐potential response, concentration profiles and interfacial potentials of electron‐coupled ion transfers in the cyclic voltammetry with thick film‐modified electrodes. The theory covers a wide variety of possible situations, namely, the redox transducer can be either immobilized on the working electrode or freely diffusing in the organic film, and the ion transfer can be either simple or complicated by homogeneous chemical processes. A comparative and comprehensive study of each case is performed, establishing the key parameters that define the behaviour of the system, as well as guidelines to analyse its electrochemical signal.
A wide band log periodic millimeter‐wave antenna for 5G femtocells applications
Authors: V Harini , M.V.S Sairam , R Madhu
Published: June 2021

A wide band log periodic millimeter‐wave antenna is proposed for 5G femtocells applications. This log periodic antenna consists of circular patches with radius kept up at a proportion of scaling factor . The proposed antenna prototype is designed and simulated at a frequency range of 25 to 35.5 GHz with a fractional bandwidth of 34.73%. This proposed antenna exhibits low return loss at all frequency bands such as 26, 27.5, 29, 30, 32, 33, 35, and 38.1 GHz with reflection coefficient values such as , and dB including almost 101% radiation efficiency and attained maximum gain values such as , and dBi. Over the entire frequency band, the proposed antenna exhibits right‐hand circular polarization with an axial ratio of under 3 dB. Furthermore, the antenna is fabricated and measured the results where there is a better agreement with simulated results. This type of low‐profile antenna can be applicable for femto base stations for 5G communications.
UPLC–PDA‐ESI–QTOF–MS/MS and GC‐MS analysis of Iranian Dracocephalum moldavica L.
Authors: Fattahi Azin , Shakeri Abolfazl , Tayarani‐Najaran Zahra , Kharbach Mourad , Segers Karen , Heyden Yvan Vander , Taghizadeh Seyedeh Faezeh , Rahmani Hanieh , Asili Javad
Published: June 2021

Dracocephalum moldavica L. is a significant component in the Iranian food basket. This study aimed to investigate the bioactive compounds and biological activities of different extracts obtained from D. moldavica aerial parts. From the aerial parts, a crude methanolic (MeOH) extract and its four sub‐fractions, that is, petroleum ether (Pet), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n‐butanol (n‐BuOH), and aqueous (water) extracts were obtained. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents as well as the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the extracts were determined. Moreover, the phytochemical profiles of the essential oil (EO) and of those extracts with the highest antioxidant activity measured by GC/MS and UPLC–PDA‐ESI–QTOF–MS/MS. Results showed that the highest concentrations of phenols and flavonoids as well as the most potent antioxidant potential according to the DPPH method were determined in the EtOAc and MeOH extracts with IC50 values of 22.0 and 34.4 µg.ml‐1, respectively. Quantitative analysis of these extracts was subsequently performed by UPLC–PDA‐ESI–QTOF–MS/MS. Both extracts contained mainly rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, and 2‐hydroxycinnamic acid, which may be responsible for their high antioxidant activity. Moreover, none of the extracts showed cytotoxic effects against MCF7, SW48, and a normal cell line of mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (NIH/3T3) in the tested concentrations (up to 400 μg.ml‐1). Additionally, GC‐MS analysis showed that oxygenated monoterpenes (55.4%) were the main constituents of the EO of D. moldavica.
Natural Gas Pipelines in President Biden's American Jobs Plan
Authors: Makholm Jeff D.
Published: June 2021

Apologies for the misleading title.
SMARCA2‐NR4A3 is a novel fusion gene of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma identified by RNA next‐generation sequencing
Authors: Wei Shuanzeng , Pei Jianming , von Mehren Margaret , Abraham John A. , Patchefsky Arthur S. , Cooper Harry S.
Published: June 2021

Extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma (EMC) is a rare sarcoma of uncertain differentiation, characterized by recurrent chromosomal translocation involving NR4A3 (9q22.33) in more than 90% of cases. Five fusion partners for NR4A3 have been described including: EWSR1 (22q12.2), TAF15 (17q12), FUS (16p11.2), TCF12 (15q21), and TFG (3q12.2). This report describes a patient with an EMC at the dorsum of the right foot. The tumor showed a cord‐like and reticular pattern in a background of myxoid matrix. The tumor cells demonstrated an epithelioid morphology with prominent nucleoli. The tumor cells were positive for synaptophysin, GFAP, with focal positivity for CD117, S100, Cam5.2, and NSE, and negative for AE1/3, desmin, and SMA. An RNA next‐generation sequencing test showed a SMARCA2‐NR4A3 gene fusion which has not been previously reported. The exon 3 of SMARCA2 was fused to exon 3 of NR4A3. This fusion was confirmed by NR4A3 break‐apart FISH, although both SMARCA2 (9p24.3) and NR4A3 (9q22.33) are located on chromosome 9. The tumor cells showed retained expression of INI1 and SMARCA2 by immunohistochemistry.
Fossil woods from the Olenekian (late Early Triassic) Shaofanggou Formation in the Junggar Basin, Northern Xinjiang, North‐west China
Authors: Shi Xiao , Lang Jiabin , Li Ning , Shu Wenchao , Li Hui , Yu Jianxin
Published: June 2021

A large number of fossil woods were preserved in the Permian–Triassic sequences in the Junggar Basin of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. These wood fossils provide a lot of palaeoenvironmental information of the Junggar Basin during the Permian–Triassic transition. Here, we describe the fossil woods collected from the base of the Olenekian Shaofanggou Formation in Dalongkou Anticline. Anatomically, these wood remains closely resemble Junggaropitys dalongkouensis, but they lack growth rings and rays are higher. Thus, we suggest identifying them as J. cf. dalongkouensis. The growth pattern shows that J. cf. dalongkouensis is evergreen and developed under warm and humid environments. However, the data of geochemistry, palaeosol and certain sedimentary features reveal a dry climate. Thus, we speculate that the Olenekian Junggar Basin contained gallery forests in the arid environment.
Hyperparathyroidism subsequent to radioactive iodine therapy for Graves' disease
Authors: Law Richard H. , Quan Daniel L. , Stefan Andrew J. , Peterson Edward L. , Singer Michael C.
Published: June 2021

Background

The development of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) after radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for thyroid disease is poorly characterized. The current study is the largest reported cohort and assesses the disease characteristics of patients treated for PHPT with a history of RAI exposure.

Methods

A retrospective analysis comparing patients, with and without a history of RAI treatment, who underwent surgery for PHPT.

Results

Twenty‐eight of the 469 patients had a history of RAI treatment, all for Graves' disease. Patients with a history of RAI exposure had similar disease characteristics compared to control; however, patients with a history of RAI treatment had a higher rate of recurrence (7.4% vs 1.2%, p = 0.012).

Conclusion

PHPT in patients with a history of RAI treatment can be approached in the same manner as RAI naive PHPT patients; however, the risk of recurrence of PHPT in RAI exposed patients may be higher.
Predictive value of ipsilateral central lymph node metastasis for contralateral central lymph node metastasis in patients with thyroid cancer: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Kim Do Hyun , Kim Geun‐Jeon , Kim Sung Won , Hwang Se Hwan
Published: June 2021

Careful consideration of prophylactic central compartment dissection is required to ensure that its benefits outweigh its risks in the thyroid cancer. Sixteen prospective or retrospective studies were included. True positive, true negative, false positive, and false negative were extracted from each study. The diagnostic odds ratio of ipsilateral central lymph node metastasis (iCLNM) for predicting contralateral central lymph node metastasis (cCLNM) was 12.9237 (95% confidence interval [CI], 8.1595–20.4695). The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.854. The sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive value were 0.8925 [0.8232–0.9368], 0.6884 [0.6311–0.7404], and 0.9802 [0.9631–0.9894], respectively. There were strong correlations between cCLNM and clinicopathologic characteristics. Ipsilateral central lymph node pathology is useful for predicting contralateral central compartment invasion in patients with thyroid cancer. In addition, clinicopathologic characteristics were associated with cCLNM in patients with unilateral thyroid cancer.
Chronic viral hepatitis, HIV infection and Non‐Hodgkin lymphomas in West Africa, a case‐control study
Authors: Jaquet Antoine , Boni Simon P. , Boidy Kouakou , Tine Judicaël , Tchounga Boris , Touré Sokhna A. , Koffi Jean‐Jacques , Dial Cherif , Monnereau Alain , Diomande Isidore , Tanon Aristophane , Seydi Moussa , Dabis François , Diop Saliou , Koffi Gustave ,   The IeDEA West Africa Collaboration
Published: June 2021

Non‐Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are underestimated causes of cancer in West Africa where chronic viral hepatitis and HIV are endemic. While the association with HIV infection has already been characterized, limited information is available on the association between chronic viral hepatitis and NHL in sub‐Saharan Africa. A case‐control study was conducted in referral hospitals of Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire) and Dakar (Senegal). Cases of NHL were matched with controls on age, gender and participating site. The diagnosis of NHL relied on local pathological examination completed with immunohistochemistry. HIV, HBV and HCV serology tests were systematically performed. A conditional logistic regression model estimated the associations by the Odds Ratio (OR) with their 95% confidence interval (CI). A total of 117 NHL cases (Abidjan n = 97, Dakar n = 20) and their 234 matched controls were enrolled. Cases were predominantly men (68.4%) and had a median age of 50 years (IQR 37‐57). While Diffuse Large B‐cell lymphoma were the most reported morphological type (n = 35) among mature B‐cell NHL, the proportion mature T‐cell NHL (30%) was high. The prevalence figures of HBV, HCV and HIV infection were 12.8%, 7.7% and 14.5%, respectively among cases of NHL. In multivariate analysis, HBV, HCV and HIV were independently associated with NHL with OR of 2.23 (CI 1.05‐4.75), 4.82 (CI 1.52‐15.29) and 3.32 (CI 1.54‐7.16), respectively. Chronic viral hepatitis B and C were significantly associated with NHL in West Africa. Timely preventive measures against HBV infection and access to curative anti‐HCV treatment might prevent a significant number of NHL.
Links among the Fukui potential, the alchemical hardness and the local hardness of an atom in a molecule
Authors: Gómez Tatiana , Fuentealba Patricio , Robles‐Navarro Andrés , Cárdenas Carlos
Published: June 2021

This paper presents a brief summary of the difficulty that resides in the definition of the elusive concept of local chemical hardness. We argue that a definition of local hardness should be useful to a reactivity principle and not just as a mere definition. We then continue with a formal discussion about the benefits and difficulties of using the Fukui potential, which is interpreted as an alchemical derivative (alchemical hardness), as descriptor of local hardness of molecules. Computational evidence shows that the alchemical hardness is at least as good a descriptor as the combination of other two well‐stabilized descriptors of local hardness, such as the Fukui function and grand canonical local hardness. Although our results are auspicious for the alchemical hardness as descriptor of local hardness, we finish by calling the attention of the community on the importance of discussing the raison d'être of a local hardness function and its main characteristics. We suggest that an axiomatic construction of local hardness could be they way of constructing a local hardness which is both useful and free of arbitrariness.
The calculated versus the measured glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Musa Imad R. , Omar Saeed M. , Sharif Manal E. , Ahmed Abdel B. A. , Adam Ishag
Published: June 2021

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder that is increasing globally. It is associated with chronic complications that are more common among patients with poor glycaemic control. Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) is the gold standard for monitoring glycaemic control. Measurements of HbA1c are relatively expensive and not available in some remote areas of developing countries.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study to evaluate the agreement between the calculated and measured HbA1c levels. The equation to compute the calculated HbA1c also incorporated the fasting blood glucose (FBG) level and was as follows: HbA1c = 2.6 + 0.03 × FBG (mg/dl).

Result

We enrolled 290 patients with type 2 DM in this study. Of these, 204 (70.3%) were females and the mean (SD) age was 54.9 (12.8) years. The mean (SD) diabetes duration was 6.8 (5.5) years. There were 211 (72.8%) patients using oral hypoglycaemic agents, 62 (21.4%) were using insulin and 17 (5.9%) were using both insulin and oral hypoglycaemic agents. There was a borderline difference between the mean (SD) calculated and measured HbA1c levels (p = 0.054). There was a significant correlation between the calculated and measured HbA1c (r = 0.595, p < 0.001). However, there was no agreement between the calculated and measured HbA1c. The bias ±SD (limits of agreement) for calculated versus measured HbA1c was −1.008 ± 2.02% (−5.05, 2.032).

Conclusion

Despite the presence of a significant correlation between the calculated and measured HbA1c, the calculated level has shown an unacceptable agreement with the measured HbA1c.
LINC02535 promotes cell growth in poorly differentiated gastric cancer
Authors: Wu Jianzhong , Gao Ling , Chen Hong , Zhou Xiaojun , Lu Xialiang , Mao Zhongqi
Published: June 2021

Background

Abnormal long non‐coding RNA (lncRNA) expression plays important roles in gastric cancer. However, the functions of many lncRNAs in poorly differentiated gastric cancer (PDGC) remain unknown.

Methods

Three sets of paired tissues from patients with PDGC were used, and transcriptome sequencing was performed, followed by the construction and sequencing of a library and mapping of the reads. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways and protein‐protein interaction (PPI) networks were analysed, and canonical pathway significance was calculated among the differentially expressed genes (DEGs; p < 0.05). Gene expression in 30 paired PDGC specimens and four cell lines was validated through quantitative PCR. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis, and wound healing were analysed.

Results

A total of 499 upregulated DEGs and 627 downregulated DEGs were identified between peritumoral and gastric cancer tissues. The proportions of positive and negative correlations between LINC02535 and the DEGs were 98.40% and 92.66%, respectively, while the Spearman's correlation coefficient was greater than 0.5. The PPI network showed that approximately 73.15% of the top five genes were directly correlated with LINC02535 according to the STRING database. Based on KEGG analysis, the functions of LINC02535 target genes were enriched in signalling pathways related to cancer cell growth. Furthermore, cell function studies showed that LINC02535 upregulation contributed to cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and wound healing and that its inhibition facilitated cell apoptosis.

Conclusion

LINC02535 expression was upregulated in PDGC and contributed to cell proliferation, migration, invasion and wound healing, whereas its inhibition in PDGC facilitated cell apoptosis.
“I Made It Work”: How Using a Self‐Assembled Product Increases Task Performance
Authors: Köcher Sören , Wilcox Keith
Published: June 2021

Although it is well established that consumers have an increased valuation for self‐assembled products, less is known about how using such products influences objective consumption outcomes. Across three experiments, the current research demonstrates that consumers perform better on tasks when they use a product they have self‐assembled—as opposed to an identical but ready‐to‐use product. We show that this effect results from an increase in self‐efficacy and rule out possible alternative accounts (i.e., product efficacy beliefs, performance motivation, feelings of psychological ownership, and product liking). In addition, we demonstrate that the self‐assembly effect emerges only when consumers actually use the self‐assembled product, is robust when product assembly requires different amounts of time and effort, and is not merely the result of a question‐behavior effect. Theoretical contributions and opportunities for future research are discussed.
Deep convolutional neural networks for COVID‐19 automatic diagnosis
Authors: Emara Heba M. , Shoaib Mohamed R. , Elwekeil Mohamed , El‐Shafai Walid , Taha Taha E. , El‐Fishawy Adel S. , El‐Rabaie El‐Sayed M. , Alshebeili Saleh A. , Dessouky Moawad I. , Abd El‐Samie Fathi E.
Published: June 2021

This article is mainly concerned with COVID‐19 diagnosis from X‐ray images. The number of cases infected with COVID‐19 is increasing daily, and there is a limitation in the number of test kits needed in hospitals. Therefore, there is an imperative need to implement an efficient automatic diagnosis system to alleviate COVID‐19 spreading among people. This article presents a discussion of the utilization of convolutional neural network (CNN) models with different learning strategies for automatic COVID‐19 diagnosis. First, we consider the CNN‐based transfer learning approach for automatic diagnosis of COVID‐19 from X‐ray images with different training and testing ratios. Different pre‐trained deep learning models in addition to a transfer learning model are considered and compared for the task of COVID‐19 detection from X‐ray images. Confusion matrices of these studied models are presented and analyzed. Considering the performance results obtained, ResNet models (ResNet18, ResNet50, and ResNet101) provide the highest classification accuracy on the two considered datasets with different training and testing ratios, namely 80/20, 70/30, 60/40, and 50/50. The accuracies obtained using the first dataset with 70/30 training and testing ratio are 97.67%, 98.81%, and 100% for ResNet18, ResNet50, and ResNet101, respectively. For the second dataset, the reported accuracies are 99%, 99.12%, and 99.29% for ResNet18, ResNet50, and ResNet101, respectively. The second approach is the training of a proposed CNN model from scratch. The results confirm that training of the CNN from scratch can lead to the identification of the signs of COVID‐19 disease.
Spatio‐temporal variability in the stratiform/convective rainfall contribution to the summer monsoon rainfall in India
Authors: Deshpande Nayana R. , Kulkarni Jivanprakash R.
Published: June 2021

Spatio‐temporal variability of contributions of stratiform and convective rainfall to Indian monsoon (June–September) rainfall have been investigated using hourly rainfall data of well distributed 126 stations in India for the period 1969–2015. The criteria used for identifying stratiform rainfall are hourly rainfall ≤5 mm and spatial homogeneity. The study showed that Indian monsoon rainfall exhibits two distinctive features, viz. stratiform component dominating over peninsular (southern) India and convective component dominating over northern India. The diurnal variation shows domination of convective activity in the afternoon hours over the northern parts of India. Intra‐seasonal variability in the stratiform rainfall is the lowest over the West Coast stations through‐out the season. While it shows low values during the onset (June) and withdrawal (September) phases of monsoon and higher values during July–August in Peninsular India. Inter‐annual variations in the convective rainfall are larger than that of stratiform rainfall all over the country. Trend analysis indicates that both stratiform and convective rainfall are decreasing over the central parts of the country and increasing significantly along West Coast and western parts of the country. During excess monsoon year, convective rainfall activity is more than in deficit monsoon year, in Central India. The results brought out in the study will be useful as a proxy for understanding the spatial and temporal variability of the latent heating fields over India in the monsoon season and validation of model simulations of clouds and rainfall types.
Exploiting (Multicomponent) Semibatch and Jacket Temperature Procedures to Safely Tune Molecular Properties for Solution Free Radical Polymerization of n‐Butyl Acrylate
Authors: Edeleva Mariya , Marien Yoshi W. , D'hooge Dagmar R. , Van Steenberge Paul H. M.
Published: June 2021

Free radical polymerization (FRP) of acrylates is under conventional lab‐scale batch conditions characterized by strong nonisothermicity. Hence, side reactions with a high activation energy such as β‐scission are highly relevant already at intermediate temperatures (313–333 K), broadening the log‐molar mass distribution and decreasing the average molar masses. To avoid thermal runaway, one can design jacket temperature profiles or exploit semibatch reactor operations. Model‐based design with stochastic solvers is a strong tool to support the identification of optimal reactor settings although rarely applied upon mutually addressing reactor temperature changes and concentration variations due to (multicomponent) feeding strategies. Here such coupled design is performed for lab‐scale solution FRP of n‐butyl acrylate, benefiting from i) many inputted kinetic parameters (e.g., Arrhenius parameters) that have been benchmarked based on individual experimental techniques, ii) previous kinetic Monte Carlo validation under batch nonisothermal conditions including a prediction of reactor temperature extrema; and iii) systematic screening of semibatch operations in combination with flat and stepwise (average) jacket temperature profiles. It is demonstrated that many molecular properties are safely within hand for different total batch times, taking 2,2′‐azobis(2‐methylpropionitrile) as initiator. The model for viscosity control is also employed, expanding the traditional output of FRP simulations.
What matters in treating non‐oncological rare diseases?—Eliciting experts' preferences in Poland with PAPRIKA
Authors: Jakubczyk Michał , Niewada Maciej , Plisko Robert , Władysiuk Magdalena , Jachimowicz Michał , Pruszko Cezary , Wepsięć Katarzyna , Lis Joanna
Published: June 2021

Value in drugs do not always lies simply in them curing diseases: they may also be used to prolong life, improve its quality, and relieve patients' families. How much these elements matter should weigh on reimbursement decisions. Rare diseases often lack strong clinical evidence; hence, overlooking other elements that society values may lead to suboptimal decisions. We examine the preferences for treatments of non‐oncological rare diseases among 16 experts in Poland with PAPRIKA—a choice‐based elicitation method. Among seven attributes, clinical effect was found to be the most important, followed by returning the patient's family to normal functioning. Whether a treatment is used in children or any alternative treatment is available were the least important attributes. The respondents have a non‐linear, diminishing preference for clinical effects, and an almost linear (negative) preference for cost. We develop a new method of sensitivity analysis that accounts for the non‐uniqueness of part‐worth utilities and the possibility of respondents answering inattentively to some questions, and we find our results to be robust. When looking at heterogeneity, three types of respondents deviating from mean‐preferences emerge, in terms of what particular factors they place emphasis on: (a) cost and effectiveness, (b) to whom technology is offered (prognosis and availability of alternative), (c) the impact on family, safety, and caring for children. The part‐worth utilities identified can be used to support multiple criteria decision‐making in Poland.
Hyperpolarization of common antifungal agents with SABRE
Authors: MacCulloch Keilian , Tomhon Patrick , Browning Austin , Akeroyd Evan , Lehmkuhl Sören , Chekmenev Eduard Y. , Theis Thomas
Published: June 2021

Signal amplification by reversible exchange (SABRE) is a robust and inexpensive hyperpolarization (HP) technique to enhance nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals using parahydrogen (pH2). The substrate scope of SABRE is continually expanding. Here, we present the polarization of three antifungal drugs (voriconazole, clotrimazole, and fluconazole) and elicit the detailed HP mechanisms for 1H and 15N nuclei. In this exploratory work, 15N polarization values of ~1% were achieved using 50% pH2 in solution of 3‐mM catalyst and 60‐mM substrate in perdeuterated methanol. All hyperpolarized 15N sites exhibited long T1 in excess of 1 min at a clinically relevant field of 1 T. Hyperpolarizing common drugs is of interest due to their potential biomedical applications as MRI contrast agents or to enable studies on protein dynamics at physiological concentrations. We optimize the polarization with respect to temperature and the polarization transfer field (PTF) for 1H nuclei in the millitesla regime and for 15N nuclei in the microtesla regime, which provides detailed insights into exchange kinetics and spin evolution. This work broadens the SABRE substrate scope and provides mechanistic and kinetic insights into the HP process.
Pathways of emotional autonomy, problem‐solving ability, self‐efficacy, and self‐management on the glycemic control of adolescents with type 1 diabetes: A prospective study
Authors: Chen Chia‐Ying , Lo Fu‐Sung , Shu Shao‐Hui , Wang Ruey‐Hsia
Published: June 2021

This prospective study tested a model to depict associations between a number of individual characteristics and 6‐month glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Adolescents (N = 232) aged 10–19 years with T1D were recruited from a medical center in Taiwan. Demographic characteristics, emotional autonomy, problem‐solving ability, self‐efficacy at baseline, and self‐management information three months after baseline were collected using a self‐reported questionnaire. HbA1c levels 6 months after study commencement were obtained from medical records. Structural equation modeling was used to test the model. Higher baseline self‐efficacy and self‐management at 3 months were directly associated with lower 6‐month HbA1c levels. Higher baseline problem‐solving ability and self‐efficacy were directly associated with higher 3‐month self‐management, and higher baseline problem‐solving ability was directly associated with higher baseline self‐efficacy. Higher baseline emotional autonomy was directly associated with lower 6‐month HbA1c levels but indirectly associated with higher 6‐month HbA1c levels through the mediation of lower problem‐solving ability, self‐efficacy, and 3‐month self‐management. Findings indicate that improving self‐management is essential to improving subsequent glycemic control, which might be achieved by enhancing problem‐solving ability and self‐efficacy. Strengthening problem‐solving ability could diminish the negative impact of emotional autonomy on subsequent glycemic control in adolescents with T1D.
Keyto app and device versus WW app on weight loss and metabolic risk in adults with overweight or obesity: A randomized trial
Authors: Falkenhain Kaja , Locke Sean R. , Lowe Dylan A. , Reitsma Nicholas J. , Lee Terry , Singer Joel , Weiss Ethan J. , Little Jonathan P.
Published: June 2021

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine whether a Mediterranean‐style, ketogenic diet mobile health application (app) with breath acetone biofeedback is superior to a calorie‐restricted, low‐fat diet app in promoting weight loss.

Methods

Participants (n = 155) with overweight/obesity (mean [SD]: age 41 [11] years, BMI = 34 [5] kg/m2, 71% female) were randomized to one of the interventions delivered entirely via app. Participants received a wireless scale and were instructed to take daily weight measurements. A third‐party laboratory collected blood samples at baseline and 12 weeks.

Results

Weight loss at 12 weeks was greater in the ketogenic (−5.6 kg; 95% CI: −6.7 kg to −4.5 kg) compared with the low‐fat group (−2.5 kg; 95% CI: −3.6 kg to −1.4 kg) (between‐group difference: −3.1 kg; 95% CI: −4.6 kg to −1.5 kg; p < 0.001). Weight loss at 24 weeks indicated durability of the effect (between‐group difference: −5.5 kg; 95% CI: −8.3 kg to −2.8 kg; p < 0.001). Secondary/exploratory outcomes of hemoglobin A1c and liver enzymes were improved to a greater extent in the ketogenic diet group (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Among adults with overweight/obesity, a ketogenic diet app with breath acetone biofeedback was superior to a calorie‐restricted diet app at promoting weight loss in a real‐world setting.
Reaction of Tertiary 2‐Chloroketones with Cyanide Ions: Application to 3‐Chloroquinolinediones
Authors: Klásek Antonín , Kafka Stanislav , Rudolf Ondřej , Lyčka Antonín , Rouchal Michal , Bednář Lukáš
Published: June 2021

3‐Chloroquinoline‐2,4‐diones react with cyanide ions in dimethyl formamide to give 3‐cyanoquinoline‐2,4‐diones in small yields due to the strong hindrance of the substituent at the C‐3 atom. Good yields can be achieved if the substituent at this position is the methyl group. In the methanol solution, the reaction proceeds by an addition mechanism to form 2‐oxo‐1a,2,3,7b‐tetrahydrooxireno[2,3‐c]quinoline‐7b‐carbonitriles, from which 4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐2‐oxo‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydroquinoline‐4‐carbonitriles are subsequently formed by opening of the epoxide ring with methanol. Some minor products of these reactions have also been isolated. The 1H, 13C and 15N NMR spectra of the prepared compounds were measured, and all resonances were assigned using appropriate two‐dimensional spectra.
Characterisation of an enhanced preclinical model of experimental MPO‐ANCA autoimmune vasculitis
Authors: Prendecki Maria , Gulati Kavita , Turner‐Stokes Tabitha , Bhangal Gurjeet , Chiappo Derick , Woollard Kevin , Cook H Terence , Tam Frederick WK , Roufosse Candice , Pusey Charles D , McAdoo Stephen P
Published: June 2021

Experimental autoimmune vasculitis (EAV) is a model of antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)‐associated vasculitis (AAV) induced by immunisation of susceptible rat strains with myeloperoxidase (MPO). Animals develop circulating MPO‐ANCA, pulmonary haemorrhage, and glomerulonephritis, although renal injury is mild and recovers spontaneously without treatment. In this study we aimed to augment the severity of glomerulonephritis. Following induction of EAV on day 0, a sub‐nephritogenic dose of nephrotoxic serum (NTS) containing heterologous antibodies to glomerular basement membrane was administered on day 14. This resulted in a significant increase in disease severity at day 28 compared to MPO immunisation alone – with more urinary abnormalities, infiltrating glomerular leucocytes, and crescent formation that progressed to glomerular and tubulointerstitial scarring by day 56, recapitulating important features of human disease. Importantly, the glomerulonephritis remained pauci‐immune, and was strictly dependent on the presence of autoimmunity to MPO, as there was no evidence of renal disease following administration of sub‐nephritogenic NTS alone or after immunisation with a control protein in place of MPO. Detailed phenotyping of glomerular leucocytes identified an early infiltrate of non‐classical monocytes following NTS administration that, in the presence of autoimmunity to MPO, may initiate the subsequent influx of classical monocytes which augment glomerular injury. We also showed that this model can be used to test novel therapeutics by using a small molecule kinase inhibitor (fostamatinib) that rapidly attenuated both glomerular and pulmonary injury over a 4‐day treatment period. We believe that this enhanced model of MPO‐AAV will prove useful for the study of glomerular leucocyte behaviour and novel therapeutics in AAV in the future. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Pyruvate kinase deficiency in children
Authors: Chonat Satheesh , Eber Stefan W. , Holzhauer Susanne , Kollmar Nina , Morton D. Holmes , Glader Bertil , Neufeld Ellis J. , Yaish Hassan M. , Rothman Jennifer A. , Sharma Mukta , Ravindranath Yaddanapudi , Wang Heng , Breakey Vicky R. , Sheth Sujit , Bradeen Heather A. , Al‐Sayegh Hasan , London Wendy B. , Grace Rachael F.
Published: June 2021

Background

Pyruvate kinase deficiency (PKD) is a rare, autosomal recessive red blood cell enzyme disorder, which leads to lifelong hemolytic anemia and associated complications from the disease and its management.

Methods

An international, multicenter registry enrolled 124 individuals younger than 18 years old with molecularly confirmed PKD from 29 centers. Retrospective and prospective clinical data were collected.

Results

There was a wide range in the age at diagnosis from 0 to 16 years. Presentation in the newborn period ranged from asymptomatic to neonatal jaundice to fulminant presentations of fetal distress, myocardial depression, and/or liver failure. Children <5 years old were significantly more likely to be transfused than children >12 to <18 years (53% vs. 14%, p = .0006), which correlated with the timing of splenectomy. Regular transfusions were most common in children with two severe PKLR variants. In regularly transfused children, the nadir hemoglobin goal varied considerably. Impact on quality of life was a common reason for treatment with regular blood transfusions and splenectomy. Splenectomy increased the hemoglobin and decreased transfusion burden in most children but was associated with infection or sepsis (12%) and thrombosis (1.3%) even during childhood. Complication rates were high, including iron overload (48%), perinatal complications (31%), and gallstones (20%).

Conclusions

There is a high burden of disease in children with PKD, with wide practice variation in monitoring and treatment. Clinicians must recognize the spectrum of the manifestations of PKD for early diagnostic testing, close monitoring, and management to avoid serious complications in childhood.
Myelomeningocele–Chiari II malformation–Neurological predictability based on fetal and postnatal magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Khalaveh Farjad , Seidl Rainer , Czech Thomas , Reinprecht Andrea , Gruber Gerlinde Maria , Berger Angelika , Kiss Herbert , Prayer Daniela , Kasprian Gregor
Published: June 2021

Objective

This systematic comparison between pre‐ and postnatal imaging findings and postnatal motor outcome assesses the reliability of MRI accuracy in the prognostication of the future long‐term (mean, 11.4 years) ambulatory status in a historic group of postnatally repaired myelomeningocele (MMC) cases.

Methods

A retrospective, single‐center study of 34 postnatally repaired MMC patients was performed. We used fetal and postnatal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to compare the fetal and postnatal radiological lesion level to each other and to the postnatal ambulatory level as a standard of reference and analyzed Chiari II malformation characteristics.

Results

In 13/15 (87%) and 29/31 (94%) cases, the functional level was equal to or better than the prenatal and postnatal radiological lesion level. A radiological lesion level agreement within two segments could be achieved in 13/15 (87%) patients. A worse than expected functional level occurred in cases with Myelocele (2/3 patients), coexistent crowding of the posterior fossa (2/3 patients) and/or abnormal white matter architecture, represented by callosal dysgenesis (1/3 patients). In all patients (2/2) with a radiological disagreement of more than two segments, segmentation disorders and scoliosis were observed.

Conclusion

Fetal and postnatal MRI are predictive of the long‐term ambulatory status in postnatally repaired MMC patients.
“If you really think it's that important—show me, don't tell me!”
Authors: Mize Jennifer F.
Published: June 2021

“Action speaks louder than words but not nearly as often.” Mark Twain: Effective process safety messaging supports, represents, and reinforces a strong process safety culture. However, no communication program or slogan can create a strong process safety culture. Organizations must invest the necessary time and resources to support process safety from the front lines to the board room. In order to establish, sustain, and improve process safety performance, organizations must identify and address situations that contradict their expectations and communication related to process safety. Employee engagement and commitment are only possible when sufficient incentives are provided. In other words, people will put the most effort into the activities that provide the most reward. Actions, particularly financial decisions, always speak much louder than words. Does the executive leadership have a long‐term strategy for investing in process safety? Is a demonstrated commitment to process safety necessary for career advancement? Are leaders rewarded for properly managing risk even when their decisions might have a short‐term negative impact on production? This paper will provide examples of situations that contradict an organization's process safety messaging and suggest best practices to address those situations.
Hyper‐selectivity of immigrants and generational differences in occupational status: Evidence for Asian groups in Australia
Authors: De Alwis Sheruni , Parr Nick , Guo Fei
Published: June 2021

This paper explores the occupational status of immigrant birthplace‐generation groups in Australia, a country which emphasises skills in immigrant admissions. Using 2016 data, the occupational statuses of the first, 1.5, and second generations of Australia's China, India, Malaysia, Philippines, and Vietnam birthplace‐generation groups are compared to those for the main English‐speaking countries, all other countries, and third‐ and above‐generation Australians. The results show that the occupational status of the 1.5‐ and second‐generation Asian groups considered generally exceed that for their first generation counterparts and invariably exceed that for third‐ and above‐generation Australians, even after controlling for a range of confounding factors. For most Asian groups, the 1.5 generation's occupational status exceeds that of the second generation. Modification of the ‘segmented assimilation’ hypothesis to incorporate a new category of ‘hyper‐selective differentiation’ is proposed to capture the extraordinary upward occupational mobility of most 1.5‐ and second‐generation Asian groups in Australia.