bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficient Photocatalytic Degradation of Pharmaceutical Pollutants Using Plasma‐Treated g‐C3N4/TiO2
Authors: Liu Rui , Sun Lizhi , Qiao Yingjie , Bie Yongchao , Wang Peng , Zhang Xiaohong , Zhang Qiang
Published: April 2020

A series of oxygen plasma–treated g‐C3N4/TiO2 nanotubes are prepared, which exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance for degrading pharmaceutical pollutants under simulated solar light irradiation. The structure and optical properties of photocatalysts are characterized using scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, UV–vis, atomic force microscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. The g‐C3N4 nanoparticles are coated on the surface of TiO2 forming a heterojunction structure, which extends the light‐absorption region and inhibits the recombination of electrons with holes. Ibuprofen is used as a model pharmaceutical pollutant. The heterojunction structure allows the g‐C3N4/TiO2 high photocatalytic efficiency that is two times larger than that of TiO2 nanotubes. The efficiency of g‐C3N4/TiO2 is further enhanced by oxygen plasma treatment. The oxygen plasma–treated g‐C3N4/TiO2 exhibits a photocatalytic efficiency of 95% within 90 min, which is much larger than that of TiO2 nanotubes (28%), g‐C3N4 (52%), and g‐C3N4/TiO2 nanotubes (70%). The kinetics of the photocatalytic degradation are also investigated. The plasma‐treated g‐C3N4/TiO2 exhibits the largest rate constant, which results from massive surface‐active species and surface oxygen. Finally, the structural evolution and reaction mechanism are investigated using molecular dynamics simulations, which offer a deep insight into the photocatalytic reaction.
Dating of rockfall damage in trees yields insights into meteorological triggers of process activity in the French Alps
Authors: Mainieri R. , Corona C. , Chartoire J. , Eckert N. , Lopez-Saez J. , Stoffel M. , Bourrier F.
Published: April 2020

Rockfall release is a rather unpredictable process. As a result, the occurrence of rockfall often threatens humans and (infra)structures. The assessment of potential drivers of rockfall activity therefore remains a major challenge, even if the relative influence of rainfall, snowmelt, or freeze–thaw cycles has long been identified in short‐term monitoring projects. In the absence of longer‐term assessments of rockfall triggers and possible changes thereof, our knowledge of rockfall dynamics remains still lacunary as a result of the persisting scarcity of exhaustive and precise rockfall databases. Over the last decades, several studies have employed growth disturbances (GDs) in tree‐ring series to reconstruct rockfall activity. Paradoxically, these series were only rarely compared to meteorological records. In this study, we capitalize on the homogeneity of a centennial‐old reforestation plot to develop two reconstructions – R1 including only growth suppressions, and R2 based on injuries – with limited biases related to decreasing sample size and changes in exposed diameters back in time. By doing so, our study also and quite clearly highlights the large potential that protection forests have in terms of yielding reliable, multidecadal rockfall reconstructions. From a methodological perspective, we find no synchronicity between R1 and R2, as well as an absence of meteorological controls on rockfall processes in R1. This observation pleads for a careful selection of GDs in future reconstructions. In terms of process dynamics, we demonstrate that summer intense rainfall events (>10 mm day−1) are the main drivers for rockfall activity at our study site. Despite the stringency of our detection procedure, correlations between rockfall activity and meteorological variables remain comparable to those reported in previous studies, as a result of the complexity and multiplicity of triggering factors. We therefore call for a more systematic coupling of tree‐ring analysis with rockfall and microclimatic monitoring in future studies. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The control of wind strength on the barchan to parabolic dune transition
Authors: Zhang Deguo , Liang Peng , Yang Xiaoping , Li Hongwei
Published: April 2020

The evolution of barchan‐to‐parabolic dunes can be driven by vegetation establishment, which may be linked to climate change and/or human activity. However, little is known of the impact of changes in wind strength on vegetation development and the resulting impacts on the evolution of dune morphology and sedimentological characteristics. To address this issue, we studied the morphology and grain‐size characteristics of barchan, barchan‐to‐parabolic and parabolic dunes in the Mu Us Desert in north China, which was combined with an analysis of changes in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and climatic variables during 1982–2018. The results reveal a trend of increasing growing‐season NDVI which was related to a significant decrease in drift potential (DP). Therefore, we suggest that the initiation of dune transformation was caused by the reduced wind strength which favored the establishment and development of vegetation. To reveal the response of sedimentological reorganization during the processes of dune transformation, grain‐size characteristics along the longitudinal profile of the three different types of dunes were examined. The decreasing wind strength led to the transport of fine sands on the upper part of the windward face of the dunes, resulting in a progressive coarsening of the grain‐size distribution (GSD) and a reduction in dune height at the crest area. No distinct trend in sorting and mean grain‐size was observed on the windward slope of the barchan‐to‐parabolic dune, indicating that the sand in transit had little influence on the GSD. Conversely, progressive sorting and coarsening of the sand occurred towards the crest of the parabolic dune. This indicates that vegetation development limited the transport of sand from upwind of the dune, and affected a shift in the dune source material to the underlying source deposits, or to reworked pre‐existing aeolian deposits, and resulted in the trapping of sand in the crest area. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Use of terrestrial photosieving and airborne topographic LiDAR to assess bed grain size in large rivers: a study on the Rhine River
Authors: Chardon Valentin , Schmitt Laurent , Piégay Hervé , Lague Dimitri
Published: April 2020

Most grain size monitoring is still being conducted by manual sampling in the field, which is time consuming and has low spatial representation. Due to new remote sensing methods, some limitations have been partly overcome, but methodological progress is still needed for large rivers as well as in underwater conditions. In this article, we tested the reliability of two methods along the Old Rhine River (France/Germany) to estimate the grain size distribution (GSD) in above‐water conditions: (i) a low‐cost terrestrial photosieving method based on an automatic procedure using Digital Grain Size (DGS) software and (ii) an airborne LiDAR topo‐bathymetric survey. We also tested the ability of terrestrial photosieving to estimate the GSD in underwater conditions. Field pebble counts were performed to compare and calibrate both methods. The results showed that the automatic procedure of terrestrial photosieving is a reliable method to estimate the GSD of sediment patches in both above‐water and underwater conditions with clean substrates. Sensitivity analyses showed that environmental conditions, including solar lighting conditions and petrographic variability, significantly influence the GSD from the automatic procedure in above‐water conditions. The presence of biofilm in underwater conditions significantly altered the GSD estimation using the automatic procedure, but the proposed manual procedure overcame this problem. The airborne LiDAR topographic survey is an accurate method to estimate the GSD of above‐water bedforms and is able to generate grain size maps. The combination of terrestrial photosieving and airborne topographic LiDAR methods is adapted to assess the GSD over several kilometers long reaches of large rivers. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Geomorphic evolution of the Qingshuigou channel of the Yellow River Delta in response to changing water and sediment regimes and human interventions
Authors: Han Shasha , Rice Stephen , Tan Guangming , Wang Kairong , Zheng Shan
Published: April 2020

Delta channels are important landforms at the interface of sediment transfer from terrestrial to oceanic realms and affect large, and often vulnerable, human populations. Understanding these dynamics is pressing because delta processes are sensitive to climate change and human activity via adjustments in, for example, mean sea level and water/sediment regimes. Data collected over a 40‐year period along a 110‐km distributary channel of the Yellow River Delta offer an ideal opportunity to investigate morphological responses to changing water and sediment regimes and intensive human activity. Complementary data from the delta front provide an opportunity to explore the interaction between delta channel geomorphology and delta‐front erosion–accretion patterns. Cross‐section dimensions and shape, longitudinal gradation and a sediment budget are used to quantify spatial and temporal morphological change along the Qingshuigou channel. Distinctive periods of channel change are identified, and analysis provides a detailed understanding of the temporal and spatial adjustments of the channel to specific human interventions, including two artificial channel diversions and changes in water and sediment supply driven by river management, and downstream delta‐front development. Adjustments to the diversions included a short‐lived period of erosion upstream and significant erosion in the newly activated channel, which progressed downstream. Channel geomorphology widened and deepened during periods when management increased water yield and decreased sediment supply, and narrowed and shallowed during periods when management reduced water yield and the sediment load. Changes along the channel are driven by both upstream and downstream forcing. Finally, there is some evidence that changing delta‐front erosion–accretion patterns played an important role in the geomorphic evolution of the deltaic channel; an area that requires further investigation. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differential privacy location data release based on quadtree in mobile edge computing
Authors: Liu Gang , Tang Ziwen , Wan Bo , Li Yanfei , Liu Yan
Published: April 2020

To preserve user privacy in the release of location data, some researchers have proposed a distributed data release framework and a location data release algorithm based on mobile edge computing. This framework can preserve location privacy even if location‐based service providers are not trusted. However, the proposed algorithm fails to balance the noise error and the uniform hypothesis error and fails to take the query consistency constraint into account, so query accuracy needs to be improved. Therefore, we follow this framework and propose a differential privacy quadtree partitioning algorithm based on data uniformity heuristic adjustment to further improve query accuracy. First, a differential privacy complete quadtree is constructed, and then the quadtree is heuristically adjusted based on the predefined noise count threshold and the data uniformity threshold to balance the two types of error. Finally, query consistency processing is performed to further improve query accuracy. Experiments based on real‐world datasets are conducted to study the impact of two thresholds on query accuracy. Compared with the previous quadtree‐based differential privacy partitioning algorithm, our proposed algorithm has higher query accuracy while preserving location privacy. In addition, to address the problem of location privacy leakage in the query process, a range counting query framework based on the Hilbert curve is proposed to preserve location privacy in the query process.
Preliminary comparative analysis of kynurenine pathway metabolites in chronic ketamine users, schizophrenic patients, and healthy controls
Authors: Zhang Zhaohua , Zhang Minling , Luo Yayan , Ni Xiaojia , Lu Haoyang , Wen Yuguan , Fan Ni
Published: April 2020

Objective

The serum kynurenine pathway metabolites kynurenic acid (KYNA), kynurenine (KYN), and tryptophan (TRP) were examined in chronic ketamine users and in schizophrenic patients. The correlations of the metabolites with sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics, and drug use status were analyzed.

Methods

Seventy‐nine healthy controls, 78 ketamine users, and 80 schizophrenic patients were recruited. Serum TRP, KYN, and KYNA levels were measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography following tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Psychotic symptoms were evaluated using the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).

Results

Serum levels of TRP, KYNA, and KYN (in ketamine users only) were lower in ketamine users and schizophrenic patients than in controls (p < .05). TRP and KYN were lower in ketamine users than in schizophrenic patients (p < .01). KYNA levels were positively correlated with the current frequency of ketamine use in ketamine users (p = .031), and serum KYNA levels were negatively correlated with the duration of schizophrenia (p = .015).

Conclusion

TRP, KYNA, and KYN were lower in chronic ketamine users than in controls, and the alterations were in the same direction as those observed in schizophrenic patients.
Analysis of vaginal delivery outcomes among pregnant women in Wuhan, China during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Liao Jing , He Xiaoyan , Gong Qing , Yang Lingyun , Zhou Chunhua , Li Jiafu
Published: April 2020

Objective

To study vaginal delivery outcomes and neonatal prognosis and summarize the management of vaginal delivery during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of medical records and comparison of vaginal delivery outcomes between 10 pregnant women with clinical diagnosis of COVID‐19 and 53 pregnant women without COVID‐19 admitted to Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University between January 20 and March 2, 2020. Results of laboratory tests, imaging tests, and SARS‐CoV‐2 nucleic acid tests were also analyzed in neonates delivered by pregnant women with clinical diagnosis of COVID‐19.

Results

There were no significant differences in gestational age, postpartum hemorrhage, and perineal resection rates between the two groups. There were no significant differences in birth weight of neonates and neonatal asphyxia rates between the two groups. Neonates delivered by pregnant women with clinical diagnosis of COVID‐19 tested negative for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.

Conclusions

Under the premise of full evaluation of vaginal delivery conditions and strict protection measures, pregnant women with ordinary type COVID‐19 can try vaginal delivery without exacerbation of COVID‐19 and without increasing the risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in neonates.
Loss of high‐temperature requirement protein A2 protease activity induces mitonuclear imbalance via differential regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis in sarcopenia
Authors: Zhou Haohan , Yuan Danni , Gao Weinan , Tian Jiayi , Sun Hongyu , Yu Shuang , Wang Jincheng , Sun Liankun
Published: April 2020

Cellular homeostasis requires tight coordination between nucleus and mitochondria, organelles that each possesses their own genomes. Disrupted mitonuclear communication has been found to be implicated in many aging processes. However, little is known about mitonuclear signaling regulator in sarcopenia which is a major contributor to the risk of poor health‐related quality of life, disability, and premature death in older people. High‐temperature requirement protein A2 (HtrA2/Omi) is a mitochondrial protease and plays an important role in mitochondrial proteostasis. HtrA2mnd2(−/−) mice harboring protease‐deficient HtrA2/Omi Ser276Cys missense mutants exhibit premature aging phenotype. Additionally, HtrA2/Omi has been established as a signaling regulator in nervous system and tumors. We therefore asked whether HtrA2/Omi participates in mitonuclear signaling regulation in muscle degeneration. Using motor functional, histological, and molecular biological methods, we characterized the phenotype of HtrA2mnd2(−/−) muscle. Furthermore, we isolated the gastrocnemius muscle of HtrA2mnd2(−/−) mice and determined expression of genes in mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), mitohormesis, electron transport chain (ETC), and mitochondrial biogenesis. Here, we showed that HtrA2/Omi protease deficiency induced denervation‐independent skeletal muscle degeneration with sarcopenia phenotypes. Despite mitochondrial hypofunction, upregulation of UPRmt and mitohormesis‐related genes and elevated total reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were not observed in HtrA2mnd2(−/−) mice, contrary to previous assumptions that loss of protease activity of HtrA2/Omi would lead to mitochondrial dysfunction as a result of proteostasis disturbance and ROS burst. Instead, we showed that HtrA2/Omi protease deficiency results in different changes between the expression of nuclear DNA‐ and mitochondrial DNA‐encoded ETC subunits, which is in consistent with their transcription factors, nuclear respiratory factors 1 and 2, and coactivator peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator 1α. These results reveal that loss of HtrA2/Omi protease activity induces mitonuclear imbalance via differential regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis in sarcopenia. The novel mechanistic insights may be of importance in developing new therapeutic strategies for sarcopenia.
Predicting interest rates using shrinkage methods, real‐time diffusion indexes, and model combinations
Authors: Swanson Norman R. , Xiong Weiqi , Yang Xiye
Published: April 2020

In the context of predicting the term structure of interest rates, we explore the marginal predictive content of real‐time macroeconomic diffusion indexes extracted from a “data rich” real‐time data set, when used in dynamic Nelson–Siegel (NS) models of the variety discussed in Svensson (NBER technical report, 1994; NSS) and Diebold and Li (Journal of Econometrics, 2006, 130, 337–364; DNS). Our diffusion indexes are constructed using principal component analysis with both targeted and untargeted predictors, with targeting done using the lasso and elastic net. Our findings can be summarized as follows. First, the marginal predictive content of real‐time diffusion indexes is significant for the preponderance of the individual models that we examine. The exception to this finding is the post “Great Recession” period. Second, forecast combinations that include only yield variables result in our most accurate predictions, for most sample periods and maturities. In this case, diffusion indexes do not have marginal predictive content for yields and do not seem to reflect unspanned risks. This points to the continuing usefulness of DNS and NSS models that are purely yield driven. Finally, we find that the use of fully revised macroeconomic data may have an important confounding effect upon results obtained when forecasting yields, as prior research has indicated that diffusion indexes are often useful for predicting yields when constructed using fully revised data, regardless of whether forecast combination is used, or not. Nevertheless, our findings also underscore the potential importance of using machine learning, data reduction, and shrinkage methods in contexts such as term structure modeling.
Tissue clearing‐based method for unobstructed three‐dimensional imaging of mouse penis with subcellular resolution
Authors: Matryba Paweł , Wolny Artur , Pawłowska Monika , Sosnowska Anna , Rydzyńska Zuzanna , Jasiński Marcin , Stefaniuk Marzena , Gołąb Jakub
Published: April 2020

Although mice are widely used to elucidate factors contributing to penile disorders and develop treatment options, quantification of tissue changes upon intervention is either limited to minuscule tissue volume (histology) or acquired with limited spatial resolution (MRI/CT). Thus, imaging method suitable for expeditious acquisition of the entire mouse penis with subcellular resolution is described that relies on both aqueous‐ (clear, unobstructed brain imaging cocktails and computational analysis) and solvent‐based (fluorescence‐preserving capability imaging of solvent‐cleared organs) tissue optical clearing (TOC). The combined TOC approach allows to image mouse penis innervation and vasculature with unprecedented detail and, for the first time, reveals the three‐dimensional structure of murine penis fibrocartilage.
Intermolecular interactions, vibrational spectra, and detonation performance of CL‐20/TNT cocrystal
Authors: Zhu Simin , Ji Jincheng , Zhu Weihua
Published: April 2020

We report the structural properties, intermolecular interactions (Hirshfeld surface analysis and reduced density gradient [RDG] analysis), radial distribution function analysis, vibrational frequencies, and detonation performance for the pure ε‐CL‐20, TNT, and ε‐CL‐20/TNT cocrystal to understand how noncovalent interactions affect the impact sensitivity of the cocrystals. The results indicate that the simulated lattice parameters and densities of all the three crystals were consistent with the experiments. Major driving forces for the formation of the ε‐CL‐20/TNT cocrystal are OH and NO interactions, but the OO interactions may serve as a crucial stabilizing force. The calculated Raman spectra of the CL‐20/TNT cocrystal and the experimental result have the same trend. The Roman peaks of the cocrystal in the range 1,200–1,750 cm−1 may result from the coupling of the ε‐CL‐20 and TNT molecules. Similar crystal packing for TNT and CL‐20 leads to the high density for the cocrystal. The cocrystal displays low impact sensitivity because of the p–π interactions. Our work may offer useful information for cocrystallization technology and its practical applications in the field of energetic materials.
Aerobic degradation of 2,4‐dinitrotoluene: Effect of raw organic wastes and nitrogen fortification
Authors: Okozide Osekokhune E. , Adebusoye Sunday A. , Obayori Oluwafemi S.
Published: April 2020

2,4‐Dinitrotoluene (2,4‐DNT), a principal derivative generated in the synthesis of 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene, is widely used as a waterproofer, plasticizer, and gelatinizer in propellants and explosives. This compound has been documented as a priority pollutant because of its toxicity. Therefore, its removal from contaminated systems is a major focus of research and environmental attention. The presence of 2,4‐DNT bacterial‐degrading strains that could utilize 2,4‐DNT as growth substrate in polluted sites in Ibadan, Nigeria, was determined using continual enrichment techniques on nitroaromatic mixtures. Proteus sp. strain OSES2 isolated in this study was characterized by phenotypic typing and 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Growth of the strain on 2,4‐DNT resulted in an exponential increase in biomass and complete substrate utilization within 72 h, accompanied by NO3− elimination. Degradation competence was enhanced in the presence of corn steep liquor, molasses, and Tween 80 compared with incubation without amendment. Conversely, amendment with nitrogen sources yielded no significant improvement in degradation. Use of these organic wastes as candidates in a bioremediation strategy should be exploited. This would provide a less‐expensive organic source supplement for cleanup purposes, with the ultimate aim of reducing the cost of bioremediation while reducing wastes intended for landfill.
Reproducibility and reliability of computed tomography volumetry in estimation of the right‐lobe graft weight in adult‐to‐adult living donor liver transplantation: Cantlie’s line vs portal vein territorialization
Authors: Kwon Heon‐Ju , Kim Kyoung Won , Jang Jin Kyoo , Lee Jeongjin , Song Gi‐Won , Lee Sung‐Gyu
Published: April 2020

Background/Purpose

In living‐donor liver transplantation (LDLT), liver volume assessment is a mandatory step in determining donor appropriateness. This study aimed to compare reliability and reproducibility between two major methods to define virtual hepatectomy plane, based on Cantlie's line (CTV‐Cantlie) and portal vein territorialization (CTV‐PVT) for right‐lobe graft weight estimation in LDLT.

Methods

A total of 188 donors who underwent preoperative CT scans were included. The liver was divided into right and left lobes using CTV‐Cantlie and CTV‐PTV measurements by two readers. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to determine interreader variability of hepatic weight measured using each CTV method. Intraoperative graft weight (IOW) was used as reference standard of right‐lobe graft weight. Pearson correlation test was performed to determine correlation coefficients between presumed graft weight by each CTV method and IOW.

Results

Intraclass correlation coefficients for total liver weight were roughly equivalent between the two CTV methods (CTV‐Cantlie: 0.965 [95% CI, 0.954‐0.974], CTV‐PVT: 0.977 [0.970‐0.983]). However, ICCs of right‐and left‐lobe weights between two readers were higher with CTV‐PVT (0.997 and 0.850) than with CTV‐Cantlie (0.829 and 0.668). The IOW was 716.0 ± 162.0 g. Correlation coefficients between presumed graft weight by CTV‐Cantlie or CTV‐PVT and IOW were 0.722 and 0.807, respectively (both P < .001).

Conclusions

For estimation of the right‐lobe graft weight in LDLT, CTV‐PVT may provide higher reliability and reproducibility than CTV‐Cantlie.
Linking stakeholder integration to sustainability performance in the hotel context
Authors: Shi Yu , Tsai Kuen‐Hung
Published: April 2020

This study proposes a process model to probe the linkage between stakeholder integration (SI), corporate sustainability practices (CSPs), and sustainability performance and examines supplier and customer demands' effects on the linkage between CSPs and financial performance (FP) via environmental (EP) and social performances (SP). Data from 225 hotels near World Cultural Heritage Sites in East China were utilized for hypothesis testing. Partial least squares structural equation modeling analyzes the data. Following results are revealed: (a) SI favors CSPs, and CSPs favor EP, but SP hinders FP; (b) EP and SP support FP; and (c) supplier demand positively moderates CSPs' effect on SP, whereas customer demand positively moderates EPs' effects on FP.
Olfactory and Gustatory Function in Patients With Different Types of Maxillofacial Trauma
Authors: Drareni Kenza , Hummel Thomas , Bensafi Moustafa , Serex Charles‐Arnaud , Hugentobler Marianne , Rimmer Joanne , Friedrich Hergen , Voruz François , Terzic Andrej , Landis Basile N.
Published: April 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

To investigate olfactory and gustatory function in patients with maxillofacial trauma and associated fractures.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

Olfactory and gustatory function was assessed psychophysically in 124 patients who had sustained maxillofacial trauma with an associated fracture. Five groups were defined based on the fracture type: Le Fort, mandibular, nasal, orbital, and zygomatic. Olfaction was measured with Sniffin' Sticks (threshold, discrimination, identification [TDI] score) and gustation with the taste spray method. Patients self‐rated olfactory and gustatory function on a visual analog scale prior to formal testing.

Results

Ten out of 124 patients were found to be anosmic (8%), with half of them found in the Le Fort (skull base) group. The Le Fort fracture group had significantly lower olfactory function than other fracture types (TDI score = 22.4 ± 10.7; P = .01; possible range = 1–48). The mean gustatory spray test score was 3.82 ± 0.4 (possible range = 0–4) without any intergroup differences. Self‐rated olfactory function showed a correlation with the measured scores (r = 0.61, P < .001) across all groups.

Conclusions

The present data show a significant effect of maxillofacial fracture type on the development of anosmia. Maxillofacial fractures involving the skull base, such as Le Fort fractures, are more likely to cause permanent smell loss, whereas the other fracture types are rarely associated with anosmia.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:E331–E337, 2021
The KLHL40 c.1516A>C is a Chinese‐specific founder mutation causing nemaline myopathy 8: Report of six patients with pre‐ and postnatal phenotypes
Authors: Yeung Kit San , Yu Florrie N. Y. , Fung Cheuk Wing , Wong Sheila , Lee Hencher H. C. , Fung Sharon T. H. , Fung Genevieve P. G. , Leung Kwok Yin , Chung Wai Hang , Lee Yun Ting , Ng Vivian K. S. , Yu Mullin H. C. , Fung Jasmine L. F. , Tsang Mandy H. Y. , Chan Kelvin Y. K. , Chan Sophelia H. S. , Kan Anita S. Y. , Chung Brian H. Y.
Published: April 2020

Background

Autosomal recessive or compound heterozygous mutations in KLHL40 cause nemaline myopathy 8, which is one of the most severe forms of nemaline myopathy. The KLHL40 c.1516A>C variant has recently been reported as a founder mutation in southern Chinese.

Methods

We report six cases of nemaline myopathy 8 which involves the c.1516A>C variant, from five unrelated families of non‐consanguineous southern Chinese. The pre‐ and postnatal phenotypes of these cases were reviewed with emphasis on prenatal clinical features. Genetic testing for the founder mutation was performed on three patients with homozygous mutations.

Results

Common prenatal features included reduced fetal movement, polyhydramnios, breech presentation, and clubfeet. Two pregnancies were terminated. Four live‐born patients had postnatal features typical of nemaline myopathy 8. The length of survival ranged from 49 days to 17 months, with respiratory failure and infections being the principal causes of death. Haplotype analysis in three patients with homozygous mutation showed a shared haplotype block of 1.1727 cM spanning over the c.1516A>C variant, suggesting it is a southern Chinese‐specific founder mutation.

Conclusion

Analysis of the KLHL40 c.1516A>C variant should be considered in prenatal diagnosis of Chinese pregnant patients with suspected congenital neuromuscular disorders or with significant family history of congenital myopathies.
Thigh Adipocyte Size is Inversely Related to Energy Intake and Respiratory Quotient in Healthy Women
Authors: Basolo Alessio , Shah Mujtaba H. , Parthasarathy Varsha , Parrington Shannon , Walter Mary , Votruba Susanne B. , Krakoff Jonathan , Piaggi Paolo , Chang Douglas C.
Published: April 2020

Objective

The relationship between adipocyte size and ad libitum energy intake has not been previously examined. This study hypothesized an inverse relationship between adipocyte size and daily energy intake (DEI).

Methods

Seventy healthy adults (39 men and 31 women; BMI 30.0  [SD 6.3]) underwent dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry and subcutaneous fat biopsies from the abdomen and thigh. Osmium‐fixed adipocytes were sized with a Coulter counter. Volunteers self‐selected food from a vending machine paradigm as the only source of energy intake over 3 days as inpatients. Volunteers also had 24‐hour respiratory quotient (RQ) measured in a whole‐room indirect calorimeter.

Results

In women, the large cell peak diameter of the thigh depot was greater than that of the abdominal depot (Δ = +15.8 μm; P < 0.0001). In women, thigh peak diameter was inversely associated with DEI (β = −264.7 kcal/d per 10‐μm difference; P = 0.03) after adjusting for demographics and body composition. The thigh peak diameter in women was associated with 24‐hour RQ (r = −0.47, P = 0.04) after adjusting for demographics, body composition, and 24‐hour energy balance. These associations did not extend to men or the abdominal depot.

Conclusions

In women, thigh adipocyte size was associated with reduced DEI and 24‐hour RQ, indicating a special role for thigh fat in women. This depot‐specific sexual dimorphism indicates common regulation of energy intake and adipocyte size in the thigh region of women.
Controllable orientations for Sb2S3 solar cells by vertical VTD method
Authors: Zhang Huan , Yuan Shengjie , Deng Hui , Ishaq Muhammad , Yang Xiaokun , Hou Tengxuan , Shah Usman Ali , Song Haisheng , Tang Jiang
Published: April 2020

Antimony sulfide (Sb2S3) is a promising photoelectric material because of its wide bandgap approximately 1.7 eV for next‐generation solar cells, high optical absorption coefficient, and its green and earth‐abundant constituents. Different to traditional cubic structure photovoltaic materials, Sb2S3 holds one‐dimensional crystal structure and its thin film with [hk1] preferred orientation shows one‐order‐higher carrier transport mobility. However, all the reported Sb2S3 films exhibited [hk0] preferred orientation on CdS‐based superstrate device structure up to now. Thus, it is indispensable to study the controllable‐orientations Sb2S3 film deposition and the relationship between the orientation and performances. In this paper, we develop a vertical vapor transport deposition (V‐VTD) method, which can tune the preferred orientation of Sb2S3 thin film from [hk0] to [hk1] by reaction recipe monitoring. Combining the experiment results, a reasonable deposition/reevaporation competing model is suggested to explain above orientation conversion mechanism. The device efficiency increases from less than 2% to about 4% with the orientation of Sb2S3 film changing from [hk0] to [hk1]. By fine regulating the technique of deposition, the device with [hk1] orientation has better crystallinity, lower interface recombination, and higher built‐in voltage comparing with the [hk0] one. Finally, a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 4.5% has been achieved, and the VOC of 730 mV is the top value among the Sb2S3 solar cells. The present versatile orientation tuning strategy could overcome the bottleneck of strong anisotropic materials and show high potential for noncubic material deposition and related optoelectronic device performance enhancement.
The effects of microgravity on differentiation and cell growth in stem cells and cancer stem cells
Authors: Grimm Daniela , Wehland Markus , Corydon Thomas J. , Richter Peter , Prasad Binod , Bauer Johann , Egli Marcel , Kopp Sascha , Lebert Michael , Krüger Marcus
Published: April 2020

A spaceflight has enormous influence on the health of space voyagers due to the combined effects of microgravity and cosmic radiation. Known effects of microgravity (μg) on cells are changes in differentiation and growth. Considering the commercialization of spaceflight, future space exploration, and long-term manned flights, research focusing on differentiation and growth of stem cells and cancer cells exposed to real (r-) and simulated (s-) μg is of high interest for regenerative medicine and cancer research. In this review, we focus on platforms to study r- and s-μg as well as the impact of μg on cancer stem cells in the field of gastrointestinal cancer, lung cancer, and osteosarcoma. Moreover, we review the current knowledge of different types of stem cells exposed to μg conditions with regard to differentiation and engineering of cartilage, bone, vasculature, heart, skin, and liver constructs.

Significance statement Microgravity provides a unique environment for cell culture and has been shown to induce cellular changes and processes that could not be achieved under normal gravitational conditions. Over the past years, it has therefore gained increasing importance in different research fields such as cancer research, where microgravity may help understanding and suppressing tumor metastasis, or tissue engineering, where it induces the scaffold-free formation of three-dimensional multicellular spheroids. This review will give a concise overview of the current knowledge on the effects of microgravity on stem cells and cancer stem cells, and will highlight novel therapeutic options derived from it.
Multituberculate mammals from the Middle Jurassic of Western Siberia, Russia, and the origin of Multituberculata
Authors: Averianov Alexander O. , Martin Thomas , Lopatin Alexey V. , Schultz Julia A. , Schellhorn Rico , Krasnolutskii Sergei , Skutschas Pavel , Ivantsov Stepan
Published: April 2020

Tashtykia primaeva gen. et sp. nov. and Tagaria antiqua gen. et sp. nov. (Multituberculata incertae sedis) are described based on isolated teeth from the Middle Jurassic (Bathonian) Itat Formation from the Berezovsk coal mine in Krasnoyarsk Territory, Western Siberia, Russia. Tashtykia primaeva gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by a P5 with three rows of cusps (cusp formula 2B:4M:6L) and a high sectorial p4 with two triangular lobes, five serrations associated with labial and lingual ridges, and a unique distal cusp. Tagaria antiqua gen. et sp. nov. differs from all other multituberculates by a very long P5 with flat crown and many cusps arranged in three rows (4B:6M:7L). Morphologically the teeth of Kermackodon and Megaconus are transitional between Euharamiyida and Middle Jurassic Multituberculata. Kermackodon shares several characteristics with Euharamiyida, such as pointed cusps on the molars connected by longitudinal ridges, a distolabial cusp on the M2 that is higher than the other cusps, and a single large sectorial premolar (p4) with a distal basin. The euharamiyidan characters of Megaconus are an ultimate upper premolar with a shorter lingual side, a p4 with a distal basin, and one cusp on the molars being larger than the other cusps. In addition, Megaconus shares an ultimate upper premolar with three rows of cusps, horizontal wear on the molars, and pyramidal cusps on the molars separated by transverse grooves with multituberculates. The multituberculate characters of Kermackodon include horizontal rather than basined wear on the surface of the molars and serrations on the p4.
NHS discrimination of testosterone deficiency syndrome
Authors: Cervoni Edorado
Published: April 2020

Testosterone deficiency syndrome (TDS), unlike menopausal symptoms, tends not to be managed by general practitioners. Here the author argues that this approach is not logical given that the condition is not rare, and the biological importance of testosterone in men. In addition, there are clear guidelines that enable primary care physicians to meet the needs of TDS patients.
Loin pain and a normal CT KUB: what to do?
Authors: Walker Nicholas Faure , Kirby Roger
Published: April 2020

Persistent loin pain and a normal CT KUB can present a significant challenge to urologists. A thorough history and examination may well identify the underlying cause. Further investigations may be indicated, but the benefits of more invasive testing and further radiation exposure must be carefully balanced against the risks.
Load mitigation and power tracking capability for wind turbines using linear matrix inequality‐based control design
Authors: Pöschke Florian , Gauterin Eckhard , Kühn Martin , Fortmann Jens , Schulte Horst
Published: April 2020

This article deals with nonlinear model‐based control design for wind turbines. By systematically integrating several mechanical degrees of freedom in the control design model, the load mitigation potential from the proposed multivariable control framework is demonstrated. The application of the linear matrix inequality (LMI)‐based control design is discussed in detail. Apart from the commonly considered power production mode, an extended operating range to provide stabilization of the electrical grid through power tracking is considered. This control functionality allows for an evaluation of the resulting fatigue and ultimate loads for power tracking at different dynamic requirements. The results indicate that under the impact of a dedicated control scheme, this functionality is feasible with respect to the occurring loads and operational behavior of the wind turbine.
Direct treatment versus indirect: Thermo‐ablative and mild hyperthermia effects
Authors: Payne Macy , Bossmann Stefan H. , Basel Matthew T.
Published: April 2020

Hyperthermia is a rapidly growing field in cancer therapy and many advances have been made in understanding and applying the mechanisms of hyperthermia. Secondary effects of hyperthermia have been increasingly recognized as important in therapeutic effects and multiple studies have started to elucidate their implications for treatment. Immune effects have especially been recognized as important in the efficacy of hyperthermia treatment of cancer. Both thermo‐ablative and mild hyperthermia activate the immune system, but mild hyperthermia seems to be more effective at doing so. This may suggest that mild hyperthermia has some advantages over thermo‐ablative hyperthermia and research into immune effects of mild hyperthermia should continue.

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies

Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanoscale Tools and Techniques in Surgery
On a complete solution of the quantum Dell system
Authors: Awata Hidetoshi , Kanno Hiroaki , Mironov Andrei , Morozov Alexei
Published: April 2020

Abstract

The mother functions for the eigenfunctions of the Koroteev-Shakirov version of quantum double-elliptic (Dell) Hamiltonians can be presented as infinite series in Miwa variables, very similar to the recent conjecture due to J. Shiraishi. Further studies should clear numerous remaining obstacles and thus solve the long-standing problem of explicitly constructing a Dell system, the top member of the Calogero-Moser-Ruijsenaars system, with the P Q-duality fully explicit at the elliptic level.
Semiflow selection for the compressible Navier–Stokes system
Authors: Basarić Danica
Published: April 2020

Although the existence of dissipative weak solutions for the compressible Navier–Stokes system has already been established for any finite energy initial data, uniqueness is still an open problem. The idea is then to select a solution satisfying thesemigroup property, an important feature of systems with uniqueness. More precisely, we are going to prove the existence of asemiflow selectionin terms of the three state variables: the density, the momentum, and the energy. Finally, we will show that it is possible to introduce a new selection defined only in terms of the initial density and momentum; however, the price to pay is that the semigroup property will hold almost everywhere in time.
Delivering Clinical impacts of the MRI diagnostic pathway in prostate cancer diagnosis
Authors: Schoots Ivo G. , Padhani Anwar R.
Published: April 2020

Pre-biopsy multiparametric MRI is now recommended by multiple guidelines, not only for men with persistent suspicion of prostate cancer after prior negative systematic biopsy, but also at initial screening before the first biopsy. The major benefit of pre-biopsy MRI in the diagnostic work-up is to promote individualized risk-adapted approaches for biopsy-decision management. Multiple MRI-directed diagnostic pathways can be conceived, with each approach having net-benefit trade-offs between benefits and harms, based on improved diagnostic yields of significant cancers and reduced biopsy testing and reduced detection of indolent prostate cancer. In this paper, we illustrate how clinical benefits can be maximized in men with MRI-negative and MRI-positive results, using the PI-RADS Multiparametric MRI and MRI-directed biopsy pathway. From a practice perspective, we emphasize five golden rules: (1) that multiparametric MRI approach including targeted biopsies be reserved for men likely to benefit from early detection and treatment of prostate cancer; (2) that there is a need to carefully assess risk of significant disease using PSA and clinical parameters before and after MRI; (3) do not offer immediate biopsy if the MRI is negative, unless other high-risk factors are present; (4) accept that not all significant cancers are found immediately and have robust ‘safety nets’ for men with negative MRI scans who avoid immediate biopsy and for positive MRI patients with negative or non-explanatory histology; and (5) use MRI-directed biopsy methods that minimize overdiagnosis and improve risk stratification.
Rheology of colloidal and metallic glass formers
Authors: Voigtmann Thomas , Siebenbürger Miriam , Amann Christian P. , Egelhaaf Stefan U. , Fritschi Sebastian , Krüger Matthias , Laurati Marco , Mutch Kevin J. , Samwer Konrad H.
Published: April 2020

Colloidal hard-sphere suspensions are convenient experimental models to understand soft matter, and also by analogy the structural-relaxation behavior of atomic or small-molecular fluids. We discuss this analogy for the flow and deformation behavior close to the glass transition. Based on a mapping of temperature to effective hard-sphere packing, the stress–strain curves of typical bulk metallic glass formers can be quantitatively compared with those of hard-sphere suspensions. Experiments on colloids give access to the microscopic structure under deformation on a single-particle level, providing insight into the yielding mechanisms that are likely also relevant for metallic glasses. We discuss the influence of higher-order angular signals in connection with non-affine particle rearrangements close to yielding. The results are qualitatively explained on the basis of the mode-coupling theory. We further illustrate the analogy of pre-strain dependence of the linear-elastic moduli using data on PS-PNiPAM suspensions.
Horizontal and radial collector wells: simple tools for a complex problem
Authors: Collins Sarah L. , Houben Georg J.
Published: April 2020

The capture of groundwater by horizontal wells (HWs) is an old but often overlooked technique. Practically all modeling techniques available in groundwater hydrology have been applied to HWs. This work compares analytical models with field data and investigates the influence of nonuniform screen inflow. The usefulness of a vertical well approximation is studied. A new MATLAB application, HORI, is presented for common analytical models. Analytical methods are found to reproduce drawdown around two radial collector wells (RCWs). Beyond the direct vicinity of the caisson, in particular, drawdown around an RCW can be approximated with a vertical well model.
100 Jahre Dieter Janz
Authors: Strzelczyk Adam , Schmitt Friedhelm C.
Published: April 2020

Am 20.04.2020 jährt sich zum 100. Mal der Geburtstag von Dieter Janz. Ihm zu Ehren erscheint dieses Heft der Zeitschrift für Epileptologie mit dem Ziel, das Wirken von Dieter Janz der letzten fünf Jahrzehnte nachzuzeichnen und neue Erkenntnisse zu dem nach ihm benannten Janz-Syndrom (juvenile myoklonische Epilepsie) zusammenzufassen.