bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some Words Used by Turks to Refer to Residential Areas
Authors: USTA Mithat
Published: December 2020

İnsanlar, tarih boyunca durmaksızın bir yerlere hareket etmişlerdir. Yaşamın devam ettirilebilmesi için gerekli olan beslenme ve güvenlik, göçebe hayatın temel sebeplerindendir. İklim değişimlerine bağlı olarak kış aylarında besin
kaynaklarının azalması insanoğlunu tarıma yönlendirmiş, tarım devrimi beraberinde yerleşik hayatı getirmiştir. Yerleşik hayata geçişin başlangıcında yarı göçebe bir hayat süren insanoğlu zamanla yazlık kışlık olan bölgelerde inşa
ettikleri yapıları geliştirerek yerleşik hayatı yaşamaya başlamıştır. İlim dünyasında Türklerin göçebelik ile özdeşleştirildiği ve yerleşik yaşama diğer milletlere göre geç dönemde geçtiği tartışmasız kabul edilmiştir. Ancak Türklere
ait ilk yazılı kaynak olan Köktürk Yazıtlarında yerleşik hayata dair bilgiler de yer almaktadır. Bilge Kağan yazıtlarda şehirlerden bahseder, Biş Balık’ı ele geçirmesinden sonra şehrin bayındır olduğunu belirtir. Türkçede en büyük
yerleşim birimi için en sık kullanılan kelime “şehir”dir. Ancak Eski Türkçeden günümüz Türkçesine gelene kadar “il, balık, kent, saray, yurt, ordu” kelimelerinin de yerleşim birimi adı olarak kullanıldığı görülmektedir. Bu makalede
Eski Türkçeden günümüz Türkçesine, içerisinde yaşanılan kent anlamında kullanılan “il, balık, kent, saray, yurt, ordu” kelimeleri incelenerek, bu kelimelerin kökenleri ve etimolojileri üzerinde durulmuş, kelimelerdeki ses ve anlam
değişiklikleri, tarihî ve çağdaş lehçelerdeki şekilleri incelenmiştir. Yerleşim adı olarak kullanılan bu kelimelerde “ışık” anlamı araştırılarak, bu kelimelerden bazılarının “parlama, ışık” anlamları taşıdığı tespit edilmiştir.
Woman in the Ottoman Empire in the 17th Century According to Evliya Çelebi's “Seyahatname”
Authors: KÖSE Osman
Published: December 2020

Osmanlı devletinde kadınların sosyal hayatı, dinlere, meşreplere ve coğrafyaya göre farklılıklar gösterirdi. Müslüman kadınlarla Hristiyan kadınların ve kızların giyim, kuşam, yemek, gezme ve süslenme şekilleri birbirinden farklıydı.
Bu makalede, ünlü Osmanlı seyyahı Evliya Çelebi’nin seyahatlarını kaleme aldığı “Seyahataname” adlı kitabına göre Osmanlı devletinde kadınların yaşamı incelenmektedir. Gezdiği şehirleri, kasabaları ve geniş coğrafyayı detaylı yorumları
ve pür-dikkat gözlemleri ile kaleme alan ve sonraki asırlara aktaran 17. asrın büyük seyyahı Evliya Çelebi 1611 yılında İstanbul’da doğdu. Babası sarayın kuyumcusudur. Babasının saraydaki görevi nedeniyle, devrin en önemli eğitim
kurumu olan Enderun’da okudu ve yüksek düzeyde bir eğitim aldı. Aile aslen Kütahyalıdır. Seyahatlerini resmi görevlendirmelerle veya seyyah olarak yaptı. Kırk yılı aşkın bir zaman Osmanlı coğrafyasının neredeyse tamamını gezerek,
görerek veya dinleyerek kaleme aldı. 1682 yılı veya 1684 yıllarında ölmüş olduğu varsayılmaktadır. Evliya Çerlebi ömrünü gerek resmi görevler ve gerekse seyahatler vasıtasıyla geniş Osmanlı coğrafyasını gezerek geçirdiği için,
kalem aldığı “Seyahatname”sinde, sosyal hayatın tüm evreleri ile ilgili bilgilere rastlamak mümkündür. Ömrünü seyahatle geçirmesi, gezmeyi seven bir kişiliğe sahip olduğunu göstermektedir. İncelenen konu, Evliya Çelebi’nin yaşadığı
asır olan 17. Yüzyıl ile sınırlıdır. Bun agöre Yemen’den Viyana’ya ve Kuzey Afrika’dan Kafkasya’ya kadar geniş bir alanda yaşayan Osmanlı devlet tebaası olan kadınların ve kızların yaşamları bu makalenin konusudur.
Self-Efficacy Perceptions of Prospective Turkish Language Teachers Regarding Turkish Language Teaching
Authors: Nuri GÖMLEKSİZ Mehmet , SİNAN Ahmet Turan , DOĞAN Fatma Nur
Published: December 2020

Sosyal öğrenme kuramının öncüsü Albert Bandura tarafından geliştirilen öz yeterlik, bireyin kendini nasıl hissettiğini, nasıl düşündüğünü, nasıl motive ettiğini ve kendine nasıl davrandığını ortaya çıkaran bir motivasyon kuramıdır.
Başka bir deyişle öz yeterlik, davranışın oluşmasında etkili olan bir özellik ve bireyin belirli bir performansı göstermek için gerekli etkinlikleri organize edip bu etkinlikleri başarılı bir şekilde yapabilmesine ilişkin oluşturduğu
yargılardır. Bu araştırmanın amacı Türkçe öğretmeni adaylarının Türkçe öğretmenliğine ilişkin öz yeterlik algılarını belirlemektir. Araştırmada hem nicel hem nitel boyutları içeren karma araştırma modeli kullanılmıştır. Araştırmanın
nicel boyutuna ilişkin çalışma grubunu 2018-2019 Bahar Dönemi’nde Fırat Üniversitesi, Cumhuriyet Üniversitesi, İnönü Üniversitesi, Siirt Üniversitesi, Erzincan Binali Yıldırım Üniversitesi, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli Üniversitesi,
Dicle Üniversitesi, Adıyaman Üniversitesi ve Erciyes Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültelerinin Türkçe Eğitimi Bölümlerinde öğrenim gören 809 Türkçe öğretmeni adayı oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmanın nitel boyutunda ise yukarıda adı geçen üniversitelerde
öğrenim gören 54 Türkçe öğretmeni adayı bulunmaktadır. Araştırmada veri toplama araçları olarak Çocuk, Alıcı ve Çakır’ın (2015) geliştirdiği “Türkçe Öğretmenliği Öz Yeterlik Algısı Ölçeği” ve araştırmacılar tarafından geliştirilen
“Türkçe Öğretmeni Adaylarının Öz Yeterlik Algısı Görüşme Formu” kullanılmıştır. Türkçe öğretmeni adaylarının öz yeterlik algıları cinsiyet, sınıf düzeyi ve öğrenim görülen üniversite değişkenleri açısından karşılaştırılmış ve bazı
alt boyutlarda cinsiyet, sınıf düzeyi ve üniversite değişkenlerine göre farklılaşmaların olduğu tespit edilmiştir. Çalışmanın sonuçlarına genel olarak bakıldığında Türkçe öğretmeni adaylarının yüksek öz yeterlik algısına sahip
oldukları belirlenmiştir.
The impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on retail dairy prices
Authors: Liu Yizao , Rabinowitz Adam N.
Published: December 2020

This article focuses on the immediate impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) on retail prices of dairy products in the United States. Using weekly data from the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Marketing Service, we analyze a change in dairy prices coinciding with COVID‐19 restrictions. Using a regression discontinuity design, we find that prices of all dairy products decreased by 8% at the time that stay at home orders and changes in retail activities took place. When focusing on specific dairy categories, we find a varying degree of price declines, but also many prices that did not change. We also analyze store promotional advertisements for dairy products and find the expected decline in the number of store ads. This study has implications for policymakers concerned about the impact of COVID‐19 on retail food prices in the United States. [EconLit citations: Q11; Q18]
Recent advances in catalytic silylation of hydroxyl‐bearing compounds: A green technique for protection of alcohols using Si–O bond formations
Authors: Ashraf Muhammad Aqeel , Liu Zhenling , Li Cheng , Zhang Dangquan
Published: December 2020

The development of catalytic silylation of alcohols under ambient reaction conditions plays an important role in organic synthesis. New silyl groups and methods for their introduction and removal are constantly being developed and offer chemists a wider range of options. In recent years, silyl protecting groups have been given expanded roles beyond their traditional use of temporarily rendering inactive alcohols. As silyl ether can be further converted to the parent alcohols in acidic conditions, silylation of alcohols can be regarded as an alternative method for hydroxyl protection under ambient reaction conditions. Merging the silyl protection/deprotection of alcohols with such modern methodologies, as green chemistry and nanoscience, has added additional value to these temporary components of synthetic intermediates. This review describes the historical background of the trimethylsilyl ethers preparation from alcohols using catalytic complexes and also the transformation of trimethylsilyl ethers into alcohol‐containing compounds via deprecation techniques.
Functional Genomic Analysis of a RUNX3 Polymorphism Associated With Ankylosing Spondylitis
Authors: Vecellio Matteo , Chen Liye , Cohen Carla J. , Cortes Adrian , Li Yan , Bonham Sarah , Selmi Carlo , Brown Matthew A. , Fischer Roman , Knight Julian C. , Wordsworth B. Paul
Published: December 2020

Objective

To investigate the functional consequences of the single‐nucleotide polymorphism rs4648889 in a putative enhancer upstream of the RUNX3 promoter associated with susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods

Using nuclear extracts from Jurkat cells and primary human CD8+ T cells, the effects of rs4648889 on allele‐specific transcription factor (TF) binding were investigated by DNA pull‐down assay and quantitative mass spectrometry (qMS), with validation by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), Western blotting of the pulled‐down eluates, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis. Further functional effects were tested by small interfering RNA knockdown of the gene for interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5), followed by reverse transcription–qPCR (RT‐qPCR) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the levels of IFNγ messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein, respectively.

Results

In nuclear extracts from CD8+ T cells, results of qMS showed that relative TF binding to the AS‐risk A allele of rs4648889 was increased 3.7‐fold (P < 0.03) for Ikaros family zinc‐finger protein 3 (IKZF3; Aiolos) and components of the NuRD complex, including chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 4 (CHD4) (3.6‐fold increase; P < 0.05) and retinoblastoma binding protein 4 (RBBP4) (4.1‐fold increase; P < 0.03). In contrast, IRF5 bound significantly more to the AS‐protective G allele compared to the AS‐risk A allele (fold change 8.2; P = 0.003). Validation with Western blotting, EMSA, and ChIP‐qPCR confirmed the differential allelic binding of IKZF3, CHD4, RBBP4, and IRF5. Silencing of IRF5 in CD8+ T cells increased the levels of IFNγ mRNA as measured by RT‐qPCR (P = 0.03) and IFNγ protein as measured by ELISA (P = 0.02).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that the association of rs4648889 with AS reflects allele‐specific binding of this enhancer‐like region to certain TFs, including IRF5, IKZF3, and members of the NuRD complex. IRF5 may have crucial influences on the functions of CD8+ lymphocytes, a finding that could reveal new therapeutic targets for the management of AS.
Epidemic/Pandemic Emergency Planning for Water Utilities
Authors: States Stanley
Published: December 2020

Key Takeaways

Epidemics and pandemics are natural disasters that water utilities must prepare for and respond to.

There are mitigation measures that utilities can employ during an epidemic or pandemic to reduce the impact of these disasters on their operations and the communities that they serve.

The guidance and resources in this article should help drinking water utilities deal with present and future COVID‐19 concerns, as well as other public health emergencies that will undoubtedly occur in the future.
Frameworks for Assessing and Optimizing Utility Operations
Authors: Roth Frank
Published: December 2020

Key Takeaways

The Effective Utility Management framework provides utilities with best practices by helping utility leaders improve system performance through planning, measurement, monitoring, and implementation.

Utilities can use AWWA's Utility Benchmarking Survey to advance management expertise to improve efficiency, quality, and effectiveness by addressing gaps, setting priorities, and making changes.

The Partnership Programs help utilities assess their operations and develop improvements to address system performance deficiencies.

Two case studies show how utilities developed structured action plans for continuous performance improvement with lessons learned in implementing improvement initiatives.
Utility Intelligence Builds a More Sustainable Water Cycle
Authors: Smith Travis
Published: December 2020

Key Takeaways

Climate change, aging infrastructure, and the global pandemic all present challenges that will require utilities to use innovative tools.

To address unique problems, two utilities have used smart utility networks to set their cities on paths to a more water‐secure future.

Smart utility networks can leverage data for a more proactive approach to utility management and better customer service.
Myocardial infarction biomarker C‐reactive protein detection on nanocomposite aptasensor
Authors: Li Jing , Li Haitao , Xu Jinpeng , Zhao Xingzhou , Song Shujiang , Zhang Huitao
Published: December 2020

Myocardial infarction (MI) is considered as one of the major life‐threatening health issues worldwide. Growing number of cases every year is demanding rapid, portable, and early detection by the sensing devices for the identification of MI. This research work introduces a modified interdigitated electrode (IDE) sensing surface constructed with single‐walled carbon nanotube (SWCN) to detect the cardiac biomarker, C‐reactive protein (CRP). CRP‐specific aptamer was conjugated with gold nanoparticle and attached on SWCN‐constructed IDE surface. This probe‐modified sensing surface has reached the limit of CRP detection to 10 pM on a linear regression curve with the regression coefficient of R² = 0.9223 [y = 0.9198x − 0.4326]. Further, control molecules, such as random aptamer sequence and nontarget cardiac biomarker (Troponin I), did not show the current response, indicating the specific CRP detection. This sensing strategy helps to detect the lower level of CRP and diagnose the MI at its earlier stages.
Prevalence of Lynch syndrome in women with mismatch repair‐deficient ovarian cancer
Authors: Hodan Rachel , Kingham Kerry , Cotter Kristina , Folkins Ann K. , Kurian Allison W. , Ford James M. , Longacre Teri
Published: December 2020

Background

There are limited data on the prevalence of Lynch syndrome (LS) in women with primary ovarian cancer with mismatch repair deficiency (MMR‐D) by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Materials and Methods

Three hundred and eight cases of primary ovarian, fallopian, and peritoneal cancer between January 2012 and December 2019 were evaluated for MMR‐D by IHC. The incidence of LS in this cohort was evaluated.

Results

MMR‐D by IHC was identified in 16 of 308 (5.2%) (95% CI: 3.2%–8.3%) primary ovarian‐related cancers. Most cases with MMR‐D were endometrioid (n = 11, 68.7%); (95% CI: 44.2%–86.1%). MSH2/MSH6 protein loss was detected in eight cases (50.0%); (95% CI: 28.0%–72.0%) and MLH1/PMS2 protein loss was detected in four cases (25.0%); (95% CI: 9.7%–50.0%). MSH6 protein loss was detected in two cases (12.5%); (95% CI: 2.2%–37.3%) and PMS2 protein loss was detected in two cases (12.5%); (95% CI: 2.2%–37.3%). All four cases with MLH1/PMS2 protein loss had MLH1 promotor hypermethylation. All 12 women with ovarian cancer suggestive of LS underwent germline testing and 8 (66.6%); (95% CI: 38.8%–86.5%) were confirmed to have LS.

Conclusions

Most ovarian cancers with somatic MMR‐D were confirmed to have LS in this cohort. Germline testing for LS in addition to BRCA1/2 for all women with an epithelial ovarian cancer would be efficient and would approach 100% sensitivity for identifying Lynch syndrome. Utilization of a multigene panel should also be considered, given the additional non‐Lynch germline mutation identified in this cohort.
Reactivity of Single Transition Metal Atoms on a Hydroxylated Amorphous Silica Surface: A Periodic Conceptual DFT Investigation
Authors: Deraet Xavier , Turek Jan , Alonso Mercedes , Tielens Frederik , Cottenier Stefaan , Ayers Paul W. , Weckhuysen Bert M. , De Proft Frank
Published: December 2020

The drive to develop maximal atom‐efficient catalysts coupled to the continuous striving for more sustainable reactions has led to an ever‐increasing interest in single‐atom catalysis. Based on a periodic conceptual density functional theory (cDFT) approach, fundamental insights into the reactivity and adsorption of single late transition metal atoms supported on a fully hydroxylated amorphous silica surface have been acquired. In particular, this investigation revealed that the influence of van der Waals dispersion forces is especially significant for a silver (98 %) or gold (78 %) atom, whereas the oxophilicity of the Group 8–10 transition metals plays a major role in the interaction strength of these atoms on the irreducible SiO2 support. The adsorption energies for the less‐electronegative row 4 elements (Fe, Co, Ni) ranged from −1.40 to −1.92 eV, whereas for the heavier row 5 and 6 metals, with the exception of Pd, these values are between −2.20 and −2.92 eV. The deviating behavior of Pd can be attributed to a fully filled d‐shell and, hence, the absence of the hybridization effects. Through a systematic analysis of cDFT descriptors determined by using three different theoretical schemes, the Fermi weighted density of states approach was identified as the most suitable for describing the reactivity of the studied systems. The main advantage of this scheme is the fact that it is not influenced by fictitious Coulomb interactions between successive, charged reciprocal cells. Moreover, the contribution of the energy levels to the reactivity is simultaneously scaled based on their position relative to the Fermi level. Finally, the obtained Fermi weighted density of states reactivity trends show a good agreement with the chemical characteristics of the investigated metal atoms as well as the experimental data.
Cobalt Bis(dicarbollide) Alkylsulfonamides: Potent and Highly Selective Inhibitors of Tumor Specific Carbonic Anhydrase IX
Authors: Grüner Bohumír , Kugler Michael , El Anwar Suzan , Holub Josef , Nekvinda Jan , Bavol Dmytro , Růžičková Zdeňka , Pospíšilová Klára , Fábry Milan , Král Vlastimil , Brynda Jiří , Řezáčová Pavlína
Published: December 2020

Invited for this month's cover is a collaboration from three institutes from the Czech Academy of Sciences: Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Institute of Molecular Genetics, and the University of Pardubice. The cover picture shows a family of potent and selective CA IX inhibitors that combines the structural motif of a bulky inorganic cobalt bis(dicarbollide) polyhedral ion with a propylsulfonamido anchor group. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/cplu.202000574.
Retracted: Learning‐based stacking and caching for improving network lifetime in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Eljack Sarah Mustafa , Mustafa Mohammed
Published: December 2020

Eljack SM, Mustafa M. Learning–based stacking and caching for improving network lifetime in wireless sensor networks, International Journal of Communication Systems 2020, (https://doi.org/10.1002/dac.4707). The above article published online on 25 December 2020 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the Editor and John Wiley and Sons Ltd. Following publication, it has come to our attention that the people named as the Guest Editors of the Special Issue were being impersonated by a fraudulent entity and the articles were not reviewed in line with the journal's peer review standards. The Editor has determined that the articles do not meet the required scholarly standards of the journal, and therefore has taken the decision to retract the article. We did not find any evidence of misconduct by the authors. The authors have been informed of the decision to retract.
Combined carbon flows through detritus, microbes, and animals in reference and experimentally enriched stream ecosystems
Authors: Benstead Jonathan P. , Cross Wyatt F. , Gulis Vlad , Rosemond Amy D.
Published: December 2020

Tracking carbon (C) flow through ecosystems requires quantification of myriad biophysical processes, including C routing through microbial and metazoan food webs. Yet detailed organic matter budgets are rarely combined with simultaneous measurement of C flows supporting microbial and animal production. Here, we synthesize concurrent data sets on organic matter, microbes, and macroinvertebrates from two detritus‐based stream ecosystems, one of which was subject to experimental nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) enrichment. Our synthesis provides new insights into C flow through forest stream ecosystems. Over 3 yr, the reference stream showed a striking balance of inputs and outputs, with a mean surplus of only 7 g C·m−2·yr−1 (~1% of annual inputs), presumably stored in sediments as fine particulate organic matter (FPOM). In contrast, N and P enrichment over 2 yr resulted in severe deficits of C (−576 g C·m−2·yr−1 or ~170% of annual inputs), a shortfall presumably met by stored C. Our data set provides an ecosystem‐based estimate of the fate of forest litter C at ambient nutrient concentrations: 6.2% was leached as dissolved organic C, 40.6% and 8.5% flowed to litter‐associated fungi and bacteria, respectively, 7.5% was consumed by macroinvertebrates, 1.8% was exported as coarse particles, and the remainder (35.4%) was presumably fragmented by biophysical processes. Our calculations also allowed an estimate of inputs into the heterogeneous FPOM pool, which is otherwise difficult to obtain. At naturally low nutrient concentrations, 50.7% was derived from fragmented litter, 39.1% from microbial biomass (mostly fungal), and 10.2% from macroinvertebrate egesta. Nutrient addition drove large changes in C fluxes in the experimental stream, especially in flows of leaf litter to fungi (×1.7 pretreatment) and macroinvertebrates (×2.7), and of FPOM to hydrologic export (×2.6). Our results underscore the key roles of both microbes and metazoans in controlling C flow through detritus‐based ecosystems, as well as how release from persistent nutrient limitation may perturb steady‐state conditions of C inputs vs. outputs. Our analysis also suggests areas for future research, including assessing the relative importance of stored vs. recycled C in fueling detrital food webs subject to altered nutrient regimes and other global‐change drivers.
Effect of baffle structure on the dynamic transportation behavior of s‐liked biomass fuels in a rotating drum
Authors: Gu Conghui , Fan Jiabin , Pan Danping , Yao Shouguang , Dai Li , Guan Lei , Wu Kai , Yuan Zhulin
Published: December 2020

The booming progress of biomass fuels in the enhancement of energy sustainability has been witnessed over the past few decades. Drying or moisture content reduction is a critical pretreatment step for the efficient utilization of wet biomass fuels whose improvement requires this study to focus on the effect of the transportation behavior of biomass fuels inside drying facilities. Experiments were performed under a variety of operating conditions in order to determine the residence time distribution (RTD) and flow characteristics of s‐liked biomass fuels in the process of transportation. A series of experiments are carried out in a rotary drum with different baffle structures, a length of 1850 mm and a diameter of 770 mm. Meanwhile, s‐liked and CO2 expanded biomass particles were taken as standard and tracer materials. RTD and scattering and fallout angles are measured and studied under the conditions of different baffle heights (64‐184 mm), numbers (2‐8), installation slopes (70°‐110°), rectangular bend heights (24.8‐62.5 mm), and bend slopes (90°‐150°). The Taylor model can appropriately estimate the mean residence time (MRT) of particles in a rotating drum with variety of baffle structures, such as baffle height, number, and bend slope.
Psychiatric symptoms during the COVID‐19 outbreak in older adults with bipolar disorder
Authors: Orhan Melis , Korten Nicole , Paans Nadine , de Walle Bodine , Kupka Ralph , van Oppen Patricia , Kok Almar , Sonnenberg Caroline , Schouws Sigfried , Dols Annemiek
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Older adults with bipolar disorder (OABD) are vulnerable for a COVID‐19 infection via multiple pathways. It is essential for OABD to adhere to the COVID‐19 measures, with potential consequences for the psychiatric symptoms. This situation offers the unique opportunity to investigate factors of vulnerability and resilience that are associated with psychiatric symptoms in OABD.

Methods

This study included 81 OABD patients aged over 50 years. Factors measured at baseline in patients that participated in 2017/2018 were compared with factors measured during the COVID‐19 outbreak.

Results

Participants experienced less psychiatric symptoms during COVID‐19 than (67.9% euthymic) than at baseline (40.7% euthymic). There was no difference in loneliness between COVID‐19 and baseline. Not having children, more feelings of loneliness, lower mastery, passive coping style and neuroticism were associated with more psychiatric symptoms during COVID‐19 measures.

Conclusions

Participants experienced less psychiatric symptoms during COVID‐19 measures when compared to baseline. Our results indicate promising targets for psychological interventions aimed at curing and preventing recurrence in OABD and improving quality of life in this growing vulnerable group.
Therapeutic Potential of TLR8 Agonist GS‐9688 (Selgantolimod) in Chronic Hepatitis B: Remodeling of Antiviral and Regulatory Mediators
Authors: Amin Oliver E. , Colbeck Emily J. , Daffis Stephane , Khan Shahzada , Ramakrishnan Dhivya , Pattabiraman Divya , Chu Ruth , Micolochick Steuer Holly , Lehar Sophie , Peiser Leanne , Palazzo Adam , Frey Christian , Davies Jessica , Javanbakht Hassan , Rosenberg William M.C. , Fletcher Simon P. , Maini Mala K. , Pallett Laura J.
Published: December 2020

Background and Aims

GS‐9688 (selgantolimod) is a toll‐like receptor 8 agonist in clinical development for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Antiviral activity of GS‐9688 has previously been evaluated in vitro in HBV‐infected hepatocytes and in vivo in the woodchuck model of CHB. Here we evaluated the potential of GS‐9688 to boost responses contributing to viral control and to modulate regulatory mediators.

Approach and Results

We characterized the effect of GS‐9688 on immune cell subsets in vitro in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy controls and patients with CHB. GS‐9688 activated dendritic cells and mononuclear phagocytes to produce IL‐12 and other immunomodulatory mediators, inducing a comparable cytokine profile in healthy controls and patients with CHB. GS‐9688 increased the frequency of activated natural killer (NK) cells, mucosal‐associated invariant T cells, CD4+ follicular helper T cells, and, in about 50% of patients, HBV‐specific CD8+ T cells expressing interferon‐γ. Moreover, in vitro stimulation with GS‐9688 induced NK‐cell expression of interferon‐γ and TNF‐α, and promoted hepatocyte lysis. We also assessed whether GS‐9688 inhibited immunosuppressive cell subsets that might enhance antiviral efficacy. Stimulation with GS‐9688 reduced the frequency of CD4+ regulatory T cells and monocytic myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Residual MDSCs expressed higher levels of negative immune regulators, galectin‐9 and programmed death‐ligand 1. Conversely, GS‐9688 induced an expansion of immunoregulatory TNF‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand+ NK cells and degranulation of arginase‐I+ polymorphonuclear MDSCs.

Conclusions

GS‐9688 induces cytokines in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells that are able to activate antiviral effector function by multiple immune mediators (HBV‐specific CD8+ T cells, CD4+ follicular helper T cells, NK cells, and mucosal‐associated invariant T cells). Although reducing the frequency of some immunoregulatory subsets, it enhances the immunosuppressive potential of others, highlighting potential biomarkers and immunotherapeutic targets to optimize the antiviral efficacy of GS‐9688.
Predictors of Outcomes of Patients Referred to a Transplant Center for Urgent Liver Transplantation Evaluation
Authors: Alshuwaykh Omar , Kwong Allison , Goel Aparna , Cheung Amanda , Dhanasekaran Renumathy , Ahmed Aijaz , Daugherty Tami , Dronamraju Deepti , Kumari Radhika , Kim W. Ray , Nguyen Mindie H. , Esquivel Carlos O. , Concepcion Waldo , Melcher Marc , Bonham Andy , Pham Thomas , Gallo Amy , Kwo Paul Yien
Published: December 2020

Liver transplantation (LT) is definitive treatment for end‐stage liver disease. This study evaluated factors predicting successful evaluation in patients transferred for urgent inpatient LT evaluation. Eighty‐two patients with cirrhosis were transferred for urgent LT evaluation from January 2016 to December 2018. Alcohol‐associated liver disease was the common etiology of liver disease (42/82). Of these 82 patients, 35 (43%) were declined for LT, 27 (33%) were wait‐listed for LT, 5 (6%) improved, and 15 (18%) died. Psychosocial factors were the most common reasons for being declined for LT (49%). Predictors for listing and receiving LT on multivariate analysis included Hispanic race (odds ratio [OR], 1.89; P = 0.003), Asian race (OR, 1.52; P = 0.02), non‐Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 1.49; P = 0.04), hyponatremia (OR, 1.38; P = 0.04), serum albumin (OR, 1.13; P = 0.01), and Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD)‐Na (OR, 1.02; P = 0.003). Public insurance (i.e., Medicaid) was a predictor of not being listed for LT on multivariate analysis (OR, 0.77; P = 0.02). Excluding patients declined for psychosocial reasons, predictors of being declined for LT on multivariate analysis included Chronic Liver Failure Consortium (CLIF‐C) score >51.5 (OR, 1.26; P = 0.03), acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF) grade 3 (OR, 1.41; P = 0.01), hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) (OR, 1.38; P = 0.01), and respiratory failure (OR, 1.51; P = 0.01). Predictors of 3‐month mortality included CLIF‐C score >51.5 (hazard ratio [HR], 2.52; P = 0.04) and intensive care unit (HR, 8.25; P < 0.001). Conclusion: MELD‐Na, albumin, hyponatremia, ACLF grade 3, HRS, respiratory failure, public insurance, Hispanic race, Asian race, and non‐Hispanic ethnicity predicted liver transplant outcome. Lack of psychosocial support was a major reason for being declined for LT. The CLIF‐C score predicted being declined for LT and mortality.
Causal relationship among international crude oil, gold, exchange rate, and stock market: Fresh evidence fromNARDLtesting approach
Authors: Kumar Suresh , Kumar Ankit , Singh Gurcharan
Published: December 2020

There is a continuous debate on how commodity prices affect the stock prices of emerging countries. We contribute to this debate by study the causal relationship between international prices of crude oil, gold, exchange rate, and Indian stock market. India is one of the major oil and gold importing and major petroleum products exporting country. On the daily prices of all the above mentioned variables from “January 1994 to December 2019”, the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model (NARDL) is employed to examine cointegration (Shin et al., 2014). The findings of the study revealed that crude oil prices positively affect the Indian stock market and exchange rate negatively affects the stock market in the short run. Stock market is unaffected by gold prices. Our findings have essential implications for the various policymakers, investors, and traders.
The impact of exchange rate and exchange rate volatility on Mauritius foreign direct investment: A sector‐wise analysis
Authors: Moraghen Warren , Seetanah Boopen , Sookia Noor Ul Haq
Published: December 2020

This article analyses the structure of FDI inflow in different sectors of the Mauritian economy. While undertaking this investigation, we primarily allow interaction of FDI with exchange rate and exchange rate volatility and with other equally important macroeconomic variables such as trade openness, human capital, GDP, wages and salaries, gross capital formation, and inclusion of a dummy variable to assess the Mauritian Corporate Income Tax (CIT) reform of 2007. Sectors classified as manufacturing, financial, construction, real estate, tourism, and telecommunication, are considered. Using semi‐annual data spanning from 1990 to 2015, the cointegration bound test reveals a systematic long‐run relationship between the set of variables. This justifies the use of an ARDL model. While exchange rate and exchange rate volatility have negligible impact on FDI inflow in the short run, the ARDL results show that a real depreciation of the Mauritian Rupee against the U.S. dollar over the last decades has been beneficial as it has consistently enhanced FDI inflow in various sectors. Besides, there is evidence that investors in the construction, real estate, and telecommunication sectors, as compared to the financial and manufacturing sectors, are more affected by exchange rate volatility. The ARDL model also suggests that investors are particularly concerned with infrastructure capital, trading opportunity, and human capital, mostly when it comes to labour‐intensive industries such as manufacturing, construction, and tourism. Additionally, the significance of the FDI lag values in the restricted error correction model (ECM) confirms the presence of short‐run dynamism in FDI inflow modelling.
The effect of structured delivery preparation education on birth preference
Authors: Til Aysen , Bostanci Mehmet
Published: December 2020

Objective

To demonstrate the effect of the health belief model on the birth preferences of an education program that is applicable, sustainable, structured by all health personnel, and evaluating the woman as a whole, based on Bandura's Social Learning Theory.

Methods

Our research is a controlled intervention study. Central stratified randomization was used, and each group consists of eight centers. Control and intervention groups were formed from an equal number of people, and 160 people participated in the study. The participants were given structured delivery preparation education, and breathing exercises were performed. The data of the study were evaluated using χ2 test, and logistic regression analysis was used. A P value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Forty‐five (56.3%) of the responders in the control group and 60 (75.0%) of the responders in the intervention group had vaginal deliveries (p = 0.013). According to the results of multiple analyses of the factors affecting the delivery method performed by the participants, women in the control group had 2.41 times (95% confidence interval 1.07–5.41) more cesarean deliveries than women in the intervention group.

Conclusion

It has been shown that structured delivery preparation education increases vaginal delivery rates.
A short review: Doxorubicin and its effect on cardiac proteins
Authors: Upadhyay Shishir , Gupta Kunj Bihari , Mantha Anil Kumar , Dhiman Monisha
Published: December 2020

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a boon for cancer‐suffering patients. However, the undesirable effect on health on vital organs, especially the heart, is a limiting factor, resulting in an increased number of patients with cardiac dysfunction. The present review focuses on the contractile machinery and associated factors, which get affected due to DOX toxicity in chemo‐patients for which they are kept under life‐long investigation for cardiac function. DOX‐induced oxidative stress disrupts the integrity of cardiac contractile muscle proteins that alter the rhythmic mechanism and oxygen consumption rate of the heart. DOX is an oxidant and it is further discussed that oxidative stress prompts the damage of contractile components and associated factors, which include Ca2+ load through Ca2+ ATPase, SERCA, ryanodine receptor‐2, phospholamban, and calsequestrin, which ultimately results in left ventricular ejection and dilation. Based on data and evidence, the associated proteins can be considered as clinical markers to develop medications for patients. Even with the advancement of various diagnosing tools and modified drugs to mitigate DOX‐induced cardiotoxicity, the risk could not be surmounted with survivors of cancer.
Social capital and psychological distress during Colombian coronavirus disease lockdown
Authors: Caballero‐Domínguez Carmen C. , De Luque‐Salcedo Jeimmy G. , Campo‐Arias Adalberto
Published: December 2020

This study aimed to establish the association of low social capital (SC) with psychological distress indicators. A cross‐sectional study was carried out using an online questionnaire that evaluated demographic variables, social capital, perceived stress related to coronavirus disease, depression risk, insomnia risk, and suicide risk. SC was taken as an independent variable, and symptoms indicating psychological distress were considered as dependent variables. A group of 700 adults aged between 18 and 76 years (M = 37, SD = 13) participated in the survey. Low SC was associated with depression risk (odds ratio [OR] = 2.00, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.34–2.97), elevated suicide risk (OR = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.40–4.91) high perceived stress related to coronavirus disease (OR = 2.08 95% CI, 1.15–3.76), and insomnia risk (OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.69–3.47). In conclusion, low CS was associated with indicators of psychological distress. SC is a community social resource that could help mitigate the quarantine impact of coronavirus disease amidst the Colombian population's psychological health.
The utility of haptic simulation in early restorative dental training: A scoping review
Authors: Al‐Saud Loulwa M.
Published: December 2020

Background

Haptic dental simulators are becoming increasingly available in dental schools around the world; however, there is a paucity of evidence on their pedagogical effectiveness particularly in early dental training for the acquisition of the highly specific fine motor dental skills.

Methods

A scoping review was performed to broadly map the available evidence and to detect knowledge gaps on the utility of haptic dental simulation in early dental training. The review is reported using the PRISMA‐ScR guidelines. Eight bibliographic databases were searched: Web of Science, Scopus, MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane library, CENTRAL, ERIC, IEEE Xplore, and TRIP. Charted data were reported by clustering results according to study characteristics, research themes, research purpose, and type of validity evidence identified.

Results

The review process resulted in the inclusion of 36 studies published between 2009 and 2020. The majority of the studies were cross‐sectional in design with short‐term evaluation data. Of the studies included, 64% investigated commercially available haptic simulators, while 36% investigated experimental haptic simulators. The research themes identified were skill acquisition and transfer, task‐specific haptic training, trainee level discrimination, feedback, subjective user evaluation, performance prediction, and human factors in haptic training.

Conclusion

Short‐term evaluation evidence from reviewed studies indicates the usefulness of the haptic simulators in early dental training. They complement the existing phantom head simulators by offering qualitatively different features. Further empirical research is needed to investigate the long‐term impact of training with haptic dental simulators, to improve the availability of validation evidence and to enhance the results generalizability.
A novel missense mutation in the UBE2A gene causes intellectual disability in the large X‐linked family
Authors: Arslan Satılmış Saide Betül , Kurt Emin Emre , Akçay Ebru Perim , Sazci Ali , Ceylan Ahmet Cevdet
Published: December 2020

Background

X‐linked intellectual disability type Nascimento (XIDTN) is a disorder of the ubiquitin‐proteasome pathway of protein degradation controlled by the UBE2A gene. The disease is characterized by intellectual disability, speech impairment, dysmorphic facial features, skin and nail anomalies, and, frequently, seizures. Eight affected males from a four‐generation family who have intellectual disability and speech disorders were examined within an extended family of 57 individuals.

Methods

A number of methods were used for the molecular diagnosis. Conventional karyotype analyses, array‐based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH), whole exome swquencing (WES), sanger sequencing were performed.

Results

First, the conventional karyotype analyses were normal, and the results of the aCGH analyses were normal. Then, WES revealed a novel missense mutation of the UBE2A gene at exon 4 NM_003336.3: c.182A>G (p.Glu61Gly). Seven affected individuals and nine carriers in the multigenerational, large family were diagnosed through Sanger sequencing.

Conclusions

We identified the mutation causing intellectual disability in the large family and demonstrated its phenotypic effects. Our cases showed that dysmorphic features could be considered mild, whereas intellectual disability and speech disorders are common features in XIDTN. The structure and function of the gene will be better understood in the novel UBE2A mutation. The genotype–phenotype correlation and phenotypic variations in XIDTN were identified through a literature review. Accordingly, XIDTN should be considered in individuals who exhibit an X‐linked pedigree pattern and have intellectual disability and speech disorders.
Quantitative detection of SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA in nasopharyngeal samples from infected patients with mild disease
Authors: Bustos Patricia , Tambley Carolina , Acevedo Alejandra , Andrade Winston , Leal Gabriel , Vidal Deyanira , Roldán Francisco , Fasce Rodrigo , Ramírez Eugenio
Published: December 2020

Diagnosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐COV‐2) cases is based on the count of real‐time reverse transcription‐plymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) positive people. Viral load by real‐time RT‐PCR has been suggested as a biomarker of the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. However, the association of viral load and severity of the disease is not yet resolved. Nasopharyngeal samples from 458 patients were tested by RT‐PCR for SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis. Relative quantitation was made by the comparative threshold cycle (ΔΔCt) formula between ORF1ab viral and RNase P housekeeping genes. Absolute viral load was calculate using a reference positive control. Most prevalent clinical signs were cough (75.8%), myalgia (66.7%), and fever (48.5%). Hypertension (18.2%), neurological diseases (15.1%), and asthma and hypothyroidism (12.1%) were most frequent comorbidities. Fever, either as an exclusive symptom or combined with others, was associated with high viral loads ( range, 35.65–155.16; 4.25–4.89 log10 RNA copies/test]). During the first week after onset of symptoms in mild patients up to 60 years‐old was detected the peak of viral load. Children under 10 years old have a high viral load (313.84; 2.50) in the first 2 days postinfection with a sharp decline thereafter. Cases between 10 and 49 years old mostly showed low and moderate viral load during the first 2 days postinfection (range, 0.03 to 17.24; −1.50 to 1.24). Patients over 60 years old have high viral load up to the second week after the onset of symptoms (range, 25.32–155.42; 1.40–2.19), indicating the longer presence of the virus in them. These findings suggest the viral load in nasopharyngeal swabs would help to monitor the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in mild coronavirus disease 2019 cases.
Social isolation is closely linked to a marked reduction in physical activity in male mice
Authors: Clemenza Kelly , Weiss Shira H. , Cheslack Keely , Kandel Denise B. , Kandel Eric R. , Levine Amir A.
Published: December 2020

The effects of social isolation on an individual's behavior is an important field of research, especially as public health officials encourage social distancing to prevent the spread of pandemic disease. In this study we evaluate the effects of social isolation on physical activity in mice. Utilizing a pixel‐based tracking system, we continuously monitored the movement of isolated mice compared with paired cage mates in the home cage environment. We demonstrate that mice that are socially isolated dramatically decrease their movement when separated from their cage mate, and especially in the dark cycle, when mice are normally most active. When isolated mice are re‐paired with their original cage mate, this effect is reversed, and mice return to their prior levels of activity. These findings suggest a close link between social isolation and physical activity, and are of particular interest in the wake of coronavirus disease 2019, when many are forced into isolation. Social isolation may affect an individual's overall activity levels in humans too, which may have unintended effects on health that deserve further consideration.
Hidden heterogeneity and co‐occurrence networks of soil prokaryotic communities revealed at the scale of individual soil aggregates
Authors: Szoboszlay Márton , Tebbe Christoph C.
Published: December 2020

Sequencing PCR‐amplified gene fragments from metagenomic DNA is a widely applied method for studying the diversity and dynamics of soil microbial communities. Typically, DNA is extracted from 0.25 to 1 g of soil. These amounts, however, neglect the heterogeneity of soil present at the scale of soil aggregates and thus ignore a crucial scale for understanding the structure and functionality of soil microbial communities. Here, we show with a nitrogen‐depleted agricultural soil the impact of reducing the amount of soil used for DNA extraction from 250 mg to approx. 1 mg to access spatial information on the prokaryotic community structure, as indicated by 16S rRNA gene amplicon analyses. Furthermore, we demonstrate that individual aggregates from the same soil differ in their prokaryotic community compositions. The analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequences from individual soil aggregates allowed us, in contrast to 250 mg soil samples, to construct a co‐occurrence network that provides insight into the structure of microbial associations in the studied soil. Two dense clusters were apparent in the network, one dominated by Thaumarchaeota, known to be capable of ammonium oxidation at low N concentrations, and the other by Acidobacteria subgroup 6, representing an oligotrophic lifestyle to obtain energy from SOC. Overall this study demonstrates that DNA obtained from individual soil aggregates provides new insights into how microbial communities are assembled.
Existence and blow‐up studies of a p(x)‐Laplacian parabolic equation with memory
Authors: Narayanan Lakshmipriya , Soundararajan Gnanavel
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we establish existence and finite time blowup of weak solutions of a parabolic equation of p(x)‐Laplacian type with the Dirichlet boundary condition. Moreover, we obtain upper and lower bounds for the blow‐up time of solutions, by employing concavity method and differential inequality technique, respectively.
A micro‐macromechanical compression model of crushing in granular materials based on a probabilistic approach and energy aspects
Authors: Zheng Tianliang , Song Erxiang
Published: December 2020

This paper presents a micro and macromechanical model to estimate the grading evolution and plastic strain caused by particle crushing in the isotropic compression of granular materials. A joint‐probability particle crushing criterion of the maximum contact force and the particle strength is proposed to calculate the incremental particle crushing probability. The dependence of the contact force and particle strength during a multistage loading process is recognized. The distribution of the maximum contact force and the magnitude of the mean contact force are strictly derived from the stress‐force relationship and maximizing the statistical entropy. The coordination number of polydisperse particles is derived from the geometric relationship and applies to any grading curve, which enables the consideration of the coupling effects of particle crushing and grading evolution during a multistage loading process. A multipoint load particle crushing criterion involving the particle strength size effect is adapted. To simulate the grading evolution, the fractal distribution assumption and Markov chain model are applied to describe the fragmentation mess after crushing. Finally, following the work equation by Mcdowell and Bolton, the energy consumption of particle crushing and the corresponding plastic strain are correlated with the increase in the particle surface area. The model is verified by published experimental data of silica sand with different initial grading curves and carbonate sand with different grain sizes.