bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term prognostic value of ultrastructural features in dilated cardiomyopathy: comparison with cardiac magnetic resonance
Authors: Saito Tsunenori , Asai Kuniya , Tachi Masaki , Sato Shigeru , Mozawa Kosuke , Adachi Akiko , Sasaki Yoshihiro , Amano Yasuo , Mizuno Kyoichi , Kumita Shin‐ichiro , Shimizu Wataru
Published: March 2020

Aims

This study aims to determine the implications associated with long‐term prognosis of heart failure (HF) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) presenting initially as decompensated HF. We stratified the phase of DCM patients without late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) based on ultrastructural changes in cardiomyocytes.

Methods and results

Left ventricular (LV) endomyocardial biopsy was performed in 55 consecutive DCM patients with initial decompensated HF. Ultrastructural changes in cardiomyocytes detected by electron microscopy were compared with data including LGE with cardiac magnetic resonance and HF recurrence. Of the 55 DCM patients, 24 (44%) showed LGE, and 26 (47%) showed recurrence decompensated HF, while 23 patients (42%) showed autophagic vacuoles in cardiomyocytes by electron microscopy. Multivariate analysis identified atrial fibrillation [hazard ratio (HR), 3.40; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.45–7.98], haemoglobin level (HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.68–0.99), beta‐blocker use (HR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.05–0.74), and autophagic vacuoles (HR, 0.25; 95% CI, 0.09–0.65) as predictors of HF recurrence in the total patient population. In patients without LGE, only autophagic vacuoles were independent predictors of readmission because of HF (HR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.09–0.90). In patients with LGE, atrial fibrillation (HR, 19.10; 95% CI, 2.97–123.09), and mid‐linear LGE (HR, 12.96; 95% CI, 2.02–82.94) were independent predictors of readmission because of HF.

Conclusions

In DCM patients with LGE, characterised by progression of LV remodelling, the LGE pattern was a predictor of HF recurrence, whereas in patients without LGE, absence of autophagic vacuoles was a predictor of HF recurrence.
A Simple Protocol from Benzalacetones to 1,1,1‐Trifluoro‐2,5‐diketones and 2‐(Trifluoromethyl)furans by Reductive Trifluoroacetylation
Authors: Zhang Tianyuan , Xie Chunchao , Sakata Hiroto , Nakajima Konomi , Shimoyama Tatsuya , Watanabe Tomohiro , Maekawa Hirofumi
Published: March 2020

A simple two‐step access to 1,1,1‐trifluoro‐2,5‐diketones and 2‐(trifluoromethyl)furans was developed through magnesium‐promoted reductive trifluoroacetylation of benzalacetones and acid‐facilitated deacetalization. Two types of trifluoromethylated compounds were selectively synthesized from easily prepared aromatic conjugated enones and ethyl trifluoroacetate by control of reaction conditions in moderate to high yields with wide substrate tolerance.
Synthesis of Quinolinium Salts from N‐Substituted Anilines, Aldehydes, Alkynes, and Acids: Theoretical Understanding of the Mechanism and Regioselectivity
Authors: Cheng Lin‐Chieh , Chen Wei‐Chen , Santhoshkumar Rajagopal , Chao Tzu‐Hsuan , Cheng Mu‐Jeng , Cheng Chien‐Hong
Published: March 2020

Secondary anilines were first utilized in the four‐component coupling of aniline, aldehyde, alkyne, and acid to synthesize a variety of N‐substituted quinolinium salts. This method was carried out under mild reaction conditions and exhibited excellent chemo‐ and regioselectivities. DFT calculation was performed to analyze the cyclization step, where the interaction/distortion model provided better insight into the singular selectivity of terminal/internal alkynes in reaction.
Separation of terbutaline enantiomers in capillary electrophoresis with neutral cyclodextrin‐type chiral selectors and investigation of the structure of selector‐selectand complexes using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Authors: Gogolashvili Ann , Chankvetadze Lali , Takaishvili Nino , Salgado Antonio , Chankvetadze Bezhan
Published: March 2020

The major goal of this study was to determine the affinity pattern of the terbutaline (TB) enantiomers toward α‐, β‐, γ‐, and heptakis(2,3‐di‐O‐acetyl)‐β‐cyclodextrins and using NMR spectroscopy for the understanding of the fine mechanisms of interaction between the cyclodextrins (CD) and TB enantiomers. It was shown once again that CE in combination with NMR spectroscopy represents a sensitive tool to study the affinity patterns and structure of CD complexes with chiral guests. Opposite affinity patterns of TB enantiomers toward native α‐ and β‐CDs were associated with significant differences between the structure of the related complexes in solution. In particular, the complex between TB enantiomers and α‐CD was of the external type, whereas an inclusion complex was formed between TB enantiomers and β‐CD. One of the possible structures of the complex between TB and heptakis(2,3‐di‐O‐acetyl)‐β‐CD (HDA‐β‐CD) was quite similar to that of TB and β‐CD, although the chiral recognition pattern and enantioselectivity of TB complexation with these two CDs were very different.
Factors related to depressive symptoms and self‐reported diagnosis of depression in community‐dwelling older Chileans: A national cross‐sectional analysis
Authors: Aravena José M. , Saguez Rodrigo , Lera Lydia , Moya Mario O. , Albala Cecilia
Published: March 2020

Aim

The aims of this study were to describe the prevalence of screening‐positive depression and to identify the frequency and factors related to self‐reported depression diagnosis in people with screen‐positive depression.

Methods

Using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS‐15), 4065 older Chileans were screened for depression. Social and health variables were included. Self‐reported depression diagnosis and antidepressant use were analyzed according to screen‐positive depression (GDS‐15 ≥ 5). Chi‐square and logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify factors related to screen‐positive depression, and self‐reported diagnosis and current antidepressant use.

Results

Overall, mean age was 71.0 years, 60.9% women, and 71.4% had ≤8 years of education. 28.3% of the population screened positive for depression (mild: 21.7%; moderate‐severe: 6.5%). Only 35.9% of screen‐positive depression individuals self‐reported a depression diagnosis (mild: 32.6%; moderate‐severe: 47.0%), with significant differences between the sexes (women: 42.2%; men: 22.5%; P < .01). No education (OR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.20‐3.32), multimorbidity (OR = 1.88, 95% CI = 1.42‐2.48), dependence (OR = 4.14, 95% CI = 3.11‐5.51) and pain (OR = 2.49, 95% CI = 2.01‐3.07) were related to screen‐positive depression. In people screen‐positive depression, men (OR = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.35‐0.65) and 80 years or older were less likely to self‐report depression diagnosis (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.23‐0.54), and current antidepressant use (OR = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.14‐0.70).

Conclusions

A high prevalence of depressive symptoms and low agreement with self‐reported depression is observed. There is a need to increase the diagnosis of depression especially in men and people 80 years or older.
Body fatness over the life course and risk of serrated polyps and conventional adenomas
Authors: Lo Chun‐Han , He Xiaosheng , Hang Dong , Wu Kana , Ogino Shuji , Chan Andrew T. , Giovannucci Edward L. , Song Mingyang
Published: March 2020

Serrated polyps (SPs) and conventional adenomas represent 2 distinct groups of colorectal premalignancy. The influence of early life adiposity on risk of these precursors remains unclear. Within the Nurses' Health Study, the Nurses' Health Study 2, and the Health Professionals Follow‐up Study, we assessed body fatness during childhood using 9‐level somatotype and obtained weight and body mass index (BMI) in adulthood. We used multivariable‐adjusted logistic regression to examine the association of SPs and conventional adenomas with body fatness in early childhood (age 5), late childhood (age 10), early adulthood (age 18/21) and middle adulthood (baseline) and weight change during early‐to‐middle adulthood. During 18–20 years of follow‐up, we documented 8,697 SPs and 10,219 conventional adenomas in 132,514 women; 2,403 SPs and 4,495 conventional adenomas in 29,207 men. We found a modest positive association of adiposity in early and late childhood with risk of SPs and conventional adenomas, with odds ratios ranging from 1.12 to 1.18 for comparison of extreme somatotypes groups. The associations were attenuated after adjusting for adulthood BMI but remained significant for conventional adenomas. No association with early life body fatness was found in men. Adulthood body fatness and weight change during early‐to‐middle adulthood showed positive relationships with SPs and conventional adenomas in both women and men, with stronger associations observed for SPs (pheterogeneity < 0.0001). Our findings indicated a potential role in development of colorectal cancer precursors of childhood body fatness in women, and early‐to‐middle adulthood weight gain and attained adiposity in both sexes.
Relationship between Phase Fractions and Mechanical Properties in Heat‐Treated Laser Powder‐Bed Fused Co‐Based Dental Alloys
Authors: von Kobylinski Jonas , Hitzler Leonhard , Lawitzki Robert , Krempaszky Christian , Öchsner Andreas , Werner Ewald
Published: March 2020

Metal additive manufacturing of dental prostheses consisting of cobalt−chromium−tungsten (Co−Cr−W) alloys poses an alternative to investment casting. However, metal additive manufacturing processes like Laser Powder‐Bed Fusion (LPBF) can impact the elastic constants and the mechanical anisotropy of the resulting material. To investigate the phase compositions of mechanically different specimens in dependence of their postprocessing steps (e. g. heat treatment to relieve stress), the current study uses X‐ray Diffraction (XRD), Electron BackScatter Diffraction (EBSD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for phase identification. Our studies connect plastic deformation of Remanium star CL alloy with the formation of the hexagonal ϵ‐phase and heat treatment with the formation of the D024‐phase, while partially explaining previously observed differences in Young's moduli.
Prediction of protein–protein complexes using replica exchange with repulsive scaling
Authors: Siebenmorgen Till , Engelhard Michael , Zacharias Martin
Published: March 2020

The realistic prediction of protein–protein complex structures is import to ultimately model the interaction of all proteins in a cell and for the design of new protein–protein interactions. In principle, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations allow one to follow the association process under realistic conditions including full partner flexibility and surrounding solvent. However, due to the many local binding energy minima at the surface of protein partners, MD simulations are frequently trapped for long times in transient association states. We have designed a replica‐exchange based scheme employing different levels of a repulsive biasing between partners in each replica simulation. The bias acts only on intermolecular interactions based on an increase in effective pairwise van der Waals radii (repulsive scaling (RS)‐REMD) without affecting interactions within each protein or with the solvent. For a set of five protein test cases (out of six) the RS‐REMD technique allowed the sampling of near‐native complex structures even when starting from the opposide site with respect to the native binding site for one partner. Using the same start structures and same computational demand regular MD simulations sampled near native complex structures only for one case. The method showed also improved results for the refinement of docked structures in the vicinity of the native binding geometry compared to regular MD refinement.
Double Diffusion Encoding for Probing Radiation‐Induced Microstructural Changes in a Tumor Model: A Proof‐of‐Concept Study With Comparison to the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient and Histology
Authors: Duchêne Gaëtan , Abarca‐Quinones Jorge , Feza‐Bingi Natacha , Leclercq Isabelle , Duprez Thierry , Peeters Frank
Published: March 2020

Background

Microstructure analyses are gaining interest in cancer MRI as an alternative to the conventional apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), of which the determinants remain unclear.

Purpose

To assess the sensitivity of parameters calculated from a double diffusion encoding (DDE) sequence to changes in a tumor's microstructure early after radiotherapy and to compare them with ADC and histology.

Study Type

Cohort study on experimental tumors.

Animal Model

Sixteen WAG/Rij rats grafted with one rhabdomyosarcoma fragment in each thigh. Thirty‐one were imaged at days 1 and 4, of which 17 tumors received a 20 Gy radiation dose after the first imagery.

Field Strength/Sequence

3T. Diffusion‐weighted imaging, DDE with flow compensated, and noncompensated measurements.

Assessments

1) To compare, after irradiation, DDE‐derived parameters (intracellular fraction, cell size, and cell density) to their histological counterparts (fraction of stained area, minimal Feret diameter, and nuclei count, respectively). 2) To compare percentage changes in DDE‐derived parameters and ADC. 3) To evaluate the evolution of DDE‐derived parameters describing perfusion.

Statistical Tests

Wilcoxon rank sum test.

Results

1) Intracellular fraction, cell size, and cell density were respectively lower (−24%, P < 0.001), higher (+7.5%, P < 0.001) and lower (−38%, P < 0.001) in treated tumors as compared to controls. Fraction of stained area, minimal Feret diameter, and nuclei count were respectively lower (−20%, P < 0.001), higher (+28%, P < 0.001), and lower (−34%, P < 0.001) in treated tumors. 2) The magnitude of ADC's percentage change due to irradiation (16.4%) was superior to the one of cell size (8.4%, P < 0.01) but inferior to those of intracellular fraction (35.5%, P < 0.001) and cell density (42%, P < 0.001). 3) After treatment, the magnitude of the vascular fraction's decrease was higher than the increase of flow velocity (33.3%, vs. 13.3%, P < 0.001).

Data Conclusion

The DDE sequence allows quantitatively monitoring the effects of radiotherapy on a tumor's microstructure, whereas ADC only reveals global changes.

Evidence Level

2.

Technical Efficacy

Stage 4. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:941–951.
Pressure measurement and detection of small H2O amounts in high‐pressure H2O–CO2 fluid up to 141 MPa using Fermi diad splits and bandwidths of CO2
Authors: Hagiwara Yuuki , Torimoto Junji , Yamamoto Junji
Published: March 2020

Dependence of residual pressures of fluid inclusions on their size and host mineral species provides valuable information related to the depth provenance and P–T–t path of the rocks. Although Raman‐based barometry is an effective method for ascertaining the internal pressure of H2O–CO2 fluid inclusions, few studies have elucidated Raman spectral features of CO2 in a system of high‐pressure H2O–CO2. New experiments using a high‐pressure optical cell in this binary system with compositions of 100, 75 ± 2, and 60 ± 2 mol% CO2 were conducted for this study to verify the availability of Raman CO2 barometers for use in assessing the temperature and pressure conditions of approximately 22°C and 17.3–141.4 MPa. Our results demonstrate that the existence of H2O does not affect the relation between Fermi diad splits (Δ, cm−1) and total pressure of pure CO2. These results suggest that the Δ–total pressure relation obtained from pure CO2 is also applicable to H2O–CO2 systems, even at high pressure. However, unlike Δ, because the peak positions of the Fermi diad in the system of H2O–CO2 shift to a higher wavenumber than those of pure CO2 at given pressure higher than 30 MPa, the peak positions are not very suitable for the pressure scale in an H2O–CO2 system. Additionally, we confirmed the availability of bandwidths of CO2 as an indicator of compositions that can identify the presence of very small amounts of H2O (at least 0.3 mol% H2O), even at room temperature.
Method for extracting Raman spectra characteristic variables of biological sample based on Hilbert–Huang transform
Authors: Zhao Xiaoyu , He Yan , Liu Zihao , Zhang Wei , Tong Liang
Published: March 2020

Because Raman peaks of the biological sample are superimposed on each other, the use of characteristic peak attribution is limited to some extent. In this study, we show that Hilbert–Huang transform (HHT) provides a Raman spectral feature extracting method, especially for biological samples. First, the empirical mode decomposition algorithm was used to decompose Raman spectra into intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). It is worth noticing that the IMF frequency is single or nearly single, so its further transformation (instantaneous amplitude, instantaneous angle, instantaneous angular frequency, Hilbert spectrum, and Hilbert marginal spectrum) from Hilbert processing is monotonous instead of the raw overlapping. Then, the Hilbert marginal spectrum was selected by one‐way analysis of variance and related with the rice type to establish a partial least squares regression (PLS) model with a 95.00% accuracy. This result is better than those based on characteristic variables screened by PLS, interval PLS, principal component analysis, independent component analysis, successive projections algorithm, haar, db, and coif (85.00%, 90.00%, 82.50%, 77.50%, 90.00%, 92.50%, 80.00%, and 85.00%). These results illustrate that HHT can accurately extract the characteristic variables from biological Raman spectra. The classification accuracy based on HHT is slightly lower than those based on bior 2.4, three‐layer decomposition (97.50%) and sym 5, five‐layer decomposition (97.50%). Significantly, no parameters need to be set such as the wavelet mother function and the decomposition layer in the HHT feature extraction process. This paper provides a HHT method for Raman spectral feature extraction, which is simple and effective.
Special dietary requirements: Restaurant sector responses across six tourist cities
Authors: Oktadiana Hera , Pearce Philip L. , Mohammadi Zohre
Published: March 2020

The key aims of the study were to document and analyze contemporary restaurant practices germane to meeting dietary requirements in significant tourist cities. Social practice theory informed the study. Detailed coding of menu information and TripAdvisor sources for 60 restaurants in six strategically selected tourist cities provided the bases for the work. The results identified locational differences; that overall religious and lifestyle requirements are moderately well presented, while health needs addressed less adequately. Social practice theory insights helped interpret the findings through issues of managerial caution, perceived competence, and image and identity management for both restaurants and customers.
High Interobserver Agreement in the Subjective Classification of 5‐Aminolevulinic Acid Fluorescence Levels in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastomas
Authors: Mischkulnig Mario , Kiesel Barbara , Borkovec Martin , Wadiura Lisa I. , Benner Dimitri , Hosmann Arthur , Hervey‐Jumper Shawn , Knosp Engelbert , Roessler Karl , Berger Mitchel S. , Widhalm Georg
Published: March 2020

Background and Objectives

Fluorescence‐guided resection of glioblastomas (GBM) using 5‐aminolevulinic acid (5‐ALA) improves intraoperative tumor visualization and is thus widely used nowadays. During resection, different fluorescence levels can usually be distinguished within the same tumor. Recently, we demonstrated that strong, vague, and no fluorescence correspond to distinct histopathological characteristics in newly diagnosed GBM. However, the qualitative fluorescence classification by the neurosurgeon is subjective and currently no comprehensive data on interobserver variability is available. The aim of this study was thus to investigate the interobserver variability in the classification of 5‐ALA fluorescence levels in newly diagnosed GBM.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

A questionnaire investigating the interobserver variability in 5‐ALA fluorescence quantification was performed at a nation‐wide neurosurgical oncology meeting. The participants involved in the neurosurgical/neurooncological field were asked to categorize 30 cases of 5‐ALA fluorescence images derived from GBM resection on a lecture hall screen according to the widely used three‐tier fluorescence classification scheme (negative, vague, or strong fluorescence). Additionally, participants were asked for information on their medical background such as specialty, level of training, and experience with 5‐ALA fluorescence‐guided procedures. Interobserver agreement was defined as the calculated mean κ values for each observer.

Results

A total of 36 questionnaires were included in the final analysis. The mean average κ value in fluorescence classification within the entire cohort was 0.71 ± 0.12 and 29 (81%) participants had a substantial or almost perfect interobserver agreement (κ values 0.6–1.0). Interobserver agreement was significantly higher in neurosurgeons (mean κ: 0.83) as compared with non‐neurosurgeons involved in the neurooncological field (mean κ: 0.52; P < 0.001). Furthermore, interobserver agreement was significantly higher in participants who had experience with at least 25 5‐ALA fluorescence‐guided surgeries (mean κ: 0.87) compared with less experienced colleagues (mean κ: 0.82; P = 0.039).

Conclusion

Our study found a high interobserver agreement in the qualitative classification of different 5‐ALA fluorescence levels in newly diagnosed GBM. Interobserver agreement increases significantly in more experienced participants and therefore a high level of experience is crucial for reliable intraoperative fluorescence classification. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Oscillatory solutions of fourth order advanced trinomial differential equations
Authors: Dzurina Jozef , Baculikova Blanka , Jadlovska Irena
Published: March 2020

The paper deals with the oscillatory behavior of the fourth‐order linear three‐terms advanced differential equation of the form
Assuming that all solutions of the auxiliary third‐order differential equation
are nonoscillatory, two types of easily verifiable oscillation criteria for the studied equation are established. The obtained results are illustrated by two examples.
Avian uterine fluid proteome: Exosomes and biological processes potentially involved in sperm survival
Authors: Riou Cindy , Brionne Aurélien , Cordeiro Luiz , Harichaux Grégoire , Gargaros Audrey , Labas Valérie , Gautron Joël , Gérard Nadine
Published: March 2020

Uterine fluid is an aqueous milieu to which sperm are exposed during their storage and ascent. In this study, a bottom‐up proteomic strategy and bioinformatic analysis of hen uterine fluid was performed to improve the understanding of this fluid and its potential role in sperm survival mechanisms. The proteomic data were submitted to ProteomeXchange. Among the 913 proteins identified, 160 are known to be secreted and 640 are referenced in exosomes databases. We isolated exosomes from the avian uterine fluid, analyzed them using electron microscopy, and targeted several exosomes markers (ANXA1/2/4/5, VCP, HSP90A, HSPA8, PARK7, and MDH1) using immunoblotting. Electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry were also used to analyze uterovaginal junctions for the exosomal proteins ANXA4, VCP, and PARK7. Exosomes were observed both at the surface epithelium and inside sperm storage tubules. Our data were compared with two previously published studies on proteomic of hen uterine fluid, and with one study describing the proteomic content of rooster seminal plasma and sperm. In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time that avian uterine fluid contains exosomes. These may play a key role in preserving sperm functions within the female genital tract. Their presence in the sperm storage tubules may represent an important mechanism regarding interaction between the female genital tract and sperm.
Effect of Dietary Inorganic Copper on Growth Performance and Some Hematological Indices of Siberian Sturgeon Acipenser baerii Juveniles
Authors: Moazenzadeh Kadusa , Rajabi Islami Houman , Zamini Abasali , Soltani Mehdi
Published: March 2020

This research work was conducted to evaluate the effect of dietary copper (Cu) levels on growth performance, feed utilization, and some hematological parameters of juvenile Siberian Sturgeon Acipenser baerii. Five semipurified diets containing 0, 3, 6, 12, and 24 mg Cu/kg in the form of copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O) were formulated to provide the actual dietary copper values of 1.8, 5.7, 10.1, 15.9, and 28.3 mg Cu/kg diet, respectively. The obtained results exhibited a significant improvement in the final weight, protein efficiency ratio, daily growth coefficient, and hepatosomatic index with increasing dietary copper levels up to 10.1 mg/kg diet, while the feed conversion ratio significantly decreased. Also, erythrocyte count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values increased with increasing levels of dietary copper, but no steady trend was observed in mean corpuscular hemoglobin changes. Furthermore, the neutrophils were significantly increased with enhancing the copper level in the fish diet, while the lymphocytes declined. Findings of the current research illustrate that an appropriate dietary copper level is required for improvement of growth performance, oxygen transfer capability, and white blood cell proliferation. Based on the broken-line regression analysis of leukocyte count and monocyte percentage, the optimum dietary copper supplementation was estimated to be 10.63 and 10.36 mg Cu/kg diet, respectively.
Action needed for the EU Common Agricultural Policy to address sustainability challenges
Authors: Pe'er Guy , Bonn Aletta , Bruelheide Helge , Dieker Petra , Eisenhauer Nico , Feindt Peter H. , Hagedorn Gregor , Hansjürgens Bernd , Herzon Irina , Lomba Ângela , Marquard Elisabeth , Moreira Francisco , Nitsch Heike , Oppermann Rainer , Perino Andrea , Röder Norbert , Schleyer Christian , Schindler Stefan , Wolf Christine , Zinngrebe Yves , Lakner Sebastian
Published: March 2020

Making agriculture sustainable is a global challenge. In the European Union (EU), the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is failing with respect to biodiversity, climate, soil, land degradation as well as socio‐economic challenges.

The European Commission's proposal for a CAP post‐2020 provides a scope for enhanced sustainability. However, it also allows Member States to choose low‐ambition implementation pathways. It therefore remains essential to address citizens' demands for sustainable agriculture and rectify systemic weaknesses in the CAP, using the full breadth of available scientific evidence and knowledge.

Concerned about current attempts to dilute the environmental ambition of the future CAP, and the lack of concrete proposals for improving the CAP in the draft of the European Green Deal, we call on the European Parliament, Council and Commission to adopt 10 urgent action points for delivering sustainable food production, biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation.

Knowledge is available to help moving towards evidence‐based, sustainable European agriculture that can benefit people, nature and their joint futures.

The statements made in this article have the broad support of the scientific community, as expressed by above 3,600 signatories to the preprint version of this manuscript. The list can be found here (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3685632).

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Pediatric hematology and oncology fellow education in sexual and reproductive health: A survey of fellowship program directors in the United States
Authors: Frederick Natasha N. , Fine Elizabeth , Michaud Alexis , Recklitis Christopher J. , Bober Sharon L.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Pediatric oncology clinicians identify a need for increased sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education with adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients. By surveying pediatric oncology fellowship directors, this study clarifies the state of current fellowship education about SRH for the AYA patient.

Methods

A survey was sent to all pediatric oncology fellowship program directors (PDs) in the United States consisting of 13 questions pertaining to three primary SRH domains: sexual health, fertility, and safe sex practices. Descriptive statistics and χ2 were used in data analyses.

Results

Sixty‐three PDs responded to the survey (91% response rate). Of these, 88% reported having formal instruction regarding fertility, 41% reported curriculum regarding contraception and 30% reported some education regarding sexual health. The curriculum “being too full” was identified as a barrier to education on fertility (29%), sexual health (40%), and safe sex practices (38%). Not being a required or expected part of the program was more likely to be endorsed as a barrier for sexual health (26%) and safe sex practices (30%) compared with fertility (8%) (P < 0.005). Lack of experts to teach was a more frequently endorsed barrier to education on sexual health (47%) compared with either fertility (23%) or safe sex practices (25%) (P < 0.005).

Conclusions

This study identifies important gaps in oncology fellow education about SRH. Future research must explore optimal education strategies that are feasible and acceptable by PDs and fellow learners, and effective in optimizing AYA SRH care.
Plot extraction from aerial imagery: A precision agriculture approach
Authors: Bruce Robert W. , Rajcan Istvan , Sulik John
Published: March 2020

The plant phenotyping community is adopting technological innovations in order to record phenotypic attributes more quickly and objectively. Low altitude aerial imaging is an appealing option for increasing throughput but there are still challenges in the image processing pipeline. One such challenge involves the assignment of a spatial reference to each plot entry in an experimental layout. Image‐based approaches are increasingly popular since plot boundaries are often, but not always, clearly visible in low altitude imagery. In addition, workflows that make geometric assumptions about plot layout also show promise. We outline an alternative approach to generate plot boundaries to overlay with aerial imagery. The proposed method involves high‐accuracy georeferencing (i.e., within a few cm) of imagery and planter activity, after which georeferencing of all plot entries is complete and only requires a few simple steps to convert logged spatial positions to polygons using open source geographic information systems (GIS) software. Compared with other approaches, the proposed method provides imagery that is precisely aligned over time and always aligns with plot boundaries, which are fixed and do not vary from image to image.
Implantable LENUS pro pump for treprostinil infusion in three pediatric patients
Authors: Álvarez‐Fuente Maria , Garrido‐Lestache Elvira , Rivero Natalia , Centella Tomasa , Lamas Maria J. , Pérez‐Caballero Cesar , Vázquez Jose L. , Del Cerro Maria J.
Published: March 2020

Background

Prostanoid treatment in patients with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) has been proven safe and effective. Subcutaneous administration of treprostinil has side effects, which limits their use and acceptance. An implantable pump for continuous intravenous treprostinil infusion has been recently approved. We describe our experience with the implantable pump in three pediatric patients.

Description of Cases

The LENUS pro pump was implanted in three adolescents with severe PAH, who were treated with tadalafil, ambrisentan, and subcutaneous treprostinil. The indication of the Lenus pro pump implantation was the local side effects of subcutaneous treprostinil (pain, inflammation, and local infection) that were not well tolerated and that severely decreased their quality of life. The pump was surgically implanted under general anesthesia.One patient, in functional class IV, suffered postoperative hemodynamic instability and small pneumothorax,  requiring an increase in treprostinil dose up to 85 ng/kg/min and a decrease 9 days after the pump implantation. The second patient who was discharged 4 days after surgery with treprostinil at 60 ng/kg/min reported improvement in his quality of life, but the dose requirement increased up to 92 ng/kg/min. After a 21‐month follow‐up, this patient received a lung transplant. The third patient presented a hematoma at the pump site with no other complications and had a follow‐up of 9 months with an improvement in her quality of life.

Comments

Implantable pumps for continuous parenteral prostanoid infusion in pediatric patients are an alternative to external pumps, especially when familiar psychological or psychomotor issues hinder the use of external pumps.
Study of Initial Pressure Rise in Multi Grain Solid Propellant Rocket Motor
Authors: Ropia Balesh , Shekhar Himanshu K. , Thakur Dinesh G.
Published: March 2020

In the present research, an experimental and numerical investigation has been performed to study initial pressure rise in multi grain solid rocket motor. A cluster of seven uninhibited tubular grains of double base propellant is analysed to get near neutral pressure in rocket motor. It is experimentally observed that in some static firings initial pressure rise in first 100 ms is higher than the predicted value of ∼7.5 MPa. The average pressure in the rocket motor is ∼7 MPa and total burning time of these grains is ∼2 s. ANSYS software is used for numerical analysis to investigate the effects of various % openings of nozzle end (NE) metal grid on pressure rise in the rocket motor with and without peripheral opening. The analysed results are compared with experiments. It is found that, as the %opening of NE metal grid increases, the initial pressure in the rocket motor decreases. The peripheral opening is also important to reduce pressure rise in rocket motor. This study helps in reducing the initial pressure rise in the combustion chamber which is essential for safe working of the rocket motor.
Review: classical biological control of invasive stink bugs with egg parasitoids – what does success look like?
Authors: Abram Paul K , Mills Nicholas J , Beers Elizabeth H
Published: March 2020

Although the enemy release hypothesis forms the theoretical basis for classical (=importation) biological control of invasive pests, its core assumptions are not always examined. This could contribute to unrealistic expectations for some biological control programs. In this paper we examine the assumptions that: (i) enemy release has contributed to the invasive nature of four exotic pentatomids in North America; and (ii) classical biological control with egg parasitoids has been or will be successful in reducing populations of these pests below economically significant levels. First, we review the history of biological control programs against invasive stink bugs to highlight the variable and controversial levels of success of introducing egg parasitoids against stink bugs. Then, we use simple stage‐structured matrix models to demonstrate that it may be easy to overestimate the contribution of egg parasitism alone to a reduction in stink bug population growth. Finally, we discuss what realistic expectations might be for success of biological control against invasive stink bugs using egg parasitoids in the context of integrated pest management programs. © 2020 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada Pest Management Science © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
In praise of partially interpretable predictors
Authors: Le Tri , Clarke Bertrand
Published: March 2020

Often there is an uninterpretable model that is statistically as good as, if not better than, a successful interpretable model. Accordingly, if one restricts attention to interpretable models, then one may sacrifice predictive power or other desirable properties. A minimal condition for an interpretable, usually parametric, model to be better than another model is that the first should have smaller mean‐squared error or integrated mean‐squared error. We show through a series of examples that this is often not the case and give the asymptotic forms of a variety of interpretable, partially interpretable, and noninterpretable methods. We find techniques that combine aspects of both interpretability and noninterpretability in models seem to give the best results.
The behavioral turn in flood risk management, its assumptions and potential implications
Authors: Kuhlicke Christian , Seebauer Sebastian , Hudson Paul , Begg Chloe , Bubeck Philip , Dittmer Cordula , Grothmann Torsten , Heidenreich Anna , Kreibich Heidi , Lorenz Daniel F. , Masson Torsten , Reiter Jessica , Thaler Thomas , Thieken Annegret H. , Bamberg Sebastian
Published: March 2020

Recent policy changes highlight the need for citizens to take adaptive actions to reduce flood‐related impacts. Here, we argue that these changes represent a wider behavioral turn in flood risk management (FRM). The behavioral turn is based on three fundamental assumptions: first, that the motivations of citizens to take adaptive actions can be well understood so that these motivations can be targeted in the practice of FRM; second, that private adaptive measures and actions are effective in reducing flood risk; and third, that individuals have the capacities to implement such measures. We assess the extent to which the assumptions can be supported by empirical evidence. We do this by engaging with three intellectual catchments. We turn to research by psychologists and other behavioral scientists which focus on the sociopsychological factors which influence individual motivations (Assumption 1). We engage with economists, engineers, and quantitative risk analysts who explore the extent to which individuals can reduce flood related impacts by quantifying the effectiveness and efficiency of household‐level adaptive measures (Assumption 2). We converse with human geographers and sociologists who explore the types of capacities households require to adapt to and cope with threatening events (Assumption 3). We believe that an investigation of the behavioral turn is important because if the outlined assumptions do not hold, there is a risk of creating and strengthening inequalities in FRM. Therefore, we outline the current intellectual and empirical knowledge as well as future research needs. Generally, we argue that more collaboration across intellectual catchments is needed, that future research should be more theoretically grounded and become methodologically more rigorous and at the same time focus more explicitly on the normative underpinnings of the behavioral turn.

This article is categorized under:

Engineering Water > Planning Water

Human Water > Water Governance

Science of Water > Water Extremes
Animal movement models for multiple individuals
Authors: Scharf Henry R. , Buderman Frances E.
Published: March 2020

Statistical models for animal movement provide tools that help ecologists and biologists learn how animals interact with their environment and each other. Efforts to develop increasingly realistic, implementable, and scientifically valuable methods for analyzing remotely observed trajectories have provided practitioners with a wide selection of models to help them understand animal behavior. Increasingly, researchers are interested in studying multiple animals jointly, which requires methods that can account for dependence across individuals. Dependence can arise for many reasons, including shared behavioral tendencies, familial relationships, and direct interactions on the landscape. We provide a synopsis of recent statistical methods for animal movement data applicable to settings in which inference is desired across multiple individuals. Highlights of these approaches include the ability to infer shared behavioral traits across a group of individuals and the ability to infer unobserved social networks summarizing dynamic relationships that manifest themselves in movement decisions.

This article is categorized under:

Statistical Models > Bayesian Models

Data: Types and Structure > Time Series, Stochastic Processes, and Functional Data

Data: Types and Structure > Social Networks
Lipoprotein(a) plasma levels are not associated with incident microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Singh Sunny S. , Rashid Mardin , Lieverse Aloysius G. , Kronenberg Florian , Lamina Claudia , Mulder Monique T. , de Rijke Yolanda B. , Sijbrands Eric J. G. , van Hoek Mandy
Published: March 2020

Aims/hypothesis

Microvascular disease in type 2 diabetes is a significant cause of end-stage renal disease, blindness and peripheral neuropathy. The strict control of known risk factors, e.g. lifestyle, hyperglycaemia, hypertension and dyslipidaemia, reduces the incidence of microvascular complications, but a residual risk remains. Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] is a strong risk factor for macrovascular disease in the general population. We hypothesised that plasma Lp(a) levels and the LPA gene SNPs rs10455872 and rs3798220 are associated with the incident development of microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes.

Methods

Analyses were performed of data from the DiaGene study, a prospective study for complications of type 2 diabetes, collected in the city of Eindhoven, the Netherlands (n = 1886 individuals with type 2 diabetes, mean follow-up time = 6.97 years). To assess the relationship between plasma Lp(a) levels and the LPA SNPs with each newly developed microvascular complication (retinopathy n = 223, nephropathy n = 246, neuropathy n = 236), Cox proportional hazards models were applied and adjusted for risk factors for microvascular complications (age, sex, mean arterial pressure, non-HDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, BMI, duration of type 2 diabetes, HbA1c and smoking).

Results

No significant associations of Lp(a) plasma levels and the LPA SNPs rs10455872 and rs3798220 with prevalent or incident microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes were found. In line with previous observations the LPA SNPs rs10455872 and rs3798220 did influence the plasma Lp(a) levels.

Conclusions/interpretation

Our data show no association between Lp(a) plasma levels and the LPA SNPs with known effect on Lp(a) plasma levels with the development of microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes. This indicates that Lp(a) does not play a major role in the development of microvascular complications. However, larger studies are needed to exclude minimal effects of Lp(a) on the development of microvascular complications.
Enrichment-free analysis of anionic micropollutants in the sub-ppb range in drinking water by capillary electrophoresis-high resolution mass spectrometry
Authors: Höcker Oliver , Bader Tobias , Schmidt Torsten C. , Schulz Wolfgang , Neusüß Christian
Published: March 2020

Reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) used for water analysis is not ideal for the analysis of highly polar and ionic contaminants because of low retention. Capillary electrophoresis (CE), on the other hand, is perfectly suited for the separation of ionic compounds but rarely applied in environmental analysis due to the weak concentration sensitivity when coupled to mass spectrometry (MS). However, novel interface designs and MS technology strongly improve the sensitivity. Here, a method is presented enabling the screening of anionic micropollutants in drinking water without sample pretreatment by coupling of CE to an Orbitrap mass spectrometer by a nanoflow sheath liquid interface. Targeted analysis of halogenated acetic acids, trifluoromethanesulfonic acid, and perfluorooctanoic and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid was conducted in drinking water samples which were chlorinated for disinfection. A bare fused silica capillary with an optimized background electrolyte (BGE) for separation consisting of 10% acetic acid with 10% isopropanol with large volume sample injection and optimized interface parameters offer limits of quantification in the range of < 0.1 to 0.5 μg/L with good linearity (R2 > 0.993) and repeatability (14% standard deviation in area). Concentrations of the target analytes ranged from 0.1 to 6.2 μg/L in the water samples. Masses corresponding to halogenated methanesulfonic acids have been found as suspects and were subsequently verified by standards. Mono-, dichloro-, and bromochloro methanesulfonic acid were quantified in a range of 0.2 to 3.6 μg/L. Furthermore, five sulfonic acids, four organosulfates, and the artificial sweeteners acesulfame and cyclamate as well as inorganics such as halides, halogenates, phosphate, and sulfate could be determined as suspects among more than 300 features in a non-targeted screening. Overall, this approach demonstrates the great potential of CE-nanoESI-MS for the screening of ionic contaminants in environmental samples, complementary to chromatographic approaches.
Stability of bubbles in wax-based oleofoams: decoupling the effects of bulk oleogel rheology and interfacial rheology
Authors: Saha S. , Saint-Michel B. , Leynes V. , Binks B. P. , Garbin V.
Published: March 2020

Oleofoams are dispersions of gas bubbles in a continuous oil phase and can be stabilized by crystals of fatty acids or waxes adsorbing at the oil-air interface. Because excess crystals in the continuous phase form an oleogel, an effect of the bulk rheology of the continuous phase is also expected. Here, we evaluate the contributions of bulk and interfacial rheology below and above the melting point of a wax forming an oleogel in sunflower oil. We study the dissolution behaviour of single bubbles using microscopy on a temperature-controlled stage. We compare the behaviour of a bubble embedded in an oleofoam, which owes its stability to both bulk and interfacial rheology, to that of a bubble extracted from the oleofoam and resuspended in oil, for which the interfacial dilatational rheology alone provides stability. We find that below the melting point of the wax, bubbles in the oleofoam are stable whereas bubbles that are only coated with wax crystals dissolve. Both systems dissolve when heated above the melting point of the wax. These findings are rationalized through independent bulk rheological measurements of the oleogel at different temperatures, as well as measurements of the dilatational rheological properties of a wax-coated oil-air interface.
The unusual problem of upscaling isostaticity theory for granular matter
Authors: Blumenfeld Raphael
Published: March 2020

Isostaticity theory (IT) provides stress field equations for marginally rigid packs of non-cohesive particles, interacting through hard-core forces. Its main advantage over strain-based theories is by closing the stress equations with stress–structure, rather than stress–strain, relations, which enables modelling the stress chains, often observed in experiments and simulations. The usefulness of IT has been argued to extend beyond its applicability at marginal rigidity. It has been shown to be derivable from first principles in two-dimensions, with the structure quantified by a fabric tensor that couples to the stress field. However, upscaling IT to the continuum is done currently empirically by postulating convenient closure equations. The problem is that a volume average of the fabric tensor vanishes in the continuum limit, trivialising the closure equation. This poses an unusual upscaling problem, necessitating a new approach. Such an approach is developed here, resolving the problem for planar granular assemblies. The new method is developed initially for idealised ‘unfrustrated’ packs by coarse-graining first to the two-grain scale, after which a conventional coarse-graining can be used. It is then extended to general realistic systems, by introducing an intermediate ‘de-frustration’ procedure. The applicability of the method is illustrated with a tractable example.

Graphic abstract
The Physical Mandate for Belief-Goal Psychology
Authors: McGregor Simon , Chrisley Ron
Published: March 2020

This article describes a heuristic argument for understanding certain physical systems in terms of properties that resemble the beliefs and goals of folk psychology. The argument rests on very simple assumptions. The core of the argument is that predictions about certain events can legitimately be based on assumptions about later events, resembling Aristotelian ‘final causation’; however, more nuanced causal entities (resembling fallible beliefs) must be introduced into these types of explanation in order for them to remain consistent with a causally local Universe.