bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
American College of Rheumatology White Paper on Antimalarial Cardiac Toxicity
Authors: Desmarais Julianna , Rosenbaum James T. , Costenbader Karen H. , Ginzler Ellen M. , Fett Nicole , Goodman Susan , O’Dell James , Pineau Christian A. , Schmajuk Gabriela , Werth Victoria P. , Link Mark S. , Kovacs Richard
Published: October 2021

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and chloroquine (CQ) are well‐established medications used in treating systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as skin conditions such as cutaneous lupus erythematosus. In rare cases, arrhythmias and conduction system abnormalities, as well as cardiomyopathy, have been reported in association with HCQ/CQ use. Recently, however, the corrected QT interval (QTc)–prolonging potential of these medications, and risk of torsade de pointes (TdP) in particular, have been highlighted in the setting of their experimental use for COVID‐19 infection. This report was undertaken to summarize the current understanding of HCQ/CQ cardiac toxicity, describe QTc prolongation and TdP risks, and discuss areas of priority for future research. A working group of experts across rheumatology, cardiology, and dermatology performed a nonsystematic literature review and offered a consensus‐based expert opinion. Current data clearly indicate that HCQ and CQ are invaluable medications in the management of rheumatic and dermatologic diseases, but they are associated with QTc prolongation by directly affecting cardiac repolarization. Prescribing clinicians should be cognizant of this small effect, especially in patients taking additional medications that prolong the QTc interval. Long‐term use of HCQ/CQ may lead to a cardiomyopathy associated with arrhythmias and heart failure. Risk and benefit assessment should be considered prior to initiation of any medication, and both initial and ongoing risk–benefit assessments are important with regard to prescription of HCQ/CQ. While cardiac toxicity related to HCQ/CQ treatment of rheumatic diseases is rarely reported, it can be fatal. Awareness of the potential adverse cardiac effects of HCQ and CQ can increase the safe use of these medications. There is a clear need for additional research to allow better understanding of the cardiovascular risk and safety profile of these therapies used in the management of rheumatic and cutaneous diseases.
Genre containers: Building a theoretical framework for studying formats in information behavior
Authors: Brannon Brittany , Buhler Amy G. , Cataldo Tara Tobin , Faniel Ixchel M. , Connaway Lynn Silipigni , Valenza Joyce Kasman , Cyr Christopher
Published: October 2021

Prior studies have shown high‐level differences in people's perception and use of various information formats. However, the lack of a coherent and theoretically informed framework of elements of format has inhibited a nuanced understanding of the role that formats play in information behavior. This paper draws on theories from the field of rhetoric and composition to ground the study of information format in a social constructivist perspective that foregrounds action in context. Specifically, rhetorical genre theory is discussed in detail and the limitations of previous information behavior studies using rhetorical genre theory are explored. One of the main problems of earlier studies is confusing genres and their containers. This paper introduces and defines the concept of containers as typified ways of collecting and presenting texts of certain genres for publication. Building on rhetorical genre theory, the paper offers a theoretical exploration of the role that containers play in the formal and/or public sharing of information within discourse communities. An illustrative example of the concepts applied to data from an Institute of Museum and Library Services funded study is provided.
A Flexible Energy Harvester from an Organic Ferroelectric Ammonium Salt
Authors: Gupta Rishabh , Sahoo Supriya , Deswal Swati , Kothavade Premkumar , Dixit Prashant , Zaręba Jan K. , Shanmuganathan Kadhiravan , Boomishankar Ramamoorthy
Published: October 2021

Organic ferroelectrics due to their low cost, easy preparation, light weight, high flexibility and phase stability are gaining tremendous attention in the field of portable electronics. In this work, we report the synthesis, structure and ferroelectric behavior of a two‐component ammonium salt 2, containing a bulky [Bn(4‐BrBn)NMe2]+ (Bn=benzyl and 4‐BrBn=4‐bromobenzyl) cation and tetrahedral (BF4)− anion. The structural analysis revealed the presence of rich non‐classical C−H⋅⋅⋅F and C−H⋅⋅⋅Br interactions in this molecule that were quantified by Hirshfeld surface analysis. The polarization (P) vs. electric field (E) hysteresis loop measurements on 2 gave a remnant polarization (Pr) of 14.4 μC cm−2 at room temperature. Flexible polymer composites with various (5, 10, 15 and 20) weight percentages (wt%) of 2 in thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) were prepared and tested for mechanical energy harvesting applications. A notable peak‐to‐peak output voltage of 20 V, maximum current density of 1.1 μA cm−2 and power density of 21.1 μW cm−2 were recorded for the 15 wt% 2‐TPU composite device. Furthermore, the voltage output generated from this device was utilized to rapidly charge a 100 μF capacitor, with stored energies and measured charges of 156 μJ and 121.6 μC, respectively.
Theoretical equilibrium lead(II) solubility revisited: Open source code and practical relationships
Authors: Wahman David G. , Pinelli Matthew D. , Schock Michael R. , Lytle Darren A.
Published: October 2021

A theoretical equilibrium lead(II) (Pb(II)) solubility model coded in Fortran (LEADSOL) was updated and implemented in open source R code, verified against LEADSOL output, and used to simulate theoretical equilibrium total soluble Pb(II) (TOTSOLPb) concentrations under a variety of practical scenarios. The developed R code file (app.R) is publicly available for download at GitHub (https://github.com/USEPA/TELSS) along with instructions to run the R code locally, allowing the user to explore Pb(II) solubility by selecting desired simulation conditions (e.g., water quality, equilibrium constants, and Pb(II) solids to consider). In addition, the R code serves as a reproducible baseline for alternative model development and future model improvements, allowing users to update, modify, and share the R code to meet their needs. Using the R code, several solubility diagrams were generated to highlight practical relationships related to TOTSOLPb concentrations, including the impact of pH and dissolved inorganic carbon, orthophosphate, sulfate, and chloride concentrations.
Esterases as emerging biocatalysts: Mechanistic insights, genomic and metagenomic, immobilization, and biotechnological applications
Authors: Rafeeq Hamza , Hussain Asim , Shabbir Sumaira , Ali Sabir , Bilal Muhammad , Sher Farooq , Iqbal Hafiz M. N.
Published: October 2021

Esterase enzymes are a family of hydrolases that catalyze the breakdown and formation of ester bonds. Esterases have gained a prominent position in today's world's industrial enzymes market. Due to their unique biocatalytic attributes, esterases contribute to environmentally sustainable design approaches, including biomass degradation, food and feed industry, dairy, clothing, agrochemical (herbicides, insecticides), bioremediation, biosensor development, anticancer, antitumor, gene therapy, and diagnostic purposes. Esterases can be isolated by a diverse range of mammalian tissues, animals, and microorganisms. The isolation of extremophilic esterases increases the interest of researchers in the extraction and utilization of these enzymes at the industrial level. Genomic, metagenomic, and immobilization techniques have opened innovative ways to extract esterases and utilize them for a longer time to take advantage of their beneficial activities. The current study discusses the types of esterases, metagenomic studies for exploring new esterases, and their biomedical applications in different industrial sectors.
DNA crosslinking and recombination‐activating genes 1/2 (RAG1/2) are required for oncogenic splicing in acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Zhang Hao , Cheng Nuo , Li Zhihui , Bai Ling , Fang Chengli , Li Yuwen , Zhang Weina , Dong Xue , Jiang Minghao , Liang Yang , Zhang Sujiang , Mi Jianqing , Zhu Jiang , Zhang Yu , Chen Sai‐Juan , Zhao Yajie , Weng Xiang‐Qin , Hu Weiguo , Chen Zhu , Huang Jinyan , Meng Guoyu
Published: October 2021

Background

Abnormal alternative splicing is frequently associated with carcinogenesis. In B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B‐ALL), double homeobox 4 fused with immunoglobulin heavy chain (DUX4/IGH) can lead to the aberrant production of E‐26 transformation‐specific family related gene abnormal transcript (ERGalt) and other splicing variants. However, the molecular mechanism underpinning this process remains elusive. Here, we aimed to know how DUX4/IGH triggers abnormal splicing in leukemia.

Methods

The differential intron retention analysis was conducted to identify novel DUX4/IGH‐driven splicing in B‐ALL patients. X‐ray crystallography, small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), and analytical ultracentrifugation were used to investigate how DUX4/IGH recognize double DUX4 responsive element (DRE)‐DRE sites. The ERGalt biogenesis and B‐cell differentiation assays were performed to characterize the DUX4/IGH crosslinking activity. To check whether recombination‐activating gene 1/2 (RAG1/2) was required for DUX4/IGH‐driven splicing, the proximity ligation assay, co‐immunoprecipitation, mammalian two hybrid characterizations, in vitro RAG1/2 cleavage, and shRNA knock‐down assays were performed.

Results

We reported previously unrecognized intron retention events in C‐type lectin domain family 12, member A abnormal transcript (CLEC12Aalt) and chromosome 6 open reading frame 89 abnormal transcript (C6orf89alt), where also harbored repetitive DRE‐DRE sites. Supportively, X‐ray crystallography and SAXS characterization revealed that DUX4 homeobox domain (HD)1‐HD2 might dimerize into a dumbbell‐shape trans configuration to crosslink two adjacent DRE sites. Impaired DUX4/IGH‐mediated crosslinking abolishes ERGalt, CLEC12Aalt, and C6orf89alt biogenesis, resulting in marked alleviation of its inhibitory effect on B‐cell differentiation. Furthermore, we also observed a rare RAG1/2‐mediated recombination signal sequence‐like DNA edition in DUX4/IGH target genes. Supportively, shRNA knock‐down of RAG1/2 in leukemic Reh cells consistently impaired the biogenesis of ERGalt, CLEC12Aalt, and C6orf89alt.

Conclusions

All these results suggest that DUX4/IGH‐driven DNA crosslinking is required for RAG1/2 recruitment onto the double tandem DRE‐DRE sites, catalyzing V(D)J‐like recombination and oncogenic splicing in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Lymph node status and its impact on the prognosis of left‐sided and right‐sided colon cancer: A SEER population‐based study
Authors: Huang Yadi , Ji Linlin , Zhu Jialong , Mao Xiaobei , Sheng Siqi , Hao Shuai , Xiang Dan , Guo Jiani , Fu Gongbo , Huang Mengxi , Lei Zengjie , Chu Xiaoyuan
Published: October 2021

Background

Some significant differences exist between the outcomes of left‐ and right‐sided colon cancer patients. The presence of nodal metastases is a critical prognostic factor, especially in the absence of distant metastasis. Our research studied the lymph nodes status of left‐ and right‐sided colon cancer patients to determine the influence of this factor on prognosis.

Methods

Our data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. We used the chi‐square test to analyze the clinicopathological characteristics. The X‐tile program was adopted to acquire optimal cutoff points of lymph node index. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to analyze prognosis and multivariate Cox regression models were performed to identify the independent factors associated with survival. Nomograms were built to predict the overall survival of patients, Harrell's C‐index and calibration plots were used to validate the nomograms.

Results

The study included 189,941 patients with colon cancer without metastasis (left 69,885, right 120,056) between 2004 and 2015. There are more patients with adequate examined lymph nodes in right‐sided. Lymph node status in patients with right colon cancer has a more significant impact on the risk of death. LODDS (C‐index: 0.583; AIC: 6875.4) was used to assess lymph node status. The nomograms showed that lymph node status was the main factor to predict the outcome in right‐sided colon patients.

Conclusions

The influence of lymph node status on predicting prognosis is significantly different between patients with left and right colon cancer without metastasis. The tumor site needs to be considered when lymph node status is used to assess the outcome of patients.
The amplifying effect of perceived group politicization: Effects of group perceptions and identification on anxiety and coping self‐efficacy among members of UK COVID‐19 mutual aid groups
Authors: O'Dwyer Emma , Beascoechea‐Seguí Neus , Souza Luiz Gustavo Silva
Published: October 2021

Mutual aid groups developed and mobilized in communities across the UK and globally at the outset of the pandemic in order to support vulnerable community members with practical assistance and emotional support, with some understanding their work in political terms. This study adopted a “social cure” lens to investigate the effects of group identification and group perceptions on anxiety and coping self‐efficacy among members of UK Covid‐19 mutual aid groups. Survey data were collected from self‐identified members of these groups (N = 844) during the initial period of “lockdown” restrictions in April – May 2020. Correlational analyses showed that identification with the mutual aid group was linked to more positive group perceptions and better self‐reported psychological outcomes. Perceived group politicization showed the reverse pattern. Mixed support for the “social cure” model was evident; the effect of group identification on coping self‐efficacy (but not anxiety) was serially mediated by perceived support and collective efficacy. Perceived group politicization was a significant moderator, seeming to amplify the indirect effect of group identification on coping self‐efficacy via perceived support. Results are discussed in light of previous empirical work on the social cure and Covid‐19 mutual aid groups. Please refer to the Supplementary Material section to find this article's Community and Social Impact Statement.
Removal of Water from Spent Phosphoric Acid Using a Sandwich Silicon Carbide Ceramic Membrane
Authors: Lanjewar Tejay , Mishra Abhishek , Varma Mahesh N.
Published: October 2021

It is important to develop an energy‐ and cost‐efficient method of concentrating phosphoric acid because it is widely used in several industries. Three different ceramic membranes, namely, a silicon carbide (SiC) membrane, a TiO2‐coated SiC membrane, and a sandwich membrane of TiO2 between SiC, were successfully applied for the selective separation of water from spent phosphoric acid. SiC was selected as raw material, TiO2 as supporting material. The membrane was characterized by various instruments to check all parameters. Using the solution diffusion, statistical modeling of these membranes was performed and the membrane parameters, such as membrane diffusivity and mass transfer coefficient, were calculated. By reducing the porosity of the membrane, the desired separation can be improved.
Simultaneously Tuning Charge Separation and Surface Reaction in a Fe2O3 Photoanode for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation
Authors: Chen Fukun , Zhang Liwei , Chen Xingxing
Published: October 2021

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting has gained intensive attention owing to its capability of converting solar energy into chemical fuel, that is, hydrogen. However, the PEC efficiency is severely limited by the recombination of charge carriers and slow kinetics of surface water oxidation. The exploration of efficient photoanodes is, thus, urgently demanded. Herein, a bilateral charge modulation strategy for an improved Fe2O3 photoanode is reported. Z‐scheme Fe2O3‐g‐C3N4 heterojunction is first prepared with the aim of promoting the charge separation, followed by the electrodeposition of a NiFe‐based layered double hydroxide (LDH) on it in order to concurrently slow down the hole accumulation on the electrode surface and catalyze the water oxidation. The fabricated NiFe‐LDH@Fe2O3‐g‐C3N4 electrode exhibits an enhanced photocurrent density of 0.29 mA cm−2 at 1.23 VRHE, which is almost five times that of the pristine Fe2O3 (0.06 mA cm−2). This work provides an appealing maneuver for improving water oxidation performance in semiconductor‐based PEC systems.
Tailor‐Made Amino Acids in Pharmaceutical Industry: Synthetic Approaches to Aza‐Tryptophan Derivatives
Authors: Han Jianlin , Lyutenko Nataliya V. , Sorochinsky Alexander E. , Okawara Ayaka , Konno Hiroyuki , White Sarah , Soloshonok Vadim A.
Published: October 2021

Over the recent years there has been a noticeable upsurge of interest in aza‐analogs of tryptophan which are isosteric to the latter and found numerous applications in medicinal, bioorganic chemistry, and peptide research. In the present review article, five aza‐tryptophan derivatives are profiled, including aza‐substitution in the positions 2, on the five‐membered ring, as well as in positions 4, 5, 6, and 7 on the six‐membered ring. A detailed and comprehensive literature overview of the synthetic methods for the preparation of these aza‐tryptophans is presented and general facets of the biological properties and most promising applications are discussed.
Multi‐Step Synthesis of Miltefosine: Integration of Flow Chemistry with Continuous Mechanochemistry
Authors: Patil Niteen B. , Atapalkar Ranjit S. , Chavan Subhash P. , Kulkarni Amol A.
Published: October 2021

Herein we report for the first time, an advanced continuous flow synthesis of the blockbuster Leishmaniasis drug miltefosine from simple starting materials by a sequence involving four steps of chemical transformation including a continuous mechanochemical step. First three reaction steps were performed in simple tubular reactors in a telescopic mode, while in the last step the product precipitated from the 3rd step was used for a continuous mechanochemical synthesis of miltefosine. When compared to a typical batch protocol that takes 15 h, miltefosine was obtained in 58 % overall yield in flow synthesis mode at the laboratory scale in a total residence time 34 min at synthesis rate of 10 g/hr, which is sufficient to treat 4800 patients per day.
Chiral analysis of pantolactone with molecular rotational resonance spectroscopy
Authors: Sonstrom Reilly E. , Neill Justin L. , Mikhonin Alexander V. , Doetzer Reinhard , Pate Brooks H.
Published: October 2021

A molecular rotational resonance spectroscopy method for measuring the enantiomeric excess of pantolactone, an intermediate in the synthesis of panthenol and pantothenic acid, is presented. The enantiomers are distinguished via complexation with a small chiral tag molecule, which produces diastereomeric complexes in the pulsed jet expansion used to inject the sample into the spectrometer. These complexes have distinct moments of inertia, so their spectra are resolved by MRR spectroscopy. Quantitative enantiomeric excess (EE) measurements are made by taking the ratio of normalized complex signal levels when a chiral tag sample of high, known EE is used, while the absolute configuration of the sample can be determined from electronic structure calculations of the complex geometries. These measurements can be performed without the need for reference samples with known enantiopurity. Two instruments were used in the analysis. A broadband, chirped‐pulse spectrometer is used to perform structural characterization of the complexes. The broadband spectrometer is also used to determine the EE; however, this approach requires relatively long measurement times. A targeted MRR spectrometer is also used to demonstrate EE analysis with approximately 15‐min sample‐to‐sample cycle time. The quantitative accuracy of the method is demonstrated by comparison with chiral gas chromatography and through the measurement of a series of reference samples prepared from mixtures of (R)‐pantolactone and (S)‐pantolactone samples of known EE.
The Discovery and Structure‐Activity Evaluation of (+)‐Floyocidin B and Synthetic Analogs
Authors: Kleiner Yolanda , Pöverlein Christoph , Klädtke Jannike , Kurz Michael , König Henrik F. , Becker Jonathan , Mihajlovic Sanja , Zubeil Florian , Marner Michael , Vilcinskas Andreas , Schäberle Till F. , Hammann Peter , Schuler Sören M. M. , Bauer Armin
Published: October 2021

Tuberculosis represents one of the ten most common courses of death worldwide and the emergence of multidrug‐resistant M. tuberculosis makes the discovery of novel anti‐tuberculosis active structures an urgent priority. Here, we show that (+)‐floyocidin B representing the first example of a novel dihydroisoquinoline class of fungus‐derived natural products, displays promising antitubercular hit properties. (+)‐Floyocidin B was identified by activity‐guided extract screening and its structure was unambiguously determined by total synthesis. The absolute configuration was deduced from a key synthesis intermediate by single crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. A hit series was generated by the isolation of further natural congeners and the synthesis of analogs of (+)‐floyocidin B. Extensive biological and physicochemical profiling of this series revealed first structure‐activity relationships and set the basis for further optimization and development of this novel antitubercular scaffold.
Stability analysis and feedback design of a direct current–direct current power converter by vector Lyapunov function
Authors: Eskandari Atieh , Hodtani Ghosheh Abed
Published: October 2021

To prove the stability of hybrid systems, where, several subsystems are in series–parallel arrangement, Vector Lyapunov functions are appropriate substitutes for the scalar Lyapunov ones. By assigning a scalar Lyapunov function to each subsystem, the stability of the whole hybrid system can be analyzed. In this paper, having reviewed the preliminaries, a direct current (DC) –DC converter working as an incremental voltage source is selected. We show that the conditions of the vector Lyapunov stability are satisfied by deriving the variation interval for the feedback coefficients and obtaining the appropriate feedback factor given the desired output. Simplicity and less restrictedness of vector Lyapunov method is shown comparatively. All the derived mathematical relations are validated by numerical computations.
Waste not, want not: Microsatellites remain an economical and informative technology for conservation genetics
Authors: Hauser Samantha S. , Athrey Giridhar , Leberg Paul L.
Published: October 2021

Comparisons of microsatellites and single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have found that SNPs outperform microsatellites in population genetic analyses, questioning the continued utility of microsatellites in population and landscape genetics. Yet, highly polymorphic markers may be of value in species that have reduced genetic variation. This study repeated previous analyses that used microsatellites with SNPs developed from ddRAD sequencing in the black‐capped vireo source‐sink system. SNPs provided greater resolution of genetic diversity, population differentiation, and migrant detection but could not reconstruct parentage relationships due to insufficient heterozygosities. The biological inferences made by both sets of markers were similar: asymmetrical gene flow from source sites to the remaining sink sites. With the landscape genetic analyses, we found different results between the two molecular markers, but associations of the top environmental features (riparian, open habitat, agriculture, and human development) with dispersal estimates were shared between marker types. Despite the higher precision of SNPs, we find that microsatellites effectively uncover population processes and patterns and are superior for parentage analyses in this species with reduced genetic diversity. This study illustrates the continued applicability and relevance of microsatellites in population genetic research.
Identifying mismatches between conservation area networks and vulnerable populations using spatial randomization
Authors: Nunes Laura A. , Ribic Christine A. , Zuckerberg Benjamin
Published: October 2021

Grassland birds are among the most globally threatened bird groups due to substantial degradation of native grassland habitats. However, the current network of grassland conservation areas may not be adequate for halting population declines and biodiversity loss. Here, we evaluate a network of grassland conservation areas within Wisconsin, U.S.A., that includes both large Focal Landscapes and smaller targeted conservation areas (e.g., Grassland Bird Conservation Areas, GBCAs) established within them. To date, this conservation network has lacked baseline information to assess whether the current placement of these conservation areas aligns with population hot spots of grassland‐dependent taxa. To do so, we fitted data from thousands of avian point‐count surveys collected by citizen scientists as part of Wisconsin's Breeding Bird Atlas II with multinomial N‐mixture models to estimate habitat–abundance relationships, develop spatially explicit predictions of abundance, and establish ecological baselines within priority conservation areas for a suite of obligate grassland songbirds. Next, we developed spatial randomization tests to evaluate the placement of this conservation network relative to randomly placed conservation networks. Overall, less than 20% of species statewide populations were found within the current grassland conservation network. Spatial tests demonstrated a high representation of this bird assemblage within the entire conservation network, but with a bias toward birds associated with moderately tallgrasses relative to those associated with shortgrasses or tallgrasses. We also found that GBCAs had higher representation at Focal Landscape rather than statewide scales. Here, we demonstrated how combining citizen science data with hierarchical modeling is a powerful tool for estimating ecological baselines and conducting large‐scale evaluations of an existing conservation network for multiple grassland birds. Our flexible spatial randomization approach offers the potential to be applied to other protected area networks and serves as a complementary tool for conservation planning efforts globally.
Integrated modeling of waterfowl distribution in western Canada using aerial survey and citizen science (eBird) data
Authors: Adde Antoine , Casabona i Amat Clara , Mazerolle Marc J. , Darveau Marcel , Cumming Steven G. , O'Hara Robert B.
Published: October 2021

Although the exceptional spatiotemporal extent of the Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey (WBPHS) has substantially contributed to our understanding of the ecology of North American waterfowl, vast geographical areas remain excluded from the survey. The unprecedented number of observations generated by the recent boom in citizen science initiatives could help resolve these spatial gaps and increase the density of records in regions already covered. The study objective was to assess the value of the integrated species distribution modeling (ISDM) approach for integrating WBPHS and eBird data to model waterfowl distribution across the Canadian western boreal forest, where WBPHS data are sparse. Following the ISDM approach, we used a state‐space point process formulation that combined a model for the “true” species distribution and two observation models for how WBPHS and eBird data were generated. Our results highlighted the importance of observational processes related to sampling effort and site accessibility for modeling eBird data. In addition, our models allowed identifying waterfowl–habitat associations related to geoclimatic, forest, and hydrological factors that explained the distribution of target species. To assess the individual contribution of WBPHS and eBird data, we re‐fitted the models using only one of the two data sets and compared the results obtained against those from the integrated approach. Waterfowl–habitat associations and predictions derived from the models using both data sets and those fitted with WBPHS data only were close and consistent with the observed species distribution. However, it was more difficult to extract an ecological signal from models fitted with eBird data only. Interestingly, predictions from models combining both data sets were closer to the WBPHS records than the predictions from models fitted with WBPHS data only. By facilitating the combination of all available data sources, we demonstrated the potential of the ISDM approach for modeling and mapping species distributions. We encourage future North American waterfowl modeling attempts to use this method, especially for resolving gaps in the WBPHS coverage. As multiple data sets can be added to the original framework, integration efforts must not be restricted to the additional contribution of eBird data alone and could consider, for example, provincial atlases and regional helicopter surveys.
Serum and follicular fluid chemerin and chemerin mRNA expression in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: Systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Mansoori Anahita , Amoochi‐Foroushani Golnaz , Zilaee Marzie , Hosseini Seyed Ahmad , Azhdari Maryam
Published: October 2021

Introduction

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of reproductive age. Chemerin, a novel adipokine, is involved in inflammation, energy metabolism, adipogenesis, angiogenesis and insulin secretion in the adipose cells and ovary. This systematic review with meta‐analysis aimed to compare serum and follicular fluid (FF) chemerin and ovarian chemerin mRNA expression among women with PCOS and non‐PCOS.

Methods

Electronic databases including Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane and CINAHL were used for a comprehensive search through April 2021. Of the 174 articles initially identified, 22 studies met the eligibility criteria. A random‐effects model with a weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) was performed to compare the outcomes between groups. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were performed to detect the sources of heterogeneity.

Results

Women with PCOS compared to without PCOS showed significantly higher serum chemerin [WMD: 12.02 pg/ml (95% CI: [10.92, 13.13]), p < .001], chemerin mRNA expression [WMD: 0.38% (95% CI [0.25, 0.52]), p = .001] and FF chemerin [(WMD): 41.7 pg/ml (95% CI [17.89, 65.5]) p < .001]. Further, serum chemerin remained high in PCOS women even with subgroup analysis based on body mass index (BMI) or sample size (p < .001). Serum chemerin was higher in women with PCOS and higher BMI [(WMD): 3.29 pg/ml (95% CI: [2.73, 3.384]), p < .001]. The expression of chemerin mRNA was significantly higher in the PCOS group compared to the control group [WMD: 0.38% (95% CI [0.25, 0.52]), p < .001].

Conclusion

Serum and FF chemerin and mRNA expression were higher in the PCOS group compared to the controls. Further, serum chemerin was higher in PCOS women with higher BMI compared to lower BMI. The present findings illustrate that chemerin may be associated with PCOS status and BMI, independently.
Tetrazole‐Based Energetic Metal‐Organic Frameworks: Impacts of Metals and Ligands on Explosive Properties
Authors: Cho Sujee , Kim Yeongjin , Lee Soochan , Cho Hyeonsoo , Park Jonghoon , Hwan Hong Doo , Kwon Kuktae , Yoo Hae‐Wook , Choe Wonyoung , Ri Moon Hoi
Published: October 2021

New energetic materials are required to compensate for the shortcomings of the current ones. Especially secondary explosives are the ones with low‐sensitivity, while maintaining energetic performance similar to those of primary ones, and particularly useful when safety must be ensured. Herein, we report two energetic metal‐organic frameworks (eMOFs), eMOF‐1, [Mn5(mtz)6.1(atz)2.9(NO3)] (mtz=5‐methyltetrazole, atz=5‐aminotetrazole) and eMOF‐2, [Cu(mtz)2], both of which have unique detonation and sensitivity properties. In particular, eMOF‐1, firstly reported here, shows better energetic performance when compared with the previously reported material, Cd‐based mtz MOF, an isostructural series. In addition, eMOF‐2 synthesized in water shows a great detonation performance, whereas isotopological Zn‐based mtz MOF did not show a meaningful performance as an explosive. Therefore, such reticular approach, i. e. replacing metal ions or ligands in isostructural frameworks, can be quite effective for the development of a new breed of energetic materials.
Efficacy of different analgesia treatments for abdominal surgery: A network meta‐analysis
Authors: Xuan Chengluan , Yan Wen , Wang Dan , Li Cong , Ma Haichun , Mueller Ariel , Deng Hao , Houle Timothy , Wang Jingping
Published: October 2021

Objective

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of analgesia and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) of several widely used clinical treatments for postoperative analgesia following abdominal surgery through network meta‐analysis (NMA) based on published randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods

This NMA was registered on PROSPERO as CRD 42020169606. Primary outcomes were pain scores (visual analog scale) and accumulative opioid consumption, and secondary outcomes assessed the incidence of PONV at 24 h after surgery.

Results

A total of 215 RCTs and 15,114 patients were identified in this NMA. In comparison with placebo, use of a preoperative paravertebral block (mean: −12.63, 95% CI: −21.12 to −4.13), continuous wound infiltration (mean: −9.68, 95%CI: −13.15 to −6.22) and postoperative wound infiltration (mean: −6.34, 95%CI: −10.59 to −2.08) had significantly lower pain scores, less opioid consumption (mean: −2.00, 95%CI: −3.52 to −0.48; mean: −1.34, 95%CI: −1.87 to −0.81; mean: −1.41, 95%CI: −2.07 to −0.74, respectively) and lower incidence of PONV (OR: 0.30, 95%CI: 0.13 to 0.67; OR: 0.49, 95%CI: 0.24 to 0.98; OR: 0.55, 95%CI: 0.34 to 0.89, respectively).

Conclusions

The findings from our work provide evidence that preoperative paravertebral block was superior to continuous or postoperative wound infiltration to provide postoperative analgesia, nausea and vomiting after abdominal surgery.
An enhanced approach for solvingmulti‐objectivecogeneration based unit commitment problem
Authors: Anand Himanshu , Narang Nitin , Dhillon J. S.
Published: October 2021

Environmental concerns motivate the researchers to consider the pollutants emission as an important objective in the cogeneration‐based unit commitment problem (CBUCP). Hence, single objective CBUCP has been extended as a multi‐objective optimization problem (MOP). In the MO CBUC problem (MO‐CBUCP), in which operating costs are optimized along with pollutants. The CBUCP is a nonlinear, mixed‐integer, and highly constrained optimization problem. The nature‐inspired binary and continuous particle swarm optimization (BPSO‐PSO) approach have been applied to deal with binary (ON/OFF) and real variables of the CBUCP, respectively. To attain a global best solution with the minimum CPU burden, an enhanced optimization approach (EOA) based on the combination of conventional and global optimization techniques is also applied. The enhanced successive approximation approach (SAA) is applied to deal with binary variables of the UC problem and global search is employed to search continuous variables. In the MOP, a fuzzy membership approach unifies the different objectives of MO‐CBUCP. The decision‐making method decides the best‐satisfied non‐dominated solution among Pareto optimal solutions. The MO‐CBUCP test system has been undertaken and results reveal that the ‘EOA’ technique is superior as compared to the BPSO‐PSO approach. It has been examined from results that cogeneration unit has a significant impact on operating cost and pollutants emission of the cogeneration system.
Shaking table tests of a full‐scale flat‐bottom manufactured steel silo filled with wheat: Main results on the fixed‐base configuration
Authors: Silvestri Stefano , Mansour Sulyman , Marra Matteo , Distl Johann , Furinghetti Marco , Lanese Igor , Hernández‐Montes Enrique , Neri Caterina , Palermo Michele , Pavese Alberto , Rizzo Parisi Elisa , Sadowski Adam Jan , Selva Francesco , Taniguchi Tomoyo , Vadrucci Laura , Weber Felix
Published: October 2021

This paper reports on a series of shaking table tests on a full‐scale flat‐bottom steel silo filled with soft wheat, characterized by aspect ratio of around 0.9. The specimen was a 3.64‐m diameter and 5.50‐m high corrugated‐wall cylindrical silo. Multiple sensors were used to monitor the static and dynamic response of the filled silo system, including accelerometers and pressure cells. Numerous unidirectional dynamic tests were performed consisting of random signals, sinusoidal inputs, and both artificial and real earthquake records. The objectives of this paper are (i) to provide a general overview of the whole experimental campaign and (ii) to present selected results obtained for the fixed‐base configuration. The measured data were processed to assess the static pressures, the dynamic overpressures (related to the effective mass) and the accelerations of monitored points on the silo wall, and to identify the basic dynamic properties (fundamental frequency of vibration, damping ratio, dynamic amplification factors) of the filled silo. The main findings are discussed and compared with the predictions given by available theoretical models and code provisions. It is found that the fundamental frequency slightly decreases with increasing acceleration, while it slightly increases with increasing compaction of the granular material. For close‐to‐resonance input, the dynamic amplification (in terms of peak values of accelerations) increases along the height of the silo wall up to values of around 1.4 at the top surface of the solid content. The dynamic overpressures appear to increase with depth (differently from the EN1998‐4 expectations), and to be proportional to the acceleration.
Numerical analysis on fracture initiation from radial micro‐hole in anisotropy formation
Authors: Li Yumei , Zhang Tao , Zheng Yiming , Zhang Jinghua , Wen Tao , Sun Shibin
Published: October 2021

The radial jet drilling (RJD) technology is typically developed to open multiple lateral micro‐holes from a main wellbore to the formation. The multiple groups of 3D numerical models of radial micro‐holes through a main well are built by incorporating the pore hydro‐mechanical coupling effects. A number of sensitivity analyses were conducted on the effects of the radial jetting azimuth, the stress anisotropy, and the elastic anisotropy on the rock fracture initiation of the micro‐holes. As revealed from the results, the fracture initiation from the micro‐hole exhibited the diversified characteristics with the increase in the jetting azimuth of the micro‐hole. On the whole, the fracture initiation point was concentrated at the maximum principal stress. Thus, the jetting azimuth of the nozzle was recommended to be designed in the interval of 0°‐30°. A higher elastic modulus anisotropy ratio K and a lower Poisson's ratio anisotropy ratio K′ caused the significant rigidity characteristics of the rock, which increased the possibility of fracture initiation in the horizontal direction; a lower elastic modulus anisotropy ratio K and a higher Poisson's ratio anisotropy ratio K′ caused the strong rigidity characteristics, so the rock could not easily fracture in the vertical direction. Several suggestions were given that the rock is easy to be broken by selecting a smaller jetting azimuth angle and a more significant in‐situ stress difference. The numerical simulation results agree well with field experiment results, with an average accuracy of 97.17%. The proposed numerical model has a good performance in predicting the fracture initiation pressure of the radial micro‐hole in anisotropy formation.
Enhanced characterization and modeling of A‐MPDU aggregation for IEEE 802.11n WLANs
Authors: Jabri Issam , Mansour Kaouther , Al‐Oqily Ibrahim , Ezzedine Tahar
Published: October 2021

The MAC protocol data unit aggregation (A‐MPDU) and Block Acknowledgment (Block Ack) techniques are probably the most relevant 802.11 MAC layer enhancements. In spite of being tremendously studied in the literature, recent research activities have revealed that the available analytical models for those techniques do not capture the impact of the Block Ack window limit on the aggregated frame size. This provokes errors in the estimation of the average aggregation size that raise up toin erroneous environments. Throughout this work, we use Markovian techniques to design a more accurate model for 802.11n MAC layer. Our model reflects the impact of the conventional A‐MPDU acknowledgment method on the A‐MPDU aggregation size. The accuracy of our model has been validated through ns‐3 simulations. A comparison with two analytical models of 802.11n MAC sub‐layer has been also carried on. In depth analysis have been conducted to investigate the behavior of A‐MPDU aggregation scheme under different channel conditions and its impact on the overall network performance. Assessments have shown that our model is more rigorous than existing models. Besides, we have proved that A‐MPDU frame aggregation technique is extremely sensitive to channel conditions variation because of the effect of the Block Ack window limit on the maximum aggregation size.
The microbial community, biogenic amines content of soybean paste, and the degradation of biogenic amines by Lactobacillus plantarum HM24
Authors: Li Siyi , Du Xue , Feng Lu , Mu Guangqing , Tuo Yanfeng
Published: October 2021

Soybean paste was a traditional fermented product in Northeast China, mainly fermented by molds, yeast, Bacillus, and lactic acid bacteria. This study investigated the dynamic changes of the microbial community and biogenic amine content during the fermentation of the traditional soybean paste. The microbial diversity of soybean paste in different regions was analyzed by MiSeq sequencing technology. The results showed that Penicillium and Tetragenococcus were the dominant microorganisms responsible for the fermentation of soybean paste. Biogenic amine was found in the traditional soybean paste at different fermentation stages, putrescine, and tyramine were the mainly biogenic amines and their content increased with the extension of fermentation time. Serratia in the soybean paste was positively correlated with the formation of spermine, cadaverine (p < .01), and β‐phenethylamine (p < .05), Leuconostoc was negatively correlated with tyramine formation (p < .05), and Enterococcus was positively correlated with the formation of histamine, tryptamine and cadaverine (p < .01). Lactobacillus fermentum HM22, Lactobacillus plantarum HM24, and Enterococcus faecalis YF10042 with strong biogenic amine degrading capacity were inoculated into the koji. After 20 days of fermentation, the degradation rates of tryptamine, β‐phenylethylamine, putrescine, cadaverine, histamine, and tyramine in soybean paste inoculated with L. plantarum HM24 were 35.31%, 43.14%, 30.18%, 33.44%, 32.74%, and 39.91%, respectively, indicating that the use of L. plantarum HM24 as a starter culture in soybean paste fermentation might be a good strategy for biogenic amines reduction.
Antioxidant and protective effects of extra virgin olive oil incorporated with diallyl sulfide against CCl4‐induced acute liver injury in mice
Authors: Habibi Emna , Baâti Tarek , Njim Leila , M’Rabet Yassine , Hosni Karim
Published: October 2021

The present study delineates the effects of incorporation of 1% diallyl sulfide (DAS) into extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) on the physico‐chemical characteristics, in vitro antioxidant, and in vivo hepatoprotective properties in CCl4‐induced acute liver injury in mice. Results showed that the DAS‐rich EVOO exhibited good oxidative stability over one‐month storage and preserved its original quality‐related parameters including major components (oleic acid, linoleic acid, and palmitic acid), and minor components (tocopherols, chlorophylls and carotenoids, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, elenolic acid, oleuropein and its aglycone, pinoresinol, vanilic acid, cinnamic acid, ferulic acid, luteolin, apigenin, and sterols). Compared with EVOO or DAS, the DAS‐rich EVOO displayed the highest DPPH and ABTS‐radical scavenging activities and showed the strongest cellular antioxidant activity (CAA). In connection with its free radical scavenging activity and CAA, DAS‐rich EVOO significantly normalized the serum ALT and AST levels and prevented the increase in interleukin‐6 in CCl4‐intoxicated mice. The manifest anti‐inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of DAS‐rich EVOO were further supported by liver histopathological examinations. Overall, the EVOO enrichment with DAS could open up opportunities for the development of novel functional food with improved antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties.
Cerebral perfusion mediated by thalamo‐cortical functional connectivity in non‐dominant thalamus affects naming ability in aphasia
Authors: Zhang Jie , Zhou Zhen , Li Lingling , Ye Jing , Shang Desheng , Zhong Shuchang , Yao Bo , Xu Cong , Yu Yamei , He Fangping , Ye Xiangming , Luo Benyan
Published: October 2021

Naming is a commonly impaired language domain in various types of aphasia. Emerging evidence supports the cortico‐subcortical circuitry subserving naming processing, although neurovascular regulation of the non‐dominant thalamic and basal ganglia subregions underlying post‐stroke naming difficulty remains unclear. Data from 25 subacute stroke patients and 26 age‐, sex‐, and education‐matched healthy volunteers were analyzed. Region‐of‐interest‐wise functional connectivity (FC) was calculated to measure the strength of cortico‐subcortical connections. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) was determined to reflect perfusion levels. Correlation and mediation analyses were performed to identify the relationship between cortico‐subcortical connectivity, regional cerebral perfusion, and naming performance. We observed increased right‐hemispheric subcortical connectivity in patients. FC between the right posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) and lateral/medial prefrontal thalamus (lPFtha/mPFtha) exhibited significantly negative correlations with total naming score. Trend‐level increased CBF in subcortical nuclei, including that in the right lPFtha, and significant negative correlations between naming and regional perfusion of the right lPFtha were observed. The relationship between CBF in the right lPFtha and naming was fully mediated by the lPFtha‐pSTS connectivity in the non‐dominant hemisphere. Our findings suggest that perfusion changes in the right thalamic subregions affect naming performance through thalamo‐cortical circuits in post‐stroke aphasia. This study highlights the neurovascular pathophysiology of the non‐dominant hemisphere and demonstrates thalamic involvement in naming after stroke.