bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soil carbon dynamics in Brazilian Atlantic forest converted into pasture‐based dairy production systems
Authors: Oliveira Patricia Perondi Anchão , Rodrigues Paulo Henrique Mazza , Praes Maria Fernanda Ferreira Menegucci , Pedroso André Faria , Oliveira Bia Anchão , Sperança Marco Aurélio , Bosi Cristiam , Fernandes Fernando Antônio
Published: December 2020

The conversion of Brazilian tropical forests into pastureland was a complex process, potentially harmful to the environment, heightened by degraded grazing systems that did not ensure sustainability and affected the ecosystem resilience. This study was conducted to determine the long‐term changes in soil C stocks in native forest (FOR) converted to pasture‐based dairy systems (continuous grazing system with low stocking rate–CLS; rotational grazing system with high stocking rate–RHS). Soil samples were analyzed for texture, C, organic matter (OM), bulk density (BD), C stock, and carbon accumulation rates (CAR) in 0‐to‐5‐, 5‐to‐10‐, 10‐to‐20‐, 20‐to‐30‐, 30‐to‐40‐, 40‐to‐60‐, 60‐to‐80‐, and 80‐to‐100‐cm depths in six trenches. Bulk density was higher in RHS compared with CLS and FOR in most of the soil layers. In the 0‐to‐5‐cm layer, C and OM were greater in CLS. Carbon contents were similar in RHS and FOR, whereas OM was higher in FOR. Intensification increased BD, reduced OM, and did not affect C content in the 0‐to‐5 cm layer. For all treatments, C stock and CAR were higher in the 0‐to‐100 cm (136.73 Mg ha−1 and 0.4252 Mg ha−1 yr−1) than the 0‐to‐30 cm (61.79 Mg ha−1 and 0.0447 Mg ha−1 yr−1) layer. The soil C stock remained equal for both pastureland and presented a positive CAR in relation to the forest, working as C sinks. The RHS presented the greatest forage yield, carrying capacity and milk yield. This management resulted in a land‐saving effect of 2.7 ha for each hectare of high intensified pasture.
Global sensitivity analysis and uncertainty analysis for drought stress parameters in the ORYZA (v3) model
Authors: Tan Junwei , Zhao Shujun , Liu Bo , Luo Yufeng , Cui Yuanlai
Published: December 2020

Drought stress parameters in crop models have received little attention in the literature. In this study, a global sensitivity analysis on yield simulation was conducted for the drought stress parameters in the ORYZA (v3) model, and sensitive parameters were identified for double‐season rice (Oryza sativa L.) (early rice and late rice) by using the Extended FAST method in different scenarios involving two N applications, two soil types, and four depths of plough soil layer. An adaptive metropolis algorithm (MCMC‐AM) was used to quantify the uncertainties of these parameters with yield observations under various drought stress conditions. Based on the estimated parameter values, model performance of yield simulation was evaluated for drought stress conditions. Results showed that in a light drought stress situation, the upper limit factor for transpiration decline (FSWTD) was extremely sensitive at low N application, whereas the upper threshold for leaf expansion became more sensitive at high N application. In a moderate drought stress situation, the upper threshold for leaf rolling had high sensitivity under all conditions except for the late rice at low N application. In a heavy drought stress situation, FSWTD always had strong influence on yield, whereas the impacts of other parameters varied under different scenarios. Soil types and plough soil depth had considerable effects on the parameter sensitivities depending on fertilizer application and drought stress level. The empirical posterior distributions of these drought stress parameters for late rice showed very different shapes and variation ranges from that for early rice, and large uncertainties were presented. The yield simulations with a finely calibrated model were overestimated under heavy drought stress, especially for the late rice, which was grown in the dry season. The results highlighted that more attention should be paid for the drought stress parameters in crop models.
Migrant workers, essential work, and COVID‐19
Authors: Reid Alison , Ronda‐Perez Elena , Schenker Marc B.
Published: December 2020

Globally, migrant and immigrant workers have borne the brunt of the COVID‐19 pandemic as essential workers. They might be a Bulgarian worker at a meat processing plant in Germany, a Central American farmworker in the fields of California, or a Filipino worker at an aged‐care facility in Australia. What they have in common is they are all essential workers who have worked throughout the coronavirus pandemic and have been infected with coronavirus at work. COVID‐19 has highlighted the inequitable working conditions of these workers. In many instances, they are employed precariously, and so are ineligible for sick leave or social security, or COVID‐19 special payments. If these are essential workers, they should get at least the same health and safety benefits of all nonessential workers. Improving the working and living conditions of migrant workers can and should be a positive outcome of the coronavirus pandemic.
Further delineation of a recognizable type of syndromic short stature caused by biallelic SEMA3A loss‐of‐function variants
Authors: Gileta Alexander F. , Helgeson Maria L. , Leonard Jacqueline M. M. , Pyle Louise C. , Subramanian Hari P. , Arndt Kelly , Hawkes Colin P. , del Gaudio Daniela
Published: December 2020

The semaphorin protein family is a diverse set of extracellular signaling proteins that perform fundamental roles in the development and operation of numerous biological systems, notably the nervous, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, endocrine, and reproductive systems. Recently, recessive loss‐of‐function (LoF) variants in SEMA3A (semaphorin 3A) have been shown to result in a recognizable syndrome characterized by short stature, skeletal abnormalities, congenital heart defects, and variable additional anomalies. Here, we describe the clinical and molecular characterization of a female patient presenting with skeletal dysplasia, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH), and anosmia who harbors a nonsense variant c.1633C>T (p.Arg555*) and a deletion of exons 15, 16, and 17 in SEMA3A in the compound heterozygous state. These variants were identified through next‐generation sequencing analysis of a panel of 26 genes known to be associated with HH/Kallmann syndrome. Our findings further substantiate the notion that biallelic LoF SEMA3A variants cause a syndromic form of short stature and expand the phenotypic spectrum associated with this condition to include features of Kallmann syndrome.
Evolving clinical manifestations of mandibular hypoplasia, deafness, progeroid features, and lipodystrophy syndrome: From infancy to adulthood in a 31‐year‐old woman
Authors: Yu Pui Tak , Luk Ho‐ming , Mok Myth T , Lo FM Ivan
Published: December 2020

Mandibular hypoplasia, deafness, progeroid feature, and lipodystrophy syndrome (MDPL, MIM# 615381) is an extremely rare and recently recognized early adult onset of progeroid syndrome, with features of generalized lipodystrophy, dysmorphic features, telangiectasia, early onset hearing loss, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Here, we present a 31‐year‐old Chinese woman with MDPL, harboring the recurrent pathogenic variant p.(Ser605del) in POLD1, illustrating the evolving manifestations of this premature aging disorder from infancy to adulthood.
TBX5‐encoded T‐box transcription factor 5 variant T223M is associated with long QT syndrome and pediatric sudden cardiac death
Authors: Markunas Alexandra M. , Manivannan Perathu K. R. , Ezekian Jordan E. , Agarwal Agnim , Eisner William , Alsina Katherina , Allen Hugh D. , Wray Gregory A. , Kim Jeffrey J. , Wehrens Xander H. T. , Landstrom Andrew P.
Published: December 2020

Long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a genetic disease resulting in a prolonged QT interval on a resting electrocardiogram, predisposing affected individuals to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and sudden death. Although a number of genes have been implicated in this disease, nearly one in four individuals exhibiting the LQTS phenotype are genotype‐negative. Whole‐exome sequencing identified a missense T223M variant in TBX5 that cosegregates with prolonged QT interval in a family with otherwise genotype‐negative LQTS and sudden death. The TBX5‐T223M variant was absent among large ostensibly healthy populations (gnomAD) and predicted to be pathogenic by in silico modeling based on Panther, PolyPhen‐2, Provean, SIFT, SNAP2, and PredictSNP prediction tools. The variant was located in a highly conserved region of TBX5 predicted to be part of the DNA‐binding interface. A luciferase assay identified a 57.5% reduction in the ability of TBX5‐T223M to drive expression at the atrial natriuretic factor promotor compared to wildtype TBX5 in vitro. We conclude that the variant is pathogenic in this family, and we put TBX5 forward as a disease susceptibility allele for genotype‐negative LQTS. The identification of this familial variant may serve as a basis for the identification of previously unknown mechanisms of LQTS with broader implications for cardiac electrophysiology.
Asymmetric Synthesis of 3‐Pyrrolines through an Aryne‐Induced Domino Process
Authors: Hwu Jih Ru , Panja Avijit , Gupta Nitesh K. , Huang Wen‐Chieh , Hu Yu‐Chen , Lin Chun‐Cheng , Hwang Kuo‐Chu , Chan Wei‐Jen , Tsay Shwu‐Chen
Published: December 2020

Production of chiral compounds by green processes like domino reactions is of importance to environmental protection and sustainable development. Nevertheless, finding an appropriate catalyst to control enantioselectivity with satisfaction is a major challenge. Here, we report the accomplishment of a newly developed domino reaction for synthesizing optically active 3‐pyrrolines, a class of compounds with various biological properties. The reaction involves the use of (trimethylsilyl)aryl triflates, Schiff bases, and alkynes in the presence of a chiral catalyst (R)‐(−)‐1,1′‐binaphthyl‐2,2′‐diyl hydrogenphosphate. The key features of this new reaction include the generation of a single product in very good yields (75–85%) with high stereo‐ and enantio‐selectivity; the enantiomeric ratio reaches as high as 98.5 : 1.5. Moreover, it involves an aryne‐induced domino reaction and an unusual 1,4‐intramolecular proton transfer, which overwhelms the well‐established 1,5‐proton transfer.
Self‐Injurious behavior in rhesus macaques: Issues and challenges
Authors: Novak Melinda A.
Published: December 2020

Some monkeys housed in research facilities develop abnormal behavior ranging from stereotypic to the more serious condition of self‐injurious behavior (SIB). We initially sought to understand how and why monkeys engaged in SIB and more importantly why only a small percentage of laboratory monkeys, with seemingly similar housing and background, developed this disorder. Of particular importance was the recognition that different pathways might lead to SIB and that strong individual differences would affect the manifestation of this disorder and the response to treatment. We developed a comprehensive plan to identify effective treatment and prevention strategies. We started with characterizing the disorder in terms of prevalence and types of environments in which it was found. We then conducted observations on a cohort of SIB and control monkeys to identify conditions associated with SIB (e.g., disordered sleep) as well as clinical disease states and congenital defects that could be precipitating factors. We examined the environmental events that triggered episodes of SIB in monkeys with the disorder and evaluated three models that might explain the reinforcement contingencies associated with SIB, including tension reduction, self‐stimulation, and social communication. Possible treatments for SIB such as environmental enrichment, social housing, and pharmacotherapy were tested by our group and others. To date, no single treatment has been found to abolish SIB, and each of these treatments is impacted by individual differences. To develop possible prevention strategies, we examined colony management and health records to find risk factors for SIB. These risk factors generalized to other facilities, and considerable effort was expended by all behavioral managers at these facilities to reduce early life stress exposure, to minimize the length of individual cage housing by emphasizing pair housing, and to reduce the possible stressfulness of various veterinary/medical procedures by implementing positive reinforcement training.
Covalent Cell Surface Conjugation of Nanoparticles by a Combination of Metabolic Labeling and Click Chemistry
Authors: Lamoot Alexander , Uvyn Annemiek , Kasmi Sabah , De Geest Bruno G.
Published: December 2020

Conjugation of nanoparticles (NP) to the surface of living cells is of interest in the context of exploiting the tissue homing properties of ex vivo engineered T cells for tumor‐targeted delivery of drugs loaded into NP. Cell surface conjugation requires either a covalent or non‐covalent reaction. Non‐covalent conjugation with ligand‐decorated NP (LNP) is challenging and involves a dynamic equilibrium between the bound and unbound state. Covalent NP conjugation results in a permanently bound state of NP, but the current routes for cell surface conjugation face slow reaction kinetics and random conjugation to proteins in the glycocalyx. To address the unmet need for alternative bioorthogonal strategies that allow for efficient covalent cell surface conjugation, we developed a 2‐step click conjugation sequence in which cells are first metabolically labeled with azides followed by reaction with sulfo‐6‐methyl‐tetrazine‐dibenzyl cyclooctyne (Tz‐DBCO) by SPAAC, and subsequent IEDDA with trans‐cyclooctene (TCO) functionalized NP. In contrast to using only metabolic azide labeling and subsequent conjugation of DBCO‐NP, our 2‐step method yields a highly specific cell surface conjugation of LNP, with very low non‐specific background binding.
A Highly Ordered Quantum Dot Supramolecular Assembly Exhibiting Photoinduced Emission Enhancement
Authors: Yamauchi Mitsuaki , Yamamoto Seiya , Masuo Sadahiro
Published: December 2020

Multicomponent supramolecular assembly systems enable the generation of materials with outstanding properties, not obtained from single‐component systems, via a synergetic effect. Herein, we demonstrate a novel supramolecular coassembly system rendering highly ordered quantum dot (QD) arrangement structures formed via the self‐assembly of azobenzene derivatives, where the photocontrollable photoluminescence (PL) properties of the QDs are realized based on photoisomerization. Upon mixing the assembled azobenzene derivatives and QDs in apolar media, a time‐evolution coaggregation into hierarchical nanosheets with a highly ordered QD arrangement structure occurs. Upon photoirradiation, the nanosheets transform into ill‐defined aggregates without arranged QDs together with enhancing the PL intensity. In days, the photoirradiated coaggregates undergo recovery of the PL properties corresponding to the arranged QDs through thermal isomerization.
Heteroleptic dmit nickel complexes with bis(diphenylphosphanyl)amine ligands as robust molecular electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution
Authors: Li Tao , Xie Bin , Cao Jia‐Xi , Zhang Dong‐Liang , Lai Chuan , Fan Hua‐Jun , Zhao Bin , Mou Wen‐Yu , Bai Xiao‐Xue
Published: December 2020

Four new neutral heteroleptic dmit nickel complexes bearing bis(diphenylphosphanyl)amine ligands, [RN (PPh2)2Ni(dmit)] (where dmit2− = 1,3‐dithiole‐2‐thione‐4,5‐dithiolate; R = (CH2)4CH3 [1], (CH2)3OCH3 [2], (CH2)2CH(CH3)2 [3], and CHPhCH3 [4]), have been synthesized in moderated yields by the reactions between (n‐Bu)2Sn(dmit) and RN (PPh2)2NiCl2 at room temperature. The complexes were fully characterized by elemental analysis, spectroscopy (Fourier transform infrared [FTIR], ultraviolet–visible [UV–vis], 1H, 13C{1H}, and 31P{1H} nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR]), thermogravimetric analysis, and single crystal X‐ray diffraction. In the crystal structures of 1–3 and 4·2CH2Cl2, every nickel atom adopts a slightly distorted square‐planar coordination by two phosphorus atoms of the RN (PPh2)2 ligand and two sulfur atoms of the dmit ligand. Furthermore, the electrochemical behaviors and electrocatalytic activities of 1–4 for hydrogen evolution have also been investigated by the cyclic voltammetry using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as the proton source. With the addition of 120‐mM trifluoroacetic acid to 0.5‐mM 1–4 in MeCN, the turnover frequency values of these catalysts were estimated to be 2827–5149 s−1, and the relevant overpotentials were 0.72–0.79 V. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and electrochemical investigations suggest that H2 production proceeds via a key hydride intermediate [NiH (SH)] with an adjacent protonated sulfur atom of the dmit ligand in which the chelating sulfur atoms serve as proton relays. These findings demonstrate that these heteroleptic dmit nickel complexes could serve as robust and effective molecular electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution.
Comparative investigation of raw and processed products of Gardeniae Fructus and Gardenia jasminoides var. radicans using HPLC coupled with chemometric methods
Authors: Li Huanhuan , Mao Yingying , Liu Yanan , Li Di , Wang Meng , Ren Xiaoliang , Dou Zhiying
Published: December 2020

As a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Gardeniae Fructus (GF) and its processed products, GF (stir‐baked) and GF Praeparatus, have important medicinal value in clinical practice. Gardenia jasminoides var. radicans (GJVR) is a variant of GF, and because of the naming GJVR is often confused in the clinic with GF, resulting in medical misprescriptions. To distinguish GF and GJVR and study the changes before and after processing, the fingerprints of GF and GJVR are presented using HPLC, followed by hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and partial least squares–discriminant analysis (PLS–DA). GF has purging and choleretic effects, and in this study, we determined the content of main active ingredients to preliminarily assess the GF and GJVR quality from the perspective of material basis. For PCA score plot, the samples fell into six clusters, the cross‐validity Q2 (cum) = 0.842 and the cumulative contribution rate R2x (cum) = 0.988, indicating that the model has a good precision. The results were then corroborated by HCA and PLS–DA method, showing that this methodology can distinguish GF and GJVR and can be used for the comparison of raw and two processed products. According to the model established by PLS–DA, eight components were identified as the most significant variables for discrimination. The results obtained by multiple model methods are consistent and verified by each other, providing a scientific reference for further clarification of the medicinal properties of GF and GJVR.
Sequential CD19 and BCMA‐specific CAR T‐cell treatment elicits sustained remission of relapsed and/or refractory myeloma
Authors: Yan Lingzhi , Qu Su , Shang Jingjing , Shi Xiaolan , Kang Liqing , Xu Nan , Zhu Mingqing , Zhou Jin , Jin Song , Yao Weiqin , Yao Ying , Chen Guanghua , Chang Huirong , Zhu Xiaming , Yu Lei , Wu Depei , Fu Chengcheng
Published: December 2020

The low rate of durable response against relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in recent studies indicates that chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell (CART) treatment is yet to be optimized. This study aims to investigate the safety and efficacy of sequential infusion of CD19‐CART and B‐cell maturation antigen (BCMA)‐CARTs for RRMM with a similar 3 + 3 dose escalation combined with a toxicity sentinel design. We enrolled 10 patients, among whom 7 received autologous infusion and 3 received allogeneic infusion. The median follow‐up time was 20 months. The most common grade 3/4 treatment‐emergent toxicities were hematological toxicities. Cytokine‐release syndrome (CRS) adverse reactions were grade 1/2 in 9 out of 10 subjects. No dose‐limited toxicity (DLT) was observed for BCMA‐CAR‐positive T cells ≤5 × 107/kg), while two patients with dose‐levels of 5–6.5 × 107/kg experienced DLTs. The overall response rate was 90% (five partial responses and four stringent complete responses). Three out of four patients with stringent complete responses to autologous CART had progression‐free survival for over 2 years. The three patients with allogeneic CART experienced disease progression within 2 months. These results evidence the sequential infusion's preliminarily tolerability and efficacy in RRMM, and present a simple and safe design applicable for the establishment of multiple CART therapy.
Patient‐derived scaffolds as a model of colorectal cancer
Authors: Parkinson Gabrielle T. , Salerno Simona , Ranji Parmida , Håkansson Joakim , Bogestål Yalda , Wettergren Yvonne , Ståhlberg Anders , Bexe Lindskog Elinor , Landberg Göran
Published: December 2020

Background

Colorectal cancer is the second most common cause of cancer‐related death worldwide and standardized therapies often fail to treat the more aggressive and progressive types of colorectal cancer. Tumor cell heterogeneity and influence from the surrounding tumor microenvironment (TME) contribute to the complexity of the disease and large variability in clinical outcomes.

Methods

To model the heterogeneous nature of colorectal cancer, we used patient‐derived scaffolds (PDS), which were obtained via decellularization of surgically resected tumor material, as a growth substrate for standardized cell lines.

Results

After confirmation of native cell absence and validation of the structural and compositional integrity of the matrix, 89 colorectal PDS were repopulated with colon cancer cell line HT29. After 3 weeks of PDS culture, HT29 cells varied their gene and protein expression profiles considerably compared to 2D‐grown HT29 cells. Markers associated with proliferation were consistently decreased, while markers associated with pluripotency were increased in PDS‐grown cells compared to their 2D counterparts. When comparing the PDS‐induced changes in HT29 cells with clinically relevant tumor information from individual patients, we observed significant associations between stemness/pluripotency markers and tumor location, and between epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers and cancer mortality. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that low PDS‐induced EMT correlated with worse cancer‐specific survival.

Conclusions

The colorectal PDS model can be used as a simplified personalized tool that can potentially reveal important diagnostic and pathophysiological information related to the TME.
Circular RNAs in childhood‐related diseases and cancers: A review
Authors: Mao Liwei , Guo Jianmin , Hu Linghui , Li Lexuan , Bennett Samuel , Xu Jiake , Zou Jun
Published: December 2020

Research into the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood‐related diseases is the key to reducing their morbidity and mortality. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play critical roles, both in physiology and pathology, and there is ample evidence to show that they play varying roles in tissue development and gene regulation. Studies on circRNAs in different childhood‐related diseases have confirmed their great potential for disease prevention and treatment. These breakthroughs highlight the pathological role of circRNAs in cancers, as well as cardiovascular and hereditary childhood illnesses. In this review, we summarize the role of circRNAs in childhood‐related diseases and cancer, and provide an update of the possible diagnostic and therapeutic application of circRNAs.
Fecal microbiota transplantation for rheumatoid arthritis: A case report
Authors: Zeng Jiaqi , Peng Lihua , Zheng Wei , Huang Feng , Zhang Nana , Wu Di , Yang Yunsheng
Published: December 2020

No previous case of using fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been reported. We report a case of a patient with refractory RA successfully treated with FMT indicating that FMT may have a good therapeutic effect on RA.
Deciphering the Chemical Basis of Fluorescence of a Selenium‐Labeled Uracil Probe when Bound at the Bacterial Ribosomal A‐Site
Authors: Cardenas Gustavo , Menger Maximilian F. S. J. , Ramos‐Berdullas Nicolás , Sánchez‐Murcia Pedro A.
Published: December 2020

We unveil in this work the main factors that govern the turn‐on/off fluorescence of a Se‐modified uracil probe at the ribosomal RNA A‐site. Whereas the constraint into an “in‐plane” conformation of the two rings of the fluorophore is the main driver for the observed turn‐on fluorescence emission in the presence of the antibiotic paromomycin, the electrostatics of the environment plays a minor role during the emission process. Our computational strategy clearly indicates that, in the absence of paromomycin, the probe prefers conformations that show a dark S1 electronic state with participation of nπ* electronic transition contributions between the selenium atom and the π‐system of the uracil moiety.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Quinazolonethiazoles as New Potential Conquerors towards Pseudomonas Aeruginosa
Authors: Wang Jie , Battini Narsaiah , Ansari Mohammad Fawad , Zhou Cheng‐He
Published: December 2020

Main observation and conclusion

Novel quinazolonthiazoles were designed and synthesized as new potential antimicrobial agents by facile multi‐step procedure from o‐aminobenzoic acids and 2‐acetylthiazole. A series of biological evaluation showed that compound 7d was the most effective quinazolonethiazole with superior activity to reference drugs chloramphenicol and norfloxacin. This active molecule displayed unobvious bacterial resistance against P. aeruginosa, the low toxicity to normal hepatocytes, suitable pharmacokinetics and drug‐likeness. The preliminary biological interaction suggested that quinazolonethiazole 7d might induce bacterial death by disturbing the membrane permeability, whilst preventing bacteria from growth by integrating into DNA and binding with topoisomerase IV. These findings provided significant background for the further development of quinazolonethiazoles as new potential drugs in combating drug‐resistant pathogens.
Real‐World Infliximab Pharmacokinetic Study Informs an Electronic Health Record‐Embedded Dashboard to Guide Precision Dosing in Children with Crohn’s Disease
Authors: Xiong Ye , Mizuno Tomoyuki , Colman Ruben , Hyams Jeffrey , Noe Joshua D. , Boyle Brendan , Tsai Yi‐Ting , Dong Min , Jackson Kimberly , Punt Nieko , Rosen Michael J. , Denson Lee A. , Vinks Alexander A. , Minar Phillip
Published: December 2020

Standard‐of‐care infliximab dosing regimens were developed prior to the routine use of therapeutic drug monitoring and identification of target concentrations. Not surprisingly, subtherapeutic infliximab concentrations in pediatric Crohn’s disease (CD) are common. The primary aim was to conduct a real‐world pharmacokinetic (PK) evaluation to discover blood biomarkers of rapid clearance, identify exposure targets, and a secondary aim to translate PK modeling to the clinic. In a multicenter observational study, 671 peak and trough infliximab concentrations from 78 patients with CD were analyzed with a drug‐tolerant assay (Esoterix; LabCorp, Calabasas, CA). Individual area under the curve (AUC) estimates were generated as a measure of drug exposure over time. Population PK modeling (nonlinear mixed‐effect modeling) identified serum albumin, antibody to infliximab, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and neutrophil CD64 as biomarkers for drug clearance. Week 14 and week 52 biochemical remitters (fecal calprotectin < 250 µg/g) had higher infliximab exposure (AUC) throughout induction. The optimal infliximab AUC target during induction for week 14 biochemical remission was 79,348 µg*h/mL (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) 0.77, [0.63‐0.90], 85.7% sensitive, and 64.3% specific) with those exceeding the AUC target more likely to achieve a surgery‐free week 52 biochemical remission (OR 4.3, [1.2–14.6]). Pretreatment predictors for subtherapeutic week 14 AUC included neutrophil CD64 > 6 (OR 4.5, [1.4–17.8]), ESR > 30 mm/h (OR 3.8, [1.4–11]), age < 10 years old (OR 4.2, [1.2–20]), and weight < 30 kg (OR 6.6, [2.1–25]). We created a decision‐support PK dashboard with an iterative process and embedded the modeling program within the electronic health record. Model‐informed precision dosing guided by real‐world PKs is now available at the bedside in real‐time.
Distributed parallel genetic algorithm for online virtual network embedding
Authors: Nguyen Khoa T. D. , Huang Changcheng
Published: December 2020

Network virtualization (NV) has emerged as a promising paradigm to address the constraints of implementing new protocols and services in existing network architecture by allowing the simultaneous coexistence of multiple heterogeneous virtual networks on a shared substrate infrastructure. Hence, NV is a critical technology for establishing future network architectures (e.g., 5G network and the smart Internet of Things [IoT]). Virtual network embedding (VNE) is a major challenge in NV since it is acknowledged as
‐hard. Many VNE solutions have been proposed over the past decade. However, the proposed solutions merely centralize VNE node mapping while recommending virtual link embedding for the shortest path method or multicommodity flow (MCF) mechanism. This research paper presents an intelligent virtual network orchestration based on genetic algorithm (GA) for the link mapping stage that implements distributed parallelism to significantly and efficiently reduce the operation time. Our extensive simulations have demonstrated that the proposed algorithm not only outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art VNE algorithm in all performance metrics but also achieves 44.01% faster embedding speed than the most well‐known, fastest link mapping method in VNE.
Risk factors for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa in Japan and compared to a U.S. sample
Authors: Pike Kathleen M. , So Mirai , Hilbert Anja , Maekawa Hiroko , Shimanouchi Tomoko , Wilfley Denise , Dohm Faith‐Anne , Fairburn Christopher G. , Weissman Ruth Striegel
Published: December 2020

Objective

This study provides the first systematic investigation of environmental exposure to putative psychosocial risk factors for eating disorders in individuals with AN and BN in Japan. It also provides a comparison of risk factors for the development of AN and BN in Japan versus the United States.

Method

Participants in Japan were 96 women with a current DSM‐IV AN or BN primary diagnosis (AN, n = 60; BN, n = 36) and 57 women with no current psychiatric diagnosis (NC group). Participants in the United States were 137 women with a current DSM‐IV AN or BN primary diagnosis (AN‐U.S., n = 71; BN‐U.S., n = 66). A standardized semi‐structured interview retrospectively assessed exposure to risk factors prior to first symptom onset, which were analyzed using General Linear Model analyses.

Results

Perfectionism and negative affectivity, family relationship issues, and, to a lesser degree, parental psychopathology predicted the emergence of AN and BN in Japan. Physical and sexual abuse and family eating and weight concerns were not significant risk factors in Japan. Compared to their respective diagnostic U.S. groups, the Japanese AN group reported higher levels of individual mental health factors and lower levels of family dieting and family overweight, and the Japanese BN group reported higher levels on individual mental health factors, lower exposure to problems with their parents, and lower exposure to family weight and eating concerns.

Discussion

These country‐specific data from Japan contribute to an increasingly nuanced and global understanding of risk factors for eating disorders.
Prevalence and prognostic value of autonomic neuropathy assessed by Sudoscan® in transthyretin wild‐type cardiac amyloidosis
Authors: Kharoubi Mounira , Roche Fréderic , Bézard Mélanie , Hupin David , Silva Sidney , Oghina Silvia , Chalard Coraline , Zaroui Amira , Galat Arnault , Guendouz Soulef , Canoui‐Poitrine Florence , Hittinger Luc , Teiger Emmanuel , Lefaucheur Jean‐Pascal , Damy Thibaud
Published: December 2020

Aims

The prevalence of autonomic neuropathy (AN) is high in patients with hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis but remains unknown in transthyretin wild‐type cardiac amyloidosis (ATTRwt‐CA). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of AN in patients with ATTRwt‐CA using Sudoscan®, a non‐invasive method used to provide evidence of AN in clinical practice and based on measurement of electrochemical skin conductance at the hands and feet (fESC).

Methods and results

A series of 62 non‐diabetic patients with ATTRwt‐CA was prospectively included over 2 years and compared with healthy elderly subjects, matched by age, gender, and body mass index. The presence of AN was defined as electrochemical skin conductance at the hands <60 μS and/or fESC <70 μS, and conductances were analysed according to clinical, biological, and echocardiographic data. Mean fESC was significantly lower in patients with ATTRwt‐CA compared with elderly controls: 68.3 (64.1–72.5) vs. 76.9 (75.6–78.1) μS (P < 0.0001), respectively. Prevalence of fESC <70 μS was higher in ATTRwt‐CA patients than in controls: 48.4% vs. 19.9%, P < 0.05. Univariate analysis showed that fESC, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide, creatinine plasma levels, and echocardiographic global longitudinal strain were associated with decompensated cardiac failure and death. Multivariate analysis revealed that fESC was an independent prognostic factor, and Kaplan–Meier estimator evidenced a greater occurrence of cardiac decompensation and death in patients with fESC <70 μS, P = 0.046.

Conclusions

Reduced fESC was observed in almost 50% of patients with ATTRwt‐CA and was associated with a worse prognosis. Sudoscan® could easily be used to screen ATTRwt‐CA patients for the presence of AN and identify patients at higher risk for a poor outcome.
Tuning the Ferrotoroidic Coupling and Magnetic Hysteresis in Double‐Triangle Complexes {Dy3MIIIDy3} via the MIII‐linker
Authors: Ashtree Jared M. , Borilović Ivana , Vignesh Kuduva R. , Swain Abinash , Hamilton Sarah H. , Whyatt Yasmin L. , Benjamin Sophie L. , Phonsri Wasinee , Forsyth Craig M. , Wernsdorfer Wolfgang , Soncini Alessandro , Rajaraman Gopalan , Langley Stuart K. , Murray Keith S.
Published: December 2020

We present the syntheses, structures, magnetic data and theoretical analyses for two families of heptanuclear clusters, wherein two staggered dysprosium(III) triangles are linked by various M(III) d‐/p‐block ions. The families differ in the counter‐anion and are of formulae [DyIII6MIII(OH)8(o‐tol)12(MeOH)5(NO3)] ⋅ 4MeOH and [DyIII6MIII(OH)8(o‐tol)12(MeOH)6]Cl ⋅ 6MeOH (M=Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Al; o‐tol=o‐toluate). We find that variation of the central metal ion M is crucial in tuning the toroidal moments on the triangular units, with diamagnetic M linking ions enhancing the ferrotoroidic coupling. By detailed simulation and analysis of various magnetic measurements, including sub‐kelvin microSquid hysteresis loops, we identified the specific signature of the M linking ions’ modulation of toroidal properties, including the mechanism whereby anisotropic, paramagnetic M ions lead to hysteresis profiles with larger remnant magnetisations and broader coercive fields.
Volunteer initiative engages students, boosts university's visibility
Authors: Hope Joan
Published: December 2020

Service to the community has been a long‐standing tradition at Long Island University. Students volunteer more than 150,000 hours annually, said Randy Burd, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. New initiatives in LIU's Global Service Institute build on that tradition.
Economical synthesis of highly efficient and tunable carbon aerogels for enhanced storage of CO2 emitted from energy sources
Authors: Bhatnagar Ashish , Pandey Anant Prakash , Hudson M. Sterlin Leo , Soni Pawan K. , Verma Satish K. , Shukla Vivek , Sekkar V. , Tripathi Manoj , Srivastava O.N.
Published: December 2020

The present investigation reports the synthesis of Carbon Aerogel (CA) with varying pore size and surface area by changing the initial precursor that is, Resorcinol (R) and novel Catalyst (triethyl amine [TEA]) (C) ratio (R/C). The catalyst, TEA allows the gel to dry with negligible shrinkage. The R/C ratio has been kept 1000, 2000 and 3000. The CA with R/C = 1000 has the lowest pore size 1.93 nm, the highest surface area (369.14 m2/g) and the highest CO2 uptake of 24.40 wt.% (5.54 mmol/) at 40 atm CO2 pressure. The activated version of optimum CA (R/C = 1000) has been found to have an average pore diameter ~ 1.91 nm and CO2 uptake capacity of 29.56 wt% (6.71 mmol/g) at 25°C which is one of the highest CO2 storage capacity of CAs reported so far. Thus, the present manuscript put forward highly efficient and tunable CAs for enhanced CO2 storage.
A comprehensive comparative investigation on solar heating and cooling technologies from a thermo‐economic viewpoint—A dynamic simulation
Authors: Jafari Mosleh Hassan , Behnam Pooria , Abbasi Kamazani Maryam , Mohammadi Omid , Kavian Soheil , Ahmadi Pouria , Rosen Marc A.
Published: December 2020

The yearly thermo‐economic performance is dynamically investigated for three solar heating and cooling systems: solar heating and absorption cooling (SHAC), solar heating and ejector cooling (SHEC), and heating and solar vapor compression cooling (HSVC). First, the effects of important design parameters on the thermo‐economic performance of the systems to supply the heating and cooling loads of the building are evaluated. The systems are parametrically analyzed with the weather conditions of Tehran, Iran. The results show that the life cycle costs (LCC) of the SHAC and HSVC systems are alike and much lower than those of the SHEC system. The HSVC system exhibits the best performance from exergetic and solar fraction viewpoints. The comparative analysis shows that the energy efficiencies of the SHAC and SHEC systems are higher in colder climatic conditions. However, the collector efficiency of the HSVC system declines in colder climates, mainly due to the lower solar intensities relative to in hotter climates. Further, the solar fraction of the SHAC system is higher than the SHEC technology under all climatic conditions. Moreover, higher values of solar fractions are obtained under colder weather conditions for the SHEC and HSVC systems. The best economic performance is observed for the SHAC and HSVC technologies, having significantly lower LCCs than the SHEC system. These lower LCCs under colder climatic conditions are due to the lower cost of supplying the heating load compared to the cooling load. Furthermore, all systems exhibit enhanced exergetic performance in colder weather conditions. The yearly thermo‐economic performance is dynamically investigated for three solar heating and cooling systems: SHAC, SHEC, and HSVC. In addition, the effects of important design parameters on the thermo‐economic performance of the systems to supply the heating and cooling loads of the building are evaluated.
Chemical composition and biological activities of Pimenta richardii
Authors: Clarke Kellyann , Porter Roy , Facey Petrea , Yee Trevor , Thoms‐Rodriguez Camille
Published: December 2020

Pimenta richardii is an endemic flowering plant of Jamaica belonging to the Myrtaceae family. A large number of species within this family remain phytochemically unexplored including Pimenta richardii. Hence, this study determined for the first time the chemical composition and biological activities of P richardii essential oils (EOs) extracted via hydrodistillation at four different times of the year. The EOs’ chemical compositions were analyzed by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) and GC coupled to a flame ionization detector (GC‐FID). A total of 40 compounds were identified in the P richardii EOs by comparison of the Kováts retention indices (RI), mass spectra data with those in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) library, and co‐elution with authentic samples where available. The main compounds were eucalyptol (56.53%) in April and limonene (40.7%) in July. The in vitro antimicrobial assays were performed using disk diffusion and tube dilution assay to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). P richardii EOs were active against all 10 micro‐organisms used including Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC BAA 1705), methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus—MRSA (63190122), Streptococcus group A (ATCC 19815), and Streptococcus group B (ATCC 12386) having MIC of 0.25, 0.50, 0.06, and 0.06 mg/mL, respectively. Antioxidant activities were evaluated using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The EOs did not exhibit significant antioxidant property; however, there is potential use of EOs from P richardii in the pharmaceutical industry upon further evaluation.
Endocytosis of the glutamate transporter 1 is regulated by laforin and malin: Implications in Lafora disease
Authors: Perez‐Jimenez Eva , Viana Rosa , Muñoz‐Ballester Carmen , Vendrell‐Tornero Carlos , Moll‐Diaz Raquel , Garcia‐Gimeno Maria Adelaida , Sanz Pascual
Published: December 2020

Lafora disease (LD) is a fatal rare type of progressive myoclonus epilepsy that appears during early adolescence. The disease is caused by mutations in EPM2A or EPM2B genes, which encode laforin, a glucan phosphatase, and malin, an E3‐ubiquitin ligase, respectively. Although the exact roles of laforin and malin are still not well understood, it is known that they work as a complex in which laforin recruits targets that will be ubiquitinated by malin. Recently, we suggested that the type of epilepsy that accompanies LD could be due to deficiencies in the function of the astrocytic glutamate transporter GLT‐1. We described that astrocytes from LD mouse models presented decreased levels of GLT‐1 at the plasma membrane, leading to increased levels of glutamate in the brain parenchyma. In this work, we present evidence indicating that in the absence of a functional laforin/malin complex (as in LD cellular models) there is an alteration in the ubiquitination of GLT‐1, which could be the cause of the reduction in the levels of GLT‐1 at the plasma membrane. On the contrary, overexpression of the laforin/malin complex promotes the retention of GLT‐1 at the plasma membrane. This retention may be due to the direct ubiquitination of GLT‐1 and/or to an opposite effect of this complex on the dynamics of the Nedd4.2‐mediated endocytosis of the transporter. This work, therefore, presents new pieces of evidence on the regulation of GLT‐1 by the laforin/malin complex, highlighting its value as a therapeutic target for the amelioration of the type of epilepsy that accompanies LD.
Growing season evapotranspiration in boreal fens in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region: Variability and environmental controls
Authors: Volik Olena , Kessel Eric , Green Adam , Petrone Richard , Price Jonathan
Published: December 2020

Current efforts to assess changes to the wetland hydrology caused by growing anthropogenic pressures in the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) require well‐founded spatial and temporal estimates of actual evapotranspiration (ET), which is the dominant component of the water budget in this region. This study assessed growing season (May–September) and peak growing season (July) ET variability at a treed moderate‐rich fen and treed poor fen (in 2013–2018), open poor fen (in 2011–2014), and saline fen (in 2015–2018) using eddy covariance technique and a set of complementary environmental data. Seasonal fluctuations in ET were positively related to net radiation, air temperature and vapour pressure deficit and followed trends typical for the Boreal Plains (BP) and AOSR with highest rates in June–July. However, no strong effect of water table position on ET was found. Strong surface control on ET is evident from lower ET values than potential evapotranspiration (PET); the lowest ET/PET was observed at saline fen, followed by open fen, moderately treed fen, and heavily treed fen, suggesting a strong influence of vegetation on water loss. In most years PET exceeded precipitation (P), and positive relations between P/PET and ET were observed with the highest July ET rates occurring under P/PET ~1. However, during months with P/PET > 1, increased P/PET was associated with decreased July ET. With respect to 30‐year mean values of air temperature and P in the area, both dry and wet, cool and warm growing seasons (GS) were observed. No clear trends between ET values and GS wetness/coldness were found, but all wet GS were characterized by peak growing seasons with high daily ET variability.
Observations of canopy storage capacity and wet canopy evaporation in a humid boreal forest
Authors: Hadiwijaya Bram , Isabelle Pierre‐Erik , Nadeau Daniel F. , Pepin Steeve
Published: December 2020

Evaporation of intercepted rain by a canopy is an important component of evapotranspiration, particularly in the humid boreal forest, which is subject to frequent precipitation and where conifers have a large surface water storage capacity. Unfortunately, our knowledge of interception processes for this type of environment is limited by the many challenges associated with experimental monitoring of the canopy water balance. The objective of this study is to observe and estimate canopy storage capacity and wet canopy evaporation at the sub‐daily and seasonal time scales in a humid boreal forest. This study relies on field‐based estimates of rainfall interception and evapotranspiration partitioning at the Montmorency Forest, Québec, Canada (mean annual precipitation: 1600 mm, mean annual evapotranspiration: 550 mm), in two balsam fir‐white birch forest stands. Evapotranspiration was monitored using eddy covariance sensors and sap flow systems, whereas rainfall interception was measured using 12 sets of throughfall and six stemflow collectors randomly placed inside six 400‐m2 plots. Changes in the amount of water stored on the canopy were also directly monitored using the stem compression method. The amount of water intercepted by the forest canopy was 11 ± 5% of the total rainfall during the snow‐free (5 July–18 October) measurement periods of 2017 and 2018. The maximum canopy storage estimated from rainfall interception measurements was on average 1.6 ± 0.7 mm, though a higher value was found using the stem compression method (2.2 ± 1.6 mm). Taking the average of the two forest stands studied, evaporation of intercepted water represented 21 ± 8% of evapotranspiration, while the contribution of transpiration and understory evapotranspiration was 36 ± 9% and 18 ± 8%. The observations of each of the evapotranspiration terms underestimated the total evapotranspiration observed, so that 26 ± 12% of it was not attributed. These results highlight the importance to account for the evaporation of rain intercepted by humid boreal forests in hydrological models.