bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence of Antiseizure Medication–Induced Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions in Malaysia
Authors: Fong Si‐Lei , Lim Kheng‐Seang , Hariraj Vidhya , Lee Sing‐Chet , Wo Wee‐Kee , Ramli Azuana , Ho Jun‐Hui , Lai Pauline Siew Mei , Ng Wei‐Leik
Published: March 2022

Antiseizure medication can potentially cause severe cutaneous adverse reactions, and certain antiseizure medication‐induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions are associated with specific human leukocyte antigen alleles. This caused a change in antiseizure medication prescribing patterns, which may influence the incidence of antiseizure medication‐induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions. Thus, we aimed to determine the incidence of antiseizure medication‐induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions and its change over 15 years (2006‐2019) in Malaysia. This retrospective analysis combined antiseizure medication‐induced SCAR cases from the national adverse drug reaction database in the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency, antiseizure medication usage data from the Malaysian Statistics of Medicine, and prescribing data from University Malaya Medical Centre, a national‐level tertiary hospital to calculate antiseizure medication‐induced SCAR incidence in Malaysia. We observed an upward trend in reported antiseizure medication‐induced SCAR cases from 28 cases in 2006 to 92 in 2016. The incidence of carbamazepine (CBZ)‐induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions increased from 7.5 per 1000 person‐years (2006) to 17.8 per 1000 person‐years (2016) but dropped to 7.2 per 1000 person‐years subsequently (2019). Concurrently, there was an increase in the incidence of severe cutaneous adverse reactions secondary to phenytoin and lamotrigine. The prevalent users of CBZ had reduced from 22.8% (2006) to 14.1% (2016), whereas the levetiracetam and sodium valproate users increased by 5.5% and 4.8%, respectively. The incidence of CBZ‐induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions had reduced since 2016, probably related to the implementation of human leukocyte antigen‐B*1502 screening in Malaysia or substitution of CBZ with other antiseizure medications. However, this was accompanied by an increase in SCAR incidence related to phenytoin and lamotrigine.
Spectroscopic evidence of the effect of hydrogen peroxide excess on the coproheme decarboxylase from actinobacterial Corynebacterium diphtheriae
Authors: Sebastiani Federico , Niccoli Chiara , Michlits Hanna , Risorti Riccardo , Becucci Maurizio , Hofbauer Stefan , Smulevich Giulietta
Published: March 2022

The actinobacterial coproheme decarboxylase from Corynebacterium diphtheriae catalyzes the final reaction to generate heme b via the “coproporphyrin‐dependent” heme biosynthesis pathway in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. The enzyme has a high reactivity toward H2O2 used for the catalytic reaction and in the presence of an excess of H2O2 new species are generated. Resonance Raman data, together with electronic absorption spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, indicate that an excess of hydrogen peroxide for both the substrate (coproheme) and product (heme b) complexes of this enzyme causes a porphyrin hydroxylation of ring C or D, which is compatible with the formation of an iron chlorin‐type heme d species. A similar effect has been previously observed for other heme‐containing proteins, but this is the first time that a similar mechanism is reported for a coproheme enzyme. The hydroxylation determines a symmetry lowering of the porphyrin macrocycle, which causes the activation of A2g modes upon Soret excitation with a significant change in their polarization ratios, the enhancement and splitting into two components of many Eu bands, and an intensity decrease of the non‐totally symmetric modes B1g, which become polarized. This latter effect is clearly observed for the isolated ν10 mode upon either Soret or Q‐band excitations. The distal His118 is shown to be an absolute requirement for the conversion to heme d. This residue also plays an important role in the oxidative decarboxylation, because it acts as a base for deprotonation and subsequent heterolytic cleavage of hydrogen peroxide.
Preconcentration and determination of five antidepressants from human milk and urine samples by stir bar filled magnetic ionic liquids using liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction‐high‐performance liquid chromatography
Authors: Taghizadeh Mohabat , Ebrahimi Mahmoud , Fooladi Ebrahim , Yoosefian Mehdi
Published: March 2022

A sensitive and straightforward liquid–liquid–liquid microextraction method was developed to preconcentrate and cleanup antidepressants, including mirtazapine, venlafaxine, escitalopram, fluoxetine, and fluvoxamine, from biological samples before analyzing with high‐performance liquid chromatography. The essential novelty of this study is using magnetic ionic liquids as the extraction phase in the lumen of hollow fiber and preparing a liquid magnetic stir bar. In this method, polypropylene hollow fiber was utilized as the permeable membrane for the analyte extraction. Six magnetic ionic liquids consisting of the transition metal and rare earth compounds were synthesized and then hollow fiber lumen was injected as acceptor phase to extract the antidepressants. Besides, 3‐pentanol as a water‐immiscible solvent was impregnated in the hollow fiber wall pores. The effective factors in the method were optimized with the central composition design. The resultant calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 0.8–400.0 ng mL−1 (R2 ≥ 0.996). The method displayed the proper detection limit (0.11–0.24 ng mL−1), the reasonable limit of quantification (≤0.79 ng mL−1), wide linear ranges, high preconcentration factors (≥294.3), and suitable relative standard deviation (2.31–5.47%) for measuring antidepressant medications. Analysis of human milk and urine samples showed acceptable recoveries of 96.5–103.8% with excellent relative standard deviations lower than 5.95%.
Dough rheology and physicochemical and sensory properties of wheat–peanut composite flour bread
Authors: Shongwe Sihle G. , Kidane Solomon Worku , Shelembe Jeremiah S. , Nkambule Thabile P.
Published: March 2022

The effect of inclusion of peanut flour from 0% to 20% on dough rheology and physicochemical and sensory properties of wheat–peanut composite flour bread was studied. Farinograph water absorption, dough development time (DDT), and stability increased from 57.7% to 60.1%, from 2.5 min to 6 min, and from 5.5 min to 8.5 min, respectively, for white bread flour dough with increase in peanut flour proportion from 0% to 20%. Similarly, an increase from 62.7% to 64.9%, from 6 min to 7 min, and from 8.5 to 13 min was observed for farinograph water absorption, dough development time (DDT), and stability, respectively, for brown bread dough. The alveograph dough properties including dough strength, pressure (tenacity), extensibility, and extensibility ratio also increased from 31.0 KJ to 37.4 KJ, from 75.1 mmH2O to 91.3 mmH2O, from 68.3 mm to 83 mm, and from 0.78 to 1.11, respectively. Increase in peanut flour proportion significantly (p < 0.05) increased the loaf weight but decreased loaf volume and specific volume. Moreover, increase in peanut flour proportion resulted in an increase in protein and fat content whereas the moisture content decreased. Bread from all the formulations were found to be acceptable by the consumer panel with an overall hedonic acceptability rate of “like” without much significant difference. The results of the study revealed that it is possible to incorporate peanut flour up to 20% for acceptable bread. Further study on the optimization of the blend proportions and on the possibility of blending peanut with other cereals for bread would reveal more insight to diversify the utilization of peanuts.
Head and neck synthetic CT generated from ultra‐low‐dose cone‐beam CT following Image Gently Protocol using deep neural network
Authors: Yuan Nimu , Rao Shyam , Chen Quan , Sensoy Levent , Qi Jinyi , Rong Yi
Published: March 2022

Purpose

Image guidance is used to improve the accuracy of radiation therapy delivery but results in increased dose to patients. This is of particular concern in children who need be treated per Pediatric Image Gently Protocols due to long‐term risks from radiation exposure. The purpose of this study is to design a deep neural network architecture and loss function for improving soft‐tissue contrast and preserving small anatomical features in ultra‐low‐dose cone‐beam CTs (CBCT) of head and neck cancer (HNC) imaging.

Methods

A 2D compound U‐Net architecture (modified U‐Net++) with different depths was proposed to enhance the network capability of capturing small‐volume structures. A mask weighted loss function (Mask‐Loss) was applied to enhance soft‐tissue contrast. Fifty‐five paired CBCT and CT images of HNC patients were retrospectively collected for network training and testing. The output enhanced CBCT images from the present study were evaluated with quantitative metrics including mean absolute error (MAE), signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR), and structural similarity (SSIM), and compared with those from the previously proposed network architectures (U‐Net and wide U‐Net) using MAE loss functions. A visual assessment of ten selected structures in the enhanced CBCT images of each patient was performed to evaluate image quality improvement, blindly scored by an experienced radiation oncologist specialized in HN cancer.

Results

All the enhanced CBCT images showed reduced artifactual distortion and image noise. U‐Net++ outperformed the U‐Net and wide U‐Net in terms of MAE, contrast near structure boundaries, and small structures. The proposed Mask‐Loss improved image contrast and accuracy of the soft‐tissue regions. The enhanced CBCT images predicted by U‐Net++ and Mask‐Loss demonstrated improvement compared to the U‐Net in terms of average MAE (52.41 vs 42.85 HU), SNR (14.14 vs 15.07 dB), and SSIM (0.84 vs 0.87), respectively (, in all paired t‐tests). The visual assessment showed that the proposed U‐Net++ and Mask‐Loss significantly improved original CBCTs (), compared to the U‐Net and MAE loss.

Conclusions

The proposed network architecture and loss function effectively improved image quality in soft‐tissue contrast, organ boundary, and small structure preservation for ultra‐low‐dose CBCT following Image Gently Protocol. This method has potential to provide sufficient anatomical representation on the enhanced CBCT images for accurate treatment delivery and potentially fast online‐adaptive re‐planning for HN cancer patients.
Three‐dimensional upper‐bound limit analysis of ultimate pullout capacity of anchor plates using variation method
Authors: Hu Shihong , Zhao Lianheng , Tan Yigao , Luo Yibo , Zeng Zhonglin
Published: March 2022

The uplift bearing capacity of anchor plates has been the focus of geotechnical engineering research. In this study, based on the upper‐bound limit analysis theory and considering the nonlinear characteristics of geomaterials, the three‐dimensional uplift behavior of a shallow horizontal anchor plate was analyzed. Based on the variational principle, virtual power principle, and equilibrium equation, the ultimate pullout forces of rectangular and circular anchor plates were derived, and the dimensionless breakout factor and failure mechanism of the overlying soil were obtained. The ultimate pullout forces were in good agreement with the existing research results, and the principal stresses along the rupture surface agreed well with that obtained by numerical analysis, which could demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method. Moreover, the effects of the nonlinear coefficient, anchor size and aspect, embedment ratio, and surface overload on the breakout factor were investigated. Meanwhile, the shape modification factors of rectangular and circular anchor plates were obtained. The findings of this study can provide a useful reference for anchor plate design.
Exploring Helical Folding in Oligomers of Cyclopentane‐Based ϵ‐Amino Acids: A Computational Study
Authors: Park Hae Sook , Kang Young Kee
Published: March 2022

Invited for this month's cover picture is the group of Young Kee Kang at Chungbuk National University (Republic of Korea). The cover picture shows the preferred conformation of the hexamer of ϵ‐amino acid Amc5a with a cyclopentane substituent in the backbone investigated using DFT methods in chloroform and water. The Amc5a hexamer adopted a stable left‐handed conformation with a rise of 4.8 Å per turn both in chloroform and water. However, the hexamer of Ampa (an analogue of Amc5a with replacing cyclopentane by pyrrolidine) adopted different conformations in chloroform and in water. Read the full text of their Research Article at 10.1002/open.202100253.
Flexible and high dielectric permittivity composites of Na1/3Ca1/3Bi1/3Cu3Ti4O12 and vinylidene fluoride‐trifluoroethylene copolymer (P[VDF‐co‐TrFE])
Authors: Marcomini Andre L. , Dias Jeferson A. , Morelli Marcio R. , Bretas Rosario E. S.
Published: March 2022

Flexible composites formed by the perovskite Na1/3Ca1/3Bi1/3Cu3Ti4O12 (NCBCTO) with a copolymer of PVDF with TrFE (P[VDF‐co‐TrFE]) and three phases composites made of NCBCTO, P(VDF‐co‐TrFE), and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were successfully prepared by solution casting with ultrasound. Their structures were analyzed by wide angle x‐rays diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform infrared (FTIR), and Raman spectroscopy, while their morphology and thermal properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), respectively. The dielectric properties were measured by impedance spectroscopy. All the composites developed predominantly the β‐phase; in some of them, the NCBCTO acted as a β‐phase nucleating agent, increasing its amount. The addition of NCBCTO altered the Curie temperature of the PVDF‐TrFe composites, indicating suppression of the CL‐phase. The best combination of high dielectric permittivity with low dielectric loss was displayed by the composite with 75 wt% of NCBCTO and 25 wt% of P(VDF‐co‐TrFE). The MWCNTs did not contribute to the increase of permittivity, which was attributed to its poor dispersion; instead of behaving as the electrodes of a capacitor, the MWCNT formed a conductive path, probably due to the impeding presence of the NCBCTO particles.
Invertierte Seifenblasen
Authors: Suhr Wilfried
Published: March 2022

So einfach die Herstellung von Antibubbles auch ist, so rätselhaft erscheint es, dass sich die dabei zur Kollision gebrachten Flüssigkeiten nicht verbinden, sondern durch einen Luftspalt getrennt bleiben, der sich dann zu einer umschließenden Hülle auswächst. Einerseits ist dafür ausschlaggebend, dass die Luft in dem engen Spalt nur laminar fließen kann, sodass ihre Viskosität ins Spiel kommt. Andererseits ist auch eine geringe Mobilität der Flüssigkeitsoberfläche nötig, für die bei einer wässrigen Spülmittellösung ein Gefälle der Oberflächenkonzentration dort angereicherter Tensid‐Moleküle sorgt. Antibubbles unterliegen zeitlichen Veränderungen, die ein Vergleich mit gepusteten Seifenblasen veranschaulicht.
Optisches Auslesen von Quantenbeats in Radikalpaaren
Authors: Steiner Ulrich E. , Lambert Christoph
Published: March 2022

Ladungsgetrennte Radikalpaare (Charge‐Separated Radical Pairs, CSRP) spielen eine zentrale Rolle in der photochemischen Energiekonversion, wie bei der Photosynthese oder in organischen Solarzellen. Mit einem neuen Verfahren lässt sich die Spinentwicklung solcher Paare optisch bestimmen.
Photographie, Fluoreszenz und Phantome
Authors: Loos Andreas
Published: March 2022

Seine Neugier führte ihn zu wichtigen Entdeckungen in Chemie und Physik – aber auch zur Parapsychologie.
Arno Schmidts Berechnungen
Authors: Mecke Klaus
Published: March 2022

Der Wort‐Wissenschaftler Schmidt schafft ein „Wortall“, um form(el)‐haft benamen und mit Schrecken rechnen zu können.
Cryptogenic massive hemoptysis caused by bronchial artery–pulmonary artery fistula in a 12‐year‐old boy: A case report and literature review
Authors: Dong Hanquan , Dong Lili , Yu Yuping , Fu Jia , Chen Xiaofang , Xu Yongsheng , Cai Chunquan
Published: March 2022

Background

Hemoptysis is a frequently encountered symptom of the respiratory system in adult but is rare in children. Bronchial artery–pulmonary artery fistula (BPF) is one of the most important and life‐threatening cause in pediatric hemoptysis patients. Although the severity of BPF has been proved in previous studies, details about clinical diagnosis and treatment of BPF in children have been rarely reported.

Case preparation

A 12‐year‐old boy presented to the hospital with hematemesis after coughing, without any other symptoms. After admission, he had repeated hemoptysis, 20–30 ml each time, and on the 11th night of admission a massive hemoptysis (about 100 ml bright red blood) occurred suddenly. Chest computed tomography demonstrated patchy ground glass opacities in the right lung, suggestive of pulmonary hemorrhage. Bronchial arteriography showed an apparent BPF in the right lobe bronchial artery. Therefore, bronchial artery embolization was performed, following which a thrombus in the bronchial lumen was removed by bronchoscopy. After these interventions, the patient recovered quickly and no recurrence was noted in the following year.

Conclusion

We believe that this case should raise awareness of cryptogenic massive hemoptysis caused by BPF. In the event of hemoptysis in a child, it is important to clarify the source of the bleeding. If common etiologies have been excluded, the presence of pulmonary and bronchial vascular malformations should be considered. Moreover, multidisciplinary collaboration is crucial in the diagnosis and management of cryptogenic hemoptysis.
Cellular Automaton Simulation of Dendrite Growth in Solidification Process of Cr17 Stainless Steel under Mechanical Vibration
Authors: Wang Wenli , Liu Yinghua , Guo Lintong , Wang Yulei
Published: March 2022

Herein, a coupled model of temperature field and dendrite growth is built to examine the solidification microstructure of Cr17 stainless steel under vibration. The temperature field is calculated with ANSYS FLUENT software. In addition, considering solute diffusion and local curvature, a low grid anisotropic cellular automaton (CA) model is used to simulate the dendrite growth. To verify the major source of crystal nucleus in the melts, a mechanical model of dendrite fracture is built, and an investigation is conducted on the critical condition of grain dissociation. As indicated from the results, the dendrites are stripped and dissociated into the melt when the vibration frequency and amplitude values exceed the critical condition of dendrite fracture, the grains are dissociated more easily, and the more equiaxed grains are indicated in the melt with the increase in the vibration frequency. It is preliminarily demonstrated that vibration can facilitate the dendrites to break and be dissociated from the chilling generator surface. The simulation results comply with the experiment.
Recent Progress on the Performance of Lead‐Based Halide Perovskite APbX3 Detectors
Authors: Chen Yanhong , Feng Zhenjie , Pal Arnab , Zhang Jincang
Published: March 2022

Lead‐based halide perovskites APbX3 are likely to become competitive candidates in applications of photodetectors and X/γ‐ray detectors owing to their excellent optical and electrical characteristics, such as high and balanced carrier mobility, long carrier diffusion length, and adjustable bandgap. Based on this system, the article summarizes the performance parameters, such as responsivity, detectivity, external quantum efficiency, and response time of photodetector, and generalizes the research status of its application in near‐infrared light, visible light, and ultraviolet light photodetectors. In addition to that, it also summarizes the recent progress of X/γ‐ray detectors. What is more, the influence of radii of A‐site cations on the photoelectric performance are discussed. Finally, based on these summary and discussion, a research trend could be raised that more and more researchers tend to fabricate APbX3 perovskite with single‐crystalline thin‐film for high‐performance photodetectors in the future. It is proposed that if the A‐site ion is an organic group with a larger radius than the formamidinium (FA+), it may have better photoelectric properties than FAPbX3. Inorganic lead‐based perovskite single crystals with few defects, fast carrier mobility, and good stability are beneficial for attaining low dose rate and high‐energy resolution X/γ‐ray detectors.
Characterization of selected organometallic compounds by electrospray ionization‐ and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐mass spectrometry using different types of instruments: Possibilities and limitations
Authors: Fleissner Sarah , Pittenauer Ernst , Pecak Jan , Kirchner Karl
Published: March 2022

Rationale

Organometallic compounds are becoming increasingly important in their industrial application as catalysts. Mass spectrometry is an essential tool for the structural confirmation of such organometallics. Because the analysis of this class of molecules can be challenging, the ionization behavior and structural confirmation of selected transition metal catalysts are described in this work.

Methods

The transition metal catalysts investigated were analyzed using classical vacuum MALDI reflectron TOF‐MS as well as intermediate pressure matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI QTOF‐MS). Obtained mass spectra were compared with electrospray ionization MS (ESI‐MS) already established for organometallic compounds, utilizing a QTOF mass spectrometer here. In addition, various sample preparations, including two selected MALDI matrices (trans‐2‐[3‐(4‐tert‐butylphenyl)‐2‐methyl‐2‐propenylidene]malononitrile and 2,2′:5′,2″‐terthiophene) with different solvent combinations for MALDI‐MS measurements, were investigated in detail with respect to their correct isotope distribution of the molecular ions observed.

Results

All investigated organometallic compounds were successfully identified by vacuum and intermediate pressure MALDI‐MS. Accurate masses of ions related to molecular ion species (e.g., [M‐Cl]+, [M]+, and [M + Na]+) could be determined by MALDI QTOF‐MS measurements with a mass error of less than ±5 ppm for all compounds. Both investigated MALDI matrices performed equally on both instruments. The impact of the analyte/matrix solvent mixtures turned out to be crucial for a successful analysis of the investigated compounds. In contrast, ESI QTOF‐MS yielded masses of ions related to molecular ion species in favorable cases.

Conclusions

The use of MALDI‐MS for the structural confirmation of organometallic compounds is still not widely used. Nevertheless, this work showed that this analytical technique does have some benefits. The analysis of neutral catalysts proves to be quite useful, concluding that this technique provides a complement and/or an alternative to ESI‐MS.
Orbital apex syndrome associated with intraorbital metastasis of lung cancer
Authors: Ookuma Takashi , Kikuchi Ryota , Takoi Hiroyuki , Toriyama Kazutoshi , Abe Shinji
Published: March 2022

Key message

In lung cancer patients, brain metastasis is often suspected when neurological symptoms appear; however, if ptosis, ocular motility disorder or optic nerve disorder is observed, it is important to identify and treat the orbital apex syndrome.
General Synthetic Strategy to Ordered Mesoporous Carbon Catalysts with Single‐Atom Metal Sites for Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Authors: Luo Zhicheng , Yin Zhouyang , Yu Jiaqi , Yan Yu , Hu Bing , Nie Renfeng , Kolln Anna F. , Wu Xun , Behera Ranjan K , Chen Minda , Zhou Lin , Liu Fudong , Wang Bin , Huang Wenyu , Zhang Sen , Qi Long
Published: March 2022

The electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a transformative technology to reduce the carbon footprint of modern society. Single‐site catalysts have been demonstrated as promising catalysts for CO2RR, but general synthetic methods for catalysts with high surface area and tunable single‐site metal composition still need to be developed to unambiguously investigate the structure–activity relationship crossing various metal sites. Here, a generalized coordination–condensation strategy is reported to prepare single‐atom metal sites on ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC) with high surface areas (average 800 m2 g‐1). This method is applicable to a broad range of metal sites (Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Pt, Pd, Ru, and Rh) with loadings up to 4 wt.%. In particular, the CO2RR to carbon monoxide (CO) Faradaic efficiency (FE) with Ni single‐site OMC catalyst reaches 95%. This high FE is maintained even under large current density (>140 mA cm‐2) and in a long‐term study (14 h), which suits the urgently needed large‐scale applications. Theoretical calculations suggest that the enhanced activity on single‐atom Ni sites results from balanced binding energies between key intermediates, COOH and CO, for CO2RR, as mediated by the coordination sphere.
Smart proteolysis samplers for pre‐lab bottom‐up protein analysis – Performance of on‐paper digestion compared to conventional digestion
Authors: Nguyen Minh Thao , Halvorsen Trine Grønhaug , Thiede Bernd , Reubsaet Léon
Published: March 2022

Here the relation between digestion of proteins by trypsin covalently bound to paper and trypsin in‐solution is investigated. The trypsin acting on paper is covalently bound. A trypsin concentration of 0.5% (w/v) results in the highest digestion activity of all concentrations tested. Additionally, it can be seen that trypsin on‐paper has retained approx. 50% of its activity. Unlike trypsin in‐solution, the stability of the smart proteolysis samplers was regarded to be stable for at least four months when kept refrigerated. Autolysis was very small for covalently bound trypsin: less than 2% compared to in‐solution trypsin. Proteomic analysis of diluted human serum showed more protein identifications (214) in‐solution digestions than on‐paper digestions (76). Also, higher coverage for the in‐solution digestion was obtained. Those proteins identified after on‐paper digestion with no or few disulfide bonds seem to have more similar sequence coverages compared to those identified after in‐solution digestion. Smart samplers allow the determination of at least 70–75 proteins without performing the overnight digestion. All in all, trypsin covalently bound to paper shows to retain high proteolytic activity and is a stable alternative for conventional digestions. In this way, smart proteolytic samplers show their feasibility in pre‐lab sample preparation.
Genomic compatibility and inheritance of hexaploid‐derived Fusarium head blight resistance genes in durum wheat
Authors: Zhu Xianwen , Boehm Jeffrey D. , Zhong Shaobin , Cai Xiwen
Published: March 2022

Hexaploid‐derived resistance genes exhibit complex inheritance and expression patterns in tetraploid backgrounds. This study aimed to characterize the inheritance patterns and genomic compatibilities of hexaploid‐derived Fusarium head blight (FHB) resistance genes in tetraploid durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.). Evaluation of FHB resistance for F1 hybrids of hexaploid ‘Sumai 3’ crossed with tetraploid and hexaploid wheats indicated that Sumai 3‐derived FHB resistance genes exhibit a dominant phenotypic effect seen only in hexaploid hybrids. Alternately, the hexaploid‐derived FHB resistance genes from PI 277012 exhibited complete dominance in the crosses with both tetraploid and hexaploid wheat. FHB evaluation of the F1 hybrids of Sumai 3 and PI 277012 crossed with ‘Langdon’ (LDN)–‘Chinese Spring’ D‐genome substitution lines suggested that chromosomes 2B, 3B, 4B, 5B, 6B, 3A, 4A, 6A, and 7A contain genes that suppress expression of the Sumai 3‐derived FHB resistance, whereas chromosomes 4A, 6A, and 6B contain genes required for expression of PI 277012‐derived FHB resistance. A wide range of segregation for FHB severity (10–90%) was observed in the F2 generation of Sumai 3 crossed with durum cultivars LDN and ‘Divide’, but the distribution of F3 families derived from the most resistant F2 segregants was skewed towards susceptibility. Similar segregation trends were observed in the crosses of PI 277012 with other durum wheats, whereby FHB resistance became slightly diluted over successive generations. These results suggest tetraploid durum wheat contains the unique alleles at multiple gene loci on different chromosomes that positively and/or negatively regulate the expression of hexaploid‐derived FHB resistance genes, which complicate efforts to deploy these genes in durum breeding programs.
When should twins be delivered?
Authors: Giles‐Clark H. J. , McGannon C. , Mol B. W.
Published: March 2022

Linked article: This Editorial comments on the article by Cho et al. Click here to view the article.
What is climate security? Framing risks around water, food, and migration in the Middle East and North Africa
Authors: Daoudy Marwa , Sowers Jeannie , Weinthal Erika
Published: March 2022

From academics to practitioners, many voices have amplified an increasingly popular narrative posing a climate–conflict–migration nexus. This essay reviews the literature on climate security, exploring the human security impacts of climate change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with particular attention to the scholarly literature on vulnerability and adaptation. It also examines the policy implications of discourses that frame water, food, and climate‐induced migration as security threats. This review highlights how incorporating human security perspectives from the fields of development and environmental justice into security studies more adequately illuminates complex issues of “climate security.” Drawing on the human security perspective, this review uses empirical material from the MENA to illustrate the enhanced analytical utility of moving beyond state‐based framings of climate security to include communal and individual well‐being. These alternative understandings of climate security offer promising venues for assessing differential vulnerability and adaptive capacities in the MENA region.

This article is categorized under:

Human Water > Water as Imagined and Represented

Human Water > Water Governance
Vibrational spectroscopy by means of first‐principles molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Ditler Edward , Luber Sandra
Published: March 2022

Vibrational spectroscopy is one of the most important experimental techniques for the characterization of molecules and materials. Spectroscopic signatures retrieved in experiments are not always easy to explain in terms of the structure and dynamics of the studied samples. Computational studies are a crucial tool for helping to understand and predict experimental results. Molecular dynamics simulations have emerged as an attractive method for the simulation of vibrational spectra because they explicitly treat the vibrational motion present in the compound under study, in particular in large and condensed systems, subject to complex intramolecular and intermolecular interactions. In this context, first‐principles molecular dynamics (FPMD) has been proven to provide an accurate realistic description of many compounds. This review article summarizes the field of vibrational spectroscopy by means of FPDM and highlights recent advances made such as the simulation of Infrared, vibrational circular dichroism, Raman, Raman optical activity, sum frequency generation, and nonlinear spectroscopies.

This article is categorized under:

Electronic Structure Theory > Ab Initio Electronic Structure Methods

Theoretical and Physical Chemistry > Spectroscopy

Molecular and Statistical Mechanics > Molecular Mechanics

Electronic Structure Theory > Density Functional Theory
Are levator hiatal dimensions in mid-pregnancy associated with mode of delivery?
Authors: Bjerkholt Frøydis Folvik , Nyhus Maria Øyasæter , Mathew Seema , Volløyhaug Ingrid
Published: March 2022

Introduction and hypothesis

Slow progress of labour is a risk for operative delivery. Smaller levator hiatal dimensions are possible risk factors for slow progress and operative delivery. Our aim was to explore associations between hiatal dimensions antenatally, duration of second stage of labour and mode of delivery.

Methods

Prospective cohort study of 65 nullipara examined at 20 weeks gestation and 6 months postpartum. Levator hiatal anteroposterior diameter and area were measured using 2D/3D transperineal ultrasound and compared between women with normal vaginal delivery and operative delivery (vacuum or caesarean) using t-test and with Spearman’s rank to explore correlations with duration of second stage. ROC analysis established a cut-off for high risk of operative delivery.

Results

Two-dimensional anteroposterior diameter and 3D hiatal area at rest were smaller in women with operative delivery than with normal delivery, 5.0 cm vs. 5.7 cm, p = 0.007 and 18.5 cm2 vs. 14.9 cm2, p < 0.001. From the ROC curve for 2D anteroposterior diameter, a cut-off of 5.6 cm, (sensitivity = 0.94, specificity = 0.63) and for 3D hiatal area a cut-off of 17.6 cm2 (sensitivity = 0.94, specificity = 0.65) predicted operative delivery. We found inverse correlations between second stage of labour and anteroposterior diameter at rest, r = −0.330, contraction, r = −0.365, area at rest, r = −0.324, and contraction, r = −0.521, all p < 0.05.

Conclusions

Smaller hiatal dimensions at 20 weeks gestation were associated with longer second stage of labour and increased risk of operative delivery in nullipara. A 2D anteroposterior hiatal diameter < 5.6 cm and 3D hiatal area < 17.6 cm2 at rest imply increased risk of operative delivery.
Biomechanical integrity score of the female pelvic floor
Authors: Egorov Vladimir , van Raalte Heather , Takacs Peter , Shobeiri S. Abbas , Lucente Vincent , Hoyte Lennox
Published: March 2022

Introduction and Hypothesis

The aim of this study is to develop and validate a new integral parameter, the Biomechanical Integrity score (BI-score), for the characterization of the female pelvic floor.

Methods

A total of 253 subjects with normal and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) conditions were included in the multi-site observational, case-control study; 125 subjects had normal pelvic floor conditions, and 128 subjects had POP stage II or higher. A Vaginal Tactile Imager (VTI) was used to acquire and automatically calculate 52 biomechanical parameters for eight VTI test procedures (probe insertion, elevation, rotation, Valsalva maneuver, voluntary muscle contractions in two planes, relaxation, and reflex contraction). Statistical methods were applied (t-test, correlation) to identify the VTI parameters sensitive to the pelvic conditions.

Results

Twenty-six parameters were identified as statistically sensitive to POP development. They were subdivided into five groups to characterize (1) tissue elasticity, (2) pelvic support, (3) pelvic muscle contraction, (4) involuntary muscle relaxation, and (5) pelvic muscle mobility. Every parameter was transformed to its standard deviation units against the patient age similar to T-score for bone density. Linear combinations with specified weights led to the composition of five component parameters for groups (1)–(5) and the BI-score in standard deviation units. Thep-value for the BI-score hasp = 4.3 × 10−31for POP versus normal conditions. A reference BI-score curve against age for normal pelvic floor conditions was defined.

Conclusions

Quantitative transformations of the pelvic tissues, support structures, and functions under diseased conditions may be studied with the BI-score in future research and practical applications.
RGS3L allows for an M2 muscarinic receptor-mediated RhoA-dependent inotropy in cardiomyocytes
Authors: Levay Magdolna K. , Krobert Kurt A. , Vogt Andreas , Ahmad Atif , Jungmann Andreas , Neuber Christiane , Pasch Sebastian , Hansen Arne , Müller Oliver J. , Lutz Susanne , Wieland Thomas
Published: March 2022

The role and outcome of the muscarinic M2 acetylcholine receptor (M2R) signaling in healthy and diseased cardiomyocytes is still a matter of debate. Here, we report that the long isoform of the regulator of G protein signaling 3 (RGS3L) functions as a switch in the muscarinic signaling, most likely of the M2R, in primary cardiomyocytes. High levels of RGS3L, as found in heart failure, redirect the Gi-mediated Rac1 activation into a Gi-mediated RhoA/ROCK activation. Functionally, this switch resulted in a reduced production of reactive oxygen species (− 50%) in cardiomyocytes and an inotropic response (+ 18%) in transduced engineered heart tissues. Importantly, we could show that an adeno-associated virus 9-mediated overexpression of RGS3L in rats in vivo, increased the contractility of ventricular strips by maximally about twofold. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that this switch is mediated by a complex formation of RGS3L with the GTPase-activating protein p190RhoGAP, which balances the activity of RhoA and Rac1 by altering its substrate preference in cardiomyocytes. Enhancement of this complex formation could open new possibilities in the regulation of the contractility of the diseased heart.
A new training strategy for spatial transform networks (STN’s)
Authors: Navarro Moya Francisco , Puchalt Joan Carles , Layana Castro Pablo E. , García Garví Antonio , Sánchez-Salmerón Antonio-José
Published: March 2022

Spatial transform networks (STN) are widely used since they can transform images captured from different viewpoints to obtain an objective image. These networks use an image captured from any viewpoint as input and the desired image as a label. Usually, these images are segmented, but this could lead to convergence problems if the percentage of overlap between the segmented images is quite low. In this paper, we propose a new training method to facilitate the convergence of a STN in these cases, even when there is no overlap between the object’s projections in the two images. This new strategy is based on the incorporation of the distance transformation images to the training, thus increasing the useful image information to provide gradients in the loss function. This new training strategy has been applied to a real case, with images of Caenorhabditis elegans, and to a simulated case, which uses artificial images to ensure that there is no overlap between the images used for the assays. In the assays carried out with these datasets, we have shown that the training convergence is strengthened, reaching a precision level for IoU metric of 0.862 and 0.984, respectively, and the computational cost has been maintained compared to the assay with segmented images, for the real case.
Brazil’s Amazonian deforestation: the role of landholdings in undesignated public lands
Authors: Yanai Aurora Miho , de Alencastro Graça Paulo Maurício Lima , Ziccardi Leonardo Guimarães , Escada Maria Isabel Sobral , Fearnside Philip Martin
Published: March 2022

The impact of deforestation in Brazilian Amazonia is a global concern, and land occupation in public lands contributes to increased deforestation rates. Little is known about the spread of deforestation in landholdings in undesignated public lands located on cattle-ranching frontiers. We use a case of Matupi District, a hotspot of deforestation along the Transamazon Highway in the southern portion of Brazil’s state of Amazonas, where spontaneous squatters and land grabbers are the main actors occupying landholdings. We assessed the advance of deforestation and the spatial distribution of landholdings in relation to the main road and to land categories (e.g., protected areas and undesignated public land). Landholdings up to 400 ha were the majority in numbers (52%) and larger landholdings (> 400 ha) were located farther into the forest, contributing to expanding the deforestation frontier. By 2018, 80% of the remaining forest was in larger landholdings (> 400 ha), increasing the susceptibility of this forest to being cleared in the coming years. Thus, greater attention should be given to these larger landholdings to control the spread of deforestation. By analyzing the clearing pattern in the landholdings, deforestation monitoring can focus on specific sizes of landholdings that contribute most to the advance of the deforestation frontier. Brazil’s current trend to facilitating the legalization of illegal claims in undesignated public lands, such as the large and medium landholdings we studied, implies vast areas of future deforestation and should be reversed.
Transformative, interdisciplinary and intercultural learning for developing HEI students’ sustainability-oriented competences: a case study
Authors: Sommier Mélodine , Wang Yijing , Vasques Ana
Published: March 2022

The literature has produced relevant theoretical insights into pedagogical frameworks, tools and competences that would be best suited to teach sustainability at higher education (HE). This article contributes to such a discussion using a course on sustainability developed by us as a case study. Two research questions are tackled in this article: (1) How to empower students to address urban sustainability challenges through the inclusion of transformative, interdisciplinary and intercultural learning into the current HE system? (2) Which pedagogical tools can be used to develop students’ sustainability-oriented competences? To address the research questions, the case study consists of two parts. First, by reflecting on the course design, this article aims to shed light on the benefits and challenges of transformative pedagogy and of an interdisciplinary and intercultural framework. Second, by analyzing students’ learning diaries (N = 36) using thematic analysis, this article offers insights into some of the students’ learning process, allowing us to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the course design as well as draw implications to improve and renew courses on sustainability in HE. The findings from the learning diaries indicate the students’ thirst for formal knowledge on sustainability, which they connected to their professional development and yearning for action. The learning diaries also suggest students’ increasing awareness of sustainability as a systemic and structural issue during the course, which aligns with the transformative learning framework used. Finally, this study emphasizes the need for structural support to meaningfully integrate sustainability in HE curricula and teaching practices.
The Problem of Trust Without Intimacy: Education for Handling Expert Knowledge in a Neoliberal Marketplace
Authors: Smith Dorothy V.
Published: March 2022

Trust arises from confidence in a person or confidence in the practices of an institution. Theorists argue that institutional trust depends, to varying extents on intrapersonal trust, which is trust between people who know each other. Science rests its claim to expert knowledge on the practices of knowledge production engaged in by its institutions. Most people cannot check these practices themselves and effectively must trust the experts who explain and vouch for those practices of science, and thus, there is an element of intrapersonal trust needed if the laity is to have trust in science. Much of the sociology of science is concerned with democratic exchanges between scientists and other citizens, in which scientists are expected to show a commitment to open-mindedness and transparency, yet this may leave scientists and their knowledge vulnerable to contestation in terms that may undermine trust in their science. In this article, I draw on data generated in a study of Australian scientists to describe the ways in which trust was important in the work of these scientists and consider the consequences for a scientist who is prepared to admit to uncertainty. Drawing upon these data and from media accounts of the COVID-19 vaccination debate in Australia, I argue that science education for contemporary society must equip scientists and the laity for relationships that are more than narrowly cognitive. I argue for an education that makes explicit the ways in which the community of science interacts to produce and verify knowledge, and that equips students to recognise uncertainty and dissent as central to science and value expert knowledge. I suggest approaches that may achieve this goal.
A Biobehavioural Approach to Understand How Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Reduces Dispositional Negative Self-Bias in Recurrent Depression
Authors: Kirschner Hans , Kuyken Willem , Karl Anke
Published: March 2022

Objectives

In order to address an important gap in understanding mechanisms of depressive relapse, we complemented self-report with psychophysiological measures to a specifically developed brief self-compassion exercise, to examine if mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) reduces dispositional negative self-bias in individuals with recurrent depression.

Methods

Individuals’ responses (self-report, heart rate, heart rate variability and skin conductance) during a previously validated brief self-compassion exercise were assessed in a repeated-measures experimental design at two timepoints 2.5–3 months apart in a convenience sample of remitted depressed attendees of an outpatient clinic for mood disorders. The first group received eight sessions of MBCT (n = 25) in between the two measurements whereas the second group was an untreated control group (n = 25).

Results

When the MBCT group engaged in the self-compassion exercise after MBCT, they showed reduced physiological arousal and increased heart rate variability whereas no changes were observed in the untreated control group. Whereas self-reported state self-compassion after the exercise increased in both groups at both timepoints, only in the MBCT group were the overall levels of state and dispositional self-compassion increased significantly.

Conclusion

MBCT appears to effectively reduce negative self-bias and facilitates psychophysiological benefits associated with a more positive self-view. Physiological responses to our self-compassion exercise could be useful markers of treatment-related changes and further mechanism research on depressive relapse prevention.
Best Practice Recommendations: User Acceptance Testing for Systems Designed to Collect Clinical Outcome Assessment Data Electronically
Authors: Gordon Sarah , Crager Jennifer , Howry Cindy , Barsdorf Alexandra I. , Cohen Jeff , Crescioni Mabel , Dahya Bela , Delong Patricia , Knaus Christian , Reasner David S. , Vallow Susan , Zarzar Katherine , Eremenco Sonya ,   the Electronic Patient-Reported (ePRO) Consortium, PRO Consortium
Published: March 2022

Implementing clinical outcome assessments electronically in clinical studies requires the sponsor and electronic clinical outcome assessment (eCOA) provider to work closely together to implement study-specific requirements and ensure consensus-defined best practices are followed. One of the most important steps is for sponsors to conduct user acceptance testing (UAT) using an eCOA system developed by the eCOA provider. UAT provides the clinical study team including sponsor or designee an opportunity to evaluate actual software performance and ensure that the sponsor’s intended requirements were communicated clearly and accurately translated into the system design, and that the system conforms to a sponsor-approved requirements document based on the study protocol. The components of an eCOA system, such as the study-specific application, customization features, study portal, and custom data transfers should be tested during UAT. While the provider will perform their own system validation, the sponsor or designee should also perform their due diligence by conducting UAT. A clear UAT plan including the necessary documentation may be requested by regulatory authorities depending on the country. This paper provides the electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) Consortium’s and patient-reported outcome (PRO) Consortium’s best practice recommendations for clinical study sponsors or their designee for conducting UAT with support from eCOA providers to ensure data quality and enhance operational efficiency of the eCOA system. Following these best practice recommendations and completing UAT in its entirety will support a high quality eCOA system and ensure more reliable and complete data are collected, which are essential to the success of the study.