bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ninety days transplant free survival with high volume plasma exchange in Wilson disease presenting as acute liver failure
Authors: Pawaria Arti , Sood Vikrant , Lal Bikrant Bihari , Khanna Rajeev , Bajpai Meenu , Alam Seema
Published: December 2020

Objective

To study the efficacy and safety of high volume plasma exchange (HVPE) in Wilson disease presenting as acute liver failure (WD‐ALF).

Methods

An analysis of prospectively collected data of consecutively admitted WD‐ALF cases was done and patients were divided into two groups: (i) high volume plasma exchange (HVPE) group‐ who received HVPE + standard medical therapy (SMT), and (ii) SMT group‐ received only SMT. Outcome measure was transplant free survival (TFS) at 90 days post enrollment, change in biochemical, hemodynamic parameters & incidence of organ dysfunction in HVPE as compared to SMT group, and HVPE related complications.

Results

Out of the total 43 cases of WD‐ALF reported in the study period, 37 were enrolled (median age 9 years, 62.2% males). All biochemical parameters and prognostic indices except blood ammonia and serum creatinine improved significantly at 72 to 96 hours after enrollment in the HVPE group. Overall, TFS at 90 days was present in 9/19 (47.3%) in HVPE group vs 3/18 (16.6%) in the SMT group (OR 2.84, 95% CI 0.91‐8.8, P = .049). Kaplan Meier survival analysis revealed that HVPE group had significantly higher cumulative survival as per the Log Rank test (P = .027); median days of survival was 38 days (IQR 12‐63) in HVPE group vs 14 (IQR 5‐22) days in SMT group.

Conclusions

The present study indicates that in children with WD‐ALF, HVPE not only acts as a bridging therapy to LT but may also improve proportion of the cases with TFS.
Isomerization of n‐pentane over platinum promoted tungstated zirconia supported on mesoporous SBA‐15 prepared by supercritical impregnation
Authors: Lee Wenchao , Yang Chieh‐Chao , Cheng Soofin
Published: December 2020

Tungstated zirconia was supported on mesoporous SBA‐15 by impregnation in supercritical ethanol. The resultant catalyst promoted with 1 wt% of Pt shows 100% selectivity of iso‐pentane and two times higher conversion in n‐pentane isomerization than the one prepared by conventional impregnation. Supercritical impregnation exerts no destruction of the porous silica and offers better dispersion of tungstated zirconia than conventional impregnation. Optimized loading of WO3/ZrO2/SBA‐15 is 20/40/40 wt%, which infers to 2.4 W‐atoms/nm2 and 8.9 Zr‐atoms/nm2 dispersed on the SBA‐15 support. Moreover, introducing a proper mole fraction of hydrogen in the reactants markedly improves the catalytic activity in n‐pentane isomerization. The role of hydrogen was not only served as the reactants, it also acted to regenerate Brønsted acid sites during n‐pentane isomerization. However, overdose of hydrogen leaded to a leveling‐off in the rate of isomerization and enhanced hydrogenolysis reaction. The in situ IR spectroscopic studies suggested that Brønsted acid sites were the active centers for the isomerization. A reaction mechanism was, therefore, proposed that heterolytic fission of hydrogen and dehydrogenation of n‐pentane took place over Pt. The secondary carbocation formed over Brønsted acid sites was rearranged to a tertiary carbocation by methyl migration, followed by reacting with a hydride to generate iso‐pentane.
Human social defeat and approach–avoidance: Escalating social‐evaluative threat and threat of aggression increases social avoidance
Authors: Schlund Michael W. , Carter Hannah , Cudd Gloria , Murphy Katie , Ahmed Nebil , Dymond Simon , Tone Erin B.
Published: December 2020

Basic research on avoidance by Murray Sidman laid the foundation for advances in the classification, conceptualization and treatment of avoidance in psychological disorders. Contemporary avoidance research is explicitly translational and increasingly focused on how competing appetitive and aversive contingencies influence avoidance. In this laboratory investigation, we examined the effects of escalating social‐evaluative threat and threat of social aggression on avoidance of social interactions. During social‐defeat learning, 38 adults learned to associate 9 virtual peers with an increasing probability of receiving negative evaluations. Additionally, 1 virtual peer was associated with positive evaluations. Next, in an approach–avoidance task with social‐evaluative threat, 1 peer associated with negative evaluations was presented alongside the peer associated with positive evaluations. Approaching peers produced a positive or a probabilistic negative evaluation, while avoiding peers prevented a negative evaluation (and forfeited a positive evaluation). In an approach–avoidance task with social aggression, virtual peers gave and took money away from participants. Escalating social‐evaluative threat and aggression increased avoidance, ratings of feeling threatened and threat expectancy and decreased ratings of peer favorableness. These findings underscore the potential of coupling social defeat and approach–avoidance paradigms for translational research on the neurobehavioral mechanisms of social approach–avoidance decision‐making and anxiety.
Lineage analysis of human papillomavirus types 31 and 45 in cervical samples of Iranian women
Authors: Hosseini Neda , Shoja Zabihollah , Younesi Sarang , Shafiei‐Jandaghi Nazanin‐Zahra , Jalilvand Somayeh
Published: December 2020

Knowing the regional lineages/sublineages of human papillomavirus 31 (HPV 31) and 45 would be of great importance for further evolutionary, epidemiological, and biological analysis. In this regard, to characterize more common lineages and sublineages of HPV 31 and 45, the sequence variations of E6 gene were investigated in normal, premalignant, and malignant samples collected from the cervix in Iran. In total, 54 HPV 31‐ and 24 HPV 45‐positive samples were analyzed by hemi‐nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested‐PCR, respectively. All PCR products were subjected to direct sequencing analysis. The results indicated that all three lineages A, B, and C were detected in HPV 31‐positive samples; among which HPV 31 lineage A was dominant as it was found in 66.7% of all samples. HPV 31 lineages B and C were identified in 5.5% and 27.8% of samples, respectively. In HPV 45‐infected samples, lineage B comprised of 62.5% of all samples and the remaining 37.5%  belonged to lineage A. In conclusion, our findings showed that lineage A of HPV 31 was predominant in Iran. Lineage B of HPV 45 was also dominant among Iranian women. However, further studies with larger sample size should be addressed to estimate the pathogenicity risk of HPV 31 or HPV 45 lineages/sublineages in the development of cervical cancer among Iranian women.
Low influenza vaccination coverage in subjects with liver cirrhosis. An alert waiting for winter season 2020–2021 during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Stroffolini Tommaso , Lombardi Anna , Ciancio Alessia , Niro Grazia A. , Colloredo Guido , Marignani Massimo , Vinci Maria , Morisco Filomena , Babudieri Sergio , Ferrigno Luigina , Sagnelli Evangelista
Published: December 2020

We have evaluated flu vaccine coverage and variables associated with the lack of vaccination in cirrhotic subjects with particular attention to the cirrhosis etiology. Cirrhotic subjects consecutively referring to eight Italian centers were prospectively enrolled for a 6‐month period in 2019. Subjects were asked if they had received a flu vaccine in the last 12 months. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of lack of vaccination. A total of 818 cases were recruited. The overall vaccine coverage was 39.6% (26.9% in those younger than 65 years and 51.9% in those older than 64 years; p < 0.001). Age < 65 years (odds ratio [OR] = 2.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.68–3.36), alcoholic etiology (OR = 2.40; 95% CI = 1.49–3.85), birth abroad (OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.10–6.61), and residence in South/Sardinia island (OR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.14–2.42) all resulted independent predictors of the likelihood of lack of vaccination. The lack of information regarding the vaccine as the reason for no vaccination was reported by 71.4% of foreigners and by 34.7% of natives (p < 0.001). In conclusion, much work still should be done to improve coverage among groups at higher risk of lack of vaccination identified in this survey. The ongoing SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic may represent one more alert for improving seasonal flu vaccine coverage to avoid further stress to the National Health System.
The preventative benefit of group diversification on group performance decline: An investigation with latent growth models
Authors: Li Jia , Shemla Meir , Wegge Jürgen
Published: December 2020

Integrating the open systems perspective of groups and the contingency approach to diversity, we study how group diversification (i.e., a process in which a group becomes more diverse over time as members join and/or leave the group) affects group performance change in an adverse task environment. We argue that diversification benefits performance by reducing group performance decline in times of adversity. Group size increase, however, attenuates this preventative benefit of group diversification. Focusing on organizational tenure and gender, we studied 279 sales groups (3277 individuals) in a large German financial consulting company from 2004 to 2008. In this period, a national legislative change prompted the company to withdraw its star product from the market and presented adversity to the sales groups. Results from latent growth models (LGMs) overall support our arguments. This research extends the (conditional) beneficial view of diversity from a static theoretical space about groupbeingdiverse to a dynamic one about groupbecomingdiverse.
The inhibitory effect of volatile organic compounds produced by Bacillus subtilis CL2 on pathogenic fungi of wolfberry
Authors: Ling Lijun , Zhao Yunhua , Tu Yixin , Yang Caiyun , Ma Wenxia , Feng Shenglai , Lu Lu , Zhang Ji
Published: December 2020

Bacillus subtilis strain CL2 is antagonistic to wolfberry postharvest pathogenic fungi. In this study, we isolated and screened this strain for in vitro experiments. The result of the two‐sealed‐base‐plates method revealed that volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from the strain CL2 inhibited the hyphal growth of four pathogenic fungi Mucor circinelloides LB1, Fusarium arcuatisporum LB5, Alternaria iridiaustralis LB7, and Colletotrichum fioriniae LB8. After exposure to VOCs for 5 days, the hyphal growth of the pathogen C. fioriniae LB8 was inhibited by 73%. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the VOCs produced by B. subtilis CL2 caused the mycelium morphology of the pathogenic fungi to deform, twist, fold, and shrink. In the in vivo experiments, we noticed that VOCs could significantly reduce the weight loss rate of wolfberry fruits caused by the pathogenic fungus M. circinelloides LB1 and that the decay incidence rate were caused by the pathogenic fungi F. arcuatisporum LB5, A. iridiaustralis LB7, and C. fioriniae LB8. On the basis of the headspace‐gas chromatography‐ion mobility spectrometry analysis, seven VOCs produced by strain CL2 were identified. Among them, 2,3‐butanedione and 3‐methylbutyric acid are the main antifungal active substances. This study investigated the antifungal properties of VOCs produced by the strain CL2 on postharvest pathogenic fungi isolated from wolfberry fruits both in vivo and in vitro, thereby providing the theoretical basis for its future applications.
Prognostic Value of Epithelial Cell Adhesion Molecules in T1‐2N0M0 Glottic Cancer
Authors: Murakami Naoya , Mori Taisuke , Machida Ryunosuke , Kodaira Takeshi , Ito Yoshinori , Shikama Naoto , Konishi Koji , Matsumoto Yasuo , Murakami Yuji , Nakamura Naoki , Yamashita Hideomi , Yorozu Atsunori , Yoshimura Michio , Inoue Koichi , Nozaki Miwako , Ishikura Satoshi , Itami Jun , Nishimura Yasumasa , Kagami Yoshikazu
Published: December 2020

Objective

This is an ancillary study of a multi‐institutional randomized non‐inferiority phase III trial of accelerated fractionation (AF) versus standard fractionation (SF) radiation therapy for T1‐2N0M0 glottic cancer (JCOG0701). Biopsy specimens of tumors from the patients enrolled in the JCOG0701 are collected and the association between clinical outcomes and histopathologic features such as expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), p53, and p16 were investigated.

Methods

Five slices of undyed slides from biopsy specimens were sent to the National Cancer Center Hospital and all the specimens were assessed for the expression of EpCAM, p53, and p16. The primary objective was to investigate the association between 3‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) and expression of EpCAM, p53, and p16.

Results

A total of 88 out of 370 patients were enrolled in this ancillary study. The 3‐year PFS for tumors with strong expression of EpCAM was 70.6% (95% CI 43.1%–86.6%), while that of tumors without strong expression of EpCAM was 77.5% (95% CI 65.9%–85.5%) with no remarkable difference between groups (P = .67). Likewise, there was no significant difference in 3‐year PFS between tumors regardless of p53 or p16 status. However, in a subgroup analysis for 17 patients with a strong expression of EpCAM, AF showed better 3‐year PFS than SF (100% vs 54.5%, P = .07).

Conclusions

From the current study, it could not be concluded that EpCAM, p16, and p53 were prognostic factors for early‐stage glottic cancer after primary radiation therapy. AF might be an appropriate fractionation for tumors with a strong expression of EpCAM.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 131:1522–1527, 2021
Fast and Slow Nonlinearities in Epsilon‐Near‐Zero Materials
Authors: Khurgin Jacob B. , Clerici Matteo , Kinsey Nathaniel
Published: December 2020

Novel materials, with enhanced light–matter interaction capabilities, play an essential role in achieving the lofty goals of nonlinear optics. Recently, epsilon‐near‐zero (ENZ) media have emerged as a promising candidate to enable the enhancement of several nonlinear processes including refractive index modulation and harmonic generation. Here, the optical nonlinearity of ENZ media is analyzed to clarify the commonalities with other nonlinear media and its unique properties. Transparent conducting oxides as the family of ENZ media with near‐zero permittivity in the near‐infrared (telecom) band are focused on. The instantaneous and delayed nonlinearities are investigated. By identifying their common origin from the band nonparabolicity, it is shown that their relative strength is entirely determined by a ratio of the energy and momentum relaxation (or dephasing) times. Using this framework, ENZ materials are compared against the many promising nonlinear media that are investigated in literature and show that while ENZ materials do not radically outpace the strength of traditional materials in either the fast or slow nonlinearity, they pack key advantages such as an ideal response time, intrinsic slow light enhancement, and broadband nature in a compact platform making them a valuable tool for ultrafast photonics applications for decades to come.
Effect of Copolymer Structure on Rare‐Earth‐Element Chelation Thermodynamics
Authors: Archer William R. , Thompson Tiffany N. , Schulz Michael D.
Published: December 2020

Rare‐earth elements (REEs) are crucial to modern technology, leading to a high demand for materials capable of REE extraction and purification. Metal‐chelating polymers (e.g., polycarboxylic acids, polyamines, and others) are particularly useful in these applications due to their synthetic accessibility and high selectivity. Copolymers with varied mole fractions of acrylic acid and methyl acrylate are synthesized and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) to measure the thermodynamics of REE binding for each material is used. Across a series of copolymer compositions, entropically driven binding thermodynamics (∆G, ∆H, and ∆S) that appear to be independent of χAcrylic Acid are found. ITC stoichiometry data reveal that each copolymer requires between four and five repeat units to bind each REE. These data suggest that alterations in the copolymer structure do not affect the overall binding thermodynamics of REEs to these copolymers.
Efficient Synthesis of Stable Polyelectrolyte Complex Nanoparticles by Electrostatic Assembly Directed Polymerization
Authors: Ding Peng , Chen Lusha , Wei Cheng , Zhou Wenjuan , Li Chendan , Wang Jiahua , Wang Mingwei , Guo Xuhong , Cohen Stuart Martien A. , Wang Junyou
Published: December 2020

Polyelectrolyte complex nanoparticles with integrated advances of coacervate complexes and nanomaterials have attracted considerable attention as soft templates and functional nano‐carriers. Herein, a facile and robust strategy, namely electrostatic assembly directed polymerization (EADP), for efficient and scalable preparation of stable coacervate nanoparticles is presented. With homo‐polyelectrolyte PAA (polyacrylic acid) as template and out of charge stoichiometry, the cationic monomers are polymerized together with cross‐linkers, which creates coacervate nanoparticles featuring high stability against salt through one‐pot synthesis. The particle size can be tuned by varying the cross‐linker amount and salt concentrations during the polymerization and the composition of nanoparticles, as well as the corresponding properties can be regulated by combining different charged blocks from both strong and weak ionic monomers. The strategy can tolerate both high monomer concentrations and increased volume of up to l L, which is favorable for scaled‐up preparations. Moreover, the coacervate nanoparticles can be freeze‐dried to produce a product in powder form, which can be redispersed without any effect on the particle size and size distribution. Finally, the obtained nanoparticles loaded with enzyme and Au nanoparticles exhibit enhanced catalytic performance, demonstrating a great potential for exploring various applications of coacervate particles as soft and functional nano‐carriers.
Synthesis and Characterization of Cationic Dendrimer‐PDMS Hybrids
Authors: Marks Monica A. , Kalaitzidou Kyriaki , Gutekunst Will R.
Published: December 2020

A modular strategy for the synthesis of dendron‐linear polymer hybrids comprised of a flexible polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) midblock with cationic 2,2‐bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid (bis‐MPA) dendron end groups is developed. The invention of a scalable methodology to access quaternary ammonium carboxylate building blocks and their direct use in esterification chemistry enables rapid access to cationic bis‐MPA dendrons. The convergent click coupling of highly charged dendrons to hydrophobic PDMS chain‐ends gives a 12‐membered family of hybrids that are comprised of different dendron generations (G1–3) and quaternary ammonium alkyl chain lengths (C4, C8, C12, C16). This provides a library of materials with variable hydrophobicity, charge density, and chain‐end valency. The physical behavior of the dendron‐linear PDMS hybrid copolymers significantly changes after introduction of the cationic dendron end‐groups and leads to soft‐solid materials as a result of inhibited chain mobility. These PDMS‐dendron hybrids are expected to behave as surface‐active antimicrobial additives in bulk cross‐linked silicone systems.
Flexible Cyclic‐Poly(phthalaldehyde)/Poly(ε‐caprolactone) Blend Fibers with Fast Daylight‐Triggered Transience
Authors: Li Shanshan , Rizvi Mehedi H. , Lynch Brian B. , Tracy Joseph B. , Ford Ericka
Published: December 2020

Cyclic‐poly(phthalaldehyde) (cPPHA) exhibits photo‐triggerable depolymerization on‐demand for applications like the photolithography of microfabricated electronics. However, cPPHA is inherently brittle and thermally sensitive; both of these properties limit its usefulness as an engineering plastic. Prior to this report, small molecule plasticizers are added to cPPHA‐based films to make the polymer more flexible. But plasticizers can eventually leach out of cPPHA, then leaving it increasingly more brittle throughout product lifetime. In this research, a new approach to fabricating flexible cPPHA blends for use as spun fibers is achieved through the incorporation of poly (ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) by a modified wet spinning method. Among blend compositions, the 50/50 cPPHA/PCL fiber shows fast transience (<50 s) in response to daylight while retaining the flexibility of PCL and mechanical properties of an elastomer (i.e., tensile strength of ≈8 MPa, Young's modulus of ≈118 MPa, and elongation at break of ≈190%). Embedding 2 wt% gold nanoparticles to cPPHA can further improve the transience rate of fibers comprising less than 50% cPPHA. These flexible, daylight‐triggerable cPPHA/PCL fibers can be applied to an extensive range of applications, such as wearable electronics, intelligent textiles, and zero waste packaging for which modest mechanical performance and fast transience are desired.
Triple‐Responsive Polyampholytic Graft Copolymers as Smart Sensors with Varying Output
Authors: Max Johannes B. , Nabiyan Afshin , Eichhorn Jonas , Schacher Felix H.
Published: December 2020

Three triggers result in two measurable outputs from polymeric sensors: multiresponsive polyampholytic graft copolymers respond to pH‐value and temperature, as well as the type and concentration of metal cations and therefore, allow the transformation of external triggers into simply measurable outputs (cloud point temperature (TCP) and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of encapsulated silver nanoparticles). The synthesis relies on poly(dehydroalanine) (PDha) as the reactive backbone and gives straightforward access to materials with tunable composition and output. In particular, a rather high sensitivity toward the presence of Cu2+, Co2+, and Pb2+ metal cations is found.
On steady potential models for Euler–Poisson system in general smooth domains
Authors: Chen Chao
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we study the existence of multidimensional steady Euler–Poisson irrotational flows in general smooth bounded domains. If the conservative constant is large enough, the existence of the steady Euler–Poisson flows with low Mach number is established, provided that the normal component of current density and the tangential electric field are imposed on the boundary.
Improving the characterization of meningioma microstructure in proton therapy from conventional apparent diffusion coefficient measurements using Monte Carlo simulations of diffusion MRI
Authors: Buizza Giulia , Paganelli Chiara , Ballati Francesco , Sacco Simone , Preda Lorenzo , Iannalfi Alberto , Alexander Daniel C. , Baroni Guido , Palombo Marco
Published: December 2020

Purpose

Proton therapy could benefit from noninvasively gaining tumor microstructure information, at both planning and monitoring stages. The anatomical location of brain tumors, such as meningiomas, often hinders the recovery of such information from histopathology, and conventional noninvasive imaging biomarkers, like the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) from diffusion‐weighted MRI (DW‐MRI), are nonspecific. The aim of this study was to retrieve discriminative microstructural markers from conventional ADC for meningiomas treated with proton therapy. These markers were employed for tumor grading and tumor response assessment.

Methods

DW‐MRIs from patients affected by meningioma and enrolled in proton therapy were collected before (n = 35) and 3 months after (n = 25) treatment. For the latter group, the risk of an adverse outcome was inferred by their clinical history. Using Monte Carlo methods, DW‐MRI signals were simulated from packings of synthetic cells built with well‐defined geometrical and diffusion properties. Patients’ ADC was modeled as a weighted sum of selected simulated signals. The weights that best described a patient’s ADC were determined through an optimization procedure and used to estimate a set of markers of tumor microstructure: diffusion coefficient (D), volume fraction (vf), and radius (R). Apparent cellularity (ρapp) was estimated from vf and R for an easier clinical interpretability. Differences between meningothelial and atypical subtypes, and low‐ and high‐grade meningiomas were assessed with nonparametric statistical tests, whereas sensitivity and specificity with ROC analyses. Similar analyses were performed for patients showing low or high risk of an adverse outcome to preliminary evaluate response to treatment.

Results

Significant (P < 0.05) differences in median ADC, D, vf, R, and ρapp values were found when comparing meningiomas’ subtypes and grades. ROC analyses showed that estimated microstructural parameters reached higher specificity than ADC for subtyping (0.93 for D and vf vs 0.80 for ADC) and grading (0.75 for R vs 0.67 for ADC). High‐ and low‐risk patients showed significant differences in ADC and microstructural parameters. The skewness of ρapp was the parameter with highest AUC (0.90) and sensitivity (0.75).

Conclusions

Matching measured with simulated ADC yielded a set of potential imaging markers for meningiomas grading and response monitoring in proton therapy, showing higher specificity than conventional ADC. These markers can provide discriminative information about spatial patterns of tumor microstructure implying important advantages for patient‐specific proton therapy workflows.
Calibration and validation of a new elastoviscoplastic soil model
Authors: Yuan Yixing , Whittle Andrew J.
Published: December 2020

This paper presents the calibration and validation for a new 3D elastoviscoplastic soil model, MIT‐SR, for Resedimented Boston Blue Clay (RBBC). The calibration procedure requires selection of material constants from standard types of laboratory consolidation and undrained shear tests, and a procedure for initialization of state variables. The formulation includes two key input parameters that describe sensitivity of rate dependence, β, and creep behavior,  ρα, for which the calibration requires data including CRS consolidation tests at a range of strain rates and drained creep tests. The calibrated MIT‐SR model is benchmarked through a series of simulations of K0‐consolidated triaxial shear tests and direct simple shear tests on RBBC performed at different rates of shear strain. The calibrated model provides very good predictions of the effects of shear strain rate on key engineering properties such as undrained shear strength, strain to peak shear resistance and critical state conditions as functions of the consolidation stress history. The predictions of multistage, undrained relaxation tests are also in good agreement with unique measured behavior reported for RBBC. The comparisons provide clear evidence of the advances in predictive capabilities achieved using the proposed MIT‐SR formulation compared to preexisting isotache‐type models.
xQSM: quantitative susceptibility mapping with octave convolutional and noise‐regularized neural networks
Authors: Gao Yang , Zhu Xuanyu , Moffat Bradford A. , Glarin Rebecca , Wilman Alan H. , Pike G. Bruce , Crozier Stuart , Liu Feng , Sun Hongfu
Published: December 2020

Quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) provides a valuable MRI contrast mechanism that has demonstrated broad clinical applications. However, the image reconstruction of QSM is challenging due to its ill‐posed dipole inversion process. In this study, a new deep learning method for QSM reconstruction, namely xQSM, was designed by introducing noise regularization and modified octave convolutional layers into a U‐net backbone and trained with synthetic and in vivo datasets, respectively. The xQSM method was compared with two recent deep learning (QSMnet+ and DeepQSM) and two conventional dipole inversion (MEDI and iLSQR) methods, using both digital simulations and in vivo experiments. Reconstruction error metrics, including peak signal‐to‐noise ratio, structural similarity, normalized root mean squared error and deep gray matter susceptibility measurements, were evaluated for comparison of the different methods. The results showed that the proposed xQSM network trained with in vivo datasets achieved the best reconstructions of all the deep learning methods. In particular, it led to, on average, 32.3%, 25.4% and 11.7% improvement in the accuracy of globus pallidus susceptibility estimation for digital simulations and 39.3%, 21.8% and 6.3% improvements for in vivo acquisitions compared with DeepQSM, QSMnet+ and iLSQR, respectively. It also exhibited the highest linearity against different susceptibility intensity scales and demonstrated the most robust generalization capability to various spatial resolutions of all the deep learning methods. In addition, the xQSM method also substantially shortened the reconstruction time from minutes using MEDI to only a few seconds.
Determinants of social entrepreneurial intention: An alternative model based on social cognitive career theory
Authors: Ip Ching Yin , Liang Chaoyun , Lai Hsiang Ju , Chang Yuan Jhen
Published: December 2020

This study examines the determinants of social entrepreneurial intention (SEI) through two models: a revised Hockerts' model based on the theory of planned behavior that replaced moral obligation with social responsibility and an alternative model incorporating social cognitive career theory. A survey of 472 residents in Taiwan is conducted for analysis. Results of the revised Hockerts' model observe direct positive effects of perceived social support and social responsibility on SEI, whereas results of the alternative model suggest that social entrepreneurial self‐efficacy and outcome expectations act as critical mediators on SEI. This study also demonstrates that extrinsic reward moderates the relationship between outcome expectations and SEI. Theoretical contributions and practical implications are correspondingly discussed.
Exploring self‐management in adult sickle cell disease patients' at a Teaching Hospital in Ghana
Authors: Amertil Ninon P. , Ayitey Elikem Keli , Kpongboe Doris Grace , Attafuah Priscilla Y. A.
Published: December 2020

Aim

To evaluate the relationships among self‐efficacy, uncertainty, self‐management and emergency hospital visits yearly among adult sickle cell disease patients’ and related demographics at a Teaching Hospital in Ghana.

Design

A quantitative cross‐sectional design.

Method

A purposive and convenience sample of 85 adult clients from a sickle cell clinic in Ghana completed research instruments. Data collection occurred in March and April 2019. Instruments used were the self‐efficacy scale, self‐care agency scale, Mishel uncertainty scale and socio‐demographic variables. Pearson correlation and regression techniques were used for analysis.

Findings

The correlation results showed a low positive and significant correlation between self‐efficacy and self‐management (r = 0.357, p < .01), a significant moderate negative relationship between self‐efficacy and uncertainty (r = −0.459, p < .01) and a significant low negative relationship between self‐management and uncertainty. For the regression, employment (p = .003) and marital status (p = .002) significantly predicted self‐management among others.

Conclusion

Self‐efficacy had positive and significant relationship with self‐management. Similarly, patients with family support and employment experienced better self‐management. Furthermore, patients with higher education and living with family had reduced illness uncertainty. Thus, the findings can improve self‐care measures and mitigate illness uncertainty for better health outcomes.
Two‐dimensional Haar wavelet based approximation technique to study the sensitivities of the price of an option
Authors: Kumar Devendra , Deswal Komal
Published: December 2020

In the present work, a two‐dimensional Haar wavelet method is proposed to study the sensitivities of the price of an option. The method is appropriate to study these sensitivities as it explicitly gives the values of all the derivatives of the solution. A Black–Scholes model for European style options is considered to analyze the physical and numerical aspects of the put and the call option Greeks. We use the concept of coordinate transformation to make the Black–Scholes equation dimensionless and to resolve the obstacle in approximating the Greeks having non‐smoothness at the strike price. The infinite spatial domain is truncated into the finite domain to avoid large truncation errors. Through rigorous analysis, the method is shown first‐order accurate in the L2−norm. The numerical computations performed to approximate the option price and various Greeks, like delta, theta, gamma, and so forth, confirm the theoretical results in L2−norm. The relative errors and the maximum absolute errors are also presented. The motivational work of option Greeks analysis may leave a significant impact on financial institutes; it helps them to manage the risk by setting the portfolio's new value and to estimate the probability of losing money.
Inconsistent social rhythms are associated with abdominal adiposity after involuntary job loss: An observational study
Authors: Haynes Patricia L. , Apolinar Gabriella R. , Mayer Candace , Kobayashi Ume , Silva Graciela E. , Glickenstein David A. , Thomson Cynthia A. , Quan Stuart F.
Published: December 2020

Objective

Unemployment is an established risk factor for obesity. However, few studies have examined obesity‐related health behavior after involuntary job loss specifically. Job loss confers a disruption in daily time structure that could lead to negative metabolic and psychological outcomes through chronobiological mechanisms. This study examines whether individuals with unstable social rhythms after involuntary job loss present with higher abdominal adiposity than individuals with more consistent social rhythms and whether this relationship varies as a function of depressive symptoms.

Methods

Cross‐sectional baseline data (n = 191) from the ongoing Assessing Daily Activity Patterns in occupational Transitions (ADAPT) study were analyzed using linear regression techniques. Participants completed the Social Rhythm Metric‐17 (SRM) daily over 2 weeks. They also completed the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI‐II) and participated in standardized waist circumference measurements (cm).

Results

A significant interaction emerged between SRM and BDI‐II demonstrating that less consistent social rhythms were associated with larger waist circumference at lower levels of depressive symptoms. Additional exploratory analyses demonstrated a positive association between the number of daily activities performed alone and waist circumference when controlling for symptoms of depression.

Conclusion

These findings are the first to demonstrate a relationship between social rhythm stability and abdominal adiposity in adults who have recently, involuntarily lost their jobs. Results highlight the moderating role of depressive symptoms on daily routine in studies of metabolic health. Future prospective analysis is necessary to examine causal pathways.
A novel P‐S‐Si‐based cage‐structural monomer for flame‐retardant modification of unsaturated polyester resin
Authors: Zhang Gang , Song Dongdong , Ma Su , Wang Yanlin , Xie Xiaotian , Dong Yanmao
Published: December 2020

Currently, the issue of improving the flame‐retardant performance of unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) has drawn a lot of attention. In this study, methyl vinyl di (1‐thio‐2,6,7‐trioxal‐1‐phosphabicyclo [2.2] octane‐4‐methoxy) silane (MVDOS) with P‐N‐Si‐based cage unit was synthesized, and it was utilized as a reactive flame‐retardant monomer to modify UPR. The UPR/MVDOS composites were prepared by introducing different ratios of MVDOS into UPR via the reaction of crosslink. The efficiency of the resulted composites was investigated by using the limiting oxygen index (LOI), vertical burning test, and cone calorimeter test. The results showed that the composites reached the V‐0 rate without dripping, and the LOI value was 29.1% when the content of MVDOS was as low as 18 wt%. Cone calorimeter tests revealed the peak of heat release and CO production of UPR/MVDOS‐18 were 238.2 KW/m2 and 0.0167 g/s, which were respectively lower than the ones of neat UPR. The introduction of MVDOS also increased the stability of UPR composites. Furthermore, the scattering electron microscopy, laser Raman spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies revealed that the incorporation of MVDOS stimulated the UPR matrix to generate char layer with increased graphitization degree, which provided a good barrier to prevent heat and oxygen from being transferred and then protected the materials inside from further burning. This research provides a new way to obtain flame‐retardant UPR composites with high performance.
Characteristics and prognosis of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in children and adolescents: An analysis of 464 cases from the SEER database
Authors: Wang Xinyu , Feng Jun , Li Zhe , Zhang Xin , Chen Jun , Feng Guoshuang
Published: December 2020

Importance

As the most common subtype of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), the prognosis of embryonal RMS has rarely been investigated solely.

Objective

To perform a population‐based study to characterize the prognosis of embryonal RMS in children and adolescents.

Methods

Demographic and clinical features were retrospectively evaluated in selected patients with embryonal RMS registered in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program from 1988 to 2016. Survival curves were compared using the log‐rank test. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was developed to assess the impact of each factor on the overall survival. A nomogram was constructed based on the results of Cox regression model.

Results

A total of 464 patients were included in the analysis, among which 64.6% were male and 70.2% were white patients. About 38.6% and 26.3% of the patients were at 1–4 years and 5–9 years, respectively. Cox analysis showed that patients at age group 5–9 years had the lowest risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 0.277; 95% confidential interval [CI], 0.123–0.620), compared with patients diagnosed at less than 1‐year‐old, and age group 1–4 years had the second‐best prognosis. Patients having distant tumors had significantly higher mortality risk (HR, 4.842; 95% CI, 2.804–8.362) than the patients with localized tumor. Compared with receiving no surgery or radiotherapy, receiving any combination of surgery and radiotherapy would lower the risk of mortality significantly (for surgery without radiotherapy: HR, 0.418; for radiotherapy without surgery: HR, 0.405; and for surgery plus radiotherapy: HR, 0.410).

Interpretation

Age, stage at diagnosis, and treatment received were found to be the most important predictors of the overall survival of pediatric embryonal RMS.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2‐induced multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children
Authors: Feng Zhiguan , Bao Yanmin , Yang Yonghong , Zheng Yuejie , Shen Kunling
Published: December 2020

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2)‐induced multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐C) is a life‐threatening illness that has been reported in the United States and Europe. It affects multiple organ systems and often requires patient admission to an intensive care unit. Although some features of MIS‐C overlap with Kawasaki disease, MIS‐C is more common among older children and adolescents, more often affects cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems, and more frequently presents with elevated inflammatory markers. Rapid and complete clinical recovery is possible in nearly all patients following immunomodulation therapy. Thus far, MIS‐C pathophysiology and long‐term prognosis are not sufficiently clear; further studies are needed.
TALEN‐mediated generation of Nkx3.1 knockout rat model
Authors: Lee Ji Min , Kim Ukjin , Yang Hyokyung , Ryu Bokyeong , Kim Jin , Sakuma Tetsushi , Yamamoto Takashi , Park Jae‐Hak
Published: December 2020

Background

Recent developments in gene editing, using transcriptional activator‐like effector nucleases (TALENs), have greatly helped the generation of genetically engineered animal models. The NK3 homeobox 1 (NKX3.1) protein plays important roles in prostate development and protein production, and functions as a tumor suppressor. Recently, NKX3.1 was shown to be associated with breast cancer in humans.

Methods

Our aim was to create a new rat model to elucidate the functions of NKX3.1. To that end, we generated Nkx3.1 knockout rats using TALENs and analyzed their phenotype. TALEN‐mediated Nkx3.1 knockout was confirmed by T7 endonuclease I (T7E1) assay and DNA sequencing. Prostate weight and fertility were evaluated in the knockout rats, besides determining the proportion of epithelial cells and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of genes associated with carcinogenesis. Breast tumors were examined by histopathology.

Results

Results suggested Nkx3.1 knockout rats have reduced fertility, decreased prostate weights, and increased epithelial cell layers. The mRNA expression of genes related to prostate carcinogenesis, namely Ar, Akt, and Pi3k, also increased. Moreover, the Nkx3.1 knockout rats often developed malignant breast tumors.

Conclusions

We, therefore, successfully created the first Nkx3.1 knockout rat model, using TALEN‐mediated gene targeting, and used it to identify defects associated with Nkx3.1 deficiency, not previously observed in mice. Loss of Nkx3.1 in rats led to lower reproductive capacity, and decreased prostate weights, apart from the risk of developing breast cancer. We, thus, proposed Nkx3.1 knockout rats as reliable models for studying the role of NKX3.1 in decreased prostate weights, fertility, and breast cancer, as well as in prostate cancer.
An electromagnetic tracking implantation navigation system in dentistry with virtual calibration
Authors: Gao Yao , Qin Chunxia , Tao Baoxin , Hu Junlei , Wu Yiqun , Chen Xiaojun
Published: December 2020

Background

Dental implant placement navigation systems based on optical tracking have been widely used in clinics. However, electromagnetic (EM) navigation method that does not suffer from problems of hidden line‐of‐light has not yet been described.

Methods

This work proposes an EM‐guided navigation method named TianShu‐ESNS with virtual calibration. Model (12 implants) and animal experiments (pig head: six implants) were conducted to evaluate its performance and stability.

Result

The mean virtual calibration error was 0.83 ± 0.20 mm. The mean deviations at the entry point, end point and angle in the phantom experiment of TianShu‐ESNS were 1.23 ± 0.17 mm, 1.59 ± 0.20 mm and 1.83 ± 0.27°, respectively. In the animal experiment, the same deviations were 1.25 ± 0.07 mm, 1.57 ± 0.35 mm and 1.90 ± 0.60°, respectively.

Conclusions

The experimental results show that TianShu‐ESNS with the virtual calibration method could serve as a promising tool to eliminate the line‐of‐light hidden problem and simplify operation procedure in dental implant placement.
Is all conflict the same? The role of perceived intensity in understanding its effects
Authors: Burnard Mark , Bruk‐Lee Valentina , Snihur Alexander , Allen Josh
Published: December 2020

While interpersonal conflict at work continues to draw attention, researchers have rarely considered the role that conflict intensity plays in amplifying individuals' affective reactions to it. Hence, this study examines conflict intensity as a moderator of the relationship between interpersonal conflict and perceived stress, physical symptoms, and job satisfaction, through negative affect. A total of 306 employees from various industries participated in this cross‐sectional study. Supporting and expanding an emotion‐centered model of conflict, results indicated that the indirect effects of conflict on the study's outcomes were higher when participants perceived the conflict to be of medium and high‐level intensity.
Sensitivity‐Enhancing Strategies in Optical Biosensing
Authors: Kim Youngsun , Gonzales John , Zheng Yuebing
Published: December 2020

High‐sensitivity detection of minute quantities or concentration variations of analytes of clinical importance is critical for biosensing to ensure accurate disease diagnostics and reliable health monitoring. A variety of sensitivity‐improving concepts have been proposed from chemical, physical, and biological perspectives. In this review, elements that are responsible for sensitivity enhancement are classified and discussed in accordance with their operating steps in a typical biosensing workflow that runs through sampling, analyte recognition, and signal transduction. With a focus on optical biosensing, exemplary sensitivity‐improving strategies are introduced, which can be developed into “plug‐and‐play” modules for many current and future sensors, and discuss their mechanisms to enhance biosensing performance. Three major strategies are covered: i) amplification of signal transduction by polymerization and nanocatalysts, ii) diffusion‐limit‐breaking systems for enhancing sensor–analyte contact and subsequent analyte recognition by fluid‐mixing and analyte‐concentrating, and iii) combined approaches that utilize renal concentration at the sampling and recognition steps and chemical signal amplification at the signal transduction step.
Label‐Free Isolation and Single Cell Biophysical Phenotyping Analysis of Primary Cardiomyocytes Using Inertial Microfluidics
Authors: Tavassoli Hossein , Rorimpandey Prunella , Kang Young Chan , Carnell Michael , Brownlee Chris , Pimanda John E , Chan Peggy P.Y. , Chandrakanthan Vashe
Published: December 2020

To advance the understanding of cardiomyocyte (CM) identity and function, appropriate tools to isolate pure primary CMs are needed. A label‐free method to purify viable CMs from mouse neonatal hearts is developed using a simple particle size‐based inertial microfluidics biochip achieving purities of over 90%. Purified CMs are viable and retained their identity and function as depicted by the expression of cardiac‐specific markers and contractility. The physico‐mechanical properties of sorted cells are evaluated using downstream real‐time deformability cytometry. CMs exhibited different physico‐mechanical properties when compared with non‐CMs. Taken together, this CM isolation and phenotyping method could serve as a valuable tool to progress the understanding of CM identity and function, and ultimately benefit cell therapy and diagnostic applications.
Enhancement of Mass Transport for Oxygen Reduction Reaction Using Petal‐Like Porous Fe‐NC Nanosheet
Authors: Shao Chunfeng , Zhuang Shiguang , Zhang Haocheng , Jiang Qike , Xu Xiaoyan , Ye Jianshan , Li Baitao , Wang Xiujun
Published: December 2020

Nitrogen‐coordinated single‐atom catalysts (SACs) have emerged as a new frontier for accelerating oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) owing to the optimal atom efficiency and fascinating properties. However, augmenting the full exposure of active sites is a crucial challenge in terms of simultaneously pursuing high metal loading of SACs. Here, petal‐like porous carbon nanosheets with densely accessible Fe‐N4 moieties (FeNC‐D) are constructed by combining the space‐confinement of silica and the coordination of diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. The resulted FeNC‐D catalyst possesses an enhanced mesoporosity and a balanced hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity, which can facilitate mass transport and advance the exposure of inaccessible Fe‐N4 sites, resulting in efficient utilization of active sites. By virtue of the petal‐like porous architecture with maximized active site density, FeNC‐D demonstrates superior ORR performance in a broad pH range. Remarkably, when utilized as the air cathode in Zn‐air battery (ZAB) and microbial fuel cell (MFC), the FeNC‐D‐based device displays a large power density (356 mW cm−2 for ZAB and 1041.3 mW m−2 for MFC) and possesses remarkable stability, substantially outperforming the commercial Pt/C catalyst.