bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On-farm multi-location evaluation of genotype by environment interactions for seed yield and cooking time in common bean
Authors: Katuuramu Dennis N. , Luyima Gabriel B. , Nkalubo Stanley T. , Wiesinger Jason A. , Kelly James D. , Cichy Karen A.
Published: February 2020

Common bean variety choice by farmers in Uganda is driven by seed yield plus end-use quality traits like market class and cooking time. Limited genotype by environment information is available for traits valued by consumers. This research evaluated yield, seed size, hydration properties, and cooking time of 15 common bean genotypes within market classes recognized by consumers along with three farmers’ checks at nine on-farm locations in Uganda for two seasons. Yield ranged from 71 to 3,216 kg ha−1 and was largely controlled by location (21.5% of Total Sums of Squares [TSS]), plus the interaction between location and season (48.6% of TSS). Cooking time varied from 19 to 271 minutes with the genotypes Cebo Cela and Ervilha consistently cooking fastest in 24 and 27 minutes respectively. Comparatively, the local checks (NABE-4, NABE-15, and Masindi yellow) took 35 to 45 minutes to cook. Cooking time was largely controlled by genotype (40.6% of TSS). A GGE biplot analysis uncovered the presence of two mega-environments for yield and one mega-environment for cooking time. Identification of mega-environments for these traits will help expedite common bean breeding, evaluation, and variety selection through reduction of number of test environments needed for phenotype evaluations. The high yielding and fast cooking genotypes from this study can be targeted as parental materials to improve existing common bean germplasm for these important traits.
Fabrication of sharp silicon arrays to wound Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Belougne Jérôme , Ozerov Igor , Caillard Céline , Bedu Frédéric , Ewbank Jonathan J.
Published: February 2020

Understanding how animals respond to injury and how wounds heal remains a challenge. These questions can be addressed using genetically tractable animals, including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Given its small size, the current methods for inflicting wounds in a controlled manner are demanding. To facilitate and accelerate the procedure, we fabricated regular arrays of pyramidal features ("pins”) sharp enough to pierce the tough nematode cuticle. The pyramids were made from monocrystalline silicon wafers that were micro-structured using optical lithography and alkaline wet etching. The fabrication protocol and the geometry of the pins, determined by electron microscopy, are described in detail. We also used electron microscopy to characterize the different types of injury caused by these pins. Upon wounding, C. elegans expresses genes encoding antimicrobial peptides. A comparison of the induction of antimicrobial peptide gene expression using traditional needles and the pin arrays demonstrates the utility of this new method.
Box–Behnken design based statistical modeling for the extraction and physicochemical properties of pectin from sunflower heads and the comparison with commercial low-methoxyl pectin
Authors: Peng Xiaoxia , Yang Guang , Shi Yun , Zhou Yifa , Zhang Mengshan , Li Shanshan
Published: February 2020

A natural low-methoxyl pectin (LAHP), was extracted with oxalic acid solution from dried heads of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The single-factor experiments and response surface methodology (RSM) were used to optimize LAHP extraction conditions. The extraction yield of LAHP was 18.83 ± 0.21%, and the uronic acid content was 85.43 ± 2.9% obtained under the optimized conditions (temperature of 96 °C, time of 1.64 h, oxalic acid concentration of 0.21%). Experimentally obtained values were in agreement with those predicted by RSM model, indicating suitability of the employed model and the success of RSM in optimizing the extraction conditions. LAHP has been characterized by ash content, degree of esterification (DE), galacturonic acid (GalA) content, molecular weight and intrinsic viscosity meanwhile commercial low-methoxyl pectin (CLMP) as comparison. This study finds out a potential source of natural LMP which expands the application scope of sunflower heads. It is an efficient reuse of waste resources and provides a novel thought to explore the natural resources for food and pharmaceutical applications.
Comparison of experimental peri-implantitis models after application of ex vivo BMP2 gene therapy using periodontal ligament stem cells
Authors: Park Shin-Young , Kim Kyoung-Hwa , Kim Sungtae , Rhee Sang-Hoon , Yeo In-Sung , Heo Seong-Joo , Lee Yong-Moo , Seol Yang-Jo
Published: February 2020

Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory disease that results in bone destruction around dental implants. A preclinical study using beagle models is frequently performed prior to clinical application in dentistry. Previously, we proposed an immediate peri-implantitis experimental model with a shorter experimental duration and less expense than the conventional experimental model. However, the differences in the regenerative outcomes between the immediate and conventional models were not fully revealed. In this study, we aimed to compare the regenerative outcomes between both models when ex vivo BMP2 gene therapy using autologous periodontal ligament stem cells (B2/PDLSCs) was applied to peri-implantitis defects. The results showed that the defect depths were significantly different between both models. New bone formation occurred in both models, but there were significant differences between the models. More than 70% of the defects were filled with newly formed bone in the conventional model, whereas 30–40% of the defects were filled in the immediate model. However, after adjustment for the differences in the defect depths between the models, the statistically significant differences in the regenerative outcomes between the models were lost. In conclusion, the inferior regenerative outcome of an immediate peri-implantitis model at B2/PDLSCs transplantation resulted from the defect depths, not the model itself.
Generation of human androgenetic induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Choi Na Young , Bang Jin Seok , Park Yo Seph , Lee Minseong , Hwang Han Sung , Ko Kisung , Myung Soon Chul , Tapia Natalia , Schöler Hans R. , Kim Gwang Jun , Ko Kinarm
Published: February 2020

In humans, parthenogenesis and androgenesis occur naturally in mature cystic ovarian teratomas and androgenetic complete hydatidiform moles (CHM), respectively. Our previous study has reported human parthenogenetic induced pluripotent stem cells from ovarian teratoma–derived fibroblasts and screening of imprinted genes using genome-wide DNA methylation analysis. However, due to the lack of the counterparts of uniparental cells, identification of new imprinted differentially methylated regions has been limited. CHM are inherited from only the paternal genome. In this study, we generated human androgenetic induced pluripotent stem cells (AgHiPSCs) from primary androgenetic fibroblasts derived from CHM. To investigate the pluripotency state of AgHiPSCs, we analyzed their cellular and molecular characteristics. We tested the DNA methylation status of imprinted genes using bisulfite sequencing and demonstrated the androgenetic identity of AgHiPSCs. AgHiPSCs might be an attractive alternative source of human androgenetic embryonic stem cells. Furthermore, AgHiPSCs can be used in regenerative medicine, for analysis of genomic imprinting, to study imprinting-related development, and for disease modeling in humans.
In-situ ToF-SIMS analyses of deuterium re-distribution in austenitic steel AISI 304L under mechanical load
Authors: Röhsler Andreas , Sobol Oded , Hänninen Hannu , Böllinghaus Thomas
Published: February 2020

Hydrocarbons fuel our economy. Furthermore, intermediate goods and consumer products are often hydrocarbon-based. Beside all the progress they made possible, hydrogen-containing substances can have severe detrimental effects on materials exposed to them. Hydrogen-assisted failure of iron alloys has been recognised more than a century ago. The present study aims to providing further insight into the degradation of the austenitic stainless steel AISI 304L (EN 1.4307) exposed to hydrogen. To this end, samples were electrochemically charged with the hydrogen isotope deuterium (2H, D) and analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron back-scatter diffraction (EBSD) and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). It was found that deuterium caused a phase transformation from the original γ austenite into ε- and α’-martensite. Despite their low solubility for hydrogen, viz. deuterium, the newly formed phases showed high deuterium concentration which was attributed to the increased density of traps. Information about the behaviour of deuterium in the material subjected to external mechanical load was gathered. A four-point-bending device was developed for this purpose. This allowed to analyse in-situ pre-charged samples in the ToF-SIMS during the application of external mechanical load. The results indicate a movement of deuterium towards the regions of highest stress.
The association between NAT2 acetylator status and adverse drug reactions of sulfasalazine: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yee Jeong , Kim So Min , Han Ji Min , Lee Nari , Yoon Ha Young , Gwak Hye Sun
Published: February 2020

N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) acetylator status can be classified into three groups depending on the number of rapid alleles (e.g., NAT2*4): rapid, intermediate, and slow acetylators. Such acetylator status may influence the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) during sulfasalazine treatment. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association between NAT2 acetylator status and ADRs of sulfasalazine. We searched for qualified studies in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to evaluate the strength of the association between NAT2 acetylator status and ADRs of sulfasalazine. Nine cohort studies involving 1,077 patients were included in the meta-analysis. NAT2 slow acetylators were associated with an increase in overall ADRs (OR 3.37, 95% CI: 1.43 to 7.93; p = 0.005), discontinuation due to overall ADRs (OR 2.89, 95% CI: 1.72 to 4.86; p < 0.0001), and dose-related ADRs (OR 5.20, 95% CI: 2.44 to 11.08; p < 0.0001), compared with rapid and intermediate acetylators. In conclusion, NAT2 slow acetylators are at risk of ADRs during sulfasalazine treatment. Based on our findings, NAT2 genotyping may be useful to predict the occurrence of ADRs during sulfasalazine treatment.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Novel life history strategy in a deep sea fish challenges
assumptions about reproduction in extreme environments
Authors: Singer Randal A. , Moore Jon A. , Stanley Edward L.
Published: February 2020

The deep ocean is frequently assumed to be a homogeneous system lacking
the same diverse life history strategies found in shallower waters. However, as our
methods for exploring the deep ocean improve, common assumptions about dispersal,
reproduction and behavior are constantly being challenged. Fishes exhibit the most
diverse reproductive strategies among vertebrates. Understanding life history
strategies in deep-sea environments is lacking for many species of fishes. Here, we
report a novel reproductive strategy where a fish (Parazen
pacificus) provides parental care via mouth brooding. This behavior
is observed from a specimen collected with eggs present in the buccal cavity, along
with other specimens exhibiting pre-brooding morphologies. This is the first
description of this unique life history trait in a deep-sea fish and fills in a gap
in the larval literature for this family of fishes and prompts further investigation
into other novel reproductive modes of deep-sea fauna.
Author Correction: NIHSS is not enough for cognitive screening in acute stroke: A cross-sectional, retrospective study
Authors: Abzhandadze Tamar , Reinholdsson Malin , Sunnerhagen Katharina S.
Published: February 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Publisher Correction: Optimal Mass Transport with Lagrangian Workflow Reveals Advective and Diffusion Driven Solute Transport in the Glymphatic System
Authors: Koundal Sunil , Elkin Rena , Nadeem Saad , Xue Yuechuan , Constantinou Stefan , Sanggaard Simon , Liu Xiaodan , Monte Brittany , Xu Feng , Nostrand William Van , Nedergaard Maiken , Lee Hedok , Wardlaw Joanna , Benveniste Helene , Tannenbaum Allen
Published: February 2020

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.
Experimental infections and co-infections with Leishmania braziliensis and Leishmania infantum in two sand fly species, Lutzomyia migonei and Lutzomyia longipalpis
Authors: Alexandre Joanna , Sadlova Jovana , Lestinova Tereza , Vojtkova Barbora , Jancarova Magda , Podesvova Lucie , Yurchenko Vyacheslav , Dantas-Torres Filipe , Brandão-Filho Sinval P. , Volf Petr
Published: February 2020

Leishmaniases are neglected tropical diseases and Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis are the most important causative agents of leishmaniases in the New World. These two parasite species may co-circulate in a given endemic area but their interactions in the vector have not been studied yet. We conducted experimental infections using both single infections and co-infections to compare the development of L. (L.) infantum (OGVL/mCherry) and L. (V.) braziliensis (XB29/GFP) in Lutzomyia longipalpis and Lutzomyia migonei. Parasite labelling by different fluorescein proteins enabled studying interspecific competition and localization of different parasite species during co-infections. Both Leishmania species completed their life cycle, producing infective forms in both sand fly species studied. The same happens in the co infections, demonstrating that the two parasites conclude their development and do not compete with each other. However, infections produced by L. (L.) infantum reached higher rates and grew more vigorously, as compared to L. (V.) braziliensis. In late-stage infections, L. (L.) infantum was present in all midgut regions, showing typical suprapylarian type of development, whereas L. (V.) braziliensis was concentrated in the hindgut and the abdominal midgut (peripylarian development). We concluded that both Lu. migonei and Lu. longipalpis are equally susceptible vectors for L. (L.) infantum, in laboratory colonies. In relation to L. (V.) braziliensis, Lu. migonei appears to be more susceptible to this parasite than Lu. longipalpis.
Brainstem volume mediates seasonal variation in depressive symptoms: A cross sectional study in the UK Biobank cohort
Authors: Majrashi Naif A. , Ahearn Trevor S. , Waiter Gordon D.
Published: February 2020

Seasonal differences in mood and depressive symptoms affect a large percentage of the general population, with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) representing the most common presentation. SAD affects up to 3% of the world’s population, and it tends to be more predominant in females than males. The brainstem has been shown to be affected by photoperiodic changes, and that longer photoperiods are associated with higher neuronal density and decreased depressive-like behaviours. We predict that longer photoperiod days are associated with larger brainstem volumes and lower depressive scores, and that brainstem volume mediates the seasonality of depressive symptoms. Participants (N = 9289, 51.8% females and 48.1% males) ranging in age from 44 to 79 years were scanned by MRI at a single location. Photoperiod was found to be negatively correlated with low mood and anhedonia in females while photoperiod was found to be positively correlated with brainstem volumes. In females, whole brainstem, pons and medulla volumes individually mediated the relationship between photoperiod and both anhedonia and low mood, while midbrain volume mediated the relationship between photoperiod and anhedonia. No mediation effects were seen in males. Our study extends the understanding of the neurobiological factors that contribute to the pathophysiology of seasonal mood variations.
Formation of microns long thin wire networks with a controlled spatial distribution of elements
Authors: Pu Long , Fan Hua , Maheshwari Vivek
Published: February 2020

By controlling the spatial distribution of elements using a simple self-assembly process, the catalytic performance can be enhanced.
Resistant starch type-2 enriched cookies modulate uremic toxins and inflammation in hemodialysis patients: a randomized, double-blind, crossover and placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Esgalhado Marta , Kemp Julie Ann , Paiva Bruna R. de , Brito Jessyca Sousa , Cardozo Ludmila F. M. F. , Azevedo Renata , Cunha Diana Barbosa , Nakao Lia S. , Mafra Denise
Published: February 2020

The study evaluated the effect of resistant starch enriched cookies supplementation on the mRNA expression of nuclear transcription factors involved with inflammation and uremic toxins levels produced by the gut microbiota in hemodialysis patients.
Construction of octenyl succinic anhydride modified porous starch for improving bioaccessibility of β-carotene in emulsions
Authors: Li Haiyan , Ma Yunxiang , Yu Liyue , Xue Huadong , Wang Yue , Chen Jinfeng , Zhang Shenggui
Published: February 2020

The synthesis and application of OSA modified porous starch.
Rotational excitation of C2(X1Σg+) by para- and ortho-H2
Authors: Najar Faouzi , Kalugina Yulia
Published: February 2020

A new four dimensional (4D) potential energy surface for the C2(X1Σg+)–H2 van der Waals system is generated.
Catalytic activity of porous carbon nitride regulated by polyoxometalates under visible light
Authors: Tang Shuge , Liu Zhuang , Ma Fengpan , Cao Guilong , Wang Jingkuan , Chen Wei , Feng Xiaojia , Zhu Yongfa
Published: February 2020

A porous composite catalyst is prepared by modifying mpg-C3N4with polyacids through ultrasound. When the mass ratio of SiW12to mpg-C3N4was 1 : 5, the degradation of phenol showed the best catalytic activity, which was 3.5 times that of mpg-C3N4.
Effects of the novel catalyst Ni–S2O82−–K2O/TiO2on efficient lignin depolymerization
Authors: Wang Jindong , Li Wenzhi , Wang Huizhen , Ogunbiyi Ajibola Temitope , Dou Xiaomeng , Ma Qiaozhi
Published: February 2020

To improve the utilization of lignin, much effort has been devoted to lignin depolymerization with the aim to decrease waste and enhance profitability.
Biogenic synthesis of a green tea stabilized PPy/SWCNT/CdS nanocomposite and its substantial applications, photocatalytic degradation and rheological behavior
Authors: Khan Yashfeen , Ahmad Anees , Ahmad Nafees , Mir Faraz Rasheed , Schories Gerhard
Published: February 2020

A green tea leaf-derived cadmium sulfide quantum dot-based system containing different weight percentages of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and polypyrrole, named PSC, was designed via a green method.
Nano Fe and Mg2Ni derived from TMA-TM (TM = Fe, Ni) MOFs as synergetic catalysts for hydrogen storage in MgH2
Authors: Ma Zhewen , Zhang Qiuyu , Zhu Wen , Khan Darvaish , Hu Chuanzhu , Huang Tianping , Ding Wenjiang , Zou Jianxin
Published: February 2020

In situ generated Mg2NiH4/Mg2Ni and α-Fe work as synergetic catalysts to improve the hydrogen sorption behaviors of the MgH2/Mg system.
Deep learning for day‐ahead electricity price forecasting
Authors: Zhang Chi , Li Ran , Shi Heng , Li Furong
Published: February 2020

Deregulation exposes the inherent volatility of the electricity price. Accurate electricity price forecasting (EPF) could help the market participants to hedge against the price movements and maximise their profits. The existing methods have limited capability of integrating other external factors into the forecasting model, such as weather, electricity consumption and natural gas price. This study proposes a deep recurrent neural network (DRNN) method to forecast day‐ahead electricity price in a deregulated electricity market to explore the complex dependence structure of the multivariate EPF model. The proposed method can learn the indirect relationship between electricity price and external factors through its efficient diverse function and multi‐layer structure. The effectiveness of the method is validated using data from the New England electricity market. Compared with the up‐to‐date techniques, the proposed DRNN outperforms the single support vector machine (SVM) by 29.71%, and the improved hybrid SVM network by 21.04% in terms of mean absolute percentage error.
Gas-phase infrared spectroscopy of the rubicene cation (C26H14•+)
Authors: Bouwman J. , Boersma C. , Bulak M. , Kamer J. , Castellanos P. , Tielens A. G. G. M. , Linnartz H.
Published: February 2020

Infrared bands at 3.3, 6.2, 7.6, 7.8, 8.6, and 11.2 μm have been attributed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and are observed toward a large number of galactic and extragalactic sources. Some interstellar PAHs possibly contain five-membered rings in their honeycomb carbon structure. The inclusion of such pentagon defects can occur during PAH formation, or as large PAHs are eroded by photo-dissociation to ultimately yield fullerenes. Pentagon formation is a process that is associated with the bowling of the PAH plane, that is, the ability to identify PAH pentagons in space holds the potential to directly link PAHs to cage and fullerene structures. It has been hypothesized that infrared (IR) activity around 1100 cm−1 may be a spectral marker for interstellar pentagons. We present an experimentally measured gas-phase IR absorption spectrum of the pentagon-containing rubicene cation (C26H14•+) to investigate if this band is present. The NASA Ames PAH IR Spectroscopic Database is scrutinized to see whether other rubicene-like species show IR activity in this wavelength range. We find that a specific molecular characteristic is responsible for this IR band. Namely, the vibrational motion attributed to this IR activity involves pentagon-containing harbors. An attempt to find this specific mode in Spitzer observations is undertaken and tentative detections around 9.3 μm are made toward the reflection nebula NGC 7023 and the H II-region IRAS 12063-6259. Simulated emission spectra are used to derive upper limits for the contributions of rubicene-like pentagonal PAH species to the IR band at 6.2 μm toward these sources.
On the generalized Kesten–McKay distributions
Authors: Szabłowski Paweł J.
Published: February 2020

We examine the properties of distributions with the density of the form: [see formula in PDF] wherec,a1, …,anare some parameters andAna suitable constant. We find general forms ofAn, ofk-th moment and ofk-th polynomial orthogonal with respect to such measures. We also calculate Cauchy transforms of these measures. We indicate connections of such distributions with distributions and polynomials forming the so called Askey–Wilson scheme. On the way we prove several identities concerning rational symmetric functions. Finally, we consider the case of parametersa1, …,anforming conjugate pairs and give some multivariate interpretations based on the obtained distributions at least for the casesn= 2, 4, 6.
Optical diagnosis of diminutive polyps in the Dutch Bowel Cancer Screening Program: Are we ready to start?
Authors: Meulen Lonne W.T. , Bogie Roel M.M. , van de Wetering Alouisa J.P. , van der Zander Quirine E.W. , Reumkens Ankie , Winkens Bjorn , Cheng Hao Ran , Straathof Jan-Willem A. , Dekker Evelien , Keulen Eric , Bakker C. M. , Hoge Chantal , de Ridder Rogier , Masclee Ad A.M. , Sanduleanu-Dascalescu Silvia
Published: February 2020

Background and study aims Implementation of optical diagnosis of diminutive polyps may potentially increase the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of colonoscopies. To adopt such strategy in clinical practice, the Preservation and Incorporation of Valuable endoscopic Innovations (PIVI) thresholds provide the basis to be met: ≥ 90 % negative predictive value (NPV) for diagnosis of adenomatous histology and ≥ 90 % agreement on surveillance intervals. We evaluated this within the Dutch Bowel Cancer Screening Program (BCSP).

Patients and methods Endoscopic and histological data were collected from participants of the national bowel cancer screening program with an unfavorable fecal immunochemical test referred for colonoscopy between February 2014 and August 2015 at four endoscopy centers. The “resect and discard” scenario was studied, resecting diminutive polyps without histological evaluation. Agreement between optical diagnosis and histological diagnosis was measured for surveillance intervals according to Dutch, European and American post-polypectomy surveillance guideline.

Results Fifteen certified endoscopists participated in this study and included 3028 diminutive polyps. In 2,330 patients both optical and histological diagnosis were available. Optical diagnosis of diminutive polyps showed NPV of 84 % (95 % CI 80–87) for adenomatous histology in the rectosigmoid. Applying the ‘resect and discard’ strategy resulted in 90.6 %, 91.2 %, 90.9 % agreement on surveillance intervals for the Dutch, European and American guideline respectively.

Conclusion Our data representing current clinical practice in the Dutch BCSP practice on optical diagnosis of diminutive polyps showed that accuracy of predicting histology remains challenging, and risk of incorrect optical diagnosis is still significant. Therefore, it is too early to safely implement these strategies.
Safety Indices of Ultrasound: Adherence to Recommendations and Awareness During Routine Obstetric Ultrasound Scanning
Authors: Drukker Lior , Droste Richard , Chatelain Pierre , Noble J. Alison , Papageorghiou Aris T.
Published: February 2020

Purpose To analyze bioeffect safety indices and assess how often operators look at these indices during routine obstetric ultrasound.

Materials and Methods Automated analysis of prospectively collected data including video recordings of full-length ultrasound scans coupled with operator eye tracking was performed. Using optical recognition, we extracted the Mechanical Index (MI), Thermal Index in soft tissue (TIs), and Thermal Index in bone (TIb) values and ultrasound mode. This allowed us to report the bioeffect safety indices during routine obstetric scans and assess adherence to professional organization recommendations. Eye-tracking analysis allowed us to assess how often operators look at the displayed bioeffect safety indices.

Results A total of 637 ultrasound scans performed by 17 operators were included, of which 178, 216, and 243 scans were first, second, and third-trimester scans, respectively. During live scanning, the mean and range were 0.14 (0.1 to 3.0) for TIb, 0.2 (0.1 to 1.2) for TIs, and 0.9 (0.1 to 1.3) for MI. The mean and standard deviation of TIb were 0.15 ± 0.03, 0.23 ± 0.09, 0.32 ± 0.24 in the first, second, and third trimester, respectively. For B-mode, the highest TIb was 0.8 in all trimesters. The highest TIb was recorded for pulsed-wave Doppler mode in all trimesters. The recommended exposure times were maintained in all scans. Analysis of eye tracking suggested that operators looked at bioeffect safety indices in only 27 (4.2 %) of the scans.

Conclusion In this study, recommended bioeffect indices were adhered to in all routine scans. However, eye tracking showed that operators rarely assessed safety indices during scanning.
The significance of FNAC in diagnosing differentiated thyroid cancer and the discrepancy between theory and practice – a multi-centre study
Authors: Willms Arnulf , Melder Justin , Hoffmann Manuela Andrea , Wieler Helmut J. , Prechtel Hans , Weitzel Carolin , Sattler Bernd , Trampert Ludwin , Willms Diana , Schwab Robert
Published: February 2020

Introduction After non-invasive diagnostic modalities high risk thyroid nodules are investigated with fine needle aspiration cytology in order to find the right surgical strategy for suspected malignancies. Despite the clear recommendation by the European and the American associations (ETA, ATA) its clinical value is doubted and its importance in clinical practice not fully clarified.

Methods A multicentric study of 119 patients with differentiated thyroid cancer operated on in 24 surgical departments was conducted. The aim was not only to evaluate the use of FNAC as a diagnostic tool, but also to investigate its diagnostic validity and compare it with that of other, non-invasive diagnostic methods.

Results FNAC was used only in 25 % of malignant thyroid nodules. In these patients sensitivity of FNAC was 60 %. In 40 % with preoperative FNAC, the result had an impact on the surgical approach. 17 % underwent surgery only because of the FNAC result, and 23 % underwent a planned surgical resection with total thyroidectomy and lymphadenectomy on account of the FNAC result. In comparison to non-invasive diagnostics (ultrasonography in conjunction with scintigraphy with Na99mTcO4) FNAC reached the same sensitivity.

Discussion The results of our study reveal a limited application of preoperative FNAC in diagnosing thyroid nodules as well as a limited conclusiveness in our study population if not performed according to standards. In order to increase the benefits of this diagnostic modality, it seems to be important to perform FNAC according to the guidelines and in a standardized manner. FNAC should always be conducted in combination with ultrasonography. An experienced cytopathologist should be consulted and the Bethesda classification system should be established.
Medizinische Spracherkennung im stationären und ambulanten Einsatz – Eine systematische Übersicht
Authors: Zuchowski Matthias , Pashayeva Aydan , Wohlrab Martin
Published: February 2020

Einleitung Die medizinische Dokumentation dient neben der Sicherung einer ordnungsgemäßen Behandlung auch der umfänglichen Aufklärung des Patienten. Gleichsam nimmt sie einen großen Anteil der Arbeitszeit von Gesundheitsprofessionen in Anspruch. Häufig ist die zeitnahe Fertigstellung der Dokumentation durch den zunehmenden Zeitdruck im klinischen Alltag zusätzlich erschwert. Um den Zeitaufwand für die medizinische Dokumentation zu reduzieren, werden auch im ärztlichen Dienst immer häufiger Spracherkennungstechnologien in Einsatz gebracht. Dennoch sind die Auswirkungen dieser medizinischen Spracherkennung auf Bearbeitungszeit und Qualität der Dokumentation zum aktuellen Zeitpunkt noch wenig erforscht. Die bestehende Literatur erfasst bis dato nicht in ausreichendem Maße alle Möglichkeiten des aktuellen technologischen Standes. Ziel dieser Übersichtsarbeit ist daher, den aktuellen Forschungsstand zu den Auswirkungen und Folgen des Einsatzes von digitaler Spracherkennung auf Arbeitsprozesse der Gesundheitsprofessionen zu analysieren. Dazu wurden alle seit dem Jahr 2000 veröffentlichten Studien der jeweiligen medizinischen Fachbereiche berücksichtigt.

Methode Die Autoren führten eine Literaturrecherche unter Verwendung der Datenbanken Medline via PubMed und Google Scholar durch. Die Datenbanken wurden nach den folgenden Stichwörtern durchsucht: „speech recognition“, „voice recognition“, „medical“ und „healthcare“. Unter der Annahme, dass sich erst die ab dem Jahr 2000 entwickelten Spracherkennungstechnologien bezüglich ihrer Genauigkeit für den medizinischen Bereich eignen, wurden Studien erst ab diesem Zeitpunkt in der vorliegenden Übersichtsarbeit berücksichtigt.

Ergebnisse Insgesamt lieferten die 29 für diese Analyse herangezogenen Studien sehr differente Ergebnisse. Im Vergleich zu alternativen Diktatserviceleistungen, konnte sich die Spracherkennungstechnologie als zeit- und kosteneffizienter erweisen. Im Vergleich zur Texteingabe zeigte sich die Spracherkennung in den betrachteten Studien jedoch nicht überlegen, was mehrheitlich an der geringeren beobachteten Genauigkeit der Spracherkennung lag.

Schlussfolgerung Der Einsatz von digitaler Spracherkennung im klinischen Betrieb bietet einige Vorteile bezüglich der reinen Dokumentationszeit. Die vorhandenen qualitativen Probleme in der genauen semantischen Umsetzung führen jedoch in den vorliegenden Studien noch nicht zu einer eindeutigen Evidenz der Vorteilhaftigkeit dieser Technologie. Aus diesem Grund besteht darüber hinaus Bedarf an weiteren Untersuchungen auf diesem Forschungsfeld.
Clinical utility of ESGE and ASGE guidelines for prediction of suspected choledocholithiasis in patients undergoing cholecystectomy
Authors: Jagtap Nitin , HS Yashavanth , Tandan Manu , Basha Jahangeer , Chavan Radhika , Nabi Zaheer , Kalapala Rakesh , Reddy P. Manohar , Ramchandani Mohan , Gupta Rajesh , Lakhtakia Sundeep , Darishetty Santosh , Rao G. Venkat , Reddy D. Nageshwar
Published: February 2020

Background Recent guidelines from the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) and American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) recommend risk stratification according to liver function test (LFT) and abdominal ultrasound in patients with suspected choledocholithiasis. We evaluated and validated the clinical utility of these new risk stratification criteria for choledocholithiasis.

Methods We retrospectively analyzed prospectively maintained data of patients with suspected choledocholithiasis between January 2016 and December 2018 in patients undergoing cholecystectomy. Patients with common bile duct stricture, cirrhosis, and portal biliopathy were excluded. After LFT and ultrasound, all patients were stratified according to ESGE and ASGE criteria into high, intermediate, and low likelihood of choledocholithiasis.

Results 1042 patients were analyzed. Using ESGE guidelines, 213 patients (20.4 %) met high likelihood criteria, 637 (61.1 %) met intermediate, and 192 (18.4 %) met low likelihood criteria. Using ASGE guidelines, 230 (22.1 %), 678 (65.1 %), and 134 (12.9 %) met high, intermediate, and low likelihood criteria, respectively. Specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) of ASGE high likelihood criteria were 96.87 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] 95.37 – 97.98) and 89.57 % (95 %CI 85.20 – 92.75) for choledocholithiasis compared with 98.96 % (95 %CI 97.95 – 99.55) and 96.24 % (95 %CI 92.76 – 98.09), respectively, for ESGE criteria. ASGE classified 17 (7.4 %) additional patients as high likelihood compared with ESGE, only one of whom had choledocholithiasis. ASGE classified 58 (8.6 %) additional patients as intermediate, none of whom had choledocholithiasis.

Conclusion This study validates the clinical utility of new ESGE and ASGE criteria for predicting choledocholithiasis. ESGE risk stratification appears more specific than ASGE.
Self-care and Health Care in Postpartum Women with Obesity: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Faria-Schützer Débora Bicudo , Surita Fernanda Garanhani , Rodrigues Larissa , Paulino Daiane Sofia de Morais , Turato Egberto Ribeiro
Published: February 2020

Objective To explore the experiences of women with obesity regarding self-care and the care provided by their families and health team after childbirth.

Methods A clinical qualitative study performed at the Postnatal Outpatient Clinic of Hospital da Mulher, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil. The sample was selected using the saturation criteria, with 16 women with obesity up to 6 months after childbirth.

Results The analysis comprised three categories: 1) postnatal self-care; 2) family support for woman after childbirth; and 3) postnatal health care service for women with obesity.

Conclusion Women with obesity need support from the health team and from their families after childbirth, when they are overwhelmed by the exhausting care for the newborn. The present study reveals how important it is for health care professionals to broaden their perception and care provided after childbirth for women with obesity so they may experience an improvement in their quality of health and of life.
Is Surgical Treatment an Option for Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer in the Presence of Central Residual Tumor after Chemoradiotherapy?
Authors: Topuz Samet , Kaban Alpaslan , Küçücük Seden , Salihoglu Yavuz
Published: February 2020

Objective To evaluate the outcomes of surgical treatment in patients with chemoradiotherapy (CRT)-resistant and locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC).

Methods Patients with LACC who underwent surgery due to resistance to CRT between 2005 and 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) related factors were analyzed.

Results A total of 23 patients were included in the study and the median age was 51 years old. A total of 14 patients (60.8%) experienced recurrence; among these recurrences, 8 of them were local, 5 were distant, 1 was both distant and local. A total of 9 patients (39%) died. The Median DFS and OS durations were 15 and 32 months, respectively. A total of 17 patients (74%) had undergone simple hysterectomy, 4 (17%) radical hysterectomy, and 2 (9%) total pelvic exenteration. Postoperative grade 3 and 4 complications were seen in 12 patients (52%). Macroscopic tumor presence in the pathology specimen was associated with distant recurrence and positive surgical margins with local recurrence (Log-Rank test p = 0.029 and p = 0.048, respectively). The only factor associated with OS was surgical margin positivity (Log-Rank test p = 0.008). The type of surgery, grades 3 and 4 postoperative complications, brachytherapy, and tumor histology were not associated with recurrence.

Conclusion In patients with LACC, hysterectomy is an option in the presence of a central residual tumor after CRT. However, the risk of grades 3 and 4 complications of performed surgery is high. The presence of macroscopic tumor in the pathology specimen and positive surgical margins are poor prognostic factors. The goal of the surgeon should be to achieve a negative surgical margin. It does not seem important if the surgery is simple or radical.
The Effect of Testosterone Replacement on Intramedullary, Inguinal and Visceral Fat in Ovariectomized Rats
Authors: da Silva Lorena Doretto , Veridiano Juliana Mora , Oliveira Jussara Celi Conceição , Sayeg Anna Carolina Haddad , Mader Ana Maria Amaral Antonio , Petri Giuliana , Bianco Bianca , Fernandes César Eduardo , de Toledo Olga Maria Szymanski , Pompei Luciano de Melo , Steiner Marcelo Luis
Published: February 2020

Objective The present article aims to evaluate the impact of testosterone treatment on the expansion of visceral, subcutaneous and intramedullary adipose tissue of ovariectomized rats and the visceral and subcutaneous fat expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) gamma.

Methods In total 48 female Wistar rats were castrated and randomly divided into 6 treatment groups: group E2 was submitted to estradiol 5 μg/day; group T, to testosterone 5 μg/day; group E2 + T, to estradiol 5 μg/day + testosterone 5 μg/day; group TT, to testosterone 30 μg/day; group E2 + TT, to estradiol 5 μg/day + testosterone 30 μg/day; and placebo was administered to group P. After 5 weeks, the rats were euthanized, the inguinal and visceral adipose tissues were harvested, weighted, and had their PPAR gamma expression evaluated by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The right femurs were harvested and histologically prepared to perform the number count of the intramedullary adipocytes.

Results The expansion of visceral fat tissue was much higher in the TT group when compared with other treated groups (p < 0.001). The TT group also showed a higher expansion of inguinal fat (p < 0.01), and groups E2 + T and E2 + TT presented lower growth compared to the P group (p < 0.01). The number of femur intramedullary adipocytes only showed significant differences between groups TT and E2 + TT (p < 0.05). The expression of PPAR gamma showed no differences among the groups.

Conclusion The use of testosterone in high doses leads to an important expansion in both visceral and inguinal adipose tissues. Association with estradiol exerts an expansion-repressive effect on the visceral and inguinal adipose tissues.
Densification mechanism of the ultra-fast sintering dense alumina
Authors: Wang Dangqiang , Wang Xinzhi , Xu Chongjun , Fu Zhengyi , Zhang Jinyong
Published: February 2020

Almost fully dense pure alumina could be prepared by fast firing (FF) at a high temperature (greater than 1689 °C) and a high heating rate (∼350 °C/s) with a whole sintering cycle in approximately 2 min without pressure. Dynamics of the ultrafast densification was explored by comparing the densifying characters of FF sintering and conventional sintering. Results show that overlapping of surface/grain boundary diffusion and lattice diffusion caused by the high heating rate, as well as rapid migration of nanoscale particles caused by the high heating rate and the sufficiently high sintering temperature, leads to the ultrafast densification, which differs from conventional time-cost material diffusion. The ultrafast densification dynamics is expected to be helpful for understanding or developing new fast sintering methods for ceramics.
X-ray diffractive imaging of controlled gas-phase molecules: Toward imaging of dynamics in the molecular frame
Authors: Kierspel Thomas , Morgan Andrew , Wiese Joss , Mullins Terry , Aquila Andy , Barty Anton , Bean Richard , Boll Rebecca , Boutet Sébastien , Bucksbaum Philip , Chapman Henry N. , Christensen Lauge , Fry Alan , Hunter Mark , Koglin Jason E. , Liang Mengning , Mariani Valerio , Natan Adi , Robinson Joseph , Rolles Daniel , Rudenko Artem , Schnorr Kirsten , Stapelfeldt Henrik , Stern Stephan , Thøgersen Jan , Yoon Chun Hong , Wang Fenglin , Küpper Jochen
Published: February 2020

We report experimental results on the diffractive imaging of three-dimensionally aligned 2,5-diiodothiophene molecules. The molecules were aligned by chirped near-infrared laser pulses, and their structure was probed at a photon energy of 9.5 keV (λ ≈ 130 pm) provided by the Linac Coherent Light Source. Diffracted photons were recorded on the Cornell–SLAC pixel array detector, and a two-dimensional diffraction pattern of the equilibrium structure of 2,5-diiodothiophene was recorded. The retrieved distance between the two iodine atoms agrees with the quantum-chemically calculated molecular structure to be within 5%. The experimental approach allows for the imaging of intrinsic molecular dynamics in the molecular frame, albeit this requires more experimental data, which should be readily available at upcoming high-repetition-rate facilities.
Structure and dynamics of ethane confined in silica nanopores in the presence of CO2
Authors: Liu Tingting , Gautam Siddharth , Cole David R. , Patankar Sumant , Tomasko David , Zhou Wei , Rother Gernot
Published: February 2020

Fundamental understanding of the subcritical/supercritical behavior of key hydrocarbon species inside nano-porous matrices at elevated pressure and temperature is less developed compared to bulk fluids, but this knowledge is of great importance for chemical and energy engineering industries. This study explores in detail the structure and dynamics of ethane (C2H6) fluid confined in silica nanopores, with a focus on the effects of pressure and different ratios of C2H6 and CO2 at non-ambient temperature. Quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS) experiments were carried out for the pure C2H6, C2H6:CO2 = 3:1, and 1:3 mixed fluids confined in 4-nm cylindrical silica pores at three different pressures (30 bars, 65 bars, and 100 bars) at 323 K. Two Lorentzian functions were required to fit the spectra, corresponding to fast and slow translational motions. No localized motions (rotations and vibrations) were detected. Higher pressures resulted in hindrances of the diffusivity of C2H6 molecules in all systems investigated. Pore size was found to be an important factor, i.e., the dynamics of confined C2H6 is more restricted in smaller pores compared to the larger pores used in previous studies. Molecular dynamics simulations were performed to complement the QENS experiment at 65 bars, providing supportive structure information and comparable dynamic information. The simulations indicate that CO2 molecules are more strongly attracted to the pore surface compared to C2H6. The C2H6 molecules interacting with or near the pore surface form a dense first layer (L1) close to the pore surface and a second less dense layer (L2) extending into the pore center. Both the experiments and simulations revealed the role that CO2 molecules play in enhancing C2H6 diffusion (“molecular lubrication”) at high CO2:C2H6 ratios. The energy scales of the two dynamic components, fast and slow, quantified by both techniques, are in very good agreement. Herein, the simulations identified the fast component as the main contributor to the dynamics. Molecule motions in the L2 region are mostly responsible for the dynamics (fast and slow) that can be detected by the instrument.
Substituent effects on nonadiabatic excited state dynamics: Inertial, steric, and electronic effects in methylated butadienes
Authors: MacDonell Ryan J. , Corrales María E. , Boguslavskiy Andrey E. , Bañares Luis , Stolow Albert , Schuurman Michael S.
Published: February 2020

The photochemical dynamics of double-bond-containing hydrocarbons is exemplified by the smallest alkenes, ethylene and butadiene. Chemical substituents can alter both decay timescales and photoproducts through a combination of inertial effects due to substituent mass, steric effects due to substituent size, and electronic (or potential) effects due to perturbative changes to the electronic potential energy surface. Here, we demonstrate the interplay of different substituent effects on 1,3-butadiene and its methylated derivatives using a combination of ab initio simulation of nonadiabatic dynamics and time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. The purely inertial effects of methyl substitution are simulated through the use of mass 15 “heavy-hydrogen” atoms. As expected from both inertial and electronic influences, the excited-state dynamics is dominated by pyramidalization at the unsubstituted carbon sites. Although the electronic effects of methyl group substitution are weak, they alter both decay timescales and branching ratios by influencing the initial path taken by the excited wavepacket following photoexcitation.
Modeling the vibrational couplings of nucleobases
Authors: Jiang Yaoyukun , Wang Lu
Published: February 2020

Vibrational spectroscopy, in particular infrared spectroscopy, has been widely used to probe the three-dimensional structures and conformational dynamics of nucleic acids. As commonly used chromophores, the C=O and C=C stretch modes in the nucleobases exhibit distinct spectral features for different base pairing and stacking configurations. To elucidate the origin of their structural sensitivity, in this work, we develop transition charge coupling (TCC) models that allow one to efficiently calculate the interactions or couplings between the C=O and C=C chromophores based on the geometric arrangements of the nucleobases. To evaluate their performances, we apply the TCC models to DNA and RNA oligonucleotides with a variety of secondary and tertiary structures and demonstrate that the predicted couplings are in quantitative agreement with the reference values. We further elucidate how the interactions between the paired and stacked bases give rise to characteristic IR absorption peaks and show that the TCC models provide more reliable predictions of the coupling constants as compared to the transition dipole coupling scheme. The TCC models, together with our recently developed through-bond coupling constants and vibrational frequency maps, provide an effective theoretical strategy to model the vibrational Hamiltonian, and hence the vibrational spectra of nucleic acids in the base carbonyl stretch region directly from atomistic molecular simulations.