bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between suicide behaviours in children and adolescents and the COVID-19 lockdown in Paris, France: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Mourouvaye Maymouna , Bottemanne Hugo , Bonny Guillaume , Fourcade Lola , Angoulvant Francois , Cohen Jérémie F , Ouss Lisa
Published: December 2020

This retrospective observational study conducted in Necker Hospital for Sick Children, France (January 2018–June 2020) evaluated a potential temporal association between admissions for suicide behaviours in children and adolescents and the national COVID-19 lockdown (March–May 2020). During the study period, 234 patients were admitted for suicide behaviours (28% male; mean age 13.4 years). Using Poisson regression, we found a significant decrease in the incidence of admissions for suicide behaviour during the lockdown (adjusted incidence rate ratio: 0.46; 95% CI 0.24 to 0.86). This association might result from reduced help-seeking and decreased hospital admission rates during the lockdown, as well as cognitive and environmental factors. Further multicentre studies should be conducted to confirm these findings and investigate whether a compensatory rise in admissions for suicide behaviour occurred in the postlockdown period.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia and postnatal growth following extremely preterm birth
Authors: Dassios Theodore , Williams Emma E , Hickey Ann , Bunce Catey , Greenough Anne
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To report the current incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and to compare changes in weight and head circumference between infants who developed BPD and infants who did not.

Design

Retrospective, whole-population study.

Setting

All neonatal units in England between 2014 and 2018.

Patients

All liveborn infants born <28 completed weeks of gestation.

Interventions

The change in weight z-score (ΔWz) was calculated by subtracting the birthweight z-score from the weight z-score at 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) and at discharge. The change in head circumference z-score (ΔHz) was calculated by subtracting the birth head circumference z-score from the head circumference z-score at discharge.

Main outcome measure

BPD was defined as the need for any respiratory support at 36 weeks PMA.

Results

11 806 infants were included in the analysis. The incidence of BPD was 57.5%, and 18.9% of the infants died before 36 weeks PMA. The median (IQR) ΔWz from birth to 36 weeks PMA was significantly smaller in infants who developed BPD (−0.69 (−1.28 to −0.14), n=6105) than in those who did not develop BPD (−0.89 (−1.40 to −0.33), n=2390; adjusted p<0.001). The median (IQR) ΔHz from birth to discharge was significantly smaller in infants who developed BPD (−0.33 (−1.69 to 0.71)) than in those who did not develop BPD (−0.61 (−1.85 to 0.35); adjusted p<0.001).

Conclusions

Postnatal growth was better in infants diagnosed with BPD compared with infants without BPD possibly due to more aggressive nutrition strategies.
Prenatal diagnosis of factor 13 deficiency and its recurrence
Authors: Dasari Papa , Mangolngnbi Chanu Sairem , Gadipudi Laxmi Prasanna
Published: December 2020

A young third gravida was referred with prenatal diagnosis of factor XIII deficiency at 20 weeks of pregnancy for Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP). Her first baby, who was born by emergency Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS) for fetal distress, had intracranial haemorrhage in the early neonatal period and was investigated elsewhere and diagnosed to have factor XIII deficiency. The child currently has global developmental delay and cerebral palsy. The mother had a second-degree consanguineous marriage and the couple were diagnosed to be carriers of factor XIII deficiency. She had lot of barriers to get prenatal diagnosis during the second pregnancy and it ended up in Intra Uterine Fetal Death (IUFD) at 27 weeks. During the current pregnancy, prenatal diagnosis (PND) was done only after the second trimester amniocentesis and the genetic mutation was F13 A1, Ex12, C.1687 G>A. Second trimester MTP in a previous scarred uterus was difficult as it is essential to avoid scar rupture. PND during the first trimester is ideal.
Delayed presentation of a congenital duodenal web managed successfully with incision of web
Authors: Jangid Mahendra Kumar , Ahmad Reyaz , Pandre Sujeet
Published: December 2020

One of the causes of congenital incomplete duodenal obstruction is the presence of congenital duodenal web with fenestration. This condition requires a high index of suspicion for an early and accurate diagnosis. We present an unusual presentation of duodenal web in a 6-year-old girl who presented with a 3-year history of cyclical and seasonal vomiting and abdominal pain. The diagnosis of congenital duodenal web with fenestration was made on contrast study and endoscopy and was treated surgically by incision of the web.
Relationship between vasculitis and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: a correlation without causation
Authors: Henderson David Charles , Barringer Gabrielle
Published: December 2020

We report a novel case of a patient who presented with new diagnoses of both cytoplasmic antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (c-ANCAs) positive vasculitis and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The patient was a 79-year-old man who presented with melena, haemoptysis, acute hypoxia and acute kidney injury. In the current literature, there are rare associations of c-ANCA vasculitis and malignancy, but very few, if any, relating c-ANCA vasculitis and CLL. This case is unique due to the presence of both pathologies and an uncommon presentation of the vasculitis. He presented with renal and pulmonary findings, unlike the dermal manifestations commonly seen with vasculitis. We think that this could be an easily overlooked combination of diseases and, therefore, the purpose of this case is to prevent delays in care that could affect patient outcomes and also to encourage further research into the relationship between these diseases.
Long-term visual and anatomic outcomes of patients with peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome
Authors: Xu David , Garg Elisha , Lee Kook , Sakurada Yoichi , Amphornphruet Atchara , Phasukkijwatana Nopasak , Liakopoulos Sandra , Pautler Scott Eugene , Kreiger Allan E , Yzer Suzanne , Lee Won Ki , Sadda SriniVas , Freund K Bailey , Sarraf David
Published: December 2020

Background/Aims

To analyse the long-term anatomic and visual outcomes of patients with peripapillary pachychoroid syndrome (PPS), a recently described entity in the pachychoroid disease spectrum.

Methods

This study retrospectively included patients from several retina centres worldwide. Visual acuity (VA), retinal thickness and choroidal thickness at baseline, 6 months and final follow-up were assessed. Temporal trends in VA and anatomic characteristics were evaluated. Visual and anatomic outcomes in eyes that were observed versus those that were treated were analysed.

Results

Fifty-six eyes of 35 patients were included with mean follow-up of 27±17 months. Median VA was 20/36 at baseline and remained stable through follow-up (p=0.77). Retinal thickness significantly decreased subfoveally (p=0.012), 1.5 mm nasal to the fovea (p=0.002) and 3.0 mm nasal to the fovea (p=0.0035) corresponding to areas of increased thickening at baseline. Choroidal thickness significantly decreased subfoveally (p=0.0030) and 1.5 mm nasal to the fovea (p=0.0030). Forty-three eyes were treated with modalities including antivascular endothelial growth factor injection, photodynamic therapy, and others. VA remained stable in treated eyes over follow-up (p=0.67). An isolated peripapillary fluid pocket in the outer nuclear layer was characteristic of PPS.

Conclusion

Patients with PPS experienced decreased retinal oedema and decreased choroidal thickening throughout the course of disease. While some patients experienced visual decline, the overall visual outcome was relatively favourable and independent of trends in retinal or choroidal thickening.
Microvascular abnormalities and long-term efficacy after stereotactic radiotherapy under continued intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular AMD
Authors: Hatz Katja , Zimmermann Frank , Lazaridis Emmanouil , Kardamakis Dimitrios , Guichard Magdalena , Türksever Cengiz , Pruente Christian , Schmidt-Erfurth Ursula Margarethe , Gerendas Bianca S
Published: December 2020

Background

For treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), multiple intravitreal injections of drugs targeting vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) result in a high burden for patients and healthcare systems. Low-energy stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) might reduce the anti-VEGF need. This study evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of adjunct SRT to anti-VEGF injections in a treat-and-extend regimen in nAMD.

Methods

50 consecutive patients were followed 3 years after single-session SRT, a safety analysis including standardised study imaging, and a reading centre based image analysis was performed after 2 years.

Results

After increase from baseline (4.24±0.66 weeks) to 12 months (7.52±3.05 weeks, p<0.001), mean recurrence-free anti-VEGF treatment interval remained stable at 24 (7.40±3.17, p=0.746) and 36 months (6.89±3.00, p=0.175). Mean visual acuity change was −5.8±15.9 and −11.0±20.1 letters at 24 and 36 months, respectively. 36% of eyes showed microvascular abnormalities (MVAs) on colour fundus photography and/or fluoresceine angiography most frequently located in parafoveal inferior and nasal regions.

Conclusion

In real life, low-energy SRT was associated with a reduced anti-VEGF injection frequency through year 3. However, due to an observed visual acuity reduction and remarkable number of MVAs, a close follow-up of these patients is recommended. The real-life use, optimal treatment schedule and dose should be rediscussed critically.
Swept-source OCTA quantification of capillary closure predicts ETDRS severity staging of NPDR
Authors: Santos Torcato , Warren Lewis H , Santos Ana Rita , Marques Inês Pereira , Kubach Sophie , Mendes Luís G , Sisternes Luis de , Madeira Maria H , Durbin Mary , Cunha-Vaz Jose G
Published: December 2020

Purpose

To test whether a single or composite set of parameters evaluated with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA), representing retinal capillary closure, can predict non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) staging according to the gold standard ETDRS grading scheme.

Methods

105 patients with diabetes, either without retinopathy or with different degrees of retinopathy (NPDR up to ETDRS grade 53), were prospectively evaluated using swept-source OCTA (SS-OCTA, PlexElite, Carl Zeiss Meditec) with 15×9 mm and 3×3 mm angiography protocols. Seven-field photographs of the fundus were obtained for ETDRS staging. Eyes from age-matched healthy subjects were also imaged as control.

Results

In eyes of patients with type 2 diabetes without retinopathy or ETDRS levels 20 and 35, retinal capillary closure was in the macular area, with predominant alterations in the parafoveal retinal circulation (inner ring). Retinal capillary closure in ETDRS stages 43–53 becomes predominant in the retinal midperiphery with vessel density average values of 25.2±7.9 (p=0.001) in ETDRS 43 and 23.5±3.4 (p=0.001) in ETDRS 47–53, when evaluating extended areas of 15×9 protocol. Combination of acquisition protocols 3×3 mm and 15×9 mm, using SS-OCTA, allows discrimination between eyes with mild NPDR (ETDRS 10, 20, 35) and eyes with moderate-to-severe NPDR (ETDRS grades 43–53).

Conclusions

Retinal capillary closure, quantified by SS-OCTA, can identify NPDR severity progression. It is located mainly in the perifoveal retinal capillary circulation in the initial stages of NPDR, whereas the retinal midperiphery is predominantly affected in moderate-to-severe NPDR.
Detection of neovascularisation in the vitreoretinal interface slab using widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography in diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Lu Edward S , Cui Ying , Le Rongrong , Zhu Ying , Wang Jay C , Laíns Inês , Katz Raviv , Lu Yifan , Zeng Rebecca , Garg Itika , Wu David M , Eliott Dean , Vavvas Demetrios G , Husain Deeba , Miller Joan W , Kim Leo A , Miller John B
Published: December 2020

Aims

To compare the efficacy of diabetic retinal neovascularisation (NV) detection using the widefield swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (WF SS-OCTA) vitreoretinal interface (VRI) Angio slab and SS-OCT VRI Structure slab.

Methods

A prospective, observational study was performed at Massachusetts Eye and Ear from January 2019 to June 2020. Patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), patients with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and patients with diabetes but without diabetic retinopathy were included. All patients were imaged with WF SS-OCTA using the 12×12 mm Angio scan protocol centred on the fovea and optic disc. The en-face SS-OCTA VRI Angio slab and SS-OCT VRI Structure slab were evaluated for the presence or absence of NV. SS-OCTA B-scan was used to classify NV according to cross-sectional morphology (forward, tabletop or flat). All statistical analyses were performed using SPSS V.26.0.

Results

One hundred and forty-two eyes of 89 participants were included in the study. VRI Angio detected NV at higher rates compared with VRI Structure (p<0.05). Combining VRI Angio and Structure improved detection rates compared with VRI Angio alone (p<0.05). Due to segmentation errors of the internal limiting membrane, NV with flat morphological classification had lower rates of detection on VRI Angio compared with NV with forward and tabletop morphology (p<0.05).

Conclusions

WF SS-OCTA 12×12 mm VRI Angio and SS-OCT VRI Structure imaging centred on the fovea and optic disc detected NV with high sensitivity and low false positives. The VRI slab may be useful to diagnose and monitor PDR in clinical practice.
Treating low back pain in athletes: a systematic review with meta-analysis
Authors: Thornton Jane S , Caneiro J P , Hartvigsen Jan , Ardern Clare L , Vinther Anders , Wilkie Kellie , Trease Larissa , Ackerman Kathryn E , Dane Kathryn , McDonnell Sarah-Jane , Mockler David , Gissane Conor , Wilson Fiona
Published: December 2020

Objective

To summarise the evidence for non-pharmacological management of low back pain (LBP) in athletes, a common problem in sport that can negatively impact performance and contribute to early retirement.

Data sources

Five databases (EMBASE, Medline, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus) were searched from inception to September 2020. The main outcomes of interest were pain, disability and return to sport (RTS).

Results

Among 1629 references, 14 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) involving 541 athletes were included. The trials had biases across multiple domains including performance, attrition and reporting. Treatments included exercise, biomechanical modifications and manual therapy. There were no trials evaluating the efficacy of surgery or injections. Exercise was the most frequently investigated treatment; no RTS data were reported for any exercise intervention. There was a reduction in pain and disability reported after all treatments.

Conclusions

While several treatments for LBP in athletes improved pain and function, it was unclear what the most effective treatments were, and for whom. Exercise approaches generally reduced pain and improved function in athletes with LBP, but the effect on RTS is unknown. No conclusions regarding the value of manual therapy (massage, spinal manipulation) or biomechanical modifications alone could be drawn because of insufficient evidence. High-quality RCTs are urgently needed to determine the effect of commonly used interventions in treating LBP in athletes.
Lessons in applying adaptive management on a dynamic coastline: a case study at the inlet to Pagham Harbour, UK
Authors: Scott C. R. , Harris E. , Townend I. H.
Published: December 2020

Many of the world’s coastlines are vulnerable to erosion and at risk from tidal flooding. Addressing and managing these risks presents major challenges especially when seeking to sustainably balance the requirements for coastal protection with other economic, environmental, and societal objectives. The nature and scale of these challenges varies greatly from site to site and can often be magnified on dynamic shorelines that are subject to a high degree of physical and ecological change. Applying an ongoing process of adaptive management is widely agreed to be a key mechanism for dealing with such dynamic conditions and issues of uncertainty. However, under this process it can be difficult for different stakeholders to reach a consensus about the most suitable intervention actions. In part, this can arise because there is an incomplete understanding about past, present, and, especially, future environmental processes. It can also occur due to differences in the perceptions and priorities of the relevant stakeholders. This paper reviews some of these complexities using, as a case study, recent developments of a shingle spit and tidal inlet at Pagham Harbour, on the south coast of the UK. This example provides lessons in the application of adaptive management and working with nature concepts in a particularly complex coastal setting. This paper considers these lessons in the context of the site’s history, the legal and policy framework, and established understanding about the natural environment.
Numerical solutions of coupled nonlinear fractional KdV equations using He’s fractional calculus
Authors: Lu Dianchen , Suleman Muhammad , Ramzan Muhammad , Ul Rahman Jamshaid
Published: December 2020

In this paper, we determine the application of the Fractional Elzaki Projected Differential Transform Method (FEPDTM) to develop new efficient approximate solutions of coupled nonlinear fractional KdV equations analytically and computationally. Numerical solutions are obtained, and some major characteristics demonstrate realistic reliance on fractional-order values. The basic tools, properties and approaches introduced in He’s fractional calculus are utilized to explain fractional derivatives. The consistency of FEPDTM and the reduction in computational time give FEPDTM extensive applicability. Furthermore, the calculations concerned in FEPDTM are too simple and straightforward. It is verified that FEPDTM is an influential and efficient technique to handle fractional partial differential equations. It is being observed that FEPDTM is more efficient than known analytical and computational methods.
DAN-SNR
Authors: Huang Liwei , Ma Yutao , Liu Yanbo , He Keqing
Published: December 2020

Next (or successive) point-of-interest (POI) recommendation, which aims to predict where users are likely to go next, has recently emerged as a new research focus of POI recommendation. Most of the previous studies on next POI recommendation attempted to incorporate the spatiotemporal information and sequential patterns of user check-ins into recommendation models to predict the target user's next move. However, few of the next POI recommendation approaches utilized the social influence of each user's friends. In this study, we discuss a new topic of next POI recommendation and present a deep attentive network for social-aware next POI recommendation called DAN-SNR. In particular, the DAN-SNR makes use of the self-attention mechanism instead of the architecture of recurrent neural networks to model sequential influence and social influence in a unified manner. Moreover, we design and implement two parallel channels to capture short-term user preference and long-term user preference as well as social influence, respectively. By leveraging multi-head self-attention, the DAN-SNR can model long-range dependencies between any two historical check-ins efficiently and weigh their contributions to the next destination adaptively. We also carried out a comprehensive evaluation using large-scale real-world datasets collected from two popular location-based social networks, namely, Gowalla and Brightkite. Experimental results indicate that the DAN-SNR outperforms seven competitive baseline approaches regarding recommendation performance and is highly efficient among six neural-network-based methods, four of which utilize the attention mechanism.
Cancer Dependencies: PRMT5 and MAT2A in MTAP/p16-Deleted Cancers
Authors: Marjon Katya , Kalev Peter , Marks Kevin
Published: December 2020

Discovery of targeted therapies that selectively exploit the genetic inactivation of specific tumor suppressors remains a major challenge. This includes the prevalent deletion of the CDKN2A/ MTAP locus, which was first reported nearly 40 years ago. The more recent advent of RNA interference and functional genomic screening technologies led to the identification of hidden collateral lethalities occurring with passenger deletions of MTAP in cancer cells. In particular, small-molecule inhibition of the type II arginine methyltransferase PRMT5 and the S-adenosylmethionine-producing enzyme MAT2A each presents a precision medicine approach for the treatment of patients whose tumors have homozygous loss of MTAP. In this review, we highlight key aspects of MTAP, PRMT5, and MAT2A biology to provide a conceptual framework for developing novel therapeutic strategies in tumors with MTAP deletion and to summarize ongoing efforts to drug PRMT5 and MAT2A.
Building a Resilient, Sustainable, and Healthier Food Supply Through Innovation and Technology
Authors: McClements David Julian , Barrangou Rodolphe , Hill Colin , Kokini Jozef L. , Lila Mary Ann , Meyer Anne S. , Yu Liangli
Published: December 2020

The modern food supply faces many challenges. The global population continues to grow and people are becoming wealthier, so the food production system must respond by creating enough high-quality food to feed everyone with minimal damage to our environment. The number of people suffering or dying from diet-related chronic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer, continues to rise, which is partly linked to overconsumption of highly processed foods, especially high-calorie or rapidly digestible foods. After falling for many years, the number of people suffering from starvation or malnutrition is rising, and thishas been exacerbated by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The highly integrated food supply chains that spread around the world are susceptible to disruptions due to policy changes, economic stresses, and natural disasters, as highlighted by the recent pandemic. In this perspective article, written by members of the Editorial Committee of the Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, we highlight some of the major challenges confronting the modern food supply chain as well as how innovations in policy and technology can be used to address them. Pertinent technological innovations include robotics, machine learning, artificial intelligence, advanced diagnostics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, gene editing, vertical farming, and soft matter physics. Many of these technologies are already being employed across the food chain by farmers, distributors, manufacturers, and consumers to improve the quality, nutrition, safety, and sustainability of the food supply. These innovations are required to stimulate the development and implementation of new technologies to ensure a more equitable, resilient, and efficient food production system. Where appropriate, these technologies should be carefully tested before widespread implementation so that proper risk–benefit analyses can be carried out. They can then be employed without causing unforeseen adverse consequences. Finally, it is important to actively engage all stakeholders involved in the food supply chain throughout the development and testing of these new technologies to support their adoption if proven safe and effective.
Demonstration of Electrochemically-Driven CO2 Separation Using Hydroxide Exchange Membranes
Authors: Matz Stephanie , Setzler Brian P. , Weiss Catherine M. , Shi Lin , Gottesfeld Shimshon , Yan Yushan
Published: December 2020

Hydroxide exchange membrane fuel cells (HEMFCs) are a potentially lower-cost hydrogen fuel cell technology; however, ambient levels of CO2 in air significantly reduce HEMFCs’ performance. In this work, we demonstrate an electrochemically-driven CO2 separator (EDCS) which can be used to remove ambient levels of CO2 from air upstream of the HEMFC stack in fuel cell vehicles, protecting it from CO2-related performance losses. The EDCS operating window was explored for current density, anode flow, and cathode flow with respect to its impact on CO2 separation performance. Additionally, gas-phase mass transport was improved by selecting flow fields and gas diffusion layers conducive to the EDCS operating regime. The use of a carbon-ionomer interlayer at the cathode was explored and improved CO2 removal performance from 77.7% to 98.2% at 20 mA cm−2. An analytical, 1-D model is used to explain the experimental observations and design improvements. A single-cell, 25 cm2 EDCS using the aforementioned improved design demonstrated greater than 98% CO2 removal at a cathode flow rate of 1300 sccm for 100 h with 2.7% hydrogen stack consumption.
Quantification of Curcuminoids in Turmeric Using Visible Reflectance Spectra and a Decision-Tree Based Chemometric Approach
Authors: Suresh Hasika , Behera Amruta Ranjan , Selvaraja Shankar Kumar , Pratap Rudra
Published: December 2020

For quantification of curcumin content in turmeric, a low-cost multivariate-analysis-based sensing system is desired. It can be realized by exploiting the spectra in the visible region, which enables the use of off-the-shelf, relatively inexpensive light sources and detectors. To address this, we propose a novel decision-tree method for improved prediction accuracy. Two sets of models with PLSR algorithm are developed with the measured reflectance spectra from 66 turmeric samples in the range of 360–750 nm, and their respective curcuminoids content are quantified by HPLC. A suite of a coarse-model for initial prediction of turmeric samples in the broad range of 1%–4%, and five finer-models for subsequent prediction (in the ranges 1%–2%, 2%–3%, 3%–4%, 1.5%–2.5%, and 2.5%–3.5%) constitute the proposed decision-tree approach. The method’s efficacy is substantiated from an improved coefficient of determination (R
2) for the finer models (0.90–0.96) as compared to the coarse-model’s 0.92. This is further corroborated with lower RMSECV of 0.06–0.13 and an RMSEP of 0.15–0.25 for finer models, as compared to 0.219 and 0.45 for the coarse model, respectively. Testing reveals that the method results in 46% reduction in prediction error. Realization of a robust prediction approach in the visible range sets the stage for the development of cost-effective field-deployable devices for on-site measurement of curcumin.
Mixtures of Glyoxylic Acetals and Organic Carbonates as Electrolytes for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Köps L. , Leibing C. , Hess L. H. , Balducci A.
Published: December 2020

In this work, we report a systematic investigation about the chemical-physical properties of mixtures containing glyoxylic solvents (tetramethoxyglyoxal (TMG) and tetraethoxyglyoxal (TEG)) and organic carbonates, and about the use of these blends as electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). We showed that these mixtures display promising conductivities and viscosities as well as high thermal stability. Furthermore, they also display significantly higher flash points (up to 60 °C) than the state-of-the-art LIB electrolytes. These mixtures can be successfully utilized for the realization of lab scale LIBs displaying high stability and good rate capability at high C-rate. Furthermore, LIBs containing this innovative electrolyte display good stability at room temperature as well as at 40 °C and 60 °C. Considering these results, mixtures of glyoxylic acetals and organic carbonates appear as promising electrolytes for advanced LIBs.
Photoelectrochemical Methanol Oxidation Under Visible and UV Excitation of TiO2-Supported TiN and ZrN Plasmonic Nanoparticles
Authors: Baturina Olga A. , Epshteyn Albert , Leff Asher C. , Purdy Andrew P. , Brintlinger Todd , Simpkins Blake S. , Santiago Eva Y. , Govorov Alexander O.
Published: December 2020

TiN and ZrN refractory transition metal nitride nanoparticles (NPs) have recently emerged as an alternative to noble metals in plasmonic applications. However, plasmon-driven photocatalysis by ZrN NPs is largely unexplored. In this study, optical properties, morphology, crystal structure and surface composition of in-house synthesized and commercial ZrN nanoparticles (NPs) are vigorously characterized in order to select the best candidate material for evaluation of activity towards CH3OH photoelectrochemical oxidation. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2-supported ZrN NPs is compared to that of TiN/TiO2 as a function of NP loading and illumination wavelength. Our results indicate that optical properties and photocatalytic activity of ZrN/TiO2 are strongly affected by ZrN surface oxidation and agglomeration. We found that under visible illumination, both in-house synthesized 17 nm ZrN and commercial 30 nm TiN NPs promote TiO2 activity for CH3OH oxidation, while under visible + UV excitation, an inhibition effect is observed. The differences between the TiN/TiO2 and ZrN/TiO2 interfaces are discussed and the mechanisms of promotion/inhibition of TiO2 photocatalytic activity by ZrN and TiN NPs are proposed. Electromagnetic simulations are used to facilitate interpretation of experimental extinctions and photocatalytic activities.
Comparison of Lithium Salt Effect on Negative Electrodes and Lithium–Air Cell Performance
Authors: Saito Morihiro , Fujinami Taichi , Sohmiya Minoru , Hayashi Yoshiya , Koyama Kazuki , Otsuka Hiromi , Ito Kimihiko , Kubo Yoshimi , Horiba Tatsuo
Published: December 2020

The cycle stability of lithium negative electrodes for Li–air secondary batteries was studied under oxygen atmosphere using Li∣Li symmetric cells with three organic electrolyte solutions: 1.0 M LiCF3SO3/tetraglyme (G4), 1.0 M LiN(SO2CF3)2/G4, and 1.0 M LiNO3/G4. Of these, 1.0 M LiNO3/G4 showed excellent stability without dendrite deposition, even for increased dissolution/deposition capacity from 0.50 to 2.0 mAh cm−2. These results are considered to be due to the stable Li2O passivation layer that was formed, not only by the direct reaction with oxygen, but also by the action of NO3
− as an oxidant, which released NO2
− as a redox mediator. Li–O2 cells with 1.0 M LiNO3/G4 showed a clear charging voltage plateau at 3.7 V, which evidenced the redox mediator effect of NO2
−, and cell cycleability was enhanced to 25 cycles.
Identification of Novel Long Noncoding RNAs and Their Role in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Maitiseyiti Abulaihaiti , Ci Hongbo , Fang Qingbo , Guan Sheng , Shawuti Alimujiang , Wang Huguo , Ge Xiaohu
Published: December 2020

Objective. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as critical molecular regulators in various diseases. However, the potential regulatory role of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains elusive. The aim of this study was to identify crucial lncRNAs associated with human AAA by comparing the lncRNA and mRNA expression profiles of patients with AAA with those of control individuals. Materials and Methods. The expression profiles of lncRNAs and mRNAs were analyzed in five dilated aortic samples from AAA patients and three normal aortic samples from control individuals using microarray technology. Functional annotation of the screened lncRNAs based on the differentially expressed genes was performed using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. Results. Microarray results revealed 2046 lncRNAs and 1363 mRNAs. Functional enrichment analysis showed that the mRNAs significantly associated with AAA were enriched in the NOD‐like receptor (NLR) and nuclear factor kappa‐B (NF‐κB) signaling pathways and in cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), which are closely associated with pathophysiological changes in AAA. The lncRNAs identified using microarray analysis were further validated using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) analysis with 12 versus 11 aortic samples. Finally, three key lncRNAs (ENST00000566954, ENST00000580897, and T181556) were confirmed using strict validation. A coding‐noncoding coexpression (CNC) network and a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network were constructed to determine the interaction among the lncRNAs, microRNAs, and mRNAs based on the confirmed lncRNAs. Conclusions. Our microarray profiling analysis and validation of significantly expressed lncRNAs between patients with AAA and control group individuals may provide new diagnostic biomarkers for AAA. The underlying regulatory mechanisms of the confirmed lncRNAs in AAA pathogenesis need to be determined using in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Cellular and Molecular Immunology Approaches for the Development of Immunotherapies against the New Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2): Challenges to Near-Future Breakthroughs
Authors: Melgaço Juliana Gil , Brito e Cunha Danielle , Azamor Tamiris , da Silva Andrea Marques Vieira , Tubarão Luciana Neves , Gonçalves Rafael Braga , Monteiro Robson Q. , Missailidis Sotiris , da Costa Neves Patricia Cristina , Ano Bom Ana Paula Dinis
Published: December 2020

The severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), termed COVID-19, has been highlighted as the most important infectious disease of our time, without a vaccine and treatment available until this moment, with a big impact on health systems worldwide, and with high mortality rates associated with respiratory viral disease. The medical and scientific communities have also been confronted by an urgent need to better understand the mechanism of host-virus interaction aimed at developing therapies and vaccines. Since this viral disease can trigger a strong innate immune response, causing severe damage to the pulmonary tract, immunotherapies have also been explored as a means to verify the immunomodulatory effect and improve clinical outcomes, whilst the comprehensive COVID-19 immunology still remains under investigation. In this review, both cellular and molecular immunopathology as well as hemostatic disorders induced by SARS-CoV-2 are summarized. The immunotherapeutic approaches based on the most recent clinical and nonclinical studies, emphasizing their effects for the treatment of COVID-19, are also addressed. The information presented elucidates helpful insights aiming at filling the knowledge gaps around promising immunotherapies that attempt to control the dysfunction of host factors during the course of this infectious viral disease.
Thermos-Solid-Gas Coupling Dynamic Model and Numerical Simulation of Coal Containing Gas
Authors: Fukun Xiao , Xin Meng , Lianchong Li , Jianfeng Liu , Gang Liu , Zhijun Liu , Lei Xu
Published: December 2020

Based on gas seepage characteristics and the basic thermo-solid-gas coupling theory, the porosity model and the dynamic permeability model of coal body containing gas were derived. Based on the relationship between gas pressure, principal stress and temperature, and gas seepage, the thermo-solid-gas coupling dynamic model was established. Initial values and boundary conditions for the model were determined. Numerical simulations using this model were done to predict the gas flow behavior of a gassy coal sample. By using the thermo-solid-gas coupling model, the gas pressure, temperature, and principal stress influence, the change law of the pressure field, displacement field, stress field, temperature field, and permeability were numerically simulated. Research results show the following: (1) Gas pressure and displacement from the top to the end of the model gradually reduce, and stress from the top to the end gradually increases. The average permeability of the

Y
Z

section of the model tends to decrease with the rise of the gas pressure, and the decrease amplitude slows down from the top of the model to the bottom. (2) When the principal stress and temperature are constant, the permeability decreases first and then flattens with the gas pressure. The permeability increases with the decrease of temperature while the gas pressure and principal stress remain unchanged.
The Prognostic Significance of miR‐21 Expression among Surgically Resected Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients: Evidence from a Meta‐Analysis and Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Huang Xujian , Xiong Yongfu , Yang Jialin , Yang Gang , Li Jingdong
Published: December 2020

Background. To date, microRNA‐21 (miR‐21) has been reported to be associated with the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in various studies, yet the results were inconsistent. The purpose of this two‐part study, consisting of a retrospective cohort study and a meta‐analysis, sets out to determine the prognostic role of miR‐21 expression among HCC patients who underwent surgical resection. Methods. In this study, we first detected miR‐21 expression in HCC patients by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR). Patients were divided into a high miR‐21 expression group and a low miR‐21 expression group according to the median level of miR‐21 expression in tumor tissues. The survival outcomes of the two groups were analyzed by the Kaplan‐Meier method with the log‐rank test. Multivariate analysis of the prognostic factors was performed with the Cox regression model. Subsequently, eligible studies were obtained by searching on PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, and a meta‐analysis was performed to assess the prognostic role of miR‐21 expression among HCC. Results. The qRT‐PCR analysis results of our cohort study showed miR‐21 expression was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues when compared with adjacent nontumor tissues. Multivariate analysis suggested that miR‐21 expression was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio, HR = 2.361) and disease‐free survival (DFS) (HR = 2.024) in HCC patients who underwent surgical resection. A total of 10 studies with 969 patients were enrolled in the meta‐analysis, consisting of 9 studies from the database search and our cohort study. We observed that elevated miR‐21 expression can predict poor OS (HR = 2.24, 95%CI = 1.73‐2.91, P < 0.001) and DFS/recurrence‐free survival (RFS) (HR = 2.44, 95%CI = 1.62‐3.67, P < 0.001) in surgically resected HCC patients. Conclusions. Our study demonstrated that miR‐21 high expression among surgically resected HCC patients is a prognostic factor that indicated adverse survival.
Onsite Tests and Numerical Simulation of Broken Rock Zones in Surrounding Rocks of Seepage Roadways under Blasting
Authors: Ye Zhouyuan , Pan Kun , Zhou Zhihua
Published: December 2020

To study the influence of blasting vibration on the broken rock zone around a seepage roadway and provide guidance for design of the roadway support, the broken rock zones around rock of seepage roadways under production blasting vibration are determined by onsite tests in a mining area, Daye iron mine. During the testing process, it is found that blasting vibration causes internal cracks of surrounding rocks to initiate and develop, the fracture density increases, the acoustic wave velocity of rock mass decreases, and the broken rock zones expand. At the same time, through onsite observation, it is found that blasting vibration results in crack development and formation of a water pathway to lead to surface water into the ground. The mechanical response around rock of the seepage roadway under blasting vibration is simulated by the two-dimensional realistic fracture progress analysis calculation software (RFPA2D). It is found that internal cracks of roadway surrounding rock initiate, propagate, and join up gradually, and the fracture range is expanding under the seepage water pressure, ground stress, and cyclic loads, and the broken rock zones also expand. The results from numerical simulation are consistent with the results of onsite tests. It is also found that the tensile stress appears around some cracks, leading to part of the cracks more likely to generate shear failure under the seepage water pressure during simulation.
Experiencing Financial Strain and Clinically Assessed Caries Experience in Dentate Adults Aged 25–44 Years: An Exploration of Potential Pathways
Authors: Beenackers Mariëlle A. , Vermaire Jan H. , van Dommelen Paula , Schuller Annemarie A.
Published: December 2020

Large socioeconomic inequalities still exist in oral health. It is already known that oral health-related behaviour may contribute to these inequalities, but why people with a lower socioeconomic position behave less healthily is not easily understood. A possible explanation that integrates insights on health behaviour, stress, and financial resources is the pathway of behavioural responses to financial strain. The aim of this study was to assess to what extent financial strain is associated with clinically assessed caries experience in a population-based study of dentate adults, independently of other socioeconomic indicators. Furthermore, the potential mediating pathways of oral health-related behaviours (oral hygiene, dietary habits, preventive dental visits) were explored. Dentate participants, aged 25–44 years, taking part in a survey on oral health and preventive behaviour in the Netherlands in 2013 were clinically examined on – among others – caries experience (DMFS index) and level of oral hygiene (OHI-s index). Financial strain, frequency of tooth brushing, dietary habits, attendance of (preventive) dental visits in the past year, and demographic variables were assessed via questionnaires. Negative binomial hurdle models were used to study the association between financial strain and DMFS and between oral health behavioural indicators and DMFS. Although it was observed that experiencing financial strain did not seem to affect whether there is any caries experience or not, among those having any caries (DMFS >0) suffering from financial strain was associated with a higher caries prevalence, independent of educational level and income. None of the studied potential mediators could explain this association.
“A Barbarian by Birth, Yet a Hellene in Everything Else”
Authors: Vedeshkin Mikhail A.
Published: December 2020

The Christianisation of the Roman Empire in the 4th-5th centuries led to a blurring of the traditional ethnocultural dichotomy (Barbarians – Romans), and to the emergence of a new type of social division on the basis of religion: pagan – Christian. The present article is devoted to the analysis of the image of a “pious” (pagan) barbarian, formed in Late Antique pagan historiography. The conclusion is made that pagans saw their barbarian coreligionists as the defenders of their faith against the anti-pagan state policy. Comparing pagan barbarians to their fellow Christian tribesmen, they tried to prove that only pagans can be true allies of Rome. Finally, the military successes of the pagan warlords served as evidence of the active participation of the gods in the affairs of their followers and acted as an argument for the preservation of the traditional forms of worship.
The Christian Lark: Spenser’s Faerie Queene I. x.51 and Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29
Authors: Walls Kathryn
Published: December 2020

The likening of the lark to the Christian worshipper as in Herbert’s “Easter Wings” was anticipated by both Spenser and Shakespeare in references that have been overlooked to date. These stand in a tradition most richly represented by the early fourteenth- century French allegorist Guillaume de Deguileville, in his Pèlerinage de l’Ame, in which the pilgrim soul, guided towards the gate of Heaven by his guardian angel, finds himself surrounded by larks whose cruciform shapes in flying match their singing of the name “Jhesu.” Having fallen for the second time when fighting the dragon, Spenser’s Red Cross Knight rises on the third morning to find himself victorious. In his rising he is compared with the lark at dawn. The Edenic setting (which underlines the theme of the redemption of “fallen” man by the risen Christ) is also illuminated by Deguileville’s Ame; Spenser’s two trees are reminiscent of the “green and the dry” in the French allegory, according to which Christ appears as the apple pinned to the dry tree in reparation for the apple stolen by Adam. When one examines Shakespeare’s reference to the lark in Sonnet 29 in the light of the tradition represented by Deguileville (whose work not only Spenser but also Shakespeare might have read in English translation) the question arises as to whether the beloved addressed in line 10 (“thee”) could be Christ, and the speaker a Christian worshipper moving from self reproach to Christian gratitude. Such an interpretation is challenged by the standard assumption that the sonnets reflect a narrative produced by a love triangle. But from Petrarch’s Canzoniere on, sequences of love sonnets had contained poems of religious adoration.
The Power of Philanthropy
Authors: Goldstein-Sabbah S.R.
Published: December 2020

This article explores aspects of Middle Eastern and North African (mena) Jewry in the first half of the twentieth century through their engagement with philanthropy. Specifically, this article demonstrates how many urban Jewish communities in mena adopted and adapted Western European philanthropic structures to fit the needs of their local communities by engaging with multiple public spheres (Jewish, Arab, imperial) that were, at times, in conflict with each other. By highlighting the transnational nature of mena Jewry in the twentieth century, this article demonstrates the importance of philanthropic networks as an articulation of power and social status. Finally, this piece suggests that local Jewish philanthropic initiatives can act as a prism by which we understand power structures within transnational religious networks.
Natural history of monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis among relatives in CLL families
Authors: Slager Susan L. , Lanasa Mark C. , Marti Gerald E. , Achenbach Sara J. , Camp Nicola J. , Abbasi Fatima , Kay Neil E. , Vachon Celine M. , Cerhan James R. , Johnston James B. , Call Timothy G. , Rabe Kari G. , Kleinstern Geffen , Boddicker Nicholas J. , Norman Aaron D. , Parikh Sameer A. , Leis Jose F. , Banerji Versha , Brander Danielle M. , Glenn Martha , Ferrajoli Alessandra , Curtin Karen , Braggio Esteban , Shanafelt Tait D. , McMaster Mary L. , Weinberg J. Brice , Hanson Curtis A. , Caporaso Neil E.
Published: December 2020

Chronic lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL) has one of the highest familial risks among cancers. Monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis (MBL), the precursor to CLL, has a higher prevalence (13%-18%) in families with 2 or more members with CLL compared with the general population (5%-12%). Although, the rate of progression to CLL for high-count MBLs (clonal B-cell count ≥500/µL) is ∼1% to 5%/y, no low-count MBLs have been reported to progress to date. We report the incidence and natural history of MBL in relatives from CLL families. In 310 CLL families, we screened 1045 relatives for MBL using highly sensitive flow cytometry and prospectively followed 449 of them. MBL incidence was directly age- and sex-adjusted to the 2010 US population. CLL cumulative incidence was estimated using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. At baseline, the prevalence of MBL was 22% (235/1045 relatives). After a median follow-up of 8.1 years among 449 relatives, 12 individuals progressed to CLL with a 5-year cumulative incidence of 1.8%. When considering just the 139 relatives with low-count MBL, the 5-year cumulative incidence increased to 5.7%. Finally, 264 had no MBL at baseline, of whom 60 individuals subsequently developed MBL (2 high-count and 58 low-count MBLs) with an age- and sex-adjusted incidence of 3.5% after a median of 6 years of follow-up. In a screening cohort of relatives from CLL families, we reported progression from normal-count to low-count MBL to high-count MBL to CLL, demonstrating that low-count MBL precedes progression to CLL. We estimated a 1.1% annual rate of progression from low-count MBL, which is in excess of that in the general population.