bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Yield and nutritional quality of highbush blueberry genotypes trialled in a Mediterranean hot summer climate
Authors: Mazzoni Luca , Balducci Francesca , Di Vittori Lucia , Scalzo Jessica , Capocasa Franco , Zhong Chuan‐Fei , Forbes‐Hernandez Tamara Y , Giampieri Francesca , Battino Maurizio , Mezzetti Bruno
Published: April 2020

BACKGROUND

Cultivation of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) has been increasing in Europe in recent years, in particular due to the availability of new genotypes suitable for cultivation in many different environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the resilience and nutritional quality of 11 highbush blueberry cultivars and two new selections (from the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd breeding program) in Mediterranean hot summer climate conditions by measuring plant yield, seasonality, fruit sensorial traits, and phytochemical content in the fruits.

RESULTS

The new blueberry genotype PFR005 showed a high level of adaptability to these environmental conditions, with the highest total plant yield, whereas PFR075 was the best genotype for nutritional characteristics. Among the cultivars, ‘Cosmopolitan’ showed the maximum average fruit weight, ‘Blueray’ and ‘Hortblue Poppins’ demonstrated a good sensorial profile, while the best cultivars from the nutritional point of view were ‘Hortblue Poppins’, ‘Hortblue Petite’, and ‘Early Blue’.

Conclusion

New cultivars and new genotypes able to satisfy the needs of different users, have been identified. The integration of germplasm evaluation with a tailored breeding program will help to create new cultivars that will be useful for the expansion of blueberry cultivation in hot Mediterranean summer climate conditions, which up to now have limited this crop. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Multiple drivers of production and particle export in the western tropical North Atlantic
Authors: Korte Laura F. , Brummer Geert‐Jan A. , van der Does Michèlle , Guerreiro Catarina V. , Mienis Furu , Munday Chris I. , Ponsoni Leandro , Schouten Stefan , Stuut Jan‐Berend W.
Published: April 2020

To assess the impacts of Amazon River discharge, Saharan dust deposition, N2‐fixation and mixed‐layer deepening on the biological carbon pump, sediment traps were moored from October 2012 to November 2013 at two sites in the western tropical North Atlantic (49°W,12°N/57°W,12°N). Particle exports interpreted along with satellite‐ and Argo‐float data show peak fluxes in biogenic silica (31 mg m−2 d−1) and organic carbon (25 mg m−2 d−1) during the fall of 2013 that were ten to five times higher than any time earlier during the year. These high export fluxes occurred in tandem with high surface chlorophyll a concentrations associated with the dispersal of the Amazon River plume, following retroflection into the North‐Atlantic‐Counter‐Current. High fucoxanthin fluxes (> 80 μg m−2 d−1) and low δ15N‐values (−0.6‰) suggest a large contribution by marine diatom‐diazotrophic‐associations, possibly enhanced by wet Saharan dust deposition. During summer, the Amazon River plume resulted in high mass fluxes at 57°W that were enriched in biogenic silica but weakly influenced by diazotrophic‐associations compared to the fall event at 49°W. High carbonate‐carbon fluxes (17 mg m−2 d−1) dominated a second single event at 49°W during spring that was likely triggered by mixed‐layer deepening. Rain‐ratios of BSi/Ccarb amounted to 1.7 when associated with high export fluxes linked to the Amazon River plume. Compared to an annual average of 0.3, this indicates a more efficient uptake of CO2 via the biological pump compared to when the plume was absent, hence supporting earlier observations that the Amazon River plume is important for ocean CO2 sequestration.
Injectable Enzyme‐Based Hydrogel Matrix with Precisely Oxidative Stress Defense for Promoting Dermal Repair of Burn Wound
Authors: Zhang Dongmei , Wang Bulei , Sun Yajuan , Wang Changhao , Mukherjee Somnath , Yang Cheng , Chen Yashao
Published: April 2020

Burn wound healing remains a challenging health problem worldwide due to the lack of efficient and precise therapy. Inherent oxidative stress following burn injury is importantly responsible for prolonged inflammation, fibrotic scar, and multiple organ failure. Herein, a bioinspired antioxidative defense system coupling with in situ forming hydrogel, namely, multiresponsive injectable catechol‐Fe3+ coordination hydrogel (MICH) matrix, is engineered to promote burn‐wound dermal repair by inhibiting tissue oxidative stress. This MICH matrix serves as the special traits of “Fe‐superoxide dismutases,” small molecular antioxidant (vitamin E), and extracellular matrix (ECM) in alleviating cellular oxidative damage, which demonstrates precise scavenging on reactive oxygen species (ROS) of different cellular locations, blocking lipid peroxidation and cell apoptosis. In in vivo burn‐wound treatment, this MICH promptly integrates with injured surrounding tissue to provide hydration microenvironment and physicochemical ECM for burn wounds. Importantly, the MICH matrix suppresses tissue ROS production, reducing the inflammatory response, prompting re‐epithelization and neoangiogenesis during wound healing. Meanwhile, the remodeling skin treated with MICH matrix demonstrates low collagen deposition and normal dermal collagen architecture. Overall, the MICH prevents burn wound progression and enhances skin regeneration, which might be a promising biomaterial for burn‐wound care and other disease therapy induced by oxidative stress.
Ultrasound can differentiate inclusion body myositis from disease mimics
Authors: Leeuwenberg Kristofoor E. , van Alfen Nens , Christopher‐Stine Lisa , Paik Julie J. , Tiniakou Eleni , Mecoli Christopher , Doorduin Jonne , Saris Christiaan G.J. , Albayda Jemima
Published: April 2020

Introduction

The diagnosis of inclusion body myositis (IBM) can be challenging, and its presentation can be confused with other forms of myositis or neuromuscular disorders. In this study we evaluate the ability of quantitative muscle ultrasound to differentiate between IBM and mimicking diseases.

Methods

Patients 50 years of age and older were included from two specialty centers. Muscle echogenicity and muscle thickness of four characteristically involved muscles in IBM were measured and compared with polymyositis (PM)/dermatomyositis (DM), other neuromuscular disorders, and healthy controls.

Results

Echogenicity was higher and muscle thickness generally lower in all four muscles in IBM compared with PM/DM and normal controls. When comparing IBM with the comparator groups, the flexor digitorum profundus was the most discriminative muscle.

Discussion

Ultrasound appears to be a good test to differentiate established IBM from PM/DM and neuromuscular controls, with value as a diagnostic tool for IBM.
Hydrologic Correlates of Reproductive Success in the Alligator Gar
Authors: Smith Nathan G. , Buckmeier David L. , Daugherty Daniel J. , Bennett Daniel L. , Sakaris Peter C. , Robertson Clinton R.
Published: April 2020

Previous work relating adult age data to historic hydrology indicated that strong year-classes of Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula were rare, tied to major flooding events, and linked to the inundation and connectivity of floodplain habitats. Although spawning habitat suitability criteria have been correlated with successful recruitment in Texas Alligator Gar populations, direct evaluation of recruitment documenting young-of-the-year (age-0) presence or abundance has not been reported. To specify conditions associated with successful spawning and recruitment of Alligator Gar, we sampled for age-0 fish monthly from May to July 2013–2017 in the Trinity River and from May to July 2015–2017 in Choke Canyon Reservoir. Suitability criteria predicted strong year-classes in 2015 and 2016 for the Trinity River and in 2015 for Choke Canyon Reservoir; the predictions were confirmed by the presence of abundant age-0 Alligator Gar in those systems and years. Hatch dates of juvenile Alligator Gar were estimated from otoliths and compared to corresponding environmental and hydrologic conditions. Hatch date analyses indicated a protracted spawning duration in 2015 associated with extended widespread flooding and a narrower range of spawning dates in 2016. Due to rapid growth and variable gear efficacy relative to fish size, multiple gears were required to assess the full size range of age-0 Alligator Gar. A standardized sampling framework that included visual searching and floating mini-fyke nets effectively sampled age-0 Alligator Gar from 15 to 650 mm TL. We recommend a two-tiered approach for predicting and monitoring Alligator Gar recruitment. First, the monitoring of hydrology and the application of suitability criteria can provide an early predictor of potential Alligator Gar reproductive success. If conditions are favorable for spawning, then sampling for age-0 Alligator Gar can confirm recruitment and can give an indication of the spatial extent (visual searching) and relative abundance (visual searching and/or mini-fyke nets) of successful reproduction.
Two‐year safety and efficacy outcomes for the treatment of overactive bladder using a long‐lived rechargeable sacral neuromodulation system
Authors: Blok Bertil , Van Kerrebroeck Philip , de Wachter Stephan , Ruffion Alain , Van der Aa Frank , Perrouin‐Verbe Marie Aimée , Elneil Sohier
Published: April 2020

Aims

Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) therapy for overactive bladder (OAB) has proven long‐term safety and efficacy. Historically, the only commercially available SNM device was nonrechargeable requiring replacement surgery due to battery depletion. The Axonics System is the first rechargeable SNM device and is qualified to last a minimum of 15 years in the body. The study objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this rechargeable SNM system. This study reports 2‐year outcomes.

Methods

A total of 51 subjects were implanted with the Axonics System in a single nonstaged procedure. Subjects had OAB, confirmed on a 3‐day voiding diary (≥8 voids/day and/or ≥2 incontinence episodes over 72 hours). Test Responders were defined as subjects that were responders at 1 month postimplant. The efficacy analysis included therapy responder rates, change in the quality of life, and subject satisfaction reported in Test Responders (n = 30) and all implanted subjects (n = 37) that completed the follow‐up visits. Adverse events (AEs) are reported in all implanted subjects.

Results

At 2 years, 90% of the Test Responders continued to respond to the therapy based on voiding diary criteria. Satisfaction with therapy was reported by 93% of subjects and 86% found their charging experience acceptable. Of the urinary incontinence Test Responders, 88% continued to be responders at 2 years, and 28% were completely dry. There were no unanticipated (AEs) or serious device‐related AEs.

Conclusions

The Axonics System® provides sustained clinically meaningful improvements in OAB subjects at 2 years. There were no serious device‐related AEs. Subjects reported continued satisfaction with their therapy.
Game therapy a new approach to treat women facing mixed urinary incontinence: A study protocol
Authors: Oliveira Maria Clara Eugênia , Bezerra Livia Oliveira , Melo Ângelo Priscylla Hellouyse , de Oliveira Maiara Costa , Silva‐Filho Edson , Ribeiro Tatiana Souza , Pegado Rodrigo , Micussi Maria Thereza Albuquerque Barbosa Cabral
Published: April 2020

Aims

To describe a pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) isolated and associated with game therapy (PFMT + GT) for women facing mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) during climacteric period.

Methods

To standardize a randomized controlled clinical trial intervention, a protocol was created, in an attempt to decrease women's symptomatology generated by MUI, through pelvic floor and abdomino‐loin‐pelvic muscles strength, and endurance. This study protocol will be composed of 32 volunteers, divided into two groups of 16. They will perform PFMT isolated or PFMT + GT, twice a week during 8 weeks. Interventions will last 40 minutes and will be divided into warming (5 minutes), training (30 minutes), and 5 minutes will be composed of resting time between exercises (1 minute each). Isolated PFMT sessions will be performed through four modalities of exercises: diaphragmatic, bridge, abdominal (plank), and pelvic mobility. PFMT + GT training will be carried out by using Wii Fit Plus games, such as Lotus Focus, Penguin Slide, Basic Step, and Hula Hoop from Wii equipment. Assessments will occur before, after, and 1 month after interventions. Vaginal manometry, 1‐hour Pad Test, International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Short Form (ICIQ‐SF), and Patient Global Intervention (PGI) will be used to evaluate the sample.

Conclusions

It is expected greater increase on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength, endurance, vaginal pressure for PFMT + GG. Moreover, it is supposed that PFMT + GT volunteers present better treatment adherence due to games motivational inclusion.
Dog Sniffs Out Leaks to Reduce Nonrevenue Water
Authors: Odle Chelsea
Published: April 2020

Everyone knows dog is man's best friend, but can it be man's best co‐worker, too? In a time when everything seems high‐tech, sometimes low‐tech is just the innovation needed. Central Arkansas Water introduced Vessel, a black Labrador retriever mix, to its staff in the fall of 2019 to aid in leak detection.
District Metered Areas Support Water Loss Control
Authors: Leauber Chris
Published: April 2020

Measuring and repairing recoverable leakage throughout smaller sections of distribution systems allow utilities to manage water loss at an economic level.
Steam explosion of windmill palm fiber as the filler to improve the acoustic property of rigid polyurethane foams
Authors: Ju Zehui , He Qian , Zhang Haiyang , Zhan Tianyi , Chen Liangsong , Li Suxia , Hong Lu , Lu Xiaoning
Published: April 2020

Rigid polyurethane foam is a common sound absorption material in the construction owing to its structure that can effectively absorb sound waves by air friction and structural vibration. Windmill palm fibers pretreated with acid, alkali, or steam explosion were employed with polyurethane foam to improve foam acoustic performance in this study. The open porosity of the composite foam is closely related to the different treatments of windmill palm fiber and the content of windmill palm fiber in the composite. Steam explosion treatment removes silicon and wax layers on the surface of the windmill palm fiber, and the increased surface area after steam explosion provides a number of possible coupling reaction sites between the fiber and matrix. The model calculation shows that high airflow resistivity leads to high acoustic property, which is approach with the experimental results. The peak value of acoustic property indicated that the optimal content of windmill palm fiber in the rigid polyurethane foams is 1 wt%.
Description of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis of fetal complex heart malformations by prenatal echocardiography combined with postnatal cardiovascular casting
Authors: Wang Yu , Zhang Jiaqi , Feng Wei , Cao Haiyan , He Qiaoyue , Xu Jinzhi , Zeng He , Xie Mingxing
Published: April 2020

Objective

To compare prenatal echocardiography with postnatal cardiovascular casting for detection of fetal cardiovascular malformations, and to discuss the causes of prenatal misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.

Methods

We retrospectively identified patients from 2013 to 2018 at our Maternal‐Fetal Medicine Center who were reported to have a fetal diagnosis of severe congenital heart malformations (CHMs). Subjects had postnatal confirmation of CHMs. Prenatal and postnatal medical records, including ultrasound results and casting findings, were reviewed and analyzed.

Results

Postnatal casting showed that all 35 fetuses had complex CHMs. In these 35 cases, 90 cardiovascular malformations were found by postnatal casting, and 69 were detected by prenatal echocardiography. Among the other 21 cardiovascular malformations, 7 were misdiagnosed and 14 diagnoses were missed by prenatal ultrasound.

Conclusion

Prenatal echocardiography may lead to misdiagnosis and missed diagnoses, especially in cases with great arterial branching anomalies. Postnatal casting can demonstrate the configuration of the great vessels and smaller branches directly. Thus, understanding of such malformations via postnatal casting may help to improve prenatal diagnostic accuracy.
The isolation period should be longer: Lesson from a child infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 in Chongqing, China
Authors: Lin Jilei , Duan Jun , Tan Tingdan , Fu Zhou , Dai Jihong
Published: April 2020

In December 2019, COVID‐19 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) outbroke in Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei province, China. The disease rapidly spread to other areas in China due to a huge population movement during the New Year Festival. Here, a 7‐year‐old child with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in Chongqing, outside of Wuhan, Hubei province, was reported. This case suggested that children infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 are more likely to present milder manifestations than adults. The continuous positive real‐time reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction assay for SARS‐CoV‐2 in the child's throat swab sample indicated the isolation period for suspected child cases should be longer than 14 days.
X‐ray crystal structure localizes the mechanism of inhibition of an IL‐36R antagonist monoclonal antibody to interaction with Ig1 and Ig2 extra cellular domains
Authors: Larson Eric T. , Brennan Debra L. , Hickey Eugene R. , Ganesan Raj , Kroe‐Barrett Rachel , Farrow Neil A.
Published: April 2020

Cellular signaling via binding of the cytokines IL‐36α, β, and γ along with binding of the accessory protein IL‐36RAcP, to their cognate receptor IL‐36R is believed to play a major role in epithelial and immune cell‐mediated inflammation responses. Antagonizing the signaling cascade that results from these binding events via a directed monoclonal antibody provides an opportunity to suppress such immune responses. We report here the molecular structure of a complex between an extracellular portion of human IL‐36R and a Fab derived from a high affinity anti‐IL‐36R neutralizing monoclonal antibody at 2.3 Å resolution. This structure, the first of IL‐36R, reveals similarities with other structurally characterized IL‐1R family members and elucidates the molecular determinants leading to the high affinity binding of the monoclonal antibody. The structure of the complex reveals that the epitope recognized by the Fab is remote from both the putative ligand and accessory protein binding interfaces on IL‐36R, suggesting that the functional activity of the antibody is noncompetitive for these binding events.
Purification and crystal structure of human ODA16: Implications for ciliary import of outer dynein arms by the intraflagellar transport machinery
Authors: Wang Jiaolong , Taschner Michael , Petriman Narcis A. , Andersen Marie B. , Basquin Jerome , Bhogaraju Sagar , Vetter Melanie , Wachter Stefanie , Lorentzen Anna , Lorentzen Esben
Published: April 2020

Motile cilia protrude from cell surfaces and are necessary to create movement of cells and fluids in the body. At the molecular level, cilia contain several dynein molecular motor complexes including outer dynein arms (ODAs) that are attached periodically to the ciliary axoneme, where they hydrolyse ATP to create the force required for bending and motility of the cilium. ODAs are preassembled in the cytoplasm and subsequently trafficked into the cilium by the intraflagellar transport (IFT) system. In the case of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, the adaptor protein ODA16 binds to ODAs and directly to the IFT complex component IFT46 to facilitate the ciliary import of ODAs. Here, we purified recombinant human IFT46 and ODA16, determined the high‐resolution crystal structure of the ODA16 protein, and carried out direct interaction studies of IFT46 and ODA16. The human ODA16 C‐terminal 320 residues adopt the fold of an eight‐bladed β‐propeller with high overall structural similarity to the Chlamydomonas ODA16. However, the small 80 residue N‐terminal domain, which in Chlamydomonas ODA16 is located on top of the β‐propeller and is required to form the binding cleft for IFT46, has no visible electron density in case of the human ODA16 structure. Furthermore, size exclusion chromatography and pull‐down experiments failed to detect a direct interaction between human ODA16 and IFT46. These data suggest that additional factors may be required for the ciliary import of ODAs in human cells with motile cilia.
Anticancer properties and mechanism of action of the quassinoid ailanthone
Authors: Bailly Christian
Published: April 2020

Ailanthone (AIT) is a quassinoid natural product isolated from the worldwide‐distributed plant Ailanthus altissima. The drug displays multiple pharmacological properties, in particular significant antitumor effects against a variety of cancer cell lines in vitro. Potent in vivo activities have been evidenced in mice bearing hepatocellular carcinoma, nonsmall cell lung cancer and castration‐resistant prostate cancer. This review focusses on the mechanism of action of AIT, notably to highlight the capacity of the drug to activate DNA damage responses, to inhibit the Hsp90 co‐chaperone p23 and to modulate the expression of several microRNA. The interconnexion between these effects is discussed. The unique capacity of AIT to downregulate oncogenic miR‐21 and to upregulate the tumor suppressor miRNAs miR‐126, miR‐148a, miR‐195, and miR‐449a is presented. AIT exploits several microRNAs to exert its anticancer effects in distinct tumor types. AIT is one of the rare antitumor natural products that binds to and strongly inhibits cochaperone p23, opening interesting perspectives to treat cancers. However, the toxicity profile of the molecule may limit its development as an anticancer drug, unless it can be properly formulated to prevent AIT‐induced gastro‐intestinal damages in particular. The antitumor properties of AIT and analogs are underlined, with the aim to encourage further pharmacological studies with this underexplored natural product and related quassinoids.

Highlights

Ailanthone (AIT) is an anticancer quassinoid isolated from Ailanthus altissima

It inhibits proliferation and induces cell death of many cancer cell types

The drug activates DNA damage response and targets p23 cochaperone

Up or downregulation of several microRNA by AIT contributes to the anticancer activity

Analogs or specific formulations must be developed to prevent the toxicity of AIT
Wood‐induced backwater effects in lowland streams
Authors: Geertsema Tjitske J. , Torfs Paul J. J. F. , Eekhout Joris P. C. , Teuling Adriaan J. , Hoitink Antonius J. F.
Published: April 2020

Placement of wood in streams has become a common method to increase ecological value in river and stream restoration and is widely used in natural environments. Water managers, however, are often hesitant to introduce wood in channels that drain agricultural and urban areas because of backwater effect concerns. This study aims to better understand the dependence of wood‐induced backwater effects on cross‐sectional area reduction and on discharge variation. A newly developed, one‐dimensional stationary model demonstrates how a reduction in water level over the wood patch significantly increases directly after wood insertion. The water level drop is found to increase with discharge, up to a maximum level. If the discharge increases beyond this maximum, the water level drop reduces to a value that may represent the situation without wood. This reduction predominately depends on the obstruction ratio, calculated as the area covered by wood in the channel cross section divided by the total cross‐sectional area. The model was calibrated with data from a field study in four lowland streams in the Netherlands. The field study showed that morphologic adjustments in the stream and reorientation of the woody material reduced the water level reduction over the patches in time. The backwater effects can thus be reduced by optimizing the location where wood patches are placed and by manipulating the obstruction ratio. The model can function as a generic tool to achieve a stream design with wood that optimizes the hydrological and ecological potential of streams.
Magnetically Separable Fe3O4@Au@Tb‐MOF Fluorescent Probe with Well‐Designed Sandwich Structure and Metal‐Enhanced Fluorescence
Authors: Li Yinghui , Wang Dandan , Li Shikuo , Zhang Hui , Zhang Lina , Huang Fangzhi
Published: April 2020

Exploiting a high‐performance magnetic separation probe is important for the detection of nitroaromatic compounds. Here, a novel Fe3O4@Au@Tb‐BTC metal–organic framework (MOF) fluorescent probe was synthesized and used for the determination of nitroaromatic hydrocarbons. Thanks to the fluorescence enhancement of the gold nanoparticle‐layer and the sheet structure of the outer Tb‐BTC, the Fe3O4@Au@Tb‐BTC with sandwich structure exhibits significantly higher sensitivity than Fe3O4@Tb‐BTC in quantitative detection of nitroaromatic explosives. The quenching constant (Ksv) toward picric acid in ethanol is up to 5.08×104 M−1 and the limit of detection (LOD) could reach to 3.14×10−6 M. Furthermore, it can be easily to recycle by applying an external magnetic field. The unique sandwich structure makes Fe3O4@Au@Tb‐MOF highly efficient and recoverable, offering broad opportunities in the field of promising probe synthesis and application.
Design, Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of 2‐(naphthoyl) iminothiazolidin‐4‐ones as Potential Anticancer Agents
Authors: Ashraf Saba , Saeed Aamer , Moon Seong‐Hee , Flörke Ulrich , Kim Seong Hwan , Ashraf Zaman , Yaseen Muhammad , Latif Muhammad
Published: April 2020

A library of novel naphthyl bearing 2‐iminothiazolidin‐4‐ones (2‐ITZDs) (2 a–2 q) was designed and synthesized through a facile route involving regioselective heterocyclization of unsymmetrical thioureas (1 a–1 q). The synthesis was achieved at ambient temperature in good to excellent yields under catalyst free conditions. The molecular structures of 2‐ITZDs were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques such as FT‐IR, 1H‐NMR and 13C‐NMR. X‐ray structural data was used to establish the structure (2 o) unequivocally and to define the geometry of exo double bond. The in vitro anticancer activity of 2‐ITZDs (2 a–2 q) was investigated in several human cancer cell lines (A549, LNCap, PC‐3, MDA‐MB‐231, BxPC3, MIA PaCa2). All compounds showed cytotoxicity with IC50 values ranging from 6–23 μM in the tested cancer cell lines except MDA‐MB‐231. Compound 2 k (IC50=7 μM) and the homologous analog 2 q (IC50=6 μM) were found to be equipotent to 2 k and showed moderate cytotoxicity against human breast cell line (DA‐MB‐231). Furthermore, compound 2 k exhibited a medium permeability, enough metabolic stability and no significant inhibition of hERG channel. Compound 2 k inhibited cytochrome P450 activity below 50 % in 1 A2, 3 A4 and 2 C19, but not in 2 C9 and 2D6 at 10 μM. Structure‐activity relationships (SAR) provided useful insights towards this class of compounds and tiled a way to design novel analogues with increased potency.
The water‐energy nexus in the Middle East: Infrastructure, development, and conflict
Authors: Weinthal Erika , Sowers Jeannie
Published: April 2020

Water and energy are closely linked in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) through coupled networks of infrastructure. This review explores the water‐energy nexus of infrastructure to explicate different patterns of development and de‐development in the MENA. First, the review highlights why states, donors, and firms have long built large‐scale coupled water‐energy infrastructures to provide urban services, expand irrigated agriculture, and foster development. Yet, too often the adverse social and environmental impacts from the construction of dams, water conveyance structures, groundwater mining, and desalination plants have been overlooked. We then examine the water‐energy nexus through infrastructure for the most important users of water and energy in the MENA region: urban populations and the agricultural sector. Third, the review illustrates that while investments in water and energy infrastructure generated significant gains in human development for much for of the region, the post‐2011 wars reversed many of these development gains in conflict‐affected countries through the destruction and deterioration of water‐energy infrastructures. The unprecedented displacement of populations within and across borders has also created new challenges for host communities, where infrastructures for providing water and energy services were already overstretched. The review further highlights the growing role of humanitarian assistance in providing water and energy services to refugees, internally displaced populations, and host communities. Overall, this review examines how the nexus of water and energy infrastructure shapes human security, livelihoods, and political economies in the MENA region.

This article is categorized under:

Human Water > Water Governance

Engineering Water > Planning Water
Thermoelectric Properties of Nano‐grained Mooihoekite Cu9Fe9S16
Authors: Qiu Xianxiu , Qiu Pengfei , Deng Tingting , Huang Hui , Du Xiaolong , Shi Xun , Chen Lidong
Published: April 2020

Cu‐Fe‐S‐based compounds gain the interest from thermoelectric community because all the consisting elements, Cu, Fe, and S, are non‐toxic and earth‐abundant. Comparing with CuFeS2 and Cu5FeS4, the investigation on Cu9Fe9S16 is very rare. In this work, a series of Cu9–xFe9+xS16 samples were fabricated by means of melting‐annealing process. Their phase composition, microstructure, electrical and thermal transport properties were systematically investigated. X‐ray measurement confirms that all samples are phase pure. Transmission electron microscopy characterization indicates that the fabricated Cu9Fe9S16 has a natural nanostructure. Cu9Fe9S16 shows semiconducting‐like electrical transport behavior and intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity. Beyond the numerous boundaries between nanosized grains, the existence of low‐frequency optical phonons is also responsible for the intrinsically low lattice thermal conductivity. Doping Fe at the Cu‐sites in Cu9Fe9S16 significantly alters the electrical transport properties by introducing extra carriers. A peak dimensionless figure of merit zT value of 0.21 is obtained at 800 K for pure Cu9Fe9S16, which is comparable with that for CuFeS2.
Identification of Comparison Key Elements and Their Relationships for Cloud Service Selection
Authors: Nacer Anis Ahmed , Perrin Olivier , Charoy François
Published: April 2020

Nowadays, the cloud computing industry is enjoying an exponential growth, where several cloud service providers compete to be one of the market leaders. Usually, providers offering similar services use different non-functional attributes to describe them. Thus, given the heterogeneity and diversity of services descriptions, the selection process of the appropriate cloud service becomes challenging. Architects no longer know what criteria to use to make the suitable cloud services selection. In this paper, we highlight the challenge of identifying key elements of comparisons and their relationship for selecting cloud services. Further, we propose a methodology to solve this issue based on real data available from service providers and benchmark work. Our methodology is validated based on two case studies of cloud relational databases and cloud queuing services.
Technology-Agnostic Declarative Deployment Automation of Cloud Applications
Authors: Wurster Michael , Breitenbücher Uwe , Brogi Antonio , Harzenetter Lukas , Leymann Frank , Soldani Jacopo
Published: April 2020

Declarative approaches for automating the deployment and configuration management of multi-component applications are on the rise. Many deployment technologies exist, sharing the same baselines for enacting declarative deployments, even if based on different languages for specifying multi-component applications. The Essential Deployment Metamodel (EDMM) Modeling and Transformation Framework allows to specify multi-component applications in a technology-agnostic manner, and to automatically generate the technology-specific deployment artifacts allowing to deploy an IaaS-based application. In this paper, we propose an extension of the EDMM Modeling and Transformation Framework to PaaS and SaaS by allowing to deploy application components on PaaS platforms or to implement them by instrumenting SaaS services. Given that not all existing deployment technologies support PaaS and SaaS deployments, we also propose the new EDMM Decision Support Framework allowing us to determine which deployment technologies can be used to deploy an application specified with EDMM.
Higgs boson decay h → Zγ and muon magnetic dipole moment in the μνSSM
Authors: Liu Chang-Xin , Zhang Hai-Bin , Yang Jin-Lei , Zhao Shu-Min , Liu Yu-Bin , Feng Tai-Fu
Published: April 2020

Abstract

To solve the μ problem and generate three tiny neutrino masses in the MSSM, the μ from ν Supersymmetric Standard Model (μνSSM) introduces three singlet right- handed neutrino superfields, which lead to the mixing of the Higgs doublets with the sneutrinos. The mixing affects the lightest Higgs boson mass and the Higgs couplings. The present observed 95% CL upper limit on signal strength of the 125 GeV Higgs boson decay h → Zγ is 6.6, which still is plenty of space to prove the existence of new physics. In this work, we investigate the signal strength of the 125 GeV Higgs boson decay channel h → Zγ in the μνSSM. Besides, we consider the two-loop electroweak corrections of muon anomalous magnetic dipole moment (MDM) in the model, which also make important contributions compared with one-loop electroweak corrections.
Entropic locking of Action Complexity at cosmological singularities
Authors: Barbón J.L.F. , Martín-García J.
Published: April 2020

Abstract

We study the relation between entropy and Action Complexity (AC) for various examples of cosmological singularities in General Relativity. The complexity is defined with respect to the causal domain of dependence of the singular set, and the entropy is evaluated on the boundary of the same causal domain. We find that, contrary to the situation for black hole singularities, the complexity growth near the singularity is controlled by the dynamics of the entropy S, with a characteristic linear relation. This formula is found to apply to singularities with vanishing entropy as well as those with diverging entropy. In obtaining these results it is crucial to take into account the AC expansion counterterm, whose associated length scale must be chosen sufficiently large in order to ensure the expected monotonicity properties of the complexity.
On a degenerate parabolic system describing the mean curvature flow of rotationally symmetric closed surfaces
Authors: Garcke Harald , Matioc Bogdan-Vasile
Published: April 2020

We show that the mean curvature flow for a closed and rotationally symmetric surface can be formulated as an evolution problem consisting of an evolution equation for the square of the function whose graph is rotated and two ODEs describing the evolution of the points of the evolving surface that lie on the rotation axis. For the fully nonlinear and degenerate parabolic problem we establish the well-posedness property in the setting of classical solutions. Besides we prove that the problem features the effect of parabolic smoothing.
Arthroscopic Bankart repair with an individualized capsular shift restores physiological capsular volume in patients with anterior shoulder instability
Authors: Eberbach Helge , Jaeger Martin , Bode Lisa , Izadpanah Kaywan , Hupperich Andreas , Ogon Peter , Südkamp Norbert P. , Maier Dirk
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Capsular volume reduction in the context of anterior arthroscopic shoulder stabilization represents an important but uncontrolled parameter. The aim of this study was to analyse capsular volume reduction by arthroscopic Bankart repair with an individualized capsular shift in patients with and without ligamentous hyperlaxity compared to a control group.

Methods

In the context of a prospective controlled study, intraoperative capsular volume measurements were performed in 32 patients with anterior shoulder instability before and after arthroscopic Bankart repair with an individualized capsular shift. The results were compared to those of a control group of 50 patients without instability. Physiological shoulder joint volumes were calculated and correlated with biometric parameters (sex, age, height, weight and BMI).

Results

Patients with anterior shoulder instability showed a mean preinterventional capsular volume of 35.6 ± 10.6 mL, which was found to be significantly reduced to 19.3 ± 5.4 mL following arthroscopic Bankart repair with an individualized capsular shift (relative capsular volume reduction: 45.9 ± 21.9%; P < 0.01). Pre-interventional volumes were significantly greater in hyperlax than in non-hyperlax patients, while post-interventional volumes did not differ significantly. The average shoulder joint volume of the control group was 21.1 ± 7.0 mL, which was significantly correlated with sex, height and weight (P < 0.01). Postinterventional capsular volumes did not significantly differ from those of the controls (n.s.).

Conclusion

Arthroscopic Bankart repair with an individualized capsular shift enabled the restoration of physiological capsular volume conditions in hyperlax and non-hyperlax patients with anterior shoulder instability. Current findings allow for individual adjustment and intraoperative control of capsular volume reduction to avoid over- or under correction of the shoulder joint volume. Future clinical studies should evaluate, whether individualized approaches to arthroscopic shoulder stabilization are associated with superior clinical outcome.
Evaluation of lipid quantification accuracy using HILIC and RPLC MS on the example of NIST® SRM® 1950 metabolites in human plasma
Authors: Lange Mike , Fedorova Maria
Published: April 2020

Lipidomics analysis for large-scale studies aiming at the identification and quantification of natural lipidomes is often performed using LC–MS-based data acquisition. However, the choice of suitable LC–MS method for accurate lipid quantification remains a matter of debate. Here, we performed the systematic comparison between two HRAM-MS-based quantification workflows based on HILIC and RPLC MS by quantifying 191 lipids from five lipid classes in human blood plasma using deuterated standards in the “one ISTD-per-lipid class” approach. Lipid quantification was performed considering all necessary isotopic corrections, and obtained correction factors are illustrated. Concentrations of lipids in NIST® SRM® 1950 human blood plasma determined by the two methods were comparable for most of the studied lipid species except for highly unsaturated phosphatidylcholines (PC). A comparison of lipid concentrations to consensus values determined in a previously published multi-laboratory study illustrated possible “overestimation” of concentrations for these highly unsaturated lipids by HILIC MS. We evaluated the influence of lipid loading amounts as well as the difference between quantified lipid and internal standard concentrations on the HILIC MS quantification results. We conclude that both HILIC and RPLC HRAM-MS workflows can be equally used for accurate lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LPE), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and sphingomyelin (SM) lipid quantification, despite significant differences in the concentration of highly unsaturated PC lipids which need to be addressed by establishing response factors to account for the differences in degree of lipid unsaturation.
The Sc-GAP makeover flap: eliminating the need for position changes in gluteal flap breast reconstruction
Authors: Bijkerk Ennie , van der Hulst René R. W. J. , Lataster Arno , Tuinder Stefania M. H.
Published: April 2020

Background

The gluteal region is one of the many alternative donor sites for autologous breast reconstruction. However, the harvest of the gluteal flap is rather difficult, and the major drawback of gluteal flaps has been the need for position changes for flap harvest and inset. A new approach of a gluteal flap is introduced, based on the septocutaneous perforators of the superior gluteal artery: the septocutaneous gluteal artery perforator (Sc-GAP) makeover flap.

Methods

A prospective study was performed in Maastricht University Medical Center between January 2018 and December 2019. Patients who underwent a Sc-GAP makeover flap breast reconstruction in the Maastricht University Medical Center and have had preoperative magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) of the abdomen between January 2018 and June 2019 were included.

Results

Nine patients underwent breast reconstruction with thirteen Sc-GAP makeover flaps, of which nine flaps were innervated. Indications were the abdomen not being available as a donor site (n = 4) or the flank region was preferred as a donor site by the patient (n = 5). The total operative time was 430 min on average (range 311–683). Mean flap weight was 638 g (range 370–1004) and the mean ischemia time was 53 ± 9.96 min. Coupler size used was 2.0–2.5 mm. All flaps survived.

Conclusion

The Sc-GAP makeover flap overcomes the disadvantages of the conventional gluteal flaps, especially by eliminating the need for position changes during the reconstruction procedure. It is a reliable flap that provides sufficient volume and good esthetic outcomes.

Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study.
68Ga-PSMA Cerenkov luminescence imaging in primary prostate cancer: first-in-man series
Authors: olde Heuvel Judith , de Wit-van der Veen Berlinda J. , van der Poel Henk G. , Bekers Elise M. , Grootendorst Maarten R. , Vyas Kunal N. , Slump Cornelis H. , Stokkel Marcel P. M.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

Currently, approximately 11–38% of prostate cancer (PCa) patients undergoing radical prostatectomy have a positive surgical margin (PSM) on histopathology. Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI) using 68Ga-prostate-specific membrane antigen (68Ga-PSMA) is a novel technique for intraoperative margin assessment. The aim of this first-in-man study was to investigate the feasibility of intraoperative 68Ga-PSMA CLI. In this study, feasibility was defined as the ability to distinguish between a positive and negative surgical margin, imaging within 45 min and low radiation exposure to staff.

Methods

Six patients were included in this ongoing study. Following perioperative i.v. injection of ~ 100 MBq 68Ga-PSMA, the prostate was excised and immediately imaged ex vivo. Different acquisition protocols were tested, and hotspots on CLI images from the intact prostate were marked for comparison with histopathology.

Results

By using an acquisition protocol with 150 s exposure time, 8 × 8 binning and a 550 nm shortpass filter, PSMs and negative surgical margins (NSMs) were visually correctly identified on CLI in 3 of the 5 patients. Two patients had a hotspot on CLI from cancer < 0.1 mm from the excision margin.

Conclusion

Overall, the study showed that 68Ga-PSMA CLI is a feasible and low-risk technique for intraoperative margin assessment in PCa. The remaining patients in this ongoing study will be used to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the technique.

Trial registration: NL8256 registered at www.trialregister.nl on 04/11/20109.
Bilateral medialization thyroplasty in patients with vocal fold atrophy with or without sulcus
Authors: van den Broek Emke M. J. M. , Heijnen Bas J. , Hendriksma Martine , van de Kamp-Lam Vivienne A. H. , Verhagen Thijs O. , Langeveld Antonius P. M. , van Benthem Peter Paul G. , Sjögren Elisabeth V.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

To evaluate voice outcome after bilateral medialization thyroplasty in patients with non-paralytic glottic insufficiency due to vocal fold atrophy with or without sulcus.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study on 29 patients undergoing bilateral medialization thyroplasty for vocal fold atrophy (14 procedures) or atrophy with sulcus (15 procedures) between October 2012 and November 2017. Voice data were collected and analyzed for the preoperative and the 3- and 12-month postoperative time point according to a standardized protocol, including Voice Handicap Index (VHI)-30 and perceptual, acoustic and aerodynamic parameters. Failure rate was based on number of revisions within 12 months and non-relevant improvement (< 10 points) in VHI-30 at 12 months.

Results

There was a clinically relevant (≥ 15 points) and statistically significant improvement (p < 0.0001) in the VHI-30 (preoperative: 55.8 points; postoperative at 12 months: 30.9 points). Fundamental frequency for male subjects decreased significantly from 175 to 159 Hz (p = 0.0001). The pre- and post-operative grade of dysphonia was significantly lower in patients with atrophy compared to atrophy and sulcus (mean difference 0.70, p = 0.017).

Conclusion

Bilateral medialization thyroplasty is a valid treatment option for patients with atrophy with or without sulcus. Outcomes are comparable to other methods reported in literature. However, there is a great need for larger, prospective studies with long-term follow-up to gain more insight into the comparative voice outcomes for the different forms of surgery for patients with glottic incompetence due to atrophy with or without sulcus.