bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation and characterization of polyzwitterionic hydrogel coated polyamide‐based mixed matrix membrane for heavy metal ions removal
Authors: Pakizeh Majid , May Patrick , Matthias Marcel , Ulbricht Mathias
Published: July 2020

A novel polyzwitterionic hydrogel coated mixed matrix membrane (MMM) was successfully prepared, characterized and used for Cu2+, Mn2+, and Pb2+ heavy metal ions removal from water. Hydrophilic and porous covalent organic framework (COF) nanoparticles (NP) as filler were synthesized from melamine and terephthalaldehyde, and then incorporated into polyamide (PA) thin film composite (TFC) membrane. The hydrogel coating was applied by using a tailored cross‐linkable polymer system in combination with concentration polarization enabled cross‐linking. The effects of COF NP loading into PA layer and polyzwitterionic hydrogel coating on the membrane morphology and separation performance were studied using different analyses. The MMM prepared with a COF NP loading of 0.02 wt/wt% in the hexane dispersion used for NP deposition during PA layer formation (leading to 0.42 g/m2) exhibited an increased pure water permeability of around 200% compared with the neat PA TFC membrane while the Mn2+ ion rejection maintained above 98%. Scanning electron microscopy surface images and zeta potential profiles showed that the hydrogel was successfully deposited on the membrane surface. Furthermore, the hydrogel coating could decrease net surface charge of membranes but did not significantly influence the heavy metal ions rejections under nanofiltration conditions. The results of filtration experiment with protein solution indicated that the hydrogel coated membranes exhibited superior antifouling property, as shown by higher flux recovery ratio after washing with water, compared with neat PA TFC membrane and not coated MMM, respectively.
Control strategies for ventilation networks in small‐scale mines using an experimental benchmark
Authors: Rodriguez‐Diaz Oscar‐Oswaldo , Novella‐Rodriguez David Fernando , Witrant Emmanuel , Franco‐Mejia Edinson
Published: July 2020

In view of the frequent ventilation network changes during production in underground mining, decreasing sensors and actuators without altering production control and safety is one of the chief engineering challenges. This work is focused on modeling identification and control strategies for underground ventilation networks in small‐scale mines using an experimental benchmark. Guidelines to obtain a discrete state space model are provided, considering the conservation laws in the network to define the structure of the linear model. The main purpose of the paper is to analyze the use of classic controllers in the mine ventilation system when there are limitations on the number of sensors and actuators available to design a feedback control system. A comparison of three classic control strategies is presented considering the a constraint on the available number of sensors. Experimental and simulation results are presented.
Isolation and aspiration: Deaf adults reflect on the educational legacy of special schooling
Authors: Anglin‐Jaffe Hannah
Published: July 2020

This small‐scale, qualitative study invited deaf adults to reflect on their schooling and to consider the ways in which placement decisions impacted their educational opportunities, achievement and identity. It aimed to document the experiences of deaf adults who had attended special schools for deaf children and to elicit their thoughts on the current state of education for deaf children and their hopes for the future. The findings, based on the participants’ narratives, alluded to current debates about the growing numbers of young deaf children in mainstream schools and the impact of this trend on the changing nature of Deaf culture. They also explored a tension around the balancing of the need for deaf children to access Deaf culture and sign language, whilst maintaining the positive achievements of inclusive practice, including raised expectations, family and community belonging, and high academic achievement. This article advances a possible solution to this tension in the form of deaf‐centric community hubs.
Clustering with missing and left‐censored data: A simulation study comparing multiple‐imputation‐based procedures
Authors: Faucheux Lilith , Resche‐Rigon Matthieu , Curis Emmanuel , Soumelis Vassili , Chevret Sylvie
Published: July 2020

Cluster analysis, commonly used to explore large biomedical datasets, can be challenging, notably due to missing data or left‐censored data induced by the sensitivity limits of the biochemical measurement method. Usually, complete‐case analysis, simple imputation, or stochastic simple imputation are applied before clustering. More recently, consensus methods following multiple imputation have been proposed. However, they ignore left‐censoring and do not allow the number of clusters to vary across the partitions of each imputed dataset. Here, we developed a consensus‐based clustering algorithm in which left‐censored data are taken into account using a modified multiple imputation method and the number of clusters is estimated for each imputed dataset. A simulation study was conducted to assess the performance in terms of the number of clusters, the percentage of unclassified observations, and the adjusted Rand index. The simulation results showed that the investigated method works well compared to several alternative approaches. A real‐world application in breast cancer patients showed that the proposed method may reveal novel clusters of patients.
Using intraverbal training to increase symbolic play in children with autism spectrum disorder
Authors: Lee Gabrielle , LeePark Hyesuk , Kim Seungju , Park Mi‐seong , Park Soohyun
Published: July 2020

We evaluated the effects of an intraverbal training procedure on the acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of object‐substitution symbolic play in three 6‐year‐old Korean boys with autism spectrum disorder. A multiple probe across four behaviors design was used. All children acquired target symbolic play behavior, and novel responses emerged in training and follow‐up conditions. Generalization of object substitutions to untaught objects occurred in all three children. Free play observations indicated that symbolic play emerged in one child, and functional play increased in all three children.
Synthesis and Application of New Calix[4]Arenes‐Containing (R)‐Phenylglycinol Chiral Stationary Phases for Enantioseparation
Authors: Heo Kyu Sung , Ryoo Jae Jeong
Published: July 2020

N‐3,5‐Dinitrobenzoyl‐(R)‐phenylglycinol silylation product was used as a high‐performance liquid chromatography chiral stationary phase (CSP 1) for the resolution of various racemic samples, and some racemic samples were successfully separated. In this study, instead of the commonly used π‐acidic acyl chloride, calix[4]arenes were introduced to prepare two phenylglycinol CSPs (CSP 2, CSP 3). CSP 3 showed similar separation patterns as CSP 1 but different characteristics in specific samples. The newly prepared CSP 3 separated 10 of 13 π‐acidic, π‐basic, and oxazolidinone chiral samples and was especially useful for separating chiral oxazolidinones. In comparison between CSP 2 and CSP 3, CSP 2 separated fewer chiral samples than CSP 3 because of poor cavity and steric interactions. The newly developed C‐methylcalix[4]resorcinarene derived CSP (CSP 3) will be a good model for the development of new stationary phase of this calixarene series.
Financial development and economic growth nexus in Africa
Authors: Manu Emmanuel K. , Xuezhou Wen , Paintsil Isaac O. , Gyedu Samuel , Ntarmah Albert H.
Published: July 2020

In contemporary years, African economies have experienced a period of rapid economic change to the sustainable growth of economic development. Although the existing literature has confirmed that investment and foreign business are two central growth engines of African's economy, examinations on the impacts of financial development (FD)‐economic growth (EG) nexus using a comprehensive structure are still unusual. This paper examines the dynamic nexus between financial development‐Economic growths using a country data set covering the period 1980 to 2017 by using panel vector autoregressive and the panel quantile regression technique. The empirical results confirm that significant cointegration relationships among FD‐EG exist, no matter in the sub‐sample for the countries. At the same time the granger causality test, report that foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade granger cause per capita gross domestic product. The motivation of the empirical investigation lies in reviewing the broad effect of financial development‐economic growth nexus and providing precise recommendations to policymakers. Also, to make the conclusion more relevant, we discussed the results for the subsamples for the developing African countries (Western, Southern, Northern, Central, and Eastern). Distinctive indicators for financial development are applied to affirm the stability and robustness of the estimation outcomes. Further restructuring the financial system and accelerating the change of the economic structure are dynamic for African's sustainable economic growth.
Sustainable development goals and the strategic role of business: A systematic literature review
Authors: Mio Chiara , Panfilo Silvia , Blundo Benedetta
Published: July 2020

The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are an urgent call for action by all countries that provide a global framework for achieving global development while balancing social, economic, and environmental sustainability. SDGs are addressed to all actors in society, but both academia and professional recognize the particular importance of businesses. However, research is still needed to understand the role of companies as sustainable development agents. Relying on Scopus database consultation, the current research adopts an interdisciplinary systematic literature review to investigate, analyze, and present state‐of‐the‐art academic literature on the role of businesses in tackling SDGs. The final sample comprises 101 papers published between 2015 and 2020. It provides evidence that the main topics discussed by scholars are related to aspects of strategy execution. Recognizing different streams that are currently unexplored—despite strictly related to strategic business activities and to the sustainable development as a whole—the study provides many insights for future research on business and SDGs.
Glycan engineering reveals interrelated effects of terminal galactose and core fucose on antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity
Authors: Zhang Qingchun , Joubert Marisa K. , Polozova Alla , De Guzman Ronandro , Lakamsani Kamala , Kinderman Francis , Xiang Dong , Shami Andrew , Miscalichi Nahira , Flynn Gregory C. , Kuhns Scott
Published: July 2020

Antibody‐dependent cell‐mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) has been identified as one of the potentially critical effector functions underlying the clinical efficacy of some therapeutic immunoglobin G1 (IgG1) antibodies. It has been well established that higher levels of afucosylated N‐linked glycan structures on the Fc region enhance the IgG binding affinity to the FcγIIIa receptor and lead to increased ADCC activity. However, whether terminal galactosylation of an IgG1 impacts its ADCC activity is less understood. Here, we used a new strategy for glycan enrichment and remodeling to study the impact of terminal galactose on ADCC activity for therapeutic IgG1s. Our results indicate that the degree of influence of terminal galactose on in vitro ADCC activity depends on the presence or absence of the core fucose, which is typically linked to the first N‐acetyl glucosamine residue of an N‐linked glycosylation core structure. Specifically, terminal galactose on afucosylated IgG1 mAbs enhanced ADCC activity with impact coefficients (ADCC%/Gal%) more than 20, but had minimal influence on ADCC activity on fucosylated structures with impact coefficient in the range of 0.1–0.2. Knowledge gained here can be used to guide product and process development activities for biotherapeutic antibodies that require effector function for efficacy, and also highlight the complexity in modulating the immune response through N‐linked glycosylation of antibodies.
Clinical response to chemoradiotherapy in esophageal carcinoma is associated with survival and benefit of consolidation chemotherapy
Authors: Zhao Zongxing , Zhang Yanan , Wang Xin , Geng Xiaotao , Zhu Liqiong , Li Minghuan
Published: July 2020

Purpose

Few studies have reported the impact of the clinical response of patients with Esophageal Carcinoma to chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Our study examines the association between clinical response and pretreatment variables, survival, patterns of failure, and benefit of consolidation chemotherapy in subjects with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) patients receiving CRT.

Methods

Data from ESCC patients treated at Shandong Cancer Hospital between January 2013 and December 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. By definition, we considered a poor response as progressive disease (PD) and stable disease (SD), while complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) were considered as a good response. Multivariate analyses were carried out using Cox proportional hazards models and patient survival was assessed using the Kaplan‐Meier and log‐rank test.

Results

After CRT, 136 (48.9%) patients responded well (good response) and 152 (51.1%) patients responded poorly (poor response). Overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) differed significantly between patients responded well and those responded poorly. Patients with an early‐stage or the upper location of the tumor were more likely to achieve a good response. Patients showing poor responses tended to experience local failure. The 3‐year OS and PFS rates of patients showing poor response were 38.9% and 25.5%, respectively, for the CRT with consolidation chemotherapy (CRT + C) group, and 22.7% and 16.7%, respectively, for the CRT group. However, patients with a good response did not benefit from the consolidation chemotherapy. Primary tumor location, T category, N category, and clinical response to chemoradiotherapy were independent factors predicting OS and PFS in ESCC.

Conclusion

Clinical response to CRT substantially improves patient survival and is associated with failure patterns in ESCC. Consolidated chemotherapy may benefit patients with a poor response.
Effect of Chin‐down‐plus‐larynx‐tightening maneuver on swallowing function after minimally invasive esophagectomy: A randomized controlled trail
Authors: Yang Funa , Zou Limin , Li Lijuan , Zou Qiyun , Chen Peinan , Sun Haibo , Liu Xianben , Xu Xiaoxia
Published: July 2020

Background

The incidence of swallowing abnormality was high after minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) for esophageal cancer (EC). Few reports, however, focused on interventions for dysphagia after esophagectomy.

Aim

The purpose of this research was to estimate the effect of Chin‐down‐plus‐larynx‐tightening maneuver on swallowing function for patients receiving esophagectomy.

Method

This was a 2‐arm, parallel‐group, single‐blind randomized clinical trial, performed in patients suffered from EC from November 2018 to January 2020. Patients were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG). The participants in CG received routine care, and the IG received Chin‐down‐plus‐larynx‐tightening maneuver during feeding. The incidence of choking cough, swallowing function, and dietary outcomes were evaluated before and after intervention for 7 days.

Results

A total of 237 EC cases were enrolled and randomized to the IG (n = 118) or CG (n = 119). There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics. Postoperative choking cough occurred in 5 of 118 cases (4.24%) in IG and 18 of 119 cases (19.4%) in CG, the differences showed statistically significant (P < .001). The analysis showed that the participants in the IG compared with the CG have more total caloric intake of 24 hours and higher K/R (the ratio of calories oral achieved to total calories required of body) significantly from D1 to D7 of intervention (P < .05).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that the Chin‐down‐plus‐larynx‐tightening maneuver can improve swallowing function recovery and oral total food intake and calories in EC patients undergoing MIE.
Liquid Phase, Aerobic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohol over the Catalyst System (Pt/TiO2+H2O)
Authors: Kunene Avela , van Heerden Tracey , Gambu Thobani G. , van Steen Eric
Published: July 2020

Up to four different phases can be present in the heterogeneously catalyzed, liquid phase, aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol over Pt/TiO2. It is shown that the rate of benzyl alcohol oxidation is greatly enhanced upon addition of water to the initial reaction mixture but is not affected by the split between the two liquid phases. The rate of reaction correlates with the composition of water in the phase associated with the catalyst, i. e. the water‐poor phase. Water may have various kinetic effects, e. g. a change in the distribution of surface species. It is argued on grounds of thermodynamic consistency that the liquid phase surrounding the catalyst is an intricate part of the catalyst in the aerobic benzyl alcohol oxidation over Pt/TiO2; water present in this liquid phase interacts with species on the surface altering the reaction kinetics.
Availability of Hydrogen Shapes the Microbial Abundance in Biofilm Anodes based onGeobacterEnrichment
Authors: Korth Benjamin , Kuchenbuch Anne , Harnisch Falk
Published: July 2020

Biofilm anodes based onGeobacterenrichment in one‐chamber and two‐chamber reactors are qualitatively and quantitatively investigated. The methanogenic community of biofilms in both types of reactors consists exclusively of hydrogenotrophs, mainly the genusMethanobacterium. As qPCR demonstrates in one‐chamber reactors, the abundance ofGeobacterand methanogens increases due to the presence of cathodically produced hydrogen. In two‐chamber reactors, the abundance of methanogens is decreased by 98 % compared to one‐chamber reactors. Adding hydrogen gas to the anodic compartment of two‐chamber reactors recovers the abundance of methanogens andGeobacter. Ratios of methanogens/bacteria are confirmed by using the cofactor F420autofluorescence of methanogens. The impact of the reactor setup for developing primary microbial electrochemical technologies is discussed, reasoning that two‐chamber reactors have to be generally favored. Yet, their use inheres a trade‐off when cultivating biofilm anodes, as the indicated syntrophic interactions between methanogens andGeobacterare reduced, but pH decrease might influence microbial processes.
Catalytic Arylative Endo Cyclization of Gold Acetylides: Access to 3,4‐Diphenyl Isoquinoline, 2,3‐Diphenyl Indole, and Mesoionic Normal NHC–Gold Complex
Authors: Wang Jiwei , Yuan Kemeng , Wang Gendi , Liu Ye , Zhang Jun
Published: July 2020

3,4‐Diphenyl isoquinoline and 2,3‐diphenyl indole are readily accessed by catalytic selective bis‐arylative endo cyclization of gold acetylides. The synthetic approach could be also extended to prepare six‐membered mesoionic NHC complex, which could further undergo deprotonation/complexation to afford 1,3‐N‐heterocyclic dicarbene (NHDCs) Au2 and Au/Ag complexes. The key vicinal diaurated alkene intermediates have been isolated and the studies on their reactivities towards coupling partners reinforce the proposed mechanisms.
Highlights on the Binding of Cobalta‐Bis‐(Dicarbollide) with Glucose Units
Authors: Merhi Tania , Jonchère Alban , Girard Luc , Diat Olivier , Nuez Miquel , Viñas Clara , Bauduin Pierre
Published: July 2020

Metalla‐bis‐dicarbollides, such as the cobalta‐bis‐dicarbollide (COSAN) anion [Co(C2B9H11)2]−, have attracted much attention in biology but a deep understanding of their interactions with cell components is still missing. For this purpose, we studied the interactions of COSAN with the glucose moiety, which is ubiquitous at biological interfaces. Octyl‐glucopyranoside surfactant (C8G1) was chosen as a model as it self‐assembles in water and creates a hydrated glucose‐covered interface. At low COSAN content and below the critical micellar concentration (CMC) of C8G1, COSAN binds to C8G1 monomers through the hydrophobic effect. Above the CMC of C8G1, COSAN adsorbs onto C8G1 micelles through the superchaotropic effect. At high COSAN concentrations, COSAN disrupts C8G1 micelles and the assemblies become similar to COSAN micelles but with a small amount of solubilized C8G1. Therefore, COSAN binds in a versatile way to C8G1 through either the hydrophobic or superchaotropic effect depending on their relative concentrations.
Ancillary Ligand Effects on Heteroleptic IrIII Dye in Dye‐Sensitized Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction: Photoaccumulation of Charges on Arylated Bipyridine Ligand and Its Control on Catalytic Performance
Authors: Jo Ju Hyoung , Choi Sunghan , Cheong Ha‐Yeon , Shin Jae Yoon , Kim Chul Hoon , Cho Dae Won , Son Ho‐Jin , Pac Chyongjin , Kang Sang Ook
Published: July 2020

Herein, we report the synthesis, and photochemical and ‐physical properties, as well as the catalytic performance, of a series of heteroleptic IrIII photosensitizers (IrPSs), [Ir(C^N)2(N^NAryl)]+, possessing ancillary ligands that are varied with aryl‐substituents on bipyridyl unit [C^N=(2‐pyridyl)benzo[b]thiophen‐3‐yl (btp); N^NAryl=4,4′‐Y2‐bpy (Y=−Ph or −PhSi(Ph)3]. We found that the π‐extension of bipyridyl ligand by aryl‐substitution put bipyridyl ligand in use as an electron relay unit that performed charge accumulation before delivering to the catalytic center, greatly improving the overall CO2‐to‐CO conversion activities. In a typical run, the aryl‐substituted IrPS (tBuIrP‐PhSi)‐sensitized homogeneous systems (IrPS+ReI catalyst) gave a turnover number of 1340 (ΦCO=24.2 %) at the early stage of photolysis (<5 h). This study demonstrates that the π‐character modulation on the ancillary bipyridyl ligand is critical for forthcoming catalytic performance.
Mono‐ and Di‐Fucosylated Glycans of the Parasitic Worm S. mansoni are Recognized Differently by the Innate Immune Receptor DC‐SIGN
Authors: Srivastava Apoorva D. , Unione Luca , Wolfert Margreet A. , Valverde Pablo , Ardá Ana , Jiménez‐Barbero Jesús , Boons Geert‐Jan
Published: July 2020

The parasitic worm, Schistosoma mansoni, expresses unusual fucosylated glycans in a stage‐dependent manner that can be recognized by the human innate immune receptor DC‐SIGN, thereby shaping host immune responses. We have developed a synthetic approach for mono‐ and bis‐fucosylated LacdiNAc (LDN‐F and LDN‐DF, respectively), which are epitopes expressed on glycolipids and glycoproteins of S. mansoni. It is based on the use of monosaccharide building blocks having carefully selected amino‐protecting groups, facilitating high yielding and stereoselective glycosylations. The molecular interaction between the synthetic glycans and DC‐SIGN was studied by NMR and molecular modeling, which demonstrated that the α1,3‐fucoside of LDN‐F can coordinate with the Ca2+‐ion of the canonical binding site of DC‐SIGN allowing for additional interactions with the underlying LDN backbone. The 1,2‐fucoside of LDN‐DF can be complexed in a similar manner, however, in this binding mode GlcNAc and GalNAc of the LDN backbone are placed away from the protein surface resulting in a substantially lower binding affinity. Glycan microarray binding studies showed that the avidity and selectivity of binding is greatly enhanced when the glycans are presented multivalently, and in this format Lex and LDN‐F gave strong responsiveness, whereas no binding was detected for LDN‐DF. The data indicates that S. mansoni has developed a strategy to avoid detection by DC‐SIGN in a stage‐dependent manner by the addition of a fucoside to a number of its ligands.
Engineering Boron Hot Spots for the Site‐Selective Installation of Iminoboronates on Peptide Chains
Authors: Russo Roberto , Padanha Rita , Fernandes Fábio , Veiros Luis F. , Corzana Francisco , Gois Pedro M. P.
Published: July 2020

Boronic acids (BAs) are a promising bioconjugation function to design dynamic materials as they can establish reversible covalent bonds with oxygen/nitrogen nucleophiles that respond to different pH, ROS, carbohydrates and glutathione levels. However, the dynamic nature of these bonds also limits the control over the stability and site‐selectivity of the bioconjugation, which ultimately leads to heterogeneous conjugates with poor stability under physiological conditions. Here we disclose a new strategy to install BAs on peptide chains. In this study, a “boron hot spot“ based on the 3‐hydroxyquinolin‐2(1H)‐one scaffold was developed and upon installation on a peptide N‐terminal cysteine, enables the site‐selective formation of iminoboronates with 2‐formyl‐phenyl boronic acids (Ka of 58128±2 m−1). The reaction is selective in the presence of competing lysine ϵ‐amino groups, and the resulting iminoboronates, displayed improved stability in buffers solutions and a cleavable profile in the presence of glutathione. Once developed, the methodology was used to prepare cleavable fluorescent conjugates with a laminin fragment, which enabled the validation of the 67LR receptor as a target to deliver cargo to cancer HT29 cells.
Functionalization of N2 via Formal 1,3‐Haloboration of a Tungsten(0) σ‐Dinitrogen Complex
Authors: Rempel Anna , Mellerup Soren K. , Fantuzzi Felipe , Herzog Anselm , Deißenberger Andrea , Bertermann Rüdiger , Engels Bernd , Braunschweig Holger
Published: July 2020

Boron tribromide and aryldihaloboranes were found to undergo 1,3‐haloboration across one W−N≡N moiety of a group 6 end‐on dinitrogen complex (i.e. trans‐[W(N2)2(dppe)2]). The N‐borylated products consist of a reduced diazenido unit sandwiched between a WII center and a trivalent boron substituent (W−N=N−BXAr), and have all been fully characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Both the terminal N atom and boron center in the W−N=N−BXAr unit can be further derivatized using electrophiles and nucleophiles/Lewis bases, respectively. This mild reduction and functionalization of a weakly activated N2 ligand with boron halides is unprecedented, and hints at the possibility of generating value‐added nitrogen compounds directly from molecular dinitrogen.
The effect of Medicaid expansion among adults from low‐income communities on stage at diagnosis in those with screening‐amenable cancers
Authors: Kim Uriel , Koroukian Siran , Statler Abby , Rose Johnie
Published: July 2020

Background

Several states have opted to expand Medicaid under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), which offers insurance coverage to low‐income individuals up to 138% of the federal poverty level. This expansion of Medicaid to a medically vulnerable population potentially can reduce cancer outcome disparities, especially among patients with screening‐amenable cancers. The objective of the current study was to estimate the effect of Medicaid expansion on the percentage of adults from low‐income communities with screening‐amenable cancers who present with metastatic disease.

Methods

Using state cancer registry data linked with block group–level income data, a total of 12,760 individuals aged 30 to 64 years who were diagnosed with incident invasive breast (female), cervical, colorectal, or lung cancer from 2011 through 2016 and who were uninsured or had Medicaid insurance at the time of diagnosis were identified. This sample was probability weighted based on income to reflect potential Medicaid eligibility under the ACA's Medicaid expansion. A multivariable logistic model then was fitted to examine the independent association between the exposure (pre‐expansion [years 2011‐2013] vs postexpansion [years 2014‐2016]) and the outcome (metastatic vs nonmetastatic disease at the time of diagnosis).

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, individuals who were diagnosed postexpansion were found to have 15% lower odds of having metastatic disease compared with those who were diagnosed pre‐expansion (adjusted odds ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.77‐0.93). As a control, a separate analysis that focused on individuals with private insurance who resided in high‐income communities found nonsignificant postexpansion (vs pre‐expansion) changes in the outcome (adjusted odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.96‐1.09).

Conclusions

Medicaid expansion is associated with a narrowing of a critical cancer outcome disparity in adults from low‐income communities.
Towards multi‐modal data fusion for super‐resolution and denoising of 4D‐Flow MRI
Authors: Perez‐Raya Isaac , Fathi Mojtaba F. , Baghaie Ahmadreza , Sacho Raphael H. , Koch Kevin M. , D'Souza Roshan M.
Published: July 2020

4D‐Flow magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has enabled in vivo time‐resolved measurement of three‐dimensional blood flow velocities in the human vascular system. However, its clinical use has been hampered by two main issues, namely, low spatio‐temporal resolution and acquisition noise. While patient‐specific computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations can address the resolution and noise issues, its fidelity is impacted by accuracy of estimation of boundary conditions, model parameters, vascular geometry, and flow model assumptions. In this paper a scheme to address limitations of both modalities through data‐fusion is presented. The solutions of the patient‐specific CFD simulation are characterized using proper orthogonal decomposition (POD). Next, a process of projecting the 4D‐Flow MRI data onto the POD basis and projection coefficient mapping using generalized dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) enables simultaneous super‐resolution and denoising of 4D‐Flow MRI. The method has been tested using numerical phantoms derived from patient‐specific aneurysmal geometries and applied to in vivo 4D‐Flow MRI data.
A Randomized, Double‐Blind Study Comparing Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Proposed Biosimilar ABP 798 With Rituximab Reference Product in Subjects With Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Burmester Gerd , Chien David , Chow Vincent , Gessner Melissa , Pan Jean , Cohen Stanley
Published: July 2020

ABP 798 is a proposed biosimilar to rituximab reference product (RP), an anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody. Pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics (PD), and safety results from the comparative clinical study that evaluated the PK, PD, safety, efficacy, and immunogenicity of ABP 798 versus rituximab RP are presented here. Subjects with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) received 2 doses of ABP 798, United States‐sourced RP (rituximab US) or European Union‐sourced RP (rituximab EU), each consisting of two 1000‐mg infusions 2 weeks apart. For the second dose (week 24), ABP 798‐ and rituximab EU‐treated subjects received the same treatment; rituximab US‐treated subjects transitioned to ABP 798. End points included area under the serum concentration‐time curve from time 0 extrapolated to infinity and maximum observed serum concentration following the second infusion of the first dose (PK) and percentage of subjects with complete CD19+ cell depletion days 1‐33 (PD). Primary analysis established PK similarity between ABP 798 and rituximab RP based on 90% confidence intervals of the adjusted geometric mean ratios being within a prespecified equivalence margin of 0.8 and 1.25. Complete CD19+ B‐cell depletion on day 3 among groups confirmed PD similarity. These findings demonstrated PK/PD similarity between ABP 798 and rituximab RP in subjects with moderate to severe RA.
Comprehensive analysis of 5‐hydroxymethylcytosine in zw10 kinetochore protein as a promising biomarker for screening and diagnosis of early colorectal cancer
Authors: Dang Yanqi , Hu Dan , Xu Jingjuan , Li Chunlin , Tang Yingjue , Yang Zhenhua , Liu Yang , Zhou Wenjun , Zhang Li , Xu Hanchen , Xu Yangxian , Ji Guang
Published: July 2020

Background

As a new epigenetic biomarker, 5‐hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is broadly involved in various diseases including cancers. However, the function and diagnostic performance of 5hmC in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear.

Results

High‐throughput sequencing was used to profile 5hmC levels in adjacent normal colon, advanced adenomas, and CRC. The expression and 5hmC levels in zw10 kinetochore protein (ZW10) were significantly increased in the tissues and blood samples for patients with advanced adenoma and CRC, and were much higher in the early stages of CRC (I and II). The receiver operating characteristic analysis had potential diagnostic value for CRC. The area under the curve (AUC) of ZW10 5hmC levels in tissue samples of CRC was 0.901. In blood samples, the AUC was 0.748 for CRC. In addition, the ZW10 5hmC level had much higher diagnostic performance in early stages of CRC (AUC = 0.857) than it did in advanced stages (AUC = 0.594). Compared with FHC cell, ZW10 expression in HT29 cell was significantly increased. The ZW10 knockdown could inhibit cell proliferation and the ZW10 overexpression could promote cell proliferation in HT‐29 cell. Furthermore, ZW10 knockdown inhibited AKT and mTOR phosphorylation, and ZW10 overexpression promoted AKT and mTOR phosphorylation.

Conclusions

The ZW10 5hmC level may serve as an effective epigenetic biomarker for minimally invasive screening and diagnosis of CRC, and it has higher diagnostic performance in early stages of CRC than it does in advanced stages. In addition, ZW10 could regulate CRC progression through the AKT‐mTOR signaling.
The apparition macrophage and Döderlein bacillus is negatively correlated in class I Papanicolaou smear: A morphological examination
Authors: Ikegami Kikuo , Watanabe Gen , Kumagai Junko , Fujii Yutaka , Watanabe Hiroaki , Oite Takashi
Published: July 2020

Background

Nonspecific vaginitis, also known as Bacterial vaginosis, unlike genital candidiasis and trichomoniasis, is caused by microbiome breakdown. Döderlein’s bacillus are gram‐positive bacillus that form a microbiome, reproduce in the female vagina after gaining sexual maturity, secrete lactic acid, and prevent the growth of other vaginitis‐causing bacteria. Clue cell are squamous epithelial cells with Gardnerella sp. attached to their cell surface. The presence of clue cell is one of the diagnostic criteria for nonspecific vaginitis. Additionally, although macrophages are reported to protect against candidal vaginitis, there are no reports of studies examining the association between macrophages and clue cell.

Materials and Methods

After re‐staining 300 class I specimens by cervical cancer screening with Papanicolaou staining, the appearance of Döderlein’s bacillus, macrophages, and clue cell was observed.

Result

Age group and appearance of Döderlein’s bacillus were negatively correlated. The rate of appearance of macrophages was positively correlated with the age group. In people aged 50 years or more, the appearance rate of clue cells was significantly lower in the macrophage appearance group than that in the non‐appearance group.

Conclusion

This study suggested that macrophages, and not Döderlein’s bacillus, may play an important role in defense against nonspecific vaginitis.
Comparison of commercial surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrates for the analysis of cocaine
Authors: Alder Rhiannon , Xiao Linda , Fu Shanlin
Published: July 2020

The use of illicit drugs across the world causes issues for users, healthcare workers and the public. Therefore, rapid and reliable onsite testing methods to detect these drugs are required. In this study, seven commercial surface‐enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) substrates A–G were compared for the analysis of cocaine. These substrates were compared using scanning electron microscopy to study the surface structure and Raman spectroscopy and to determine if there was any enhancement of the cocaine bands. Substrate B provided the best enhancement of known cocaine vibrational bands, allowing the detection down to concentrations of 1 ng/mL in standards and 10 ng/mL extracted from the oral fluid. The results showed that SERS is an ideal method for future rapid onsite analysis of illicit drugs in oral fluid. Commercial SERS substrates were compared for the analysis of cocaine. Substrate B provided the best result and was further tested with lower concentrations and extracts from the oral fluid. The application to oral fluid testing could prove useful for future onsite analysis.
Hypermobile Ehlers‐Danlos syndromes: Complex phenotypes, challenging diagnoses, and poorly understood causes
Authors: Gensemer Cortney , Burks Randall , Kautz Steven , Judge Daniel P. , Lavallee Mark , Norris Russell A.
Published: July 2020

The Ehlers‐Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a group of heritable, connective tissue disorders characterized by joint hypermobility, skin hyperextensibility, and tissue fragility. There is phenotypic and genetic variation among the 13 subtypes. The initial genetic findings on EDS were related to alterations in fibrillar collagen, but the elucidation of the molecular basis of many of the subtypes revealed several genes not involved in collagen biosynthesis or structure. However, the genetic basis of the hypermobile type of EDS (hEDS) is still unknown. hEDS is the most common type of EDS and involves generalized joint hypermobility, musculoskeletal manifestations, and mild skin involvement along with the presence of several comorbid conditions. Variability in the spectrum and severity of symptoms and progression of patient phenotype likely depend on age, gender, lifestyle, and expression domains of the EDS genes during development and postnatal life. In this review, we summarize the current molecular, genetic, epidemiologic, and pathogenetic findings related to EDS with a focus on the hypermobile type.
Elevation and landscape change drive the distribution of a montane, endemic grassland bird
Authors: Lele Abhimanyu , Arasumani M. , Vishnudas C. K. , Joshi Viral , Jathanna Devcharan , Robin V. V.
Published: July 2020

Context

Tropical montane habitats support high biodiversity and are hotspots of endemism, with grasslands being integral components of many such landscapes. The montane grasslands of the Western Ghats have seen extensive land‐use change over anthropogenic timescales. The factors influencing the ability of grassland‐dependent species to persist in habitats experiencing loss and fragmentation, particularly in montane grasslands, are poorly known.

Objectives

We studied the relationship between the Nilgiri pipit Anthus nilghiriensis, a threatened endemic bird that typifies these montane grasslands, and its habitat, across most of its global distribution. We examined what habitat features make remnant grasslands viable, which is necessary for their effective management.

Methods

We conducted 663 surveys in 170 sites and used both single‐season occupancy modeling and N‐mixture modeling to account for processes influencing detection, presence, and abundance.

Results

Elevation had a positive influence on species presence, patch size had a moderate positive influence, and patch isolation had a moderate negative influence. Species abundance was positively influenced by elevation and characteristics related to habitat structure, and negatively influenced by the presence of invasive woody vegetation.

Conclusions

The strong effect of elevation on the highly range‐restricted Nilgiri pipit is likely to make it vulnerable to climate change. This highly range‐restricted species is locally extinct at several locations, and persists at low densities in remnants of its habitat left by recent fragmentation. Our findings indicate a need to control and reverse the spread of exotic woody invasives to preserve the grasslands themselves and the specialist species dependent upon them.
Detection of the endangered European weather loach (Misgurnus fossilis) via water and sediment samples: Testing multiple eDNA workflows
Authors: Kusanke Lena Maureen , Panteleit Jörn , Stoll Stefan , Korte Egbert , Sünger Eike , Schulz Ralf , Theissinger Kathrin
Published: July 2020

The European weather loach (Misgurnus fossilis) is classified as highly endangered in several countries of Central Europe. Populations ofM. fossilisare predominantly found in ditches with low water levels and thick sludge layers and are thus hard to detect using conventional fishing methods. Therefore, environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring appears particularly relevant for this species. In previous studies,M. fossiliswas surveyed following eDNA water sampling protocols, which were not optimized for this species. Therefore, we created two full factorial study designs to test six different eDNA workflows for sediment samples and twelve different workflows for water samples. We used qPCR to compare the threshold cycle (Ct) values of the different workflows, which indicate the target DNA amount in the sample, and spectrophotometry to quantify and compare the total DNA amount inside the samples. We analyzed 96 water samples and 48 sediment samples from a pond with a known population ofM. fossilis. We tested several method combinations for long‐term sample preservation, DNA capture, and DNA extraction. Additionally, we analyzed the DNA yield of samples from a ditch with a naturalM. fossilispopulation monthly over one year to determine the optimal sampling period. Our results showed that the long‐term water preservation method commonly used for eDNA surveys ofM. fossilisdid not lead to optimal DNA yields, and we present a valid long‐term sample preservation alternative. A cost‐efficient high salt DNA extraction led to the highest target DNA yields and can be used for sediment and water samples. Furthermore, we were able to show that in a natural habitat ofM. fossilis, total and target eDNA were higher between June and September, which implies that this period is favorable for eDNA sampling. Our results will help to improve the reliability of future eDNA surveys ofM. fossilis.
Friedel–Crafts Alkylation with Carbenium Ions Generated by Electrochemical Oxidation of Stannylmethyl Ethers
Authors: Lielpetere Anna , Jirgensons Aigars
Published: July 2020

The electrochemical activation of stannylmethyl ethers was exploited for Friedel–Crafts alkylation of arenes at near‐neutral conditions. Single cell anodic oxidation of stannylmethyl ethers leads to oxonium ions which fragment to carbenium ions in the presence of electron rich arenes. Low oxidation potential of stannylmethyl ethers and buffered conditions enable the Friedel–Crafts reaction with a wide range of arenes including the substrates with acid‐sensitive groups.
Brivaracetam substituting other antiepileptic treatments: Results of a retrospective study in German epilepsy centers
Authors: Lerche Holger , Knake Susanne , Rosenow Felix , Schulze‐Bonhage Andreas , Hellot Scarlett , Leunikava Iryna , Schulz Anne‐Liv , Hopp Peter
Published: July 2020

Objective

To evaluate the success of initiation of adjunctive brivaracetam in patients who required a change in antiepileptic drug (AED) regimen and substituted at least one AED with brivaracetam.

Methods

In this retrospective noninterventional study conducted in specialized epilepsy centers across Germany, patients initiated adjunctive brivaracetam between February 15, 2016, and August 31, 2016, as part of an intended change in AED regimen. The primary effectiveness variable was the proportion of patients who continued on brivaracetam after 3 months, and withdrew at least one AED either before or within 6 months after brivaracetam initiation.

Results

Five hundred and six patients had at least one brivaracetam dose and were included in the safety set (SS). Four hundred and seventy patients started to reduce the dose of one AED before/after brivaracetam initiation, had at least one concomitant AED at brivaracetam initiation, and were included in the full analysis set (FAS) for effectiveness analyses. At baseline, patients had a median of seven lifetime AEDs and a median of 3.8 seizures/28 days. In the SS, 85.2% of patients withdrew one AED before/after initiation of brivaracetam, most commonly levetiracetam (49.4%). 46.2% of patients substituted another AED with brivaracetam within 24 hours (fast withdrawal). The proportions of patients (FAS) who continued on brivaracetam after 3 and 6 months and withdrew one AED were 75.5% and 46.6%, respectively. After 6 months, 32.1% of patients were 50% responders; 13.0% were seizure‐free. In the SS, 34.6% of patients reported treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs); 21.9% had TEAEs that were assessed by the treating physician as drug‐related. Incidences of behavioral AEs before (3‐month baseline) and after brivaracetam initiation in patients who withdrew levetiracetam were 19.2% and 8.0%, respectively (5.0% and 7.7% in patients who withdrew other AEDs).

Significance

Brivaracetam was effective and well‐tolerated in patients who required a change in AED drug regimen and initiated adjunctive brivaracetam in German clinical practice.
An alternative architecture of the Humphrey cycle and the effect of fuel type on its efficiency
Authors: Stathopoulos Panagiotis
Published: July 2020

Conventional gas turbines are a very mature technology, and performance improvements are becoming increasingly difficult and costly to achieve. Pressure‐gain combustion (PGC) has emerged as a promising technology in this respect, due to the higher thermal efficiency of the respective ideal gas turbine cycles. The current work analyzes two layouts of the Humphrey cycle for gas turbines with pressure‐gain combustion. One layout replicates the classical layout of gas turbine cycles, whereas an alternative one optimizes the use of pressure‐gain combustion by ensuring the operation of the combustor at stoichiometric conditions. In parallel, both cycle layouts are studied with two different fuels—hydrogen and dimethyl ether—to account for differences in combustion specific heat addition and its effect on cycle efficiency. The current work concludes with an attempt to benchmark the maximum losses of a plenum to achieve efficiency parity with the Joule cycle, for a given pressure gain over a PGC combustor. It is found that the cycle layout with stoichiometric combustion results in an increase in thermal efficiency of up to 7 percentage points, compared to the classic cycle architecture. Moreover, the thermal efficiency of the new layout is less sensitive to the turbine inlet temperature, especially at low compressor pressure ratios. The study of the two fuels has shown that the larger mass specific heat addition leads to higher cycle thermal efficiency and should be considered during the fuel choice. Finally, the maximum allowable plenum pressure loss that results to efficiency parity with the Joule cycle has been computed for a given combustor pressure gain. For turbine inlet temperatures above 1500°C, pressure gain above 1.6 would allow for at least 20% relative pressure drop in the plenum. The respective pressure gain becomes considerably higher for lower turbine inlet temperatures.