bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Radiomics Analysis Based on Multiparametric MRI for Predicting Early Recurrence in Hepatocellular Carcinoma After Partial Hepatectomy
Authors: Zhao Ying , Wu Jingjun , Zhang Qinhe , Hua Zhengyu , Qi Wenjing , Wang Nan , Lin Tao , Sheng Liuji , Cui Dahua , Liu Jinghong , Song Qingwei , Li Xin , Wu Tingfan , Guo Yan , Cui Jingjing , Liu Ailian
Published: November 2020

Background

Preoperative prediction of early recurrence (ER) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) plays a critical role in individualized risk stratification and further treatment guidance.

Purpose

To investigate the role of radiomics analysis based on multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) for predicting ER in HCC after partial hepatectomy.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

In all, 113 HCC patients (ER, n = 58 vs. non‐ER, n = 55), divided into training (n = 78) and validation (n = 35) cohorts.

Field Strength/Sequence

1.5T or 3.0T, gradient‐recalled‐echo in‐phase T1‐weighted imaging (I‐T1WI) and opposed‐phase T1WI (O‐T1WI), fast spin‐echo T2‐weighted imaging (T2WI), spin‐echo planar diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI), and gradient‐recalled‐echo contrast‐enhanced MRI (CE‐MRI).

Assessment

In all, 1146 radiomics features were extracted from each image sequence, and radiomics models based on each sequence and their combination were established via multivariate logistic regression analysis. The clinicopathologic‐radiologic (CPR) model and the combined model integrating the radiomics score with the CPR risk factors were constructed. A nomogram based on the combined model was established.

Statistical Tests

Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate the discriminative performance of each model. The potential clinical usefulness was evaluated by decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

The radiomics model based on I‐T1WI, O‐T1WI, T2WI, and CE‐MRI sequences presented the best performance among all radiomics models with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.771 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.598–0.894) in the validation cohort. The combined nomogram (AUC: 0.873; 95% CI: 0.756–0.989) outperformed the radiomics model and the CPR model (AUC: 0.742; 95% CI: 0.577–0.907). DCA demonstrated that the combined nomogram was clinically useful.

Data Conclusion

The mpMRI‐based radiomics analysis has potential to predict ER of HCC patients after hepatectomy, which could enhance risk stratification and provide support for individualized treatment planning.

Evidence Level

4.

Technical Efficacy

Stage 4.
Fully Automatic Assessment of Background Parenchymal Enhancement on Breast MRI Using Machine‐Learning Models
Authors: Nam Yoonho , Park Ga Eun , Kang Junghwa , Kim Sung Hun
Published: November 2020

Background

Automated measurement and classification models with objectivity and reproducibility are required for accurate evaluation of the breast cancer risk of fibroglandular tissue (FGT) and background parenchymal enhancement (BPE).

Purpose

To develop and evaluate a machine‐learning algorithm for breast FGT segmentation and BPE classification.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

A total of 794 patients with breast cancer, 594 patients assigned to the development set, and 200 patients to the test set.

Field Strength/Sequence

3T and 1.5T; T2‐weighted, fat‐saturated T1‐weighted (T1W) with dynamic contrast enhancement (DCE).

Assessment

Manual segmentation was performed for the whole breast and FGT regions in the contralateral breast. The BPE region was determined by thresholding using the subtraction of the pre‐ and postcontrast T1W images and the segmented FGT mask. Two radiologists independently assessed the categories of FGT and BPE. A deep‐learning‐based algorithm was designed to segment and measure the volume of whole breast and FGT and classify the grade of BPE.

Statistical Tests

Dice similarity coefficients (DSC) and Spearman correlation analysis were used to compare the volumes from the manual and deep‐learning‐based segmentations. Kappa statistics were used for agreement analysis. Comparison of area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUC) and F1 scores were calculated to evaluate the performance of BPE classification.

Results

The mean (±SD) DSC for manual and deep‐learning segmentations was 0.85 ± 0.11. The correlation coefficient for FGT volume from manual‐ and deep‐learning‐based segmentations was 0.93. Overall accuracy of manual segmentation and deep‐learning segmentation in BPE classification task was 66% and 67%, respectively. For binary categorization of BPE grade (minimal/mild vs. moderate/marked), overall accuracy increased to 91.5% in manual segmentation and 90.5% in deep‐learning segmentation; the AUC was 0.93 in both methods.

Data Conclusion

This deep‐learning‐based algorithm can provide reliable segmentation and classification results for BPE.

Level of Evidence

3

Technical Efficacy Stage

2
Mosquito‐infecting virus Espirito Santo virus inhibits replication and spread of dengue virus
Authors: White Avian V. , Fan Ming , Mazzara Jordan M. , Roper Rachel L. , Richards Stephanie L.
Published: November 2020

The primary vector of dengue virus (DENV) is Aedes aegypti. The mosquito‐infecting virus, Espirito Santo virus (ESV), does not infect Vero (mammalian) cells and grows in mosquito (C6/36) cells without cytopathic effects. Effects of ESV infection on replication of DENV were explored in vitro and in vivo, analyzing protein, RNA genome expression, and plaque formation. ESV and DENV simultaneous coinfection did not block protein synthesis from either virus but did result in inhibition of DENV replication in mosquito cells. Furthermore, ESV superinfected with DENV resulted in inhibition of DENV replication and spread in A. aegypti, thus reducing vector competence. Tissue culture experiments on viral kinetics of ESV and DENV coinfection showed that neither virus significantly affects the replication of the other in Vero, HeLa, or HEK cells. Hence, ESV blocks DENV replication in insect cells, but not the mammalian cells evaluated here. Our study provides new insights into ESV‐induced suppression of DENV, a globally important pathogen impacting public health.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection reaches the human nervous system: How?
Authors: Uversky Vladimir N. , Elrashdy Fatma , Aljadawi Abdullah , Ali Syed Moasfar , Khan Rizwan Hasan , Redwan Elrashdy M.
Published: November 2020

Without protective and/or therapeutic agents the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection known as coronavirus disease 2019 is quickly spreading worldwide. It has surprising transmissibility potential, since it could infect all ages, gender, and human sectors. It attacks respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary, hepatic, and endovascular systems and can reach the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) through known and unknown mechanisms. The reports on the neurological manifestations and complications of the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection are increasing exponentially. Herein, we enumerate seven candidate routes, which the mature or immature SARS‐CoV‐2 components could use to reach the CNS and PNS, utilizing the within‐body cross talk between organs. The majority of SARS‐CoV‐2–infected patients suffer from some neurological manifestations (e.g., confusion, anosmia, and ageusia). It seems that although the mature virus did not reach the CNS or PNS of the majority of patients, its unassembled components and/or the accompanying immune‐mediated responses may be responsible for the observed neurological symptoms. The viral particles and/or its components have been specifically documented in endothelial cells of lung, kidney, skin, and CNS. This means that the blood–endothelial barrier may be considered as the main route for SARS‐CoV‐2 entry into the nervous system, with the barrier disruption being more logical than barrier permeability, as evidenced by postmortem analyses.
Evaluation of climate model simulations in representing the precipitation non‐stationarity by considering observational uncertainties
Authors: Wan Yongjing , Chen Jie , Xie Ping , Xu Chong‐Yu , Li Daiyuan
Published: November 2020

The reliability of climate model simulations in representing the precipitation changes is one of the preconditions for climate‐change impact studies. However, the observational uncertainties hinder the robust evaluation of these climate model simulations. The goal of the present study is to evaluate the capacities of climate model simulations in representing the precipitation non‐stationarity in consideration of observational uncertainties. The mean of multiple observations from five observational precipitation datasets is used as a reference to quantify the uncertainty of observed precipitation and to evaluate the performance of climate model simulations. The non‐stationarity of precipitation was represented using the mean and variance of annual total precipitation and annual maximum daily precipitation for the 1982–2015 period. The results show that the spatial distributions of annual and extreme precipitation are similar for various observational datasets, while there has less agreement in the variance changes of extreme precipitation. Climate models are capable of representing the spatial distributions of the annual and extreme precipitation amounts at the global scales. In terms of the non‐stationarity, climate model simulations are capable of capturing the large‐scale spatial pattern of the trend in mean for annual precipitation. On the contrary, the simulations are less reliable in reproducing the change of extreme precipitation, as well as the trend of variance for annual precipitation. Overall, climate models are more reliable in simulating the mean of precipitation than the variance, and they are more reliable in simulating annual precipitation than extreme. Besides, the uncertainties of precipitation for both observations and simulations are much larger in monsoon regions than in other regions. This study suggests that considering observational uncertainties is necessary when using observational datasets as the reference to project future climate change and assess the impact of climate change on environments.
Fluorescent‐conjugated antibodies as rapid ex vivo markers for bacterial presence on orthopedic surgical explants and synovium: A pilot study
Authors: Garcia Dioscaris , Gardezi Mursal , Suliman Yasmine , Glasser Jillian , Spake Carole SL , Barrett Caitlin , Berns Ellis , Jenkins Derek , Evans Andrew , Cohen Eric , Eberson Craig , Hayda Roman , Daniels Alan , Green Andrew , Owens Brett , Antoci Valentin , Born Christopher T.
Published: November 2020

Surgical infection is one of the most pressing problems in the field of orthopedic surgery; however, current detection methods are plagued by high costs and long wait times. This study seeks to demonstrate the ability of a novel assay using fluorescently conjugated antibodies and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) to accurately detect bacterial presence on orthopedic surgical explants, tissue, and synovial fluid in 30 min. Explanted hardware, tissue, and synovial fluid samples suspected to be infected were collected from human subjects with institutional review board consent. Samples were prepared using a 30‐min protocol, consisting of rinsing, nonspecific blocking and staining steps, and imaged using CLSM. Images were analyzed using ImageJ (National Institute of Health) to determine the percent area of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Results of the assay were compared to the hospital's microbiological laboratory and Gram staining results. Ninety three samples were collected and tested using the 30‐min testing protocol; 75 samples were synovial fluid and 18 were tissue and explants. Seventy four of 75 (98.6%) synovial fluid samples correlated with the hospital laboratory's microbiological findings. Of the 18 explant and tissue samples, our assay found bacterial presence in 14 of 18 samples, while the hospital microbiology laboratory found bacterial presence in 13 of 18 samples. This assay reliably stained and rapidly identified the presence of Gram negative and Gram positive bacteria on surgical explants, tissue and synovial fluid in 30 min. This methodology may serve as a point of service tool for the determination of bacterial presence during surgical procedures.
High‐sensitivity impulsive stimulated Raman spectrometer with fast data acquisition
Authors: Falconieri Mauro , Gagliardi Serena , Rondino Flaminia , Marrocco Michele , Kulatilaka Waruna D.
Published: November 2020

Impulsive stimulated Raman scattering (ISRS) is a nonlinear coherent technique for the measurement of the vibrational spectrum of samples within the bandwidth of the excitation laser pulse, which, for pulse durations of several tens of femtoseconds, translates into easy access to the low‐wavenumber Raman spectrum (below few hundreds of cm−1). Recently, a degenerate ISRS Fourier‐transform Michelson spectrometer for measurements in bulk, transparent liquids operating with a single, nonamplified femtosecond laser source, was demonstrated, although with low measurement speed, exploiting a position‐sensitive detector to measure the time evolution of the tiny spectral asymmetries of the probe beam produced by stimulated Raman gain and loss. Building on this innovation of the detection method, in this work, we show that using a different data acquisition concept, based on the fast modulation of the delay in one of the spectrometer arms, it is possible to measure scattering and absorbing samples in a much shorter time, approaching the real‐time visualization of the Raman spectrum of the sample under analysis. Furthermore, the setup described here does not suffer from creation of microbubbles, heating effects or thermal instabilities produced in the sample by increasingly high excitation fluences, and is therefore suitable to be implemented in vibrational microscopy applications with tight beam focusing. Thus, the present work is a contribution toward practical implementation of low‐wavenumber vibrational imaging, which is of importance for studies of intramolecular vibrational modes of large molecules or of heavy functional groups or for the study of intermolecular force constants in biological and nanostructured materials.
Evaluation and formulation of the sense of social telepresence in video‐mediated communication systems: Contribution of eye contact to enhancing social telepresence
Authors: Kimura Shinji , Ooseki Eriko , Aburakawa Yuji , Yamaguchi Masahiro
Published: November 2020

Video‐mediated communication systems are generally used to enable face‐to‐face‐like communication between people in distant locations. However, in terms of social telepresence, video communication systems are generally inferior to actual face‐to‐face communication, which is a long‐standing challenge for online communication systems. Multiple studies have reported that several specific components, such as the resolution of the transmitted video and the width of the visual field, affect social telepresence separately. However, methods have not been established to comprehensively evaluate the sense of social telepresence provided by video communication systems, that is, integrated multiple component systems with various specifications. In this study, employing a regression analysis based on subjective evaluation results, we establish a new method to predict the sense of social telepresence based on the specifications of some system components. Using this formulation, it is clear that realizing eye contact and life‐size scaling make relatively large contributions to enhancing social telepresence. Finally, we develop a prototype system realizing eye contact and life‐size scaling and perform additional subjective evaluations to reconfirm the effectiveness of these components to enhance the sense of social telepresence in real‐time communication.
Best Available Evidence on Communicative First Aid Interventions by Laypeople for Preventing and Relieving Posttraumatic Stress Disorder–Related Symptomatology Following Traumatic Events
Authors: De Brier Niels , Borra Vere , Dockx Kim , Scheers Hans , Stroobants Stijn , De Buck Emmy , Lauwers Karen , Vandekerckhove Philippe
Published: November 2020

Trauma‐exposed individuals are at risk of developing mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). As an exposed individual's friend or family member may be the first person to provide posttrauma relief, informing and training laypeople in psychosocial first aid may benefit mental health outcomes of trauma‐exposed individuals. We aimed to (a) collect the best available evidence on communication as a first aid intervention in assisting individuals following traumatic events and (b) formulate practical recommendations. Systematic literature searches were conducted in three databases (March 2019). Following study selection, the extracted data were tabulated and synthesized narratively. The evidence was appraised according to the GRADE methodology and evaluated by a multidisciplinary expert panel to formulate recommendations for practice. Out of 1,724 articles, no experimental studies were identified, showing a complete lack of high‐quality controlled studies on the efficacy of communicative practices. However, when lower‐quality study designs were included, nine cross‐sectional studies constituted the best available evidence. The studies suggested that positive communication by family members, r = −.38, aOR = 0.26, β = −.22, p < .001–p < .05, and expressive coping by the victim, β = −.62, p < .001, were associated with PTSD diagnosis and/or symptom severity; however, the evidence was of very low certainty. The expert panel took the methodological limitations into account when formulating weak practical recommendations. Cross‐sectional studies currently provide the best possible evidence for developing guidelines on psychosocial first aid. High‐quality controlled studies are needed to establish casual associations and identify the most effective interventions.
Mastery, Social Support, and Sense of Community as Protective Resources Against Psychological Distress Among Israelis Exposed to Prolonged Rocket Attacks
Authors: Ben‐Tzur Navit , Zanbar Lea , Kaniasty Krzysztof
Published: November 2020

We investigated the psychological toll of exposure to rocket attacks as experienced by residents of central and southern Israel during the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict. Participants completed an online survey assessing their life‐threatening experiences, the availability of psychosocial resources, and symptoms of both PTSD (PCL‐5) and nonspecific psychological distress (K6) 2–3 months posttrauma. Guided by the conservation of resources theory, we focused on the distress‐protective functions of person‐ and community‐oriented resources: mastery, perceived social support, and sense of community. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that elevated exposure to rocket attacks predicted higher levels of PTSD but not psychological distress. All 13 predictors (i.e., sociodemographic factors, trauma exposure, personal and community resources) and three interactions between rocket attack–related trauma exposure and each of the resources accounted for a significant amount of the variance in PTSD, R2 = .251, adjusted R2 = .235, and nonspecific psychological distress, R2 = .280, adjusted R2 = .264. Predictably, higher levels of mastery and perceived social support were associated with lower PCL‐5 and K6 scores. Unexpectedly, respondents who reported a higher sense of community exhibited more PTSD symptoms. Supplementary analyses indicated that among individuals with lower levels of mastery, sense of community was related to higher PCL‐5 scores. Psychosocial resources are important for coping with community‐wide stressors, but their roles are complex. Maintaining a sense of community among individuals who experience shared trauma is undoubtedly critical, yet potential downsides of collective coping among those with lower levels of mastery should be recognized and further investigated.
A low‐cost pipeline for soil microbiome profiling
Authors: Bollmann‐Giolai Anita , Giolai Michael , Heavens Darren , Macaulay Iain , Malone Jacob , Clark Matthew D.
Published: November 2020

Common bottlenecks in environmental and crop microbiome studies are the consumable and personnel costs necessary for genomic DNA extraction and sequencing library construction. This is harder for challenging environmental samples such as soil, which is rich in Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) inhibitors. To address this, we have established a low‐cost genomic DNA extraction method for soil samples. We also present an Illumina‐compatible 16S and ITS rRNA gene amplicon library preparation workflow that uses common laboratory equipment. We evaluated the performance of our genomic DNA extraction method against two leading commercial soil genomic DNA kits (MoBio PowerSoil® and MP Biomedicals™ FastDNA™ SPIN) and a recently published non‐commercial extraction method by Zou et al. (PLoS Biology, 15, e2003916, 2017). Our benchmarking experiment used four different soil types (coniferous, broad‐leafed, and mixed forest plus a standardized cereal crop compost mix) assessing the quality and quantity of the extracted genomic DNA by analyzing sequence variants of 16S V4 and ITS rRNA amplicons. We found that our genomic DNA extraction method compares well to both commercially available genomic DNA extraction kits in DNA quality and quantity. The MoBio PowerSoil® kit, which relies on silica column‐based DNA extraction with extensive washing, delivered the cleanest genomic DNA, for example, best A260:A280 and A260:A230 absorbance ratios. The MP Biomedicals™ FastDNA™ SPIN kit, which uses a large amount of binding material, yielded the most genomic DNA. Our method fits between the two commercial kits, producing both good yields and clean genomic DNA with fragment sizes of approximately 10 kb. Comparative analysis of detected amplicon sequence variants shows that our method correlates well with the two commercial kits. Here, we present a low‐cost genomic DNA extraction method for soil samples that can be coupled to an Illumina‐compatible simple two‐step amplicon library construction workflow for 16S V4 and ITS marker genes. Our method delivers high‐quality genomic DNA at a fraction of the cost of commercial kits and enables cost‐effective, large‐scale amplicon sequencing projects. Notably, our extracted gDNA molecules are long enough to be suitable for downstream techniques such as full gene sequencing or even metagenomics shotgun approaches using long reads (PacBio or Nanopore), 10x Genomics linked reads, and Dovetail genomics.
Preemptive competition between two firms with different discount rates
Authors: Nishihara Michi
Published: November 2020

I study a real options duopoly game between two firms with different discount rates. I derive the order of investments, investment thresholds, and firm values in equilibrium. With no cost disadvantage, the patient firm enters the market earlier and earns more than the impatient opponent. When the patient firm has a cost disadvantage, the order of market entry depends on the market characteristics. With a weaker first‐mover advantage, higher volatility, and lower growth rate, the impatient firm is more likely to be the first mover; however, the patient firm can earn more, even though it enters the market later.
Assessing the triad of biocompatibility, medical device functionality and biological safety
Authors: Williams David F.
Published: November 2020

Implantable medical devices, including sensors and contrast agents, have crucial roles in diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that are intended to improve quality of life. They are usually very successful, but all too often they fail to deliver optimal satisfaction. Device performance, which is at the heart of patient safety, is dependent on the biocompatibility of the materials used, the functionality of the devices and overall biological safety of the system. The interdependence of this triad of critical properties is rarely considered within the testing and regulatory regimes that control access of the products to clinical applications. This paper analyses the details of a series of product types (intra‐ocular lenses, metal‐on‐metal hips, coronary artery stents, nanoparticle contrast agents and closed‐loop sensor‐drug delivery systems) and identifies the difficulties when the connectivity between these characteristics is overlooked. The paper then addresses the generic weaknesses in preclinical testing programs and identifies a series of changes that could assist in resolving these problems, providing better assurance of patient safety.
Clinical and genetic characterization of ten Egyptian patients with Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome and review of literature
Authors: Mekkawy Mona K. , Kamel Alaa K. , Thomas Manal M. , Ashaat Engy A. , Zaki Maha S. , Eid Ola M. , Ismail Samira , Hammad Saida A. , Megahed Hisham , ElAwady Heba , Refaat Khaled M. , Hussien Shymaa , Helmy Nivine , Abd Allah Sally G. , Mohamed Amal M. , El Ruby Mona O.
Published: November 2020

Background

Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) (OMIM 194190) is a multiple congenital anomalies/intellectual disability syndrome. It is caused by partial loss of genetic material from the distal portion of the short arm of chromosome.

Methods

We studied the phenotype–genotype correlation.

Results

We present the clinical manifestations and cytogenetic results of 10 unrelated Egyptian patients with 4p deletions. Karyotyping, FISH and MLPA was performed for screening for microdeletion syndromes. Array CGH was done for two patients. All patients exhibited the cardinal clinical manifestation of WHS. FISH proved deletion of the specific WHS locus in all patients. MLPA detected microdeletion of the specific locus in two patients with normal karyotypes, while array CGH, performed for two patients, has delineated the extent of the deleted segments and the involved genes. LETM1, the main candidate gene for the seizure phenotype, was found deleted in the two patients tested by array CGH; nevertheless, one of them did not manifest seizures. The study emphasized the previous.

Conclusion

WHS is a contiguous gene syndrome resulting from hemizygosity of the terminal 2 Mb of 4p16.3 region. The Branchial fistula, detected in one of our patients is a new finding that, to our knowledge, was not reported.
Assessment of quality of life in Gaucher disease: A methodological approach
Authors: Zizemer Vitória S. , Nalin Tatiele , Schwartz Ida Vanessa D. , Vanz Ana Paula
Published: November 2020

This letter discusses the use of Lansky Score as an instrument for assessing quality of life in Gaucher Disease.
Report of a rare case of congenital mitral valve prolapse with chronic kidney disease––reconsidered genotype–phenotypic correlations
Authors: Sun Liping , Zhang Xinzhou
Published: November 2020

Background

Mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common cardiovascular disease defined as a late systolic click or mitral valve lobes that move up into the left atrium during ventricular systole, with or without mitral insufficiency. Dachsous catherin‐related 1 (DCHS1) is one of the two known pathogenic genes associated with MVP. However, there is little information about the renal dysfunction caused by MVP and DCHS1 mutations.

Methods

We analyzed the genetic etiology in a rare case of 9‐year‐old boy affected by chronic renal failure with MVP. Subsequently, we constructed stable cell lines overexpressing wild‐type DCHS1 or mutant DCHS1 (c.8309G>A, p.R2770Q) to evaluate the influence of the DCHS1 mutation on the proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy.

Results

Complete exome sequencing and pedigree verification revealed a mutation p.R2770Q (c.8309G>A) in exon 21 of the DCHS1 gene carried by the patient, which may affect the DNA binding. No such mutation was detected in his parents, indicating that this was a new mutation. Potential functional impact of sequence variants was predicted using in silico prediction programs including SIFT, Polyphen2, and Condel. This variant was determined to be a pathogenic mutation that has not been reported elsewhere. Subsequently, we used a stable DCHS1 gene‐mutated HK‐2 cell line to analyse proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy, showed that kidney volume decreased with increasing cell death associated with a reduced proliferation.

Conclusions

Our analysis revealed a heterozygous variation of DCHS1 in a child with MVP. Our observations highlight previously unrecognized phenotypes of the currently recognized MVP genotype, including distinct chronic renal failure.
Researchers expect to solidify findings in study of schizophrenia prevention
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: November 2020

Over the past two decades, the mental health research community has made significant strides in identifying the factors that can predict whether an individual is likely to develop schizophrenia. Now there is great hope that a major study being launched across the globe will confirm what is already known and will pave the way for effective strategies to prevent onset of the disorder.
New research finds LGB community more at risk for dementia
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: November 2020

Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people are more vulnerable to one of the fastest‐growing health concerns in the country: dementia, according to new research from Michigan State University.
An efficient numerical method based on exponential B‐spline basis functions for solving a class of nonlinear singular boundary value problems with Neumann and Robin boundary conditions
Authors: Roul Pradip , Kumari Trishna , Prasad Goura VMK
Published: November 2020

In this paper, we develop a numerical scheme to approximate the solution of a general class of nonlinear singular boundary value problems (SBVPs) subject to Neumann and Robin boundary conditions. The original differential equation has a singularity at the point which is removed via L'Hospital's law with an assumption about the derivative of the solution at the point An exponential B‐spline collocation approach is then constructed to solve the resulting boundary value problem. Convergence analysis of the method is discussed. Numerical examples are provided to illustrate the applicability and efficiency of the method. Our results are compared with those obtained by other three numerical methods such as uniform mesh cubic B‐spline collocation (UCS) method, nonstandard finite difference method, and finite difference method based on Chawla's identity.
Relationship between addicts with incurable diseases in an epidemic model
Authors: Pourhosseini Malek , Memarbashi Reza
Published: November 2020

In the paper, the authors put two drug strains under various levels of competition and establish that cross‐immunity and host isolation lead to periodic epidemic outbreaks in the multistrain system. For the model, by the reproduction number of strain one,
, and the reproduction number of strain two,
, they show local and global stability and backward bifurcation under suitable conditions.
Regularized gradient algorithms for solving the nonlinear gravimetry problem for the multilayered medium
Authors: Akimova Elena N. , Misilov Vladimir E. , Sultanov Murat A.
Published: November 2020

We present new numerical algorithms for solving the structural inverse gravimetry problem for the case of multiple surfaces. The inverse problem of finding the multiple surfaces that divide the constant density layers is an ill‐posed one described by a nonlinear integral equation of the first kind. To solve it, it is necessary to apply the regularization ideas. The new regularized variants of the gradient type methods with the weighting factors are constructed, namely, the steepest descent and conjugate gradient method. We suggest the empirical rule for choosing the regularization parameters. On the basis of the constructed methods, we elaborate the parallel algorithms and implement them in the multicore CPU using the OpenMP technology. A set of experiments with the disturbed data is performed to test the gradient algorithms and study performance of the developed code. For the test problems with quasi‐real data, these new regularized algorithms increase the accuracy and speed up computation in comparison with the unregularized ones. By using the 8‐core CPU, we achieve the speedup of 8 times.
Performance enhancement of DFBL based near‐infrared CH4 telemetry system using a focus tunable lens
Authors: Li Guolin , Ma Kun , Jiao Yue , Jiang Qingzhi , Zhang Xuena , Zhang Zecheng , Wu Yunhui , Song Di
Published: November 2020

A methane telemetry system for 1653 nm DFB laser based on TDLAS‐WMS technology is developed in this article. The focus tunable lens is used as the collimating system of the telemetry device to solve the problem that the telemetry device cannot be dynamically adjusted under different detection environments. Experimental results show that the root mean square error was 7.6205 and the theoretical limit of detection (LoD) was 1.473 parts per million (ppm) while the optimal integration time reaches 30 s. The near‐infrared CH4 telemetry system is suitable for different detection environments of natural gas leakage and has good detection performance and stable and reliable operation.
The Synthesis and Characterization of Polyacrolein through Radical Polymerization
Authors: Li Yan , Li Tao , Tang Jian , Liu Yun , Huang Pengmian , Zhang Yue‐Fei
Published: November 2020

A radical polymerization reaction of acrolein is reported in this article. The free radical initiator which can effectively promote the free radical polymerization of acrolein is screened out. The optimal conditions of the reaction are investigated and the yield could be up to 93.67%, in which the ratio of initiator to monomer is 1:50, monomer concentration is 7.5 mol L−1, reaction temperature is 50 °C, and the reaction time is 6 h. The structure characterizations of the obtained polymers are performed using hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy, and matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time of fligh mass spectroscopy. The results show that the structure of the polymer contains fragments generated by decomposition of the initiator, aldehyde groups, and vinyl groups. The reaction mechanism of acrolein polymerization in the presence of free radical initiator is proposed. Thus, a novel method for the preparation of polyacrolein via radical polymerization is provided in this article.
Finger drop sign as a new variant of acute motor axonal neuropathy
Authors: Yoon Byeol‐A , Ha Dong‐Ho , Park Hwan Tae , Kusunoki Susumu , Kuwahara Motoi , Lee Jong Hwa , Bae Jong Seok , Kim Jong Kuk
Published: November 2020

We propose the finger drop sign as a new clinical variant of acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) defined by immunological and radiological evidence. We identified eight consecutive patients who had AMAN. All of them developed prominent involvement of the finger extensors. We performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the extremity muscles and serological assays for antiganglioside antibodies and Campylobacter jejuni. Patients with AMAN showed characteristic and a markedly sustained weakness of the finger extensors with a distinctive pattern of the finger drop sign. Limb MRI revealed unevenly distributed abnormal signals in the muscles mainly innervated by the posterior interosseous nerve. All tested patients showed positivity for immunoglobulin G antibody against ganglioside complex of GM1 and phosphatidic acid. A pathophysiological understanding of this unique syndrome can provide further insight into antiganglioside‐antibody‐mediated axonal injury in Guillain‐Barré syndrome.
Quantitative susceptibility mapping of the rat brain after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Chary Karthik , Nissi Mikko J. , Nykänen Olli , Manninen Eppu , Rey Ramón I. , Shmueli Karin , Sierra Alejandra , Gröhn Olli
Published: November 2020

The primary lesion arising from the initial insult after traumatic brain injury (TBI) triggers a cascade of secondary tissue damage, which may also progress to connected brain areas in the chronic phase. The aim of this study was, therefore, to investigate variations in the susceptibility distribution related to these secondary tissue changes in a rat model after severe lateral fluid percussion injury. We compared quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and R2* measurements with histological analyses in white and grey matter areas outside the primary lesion but connected to the lesion site. We demonstrate that susceptibility variations in white and grey matter areas could be attributed to reduction in myelin, accumulation of iron and calcium, and gliosis. QSM showed quantitative changes attributed to secondary damage in areas located rostral to the lesion site that appeared normal in R2* maps. However, combination of QSM and R2* was informative in disentangling the underlying tissue changes such as iron accumulation, demyelination, or calcifications. Therefore, combining QSM with R2* measurement can provide a more detailed assessment of tissue changes and may pave the way for improved diagnosis of TBI, and several other complex neurodegenerative diseases.
Nursing emigration in the United Kingdom: A qualitative exploration of the Spanish nursing community
Authors: Rodriguez‐Arrastia Miguel , Ropero‐Padilla Carmen , Fernández‐Sola Cayetano , Portillo Mari Carmen
Published: November 2020

Aim

To understand and describe the experiences and perceptions of migrant Spanish nurses working in the UK.

Design

Online survey with open‐ended questions.

Methods

A total of 371 participants were recruited from online groups related to Spanish nurses working in the UK.

Results

Four themes emerged from their content analysis: “Motivations for emigration: running away from job insecurity and unemployment,” “Professional recognition,” “Seeking better life stability” and “Future neediness: between a rock and a hard place.” In these results, professional recognition was highlighted as a reason to stay in the host country, although the uncertainty represented by Brexit is reversing the migration trend that began years ago. Policymakers should be aware of these experiences to promote strategies and programmes, which encourage inclusion in the host country and will help these nurses in their transition process.
Targeted delivery, drug release strategies, and toxicity study of polymeric drug nanocarriers
Authors: Abasian Payam , Shakibi Sepideh , Maniati Mohammad Saeed , Nouri Khorasani Saied , Khalili Shahla
Published: November 2020

Science has been trying to deal with complex diseases, like cancer, for a long time. Indeed, the side effects of the conventional treatment methods are tremendous, in some cases irreversible. This kind of problems demands a solution. Therefore, novel drug delivery systems are devised to mitigate the negative impacts of conventional ones. Polymeric nanocarrier systems are of great importance in this newly opened field. Polymers having been vastly investigated are common in some properties, such as their being biocompatibility and biodegradability. Generally speaking, a set of properties is required to achieve optimum delivery of drugs to target organs with minimum side effects. To do so, some measures should be taken. First of all, the strategy for release should be determined, categorized into two main branches, active and passive. Next, the drug release method should be engineered. Generally, there are two main categories for drug release, exogenous and endogenous. In this review, some of the chief subcategories of any aforementioned items are discussed. In the end, we catch up on already engineered nanocarriers' administration to the human body, possible toxic effects, if any, and the routes for affecting as a toxin.
Developing algorithms for identifying major structural birth defects using automated electronic health data
Authors: Kharbanda Elyse O. , Vazquez‐Benitez Gabriela , DeSilva Malini B. , Spaulding Alicen B. , Daley Matthew F. , Naleway Allison L. , Irving Stephanie A. , Klein Nicola P. , Tseng Hung Fu , Jackson Lisa A. , Hambidge Simon J. , Olaiya Oluwatosin , Panozzo Catherine A. , Myers Tanya R. , Romitti Paul A.
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Given the 2015 transition to International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD‐10‐CM) diagnostic coding, updates to our previously published algorithms for major structural birth defects (BDs) were necessary. Aims of this study were to update, validate, and refine algorithms for identifying selected BDs, and then to use these algorithms to describe BD prevalence in the vaccine safety datalink (VSD) population.

Methods

We converted our ICD‐9‐CM list of selected BDs to ICD‐10‐CM using available crosswalks with manual review of codes. We identified, chart reviewed, and adjudicated a sample of infants in the VSD with ≥2 ICD‐10‐CM diagnoses for one of seven common BDs. Positive predictive values (PPVs) were calculated; for BDs with suboptimal PPV, algorithms were refined. Final automated algorithms were applied to a cohort of live births delivered 10/1/2015–9/30/2017 at eight VSD sites to estimate BD prevalence. This research was approved by the HealthPartners Institutional Review Board, by all participating VSD sites, and by the CDC, with a waiver of informed consent.

Results

Of 573 infants with ≥2 diagnoses for a targeted BD, on adjudication, we classified 399 (69.6%) as probable cases, 31 (5.4%) as possible cases and 143 (25.0%) as not having the targeted BD. PPVs for the final BD algorithms ranged from 0.76 (hypospadias) to 1.0 (gastroschisis). Among 212 857 births over 2 years following transition to ICD‐10‐CM coding, prevalence for the full list of selected defects in the VSD was 1.8%.

Conclusions

Algorithms can identify infants with selected BDs using automated healthcare data with reasonable accuracy. Our updated algorithms can be used in observational studies of maternal vaccine safety and may be adapted for use in other surveillance systems.
A pilot study of mobilized intervention to help caregivers of oncology patients manage distress
Authors: Pensak Nicole A. , Carr Alaina L. , Jones Jacqueline , Mikulich‐Gilbertson Susan K. , Kutner Jean S. , Kilbourn Kristin , Sannes Timothy S. , Brewer Benjamin B. , Kolva Elissa , Joshi Tanisha , Laudenslager Mark L.
Published: November 2020

Objective

Caregivers of patients with advanced cancer experience significant anxiety, depression, and distress. Caregivers have barriers to accessing in‐person treatment to manage stress. Technology allows for the dissemination of evidence‐based interventions in a convenient way. This study examined usage rates of Pep‐Pal (an evidence‐based mobilized intervention to help caregivers of patients with advanced cancer manage distress) and estimates of efficacy on anxiety, depression, stress, and sexual dysfunction.

Methods

Fifty‐six primary caregivers of patients with advanced cancer were recruited through oncology clinics and randomized to either Pep‐Pal (a mobilized psychoeducation and skills‐based intervention for caregivers, n = 26) or treatment as usual (TAU; n = 30). All were screened for moderate anxiety on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale–Anxiety screening assessment (A ≥ 8) at baseline.

Results

Participants randomized to Pep‐Pal experienced greater reductions in perceived stress (PSS; F = 3.91, p = .05), greater increases in ability to learn and use stress management skills (F = 6.16, p = 0.01), and greater increases in sexual function (women only; F = 5.07, p = 0.03) compared to participants in TAU. Of Pep‐Pal participants, only 10 (38.5%) watched at least 7/9 full‐length sessions. The a priori hypothesis and criterion that participants would watch at least 75% full‐length sessions were not met.

Conclusions

A brief, easily disseminated mobile intervention showed poor adherence, but had limited estimates of efficacy for secondary outcomes; perceived stress, learning stress management skills, and sexual functioning (women only). Future directions are discussed.
A Prototype QSP Model of the Immune Response to SARS‐CoV‐2 for Community Development
Authors: Dai Wei , Rao Rohit , Sher Anna , Tania Nessy , Musante Cynthia J. , Allen Richard
Published: November 2020

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) pandemic requires the rapid development of efficacious treatments for patients with life‐threatening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) models are mathematical representations of pathophysiology for simulating and predicting the effects of existing or putative therapies. The application of model‐based approaches, including QSP, have accelerated the development of some novel therapeutics. Nevertheless, the development of disease‐scale mechanistic models can be a slow process, often taking years to be validated and considered mature. Furthermore, emerging data may make any QSP model quickly obsolete. We present a prototype QSP model to facilitate further development by the scientific community. The model accounts for the interactions between viral dynamics, the major host immune response mediators and tissue damage and regeneration. The immune response is determined by viral activation of innate and adaptive immune processes that regulate viral clearance and cell damage. The prototype model captures two physiologically relevant outcomes following infection: a “healthy” immune response that appropriately defends against the virus, and an uncontrolled alveolar inflammatory response that is characteristic of acute respiratory distress syndrome. We aim to significantly shorten the typical QSP model development and validation timeline by encouraging community use, testing, and refinement of this prototype model. It is our expectation that the model will be further advanced in an open science approach (i.e., by multiple contributions toward a validated quantitative platform in an open forum), with the ultimate goal of informing and accelerating the development of safe and effective treatment options for patients.
An addendum on “Three‐level designs: Evaluation and comparison for screening purposes”
Authors: Alomair Mohammed , Georgiou Stelios , Stylianou Stella
Published: November 2020

In our recent paper “Three‐Level Designs: Evaluation and Comparison for Screening Purposes”, by the same authors, we investigated and compared the original definitive screening designs and the designs that were constructed from weighing matrices. For this purpose, we used the generalized resolution and minimum aberration criteria as well as the projection estimation capacity criterion from the literature to perform the comparison. After our paper was accepted, it came to our attention that there were four significant papers, published by a number of authors, having related content and these were not mentioned in our paper. With this short addendum, we would like to kindly acknowledge the important contributions from those authors in those newly discovered papers in recent literature and also to include them in the related reference list.
Part I: Molecular weight characterization of linear polydimethyl siloxanes by secondary ion mass spectrometry
Authors: Pacholski Michaeleen L. , Vlasak Paul R.
Published: November 2020

A correlation of SIMS ion intensities to the molecular weight of linear, trimethyl‐terminated polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) has been developed by normalizing PDMS endgroup‐related signal to backbone‐related signal for a set of well‐characterized polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions. These initial experiments on thick PDMS films illustrate that PDMS molecular weight can be estimated using SIMS. A second paper describes the challenges in analyzing thin PDMS films on metal and polymer substrates. PDMS molecular weight determination is important to understanding surface‐related performance of materials using silicone additives across many different platforms including coefficient of friction, slip, mar, mold release, and nonstick properties as well as providing more specific characterization of surface contamination.