bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low‐dose oxytocin as an adjunct to Foley catheter for cervical ripening in nulliparous women at MTRH, Eldoret, Kenya: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Omondi Patrick , Nyongesa Paul , Chemalan Bett Kipchumba , Itsura Peter
Published: August 2021

Objective

To investigate whether the addition of oxytocin to cervical ripening with a Foley catheter (FC) among nulliparous women shortens the time to delivery.

Methods

In this double‐blinded randomized trial conducted at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, 220 women were randomly assigned to FC plus low‐dose oxytocin as treatment or FC plus placebo as controls in a 1:1 ratio. A modified intention‐to‐treat analysis was performed using SPSS v24. The protocol was approved by the institutional ethics committee and registered at www.ctr.pharmacyboardkenya.org; ECCT/19/08/02.

Results

Baseline characteristics were similar. Time to delivery was shorter by 3 h in the treatment group compared with the controls (25.4 versus 28.4 h, P = 0.002). The treatment group had a 22% increased likelihood of delivery within 24 h compared with the controls (53.3% versus 43.1%, relative risk [RR] 1.22, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.938–1.579, P = 0.135). The controls were however twice more likely to deliver by cesarean section than the treatment group (39% versus 21%, RR 2.32, 95% CI 1.16–2.73, P = 0.006). There were no significant differences in neonatal or other maternal outcomes.

Conclusion

FC with adjunctive oxytocin for cervical ripening in nulliparous women results in a shorter time to delivery and reduced cesarean deliveries when compared with FC alone.
Cover Image
Authors: Hoffmann Malte , Abaci Turk Esra , Gagoski Borjan , Morgan Leah , Wighton Paul , Tisdall Matthew Dylan , Reuter Martin , Adalsteinsson Elfar , Grant Patricia Ellen , Wald Lawrence L. , van der Kouwe André J. W.
Published: August 2021

The cover image is based on the Original Article Rapid head‐pose detection for automated slice prescription of fetal‐brain by Malte Hoffmann et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/ima.22563.

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Family awareness and the diagnosis of diabetes
Authors: Wearmouth EM
Published: August 2021

Between 1982 and 1990, 101 children between the ages of one and 15 years were admitted with newly diagnosed insulin‐dependent diabetes (IDDM). Patients with a family history of IDDM or knowledge of diabetes symptoms from other sources (grouped together as ‘family awareness‘) were significantly less acidotic (mean bicarbonate 21.5 vs 18.1 mmol/l) and had a shorter in‐patient stay (10.2 days vs 12.4 days) than those with no such family awareness. However there was no difference in the mean length of symptoms (3.97 vs 3.66 weeks), mean plasma glucose (25.2 vs 26.9 mmol/l) or percentage receiving intravenous rehydration (33.0% vs 36.6%).

There was a consistent downward trend in the length of in‐patient stay despite no trends in mean length of symptoms, plasma glucose or bicarbonate. It is concluded that family awareness does not reduce the mean length of symptoms in newly diagnosed diabetic children but may be associated with reduced in‐patient stay. The trend for earlier hospital discharge reflects changing attitudes to community‐based management of chronic disease rather than earlier diagnosis or improved in‐patient treatment.
Capillary‐size flow of human blood plasma: Revealing hidden elasticity and scale dependence
Authors: Windberger Ursula , Baroni Patrick , Noirez Laurence
Published: August 2021

The dynamical mechanical analysis of blood generally uses models inspired by conventional flows, assuming scale‐independent homogeneous flows and without considering fluid–surface boundary interactions. The present experimental study highlights the relevance of using an approach in line with physiological reality providing a strong interaction between the fluid and the boundary interface. New dynamic properties of human blood plasma are found: a finite shear elastic response (solid‐like property) is identified in nearly static conditions, which also depends on the scale (being reinforced at small scales). The elastic behavior is confirmed by the induction, without heat transfer, of local hot and cold thermodynamic states evidencing a thermo‐mechanical coupling in blood plasma so far known only in elastic materials. This finding opens new routes for medical diagnosis and device fabrication.
Cover Image, Volume 96, Issue 9
Authors: Ornelas‐González Alonso , Chairez‐Cantu Karolina , Ortiz‐Martínez Margarita , González‐González Mirna , Rito‐Palomares Marco
Published: August 2021

The cover image is based on the Review Stem cell culture media enriched with plant‐derived compounds: Cell proliferation enhancement by Alonso Ornelas‐González et al., https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.6794.

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Cadmium retention and microbial response in volcanic soils along gradients of soil age and climate on the Galápagos Islands
Authors: Rechberger Maria V. , Roberti Daniela , Phillips Avion , Zehetner Franz , Keiblinger Katharina M. , Kandeler Ellen , Gerzabek Martin H.
Published: August 2021

The behavior of trace metals may vary strongly in the course of volcanic soil development. Cadmium retention in soils is specifically important for some Galápagos islands where agriculture is leading to anthropogenic Cd contamination. To assess the influence of soil development factors on soil Cd retention and toxicity, we performed Cd sorption–desorption experiments with volcanic topsoils from the Galápagos Islands sampled along gradients of (a) substrate age (chronosequence, 1.5–1,070 ka) and (b) climate (elevation sequence, 47–866 m asl) ranging from arid lowland areas to humid highland areas. Additionally, the effects of Cd toxicity on the soil microbial community composition were evaluated for two soils of the chronosequence. In young volcanic soils, the sorption capacity was very high but decreased rapidly with soil age and increasing elevation. These trends were coupled with decreases in soil weathering indicators (e.g., electrical conductivity, pH, and effective cation exchange capacity) as well as changes in soil mineralogy. Cadmium addition did not influence total phospholipid fatty acids and basal respiration in most soils. However, with increasing Cd concentration, a pronounced reduction in the Gram‐negative/Gram‐positive bacteria ratio (from 0.32 to 0.12) occurred in an old, highly weathered soil with low Cd retention capacity. Our results show that up to 60% of added Cd was only weakly sorbed in old volcanic soils. As a consequence, the old volcanic soils of Galápagos bear the potential risk that the mobile Cd fraction is taken up by soil microorganisms, transferring this element into the food chain.
Elevation‐dependent response of snow phenology to climate change from a remote sensing perspective: A case survey in the central Tianshan mountains from 2000 to 2019
Authors: Wang Huadong , Zhang Xueliang , Xiao Pengfeng , Zhang Ka , Wu Senyao
Published: August 2021

Alpine snow is an important water resource in arid/semi‐arid regions and sensitive to climate change. However, the response of snow phenology to climate change in different elevations remains unclear in mountain areas because of limited observation stations. In this study, the vertical difference of snow phenology and its response to climate change in high mountains are explored by using multi‐source remote sensing data from 2000 to 2019, taking the north slope of Central Tianshan Mountains as the study area. The results show that: (1) The temporal changes of snow cover days (SCD), snow cover onset date (SCOD), and snow cover end date (SCED) in different altitudes are various and contribute to the general change trends of the extended SCD, the advanced SCOD, and the advanced SCED from the hydrological year 2000 to 2018; (2) The snow phenology is significantly related to the changed temperature and/or precipitation in most altitudes, except for the SCD and SCOD in high altitudes, where the large temporal changes of temperature and precipitation lead to the complicated correlations in these altitudes; (3) The altitude threshold of 3600 m is identified to separate the relative importance of temperature and precipitation for SCD and SCOD, where the temperature shows a higher importance than precipitation below the altitude threshold, and neither temperature nor precipitation shows constant higher importance above the altitude threshold. As for SCED, the temperature is consistently more important than precipitation in most altitudes.
Postoperative C‐reactive protein concentrations to predict infective complications following gastrectomy for cancer
Authors: van Winsen Marjolein , McSorley Stephen T. , McLeod Ross , MacDonald Andrew , Forshaw Matthew J. , Shaw Martin , Puxty Kathryn
Published: August 2021

Background and Objectives

Gastrectomy for gastric cancer is associated with significant infective postoperative complications. C‐reactive protein (CRP) is a useful biomarker in the early detection of infective complications following major abdominal surgery. This single‐centre retrospective study aimed to determine the relationship between postoperative CRP levels and development of postoperative infective complications after gastrectomy.

Methods

Daily postoperative CRP levels were analyzed to determine a CRP threshold associated with infective complications. ROC curve analysis was used to determine which postoperative day (POD) gave the optimal cutoff. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine significant factors associated with complications.

Results

One hundred and forty‐four patients were included. A total of 61 patients (42%) had at least one infective complication. A CRP level of 220 mg/L was associated with the highest AUC (0.765) with a sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 76% (positive predictive value, 67%; negative predictive value, 78%). More patients with a CRP > 220 mg/L on POD 3 developed infective complications (67% vs. 21%, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

A CRP of more than 220 mg/L on POD 3 may be useful to alert clinicians to the increased risk of a postoperative infective complication or enable earlier safe discharge from critical care for those with a lower value.
Tumor immune microenvironment of primary colorectal adenocarcinomas metastasizing to the liver or lungs
Authors: Kim Jin C. , Ha Ye J. , Park In J. , Kim Chan W. , Yoon Yong S. , Lee Jong L. , Tak Ka H. , Cho Dong‐Hyung , Park Seong H. , Kim Seon‐Kyu , Kim Seon‐Young , Kim Yong S.
Published: August 2021

Background

Because of the heterogeneity of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), a genome‐wide analysis was performed to characterize the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME).

Methods

RNA‐seq analysis of 62 primary CRCs without and 63 with systemic metastasis (SM− and SM+ groups) was conducted, and the data were used in a training set after adjustment by propensity score matching. Samples were further subdivided into those with hepatic metastasis (CHM subgroup), pulmonary metastasis (CPM subgroup), or concurrent CHM and CPM (concurrent group). Validation was done by quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction using another 40 primary CRC samples.

Results

Compared with the CHM or CPM subgroups, the concurrent group showed upregulated in inflammatory or immune processes, cytokine secretion, and myeloid leukocyte migration. Nine candidate genes were selected: SM‐specific IDO1, JAM3, and PDE2A; CHM‐ or CPM‐specific BIRC7; CPM‐specific HISI1H2BK, and both SM‐specific and CHM‐ or CPM‐specific EPHB6, LPL, THBD, and PPBP. In a validation set of primary CRCs, JAM3 and IDO1 (p = 0.044 and p = 0.036, respectively) were confirmed to show significant upregulation and downregulation, respectively, in the SM+ group, whereas HIST1H2BK (p = 0.017) was significantly upregulated in the CPM subgroup.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that a host‐suppressive TIME is established in the primary tumor of mCRC and identify immune‐related site‐specific markers of mCRC.
Malignant neoplasms originating from the bones of the foot: Predilection of hematological malignancies and sex‐related and ethnic disparities in amputation
Authors: Jawad Muhammad Umar , Farhan Saif B. , Haffner Max R. , Kreulen Christopher D. , Giza Eric , Thorpe Steven W. , Randall R. Lor
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Neoplasms originating from the “small bones of the lower limb and the overlapping joints” are rare but portend a serious prognosis. Current study utilizes a population‐based registry in the United States to characterize the malignancies of the foot.

Methods

National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result database from 1975 to 2017 was queried to report incidence and survival data in 514 patients in the Uited States. Kaplan–Meier and Cox Regression were used to determine the prognostic factors affecting survival. Chi square test was used to assess the correlation.

Results

Hematological malignancies constituted 14.8% of the entire cohort. Incidence of the foot neoplasms was 0.024 per 100 000 persons in 2017 and has not significantly changed since 1975 (p > 0.05). Disease‐specific‐5‐year survival for the entire cohort was 73%. On multivariate analysis younger age groups, “localized” stage and extent of surgical resection were predictors of improved outcomes. A significant correlation was found between amputation with male sex and Hispanic ethnicity.

Conclusions

The current study analyzes data from population‐based registry reporting incidence and survival data for patients with neoplasms of the foot. Independent prognostic factors include age, stage and extent of surgical resection. Amputation was found to be associated with male sex and Hispanic ethnicity.
Changes in natural killer cell activity after surgery and predictors of its recovery–failure
Authors: Kim Eun Y. , Hong Tae H.
Published: August 2021

Background and Objectives

We evaluated the changes in natural killer cell activity (NKA) during the entire treatment period of patients with resectable biliopancreatic cancers and investigated the predictors of the failure of recovery of NKA after surgery.

Methods

A total of 202 patients who underwent curative resection for biliopancreatic cancer were enrolled in the study. NKA levels were measured six times during the treatment period. We investigated whether there was any difference in postoperative NKA recovery according to the period‐by‐time NKA value.

Results

NKA decreased after surgery (mean, 40 pg/ml) compared to the NKA value at admission (200.2 pg/ml), then began to increase from 3 weeks after surgery (139.7 pg/ml) and rose to normal NKA levels at 5 weeks (217.1 pg/ml). The pattern of NKA changes was distinct according to the NKA values at admission. In multivariate analysis, NKA values of less than 250 pg/ml at admission (odds ratio = 5.898, p = 0.044) were a predictor of NKA recovery failure 5 weeks after surgery.

Conclusions

NKA rapidly decreased after curative surgery for biliopancreatic cancer and recovered to normal levels about 5 weeks later. Clinicians should be aware and cautious that patients with low NKA at admission may fail to recover NKA postoperatively.
Brown Treesnake Mortality After Aerial Application of Toxic Baits
Authors: Goetz Scott M. , Hileman Eric T. , Nafus Melia G. , Yackel Adams Amy A. , Bryant Amanda R. , Reed Robert N. , Siers Shane R.
Published: August 2021

Quantitative evaluation of control tools for managing invasive species is necessary to assess overall effectiveness and individual variation in treatment susceptibility. Invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) on Guam have caused severe ecological and economic effects, pose a risk of accidental introduction to other islands, and are the greatest impediment to the reestablishment of extirpated native fauna. An aerial delivery system for rodent‐based toxic baits can reduce brown treesnake abundance and heterogeneity among individuals may influence bait attraction or toxicant susceptibility. Previous baiting trials have either been simulated aerial treatments or relied on slightly different bait capsule compositions and the results of aerial delivery of toxic baits under operational conditions may not be directly comparable. We monitored 30 radio‐tagged adult snakes (990–1,265 mm snout‐vent length) during an aerial baiting operation in a 55‐ha area using transmitters equipped with accelerometers and receivers programed to display a status code indicating mortality if a snake failed to move for >24 hours. We used known‐fate models to estimate mortality and evaluate a priori hypotheses explaining differences in mortality based on size, sex, and treatment effects. Eleven radio‐tagged snakes died in the aerial baiting treatment period (0.37, 95% CI = 0.21–0.55) and no individuals (0.00, 95% CI = 0.00–0.04) died during the non‐treatment period. Our data provide strong evidence for an additive size‐based treatment effect on mortality, with smaller adults (0.59, 95% CI = 0.35–0.80) exhibiting higher mortality than larger snakes (0.14, 95% CI = 0.02–0.37) but did not support a sex effect on mortality. The high mortality of snakes during the treatment period indicates that aerial baiting can reduce brown treesnake abundance, but further refinement or use in combination with other removal tools may be necessary to overcome size‐based differences in susceptibility and achieve eradication. © 2021 The Authors. The Journal of Wildlife Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Wildlife Society.
Self‐Healable Hydrophobic Material Based on Anthracenyl Functionalized Fluorous Block Copolymers via Reversible Addition‐Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization and Rapid Diels–Alder Reaction
Authors: Ponnupandian Siva , Mondal Prantik , Lowe Andrew B. , Singha Nikhil K.
Published: August 2021

Recently, among the available approaches to develop self‐healable materials, 1,2,4‐triazoline‐3,5‐dione (TAD)‐based Diels–Alder (DA) chemistry has gained tremendous attention, becuase this DA reaction is very rapid under ambient conditions. This study delineates developing a self‐healing hydrophobic fluorinated polymer utilizing dynamic and rapid TAD‐DA chemistry. For this purpose, block copolymers of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and 2,2,2‐trifluoroethylmethacrylate (TFEMA) are prepared via reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization. Subsequently, the pendant hydroxyl groups of the HEMA repeat units are modified with anthracenyl functionality via esterification with 9‐anthracenecarboxylic acid. The tailor‐made polymer‐bearing anthracenyl pendants are subsequently crosslinked via a rapid DA reaction using a bifunctional TAD derivative at room temperature (r.t.). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis is performed to interpret the thermoreversible behavior of the TAD‐derived DA polymer. The self‐healing characteristics of this TAD‐derived DA conjugate are studied by monitoring the healing of a notched surface via AFM analysis. Interestingly, the TAD conjugated fluoropolymers are hydrophobic, as evidenced by the water contact angle analysis. Such TAD‐derived DA fluoropolymer conjugates with remarkable hydrophobic characteristics and excellent self‐healing features can pave a new direction in the potential materials for specialty paints, coatings, and adhesives.
Dynamic Polyphosphazene Networks with Modulating Shape Memory and Self‐Healing Capacity by Double Coordination Interactions
Authors: Wu Zhaolin , Zhao Yuanxi , Zhang Liqun , Wang Xiufen
Published: August 2021

A modern class of self‐healing polyphosphazene elastomers has been synthesized using coordination bonds for the first time. Two categories of carboxyl‐modified polyphosphazene have been synthesized, and 16 cross‐linked polymers have been fabricated by tuning the concentration of different metal ions, which also allows modifying the properties of the elastomer by adjusting the interactions. This design enables the polymer network to form a hierarchical and dynamic structure without introducing complex ligands. The polyphosphazene networks can be toughened and enhanced by the dynamic coordination structure. Due to the distinct design, the synthesized elastomers show unprecedented properties in halogen‐free polyphosphazenes, including high tensile stress (1.82 MPa), high malleability (≈1100%), shape memory, self‐healing, and thermal processing capacity.
The Synthesis of Covalent Triazine‐Based Frameworks via Friedel–Crafts Reactions of Cyanuric Chloride with Thienyl and Carbazolyl Derivatives for Fluorescence Sensing to Picric Acid, Iodine and Capturing Iodine
Authors: Geng Tong‐Mou , Fang Xue‐Chun , Wang Feng‐Qiang , Zhu Feng
Published: August 2021

A multifunctional thiophene‐based covalent triazine framework (TTPATTh) with triphenylamine as core is synthesized by Friedel–Crafts reaction of cyanuric chloride with thienyl derivative for the first time. The yield of TTPATTh (99.59%) is far higher than that of the carbazole‐based CTF (TTPATCz, 47.03%). TTPATTh and TTPATCz possess high BET surface areas with 1235 and 2501 m2 g–1 as well as high pore volumes with 1.60 and 2.23 cm3 g–1, respectively. TTPATTh and TTPATCz have high thermal stability with high thermal decomposition temperatures of 514 and 598 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. With the introduction of triazine rings, the fluorescence sensing sensitivities of TTPATTh and TTPATCz to picric acid and iodine are improved significantly. Especially for TTPATTh, the Ksv values reach 5.95 × 105 and 1.61 × 104 L mol–1, and LODs reach 1.02 × 10–12 and 1.86 × 10–12 mol L–1. To the best of the knowledge, this is the most sensitive value among thiophene‐based porous organic polymers to PA and I2. Furthermore, TTPATTh and TTPATCz can also adsorb iodine in vapor phase, cyclohexane solution and aqueous solution, and release iodine by heating or in ethanol solution. The efficiency of controlling the release of iodine is higher than that in ethanol.
Impact of Anonymity on Consumers' Online Reviews
Authors: Deng Lingfei , Sun Wenjun , Xu DaPeng , Ye Qiang
Published: August 2021

Extant literature has studied the relationship between identity disclosure and online consumer reviews, yet no research has investigated the effects of the introduction of an “anonymous review” option on consumers' online reviews. With a unique restaurant review data set from a most popular online review platform in China, we exploit a natural experiment setup in which the platform launched a new function of “anonymous review” that allows reviewers' choosing not to disclose their own information while posting reviews. We ground in the theories of deindividuation and social presence, and the notion of negativity bias to investigate the effects of anonymity on consumers' online review provision in terms of their rating behavior and emotional expressions in review texts. The results show that the anonymity function implementation induces a decrease in overall ratings and a decrease (increase) in positive (negative) emotions on average. Furthermore, using the reviews after the policy change, we find that, compared to non‐anonymous reviews, anonymous ones are usually with lower ratings and more (less) negative (positive) emotions, which can further induce subsequent reviewers' negative reviews. Our findings underscore the doubled‐sides of an “anonymous review” function the public policy makers, platform and restaurant managers need to balance in practice.
Co‐brand partnerships making space for the next black girl: Backlash in social justice branding
Authors: Smith Debra C. , James Channelle D. , Griffiths Merlyn A.
Published: August 2021

Viral influence of consumer reviews can change the strategic intent of co‐branding relationships between minority entrepreneurial startups and established corporations. When social justice positioning is involved, the intent is often to support minority businesses. We acknowledge this strategy as social justice branding. However, such alliances can trigger vitriolic responses. This backlash is an expression of free speech, and social media provides an obscure facilitative environment. The challenges of social justice branding are complex. We examine consumer online reviews of The Honey Pot and Target Corporation partnership, to understand the implications of social justice branding in practice. Using Leximancer analysis, we find that social justice branding elicits multiple emotions that empower action. Some consumers accepted the collaboration while others resisted. Analyzing the basis of the resistance revealed some consumers expressed racist and shameful behaviors displaying disagreement. Backlash reflected willful ignorance releasing pent up prejudices and disseminating viral‐like negative information as weapons of retaliation against brands and marginalized communities. We contribute a conceptual model integrating theoretical frames of social justice, social marketing, brand activism and free speech elucidating the impact of consumer response to social justice branding. The findings and model add a lens to further explore race in the marketplace.
Intravesical onabotulinumtoxinA injections in patients on antiplatelet and anticoagulation therapy
Authors: Mensah Elsie E. , Toia Bogdan , Nguyen Linh , Hamid Rizwan , Pakzad Mahreen , Ockrim Jeremy L. , Walker Roger , Greenwell Tamsin J. , Nitkunan Tharani , Sharma Davendra , Seth Jai H.
Published: August 2021

Aims

To determine the bleeding risk in patients taking anticoagulants (AC) and antiplatelets (AP) before onabotulinumtoxinA (BoNT‐A) injections and improve peri‐operative decision making and counseling.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of patients having intravesical BoNT‐A in three teaching hospitals from January 2016 to July 2018. Demographic data, indication for intravesical BoNT‐A injection, and side‐effects of significant bleeding requiring intervention were recorded.

Results

Five hundred and thirty‐two patients had intravesical BoNT‐A injections during this time. Sixty‐three patients of mean age 69 years (range 19–89) had a total of 114 separate rounds of BoNT‐A injections whilst on treatment dose AC/AP therapy. Of the 63, there were 33 males, with 46 having idiopatic detrusor overactivity and 17 with neurogenic detrusor overactivity. Each patient had between 1 and 7 repeat injections during the studied period. AC/AP use across the 114 episodes included; aspirin 44, clopidogrel 37, warfarin 19, and NOAC (novel/non‐vitamin K oral anticoagulant) 14. Patients on warfarin who had point of care testing all had international normalized ratio less than 3. BoNT‐A dose varied from 100U to 300U—modal dosage was 200U.1/114(0.88%) injection episodes resulted in postinjection hematuria requiring overnight admission. This resolved spontaneously, with an overnight catheter. This patient was on rivaroxaban and had 300U of BoNT‐A injected through 20 sites, on a background of previous prostate radiotherapy and self‐catheterization.

Conclusions

Continuation of AP/AC therapy during intravesical BoNT‐A injection treatment appears to be safe—with a 0.88% rate of spontaneously resolving hematuria.
Enantioselective Synthesis of Acyclic Orthogonally Functionalized Compounds Bearing a Quaternary Stereocenter Using Chiral Ammonium Salt Catalysis
Authors: Röser Katharina , Berger Bettina , Widhalm Michael , Waser Mario
Published: August 2021

We herein report an asymmetric protocol to access a series of orthogonally functionalized acyclic chiral target molecules containing a quaternary stereogenic center by carrying out the enantioselective α‐alkylation of novel orthogonally functionalized dioxolane‐containing cyanoacetates under chiral ammonium salt catalysis. By using just 1 mol % of Maruoka's spirocyclic ammonium salt catalysts enantioselectivities up to e.r.=97.5 : 2.5 could be achieved and further functional group manipulations of the products were carried out as well.
Association between low fetal fraction in cell‐free DNA testing and adverse pregnancy outcome: A systematic review
Authors: Scheffer Peter G. , Wirjosoekarto Soetinah A. M. , Becking Ellis C. , Weiss Marjan M. , Bax Caroline J. , Oepkes Dick , Sistermans Erik A. , Henneman Lidewij , Bekker Mireille N.
Published: August 2021

Objective

Low fetal fraction (LFF) in prenatal cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) testing is an important cause of test failure and no‐call results. LFF might reflect early abnormal placentation and therefore be associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. Here, we review the available literature on the relationship between LFF in cfDNA testing and adverse pregnancy outcome.

Method

A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE and EMBASE up to November 1, 2020.

Results

Five studies met the criteria for inclusion; all were retrospective observational cohort studies. The cohort sizes ranged from 370 to 6375 pregnancies, with all tests performed in the first trimester or early second trimester. A 4% cutoff for LFF was used in two studies, two studies used the 5th and 25th percentiles, respectively, and one study used a variety of cutoff values for LFF. LFF in prenatal cfDNA testing was observed to be associated with hypertensive disease of pregnancy, small for gestational age neonates, and preterm birth. Conflicting results were found regarding the association between LFF and gestational diabetes mellitus.

Conclusions

LFF in cfDNA testing is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome,specifically pregnancy‐related hypertensive disorders, preterm birth, and impaired fetal growth related to placental dysfunction. Since the available evidence is limited, a large prospective cohort study on the relationship between fetal fraction and pregnancy outcomes is needed.
Molecular design of polymer coatings capable of photo‐triggered stress relaxation via dynamic covalent bond exchange
Authors: Mineo Autumn M. , Buck Maren E. , Katsumata Reika
Published: August 2021

Polymer coatings are frequently used to modify surface properties of inorganic substrates. However, the disparity in physical properties between polymer film and substrate often leads to residual stress development, which can be deleterious to the overall performance of coated materials. This work reports the molecular design of polymer films that dissipate stress upon irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light. These polymers are synthesized by post‐polymerization modification of the reactive polymer, poly(2‐vinyl‐4,4‐dimethyl azlactone), to introduce dynamic crosslinks capable of light‐initiated addition transfer fragmentation chemistry. Using a custom‐built optical cantilever, contrasting film stress responses are observed between films containing dynamic bonds and analogous control films after UV light irradiation, which indicate successful stress relaxation. Further experiments demonstrate the complete relaxation of residual stress in dynamic films after an extended exposure, thereby generating a “stress‐free” film. Films fabricated using this approach can be easily tailored to incorporate additional moieties to introduce desired surface properties for future application in a wide array of coatings.
Bilateral lung transplantation in a 9‐year‐old girl with bronchopulmonary dysplasia with pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Ota Chiharu , Saito Ryoko , Tominaga Junya , Iwasawa Shinya , Hirama Takashi , Matsuda Yasushi , Ono Katsunori , Onoki Takehiko , Kimura Masato , Kawabata Yoshinori , Okada Yoshinori
Published: August 2021

Background

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic respiratory disease that occurs in premature infants and the prognosis is variable depending on the comorbidities including fibrosis, emphysema, or pulmonary hypertension (PH). We present a case of a 9‐year‐old girl who developed PH associated with severe BPD (BPD‐PH) and underwent bilateral lung transplantation (BLTx). Case description A 9‐year‐old girl was admitted to our department to undergo BLTx. She was born at 23 weeks and 4 days gestation with a weight of 507 g. She received ventilation for the first 2 months and required further respiratory care due to repetitive, severe respiratory infections. She was diagnosed with BPD‐PH at 6 months of age and oral administration of pulmonary vasodilators were initiated. She was registered as a lung transplant candidate at 4 years of age after the life‐threatening exacerbation. Chest computed tomography (CT) revealed severe lung conditions with ground‐glass opacities and emphysematous low‐density areas in the upper and lower lobes. BLTx from a brain‐dead male donor was performed. The pathological findings of her resected lung revealed saccular, hypoplastic lung with alveolar repair/regeneration, and medial hypertrophy and muscularization of peripheral arteries. The postoperative course was mostly uneventful. She was free from oxygen administration and showed no signs of PH after 6 months of the surgery.

Conclusion

This is the first case report of BLTx in a pediatric, irreversible BPD‐PH patient with detailed pathohistological findings and clinical examination. Lung transplantation is one of the treatment options for severe BPD‐PH.
Target classification in the 14th round of the critical assessment of protein structure prediction (CASP14)
Authors: Kinch Lisa N. , Schaeffer R. Dustin , Kryshtafovych Andriy , Grishin Nick V.
Published: August 2021

An evolutionary‐based definition and classification of target evaluation units (EUs) is presented for the 14th round of the critical assessment of structure prediction (CASP14). CASP14 targets included 84 experimental models submitted by various structural groups (designated T1024–T1101). Targets were split into EUs based on the domain organization of available templates and performance of server groups. Several targets required splitting (19 out of 25 multidomain targets) due in part to observed conformation changes. All in all, 96 CASP14 EUs were defined and assigned to tertiary structure assessment categories (Topology‐based FM or High Accuracy‐based TBM‐easy and TBM‐hard) considering their evolutionary relationship to existing ECOD fold space: 24 family level, 50 distant homologs (H‐group), 12 analogs (X‐group), and 10 new folds. Principal component analysis and heatmap visualization of sequence and structure similarity to known templates as well as performance of servers highlighted trends in CASP14 target difficulty. The assigned evolutionary levels (i.e., H‐groups) and assessment classes (i.e., FM) displayed overlapping clusters of EUs. Many viral targets diverged considerably from their template homologs and thus were more difficult for prediction than other homology‐related targets. On the other hand, some targets did not have sequence‐identifiable templates, but were predicted better than expected due to relatively simple arrangements of secondary structural elements. An apparent improvement in overall server performance in CASP14 further complicated traditional classification, which ultimately assigned EUs into high‐accuracy modeling (27 TBM‐easy and 31 TBM‐hard), topology (23 FM), or both (15 FM/TBM).
β‐Gallium Oxide Devices: Progress and Outlook
Authors: Higashiwaki Masataka
Published: August 2021

Beta‐gallium oxide () has a history of research and development for over 70 years; however, it has attracted little attention as a semiconductor material for a long time. The situation has drastically changed in the past decade, and research on its material properties and developments of growth and device technologies has become active worldwide, mainly from expectations for applications to next‐generation power devices. Most of the specific material properties are attributed to its extremely large bandgap energy of 4.5 eV. The other important material feature is that large‐size single‐crystal bulks can be synthesized by melt growth methods. Herein, after introducing the material properties of that are important for electronic devices, the current status of bulk melt growth and epitaxial thin‐film growth technologies is given. State‐of‐the‐art diodes and transistors are also discussed, including future prospects.
Relativistic frozen density embedding calculations of solvent effects on the nuclear magnetic resonance shielding constants of transition metal nuclei
Authors: Olejniczak Małgorzata , Antušek Andrej , Jaszuński Michał
Published: August 2021

Nuclear magnetic resonance shielding constants of transition metals in solvated complexes are computed at the relativistic density functional theory (DFT) level. The solvent effects evaluated with subsystem‐DFT approaches are compared with the reference solvent shifts predicted from supermolecular calculations. Two subsystem‐DFT approaches are analyzed—in the standard frozen density embedding (FDE) scheme the transition metal complexes are embedded in an environment of solvent molecules whose density is kept frozen, in the second approach the densities of the complex and of its environment are relaxed in the “freeze‐and‐thaw” procedure. The latter approach improves the description of the solvent effects in most cases, nevertheless the FDE deficiencies are rather large in some cases.
Strategy for the multi‐component characterization and quality evaluation of volatile organic components in Kaixin San by correlating the analysis by headspace gas chromatography/ion mobility spectrometry and headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
Authors: Yin Jiaxin , Lin Ruimei , Wu Mengfan , Ding Hui , Han Lifeng , Yang Wenzhi , Song Xinbo , Li Wenlong , Qu Haibin , Yu Heshui , Li Zheng
Published: August 2021

Rationale

Kaixin San (KXS) is a prescription traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with the effects of “tonifying the kidney and brain” and “improving memory”. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in KXS could effectively improve senile dementia and depression, but only few studies have focused on the overall characterization of VOCs in KXS and the quantitative study of the main active components.

Methods

We have developed a strategy to correlate the results from headspace gas chromatography/ion mobility spectrometry (HS‐GC/IMS) and headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS‐GC/MS) for the comprehensive characterization of VOCs in KXS and the quantitative analysis of the main pharmacodynamic substances.

Results

A totsal of 68 low molecular weight VOCs were identified in KXS by HS‐GC/IMS at room temperature and atmospheric pressure; 117 VOCs were identified and 10 components (isocalamenediol,α‐asarone,β‐asarone, methyl eugenol, isoeugenol methyl ether, camphor, anethol, 2,4‐di‐tert‐butylphol, linalool, asarylaldehyde) as the quality markers of KXS based on HS‐GC/MS.

Conclusions

This results from this study provide a foundation for quality control, pharmacodynamic mechanism research and further development of KXS, and provides more convincing data supporting the VOCs of other natural products.
The Role of Neural and Genetic Processes in Learning to Read and Specific Reading Disabilities: Implications for Instruction
Authors: Church Jessica A. , Grigorenko Elena L. , Fletcher Jack M.
Published: August 2021

To learn to read, the brain must repurpose neural systems for oral language and visual processing to mediate written language. We begin with a description of computational models for how alphabetic written language is processed. Next, we explain the roles of a dorsal sublexical system in the brain that relates print and speech, a ventral lexical system that develops the visual expertise for rapid orthographic processing at the word level, and the role of cognitive control networks that regulate attentional processes as children read. We then use studies of children, adult illiterates learning to read, and studies of poor readers involved in intervention, to demonstrate the plasticity of these neural networks in development and in relation to instruction. We provide a brief overview of the rapid increase in the field’s understanding and technology for assessing genetic influence on reading. Family studies of twins have shown that reading skills are heritable, and molecular genetic studies have identified numerous regions of the genome that may harbor candidate genes for the heritability of reading. In selected families, reading impairment has been associated with major genetic effects, despite individual gene contributions across the broader population that appear to be small. Neural and genetic studies do not prescribe how children should be taught to read, but these studies have underscored the critical role of early intervention and ongoing support. These studies also have highlighted how structured instruction that facilitates access to the sublexical components of words is a critical part of training the brain to read.
Regional Performance Analysis of Control Systems with Quadratic Programming
Authors: Wada Nobutaka
Published: August 2021

Various control methods which utilize online optimization have been developed. A quadratic programming (QP) problem is typically solved online in such methods. In this paper, we derive a regional sector condition for a QP problem. Then, based on the regional sector condition, we derive a condition to analyze regional‐performance of a feedback system with QP. The analysis condition is expressed as a set of linear matrix inequalities. Then, we show methods for applying the analysis condition to a model predictive control system and a feedback system with a control allocator. A numerical example is provided to show effectiveness of the result. © 2021 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Comparison of a human portable blood glucose meter and automated chemistry analyser for measurement of blood glucose concentrations in healthy dogs
Authors: Ismail‐Hamdi Sihem , Romdane Mohamed Néjib , Ben Romdhane Samir
Published: August 2021

Blood glucose measurement is one of the most commonly performed clinical diagnostic tests used to monitor glycaemia in several animal diseases. Usually, these laboratory analyses are performed on blood venous samples in remote laboratories, and the results are delayed, at best. The use of portable glucometers could evidently solve many constraints but veterinary‐use glucometers are not usually available. The present study aimed to compare blood glucose levels obtained by Bionime glucometer to the reference method using glucose oxidase. Venous blood was collected from a total number of 140 healthy dogs (72 males and 68 females), of different breeds (28 German Shepherd, 27 Pitt bull, 21 Boxer, 24 Rottweiler and 40 cross‐bred dogs) and different ages (range: 3 months–14 years) for glucose measurement using the reference laboratory method. Capillary blood samples were used to conduct a glucose measurement with a human‐use glucometer. Our results revealed that there was no significant difference between the mean capillary blood glucose (CBG) measured with the human‐use glucometer (5.06 ± 0.84 mmol/L) and the mean venous blood glucose (VBG) measured with the laboratory reference method (4.90 ± 0.73 mmol/L) (p = 0.42). Similarly, there was no significant difference of the mean CBG and VBG in male dogs (5.11 ± 0.88 and 4.97 ± 0.75 mmol/L, respectively) and female dogs (5.01 ± 0.81 and 5.07 ± 0.72 mmol/L, respectively) (p = 0.73 and 0.21, respectively), and no correlation to neither age (5.43 ± 0.90 and 5.20 ± 0.70 mmol/L in 3 to 6 month‐old dogs, 5.03 ± 0.82 and 4.94 ± 0.79 mmol/L in 6 months to 1 year‐old, 4.94 ± 0.67 and 5.13 ± 0.66 mmol/L in 1 to 4 year‐old dogs; 4.88 ± 0.94 and 4.80 ± 0.75 mmol/L in dogs older than 4 years, respectively, p < 0.05), nor to breed (4.94 ± 1.01 and 4.99 ± 0.79 mmol/L in German Shepherd, 5.13 ± 0.84 and 4.99 ± 0.79 mmol/L in Pitt Bull, 5.07 ± 0.94 and 5.07 ± 0.77 mmol/L in Boxer, 5.40 ± 0.59 and 5.48 ± 0.55 mmol/L in Rottweiler and 4.89 ± 0.75 and 4.77 ± 0.59 mmol/L in cross‐bred dogs, respectively, p < 0.05). The present study confirms that human glucometer can be used to measure glucose in dogs with a good accuracy.
Potential secondary effects of in‐stream wood structures installed for natural flood management: A conceptual model
Authors: Lo Ho Wen , Smith Mark , Klaar Megan , Woulds Clare
Published: August 2021

The use of in‐stream wood is one of the most commonly employed natural flood management (NFM) techniques. The effectiveness of NFM wood structures in reducing flood risks (i.e., their “primary” effect) has been relatively well documented. However, their additional or “secondary” effects on other natural processes have not been fully evaluated. These secondary effects can be inferred by reviewing previous studies that scrutinized natural wood accumulations or artificial wood structures constructed for purposes other than NFM. The degree of contact with base flows and the stream bed provides a broad classification of NFM wood structures. Having considered the similarities between NFM wood structures and other in‐stream wood types, it is suggested that the following geomorphic effects are common to all types of NFM wood structures: pool formation; accumulation of clasts immediately upstream; buffering against stream bed coarsening; and bank erosion, causing channel widening and the formation of floodplain channels. These geomorphic changes contribute to stream bed heterogeneity, potentially creating new niches for aquatic organisms such as macroinvertebrates. Moreover, NFM wood structures may retain benthic organisms accidentally flushed away during flood events, serving as sources of colonists during phases of recovery. Geomorphic changes induced by NFM wood structures may also contribute to spatial variation in rates of biogeochemical processing. Accumulation of fine sediments in some areas may provide more surfaces for the attachment of organic matter and micro‐organisms, hence increasing benthic metabolic rates. Stream bed scouring in other areas may lead to sediment instability, suppressing the growth of micro‐organisms and benthic metabolic rates.

This article is categorized under:

Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness

Science of Water > Water Extremes

Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water
Competing risks analysis for discrete time‐to‐event data
Authors: Schmid Matthias , Berger Moritz
Published: August 2021

This article presents an overview of statistical methods for the analysis of discrete failure times with competing events. We describe the most commonly used modeling approaches for this type of data, including discrete versions of the cause‐specific hazards model and the subdistribution hazard model. In addition to discussing the characteristics of these methods, we present approaches to nonparametric estimation and model validation. Our literature review suggests that discrete competing‐risks analysis has gained substantial interest in the research community and is used regularly in econometrics, biostatistics, and educational research.

This article is categorized under:

Statistical Models > Survival Models

Statistical Models > Semiparametric Models

Statistical Models > Generalized Linear Models
The 2020 Violent Change in Government in Kyrgyzstan Amid the Covid-19 Pandemic: Three Distinct Stories in One
Authors: Doolotkeldieva Asel
Published: August 2021

The day after the election night, on October 5th of 2020, several thousand Kyrgyz citizens poured in the direction of the main square of the capital Bishkek to denounce fraudulent elections. An estimated 1,250 people were injured, and one young person died. This third violent change of government in Kyrgyzstan’s short history of independence can be best understood as a combination of three distinct stories coming together under an unprecedented external shock produced by the coronavirus. First, a genuine citizen mobilization was triggered by the pandemic-related economic decline and rigged elections. Second, the initial peaceful protest was hijacked, to the surprise of the many, by a populist leader capitalizing on long-existing societal polarization. Third, the spectacular unfolding of the intra-opposition struggle downplays an important process of oligarchization, underlying the shaky grounds of patronal presidentialism in pluralist systems.