bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep convolutional neural networks for automatic segmentation of thoracic organs‐at‐risk in radiation oncology – use of non‐domain transfer learning
Authors: Vu Charles C. , Siddiqui Zaid A. , Zamdborg Leonid , Thompson Andrew B. , Quinn Thomas J. , Castillo Edward , Guerrero Thomas M.
Published: June 2020

Purpose

Segmentation of organs‐at‐risk (OARs) is an essential component of the radiation oncology workflow. Commonly segmented thoracic OARs include the heart, esophagus, spinal cord, and lungs. This study evaluated a convolutional neural network (CNN) for automatic segmentation of these OARs.

Methods

The dataset was created retrospectively from consecutive radiotherapy plans containing all five OARs of interest, including 22,411 CT slices from 168 patients. Patients were divided into training, validation, and test datasets according to a 66%/17%/17% split. We trained a modified U‐Net, applying transfer learning from a VGG16 image classification model trained on ImageNet. The Dice coefficient and 95% Hausdorff distance on the test set for each organ was compared to a commercial atlas‐based segmentation model using the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test.

Results

On the test dataset, the median Dice coefficients for the CNN model vs. the multi‐atlas model were 71% vs. 67% for the spinal cord, 96% vs. 94% for the right lung, 96%vs. 94% for the left lung, 91% vs. 85% for the heart, and 63% vs. 37% for the esophagus. The median 95% Hausdorff distances were 9.5  mm vs. 25.3 mm, 5.1  mm vs. 8.1 mm, 4.0  mm vs. 8.0 mm, 9.8  mm vs. 15.8 mm, and 9.2 mm vs. 20.0 mm for the respective organs. The results all favored the CNN model (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

A 2D CNN can achieve superior results to commercial atlas‐based software for OAR segmentation utilizing non‐domain transfer learning, which has potential utility for quality assurance and expediting patient care.
Parkinson disease clinical subtypes: key features & clinical milestones
Authors: Campbell Meghan C. , Myers Peter S. , Weigand Alexandra J. , Foster Erin R. , Cairns Nigel J. , Jackson Joshua J. , Lessov‐Schlaggar Christina N. , Perlmutter Joel S.
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Based on multi‐domain classification of Parkinson disease (PD) subtypes, we sought to determine the key features that best differentiate subtypes and the utility of PD subtypes to predict clinical milestones.

Methods

Prospective cohort of 162 PD participants with ongoing, longitudinal follow‐up. Latent class analysis (LCA) delineated subtypes based on score patterns across baseline motor, cognitive, and psychiatric measures. Discriminant analyses identified key features that distinguish subtypes at baseline. Cox regression models tested PD subtype differences in longitudinal conversion to clinical milestones, including deep brain stimulation (DBS), dementia, and mortality.

Results

LCA identified distinct subtypes: “motor only” (N = 63) characterized by primary motor deficits; “psychiatric & motor” (N = 17) characterized by prominent psychiatric symptoms and moderate motor deficits; “cognitive & motor” (N = 82) characterized by impaired cognition and moderate motor deficits. Depression, executive function, and apathy best discriminated subtypes. Since enrollment, 22 had DBS, 48 developed dementia, and 46 have died. Although there were no subtype differences in rate of DBS, dementia occurred at a higher rate in the “cognitive & motor” subtype. Surprisingly, mortality risk was similarly elevated for both “cognitive & motor” and “psychiatric & motor” subtypes compared to the “motor only” subtype (relative risk = 3.15, 2.60).

Interpretation

Psychiatric and cognitive features, rather than motor deficits, distinguish clinical PD subtypes and predict greater risk of subsequent dementia and mortality. These results emphasize the value of multi‐domain assessments to better characterize clinical variability in PD. Further, differences in dementia and mortality rates demonstrate the prognostic utility of PD subtypes.
Soybean yield response to gypsum soil amendment, cover crop, and rotation
Authors: Raut Yogendra Y. , Shedekar Vinayak S. , Islam Khandakar R. , Gonzalez Javier M. , Watts Dexter B. , Dick Warren A. , Flanagan Dennis C. , Fausey Norman R. , Batte Marvin T. , Reeder Randall C. , VanToai Tara T.
Published: June 2020

Growing demand for soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] creates pressure to expand soybean production onto marginal lands and grow soybean continuously. Experiments comparing continuous soybean with soybean–corn (Zea mays L.) rotation, cereal rye [Secale cereale (L.)] cover crop with no cover crop, and flue‐gas desulfurization (FGD) gypsum surface‐applied at 0, 1.1, and 2.2 Mg ha−1 were conducted at Shorter, AL, Farmland, IN, Hoytville, OH, and Piketon, OH, for 5 yr. The objective was to evaluate soybean yield response to these practices across a range of soil types and climatic conditions. Response to continuous soybean and cover crop varied by site (soil drainage class) with no interaction effects. Continuous soybean reduced yield only on well‐ and moderately well‐drained soil types. Cover crop reduced yield on the very poorly drained soil type and increased yield on the well‐drained soil type. Crop production practices that promote soil health and sustainability may not provide yield improvement.
Cover crops and weed suppression in the U.S. Midwest: A meta‐analysis and modeling study
Authors: Nichols Virginia , Martinez‐Feria Rafael , Weisberger David , Carlson Sarah , Basso Bruno , Basche Andrea
Published: June 2020

In addition to soil health and conservation benefits, cover crops (CCs) may offer weed control in the midwestern United States, but individual studies report varying effects. We conducted a meta‐analysis of studies measuring weed biomass (WBIO) or density (WDEN) in paired CC and no‐cover treatments in corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr] rotations in the U.S. Midwest. Fifteen studies provided 123 paired comparisons of WBIO and 119 of WDEN. Only grass CCs significantly reduced WBIO, while no CC reduced WDEN. We found no evidence CC management factors (e.g., termination method) directly affected outcomes. Our dataset showed that a 75% reduction in WBIO requires at least 5 Mg ha−1 of CC. Simulations from a process‐based model (SALUS) indicated achieving 5 Mg ha−1 requires substantially earlier fall planting and later spring termination in most years, conflicting with typical cash‐crop planting and harvesting. We conclude CCs significantly reduce WBIO, but current CC management constraints render these reductions variable and uncertain.
An Unquestionable Mediation Conflict of Interest—The MGM Mandalay Bay Shooting Settlement
Authors: Hinshaw Art
Published: June 2020

In October 2017, a gunman broke out a window from his room on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay Resorts & Casino in Las Vegas, owned by MGM Resorts International, shooting more than 1,000 rounds into a massive crowd of people enjoying the Route 91 Harvest Festival, an outdoor country music concert.
Will the Supreme Court Take Up Allowing Discovery Under Section 1782 for Private International Arbitrations?
Authors: Pinney John B.
Published: June 2020

Twenty‐one years ago, both the Second and Fifth U.S Circuit Courts of Appeals decided that the phrase “foreign and international tribunal” in 28 U.S.C. §1782(a) did not include private international arbitration tribunals. Consequently, these cases held that U.S. District Courts could not provide judicial assistance in obtaining evidence for use in private international arbitrations.
Alignment of Axial Anisotropy in a 1D Coordination Polymer shows Improved Field Induced Single Molecule Magnet Behavior over a Mononuclear Seven Coordinated FeII Complex
Authors: Mondal Arpan , Kharwar Ajit Kumar , Sahu Pradip Kumar , Konar Sanjit
Published: June 2020

Herein, we report a CN‐bridged alternating FeII−NiII 1D chain to ensure the alignment of axial anisotropy and improve the single molecule magnet (SMM) behavior in seven coordinated FeII compound. The chain was constructed from hepta coordinated Fe(II) complex as an anisotropic building unit and diamagnetic nickel tetra cyanate as a bridging ligand. The magnetic measurements show the easy‐axis anisotropy of the seven coordinated Fe(II) complex and field induced SMM behavior with spin reversal energy barrier Ueff=61(2) K (42 cm−1) and pre‐exponential relaxation time τ0=1.9×10−8 s. The detailed analysis of the relaxation dynamics discloses that the Orbach process plays an important role in slow relaxation of magnetization for this compound. Notably, this example represents a remarkable energy barrier observed in hepta coordinated Fe(II) SMMs. The ab initio calculations estimate the magnitude of axial anisotropy and show the parallel orientation of the anisotropic axis throughout the 1D polymeric chain. In addition, it is also reported that the presence of weak π accepter ligands in the distorted axial position enhance the easy‐axis anisotropy.
A reactive probe for Co2+ ion detection based on a catalytic decomposition process and its fluorescence imaging in living cells
Authors: Ji Liguo , Yang Chengliang , Li Huijie , Yang Nan , Fu Yutian , Yang Linlin , Wang Qingzhi , He Guangjie
Published: June 2020

A novel reactive fluorescent probe for cobalt ions was prepared based on integration of thiourea functional groups, coumarin, and naphthalimide fluorophores. There was no fluorescence observed for the probe itself, however, in the presence of cobalt ions, catalytic decomposition occurred for the probe and coumarin molecular fragments were produced that emitted blue fluorescence. This enabled the probe to be used as a ‘turn on’ reagent for detection of cobalt ions. Under physiological pH conditions and in appropriate solvent systems, an obvious fluorescence enhancement for cobalt ions was observed in selective experiments. Competition experiments indicated that cobalt ions could still induce fluorescence enhancement in the presence of other metal ions. Sensitivity experiments showed that the detection limit for cobalt ions was 6.0 nM. Dynamics research demonstrated that the catalytic process was a pseudo‐first‐order reaction and the reaction constant (kobs) was calculated to be 1.49 × 10−2 min−1. In addition, the mechanism of catalytic decomposition could be demonstrated using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and thin layer chromatography experiments. Cell fluorescence imaging experiments demonstrated that the probe could be used to detect cobalt ions in living HeLa cells.
Effect of different temperatures to remove reduction gas on the photoluminescence properties of Eu‐doped Li2(Ba1‐xSrx)SiO4 phosphors
Authors: Li Jie , Lu Yang‐Ming , Yang Qing‐Hao , Yang Cheng‐Fu , Chen Chih‐Cheng , Houng Mau‐Phon
Published: June 2020

In this study, Eu‐doped Li2(Ba1‐xSrx)SiO4 powders (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6) were synthesized at 850°C in a reduction atmosphere (5% H2 + 95% N2) for a duration of 1 h using a solid‐state reaction method. The reduction atmosphere was infused as the synthesis temperature reached 850°C, and was removed as the temperature dropped to 800–500°C. Li2(Ba1‐xSrx)SiO4 (or Li2BaSiO4), (Ba,Sr)2SiO4 (or BaSiO4), and Li4SiO4 phases co‐existed in the synthesized Eu‐doped Li2(Ba1‐xSrx)SiO4 powders. A new finding was that the reduction atmosphere removing (RAR) temperature of the Li2(Ba1‐xSrx)SiO4 phosphors had a large effect on their photoluminescence excitation (PLE) and PL properties. Except for the 800°C‐RAR‐treated Li2BaSiO4 phosphor, PLE spectra of all other Li2(Ba1‐xSrx)SiO4 phosphors had one broad emission band with two emission peaks centred at ~242 and ~283 nm; these PL spectra had one broad emission band with one emission peak centred at 502–514 nm. We showed that the 800°C‐RAR‐treated Li2BaSiO4 phosphor emitted a red light and all other Li2(Ba1‐xSrx)SiO4 phosphors emitted a green light. Reasons for these results are discussed thoroughly.
Simultaneous determination of gallic acid, methyl gallate, and 1,3,6‐tri‐O‐galloyl‐β‐d‐glucose from Turkish galls in rat plasma using liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry and its application to pharmacokinetics study
Authors: Gong Jing , Li Lin , Lin Yi‐xuan , Xiao Dan , Liu Wen , Zou Bao‐rong , Tian Xing , Han Bo , Zhang Shao‐bao , Lin Lei , Li Pei , Xie Zhi‐yong , Liao Qiong‐feng
Published: June 2020

Turkish galls (TG) is a traditional Uygur medicine typically used in clinics for dental disease and chronic ulcerative colitis. In this study, a novel liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of gallic acid, methyl gallate, and 1,3,6‐tri‐O‐galloyl‐β‐d‐glucose in rat plasma, which are the major bioactive compounds of TG. After a feasible protein precipitation using acetonitrile for sample preparation, chromatographic separation was performed with a BDS Hypersil C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 5 μm) at 30°C, and water containing 10 mmol of ammonium acetate and acetonitrile was used as the mobile phase with a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The MS detector was operated in the selective reaction monitoring with negative‐ionization mode. The results of the method validation, including selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, extraction recovery, matrix effect, and stability of the compounds in the biosamples, were all within the current acceptance criteria. The established method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetics study of three analytes in rats after an oral administration of TG extract and laid the foundation for studying the active components and mechanism of TG in vivo.
Determination of acamprosate in human plasma by UPLC–MS/MS: Application to therapeutic drug monitoring
Authors: Ozdemir Murat , Kul Aykut , Ozilhan Selma , Sagirli Olcay
Published: June 2020

Acamprosate is a medication used to treat alcohol dependence. Therapeutic drug monitoring is important in drugs for the treatment of substance‐related disorders. Therefore, in this study, a new selective, very simple and rapid ultra‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometer method was developed for the therapeutic drug monitoring of acamprosate. The developed method allows the determination of acamprosate in human plasma. The method was validated in terms of selectivity and linearity, which was in the range of 100–1,200 ng/ml for acamprosate. Intra‐assay and inter‐assay accuracy and precision were within the acceptable limits of the Eueopean Medicines Agency guideline. The lower limit of quantitation was 100 ng/ml for acamprosate. The developed method was successfully applied for therapeutic drug monitoring in patient plasma samples.
High mutation burden of circulating cell‐free DNA in early‐stage breast cancer patients is associated with a poor relapse‐free survival
Authors: Kujala Jouni , Hartikainen Jaana M. , Tengström Maria , Sironen Reijo , Kosma Veli‐Matti , Mannermaa Arto
Published: June 2020

Background

High tumor mutation burden is shown to be associated with a poor clinical outcome. As the tumor‐derived fraction of circulating cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) is shown to reflect the genetic spectrum of the tumor, we examined whether the mutation burden of cfDNA could be used to predict the clinical outcomes of early‐stage breast cancer (BC) patients.

Methods

We selected a set of 79 Finnish early‐stage BC cases with a good prognosis based on traditional prognostic parameters but some of which still developed relapsed disease during follow‐up. cfDNA was isolated from the serum collected at the time of diagnosis, sequenced, and compared to matched primary tumors, clinical parameters, and survival data.

Results

High cfDNA mutation burden was associated with the poor relapse‐free survival (RFS) (P = .016, HR = 2.23, 95% Cl 1.16‐4.27) when patients were divided into high and low mutation burden according to the median number of somatic variants. A high discordance was observed between the matched tumor and cfDNA samples, thus highlighting the challenges related to the liquid biopsy of early‐stage cancer cases. Despite the low number of detected tumor‐specific variants, the presence of tumor‐specific somatic variants in the cfDNA was associated with the poor RFS (P = .009, HR = 2.31, 95% Cl 1.23‐4.31).

Conclusions

Our results confirm previously observed challenges about the accuracy of liquid biopsy‐based genotyping of early‐stage cancers and support the parallel sequencing of tumor and cfDNA while also demonstrating how the presence of tumor‐specific somatic variants and the high mutation burden in the cfDNA are both associated with the poor RFS, thus indicating the prognostic potential of liquid biopsy in the context of early‐stage cancers.
CT‐Angiography to predict outcome after indirect mitral annuloplasty in patients with functional mitral regurgitation
Authors: Rottländer Dennis , Ballof Jan , Gödde Miriel , Degen Hubertus , Ögütcü Alev , Alektorov Kirill , Chatrou Martijn , Heintzen Matthias P. , Haude Michael
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Coronary sinus (CS) based mitral annuloplasty using the Carillon device is effective in reducing functional mitral valve regurgitation (FMR). However, this positive effect might be dependent on the relation between CS and the mitral annulus.

Background

Computed tomography (CT) assessment prior to mitral valve interventions is an emerging technique to optimize patient selection.

Methods

In a retrospective analysis 30 patients underwent Carillon device implantation and received CT‐angiography prior to CS based percutaneous mitral valve repair. Patients were assigned to responders or non‐responders according to the 3‐month transthoracic echocardiographic follow‐up including quantitative mitral valve regurgitation assessment. A prototype software for CS reconstruction was used to assess distance and angle of both CS and mitral annulus planes.

Results

Comparison of the distance and angle of the CS plane and the mitral valve annulus plane showed a significant shorter distance and lower angle in the responder group implicating an impact on procedure success. Our results suggest a CS plane and MV annulus plane with a favorably distance of <7.8 mm and an optimal angle of <14.2° could be considered favorably for mitral annuloplasty using a Carillon device.

Conclusions

Distance and angle of mitral annulus and CS planes determined by three‐dimensional reconstructions of CT‐angiography might predict a reduction in echocardiographic FMR using Carillon Mitral Contour System.
Spectroelectrochemistry of Selected Substances – A Contribution to Higher Education Didactics
Authors: Habekost Achim
Published: June 2020

Die zweidimensionale Spektroelektrochemie von elektrochromen und elektrolumineszierenden Substanzen zeigt eine direkte Korrelation auf zwischen den Elektrodenreaktionen und Änderungen der Absorption oder Lumineszenz. Dies wird anhand der beiden Substanzen N,N,N’,N’‐Tetramethyl‐p‐phenylendiamin (Wurster's Blau) und Tris(2,2’‐bipyridyl)rutheniumchlorid [Ru(bpy)3]Cl2 demonstriert. In diesem Artikel werden vornehmlich Hochschulexperimente vorgestellt. Zusätzlich wird an zwei Beispielen aufgezeigt, dass auch mit einfacheren schulischen Mitteln das Prinzip der Spektroelektrochemie experimentell erfasst werden kann.
Carbon and Carbon Nanomaterials – Interdisciplinary Sciences Between Physics and Chemistry
Authors: Engelmann Philipp , Woest Volker
Published: June 2020

Fächerübergreifender Naturwissenschaftsunterricht wird bereits seit langem fachdidaktisch wie bildungspolitisch diskutiert. Mittlerweile finden sich integrierte Curricula in den meisten Lehrplänen in Deutschland. Der Beitrag greift die aktuelle Situation um fächerübergreifenden Unterricht auf und stellt ein Fortbildungskonzept für die Qualifikation von Lehrkräften vor. Dabei wird in Anbindung an das Modell der Didaktischen Rekonstruktion exemplarisch das Thema Kohlenstoff‐ und Kohlenstoffnanomaterialien vertieft dargestellt. Ausgehend von einer fachlichen Klärung zur Struktur des Graphens werden didaktische Strukturierungen für die Lehrkräftefortbildung vorgestellt. Dazu zählen Experimente zur Leitfähigkeit von Industrieruß und zu Verbundmaterialien auf Basis von Kohlenstofffasern.
Research on the inheritance and protection of data mining technology in national sports
Authors: Li Dongmei , Xiao Feng , Zheng Yanjun
Published: June 2020

In order to improve the ability of inheritance and protection of national sports, the association data mining model of inheritance and protection of national sports is proposed based on feature extraction of association rules. In this article, a new neural fuzzy normal form system is designed, which can perform both feature analysis and SI(sine) integration. The time series analysis model of the inheritance and protection correlation data in the national sports are constructed, the overall frame model of the inheritance and protection correlation data mining in the national sports is designed. The ability of adaptive data fusion and feature registration is improved. The simulation results show that the proposed method has good accuracy and strong ability of feature matching in the correlation data mining of inheritance and protection in national sports, and it can improve the function of inheritance and protection of national sports.
Target Protein Identification on Photocatalyst‐Functionalized Magnetic Affinity Beads
Authors: Tsushima Michihiko , Sato Shinichi , Nakane Keita , Nakamura Hiroyuki
Published: June 2020

Although various affinity chromatography and photoaffinity labeling methods have been developed for target protein identification of bioactive molecules, it is often difficult to detect proteins that bind the ligand with weak transient affinity using these techniques. We have developed single electron transfer–mediated tyrosine labeling using ruthenium photocatalysts. Proximity labeling using 1‐methyl‐4‐aryl‐urazole (MAUra) labels proteins in close proximity to the photocatalyst with high efficiency and selectivity. Performing this labeling reaction on affinity beads makes it possible to label proteins that bind the ligand with weak transient affinity. In this article, novel protocols are described for target protein identification using photocatalyst proximity labeling on ruthenium photocatalyst‐functionalized magnetic affinity beads. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol 1: Synthesis of ruthenium photocatalyst

Basic Protocol 2: Synthesis of azide‐ or desthiobiotin‐conjugated labeling reagents

Basic Protocol 3: Preparation of photocatalyst and ligand‐functionalized affinity beads

Basic Protocol 4: Target protein labeling in cell lysate

Basic Protocol 5: Enrichment of labeled proteins with MAUra‐DTB for LC‐MS/MS analysis

Basic Protocol 6: 2D‐DIGE analysis of fluorescence‐labeled proteins
Historical Controls in Randomized Clinical Trials: Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Hall Kathryn T. , Vase Lene , Tobias Deirdre K. , Dashti Hesam T. , Vollert Jan , Kaptchuk Ted J. , Cook Nancy R.
Published: June 2020

Randomized control trials (RCTs) with placebo are the gold standard for determining efficacy of novel pharmaceutical treatments. Since their inception, over 75 years ago, researchers have amassed a large body of underutilized data on outcomes in the placebo control arms of these trials. Although rare disease indications have used these historical placebo data as synthetic controls to reduce burden on patients and accelerate drug discovery, broad use of historical controls is in its infancy. Large‐scale historical placebo data could be leveraged to benefit both drug developers and patients if warehoused and made more available to guide trial design and analysis. Here, we examine challenges in utilizing historical controls related to heterogeneity in trial design, outcome ascertainment, patient characteristics, and unmeasured pharmacogenomic effects. We then discuss the advantages and disadvantages of current approaches and propose a path forward to broader use of historical controls in RCTs.
Drivers of the CSR report assurance quality: Credibility and consistency for stakeholder engagement
Authors: García‐Sánchez Isabel‐María
Published: June 2020

The objective of this paper is to determine the effect that certain internal and external factors have on the CSR report assurance quality. Among the different internal factors, firm's incentives and the effectiveness of the CEO and the board of directors will be considered. The external factors analyzed are relating to the institutional pressures at the country and sector levels, and the intrinsic characteristics of the assurer. Using a sample of the 678 largest companies in the world in the 2011–2017 period, the application of the two‐stage model confirms the supremacy of firms' incentives and the characteristics of the service provider as aspects with greater predictive capacity in the assurance quality. Results that would give the CEO, the board and institutional pressures a secondary role in corporate transparency because their effect only occurs in the absence of the two previous drivers.
Book Review
Authors: Hemmer Lynn
Published: June 2020

Crisis Leadership in Higher Education: Theory and Practice
Alternative markers for Methylnortestosterone misuse in human urine
Authors: Sakellariou Panagiotis , Kiousi Polyxeni , Fragkaki Argyro G. , Lyris Emmanouil , Petrou Michael , Georgakopoulos Costas , Angelis Yiannis S.
Published: June 2020

Methylnortestosterone is a progestin and synthetic androgenic anabolic steroid, prohibited by WADA. Methylnortestosterone misuse is commonly detected by monitoring the parent compound and its main metabolites, 17α‐methyl‐5α‐estrane‐3α, 17β‐diol (M1) and 17α‐methyl‐5β‐estrane‐3α, 17β‐diol (M2), in the glucuronide fraction. In the current study, a direct detection of methylnortestosterone sulfo‐conjugated metabolites after ethyl acetate extraction and analysis by LC/Q/TOF‐MS in negative ionization mode was performed, detecting two main sulfate metabolites (S1, S2). For the characterization of metabolites, samples from the excretion study, were additionally analyzed by GC–MS, after solvolysis and per TMS derivatization. RT and MS data collected, were compared with RT and MS data from metabolites of 17z‐methyl‐5α/β‐estrane‐3α/β, 17z‐diols structures with prefixed stereochemistry at 3 and 5 positions, synthesized through Grignard reaction from 19‐noretiocholanolone, 19‐norandrosterone and 19‐norepiandrosterone. Confirmed sulfate metabolites were S1, 17α‐methyl‐5α‐estrane‐3α, 17β‐diol 3α sulfate (detected up to 72 h) and S2, 17α‐methyl‐5β‐estrane‐3α, 17β‐diol 3α sulfate (detected up to 192 h).

Furthermore, applying targeted analysis based on RT and MS data of the synthesized metabolites two additional metabolites M3, 17β‐methyl‐5β‐estrane‐3α, 17α‐diol and M4, 17β‐methyl‐5α‐estrane‐3α, 17α‐diol were detected in the glucuronide fraction and one more metabolite (S3) 17β‐methyl‐5β‐estrane‐3α, 17α‐diol was detected in the sulfate fraction in lower abundance until the end of the excretion study (192 h). Interestingly, S2 could also be detected after the direct analysis of non‐hydrolyzed steroid by GC–MS/MS as artifact, following normal ProcIV anabolic steroid procedure and using diethylether as extraction solvent.
Generation and application of river network analogues for use in ecology and evolution
Authors: Carraro Luca , Bertuzzo Enrico , Fronhofer Emanuel A. , Furrer Reinhard , Gounand Isabelle , Rinaldo Andrea , Altermatt Florian
Published: June 2020

Several key processes in freshwater ecology are governed by the connectivity inherent to dendritic river networks. These have extensively been analyzed from a geomorphological and hydrological viewpoint, yet structures classically used in ecological modeling have been poorly representative of the structure of real river basins, often failing to capture well‐known scaling features of natural rivers. Pioneering work identified optimal channel networks (OCNs) as spanning trees reproducing all scaling features characteristic of natural stream networks worldwide. While OCNs have been used to create landscapes for studies on metapopulations, biodiversity, and epidemiology, their generation has not been generally accessible.

Given the increasing interest in dendritic riverine networks by ecologists and evolutionary biologists, we here present a method to generate OCNs and, to facilitate its application, we provide the R‐package OCNet. Owing to the stochastic process generating OCNs, multiple network replicas spanning the same surface can be built; this allows performing computational experiments whose results are irrespective of the particular shape of a single river network. The OCN construct also enables the generation of elevational gradients derived from the optimal network configuration, which can constitute three‐dimensional landscapes for spatial studies in both terrestrial and freshwater realms. Moreover, the package provides functions that aggregate OCNs into an arbitrary number of nodes, calculate several descriptors of river networks, and draw relevant network features.

We describe the main functionalities of the package and its integration with other R‐packages commonly used in spatial ecology. Moreover, we exemplify the generation of OCNs and discuss an application to a metapopulation model for an invasive riverine species.

In conclusion, OCNet provides a powerful tool to generate realistic river network analogues for various applications. It thereby allows the design of spatially realistic studies in increasingly impacted ecosystems and enhances our knowledge on spatial processes in freshwater ecology in general.
New technologies in the mix: Assessing N‐mixture models for abundance estimation using automated detection data from drone surveys
Authors: Corcoran Evangeline , Denman Simon , Hamilton Grant
Published: June 2020

Reliable estimates of abundance are critical in effectively managing threatened species, but the feasibility of integrating data from wildlife surveys completed using advanced technologies such as remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) and machine learning into abundance estimation methods such as N‐mixture modeling is largely unknown due to the unique sources of detection errors associated with these technologies.

We evaluated two modeling approaches for estimating the abundance of koalas detected automatically in RPAS imagery: (a) a generalized N‐mixture model and (b) a modified Horvitz–Thompson (H‐T) estimator method combining generalized linear models and generalized additive models for overall probability of detection, false detection, and duplicate detection. The final estimates from each model were compared to the true number of koalas present as determined by telemetry‐assisted ground surveys.

The modified H‐T estimator approach performed best, with the true count of koalas captured within the 95% confidence intervals around the abundance estimates in all 4 surveys in the testing dataset (n = 138 detected objects), a particularly strong result given the difficulty in attaining accuracy found with previous methods.

The results suggested that N‐mixture models in their current form may not be the most appropriate approach to estimating the abundance of wildlife detected in RPAS surveys with automated detection, and accurate estimates could be made with approaches that account for spurious detections.
Expanding wetland hydroperiod data via satellite imagery for ecological applications
Authors: Kissel Amanda M , Halabisky Meghan , Scherer Rick D , Ryan Maureen E , Hansen Eric C
Published: June 2020

Wetland ecosystems are highly biodiverse, essential to human health and well‐being, and in decline, yet knowledge of the natural dynamics and distributions of wetland systems is lacking globally, hindering conservation efforts. We integrated data generated from novel remote‐sensing techniques and Bayesian hierarchical modeling to estimate the daily surface area of 149 wetlands (vernal pools) over a 20‐year period. We used these data to quantify the proportion of pools found suitable for local threatened and endangered species, and we discuss how to apply these methods to help answer fundamental ecological questions. Our modeling approaches, which can be applied to many kinds of wetlands and other freshwater systems, expand our ability to understand hydrologic dynamics across scales relevant to species, populations, and ecosystems, as well as to human needs, concerns, and decision making.
Energy footprint of food: The case of corn production in Delaware
Authors: Jin Enze , Al Fahel Nicolas , Mondal Pinki , Li Hong , Archer Cristina L.
Published: June 2020

Food production is an energy‐intensive process, especially for crops and meat. However, the link between food and the energy consumed to produce it is less transparent to customers and there is a lack of energy footprint information for food production in the market. This study develops a geospatial approach for estimating the direct energy use for food production, that is, the Energy Footprint of Food (EFF), and tests it for one crop in one U.S. state, that is, field corn in Delaware. Delaware was chosen because it is a relatively small state (with only three counties) with publicly available high‐resolution geospatial datasets and with corn as the dominant crop type. We find that the energy use for field operation is the largest energy component for corn production on small farms while the drying process requires the highest energy on medium and large farms. Our results also indicate that producing corn on large and medium farms is more energy‐efficient than on small farms, although small farms consume less electricity and less groundwater for irrigation per unit corn product. Of the three counties in Delaware, Sussex has the highest energy consumption for corn production while Kent has the lowest. On average in Delaware, the corn production requires 42,789 MWh of electricity, 4.2 million gallons of diesel, 1.4 million gallons of gasoline, and 3.1 million gallons of LPG, giving an EFF of 38,171 Btu per corn bushel or 682 Btu/lb. The EFF assessment can inform consumers about the energy inputs of food and provide useful insights for stakeholders and policy makers to develop more sustainable strategies for the food industry. The novelty of this study is to develop a geospatial inventory of EFFs for corn production. Moreover, the proposed methodology is based entirely on public data and is likely generalizable to most other states and crops.
Emergency room endotracheal intubation in children with bronchiolitis: A cohort study using a multicenter database
Authors: Carter Marla R. , Khan Aamer H. , Salman Tarek , Speicher Richard , Rotta Alexandre T. , Shein Steven L.
Published: June 2020

Background and Aims

Bronchiolitis and asthma have a clinical overlap, and it has been shown that pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) patients with asthma undergoing endotracheal intubation in a community hospital emergency room (ER) have a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) and PICU length of stay (LOS) vs children undergoing intubation in a children's hospital. We aimed to determine if the setting of intubation (community vs children's hospital ER) is associated with the duration of MV and PICU LOS among children with bronchiolitis.

Methods

With IRB approval, data in the Virtual Pediatric Systems (VPS, LLC) database were queried for bronchiolitis patients <24 months of age admitted to one of 103 predominantly North American PICUs between 1/2009 and 1/2016 who had an endotracheal tube in place at PICU admission. There were no exclusion criteria. Extracted data included ER type (community/external or children's hospital/internal), demographics, and reported comorbidities. Outcomes analyzed were duration of MV and PICU LOS. Multivariable linear regression was used to evaluate if intubation location was independently associated with the outcomes of interest.

Results

Among 1934 patients, median age was 2.0 (IQR: 1.0‐4.8) months, 51% were admitted from an external ER, 41% were White, 61% were male, and 28% had ≥1 comorbidity. Median duration of MV was 6.6 (4.6‐9.5) days and the median PICU LOS was 7.0 (4.6‐10.6) days. Children who underwent endotracheal intubation in a children's hospital ER had a modestly longer duration of MV (6.7 [4.4‐9.4] vs 6.5 [5.2‐9.6] days, P < .001, Mann‐Whitney U) and longer PICU LOS (7.2 [4.8‐10.8] vs 6.9 [4.2‐10.1] days, P = .004, Mann‐Whitney U). After adjusting for confounding variables, we did not observe a significant association between the location of endotracheal intubation and duration of MV or PICU LOS.

Conclusion

In this cohort, and unlike outcomes of near‐fatal asthma, we observed that clinical outcomes of critical bronchiolitis were similar regardless of location of endotracheal intubation.
Evaluation of early relational disturbance in high‐risk populations: Borderline personality disorder features, maternal mental state, and observed interaction
Authors: Newman‐Morris Vesna , Simpson Katrina , Gray Kylie M. , Perry Natasha , Dunlop Adrian , Newman Louise K.
Published: June 2020

Despite the longstanding theoretical association in the attachment literature between maternal trauma history and disturbances in the mother–infant interaction, few studies have investigated mechanisms of transmission of traumatogenic relational patterns in high‐risk mother–infant dyads. This study investigated interrelationships among maternal trauma history, distorted maternal representations (DMRs, i.e. disturbed thoughts and feelings about the infant and self‐as‐parent), maternal mentalisation (i.e. capacity to conceive of self and other's intentions in terms of mental states including thoughts, feelings, and desires), and quality of interaction in a clinical sample of mothers with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) features and their infants (N = 61). Measures used included the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Parent Development Interview, Mother–Infant Relationship Scale, Borderline Symptom Checklist‐23, and the Emotional Availability Scales. The results indicated BPD features mediated the relationship between maternal trauma history and DMRs predicting disturbance in interaction. In addition, analyses showed that maternal mentalisation had a buffering effect between DMRs and maternal non‐hostility and yet the severity of BPD features moderated the relationship between mentalisation and DMRs. The findings suggest postpartum borderline pathology may adversely impact the experience of being a parent for women with a relational trauma history including deficits in mentalisation (i.e. hypermentalising) and disturbances in the mother–infant interaction. Implications for research and clinical practice are discussed.
Can HIV recent infection surveillance help us better understand where primary prevention efforts should be targeted? Results of three pilots integrating a recent infection testing algorithm into routine programme activities in Kenya and Zimbabwe
Authors: Rice Brian D , de Wit Mariken , Welty Susie , Risher Kathryn , Cowan Frances M , Murphy Gary , Chabata Sungai T , Waruiru Wanjiru , Magutshwa Sitholubuhle , Motoku John , Kwaro Daniel , Ochieng Benard , Reniers Georges , Rutherford George
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Surveillance of recent HIV infections in national testing services has the potential to inform primary prevention programming activities. Focusing on procedures required to accurately determine recent infection, and the potential for recent infection surveillance to inform prevention efforts, we present the results of three independent but linked pilots of recency testing.

Methods

To distinguish recently acquired HIV infection from long‐standing infection, in 2018 we applied a Recent Infection Testing Algorithm that combined a laboratory‐based Limiting Antigen Avidity Enzyme Immunoassay with clinical information (viral‐load; history of prior HIV diagnosis; antiretroviral therapy‐exposure). We explored potential misclassification of test results and analysed the characteristics of participants with recent infection. We applied the algorithm in antenatal clinics providing prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission services in Siaya County, Kenya, outreach sites serving female sex workers in Zimbabwe, and routine HIV testing and counselling facilities in Nairobi, Kenya. In Nairobi, we also conducted recency testing among partners of HIV‐positive participants.

Results

In Siaya County, 2.3% (10/426) of HIV‐positive pregnant women were classified as recent. A risk factor analysis comparing women testing recent with those testing HIV‐negative found women in their first trimester were significantly more likely to test recent than those in their second or third trimester. In Zimbabwe, 10.5% (33/313) of female sex workers testing HIV‐positive through the outreach programme were classified recent. A risk factor analysis of women testing recent versus those testing HIV‐negative, found no strong evidence of an association with recent infection. In Nairobi, among 532 HIV‐positive women and men, 8.6% (46) were classified recent. Among partners of participants, almost a quarter of those who tested HIV‐positive were classified as recent (23.8%; 5/21). In all three settings, the inclusion of clinical information helped improve the positive predictive value of recent infection testing by removing cases that were likely misclassified.

Conclusions

We successfully identified recently acquired infections among persons testing HIV‐positive in routine testing settings and highlight the importance of incorporating additional information to accurately classify recent infection. We identified a number of groups with a significantly higher proportion of recent infection, suggesting recent infection surveillance, when rolled‐out nationally, may help in further targeting primary prevention efforts.
Cost‐effectiveness of couples’ voluntary HIV counselling and testing in six African countries: a modelling study guided by an HIV prevention cascade framework
Authors: Wall Kristin M , Inambao Mubiana , Kilembe William , Karita Etienne , Chomba Elwyn , Vwalika Bellington , Mulenga Joseph , Parker Rachel , Sharkey Tyronza , Tichacek Amanda , Hunter Eric , Yohnka Robert , Streeb Gordon , Corso Phaedra S , Allen Susan
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Couples’ voluntary HIV counselling and testing (CVCT) is a high‐impact HIV prevention intervention in Rwanda and Zambia. Our objective was to model the cost‐per‐HIV infection averted by CVCT in six African countries guided by an HIV prevention cascade framework. The HIV prevention cascade as yet to be applied to evaluating CVCT effectiveness or cost‐effectiveness.

Methods

We defined a priority population for CVCT in Africa as heterosexual adults in stable couples. Based on our previous experience nationalizing CVCT in Rwanda and scaling‐up CVCT in 73 clinics in Zambia, we estimated HIV prevention cascade domains of motivation for use, access and effectiveness of CVCT as model parameters. Costs‐per‐couple tested were also estimated based on our previous studies. We used these parameters as well as country‐specific inputs to model the impact of CVCT over a five‐year time horizon in a previously developed and tested deterministic compartmental model. We consider six countries across Africa with varied HIV epidemics (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone). Outcomes of interest were the proportion of HIV infections averted by CVCT, nationwide CVCT implementation costs and costs‐per‐HIV infection averted by CVCT. We applied 3%/year discounting to costs and outcomes. Univariate and Monte Carlo multivariate sensitivity analyses were conducted.

Results

We estimated that CVCT could avert between 54% (Sierra Leone) and 62% (South Africa) of adult HIV infections. Average costs‐per‐HIV infection averted were lowest in Zimbabwe ($550) and highest in South Africa ($1272). Nationwide implementations would cost between 7% (Kenya) and 21% (Ivory Coast) of a country’s President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) budget over five years. In sensitivity analyses, model outputs were most sensitive to estimates of cost‐per‐couple tested; the proportion of adults in heterosexual couples and HIV prevention cascade domains of CVCT motivation and access.

Conclusions

Our model indicates that nationalized CVCT could prevent over half of adult HIV infections for 7% to 21% of the modelled countries’ five‐year PEPFAR budgets. While other studies have indicated that CVCT motivation is high given locally relevant promotional and educational efforts, without required indicators, targets and dedicated budgets, access remains low.
A review of HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) programmes by delivery models in the Asia‐Pacific through the healthcare accessibility framework
Authors: Lau Janice YC , Hung Chi‐Tim , Lee Shui‐Shan
Published: June 2020

Introduction

In the Asia‐Pacific, pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a newly introduced public health intervention for minimizing HIV transmission, the coverage of which has remained limited. The best delivery models and strategies for broadening access of the vulnerable communities are not fully known. This review identified PrEP programmes reported in the Asia‐Pacific, which were classified by delivery models and assessed with a healthcare accessibility framework.

Methods

We performed a literature search on PubMed and Ovid MEDLINE using relevant search terms, manual searched grey literature by visiting relevant websites, examined reference lists and contacted authors for clarification of included PrEP programmes reported through July 2019. A structured table was used for data extraction and summarizing findings in accordance with the five constructs of approachability, acceptability, availability, affordability and appropriateness grounded in the conceptual framework of Healthcare Accessibility.

Results and discussion

This literature search yielded a total of 1308 publications; 119 full texts and abstracts were screened, and 24 publications were included in the review. We identified 11 programmes implemented in seven cities/countries in the Asia‐Pacific. A typology of four PrEP delivery models was delineated: (a) fee‐based public service model; (b) fee‐based community setting model; (c) free public service model; and (d) free community setting model. Overall, the free community setting model was most commonly adopted in the Asia‐Pacific, with the strength to boost the capacity of facility and human resources, which enhanced “approachability”, “availability” and “acceptability.” The free public service model was characterized by components designed in improving “approachability,” “availability” and “appropriateness,” with attention on equity in accessing PrEP. Among free‐based models, long‐term affordability both to the government and PrEP users would need to be maximized to increase accessibility. Alongside the need for raising awareness, supportive environments and ensuring timely access were means for enabling the development of a sustainable PrEP service.

Conclusion

PrEP programmes could be classified by delivery models through the five constructs of healthcare accessibility. While the coverage of PrEP remains limited in the Asia‐Pacific, an evaluation of these models could benchmark best practices, which would in turn allow effective models to be designed.