bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Awake tracheal intubation in a suspected COVID‐19 patient with critical airway obstruction
Authors: Ahmad I. , Wade S. , Langdon A. , Chamarette H. , Walsh M. , Surda P.
Published: April 2020

We report the airway management of a patient with suspected COVID‐19 with impending airway obstruction requiring urgent surgical tracheostomy. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an awake tracheal intubation in a suspected COVID‐19–positive patient. Various modifications were put in place during the awake tracheal intubation and surgical tracheostomy procedures to minimise aerosol generation from the patient, such as avoiding high‐flow nasal oxygen, establishing conscious sedation with remifentanil before commencing airway topicalisation and avoiding transtracheal local anaesthetic infiltration. A multidisciplinary team discussion before performing the case highlighted aspects of both the airway management and the surgical procedure where particular care and modifications are required. There is a lack of national and international guidance for awake tracheal intubation and tracheostomy in COVID‐19 cases. This report nevertheless addresses the key procedural modifications required.
The effect of human land use change in the Hadley Centre attribution system
Authors: Lott Fraser C. , Christidis Nikolaos , Ciavarella Andrew , Stott Peter A.
Published: April 2020

We have investigated the effects of land use on past climate change by means of a new 15‐member ensemble of the HadGEM3‐A‐N216 model, usually used for event attribution studies. This ensemble runs from 1960 to 2013, and includes natural external climate forcings with the addition of human land use changes. It supports previously‐existing ensembles, either with only natural forcings, or with all forcings (both anthropogenic and natural, including land use changes), in determining the contribution to the change in risk of extreme events made by land use change. We found a significant difference in near‐surface air temperature trends over land, attributable to the effects of human land use. The main part of the signal derives from a relative cooling in Arctic regions which closely matches that of deforestation. This cooling appears to spread by polar amplification. A similar pattern of change is seen in latent heat flux trend, but significant rainfall change is almost entirely absent.
Synthesis and characterization of thermosensitive hydrogel based on quaternized chitosan for intranasal delivery of insulin
Authors: Bahmanpour AmirHossein , Ghaffari Maryam , Milan Peiman B. , Moztarzadeh Fathollah , Mozafari Masoud
Published: April 2020

Nasal administration is a form of systemic administration in which drugs are insufflated through the nasal cavity. Steroids, nicotine replacement, antimigraine drugs, and peptide drugs are examples of the available systematically active drugs as nasal sprays. For diabetic patients who need to use insulin daily, the nasal pathway can be used as an alternative to subcutaneous injection. In this regard, intranasal insulin delivery as a user‐friendly and systemic administration has recently attracted more attention. In this study, a novel formulation consists of chitosan, chitosan quaternary ammonium salt (HTCC), and gelatin (Gel) was proposed and examined as a feasible carrier for intranasal insulin administration. First, the optimization of the chitosan–HTCC hydrogel combination has done. Afterward, Gel with various amounts blended with the chitosan–HTCC optimized samples. In the next step, swelling rate, gelation time, degradation, adhesion, and other mechanical, chemical, and biological properties of the hydrogels were studied. Finally, insulin in clinical formulation and dosage was blended with optimized thermosensitive hydrogel and the release procedure of insulin was studied with electrochemiluminescence technique. The optimal formulation (consisted of 2 wt% chitosan, 1 wt% HTCC, and 0.5 wt% Gel) showed low gelation time, uniform pore structure, and the desirable swelling rate, which were resulted in the adequate encapsulation and prolonged release of insulin in 24 H. The optimal samples released 65% of the total amount of insulin in the first 24 H, which is favorable for this study.
Using autobiographical comics to explore life stories and school experiences of pre‐service early childhood educators
Authors: McGarr Oliver , Gavaldon Guillermina , Saez de Adana Francisco
Published: April 2020

Exploring one’s life‐history in order to unearth how one’s past influences current conceptions of teaching is commonly employed in teacher education. Recognising the constructed and situated nature of autobiographical memory, this study examines autobiographical comics completed by pre‐service early childhood educators as part of the first year of pre‐service programme in Spain. Analysing the completed comics through the lens of autobiographical memory, the study found that the comics presented common general events and lifetime periods and drew on archetypal images of teaching and schools to represent their educational past. The study also found that the pre‐service students drew on a common life script representing an uncomplicated journey towards educational success. The article highlights the beliefs and assumptions that are revealed in their analysis and how teacher educators can use such resources to interrogate the social and cultural norms of the pre‐service educators.
Why close to practice is not enough: Neglecting practice in educational research
Authors: Hordern Jim
Published: April 2020

This article draws on normative conceptualisations of practice to reconsider the relationship between educational research and educational practice, enabling a critical commentary on the recent British Educational Research Association statement on close‐to‐practice research. It is argued that the portrayal of practice in the research undertaken for the BERA statement is limiting, with a tendency to view educational practice as amounting to whatever activities current practitioners are involved in. Such a view can overlook practice purposes, accountabilities and dynamics, and elevate certain forms of knowledge production that ignore core educational concerns. Instead, it is suggested, educational research should reconsider its role within a normative conception of educational practice, with the aim of making educational research more educationally meaningful.
Workers' self‐objectification and tendencies to conform to others
Authors: Baldissarri Cristina , Andrighetto Luca , Di Bernardo Gian A. , Annoni Andrea
Published: April 2020

Recent research showed that workers' self‐objectification—their self‐perception as objects rather than human beings—leads to detrimental intrapersonal consequences. In the present research, we explored whether this phenomenon may also affect interpersonal relations, by increasing workers' tendencies to conform. In a correlational study, Italian workers who perceived their work as more objectifying self‐objectified more—self‐attributed less human mental states and self‐perceive as more instrument‐like than human‐like—and, in turn, were more inclined to conform with others. The second study experimentally confirmed this pattern, showing that British workers who recalled an objectifying (vs. a non‐objectifying) work experience self‐objectified more. Self‐perception as instrument‐like was associated, in turn, with an increased tendency to adapt to others' opinions. The implications for organizational and social psychology are discussed.
Coffin‐Lowry syndrome in a girl with 46,XX,t(X;11)(p22;p15)dn: Identification of RPS6KA3 disruption by whole genome sequencing
Authors: Yamoto Kaori , Saitsu Hirotomo , Fujisawa Yasuko , Kato Fumiko , Matsubara Keiko , Fukami Maki , Kagami Masayo , Ogata Tsutomu
Published: April 2020

We report a Japanese girl with Coffin‐Lowry syndrome phenotype such as hypertelorism, hypodontia, and tapering fingers and 46,XX,t(X;11)(p22;p15)dn. Whole genome sequencing revealed RPS6KA3 disruption by the translocation, and X‐inactivation analysis indicated preferential inactivation of the normal X chromosome. The results explain the development of an X‐linked disease in this girl.
Review and Prospect: Deep Learning in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Chen Dicheng , Wang Zi , Guo Di , Orekhov Vladislav , Qu Xiaobo
Published: April 2020

Since the concept of deep learning (DL) was formally proposed in 2006, it has had a major impact on academic research and industry. Nowadays, DL provides an unprecedented way to analyze and process data with demonstrated great results in computer vision, medical imaging, natural language processing, and so forth. Herein, applications of DL in NMR spectroscopy are summarized, and a perspective for DL as an entirely new approach that is likely to transform NMR spectroscopy into a much more efficient and powerful technique in chemistry and life sciences is outlined.
Inversion of the Axial Information during Oxidative Aromatization in the Synthesis of Axially Chiral Biaryls with Organocatalysis as a Key Step
Authors: Koshino Seitaro , Takikawa Akira , Ishida Keiichi , Taniguchi Tohru , Monde Kenji , Kwon Eunsang , Umemiya Shigenobu , Hayashi Yujiro
Published: April 2020

Invited for the cover of this issue is the group of Yujiro Hayashi at the University of Tohoku University. The image depicts the spinning motion of a figure skater, which illustrates the transformation of the chiral information investigated in this work. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201905814.
Modification of Yttrium Silyl‐Bridged Amide Alkyl Complexes through Si−H/C−H Cross‐Dehydrocoupling of Silanes with a Silylamino Ligand: Synthesis, Reactivity, and Mechanism
Authors: You Qing , Zhang Jie , Zhou Xigeng
Published: April 2020

A new method for the modification of a silylamino ligand has been developed through mono and dual C(sp3)−H/Si−H cross‐dehydrocoupling with silanes. The reaction of [LY{η2‐(C,N)‐CH2Si(Me2)NSiMe3}] (L=bis(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐β‐diketiminato, L′ (1L′); L=tris(3,5‐dimethylpyrazolyl)borate, TpMe2 (1TpMe2)) with 2 equivalents of PhSiH3 in toluene gave the complexes [LY{η2‐(C,N)‐C(SiH2Ph)2Si(Me2)NSiMe3}] (L=L′ (2L’); L=TpMe2 (2TpMe2)). Moreover, 1TpMe2 reacted with the secondary silanes Ph2SiH2 and Et2SiH2 to afford the corresponding mono C−H activation products [TpMe2Y{η2‐(C,N)‐CH(SiHR2)Si(Me2)NSiMe3}] (R=Ph (4 b); R=Et (4 c)). The equimolar reaction of 1TpMe2 with PhSiH3 also produced the mono C−H activation product 4 a ([TpMe2Y{η2‐(C,N)‐CH(SiH2Ph)Si(Me2)NSiMe3}(thf)]). A study of their reactivity showed that4 a facilely reacted with 2 equivalents of benzothiazole by an unusual 1,1‐addition of the C=N bond of the benzothiazolyl unit to the Si−H bond to give the C−H/Si−H cross‐dehydrocoupling product [(TpMe2)Y{η3‐(N,N,N)‐N(SiMe3)SiMe2CH2Si(Ph)(CSC6H4N)(CHSC6H4N)}] (5). These results indicate that this modification endows the silylamino ligand with novel reactivity.
Sequential self‐catalytic reactions in the formation of hetero‐double‐helix and their self‐assembled gels by pseudoenantiomer mixtures of ethynylhelicene oligomers
Authors: Sawato Tsukasa , Yamaguchi Masahiko
Published: April 2020

A 1:1 mixture of pseudoenantiomer ethynylhelicene (P)‐pentamer and (M)‐tetramer in toluene formed hetero‐double‐helix and their self‐assembled gels. Kinetic analysis under isothermal conditions showed a complex nonlinear nature with regard to temperature changes. At 60°C, sigmoidal kinetics were observed, which disappeared after seeding with the self‐assembled gels. These findings indicate the involvement of self‐catalytic reaction I, in which a hetero‐double‐helix catalyzes the reaction to form a hetero‐double‐helix from random‐coils. At 20°C, stairwise biphasic kinetics were observed, which disappeared after seeding. This phenomenon was explained by the involvement of two reactions with sigmoidal kinetics, namely, the formation of self‐assembled gel I from hetero‐double‐helix by self‐catalytic reaction II and the formation of self‐assembled gel II by self‐catalytic reaction III. Constant‐rate temperature change experiments between 90 and 5°C showed nonsigmoidal thermal hysteresis in accordance with the involvement of sequential self‐catalytic reactions with different reaction rates.
Hydrogenation to convert CO2 to C1 chemicals: Technical comparison of different alternatives by process simulation
Authors: Barbera Elena , Mantoan Fabio , Bertucco Alberto , Bezzo Fabrizio
Published: April 2020

Carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion by catalytic reaction with hydrogen to produce different C1 chemicals is a promising strategy in view of the development of a sustainable chemical industry. In this work, two CO2 hydrogenation routes are investigated in detail, respectively syngas and formic acid syntheses. Starting from published experimental reaction data, simulation models based on a kinetic analysis were developed and implemented in Aspen Plus process simulator. The two processes are analyzed according to a number of selected technological indicators, comprising CO2 conversion, specific H2 consumption, product yield, energy duties, and carbon emissions. To extend our study, three additional CO2 conversion pathways are considered, respectively methanol, methane, and urea syntheses, whose technological performances were retrieved from similar studies available in the scientific literature. Under the assumption that H2 is available from renewable sources, our results highlight that CO2 conversion routes towards fuel compounds (ie, syngas and methane) look particularly appealing from the energy balance point of view. If non‐renewable energy is used to produce H2, the actual environmental benefits (in terms of net CO2 emissions) strongly depend on the country‐specific carbon intensity for electricity generation.
Reactor Technology Concepts for Flow Photochemistry
Authors: Rehm Thomas H.
Published: April 2020

The front cover artwork is provided by the Flow (Photo) Chemistry Group at Fraunhofer IMM. For this cover image we were inspired by the Borg, a technology‐driven species from the TV series “Star Trek”. The image shows our falling‐film microreactor as a Borg cube in space that assimilates glassware from a batch process. It illustrates the transfer from batch to continuous flow mode. Read the full text of the Review at 10.1002/cptc.201900247.
Corporate social responsibility, water management, and financial performance in the food and beverage industry
Authors: Weber Olaf , Saunders‐Hogberg Grace
Published: April 2020

Water management is an important issue for the food and beverage sector. Global media reports about conflicts between industries and stakeholders about water resources that hurt the food and beverage industry. This study addresses the gap in the knowledge about the connection between water management performance and the financial performance of companies in the food and beverage industry that exists because of a lack of empirical studies in the field of corporate water management and financial performance. Using structural equation modeling to analyze secondary corporate social performance data from KLD‐MSCI, secondary financial data from Compustat, and primary water management data, the results suggest that corporate social performance has a positive impact on water management performance and that water management performance influences the financial performance of the firms in the sample positively. We conclude that an inside‐out approach of corporate social responsibility addressing material issues, such as water in the food and beverage industry, helps to increase the financial performance in this industry. Academically, we contribute to the knowledge about the connection between water management and financial performance in the food and beverage industry. Furthermore, our results can be used by policymakers to implement standardized water indicators for the food and beverage industry. Finally, businesses can use the results of the study to improve their water‐related environmental performance.
Development of small‐diameter haptic flexible gripping forceps robot
Authors: Matsunaga Takuya , Ohnishi Kouhei , Wada Norihito , Kitagawa Yuko
Published: April 2020

Robotic technologies are being increasingly utilized for medical treatments to support surgeons and reduce the burden on patients. Flexible endoscopic surgical systems with an endoscope and flexible forceps robots are state‐of‐the‐art devices that are expected to realize more difficult and less invasive surgery. Surgeons teleoperate these flexible forceps robots as their own hands and conduct various medical tasks. The wire‐driven mechanism is applied to many flexible forceps robots to transmit the driving force to the tip of the robots in a narrow space. However, the flexible structure makes it difficult to control the wire‐driven robots and implement the haptic technologies to realize safer surgery. In this paper, a force sensor‐less, small‐diameter flexible forceps robot with the ability to transmit haptic sensation is presented. The driving part at the tip of the flexible part, composed of a small actuator with a reduction mechanism, realizes the miniaturization of the robot. Haptic information is estimated by low‐resolution position information. The bending of the flexible part with electric wires does not deteriorate the performance of the end effector. The performance of the haptic flexible forceps robot is evaluated through experiments.
Are we responding effectively to bone mineral density loss and fracture risks in people with epilepsy?
Authors: Miller Amitai S. , Ferastraoaru Victor , Tabatabaie Vafa , Gitlevich Tatyana R. , Spiegel Rebecca , Haut Sheryl R.
Published: April 2020

Objective

A 2007 study performed at Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, NY) identified high prevalence of reduced bone density in an urban population of patients with epilepsy and suggested that bone mineralization screenings should be regularly performed for these patients. We conducted a long‐term follow‐up study to determine whether bone mineral density (BMD) loss, osteoporosis, and fractures have been successfully treated or prevented.

Methods

In the current study, patients from the 2007 study who had two dual‐energy absorptiometry (DXA) scans performed at least 5 years apart were analyzed. The World Health Organization (WHO) criteria to diagnose patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis were used, and each patient's probability of developing fractures was calculated with the Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX).

Results

The median time between the first and second DXA scans for the 81 patients analyzed was 9.4 years (range 5‐14.7). The median age at the first DXA scan was 41 years (range 22‐77). Based on WHO criteria, 79.0% of patients did not have worsening of bone density, while 21.0% had new osteopenia or osteoporosis; many patients were prescribed treatment for bone loss. Older age, increased duration of anti‐epileptic drug (AED) usage, and low body mass index (BMI) were risk factors for abnormal BMDs. Based on the first DXA scan, the FRAX calculator estimated that none of the patients in this study had a 10‐year risk of more than 20% for developing major osteoporotic fracture (hip, spine, wrist, or humeral fracture). However, in this population, 11 patients (13.6%) sustained a major osteoporotic fracture after their first DXA scan.

Significance

Despite being routinely screened and frequently treated for bone mineral density loss and fracture prevention, many patients with epilepsy suffered new major osteoporotic fractures. This observation is especially important as persons with epilepsy are at high risk for falls and traumas.
Retracted: Design of multimedia blockchain privacy protection system based on distributed trusted communication
Authors: Li Daming , Liu Wenjian , Deng Lianbing , Qin Bin
Published: April 2020

Blockchain is a hash chain with chain structure formed by data blocks in chronological order. With the promotion of bitcoin, the research and application of blockchain, the underlying core technology of bitcoin, is growing rapidly, which is considered to be the fifth generation of Internet disruptive technology after mobile Internet. At present, there are various identity management applications and platforms based on blockchain, but while blockchain has gradually become the cornerstone of the value Internet, it also brings great challenges to the privacy protection needs of users. This article analyzes the privacy protection mechanism of blockchain network layer, transaction layer and application layer, including malicious node detection and access restriction technology in network layer, mixed currency technology and encryption technology in blockchain transaction layer. In this article, distributed communicable network technology and multimedia data security technology are used to build a blockchain security system. We designed the efficient system to accurately analyze the data and the information protection. The experimental results show that the proposed method has better data security guarantee ability.
Private‐sector conservation under the US Endangered Species Act: a return‐on‐investment perspective
Authors: Epanchin‐Niell Rebecca , Boyd James
Published: April 2020

The US Endangered Species Act (ESA) is an important safety net for the protection and recovery of critically imperiled species. One mechanism of the ESA is prohibitions on harming listed species and their habitat, yet the ESA does not require proactive conservation by the private sector, which is necessary for the recovery of many species. A range of ESA programs have been developed – including Candidate Conservation Agreements, Safe Harbor Agreements, and a Voluntary Prelisting Conservation Actions policy – to enhance flexibility and encourage voluntary conservation activities. But why would businesses and other private landowners voluntarily engage in proactive conservation efforts above and beyond what is required for ESA compliance? We applied a return‐on‐investment (ROI) perspective to outline sources of costs and benefits and to explore program participation incentives. This ROI perspective sheds light on the types of financial factors likely to affect private‐sector participation and program effectiveness, and points to better ways to target private‐sector engagement and design more effective programs.
Eggshell membrane powder lowers plasma triglyceride and liver total cholesterol by modulating gut microbiota and accelerating lipid metabolism in high‐fat diet‐fed mice
Authors: Ramli Nurul Shazini , Jia Huijuan , Sekine Ayumu , Lyu Weida , Furukawa Kyohei , Saito Kenji , Hasebe Yukio , Kato Hisanori
Published: April 2020

Obesity is a major global lifestyle disorder associated with gut microbiota. The health benefits of eggshell membrane (ESM) have been shown in previous reports, particularly as regards gut microbiota composition. Here, we investigated whether ESM improves lipid metabolism and alters gut microbiota in high‐fat diet‐fed mice. A total of 20 C57BL/6J mice aged 6 weeks were given either a control diet (CON), high‐fat diet (HFD), or high‐fat diet + 8% ESM powder (HESM) for 20 weeks. ESM supplementation in HFD‐fed mice reduced plasma triglycerides (TG) and liver total cholesterol (TC) and upregulated the expression of lipid metabolism genes carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A and suppressor of cytokine signaling 2. Microbiota analysis showed increased relative abundance of the anti‐obesity bacterium, Lactobacillus reuteri, at 4, 12, and 16 weeks and reduced the abundance of inflammation‐related Blautia hydrogenotrophica, Roseburia faecis, and Ruminococcus callidus at 12 and 20 weeks. ESM‐supplemented mice had increased cecal isobutyrate, negatively correlated with B. hydrogenotrophica and Parabacteroides goldsteinii abundance. The results indicate that ESM supplementation in HFD‐fed mice reduced plasma TG and liver TC, possibly through alteration of lipid metabolism gene expression and gut microbiota composition, suggesting that ESM may be effective in obesity management.
Study of molasse within the middle segment of the Bangong‐Nujiang suture zone, central Tibet: Constraints of ocean–continent transform
Authors: Hu Yiling , Liu Zhi‐Bo , Wang Genhou , Gao Jinhan , Song Yang , Zheng Ming , Li Dian
Published: April 2020

The Bangong‐Nujiang suture zone, separating the Lhasa and South Qiangtang terranes of the Tibetan Plateau, is marked by remnants of the Bangong‐Nujiang oceanic basin. In the Zanzong Co area of central Tibet, non‐marine molasse deposits of the newly identified Jingzhushan Formation record the eventual collision between these two terranes and subsequent ocean–continent transform along the middle segment of the Bangong‐Nujiang suture zone. In this contribution, it is observed that the Jingzhushan Formation, characterized by lacustrine facies and braided delta facies, rests unconformably on the underlying marine strata and ophiolite. Zircon U–Pb dating has been conducted with samples of four interlayer volcanic rocks and two sandstones from the Jingzhushan Formation. The interlayer volcanic rocks constrain the depositing age from ca. 115 to 72 Ma. Based on the youngest detrital zircon ages, the maximum depositional ages of the Jingzhushan Formation are suggested to be ca. 78 Ma. Petrographic and detrital zircon isotopic results indicate that sediments in the Jingzhushan Formation have mixed sources from the South Qiangtang terrane and the intervening Bangong‐Nujiang suture zone. Provenance analysis, together with regional data, suggests that the newly identified Jingzhushan Formation reflects continental molasse deposition in an intermontane basin during the post‐collisional stage. The development of the intermontane basin evidenced by molasse deposition of the Jingzhushan Formation reveals that the ocean–continent transform of the middle segment of the Bangong‐Nujiang Ocean had been completed in the late Early Cretaceous (ca. 115 Ma).
Loneliness is associated with risk of cognitive impairment in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe
Authors: Luchetti Martina , Terracciano Antonio , Aschwanden Damaris , Lee Ji H. , Stephan Yannick , Sutin Angelina R.
Published: April 2020

Objectives

To test whether loneliness is associated with the risk of cognitive impairment up to 11 years later in a European sample of middle‐aged and older adults. The study examines whether this association is independent of measures of social isolation, depression, and other risk factors for cognitive impairment and dementia.

Methods

Participants (N = 14 114) from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) answered a single item on loneliness at baseline and were assessed for cognitive impairment every 2‐to‐3 years for 11 years. Participants who scored at least 1.5 standard deviations below the age‐graded mean on both a memory recall task and verbal fluency task were classified as impaired. A three‐item measure of loneliness was available for a sample of respondents followed up to 4 years.

Results

Feeling lonely was associated with increased risk of incident cognitive impairment (HR = 1.31, 95%CI = 1.19‐1.44), after accounting for age, sex, education, and SHARE country strata. The association was robust but reduced in magnitude when controlling for clinical and behavioral risk factors, health‐related activity limitations, social isolation, social disengagement, and depressive symptoms. The association was not moderated by socio‐demographic factors and was also apparent when using the three‐item loneliness scale instead of the single‐item measure.

Conclusions

These findings expand the extant literature on loneliness and the risk of cognitive impairment in older adulthood. Loneliness is one modifiable factor that can be intervened prior to the development of severe impairment or dementia.
Impact of an Open Access Nationwide Treatment Model on Hepatitis C Virus Antiviral Drug Resistance
Authors: Douglas Mark W. , Tay Enoch S.E. , Wang Dao Sen , Ong Adrian T.L. , Wilson Caroline , Phu Amy , Kok Jen , Dwyer Dominic E. , Bull Rowena A. , Lloyd Andrew R. , Applegate Tanya L. , Dore Gregory J. , Howe Anita Y. , Harrigan Richard , George Jacob
Published: April 2020

Direct acting antivirals (DAAs) have revolutionized hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment, but drug resistance could undermine proposed global elimination targets. Real‐world studies are needed to inform the impact of widespread DAA treatment on antiviral resistance in the community. The prevalence and range of posttreatment resistance‐associated substitutions (RASs) was determined in Australian patients with open access to DAAs through a wide range of prescribers. NS3, NS5A, and NS5B regions were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and analyzed by population sequencing. Clinically relevant RASs were identified using online databases (ReCALL and Geno2Pheno[hcv]). Of 572 samples, 60% were from genotype 3 and 27% from genotype 1a. Ninety‐two percent of people failed a DAA regimen containing an NS5A inhibitor, including 10% with a pangenotype regimen. NS5A RASs were detected in 72% of people with genotype 1 and 80% with genotype 3. For genotype 1, there was a range of RASs across the NS5A region, while for genotype 3, the Y93H RAS predominated (72%). The prevalence of NS3 RASs was higher in people exposed to an NS3 inhibitor (35% vs. 3.9%; P < 0.0001). NS5B resistance was rare, with a single case of sofosbuvir resistance. Multiclass drug resistance was found in 33% of people exposed to both NS3 and NS5A inhibitors. Conclusion: The high prevalence of NS5A RASs among people failing DAA therapy reinforces the importance of specific retreatment regimens, ideally guided by resistance testing. The impact of multiclass drug resistance on retreatment in people exposed to both NS3 and NS5A inhibitors needs to be assessed in real‐world studies. Surveillance for increasing antiviral resistance during treatment scale‐up is essential to maintain the efficacy of current DAA regimens.
Melanin and antipredatory defenses in Daphnia dadayana under UVR exposure
Authors: Wolinski Laura , Modenutti Beatriz , Balseiro Esteban
Published: April 2020

Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exposure has potentially hazardous effects on aquatic life, even more in the southern hemisphere, which is close to ozone layer depletion. Aquatic animals living in shallow water cannot escape from UVR effects swimming down, so they have to generate other traits to confront it (i.e., enzymes or pigments). Daphnia is a worldwide freshwater genus that inhabits ponds and lakes. Daphnia dadayana inhabits shallow lakes in Patagonia presenting a yellowish carapace and a horn‐like structure in juveniles assumed for avoiding invertebrate predator attacks. We aimed to determine the effect of UVR exposure on the accumulation of melanin and if the development of the antipredatory defense affects the antioxidant response (glutathione S‐transferase [GST] activity) to UVR. We carried out laboratory experiments with treatments with and without UVR exposure measuring melanin accumulation by photographic analyses. Also, we performed an experiment to generate the antipredatory structure exposing D. dadayana indirectly to the predaceous copepod Parabroteas sarsi. Our results showed that UVR increased melanin accumulation in D. dadayana and that the morphological structure against predators did not decrease the antioxidant enzymatic defenses (GST). Our concluding remarks are that D. dadayana is a successful organism that can use its phenotypic plasticity to cope with environmental stressors such as invertebrate predators and UVR exposure with no trade‐off between these two stressors.
Scorpion venoms and associated toxins as anticancer agents: update on their application and mechanism of action
Authors: Desales‐Salazar Erasto , Khusro Ameer , Cipriano‐Salazar Moisés , Barbabosa‐Pliego Alberto , Rivas‐Caceres Raymundo Rene
Published: April 2020

Cancer remains one of the deadliest non‐infectious diseases of the 21st century, causing millions of mortalities per year worldwide. Analyses of conventional treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, have shown not only a lower therapeutic efficiency rate but also plethora of side‐effects. Considering the desperate need to identify promising anticancer agents, researchers are in quest to design and develop new tumoricidal drugs from natural sources. Over the past few years, scorpion venoms have shown exemplary roles as pivotal anticancer agents. Scorpion venoms associated metabolites, particularly toxins demonstrated in vitro anticancer attributes against diversified cell lines by inhibiting the growth and progression of the cell cycle, inhibiting metastasis by blocking ion channels such as K+ and Cl−, and/or inducing apoptosis by intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. This review sheds light not only on in vitro anticancer properties of distinct scorpion venoms and their toxins, but also on their mechanism of action for designing and developing new therapeutic drugs in future.
Hypoxic Regulation of Mitochondrial Metabolism and Mitophagy in Nucleus Pulposus Cells Is Dependent on HIF-1α–BNIP3 Axis
Authors: Madhu Vedavathi , Boneski Paige K , Silagi Elizabeth , Qiu Yunping , Kurland Irwin , Guntur Anyonya R , Shapiro Irving M , Risbud Makarand V
Published: April 2020

Nucleus pulposus (NP) cells reside in an avascular and hypoxic microenvironment of the intervertebral disc and are predominantly glycolytic due to robust HIF-1 activity. It is generally thought that NP cells contain few functional mitochondria compared with cells that rely on oxidative metabolism. Consequently, the contribution of mitochondria to NP cell metabolism and the role of hypoxia and HIF-1 in mitochondrial homeostasis is poorly understood. Using mitoQC reporter mice, we show for the first time to our knowledge that NP cell mitochondria undergo age-dependent mitophagy in vivo. Mechanistically, in vitro studies suggest that, under hypoxic conditions, mitochondria in primary NP cells undergo HIF-1α-dependent fragmentation, controlled by modulating the levels of key proteins DRP1 and OPA1 that are involved in mitochondrial fission and fusion, respectively. Seahorse assays and steady state metabolic profiling coupled with [1-2-13C]-glucose flux analysis revealed that in hypoxia, HIF-1α regulated metabolic flux through coordinating glycolysis and the mitochondrial TCA cycle interactions, thereby controlling the overall biosynthetic capacity of NP cells. We further show that hypoxia and HIF-1α trigger mitophagy in NP cells through the mitochondrial translocation of BNIP3, an inducer of receptor-mediated mitophagy. Surprisingly, however, loss of HIF-1α in vitro and analysis of NP-specific HIF-1α null mice do not show a decrease in mitophagic flux in NP cells but a compensatory increase in NIX and PINK1-Parkin pathways with higher mitochondrial number. Taken together, our studies provide novel mechanistic insights into the complex interplay between hypoxia and HIF-1α signaling on the mitochondrial metabolism and quality control in NP cells. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Matrices based on meso antibacterial framework
Authors: Sohrabnezhad Shabnam , Pourahmad Afshin , Salahshoor Mobin
Published: April 2020

In this paper, the synthesis of three types of porous materials (PMs) (porous Fe3O4, MIL‐101 metal‐organic framework (MOF), and MCM‐41 mesoporous silica) by hydrothermal method was performed. The incorporation of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was carried out after the synthesis reaction of supports in MCM‐41 and MIL‐101 MOF. Ag core@ porous Fe3O4 core–shell system was prepared via a one‐pot hydrothermal method. Ag‐MIL‐101 was obtained using Urtica dioica leaf extract as the green solvent and reducing agent. The antibacterial activity of Ag‐PM nanocomposites (NCs) was investigated on both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive bacteria. The size of the silver NPs was determined to be 12 and 30 nm in MCM‐41 and MIL‐101 MOF, respectively. The diameter of Ag core in Ag@Fe3O4 shell was ~135 nm. The antibacterial activity of Ag‐PMs was in the order Ag‐MCM‐41 > Ag‐MIL‐101 > Ag core@Fe3O4 shell. The loading percent of Ag NPs in MCM‐41 (84%) was more than that in MIL‐101 (53%) and Fe3O4 (31%). The release of Ag+ ions from Ag‐MCM‐41, Ag‐MIL‐101, and Ag@Fe3O4 NCs was 46, 2, and 1 ppm, respectively. The release of the Ag+ ions and, consequently, the antibacterial activity of NCs depend on the uniform distribution, particles size, and the absence of aggregation of Ag NPs in PMs.
Long noncoding RNAs in osteosarcoma via various signaling pathways
Authors: Han Jinming , Shen Xiaohan
Published: April 2020

Osteosarcoma is one of the most commonly seen bone malignancies with high incidence rate in both children and adults. Although the regulatory network of osteosarcoma has been greatly concerned for years, the mechanisms regarding its oncogenesis and development are still not clear. Recent discoveries have revealed that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a crucial role in the development, progression, and invasion of osteosarcoma. Deregulated expression of lncRNAs has been found to participate in the regulation of various signaling transduction pathways in osteosarcoma. This review summarized roles of lncRNAs in the pathogenesis, development, and potential therapeutic of osteosarcoma via different signaling pathways. For examples, MALAT1, CCAT2, FER1L4, LOXL1‐AS1, OIP5‐AS1, PVT1, DBH‐AS1, and AWPPH regulate PI3K/Akt signaling; AWPPH and BE503655 regulate Wnt/β‐catenin signaling; NKILA and XIST regulate NF‐κB signaling; MEG3 and SNHG12 regulate Notch signaling; FOXD2‐AS1 and LINK‐A regulate HIF‐1α signaling; GClnc1 and HOTAIR regulate P53 signaling; ZFAS1, H19, and MALAT1 regulate MAPK, Hedgehog and Rac1/JNK signaling, respectively.
Skull morphology of bottlenose dolphins from different ocean populations with emphasis on South America
Authors: Hohl Leandro S. L. , Sicuro Fernando L. , Wickert Janaína C. , Moreno Ignacio B. , Rocha‐Barbosa Oscar , Barreto André S.
Published: April 2020

The bottlenose dolphin, genus Tursiops, is cosmopolitan occurring in tropical and temperate regions, with morphological variation between and within different oceans. Since the genus' taxonomy has been under discussion for a long time, this work aimed at analyzing the cranial variability of T. truncatus from different regions of the world. Geometric Morphometrics analyses were performed in 201 skulls of adult specimens, on dorsal, ventral, and lateral views, from the Eastern North Pacific, Eastern North Atlantic, Eastern South Atlantic, and Western South Atlantic oceans. The results indicate differences between individuals that inhabit the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Within the Atlantic Ocean, there is an evident longitudinal differentiation of specimens from the eastern and western regions. A latitudinal separation was also observed, considering specimens from the North and South Atlantic Ocean. In the Western South Atlantic statistical differences were found between two morphological groups, identified as T. gephyreus (sensu Lahille, 1908) and T. truncatus, and the cross‐validation presented 98% as minimum confidence for correct classification of these two groups. The present study provides strong morphological support to consider these two lineages as separate species.
An analysis of spatiotemporal pattern for COIVD‐19 in China based on space‐time cube
Authors: Mo Chunbao , Tan Dechan , Mai Tingyu , Bei Chunhua , Qin Jian , Pang Weiyi , Zhang Zhiyong
Published: April 2020

This study seeks to examine and analyze the spatial and temporal patterns of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) outbreaks and identify the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics and changing trends of cases. Hence, local outlier analysis and emerging spatiotemporal hot spot analysis were performed to analyze the spatiotemporal clustering pattern and cold/hot spot trends of COVID‐19 cases based on space‐time cube during the period from 23 January 2020 to 24 February 2020. The main findings are as follows: (1) The outbreak had spread rapidly throughout the country within a short time and the current totality incidence rate has decreased. (2) The spatiotemporal distribution of cases was uneven. In terms of the spatiotemporal clustering pattern, Wuhan and Shiyan city were the center as both cities had high‐high clustering pattern with a surrounding unstable multiple‐type pattern in partial areas of Henan, Anhui, Jiangxi, and Hunan provinces, and Chongqing city. Those regions are continuously in the hot spot on the spatiotemporal tendency. (3) The spatiotemporal analysis technology based on the space‐time cube can analyze comprehensively the spatiotemporal pattern of epidemiological data and produce a visual output of the consequences, which can reflect intuitively the distribution and trend of data in space‐time. Therefore, the Chinese government should strengthen the prevention and control efforts in a targeted manner to cope with a highly changeable situation.
A comparative‐descriptive analysis of clinical characteristics in 2019‐coronavirus‐infected children and adults
Authors: Han Ya‐nan , Feng Zhan‐wei , Sun Li‐na , Ren Xiao‐xia , Wang Hua , Xue Yong‐ming , Wang Yi , Fang Ying
Published: April 2020

Acute respiratory disease caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (2019‐nCoV) has rapidly spread throughout China. Children and adults show a different clinical course. The purpose of the current study is to comparatively analyze the clinical characteristics of 2019‐nCoV infection in children and adults and to explore the possible causes for the discrepancies present. The medical records of 25 adults and 7 children confirmed cases of 2019‐2019‐nCoV acute respiratory diseases were reviewed retrospectively. All children were family clusters. The total adult patients were differentiated into the local residents of Wuhan, a history of travel to Wuhan and direct contact with people from Wuhan. The numbers were 14 (56%), 10 (40%), and 1 (4%), respectively. The median incubation period of children and adults was 5 days (ranged, 3‐12 days) and 4 days (ranged, 2‐12 days), respectively. Diarrhoea and/or vomiting (57.1%) were demic by World Health Organiza more common in children, whereas for adults it was myalgia or fatigue (52%). On admission, the percentage of children having pneumonia (5%, 71.4%) was roughly the same as adults (20%, 80%). A total of 20% of adults had leucopoenia, but leukocytosis was more frequently in children (28.6%, P=.014). A higher number of children had elevated creatine kinase isoenzyme (57.1% vs 4%, P=.004). Antiviral therapy was given to all adult patients but to none of the children. In summary, knowledge of these differences between children and adults will not only be helpful for the clinical diagnosis of 2019‐nCoV disease, but also for a future discussion on age‐specific coronavirus infection.
Impact of the Icelandic Low on British climate in winter
Authors: Hameed Sultan , Riaz Syed M.F.
Published: April 2020

Correlations of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) with climate variables in continental Europe are strong but weak over Britain. This article presents evidence that interannual variations of British climate are explained more successfully by variations of the Icelandic Low (IL), the northern component of the NAO. The IL changes continuously in intensity as well as position, and these variations are not represented in the NAO. Monthly values of intensity and latitude and longitude positions for the IL are estimated from gridded sea level pressure data. These are used to analyse their impact on interannual variations of winter precipitation and temperature over Britain for the period 1981–2014. It is found that the primary influence on the interannual variations of winter precipitation over Britain are the pressure and the longitude position of the IL. When the IL is deeper or situated east of its mean location, there is above normal precipitation over Britain. The primary influence on air temperature is the meridional migration of the IL; it is warmer when the IL is situated north of its mean position. The impact of the IL on precipitation and air temperature are evaluated also for Scotland, North England and South England separately.
Applying the science of learning to the teaching and learning of surgical skills: The basics of surgical education
Authors: Sullivan Maura E.
Published: April 2020

The changing climate of surgical education has led to a renewed interest in the process of learning. Research from the fields of cognitive and educational psychology, neuroscience, sociology, and behavioral economics have clear implications for the teaching and learning of psychomotor skills. This article summarizes how key learning theories impact the field of surgical education and proposes practical tips, supported by the science of learning, that can be applied to optimize resident and fellow education.
An efficient, green, and easy‐to‐scale‐up strategy for target‐oriented isolating cadinene sesquiterpenoids from Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng
Authors: Zhou Xue , Wang Jie , Sun Lifang , Xiang Anya , Shi Qinglong , Li Haichi , Zhou Dan , Ge Fahuan
Published: April 2020

A green and efficient strategy was established and optimized for target‐oriented extraction, enrichment and separation of cadinene sesquiterpenoids from Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng., using the combination of supercritical fluid extraction, molecular distillation, and industrial preparative chromatography for the first time. The extraction conditions of supercritical fluid extraction were initially optimized by orthogonal experimental design. Under the optimum conditions, the contents of 9‐oxo‐10,11‐dehydroageraphorone and 10Hβ‐9‐oxo‐ageraphorone, which were 55.00% and 6.01%, respectively, were much higher than conventional extraction methods. Then, the molecular distillation enrichment method was established and investigated by response surface methodology technology, which showed strong specificity for enriching target compounds and removing impurities from crude extracts. Under the optimum conditions of molecular distillation, total contents of cadinene sesquiterpenoids were increased to 89.19%. Finally, a total of 146 mg of 9‐oxo‐10,11‐dehydroageraphorone and 29 mg of 10Hβ‐9‐oxo‐ageraphorone were easily obtained by industrial preparative chromatography, from 200 mg of distillation fraction, with purities over 99%. The contents of target components were analyzed by HPLC, and structures of them were identified by high‐resolution MS, 1H‐NMR, and 13C‐NMR spectroscopy. These results indicate that it is a simple, effective, and eco‐friendly strategy, which is easily converted into industrial scale.
TiN@TiO2Core–Shell Nanoparticles as Plasmon‐Enhanced Photosensitizers: The Role of Hot Electron Injection
Authors: Xu Xiaohui , Dutta Aveek , Khurgin Jacob , Wei Alexander , Shalaev Vladimir M. , Boltasseva Alexandra
Published: April 2020

Metal–semiconductor heterostructures have attracted a lot of attention due to their ability to enhance photovoltaic and photocatalytic processes via plasmonic effects. Thus far, most of the proposed heterostructures are designed with noble metals and the potential of alternative plasmonic materials, such as titanium nitride (TiN), is not yet well explored. In this work, TiN@TiO2core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) are synthesized and proposed as plasmon‐enhanced photosensitizers for efficient singlet oxygen generation, with the focus on the role of hot electron injection. Excitation of dilute TiN@TiO2NP dispersions by a 700 nm femtosecond‐pulsed laser effectively converts ground‐state oxygen into singlet oxygen (1O2), driven primarily by hot electrons generated during plasmon decay at the TiN–TiO2interface and injected into the TiO2layer. Analytical calculations reveal the unique advantages of TiN–TiO2heterostructures in hot‐electron‐mediated photocatalysis. Considering the chemical inertness and low cost of TiN, TiN@TiO2NPs hold great potential as plasmonic photosensitizers for photodynamic therapy and other photocatalytic applications at red‐to‐near‐infrared wavelengths.