bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phosphorus‐Containing Superbases: Recent Progress in the Chemistry of Electron‐Abundant Phosphines and Phosphazenes
Authors: Weitkamp Robin F. , Neumann Beate , Stammler Hans‐Georg , Hoge Berthold
Published: May 2021

The renaissance of Brønsted superbases is primarily based on their pronounced capacity for a large variety of chemical transformations under mild reaction conditions. Four major set screws are available for the selective tuning of the basicity: the nature of the basic center (N, P, …), the degree of electron donation by substituents to the central atom, the possibility of charge delocalization, and the energy gain by hydrogen bonding. Within the past decades, a plethora of neutral electron‐rich phosphine and phosphazene bases have appeared in the literature. Their outstanding properties and advantages over inorganic or charged bases have now made them indispensable as auxiliary bases in deprotonation processes. Herein, an update of the chemistry of basic phosphines and phosphazenes is given. In addition, due to widespread interest, their use in catalysis or as ligands in coordination chemistry is highlighted.
Clinical and prognostic implications of C‐reactive protein levels in myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries
Authors: Eggers Kai M , Baron Tomasz , Hjort Marcus , Nordenskjöld Anna M , Tornvall Per , Lindahl Bertil
Published: May 2021

Background

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a heterogeneous condition. Recent studies suggest that MINOCA patients may have a proinflammatory disposition. The role of inflammation in MINOCA may thus be distinct to myocardial infarction with significant coronary artery disease (MI‐CAD).

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that inflammation reflected by C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels might carry unique clinical information in MINOCA.

Methods

This retrospective registry‐based cohort study (SWEDEHEART) included 9916 patients with MINOCA and 97 970 MI‐CAD patients, used for comparisons. Multivariable‐adjusted regressions were applied to investigate the associations of CRP levels with clinical variables, all‐cause mortality and major cardiovascular events (MACE) during a median follow‐up of up to 5.3 years.

Results

Median admission CRP levels in patients with MINOCA and MI‐CAD were 5.0 (interquartile range 2.0–9.0) mg/dl and 5.0 (interquartile range 2.1–10.0 mg/dl), respectively. CRP levels in MINOCA exhibited independent associations with various cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities and estimates of myocardial damage. The association of CRP with peripheral artery disease tended to be stronger compared to MI‐CAD. The associations with female sex, renal dysfunction and myocardial damage were stronger in MI‐CAD. CRP independently predicted all‐cause mortality in MINOCA (hazard ratio 1.22 [95% confidence interval 1.17–1.26]), similar to MI‐CAD (p interaction = 0.904). CRP also predicted MACE (hazard ratio 1.08 [95% confidence interval 1.04–1.12]) but this association was weaker compared to MI‐CAD (p interaction<.001).

Conclusions

We found no evidence indicating the presence of a specific inflammatory pattern in acute MINOCA compared to MI‐CAD. However, CRP levels were independently, albeit moderately associated with adverse outcome.
Testicular involvement of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and adolescents: Diagnosis, biology, and management
Authors: Nguyen Hoa Thi Kim , Terao Michael A. , Green Daniel M. , Pui Ching‐Hon , Inaba Hiroto
Published: May 2021

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and adolescents can involve the testes at diagnosis or upon relapse. The testes were long considered pharmacologic sanctuary sites, presumably because of the blood‐testis barrier, which prevents the entry of large‐molecular‐weight compounds into the seminiferous tubule. Patients with testicular involvement were historically treated with testicular irradiation or orchiectomy. With the advent of contemporary intensive chemotherapy, including high‐dose methotrexate, vincristine/glucocorticoid pulses, and cyclophosphamide, testicular leukemia present at diagnosis can be eradicated, with the risk of testicular relapse being 2% or lower. However, the management of testicular leukemia is not well described in the recent literature and remains relevant in low‐ and middle‐income countries where testicular relapse is still experienced. Chemotherapy can effectively treat late, isolated testicular B‐cell ALL relapses without the need for irradiation or orchiectomy in patients with an early response and thereby preserve testicular function. For refractory or early‐relapse testicular leukemia, newer treatment approaches such as chimeric antigen receptor–modified T (CAR‐T) cell therapy are under investigation. The control of testicular relapse with CAR‐T cells and their penetration of the blood‐testis barrier have been reported. The outcome of pediatric ALL has been improved remarkably by controlling the disease in the bone marrow, central nervous system, and testes, and such success should be extended globally.

Lay Summary

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and adolescents can involve the testes at diagnosis or upon relapse.

Modern intensive chemotherapy has largely eradicated testicular relapse in high‐income countries. Consequently, most current clinicians are not familiar with how to manage it if it does occur, and testicular relapse continues to be a significant problem in low‐ and middle‐income countries that have not had access to modern intensive chemotherapy.

The authors review the historical progress made in eradicating testicular ALL and use the lessons learned to make recommendations for treatment.
Thalamic reticular nucleus in Alligator mississippiensis: Soma and dendritic morphology
Authors: Pritz Michael B.
Published: May 2021

The thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) is a critical structure influencing information transfer to the forebrain. In crocodilians, the TRN shares many features with its mammalian counterpart. One area that has not been explored is how individual neurons in the crocodilian TRN compare with those found in mammals. In mammals, TRN neurons are aligned parallel to the external border of the dorsal thalamus, have their dendrites oriented perpendicular to the fibers in the internal capsule, have fine, filamentous dendritic appendages, are either bipolar or multipolar, and are commonly considered to be a homogeneous morphological population of cells. To investigate the cellular morphology of the TRN complex, a Golgi analysis was undertaken in Alligator mississippiensis. This study examined features that have been used in mammals. In Alligator, the four TRN divisions are the dorsal peduncular nucleus, the perireticular nucleus, the interstitial nucleus, and the neurons in the medial forebrain bundle associated with the interstitial nucleus. In crocodilians, the dorsal peduncular nucleus is homologous to the TRN of mammals. From the 1787 drawn neuron profiles in the traditional three planes of section, the following were concluded. First, neurons in each part of the TRN complex in Alligator were similar in morphology. Second, each part of the TRN complex of Alligator contained a heterogenous population of cells. These variations between the cellular morphology of the dorsal peduncular nucleus of crocodilians and the TRN of mammals are speculated to partly result from differences in forebrain organization.
Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium Guideline for the Use of Aminoglycosides Based on MT‐RNR1 Genotype
Authors: McDermott John Henry , Wolf Joshua , Hoshitsuki Keito , Huddart Rachel , Caudle Kelly E. , Whirl‐Carrillo Michelle , Steyger Peter S. , Smith Richard J. H. , Cody Neal , Rodriguez‐Antona Cristina , Klein Teri E. , Newman William G.
Published: May 2021

Aminoglycosides are widely used antibiotics with notable side effects, such as nephrotoxicity, vestibulotoxicity, and sensorineural hearing loss (cochleotoxicity). MT‐RNR1 is a gene that encodes the 12s rRNA subunit and is the mitochondrial homologue of the prokaryotic 16s rRNA. Some MT‐RNR1 variants (i.e., m.1095T>C; m.1494C>T; m.1555A>G) more closely resemble the bacterial 16s rRNA subunit and result in increased risk of aminoglycoside‐induced hearing loss. Use of aminoglycosides should be avoided in individuals with an MT‐RNR1 variant associated with an increased risk of aminoglycoside‐induced hearing loss unless the high risk of permanent hearing loss is outweighed by the severity of infection and safe or effective alternative therapies are not available. We summarize evidence from the literature supporting this association and provide therapeutic recommendations for the use of aminoglycosides based on MT‐RNR1 genotype (updates at https://cpicpgx.org/guidelines/ and www.pharmgkb.org).
A dynamic history of admixture from Mediterranean and Carpathian glacial refugia drives genomic diversity in the bank vole
Authors: Horníková Michaela , Marková Silvia , Lanier Hayley C. , Searle Jeremy B. , Kotlík Petr
Published: May 2021

Understanding the historical contributions of differing glacial refugia is key to evaluating the roles of microevolutionary forces, such as isolation, introgression, and selection in shaping genomic diversity in present‐day populations. In Europe, where both Mediterranean and extra‐Mediterranean (e.g., Carpathian) refugia of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) have been identified, mtDNA indicates that extra‐Mediterranean refugia were the main source of colonization across the species range, while Mediterranean peninsulas harbor isolated, endemic lineages. Here, we critically evaluate this hypothesis using previously generated genomic data (>6,000 SNPs) for over 800 voles, focusing on genomic contributions to bank voles in central Europe, a key geographic area in considering range‐wide colonization. The results provide clear evidence that both extra‐Mediterranean (Carpathian) and Mediterranean (Spanish, Calabrian, and Balkan) refugia contributed to the ancestry and genomic diversity of bank vole populations across Europe. Few strong barriers to dispersal and frequent admixture events in central Europe have led to a prominent mid‐latitude peak in genomic diversity. Although the genomic contribution of the centrally located Carpathian refugium predominates, populations in different parts of Europe have admixed origins from Mediterranean (28%–47%) and the Carpathian (53%–72%) sources. We suggest that the admixture from Mediterranean refugia may have provisioned adaptive southern alleles to more northern populations, facilitating the end‐glacial spread of the admixed populations and contributing to increased bank vole diversity in central Europe. This study adds critical details to the complex end‐glacial colonization history of this well‐studied organism and underscores the importance of genomic data in phylogeographic interpretation.
Expansion of rDNA and pericentromere satellite repeats in the genomes of bank voles Myodes glareolus exposed to environmental radionuclides
Authors: Jernfors Toni , Danforth John , Kesäniemi Jenni , Lavrinienko Anton , Tukalenko Eugene , Fajkus Jiří , Dvořáčková Martina , Mappes Tapio , Watts Phillip C.
Published: May 2021

Altered copy number of certain highly repetitive regions of the genome, such as satellite DNA within heterochromatin and ribosomal RNA loci (rDNA), is hypothesized to help safeguard the genome against damage derived from external stressors. We quantified copy number of the 18S rDNA and a pericentromeric satellite DNA (Msat‐160) in bank voles (Myodes glareolus) inhabiting the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (CEZ), an area that is contaminated by radionuclides and where organisms are exposed to elevated levels of ionizing radiation. We found a significant increase in 18S rDNA and Msat‐160 content in the genomes of bank voles from contaminated locations within the CEZ compared with animals from uncontaminated locations. Moreover, 18S rDNA and Msat‐160 copy number were positively correlated in the genomes of bank voles from uncontaminated, but not in the genomes of animals inhabiting contaminated, areas. These results show the capacity for local‐scale geographic variation in genome architecture and are consistent with the genomic safeguard hypothesis. Disruption of cellular processes related to genomic stability appears to be a hallmark effect in bank voles inhabiting areas contaminated by radionuclides.
Long‐term variability of blood pressure and incidence of heart failure among individuals with Type 2 diabetes
Authors: Kaze Arnaud D. , Santhanam Prasanna , Erqou Sebhat , Bertoni Alain G. , Ahima Rexford S. , Echouffo‐Tcheugui Justin B.
Published: May 2021

Aims

Data on the association of long‐term variability of blood pressure (BP) with incident heart failure (HF) in individuals with Type 2 diabetes are scarce. We evaluated this association in a large community‐based sample of adults with Type 2 diabetes.

Methods and results

A total of 4200 participants with Type 2 diabetes who had available BP measurements at four visits (baseline and 12, 24, and 36 months) in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study were included. Variability of systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) across the four visits was assessed using four metrics. Participants free of HF during the first 36 months were followed for HF events. Cox regression was used to generate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for HF. Of the 4200 participants, the average age was 59 years [standard deviation (SD): 6.8]; 58.5% were women. Over a median follow‐up of 6.7 years, 129 developed HF events. After adjusting for relevant confounders, the HR of incident HF for the highest vs. lowest quartile of SD of SBP was 1.77 (95% CI 1.01–3.09); the HR for the highest (vs. lowest) quartile of variability independent of the mean of SBP was 1.29 (95% CI 0.78–2.14). The adjusted HR for participants in the highest (compared with the lowest) quartile of SD of DBP was 1.61 (95% CI 1.01–2.59), and the adjusted HR for variability independent of the mean of DBP was 1.65 (95% CI 1.03–2.65).

Conclusions

A greater variability in SBP and DBP is independently associated with greater risk of incident HF in individuals with Type 2 diabetes.
Grading right ventricular dysfunction in left ventricular disease using echocardiography: a proof of concept using a novel multiparameter strategy
Authors: Bech‐Hanssen Odd , Astengo Marco , Fredholm Martin , Bergh Niklas , Hjalmarsson Clara , Polte Christian Lars , Ricksten Sven‐Erik , Bollano Entela
Published: May 2021

Aims

Grading right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) in patients with left ventricular (LV) disease has earned little attention. In the present study, we established an echocardiographic RVD score and investigated how increments of the score correspond to RVD at right heart catheterization.

Methods and results

We included 95 patients with LV disease consecutively referred for heart transplant or heart failure work‐up with catheterization and echocardiography within 48 h. The RVD score (5 points) included well‐known characteristics of the development from compensated to decompensated right ventricular (RV) function: pulmonary hypertension, reduced RV strain, RV area dilatation, moderate/severe tricuspid regurgitation, and increased right atrial pressure (RAP) by echocardiography. Comparing three groups with increments of RVD score [1 (mild), 2–3 (moderate), and 4–5 (severe)] showed more advanced RVD with increasing RV end‐diastolic pressure (P < 0.001) and signs of uncoupling to load (reduced ratio between RV and pulmonary artery elastance, P < 0.001) and more spherical RV shape (RV area/length, P < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for detection of severe RV (RAP ≥ 10 mmHg) showed for the RVD score an area under the curve of 0.88 compared with 0.69, 0.68, and 0.64 for RV strain, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, and fractional area change, respectively. A patient with RVD score ≥ 4 had a 6.7‐fold increase in likelihood of severe RVD, and no patient with RVD score ≤ 1 had severe RVD.

Conclusions

In this proof of concept study, a novel RVD score outperformed the widely used longitudinal parameters regarding grading of RVD severity, with a potential role for refined diagnosis, follow‐up, and prognosis assessment in heart failure patients.
A Comparison of Short-Term and Continuous Exposures in Toxicity Tests of Produced Waters, Condensate, and Crude Oil to Marine Invertebrates and Fish
Authors: Gissi Francesca , Strzelecki Joanna , Binet Monique T. , Golding Lisa A. , Adams Merrin S. , Elsdon Travis S. , Robertson Tim , Hook Sharon E.
Published: May 2021

Petroleum hydrocarbons can be discharged into the marine environment during offshore oil and gas production or as a result of oil spills, with potential impacts on marine organisms. Ecotoxicological assay durations (typically 24–96 h) used to characterize risks to exposed organisms may not always reflect realistic environmental exposure durations in a high-energy offshore environment where hydrocarbons are mixed and diluted rapidly in the water column. To investigate this, we adapted 3 sensitive toxicity tests to incorporate a short-term pulse exposure to 3 petroleum-based products: a produced water, the water-accommodated fraction (WAF) of a condensate, and a crude oil WAF. We measured 48-h mobility of the copepod Acartia sinjiensis, 72-h larval development of the sea urchin Heliocidaris tuberculata, and 48-h embryo survival and deformities of yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi, after exposure to a dilution series of each of the 3 products for 2, 4 to 12, and 24 h and for the standard duration of each toxicity test (continuous exposure). Effects on copepod survival and sea urchin larval development were significantly reduced in short-term exposures to produced water and WAFs compared to continuous exposures. Fish embryos, however, showed an increased frequency of deformities at elevated concentrations regardless of exposure duration, although there was a trend toward increased severity of deformities with continuous exposure. The results demonstrate how exposure duration alters toxic response and how incorporating relevant exposure duration to contaminants into toxicity testing may aid interpretation of more realistic effects (and hence an additional line of evidence in risk assessment) in the receiving environment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:2587–2600. © 2021 CSIRO. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Abstract

The response of marine organisms to total petroleum hydrocarbons following continuous (standard toxicity test duration, solid lines) and short-term (2 h, dashed lines) exposure. The measured responses for the copepod, sea urchin and fish were mobility, larval development and embryo development, respectively.
Vulnerability of different life stages of Sitophilus oryzae insects in stored rice grain to ozone treatment and its effect on physico‐chemical properties in rice grain
Authors: Srivastava Shubhangi , Mishra Gayatri , Mishra Hari Niwas
Published: May 2021

Ozone has emerged as a reactive gas with insecticidal activity with the capability to manage insect pests in stored grains. The study focused on the effect of moisture content with exposure time and ozone concentration in achieving mortality of different life stages of Sitophilus oryzae. The ozonation process was done with a moisture content (MC) of 12%–16%, ozone concentration of 1.0–2.0 g/m3 and exposure time of 2–6 h. The responses studied were percentage mortality of eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults. The ozone effect on rice physico‐chemical, spectral FTNIR (Fourier transform near infrared spectrophotometer), and morphological attributes (X‐ray micro CT) of optimized samples were compared with control sample. The adult stage of S. oryzae was the least vulnerable stage to the ozonation process among eggs, larvae, and pupae, whose mortality ranged from 44.13% to 99.02%. The optimized condition with the desirability of 0.99, MC of 12.31%, ozone of 1.93 g/m3, and time of exposure 5.86 h for mortality of different life stages of S. oryzae was obtained. The standard error mean and SD were in the range of 2.81–1.91 and 3.67–3.21, respectively. Protein, amylose, and MC of ozone‐treated rice had lower values in comparison to fresh rice. Microstructural changes in ozonated samples were distinct with X‐ray micro CT images and FTNIR peaks. The loss in the micro structure was attributed to the insect infestation and degradation of protein molecules due to oxidation of the disulphide bonds during ozone treatment.
Separated and overlapping neural coding of face and body identity
Authors: Foster Celia , Zhao Mintao , Bolkart Timo , Black Michael J. , Bartels Andreas , Bülthoff Isabelle
Published: May 2021

Recognising a person's identity often relies on face and body information, and is tolerant to changes in low‐level visual input (e.g., viewpoint changes). Previous studies have suggested that face identity is disentangled from low‐level visual input in the anterior face‐responsive regions. It remains unclear which regions disentangle body identity from variations in viewpoint, and whether face and body identity are encoded separately or combined into a coherent person identity representation. We trained participants to recognise three identities, and then recorded their brain activity using fMRI while they viewed face and body images of these three identities from different viewpoints. Participants' task was to respond to either the stimulus identity or viewpoint. We found consistent decoding of body identity across viewpoint in the fusiform body area, right anterior temporal cortex, middle frontal gyrus and right insula. This finding demonstrates a similar function of fusiform and anterior temporal cortex for bodies as has previously been shown for faces, suggesting these regions may play a general role in extracting high‐level identity information. Moreover, we could decode identity across fMRI activity evoked by faces and bodies in the early visual cortex, right inferior occipital cortex, right parahippocampal cortex and right superior parietal cortex, revealing a distributed network that encodes person identity abstractly. Lastly, identity decoding was consistently better when participants attended to identity, indicating that attention to identity enhances its neural representation. These results offer new insights into how the brain develops an abstract neural coding of person identity, shared by faces and bodies.
Association between aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene rs671 G>A polymorphism and alcoholic liver cirrhosis in southern Chinese Hakka population
Authors: Zeng Dehui , Huang Qingyan , Yu Zhikang , Wu Heming
Published: May 2021

Background

Alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC) endangering people's health. The association between aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene polymorphisms and ALC is not clear. To analyze the relationship between ALDH2 and ALC among Hakka population in southern China.

Methods

A total of 292 ALC patients and 278 controls were included in the study. The ALDH2 gene rs671 polymorphism was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐gene chip. Relevant information and medical records of these participants were collected.

Results

The ALC patients had higher percentage of smoking, lower prevalence of hypertension, higher level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspertate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma‐glutamyltransferase (GGT), total bile acid (TBA), total bilirubin (Tbil), and direct bilirubin (Dbil), lower level of total cholesterol (TC), high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (HDL‐C), and low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (LDL‐C) than controls. The proportions of the G/A genotype (p = 0.017), G/A plus A/A genotype (p = 0.023) and A allele (p = 0.031) were significantly higher in ALC patients than that of controls. ALC patients with G/A genotype had higher TC, HDL‐C, and Apo‐A1 than those with G/G genotype, while with A allele had higher HDL‐C, and Apo‐A1 than those with G allele. Logistic regression analysis indicated that ALDH2 SNP rs671 G/A plus A/A genotypes (A allele carriers) (OR 2.030, 95% CI 1.109–3.715, p = 0.022) in the dominant model was the risk factor for ALC.

Conclusions

ALDH2 A allele (G/A + A/A genotypes) increased the risk of developing ALC among Hakka people in southern China. The results should enrich the relevant data and provide valuable information for the future related research.
Calibration of non‐catching precipitation measurement instruments: A review
Authors: Lanza L. G. , Merlone A. , Cauteruccio A. , Chinchella E. , Stagnaro M. , Dobre M. , Garcia Izquierdo M. C. , Nielsen J. , Kjeldsen H. , Roulet Y. A. , Coppa G. , Musacchio C. , Bordianu C. , Parrondo M.
Published: May 2021

Non‐catching type gauges are the emerging class of in situ precipitation measurement instruments. For these instruments, rigorous testing and calibration are more challenging than for traditional gauges. Hydrometeors characteristics like particle size, shape, fall velocity and density must be reproduced in a controlled environment to provide the reference precipitation, instead of the equivalent water flow used for catching‐type gauges. They are generally calibrated by the manufacturers using internal procedures developed for the specific technology employed. No agreed methodology exists, and the adopted procedures are rarely traceable to internationally recognized standards. The EURAMET project 18NRM03 ‘INCIPIT’ on ‘Calibration and accuracy of non‐catching instruments to measure liquid/solid atmospheric precipitation’, funded by the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR), was initiated in 2019 to investigate calibration and accuracy issues of non‐catching measuring instruments used for liquid/solid atmospheric precipitation measurement. A survey of the existing models of non‐catching type instruments was initially performed and this paper provides an overview and a description of their working principles and the adopted calibration procedures. Both literature works and technical manuals disclosed by manufacturers are summarized and discussed, while current limitations and metrological requirements are identified.
Rapid 2D variable flip angle method for accurate and precise T1 measurements over a wide range of T1 values
Authors: Lena Beatrice , Bos Clemens , Ferrer Cyril J. , Moonen Chrit T. W. , Viergever Max A. , Bartels Lambertus W.
Published: May 2021

Purpose

To perform dynamic T1 mapping using a 2D variable flip angle (VFA) method, a correction for the slice profile effect is needed. In this work we investigated the impact of flip angle selection and excitation RF pulse profile on the performance of slice profile correction when applied to T1 mapping over a range of T1 values.

Methods

A correction of the slice profile effect is proposed, based on Bloch simulation of steady‐state signals. With this correction, Monte Carlo simulations were performed to assess the accuracy and precision of 2D VFA T1 mapping in the presence of noise, for RF pulses with time‐bandwidth products of 2, 3 and 10 and with flip angle pairs in the range [1°‐90°]. To evaluate its performance over a wide range of T1, maximum errors were calculated for six T1 values between 50 ms and 1250 ms. The method was demonstrated using in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Results

Without corrections, 2D VFA severely underestimates T1. Slice profile errors were effectively reduced with the correction based on simulations, both in vitro and in vivo. The precision and accuracy of the method depend on the nominal T1 values, the FA pair, and the RF pulse shape. FA pairs leading to <5% errors in T1 can be identified for the common RF shapes, for T1 values between 50 ms and 1250 ms.

Conclusions

2D VFA T1 mapping with Bloch‐simulation‐based correction can deliver T1 estimates that are accurate and precise to within 5% over a wide T1 range.
New computational approaches for the power dominating set problem: Set covering and the neighborhoods of zero forcing forts
Authors: Smith Logan A. , Hicks Illya V.
Published: May 2021

To monitor electrical activity throughout the power grid and mitigate outages, sensors known as phasor measurement units can installed. Due to implementation costs, it is desirable to minimize the number of sensors deployed while ensuring that the grid can be effectively monitored. This optimization problem motivates the graph theoretic power dominating set problem. In this paper, we propose a method for computing minimum power dominating sets via a set cover IP formulation and a novel constraint generation procedure. The set cover problem's constraints correspond to neighborhoods of zero forcing forts; we study their structural properties and show they can be separated with delayed row generation. In addition, we offer several computation enhancements which be be applied to our methodology as well as existing methods. The proposed and existing methods are evaluated in several computational experiments. In many of the larger test instances considered, the proposed method exhibits an order of magnitude runtime performance improvement.
On the Complexity of Computing Maximum and Minimum Min‐Cost‐Flows
Authors: Hoppmann‐Baum Kai
Published: May 2021

Consider a flow network, i.e., a directed graph where each arc has a nonnegative capacity value and an associated length, together with nonempty supply intervals for the sources and nonempty demand intervals for the sinks. The Maximum Min‐Cost‐Flow Problem (MaxMCF) is to find fixed supply and demand values within these intervals such that the optimal objective value of the induced Min‐Cost‐Flow Problem (MCF) is maximized. In this paper, we show that MaxMCF as well as its uncapacitated variant, the Maximum Transportation Problem (MaxTP), are NP‐hard. Further, we prove that MaxMCF is APX‐hard if a connectedness‐condition regarding the sources and the sinks of the flow network is dropped. Finally, we show how the Minimum Min‐Cost‐Flow Problem (MinMCF) can be solved in polynomial time.
A generic strategy to obtain semi‐analytical mesh sensitivities/velocities for tetrahedral mesh generators
Authors: Bam Campbell , Wilke Daniel N. , Kok Schalk
Published: May 2021

This article proposes a generic approach to obtain semi‐analytical mesh sensitivities and shows how to compute mesh updates for any tetrahedral mesher. The proposed strategy allows sensitivities to be computed for a given mesh or first improve an initial mesh and then compute sensitivities. The strategy is based on a modification of Persson and Strang's mesher, Distmesh, analogizing the mesh to a simple truss structure. The boundary of the mesh is maintained using Lagrangian multipoint constraints. An analytical relationship between the mesh and the boundary permits the nodes to move freely along the boundary. This links the mesh directly to the parameterized geometry. We demonstrate the approach's ability to produce accurate, smooth and continuous mesh sensitivities and update the mesh. We use the resulting sensitivities to predict mesh updates corresponding to geometry updates. Four examples are given that show the method can accurately describe linear and nonlinear convex and concave domains. An example is given that also demonstrates the ability to generate accurate mesh sensitivities for a mesh created using the third party mesher GMSH.
Associations between diet quality and obesity in a nationally representative sample of Iranian households: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Ebrahimi Sara , Leech Rebecca M. , McNaughton Sarah A. , Abdollahi Morteza , Houshiarrad Anahita , Livingstone Katherine M.
Published: May 2021

Objective

Research examining associations between diet quality and obesity in Iranian adults is limited by small and non‐representative samples. This study examined associations between two diet quality indices and obesity risk in a nationally representative sample of Iranian adults and interactions by sex and area of residence.

Methods

Data on 18,307 adults (mean age 37 [SD 15.2] years) were used from the Iranian National Survey 2001–2003. Two diet quality indices (Healthy Eating Index 2015, HEI‐2015, and Diet Quality Index International, DQI‐I) were calculated from household 24‐h dietary recalls. Multi‐level regression analyses were used to examine the association between household diet quality and individual‐level obesity risk, with interaction terms for sex and area of residence.

Results

Higher household HEI‐2015 and DQI‐I were associated with higher risk of obesity (HEI‐2015: relative risk ratio: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.05; DQI‐I: relative risk ratio: 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.02), with stronger effect sizes in adults living in rural areas.

Conclusions

Higher diet quality (HEI‐2015 and DQI‐I) was associated with higher obesity risk, which was stronger in adults living in rural areas. Due to the complexity of examining these associations in a Middle Eastern country undergoing a nutrition transition, longitudinal research is needed to confirm these findings.
The role of solar energy demand in the relationship between carbon pricing and environmental degradation: A blessing in disguise
Authors: Zaman Khalid , Aziz Abdul Rashid Abdul , Sriyanto Sriyanto , Sasmoko  , Indrianti Yasinta , Jambari Hanifah
Published: May 2021

The importance of clean energy resources in the environmental sustainability agenda (ESA) widely documents the earlier literature that emphasized the need to use renewable energy (RE) sources in mitigating high mass carbon emissions across countries. Saudi Arabia's future vision focused on establishing RE markets, especially solar electricity generation (SEG) that would likely present an alternative source to meet energy challenges and allow the country to switch its oil‐based economy to a renewable source economy by 2030. In this initiative, the present study intends to analyze the potential challenges and opportunities of SEG in a country that gives way toward a vibrant and thriving economy through green development. The study collected monthly time series data of solar energy and its potential contributors from 2010M01 to 2018M12. The study performs ex‐ante and ex‐post analysis using vector error correction estimates (VECM) and innovation accounting matrix to get parameter estimates at current and forecast settings. The study simulated the deployment of SEG under different contributory factors, including carbon taxes, emissions trading, and environmental regulations. The results show that carbon tax has a decisive role in limiting polluting industries and reducing carbon emissions. The emissions trading and SEG support the cleaner production agenda to attain its energy sustainable development goals. The environment‐related trade regulations and carbon pricing were quite visible to support the country's SEG program. The simulation results show that SEG can potentially as high as 379.224 GWh till 2030 due to possibly be increasing financial and trade regulations that could limit carbon emissions down to 21.766 kg per oil equivalent energy use per annum.
Bio‐based Eucommia ulmoides gum/low density polyethylene shape memory composites reinforced by zinc methacrylate
Authors: Wang Yan , Pei Xianqiang , Xia Lin , Zhang Zhancheng , Wang Qihua , Wang Tingmei
Published: May 2021

In this paper, we present an efficient and green extraction process for Eucommia ulmoides gum (EUG) to solve the tricky problems in separation and precipitation, providing a new idea for the industrialization of EUG extraction. Subsequently, the obtained EUG was blended with low density polyethylene (LDPE) and zinc methacrylate (ZDMA) to fabricate novel shape memory composites with both covalent and ionic crosslinking networks. It was found that the improvement in mechanical performance and enhancement in shape recovery ability of the EUG/LDPE/ZDMA composites was attributable to the Zn2+‐based ionic crosslinks. The EUG/LDPE/ZDMA shape memory composites could be candidates in the production of medical fixing materials, hot‐shrinkable tubes and packaging products. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Neural Stem Cells in the Adult Olfactory Bulb Core Generate Mature Neurons in Vivo
Authors: Defteralı Çağla , Moreno-Estellés Mireia , Crespo Carlos , Díaz-Guerra Eva , Díaz-Moreno María , Vergaño-Vera Eva , Nieto-Estévez Vanesa , Hurtado-Chong Anahí , Consiglio Antonella , Mira Helena , Vicario Carlos
Published: May 2021

Although previous studies suggest that neural stem cells (NSCs) exist in the adult olfactory bulb (OB), their location, identity, and capacity to generate mature neurons in vivo has been little explored. Here, we injected enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-expressing retroviral particles into the OB core of adult mice to label dividing cells and to track the differentiation/maturation of any neurons they might generate. EGFP-labeled cells initially expressed adult NSC markers on days 1 to 3 postinjection (dpi), including Nestin, GLAST, Sox2, Prominin-1, and GFAP. EGFP+-doublecortin (DCX) cells with a migratory morphology were also detected and their abundance increased over a 7-day period. Furthermore, EGFP-labeled cells progressively became NeuN+ neurons, they acquired neuronal morphologies, and they became immunoreactive for OB neuron subtype markers, the most abundant representing calretinin expressing interneurons. OB-NSCs also generated glial cells, suggesting they could be multipotent in vivo. Significantly, the newly generated neurons established and received synaptic contacts, and they expressed presynaptic proteins and the transcription factor pCREB. By contrast, when the retroviral particles were injected into the subventricular zone (SVZ), nearly all (98%) EGFP+-cells were postmitotic when they reached the OB core, implying that the vast majority of proliferating cells present in the OB are not derived from the SVZ. Furthermore, we detected slowly dividing label-retaining cells in this region that could correspond to the population of resident NSCs. This is the first time NSCs located in the adult OB core have been shown to generate neurons that incorporate into OB circuits in vivo.
Who funds Alzheimer's disease drug development?
Authors: Cummings Jeffrey , Bauzon Justin , Lee Garam
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Despite the increase in Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases in the United States, no new treatments have been approved in the United States since 2003. The costs associated with drug development programs are high and serve as a significant deterrent to AD therapeutic investigations. In this study, we analyze the sponsorship data for AD clinical trials conducted since 2016 to assess the fiscal support for AD clinical trials.

Methods

We analyzed the funding sources of all AD trials over the past 5 years as reported on ClinicalTrials.gov.

Results

There were 136 trials being conducted for treatments in the US AD therapeutic pipeline on the index date of this study. Among non‐prevention trials, disease‐modifying therapies (DMT) in Phase 3 were almost entirely sponsored by the biopharmaceutical industry; Phase 2 DMT trials were split between the biopharmaceutical industry and funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to academic medical centers (AMCs). The majority of prevention trials received sponsorship from public–private partnerships (PPP). Trials of symptomatic agents are equally likely to have biopharmaceutical or NIH/AMC sponsorship. Most trials with repurposed agents had NIH/AMC funding (89%). Since 2016, there has been consistent growth in the number of trials sponsored both in part and fully by NIH/AMC sources and in PPP, and there has been a reduction in biopharmaceutical company–sponsored trials.

Discussion

The number of trials supported by the biopharmaceutical industry has decreased over the past 5 years; trials supported from federal sources and PPP have increased. Repurposed compounds are mostly in Phase 2 trials and provide critical mechanistic information.
Landmarks in the management of urolithiasis
Authors: Woodhouse Christopher
Published: May 2021

Surgery for urinary tract stones has a long history – from the days of highly risky open surgery to the minimally invasive techniques used today. The author traces the events that have marked the journey.
The Kerr-Schild double copy in Lifshitz spacetime
Authors: Alkaç Gökhan , Gümüş Mehmet Kemal , Tek Mustafa
Published: May 2021

Abstract

The Kerr-Schild double copy is a map between exact solutions of general relativity and Maxwell’s theory, where the nonlinear nature of general relativity is circumvented by considering solutions in the Kerr-Schild form. In this paper, we give a general formulation, where no simplifying assumption about the background metric is made, and show that the gauge theory source is affected by a curvature term that characterizes the deviation of the background spacetime from a constant curvature spacetime. We demonstrate this effect explicitly by studying gravitational solutions with non-zero cosmological constant. We show that, when the background is flat, the constant charge density filling all space in the gauge theory that has been observed in previous works is a consequence of this curvature term. As an example of a solution with a curved background, we study the Lifshitz black hole with two different matter couplings. The curvature of the background, i.e., the Lifshitz spacetime, again yields a constant charge density; however, unlike the previous examples, it is canceled by the contribution from the matter fields. For one of the matter couplings, there remains no additional non-localized source term, providing an example for a non-vacuum gravity solution corresponding to a vacuum gauge theory solution in arbitrary dimensions.
Gravitational wave signatures from domain wall and strong first-order phase transitions in a two complex scalar extension of the Standard Model
Authors: Paul Avik , Mukhopadhyay Upala , Majumdar Debasish
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We consider a simple extension of Standard Model by adding two complex singlet scalars with a U(1) symmetry. A discrete $$ {\mathcal{Z}}_2\times {\mathcal{Z}}_2^{\prime } $$

Z
2

×

Z
2
′

symmetry is imposed in the model and the added scalars acquire a non zero vacuum expectation value (VEV) when the imposed symmetry is broken spontaneously. The real (CP even) parts of the complex scalars mix with the SM Higgs and give three physical mass eigenstates. One of these physical mass eigenstates is attributed to the SM like Higgs boson with mass 125.09 GeV. In the present scenario, domain walls are formed in the early Universe due to the breaking of discrete $$ {\mathcal{Z}}_2\times {\mathcal{Z}}_2^{\prime } $$

Z
2

×

Z
2
′

symmetry. In order to ensure the unstability of the domain wall this discrete symmetry is also explicitly broken by adding a bias potential to the Lagrangian. The unstable annihilating domain walls produce a significant amount of gravitational waves (GWs). In addition, we also explore the possibility of the production of GW emission from the strong first-order phase transition. We calculate the intensities and frequencies of each of such gravitational waves originating from two different phenomena of the early Universe namely annihilating domain walls and strong first-order phase transition. Finally, we investigate the observational signatures from these GWs at the future GW detectors such as ALIA, BBO, DECIGO, LISA, TianQin, Taiji, aLIGO, aLIGO+ and pulsar timing arrays such as SKA, IPTA, EPTA, PPTA, NANOGrav11 and NANOGrav12.5.
Operator product expansion of the non-local gluon condensate
Authors: Braun V. M. , Chetyrkin K. G. , Kniehl B. A.
Published: May 2021

Abstract

We consider the short-distance expansion of the product of two gluon field strength tensors connected by a straight-line-ordered Wilson line. The vacuum expectation value of this nonlocal operator is a common object in studies of the QCD vacuum structure, whereas its nucleon expectation value is known as the gluon quasi-parton distribution and is receiving a lot of attention as a tool to extract gluon distribution functions from lattice calculations. Extending our previous study [1], we calculate the three-loop coefficient functions of the scalar operators in the operator product expansion up to dimension four. As a by-product, the three-loop anomalous dimension of the nonlocal two-gluon operator is obtained as well.
COVID-19 in trauma: a propensity-matched analysis of COVID and non-COVID trauma patients
Authors: Yeates Eric O. , Grigorian Areg , Schellenberg Morgan , Owattanapanich Natthida , Barmparas Galinos , Margulies Daniel , Juillard Catherine , Garber Kent , Cryer Henry , Tillou Areti , Burruss Sigrid , Figueras Ryan Arthur , Mladenov Georgi , Brenner Megan , Firek Christopher , Costantini Todd , Santorelli Jarrett , Curry Terry , Wintz Diane , Biffl Walter L. , Schaffer Kathryn B. , Duncan Thomas K. , Barbaro Casey , Diaz Graal , Johnson Arianne , Chinn Justine , Naaseh Ariana , Leung Amanda , Grabar Christina , Nahmias Jeffry
Published: May 2021

Purpose

There is mounting evidence that surgical patients with COVID-19 have higher morbidity and mortality than patients without COVID-19. Infection is prevalent amongst the trauma population, but any effect of COVID-19 on trauma patients is unknown. We aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on a trauma population, hypothesizing increased mortality and pulmonary complications for COVID-19-positive (COVID) trauma patients compared to propensity-matched COVID-19-negative (non-COVID) patients.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of trauma patients presenting to 11 Level-I and II trauma centers in California between 1/1/2019–6/30/2019 and 1/1/2020–6/30/2020 was performed. A 1:2 propensity score model was used to match COVID to non-COVID trauma patients using age, blunt/penetrating mechanism, injury severity score, Glasgow Coma Scale score, systolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, and heart rate. Outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results

A total of 20,448 trauma patients were identified during the study period. 53 COVID trauma patients were matched with 106 non-COVID trauma patients. COVID patients had higher rates of mortality (9.4% vs 1.9%, p = 0.029) and pneumonia (7.5% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.011), as well as a longer mean length of stay (LOS) (7.47 vs 3.28 days, p < 0.001) and intensive care unit LOS (1.40 vs 0.80 days, p = 0.008), compared to non-COVID patients.

Conclusion

This multicenter retrospective study found increased rates of mortality and pneumonia, as well as a longer LOS, for COVID trauma patients compared to a propensity-matched cohort of non-COVID patients. Further studies are warranted to validate these findings and to elucidate the underlying pathways responsible for higher mortality in COVID trauma patients.