bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of anthropogenic habitat disturbance and Giardia duodenalis infection on a sentinel species' gut bacteria
Authors: Kuthyar Sahana , Kowalewski Martin M. , Roellig Dawn M. , Mallott Elizabeth K. , Zeng Yan , Gillespie Thomas R. , Amato Katherine R.
Published: December 2020

Habitat disturbance, a common consequence of anthropogenic land use practices, creates human–animal interfaces where humans, wildlife, and domestic species can interact. These altered habitats can influence host–microbe dynamics, leading to potential downstream effects on host physiology and health. Here, we explored the effect of ecological overlap with humans and domestic species and infection with the protozoan parasite Giardia duodenalis on the bacteria of black and gold howler monkeys (Alouatta caraya), a key sentinel species, in northeastern Argentina. Fecal samples were screened for Giardia duodenalis infection using a nested PCR reaction, and the gut bacterial community was characterized using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Habitat type was correlated with variation in A. caraya gut bacterial community composition but did not affect gut bacterial diversity. Giardia presence did not have a universal effect on A. caraya gut bacteria across habitats, perhaps due to the high infection prevalence across all habitats. However, some bacterial taxa were found to vary with Giardia infection. While A. caraya's behavioral plasticity and dietary flexibility allow them to exploit a range of habitat conditions, habitats are generally becoming more anthropogenically disturbed and, thus, less hospitable. Alterations in gut bacterial community dynamics are one possible indicator of negative health outcomes for A. caraya in these environments, since changes in host–microbe relationships due to stressors from habitat disturbance may lead to negative repercussions for host health. These dynamics are likely relevant for understanding organism responses to environmental change in other mammals.
Association between base excess and mortality in patients with congestive heart failure
Authors: Guo Wenqin , Peng Changnong , Liu Qiang , Zhao Lingyue , Guo Wenyu , Chen Xiehui , Li Lang
Published: December 2020

Aims

The relationship between baseline base excess (BE) and survival outcomes in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) is unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate this relationship based on the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care III (MIMIC‐III) database (v1.4).

Methods and results

This retrospective cohort study included 5956 adult patients with CHF from the MIMIC‐III database from 2001 to 2012. Using the Cox proportional‐hazard analysis and Kaplan–Meier plot, we evaluated the relationship between baseline BE and all‐cause death at 1 year after admission to the intensive care unit. At the 1 year follow‐up, 2104 participants (35.3%) had died. There was an association between BE and all‐cause death (log‐rank test P < 0.0001). In the Cox regression model adjusted for demographic and clinical variables, the risk of all‐cause death in the first (BE ≤ −8), second (−8 < BE ≤ −3), fourth (2 < BE ≤ 7), and fifth (BE > 7) BE groups was significantly higher than that in the third BE group (−3 < BE ≤ 2) [hazard ratio (HR) 1.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62–2.43, HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.23–1.60, HR 1.46, 95% CI 1.26–1.69, and HR 1.68, 95% 1.33–2.12, respectively]. Similar results were observed when BE was modelled as a continuous variable using a Cox regression model with a restricted cubic spline.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the existence of a U‐shaped relationship between BE and survival outcome in patients with CHF. Both low and high BE increased the risk of all‐cause mortality.
Steric and Electronic Manipulation of the Agostic and π‐Syndetic Donations in a Known Iminophosphane Ni(II) Complex Containing a Rotatable In‐Plane Aromatic Ring
Authors: Sajjad M. Arif , Schwerdtfeger Peter , Harrison John A. , Nielson Alastair J.
Published: December 2020

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that in a known nickel(II) complex containing a chelating iminophosphane ligand, where a pendant aromatic ring forms a weak agostic interaction with the metal centre, significant π‐syndetic donation is developed which establishes this kind of donation in a complex derived from experiment. Electron withdrawing and donating groups added to the carbon para to the agostic carbon do not cause the aromatic ring to rotate. Natural bond orbital (NBO) analysis shows that electron withdrawing groups cause little change to the agostic and π‐syndetic donations but electron donation switches off the π‐syndetic donation forming η1‐complexes of varying strength but which still retain a mostly unchanged agostic component. Increasing the size of the substituent ortho to the agostic carbon sequentially, cause rotation of the ring whereby the agostic donation declines slowly, the π‐syndetic donation rises followed by a rapid decline in both donations. The study shows that both donations may be manipulated where a rotatable aromatic ring is present.
Recent Developments in the Meyer‐Schuster Rearrangement
Authors: Justaud Frédéric , Hachem Ali , Grée René
Published: December 2020

The Meyer‐Schuster rearrangement is an efficient method to prepare α,β‐unsatured carbonyl compounds starting from propargylic alcohols and this review presents the remarkable progress made during the last decade in this reaction. New efficient catalytic systems have been discovered and many elegant applications have been reported for this rearrangement. To be noticed in particular are the new and efficient cascade processes affording a wide range of carbo‐ and heterocyclic molecules. Moreover, brilliant applications of this rearrangement have been described as well, in the total synthesis of complex natural products and their analogues. Finally, the first examples of aza‐Meyer‐Schuster rearrangements have been recently described as well.
Neonicotinoid Insecticides in Surface Water, Groundwater, and Wastewater Across Land-Use Gradients and Potential Effects
Authors: Berens Matthew J. , Capel Paul D. , Arnold William A.
Published: December 2020

Neonicotinoid insecticides cause adverse effects on nontarget organisms, but more information about their occurrence in surface and groundwater is needed across a range of land uses. Sixty-five sites in Minnesota, USA, representing rivers, streams, lakes, groundwater, and treated wastewater, were monitored via collection of 157 water samples to determine variability in spatiotemporal neonicotinoid concentrations. The data were used to assess relations to land use, hydrogeologic condition, and potential effects on aquatic life. Total neonicotinoid concentrations were highest in agricultural watersheds (median = 12 ng/L), followed by urban (2.9 ng/L) and undeveloped watersheds (1.9 ng/L). Clothianidin was most frequently detected in agricultural areas (detection frequency = 100%) and imidacloprid most often in urban waters (detection frequency = 97%). The seasonal trend of neonicotinoid concentrations in rivers, streams, and lakes showed that their highest concentrations coincided with spring planting and elevated streamflow. Consistently low neonicotinoid concentrations were found in shallow groundwater in agricultural regions (<1.2–16 ng/L, median = 1.4 ng/L). Treated municipal wastewater had the highest concentrations across all hydrologic compartments (12–48 ng/L, median = 19 ng/L), but neonicotinoid loads from rivers and streams (median = 4100 mg/d) were greater than in treated wastewater (700 mg/d). No samples exceeded acute aquatic-life benchmarks for individual neonicotinoids, whereas 10% of samples exceeded a chronic benchmark for neonicotinoid mixtures. Although 62% of samples contained 2 or more neonicotinoids, the observed concentrations suggest there were low acute and potential chronic risks to aquatic life. This the first study of its size in Minnesota and is critical to better understanding the drivers of wide-scale environmental contamination by neonicotinoids where urban, agricultural, and undeveloped lands are present. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1017–1033. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Odors modify emotional responses
Authors: Sabiniewicz Agnieszka , Heyne Franziska , Hummel Thomas
Published: December 2020

Basic emotions evoked by odors are predominantly related to happiness and disgust as two opposite sides of a continuum, and few studies concerned a wider spectrum of emotions. The present study aimed to investigate whether exposure to a pleasant and an unpleasant odor—compared with the odor‐neutral control condition—elicits a change in the emotional state that has a measurable effect on facial expressions in terms of four basic emotions: anger, happiness, sadness, and surprise. 167 participants were randomly divided into two groups and presented with a set of three odors per group (fish, rose, and water/peach, tar, and water), with one odor used per session. This way, each participant took part in three odor sessions that consisted of two tasks. The ‘passive task’ was to passively sniff the odor for 30 seconds; the ‘reading task’ was to stay exposed to the odor while reading out silently a short text. Participants’ facial behavior was recorded. Consistently through all time periods and both tasks, odors of fish/tar and rose/peach were noted to evoke more surprise and sadness than the presentation of water. Anger was elicited to a greater extent by the presentation of water than by the odors of fish/tar and rose/peach. None of the investigated odors evoked happiness. Interestingly, the impact of the task on facial expressions of emotions appears to be marginal. We suggest that how odors elicit emotions might be more complex than typically assumed.
Decarbonization and the Future of Gas Distributors
Authors: Makholm Jeff D.
Published: December 2020

In an industry that has witnessed little change in its basic organization and structure for over a century, gas distribution utilities have no effective replacement fuels for natural gas. If proposed state decarbonization initiatives include bans on combustion of fossil fuels, it may well mean the end of the industry as we know it. And the impact could be devastatingly costly.
Extended‐amygdala intrinsic functional connectivity networks: A population study
Authors: Berry Samuel C. , Wise Richard G. , Lawrence Andrew D. , Lancaster Thomas M.
Published: December 2020

Pre‐clinical and human neuroimaging research implicates the extended‐amygdala (ExtA) (including the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis [BST] and central nucleus of the amygdala [CeA]) in networks mediating negative emotional states associated with stress and substance‐use behaviours. The extent to which individual ExtA structures form a functionally integrated unit is controversial. We utilised a large sample (n > 1,000 healthy young adult humans) to compare the intrinsic functional connectivity networks (ICNs) of the BST and CeA using task‐free functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data from the Human Connectome Project. We assessed whether inter‐individual differences within these ICNs were related to two principal components representing negative disposition and alcohol use. Building on recent primate evidence, we tested whether within BST‐CeA intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC) was heritable and further examined co‐heritability with our principal components. We demonstrate the BST and CeA to have discrete, but largely overlapping ICNs similar to previous findings. We found no evidence that within BST—CeA iFC was heritable; however, post hoc analyses found significant BST iFC heritability with the broader superficial and centromedial amygdala regions. There were no significant correlations or co‐heritability associations with our principal components either across the ICNs or for specific BST‐Amygdala iFC. Possible differences in phenotype associations across task‐free, task‐based, and clinical fMRI are discussed, along with suggestions for more causal investigative paradigms that make use of the now well‐established ExtA ICNs.
Impact assessment of reservoir operation in the context of climate change adaptation in the Chao Phraya River basin
Authors: Padiyedath Gopalan Saritha , Hanasaki Naota , Champathong Adisorn , Tebakari Taichi
Published: December 2020

Climate change adaptation has become the current focus of research due to the remarkable potential of climate change to alter the spatial and temporal distribution of global water availability. Although reservoir operation is a potential adaptation option, earlier studies explicitly demonstrated only its historical quantitative effects. Therefore, this article evaluated the possibility of reservoir operation from an adaptation viewpoint for regulating the future flow using the H08 global hydrological model with the Chao Phraya River basin as a case study. This basin is the largest river system in Thailand and has often been affected by extreme weather challenges in the past. Future climate scenarios were constructed from the bias‐corrected outputs of three general circulation models from 2080 to 2099 under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5. The important conclusions that can be drawn from this study are as follows: (i) the operation of existing and hypothetical (i.e., construction under planning) reservoirs cannot reduce the future high flows below the channel carrying capacity, although it can increase low flows in the basin. This indicates that changes in the magnitude of future high flow due to climate change are likely to be larger than those achieved by reservoir operation and there is a need for other adaptation options. (ii) A combination of reservoir operation and afforestation was considered as an adaptation strategy, but the magnitude of the discharge reduction in the wet season was still smaller than the increase caused by warming. This further signifies the necessity of combining other structural, as well as non‐structural, measures. Overall, this adaptation approach for assessing the effect of reservoir operation in reducing the climate change impacts using H08 model can be applied not only in the study area but also in other places where climate change signals are robust.
Flow Friedel–Crafts alkylation of 1‐adamantanol with arenes using HO‐SAS as an immobilized acid catalyst
Authors: Kasakado Takayoshi , Hyodo Mamoru , Furuta Akihiro , Kamardine Aina , Ryu Ilhyong , Fukuyama Takahide
Published: December 2020

In this communication flow Friedel–Crafts alkylation was studied using hydroxy‐substituted sulfonic acid‐functionalized silica as a catalyst and 1‐adamantanol as a model substrate. The reaction of 1‐adamantanol (1a) with toluene (2a) proceeded well with 5 min of residence time at 120°C to give good yield of 1‐tolyladamantane (3a) as a 1:9 mixture of meta and para isomers. When the flow synthesis was carried out over 2.5 hr of running time, the collected five fractions contain the product 3a in 97–92% yields, suggesting the durability of the catalyst.
Use of probiotics in clinical practice with special reference to diarrheal diseases: A position statement of the Malaysian Society of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Authors: Lee Yeong‐Yeh , Leow Alex H‐R , Chai Pei‐Fan , Raja Ali Raja Affendi , Lee Way‐Seah , Goh Khean‐Lee
Published: December 2020

Probiotics comprise a large group of microorganisms, which have different properties and thus confer different benefits. The use of probiotics has shown promising results in the management of diarrheal diseases. While the availability of probiotic products has flourished in the marketplace, there is limited guidance on the selection of probiotics for clinical use. This position paper is aimed at informing clinicians about the proper selection criteria of probiotics based on current evidence on strain‐specific efficacy and safety for the management of diarrheal diseases. Members of the working group discussed issues on probiotic use in clinical practice, which were then drafted into statements. Literature to support or refute the statements were gathered through a search of medical literature from 2011 to 2020. Recommendations were formulated based on the drafted statements and evidence gathered, revised as necessary, and finalized upon agreement of all members. Twelve statements and recommendations were developed covering the areas of quality control in the manufacturing of probiotics, criteria for selection of probiotics, and established evidence for use of probiotics in diarrheal diseases in adults and children. Recommendations for the use of specific probiotic strains in clinical practice were categorized as proven and probable efficacy based on strength of evidence. Robust evidence is available to support the use of probiotics for diarrheal diseases in clinical practice. Based on the results obtained, we strongly advocate the careful evaluation of products, including manufacturing practices, strain‐specific evidence, and contraindications for at‐risk populations when choosing probiotics for use in clinical practice.
Recent progress on the chemistry of thieno[3,2‐b]quinoline derivatives (part III)
Authors: Gouda Moustafa A. , Abu‐Hashem Ameen A. , Abdelgawad Ahmed A. M.
Published: December 2020

This review describes the methods of preparation and the chemical reactivity of thieno[3,2‐b]quinolines.
Arterial Spin Labeling Applications in Pediatric and Adult Neurologic Disorders
Authors: Bambach Sven , Smith Mark , Morris P Pearse , Campeau Norbert G , Ho Mai‐Lan
Published: December 2020

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a powerful noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique that enables quantitative evaluation of brain perfusion. To optimize the clinical and research utilization of ASL, radiologists and physicists must understand the technical considerations and age‐related variations in normal and disease states. We discuss advanced applications of ASL across the lifespan, with example cases from children and adults covering a wide variety of pathologies. Through literature review and illustrated clinical cases, we highlight the subtleties as well as pitfalls of ASL interpretation. First, we review basic physical principles, techniques, and artifacts. This is followed by a discussion of normal perfusion variants based on age and physiology. The three major categories of perfusion abnormalities—hypoperfusion, hyperperfusion, and mixed patterns—are covered with an emphasis on clinical interpretation and relationship to the disease process. Major etiologies of hypoperfusion include large artery, small artery, and venous disease; other vascular conditions; global hypoxic–ischemic injury; and neurodegeneration. Hyperperfusion is characteristic of vascular malformations and tumors. Mixed perfusion patterns can be seen with epilepsy, migraine, trauma, infection/inflammation, and toxic‐metabolic encephalopathy.

Level of Evidence

4

Technical Efficacy Stage

3
Evaluation of maternal serum afamin and vitamin E levels in pregnant women with COVID‐19 and its association with composite adverse perinatal outcomes
Authors: Erol Seyit A. , Tanacan Atakan , Anuk Ali T. , Tokalioglu Eda O. , Biriken Derya , Keskin Huseyin L. , Moraloglu Ozlem T. , Yazihan Nuray , Sahin Dilek
Published: December 2020

To evaluate the maternal serum afamin and vitamin E levels in pregnant women with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and to investigate their association with composite adverse perinatal outcomes. This prospective, case‐control study consisted of 60 pregnant women with COVID‐19 infection and 36 age‐matched pregnant women without any defined risk factors. Demographic features, laboratory test results, afamin and vitamin E levels were compared between the groups. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to assess the relationship of afamin and vitamin E levels in predicting composite adverse perinatal outcomes. A correlation analysis was performed between afamin and C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels in pregnant women with COVID‐19. The obstetric complication rate was higher in the COVID‐19 group (13.3% vs. 2.8%) (p = .01). Afamin levels were higher and vitamin E levels were lower in the COVID‐19 group (p = .02 and p < .001, respectively). Vitamin E levels were lower in the COVID‐19 group for the all trimesters (p < .001, p < .001, and p = .004, respectively). Afamin levels were higher in the COVID‐19 group for the all trimesters without reaching statistical significance (p > .05). The values in the ROC curves with the best balance of sensitivity/specificity for afamin and vitamin E were 0.424 mg/l (70.6% sensitivity, 44.3% specificity) and 3.150 µg/ml (76.5% sensitivity, 58.2% specificity), respectively. A positive moderate statistically significant correlation was found between afamin and CRP levels (r = .264, p = .009). Higher afamin and lower vitamin E levels may support the elevated oxidative stress in the etiopathogenesis of COVID‐19 and the relationship with composite adverse perinatal outcomes.
The association between the level of serum 25(OH) vitamin D, obesity, and underlying diseases with the risk of developing COVID‐19 infection: A case–control study of hospitalized patients in Tehran, Iran
Authors: Abdollahi Alireza , Kamali Sarvestani Hasti , Rafat Zahra , Ghaderkhani Sara , Mahmoudi‐Aliabadi Maedeh , Jafarzadeh Bita , Mehrtash Vahid
Published: December 2020

Background and Objectives

The outbreak of COVID‐19 has created a global public health crisis. Little is known about the predisposing factors of this infection. The aim of this study was to explore an association between the serum vitamin D level, obesity, and underlying health conditions, as well as the vulnerability to COVID‐19 in the Iranian population.

Methods

We conducted a case–control study of 201 patients with coronavirus infection and 201 controls. Cases and controls were matched for age and gender. The study was carried out for 2 months (February 2020–April 2020) at Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran, Iran. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D was measured using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay method. Information containing age, gender, clinical symptoms, body mass index, computed tomography scan findings, and underlying health conditions related to each participant were elicited from health records.

Results

A significant negative correlation (p = .02) was observed between the serum vitamin D level and developing coronavirus infection. Also, the results showed that the COVID‐19 cases were more likely to be overweight than the controls (p = .023). Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and respiratory infections were found in 20.89%, 9.65%, and 6.96% of cases, respectively. These underlying health conditions were not significantly different between cases and controls (p = .81).

Conclusions

Vitamin D deficiency and obesity are two main predisposing factors associated with the vulnerability to coronavirus infection in the Iranian population.
mTOR inhibition in COVID‐19: A commentary and review of efficacy in RNA viruses
Authors: Karam Basil S. , Morris Rachel S. , Bramante Carolyn T. , Puskarich Michael , Zolfaghari Emily J. , Lotfi‐Emran Sahar , Ingraham Nicholas E. , Charles Anthony , Odde David J. , Tignanelli Christopher J.
Published: December 2020

In this commentary, we shed light on the role of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway in viral infections. The mTOR pathway has been demonstrated to be modulated in numerous RNA viruses. Frequently, inhibiting mTOR results in suppression of virus growth and replication. Recent evidence points towards modulation of mTOR in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection. We discuss the current literature on mTOR in SARS‐CoV‐2 and highlight evidence in support of a role for mTOR inhibitors in the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019.
Evaluation of serum hepatic enzyme activities in different COVID‐19 phenotypes
Authors: Liao Fan‐Lu , Peng Ding‐Hui , Chen Wei , Hu Han‐Ning , Tang Peng , Liu Yan‐Yuan , Luo Yi , Yao Tao
Published: December 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a newly emerging infectious disease. Our understanding of the clinical characteristics of liver damage and the relationship with disease severity in COVID‐19 is still limited. To investigate the serum hepatic enzyme activities in different phenotypes of COVID‐19 patients, evaluate their relationship with the illness severity and analyze the correlation of glycyrrhizin treatment and abnormal liver enzyme activities, one hundred and forty‐seven patients with COVID‐19 were enrolled in a retrospective study that investigated hepatic dysfunction. Liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), Y‐glutamyl transferase (GGT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were analyzed in these patients. Patients with diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG) treatment were further investigated. Of the 147 patients, 56 (38.1%) had abnormal ALT activity and 80 (54.4%) had abnormal AST activity. The peak of abnormal hepatic enzyme activities occurred at 3 to 6 days after on admission. Serum AST and LDH levels were elevated, while the SOD level was decreased in severe and critical patients, compared with mild cases. DG treatment may alleviate the abnormal liver enzyme activities in non‐critical COVID‐19 patients. Abnormal liver functions may be observed in patients with COVID‐19, and were associated with SARS‐CoV‐2‐induced acute liver damage. Glycyrrhizin treatment may be an effective therapeutic approach for the outcome of abnormal hepatic enzyme activities in severe COVID‐19 cases. Serum hepatic enzyme tests may reflect the illness severity and should be monitored.
Creativity and Well‐being: A Meta‐analysis
Authors: Acar Selcuk , Tadik Harun , Myers Danielle , van der Sman Carian , Uysal Recep
Published: December 2020

Creativity and well‐being are popular subjects in psychological and organizational studies. The recent literature presented mixed perspectives about the nature of the relationship between the two. Whereas the mad‐genius hypothesis, which was often explored among eminently creative individuals, seems to imply a negative relationship between the two, trends in the field of creativity, such as everyday creativity and general psychology (i.e., positive psychology) linked them positively. The present meta‐analysis study synthesized 189 effect sizes obtained from 32 samples in 26 different studies based on a total sample of 8,189. Analyses with multilevel modeling yielded a mean effect of r = .14. The moderator analysis tested the impact of age, gender, measure of creativity, measure of well‐being, stimulus type of creativity measure, and index of creativity measure. Only the creativity measure explained the variation in the study outcomes. The relationship between creativity and well‐being was significantly higher when creativity was measured by instruments focusing on creative activity and behavior (r = .22) than the divergent thinking tasks (r = .06). Those findings are discussed in terms of theoretical and practical implications.
Separation of constituents from Bergenia stracheyi (Hook. F. & Thoms.) Engl. by high‐speed countercurrent chromatography with elution mode and its antidiabetic and antioxidant in vitro evaluation
Authors: Hou Yue , Ali Iftikhar , Li Zhao , Sulaiman Atiqa , Aziz Shahid , Chen Long , Hussain Hidayat , Cui Li , Wang Daijie , Zheng Xin
Published: December 2020

Diabetes, a metabolic disorder, is caused by a high blood sugar level. Diabetes is an increasing health issue and search for potent antidiabetic agents is desirable. Owing to its ethnomedicinal value, the Himalayan perennial herb Bergenia stracheyi (Hook. f. & Thoms.) Engl. (Saxifragaceae Juss) is used to treat diabetes. Herein, an efficient high‐speed countercurrent chromatography with elution mode is reported for separation of active compounds from B. stracheyi. In current investigation, six main compounds including β‐arbutin (1), bergenin (2), 6‐O‐galloylarbutin (3), gallic acid (4), 11‐O‐galloylbergenin (5), and (‐)‐epicatechin 3‐O‐gallate (6) with above 95% purity were efficiently separated in a single run using biphasic tert‐butyl methyl ether/n‐butanol/methanol/water (1:3:1:5, v/v/v/v) solvent system. The structures of these compounds were characterized using spectral techniques and compared with the literature. Antidiabetic and antioxidant activities evaluation of the study samples showed that β‐arbutin (1) and 6‐O‐galloylarbutin (3) have a significant protective effect, especially at high dose against hydrogen peroxide induced oxidative injury. Our results might help further in‐depth phytochemical and biological evaluation studies in search of potent antidiabetic compounds from B. stracheyi.
Prognostic Significance of Pain in Parotid Gland Malignancy
Authors: Colevas Sophia , Thompson James , Glazer Tiffany , Hartig Gregory
Published: December 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

To better understand the significance of pain as a predictor of disease severity in parotid gland malignancy.

Study Design

A retrospective chart review of patients treated for primary parotid gland malignancy at our institution between 1991 and 2020 was performed.

Methods

Patient records were retrospectively reviewed and relevant clinical parameters were collected. Patients were stratified into low stage (I and II) disease and high stage (III and IV) disease groups to analyze the independent effect of pain at initial presentation on disease recurrence rate and disease‐free survival using Kaplan–Meier survival curves and an independent two‐sample t‐test.

Results

Of 154 patients evaluated, there were 69 patients in the low stage group and 80 patients in the high stage group. Thirty‐seven high stage patients presented with pain. High stage patients with pain were significantly more likely to develop disease recurrence than high stage patients without pain (58.5% [22/37] versus 33.3% [13/39], P = .022). High stage patients with pain also had significantly decreased disease‐free survival time compared to high stage patients without pain (P = .027).

Conclusion

Pain on presentation appears to be a poor prognostic factor for patients with parotid gland malignancy. For patients with demonstrated high stage disease, pain is independently associated with increased risk of recurrence and decreased disease‐free survival time.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 131:1503–1508, 2021
Healthcare Disparities in Laryngology: A Scoping Review
Authors: Feit Noah Z. , Wang Zhaorui , Demetres Michelle R. , Drenis Sotirios , Andreadis Katerina , Rameau Anaïs
Published: December 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

This scoping review aims to map out existing disparities research within the subspecialty of laryngology in order to highlight gaps in knowledge and guide future research.

Study Design

Scoping Review.

Methods

We completed a scoping review of PubMed, Ovid Embase, and the Cochrane Library for primary research focused on evaluating the existence and impact of disparities in race/ethnicity, sex/gender, insurance status, education level, income, geography, and LGBTQ identity in the context of various laryngological conditions. Publications of any design and date, performed in the United States, and focusing on the adult population exclusively were included.

Results

Of the 4,999 unique abstracts identified, 51 articles were ultimately included. The most frequently examined condition in relation to disparities was laryngeal cancer (27 of 51), followed by voice disorders (15 of 51), deglutitive disorders (eight of 51), and airway disorders (one of 51). Sources of inequity evaluated from most common to least common were race/ethnicity (43 of 51), sex/gender (39 of 51), insurance status (23 of 51), geography (23 of 51), income (21 of 51), and education level (16 of 51). No study examined the association of LGBTQ identity with inequity.

Conclusions

This scoping review highlights the limited extent of disparities research in laryngology and establishes the need for further scholarship on the impact of disparities in laryngology care. The pathologies studied were, in decreasing order of frequency: laryngeal cancer, voice disorders, deglutitive disorders, and airway disorders. Race/ethnicity and sex/gender were the most common disparities examined, with no evaluation of LGBTQ‐related care inequity.

Level of Evidence

NA Laryngoscope, 132:375–390, 2022
Posttransplant Outcomes in Older Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma Are Driven by Non–Hepatocellular Carcinoma Factors
Authors: Adeniji Nia , Arjunan Vinodhini , Prabhakar Vijay , Mannalithara Ajitha , Ghaziani Tara , Ahmed Aijaz , Kwo Paul , Nguyen Mindie , Melcher Marc L. , Busuttil Ronald W. , Florman Sander S. , Haydel Brandy , Ruiz Richard M. , Klintmalm Goran B. , Lee David D. , Burcin Taner C. , Hoteit Maarouf A. , Verna Elizabeth C. , Halazun Karim J. , Tevar Amit D. , Humar Abhinav , Chapman William C. , Vachharajani Neeta , Aucejo Federico , Nydam Trevor L. , Markmann James F. , Mobley Constance , Ghobrial Mark , Langnas Alan N. , Carney Carol A. , Berumen Jennifer , Schnickel Gabriel T. , Sudan Debra L. , Hong Johnny C. , Rana Abbas , Jones Christopher M. , Fishbein Thomas M. , Agopian Vatche , Dhanasekaran Renumathy
Published: December 2020

The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is growing in the United States, especially among the elderly. Older patients are increasingly receiving transplants as a result of HCC, but the impact of advancing age on long‐term posttransplant outcomes is not clear. To study this, we used data from the US Multicenter HCC Transplant Consortium of 4980 patients. We divided the patients into 4 groups by age at transplantation: 18 to 64 years (n = 4001), 65 to 69 years (n = 683), 70 to 74 years (n = 252), and ≥75 years (n = 44). There were no differences in HCC tumor stage, type of bridging locoregional therapy, or explant residual tumor between the groups. Older age was confirmed to be an independent and significant predictor of overall survival even after adjusting for demographic, etiologic, and cancer‐related factors on multivariable analysis. A dose‐response effect of age on survival was observed, with every 5‐year increase in age older than 50 years resulting in an absolute increase of 8.3% in the mortality rate. Competing risk analysis revealed that older patients experienced higher rates of non–HCC‐related mortality (P = 0.004), and not HCC‐related death (P = 0.24). To delineate the precise cause of death, we further analyzed a single‐center cohort of patients who received a transplant as a result of HCC (n = 302). Patients older than 65 years had a higher incidence of de novo cancer (18.1% versus 7.6%; P = 0.006) after transplantation and higher overall cancer‐related mortality (14.3% versus 6.6%; P = 0.03). Even carefully selected elderly patients with HCC have significantly worse posttransplant survival rates, which are mostly driven by non–HCC‐related causes. Minimizing immunosuppression and closer surveillance for de novo cancers can potentially improve the outcomes in elderly patients who received a transplant as a result of HCC.
Diffusion‐PEPTIDE: Distortion‐ and blurring‐free diffusion imaging with self‐navigated motion‐correction and relaxometry capabilities
Authors: Fair Merlin J. , Liao Congyu , Manhard Mary Kate , Setsompop Kawin
Published: December 2020

Purpose

To implement the time‐resolved relaxometry PEPTIDE technique into a diffusion acquisition to provide self‐navigated, distortion‐ and blurring‐free diffusion imaging that is robust to motion, while simultaneously providing T2 and mapping.

Theory and Methods

The PEPTIDE readout was implemented into a spin‐echo diffusion acquisition, enabling reconstruction of a time‐series of T2‐ and ‐weighted images, free from conventional echo planar imaging (EPI) distortion and blurring, for each diffusion‐encoding. Robustness of PEPTIDE to motion and shot‐to‐shot phase variation was examined through a deliberate motion‐corrupted diffusion experiment. Two diffusion‐relaxometry in vivo brain protocols were also examined: (1)1 × 1 × 3 mm3 across 32 diffusion directions in 20 min, (2)1.5 × 1.5 × 3.0 mm3 across 6 diffusion‐weighted images in 3.4 min. T2, , and diffusion parameter maps were calculated from these data. As initial exploration of the rich diffusion‐relaxometry data content for use in multi‐compartment modeling, PEPTIDE data were acquired of a gadolinium‐doped asparagus phantom. These datasets contained two compartments with different relaxation parameters and different diffusion orientation properties, and T2 relaxation variations across these diffusion directions were explored.

Results

Diffusion‐PEPTIDE showed the capability to provide high quality diffusion images and T2 and maps from both protocols. The reconstructions were distortion‐free, avoided potential resolution losses exceeding 100% in equivalent EPI acquisitions, and showed tolerance to nearly 30° of rotational motion. Expected variation in T2 values as a function of diffusion direction was observed in the two‐compartment asparagus phantom (P < .01), demonstrating potential to explore diffusion‐PEPTIDE data for multi‐compartment modeling.

Conclusions

Diffusion‐PEPTIDE provides highly robust diffusion and relaxometry data and offers potential for future applications in diffusion‐relaxometry multi‐compartment modeling.
Multi‐sample measurement of hyperpolarized pyruvate‐to‐lactate flux in melanoma cells
Authors: Lees Hannah , Millan Micaela , Ahamed Fayyaz , Eskandari Roozbeh , Granlund Kristin L. , Jeong Sangmoo , Keshari Kayvan R.
Published: December 2020

Hyperpolarized [1‐13C] pyruvate can be used to examine the metabolic state of cancer cells, highlighting a key metabolic characteristic of cancer: the upregulated metabolic flux to lactate, even in the presence of oxygen (Warburg effect). Thus, the rate constant of 13C exchange of pyruvate to lactate, kPL, can serve as a metabolic biomarker of cancer presence, aggressiveness and therapy response. Established in vitro hyperpolarized experiments dissolve the probe for each cell sample independently, an inefficient process that consumes excessive time and resources. Expanding on our previous development of a microcoil with greatly increased detection sensitivity (103‐fold) compared with traditional in vitro methods, we present a novel microcoil equipped with a 10‐μL vertical reservoir and an experimental protocol utilizing deuterated dissolution buffer to measure metabolic flux in multiple mass‐limited cell suspension samples using a single dissolution. This method increases efficiency and potentially reduces the methodological variability associated with hyperpolarized experiments. This technique was used to measure pyruvate‐to‐lactate flux in melanoma cells to assess BRAF‐inhibition treatment response. There was a significant reduction of kPL in BRAFV600E cells following 24 and 48 hours of treatment with 2 μM vemurafenib (P ≤ .05). This agrees with significant changes observed in the pool sizes of extracellular lactate (P ≤ .05) and glucose (P ≤ .001) following 6 and 48 hours of treatment, respectively, and a significant reduction in cell proliferation following 72 hours of treatment (P ≤ .01). BRAF inhibition had no significant effect on the metabolic flux of BRAFWT cells. These data demonstrate a 6‐8–fold increase in efficiency for the measurement of kPL in cell suspension samples compared with traditional hyperpolarized in vitro methods.
Results on approximate controllability of neutral integro‐differential stochastic system with state‐dependent delay
Authors: Dineshkumar C. , Udhayakumar R. , Vijayakumar V. , Sooppy Nisar Kottakkaran
Published: December 2020

This article is mainly focusing on the approximate controllability of neutral integro‐differential stochastic equations with state‐dependent delay. The main results of this article are proved by applying some ideas about the semigroup theory and resolvent operators. At first, the investigation about the existence of a mild solution and then we discuss the approximate controllability of the considered system. Next, we extend our study to the system with non‐local conditions. Finally, a theoretical application is presented for proving the validity of controllability results obtained.
Synthesis and characterization of polymer/V2O5 composites based on poly(2‐aminodiphenylamine)
Authors: Zenasni Mouniya , Quintero‐Jaime Andres , Benyoucef Abdelghani , Benghalem Abderezak
Published: December 2020

Hybrid materials consisting of aniline (ANI) and/or 2‐aminodiphenylamine (PD) in the presence of V2O5 nanoparticles were synthesized by in‐situ chemical oxidative polymerization in one‐step. Physicochemical and electrochemical characterization confirmed that in the structure of the composites, intercalation between the polymer chains and the V2O5 slabs occurs. Optical properties study shows that the optical band gap of poly(ANI‐co‐PD)/V2O5 is lower than poly‐PD/V2O5. Thermal stability of the composites by thermogravimetric analysis was evaluated. Composites showed electrochemical activity with improved electron‐transfer of the redox species in the polymer observed by cyclic voltammetry. These results highlight the great influence of the V2O5 sheets and the polymer composition on the hybrid materials formation and properties.
Comparative effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants versus warfarin in UK patients with atrial fibrillation and type 2 diabetes: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Rustem Gulluoglu Fatma , Souverein Patrick C. , van den Ham Hendrika A. , de Boer Anthonius , Komen Joris
Published: December 2020

Purpose

To estimate the effectiveness and safety of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) compared with warfarin in AF patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was designed, using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (August 2011–June 2018). Participants were 1‐year naïve users of DOACs or warfarin, followed from the date of first prescription of an oral anticoagulant until the end of the study period, death, discontinuation of treatment, switching to another anticoagulant, or an outcome of interest, whichever came first. Cox regression analysis was performed to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) adjusted for potential confounders.

Results

A total of 8555 patients were identified. No significant differences were found between DOACs and warfarin in the risk of stroke (adjusted HR 1.15; 95% CI 0.82–1.60), ischemic and unspecified stroke (adjusted HR 1.23; 95% CI 0.86–1.76) or haemorrhagic stroke (adjusted HR 0.75; 95% CI 0.30–1.85), and myocardial infarction (adjusted HR 1.39;95% CI 0.99–1.97). DOAC and warfarin users were comparable with respect to risk of major bleed (adjusted HR 0.83; 95% CI 0.68–1.03), intracranial bleeding (HR 0.66; 95% CI 0.34–1.30), gastrointestinal bleeding (HR 0.88; 95% CI 0.60–1.30), and bleeding on other clinically relevant sites (HR 0.89; 95% CI 0.60–1.31). In the subgroup analyses stratified by gender and diabetes severity, the risk for stroke and bleeding remained consistent.

Conclusion

DOACs are effective and safe alternatives to warfarin for the prevention of stroke in AF patients with T2DM.
Concentration‐QTc Modeling of Ozanimod’s Major Active Metabolites in Adult Healthy Subjects
Authors: Briggs Emily , Chapel Sunny , Zhang Peijin , Palmisano Maria , Tran Jonathan Q.
Published: December 2020

Ozanimod, approved by regulatory agencies in multiple countries for the treatment of adults with relapsing multiple sclerosis, is a sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator, which binds with high affinity selectively to S1P receptor subtypes 1 and 5. The relationships between plasma concentrations of ozanimod and its major active metabolites, CC112273 and CC1084037, and the QTc interval (C‐QTc) from a phase I multiple‐dose study in healthy subjects were analyzed using nonlinear mixed effects modeling. QTc was modeled linearly as the sum of a sex‐related fixed effect, baseline, and concentration‐related random effects that incorporated interindividual and residual variability. Common linear, power, and maximum effect (Emax) functions were assessed for characterizing the relationship of QTc with concentrations. Model goodness‐of‐fit and performance were evaluated by standard diagnostic tools, including a visual predictive check. The placebo‐corrected change from baseline in QTc (ΔΔQTc) was estimated based on the developed C‐QTc model using a nonparametric bootstrapping approach. QTc was better derived using a study‐specific population formula (QTcP). Among the investigated functions, an Emax function most adequately described the relationship of QTcP with concentrations. Separate models for individual analytes characterized the C‐QTcP relationship better than combined analytes models. Attributing QT prolongation independently to CC1084037 or CC112273, the upper bound of the 95% confidence interval of the predicted ΔΔQTcP was ~ 4 msec at the plateau of the Emax curves. Therefore, ΔΔQTcP is predicted to remain below 10 msec at the supratherapeutic concentrations of the major active metabolites.
Optimization of (In)GaN Heterostructures for Sensing Applications
Authors: Schneidereit Martin F. , Elnahal Ahmed R. , Iskander Paulette , Cankaya Murat , Rettig Oliver , Scholz Ferdinand
Published: December 2020

Herein, the optimization of (In)GaN heterostructures for chemical sensing is presented. The metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE)‐grown sensor consists of an InxGa1−xN quantum well (QW) placed close to the surface of a GaN substrate with a thin GaN cap layer on top. The photoluminescence (PL) wavelength of this QW is sensitive to surface potential changes and thus its optical signal is used as sensor response. Simulations are performed with nextnano to improve its sensitivity. Sensor parameters such as the cap layer thickness d, QW thickness Lz, background buffer layer doping concentration N, and indium concentration x of the QW are varied. It is found that a thin cap layer, together with high background doping and medium QW thickness, is ideal. The indium content does not show a strong influence on sensitivity. The trends found in the simulations are mostly confirmed in real‐world experiments performed in a chemical sensing setup, yet quantitative deviations exist.
Reliability Investigations of a Sensor System Embedded into Printed Circuits Boards
Authors: Janeczek Kamil , Araźna Aneta , Stęplewski Wojciech , Kościelski Marek , Lipiec Krzysztof , Liszewska Dorota , Sitek Anna
Published: December 2020

Embedded components are one of the current trends in electronics, allowing to produce more compact devices with increased functionality. Such components can be applied, among others, in fabrication devices used in the Internet‐of‐Things technology or in special industries. Therefore, their reliability plays a key role due to safety requirements and high deployment costs. Herein, the thermal reliability of a system of sensors embedded into a printed circuit board (PCB) is examined. The samples produced are exposed to temperature cycling, −40 °C/+105 °C, or high temperature/high humidity, 85 °C/85% relative humidity (RH). The quality of solder joints is evaluated on the basis of X‐ray inspection and cross sections before and after the exposure mentioned earlier. The tests show no damage to the solder joints of the samples subjected to reliability testing in high‐temperature/high‐humidity conditions, irrespective of the solder alloy used. Cracks appear after 500 cycles, −40 °C/+105 °C, in samples soldered with Sn99Cu1 and after 1000 temperature cycles in both Sn99Cu1 and LFM‐48S (SnAg3.0Cu0.5) solders. The presented results are used for efficient embedding of electronic components into PCBs. Consequently, more space is gained for other components and the size of the electronic products is minimized.