bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of dental complications post‐dental treatment in patients with sickle cell disease
Authors: Gusmini Monica Amorim Da Silva , De Sa Anny Clementino , Feng Changyong , Arany Szilvia
Published: November 2020

Objective

Our aim was to explore potential medical or dental indicators associated with dental complications and the utilization of emergency services in sickle cell disease (SCD), especially that clinical reports on adverse outcomes post‐dental treatment are scarce.

Materials and methods

A retrospective analysis of dental treatments of 47 eligible adults with confirmed SCD between May 2016 and October 2019. Logistic regression analysis was used whether clinical outcomes, course of dental treatment, and regularity of dental care are associated with dental complications after dental procedures and/or resulted in emergency care or hospital admissions.

Results

We identified a new, statistically significant association (p‐value = .01) between the number of prescription medications taken and complications (10%) after dental procedures. The most frequent dental procedures were tooth extractions (36%) and pain management (28%) during a non‐scheduled dental encounter (68%). The majority of cases did not participate in regular recall exams and periodical oral hygiene maintenance.

Conclusions

A higher number of prescription medications was associated with an increased risk of post‐dental complications in SCD patients. A thorough medical history, including a list of prescribed medications, and collaboration with the patient medical team are important to assess the risk of complications post‐dental procedures and the need for antibiotic prophylaxis according to the case complexity.
Quantitative trait loci for stem strength properties and lodging in two pea biparental mapping populations
Authors: Gawłowska Magdalena , Knopkiewicz Michał , Święcicki Wojciech , Boros Lech , Wawer Anna
Published: November 2020

Lodging is the major factor that determines whether pea (Pisum sativum L.) can be mechanically harvested. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the relationship between stem mechanical parameters (diameter, stem wall thickness, stiffness [rigidity], and maximum self‐weight moment [stem strength]) and lodging in pea. Three years of data on stem mechanical parameters and 2 yr of data on lodging resistance were collected on the ‘Carneval’ × ‘MP1401’ pea cultivars and Wt10245 × Wt11238 lines. Mechanical parameters were measured separately for three stem sections: lower, middle, and upper. Nine quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with stem mechanical parameters were identified in the Carneval × MP1401 genetic map. Eight QTL associated with stem mechanical parameters were identified in the Wt10245 × Wt11238 genetic map. These results confirmed QTL for lodging resistance found previously, especially in regards to located in chr5LG3 close to the A004 marker. Quantitative trait loci for stem diameter and stem strength of the upper and lower stem colocated with the Rfs marker in chr5LG3. A plant height QTL was detected close to AB141 marker, 2 cM (3.3 Mbp) from the Le gene. These results enable identification of pea genomic regions associated with agriculturally important traits and provide a foundation for further research to improve lodging resistance in pea.
Moving the dial on prenatal stress mechanisms of neurodevelopmental vulnerability to mental health problems: A personalized prevention proof of concept
Authors: Wakschlag Lauren S. , Tandon Darius , Krogh‐Jespersen Sheila , Petitclerc Amelie , Nielsen Ashley , Ghaffari Rhoozbeh , Mithal Leena , Bass Michael , Ward Erin , Berken Jonathan , Fareedi Elveena , Cummings Peter , Mestan Karen , Norton Elizabeth S. , Grobman William , Rogers John , Moskowitz Judith , Alshurafa Nabil
Published: November 2020

Prenatal stress exposure increases vulnerability to virtually all forms of psychopathology. Based on this robust evidence base, we propose a “Mental Health, Earlier” paradigm shift for prenatal stress research, which moves from the documentation of stress‐related outcomes to their prevention, with a focus on infant neurodevelopmental indicators of vulnerability to subsequent mental health problems. Achieving this requires an expansive team science approach. As an exemplar, we introduce the Promoting Healthy Brain Project (PHBP), a randomized trial testing the impact of the Wellness‐4‐2 personalized prenatal stress‐reduction intervention on stress‐related alterations in infant neurodevelopmental trajectories in the first year of life. Wellness‐4‐2 utilizes bio‐integrated stress monitoring for just‐in‐time adaptive intervention. We highlight unique challenges and opportunities this novel team science approach presents in synergizing expertise across predictive analytics, bioengineering, health information technology, prevention science, maternal–fetal medicine, neonatology, pediatrics, and neurodevelopmental science. We discuss how innovations across many areas of study facilitate this personalized preventive approach, using developmentally sensitive brain and behavioral methods to investigate whether altering children's adverse gestational exposures, i.e., maternal stress in the womb, can improve their mental health outlooks. In so doing, we seek to propel developmental SEED research towards preventive applications with the potential to reduce the pernicious effect of prenatal stress on neurodevelopment, mental health, and wellbeing.
Evolution of habitat preference in 243 species of Bent‐toed geckos (GenusCyrtodactylusGray, 1827) with a discussion of karst habitat conservation
Authors: Grismer L. Lee , Wood Perry L. , Le Minh Duc , Quah Evan S. H. , Grismer Jesse L.
Published: November 2020

Understanding the processes that underpin adaptive evolutionary shifts within major taxonomic groups has long been a research directive among many evolutionary biologists. Such phenomena are best studied in large monophyletic groups that occupy a broad range of habitats where repeated exposure to novel ecological opportunities has happened independently over time in different lineages. The gekkonid genusCyrtodactylusis just such a lineage with approximately 300 species that range from South Asia to Melanesia and occupy a vast array of habitats. Ancestral state reconstructions using a stochastic character mapping analysis of nine different habitat preferences were employed across a phylogeny composed of 76% of the known species ofCyrtodactylus. This was done in order to ascertain which habitat preference is the ancestral condition and from that condition, the transition frequency to more derived habitat preferences. The results indicate that a general habitat preference is the ancestral condition forCyrtodactylusand the frequency of transitioning from a general habitat preference to anything more specialized occurs approximately four times more often than the reverse. Species showing extreme morphological and/or ecological specializations generally do not give rise to species bearing other habitat preferences. The evolution of different habitat preferences is generally restricted to clades that tend to occur in specific geographic regions. The largest radiations in the genus occur in rocky habitats (granite and karst), indicating that the transition from a general habitat preference to a granite or karst‐dwelling life style may be ecologically uncomplicated. Two large, unrelated clades of karst‐associated species are centered in northern Indochina and the largest clade of granite‐associated species occurs on the Thai‐Malay Peninsula. Smaller, independent radiations of clades bearing other habitat preferences occur throughout the tree and across the broad distribution of the genus. With the exception of a general habitat preference, the data show that karst‐associated species far out‐number all others (29.6% vs. 0.4%–10.2%, respectively) and the common reference to karstic regions as “imperiled arcs of biodiversity” is not only misleading but potentially dangerous. Karstic regions are not simply refugia harboring the remnants of local biodiversity but are foci of speciation thatcontinueto generate the most speciose, independent, radiations across the genus. Unfortunately, karstic landscapes are some of the most imperiled and least protected habitats on the planet and these data continue to underscore the urgent need for their conservation.
Recurrent autoimmune myocarditis in a young woman during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic
Authors: Caraffa Raphael , Marcolongo Renzo , Bottio Tomaso , Rizzo Stefania , Bifulco Olimpia , Bagozzi Lorenzo , D'Onofrio Augusto , Caforio Alida L.P. , Jorgji Vjola , Basso Cristina , Gerosa Gino
Published: November 2020

We report a unique case of a young woman with recurrent immune‐mediated (virus‐negative) lymphocytic fulminant myocarditis during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. At the first endomyocardial biopsy (EMB)‐proven episode, she had concomitant pneumonia, and a temporary biventricular assist device implant was followed by complete and long‐lasting cardiac recovery. Five years later, she was re‐admitted for relapsing cardiogenic shock with a recent history of pneumonia. She was treated with extracorporeal life support with apical venting for left ventricular unloading, and full recovery was achieved. Despite negative seriate nasopharyngeal swabs and EMB during hospitalization, an antibody positivity for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 was discovered after 4 weeks from discharge. This is the first report of an EMB‐proven, immune‐mediated (virus‐negative) recurrence of fulminant myocarditis. We hypothesize that in patients with a predisposing immunogenetic background, autoimmune disease may be triggered or reactivated by major infections, for example, pneumonia, that may act as adjuvants leading to an immune‐mediated hyper‐response.
Skeletal muscle atrophy in heart failure with diabetes: from molecular mechanisms to clinical evidence
Authors: Wood Nathanael , Straw Sam , Scalabrin Mattia , Roberts Lee D. , Witte Klaus K. , Bowen Thomas Scott
Published: November 2020

Two highly prevalent and growing global diseases impacted by skeletal muscle atrophy are chronic heart failure (HF) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The presence of either condition increases the likelihood of developing the other, with recent studies revealing a large and relatively poorly characterized clinical population of patients with coexistent HF and DM (HFDM). HFDM results in worse symptoms and poorer clinical outcomes compared with DM or HF alone, and cardiovascular‐focused disease‐modifying agents have proven less effective in HFDM indicating a key role of the periphery. This review combines current clinical knowledge and basic biological mechanisms to address the critical emergence of skeletal muscle atrophy in patients with HFDM as a key driver of symptoms. We discuss how the degree of skeletal muscle wasting in patients with HFDM is likely underpinned by a variety of mechanisms that include mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, inflammation, and lipotoxicity. Given many atrophic triggers (e.g. ubiquitin proteasome/autophagy/calpain activity and supressed IGF1‐Akt‐mTORC1 signalling) are linked to increased production of reactive oxygen species, we speculate that a higher pro‐oxidative state in HFDM could be a unifying mechanism that promotes accelerated fibre atrophy. Overall, our proposal is that patients with HFDM represent a unique clinical population, prompting a review of treatment strategies including further focus on elucidating potential mechanisms and therapeutic targets of muscle atrophy in these distinct patients.
Voltammetric Sensing of Caffeine in Food Sample Using Cu‐MOF and Graphene
Authors: Venkadesh A. , Mathiyarasu J. , Radhakrishnan S.
Published: November 2020

Cu‐MOF/graphene composite were obtained by solvothermal and electrochemical methods. The interaction and formation of Cu‐MOF/graphene (GE) composite was systematically studied with the support of various characterizations including X‐ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM) and cyclic voltammogram (CV). The Cu‐MOF/graphene composite coated glassy carbon (GC) electrode exhibited good catalytic performance towards the electro‐oxidation of caffeine in neutral condition. The modified electrode displayed good linear range (5 μM to 450 μM), sensitivity (0.710 μA μM−1 cm−2), detection limit (1.38 μM), selectivity, high stability and reproducibility. Finally, the fabricated electrode extended into successful detection of caffeine in tea and coffee samples with good recoveries.
Thermal behavior of lithium‐ion battery in microgrid application: Impact and management system
Authors: Hasani Azri H. , Mansor Muhamad , Kumaran Vigna , Zuhdi Ahmad W. M. , Ying Yong J. , Hannan Mahammad Abdul , Hamid Fazrena A. , Rahman Muhamad S. A. , Salim Nur A.
Published: November 2020

Safe and reliable operation is among the considerations when integrating lithium‐ion batteries as the energy storage system in microgrids. A lithium‐ion battery is very sensitive to temperature in which it is one of the critical factors affecting the performance and limiting the practical application of the battery. Furthermore, the adverse effects differ according to the temperature. The susceptibility of lithium‐ion battery to temperature imposes the need to deploy an efficient battery thermal management system to ensure the safe operation of the battery while at the same time maximizing its performance and life cycle. To design a good thermal management system, accurate temperature measurement is vital to assist the battery thermal management system in managing relevant states such as the stage‐of‐charge and state‐of‐health of the battery. This article outlines the effects of low and high temperatures on the performance of Li‐ion batteries. Next, a review of currently available internal temperature monitoring approaches is presented based on their feasibility and complexity. Then, an overview of battery thermal management systems based on different cooling mediums is presented. This includes air cooling, liquid cooling, phase change material (PCM) cooling, heat pipe cooling, boiling‐based cooling, and solid‐state cooling. The final section of this article discusses the practical implementation of the internal temperature measurement approach and battery thermal management system for microgrids. From the review, a suitable candidate is the flexible, low maintenance, and long lifetime hybrid battery thermal management system that combines heat pipe cooling and solid‐state cooling. It is capable of maintaining the maximum operating temperature of the battery within 45°C at up to 3C discharge rate while being a relatively simple system. Additionally, passive PCM with thermally conductive filler can also be employed to assist the hybrid battery thermal management system in improving the temperature uniformity well within 5°C.
Safety evaluation of high‐dose intake of casein‐derived peptide Met‐Lys‐Pro in healthy adults: A randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Yuda Naoki , Tanaka Miyuki , Tokushima Masahiko , Abe Fumiaki
Published: November 2020

Met‐Lys‐Pro (MKP) is a casein‐derived angiotensin I‐converting enzyme inhibitory peptide with the potential to cross the blood–brain barrier. It has shown preventive effects against high blood pressure (BP) and cognitive decline in animal models and human studies. MKP shows good water solubility and can be blended into a variety of foods. However, its ease of intake may contribute to the possibility of overdose. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the safety of high‐dose intake of MKP in healthy adults by conducting a randomized controlled trial with 30 subjects. Participants were randomly allocated to the MKP (n = 15) or placebo (n = 15) group. Over 4 weeks, the MKP group received test powder containing a daily dose of 1,000 μg of MKP, five times the minimum effective dose for cognitive improvement, whereas the placebo group received dextrin powder containing no detectable MKP. No clinical problems were observed in anthropometric and BP measurements or in blood and urine parameters. No adverse events owing to MKP intake were observed. These findings suggest that consumption of MKP is safe, and that it may be applicable as a safe preventive measure against hypertension and cognitive decline in future.
Breast cancer histopathology image classification using kernelized weighted extreme learning machine
Authors: Saxena Shweta , Shukla Sanyam , Gyanchandani Manasi
Published: November 2020

Histopathology is considered as the gold standard for diagnosing breast cancer. Traditional machine learning (ML) algorithm provides a promising performance for cancer diagnosis if the training dataset is balanced. Nevertheless, if the training dataset is imbalanced the performance of the ML model is skewed toward the majority class. It may pose a problem for the pathologist because if the benign sample is misclassified as malignant, then a pathologist could make a misjudgment about the diagnosis. A limited investigation has been done in literature for solving the class imbalance problem in computer‐aided diagnosis (CAD) of breast cancer using histopathology. This work proposes a hybrid ML model to solve the class imbalance problem. The proposed model employs pretrained ResNet50 and the kernelized weighted extreme learning machine for CAD of breast cancer using histopathology. The breast cancer histopathological images are obtained from publicly available BreakHis and BisQue datasets. The proposed method achieved a reasonable performance for the classification of the minority as well as the majority class instances. In comparison, the proposed approach outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art ML models implemented in previous studies using the same training‐testing folds of the publicly accessible BreakHis dataset.
Peripheral blood inflammatory markers in predicting prognosis in patients with COVID‐19. Some differences with influenza A
Authors: Zhao Yan , Yu Chao , Ni Wei , Shen Hua , Qiu Mengqi , Zhao Youyun
Published: November 2020

Background

To evaluate the ability of peripheral blood inflammatory markers in predicating the typing of COVID‐19, prognosis, and some differences between COVID‐19 and influenza A patients.

Methods

Clinical data on 285 cases laboratory‐confirmed as SARS‐CoV‐2 infection were obtained from a Wuhan local hospital's electronic medical records according to previously designed standardized data collection forms. Additional 446 Influenza A outpatients’ hematologic data were enrolled for comparison.

Results

NLR, SII, RLR, PLR, HsCRP, and IL‐6 were significant higher and LMR was lower in severe COVID‐19 patients than in mild COVID‐19 patients (p < .001). PLR and LMR were lower in the individuals with influenza A than those with COVID‐19 (p < .01). COVID‐19 patients with higher levels of NLR, SII, RLR, PLR, HsCRP, and IL‐6 and lower LMR were significantly associated with the severe type. AUC of NLR (0.76) was larger while the specificity of IL‐6 (86%) and sensitivity of HsCRP (89%) were higher than other inflammatory markers in predicating the typing of COVID‐19. PT had obvious correlation with all the inflammatory markers except RPR. NLR showed positive correlations with AST, TP, BUN, CREA, PT, and D‐dimer. Patients with high IL‐6 levels have a relatively worse prognosis (HR = 2.30).

Conclusion

Peripheral blood inflammatory markers reflected the intensity of inflammation and associated with severity of COVID‐19.NLR was more useful to predict severity as well as IL‐6 to predict prognosis of COVID‐19. PLR and LMR were initially found to be higher in SARS‐CoV‐2 virus‐infected group than in influenza A.
Measurement of methotrexate in human cerebrospinal fluid using a chemiluminescence immunoassay intended for serum and plasma matrices
Authors: Yoshikawa Naoki , Yamada Ai , Yokota Tsubasa , Moritake Hiroshi , Hirabara Yasutoshi , Ikeda Ryuji
Published: November 2020

Background

The concentration of MTX in blood is often measured quickly and easily by immunoassays. Thus, immunoassays may facilitate the easy determination of the concentration of MTX in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In this study, we measured methotrexate (MTX) concentrations in the CSF using a high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method intended for analyzing CSF matrices and a chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) method intended for assessing serum and plasma matrices and verified the differences in the results of the two methods.

Methods

HPLC analysis for MTX in the CSF was performed using a Prominence UFLC system with a C18 column. The HPLC method was validated in accordance with the 2018 FDA guideline. The CLIA method was performed using an ARCHITECT i1000SR system intended for serum and plasma matrices. A total of 47 CSF samples (14 clinical and 33 spiked specimens) were analyzed using the two methods.

Results

The HPLC method passed the validation criteria. The concentration of MTX in the same sample, determined using the HPLC and CLIA methods, differed proportionally; the percent difference in the concentrations averaged −23.0% (95% confidence interval: −36.9% to −9.1%) as revealed by the Bland‐Altman plot. The relationship between the measured values, evaluated using the Passing‐Bablok regression, was as follows: HPLC = 1.205 × CLIA – 0.024.

Conclusion

The equation deduced in this study can be used to correct the concentration of MTX measured using the CLIA method.
Best friends, bad food, and bullying: How students’ school perceptions relate to sense of school belonging
Authors: Renick Jennifer , M. Reich Stephanie
Published: November 2020

A positive school climate and sense of school belonging can influence students' academic outcomes and wellbeing in desirable ways. However, not enough is known about the aspects of school climate that influence students' feelings of belonging and how gender, ethnicity, and grade may relate to those feelings. Via a self‐administered survey, a diverse sample of middle school students (n = 1,226) reported what they perceived as the best parts of their school and the parts most in need of improvement, as well as their sense of belonging. Students' perceptions of their school were aligned with the major areas of school climate: safety, relationships, teaching and learning, and institutional environment. These four areas were found to be predictive of sense of belonging to different degrees, such as listing relationships as needing improvement at the school being associated with lower scores in sense of belonging. Gender and grade were also found to be salient predictors of feelings of belonging, with seventh and eighth graders feeling less belonging than their sixth grade peers and girls having lower sense of belonging than boys. These findings affirm the importance of the school environment in influencing students' feelings of being a part of their school.
Dyadic report of relationship quality in school‐based mentoring: Effects on academic and behavioral outcomes
Authors: Jablon Elana M. , Lyons Michael D.
Published: November 2020

Mentoring, a common support practice for middle schoolers, can have varying effects on student academic and behavioral outcomes depending on the type of mentoring and quality of relationship formed. Although research has examined mentees' perception of relationship quality in mentoring relationships, fewer studies have looked at both mentor and mentee reports. The present study aims to explore how the interaction of mentor and mentee perceptions of the relationship quality is associated with student academic and behavioral outcomes. Major findings include the significant association between mentor‐reported relationship quality and academic outcomes for mentees, as well as some associations mentee‐ and mentor‐reported relationship quality and behavioral outcomes. Results illustrate the importance of training in mentoring programs, as well as how mentee‐ versus mentor‐report of the relationship may impact outcomes in distinct ways. This study can improve understanding of mentor–mentee relationships, which may improve student academic and behavioral outcomes.
Prevalence of and factors associated with advanced HIV disease among newly diagnosed people living with HIV in Guangdong Province, China
Authors: Jiang Hongbo , Liu Jun , Tan Zhimin , Fu Xiaobing , Xie Yingqian , Lin Kaihao , Yan Yao , Li Yan , Yang Yi
Published: November 2020

Introduction

A high proportion of people living with HIV (PLHIV) present for care with advanced HIV disease (AHD), which is detrimental to “90‐90‐90” targets to end AIDS by 2030. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of and factors related to AHD among newly diagnosed PLHIV in Guangdong Province, China.

Methods

Newly diagnosed PLHIV were recruited from six cities in Guangdong Province from May 2018 to June 2019. AHD was defined as an initial CD4 count <200 cells/µL or an AIDS‐defining event within one month of HIV diagnosis. Data from a questionnaire and the national HIV surveillance system were used to explore the potential factors related AHD.

Results

A total of 400 of 997 newly diagnosed PLHIV were defined as having AHD with a proportion of 40.1%. After adjusting for statistically significant variables in univariate analysis, multivariable logistic regressions showed that individuals aged 30 to 39 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13 to 2.79) and ≥50 years (aOR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.15 to 3.43) were at a higher risk of AHD than those aged 18 to 29 years. Participants diagnosed by voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) clinics were less likely to have AHD (aOR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.48 to 0.94) than those diagnosed at medical facilities. Participants who had ever considered HIV testing (aOR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.98) and who had high social support (aOR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.97) were at a lower risk of AHD, whereas participants who had HIV‐related symptoms within one year before diagnosis were at a higher risk of AHD (aOR = 2.09, 95% CI: 1.58 to 2.77). The most frequent reason for active HIV testing was “feeling sick” (42.4%, 255/601), and the main reason for never considering HIV testing was “never thinking of getting HIV” (74.0%, 542/732).

Conclusions

Low‐risk perception and a lack of awareness of HIV‐related symptoms resulted in a high proportion of AHD in Guangdong Province, especially among the elderly, those diagnosed at medical facilities and those with low social support. Strengthening AIDS education and training programmes to scale up HIV testing through provider‐initiated testing and counselling in medical facilities and VCT could facilitate early HIV diagnosis.
Annexin A2 regulates unfolded protein response via IRE1–XBP1 axis in macrophages duringP. aeruginosainfection
Authors: Zhou Chuan-Min , Luo Li-Mei , Lin Ping , Pu Qinqin , Wang Biao , Qin Shugang , Wu Qun , Yu Xue-Jie , Wu Min
Published: November 2020

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a severe Gram-negative opportunistic bacterium that causes a spectrum of organ system diseases, particularly in immunocompromised patients. This bacterium has been shown to induce unfolded protein response (UPR) during mammalian infection. Annexin A2 (AnxA2) is a multicompartmental protein relating to a number of cellular processes; however, it remains unknown whether AnxA2 coordinates a UPR pathway under bacterial infection conditions. Here, we report that the endoplasmic reticulum stress inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1)–X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) pathway was up-regulated by AnxA2 through p38 MAPK signaling following P. aeruginosa infection in macrophages, whereas ATF4 and ATF6 not. In addition, XBP1 was found as a positive regulator of innate immunity to tame P. aeruginosa challenges by enhancing autophagy and bacterial clearance. XBP1 also facilitated NF-κB activation to elicit the release of proinflammatory cytokines predominantly in macrophages. Together, our findings identify AnxA2 as a regulator for XBP1-mediated UPR pathway.
SERSTEM: An app for the statistical analysis of correlative SERS and TEM imaging and evaluation of SERS tags performance
Authors: Lenzi Elisa , Litti Lucio , Jimenez de Aberasturi Dorleta , Henriksen‐Lacey Malou , Liz‐Marzán Luis M.
Published: November 2020

Raman spectroscopy is becoming increasingly popular as an in vitro bioimaging technique, when coupled with plasmonic substrates such as gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Plasmonic AuNPs not only display excellent biocompatibility but can also induce the surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) effect, which can be exploited for cell labeling, as an interesting alternative to fluorescence‐based techniques. SERS bioimaging requires the use of so‐called SERS tags or SERS‐encoded AuNPs. A remaining difficulty toward the general implementation of this method is the difficulty to correlate the SERS signal (spectral intensity) with the number of SERS tags. Therefore, a general correlation method, suitable for arbitrary AuNP morphologies and Raman‐active molecules (Raman reporters or RaRs), should largely improve the quantitative character of SERS as an imaging technique. We propose a protocol, with an associated app (SERSTEM), which enables the user to determine the average SERS intensity per nanoparticle from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and SERS data. As a proof of concept, we demonstrated the method for Au nanostars and nanorods, carrying four different RaRs, and implemented the SERSTEM app, which is publicly available from an open‐source platform.
Step‐Economical Synthesis of Conjugated Polymer Materials Composed of Three Components: Donor, Acceptor, and π Units
Authors: Kuwabara Junpei , Kanbara Takaki
Published: November 2020

Conjugated polymers have immense potential for their use as semiconducting materials in organic optoelectronic devices. The improvement of synthetic methods for conjugated polymers is important for the practical application of conjugated polymers. For mass production, synthetic methods must be developed by considering the concerns regarding cost and environment. Reduction in the number of synthetic steps is an efficient approach to address these concerns. The utilization of direct CH functionalization is a reasonable strategy in monomer and polymer syntheses, because the prefunctionalization steps for CC bond formation can be eliminated. This review summarizes the recent developments in the efficient syntheses of conjugated polymers as well as their monomers via direct arylation (CH/CX coupling) and cross‐dehydrogenative coupling (CH/CH coupling) reactions.
Surface Modification of Parylene C Film via Buchwald–Hartwig Amination for Organic Solvent‐Compatible and Flexible Microfluidic Channel Bonding
Authors: Satheeshkumar Chinnadurai , Jung Bum‐Joon , Jang Hansol , Lee Wonhee , Seo Myungeun
Published: November 2020

Surface modification offers an efficient and economical route to installing functional groups on a polymer surface. This work demonstrates that primary amine groups can be introduced onto a polymer surface via Buchwald–Hartwig amination, and the functionalized substrates can be chemically bonded to produce functional microfluidic devices. By activating the CCl bond in commercially used poly(chloro‐p‐xylylene) (parylene C) by Pd catalyst and substituting Cl with the amine source, the amine groups are successfully installed in a facile and recyclable manner. The substrates can be covalently bonded with each other via amine‐isocyanate chemistry, providing much higher bonding strength compared to previous methods based on noncovalent adhesive coatings. As a result, transparent and flexible microfluidic channels can be fabricated that are compatible with organic solvents and high pressure. Retention of amine group reactivity in the channel suggests the potential of this methodology for the surface immobilization of functional molecules for microfluidic reactors and biosensors.
Does the Country Make a Difference in Impulse Control Disorders? A Systematic Review
Authors: Parra‐Díaz Paloma , Chico‐García Juan Luis , Beltrán‐Corbellini Álvaro , Rodríguez‐Jorge Fernando , Fernández‐Escandón Clara Lastras , Alonso‐Cánovas Araceli , Martínez‐Castrillo Juan Carlos
Published: November 2020

Background

Impulse control disorders (ICDs) have an increased frequency in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), mainly because of treatment with dopamine agonists (DA). Factors related with the country of origin (culture, economy, healthcare politics) may impact phenomenology.

Objectives

To explore phenomenology of ICDs depending on the country.

Methods

A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was performed using Pubmed database. Articles published up to 2018 in which the prevalence of ICDs was analyzed were selected.

Results

Thirty‐two studies from 22 countries worldwide were included. The highest prevalence of ICDs in each continent was found in UK (59%), USA (39.1%) and India (31.6%). Frequency of ICDs was higher in those studies with lower mean age, higher proportion of males, whenever a screening instrument was used and whenever prescription of DAs was more common. Prevalence of ICDs was higher in Western countries compared to Asian countries (20.8% vs. 12.8%,P < 0.001) as it was the proportion of patients treated with DAs (66% vs. 48.2%,P < 0.001). Hypersexuality was the most common ICD overall (up to 23.8%). The highest frequencies of compulsive buying and eating were found in Western countries. Gambling was less commonly diagnosed, but prevalence was relevant Japan (14%).

Conclusion

We observed a tendency towards a different ICD profile in different geographical areas, which may be attributable to socio‐economical, cultural or political influences in the phenomenology of these disorders. Acknowledging these differences could help their early detection, which is critical for prognosis.
A percentile‐based approach to rainfall scenario construction for surface‐water flood forecasts
Authors: Böing Steven J. , Birch Cathryn E. , Rabb Benjamin L. , Shelton Kay L.
Published: November 2020

A novel technique to produce reasonable worst‐case rainfall scenarios from ensemble forecasts is presented. This type of scenario is relevant for predicting the risk of localized, intense rainfall events with a duration between 15 min and several hours. Such rainfall events can cause surface‐water (pluvial) flooding. Producing useful forecasts of these events at lead times of more than a few hours is challenging due to the precision and accuracy in rainfall intensity, duration and location that is required. The technique described here addresses these challenges by constructing appropriate scenarios using a neighbourhood technique in combination with ensemble forecasting. It is similar to the distance‐dependent depth–duration analysis described in earlier studies, but it introduces an additional post‐processing step based on probability distribution functions of rainfall accumulation near a location of interest. This additional step makes the reasonable worst‐case scenarios less dependent on grid‐scale behaviour, and helps to generate scenarios with a consistent interpretation. The method is used to compare forecasts with a lead time of 6–36 hr to radar data for several case studies that occurred in Yorkshire. These comparisons also introduce new techniques to present maps of the reasonable worst‐case rainfall accumulation at each location.
Clinicopathological and immunological characterization of RNA m6A methylation regulators in ovarian cancer
Authors: Wang Qingying , Zhang Qinyi , Li Qingxian , Zhang Jing , Zhang Jiawen
Published: November 2020

Background

N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification is one of the critical gene regulatory mechanisms implicated in cancer biology. However, the roles of m6A regulators in ovarian cancer are still poorly understood.

Methods

We integrated multiple databases including Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), ROC Plotter, Kaplan‐Meier Plotter, and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) to explore clinicopathological significance of m6A regulators in ovarian cancer.

Results

We showed that alterations in the expression of m6A regulators were related to the malignancy and poor prognosis of ovarian cancer. We found decreased YTHDC1 and increased RBM15 expressions were associated with ovarian cancer cell metastases and HNRNPC was a predictor of paclitaxel resistance. Moreover, dysregulated m6A regulators were enriched in the activation of cancer‐related pathways. Our results further demonstrated that the level of immune cell infiltration and the expression of various immune gene markers were closely associated with the expressions of specific m6A regulators (RBM15B, ZC3H13, YTHDF1, and IGF2BP1).

Conclusions

Our study establishes a new prognostic profile of ovarian cancer patients based on m6A regulators, and highlights the potential roles of m6A regulators in ovarian cancer development.
Oxytocin Administration Increases Proactive Control in Men with Overweight or Obesity: A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Crossover Study
Authors: Plessow Franziska , Marengi Dean A. , Perry Sylvia K. , Lawson Elizabeth A.
Published: November 2020

Objective

Preclinical and clinical evidence suggests that oxytocin administration decreases food intake and weight. The mechanisms underlying the anorexigenic effects of oxytocin in humans are unknown but critical to study to consider oxytocin as a neurohormonal weight loss treatment. Complementing ongoing research into metabolic and food motivation mechanisms of oxytocin, this study hypothesized that in humans, oxytocin improves cognitive control over behavior.

Methods

In a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled crossover study of 24‐IU single‐dose intranasal oxytocin, 10 men with overweight or obesity completed a stop‐signal task assessing ability and strategy to suppress behavioral impulses, in which they performed a choice‐reaction task (go task) but had to withhold their response when prompted (stop task). It was hypothesized that oxytocin would improve suppression of behavioral impulses.

Results

After receiving oxytocin, compared with placebo, participants showed increased reaction times in the go task (mean [M] = 936 milliseconds vs. 833 millseconds; P = 0.012; 95% CI: 29 to 178) and displayed fewer stop errors (M = 36.41% vs. 41.15%; P = 0.049; 95% CI: −9.43% to −0.03%).

Conclusions

Oxytocin triggers increased proactive control over behavior. Future studies need to further characterize the impact of oxytocin on cognitive control and investigate its potential role in the anorexigenic effects of oxytocin in human obesity.
Efficacy of FOLFOX in Patients with Aggressive Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors After Prior Capecitabine/Temozolomide
Authors: Al-Toubah Taymeyah , Morse Brian , Pelle Eleonora , Strosberg Jonathan
Published: November 2020

Background

5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) has activity in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (pNETs), but its use is limited, partly because of toxicities. pNETs can often become aggressive over time. We evaluated the efficacy of FOLFOX in patients with aggressive pNETs who had progressed after capecitabine plus temozolomide (cap/tem) among other treatments.

Materials and Methods

This was a retrospective study of all patients with well-differentiated metastatic pNETs, treated at an academic cancer center between January 2008 and June 2019, who received FOLFOX and had received cap/tem in the past. The primary endpoint was objective response rate.

Results

Thirty-one patients met eligibility criteria. Twenty-five received FOLFOX, and six received FOLFOX with bevacizumab. Patients were heavily pretreated, having received a median of three prior lines of systemic therapy prior to FOLFOX (range, 1–8). Three (9.7%) patients had grade [G]1 tumors, 16 (51.6%) had G2, and 6 (19.4%) had G3, and grade was unspecified in 6 (19.4%) patients. Fourteen (45.2%) exhibited a best response of partial radiographic response per RECIST 1.1 criteria, 15 (48.4%) stable disease, and 2 (6.4%) progressive disease; overall response rate was 45.2% and disease control rate was 93.5%. Median progression-free survival was 6 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.0–7.0), and median overall survival was 16 months from onset of study treatment (95% CI, 11.3–20.7) and 67 months from date of diagnosis (95% CI, 49.8–84.2). Median duration of treatment was 3 months, and median duration of response was 2 months. Toxicity profile was consistent with known adverse events associated with this regimen.

Conclusion

FOLFOX is active in aggressive, heavily pretreated pNETs that have progressed on prior cap/tem chemotherapy; response durations are relatively short.

Implications for Practice

FOLFOX chemotherapy has robust activity in patients with rapidly progressive, heavily pretreated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), a setting in which few, if any, other options are likely to be effective. Durations of response, however, are relatively short, and new treatments are urgently needed for patients with aggressive transformation of pancreatic NETs.
Ge−Fe Carbonyl Cluster Compounds: Ionic Liquids‐Based Synthesis, Structures, and Properties
Authors: Wolf Silke , Egeberg Alexander , Treptow Jens , Feldmann Claus
Published: November 2020

Nine Ge−Fe carbonyl cluster compounds are prepared via ionic liquids‐based synthesis. This includes the novel compounds [EMIm][Fe(CO)3I(GeI3)], [EHIm][Fe(CO)3I(GeI3)], [BMIm][GeI2{Fe(CO)4}2(μ‐I)][AlCl4]2, [GeI2{Fe(CO)4}2(μ‐I)][Fe(AlBr4)3], [BMIm]2[(FeI2)0.75{Fe(CO)2I(GeI3)2}2], and [EHIm][Fe(CO)4(GeI2)2Fe(CO)3GeI3] as well as the previously reported compounds (Fe(CO)4(GeI3)2, FeI4{GeI3Fe(CO)3}2, and Ge12{Fe(CO)3}8(μ‐I)4 (EMIm: 1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium, EHIm: 1‐ethylimidazolium, BMIm: 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium). With this series of compounds, a comparison of synthesis conditions and structural features is possible and, for instance, allows correlating the composition and structure of the respective Ge−Fe carbonyl cluster compounds with the type and acidity of the ionic liquid. With [EMIm][{GeI3}2Fe(CO)3I], moreover, we can exemplarily show the thermal decomposition as a single‐source precursor in the ionic liquid, resulting in bimetallic Ge−Fe nanoparticles with small size and narrow size distribution (7.0±1.4 nm).
Challenges in the impact evaluation of behaviour change interventions: The case of sea turtle meat and eggs in São Tomé
Authors: Thomas‐Walters Laura , Vieira Sara , Jiménez Victor , Monteiro Domingas , Ferreira Betânia , Smith Robert J. , Veríssimo Diogo
Published: November 2020

Robust impact evaluations are needed for conservation to learn and grow as a field. Currently we lack a large body of evidence on the effects of behaviour change interventions in social‐ecological systems. By uncovering mechanistic relationships and establishing causality we can refine future programmes to enhance likelihood of effectiveness. Although a range of sophisticated methodological approaches to evaluation have been developed, conceptually linking project outcomes with conservation impacts remains difficult in complex systems.

For example, sea turtles are one taxon in which unsustainable harvesting has been a particular problem. There have been a number of campaigns to reduce demand for sea turtle products, but we still have little evidence documenting their outcomes. We conducted the first formal impact evaluation of a conservation marketing campaign aimed at reducing the consumption of sea turtle meat and eggs. The campaign took place on the island of São Tomé, Central Africa, and included traditional mass media advertisements as well as community events. This is one of few demand reduction evaluations that has assessed both human behaviour and biological conservation outcomes. It benefited from an advantageous setting for evaluation, as nesting sea turtles are relatively easy to monitor and the island's small size and geographic isolation increased the detectability of potentially confounding factors. We found a decrease in self‐reported sea turtle egg consumption and a decrease in poaching of adult sea turtles.

However, multiple unforeseen difficulties arose which complicated attempts at causal attribution. We were hampered by spatial spillovers, design effects from the sensitive questioning technique, concurring law enforcement and changes in biological monitoring effort. These challenges highlight the difficulties faced by practitioners seeking to apply impact evaluations in the field. We reflect on what this means for future impact evaluations of behaviour change interventions in conservation. Our recommendations include combining multiple outcome measures to triangulate hard‐to‐measure behaviours and theory‐based evaluation methods to explore causal impacts.

A freePlain Language Summarycan be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Classification of intestinal T‐cell receptor repertoires using machine learning methods can identify patients with coeliac disease regardless of dietary gluten status
Authors: Foers Andrew D , Shoukat M Saad , Welsh Oliver E , Donovan Killian , Petry Russell , Evans Shelley C , FitzPatrick Michael EB , Collins Nadine , Klenerman Paul , Fowler Anna , Soilleux Elizabeth J
Published: November 2020

In coeliac disease (CeD), immune‐mediated small intestinal damage is precipitated by gluten, leading to variable symptoms and complications, occasionally including aggressive T‐cell lymphoma. Diagnosis, based primarily on histopathological examination of duodenal biopsies, is confounded by poor concordance between pathologists and minimal histological abnormality if insufficient gluten is consumed. CeD pathogenesis involves both CD4+ T‐cell‐mediated gluten recognition and CD8+ and γδ T‐cell‐mediated inflammation, with a previous study demonstrating a permanent change in γδ T‐cell populations in CeD. We leveraged this understanding and explored the diagnostic utility of bulk T‐cell receptor (TCR) sequencing in assessing duodenal biopsies in CeD. Genomic DNA extracted from duodenal biopsies underwent sequencing for TCR‐δ (TRD) (CeD, n = 11; non‐CeD, n = 11) and TCR‐γ (TRG) (CeD, n = 33; non‐CeD, n = 21). We developed a novel machine learning‐based analysis of the TCR repertoire, clustering samples by diagnosis. Leave‐one‐out cross‐validation (LOOCV) was performed to validate the classification algorithm. Using TRD repertoire, 100% (22/22) of duodenal biopsies were correctly classified, with a LOOCV accuracy of 91%. Using TCR‐γ (TRG) repertoire, 94.4% (51/54) of duodenal biopsies were correctly classified, with LOOCV of 87%. Duodenal biopsy TRG repertoire analysis permitted accurate classification of biopsies from patients with CeD following a strict gluten‐free diet for at least 6 months, who would be misclassified by current tests. This result reflects permanent changes to the duodenal γδ TCR repertoire in CeD, even in the absence of gluten consumption. Our method could complement or replace histopathological diagnosis in CeD and might have particular clinical utility in the diagnostic testing of patients unable to tolerate dietary gluten, and for assessing duodenal biopsies with equivocal features. This approach is generalisable to any TCR/BCR locus and any sequencing platform, with potential to predict diagnosis or prognosis in conditions mediated or modulated by the adaptive immune response. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.