bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of a separate fluid‐neutral energy equation in SOLPS‐ITER and its impact on the validity range of advanced fluid‐neutral models
Authors: Van Uytven Wim , Blommaert Maarten , Dekeyser Wouter , Horsten Niels , Baelmans Martine
Published: May 2020

In plasma edge transport codes for nuclear fusion devices, fluid‐neutral models offer an interesting alternative to the currently used kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, especially for cases of high ion‐neutral collisionality. In this paper, we elaborate a separate neutral energy equation in the state‐of‐the‐art SOLPS‐ITER code suite, which previously assumed perfect ion‐neutral temperature equilibration. Furthermore, we study the coupled plasma‐neutral solutions for a range of divertor operating regimes, proving the validity of these fluid‐neutral models for high‐recycling and detached regimes.
Renal malakoplakia mimicking a malignancy and diagnosed by fine‐needle aspiration: A case report
Authors: Ho Linh , Mehrotra Sanjana
Published: May 2020

Malakoplakia is a rare, granulomatous disease that affects a wide variety of organs and can have a clinical and radiographic presentation resembling that of malignancy. The genitourinary tract is the most commonly involved site. There are scant reported cases presenting as a locally advanced renal mass and even rarer, diagnosed by fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. We report clinical, imaging, cytologic, and histological findings of an interesting case of malakoplakia initially diagnosed by FNA cytology. We also briefly review the literature and emphasize the importance of recognizing this entity when encountered in an aspirate material, which can help mitigate the diagnostic confusion of malakoplakia for clinicians.
In vivo pharmacokinetic study and oral glucose tolerance test of sulfoxide analogs of GPR40 agonist TAK‐875
Authors: Yan Yugang , Xu Qifu , Zhao Chunlong , Dong Hang , Xu Wenfang , Zhang Yingjie
Published: May 2020

TAK‐875 (compound 1) was the only GPR40 agonist with promising oral glucose‐lowering effect, which entered phase III clinical trials. In previous studies, we successfully synthesized the TAK‐875 sulfoxide analog 2, which was further separated to optically pure compounds 3 (S, S, 100.0% de) and 4 (R, S, 100.0% de). In vitro biological evaluation revealed that the sulfoxide analogs 3 and 4 possessed comparable GPR40 agonist activity to TAK‐875. Herein, in order to further evaluate the druglikeness of TAK‐875 sulfoxide analogs, the pharmacokinetic properties of compounds 2, 3, and 4 in rats were investigated and compared with that of TAK‐875. The results showed that sulfoxide (2, 3, and 4) and sulfone (TAK‐875) could be converted into each other in different degrees in vivo. Interestingly, compound 3 showed higher drug exposure calculated by the AUC sum of sulfoxide and sulfone in plasma than TAK‐875, 2 and 4. In order to further investigate the in vivo glucose‐lowering potency of sulfoxide analogs, asymmetric synthesis was carried out and led to two sulfoxides with moderate de values, 5 (S, S, 66.4% de) and 6 (R, S, 71.0% de). The following oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in rats showed that 5 (S, S, 66.4% de) had stronger glucose‐lowering effect in vivo than 6 (R, S, 71.0% de) and TAK‐875, which could be partly rationalized by the superior pharmacokinetic property of sulfoxide 3 (the main component of 5) relative to sulfoxide 4 (the main component of 6) and TAK‐875.
In vitro–in vivo evaluation of tetrahydrozoline‐loaded ocular in situ gels on rabbits for allergic conjunctivitis management
Authors: Okur Neslihan Üstündağ , Yozgatli Vildan , Okur Mehmet Evren
Published: May 2020

Ocular allergy is one of the most common disorders of the eye surface. The conventional eye drops lack of therapeutic efficacy due to low ocular bioavailability and decreased drug residence time on eye surface. Hence, the present research work aimed to formulate, optimize, and evaluate the in situ gel for ophthalmic drug delivery. The prepared in situ gel formulations were evaluated for clarity, pH, gelling capacity, viscosity, osmolality, in vitro release study, and kinetic evaluation. ex vivo corneal permeation/penetration study using goat and in vivo studies on rabbits were also performed. Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy was also applied to study possible interactions between drug and polymers. The formulations found to be stable, nonirritant, and showed sustained release of the drug for a period of up to 24 hr with no ocular damage. The developed in situ gels loaded with tetrahydrozoline are alternative and promising ocular candidates for the treatment of allergic conjunctivitis.
Multiple countermeasures on unrolled architecture PRINCE against power analysis and its evaluation
Authors: Takemoto Shu , Nozaki Yusuke , Yoshikawa Masaya
Published: May 2020

Lightweight block ciphers, which can be implemented with low cost, are suitable for improving the safety of small devices. PRINCE is a typical lightweight block cipher and suitable for unrolled architecture implementation. In addition, PRINCE can be achieved low latency and embedded in a small area. However, it has been reported that PRINCE with unrolled architecture implementation is vulnerable to power analysis. Regarding countermeasure against power analysis, the threshold implementation and rotating S‐boxes masking are popular countermeasures, these require large implementation overhead though. Therefore, this study proposes a low‐overhead power analysis countermeasure method for PRINCE with unrolled architecture. Moreover, evaluation experiments using a field‐programmable gate array verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. In experiments, the proposed method improved tamper resistance and reduced implementation overhead in comparison with the conventional method.
Factors shaping alternate successional trajectories in burned black spruce forests of Alaska
Authors: Johnstone J. F. , Celis G. , Chapin F. S. , Hollingsworth T. N. , Jean M. , Mack M. C.
Published: May 2020

Disturbances can interrupt feedbacks that maintain stable plant community structure and create windows of opportunity for vegetation to shift to alternative states. Boreal forests are dominated by tree species that overlap considerably in environmental niche, but there are few tests of what conditions initiate and sustain different forest states. Here, we examine patterns of post‐fire growth and density of tree seedlings in early succession and use structural equation models to estimate relative effects of environmental and pre‐fire conditions, fire characteristics, and biotic interactions. We surveyed tree seedling recruits for 13 yr across a broad range of environmental and fire conditions (n = 89) in Alaskan black spruce stands that burned in 2004. Densities of established seedlings at 13 yr were strongly determined by initial recruitment that occurred within 2 yr after fire. High proportional combustion of the soil organic layer (fire severity) led to increased densities of deciduous seedlings but not of black spruce and had a positive influence on aboveground biomass of all species. Biotic interactions such as mammalian herbivory or woody competition, potential mechanisms for relay floristic succession, had no detectable effects on tree seedling densities or biomass. Repeated surveys instead suggested persistent shifts in successional trajectories of tree communities from spruce to deciduous dominance at sites where high fire severity created positive conditions for deciduous seedling recruitment and growth. Unless future species interactions alter the deciduous dominance of tree seedling composition, the vegetation transformations that we observed in response to high fire severity are likely to persist over the short fire cycle that increasingly characterizes the fire regime of Interior Alaska.
Systems perspectives on water security: An applied review and conceptual framework
Authors: Chiluwe Quinex W. , Claassen Marius
Published: May 2020

This article proposes a conceptual framework for understanding the resilience of water security at the scale of a river basin, thereby contributing to the ongoing scholarship on water security. Based on literature review, we apply systems thinking and resilience theories to encapsulate water security in a river basin as a system whose behaviour depends on the interaction of the component parts and the environment within which it occurs. The proposed framework has been built on the tenet that the resilience of any system such as that for water security depends on the interactions (the relationships) of the components of the particular system. We have thus argued that there is a relationship between resilience and the configurations of the system of water security. By exploring the Orange‐Senqu River Basin, we suggest that configurations of the system of water security that includes the interaction of actors within the river basin, the structure of institutions (including institutional regimes), governance mechanisms, the capacity of actors and so forth generate the changes in the behaviour of the system. This behaviour might enable the system of water security to move into a different regime. Depending on the nature of the regime, the system can be considered to be resilient or nonresilient to disturbances. Any attempt to better understand this system requires us to uncover the configurations of this system and how its parts interact with each other, and this is, therefore, the pathway to unlocking the potential of achieving water security at the scale of a river basin.
Mildly symptomatic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction: diagnostic and therapeutic considerations
Authors: Arvanitaki Alexandra , Michou Eleni , Kalogeropoulos Andreas , Karvounis Haralambos , Giannakoulas George
Published: May 2020

Aims

Whereas up to about half of patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) report no or only mild symptoms and are considered as clinically stable, the progressive nature of HFrEF, often silent, renders clinical stability a misleading situation, especially if disease progression is unrecognized. We highlight the challenges in the definition of clinical stability and mild symptomatic status in HFrEF, outline clinical characteristics and available diagnostic tools, and discuss evidence and gaps in the current guidelines for the management of these patients.

Methods and Results

This is a state‐of‐the‐art review that focuses on clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects in mildly symptomatic HFrEF patients; summarizes the challenges; and proposes directions for future research in this group of patients. The New York Heart Association classification has been widely used as a measure of prognosis in HFrEF, but it lacks objectivity and reproducibility in terms of symptoms assessment. The definition of clinical stability as described in current guidelines is vague and may often lead to underdiagnosis of disease progression in patients who appear to be ‘stable' but in fact are at an increased risk of clinical worsening, hospitalization, or death. Although an increasing number of clinical trials proved that the efficacy of HFrEF therapies was unrelated to the symptomatic status of patients and led to their implementation early in the course of the disease, clinical inertia in terms of under‐prescription or underdosing of guideline‐recommended medications in mildly symptomatic HFrEF patients is still a challenging issue to deal with.

Conclusions

Mildly symptomatic status in a patient with HFrEF is very frequent; it should not be ignored and should not be regarded as an index of disease stability. The application of risk scores designed to predict mortality and mode of death should be engaged among mildly symptomatic patients, not only to identify the most suitable HF candidates for cardioverter defibrillator implantation, but also to identify patients who might benefit from early intensification of medical treatment before the implementation of more interventional approaches.
Use of the Product from Low Pressure Extraction (Crambe Seed Oil and Methyl Acetate) for Synthesis of Methyl Esters and Triacetin Under Supercritical Conditions
Authors: Postaue Najla , de Mello Bruna Tais Ferreira , Cardozo‐Filho Lúcio , da Silva Camila
Published: May 2020

Methyl esters (ME) and triacetin production from the supercritical interesterification of the product from low pressure extraction (crambe seed oil and methyl acetate) are evaluated. Reactions are conducted at 300–375 °C for different residence times, at 20 MPa, and under these conditions the thermal stability of triacetin is evaluated. The effect of the free fatty acid (FFA) concentration (in oil) is determined. An increase in temperature favors the formation of ME and triacetin at shorter reaction times. At 375 °C, after 15 min a drop in the ME yield is observed and triacetin is not detected. A reduction in the triacetin concentration (reaching ≈99%) is observed at 375 °C. High FFA concentration (in oil) initially provided higher product generation, however, after 15 min no influence is observed. The highest ME yield (≈60%) is obtained at 300 °C, along with 1.22 wt% triacetin and ≈5.0 wt% unreacted compounds.

Practical Applications: This paper reports new experimental data on an integrated process for the production of methyl esters from low pressure extraction (crambe seeds and methyl acetate) and supercritical reaction of the extraction mixture. The technique used allows the removal of a high quantity of oil from good quality crambe seeds. The viability of applying the integrated process to obtain oils with a high content of free fatty acids is verified, promoting the obtainment of relatively simple methyl esters. The procedure does not require oil purification and solvent recovery prior to the reaction.
Evaluation of ethylic and methylic esterification reactions to reduce acidity of crude bio‐oil
Authors: Ramos Eloé S. , Zimmermann Diego , Beims Ramon F. , Chiarello Luana M. , Botton Vanderleia , Simionatto Edésio L. , Wiggers Vinicyus R.
Published: May 2020

Bio‐oil produced from triglycerides thermal cracking is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds and is a potentially renewable source for fuel and chemical production. The presence of carboxylic acids results in a high acid index making it difficult to refine and use it as a fossil fuel substitute. This high acidity causes corrosion and may interfere on the final applications. In this work, soybean oil was thermally cracked, and the bio‐oil was characterized and submitted to esterification reactions in order to evaluate the effect of temperature and reactants mass ratio. Before esterification, crude bio‐oil showed 8.61% of carboxylic acids in GC–MS characterization and an acid index of 133.33 mg KOH/g. The reactions were conducted for 90 min, from 50 to 65°C for methanol and from 60 to 75°C for ethanol, and the bio‐oil‐alcohol mass ratio from 10:1 to 1:1. Methylic and ethylic esterification at 1:1 mass ratio of bio oil to alcohol at 65°C and 75°C showed decrease of 97.5 and 90.4% in the acid index, reaching values of 3.35 and 12.65 mg KOH/g, respectively. These results demonstrate the potential of using esterification in bio‐oil to reduce its acidity and improve its quality.
Coronavirus Disease 2019 Hangover: A Rising Tide of Alcohol Use Disorder and Alcohol‐Associated Liver Disease
Authors: Da Ben L. , Im Gene Y. , Schiano Thomas D.
Published: May 2020

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has had a tremendous global impact since it began in November of 2019. However, there are concerns that the COVID‐19 pandemic will not affect all equally and that some populations will be particularly vulnerable. Relevant to liver disease, patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and alcohol‐associated liver disease (ALD) may be among the populations that are the most severely impacted. The reasons for this include being at a higher risk of severe COVID‐19 infection due to a depressed immune system and high‐risk underlying comorbidities, the injurious effect of COVID‐19 on the liver, the inability to attend regular visits with providers, diversion of hospital resources, and social isolation leading to psychological decompensation and increased drinking or relapse. As a result, we fear that there will be a dramatic rising tide of alcohol relapse, admissions for decompensated ALD, and an increase in newly diagnosed patients with AUD/ALD post–COVID‐19 pandemic. Providers and their institutions should implement preemptive strategies such as telehealth and aggressive patient outreach programs now to curb this anticipated problem. Liver transplantation (LT) centers should adapt to the pandemic by considering leniency to some LT candidates with ALD who cannot access appropriate alcohol treatment due to the current situation. In conclusion, the COVID‐19 pandemic will likely be especially detrimental to patients with AUD/ALD, and actions need to be taken now to limit the scope of this anticipated problem.
Catchment storage and residence time in a periodically irrigated watershed
Authors: Grande Emilio , Visser Ate , Moran Jean E.
Published: May 2020

Understanding anthropogenic impacts on water storage and water flow pathways in catchments is an ongoing challenge in hydrology. Here, we study the dynamics of subsurface storage and residence time of water in a catchment in Berkeley, California, that is within a regional park but contains diverse land use within its perimeter, including a periodically irrigated golf course. Our study combines several isotopic tracers with water budget data to examine sources of water in a stream draining the site. Irrigation water, applied to a small area of the watershed, is a minor component of the water budget. However, geochemical tracers reveal that irrigation water is a significant fraction of stream flow downstream of the golf course during baseflow and during precipitation events. Isotopic tracers indicate that the watershed has a preference to release young water for stream flow generation, resulting in contrasting tritium ages for stream water and groundwater of 1.3 ± 0.5 year and 8.2 ± 1.7 year, respectively. We determined that the older water is a very small component (0.7%) of the stream water in the tail of an assumed exponential distribution. We used the seasonal variation of stable water isotopes in precipitation and stream water over two water years to explain the damping of the isotopic signature of stream water, which yields information about the catchment's response to the input signal. The methods described here may be applicable to other urban or suburban headwater catchments in areas with a component of non‐natural recharge from, for example, leaky infrastructure, storm water routing or dry season irrigation.
A self‐consistent coulomb bath model using density fitting
Authors: Chen Xin , Qu Zexing , Suo Bingbing , Gao Jiali
Published: May 2020

A self‐consistent Coulomb bath model is presented to provide an accurate and efficient way of performing calculations for interfragment electrostatic and polarization interactions. In this method, a condensed‐phase system is partitioned into molecular fragment blocks. Each fragment is embedded in the Coulomb bath due to other fragments. Importantly, the present Coulomb bath is represented using a density fitting method in which the electron densities of molecular fragments are fitted using an atom‐centered auxiliary basis set of Gaussian type. The Coulomb bath is incorporated into an effective Hamiltonian for each fragment, with which the electron density is optimized through an iterative double self‐consistent field (DSCF) procedure to realize the mutual many‐body polarization effects. In this work, the accuracy of interfragment interaction energies enumerated using the Coulomb bath is tested, showing a good agreement with the exact results from an energy decomposition analysis. The qualitative features of many‐body polarization effects are visualized by electron density difference plots. It is also shown that the present DSCF method can yield fast and robust convergence with near‐linear scaling in performance with increase in system size.
Design and implementation of the infection prevention program into risk management: Managing high level disinfection and sterilization in the outpatient setting
Authors: Sweet Wendy , Snyder Dayna , Raymond Matthew
Published: May 2020

Reusable, invasive medical devices within the outpatient setting pose a risk for patient harm. Ineffective disinfection of medical devices can potentially lead to transmission of pathogens between patients; and improper handling can lead to patient injury. A risk assessment was conducted, and the results strongly supported the necessity to develop a robust infection prevention program within the risk management department. This exclusive program was a proactive approach to preventing patient exposure within our healthcare system. Designing and integrating an Infection Prevention program into the Risk Management Department presented challenges, especially with the magnitude of devices and lack of standardization throughout our 33 clinics. Key components of the program included: capturing an accurate inventory of devices throughout the system, hiring a sterile processing expert, engaging support from senior leadership, adhering to rigorous auditing processes, and establishing a staff competency training structure. Since the program was launched 2 years ago, outcomes include: identification of high‐risk practices with immediate resolution, increase in average clinic compliance to device reprocessing standards from 88% to 99%, elimination of 71% of scope reprocessing and 39% of instrument sterilization by clinic staff with allocation to central sterile processing departments, and development of a staff competency training structure.
Comparative Study of Amide Proton Transfer‐Weighted Imaging and Intravoxel Incoherent Motion Imaging in Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Evaluation
Authors: Meng Nan , Wang Xue‐Jia , Sun Jing , Huang Ling , Wang Zhe , Wang Kai‐Yu , Wang Jing , Han Dong‐Ming , Wang Mei‐Yun
Published: May 2020

Background

Amide proton transfer‐weighted imaging (APTWI) and intravoxel incoherent motion imaging (IVIM) are valuable MRI techniques applied to cancer.

Purpose

To compare APTWI and IVIM in the diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions and to evaluate the correlations between different parameters (MTRasym [3.5 ppm], D, D*, and f) and prognostic factors for breast cancer.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Population

In all, 123 breast lesions were studied before treatment, including 58 benign lesions and 65 malignant lesions.

Field Strength/Sequence

Conventional MRI (T1WI, T2WI, and diffusion‐weighted imaging [DWI]), APTWI, and IVIM MRI at 3T.

Assessment

The magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry at 3.5 ppm (MTRasym [3.5 ppm]), diffusion coefficient (D), pseudo diffusion coefficient (D*), and perfusion fraction (f) values were compared between the benign and malignant groups and between groups with different expression levels of prognostic factors.

Statistical Tests

Individual sample t‐test, χ2 test, Spearman correlation, logistic regression, and the Delong test.

Results

The D and MTRasym (3.5 ppm) values of the malignant group were lower than those of the benign group; however, D* and f values were higher than those of the benign group (all P < 0.05). The areas under the curve (AUCs) of D, MTRasym (3.5 ppm), D*, and f were 0.809, 0.778, 0.670, and 0.766, respectively; however, only the difference between AUC (D) and AUC (D*) was significant (Z = 2.374, P < 0.05). The D value showed a low correlation with the pathological grade and Ki‐67 expression (| r | = 0.294, 0.367); the f value showed a low correlation with estrogen receptor (ER) expression (| r | = 0.382); and the MTRasym (3.5 ppm) value showed a low correlation with pathological grade (| r | = 0.371).

Data Conclusion

This analysis revealed that both IVIM and APTWI could be used for the differential diagnosis of benign and malignant breast lesions, and APTWI‐derived MTRasym (3.5 ppm), IVIM‐derived D, D*, and f values showed correlations with some prognostic factors for breast cancer.

Level of Evidence

2

Technical Efficacy Stage

2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:1175–1186.
Optical diagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection in blood plasma using Raman spectroscopy and chemometric techniques
Authors: Saleem M. , Ali Safdar , Khan M. Bilal , Amin Ayyaz , Bilal M. , Nawaz Haq , Hassan Mehdi
Published: May 2020

The potential of Raman spectroscopy has been utilized for the diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in blood plasma. Raman spectra of 24 diseased and 10 healthy samples were used to develop distinct types of support vector machine (SVM) models, including linear, quadratic, and radial basis function (RBF) using multivariate method of principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce the dimensions of the obtained datasets. To assess the diagnostic power of these algorithms, developed models were tested on independent dataset. RBF‐based PCA‐SVM model achieved the best performance and yielded accuracy of 98.82%, sensitivity of 98.89%, and specificity of 98.80%. The performance of the SVM models was compared with rerated chemometric method of partial least square regression (PLSR), which has been developed by using the same dataset. The PLSR model attained the diagnostic accuracy of 88%, sensitivity of 93%, and specificity of 78% for same dataset. Our developed model has established promising results compared with state‐of‐the‐art approaches. The results reveal the improved performance of the developed chemometric techniques and clinical prediction potential of HBV by PCA‐SVMs in conjunction with Raman spectroscopy.
Vertically integrated, double stack oxide TFT layers for high‐resolution AMOLED backplane
Authors: Lee Suhui , Chen Yuanfeng , Kim Jeonggi , Jang Jin
Published: May 2020

We developed a novel vertically integrated, double stack oxide thin‐film transistor (TFT) backplane for high‐resolution organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) displays. The first TFT layer is bulk‐accumulation mode, and the second TFT layer is a single gate with back‐channel etched structure. The extracted mobilities and threshold voltages are higher than 10 cm2/Vs and 0 ~ 1 V, respectively. Both TFTs are found to be extremely stable under the bias and temperature stress. The gate driver with width of 530 μm and a pitch of 18.6 μm was developed, exhibiting well shifted signal up to the last stage of 900 stages without output degradation, which could be used for 1360 ppi TFT backplane.
Genetic contributions to the etiology of anorexia nervosa: New perspectives in molecular diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Paolacci Stefano , Kiani Aysha Karim , Manara Elena , Beccari Tommaso , Ceccarini Maria Rachele , Stuppia Liborio , Chiurazzi Pietro , Dalla Ragione Laura , Bertelli Matteo
Published: May 2020

Background

Anorexia nervosa is a multifactorial eating disorder that manifests with self‐starvation, extreme anxiety, hyperactivity, and amenorrhea. Long‐term effects include organ failure, disability, and in extreme cases, even death.

Methods

Through a literature search, here we summarize what is known about the molecular etiology of anorexia nervosa and propose genetic testing for this condition.

Results

Anorexia nervosa often has a familial background and shows strong heritability. Various genetic studies along with genome‐wide association studies have identified several genetic loci involved in molecular pathways that might lead to anorexia.

Conclusion

Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder with a strong genetic component that contributes to its etiology. Various genetic approaches might help in the molecular diagnosis of this disease and in devising novel therapeutic options.
A comparative study of preoperative color‐coded Duplex ultrasonography versus handheld audible Dopplers in ALT flap planning
Authors: Thomas Benjamin , Warszawski Jan , Falkner Florian , Nagel Sarah S. , Schmidt Volker J. , Kneser Ulrich , Bigdeli Amir K.
Published: May 2020

Introduction

The anterior lateral thigh (ALT) flap's vascular variability can lead to complications. Thus, the accuracy of numerous planning modalities has been studied. The clinical relevance of competing mapping methods, however, remains unknown. Therefore, we compared the impact of color‐coded Duplex ultrasonography and handheld audible Dopplers on surgical efficacy and flap safety.

Patients and methods

Forty‐four ALT flaps were included in this comparative retrospective monocentric study. Twelve patients received Duplex scans and 32 flaps were designed using Dopplers only. Patient, defect, and flap characteristics of both groups were analyzed. The effect of either planning method on the primary outcome variables – flap harvest and operative times (HT, OT), course of perforator dissection, incidence of flap loss, emergent re‐explorations, and donor‐site revisions – was then assessed.

Results

Patient, defect, and flap characteristics were comparable between both groups, including flap size (Doppler: 134 ± 73 cm2, Duplex: 131 ± 65 cm2, p = .90). There was no flap loss. Emergent re‐explorations (Doppler: 4/32, Duplex: 1/12, p = .70) and donor‐site revisions (Doppler: 2/32, Duplex: 1/12, p = .81) were equally distributed. Duplex rendered septal perforator dissection 10 times more likely (Chi‐Square = 8.9, p = .003, OR = 9.7), reaching 50% (n = 6/12), as opposed to only 9% in the Doppler cohort (n = 3/32). This allowed for highly significant HT and OT reductions of 89 minutes, respectively (p < .01): from 255 and 383 min (Doppler) to 166 and 294 min (Duplex).

Conclusions

Preoperative Duplex significantly reduces harvest and operative times of ALT flaps.
Correlation of Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis and Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living scales in the MGTX study
Authors: McPherson Tarrant , Aban Inmaculada , Duda Petra W. , Farzaneh‐Far Ramin , Wolfe Gil I. , Kaminski Henry J. , Cutter Gary , Lee Ikjae ,   of the MGTX Study Group
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Quantitative Myasthenia Gravis (QMG) and Myasthenia Gravis Activities of Daily Living (MG‐ADL) scales were compared using the data from the Thymectomy Trial in Non‐Thymomatous Myasthenia Gravis Patients Receiving Prednisone Therapy (MGTX) study.

Methods

Correlation between QMG and MG‐ADL raw and change‐from‐baseline scores was calculated every 3 months for 60 months based on treatment groups and minimal manifestation status (MMS).

Results

QMG and MG‐ADL change‐from‐baseline scores correlated significantly, with increasing strength of correlation over time, in both treatment groups. QMG and MG‐ADL raw scores correlated significantly in both treatment groups, with increasing correlation only in the prednisone‐alone group. Correlation between raw scores was weaker in patients who were in MMS, demonstrating a “floor effect” on the MG‐ADL scale. Raw QMG scores could be modeled assuming a normal distribution, whereas raw MG‐ADL scores could not be modeled this way.

Discussion

The floor effect and skewed distribution of the MG‐ADL measure should be taken into account in the design of myasthenia gravis clinical trials.
Lipocalin‐2 is increased in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Petrozziello Tiziana , Mills Alexandra N. , Farhan Sali M.K. , Mueller Kaly A. , Granucci Eric J. , Glajch Kelly E. , Chan James , Chew Sheena , Berry James D. , Sadri‐Vakili Ghazaleh
Published: May 2020

Background

The exact mechanisms underlying neuroinflammation and how they contribute to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis remain unclear. One possibility is the secretion of neurotoxic factors, such as lipocalin‐2 (LCN2), that lead to neuronal death.

Methods

LCN2 levels were measured in human postmortem tissue using Western blot, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence, and in plasma by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. SH‐SY5Y cells were used to test the pro‐inflammatory effects of LCN2.

Results

LCN2 is increased in ALS postmortem motor cortex, spinal cord, and plasma. Furthermore, we identified several LCN2 variants in ALS patients that may contribute to disease pathogenesis. Lastly, while LCN2 treatment caused cell death and increased pro‐inflammatory markers, treatment with an anti‐LCN2 antibody prevented these responses in vitro.

Conclusions

LCN2 upregulation in ALS postmortem samples and plasma may be an upstream event for triggering neuroinflammation and neuronal death.
Maldevelopment of intrapulmonary bronchial cartilage in congenital diaphragmatic hernia
Authors: Tando So , Sakai Kohei , Takayama Shohei , Fukunaga Kenji , Higashi Mayumi , Fumino Shigehisa , Aoi Shigeyoshi , Furukawa Taizo , Tajiri Tatsuro , Ogi Hiroshi , Itoh Kyoko
Published: May 2020

Background

Pulmonary hypoplasia is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). This study aimed to verify our hypothesis that the abnormal development of bronchial cartilage as well as alveolar immaturity, might play a central role in hypoplasia of the lung in human CDH.

Method

We retrospectively analyzed autopsied lungs from 10 CDH cases and compared with nine age‐matched controls to assess the bronchial cartilage and alveolar maturity using morphological techniques.

Result

Ki‐67 and thyroid transcription factor‐1 (TTF‐1) expression in the alveoli significantly increased in bilateral lungs with CDH. The shortest distance from the bronchial cartilage to the pleura was significantly shorter in ipsilateral (left) lungs with CDH, showing a positive correlation with the radial alveolar count (RAC). Regarding the small bronchial cartilages less than 20 000 μm2, the average cartilage area significantly decreased in left lungs with CDH, and tended to decrease in right lungs with CDH. In addition, cartilage around the bronchi less than 200 μm in diameter tended to be smaller in left lungs with CDH. In contrast, regarding the cartilage around the bronchi 200 to 400 μm in diameter, the ratio of the total cartilage area relative to the bronchial diameter tended to be higher in left lungs with CDH, although there was a large variation.

Conclusions

These opposite directional cartilage abnormalities around the distal and more proximal bronchi support our hypothesis that abnormal development of bronchial cartilage might play an important role in the hypoplastic lung in CDH.
Rice virus release from the planthopper salivary gland is independent of plant tissue recognition by the stylet
Authors: Xu Chunling , Lu Chengye , Piao Jun , Wang Yixiao , Zhou Tong , Zhou Yijun , Li Shuo
Published: May 2020

Background

The transmission of plant viruses by arthropod vectors is closely related to feeding behavior. For persistently transmitted viruses, virus release means that virus moves through the salivary gland microvillus barriers of insects into plant via the stylet. However, whether virus release is dependent on plant tissue and component recognition by the stylet is unclear.

Results

In this study, the small brown planthopper (SBPH) and two rice viruses transmitted by it were used as a model to explore this question. After the viruliferous insects penetrated a stretched membrane without plant tissue structure and ingested liquid food (rice sap, nutrient solution or water), both viruses were detected in the liquid food after only a 6 min inoculation access period, suggesting that the viruses were released from SBPH salivary gland independent of plant tissue and component recognition by the stylet. In subsequent electrical penetration graph (EPG) analysis, N4a‐like and N4b‐like waveforms, similar to N4a (phloem salivation before ingestion) and N4b (sieve element ingestion), were observed during SBPH penetrating the membrane, exhibiting normal feeding activity of planthopper on membrane, which further demonstrated that virus release from salivary gland was along with feeding activity, without the stylet sensing plant tissue. EPG analysis and identification of salivary proteins indicated more active feeding behavior and efficient salivation in viruliferous planthoppers.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the rice virus is released from insect salivary gland independent of plant tissue and component recognition by the stylet, and the simple virus release mode facilitates virus transmission by vectors. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Reassessment of historic ‘microsaurs’ from Joggins, Nova Scotia, reveals hidden diversity in the earliest amniote ecosystem
Authors: Mann Arjan , Gee Bryan M. , Pardo Jason D. , Marjanović David , Adams Gabrielle R. , Calthorpe Ami S. , Maddin Hillary C. , Anderson Jason S.
Published: May 2020

‘Microsaurs’ are traditionally considered to be lepospondyl non‐amniotes, but recent analyses have recovered a subset of ‘microsaurs’, the fossorially adapted Recumbirostra, within Amniota. This novel conclusion highlights the need for additional work to evaluate these competing hypotheses with the aim of refining the phylogenetic position of ‘microsaurs’. Of particular importance in this regard is the placement of potential close relatives of recumbirostrans to determine whether they support an early, stepwise acquisition of the derived morphology seen in recumbirostrans for a fossorial lifestyle, or whether this morphology is the result of evolutionary convergence. Asaphestera intermedia is part of a diverse ‘microsaur’ assemblage preserved at the famous Pennsylvanian Joggins locality in Nova Scotia, Canada. As part of a broader exploration of ‘microsaur’ taxonomy, we find that the material assigned to this taxon is a composite of a synapsid (herein Asaphestera platyris), indeterminate tetrapod material named ‘Hylerpeton’ intermedium (a nomen dubium not referable to Hylerpeton), and the newly recognized recumbirostran Steenerpeton silvae gen. et sp. nov. Further, Archerpeton anthracos from the same site must at present be considered a nomen dubium and may or may not be a ‘microsaur’. Recognition of Asaphestera platyris as a synapsid provides the earliest unambiguous evidence of ‘mammal‐like reptiles’ in the fossil record.
Probabilistischer Ansatz zur Detektion von Strukturveränderungen an Monopile‐Gründungsstrukturen mit Messdaten aus einem Structural Health Monitoring System
Authors: Lendve Shardul B. , Enss Georg C. , Tsiapoki Stavroula , Ebert Carsten , Asmussen Jörg
Published: May 2020

Gründungsstrukturen von Offshore‐Windenergieanlagen müssen während ihrer Design‐Lebensdauer von oftmals mehr als 25 Jahren den Einwirkungen aus Umgebungsbedingungen, Betriebs‐ und Extremlasten zuverlässig standhalten. Während ihrer Lebensdauer können Offshore‐Gründungsstrukturen Strukturveränderungen oder Schäden erfahren. Aus diesem Grund wurde es in Deutschland vom Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie (BSH) zur Auflage gemacht, dass etwa 10 % der Strukturen mit einem Monitoringsystem (Structural Health Monitoring, SHM) überwacht werden. In der Praxis der letzten Jahre haben sich eine typische Sensorkonfiguration aus Beschleunigungs‐, Neigungs‐ und Dehnungssensoren sowie die Auswertung der Schwingungsamplituden, Eigenfrequenzen, Neigungen etc. etabliert. Diese Studie stellt eine neuartige, datenbasierte Quantifizierung von Detektionswahrscheinlichkeiten (Probability of Detection, POD) für Strukturveränderungen vor. In dieser Studie wird beispielhaft untersucht, anhand welcher Indikatoren die beiden Strukturveränderungen Kolkbildung und mariner Bewuchs an einer Monopile‐Gründungsstruktur detektiert werden können. Dafür werden numerische Analysen mittels finiter Elemente mit gemessenen Schwingungsdaten eines Offshore‐Windparks kombiniert.
Methods for the Extraction of Roots, Tubers, Pulses, Pseudocereals, and Other Unconventional Starches Sources: A Review
Authors: Kringel Dianini Hüttner , El Halal Shanise Lisie Mello , Zavareze Elessandra da Rosa , Dias Alvaro Renato Guerra
Published: May 2020

New botanical materials are emerging as unconventional sources of starch, increasing their economic value and, therefore, providing a higher starch demand with novel and unique properties for the substitution of traditional starch sources. Overall, starch isolation from roots and tubers is simple and based on breaking vegetal cells to release the starch. Starch extraction from pulses is more complex due to their higher protein and lipid content and smaller starch granules compared to roots and tuber starches. Starch from pseudocereals can be isolated by wet milling. Recently, alternative sources of starch have been proposed, including tree, herbs/shrubs, and fruits; the isolation of starch from these sources involves wet milling procedures in the presence or absence of the chemical solutions. This review summarizes the usual laboratory methods and recent advances in the extraction of starches from roots, tubers, pulses, and pseudocerals. Starch extraction methods from unconventional sources are also described. This review may be useful to guide researchers and technologists from the industry in their choice of better starch extraction methods, presenting the advantages and disadvantages of each method.
Self‐assembled organic/metal ion nanohybrids for theranostics
Authors: Zhang Kai , Zhao Nana , Xu Fu‐Jian
Published: May 2020

Owing to their remarkable physicochemical and favorable biological properties, self‐assembled organic/metal ions nanohybrids show great potential for constructing multifunctional nanoplatforms of cancer theranostics. By tailoring the structural components of organic blocks and metal ions, various nanoplatforms with integrated properties can be manufactured. These nanoplatforms offer different capacities, including high loading effect, facile modification/functionalization, and excellent biocompatibility, which are beneficial for applications in bioimaging and cancer treatments. This review focuses on the design, fabrication, properties of organic/metal ions nanohybrids, and their applications in biosensing, bioimaging, therapy, and bioimaging‐guided therapy of cancer. Various research works related to organic/metal ions nanohybrids toward cancer theranostics are highlighted. By presenting and summarizing these research works and discoveries, the species of organic blocks are classified into synthetic organic molecules and biomolecules. Besides, the intrinsic properties and synergistic characteristics of organic blocks and metal ions are also discussed. The prospects and challenges for future researches in this field are also proposed.
The helix approach: Using dynamic individual pitch control to enhance wake mixing in wind farms
Authors: Frederik Joeri A. , Doekemeijer Bart M. , Mulders Sebastiaan P. , van Wingerden Jan‐Willem
Published: May 2020

Wind farm control using dynamic concepts is a research topic that is receiving an increasing amount of interest. The main concept of this approach is that dynamic variations of the wind turbine control settings lead to higher wake turbulence, and subsequently faster wake recovery due to increased mixing. As a result, downstream turbines experience higher wind speeds, thus increasing their energy capture. In dynamic induction control (DIC), the magnitude of the thrust force of an upstream turbine is varied. Although very effective, this approach also leads to increased power and thrust variations, negatively impacting energy quality and fatigue loading. In this paper, a novel approach for the dynamic control of wind turbines in a wind farm is proposed: using individual pitch control, the fixed‐frame tilt and yaw moments on the turbine are varied, thus dynamically manipulating the wake. This strategy is named the helix approach because the resulting wake has a helical shape. Large eddy simulations of a two‐turbine wind farm show that this approach leads to enhanced wake mixing with minimal power and thrust variations.
Kinetics of a fixed bed reactor with immobilized microorganisms for the removal of organic matter and phosphorous
Authors: Bustos‐Terrones Yaneth A. , Estrada‐Vázquez Rogelio , Ramírez‐Pereda Blenda , Bustos‐Terrones Victoria , Rangel‐Peraza Jesús Gabriel
Published: May 2020

The biodegradation of domestic wastewater contaminants has been carried out using microorganisms immobilized in sodium alginate gel (Alg‐Na). A fixed bed reactor with immobilized microorganisms was used for the treatment of domestic wastewater. A wastewater pretreatment was carried out to remove the larger particulate matter, which consisted of a reactor packed with different materials (anthracite, zeolite, and activated carbon). Later, a second reactor packed with balls with immobilized microorganisms was used to eliminate organic matter and nutrients. 2.5% w/v of Alg‐Na was used as a support to immobilize the microorganisms. According to the results, a total phosphorus (TP) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 94.26% and 78.25% was obtained, respectively. In addition, the degradation rate for both organic matter and phosphorous was studied by using the kinetic model for fix bed reactor. © 2020 Water Environment Federation

Practitioner points

Phosphorous and organic matter removal by adsorption and immobilized microorganisms.

High removal efficiency of phosphorous and organic matter was found.

An innovative wastewater treatment alternative is proposed.

Kinetic model for fixed bed reactor is also proposed for scaling‐up purposes.
From a 1D Sb Coordination Polymer to a 3D Sb Framework with Pyrazine: Switching off the Stereochemically Active Lone‐Pair
Authors: Sorg Jens R. , Schäfer Thomas C. , Schneider Tilman , Müller‐Buschbaum Klaus
Published: May 2020

The one‐dimensional coordination polymer 1∞[SbCl3(pyz)] (1) and the three‐dimensional frameworks 3∞[Sb2Cl6(pyz)3] (2) and 3∞[Sb2I6(pyz)3] (3) were obtained from SbX3 (X: Cl, I) and pyrazine (pyz). These coordination polymers are, to the best of our knowledge, among the first Sb‐based coordination polymers constructed from antimony halides and N‐donor ligands. While the Sb3+‐cations in 1 are coordinated in a square‐pyramidal coordination sphere indicating a stereochemically active lone‐pair, no stereochemically active Sb‐lone‐pair is present in 2 and 3 having octahedral coordination spheres around SbIII. Since 2 can be obtained by heating of 1, the character of the Sb‐lone‐pair in 1 can be changed by thermal treatment. Thereby the interlinkage is increased via an additional pyrazine molecule resulting in the octahedral coordination in 2.
Central charges for the double coset
Authors: de Carvalho Shaun , de Mello Koch Robert , Kim Minkyoo
Published: May 2020

Abstract

The state space of excited giant graviton brane systems is given by the Gauss graph operators. After restricting to the su(2|3) sector of the theory, we consider this state space. Our main result is the decomposition of this state space into irreducible representations of the su(2|2) ⋉ ℝ global symmetry. Excitations of the giant graviton branes are charged under a central extension of the global symmetry. The central extension generates gauge transformations so that the action of the central extension vanishes on physical states. Indeed, we explicitly demonstrate that the central charge is set to zero by the Gauss Law of the brane world volume gauge theory.