bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Something old, something new: Teaching the BMB lab
Authors: Craig Paul A.
Published: May 2020

Lab courses are a significant component of biochemistry and molecular biology (BMB) education. In teaching the labs, we combine established techniques with novel approaches. Lab formats have also moved from traditional cookbook style labs to guided inquiry to course‐based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs), where faculty bring their own research interests into the course setting with a larger number of students in a much more restricted time frame. This presentation is designed to explore some of these ideas and challenge the reader to introduce research opportunities to all students, not just the smaller group of students in their research labs.
Hyaluronic acid–doxorubicin nanoparticles for targeted treatment of colorectal cancer
Authors: Pan Daniel C. , Krishnan Vinu , Salinas Alyssa K. , Kim Jayoung , Sun Tao , Ravid Sagi , Peng Kevin , Wu Debra , Nurunnabi Md , Nelson Jeffery A. , Niziolek Zachary , Guo Junling , Mitragotri Samir
Published: May 2020

Colorectal cancer, common in both men and women, occurs when tumors form in the linings of the colon. Common treatments of colorectal cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy; however, many colorectal cancer treatments often damage healthy tissues and cells, inducing severe side effects. Conventional chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin (Dox) can be potentially used for the treatment of colorectal cancer; however, they suffer from limited targeting and lack of selectivity. Here, we report that doxorubicin complexed to hyaluronic acid (HA) (HA‐Dox) exhibits an unusual behavior of high accumulation in the intestines for at least 24 hr when injected intravenously. Intravenous administrations of HA‐Dox effectively preserved the mucosal epithelial intestinal integrity in a chemical induced colon cancer model in mice. Moreover, treatment with HA‐Dox decreased the expression of intestinal apoptotic and inflammatory markers. The results suggest that HA‐Dox could effectively inhibit the development of colorectal cancer in a safe manner, which potentially be used a promising therapeutic option.
A‐kinase‐interacting protein 1 promotes EMT and metastasis via PI3K/Akt/IKKβ pathway in cervical cancer
Authors: Zhang Xiujuan , Liu Shuxian , Zhu Yongqing
Published: May 2020

Overexpression of A‐kinase‐interacting protein 1 (AKIP1) has been reported in prostate and breast cancers. Nevertheless, the clinical potential of AKIP1 during the development of cervical cancer (CC) remains unclear. A series of experiments involving BdU, colony formation, wound healing and cell invasion assays were performed to determine cell proliferation, migration and invasion, respectively. Gene expression changes were validated by qRT‐PCR, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. We found that AKIP1 expression is increased in CC cell lines and tissue specimens from CC patients. The elevated AKIP1 expression in primary tumours was related to lymph node metastasis in CC patients. In addition, we observed that overexpression of AKIP1 promotes CC cell proliferation. Enhanced expression of AKIP1 facilitated the migration and invasion of CC cells by inducing NF‐κB‐dependent epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, mechanistic investigations revealed that AKIP1 induced nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of the p65 NF‐κB subunit through the PI3K/Akt/IKKβ pathway. Conversely, enhanced expression of phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) inhibited this signalling pathway and restored an epithelial phenotype to CC cells in the presence of overexpressed AKIP1. Our results indicate that AKIP1 promotes the EMT and metastasis in CC by activating NF‐κB signalling through the PI3K/Akt/IKKβ pathway, suggesting that AKIP1 could be a pivotal regulator of an EMT axis in CC.

Significance of the study

AKIP1 expression in the samples of CC patients and in in vitro tumour cell lines provides evidence that expression of AKIP1 in CC contributes to cancer progression. Our findings indicate that AKIP1 promotes the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition and metastasis in CC by activating NF‐κB signalling through the PI3K/Akt/IKKβ pathway, suggesting that AKIP1 is a pivotal regulator of an EMT axis in CC. AKIP1 could be implicated as a potential therapeutic target as well as a valuable biomarker for evaluating prognosis for patients with CC.
Treatment of Arsenite‐Contaminated Water by Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes
Authors: Nidheesh P. V. , Syam Babu D. , Dasgupta Baishakhi , Behara Priyanka , Ramasamy Boopathy , Suresh Kumar M.
Published: May 2020

Arsenite removal from aqueous medium is quite challenging as most of the conventional methods fail to exhibit arsenite removal completely. The present article examines the possibility of electrochemical advanced oxidation processes to remove arsenite from water medium. Anodic oxidation and electro‐Fenton processes failed to remove generated arsenate in the system but found effective to oxidize arsenite completely from its initial concentrations of 1 mg/L and 10 mg/L. Arsenite oxidation is mainly due to in‐situ generated hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals for anodic oxidation and electro‐Fenton processes. However, peroxicoagulation process was found effective for the oxidation of arsenite as well as removal of arsenic in water. Complete removal of arsenic was observed within 30 min of electrolysis time for pH range in between 3 to 11. Overall, peroxicoagulation is an effective way to remove arsenic from aqueous solution.
Transformational leadership, group affective tone, and group member social inferences: A leadership complementarity perspective
Authors: Bruning Patrick F. , Turner Nick , Lin Hsin‐Chen
Published: May 2020

We investigated how the complementarity between transformational leadership behaviours and group potency predicts changes in group affective tone and subsequent group members' social inferences (job satisfaction, trust in supervisors, and turnover intentions). We analyzed two waves of data from 135 skilled professionals working in 29 groups within a Canadian government agency. Transformational leadership behaviours did not directly relate to changes in group affective tone. However, group potency moderated the relationship between transformational leadership behaviours and group affective tone, as well as the indirect relationships between transformational leadership behaviours and group members' social inferences via group affective tone, such that the relationships were stronger for low‐potency groups. These results suggest transformational leadership may work best when complementing a group's sense of its own perceived capability.
The Synthesis and Anti‐tumour Properties of Poly Ethoxy Ethyl Glycinamide (PEE−G) Scaffolds with Multiple PD‐1 Peptides Attached
Authors: Shrestha Rinu , Petley Emma V. , Farrand Kathryn J. , Jamieson Sam A. , Jiao Wanting , Teesdale‐Spittle Paul H. , Mace Peter D. , Hermans Ian F. , Rendle Phillip M.
Published: May 2020

Multivalent structures can provide multiple interactions at a target site and improve binding affinity. The multivalent presentation of the anti‐tumour heptapeptide, SNTSESF, was investigated. This peptide's activity has been attributed to blockade of the PD‐1 receptor‐mediated signalling pathway. Two and four peptide units were conjugated to poly ethoxy ethyl glycinamide (PEE−G) scaffolds to prepare high‐purity products. These conjugates and the peptide were examined in a mouse model implanted with GL261 tumours that indicated that presenting more than two copies of peptide SNTSESF on the dendritic scaffold does not increase anti‐tumour activity per peptide. The fluorescent labelled peptide and most active multivalent peptide conjugate were therefore screened for their interaction with the human PD−L1 protein in a fluorescence polarisation assay. No indication of a specific SNTSESF peptide/PD−L1 interaction was observed. This finding was further supported by a molecular modelling binding study.
Identification of variant α‐kafirin alleles associated with protein digestibility in grain sorghum
Authors: Duressa Dechassa , Bean Scott , Amand Paul St. , Tesso Tesfaye
Published: May 2020

Owing to its unique adaptation to challenging environments, sorghum [Sorghum bicolor(L.) Moench] remains a vital food security crop for millions of smallholder communities in sub‐Saharan Africa. Elsewhere, the crop is used as an important feed ingredient. One key constraint undermining food and feed value of sorghum is reduced protein digestibility, which has been attributed to numerous causes. The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of DNA sequence variations in genes coding for sorghum seed storage proteins (kafirins) on protein digestibility of sorghum grain. The entire kafirin gene family of 27 genes and six cysteine proteinase inhibitor genes were amplified from genetically diverse high‐ and low‐digestible sorghum genotypes in order to capture allelic variants that may be responsible for differences in digestibility. A pooled DNA library was prepared and deeply sequenced using the Ion Torrent DNA sequencing system. Variant alleles were called by mapping sequencing reads to the reference sorghum genome and tested for association with sorghum protein digestibility using quantitative (linear model regression) and qualitative (Chi‐square test) statistical analyses. Four α‐kafirin alleles, all located on chromosome 5, were strongly associated with protein digestibility. Three of the alleles were linked to high digestibility and one to low digestibility. These variants overlap with the genes,Sobic.005G185600,Sobic.005G188800,Sobic.005G189000(high digestibility alleles),and Sobic.005G192801(low digestibility allele). In silico predictive analysis showed the variants cause missense change in the amino acid sequences of the corresponding proteins. Molecular markers linked to these variant alleles may serve as breeding tools for genetic improvement of protein digestibility in sorghum.
Integration of Oxygen‐Vacancy‐Rich NiFe‐Layered Double Hydroxide onto Silicon as Photoanode for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation
Authors: Chen Cong , Lu Yao , Fan Ronglei , Shen Mingrong
Published: May 2020

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting has the potential to efficiently convert intermittent solar energy into storable hydrogen fuel. However, poor charge separation and transfer ability as well as sluggish surface oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics of the photoelectrode severely hinder the advance in PEC performance. Herein, a facile electrodeposition method was used to integrate Mo‐doped NiFe‐layered double hydroxide onto a NiOx/Ni‐protected Si photoanode for enhanced PEC water oxidation. Mo doping contributed to an increased amount of oxygen vacancies, whereas a dynamic surface self‐reconstruction was induced by Mo leaching under PEC OER conditions. This led to enhanced PEC performance with an onset potential of 0.87 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), a photocurrent density of 39.3 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE, a fill factor of 0.38, and a solar‐to‐oxygen conversion efficiency of 5.3 %, along with a stability of 130 h continuous PEC reaction. The performance was superior to that of the undoped NiFe‐LDH/NiOx/Ni/Si (4.3 %), which was attributed to the elevated interface charge separation, fast charge transfer, and accelerated OER kinetics.
Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration cytology in the diagnosis of the gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the stomach
Authors: Val‐Bernal José‐Fernando , Yllera Elena , Moris María , Nallib Ihab Abdulkader , Vázquez‐Boquete Angel , Martino María
Published: May 2020

Background

This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration cytology (EUS‐FNAC) in the diagnosis of the gastric gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).

Methods

We retrospectively investigated the efficacy and accuracy of EUS‐FNAC in the diagnosis of gastric GIST. Cytological smears and cytoblock sections including immunohistochemistry and mutational studies from patients diagnosed as gastric GISTs were retrieved.

Results

Thirty patients (mean age 68.8 years, range 32‐88 years, Male:Female 1:1.7) were diagnosed by cytological and cytoblock study to have GIST. The size of tumors ranged from 1.6 to 25 cm (mean 6.0 cm). 7 (23%) cases were incidentally discovered. Location was: gastric body 13 (43.3%), fundus 8 (26.7%), antrum 7 (23.3%), cardia 2 (6.7%). The study of removed tumors was correlated with the cytological findings. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy were 75%, 100%, 100%, 46%, and 96%. There were no false‐positive cases. The preoperative risk assessment of 27 cases with cytoblock were: none 3 (11.1%), very low 8 (29.6%), low 12 (44.4%), high 3 (11.1%), insufficient clinical data 1 (3.7%). The follow‐up varied from 2 to 120 months (mean 46.7 months). Only 1 patient of the high‐risk group died. The most frequent mutations found were those of c‐KIT in exon 11.

Conclusions

Pathological diagnosis was based on a combination of cytological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical features. EUS‐FNAC is a reliable, accurate, and safe method for the diagnosis of GIST. The cytoblock allows tumor risk classification and mutational study of the cases.
Reliable cerebrospinal fluid cytology reporting over an extended period: Is it possible by adding formol saline and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as cell preservative?
Authors: Rastogi Kanika , Singh Lavleen , Khatri Arti , Mishra Kirtisudha , Gupta Ranjan
Published: May 2020

Background

Reporting cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology within a narrow time frame is crucial as it is often indicated in critically ill patients and moreover, the cells in CSF are highly labile and tend to decline rapidly on standing. However, due to various logistic issues, delay in reporting is inevitable at times, especially if ancillary tools are required. In this study, we examine the effect of using formol saline and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a preservative on the cellular composition of CSF at 18, 24, and 48 hours of preservation.

Methods

Thirty CSF specimens were examined within 2 hours of collection and this reading was recorded as time zero reading. The CSF specimens were then divided in three tubes with: (a) preservative:CSF ratio of 1:1; (b) preservative:CSF ratio of 1:5; and (c) no preservative. Total and differential leucocyte counts and immunocytochemistry were performed on the three specimens at 18, 24, and 48 hours and were compared with the readings at 0 hour.

Results

Preserved CSF (in the ratio of 1:5) showed no significant decrease in the number of cells at 18 hours (P = .4), 24 hours (P = .3), and 48 hours (P = .1). Cellularity decreased by 8.5%, 22%, and 40% at 18, 24, and 48 hours, respectively. Cell morphology and antigenicity were well preserved at all the three time intervals.

Conclusion

Formol saline and EDTA, when mixed with the CSF in the ratio of 1:5, can preserve significant cellularity for up to 24 hours.
Undue burdens in the time of coronavirus
Authors: Masinter Michael R.
Published: May 2020

Beginning early in March of this year, postsecondary schools across the country responded to the COVID‐19 pandemic by quickly reconfiguring classroom instruction to exclusively online education.
Engage in emergency planning to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities
Authors: LoGiudice Joseph A.
Published: May 2020

About four years ago, when I was a newbie at my home university, The City College of New York, I requested a copy of the university's emergency procedure, which was not posted to the university's website. I was forwarded a copy of it via email, and it appeared to be a poor textual document that was photocopied a million times over. The document had not been revised for nearly a decade — and it did not mention people (visitors, faculty, staff, and students) with disabilities. As a professional social worker, I felt this was morally wrong. I attempted to determine what responses would be required for people with disabilities in the types of emergencies the document outlined.
Development of a predation index to assess trophic stability in the Gulf of Alaska
Authors: Barnes Cheryl L. , Beaudreau Anne H. , Dorn Martin W. , Holsman Kirstin K. , Mueter Franz J.
Published: May 2020

Predation can have substantial and long‐term effects on the population dynamics of ecologically important prey. Diverse predator assemblages, however, may produce stabilizing (i.e., portfolio) effects on prey mortality when consumption varies asynchronously among predators. We calculated spatiotemporal variation in predation on a dominant forage species to quantify synchrony and portfolio effects in a food web context and better understand diversity–stability relationships in a large marine ecosystem that has undergone considerable changes in community composition. We selected Walleye Pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) as our case study because they support some of the largest, most valuable commercial fisheries in the world and serve as essential prey for an array of economically and culturally important species. Thus, there are sufficient data for Pollock with which to test ecological theories in an empirical setting. Spatially explicit predation indices accounted for annual variation in predator biomass, bioenergetics‐based rations, and age‐specific proportions of Pollock consumed by a suite of groundfishes in the Gulf of Alaska (1990–2015). We found that Arrowtooth Flounder (Atheresthes stomias) was, by far, the dominant Pollock predator (proportional consumption: 0.74 ± 0.14). We also found synchronous trends in consumption among predator species, indicating a lack of portfolio effects at the basin scale. This combination of a single dominant predator and synchronous consumption dynamics suggests strong top‐down control over Pollock in the Gulf of Alaska, though the degree of synchrony was highly variable at all spatial scales. Whereas synchrony generally increased in the western subregion, consumption in the central Gulf of Alaska became less synchronous through time. This suggests diminished trophic stability in one area and increased stability in another, thereby emphasizing the importance of spatiotemporal heterogeneity in maintaining food web structure and function. Finally, total Pollock consumption was highly variable (ranging from 1.87 to 7.63 Tg) and often exceeded assessment‐based estimates of productivity. We assert that using our holistic and empirically derived predation index as a modifier of assumed constant natural mortality would provide a practical method for incorporating ecological information into single‐species stock assessments.
Severe and enduring anorexia nervosa: No easy solutions
Authors: Dalle Grave Riccardo
Published: May 2020

There is currently no evidence‐based definition of severe and enduring anorexia nervosa (SE‐AN) with which to reliably inform clinical practice and research. Indeed, data on the effect of AN severity and duration on treatment outcome are inconsistent. A large group of patients with SE‐AN are repeatedly unsuccessfully managed with the available eating disorders treatments and have no access to adequate treatment for their illness. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) adapted for SE‐AN has been designed to enhance quality of life and reduce harm rather than promoting weight gain in such patients, and has had some success. However, a percentage of patients with SE‐AN achieves remission, or at least returns to a normal weight range, with available evidence‐based treatments for eating disorders, such as enhanced CBT (CBT‐E). It would therefore be worth conducting a large‐scale randomized controlled trial comparing CBT adapted for SE‐AN with CBT‐E to assess their relative acceptability; efficacy, including their effect on quality of life and medical stability; cost‐effectiveness; and the treatment response moderators that might allow better matching of patients with SE‐AN to a treatment oriented either to harm reduction or to change.
Parasite and pathogen effects on ecosystem processes: A quantitative review
Authors: Fischhoff Ilya R. , Huang Tao , Hamilton Stephen K. , Han Barbara A. , LaDeau Shannon L. , Ostfeld Richard S. , Rosi Emma J. , Solomon Christopher T.
Published: May 2020

Pathogens and parasites (henceforth “pathogens”) can make up a large percentage of the biomass found in ecosystems, and therefore, their impacts on ecosystem processes should be prominent. Pathogens influence ecosystem processes by affecting the abundance or phenotype of hosts and through direct contributions to ecosystem production. However, there has been little quantitative synthesis of the relative effect sizes of these impacts on ecosystem processes. This study presents a systematic review and meta‐analysis of pathogen effects on primary production, secondary production, and biogeochemical cycles. We find that the effects of pathogens on ecosystem processes were greater where pathogens influenced host or community abundance or biomass than when they influenced phenotypes. Pathogen impacts on primary production were larger than on secondary production or biogeochemical cycles. By contrast, we detected no general differences in effect sizes across host or pathogen taxon or ecosystem type (terrestrial vs. aquatic). While we have found potential evidence of publication bias against negative results, a well‐known issue in meta‐analyses, our work nonetheless shows that the available literature under‐represents some taxa and geographic regions. To better understand the extent and magnitude of pathogen impacts on ecosystem processes, future research is needed in four areas. First, research is needed on the most understudied systems, including bacteria and viruses, as well as tropical ecosystems. A second priority is research seeking to understand how key components of ecosystem variation, including age (time of ecological continuity), productivity, and species diversity and composition, may interact to mediate pathogen impacts. Third, we suggest expanding on work examining how pathogen effects are influenced by climate change, species introductions, deforestation, and other human impacts. Fourth, we expect that host coinfection influences ecosystem processes in ways that cannot always be predicted based on studies of single infections. To enable others to build on this work, we make available the data we extracted from the literature, with the code for computing effect sizes.
Assessing conservation conflict: Does intertidal oyster aquaculture inhibit foraging behavior of migratory shorebirds?
Authors: Maslo Brooke , Burkhalter J. Curtis , Bushek David , Yuhas Tanner , Schumm Brian , Burger Joanna , Lockwood Julie L.
Published: May 2020

Conservation is increasingly in conflict with human activities due to global human population growth, particularly in areas that support threatened species. Conflicts often impede effective implementation of needed conservation measures and also have implications for social inequality, resource use and economic development. Bivalve molluscan shellfish aquaculture is commonly considered one of the least impactful forms of protein production worldwide but, in some locations, may interfere with essential activities of threatened species such as the stopover ecology of migrating shorebirds. Here we assess the impact of oyster aquaculture as practiced in Delaware Bay (New Jersey, USA) on the presence and foraging behavior of migratory shorebird species of conservation concern. We conducted counts and behavioral observations of shorebirds across a 4.8‐km stretch of the Delaware Bay and tested the effect of regulated aquaculture structures and activities on shorebird presence relative to various environmental factors. We also evaluated differences in mean peck rates for each species within and away from aquaculture areas, and we examined multiple factors influencing foraging rates for each species. For all species, we found that oyster tending reduced the probability of shorebird presence by 1–7%, whereas the untended aquaculture structures had no detectable impact. Foraging rates were mostly influenced by environmental conditions, particularly the presence of competitors (gulls or other shorebirds), and the foraging substrate. None of the focal species substantially altered their time budget or foraging rates in the presence of tended or untended oyster aquaculture. This evidence suggests that intertidal oyster aquaculture and migrating shorebirds can co‐utilize the resource rich intertidal areas on which they occur.
Regulation of tartary buckwheat‐resistant starch on intestinal microflora in mice fed with high‐fat diet
Authors: Zhou Yiming , Wei Yun , Yan Beibei , Zhao Shen , Zhou Xiaoli
Published: May 2020

Resistant starch (RS) is closely related to the composition of intestinal flora. Based on many studies on the physiological functions of probiotics and short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs), it is possible that RS can improve the intestinal health of the host. Therefore, we speculated that tartary buckwheat‐resistant starch (TBRS) can also regulate the intestinal flora disorder caused by high‐fat diet. We randomly divided 36 SPF C57BL/6J mice into low‐fat diet, high‐fat diet (HF‐CS), high‐fat diet supplemented with TBRS (HF‐BRS), and high‐fat diet supplemented with corn‐resistant starch (HF‐CRS). We analyzed the diversity and richness of gut microbiota based on PCR and Illumina high‐throughput sequencing technology. In community abundance, the HF‐BRS group was significantly higher than the other three groups (p < .05). TBRS improved the gut microbiota dysbiosis, including decreasing the Firmicutes‐to‐Bacteroidetes ratios (F/B) and contributing to the growth of Bacteroides and Blautia as well significantly inhibiting the growth of Bifidobacterium, Faecalibaculum, and Erysipelatoclostridium. We also analyzed the production of SCFAs by GC‐MS, and the concentration of total SCFAs increased in the HF‐CS group. However, TBRS significantly increased the production of SCFAs, especially the propionate concentration compared with the HF‐CRS group (p < .05). These results elucidated that TBRS has the potential to improve intestinal health by altering the structure of gut microbiota and increasing the production of SCFAs. Our findings have important implications for TBRS as functional food ingredient to manipulate intestinal microflora.
Chemometric analysis combined with FTIR spectroscopy of milk and Halloumi cheese samples according to species’ origin
Authors: Tarapoulouzi Maria , Kokkinofta Rebecca , Theocharis Charis R.
Published: May 2020

Food adulteration is an issue of major concern, as numerous foodstuffs and beverages do not follow their labeling. Our research interest is in the field of authenticity of dairy products and particularly cheese. Adulteration of dairy products is a well‐known phenomenon, and there are numerous published studies specifically on the authenticity of cheese. In fact, substitution of a portion of fat and/or proteins, adulteration with milk of other species’ origin, and mislabeling of ingredients are some of the main issues that the science of dairy products’ authenticity is regularly facing. Discrimination of dairy products can be determined through several chemical or microbiological methods as presented in the literature. In addition, chemometric analysis is an important tool for interpretation of a huge load of measurements. The aim of this study is to discriminate between various milk samples, which is the primary ingredient of dairy products. Milk samples with different trademarks were analyzed. That data was combined with Halloumi cheese samples for chemometric discrimination of species’ origin. The innovative point of this study is the fact that it is the first time that a research study related to dairy products includes Halloumi cheese which is a traditional Cypriot cheese, not well‐studied until now. The first step of the methodology was the freeze‐drying via lyophilization of the samples. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was chosen for their chemical characterization. Moreover, interpretation of the measurements was carried out by chemometric analysis using SIMCA software. For this study, FTIR data combined with chemometrics have given a very good discrimination of the samples according to their species’ origin. Chemometric methods such as PCA and OPLS‐DA have been used with great success. In the future, this model will be studied regarding geographical origin of the samples.
Diatoms in a sediment core from a flood pulse wetland in Malaysia record strong responses to human impacts and hydro‐climate over the past 150 years
Authors: Briddon Charlotte L. , McGowan Suzanne , Metcalfe Sarah E. , Panizzo Virginia , Lacey Jack , Engels Stefan , Leng Melanie , Mills Keely , Shafiq Muhammad , Idris Mushrifah
Published: May 2020

Rapid development and climate change in southeast Asia is placing unprecedented pressures on freshwater ecosystems, but long term records of the ecological consequences are rare. Here we examine one basin of Tasik Chini (Malaysia), a UNESCO‐designated flood pulse wetland, where human disturbances (dam installation, iron ore mining, oil palm and rubber cultivation) have escalated since the 1980s. Diatom analysis and organic matter geochemistry (δ13Corg and C/N ratios) were applied to a sediment sequence to infer ecological changes in the basin since c. 1900 CE. As the Tasik Chini wetland is a rare ecosystem with an unknown diatom ecology, contemporary diatom habitats (plant surfaces, mud surfaces, rocks, plankton) were sampled from across the lake to help interpret the sedimentary record. Habitat specificity of diatoms was not strongly defined and, although planktonic and benthic groupings were distinctive, there was no difference in assemblages among the benthic habitat surfaces. An increase in the proportion of benthic diatom taxa suggests that a substantial decrease in water level occurred between c. 1938 and 1995 CE, initiated by a decline in rainfall (supported by regional meteorological data), which increased the hydrological isolation of the sub‐basin. Changes in the diatom assemblages were most marked after 1995 CE when the Chini dam was installed. After this time both δ13Corg and C/N decreased, suggesting an increase in autochthonous production relative to allochthonous river flood pulse inputs. Oil palm plantations and mining continued to expand after c. 1995 CE and we speculate that inputs of pollutants from these activities may have contributed to the marked ecological change. Together, our work shows that this sub‐basin of Tasik Chini has been particularly sensitive to, and impacted by, a combination of human and climatically induced changes due to its hydrologically isolated position.
Lateralization of epilepsy using intra‐hemispheric brain networks based on resting‐state MEG data
Authors: Pourmotabbed Haatef , Wheless James W. , Babajani‐Feremi Abbas
Published: May 2020

Focal epilepsy originates within networks in one hemisphere. However, previous studies have investigated network topologies for the entire brain. In this study, magnetoencephalography (MEG) was used to investigate functional intra‐hemispheric networks of healthy controls (HCs) and patients with left‐ or right‐hemispheric temporal lobe or temporal plus extra‐temporal lobe epilepsy. 22 HCs, 25 left patients (LPs), and 16 right patients (RPs) were enrolled. The debiased weighted phase lag index was used to calculate functional connectivity between 246 brain regions in six frequency bands. Global efficiency, characteristic path length, and transitivity were computed for left and right intra‐hemispheric networks. The right global graph measures (GGMs) in the theta band were significantly different (p < .005) between RPs and both LPs and HCs. Right and left GGMs in higher frequency bands were significantly different (p < .05) between HCs and the patients. Right GGMs were used as input features of a Naïve‐Bayes classifier to classify LPs and RPs (78.0% accuracy) and all three groups (75.5% accuracy). The complete theta band brain networks were compared between LPs and RPs with network‐based statistics (NBS) and with the clustering coefficient (CC), nodal efficiency (NE), betweenness centrality (BC), and eigenvector centrality (EVC). NBS identified a subnetwork primarily composed of right intra‐hemispheric connections. Significantly different (p < .05) nodes were primarily in the right hemisphere for the CC and NE and primarily in the left hemisphere for the BC and EVC. These results indicate that intra‐hemispheric MEG networks may be incorporated in the diagnosis and lateralization of focal epilepsy.
Systematic review and pooled analysis of survival rates, success, and outcomes of osseointegrated implants in a variety of composite free flaps
Authors: Khadembaschi Darius , Brierly Gary I. , Chatfield Mark D. , Beech Nicholas , Batstone Martin D.
Published: May 2020

The aim of this review was to provide an update on survival rates of osseointegrated implants into common composite free flaps used for maxillary and mandibular reconstructions and identify factors affecting outcomes. PubMed, Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched. Included studies reported implant survival by flap type. Results were pooled and survival was estimated with the Kaplan‐Meier method. Variables affecting survival were assessed using Cox regression. Thirty‐two of the 2631 articles retrieved were included, totaling 2626 implants placed into fibula, iliac crest, scapula, and radial forearm free flaps. Pooled survival showed 94% 5‐year survival of implants in fibula and iliac crest with no difference between groups (P = .3). Factors effecting survival included radiotherapy (HR 2.3, 95% CI 1.2‐4.6, P = .027) and malignant disease (HR 2.2, 95%CI 1.6‐3.1, P < .001). Implant survival appears adequate across common flap types; however, there are limited numbers reported in less common flaps.
Real‐world data on efficacy and safety of obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil, rituximab plus chlorambucil, and rituximab plus bendamustine in the frontline treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia: The GO‐CLLEAR Study by the Czech CLL Study Group
Authors: Panovská Anna , Němcová Lucie , Nekvindová Lucie , Špaček Martin , Šimkovič Martin , Papajík Tomáš , Brejcha Martin , Lysák Daniel , Zuchnická Jana , Novák Jan , Starostka David , Poul Hynek , Vrbacký Filip , Vodárek Pavel , Urbanová Renata , Plevová Karla , Pospíšilová Šárka , Mašlejová Stanislava , Brychtová Yvona , Koriťáková Eva , Smolej Lukáš , Doubek Michael
Published: May 2020

Until recently, a combination of anti‐CD20 antibody plus less intensive chemotherapy was a standard of care in elderly population with previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The aim of this observational study was to retrospectively assess efficacy and safety of obinutuzumab + chlorambucil (G‐Clb), rituximab + chlorambucil (R‐Clb), and bendamustine + rituximab (BR) given as the frontline therapy within routine practice. The final analyzed dataset included 398 consecutive CLL patients from 10 hematology centers cooperating within the Czech CLL Study Group: 63 treated with G‐Clb, 78 with R‐Clb, and 257 with BR. There were no significant differences in prognostic and predictive markers among the groups. On the contrary, median age at the start of therapy and cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS) score was significantly higher in R‐Clb group. Obinutuzumab plus chlorambucil regimen was preferably offered to elderly patients (compared to BR) with less severe comorbidities and lower CIRS score (compared to R‐Clb). A time period when a treatment was indicated had also a strong impact on the choice of the regimen. The overall response rate reached 76% (30% complete remissions, CRs) in G‐Clb, 75% (22% CRs) in R‐Clb, and 85% (47% CRs) in BR group. Median event‐free survival was 49.0 months for G‐Clb, 20.3 months for R‐Clb, and 37.0 months for BR group. Neutropenia grade ≥ 3 developed in 43% of G‐Clb, 31% of R‐Clb and in 49% of BR patients, grade ≥ 3 infections were recorded in 17% of G‐Clb, 6.4% of R‐Clb, and 17% of BR patients. In conclusion, real‐world therapeutic activity of G‐Clb appears to be at least comparable to prospective clinical trial data. R‐Clb yields relatively good results in very old and severely comorbid patients.
The Effect of Fall Biomechanics on Risk for Hip Fracture in Older Adults: A Cohort Study of Video-Captured Falls in Long-Term Care
Authors: Yang Yijian , Komisar Vicki , Shishov Nataliya , Lo Bryan , Korall Alexandra MB , Feldman Fabio , Robinovitch Stephen N
Published: May 2020

Over 95% of hip fractures in older adults are caused by falls, yet only 1% to 2% of falls result in hip fracture. Our current understanding of the types of falls that lead to hip fracture is based on reports by the faller or witness. We analyzed videos of real-life falls in long-term care to provide objective evidence on the factors that separate falls that result in hip fracture from falls that do not. Between 2007 and 2018, we video-captured 2377 falls by 646 residents in two long-term care facilities. Hip fracture was documented in 30 falls. We analyzed each video with a structured questionnaire, and used generalized estimating equations (GEEs) to determine relative risk ratios (RRs) for hip fracture associated with various fall characteristics. All hip fractures involved falls from standing height, and pelvis impact with the ground. After excluding falls from lower than standing height, risk for hip fracture was higher for sideways landing configurations (RR = 5.50; 95% CI, 2.36–12.78) than forward or backward, and for falls causing hip impact (3.38; 95% CI, 1.49–7.67). However, hip fracture risk was just as high in falls initially directed sideways as forward (1.14; 95% CI, 0.49–2.67), due to the tendency for rotation during descent. Falling while using a mobility aid was associated with lower fracture risk (0.30; 95% CI, 0.09–1.00). Seventy percent of hip fractures involved impact to the posterolateral aspect of the pelvis. Hip protectors were worn in 73% of falls, and hip fracture risk was lower in falls where hip protectors were worn (0.45; 95% CI, 0.21–0.99). Age and sex were not associated with fracture risk. There was no evidence of spontaneous fractures. In this first study of video-captured falls causing hip fracture, we show that the biomechanics of falls involving hip fracture were different than nonfracture falls for fall height, fall direction, impact locations, and use of hip protectors. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Resisting and assisting engagement with public welfare in engineering education
Authors: Niles Skye , Contreras Santina , Roudbari Shawhin , Kaminsky Jessica , Harrison Jill Lindsey
Published: May 2020

Background

Increasing engineering students' engagement with public welfare is central to promoting ethical responsibility among engineers and enhancing engineers' capacity to serve the public good. However, little research has investigated how student experience attempts to increase engagement with public welfare concerns.

Purpose/Hypothesis

This study identifies and analyzes the challenges facing efforts to increase engineering students' engagement with the social and ethical implications of their work through a study of students' experiences at two engineering programs that emphasize public welfare engagement.

Design/Methods

We conducted interviews with engineering students (n = 26) and ethnographic observations of program events, classes, presentations, and social groups (n = 60) at two engineering programs that focus on engagement with public welfare and foreground learning about the social context and social impacts of engineering. We analyzed these data to identify areas in which students experienced challenges integrating considerations of public welfare into their work.

Results

We found that four main areas where engineering students experienced difficulty engaging with considerations of public welfare: (a) defining and defending their identities as engineers; (b) justifying the value of nontechnical work and relevance to engineering; (c) redefining engineering expertise and integrating community knowledge into projects; and (d) addressing ambiguous questions and ethics.

Conclusions

This work contributes to knowledge about the barriers to increasing students' engagement with issues of public welfare, even when programs encourage such engagement. These findings are relevant to broader efforts to increase concerns for ethics, social responsibility, and public welfare among engineers.
Egg patterns as identity signals in colonial seabirds: a comparison of four alcid species
Authors: Quach Lilly , Miller Audrey E. , Hogan Benedict G. , Stoddard Mary Caswell
Published: May 2020

The ability to recognize mates, kin, offspring and neighbors by their individually distinctive traits—individual recognition (IR)—is widespread in animals. Much work has investigated IR from the perspective of the recognizer, but less is known about the extent to which signals have evolved to facilitate IR. To explore this, one approach is to compare putative identity signals among species that differ in life history and extent of IR. In Common Murres (Uria aalge), a colonially breeding seabird, the eggs of individual females are remarkably variable in terms of color and pattern (maculation). Common Murres also appear to recognize their own eggs, leading to the hypothesis that variable egg phenotypes evolved to promote recognizability. However, we lack a quantitative assessment of the egg pattern information in Common Murres and their close relatives. Here, we analyzed images of eggs laid by four alcid species: Common Murres, Thick‐billed Murres (Uria lomvia), Razorbills (Alca torda) and Dovekies (Alle alle). We extracted pattern measures believed to be relevant to bird vision and calculated Beecher's information statistic (Hs), which allowed us to compare the amount of identity information contained in each species’ egg patterns. Murres, which nest in dense colonies and can recognize their own eggs, have egg patterns with a relatively large amount of identity information compared to Razorbills and Dovekies. Egg recognition has not been demonstrated in Razorbills and Dovekies, whose colonies are less dense. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that complex patterns of Murre eggs may have evolved to increase individual recognizability.
Asymptomatic pulmonary penicilliosis with a lung mass in an HIV‐infected patient
Authors: Nishikubo Masashi , Doi Asako , Takegawa Hiroshi , Yamashita Daisuke , Ohira Junichiro , Nishioka Hiroaki
Published: May 2020

Penicillium marneffei (Talaromyces marneffei) infection sometimes occurs in HIV‐infected patients in South‐East Asia. However, reports on asymptomatic cases are rare. Herein, we report a case of a 27‐year‐old Burmese HIV‐positive woman with pulmonary penicilliosis. Chest radiography showed a lung mass; however, the patient did not have any respiratory symptoms. Cultures of bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissue grew P marneffei. The patient was diagnosed with penicilliosis and successfully treated with amphotericin B and itraconazole. Our findings suggest that P marneffei infection should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a lung mass in HIV‐infected patients, even when asymptomatic for respiratory symptoms.
Fine scale surface climate in complex terrain using machine learning
Authors: Martin Thomas C. M. , Rocha Humberto R. , Perez Gabriel M. P.
Published: May 2020

Accurate and high spatial resolution (<100 m) surface climate information is crucial for process‐based modelling in hydrology, ecology, agriculture, urban studies etc, especially in complex terrain landscapes where coarse grid resolution information (∼10 km) is inadequate to represent pronounced local variability. We used a machine learning‐based workflow to predict high resolution (30 m) and sub‐daily atmospheric variables fields of near‐surface air temperature and humidity, and wind speed. The method used the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) decomposition applied on ground stations observations or Global Climate Model (GCM) residual error, in a sequence with bias correction and statistical models (Linear Regression‐LR, Artificial Neural Network model‐ANN and Empirical Quantile Mapping‐EQM) to provide downscaling from large scale atmospheric conditions to complex terrain variability. The predictions described relationships of Principal Component (PC) scores dependent on GCM temporal variability on 6‐hourly basis (with LR or ANN or EQM), and PC loadings dependent on topographic indexes to help providing horizontal sub‐grid extrapolation. The methods were validated with a 1‐year dataset from a dense weather stations network deployed in a complex terrain basin in tropical climate of Southeast Brazil. We present an exhaustive description of the PC modes daily/seasonal variability for each variable, and their spatial variability associated to the topography and thermal driven circulations. The predictions in general substantially improved accuracy when compared to GCM outputs, especially near the valley and in sheltered area where local effects are mandatories. Specially, ANN and EQM significantly improved the predictions at the variability of extreme events, such as the formation of strong cold air pooling or wetting in the valley.
Climate change impacts on agriculture's southern frontier – Perspectives for farming in North Patagonia
Authors: del Barrio Ricardo , Fernandez Eduardo , Brendel Andrea S. , Whitney Cory , Campoy José A. , Luedeling Eike
Published: May 2020

Winter chill is expected to decrease in many of the suitable growing regions for deciduous trees. Argentinean North Patagonia hosts extensive fruit tree cultivation, which provides an important contribution to both local and global food security. Using historic records from 11 weather stations from North Patagonia, we evaluate the possible impacts of climate change on fruit tree cultivation. We assess winter chill and seasonal heat availability, and the risk of spring frost events based on outputs from 15 Global Climate Models (GCMs) for two Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) scenarios and two future time periods (represented by central years 2050 and 2085). Metrics were estimated for 47 years of records from the weather stations, as well as typical conditions for 10 past scenarios and 60 future GCM and RCP projections. Scenarios consisted of 100 plausible annual temperature records produced by a weather generator. Results suggest that fruit tree dormancy in Argentinean North Patagonia will not be strongly affected by climate change. Compared to the past, winter chill may only decrease by 9% in the RCP4.5 scenario by 2050 in the northeastern and eastern subregion, while in the central‐south and west the reduction seems unlikely to exceed 6% by the same RCP scenario and year. Our models project stable high growing season heat in the northeastern and eastern regions, and major increases in the south by 2085 in both RCP scenarios. Projections of spring frost events varied between 0 and about 25 hours below 0°C depending on the site. Increasing heat availability may create opportunities for fruit and nut growers to introduce new species and cultivars to the region. Our results provide a basis for planning such introductions and for enabling growers to exploit new opportunities for producing temperate orchard crops beyond their traditional ranges.