bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unraveling the reaction route and kinetics of 3‐methyl‐3‐penten‐2‐one synthesis for synthetic ketone fragrances
Authors: Li Ling , Hong Peng , Kiss Anton A , Tian Hui , Wang Xiaoda , Qiu Ting
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

3‐Methyl‐3‐penten‐2‐one (3M3P) is an indispensable raw material used for the synthesis of OTNE (octahydrotetramethyl acetophenone), a synthetic ketone fragrance known by commercial trade names, such as Iso E Super®, which is one of the most important ingredients in perfumes. This work is the first to unravel the reaction route and kinetics for the synthesis of 3M3P via the cross‐aldol condensation of acetaldehyde with butanone, catalyzed by the heterogeneous acidic ion exchange resin (NKC‐9).

RESULTS

An effective method was developed to evaluate this complex reaction system: the reaction routes were determined experimentally from the product structures detected by Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC‐MS), and the significance of side reactions were evaluated by the Yoneda group contribution method. The major side reactions are the self‐condensation of acetaldehyde (significant even under optimized reaction conditions) and the cross‐aldol condensation of acetaldehyde with 3M3P (which could be effectively suppressed at high butanone‐acetaldehyde molar ratio). The reaction kinetics was investigated at temperatures of 60–90 °C, catalyst mass fraction of 5 to 15%, and molar ratio of 5–20. At optimized reaction conditions, the yield of 3M3P was up to 90.85%, which is 2.4 times higher than that for the classic homogeneous catalysts (yield <38%).

CONCLUSION

Acidic ion exchange resin NKC‐9 is a high‐selective green catalyst for the cross‐aldol condensation of acetaldehyde with butanone. Integrating experimental determination and thermomechanical analysis is an effective method to unravel the main reaction routes for a complex system. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)
The removal of inorganic phosphate from water using carboxymethyl cellulose‐iron hydrogel beads
Authors: Ure David , Mutus Bulent
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

Inorganic phosphate (Pi) is key to improved crop yields; however, agricultural drainage leads to the accumulation of this nutrient in aquatic ecosystems and promotes the formation of harmful algal blooms. The aim of this study was to produce a hydrogel with high binding capacity and affinity towards Pi produced from carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and iron (III) chloride (FeCl3).

RESULTS

CMC was converted to CMC‐Fe composites by incubation with FeCl3. The half‐lives (t1/2) of CMC functionalization with 25 mmol L−1 FeCl3 were 11.56 min (1.5% CMC) and 13.91 min (3.0% CMC). The apparent dissociation constants (KD App) of CMC‐Fe were estimated to be 33.99 μmol L−1 (1.5% CMCFe) and 24.81 μmol L−1 (3.0% CMC‐Fe). The phosphate binding capacity (PBC) of the hydrated hydrogels were 74.0 ± 3.06 mg g−1 (1.5% CMCFe) and 91.4 ± 4.51 mg g−1 (3.0% CMC‐Fe). Laboratory‐scale continuous flow filtration studies showed an average removal of 91.3% (mixed filter) and 52.5% (unmixed filter). Batch type treatment of agricultural drainage showed a reduction in Pi content from 0.40 to 0.11 mg L−1 (1.5% CMC‐Fe) and 0.17 mg L−1 (3.0% CMC‐Fe). The amount of bound‐Pi was 26.7 ± 0.63 μg g−1 (1.5% CMC‐Fe) and 32.8 ± 1.31 μg g−1 (3.0% CMC‐Fe). The iron leached from 1.5% and 3.0% CMC‐Fe beads was 11.98 ± 1.80 and 3.57 ± 1.63 mg g−1, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The CMC‐Fe hydrogel shows great promise as a Pi‐adsorbing material with applications in the treatment of agricultural drainage. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI)
Metabolic basis and treatment of citrin deficiency
Authors: Hayasaka Kiyoshi
Published: August 2020

Citrin deficiency is a hereditary disorder caused by SLC25A13 mutations and manifests as neonatal intrahepatic cholestasis (NICCD), failure to thrive and dyslipidemia (FTTDCD), and adult‐onset type II citrullinemia (CTLN2). Citrin is a component of the malate‐aspartate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen (NADH) shuttle, an essential shuttle for hepatic glycolysis. Hepatic glycolysis and the coupled lipogenesis are impaired in citrin deficiency. Hepatic lipogenesis plays a significant role in fat supply during growth spurt periods: the fetal period, infancy, and puberty. Growth impairment in these periods is characteristic of citrin deficiency. Hepatocytes with citrin deficiency cannot use glucose and fatty acids as energy sources due to defects in the NADH shuttle and downregulation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α (PPARα), respectively. An energy deficit in hepatocytes is considered a fundamental pathogenesis of citrin deficiency. Medium‐chain triglyceride (MCT) supplementation with a lactose‐restricted formula and MCT supplementation under a low‐carbohydrate diet are recommended for NICCD and CTLN2, respectively. MCT supplementation therapy can provide energy to hepatocytes, promote lipogenesis, correct the cytosolic NAD+/NADH ratio via the malate‐citrate shuttle and improve ammonia detoxification, and it is a reasonable therapy for citrin deficiency. It is very important to administer MCT at a dose equivalent to the liver's energy requirements in divided doses with meals. MCT supplementation therapy is certainly promising for promoting growth spurts during infancy and adolescence and for preventing CTLN2 onset. Intravenous administration of solutions containing fructose is contraindicated, and persistent hyperglycemia should be avoided due to glucose intoxication for patients receiving hyperalimentation or with complicating diabetes.
Kawasaki disease seasonality in Venezuela supports an arbovirus infection trigger
Authors: Paniz‐Mondolfi Alberto E. , van den Akker Tayler , Márquez‐Colmenarez Marilianna C. , Delgado‐Noguera Lourdes A. , Valderrama Omar , Sordillo Emilia M.
Published: August 2020

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an inflammatory disease primarily affecting infants and young children, whose etiology remains uncertain. Observational studies of the overlap between KD outbreaks and seasonal peaks of arboviral infections, suggest the possible role of these pathogens as triggers of KD. In Venezuela, regions with the highest reported arboviral infections simultaneously have the highest incidence of KD. One proposed explanation for this association involves the role of proinflammatory mediators, interleukin‐1 (IL‐1), IL‐6, tumor necrosis factor, and vascular endothelial growth factor as mediators of coronary endothelial damage. The promotion of inflammation and tissue destruction by these cytokines is thought to contribute to the coronary endothelial damage experienced in KD. The utilization of overlapping KD and arboviral infection trends contribute to the comprehension of KD etiology, with improvements in diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
Outcome measures from experimental traumatic brain injury in male rats vary with the complete temporal biomechanical profile of the injury event
Authors: Abdul‐Wahab Radia , Long Mathew T. , Ordaz Rafael , Lyeth Bruce G. , Pfister Bryan J.
Published: August 2020

Millions suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) each year wherein the outcomes associated with injury can vary greatly between individuals. This study postulates that variations in each biomechanical parameter of a head trauma lead to differences in histological and behavioral outcome measures that should be considered collectively in assessing injury. While trauma severity typically scales with the magnitude of injury, much less is known about the effects of rate and duration of the mechanical insult. In this study, a newly developed voice‐coil fluid percussion injury system was used to investigate the effects of injury rate and fluid percussion impulse on a collection of post‐injury outcomes in male rats. Collectively the data suggest a potential shift in the specificity and progression of neuronal injury and function rather than a general scaling of injury severity. While a faster, shorter fluid percussion first presents as a mild TBI, neuronal loss and some behavioral tasks were similar among the slower and faster fluid percussion injuries. This study concludes that the sequelae of neuronal degeneration and behavioral outcomes are related to the complete temporal profile of the fluid percussion and do not scale only with peak pressure.
Absorbing aerosols and high‐temperature extremes in India: A general circulation modelling study
Authors: Mondal Arpita , Sah Neeraj , Sharma Arushi , Venkataraman Chandra , Patil Nitin
Published: August 2020

Heat waves in India during the pre‐monsoon months have significant impacts on human health, productivity and mortality. While greenhouse gas‐induced global warming is believed to accentuate high temperature extremes, anthropogenic aerosols predominantly constituted by radiation‐scattering sulfate are believed to cause an overall cooling in most world regions. However, the Indian region is marked by an abundance of absorbing aerosols, such as black carbon (BC) and dust. The goal of this work was to understand the association between aerosols, particularly those that are absorbing in nature, and high‐temperature extremes in north‐central India during the pre‐monsoon season. We use 30‐year simulations from a chemistry‐coupled atmosphere‐only general circulation model (GCM), ECHAM6‐HAM2, forced with evolving aerosol emissions in an interactive aerosol module, along with observed evolving SSTs. A composite of high‐temperature extremes in the model simulations, compared to climatology, shows large‐scale conditions conducive to heat waves. Importantly, it reveals concurrent positive anomalies of BC and dust aerosol optical depths. Changes in near‐surface properties include a reduction in single scattering albedo (implying greater absorption) and enhancement in short‐wave heating rate, compared to climatological conditions. Alterations in surface energy balance include reduced latent heat flux, but increased sensible heat flux, consistent with enhanced temperatures. Thus, chemistry‐coupled GCM simulations capture an association of absorbing aerosols with high‐temperature extremes in north India, arising from radiative heating in the surface layer.
The Vital Few: Exploring the Role of Expertise in the Process of Team Creativity
Authors: Zhang Gang , Li Huihui , Yan Shimei
Published: August 2020

This study provides insight into the role of expertise in the process of team creativity. Existing process models, that is, the random variation model and the creative synthesis model, either fail to treat team as an independent creative entity or neglect the differentiation in the voice of individual members in team creative process. In contrast, this study recognizes the role of expertise in shaping the process of team creativity and presents an alternative model, the vital few model (experts as “vital few”). An agent‐based simulation was designed to examine the validity of this model. Agent teams generated team creativity both more efficiently and effectively when expertise was employed to reorganize existing knowledge and integrate new knowledge. The results indicate that the vital few model is a more explanatory model compared to the existing models for the process of team creativity. Discussion focuses on contributions of the vital few model, limitations of this study, as well as directions for future research.
Evaluation of impaired growth plate development of long bones in skeletally immature mice by antirheumatic agents
Authors: Caron Marjolein M. J. , van Rietbergen Bert , Castermans Tessy M. R. , Haartmans Mirella J. J. , van Rhijn Lodewijk W. , Welting Tim J. M. , Witlox Adhiambo M. A.
Published: August 2020

Restriction of physical growth and development is a known problem in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). However, the effect of medical treatment for JIA on skeletal growth in affected children has not been properly investigated. We, therefore, hypothesize that naproxen and methotrexate (MTX) affect endochondral ossification and will lead to reduced skeletal development. Treatment of ATDC5 cells, an in vitro model for endochondral ossification, with naproxen or MTX resulted in increased chondrogenic but decreased hypertrophic differentiation. In vivo, healthy growing C57BL/6 mice were treated with naproxen, MTX, or placebo for 10 weeks. At 15 weeks postnatal, both the length of the tibia and the length of the femur were significantly reduced in the naproxen‐ and MTX‐treated mice compared to their controls. Growth plate analysis revealed a significantly thicker proliferative zone, while the hypertrophic zone was significantly thinner in both experimental groups compared to their controls, comparable to the in vitro results. Micro‐computed tomography analysis of the subchondral bone region directly below the growth disc showed significantly altered bone microarchitecture in naproxen and MTX groups. In addition, the involvement of the PTHrP‐Ihh loop in naproxen‐ and MTX‐treated cells was shown. Overall, these results demonstrate that naproxen and MTX have a profound effect on endochondral ossification during growth plate development, abnormal subchondral bone morphology, and reduced bone length. A better understanding of how medication influences the development of the growth plate will improve understanding of endochondral ossification and reveal possibilities to improve the treatment of pediatric patients.
Geriatric Nutrition Index Influences Survival Outcomes in Gastric Carcinoma Patients Undergoing Radical Surgery
Authors: Sugawara Kotaro , Yamashita Hiroharu , Urabe Masayuki , Okumura Yasuhiro , Yagi Koichi , Aikou Susumu , Seto Yasuyuki
Published: August 2020

Background

The survival impact of the geriatric nutrition risk index (GNRI) has yet to be investigated in patients undergoing gastric carcinoma (GC) surgery.

Methods

In total, 1166 GC patients who underwent radical gastrectomy were retrospectively reviewed. The predictive and discrimination abilities for overall survival (OS) were compared among GNRI, nutrition indices, and systemic inflammatory markers. Patients were dichotomized by GNRI (GNRI <98, low; GNRI ≥98, high), and the impacts of GNRI on OS and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) were evaluated using Cox hazards analysis.

Results

GNRI showed superior discrimination and predictive ability for OS as compared with other indices. There were 447 (38.3%) and 719 (61.7%) patients in the low‐ and high‐GNRI groups, respectively. Patients with low GNRI were older and had a higher pStage III disease rate than those with high GNRI (P < .001). OS curves were significantly stratified by GNRI in all patients (P < .001) and those with pStage I (P < .001), II (P < .001), and III (P = .02) disease. Multivariate analysis showed low GNRI to be independently associated with poor OS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.15; 95% CI, 1.612.87; P < .001). Furthermore, low GNRI was an independent predictor of poor CSS (HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.072.44; P = .02), as were total gastrectomy (P < .001) and pStage III disease (P < .001). Patients who had low GNRI and underwent total gastrectomy showed quite poor 5‐year OS (54.8%).

Conclusion

GNRI is useful for predicting survival and oncological outcomes in GC patients.
Healthy Siblings of Children With Crohn's Disease Exhibit More Rapid Changes in Microbiota Composition as a Response to Exclusive Enteral Nutrition
Authors: Sila Sara , Jelić Marko , Trivić Ivana , Tambić Andrašević Arjana , Kolaček Sanja , Hojsak Iva
Published: August 2020

Background

The aim of this study was to determine the impact of exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) on the microbiota composition of the newly diagnosed Crohn's disease (CD) patients and to determine the effect of EEN received for 2 days in siblings of patients with CD.

Methods

Newly diagnosed pediatric CD patients (n = 17) and unaffected healthy siblings (n = 10) participated in the study. In CD patients, stool samples were collected at 3 time points: prior to therapy introduction, the second day of EEN therapy, and the last day of EEN therapy. In healthy siblings, stool samples were collected before the introduction of EEN and the second day of EEN. Molecular approach targeting 16S ribosomal RNA was used for analyzing the gut microbiota of participants’ stool samples.

Results

There was no significant difference in microbial diversity between children with CD and healthy siblings before EEN (P = .127 for HhaI digestion; P = .604 for MspI digestion) as opposed to the second day of EEN (P = .006 HhaI digestion; P = .023 MspI digestion). In healthy controls, significant changes in microbiota composition were apparent by the second day of EEN, contrary to children with CD, in whom similar changes in microbiota composition were apparent on the last day of EEN.

Conclusion

EEN leads to significant microbiota changes in both healthy children and children with CD. Changes in microbiota composition occur more rapidly in healthy children, whereas in children with CD, significant changes were detected at the end of EEN.
Postsurgical Intestinal Rehabilitation Using Semisynthetic Glucagon‐Like Peptide‐2 Analogue (sGLP‐2) at a Referral Center: Can Patients Achieve Parenteral Nutrition and sGLP‐2 Independency?
Authors: Solar Hector , Doeyo Mariana , Ortega Mariana , De Barrio Silvia , Olano Estela , Moreira Eduardo , Buncuga Martin , Manzur Alejandra , Crivelli Adriana , Gondolesi Gabriel
Published: August 2020

Background

Teduglutide, a semisynthetic analogue of glucagon‐like peptide‐2 (sGLP‐2), increases intestinal absorption of fluids and nutrients, reducing the need for parenteral nutrition (PN). This report aims to describe our experience with sGLP‐2 in a cohort of adult patients with short‐bowel syndrome.

Methods

This is a prospective observational study on adult patients initially evaluated in our specialized intestinal rehabilitation program that received sGLP‐2 from June 2014 to March 2020.

Results

Autologous gastrointestinal reconstruction surgery (AGIRS) was performed in 108 patients; 68.5% (74 of 108) achieved intestinal sufficiency with standard medical therapy. Seventeen patients were treated with sGLP‐2; 66.5% (8 of 12) received treatment for a mean time of 25.8 weeks (3.4–54.0) and could suspend PN. One patient reinitiated treatment due to renal lithiasis and acute renal failure. Currently, 7 of 12 patients (53.8%) continue without PN for a mean time of 165.6 weeks. Volume, energy, and days of PN were reduced in all patients. No serious adverse events were registered. Four of 7 patients (57.1%) who discontinued PN could also discontinue sGLP‐2. Therefore, the use of sGLP‐2 increased the overall success rate of PN independency after AGIRS to 76% (82 of 108).

Conclusion

This study confirmed that sGLP‐2 should be considered as part of the standard therapy for postsurgical medical rehabilitation treatment in patients with chronic intestinal failure. We add to the current knowledge that some patients can discontinue both PN and sGLP‐2 in the long term, achieving complete recovery of their quality of life.
Associations Between Nutrition Markers and Muscle Mass on Bioimpedance Analysis in Patients Receiving Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Sunario Julian , Wibrow Bradley , Jacques Angela , Ho Kwok Ming , Anstey Matthew
Published: August 2020

Background

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is used for malnourished patients and those intolerant of enteral nutrition. This pilot study assessed repeatability of bioimpedance analysis (BIA) in critically ill patients and association with nutrition markers and patients’ length of hospital stay.

Methods

Twenty‐two patients receiving PN, after major surgery or during critical illness, were enrolled and underwent serial BIA and Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) by a dietitian. Repeatability of BIA was assessed by repeating BIA measurements within 10 minutes in 18 of the 22 study patients (82%).

Results

All BIA parameters were repeatable with strong intraclass correlation coefficients (>0.78). Phase angle (PhA), reflective of muscle mass, was significantly associated with serum albumin (R2 = 0.198, P < .001), total lymphocyte count (R2 = 0.083, P = .018), and body mass index (R2 = 0.084, P = .015). Of the 48 SGAs performed, 4 were considered severely malnourished, and all were associated with low PhA (<5°) compared with only 53% and 33% for those considered to be moderately malnourished and well nourished, respectively (χ2 test: P = .042). Low PhA was significantly associated with an increased length of hospital stay compared with those without low PhA (median 36 vs 16 days, respectively; P < .001).

Conclusion

BIA is repeatable in critically ill patients receiving PN. Low PhA was prevalent for those judged as severely malnourished and was associated with reduced total lymphocyte count and serum albumin and prolonged length of hospital stay compared with those with a higher PhA.
Randomized Controlled Trial on the Effect of Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum Supplementation on Diarrhea Frequency and Gut Microbiome Count Among Pelvic Radiation Patients
Authors: Rosli Dzairudzee , Shahar Suzana , Manaf Zahara Abdul , Lau Hui Jin , Yusof Nurul Yuziana Mohd , Haron Mohd Roslan , Majid Hazreen Abdul
Published: August 2020

Background

Radiation therapy is the treatment of pelvic cancers, with diarrhea often being the most frequent acute side effect. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) usage in reducing radiotherapy‐induced diarrhea and improving bacterial count, nutrition status, and quality of life (QoL) among cancer patients.

Methods

Adult patients undergoing pelvic radiation were recruited and randomly assigned to receive supplementation of either 10 g of PHGG or placebo (maltodextrin) twice daily, 14 days prior and 14 days during pelvic radiation. Diarrhea frequency, fecal samples, nutrition status, and QoL were assessed at baseline and days 14, 28 (2 weeks after pelvic radiation), and 45 (at the completion of pelvic radiation, 2 weeks’ postsupplementation).

Results

A total of 30 patients (mean age 56.5 ± 10.8 years, 75% malnourished) participated. The mean of diarrhea frequency in the intervention group (IG) was higher compared with the control group (CG) from days 14 and 28 but reduced at day 45. There was a significant intervention effect after controlling for confounders (ie, baseline diarrhea, age, nutrition status) (P < .05). Bifidobacterium count increased by double among the IG at 14 days of PHGG supplementation, whereas such trend was not observed in the CG.

Conclusion

Supplementation of PHGG potentially increased the bifidobacterial count and seemed to have post‐supplementation effects by reducing the frequency of diarrhea upon the completion of pelvic radiation treatment.
“On time ‐ every time” A new strategy for dosing levodopa in hospital
Authors: Ortiz Michael S.
Published: August 2020

Most Parkinson’s Disease (PD) patients are hospitalised for reasons other than their PD. Their PD symptoms are usually under control before admission, however, too many seem to experience medication‐related problems in hospital. Hospitalised PD patients should receive their levodopa within 30 min of the scheduled time (“on time”) and not miss doses (“every time”). Hospital staff should avoid prescribing and administering contraindicated dopamine antagonists to PD patients in their care. Multiple studies have shown the failure to deliver levodopa “on time” to PD patients, with less than 50% of doses being “on time” and an average 0.7 of doses missed each day. The evidence points to hospital medication administration systems (HMAS) as the likely cause of late and missed levodopa doses. PD medication administration guidelines were reviewed to find strategies that reduced late and missed doses. An integrated “on time – every time” medication administration approach is proposed. PD patients should be encouraged to self‐administer their medication in hospital. More PD nurse navigators will be needed to facilitate PD patient care in Australian hospitals.
The carbohydrate content of medications prescribed to children treated with a ketogenic diet
Authors: Sawangrit Thanarat , Chomtho Sirinuch , Siritientong Tippawan
Published: August 2020

Background

Carbohydrate excipients include starches, dextrin, maltodextrin, sugar and sugar alcohols. No studies have investigated the cumulative daily carbohydrate content of medications prescribed to children with epilepsy receiving a ketogenic diet.

Aims

To calculate carbohydrate contents in medications and the ketogenic ratio of children with intractable epilepsy.

Methods

This retrospective study reviewed the ketogenic diet order forms of children with intractable epilepsy aged <18 years who were admitted to King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, a tertiary referral teaching hospital in Thailand, from 2009 to 2017. All medications were obtained from cross‐sectional medical records. The carbohydrate contents in medications were compiled by a hospital’s database or requested from manufacturers. Overall carbohydrate contents in prescribed medications were calculated and included in grams of carbohydrate in ketogenic ratio.

Results

A total of 169 ketogenic diet order forms of 38 epileptic patients were examined. One hundred and forty‐five oral medications were prescribed, of which oral liquid medications had significantly higher carbohydrate content than solid oral dose forms (p < 0.001). Patients received a median of nine medications of which a median of four were anti‐epileptic medications. The median carbohydrate content in medications was 0.99 g/day (IQR: 0.63–1.77 g/day). The significant difference of ketogenic fat:non‐fat gram ratios was found when prescribed carbohydrate content in medications was higher than 2 g/day.

Conclusions

Liquid medications had approximately eight times higher carbohydrate content than solid dosage forms. Comprehensive reviews of the carbohydrate content of medications and the possible association with seizure control should be performed to investigate the clinical significance of this finding.
Prediction of dry matter content of recently harvested ‘Hass’ avocado fruits using hyperspectral imaging
Authors: Vega Díaz Jhon Jairo , Sandoval Aldana Angélica Piedad , Reina Zuluaga Deici Viviana
Published: August 2020

BACKGROUND

‘Hass’ avocado consumption is increasing due to its organoleptic properties, so it is necessary to develop new technologies to guarantee export quality. Avocado fruits do not ripen on the tree, and the visual classification of its maturity is not accurate. The most commonly used fruit maturity indicator is the percentage of dry matter (DM). The aim of this research was to investigate a non‐destructive method with hyperspectral images to predict the percentage of DM of fruits across the spectral range of 400–1000 nm.

RESULTS

No correlation between fruit weight and color with the percentage of DM was found in the study area. Cross‐validation efficiency of different data sources, including the spectrum extraction zone (the center, a line from the peduncle to the base, and the whole fruit) and the average of one or two fruit faces, was compared. Four linear regression models were compared. Data of the whole fruit and average of both sides per fruit using a support vector machine regression were selected for the prediction test. Following the cross‐validation concept, five sets of calibration and test data were selected and optimized for calibration. The best test prediction set comprised an R2 = 0.9, a root‐mean‐square error of 2.6 g kg−1 DM, a Pearson correlation of 0.95, and a ratio of prediction to deviation of 3.2.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of the study indicate that hyperspectral images allow classifying export fruits and making harvesting decisions. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Telemedicine in Otolaryngology in the COVID‐19 Era: Initial Lessons Learned
Authors: Ohlstein Jason F. , Garner Jordan , Takashima Masayoshi
Published: August 2020

Objectives/Hypothesis

The COVID‐19 pandemic has led to unprecedented global changes in the delivery of healthcare over a short period of time. With the implementation of shelter‐in‐place orders, otolaryngology clinic visits at our institution were transitioned to telemedicine. This change enabled the rapid characterization of the patients who accepted and declined telemedicine.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional analysis.

Methods

A review was conducted of 525 otolaryngology patients at a tertiary‐care referral center with scheduled visits requiring rescheduling to a future date or a telemedicine visit. Visit, demographic information, and reason for deferring telemedicine were collected for analysis.

Results

Seventy‐two percent of patients declined a telemedicine visit, with the most common reason being the lack of a physical exam (97%). There was an even distribution of demographics between those who accepted and declined visits. There was an association between declining telemedicine with older age (P = .0004) and otology visits (P = .0003), whereas facial plastics patients were more likely to accept (P < .0001). Patients scheduled earlier during the pandemic were more likely to accept a visit with a median of 28 days from onset of shelter‐in‐place orders versus 35 for those who declined (P < .0001).

Conclusions

We describe our initial experience with a transition to telemedicine, where the majority of patients would decline a virtual visit due to the lack of a physical exam. Although the future remains uncertain, telemedicine will continue to play a vital role in healthcare delivery. We believe that understanding our patient base gives critical insights that will help guide and improve virtual care to meet patients' needs.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 130:2568–2573, 2020
Significant dose effects of fertilizers on soil diazotrophic diversity, community composition, and assembly processes in a long‐term paddy field fertilization experiment
Authors: Wang Jianlei , Li Qingkang , Shen Congcong , Yang Fengting , Wang Jichen , Ge Yuan
Published: August 2020

Although diazotrophs are major participants in biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) processes, the variations in community structure and assembly processes in response to long‐term fertilization with different fertilizer application are still ambiguous, especially under various doses with balance or not. Using nifH amplicon sequencing, we investigated the soil diazotrophic communities in a paddy field which received 20‐year fertilization including control (CK), balanced fertilization (three doses of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) at same ratio (NPK, 2(NPK), and 3(NPK)), unbalanced fertilization (three ratios, (2 N)PK, N(2P)K, and NP(2K)), and manure (M). Our results showed that the diazotrophic diversity increased with the long‐term fertilization, but it was tapering‐off with doses increment. However, the community dissimilarities increased with fertilizer doses. These variations were attributed to the trade‐off between the variation of soil pH and nutrients. The increasing of fertilizer doses induced the transformation of community assembly processes, which changed from mainly dominated by deterministic processes in CK, NPK, NP(2K) and M to stochastic processes in the other treatments. Our findings suggest that the long‐term fertilization, especially different fertilizer doses, strongly affect soil diazotrophic diversity, community structure, and assembly processes, which could help to improve the sustainable agricultural management in the future.
Embrace the debate: Goals, de‐marketing overconsumption, and conflicting information
Authors: Bareket‐Bojmel Liad , Grinstein Amir , Steinhart Yael
Published: August 2020

When faced with conflicting information, consumers often wonder what the “right” consumption level is. A highly relevant context that is often associated with such uncertainty is food consumption (e.g., of meat or dairy products), where consumers seek information to determine whether and how much to consume, and often a recommended goal from health experts is to reduce overconsumption. We apply the theory of goal settings as reflecting such information, focusing on specific goals (e.g., “eat meat twice a week”) versus general goals (“eat less meat”). Based on a series of three experiments in both online and field settings with 674 participants overall, we show that in food consumption contexts with conflicting information, general goals set by health experts are less effective than specific goals in battling overconsumption. Perceived value of information was identified as the underlying mechanism as it mediated the effect of conflicting information on reduced overconsumption. Prior work suggests conflicting information is typically disadvantageous for consumers. Our research demonstrates how consumers can benefit from communication emphasizing specific goals when information conflicts. It contributes to policymakers, health experts, and social marketers that search for effective marketing strategies to reduce overconsumption of items that may be associated with conflicting information.
Ultrasound‐Guided Needle Electromyography for Assessing Diaphragmatic Myoclonus
Authors: Chen Kai‐Hsiang S. , Keng Li‐Ta , Kuo Yu‐Ting , Tai Yi‐Cheng , Chen Robert
Published: August 2020

View Supplementary Video 1
Biomedical applications of polyphosphazenes
Authors: Ogueri Kenneth S. , Ogueri Kennedy S. , Ude Chinedu C. , Allcock Harry R. , Laurencin Cato T.
Published: August 2020

Ever since the pioneering research efforts on their utility in biomedicine, polyphosphazene polymers have witnessed enormous growth and expansion in several biomedical applications due to their unique properties. The development of this exceptional biodegradable system with extraordinary design flexibility, property tunability and neutral bioactivity could stimulate an unprecedented paradigm in biomaterial design. Thus, polyphosphazenes are, undoubtedly, the next‐generation biomaterials. This editorial provides a brief perspective on the promising prospects of polyphosphazene‐based biomaterials for medical device technology, focusing mainly on the authors’ work on this particular polymeric system.
Analytical probabilistic modeling of dose‐volume histograms
Authors: Wahl Niklas , Hennig Philipp , Wieser Hans‐Peter , Bangert Mark
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Radiotherapy, especially with charged particles, is sensitive to executional and preparational uncertainties that propagate to uncertainty in dose and plan quality indicators, for example, dose‐volume histograms (DVHs). Current approaches to quantify and mitigate such uncertainties rely on explicitly computed error scenarios and are thus subject to statistical uncertainty and limitations regarding the underlying uncertainty model. Here we present an alternative, analytical method to approximate moments, in particular expectation value and (co)variance, of the probability distribution of DVH‐points, and evaluate its accuracy on patient data.

Methods

We use Analytical Probabilistic Modeling (APM) to derive moments of the probability distribution over individual DVH‐points based on the probability distribution over dose. By using the computed moments to parameterize distinct probability distributions over DVH‐points (here normal or beta distributions), not only the moments but also percentiles, that is, α − DVHs, are computed. The model is subsequently evaluated on three patient cases (intracranial, paraspinal, prostate) in 30‐ and single‐fraction scenarios by assuming the dose to follow a multivariate normal distribution, whose moments are computed in closed‐form with APM. The results are compared to a benchmark based on discrete random sampling.

Results

The evaluation of the new probabilistic model on the three patient cases against a sampling benchmark proves its correctness under perfect assumptions as well as good agreement in realistic conditions. More precisely, ca. 90% of all computed expected DVH‐points and their standard deviations agree within 1% volume with their empirical counterpart from sampling computations, for both fractionated and single fraction treatments. When computing α − DVH, the assumption of a beta distribution achieved better agreement with empirical percentiles than the assumption of a normal distribution: While in both cases probabilities locally showed large deviations (up to ±0.2), the respective − DVHs for α={0.05,0.5,0.95} only showed small deviations in respective volume (up to ±5% volume for a normal distribution, and up to 2% for a beta distribution). A previously published model from literature, which was included for comparison, exhibited substantially larger deviations.

Conclusions

With APM we could derive a mathematically exact description of moments of probability distributions over DVH‐points given a probability distribution over dose. The model generalizes previous attempts and performs well for both choices of probability distributions, that is, normal or beta distributions, over DVH‐points.
Complete abdomen and pelvis segmentation using U‐net variant architecture
Authors: Weston Alexander D. , Korfiatis Panagiotis , Philbrick Kenneth A. , Conte Gian Marco , Kostandy Petro , Sakinis Thomas , Zeinoddini Atefeh , Boonrod Arunnit , Moynagh Michael , Takahashi Naoki , Erickson Bradley J.
Published: August 2020

Purpose

Organ segmentation of computed tomography (CT) imaging is essential for radiotherapy treatment planning. Treatment planning requires segmentation not only of the affected tissue, but nearby healthy organs‐at‐risk, which is laborious and time‐consuming. We present a fully automated segmentation method based on the three‐dimensional (3D) U‐Net convolutional neural network (CNN) capable of whole abdomen and pelvis segmentation into 33 unique organ and tissue structures, including tissues that may be overlooked by other automated segmentation approaches such as adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and connective tissue and vessels. Whole abdomen segmentation is capable of quantifying exposure beyond a handful of organs‐at‐risk to all tissues within the abdomen.

Methods

Sixty‐six (66) CT examinations of 64 individuals were included in the training and validation sets and 18 CT examinations from 16 individuals were included in the test set. All pixels in each examination were segmented by image analysts (with physician correction) and assigned one of 33 labels. Segmentation was performed with a 3D U‐Net variant architecture which included residual blocks, and model performance was quantified on 18 test cases. Human interobserver variability (using semiautomated segmentation) was also reported on two scans, and manual interobserver variability of three individuals was reported on one scan. Model performance was also compared to several of the best models reported in the literature for multiple organ segmentation.

Results

The accuracy of the 3D U‐Net model ranges from a Dice coefficient of 0.95 in the liver, 0.93 in the kidneys, 0.79 in the pancreas, 0.69 in the adrenals, and 0.51 in the renal arteries. Model accuracy is within 5% of human segmentation in eight of 19 organs and within 10% accuracy in 13 of 19 organs.

Conclusions

The CNN approaches the accuracy of human tracers and on certain complex organs displays more consistent prediction than human tracers. Fully automated deep learning‐based segmentation of CT abdomen has the potential to improve both the speed and accuracy of radiotherapy dose prediction for organs‐at‐risk.
Adoptive transfers of CD4+CD25+ Tregs partially alleviate mouse premature ovarian insufficiency
Authors: Liu Dan , Tu Xiaojuan , Huang Chuanmengyuan , Yuan Yuncang , Wang Ying , Liu Xiaona , He Wei
Published: August 2020

This study was designed to investigate the protective effect of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) against zona pellucida glycoprotein 3 peptide (pZP3) immunization‐induced premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) in mice. A mouse POI model was induced by two subcutaneous injections of pZP3 (50 nmol/L). Mice in the pZP3‐Treg group were intraperitoneally injected with 5 × 105 CD4+CD25+ Tregs after the POI model was established. Sex hormone levels, follicle numbers, apoptotic events, and the Akt/FOXO3a signaling pathway molecules in the ovaries were assessed. Compared with control group, the weight of ovaries in both pZP3 group and pZP3‐Treg group was decreased and no difference was found between them. The number of follicles in the Treg transferred mice, like in pZP3 group, was significantly reduced compared to the control group, but showed a modest improvement when compared the pZP3 group alone. Significantly lower serum concentrations of follicle‐stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and anti‐zona pellucida antibodies (AZPAbs) were found, while the concentrations of estradiol and anti‐Mullerian hormone increased. In mechanism, Treg cell transfer to ZP3 treated mice restored the levels of Caspase3 to control levels, and partially restored Bax, however, had no effect on Bcl‐2. Moreover, Treg cell transfer to ZP3 treated mice partially restored the levels of Akt and FOXO3a, and partially restored the ratios of p‐Akt/Akt and p‐FOXO3a/FOXO3a. In conclusion, Treg cells improved some aspects of ZP3‐induced POI which may be mediate by suppressing ovarian cells apoptosis and involving the Akt/FOXO3a signaling pathway. Therefore, Treg cells may be protective against autoimmune POI.
Response of Fish Assemblages to Habitat Changes and Fishing Activity in a Tributary of the Jinsha River in Southwest China
Authors: Yang Zhi , Zhu Qiguang , Jin Yao , Tang Huiyuan , Liu Hong , Wan Chengyan , Chen Xiaojuan
Published: August 2020

Reservoir impoundment affects fish habitat condition, in turn likely influencing the spatial and temporal distribution patterns of fish assemblage structure in the impounded area. Fishing activity and instream gravel and sand mining are important anthropogenic factors, and flow discharge, water temperature, and precipitation are important natural environmental variables; both anthropogenic and natural factors likely have impacted fish assemblage structure in impounded and unimpounded waterbodies. We used multivariate analysis to evaluate the combined effects of two adjacent reservoir impoundments in the main stem of a large river (Jinsha River; the upper segments of the Yangtze River), overfishing, instream gravel and sand mining, the natural flow regime, and other environmental variables (water temperature and precipitation) on fish assemblage structure in the Heishui River, a small, free-flowing tributary upstream of the mainstream reservoirs. Fish assemblage data and abiotic data collected over 10 years (2008, 2010, and 2011–2017) were analyzed. The results showed that fish assemblages of the Heishui River temporally clustered into two groups that were strongly associated with the two downstream cascade reservoirs (Xiangjiaba and Xiluodu reservoirs) in the main-stem Jinsha River. The relationships between fish assemblage structure and abiotic factors were tested using a distance-based linear model and were visualized using distance-based redundancy analysis, showing that the main factors explaining the interannual and seasonal variation in fish assemblage structure were instream gravel and sand mining, mainstream reservoir impoundment, and seasonal flow regime. Among these, instream gravel and sand mining in this tributary played the most significant role in affecting the temporal variation of fish assemblage structure and explained 34.12% of the total variability. Mainstream reservoir impoundment and seasonal flow regime exerted secondary effects on the temporal variation of fish assemblage structure and together explained 13.39% (7.00% and 6.39%, respectively) of the total variability. This study suggests that the relevant administrative agencies should focus more on free-flowing habitat maintenance in this tributary and the control of instream gravel and sand mining.
The effectiveness of healthy lifestyle interventions on weight gain in overweight pregnant women: A cluster‐randomized controlled trial
Authors: Hajian Sepideh , Aslani Armin , Sarbakhsh Parvin , Fathnezhad‐Kazemi Azita
Published: August 2020

Aim

Interventions based on adopting a healthy lifestyle have been less successful. The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of healthy lifestyle interventions on weight gain in overweight pregnant women.

Design

A cluster randomized controlled trial.

Methods

Health centres were selected by simple random sampling; then, 66 overweight pregnant women were enrolled by convenience sampling and divided into intervention and comparison groups. Intervention group received individual nutritional counselling and physical activity training. The data were collected in several stages with the demographic and obstetric questionnaire, maternal weight record, food frequency and international physical activity questionnaire.

Results

Pregnancy weight gain‐4.75(CI 95%: −4.02, −5.48) was significantly lower in the intervention group (p < .001). Comparing between groups with adjustment for baseline values indicated that there was a statistically significant difference in terms of total calorie 95.46 (CI 95%: −22.37, 213.30), carbohydrate 23.45 (CI 95%: 2.12, 44.78), protein −7.16 (CI 95%: −12.85, −1.47) and fat 8.82 (CI 95%: 2.21, 15.67) intake. Despite the higher level of physical activity in the intervention group, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups.

Conclusion

Counselling interventions for healthy living during pregnancy can lead to controlling weight gain, improving dietary habits and increasing the physical activity in overweight pregnant women.
Mechanisms of Artemisia scoparia’s Anti‐Inflammatory Activity in Cultured Adipocytes, Macrophages, and Pancreatic β‐Cells
Authors: Boudreau Anik , Burke Susan J. , Collier J. Jason , Richard Allison J. , Ribnicky David M. , Stephens Jacqueline M.
Published: August 2020

Objective

An ethanolic extract of Artemisia scoparia (SCO) improves adipose tissue function and reduces negative metabolic consequences of high‐fat feeding. A. scoparia has a long history of medicinal use across Asia and has anti‐inflammatory effects in various cell types and disease models. The objective of the current study was to investigate SCO’s effects on inflammation in cells relevant to metabolic health.

Methods

Inflammatory responses were assayed in cultured adipocytes, macrophages, and insulinoma cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and NF‐κB reporter assays.

Results

In tumor necrosis factor α–treated adipocytes, SCO mitigated ERK and NF‐κB signaling as well as transcriptional responses but had no effect on fatty acid–binding protein 4 secretion. SCO also reduced levels of deleted in breast cancer 1 protein in adipocytes and inhibited inflammatory gene expression in stimulated macrophages. Finally, in pancreatic β‐cells, SCO decreased NF‐κB–responsive promoter activity induced by IL‐1β treatment.

Conclusions

SCO’s ability to promote adipocyte development and function is thought to mediate its insulin‐sensitizing actions in vivo. Our findings that SCO inhibits inflammatory responses through at least two distinct signaling pathways (ERK and NF‐κB) in three cell types known to contribute to metabolic disease reveal that SCO may act more broadly than previously thought to improve metabolic health.