bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Streams of Revenue
Authors: Lave Rebecca , Doyle Martin
Published: January 2021

An analysis of stream mitigation banking and the challenges of implementing market-based approaches to environmental conservation.

Market-based approaches to environmental conservation have been increasingly prevalent since the early 1990s. The goal of these markets is to reduce environmental harm not by preventing it, but by pricing it. A housing development on land threaded with streams, for example, can divert them into underground pipes if the developer pays to restore streams elsewhere. But does this increasingly common approach actually improve environmental well-being? In Streams of Revenue, Rebecca Lave and Martin Doyle answer this question by analyzing the history, implementation, and environmental outcomes of one of these markets: stream mitigation banking.

In stream mitigation banking, an entrepreneur speculatively restores a stream, generating “stream credits” that can be purchased by a developer to fulfill regulatory requirements of the Clean Water Act. Tracing mitigation banking from conceptual beginnings to implementation, the authors find that in practice it is very difficult to establish equivalence between the ecosystems harmed and those that are restored, and to cope with the many sources of uncertainty that make positive restoration outcomes unlikely. Lave and Doyle argue that market-based approaches have failed to deliver on conservation goals and call for a radical reconfiguration of the process.
The diversity and function of sourdough starter microbiomes
Authors: Landis Elizabeth A , Oliverio Angela M , McKenney Erin A , Nichols Lauren M , Kfoury Nicole , Biango-Daniels Megan , Shell Leonora K , Madden Anne A , Shapiro Lori , Sakunala Shravya , Drake Kinsey , Robbat Albert , Booker Matthew , Dunn Robert R , Fierer Noah , Wolfe Benjamin E
Published: January 2021

Humans have relied on sourdough starter microbial communities to make leavened bread for thousands of years, but only a small fraction of global sourdough biodiversity has been characterized. Working with a community-scientist network of bread bakers, we determined the microbial diversity of 500 sourdough starters from four continents. In sharp contrast with widespread assumptions, we found little evidence for biogeographic patterns in starter communities. Strong co-occurrence patterns observed in situ and recreated in vitro demonstrate that microbial interactions shape sourdough community structure. Variation in dough rise rates and aromas were largely explained by acetic acid bacteria, a mostly overlooked group of sourdough microbes. Our study reveals the extent of microbial diversity in an ancient fermented food across diverse cultural and geographic backgrounds.
Deleting Mecp2 from the cerebellum rather than its neuronal subtypes causes a delay in motor learning in mice
Authors: Achilly Nathan P , He Ling-jie , Kim Olivia A , Ohmae Shogo , Wojaczynski Gregory J , Lin Tao , Sillitoe Roy V , Medina Javier F , Zoghbi Huda Y
Published: January 2021

Rett syndrome is a devastating childhood neurological disorder caused by mutations in MECP2. Of the many symptoms, motor deterioration is a significant problem for patients. In mice, deleting Mecp2 from the cortex or basal ganglia causes motor dysfunction, hypoactivity, and tremor, which are abnormalities observed in patients. Little is known about the function of Mecp2 in the cerebellum, a brain region critical for motor function. Here we show that deleting Mecp2 from the cerebellum, but not from its neuronal subtypes, causes a delay in motor learning that is overcome by additional training. We observed irregular firing rates of Purkinje cells and altered heterochromatin architecture within the cerebellum of knockout mice. These findings demonstrate that the motor deficits present in Rett syndrome arise, in part, from cerebellar dysfunction. For Rett syndrome and other neurodevelopmental disorders, our results highlight the importance of understanding which brain regions contribute to disease phenotypes.
A trace fossil made by a walking crayfish or crayfish-like arthropod from the Lower Jurassic Moenave Formation of southwestern Utah, USA
Authors: Rose Makae , Harris Jerald D. , Milner Andrew R.C.
Published: January 2021

New invertebrate trace fossils from the Lower Jurassic Moenave Formation at the St. George Dinosaur Discovery Site at Johnson Farm (SGDS) continue to expand the ichnofauna at the site. A previously unstudied arthropod locomotory trace, SGDS 1290, comprises two widely spaced, thick, gently undulating paramedial impressions flanked externally by small, tapered to elongate tracks with a staggered to alternating arrangement. The specimen is not a variant of any existing ichnospecies, but bears a striking resemblance to modern, experimentally generated crayfish walking traces, suggesting a crayfish or crayfish-like maker for the fossil. Because of its uniqueness, we place it in a new ichnospecies,Siskemia eurypyge. It is the first fossil crayfish or crayfish-like locomotion trace ever recorded.
Age-related abnormalities of thalamic shape and dynamic functional connectivity after three hours of sleep restriction
Authors: Long Zhiliang , Zhao Jia , Chen Danni , Lei Xu
Published: January 2021

Background

Previous neuroimaging studies have detected abnormal activation and intrinsic functional connectivity of the thalamus after total sleep deprivation. However, very few studies have investigated age-related changes in the dynamic functional connectivity of the thalamus and the abnormalities in the thalamic shape following partial sleep deprivation.

Methods

Fifty-five participants consisting of 23 old adults (mean age: 68.8 years) and 32 young adults (mean age: 23.5 years) were included in current study. A vertex-based shape analysis and a dynamic functional connectivity analysis were used to evaluate the age-dependent structural and functional abnormalities after three hours of sleep restriction.

Results

Shape analysis revealed the significant main effect of deprivation with local atrophy in the left thalamus. In addition, we observed a significant age deprivation interaction effect with reduced variability of functional connectivity between the left thalamus and the left superior parietal cortex following sleep restriction. This reduction was found only in young adults. Moreover, a significantly negative linear correlation was observed between the insomnia severity index and the changes of variability (post-deprivation minus pre-deprivation) in the functional connectivity of the left thalamus with the left superior parietal cortex.

Conclusions

The results indicated that three hours of sleep restriction could affect both the thalamic structure and its functional dynamics. They also highlighted the role of age in studies of sleep deprivation.
ИЗОБРАЗИТЕЛЬНЫЕ ДЕВИЗЫ НА МОНЕТАХ ПОСЛЕДНИХ ИСПАНСКИХ ГАБСБУРГОВ , "Средние века"
Authors: Елохин К.А.
Published: January 2021

Статья посвящена изобразительным девизам, чеканившимся на монетах последних испанских Габсбургов (Филиппа III, Филиппа IV, Карла II). Девизы на монетах первых Габсбургов на испанском престоле (XVI в.) уже привлекали внимание ис-следователей, однако собственно девизная культура, нашедшая свое отражение в монетах, не рассматривалась системно. В статье выделен ряд проблем, касающихся чеканки монет как в Старом, так и в Новом Свете: изменения изобразительных девизов, час тичная утрата испанской девизной культурой некоторых тенденций, влияние испанской девизной традиции на другие культуры. Подробно анализиру- ются монеты с изобразительными девизами, чеканка которых осуществлялась в вице-королевствах за пределами Иберийского полуострова. Исследуются появившиеся в XVII в. тенденции в монетной чеканке с преобладанием монограмм, а также вопросы использования монет в габсбургской пропаганде. Изобразительные девизы размещались в основном на дешевых монетах низкого достоинства, доверие к которым из-за монетарной политики испанских монархов было подорвано.
ФУЛЬХЕРИЙ ШАРТРСКИЙ. ИЕРУСАЛИМСКАЯ ИСТОРИЯ / пер., примеч. и вступ. ст. А.Н. Слезкина. СПб.: Евразия, 2020.368 с. , "Средние века"
Authors: Лучицкая C.И.
Published: January 2021

Рецензируется перевод хроники Фульхерия Шартрского медиевистом из Санкт-Петербурга А.Н. Слезкиным. Работа представляет собой комментированный перевод на русский язык одного из самых известных источников по истории Первого крестового похода и ранней истории Иерусалимского королевства. В рецензии оцениваются качества перевода и дается критический анализ вступительной статьи и научных комментариев.
Robotic Distal Gastrectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Using the Right Gastroepiploic Artery
Authors: Yoshimoto Toshiaki , Yoshikawa Kozo , Shimada Mitsuo , Higashijima Jun , Tokunaga Takuya , Nishi Masaaki , Takasu Chie , Kashihara Hideya , Eto Shohei
Published: January 2021

Introduction

The right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) is used in coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). However, the treatment of gastric cancer after CABG using the RGEA is complex, because stopping coronary blood flow from the RGEA may cause lethal myocardial ischemia. Adequate treatment must strike a balance between the curability and safety.

Case Presentation

The patient was a 79-year-old man with advanced gastric cancer who had previously undergone CABG with the RGEA. It was impossible to perform curative gastrectomy with preservation of the RGEA. Thus, percutaneous coronary intervention was performed to revascularize the native right coronary artery. The patient then started chemotherapy using oxaliplatin and S-1. After 4 courses of chemotherapy, the patient underwent robotic distal gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy, including regional lymph node dissection around the RGEA. The RGEA was cut after a clamp test confirmed that there was no ST change.

Conclusion

In patients who develop gastric cancer after CABG using the RGEA, percutaneous coronary intervention of the native coronary artery is useful when resection of the RGEA is required to dissect the No. 6 lymph node. Robotic gastrectomy is a surgical option in such cases.
Additive Manufacturing of Polymer Matrix Composite Materials with Aligned or Organized Filler Material: A Review
Authors: Niendorf Karl , Raeymaekers Bart
Published: January 2021

The ability to fabricate polymer matrix composite materials with continuous or discontinuous filler material, oriented in a user‐specified direction, enables implementing designer material properties, such as anisotropic mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties. Conventional fabrication methods rely on a mold, which limits specimen geometry and is difficult to implement. In contrast, additive manufacturing, including fused filament fabrication or fused deposition modeling, direct ink writing, or stereolithography, combined with a method to align filler material such as a mechanical force or an electric, magnetic, shear force, or ultrasound wave field, enables 3D printing polymer matrix composite material specimens with complex geometry and aligned filler material, without the need for a mold. Herein, we review the combinations of fabrication and filler material alignment methods used to fabricate polymer matrix composite materials, in terms of operating and design parameters including size, resolution, print speed, filler material alignment time, polymer matrix and filler material requirements, and filler manipulation requirements. The operating envelope of each fabrication method is described and their advantages, disadvantages, and limitations are discussed. Finally, different combinations of 3D printing and filler material alignment methods in the context of important engineering applications, such as structural materials, flexible electronics, and shape‐changing materials, are illustrated.
Solving singular control problems using uniform trigonometrization method
Authors: Mall Kshitij , Taheri Ehsan , Prabhu Prathamesh
Published: January 2021

This study investigates the application of a recently developed construct, the uniform trigonometrization method (UTM), to the singular control problems in chemical engineering. The UTM involves minimal modifications to the original problem, thereby generating near‐singular control solutions that can be used for conceptual design and serve as an alternate to direct techniques like nested and simultaneous approaches. Eight classical singular control problems with known analytical solutions and three complex singular control problems from chemical engineering domain are solved in this study. The results obtained using the UTM for these problems are found to match well with the literature and are of higher resolution as compared to the results obtained using a direct pseudospectral‐based solver. The ability of the UTM to handle complex chemical engineering problems with both singular controls and state path constraints has also been demonstrated in this study.
Radiation‐induced oral mucositis hamster model using a linear accelerator enhances clinical relevance of preclinical studies for treatment strategy investigation
Authors: Jordan Carolyn T. , Bradford Emily M. , Cheek Dennis C. , Kudrimoti Mahesh , Miller Craig S. , Smith Molly H. , Hilt J. Zach , Dziubla Thomas D.
Published: January 2021

Translational animal models for oral mucositis (OM) are necessary to simulate and assess the bioclinical effects and response in humans. These models should simulate high levels of radiation exposure that leads to oxidative stress and inflammatory‐initiated tissue changes. Hamster models have been extensively studied to observe pathological effects of radiation exposure and help in the development of effective treatments. To successfully evaluate the potential for treatment regimens with consistency and relevance, a radiation‐induced OM hamster model was developed using a clinical linear accelerator utilized by cancer patients daily. The dose exposure to the isolated, everted cheek pouch of a hamster, as well as the progression of injury, pro‐inflammatory marker, histological, and elasticity analyses of the buccal pouch were conducted to verify replicability and reproducibility of the injury model. The findings from this model demonstrated its ability to consistently induce injury and resolution over 28 days using an acute dose of 60 Gy. This model was developed to enhance clinical relevance when evaluating potential efficacious treatments and can now be utilized in efficacy studies to better evaluate developed therapeutics in a preclinical model that is easy to translate to clinical studies..
Nanoscale Hybrid Amorphous/Graphitic Carbon as Key Towards Next‐Generation Carbon‐Based Oxidative Dehydrogenation Catalysts
Authors: Herold Felix , Prosch Stefan , Oefner Niklas , Brunnengräber Kai , Leubner Oliver , Hermans Yannick , Hofmann Kathrin , Drochner Alfons , Hofmann Jan P. , Qi Wei , Etzold Bastian J. M.
Published: January 2021

A new strategy affords “non‐nano” carbon materials as dehydrogenation catalysts that perform similarly to nanocarbons. Polymer‐based carbon precursors that combine a soft‐template approach with ion adsorption and catalytic graphitization are key to this synthesis strategy, thus offering control over macroscopic shape, texture, and crystallinity and resulting in a hybrid amorphous/graphitic carbon after pyrolysis. From this intermediate the active carbon catalyst is prepared by removing the amorphous parts of the hybrid carbon materials via selective oxidation. The oxidative dehydrogenation of ethanol was chosen as test reaction, which shows that fine‐tuning the synthesis of the new carbon catalysts allows to obtain a catalytic material with an attractive high selectivity (82 %) similar to a carbon nanotube reference, while achieving 10 times higher space–time yields at 330 °C. This new class of carbon materials is accessible via a technically scalable, reproducible synthetic pathway and exhibits spherical particles with diameters around 100 μm, allowing unproblematic handling similar to classic non‐nano catalysts.
Desulfurization performance of a large‐scale marine diesel engine's scrubber with packing scrubbing: Validation of design parameters based on ASPEN PLUS simulations
Authors: Zhao Minsen , Kuang Min , Wu Sili , Hu Xuehui , Yang Guohua
Published: January 2021

In the adaptability of a proposed cascade‐scrubbing technology used for ocean ships, ASPEN PLUS desulfurization simulations for a packing scrubber of a 10 000‐kW large‐scale marine diesel engine were performed to uncover effects of the scrubber's configurational parameters (i.e., scrubber diameter, spherical packing diameter, and packing thickness) and meanwhile confirm the selected parameters' availability. Desulfurization was evaluated not only under the once‐through open‐loop model with varying above scrubber's configurational parameters plus operational seawater temperature and scrubbing section's inlet gas temperature but also under the seawater/lye cascade‐scrubbing model for confirming its availability and superiority in saving both the seawater and lye consumption. Desulfurization exhibits increase, decrease, and slight increase trends with the packing thickness, packing diameter, and scrubber diameter, respectively. However, the packing‐layer pressure drop increases with the packing thickness and decreases initially but then varies little with the left two parameters. Any increase in these temperatures weakens desulfurization. A comprehensive consideration of multiple factors suggests that the selected packing diameter of 50 mm, total packing thickness of 3.5 m, and scrubber diameter of 2.8 m are reasonable and adaptable to the scrubber, which can comply with the required strict desulfurization standard by using the low‐alkalinity seawater (1.42 mmol/L) to scrub the high‐sulfur gas (fuel‐sulfur content of 3.5%) with a moderate liquid/gas ratio of about 6.5 L/Nm3. Under the same gas and seawater conditions, the seawater/lye cascade‐scrubbing model achieves about 38% and 90% reduction respectively in the seawater and alkali consumption as comparing with the once‐through open‐loop and closed‐loop models, respectively.
Isobornyl methacrylate as diluent co‐monomer on physical‐mechanical properties of dental resin composites
Authors: Martins Aurealice Rosa Maria , Silva Isaias Donizeti , Machado‐Santos Luciana , Vitti Rafael Pino , Sinhoreti Mário Alexandre Coelho , Brandt William Cunha
Published: January 2021

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of isobornyl methacrylate (IBOMA) as a diluent co‐monomer on the physical properties of experimental resins. Blends of bisphenol glycidyl methacrylate (Bis‐GMA) were formulated with triethylene glycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA) and IBOMA in different wt%. The degree of conversion, flexural strength, elastic modulus, and ultimate tensile strength were determined. Immediate and 24 h volumetric shrinkage were calculated. Data were submitted to ANOVA and Tukey's tests (α = 0.05). Blends of Bis‐GMA and IBOMA showed the lowest ultimate tensile strength, flexural strength, elastic modulus, degree of conversion, and immediate and 24 h volumetric shrinkage results. However, when IBOMA was used together with TEGDMA in blends of Bis‐GMA, the resin composites showed best curing performance and high physical‐mechanical properties. Thus, the IBOMA is as diluent co‐monomer that can be used in dental resin composites to reduce the volumetric shrinkage.
Interactions between seabirds and pelagic squid‐jigging vessels in the south‐west Atlantic
Authors: Reid Tim , Yates Oliver , Crofts Sarah , Kuepfer Amanda
Published: January 2021

The waters of the Patagonian Shelf in the south‐west Atlantic are nutrient rich, support large concentrations of wildlife, and are exploited by several fisheries, including the large Asian squid‐jigging fishery. Although the squid‐jigging fishery has previously been observed to have few problems with the accidental mortality of seabirds, the deliberate catch for consumption of seabirds by the crew has been identified as a possible issue.

Four cruises were made between Uruguay and the Falkland Islands during 2005–2006 to quantify the impact of jiggers on seabirds from indirect observation platforms. Monitoring included closely approaching 116 jigging vessels and boarding seven for inspection.

The use of non‐jigging fishing gear, either for catching fish or seabirds, was observed at the stern of 33 vessels. Twelve seabird carcasses were observed floating close to vessels during 13 days of monitoring. Although the results recorded here are not sufficient to put a confident estimate on the magnitude of this mortality, the density of carcasses floating in the water among the jigging fleet indicated the potential significance of this problem.

The results were considered sufficiently concerning for the Falkland Islands Government to take preventative actions, including educational efforts, improving humanitarian conditions onboard vessels, introducing relevant legislation and licence conditions, and prosecuting intentional seabird take inside the Falkland Islands jurisdiction. This has resulted in the apparent elimination of these mortalities within Falkland waters since the late 2000s.

Nevertheless, it is likely that the same initial conditions exist for the crews of squid jiggers on vessels operating on the high seas, and so the possibility of the targeting of seabirds for consumption continues. Squid fisheries with substantial numbers of jiggers overlap with important foraging areas for a range of albatross and other species in high‐seas areas such as the Patagonian Shelf, the Humboldt and Kuroshio currents, and the south‐west Pacific Ocean. These areas of overlap may be important to investigate, especially in the foraging grounds of declining seabirds.
Simulation ready anatomy model generation pipeline for virtual surgery
Authors: Qian Kun , Wang Meili , Cui Yaqing
Published: January 2021

For surgery simulation application, a high‐quality anatomical model is very important not only for rendering but also for physics simulation. CT and MRI reconstructed model has no surface parameterization attribute so texture‐based materials cannot be applied for rendering. Anatomical models on the digital market are efficient options but most can only be used for visualization because of the nonmanifold geometric degeneracies. We proposed a simulation ready model generation pipeline that can convert a nonmanifold polygonal surface mesh into a degeneracy free surface mesh (simulation ready state) while preserving the original model's surface parameterization attribute. Our pipeline includes two stages. The first stage is a voxelization and remesh based simulation ready model generation pipeline, which can keep the shape of the original three‐dimensional surface model meanwhile eliminate the nonmanifold geometry. The second stage is the main contribution of this article. A cutting‐based surface mesh parameterization transfer algorithm is proposed which can transfer the original surface parameterization (UV mapping especially the UV seam) to the simulation ready model. A detailed comparison with existing pipelines is made to show that our pipeline can achieve surface parameterization preservation feature and is more suitable for improving the efficiency of virtual surgery production.
Chitosan‐Coated Glass Beads in a Fluidized Bed for Use in Fixed‐Bed Dye Adsorption
Authors: da Silva Alves Daniele Costa , Capa Verde Pires Roni Anderson , Algã Francine Fonseca Diniz , Gonçalves Janaina Oliveira , Dotto Guilherme Luiz , de Almeida Pinto Luiz Antonio , Felipe Carlos Alberto Severo
Published: January 2021

The effects of the inlet air temperature and two chitosan solutions, pure or with coating auxiliaries, on the coating efficiency of glass beads in a fluidized bed were analyzed. The coated beads were used in a fixed‐bed column for adsorption of reactive black 5 dye in aqueous solution, and the effects of the pH and the coating solution formulation on the adsorption capacity were investigated. The glass bead coating process reached higher efficiencies at an air temperature of 80 °C with pure chitosan solution. The highest adsorption capacities were found at pH 3, using the beads coated with pure chitosan solution. All dynamic adsorption models were suitable to represent the breakthrough curves. The high values found for the coating efficiency and adsorption capacity prove these methods to be promising in dye adsorption.
Treatment with pembrolizumab in programmed death ligand 1–positive recurrent glioblastoma: Results from the multicohort phase 1 KEYNOTE‐028 trial
Authors: Reardon David A. , Kim Tae Min , Frenel Jean‐Sebastien , Simonelli Matteo , Lopez Juanita , Subramaniam Deepa S. , Siu Lillian L. , Wang Hui , Krishnan Suba , Stein Karen , Massard Christophe
Published: January 2021

Background

Current treatments for recurrent glioblastoma offer limited benefit. The authors report the antitumor activity and safety of the anti–programmed death 1 (anti–PD‐1) immunotherapy, pembrolizumab, in programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1)–positive, recurrent glioblastoma.

Methods

Adult patients with PD‐L1–positive tumors were enrolled in the recurrent glioblastoma cohort of the multicohort, phase 1b KEYNOTE‐028 study (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT02054806) and received pembrolizumab 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks for up to 2 years. The primary endpoint was investigator‐assessed overall response rate according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, version 1.1. Archival tumor samples were assessed for PD‐L1 expression levels (prospectively) and T‐cell–inflamed gene expression profile score (retrospectively).

Results

After a median follow‐up of 14 months (range, 2‐55 months) among the 26 enrolled patients, the overall response rate was 8% (95% CI, 1%‐26%). Two partial responses, lasting 8.3 and 22.8 months, occurred. Progression‐free survival (median, 2.8 months; 95% CI, 1.9‐8.1 months) rate at 6 months was 37.7%, and the overall survival (median, 13.1 months; 95% CI, 8.0‐26.6 months) rate at 12 months was 58%. Correlation of therapeutic benefit to level of PD‐L1 expression, gene expression profile score, or baseline steroid use could not be established. Treatment‐related adverse events occurred in 19 patients (73%), and 5 patients experienced grade 3 or 4 events (there were no grade 5 events). Immune‐mediated adverse events and infusion reactions occurred in 7 patients (27%).

Conclusions

Pembrolizumab monotherapy demonstrated durable antitumor activity in a subset of patients with manageable toxicity in this small, signal‐finding, recurrent glioblastoma cohort. Future studies evaluating rationally designed pembrolizumab combination regimens may improve outcomes in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.
SCR7, a potent cancer therapeutic agent and a biochemical inhibitor of nonhomologous DNA end‐joining
Authors: Manjunath Meghana , Choudhary Bibha , Raghavan Sathees C.
Published: January 2021

Background

DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) are harmful to the cell as it could lead to genomic instability and cell death when left unrepaired. Homologous recombination and nonhomologous end‐joining (NHEJ) are two major DSB repair pathways, responsible for ensuring genome integrity in mammals. There have been multiple efforts using small molecule inhibitors to target these DNA repair pathways in cancers. SCR7 is a very well‐studied anticancer molecule that blocks NHEJ by targeting one of the critical enzymes, Ligase IV.

Recent findings

In this review, we have highlighted the anticancer effects of SCR7 as a single agent and in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents and radiation. SCR7 blocked NHEJ effectively both in vitro and ex vivo. SCR7 has been used for biochemical studies like chromosomal territory resetting and in understanding the role of repair proteins in cell cycle phases. Various forms of SCR7 and its derivatives are discussed. SCR7 is also used as a potent biochemical inhibitor of NHEJ, which has found its application in improving genome editing using a CRISPR‐Cas system.

Conclusion

SCR7 is a potent NHEJ inhibitor with unique properties and wide applications as an anticancer agent. Most importantly, SCR7 has become a handy aid for improving genome editing across different model systems.
Energetic Descriptors of Steric Hindrance in Real Space: An Improved IQA Picture**
Authors: Gallegos Miguel , Costales Aurora , Pendás Ángel Martín
Published: January 2021

Steric hindrance (SH) plays a central role in the modern chemical narrative, lying at the core of chemical intuition. As it however happens with many successfulchemical concepts, SH lacks an underlying physically sound root, and multiple mutually inconsistent approximations have been devised to relate this fuzzy concept to computationally derivable descriptors. We here argue that being SH related to spatial as well as energetic features of interacting systems, SH can be properly handled if we chose a real space energetic stance like the Interacting Quantum Atoms (IQA) approach. Drawing on previous work by Popelier and coworkers (ChemistryOpen8, 560, 2019) we build an energetic estimator of SH, referred to asEST. We show that the rise in the self‐energy of a fragment that accompanies steric congestion is a faithful proxy for the chemist's SH concept if we remove the effect of charge transfer. This can be done rigorously, and theESThere defined provides correct sterics even for hydrogen atoms, where the plain use of deformation energies leads to non‐chemical results. The applicability ofESTis validated in several chemical scenarios, going from atomic compressions to archetypalSN2reactions.ESTis shown to be a robust steric hindrance descriptor.
Abnormal glucose in pre‐school children and the association with obesity/physical activity: A large population‐based study
Authors: Wang Shuo , Li Weiqin , Qiao Yijuan , Wang Shuting , Zhang Tao , Liu Enqing , Pan Lei , Leng Junhong
Published: January 2021

Aim

The rise of diabetes mellitus (DM) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in children has become a worldwide challenge, but population‐based survey targeted on pre‐school children is lacking. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of DM and IFG in pre‐school children and their association with obesity and susceptible behaviours.

Methods

A population‐based survey was conducted and 21,571 Chinese children aged 5–6 years were recruited from 66 kindergartens in Tianjin, China during the year of 2016–2018. Fasting glucose was measured for all participants. Children with fasting glucose over 7.0 mmol/L was defined as DM, and 5.6–6.9 mmol/L was defined as IFG.

Results

The prevalence of DM and IFG in the current study among Chinese children aged 5–6 years old was 0.05% and 1.18%, respectively, with significant gender and regional disparities (p < 0.001). The risk of abnormal fasting glucose increased with obesity (OR 1.44, 95% CI 1.00–2.06, p < 0.05), especially with moderate/severe obesity (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.10–3.10, p < 0.05). Further analyses found that as compared to children who had at least 2 h/day physical activity, physical activity <1 h/day increased the risk of abnormal fasting glucose independently of BMI z‐score (OR 1.79, 95% CI 1.10–2.91, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

The study was the first population‐based large‐scale survey of DM and IFG which targeted on pre‐school children, and demonstrated that moderate/severe obesity and inadequate physical activity raised the risk of DM and IFG early from pre‐school. The findings highlighted the necessity of early detection for abnormal glucose and control of obesity and susceptible behaviours.
Astrocytes as a target for Nogo‐A and implications for synapse formation in vitro and in a model of acute demyelination
Authors: Espírito‐Santo Sheila , Coutinho Vinícius G , Dezonne Rômulo S , Stipursky Joice , dos Santos‐Rodrigues Alexandre , Batista Carolina , Paes‐de‐Carvalho Roberto , Fuss Babette , Gomes Flávia Carvalho Alcantara
Published: January 2021

Central nervous system (CNS) function depends on precise synaptogenesis, which is shaped by environmental cues and cellular interactions. Astrocytes are outstanding regulators of synapse development and plasticity through contact‐dependent signals and through the release of pro‐ and antisynaptogenic factors. Conversely, myelin and its associated proteins, including Nogo‐A, affect synapses in a inhibitory fashion and contribute to neural circuitry stabilization. However, the roles of Nogo‐A‐astrocyte interactions and their implications in synapse development and plasticity have not been characterized. Therefore, we aimed to investigate whether Nogo‐A affects the capacity of astrocytes to induce synaptogenesis. Additionally, we assessed whether downregulation of Nogo‐A signaling in an in vivo demyelination model impacts the synaptogenic potential of astrocytes. Our in vitro data show that cortical astrocytes respond to Nogo‐A through RhoA pathway activation, exhibiting stress fiber formation and decreased ramified morphology. This phenotype was associated with reduced levels of GLAST protein and aspartate uptake, decreased mRNA levels of the synaptogenesis‐associated genes Hevin, glypican‐4, TGF‐β1 and BDNF, and decreased and increased protein levels of Hevin and SPARC, respectively. Corroborating these findings, conditioned medium from Nogo‐A‐treated astrocytes suppressed the formation of structurally and functionally mature synapses in cortical neuronal cultures. After cuprizone‐induced acute demyelination, we observed reduced immunostaining for Nogo‐A in the visual cortex accompanied by higher levels of Hevin expression in astrocytes and an increase in excitatory synapse density. Hence, we suggest that interactions between Nogo‐A and astrocytes might represent an important pathway of plasticity regulation and could be a target for therapeutic intervention in demyelinating diseases in the future.
Imaging defined rapid recurrence is an independent risk factor for worse overall survival
Authors: Lee Douglas Y. , Abraham Jesty , Ridge John A. , Galloway Thomas J.
Published: January 2021

see page 1380–1381.
Absence of CCR2 reduces spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis in the ApcMin/+ mouse model
Authors: Jala Venkatakrishna Rao , Bodduluri Sobha Rani , Ghosh Sweta , Chheda Zinal , Singh Rajbir , Smith Michelle E. , Chilton Paula M. , Fleming Christopher J. , Mathis Steven Paul , Sharma Rajesh Kumar , Knight Rob , Yan Jun , Haribabu Bodduluri
Published: January 2021

The biological activities of chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) are mediated via C‐C chemokine receptor‐2 (CCR2). Increased CCL2 level is associated with metastasis of many cancers. In our study, we investigated the role of the CCL2/CCR2 axis in the development of spontaneous intestinal tumorigenesis using the ApcMin/+ mouse model. Ablation of CCR2 in ApcMin/+ mice significantly increased the overall survival and reduced intestinal tumor burden. Immune cell analysis showed that CCR2−/−ApcMin/+ mice exhibited significant reduction in the myeloid cell population and increased interferon γ (IFN‐γ) producing T cells both in spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes compared to ApcMin/+ mice. The CCR2−/−ApcMin/+ tumors showed significantly reduced levels of interleukin (IL)‐17 and IL‐23 and increased IFN‐γ and Granzyme B compared to ApcMin/+ tumors. Transfer of CCR2+/+ApcMin/+ CD4+ T cells into Rag2−/− mice led to development of colitis phenotype with increased CD4+ T cells hyper proliferation and IL‐17 production. In contrast, adoptive transfer of CCR2−/−ApcMin/+ CD4+ T cells into Rag2−/− mice failed to enhance colonic inflammation or IL‐17 production. These results a suggest novel additional role for CCR2, where it regulates migration of IL‐17 producing cells mediating tumor‐promoting inflammation in addition to its role in migration of tumor associated macrophages.
Hedging against risks associated with travel and tourism stocks during COVID‐19 pandemic: The role of gold
Authors: Sikiru Abdulsalam Abidemi , Salisu Afees A.
Published: January 2021

The global lockdowns including movement restrictions during COVID‐19 pandemic impacted the hospitality business negatively and by extension the trading of related stocks such as travel & tourism stocks. Owing to the long standing hedging potential of gold, we examine whether this potential can be extended to the travel & tourism stocks in order to hedge against the associated risks caused by the current pandemic. Using daily data from January 2016 to July 2020 and constructing optimal portfolio strategies, we find that gold serves as a very strong hedge and safe haven for travel & tourism stocks, most especially in the pandemic period. This conclusion validates the inclusion of gold in the diversified portfolio of travel & tourism stocks in order to improve the risk‐adjusted return performance for investors in the sector particularly during COVID‐19 pandemic.
Machine learning in polymer informatics
Authors: Sha Wuxin , Li Yan , Tang Shun , Tian Jie , Zhao Yuming , Guo Yaqing , Zhang Weixin , Zhang Xinfang , Lu Songfeng , Cao Yuan‐Cheng , Cheng Shijie
Published: January 2021

Polymers have been widely used in energy storage, construction, medicine, aerospace, and so on. However, the complexity of chemical composition and morphology of polymers has brought challenges to their development. Thanks to the integration of machine learning algorithms and large data resources, the data‐driven methods have opened up a new road for the development of polymer science and engineering. The emerging polymer informatics attempts to accelerate the performance prediction and process optimization of new polymers by using machine learning models based on reliable data. With the gradual supplement of currently available databases, the emergence of new databases and the continuous improvement of machine learning algorithms, the research paradigm of polymer informatics will be more efficient and widely used. Based on these points, this paper reviews the development trends of machine learning assisted polymer informatics and provides a simple introduction for researchers in materials, artificial intelligence, and other fields.

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Textile‐integrated microwave components based on artificial magnetic conductor
Authors: Kokolia Martin , Raida Zbynek
Published: January 2021

In the paper, we introduce a textile‐integrated waveguide (TIW) based on a novel artificial magnetic conductor (AMC), which consists of hexagonal elements. Thanks to the hexagonal shape of AMC elements, general TIW components (power‐dividers, waveguide bends, etc.) can be simply created. Since AMC replaces side walls of TIW, complicated manufacturing of vias can be eliminated. Due to the complex geometry of TIW, simulation of realistic models is not trivial. Attention is therefore turned to the combination of several computer‐oriented approaches (dispersive analysis, equivalent circuits, full wave models) to model AMC structures efficiently. Outputs of simulations are compared with measurements of components fabricated from self‐adhesive copper foil fixed to a three‐dimensional (3D) knitted substrate. Experiments show that simulations and measurements are in an acceptable agreement.
Surgical resection of early stage hepatocellular carcinoma improves patient survival at safety net hospitals
Authors: Vitiello Gerardo A. , Wang Annie , Lee Rachel M. , Russell Maria C. , Yopp Adam , Ryon Emily L. , Goel Neha , Luu Sommer , Hsu Cary , Silberfein Eric , Correa‐Gallego Camilo , Berman Russell S. , Lee Ann Y.
Published: January 2021

Background and Objectives

Surgical resection is indicated for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with Child A cirrhosis. We hypothesize that surgical intervention and survival are limited by advanced HCC presentation at safety net hospitals (SNHs) versus academic medical centers (AMCs).

Methods

Patients with HCC and Child A cirrhosis in the US Safety Net Collaborative (2012–2014) were evaluated. Demographics, clinicopathologic features, operative characteristics, and outcomes were compared between SNHs and AMCs. Liver transplantation was excluded. Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional‐hazards models were used to identify the effect of surgery on overall (OS).

Results

A total of 689 Child A patients with HCC were identified. SNH patients frequently presented with T3/T4 stage (35% vs. 24%) and metastases (17% vs. 8%; p < .05). SNH patients were as likely to undergo surgery as AMC patients (17% vs. 18%); however, SNH patients were younger (56 vs. 64 years), underwent minor hepatectomy (65% vs. 38%), and frequently harbored well‐differentiated tumors (23% vs. 2%; p < .05). On multivariate analysis, surgical resection and stage, but not hospital type, were associated with improved OS.

Conclusions

Although SNH patients present with advanced HCC, survival outcomes for early stage HCC are similar at SNHs and AMCs. Identifying barriers to early diagnosis at SNH may increase surgical candidacy and improve outcomes.
Thirty‐day complication rates do not differ by race among patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma
Authors: Mitsakos Anastasios T. , Dennis Samuel O. , Parikh Alexander A. , Snyder Rebecca A.
Published: January 2021

Background and Objectives

Black patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are less likely to receive multimodality treatment and have worse survival compared to White patients. However, little is known regarding racial differences in postoperative outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to determine if 30‐day complication rates following pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) differ by race.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent PD for PDAC from 2014 to 2016 within the ACS‐NSQIP pancreatectomy‐specific data set was performed. Primary outcomes were 30‐day pancreas‐specific and overall major complications.

Results

A total of 6936 patients were identified, including 91.4% (N = 6337) White and 8.6% (N = 599) Black. Pathologic stage and rates of neoadjuvant therapy were similar among Whites and Blacks. Rates of pancreas‐specific (23.9% vs. 23.1%, p = .88) and major postoperative complications (39.2% vs. 39.9%, p = .55) were similar between Whites and Blacks. By multivariable regression analysis, there was no association between race and odds of pancreas‐specific complications (odds ratio [OR] 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89–1.37) or overall major complications (OR 1.13, 95% CI 0.95–1.36).

Conclusions

Among patients undergoing PD for PDAC, Black race is not associated with increased pancreas‐specific or overall 30‐day postoperative complications. Short‐term postoperative outcomes do not appear to explain the increase in pancreatic cancer mortality among Black patients.
Autophagy modulation as a potential targeted cancer therapy: From drug repurposing to new drug development
Authors: Lin Chia‐Jung , Tsao Yuan‐Ni , Shu Chih‐Wen
Published: January 2021

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway to deliver dysfunctional proteins or organelles into lysosomes for degradation and recycling, which is an important pathway for normal homeostasis. Autophagy dysfunction can lead to various diseases, particularly cancer. Autophagy not only plays a role in tumor suppression, but it also serves as a tumor promoter in cancer malignancy. In this review, we summarize the involvement of autophagy‐related (ATG) proteins in autophagy signaling and the role of autophagy in cancer progression. The effectiveness of US Food and Drug Administration‐approved drugs in regulating autophagic flux and suppressing cancer cells is also discussed. Moreover, since clinically available drugs do not specifically target ATG proteins, there is little doubt that their cancer suppression function is autophagy dependent. Therefore, this review also discusses several inhibitors against ATG proteins, such as ULK1/2, ATG4, and VPS34 to suppress cancer cells. Autophagy modulators can be either used alone or combined with chemotherapy or radiation therapy to enhance the efficacy of current treatments for certain types of cancer. This review summarizes current autophagy modulation used as a potential strategy for targeted cancer therapy.
Selection criteria for prison locations: Key study of Turkey
Authors: Uzuner Ahmet Tuğcin , Geyikçi Umut Burak
Published: January 2021

The theory of public finance suggests that public sector intervention in the economy primarily concerns the efficient allocation of resources, equal distribution of wealth, and stabilization of economic activity throughout the operating cycle. Given that prisons are a public investment, this study identified the criteria involved in selecting the location of prisons in Turkey, a topic that has not been discussed before. The criteria for locating these establishments were analysed using an analytical network process in which the weight of each criterion in the total was determined by conducting a face‐to‐face survey with officials in the justice system who are difficult to access. The results show that political factors (50.89%) had the biggest influence on the location selection of a prison, and the positive impact on economic development of the selected region was only 13.56%. In contrast to the existing literature, location selection in Turkey does not follow the theory of public finance: the economic impacts are not considered, and decisions are taken politically.
Interfacial Sites in Ag Supported Layered Double Oxide for Dehydrogenation Coupling of Ethanol to n‐Butanol
Authors: Zhang Jian , Shi Kai , Zhu Yanru , An Zhe , Wang Wanning , Ma Xiaodan , Shu Xin , Song Hongyan , Xiang Xu , He Jing
Published: January 2021

Upgrading of ethanol to n‐butanol through dehydrogenation coupling has received increasing attention due to the wide application of n‐butanol. But the enhancement of ethanol dehydrogenation and followed coupling to produce high selectivity to n‐butanol is still highly desired. Our previous work has reported an acid‐base‐Ag synergistic catalysis, with Ag particles supported on Mg and Al‐containing layered double oxides (Ag/MgAl‐LDO). Here, Ag‐LDO interfaces have been manipulated for dehydrogenation coupling of ethanol to n‐butanol by tailoring the size of Ag particles and the interactions between Ag and LDO. It has been revealed that increasing the population of surface Ag sites at Ag‐LDO interfaces promotes not only the dehydrogenation of ethanol to acetaldehyde but also the subsequent aldol condensation of generated acetaldehyde. A selectivity of up to 76 % to n‐butanol with an ethanol conversion of 44 % has been achieved on Ag/LDO with abundant interfacial Ag sites, much superior to the state‐of‐the‐art catalysts.
Microscopic Study of Bovine Serum Albumin Adsorption on Zinc Oxide (0001) Surface
Authors: Rezek Bohuslav , Hematian Hadi , Jíra Jaroslav , Rutherford David , Kuliček Jaroslav , Ukraintsev Egor , Remeš Zdeněk
Published: January 2021

Properties and functions of various ZnO materials are intensively investigated in biological systems for diagnostics, therapy, health risks assessment as well as bactericidal and decontamination purposes. Herein, the interface between ZnO and biological environment is studied by characterizing adsorption of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and fetal bovine serum (FBS) using atomic force microscopy with CF4‐treated tips. Similar molecular morphologies (thickness around 2 nm) yet different binding forces to ZnO (10–25 nN) are observed. These observations are corroborated by atomic scale simulations of BSA on (0001) ZnO surface using force‐field method and showing rearrangements of Zn surface atoms. Such binding may have an impact also on other properties of ZnO–BSA complex.