bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Weed Managements and Anthropogenic Stress on Quantitative Attributes of Plant Community Composition in Gopegarh Ecopark, Paschim Medinipur, West Bengal, India
Authors: Ghosh Somdatta , Maity Ritusmita , Rana Swagata , Kamilya Mamoni , Patra Surojit , Kuila Debashis
Published: May 2021

Eco-parks are generally set up worldwide for serving both recreational and conservation purposes of local biodiversity through limited maintenance. Gopegarh Eco Park was set by the Forest Department, Government of West Bengal in highlands bank of Kangsabati  Kansai) river with a heritage ‘Garh’ area with remnants of Khan Raja’s establishment in Midnapore, West Bengal. This park was a place to study for its rich resources of indigenous vegetation, insects and birds for students and researchers. Increased development for amusements including picnic shades and human accessibility, intense weeding and mud ovens are set up. This study to measure quantitative characteristics of plant communities by quardrat method in low, moderate and severely disturbed zones revealed gradual decrease in indigenous flora with time; specially, herbaceous vegetation. The vegetation is gradually turning towards a monodominant tree community of Acacia auriculiformis, in low and moderate disturbed sites and Anacardium occidentale in severely disturbed sites; both planted earlier. Species frequency, diversity and density are decreasing with stress. The frequent cutting and weeding is affecting intensely on the ecosystem; decreasing soil moisture, organic carbon and changes in pH. This practice may affect propagule formation, dispersal and establishment of herbs, shrub and tree species. The park may gradually lose the indigenous flora and the flora dependant fauna and its utility as in situ sustainable maintenance of biodiversity and a resource place for practical study by students and researchers.
Traditional Architecture in Romanian Philately (V): Case Study Regarding Households in Nereju, Ostrov, Sălciua de Jos, Șanț and Sârbova
Authors: Cioruța Bogdan-Vasile , Pop Alexandru Leonard
Published: May 2021

Traditional architecture is integrated into the landscape, is adapted to the environment, and uses local natural materials. These are the general features. In fact, in each area there are their own and recognizable elements that ensure the local specificity. In this context, the present study aims to emphasize the beauty of traditional Romanian architecture in terms of philately. It is desired to expose the architectural specifics from the other five areas. This time it is the turn of illustrated postcards and other philatelic effects from Nereju (Vrancea), Ostrov (Constanța), Sălciua de Jos (Alba), Șanț (Bistrița-Năsăud) and Sârbova (Timiș) to come to the fore. What do these households have in common? Each of them suggests the idea that the new architecture should not imitate the old one. But it must respect the local specificity, assuming at the same time the moment when it was created. There is no need for constructions that imitate the architecture of 100-150 years ago (shown in the philatelic effects exposed), but for constructions that respect the spirit of the place.
Soil Physico-chemical Properties as affected by Long-term Application of Organics and Inorganic NPK Fertilisers under Rice-wheat Cropping System in Calcareous Soil of Bihar
Authors: Das Rajeswari , Kumar Mukesh , Singh Santosh Kumar , Jha Shankar , Sahoo Subhra
Published: May 2021

A balanced application of organics and inorganic fertilisers could be beneficial to both soil nutrient availability, soil health and crop growth. The experiment was conducted on light textured highly calcareous soil at Research Farm of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Pusa. Four levels of inorganic fertiliser treatments were applied i.e. 50, 100 and 150% of NPK along with no NPK as control as main plot treatments while four levels of organic treatment (i.e. no organics, compost, crop residue and compost+ crop residue) were applied as sub plot treatments in a split plot design with a total sixteen (16) treatments with three replications to investigate the long term effect of application of various doses of recommended fertiliser along with organic amendments on various physico-chemical properties of calcareous soils after 32nd crop cycle . Data was collected on various physico-chemical properties i.e. Soil pH, electrical conductivity (dSm-1), soil organic carbon (g kg-1), free CaCO3 (%), cation exchange capacity [cmol (p+) kg -1], bulk Density (Mg m-3) and water holding capacity (w/w %). The result revealed that soil pH was reduced by 3.9% while electrical conductivity (EC) was reduced by 45% over initial (1988). Both soil pH and EC were reduced by 1.7% and 15.4% respectively in plots receiving combined application of compost and crop residue along with 150% NPK over control. Organic carbon was improves by 33% over initial (1988) which had direct effect on reduction in soil bulk density (32%) and improved water holding capacity (29%) over the control in plots receiving 150% NPK along with combined application of compost and crop residue. Soil cation exchange capacity and free CaCO3 also showed an alternate trend former being enhanced and later being reduced after 32nd crop cycle in rice-wheat cropping system. Application of different levels of NPK along with different organics improved the overall soil physico-chemical properties which further have direct relation with enhanced crop growth and productivity.
Laser DAF Cut: A Breakthrough Approach of Die Attach Film Singulation for Thin Wafers
Authors: Agudon Aiza Marie E. , Arellano Frederick P. , Bacquian Bryan Christian S.
Published: May 2021

Today, semiconductor world is becoming more inclined to thinner Integrated Circuit (IC) packages. IC packages will require thinning of the internal configuration of the package, which involves the die or the wafer and the adhesive material, which is the Die Attach Film (DAF). Aligned to this, as wafers goes thinner it becomes more of a challenge in process development especially during its preparatory stages, such as wafer back grinding and sawing processes. As the die becomes smaller and thinner wafer sawing process should have minimum effect on the mechanical integrity of the silicon so as not to alter its quality.

New technologies were introduced so as to adopt to this development trend, one of this is the Dicing Before Grinding (DBG). Compared to the normal wafer preparation process that is wafer back grinding before wafer sawing, DBG flow is wafer sawing first prior wafer back grinding processes. The application of DBG technology eliminates the mechanical draw backs of the conventional wafer sawing process. In addition, with the use of DAF for thinner packages, DBG was developed together with the Die Attach Film (DAF) cutting solution, which is Laser DAF Cutting.  DAF are separated using Laser as a cutting medium to address potential processability problems that may occur on the conventional mechanical blade saw.

The paper discuss the Laser DAF cut development that covers the Design of Experiments (DoE) to understand the different characteristics of Laser DAF solution and be validated through actual simulation and wafer processing. The paper will also cover the interaction of different DAF thicknesses and Laser DAF parameters in order to define the critical characteristics so as to understand the behavior of different laser DAF parameters in achieving optimal DAF cutting process responses.
Prevalence and Characteristics of Adverse Drug Reaction among Patients in Jubail, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alyousif Hussain , Tarawneh Mohammed , Madan Zainab Al , Hussein Abdulmuhsen
Published: May 2021

Introduction: Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) often causes prolonged hospitalization and have an increased risk of mortality. Adverse drug reaction can greatly affect the quality of life. It may lead to various undesired outcomes such as use of suboptimal alternative drugs, unnecessary investigations and delayed treatment. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of adverse drug reaction as well as, risk factors of allergic drug reactions among hospitalized patients at the secondary care center Royal Commission Hospital (RCH) in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted at the RCH in Jubail, Saudi Arabia. The study included all patients admitted to RCH during the period from 2017 to 2019. All patients admitted to RCH during the study period were reviewed to identify those with at least one documented drug allergy incident. The data was collected by the study authors from the hospital medical electronic data system by using a structured questionnaire that consists of two sections. The main section is the one adapted from the Adverse Drug Reaction Probability Scale (Naranjo).

Results: A total of 93 patients with reported ADR were recruited in the current study, more than half (55.91%) of them were females, with a mean age of 35.79 ± 21.18. There was a statistically significant (P-value 0.042) difference in the prevalence of ADR by gender, and the "definitely" identified ADR cases were all males. Besides, the correlation was also significant (P<0.05) between the prevalence of ADR and the use of specific antagonists as well as the committee action. The suspected medications for ADR were mainly antibiotics by 54%, particularly the third generation cephalosporins at 13%, followed by the penicillin subtype at 11%. Ceftriaxone was the highest at 13.54%, followed by vancomycin at 9.38%, and cefazolin at 8.33%. This was followed by analgesic class at 14%.

Conclusion: ADRs reported in the current study were mainly probable, and the definite ones were within the reported prevalence globally. The maximum number of ADRs reported was with antibiotics. The majority of patients had recovered from the ADRs.
LIFESTYLE AND CONSUMER PREFERENCES IN CHOOSING LOCAL OR FOREIGN BRANDS: A STUDY OF CONSUMER BEHAVIOR IN SURAKARTA – INDONESIA
Authors: Haryanto Budhi , Febrianto Awang , Cahyono Edi
Published: May 2021

This study discusses the relationship between lifestyle and individual preferences in choosing local or foreign brands. The sample consisted of 250 people, taken randomly through surveys in several public places in Surakarta - Indonesia, including the department stores, traditional markets, or other public areas, where many people were there and were willing to become research participants. Fur­thermore, the collected data is processed using factor analysis to reduce lifestyle dimensions, and logistic regression analysis is used to explain the relationship between lifestyle dimensions and pre­ferences in choosing a local brand or foreign brand, in this case represented by Wong Solo Grilled Chicken (WSGC) or Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).The test results indicate 13 dimensions of lifestyle, and only 5 dimensions are significantly related to brand preference: (1) individuals who have a fashion consciousness lifestyle tend to choose KFC rather than WSGC, (2) individuals with health consciousness lifestyles tend to choose WSGC rather than KFC, (3) individuals with leadership lifestyles tend choosing KFC rather than WSGC, (4) individuals with attentiveness lifestyle tend to choose WSGC rather than KFC, and (5) individuals with extroversion lifestyles tend to choose KFC rather than WSGC. This study also discusses the implications of studies related to the contribution of theory, practitioners, and possibilities for future studies
DETERMINANT FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION AMONG STUDENTS IN MALAYSIA
Authors: Hong Lu Man , Sha'ari Muhammad Azim Abu Hassan , Zulkiffli Wan Farha Wan , Che Aziz Roslizwati , Ismail Mohammad
Published: May 2021

The unemployment among university students become main issues in Malaysia since the increasing number of umnemployed graduates from higher education institution. In order to minimize this issue, entrepreneurship become one of the main solutions especially for higher education institution in Malaysia. This including the Kolej Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Ismail Petra (KIAS), Kelantan, Malaysia which provided entrepreneurship as main core subjects for their program of studies. Thus, this research tends to examine the factors that influence entrepreneurial intention among diploma student at Kolej Islam Antarabangsa Sultan Ismail Petra (KIAS) by using The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Quantitative research design has been where 100 set of questionnaires has been distributed to target respondents in order to get the necessary information. All data were panalyzed using SmartPLS software. The finding shows that attitude and entrepreneurial education are significant towards entrepreneurship intention. Therefore, this study is expected to provide a significant insight towards higher institutions, public as well as government about entrepreneurial intention.
AAPM medical physics practice guideline 3.b.: Levels of supervision for medical physicists in clinical training
Authors: Pfeiffer Douglas , Al‐Hallaq Hania , Halvorsen Per , Hendrickson Kristi , Lu Zheng Feng , Martin Melissa Carol , Schueler Beth , Shuman Jillian , E. Zoberi Jacqueline
Published: May 2021

Preamble

The American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) is a nonprofit professional society whose primary purposes are to advance the science, education and professional practice of medical physics. The AAPM has more than 8,000 members and is the principal organization of medical physicists in the United States. The AAPM will periodically define new practice guidelines for medical physics practice to help advance the science of medical physics and to improve the quality of service to patients throughout the United States. Existing medical physics practice guidelines will be reviewed for the purpose of revision or renewal, as appropriate, on their fifth anniversary or sooner. Each medical physics practice guideline represents a policy statement by the AAPM, has undergone a thorough consensus process in which it has been subjected to extensive review, and requires the approval of the Professional Council. The medical physics practice guidelines recognize that the safe and effective use of diagnostic and therapeutic radiology requires specific training, skills, and techniques, as described in each document. Reproduction or modification of the published practice guidelines and technical standards by those entities not providing these services is not authorized. The following terms are used in the AAPM practice guidelines: (1) Must and Must Not: Used to indicate that adherence to the recommendation is considered necessary to conform to this practice guideline. (2) Should and Should Not: Used to indicate a prudent practice to which exceptions may occasionally be made in appropriate circumstances.
Reconfigurable Full Color Display using Anisotropic Black Phosphorus
Authors: Jia Jingyuan , Ban Yu , Liu Kuan , Mao Libang , Su Ying , Lian Meng , Cao Tun
Published: May 2021

Next‐generation color display entails miniaturization, reconfigurablity, flexibility, integration, and excellent workability. Recently, emerging 2D van der Waals materials offer a new opportunity to satisfy these requirements and attract intense attention, owing to their intrinsic in‐plane anisotropy for polarization dependent photosensitivity, straightforward integration with complicated nanostructures, and efficient quantum confinement for good photodetecting performances. Nevertheless, reconfigurable color display in the visible region based on the 2D material stays elusive. Black phosphorus (BP) is a newly rising member of 2D family with intense optical anisotropy. Herein, the anisotropic BP crystals are explored as an optical dielectric for the visible spectrum, which possesses a polarization‐dependent complex refractive index. A considerably large anisotropic ratio of BP enables polarized color displaying. It is experimentally and theoretically observed that the color from an air/BP/SiO2 multi‐layered Fabry–Pérot cavity reversibly changes with the polarization angle, taking advantage of polarization‐dependent complex refractive index of BP. The strategy offers a new prospect for developing next‐generation polarization‐dependent devices in data storage, anti‐counterfeiting technologies, and color display.
Educational autopsy: An innovative structured debrief for residency didactic teaching
Authors: Griffith Max , Brown Charles , Haas Mary R. C. , Huang Robert D. , Hopson Laura R.
Published: May 2021

Background

Educational autopsy (EA) is an innovative technique designed to improve the quality of feedback provided to conference presenters. In response to survey fatigue and suboptimal feedback from online evaluations, this postlecture group debrief was adapted to emergency medicine residency didactics, with a goal of collecting timely, specific, and balanced feedback for presenters. Other aims include encouraging participants to think critically about educational methods and providing presenters with formal feedback for a portfolio or promotion packet. It was hypothesized that EA provides more specific and actionable feedback than traditional online evaluations deployed individually to conference attendees.

Methods

The authors analyzed 4 months of evaluations pre‐ and postimplementation of EA. Rate of completion, presence of comments, and types of comments were compared. Comments were coded as specific, nonspecific, and unrelated/unclear. Specific comments were further categorized as about audiovisual presentation design, speaker presentation style, and educational methods of the session.

Results

A total of 46 of 65 (71%) preimplementation presentations eligible for evaluation received comments through traditional online evaluations. A total of 44 of 75 (59%) eligible postimplementation presentations generated comments via EA. Among presentations that received comments, none received nonspecific comments via EA, compared to 46% of lectures through traditional evaluations. EA generated specific comments for more presentations regarding presentation design (91% vs. 63%), presentation style (66% vs. 24%), and educational methods (48% vs. 28%). EA produced no unclear comments; traditional evaluations resulted in unclear comments for 15% of lectures.

Conclusions

EA generated more specific feedback for residency conference presenters, although there were a number of sessions not evaluated by EA. Although this limited analysis suggested that EA produced higher‐quality presenter feedback, it also showed a drop‐off in the proportion of didactic sessions that received narrative feedback.
Evolutionary lability in floral ontogeny affects pollination biology in Trimezieae
Authors: Lovo Juliana , Alcantara Suzana , Vasconcelos Thais N. C. , Sajo Maria das Graças , Rudall Paula J. , Prenner Gerhard , Aguiar Antônio J. C. , Mello‐Silva Renato
Published: May 2021

Premise

There is little direct evidence linking floral development and pollination biology in plants. We characterize both aspects in plain and ornamented flowers of Trimezieae (Iridaceae) to investigate how changes in floral ontogeny may affect their interactions with pollinators through time.

Methods

We examined floral ontogeny in 11 species and documented pollination biology in five species displaying a wide range of floral morphologies. We coded and reconstructed ancestral states of flower types over the tribal phylogeny to estimate the frequency of transition between different floral types.

Results

All Trimezieae flowers are similar in early floral development, but ornamented flowers have additional ontogenetic steps compared with plain flowers, indicating heterochrony. Ornamented flowers have a hinge pollination mechanism (newly described here) and attract more pollinator guilds, while plain flowers offer less variety of resources for a shorter time. Although the ornamented condition is plesiomorphic in this clade, shifts to plain flowers have occurred frequently and abruptly during the past 5 million years, with some subsequent reversals.

Conclusions

Heterochrony has resulted in labile morphological changes during flower evolution in Trimezieae. Counterintuitively, species with plain flowers, which are endemic to the campo rupestre, are derived within the tribe and show a higher specialization than the ornamented species, with the former being visited by pollen‐collecting bees only.
Optimization of CRISPR‐Cas9 through promoter replacement and efficient production of L‐homoserine in Corynebacterium glutamicum
Authors: Li Ning , Wang Miao , Yu Shiqin , Zhou Jingwen
Published: May 2021

Background

Corynebacterium glutamicum is an important chassis for industrial applications. The low efficiency of commonly used genome editing methods for C. glutamicum limits the rapid multiple engineering of the bacterium.

Main Methods and Major Results

In this study, chromosome‐borne expression of cas9 and recET from Escherichia coli K12‐MG1655 was achieved to avoid toxicity to the strain, increase the probability of homologous recombination, and reduce loss of viability caused by double‐strand breaks. Constitutive strong promoters, such as P45, Ptrc, and PH36, were used to replace PglyA and to expand the application of the CRISPR‐Cas9 system. By using this system, a C. glutamicum strain producing L‐homoserine to 22.1 g per L in a 5‐L bioreactor after 96 h was obtained.

Conclusions and Implications

Through the application of visualized fluorescent protein, the process of plasmid curing was optimized, obtain a continuous and rapid CRISPR‐Cas9 genome editing system. The method described here could be useful to construct C. glutamicum mutant rapidly.
Exploration of simulated urine sample biochemistry for the diagnosis of diseases: A laboratory practical exercise
Authors: Denis Colette , Lasfargues Charline , Buffin‐Meyer Bénédicte
Published: May 2021

The practical work described here is designed for third‐year bachelor students in Life Sciences attending a kidney physiology course. It illustrates how urinary biochemistry can be used for a medical diagnosis. Students have to measure glucose, proteins, and creatinine concentrations in three simulated urine samples. First, they independently elaborate detailed protocols from the biochemical kit's technical sheets. Second, after correction of the protocols by the teacher, they perform the biochemical assays. Finally, students write a report in which they interpret the biochemical data and use them in the context of histological images assigned to each urine sample. With their results, their theoretical background and scientific articles supplied by the teacher, they establish the diagnosis indicating which patients are diseased and from which disease they are suffering (diabetes without nephropathy, diabetic nephropathy or hypertensive nephropathy). The originality of this practical work is to give student autonomy from the start of the project by requiring them to write the protocols, and determine the diagnosis by themselves. Simple and inexpensive, this practical forces students to mobilize their knowledge in renal physiology and pathophysiology as well as those acquired in other disciplines such as biochemistry or cellular biology. A survey conducted on two classes of students confirmed that this type of training helps students to better understand renal physiology, to realize the importance of interdisciplinarity (biochemistry, histology, and physiology) and to develop confidence in their ability to work independently.
Willingness to Intervene in Child Abuse and Neglect: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Sar Bibhuti K. , Bledsoe Linda K.
Published: May 2021

The serious negative impacts of child abuse and neglect require greater focus on understanding the factors that influence adults' willingness to intervene when they observe instances of possible abuse and neglect. This study tests whether certain reporter characteristics and experiences, such as individual and family maltreatment history/experiences and perceived knowledge of child abuse indicators, correlate with, and mediate in, the decision to intervene. Demographics and willingness to report data were collected from adults (n = 306) attending a child abuse prevention training programme in a metropolitan city. The findings indicate that perceived knowledge of child abuse indicators plays a mediation role in willingness to take action to respond to child abuse and neglect. Practice and future research implications of these findings are discussed.

‘This study tests whether certain reporter characteristics and experiences… correlate with, and mediate in, the decision to intervene’

Key Practitioner Messages

A maltreatment history was associated with willingness to intervene, and that effect was mediated by perceived knowledge of symptoms of abuse and neglect.

Child abuse prevention education programmes should consider including a component in the curriculum in which personal and family maltreatment history can move to the forefront and influence decisions to intervene in instances of suspected abuse and neglect.
lncRNA RBM5‐AS1 promotes cell proliferation and invasion by epigenetically silencing miR‐132/212 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells
Authors: Mu Jin‐Yong , Tian Xiu‐Jun , Chen Ying‐Jie
Published: May 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is regarded as one of the most common malignancies worldwide leading to cancer‐related death. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a critical modulator affecting HCC progression. Whereas, the pathogenesis of lncRNA RBM5‐AS1 in the development of HCC remains unclear. Quantitative RT‐PCR or western blot assays were applied to detect the expression of genes and proteins, respectively. The proliferation and metastasis abilities were assessed using Cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8), EdU and transwell assays. RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) experiment was employed to validate the molecular interactions. RBM5‐AS1 is highly expressed in HCC tissues and cell lines, especially in Hep3B and HepG2 cells. RBM5‐AS1 knockdown dramatically restrains cell proliferation, invasion and migration of HCC cells. Importantly, RBM5‐AS1 acts as an epigenetic regulator to elevate the H3K27me3 level of miR‐132/212 promoter regions via recruiting PRC2 (EZH2, SUZ12, EED), and eventually reducing miR‐132/212 expressions. The recovery experiments demonstrated that downregulation of miR‐132/212 markedly eliminate the antitumor effects mediated by RBM5‐AS1 silencing in HCC cells. The data of this work illustrate that RBM5‐AS1 acts as an epigenetic regulator to promote the HCC progression by repressing miR‐132/212 expressions, which would provide a new insight for understanding the action mechanism of RBM5‐AS1 in HCC development.
Understanding How Degree of Crystallinity Affects Electrochemical Kinetics of Sodium‐Ion in Brown TiO2 Nanotubes
Authors: Babu Binson , Shaijumon M. M.
Published: May 2021

Invited for this month's cover picture is the group of Prof. Dr. M. M. Shaijumon and co‐worker Dr. Binson Babu, at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Thiruvananthapuram, India. The cover picture illustrates the superior Na‐ion diffusion characteristics of highly crystalline brown TiO2 nanostructures compared to their low crystalline counterparts. The dependence of crystallinity of nanostructured brown TiO2 anodes on their Na‐ion kinetics, and diffusion characteristics are analyzed using different electrochemical techniques. The present study provides a deeper understanding of Na‐ion intercalation/de‐intercalation mechanism in these materials, benefiting their practical deployment. Read the full text of the Article at 10.1002/celc.202100047.
The Stronger the Better: Donor Substituents Push Catalytic Activity of Molecular Chromium Olefin Polymerization Catalysts
Authors: Hansen Helge‐Boj , Wadepohl Hubert , Enders Markus
Published: May 2021

The donor strength of bifunctional pyridine‐cyclopentadienyl ligands was altered systematically by the introduction of donating groups in the para‐position of the pyridine. In the resulting chromium complexes an almost linear correlation between donor strength and the nitrogen‐chromium distance as well as the electronic absorption maximum is experimentally observed. The connection of electron‐donating groups in the ligand backbone leads to an efficient transfer of the electronic influences to the catalytically active metal centre without restricting it through steric effects. Therefore, catalytic olefin polymerization activity, which is already very high for the previously studied catalysts, increase considerably by attaching para‐amino groups to the chelating pyridine or quinoline, respectively. Combining electron‐rich indenyl ligands with para‐amino substituted pyridines lead to the highest catalytic activities observed so far for this class of organo chromium olefin polymerisation catalysts. The resulting polymers are of ultra‐high molecular weight and the ability of the catalysts to incorporate co‐monomers is also very high.
Silver‐Free Au(I) Catalysis Enabled by Bifunctional Urea‐ and Squaramide‐Phosphine Ligands via H‐Bonding
Authors: Franchino Allegra , Martí Àlex , Nejrotti Stefano , Echavarren Antonio M.
Published: May 2021

A library of gold(I) chloride complexes with phosphine ligands incorporating pendant (thio)urea and squaramide H‐bond donors was prepared with the aim of promoting chloride abstraction from Au(I) via H‐bonding. In the absence of silver additives, complexes bearing squaramides and trifluoromethylated aromatic ureas displayed good catalytic activity in the cyclization ofN‐propargyl benzamides, as well as in a 1,6‐enyne cycloisomerization, a tandem cyclization‐indole addition reaction and the hydrohydrazination of phenylacetylene. Kinetic studies and DFT calculations indicate that the energetic span of the reaction is accounted by both the chloride abstraction step, facilitated by the bidentate H‐bond donor via an associative mechanism, and the subsequent cyclization step.
Real‐world treatment patterns of patients with atopic dermatitis in Japan: Analysis of the JMDC Claims Database
Authors: Kamei Kazumasa , Saeki Hidehisa , Tsuchiya Takanori , Hirose Tomohiro , Campos‐Alberto Eduardo , Matsumoto Fumihiro , Yoshii Noritoshi , Imafuku Shinichi
Published: May 2021

Objectives

This study was conducted to assess changes in the real‐world treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) in Japan.

Methods

Patients from the JMDC Claims Database with ≥1 confirmed diagnosis of AD, an identifiable medical care start date for AD, and ≥2 AD–related treatments on separate dates between January 1, 2005, and May 31, 2019, were included; data were analyzed on a yearly basis.

Results

In total, 411,102 patients were included. The average age of patients increased from 12.0 to 18.8 years between 2005 and 2017. In any given year, the prevalence of AD was highest in patients aged <2 years and lowest in patients aged ≥50 years. Dermatology (65.1%‐69.5% from 2005 to 2017) and clinics (92.3%‐93.4%) were the main department and medical facility, respectively, providing daily medical care for AD. The proportion of patients who were given the thymus and activation‐regulated chemokine test increased from 2008 to 2017 (0.03%‐3.5%). From 2005 to 2017, the proportion of patients who received moisturizer (68.8%‐79.1%), topical calcineurin inhibitors (8.2%‐17.8%), very strong topical corticosteroids (26.0%‐40.6%), strongest topical corticosteroids (3.5%‐7.8%), cyclosporine (0.01%‐0.3%), or phototherapy (0.06%‐1.8%) increased, and the proportion of patients who received topical non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (12.0%‐3.1%) decreased. Annual costs for medication associated with AD per person/visit increased between 2005 and 2017; however, the ratio of medication to total cost did not.

Conclusions

The results of this analysis show that Japanese patients used increasingly potent treatments for AD, and overall AD‐related medication costs increased between 2005 and 2017.
Stakeholder Experiences with the Single IRB Review Process and Recommendations for Food and Drug Administration Guidance
Authors: Corneli Amy , Dombeck Carrie B. , McKenna Kevin , Calvert Sara B.
Published: May 2021

The revised Common Rule requires using a single institutional review board (sIRB) for U.S.‐based, multisite, nonexempt, federally conducted or supported research with human participants. The 21st Century Cures Act directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to harmonize differences between HHS and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations governing research with humans. Anticipating that the FDA may update its 2006 centralized IRB guidance, we conducted interviews with 34 stakeholders engaged in FDA‐regulated clinical research to identify benefits and challenges of using sIRBs and to gather recommendations for revising the FDA's guidance. The main benefits were consistency and standardization, speed and efficiency, and streamlining and simplification. The main challenges were uncertainty at local institutions, including addressing local context; decreased timeliness of the research review process; variable processes; and insufficient communication. Several recommendations for FDA guidance focused on the local context and communication plans. Findings suggest that the sIRB review process may be gaining efficiency although challenges remain.
Feasibility study for realization of optical transillumination imaging of arteriovenous fistula
Authors: Kamiyama Hideaki , Kitama Masataka , Shimizu Hisae O. , Yamashita Masaji , Kojima Yohichiro , Shimizu Koichi
Published: May 2021

Daily management of arteriovenous fistula for dialysis patients is crucially important because it sometimes leads to stenosis and obstruction. Numerous shortcomings are associated with management techniques used today. Aside from being invasive, they also require the use of inspection, auscultation, and palpation. Moreover, they rely on the extensive experience of technicians. Actually, definite diagnosis can be made using angiography, but angiography entails difficulties associated with radiation and bulky equipment. To overcome these difficulties posed by current management techniques, we proposed an optical imaging technique. Unfortunately, the related apparatus was too large and heavy for bedside use. This paper therefore explains the possibility of clinical application of our novel technique using compact and light apparatus. Contrast of blood vessel transillumination images is intensified with two wavelengths used for measurements. Results indicate improved accuracy of inner diameter measurements of blood vessels. This study confirmed the possibility of applying this technique in medical settings to achieve continuous management of AV fistula.
Annulative Dimerization of Carbohydrates: Synthesis of Complex C2‐Symmetrical 1,4‐Dioxane‐Sugar Hybrids
Authors: Robert‐Scott Gabrielle , St‐Gelais Jacob , Giguère Denis
Published: May 2021

The synthesis of carbohydrate‐heterocycle hybrid molecules has led to several interesting biologically active products. In this work, we have developed an annulative process for the formation of novel C2‐symmetrical 1,4‐dioxane‐carbohydrate hybrid compounds. Starting from simple sugars, original 6‐6‐6 heterocyclic frameworks were isolated. The dioxane units adopted a rare 1,4 twist‐boat conformations in the liquid and solid‐states. Synthetic derivatization allowed the preparation of C2‐symmetrical glycomimetics that could be used for further biological investigations.
Generalized least‐squares in dimension expansion method for nonstationary processes
Authors: Qin Shanshan , Sun Bin , Wu Yuehua , Fu Yuejiao
Published: May 2021

In this article, we consider the problem of modeling nonstationary spatial random processes. Bornn et al.(2012) proposed a dimension expansion method, a novel technique for modeling nonstationary processes, aiming to find a dimensionally sparse projection in which the originally nonstationary field exhibits stationarity. However, their dimension expansion approach is a lasso‐penalized least‐squares method that does not account for the covariance structure of the empirical semivariogram. We thus propose a general latent dimension estimation method by replacing the least‐squares method with generalized least‐squares (GLS). Furthermore, we improve the GLS method by weighted least‐squares, which is more computationally efficient and accurate. The performance of the proposed methods is demonstrated through simulations and real data examples.
Type 2 Autoimmune Hepatitis and Nonadherence to Medication Correlate With Premature Birth and Risk of Postpartum Flare
Authors: Olsen Kathryn , Hodson James , Ronca Vincenzo , Bozward Amber G. , Hayden Jennifer , Wootton Grace , Armstrong Matthew , Adams David H. , El‐Sherif Omar , Ferguson James , Knox Ellen , Johnston Tracey , Thompson Fiona , Oo Ye Htun
Published: May 2021

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an immune‐mediated chronic liver disease that affects all ages, including women of childbearing age. Optimal management during pregnancy is poorly defined. We aimed to explore the clinical and biochemical course of AIH in the antenatal and postpartum periods, and assess factors associated with premature birth and postpartum flares. Pregnant women with AIH reviewed in the autoimmune liver disease clinic at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham between 2009 and 2020 were identified retrospectively, and clinical, biochemical, and immunological data 1 year before conception to 1 year postpartum were collected. Analysis was performed to identify trends in blood markers over the antenatal period, with an interrupted time series approach used to assess postpartum trends. Data were available for n = 27 pregnancies (n = 20 women), with median gestation of 38 weeks (30% premature) and most having type 1 AIH (78%) and delivering via caesarean section (63%). Levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and immunoglobulin G all declined significantly during gestation, followed by significant step‐change increases after delivery. Postpartum flare developed in 58% of pregnancies. AIH type 2 was associated with a higher rate of premature births (67% vs. 19%, P = 0.044), and a trend toward a higher rate of postpartum flare (100% vs. 48%, P = 0.053). Although not significant, medication nonadherence was associated with almost double the risk of prematurity (40% vs. 24%, P = 0.415) and postpartum flare (80% vs. 44%, P = 0.109). Conclusion: Biochemical and immunological remission of AIH occurs during pregnancy, although subsequent postpartum flare is common. Type 2 AIH is associated with a higher risk of premature birth and postpartum flare, although further research is required to validate and explain this finding.
Community Walks, Literacy Practices, and Everyday Genres: Integrating Adult, Family, and Community Literacies
Authors: Perry Kristen H. , Degener Sophie
Published: May 2021

Authors and columns in this department explicitly focus on adult literacy, addressing issues of research, policy, and practice relevant to a wide range of adult learners in different contexts.
Solid‐state quantum chemistry with ΘΦ (ThetaPhi): Spin‐liquids, superconductors, and magnetic superstructures made computationally available
Authors: Tchougréeff Andrei , Plekhanov Evgeny , Dronskowski Richard
Published: May 2021

We present a standalone ΘΦ (ThetaPhi) package capable to read the results of ab initio DFT/PAW quantum‐chemical solid‐state calculations processed through various tools projecting them to the atomic basis states as an input and to perform on top of this an analysis of so derived electronic structure which includes (among other options) the possibility to obtain a superconducting (Bardeen‐Cooper‐Schrieffer, BCS), spin‐liquid (resonating valence bond, RVB) states/phases as solutions of the electronic structure problem along with the magnetically ordered phases with an arbitrary pitch (magnetic superstructure) vector. Remarkably, different solutions of electronic‐structure problems come out as temperature‐dependent (exemplified by various superconducting and spin‐liquid phases) which feature is as well implemented. All that is exemplified by model calculations on 1D chain, 2D square lattice as well as on more realistic superconducting doped graphene, magnetic phases of iron, and spin‐liquid and magnetically ordered states of a simplest nitrogen‐based copper pseudo‐oxide, CuNCN, resembling socalled metal‐oxide framework (MOF) phases by the atomic interlinkage.
Dysregulated circ_0004913, circ_0008160, circ_0000517, and their potential as biomarkers for disease monitoring and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Li Xiaoqian , Yang Jun , Yang Xuefeng , Cao Ting
Published: May 2021

Objective

Circular RNA_0004913 (circ_0004913), circular RNA_0008160 (circ_0008160), and circular RNA_0000517 (circ_0000517) are shown to be dysregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, and also show potential in regulating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis. This current study attempted to find possible associations of circ_0004913, circ_0008160, and circ_0000517 with clinical features and prognosis of HCC patients.

Methods

A hundred and fifty HCC patients who received hepatectomy were retrospectively reviewed, and their resected specimens including tumor tissues and paired adjacent tissues were obtained, in which the circ_0004913, circ_0008160, and circ_0000517 expressions were detected. Overall survival (OS) data were collected according to the clinical visit records.

Results

Circ_0004913 (p < 0.001) and circ_0008160 (p < 0.001) were downregulated, while circ_0000517 (p < 0.001) was upregulated in tumor tissue compared with paired adjacent tissue. Additionally, tumor circ_0004913 was negatively associated with largest tumor size (p = 0.009) and Barcelona clinic liver cancer (BCLC) stage (p = 0.020), while tumor circ_0008160 and circ_0000517 were not correlated with any clinicopathological features of HCC patients (all p > 0.05). Tumor circ_0004913 high expression was associated with prolonged OS in total HCC patients (p = 0.008) and in subgroup of patients with largest tumor size <5 cm (p = 0.008). Tumor circ_0008160 high expression was correlated with longer OS in patients with BCLC stage B (p = 0.026). Univariate Cox's analysis disclosed that tumor circ_0004913 high expression was correlated with longer OS; while after adjustment by multivariate Cox's analysis, it failed to predict OS independently.

Conclusion

Circ_0004913 was downregulated in tumor tissue and may serve as a biomarker for evaluating disease severity and prognosis in HCC patients.
Airway epithelial integrin β4‐deficiency exacerbates lipopolysaccharide‐induced acute lung injury
Authors: Jiang Wang , Wang Jin‐Mei , Luo Jin‐Hua , Chen Yu , Pi Jiao , Ma Xiao‐Di , Liu Cai‐Xia , Zhou Yang , Qu Xiang‐Ping , Liu Chi , Liu Hui‐Jun , Qin Xiao‐Qun , Xiang Yang
Published: May 2021

Airway epithelial cells, the first barrier of the respiratory tract, play an indispensable role in innate immunity. Integrin β4 (ITGB4) is a structural adhesion molecule that is involved in the pathological progression of acute inflammatory diseases and is downregulated in asthmatic patients. Research has shown that endothelial ITGB4 has proinflammatory properties in acute lung injury (ALI). However, the role of epithelial ITGB4 in a murine ALI model is still unknown. This study investigated the role of ITGB4 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced ALI. We found that ITGB4 in the airway epithelium had remarkably increased after the introduction of LPS in vivo and in vitro. Then, we constructed airway epithelial cell‐specific ITGB4 knockout (ITGB4−/−) mice to study its role in ALI. At a time point of 12 h after the tracheal injection of LPS, ITGB4−/− mice showed increased macrophages (mainly M1‐type macrophages) and neutrophil infiltration into the lungs; inflammation‐related proteins including interleukin (IL)‐6, tumor necrosis factor, and IL‐17A were significantly elevated compared to their levels in ITGB4+/+ mice. Furthermore, we investigated the role of ITGB4 in the anti‐inflammatory response. Intriguingly, in the ITGB4−/− + LPS group, we found significantly reduced expression of anti‐inflammatory factors, including IL‐10 messenger RNA (mRNA) and ARG‐1 mRNA. We also observed that monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP‐1) increased significantly both in vivo and in vitro. Airway epithelium activates macrophages, most likely driven by MCP‐1, which we confirmed in the coculture of epithelia and macrophages. These phenomena indicate that ITGB4 in airway epithelial cells plays an important role in the process of inflammation and activation of macrophages in ALI. Overall, these data demonstrated a novel link between airway epithelial ITGB4 and the inflammatory response in LPS‐induced ALI.
The list linear arboricity of graphs
Authors: Kim Ringi , Postle Luke
Published: May 2021

A linear forest is a forest in which every connected component is a path. The linear arboricity of a graph is the minimum number of linear forests of covering all edges. In 1980, Akiyama, Exoo, and Harary proposed a conjecture, known as the Linear Arboricity Conjecture (LAC), stating that every ‐regular graph has linear arboricity . In 1988, Alon proved that the LAC holds asymptotically. In 1999, the list version of the LAC was raised by An and Wu, which is called the List Linear Arboricity Conjecture. In this article, we prove that the List Linear Arboricity Conjecture holds asymptotically.
Synthesis of methyl 1,5‐diaryl‐1H‐pyrrole‐2‐carboxylates via acid‐catalyzed ring‐opening/ring‐closure sequence
Authors: Huang Long , Luo Chenghao , Xu Panpan , Liu Bing , Zhang Duntie , Zhang Jing , Pang Denghong , Gong Yuefa
Published: May 2021

A facile synthesis of methyl 1,5‐diaryl‐1H‐pyrrole‐2‐carboxylates was reported in this article. Acid‐catalyzed reaction of methyl 2‐aroyl‐1‐phenoxycyclopropanecarboxylates with aromatic amines underwent smoothly to give methyl 1,5‐diaryl‐1H‐pyrrole‐2‐carboxylates in high to excellent yields under mild conditions.
Fetal Crown–Chin Length to Crown–Rump Length Ratio as a Prenatal Sonographic Marker for Triploidy at First Trimester
Authors: Yang Xin , Li Yingsi , Wu Siqi , Du Kun , Li Dongzhi , Liao Can
Published: May 2021

Objectives

To investigate the ratio of Crown to Chin length (CCL) to Crown–rump length (CRL) between triploid and normal fetuses at first trimester and establish a reference range of fetal CCL/CRL ratio.

Methods

Three hundred and twenty‐five normal and 12 triploid fetuses were reviewed in this study. The image of fetal Crown–rump length (CRL) was acquired retrospectively. CCL and CRL were measured offline by two experienced sonographers, we obtained each averaged value of CCL and CRL as the final data for analysis. A normal range of CCL was established and CCL/CRL ratio was analyzed in normal and triploid fetuses.

Results

In 325 normal fetuses, CCL increased with gestational age following a linear trend from 20 mm at a CRL of 45–36 mm at a CRL of 84 mm (CCL (mm) = 3.65 + 0.38 CRL, R2 = 0.821, P = .000). The CCL/CRL ratio decreased with gestational age from a mean of 0.46 at a CRL of 45 mm to 0.41 at a CRL of 84 mm (PML/CRL = 0.502–0.001 CRL, R2 = 0.093, P = .000). All 12 triploid fetuses had a CCL/CRL ratio above the 95th percentile. When the 95th percentile are used as cutoff values, the detection rate, false‐positive rate, and the positive likelihood ratio are 100%, 5%, and 20, respectively.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrates that fetal CCL/CRL ratio can be used and effective ultrasound marker in screening for triploidy during the first trimester.