bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ranging patterns and factors associated with movement in free‐roaming domestic dogs in urban Malawi
Authors: De la Puente‐Arévalo María , Motta Paolo , Dürr Salome , Warembourg Charlotte , Nikola Christopher , Burdon‐Bailey Jordana , Mayer Dagmar , Lohr Frederic , Gibson Andy D. , Chikungwa Patrick , Chulu Julius , Gamble Luke , Anderson Neil E. , Bronsvoort Barend M deC. , Mellanby Richard J. , Mazeri Stella
Published: January 2022

Rabies is a neglected zoonotic disease that causes around 59,000 deaths per year globally. In Africa, rabies virus is mostly maintained in populations of free‐roaming domestic dogs (FRDD) that are predominantly owned. Characterizing the roaming behavior of FRDD can provide relevant information to understand disease spread and inform prevention and control interventions. To estimate the home range (HR) of FRDD and identify predictors of HR size, we studied 168 dogs in seven different areas of Blantyre city, Malawi, tracking them with GPS collars for 1–4 days. The median core HR (HR50) of FRDD in Blantyre city was 0.2 ha (range: 0.08–3.95), while the median extended HR (HR95) was 2.14 ha (range: 0.52–23.19). Multivariable linear regression models were built to identify predictors of HR size. Males presented larger HR95 than females. Dogs living in houses with a higher number of adults had smaller HR95, while those living in houses with higher number of children had larger HR95. Animals that received products of animal origin in their diets had larger HR95, and only in the case of females, animals living in low‐income areas had larger HR50 and HR95. In contrast, whether male dogs were castrated or not was not found to be associated with HR size. The results of this study may help inform rabies control and prevention interventions in Blantyre city, such as designing risk‐based surveillance activities or rabies vaccination campaigns targeting certain FRDD subpopulations. Our findings can also be used in rabies awareness campaigns, particularly to illustrate the close relationship between children and their dogs.
Comparative biogeography of volant and nonvolant mammals in a temperate island archipelago
Authors: Pichler Taylor R. , Mallinger Elyse C. , Farmer Morgan J. , Morrison Megan J. , Khadka Bijit , Matzinger Parker J. , Kirschbaum Alan , Goodwin Katy R. , Route William T. , Van Stappen Julie , Van Deelen Timothy R. , Olson Erik R.
Published: January 2022

Island biogeography theory is a foundational ecological concept that describes how island or habitat patch size and isolation predict biodiversity, but few have studied how the effects of island biogeography vary with life history characteristics of temperate mammal communities. From 2014 to 2020, we surveyed volant and nonvolant mammals within the Apostle Islands archipelago (Wisconsin, USA) using camera trapping, live trapping, and acoustic monitoring. We used linear regression and information‐theoretic model selection to evaluate the effects of island size and isolation on indices of biodiversity. We also examined the effects of life history characteristics (i.e., body mass, winter inactivity) on the relative abundance and distribution of each species on the islands and the mainland. For volant mammals, island size and isolation were not associated with any metrics of diversity. We found island size was positively associated with nonvolant mammal species richness and diversity, but not species evenness. Island isolation was not a significant predictor for small nonvolant mammal diversity, although both size and isolation appeared to influence island biogeography of medium‐large nonvolant mammals. We also found that the interaction between winter inactivity and body mass influenced the vagility of nonvolant mammals in the archipelago. Our results suggest that life history characteristics are important in mediating species responses to biogeography, supporting the dispersal‐limitation nonequilibrium view of island biogeography theory, particularly for nonvolant mammals.
Large herbivores in a partially migratory population search for the ideal free home
Authors: Martin Hans W. , Hebblewhite Mark , Merrill Evelyn H.
Published: January 2022

Migration is a tactic used across taxa to access resources in temporally heterogenous landscapes. Populations that migrate can attain higher abundances because such movements allow access to higher quality resources, or reduction in predation risk resulting in increased fitness. However, most migratory species occur in partially migratory populations, a mix of migratory and non‐migratory individuals. It is thought that the portion of migrants in a partial migration population is maintained either through (1) a population‐level evolutionary stable state where counteracting density‐dependent vital rates act on migrants and residents to balance fitness or (2) conditional migration, where the propensity to migrate is influenced by the individual's state. However, in many respects, migration is also a form of habitat selection and the proportion of migrants and residents may be the result of density‐dependent habitat selection. Here, we test whether the theory of Ideal Free Distribution (IFD) can explain the coexistence of different migratory tactics in a partially migratory population. IFD predicts individuals exhibit density‐dependent vital rates and select different migratory tactics to maximize individual fitness resulting in equal fitness (λ) between tactics. We tested the predictions of IFD in a partially migratory elk population that declined by 70% with 19 years of demographic data and migratory tactic switching rates from >300 individuals. We found evidence of density dependence for resident pregnancy and adult female survival providing a fitness incentive to switch tactics. Despite differences in vital rates between migratory tactics, mean λ (fitness) was equal. However, as predicted by the IFD, individuals switched tactics toward those of higher fitness. Our analysis reveals that partial migration may be driven by tactic selection that follows the ideal free distribution. These findings reinforce that migration across taxa may be a polymorphic behavior in large herbivores where migratory tactic selection is determined by differential costs and benefits, mediated by density dependence.
Intermittent inotropic therapy with levosimendan vs. milrinone in advanced heart failure patients
Authors: Milwidsky Assi , Frydman Shir , Laufer‐Perl Michal , Sadeh Ben , Sapir Orly , Granot Yoav , Hochstadt Aviram , Korotetski Liuba , Ketchker Liora , Topilsky Yan , Banai Shmuel , Havakuk Ofer
Published: January 2022

Aims

Routine, intermittent inotropic therapy (IIT) is still applied in advanced heart failure (HF) patients either as a bridge to definitive treatment or as a mean to improve quality of life (QOL), despite limited evidence to support its' use. Given recent reports of improved QOL and reduced HF hospitalization, with levosimendan compared with placebo in advanced HF patients, we aimed to assess the effects of switching a small group of milrinone‐treated patients to levosimendan. This was performed as part of a protocol for changing our ambulatory HF clinic milrinone‐based IIT to levosimendan.

Methods and results

Single‐centre study of consecutive ambulatory advanced HF patients that received ≥4 cycles of once‐weekly milrinone IIT at our HF outpatient clinic, who were switched to levosimendan IIT. All patients had left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%, elevated B‐natriuretic peptide (BNP), and were in New York Heart Association Classes III–IV despite maximally tolerated guideline directed medical therapy. Patients were evaluated using BNP levels, echocardiography, cardio‐pulmonary exercise test, and HF QOL questionnaire before and after 4 weeks of levosimendan IIT. The cohort included 11 patients, 10 (91%) were male and the mean age was 76 ± 12 years. After 4 weeks of levosimendan therapy, maximal O2 consumption improved in 8/9 (89%) by a mean of 2.28 mL/kg [95% CI −0.22–3.38, P = 0.05]. BNP levels decreased in 9/11 (82%) levosimendan treated patients, from a median of 1015 ng/L [261–1035] to 719 ng/L [294–739], (P < 0.01). QOL as measure by the EQ‐5D‐5L questionnaire improved in 8/11 (82%) patients after levosimendan IIT, by a median of two points [95% CO −4.14–0.37, P = 0.09]. On echocardiography, peak systolic annular velocity (S') increased after levosimendan IIT by an average of 3 cm/s [95% CI 0.16–2.10, P = 0.03].

Conclusions

In this small‐scale study of ambulatory advanced HF patients, we observed improvements in right ventricular systolic function, maximal O2 consumption, and BNP after switching from milrinone to levosimendan based IIT.
Application of a Ferrocene‐Based Palladacycle Precatalyst to Enantioselective Aryl‐Aryl Kumada Coupling
Authors: Arthurs Ross A. , Hughes David L. , Richards Christopher J.
Published: January 2022

The palladium catalysed reaction of 1‐iodo‐2‐methylnaphthalene and 2‐methyl‐1‐naphthylmagnesium bromide gave quantitatively an (Sa)‐configured cross‐coupled product in 80 % e.e. using (R,Sp)‐PPFA as a ligand. N,N‐Dimethylaminomethylferrocene was cyclopalladated (Na2PdCl4, (S)−Ac−Phe−OH, 93 % e.e., as determined by 1H NMR as a result of self‐induced non‐equivalence), and the resulting (Sp)‐configured dimeric palladacycle was employed as a precatalyst for this cross‐coupling reaction (5 mol%). Addition to the palladacycle of diphenylphosphine and subsequent base‐promoted bidentate ligand synthesis and palladium capture gave an in situ generated catalyst resulting in an (Sp)‐configured product in up to 71 % e.e.
N‐Allyl‐N‐ferrocenylmethylamines andansa‐Ferrocenylmethylamines: Synthesis, Structure, and Biological Evaluation
Authors: Mazur Maria , Ziemkiewicz Kamil , Rawiak Karol , Kisiel Kacper , Wińska Patrycja , Deresz Krystyna , Jarzembska Katarzyna N. , Buchowicz Włodzimierz
Published: January 2022

Reductive aminations of ferrocenecarboxaldehyde,ansa‐ferrocenecarboxaldehyde, and 1,1′‐ferrocene‐dicarboxaldehyde with allylamine,N‐allylmethylamine, orN‐allylaniline were investigated. In the case of the dialdehyde only one formyl group effectively reacted withN‐allylmethylamine orN‐allylaniline, thus providing a simple route to aminomethyl aldehydes and aminomethyl alcohol. 2‐Aza‐ansa[3] ferrocene was also obtained by reacting the dialdehyde with one equivalent of allylamine and subsequent deprotection of the nitrogen atom. The isolatedN‐allyl ferrocene derivatives were completely characterized by spectroscopic techniques, whereas crystal structures of four representative compounds were determined using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. MTT assays showed that these simpleN‐allyl ferrocene derivatives display anticancer activity (MCF‐7, A‐549 and PC‐3 cell lines) in the micromolar range.
Investigations into Supramolecular Lyotropic Liquid Crystals Based on 1,3,5‐Benzenetricarboxaramides by NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Knoll Kevin , Kostner Tobias , Lorenz Christian , Thiele Christina M.
Published: January 2022

New supramolecular lyotropic liquid crystals (LLC) based on 1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxamides (BTAs) with n‐alkylaniline sidechains are described. Using NMR spectroscopy, we investigate the effects of different chain lengths along the homologous series and of non‐BTA additives on liquid crystalline behaviour. From this, we attempt to answer two questions: First, how aliphatic chain length and the addition of further aromatic rings affect the self‐assembly process in general and compared to previously reported systems with purely aliphatic sidechains. Second, whether these modifications are suitable to increases the resulting LLC phases’ resilience against disrupting effects of further, non‐BTA additives.
Fetch and distance from the bay control accretion and erosion patterns in Terrebonne marshes (Louisiana, USA)
Authors: Cortese Luca , Fagherazzi Sergio
Published: January 2022

Wetlands in the Mississippi River Delta are rapidly degrading. Sea level rise and low sediment supply are widely recognized as the two main factors contributing to land‐to‐water conversion. To determine what marsh areas are more resilient, it is fundamental to identify the drivers that regulate marsh accretion and degradation. In this study, a combination of field data and aerial images is used to determine these drivers in Terrebonne Bay, Louisiana, USA. We find that accretion and degradation patterns depend on whether the marsh is located inland in a sheltered area or facing open water. In the first case, the distance to the nearby channel is important, because during flooding of the marsh platform more sediment is deposited in the proximity of channel banks. The accretion rates of marshes facing open water are high and correlate to fetch, a proxy for the ability of waves to resuspend bottom sediment. These areas are more resilient to sea level rise, but waves are also the main mechanism of degradation, as these marshes tend to degrade by edge erosion. Consequently, we propose a bimodal evolution trajectory of the marshes in Terrebonne Bay: marshes close to the bay and facing open water accrete rapidly but are affected by lateral erosion due to waves, whereas sheltered marshes accrete slowly and degrade in large swathes due to insufficient sediment supply.
ERG amplification is a secondary recurrent driver event in myeloid malignancy with complex karyotype and TP53 mutations
Authors: Lee Winston Y. , Gutierrez‐Lanz Efrain A. , Xiao Hong , McClintock David , Chan May P. , Bixby Dale L. , Shao Lina
Published: January 2022

ERG is a transcription factor encoded on chromosome 21q22.2 with important roles in hematopoiesis and oncogenesis of prostate cancer. ERG amplification has been identified as one of the most common recurrent events in acute myeloid leukemia with complex karyotype (AML‐CK). In this study, we uncover three different modes of ERG amplification in AML‐CK. Importantly, we present evidence to show that ERG amplification is distinct from intrachromosomal amplification of chromosome 21 (iAMP21), a hallmark segmental amplification frequently encompassing RUNX1 and ERG in a subset of high‐risk B‐lymphoblastic leukemia. We also characterize the association with TP53 aberrations and other chromosomal aberrations, including chromothripsis. Lastly, we show that ERG amplification can initially emerge as subclonal events in low‐grade myeloid neoplasms. These findings demonstrate that ERG amplification is a recurrent secondary driver event in AML and raise the tantalizing possibility of ERG as a therapeutic target.
Petrography and geochemistry of sandstones from the Injana Formation, Hemrin South Mountain, Northern Iraq: Implications for provenance, weathering and tectonic setting
Authors: Kettanah Yawooz A. , Abdulrahman Alan S.
Published: January 2022

The sandstones of Upper Miocene Injana Formation were studied petrographically and geochemically in the Hemrin South Mountain area, northern Iraq. The sandstones vary between arkose and lithic arkose in composition (Q50F24L26) and are compositionally and texturally immature; meanwhile, the Log(Fe2O3/K2O)–Log(SiO2/Al2O3) diagram shows that they are divided between arkose, litharenite and wacke. These sandstones contain a wide spectrum of heavy minerals ranging from the most resistant ultrastable minerals (zircon, rutile and tourmaline), to the least resistant non‐stable minerals (amphiboles and pyroxenes). The provenance indicator diagrams QmFLt and QtFL indicate multi‐sources for these sandstones ranging from transitional craton, arc and recycled sediments. The major element provenance discriminant function plot shows that they are derived mostly from intermediate igneous provenance. All these suggest that the probable source of these sandstones is the igneous‐metamorphic rocks including the ophiolites of the Suture Zone, the imbricate zone, the Shalair‐Sanandaj‐Sirjan Terrane and the complimentary rock units in Turkey and Iran. The presence of glaucophane as the provenance indicator mineral for subduction zones is a further proof of the ophiolites having acted as the source rocks. Geochemically, the sandstones are enriched in Ca, V, Cr, Ni, Cu, Mo, Sn and Sb and depleted in all othe major, trace and rare earth elements (REE) relative to upper continental crust (UCC). The chondrite‐normalized REE pattern shows a distinct negative slope for the LREEs and a slight negative slope for the HREEs with an enrichment of LREE/HREE of 8.11–10.90 and a negative Eu anomaly of 0.70–0.83. The most probable source of REEs is the heavy minerals detected in the sandstones. Tectonically, the studied rocks were derived from collision rifting arc–related settings. The Chemical Index of Alteration (CIA), Plagioclase Index of Alteration (PIA) and Index of Composition Variation (ICV) values of the Injana sandstones suggest that they are compositionally immature and suffered from very weak weathering indicating the proximity of their source rocks and their deposition under dry continental conditions.
Risk factors associated with patient‐reported fatigue among long‐term oropharyngeal carcinoma survivors
Authors: Aggarwal Puja , Hutcheson Katherine A. , Goepfert Ryan P. , Garden Adam S. , Garg Naveen , Mott Frank E. , Fuller Clifton D. , Lai Stephen Y. , Gunn Gary Brandon , Chambers Mark S. , Hanna Ehab Y. , Sturgis Erich M. , Shete Sanjay
Published: January 2022

Background

The study objective is to identify risk factors associated with fatigue among long‐term OPC survivors.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included disease‐free OPC survivors treated curatively between 2000 and 2013 who were surveyed from September 2015 to July 2016. The outcome variable was patient‐reported fatigue. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with moderate to severe fatigue.

Results

Among 863 OPC survivors, 17.4% reported moderate to severe fatigue. Self‐reported thyroid problems (OR: 2.01;p = 0.003), current cigarette smoking at time of survey (OR: 3.85;p = 0.001), late lower cranial neuropathy (OR: 3.44;p = 0.002), and female sex (OR: 1.91;p = 0.010) were concurrent risk factors of reporting moderate to severe fatigue. Ipsilateral intensity‐modulated radiotherapy (OR: 0.18;p = 0.014) was associated with lower risk of reporting moderate to severe fatigue.

Conclusions

Our study identified thyroid problems, smoking, and late lower cranial neuropathy as associated with moderate to severe fatigue. These findings should be further validated in prospective studies to address fatigue among OPC survivors.
Streamflow uncertainty due to the limited sensitivity of controls at hydrometric stations
Authors: Horner Ivan , Le Coz Jérôme , Renard Benjamin , Branger Flora , Lagouy Mickaël
Published: January 2022

Streamflow data measured at hydrometric stations are affected by uncertainty due to water level (or stage) measurement errors. This uncertainty increases as the sensitivity of the stage‐discharge controls decreases. A recently proposed method is used to demonstrate the role of control sensitivity in propagating stage uncertainty to streamflow uncertainty among other error sources. The method is first applied to a fictitious hydrometric station with five alternative scenarios of controls with variable sensitivity. The fictitious controls are designed on a flat weir without or with triangular or rectangular notches. The method is also evaluated using a real hydrometric station where the initially flat weir was changed to a weir with a rectangular notch. Both applications confirm the importance of the sensitivity of the controls, showing that a narrow notch in a flat control substantially reduces the uncertainty of daily, monthly and yearly discharges as well as the uncertainty of a low flow index. Quantifying such uncertainty component is essential to optimize the design of hydrometric stations and to provide streamflow data with acceptable uncertainty, especially for low flows.
Difference matrices with four rows over generalized dihedral groups
Authors: Pan Rong , Abel R. Julian R. , Bunjamin Yudhistira A. , Feng Tao , Wang Xiaomiao , Zhang Menglong
Published: January 2022

Let be a finite group and let be an integer. A ‐difference matrix (DM) is a matrix with entries from , such that for all distinct rows and , the multiset of differences contains each element of exactly once. Let be a finite abelian group and let be the generalized dihedral group of . It is proved that a ‐DM exists if and only if is of even order and is not isomorphic to . Also for the nine non‐abelian groups of order 16, we obtain ‐DMs over five of them, ‐DMs over three of them and a ‐DM over one of them. No ‐DM exists for this last group, where .
Investigating the role of dystrophin isoform deficiency in motor function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Chesshyre Mary , Ridout Deborah , Hashimoto Yasumasa , Ookubo Yoko , Torelli Silvia , Maresh Kate , Ricotti Valeria , Abbott Lianne , Gupta Vandana Ayyar , Main Marion , Ferrari Giulia , Kowala Anna , Lin Yung‐Yao , Tedesco Francesco Saverio , Scoto Mariacristina , Baranello Giovanni , Manzur Adnan , Aoki Yoshitsugu , Muntoni Francesco
Published: January 2022

Background

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by DMD mutations leading to dystrophin loss. Full‐length Dp427 is the primary dystrophin isoform expressed in muscle and is also expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). Two shorter isoforms, Dp140 and Dp71, are highly expressed in the CNS. While a role for Dp140 and Dp71 on DMD CNS comorbidities is well known, relationships between mutations expected to disrupt Dp140 and Dp71 and motor outcomes are not.

Methods

Functional outcome data from 387 DMD boys aged 4–15 years were subdivided by DMD mutation expected effects on dystrophin isoform expression; Group 1 (Dp427 absent, Dp140/Dp71 present, n = 201); Group 2 (Dp427/Dp140 absent, Dp71 present, n = 152); and Group 3 (Dp427/Dp140/Dp71 absent, n = 34). Relationships between isoform group and North Star ambulatory assessment (NSAA) scores, 10 m walk/run velocities and rise time velocities were explored using regression analysis.

Western blot analysis was used to study Dp427, Dp140 and Dp71 production in myogenic cells (control and DMD human), control skeletal muscle, DMD skeletal muscle from the three isoform groups and cerebral cortex from mice (wild‐type and DMD models). Grip strength and rotarod running test were studied in wild‐type mice and DMD mouse models. DMD mouse models were mdx (Dp427 absent, Dp140/Dp71 present), mdx52 (Dp427/Dp140 absent, Dp71 present) and DMD‐null (lacking all isoforms).

Results

In DMD boys, mean NSAA scores at 5 years of age were 6.1 points lower in Group 3 than Group 1 (P < 0.01) and 4.9 points lower in Group 3 than Group 2 (P = 0.05). Mean peak NSAA scores were 4.0 points lower in Group 3 than Group 1 (P < 0.01) and 1.6 points lower in Group 2 than Group 1 (P = 0.04).

Mean four‐limb grip strength was 1.5 g/g lower in mdx52 than mdx mice (P = 0.003) and 1.5 g/g lower in DMD‐null than mdx mice (P = 0.002).

Dp71 was produced in myogenic cells (control and DMD human) and skeletal muscle from humans in Groups 1 and 2 and mdx mice, but not skeletal muscle from human controls, myogenic cells and skeletal muscle from humans in Group 3 or skeletal muscle from wild‐type, mdx52 or DMD‐null mice.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the importance of considering expected effects of DMD mutations on dystrophin isoform production when considering patterns of DMD motor impairment and the implications for clinical practice and clinical trials. Our results suggest a complex relationship between dystrophin isoforms expressed in the brain and DMD motor function.
Graphs with no induced house nor induced hole have the de Bruijn–Erdös property
Authors: Aboulker Pierre , Beaudou Laurent , Matamala Martı́n , Zamora José
Published: January 2022

A set of points in the plane which are not all collinear defines at least distinct lines. Chen and Chvátal conjectured in 2008 that a similar result can be achieved in the broader context of finite metric spaces. This conjecture remains open even for graph metrics. In this article we prove that graphs with no induced house nor induced cycle of length at least 5 verify the desired property. We focus on lines generated by vertices at distance at most 2, define a new notion of 'good pairs' that might have application in larger families, and finally use a discharging technique to count lines in irreducible graphs.
Diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism within the expanded newborn screening in the Madrid region
Authors: Martín‐Rivada Álvaro , Palomino Pérez Laura , Ruiz‐Sala Pedro , Navarrete Rosa , Cambra Conejero Ana , Quijada Fraile Pilar , Moráis López Ana , Belanger‐Quintana Amaya , Martín‐Hernández Elena , Bellusci Marcello , Cañedo Villaroya Elvira , Chumillas Calzada Silvia , García Silva María Teresa , Bergua Martínez Ana , Stanescu Sinziana , Martínez‐Pardo Casanova Mercedes , Ruano Miguel L. F. , Ugarte Magdalena , Pérez Belén , Pedrón‐Giner Consuelo
Published: January 2022

We present the results of our experience in the diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) since the Expanded Newborn Screening was implemented in our Region. Dried blood samples were collected 48 h after birth. Amino acids and acylcarnitines were quantitated by mass spectrometry (MS)/MS. Newborns with alterations were referred to the clinical centers for follow‐up. Biochemical and molecular genetic studies for confirmation of a disease were performed. In the period 2011 to 2019, 592 822 children were screened: 902 of them were referred for abnormal results. An IEM was confirmed in 222 (1/2670): aminoacidopathies: 89 hyperphenylalaninemia (HPA) (51 benign HPA, 32 phenylketonuria, 4 DNAJC12 defect, and 2 primapterinuria), 6 hypermethioninemia, 3 tyrosinemia type 1 (TYR‐1), 1 TYR‐3, 4 maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), 2 branched‐chain amino acid transferase 2 deficiency, 2 homocystinuria, 1 cystinuria, 2 ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, 2 citrullinemia type I (CTLN1); FAO defects: 43 medium‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCADD), 13 very long‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, 2 long‐chain 3‐hydroxyacyl‐CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (LCHADD), 1 multiple acyl‐coA dehydrogenation deficiency, 11 systemic primary carnitine deficiency, 2 carnitine palmitoyltransferase type 2 (CPT‐II) deficiency, 1 CPT‐I deficiency; organic acidurias: 12 glutaric aciduria type 1 (GA‐1), 4 methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), 7 MMA including combined cases with homocystinuria (MMAHC), 6 propionic acidemia (PA), 7 3‐methylcrotonyl‐CoA carboxylase, 1 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA lyase deficiency lyase deficiency. Only 19 infants (8.5%) were symptomatic at newborn screening result (1 LCHADD, 5 PA, 1 CPT‐II deficiency, 1 MMA, 3 MMAHC, 2 MSUD, 2 OTC deficiency, 1 CTLN1, 1 MCADD, 2 TYR‐1). No false negative cases were identified. Genetic diagnosis was conclusive in all biochemically confirmed cases, except for two infants with HPA, identifying pathogenic variants in 32 different genes. The conditions with the highest incidence were HPA (1/6661) and MCAD deficiencies (1/13 787).
Hypermagnesemia and feeding intolerance in preterm infants: A cohort study
Authors: Junqueira Elibene Orro , Marba Sergio Tadeu Martins , Caldas Jamil Pedro de Siqueira
Published: January 2022

Background

Feeding intolerance (FI) is a common clinical problem in preterm infants often caused by some neonatal disorders and drugs, including antenatal exposure to magnesium sulfate (MgSO4).

Objective

To evaluate the association between hypermagnesemia at birth and FI in preterm infants during the first 72 h of life.

Method

This was a cohort study conducted with preterm infants aged <34 weeks' gestation. Infants presenting at least two of the following signs were considered as having FI: vomiting, abdominal distension, the need for continuous intermittent feeding, and delayed meconium passage. Hypermagnesemia was characterized by umbilical serum Mg levels > 2.5 mEq/L.

Results

A total 251 infants were evaluated. The median birth weight and gestational age were 1390 g (IQR, 1020–1070) and 31 weeks (IQR, 28–32). The FI rate was 17.5%. The exposure rate to MgSO4 was similar in the tolerant and intolerant groups (53.1% × 63.6%; P = 0.204), but hypermagnesemia was more frequent in the FI group (40.9% × 24.2%; P = 0.024). The univariate analysis showed that infants with hypermagnesemia were twofold more likely to present FI (odds ratio [OR], 2.16; 95% CI, 1.09–4.26). In the multiple logistic regression analysis, we found that hypermagnesemia was independently associated with FI (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.06–5.91), as well as maternal diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.07–6.14), Score for Neonatal Acute Physiology‐Perinatal Extension II (OR, 1.051; 95% CI, 1.025–1.078), and brain hemorrhage (OR, 3.61; 95% CI, 1.31–9.91).

Conclusion

In addition to other factors, hypermagnesemia at birth was independently associated with early FI in preterm infants.
Application of Raman spectroscopy technology based on deep learning algorithm in the rapid diagnosis of glioma
Authors: Tian Xuecong , Chen Cheng , Chen Chen , Yan Ziwei , Wu Wei , Chen Fangfang , Chen Jiajia , Lv Xiaoyi
Published: January 2022

Medical diagnosis technology based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) has achieved good performance. In this study, we collected serum samples from 38 glioma patients and 45 healthy controls and used partial least squares (PLS) analysis to reduce the dimension of the data. Different levels of noise were added to the reduced data onto data augmentation, and the AlexNet, ResNet, and GoogLeNet fine‐tuning models were applied for classification. To evaluate the performance of the models, we used five‐fold cross‐validation. The accuracy rates of the AlexNet, ResNet, and GoogLeNet fine‐tuning models were 98.50%, 98.24%, and 99.50%, respectively. The model with the best classification effect was GoogLeNet. The specificity and sensitivity of this model were 98.98% and 98.48%, respectively. In addition, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of the established diagnostic model was 0.9949. The results showed that the combination of serum Raman spectroscopy and the PLS‐Gaussian‐GoogLeNet model achieved a good diagnostic effect for glioma. This method has high clinical application value and is worthy of further popularization.
Type‐1 Laryngeal Cleft and Pathogenic Bacterial Growth in the Lower Airway in Children
Authors: Ha Tu‐Anh N. , Ongkasuwan Julina , Spielberg David R. , Zhu Huirong , Das Shailendra
Published: January 2022

Objectives/Hypothesis

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between type‐1 laryngeal clefts and pathogenic bacterial growth in the lower airway in children.

Study Design

Retrospective chart review.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted for all children who underwent direct laryngoscopy, flexible bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and esophagogastroduodenoscopy, under a single anesthetic event from 2015 until 2018 at an academic tertiary referral center. Type‐1 laryngeal clefts were diagnosed as an interarytenoid depth at or below the level of the vocal folds, on direct laryngoscopy, via palpation by a fellowship‐trained pediatric otolaryngologist. Pathogenic bacterial growth in the lower airway was defined as presence of BAL culture growth of nonrespiratory flora.

Results

A total of 217 patients were identified. Type‐1 laryngeal cleft was significantly associated with chronic cough (P = .0016) and cough with feeds (P < .0001). However, an abnormal video fluoroscopic swallow study was not found to be significantly associated with type‐1 laryngeal cleft (P = .92) or pathogenic bacterial growth in the lower airway (P = 0.19).

Overall, 122 (56%) patients were diagnosed with type‐1 laryngeal cleft, 75 (35%) had pathogenic bacterial growth in the lower airway and 50 (23%) had both type‐1 laryngeal cleft and pathogenic bacterial growth in the lower airway. Type‐1 laryngeal cleft was significantly associated with pathogenic bacterial growth in the lower airway on both univariate analysis (P = .0307) and multivariate analysis (P = .0298, odds ratio 1.922, 95% confidence interval 1.066–3.467).

Conclusion

Children with type‐1 laryngeal clefts are at higher risk of having pathogenic bacterial growth in the lower airway.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 132:1825–1828, 2022
Reply to comment: Controls on turnover of marine dissolved organic matter—testing the null hypothesis of purely concentration‐driven uptake
Authors: Shen Yuan , Benner Ronald
Published: January 2022

Our recent bioassay experiments indicate that molecular properties are a primary control on the microbial utilization of dissolved organic matter in the ocean. This finding is questioned by Lennartz and Dittmar who modeled our experiments and concluded that our observations could be largely explained by concentration‐driven uptake independent from molecular properties. We suggest the authors' models are deficient for establishing the relative roles of molecular properties and concentration‐driven uptake. Our conclusion is consistent with earlier and recent experimental results and biogeochemical observations, supporting a unified theory with molecular properties as a more prominent control than concentration‐driven uptake on marine organic carbon accumulation.
Preparation and performance evaluation of an ester‐bridged antioxidant used as multifunctional additive in ester oil
Authors: Jin Yongliang , Li Jian , Lee Weimin , Cheng Bingxue , Jia Dan , Tu Jiesong , Zhan Shengpeng , Yang Tian , Duan Haitao
Published: January 2022

This study aims to investigate a novel high‐efficient antioxidant for synthetic ester oils. An ester‐bridged antioxidant, phloroglucinol tris (3‐[3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl]) propionate (PTP), was successfully synthesised in high yield under relatively mild reaction conditions. Thermal stability and oxidation resistance of diisooctyl adipate (DOA) ester oil were determined and compared to the typical commercial phenol antioxidants, including its tribological properties. The results indicate that the prepared PTP antioxidant exhibits considerably higher thermal stability than commercial antioxidants, and it also improves the oxidation resistance of the synthetic ester oil more effectively. Moreover, the addition of PTP antioxidant enhanced the wear protection of DOA ester oil without deteriorating its lubricating performance. The ester‐bridged antioxidant can be used as a multifunctional additive, which not only exerts excellent thermal stability and oxidation resistance, but can also act as an efficient anti‐wear agent in synthetic ester oils.
Programmable Anisotropic Hydrogel Composites for Soft Bioelectronics
Authors: Fu Linzheng , Gao Tinghao , Zhao Weiwei , Hu Sanming , Liu Li , Shi Zhijun , Huang Jin
Published: January 2022

Fabrication of hydrogel composites embedded with aligned 1D nanoparticles has shown substantial growth over the past 5 years. Direct ink printing technology (DIW) has been used in this work to create the alignment of the 1D nanoparticles due to the shear gradient of the pseudoplastic precursor (2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) with thickening agents). Orderly distributed 1D particles constructing anisotropic nanostructures endow the hydrogel composite with unique mechanical, electric, or electromechanical coupling properties. Quasi‐static uniaxial tensile test, electric resistivity, and piezoresistivity measurements have been conducted for investigating the mechanical, electric, and electromechanical coupling properties of the hydrogel composites, respectively. Based on the experimental results, it can be speculated that the developed printing process is able to fabricate hydrogel composites with programmable anisotropic mechanical, electric, and electromechanical properties. The products pumped out from this work have the potential of being substrates for soft devices and may have a great impact on the fields of flexible bioelectronics.
Solutions for a quasilinear elliptic p⃗(x)${\vec{p}(x)}$‐Kirchhoff type problem with weight and nonlinear Robin boundary conditions
Authors: Ellahyani Brahim , El Hachimi Abderrahmane
Published: January 2022

This paper deals with the existence and multiplicity of weak solutions to a class of quasilinear elliptic ‐Kirchhoff type problems with weight and a nonlinear Robin boundary condition such as
where Ω is a smooth bounded domain. Under suitable conditions on the data, we show the existence and multiplicity of weak solutions by means of a variational approach in the framework of anisotropic Sobolev spaces with variable exponents.
Tetramethyl Succinonitrile as a Solid Plasticizer in a Poly(ethylene oxide)8‐LiI‐I2 Solid Polymer Electrolyte
Authors: Gupta Ravindra Kumar , Shaikh Hamid , Imran Ahamad , Bedja Idriss , Aldwayyan Abdullah Saleh
Published: January 2022

Dye‐sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a promising alternative to the commercially available amorphous silicon‐based solar cell because of several advantageous properties. A DSSC with a fast ion conducting solid polymer electrolyte is required for the arid atmosphere of Gulf countries. In this work, a new matrix, poly(ethylene oxide)‐tetramethyl succinonitrile blend to synthesize a blend‐LiI‐I2 solid polymer electrolyte for the DSSC application has been proposed. The tetramethyl succinonitrile is a member of plastic crystal with a solid–solid phase transition temperature (Tpc) of ≈71 °C and melting temperature (Tm) of ≈170.5 °C. Its molar fraction, 0.1–0.15 is sufficient enough for synthesizing a polymer electrolyte with electrical conductivity of >10–4 S cm–1 at room temperature. This electrolyte shows Vogel–Tamman–Fulcher type behavior with a low value (≈0.083 eV) of pseudo‐activation energy for easy ion transport. The results of Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffractometry, and differential scanning calorimetry studies reveal the plasticizing effect of tetramethyl succinonitrile to form an amorphous phase. This electrolyte results in a ≈661% gain in short‐circuit current density and thereby a ≈552% gain in the cell efficiency (≈3.5%) with respect to the DSSC prepared with the tetramethyl succinonitrile‐free electrolyte.
Wisteria trellises and tents as tools for improved thermal comfort and heat stress mitigation: Meteorological, physiological, and psychological analyses considering the relaxation effect of greenery
Authors: Kusaka Hiroyuki , Asano Yuki , Kimura Ryuhei
Published: January 2022

In this study, wet‐bulb globe temperature (WBGT) was measured under wisteria trellises, under tents, and in direct sunlight. In addition, a subject experiment was conducted to consider the relaxation effect of the greenery. In terms of WBGT, the risk of heatstroke under the wisteria trellis was one level lower than that in direct sunlight. The mitigation effect of the wisteria trellis was greater than that of the tent. The difference in WBGT beneath the wisteria trellis and under the tent was primarily due to varied black‐globe temperature (i.e., the difference in radiation environment). The wisteria trellis blocked most of the solar radiation, and its effect on the small aggregation of leaves reduced the increase in the leaf surface temperature and downward longwave radiation. The tent material allowed more solar radiation and increased the temperature of the tent surface. The questionnaire responses revealed that the subjects felt cooler and more comfortable under the wisteria trellis than under the tent, with or without a blindfold.
A high‐order efficient technique and its convergence analysis for Bratu‐type and Lane‐Emden‐type problems
Authors: Roul Pradip , Goura V.M.K. Prasad
Published: January 2022

The present work deals with the construction of a high‐order efficient technique for solving one‐dimensional nonlinear Bratu‐type and Lane‐Emden‐type problems describing various physical, chemical and biological phenomena in applied science and engineering. Convergence analysis of the method is studied. Numerical experiments are carried out to demonstrate the efficiency, accuracy and performance of proposed method. The method is shown to have sixth order convergence. The computed results are compared with those obtained by other numerical techniques to justify the advantage of present scheme. It is shown that the proposed method is fast convergent and provides accurate solutions for Bratu‐type and Lane‐Emden‐type problems with low computational cost.
Exposure of Juvenile Lake Sturgeon to Contaminants of Emerging Concern (CECs), Including Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs): Location Differences and Effects on Thyroid Hormones
Authors: Hummel Stephanie Longstaff , Bellamy Amber , Tucker William A. , Eckes Orey T.
Published: January 2022

Contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are ubiquitous throughout aquatic environments. Previous research has shown that CECs can have detrimental effects on fish biology, potentially leading to population impacts. Specifically, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of CECs, have been shown to alter thyroid hormones in fish, which can impact development, endocrine system functioning, and possibly imprinting. These impacts can lead to reproductive effects and population declines, which have serious implications for species of conservation priority, such as the Lake Sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens. To assess the effects of CECs and PBDEs, Lake Sturgeon were evaluated at rearing facilities within the Great Lakes basin during 2017–2018 to determine (1) whether exposure to CECs and PBDEs differs between facility locations and (2) whether changes in whole-body PBDE concentrations correlate with changes in thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine [T3] and thyroxine [T4]), which could indicate impacts to imprinting. Exposure to CECs and PBDEs differed among sites. The CECs that were detected in water across all sites included atrazine, hexachlorobenzene, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), desethylatrazine, erythromycin, and metformin, with the highest concentrations (except for DEET) measured at the Maumee River (Ohio) streamside rearing facility. We detected PBDEs in every sample of water, food, and Lake Sturgeon eggs and whole bodies, and there were no differences in lipid-normalized total PBDE concentrations in whole bodies across sites. Concentrations of total PBDE and the PBDE congeners 47, 99, 100, 153, 154, and 209 in fish tissues did not correlate with serum T3 and T4 levels, indicating that observed concentrations were unlikely to negatively impact Lake Sturgeon rearing for the biological endpoints assessed. Overall, this study exemplifies a cautionary tale since CECs and PBDEs were identified throughout Lake Sturgeon habitat and in hatchery food sources. Fisheries managers should be aware of the potential for CEC and PBDE impacts even though current observed levels do not seem to be impacting Lake Sturgeon rearing success.
Influence of body composition assessed by computed tomography on mortality in older adults undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Koch Ludmila de Oliveira Muniz , Pereira Andrea Z. , Hamerschlak Nelson , Castro Adham do Amaral e , Tachibana Adriano , Victor Elivane da Silva , Filho Reynaldo Jesus Garcia
Published: January 2022

Background

The incidence of most hematologic malignancies increases with age. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) provides a potentially life‐prolonging or curative option for many patients in this scenario. Limited data assessed from computed tomography (CT) images are available on muscle mass and density outcomes after HSCT. We evaluate the influence of body composition on morbidity and mortality in older adults undergoing HSCT.

Methods

Retrospective longitudinal study conducted with 50 patients ≥ 60 years old undergoing HSCT. Body composition was assessed by chest CT (CCT), and treatment‐related mortality, graft‐vs‐host disease (GVHD), neutrophil grafting, and overall survival were analyzed.

Results

148 HSCT patients were evaluated; 50 patients were eligible: 60% with autologous and 40% with allogeneic transplantation. Body mass index in patients was (female: 26.9 ± 4.7 kg/m2; male: 30.1 ± 4.9 kg/m2) ‐ autologous and, (female: 24.3 ± 5.1 kg/m2; male: 26.4 ± 2.0 kg/m2) ‐ allogeneic. In the autologous group, we found a positive association between age and death risk, with 63.5% increased risk of death (P = 0.006), and also Karnofsky Performance Score, with a 11.9% decrease in death risk (P < 0.001). A negative association between muscle radiodensity and death risk was observed in patients who received an allogeneic transplantation, with a risk decrease of 20.1% (P = 0.032). We found a positive association between the fourth thoracic vertebra muscle area and radiodensity and risk of acute GVHD (P = 0.028).

Conclusion

Body composition assessed by CCT showed the importance of radiodensity for better prognosis.
B‐DNA Structure and Stability: The Role of Nucleotide Composition and Order
Authors: Nieuwland Celine , Hamlin Trevor A. , Fonseca Guerra Célia , Barone Giampaolo , Bickelhaupt F. Matthias
Published: January 2022

We have quantum chemically analyzed the influence of nucleotide composition and sequence (that is, order) on the stability of double‐stranded B‐DNA triplets in aqueous solution. To this end, we have investigated the structure and bonding of all 32 possible DNA duplexes with Watson–Crick base pairing, using dispersion‐corrected DFT at the BLYP‐D3(BJ)/TZ2P level and COSMO for simulating aqueous solvation. We find enhanced stabilities for duplexes possessing a higher GC base pair content. Our activation strain analyses unexpectedly identify the loss of stacking interactions within individual strands as a destabilizing factor in the duplex formation, in addition to the better‐known effects of partial desolvation. Furthermore, we show that the sequence‐dependent differences in the interaction energy for duplexes of the same overall base pair composition result from the so‐called “diagonal interactions” or “cross terms”. Whether cross terms are stabilizing or destabilizing depends on the nature of the electrostatic interaction between polar functional groups in the pertinent nucleobases.
An Electrochemical Way to Generate Amphiphiles from Hydrazones for the Synthesis of 1,2,4‐Triazole Scaffold Cyclic Compounds
Authors: Li Wangyu , Xiong Mingteng , Liang Xiao , Wang Dungai , Zhu Heping , Pan Yuanjiang
Published: January 2022

An electro‐oxidative cyclization pathway in which hydrazones are selected as starting materials to generate amphiphiles by reacting with benzylamines and benzamides was reported. This strategy successfully prepared a series of 1,2,4‐triazoles in satisfactory yields. Moreover, the use of cheap stainless steel as the anode, the feasibility to conduct the transformation as a one‐pot reaction and the proof that scaling‐up these reactions is possible make this transformation attractive for potential application in industry.