bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular testing on serous effusions
Authors: Davidson Ben
Published: February 2020

Serous effusions constitute a significant part of the material processed and diagnosed by cytopathology laboratories. Effusions may occur in a variety of clinical settings and the differential diagnosis between these conditions often requires ancillary tests. Immunohistochemistry is still the most frequently used method in this context. However, a wide array of other methods measuring the expression of DNA, mRNA, noncoding RNA, proteins, and other compounds may be applied to the diagnosis of serous effusions, particularly in the setting of cancer, as well as to studies focusing on tumor biology and understanding of tumor progression. In addition, as serous effusions provide ideal material for molecular testing, they have in recent years assumed central role as specimens informative of prediction in the context of targeted therapy, as well as prognostication. This review discusses recent studies in this field.
Cruciate ligament, patellar tendon, and patella formation involves differential cellular sources and dynamics as joint cavitation proceeds
Authors: Zhang Yi , Kameneva Polina , Annusver Karl , Kasper Maria , Chagin Andrei S. , Adameyko Igor , Xie Meng
Published: February 2020

Background

Cruciate ligament (CL) and patellar tendon (PT) are important elements of the knee joint, uniting femur, patella, and tibia into a single functional unit. So far, knowledge on the developmental mechanism of CL, PT, and patella falls far behind other skeletal tissues.

Results

Here, employing various lineage tracing strategies we investigate the cellular sources and dynamics that drive CL, PT, and patella formation during mouse embryonic development. We show that Gdf5 and Gli1 are generally expressed in the same cell population that only contributes to CL, but not PT or patella development. In addition, Col2 is expressed in two independent cell populations before and after joint cavitation, where the former contributes to the CL and the dorsal part of the PT and the latter contributes to the patella. Moreover, Prrx1 is always expressed in CL and PT progenitors, but not patella progenitors where it is switched off after joint cavitation. Finally, we reveal that patella development employs different cellular dynamics before and after joint cavitation.

Conclusions

Our findings delineate the expression changes of several skeletogenesis‐related genes before and after joint cavitation, and provide an indication on the cellular dynamics underlying ligament, tendon, and sesamoid bone formation during embryogenesis.
Paternity tests support a diallelic self‐incompatibility system in a wild olive (Olea europaea subsp. laperrinei, Oleaceae)
Authors: Besnard Guillaume , Cheptou Pierre‐Olivier , Debbaoui Malik , Lafont Pierre , Hugueny Bernard , Dupin Julia , Baali‐Cherif Djamel
Published: February 2020

Self‐incompatibility (SI) is the main mechanism that favors outcrossing in plants. By limiting compatible matings, SI interferes in fruit production and breeding of new cultivars. In the Oleeae tribe (Oleaceae), an unusual diallelic SI system (DSI) has been proposed for three distantly related species including the olive (Olea europaea), but empirical evidence has remained controversial for this latter. The olive domestication is a complex process with multiple origins. As a consequence, the mixing of S‐alleles from two distinct taxa, the possible artificial selection of self‐compatible mutants and the large phenological variation of blooming may constitute obstacles for deciphering SI in olive. Here, we investigate cross‐genotype compatibilities in the Saharan wild olive (O. e. subsp. laperrinei). As this taxon was geographically isolated for thousands of years, SI should not be affected by human selection. A population of 37 mature individuals maintained in a collection was investigated. Several embryos per mother were genotyped with microsatellites in order to identify compatible fathers that contributed to fertilization. While the pollination was limited by distance inside the collection, our results strongly support the DSI hypothesis, and all individuals were assigned to two incompatibility groups (G1 and G2). No self‐fertilization was observed in our conditions. In contrast, crosses between full or half siblings were frequent (ca. 45%), which is likely due to a nonrandom assortment of related trees in the collection. Finally, implications of our results for orchard management and the conservation of olive genetic resources are discussed.
Genetic diversity of the rain tree (Albizia saman) in Colombian seasonally dry tropical forest for informing conservation and restoration interventions
Authors: Aguirre‐Morales Carolina Adriana , Thomas Evert , Cardozo Carlos Ivan , Gutiérrez Janeth , Alcázar Caicedo Carolina , Moscoso Higuita Luis Gonzalo , Becerra López‐Lavalle Luis Augusto , González Mailyn Adriana
Published: February 2020

Albizia saman is a multipurpose tree species of seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) of Mesoamerica and northern South America typically cultivated in silvopastoral and other agroforestry systems around the world, a trend that is bound to increase in light of multimillion hectare commitments for forest and landscape restoration. The effective conservation and sustainable use of A. saman requires detailed knowledge of its genetic diversity across its native distribution range of which surprisingly little is known to date. We assessed the genetic diversity and structure of A.saman across twelve representative locations of SDTF in Colombia, and how they may have been shaped by past climatic changes and human influence. We found four different genetic groups which may be the result of differentiation due to isolation of populations in preglacial times. The current distribution and mixture of genetic groups across STDF fragments we observed might be the result of range expansion of SDTFs during the last glacial period followed by range contraction during the Holocene and human‐influenced movement of germplasm associated with cattle ranching. Despite the fragmented state of the presumed natural A. saman stands we sampled, we did not find any signs of inbreeding, suggesting that gene flow is not jeopardized in humanized landscapes. However, further research is needed to assess potential deleterious effects of fragmentation on progeny. Climate change is not expected to seriously threaten the in situ persistence of A. saman populations and might present opportunities for future range expansion. However, the sourcing of germplasm for tree planting activities needs to be aligned with the genetic affinity of reference populations across the distribution of Colombian SDTFs. We identify priority source populations for in situ conservation based on their high genetic diversity, lack or limited signs of admixture, and/or genetic uniqueness.
Methane emission and sulfide levels increase in tropical seagrass sediments during temperature stress: A mesocosm experiment
Authors: George Rushingisha , Gullström Martin , Mtolera Matern S. P. , Lyimo Thomas J. , Björk Mats
Published: February 2020

Climate change‐induced ocean warming is expected to greatly affect carbon dynamics and sequestration in vegetated shallow waters, especially in the upper subtidal where water temperatures may fluctuate considerably and can reach high levels at low tides. This might alter the greenhouse gas balance and significantly reduce the carbon sink potential of tropical seagrass meadows. In order to assess such consequences, we simulated temperature stress during low tide exposures by subjecting seagrass plants (Thalassia hemprichii) and associated sediments to elevated midday temperature spikes (31, 35, 37, 40, and 45°C) for seven consecutive days in an outdoor mesocosm setup. During the experiment, methane release from the sediment surface was estimated using gas chromatography. Sulfide concentration in the sediment pore water was determined spectrophotometrically, and the plant's photosynthetic capacity as electron transport rate (ETR), and maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) was assessed using pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry. The highest temperature treatments (40 and 45°C) had a clear positive effect on methane emission and the level of sulfide in the sediment and, at the same time, clear negative effects on the photosynthetic performance of seagrass plants. The effects observed by temperature stress were immediate (within hours) and seen in all response variables, including ETR, Fv/Fm, methane emission, and sulfide levels. In addition, both the methane emission and the size of the sulfide pool were already negatively correlated with changes in the photosynthetic rate (ETR) during the first day, and with time, the correlations became stronger. These findings show that increased temperature will reduce primary productivity and increase methane and sulfide levels. Future increases in the frequency and severity of extreme temperature events could hence reduce the climate mitigation capacity of tropical seagrass meadows by reducing CO2 sequestration, increase damage from sulfide toxicity, and induce the release of larger amounts of methane.
Habitat loss due to dam development may affect the distribution of marine‐associated fishes in Gabon, Africa
Authors: Cutler Joseph S. , Olivos J. Andrés , Sidlauskas Brian , Arismendi Ivan
Published: February 2020

The planned construction of 38 hydropower dams will impact the fish species inhabiting freshwater ecosystems in the megadiverse African country of Gabon. Many of Gabon's most culturally and economically important fish species are marine‐associated, moving between fresh and salt or brackish waters. However, we know little about their life histories or movement patterns, which makes it difficult to predict the impacts of dam development on biodiversity and fisheries in Gabon. Here, we apply MaxEnt distribution modeling to predict the distribution of marine‐associated fishes in Gabon's freshwaters. The model predicts a high likelihood of these fishes occurring in every coastal watershed, throughout the undammed Nyanga drainage, and extending ~400 km into the Ogooué River and its tributaries Ngounie and Abanga. If all 38 dams are constructed, marine‐associated fishes will lose approximately 17% of riverine habitats (7400 km) including 7% of the best quality habitat (460 km). Proposed dams pose a substantial threat to Gabon's most culturally and economically important fishes.
Interactions of nitrogen and phosphorus cycling promote P acquisition and explain synergistic plant‐growth responses
Authors: Schleuss Per Marten , Widdig Meike , Heintz‐Buschart Anna , Kirkman Kevin , Spohn Marie
Published: February 2020

Plant growth is often co‐limited by nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). Plants might use one element to acquire another (i.e., trading N for P and P for N), which potentially explains synergistic growth responses to NP addition. We studied a 66‐yr‐old grassland experiment in South Africa that consists of four levels of N addition with and without P addition. We investigated the response of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) to N and P addition over the last 66 yr. Further, we tested whether phosphatase activity and plant P uptake depend on N availability, and vice versa, whether non‐symbiotic N2 fixation and plant N uptake depend on P availability. We expected that the interaction of both elements promote processes of nutrient acquisition and contribute to synergistic plant growth effects in response to NP addition. We found synergistic N and P co‐limitation of ANPP for the period from 1951 to 2017 but the response to N and P addition diminished over time. In 2017, aboveground P stocks, relative rRNA operon abundance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and soil organic P storage increased with N fertilization rate when N was added with P compared to the treatment in which only N was added. Further, N addition increased phosphatase activity, which indicates that plants used N to acquire P from organic sources. In contrast, aboveground N stocks and non‐symbiotic N2 fixation did not change significantly due to P addition. Taken together, our results indicate that trading N for P likely contributes to synergistic plant‐growth response. Plants used added N to mobilize and take up P from organic sources, inducing stronger recycling of P and making the plant community less sensitive to external nutrient inputs. The latter could explain why indications of synergistic co‐limitation diminished over time, which is usually overlooked in short‐term nutrient addition experiments.
Incidence of end‐stage renal disease after heart transplantation and effect of its treatment on survival
Authors: Roest Stefan , Hesselink Dennis A. , Klimczak‐Tomaniak Dominika , Kardys Isabella , Caliskan Kadir , Brugts Jasper J. , Maat Alexander P.W.M. , Ciszek Michał , Constantinescu Alina A. , Manintveld Olivier C.
Published: February 2020

Aims

Many heart transplant recipients will develop end‐stage renal disease in the post‐operative course. The aim of this study was to identify the long‐term incidence of end‐stage renal disease, determine its risk factors, and investigate what subsequent therapy was associated with the best survival.

Methods and results

A retrospective, single‐centre study was performed in all adult heart transplant patients from 1984 to 2016. Risk factors for end‐stage renal disease were analysed by means of multivariable regression analysis and survival by means of Kaplan–Meier. Of 685 heart transplant recipients, 71 were excluded: 64 were under 18 years of age and seven were re‐transplantations. During a median follow‐up of 8.6 years, 121 (19.7%) patients developed end‐stage renal disease: 22 received conservative therapy, 80 were treated with dialysis (46 haemodialysis and 34 peritoneal dialysis), and 19 received a kidney transplant. Development of end‐stage renal disease (examined as a time‐dependent variable) inferred a hazard ratio of 6.45 (95% confidence interval 4.87–8.54, P < 0.001) for mortality. Tacrolimus‐based therapy decreased, and acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy increased the risk for end‐stage renal disease development (hazard ratio 0.40, 95% confidence interval 0.26–0.62, P < 0.001, and hazard ratio 4.18, 95% confidence interval 2.30–7.59, P < 0.001, respectively). Kidney transplantation was associated with the best median survival compared with dialysis or conservative therapy: 6.4 vs. 2.2 vs. 0.3 years (P < 0.0001), respectively, after end‐stage renal disease development.

Conclusions

End‐stage renal disease is a frequent complication after heart transplant and is associated with poor survival. Kidney transplantation resulted in the longest survival of patients with end‐stage renal disease.
Monitoring pulmonary pressures during long‐term continuous‐flow left ventricular assist device and fixed pulmonary hypertension: redefining alleged pathophysiological mechanisms?
Authors: De Bakker Chantal C. , Veenis Jesse F. , Manintveld Olivier C. , Constantinescu Alina A. , Caliskan K. , den Uil Corstiaan A. , Brugts Jasper J.
Published: February 2020

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) type II (classified by the World Health Organization) is a common complication in chronic left‐sided heart failure. In advanced heart failure therapy, fixed PH is an absolute contraindication for heart transplantation after which a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is the only remaining option. With remote monitoring, we can now continuously evaluate the pulmonary artery pressures during long‐term LV unloading by the LVAD. In this case, we demonstrate that fixed PH can be reversed with LVAD implantation, whereby previous thoughts of this concept should be redefined in the era of assist devices.
Real‐world analysis of acute decompensated heart failure outcomes in Portugal
Authors: Marques‐Alves Patrícia , Marinho Ana Vera , Almeida José Paulo , Gonçalves Tatiana , Costa Marta , Ferreira Mafalda , Baptista Rui , Costa Susana , Franco Fátima , Fonseca Isabel , Gonçalves Lino
Published: February 2020

Aims

In Portugal, in the last 5 years, no study has published recent data regarding outcomes of patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). We aimed to determine the characteristics and outcomes of a large contemporaneous Portuguese cohort of ADHF patients admitted to our emergency department (ED).

Methods and results

We conducted a retrospective, study of all 1024 patients admitted to our ED with a discharge diagnosis of ADHF from November 2016 to December 2017. Baseline clinical data and outcomes {in‐hospital, 30 day, and follow‐up all‐cause mortality, and readmissions; median follow‐up, 5 months; interquartile range [(IQR), 3–11 months]} were determined. Mean age was 78 ± 10 years, and 53% were male; of the 1024 patients, 554 (54%) were hospitalized. The median hospitalization length was 9 (IQR, 5–15) days, and in‐hospital mortality was 12.7%. Hospitalized patients were predominantly men (56% vs. 47%; P < 0.001), younger (77 ± 9 vs. 79 ± 11 years; P = 0.002) and had higher creatinine values and B‐type natriuretic peptide values (P < 0.001) than discharged patients. Patients with prior hospitalization had lower 30 day readmission rate (8% vs. 14%; P = 0.01), same overall readmission rate (30% vs. 32%), and higher 30 day (13% vs. 5%; P < 0.001) and overall mortality rates (28% vs. 15%; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Approximately half of the patients admitted to the ED were hospitalized. Of these, only 8% were readmitted in the ED within 30 days. The clinical and analytical status in the ED are important predictors of hospitalization.
Intensity measure conversion of fragility curves
Authors: Suzuki Akiko , Iervolino Iunio
Published: February 2020

In seismic risk assessment of structures, fragility functions are the probabilistic characterization of vulnerability at the component and/or structural level, expressing the probability of failure as a function of a ground motion intensity measure (IM). Fragility curves, in general, are structure‐ and site‐specific, thus a comparison of fragility curves, then of vulnerability, is not straightforward across multiple structures. Also, it could be the case that hazard at a site of interest is not available for the IM originally considered in the fragility assessment. These situations require to convert fragility curves from an original IM to a target one. The present study addresses a hazard‐consistent probabilistic framework for converting spectral acceleration‐based IMs from an original IM to a target IM at a given site. In particular, three conversion cases, under different assumptions on the explanatory power of the involved IMs with respect to structural failure, are discussed: (a) a vector‐valued IM consisting of the original and target IMs, magnitude, and source‐to‐site distance; (b) a vector‐valued IM consisting of the original and target IMs; and (c) the original (scalar) IM only, assuming that structural response, given the IM, is statistically independent of the other ground motion variables. In this framework, the original fragility functions are characterized using the state‐of‐the‐art methods in performance‐based earthquake engineering, then the fragility curves as a function of the target IM are evaluated through applications of the probability calculus rules, ensuring consistency with the seismic hazard at the site of interest. The conversion strategy is illustrated through the applications to three‐, six‐, and nine‐story Italian code‐conforming reinforced concrete buildings designed for a high‐hazard site in Italy. The study shows that, in most of the cases, the converted fragility curves have agreement with the reference curves directly developed in terms of the target IM. Cases in which least agreement was found are likely due to the models used to obtain the terms required by the conversion equations.
A two‐stage decision framework for inland nuclear power plant site selection based on GIS and type‐2 fuzzy PROMETHEE II: Case study in China
Authors: Wu Yunna , Liu Fangtong , Huang Yong , Xu Chuanbo , Zhang Buyuan , Ke Yiming , Jia Weibing
Published: February 2020

Site selection is a critical strategic decision for inland nuclear power plants which have broad prospects of development. However, several shortcomings exist in current researches, such as the incomplete decision frameworks, the indiscriminately treated properties, and the information loss. To handle the above flaws, this study establishes a two‐stage site selection framework. In the first stage, the geographic information system and preselection criteria are applied to identify suitable alternative sites. And in the second stage, the interval type‐2 fuzzy PROMETHEE II and suitability criteria are utilized to rank alternatives and select the optimal site, where different preference functions are selected accordingly. Thereinto, the interval type‐2 fuzzy numbers are adopted to describe the uncertainty and vagueness in calculation, without being transformed to exact value. Finally, based on the proposed two‐stage decision framework, a case of Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi provinces is studied, to demonstrate its validity and practicability. The results show that S8 is selected as the optimal site for its strong government support, convenient fuel transport, and land availability. This study not only enriches the material databases for inland nuclear power plant site selection, but also offers theoretical reference for site selection studies of various objects.
Monitoring and correction of the stress in an anchor bolt based on Pulse Pre‐Pumped Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis
Authors: Liu Qi , Chai Jing , Chen Shaojie , Zhang Dingding , Yuan Qiang , Wang Shuai
Published: February 2020

Bolt is an important connection in underground construction and monitoring its stress characteristics is essential to evaluate the effectiveness of bolt. The strain information collected along a rock bolt reveals the long‐term movement characteristics of rock mass, which greatly helps toward disaster prevention and risk warning. Grooving on the surface of a bolt and embedding an optical fiber is one of the main methods for monitoring the anchorage performance and stress distribution around the bolt in underground engineering. In this study, Pulse Pre‐Pumped Brillouin Optical Time Domain Analysis (PPP‐BOTDA) technology is used to evaluate the stress, axial force, and shear stress distribution of the bolt under tensile load for different types (grooved and nongrooved) of bolts embedded in concrete with resin as anchoring agent. The results show that the PPP‐BOTDA sensor can be used to monitor the stress state of the bolt embedded in concrete with resin as anchoring agent when the bolt is subjected to a tensile force. However, the apparent stress value measured in this way is not the actual stress value of the bolt, but is an increased value caused due to the groove. The closer to the exposed end of the bolt, the greater is the deviation between the apparent stress value and the actual stress value of the bolt. Based on the monitoring results from this experimental study, a stress reduction calculation method is proposed, which can change the measured value into the actual stress of the bolt.
Thermal management for prevention of failures of lithium ion battery packs in electric vehicles: A review and critical future aspects
Authors: Aswin Karthik Chandrasekaran , Kalita Pankaj , Cui Xujian , Peng Xiongbin
Published: February 2020

The major concerns with Lithium‐ion batteries failures are temperature rise and temperature non‐uniformity during adverse operating conditions like fast charging/discharging and extreme ambient conditions (extreme hot/cold weather). These problems lead to safety issues like thermal runaway of the battery pack. To negate these issues and to ensure better performance of the battery pack, battery thermal management system (BTMS) is adopted in EVs. The prominent BTMSs are air‐based BTMS, liquid‐based BTMS and phase change based BTMS. This paper collates various thermal management issues and numerous cooling methods developed to mitigate these problems and throws light on some of the research gaps on recovery and utilization of low‐grade heat generated in the battery pack.
Feeding Ecology Drives Lead Exposure of Facultative and Obligate Avian Scavengers in the Eastern United States
Authors: Slabe Vincent A. , Anderson James T. , Cooper Jeff , Miller Tricia A. , Brown Bracken , Wrona Anna , Ortiz Patricia , Buchweitz John , McRuer Dave , Dominguez-Villegas Ernesto , Behmke Shannon , Katzner Todd
Published: February 2020

Lead poisoning of scavenging birds is a global issue. However, the drivers of lead exposure of avian scavengers have been understood from the perspective of individual species, not cross-taxa assemblages. We analyzed blood (n = 285) and liver (n = 226) lead concentrations of 5 facultative (American crows [Corvus brachyrhynchos], bald eagles [Haliaeetus leucocephalus], golden eagles [Aquila chrysaetos], red-shouldered hawks [Buteo lineatus], and red-tailed hawks [Buteo jamaicensis]) and 2 obligate (black vultures [Coragyps atratus] and turkey vultures [Cathartes aura] avian scavenger species to identify lead exposure patterns. Species and age were significant (α < 0.05) predictors of blood lead exposure of facultative scavengers; species, but not age, was a significant predictor of their liver lead exposure. We detected temporal variations in lead concentrations of facultative scavengers (blood: median = 4.41 µg/dL in spring and summer vs 13.08 µg/dL in autumn and winter; p = <0.001; liver: 0.32 ppm in spring and summer vs median = 4.25 ppm in autumn and winter; p = <0.001). At the species level, we detected between-period differences in blood lead concentrations of bald eagles (p = 0.01) and red-shouldered hawks during the winter (p = 0.001). During summer, obligate scavengers had higher liver lead concentrations than did facultative scavengers (median = 1.76 ppm vs 0.22 ppm; p = <0.001). These data suggest that the feeding ecology of avian scavengers is a determinant of the degree to which they are lead exposed, and they highlight the importance of dietary and behavioral variation in determining lead exposure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:882–892. © 2020 SETAC
Regular intake of white kidney beans extract (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) induces weight loss compared to placebo in obese human subjects
Authors: Wang Shenli , Chen Lishui , Yang Haiying , Gu Jinghan , Wang Jing , Ren Fazheng
Published: February 2020

Scope

Phaseolus vulgaris L. is rich in alpha‐amylase inhibitor and has been used for reducing glycemia and calories absorption through preventing or delaying the digestion of complex carbohydrate. A randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study was conducted on obese volunteers to evaluate the degree of significate weight loss by regular intake Phaseolus vulgaris cultivated from Southwestern region of China.

Method

The volunteers were divided into two groups, homogeneous for age, gender, and body weight. Phaseolus vulgaris extract or placebo was given 2,400 mg per day before each daily meal for 35 consecutive days. Each subject's body weight, fat mass, body mass index, blood biochemical parameters, skinfold fat thickness, and waist/hip circumferences were monitored and analyzed.

Result and conclusion

As a result, the average amount of weight lost by the Phaseolus vulgaris extract group was 2.24 kg (average of 0.448 kg per week), compared with a 0.29 kg weight loss (average of 0.058 kg per week) in placebo group after 35 days. The differences between groups were significant (p < .01). The body mass index decreased by an average of 0.79, and the body fat decreased by 1.53% on average compared to baseline (p < .05). The thickness of subcutaneous fat was significantly reduced at the four measurement points, and the decrease of waist circumference and hip circumference was significant as well. No adverse or side effects were observed during the trial period. The results indicate that Phaseolus vulgaris extract can significantly induce weight loss in a short time period.
Nutritional adequacy and dietary disparities in an adult Caribbean population of African descent with a high burden of diabetes and cardiovascular disease
Authors: Harris Rachel M. , Rose Angela M. C. , Forouhi Nita G. , Unwin Nigel
Published: February 2020

The Caribbean island of Barbados has a high burden of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Dietary habits were last described in 2005. A representative population‐based sample (n = 363, aged 25–64 years) provided two nonconsecutive 24‐hr dietary recalls in this cross‐sectional study. Mean daily nutrient intakes were compared with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Subgroup differences by age, sex, and educational level were examined using logistic regression. High sugar intakes exist for both sexes with 24% (95% CIs 18.9, 30.0) consuming less than the recommended <10% of energy from added sugars (men 22%; 15.0, 31.6; women 26%; 18.9, 33.7). Sugar‐sweetened beverages provide 43% (42.2%, 44.4%) of total sugar intake. Inadequate dietary fiber intakes (men 21 g, 18.2, 22.8; women 18 g, 16.7, 18.9) exist across all age groups. Inadequate micronutrient intake was found in women for calcium, folate, thiamine, zinc, and iron. Older persons (aged 45–64 years) were more likely to report adequacy of dietary fiber (OR = 2.7, 1.5, 4.8) and iron (OR = 3.0, 1.7, 5.3) than younger persons (aged 25–44). Older persons (aged 45–64 years) were less likely to have an adequate supply of riboflavin (OR = 0.4, 0.2, 0.6) than younger persons. Men were more likely to have adequate intakes of iron (OR = 13.0, 6.1, 28.2), folate (OR = 2.4, 1.3, 4.6), and thiamine (OR = 3.0, 1.5, 5.0) than women. Education was not associated with nutrient intake. The Barbadian diet is characterized by high sugar intakes and inadequate dietary fiber; a nutrient profile associated with an increased risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related noncommunicable diseases.
Role of the hippocampus in the spacing effect during memory retrieval
Authors: Li Cuihong , Yang Jiongjiong
Published: February 2020

It is well known that distributed learning (DL) leads to improved memory performance compared with massed learning (ML) (i.e., spacing effect). However, the extent to which the hippocampus is involved in the spacing effect at shorter and longer retention intervals remains unclear. To address this issue, two groups of participants were asked to encode face–scene pairs at 20‐min, 1‐day, and 1‐month intervals before they were scanned using fMRI during an associative recognition task. The pairs were repeated six times in either a massed (i.e., six times in 1 day) or a distributed (i.e., six times over 3 days, twice per day) manner. The results showed that compared with that in the ML group, the activation of the left hippocampus was stronger in the DL group when the participants retrieved old pairs correctly and rejected new pairs correctly at different retention intervals. In addition, the posterior hippocampus was more strongly activated when the new associations were rejected correctly after DL than ML, especially at the 1‐month interval. Hence, our results provide evidence that the hippocampus is involved in better memory performance after DL compared to ML at both shorter and longer retention intervals.
Gestational risk factors and childhood cancers: A cohort study in Taiwan
Authors: Heck Julia E. , Lee Pei‐Chen , Wu Chia‐Kai , Tsai Hsin‐Yun , Ritz Beate , Arah Onyebuchi A. , Li Chung‐Yi
Published: February 2020

Gestational risk factors such as birth weight, gestational age and parity have been repeatedly found to be related to pediatric cancers, but few reports have emerged from Asian countries. Here we report on demographic and gestational factors in a Taiwanese cohort. Our study included all children born in Taiwan 2004–2014 for whom there was a birth record (n = 2,079,037), of which 1900 children had been diagnosed with cancer prior to age 12. We conducted multivariable hazard regression to examine associations between demographic and gestational factors with cancer. Greater parity (family with 2+ older children) was related to acute myeloid leukemia [Hazard ratio (HR) = 2.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.31, 3.55), central nervous system tumors (HR = 1.67, CI: 1.13, 2.48) and neuroblastoma (HR = 1.67, CI: 1.07, 2.63). Hepatoblastoma cases had a higher risk of low birth weight (<2,500 g; HR = 3.01, CI: 1.85, 4.91), very preterm birth (<33 weeks gestation; HR = 13.71, CI: 7.45, 25.23), plural pregnancies (HR = 2.37, CI: 1.10, 5.14) and both small (HR = 2.13, CI: 1.23, 3.67) and large (HR = 1.83, CI: 1.01, 3.32) for gestational age. Germ cell tumors were more common among children born in rural areas (HR = 1.63, CI: 1.02, 2.60). Despite that Taiwan has lower rates of both high and low birthweight compared to other developed nations, we observed several similar associations to those reported in Western Countries. Further research should examine unique exposures in Taiwan that may be contributing to higher incidence of certain cancer types.
Sources of the small firm financing premium: Evidence from euro area banks
Authors: Holton Sarah , McCann Fergal
Published: February 2020

The post‐2008 period in the euro area was characterised by sharp dispersion in borrowing costs faced by firms, across both countries and firm types. This dispersion was an important manifestation of the “financial fragmentation” that hampered the smooth transmission of accommodative monetary policy. Using bank‐level data from 2007 to 2015, we directly measure the borrowing cost dispersion across firm types by calculating the difference in the interest rate charged by the same bank in the same month for loans to small and large firms (the “Small Firm Financing Premium,” SFFP). We assess the role played by both bank and macroeconomic factors in explaining the variation in the SFFP across countries and through time. We provide evidence that bank market share, sovereign bond holdings, and balance sheet weaknesses led to disproportionate borrowing cost increases for small firms and exacerbated the impact of a weak macroeconomy during this period.
Lone pairs mapping by Laplacian of 3He NMR chemical shift
Authors: Tupikina Elena Yu. , Tokhadze Konstantin G. , Denisov Gleb S. , Tolstoy Peter M.
Published: February 2020

Results of approbation of a new quantum mechanical approach of lone pairs (LPs) visualization, its optimization and testing on a range of model molecules are presented. The main idea of proposed methodology is using 3He atom as a probe for investigating electronic shells of species with LPs. As model objects, we consider “classical” examples of hydrogen cyanide, methanimine, ammonia, phosphine, formaldehyde, water, and hydrogen sulfide. It is shown that LPs can be visualized by means of 3D maps of Laplacian of 3He chemical shift ∇2δHe. NMR calculations could be performed using level of theory as low as B3LYP/6‐31G, allowing for the reduction of computational time without significant loss of quality. Advantages of our approach are discussed in comparison with usual methods of lone pairs visualization (electron localization function, molecular electrostatic potential).
Irisin induces trophoblast differentiation via AMPK activation in the human placenta
Authors: Drewlo Sascha , Johnson Eugenia , Kilburn Brian A. , Kadam Leena , Armistead Brooke , Kohan‐Ghadr Hamid‐Reza
Published: February 2020

Irisin, an adipokine, regulates differentiation and phenotype in various cell types including myocytes, adipocytes, and osteoblasts. Circulating irisin concentration increases throughout human pregnancy. In pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes mellitus, circulating irisin levels are reduced compared to healthy controls. To date, there are no data on the role and molecular function of irisin in the human placenta or its contribution to pathophysiology. Aberrant trophoblast differentiation is involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. The current study aimed to assess the molecular effects of irisin on trophoblast differentiation and function. First‐trimester placental explants were cultured and treated with low (10 nM) and high (50 nM) physiological doses of irisin. Treatment with irisin dose‐dependently increased both in vitro placental outgrowth (on Matrigel™) and trophoblast cell‐cell fusion. Adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, an important regulator of cellular energy homeostasis that is involved in trophoblast differentiation and pathology, was subsequently investigated. Here, irisin exposure induced placental AMPK activation. To determine the effects of irisin on trophoblast differentiation, two trophoblast‐like cell lines, HTR‐8/SVneo and BeWo, were treated with irisin and/or a specific AMPK inhibitor (Compound C). Irisin‐induced AMPK phosphorylation in HTR‐8/SVneo cells. Additionally, as part of the differentiation process, integrin switching from α6 to α1 occurred as well as increased invasiveness. Overall, irisin promoted differentiation in villous and extravillous cell‐based models via AMPK pathway activation. These findings provide evidence that exposure to irisin promotes differentiation and improves trophoblast functions in the human placenta that are affected in abnormal placentation.
High muscle‐to‐fat ratio is associated with lower risk of chronic kidney disease development
Authors: Jhee Jong Hyun , Joo Young Su , Han Seong Hyeok , Yoo Tae‐Hyun , Kang Shin‐Wook , Park Jung Tak
Published: February 2020

Background

Obesity, a known risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD), is generally assessed using body mass index (BMI). However, BMI may not effectively reflect body composition, and the impact of muscle‐to‐fat (MF) mass balance on kidney function has not been elucidated. This study evaluated the association between body muscle and fat mass balance, represented as the MF ratio, and incident CKD development.

Methods

Data were retrieved from a prospective community‐based cohort study (Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study). Muscle and fat mass were measured using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis. The study endpoint was incident CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 in at least two or more consecutive measurements during the follow‐up period).

Results

Totally, 7682 participants were evaluated. Their mean age was 51.7 ± 8.7 years, and 48% of the subjects were men. During a median follow‐up of 140.0 (70.0–143.0) months, 633 (8.2%) subjects developed incident CKD. When the association between body composition and incident CKD was investigated, multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that increase in MF ratio was related with a decreased risk of CKD development [per 1 increase in MF ratio: hazard ratio (HR), 0.86; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.77–0.96; P = 0.008]. This association was also maintained when MF ratio was dichotomized according to sex‐specific median values (high vs. low: HR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.70–0.98; P = 0.031). Analyses preformed in a propensity score matched group also revealed a similar decreased risk of incident CKD in high MF ratio participants (high vs. low: HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71–0.98; P = 0.037). This relationship between MF ratio and incident CKD risk was consistently significant across subgroups stratified by age, sex, hypertension, estimated glomerular filtration rate categories, and proteinuria. Among different BMI groups (normal, overweight, and obese), the relationship between high MF ratio and lower incident CKD risk was significant only in overweight and obese subjects.

Conclusions

Lower fat mass relative to muscle mass may lower the risk of CKD development in individuals with normal renal function. This relationship seems more prominent in overweight and obese subjects than in normal weight subjects.
Kinetic parameter estimation for methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether over sulfonic and polymeric acid catalysts
Authors: Barbarossa Vincenzo , Viscardi Rosanna , Di Nardo Antonio , Santagata Alfonso
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

The methanol dehydration to dimethyl ether (DME) has received considerable attention in the literature, because of its potential use as a multipurpose fuel. A wide literature of kinetic studies is available for γ‐Al2O3, reference commercial catalyst but only a few authors report a kinetic analysis of attractive and alternative catalysts to γ‐Al2O3 in DME production. The aim of this work was to contribute in this direction, by performing a catalytic test focused on the determination of kinetic parameters for methanol dehydration over sulfonic acid catalysts and polymeric materials.

RESULTS

The catalytic and kinetic behavior of these materials for the methanol to DME dehydration reaction has been investigated using a fixed bed reactor at total pressure of 1 bar within a temperature range of 50 to 450 °C. The sulfonated fluoropolymer (Aquivion) exhibited the highest activity and stability for the dehydration reaction at relatively low temperatures at which the γ‐Al2O3 did not display any dehydration activity. The tested catalysts showed good time stability when both methanol and methanol/water mixtures were used as feed reactants. Good agreement was achieved between experimental data and the proposed model.

CONCLUSION

The ‐SO3H groups enhanced the surface acidity and the catalytic performances. The sulfonated perfluorinated polymer (Aquivion) was able to catalyze the methanol/DME conversion at temperatures as low as 90 °C. The selectivity to DME at lower temperatures was 100%. Apparent activation energy for this reaction was experimentally evaluated to 110 KJ/mol and theoretical calculated to 96 KJ/mol: there was a comparable and good agreement with the experimental data. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
The role of verbal behavior in the establishment of comparative relations
Authors: Diaz Jocelyn E. , Luoma Shannon M. , Miguel Caio F.
Published: February 2020

Twelve college students received conditional discrimination training with nonarbitrary and arbitrary stimuli, and derived comparative and transformation of function tests with a think‐aloud condition across 2 experiments. Participants who failed these tests received remedial verbal operant training. Four control participants received verbal operant training alone. Across both experiments, only 1 participant passed the derived comparative test after conditional discrimination training. However, all participants passed derived comparative tests and 11 out of 12 participants passed transformation of function tests following verbal operant training, including the 4 control participants. Participants who passed derived comparative tests engaged in a high percentage of correct vocalizations during the think‐aloud condition, while participants who failed did not. These results suggest that mediating verbal behavior could have played a crucial role in participants' responses during derived stimulus relations tests.
Developing knowledge communities through video‐based information networks
Authors: Kodama Mitsuru
Published: February 2020

The paper describes the progress of technical and market innovations surrounding video‐based information networks (VIN) tools, a central information and communication technology (ICT) tool for collaboration, and how these tools have become a strategic ICT solution for developing “knowledge communities” to give companies a competitive edge. These communities can develop within companies, between companies, and between companies and their customers. In addition, the paper describes how companies focus on creativity for the purpose of exploration and on speed and efficiency (and effectiveness) to promote knowledge creation through strategic communities using the video communications functions of VIN tools. This paper also clarifies how companies focus on speed and efficiency for the purpose of exploitation to drive knowledge utilization through communities of practice using other ICT tools in addition to video communications functions.
Pediatric Endoscopic Ossiculoplasty Following Surgery for Chronic Ear Disease
Authors: Caloway Christen L. , Basonbul Razan A. , Ronner Evette A. , Tolisano Anthony M. , Zhu Angela W. , Suresh Harini , Lee Daniel J. , Isaacson Brandon , Cohen Michael S.
Published: February 2020

Objective

Rigid endoscopes can improve visualization of the tympanic space compared to traditional microscopic techniques. This study investigates whether use of transcanal endoscopic ossiculoplasty influences audiologic outcomes compared to microscopic ossiculoplasty following chronic ear surgery in children.

Study Design

Comparative cohort study at two tertiary care centers.

Methods

Retrospective review of pediatric chronic ear cases where ossiculoplasty was performed from February 2009 to March 2018.

Results

We identified 100 ears that underwent endoscopic ossiculoplasty and 100 ears that underwent microscopic ossiculoplasty. The mean age was 11 years (range, 4–18 years) with 63% males. There were no significant differences in these parameters between the two groups. Subjects underwent either primary ossiculoplasty or ossiculoplasty during second‐look procedures. There was no significant difference in air conduction pure tone average (PTA) after microscopic cases compared to endoscopic cases (−12.5 dB vs. −10.5 dB, P = .40). These results were independent of prosthesis type. Microscopic ossiculoplasty was significantly more likely to use a post‐auricular approach (P = .0001). There was no difference in complication rate between the two groups. The malleus was more likely to be absent or removed prior to endoscopic ossiculoplasty (P = .0004) with no significant difference in the change in PTA between groups.

Conclusions

Transcanal endoscopic ossiculoplasty was found to have equivalent audiometric outcomes with significantly fewer post‐auricular approaches and no increase in complications compared to microscopic ossiculoplasty. While the malleus was more likely to be absent in endoscopic cases, this did not appear to influence the change in PTA.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 2020
Age‐related change of auditory functional connectivity in Human Connectome Project data and tinnitus patients
Authors: Minami Shujiro B. , Oishi Naoki , Watabe Takahisa , Wasano Koichiro , Ogawa Kaoru
Published: February 2020

Background

We reported that tinnitus patients showed reduced levels of auditory functional connectivity (FC) in comparison with normal hearing control subjects, and that we succeeded in objective diagnosis of tinnitus with 86% sensitivity and 74% specificity by focusing only on auditory‐related FC. However, the age‐related change of auditory FC is not clarified. In this study, we examine age‐related change of the auditory FC using the database of Human Connectome Project (HCP) and compared with our database of tinnitus patients.

Method

From the HCP database HCP Lifespan Pilot project, we studied five age groups, 8 to 9 years old, 14 to 15, 25 to 35, 45 to 55, and 65 to 75. We also applied our tinnitus patients' resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) database, which is divided into three generations; 20 to 40 years old, 40 to 60, and 60 to 80 to compare with the HCP database. The resting state fMRI analyses were performed using the CONN toolbox version 18. As auditory‐related regions, Heschl's gyrus, planum temporale, planum polare, operculum, insular cortex, and superior temporal gyrus were set as the regions of interest from our previous reports.

Result

Auditory FC is strongest among adolescents and reduces with age. But the auditory FC of tinnitus patients were significantly less than those of HCP data in each generation.

Conclusion

Although auditory FC decreases with age, tinnitus patients have less auditory FC compared with age‐matched controls. The age‐matched cutoff values are necessary for an objective diagnosis of tinnitus with resting state fMRI.