bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fate of Fe3O4@NH2 in soil and their fixation effect to reduce lead translocation in two rice cultivars
Authors: Chu Chenlu , Lu Chenhao , Yuan Jian , Xing Changrui
Published: June 2020

The fate of nanoparticles in the ecological chain of agriculture has been concerned as their potential pollution and biological effect to humans with rapid development and massive emission of nanomaterials. Here, we found that two rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L) have different heavy metal accumulation results in the roots and shoots after 15 days growth. Two rice cultivars (Oryza sativa L), grown in soil containing magnetite (Fe3O4@NH2) nanoparticles and heavy metal simultaneous, showed less Pb uptake in the roots and shoots, compared with that without Fe3O4@NH2 added. The shape and magnetic properties of Fe3O4@NH2 have no obvious change; however, the transmission electron microscope (TEM) results showed the shell of Fe3O4@NH2 could be broken in the process of interaction with soil. These results suggested that magnetite nanoparticles, such as Fe3O4@NH2, could potentially be used as the recyclable heavy metal fixation materials for alleviating heavy metal poisoning to plant.
Effects of physical and chemical pretreatments on drying and quality properties of blackberry (Rubus spp.) in hot air dryer
Authors: Kaveh Mohammad , Taghinezhad Ebrahim , Aziz Muhammad
Published: June 2020

This research examines the impact of various pretreatments on effective moisture diffusivity coefficient (Deff), activation energy (Ea), specific energy consumption (SEC), color, and shrinkage of blackberry (Rubus spp.). Hot air drying experiments were conducted under three different temperatures (50, 60, and 70°C) and four pretreatments, including thermal pretreatment by hot water blanching at 70, 80, and 90°C, pulse pretreatment with microwave having power of 90, 180, and 360 W, chemical pretreatment using ascorbic acid (1% in distilled water), and mechanical pretreatment using ultrasonic vibration with working frequency of 28 ± 5% kHz for 15, 30, and 45 min. The results show that the highest Deff value, which was 1.00 × 10–8 m2/s, could be achieved by using a microwave pretreatment with power and drying temperature of 360 W and 70°C͘, respectively. Moreover, the lowest Deff value obtained from this similar pretreatment condition was 3.10 × 10–9 m2/s at a drying temperature of 50°C, while Ea ranged from 13.61 to 26.02 kJ/mol. The highest and lowest SECs were 269.91 kW hr/kg for the control sample and 75.63 kW hr/kg for the microwave pretreatment, respectively. Furthermore, the largest color change and shrinkage were detected in ascorbic acid pretreatment and control sample, respectively.
Lithic raw material procurement at the Chaves cave (Huesca, Spain): A geochemical approach to defining Palaeolithic human mobility
Authors: Sánchez de la Torre Marta , Utrilla Pilar , Domingo Rafael , Jiménez Luis , Le Bourdonnec François‐Xavier , Gratuze Bernard
Published: June 2020

The Chaves cave (Huesca, Spain) is located in the central Pre‐Pyrenean range in NE Iberia. It is a huge cave opening to the east, which was systematically excavated between 1975 and 2007. Several human occupations from the Upper Palaeolithic and the Neolithic periods were documented. Archaeological investigations had barely covered a tenth of the total area when they were abruptly interrupted by the destruction in 2007 of most of the archaeological sediments and all the preserved Neolithic levels that had not yet been excavated. While the most intensive prehistoric occupations of the cave were Neolithic, several components from the Upper Palaeolithic were also detected and excavated before 2007. The recovered lithic tools, as well as the radiocarbon dates, revealed that the Chaves cave was frequented by hunter–gatherer groups during the Upper Solutrean and the Upper Magdalenian. Lithic raw materials from the Palaeolithic levels are diverse, with several chert types identified. The recovered lithic set was subjected to micropaleontological, petrographic and geochemical analyses (energy‐dispersive X‐ray Fluorescence and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). The results revealed several origins for the chert, not only from the southern Pyrenees but also from the northern versant, demonstrating that this mountain range was regularly crossed during the Upper Palaeolithic.
Properties and shale gas potential of continental shales in the Jurassic Mohe Foreland Basin, northern China
Authors: Hou Yuguang , Ren Kexiong , Chen Zhenhong , He Sheng , Liu Yukun , Wang Jianguang , Wang Furong
Published: June 2020

Reservoir properties and shale gas potential of the Upper Jurassic continental shales from the Mohe Foreland Basin were investigated based on organic geochemical analysis, X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, low pressure nitrogen adsorption, high pressure mercury injection, and porosity and permeability analyses. The results indicate that the shallow lacustrine shales of the Emuerhe Formation are characterized by high total organic carbon content (0.43–22.83 wt.%), low hydrocarbon generative potential (less than 5.0 mg HC/g rock), type II kerogen, and a moderate thermal maturity stage (Ro of 1.05–1.46%). The inorganic pores dominate the pore system, and pores associated with clay minerals largely contribute to the surface area. The inorganic pore‐dominated lacustrine shale reservoir is characterized by dense, low porosity, and poor connectivity. The shales of the Emuerhe Formation show strong heterogeneity in mineralogy and are relatively enriched in clay minerals (33–66 wt.%). Due to the lack of biogenic silica, the effect of brittle minerals on hydraulic stimulation is ambiguous in the shallow lacustrine shales. The widely distributed, extensionally unfilled fractures can not only enhance hydrocarbon storage and migration capacity, but also play an important role in the generation of artificial reservoir fracturing. The pore network of lacustrine shales contributed by inorganic pores and unfilled micro‐fractures could also generate a relatively high porosity and permeability. The high‐mature thick shales in the northwest area of the Xingan Town would be the favourable zone for the shale gas exploration and exploitation in the Mohe Foreland Basin.
Telomere Dysfunction Activates p53 and Represses HNF4α Expression Leading to Impaired Human Hepatocyte Development and Function
Authors: Munroe Michael , Niero Evandro Luis , Fok Wilson Chun , Vessoni Alexandre Teixeira , Jeong Ho‐Chang , Brenner Kirsten Ann , Batista Luis Francisco Zirnberger
Published: June 2020

Background and Aims

Telomere attrition is a major risk factor for end‐stage liver disease. Due to a lack of adequate models and intrinsic difficulties in studying telomerase in physiologically relevant cells, the molecular mechanisms responsible for liver disease in patients with telomere syndromes remain elusive. To circumvent that, we used genome editing to generate isogenic human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) harboring clinically relevant mutations in telomerase and subjected them to an in vitro, stage‐specific hepatocyte differentiation protocol that resembles hepatocyte development in vivo.

Approach and Results

Using this platform, we observed that while telomerase is highly expressed in hESCs, it is quickly silenced, specifically due to telomerase reverse transcriptase component (TERT) down‐regulation, immediately after endoderm differentiation and completely absent in in vitro–derived hepatocytes, similar to what is observed in human primary hepatocytes. While endoderm derivation is not impacted by telomere shortening, progressive telomere dysfunction impaired hepatic endoderm formation. Consequently, hepatocyte derivation, as measured by expression of specific hepatic markers as well by albumin expression and secretion, is severely compromised in telomerase mutant cells with short telomeres. Interestingly, this phenotype was not caused by cell death induction or senescence. Rather, telomere shortening prevents the up‐regulation and activation of human hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) in a p53‐dependent manner. Both reactivation of telomerase and silencing of p53 rescued hepatocyte formation in telomerase mutants. Likewise, the conditional expression (doxycycline‐controlled) of HNF4α, even in cells that retained short telomeres, accrued DNA damage, and exhibited p53 stabilization, successfully restored hepatocyte formation from hESCS.

Conclusions

Our data show that telomere dysfunction acts as a major regulator of HNF4α during hepatocyte development, pointing to a target in the treatment of liver disease in telomere‐syndrome patients.
Morphological feature extraction and KNG‐CNN classification of CT images for early lung cancer detection
Authors: Jena Sanjukta Rani , George Selvaraj Thomas
Published: June 2020

Lung cancer is a dangerous disease causing death to individuals. Currently precise classification and differential diagnosis of lung cancer is essential with the stability and accuracy of cancer identification is challenging. Classification scheme was developed for lung cancer in CT images by Kernel based Non‐Gaussian Convolutional Neural Network (KNG‐CNN). KNG‐CNN comprises of three convolutional, two fully connected and three pooling layers. Kernel based Non‐Gaussian computation is used for the diagnosis of false positive or error encountered in the work. Initially Lung Image Database Consortium image collection (LIDC‐IDRI) dataset is used for input images and a ROI based segmentation using efficient CLAHE technique is carried as preprocessing steps, enhancing images for better feature extraction. Morphological features are extracted after the segmentation process. Finally, KNG‐CNN method is used for effectual classification of tumour > 30mm. An accuracy of 87.3% was obtained using this technique. This method is effectual for classifying the lung cancer from the CT scanned image.
Trends in the use of therapeutic plasma exchange in multiple myeloma
Authors: Dhakal Binod , Miller Sophie , Rein Lisa , Pathak Lakshmi Kant , Gloria Lin , Szabo Aniko , Giri Smith , Chhabra Saurabh , Hamadani Mehdi , Paner Agne , Padmanabhan Anand , Janz Siegfried , D'Souza Anita , Hari Parameswaran
Published: June 2020

Introduction

Therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) is traditionally performed for hyperviscosity, neuropathy and to mitigate renal injury in the setting of high clonal free light chain burden in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) with unknown clinical benefit.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective study of adults ≥18 years with MM who received TPE in the in‐patient setting in the United States from 1993 to 2015. We examined the temporal trends of TPE utilization in MM hospitalizations, hospital charges, in‐hospital mortality, and length of hospitalization and the predictors of in‐hospital mortality and length of hospitalizations.

Results

The number of MM‐hospitalizations for TPE in adults increased significantly from 1993 to 2015 (1% in 1993‐1999 to 2.1% in 2008‐2015 of all MM discharges, P for trend <.0001). About 70% of TPE recipients had acute kidney injury (AKI). The median hospital charges increased 5‐fold during the time period ($ 24 407 to $ 113 496; P for trend <.0001). In‐hospital mortality decreased (17.5% (SE 2.66) in 1993‐1997 to 8.7% (1.39) in 2007 to 2013) P for trend <.005) while the length of stay remained unchanged (11.2 days vs 11.9 days, P for trend 0.17). On adjusted analysis, significant predictors of in‐hospital mortality among MM TPE recipients include, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) (3 vs 2 adjusted odds ratio, aOR 2.16, 95% CI 1.26‐3.71; P = .005), year (continuous) (aOR 0.93, 95% CI 0.90‐0.96; P < .001) and race (other vs white; aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.25‐0.78; P = 0.004).

Conclusions

There has been a substantial increase in the use and associated cost of TPE in hospitalized MM patients.
Community integration when moving on from permanent supportive housing
Authors: Gurdak Kristen , Tiderington Emmy , Stefancic Ana
Published: June 2020

Aims

This study explored community integration within a Moving On initiative that assisted individuals with the transition from permanent supportive housing (PSH) to more independent housing without service requirements.

Methods

Participants completed baseline interviews while in PSH (n = 90) and, for those who moved on, a follow‐up 1‐year post‐move (n = 45). Bivariate analyses and OLS regression were used to examine community integration outcomes and potential correlates.

Results

For participants who moved on, subjective social quality of life and sense of community were higher post‐move, while physical integration decreased, and time spent at home increased. Gender, mastery, and housing quality were associated with community integration post‐move.

Conclusion

Moving On did not adversely impact most aspects of community integration, though PSH residents may need more support to facilitate participation in routine activities outside their home post‐move. Findings also highlight the importance of supporting mastery given its potential role in community integration.
Dietary composition and particle size effects on swine manure characteristics and gas emissions
Authors: Kerr Brian J. , Trabue Steven L. , Andersen Daniel S. , Van Weelden Mark B. , Pepple Laura M.
Published: June 2020

Nutrients excreted from animals affect the nutritive value of manure as a soil amendment as well as the composition of gases emitted from manure storage facilities. There is a dearth of information, however, on how diet type in combination with dietary particle size affects nutrients deposited into manure storage facilities and how this affects manure composition and gas emissions. To fill this knowledge gap, an animal feeding trial was performed to evaluate potential interactive effects between feed particle size and diet composition on manure characteristics and manure‐derived gaseous emissions. Forty‐eight finishing pigs housed in individual metabolism crates that allowed for daily collection of urine and feces were fed diets differing in fiber content and particle size. Urine and feces were collected and stored in 446‐L stainless steel containers for 49 d. There were no interactive effects between diet composition and feed particle size on any manure or gas emission parameter measured. In general, diets higher in fiber content increased manure nitrogen (N), carbon (C), and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations and increased manure VFA emissions but decreased manure ammonia emissions. Decreasing the particle size of the diet lowered manure N, C, VFAs, phenolics, and indole concentrations and decreased manure emissions of total VFAs. Neither diet composition nor particle size affected manure greenhouse gas emissions.
Response of soil fertility to 25 years of experimental acidification in a temperate hardwood forest
Authors: Gilliam Frank S. , Adams Mary Beth , Peterjohn William T.
Published: June 2020

The effects of enhanced acid deposition from the atmosphere, and associated elevated inputs of N, are widely evident, especially for forests where excess N has led to a variety of deleterious effects. These include declines in biodiversity, a response that will likely require considerable time for recovery. The purpose of this study was to determine responses of plant nutrient availability in surface mineral soil to 25 yr of experimental acidification and N addition in a central Appalachian hardwood forest ecosystem. We hypothesized that chronic additions of (NH4)2SO4 will increase mineral N, decrease soil pH, P, and base cations, increase micronutrients (Mn2+ and Fe2+), and increase levels of Al3+. Results supported these predictions, although Mn2+ did not vary significantly. Earlier work on these plots found no response of any of the extractable nutrients to 3 yr of treatment, yet after 25 yr, our results suggest that impacts are apparent in the top 5 cm of the A horizon. We surmise that impacts in these soils may have lagged behind the onset of acidification treatments or that several years of treatment were required to overcome preexisting differences in soil ions. Generally, current findings confirm that (NH4)2SO4 treatments have lowered the pH, enhanced levels of exchangeable Al3+, and increased stream‐water exports of NO3− and base cations—a process that further acidifies soil. The combination of these changes in surface soils, with their high proportion of fine roots, may contribute to the reduced growth and competitiveness of some hardwood species at the acidified site.
Drug level testing as a strategy to determine eligibility for drug resistance testing after failure of ART: a retrospective analysis of South African adult patients on second‐line ART
Authors: Hermans Lucas E , Steegen Kim , ter Heine Rob , Schuurman Rob , Tempelman Hugo A , Moraba Robert , van Maarseveen Erik , Nijhuis Monique , Pillay Taryn , Legg‐E’Silva Derryn , Snyman Tracy , Schapiro Jonathan M , Burger David M , Carmona Sergio , Wensing Annemarie MJ
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Introduction

When protease inhibitor (PI)‐based second‐line ART fails, guidelines recommend drug resistance testing and individualized third‐line treatment. However, PI‐resistant viral strains are rare and drug resistance testing is costly. We investigated whether less costly PI‐exposure testing can be used to select those patients who would benefit most from drug resistance testing.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of South African adults living with HIV experiencing failure of ritonavir‐boosted‐lopinavir (LPV/r)‐based second‐line ART for whom drug resistance testing results were available. We included patients who received plasma‐based drug resistance testing at a central South African reference laboratory in 2017 and patients who received dried blood spots (DBS)‐based drug resistance testing at a rural South African clinic between 2009 and 2017. PI‐exposure testing was performed on remnant plasma or DBS using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS). Additionally, a low‐cost immunoassay was used on plasma. Population genotypic drug resistance testing of the pol region was performed on plasma and DBS using standard clinical protocols.

Results

Samples from 544 patients (494 plasma samples and 50 DBS) were included. Median age was 41.0 years (IQR: 33.3 to 48.5) and 58.6% were women. Median HIV‐RNA load was 4.9 log10 copies/mL (4.3 to 5.4). Prevalence of resistance to the NRTI‐backbone was 70.6% (349/494) in plasma samples and 56.0% (28/50) in DBS. Major PI‐resistance mutations conferring high‐level resistance to LPV/r were observed in 26.7% (132/494) of plasma samples and 12% (6/50) of DBS. PI‐exposure testing revealed undetectable LPV levels in 47.0% (232/494) of plasma samples and in 60.0% (30/50) of DBS. In pooled analysis of plasma and DBS samples, detectable LPV levels had a sensitivity of 90% (84% to 94%) and a negative predictive failure of 95% (91% to 97%) for the presence of major LPV/r resistance.

Conclusions

PI‐exposure testing revealed non‐adherence in half of patients experiencing failure on second‐line ART and accurately predicted the presence or absence of clinically relevant PI resistance. PI‐exposure testing constitutes a novel screening strategy in patients with virological failure of ART that can differentiate between different underlying causes of therapy failure and may allow for more effective use of limited resources available for drug resistance testing.
The denticle surface of thresher shark tails: Three‐dimensional structure and comparison to other pelagic species
Authors: Popp Meagan , White Connor F. , Bernal Diego , Wainwright Dylan K. , Lauder George V.
Published: June 2020

Shark skin denticles (scales) are diverse in morphology both among species and across the body of single individuals, although the function of this diversity is poorly understood. The extremely elongate and highly flexible tail of thresher sharks provides an opportunity to characterize gradients in denticle surface characteristics along the length of the tail and assess correlations between denticle morphology and tail kinematics. We measured denticle morphology on the caudal fin of three mature and two embryo common thresher sharks (Alopias vulpinus), and we compared thresher tail denticles to those of eleven other shark species. Using surface profilometry, we quantified 3D‐denticle patterning and texture along the tail of threshers (27 regions in adults, and 16 regions in embryos). We report that tails of thresher embryos have a membrane that covers the denticles and reduces surface roughness. In mature thresher tails, surfaces have an average roughness of 5.6 μm which is smoother than some other pelagic shark species, but similar in roughness to blacktip, porbeagle, and bonnethead shark tails. There is no gradient down the tail in roughness for the middle or trailing edge regions and hence no correlation with kinematic amplitude or inferred magnitude of flow separation along the tail during locomotion. Along the length of the tail there is a leading‐to‐trailing‐edge gradient with larger leading edge denticles that lack ridges (average roughness = 9.6 μm), and smaller trailing edge denticles with 5 ridges (average roughness = 5.7 μm). Thresher shark tails have many missing denticles visible as gaps in the surface, and we present evidence that these denticles are being replaced by new denticles that emerge from the skin below.
Higher levels of IL‐6 early after tocilizumab distinguish survivors from nonsurvivors in COVID‐19 pneumonia: A possible indication for deeper targeting of IL‐6
Authors: Quartuccio Luca , Sonaglia Arianna , Pecori Davide , Peghin Maddalena , Fabris Martina , Tascini Carlo , De Vita Salvatore
Published: June 2020

Introduction

The most serious COVID‐19 deriving from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 causes a cytokine release storm and it is associated with worse outcomes. In COVID‐19 patients, interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) levels are significantly elevated. Blocking IL‐6 preliminarily resulted in the improvement of this hyperinflammatory state. It is unknown which patients could require higher doses of tocilizumab to get out of the cytokine storm.

Materials and Methods

Twenty‐four patients affected by COVID‐19 pneumonia were included. All the patients underwent tocilizumab 8 mg/kg intravenously and were tested for serum IL‐6 24 to 48 hours before and 12 to 48 hours after tocilizumab infusion. Comparisons between survivors and nonsurvivors were performed.

Results

Eighteen patients were discharged, while six patients died, with no clinical or laboratory differences between the two groups at baseline. IL‐6 was not different at baseline (P = .41), while 24 to 48 hours post‐tocilizumab IL‐6 serum levels were significantly higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors (2398.5 [430.5‐9372] vs 290.5 [58.5‐1305.5] pg/mL, P = .022). Serum IL‐6 post‐tocilizumab showed a good predictive ability to discriminate survivors from nonsurvivors (area under the curve, 0.815; 95% confidence interval, 0.63‐0.99, P = .02).

Conclusion

Repeated measurement of the serum level of IL‐6 early after tocilizumab may distinguish nonsurvivors from survivors and support the choice of deeper targeting IL‐6 in COVID‐19 pneumonia.
Variable step size fractional incremental conductance for MPPT under changing atmospheric conditions
Authors: Usman Khan Fahad , Gulzar Muhammad Majid , Sibtain Daud , Usman Hafiz Muhammad , Hayat Aamir
Published: June 2020

This paper presents a new modified variable step size Fractional Order Incremental Conductance (FOIC) with maximum power point tracking using Fractional Order PID controller tuned by bio‐inspired Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to find optimal gain values of fractional integrator order (λ) and fractional derivative order (μ). The classical incremental conductance and FOIC show drawbacks under changing irradiance, oscillation around maximum power point (MPP) which decreases its convergence speed. To resolve these prone a variable step size FOIC is proposed to achieve an adaptive duty cycle via tuning of FOPID through PSO. The robustness of the proposed technique is judged by its steady‐state and dynamic response with fast converges, less response time, overshoot, and ripples under changing environmental conditions. Furthermore, the performance of the proposed technique is evaluated by comparing it with a fixed step size conventional incremental conductance algorithm and FOIC.
Changes and uncertainties of surface mean temperature over China under global warming of 1.5 and 2°C
Authors: Wu Fangying , You Qinglong , Zhang Ziyin , Zhang Ling
Published: June 2020

China has experienced rapid warming in recent decades and is projected to warm at similar rates throughout the remainder of this century. In this study, the projected changes and uncertainties of surface mean temperature over China and four subregions (Northern China, Northwestern China, Southern China, and Tibetan Plateau) are investigated under global warming of 1.5 and 2°C above pre‐industrial levels under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios from 21 Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) model simulations and their multimodel ensemble mean (MMEM). In comparison with the observations over China, the most CMIP5 models can capture the observed warming patterns while the MMEM of surface mean temperature has a cold bias. Under global warming of 1.5/2°C, the MMEM of surface mean temperature over China, Northern China, Northwestern China, Southern China, and Tibetan Plateau under RCP4.5 (RCP8.5) will increase by 1.82/2.6°C (1.83/2.52°C), 1.8/2.57°C (1.85/2.56°C), 1.99/2.76°C (1.97/2.76°C), 1.43/2.13°C (1.43/2.04°C), and 2.11/2.96°C (2.1/2.85°C), respectively. This study suggests that surface mean temperature over China will exceed the 1.5 and 2°C target earlier than the global mean, with the earlier regions over the Tibetan Plateau. Under global warming of 1.5 and 2°C, the model uncertainty is the dominant source over China and four subregions, followed by both internal variability and scenario uncertainty. Future work should improve climate model simulations and reduce the uncertainty over China before investigating warming changes and patterns under different global warming levels.
A Systematic Review of the Self‐Medication Hypothesis in the Context of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Comorbid Problematic Alcohol Use
Authors: Hawn Sage E. , Cusack Shannon E. , Amstadter Ananda B.
Published: June 2020

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) commonly co‐occur and are associated with many negative public health outcomes. There are several etiological models that explain the overlap between PTSD and AUD, including shared genetic risk and phenotypic causality, but the predominant model of etiologic association is the drinking‐to‐cope self‐medication model. Although the self‐medication model is conceptually appealing and has been widely accepted within the literature examining alcohol use and anxiety (e.g., PTSD) phenotypes, the findings are inconsistent and there is a lack of rigorous empirical evidence in support of this model. This review, which was, to our knowledge, the first systematic review of the self‐medication model in relation to PTSD to date, aimed to synthesize the current literature on the association between PTSD and problematic alcohol use within the context of the self‐medication model. In total, 24 studies met the inclusion criteria for the review and assessed the self‐medication hypothesis using a variety of measurement instruments and data analytic approaches, such as mediation, moderation, and regression. Overall, the included studies provide evidence for the self‐medication hypothesis but are limited in rigor due to methodological limitations. These limitations, which include issues with the operationalization (or lack thereof) of trauma‐related drinking to cope, are discussed, and directions for future research are presented.
Retracted: The Impact of Treatment Description Format on Patient Preferences for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment
Authors: Harik Juliette M. , Grubbs Kathleen M. , Hamblen Jessica L.
Published: June 2020

The present study examined how the format in which treatment information is presented impacts individuals’ preferences for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatments. Adults who screened positive for PTSD (N = 301) were randomized into groups to learn about five first‐line treatments; participants either read sequential text descriptions or reviewed a comparison chart that presented side‐by‐side information. Participants rated treatment acceptability, rank ordered treatments from most to least preferred, and indicated their confidence in this ranking. Compared with participants in the text group, those in the chart group assigned more favorable acceptability ratings to prolonged exposure therapy (PE) and more moderate ratings to medications. Cognitive processing therapy was the most common first‐choice treatment (43.6%). Forced‐choice treatment rankings were similar across conditions, although participants in the chart group ranked PE more favorably than those in the text group, odds ratio (OR) = 0.54, 95% CI [0.35, 0.82], p = .004. Confidence in treatment rankings did not differ across conditions. The results suggest that perceptions of treatment acceptability can be influenced by the format in which treatment information is presented. In settings where the goal is to increase treatment acceptability, side‐by‐side formats may offer an advantage over sequential descriptions of each treatment.
Termination of personal relationship and their effects on knowledge sharing in supply chains
Authors: Butt Atif S.
Published: June 2020

The existence of strong personal relationships (friendship, etc.) has been the subject of much research in the supply chain knowledge management literature. Many researchers have argued that such relationships have a positive impact on knowledge sharing across the supply chain. However, it is important to acknowledge that the termination of a personal relationship may well adversely affect the knowledge transfer process between the supply chain member firms. This study addresses the impact of the termination of personal relationships within the supply chain. An exploratory study was employed via semi‐structured interviews with 20 senior managers from 10 different companies based in the United Arab Emirates. The findings reveal five distinct factors that adversely affect knowledge transfer between the managers of buying and supplying firms, once their personal relationships are terminated. These factors further result in inferior knowledge transfer between the partnering firms.
Micro‐Transfer‐Printed III‐V‐on‐Silicon C‐Band Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers
Authors: Haq Bahawal , Kumari Sulakshna , Van Gasse Kasper , Zhang Jing , Gocalinska Agnieszka , Pelucchi Emanuele , Corbett Brian , Roelkens Gunther
Published: June 2020

The micro‐transfer‐printing of prefabricated C‐band semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) on a silicon waveguide circuit is reported. The SOAs are 1.35 mm in length and 40 µm in width. Dense arrays of III‐V SOAs are fabricated on the source InP wafer. These can then be micro‐transfer‐printed on the target SOI photonic circuits in a massively parallel fashion. Additionally, this approach allows for greater flexibility in terms of integrating different epitaxial layer structures on the same SOI waveguide circuit. The technique allows integrating SOAs on a complex silicon photonic circuit platform without changing the foundry process‐flow. Two different SOA designs with different optical confinement factor in the quantum wells of the III‐V waveguide are discussed. This allows tuning the small‐signal gain and output saturation power of the SOA. The design with higher optical confinement in the quantum wells has a small‐signal gain of up to 23 dB and an on‐chip saturation power of 9.2 mW at 140 mA bias current and the lower optical confinement factor design has a small‐signal gain of 17 dB and power saturation of 15 mW at 160 mA of bias current.
Hydrogen‐induced stress corrosion cracking studied by the novel tuning‐fork test method
Authors: Latypova Renata , Nyo Tun Tun , Kauppi Timo , Pallaspuro Sakari , Mehtonen Saara , Hänninen Hannu , Kömi Jukka
Published: June 2020

A novel tuning‐fork test method was developed to study hydrogen‐induced stress corrosion cracking of high‐strength steels. Special tuning‐fork specimens are designed to enable accurate stress adjustment via constant displacement under cathodic hydrogen charging conditions. In this study, the testing method is further developed, making the potentiostatic hydrogen charging possible through the modifications of the corrosion cell. Different direct‐quenched, low‐ and medium‐carbon steel grades, with a hardness range of 300–550 HBW, are investigated with both galvanostatic and potentiostatic hydrogen charging techniques. For each steel grade, the lowest fracture stress and highest no‐fracture stress are determined. Both hydrogen charging techniques produce similar results, and it is observed that the fracture stress decreases with the increase in hardness. However, the potentiostatic technique produces larger differences between the lowest fracture stress results, thus having a better resolution.
Hydrogel Synthesis and Stabilization via Tetrazine Click‐Induced Secondary Interactions
Authors: Holt Samantha E. , Rakoski Amanda , Jivan Faraz , Pérez Lisa M. , Alge Daniel L.
Published: June 2020

The discovery of tetrazine click‐induced secondary interactions is reported as a promising new tool for polymeric biomaterial synthesis. This phenomenon is first demonstrated as a tool for poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) hydrogel assembly via purely non‐covalent interactions and is shown to yield robust gels with storage moduli one to two orders of magnitude higher than other non‐covalent crosslinking methods. In addition, tetrazine click‐induced secondary interactions also enhance the properties of covalently crosslinked hydrogels. A head‐to‐head comparison of PEG hydrogels crosslinked with tetrazine‐norbornene and thiol‐norbornene click chemistry reveals an approximately sixfold increase in storage modulus and unprecedented resistance to hydrolytic degradation in tetrazine click‐crosslinked gels without substantial differences in gel fraction. Molecular dynamic simulations attribute these differences to the presence of secondary interactions between the tetrazine‐norbornene cycloaddition products, which are absent in the thiol‐norbornene crosslinked gels.
A 5‐Year Longitudinal Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 3
Authors: Piccinin Camila Callegari , Rezende Thiago Junqueira Ribeiro , de Paiva Jean Levi Ribeiro , Moysés Pedro Cury , Martinez Alberto Rolim Muro , Cendes Fernando , França Marcondes Cavalcante
Published: June 2020

Background

The natural history of neurodegeneration in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado Joseph disease is still unclear. Here, we built a long‐term longitudinal clinical and neuroimaging study to address this point.

Methods

Twenty‐three patients with spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado Joseph disease and 22 healthy controls underwent 3T MRI twice 5.0 years apart. T1 and diffusion tensor imaging sequences were obtained. We used T1 multiatlas, diffusion tensor imaging multiatlas, SpineSeg, and CERES‐SUIT for cerebral gray and white matter, spinal cord and cerebellar analyses, respectively. Clinical severity was assessed with scale for assessment and rating of ataxia. Analysis of covariance evaluated longitudinal between‐group changes. Effect sizes were calculated for each significant result.

Results

Progressive volumetric abnormalities were most evident in the cerebellum (Lobule X and Crus II; effect size, 2.0), followed by the basal ganglia (effect size, 0.7). The cerebellar peduncles had the largest white‐matter diffusivity changes (effect size, 1.29). Scale for assessment and rating of ataxia–related effect size was 0.82. We failed to identify progressive spinal cord abnormalities.

Conclusions

Longitudinal changes in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado Joseph disease are more evident in the cerebellum and connections, followed by the basal ganglia. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
MeteoExplorer: Visual data analysis software for atmospheric and geoscientists
Authors: Yu Lianqing
Published: June 2020

Over recent years, several visualization tools that offer advanced three‐dimensional (3D) rendering techniques, while still showing good performance for large data sets, have been developed. However, how to provide an intuitive way to combine traditional two‐dimensional (2D) methods essential in operational weather forecasting and new 3D techniques welcomed in atmospheric research is not fully investigated, if not overlooked, in these tools. The paper presents MeteoExplorer: a software tool designed to analyse and visualize atmospheric and geoscience data. It consists of a developer‐orientedcross‐platform foundation framework and several applications built upon the framework. The framework is developed with C++ on the central processing unit side and shader languages on the graphics processing unit (GPU) side. Modules in the framework are loosely coupled with minimum interdependencies to facilitate code reuse and improve code efficiency. Compared with other software tools, the framework provides distinctive features, including a unified framework that integrates both 2D and 3D rendering context, comprehensive support of popular data formats and computing platforms, decent rendition quality via the export of vector graphics and page layout customization, and interactive composition of synoptic charts. Based on the foundation libraries, the software can develop web, desktop and mobile applications for meteorological purposes. These applications support the analysis and visualization of numerous data set types, as well as the interactive content creation. MeteoExplorer is an exploratory project that provides forecasters with new techniques for climate diagnosis and forecasts.
Dysregulated expression of androgen metabolism genes and genetic analysis in hypospadias
Authors: Chen Zhongzhong , Lin Xiaoling , Wang Yaping , Xie Hua , Chen Fang
Published: June 2020

Background

The aberrant expression of genes involved in androgen metabolism and genetic contribution are unclear in hypospadias.

Methods

We compared gene expression profiles by RNA sequencing from five non‐hypospadiac foreskins, five mild hypospadiac foreskins, and five severe hypospadiac foreskins. In addition, to identify rare coding variants with large effects on hypospadias risk, we carried out whole exome sequencing in three patients in a hypospadias family.

Results

The average expression of androgen receptor (AR) and CYP19A1 were significantly decreased in severe hypospadias (p < .01) and mild hypospadias (p < .05), whereas expression of several other androgen metabolism enzymes, including CYP3A4, HSD17B14, HSD3B7, HSD17B7, CYP11A1 were exclusively significantly expressed in severe hypospadias (p < .05). Compound rare damaging mutants of AR gene with HSD3B1 and SLC25A5 genes were identified in the different severe hypospadias.

Conclusions

In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that dysregulation of AR and CYP19A1 could play a crucial role in the development of hypospadias. Inconsistent AR expression may be caused by the feedback loop of ESR1 signaling or combined genetic effects with other risk genes. This findings complement the possible role of AR triggered mechanism in the development of hypospadias.
Regularized minimal residual method for permittivity reconstruction in microwave imaging
Authors: Magdum Amit , Erramshetty Mallikarjun , Jagannath Ravi Prasad K.
Published: June 2020

In this paper, a regularized reconstruction based on the minimal residual method is proposed for microwave imaging applications. The method provides optimum regularization parameter to estimate the distribution of permittivity values of unknown scatterers under test. Initially, the method is applied to Born approximated linear model for weak scatterers. The performance of this approach is compared with the commonly adopted Morozov's discrepancy principle used in conjunction with the Tikhonov regularization. The effectiveness of the method is assisted by simulating the various numerical examples of synthetic and experimental data. The results of numerical simulations validate that the proposed method is highly effective. Thereafter, a non‐linear inverse problem based on the inexact Newton method is examined for the estimation of strong scatterers. Here also, the proposed method is found to be helpful in terms of improving the image accuracy.
Surgical treatment of heart valve disease: Considerations for the dental management
Authors: Sakaguchi Taichi
Published: June 2020

The number of valve surgeries is increasing with a change in the disease structure from rheumatic valvular heart disease (VHD) to arteriosclerotic or degenerative VHD. The treatment strategies for VHD have also been changing over the last two decades. Repair techniques for valve regurgitation have been established with excellent long‐term clinical results. As valve repair has advantages over prosthetic valve replacement in terms of avoidance of anticoagulation and reduced risk of valve infection, it has become the first choice for treatment of degenerative VHD even for infective endocarditis, which is closely related to dental procedures. With the development of technologies, minimally invasive cardiac surgery is evolving, including the introduction of video‐assisted or robotically assisted valve surgeries via minithoracotomy, or percutaneous transcatheter therapies. Notably, recently introduced transcatheter aortic valve replacement has shown excellent clinical results compared to surgical aortic valve replacement and has become a standard therapy for aortic stenosis in the elderly. Reoperative aortic valve replacement for degenerated bioprosthetic valve can also be performed using the transcatheter “Valve in Valve” technique. These minimally invasive approaches are likely to become more widely adopted and may determine the scope of therapeutic strategies for VHD into the future.
Polyimide nanocomposites in ternary structure: “A novel simultaneous neutron and gamma‐ray shielding material”
Authors: Baykara Oktay , İrim Şerife G. , Wis Abdulmounem A. , Keskin Mustafa A. , Ozkoc Guralp , Avcı Ahmet , Doğru Mahmut
Published: June 2020

The aim of this study is to develop a novel shielding material against both neutron and gamma rays. For this purpose, multi‐functional polyimide nanocomposites with two different nanoparticles fillers, that is, h‐BN and Gd2O3, was designed and fabricated through conventional melt extrusion processing techniques via laboratory batch twin‐screw compounder. The morphology and structure of both fabricated nanoparticles and their nanocomposites were characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD. Moreover, the mechanical properties of nanocomposites were investigated. High energy neutron and gamma radiation shielding performance of nanocomposites having h‐BN and Gd2O3 were examined in detail by means of Neutron Howitzer. The results indicated that the presence of nanoparticles in polyimide significantly influenced both the radiation shielding and mechanical properties of nanocomposites. It was found that nanocomposites could be used for high energy neutron shielding purposes in nuclear reactor system, nuclear waste disposal applications, space, and aeronautics industries.
Testing the Information‐Seeking Theory of Openness/Intellect
Authors: Jach Hayley K. , Smillie Luke D.
Published: June 2020

Why are open people open? A recent theory suggests that openness/intellect reflects sensitivity to the reward value of information, but so far, this has undergone few direct tests. To assess preferences for information, we constructed a novel task, adapted from information‐seeking paradigms within decision science, in which participants could choose to see information related to a guessing game they had just completed. Across two studies (one exploratory, n = 151; one confirmatory, n = 301), openness/intellect did not predict information seeking. Our results thus do not support a straightforward version of the theory, whereby open individuals display a general‐purpose sensitivity to any sort of new information. However, trait curiosity (arguably a facet of openness/intellect) predicted information seeking in both studies, and uncertainty intolerance (inversely related to openness/intellect) predicted information seeking in Study 2. Thus, it is possible that the domain‐level null association masks two divergent information‐seeking pathways: one approach motivated (curiosity) and one avoidance motivated (uncertainty intolerance). It remains to be seen whether these conflicting motivations can be isolated and if doing so reveals any association between information‐seeking and the broader openness/intellect domain.
Influence of H‐bonds on acidity of deoxy‐hexose sugars
Authors: Kotena Zahrabatoul Mosapour , Fattahi Alireza
Published: June 2020

The unusual monosaccharaides such as deoxy‐hexose sugars, including methyl‐pentose and aldo‐pentose, are promising and important sugars in life science. However, little research on H‐bond interactions in these systems has been reported. The aldo‐pentose has a proton instead of the CH2OH group on C5; conversely, methyl‐pentose has a CH3 group on C5. The aim of the present study is to investigate the role and nature of intramolecular H‐bonds on acidity of CH3‐pentose sugars (L‐fucose and L‐rhamnose) and aldo‐pentose sugars (D‐xylose, L‐lyxose, D‐ribose, and L‐arabinose) using B3LYP/6‐311++G (d, p) level. The calculated acidity values (ΔHacid) of these Dexoy‐hexose were found to be from 343 to 369 kcal.mol−1, indicating they are stronger acid than ethanol and 2‐propanol with the acidity values of 378.3 and 375.1 kcal.mol−1, respectively. This is related to the stabilization of the conjugate bases of these sugar through intramolecular H‐bonds, which were analyzed in this study using atoms in molecules (AIM) and natural bonding orbital (NBO) methods. AIM and NBO analyses indicate the presence of one bifurcated intramolecular H‐bond in the conjugate bases of L‐lyxose and L‐arabinose and two bifurcated H‐bonds in conjugate base of D‐ribose, whereas the conjugate bases of L‐fucose, L‐rhamnose, and D‐xylose present one normal intramolecular H‐bond. According to the topological parameters and charge transfer data, existence of normal and bifurcated intramolecular H‐bonds could greatly increase acidity of deoxy‐hexose sugars. The H‐bond strength in the conjugate bases of aldo‐pentose sugars is higher than that in the conjugate bases of methyl‐pentose sugars including CH3 group on C5, making aldo‐pentose sugars stronger acid than methyl‐pentose sugars.