bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structure‐Based Drug Design of Phenazopyridine Derivatives as Inhibitors of Rev1 Interactions in Translesion Synthesis
Authors: McPherson Kerry Silva , Zaino Angela M. , Dash Radha C. , Rizzo Alessandro A. , Li Yunfeng , Hao Bing , Bezsonova Irina , Hadden M. Kyle , Korzhnev Dmitry M.
Published: December 2020

Rev1 is a protein scaffold of the translesion synthesis (TLS) pathway, which employs low‐fidelity DNA polymerases for replication of damaged DNA. The TLS pathway helps cancers tolerate DNA damage induced by genotoxic chemotherapy, and increases mutagenesis in tumors, thus accelerating the onset of chemoresistance. TLS inhibitors have emerged as potential adjuvant drugs to enhance the efficacy of first‐line chemotherapy, with the majority of reported inhibitors targeting protein‐protein interactions (PPIs) of the Rev1 C‐terminal domain (Rev1‐CT). We previously identified phenazopyridine (PAP) as a scaffold to disrupt Rev1‐CT PPIs with Rev1‐interacting regions (RIRs) of TLS polymerases. To explore the structure‐activity relationships for this scaffold, we developed a protocol for co‐crystallization of compounds that target the RIR binding site on Rev1‐CT with a triple Rev1‐CT/Rev7R124A/Rev3‐RBM1 complex, and solved an X‐ray crystal structure of Rev1‐CT bound to the most potent PAP analogue. The structure revealed an unexpected binding pose of the compound and informed changes to the scaffold to improve its affinity for Rev1‐CT. We synthesized eight additional PAP derivatives, with modifications to the scaffold driven by the structure, and evaluated their binding to Rev1‐CT by microscale thermophoresis (MST). Several second‐generation PAP derivatives showed an affinity for Rev1‐CT that was improved by over an order of magnitude, thereby validating the structure‐based assumptions that went into the compound design.
Regularized Stokes Immersed Boundary Problems in Two Dimensions: Well‐Posedness, Singular Limit, and Error Estimates
Authors: Tong Jiajun
Published: December 2020

Inspired by the numerical immersed boundary method, we introduce regularized Stokes immersed boundary problems in two dimensions to describe regularized motion of a 1‐D closed elastic string in a 2‐D Stokes flow, in which a regularized δ‐function is used to mollify the flow field and singular forcing. We establish global well‐posedness of the regularized problems and prove that as the regularization parameter diminishes, string dynamics in the regularized problems converge to that in the Stokes immersed boundary problem with no regularization. Viewing the unregularized problem as a benchmark, we derive error estimates under various norms for the string dynamics. Our rigorous analysis shows that the regularized problems achieve improved accuracy if the regularized δ‐function is suitably chosen. This may imply potential improvement in the numerical method, which is worth further investigation. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC
A scalable parallel algorithm for building web directories
Authors: Seshadri Karthick , Maruthappan Aswin , Sundar Raman Mukunthapriya
Published: December 2020

Web directories like Wikipedia and Open Directory Mozilla facilitate efficient information retrieval (IR) of web documents from a huge web corpus. Maintenance of these web directories is understandably a difficult task that requires manual curation by human editors or semi‐automated mechanisms. Research on parallel algorithms for the automated curation of these web directories will be beneficial to the IR domain. Hence, in this article, we propose a parallel algorithm for automatically creating web directories from a corpus of web‐documents. We have used centrality‐based techniques to split the corpus into fine‐grained clusters and subsequently an agglomeration based on locality sensitive hashing to identify coarse‐grained clusters in the web‐directory. Experimental results show that the algorithm generates meaningful hierarchies of the input corpus as measured by cluster‐validity indices, like F‐measure, rand index, and cluster purity. The algorithm achieves a significant speedup and scales well both with the number of processors and the size of the input corpus.
An efficient shortest path routing on the hypercube with blocking/faulty nodes
Authors: Arabpour Niasari Mehrdad , Qiu Ke
Published: December 2020

We investigate fault‐tolerant shortest path problem in the hypercube between two nodes where some nodes are faulty (or blocked) and thus cannot be used in routing. Previously, several similar problems were studied where proposed algorithms are distributed and local‐information‐based, that is, each node in the network knows only its neighbor's status (faulty or not) and they also look for optimal or near‐optimal paths. There have been studies that established some sufficient conditions for these paths to exist. Since these conditions are only sufficient, there could be shortest paths that will be missed by these conditions. We study the problem under the assumption that for two given nodes, a source node s, a target node t, only s requires to have a global information of the network in order to find a shortest path to t, should it exist. A shortest path is defined as the Hamming distance between s and t. This problem can be solved by trivial algorithms. The first is to try all possible paths. In an n‐dimensional hypercube with 2n vertices, this method would cost at least n! time. Another method is to perform a standard shortest path finding algorithm, which would require at least 2n time. A routing algorithm has been previously developed which is efficient in certain situations. However, in the worst case, its running time could be exponential in the hypercube dimension. We propose an efficient algorithm with running time of O(n3m2), polynomial in n, the hypercube dimension, and m, number of blocking nodes. We gain our efficiency by reducing the routing problem to a permutation problem which can be solved using inclusion‐exclusion principle. We finally use dynamic programming technique to optimally count the terms. With the proposed algorithm, not only can we find a shortest path, if such a path does exist, but we can also count all possible shortest paths.
Study looks at ADRs and antipsychotics
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: December 2020

Almost 7% of patients ages 4–19 who were treated with antipsychotics for conduct disorders, attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or irritability and aggression that accompanied intellectual disability developed acute dystonic reactions (ADRs) to the medications, researchers have found in a retrospective chart review of 441 consecutive patients. Dystonia is an involuntary spasmodic motor syndrome. The use of second‐generation antipsychotics (SGAs) has increased as a result of the approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children and adolescents with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism‐related irritability, and Tourette syndrome. This approval also led to off‐label use for sleep disorders, ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder, and more.
Spanking is the same as hitting and should not be allowed, yet one out of 2 parents do it
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: December 2020

Not only is spanking deleterious to your child's development, but, according to a leading child clinician, it should be illegal. But half of parents in America do it.
The efficacy of polyether‐ether‐ketone wire as a retainer following orthodontic treatment
Authors: Kadhum Ammar Salim , Alhuwaizi Akram Faisal
Published: December 2020

Objectives

To investigate the efficacy of polyether‐ether‐ketone (PEEK) wire as a fixed orthodontic retainer, by comparing its performance to other retainer wires and optimizing its adhesion to composite bonding materials.

Materials and methods

Retainer wires of 15 mm segments were used, PEEK wires were prepared in cylindrical form with 0.8 mm diameter, and had two surface treatments namely air‐abrasion and conditioning with adhesive system. Three different metallic retainer wires were used for comparison and three tests were performed; two tests measured debonding force and associated wire deflection from acrylic blocks and bovine teeth and one test for pull‐out force. To test debonding force, a vertically directed compressive force was applied to the retainer wires bonded to the acrylic blocks and bovine teeth, while for pull‐out test; a vertically directed tensile force detached the retainer wire.

Results

In both debonding tests, PEEK wires (regardless the surface treatment) had non‐significant difference when compared to each other, or to the other metallic wires, except the dead‐soft coaxial wire group. The dead‐soft coaxial wire group had significant difference when compared to other groups regarding both the force magnitude and maximum deflection, the only exception was the debonding force of the flat braided retainer wires bonded to bovine teeth. In pull‐out test PEEK wires conditioned with adhesive system and the air‐abraded recorded the second and third highest readings respectively.

Conclusions

Within the limitations of this study, the 0.8 mm round PEEK wires have comparable performance—in terms of debonding and pull out forces—to conventional retainers when bonded with 4 mm composite bonding spots; using air‐abrasion for 10 s at 3.5 MPa provided sufficient adhesion of the composite to the wire, and conditioning with adhesive system may provide no further clinical benefit.
A prospective clinical evaluation of fixed dental prostheses made of metal alloys in patients with cerebral palsy
Authors: Magata Nobuaki , Tanoue Naomi , Ayuse Terumi , Ayuse Takao
Published: December 2020

Background

In general, the prevalence of caries and other oral and dental issues is increased in patients with disabilities, such as those with cerebral palsy. Providing appropriate dental treatment at a primary dental clinic for patients with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability, among other conditions, is challenging.

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate the longevity and investigate the related prognostic factors of fixed prostheses in patients with cerebral palsy.

Methods

The records of 36 cerebral palsy patients were used for collecting and analyzing data. A total of 155 prostheses made from metal alloys were finally included in this study. Annual failure rates were calculated; patient‐ and tooth‐related variables associated with prosthesis failure were assessed by a multivariate Cox‐regression analysis and frailty models to introduce random effects.

Results

The 10‐year prosthesis survival rate was 62% and the 20‐year survival rate was 36%. In terms of prosthesis‐related variables, the type of prosthesis had a significant effect, and the hazard ratio of fixed partial dentures was 2.32 times that of single‐unit crowns. In terms of patient‐related variables, the presence of epilepsy had a significant effect on survival, and the hazard ratio for comorbid epilepsy was 3.76 times that for those without comorbid epilepsy.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that fixed prostheses placed in patients with cerebral palsy might have a particularly low survival rate in cases with comorbid epilepsy. It might also be important to consider the type and/or design of the prosthesis carefully to ensure a better prognosis.
Difference in stakeholder engagement approach of small & medium enterprises and large companies and its performance implications
Authors: Kumar Kamalesh , Batra Rishtee , Boesso Giacomo
Published: December 2020

Using the explicit and implicit Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework, this study investigates how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and large companies differ in their approach to CSR and what association these differing approaches to CSR have with a company's financial and social performances. We develop and validate a stakeholder engagement approach (SEA) scale and then present the results of data collected from 211 SMEs and 179 large companies. The results indicate that while large companies rely more on explicitly articulated and formally enacted approaches to CSR, SMEs integrate social responsibility into their company activities in informal and implicit ways. The results also show that the explicit approach has a positive association with financial performance measures, while the implicit approach has a positive association with social performance. The findings of this study provide a more nuanced and theoretically grounded understanding of differences in the CSR practices of SMEs and large companies.
Marein ameliorates AngII/hypoxia‐induced abnormal glucolipid metabolism by modulating theHIF‐1α/PPARα/γ pathway in H9c2 cells
Authors: Niu Guanghao , Zhou Mi , Wang Feng , Yang Jingxing , Huang Jie , Zhu Zengyan
Published: December 2020

The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of marein, a major bioactive compound in functional foodCoreopsis tinctoria, in hypertrophic H9c2 cells. Treating angiotensin II/hypoxia‐stimulated H9c2 cells with marein led to decreasing cell surface area, intracellular total protein, atrial natriuretic peptide, and free fatty acids levels, but increasing glucose level. Marein treatment decreased hypoxia inducible factor‐1α (HIF‐1α), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPARγ), medium chain acyl‐coenzyme A dehydrogenase, glucose transporter‐4, and glycerol‐3‐phosphate acyltransferase protein expressions, and increased PPARα, fatty acid transport protein‐1, carnitine palmitoyltransferase‐1, and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase‐4 protein expressions. Similar results were observed in HIF‐1α‐overexpressing H9c2 cells, whereas these effects were abolished in siRNA‐HIF‐1α‐transfected H9c2 cells. It was concluded that marein could ameliorate abnormal glucolipid metabolism in hypertrophic H9c2 cells, and the effects could be attributable to reduction of HIF‐1α expression and subsequent regulation PPARα/γ‐mediated lipogenic gene expressions.
Estimated prevalence of eating disorders in Singapore
Authors: Chua Sook Ning , Fitzsimmons‐Craft Ellen E. , Austin S. Bryn , Wilfley Denise E. , Taylor C. Barr
Published: December 2020

Objective

There is a lack of research on the prevalence of eating disorders (EDs) in Singapore. The aims of our study were to (a) estimate the prevalence of EDs, risk status, and help‐seeking behaviors among adults in Singapore, (b) examine gender differences between ED status groups, and (c) characterize clinical profiles of ED status groups.

Method

We administered a cross‐sectional survey that included a validated EDs screening tool to adults in Singapore.

Results

A total of 797 Singaporean adults ages 21–77 years completed the ED screen. The majority of participants screened positive for a current DSM‐5 clinical ED (6.2%), other specified feeding or ED (37.0%) or at high risk of developing an ED (19.5%). Only 1.6% of those who screened positive for an ED reported currently being in treatment. The ratio of males to females who screened positive for an ED was nearly 1:1. The clinical profiles of ED groups were consistent with the clinical presentations found in Western nations.

Discussion

This is the first study in Singapore to estimate the prevalence of EDs in a large sample of adults. Results highlight the urgent need for more ED research and expansion of prevention and treatment programs to address the high prevalence of ED psychopathology in Singapore.
Hybrid POCZP Aryl Pincer Metal Complexes and their Catalytic Applications
Authors: Valdés Hugo , Rufino‐Felipe Ernesto , van Koten Gerard , Morales‐Morales David
Published: December 2020

The use of XCX‐aryl pincer metal complexes as catalysts started immediately after their discovery in 1976. Nowadays pincer metal complexes are commonly used as a new platform for the development and improvement of known and novel catalytic reactions. More recently, pincer metal complexes with hybrid pincer backbones of the type POCZP (Z = CH2, NH or S) have attracted much attention because of their facile preparation and outstanding catalytic performances. For instance, these complexes have been successfully used in cross‐coupling, transfer hydrogenation, and borylation reactions. In many cases, showing enhanced catalytic activities compared with POCOP‐ or PZCZP‐aryl pincer metal analogues. Hence, in this Minireview we summarize the available synthetic routes to produce POCZP aryl pincer ligands and their metal complexes as well as their applications as catalysts in different organic transformations.
Self‐Limiting Assembly of Au Nanoparticles Induced by Localized Dynamic Metal‐Phenolic Interactions
Authors: Su Jiaojiao , Huang Xin , Yang Ming
Published: December 2020

Dynamic nanoparticle assembly represents an important platform for the creation of functional materials with stimuli‐responsive properties. In this work, we show that small Au nanoparticles (ca. 5 nm) with mixed surface ligands (citrates and tannic acid) may be assembled into quasi‐sphere‐like superstructures (ca. 50 nm) induced by the presence of ferric ions. The spontaneous self‐limiting assembly is enabled by the localized metal‐phenolic interactions as a result of the possible phase separation of citrates and tannic acid on the surface of Au nanoparticles, restricting the growth of ionic cross‐linking network. The disassembly may be further achieved by adding ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as a stronger chelation ligand for ferric ions, allowing the reversible assembly and disassembly of Au nanoparticles. Our results provide new insights into the design of dynamic plasmonic assemblies by manipulating the nature of surface ligands.
Soluble Fluoridobromates as Well‐Behaved Strong Fluorination Reagents
Authors: Schmid Jonas R. , Pröhm Patrick , Voßnacker Patrick , Thiele Günter , Ellwanger Mathias , Steinhauer Simon , Riedel Sebastian
Published: December 2020

We present a facile synthesis of the soluble fluoridobromates [NEt3Me][BrF4] and [NEt3Me][Br2F7] via fluorination of the corresponding bromide salts in acetonitrile, propionitrile or bromine. We structurally characterized the [BrF2]– anion, an intermediate during the synthesis, for the first time. Additionally, the dissolution of noble metals to form the corresponding halometallates as well as the application of [NEt3Me][BrF4] as a fluorination agent for disulfides to form pentafluorosulfanyls was studied.
Recent Advances in the Chemistry of Isocyanides with Activated Methylene Group
Authors: Efimov Ilya V. , Kulikova Larisa N. , Zhilyaev Dmitry I. , Voskressensky Leonid G.
Published: December 2020

This review is devoted to the recent advances in the chemistry of methylene isocyanides with C=C, C≡C, C=O, and C=N bonds. In this paper, we show a variety of [3+2] cycloaddition reactions for isocyanides, carried out both under catalytic and non‐catalytic conditions. In addition, we also focused on diastereo‐ and enantioselectivity data.
8‐Prenylflavanones through Microwave Promoted Tandem Claisen Rearrangement/6‐endo‐trig Cyclization and Cross Metathesis
Authors: Schultze Christiane , Foß Stefan , Schmidt Bernd
Published: December 2020

Prenylated flavanones were obtained from ortho‐allyloxy chalcones through a one‐pot sequence of Claisen rearrangement and 6‐endo‐trig cyclization, followed by olefin cross metathesis of the intermediate allyl flavanones with 2‐methyl‐2‐butene. The synthetic utility of this route is illustrated for the synthesis of several naturally occurring prenyl flavanones.
Borohydride Reduction Method for PdIn/C Electrocatalysts Synthesis towards Glycerol Electrooxidation under Alkaline Condition
Authors: Nandenha Júlio , Ramos Carlos Eduardo Domingues , da Silva Sirlane G. , de Souza Rodrigo Fernando Brambilla , Fontes Eric Hossein , Ottoni Cristiane Angélica , Neto Almir Oliveira
Published: December 2020

Pd−In/C electrocatalysts were synthesized by the adapted borohydride reduction method in different atomic ratios. Electrocatalysts were evaluated by conventional electrochemical techniques and direct glycerol fuel cells. X‐ray diffraction profiles indicated the structure of Pd and In (fcc) phases, as well as the presence of In higher oxidation states. Regarding Transmission electron microscopy, it showed the particle‘s average diameters between 6.1–12.7 nm. All PdIn/C electrocatalysts showed high current values for −0.30 V vs. Ag/AgCl, which the best one was PdIn/C 90 : 10. Higher performance for glycerol oxidation was observed in polarization curves at 90 °C for PdIn/C (30 : 70) composition.
Global economic policy uncertainty and gold futures market volatility: Evidence from Markov regime‐switching GARCH‐MIDAS models
Authors: Ma Feng , Lu Xinjie , Wang Lu , Chevallier Julien
Published: December 2020

This paper explores the effects of global economic policy uncertainty (GEPU) on conditional volatility in the gold futures market using Markov regime‐switching GARCH‐MIDAS models. The in‐sample empirical results suggest that GEPU indeed contains predictive information for the gold futures market, and higher GEPU leads to higher volatility within the gold futures market. Moreover, the novel model, which adds Markov regime switching with time‐varying transition probabilities and the GEPU index, achieves relatively better performance than those of the other competing models from a statistical point of view. Furthermore, we discuss the asymmetric effects of different changes in GEPU on the gold futures market and the models' performances with different horizons, and we find that our new model has better predictive performance under negative changes in GEPU than under positive changes in GEPU. Further discussion also confirms that our previous findings are robust during two special cases, the global financial crisis and European debt crisis, during which the market suffered from fierce fluctuations and was fraught with considerable uncertainty.
Geochronology and geochemistry of the Yidi'nan quartz diorite in the West Qinling, China: Implications for evolution of the Palaeo‐Tethys Ocean
Authors: Wang Jie , Yu Haocheng , He Dengyang , Sun Wei , Wang Yuxi , Liu Peixiong , Qiu Kunfeng
Published: December 2020

The Xiahe‐Hezuo polymetallic district, located the northwest portion of the West Qinling orogen, has a wide distribution of granitoid rock. Thus, information on the widespread Triassic granitoids in this area is important to constrain the tectono‐magmatic processes. However, the tectonic setting and genetic mechanism for the granitoids in this area are still controversial. In this study, we present a detailed description of zircon U–Pb ages, whole‐rock geochemistry, and Hf isotopes for the Yidi'nan quartz diorite and elucidate their petrogenesis and geodynamic implications. The quartz diorite was crystallized at 240.6 ± 1.8 Ma, based on its zircon U–Pb age. The quartz diorite belongs to the high‐K calc‐alkaline, metaluminous, I‐type granites and its fractionated REE patterns show enrichment of Rb, U, and Th, depletion of Ba, Sr, Nb, and Ta, and negative Eu. The zircons have negative εHf(t) values in a range of −7.66 to −2.72, corresponding to two‐stage model ages ranging from 1.66 to 1.48 Ga. The integrated data from petrology, geochronology, and bulk geochemistry suggest that the quartz diorite is formed along an active continental margin, and from the partial melting of the Lower Proterozoic crust. It is associated with the Palaeo‐Tethys oceanic crust that suffered northward subduction beneath the South Qinling Block from Permian to Early Triassic.
Roles for H+/K+‐ATPase and zinc transporter 3 in cAMP‐mediated lysosomal acidification in bafilomycin A1‐treated astrocytes
Authors: Lee Huikyong , Koh Jae‐Young
Published: December 2020

Vacuolar ATPase (v‐ATPase) is the main proton pump that acidifies vesicles such as lysosomes. Disruption in the lysosomal localization of v‐ATPase leads to lysosomal dysfunction, thus contributing to the pathogenesis of lysosomal storage disorders and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies showed that increases in cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels acidify lysosomes and consequently enhance autophagy flux. Although the upregulation of v‐ATPase function may be the key mechanism underlying the cAMP‐mediated lysosomal acidification, it is unknown whether a mechanism independent of v‐ATPase may be contributing to this phenomenon. In the present study, we modeled v‐ATPase dysfunction in brain cells by blocking lysosomal acidification in cortical astrocytes through treatment with bafilomycin A1, a selective v‐ATPase inhibitor. We observed that cAMP reversed the pH changes via the activation of protein kinase A; interestingly, cAMP also increased autophagy flux even in the presence of bafilomycin A1, suggesting the presence of an alternative route of proton entry. Notably, pharmacological inhibitors and siRNAs of H+/K+‐ATPase markedly shifted the lysosomal pH toward more alkaline values in bafilomycin A1/cAMP‐treated astrocytes, suggesting that H+/K+‐ATPase may be the alternative route of proton entry for lysosomal acidification. Furthermore, the cAMP‐mediated reversal of lysosomal pH was nullified in the absence of ZnT3 that interacts with H+/K+‐ATPase. Our results suggest that the H+/K+‐ATPase/ZnT3 complex is recruited to lysosomes in a cAMP‐dependent manner and functions as an alternative proton pump for lysosomes when the v‐ATPase function is downregulated, thus providing insight into the potential development of a new class of lysosome‐targeted therapeutics in neurodegenerative diseases.
Structural correlates underlying accelerated magnetic stimulation in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Ji Gong‐Jun , Liu Tingting , Li Ying , Liu Pingping , Sun Jinmei , Chen Xingui , Tian Yanghua , Chen Xianwen , Dahmani Louisa , Liu Hesheng , Wang Kai , Hu Panpan
Published: December 2020

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation technique with great potential in the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to investigate the clinical efficacy of accelerated rTMS and to understand the underlying neural mechanism. In a double‐blinded way, a total of 42 patients with PD were randomized to receive real (n = 22) or sham (n = 20) continuous theta‐burst stimulation (cTBS) on the left supplementary motor area (SMA) for 14 consecutive days. Patients treated with real cTBS, but not with sham cTBS, showed a significant improvement in Part III of the Unified PD Rating Scale (p < .0001). This improvement was observed as early as 1 week after the start of cTBS treatment, and maintained 8 weeks after the end of the treatment. These findings indicated that the treatment response was swift with a long‐lasting effect. Imaging analyses showed that volume of the left globus pallidus (GP) increased after cTBS treatment. Furthermore, the volume change of GP was mildly correlated with symptom improvement and associated with the baseline fractional anisotropy of SMA‐GP tracts. Together, these findings implicated that the accelerated cTBS could effectively alleviate motor symptoms of PD, maybe by modulating the motor circuitry involving the SMA‐GP pathway.
Sparse structure deep network embedding for transforming brain functional network in early mild cognitive impairment classification
Authors: Jiao Zhuqing , Jiao Tingxuan , Zhang Jiahao , Shi Haifeng , Wu Bona , Zhang Yu‐Dong
Published: December 2020

Currently, it remains one of the most challenging issues to distinguish brain functional networks of early mild cognitive impairment subjects (eMCIs) and normal control subjects (NCs). Unlike images, functional networks are non‐Euclidean data and not easily classified by dilated convolutional neural network (DCNN). To address this problem, we developed a sparse structure deep network embedding (SSDNE) method which transforms brain functional networks into a double‐channel image in eMCI classification. First, the eigenvector of each node in the functional network was obtained by SSDNE, and principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to sort the importance of eigenvectors. Next, two eigenvector groups with the highest contribution rate were extracted in turn and divided into several equal‐length intervals along its direction respectively, and the numbers of nodes that fall into the intervals were counted to obtain the corresponding two‐dimensional histograms. Then, the both histograms were stacked up and down into a double‐channel image. Finally, a double‐channel image was input into DCNN for feature learning to achieve final classification results. Experimental results show that, SSDNE performed better in maintaining the original structure of brain functional networks, and the transformed double‐channel image achieved comparably identifying results on eMCI classification compared with other network embedding algorithms. This novel method solved the problem that brain functional networks cannot be directly applied to convolutional neural networks for feature extraction and classification. Meanwhile, it can provide a reference for the early auxiliary diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Effects of dibenzothiophene, a sulfur‐containing heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and its alkylated congener, 2,4,7‐trimethyldibenzothiophene, on placental trophoblast cell function
Authors: Raez‐Villanueva Sergio , Perono Genevieve A. , Jamshed Laiba , Thomas Philippe J. , Holloway Alison C.
Published: December 2020

Worldwide demand for petroleum products has resulted in increased oil and gas activities in many countries. Conventional and unconventional oil and gas extraction, production, and transport lead to increased levels of petroleum‐derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment. PAH exposure has profound effects on reproduction by affecting pathways involved in placental trophoblast cell function and impairing normal placental development and function—key contributors to reproductive success. However, other components found in petroleum and wastewaters from oil and gas extraction, including the sulfur‐containing heterocyclic aromatic compounds such as dibenzothiophene (DBT) and its alkylated derivatives, may also impact reproductive success. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of exposure to DBT, a compound commonly detected in the environment, and one of its alkylated analogues, 2,4,7‐trimethyldibenzothiophene (2,4,7‐DBT), on steroidogenic and angiogenic pathways critical for mammalian development in placental trophoblast cells (HTR‐8/SVneo cells). 2,4,7‐DBT but not DBT increased estradiol output in association with increased tube‐like formation (surrogate for angiogenesis). These changes in angiogenesis did not appear to be related to altered expression of the key placental angiogenic gene targets (ANGPTL4, VEGFA, and PGF). Neither compound showed a concentration related effect on progesterone synthesis or its receptor expression. Our results suggest that 2,4,7‐DBT can disrupt key pathways important for placental trophoblast function and highlight the importance of determining the impact of exposure to both parent and alkylated compounds. Further, these data suggest that exposure to sulfur‐containing heterocyclic aromatic compounds may lead to placental dysfunction and impact reproductive success at environmentally relevant levels.
Alumina‐toughened zirconia for dental applications: Physicochemical, mechanical, optical, and residual stress characterization after artificial aging
Authors: Bergamo Edmara T. P. , Cardoso Karina B. , Lino Lucas F. O. , Campos Tiago M. B. , Monteiro Kelli N. , Cesar Paulo F. , Genova Luis A. , Thim Gilmar P. , Coelho Paulo G. , Bonfante Estevam A.
Published: December 2020

To characterize the physicomechanical properties of an alumina‐toughened zirconia (ATZ). ATZ synthesis consisted of the addition of alumina particles in an yttria‐stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystals (3Y‐TZP) matrix. Specimens were obtained by uniaxial and isostatic pressing ATZ and 3Y‐TZP powders and sintering at 1600°C/1 h and 1550°C/1 h, respectively. Crystalline content and residual stress were evaluated using X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Microstructure was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Optical properties were determined by reflectance test. Mechanical properties were assessed by biaxial flexural strength test. All analyses were performed before and after aging (134°C, 20 h, 2 bar). XRD and SEM revealed a typical ATZ and 3Y‐TZP crystalline content, chiefly tetragonal phase, with a dense polycrystalline matrix, though a smaller grain size for ATZ. Aging triggered a similar monoclinic transformation for both systems; however, ATZ exhibited higher residual compressive stresses than 3Y‐TZP. While as‐processed 3Y‐TZP demonstrated significantly higher characteristic strength relative to ATZ, no significant difference was observed after aging (~215 MPa increase in the ATZ strength). ATZ presented significantly higher opacity relative to 3Y‐TZP, although aging significantly increased the translucency of both systems (increase difference significantly higher in the 3Y‐TZP compared to ATZ). ATZ physicomechanical properties support its applicability in the dental field, with a lower detrimental effect of aging relative to 3Y‐TZP.
Aorto‐pulmonary window with absent ductus arteriosus—A case report
Authors: Santhanam Ramya , Balakrishnan Bijoy K. , Parasuram Meenu Batra , Patil Swapneel N. , Gopinathan Kannoly Karunakran
Published: December 2020

Aorto‐pulmonary window (APW) is a rare congenital heart defect characterized by the connection between the ascending aorta and the pulmonary trunk before its bifurcation, just above the semilunar valves, due to the abnormal development of spiral septum. The short‐axis echocardiographic view of the right ventricular outflow track, the three‐vessel‐view, and the three‐vessel‐trachea view are the key planes for prenatal diagnosis. We report a case of APW with absent ductus arteriosus in a monochorionic twin, detected by prenatal echocardiography. The diagnosis was confirmed postnatally and corrective surgery was performed at the age of 1 week. Prenatal diagnosis of APW is essential, since surgical correction early after birth is required to prevent congestive heart failure secondary to high pulmonary blood flow.
Thoracic disk herniation diagnosed with an upper body traction procedure in the sitting position
Authors: Ishizuka Kosuke , Yokokawa Daiki , Ikusaka Masatomi
Published: December 2020

A 51‐year‐old man experienced sudden abdominal pain from the umbilicus to the right flank 5 days before his hospital visit. His abdominal pain disappeared when the examiner lifted his upper body in the sitting position. MRI revealed posterior intervertebral disc protrusion in the right paramedian region at the 9th/10th thoracic vertebrae. With the treatment, it is reported that traction is the appropriate initial approach for spine radiculopathy. Improvement with upper body traction performed in this case, which is a previously unreported maneuver, appears to be useful for diagnosis because it eliminates the influence of gravity and reduces intradiscal pressure.
Gastric xanthoma is correlated with early gastric cancer of previously Helicobacter pylori‐infected gastric mucosa
Authors: Shibukawa Narihiro , Ouchi Shohei , Wakamatsu Shuji , Wakahara Yuhei , Kaneko Akira
Published: December 2020

Background and Aim

Successful Helicobacter pylori eradication has been shown to prevent the development of gastric cancer (GC), but clinical evidence for factors that correlate with GC of previously H. pylori‐infected gastric mucosa (after eradication or natural disappearance) is limited. The purpose of our study was to identify these correlative factors.

Methods

We retrospectively examined data from patients with previously H. pylori‐infected gastric mucosa. Data from 168 patients who developed early GC and underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection (Group C) and 835 patients with no history of early GC (Group NC) were compared. We extracted data on gender; age; complications from malignant disease and diabetes mellitus; American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification; and endoscopic characteristics of atrophy (open type), intestinal metaplasia, and gastric xanthoma (GX). Correlations were determined with multivariate logistic regression analysis and propensity score matching.

Results

A significantly higher proportion of patients had GX in Group C than in Group NC. Age, male gender, ASA physical status classification of class III or higher, complications from malignant disease, atrophy (open type), and the presence of intestinal metaplasia and GX were identified as factors that correlated independently with GC (odds ratio = 3.65; 95% confidence interval = 2.37–5.61; P < 0.0001). Propensity score matching demonstrated that the prevalence of GC was also significantly higher in patients who were positive for GX (37.2% vs 18.3%; P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

GX was shown to correlate with early GC of previously H. pylori‐infected gastric mucosa.
Epidemiology and precision of SARS‐CoV‐2 detection following lockdown and relaxation measures
Authors: Leuzinger Karoline , Gosert Rainer , Søgaard Kirstine K. , Naegele Klaudia , Bielicki Julia , Roloff Tim , Bingisser Roland , Nickel Christian H. , Khanna Nina , Sutter Sarah Tschudin , Widmer Andreas F. , Rentsch Katharina , Pargger Hans , Siegemund Martin , Stolz Daiana , Tamm Michael , Bassetti Stefano , Osthoff Michael , Battegay Manuel , Egli Adrian , Hirsch Hans H.
Published: December 2020

Objectives

Detecting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is key to the clinical and epidemiological assessment of CoVID‐19. We cross‐validated manual and automated high‐throughput testing for SARS‐CoV‐2‐RNA, evaluated SARS‐CoV‐2 loads in nasopharyngeal–oropharyngeal swabs (NOPS), lower respiratory fluids, and plasma, and analyzed detection rates after lockdown and relaxation measures.

Methods

Basel‐S‐gene, Roche‐E‐gene, and Roche‐cobas®6800‐Target1 and Target2 were prospectively validated in 1344 NOPS submitted during the first pandemic peak (Week 13). Follow‐up cohort (FUP) 1, 2, and 3 comprised 10,999, 10,147, and 19,389 NOPS submitted during a 10‐week period until Weeks 23, 33, and 43, respectively.

Results

Concordant results were obtained in 1308 cases (97%), including 97 (9%) SARS‐CoV‐2‐positives showing high quantitative correlations (Spearman's r > .95; p < .001) for all assays and high precision by Bland–Altman analysis. Discordant samples (N = 36, 3%) had significantly lower SARS‐CoV‐2 loads (p < .001). Following lockdown, detection rates declined to <1% in FUP‐1, reducing single‐test positive predictive values from 99.3% to 85.1%. Following relaxation, rates flared up to 4% and 12% in FUP‐2 and ‐3, but infected patients were younger than during lockdown (34 vs. 52 years, p < .001). In 261 patients providing 936 NOPS, SARS‐CoV‐2 loads declined by three orders of magnitude within 10 days postdiagnosis (p < .001). SARS‐CoV‐2 loads in NOPS correlated with those in time‐matched lower respiratory fluids or in plasma but remained detectable in some cases with negative follow‐up NOPS, respectively.

Conclusion

Manual and automated assays significantly correlated qualitatively and quantitatively. Following a successful lockdown, declining positive predictive values require independent dual‐target confirmation for reliable assessment. Confirmatory and quantitative follow‐up testing should be obtained within <5 days and consider lower respiratory fluids in symptomatic patients with SARS‐CoV‐2‐negative NOPS.
Influence of starch fine structure and storage proteins on the eating quality of rice varieties with similar amylose contents
Authors: Zhang Lixia , Zhang Changquan , Yan Ying , Hu Zejun , Wang Kai , Zhou Jihua , Zhou Yong , Cao Liming , Wu Shujun
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND

Rice eating quality largely dictates consumer preference, and the demand for new rice varieties with excellent eating quality from farmers is increasing. Identification of factors contributing to eating quality is helpful for developing high‐quality rice varieties.

RESULTS

Two groups of rice with different apparent amylose content (AACs) were used in this study. One group contained four varieties with low AACs (8.8–9.4%), whereas the other contained four traditional varieties with medium AACs (17.2–17.5%). The physicochemical properties, starch fine structure and crystallinity and storage protein composition of the two groups were analyzed. We found that, in both groups, the rice varieties with high eating quality had more short‐chain amylopectin, lower glutelin and prolamin content, and a higher albumin content. In addition, the low‐AAC varieties produced opaque endosperms, which may result from an increased number of pores in the center of starch granules.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the fine structure of starch and the storage protein composition were closely related to rice eating quality. In both groups, short branch‐chain amylopectin, short‐chain amylopectin [degree of polymerization (DP) 6–12], and albumin had positive effects on eating quality. By contrast, long branch‐chain amylopectin, long‐chain amylopectin (DP 35–60), glutelin and prolamin had adverse effects on eating quality of rice. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Modern aeolian desertification on the Tibetan Plateau under climate change
Authors: Li Jinchang , Yao Qi , Zhou Na , Li Feihong
Published: December 2020

The Tibetan Plateau experienced severe aeolian desertification during the mid‐ and late 20th century, but mitigation of this aeolian desertification has occurred since 2000 despite a warming climate. The causes of aeolian desertiffication and its mitigation have been debated by scientists because of their potentially huge significance for PR China and Asia, as well as for global climate systems. Based on a review of previous studies and our own investigations, it appears that aeolian desertification from the 1970s to 2000 was caused primarily by unsustainable and irrational human activities, and its mitigation since the 2000 was mainly attributable to a warmer and wetter climate, combined with decreasing wind intensity, for the Plateau as a whole. However, the dominant factors for mitigation varied spatially. The Government's ecological protection projects have been implemented in some places with dense population, and played a key role in the mitigation in these places. The Plateau's climate will likely become warmer and wetter in the 21st century based on Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 model simulations. If the simulation results are credible, mitigation of aeolian desertification will continue in the 21st century due to a combination of continuing grazing exclusion and rotational grazing, even without artificial revegetation.
Grafting of Poly(2‐Oxazoline) Side Chains from Polyester Containing Oxazoline Units and Their Blends with Water Soluble Vinyl Polymers
Authors: Fukaya Koki , Takasu Akinori
Published: December 2020

Ternary polycondensation of thiomalic acid (TMA), adipic acid (ADA), and 1,5‐pentanediol (PD) at 80 °C proceeds to give polyester having pendent mercapto groups. After the mercapto groups are consumed quantitatively by a Michael addition with 2‐isopropenyl‐2‐oxazoline (IPOx) to create an initiation point for grafting, successive additions of methyl triflate (MeOTf) and 2‐oxazoline allow ring‐opening polymerization of 2‐oxazoline from the IPOx unit to give a graft copolymer with aMnof 2.2 × 104‐ 3.7 × 104and an molecular dispersity index (Mw/Mn = 1.9–2.6). The synthesized polyester‐based graft copolymer is water‐soluble and forms transparent blend films with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(N‐isopropy acrylamide) (PNIPAM) using solvent cast methods. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements show that blends with PVA (<30% of the graft copolymer) show a singleTgs over the whole composition range. All scans for the blends with PNIPAM have a singleTgs that is between those of the parent polymers indicating that the graft copolymer shows excellent miscibility with PNIPAM, although the parent polyester, poly(TMA‐alt‐PD)‐co‐poly (ADA‐alt‐PD) does not exhibit such miscibility.
Neuromelanin‐Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using DANTE Pulse
Authors: Oshima Sonoko , Fushimi Yasutaka , Okada Tomohisa , Nakajima Satoshi , Yokota Yusuke , Shima Atsushi , Grinstead John , Ahn Sinyeob , Sawamoto Nobukatsu , Takahashi Ryosuke , Nakamoto Yuji
Published: December 2020

Background

Neuromelanin‐sensitive magnetic resonance imaging techniques have been developed but currently require relatively long scan times.

The aim of this study was to assess the ability of black‐blood delay alternating with nutation for tailored excitation‐prepared T1‐weighted variable flip angle turbo spin echo (DANTE T1‐SPACE), which provides relatively high resolution with a short scan time, to visualize neuromelanin in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc).

Methods

Participants comprised 49 healthy controls and 25 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Contrast ratios of SNpc and hyperintense SNpc areas, which show pixels brighter than thresholds, were assessed between DANTE T1‐SPACE and T1‐SPACE in healthy controls. To evaluate the diagnostic ability of DANTE T1‐SPACE, the contrast ratios and hyperintense areas were compared between healthy and PD groups, and receiver operating characteristic analyses were performed. We also compared areas under the curve (AUCs) between DANTE T1‐SPACE and the previously reported gradient echo neuromelanin (GRE‐NM) imaging. Each analysis was performed using original images in native space and images transformed into Montreal Neurological Institute space. Values of P < 0.05 were considered significant.

Results

DANTE T1‐SPACE showed significantly higher contrast ratios and larger hyperintense areas than T1‐SPACE. On DANTE T1‐SPACE, healthy controls showed significantly higher contrast ratios and larger hyperintense areas than patients with PD. Hyperintense areas in native space analysis achieved the best AUC (0.94). DANTE T1‐SPACE showed AUCs as high as those of GRE‐NM.

Conclusions

DANTE T1‐SPACE successfully visualized neuromelanin of the SNpc and showed potential for evaluating PD. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society

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Metal oxide‐based gas sensors for the detection of exhaled breath markers
Authors: Vajhadin Fereshteh , Mazloum‐Ardakani Mohammad , Amini Abbas
Published: December 2020

Exhaled breath test is a typical disease monitoring method for replacing blood and urine samples that may create discomfort for patients. To monitor exhaled breath markers, gas biomedical sensors have undergone rapid progress for non‐invasive and point‐of‐care diagnostic devices. Among gas sensors, metal oxide‐based biomedical gas sensors have received remarkable attention owing to their unique properties, such as high sensitivity, simple fabrication, miniaturization, portability and real‐time monitoring. Herein, we reviewed the recent advances in chemoresistive metal oxide‐based gas sensors with ZnO, SnO2 and In2O3 as sensing materials for monitoring a range of exhaled breath markers (i.e., NO, H2, H2S, acetone, isoprene and formaldehyde). We focused on the strategies that improve the sensitivity and selectivity of metal oxide‐based gas sensors. The challenges to fabricate a functional gas sensor with high sensing performance along with suggestions are outlined.
Multiple rogue wave, lump‐periodic, lump‐soliton, and interaction betweenk‐lump andk‐stripe soliton solutions for the generalized KP equation
Authors: Zhao Jin , Manafian Jalil , Zaya Neven E. , Mohammed Sizar Abid
Published: December 2020

The multiple rogue wave solutions technique is engaged to seek the multifold soliton solutions for the generalized (2 + 1)‐dimensional Kadomtsev–Petviashvili (gKP) equation, which contains one wave, two waves, and triple waves solutions. The second‐order derivative will be perused to get the minimum or maximum amount of lump solution. For one case, the lump solution will be shown the bright‐dark lump structure, and for another case, the dark lump structure two small peaks and one deep hole can be present. Also, the interaction of lump with periodic waves and the interaction between the lump and two stripe solitons can be catched by introducing the Hirota forms. Simultaneously, the interaction betweenk‐lump andk‐stripe soliton wave solutions can be gained by the Hirota operator. The physical phenomena of these gained multiple soliton solutions are analyzed and indicated in diagrams by choosing proper amounts.