bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution, challenges, and application of intelligent ICT education: An overview
Authors: Haldorai Anandakumar , Murugan Suriya , Ramu Arulmurugan
Published: February 2020

Artificial intelligence (AI) aims at critically transforming the information and communication technology (ICT) sector through various technological advancements, such as machine learning, deep learning, and natural language processing. These technologies are meant to develop the process of communication, digital commerce, content, and apps. AI is also meant to initiate novel business frameworks and formulate a completely novel business opportunity as efficiencies and interfaces facilitate the engagement, which has been heretofore unintelligible. A number of industry verticals will be changed through this form of evolution, as digital and ICT technologies are critical in supporting the various aspects of industrial operations, which include sales, marketing processes, supply chains, product and service delivery, and support frameworks. For instance, substantial implication of the frameworks can be witnessed in medical and bioinformatics, including the financial service segments. Workforce automation is a field that will influence various industrial verticals, as AI significantly develops the flow of work, accelerations, and processes of the return on investment for intelligent workplace application. This paper signifies the role of AI in ICT education, including the way intelligent ICT education has significantly developed its application and challenges.
Significance of examined lymph nodes number and metastatic lymph nodes ratio in overall survival and adjuvant treatment decision in resected laryngeal carcinoma
Authors: Zhu Xiaoke , Zhao Min , Zhou Liang , Zhang Ming , Cao Pengyu , Tao Lei
Published: February 2020

Objective

The value of adjuvant therapy in resected laryngeal cancer remains controversial. This large SEER‐based cohort study aimed to investigate the existing parameters of lymph node status that could predict survival outcomes and the prognostic value of adjuvant treatment in resected laryngeal carcinoma.

Methods

Population‐based data from the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER‐18) Program on patients after laryngectomy and lymphadenectomy (2004‐2015) were analyzed. The optimal cut‐off values for examined lymph nodes number (ELNs) and metastatic lymph nodes ratio (MLNR) were determined using the X‐tile program. Associations of ELNs and MLNR with overall survival were investigated through Cox regression analysis. A survival‐predicting model was then constructed to stratified patients. The prognostic value of adjuvant therapy was evaluated in different subgroups.

Results

A total of 2122 patients with resected laryngeal cancer were analyzed. A novel survival‐predicting model was proposed based on ELNs, MLNR, and other clinicopathological characteristics. Patients were stratified into three subgroups with the increasing risk of death. Only patients in the high‐risk group who receiving adjuvant treatment had a significantly better survival outcome than those receiving surgery alone.

Conclusion

A new survival‐predicting model was established in this study, which was superior in assessing the survival outcomes of patients with resected laryngeal cancer. Notably, this model was also able to assist in the decision making of adjuvant therapy for patients and physicians.
Two Phytotoxins Isolated from the Pathogenic Fungus of the Invasive Weed Xanthium italicum
Authors: Tang Jieshi , Huang Ling , Liu Yu , Toshmatov Zokir , Zhang Chi , Shao Hua
Published: February 2020

Alternariol and altenuisol were isolated as the major phytotoxins produced by an Alternaria sp. pathogenic fungus of the invasive weed Xanthium italicum. Altenuisol exhibited stronger phytotoxic effect compared with alternariol. At 10 μg/mL, alternariol and altenuisol promoted root growth of the monocot plant Pennisetum alopecuroides by 11.1 % and 75.2 %, respectively, however, inhibitory activity was triggered by the increase of concentration, with root elongation being suppressed by 35.5 % and 52.0 % with alternariol and altenuisol at 1000 μg/mL, respectively. Alternariol slightly inhibited root length of the dicot plant Medicago sativa at 10–1000 μg/mL, whereas altenuisol stimulated root growth by 51.0 % at 10 μg/mL and inhibited root length by 43.4 % at 200 μg/mL. Alternariol and altenuisol did not exert strong regulatory activity on another dicot plant, Amaranthus retroflexus, when tested concentration was low, however, when the concentration reached 1000 μg/mL, they reduced root length by 68.1 % and 51.0 %, respectively. Alternariol and altenuisol exerted similar effect on shoot growth of three tested plants but to a lesser extent. It is noteworthy to mention that this is the first report on the phytotoxicity of altenuisol.
A first case report of hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia from Oman
Authors: Al‐Araimi Musallam , Hamza Nishath , Al Hosni Aliya , Al Mazrooey Hiba
Published: February 2020

This is a first case report of a patient with hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia from Oman, who was found to carry a mutation in the EDAR gene after candidate gene selection based on regions of homozygosity in his genome.
An unusual neurological manifestation of granulomatosis with polyangiitis: A case report and literature review
Authors: Tarte Nikhil N. , Ceruti Ronald , Tati Vasudev
Published: February 2020

Ischemic stroke is an incredibly rare manifestation of granulomatosis with polyangiitis. It is important for the clinician to be aware of this unusual complication so that efforts can be made to reduce the risk of this event.
Use of intravenous lipid therapy in a cat with carprofen overdose
Authors: Chumbler Nathan S. , Schildt Julie C. , Mawby Diane I. , Papich Mark G.
Published: February 2020

Intravenous lipid emulsion (ILE) was administered to a cat with no adverse effects. This case report postulates that ILE can be used for the treatment of carprofen toxicity in cats and supports the lipid sink theory as the main mechanism of action.
Single Particle Assays to Determine Heterogeneities within Fluid Catalytic Cracking Catalysts
Authors: Nieuwelink Anne‐Eva , Velthoen Marjolein E. Z. , Nederstigt Yoni C. M. , Jagtenberg Kristel L. , Meirer Florian , Weckhuysen Bert M.
Published: February 2020

Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) is an important process in oil refinery industry to produce gasoline and propylene. Due to harsh reaction conditions, FCC catalysts are subject to deactivation through for example, metal accumulation and zeolite framework collapse. Here, we perform a screening of the influence of metal poisons on the acidity and accessibility of an industrial FCC catalyst material using laboratory‐based single particle characterization that is, μ‐XRF and fluorescence microscopy in combination with probe molecules. These methods have been performed on density‐separated FCC catalyst fractions, allowing to determine interparticle heterogeneities in the catalyst under study. It was found that with increasing catalyst density and metal content, the acidity and accessibility of the catalyst particles decreased, while their distribution narrowed with catalyst age. For example, particles containing high Ni level possessed very low acidity and were hardly accessible by a Nile Blue dye. Single catalyst particle mapping identifies minority species like the presence of a phosphated zeolite ZSM‐5‐containing FCC additive for selective propylene formation, catalyst particles without any zeolite phase and catalyst particles, which act as a trap for SOx.
Keggin‐Type Polyoxometalate‐Based ZIF‐67 for Enhanced Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation
Authors: Li Xiao‐Hong , He Peng , Wang Ting , Zhang Xiao‐Wen , Chen Wei‐Lin , Li Yang‐Guang
Published: February 2020

The photocatalytic reduction of N2 to NH3 is considered a promising strategy to alleviate human need for accessible nitrogen and environmental pollution, for which developing a photocatalyst is an effective method to complete the transformation of this process. We firstly design a series of highly efficient and stable polyoxometalates (POMs)‐based zeolitic imidazolate framework‐67 (ZIF‐67) photocatalysts for N2 reduction. ZIF‐67 can effectively fix N2 owing to its porosity. Integration of POMs cluster contributes enormous advantages in terms of broadening the absorption spectrum to improve sunlight utilization, enhance the stability of the materials, effectively inhibit the recombination of photo‐generated electron–hole pairs, and reduce charge‐transfer impedance. POMs can absorb light to convert into reduced POMs, which have stronger reducing ability to provide ample electrons to reduce N2. The reduced POMs can recover their oxidation state through contact with an oxidant, which forms a self‐recoverable and recyclable photocatalytic fixing N2 system. The photocatalytic activity enhances with the increasing number V substitutions in the POMs. Satisfactorily, ZIF‐67@K11[PMo4V8O40] (PMo4V8) displays the most significant photocatalytic N2 activity with a NH3 yield of 149.0 μmol L−1 h−1, which is improved by 83.5 % (ZIF‐67) and 78.9 % (PMo4V8). The introduction of POMs provides new insights for the design of high‐performance photocatalyst nanomaterials to reduce N2.
Crop raiders in an ecological trap: optimal foraging individual‐based modeling quantifies the effect of alternate crops
Authors: Simon Ricardo Nouailhetas , Fortin Daniel
Published: February 2020

Crop raiding is an increasing source of human–wildlife conflict that antagonizes humans and can lead to heightened killing of wildlife. Attraction to crops can trigger ecological traps, where animals prefer areas of their range that confer relatively low fitness. Food can be used to draw animals away from problematic areas, but an alternative considered less often is to replace high‐quality food with poorer alternatives. In any case, managers often have no means of anticipating by how much such interventions should impact animal use of space. Optimal foraging theory predicts that foragers optimizing their diet should choose food items according to their relative profitability (i.e., digestible energy/ handling time), a theoretical prediction that can orient management actions. Accordingly, we developed an individual‐based model (IBM) simulating movement through empirical rules under an optimal foraging framework. Our objective was to quantify the effect size of cultivating alternate crops to reduce crop raiding and the associated human‐induced mortality driving an ecological trap for an energy maximizer, plains bison (Bison bison bison). Results showed that almost tripling the area of cultivation of crops of lower profitability (from 24.3% of the bison range outside the protected area in one management scenario to 70.3% in another) only led to a 25% additional decrease in the intensity of crop raiding (from a decrease of 40% in the first scenario to a decrease of 65% in the second). This suggests that localized interventions in the landscape are likely to have a stronger impact in mitigating crop raiding than broad actions ignoring spatial patterns in food distribution. However, we obtained no significant reduction in the number of simulated bison being harvested in the first scenario, and only a small reduction in the second, when the intervention was spatially broad. Our individual‐based approach to animal movement informed by optimal foraging demonstrates that linking landscape configuration to mortality rates can help managers anticipate the effectiveness of manipulating food to keep animals away from problematic zones. Yet disarming ecological traps driven by human hunting appears to be a much more challenging undertaking.
Recruiting participants to an Internet‐based eating disorder prevention trial: Impact of the recruitment strategy on symptom severity and program utilization
Authors: Vollert Bianka , von Bloh Paula , Eiterich Nadine , Beintner Ina , Hütter Kristian , Taylor Craig Barr , Jacobi Corinna
Published: February 2020

Objective

Using data from a randomized controlled trial, we examined two different strategies to recruit participants for an indicated preventive intervention (StudentBodies‐AN) for women at risk for anorexia nervosa and compared symptom severity and program utilization in participants recruited through each strategy.

Method

We recruited participants by announcing the study (a) in lectures at universities and handing out screening questionnaires (face‐to‐face recruitment) and (b) through different media channels, and the participants completed the screening questionnaire on our study website (media‐based recruitment). We compared symptom severity and program utilization between the two groups.

Results

A total of 4,646 women (face‐to‐face: 3,741, media‐based: 905) were screened and 168 women (face‐to‐face: 114, media‐based: 54) were randomized to the intervention. We found a statistically and clinically significant association between recruitment strategy and symptom severity: Participants who were recruited through media were more likely to fulfill the inclusion criteria (40.6% vs. 13.3%; p < .001) and endorsed significantly more frequently core behaviors and attitudes of disordered eating (EDE global score: 2.72 vs. 2.17, p < .05; Weight Concerns Scale [WCS] score: 66.05 vs. 56.40, p < .05) at baseline than participants recruited face‐to‐face. Also, participants recruited through media were more likely to log onto the program (χ2 = 5.06; p = .029) and accessed more of the intervention.

Discussion

Recruitment through media seems both more feasible and suitable to reach individuals in need of indicative prevention, and should be part of a multimodal recruitment package. Future studies should be explicitly designed to investigate the impact of recruitment modality on reach and effectiveness including cost‐effectiveness analyses.
Avoidance coping during mealtimes predicts higher eating disorder symptoms
Authors: Vanzhula Irina A. , Sala Margarita , Christian Caroline , Hunt Rowan A. , Keshishian Ani C. , Wong Valerie Z. , Ernst Sarah , Spoor Samantha P. , Levinson Cheri A.
Published: February 2020

Objective

Eating disorders (EDs) are characterized by significant anxiety during mealtime that contributes to food avoidance and weight loss. Individuals with EDs commonly use avoidance coping (e.g., distraction) to tolerate meals and comply with meal plans. Although this strategy may be effective short term, a large body of anxiety literature suggests that avoidance can lead to worsening of psychological symptoms long term.

Method

The current study (N = 66 individuals diagnosed with ED) used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine the short‐term and long‐term associations of avoidance coping on ED symptoms.

Results

Distraction during meals predicted a reduction in anxiety in the short term, and both distraction and avoidance of emotions predicted increases in excessive exercise in the short term. Distraction and avoidance of emotions predicted increases in bulimic symptoms 1 month after completion of EMA.

Discussion

These results are consistent with prior literature on avoidance and suggest that avoidance coping during meals may contribute to the increase of ED behaviors in the long term. Coping strategies that encourage approach and tolerance of difficult thoughts and emotions (e.g., acceptance‐based strategies) rather that avoidance coping may promote longer‐term symptom reduction.
Mass–abundance scaling in avian communities is maintained after tropical selective logging
Authors: Cosset Cindy C. P. , Gilroy James J. , Srinivasan Umesh , Hethcoat Matthew G. , Edwards David P.
Published: February 2020

Selective logging dominates forested landscapes across the tropics. Despite the structural damage incurred, selectively logged forests typically retain more biodiversity than other forest disturbances. Most logging impact studies consider conventional metrics, like species richness, but these can conceal subtle biodiversity impacts. The mass–abundance relationship is an integral feature of ecological communities, describing the negative relationship between body mass and population abundance, where, in a system without anthropogenic influence, larger species are less abundant due to higher energy requirements. Changes in this relationship can indicate community structure and function changes.

We investigated the impacts of selective logging on the mass–abundance scaling of avian communities by conducting a meta‐analysis to examine its pantropical trend. We divide our analysis between studies using mist netting, sampling the understory avian community, and point counts, sampling the entire community.

Across 19 mist‐netting studies, we found no consistent effects of selective logging on mass–abundance scaling relative to primary forests, except for the omnivore guild where there were fewer larger‐bodied species after logging. In eleven point‐count studies, we found a more negative relationship in the whole community after logging, likely driven by the frugivore guild, showing a similar pattern.

Limited effects of logging on mass–abundance scaling may suggest high species turnover in logged communities, with like‐for‐like replacement of lost species with similar‐sized species. The increased negative mass–abundance relationship found in some logged communities could result from resource depletion, density compensation, or increased hunting; potentially indicating downstream impacts on ecosystem functions.

Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that size distributions of avian communities in logged forests are relatively robust to disturbance, potentially maintaining ecosystem processes in these forests, thus underscoring the high conservation value of logged tropical forests, indicating an urgent need to focus on their protection from further degradation and deforestation.
Incorporating fish habitat requirements of the complete life cycle into ecological flow regime estimation of rivers
Authors: Wang Li , Chen Qiuwen , Zhang Jianyun , Xia Jun , Mo Kangle , Wang Jun
Published: February 2020

Maintenance of ecological flow regime for aquatic biota is essential to river ecosystem health. To estimate ecological flow, habitat simulation methods have been widely applied because of their combination of hydrological regime and species hydraulic preference. However, few methods are available to provide a flow regime that varies over time due to time‐specific habitat requirements from different target species or from one target species at its different life stages. This paper described a novel approach for evaluating the ecological flow regime that was a time series of discharge considering different life stages of target species. First, an ecohydraulic model that combined multivariable habitat suitability curve of target species with a hydraulic module was developed to establish the relationship between habitat status and hydrological conditions. Then, the habitat connectivity index was adopted to assess the spatial patterns of habitat patches. Finally, the ecological flow regime considering the complete life cycle of target species was derived. The developed approach was applied to the middle reach of Huaihe River, where the flow is highly regulated by dams and sluices. The Chinese bream (Parabramis pekinensis) was chosen as the target species for ecological flow calculation. The ecological flow regime in the Lutaizi was provided for the river management. The study provided a promising method to support ecological friendly operations of hydraulic structures for river ecosystem restoration and management.
Similar composition of functional roles in Andean seed‐dispersal networks, despite high species and interaction turnover
Authors: Dehling D. Matthias , Peralta Guadalupe , Bender Irene M. A. , Blendinger Pedro G. , Böhning‐Gaese Katrin , Muñoz Marcia C. , Neuschulz Eike Lena , Quitián Marta , Saavedra Francisco , Santillán Vinicio , Schleuning Matthias , Stouffer Daniel B.
Published: February 2020

The species composition of local communities varies in space, and its similarity generally decreases with increasing geographic distance between communities, a phenomenon known as distance decay of similarity. It is, however, not known how changes in local species composition affect ecological processes, that is, whether they lead to differences in the local composition of species' functional roles. We studied eight seed‐dispersal networks along the South American Andes and compared them with regard to their species composition and their composition of functional roles. We tested (1) if changes in bird species composition lead to changes in the composition of bird functional roles, and (2) if the similarity in species composition and functional‐role composition decreased with increasing geographic distance between the networks. We also used cluster analysis to (3) identify bird species with similar roles across all networks based on the similarity in the plants they consume, (i) considering only the species identity of the plants and (ii) considering the functional traits of the plants. Despite strong changes in species composition, the networks along the Andes showed similar composition of functional roles. (1) Changes in species composition generally did not lead to changes in the composition of functional roles. (2) Similarity in species composition, but not functional‐role composition, decreased with increasing geographic distance between the networks. (3) The cluster analysis considering the functional traits of plants identified bird species with similar functional roles across all networks. The similarity in functional roles despite the high species turnover suggests that the ecological process of seed dispersal is organized similarly along the Andes, with similar functional roles fulfilled locally by different sets of species. The high species turnover, relative to functional turnover, also indicates that a large number of bird species are needed to maintain the seed‐dispersal process along the Andes.
Abiotic factors and plant biomass, not plant diversity, strongly shape grassland arthropods under drought conditions
Authors: Prather Rebecca M. , Castillioni Karen , Welti Ellen A.R. , Kaspari Michael , Souza Lara
Published: February 2020

Arthropod abundance and diversity often track plant biomass and diversity at the local scale. However, under altered precipitation regimes and anthropogenic disturbances, plant–arthropod relationships are expected to be increasingly controlled by abiotic, rather than biotic, factors. We used an experimental precipitation gradient combined with human management in a temperate mixed‐grass prairie to examine (1) how two drivers, altered precipitation and biomass removal, can synergistically affect abiotic factors and plant communities and (2) how these effects can cascade upward, impacting the arthropod food web. Both drought and hay harvest increased soil surface temperature, and drought decreased soil moisture. Arthropod abundance decreased with low soil moisture and, contrary to our predictions, decreased with increased plant biomass. Arthropod diversity increased with soil moisture, decreased with high surface temperatures, and tracked arthropod abundance but was unaffected by plant diversity or quality. Our experiment demonstrates that arthropod abundance is directly constrained by abiotic factors and plant biomass, in turn constraining local arthropod diversity. If robust, this result suggests climate change in the southern Great Plains may directly reduce arthropod diversity.
Natural population variability may be masking the more‐individuals hypothesis
Authors: Vagle Grant L. , McCain Christy M.
Published: February 2020

Species richness and productivity are correlated at global and regional scales, but the mechanisms linking them are inconclusive. The most commonly invoked mechanism, the more‐individuals hypothesis (MIH), hypothesizes that increased productivity leads to increased food resource availability, which leads to an increased number of individuals supporting more species. Empirical evidence for the MIH remains mixed despite a substantial literature. Here we used simulations to determine whether interannual population variability could be masking a “true” MIH relationship. In each simulation, fixed linear relationships between productivity, richness, and 50‐yr average abundance mimicked the MIH mechanism. Abundance was allowed to vary annually and sampled for 1–40 yr. Linear regressions of richness on sampled abundance assessed the probability of detecting the fixed MIH relationship. Medium to high population variability with short‐term sampling (1–3 yr) led to poor detection of the fixed MIH relationship. Notably, this level of sampling and population variability describes nearly all MIH studies to date. Long‐term sampling (5+ yr) led to improved detection of the fixed relationship; thus it is necessary to detect support for the MIH reliably. Such sampling duration is nonexistent in the MIH literature. Robust future studies of the MIH necessitate consideration of interannual population variability.
Prolonged glucosuria and relapse of diabetic ketoacidosis related to SGLT2‐inhibitor therapy
Authors: Westcott Gregory P. , Segal Alissa R. , Mitri Joanna , Brown Florence M.
Published: February 2020

SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are glucose‐lowering medications which increase the renal threshold for glucose reabsorption and promote glucosuria. Treatment with these agents raises serum ketone levels, and cases of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) during therapy have been reported. The duration of glucosuria and inpatient course of SGLT2i‐related DKA, however, is not well‐characterized. We report 11 inpatient cases of SGLT2i‐related DKA, including a subset of patients who experienced prolonged glucosuria and relapse of DKA during their hospitalization.
Improved Mycobacterium tuberculosis clearance after the restoration of IFN‐γ+TNF‐α+CD4+T cells: Impact of PD‐1 inhibition in active tuberculosis patients
Authors: Kamboj Divya , Gupta Pushpa , Basil Mandira Varma , Mohan Anant , Guleria Randeep , Bhatnagar Anuj , Mehta Girija , Kumar Prabin , Saurabh Abhinav , Deepak Rakesh , Thakral Deepshi , Misra Pragya , Tandon Rati , Gupta Umesh D , Mitra Dipendra Kumar
Published: February 2020

Prolonged therapy, drug toxicity, noncompliance, immune suppression, and alarming emergence of drug resistance necessitate the search for therapeutic vaccine strategies for tuberculosis (TB). Such strategies ought to elicit not only IFN‐γ, but polyfunctional response including TNF‐α, which is essential for protective granuloma formation. Here, we investigated the impact of PD‐1 inhibition in facilitating protective polyfunctional T cells (PFTs), bacillary clearance, and disease resolution. We have observed PD‐1 inhibition preferentially rescued the suppressed PFTs in active tuberculosis patients. In addition, polyfunctional cytokine milieu favored apoptosis of infected MDMs over necrosis with markedly reduced bacillary growth (≪CFU) in our in vitro monocyte‐derived macrophages (MDMs) infection model. Furthermore, the animal study revealed a significant decline in the bacterial burden in the lungs and spleen of infected mice after in vivo administration of α‐PD‐1 along with antitubercular treatment. Our findings suggest that rescuing polyfunctional immune response by PD‐1 inhibition works synergistically with antituberculosis chemotherapy to confer improved control over bacillary growth and dissemination. In summary, our data strongly indicate the therapeutic potential of α‐PD‐1 as adjunct immunotherapy that can rejuvenate suppressed host immunity and enhance the efficacy of candidate therapeutic vaccine(s).
Human T cells employ conserved AU‐rich elements to fine‐tune IFN‐γ production
Authors: Freen‐van Heeren Julian J. , Popović Branka , Guislain Aurélie , Wolkers Monika C.
Published: February 2020

Long‐lasting CD8+ T cell responses are critical in combatting infections and tumors. The pro‐inflammatory cytokine IFN‐γ is a key effector molecule herein. We recently showed that in murine T cells the production of IFN‐γ is tightly regulated through adenylate uridylate–rich elements (AREs) that are located in the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of the Ifng mRNA molecule. Loss of AREs resulted in prolonged cytokine production in activated T cells and boosted anti‐tumoral T cell responses. Here, we investigated whether these findings can be translated to primary human T cells. Utilizing CRISPR‐Cas9 technology, we deleted the ARE region from the IFNG 3′ UTR in peripheral blood‐derived human T cells. Loss of AREs stabilized the IFNG mRNA in T cells and supported a higher proportion of IFN‐γ protein‐producing T cells. Importantly, combining MART‐1 T cell receptor engineering with ARE‐Del gene editing showed that this was also true for antigen‐specific activation of T cells. MART‐1‐specific ARE‐Del T cells showed higher percentages of IFN‐γ producing T cells in response to MART‐1 expressing tumor cells. Combined, our study reveals that ARE‐mediated posttranscriptional regulation is conserved between murine and human T cells. Furthermore, generating antigen‐specific ARE‐Del T cells is feasible, a feature that could potentially be used for therapeutical purposes.
Stability characteristics of a fractured high roof under nonpillar mining with an automatically formed roadway by using a visualized discrimination approach
Authors: Wang Yajun , Liu Jianning , Yang Jun , Wang Qi , Huang Ruifeng , Tian Xichun , He Manchao
Published: February 2020

Nonpillar mining (NPM) with an automatically formed roadway is an emerging mining technology that does not use coal pillar retention and drivage. This technology can be used to actively control the caving height of the roof by directional cutting technology and can promote the rapid equilibrium of a fractured high roof under the support of the caved gangue. Therefore, when analyzing the stability of a high roof under NPM, not only the interaction force of the fractured rock blocks but also the effects of the support provided by the gangue, and the coal body should be considered. In addition, if necessary, the roof support in the roadway should also be considered. Based on this idea, in this paper, we analyzed the stability characteristics of a fractured high roof and suggested the stability conditions of the fractured rock of a high roof, including actual stability, pseudostability, and instability and provided the criteria for determining these three stability conditions. Furthermore, a visualized approach for the determination of roof stability was proposed. The core idea of the proposed approach is to transform the parameters that cannot be measured in the abovementioned conditions into visualized data that can be directly or indirectly obtained in the field, allowing for the detection and occasional assessment of the stability condition of the fractured rock of a high roof. This visualized determination approach can be used to assess the roof stability condition in a timely manner during the production process and to ensure production safety. The abovementioned research results were successfully used in the S1201‐II mining face of the Ningtiaota Coal Mine, indicating that the proposed approach is feasible and can be used under similar conditions.
Assessing patient‐reported symptom burden of long‐term head and neck cancer survivors at annual surveillance in survivorship clinic
Authors: Townes Thomas G. , Navuluri Sriram , Pytynia Kristen B. , Gunn Gary Brandon , Kamal Mona J. , Gilmore Katherine R. , Chapman Patricia H. , Bell Katherine V. , Fournier Danielle M. , Janik Monica A. , Joseph Liza M. , Zendehdel Sara , Hutcheson Katherine A. , Goepfert Ryan P.
Published: February 2020

Background

This study reports long‐term head and neck cancer (HNC) patient‐reported symptoms using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory Head and Neck Cancer Module (MDASI‐HN) in a large cohort of HNC survivors.

Methods

MDASI‐HN results were prospectively collected from an institutional survivorship database. Associations with clinicopathologic data were analyzed using χ2, Mann‐Whitney, and univariate regression.

Results

Nine hundred and twenty‐eight patients were included. Forty‐six percent had oropharyngeal primary tumors. Eighty‐two percent had squamous cell carcinoma. Fifty‐six percent of patients had ablative surgery and 81% had radiation therapy as a component of treatment. The most severe symptoms were xerostomia and dysphagia. Symptom scores were worst for hypopharynx and varied by subsite. Patients treated with chemoradiation or surgery followed by radiation ± chemotherapy reported the worst symptoms while patient treated with surgery plus radiation ± chemotherapy reported the worst interference.

Conclusion

HNC survivors describe their long‐term symptom burden and inform efforts to improve care many years into survivorship.
Assessing multidimensional care coverage for pre‐eclampsia in the era of universal health coverage: A pre–post evaluation of the Salud Mesoamérica Initiative
Authors: Kamath Aruna M. , Johanns Casey K. , Thom Maximillian G. , Cogen Rebecca M. , Rios‐Zertuche Diego , Mokdad Ali H. , Hernández Bernardo
Published: February 2020

Objective

To compare a multidimensional care package for pre‐eclampsia/eclampsia in Central American health facilities, before and after implementation of the Salud Mesoamérica Initiative.

Methods

An evaluation study was conducted at 67 basic‐ and comprehensive‐level health facilities serving the poorest areas in Honduras, Nicaragua, and Belize. Cases of severe pre‐eclampsia or eclampsia were randomly sampled and relevant quality of care data extracted from medical records at baseline (n=111) from January 1, 2011, to March 31, 2013, and at second‐phase follow‐up (n=249) from June 1, 2015, to September 30, 2017. The primary outcome was evidence of the delivery of multidimensional care for the management of pre‐eclampsia/eclampsia.

Results

The care of 360 women with severe pre‐eclampsia or eclampsia was analyzed. Odds of multidimensional care for pre‐eclampsia management (P=0.271) increased (although not significantly) in the second‐phase follow‐up compared to baseline. Multidimensional care was significantly associated with training (P<0.001), basic‐level facilities (P<0.001), and higher in Honduras (P=0.001) and Belize (P=0.024) than the reference country of Nicaragua.

Conclusion

Multidimensional care for pre‐eclampsia management increased across all facility types, countries, and severity of disease. The Salud Mesoamérica Initiative is a promising model for achieving such quality of care interventions in the era of universal health coverage.
Experimental observation of coupled valley and spin Hall effect in p‐doped WSe2 devices
Authors: Hung Terry Y. T. , Rustagi Avinash , Zhang Shengjiao , Upadhyaya Pramey , Chen Zhihong
Published: February 2020

It is generally accepted that perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) magnets are preferred over in‐plane magnetic anisotropy (IMA) magnets in data storage applications owing to their large thermal stability even at ultra‐scaled dimensions. To efficiently and deterministically switch a PMA, out‐of‐plan spin current is required. However, conventional giant spin Hall effect (GSHE) materials only produce spin currents with in‐plane polarization. Our work, on the other hand, demonstrated for the first time that out‐of‐plane spin currents can indeed be generated by applying electric filed to monolayer WSe2 at room temperature and the spin information was detected by a graphene channel. Supported by theoretical calculations, we found that the interfacial polarization between graphene and WSe2 to be ~38% assuming the ferromagnetic detector's polarization efficiency to be ~4%. Moreover, the spin polarization is determined by the polarity of the applied electric field.

image
Review and construction of interatomic potentials for molecular dynamics studies of hydrogen embrittlement in Fe─C based steels
Authors: Zhou Xiaowang , Foster Michael E. , Ronevich Joseph A. , San Marchi Christopher W.
Published: February 2020

Reducing hydrogen embrittlement in the low‐cost Fe─C based steels have the potential to significantly impact the development of hydrogen energy technologies. Molecular dynamics studies of hydrogen interactions with Fe─C steels provide fundamental information about the behavior of hydrogen at microstructural length scales, although such studies have not been performed due to the lack of an Fe─C─H ternary interatomic potential. In this work, the literature on interatomic potentials related to the Fe─C─H systems are reviewed with the aim of constructing an Fe─C─H potential from the published binary potentials. We found that Fe─C, Fe─H, and C─H bond order potentials exist and can be combined to construct an Fe─C─H ternary potential. Therefore, we constructed two such Fe─C─H potentials and demonstrate that these ternary potentials can reasonably capture hydrogen effects on deformation characteristics and deformation mechanisms for a variety of microstructural variations of the Fe─C steels, including martensite that results from γ to α phase transformation, and pearlite that results from the eutectic formation of the Fe3C cementite compound.
Soybean biodiesel purification through an acid‐system membrane technology: effect of oil quality and separation process parameters
Authors: Moreira Wardleison M , da Igreja Gabriela , Viotti Paula V , Baptista Cristina MSG , Gimenes Marcelino L , Gomes Maria Carolina S , Pereira Nehemias C
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Biodiesel produced from renewable energy sources has gained significant attention in the arena of fuel diversification from fossil sources. However, the conventional treatment to separate biodiesel from glycerol produces large volumes of wastewater, causing environmental concerns. The present study aims to assess ceramic membrane technology for improving biodiesel separation and purification, and overcome the traditional process constraints.

RESULTS

Biodiesel was obtained by ethylic transesterification of crude, degummed and refined soybean oil. The tangential ultrafiltration (α‐Al2O3/TiO2) performance in separating and purifying the produced biodiesel was evaluated based on the glycerol retention capacity and on the permeate flux values. The separation was improved by use of acidified water [0.5% and 1% (m/m)] which promoted the demulsification of the reaction final mixture. In the proposed system, the glycerol was retained, and the biodiesel was the continuous phase. Higher free fatty acid content in the crude and degummed soybean oil, not only favoured the glycerol transfer over the aqueous phase, which was retained by the membrane, but also resulted in the lowest flux decline rates. An increase in the oil acidity reduced the consumption of acidified water. As the pore diameter (0.05 μm and 20 kDa) and the transmembrane pressure (1 and 2 bar) decreased, the glycerol retention increased allowing the system to fulfill commercialization requirements.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study showed that the novel ultrafiltration process is efficient in separating biodiesel from glycerol and reducing wastewater generation when compared with the conventional process. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Carbon and hydrogen isotopes of n‐alkanes in soils reconstructed after mining disturbance
Authors: Paul Alexia , Quideau Sylvie A.
Published: February 2020

Ecosystem reconstruction after mining disturbance is a challenge considering the multitude of factors that affect soil formation and revegetation. In the boreal forest of western Canada, peat material is often used as the organic amendment for land reclamation to upland forest. Carbon and water dynamics of peat‐dominated ecosystems differ from natural upland forest soils. The objective of this work was to evaluate the evolution of soils reconstructed after mining disturbance using 13C and 2H analyses of n‐alkane tracers. Ten soils from natural ecosystems were sampled (0–10 cm) and compared with 11 soils from novel ecosystems ranging in age from 0 to 30 yr, as well as a fresh peat sample. Soils supported different vegetation, including pine (Pinus spp.), aspen (Populus spp.), and white spruce [Picea glauca (Moench) Voss]. Despite overlaps for some individual n‐alkanes, we found a dominance of n‐C25 in reconstructed soils, also dominant in the peat material, and a dominance of n‐C27 in natural soils, one of the dominant n‐alkanes in natural forest vegetation. In addition, there was a significant difference in odd n‐alkane δ2H and δ13C values between natural and reconstructed soils (p < .05). Differences in δ2H values, more negative for reconstructed soils than for natural soils, were attributed to changes in soil moisture, from wetter peat‐dominated soils to drier upland forests; among forest types, δ2H values were most negative under pine vegetation. The δ13C composition of odd n‐alkanes, in particular n‐C27, was significantly related to tree age (p < .05). Overall, both 2H and 13C isotopic signatures of odd n‐alkanes exhibited differences between natural and reconstructed soils. However, within the reconstructed soils, neither isotopic signature showed a clear evolution with age since reclamation.
Effects of mitonuclear combination and thermal acclimation on the energetic phenotype
Authors: Chapdelaine Vincent , Bettinazzi Stefano , Breton Sophie , Angers Bernard
Published: February 2020

Activity of the oxidative phosphorylation complexes rely on intimately associated subunits encoded by the mitochondrial and nuclear genomes. Given the key role of this system in adenosine triphosphate production, genes from both genomes must coevolve. A combination of northern redbelly dace (Chrosomus eos) or finescale dace (C. neogaeus) mitochondrial genome with a C. eos nuclear genome allows for a close examination of a naturally occurring disruption of mitonuclear coevolution. We, therefore, investigated the combined effect of mitonuclear genotypes, acclimation, and temperature on the activity of enzymes linked with the energy metabolism in a sympatric population of wild type and cybrid. As expected, the activity of the nuclear‐encoded citrate synthase was only influenced by temperature while the cytochrome c oxidase (composed of nuclear and mitochondrial subunits from wild type and cybrid individuals) responded differently to temperature. This study provides clear evidence of the extent by which mitonuclear coadaptation could influence aerobic metabolism.
Modelling impact and cost‐effectiveness of oral pre‐exposure prophylaxis in 13 low‐resource countries
Authors: Pretorius Carel , Schnure Melissa , Dent Juan , Glaubius Robert , Mahiane Guy , Hamilton Matthew , Reidy Meghan , Matse Sindy , Njeuhmeli Emmanuel , Castor Delivette , Kripke Katharine
Published: February 2020

Introduction

Oral pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) provision is a priority intervention for high HIV prevalence settings and populations at substantial risk of HIV acquisition. This mathematical modelling analysis estimated the impact, cost and cost‐effectiveness of scaling up oral PrEP in 13 countries.

Methods

We projected the impact and cost‐effectiveness of oral PrEP between 2018 and 2030 using a combination of the Incidence Patterns Model and the Goals model. We created four PrEP rollout scenarios involving three priority populations—female sex workers (FSWs), serodiscordant couples (SDCs) and adolescent girls and young women (AGYW)—both with and without geographic prioritization. We applied the model to 13 countries (Eswatini, Ethiopia, Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe). The base case assumed achievement of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 90‐90‐90 antiretroviral therapy targets, 90% male circumcision coverage by 2020 and 90% efficacy and adherence levels for oral PrEP.

Results

In the scenarios we examined, oral PrEP averted 3% to 8% of HIV infections across the 13 countries between 2018 and 2030. For all but three countries, more than 50% of the HIV infections averted by oral PrEP in the scenarios we examined could be obtained by rollout to FSWs and SDCs alone. For several countries, expanding oral PrEP to include medium‐risk AGYW in all regions greatly increased the impact. The efficiency and impact benefits of geographic prioritization of rollout to AGYW varied across countries. Variations in cost‐effectiveness across countries reflected differences in HIV incidence and expected variations in unit cost. For most countries, rolling out oral PrEP to FSWs, SDCs and geographically prioritized AGYW was not projected to have a substantial impact on the supply chain for antiretroviral drugs.

Conclusions

These modelling results can inform prioritization, target‐setting and other decisions related to oral PrEP scale‐up within combination prevention programmes. We caution against extensive use given limitations in cost data and implementation approaches. This analysis highlights some of the immediate challenges facing countries—for example, trade‐offs between overall impact and cost‐effectiveness—and emphasizes the need to improve data availability and risk assessment tools to help countries make informed decisions.
Iron Sucrose as MRI Contrast Agent in Ischemic Stroke Model
Authors: Wu Shiman , Zhang Hua , Wang Jing , Li Xiaoyan , Gao Xinyi , Fang Ziwei , Qu Jianxun , Wu Yue , Ren Yan , Rui Wenting , Zhang Junhai , Yao Zhenwei
Published: February 2020

Background

Despite the growing concern about the safety of gadolinium‐based contrast agents (GBCAs), they are still the most commonly used. Ferumoxytol, as an off‐label alternative MRI contrast agent, cannot be administered by a rapid bolus for dynamic susceptibility contrast perfusion‐weighted imaging (DSC‐PWI).

Purpose

To assess the feasibility of iron sucrose (IS) as a contrast agent for MR angiography (MRA) and DSC‐PWI.

Study Type

Prospective animal model.

Animal Model

Thirty‐six normal rats (16 for MRA, 20 for biocompability tests) and 36 occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO) model rats.

Field Strength/Sequence

3.0T; head and neck angiography, using a fast spoiled gradient‐recalled‐echo (FSPGR) sequence and DSC‐MRI using echo planar imaging(EPI) sequence.

Assessment

MRA was performed on normal rats to examine the signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) and contrast‐to‐noise ratio (CNR) of different doses of IS. DSC‐PWI was performed on MCAO rats at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours postreperfusion to investigate the lesion detectability of IS. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) and DSC‐PWI enhanced by GBCAs were conducted on MCAO rats as controls.

Statistical Tests

Kruskal–Wallis test was used to compare qualitative assessment. One‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the parametric data. Pearson's r values were evaluated between relative cerebral blood flow(rCBF)‐ASL, rCBF‐DSCIS, and rCBF obtained from DSC‐PWI enhanced by GBCA.

Results

The mean SNR and CNR of the common carotid artery at doses of 10 mg Fe/kg of IS were comparable with the standard dose of GBCAs (SNR: 68.04 ± 12.55 vs. 67.72 ± 14.66; CNR: 23.78 ± 7.21vs. 21.63 ± 6.83). In MCAO rat models, rCBF and relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV) of ipsilateral striatum declined (0.72 ± 0.14, 0.86 ± 0.11) with prolonged relative mean transit time (rMTT) and relative time‐to‐peak (rTTP) (1.27 ± 0.24, 1.07 ± 0.03) following occlusion. Hyperperfusion was observed in all rats at 48 and 72 hours postreperfusion, in 4/6 rats at 24 hours postreperfusion for IS‐mediated DSC‐PWI.

Data Conclusion

IS may be an effective contrast agent for both MRA and DSC‐PWI in ischemic stroke models.

Level of Evidence

1

Technical Efficacy Stage

1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:836–849.