bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A daily end‐to‐end quality assurance workflow for MR‐guided online adaptive radiation therapy on MR‐Linac
Authors: Chen Xinfeng , Ahunbay Ergun , Paulson Eric S. , Chen Guangpei , Li X. Allen
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Magnetic Resonance (MR)‐guided online adaptive radiation therapy (MRgOART), enabled with MR‐Linac, has potential to revolutionize radiation therapy. MRgOART is a complex process. This work is to introduce a comprehensive end‐to‐end quality assurance (QA) workflow in routine clinic for MRgOART with a high‐magnetic‐field MR‐Linac.

Materials and Method

The major components in MRgOART with a high‐magnetic field MR‐Linac (Unity, Elekta) include: (1) a patient record and verification (R&V) system (e.g., Mosaiq, Elekta), (2) a treatment session manager, (3) an offline treatment planning system (TPS), (4) an online adaptive TPS, (5) a 1.5T MRI scanner, (6) an 7MV Linac, (7) an MV imaging controller (MVIC), and (8) ArtQA: software for plan data consistency checking and secondary dose calculation. Our end‐to‐end QA workflow was designed to test the performance and connectivity of all these components by transferring, adapting and delivering a specifically designed five‐beam plan on a phantom. Beams 1–4 were designed to check Multi‐Leaves Collimator (MLC) position shift based on rigid image registration in TPS, while beam 5 was used to check daily radiation output based on image pixel factor of MV image of the field. The workflow is initiated in the R&V system and followed by acquiring and registering daily MRI of the phantom, checking isocenter shift, performing online adaptive replanning, checking plan integrity and secondary 3D dose calculation, delivering the plan while acquiring MV imaging using MVIC, acquiring real‐time images of the phantom, and checking the delivering parameters with ArtQA.

Results

It takes 10 min to finish the entire end‐to‐end QA workflow. The workflow has detected communication problems, permitted resolution prior to setting up patients for MRgOART. Up to 0.9 mm discrepancies in isocenter shift based on the image registration were detected. ArtQA performed the secondary 3D dose calculation, verified the plan integrity as well as the MR‐MV isocenter alignment values in TPS. The MLC shapes of beam 1–4 in all adaptive plans were conformal to the target and agreed with MV images. The variation of daily output was within ±2.0%.

Conclusions

The comprehensive end‐to‐end QA workflow can efficiently check the performance and communication between different components in MRgOART and has been successfully implemented for daily clinical practice.
Self‐Propelled Tags for Protein Detection
Authors: Mayorga‐Martinez Carmen C. , Pumera Martin
Published: December 2019

Protein detection is of tremendous significance for biological and biomedical sciences. Because there is no equivalent of polymerase chain reaction available as a tool for protein detection, researchers must rely on tags to enhance the limits of detection. One of the crucial steps is the actual labeling of proteins, which relies on diffusion of the label, which is very slow, or external mixing of the label and protein is needed. Here, a conceptually new approach is demonstrated: self‐propelled tags that autonomously move in the solution and enhance protein detection. The tags used here are based on IrO2/Pt bilayer microtubules, which can self‐propel and act as moving tags for enhanced protein electrochemical detection. This completely new label‐based protein detection concept using self‐propelled tag will find a wide spectrum of applications.
Antibiotic‐Free Antibacterial Strategies Enabled by Nanomaterials: Progress and Perspectives
Authors: Wang Yue , Yang Yannan , Shi Yiru , Song Hao , Yu Chengzhong
Published: December 2019

Bacterial infection is one of the top ten leading causes of death globally and the worst killer in low‐income countries. The overuse of antibiotics leads to ever‐increasing antibiotic resistance, posing a severe threat to human health. Recent advances in nanotechnology provide new opportunities to address the challenges in bacterial infection by killing germs without using antibiotics. Antibiotic‐free antibacterial strategies enabled by advanced nanomaterials are presented. Nanomaterials are classified on the basis of their mode of action: nanomaterials with intrinsic or light‐mediated bactericidal properties and others that serve as vehicles for the delivery of natural antibacterial compounds. Specific attention is given to antibacterial mechanisms and the structure–performance relationship. Practical antibacterial applications employing these antibiotic‐free strategies are also introduced. Current challenges in this field and future perspectives are presented to stimulate new technologies and their translation to fight against bacterial infection.
Red‐Carbon‐Quantum‐Dot‐Doped SnO2 Composite with Enhanced Electron Mobility for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Hui Wei , Yang Yingguo , Xu Quan , Gu Hao , Feng Shanglei , Su Zhenhuang , Zhang Miaoran , Wang Jiaou , Li Xiaodong , Fang Junfeng , Xia Fei , Xia Yingdong , Chen Yonghua , Gao Xingyu , Huang Wei
Published: December 2019

An efficient electron transport layer (ETL) plays a key role in promoting carrier separation and electron extraction in planar perovskite solar cells (PSCs). An effective composite ETL is fabricated using carboxylic‐acid‐ and hydroxyl‐rich red‐carbon quantum dots (RCQs) to dope low‐temperature solution‐processed SnO2, which dramatically increases its electron mobility by ≈20 times from 9.32 × 10−4 to 1.73 × 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1. The mobility achieved is one of the highest reported electron mobilities for modified SnO2. Fabricated planar PSCs based on this novel SnO2 ETL demonstrate an outstanding improvement in efficiency from 19.15% for PSCs without RCQs up to 22.77% and have enhanced long‐term stability against humidity, preserving over 95% of the initial efficiency after 1000 h under 40–60% humidity at 25 °C. These significant achievements are solely attributed to the excellent electron mobility of the novel ETL, which is also proven to help the passivation of traps/defects at the ETL/perovskite interface and to promote the formation of highly crystallized perovskite, with an enhanced phase purity and uniformity over a large area. These results demonstrate that inexpensive RCQs are simple but excellent additives for producing efficient ETLs in stable high‐performance PSCs as well as other perovskite‐based optoelectronics.
Exhaling‐Driven Hydroelectric Nanogenerators for Stand‐Alone Nonmechanical Breath Analyzing
Authors: Shen Daozhi , Xiao Yu , Zou Guisheng , Liu Lei , Wu Aiping , Xiao Ming , Feng Jiayun , Hui Zhuang , Duley Walter W. , Zhou Y. Norman
Published: December 2019

The analysis of exhaled breath is an increasingly important role in the provision of security and in the management of personal healthcare. The development of self‐powered, reliable, miniature low cost and noninvasive devices is fundamental to practical applications. However, most state‐of‐the‐art self‐powered systems are incorporating mechanical nanogenerators, which would promote contact failures of electronics and limit minimization of the monitoring system. This work outlines a new solution to this problem based on a self‐powered breath analyzer integrated with a hydroelectric nanogenerator (HENG), in which the nanogenerator extracts electrical power from biochemical energy. The output signal from the sensor in this device is highly sensitive to the concentration of ethanol exhaled in breath down to low detection limitation of 50 ppm. A high dynamic range is observed whereby a signal response of ≈80% relative to peak value is obtained under the exposure to gas containing 100 ppm of ethanol. Unlike conventional self‐powered breathing analyzers based on piezoelectric or triboelectric nanogenerators, mechanical vibrations are eliminated. The availability of this compact breath analyzer provides a new detection regime for gas sensing, and should facilitate the design of a wide range of self‐powered systems incorporated in the next generation of innovative electronic devices.
3D Printing Customized Optical Lens in Minutes
Authors: Shao Guangbin , Hai Rihan , Sun Cheng
Published: December 2019

Synergizing grayscale photopolymerization and meniscus coating processes, rapid 3D printing of optical lenses is reported previously using projection microstereolithography (PµSL) process. Despite its 14 000‐fold‐improved printing speed over the femtosecond 3D printing process, PµSL still consumes significant amount of the fabrication time for precise recoating 5 µm thick fresh resin layers. At the reported speed of 24.54 mm3 h−1, 3D printing of the millimeter‐size lenses still takes hours. To further improve the printing speed, the microcontinuous liquid interface production process is implemented to eliminate the time‐consuming resin recoating step. However, the micrometer‐size pores in the Teflon membrane needed for oxygen transportation are found to completely spoil the surface smoothness. The use of polydimethylsiloxane thin film possessing much refined nanoscopic porosities as the functional substitute of Teflon membrane is reported to significantly reduce the surface roughness to 13.7 nm. 3D printing of 3 mm high aspherical lens in ≈2 min at a 200‐fold‐improved speed at 4.85 × 103 mm3 h−1 is demonstrated. The 3D printed aspherical lens has the demonstrated imaging resolution of 3.10 µm. This work represents a significant step in tackling the speed‐accuracy trade‐off of 3D printing process and thus enables rapid fabrication of customized optical components.
Glass‐Ceramic‐Like Vanadate Cathodes for High‐Rate Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Li Yutong , Wang Shitong , Dong Yanhao , Yang Yong , Zhang Zhongtai , Tang Zilong
Published: December 2019

Nanostructured electrode materials are good candidates in batteries especially for high‐rate applications, yet they often suffer from extensive side reactions due to anomalously large surface areas. While micrometer‐size materials provide better stability, the lattice diffusivity is often too slow for lithium ion intercalation over the same length scale in a short time. Herein, a simple method to synthesize glass‐ceramic‐like vanadate cathodes for lithium‐ion batteries with abundant internal boundaries that allow fast lithium ion diffusion while maintaining a small surface area that thus minimize the contact and side reactions with organic electrolyte, is reported. Such samples heat‐treated under optimized conditions can deliver an impressive high‐rate capacity of 103 mAh g−1 at 4000 mA g−1 over 500 cycles, which has better kinetics and cycling stability than similar vanadate‐based materials. A striking grain‐size refinement effect accompanied by a low‐temperature growth‐controlled phase transition, can be achieved by fine tuning the heat‐treatment process. It is believed that the findings are general for other transition metal oxides for energy applications.
Effects of the special structure of bio‐based shell powder on the properties of shell‐polycaprolactone composite
Authors: Weng Fangqing , Zhang Peirui , Koranteng Ernest , Ma Nian , Wu Zhengshun , Wu Qiangxian
Published: December 2019

The natural clam shell (CS) has a unique CaCO3‐proteoglycan structure which can be beneficial in improving the strength of materials as a result of the stiff CaCO3content present in it. Moreover, the existence of active groups such as hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, and amino groups in CS can make it possible to form chemical bonds with some functional groups in other materials. In this work, CS which is mostly regarded as waste was utilized to prepare compatible composites via melting process with biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL). Addition of 15 wt % of polyurethane prepolymer as a compatibilizer to a designed weight ratio of 1 to 1 of CS powder and PCL increased the elongation at break of the composite from 9.3 to 536.5%, and also improved the tensile strength from 14.9 to 18.9 MPa. Particularly important was that scanning electron microscopy investigation revealed that the adhesion between the CS and PCL improved significantly as the content of the compatibilizer was increased. This work shows that CS has great potential applications in the area of compatible composites and could serve as an alternative material for reinforcement in polymer composites. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2020,137, 48768.
The Anatomy of Asilisaurus kongwe, a Dinosauriform from the Lifua Member of the Manda Beds (~Middle Triassic) of Africa
Authors: Nesbitt Sterling J. , Langer Max C. , Ezcurra Martin D.
Published: December 2019

The diagnosis of Dinosauria and interrelationships of the earliest dinosaurs relies on careful documentation of the anatomy of their closest relatives. These close relatives, or dinosaur “precursors,” are typically only documented by a handful of fossils from across Pangea and nearly all specimens are typically missing important regions (e.g., forelimbs, pelves, skulls) that appear to be important to help resolving the relationships of dinosaurs. Here, we fully describe the known skeletal elements of Asilisaurus kongwe, a dinosauriform from the Middle Triassic Manda Beds of the Ruhuhu Basin of Tanzania. The taxon is known from many disarticulated and partially articulated remains and, most importantly, from a spectacularly preserved associated skeleton of an individual containing much of the skull, pectoral and pelvic girdles, forelimb and hindlimb, and parts of the vertebral column including much of the tail. The unprecedented detail of the anatomy indicates that Asilisaurus kongwe had a unique skull that was short and had both a premaxillary and dentary edentulous margin, but retained a number of character states plesiomorphic for Archosauria, including a crocodylian‐like ankle configuration and a rather short foot with well‐developed metatarsals I and V. Additionally, character states present across the skeleton of Asilisaurus kongwe suggest it is more closely related to Silesaurus opolensis than to dinosaurs; thus suggesting high homoplasy and parallel trends within Silesauridae and within lineages of early dinosaurs. The anatomy of Asilisaurus kongwe and detailed description of early members of clades found outside Dinosauria are clearly needed to untangle the seemingly complex character evolution of the skeleton within avemetatarsalians. Anat Rec, 303:813–873, 2020. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy
Pre‐service teacher‐delivered behavioral skills training: A pyramidal training approach
Authors: Andzik Natalie R. , Schaefer John M.
Published: December 2019

This study evaluated the effectiveness of using a university‐based pyramidal approach (i.e., train the trainer) to teach four pre‐service teachers to train another person. These pre‐service teachers were taught to use behavioral skills training (BST) techniques to train other professionals to use an evidence‐based practice. Transfer to a generalization trainee was probed and three participants maintenance of BST fidelity was probed one year later, after the participants had begun teaching. Results indicate that the participants quickly acquired and maintained a high degree of fidelity with BST. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
An evaluation of the effects of response interruption redirection and matched stimulation on vocal stereotypy
Authors: Gibney Cara , Phillips Katrina J. , Arnold‐Saritepe Angela , Taylor Sarah Ann
Published: December 2019

Stereotypy is one of the core diagnostic features of autism spectrum disorder and warrants behavioral intervention when it negatively impacts the person's life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of noncontingent matched stimulation (NCR‐M) compared with response interruption redirection (RIRD) on reducing levels of vocal stereotypy in the natural environment. Interventions were compared using an alternating treatments design followed by generalization and maintenance phases, which utilized lay people as instructors. Results showed that both RIRD and NCR‐M resulted in a reduction in vocal stereotypy for three out of four participants within an educational setting. An increase in appropriate vocalizations was found for two out of four participants for both interventions. These results suggest that both NCR‐M and RIRD were effective in reducing levels of vocal stereotypy, yet their effects on appropriate communication remain undetermined. Social validity scores were obtained following the study, which demonstrated that both interventions were met with approval across a variety of measures.
Meta-analysis and field synopsis of genetic variants associated with the risk and severity of acute pancreatitis
Authors: van den Berg F. F. , Kempeneers M. A. , van Santvoort H. C. , Zwinderman A. H. , Issa Y. , Boermeester M. A.
Published: December 2019

Background

Genetic risk factors can provide insight into susceptibility for acute pancreatitis (AP) and disease progression towards (infected) necrotizing pancreatitis and persistent organ failure. The aim of the study was to undertake a systematic review of the genetic evidence for AP.

Methods

Online databases (MEDLINE, Embase, BIOSIS, Web of Science, Cochrane Library) were searched to 8 February 2018. Studies that reported on genetic associations with AP susceptibility, severity and/or complications were eligible for inclusion. Meta-analyses were performed of variants that were reported by at least two data sources. Venice criteria and Bayesian false-discovery probability were applied to assess credibility.

Results

Ninety-six studies reporting on 181 variants in 79 genes were identified. In agreement with previous meta-analyses, credible associations were established for SPINK1 (odds ratio (OR) 2·87, 95 per cent c.i. 1·89 to 4·34), IL1B (OR 1·23, 1·06 to 1·42) and IL6 (OR 1·64, 1·15 to 2·32) and disease risk. In addition, two novel credible single-nucleotide polymorphisms were identified in Asian populations: ALDH2 (OR 0·48, 0·36 to 0·64) and IL18 (OR 1·47, 1·18 to 1·82). Associations of variants in TNF, GSTP1 and CXCL8 genes with disease severity were identified, but were of low credibility.

Conclusion

Genetic risk factors in genes related to trypsin activation and innate immunity appear to be associated with susceptibility to and severity of AP.
One, two, three … breakdance and twist
Authors: Aranzulla Tiziana Claudia
Published: December 2019

Wire breakage during percutaneous coronary intervention is a rare event. It occurs especially when treating complex lesions, and it should be prevented with careful planning of each procedural step. We reported a case in which wire breakage occurred when treating the left anterior descending (LAD)/first diagonal bifurcation with the T‐stenting technique. After careful evaluation of all the available retrieval techniques and failure of the balloon–catheter trapping, the twin‐twisting wires technique (TTWT) was applied. This technique allows the retrieval of a foreign body thanks to its entrapment in the spiral made by two twisting wires. At the first attempt, the broken wire was only withdrawn and not retrieved, while the two twisting wires went broken. The second attempt was performed using stronger wires as twisting wires. The two recently broken fragments were successfully retrieved together with a long proximal remnant of the initially broken wire, which distal tip was further withdrawn. The broken wire was successfully retrieved with the third attempt, together with the previously implanted LAD stent that was accidentally entrapped in the twist. This is the first report of TTWT implementation for the retrieval of a broken wire from a two‐stent bifurcation, both proximal and distal wire remnants and a total of three broken wires. The improvements we made to the technique, tips and tricks, caveats, and suggestions for successful wire retrieval and avoidance of the complications that we experienced are described in detail.
Clinical evaluation of a 31‐year‐old woman with crural monomelic amyotrophy
Authors: Thompson Austin R. , Beckett Brooke , Ensrud Erik R.
Published: December 2019

This report describes the clinical presentation of a female patient diagnosed with crural MMA. Careful clinical correlation is necessary to distinguish crural MMA from other motor neuron diseases. When crural MMA is diagnosed, treatment options aim to alleviate symptoms.
Hyperaldosteronism from a large adrenal adenoma in a patient with bilateral adrenal nodules
Authors: Adapa Sreedhar , Konala Venu Madhav , Naramala Srikanth , Dhingra Hemant , Tower Sean W. , Sahasranam Prem , Zhou Fan , Omololu Olayinka , Gavini Frank , Martin Russell R.
Published: December 2019

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a potentially reversible cause of uncontrolled hypertension. Early diagnosis and timely management of PA can prevent end‐organ damage. Aldosteronoma Resolution Score (ARS) is a useful tool to predict cure rates and resolution of hypertension after adrenalectomy.
Vascular tumor or malformation of the pediatric airway?
Authors: Pires Joana , Ferreira Mafalda , Moura João Elói , Maricato Felisberto
Published: December 2019

Distinguishing airway vascular tumors from malformations can be challenging. Failure to treat a suspected airway hemangioma with a beta‐blocker and systemic corticosteroid should raise suspicion of a possible airway malformation.
Cu−Mn Hydroxyapatite Materials for Toluene Total Oxidation
Authors: Ibrahim Maya , Labaki Madona , Nuns Nicolas , Giraudon Jean‐Marc , Lamonier Jean‐François
Published: December 2019

The oxidation of 800 ppmv toluene in air has been investigated over CuMnOx ((Cu+Mn) loading: 10 wt%) dispersed on hydroxyapatite (Hap: Ca5(PO4)3(OH)) with different molar Cu/Mn compositions (2; 1; 0.5) to be compared with the corresponding supported single transition metal oxide catalysts. The solids have been prepared by wet aqueous co‐impregnation method followed by a calcination at 400 °C for 4 h and physicochemically characterized by different techniques. The catalytic performances of the supported Cu−Mn oxide catalysts revealed the existence of a synergetic effect in terms of activity and selectivity towards CO2 through the formation of Cu−Mn mixed oxides. The strongest synergetic effect is observed for a Cu/Mn molar ratio of 2 as confirmed by the standardized conversion rate values determined at 190 °C (r190) which followed the decreasing sequence (/10−2 h−1): Cu2MnHap (2.57)>CuMnHap (2.04)>CuMn2Hap (1.59)>MnHap (1.13)>CuHap (0.13). The highest activity of Cu2MnHap can be explained by a better reducibility of the active phase in line with a high density of Cu‐O−Mn interactions at the outermost layers as shown by ToF‐SIMS results.
New 3‐unsubstituted isoxazolones as potent human neutrophil elastase inhibitors: Synthesis and molecular dynamic simulation
Authors: Giovannoni Maria Paola , Crocetti Letizia , Cantini Niccolò , Guerrini Gabriella , Vergelli Claudia , Iacovone Antonella , Teodori Elisabetta , Schepetkin Igor A. , Quinn Mark T. , Ciattini Samuele , Rossi Patrizia , Paoli Paola
Published: December 2019

Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) is a proteolytic enzyme belonging to the serine protease family and is involved in a variety of pathologies. Thus, compounds able to inhibit HNE represent promising therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Here, we report the further elaboration of our previously reported 3‐methylisoxazolone derivatives, synthesizing a new series of 3‐nor‐derivatives bearing different substituents at the 4‐phenyl ring. The most potent compounds 3a, 3g, and 3h, had IC50 values of 16, 11, and 18 nM, respectively. Molecular modeling studies and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations demonstrated no substantial differences between the 3‐methylisoxazole derivatives previously tested and the corresponding 3‐unsubstituted derivatives in the snapshot conformations sampled during the MD simulations, which is consistent with their similar levels of HNE inhibitory activity. Thus, we conclude that the isoxazolone scaffold is a good scaffold for developing HNE inhibitors, as it tolerates several modifications when adhering to basic scaffold requirements, and the resulting derivatives are quite potent HNE inhibitors.
Substituted chloroacetamides as potential cancer stem cell inhibitors: Synthesis and biological evaluation
Authors: Padhariya Komal N. , Athavale Maithili , Srivastava Sangeeta , Kharkar Prashant S.
Published: December 2019

Cancer kills, irrespective of geographical and cultural origin. Novel modalities for treating cancer are desperately needed. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), main culprits behind chemoresistance and tumor relapse, are one of the few logical choices. Herein, we report the synthesis and biological evaluation of small molecules with chloroacetamide war‐head. These molecules were screened for viability against various breast, prostate, and oral cancer cell lines using MTT and soft‐agar assays. Further, promising hits were screened in sphere‐forming assay with the aim of discovering potential anti‐CSC agents. Our optimism yielded four hits inhibiting self‐renewal of cancer cells with stem‐like characters in vitro. Finally, the hits were evaluated for in vitro toxicity against human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and mouse embryonic fibroblast cell line. Overall, these preliminary investigations yielded three hits exhibiting promising anti‐CSC potential with little or no toxicity against normal cells.
The relationship between social media use and disordered eating in young adolescents
Authors: Wilksch Simon M. , O'Shea Anne , Ho Pheobe , Byrne Sue , Wade Tracey D.
Published: December 2019

Background

The relationship between social media (SM) use and disordered eating (DE) has not been adequately explored in young adolescents.

Methods

Data from 996 Grade 7 and 8 adolescents (n = 534 girls; M age = 13.08) was investigated. DE cognitions (Eating Disorder Examination‐Questionnaire [EDE‐Q]), DE behaviors (Project Eating Among Teens), and SM use measures related to Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Tumblr were completed.

Results

DE behaviors were reported by 51.7% of girls and 45.0% of boys, with strict exercise and meal skipping the most common. A total of 75.4% of girls and 69.9% of boys had at least one SM account where Instagram was the most common, used by 68.1% of girls and 61.7% of boys. Global EDE‐Q scores were significantly higher for girls and boys with each type of SM account, except for Facebook and Instagram for girls. A greater number of SM accounts was associated with higher DE scores for both cognitions and behaviors. Girls with Snapchat and Tumblr accounts and boys with Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram were significantly more likely to have both DE behaviors and over‐evaluation of shape and weight in the clinical range. Greater daily time spent using Instagram was associated with significantly higher Global EDE‐Q scores and DE behaviors for girls, while this pattern was also found for Snapchat usage and DE behaviors for girls.

Conclusions

A clear pattern of association was found between SM usage and DE cognitions and behaviors with this exploratory study confirming that these relationships occur at younger‐age than previously investigated.
Intrinsic biotic factors and microsite conditions drive seedling survival in a species with masting reproduction
Authors: Martini Francesco , Zou Chaobo , Goodale Uromi Manage
Published: December 2019

Seedling recruitment following a masting event, where more fruits are produced in synchrony and intermittently compared with other species, plays a crucial role in determining species diversity and community structure. Such seedling recruitment can be superabundant, but followed by high mortality shortly thereafter. Differences in biotic factors such as seedling characteristics, competition, and herbivory, and microsite‐specific abiotic factors could determine seedling fate in space and time.

In a subtropical forest in south China, for 2 years using censuses conducted every 1–2 months, we monitored 40 seed traps and 120, 1 m2 quadrats in five 1‐ha plots located from 1,400 to 1,850 m asl for the masting maple species, Acer campbellii subsp. sinense (Pax) P.C.DeJong. We measured biotic—conspecific and heterospecific seedling density, species richness, herbivory, seedling height, and leaf number—and abiotic—canopy openness, slope, and aspect—factors to assess drivers of seedling survival and evaluated A. campbellii subsp. sinense presence in the soil seed bank (SSB).

The masting seed dispersal peak and seedling emergence peak occurred between October 2017 and January 2018, and May 2018, respectively. Of 688 selected seedlings, mortality was 92.7% within one year. No seeds were observed in the SSB. Seedling height and leaf number positively affected seedling survival, while seed placement as measured by aspect also showed effects on survival. Conspecific and heterospecific density and herbivory did not show any clear effect. Higher probabilities of seedling survival were found in areas with larger canopy openness (≥12% canopy gap size) and in steeper microsites (≥35°).

Synthesis. Masting is mainly studied as a population‐level phenomenon from the fruiting tree perspective. Our study of individual seedling fate revealed that intrinsic biotic factors and seed placement were key drivers of survival. Although biotic determinants such as competition from conspecifics or heterospecifics or herbivory did not determine survival, their ubiquitous presence may be an underlying equalizer in community dynamics where seedlings that overcome biotic pressures, if placed at the right microsite, are at better odds at being recruited to the next life history stages.
Biodiversity assessment of tropical shelf eukaryotic communities via pelagic eDNA metabarcoding
Authors: Bakker Judith , Wangensteen Owen S. , Baillie Charles , Buddo Dayne , Chapman Demian D. , Gallagher Austin J. , Guttridge Tristan L. , Hertler Heidi , Mariani Stefano
Published: December 2019

Our understanding of marine communities and their functions in an ecosystem relies on the ability to detect and monitor species distributions and abundances. Currently, the use of environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is increasingly being applied for the rapid assessment and monitoring of aquatic species. Most eDNA metabarcoding studies have either focussed on the simultaneous identification of a few specific taxa/groups or have been limited in geographical scope. Here, we employed eDNA metabarcoding to compare beta diversity patterns of complex pelagic marine communities in tropical coastal shelf habitats spanning the whole Caribbean Sea. We screened 68 water samples using a universal eukaryotic COI barcode region and detected highly diverse communities, which varied significantly among locations, and proved good descriptors of habitat type and environmental conditions. Less than 15% of eukaryotic taxa were assigned to metazoans, most DNA sequences belonged to a variety of planktonic “protists,” with over 50% of taxa unassigned at the phylum level, suggesting that the sampled communities host an astonishing amount of micro‐eukaryotic diversity yet undescribed or absent from COI reference databases. Although such a predominance of micro‐eukaryotes severely reduces the efficiency of universal COI markers to investigate vertebrate and other metazoans from aqueous eDNA, the study contributes to the advancement of rapid biomonitoring methods and brings us closer to a full inventory of extant marine biodiversity.
The role of cathepsin D in the pathophysiology of heart failure and its potentially beneficial properties: a translational approach
Authors: Hoes Martijn F. , Tromp Jasper , Ouwerkerk Wouter , Bomer Nils , Oberdorf‐Maass Silke U. , Samani Nilesh J. , Ng Leong L. , Lang Chim C. , van der Harst Pim , Hillege Hans , Anker Stefan D. , Metra Marco , van Veldhuisen Dirk J. , Voors Adriaan A. , van der Meer Peter
Published: December 2019

Aims

Cathepsin D is a ubiquitous lysosomal protease that is primarily secreted due to oxidative stress. The role of circulating cathepsin D in heart failure (HF) is unknown. The aim of this study is to determine the association between circulating cathepsin D levels and clinical outcomes in patients with HF and to investigate the biological settings that induce the release of cathepsin D in HF.

Methods and results

Cathepsin D levels were studied in 2174 patients with HF from the BIOSTAT‐CHF index study. Results were validated in 1700 HF patients from the BIOSTAT‐CHF validation cohort. The primary combined outcome was all‐cause mortality and/or HF hospitalizations. Human pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes were subjected to hypoxic, pro‐inflammatory signalling and stretch conditions. Additionally, cathepsin D expression was inhibited by targeted short hairpin RNAs (shRNA). Higher levels of cathepsin D were independently associated with diabetes mellitus, renal failure and higher levels of interleukin‐6 and N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (P < 0.001 for all). Cathepsin D levels were independently associated with the primary combined outcome [hazard ratio (HR) per standard deviation (SD): 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–1.23], which was validated in an independent cohort (HR per SD: 1.23, 95% CI 1.09–1.40). In vitro experiments demonstrated that human stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes released cathepsin D and troponin T in response to mechanical stretch. ShRNA‐mediated silencing of cathepsin D resulted in increased necrosis, abrogated autophagy, increased stress‐induced metabolism, and increased release of troponin T from human stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes under stress.

Conclusions

Circulating cathepsin D levels are associated with HF severity and poorer outcome, and reduced levels of cathepsin D may have detrimental effects with therapeutic potential in HF.
Improved in vitro rooting in liquid culture using a two piece scaffold system
Authors: Shukla Mukund R. , Piunno Kevin , Saxena Praveen K. , Jones A. Maxwell P.
Published: December 2019

Plant tissue culture techniques have been used to propagate horticultural crops at a commercial scale for more than three decades. However, due to the high cost it is generally only used for high value crops. To increase production efficiency and make micropropagation viable for a wider range of species, new approaches to address key steps of the process with high labor inputs need to be evaluated. For this study, a two‐piece scaffold system was designed, prototyped using 3D printing, and tested to physically hold plants upright thereby facilitating liquid based rooting. This system was evaluated with Malus domestica, Betula lenta, and Musa sp. using static liquid culture as well as rocker based temporary immersion system and compared to rooting in semi‐solid based medium as is commonly practiced. Significantly, earlier rooting was observed in all three species in liquid when compared to semi‐solid culture system, and plants cultured in liquid on the rocker generally performed better than those in static liquid. In addition to quicker, more uniform rooting, reducing labor requirements, and preventing root damage. This newly designed system is simple, easy to use, will help to improve efficiency, and reduce the cost of micropropagation.
Neurobiological underpinnings of cyberbullying: A pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: McLoughlin Larisa T. , Shan Zack , Broadhouse Kathryn M. , Winks Natalie , Simcock Gabrielle , Lagopoulos Jim , Hermens Daniel F.
Published: December 2019

There is a dearth of research that has investigated the neural correlates of cyberbullying, using task‐based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and, specifically, in a real‐time context such as observing cyberbullying scenarios. This article presents pilot data from a novel protocol designed to undertake such research with the overall aim being to elucidate the neurobiological underpinnings of cyberbullying via task‐based fMRI (tb‐fMRI)) in passive cyberbystanders. Young adults (N = 32, 18 to 25 years old) viewed six negative (cyberbullying) and six neutral stimuli from the Cyberbullying Picture Series (CyPicS) while undergoing tb‐fMRI. Our results revealed 12 clusters of significantly greater blood‐oxygenation‐level‐dependent (BOLD) responses (family wise error corrected p
FWE < .05) in participants when viewing cyberbullying stimuli compared to neutral stimuli, across a distributed network of regions including left and right middle temporal gyrus, default mode network hubs, left and right posterior cerebellum/vermis, and putamen. Further analysis also revealed greater BOLD response in females compared to males, as well as in those with no prior experience of cyberbullying compared to those with prior experience (despite gender), when viewing the cyberbullying stimuli compared to the neutral stimuli. These results bring us closer to understanding the neurobiological underpinnings that may be associated with cybervictim/bully status and outcomes.
Scoring system for selective tracheostomy in head and neck surgery with free flap reconstruction
Authors: Cai Tian‐yi , Zhang Wen‐bo , Yu Yao , Wang Yang , Mao Chi , Guo Chuan‐bin , Yu Guang‐yan , Peng Xin
Published: December 2019

Background

Selective tracheostomy is an effective but invasive airway management method for patients undergoing head and neck free flap reconstruction. Studies have shown that not all patients need tracheostomy. Several systems evaluating the need for tracheostomy have been proposed, but none is used clinically.

Methods

A total of 533 cases underwent head and neck free flap reconstruction at Peking University School of Stomatology were reviewed for system development. Another 131 cases undergone the same surgery were included for system verification. Patients' demographic and surgical‐related information were analyzed.

Result

A total of 321 cases in the development cohort and 68 cases in the system cohort underwent tracheostomy. The score was estimated: score = ∑(|log2OR|). Patients scoring >3 required tracheostomy, those scoring <2 should avoid tracheostomy, and those scoring 2 or 3 need further evaluation.

Conclusion

This scoring system can help determine the need for selective tracheostomy in patients undergoing head and neck free flap reconstruction.
Hair dye and chemical straightener use and breast cancer risk in a large US population of black and white women
Authors: Eberle Carolyn E. , Sandler Dale P. , Taylor Kyla W. , White Alexandra J.
Published: December 2019

Many hair products contain endocrine‐disrupting compounds and carcinogens potentially relevant to breast cancer. Products used predominately by black women may contain more hormonally‐active compounds. In a national prospective cohort study, we examined the association between hair dye and chemical relaxer/straightener use and breast cancer risk by ethnicity. Sister Study participants (n = 46,709), women ages 35–74, were enrolled between 2003 and 2009, and had a sister with breast cancer but were breast cancer‐free themselves. Enrollment questionnaires included past 12‐month hair product use. Cox proportional hazards models estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association between hair products and breast cancer; effect measure modification by ethnicity was evaluated. During follow‐up (mean = 8.3 years), 2,794 breast cancers were identified. Fifty‐five percent of participants reported using permanent dye at enrollment. Permanent dye use was associated with 45% higher breast cancer risk in black women (HR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.10–1.90), and 7% higher risk in white women (HR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.99–1.16; heterogeneity p = 0.04). Among all participants, personal straightener use was associated with breast cancer risk (HR = 1.18, 95% CI 0.99–1.41); with higher risk associated with increased frequency (p for trend = 0.02). Nonprofessional application of semipermanent dye (HR = 1.28, 95% CI 1.05–1.56) and straighteners (HR = 1.27, 95% CI 0.99–1.62) to others was associated with breast cancer risk. We observed a higher breast cancer risk associated with any straightener use and personal use of permanent dye, especially among black women. These results suggest that chemicals in hair products may play a role in breast carcinogenesis.
Colon and rectal cancer risk after bariatric surgery in a multicountry Nordic cohort study
Authors: Tao Wenjing , Artama Miia , von Euler‐Chelpin My , Hull Mark , Ljung Rickard , Lynge Elsebeth , Ólafsdóttir Guðríður H. , Pukkala Eero , Romundstad Pål , Talbäck Mats , Tryggvadottir Laufey , Lagergren Jesper
Published: December 2019

Obesity is a risk factor for colorectal cancer. Yet, some research indicates that weight‐reducing bariatric surgery also increases colorectal cancer risk. Our study was undertaken because current evidence examining bariatric surgery and risk of colorectal cancer is limited and inconsistent. This population‐based cohort study included adults with a documented obesity diagnosis in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden in 1980–2015. The incidence of colorectal cancer in participants with obesity who had and had not undergone bariatric surgery was compared to the incidence in the corresponding background population by calculating standardized incidence ratios (SIR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Additionally, operated and nonoperated participants with obesity were compared using multivariable Cox regression, providing hazard ratios (HR) with 95% CIs adjusted for confounders. Among 502,772 cohort participants with an obesity diagnosis, 49,931(9.9%) underwent bariatric surgery. The overall SIR of colon cancer was increased after bariatric surgery (SIR 1.56; 95% CI 1.28–1.88), with higher SIRs ≥10 years postsurgery. The overall HR of colon cancer in operated compared to nonoperated participants was 1.13 (95% CI 0.92–1.39) and 1.55 (95% CI 1.04–2.31) 10–14 years after bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery did not significantly increase the risk of rectal cancer (SIR 1.14, 95% CI 0.83–1.52; HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.79–1.49), but the risk estimates increased with longer follow‐up periods. Our study suggests that bariatric surgery is associated with an increased risk of colon cancer, while the support for an increased risk of rectal cancer was weaker.
High RIG‐I expression in ovarian cancer associates with an immune‐escape signature and poor clinical outcome
Authors: Wolf Dominik , Fiegl Heidi , Zeimet Alain G. , Wieser Verena , Marth Christian , Sprung Susanne , Sopper Sieghart , Hartmann Gunther , Reimer Daniel , Boesch Maximilian
Published: December 2019

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy, with platinum‐based chemotherapy remaining the mainstay for adjuvant treatment after surgery. The lack of indication for immunotherapy may at least in part result from the lack of suitable biomarkers allowing stratification of potentially responding patients. In this monocentric study of 141 cases with OC, we used real‐time quantitative PCR to assess the expression of retinoic acid‐inducible gene‐I (RIG‐I) in primary tumor and healthy ovarian control tissues. RIG‐I expression was correlated to various clinicopathological characteristics as well as to a set of molecular and immunological markers. The prognostic significance of RIG‐I expression was queried in univariate and multivariate analyses and validated in an independent cohort. RIG‐I was overexpressed in the cancerous ovary and correlated with a higher tumor grade. The more aggressive Type‐II cancers and cancers with inactivating p53 mutations exhibited higher RIG‐I expression. RIG‐I levels were also elevated in cancers that recurred after remission or were platinum‐refractory. Survival analyses disclosed RIG‐I as an independent marker of poor outcome in OC. Continuative analyses revealed the molecular and immunological correlates of RIG‐I expression in the tumor microenvironment, including interferon production and a distinct immune‐regulatory signature involving checkpoint molecules (PD‐L1/PD‐1), the RNA‐editing enzyme ADAR1 and the regulatory T cell‐specific transcription factor FoxP3. We conclude that high RIG‐I expression associates with poor outcome in OC, which is explainable by local immunosuppression in the tumor bed. RIG‐I expression may inform checkpoint blockade and/or RIG‐I agonistic targeting in a subset of high‐risk OC patients.
He is smarter when he looks smart in front of many versus a few others: Impact of audience size on target appraisals in a cross‐cultural context
Authors: Seo Dasom , Han Da Eun , Kim Young‐Hoon
Published: December 2019

Will a person be seen as more superior if he or she receives an award in front of a large audience in comparison with a small audience? We predicted that this would hold true for East Asians, whose cultural logic of face asserts that a person's worth can only be conferred by collective others, but would not hold true for European Americans, whose cultural logic of dignity promotes the judgement of a person's worth based on their own perspective. This study found an audience‐size effect for East Asians, in which participants gave higher appraisals to a target when they imagined the target's high performance to have been seen by 10 other people (vs. one other person) even when the target's performance level remained constant. In contrast, Westerners were not affected by the size of the audience witnessing the target's performance. In addition, perceived social reputation was found to mediate the audience‐size effect; the participants imagining the target performing well in front of 10 others (vs. one other) perceived others as thinking more highly of the target; this in turn led participants to give higher appraisals to the target. As expected, this mediation effect was only found for East Asians.
Stock price prediction using DEEP learning algorithm and its comparison with machine learning algorithms
Authors: Nikou Mahla , Mansourfar Gholamreza , Bagherzadeh Jamshid
Published: December 2019

Security indices are the main tools for evaluation of the status of financial markets. Moreover, a main part of the economy of any country is constituted of investment in stock markets. Therefore, investors could maximize the return of investment if it becomes possible to predict the future trend of stock market with appropriate methods. The nonlinearity and nonstationarity of financial series make their prediction complicated. This study seeks to evaluate the prediction power of machine‐learning models in a stock market. The data used in this study include the daily close price data of iShares MSCI United Kingdom exchange‐traded fund from January 2015 to June 2018. The prediction process is done through four models of machine‐learning algorithms. The results indicate that the deep learning method is better in prediction than the other methods, and the support vector regression method is in the next rank with respect to neural network and random forest methods with less error.
Coordinated UAV For Efficient Field Inspection
Authors: Rajashekharaiah Puneeth Hulikunte , Menon Archana , Subramanian SenthilRajan , Arun Paavai , Murthy Shiksha , Vasavada Arpan
Published: December 2019

Airborne field inspection services conducted by traditional approach or by a single manual/autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), involves considerable operator work load in flight operations for coverage of very large inspection fields. There is a scope to reduce operational cost, time and operator work load for large scale inspection scenarios. This paper presents a system concept where the coordinated flight of many UAVs, as a Multi‐Agent‐System (MAS) may be used, such that, it is especially, “reconfigurable” based on the nature of inspection. This Multi‐Agent‐System concept is developed with autonomous features, such as self‐organization capabilities to adapt intelligently around the objects of inspection or during navigation. Also, the paper discusses on how coordinated flight contributes to improving the autonomy through iterative navigation planning and re‐distribution of work load into smaller sections, among the agents. Thus, the concept is expected to provide great benefit to the inspection service providers in terms of time, cost, and efforts while leveraging higher levels of autonomy.