bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular profiling of Chinese R‐CHOP treated DLBCL patients: Identifying a high‐risk subgroup
Authors: Jiang Shiyu , Qin Yan , Jiang Hongxin , Liu Biao , Shi Jianming , Meng Fanlu , Liu Peng , Yang Jianliang , Yang Sheng , He Xiaohui , Zhou Shengyu , Gui Lin , Liu Hao , Lin Jing , Han‐Zhang Han , Shi Yuankai
Published: May 2020

Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a clinically aggressive and heterogenous disease. Although most patients can be cured by immunochemotherapy, 30% to 40% patient will ultimately develop relapsed or refractory disease. Here, we investigated the molecular landscapes of patients with diverse responses to R‐CHOP. We performed capture‐based targeted sequencing on baseline samples of 105 DLBCL patients using a panel consisting of 112 lymphoma‐related genes. Subsequently, 81 treatment‐naïve patients with measurable disease and followed for over 1 year were included for survival analysis. Collectively, the most commonly seen mutations included IGH fusion (69%), PIM1(33%), MYD88 (29%), BCL2 (29%), TP53 (29%), CD79B (25%) and KMT2D (24%). Patients with TP53 mutations were more likely to have primary refractory disease (87.0% vs 50.0%, P = .009). For those with TP53 disruptive mutations, 91.7% patients were in the primary refractory group. Interestingly, BCL‐2 somatic hypermutation was only seen in patients without primary refractory disease (P = .014). In multivariate analysis, BCL‐2 amplification (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.94, P = .022), B2M mutation (HR = 2.99, P = .017) and TP53 mutation (HR = 3.19, P < .001) were independently associated with shorter time to progression (TTP). Furthermore, TP53 mutations was correlated with worse overall survival (P = .049). Next, we investigated mutation landscape in patients with wild‐type (WT) TP53 (n = 58) and found that patients harboring MYD88 L265P had significantly inferior TTP than those with WT or non‐265P (P = .046). Our study reveals the mutation spectrum of treatment‐naive Chinese DLBCL patients. It also confirms the clinical significance of TP53 mutations and indicates the prognostic value of MYD88 L265P in TP53 WT patients.
Genetic variants and source of introduction of SARS‐CoV‐2 in South America
Authors: Poterico Julio A. , Mestanza Orson
Published: May 2020

After more than 4 months of the COVID‐19 pandemics with genomic information of SARS‐CoV‐2 around the globe, there are more than 1000 complete genomes of this virus. We used 691 genomes from the GISAID database. Several studies have been reporting mutations and hotspots according to viral evolution. Our work intends to show and compare positions that have variants in 30 complete viral genomes from South American countries. We classified strains according to point alterations and portray the source where strains came into this region. Most viruses entered South America from Europe, followed by Oceania. Only Chilean isolates demonstrated a relationship with Asian isolates. Some changes in South American genomes are near to specific domains related to viral replication or the S protein. Our work contributes to the global understanding of which sort of strains are spreading throughout South America, and the differences among them according to the first isolates introduced to this region.
Evaluating the efficiency of specimen pooling for PCR‐based detection of COVID‐19
Authors: Wacharapluesadee Supaporn , Kaewpom Thongchai , Ampoot Weenassarin , Ghai Siriporn , Khamhang Worrawat , Worachotsueptrakun Kanthita , Wanthong Phanni , Nopvichai Chatchai , Supharatpariyakorn Thirawat , Putcharoen Opass , Paitoonpong Leilani , Suwanpimolkul Gompol , Jantarabenjakul Watsamon , Hemachudha Pasin , Krichphiphat Artit , Buathong Rome , Plipat Tanarak , Hemachudha Thiravat
Published: May 2020

In the age of a pandemic, such as the ongoing one caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2), the world faces a limited supply of tests, personal protective equipment, and factories and supply chains are struggling to meet the growing demands. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of specimen pooling for testing of SARS‐CoV‐2 virus, to determine whether costs and resource savings could be achieved without impacting the sensitivity of the testing. Ten previously tested nasopharyngeal and throat swab specimens by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were pooled for testing, containing either one or two known positive specimens of varying viral concentrations. Specimen pooling did not affect the sensitivity of detecting SARS‐CoV‐2 when the PCR cycle threshold (Ct) of original specimen was lower than 35. In specimens with low viral load (Ct > 35), 2 of 15 pools (13.3%) were false negative. Pooling specimens to test for Coronavirus Disease 2019 infection in low prevalence (≤1%) areas or in low risk populations can dramatically decrease the resource burden on laboratory operations by up to 80%. This paves the way for large‐scale population screening, allowing for assured policy decisions by governmental bodies to ease lockdown restrictions in areas with a low incidence of infection, or with lower‐risk populations.
Vegetation fire activity and the Potential Fire Index (PFIv2) performance in the last two decades (2001–2016)
Authors: da Silva Alex S. , Justino Flavio , Setzer Alberto W. , Avila‐Diaz Alvaro
Published: May 2020

Fire incidence has been linked to multiple factors such as climate conditions, population density, agriculture, and lightning. Recently, fire frequency and severity have induced health problems and contributed to increase atmospheric greenhouse gases. Based on atmospheric susceptibility to fire, this study evaluates the use of a Potential Fire Index (PFIv2) to identify regions prone to fire development, as demonstrated by the satellite detected‐fire in the 2001–2016 interval. It is demonstrated that PFIv2 delivers an efficiency by up to 80% in matching the observed fires from Terra/MODIS satellite. The PFIv2 is also able to reproduce more accurately areas with fire activity with respect to its previous version, the PFI. This better performance is linked to the implementation of parameterization of water pressure deficit and atmospheric stability in the lower troposphere, and a new term to represent the effect of surface temperatures, particularly in mid‐latitudes and extra‐Tropics. To evaluate the performance of the PFIv2 in more details, its comparison to MODIS burned areas demonstrated correlations values higher than 0.6 over the most susceptible regions such as Africa and South America, slightly lower correlation is found where fire does not primary follows the climate annual cycle, and is dominated by high frequency events. These findings indicate that the PFIv2 can be an important tool for decision makers in predicting the potential for vegetation fires development and fire danger.
Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Imaging to Predict Graft Survival After Orthotopic Liver Transplantation: A Pilot Study
Authors: Dousse Damien , Vibert Eric , Nicolas Quentin , Terasawa Muga , Cano Luis , Allard Marc‐Antoine , Salloum Chady , Ciacio Oriana , Pittau Gabriella , Sa Cunha Antonio , Cherqui Daniel , Adam René , Samuel Didier , Vignon‐Clementel Irene , Golse Nicolas
Published: May 2020

The incidence of primary nonfunction (PNF) after liver transplantation (LT) remains a major concern with the increasing use of marginal grafts. Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence is an imaging technique used in hepatobiliary surgery and LT. Because few early predictors are available, we aimed to quantify in real time the fluorescence of grafts during LT to predict 3‐month survival. After graft revascularization, ICG was intravenously injected, and then the fluorescence of the graft was captured with a near infrared camera and postoperatively quantified. A multiparametric modeling of the parenchymal fluorescence intensity (FI) curve was proposed, and a predictive model of graft survival was tested. Between July 2017 and May 2019, 76 LTs were performed, among which 6 recipients underwent retransplantation. No adverse effects of ICG injection were observed. The parameter a
150 (temporal course of FI) was significantly higher in the re‐LT group (0.022 seconds−1 (0.0011‐0.059) versus 0.012 seconds−1 (0.0001‐0.054); P = 0.01). This parameter was the only independent predictive factor of graft survival at 3 months (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.05‐5.50; P = 0.04). The best cutoff for the parameter a
150 (0.0155 seconds−1) predicted the graft survival at 3 months with a sensitivity (Se) of 83.3% and a specificity (Spe) of 78.6% (area under the curve, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.67‐0.98; P = 0.01). Quantitative assessment of intraoperative ICG fluorescence on the graft was feasible to predict graft survival at 3 months with a good Se and Spe. Further prospective studies should be undertaken to validate these results over larger cohorts and evaluate the clinical impact of this tool.
Comb‐Like Amphiphilic Polycarbonates with Different Lengths of Cationic Branches for Enhanced siRNA Delivery
Authors: Dong Yanliang , Zhou Junhui , Wang Changrong , Wang Yaping , Deng Liandong , Zhang Jianhua , Dong Anjie
Published: May 2020

Owing to the biodegradability and good biocompatibility polycarbonates show the versatile class of applications in biomedical fields. While their poor functional ability seriously limited the development of functional polycarbonates. Herein, a new Br‐containing cyclic carbonate (MTC‐Br) and a polycarbonate atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) macro‐initiator (PEG‐PMTC‐Br) is synthesized. Then, by initiating the side‐chain ATRP of 2‐(dimethyl amino)ethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) on PEG‐PMTC‐Br, a series of comb‐like amphiphilic cationic polycarbonates, PEG‐b‐(PMTC‐g‐PDMAEMA) (GMDMs), with different lengths of cationic branches are successfully prepared. All these poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐(poly((5‐methyl‐2‐oxo‐1,3‐dioxane‐5‐yl) methyl 2‐bromo‐2‐methylpropanoate/1,3‐dioxane‐2‐one)‐g‐poly(2‐dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate) (GMDMs) self‐assembled nanoparticles (NPs) (≈180 nm, +40 mV) can well bind siRNA to form GMDM/siRNA NPs. The gene silence efficiency of GMDM/siRNA high to 80%, which is even higher than the commercial transfection reagent lipo2000 (76%). But GMDM/siRNA shows lower cell uptake than lipo2000. So, the high gene silence ability of GMDM/siRNA NPs can be attributed to the strong intracellular siRNA trafficking capacity. Therefore, GMDM NPs are potential siRNA vectors and the successful preparation of comb‐like polycarbonates also provides a facile way for diverse side‐chain functional polycarbonates, expanding the application of polycarbonates.
Optimization of the Reaction Conditions for Direct Arylation Polymerizations in a Sustainable Solvent
Authors: Conelli Daniele , Grisorio Roberto , Suranna Gian Paolo
Published: May 2020

Direct arylation polymerization (DArP) relieves the synthesis of conjugated polymers from the use of hazardous and toxic reagents typical of the traditional protocols. However, the compatibility with environmentally benign, nonhazardous, and low‐cost solvents still represents the critical aspect for projecting DArP as an industrial‐scale method for the preparation of conjugated polymers. In this study, a “green” solvent (i.e., cyclopentyl methyl ether) is implemented for the obtainment of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) by DArP reaction, in order to explore sustainable reaction conditions also regarding the catalytic system and the base quantity, which equally undermine the sustainability of the DArP protocol. Considering the molecular weights as the indicator of precatalyst performance in determined conditions, it is established that the cheapest palladium source (i.e., PdCl2) combined with two equivalents of (o‐anisyl)3P is able to yield the best results in the green ethereal solvent. Furthermore, it is found how, with respect to the common DArP protocols, the quantity of the expensive base (i.e., Cs2CO3) can be reduced in these reaction conditions without compromising molecular weights and regioregularity of the resulting polymer. These optimized reaction conditions can be extended to the copolymerization of other monomer units with satisfactory results in terms of molecular weights.
Electrochromic Response Capability Enhancement with Pentiptycene‐Incorporated Intrinsic Porous Polyamide Films
Authors: Chiu Ya‐Wen , Tan Wei Shyang , Yang Jye‐Shane , Pai Min‐Hao , Liou Guey‐Sheng
Published: May 2020

Enhancing switching response capability of electrochromic (EC) polymers has been a topical issue. Herein, the H‐shaped nonplanar pentiptycene scaffold is successfully introduced into the polyamide film derived from N,N′‐bis(4‐aminophenyl)‐N,N′‐di(methoxyphenyl)‐1,4‐phenylenediamine (TPPA), and the resulting copolymer shows enhanced EC behaviors, including lower oxidation potential and shorter switching response time, as compared to the corresponding TPPA‐derived homopolymer.
Aspects of ductile failure prediction of interstitial‐free steel based on a Gurson‐type damage model
Authors: Bressan C.Z. , Vaz M.
Published: May 2020

Numerical simulation of manufacturing processes has been gaining widespread attention owing to importance in the development of new products and components. In a parallel path, there has been a substantial development of steels with improved mechanical characteristics, such as the interstitial‐free (IF) steel. The present work is inserted within this context and introduces application of a micromechanical modelling approach to an interstitial‐free steel based on a Gurson‐type constitutive model with the objective of assessing the evolution of mechanical degradation and failure prediction in fracture‐free materials. The inelastic material parameters were obtained from tensile tests of cylindrical specimens. Evolution of the mechanical degradation, represented by a micromechanical damage measure, is discussed based on three‐point bend tests.
Clinical study of a chest‐based cuffless blood pressure monitoring system
Authors: Heydari Fatemeh , P. Ebrahim Malikeh , Redoute Jean‐Michel , Joe Keith , Walker Katie , Avolio Alberto , R. Yuce Mehmet
Published: May 2020

This work presents a clinical study of a chest‐based blood pressure (BP) monitoring technique. This research was designed to examine pulse transit time (PTT) and to measure beat‐to‐beat and cuff‐based systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP). The PTT values were extracted as the time difference between the end of the pre‐ejection period (PEP) measured using an on‐body continuous‐wave radar (CWR) sensor and the pulse arrival time (PAT) in central arteries extracted from the shoulders' bio‐impedance (BImp) signal. The system was investigated under three experimental conditions: (a) resting at various postures; (b) rising exercise stress, followed by resting; and (c) spraying inconstant doses of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) medicine and recovery. Data were collected from 43 volunteers who participated in posture recordings, 26 undertook exercises and 17 experienced GTN spray. The BImp‐based PTT was compared with PPG‐based one (peripheral) in terms of BP estimation. Various mathematical methods of calculating BPs from PTTs were investigated to gain the most accurate outcomes. We demonstrate the accuracy of each model in this work. Our study found that cuffless BP determined from PTT derived from central arteries shows more than 3% accuracy compared to that determined from peripheral arteries.
Human closed and open apex premolar teeth express different toll‐like receptor
Authors: Jafari Reza , Karamzadeh Razieh , Pesaran Hajabbas Faezeh , Sayyadizadeh Fereshteh , Chekini Zahra , Aghajanpour Samaneh , Shakeri Leila , Nazarimoghaddam Kiumars , Aflatoonian Reza
Published: May 2020

Background

The innate immune activation which promotes inflammation responses in the dental pulp tissue leads to the progression of dentin caries. Accordingly, toll‐like receptors (TLRs) are key molecules of the innate immune system that identify pathogen‐associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) on microorganisms and may have a critical role in a dental injury. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the expression of TLR2, TLR3, and TLR4 in the human dental pulp of opened and closed apex teeth.

Methods

Human dental pulps were derived from the healthy opened and closed apex premolar, in which extraction was indicated for orthodontic reasons. The extraction of RNA was performed and the gene expression determined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). The result from real‐time PCR was confirmed using western blot analysis.

Results

Real‐time PCR data analysis showed that the expression TLR2 and TLR4 were significantly increased in closed apex premolar teeth compared to open apex teeth, whereas TLR3 expression was not significantly different in these two groups (p < .05).

Conclusion

The results of the present study suggested increased expression of TLR2 and TLR4 by the maturation of the apex, which may be due to the presence of microorganisms in the normal or destructed dental pulp tissue. Thus, identifying the expression of TLRs molecules in dental pulp tissue helps to develop a deeper knowledge of the immune responses in the oral cavity.
Feasibility of real‐time motion tracking using cine MRI during MR‐guided radiation therapy for abdominal targets
Authors: Keiper Timothy D. , Tai An , Chen Xinfeng , Paulson Eric , Lathuilière Fabienne , Bériault Silvain , Hébert François , Cooper David T. , Lachaine Martin , Li X. Allen
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Real‐time high soft‐tissue contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) from the MR‐Linac offers the best opportunity for accurate motion tracking during radiation therapy delivery via high‐frequency two‐dimensional (2D) cine imaging. This work investigates the efficacy of real‐time organ motion tracking based on the registration of MRI acquired on MR‐Linac.

Methods

Algorithms based on image intensity were developed to determine the three‐dimensional (3D) translation of abdominal targets. 2D and 3D abdominal MRIs were acquired for 10 healthy volunteers using a high‐field MR‐Linac. For each volunteer, 3D respiration‐gated T2 and 2D T2/T1‐weighted cine in sagittal, coronal, and axial planes with a planar temporal resolution of 0.6 for 60 s was captured. Datasets were also collected on MR‐compatible physical and virtual four‐dimensional (4D) motion phantoms. Target contours for the liver and pancreas from the 3D T2 were populated to the cine and assumed as the ground‐truth motion. We performed image registration using a research software to track the target 3D motion. Standard deviations of the error (SDE) between the ground‐truth and tracking were analyzed.

Results

Algorithms using a research software were demonstrated to be capable of tracking arbitrary targets in the abdomen at 5 Hz with an overall accuracy of 0.6 mm in phantom studies and 2.1 mm in volunteers. However, this value is subject to patient‐specific considerations, namely motion amplitude. Calculation times of < 50 ms provide a pathway of real‐time motion tracking integration. A major challenge in using 2D cine MRI to track the target is handling the full 3D motion of the target.

Conclusions

Feasibility to track organ motion using intensity‐based registration of MRIs was demonstrated for abdominal targets. Tracking accuracy of about 2 mm was achieved for the motion of the liver and pancreatic head for typical patient motion. Further development is ongoing to improve the tracking algorithm for large and complex motions.
Why don't smallholder farmers in Kenya use more biopesticides?
Authors: Constantine Kate L , Kansiime Monica K , Mugambi Idah , Nunda Winnie , Chacha Duncan , Rware Harrison , Makale Fernadis , Mulema Joseph , Lamontagne‐Godwin Julien , Williams Frances , Edgington Steve , Day Roger
Published: May 2020

Background

Although Kenya has a relatively high number of registered biopesticide products, little is known about biopesticide use by smallholders. This paper documents farmers' current use and perception of chemical pesticides and biopesticides, their willingness to pay for biopesticides, and the key challenges to biopesticide uptake.

Results

A survey found that chemical pesticides are used widely by smallholders despite awareness of the risks to human health and the environment. Almost half of respondents showed awareness of biopesticides, but current use in the survey localities was low (10%). Key reasons for the low use of biopesticides by smallholders in this study are: perceptions of effectiveness, primarily speed of action and spectrum of activity, availability and affordability. Smallholders who used biopesticides cited effectiveness, recommendation by advisory services and perception of safety as key reasons for their choice. Although farmers viewed both pesticides and biopesticides as costly, they invested in the former due to their perceived effectiveness. Average willingness to pay, above current chemical pesticide expenditures per cropping season was 9.6% (US$5.7). Willingness to pay differed significantly between counties, and was higher among farmers with more education or greater awareness of the health risks associated with pesticide use.

Conclusion

This study confirms the low use of biopesticide products in the survey areas, alongside high use of conventional chemical pesticides. In order to promote greater uptake of biopesticides, addressing farmers' awareness and their perceptions of effectiveness is important, as well as increasing the knowledge of those providing advice and ensuring registered products are available locally at competitive prices. © 2020 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Improved Fmoc‐solid‐phase peptide synthesis of an extracellular loop of CFTR for antibody selection by the phage display technology
Authors: Ferreira Vera F.C. , Correia João D.G. , Farinha Carlos M. , Mendes Filipa
Published: May 2020

Cystic fibrosis (CF), a life‐shortening genetic disease, is caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that codes for the CFTR protein, the major chloride channel expressed at the apical membrane of epithelial cells. The development of an imaging probe capable of non‐invasively detect CFTR at the cell surface could be of great advantage for the management of CF. With that purpose, we synthesized the first extracellular loop of CFTR protein (ECL1) through fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc)‐based microwave‐assisted solid‐phase peptide synthesis (SPPS), according to a reported methodology. However, aspartimide formation, a well‐characterized side reaction in Fmoc‐SPPS, prompted us to adopt a different side‐chain protection strategy for aspartic acid residues present in ECL1 sequence. The peptide was subsequently modified via PEGylation and biotinylation, and cyclized through disulfide bridge formation, mimicking the native loop conformation in CFTR protein. Herein, we report improvements in the synthesis of the first extracellular loop of CFTR, including peptide modifications that can be used to improve antigen presentation in phage display for selection of novel antibodies against plasma membrane CFTR.
Zeus: A system description of the two‐time winner of the collegiate SAE autodrive competition
Authors: Burnett Keenan , Qian Jingxing , Du Xintong , Liu Linqiao , Yoon David J. , Shen Tianchang , Sun Susan , Samavi Sepehr , Sorocky Michael J. , Bianchi Mollie , Zhang Kaicheng , Arkhangorodsky Arkady , Sykora Quinlan , Lu Shichen , Huang Yizhou , Schoellig Angela P. , Barfoot Timothy D.
Published: May 2020

The SAE AutoDrive Challenge is a 3‐year collegiate competition to develop a self‐driving car by 2020. The second year of the competition was held in June 2019 at MCity, a mock town built for self‐driving car testing at the University of Michigan. Teams were required to autonomously navigate a series of intersections while handling pedestrians, traffic lights, and traffic signs. Zeus is aUToronto's winning entry in the AutoDrive Challenge. This article describes the system design and development of Zeus as well as many of the lessons learned along the way. This includes details on the team's organizational structure, sensor suite, software components, and performance at the Year 2 competition. With a team of mostly undergraduates and minimal resources, aUToronto has made progress toward a functioning self‐driving vehicle, in just 2 years. This article may prove valuable to researchers looking to develop their own self‐driving platform.
From pay‐out to participation: Indigenous mining employment as local development?
Authors: Holcombe Sarah , Kemp Deanna
Published: May 2020

Unprecedented numbers of Indigenous peoples in Canada and Australia are working in the mining industry. This study explores the proposition that Indigenous mining employment is a form of local development for these peoples. We establish links between the literatures on Indigenous work in the mining industry with development theory. For employment to be considered a form of local development we maintain that it must be understood through the framework of self‐determination, as this applies within a colonial context. A range of potentially enabling requirements is identified, including effective regional governance, career progression, gender equity and equality, and free prior and informed consent. We argue that, where such conditions are not in place, Indigenous peoples in settler states, such as Australia and Canada, risk swapping one kind of dependency for another: the welfare state for the mining economy. It is important that future research test the legitimacy of these conditions, while exploring alternative value propositions when mining companies seek to negotiate access to Indigenous peoples land and resources.
Resource‐Efficient Low‐Temperature Synthesis of Microcrystalline Pb2B5O9X (X = Cl, Br) for Surfaces Studies by Optical Second Harmonic Generation
Authors: Tan Deming , Kirbus Benjamin , Rüsing Michael , Pietsch Tobias , Ruck Michael , Eng Lukas M.
Published: May 2020

Optically nonlinear Pb2B5O9X (X = Cl, Br) borate halides are an important group of materials for second harmonic generation (SHG). Additionally, they also possess excellent photocatalytic activity and stability in the process of dechlorination of chlorophenols, which are typical persistent organic pollutants. It would be of great interest to conduct in situ (photo‐) catalysis investigations during the whole photocatalytic process by SHG when considering them as photocatalytic materials. In order to get superior photocatalytic efficiency and maximum surface information, small particles are highly desired. Here, a low‐cost and fast synthesis route that allows growing microcrystalline optically nonlinear Pb2B5O9X borate halides at large quantities is introduced. When applying the ionothermal growth process at temperatures between 130 and 170 °C, microcrystallites with an average size of about 1 µm precipitate with an orthorhombic hilgardite‐like borate halide structure. Thorough examinations using powder X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, the Pb2B5O9X microcrystals are indicated to be chemically pure and single‐phased. Besides, the Pb2B5O9X borate halides' SHG efficiencies are confirmed using confocal SHG microscopy. The low‐temperature synthesis route thus makes these borate halides a highly desirable material for surface studies such as monitoring chemical reactions with picosecond time resolution and in situ (photo‐) catalysis investigations.
Off‐Gas Waste Heat Recovery for Electric Arc Furnace Steelmaking Using Calcium Hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) Dehydration
Authors: Hartfuß Georg , Schmid Max , Scheffknecht Günter
Published: May 2020

Off‐gas waste heat recovery for electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking is challenging because high off‐gas velocity, fluctuating temperature, and high dust contents must be considered. In addition to the harsh off‐gas conditions, a heat storage system must be included to balance power‐off times of the EAF during taping or charging. However, waste heat recovery offers a significant potential for further efficiency improvements in EAF steelmaking. Herein, a novel process concept for extraction, storage, and utilization of off‐gas waste heat via entrained flow dehydration of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) for efficient power generation is described. The use of waste heat exchangers is avoided, and small heat storage units are achieved. The process concept, Ca(OH)2 dehydration and heat storage mechanism as well as important process parameters are discussed. Finally, the energy balance of the waste heat recovery process and further process improvements are presented.
Long noncoding RNA MACC1‐AS1 promotes the stemness of nonsmall cell lung cancer cells through promoting UPF1‐mediated destabilization of LATS1/2
Authors: Wang Xiaojun , Yu Xinnian , Wei Wei , Liu Yuanhua
Published: May 2020

The roles of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) MACC1‐AS1 have been revealed in various tumors. This work aims to explore the roles of lncRNA MACC1‐AS1 in the stemness of nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and the underlying mechanism. We showed that overexpression of MACC1‐AS1 enhanced the stemness of NSCLC cells, which is evident as the increased expression of cancer stem cell transcription factors, ALDH1 activity, and sphere‐formation capacity, while knockdown of MACC1‐AS1 decreased it. RNA‐sequencing analysis revealed that the Hippo pathway was mostly enriched in NSCLC cell with MACC1‐AS1 overexpression. Further mRNA and western blot analysis showed that ectopic expression of MACC1‐AS1 regulated the expression LATS1/2, the critical regulator of Hippo pathway. Additionally, it was found that MACC1‐AS1 interacted with up‐frameshift 1 (UPF1) to modulate mRNA decay of LATS1/2. Overexpression of LAST1/2 attenuated the promoting effects of MACC1‐AS1 overexpression on the stemness of NSCLC cells. Therefore, our results demonstrate the effects of the novel MACC1‐AS1/UPF1/LATS1/2 axis in NSCLC cell stemness.
Silver‐Loaded Bio‐Structured Carbon/Cadmium Sulfide Lamellar Composites with Enhanced Photocatalysis under Visible Light
Authors: Yan Qianyu , Chen Feng , You Yaying , Chen Zhigang
Published: May 2020

A silver (Ag)‐loaded biostructured carbon/cadmium sulfide (CdS) lamellar composite photocatalyst was synthesized using a hydrothermal and photodeposition method. Camellia petals functioned both as a biological layered template and as a source of carbon. The prepared composite photocatalyst demonstrated good absorption under visible light and exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation performance. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency of the obtained composites substantially improved compared with pure CdS. The 5 wt.‐% Ag‐loaded C/CdS sample exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity, reaching 96.5 % after 180 min, which was 8.7 times that of pure CdS. Specifically, the biocarbon sheet enhanced the absorption of visible light. Furthermore, the high electrical conductivity of Ag can effectively transfer and separate photogenerated electrons and holes, thus enhancing both photocatalytic performance and stability.
A Wavelet-Based Outlier Detection and Noise Component Analysis for GNSS Position Time Series
Authors: Ji Kunpu , Shen Yunzhong
Published: May 2020

Various signals of crustal deformation and mass loading deformation are contained in a GNSS position time series. However, a GNSS position time series is also polluted by outliers and various colored noise, which must be reasonably modelled before estimating deformation signals. Since temporal signals of the GNSS position time series are non-linear and complicated, we propose a wavelet-based approach for outlier detection, which first retrieves the temporal signals from the GNSS position time series by using wavelet analysis, and then detect outliers in the residual position time series by using the interquartile range. After the detected outliers are eliminated from the residual time series, the noise components, including white noise and flicker noise, are estimated by using MINQUE approach. Our proposed approach is used to process the real GNSS position time series of the Crustal Movement Observation Network of China (CMONOC) over the period spanning 1999–2018. The results demonstrate that our approach can detect the outliers more efficiently than the traditional approach, which retrieves the temporal signals by using a functional model with trend and periodic variations. As a result, the noise components estimated with our proposed approach are smaller than those with the traditional approach for the GNSS position time series of all CMONOC stations.
Reversible Control of Robots
Authors: Schultz Ulrik Pagh
Published: May 2020

Programming industrial robots is challenging due to the difficulty of precisely specifying general yet robust operations. As the complexity of these operations increases, so does the likelihood of errors. Certain classes of errors during industrial robot operations can however be addressed using reverse execution, allowing the robot to temporarily back out of an erroneous situation, after which the operation can be automatically retried. Moreover reverse execution permits automatically deriving programs that physically reverse the operations of an industrial robot. This can be useful in industrial assembly, where a disassembly program can be automatically derived from the assembly program.

In this case study we investigate robotic assembly from the point of view of reversibility, investigating to what extent program inversion of a robotic assembly sequence for a given product can be considered to derive a robotic disassembly sequence for this same product, and investigating to what extent changing the execution direction at runtime (i.e., backtracking and retrying) using program inversion can be used as an automatic error handling procedure. The programming model used to reversibly control industrial robots is based on an abstract semantics-based model, extended with various features required for reversible control of industrial robots in real-world scenarios, and implemented as a domain-specific programming language.
Differences in psychiatric care utilisation among unaccompanied refugee minors, accompanied migrant minors, and Swedish-born minors
Authors: Axelsson Lovisa , Bäärnhielm Sofie , Dalman Christina , Hollander Anna-Clara
Published: May 2020

Purpose

To better understand underutilisation of psychiatric care among migrant children, we compared utilisation of psychiatric care among unaccompanied refugee minors and accompanied migrant minors, with Swedish-born minors.

Methods

Using a large longitudinal database of linked national registers, we established a retrospective cohort of 1,328,397 people born 1984–1988 comparing minors born in Sweden to 2 Swedish-born parents (95.4%) to minors who had been arriving in Sweden between 2002 and 2011 with a permanent resident permit and were either unaccompanied refugee minors (0.4%), or accompanied migrant minors (4.0%). The outcome measures were different measures of psychiatric care including in- and outpatient care, and prescribed psychotropic medication.

Result

Compared with the Swedish-born minors the unaccompanied refugee minors had a higher likelihood of utilisation of all psychiatric care except ADHD medication. However, compared with accompanied migrant minors, the Swedish-born minors had a higher likelihood of having utilised psychiatric care.

Conclusion

Our study shows that during the first years of living in Sweden, there seems to be fewer barriers to psychiatric care for unaccompanied refugee minors compared to the accompanied migrant minors. There are a number of possible reasons for this including stronger ties with the Swedish society.
A Novel Method of Outcome Assessment in Breast Reconstruction Surgery: Comparison of Autologous and Alloplastic Techniques Using Three-Dimensional Surface Imaging
Authors: Hartmann Robin , Weiherer Maximilian , Schiltz Daniel , Seitz Stephan , Lotter Luisa , Anker Alexandra , Palm Christoph , Prantl Lukas , Brébant Vanessa
Published: May 2020

Background

Breast reconstruction is an important coping tool for patients undergoing a mastectomy. There are numerous surgical techniques in breast reconstruction surgery (BRS). Regardless of the technique used, creating a symmetric outcome is crucial for patients and plastic surgeons. Three-dimensional surface imaging enables surgeons and patients to assess the outcome’s symmetry in BRS. To discriminate between autologous and alloplastic techniques, we analyzed both techniques using objective optical computerized symmetry analysis. Software was developed that enables clinicians to assess optical breast symmetry using three-dimensional surface imaging.

Methods

Twenty-seven patients who had undergone autologous (n = 12) or alloplastic (n = 15) BRS received three-dimensional surface imaging. Anthropomorphic data were collected digitally using semiautomatic measurements and automatic measurements. Automatic measurements were taken using the newly developed software. To quantify symmetry, a Symmetry Index is proposed.

Results

Statistical analysis revealed that there is no difference in the outcome symmetry between the two groups (t test for independent samples; p = 0.48, two-tailed).

Conclusion

This study’s findings provide a foundation for qualitative symmetry assessment in BRS using automatized digital anthropometry. In the present trial, no difference in the outcomes’ optical symmetry was detected between autologous and alloplastic approaches. Level of evidence Level IV.

Level of Evidence IV

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.
Phenolic metabolism in the hornwort Anthoceros agrestis: 4-coumarate CoA ligase and 4-hydroxybenzoate CoA ligase
Authors: Wohl Julia , Petersen Maike
Published: May 2020

Key message

4-Coumarate coenzyme A ligase and 4-hydroxybenzoate coenzyme A ligase from the hornwort Anthoceros agrestis expressed in E. coli were characterized on biochemical and molecular levels and showed interesting substrate specificities.

Acyl-activating enzymes are associated with the biosynthesis or degradation of various metabolic products such as lipids, amino acids, sugars, and natural compounds. In this work, cDNA sequences encoding 4-coumarate coenzyme A ligase (4CL) and 4-hydroxybenzoate coenzyme A ligase (4HBCL) were amplified from the hornwort Anthoceros agrestis. The coding sequences were expressed in E. coli and purified by Ni-chelate chromatography. The CoA ligases exhibited different substrate specificities. 4CL catalyzed the activation of 4-coumaric acid, 3-coumaric acid, 2-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, isoferulic acid, ferulic acid, and cinnamic acid but lacked activities towards sinapic acid and benzoic acids. In contrast, 4HBCL preferred 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and benzoic acid, but also accepted other benzoic acid derivatives except salicylic acid and 3-aminosalicylic acid. Furthermore, 4HBCL also activated isoferulic acid, cinnamic acid, 2-coumaric acid, 3-coumaric acid, 4-coumaric acid and caffeic acid, but lacked affinity for ferulic acid and sinapic acid. These substrate specificities could be related to the phenolic compounds identified in Anthoceros agrestis.
Increased tortuosity of basilar artery might be associated with higher risk of aneurysm development
Authors: Kliś Kornelia M. , Krzyżewski Roger M. , Kwinta Borys M. , Łasocha Bartłomiej , Brzegowy Paweł , Stachura Krzysztof , Popiela Tadeusz J. , Borek Radosław , Gąsowski Jerzy
Published: May 2020

Objectives

We analysed tortuosity of basilar artery (BA) to determine its relationship with the presence of aneurysm.

Methods

We retrospectively analysed 71 patients with BA aneurysms along with 71 age- and risk factors-matched control patients without BA aneurysm. From patients’ medical records, we obtained their history including previous and current diseases and medications. For each patient, we calculated relative length (RL), sum of angle metrics (SOAM), triangular index (TI), product of angle distance (PAD) and inflexion count metrics (ICM). We used t-test and Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and χ2 test for dichotomised variables. To find independent predictors of BA aneurysm, we employed logistic regression analysis.

Results

We found significant positive correlation between age and SOAM (R = 0.195, p = 0.02) and PAD (R = 0.199, p = 0.018). Our study also showed that patients with BA aneurysm had significantly higher SOAM (0.21 ± 0.16 vs. 0.11 ± 0.08; p < 0.01), PAD (0.30 ± 0.19 vs. 0.18 ± 0.11; p < 0.01), TI (0.23 ± 0.23 vs. 0.10 ± 0.16; p < 0.01) and ICM (0.20 ± 0.16 vs. 0.15 ± 0.11; p = 0.045). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for all possible confounders, SOAM (OR = 1.086; 95% CI 1.046–1.136; p < 0.01) and TI (OR = 1.004; 95%C: 1.002–1.006; p < 0.01) remained independently associated with higher risk of BA aneurysm.

Conclusions

Increased tortuosity of BA is associated with higher risk of its aneurysm development.

Key Points

• Basilar artery sum of angle metrics and product of angle distance are correlated with age.

• Basilar artery tortuosity is independently associated with higher risk of its aneurysm development.

• Basilar artery tortuosity is positively correlated with its diameter and bifurcation angle.
How do short-term associations between diet quality and metabolic risk vary with age?
Authors: Winpenny Eleanor M. , van Sluijs Esther M. F. , Forouhi Nita G.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

Poor diet quality is one of the key contributors to poor cardiovascular health and associated morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to assess how the short-term associations between diet quality and metabolic risk factors change with age.

Methods

This longitudinal, observational study used data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (2008–2016) (n = 2024). Diet quality was measured using the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) index, fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake, and a F&V biomarker score. We assessed associations between measures of diet quality and a metabolic risk z score (generated from five metabolic risk factors) among those aged 11–60 years, and then tested effect modification by age group (adolescents 11–18 years, young adults 19–35 years, mid-aged adults 36–60 years).

Results

Analysis across all age groups showed inverse associations between standardised DASH index and metabolic risk z score of − 0.19 (95% CI − 0.26, − 0.11). These associations were moderated by age group, with strong associations seen in mid-aged adults: − 0.27 (95% CI − 0.39, − 0.16), but associations were significantly attenuated in young adults [− 0.10 (95% CI − 0.22, 0.01)] and adolescents [0.03 (95% CI − 0.05, 0.11)]. Similar results were found for F&V intake and F&V biomarker score.

Conclusions

Short-term associations between diet quality and metabolic risk are not consistent across adolescent and young adult age groups, suggesting that mechanisms by which diet impacts on metabolic risk may be acting differently in younger age groups compared to adults. Further research is warranted using longitudinal study designs and replication in different populations to understand changes in determinants of cardiometabolic health with age.
Preclinical evaluation of the versius surgical system, a new robot-assisted surgical device for use in minimal access general and colorectal procedures
Authors: Morton Jonathan , Hardwick Richard H. , Tilney Henry S. , Gudgeon A. Mark , Jah Asif , Stevens Lewis , Marecik Slawomir , Slack Mark
Published: May 2020

Objective

To evaluate the utility of a new robot-assisted surgical system (the Versius Surgical System, CMR Surgical, Cambridge, UK) for use in minimal access general and colorectal surgery, in a preclinical setting.

Summary background data

Robot-assisted laparoscopy has been developed to overcome some of the important limitations of conventional laparoscopy. The new system is designed to assist surgeons in performing minimal access surgery and overcome some of the challenges associated with currently available surgical robots.

Methods

Cadaveric sessions were conducted to evaluate the ability of the system to provide adequate surgical access and reach required to complete a range of general and colorectal procedures. Port and bedside unit positions were recorded, and surgical access and reach were evaluated by the lead surgeon using a visual analogue scale. A live animal (porcine) model was used to assess the surgical device’s safety in performing cholecystectomy or small bowel enterotomy.

Results

Nine types of procedure were performed in cadavers by nine lead surgeons; 35/38 procedures were completed successfully. The positioning of ports and bedside units reflected the lead surgeons’ preferred laparoscopic set-up and enabled good surgical access and reach. Cholecystectomy (n = 6) and small bowel enterotomy (n = 5) procedures performed in pigs were all completed successfully by two surgeons. There were no device-related intra-operative complications.

Conclusions

This preclinical study of a new robot-assisted surgical system for minimal access general and colorectal surgery demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of the system in cadaver and porcine models. Further studies are required to assess its clinical utility.
Video trajectory analysis using unsupervised clustering and multi-criteria ranking
Authors: Sekh Arif Ahmed , Dogra Debi Prosad , Kar Samarjit , Roy Partha Pratim
Published: May 2020

Surveillance camera usage has increased significantly for visual surveillance. Manual analysis of large video data recorded by cameras may not be feasible on a larger scale. In various applications, deep learning-guided supervised systems are used to track and identify unusual patterns. However, such systems depend on learning which may not be possible. Unsupervised methods relay on suitable features and demand cluster analysis by experts. In this paper, we propose an unsupervised trajectory clustering method referred to as t-Cluster. Our proposed method prepares indexes of object trajectories by fusing high-level interpretable features such as origin, destination, path, and deviation. Next, the clusters are fused using multi-criteria decision making and trajectories are ranked accordingly. The method is able to place abnormal patterns on the top of the list. We have evaluated our algorithm and compared it against competent baseline trajectory clustering methods applied to videos taken from publicly available benchmark datasets. We have obtained higher clustering accuracies on public datasets with significantly lesser computation overhead.