bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Levetiracetam Pregnancy Registry: Final results and a review of the impact of registry methodology and definitions on the prevalence of major congenital malformations
Authors: Scheuerle Angela E. , Holmes Lewis B. , Albano Jessica D. , Badalamenti Vincent , Battino Dina , Covington Deborah , Harden Cynthia , Miller David , Montouris Georgia D. , Pantaleoni Chiara , Thorp John , Tofighy Azita , Tomson Torbjörn , Golembesky Amanda K.
Published: May 2019

Background

To evaluate pregnancy outcomes among women participating in the antiepileptic drug (AED) Levetiracetam Registry (LEV‐Registry), and to review the impact of using two other registries' outcome definitions on the number of major congenital malformations (MCMs).

Methods

This US‐based prospective study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00345475) was overseen by an independent Expert Panel. Women exposed to levetiracetam at any time during pregnancy enrolled, directly, or via their healthcare provider. The primary outcome was prevalence of MCMs, defined according to a modified version of the Metropolitan Atlanta Congenital Defects Program criteria.

Results

Of 491 women enrolled, 465 (94.7%) had a documented outcome. Most (92.3%) received levetiracetam for epilepsy; 323 (69.4%) as monotherapy and 142 (30.5%) as polytherapy. With three twin pregnancies, there were 468 outcomes—444 livebirths, 3 stillbirths, 19 miscarriages, and 2 terminations. Based on the MCM definition used by LEV‐Registry, 46 infants among 444 livebirths had MCMs resulting in 10.4% (95% CI 7.7, 13.6) for overall prevalence, 9.4% (95% CI 6.4, 13.2) with monotherapy, and 12.6% (95% CI 7.5, 19.4) with polytherapy. When MCM reports were reviewed independently by staff at EURAP (International Registry of AEDs) and North American AED Pregnancy Registry according to their respective criteria, only 22 and 7 infants of the 46, respectively, were classified as having MCMs.

Conclusion

The LEV‐Registry Expert Panel did not find evidence suggestive of teratogenic association with prenatal exposure to levetiracetam. The substantial differences in which physical findings were considered MCMs highlight the major impact of pregnancy registry methodology on MCM prevalence estimates.
A computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging study of the variations of the sciatic nerve branches of the pediatric knee: Implications for peripheral nerve blockade
Authors: Byun Sarang , Gordon Joshua , Morris Sarah , Jacob Tripti , Pather Nalini
Published: May 2019

In pediatric patients, peripheral anesthetic blockade of the sciatic nerve is useful for postoperative pain relief after orthopedic procedures of the lower limb. The identification of the sciatic and its branches relative to the surrounding anatomical structures of the knee significantly contribute to the successful nerve blockade. However, reports have demonstrated complications arising from the inadequate and inconsistent understanding of the anatomy of the nerves in the knee region. In addition, the paucity of information regarding the location of the nerves of the knee throughout the pediatric development needs to be addressed in order for peripheral nerve blockades to become more readily used among the pediatric population. This clinical imaging study therefore aimed to document and analyze the relative morphometric relationship of the nerves in the knee region throughout the different stages of pediatric development. The locations of the sciatic, tibial, and common fibular nerves were measured in relation to relevant anatomical structures in 142 pediatric magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. A strong correlation was found between age and the distance from the common fibular nerve to the semitendinosus muscle, and thus can be used to predict stature. Significant differences were found between males and females, specifically after puberty, suggesting that sexual dimorphism emerges more distinctively at puberty. In order to predict the location of the nerves at the popliteal fossa, a regression formula using the patient's age and bicondylar width was created. These finding may have significant implications for popliteal approach of the sciatic nerve blockade in pediatric patients. Clin. Anat. 32:836–850, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Experimental Data on Mutual Mass Diffusivities of Binary Mixtures of Ethanol and [EMIM][DEP]
Authors: Meyer Thomas , Schulze Udo
Published: May 2019

Ionic liquids have been widely discussed for manifold applications in chemical and energy engineering. Reliable molecular transport property data for the heat and mass transfer are indispensable. In this study, the diaphragm‐cell method has been applied to determine the mutual mass diffusivities of binary mixtures of ethanol in the ionic liquid [EMIM][DEP] for various ranges of temperatures and ionic liquid mass fractions. A simple correlation based on the Stokes‐Einstein relation is used to fit the experimental data.
General change mechanisms in the early treatment phase and their associations with the outcome of cognitive behavioural therapy in patients with different levels of motivational incongruence
Authors: Gmeinwieser Sebastian , Hagmayer York , Pieh Christoph , Probst Thomas
Published: May 2019

Early general change mechanisms (GCMs) have been shown to be associated with psychotherapy outcome but it remains unclear which specific patients benefit from which GCM. This study explored whether the patients' characteristic motivational incongruence moderates the effect of GCMs in the early treatment phase on the outcome. Three early GCMs (interpersonal experiences, intrapersonal experiences, and problem actuation) were evaluated after five therapy‐preparing sessions by patients and therapists. On the basis of previous work, we assumed that the association between intrapersonal experiences and outcome is moderated by incongruence. A total of 524 patients completing outpatient cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) were investigated. The patient‐reported outcome measure was psychological symptom severity. The patients' motivational incongruence was assessed with the incongruence questionnaire short form at baseline. Results showed that therapists' ratings of all three early GCMs and patients' ratings of early problem actuation were not associated with CBT outcome. By contrast, positive patients' ratings of early interpersonal and early intrapersonal experiences were beneficial for CBT outcome (both p < .05). Only the association between patients' ratings of early intrapersonal experiences and CBT outcome was moderated by incongruence (p < .05). The higher the patients' baseline incongruence was, the more beneficial early intrapersonal experiences in the patients' perspective were for a good outcome. These findings entail that increasing early intrapersonal experiences from the patients' perspective is particularly important in patients with motivational incongruence but working on early interpersonal experiences in the patients' perspective is important in patients with all levels of incongruence to reach a good CBT outcome.
Nearshore seascape connectivity enhances seagrass meadow nursery function
Authors: Olson Angeleen M. , Hessing‐Lewis Margot , Haggarty Dana , Juanes Francis
Published: May 2019

Diverse habitats composing coastal seascapes occur in close proximity, connected by the flux of materials and fauna across habitat boundaries. Understanding how seascape connectivity alters important ecosystem functions for fish, however, is not well established. For a seagrass‐dominant seascape, we predicted that configuration and composition of adjacent habitats would alter habitat access for fauna and trophic subsidies, enhancing nursery function for juvenile fish. In an extensive Zostera marina seagrass meadow, we established sites adjacent to (1) highly complex and productive kelp forests (Nereocystis luetkeana), (2) unvegetated sand habitats, and (3) in the seagrass meadow interior. Using SCUBA, we conducted underwater observations of young‐of the‐year (YOY) rockfish (Sebastes spp.) recruitment across sites. Using generalized linear mixed effects models, we assessed the role of seascape adjacency relative to seagrass provisions (habitat complexity and prey) on YOY recruitment. YOY rockfish collections were used to trace sources of allochthonous vs. autochthonous primary production in the seagrass food web, via a δ13C and δ15N isotopic mixing model, and prey consumption using stomach contents. Overall, seagrass nursery function was strongly influenced by adjacent habitats and associated subsidies. Allochthonous N. luetkeana was the greatest source of energy assimilated by YOY rockfish within seagrass sites. In seagrass sites adjacent to N. luetkeana kelp forests, YOYs consumed higher quality prey, which corresponded with better body condition relative to sites adjacent to sand. Moreover, kelp forest adjacency enhanced YOY rockfish recruitment within the seagrass meadow, suggesting that habitat complexity is a key seascape feature influencing the nursery function of nearshore habitats. In general, to promote seascape connectivity, the conservation and restoration of nursery habitats should prioritize the inclusion of habitat mosaics of high structural complexity and productivity. We illustrate and emphasize the importance of using a seascape‐level approach that considers linkages among habitats for the management of important nearshore ecosystem functions.
Resolving the depth zonation paradox in reef‐building corals
Authors: Roberts T. Edward , Bridge Tom C. L. , Caley M. Julian , Madin Joshua S. , Baird Andrew H.
Published: May 2019

Changes in abundance across a natural environmental gradient provide important insights into a species’ realized ecological niche. In reef‐building corals, a species’ niche is often defined using its depth range. However, most reef‐building coral species occur over a broad depth range, a fact that is incompatible with the strong zonation found in coral assemblages across depth. We resolve this paradox by modeling the abundance distributions of 110 coral species across a 45 m depth gradient to show that most are in fact depth specialists and reveal that depth range alone is incapable of capturing a species’ depth use. We then highlight the significance of our results by demonstrating how depth range greatly overestimates the potential number of species with a refuge at depth from global warming. Our findings illustrate both the limitations of the simple metric of depth range and the ecological insights that can be gained by moving beyond it.
Controlling the Crystal Field of Heteroleptic Bis(phthalocyaninato) Erbium for Field‐Induced Magnetic Relaxation
Authors: Liu Chao , Li Miao , Zhang Yiquan , Tian Haiquan , Chen Yuxiang , Wang Hailong , Dou Jianmin , Jiang Jianzhuang
Published: May 2019

Heteroleptic bis(phthalocyaninato) erbium(III) double‐decker compounds in neutral unprotonated state [(Pc)Er{Pc{N(C4H9)2}8}]· (1) and reduced form [(Pc)Er{Pc{N(C4H9)2}8}]– (2) belonging to one‐radical‐containing and non‐radical‐containing species, respectively, were prepared by the assembly of unsubstituted phthalocyanine, dibutylamino‐substituted phthalocyanine and erbium ion. Both neutral unprotonated and reduced analogues were confirmed by various spectroscopic techniques, showing different magnetic properties from non‐magnetic relaxation to field‐induced magnetic relaxation. The field‐induced magnetic relaxation of 2 is associated with the employment of the easy‐plane rather than easy‐axis magnetic anisotropy for the ErIII ion on the basis of complete‐active‐space self‐consistent field (CASSCF) calculations. However, despite the easy‐plane system also for 1, the interaction between ErIII ion and radical gives birth to a fast quantum tunneling of magnetization (QTM), resulting in its non‐SMM nature.
Synthesis and Microbiological Properties of Novel Bis‐Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Based on Biphenyl Spacer
Authors: Vereshchagin Anatoly N. , Gordeeva Alexandra M. , Frolov Nikita A. , Proshin Pavel I. , Hansford Karl A. , Egorov Mikhail P.
Published: May 2019

Novel gemini (tail‐head‐spacer‐head‐tail) bis‐quaternary ammonium compounds (bis‐QACs) with a biphenyl spacer between two pyridinium heads were synthesized and compared with commonly used antiseptics such as benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG). The series of compounds showed high inhibitory activity against five bacterial strains and two fungi. The compounds, which contain C8H17‐C10H21 aliphatic tails best within the series. A counterion change does not affect MIC in general. Cytotoxicity on human embryonic kidney cells and haemolysis were also investigated. For bis‐QACs cytotoxic effect was lower than for 3,3′‐[1,4‐phenylenebis(oxy)]bis(1‐dodecylpyridinium) dibromide (3PHBO‐12), that is their closest structural analogue, and for BAC.
Meta‐analysis on the efficacy of psychological treatments for anorexia nervosa
Authors: van den Berg Elske , Houtzager Laura , de Vos Jasmijn , Daemen Inge , Katsaragaki Georgia , Karyotaki Eirini , Cuijpers Pim , Dekker Jack
Published: May 2019

Objective

This meta‐analysis examines the efficacy of recently developed psychological treatments for anorexia nervosa, compared with control condition. Outcome criteria are weight gain, eating disorder pathology, and quality of life.

Method

Twelve thousand nine hundred ninety‐seven abstracts, published between 1980 and 2017, were retrieved. End‐of‐treatment data from 1,279 participants, from 15 of 17 eligible studies, were used to calculate pooled‐effect sizes (Hedges' g) for outcome using random‐effects model. Subgroup analyses were used to explore the influence of various patient and study characteristics.

Results

No significant differences between psychological treatment and controls were found on weight gain, g = 0.07, 95% CI [−0.09, 0.23], eating disorder pathology, g = 0.06, 95% CI [−0.10, 0.21], and quality of life, g = −0.11, 95% CI [−0.36, 0.15]. Studies including only patients over 18 years of age were more effective on weight gain than studies including adolescents as well. High‐quality studies and studies with reported therapist training had larger effects on weight gain and quality of life compared with low‐quality studies and studies without reported training.

Conclusions

Despite progress in the development of specialized treatments, the efficacy of psychological treatment over an active control condition could not be established. Outcomes, however, are obscured by low‐quality and heterogeneous studies.
Evaluation of human breastmilk adulteration by combining Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and partial least square modeling
Authors: De Luca Michele , Ioele Giuseppina , Spatari Claudia , Caruso Luisa , Galasso Maria P. , Ragno Gaetano
Published: May 2019

A two‐step chemometric procedure was developed on the attenuated total reflection‐Fourier transform infrared data of human breastmilk to detect adulteration by water or cow milk. The samples, collected from a Milk Bank, were analyzed before and after adulteration with whole, skimmed, semi‐skimmed cow milk and water. A preliminary clustering via principal component analysis distinguished three classes: pure milk, milk adulterated with water, and milk adulterated with cow milk. A first partial least square‐discriminant analysis (PLS‐DA) classification model was built and then applied on new samples to identify the specific adulterants. The external validation on this model reached 100% of the correct identification of pure milk and 90% of the type of adulterants. In the following step, four PLS calibration models were built to quantify the amount of the adulterant detected in the classification analysis. The prediction performance of these models on new samples showed satisfactory parameters with root mean square error of prediction and percentage relative error lower than 1.38% and 3.31%, respectively.
Biliary Obstruction Promotes Multilineage Differentiation of Hepatic Stem Cells
Authors: Yovchev Mladen I. , Lee Edward J. , Rodriguez‐Silva Waldemar , Locker Joseph , Oertel Michael
Published: May 2019

Because of their high regenerative potential, stem cells are an ideal resource for development of therapies that replace injured tissue mass and restore function in patients with end‐stage liver diseases. Using a rat model of bile duct ligation (BDL) and biliary fibrosis, we investigated cell engraftment, liver repopulation, and ectopic tissue formation after intrasplenic transplantation of epithelial stem/progenitor cells. Fetal liver cells were infused into the spleens of Fisher 344 rats with progressing biliary fibrosis induced by common BDL or rats without BDL. Cell delivery was well tolerated. After migration to the liver, donor‐derived stem/progenitor cells engrafted, differentiated into hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, and formed large cell clusters at 2 months in BDL rats but not controls. Substantial numbers of donor cells were also detected at the splenic injection site where they generated hepatic and nonhepatic tissue. Transplanted cells differentiated into phenotypes other than hepato/cholangiocytic cells only in rats that underwent BDL. Quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses demonstrated marked up‐regulation of tissue‐specific genes of nonhepatic endodermal lineages (e.g., caudal type homeobox 2 [Cdx2], pancreatic and duodenal homeobox 1 [Pdx1], keratin 13 [CK‐13]), confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: BDL and its induced fibrosis promote liver repopulation by ectopically transplanted fetal liver‐derived cells. These cell fractions contain multipotent stem cells that colonize the spleen of BDL rats and differentiate into multiple gastrointestinal tissues, including liver, pancreas, intestine, and esophagus. The splenic microenvironment, therefore, represents an ideal niche to assess the differentiation of these stem cells, while BDL provides a stimulus that induces their differentiation.
A novel combined miRNA and methylation marker panel (miMe) for prediction of prostate cancer outcome after radical prostatectomy
Authors: Strand Siri H. , Bavafaye‐Haghighi Elham , Kristensen Helle , Rasmussen Anne K. , Hoyer Soren , Borre Michael , Mouritzen Peter , Besenbacher Soren , Orntoft Torben F. , Sorensen Karina D.
Published: May 2019

Improved prognostic biomarkers are needed to guide personalized prostate cancer (PC) treatment decisions. Due to the prominent molecular heterogeneity of PC, multimarker panels may be more robust. Here, 25 selected top‐candidate miRNA and methylation markers for PC were profiled by qPCR in malignant radical prostatectomy (RP) tissue specimens from 198 PC patients (Cohort 1, training). Using GLMnet, we trained a novel multimarker model (miMe) comprising nine miRNAs and three methylation markers that predicted postoperative biochemical recurrence (BCR) independently of the established clinicopathological CAPRA‐S nomogram in Cox multivariate regression analysis in Cohort 1 (HR [95% CI]: 1.53 [1.26–1.84], p < 0.001). This result was successfully validated in two independent RP cohorts (Cohort 2, n = 159: HR [95% CI]: 1.35 [1.06–1.73], p = 0.015. TCGA, n = 350: HR [95% CI]: 1.34 [1.01–1.77], p = 0.04). Notably, in CAPRA‐S low‐risk patients, a high miMe score was associated with >6 times higher risk of BCR, suggesting that miMe may help identify PC patients at high risk of progression despite favorable clinicopathological factors postsurgery. Finally, miMe was a significant predictor of cancer‐specific survival (p = 0.019, log‐rank test) in a merged analysis of 357 RP patients. In conclusion, we trained, tested and validated a novel 12‐marker panel (miMe) that showed significant independent prognostic value in three RP cohorts. In the future, combining miMe score with existing clinical nomograms may improve PC risk stratification and thus help guide treatment decisions.
CREBZF regulates testosterone production in mouse Leydig cells
Authors: Lu Minjie , Zhang Ruixue , Yu Tong , Wang Lei , Liu Shouqin , Cai Rui , Guo Xinyan , Jia Yanni , Wang Aihua , Jin Yaping , Lin Pengfei
Published: May 2019

CREBZF, including the two isoforms SMILE (long isoform of CREBZF) and Zhangfei (short isoform of CREBZF), has been identiﬁed as a novel transcriptional coregulator of a variety of nuclear receptors. Our previous studies found that SMILE is expressed in the mouse uterine luminal and glandular epithelium and is upregulated by estrogen. In the present study, CREBZF was age‐dependently and ‐specifically expressed in mouse interstitial Leydig cells during sexual maturation. The expression pattern of CREBZF exhibited an age‐related increase, and SMILE was the dominant isoform in the mouse testis. Although hCG did not affect CREBZF expression, CREBZF silencing signiﬁcantly inhibited hCG‐stimulated testosterone production in primary Leydig cells and MLTC‐1 cells. Meanwhile, the serum concentration of testosterone was signiﬁcantly decreased after microinjection of lentiviral‐mediated shRNA‐CREBZF into the mature mouse testis. In addition, CREBZF silencing markedly decreased P450c17, 17β‐HSD, and 3β‐HSD expression following hCG stimulation in primary Leydig cells, and this inhibitory effect was obviously reversed by overexpression of CREBZF. Furthermore, CREBZF significantly upregulated the mRNA levels of Nr4a1 and Nr5a1, which are the essential orphan nuclear receptors for steroidogenic gene expression. Together our data indicate that CREBZF promotes hCG‐induced testosterone production in mouse Leydig cells by affecting Nr4a1 and Nr5a1 expression levels and subsequently increasing the expression of steroidogenic genes such as 3β‐HSD, 17β‐HSD, and P450c17, suggesting a potential important role of CREBZF in testicular testosterone synthesis.
Selective conversion of furans to p‐xylene with surface‐modified zeolites
Authors: Zhu Lijuan , Fan Minghui , Wang Yulan , Wang Shengfei , He Yuting , Li Quanxin
Published: May 2019

BACKGROUND

Owing to the growing consumption of oil and the negative environmental impacts, the production of p‐xylene (PX) from renewable biomass has gained significant attention recently. However, the major challenge for the production of PX from biomass or furans is how to improve the yield and selectivity of PX, along with reducing coke.

RESULTS

The para selectivity in the catalytic conversion of furans was greatly enhanced owing to the deactivation of external surface and the adjustment of pore entrance. Co‐catalytic conversion of furans and methanol significantly enhanced the production of PX by the Diels–Alder reactions between furans and olefins and the alkylation of benzene/toluene with methanol. The highest PX yield of 17.8 C‐mol% with a p‐xylene/xylene ratio of 94.5% was obtained by the co‐conversion of 2‐methylfuran with methanol over the 15%La/10%Ce/HZ catalyst.

CONCLUSION

This work proved that furans (2‐methylfuran, 2,5‐dimethylfuran, furfural and furan) were able to be selectively converted into a high‐value chemical (PX) over the 15%La/10%Ce/HZ catalyst. The transformation mainly involved four key reactions: the catalytic cracking of furans, the Diels–Alder reactions, the alkylation of aromatics and the isomerization of xylenes over the surface‐modified zeolite. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Impact of nasopharyngeal irradiation and gadolinium administration on changes in T1 signal intensity of the dentate nucleus in nasopharyngeal malignancy patients without intracranial abnormalities
Authors: Tang Rongbiao , Haacke E. Mark , Zhang Yibin , Wang Qingrou , He Naying , Chen Ke‐min , Yan Fuhua
Published: May 2019

Background

Irradiation has been found to increase T1 signal intensity (SI) of the dentate nucleus (DN) by accelerating the gadolinium deposition in patients after multiple gadolinium‐based contrast agent (GBCA) administrations. Several reports have focused on this phenomenon in patients with brain tumors; however, data in patients receiving irradiation with no intracranial abnormalities (NIAs) are lacking.

Purpose

To explore how nasopharyngeal irradiation affected SI changes on unenhanced T1‐weighted imaging (T1WI) in the DN in nasopharyngeal malignancy (NPM) patients who presented with NIAs and who had multiple injection doses (IDs) of linear GBCAs.

Study Type

Single‐center, retrospective, case–control study.

Population

In all, 132 subjects: 66 NPM patients, 66 matched controls.

Field Strength/Sequence

1.5T and 3T/T1WI, T2WI, and fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR).

Assessment

Radiation doses (RDs) were calculated by a radiotherapy technician. SIs were measured by a radiologist. The DN‐to‐cerebellar white matter (CWM) SI ratios and their relative percentage change (Rchange) were compared.

Statistical Tests

Shapiro–Wilk test, paired t‐test, independent t‐test, Mann–Whitney U‐test, Pearson and Spearman correlation.

Results

DN/CWM
b ratios or R
change from the NPM group were significantly higher than those from the control group (P < 0.001). No significant difference of DN/CWM
a ratios was found between the two groups (P > 0.05). Positive correlations between R
change, DN/CWM
b ratio, and the number of IDs were found in both the NPM and control groups (P < 0.01). The overall changes of DN/CWM
b ratio or R
change between NPM and control groups were higher for the higher‐IDs subgroup (≥10) than for the lower‐IDs subgroup (<10).

Data Conclusion

Nasopharyngeal irradiation appeared to increase SI in T1WI in NPM patients with NIAs and repeated GBCA administrations relative to control patients who also underwent GBCA administrations, especially when IDs ≥10. However, no significant association between R
change and RDs to the DNs was found.

Level of Evidence: 3

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;51:250–259.
Retrospective phase‐based gating for cardiac proton spectroscopy with fixed scan time
Authors: Gastl Mareike , Peereboom Sophie M. , Fuetterer Maximilian , Boenner Florian , Kelm Malte , Manka Robert , Kozerke Sebastian
Published: May 2019

Background

Respiratory motion is a major limiting factor for spectral quality and duration of in vivo proton MR spectroscopy of the heart. Prospective navigator gating is frequently applied to minimize the effects of respiratory motion, but scan durations are subject‐dependent and hence difficult to predict.

Purpose

To implement cardiac proton MRS with fixed scan time by employing retrospective phase‐based gating and to compare the proposed method to conventional navigator‐gated MRS.

Study Type

Prospective.

Subjects

Eighteen healthy volunteers (29.7 ± 7.8 years).

Field Strength/Sequence

1.5, navigator‐gated (16 averages without, 96 with water suppression [WS]) data acquisition as reference and navigator‐free data acquisition with a fixed scan time (48 without WS, 304 with WS), cardiac‐triggered point‐resolved spectroscopy (PRESS).

Assessment

Navigator‐free data acquisition with retrospective phase‐based gating was compared with prospective navigator‐gating. Navigator‐free acquisition was repeated in 10 subjects to assess reproducibility. Scan time was assessed for prospective and retrospective gating. Retrospective phase‐based gating was performed using a threshold based on the standard deviation (SD) of individual water (W) and triglyceride (TG) phases.

Statistical Tests

T‐tests and Bland–Altman analysis.

Results

The duration of the prospective navigator‐gated scans ranged from 6:09 minutes to 21:50 minutes (mean 10:05 ± 3:46 min, gating efficiency 40.4 ± 10.5%), while data acquisition for retrospective phase‐based gating had a fixed scan time of 11:44 minutes. Retrospective phase‐based gating using a threshold of 1 × SD yielded a gating efficiency of 72.7 ± 4.3% and a coefficient of variation (CoV) of triglyceride‐to‐water ratios of 9.8% compared with the navigated reference. The intrasubject reproducibility of retrospective gating revealed a CoV of 9.5%.

Data Conclusion

Cardiac proton MRS employing retrospective phase‐based gating is feasible and provides reproducible assessment of TG/W in a fixed scan time. Since scan time is independent of respiratory motion, retrospective phase‐based gating offers an approach to motion compensation with predictable exam time for proton MRS of the heart.

Level of Evidence: 2

Technical Efficacy: Stage 2

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2019;50:1973–1981.
Raman spectroscopic vibrational analysis of the complex iron sulfates clairite, metavoltine, and voltaite from the burning coal dump Anna I, Alsdorf, Germany
Authors: Košek F. , Edwards H.G.M. , Jehlička J.
Published: May 2019

Vibrational spectroscopy has been used to characterize the three uncommon complex iron sulfates clairite, (NH4)2Fe3(SO4)4(OH)3 3H2O, metavoltine, Na6K2Fe2+Fe3+6(SO4)12O2·18H2O, and voltaite, K2Fe2+5Fe3+3Al(SO4)12 18H2O. The investigated specimens were formed at the burning coal dump Anna I (Alsdorf, Germany) due to alteration processes connected with the subsurface thermal activity. It is found that all three minerals display complex Raman spectra with an extensive proliferation of bands attributed to the sulfate vibrational modes. Both clairite and metavoltine show extraordinary strong Raman bands in the low‐wavenumber region, which can be attributed to the FeO stretching modes. Clairite and metavoltine show a very similar spectral shape; it can be concluded that both minerals can exhibit a similar crystal structure. In comparison, voltaite represents a different structural type; therefore, a distinct Raman spectrum is observed.
Prognosis of congenital idiopathic abductor laryngeal paralysis with laryngeal electromyography
Authors: Giotakis A.I. , Pototschnig C.
Published: May 2019

Objective

To assess if laryngeal electromyography could provide additional information in the prognosis of congenital bilateral idiopathic abductor vocal cord paralysis (abCBILP).

Methods

We performed a retrospective review over a 23‐year period (1995–2018) of all children younger than 13 years old in the Medical University of Innsbruck.

Results

We identified five infants with abCBILP. Fiberoptic laryngeal endoscopy revealed bilateral vocal cord immobility in adduction without accompanying laryngeal findings. Tracheostomy rate was 100%. Tracheostomy was performed after minimum 3 weeks of non‐improvement with continuous positive airway pressure treatment or intubation. In all patients, repeated laryngeal electromyography revealed volitional activity. All patients showed excellent full late recovery in the second quinquennium of life.

Conclusion

Presence of volitional activity in laryngeal electromyography could identify patients with excellent prognosis. Prospective laryngeal electromyography studies are required in more patients with abCBILP in order to document laryngeal electromyography findings also by patients with poor late recovery. Patients with poor prognosis could be selected for early laryngeal intervention to avoid tracheostomy‐dependent issues.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 130:E252–E257, 2020
Runoff and soil erosion responses to rainfall and vegetation cover under various afforestation management regimes in subtropical montane forest
Authors: Xu Chao , Yang Zhijie , Qian Wei , Chen Shidong , Liu Xiaofei , Lin Weisheng , Xiong Decheng , Jiang Miaohua , Chang Chung‐Te , Huang Jr‐Chuan , Yang Yusheng
Published: May 2019

Soil erosion and runoff generation are a major concern in forest and agricultural ecosystem management. However, the tangled coeffects of rainfall and vegetation on runoff and erosion generation are regionally dependent and remain unclear in regions with high erosivity, such as Southeast China where the large‐scale afforestation is being implemented. Here, we present the 4‐year observations of runoff and erosion responses to various storms following three afforestation (assisted natural regeneration [ANR; windrowing harvest residues on surface]; Chinese fir cultivation [YCF]; andCastanopsis carlesiicultivation [YCP] after slash‐and‐burn) since 2012. Stepwise power‐law regressions were used to identify the key variables and formulate the responses. Results show that the YCF and YCP following slash and burn have extremely high erosion rates, over 20 t ha−1 yr−1(twofold higher than the global tolerable threshold), during the first year. In contrast, the erosion rate is only approximately 1.3 t ha−1 yr−1in the ANR. The high erosion rates reveal the environmental vulnerability and the necessity of management in this region. Stepwise regressions suggest total rainfall rather than rainfall intensity as key variable probably because the forest canopy substantially offsets raindrop kinetics. The nonlinear runoff and erosion responses indicate that the risk of soil erosion is extremely high when vegetation cover is less than 40% and rainfall is greater than 80 mm. This study, therefore, suggests that windrowing harvest residues into strips or maintaining a vegetation cover greater than 40% is a sound management practice for mitigating land degradation in this region.
The effect of temperature on corrosion behavior of AA5083 in brackish water and seawater
Authors: Lokas Lea , Alar Vesna
Published: May 2019

Al‐alloy, AA5083, as a lightweight structural material with favorable mechanical properties and, compared with other lightweight materials, good corrosion resistance has an increased usage in the marine environment. It is well known that all Al‐alloys, including AA5083, in the presence of chloride ions are more prone to corrosion. Determination of corrosion behavior of AA5083 in seawater and brackish water has been investigated and compared at 18, 25, and at 30°C. To obtain more accurate and realistic results, fresh seawater and brackish water were sampled as an electrolyte in Sibenik region. The investigation was carried out using the following electrochemical methods: open circuit potential measurement, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, linear polarization resistance, potentiodynamic polarization, and cyclic polarization. After potentiodynamic polarization measurement, each alloy was examined using a metallographic microscope to clarify corrosion morphology. Obtained results have shown that an increase in temperature leads to an increase in corrosion activity of AA5083 in both electrolytes, while microscopic examination reveals that the dominant type of corrosion is pitting.
Effect of passive film on the galvanic corrosion of titanium alloy Ti60 coupled to copper alloy H62
Authors: Zhao Pingping , Song Yingwei , Dong Kaihui , Shan Dayong , Han En‐Hou
Published: May 2019

Ti alloys exhibit high potential because of the compact passive film. However, the effect of passive film on galvanic corrosion is not clear. On the one hand, the great potential difference can accelerate the galvanic corrosion of other metals with low potential. On the other hand, the passive film can hinder the electrochemical reactions, inhibiting the galvanic corrosion. To clarify this question, the galvanic corrosion of titanium alloy Ti60 coupled to copper alloy H62 was studied using zero‐resistance ammeter, scanning vibrating electrode technique, scanning electron microscopy, and potentiodynamic polarization measurements. The chemical composition and electrical properties of the passive film on Ti60 were detected using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Mott‐Schottky plots. The results indicate the galvanic corrosion of Ti60‐H62 coupling is ignorable in spite of the great galvanic potential difference between them. It can be attributed to the low electron donor density of passive film, which inhibits the electron charge transfer process at the film/solution interface, causing the slow cathodic reaction rate on Ti60.
Overview of Protein‐Based Biopolymers for Biomedical Application
Authors: Nagarajan Sakthivel , Radhakrishnan Socrates , Kalkura S. Narayana , Balme Sebastien , Miele Philippe , Bechelany Mikhael
Published: May 2019

Biopolymers are playing a vital role in biomedical applications. Among them, protein‐based biopolymers are utilized for the fabrication of tissue‐engineering constructs, therapeutic molecule delivery carriers, emulsifiers, and food packaging materials. Wide ranges of proteins are extracted from animal or plant sources and are being utilized for the fabrication of scaffolds for regenerative tissue‐engineering application. Here, an overview about the protein structure, extraction procedure, solubility, and various formulation‐based proteins found in the literature are discussed. Biopolymers display several advantages such as biocompatibility and degradability by enzymes. Methods to overcome the disadvantages of these proteins such as immunogenicity, antigenicity, and solubility are reported. Various crosslinking reagents specific to protein chemistry are discussed as well.
NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies for predicting financial distress: A multicriteria decision analysis
Authors: Belhaj Slimene Senda , Mamoghli Chokri
Published: May 2019

This paper introduces a novel approach based on NeuroEvolution of Augmenting Topologies to early predict financial distress of Tunisian companies using an important number of inputs. Our sample covers the period of the Jasmin Revolution that led to an increase of the number of bankruptcies, making early previsions even more difficult.

Furthermore, we aim to identify the factors that explain financial distress as our approach does not need a process of preselection. All the financial ratios will be used as inputs for the model, and only the ratios with the highest threshold value will remain in the final classifier.

To test the accuracy of our model, we will compute a linear discriminant analysis to compare the previsions of the two approaches. Results show that our approach outperforms the traditional one.
Associations between polymorphisms of the ACYP2 gene and Liver cancer risk: A case‐control study and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhao Wenhui , Liu Xu , Yu Zhendong , Xiong Zichao , Wu Jiamin , Sun Yao , Niu Fanglin , Liu Jikui , Jin Tianbo
Published: May 2019

Background

ACYP2 gene may be involved in the process of telomere shortening which may be involved in the liver cancer. So, this research was to examine whether the ACYP2 gene polymorphism has impact on the risk of liver cancer in Chinese population.

Methods

Two hundred and fifty cirrhosis patients and 248 liver cancer patients were selected. Unconditional logistic regression was to calculate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Analyze the relationship between ACYP2 gene polymorphism and tumor using meta‐analysis. Analyze the expression of ACYP2 gene in liver cancer and its influence on the prognosis of liver cancer by databases (Ualcan, GTEX and Kaplan–Meier plotter).

Results

In the allele model, ACYP2 rs843720 was protection against the occurrence of cirrhosis developed into liver cancer (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58–0.99, p = 0.04). Rs1682111 and rs843720 play a protective role in the additive model (rs1682111: OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.52–0.93, p = 0.01; rs843720: OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.54–0.98, p = 0.04).While rs843645 G allele increased the risk of cirrhosis developed into liver cancer under the additive model (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.02–2.00, p = 0.04).The haplotype analysis detected that “ATATCGCC” decreased the risk of cirrhosis developed into liver cancer (OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.51–0.92, 95% CI: p = 0.013); however, “TGAGCGTC” increased the risk of cirrhosis developed into liver cancer (OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.04–2.10, p = 0.027). Meta‐analysis shown that ACYP2 rs1682111 was associated with the risk of cancer (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.78–1.05, p = 0.02). ACYP2 gene high expression was found to be associated with better OS for all liver patients.

Conclusion

Based on this research, we surmised that ACYP2 gene may be involved in the occurrence of liver cancer in Chinese populations.
Modelling and analyzing the epidemic of human infections with the avian influenza A(H7N9) virus in 2017 in China
Authors: Chen Yongxue , Wen Yongxian
Published: May 2019

In 2013, in mainland China, a novel avian influenza A(H7N9) virus began to infect humans, followed by the annual outbreaks, and had aroused severe fatality in the infected humans. After introducing the statistical characteristics including the geographical distributions of the outbreaks, a SEV‐SIRS eco‐epidemiological model is established and analyzed. In this model, the factor of virus in environment is incorporated into the model as a class; the vaccine measure in poultry is taken into account in purpose of assessing its control effect in 2017 in China; the nonmonotonic contact function is adopted to characterize the psychosocial effect. The stability of disease‐free equilibrium point (DFE) is obtained by the threshold theory; the stability of the endemic equilibrium point is gotten by the Bendixson criterion based on the geometric approach. Sensitivity analyses of system parameters indicate that the measure of vaccination in poultry can play its role but only when the vaccine rate is more than 98% can the disease control effect be effectively exerted, and the virus in environment is an extremely sensitive factor in the disease transmission and the epidemic control.
Dietary Intake of Pleurotus eryngii Ameliorated Dextran‐Sodium‐Sulfate‐Induced Colitis in Mice
Authors: Hu Qiuhui , Yuan Biao , Wu Xian , Du Hengjun , Gu Min , Han Yanhui , Yang Wenjian , Song Mingyue , Xiao Hang
Published: May 2019

Scope

Pleurotus eryngii, an edible mushroom, is widely consumed as a functional food for various health benefits due to its multiple bioactive components. There are growing interests in using whole‐food‐based strategies to prevent colonic inflammation via potential synergistic interactions among different components within the whole foods. However, limited research is focused on the inhibitory effects of the whole P. eryngii mushroom against inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Methods and results

The protective effects of P. eryngii mushroom against IBD are determined in the dextran‐sodium‐sulfate‐induced colitis model in mice. Dietary administration of P. eryngii (1 and 3% w/w) alleviates colonic inflammation, which is evidenced by decreased disease index, increased colon length, and reduced pro‐inflammatory cytokines in the colonic mucosa. Sequencing the 16S rRNA genes of fecal microbiota demonstrates that P. eryngii mushroom significantly alters the structure of microbiota and partially reverses the shifts of fecal microbiota induced by DSS treatment. The levels of SCFAs in the cecum are increased by P. eryngii mushroom.

Conclusion

Overall, the results demonstrate the anti‐inflammatory and microbiota‐modulating effects of P. eryngii mushroom as a whole‐food‐based ingredient against IBD, and its potential as a prebiotic agent to prevent inflammation‐related disorders in humans.
Formalin tissue fixation biases myelin‐sensitive MRI
Authors: Seifert Alan C. , Umphlett Melissa , Hefti Marco , Fowkes Mary , Xu Junqian
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Chemical fixatives such as formalin form cross‐links between proteins and affect the relaxation times and diffusion properties of tissue. These fixation‐induced changes likely also affect myelin density measurements produced by quantitative magnetization transfer and myelin water imaging. In this work, we evaluate these myelin‐sensitive MRI methods for fixation‐induced biases.

Methods

We perform quantitative magnetization transfer, myelin water imaging, and deuterium oxide‐exchanged zero TE imaging on unfixed human spinal cord tissue at 9.4 Tesla and repeat these measurements after 1 day and 31 days of formalin fixation.

Results

The quantitative magnetization‐transfer bound pool fraction increased by 30.7% ± 21.1% after 1 day of fixation and by 42.6% ± 33.9% after 31 days of fixation. Myelin water fraction increased by 39.7% ± 15.5% and 37.0% ± 15.9% at these same time points, and mean T2 of the myelin water pool nearly doubled. Reference‐normalized deuterium oxide‐exchanged zero TE signal intensity increased by 8.17% ± 6.03% after 31 days of fixation but did not change significantly after 1 day of fixation. After fixation, specimen cross‐sectional area decreased by approximately 5%; after correction for shrinkage, changes in deuterium oxide‐exchanged zero TE intensity were nearly eliminated.

Conclusion

Bound pool fraction and myelin water fraction are significantly increased by formalin fixation, whereas deuterium oxide‐exchanged zero TE intensity is minimally affected. Changes in quantitative magnetization transfer and myelin water imaging may be due in part to delamination and formation of vacuoles in the myelin sheath. Deuterium oxide‐exchanged signal intensity may be altered by fixation‐induced changes in myelin lipid solid‐state 1H T1. We urge caution in the comparison of these measurements across subjects or specimens in different states, especially unfixed versus fixed tissue.
Trend in overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in Uganda: 1995–2016
Authors: Yaya S. , Ghose B.
Published: May 2019

Countries in Sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) are experiencing rising burdens of overweight/obesity and associated non‐communicable diseases. As in other developing regions, this epidemiological transition in African countries is believed to be resulting from changes in dietary, sociodemographic structure and lifestyle factors. To date, not much is known about the prevalence and sociodemographic patterns of overweight/obesity in Uganda, especially among women of reproductive age. Therefore, this study aimed to address this research gap by using nationally representative data on women of this age group in Uganda.

Methods

This study involved analysis of cross‐sectional data on 19,395 women aged between 15 and 49 years from Uganda Demographic and Health Survey for the years 1995–2016. Overweight/obesity was measured using body mass index as per World Health Organization guidelines, and logistic regression methods were used to identify the sociodemographic predictors.

Results

There has a been significant rise in the prevalence of overweight (9.77% in 1995 vs. 16.21% in 2016) and obesity (1.99% in 1995 vs. 6.21% in 2016) since the first survey in 1995, with the most noticeable increase occurring in the central region that accounted for a combined prevalence of 17.22% in 1995 compared with 37. 21% in 2016. Multivariate analysis showed an increased likelihood of having overweight/obesity among women who live in the urban areas, have primary and above primary education, from non‐poor households and users of radio and TV.

Conclusion

During the last two decades, there has been a slow but steady rise in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among women of reproductive age in Uganda. The present findings highlight the need for an enhanced attention on growing overweight/obesity within the broader goal improving maternal and child health in the country.
Effect of tool temperature on dimensional fidelity and strength of thermoformed polyetheretherketone composites
Authors: Fortin Gabriel Y. , Fernlund Göran
Published: May 2019

This article presents an experimental study of the effect of tool/consolidation temperature on dimensional fidelity and curved beam strength of thermoformed carbon/PEEK composites made of continuous fibers and random oriented strands (ROS). When processing continuous fiber carbon/PEEK composites, higher tool/consolidation temperatures give higher curved beam and inter‐ply strength and more repeatable process induced deformations. Spring‐in increases with tool temperature but the spring‐in is repeatable and flange warpage is reduced because of lower resin viscosity and increased material flow during consolidation. For the ROS material form, no increase in curved beam strength was observed with higher consolidation temperatures and failure was not governed by the inter‐ply strength of the laminate because of the shorter fibers. Lower tool/consolidation temperatures gave less spring‐in and flange warpage was not dependent on consolidation temperature. Spring‐in for both material forms was found to be thermo‐elastic with no effects from crystallization shrinkage.