bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spouse’s social support in the postpartum period, predictors and its relationship with postpartum depression in a sample of Iranian primiparous women
Authors: Eslahi Zahra , Bahrami Nasim , Allen Kelly‐Ann , Alimoradi Zainab
Published: November 2020

Objective

To investigate the predictive factors of receiving spousal support in the postpartum period and its relationship with postpartum depression (PPD).

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted between January and May 2019 in 250 primiparous women to determine the predictors of spousal social support in the postpartum period. Three scales were used to collect data: The Demographic and Obstetric Checklist, the Postpartum Partner Support Scale, and the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale.

Results

Multivariate regression showed that the employment status of the spouse and life satisfaction variables were predictive of whether social support was received from a spouse in the postpartum period. In total, the variables examined in this model explained 19% of the variance for a mother receiving spousal social support in the postpartum period. PPD and spousal social support had a moderately inverse and significant correlation (β = –0.39).

Conclusion

Life satisfaction and employment of the spouse are important predictive variables for receiving social support of the spouse in the postpartum period. There is also a significant inverse relationship between PPD and spousal social support.
Evaluation of preoperative prediction of intestinal invasion in patients with ovarian cancer
Authors: Takeda Takashi , Hayashi Shigenori , Kobayashi Yusuke , Tsuji Kosuke , Nagai Shimpei , Tominaga Eiichiro , Suzuki Tatsuya , Okuda Shigeo , Banno Kouji , Aoki Daisuke
Published: November 2020

Objective

To optimize prediction for intestinal invasion of epithelial ovarian cancer. It is important to achieve debulking surgery to improve prognosis in ovarian cancer; intestinal resection is adopted if the cancer is invaded and resectable, but the preoperative evaluation method of intestinal invasion is still controversial.

Methods

Patients (n = 174) who underwent primary debulking surgery for epithelial ovarian cancer were recruited for retrospective study; 28 and 146 patients were classified into the invasion and non‐invasion groups, whether they needed intestinal resection or not. We collected clinical data including evaluation of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and barium contrast radiography, and analyzed their accuracy.

Results

The sensitivity and specificity for intestinal invasion were 33.3% and 98.6%, 42.9% and 98.6%, and 66.7% and 93.9% in CT, MRI, and barium contrast radiography, respectively. CT and MRI combined showed a sensitivity of 58.3% and specificity of 96.9%; all three methods combined was the most sensitive combination, showing a sensitivity of 79.2% and specificity of 90.8%.

Conclusion

Combination of CT, MRI, and barium contrast radiography predicts intestinal invasion with the highest sensitivity. These three modalities, however, could not predict all intestinal invasion. Patients should be informed of the possibility of unexpected extensive resection.
Retrospective validation study of miniPIERS prediction model in Zanzibar
Authors: van der Meij Elleke , Herklots Tanneke , Yussuf Suhaila , Meguid Tarek , Franx Arie , Payne Beth A. , Jacod Benoit
Published: November 2020

Objective

To perform a retrospective external validation of miniPIERS in Zanzibar's referral hospital.

Methods

From February to December 2017, data were collected retrospectively on all cases of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) admitted to Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, Zanzibar, Tanzania. The primary outcome was the predictive performance of miniPIERS by examining measures of discrimination, calibration, and stratification accuracy. The secondary outcome was the applicability of miniPIERS within the referral hospital setting.

Results

During this period, 2218 of 13 395 (21%) patients were identified with HDP, of whom 594 met the inclusion criteria. Sixty per cent of patients with adverse outcomes were excluded because they had experienced one of the adverse outcomes before admission. The discriminative ability of miniPIERS was inaccurate. It was not likely to aid risk stratification because of low sensitivity and low positive predictive value. The model showed fair discrimination in HDP before 34 weeks of gestation (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve 0.72, 95% confidence interval 0.63–0.82).

Conclusions

The benefit of miniPIERS appeared to be limited, although clinical conditions make any validation challenging. Its application for risk stratification in preterm pregnancies should be further investigated.
ECGsignal analysis for fatigue and abnormal event detection during sport and exercise
Authors: Luo Xi
Published: November 2020

With the continuous improved quality of life, more and more persons have paid attention on their health. Sport and exercise have become a popular way to keep health. However, improper and excessive sport and exercise may cause physical injury. In order to solve this issue, this paper proposes a system to monitor the state during sport and exercise for detecting fatigue and abnormal event. If a person is under fatigue state, he or she stops exercising to rest. In the fatigue detection system, first the electrocardiograph (ECG) signal is collected by a smart wearable device, then the noises in the signal are removed by several filters and the denoised signal are represented as nine features from time domain and frequency domain, lastly the extracted features are input into a trained weighted one‐class support vector machine (WOC‐SVM) model to determine the state during sport. The WOC‐SVM is learnt offline on a training set which consists of many collected data. The experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed system.
LINC00473: A novel oncogenic long noncoding RNA in human cancers
Authors: Li Lingfeng , Zhang Xu , Liu Nian , Chen Xiang , Peng Cong
Published: November 2020

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been found to play essential roles in the occurrence and development of multiple human cancers. Accumulating evidence has shown that LINC00473, an oncogenic lncRNA, is upregulated in various human malignancies and related to poor clinical outcomes. Besides, LINC00473 overexpression can promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through multiple potential mechanisms, indicating that it may serve as a novel prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target for human cancers. Here, we reviewed the biological functions, molecular mechanisms, and clinical implications of LINC00473 in human cancers.
JCP's First Methods Dialogue: A Coherent Philosophy of Science for Consumer Psychology
Authors: Huber Joel
Published: November 2020

This article is part of a Methods Dialogue:

Calder et al. (2021): https://doi.org/10.1002/jcpy.1204

Schwarz (2021): https://doi.org/10.1002/jcpy.1206
Process evaluation of a culturally targeted video for Latinas at risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer
Authors: Hurtado‐de‐Mendoza Alejandra , Gómez‐Trillos Sara , Graves Kristi D. , Carrera Pilar , Campos Claudia , Anderson Lyndsay , Gronda Andrés , Orellana Halyn , Peshkin Beth N. , Schwartz Marc D. , Cupertino Paula , Ostrove Nancy , Luta George , Gonzalez Nathaly , Sheppard Vanessa B.
Published: November 2020

This paper presents a process evaluation of a culturally targeted narrative video about hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) for Latina women at risk for HBOC. Spanish‐speaking Latina women at risk for HBOC participated in a single arm study (n = 40). Participants watched the video developed by the authors and responded to surveys. We used mixed methods to assess theoretical constructs that are hypothesized mediators of narrative interventions (i.e., transportation or engagement, identification with characters, emotions) and implementation outcomes (e.g., acceptability). Descriptive statistics summarized theoretical constructs and implementation outcomes. We conducted Mann–Whitney U tests to assess the differences in theoretical and implementation outcomes between participants who were affected versus. unaffected and participants with different levels of education and health literacy. We used the consensual qualitative research framework to analyze qualitative data. Participants’ mean age was 47.1 years (SD = 9.48). Most participants were high school graduates or less (62.5%). Acceptability of the video was extremely high (Md = 10.0, IQR = 0.2, scale 1–10). Most (82.5%) suggested video dissemination be through social media. Participants were highly engaged (Md = 5.7, IQR = 1.5, scale 1–7), strongly identified with the main character (Md = 8.7, IQR = 2.6, scale 1–10), and reported experiencing mostly positive emotions (Md = 9.5, IQR = 2.8, scale 1–10). Participants with low health literacy and affected participants reported a significantly higher identification with the main character (p<.05). Qualitative data reinforced the quantitative findings. Women reported gaining knowledge, correcting misconceptions, and feeling empowered. Our culturally targeted video is highly acceptable and targets mechanisms of behavior change for narrative interventions. The video is easily disseminable and can be used as an education tool for patients including affected and unaffected women and patients with different education and health literacy levels. Future studies should test the impact of the video in enhancing genetic counseling and testing uptake.
An efficient green approach for the synthesis of benzothiazole‐linked pyranopyrazoles as promising pharmacological agents and docking studies
Authors: Mallikarjuna Reddy Guda , Raul Garcia Jarem , Venkata Subbaiah Munagapati , Wen Jet‐Chau
Published: November 2020

Benzothiazole‐tethered pyranopyrazoles derivatives were prepared via environmentally favorable conditions, which included eco‐friendly catalyst, ethanol−water solvent, one‐pot reaction, and atom‐ and step‐economy procedures. Excellent yield of the products was observed. Besides, all products were screened for their antimicrobial behavior. From the biological results, it was seen that most of the compounds possessed high to moderate antimicrobial properties. Compound 6a gave prominent antimicrobial property followed by 6d, 6l, and 6n. In addition, computer‐aided studies of the active compounds were also conducted. In this, selected compounds were docked into the intercalation site of DNA of the DNA−gyrase complex. From these results, the highest binding energy of −10.1 kcal/mol was for 6a against DNA−gyrase. This is the first eco‐friendly synthetic method for the preparation of benzothiazole‐pyranopyrazoles and the synthetic effort in this study may serve as a model for additional environmentally benign reactions. The biological results may prompt further studies related to antibiotic drugs.
Book Review: We are the Leaders We'Ve Been Waiting for: Women and Leadership Development in College
Authors: Irwin Lauren
Published: November 2020

Dr Julie Owen's newest text, We are the Leaders We've Been Waiting For: Women and Leadership Development in College (2020), interrogates assumptions about gender, leadership, and so‐called women's leadership. Written primarily as a text for college students, Owen eloquently integrates literature and research related to leadership and identity development, gender, and feminisms to provide both context and possibilities for student leadership development. This review summarizes Owen's text before detailing the text's shortcomings and contributions to leadership scholarship.
Monitoring phenylalanine concentrations in the follow‐up of phenylketonuria patients: An inventory of pre‐analytical and analytical variation
Authors: Coene Karlien L. M. , Timmer Corrie , Goorden Susan M. I. , ten Hoedt Amber E. , Kluijtmans Leo A. J. , Janssen Mirian C. H. , Rennings Alexander J. M. , Prinsen Hubertus C. M. T. , Wamelink Mirjam M. C. , Ruijter George J. G. , Körver‐Keularts Irene M. L. W. , Heiner‐Fokkema M. Rebecca , van Spronsen Francjan J. , Hollak Carla E. , Vaz Frédéric M. , Bosch Annet M. , Huigen Marleen C. D. G.
Published: November 2020

Background

Reliable measurement of phenylalanine (Phe) is a prerequisite for adequate follow‐up of phenylketonuria (PKU) patients. However, previous studies have raised concerns on the intercomparability of plasma and dried blood spot (DBS) Phe results. In this study, we made an inventory of differences in (pre‐)analytical methodology used for Phe determination across Dutch laboratories, and compared DBS and plasma results.

Methods

Through an online questionnaire, we assessed (pre‐)analytical Phe measurement procedures of seven Dutch metabolic laboratories. To investigate the difference between plasma and DBS Phe, participating laboratories received simultaneously collected plasma‐DBS sets from 23 PKU patients. In parallel, 40 sample sets of DBS spotted from either venous blood or capillary fingerprick were analyzed.

Results

Our data show that there is no consistency on standard operating procedures for Phe measurement. The association of DBS to plasma Phe concentration exhibits substantial inter‐laboratory variation, ranging from a mean difference of −15.5% to +30.6% between plasma and DBS Phe concentrations. In addition, we found a mean difference of +5.8% in Phe concentration between capillary DBS and DBS prepared from venous blood.

Conclusions

The results of our study point to substantial (pre‐)analytical variation in Phe measurements, implicating that bloodspot Phe results should be interpreted with caution, especially when no correction factor is applied. To minimize variation, we advocate pre‐analytical standardization and analytical harmonization of Phe measurements, including consensus on application of a correction factor to adjust DBS Phe to plasma concentrations.
Soluble RANKL exaggerates hindlimb suspension‐induced osteopenia but not muscle protein balance
Authors: Speacht Toni L. , Lang Charles H. , Donahue Henry J.
Published: November 2020

We examined the hypothesis that exaggerating unloading‐induced bone loss using a combination of hindlimb suspension (HLS) and exogenous injections of receptor activator of nuclear factor‐κB ligand (RANKL) also exaggerates gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscle loss. Forty, male C57Bl/6J mice (16 weeks) were subjected to HLS or normal ambulation (ground control, GC) for 14 days. Mice received three intraperitoneal injections of either human recombinant soluble RANKL or phosphate‐buffered saline as control (n = 10/group) at 24 h intervals starting on Day 1 of HLS. GC + RANKL and HLS mice exhibited similar decreases in trabecular bone volume and density in both proximal tibias and distal femurs. However, RANKL affected trabecular number, separation, and connectivity density, while HLS decreased trabecular thickness. The combination of RANKL and HLS exacerbated these changes. Similarly, GC + RANKL and HLS mice saw comparable decreases in cortical bone volume, thickness, and strength in femur midshafts, and combination treatment exacerbated these changes. Plasma concentrations of P1NP were increased in both groups receiving RANKL, while CTX concentrations were unchanged. HLS decreased gastrocnemius weight and was associated with a reduction in global protein synthesis, and no change in proteasome activity. This change was correlated with a decrease in S6K1 and S6 phosphorylation, but no change in 4E‐BP1 phosphorylation. Injection of RANKL did not alter gastrocnemius or quadriceps muscle protein metabolism in GC or HLS mice. Our results suggest that injection of soluble RANKL exacerbates unloading‐induced bone loss, but not unloading‐induced gastrocnemius or quadriceps muscle loss.
Females and males exhibit similar functional, mechanical, and morphological outcomes in a rat model of posttraumatic elbow contracture
Authors: Reiter Alex J. , Schott Hayden R. , Castile Ryan M. , Cannon Paul C. , Havlioglu Necat , Chamberlain Aaron M. , Lake Spencer P.
Published: November 2020

Posttraumatic joint contracture (PTJC) is a debilitating condition characterized by loss of joint motion following injury. Previous work in a rat model of elbow PTJC investigated disease etiology, progression, and recovery in only male animals; this study explored sex‐based differences. Rat elbows were subjected to a unilateral anterior capsulotomy and lateral collateral ligament transection followed by 42 days of immobilization and 42 days of free mobilization. Grip strength and gait were collected throughout the free mobilization period while joint mechanical testing, microcomputed tomography and histological analysis were performed postmortem. Overall, few differences were seen between sexes in functional, mechanical, and morphological outcomes with PTJC being similarly debilitating in male and female animals. Functional measures of grip strength and gait showed that, while some baseline differences existed between sexes, traumatic injury produced similar deficits that remained significantly different long‐term when compared to control animals. Similarly, male and female animals both had significant reductions in joint range of motion due to injury. Ectopic calcification (EC), which had not been previously evaluated in this injury model, was present in all limbs on the lateral side. Injury caused increased EC volume but did not alter mineral density regardless of sex. Furthermore, histological analysis of the anterior capsule showed minor differences between sexes for inflammation and thickness but not for other histological parameters. A quantitative understanding of sex‐based differences associated with this injury model will help inform future therapeutics aimed at reducing or preventing elbow PTJC.
Novel microcomposite implant for the controlled delivery of antibiotics in the treatment of osteomyelitis following total joint replacement
Authors: Inceoglu Serkan , Botimer Gary , Maskiewicz Victoria K.
Published: November 2020

The objective of this study was to develop a novel microcomposite implant to be used in the treatment of osteomyelitis following total joint arthroplasty, with the dual purpose of releasing high local concentrations of antibiotic to eradicate the infection while providing adequate mechanical strength to maintain the dynamic or static spacer. Vancomycin‐loaded microcomposite implants were fabricated by incorporating drug‐loaded microparticles comprised of mesoporous silica into commonly employed polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) bone cement, to yield a final drug loading of 10% w/w. In vitro release kinetics at 37°C were monitored by reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography, and compared to the release kinetics of current therapy implants consisting of drug alone incorporated at 10% w/w directly into PMMA bone cement. Results demonstrated a sevenfold improvement in the elution profile of microcomposite systems over current therapy implants. In vivo delivery of vancomycin to bone from microcomposite implants (70% of payload) was significantly higher than that from current therapy implants (approx. 22% of payload) and maintained significantly higher bone concentrations for up to 2 weeks duration. The elastic modulus showed no statistical difference between microcomposite implants and current standard therapy implants before drug elution, and maintenance of acceptable strength of microcomposite implants postdrug elution. These results demonstrate that we have developed a novel microcomposite spacer that will release continuously high antibiotic concentrations over a prolonged period of time, offering the possibility to eliminate infection and avoid the emergence of new resistant bacterial strains, while maintaining the requisite mechanical properties for proper space maintenance and joint fixation.
Achilles tendon moment arm changes with total ankle arthroplasty
Authors: Wade Francesca E. , Hickox Lauren J. , Lewis Gregory S. , Horne Andrea , Aynardi Michael C. , Juliano Paul J. , Aydogan Umur , Piazza Stephen J.
Published: November 2020

Prior research on total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has focused on improvements in pain and function following the surgical treatment of ankle arthritis, but its effect on ankle joint mechanics has received relatively little attention. The plantarflexion moment arm of the Achilles tendon is a critical determinant of ankle function with the potential to be altered by TAA. Here we investigate the effect of TAA on Achilles tendon moment arm assessed using two methods. Standing sagittal‐plane radiographs were obtained for ten patients presurgery and postsurgery, from which anterior–posterior distance between the posterior calcaneus and the center of the talar dome was measured. Ultrasound imaging and three‐dimensional (3D) motion capture were used to obtain moment arm pre‐ and post‐TAA. The absolute changes in moment arm pre‐ to post‐TAA were significantly different from zero for both methods (9.6 mm from ultrasound and 4.6% of the calcaneus length from radiographs). Only 46% of the variance in postoperative 3D Achilles tendon moment arm was explained by the preoperative value (r2 = 0.460; p = .031), while pre‐ and post‐TAA values from radiographs were not correlated (r2 = 0.192, p = .206). While we did not find significant mean differences in Achilles tendon moment arm between pre‐ and post‐TAA, we did find absolute changes in 3D moment arm that were significantly different from zero and these changes were partially explained by a change in location of the talar dome as indicated by measurements from radiographs (r2 = 0.497, p = .023).
Comparative accuracy of lower limb bone geometry determined using MRI, CT, and direct bone 3D models
Authors: Stephen Joanna M. , Calder James DF , Williams Andy , El Daou Hadi
Published: November 2020

Advancements in imaging and segmentation techniques mean that three dimensional (3D) modeling of bones is now increasingly used for preoperative planning and registration purposes. Computer tomography (CT) scans are commonly used due to their high bone‐soft tissue contrast, however they expose subjects to radiation. Alternatively, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is radiation‐free: however, geometric field distortion and poor bone contrast have been reported to degrade bone model validity compared to CT. The present study assessed the accuracy of 3D femur and tibia models created from “Black Bone” 3T MRI and high resolution CT scans taken from 12 intact cadaveric lower limbs by comparing them with scans of the de‐fleshed and cleaned bones carried out using a high‐resolution portable compact desktop 3D scanner (Model HDI COMPACT C210; Polyga). This scanner used structured light (SL) to capture 3D scans with an accuracy of up to 35 μm. Image segmentation created 3D models and for each bone the corresponding CT and MRI models were aligned with the SL model using the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm and the differences between models calculated. Hausdorff distance was also determined. Compared to SL scans, the CT models had an ICP error of 0.82 ± 0.2 and 0.85 ± 0.2 mm for the tibia and femur respectively, whilst the MRI models had an error of 0.97 ± 0.2 and 0.98 ± 0.18 mm. A one‐way analysis of variance found no significant difference in the Hausdorff distances or ICP values between the three scanning methods (p > .05). The black bone MRI method can provide accurate geometric measures of the femur and tibia that are comparable to those achieved with CT. Given the lack of ionizing radiation this has significant benefits for clinical populations and also potential for application in research settings.
Biomechanical evaluation of a modified proximal humeral locking plate application for distal extra‐articular diaphyseal humeral fractures
Authors: Lim Joon‐Ryul , Yoon Tae‐Hwan , Choi Yun‐Rak , Lee Hwan‐Mo , Chun Yong‐Min
Published: November 2020

The extra‐articular distal humerus locking plate (EADHP) is widely used for distal extra‐articular diaphyseal humeral fracture fixation. However, it occasionally causes skin prominence and discomfort. The upside‐down use of a proximal humerus internal locking system (PHILOS) plate is suggested as an alternative option, but it lacks biomechanical evidence. The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical performance between two different fixation methods: the modified use of the PHILOS plate on the anterior cortex versus conventional use of an EADHP on the posterior cortex. Twelve pairs of fresh‐frozen cadaveric humeri were used and 7 mm gap osteotomy was performed at 50 mm proximal to the lateral epicondyle to simulate an AO/OTA 12‐C1.3 fracture type. Single load to failure was measured after five stiffness tests of the plate‐bone constructs in anterior/posterior bending, internal/external torsion, and axial compression. There were no significant differences in metrics between the two groups, except for the load to failure in posterior bending, which was significantly higher for PHILOS (1589.3 ± 234.5) compared to EADHP (1430.1 ± 188.6), p < .023. In conclusion, the modified use of the PHILOS plate showed comparable biomechanical performance compared to the conventional EADHP. The new fixation method offers potential clinical advantages, considering the patient's position and surgical approach at the time of surgery as well as postoperative soft tissue irritation. Therefore, this could be an option for distal humeral extra‐articular diaphyseal fracture fixation when the use of EADHP is not suitable or preferred.
Impact of grape variety, berry maturity and size on the extractability of skin polyphenols during model wine‐like maceration experiments
Authors: Abi‐Habib Elissa , Poncet‐Legrand Céline , Roi Stéphanie , Carrillo Stéphanie , Doco Thierry , Vernhet Aude
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Skin cell walls modulate anthocyanin and tannin extraction from grape skins. However, relationships between the composition of alcohol‐insoluble cell wall solids (AIS) and extraction are still unclear. Our objectives were to characterize the impact of variety, berry size and ripeness on skin AIS composition (polysaccharides, proteins) and polyphenol extraction during maceration.

RESULTS

Grape skin composition and its impact on polyphenol extraction was compared for two varieties – Carignan and Grenache – with skins of berries sorted according to their size and density. Extractions were performed under model wine‐like maceration conditions. Fresh skins had similar content of polymeric tannins, but strongly differed in their anthocyanin content (higher in Carignan and in the ripest berries) and composition (higher proportions in coumaroylated anthocyanins in Carignan). Anthocyanin extraction was proportionally much higher in Grenache, which was not just related to the Carignan's higher levels in coumaroylated anthocyanins. Chemical reactions decreased anthocyanin concentrations in solution for both varieties. Tannin extraction for Grenache was slightly higher and faster than for Carignan. Skin AISs differed slightly between the two varieties in their carbohydrate composition and protein content, but not between modalities. Polyphenol analyses in the precipitates evidenced at the end of the maceration and in residual skins highlighted differences between the two varieties and between berries with different ripeness.

CONCLUSION

Structural information on the cell wall network and on its changes during maceration, along with a better understanding of the chemical reactions of anthocyanins and tannins, is needed to better relate grape and wine polyphenol composition. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Characterization of a flavonol‐rich antioxidant fraction from Spondias purpurea L. pulp and the effect of its incorporation on cellulose acetate‐based film
Authors: Vasconcelos Ludimilla Adorno , Reis Letícia Caribé Batista , Dias Êuder Reis , Camilloto Geany Peruch , Branco Alexsandro
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Active packaging containing natural flavonoid has recently emerged as a result of its potential to inhibit the oxidation of foods by interacting with it and/or its surrounding environment, with the aim of counteracting oxidation reactions and extending the shelf‐life of foods. The plant Spondias purpurea L. is widely found in northeastern Brazil and is known to contain bioactive flavonoids. The present study aimed to obtain a flavonoid‐rich fraction from the pulp of S. purpurea L. and incorporate it into the cellulose acetate film to obtain biodegradable films with antioxidant properties.

RESULTS

The fractionation in SiO2 open‐column chromatography of the S. purpurea pulp crude extract furnished an antioxidant active fraction containing the flavonols quercetin 3‐O‐rutinoside and kaempferol 3‐O‐rutinoside as the major compounds. This active fraction was incorporated (10, 20 and 30 g kg−1) into the substance produced with the casting method for cellulose acetate films. The films produced were characterized concerning mechanical properties, water vapor permeability (WVP) and antioxidant activity.

CONCLUSION

The incorporation of the active flavonoid fraction from S. purpurea in the cellulose acetate films decreases WVP and elongation at break, at the same time as increasing antioxidant activity, tensile strength and elastic modulus. Thus, the S. purpurea pulps may be an alternative as a source of antioxidants for use in cellulose acetate films. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method for the generation of external preference mapping using rapid sensometric techniques
Authors: Ramón‐Canul Lorena G , Margarito‐Carrizal Diana L , Limón‐Rivera Rogelio , Morales‐Carrrera Uriel A , Rodríguez‐Buenfil Ingrid M , Ramírez‐Sucre Manuel O , Cabal‐Prieto Adán , Herrera‐Corredor José A , de Jesús Ramírez‐Rivera Emmanuel
Published: November 2020

Background

External preference mapping is a powerful tool to explain consumer preference or rejection. Combining the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) multicriteria analysis with rapid descriptive techniques can improve preference map (PREFMAP) results. This study was conducted to compare the PREFMAPs generated with rapid descriptive flash profile (FP), check‐all‐that‐apply (CATA), and Napping® versus PREFMAPs constructed with FP‐TOPSIS, CATA‐TOPSIS, and Napping‐TOPSIS.

Results

Only 38.46%, 63.66%, and 42% of sensory attributes initially generated by FP, CATA, and Napping techniques respectively were considered for the determination of their weight W and allocation as positive or negative in the TOPSIS technique. The PREFMAPs constructed with FP‐TOPSIS, CATA‐TOPSIS, and Napping‐TOPSIS presented a better explanation of the preference and rejection than the PREFMAPs directly generated with rapid sensory techniques. The results of the multiple factor analysis and coefficient Rv indicated similarities in the sensory vocabularies used after the TOPSIS technique.

Conclusion

The combination of the TOPSIS technique with rapid sensory techniques is a reliable alternative for the construction of PREFMAPs in order to identify the sensory attributes responsible for preference and rejection of food products. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Genetic and biochemical characterization of thermophilic β‐cyclodextrin glucanotransferase from Gracilibacillus alcaliphilusSK51.001
Authors: Abdalla Mohammed , Hassanin Hinawi AM , Yao Xiaolin , Iqbal Muhammad W , Karrar Emad , Jiang Bo
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

Gracilibacillus alcaliphilus SK51.001, a strain that produces β‐CGTase (β‐cyclodextrin glucanotransferase) (EC 2.4.1.19), was screened and isolated from Sudanese soil. The objective of this study was to sequence and characterize the β‐CGTase gene from G. alcaliphilus SK51.001.

RESULTS

According to 16S rRNA analysis of the strain and its morphological shape, it was identified as G. alcaliphilus. The β‐CGTase gene was successfully cloned, sequenced, and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21. This gene showed 706 amino acid residues including 33 amino acids as a signal peptide. The active site residues of G. alcaliphilus SK51.001CGTase were described using enzyme modeling and docking with the products. The estimated molecular mass of G. alcaliphilus SK51.001CGTase was approximately 74 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE), and the evaluation of the gel filtration showed approximately 85 kDa, which means G. alcaliphilus SK51.001CGTase is a monomer. The optimum temperature and pH of G. alcaliphilus SK51.001CGTase were 60 °C and 7.0 respectively. Gracilibacillus alcaliphilus SK51.001CGTase was comparatively stable at a pH levels between 6.0 and 9.0 and temperatures of 30–50 °C. The activity of G. alcaliphilus SK51.001CGTase was increased by Ni2+, and Co2+ but inhibited by Al3+ and Fe3+. The kinetic parameters of Km and Vmax were 2068.52 μg mL−1 and 0.13 μmol mL−1 min−1, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Gracilibacillus alcaliphilus SK51.001CGTase could hydrolyze soluble starch into α‐, β‐, and γ‐cyclodextrin in a ratio of 2: 83: 15% respectively. This high ratio production of β‐CD could allow the enzyme to be used in β‐CD production. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Determination of acid value during edible oil storage using a portable NIR spectroscopy system combined with variable selection algorithms based on an MPA‐based strategy
Authors: Jiang Hui , He Yingchao , Chen Quansheng
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

The acid value is an important indicator for evaluating the quality of edible oil during storage. This study employs a portable near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy system to determine the acid value during edible oil storage. Four MPA‐based variable selection methods, namely competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS), the variable iterative space shrinkage approach (VISSA), iteratively variable subset optimization (IVSO), and bootstrapping soft shrinkage (BOSS) were introduced to optimize the preprocessed NIR spectra. Support vector machine (SVM) models based on characteristic spectra obtained by different selection methods were then established to achieve quantitative detection of the acid value during edible oil storage.

RESULTS

The results revealed that, compared with the full‐spectrum SVM model, the SVM models established by the characteristic wavelengths optimized by the variable selection methods based on the MPA strategy exhibit a significant improvement in complexity and generalization performance. Furthermore, compared with the CARS, VISSA, and IVSO methods, the BOSS method obtained the least number of characteristic wavelength variables, and the SVM model established based on the optimized features of this method exhibited the optimal prediction performance. The root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) was 0.11 mg g−1, the coefficient of determination (Rp2) was 0.92 and the ratio performance deviation (RPD) was 2.82, respectively.

Conclusion

The overall results indicate that the variable selection methods based on the MPA strategy can select more targeted characteristic variables. This has good application prospects in NIR spectra feature optimization. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Microbiome‐metabolomic analyses of the impacts of dietary stachyose on fecal microbiota and metabolites in infants intestinal microbiota‐associated mice
Authors: Xi Menglu , Tang Haixia , Zhang Yan , Ge Wupeng , Chen Ying , Cui Xiuxiu
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

The intestinal microbiota and metabolites play an important role in human health and immunity. However, few studies have investigated the long‐term effects of stachyose on the human intestinal microbiota and metabolism. Therefore, in this study, the feces of infants were transplanted into germ‐free mice, and the effect of long‐term stachyose intake on intestinal metabolism was examined by comparing the results of microbiome and metabolome analyses. Ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MS/MS) was used to study the effects of stachyose intake on the metabolites and metabolic pathways of the transplanted human intestinal microbiota.

RESULTS

We observed that stachyose significantly altered the composition of the intestinal microbiota and metabolites, up‐regulated production of the metabolite taurocholic acid, down‐regulated amino acid metabolism, and significantly regulated the metabolism of taurine and hydroxytaurine, pantothenate and coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis, and other signaling pathways.

CONCLUSION

These findings may provide a basis for elucidating the mechanism by which stachyose promotes host health. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Improving robustness and accuracy of predicted daily methane emissions of dairy cows using milk mid‐infrared spectra
Authors: Vanlierde Amélie , Dehareng Frédéric , Gengler Nicolas , Froidmont Eric , McParland Sinead , Kreuzer Michael , Bell Matthew , Lund Peter , Martin Cécile , Kuhla Björn , Soyeurt Hélène
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

A robust proxy for estimating methane (CH4) emissions of individual dairy cows would be valuable especially for selective breeding. This study aimed to improve the robustness and accuracy of prediction models that estimate daily CH4emissions from milk Fourier transform mid‐infrared (FT‐MIR) spectra by (i) increasing the reference dataset and (ii) adjusting for routinely recorded phenotypic information. Prediction equations for CH4were developed using a combined dataset including daily CH4measurements (n= 1089; g d−1) collected using the SF6tracer technique (n= 513) and measurements using respiration chambers (RC,n= 576). Furthermore, in addition to the milk FT‐MIR spectra, the variables of milk yield (MY) on the test day, parity (P) and breed (B) of cows were included in the regression analysis as explanatory variables.

RESULTS

Models developed based on a combined RC and SF6dataset predicted the expected pattern in CH4values (in g d−1) during a lactation cycle, namely an increase during the first weeks after calving followed by a gradual decrease until the end of lactation. The model including MY, P and B information provided the best prediction results (cross‐validation statistics:R2= 0.68 and standard error = 57 g CH4d−1).

CONCLUSIONS

The models developed accounted for more of the observed variability in CH4emissions than previously developed models and thus were considered more robust. This approach is suitable for large‐scale studies (e.g. animal genetic evaluation) where robustness is paramount for accurate predictions across a range of animal conditions. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Regulatory T Cell Therapy Following Liver Transplantation
Authors: Yu Jiongjie , Liu Zhikun , Li Changbiao , Wei Qiang , Zheng Shusen , Saeb‐Parsy Kourosh , Xu Xiao
Published: November 2020

Liver transplantation (LT) is considered the gold standard of curative treatment for patients with end‐stage liver disease or nonresectable hepatic malignant tumors. Rejection after LT is the main nontechnical factor affecting the prognosis of recipients. Medical and surgical advances, combined with improved immunosuppression with drugs such as calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), have contributed to an increase in 1‐year graft survival to around 80%. However, medium‐ and long‐term improvements in LT outcomes have lagged behind. Importantly, CNIs and other classical immunosuppressive drugs are associated with significant adverse effects, including malignancies, cardiovascular disease, and severe renal dysfunction. Immunomodulation using regulatory T cells (Tregs) is emerging as a promising alternative to classical immunosuppression. Since their discovery, the immunomodulatory effects of Tregs have been demonstrated in a range of diseases. This has rejuvenated the interest in using Tregs as a therapeutic strategy to induce immune tolerance after LT. In this review, we first summarize the discovery and development of Tregs. We then review the preclinical data supporting their production, mechanism of action, and therapeutic efficacy followed by a summary of relevant clinical trials. Finally, we discuss the outstanding challenges of Treg therapy and its future prospects for routine use in LT.
National Trends in Location of Death in Patients With End‐Stage Liver Disease
Authors: Kaplan Alyson , Fortune Brett , Ufere Nneka , Brown Robert S. , Rosenblatt Russell
Published: November 2020

Despite improvement in the care of patients with end‐stage liver disease (ESLD), mortality is rising. In the United States, patients are increasingly choosing to die at hospice and home, but data in patients with ESLD are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the trends in location of death in patients with ESLD. We conducted a retrospective cross‐sectional analysis using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide‐Ranging OnLine Data for Epidemiologic Research from 2003 to 2018. Death location was categorized as hospice, home, inpatient facility, nursing home, or other. Comparisons were made between sex, age, ethnicity, race, region, and other causes of death. Comparisons were also made between rates of change (calculated as annual percent change), proportion of deaths in 2018, and multivariable logistic regression. A total of 535,261 deaths were attributed to ESLD—most were male, non‐Hispanic, and White. The proportion of deaths at hospice and home increased during the study period from 0.2% to 10.6% and 20.3% to 25.7%, respectively. Whites had the highest proportion of deaths in hospice and home. In multivariable analysis, elderly patients were more likely to die in hospice or home (odds ratio [OR], 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07‐1.35), whereas Black patients were less likely (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.46‐0.73). Compared with other causes of death, ESLD had the second highest proportion of deaths in hospice but lagged behind non–hepatocellular carcinoma malignancy. Deaths in patients with ESLD are increasingly common at hospice and home overall, and although the rates have been increasing among Black patients, they are still less likely to die at hospice or home. Efforts to improve this disparity, promote end‐of‐life care planning, and enhance access to death at hospice and home are needed.
The use of satellite and surface observations for initializing clouds in the HARMONIE NWP model
Authors: Gregow Erik , Lindfors Anders V. , van der Veen Siebe H. , Schoenach David , de Haan Siebren , Lindskog Magnus
Published: November 2020

The study tests and further develops a previously presented method for adjusting initial clouds in the HARMONIE mesoscale numerical weather prediction (NWP) model. The method uses satellite‐observed cloud properties from the Nowcasting and very short range forecasting Satellite Application Facility (NWCSAF) together with ground‐based synoptic stations (SYNOP) observations, adjusting the humidity profile of the model based on the available cloud information with the overall aim to improve the forecast, in particular as regards clouds and solar radiation. A reference set‐up of the HARMONIE model is used as a baseline against which the cloud initialization experiments are compared. All HARMONIE experiments are run for July 2016, with a model run starting at 06Z each day. The HARMONIE outputs are compared with cloud fraction and solar radiation observations from ground‐based stations, while satellite cloud observations are also used for inspecting the behaviour of the forecasts. The performance of other generally used verification parameters is also studied. The results as regards clouds are encouraging. Symmetrical extremal dependence index (SEDI) skill scores show improvement in initial cloud conditions in 84% and 74% of the cases, when evaluated for cloud‐free (0–1 octas) and cloudy conditions (7–8 octas), respectively. The improvement lasts 2–4 hr into the forecast. Other parameters, however, show somewhat degraded skill as compared with the reference model run, while for solar radiation, the cloud initialization scheme exhibits somewhat ambiguous results. The distribution of solar radiation values is improved for relatively sunny conditions, while at the other end of the distribution, the cloud initialization scheme produces too many cases with relatively strongly attenuated radiation.
Qualitative analysis of solutions for the p‐Laplacian hyperbolic equation with logarithmic nonlinearity
Authors: Pişkin Erhan , Boulaaras Salah , Irkil Nazli
Published: November 2020

In this paper, the p‐Laplacian hyperbolic type equation with logarithmic nonlinearity and weak damping term are considered, where the global existence of solutions by using the potential well method is discussed. Furthermore, the growth and the decay estimates of solutions for the problem are studied.
Technical Note: Design and commissioning of a water phantom for proton dosimetry in magnetic fields
Authors: Fuchs Hermann , Padilla‐Cabal Fatima , Hummel Andreas , Georg Dietmar
Published: November 2020

Purpose

To design and commission a water phantom suitable for constrained environments and magnetic fields for magnetic resonance (MR)‐guided proton therapy.

Methods

A phantom was designed, to enable precise, remote controlled detector positioning in water within the constrained environment of a magnet for MR‐guided proton therapy. The phantom consists of a PMMA enclosure whose outer dimensions of were chosen to optimize space usage inside the 13.5‐cm bore gap of the magnet. The moving mechanism is based on a low‐height H‐shaped non‐ferromagnetic belt drive, driven by stepper motors located outside of the magnetic field. The control system and the associated electronics were designed in house, with similar features as available in commercial water phantoms. Reproducibility as well as accuracy of the phantom positioning were tested using a high‐precision Leica AT 402 laser tracker. Laterally integrated depth dose curves and lateral beam profiles at three depths were acquired repeatedly for a 148.2 MeV proton beam in water.

Results

The phantom was successfully operated with and without applied magnetic fields. For complex movements, a positioning uncertainty within 0.16 mm was found with an absolute accuracy typically below 0.3 mm. Laterally integrated depth dose curves agreed within 0.1 mm with data taken using a commercial water phantom. The lateral beam offset determined from beam profile measurements agreed well with data from Monte Carlo simulations.

Conclusion

The phantom is optimally suited for detector positioning and dosimetric experiments within constrained environments in high magnetic fields.