bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advances in Uniform Polymer Microspheres and Microcapsules: Preparation and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Ma Guanghui , Yue Hua
Published: April 2020

Microspheres and microcapsules have been widely used in biomedical field, such as delivery systems for drugs, vaccines. Uniform particle is required for precise drug delivery and disease treatment, since the particle diameter is a key factor which controls the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of loaded drug. However, there is no universal method to prepare uniform particles either from monomer or preformed polymer raw materials. We have developed two membrane emulsification techniques (MET) to prepare uniform particles with controllable size. In this review, we introduce two MET processes and their mechanisms, and how to develop MET to different emulsion systems to obtain various uniform microspheres and microcapsules with interesting morphologies. Then, the advantages of uniform particles on biomedical application results are focused. Finally, particle design and applications as “Chassis” to form synthetic vaccine are described.

What is the most favorite and original chemistry developed in your research group?

We clarified the mechanism for obtaining uniform microspheres and microcapsules in O/W, W/O and double emulsion systems, which enabled us to develop the technique to a universal technique, successfully preparing various uniform particles including hydrophobic, hydrophilic and composite functional particles, and leading to the original systematic studies on biomedical applications including “Synthetic Vaccine”.

How do you get into this specific field? Could you please share some experiences with our readers?

I started the research on preparation of nanospheres from my master course. At that time, I knew there were few universal methods to obtain uniform microspheres and microcapsules. So, after I became an assistant professor, I began to consider this scientific topic.

How do you supervise your students?

Our group motto is “Enjoy Science, Enjoy Work, Enjoy Life”. I tried to lead the students to like their research, and tried to find interesting results with students together based on their primary experimental results.

What is the most important personality for scientific research?

Pure, Passion, Perseverance.

How do you keep balance between research and family?

Work hard, and let my family know I am enjoyable and happy with my research, getting support and encouragement from family.

Who influences you mostly in your life?

My father. He always read books at the desk. He always gave me encouragement no matter happy or sad.
Survival among patients with glioma in the US Military Health System: A comparison with patients in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program
Authors: Lin Jie , Bytnar Julie A. , Theeler Brett J. , McGlynn Katherine A. , Shriver Craig D. , Zhu Kangmin
Published: April 2020

Background

Glioma is the most common malignant brain cancer. Accessibility to health care is an important factor affecting cancer outcomes in the US general population. The US Military Health System (MHS) provides universal health care to its beneficiaries. It is unknown whether this universal health care has translated into improved survival outcomes among MHS beneficiaries with glioma. This study compared the overall survival of patients with glioma in the MHS with the overall survival of patients with glioma in the general population.

Methods

The MHS cases were identified from the Department of Defense’s Automated Central Tumor Registry (ACTUR). Glioma cases from the general population were identified from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. SEER cases were matched 2:1 to ACTUR cases by age, sex, race, histology, and diagnosis year. All cases had histologically confirmed glioma diagnosed between January 1, 1987, and December 31, 2013. A Kaplan‐Meier analysis was conducted to compare survival between the ACTUR and SEER cases. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

The study included 2231 glioma cases from ACTUR and 4462 cases from SEER. ACTUR cases exhibited significantly better overall survival than SEER cases (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.67‐0.83). The survival advantage of the ACTUR patients was observed in most subgroups stratified by age, sex, race, diagnosis year, and histology. For glioblastoma, the survival advantage was observed in both the pre‐ and post‐temozolomide periods.

Conclusions

Universal MHS health care may have translated into improved survival outcomes in glioma. Future studies are warranted to identify factors contributing to the improved survival.
Negative affect and stress‐related brain metabolism in patients with metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Reis Joaquim C. , Travado Luzia , Antoni Michael H. , Oliveira Francisco P. M. , Almeida Silvia D. , Almeida Pedro , Heller Aaron S. , Sousa Berta , Costa Durval C.
Published: April 2020

Background

Cancer and its treatment represent major stressors requiring that patients make multiple adaptations. Despite evidence that poor adaptation to stressors is associated with more distress and negative affect (NA), neuroimmune dysregulation and poorer health outcomes, current understanding is very limited of how NA covaries with central nervous system changes to account for these associations.

Methods

NA was correlated with brain metabolic activity using 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F‐FDG PET/CT) in several regions of interest in 61 women with metastatic breast cancer. Patients underwent 18F‐FDG PET/CT and completed an assessment of NA using the Brief Symptom Inventory.

Results

Regression analyses revealed that NA was significantly negatively correlated with the standardized uptake value ratio of the insula, thalamus, hypothalamus, ventromedial prefrontal cortex, and lateral prefrontal cortex. Voxel‐wise correlation analyses within these 5 regions of interest demonstrated high left‐right symmetry and the highest NA correlations with the anterior insula, thalamus (medial and ventral portion), lateral prefrontal cortex (right Brodmann area 9 [BA9], left BA45, and right and left BA10 and BA8), and ventromedial prefrontal cortex (bilateral BA11).

Conclusions

The regions of interest most strongly negatively associated with NA represent key areas for successful adaptation to stressors and may be particularly relevant in patients with metastatic breast cancer who are dealing with multiple challenges of cancer and its treatment.
A combination model based on transfer learning for waste classification
Authors: Huang Guang‐Li , He Jing , Xu Zenglin , Huang Guangyan
Published: April 2020

The increasing amount of solid waste is becoming a significant problem that needs to be addressed urgently. The reliable and accurate classification method is a crucial step in waste disposal because different types of wastes have different disposal ways. The existing waste classification models driven by deep learning are not easy to achieve accurate results and still need to be improved due to the various architecture networks adopted. Their performance on different datasets is varied, and there is also a lack of specific large‐scale datasets for training. We propose a new combination classification model based on three pretrained CNN models (VGG19, DenseNet169, and NASNetLarge) for processing the ImageNet database and achieve high classification accuracy. In our proposed model, the transfer learning model based on each pretrained model is constructed as a candidate classifier, and the optimal output of three candidate classifiers is selected as the final classification result. The experiments based on two waste image datasets demonstrate that the proposed model achieves 96.5% and 94% classification accuracy and outperforms several counterpart methods.
A Discrete Dichloride Tetrahydrate Trapped by a Cyclopropenium Cation: Structure and Spectroscopic Properties
Authors: Abdelbassit Mohammed S. , Curnow Owen J. , Ferreras Manuel , Crittenden Deborah L.
Published: April 2020

A discrete dichloride tetrahydrate cluster, [Cl2(H2O)4]2−, was obtained as a salt of the bis(diphenylamino)diethylamino cyclopropenium cation [C3(NPh2)2(NEt2)]+ and characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. This chloride–chloride ion‐pair cluster consists of a [Cl2(H2O)2]2− square with opposite edges bridged by water molecules to give a chair‐like structure of the non‐hydrogen atoms. The solid‐state structure is essentially the same as the calculated gas‐phase structure. Infrared spectra were also collected on the deuterium analogue [Cl2(D2O)4]2−. Computational studies were carried out on gas‐phase [Cl2(H2O)4]2− to confirm the infrared band assignments in the solid state. The structure and infrared spectrum are consistent with the discrete nature of the cluster.
Metallo‐Supramolecular Self‐Assembly with Reduced‐Symmetry Ligands
Authors: Lewis James E. M. , Crowley James. D.
Published: April 2020

Metallo‐supramolecular self‐assembly tends to be performed with single metal ions and single, highly symmetrical, ligands. This simplifies the self‐assembly process as without sufficient bias within the system a mixture of products may be formed. However, with various applications of metallo‐supramolecular species having been demonstrated, the ability to generate more intricate architectures is keenly sought after. The use of reduced symmetry ligands is one route to this goal, and allows access to lower‐symmetry assemblies. Multiple coordination pockets can also be introduced in this manner, giving rise to assemblies with metal ions in different coordination environments, which can be exploited for the controlled synthesis of mixed‐metal species. Herein we discuss the different approaches that have been used to control self‐assembly with low symmetry ligands, including the use of mixed‐denticity ligands, the incorporation of geometric constraints, charge separation strategies and the use of repulsive or attractive non‐covalent interactions between ligands.
Governance and accountability models in Italian certified benefit corporations
Authors: Nigri Giorgia , Del Baldo Mara , Agulini Armando
Published: April 2020

Benefit corporations institutionalize a new hybrid corporate form of business that allows for both profit and social objectives. Benefit corporations are traditional corporations with modified obligations; they commit to produce a benefit or purpose on top of their for‐profit motive, and they voluntarily bind to higher accountability and transparency standards. The aim of this paper is to shed new light on the governance and accountability procedures of certified benefit corporations (CBCs) in Italy since Italy was the first country after the United States to introduce the Società Benefit Law in 2016. Namely, this work explores how CBCs integrate benefit‐driven indicators into their structure, providing a renewed governance framework. To achieve this goal, a pilot case was conducted and 12 cross‐sector in‐depth interviews were performed with top management in seven Italian CBCs and triangulated with structured documents. What emerged from the findings is that there is a shift in the models of corporate governance where non‐profits are entering the for‐profit sector and that for‐profits are broadening their mission to include social and environmental goals. This extends the objectives of traditional forms of business to incorporate welfare objectives.
Network‐coded MIMO‐NOMA systems with FEC codes in two‐way relay networks
Authors: War Hlaing Ngu , Farzamnia Ali , Mariappan Muralindran , Kumar Haldar Manas
Published: April 2020

This paper assumes two users and a two‐way relay network with the combination of 2×2 multi‐input multi‐output (MIMO) and nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA). To achieve network reliability without sacrificing network throughput, network‐coded MIMO‐NOMA schemes with convolutional, Reed‐Solomon (RS), and turbo codes are applied. Messages from two users at the relay node are network‐coded and combined in NOMA scheme. Interleaved differential encoding with redundancy (R‐RIDE) scheme is proposed together with MIMO‐NOMA system. Quadrature phase‐shift keying (QPSK) modulation technique is used. Bit error rate (BER) versus signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) (dB) and average mutual information (AMI) (bps/Hz) versus SNR (dB) in NOMA and MIMO‐NOMA schemes are evaluated and presented. From the simulated results, the combination of MIMO‐NOMA system with the proposed R‐RIDE‐Turbo network‐coded scheme in two‐way relay networks has better BER and higher AMI performance than conventional coded NOMA system. Furthermore, R‐RIDE‐Turbo scheme in MIMO‐NOMA system outperforms the other coded schemes in both MIMO‐NOMA and NOMA systems.
Divergent chemokine receptor expression and the consequence for human IgG4 B cell responses
Authors: Unger Peter‐Paul A. , Lighaam Laura C. , Vermeulen Ellen , Kruithof Simone , Makuch Mateusz , Culver Emma L. , van Bruggen Robin , Remmerswaal Ester B.M. , ten Berge Ineke J.M. , Emmens Reindert W. , Niessen Hans W.M. , Barnes Eleanor , Wolbink Gerrit J. , van Ham S. Marieke , Rispens Theo
Published: April 2020

IgG4 antibodies are unique to humans. IgG4 is associated with tolerance during immunotherapy in allergy, but also with pathology, as in pemphigus vulgaris and IgG4‐related disease. Its induction is largely restricted to nonmicrobial antigens, and requires repeated or prolonged antigenic stimulation, for reasons poorly understood. An important aspect in generating high‐affinity IgG antibodies is chemokine receptor‐mediated migration of B cells into appropriate niches, such as germinal centers. Here, we show that compared to IgG1 B cells, circulating IgG4 B cells express lower levels of CXCR3, CXCR4, CXCR5, CCR6, and CCR7, chemokine receptors involved in GC reactions and generation of long‐lived plasma cells. This phenotype was recapitulated by in vitro priming of naive B cells with an IgG4‐inducing combination of TFH/TH2 cytokines. Consistent with these observations, we found a low abundance of IgG4 B cells in secondary lymphoid tissues in vivo, and the IgG4 antibody response is substantially more short‐lived compared to other IgG subclasses in patient groups undergoing CD20+ B cell depletion therapy with rituximab. These results prompt the hypothesis that factors needed to form IgG4 B cells restrain at the same time the induction of a robust migratory phenotype that could support a long‐lived IgG4 antibody response.
Multicomponent Synthesis of Sulfones and Sulfides from Triarylbismuthines and Sodium Metabisulfite in Deep Eutectic Solvents
Authors: Saavedra Beatriz , Marset Xavier , Guillena Gabriela , Ramón Diego J.
Published: April 2020

This study describes a novel and catalyst‐free methodology for the multicomponent synthesis of a broad range of sulfones, disulfides, and sulfides from non‐toxic triarylbismuthines (Ar3Bi) and sodium metabisulfite (Na2S2O5) in deep eutectic solvents (DESs). The fine tuning of the DESs properties allowed the solubility of all reagents, enhancing their reactivity, as well as, the recyclability of the reaction medium for at least 5 consecutive cycles. Thus, this versatile strategy uses non‐toxic reagents without the need of metal catalysts in a sustainable solvent, being an interesting alternative to traditional hazardous protocols.
Tissue engineering in female pelvic floor reconstruction
Authors: Wu Xiaotong , Jia YuanYuan , Sun Xiuli , Wang Jianliu
Published: April 2020

Pelvic organ prolapse is a common and frequently occurring disease in middle‐aged and elderly women. Mesh implantation is an ideal surgical treatment. The polypropylene mesh commonly used in clinical practice has good mechanical properties, but there are long‐term complications. The application of tissue engineering technology in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse disease can not only meet the mechanical requirements of pelvic floor support, but also be more biocompatible than traditional polypropylene mesh, and can promote tissue repair to a certain extent. In this paper, the progress of tissue engineering was summarized to understand the application of tissue engineering in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse disease and will help in research.
Clothianidin induces DNA damage and oxidative stress in bronchial epithelial cells
Authors: Atlı Şekeroğlu Zülal , Şekeroğlu Vedat , Aydın Birsen , Kontaş Yedier Seval , İlkun Emre
Published: April 2020

Clothianidin (CHN) is a member of the neonicotinoid group of insecticides. Its oxidative and DNA damage potential for human lung cells are not known. Therefore, the present study was designed to examine the effects of CHN on DNA damage and oxidative stress in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS‐2B) treated with CHN for 24, 72, and 120 hr. Our results indicate that CHN decreased cell viability in a concentration‐dependent manner. CHN induced DNA single‐strand breaks because alkaline comet parameters such as tail intensity, DNA in the tail, tail moment, and tail length increased. All CHN concentrations also significantly induced the formation of DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) because it increased phosphorylated H2AX protein foci for all treatment times and p53‐binding protein 1 foci for all treatments except for the lowest concentration (0.15 mM) of 120‐hr treatment. DNA damage caused by DNA DSBs was not repaired in a 24‐hr recovery period. CHN also induced oxidative stress by decreasing reduced glutathione and increasing lipid peroxidation. These results make it necessary to conduct studies about the detailed carcinogenic potential of CHN in humans because it can induce both oxidative and DNA damage.
A novel Internet of things‐based plug‐and‐play multigas sensor for environmental monitoring
Authors: Gomes João B. A. , Rodrigues Joel J. P. C. , Rabêlo Ricardo A. L. , Tanwar Sudeep , Al‐Muhtadi Jalal , Kozlov Sergey
Published: April 2020

Ambient gas measurement is essential in diverse fields and applications, from preventing accidents, to air pollution warnings, and granting the correct gas mixture to patients in hospitals. Gas leakage can reach large proportions, affecting neighborhoods or even cities, causing enormous environmental impacts. The integration of gas sensors through the Internet of things (IoT) paradigm should ease the information collecting and sharing processes, granting better experiences to users, and avoiding major losses and expenses. With this integration, final users must be capable of operating these gadgets without previous technological knowledge, thus, the proposal of plug‐and‐play (PnP) sensors and actuators should be considered. This article proposes an IoT‐based solution for sensing environmental gases preceding a PnP approach, combining the hardware and software integrations for a better user experience. In this proposal, the PnP interface is defined, using the universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter protocol. The wireless communication is made through the IEEE 802.15.4 and IEEE 802.11 (Wi‐Fi) standards. The proposed sensor is capable of detecting smoke, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, alcohol vapor, liquefied petroleum gas, benzene, ammonia, methane, and propane. The solution is integrated with a middleware for IoT, called In.IoT, a software that receives the sensed data, stores, and forward them to other smart devices on the same context, allowing an Android‐based mobile application to warn users regarding the environmental gases concentrations. The proposed solution is experimented, demonstrated, validated, and it is ready for use.
Optimal deep learning based image compression technique for data transmission on industrial Internet of things applications
Authors: Sujitha Ben , Parvathy Velmurugan Subbiah , Lydia E. Laxmi , Rani Poonam , Polkowski Zdzislaw , Shankar K.
Published: April 2020

Recently, industrial Internet of things becomes more popular and it involves a group of intelligent devices linked to create systems which observe, gather, communicate, and investigate data. In this view, the demand for compression techniques in remote sensing images is increasing since low complexity technique is required in spacecraft. Deep learning, for instance, convolutional neural network (CNN) has gained more attention in the domain of computer vision, particularly for high‐level applications like detection along with interpretation. At the same time, it is difficult to resolve the low‐level applications like image compression and it is investigated in this article. This article presents an optimal compression technique using CNNs for remote sensing images. The proposed method uses CNN for learning the compact representation of the original image which held the structural data and was then coded by Lempel Ziv Markov chain algorithm. Next, the encoded image was reconstructed to retrieve the original image with high reconstructed image quality. The proposed optimal compression technique is compatible with the available image codec standards. Wide range of experiments was carried out and the results were compared with binary tree and optimized truncation, JPEG, and JPEG2000 in terms of compression efficiency, reconstructed image quality, and space saving (SS). The obtained results apparently proved the effectiveness of the presented method, which attains an average peak signal to noise ratio of 49.90 dB and SS of 89.38%.
Method for collecting data of children descending movement on stairs in schools
Authors: Ono Rosaria , Valentim Marcos Vargas , Vittorino Fulvio
Published: April 2020

A method to collect the times and travel routes in predefined sections of stairs is presented, in order to obtain walking velocities of children. Twenty‐seven possible travel paths on landings and nine possible travel paths on flights are proposed and the equations developed to calculate them are presented. Experiments were carried out where data were not collected from fire drills, as usually are, but from the movement of unimpeded individuals descending stairs using this method. The technique used to collect data was the observation of video recordings via a closed‐circuit television system. Seven hundred and eighty‐three students ranging from 6 to 10 years of age and from three different schools participated in the experiments. Particularly, movements on stair flights and landings were analyzed separately for a group of 54 students of the first grade (6 years‐old), for a comparative analysis of the distances and velocities obtained with methods used by other researchers and significant differences were found. In addition, by the present method, the dispersion of velocity values in a population was studied; thus, the shape of its frequency distribution could be verified. An uncertainty estimative of the method is presented together with the discussion of its usage difficulties.
Review of the effects of vitexin in oxidative stress‐related diseases
Authors: Babaei Fatemeh , Moafizad Armita , Darvishvand Zahra , Mirzababaei Mohammadreza , Hosseinzadeh Hossein , Nassiri‐Asl Marjan
Published: April 2020

Vitexin is an apigenin flavone glycoside found in food and medicinal plants. It has a variety of pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, antinociceptive, and neuroprotective effects. This review study summarizes all the protective effects of vitexin as an antioxidant against reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and other oxidative damages in a variety of oxidative stress‐related diseases, including seizure, memory impairment, cerebral ischemia, neurotoxicity, myocardial and respiratory injury, and metabolic dysfunction, with possible molecular and cellular mechanisms. This review describes any activation or inhibition of the signaling pathways that depend on the antioxidant activity of vitexin. More basic research is needed on the antioxidative effects of vitexin in vivo, and carrying out clinical trials for the treatment of oxidative stress‐related diseases is also recommended.
A randomized clinical trial of sildenafil plus clomiphene citrate to improve the success rate of ovulation induction in patients with unexplained infertility
Authors: Aboelroose Ahmed A. , Ibrahim Zakia M. , Madny Elham H. , Elmazzahy Ahmed M. , Taha Omima T.
Published: April 2020

Objectives

To investigate the role of sildenafil citrate in improving ovulation induction success rate in women with unexplained infertility.

Methods

A randomized clinical trial from January to December 2018 of 80 women with unexplained infertility randomized into two groups. Both groups received 100 mg clomiphene citrate once daily from days 3–7 of the menstrual cycle. The study group also received 25 mg oral sildenafil citrate twice daily from days 8–12 of the same cycle. Transvaginal ultrasound assessed ovulation, endometrial thickness, and number of follicles. Pregnancy was assessed 2 weeks after ovulation. Primary outcome measures were endometrial thickness, number of mature follicles, and pregnancy rates.

Results

Pregnancy rates (26 (65%) and 16 (40%), P=0.043) and endometrial thickness (10.4 ± 1.4 and 9.2 ± 1.9, P=0.007) were significantly higher in the study group. More women in the study group reported adverse effects compared with the control group (17 [42.5%] vs 9 [22.5%]; P=0.034), with headache the most common adverse effect in the study group, reported by 8 (20.0%) patients.

Conclusion

Adding sildenafil citrate improved ovulation success rate and increased pregnancy rate.

Pan African Clinical Trial Registry: PACTR201907658492123
Comparing econometric methods to empirically evaluate activation programs for job seekers
Authors: Muller Paul , van der Klaauw Bas , Heyma Arjan
Published: April 2020

We test whether different identification strategies give similar results when evaluating activation programs. Budgetary problems at the Dutch unemployment insurance (UI) administration in March 2010 caused a sharp drop in the availability of these programs. Using administrative data provided by the UI administration, we evaluate the effect of the program (1) exploiting the policy discontinuity as a quasi‐experiment, (2) using dynamic matching assuming conditional independence, and (3) applying the timing‐of‐events model. All three strategies use the same data to consider the same program in the same setting, and show that the program reduces job finding directly after enrollment. However, the magnitude of the estimated drop in job finding differs between the three estimation methods. In the longer run, all three methods show a zero effect on employment.
Endogeneity and non‐response bias in treatment evaluation – nonparametric identification of causal effects by instruments
Authors: Fricke Hans , Frölich Markus , Huber Martin , Lechner Michael
Published: April 2020

This paper proposes a nonparametric method for evaluating treatment effects in the presence of both treatment endogeneity and attrition/non‐response bias, based on two instrumental variables. Using a discrete instrument for the treatment and an instrument with rich (in general continuous) support for non‐response/attrition, we identify the average treatment effect on compliers as well as the total population under the assumption of additive separability of observed and unobserved variables affecting the outcome. We suggest non‐ and semiparametric estimators and apply the latter to assess the treatment effect of gym training, which is instrumented by a randomized cash incentive paid out conditional on visiting the gym, on self‐assessed health among students at a Swiss university. The measurement of health is prone to non‐response, which is instrumented by a cash lottery for participating in the follow‐up survey.
Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome associated with Guillain‐Barré syndrome: Case report and clinical management considerations
Authors: Salvalaggio Alessandro , Cagnin Annachiara , Marson Piero , Ferracci Franco , Cortelli Pietro , Corbetta Maurizio , Briani Chiara
Published: April 2020

Around half of the patients with Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS) present autonomic dysfunction requiring admission to intensive care unit in up to a quarter of patients. Treatment of GBS consists of plasma exchange (PE) and intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG). Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) consists in a reversible subcortical vasogenic brain edema caused by endothelial damage triggered by abrupt blood pressure changes. We report on a woman who presented with PRES in the course of GBS treated first with IVIG, and then with PE. The present report underlines the challenge that the clinicians face when these two rare syndromes concur. The literature is not helpful considering that both blood pressure fluctuations and IVIG are reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of PRES. In the present letter, both pathogenic mechanisms and clinical management considerations are discussed.
A consolidated model for telepsychology practice
Authors: McCord Carly , Bernhard Paula , Walsh McKay , Rosner Christine , Console Katie
Published: April 2020

Objective

In this paper, we identify available telepsychology guidelines, understand similarities and differences, and organize the contents into a model of core practice domains pertinent to a variety of applications of telepsychology practice.

Method

A scoping review of current telepsychology guidelines was conducted to identify, organize, and distill available telepsychology guidelines (Arksey & O'Malley, 2005, Int J Soc Res Methodol, 8, 19–32).

Results

We identified overlap among five sets of telepsychology guidelines currently available and presented a consolidated model including nine practice domains influenced by practice setting and modality.

Conclusions

Telepsychology has the potential to address current issues in availability, accessibility, acceptability, anonymity, and affordability of mental health services but establishing or engaging in telepsychology practice has been daunting for many practitioners. Telepsychologists can disseminate applications of this model in different settings and with different modalities and this practice model can inform future development of competencies.
Speaking power to power: Grassroots democracy in the anti‐fracking movement in Bulgaria
Authors: Mihaylov Nikolay L.
Published: April 2020

The anti‐fracking movement (AFM) in Bulgaria, was a successful grassroots local‐to‐national organizing effort to change public policy. The study draws on social movements, community psychology, and grassroots democracy theory to explore, describe and critique how participants in the AFM collectively constructed meanings and practices of organizing in interaction with the sociopolitical context as they expanded their efforts from the local to the national level of policy‐making. Data for the study were collected from semi‐structured interviews with activists, movement documents, and participant observations. Structured and open coding followed by qualitative analyses produced descriptions and explanations of grassroots democracy in the movement. The movement was based on a prefigurative vision and practice of an antihierarchical “civic society” and was also shaped by the demands of the Bulgarian political context. Power, consent, and participation had dynamic meanings and forms that secured both grassroots democracy and effective political action. Тhe AFM resisted well‐known mechanisms of hierarchization and co‐optation, but it also reproduced certain inequalities of power. The findings relate to recent trends for expansion of community organizing to the national level of politics, for expansion of the community organizing models outside the United States, and for a popular grassroots preference for anti‐organizational organizing.
The Association Between the Attitude of Food‐Waste‐Aversion and BMI: An Exploration in India and the United States
Authors: Raghunathan Rajagopal , Chandrasekaran Deepa
Published: April 2020

This research proposes the existence of a hitherto undocumented attitude related to food wastage: the attitude of food‐waste‐aversion. We develop a 6‐item scale including affective, cognitive, and conative components to measure this attitude and empirically investigate its properties in two countries using novel datasets. We test for food‐waste‐aversion scale's convergent validity by demonstrating that it is correlated in the expected direction with five theoretically related constructs—frugality, social responsibility, spendthriftness, self‐control, and materialism (Studies 1a and 1b)—and with BMI (Studies 2 and 3). We provide more indirect evidence of the scale's convergent validity by documenting that the link between food‐waste‐aversion and BMI is attenuated among those who practice refrigerating leftovers (Study 3). We also document that the food‐waste‐aversion scale is distinct from general waste aversion and external meal‐cessation rules, thus providing evidence of discriminant validity (Studies 1a, 1b, and 1c). Taken together, these results provide construct validity for the novel construct of food‐waste‐aversion. We discuss the theoretical and substantive contributions of our findings.
Thiophene derivatives: A potent multitargeted pharmacological scaffold
Authors: Singh Atamjit , Singh Gurvinder , Bedi Preet Mohinder Singh
Published: April 2020

Despite a significant work that has been done on thiophene, continuous efforts are still being made by the researchers to identify novel heterocyclic compounds with potential bioactivities. Thiophene nucleus has been extensively utilized by the researchers across the globe for the development of diverse bioactive heterocycles for hitting a wide range of biological targets. This review throws light on synthetic approaches that have been used for the synthesis of potential thiophene derivatives followed by the depth analysis of them with respect to their pharmacological significance. This review can help the medicinal chemists and researchers to develop novel leads having thiophene nucleus with high efficacy and reduced side effects.
Metabolic profiling of different wild and cultivated Allium species based on high‐resolution mass spectrometry, high‐performance liquid chromatography‐photodiode array detector, and color analysis
Authors: Maccelli Alessandro , Cesa Stefania , Cairone Francesco , Secci Daniela , Menghini Luigi , Chiavarino Barbara , Fornarini Simonetta , Crestoni Maria Elisa , Locatelli Marcello
Published: April 2020

Many plants of the genus Allium are widely cultivated and consumed for their nutraceutical and health‐enhancing bioactive components effective in many metabolic and infectious diseases. In particular, Allium sativum L. (garlic), the most economically important Allium species, is known to present volatile, comparatively polar sulfur‐containing compounds responsible for both the typical garlic aroma and antimicrobial property. More recently, the (moderately) polar portion of garlic metabolome, rich of polyphenols and amino acids, is gaining increasing interest as a source of antioxidants and primary nutrients. In this study, we have explored the chemical diversity of eight different hydroalcoholic extracts obtained by microwave‐assisted extraction of white and red crop A. sativum and wild Allium triquetrum, Allium roseum, and Allium ampeloprasum, all originating from the Mediterranean Basin. The aim is to appraise their potential dietetic and healing value through an in‐depth chemical characterization and contribute to preserve and exploit natural resources. The multimethodological method applied here is based on an untargeted metabolic profiling by means of high‐resolution electrospray ionization Fourier‐transform ion cyclotron resonance (ESI FT‐ICR) mass spectrometry. More than 850 by ESI(+) and 450 by ESI(−) putative metabolites have been annotated covering all main classes of primary and secondary metabolites, including amino acids, alkaloids, organic and fatty acids, nucleotides, vitamins, organosulfur compounds, and flavonoids. The pigment and polyphenol components have been separated and quantified by a targeted chromatographic high‐performance liquid chromatography‐photodiode array detector (HPLC‐PDA) and CIEL*a*b* colorimetric assay, showing characteristic yellow and red components in each extract, related to a different milieu of anthocyanins and flavonoids as assigned by high‐resolution mass spectrometry (MS).
Modeling long‐term salt marsh response to sea level rise in the sediment‐deficient Plum Island Estuary, MA
Authors: Langston Amy K. , Durán Vinent Orencio , Herbert Ellen R. , Kirwan Matthew L.
Published: April 2020

An accelerating global rate of sea level rise (SLR), coupled with direct human impacts to coastal watersheds and shorelines, threatens the continued survival of salt marshes. We developed a new landscape‐scale numerical model of salt marsh evolution and applied it to marshes in the Plum Island Estuary (Massachusetts, U.S.A.), a sediment‐deficient system bounded by steep uplands. To capture complexities of vertical accretion across the marsh platform, we employed a novel approach that incorporates spatially variable suspended sediment concentrations and biomass of multiple plant species as functions of elevation and distance from sediment sources. The model predicts a stable areal extent of Plum Island marshes for a variety of SLR scenarios through 2100, where limited marsh drowning is compensated by limited marsh migration into adjacent uplands. Nevertheless, the model predicts widespread conversion of high marsh vegetation to low marsh vegetation, and accretion deficits that indicate eventual marsh drowning. Although sediment‐deficient marshes bounded by steep uplands are considered extremely vulnerable to SLR, our results highlight that marshes with high elevation capital can maintain their areal extent for decades to centuries even under conditions in which they will inevitably drown.
A Randomized, Split‐Face, Double‐Blind Comparison Trial Between Fractionated Frequency‐Doubled 1064/532 nm Picosecond Nd:YAG Laser and Fractionated 1927 nm Thulium Fiber Laser for Facial Photorejuvenation
Authors: Wu Douglas C. , Jones Isabela T. , Boen Monica , Al‐Haddad Marwan , Goldman Mitchel P.
Published: April 2020

Background and Objective

Fractionated lasers are a popular therapeutic option for facial photorejuvenation. In this study, we compare the safety, tolerability, and efficacy of a fractionated frequency‐doubled 1064/532 nm picosecond Nd:YAG fractionated picosecond laser (FPL) versus a fractionated 1927 nm thulium fiber laser (TFL) for facial rejuvenation.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

This was a double‐blind, randomized, split‐face comparison study involving 20 subjects. Facial halves were randomized to receive either FPL or TFL treatment. Three treatments were delivered at 1‐month intervals. Subjects were followed up for 1, 3, and 6 months post‐final treatment session and evaluated by blinded, non‐treating investigators for dyspigmentation, erythema, keratosis, texture, and rhytids on a standardized scale. Subjects also recorded a quantitative daily diary rating healing progress for 14 days after every treatment session.

Results

Statistically significant improvements in elastosis, erythema, keratosis, dyschromia, and skin texture were noted in both treatment groups. There were no significant differences detected in clinical efficacy between the two groups. Subject daily dairies revealed statistically significant differences in tolerability during the immediate 14‐day post‐operative recovery period. The facial half treated with FPL displayed significantly less redness on days 3 and 4; significantly less swelling on day 5; significantly less crusting on days 1 through 9; significantly less peeling on days 3 through 9; and significantly less itch on days 4 and 7. There were no unexpected adverse effects observed.

Conclusion

Both FPL and TFL are safe and effective treatment options for facial rejuvenation. FPL may be associated with significantly less downtime. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Routine Bile Culture From Liver Donors as Screening of Donor‐Transmitted Infections in Liver Transplantation
Authors: Pérez‐Cameo Cristina , Bilbao Itxarone , Lung Mayli , Caralt Mireia , Vargas Víctor , Pont Teresa , Nuvials Xavier , Los‐Arcos Ibai , Castells Lluís , Len Oscar
Published: April 2020

Bacterial infections are an important threat in the early post–liver transplantation period. Donor‐transmitted infections, although rare, can have high mortality. The utility of routine culture from the donor bile duct as screening of donor‐transmitted infection has not been evaluated. We performed a retrospective study of 200 consecutive liver transplants between 2010 and 2015. Demographic, clinical, and microbiological data were collected from the recipients’ medical records. Clinical data included pretransplantation, perioperative, and posttransplantation information (until 30 days after the procedure). The 3‐month patient survival and/or retransplantation were recorded. A total of 157 samples from the donor bile duct were collected and cultured. Only 8 were positive. The microorganisms isolated were as follows: Klebsiella pneumoniae, n = 2; Escherichia coli, n = 1; Enterobacter cloacae, n = 1; Streptococcus anginosus, n = 1; Streptococcus sp., n = 1; multiple gram‐negative bacilli, n = 1; and polymicrobial, n = 1. All of the microorganisms were susceptible to the antibiotic prophylaxis administered. During the first month after transplantation, 81 recipients developed 131 infections. Only 1 of these recipients had a donor with a positive bile culture, and none of the infections were due to the microorganism isolated in the donor’s bile. The 3‐month overall survival was 89.5%, and there were no differences between recipients with positive donor bile cultures and those with negative donor bile cultures (87.5% versus 89.26%; P > 0.99). Routine testing of donor bile cultures does not predict recipients’ infection or survival after liver transplantation and should not be recommended.
Insight into Protein–Polymer Conjugate Relaxation Dynamics: The Importance of Polymer Grafting
Authors: Russo Daniela , Pelosi Chiara , Wurm Frederik R. , Frick Bernhard , Ollivier Jacques , Teixeira Jose
Published: April 2020

The bio and chemical physics of protein–polymer conjugates are related to parameters that characterize each component. With this work, it is intended to feature the dynamical properties of the protein–polymer conjugate myoglobin (Mb)–poly(ethyl ethylene phosphate), in the ps and ns time scales, in order to understand the respective roles of the protein and of the polymer size in the dynamics of the conjugate. Elastic and quasi‐elastic neutron scattering is performed on completely hydrogenated samples with variable number of polymer chains covalently attached to the protein. The role of the polymer length in the protein solvation and internal dynamics is investigated using two conjugates formed by polymers of different molecular weight. It is confirmed that the flexibility of the complex increases with the number of grafted polymer chains and that a sharp dynamical transition appears when either grafting density or polymer molecular weight are high. It is shown that protein size is crucial for the polymer structural organization and interaction on the protein surface and it is established that the glass properties of the polymer change upon conjugation. The results give a better insight of the equivalence of the polymer coating and the role of water on the surface of proteins.
Mandibular ramus and condyle reconstruction with vascularized proximal fibular epiphyseal transfer in the pediatric patient: A case report
Authors: Innocenti Marco , Mori Francesco , Raffaini Mirco , Lucattelli Elena , Innocenti Alessandro
Published: April 2020

Mandibular reconstruction in skeletally immature patients is challenging for the Plastic Surgeon. Indeed, it requires replacement of the bony defect with restoration of the growth capability and joint function, when condyle is involved. Vascularized transfer of the proximal epiphysis of the fibula meets all these reconstructive requirements providing an adequate bone stock which also contains a growth plate and an articular surface. The purpose of this article is to report a case of mandibular reconstruction in a 13‐year‐old boy who underwent resection of a high‐grade osteosarcoma involving mandibular angle, ramus, and condyle. A fibular free flap including proximal epiphysis, with its growth plate and the articular surface, was harvested based on the anterior tibial vessels. The fibular head articular surface was placed facing the articular fossa of the temporal bone. A reverse‐flow end‐to‐end anastomosis was performed with the facial vessels. Postoperatively, no infection nor anastomosis complications occurred. Surgical sites healed uneventfully. At latest follow‐up, 1 year after surgery, no signs of recurrence were observed. The transferred bone survived and the growth plate was clearly open. Both functional and aesthetic outcomes were rated as good, with maximal mouth opening of more than 4 cm, neither impairment to mastication, deglutition nor phonation was observed. This technique may be a good option for pediatric reconstruction of large bony and articular mandibular defects, where functional restoration of temporomandibular joint and the growing capacity of the bone should be contemporary.
Nonnegative solutions to reaction–diffusion system with cross‐diffusion and nonstandard growth conditions
Authors: Arumugam Gurusamy , Tyagi Jagmohan
Published: April 2020

We establish the existence of nonnegative weak solutions to nonlinear reaction–diffusion system with cross‐diffusion and nonstandard growth conditions subject to the homogeneous Neumann boundary conditions. We assume that the diffusion operators satisfy certain monotonicity condition and nonstandard growth conditions and prove that the existence of weak solutions using Galerkin's approximation technique.
Genetic Integrity of Lake Trout in Cold Lake, Alberta, Despite Decades of Supplemental Stocking
Authors: McDermid Jenni L. , Walker Jordan , Al-Shamlih Mohammed , Wilson Chris C.
Published: April 2020

Supplemental stocking is a widely used management tool to support recreational fisheries but is not always successful and can have consequences for the genetic composition of recipient wild populations. Introgressive admixture between native populations and genetically divergent stocking sources may lead to outbreeding depression and/or homogenization of genetic diversity, which could potentially decrease the fitness of the native populations. We assessed the genetic ancestry of Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush in Cold Lake, Alberta, which received supplemental stocking from several sources after the closure of a historical commercial fishery. Recent demographic studies of Lake Trout in Cold Lake estimated increased natural mortality in the contemporary population relative to the period before the commercial fishery. Population- and individual-based analyses of microsatellite loci were used to compare samples from Cold Lake collected over multiple time periods against hatchery stocking sources and a native population connected to Cold Lake via the Cold River (Pierce Lake). Despite extensive stocking over several decades and evidence of historical introgression, evidence suggests that the contemporary Lake Trout population in Cold Lake has primarily native ancestry, with little admixture from hatchery source populations. The cause of the increased mortality remains unresolved, but ecological factors should perhaps be the focus of future studies.