bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detecting fish assemblages with environmental DNA: Does protocol matter? Testing eDNA metabarcoding method robustness
Authors: Coutant Opale , Cantera Isabel , Cilleros Kévin , Dejean Tony , Valentini Alice , Murienne Jérôme , Brosse Sébastien
Published: November 2020

Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding has recently gain much attention to assess aquatic environment biodiversity. A great variety of protocols have been developed to collect, extract, and analyze eDNA, some of which are continuously evolving and optimized with technological improvements. Such technological shifts might deprecate the biological data produced with earlier protocols, leading to a loss of biological knowledge. Here, we investigated the robustness of an aquatic eDNA metabarcoding method through the comparison of two biodiversity datasets generated by two optimized protocols with different collection and extraction steps. To this end, we compared fish community richness and composition of 12 streams and 3 rivers from French Guiana, sampled with two distinct protocols commonly used in aquatic eDNA studies. Although sample collection with each protocol was not achieved the same year, our results show that species richness and species composition were only slightly affected by the protocol choice, both protocols producing similar fish assemblages at each sample site. Both protocols had a higher replicability in streams than in rivers, strengthening the importance to adapt sampling effort to waterbody type as rivers host a larger number of species than small streams. Despite the need for a standardized approach in eDNA metabarcoding studies, testing the robustness of datasets to protocol variations remains crucial to valorize old data, time series, or data collected in difficult to access locations.
Settling of a charged hydrophobic rigid colloid in aqueous media under generalized gravitational field
Authors: Kundu Dipankar , Bhattacharyya Somnath , Gopmandal Partha P. , Ohshima Hiroyuki
Published: November 2020

The hindrance created by the induced electric filed on the sedimentation of a charged colloid in an aqueous media is studied through numerical modeling. The colloid is considered to be hydrophobic, sedimenting under gravity or a centrifugal force (generalized gravity). The deformation of the charge cloud around the colloid induces an electric field, which generates electrical dipole force on the colloid. The sedimentation velocity is governed by the balance of an electric force, hydrodynamic drag, and gravitational force. Governing equations based on the first principle of electrokinetics is solved numerically through a control volume approach. The dependence of the sedimentation velocity on the electrical properties and slip length of the colloid is investigated. The sedimentation velocity of the charged colloid is slower than the corresponding uncharged particle and this deviation magnifies as the charge density as well as particle slip length is increased. An enhanced g‐factor creates a size dependency of the charged colloids. The induced sedimentation field is obtained to analyze the electrokinetics. Surface hydrophobicity enhances the sedimentation velocity, which in turn manifests the induced sedimentation field. However, the sedimentation velocity of a charged hydrophobic colloid is lower than the corresponding uncharged hydrophobic particle and this deviation manifests as slip length is increased.
All‐Ambient‐Processed CuSCN as an Inexpensive Alternative to Spiro‐OMeTAD for Perovskite‐Based Devices
Authors: Asuo Ivy M. , Bouzidi Soraya , Ka Ibrahima , Rosei Federico , Pignolet Alain , Nechache Riad , Cloutier Sylvain G.
Published: November 2020

Organic hole‐transporting materials (HTM) are widely used for high‐efficiency solar cells. However, compared with their inorganic counterparts, these materials are often expensive and require complex synthesis methods and the addition of costly dopants to improve their performance. In addition, exposure to the ambient environment affects the chemical stability of some organic materials as well as their device characteristics. Herein, an all‐ambient fabrication method is used to develop a CuSCN layer as an alternative to the conventional Spiro‐OMeTAD HTM. CuSCN thin films are incorporated into both solar cells and photodetectors to study their effect on the optoelectronic properties of these devices. For the solar cells made with CuSCN, a power conversion efficiency of 14.3% is achieved, with remarkable ambient‐stability without encapsulation. Regarding the photodetectors with CuSCN, high‐specific detectivity up to 1012 Jones is exhibited. Solution‐processed devices exhibit overall impressive performances and represent an essential step toward large‐scale fabrication of efficient, stable, facile, and inexpensive perovskite‐based optoelectronic technologies.
Impact of diagnostic delay on seizure outcome in newly diagnosed focal epilepsy
Authors: Parviainen Laura , Kälviäinen Reetta , Jutila Leena
Published: November 2020

Objective

In the current study, we aimed to assess the diagnostic delay and the impact of diagnostic delay on seizure outcome in a cohort of newly diagnosed patients with focal epilepsy.

Methods

The study material was compiled from eight clinical antiseizure medication monotherapy trials conducted at Kuopio Epilepsy Center during 1995‐2016. We analyzed the time from first seizure to diagnosis, the number of seizures before diagnosis, and the response to treatment at five years.

Results

Of the 176 patients (age range 15‐75 years) in the cohort, 135 (77%) had had more than two seizures before treatment. The majority of these (79 patients, 45%) had had three to ten seizures. Median number of all seizures before diagnosis was 5 (range 2‐2000). Focal aware seizures and focal impaired awareness seizures were more frequent than focal to bilateral tonic‐clonic seizures; median number 45 (range 2‐2000), 11 (range 2‐220), and 3 (range 2‐30), respectively (P < .001). Median delay was 12 months (range 0‐362). Diagnostic delay alone did not correlate with the treatment response at five years. However, an increasing number of seizures before diagnosis indicated a worse seizure outcome (P < .001).

Significance

This study shows that patients with focal epilepsy experience significant delays in diagnosis even in developed countries, especially with seizure types other than tonic‐clonic seizures. In these cases, a long delay in diagnosis alone might not affect the long‐term outcome. However, when accompanied with recurrent seizures misinterpreted by the patient or healthcare providers, the effect of such delay on prognosis can be considerable.
A review on dill essential oil and its chief compounds as natural biocide
Authors: Kaur Vishaldeep , Kaur Ramandeep , Bhardwaj Urvashi
Published: November 2020

Anethum graveolensL. (dill), a member of Umbelliferae family, is an important essential oil‐bearing herb native to the Mediterranean and West Asia. It is well documented for its medicinal and traditional uses. The chemical composition of dill seed essential oil showed the presence of numerous volatile compounds with carvone, limonene, α‐phellandrene, β‐phellandrene and p‐cymene being the major ones in almost all its aerial parts. Thus, the main focus of this updated review is to highlight the biological importance of dill essential oil and its major constituents (carvone and limonene) reported till date. Although the number of reviews has been published on its chemical composition and medicinal uses, its role in the field of agriculture to develop commercial formulations is still needed to be explored. In brief, the information presented in this review will be useful in creating interest in the use of dill essential oil and its major constituents for the development of commercial plant‐based pesticides.
Fluorescence interference of polyphenols in assays screening for dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitory activity
Authors: Dirimanov Stoyan , Högger Petra
Published: November 2020

Polyphenols are plant‐derived natural compounds, which are attributed to various beneficial effects on human health. Therefore, they are extensively investigated in different experimental setups. These compounds exhibit favorable antidiabetic effects in various clinical trials. However, their mode of action is not completely elucidated. A potential molecular target of certain polyphenols could be the dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV). This enzyme is abundant in human serum and represents a serine exopeptidase that cleaves and thus rapidly deactivates incretin hormones which are responsible for adequate postprandial insulin secretion from the pancreas. Multiple inhibitors of DPP IV have already been approved as antidiabetic drugs. In the course of screening assays exploring in vitro DPP IV inhibitory activities of polyphenols, some implausible observations prompted a detailed analysis of the interaction of polyphenols with fluorescence signals. The results revealed that quercetin quenched the fluorescence intensity, while 6‐methoxyflavone and urolithin B enhanced fluorescence signals depending on particular experimental conditions such as solvent composition. Thus, individual polyphenols might conflict with the experimental setup of fluorescence‐based DPP IV inhibitor screening assays. To avoid false positive or false negative results, polyphenols under investigations should be carefully controlled for potential assay interferences.
Immune checkpoint expression in HNSCC patients before and after definitive chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Doescher Johannes , Minkenberg Peter , Laban Simon , Kostezka Ulrike , von Witzleben Adrian , Hoffmann Thomas Karl , Schuler Patrick Johannes , Weissinger Stephanie Ellen
Published: November 2020

Background

Primary platinum‐based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) remains the treatment of choice for nonresectable squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC). Immune‐checkpoint modulators are used as palliative therapy and studied in combination with definitive CRT. However, the immunological changes by CRT need yet to be understood.

Methods

A cohort consisting of 67 paired tissue biopsies (N = 134) of HNSCC patients before and after CRT was created. The expression of PD‐1, PD‐L1, and CD27 of tumor and immune cells by immunohistochemistry was evaluated.

Results

PD‐L1 expression on immune cells of non‐responders was significantly lower before CRT (P = .008). CD27 was expressed only on immune cells and not on cancer cells. A significant lower CD27‐expression score was observed following CRT (P = .019).

Conclusions

Conventional CRT changes the expression of CD27 in the tumor microenvironment. Whether this is due to a loss of expression or a reduction of CD27+ cells must be evaluated in further analyses.
HBV RNA Profiles in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B Under Different Disease Phases and Antiviral Therapy
Authors: Mak Lung‐Yi , Cloherty Gavin , Wong Danny Ka‐Ho , Gersch Jeffrey , Seto Wai‐Kay , Fung James , Yuen Man‐Fung
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims

Large‐scale comprehensive studies on HBV RNA in chronic hepatitis B are lacking. We aimed to study the HBV RNA profile and its correlation with other viral markers in patients with chronic hepatitis B who are treatment‐naïve and patients receiving nucleos(t)ide analogues (NA).

Approach and Results

Biomarkers, including HBV RNA and hepatitis B core‐related antigen (HBcrAg), were measured in 388 patients. Of these, 246 were treatment‐naïve and were categorized into HBeAg‐positive chronic infection (n = 41), HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis (n = 81), HBeAg‐negative chronic infection (n = 39), HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis (n = 66), and HBsAg seroclearance (n = 19). These biomarkers were also measured in 142 patients who were NA‐treated receiving tenofovir or entecavir at baseline, week 48, and week 96. The pattern of serum HBV RNA levels mirrored HBV DNA (1‐2 logs higher than HBV RNA) and HBcrAg in patients who were treatment‐naïve. HBV RNA correlated best with HBcrAg (r = 0.84) and to a lesser extent with HBV DNA (r = 0.737) (both P < 0.001). In patients with HBsAg seroclearance, 15.8% and 15.8% had detectable serum HBV RNA and HBcrAg, respectively. NA treatment reduced serum HBV RNA by 1.46 logs and 1.77 logs at weeks 48 and 96, respectively. At week 96 of NA therapy, only 19.1% patients who were tenofovir‐treated and 25.7% patients who were entecavir‐treated had unquantifiable HBV RNA (P > 0.05). In patients who were treated and had undetectable HBV DNA, 77.5% and 30% had quantifiable HBV RNA and HBcrAg, respectively.

Conclusions

HBV RNA showed distinct and corresponding profiles in patients with HBV in different disease phases. HBV RNA and HBcrAg could be used to monitor residual transcriptional activities in patients with HBsAg seroclearance. NA led to reduction of serum HBV RNA. Monitoring of viral activities can still be achieved in patients with undetectable HBV DNA by serum HBV RNA.
Endothelial p300 Promotes Portal Hypertension and Hepatic Fibrosis Through C‐C Motif Chemokine Ligand 2–Mediated Angiocrine Signaling
Authors: Gao Jinhang , Wei Bo , Liu Mengfei , Hirsova Petra , Sehrawat Tejasav S. , Cao Sheng , Hu Xiao , Xue Fei , Yaqoob Usman , Kang Ningling , Cui Huarui , Pomerantz William C.K. , Kostallari Enis , Shah Vijay H.
Published: November 2020

Background and Aims

During liver fibrosis, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) release angiocrine signals to recruit inflammatory cells into the liver. p300, a master regulator of gene transcription, is associated with pathological inflammatory response. Therefore, we examined how endothelial p300 regulates angiocrine signaling and inflammation related to portal hypertension and fibrogenesis.

Approach and Results

CCl4 or partial inferior vena cava ligation (pIVCL) was used to induce liver injury. Mice with LSEC‐specific p300 deletion (p300
LSECΔ/Δ) or C‐C motif chemokine ligand 2 (Ccl2) deficiency, nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB)–p50 knockout mice, and bromodomain containing 4 (BRD4) inhibitors in wild‐type mice were used to investigate mechanisms of inflammation regulation. Leukocytes were analyzed by mass cytometry by time‐of‐flight. Epigenetic histone marks were modified by CRISPR endonuclease‐deficient CRISPR‐associated 9‐fused with the Krüppel associated box domain (CRISPR‐dCas9‐KRAB)–mediated epigenome editing. Portal pressure and liver fibrosis were reduced in p300
LSECΔ/Δ mice compared to p300
fl/fl mice following liver injury. Accumulation of macrophages was also reduced in p300
LSECΔ/Δ mouse livers. Ccl2 was the most up‐regulated chemokine in injured LSECs, but its increase was abrogated in p300
LSECΔ/Δ mice. While the macrophage accumulation was increased in NFκB‐p50 knockout mice with enhanced NFκB activity, it was reduced in mice with LSEC‐specific Ccl2 deficiency and mice treated with specific BRD4 inhibitors. In vitro, epigenome editing of CCL2 enhancer and promoter regions by CRISPR‐dCas9‐KRAB technology repressed TNFα‐induced CCL2 transcription through H3K9 trimethylation. In contrast, TNFα activated CCL2 transcription by promoting p300 interaction with NFκB and BRD4, leading to histone H3 lysine 27 acetylation at CCL2 enhancer and promoter regions.

Conclusions

In summary, endothelial p300 interaction with NFκB and BRD4 increases CCL2 expression, leading to macrophage accumulation, portal hypertension, and liver fibrosis. Inhibition of p300 and its binding partners might serve as therapy in the treatment of liver diseases.
A Population‐Based Intervention to Improve Care Cascades of Patients With Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Authors: Scott John , Fagalde Meaghan , Baer Atar , Glick Sara , Barash Elizabeth , Armstrong Hilary , Kowdley Kris V. , Golden Matthew R. , Millman Alexander J. , Nelson Noele P. , Canary Lauren , Messerschmidt Matthew , Patel Pallavi , Ninburg Michael , Duchin Jeff
Published: November 2020

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is common in the United States and leads to significant morbidity, mortality, and economic costs. Simplified screening recommendations and highly effective direct‐acting antivirals for HCV present an opportunity to eliminate HCV. The objective of this study was to increase testing, linkage to care, treatment, and cure of HCV. This was an observational, prospective, population‐based intervention program carried out between September 2014 and September 2018 and performed in three community health centers, three large multiclinic health care systems, and an HCV patient education and advocacy group in King County, WA. There were 232,214 patients included based on criteria of documented HCV‐related diagnosis code, positive HCV laboratory test or prescription of HCV medication, and seen at least once at a participating clinical site in the prior year. Electronic health record (EHR) prompts and reports were created. Case management linked patients to care. Primary care providers received training through classroom didactics, an online curriculum, specialty clinic shadowing, and a telemedicine program. The proportion of baby boomer patients with documentation of HCV testing increased from 18% to 54% during the project period. Of 77,577 baby boomer patients screened at 87 partner clinics, 2,401 (3%) were newly identified HCV antibody positive. The number of patients staged for treatment increased by 391%, and those treated increased by 1,263%. Among the 79% of patients tested after treatment, 95% achieved sustained virologic response. Conclusion: A combination of EHR‐based health care system interventions, active linkage to care, and clinician training contributed to a tripling in the number of patients screened and a more than 10‐fold increase of those treated. The interventions are scalable and foundational to the goal of HCV elimination.
Atg16l1 in dendritic cells is required for antibacterial defense and autophagy in murine colitis
Authors: Zhang Hong , Wang Dong , Shihb David Q. , Zhang Xiao‐Lan
Published: November 2020

Autophagy‐related 16‐like 1 (Atg16l1) contributes to the susceptibility to ulcerative colitis (UC). The functional consequences of Atg16l1 in UC pathogenesis are poorly understood. We aimed to confirm how Atg16l1 deficiency in dendritic cells (DCs) affects murine colitis development. Atg16l1f/f mice and mice with Atg16l1 deficiency in CD11c+DCs (Atg16l1ΔDC) were generated for colitis models induction. Disease activity index, weight loss, colon score/length, and histopathological analysis were assessed for colitis severity. Mononuclear cells from mesenteric lymph node (MLN) were extracted for CD44/CD69 measurement by flow cytometry. Bacterial cultures of MLN and stool homogenates were used to evaluate the bacterial translocation. Bone marrow‐derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were isolated and cultured for immunofluorescence of autophagy‐related proteins. Atg16l1 knockout in CD11c+DCs exacerbated intestinal inflammation of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)‐induced colitis in vivo. Atg16l1 deficiency in CD11c+DCs had no effect on the expression of CD44 and CD69. Bacterial translocation showed that bacteria amount in MLN and stool of DSS‐induced colitis with Atg16l1 deficiency significantly higher than that of control. Immunofluorescence revealed that Atg16l1 deficiency obviously inhibited co‐expression of LC3 and Lamp1 with S. typhimurium, enhanced co‐expression of rab5 and rab7 with S. typhimurium, while did not affect Beclin1. We confirmed that Atg16l1 deficiency in DCs exacerbated the intestinal inflammation of DSS‐induced colitis. Atg16l1 deficiency in DCs promotes the bacterial translocation of DSS‐induced colitis in vivo and regulates autophagy and phagocytosis in BMDCs. Findings provided a novel perspective to study UC pathogenesis.
Low expression of hsa_circ_0001811 in gastric cancer and its role in clinical diagnosis
Authors: Zhang Haiyan , Li Zhe , Ruan Yao , Sun Weiliang , Yu Rui
Published: November 2020

Background

As far as gastric cancer is concerned, there is a lack of specific early diagnostic biomarkers in clinical diagnosis. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been found to be stable in gastric cancer tissues and plasma, so they have the potential to become new type of diagnostic biomarkers for gastric cancer.

Materials and Methods

The hsa_circ_0001811 expressions in gastric cancer tissues and paired non‐cancer tissues, preoperative and postoperative plasma of patients with gastric cancer, and plasma of healthy volunteers were detected using quantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn; and the combined ROC curves were used to analyze their diagnostic values. The correlation between the plasma or tissue hsa_circ_0001811 levels and the clinicopathological factors of gastric cancer was further analyzed.

Results

Hsa_circ_0001811 was found to be lowly expressed in gastric cancer tissues and plasma from patients with gastric cancer. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) in the gastric cancer tissues and the plasma of patients with gastric cancer was 0.658 and 0.747, respectively. The AUC increased to 0.824 after combination of both. The expression level of hsa_circ_0001811 in gastric cancer tissue correlated with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) (P = .0347), tissue differentiation (P = .0138), and lymph node metastasis (P = .0234), while plasma hsa_circ_0001811 level was related to carbohydrate antigen (CA19‐9) (P = .0278), lymph node metastasis (P = .0469), distant metastasis (P = .0384), and age (P = .0085).

Conclusions

The above results indicate that hsa_circ_0001811 may become a new biomarker for clinical diagnosis of gastric cancer.
Effects of different smoking methods on sensory properties, free amino acids and volatile compounds in bacon
Authors: Guo Jie , Wang Qiong , Chen Conggui , Yu Hai , Xu Baocai
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different smoking methods on sensory properties, free amino acids (FAAs) and volatile compounds (VCs) of bacon. Descriptive analysis was performed using a highly trained panel (n = 9) to evaluate four bacons in sextuplicate. VCs of bacons were analyzed using solid‐phase microextraction (SPME) coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS).

RESULTS

Bacons were significantly different in sensory properties (P < 0.05). Wood smoked bacon (WSB) had a higher smoky and fatty aroma, liquid smoked bacon (LSB) had a higher red color intensity and yellow color intensity, and paper smoked bacon (PSB) had an outstanding texture. Different smoking methods resulted in an increase in total FAAs content, of which paper smoking was significantly higher than the others (P < 0.05). Also, a total of 59 volatile flavor compounds were identified for bacons, aldehydes were the most abundant groups of compounds. Principal component analysis (PCA) can effectively separate the bacons that underwent different smoking methods.

CONCLUSION

The aldehydes and hydrocarbons with high content in PSB improved the overall taste intensity. The color in the sensory attributes was more obvious after LSB processing. The phenols and aromatic hydrocarbons in WSB contributed significantly to the pleasant properties (smoky, fatty). © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Survival impact based on hepatic artery lymph node status in pancreatic adenocarcinoma: A study of patients receiving modern chemotherapy
Authors: Perlmutter Breanna C. , Hossain Mir Shanaz , Naples Robert , Tu Chao , Vilchez Valery , McMichael John , Tullio Katherine , Simon Robert , Walsh R. Matthew , Augustin Toms
Published: November 2020

Background

Chemotherapy for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has significantly improved in recent years. While the involvement of the hepatic artery lymph node (HALN; station 8a lymph node) likely represents advanced disease, a comparison to patients with metastases on modern chemotherapy is lacking.

Methods

Patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy with HALN sent for pathologic review at a single institution from 2003 to 2018 were reviewed. Patients who presented with liver‐only metastases at the time of PDAC diagnosis (Stage IV) and received chemotherapy were identified. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression modeling was utilized and overall survival (OS) was estimated using Kaplan–Meier analysis.

Results

Of the 112 patients with a HALN sent for analysis, 17 (15%) were positive and 13 (76%) received chemotherapy. Ninety‐four stage IV patients were identified and were significantly more likely to have received a multiagent rather than single‐agent chemotherapy regimen compared to HALN positive patients (79.8% vs. 38.5%, p < .001). Median OS was significantly longer in all patients who underwent surgical resection, regardless of HALN status, compared to stage IV patients.

Conclusions

Patients undergoing pancreatoduodenectomy with HALN positivity have significantly improved OS compared to patients with stage IV disease. HALN involvement does not significantly alter survival among resected patients and does not warrant preoperative endoscopic ultrasound‐guided biopsy.
PTSD Coach Online–Arabic: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial to Examine Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Effectiveness
Authors: Miller‐Graff Laura , Ellis Kate , Hosny Nadine
Published: November 2020

The Egyptian Revolution of 2011 resulted in high‐level exposure to sociopolitical violence, placing a large burden on the mental health care system that cannot be effectively met given the small number of available providers in Egypt. We conducted a nonblinded, randomized controlled pilot trial of an online, self‐directed tool for managing posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effectiveness of the PTSD Coach Online–Arabic. Trauma‐exposed Egyptian adults with clinically significant PTSS (N = 87; intervention group: n = 41) completed assessments at baseline, weekly over the treatment period, posttest, and 3‐month follow‐up. Of participants who completed weekly surveys, 88.9% used the program; 22.0% of participants reported regular, weekly use. Most tools received good likeability and perceived benefit scores, but lower perceived benefit scores on three tools suggest that some content may require additional adaptation. Intent‐to‐treat analyses using multilevel modeling with multiple imputation to account for missing data were conducted. Effect sizes for PTSS were below the cutoff for small effects at posttest, d = −0.14, but demonstrated a small positive effect at 3‐months, d = −0.25. There was a small positive effect of treatment on anxiety at posttest, d = −0.37, and a medium effect at 3‐month follow‐up, d = −0.49. Treatment effects for depressed mood were below the cutoff for small effects at posttest and 3‐months, ds = −0.14 and −0.18. These findings suggest that the PTSD Coach Online–Arabic may be a promising supplemental resource for support in this setting.
What's in a Label? The Impact of Media and Sexual Assault Characteristics on Survivor Rape Acknowledgment
Authors: Newins Amie R. , Wilson Laura C. , Kanefsky Rebekah Z.
Published: November 2020

Media coverage of sexual assault has increased since 2017 due to high‐profile cases and social media campaigns designed to increase awareness of sexual assault. The purpose of this study was to examine whether media coverage of the Harvey Weinstein allegations and the onset of the 2017 viral #MeToo movement impacted the likelihood of college women acknowledging their own victimization as rape. Participants were 207 female rape survivors who completed an online survey that included assessments of survivor acknowledgment and characteristics of the sexual assault. Some participants completed the study prior to the Harvey Weinstein allegations and onset of the #MeToo movement, and some participants completed the study after these events. The likelihood of survivors labeling their experience as rape did not differ based on when participants completed the study, odds ratios (ORs) = 0.61–3.92, ps = .127‐.604. Use of both nonforceful verbal resistance, OR = 2.63, p = .001, and assertive resistance, OR = 3.05, p < .001, were positively associated with the likelihood of survivor acknowledgment. The effects of both perpetrators’ use of force and experiencing immobility on survivor acknowledgment were moderated by the timing of study completion, ORs = 4.22 and 0.11, respectively, ps = .023‐.040. These findings suggest that media coverage may impact how certain sexual assault characteristics influence how survivors label their victimization experiences.
Landscape Connectivity Influences Survival and Resource Use following Long‐Distance Translocation of Northern Bobwhite
Authors: Coppola Philip M. , Williams Christopher K. , Terhune Theron M. , Parke John , Cecil John
Published: November 2020

Translocation is an important component of northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) recovery efforts, given the scale of their decline and inability to rapidly recolonize recently restored habitat. Repopulating sites in northern latitudes that are distant from reliable source populations may require long‐distance trap and transport from southern locales, potentially compounding existing obstacles for this renascent population recovery technique. The landscape connectivity hypothesis predicts that site fidelity and survival would be lower if release properties are small and fragmented and home range sizes would be smaller and dispersal distances would be lower if habitat quality at the release site is perceived to be high and the surrounding matrix is of low permeability. We evaluated this hypothesis to determine if northern bobwhite survival, site fidelity, and resource selection following translocation differed between 2 contrasting landscapes in the Mid‐Atlantic region of the United States. We translocated 508 radio‐collared northern bobwhites from northern Florida and southern Georgia, to small, fragmented properties on the eastern shore of Maryland and large, contiguous properties in southern New Jersey, USA. We monitored northern bobwhites via radio‐telemetry from approximately 1 April through 30 September, 2015–2018, 2–7 times a week. Breeding season (182 days after release) survival varied among sites, and was generally higher at the 2 New Jersey release sites than at the 2 Maryland sites, yet an acclimation period is ostensibly required to obtain reasonable breeding survival estimates to elicit population growth. Site fidelity, maximum dispersal distances, and home range sizes were lower at the smaller, fragmented Maryland properties than the larger New Jersey properties. These results support the landscape connectivity hypothesis such that reduced connectivity in our study decreased site fidelity and survival. Temporal variation in survival was potentially an artifact of translocation stress or maladaptive behavior during initial acclimation to the release sites, indicating that higher stocking rates may be needed to provide adequate founder abundance for translocation success. Northern bobwhites used early‐successional cover at all sites, though selection varied based on scale of analysis and landscape context. These vital rate estimates and resource use patterns should be used to guide future translocations within the Mid‐Atlantic, provide perspective for this population restoration technique range wide, and stimulate further investigation into limiting factors. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.
Reliability of peak expiratory flow percentage compared to endoscopic grading in subglottic stenosis
Authors: Song Sungjin A. , Santeerapharp Alena , Choksawad Kanittha , Franco Ramon A.
Published: November 2020

Objective

To determine the reliability of pulmonary function testing compared to endoscopic grading in the assessment of subglottic stenosis.

Methods

Consecutively treated patients with subglottic stenosis at a tertiary care specialty hospital from 2009 to 2019 were identified. Two fellowship‐trained laryngologists and two otolaryngologists blinded to clinical history reviewed laryngo tracheoscopic examinations and assessed the degree of stenosis using the Cotton‐Myer grading system (% stenosis). Nine full flow‐volume loops were performed at the time of each exam.

Results

The endoscopic images of 45 subjects were graded for degree of stenosis and the spirometry data were analyzed. The kappa values for Cotton‐Myer grade overall was 0.37, grade I was −0.103, grade II was 0.052, and grade III was 0.045. The overall intraclass correlation of the physician grading of estimated percent obstruction (% stenosis) was 0.712 (P < .01) whereas the overall intraclass correlation for PEF% was 0.96 (P < .01). Within each Cotton‐Myer grade, the intraclass correlation for % stenosis was 0.45 (P = .02) for grade I, 0.06 (P = .30) for grade II, and 0.16 (P = .03) for grade III. The intraclass correlation for PEF% for grade I was 0.97 (P < .01), grade II was 0.92 (P < .01), and grade III was 0.96 (P < .01).

Conclusion

Cotton‐Myer grading and estimating percent obstruction (% stenosis) for adult subglottic stenosis showed poor reliability as an assessment tool compared to the excellent intraclass correlation seen with pulmonary function tests within each Cotton‐Myer grade subgroup. We recommend pulmonary function testing, specifically PEF% because it is a normalized value, for the assessment and management of subglottic stenosis.

Level of evidence

4.
Differential effects of press vs. pulse seawater intrusion on microbial communities of a tidal freshwater marsh
Authors: Mobilian Courtney , Wisnoski Nathan I. , Lennon Jay T. , Alber Merryl , Widney Sarah , Craft Christopher B.
Published: November 2020

Tidal freshwater marshes (TFMs) are threatened by seawater intrusion, which can affect microbial communities and alter biogeochemical processes. Here, we report on a long‐term, large‐scale manipulative field experiment that investigated continuous (press) and episodic (pulse, 2 months/yr) inputs of brackish water on microbial communities in a TFM. After 2.5 yr, microbial diversity was lower in press treatments than in control (untreated) plots whereas diversity in pulse plots was unaffected by brackish water additions. Sulfate reducer abundance increased in response to both press and pulse treatments whereas methanogens did not differ among treatments. Our results, along with other lab and field measurements that show reduced soil respiration and extracellular enzyme activity suggest that continuous seawater intrusion will decrease macrophyte C inputs that reduce bacterial diversity in ways that also diminish ecosystem carbon cycling.
A novel heterozygous variant of the COL4A4 gene in a Chinese family with hematuria and proteinuria leads to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and chronic kidney disease
Authors: Fan Liang‐Liang , Liu Lv , Luo Fang‐Mei , Du Ran , Wang Chen‐Yu , Dong Yi , Liu Ji‐Shi
Published: November 2020

Background

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), as the frequent primary glomerular diseases in adults, accounts for symptomless proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome with or without renal insufficiency. As the crucial lesion of chronic kidney disease (CKD), accumulating evidence from recent studies show that mutations in Collagen‐related genes may be responsible for FSGS. The aim of this study was to identify the genetic lesion of a Chinese family with FSGS and CKD.

Methods

In this study, we recruited a Han‐Chinese family with unexplained high serum creatinine, hematuria, and proteinuria. Further renal biopsy and renal pathology indicated the diagnosis of FSGS in the proband. Whole‐exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were employed to explore the pathogenic mutation of this family.

Results

A novel heterozygous mutation (NM_000092 c.2030G>A, p.G677D) of the collagen type IV alpha‐4 gene (COL4A4) was detected. Co‐segregation analysis revealed that the novel mutation was carried by all the five affected individuals and absent in other healthy members as well as in our 200 local control cohorts. Bioinformatics predication indicated that this novel mutation was pathogenic and may disrupt the structure and function of type IV collagen. Simultaneously, this variant is located in an evolutionarily conserved site of COL4A4 protein.

Conclusion

Here, we identified a novel mutation of COL4A4 in a family with FSGS and CKD. Our study expanded the variants spectrum of the COL4A4 gene and contributed to the genetic counseling and prenatal genetic diagnosis of the family. In addition, we also recommended the new classification of collagen IV nephropathies, which may be a benefit to the diagnosis, target drug treatment, and management of patients with COL4A3/COL4A4 mutations.
Spatial feature fusion convolutional network for liver and liver tumor segmentation from CT images
Authors: Liu Tianyu , Liu Junchi , Ma Yan , He Jiangping , Han Jincang , Ding Xiaoyang , Chen Chin‐Tu
Published: November 2020

Purpose

The accurate segmentation of liver and liver tumors from CT images can assist radiologists in decision‐making and treatment planning. The contours of liver and liver tumors are currently obtained by manual labeling, which is time‐consuming and subjective. Computer‐aided segmentation methods have been widely used in the segmentation of liver and liver tumors. However, due to the diversity of shape, volume, and image intensity, the segmentation is still a difficult task. In this study, we present a Spatial Feature Fusion Convolutional Network (SFF‐Net) to automatically segment liver and liver tumors from CT images.

Methods

First, we extract side‐outputs at each convolutional block in SFF‐Net to make full use of multiscale features. Second, skip‐connections are added in the down‐sampling phase, therefore, the spatial information can be efficiently transferred to later layers. Third, we present feature fusion blocks (FFBs) to merge spatial features and high‐level semantic features from early layers and later layers, respectively. Finally, a fully connected 3D conditional random fields (CRFs) is applied to refine the liver and liver tumor segmentation results.

Results

We test our method on the MICCAI 2017 Liver Tumor Segmentation (LiTS) challenge dataset. The Dice Global (DG) score, Dice per case (DC) score, Volume Overlap Error (VOE), Average Symmetric Surface Distance (ASSD), and tumor precision score are calculated to evaluate the liver and liver tumor segmentation accuracies. For the liver segmentation, DG is 0.955; DC is 0.937; VOE is 0.106; and ASSD is 3.678. For the tumor segmentation, DG is 0.746; DC is 0.592; VOE is 0.416; ASSD is 1.585 and the tumor precision score is 0.369.

Conclusions

The SFF‐Net learns more spatial information by adding skip‐connections and feature fusion blocks. The experiments validate that our method can accurately segment liver and liver tumors from CT images.
TCMP‐2 affects tomato flowering and interacts with BBX16, a homolog of the arabidopsis B‐box MiP1b
Authors: Molesini Barbara , Dusi Valentina , Pennisi Federica , Di Sansebastiano Gian Pietro , Zanzoni Serena , Manara Anna , Furini Antonella , Martini Flavio , Rotino Giuseppe Leonardo , Pandolfini Tiziana
Published: November 2020

Flowering and fruiting are processes subject to complex control by environmental and endogenous signals. Endogenous signals comprise, besides classical phytohormones, also signaling peptides and miniproteins. Tomato cystine‐knot miniproteins (TCMPs), which belong to a Solanaceous‐specific group of Cys‐rich protein family, have been recently involved in fruit development.TCMP‐1andTCMP‐2display a highly modulated expression pattern during flower and fruit development. A previous study reported that a change in the ratio of the two TCMPs affects the timing of fruit production. In this work, to investigate TCMP‐2 mode of action, we searched for its interacting partners. One of the interactors identified by a yeast two hybrid screen, was the B‐box domain‐containing protein 16 (SlBBX16), whose closest homolog is the Arabidopsis microProtein 1b implicated in flowering time control. We demonstrated the possibility for the two proteins to interactin vivoin tobacco epidermal cells. Arabidopsis plants ectopically overexpressing the TCMP‐2 exhibited an increased level ofFLOWERING LOCUS T(FT) mRNA and anticipated flowering. Similarly, in previously generated transgenic tomato plants with increasedTCMP‐2expression in flower buds, we observed an augmented expression ofSINGLE‐FLOWER TRUSSgene, the tomato ortholog ofFT, whereas the expression of the antiflorigenSELF‐PRUNINGwas unchanged. Consistently, these transgenic plants showed alterations in the flowering pattern, with an accelerated termination of the sympodial units. Overall, our study reveals a novel function for TCMP‐2 as regulatory factor that might integrate, thanks to its capacity to interact withSlBBX16, into the signaling pathways that control flowering, and converge toward florigen regulation.
Sub‐km scale numerical weather prediction model simulations of radiation fog
Authors: Smith Daniel K.E. , Renfrew Ian A. , Dorling Stephen R. , Price Jeremy D. , Boutle Ian A.
Published: November 2020

The numerical weather prediction (NWP) of fog remains a challenge, with accurate forecasts relying on the representation of many interacting physical processes. The recent Local And Non‐local Fog EXperiment (LANFEX) has generated a detailed observational dataset, creating a unique opportunity to assess the NWP of fog events. We evaluate the performance of operational and research configurations of the Met Office Unified Model (MetUM) with three horizontal grid lengths, 1.5 km and 333 and 100 m, in simulating four LANFEX case studies. In general, the subkilometre (sub‐km) scale versions of MetUM are in better agreement with the observations; however, there are a number of systematic model deficiencies. MetUM produces valleys that are too warm and hills that are too cold, leading to valleys that do not have enough fog and hills that have too much. A large sensitivity to soil temperature was identified from a set of parametrisation sensitivity experiments. In all the case studies, the model erroneously transfers heat too readily through the soil to the surface, preventing fog formation. Sensitivity tests show that the specification of the soil thermal conductivity parametrisation can lead to up to a 5‐hr change in fog onset time. Overall, the sub‐km models demonstrate promise, but they have a high sensitivity to surface properties.
Remaining useful life prediction of lithium‐ion battery using a novel health indicator
Authors: Wang Ranran , Feng Hailin
Published: November 2020

Remaining useful life (RUL) prediction plays a significant role in the health prognostic of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs). The capacity or internal resistance is commonly used to quantify degradation process and predict RUL of LIB, but those two indicators are difficult to be obtained due to complex operational conditions and high costs, respectively. To address this issue, we extract a novel health indicator (HI) from the battery current profiles that can be directly measured online. Furthermore, the indicator is optimized by Box‐Cox transformation and evaluated by correlation analysis for degradation modeling accurately. Finally, relevance vector machine (RVM) algorithm is utilized to make a probabilistic prediction for battery RUL based on the extracted HI. The correlation analysis verifies the effectiveness of the novel HI, and comparative experiments demonstrate the proposed method can predict RUL of LIB more accurately.
New CUSUM and dual CUSUM mean charts
Authors: Haq Abdul , Syed Ehsana Anum
Published: November 2020

The CUSUM (C) charts are well recognized as a potentially advanced process monitoring tools because of their sensitivity against small and moderate shifts. In this paper, we first improve the sensitivity of the Brownian motion–based C (BC) chart with an appropriate transformation, named new BC (NBC) chart, for monitoring moderate and large shifts in the mean of a normal process. Then, using the control charting structure of the Crosier C (CC) chart, we propose the NBCC (NBC with CC structure) chart. In addition, for efficiently detecting a mean shift within an interval, dual version of these control charts are also proposed, named the dual NBC (DNBC) and dual NBCC (DNBCC) charts. Moreover, the fast initial response feature is also incorporated into the proposed charts. Using the Monte Carlo simulation, the run length properties of the proposed charts are computed. The run length performances of the existing and proposed charts are compared using the extra quadratic loss and integral relative average run length as performance criterion. It turns out that the NBC and NBCC (DNBC and DNBCC) charts are uniformly more sensitive than the C, CC, and NBC (dual C and dual CC) charts when detecting the mean shifts in small, moderate, and large intervals, where the DNBCC chart outperforms all considered charts. The proposed charts are also applied on real data sets to support the proposed theory.
Supramolecular complexes with insertion‐enhanced polarity and tuned IR spectra
Authors: Sullivan Mason , Naumkin Fedor Y.
Published: November 2020

Extensive computational studies of structure, stability and related properties of an uncommon intermolecular system and its conformers are reported. A small organic molecule is inserted and noncovalently trapped between alkali‐halide counter‐ions, with their recombination prevented by significant potential energy barriers. This produces an extremely polar complex near‐degenerate in energy with its dissociation asymptote and metastable relative to the conformers with the components simply attached. Two possible ways of producing such systems are indicated. Analysis of contributing interactions and dipoles, and their respective additivities is performed. Properties of the ion–molecule sub‐complexes are addressed. The IR intensity spectra are simulated and exhibit a peculiar evolution upon formation of the insertion complex, facilitating its experimental detection and differentiation from other conformers. An insight into the influence of the electric field of the counter‐ions on a reaction inside the system is offered.
First‐principles investigations on the synergistic effect of N‐dopant and lattice‐strain for CO2 reduction to CO on graphene
Authors: Lu Ruihu , Xia Lixue , Wang Huan , Zhao Yan
Published: November 2020

Improving the catalytic performance of graphene for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) has been a promising avenue to abate the concentration of greenhouse gas and develop a strategy of CO2 recyclable utilization. In this paper, we systematically investigate the catalytic performance of different active sites, both on the undoped and N‐doped graphene sheets, under non‐strained (0%) and 1%, 5% and 10% lattice strain (LS) via density functional theory calculations. The results uncover that N‐doping and LS synergistically modulate the electronic structures of graphene, enhancing the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to CO. Among all models in this work, the site with the highest catalytic activity toward CO2RR is shown to be the carbon atom at the ortho‐position (labeled as G2) relative to the nitrogen heteroatom (denoted by N1) on the graphene under 10% LS due to its lowest overpotential of 1.19 eV. Moreover, the projected density of states and the charge density differences of all systems are calculated to explore the mechanism for the enhancement of CO2 reduction performance. These analyses indicate that the localization of electron density on the G2 site makes it be the most active site on the N‐doped graphene sheet for CO2RR. Hence, our computations demonstrate that by both nitrogen doping and LS increasing on the graphene sheet is a promising way for positive modulating its catalytic activity of the CO2RR.