bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Common and unique connectivity at the interface of motor, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms in Parkinson's disease: A commonality analysis
Authors: Lang Stefan , Ismail Zahinoor , Kibreab Mekale , Kathol Iris , Sarna Justyna , Monchi Oury
Published: June 2020

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by overlapping motor, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms. Worse performance in one domain is associated with worse performance in the other domains. Commonality analysis (CA) is a method of variance partitioning in multiple regression, used to separate the specific and common influence of collinear predictors. We apply, for the first time, CA to the functional connectome to investigate the unique and common neural connectivity underlying the interface of the symptom domains in 74 non‐demented PD subjects. Edges were modeled as a function of global motor, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric scores. CA was performed, yielding measures of the unique and common contribution of the symptom domains. Bootstrap confidence intervals were used to determine the precision of the estimates and to directly compare each commonality coefficient. The overall model identified a network with the caudate nucleus as a hub. Neuropsychiatric impairment accounted for connectivity in the caudate‐dorsal anterior cingulate and caudate‐right dorsolateral prefrontal‐right inferior parietal circuits, while caudate‐medial prefrontal connectivity reflected a unique effect of both neuropsychiatric and cognitive impairment. Caudate‐precuneus connectivity was explained by both unique and shared influence of neuropsychiatric and cognitive symptoms. Lastly, posterior cortical connectivity reflected an interplay of the unique and common effects of each symptom domain. We show that CA can determine the amount of variance in the connectome that is unique and shared amongst motor, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms in PD, thereby improving our ability to interpret the data while gaining novel insight into networks at the interface of these symptom domains.
Physical inactivity and head and neck cancer mortality
Authors: Fried Jacob , Etter John Lewis , Stenzel Ashley E. , Joseph Janine M. , Cannioto Rikki , Danziger Iris R. , Moysich Kirsten B.
Published: June 2020

Background

This study was performed to examine the association between adulthood recreational physical inactivity (PIA) and mortality among patients with cancers of the head and neck.

Methods

Patients with head and neck cancer at Roswell Park between years 1990 to 1998 were included (N = 305). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard ratios (HR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to analyze the association between PIA and risk of dying.

Results

There was a 1.40‐fold increase in risk of dying among PIA patients, when compared to active patients with head and neck cancers (HR = 1.40, CI: 1.03‐1.91). This was observed greater in PIA women (HR = 2.40, CI: 1.28‐4.52), patients who were overweight/obese (HR = 1.76, CI: 1.09‐2.85), patients with pharynx as the primary site (HR = 1.85, CI: 1.01‐3.38), and patients with distant metastasis (HR = 5.19, CI: 1.37‐19.65).

Conclusion

Physically inactive patients with head and neck cancers are at significantly greater risk of dying when compared to patients who are active.
Telemedicine for head and neck ambulatory visits during COVID‐19: Evaluating usability and patient satisfaction
Authors: Layfield Eleanor , Triantafillou Vasiliki , Prasad Aman , Deng Jie , Shanti Rabie M. , Newman Jason G. , Rajasekaran Karthik
Published: June 2020

Background

In light of the COVID‐19 pandemic, there has been a rapid increase in telemedicine visits. Otolaryngology patient satisfaction with these visits has not yet been extensively studied using a validated survey.

Methods

All patients who had telemedicine visits with three head and neck surgeons, by phone or video‐based platform, between March 25, 2020 and April 24, 2020. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted to determine demographic, disease, and treatment information. Patients who had a video visit were contacted by telephone and, if they could be reached and consented, were administered the telehealth usability questionnaire (TUQ).

Results

Hundred surveys were completed. The average score across all questions was 6.01 on a scale from 1 to 7, where 7 indicated the highest level of patient agreement. The highest scores were for questions related to satisfaction with telehealth (6.29), while the lowest were related to reliability (4.86).

Conclusions

Patients are generally highly satisfied with telemedicine.
Role of Platelet C-Type Lectin-Like Receptor 2 in Promoting Lung Metastasis in Osteosarcoma
Authors: Ichikawa Jiro , Ando Takashi , Kawasaki Tomonori , Sasaki Tomoyuki , Shirai Toshiaki , Tsukiji Nagaharu , Kimura Yujiro , Aoki Kaoru , Hayakawa Keiko , Suzuki-Inoue Katsue , Saitoh Masao , Haro Hirotaka
Published: June 2020

The overall prognosis of patients with sarcoma-based cancers has changed little in the last 20 years. There is an urgent need to investigate the metastatic potential of these tumors and to develop anti-metastatic drugs. It is becoming increasingly clear that platelets play an important role in the establishment of metastasis of carcinoma cells and could be a useful therapeutic target for patients with carcinoma. However, little is known about the role of platelets in sarcoma progression. Here, we investigated how osteosarcoma progression relates to platelet function to explore the possibility of anti-platelet therapy. We found that, similar to carcinoma cells, podoplanin (also known as Aggrus)-positive osteosarcoma cells induce platelet aggregation and activation. Administration of anti–glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα, also known as CD42b) antibody reduced the lung metastasis of osteosarcoma. The supernatant from platelets cocultured with osteosarcoma cells contained several growth factors and promoted proliferation, invasiveness, and sphere formation of osteosarcoma cells in vitro. In addition, the development of lung metastasis was highly dependent on direct interaction between osteosarcoma cells and platelets. To explore the therapeutic target, we focused on the interactions between podoplanin on osteosarcoma and C-type lectin-like receptor (CLEC)-2 on platelets. The administration of a depleting antibody against CLEC-2 efficiently suppressed osteosarcoma metastasis into the lung. We also analyzed clinical data from patient samples at primary and metastatic sites. Although GPIbα expression was similar between the two sites, there was a significant increase in podoplanin at the metastatic site compared to that in the primary site, and the level of podoplanin expression in the primary site correlated with patient prognosis. These findings suggest that blockade of interactions between platelets CLEC-2 and osteosarcoma podoplanin represent the most promising therapeutic strategy for preventing the lung metastasis of osteosarcoma. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Photo‐excited intramolecular charge transfer and excited state intramolecular proton transfer behaviors for HPIBT system: A theoretical investigation
Authors: Yang Guang , Chen Kaifeng , Jin Xiaofeng , Yang Dapeng
Published: June 2020

Given facile synthetic route and excellent photo stability, excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT)‐active luminous materials have gained more and more attention. Here, we focus on photo‐induced excitation process and the ESIPT reaction process for the novel 5‐benzothiazol‐2‐yl‐6‐hydroxy‐2‐methyl‐isoindole‐1,3‐dione (HPIBT) molecule. On the level of chemical geometries and infrared spectra, we verify that O─H⋯N of HPIBT should be enhanced. We find that a proton is likely to be attracted by enhanced electronic densities around N, that is, charge transfer impetus ESIPT trend. Combing potential energy curves and searching for transition state, we clarify the ultrafast ESIPT mechanism of HPIBT due to a low barrier, which legitimately explains previous experimental characteristics.
The histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid attenuates phospholipase Cγ2 and IgE-mediated mast cell activation
Authors: Rodríguez-López Gloria Mariana , Soria-Castro Rodolfo , Campillo-Navarro Marcia , Pérez-Tapia Sonia Mayra , Flores-Borja Fabián , Wong-Baeza Isabel , Muñoz-Cruz Samira , López-Santiago Rubén , Estrada-Parra Sergio , Estrada-García Iris , Chávez-Blanco Alma Delia , Chacón-Salinas Rommel
Published: June 2020

Mast cell activation through the high-affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) plays a central role in allergic reactions. FcεRI-mediated activation triggers multiple signaling pathways leading to degranulation and synthesis of different inflammatory mediators. IgE-mediated mast cell activation can be modulated by different molecules, including several drugs. Herein, we investigated the immunomodulatory activity of the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid (VPA) on IgE-mediated mast cell activation. To this end, bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) were sensitized with IgE and treated with VPA followed by FcεRI cross-linking. The results indicated that VPA reduced mast cell IgE-dependent degranulation and cytokine release. VPA also induced a significant reduction in the cell surface expression of FcεRI and CD117, but not other mast cell surface molecules. Interestingly, VPA treatment inhibited the phosphorylation of PLCγ2, a key signaling molecule involved in IgE-mediated degranulation and cytokine secretion. However, VPA did not affect the phosphorylation of other key components of the FcεRI signaling pathway, such as Syk, Akt, ERK1/2, or p38. Altogether, our data demonstrate that VPA affects PLCγ2 phosphorylation, which in turn decreases IgE-mediated mast cell activation. These results suggest that VPA might be a key modulator of allergic reactions and might be a promising therapeutic candidate.
Human neutrophils activated by TLR8 agonists, with or without IFNγ, synthesize and release EBI3, but not IL-12, IL-27, IL-35, or IL-39
Authors: Cassatella Marco A , Gardiman Elisa , Arruda-Silva Fabio , Bianchetto-Aguilera Francisco , Gasperini Sara , Bugatti Mattia , Vermi William , Larousserie Frederique , Devergne Odile , Tamassia Nicola
Published: June 2020

The IL-12 family of cytokines plays crucial functions in innate and adaptive immunity. These cytokines include heterodimers sharing distinct α (IL-12A, IL-23A, and IL-27A) with two β (IL-12B and Epstein-Barr virus induced gene 3 [EBI3]) chains, respectively, IL-12 (IL-12B plus IL-12A) and IL-23 (IL-12B plus IL-23A) sharing IL-12B, IL-27 (EBI3 plus IL-27A), IL-35 (EBI3 plus IL-12A), and IL-39 (EBI3 plus IL-23A) sharing EBI3. In this context, we have recently reported that highly pure neutrophils incubated with TLR8 agonists produce functional IL-23. Previously, we showed that neutrophils incubated with LPS plus IFNγ for 20 h produce IL-12. Herein, we investigated whether highly pure, TLR8-activated, neutrophils produce EBI3, and in turn IL-27, IL-35, and IL-39, the IL-12 members containing it. We report that neutrophils incubated with TLR8 ligands, TNFα and, to a lesser extent, LPS, produce and release remarkable amounts of EBI3, but not IL-27A, consequently excluding the possibility for an IL-27 production. We also report a series of unsuccessful experiments performed to investigate whether neutrophil-derived EBI3 associates with IL-23A to form IL-39. Furthermore, we show that neutrophils incubated with IFNγ in combination with either TLR8 or TLR4 ligands express/produce neither IL-12, nor IL-35, due to the inability of IFNγ, contrary to previous findings, to activate IL12A transcription. Even IL-27 was undetectable in supernatants harvested from IFNγ plus R848-treated neutrophils, although they were found to accumulate IL27A transcripts. Finally, by immunohistochemistry experiments, EBI3-positive neutrophils were found in discrete pathologies only, including diverticulitis, cholecystitis, Gorham disease, and Bartonella Henselae infection, implying a specific role of neutrophil-derived EBI3 in vivo.
Sodium in the Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Spinal Cord: Increased Concentrations and Associations With Microstructural Tissue Anisotropy
Authors: Solanky Bhavana S. , Prados Ferran , Tur Carmen , Yiannakas Marios C. , Kanber Baris , Cawley Niamh , Brownlee Wallace , Ourselin Sebastien , Golay Xavier , Ciccarelli Olga , Gandini Wheeler‐Kingshott Claudia A. M.
Published: June 2020

Background

Associations between brain total sodium concentration, disability, and disease progression have recently been reported in multiple sclerosis. However, such measures in spinal cord have not been reported.

Purpose

To measure total sodium concentration (TSC) alterations in the cervical spinal cord of people with relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and a control cohort using sodium MR spectroscopy (MRS).

Study Type

Retrospective cohort.

Subjects

Nineteen people with RRMS and 21 healthy controls.

Field Strength/Sequence

3 T sodium MRS, diffusion tensor imaging, and 3D gradient echo.

Assessment

Quantification of total sodium concentration in the cervical cord using a reference phantom. Measures of spinal cord cross‐sectional area, fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, radial diffusivity, and axial diffusivity from 1H MRI. Clinical assessments of 9‐Hole Peg Test, 25‐Foot Timed walk test, Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test with 3‐second intervals, grip strength, vibration sensitivity, and posturography were performed on the RRMS cohort as well as reporting lesions in the C2/3 area.

Statistical Tests

Multiple linear regression models were run between sodium and clinical scores, cross‐sectional area, and diffusion metrics to establish any correlations.

Results

A significant increase in spinal cord total sodium concentration was found in people with RRMS relative to healthy controls (57.6 ± 18 mmol and 38.0 ± 8.6 mmol, respectively, P < 0.001). Increased TSC correlated with reduced fractional anisotropy (P = 0.034) and clinically with decreased mediolateral stability assessed with posturography (P = 0.045).

Data Conclusion

Total sodium concentration in the cervical spinal cord is elevated in RRMS. This alteration is associated with reduced fractional anisotropy, which may be due to changes in tissue microstructure and, hence, in the integrity of spinal cord tissue.

Level of Evidence

1

Technical Efficacy Stage

2
High‐pressure ESI‐MS made easy using a plug‐and‐play ion source and its application to highly conductive aqueous solutions
Authors: Chen Lee Chuin
Published: June 2020

The performance of a compact high‐pressure electrospray ionization (HP‐ESI) source that can be readily used for commercial atmospheric pressure ionization (API) mass spectrometers is reported. The ion source employs a converging–diverging outlet nozzle, and ions/droplets generated inside the high‐pressure compartment are carried by the high‐velocity air jet toward the mass spectrometry (MS) ion inlet placed under the atmospheric pressure. With the use of a shielding electrode, the HP‐ESI can also be operated with its emitter held at ground potential. This feature prevents the flow of current from the emitter to other electrically grounded components and facilitates the connection of ion source to liquid chromatography (LC) columns or capillary electrophoresis. Sensitive detection of proteins from highly conductive aqueous solutions such as 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution and the prevention of electrochemical artifacts by the grounded emitter operation are demonstrated.
Evaluating bioanalytical capabilities of paper spray ionization for abiraterone drug quantification in patient plasma
Authors: Bhatnagar Atul , McKay Matthew J. , Arasaratnam Malmaruha , Crumbaker Megan , Gurney Howard , Molloy Mark P.
Published: June 2020

Paper spray ionization (PSI) is a direct, fast, and low‐cost ambient ionization technique which may have clinical utility for qualitative and quantitative analysis of therapeutic drugs and metabolites from patient specimens. We developed and validated a PSI‐mass spectrometry (PSI‐MS/MS) method according to the US‐FDA guidelines for bioanalytical studies to measure the prostate cancer drug abiraterone directly from patient plasma. The established linearity range was 3.1–156.8 ng/mL with a precision (%CV) and an accuracy (%) range of 0.5–10.7 and 93.5–103.2, respectively. The mean internal standard normalized matrix factor for abiraterone was just below 1 with highest %CV of 10.2 at the low‐level quality control. In benchmarking the performance of this assay against a published LC‐MS/MS assay, we showed they were mostly equivalent, with the exception of accuracy with clinical samples. We found the quantitative values observed for abiraterone measured directly from patient plasma using PSI‐MS/MS showed positive bias. Upon investigation, we concluded the increased values were due to summed quantitation of isomeric abiraterone conjugates and metabolites which are separable by LC‐MS/MS, but not with the current PSI‐MS/MS configuration. Despite demonstrating the utility of PSI‐MS/MS for rapid bioanalysis, this study also highlighted a limitation encountered with the direct analysis of abiraterone in clinical samples.
Conditional cell reprogramming for modeling host‐virus interactions and human viral diseases
Authors: Liu Xuefeng , Mondal Abdul M.
Published: June 2020

Conventional cancer and transformed cell lines are widely used in cancer biology and other fields within biology. These cells usually have abnormalities from the original tumor itself, but may also develop abnormalities due to genetic manipulation, or genetic and epigenetic changes during long‐term passages. Primary cultures may maintain lineage functions as the original tissue types, yet they have a very limited life span or population doubling time because of the nature of cellular senescence. Primary cultures usually have very low yields, and the high variability from any original tissue specimens, largely limiting their applications in research. Animal models are often used for studies of virus infections, disease modeling, development of antiviral drugs, and vaccines. Human viruses often need a series of passages in vivo to adapt to the host environment because of variable receptors on the cell surface and may have intracellular restrictions from the cell types or host species. Here, we describe a long‐term cell culture system, conditionally reprogrammed cells (CRCs), and its applications in modeling human viral diseases and drug discovery. Using feeder layer coculture in presence of Y‐27632 (conditional reprogramming, CR), CRCs can be obtained and rapidly propagated from surgical specimens, core or needle biopsies, and other minimally invasive or noninvasive specimens, for example, nasal cavity brushing. CRCs preserve their lineage functions and provide biologically relevant and physiological conditions, which are suitable for studies of viral entry and replication, innate immune responses of host cells, and discovery of antiviral drugs. In this review, we summarize the applications of CR technology in modeling host‐virus interactions and human viral diseases including severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 and coronavirus disease‐2019, and antiviral discovery.
Variable‐fidelity modeling of antenna input characteristics using domain confinement and two‐stage Gaussian process regression surrogates
Authors: Jacobs J. Pieter , Koziel Slawomir
Published: June 2020

The major bottleneck of electromagnetic (EM)‐driven antenna design is the high CPU cost of massive simulations required by parametric optimization, uncertainty quantification, or robust design procedures. Fast surrogate models may be employed to mitigate this issue to a certain extent. Unfortunately, the curse of dimensionality is a serious limiting factor, hindering the construction of conventional data‐driven models valid over wide ranges of the antenna parameters and operating conditions. This paper proposes a novel surrogate modeling approach that capitalizes on two recently proposed frameworks: the nested kriging approach and two‐stage Gaussian process regression (GPR). In our methodology, the first‐level surrogate, of nested kriging, is applied to define the confined domain of the model in which the final surrogate is constructed using two‐stage GPR. The latter permits blending information from a sparsely sampled high‐fidelity EM simulation model and a densely sampled low‐fidelity (or coarse‐mesh) model. This combination enables significant computational savings in terms of training data acquisition while retaining excellent predictive power of the surrogate. At the same time, the proposed framework inherits all the benefits of nested kriging, including ease of uniform sampling of the confined domain, as well as straightforward generation of a good initial design for surrogate model optimization. Comprehensive benchmarking carried out using two antenna examples demonstrates superiority of our technique over conventional surrogates (unconfined domain), and standard GPR applied to the confined domain. Application examples for antenna optimization are also provided.
Chemogenetic manipulation of the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis counteracts social behavioral deficits induced by early life stress in C57BL/6J mice
Authors: Emmons Randi , Sadok Tasneem , Rovero Natalie G. , Belnap Malia A. , Henderson Hannah J. M. , Quan Alex J. , Del Toro Noël J. , Halladay Lindsay R.
Published: June 2020

Trauma during critical periods of development can induce long‐lasting adverse effects. To study neural aberrations resulting from early life stress (ELS), many studies utilize rodent maternal separation, whereby pups are intermittently deprived of maternal care necessary for proper development. This can produce adulthood behavioral deficits related to anxiety, reward, and social behavior. The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) encodes aspects of anxiety‐like and social behaviors, and also undergoes developmental maturation during the early postnatal period, rendering it vulnerable to effects of ELS. Mice underwent maternal separation (separation 4 hr/day during postnatal day (PD)2–5 and 8 hr/day on PD6‐16) with early weaning on PD17, which induced behavioral deficits in adulthood performance on two‐part social interaction task designed to test social motivation (choice between a same‐sex novel conspecific or an empty cup) and social novelty preference (choice between the original‐novel conspecific vs. a new‐novel conspecific). We used chemogenetics to non‐selectively silence or activate neurons in the BNST to examine its role in social motivation and social novelty preference, in mice with or without the history of ELS. Manipulation of BNST produced differing social behavior effects in non‐stressed versus ELS mice; social motivation was decreased in non‐stressed mice following BNST activation, but unchanged following BNST silencing, while ELS mice showed no change in social behavior after BNST activation, but exhibited enhancement of social motivation—for which they were deficient prior—following BNST silencing. Findings emphasize the BNST as a potential therapeutic target for social anxiety disorders instigated by childhood trauma.
Localizing the seizure onset zone by comparing patient postictal hypoperfusion to healthy controls
Authors: Perera Tefani , Gaxiola‐Valdez Ismael , Singh Shaily , Peedicail Joseph , Sandy Sherry , Lebel R. Marc , Li Emmy , Milne‐Ives Madison , Szostakiwskyj Jessie , Federico Paolo ,   the Calgary Comprehensive Epilepsy Program collaborators
Published: June 2020

Arterial spin labeling (ASL) MRI can provide seizure onset zone (SOZ) localizing information in up to 80% of patients. Clinical implementation of this technique is limited by the need to obtain two scans per patient: a postictal scan that is subtracted from an interictal scan. We aimed to determine whether it is possible to limit the number of ASL scans to one per patient by comparing patient postictal ASL scans to baseline scans of 100 healthy controls. Eighteen patients aged 20–55 years underwent ASL MRI <90 min after a seizure and during the interictal period. Each postictal cerebral blood flow (CBF) map was statistically compared to average baseline CBF maps from 100 healthy controls (pvcASL; patient postictal CBF vs. control baseline CBF). The pvcASL maps were compared to subtraction ASL maps (sASL; patient baseline CBF minus patient postictal CBF). Postictal CBF reductions from pvcASL and sASL maps were seen in 17 of 18 (94.4%) and 14 of 18 (77.8%) patients, respectively. Maximal postictal hypoperfusion seen in pvcASL and sASL maps was concordant with the SOZ in 10 of 17 (59%) and 12 of 14 (86%) patients, respectively. In seven patients, both pvcASL and sASL maps showed similar results. In two patients, sASL showed no significant hypoperfusion, while pvcASL showed significant hypoperfusion concordant with the SOZ. We conclude that pvcASL is clinically useful and although it may have a lower overall concordance rate than sASL, pvcASL does provide localizing or lateralizing information for specific cases that would be otherwise missed through sASL.
Interactions with PDZ proteins diversify voltage‐gated calcium channel signaling
Authors: Wang Shiyi , Cortes Constanza J.
Published: June 2020

Voltage‐gated Ca2+ (CaV) channels are crucial for neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission upon depolarization. Their properties in vivo are modulated by their interaction with a variety of scaffolding proteins. Such interactions can influence the function and localization of CaV channels, as well as their coupling to intracellular second messengers and regulatory pathways, thus amplifying their signaling potential. Among these scaffolding proteins, a subset of PDZ (postsynaptic density‐95, Drosophila discs‐large, and zona occludens)‐domain containing proteins play diverse roles in modulating CaV channel properties. At the presynaptic terminal, PDZ proteins enrich CaV channels in the active zone, enabling neurotransmitter release by maintaining a tight and vital link between channels and vesicles. In the postsynaptic density, these interactions are essential in regulating dendritic spine morphology and postsynaptic signaling cascades. In this review, we highlight the studies that demonstrate dynamic regulations of neuronal CaV channels by PDZ proteins. We discuss the role of PDZ proteins in controlling channel activity, regulating channel cell surface density, and influencing channel‐mediated downstream signaling events. We highlight the importance of PDZ protein regulations of CaV channels and evaluate the link between this regulatory effect and human disease.
Predictors of time to conversion of new‐onset atrial fibrillation to sinus rhythm with amiodarone therapy
Authors: Dursun Ihsan , Sahin Sinan , Bayraktar Ali , Cirakoglu Omer Faruk , Kul Selim , Korkmaz Levent
Published: June 2020

Background

New‐onset atrial fibrillation (AF) is a frequent cause of presentation to the emergency department (ED). Epicardial fat thickness (EFT) is associated with the presence and recurrence of AF. However, no study has investigated the predictors of the time to conversion of AF to sinus rhythm with amiodarone therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate predictors of time to conversion of AF to sinus rhythm in patients with new‐onset AF.

Methods

A total of 122 patients admitted to the ED with symptoms of hemodynamically stable new‐onset AF (lasting <48 hours) were registered consecutively. These patients received intravenous amiodarone. EFT was measured using 2D echocardiography in parasternal long‐axis views.

Results

A significant positive correlation was determined between EFT and conversion time (rho = 0.267, P = .017) in all patients. The median time for conversion from the start of amiodarone infusion was 410 min (150‐830 minutes). Based on the median conversion time, patients were classified as early conversion (time < 410 minutes; n = 41) and late conversion (time > 410 minutes; n = 40). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that EFT (P = .033, odds ratio [OR]: 1.68, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6‐2.7), higher troponin I level > 0.04 (P = .034, OR: 5.3, 95% CI: 1.1‐24.8), and lower age (P = .003, OR: 0.8, 95% CI: 0.8‐0.9) were significantly associated with longer conversion time.

Conclusions

We determined that EFT and high troponin level affected the time to conversion to sinus rhythm in patients with new‐onset AF.
Understanding organizational embeddedness and career success: Who and what you know
Authors: Kiazad Kohyar , Kraimer Maria L. , Seibert Scott E. , Sargent Leisa
Published: June 2020

Integrating job embeddedness theory with the sponsored and contest mobility perspectives, we developed and tested a model linking organizational embeddedness with two indicators of career success within the organization (promotion and career satisfaction), via the mediating roles of employees' organizational sponsorship network and job‐related human capital development. Data from 188 employees and their supervisors over a 1‐year period showed that, after controlling for employees' initial levels of career satisfaction and job performance, only job‐related human capital development transmitted the positive effects of organizational embeddedness on promotion and career satisfaction. Supplemental analyses revealed that organizational sponsorship network's positive effects on promotion and career satisfaction were transmitted indirectly, via job‐related human capital development. Our findings illustrate the importance of integrating sponsored and contest mobility perspectives and contribute to research on organizational embeddedness by extending its outcomes to include career success within the organization and specifying the process through which organizational embeddedness is related to career success within the organization.
Discovering the colours of industrial heritage characterisation of paint coatings from the powerplant at the Levada de Tomar
Authors: Tissot Isabel , Fonseca João F. , Tissot Matthias , Lemos Manuel , Carvalho Maria L. , Manso Marta
Published: June 2020

The paint coatings of three energy generators from the 20th‐century powerplant at Levada de Tomar, Portugal, were investigated using micro‐Raman and micro‐X‐ray fluorescence spectroscopies and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy. This multi‐analytical approach was used to identify the colouring agents, thus providing a chronological chromatic pallet and allowing to infer on the use of the three energy generators. Together with traditional pigments like Prussian blue, red iron oxide, and carbon black, pigments used in industrial areas like copper phthalocyanine and toluidine red were identified as colouring agents. Complex paint systems of the oldest equipment (1924) were revealed as well as maintenance procedures of the equipment that worked during a longer time (1944–1990). Powdery carbon black layers, resulting from incomplete hydrocarbon combustion and present between metallic substrates and coating layers, suggested the inexistence of paint coatings replacement after the powerplant shutdown. The identification of magnetite as a corrosion product of iron alloy substrate revealed that corrosion developed after the engine shutdown and not during the operation period. The results obtained highlight the potentialities of scientific‐based approach and Raman spectroscopy to the industrial heritage study, an emergent cultural area.
Effects of starch type and concentration on the physicochemical properties of bilayer‐stabilized oil‐in‐water emulsion gels enriched with β‐1,3/1,6‐D‐glucans
Authors: Bortnowska Grażyna , Bartkowiak Artur , Tokarczyk Grzegorz , Przybylska Sylwia , Iwański Robert
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

In recent years, consumer interest in low‐fat foodstuffs having a clean label and potential benefits over physiological functions has shown a growing trend. β‐1,3/1,6‐d‐Glucans (BGs) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been recognized as excellent immune‐modulating compounds. Bilayer‐stabilized oil‐in‐water emulsion gels (BEGs) containing oil droplets covered by myofibrillar proteins–gum arabic membranes were used for entrapping BGs in the inner phase. This study investigated the effects of starch type (waxy maize starch, WMS; potato starch, PS) and concentration (0.0–50 g kg−1) on the physicochemical properties of BEGs composed of: 200 g kg−1 rapeseed oil, 40 g kg−1 myofibrillar proteins, 14 g kg−1 gum arabic, 15 g kg−1 BGs, 1 g kg−1 citric acid.

RESULTS

The results showed that BGs were successfully incorporated into the inner phase of BEGs and stability testing showed no separated oil and sediment layer. BEGs were characterized by droplet diameter of d3,2 = 3.62 ± 0.209 μm and electrical charge of the outer membrane of −27.4 ± 0.257 mV. Increasing starch concentration significantly (P < 0.05) affected values of the studied rheological parameters, but to a greater extent in relation to PS than WMS. Sensory analysis showed that BEGs were most desirable at WMS and PS concentrations of 40–50 and 30–40 g kg−1, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

BEGs containing oil droplets covered by myofibrillar proteins–gum arabic membranes can be used as carriers for insoluble β‐glucans and manufactured with a wide range of rheological properties and sensory features desired by consumers. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Lactobacillus rhamnosus2016SWU.05.0601 regulates immune balance in ovalbumin‐sensitized mice by modulating expression of the immune‐related transcription factors and gut microbiota
Authors: Song Jiajia , Li Yang , Li Jian , Wang Hongwei , Zhang Yu , Suo Huayi
Published: June 2020

BACKGROUND

Probiotics regulate host immune balance, which may reduce immune‐related diseases. The effects and mechanisms of Lactobacillus rhamnosus 2016SWU.05.0601 (Lr‐0601) on the immune response in ovalbumin (OVA)‐sensitized mice were explored.

RESULTS

Lr‐0601 reduced serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E and OVA‐IgE and attenuated the alteration in lung pathology in OVA‐sensitized mice. Lr‐0601 blocked OVA‐induced up‐regulation in serum T helper (Th) 2 and Th17 cytokines but increased the serum levels of Th1 and regulatory T (Treg) cytokines in OVA‐sensitized mice. OVA also markedly reduced the protein levels of spleen T‐box transcription factor and forkhead/winged helix transcription factor p3, leading to the reduced mRNA expression of interferon‐γ and interleukin (IL)‐10. By contrast, OVA markedly increased the protein expression of spleen GATA‐binding protein 3 and retinoid‐related orphan receptor γt, as well as the mRNA expression of spleen IL‐4 and IL‐17. These changes induced by OVA were reversed by Lr‐0601. Moreover, Lr‐0601 helped alleviate OVA‐induced intestinal microbiota dysbiosis. A correlation was found between specific genera and immune‐associated cytokines.

CONCLUSION

The combined results indicate that Lr‐0601 modulated the balance of Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17 in OVA‐sensitized mice, which was associated with the regulation of immune‐related transcription factors and gut microbiota. Lr‐0601 can potentially be used as a probiotic for preventing immune‐related diseases. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Lung Ultrasound Can Influence the Clinical Treatment of Pregnant Women With COVID‐19
Authors: Yassa Murat , Birol Pinar , Mutlu Ali Memis , Tekin Arzu Bilge , Sandal Kemal , Tug Niyazi
Published: June 2020

Lung ultrasound (LUS) is an effective tool to detect and monitor patients infected with 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID‐19). The use of LUS on pregnant women is an emerging trend, considering its effectiveness during the outbreak. Eight pregnant women with a diagnosis of COVID‐19 confirmed by nasal/throat real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction testing who underwent point‐of‐care LUS examinations after routine obstetric ultrasound are described. A routinely performed LUS examination revealed serious lung involvement in 7 cases: 2 were initially asymptomatic; 3 have chest computed tomography; 1 had initial negative real‐time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction results; and 1 had initial negative computed tomographic findings. Treatment for COVID‐19 was either commenced or changed in 87.5% of the patients (n = 7 of 8) on LUS findings. Among patients with abnormal LUS findings, treatment was commenced in 5 patients (71.5%) and changed in 2 patients (28.5%). One normal and 7 abnormal LUS cases indicate the impact of routine LUS on the clinical outcome and treatment of pregnant women.
Phylum‐level diversity of the microbiome of the extremophilic basidiomycete fungus Pisolithus arhizus (Scop.) Rauschert: An island of biodiversity in a thermal soil desert
Authors: Cullings Ken , Stott Matthew B. , Marinkovich Nicole , DeSimone Julia , Bhardwaj Shilpa
Published: June 2020

We used high‐throughput DNA sequencing methods combined with bio‐geochemical profiles to characterize the internal environment and community structure of the microbiome of the basidiomycete fungus Pisolithus arhizus (Scop.) Rauschert from soils within a geothermal feature of Yellowstone National Park. Pisolithus arhizus is unique in that it forms closed fruiting bodies that sequester visible sulfur within. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis demonstrates that the P. arhizus fruiting body also concentrates copper, manganese, nickel, and zinc and contains pure granular silica. Gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) analysis indicates an environment rich in hydrocarbons. Oxygen probe analysis reveals that zones of up to 4× atmospheric oxygen exist within nanometers of zones of near anoxia. Analysis of microbial community structure using high‐throughput DNA sequencing methods shows that the fruiting body supports a microbiome that reflects the physiochemical environment of the fruiting body. Diversity and richness measures indicate a microbiome that is significantly richer and more diverse than that of the soils in which P. arhizus grows. Further, P. arhizus sporocarps are enriched significantly in Proteobacteria (primarily Burkholderia) Gemmatimonadetes, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Nitrospirae, Elusimicrobia, and Latescibacteria (WS3) while soils are enriched in Actinobacteria (primarily Mycobacterium), Dormibacteraeota (AD3), and Eremiobacteraeota (WPS‐2). Finally, pairwise % similarity comparisons indicate that P. arhizus harbors two lineages that may represent new groups in the candidate phylum radiation (CPR). Together, these results demonstrate that P. arhizus provides a novel environment for microbiome studies and provides for interesting hypotheses regarding the evolution, origins, and functions of symbioses and novel microbes.
Infections or Sepsis Preceding Clinically Diagnosed α‐Synucleinopathies: A Case‐Control Study
Authors: Hasan Shemonti , Mielke Michelle M. , Ahlskog J. Eric , Bower James , Turcano Pierpaolo , Savica Rodolfo
Published: June 2020

Background

Several studies have proposed a role for infections to induce an inflammatory response triggering Parkinson's disease. This remains controversial and the influence of severe infections on other α‐synucleinopathies (Dementia with Lewy Bodies, Parkinson's disease dementia, and Multiple System Atrophy) has not been adequately investigated.

Objectives

To assess the association between hospitalization‐required infections or sepsis and risk of clinically diagnosed α‐synucleinopathies.

Methods

Using the medical records‐linkage system (Rochester Epidemiology Project), we identified all α‐synucleinopathy cases of in Olmsted County (1991–2010). Cases were matched by symptom‐onset age and sex to controls. We reviewed complete medical records to detect hospital‐required infections or sepsis preceding clinical‐motor onset of α‐synucleinopathies. We used conditional logistic regression to calculate the odds ratio of all α‐synucleinopathies, adjusting for medications, coffee, and smoking.

Results

There was no association between infection‐related hospitalization (odds ratio: 1.05; 95% confidence interval: 0.78–1.40; P = 0.76) or sepsis (odds ratio: 0.86; 95% confidence interval: 0.40–1.85; P = 0.70) and all α‐synucleinopathies in multivariable analyses. We did not identify any associations after stratifying for type of α‐synucleinopathy, sex, and age at clinical‐motor onset. We analyzed sepsis separately with similar results.

Conclusion

We did not observe any associations between infections leading to hospitalization or sepsis and development of any α‐synucleinopathies. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Pregnancy management in a patient with stickler syndrome
Authors: Gomez Julie , Rice Stephanie M. , Makhamreh Mona M. , Al‐Kouatly Huda B.
Published: June 2020

Background

Stickler syndrome is a collagen disorder that can affect multiple organ systems. It is characterized by ocular abnormalities, hearing loss, midfacial hypoplasia, hypermobility, and joint abnormalities. The phenotypic expression of Stickler syndrome can vary among those affected. Since Stickler syndrome is a collagen disorder, it is possible to expect pregnancy complications similar to those reported in other collagen disorders. To our knowledge, there is only one case report in the literature on the management of pregnancy and delivery of a patient with Stickler syndrome.

Methods/Case Report

A 37‐year‐old primigravid woman with a diagnosis of Stickler syndrome presented at 9 weeks gestation for prenatal genetic consultation. At 26, the patient had prophylactic laser therapy for lattice degeneration of the retina. At 32, she was found to be heterozygous for the c.1527 G>T variant in the COL2A1 gene, which is associated with ocular abnormalities and autosomal dominant form of Stickler syndrome. Subsequently, she desired to pursue prenatal diagnostic testing for the familial variant. The patient voiced that the results would impact pregnancy management. Amniocentesis was performed at 16 weeks gestation. Results were negative for the maternal COL2A1 variant. Karyotype was normal (46, XX).

Results

A multidisciplinary team using a patient‐centered approach including obstetrics, ophthalmology, maternal‐fetal medicine, and genetics determined that there were no contraindications for vaginal delivery. At 39 weeks, the patient underwent spontaneous vaginal delivery with no complications.

Conclusion

There is a paucity of data available regarding the maternal outcomes of women affected with collagen disorders, especially Stickler Syndrome. This case highlights the importance of accurate genetic diagnosis in the prenatal period and provides information to physicians caring for patients with Stickler syndrome.
A low‐profile dual‐band shared‐aperture antenna based on artificial magnetic conductor with transparent elements
Authors: Volkov Alexander P. , Kakshin Vitalii V. , Ryzhov Igor Yu. , Kozlov Kirill V. , Kurochkin Alexander P. , Grinev Alexander Yu.
Published: June 2020

This article presents a dual‐band shared‐aperture antenna. The lower‐band antenna consists of two printed dipoles operated in a 1.6‐2.4 GHz frequency band. An artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) is used to reduce the lower‐band antenna profile. The higher‐band antenna consists of 4 × 2 aperture coupling patches operated in 5.3‐7.1 GHz frequency band and placed between the antenna ground plane and the AMC. The AMC elements act as a bandpass frequency‐selective surface for the higher‐band antenna. Simulated and measured results show that the proposed antenna has 40% and 29% impedance and 3‐dB gain bandwidths for the lower‐band and higher‐band antennas, respectively, and port isolation of less than −20 dB.
Gaschromatographie ohne Helium
Authors: Sowa Christopher
Published: June 2020

Seit Jahren steigt der Preis für Helium, ein Ende ist nicht in Sicht. Was, wenn Laboren das Helium als Trägergas für die Gaschromatographie fehlt? In der Umweltanalytik kann Wasserstoff eine Alternative sein.
Das Rezept für schmalbandige Leuchtstoffe
Authors: Suta Markus , George Janine
Published: June 2020

LED‐Lichtquellen sollen farbecht sein. Ein einfaches und gleichzeitig zuverlässiges Strukturkonzept erlaubt es, sowohl die Farbe der Emission als auch die Breite der entsprechenden Bande bei Eu2+‐basierten Leuchtstoffen zu steuern.
Spezieller und interdisziplinärer
Authors: Bulmahn Maren
Published: June 2020

Der Umsatz des Essener Unternehmens Evonik hat sich im Jahr 2019 im Vergleich zum Vorjahr kaum verändert. Der Konzern will seine Ausrichtung ändern. Dafür hat er das Acrylglasgeschäft verkauft.
Masse statt Kasse
Authors: Bulmahn Maren
Published: June 2020

Covestro hat im Jahr 2019 zwar mehr verkauft, damit aber weniger Einnahmen erzielt. Deshalb verschiebt das Unternehmen eine Investition.
Der Run auf die Virentests
Authors: Osterath Brigitte
Published: June 2020

Möglichst viele Menschen auf eine Infektion mit Sars‐Cov‐2 zu testen, hat Vorteile. Nicht nur enthüllt das die wahre Durchseuchung der Bevölkerung, sondern: Wer weiß, dass er das Virus in sich trägt, bleibt auch bereitwilliger zu Hause. Aber so einfach zu beschaffen sind die Testreagenzien in der benötigten Menge nicht.
An adaptive high‐dimensional model representation method for reliability analysis of geotechnical engineering problems
Authors: Wang Qian , Fang Hongbing
Published: June 2020

In this study, a new reliability analysis method was developed based on the adaptive high‐dimensional model representation (HDMR) and applied to geotechnical engineering problems. For practical problems requiring finite element (FE) analysis or other numerical methods to evaluate system responses such as stresses and deformations, an efficient and accurate metamodeling technique is needed because it is not efficient or straightforward to directly adopt the conventional sampling‐based or gradient‐based reliability analysis approaches. In this work, an adaptive metamodeling approach was created and studied based on the HDMR framework and augmented radial basis functions (ARBFs). In this adaptive ARBF‐HDMR technique, a simple and inexpensive first‐order ARBF‐HDMR metamodel was first constructed to explicitly express a performance function, and an alternate first‐order reliability method (FORM) was applied to locate the design point and compute the reliability index. A local window was then defined such that additional sample points were generated and a higher‐order HDMR component function was created using ARBF and added to the existing ARBF‐HDMR metamodel. The accuracy of the ARBF‐HDMR metamodel was improved through this adaptive process, especially in the region surrounding the design point. One mathematical and four geotechnical engineering problems were studied and solved using the proposed adaptive ARBF‐HDMR approach. The proposed method was found to be capable of obtaining accurate reliability indices within a few iterations in all test problems.