bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of near‐infrared autofluorescence from adrenal neoplasms: An initial experience
Authors: Noureldine Salem I. , Nazli Avci Seyma , Isiktas Gizem , Ergun Onuralp , Elshamy Mohammed , Berber Eren
Published: March 2022

Background and Objectives

Fluorescence from adrenal tumors can be detected with near‐infrared imaging after injection with indocyanine green. However, it is unknown if adrenal tumors exhibit autofluorescence. The aim of this study was to determine whether adrenal tumors emit near‐infrared autofluorescence (NIRAF).

Methods

This was a prospective study of patients who underwent minimally invasive adrenalectomy at a tertiary center. Intraoperative images were analyzed to detect NIRAF with a 750 nm camera. Descriptive and comparative statistical analyses were performed.

Results

Twenty‐five adrenalectomies were examined. Only 11 tumors (44%), that originated from the cortex exhibited autofluorescence. A contrast distinction between the tumor and retroperitoneum was observed in 23 patients, whereas a contrast distinction between the tumor and normal adrenocortical tissue was seen in 12 patients. The overall fluorescence intensity of adrenal tumors was found to be variable and ranging between 0.3 and 5.6 times that of the background tissue. Pheochromocytoma, malignancy and adrenal cyst did not demonstrate NIRAF.

Conclusion

This is the first study to show that adrenocortical tissue can demonstrate NIRAF. The pattern of fluorescence was similar to that observed after indocyanine green injection in our historical experience. NIRAF has a potential to be used as an intraoperative optical adjunct during adrenalectomy.
Developing the liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry method for simultaneously quantifying five components in rat serums after oral administration of hawthorn aqueous extracts and its application to a pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Sun Fei , Zeng Lu , Li Jiaqi , Zhong Yongqi , Wu Xiangqin , Wang Kaiyang , Wang Shumei , Liang Shengwang
Published: March 2022

Hawthorn, one of the widely‐used traditional Chinese medicines, has been used to treat dyspepsia, hyperlipidemia, and cardiovascular disease in the clinic. Our previous study revealed that gallic acid, neochlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, vitexin, and quercetin were active components of hawthorn. In this study, a simple, precise, and reliable liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry method was developed for the simultaneous quantification of five components in rat serums. The separation was achieved on the Hypersil GOLD C18 column, and the mobile phases consisted of 0.1% acetic acid water and methanol at a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The mass spectrometry data acquisition was performed on Q‐Extractive‐Orbitrap mass spectrometry with an electrospray ionization source in negative ion mode. The proposed liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry method was validated in terms of linearity, intra‐ and inter‐precision, accuracy, recoveries, matrix effects, and stability. Then this newly proposed liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study on rats after oral administration of hawthorn aqueous extracts. This study provided relevant information on the pharmacokinetics of active components of hawthorn and explained the underlying mechanism of their bioactivity.
Quantitative contribution of the Grain for Green Program to vegetation greening and its spatiotemporal variation across the Chinese Loess Plateau
Authors: Song Yi , Wang Yunqiang , Jin Long , Shi Weiyu , Aryal Jagannath , Comber Alexis
Published: March 2022

A distinct greening trend is evident in Asia, especially on the Loess Plateau (LP) of China, which is driven by climate change and large‐scale land‐use‐related ecological projects, especially the 'Grain for Green Program' (GFGP). However, the specific contributions of the GFGP to vegetation greening and the variation of this greening on a large spatiotemporal scale are not yet clear. We used long‐time‐series normalized difference vegetation index datasets and climate datasets based on the double mass curve method to quantify the contributions of ecological projects and climate change to the greening trend on the LP. We found that the interannual fluctuation of vegetation change was likely related to the interannual fluctuation of climate, especially precipitation. The increasing trend of vegetation change after 2005 indicated that the GFGP, as a type of external disturbance, began to improve vegetation growth. The GFGP failed initially to make a positive contribution in the first few years because of the drought conditions in 1999 and 2005. The increased precipitation played a critical role in enhancing the output of the GFGP on the LP after 2005. Then, the contribution of the GFGP increased quickly until 2013, after which it remained stable and reached average values of 58.8% ± 19.34% and 31.7% ± 24.3% in the representative areas that conducted the GFGP and in other regions with a lower implementation intensity of the GFGP, respectively. Our results highlight the contribution the GFGP has made to spatiotemporal variation due to the spatial heterogeneity of the projects, their intensity and the effect of forest stand age.
Epidermal 1‐O‐acylceramides appear with the establishment of the water permeability barrier in mice and are produced by maturating keratinocytes
Authors: Rabionet Mariona , Bernard Pauline , Pichery Melanie , Marsching Christian , Bayerle Aline , Dworski Shaalee , Kamani Mustafa A. , Chitraju Chandramohan , Gluchowski Nina L. , Gabriel Katlyn R. , Asadi Abolfazl , Ebel Philipp , Hoekstra Menno , Dumas Sabrina , Ntambi James M. , Jacobsson Anders , Willecke Klaus , Medin Jeffrey A. , Jonca Nathalie , Sandhoff Roger
Published: March 2022

1‐O‐Acylceramides (1‐OACs) have a fatty acid esterified to the 1‐hydroxyl of the sphingosine head group of the ceramide, and recently we identified these lipids as natural components of human and mouse epidermis. Here we show epidermal 1‐OACs arise shortly before birth during the establishment of the water permeability barrier in mice. Fractionation of human epidermis indicates 1‐OACs concentrate in the stratum corneum. During in vitro maturation into reconstructed human epidermis, human keratinocytes dramatically increase 1‐OAC levels indicating they are one source of epidermal 1‐OACs. In search of potential enzymes responsible for 1‐OAC synthesis in vivo, we analyzed mutant mice with deficiencies of ceramide synthases (Cers2, Cers3, or Cers4), diacylglycerol acyltransferases (Dgat1 or Dgat2), elongase of very long fatty acids 3 (Elovl3), lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (Lcat), stearoyl‐CoA desaturase 1 (Scd1), or acidic ceramidase (Asah1). Overall levels of 1‐OACs did not decrease in any mouse model. In Cers3 and Dgat2‐deficient epidermis they even increased in correlation with deficient skin barrier function. Dagt2 deficiency reshapes 1‐OAC synthesis with an increase in 1‐OACs with N‐linked non‐hydroxylated fatty acids and a 60% decrease compared to control in levels of 1‐OACs with N‐linked hydroxylated palmitate. As none of the single enzyme deficiencies we examined resulted in a lack of 1‐OACs, we conclude that either there is functional redundancy in forming 1‐OAC and more than one enzyme is involved, and/or an unknown acyltransferase of the epidermis performs the final step of 1‐OAC synthesis, the implications of which are discussed.
Swelling Behavior of Lipophilic Polyelectrolyte Gels in Organic Solvents−Water or Sea Water Binary Mixtures
Authors: Wang Xinmeng , Sunaga Sokuro , Kokado Kenta , Sada Kazuki
Published: March 2022

The recovery of crude oil and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) spilt in the environment is an intractable problem for environmental scientists. In this paper, a new lipophilic polyelectrolyte gel as an absorbent for various volatile chemical compounds is demonstrated. It is prepared by radical copolymerization of an acrylate monomer with an ionic group, tetraalkylammonium tetraarylborate, octadecyl acrylate, and a crosslinker, dipropylene glycol diacrylate, in the presence of a radial initiator. Investigation of the swelling behavior for the mixtures of water or aqueous salts reveals that the gel shows similar swelling behavior to those for pure organic solvents. On the other hand, the swelling degree in THF‐water mixture is lower than that of pure THF, because THF and water are miscible to each other, and the presence of a small amount of water in THF reduces the compatibility of the gel and THF. The salting‐out effect can separate the THF‐water mixture to form a biphasic system and recover the high swelling ability of the gel. The swelling behavior in the mixture of water‐organic solvents systems provides a new insight for designing VOC and oil absorbents in various environmental conditions, especially in hydrosphere such as seas and lakes.
Decarboxylation of Poly[N‐(acryloyloxy)phthalimide] as a Versatile Tool for Postpolymerization Modification
Authors: Frech Stefan , Molle Edgar , Hub Cornelius , Theato Patrick
Published: March 2022

Herein the decarboxylation of poly[N‐(acryloyloxy)phthalimide] (PAP) for the synthesis of functionalized polymers is reported. PAP homopolymer and block copolymers are used as precursor polymers for the straightforward functionalization via decarboxylation and subsequent Michael‐type addition or nitroxide radical coupling (NRC).
SENP3‐mediated TIP60 deSUMOylation is required for DNA‐PKcs activity and DNA damage repair
Authors: Han Yang , Huang Xin , Cao Xiaoyu , Li Yuchen , Gao Lei , Jia Jin , Li Gang , Guo Hejiang , Liu Xiaochang , Zhao Hongling , Guan Hua , Zhou Pingkun , Gao Shanshan
Published: March 2022

The activation of DNA‐dependent kinase (DNA‐PKcs) upon DNA damage contains a cascade of reactions, covering acetylation by TIP60, binding with Ku70/80, and autophosphorylation. However, how cells regulate TIP60‐mediated acetylation of DNA‐PKcs and the following DNA‐PKcs activation upon DNA damage remains obscure. This present study reported that TIP60 is hyper‐SUMOylated in normal conditions, but upon irradiation‐induced DNA damage, small ubiquitin‐like modifier (SUMO)‐specific protease 3 (SENP3)‐mediated deSUMOylation of TIP60 promoted its interaction with DNA‐PKcs to form the TIP60‐DNA‐PKcs complex. We show that TIP60 SUMOylation is reduced quickly in response to DNA damage and the deSUMOylation of TIP60 by SENP3 is required for DNA‐PKcs acetylation and its autophosphorylation. Comet and γH2AX immunofluorescence assay showed that knockdown of SENP3 impaired DNA damage repair. Using the NHEJ report system, we found that knockdown of SENP3 affected the efficiency of NHEJ. Further exploration using clonogenic survival assay, cell viability assay and cytoflow assay suggested that leaking SENP3 increased the sensitivity of tumour cells to serval DNA damage treatment. Overall, our findings revealed a previously unidentified role of SENP3 in regulating DNA‐PKcs activity and DNA damage repair.
Atypical phenotype of a patient with Bardet–Biedl syndrome type 4
Authors: Sloboda Natacha , Lambert Laetitia , Ciorna Viorica , Bruel Ange‐Line , Tran Mau‐Them Frédéric , Gomola Vladimir , Lemelle Jean‐Louis , Klein Olivier , Camoin‐Schweitzer Marie‐Christine , Magnavacca Marie , Legagneur Carole , Ezsto Marie‐Laure , Bonnet Céline , Philippe Christophe , Leheup Bruno
Published: March 2022

Background

Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a multisystemic disorder characterized by rod–cone dystrophy, truncal obesity, postaxial polydactyly, cognitive impairment, male hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, complex female genitourinary malformations, and renal abnormalities. There is a large clinical and also genetic heterogeneity in BBS. Here, we report a patient with polydactyly, hyperechogenic kidneys increased in size with normal corticomedullary differentiation, anal imperforation, and malformation of genitals with presence of a genital tubercle with ventral urethral meatus associated with two unfused lateral genital swelling and absent urethral folds, in the context of 46, XY karyotype.

Methods

Karyotype and solo exome sequencing were performed to look for a genetic etiology for the features described in our patient.

Results

We identified a homozygous in‐frame deletion of exons 4 to 6 in the BBS4 gene (NM‐033028 (BBS4‐i001): c.[(157‐?)_(405 +?)del] p.(Ala53‐Trp135del), which is classified as pathogenic variant. This analysis allowed the molecular diagnosis of BBS type 4 in this patient.

Conclusion

Complex genital malformations are only reported in female BBS6 patients yet, and genital abnormalities and anal imperforation are not reported in male BBS4 patients to date. We discuss the possible hypotheses for this phenotype, including the phenotypic overlap between ciliopathies.
Analysis of X‐inactivation status in a Rett syndrome natural history study cohort
Authors: Fang Xiaolan , Butler Kameryn M. , Abidi Fatima , Gass Jennifer , Beisang Arthur , Feyma Timothy , Ryther Robin C. , Standridge Shannon , Heydemann Peter , Jones Mary , Haas Richard , Lieberman David N , Marsh Eric D. , Benke Tim A. , Skinner Steve , Neul Jeffrey L. , Percy Alan K. , Friez Michael J. , Caylor Raymond C.
Published: March 2022

Background

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder associated with pathogenic MECP2 variants. Because the MECP2 gene is subject to X‐chromosome inactivation (XCI), factors including MECP2 genotypic variation, tissue differences in XCI, and skewing of XCI all likely contribute to the clinical severity of individuals with RTT.

Methods

We analyzed the XCI patterns from blood samples of 320 individuals and their mothers. It includes individuals with RTT (n = 287) and other syndromes sharing overlapping phenotypes with RTT (such as CDKL5 Deficiency Disorder [CDD, n = 16]). XCI status in each proband/mother duo and the parental origin of the preferentially inactivated X chromosome were analyzed.

Results

The average XCI ratio in probands was slightly increased compared to their unaffected mothers (73% vs. 69%, p = .0006). Among the duos with informative XCI data, the majority of individuals with classic RTT had their paternal allele preferentially inactivated (n = 180/220, 82%). In sharp contrast, individuals with CDD had their maternal allele preferentially inactivated (n = 10/12, 83%). Our data indicate a weak positive correlation between XCI skewing ratio and clinical severity scale (CSS) scores in classic RTT patients with maternal allele preferentially inactivated XCI (rs = 0.35, n = 40), but not in those with paternal allele preferentially inactivated XCI (rs = −0.06, n = 180). The most frequent MECP2 pathogenic variants were enriched in individuals with highly/moderately skewed XCI patterns, suggesting an association with higher levels of XCI skewing.

Conclusion

These results extend our understanding of the pathogenesis of RTT and other syndromes with overlapping clinical features by providing insight into the both XCI and the preferential XCI of parental alleles.
Isoliquiritigenin Decreases Bone Resorption and Osteoclast Differentiation
Authors: Joyce Kaitlyn M. , Wong Carmen P. , Scriven Ian A. , Olson Dawn A. , Doerge Daniel R. , Branscum Adam J. , Sattgast Lara H. , Helferich William G. , Turner Russell T. , Iwaniec Urszula T.
Published: March 2022

Scope

A dose‐ranging study is performed using young estrogen‐depleted rats to determine whether dietary isoliquiritigenin (ILQ) alters bone metabolism and if the effects are associated with estrogen receptor signaling.

Methods and Results

Six‐week‐old rats (ovariectomized at 4 weeks of age) are fed diets containing 0, 100, 250, or 750 ppm ILQ (n = 5/treatment) for 7 days. Gene expression in femur and uterus, blood markers of bone turnover, body composition, and uterine weight and epithelial cell height are determined. Because ILQ lowers bone resorption, the effect of ILQ on in vitro differentiation of osteoclasts from bone marrow of mice is assessed. Treatment resulted in a dose‐dependent increases in serum ILQ but no changes in serum osteocalcin, a marker of global bone formation. Contrastingly, ILQ administration results in reduced serum CTX‐1, a marker of global bone resorption, and reduces tartrate resistant acid phosphatase expression in osteoclast culture. ILQ treatment and endogenous estrogen production had limited overlap on gene expression in femur and uterus. However, uterine epithelial cell hyperplasia is observed in two of five animals treated with 750 ppm.

Conclusions

In conclusion, dietary ILQ reduces bone resorption in vivo and osteoclast differentiation in vitro, by mechanisms likely differing from actions of ovarian hormones.
Design of subminiature microstrip antenna for GPS using perturbation effect
Authors: Choi Yoon‐Seon , Choi Dong‐Su , Kim Wan‐Ki , Eun Chang‐Soo , Woo Jong‐Myung
Published: March 2022

Subminiature GPSL1band (center frequency: 1575 MHz, wavelength []: 190 mm) microstrip antenna suitable for mounting in small electronic devices is proposed in this paper. The newly proposed antenna was transformed from the basicλ/2 microstrip patch antenna to aλ/4 microstrip antenna. To apply the perturbation theory, the width of the radiating element on the feeding point with strong magnetic field energy was narrowed. In addition, the open end of the radiating element with strong electric field energy was folded down in a “王” shape to reduce the antenna size. The size of the designed subminiature microstrip antenna is 10 mm (0.05) × 9.5 mm (0.05) × 8.5 mm (0.04). For impedance matching, the position of the feeding point and the gap between the feeding line and the short stub were adjusted. The fabricated antenna obtained of −17 dB at the center frequency of 1575 MHz. While the size of the ground plane was 48 mm (0.25λ) × 50 mm (0.26λ), the omnidirectional radiation characteristics for both in thexz‐plane andxy‐plane with average gain of −0.3 and −1.7 dBi, respectively. A size reduction ratio of 98.9% was secured from the results compared to the basicλ/2 microstrip patch antenna.
A semi‐supervised learning method of latent features based on convolutional neural networks for CT metal artifact reduction
Authors: Shi Zaifeng , Wang Ning , Kong Fanning , Cao Huaisheng , Cao Qingjie
Published: March 2022

Purpose

X‐ray computed tomography (CT) has become a convenient and efficient clinical medical technique. However, in the presence of metal implants, CT images may be corrupted by metal artifacts. The metal artifact reduction (MAR) methods based on deep learning are mostly supervised methods trained with labeled synthetic‐artifact CT images. However, this causes the neural network to be biased toward learning specific synthetic‐artifact patterns and leads to a poor generalization for unlabeled real‐artifact CT images. In this study, a semi‐supervised learning method of latent features based on convolutional neural networks (SLF‐CNN) is developed to remove metal artifacts while ensuring a good generalization ability for real‐artifact CT images.

Methods

The proposed semi‐supervised method extracts CT image features in alternate iterations of a synthetic‐artifact learning stage and a real‐artifact learning stage. In the synthetic‐artifact learning stage, SLF‐CNN is fed with paired synthetic‐artifact CT images and is constrained using mean‐squared‐error (MSE) loss and perceptual loss in a supervised learning fashion. In the real‐artifact learning stage, the network weight is updated by minimizing the error between the pseudo‐ground truths and the predicted latent features. The feature level pseudo‐ground truths are obtained by modeling latent features using the Gaussian process. The overall framework of SLF‐CNN adopts an encoder–decoder structure. The encoder is composed of artifact information collection groups to map the input artifact‐affected synthetic‐artifact CT images and real‐artifact CT images into latent features. The decoder is composed of stacked ResNeXt blocks and is responsible for decoding latent features with high‐level semantic information to reconstruct artifact‐free CT images. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated through contrast experiments and ablation experiments.

Results

The contrast experimental results indicate that the artifact‐free CT images obtained by SLF‐CNN have good metrics values, which are close to or better than those of typical supervised MAR methods. The metal artifacts in artifact‐affected CT images are eliminated and the tissue structure details are preserved using SLF‐CNN. The ablation experiment shows that adding real‐artifact CT images greatly improves the generalization ability of the network.

Conclusions

The proposed semi‐supervised learning method of latent features for MAR effectively suppresses metal artifacts and improves the generalization ability of the network.
Clinical characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed schizophrenia: A 4‐year single‐center experience in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Hakami Tahir
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Understanding how local “psychiatry clinic” characteristics shape research findings is essential for applying research into evolution, outcomes, and costs of mental health. However, a paucity of “psychiatry clinics” details has implications for the interpretation and utilization of this research.

Methods

We reviewed data of 746 patients with new‐onset schizophrenia on antipsychotic monotherapy seen over four years in an “adult psychiatry clinic” at Jazan Health, Saudi Arabia. Protocol‐driven interviews and investigations were recorded prospectively and extracted from the medical records for the study. Summary statistics and logistic regression analyses were applied to assess patients' characteristics and outcomes.

Results

The median patient age was 32 (IQR 27‐39) years. Of patients, 589 (79.0%) were male, and 679 (91.0%) had a low‐level education. The median follow‐up duration was 51.4 (IQR 27.4‐96.3) weeks. The most used initial antipsychotic drugs were olanzapine (48.8%), haloperidol (13.9%), and aripiprazole (11.3%). The numbers of patients who retained the initial drug at 24 and 52 weeks were 539 (72.3%) and 325 (43.6%), respectively. The initial drug was changed in 246 (33.0%) patients. The median time to initial drug change was 43.9 (IQR 14.8‐85.0) weeks. The logistic regression demonstrated that male sex (P < 0.004), young adult age group (P < 0.027), predominant positive symptoms (P < 0.021), treatment with haloperidol (P < 0.024), and khat use (P < 0.006) were significant factors for drug change.

Conclusions

This clinical records study demonstrated substantial individual variations in characteristics and in responding to initial antipsychotic medication. Insight into these findings will facilitate the planning for comprehensive research programs.
Proteomics and UHPLC‐DAD‐Q/Orbitrap‐MS used to identify impurities in andrographolide
Authors: Deng Shuangbing , Zhang Yawen , Chen Juan , Wang Jiaojiao , Luo Jiayi , Fang Li , Liu Difa , Lv Xiang , Qian Dong , Zhou Jing , Xie Yuanyuan , Ma Hongyue
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Andrographolide active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is a semidiurnal diterpene lactone with significant antipyretic, antiviral, anti‐inflammatory and anticancer activities. A large amount of andrographolide API could only be obtained by extraction from Andrographis paniculata. Therefore, there may be related compounds, plant proteins and other impurities in andrographolide API.

Objective

In order to improve the safety of andrographolide related preparations, it was necessary to clarify the impurities and improve the quality standard of andrographolide API.

Methods

The related compounds were identified by ultrahigh‐performance liquid chromatography with diode‐array detector quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC‐DAD‐Q/Orbitrap‐MS), and the residual proteins were determined by ultrafiltration combined with proteomics. The proteomics method included protein extraction, content determination, digestion, desalination and nanoscale liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (nano LC–MS/MS) analysis. Then, MS results were compared with Andrographis paniculata protein database by Peaks Studio.

Results

The results showed that 32 related compounds were putatively identified, of which 30 impurities were identified for the first time. Seven residual proteins together with 11 highly suspected proteins were uniquely identified, including the T1UNN5_ANDPA protein with the highest intensity.

Conclusions

This study will provide useful information on the composition of andrographolide API, which is important for the quality control and clinical safety assurance of API and related prescriptions. Reasonable guidance will also be provided on the necessity of ultrafiltration in the production process of related injections.
P(OEGMA‐co‐LMA) hyperbranched amphiphilic copolymers as self‐assembled nanocarriers
Authors: Balafouti Anastasia , Pispas Stergios
Published: March 2022

We report on the synthesis of novel amphiphilic hyperbranched copolymers, namely Hyperbranched‐[poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate‐co‐lauryl methacrylate] (H‐[P(OEGMA‐co‐LMA)]), obtained by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization utilizing the divinyl monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the branching agent. Molecular characterization by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H‐NMR) spectroscopy indicated the success of the polymerization. The self‐assembly behavior in aqueous media was investigated by light scattering techniques and fluorescence spectroscopy. The hyperbranched copolymers form multimolecular aggregates of nanoscale dimensions with a low critical aggregation concentration. In addition, the model hydrophobic drug, curcumin (CUR), known also for its intrinsic fluorescence properties, was used in order to investigate the H‐[P(OEGMA‐co‐LMA)] copolymers drug encapsulation ability. Curcumin is successfully loaded into the polymeric nanoparticles, as confirmed by dynamic light scattering and UV–Vis spectroscopy. Interestingly, curcumin hydrophobic interactions with the hyperbranched copolymers result in more well‐defined co‐assembled nanostructures, in terms of size and size distribution. The mixed copolymer‐CUR nano‐assemblies consist of small size nanoparticles (<100 nm) which exhibit relatively high size uniformity, colloidal stability and fluorescent properties. Overall, results signify that the biocompatible H‐[P(OEGMA‐co‐LMA)] nanostructures could potentially serve as nanocarrier systems for drug delivery and bio‐imaging applications.
Screening for cognitive symptoms among cancer patients during chemotherapy: Sensitivity and specificity of a single item self‐report cognitive change score
Authors: Fardell Joanna E. , Bray Victoria , Bell Melanie L. , Rabe Brooke , Dhillon Haryana , Vardy Janette L.
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Cognitive symptoms are commonly reported among cancer patients and survivors, yet guidance on when self‐reported cognitive symptoms warrant follow‐up is lacking. We sought to establish cut‐off scores for identifying patients with perceived low cognitive functioning on widely used self‐report measures of cognition and a novel single item Cognitive Change Score.

Methods

Adult patients diagnosed with invasive cancer who had completed at least one cycle of chemotherapy completed a questionnaire containing the EORTC‐Cognitive Function (CF) subscale, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Cognitive Function (FACT‐COG) Perceived Cognitive Impairment (PCI) and our Cognitive Change Score (CCS). We used receiver operating characteristic analyses to establish the discriminative ability of these measures against the Patient's Assessment of Own Functioning Inventory (PAOFI) as our reference standard. We chose cut‐off scores on each measure that maximised both sensitivity and specificity for identifying patients with self‐reported low CF.

Results

We recruited 294 participants (55.8% women, mean age 56.6 years) with mixed cancer diagnoses (25.5 months since diagnosis). On the CCS, 77.6% reported some cognitive change since starting chemotherapy. On the PAOFI 36% had low CF. The following cut‐off scores identified cases of low CF: ≥28.5 on the CCS (75.5% sensitivity, 67.6% specificity); ≤75.0 on the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, QLQ‐C30 Cognitive Functioning scale (90.9% sensitivity, 57.1% specificity); ≤55.1 on the FACT‐COG PCI‐18 (84.8% sensitivity, 76.2% specificity), and ≤59.5 on the FACT‐COG PCI‐20 (78.8% sensitivity, 84.1% specificity).

Conclusions

We found a single item question asking about cognitive change has acceptable discrimination between patients with self‐reported normal and low CF when compared to other more comprehensive self‐report measures of cognitive symptoms. Further validation work is required.
Nonthermal plasma in the induction of polycondensation processes and intermolecular dehydrochlorination of chloroethanes in the liquid phase
Authors: Bodrikov Ivan , Titov Evgeniy Yurievich , Vasiliev Alexander , Titov Dmitry , Ivanova Anna , Subbotin Andrey
Published: March 2022

The nonthermal plasma treatment of 1,2‐dichloroethane, 1,1,2‐trichloroethane, and 1,1,2,2‐tetrachloroethane in the liquid phase leads to the formation of unsaturated chlorine derivatives of hydrocarbons, nanostructures, and hydrogen chloride. In the case of nonthermal plasma‐induced elimination of chloroethanes, the main products are: chloroethene from 1,2‐dichloroethane, 1,1‐dichloro‐, 1,2‐dichloroethene from trichloroethane, and trichloro‐ and tetrachlorethylenes from tetrachloroethane. Solid products are presented in the form of nanoscale carbon structures—multilayer nanotubes, carbon fibers, graphene layers, and others. Quantum‐chemical calculations show that the elimination of HCl under the nonthermal plasma treatment on chloroethanes occurs intermolecularly.
Visual attraction of the European tarnished plant bug Lygus rugulipennis (Hemiptera: Miridae) to a water trap with LED light in chrysanthemum greenhouses and olfactory attraction to novel compounds in Y‐tube tests
Authors: van Tol Robert WHM , Diaz Rodriguez Celia M , de Bruin Antje , Yang Daowei , Taparia Tanvi , Griepink Frans C
Published: March 2022

BACKGROUND

The European tarnished plant bug Lygus rugulipennis Poppius (Hemiptera: Miridae) can cause several types of damage to crops grown in greenhouses and fields, including flower abortion in eggplant, stem and fruit damage in cucumbers, and splits in chrysanthemums. Studies suggest that both male and female L. rugulipennis may be more attracted to traps based on visual attraction than pheromone‐based trap. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a water trap with LED lights and semiochemicals in trapping L. rugulipennis in the laboratory and greenhouse.

RESULTS

The results showed that water traps equipped with white LED light caught 20 30 times more bugs than did the sex pheromone‐based traps in greenhouse experiment. During the week of peak flight, the LED water trap caught a total of 29 males and females, whereas the sex pheromone caught only one male. Among the semiochemicals tested in a Y‐tube, both males and females were attracted to ß‐caryophyllene, but not in the presence of the sex pheromone, whereas both males and females were attracted to pentyl butyrate in the presence of the sex pheromone. The pheromone plus bean plant odor was attractive to the insects, suggesting an interaction between plant odor and pheromone.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the findings of the study showed that the water trap with LED light could be an effective method for trapping L. rugulipennis in greenhouses. © 2022 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Dietary polyphenols for management of rheumatoid arthritis: Pharmacotherapy and novel delivery systems
Authors: Maity Siddharth , Wairkar Sarika
Published: March 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, complex, systemic autoimmune disease causing chronic inflammation, swelling, and pain. It affects pulmonary and ocular physiology, gastrointestinal disturbance, skeletal disorders, and renal malfunctioning. Although conventional and biological drugs available to treat RA are potent and effective, they lead to life‐threatening side effects and patient discomfort. Hence, alternative therapies are explored for their treatment which is safe, effective, and economical. Herbal drugs are widely used as an alternative therapy and some medicinal plants, especially dietary polyphenols proved their efficacy in treating RA. Polyphenols are secondary metabolites of plants possessing several pharmacological actions. They exert anti‐inflammatory, immunomodulatory and anti‐rheumatoid activity by modulating tumor necrosis factor, mitogen‐activated protein kinase, nuclear factor kappa‐light‐chain‐enhancer of activated B cells, and c‐Jun N‐terminal kinases. Thus, polyphenols could be a promising option for the management of RA. Unfortunately, polyphenols suffer from poor bioavailability due to their physicochemical properties and incorporation into novel delivery systems such as liposomes, nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, micelles improved their oral bioavailability. This review article summarizes dietary polyphenols, their pharmacological actions and novel delivery systems for the treatment of RA. Nevertheless, the commercial translation of polyphenols could be only possible after establishing their safety profile and successful clinical trials.
Simplifying the complexity of the soil microbiome to guide the development of next‐generation SynComs
Authors: Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Microbial synthetic communities (SynComs) are commonly commercialised to improve crop yield and restoration outcomes. However, many times, these SynComs are over‐simplistic and are far from being able to unleash the soil microbiome's full potential. This is partially due to the fact that harnessing the full potential of the soil microbiome to fuel new SynComs is highly complex.

Materials and Methods

Here, I used a multidisciplinary approach combining data from a global grassland field survey and ecological theory with satellite‐based measurements for aboveground biomass and ‘omics’ to provide an example of how to connect the soil microbiome of real‐world ecosystems with the development of the next generation of SynComs. The same approach could be used to identify individual taxa associated with plant productivity within and across any ecosystem type from local to global scales.

Results

I used a three‐step approach (#1 Dominant taxa + #2 correlation networks + #3 microbe‐function) aiming at identifying individual soil taxa with the potential to promote plant production across contrasting environments. This approach simplified the complexity of the soil microbiome to 0.4% of all investigated taxa, which were positively associated with plant productivity after statistically accounting for other key environmental factors. These taxa are common, ubiquitous and native across contrasting global grasslands, suggesting that they could be used under different soil and climatic conditions, and potentially, under different climate change scenarios. Finally, this study further provides a list of soil taxa associated with high and low productive grassland ecosystems globally.

Conclusion

The multidisciplinary approach presented here, along with the use of SynComs, can help unlock the soil microbiome's full potential when aiming to support food production and the restoration of ecosystems under global change.
Semiparametric multiple inflation count model with application to a smoking cessation study
Authors: Das Ujjwal , Basu Ranojoy
Published: March 2022

Count data are observed by practitioners across various fields. Often, a substantially large proportion of one or some values causes extra variation and may lead to a particular case of mixed structured data. In these cases, a standard count model may lead to poor inference of the parameters involved because of its inability to account for extra variation. Furthermore, we hypothesize a possible nonlinear relationship of a continuous covariate with the logarithm of the mean count and with the probability of belonging to an inflated category. We propose a semiparametric multiple inflation Poisson (MIP) model that considers the two nonlinear link functions. We develop a sieve maximum likelihood estimator (sMLE) for the regression parameters of interest. We establish the asymptotic behavior of the sMLE. Simulations are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed sieve MIP (sMIP). Then, we illustrate the methodology on data from a smoking cessation study. Finally, some remarks and opportunities for future research conclude the article.
Improving large‐scale estimation and inference for profiling health care providers
Authors: Wu Wenbo , Yang Yuan , Kang Jian , He Kevin
Published: March 2022

Provider profiling has been recognized as a useful tool in monitoring health care quality, facilitating inter‐provider care coordination, and improving medical cost‐effectiveness. Existing methods often use generalized linear models with fixed provider effects, especially when profiling dialysis facilities. As the number of providers under evaluation escalates, the computational burden becomes formidable even for specially designed workstations. To address this challenge, we introduce a serial blockwise inversion Newton algorithm exploiting the block structure of the information matrix. A shared‐memory divide‐and‐conquer algorithm is proposed to further boost computational efficiency. In addition to the computational challenge, the current literature lacks an appropriate inferential approach to detecting providers with outlying performance especially when small providers with extreme outcomes are present. In this context, traditional score and Wald tests relying on large‐sample distributions of the test statistics lead to inaccurate approximations of the small‐sample properties. In light of the inferential issue, we develop an exact test of provider effects using exact finite‐sample distributions, with the Poisson‐binomial distribution as a special case when the outcome is binary. Simulation analyses demonstrate improved estimation and inference over existing methods. The proposed methods are applied to profiling dialysis facilities based on emergency department encounters using a dialysis patient database from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
A Dual‐Cross‐Linked Hydrogel Patch for Promoting Diabetic Wound Healing
Authors: Liu Jing , Qu Moyuan , Wang Canran , Xue Yumeng , Huang Hui , Chen Qianming , Sun Wujin , Zhou Xingwu , Xu Guihua , Jiang Xing
Published: March 2022

Diabetic wound treatment faces significant challenges in clinical settings. Alternative treatment approaches are needed. Continuous bleeding, disordered inflammatory regulation, obstruction of cell proliferation, and disturbance of tissue remodeling are the main characteristics of diabetic wound healing. Hydrogels made of either naturally derived or synthetic materials can potentially be designed with a variety of functions for managing the healing process of chronic wounds. Here, a hemostatic and anti‐inflammatory hydrogel patch is designed for promoting diabetic wound healing. The hydrogel patch is derived from dual‐cross‐linked methacryloyl‐substituted Bletilla Striata polysaccharide (B) and gelatin (G) via ultraviolet (UV) light. It is demonstrated that the B–G hydrogel can effectively regulate the M1/M2 phenotype of macrophages, significantly promote the proliferation and migration of fibroblasts in vitro, and accelerate angiogenesis. It can boost wound closure by normalizing epidermal tissue regeneration and depositing collagen appropriately in vivo without exogenous cytokine supplementation. Overall, the B–G bioactive hydrogel can promote diabetic wound healing in a simple, economical, effective, and safe manner.
Nanohelix‐Induced Optical Activity of Liquid Metal Nanoparticles
Authors: Yang Lin , Ma Yicong , Lin Chao , Qu Geping , Bai Xiaopeng , Huang Zhifeng
Published: March 2022

Liquid metals (such as gallium or Ga) exist in liquid states under ambient conditions and are hardly sculpted in chiral structures. Herein, through electron‐beam evaporation of Ga, hemispherical achiral Ga nanoparticles (NPs) are randomly immobilized along helical surfaces of SiO2nanohelices (NHs), functioning as a chiral template. Helical assembly of Ga NPs shows chiroplasmonic optical activity owing to collective plasmon–plasmon interactions, which can be tuned as a function of a helical SiO2pitch (P) and the amount of Ga evaporated. At aPof ≈150 nm, the chiroplasmonic optical activity, evaluated with anisotropicg‐factor, can be as large as ≈0.1. Because the SiO2NHs and Ga NPs have high environmental stability of nanostructures, the chiroplasmonic optical activity shows excellent anti‐aging stability, despite slight blue shift and chiroplasmonic degradation for the first 2 weeks. Spontaneous oxidation of the Ga NPs enables the formation of dense Ga2O3layers covering Ga cores to prevent further oxidation and thus to stabilize the chiroplasmonic optical activity. This work devises an alternative approach to impose optical activity onto Ga NPs, providing an additional degree of freedom (i.e., chirality) for Ga‐based flexible electronic devices to develop advanced applications of 3D display, circular polarizers, bio‐imaging, and bio‐detection.
Transforming Policy Standards to Promote Equity and Developmental Success Among Latinx Children and Youth
Authors: Aceves Lorena , Crowley Daniel Max , Rincon Brenda , Bravo Diamond Y.
Published: March 2022

The main goal of this social policy report is to propose a holistic approach for promoting developmental success among Latinx children and youth. This report highlights the need to 1) redefine success and 2) account for intersectional inequalities. First, the current demographic landscape of Latinx students is presented to showcase the variability in experiences among Latinx children and youth. We review past policies (across the last two and current U.S. Administrations and within the state of California), educational programs (e.g., McNair scholars' program, AVID), and theoretical frameworks (within developmental and sociocultural disciplines). Next, we introduce a nuanced holistic approach for promoting Latinx children and youth's developmental success, underscoring the integration of factors within the sociocultural, family, and individual domains. Finally, this report provides accessible recommendations for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to effectively promote equity and developmental success among diverse groups of Latinx children and youth.
High‐coverage metamorphic testing of concurrency support in C compilers
Authors: Windsor Matt , Donaldson Alastair F. , Wickerson John
Published: March 2022

We present a technique and automated toolbox for randomized testing of C compilers. Unlike prior compiler‐testing approaches, we generate concurrent test cases in which threads communicate using fine‐grained atomic operations, and we study actual compiler implementations rather than abstract mappings. Our approach is (1) to generate test cases with precise oracles directly from an axiomatization of the C concurrency model; (2) to apply metamorphic fuzzing to each test case, aiming to amplify the coverage they are likely to achieve on compiler codebases; and (3) to execute each fuzzed test case extensively on a range of real machines. Our tool, C4, benefits compiler developers in two ways. First, test cases generated by C4 can achieve line coverage of parts of the LLVM C compiler that are reached by neither the LLVM test suite nor an existing (sequential) C fuzzer. This information can be used to guide further development of the LLVM test suite and can also shed light on where and how concurrency‐related compiler optimizations are implemented. Second, C4 can be used to gain confidence that a compiler implements concurrency correctly. As evidence of this, we show that C4 achieves high strong mutation coverage with respect to a set of concurrency‐related mutants derived from a recent version of LLVM and that it can find historic concurrency‐related bugs in GCC. As a by‐product of concurrency‐focused testing, C4 also revealed two previously unknown sequential compiler bugs in recent versions of GCC and the IBM XL compiler.
Environmental injustice and Escherichia coli in urban streams: Potential for community‐led response
Authors: Davis Lacey J. , Milligan Richard , Stauber Christine E. , Jelks Na'Taki Osborne , Casanova Lisa , Ledford Sarah H.
Published: March 2022

Escherichia coli are fecal indicator bacteria that reach waterbodies through aging and failing infrastructure in cities. Exposure to pathogens in untreated sewage can result in gastrointestinal disease, which frequently goes unreported. In the United States, the Clean Water Act regulates point source discharges of sewage and treated wastewater, but fecal indicator bacteria remain the second leading cause of river impairment. The burden of this contamination is not equitably distributed, with Black, Indigenous, and communities of color suffering from a disproportionate burden of untreated and overflowing waste and subsequent health impacts. Regulatory failures, and even abandonment, along with the exclusion of people of color from the mainstream environmental movement, mean that new approaches are needed to help communities empower themselves to address contamination. Community‐led groups that engage residents in addressing issues within and beyond regulatory frameworks have used approaches including trash traps, riparian planting and restoration, and community‐led monitoring. Mycofiltration, or the use of fungi to filter pollutants from water, is an emerging and understudied method of remediating E. coli. The low cost of mycofilter installation and maintenance may give agency to communities that have been unduly burdened with sewage contamination to diminish harmful exposures in the near term, even as they continue working toward longer‐term regulatory fixes. Continued research is needed to fully understand how different species of mycelium work under varying hydrologic conditions, including in‐field installations, along with long‐term monitoring and community acceptance to understand the efficacy and the potential impact of this strategy.
Evaluating the accuracy of the actuator line model against blade element momentum theory in uniform inflow
Authors: Liu Luoqin , Franceschini Lucas , Oliveira Daniel F. , Galeazzo Flavio C.C. , Carmo Bruno S. , Stevens Richard J. A. M.
Published: March 2022

We evaluate the accuracy of the actuator line model (ALM) approach by performing simulations for the NREL 5‐MW wind turbine in uniform inflow using three large eddy simulation codes. The power and thrust coefficients obtained using the three codes agree within 1% when the grid spacing
 m and are cross‐validated against blade element momentum (BEM) theory. We find that the results of ALM converge towards BEM theory without the need for tip correction when the numerical resolution is increased. For
 m, the difference between the power and thrust coefficient obtained using ALM and BEM is 4.5% and 2.1%, respectively, although we note that no absolute convergence between ALM and BEM can be obtained as both models use different assumptions, such as the use of a force projection method in the ALM. The difference in the local axial and tangential forces along the blades obtained from ALM simulations using
 m and
 m can be as large as 10%. The effect of the number of actuator points on the obtained turbine power and thrust coefficients is limited as the results converge when the spacing between the actuator points is about three times the grid spacing. This insight on the required number of blade points can be used to improve the efficiency of actuator line simulations.