bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioactive marine metabolites derived from the Persian Gulf compared to the Red Sea: similar environments and wide gap in drug discovery
Authors: Abuhijjleh Reham K. , Shabbir Samiullah , Al-Abd Ahmed M. , Jiaan Nada H. , Alshamil Shahad , El-labbad Eman M. , Khalifa Sherief I.
Published: July 2021

Marine life has provided mankind with unique and extraordinary chemical structures and scaffolds with potent biological activities. Many organisms and secondary metabolites derived from fungi and symbionts are found to be more environmentally friendly to study than the marine corals per se. Marine symbionts such as Aspergillus sp., a fungus, which can be isolated and grown in the lab would be a potential and continuous source of bioactive natural compounds without affecting the marine environment. The Red Sea is known for its biodiversity and is well-studied in terms of its marine-derived bioactive metabolites. The harsh environmental conditions lead to the development of unique metabolic pathways. This, in turn, results in enhanced synthesis and release of toxic and bioactive chemicals. Interestingly, the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman carry a variety of environmental stresses, some of which are similar to the Red Sea. When compared to the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf has been shown to be rich in marine fungi as well, and is, therefore, expected to contain elaborate and interesting bioactive compounds. Such compounds may or may not be similar to the ones isolated from the Red Sea environment. Astoundingly, there are a very limited number of studies on the bioactive portfolio of marine-derived metabolites from the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. In this perspective, we are looking at the Red Sea as a comparator marine environment and bioactive materials repertoire to provide a futuristic perspective on the potential of the understudied and possibly overlooked bioactive metabolites derived from the marine life of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman despite its proven biodiversity and harsher environmental stress.
A genomic perspective on the potential of termite-associated Cellulosimicrobium cellulans MP1 as producer of plant biomass-acting enzymes and exopolysaccharides
Authors: Vu Nguyen Thi-Hanh , Quach Tung Ngoc , Dao Xuan Thi-Thanh , Le Ha Thanh , Le Chi Phuong , Nguyen Lam Tung , Le Lam Tung , Ngo Cuong Cao , Hoang Ha , Chu Ha Hoang , Phi Quyet-Tien
Published: July 2021

Background

Lignocellulose is a renewable and enormous biomass resource, which can be degraded efficiently by a range of cocktails of carbohydrate-active enzymes secreted by termite gut symbiotic bacteria. There is an urgent need to find enzymes with novel characteristics for improving the conversion processes in the production of lignocellulosic-based products. Although various studies dedicated to the genus Cellulosimicrobium as gut symbiont, genetic potential related to plant biomass-acting enzymes and exopolysaccharides production has been fully untapped to date.

Methods

The cellulolytic bacterial strain MP1 was isolated from termite guts and identified to the species level by phenotypic, phylogenetic, and genomic analysis. To further explore genes related to cellulose and hemicellulose degradation, the draft genome of strain MP1 was obtained by using whole-genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation through the Illumina platform. Lignocellulose degrading enzymes and levan production in the liquid medium were also examined to shed light on bacterial activities.

Results

Among 65 isolates obtained, the strain MP1 was the most efficient cellulase producer with cellulase activity of 0.65 ± 0.02 IU/ml. The whole genome analysis depicted that strain MP1 consists of a circular chromosome that contained 4,580,223 bp with an average GC content of 73.9%. The genome comprises 23 contigs including 67 rRNA genes, three tRNA genes, a single tmRNA gene, and 4,046 protein-coding sequences. In support of the phenotypic identification, the 16S rRNA gene sequence, average nucleotide identity, and whole-genome-based taxonomic analysis demonstrated that the strain MP1 belongs to the species Cellulosimicrobium cellulans. A total of 30 genes related to the degradation of cellulases and hemicellulases were identified in the C. cellulans MP1 genome. Of note, the presence of sacC1-levB-sacC2-ls operon responsible for levan and levan-type fructooligosaccharides biosynthesis was detected in strain MP1 genome, but not with closely related C. cellulans strains, proving this strain to be a potential candidate for further studies. Endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and xylanase were achieved by using cheaply available agro-residues such as rice bran and sugar cane bagasse. The maximum levan production by C. cellulans MP1 was 14.8 ± 1.2 g/l after 20 h of cultivation in media containing 200 g/l sucrose. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first genome-based analysis of a Cellulosimicrobium species which focuses on lignocellulosic enzymes and levan biosynthesis, illustrating that the C. cellulans MP1 has a great potential to be an efficient platform for basic research and industrial exploitation.
Bird-window collisions: Mitigation efficacy and risk factors across two years
Authors: Brown Barbara B. , Santos Sabrina , Ocampo-Peñuela Natalia
Published: July 2021

Background

Research on bird-window collision mitigation is needed to prevent up to a billion bird fatalities yearly in the U.S. At the University of Utah campus (Salt Lake City, Utah, USA), past research documented collisions, especially for Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) drawn to fruiting ornamental pears in winter. Mirrored windows, which have a metallic coating that turns window exteriors into mirrors, had frequent collisions, which were mitigated when Feather Friendly®bird deterrent markers were applied. Bird-friendly windows–ORNILUX®ultraviolet (UV) and fritted windows–also reduced collisions when data were collected across fall and winter. Extending this prior research, we evaluated additional mitigation and tested the replicability of effects for pear trees, mirrored windows, and bird-friendly windows across two years.

Methods

Using published data from eight buildings monitored for collisions in year 1 (Fall and Winter, 2019–2020), we added another year of monitoring, Fall and Winter, 2020–2021. Between years, Feather Friendly®mitigation markers were added to collision-prone areas of two buildings, including both mirrored and transparent windows.

Results

The two buildings that received new Feather Friendly®mitigation had significantly fewer collisions post-mitigation. Control areas also had nonsignificant decline in collisions. The interaction of area (mitigation vs. control) by time (year 1 vs. 2) was significant, based on generalized estimating equations (GEE). The total yearly collisions across all eight buildings declined from 39 to 23. A second GEE analysis of all 8 buildings showed that mirrored windows, pear trees, and bird-friendly windows were each significant when analyzed separately. The best-fit model showed more collisions for mirrored windows and fewer collisions for bird-friendly windows. We found pear tree proximity to be related to more collisions in winter than fall. In addition, pear trees showed reduced collisions from year 1 to 2, consistent with new mitigation for two of three buildings near pear trees.

Discussion

Feather Friendly® markers can mitigate collisions with transparent windows, not only mirrored windows, compared to unmitigated areas over 2 years. Results also underscore the dangers of pear tree proximity and mirrored windows and the efficacy of bird-friendly windows. Thus, bird collisions can be prevented by window mitigation, permanent bird-friendly windows, and landscape designs that avoid creating ecological traps.
Voces peregrinas poliédricas: Góngora y el gongorismo en América
Authors:   Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Anderson de Oliveira Lima Samuel
Published: July 2021

La obra poética de Góngora transciende tiempos y lugares desde sus primeros versos, aún el siglo XVI. Su fama cruza el océano cargando todos los espíritus de la empresa poética, llegando a América para quedarse. Este trabajo plantea una revisión del concepto “gongorismo”, con especial énfasis a su desarrollo entre los críticos hispanoamericanos y brasileños buscando identificar qué aspectos contribuyen en la construcción del gongorismo en la literatura del Nuevo Mundo en los siglos XVI y XVII.
Celebración del instante: 365+1 Haiku. Theodoro Elssaca. Santiago: Ediciones UC, 2018. ISBN: 978-956-14-2274-2. 286 pp.
Authors:   Universidad Adolfo Ibañez, Maire Gonzalo
Published: July 2021

El libro Celebración del instante: 365+1 Haiku del poeta Theodoro Elssaca (1958) es un trabajo complejo que debe ser atendido como el empalme de dos series problemáticas, ambas, bastante provocativas: una, referente a su coincidencia o dispersión con el género del haiku japonés, la otra, respecto a su posición de autor, el sujeto parlante que observa el mundo acontecer como un recorte de atención, una referencia al recuerdo, un ensayo de su lenguaje poético o, sencillamente, un instante con lo real.
Study the Mental Health Status of the Newly Recruited Ayurvedic Medical Practitioners in Sri Lanka
Authors: Edirisinghe B. L. , Kulathunga W. M. S. S. K.
Published: July 2021

Mental and behavioral disorders are the 13% of the global burden of diseases. Mental health problems are common among children and young people estimated 13.4% affected by any metal disorders.(3) Today mental health problems are emerging more strongly as a public health problems presenting increase of the prevalence of substance and alcohol abuse and the world‘s highest suicide rates. Objective of this survey is study was to identify the mental health status of the newly recruited Ayurvedic medical Practitioners. Descriptive cross sectional survey study was carried out among total population of newly recruited Ayurvedic Practitioners by using self-administered questionnaire. Study conducted at the Institute of Indigenous Medicine. Data collection was carried out by the principal investigator during the period of their training. The response rate was 85.7% (107). The female doctors represented the majority of the participants measured 70.15 (75). Age ranged from 25-45years with mean of 33.1 (SD 2.30). Findings from the study revealed 100 (93.5%) of the respondents are within age range 31-40 yrs. The marital status of the respondents were 82.2% (88) of them are married, unmarried 15.9% (17) and widower 1.9%(2). 95.3% (102) of the respondents are Buddhists and 4.7% (5) are Christians. Also study indicates those 46.7% (50) respondents from semi urban, 42.1% (45) from urban and 11.2% (12) from rural. Nutritional status of the respondents, 56.1% (60) of them are with normal weight, 5.6%(6) of them were underweight and 38.3% (41) overweight. The majority of the respondents 90.7% (97) are with Normal mental health. But 9.3% of the respondents were presented with mild impairment.
Biodiversity and Phylogenetic Relationship of Total Hydrocarbon Degrading Genes in Selected Bacteria Species
Authors: Agbor R. B. , Antai S. P. , Ubi S. E.
Published: July 2021

Hydrocarbons which forms the bulk of soil and water pollutants in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria differs in their susceptibility to microbial attack and degradation. Considering the importance of hydrocarbons in the economy of any nation, a complete knowledge of the hydrocarbons degrading capabilities of associated microbial species becomes increasingly important and indispensable. The research was aimed at assessing the biodiversity and phylogenetic relationship of hydrocarbon degrading genes in selected bacteria species. Sequences of nucleotides and amino acids of hydrocarbons degrading genes in 12 species of bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa I & II, P. stutgeni, Thalassosqir spp. I & II, Alcavorox spp., Arthrobacter spp., Martellela spp., P. taenensis, Aneuribacillus species, Rhodococcus spp. and Uncultured bacteria, were retrieved from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) and analysed for their variability in physicochemical properties, percentage identity and similarity, G-C content, secondary and tertiary structures, their biodiversity and their phylogenetic relationship using MEGA 6 soft-wares, GOR IV, Phyre, Genscan and SIB Protparam. The analysis showed great genetic diversity and polymorphism in the hydrocarbon degrading genes present in the bacteria species. The phylogenetic tree showed that the genes in most species had undergone mutation. Martella spp had the highest probability or chance of mutating with E-value of 7e-129. Only two of the bacteria species had low instability index indicating that majority of the bacteria species contains or possessed the unstable nature of the hydrocarbon degrading genes. The biodiversity of bacterial species and their genetic distance was ascertained.
A Construction Technique for Group Divisible (v-1,k,0,1) Partially Balanced Incomplete Block Designs (PBIBDs)
Authors: Otekunrin Oluwaseun A. , Alawode Kehinde O.
Published: July 2021

Group Divisible PBIBDs are important combinatorial structures with diverse applications. In this paper, we provided a construction technique for Group Divisible (v-1,k,0,1) PBIBDs. This was achieved by using techniques described in literature to construct Nim addition tables of order 2n, 2≤n≤5 and (k2,b,r,k,1)Resolvable BIBDs respectively. A “block cutting” procedure was thereafter used to generate corresponding Group Divisible (v-1,k,0,1) PBIBDs from the (k2,b,r,k,1)Resolvable BIBDs. These procedures were streamlined and implemented in MATLAB. The generated designs are regular with parameters(15,15,4,4,5,3,0,1);(63,63,8,8,9,7,0,1);(255,255,16,16,17,15,0,1) and (1023,1023,32,32,33,31,0,1). The MATLAB codes written are useful for generating the blocks of the designs which can be easily adapted and utilized in other relevant studies.   Also, we have been able to establish a link between the game of Nim and Group Divisible (v-1,k,0,1) PBIBDs.
Humoral response to neurofilaments and dipeptide repeats in ALS progression
Authors: Puentes Fabiola , Lombardi Vittoria , Lu Ching‐Hua , Yildiz Ozlem , Fratta Pietro , Isaacs Adrian , Bobeva Yoana , Wuu Joanne ,   ALS Biomarker Consortium,   CReATe Consortium, Benatar Michael , Malaspina Andrea
Published: July 2021

Objective

To appraise the utility as biomarkers of blood antibodies and immune complexes to neurofilaments and dipeptide repeat proteins, the products of translation of the most common genetic mutation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Methods

Antibodies and immune complexes against neurofilament light, medium, heavy chains as well as poly‐(GP)‐(GR) dipeptide repeats were measured in blood samples from the ALS Biomarkers (n = 107) and the phenotype–genotype biomarker (n = 129) studies and in 140 healthy controls. Target analyte levels were studied longitudinally in 37 ALS cases. Participants were stratified according to the rate of disease progression estimated before and after baseline and C9orf72 genetic status. Survival and longitudinal analyses were undertaken with reference to matched neurofilament protein expression.

Results

Compared to healthy controls, total neurofilament proteins and antibodies, neurofilament light immune complexes (p < 0.0001), and neurofilament heavy antibodies (p = 0.0061) were significantly elevated in ALS, patients with faster progressing disease (p < 0.0001) and in ALS cases with a C9orf72 mutation (p < 0.0003). Blood neurofilament light protein discriminated better ALS from healthy controls (AUC: 0.92; p < 0.0001) and faster from slower progressing ALS (AUC: 0.86; p < 0.0001) compared to heavy‐chain antibodies and light‐chain immune complexes (AUC: 0.79; p < 0.0001 and AUC: 0.74; p < 0.0001). Lower neurofilament heavy antibodies were associated with longer survival (Log‐rank Chi‐square: 7.39; p = 0.0065). Increasing levels of antibodies and immune complexes between time points were observed in faster progressing ALS.

Conclusions

We report a distinctive humoral response characterized by raising antibodies against neurofilaments and dipeptide repeats in faster progressing and C9orf72 genetic mutation carriers ALS patients. We confirm the significance of plasma neurofilament proteins in the clinical stratification of ALS.
Antiperovskite Gd3SnC: Unusual Coexistence of Ferromagnetism and Heavy Fermions in Gd Lattice
Authors: Bang Joonho , Park Jongho , Lee Kimoon , Kim Minsoo , Kyung Wonshik , Denlinger Jonathan D. , Kim Yeongkwan , Lee Young Hee , Kim Changyoung , Kim Sung Wng
Published: July 2021

Inverted structures of common crystal lattices, referred to as antistructures, are rare in nature due to their thermodynamic constraints imposed by the switched cation and anion positions in reference to the original structure. However, a stable antistructure formed with mixed bonding characters of constituent elements in unusual valence states can provide unexpected material properties. Here, a heavy‐fermion behavior of ferromagnetic gadolinium lattice in Gd3SnC antiperovskite is reported, contradicting the common belief that ferromagnetic gadolinium cannot be a heavy‐fermion system due to the deep energy level of localized 4f‐electrons. The specific heat shows an unusually large Sommerfeld coefficient of ≈1114 mJ mol−1 K−2 with a logarithmic behavior of non‐Fermi‐liquid state. It is demonstrated that the heavy‐fermion behavior in the non‐Fermi‐liquid state appears to arise from the hybridized electronic states of gadolinium 5d‐electrons participating in metallic GdGd and covalent GdC bonds. These results accentuate the unusual chemical bonds in CGd6 octahedra with the dual characters of gadolinium 5d‐electrons for the emergence of heavy fermions.
Thermostability of Measles and Rubella Vaccines in a Microneedle Patch
Authors: Joyce Jessica C. , Collins Marcus L. , Rota Paul A. , Prausnitz Mark R.
Published: July 2021

Measles and rubella vaccinations are highly effective at reducing disease prevalence; however, logistic issues related to subcutaneous administration and vaccine wastage limit the extent of vaccination coverage. Microneedle (MN) patches can increase coverage by easing logistics through simplified administration and improved stability. This study demonstrates the thermostability of a bivalent measles and rubella vaccine MN patch. The data show that rubella vaccine stability requires pH buffering during drying; potassium phosphate buffer at neutral pH is optimal for both vaccines. Screening 43 excipients for their ability to retain potency during drying and storage yields sucrose‐threonine‐potassium phosphate buffer formulation at pH 7.5 as an optimal formulation. MN patches made with this formulation have no significant loss of vaccine titer after 1 month and remain within a one log10 titer loss cutoff after 3–4 months at 5, 25, and 40 °C. Finally, these patches are shown to be immunogenic in juvenile rhesus macaques. This work demonstrates the potential for MN patches for measles and rubella vaccination to be removed from the cold chain, which is expected to decrease vaccine cost and wastage, and increase vaccination coverage.
Mentoring in the Time of COVID‐19: An Analysis of Online Focus Groups with Mentors to Youth
Authors: Kaufman Michelle R. , Wright Kate , Simon Jeannette , Edwards Giselle , Thrul Johannes , DuBois David L.
Published: July 2021

This study explored the experiences of mentors to youth during the early months of the COVID‐19 pandemic. The study aims were to examine (1) the role of the pandemic on mentor–mentee interactions and relationships and (2) the ways in which mentors could be supported during the health crisis to better meet youth needs. Six online focus groups were conducted with 39 mentors. Mentor participants included 26 females and 11 males (two did not disclose gender), and 51% identified as white. Any mentor currently in a mentoring relationship, regardless of type, was eligible. Using Facebook groups, moderators posted questions and prompts, and mentor participants responded using textual comments. The text from each group was recorded, extracted, and coded and analyzed using thematic analysis. As mentors transitioned to a primarily online format, text and video chat became the most common communication methods. Mentees’ access to technology and privacy were the biggest challenges faced. Mentor concerns for their mentees varied, including mental health, school, family finances, and access to instrumental support and food. Mentor help involved routinely connecting with mentees and providing academic support. Mentors requested ideas and resources for connecting with mentees and an online mentor support group. During the early weeks of the pandemic, mentors continued to engage with mentees, offering valuable support during a confusing and scary time. Mentoring programs can broaden their approach, intentionally integrating online connecting in an effort to provide safe, appropriate, and continued support to both mentors and mentees.
Robust joint modelling of longitudinal and survival data: Incorporating a time‐varying degrees‐of‐freedom parameter
Authors: McFetridge Lisa M. , Asar Özgür , Wallin Jonas
Published: July 2021

Monitoring of individual biomarkers has the potential of explaining the hazard of survival outcomes. In practice, these measurements are intermittently observed and are known to be subject to substantial measurement error. Joint modelling of longitudinal and survival data enables us to associate intermittently measured error‐prone biomarkers with risks of survival outcomes and thus plays an important role in the analysis of medical data. Most of the joint models available in the literature have been built on the Gaussian assumption. This makes them sensitive to outliers. In this work, we study a range of robust models to address this issue. Of particular interest is the common occurrence in medical data that outliers can occur with different frequencies over time, for example, in the period when patients adjust to treatment changes. Motivated by the analysis of data gathered from patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, a new model with a time‐varying robustness is introduced. Through both the motivating example and a simulation study, this research not only stresses the need to account for longitudinal outliers in the analysis of medical data and in joint modelling research but also highlights the bias and inefficiency from not properly estimating the degrees‐of‐freedom parameter. This work presents a number of methods in addition to the time‐varying robustness, and each method can be fitted using the R package robjm.
RNA editing affects cis‐regulatory elements and predicts adverse cancer survival
Authors: Wu Yuan‐Ming , Guo Yan , Yu Hui , Guo Tao
Published: July 2021

Background

RNA editing exerts critical impacts on numerous biological processes and thus are implicated in crucial human phenotypes, including tumorigenesis and prognosis. While previous studies have analyzed aggregate RNA editing activity at the sample level and associated it with overall cancer survival, there is not yet a large‐scale disease‐specific survival study to examine genome‐wide RNA editing sites’ prognostic value taking into account the host gene expression and clinical variables.

Methods

In this study, we solved comprehensive Cox proportional models of disease‐specific survival on individual RNA‐editing sites plus host gene expression and critical demographic covariates. This allowed us to interrogate the prognostic value of a large number of RNA‐editing sites at single‐nucleotide resolution.

Results

As a result, we identified 402 gene‐proximal RNA‐editing sites that generally predict adverse cancer survival. For example, an RNA‐editing site residing in ZNF264 indicates poor survival of uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma, with a hazard ratio of 2.13 and an adjusted p‐value of 4.07 × 10−7. Some of these prognostic RNA‐editing sites mediate the binding of RNA binding proteins and microRNAs, thus propagating their impacts to extensive regulatory targets.

Conclusions

In conclusion, RNA editing affects cis‐regulatory elements and predicts adverse cancer survival.
Trusted cloud broker for estimating the reputation of cloud providers in federated cloud environment
Authors: Muralidharan C. , Anitha R.
Published: July 2021

In federated cloud environment, it is too hard for the consumers to manage the services as multiple services may be rendered from multiple providers. Finding the trustable cloud service provider is an important and tedious process for the consumers before acquiring the services. In this proposed work, the reputation of the service providers are calculated through two different scenarios such as reputation estimation through consumer ratings and reputation estimation based on the trusted cloud broker (TCB) monitored data. The technical parameters such as availability of service, response time, bandwidth, throughput, and so forth, and nontechnical parameters such as service compliance, ease of access, support, readability of document, and so forth, of the rendered services are considered for analysis. The proposed model follows the fuzzy analytical hierarchical process principles that are used for ranking the services based on the quality of service and quality of experience metrics. The total reputations of the providers are calculated by combining the updated consumer reputation and the TCB estimated reputation. The performance of the proposed model is compared with the existing models such as RTM and CSTEM and found that the proposed model estimates the reputation with more accuracy.
Ordination analysis in sedimentology, geochemistry and palaeoenvironment—Background, current trends and recommendations
Authors: Bialik Or M. , Jarochowska Emilia , Grossowicz Michal
Published: July 2021

Ordination is the name given to a group of methods used to analyse multiple variables without preceding hypotheses. Over the last few decades, the use of these methods in Earth science in general, and notably in analyses of sedimentary sources, has dramatically increased. However, with limited resources oriented towards Earth scientists on the topic, the application of ordination analysis is at times suboptimal and misuse by authors can occur. This text was written for researchers with little to no experience with ordination with the aim of exposing them to the utility and the pitfalls of this branch of exploratory statistics. To do so, a detailed review of three ordination methods is offered: principal component analysis, non‐metric multidimensional scaling and detrended correspondence analysis. A survey of 163 publications in Earth science is presented, in which these ordination methods were used together with a summary of how, why and on what type of data ordination was used. With common mistakes outlined and misuses in those publications identified. Notably, issues were found with reproducibility, documentation, data set dimensions and transformations. Based on this survey, a recommended workflow is offered for Earth scientists who wish to apply ordination. Additionally, this article is accompanied by highly annotated R scripts for novice users to use these methods.
A novel larval diet interacts with nutritional stress to modify juvenile behaviors and glucocorticoid responses
Authors: Ledón‐Rettig Cristina C. , Lagon Sarah R.
Published: July 2021

Developmental plasticity can allow the exploitation of alternative diets. While such flexibility during early life is often adaptive, it can leave a legacy in later life that alters the overall health and fitness of an individual. Species of the spadefoot toad genus Spea are uniquely poised to address such carryover effects because their larvae can consume drastically different diets: their ancestral diet of detritus or a derived shrimp diet. Here, we use Spea bombifrons to assess the effects of developmental plasticity in response to larval diet type and nutritional stress on juvenile behaviors and stress axis reactivity. We find that, in an open‐field assay, juveniles fed shrimp as larvae have longer latencies to move, avoid prey items more often, and have poorer prey‐capture abilities. While juveniles fed shrimp as larvae are more exploratory, this effect disappears if they also experienced a temporary nutritional stressor during early life. The larval shrimp diet additionally impairs juvenile jumping performance. Finally, larvae that were fed shrimp under normal nutritional conditions produce juveniles with higher overall glucocorticoid levels, and larvae that were fed shrimp and experienced a temporary nutritional stressor produce juveniles with higher stress‐induced glucocorticoid levels. Thus, while it has been demonstrated that consuming the novel, alternative diet can be adaptive for larvae in nature, doing so has marked effects on juvenile phenotypes that may recalibrate an individual's overall fitness. Given that organisms often utilize diverse diets in nature, our study underscores the importance of considering how diet type interacts with early‐life nutritional adversity to influence subsequent life stages.
A five‐gene panel refines differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules
Authors: Lu Sang‐Yu , Chen Ying‐Chao , Zhu Chen‐Fang , Chen Jing , Zhou Qin‐Yi , Zhang Man‐Man , Zhang Qian‐Yue , Lu Meng , Yang Liu , Wu Jing , Zhao Shuang‐Xia , Song Huai‐Dong , Ye Xiao‐Ping
Published: July 2021

Background

Molecular testing for oncogenic mutations in fine‐needle aspiration has showed high predictive value in identifying malignant lesions from thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology.

Methods

To figure out an efficient and economical gene panel for most medical institutions in China, we designed a five‐gene panel including BRAF/NRAS/KRAS/HRAS/TERT genes and conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the role of this five‐gene diagnostic panel in differential diagnosis of thyroid nodules.

Results

A total of 665 patients with 695 thyroid nodules were investigated in the current study. The fine‐needle aspiration biopsy and surgically separated thyroid tissue specimens were harvested to test BRAF, TERT, NRAS, KRAS, and HRAS mutations. We identified 261 mutations in 665 patients, including 177 V600E mutations in BRAF. Three hundred and sixty‐nine patients who underwent thyroid surgery after completion of the initial clinical and cytological evaluation were enrolled in the final analysis. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the combination of FNAB cytology and five‐gene detection were 74.7%, 93.8%, and 84.8%, respectively. BRAF V600E and five‐gene panel could recognize 46.4% and 53.6% of papillary thyroid carcinoma in the patients with cytologically indeterminate nodules.

Conclusion

The five‐gene panel can effectively improve the sensitivity, negative predictive value, and accuracy of fine‐needle aspiration biopsy cytology, especially in the patients with cytologically indeterminate nodules.
Toward holistic frontline employee management: An investigation of the interplay of positive emotion displays and dress color
Authors: Bruder Maximilian , Lechner Andreas T. , Paul Michael
Published: July 2021

Frontline employees' visual appearance is important in many service industries. Positive emotion displays are especially crucial, as are aesthetic displays such as dress color. However, emotion and aesthetic displays have commonly been examined independently of each other in marketing research. We contribute to research and practice by drawing attention to customers' holistic perception of frontline employees, indicating that emotion displays and aesthetic displays, such as dress color, are jointly processed. Across four experiments, we demonstrate that the effects of positive emotion displays on customer tipping and employee warmth can be amplified by using warm (vs. cold) dress colors. Drawing on emotions as social information theory, we show that this interaction is explained by a cognitive inferential (i.e., the perception of fit) and not by an affective pathway through positive affect. Our findings guide managers on how to choose dress colors to increase the beneficial effects of positive emotion displays.
Advance selling programs: When to introduce and what to inform consumers
Authors: Ding Yucheng , Zhang Tianle
Published: July 2021

We study a two‐stage model in which the information processed by consumers at the first stage (advance selling stage) is endogenously determined. In the model, the firm decides whether to introduce an advance selling program, chooses what attribute information to disclose, and determines an advance selling price and a retail price. Forward‐looking consumers strategically choose, based on the disclosed information, to buy in advance or to make a purchase decision at the second stage (retail stage) when all information is revealed. We characterize the firm's optimal choice on the advance selling program and the strategy of information disclosure. In particular, we show that the firm always prefers to introduce the advance selling program except when underlying consumer preferences are extremely homogenous. In addition, we find that fully revealing horizontal product information at the advance selling stage is never optimal to the firm, but revealing either partial or no product information can be optimal depending on the underlying consumer preferences. Our finding that partial information disclosure is sometimes optimal to the firm is in contrast to the result in the literature of horizontal information provision that a firm maximizes profit by revealing either no or full information to consumers.
Effects of severe obesity and sleeve gastrectomy on cortical thickness in adolescents
Authors: Rajan Laya , McKay Cameron C. , Santos Malavé Gabriel , Pearce Alaina L. , Cherry J. Bradley C. , Mackey Eleanor , Nadler Evan P. , Vaidya Chandan J.
Published: July 2021

Objective

Neurocognitive differences in pediatric obesity may be underpinned by cortical structural alterations. Differences in cortical thickness associated with severe obesity were examined, and preliminary evidence was sought for changes following vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG).

Methods

A total of 18 adolescents with severe obesity (OB) and 17 without obesity (nOB), aged 14 to 21, underwent T1‐weighted structural magnetic resonance imaging. A subset was scanned twice 5 months apart to compare cortical thickness following VSG (n = 6) with two control groups: wait‐listed (n = 9) and nOB (n = 12).

Results

At baseline, OB had a thinner cortex than nOB in motor and superior parietal cortices. At follow‐up, VSG adolescents lost weight, the wait‐listed group gained weight, and nOB did not change. Group × Time interactions indicated that VSG had cortical thinning in orbitofrontal, primary sensorimotor, superior, and middle temporal cortices and thickening in lingual, fusiform, and lateral occipital cortices. Wait‐listed and nOB groups largely did not change.

Conclusions

Severe obesity is associated with a thinner cortex in motor and attentional function‐associated regions. VSG resulted in cortical thinning in reward valuation, sensory, and perceptual regions and thickening in visual regions. Surgery‐related changes in regions distinct from those associated with obesity suggest compensation, rather than normalization. These results provide preliminary evidence supporting structural neural alterations following sleeve gastrectomy.
Optimal control of friction coefficient in Signorini contact problems
Authors: Essoufi El‐Hassan , Zafrar Abderrahim
Published: July 2021

The optimal control of friction coefficient in Signorini contact problem is handled. First, we give the Tikhonov regularized optimal control problem subject to quasivariational inequality of the second kind. Since the relation control‐state is weak, we introduce another penalized control problem based algorithm of Bensoussan–Lions type applied to the quasi‐variational inequality. In order to get the optimality condition, and since the cost function is not differentiable, the quasi‐variational inequality is regularized to be a variational equality.
Treatment of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in Cambodia
Authors: Küpfer Laura , Meng Bun , Laurent Denis , Zimmermann Martin , Niggli Felix , Bourquin Jean‐Pierre , Malene Iv
Published: July 2021

We report a retrospective analysis of 110 unselected pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated during 2015–2017 in a charity‐funded public institution in Cambodia with a reduced intensity ALL‐Moscow Berlin (MB)‐91 protocol. No patient abandoned treatment. Sixty‐three patients (57%) were high risk (HR). Seventy‐two patients (65.5%) reached complete remission (CR) on day 36. The 3‐year event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) was 34.9% (50.5% for standard risk [SR]). Most deaths resulted from infections (40 [53.3%]) and bleeding (15 [20%]). With further selective reduction of treatment intensity and access to platelet infusion, leukemia therapy is justified in this setting.
A case study on accelerated light‐ and elevated temperature‐induced degradation testing of commercial multi‐crystalline silicon passivated emitter and rear cell modules
Authors: Ciesla Alison , Kim Moonyong , Wright Matthew , Zafirovska Iskra , Chen Daniel , Hallam Brett , Chan Catherine
Published: July 2021

Light‐ and elevated temperature‐induced degradation (LeTID) can have significant and long‐lasting effects on silicon photovoltaic modules. Its behaviour is complex, showing highly variable degradation under different conditions or due to minor changes in device fabrication. Here, we show the large difference in LeTID kinetics and extents in multi‐crystalline passivated emitter and rear cell (multi‐PERC) modules from four different manufacturers. Varied accelerated testing conditions are found to impact the maximum extent of degradation in different ways for different manufacturers complicating the ability to develop a universal predictive model for field degradation. Relative changes in the open‐circuit voltage (VOC) have previously been used to assess extents of LeTID; however, due to the greater impact of the defect at lower injection, the VOC is shown to degrade less than half as much as the voltage at maximum power point (VMPP). The MPP current (IMPP) and fill factor (FF) also degrade significantly, having an even larger overall impact on the power output. These observations imply that currently employed methodologies for testing LeTID are inadequate, which limits the reliability of future predictive models. In light of this, the field must develop a more holistic approach to analysing LeTID‐impacted modules, which incorporates information about changes under MPP conditions. This will allow for a much clearer understanding of LeTID in the field, which will assist the performance of future PV systems.
Hydrogenation of poly(myrcene) and poly(farnesene) using diimide reduction at ambient pressure
Authors: Luk Sharmaine B. , Métafiot Adrien , Morize Judith , Edeh Emmanuel , Marić Milan
Published: July 2021

Ambient pressure chemical hydrogenation using p‐toluene sulfonyl hydrazide (TSH) via thermal diimide formation (N2H2) permitted reduction of double bonds of poly(myrcene) (poly[Myr]) and poly(farnesene) (poly[Far]). Both pendent and backbone double bonds in poly(Myr) (Mn = 56 kg/mol) and poly(Far) (Mn = 62 kg/mol) synthesized by conventional free radical polymerization were hydrogenated to almost completion. Furthermore, TSH semi‐batch addition efficiently hydrogenated double bonds, while avoiding undesired autohydrogenation of diimides that occurred in batch mode. Thermal stability improved for hydrogenated poly(Myr) and poly(Far), where temperature at 10% weight loss (T10%) increased from 188 to 404°C for poly(Myr) and from 310 to 379°C for poly(Far). Tgs of poly(Myr) and poly(Far) also increased by about 10–25°C, indicating increased stiffness after hydrogenation. Finally, viscosities of poly(Myr) and poly(Far) were also increased after hydrogenation, and a greater increase was observed for poly(Myr) (by two orders of magnitude from 102 to 104 Pa s) due to its Mn being much higher than its entanglement molecular weight. Poly(Far) viscosity only increased by 1.5 times after hydrogenation (~104 Pa s), comparable to the poly(Myr) after hydrogenation, suggesting unsaturated poly(Far) was more entangled than unsaturated poly(Myr) because of its longer side chains.
Synthesis and Characterization of New Imidazolium Ionic Liquid Based Energetic Plasticizers
Authors: Miri Adel , Fareghi‐Alamdari Reza , Nikpour Mohsen , Hasanzadeh Neda
Published: July 2021

In the present research, two new ionic liquids (ILs) with imidazolium cation and dicyanamide anion were synthesized for their plasticizing capacity in solid propellants. The structure of plasticizers was confirmed by FT‐IR, 13C‐NMR and 1H‐NMR spectrum and their thermal behaviors were studied by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The results of the thermal analysis showed that the thermal stabilities of these ILs are suitable and the phase change curves of ILs were consistent with their weight reduction changes by increasing temperature. Moreover, the low viscosities and high densities obtained from the ILs show that these compounds could be convenient alternatives for polymeric plasticizers in propellant compositions. To understand the plasticizing effect of synthesized IL plasticizers on glycidyl azide polymer (GAP), blends of 20 % of the synthesized IL plasticizers were prepared and analysed to determine glass transition temperature and viscosity. Among all plasticizers, [Vin‐IL] [N(CN)2]‐GAP and [Me‐IL][N(CN)2]‐GAP blends produced the lowest Tg. The results of viscosity analysis show that all synthesized IL plasticizers have reduced the viscosity of the GAP binder, which indicates the plasticizing properties of ILs.
Does increased migration affect the rural–urban divide in suicide? A register‐based repeated cohort study in Sweden from 1991 to 2015
Authors: Kanamori Mariko , Kondo Naoki , Juárez Sol P. , Cederström Agneta , Stickley Andrew , Rostila Mikael
Published: July 2021

Some countries have high suicide rates in rural areas with a potentially stronger impact of rural context on foreign‐born residents. In Sweden, where immigration has been increasing, dispersion policies have directed refugees/migrants to settle in rural areas. We examined whether trends in suicide mortality vary by nativity and rurality. A repeated cohort study was designed using Swedish national register data between 1991 and 2015. Our three‐level analysis found that male suicide rates in rural areas were 1.2 times higher than in urban areas, with the rate decreasing over time in both urban and rural areas. We observed fluctuations in suicide mortality among foreign‐born men residing in small rural communities, with high suicide rates in the 2000s. The proportion of unemployed was linked to the excess rate of suicide in rural municipalities. Dispersion policies moving migrants to rural areas should take into account the regional characteristics both within municipalities (e.g., income distribution) and between municipalities (e.g., labour market characteristics).
Assessing the impact of organic versus conventional agricultural management on soil hydraulic properties in a long‐term experiment
Authors: Alfahham Abdelrahman , Amato Matthew T. , Omondi Emmanuel , Giménez Daniel , Plante Alain F.
Published: July 2021

Investigating the effects of various agricultural management systems on soil hydraulic properties in long‐term field experiments allows farmers to evaluate their efficacy in mitigating the effects of droughts and floods, which are expected to intensify in the coming decades. This study's main objective was to quantify soil structural and hydraulic properties in plots under organic manure, organic leguminous, and conventional agricultural management and related tillage practices at Rodale Institute's Farming Systems Trial. Soil cores were collected at depths of 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm and analyzed for soil water retention, saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat), soil organic C (SOC), bulk density, and particle size distribution. Management practices had a measurable effect on SOC and bulk density, but not on Ksat, the parameters of the soil water retention model (rm and σ), or the calculated indicator water content values: field capacity (θfc), wilting point (θwp), plant available water (θpaw), and air capacity (θAirCap). Tillage practices (no‐tillage vs. tillage) had a measurable effect on SOC, bulk density and θAirCap, but not on Ksat, θfc, θwp, or θpaw. Significant differences by depth were observed for θfc, θwp, θpaw, θAirCap, SOC, and bulk density, but not for Ksat. Our results suggest that relatively minor differences between management practices may be insufficient for generating quantifiable differences in soil structure, and more substantial changes to management practices will be necessary to achieve the outcomes for developing climate‐resilient agricultural soils.
Octupolar Acrylonitrile‐Bridged 2D‐Conjugated Polymers Enable Bright Far‐Red Emission with Intense Two‐Photon Absorption via Alkoxylation Chemistry
Authors: Mo Chunshao , Yang Meijia , Cheng Zhixue , Tang Xikang , Yang Lifen , Su Ruonan , Li Jing , Feng Jiangshan , Fang Long , Yang Kexin , Chen Zhuanggui , Yu Dingshan
Published: July 2021

Herein, alkoxylation chemistry is introduced as a “one‐stone‐three‐birds” solution for exploring a new family of highly‐fluorescent octupolar 2D‐conjugated organic polymers/frameworks (OCOPs/OCOFs) combining far‐red emission, high fluorescence quantum yield (QY), and strong two‐photon absorption (TPA). Both alkoxy‐substituted OCOP and OCOF comprising acrylonitrile‐bridged strongly‐coupled donor3‐(acceptor core) chromophores densely packed in either disordered or ordered forms, exhibit significantly redshifted emission. They produce high QY of 22.2% and 27.8% in tetrahydrofuran, large TPA cross section of 600 and 1124 GM, and 2–3 folds and 15–30 folds that of non‐alkoxylate amorphous counterpart respectively. Combined theoretical and experimental studies reveal unique “one‐stone‐three‐birds” role of the alkoxylation in realizing red‐shifted‐emission, improved QY and TPA enabled by inducing steric hindrance effect for weakened π–π stacking, and triggering p–π conjugation effect for electronically engineering octupolar chromophores, while the crystalline engineering enables enforced coplanarity conformation and improved π–electron delocalization for further improved QY and TPA. The robust and biocompatible pentoxy‐substituted polymer can be used not only as metal‐free red‐emissive phosphor for efficient warm white light‐emitting diodes, but also as efficient two‐photon fluorescence probes for bio‐imaging.
Parametric design of steel structures
Authors: Ajouz Rayaan
Published: July 2021

By using parametric modelling tools, designers can simulate a high number of design‐variants with relatively low effort. Visual programming software's like Grasshopper significantly lowers the threshold for beginners to start building parametric models. This paper discusses how using Grasshopper as a parametric design tool can be applied by structural engineers to improve well‐informed decision making, when designing a steel structure. Finally, worth mentioning further possibilities parametric design workflows can bring are discussed such as optimisation strategies, optimising sustainability and including structural connections in the parametric model.