bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neural sensitivity to natural image statistics changes during middle childhood
Authors: Balas Benjamin , Saville Alyson
Published: November 2020

Natural images have properties that adults’ behavioral and neural responses are sensitive to, but the development of this sensitivity is not clear. Behaviorally, children acquire adult‐like sensitivity to natural image statistics during middle childhood (Ellemberg et al., 2012), but infants exhibit sensitivity to deviations of natural image structure (Balas & Woods, 2014). We used event‐related potentials (ERPs) to examine sensitivity to natural image statistics during childhood at distinct processing stages (the P1 and N1 components). We presented children (5–10 years old) and adults with natural images varying in positive/negative contrast, and natural/synthetic texture appearance to compare electrophysiological responses to images that did or did not violate natural statistics. We hypothesized that children would acquire sensitivity to these deviations late in middle childhood. Instead, we observed significant responses to unnatural contrast and texture statistics at the N1 in all age groups. At the P1, however, only young children exhibited sensitivity to contrast polarity. The latter effect suggests greater sensitivity earlier in development to some violations of natural image statistics. We discuss these results in terms of changing patterns of invariant texture processing during middle childhood and ongoing refinement of the representations supporting natural image perception.
Ongoing declines of woodland birds: Are restoration plantings making a difference?
Authors: Belder Donna J. , Pierson Jennifer C. , Rudder Ashwin C. , Lindenmayer David B.
Published: November 2020

Woodland birds are a species assemblage of conservation concern, and their persistence in fragmented agricultural landscapes is dependent on both the preservation of existing woodland remnants and the implementation of restoration plantings. However, little is known about the habitat‐use and persistence of birds in fragmented agricultural landscapes. We present a detailed, population‐oriented study of woodland birds in temperate eucalypt woodland restoration plantings and remnant woodland patches in the South‐west Slopes bioregion of New South Wales, Australia. First, we undertook a 3‐yr mark–recapture project to assess annual survival and site fidelity in restoration plantings and woodland remnants. We supplemented our recapture efforts with resightings of color‐banded individuals. Second, we tracked individual birds of two species, Superb Fairywren (Malurus cyaneus) and Willie Wagtail (Rhipidura leucophrys), and documented snapshots of their home ranges and movement patterns during the breeding season. Annual survival in the woodland bird assemblage was lower than expected (51%). Home ranges of the Superb Fairywren were positively correlated with patch size, and were constrained by patch edges in linear sites. Superb Fairywrens and Willie Wagtails were more likely to travel longer distances between substrates while foraging in linear sites. Willie Wagtails engaged in significant gap‐crossing (up to 400 m) between adjacent habitat patches. Our findings indicate that (1) patch isolation and certain patch configurations place resident birds at an energetic disadvantage, and (2) in our study area, woodland bird populations are continuing to decline. We recommend landscape‐scale habitat restoration programs aim to address ongoing population declines. Studies such as ours conducted over longer time periods would provide a deeper understanding of habitat use and population processes of woodland birds in fragmented agricultural landscapes.
Fostering equity, diversity, and inclusion in large, first‐year classes: Using reflective practice questions to promote universal design for learning in ecology and evolution lessons
Authors: Super Laura , Hofmann Analise , Leung Connie , Ho Mabel , Harrower Emma , Adreak Najah , Rezaie Manesh Zohreh
Published: November 2020

Instructors can deliberately design for equity, diversity, and inclusion, including for large first‐year classes, and now instructors have added challenges given COVID‐19. Our paper explores the question: How do we integrate equity, diversity, and inclusion and universal design for learning (UDL) into first‐year, undergraduate ecology and evolution introductory lessons given the COVID‐19 pandemic? Given the large field exploring equity, diversity, and inclusion, we chose to focus on developing reflective practice question rubrics for before, during, and after lessons to encourage UDL for instructors, teaching assistants, and learners. We conducted a focus group within our team and discussed ideas related to online learning, including related pitfalls and solutions. Lastly, we created a figure to illustrate ideas and end with a general discussion. Our reflective practice questions for UDL rubrics, figure, focus group, and discussion aim to increase positive action for equity, diversity, and inclusion in the classroom and beyond.
Differential responses to fertilization and competition among invasive, noninvasive alien, and nativeBidensspecies
Authors: Woo Sunghyun , Lee Dongyeob , Cho Yong‐Chan , Lee Sangsun , Kim Eunsuk
Published: November 2020

Comparative studies of invasive, noninvasive alien, and native congenic plant species can identify plant traits that drive invasiveness. In particular, functional traits associated with rapid growth rate and high fecundity likely facilitate invasive success. As such traits often exhibit high phenotypic plasticity, characterizing plastic responses to anthropogenic environmental changes such as eutrophication and disturbance is important for predicting the invasive success of alien plant species in the future. Here, we compared trait expression and phenotypic plasticity at the species level among invasive, noninvasive alien, and nativeBidensspecies. Plants were grown under nutrient addition and competition treatments, and their functional, morphological, and seed traits were examined. InvasiveB. frondosaexhibited higher phenotypic plasticity in most measured traits than did the alien noninvasiveB. pilosaor nativeB. bipinnata. However, differential plastic responses to environmental treatments rarely altered the rank of trait values among the threeBidensspecies, except for the number of inflorescences. The achene size ofB. frondosawas larger, but its pappus length was shorter than that ofB. pilosa. Two species demonstrated opposite plastic responses of pappus length to fertilization. These results suggest that the plasticity of functional traits does not significantly contribute to the invasive success ofB. frondosa. The dispersal efficiency ofB. frondosais expected to be lower than that ofB. pilosa, suggesting that long‐distance dispersal is likely not a critical factor in determining invasive success.
Deep phenotypical characterization of human CD3+CD56+ T cells by mass cytometry
Authors: Romero‐Olmedo Addi J. , Schulz Axel R. , Huber Magdalena , Brehm Corinna U. , Chang Hyun‐Dong , Chiarolla Cristina M. , Bopp Tobias , Skevaki Chrysanthi , Berberich‐Siebelt Friederike , Radbruch Andreas , Mei Henrik E. , Lohoff Michael
Published: November 2020

CD56+ T cells are a group of pro‐inflammatory CD3+ lymphocytes with characteristics of natural killer cells, being involved in antimicrobial immune defense. Here, we performed deep phenotypic profiling of CD3+CD56+ cells in peripheral blood of normal human donors and individuals sensitized to birch‐pollen or/and house dust mite by high‐dimensional mass cytometry combined with manual and computational data analysis. A co‐regulation between major conventional T‐cell subsets and their respective CD3+CD56+ cell counterparts appeared restricted to CD8+, MAIT, and TCRγδ+ T‐cell compartments. Interestingly, we find a co‐regulation of several CD3+CD56+ cell subsets in allergic but not in healthy individuals. Moreover, using FlowSOM, we distinguished a variety of CD56+ T‐cell phenotypes demonstrating a hitherto underestimated heterogeneity among these cells. The novel CD3+CD56+ subset description comprises phenotypes superimposed with naive, memory, type 1, 2, and 17 differentiation stages, in part represented by a phenotypical continuum. Frequencies of two out of 19 CD3+CD56+ FlowSOM clusters were significantly diminished in allergic individuals, demonstrating less frequent presence of cells with cytolytic, presumably protective, capacity in these donors consistent with defective expansion or their recruitment to the affected tissue. Our results contribute to defining specific cell populations to be targeted during therapy for allergic conditions.
Apples and Apples: A Shortcut Assessment Framework for Early‐Stage Carbon Capture and Utilization Technologies Based on Efficiency, Feasibility, and Risk
Authors: Zimmermann Arno W. , Buchner Georg A. , Schomäcker Reinhard
Published: November 2020

Climate change is one of the largest current challenges to humankind, requiring a steep emissions reduction. One promising approach is using CO2as a resource. Research and development of carbon capture and utilization (CCU) technologies have increased in recent years, putting early‐stage techno‐economic assessment (TEA) in a key role to derive recommendations systematically, to allocate resources efficiently, and overall to push commercialization successfully. Shortcut TEA assessment approaches that reduce assessment detail and effort compared with conventional, full‐scope studies have gained popularity in recent years but have been criticized as comparing apples with oranges. Several open methodological questions remain such as how to implement global assessment standards, how to reduce subjective judgments, and how to compare technologies at different maturities. Herein, a shortcut assessment framework for early‐stage CCU technologies is proposed, based on the perspectives of efficiency, feasibility, and risk (Efferi). The Efferi framework implements the Global CO2Initiative's Guidelines, enables comparisons at different technology maturities, and systematically reduces subjective judgments. The Efferi framework provides a starting point for a more robust and easy assessment of early‐stage CCU technologies, leading to clearer go/no‐go recommendations at reduced assessment effort and enabling fairer, “apples to apples” comparisons.
Valorization of waste waxed corrugated cardboard via pyrolysis for recovering wax
Authors: Sotoudehnia Farid , Mengistie Endalkachew , Alayat Abdulbaset , McDonald Armando G.
Published: November 2020

Corrugated cardboard (CCB) comprises a substantial portion of municipal solid waste, of which ~5% is wax coated CCB (WCCB) to enhance its performance. WCCB cannot be recycled, making it a suitable resource to recover wax and produce char. The WCCB was characterized for its extractable wax, lignin, and carbohydrate contents and by thermogravimetric analysis to study its thermal degradation behavior. WCCB was preliminarily examined by pyrolysis‐gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to determine product composition. WCCB samples were then pyrolyzed in auger and tube reactors at 450, 500, and 550°C, and their pyrolysis wax‐oil and char products characterized. WCCB and char were subjected to proximate, ultimate, surface area, analyses. The highest char yield was 36% at 450°C, and the highest wax‐oil yield was 53% at 550°C in the tube reactor. The wax‐oil fraction contained mainly alkanes, alkenes, and dienes (C9–C36), and chain length decreased with pyrolysis temperature. This wax fraction could be recovered and used as bunker fuel (C12–C40) or further converted to diesel (C10–C20).
Honeycomb like copper‐cobalt nanostructures and their synergy with carbon supports for electrooxidation of carbinol
Authors: Sesu Divya C. , Swami Anita , Kakade Bhalchandra
Published: November 2020

Fabricating the significant electrocatalysts with enriched activity and stability is necessary due to the increasing demands of the fuel cell industries for its commercialization. This report provides a widespread impact on fabrication of a suitable and significant porous bimetallic nanocatalyst for methanol oxidation reaction (MOR). Here, we have developed nanofoams of Cu‐Co alloys/oxides with varied carbon supports using simple combustion method, where graphite oxide (GO) shows synergistic “catalyst‐support” effect than other substrates. The morphological studies reveal a honeycomb‐like structure with dense porous nature of Cu‐Co nanofoam (CuCo@rGO). X‐ray diffraction and spectroscopic studies reveal the formation of spinel structure of CuCo2O4 with active {110} facets in case of CuCo@rGO, exhibiting higher methanol electrooxidation activity of 198 mA/cm2, which is found to be improved than that of the previous reports. The optimized composition, CuCo@rGO shows the slow decrease in the current in chronoamperometric studies with 40% retention of its activity even after 10 hours. The CoCu@rGO nanofoam shows improved Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller surface area of ~50 m2/g due to the addition of GO. In addition, the composite shows an excellent electrochemical surface area value of 7.75 m2/g over other compositions of different carbon supports. The intrinsic effect of better conductivity of Co75Cu25@rGO has also been confirmed using impedance spectroscopy. The porous honeycomb structure of Co75Cu25@rGO composite synergistically impacts methanol oxidation and also forbids the formation of CO intermediate, maintaining the activity.
Diagnostic Fragmentation Filtering for Cyanopeptolin Detection
Authors: McDonald Kimberlynn , Renaud Justin B. , Pick Frances R. , Miller J. David , Sumarah Mark W. , McMullin David R.
Published: November 2020

Cyanobacteria are ubiquitous photosynthetic prokaryotes that produce structurally diverse bioactive metabolites. Although microcystins are extensively studied, other cyanopeptides produced by common bloom-forming species have received little attention. Cyanopeptolins are a large cyanopeptide group that contain a characteristic 3-amino-6-hydroxy-2-piperidone (Ahp) moiety. In the present study we used diagnostic fragmentation filtering (DFF), a semitargeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) product ion filtering approach, to investigate cyanopeptolin diversity from 5 Microcystis strains and 4 bloom samples collected from lakes in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. Data processing by DFF was used to search MS/MS data sets for pairs of diagnostic product ions corresponding to cyanopeptolin partial sequences. For example, diagnostic product ions at m/z 150.0912 and 215.1183 identified cyanopeptolins with the NMe-Tyr–Phe–Ahp partial sequence. Forty-eight different cyanopeptolins, including 35 new variants, were detected from studied strains and bloom samples. Different cyanopeptolin profiles were identified from each sample. We detected a new compound, cyanopeptolin 1143, from a bloom and elucidated its planar structure from subsequent targeted MS/MS experiments. Diagnostic fragmentation filtering is a rapid, easy-to-perform postacquisition metabolomics strategy for inferring structural features and prioritizing new compounds for further study and dereplication. More work on cyanopeptolin occurrence and toxicity is needed because their concentrations in freshwater lakes after blooms can be similar to those of microcystins. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1087–1097. © 2020 SETAC

Abstract

Diagnostic fragmentation filtering metabolomic data processing was applied to search tandem mass spectometry data sets for product ions corresponding to specific cyanopeptolin partial sequences. Diverse cyanopeptolin profiles were identified from bloom samples and cyanobacteria cultures. DFF = diagnostic fragmentation filtering; LC-MS/MS = liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
Fusion of blockchain and artificial intelligence for secure drone networking underlying 5G communications
Authors: Gupta Rajesh , Kumari Aparna , Tanwar Sudeep
Published: November 2020

Nowadays, the exponential increase in the usage of drones in various realms of societal and military applications necessitates advancements and stability in drone communication. Drones have proven their potential in providing real‐time cost‐efficient solutions for several applications like healthcare, smart grid surveillance, smart city monitoring, and border surveillance. Though it has many security and privacy issues, researchers across the globe have given numerous solutions to protect drone communication from cyber‐attacks. Most of these solutions were based on cryptographic techniques and are highly compute extensive. There exist few blockchain‐based solutions, which suffer from high transaction storage costs with communication reliability, latency, and bandwidth issues. Motivated by these facts, in this paper, we present a comprehensive survey to secure drone communication and propose a blockchain‐based secure and intelligent drone communication architecture underlying 5G communication network and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. The proposed architecture uses an InterPlanetary File System (IPFS) as a platform for data storage, which ensures improved network performance, communication security and privacy, and reduces transaction storage cost. Further, it facilitates efficient drone communication in providing dynamic, flexible, and on‐the‐fly decisions competencies through 5G and AI technologies. Then, we incorporate a healthcare‐based case study using the proposed architecture. At last, future research challenges and directions are emphasized for improvement in this research area.
How high‐resolution mass spectrometry can help for the accurate quantification of difficult fragrance allergens
Authors: Remy Pierre‐Alain , Pérès Christophe , Dugay José , Corbi Elise , David Nathalie , Vial Jérôme
Published: November 2020

Two high‐resolution mass spectrometers (HRMS) with different analyzer technology, Orbitrap and hybrid quadrupole time‐of‐flight (QTOF), were compared with a low‐resolution mass spectrometer, quadrupole, to analyse a set of 35 difficult allergens. These difficult allergens are commonly coeluted fragrance allergens with matrix compounds, using standard gas chromatography‐mass spectrometer conditions, from the extended list of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS). Although the fundamental role of chromatographic separation has been demonstrated many times, the aim of this work is to demonstrate the benefits of high‐resolution. The added value of high‐resolution was illustrated in both a qualitative and a quantitative way. For qualitative aspect, the high resolution extracted ion signals of these two detectors were compared with the low‐resolution extracted ion signals. About 50% of the coeluted cases observed with the low‐resolution detector are easily resolved by the two high‐resolution detectors. For the quantitative aspect, an accuracy profile methodology and a performance metric were used to propose an overall evaluation. The Orbitrap mass spectrometer demonstrated a better overall performance, while the QTOF presented similar or even lower quantification performances than the quadrupole on the set of analysed fragrances.
Melanins as Sustainable Resources for Advanced Biotechnological Applications
Authors: Galeb Hanaa A. , Wilkinson Emma L. , Stowell Alison F. , Lin Hungyen , Murphy Samuel T. , Martin‐Hirsch Pierre L. , Mort Richard L. , Taylor Adam M. , Hardy John G.
Published: November 2020

Melanins are a class of biopolymers that are widespread in nature and have diverse origins, chemical compositions, and functions. Their chemical, electrical, optical, and paramagnetic properties offer opportunities for applications in materials science, particularly for medical and technical uses. This review focuses on the application of analytical techniques to study melanins in multidisciplinary contexts with a view to their use as sustainable resources for advanced biotechnological applications, and how these may facilitate the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Statistical methods with exhaustive search in the identification of gene–gene interactions for colorectal cancer
Authors: Kafaie Somayeh , Xu Ling , Hu Ting
Published: November 2020

Though additive forms of heritability are primarily studied in genetics, nonlinear, non‐additive gene–gene interactions, that is, epistasis, could explain a portion of the missing heritability in complex human diseases including cancer. In recent years, powerful computational methods have been introduced to understand multivariable genetic factors of these complex human diseases in extremely high‐dimensional genome‐wide data. In this study, we investigated the performance of three powerful methods, BOolean Operation‐based Screening and Testing (BOOST), FastEpistasis, and Tree‐based Epistasis Association Mapping (TEAM) to identify interacting genetic risk factors of colorectal cancer (CRC) for genome‐wide association studies (GWAS). After quality‐control based data preprocessing, we applied these three algorithms to a CRC GWAS data set, and selected the top‐ranked 100 single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) pairs identified by each method (251 SNPs in total), among which 74 pairs were common between FastEpistasis and BOOST. The identified SNPs by BOOST, FastEpistasis, and TEAM mapped to 58, 57, and 62 genes, respectively. Some genes highlighted by our study, including MACF1, USP49, SMAD2, SMAD3, TGFBR1, and RHOA, have been detected in previous CRC‐related research. We also identified some new genes with potential biological relevance to CRC such as CCDC32. Furthermore, we constructed the network of these top SNP pairs for three methods, and the patterns identified in the networks show that some SNPs including rs2412531, rs349699, and rs17142011 play a crucial role in the classification of disease status in our study.
Biostratigraphy and depositional environments of thePalaeocene–Eocenesuccession at Um El Huwaitat area, Eastern Desert, Egypt
Authors: Anan Tarek , Shahin Abdalla
Published: November 2020

The Palaeocene–Eocene succession in southwest Safaga, Eastern Desert, Egypt has been studied to determine its lithostratigraphic units, biostratigraphic zonation, microfacies association, and depositional environments. The variation in lithofacies allows the subdivision of the Danian–Ypresian interval into four lithostratigraphic units that are arranged, from base to top, as the Dakhla Shale (only its upper part), Tarawan Chalk, Esna Shale, and Thebes Formation (only its lower part). Moreover, the Esna Shale is further subdivided into four members, arranged from base to top, as El Hanadi, Dababiya Quarry, El Mahmiya, and Abu Had. The depositional setting is interpreted to primarily reflect the relative sea‐level changes. The planktonic/benthic (P/B) foraminiferal ratio is indicative of oscillations of depositional settings in normal open marine conditions, ranging from shallow inner to outer neritic environments. Biostratigraphically, the Palaeocene–Eocene succession in the studied area is subdivided into 12 biozones and subbiozones. These are correlated with the standard biozonation of the Palaeocene–Eocene. Deposition of the Palaeocene–Eocene succession in the studied area took place on a relatively stable shelf. Three lithofacies were recognized: shale, marl, and limestone. The shale lithofacies is differentiated into two sub‐lithofacies; pure shale and calcareous foraminiferal shale, whereas marl lithofacies contains abundant planktonic foraminifera. The encountered carbonate rocks comprise eight microfacies types. In addition, the studied interval is correlated with the Global Standard Stratotype Section and Point in the Dababiya section, south of Luxor, Egypt.
Paragenesis of secondary Ca–Al silicates during hydrothermal alteration of Proterozoic granitic rocks (SE Sweden)
Authors: Mansurbeg Howri , El‐Ghali Mohammad A. K. , Shahrokhi Salahedin , Reif Jaroslav , Hussein Hossein S. , Morad Sadoon
Published: November 2020

The texture and chemical compositions of secondary Ca–Al silicates (prehnite, pumpellyite, epidote, and titanite) and of related minerals (chlorite, sericite, K‐feldspar, albite, Fe‐oxides, fluorite, and calcite) are used to discuss their formation conditions during interaction of Proterozoic granitic rocks from SE Sweden with hydrothermal fluids. The paragenetic sequence of the Ca–Al silicates is suggested to have been accomplished at ca. 200–350°C and was controlled by small‐scale variations in the chemistry of the hydrothermal fluids, such as aCa2+/aH+ ratio and fO2 and fCO2. These variations in fluid chemistry occurred mostly in closed systems, which involved the redistribution of elements released from the alteration of the magmatic minerals, primarily plagioclase, biotite, and amphibole and inducing porosity modifications. Accordingly, results obtained in this study should have implications for the role of hydrothermal alterations on element redistribution in the continental crust and for suitability of granitic rocks as repositories for radioactive wastes.
Super‐variants identification for brain connectivity
Authors: Li Ting , Hu Jianchang , Wang Shiying , Zhang Heping
Published: November 2020

Identifying genetic biomarkers for brain connectivity helps us understand genetic effects on brain function. The unique and important challenge in detecting associations between brain connectivity and genetic variants is that the phenotype is a matrix rather than a scalar. We study a new concept of super‐variant for genetic association detection. Similar to but different from the classic concept of gene, a super‐variant is a combination of alleles in multiple loci but contributing loci can be anywhere in the genome. We hypothesize that the super‐variants are easier to detect and more reliable to reproduce in their associations with brain connectivity. By applying a novel ranking and aggregation method to the UK Biobank databases, we discovered and verified several replicable super‐variants. Specifically, we investigate a discovery set with 16,421 subjects and a verification set with 2,882 subjects, where they are formed according to release date, and the verification set is used to validate the genetic associations from the discovery phase. We identified 12 replicable super‐variants on Chromosomes 1, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 16, 18, and 19. These verified super‐variants contain single nucleotide polymorphisms that locate in 14 genes which have been reported to have association with brain structure and function, and/or neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders in the literature. We also identified novel loci in genes RSPO2 and TMEM74 which may be upregulated in brain issues. These findings demonstrate the validity of the super‐variants and its capability of unifying existing results as well as discovering novel and replicable results.
Myeloid‐Cell–Specific IL‐6 Signaling Promotes MicroRNA‐223‐Enriched Exosome Production to Attenuate NAFLD‐Associated Fibrosis
Authors: Hou Xin , Yin Shi , Ren Ruixue , Liu Siqi , Yong Liang , Liu Yuxiao , Li Yu , Zheng Ming‐Hua , Kunos George , Gao Bin , Wang Hua
Published: November 2020

Background ands Aims

NAFLD is associated with elevation of many cytokines, particularly IL‐6; however, the role of IL‐6 in NAFLD remains obscure. The aim of this study was to examine how myeloid‐specific IL‐6 signaling affects NAFLD by the regulation of antifibrotic microRNA‐223 (miR‐223) in myeloid cells.

Approach and Results

Patients with NAFLD or NASH and healthy controls were recruited, and serum IL‐6 and soluble IL‐6 receptor α (sIL‐6Rα) were measured. Compared to controls, serum IL‐6 and sIL‐6Rα levels were elevated in NAFLD/NASH patients. IL‐6 levels correlated positively with the number of circulating leukocytes and monocytes. The role of IL‐6 in NAFLD was investigated in Il6 knockout (KO) and Il6 receptor A (Il6ra) conditional KO mice after high‐fat diet (HFD) feeding. HFD‐fed Il6 KO mice had worse liver injury and fibrosis, but less inflammation, compared to wild‐type mice. Hepatocyte‐specific Il6ra KO mice had more steatosis and liver injury, whereas myeloid‐specific Il6ra KO mice had a lower number of hepatic infiltrating macrophages (IMs) and neutrophils with increased cell death of these cells, but greater liver fibrosis (LF), than WT mice. Mechanistically, the increased LF in HFD‐fed, myeloid‐specific Il6ra KO mice was attributable to the reduction of antifibrotic miR‐223 and subsequent up‐regulation of the miR‐223 target gene, transcriptional activator with PDZ‐binding motif (TAZ), a well‐known factor to promote NASH fibrosis. In vitro, IL‐6 treatment up‐regulated exosome biogenesis‐related genes and subsequently promoted macrophages to release miR‐223‐enriched exosomes that were able to reduce profibrotic TAZ expression in hepatocytes by exosomal transfer. Finally, serum IL‐6 and miR‐223 levels were elevated and correlated with each other in NAFLD patients.

Conclusions

Myeloid‐specific IL‐6 signaling inhibits LF through exosomal transfer of antifibrotic miR‐223 into hepatocytes, providing therapeutic targets for NAFLD therapy.
Corporate bonds, exchange rates and memorandum: Evidence from Greece and Ireland
Authors: Vartholomatou Konstantina , Pendaraki Konstantina , Tsagkanos Athanasios
Published: November 2020

In this article, we examine the success rate of the memorandum in two peripheral eurozone countries (Ireland and Greece) that had significant differences in organisational structures and their development models. For this reason, we measure the quantile dependence between the returns of corporate bond investors and exchange rates employing a novel econometric methodology, the cross‐quantilogram. In Ireland, our key findings exhibit a higher rate of absorbing of structural reforms which contributes to more steady reinforcement of the enterprises, whether the European economy is stronger than the US or not. In contrast, Greece where the structural reforms are more intense, show a similar picture over a period longer than that of Ireland and only when the European economy goes beyond the US economy.
Automatic COVID‐19 CT segmentation using U‐Net integrated spatial and channel attention mechanism
Authors: Zhou Tongxue , Canu Stéphane , Ruan Su
Published: November 2020

The coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic has led to a devastating effect on the global public health. Computed Tomography (CT) is an effective tool in the screening of COVID‐19. It is of great importance to rapidly and accurately segment COVID‐19 from CT to help diagnostic and patient monitoring. In this paper, we propose a U‐Net based segmentation network using attention mechanism. As not all the features extracted from the encoders are useful for segmentation, we propose to incorporate an attention mechanism including a spatial attention module and a channel attention module, to a U‐Net architecture to re‐weight the feature representation spatially and channel‐wise to capture rich contextual relationships for better feature representation. In addition, the focal Tversky loss is introduced to deal with small lesion segmentation. The experiment results, evaluated on a COVID‐19 CT segmentation dataset where 473 CT slices are available, demonstrate the proposed method can achieve an accurate and rapid segmentation result on COVID‐19. The method takes only 0.29 second to segment a single CT slice. The obtained Dice Score and Hausdorff Distance are 83.1% and 18.8, respectively.
α‐Asarone, β‐asarone, and γ‐asarone: Current status of toxicological evaluation
Authors: Uebel Thomas , Hermes Lena , Haupenthal Sabrina , Müller Lena , Esselen Melanie
Published: November 2020

Asarone isomers are naturally occurring in Acorus calamus Linné, Guatteria gaumeri Greenman, and Aniba hostmanniana Nees. These secondary plant metabolites belong to the class of phenylpropenes (phenylpropanoids or alkenylbenzenes). They are further chemically classified into the propenylic trans‐ and cis‐isomers α‐asarone and β‐asarone and the allylic γ‐asarone.

Flavoring, as well as potentially pharmacologically useful properties, enables the application of asarone isomers in fragrances, food, and traditional phytomedicine not only since their isolation in the 1950s. However, efficacy and safety in humans are still not known. Preclinical evidence has not been systematically studied, and several pharmacological effects have been reported for extracts of Acorus calamus and propenylic asarone isomers. Toxicological data are rare and not critically evaluated altogether in the 21st century yet.

Therefore, within this review, available toxicological data of asarone isomers were assessed in detail. This assessment revealed that cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, and mutagenicity as well as carcinogenicity were described for propenylic asarone isomers with varying levels of reliability. The toxicodynamic profile of γ‐asarone is unknown except for mutagenicity.

Based on the estimated daily exposure and reported adverse effects, officials restricted or published recommendations for the use of β‐asarone and preparations of Acorus calamus. In contrast, α‐asarone and γ‐asarone were not directly addressed due to a limited data situation.
Renal Phosphate Handling: Independent Effects of Circulating FGF23, PTH, and Calcium
Authors: McKenna Malachi J , Crowley Rachel K , Twomey Patrick J , Kilbane Mark T
Published: November 2020

Excess fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), excess PTH, and an increase in extracellular calcium cause hypophosphatemia by lowering the maximum renal phosphate reabsorption threshold (TmP/GFR). We recently reported two cases of X‐linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) with severe tertiary hyperparathyroidism who had normalization of TmP/GFR upon being rendered hypoparathyroid following total parathyroidectomy, despite marked excess in both C‐terminal FGF23 (cFGF23) and intact FGF23 (iFGF23). We explored the effects of FGF23, PTH, and calcium on TmP/GFR in a cross‐sectional study (n = 74) across a spectrum of clinical cases with abnormalities in TmP/GFR, PTH, and FGF23. This comprised three groups: FGF23‐dependent hypophosphatemia (n = 27), hypoparathyroidism (HOPT; n = 17), and chronic kidney disease (n = 30). Measurements included TmP/GFR, cFGF23, PTH, ionized calcium, vitamin D metabolites, and bone turnover markers. The combined effect of cFGF23, PTH, and ionized calcium on TmP/GFR was modeled using hierarchical multiple regression and was probed by moderation analysis with PROCESS. Modeling analysis showed independent effects on TmP/GFR by cFGF23, PTH, and ionized calcium in conjunction with a weak but significant effect of the interaction term for PTH and FGF23; probing showed that the effect was most prominent during PTH deficiency. Teriparatide 20 μg daily was self‐administered for 28 days by one case of X‐linked hypophosphatemia with hypoparathyroidism (XLH‐HOPT) to assess the response of TmP/GFR, cFGF23, iFGF23, nephrogenous cyclic adenosine monophosphate (NcAMP), vitamin D metabolites, and bone turnover markers. After 28 days, TmP/GFR was lowered from 1.10 mmol/L to 0.48 mmol/L; this was accompanied by increases in NcAMP, ionized calcium, and bone turnover markers. In conclusion, the effect of FGF23 excess on TmP/GFR is altered by PTH such that the effect is ameliorated by hypoparathyroidism and the effect is augmented by hyperparathyroidism. © 2020 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Prediction of lattice energy of benzene crystals: A robust theoretical approach
Authors: Nguyen Anh L. P. , Mason Thomas G. , Freeman Benny D. , Izgorodina Ekaterina I.
Published: November 2020

We present an inexpensive and robust theoretical approach based on the fragment molecular orbital methodology and the spin‐ratio scaled second‐order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory to predict the lattice energy of benzene crystals within 2 kJ⋅mol−1. Inspired by the Harrison method to estimate the Madelung constant, the proposed approach calculates the lattice energy as a sum of two‐ and three‐body interaction energies between a reference molecule and the surrounding molecules arranged in a sphere. The lattice energy converges rapidly at a radius of 13 Å. Adding the corrections to account for a higher correlated level of theory and basis set superposition for the Hartree Fock (HF) level produced a lattice energy of −57.5 kJ⋅mol−1 for the benzene crystal structure at 138 K. This estimate is within 1.6 kJ⋅mol−1 off the best theoretical prediction of −55.9 kJ⋅mol−1. We applied this approach to calculate lattice energies of the crystal structures of phase I and phase II—polymorphs of benzene—observed at a higher temperature of 295 K. The stability of these polymorphs was correctly predicted, with phase II being energetically preferred by 3.7 kJ⋅mol−1 over phase I. The proposed approach gives a tremendous potential to predict stability of other molecular crystal polymorphs.
Application of Microdosed Intravenous Omeprazole to Determine Hepatic CYP2C19 Activity
Authors: Mahmoudi Mazyar , Foerster Kathrin I. , Burhenne Jürgen , Weiss Johanna , Mikus Gerd , Haefeli Walter E.
Published: November 2020

Omeprazole is an established probe drug to assess cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 activity (phenotyping). Because it has nonlinear pharmacokinetics (PK) after oral administration (autoinhibition of metabolism), the true impact of coadministered perpetrators on CYP2C19 substrates might be underestimated after regular doses. We tested the dose linearity of an intravenous omeprazole microdose of 100 µg and compared it with a 20‐mg dose in 4 healthy poor metabolizers (PMs) and 6 extensive metabolizers (EMs) of CYP2C19 in the presence and absence of a strong inhibitor (voriconazole). Without voriconazole, omeprazole exposure was dose‐proportional irrespective of the genotype, but in PMs geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of AUC0‐∞ were 6.6‐fold higher and molar metabolic ratios of 5‐OH omeprazole/omeprazole approximately 10‐fold lower. Voriconazole increased omeprazole exposure in EMs approximately 5‐fold (AUC0‐4 GMR after 100 µg omeprazole, 4.61; 90% confidence interval [CI], 2.69‐7.89; AUC0‐4 GMR after 20 mg omeprazole, 5.5; 90%CI, 1.07‐1.46), whereas no clinically significant impact on PK in PMs was observed (GMR AUC0‐4 after 100 µg omeprazole, 1.29; 90%CI, 0.81‐2.04; GMR AUC0‐4 after 20 mg omeprazole, 1.25; 90%CI, 1.07‐1.46). Linear regression and Bland‐Altman analyses revealed excellent agreement between AUC0‐∞ and AUC0‐4 of omeprazole (r2 = 0.987; bias, 0.35%; 95%CI, −3.197% to 3.89%) and also the molar metabolic ratio, 5‐OH omeprazole/omeprazole (r2 = 0.987; bias, −3.939; 95%CI, −9.06% to −1.18%), suggesting that an abbreviated sampling protocol can be used for intravenous CYP2C19 phenotyping and drug interaction studies. In conclusion, the PK of intravenous omeprazole microdoses closely reflects the changes observed with regular omeprazole doses; however, to avoid autoinhibition of probe drugs, microdosing appears to be the favorable technique.
Alternative acetone–water separation process through the application of aqueous two‐phase systems
Authors: García Gómez José Omar , Rodríguez Olalde Nancy Eloisa , Vargas Tah Ana Alejandra , Rito‐Palomares Marco , Nápoles‐Rivera Fabricio , Castro Montoya Agustin Jaime
Published: November 2020

BACKGROUND

The central stage of biotechnological production is the transformation of renewable raw materials into bioproducts in a water‐based bioreactor. The fermentation broth usually has a low concentration (less than 10%) of the bioproduct, which requires the application of subsequent separation and purification processes. For many bioproducts, separation is complicated by the presence of non‐ideal thermodynamics or azeotropic points, which makes it impossible to purify the bioproduct by traditional methods, such as conventional distillation. In a search for alternative recovery methods for bioproducts or dehydration of organic mixtures this study proposes an alternative process for the dehydration of acetone by liquid–liquid extraction based on experimental results obtained using an aqueous two‐phase system (ATPS) for an acetone–water–potassium carbonate mixture.

RESULTS

The experimental results of the liquid–liquid equilibrium for the acetone–water–potassium carbonate ternary system at 25 °C was fitted to an ELECNRTL thermodynamic model (binodal curve and distribution lines). A good correlation with the experimental data was observed. The Hunter–Nash method was applied to the experimental single‐stage liquid–liquid extraction, which operates at room temperature, and a concentration greater than 95 wt% of acetone was achieved starting from a mixture of 10 wt%. By simulation with the decanter block of Aspen Plus, results that were very close to the experimental results were obtained.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that in the foreseeable future ATPSs will have wide application both at the laboratory level and on a large scale for the dehydration of bioproducts and the separation of azeotropic mixtures. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Molecular mechanism of Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) adapting to hibernation
Authors: Zhang Jihui , Cai Ruiqing , Liang Juanjuan , Izaz Ali , Shu Yilin , Pan Tao , Wu Xiaobing
Published: November 2020

Hibernation is a physiological state for Chinese alligators to cope with cold weather. In mammals, gene expression changes during hibernation and their regulatory mechanisms have been extensively studied, however, these studies in reptiles are still rare. Here, integrated analysis of messenger RNA (mRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) reveals the molecular mechanisms of the hypothalamus, liver, and skeletal muscle in hibernating and active individuals. During hibernation, the number of genes increased in the hypothalamus, liver, and skeletal muscle was 585, 282, and 297, while the number of genes decreased was 215, 561, and 627, respectively, as compared with active individuals. Through Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis, the differential expressed genes were mainly enriched in DNA damage repair, biological rhythm, energy metabolism, myoprotein degradation, and other related items and pathways. Besides, 4740 miRNAs were identified in three tissues. Through the comprehensive analysis of miRNA and mRNA abundance profiles, 12,291, 6997, and 8232 miRNA–mRNA pairs all showed a negative correlation in the hypothalamus, liver, and skeletal muscle, respectively. Some miRNA target genes were related tobiological rhythm and energy metabolism, suggesting that miRNA may play an important role in the physiological metabolism of the hibernating adaptability of Chinese alligators. Moreover, 402, 230, and 130 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified in the hypothalamus, liver, and skeletal muscle, respectively. The targeting relationship of four lncRNA–mRNA pairs were predicted, with the main function of target genes involved in the amino acid transportation. These results are helpful to further understand the molecular regulatory basis of the hibernation adaptation in Chinese alligators.
Extremal digraphs on Woodall‐type condition for Hamiltonian cycles in balanced bipartite digraphs
Authors: Wang Ruixia
Published: November 2020

Adamus et al proved that: a balanced bipartite digraph of order is Hamiltonian if whenever and belong to different partite sets and . They also showed that the bound is sharp. In this paper, we shall show that the extremal digraph of this condition is a digraph of six vertices.
Adult T cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL) in pregnancy: A UK case series
Authors: Motedayen Aval Leila , Boullier Mary , Lyall Hermione , Collins Graham P. , Ayto Robert , Kelly Dominic F. , Tedder Richard S. , Drysdale Simon B. , Taylor Graham P. , Cook Lucy B.
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Chronic infection with human T‐cell lymphotropic virus type‐1 (HTLV‐1) may result in aggressive adult T‐cell leukaemia/lymphoma (ATL) in 4‐6% carriers. The majority of this risk arises in carriers infected during infancy, and so each infant has ∼25% lifetime risk. Other risk factors include a family history of ATL. Antenatal HTLV‐1 screening is not undertaken in the UK.

Methods

Here we describe four cases of ATL diagnosed during pregnancy and describe strategies to minimise HTLV‐1 transmission to neonates.

Results/conclusion

These cases highlight undiagnosed HTLV‐1 in pregnancy which allows ongoing mother to child vertical transmission and risk of future ATL. We recommend the UK National Screening Committee incorporate HTLV‐1 serology into antenatal screening.
Quantile regression averaging‐based probabilistic forecasting of daily ambient temperature
Authors: Tripathy Debesh S. , Prusty B Rajanarayan
Published: November 2020

The inclusion of conductor temperature variations for numerous power system planning and operational studies has long been recognized in the literature. The conductor temperature is majorly affected by environmental factors such as the ambient temperature. An efficient forecasting technique for forecasting ambient temperature is the need of the hour to prevent unexpected hazards in power systems and other areas caused due to temperature variations. Numerous researches have proposed different point forecasting and probabilistic forecasting models for the forecasting of ambient temperature. The probabilistic forecasting of ambient temperature provides complete information about future uncertainties, therefore quantifying the effects of daily temperature variations. A forecast combination approach, such as the quantile regression averaging, has never been utilized in this context. The selection of suitable point forecasters that complement each other's effects by characterizing different aspects of the ambient temperature data for averaging and the use of frequency components that explain the daily and periodic seasonal variations of ambient temperature to construct a forecasting model are the significant features of this paper. The proposed model is used with four varieties, and each is compared with the others. It is found that the variant using all the complementary individual point forecasters performs better in making probabilistic forecasts than the other options as well as better than the popular quantile k‐nearest neighbors, quantile egression forests, and basic quantile regression as inferred from the quantile score, Winkler score, and reliability plots.
Antibiofilm effect of ozonized physiological saline solution on peri‐implant–related biofilm
Authors: Tonon Caroline C. , Panariello Beatriz H. D. , Spolidorio Denise M. P. , Gossweiler Ana G. , Duarte Simone
Published: November 2020

Background

Removal of dental plaque and local application of local chemical adjuncts, such as chlorhexidine (CHX), have been used to control and treat peri‐implant disease. However, these methods can damage the surface properties of the implants or promote bacterial resistance. The application of ozone as an adjunctive treatment represents a new approach in the management of peri‐implantitis. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of ozonized physiological saline solution in different concentrations against oral biofilms developed on titanium surface.

Methods

Single and multi‐species biofilms of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Streptococcus oralis were formed on titanium specimens for 5 days in anaerobic conditions. Biofilms were treated with ozonized saline solution at different concentrations (25, 50, and 80 μg/NmL), for 30 seconds and 1 minute. CHX (0.12%) and saline solution (0.89% NaCl) were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. Bacterial viability was quantified by colony forming units (CFU mL−1), and biofilm images were acquired by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Data were analyzed by parametric test (ANOVA) with Tukey post‐hoc test (P < 0.05).

Results

Ozonized saline solution showed antibiofilm activity at a concentration of 80 μg/NmL for 30 seconds and 1 minute, reducing, mainly, Porphyromonas gingivalis viability, with 2.78 and 1.7 log10 CFU mL−1 of reduction in both single and multi‐species biofilms, respectively, when compared to the control (saline), whereas CHX reduced 1.4 and 1.2 log10 CFU mL−1.

Conclusion

Ozonized saline solution has antibiofilm activity, with better effect when applied for 1 minute at 80 μg/NmL, being a promising candidate therapy for the treatment of peri‐implant diseases.