bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pore structure and VOCs adsorption characteristics of activated coke powders derived via one‐step rapid pyrolysis activation method
Authors: Fu Jiapeng , Jin Chunjiang , Zhang Jingru , Wang Zhiqiang , Wang Tao , Cheng Xingxing , Ma Chunyuan , Chen Huimin
Published: May 2020

Three kinds of activated coke powders (ACPs) were prepared from different coal by a one‐step rapid pyrolysis activation method. Detailed pore structure and surface characteristics of the ACPs were characterized by BET specific surface area test, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). Adsorption capacity of ethyl acetate, benzene, and p‐xylene onto the ACPs was tested. Results demonstrated that the ACPs had well‐developed pore structures, with considerable specific surface area and pore volume. Volatile contents in the feed coal had promotion effect on the fast formation and development of the pore structure. Shengli lignite (SLC) showed the largest specific surface area and pore volume, which reached 351.07 m2/g and 0.1698 m3/g, separately. Surfaces of ACPs were rich of functional groups as carboxyl, lactone, phenolic hydroxyl (or ether), and carbonyl, the types of which kept relatively constant regardless of the change of the feed coal. ACPs presented good VOCs adsorption performance. With the most micropore structures, SLC sample presented the best adsorption capacity for ethyl acetate, benzene, and p‐xylene, which is 222.23, 149.87, and 217.63 mg/g, respectively. All ACPs presented preferential VOC adsorption order of ethyl acetate > p‐xylene > benzene, which suggested that ACPs presented favorable adsorption ability to VOC species of polar and large molecules.
Preconception telomere length as a novel maternal biomarker to assess the risk of spina bifida in the offspring
Authors: Aoulad Fares Damiat , Schalekamp‐Timmermans Sarah , Nawrot Tim S. , Steegers‐Theunissen Régine P. M.
Published: May 2020

Background

Periconception interactions between maternal conditions and environmental and genetic factors are involved in the pathogenesis and prevention of neural tube defects (NTD), such as spina bifida. These factors have in common that they can impair the oxidative pathway, resulting in excessive (chronic) oxidative stress and inflammation.

Methods

Review of the literature concerning underlying mechanisms and biomarkers of aging particularly during reproduction. A number of molecular markers for biological aging have been identified, including telomere length (TL). Excessive telomere shortening is an index of senescence, causes genomic instability and is associated with a higher risk of age‐related diseases. Furthermore, TL shortening is associated with the similar environmental and lifestyle exposures associated with NTD risk.

Results

Embryonic mice deficient in the telomerase gene show shorter TL and failure of closure of the neural tube as the main defect, suggesting that this developmental process is among the most sensitive to telomere loss and chromosomal instability.

Conclusions

From this background, we hypothesize that preconceptional long term exposure to harmful environmental and lifestyle risk factors accelerates a woman's aging process, which can be measured by TL, and thereby her underlying risk of NTD offspring. Alternatively, it might be that women with an increased NTD risk already exhibit a more advanced biological age before the onset of pregnancy compared to women of identical calendar age.
Development of a sensitive and rapid UHPLC–MS/MS method for simultaneous quantification of nine compounds in rat plasma and application in a comparative pharmacokinetic study after oral administration of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction and nimodipine
Authors: Fu Chunyan , Wu Qian , Zhang Zhimin , Xia Zian , Liu Zhaoying , Lu Hongmei , Wang Yang , Huang Gang
Published: May 2020

Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription used for the clinical treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI). The purpose of this work was to develop a sensitive and rapid UHPLC–MS/MS method to simultaneously study the pharmacokinetics of nimodipine and eight components of XFZYD, namely, amygdalin, hydroxysafflor yellow A, rutin, liquiritin, narirutin, naringin, neohesperidin and saikosaponin A, in rats with and without TBI. Multiple reaction monitoring was highly selective in the detection of nine analytes and the internal standard without obvious interference. The calibration curves displayed good linearity (r > 0.99) over a wide concentration range. The mean absolute recoveries of the nine analytes were 85–106%, and all matrix effects were in the range 80–120%. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy were acceptable (RSD, <15%; RE%, ±20%). The validated method was successfully applied to compare the pharmacokinetics in four experimental groups, including control rats orally administered XFZYD and TBI model rats orally administered XFZYD, XFZYD and nimodipine, or nimodipine alone. The results showed that herb–drug interactions occurred between XFZYD and nimodipine in the treatment of TBI, nimodipine affected the pharmacokinetics of XFZYD, and XFZYD affected the absorption, distribution and excretion of nimodipine in vivo.
Nitrosoarenes as Nitrogen Source for Generation of Sulfonamides with the Insertion of Sulfur Dioxide under Metal‐Free Conditions†
Authors: Wang Xuefeng , Lin Yanmei , Liu Jin‐Biao , He Fu‐Sheng , Kuang Yunyan , Wu Jie
Published: May 2020

Summary of main observation and conclusion

A metal‐free reaction of nitrosoarenes, aryldiazonium tetrafluoroborates, and sulfur dioxide under mild conditions is developed, giving rise to sulfonamides in moderate to good yields. This transformation proceeds efficiently at room temperature in the presence of cyclohexa‐1,4‐diene with a broad reaction scope. Good functional group compatibility is observed, including cyano, halo, and ester. A plausible mechanism involving a radical process with the insertion of sulfur dioxide is proposed, and cyclohexa‐1,4‐diene serves as the reductant during the transformation.
Selenophene‐Flanked Diketopyrrolopyrrole Based Conjugated Polymers for Ambipolar Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Shi Dandan , Yu Xiaobo , Chen Liangliang , Chen Daoliang , Liu Zitong , Zhang Xisha , Zhang Guanxin , Zhang Deqing
Published: May 2020

Summary of main observation and conclusion

The development of selenophene‐flanked DPP (SeDPP) based copolymers, especially for the ambipolar ones, lags behind other aromatic group flanked DPP‐based polymers. Herein, we report two new ambipolar SeDPP‐based conjugated polymers. One is the alternating polymer PSeDPPFT with normal SeDPP and 3,4‐difluorothiophene units. The other is PSeFDFT, in which the electron acceptor unit is replaced by a new SeDPP derivative, referred as to half‐fused SeDPP. The more planar structure of half‐fused SeDPP endows the backbone of PSeFDFT with good rigidity and planarity. Both polymers exhibit ambipolar transporting properties in air. The PSeFDFT based field‐effect transistors (FETs) display higher and more balanced ambipolar properties with μhave of 0.27 cm2·V–1·s–1, μeave of 0.18 cm2·V–1·s–1, and μhave/μeave of 1.5 than those of PSeDPPFT (μhave = 0.11 cm2·V–1·s–1, μeave = 0.042 cm2·V–1·s–1, and μh/μe = 2.6). This is attributed to the more planar structure, lower LUMO level, higher HOMO level, and better interchain packing orientations of PSeFDFT by comparing with PSeDPPFT. Therefore, a new molecular design strategy to modulate the hole and electron transporting properties is proposed for conjugated D‐A polymers.
Hemodynamics and tissue biomechanics of the thoracic aorta with a trileaflet aortic valve at different phases of valve opening
Authors: Sundström Elias , Jonnagiri Raghuvir , Gutmark‐Little Iris , Gutmark Ephraim , Critser Paul , Taylor Michael D. , Tretter Justin T.
Published: May 2020

In a normal cardiac cycle, the trileaflet aortic valve opening is progressive, which correlates with the phasic blood flow. Therefore, we aimed to determine the impact of including an anatomically accurate reconstructed trileaflet aortic valve within a fluid‐structure interaction (FSI) simulation model and determine the cyclical hemodynamic forces imposed on the thoracic aortic walls from aortic valve opening to closure. A pediatric patient with a normal trileaflet valve was recruited. Using the Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Data (CMR), a 3D model of the aortic valve and thoracic aorta was reconstructed. FSI simulations were employed to assess the tissue stress during a cardiac cycle as the result of changes in the valve opening. The blood flow was simulated as a mixture of blood plasma and red blood cells to account for non‐Newtonian effects. The computation was validated with phase‐contrast CMR. Windkessel boundary conditions were employed to ensure physiological pressures during the cardiac cycle. The leaflets' dynamic motion during the cardiac cycle was defined with an analytic grid velocity function. At the beginning of the valve opening a thin jet is developing. From mid‐open towards full opening the stress level increases where the jet impinges the convex wall. At peak systole two counter‐rotating Dean‐like vortex cores manifest in the ascending aorta, which correlates with increased integrated mean stress levels. An accurate trileaflet aortic valve is needed for capturing of both primary and secondary flow features that impact the forces on the thoracic aorta wall. Omitting the aortic valve underestimates the biomechanical response.
Evolution of guidelines for respiratory cytology by the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology
Authors: Moreira Andre L.
Published: May 2020

Cytology serves a fundamental role in the evaluation of the lower respiratory tract. Cytological specimens are often the first diagnostic attempt for the evaluation of radiographic alterations. The categorization of the pathological process as infectious, inflammatory or neoplastic is critical in guiding further clinical management of the affected patient. Therefore it is imperative that cytopathologists use a standardized approach to sample handling and reporting in order to establish clear communication with the treating physician. The Papanicolaou Society of cytopathology has been an active leader in this field and has proposed several guidelines for sampling, handling, and reporting of lower respiratory tract cytology. These guidelines have been updated to incorporate new emerging concepts and technologies in the field. Respiratory medicine is a fast growing area with constant new challenges, thus requiring an ever demanding adaptation from cytopathologists and cytology specific guidelines.
Bat community response to intensification of biomass production for bioenergy across the southeastern United States
Authors: Ober Holly K. , Jones Gavin M. , Gottlieb Isabel G. W. , Johnson Shelly A. , Smith Lora , Brosi Berry J. , Fletcher Robert J.
Published: May 2020

Human demand for food, fiber, and space is accelerating the rate of change of land cover and land use. Much of the world now consists of a matrix of natural forests, managed forests, agricultural cropland, and urbanized plots. Expansion of domestic energy production efforts in the United States is one driver predicted to influence future land‐use and land management practices across large spatial scales. Favorable growing conditions make the southeastern United States an ideal location for producing a large portion of the country’s renewable bioenergy. We investigated patterns of bat occurrence in two bioenergy feedstocks commonly grown in this region (corn,Zea mays, and pine,Pinus taedaandP. elliottii). We also evaluated potential impacts of the three major pathways of woody biomass extraction (residue removal following clearcut harvest, short‐rotation energy plantations, and mid‐rotation forest thinning) to bat occurrence through a priori land‐use contrasts. We acoustically sampled bat vocalizations at 84 sites in the Southeastern Plains and Southern Coastal Plains of the southeastern United States across three years. We found that mid‐rotation thinning resulted in positive effects on bat occurrence, and potential conversion of unmanaged (reference) forest to managed forest for timber and/or bioenergy harvest resulted in negative effects on bat occurrence when effects were averaged across all species. The effects of short‐rotation energy plantations, removal of logging residues from plantation clearcuts, and corn were equivocal for all bat species examined. Our results suggest that accelerated production of biomass for energy production through either corn or intensively managed pine forests is not likely to have an adverse effect on bat communities, so long as existing older unmanaged forests are not converted to managed bioenergy or timber plantations. Beyond bioenergy crop production, mid‐rotation thinning of even‐aged pine stands intended for timber production, increases to the duration of plantation rotations to promote older forest stands, arranging forest stands and crop fields to maximize edge habitat, and maintaining unmanaged forests could benefit bat communities by augmenting roosting and foraging opportunities.
A device for investigation of natural cell mobility and deformability
Authors: Ledvina Vojtěch , Klepárník Karel , Legartová Soňa , Bártová Eva
Published: May 2020

A microfluidic device made of polydimethylsiloxane was developed for continuous evaluation of natural migration mobility of many eukaryotic cells in relaxed and deformed state. The device was fabricated by standard photolithography and soft lithography techniques using the SU‐8 3010 negative photoresist on a glass wafer as the master mold. The simple flow‐free device exploits the chemotactic movement of cells through a set of mechanical barriers in the direction of concentration gradients of attractants. The barriers are formed by arrays of circular cross‐section pillars with decreasing spacing 7, 5, and 3 μm. To pass through the obstacles, the cells are deformed and change their cytoskeletal architecture. The instantaneous migration velocities of cells are monitored in a time‐lapse setup of the scanning confocal microscope. Thus, the cellular deformability and migratory activity can easily be evaluated. The functionality of the device was tested with model HeLa cells stably transfected with fluorescent Premo FUCCI Cell Cycle Sensor. The designed device has the potential to be implemented for testing the tendency of patients’ tumors to metastasis.
Longitudinal Association Between Markers of Liver Injury and Mortality in COVID‐19 in China
Authors: Lei Fang , Liu Ye‐Mao , Zhou Feng , Qin Juan‐Juan , Zhang Peng , Zhu Lihua , Zhang Xiao‐Jing , Cai Jingjing , Lin Lijin , Ouyang Shan , Wang Xiaoming , Yang Chengzhang , Cheng Xu , Liu Weifang , Li Haomiao , Xie Jing , Wu Bin , Luo Huiming , Xiao Fei , Chen Jing , Tao Liang , Cheng Gang , She Zhi‐Gang , Zhou Jianghua , Wang Haitao , Lin Jun , Luo Pengcheng , Fu Shouzhi , Zhou Jihui , Ye Ping , Xiao Bing , Mao Weiming , Liu Liming , Yan Youqin , Liu Ling , Chen Guohua , Li Hongliang , Huang Xiaodong , Zhang Bing‐Hong , Yuan Yufeng
Published: May 2020

Background and Aims

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is a new infectious disease. To reveal the hepatic injury related to this disease and its clinical significance, we conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study that included 5,771 adult patients with COVID‐19 pneumonia in Hubei Province.

Approach and Results

We reported the distributional and temporal patterns of liver injury indicators in these patients and determined their associated factors and death risk. Longitudinal liver function tests were retrospectively analyzed and correlated with the risk factors and death. Liver injury dynamic patterns differed in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin (TBIL). AST elevated first, followed by ALT, in severe patients. ALP modestly increased during hospitalization and largely remained in the normal range. The fluctuation in TBIL levels was mild in the non‐severe and the severe groups. AST abnormality was associated with the highest mortality risk compared with the other indicators of liver injury during hospitalization. Common factors associated with elevated liver injury indicators were lymphocyte count decrease, neutrophil count increase, and male gender.

Conclusion

The dynamic patterns of liver injury indicators and their potential risk factors may provide an important explanation for the COVID‐19‐associated liver injury. Because elevated liver injury indicators, particularly AST, are strongly associated with the mortality risk, our study indicates that these parameters should be monitored during hospitalization.
Using hysteretic behaviour and hydrograph classification to identify hydrological function across the “hillslope–depression–stream” continuum in a karst catchment
Authors: Zhang Runrun , Chen Xi , Zhang Zhicai , Soulsby Chris
Published: May 2020

In cockpit karst landscapes, fluxes from upland areas contribute large volumes of water to low‐lying depressions and stream flow. Hydrograph hysteresis and similarity between monitoring sites is important for understanding the space–time variability of hydrologic responses across the “hillslope–depression–stream” continuum. In this study, the hysteretic feature of hydrographs was assessed by characterizing the loop‐like relationships between responses at upstream sites relative to subsurface discharge at the outlet of a small karst catchment. A classification of hydrograph responses based on the multi‐scale smoothing Kernel ‐derived distance classifies the hydrograph responses on the basis of similarities between hillslope and depression sites, and those at the catchment outlet. Results demonstrate that the temporal and spatial variability of hydrograph hysteresis and similarity between hillslope flow and outlet stream flow can be explained by the local heterogeneity of depression aquifer. Large depression storage deficits emerging in the highly heterogeneous aquifer produce strong hysteresis and multiple relationships of upstream hydrographs relative to the outlet subsurface discharge. In contrast, when depression storage deficits are filled during consecutive rainfall events, depression hydrographs at the high permeability sites are almost synchronous or exhibit a monotonous function with the hydrographs at the outlet. This reduced hydrograph hysteresis enhances preferential flow paths in fractured rocks and conduits that can accelerate the hillslope flow to the outlet. Therefore, classification of hydrograph similarities between any upstream sites and the catchment outlet can help to identify the dominant hydrological functions in the heterogeneous karst catchment.
Efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab for the treatment of advanced biliary cancer: Results from the KEYNOTE‐158 and KEYNOTE‐028 studies
Authors: Piha‐Paul Sarina A. , Oh Do‐Youn , Ueno Makoto , Malka David , Chung Hyun Cheol , Nagrial Adnan , Kelley Robin K. , Ros Willeke , Italiano Antoine , Nakagawa Kazuhiko , Rugo Hope S. , de Braud Filippo , Varga Andrea Iolanda , Hansen Aaron , Wang Hui , Krishnan Suba , Norwood Kevin G. , Doi Toshihiko
Published: May 2020

We present data from patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) receiving pembrolizumab in the KEYNOTE‐158 (NCT02628067; phase 2) and KEYNOTE‐028 (NCT02054806; phase 1b) studies. Eligible patients aged ≥18 years from both studies had histologically/cytologically confirmed incurable BTC that progressed after standard treatment regimen(s), measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0/1, and no prior immunotherapy. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1)‐positive tumors were required for eligibility in KEYNOTE‐028 only. Patients received pembrolizumab 200 mg every three weeks (KEYNOTE‐158) or 10 mg/kg every two weeks (KEYNOTE‐028) for ≤2 years. Primary efficacy endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) by RECIST v1.1. Response assessed by independent central review is reported. KEYNOTE‐158 enrolled 104 patients and KEYNOTE‐028 enrolled 24 patients. Median (range) follow‐up was 7.5 months (0.6‐34.3) in KEYNOTE‐158 and 5.7 months (0.6‐55.4) in KEYNOTE‐028. In KEYNOTE‐158, ORR was 5.8% (6/104; 95% CI, 2.1%‐12.1%); median duration of response (DOR) was not reached (NR) (range, 6.2‐26.6+ months). Median (95% CI) OS and PFS were 7.4 (5.5‐9.6) and 2.0 (1.9‐2.1) months. Among PD‐L1‐expressers (n = 61) and PD‐L1‐nonexpressers (n = 34), respectively, ORR was 6.6% (4/61) and 2.9% (1/34). In KEYNOTE‐028, ORR was 13.0% (3/23; 95% CI, 2.8%‐33.6%); median DOR was NR (range, 21.5‐53.2+ months). Median (95% CI) OS and PFS were 5.7 (3.1‐9.8) and 1.8 (1.4‐3.1) months. Grade 3 to 5 treatment‐related adverse events occurred in 13.5% of patients in KEYNOTE‐158 (no grade 4; grade 5 renal failure, n = 1) and 16.7% in KEYNOTE‐028 (no grade 4/5). In summary, pembrolizumab provides durable antitumor activity in 6% to 13% of patients with advanced BTC, regardless of PD‐L1 expression, and has manageable toxicity.
Assessment of the clinical utility of pharmacogenetic guidance in a comprehensive medication management service
Authors: Rodríguez‐Escudero Idaliz , Cedeño Julio A. , Rodríguez‐Nazario Ileana , Reynaldo‐Fernández Gledys , Rodríguez‐Vera Leyanis , Morales Niretzy , Jiménez‐Vélez Braulio , Ruaño Gualberto , Duconge Jorge
Published: May 2020

Introduction

Pharmacists are poised to be the health care professionals best suited to provide medication‐related consults and services based on a patient's genetics. Despite its potential benefits, the implementation of pharmacogenetic (PGx) testing into primary clinical settings has been slow among medically underserved populations. To our knowledge, this is the first time that PGx‐driven recommendations have been incorporated into a Comprehensive Medication Management (CMM) service in a Hispanic population.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical utility of adding PGx guidance into pharmacist‐driven CMM.

Methods

This is a pre‐ and post‐interventional design study. Patients were recruited from a psychologist's clinic. A total of 24 patients had a face‐to‐face interview with a pharmacist to complete a CMM, Personal Medication Record, and Medication‐Related Action Plan (MAP) blind to PGx findings. Collected buccal DNA samples were genotyped using drug‐metabolizing enzymes and transporters (DMET) Plus Array.

Results

The pharmacist generated new MAPs for each patient based on PGx results. Genetic variants that could potentially affect the safety and effectiveness of at least one drug in the pharmacotherapy were identified in 96% of patients, for whom the pharmacist changed the initial recommendations. Polymorphisms in genes encoding for isoenzymes CYP2D6, CYP2C19, and CYP2C9 were identified in 83%, 52%, and 41% of patients, respectively. Pharmacists performing CMM identified 22 additional medication problems after PGx determinations. Moreover, they agreed with the clinical utility of PGx in the studied sample based on perceived value of adding PGx to traditional CMM and its utility in the decision‐making process of pharmacists.

Conclusions

The study confirmed the critical role to be played by pharmacists in facilitating the clinical usage of relevant genetic information to optimize drug therapy decisions as well as their involvement on many levels of these multidisciplinary implementation efforts, including championing and leading PGx‐guided CMM services.
Interplane bulk motion analysis and removal based on normalized cross‐correlation in optical coherence tomography angiography
Authors: Fan Jinyu , He Yi , Wang Pinghe , Liu Guangxing , Shi Guohua
Published: May 2020

Bulk motion seriously degrades the image quality of optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). Conventional correction methods focus on in‐plane displacement, while the bulk motion component perpendicular to B‐scans also introduces noise. This work first presents an evaluation of this component using a specific scan protocol and an approximate expression derived from peak‐normalized cross‐correlation values, and then quantitatively assesses how interplane bulk motion noise reduce the sensitivity of cross‐sectional angiograms. Finally, we developed a repetitive bulk motion correction method based on the estimated displacements and redundant volume scans. The correction does not require registration and angiogram reconstruction of low flow sensitivity frames, and the results of in vivo mice skin OCTA imaging experiments show that the proposed method can effectively reduce bulk motion noise caused by cardiac and respiratory motion and occasional shaking, and improve OCTA image quality, which has practical significance for clinical OCTA diagnosis and analysis.
How to unmask septal local abnormal ventricular activities with the new LUMIPOINTTM software
Authors: Solimene Francesco , Maddaluno Francesco , Malacrida Maurizio , Stabile Giuseppe
Published: May 2020

We report the use of the new automated tool LumipointTM for the detection of LAVA (local abnormal ventricular activities) when they are buried within the far‐field ventricular signal, especially in regions of preserved myocardial thickness, such as the left ventricular (LV) septum. The LV substrate and the tachycardia circuit during ventricular tachycardias of a 60‐year‐old man with dilated cardiomyopathy were mapped using an ultra‐high‐density mapping system and then the LumipointTM, analyzing the EGMs of interest, identified the LAVA in the inferoseptal region. This algorithm may be helpful to quickly target the septal substrate avoiding misleading interpretation.
Attenuating the increased level of creatinine by N‐acetylcysteine: Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory‐based monitoring of in vitro complexation in aqueous solution
Authors: Gangopadhyay Debraj , Das Moumita , Singh Keshav Kumar , Singh Ranjan K. , Tandon Poonam
Published: May 2020

The role of drug N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) in preventing contrast‐induced nephropathy (CIN) and kidney diseases has been investigated with the help of in vitro Raman spectroscopy and density functional theory (DFT). Renal dysfunction or kidney failure is diagnosed by an increase in serum creatinine (CRN). The exposure to contrast agents during angiography also causes an increase in serum CRN, a condition termed as CIN. NAC is given to such patients, as it is known to prevent the toxic effect of CRN, although its mechanism of action is not clearly known till date. In the present study, we have studied the interaction between CRN and NAC and tried to detect the formation of a stable complex between the two by analyzing the in vitro Raman spectra of aqueous solutions of CRN and NAC mixed in different molar ratios. From the Raman spectral analysis, it is observed that a stable complex is formed at 1:1 molar ratio of CRN and NAC. This complex has been synthesized in the laboratory, and upon drying, it is transparent, gel‐like in appearance, and slightly yellowish in color. The complex is hygroscopic and has much better water solubility than CRN. Fourier‐transform infrared (FT‐IR) and Raman spectral analyses of the synthesized complex show the structural changes taking place because of complexation and provide proof that the complex is stable at room temperature. DFT‐based studies on a number of plausible structures of the complex have also been done to determine the most stable structure of the complex, and the mechanism of its formation has been explored by transition‐state calculations. This study highlights the effective role of NAC in reducing the toxic effect of CRN as the water‐soluble complex of CRN, and NAC is likely to be removed through urine.
Biodegradability and Toxicity of Cellobiosides and Melibiosides
Authors: Hogan David E. , Tian Fei , Malm Scott W. , Kegel Laurel L. , Szabó Lajos Z , Hunjan Anoop S. , Pemberton Jeanne E. , Klimecki Walter T. , Polt Robin , Maier Raina M.
Published: May 2020

In 2014, almost 16 million tons of surfactants were used globally for cleaning and industrial applications. As a result, massive quantities disperse into environmental compartments every day. There is great market interest in developing highly biodegradable, less‐toxic, and renewable alternatives to currently used petroleum‐based surfactants. Glycolipid surfactants, composed of a sugar headgroup and lipid tail, are effective surfactants and emulsifiers with a high tolerance to electrolytes and are easily tailored to address specific needs. The green synthesis and surfactant characteristics of a suite of cellobiosides and melibiosides were recently described. The biodegradability and toxicity of 1°‐alkyl‐O‐cellobiosides, 2°‐alkyl‐O‐cellobiosides, and 1°‐alkyl‐O‐melibiosides with straight‐chain alkyl tails of 8, 10, and 12 are reported in this study. Biodegradability was assessed by quantifying mineralization (CO2 evolution). All of the glycosides were inherently biodegradable and most were readily biodegradable according to OECD and US environmental protection agency (EPA) definitions. The Microtox acute toxicity assay showed both chain length and headgroup had significant effects on toxicity, but most of the molecules were practically nontoxic according to EPA definitions with EC50 values >100 mg L−1. Cytotoxicity to human lung (H1299) and keratinocyte cell lines (HaCaT) was measured by xCELLigence and MTS assays. Cytotoxicity values were comparable to similar glycosides previously reported. IC50 values were determined but in general, exceeded surfactant concentrations that are found in the environment. These data demonstrate the promising nature of these molecules as green alternatives to petrochemical surfactants.
A comparative study of arsenic in rice in lowland and terraced paddies in the Red River Basin, Vietnam
Authors: Tran Chinh T. , Le Thoa T. , Duong Lim T. , Dultz Stefan , Nguyen Minh N.
Published: May 2020

Arsenic (As) contamination has been identified as a tangible risk related to soil and land degradation, and identifying pristine regions is, therefore, important for the long‐term safety considerations of humans. The Red River Basin is among the largest cultivation regions in Southeast Asia that provides rice for local consumers as well as for exports. While the lowland part of the Red River Delta (RRD) has been recently identified as an area suffering from As risk, little is known about the upland terrace part. In this study, terraced paddy was found to be an ecosystem with a lower accumulation of As. The median As value, , in the terraced paddy soil was 2.22 mg kg−1, while almost no As was detected in the rice grain. The content of soil As of the RRD (= 6.12 mg kg−1) was equal to the global average and led to a significant accumulation of As in rice grain ( = 221 μg kg−1). Among the soil properties, soil water‐soluble silicon (SiH2O) appeared to be the most effective factor for reducing As translocations to rice. As the diminution of available Si can narrow the arable land that produces non or low‐As rice, this is likely an emerging factor that affects land degradation. With its low‐As rice status, the terraced paddy can be highlighted as a pristine part for rice growing. The fact that As accumulates in rice at different levels between terraced and lowland paddy regions can be considered in developing As mitigation strategies or rice repricing.
Rheological, mechanical, and X‐band microwave absorption properties of nickel and nickel‐coated carbon‐filled cyclo‐olefin copolymer composites
Authors: Kurt Gökçe , Kasgoz Alper
Published: May 2020

Cyclo‐olefin copolymer (COC) composites containing different amounts of nickel (Ni) and/or nickel‐coated carbon (NiC) hybrid fillers were prepared, and their morphological, rheological, mechanical, dielectric, and X‐band microwave absorption properties were examined. Rheological percolation thresholds for Ni and NiC fillers were determined to be in the range of 45 to 60 and 60 to 75 phr, respectively. Both fillers caused no significant increase in melt viscosity at low shear rates. The minimum filler concentrations to obtain acceptable reflection loss (RL) values (RL < −10 dB) were determined as 60 and 45 phr for the Ni and NiC series of samples, respectively. The minimum RL value (RLmin) and the broadest absorption bandwidth were determined as −52.5 dB and 8.2 to 12.5 GHz, respectively, for the composite sample containing 75 phr of Ni, whereas a similar performance could be obtained by the sample containing 45 phr of NiC. Considerable enhancement in the RLmin value could not be provided by the use of hybrid NiC fillers; however, the absorption bandwidth was enlarged, and the minimum sample thicknesses to obtain an acceptable absorption bandwidth were reduced significantly.
The Choice of HLA‐Associated Peptide Enrichment and Purification Strategy Affects Peptide Yields and Creates a Bias in Detected Sequence Repertoire
Authors: Nicastri Annalisa , Liao Hanqing , Muller Julius , Purcell Anthony W. , Ternette Nicola
Published: May 2020

Understanding the most appropriate workflow for biochemical human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐associated peptide enrichment prior to ligand sequencing is essential to achieve optimal sensitivity in immunopeptidomics experiments. The use of different detergents for HLA solubilization as well as complementary workflows to separate HLA‐bound peptides from HLA protein complex components after their immunoprecipitation including HPLC, C18 cartridge, and 5 kDa filter are described. It is observed that all solubilization approaches tested led to similar peptide ligand identification rates; however, a higher number of peptides are identified in samples lysed with CHAPS compared with other methods. The HPLC method is superior in terms of HLA‐I peptide recovery compared with 5 kDa filter and C18 cartridge peptide purification methods. Most importantly, it is observed that both the choice of detergent and peptide purification strategy creates a significant bias for the identified peptide sequences, and that allele‐specific peptide repertoires are affected depending on the workflow of choice. The results highlight the importance of employing a suitable strategy for HLA peptide enrichment and that the obtained peptide repertoires do not necessarily reflect the true distributions of peptide sequences in the sample.
Validating Wearable Sensors Using Self‐Reported Instability among Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Na Annalisa , Buchanan Thomas S.
Published: May 2020

Background

Self‐perceived instability among patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) is defined as giving way, buckling, or shifting of the knee during activities, especially walking. Although instability is a leading cause of mobility decline with knee OA, methods for quantifying the symptom, determining the mechanisms, and establishing effective interventions remain unclear. Recently, data outputs (ie, linear acceleration and its time‐derivative, jerk) from wearable sensors are showing strong associations with self‐perceived instability among patients with other knee pathologies and may offer insight into OA‐related instability.

Objective

To examine discriminant and convergent validity of using data outputs from wearable sensors to quantify self‐reported instability among patients with knee OA.

Design

Secondary analysis of a cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Primary recruitment from an institutional outpatient physical therapy clinic and collection completed in an institutional research laboratory.

Patients

Thirty‐nine total participants. The OA group included 26 participants with radiographic evidence of moderate to severe knee OA in the medial compartment; knee pain >3 out of 10, and a walking speed of ≥1.0 m/s. The control group included 13 participants with no history of knee OA. Participants with current or history of low back, hip, or foot/ankle injury; knee replacement; skeletal realignment surgery; or comorbidities that limit walking, pregnancy, and inability to walk without an assistive device were excluded.

Interventions

N/A

Main Outcome Measures

Data output from wearable sensors at the tibia.

Results

Midstance acceleration (P = .01) and jerk (P = .04) were significantly greater for those with than without knee OA. Acceleration was significantly associated with self‐reported instability (Spearman's rho = −0.63, P < .01).

Conclusions

Data from wearable sensors are a valid measurement for exploring the mechanisms and risks of instability among patients with knee OA.
“Be sweet to babies”: Use of Facebook as a method of knowledge dissemination and data collection in the reduction of neonatal pain
Authors: Vieira Ana Claudia G. , Bueno Mariana , Harrison Denise
Published: May 2020

The Be Sweet to Babies video demonstrates the analgesic effects of breastfeeding, skin‐to‐skin care, and sweet‐tasting solutions as interventions to reduce pain during blood sampling in newborns. Although effective and safe, these strategies are implemented inconsistently in clinical settings. Given the increasing popularity of social media, there is a potential to disseminate and promote health information through it. The study aim was to  evaluate the use of Facebook as a means of disseminating the Be Sweet to Babies video in Portuguese, and to evaluate respondents’ prior knowledge, previous use of the three pain management strategies and intent to use the strategies in the future. We conducted a cross‐sectional study, using the “virtual snowball” sampling method. A Facebook webpage was created, in which the video was posted along with a brief survey. Data analyzed included number of views and visits to the page, number of views of the video, likes, dislikes, and survey responses. One year after posting, the page had 70 753 views and 2199 accesses; there were 1553 “likes”, no dislikes, and 43 positive comments. The survey was completed by 930 respondents (42% response rate based on the page access). Over two thirds of the respondents had previous knowledge about breastfeeding, skin‐to‐skin care, and sweet solutions for pain relief. After watching the video, 87% of the respondents intended to use breastfeeding or skin‐to‐skin care in the future, and 71% intended to use sweet solutions. Almost all viewers rated the video as very useful (n = 917, 99%), easy to understand (n = 926, 99%), and easy to apply in real‐life situations (n = 903, 97%). Using Facebook to deliver and evaluate an intervention is feasible, rapid in obtaining responses, low cost, and it is promising for data collection and knowledge dissemination. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the actual impact of the use of social media in practice change.
Optimized switch‐over between CHNS abundance and CNS isotope ratio analyses by elemental analyzer‐isotope ratio mass spectrometry: Application to six geological reference materials
Authors: Stüeken Eva E. , de Castro Maria , Krotz Liliana , Brodie Christopher , Iammarino Mattia , Giazzi Guido
Published: May 2020

Rationale

Elemental abundances and isotopic ratios of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and hydrogen have become important tools for reconstructing the evolution of Earth and life over geologic timescales, requiring accurate and precise analytical methods with high sample throughput. However, these measurements may require separate instruments for each task, such as an elemental analyzer (EA) with a thermal conductivity detector (TCD) for elemental abundances and an EA interfaced with a mass spectrometer for isotopic ratios.

Methods

To improve sample throughput and laboratory up‐time, we developed a switch that allows converting an EA IsoLink™ system from a standalone mode using only a TCD to a mode for isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) within minutes. This permits accurate measurements of elemental abundances and isotopic ratios with high throughput and lower cost. We validated this method with six shale standards from the US Geological Survey (USGS) and compared our abundance data with those from another laboratory.

Results

Our results show that (a) abundance data agree well between the different laboratories and setups; (b) reproducible isotopic data can be obtained before and after the switch‐over from EA standalone mode; and (c) the USGS rock standards cover a wide range in CHNS abundances and CNS isotopes, making them ideal reference materials for future geochemical studies.

Conclusions

This ideal analytical setup has the advantage that abundance measurements can be performed to determine optimal sample amounts for later isotopic analyses, ensuring higher data quality. Our setup eliminates the need for a separate EA while freeing up the mass spectrometer for other tasks during abundance measurements.
Multisensor online 3D view planning for autonomous underwater exploration
Authors: Vidal Eduard , Palomeras Narcís , Istenič Klemen , Gracias Nuno , Carreras Marc
Published: May 2020

This study presents a novel octree‐based three‐dimensional (3D) exploration and coverage method for autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs). Robotic exploration can be defined as the task of obtaining a full map of an unknown environment with a robotic system, achieving full coverage of the area of interest with data from a particular sensor or set of sensors. While most robotic exploration algorithms consider only occupancy data, typically acquired by a range sensor, our approach also takes into account optical coverage, so the environment is discovered with occupancy and optical data of all discovered surfaces in a single exploration mission. In the context of underwater robotics, this capability is of particular interest, since it allows one to obtain better data while reducing operational costs and time. This study expands our previous study in 3D underwater exploration, which was demonstrated through simulation, presenting improvements in the view planning (VP) algorithm and field validation. Our proposal combines VP with frontier‐based (FB) methods, and remains light on computations even for 3D environments thanks to the use of the octree data structure. Finally, this study also presents extensive field evaluation and validation using the Girona 500 AUV. In this regard, the algorithm has been tested in different scenarios, such as a harbor structure, a breakwater structure, and an underwater boulder.
Soil properties and biochemical composition of ground‐dwelling bee nests in agricultural settings
Authors: Lybrand Rebecca A. , Fedenko Jennifer , Tfaily Malak , Rao Sujaya
Published: May 2020

Soils deliver under‐recognized ecosystem services by supplying habitat for ground‐dwelling pollinators, such as wild bees and other organisms, that pollinate 80% of insect‐pollinated plants and play a critical role in securing resilient pollination provisions. Our objective is to identify soil properties of ground‐nesting bee nests in agricultural settings of western Oregon. We confirmed ground‐nesting bee and sand wasp activity in seven agricultural sites and one recreational park. Soils from 17 bee and sand wasp nests were analyzed for pH, particle size distribution, and carbon and nitrogen content. We visually confirmed that eight of the nesting bees were sweat bees from theHalictidaefamily and identified a captured bee specimen asLasioglossum(Dialictus) (Hymenoptera:Halictidae). We located two sites with sand wasps where specimens were identified asCercerisandBembix(Hymenoptera:Crabronidae). The organic matter composition of three soil samples scraped from the linings of active nests was assessed using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR‐MS). The FTICR‐MS results identified unknown lipid compounds in the nest soil samples, which we hypothesize are waterproofing lipids secreted to line cell walls. Bee nests occurred in slightly acidic, bare‐ground soils with low rock/vegetation coverage and low organic carbon content (<1%) and exhibited significantly higher silt‐plus‐clay fractions (>80%) vs. data published for bee nests in prior work. Our findings present important implications for textural controls on nest site selection in wet, cool environments and demonstrate the importance of integrating soil properties to improve our understanding of ground‐dwelling organisms and associated soil habitats.
Response‐based time‐invariant methods for damage localization on a concrete bridge
Authors: Giordano Pier F. , Limongelli Maria P.
Published: May 2020

This paper is integral part of the Special Issue on “Existing Concrete Structures: Structural Health Monitoring and Testing for condition assessment.” It deals with vibration‐based methods (VBMs) for damage localization that approach the problem of structural integrity management through the analysis of the dynamic response of the structure under ambient or forced vibrations. In the last years, these methods received a widespread interest in the structural health monitoring (SHM) community due to the possibility to use them for continuous SHM and real time damage identification. The performance of these methods is commonly verified on numerical models or laboratory specimens that, by their nature, cannot reproduce all the sources of uncertainties found in practice. The availability of data recorded on a real benchmark, the S101 bridge in Austria, enabled the comparison of three well known vibration‐based time‐invariant methods for damage localization, namely, the curvature method, the interpolation error method, and the strain energy method. The bridge, built in the early 1960, is a typical example of a European highway bridge. Responses to ambient vibrations were recorded both in the undamaged and in several different damage scenarios artificially inflicted to the bridge. This paper reports the results of the application of the three mentioned methods of damage localization to this case study.
“English‐Only Is Not the Way to Go”: Teachers’ Perceptions of Plurilingual Instruction in an English Program at a Canadian University
Authors: Galante Angelica , Okubo Kerstin , Cole Christina , Elkader Nermine Abd , Carozza Nicola , Wilkinson Claire , Wotton Charles , Vasic Jelena
Published: May 2020

Although recent calls have been made for a plurilingual shift in language learning, particularly in countries with linguistically and culturally diverse populations, teachers are still unsure about how to apply plurilingualism in the classroom. There remains a paucity of studies investigating the disconnect between the theory and implementation of the plurilingual shift. This quasi‐experimental study addressed these challenges by implementing plurilingual instruction in one English language program in a Canadian university and examining teachers’ perceptions of this type of instruction compared to English‐only. Seven teachers, all co‐researchers of the study, taught two groups of students with different approaches: One group received plurilingual instruction, and the other group received English‐only instruction. A deductive analysis of semistructured interviews with the teachers and an inductive analysis of classroom observations were conducted. Results show several affordances of plurilingual instruction, such as engaging students in language learning, advancing agentive power, and developing a safe space. Moreover, although none of the teachers had received training in plurilingualism, they unanimously reported preference for plurilingual instruction. Challenges resulted mainly from teachers’ history with the English‐only teaching tradition. This study is significant because it pioneered research aiming to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of plurilingualism, contributing pedagogical directions in TESOL.