bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Task scheduling using edge computing system in smart city
Authors: Zheng Xiao , Li Mingchu , Guo Jun
Published: April 2020

A smart city will become an inevitable trend of social development. It includes many Cyber Physical Systems (CPSs) that can be endowed with different levels of intelligence. With the combination of CPS and cloud computing, smart sensor cloud system becomes popular in many areas where the physical nodes can be shared with multiple users, which can obtain high performance computing. In view of this idea, this paper studies the specific application of smart city‐online task scheduling. We treat each task as a physical node, and the scheduling of multiple computing tasks is to achieve sustainable services. However, when a physical sensor node receives commands from multiple tasks simultaneously, namely, resource conflict management problem. This conflicting resource management problem leads to the failures of services. To solve the resource conflict problem, we propose an extended Hungarian algorithm based on edge computing, which can obtain smaller delay and achieve sustainable service. Edge computing can be viewed as a buffer and controller between CPS and the cloud and can build a sustainable service system by handling malicious attacks. The experimental results show that our proposed method can effectively reduce resource conflicts, improve resource utilization, and make services more sustainable.
Obesity and SARS‐CoV‐2: A population to safeguard
Authors: Watanabe Mikiko , Risi Renata , Tuccinardi Dario , Baquero Claudia J , Manfrini Silvia , Gnessi Lucio
Published: April 2020

Evidence has lately emerged regarding an increased risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 with worse prognosis in patients with obesity, especially among the young. Weight excess is a well‐established respiratory disease risk factor, and the newly reported correlation is therefore unsurprising. The underlying pathophysiology is likely multi‐stranded, ranging from complement system hyperactivation, increased Interleukin‐6 secretion, chronic inflammation, presence of comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension, and a possible local, detrimental effect within the lung. Further understanding the link between obesity and SARS‐CoV‐2 is crucial, as this could aid proper tailoring of immunomodulatory treatments, together with improving stratification among those possibly requiring critical care.
Taxonomic error rates affect interpretations of a national‐scale ground beetle monitoring program at National Ecological Observatory Network
Authors: Egli Lauren , LeVan Katherine E. , Work Timothy T.
Published: April 2020

Parataxonomists are responsible for taxonomic identifications in large‐scale biodiversity monitoring programs. However, they may lack formal taxonomic training, and thus, quantifying error rate in identification is paramount for evaluating data quality of larger biomonitoring efforts. In large‐scale biomonitoring in particular, parataxonomist error rate could vary among regions with different species richness and composition. Here, we tested whether error rates in identification of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) by parataxonomists increased in regions with greater species richness throughout the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON), a national biomonitoring network spanning the United States. We compared identifications made by both parataxonomist and experts of 33,516 specimens collected between 2013 and 2017 from 18 ecoclimatic regions and analyzed error rates across ecoclimatic regions as a function of total richness identified by taxonomic experts. We then compared the additional level of taxonomic support that would be required to resolve identifications to species‐level identifications. We demonstrated the extent to which parataxonomist error rate can affect interpretation of common objectives of biomonitoring results, such as comparisons of species richness between ecoclimatic regions and capacity to identify target species of interest such as non‐indigenous species. Overall parataxonomist error rate was 11.1% and did not increase in regions with greater species richness. Expert taxonomists were required to resolve parataxonomist identifications to species in an additional 16% of specimens. With an average error rate of 11.1%, species richness estimates based on parataxonomists generally mirrored richness determined by experts. However, parataxonomist error rates as low as 5% were sufficient to misrepresent the gradient of species richness across ecoclimatic regions. Parataxonomist errors also led to false detection/missed detections of non‐indigenous species. As error rates were not influenced by increasing species richness, our study suggests that parataxonomists may be used consistently in large‐scale biomonitoring efforts to amplify the abilities of taxonomists by increasing the quantity and speed in which specimens are processed. However, our study also highlights that due to parataxonomist limitations, a subset of their materials must be regularly verified by professionals to ensure the quality of data collected.
Individual heterogeneity in resource selection has implications for mortality risk in white‐tailed deer
Authors: Haus Jacob M. , Webb Stephen L. , Strickland Bronson K. , McCarthy Kyle P. , Rogerson Joseph E. , Bowman Jacob L.
Published: April 2020

Individual animals vary in their selection of habitat as a function of sex, age, and experience. Such individual heterogeneity is important when decomposing segments of the population that may or may not respond to habitat or population management, or when targeting management that has greater potential for increasing demographic responses (e.g., survival). We examined individual heterogeneity in habitat selection during the hunting season using multilevel step selection models for 59 adult (≥2.5 yr old) white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) of both sexes. We used fractal analysis to determine the scale at which animals perceived and responded to the landscape, and modeled selection using covariates for use of agriculture, wetland, edge, forest interior, and distance to road. We tested for differences in individual‐specific habitat selection between age classes and modeled survival as a function of individual‐specific selection using proportional hazard modeling. At the population level, males selected for agriculture and forest interior and avoided roads, while adult females selected for agriculture. Individual‐specific selection of forest interior differed between age classes in males, with mature males selecting interior forest less frequently than immature males. Risk of mortality was related negatively to individual‐specific selection for wetland areas in males and forest interior for females. No habitat variables that were selected for or avoided at the population level influenced mortality risk at the individual level, suggesting management efforts based on traditional population‐level analysis may be misguided. Managers attempting to influence population dynamics via habitat and harvest management should be aware of the substantial heterogeneity in habitat selection among individual animals before implementing costly practices that may not be effective for their objectives.
Disentangling local, metapopulation, and cross‐community sources of stabilization and asynchrony in metacommunities
Authors: Hammond Matthew , Loreau Michel , de Mazancourt Claire , Kolasa Jurek
Published: April 2020

Asynchronous fluctuations of populations are essential for maintaining stable levels of biomass and ecosystem function in landscapes. Yet, understanding the stabilization of metacommunities by asynchrony is complicated by the existence of multiple forms of asynchrony that are typically studied independently: Community ecologists, for instance, focus on asynchrony within and among local communities, while population ecologists emphasize asynchrony of populations in metapopulations. Still, other forms of asynchrony, such as that which underlies the spatial insurance effect, are not captured by any existing analytical frameworks. We therefore developed a framework that would in one analysis unmask the stabilizing roles of local communities and metapopulations and so unify these perspectives. Our framework shows that metacommunity stabilization arises from one local and two regional forms of asynchrony: (1) asynchrony among species of a local community, (2) asynchrony among populations of a metapopulation, and (3) cross‐community asynchrony, which is between different species in different local communities and underlies spatial insurance. For each type of stabilization, we derived links to diversity indices and associated diversity–stability relationships. We deployed this framework in a set of rock pool invertebrate metacommunities in Discovery Bay, Jamaica, to partition sources of stabilization and test their dependence on diversity. Cross‐community asynchrony was the dominant form of stabilization, accounting for >60% of total metacommunity stabilization despite being undetectable with existing frameworks. Environmental variation influenced types of stabilization through different mechanisms. pH and dissolved oxygen, for example, increased asynchrony by decorrelating local species, while salinity did so by changing the abundance structure of metapopulations. Lastly, all types of asynchrony depended strongly on different types of diversity (alpha, metapopulation, and beta diversity drove local, metapopulation, and cross‐community asynchrony, respectively) to produce multiple diversity–stability relationships within metacommunities. Our new partition of metacommunity dynamics highlights how different elements—from local communities to metapopulations—combine to stabilize metacommunities and depend critically on contrasting environmental regimes and diversities. Understanding and balancing these sources of stability in dynamic landscapes is a looming challenge for the future. We suggest that synthetic frameworks which merge ecological perspectives will be essential for grasping and safeguarding the stability of natural systems.
Ferric Chloride Catalyzed 1,3‐Rearrangement of (Phenoxymethyl)heteroarenes to (Heteroarylmethyl)phenols
Authors: Tang Yingzhan , Zhuang Kaitong , Zhang Xinhang , Xie Fukai , Yang Lu , Lin Bin , Cheng Maosheng , Li Dan , Liu Yongxiang
Published: April 2020

A highly useful and robust method to (heteroarylmethyl)phenols, derivatives of arylheteroarylmethanes, was developed based on iron(III)‐catalyzed 1,3‐rearrangement of (phenoxymethyl)heteroarenes. It features cheap catalyst, mild reaction conditions, short reaction time and broad substrate scope. The mechanism of reaction was supported by a crossover experiment. Its application was demonstrated by the synthesis of a key intermediate in the synthesis of an oral leukotriene receptor antagonist zafirlukast.
Incidence and survival trends of parotid malignancies over 42 years
Authors: Gupta Avigeet , Koochakzadeh Sina , Neskey David M. , Nguyen Shaun A. , Lentsch Eric J.
Published: April 2020

Background

There is a paucity of information regarding the incidence and survival of parotid malignancies over time.

Methods

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results population‐based cancer registry was queried for parotid malignancies from 1973 to 2015.

Results

The age‐adjusted incidence of parotid malignancies has increased by 58.1% (7.87‐12.44 per 1 000 000). Analysis of histologic type revealed an increased annual percent change (APC) of acinar cell carcinoma (1.38) and squamous cell carcinoma (1.58), but decreased APC of adenoid cystic carcinoma (−1.63) and adenocarcinoma NOS (−0.86) (P < .05). The disease‐specific survival of mucoepidermoid carcinoma, adenocarcinoma NOS, and squamous cell carcinoma significantly improved (P < .05) over time.

Conclusion

The incidence of parotid cancer is rising steadily since 1973, while the incidence of overall head and neck cancer has decreased. Further research is necessary to understand the etiology, risk factors, and pathophysiology of parotid cancer to curb its rising incidence.

Level of evidence: 4.
Prostate squamous cell carcinoma developing 11 years after external radiotherapy for prostate adenocarcinoma
Authors: Matsugasumi Toru , Nakanishi Hiroyuki , Yokota Tomohiro , Shiraishi Takumi , Ukimura Osamu
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Secondary bladder, colon, and rectal cancers are relatively common after prostate radiotherapy. However, secondary squamous cell carcinoma of the prostate is rare.

Case presentation

An 85‐year‐old man presented with dysuria and low‐serum prostate‐specific antigen levels. His medical history included localized prostate adenocarcinoma (Gleason score of 4 + 5) treated with combined three‐dimensional conformal radiotherapy and androgen deprivation therapy, 11 years ago. Urethroscopy and magnetic resonance imaging showed a bulging mass around the prostatic urethra. Transurethral resection of the prostate performed for histopathological diagnosis revealed squamous cell carcinoma.

Conclusion

Hereby, a rare case of secondary squamous cell carcinoma of the prostate after radiotherapy for adenocarcinoma was reported, which was found after 11 years of radiotherapy with symptom of dysuria including urinary hesitancy, difficulty, pain during urination, and low‐serum prostate‐specific antigen levels.
Undifferentiated prostate cancer treated with docetaxel
Authors: Kobayashi Masaki , Yokoyama Minato , Inoue Masaharu , Fujii Yasuhisa
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Undifferentiated prostate cancer is a rare and aggressive disease, and no definitive therapeutic strategy for metastatic undifferentiated prostate cancer has been established.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 70‐year‐old man with undifferentiated prostate cancer and lymph node metastases. Following the patient’s progression after platinum‐based chemotherapy, we initiated treatment with docetaxel, which resulted in a partial response. The patient was alive for 42 months after initiation of docetaxel, maintaining relatively good quality of life with minimal hospital stay.

Conclusion

Docetaxel may be a good therapeutic option for metastatic undifferentiated prostate cancer.
Synthesis, structural, cytotoxic and pharmacokinetic evaluation of some thiosemicarbazone derivatives
Authors: Süleymanoğlu Mediha , Erdem‐Kuruca Serap , Bal‐Demirci Tülay , Özdemir Namık , Ülküseven Bahri , Yaylım İlhan
Published: April 2020

Iron(III) and nickel(II) complexes bearing a thiosemicarbazone framework were synthesized by a one‐pot synthesis method. The structures were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, APCI Mass, conductivity, magnetic moment measurements. Molecular and crystal structures of the iron(III) complex were obtained from single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The findings showed that the metal atom adopts a slightly distorted square‐pyramidal coordination, with the four donor atoms of the thiosemicarbazone ligand defining the basal plane and a chloride atom occupying the apical position. In the crystal lattice, the structure is stabilized by intermolecular O─H···O and C─H···O interactions. The cytotoxic activity was studied by MTT assay, the expression levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes by Western blot, and the lipophilicity (LogP) by using the shake‐flask method, another pharmacokinetic parameter. The findings showed that the IC50 values decreased with the decrease of the LogP values of the substances. Cytochrome P450 expression levels were found specific for each compound and each cell line. As a result, the pharmacokinetic properties of the newly synthesized thiosemicarbazone compounds are crucial for oral administration and provide us with clues for prospective in vivo studies.
CT imaging features of 4121 patients with COVID‐19: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhu Jieyun , Zhong Zhimei , Li Hongyuan , Ji Pan , Pang Jielong , Li Bocheng , Zhang Jianfeng
Published: April 2020

Objective

We systematically reviewed the computed tomography (CT) imaging features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) to provide reference for clinical practice.

Methods

Our article comprehensively searched PubMed, FMRS, EMbase, CNKI, WanFang databases, and VIP databases to collect literatures about the CT imaging features of COVID‐19 from 1 January to 16 March 2020. Three reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies, and then, this meta‐analysis was performed by using Stata12.0 software.

Results

A total of 34 retrospective studies involving a total of 4121 patients with COVID‐19 were included. The results of the meta‐analysis showed that most patients presented bilateral lung involvement (73.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 65.9%‐81.1%) or multilobar involvement (67.3%, 95% CI: 54.8%‐78.7%) and just little patients showed normal CT findings (8.4%). We found that the most common changes in lesion density were ground‐glass opacities (68.1%, 95% CI: 56.9%‐78.2%). Other changes in density included air bronchogram sign (44.7%), crazy‐paving pattern (35.6%), and consolidation (32.0%). Patchy (40.3%), spider web sign (39.5%), cord‐like (36.8%), and nodular (20.5%) were common lesion shapes in patients with COVID‐19. Pleural thickening (27.1%) was found in some patients. Lymphadenopathy (5.4%) and pleural effusion (5.3%) were rare.

Conclusion

The lung lesions of patients with COVID‐19 were mostly bilateral lungs or multilobar involved. The most common chest CT findings were patchy and ground‐glass opacities. Some patients had air bronchogram, spider web sign, and cord‐like. Lymphadenopathy and pleural effusion were rare.
Fungicide isopyrazam degradative response toward extrinsically added fungal and bacterial strains
Authors: Ahmad Khuram Shahzad , Gul Palwasha
Published: April 2020

The current research is a pioneer in the evaluation of isopyrazam biodegradation, which has been performed utilizing soil‐isolated microbes. Biodisintegrative assays of pure fungal strains, namely Aspergillus flavus (AF), Penicillium chrysogenum (PC), Aspergillus niger (AN), Aspergillus terreus (AT), and Aspergillus fumigatus (AFu), and bacterial strains, namely Xanthomonas axonopodis (XA) and Pseudomonas syringae (PS), were utilized. Initial isopyrazam concentration (10 mg/L) was prepared with an individual microbial suspension and monitored for 35 days. Isopyrazam biotransformation was analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by UV–visible spectrophotometery and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy. P. syringae (R2 = 0.90) and X. axonopodis (R2 = 0.88) displayed maximal potential to metabolize the fungicide (86% and 80%, respectively) while forming intermediate metabolites, including 3‐difluoromethyl‐1‐methyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carboxylic acid ((S)‐9‐hydroxy‐9‐isopropyl‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐1,4‐methanonaphthalen‐5‐yl)‐amide, 3‐difluoromethyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐carboxylic acid, and 3‐difluoromethyl‐1‐methyl‐1H‐pyrazole‐4‐amide. Isopyrazam degradation by all strains, AT, PC, AFu, AN, AF, XA, and PS, was found to be 11%, 18%, 21%, 21%, 18%, 30%, 80%, and 86%, respectively, after 35 days, elucidating the effectiveness of all the utilized strains in degrading isopyrazam at varying rates. The descending order of half‐lives (days) obtained is as follows: AT (56.8) > PC (44.7) > AFu (40.7) > AN (39.6) > AF (32.6) > XA (28.1) > PS (21) days. Current research can influence imperative and significant environment‐friendly bioremedial strategies for xenobiotic eradication from the ecological compartments.
Near streambed flow shapes microbial guilds within and across trophic levels in fluvial biofilms
Authors: Risse‐Buhl Ute , Anlanger Christine , Chatzinotas Antonis , Noss Christian , Lorke Andreas , Weitere Markus
Published: April 2020

Flow is an important physical driver of biofilm communities. Here, we tested the effects of the near bed flows in two mountainous stream reaches on the structure of biofilm microbial guilds (autotrophs, heterotrophic bacteria, and heterotrophic protists) within and across trophic levels. Near bed flow velocity and turbulent kinetic energy were important physical drivers for structuring the communities within and across guilds of the multitrophic fluvial biofilms. The effects of flow were nested in a seasonal and spatial (across‐streams) context. Changes in physicochemical factors (temperature, light, dissolved carbon, and nutrients) along the reaches were alike in both streams suggesting that environmental boundary conditions at larger temporal scales were responsible for the seasonal differences of biofilm communities, whereas locally microbial diversity was shaped by near bed flow. Typically, the abundance of autotrophs increased with flow, indicating that biofilms shifted toward increasing autotrophy with increasing shear forces. Filamentous autotrophs seemed to provide protected habitats from the shear forces for smaller sized bacteria. Heterotrophic protist abundance decreased with flow leading to decreasing grazer to prey ratio. Bacteria thus benefitted from a reduction in grazing pressure at faster flowing, more turbulent sites. Our results suggest that near bed flow can impact the magnitude and direction of matter fluxes through the microbial food web and possibly affect ecosystem functioning of fluvial biofilms.
The sharing economy: Psychological mechanisms that affect collaborative consumption
Authors: Viglia Giampaolo
Published: April 2020

The “sharing economy” has been characterized as a technologically enabled ecosystem that is disrupting traditional markets. Due to the growing interest of practitioners and researchers in understanding the psychological drivers of the phenomenon, a special issue of Psychology and Marketing was commissioned. More than 80 manuscripts were submitted and reviewed for this special issue, and 11 were accepted for publication in it. As it happened, three of the 11 accepted papers that were completed and ready for the typesetter early on were actually published in earlier issues of this Journal (see Osman et al., 2019, Psychology and Marketing, 36, pp. 1162–1175; Simon & Roederer 2019, Psychology and Marketing, 36, pp. 1082–1097; Stofberg & Bridoux, 2019, Psychology and Marketing, 36, pp. 1176–1195). This editorial introduces the other eight accepted articles and sets them in the context of four themes (consumer feelings, segmentation of the sharing economy, intrusiveness/codestruction, and societal impact) that would seem to provide a convenient context for framing and understanding future developments in this ever‐dynamic ecosystem.
Phenotype–genotype correlations in a pseudodominant Stargardt disease pedigree due to a novel ABCA4 deletion–insertion variant causing a splicing defect
Authors: Huang Di , Thompson Jennifer A. , Charng Jason , Chelva Enid , McLenachan Samuel , Chen Shang‐Chih , Zhang Dan , McLaren Terri L. , Lamey Tina M. , Constable Ian J. , De Roach John N. , Aung‐Htut May Thandar , Adams Abbie , Fletcher Sue , Wilton Steve D. , Chen Fred K.
Published: April 2020

Background

Deletion–insertion (delins) variants in the retina‐specific ATP‐binding cassette transporter gene, subfamily A, member 4 (ABCA4) accounts for <1% in Stargardt disease. The consequences of these delins variants on splicing cannot be predicted with certainty without supporting in vitro data.

Methods

Candidate ABCA4 variants were revealed by genetic and segregation analysis of a family with pseudodominant Stargardt disease using a commercial panel and Sanger sequencing. RNA extracted from patient‐derived fibroblasts was analyzed by RT‐PCR to evaluate splicing behavior of the ABCA4 variants.

Results

Affected members carrying the novel c.6031_6044delinsAGTATTTAACCAATATTT variant in exon 44 presented with contrasting phenotypes; from early‐onset cone‐rod dystrophy to late‐onset macular dystrophy. This variant resulted in a 56‐nucleotide deletion in the mutant allele by activation of a cryptic splice acceptor site which disrupts the reading frame and results in a premature termination codon (p.Ile2003LeufsTer41). If translated, the crucial functional domains near the C‐terminus would be truncated from the ABCA4 protein.

Conclusion

This work demonstrates the intrafamilial phenotypic variability in a pseudodominant Stargardt disease pedigree and the use of patient‐derived fibroblasts to evaluate the effect of a novel ABCA4 delins variant on splicing to complement in silico pathogenicity assessment.
PyRod Enables Rational Homology Model‐based Virtual Screening Against MCHR1
Authors: Schaller David , Wolber Gerhard
Published: April 2020

Several encouraging pre‐clinical results highlight the melanin‐concentrating hormone receptor 1 (MCHR1) as promising target for anti‐obesity drug development. Currently however, experimentally resolved structures of MCHR1 are not available, which complicates rational drug design campaigns. In this study, we aimed at developing accurate, homologymodel‐based 3D pharmacophores against MCHR1. We show that traditional approaches involving docking of known active small molecules are hindered by the flexibility of binding pocket residues. Instead, we derived three‐dimensional pharmacophores from molecular dynamics simulations by employing our novel open‐source software PyRod. In a retrospective evaluation, the generated 3D pharmacophores were highly predictive returning up to 35 % of active molecules and showing an early enrichment (EF1) of up to 27.6. Furthermore, PyRod pharmacophores demonstrate higher sensitivity than ligand‐based pharmacophores and deliver structural insights, which are key to rational lead optimization.
Characterization of ground states for an M‐coupled system in a bounded domain with critical exponent
Authors: He Qihan , Yang Jing
Published: April 2020

In this paper, we focus on the following M‐coupled system in a bounded domain

where
is bounded and
By purely variational methods, the existence of ground states to the above system under some assumptions on {λi} and {κij} is proved. Furthermore, we discuss the characterization of the ground states under additional conditions about λi(i=1,2,…,M), and we study the number of the ground states, containing the positive ground states and the semitrivial ground states.
Predictive value of 0.35 T magnetic resonance imaging radiomic features in stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy of pancreatic cancer: A pilot study
Authors: Simpson Garrett , Spieler Benjamin , Dogan Nesrin , Portelance Lorraine , Mellon Eric A. , Kwon Deukwoo , Ford John C. , Yang Fei
Published: April 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential and feasibility of radiomic features extracted from low field strength (0.35 T) magnetic resonance images (MRIs) in predicting treatment response for patients with pancreatic cancer undergoing stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT).

Methods

Twenty patients with unresected, non‐metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) were enrolled, all of whom received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by five‐fraction MR‐guided SBRT with a radiation dose range of 33−50 Gy. For each patient, five daily setup scans were acquired from a hybrid 0.35 T MRI/radiotherapy unit. Tumor heterogeneity quantified with radiomic features extracted from the gross tumor volume (GTV) was averaged over the course of treatment. Random forest (RF) and adaptive least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) classification models were constructed to identify radiomics features predictive of treatment response. Predictive capability of the top‐performing features was then evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic area under curve (AUC) obtained using leave‐one‐out cross‐validation.

Results

Half of the 20 patients showed response to treatment, defined by tumor regression on histopathology or tumor response on follow‐up dynamic contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CT). The most predictive features selected by the RF method were GLCM energy and GLSZM gray‐level variance. The RF‐based model achieved an AUC = 0.81 with a 95% confidence interval of [0.594 to 1] The LASSO algorithm selected GLCM energy as the only predictive feature, achieving an AUC = 0.81 with 95% confidence interval of [0.596 to 1].

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that radiomic features extracted during MR‐guided SBRT may contain predictive information about response of PDAC patients to treatment. Using the images acquired during treatment of PDAC patients supports continued expansion of radiomic analysis based on low field strength MR images and may hold the potential for providing timely indications of response to treatment.
Validity of the Mini‐BESTest in adults with myotonic dystrophy type 1
Authors: Duchesne Elise , Hébert Luc J. , Mathieu Jean , Côté Isabelle , Roussel Marie‐Pier , Gagnon Cynthia
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic neuromuscular disease that causes balance problems. The objective of this study was to assess the construct validity of the Mini‐BESTest among adults with DM1.

Methods

Fifty‐nine individuals with late‐onset or adult phenotypes of DM1 were recruited. Participants performed the Mini‐BESTest, 10‐Meter Walk Test (10mWT), 6‐Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Timed Up & Go (TUG) and were questioned on their tendency to lose balance and whether they fell in the past month.

Results

Scores on the Mini‐BESTest were significantly different between phenotypes and CTG repeat numbers (P < .02). Significant correlations were found with the 10mWT, 6MWT, and the TUG (r = 0.77–0.84; P < .001). A cutoff score of 21.5 was found to identify fallers with 90% posttest accuracy.

Discussion

The Mini‐BESTest demonstrates evidence of construct validity when assessing balance in the DM1 population.
Integral equation solution for three‐dimensional heat transfer in multiple‐fracture enhanced geothermal reservoirs
Authors: Liu Dong Dong , Xiang Yan Yong , Zheng Jin Lei
Published: April 2020

For the prediction of energy production from multiple‐fractured geothermal reservoirs, previous models basically focused on the one‐dimensional conduction in the rock containing evenly distributed fractures of equal scale. Here, a novel model is described to numerically investigate the three‐dimensional heat transfer in geothermal reservoirs with unevenly spaced disc fractures of various sizes including the aperture and radius. In terms of the water flow through each fracture, an approximate analytical solution is obtained on the assumption that the water pressure disturbances, induced by the fracture margin and extraction (injection) operation, at the injection (extraction) well center and at different locations within the injection (extraction) well range were approximately equal. By the integral equation scheme for two‐dimensional planar fractures, the three‐dimensional problem of heat exchange is simulated without the reservoir discretization. The singular integral is analytically calculated in polar coordinates whereas the nonsingular integrand is numerically estimated by the Gaussian quadrature method in Cartesian coordinates. Compared with the one‐dimensional simplification, the three‐dimensional heat conduction remarkably alters the prediction of extraction temperature. In addition, the reservoir temperature field is also significantly influenced by the spacings and dimensions of fractures. The present model may be used for the estimation, design, and optimization of a geothermal reservoir.
Marketing from home: Planning for remote collaboration
Authors: Talarico Donna
Published: April 2020

As the deadline for this month's column approached, higher education — and nearly every industry — was presented with myriad challenges, including the move to working remotely. This is a reminder that, with little notice, we might need to move operations elsewhere due to a natural disaster, health pandemic, or other safety or public health emergency.
Balance safety, success when evaluating applicants’ misconduct, criminal background
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: April 2020

You want to keep your current students safe but you also recognize the value of removing barriers that tend to prevent potential students with criminal records from pursuing the education that could give them a fresh start. To achieve the proper balance between these two goals, you'll need an approach that ensures the safety and success of applicants and the overall campus community.
Is Adipose Tissue a Reservoir for Viral Spread, Immune Activation, and Cytokine Amplification in Coronavirus Disease 2019?
Authors: Ryan Paul MacDaragh , Caplice Noel M.
Published: April 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19), the worst pandemic in more than a century, has claimed >125,000 lives worldwide to date. Emerging predictors for poor outcomes include advanced age, male sex, preexisting cardiovascular disease, and risk factors including hypertension, diabetes, and, more recently, obesity. This article posits new obesity‐driven predictors of poor COVID‐19 outcomes, over and above the more obvious extant risks associated with obesity, including cardiometabolic disease and hypoventilation syndrome in intensive care patients. This article also outlines a theoretical mechanistic framework whereby adipose tissue in individuals with obesity may act as a reservoir for more extensive viral spread, with increased shedding, immune activation, and cytokine amplification. This paper proposes studies to test this reservoir concept with a focus on specific cytokine pathways that might be amplified in individuals with obesity and COVID‐19. Finally, this paper underscores emerging therapeutic strategies that might benefit subsets of patients in which cytokine amplification is excessive and potentially fatal.
Exploring feature selection of St John's wort grown under different light spectra using 1H‐NMR spectroscopy
Authors: Miros François N. , Murch Susan J. , Shipley Paul R.
Published: April 2020

Introduction

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate statistical analysis can provide tools to help detect differences in plant chemistry when grown under varying conditions. Hypericum perforatum, or Saint John's wort, plants are a suitable model to explore methods of discrimination between early stage plants grown in different conditions.

Objectives

The purpose of this work was to develop a method for identifying differences in chemical profiles between young Hypericum perforatum plants grown under different lighting conditions.

Material and methods

Cuttings were grown for 3 weeks under different light conditions. Plant extracts were prepared in MeOD‐d4 and analysed by 1H‐NMR. A multivariate analysis method of the NMR data was developed in an effort to determine variations in chemical profiles.

Results

The method identified specific metabolites as drivers of difference between the plants grown under different light conditions. STOCSY (statistical total correlation spectroscopy) and quantification of highlighted metabolites supported the findings of the multivariate analysis. Glutamine, sucrose and fructose were found to be chemical markers of light quality in this study.

Conclusion

NMR metabolomics using a medium field instrument could find differences in plant chemistry when grown in different conditions. This method could easily be extended to benchtop instruments and be used for crop monitoring and growth condition optimisation.
Use of record linkage to evaluate treatment outcomes and trial eligibility in a real‐world metastatic prostate cancer population in Scotland
Authors: Baillie Kelly , Mueller Tanja , Pan Jiafeng , Laskey Jennifer , Bennie Marion , Crearie Christine , Kavanagh Kimberley , Alvarez‐Madrazo Samantha , Morrison David , Clarke Julie , Keel Aileen , Cameron David , Wu Olivia , Kurdi Amanj , Jones Robert J.
Published: April 2020

Purpose

New treatments are introduced into standard care based on clinical trial results. However, it is not clear if these benefits are reflected in the broader population. This study analysed the clinical outcomes of patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer, treated with abiraterone and enzalutamide, within the Scottish National Health Service.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study using record linkage of routinely collected healthcare data (study period: February 2012 to February 2017). Overall survival (OS) was analysed using Kaplan‐Meier methods and Cox Proportional Hazard models; a subgroup analysis comprised potentially trial‐eligible patients.

Results

Overall, 271 patients were included and 73.8% died during the study period. Median OS was poorer than in the pivotal trials, regardless of medication and indication: 10.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 8.6‐15.1) and 20.9 months (95% CI 14.9‐29.0) for abiraterone, and 12.6 months (95% CI 10.5‐18.2) and 16.0 months (95% CI 9.8—not reached) for enzalutamide, post and pre chemotherapy, respectively. Only 46% of patients were potentially “trial eligible” and in this subgroup OS improved. Factors influencing survival included baseline performance status, and baseline prostate‐specific antigen, alkaline phosphatase, and albumin levels.

Conclusions

Poorer prognostic features of non‐trial eligible patients impact real‐world outcomes of cancer medicines. Electronic record linkage of routinely collected healthcare data offers an opportunity to report outcomes on cancer medicines at scale and describe population demographics. The availability of such observational data to supplement clinical trial results enables patients and clinicians to make more informed treatment decisions, and policymakers to contextualise trial findings.
The effects of behavior‐specific praise and public posting in secondary classrooms
Authors: O'Handley Roderick D. , Olmi D. Joe , Dufrene Brad A. , Tingstrom Daniel H. , Whipple Heather
Published: April 2020

Behavior‐specific praise (BSP) and other forms of positive feedback and public acknowledgment are underutilized in secondary classrooms. Surprisingly, few studies have evaluated the independent effects of BSP in these settings. Using a multiple baseline design with an embedded A/B/B + C condition sequence, the purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of BSP and BSP combined with public posting on the appropriately engaged and disruptive behaviors across 4 secondary classrooms. Results supported a functional relation between BSP alone and improvements in students' appropriately engaged and disruptive behaviors. Combining BSP with public posting, which involved writing students' names on the classroom whiteboard, further increased students' appropriately engaged behaviors but had mixed effects on students' disruptive behaviors. Practical implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
Experimental data and numerical modeling of flashing jets of pressure liquefied gases
Authors: Lacome Jean‐Marc , Lemofack Cedric , Jamois Didier , Reveillon Julien , Duret Benjamin , Demoulin Francois‐Xavier
Published: April 2020

In industrial activities involving liquefied pressurized gases (LPG), there are several situations that can lead to hazardous flashing two‐phase jets with toxic and explosive consequences. The objective of this study was to further our comprehension of such phenomena in order to develop tools that will enable operational decisions to be made within the framework of risk assessment. Experimental and numerical models were applied to study the two‐phase jet resulting from any LPG releases. They focus especially on the cooling effect that was evidenced by large‐scale trial experiments on releases of butane and propane carried out during the Flashing Liquids in Industrial Environment project. For LPG release, experimental observations show that the minimum temperature values are far below the boiling temperature. Experimental evidence completed by a new dedicated numerical model (thermodynamic equilibrium model) able to handle both boiling and vaporization phenomena gives a coherent picture of the two‐phase flow behavior after the expansion zone. Experimental data analysis completed by comprehensive numerical simulations provides evidences that the system formed by air, vapor, and liquid droplets tends to reach an equilibrium locally.
Red vine leaf extract (AS 195) can improve some signs and symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency, a systematic review
Authors: Azhdari Maryam , Zilaee Marzie , Karandish Majid , Hosseini Seyed Ahmad , Mansoori Anahita , Zendehdel Mohadeseh , Khodarahpour Sara
Published: April 2020

Aim

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is common in adults. Some complications include skin changes, edema, heavy legs, muscle cramps, pain, and varicose veins. In traditional medicine, red vine leaf extract (AS 195) has been used to cure the symptoms of CVI. This systematic review was aimed to assess the effects of AS 195 in patients with CVI.

Material and methods

A systematic literature search was performed to identify trials that reported the impact of red vine leaf extract on CVI. The primary outcomes investigated were Leg (limb) volume, calf circumference, ankle circumference, tired and heavy legs, a sensation of tension, tingling sensation, and pain.

Results

From the 56 studies, 5 trials were selected according to our inclusion criteria. Red vine leaf extract significantly improved numbers of outcomes (lower leg volume, calf and ankle circumference, tired, heavy legs, tingling sensation, pain, the sensation of tension in the legs, cutaneous microcirculation, and transcutaneous oxygen pressure) in only some trials. The tolerability for red vine leaf extract was reported good or satisfactory.

Conclusions

Red vine leaf extract had a beneficial therapeutic role in patients with CVI. Further high‐quality trials are required to be carried out to provide strong evidence.
Robotic radical hysterectomy for stage 1B1 cervical cancer: A case series of survival outcomes from a leading UK cancer centre
Authors: Patel Hersha , Madhuri Kavitha , Rockell Thomas , Montaser Rugaia , Ellis Patricia , Chatterjee Jayanta , Butler‐Manuel Simon , Tailor Anil
Published: April 2020

Background

We present the largest UK single institute robotic radical hysterectomy (RRH) case series for the management of cervical cancer (CC).

Methods

Data were collected on women who had a RRH as primary treatment for stage 1b1 CC between December 2009 and December 2018.

Results

Ninty women had a robotic hysterectomy. Five‐year follow‐up data were available for 30%. The disease‐free survival at 5 years was 89.6%. Overall survival at 3 and 5 years for death from any cause was 96.1% and 91.4%, respectively. The overall 5‐year survival for death from disease only was 92.8%. Overall survival by tumour size alone showed that women with tumours less than 2 cm had a 98.3% 5‐year survival compared to 83.4% for tumour size greater than 2 cm. Irrespective of tumour size, those that had no evidence of lymphovascular space invasion had a 100% 5‐year survival.

Conclusion

Our preliminary data supports the oncological safety of RRH in a selective cohort of patients with stage 1b1 CC.
Design and testing of a trap removing Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis, H. Milne Edwards, 1853) from invaded river systems
Authors: Schoelynck Jonas , Van Loon Paul , Heirmans Ritchie , Jacobs Steven , Keirsebelik Heleen
Published: April 2020

The Chinese mitten crab is one of the top invasive species in Europe. In Flanders (Belgium), they are associated with river ecosystem degradation, especially the loss of aquatic vegetation and associated ecosystem services. Management measures have therefore been put in place to reduce the number of crabs migrating between the sea and freshwater areas and ultimately control the population. Although we are still long way from the goal, a low‐cost method has been applied to successfully catch migrating crabs. In this article, we outline the design and functioning of the trap. We monitored the population in a lowland river, measured migration speeds and calculated crab densities. With over 1 million crabs caught in 2 years, the trap proved to be very effective. Median anadromous (spring) and catadromous (autumn) migration speeds were 0.69 and 0.96 km day−1, respectively. Anadromous migrating crab density was calculated to be up to 3.20 ind. m−2 river bed. Resident crab density was calculated to be up to 2.05 ind. m−2 river bed. We conclude that this trap is a very useful tool for water managers to catch Chinese mitten crabs in rivers and discuss the pathways towards reducing the population and protect the entire freshwater catchment.
The value of farming: Multifaceted wealth generation through cooperative development
Authors: Franzen Sarah
Published: April 2020

The Attala County Self‐Help Cooperative, based in Mississippi, United States, formed with the intention of helping rural African American farmers utilize their land resources and enhance their farm productivity. Productivity is central to the activities of the cooperative. Yet, its members emphasize other forms of wealth that farming sustains, including self‐reliance, the maintenance of a Black agrarian lifestyle, the support and development of a local community, and the social valuation of Black farmers. From this perspective, the cooperative is more than a means to resist or compete within an exploitative system. The cooperative generates wealth‐in‐people as an alternative value system formed around farming, community, and the Black farmer.
Vancomycin Grafted Polydopamine Coated Silver Nanoparticles for Enhanced Antibacterial Action Against Vancomycin‐Resistant Bacteria E. Faecalis.
Authors: Patel Khushbu , Kumar Rajender
Published: April 2020

A wide variety of pathogens causing nosocomial infections have emerged, showing resistance towards commonly used antimicrobial agents. Nosocomial infections are rapidly emerging as a severe threat leading to high morbidity and mortality. In this study, we have introduced Vancomycin grafted polydopamine(pDA) coated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to combat vancomycin‐resistant bacterial species Enterococci faecalis ( E.faecalis). The prepared nanoparticles were characterized by High Resolution ‐Transmission Electron Microscopy (HR‐TEM), Energy Dispersive X‐ray Spectroscopy (EDS), Ultraviolet (UV) Visible spectroscopy and Attenuated Total Reflection‐Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR‐FTIR). The nanoparticles were 33 nm in size as revealed by HR‐TEM. Antimicrobial assays were conducted to investigate the antimicrobial activity of vancomycin‐pDA@AgNPs against E. faecalis by a zone of inhibition method. The vancomycin‐pDA@AgNPs exhibited good bactericidal activity against vancomycin‐resistant E. faecalis.
Mass Transfer Modeling of α‐Eleostearic Acid from Tung Oil Concentration by Low‐Temperature Crystallization
Authors: Cheng Jiang , Liu Lujie , Huang Lixin , Zhang Caihong , Xie Pujun , Deng Yejun , Tang Kehua
Published: April 2020

With the significant attention paid to α‐eleostearic acid (α‐ESA) in a variety of biologically beneficial effects, the demand for high‐concentration products is increasing. A method of cryogenic separation to predict the mass variation of α‐ESA from tung oil was established in this study. The results showed that the best α‐ESA crystallization condition was −20 °C in ethanol, which implied a low energy consumption when compared with the common crystallization temperature of −60 °C. The α‐ESA concentration in the liquid phase was reduced by 90.4% compared to tung oil, and most of the α‐ESA in the solution was recovered by mass transfer. On the other hand, a mathematical model based on the diffusion reaction theory is used in mass variation prediction. The effects of temperature and time on the mass variation in α‐ESA in solution crystallization were examined. The results showed that the proposed model could estimate the composition and total mass of winterized tung oil at R2=0.974. The model was validated by experiments with an error of ±10%.