bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation and Evaluation of a Three‐Dimensional Virtual Reality Biology Lab versus Conventional Didactic Practices in Lab Experimenting with the Photonic Microscope
Authors: Paxinou Evgenia , Panagiotakopoulos Christos T. , Karatrantou Anthi , Kalles Dimitrios , Sgourou Argyro
Published: October 2019

This study presents the integration of three different teaching scenarios, during biology laboratory lessons, with the overall aim of exploring the potential predominant effectiveness of teaching and improvement of students' learning, by the use of the three‐dimensional virtual reality educational tool Onlabs, versus more traditional didactic practices. A sample of 83, fourth year, undergraduate students of the Primary Education Department of Patras' University in Greece, were equally separated into three cognitively balanced groups to be educated on the light microscopy experiment by three different educational scenarios. Students' conceptual understanding in the domain of microscopy, was evaluated during all learning procedure with Pre and Post tests, whereas their skill to handle properly a real light microscope in the wet biology lab was summatively assessed via a specially designed work sheet. Results of the present study provide evidence in favor of the virtual reality application. © 2019 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 48(1):21–27, 2020.
Safe zone for lateral pin placement for external fixation of the distal humerus
Authors: Tang Lan , Yishake Mumingjiang , Ye Chenyi , Hade Haisaier , Li Zhanchun , He Rongxin
Published: October 2019

External fixation is a common, efficient technique used for humeral shaft stabilization and elbow fractures. There are reports of radial nerve injuries associated with this procedure. In this study, we investigated the course and variability of the radial nerve along the lateral humerus in relation to the elbow joint to determine a relatively safe zone for lateral pin placement in external fixation. Twenty upper extremities from 10 cadavers were studied. The nerve branches and course of the radial nerve along the lateral humerus were carefully dissected. Straight lines (a, b, and c) were made connecting three landmarks (the acromion, coracoid process, and anterior wall of the axilla) in the proximal upper extremity to the lateral condyle (LC) of the humerus; their intersections with the radial nerve (A, B, and C) were marked. We analyzed whether the intersection positions were correlated with the connecting line lengths. The mean lengths of the connecting lines were (a) 27.24 ± 2.57, (b) 26.18 ± 2.79, and (c) 20.95 ± 1.44 cm; the distance between the intersection points and the LC of the humerus were (Aa) 7.56 ± 1.31, (Bb) 6.90 ± 2.27, and (Cc) 5.01 ± 0.83 cm; and the measured intersection points of the radial nerve in the lateral aspect of the humerus were (A) 18.48%–34.82%, (B) 13.48%–40.00%, and (C) 19.27%–28.05% of the lengths of lines a, b, and c, respectively. Our data provide a more reliable reference to predict the course of the radial nerve on the lateral humerus and define a safe zone for pin placement. Clin. Anat., 33:637–642, 2020. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quercetin as an innovative therapeutic tool for cancer chemoprevention: Molecular mechanisms and implications in human health
Authors: Rather Rafiq A. , Bhagat Madhulika
Published: October 2019

Cancer is a life‐threatening disease afflicting human health worldwide. Recent advances in drug discovery infrastructure and molecular approaches have helped a lot in identifying the novel drug targets for therapeutic intervention. Nevertheless, the morbidity and mortality rates because of this disease keep on rising at an alarming rate. Recently, the use of natural and synthetic molecules as innovative therapeutic tools for cancer prevention has lead to the development of cancer chemoprevention. Cancer chemoprevention is a prophylactic strategy that involves the chronic administration of one or more natural or synthetic agents to block, to inhibit, or to suppress the process of cancer development before it becomes an invasive disease. Quercetin, a dietary bioflavonoid, can specifically retard the growth of cancer cells and behaves as a potent cancer chemopreventive agent. Quercetin has multiple intracellular targets in a cancer cell. Therefore, many mechanisms have been postulated to explain its chemopreventive action. The chemopreventive effects elicited by this natural molecule in different model systems are believed to include antioxidant/pro‐oxidant action, regulation of redox homeostasis, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, anti‐inflammatory action, modulation of drug metabolizing enzymes, alterations in gene expression patterns, inhibition of Ras gene expression, and modulation of signal transduction pathways. However, cell signaling networks have recently garnered attention as common molecular target for various chemopreventive effects of quercetin. In this review, we made an attempt to critically summarize the emerging knowledge on the role of quercetin in cancer chemoprevention and the underlying molecular mechanisms implicated in its chemopreventive and therapeutic effects.
Response‐adapted treatment with rituximab, bendamustine, mitoxantrone, and dexamethasone followed by rituximab maintenance in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma after first‐line immunochemotherapy: Results of the RBMDGELTAMO08 phase II trial
Authors: Peñalver Francisco‐Javier , Márquez José‐Antonio , Durán Soledad , Giraldo Pilar , Martín Alejandro , Montalbán Carlos , Sancho Juan‐Manuel , Ramírez María‐José , Terol María‐José , Capote Francisco‐Javier , Gutiérrez Antonio , Sánchez Blanca , López Andrés , Salar Antonio , Rodríguez‐Caravaca Gil , Canales Miguel , Caballero María‐Dolores ,   on behalf of GELTAMO (The Spanish Lymphoma Cooperative Group)
Published: October 2019

Background

Consensus is lacking regarding the optimal salvage therapy for patients with follicular lymphoma who relapse after or are refractory to immunochemotherapy.

Methods

This phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of response‐adapted therapy with rituximab, bendamustine, mitoxantrone, and dexamethasone (RBMD) in follicular lymphoma patients who relapsed after or were refractory to first‐line immunochemotherapy. Sixty patients received three treatment cycles, and depending on their response received an additional one (complete/unconfirmed complete response) or three (partial response) cycles. Patients who responded to induction received rituximab maintenance therapy for 2 years.

Results

Thirty‐three (55%) and 42 (70%) patients achieved complete/unconfirmed complete response after three cycles and on completing induction therapy (4‐6 cycles), respectively (final overall response rate, 88.3%). Median progression‐free survival was 56.4 months (median follow‐up, 28.3 months; 95% CI, 15.6‐51.2). Overall survival was not reached. Progression‐free survival did not differ between patients who received four vs six cycles (P = .6665), nor between patients who did/did not receive rituximab maintenance after first‐line therapy (P = .5790). Median progression‐free survival in the 10 refractory patients was 25.5 months (95% CI, 0.6‐N/A) and was longer in patients who had shown progression of disease after 24 months of first‐line therapy (median, 56.4 months; 95% CI, 19.8‐56.4) than in those who showed early progression (median, 42.31 months; 95% CI, 24.41–NA) (P = .4258). Thirty‐six (60%) patients had grade 3/4 neutropenia. Grade 3/4 febrile neutropenia and infection were recorded during induction (4/60 [6.7%] and 5/60 [8.3%] patients, respectively) and maintenance (2/43 [4.5%] and 4/43 [9.1%] patients, respectively).

Conclusions

This response‐adapted treatment with RBMD followed by rituximab maintenance is an effective and well‐tolerated salvage treatment for relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma following first‐line immunochemotherapy.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT01133158.
Clinical candidate and genistein analogue AXP107‐11 has chemoenhancing functions in pancreatic adenocarcinoma through G protein‐coupled estrogen receptor signaling
Authors: Mesmar Fahmi , Dai Bingbing , Ibrahim Ahmed , Hases Linnea , Jafferali Mohammed Hakim , Jose Augustine Jithesh , DiLorenzo Sebastian , Kang Ya'an , Zhao Yang , Wang Jing , Kim Michael , Lin Chin‐Yo , Berkenstam Anders , Fleming Jason , Williams Cecilia
Published: October 2019

Despite advances in cancer therapeutics, pancreatic cancer remains difficult to treat and often develops resistance to chemotherapies. We have evaluated a bioavailable genistein analogue, AXP107‐11 which has completed phase Ib clinical trial, as an approach to sensitize tumor cells to chemotherapy. Using organotypic cultures of 14 patient‐derived xenografts (PDX) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, we found that addition of AXP107‐11 indeed sensitized 57% of cases to gemcitabine treatment. Results were validated using PDX models in vivo. Further, RNA‐Seq from responsive and unresponsive tumors proposed a 41‐gene treatment‐predictive signature. Functional and molecular assays were performed in cell lines and demonstrated that the effect was synergistic. Transcriptome analysis indicated activation of G‐protein‐coupled estrogen receptor (GPER1) as the main underlying mechanism of action, which was corroborated using GPER1‐selective agonists and antagonists. GPER1 expression in pancreatic tumors was indicative of survival, and our study proposes that activation of GPER1 may constitute a new avenue for pancreatic cancer therapeutics.
Should clinical suspicion shift to ampicillin resistance organisms in certain preterm premature rupture of membranes scenarios?: Case of early‐onset sepsis caused by E coli
Authors: Bandu Anirudh , Barone Anthony , Parab Santosh , Lakhi Nisha
Published: October 2019

This case highlights the importance antibiotic stewardship, including reexamining current regimens use for intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, which may be accountable for the shift in organism responsible for some cases of early‐onset sepsis.
Anaplastic multiple myeloma resembling dysplastic megakaryocytes
Authors: Xie Wei , Tang Guilin , Li Shaoying , Yin C. Cameron , Xu Jie
Published: October 2019

Anaplastic multiple myeloma (AMM) is a very rare morphologic variant of multiple myeloma with extremely poor prognosis. The anaplastic morphology of AMM may pose a diagnostic challenge. A thorough workup is critical in reaching the correct diagnosis.
Muscular hypotonia as an onset manifestation of Tuberculosis meningitis in an HIV‐negative patient
Authors: Daghmouri Mohamed Aziz , Cherni Imen , Rebai Lotfi , Ghouibi Cheima , Ghedira Salma , Houissa Mohamed
Published: October 2019

Muscular hypotonia is considered as one of the rarest forms of initial onset signs of TBM, in addition to aphasia and hyponatremia, the awareness of those rare onset signs, a well‐conducted diagnostic approach and early treatment can improve the outcome.
High areal capacitance of Fe3O4‐decorated carbon nanotubes for supercapacitor electrodes
Authors: Nawwar Mohamed , Poon Ryan , Chen Ri , Sahu Rakesh P. , Puri Ishwar K. , Zhitomirsky Igor
Published: October 2019

A conceptually new approach has been developed for the fabrication of magnetite (Fe3O4)‐decorated carbon nanotubes (M‐CNTs) for negative electrodes of electrochemical supercapacitors. M‐CNTs were prepared by an ultrasonic‐assisted chemical synthesis method, which involved dispersion of functionalized CNTs in water, Fe3O4 formation on the CNTs surface, and particle extraction through liquid‐liquid interface (PELLI). Palmitic acid was found to be an efficient new extractor for PELLI. The slurries produced after drying and redispersing M‐CNTs and slurries obtained using PELLI were used for electrode fabrication. The electrodes prepared using PELLI showed superior performance due to reduced particle agglomeration. Testing results provided an insight into the influence of Fe3O4/CNTs mass ratio on the capacitance and capacitance retention at high charge‐discharge rates. A capacitance of 5.82 F cm−2 (145.4 F g−1) was achieved in Na2SO4 electrolyte using electrodes with high active mass of 40 mg cm−2 and ratio of active mass to current collector mass of 0.6. Good electrochemical performance was achieved at low impedance. The capacitance of the negative M‐CNTs electrodes was comparable with capacitance of advanced positive MnO2‐CNTs electrodes, which was beneficial for the fabrication of asymmetric devices. The asymmetric device has been fabricated, which showed promising performance in a voltage window of 1.6 V.
Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence from a Series of 3‐Pyridylcarbazole Derivatives
Authors: Sasabe Hisahiro , Kato Yuki , Watanabe Yuichiro , Ohsawa Tatsuya , Aizawa Naoya , Fujiwara Wataru , Pu Yong‐Jin , Katagiri Hiroshi , Kido Junji
Published: October 2019

Exploration of pure metal‐free organic molecules that exhibit strong room‐temperature phosphorescence (RTP) is an emerging research topic. In this regard, unveiling the design principles for an efficient RTP molecule is an essential, but challenging, task. A small molecule is an ideal platform to precisely understand the fundamental role of each functional component because the parent molecule can be easily derivatized. Here, the RTP behaviors of a series of 3‐pyridylcarbazole derivatives are presented. Experimental studies in combination with theoretical calculations reveal the crucial role of the n orbital on the central pyridine ring in the dramatic enhancement of the intersystem crossing between the charge‐transfer‐excited singlet state and the locally excited triplet states. Single‐crystal X‐ray crystallographic studies apparently indicate that both the pyridine ring and fluorine atom contribute to the enhancement of the RTP because of the restricted motion owing to weak C−H⋅⋅⋅N and H⋅⋅⋅F hydrogen‐bonding interactions. The single crystal of the fluorine‐substituted derivative shows an ultra‐long phosphorescent lifetime (τP) of 1.1 s and a phosphorescence quantum yield (ΦP) of 1.2 %, whereas the bromine‐substituted derivative exhibits τP of 0.15 s with a ΦP of 7.9 %. We believe that this work provides a fundamental and universal guideline for the generation of pure organic molecules exhibiting strong RTP.
Identification of key residues that regulate the interaction of kinesins with microtubule ends
Authors: Belsham Hannah R. , Friel Claire T.
Published: October 2019

Kinesins are molecular motors that use energy derived from ATP turnover to walk along microtubules, or when at the microtubule end, regulate growth or shrinkage. All kinesins that regulate microtubule dynamics have long residence times at microtubule ends, whereas those that only walk have short end‐residence times. Here, we identify key amino acids involved in end binding by showing that when critical residues from Kinesin‐13, which depolymerises microtubules, are introduced into Kinesin‐1, a walking kinesin with no effect on microtubule dynamics, the end‐residence time is increased up to several‐fold. This indicates that the interface between the kinesin motor domain and the microtubule is malleable and can be tuned to favour either lattice or end binding.
Improving on‐time colorectal cancer screening through lead time messaging
Authors: Jones Whitney F. , Ahnen Dennis J. , Schroy Paul C.
Published: October 2019

Screening rates for colorectal cancer have increased steadily in recent years among individuals aged 55 years and older but remain unacceptably low for younger individuals, especially those at an increased risk due to family history. Herein, the authors describe a novel lead time messaging program aimed at increasing on‐time screening for both average‐risk individuals and those at increased risk because of a family history of colorectal cancer or advanced adenomas.
Nonconsumptive predator effects modify crayfish‐induced bioturbation as mediated by limb loss: Field and mesocosm experiments
Authors: Dunoyer Luc A. , Coomes Dakota , Crowley Philip H.
Published: October 2019

We addressed the implications of limb loss and regeneration for multispecies interactions and their impacts on ecosystem engineering in freshwater stream environments.

We included regenerative and nonregenerative crayfish as well as fish predators in a 2 × 2 factorial design to assess the effects on water turbidity of interactions between crayfish ecosystem engineers differing in regenerative status and their fish predators.

We demonstrated that crayfish limb loss and predation risks lead to more turbidity in field and mesocosm conditions. Moreover, ongoing regeneration of crayfish increased turbidity, while fish presence seemed to hinder crayfish turbidity‐inducing behaviors (such as tail‐flipping and burrowing) in the mesocosm experiment.

We confirmed that greater numbers of crayfish produce a greater amount of turbidity in situ in streams.

Although mechanical burrowing crayfish capacities may depend on crayfish burrowing classification (primary, secondary, or tertiary), our work emphasizes the implication for turbidity levels of crayfish autotomy in freshwater streams.
Novel insights into how the mean and heterogeneity of abiotic conditions together shape forb species richness patterns in the Allegheny plateau ecoregion
Authors: Catella Samantha A. , Eysenbach Sarah R. , Abbott Karen C.
Published: October 2019

While plant community theory tends to emphasize the importance of abiotic heterogeneity along niche axes, much empirical work seeks to characterize the influence of the absolute magnitude of key abiotic variables on diversity. Both magnitude (as reflected, e.g., by a mean) and heterogeneity (variance) in abiotic conditions likely contribute to biodiversity patterns in plant communities, but given the large number of putative abiotic drivers and the fact that each may vary at different spatiotemporal scales, the challenge of linking observed biotic patterns with the underlying environment remains acute. Using monitoring data from a natural resource agency, we compared how well statistical models of the mean, heterogeneity, and both the mean and heterogeneity combined of 17 abiotic factor variables explained patterns of forb species richness in Northeast Ohio, USA. We performed our analyses at two spatial scales, repeated in spring and summer across four forest types. Although all models explained a great deal of the variance in species richness, models including both the mean and heterogeneity of different abiotic factors together outperformed models including either the mean or the heterogeneity of abiotic factors alone. Variability in forb species richness was mostly due to changes in mean calcium levels regardless of forest type. After accounting for forest type, we were able to attribute variation in forb species richness to changes in the heterogeneity of different abiotic factors as well. Our results suggest that multiple mechanisms act simultaneously according to different aspects of the abiotic environment to structure forb communities, and this underscores the importance of considering both the magnitude of and heterogeneity in multiple abiotic factors when looking for links between the abiotic environment and plant community patterns. Finally, we identify novel patterns across spatial scales, forest types, and seasons that can guide future research in this vein.

OPEN RESEARCH BADGES

This article has earned an Open Data Badge for making publicly available the digitally‐shareable data necessary to reproduce the reported results. The data is available at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.kp3cb17.
Rewiring and indirect effects underpin modularity reshuffling in a marine food web under environmental shifts
Authors: D'Alelio Domenico , Hay Mele Bruno , Libralato Simone , Ribera d'Alcalà Maurizio , Jordán Ferenc
Published: October 2019

Species are characterized by physiological and behavioral plasticity, which is part of their response to environmental shifts. Nonetheless, the collective response of ecological communities to environmental shifts cannot be predicted from the simple sum of individual species responses, since co‐existing species are deeply entangled in interaction networks, such as food webs. For these reasons, the relation between environmental forcing and the structure of food webs is an open problem in ecology. To this respect, one of the main problems in community ecology is defining the role each species plays in shaping community structure, such as by promoting the subdivision of food webs in modules—that is, aggregates composed of species that more frequently interact—which are reported as community stabilizers.

In this study, we investigated the relationship between species roles and network modularity under environmental shifts in a highly resolved food web, that is, a “weighted” ecological network reproducing carbon flows among marine planktonic species. Measuring network properties and estimating weighted modularity, we show that species have distinct roles, which differentially affect modularity and mediate structural modifications, such as modules reconfiguration, induced by environmental shifts.

Specifically, short‐term environmental changes impact the abundance of planktonic primary producers; this affects their consumers’ behavior and cascades into the overall rearrangement of trophic links. Food web re‐adjustments are both direct, through the rewiring of trophic‐interaction networks, and indirect, with the reconfiguration of trophic cascades. Through such “systemic behavior,” that is, the way the food web acts as a whole, defined by the interactions among its parts, the planktonic food web undergoes a substantial rewiring while keeping almost the same global flow to upper trophic levels, and energetic hierarchy is maintained despite environmental shifts. This behavior suggests the potentially high resilience of plankton networks, such as food webs, to dramatic environmental changes, such as those provoked by global change.
Dual Amperometric Immunosensor for Improving Cancer Metastasis Detection by the Simultaneous Determination of Extracellular and Soluble Circulating Fraction of Emerging Metastatic Biomarkers
Authors: Valverde Alejandro , ben Hassine Amira , Serafín Verónica , Muñoz‐San Martín Cristina , Pedrero María , Garranzo‐Asensio María , Gamella Maria , Raouafi Noureddine , Barderas Rodrigo , Yáñez‐Sedeño Paloma , Campuzano Susana , Pingarrón José M.
Published: October 2019

This paper reports the development of a dual immunosensor using magnetic microcarriers (MBs) and amperometric transduction at dual screen‐printed carbon electrodes (SPdCEs) for the simultaneous determination of two biomarkers: interleukin‐13 receptor α2 (IL‐13Rα2) and E‐cadherin (E‐CDH), with both extracellular and soluble fraction; oncogenic and tumor suppressor markers, respectively, of great relevance in metastatic processes. The implemented methodology involved the formation of sandwich‐type immunocomplexes using specific capture antibodies immobilized onto carboxylic acid magnetic microbeads (HOOC‐MBs), and biotinylated detector antibodies labeled with streptavidin−horseradish peroxidase conjugates (Strep‐HRP). The amperometric detection was performed by addition of hydrogen peroxide in the presence of hydroquinone (HQ) as the redox mediator. The dual immunosensing platform provided linear calibration ranges suitable for the determination of both biomarkers in liquid and solid clinical specimens as well as excellent selectivity against other cancer biomarkers. This simple handling dual bioplatform was applied to the determination of the soluble and extracellular fraction of the target biomarkers in serum and paraffined‐embedded tissues from colorectal cancer (CRC) patients diagnosed at different tumor grade. The obtained results reveal great potential of this configuration to improve the reliability in diagnosing metastatic CRC.
Do the concepts of “life course approach” and “developmental origins of health and disease” underpin current maternity care? Study protocol
Authors: Jacob Chandni Maria , Lawrence Wendy T. , Inskip Hazel M. , McAuliffe Fionnuala M. , Killeen Sarah Louise , Hanson Mark
Published: October 2019

Objective

To explore the knowledge of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concepts among midwives and obstetricians and to identify barriers and facilitators for clinicians to engage women and their partners before or early in pregnancy on risk factors associated with DOHaD, and thus to embed the concept of DOHaD in routine clinical practice.

Methods

A qualitative study using semi‐structured interviews will be conducted in Ghana, India, Pakistan, Brazil, the UK, and USA in collaboration with the International Confederation of Midwives and the International Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Participants will be contacted via email and telephone interviews will be conducted until data saturation followed by inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Findings from this exploratory study will provide new knowledge about the perspectives of midwives and obstetricians on DOHaD and their role in preventing the intergenerational passage of non‐communicable disease (NCD) risk and improving preconception care.

Conclusion

This study will help us understand the current use of DOHaD principles in international maternity care and how this can be improved. Bringing DOHaD to clinical practice will help healthcare practitioners adopt a long‐term approach in the prevention of NCDs and childhood obesity and will help women to enter pregnancy in optimum health.
Label‐free spectroscopic tissue characterization using fluorescence excitation‐scanning spectral imaging
Authors: Favreau Peter F. , Deal Joshua A. , Harris Bradley , Weber David S. , Rich Thomas C. , Leavesley Silas J.
Published: October 2019

Spectral imaging approaches provide new possibilities for measuring and discriminating fluorescent molecules in living cells and tissues. These approaches often employ tunable filters and robust image processing algorithms to identify many fluorescent labels in a single image set. Here, we present results from a novel spectral imaging technology that scans the fluorescence excitation spectrum, demonstrating that excitation‐scanning hyperspectral image data can discriminate among tissue types and estimate the molecular composition of tissues. This approach allows fast, accurate quantification of many fluorescent species from multivariate image data without the need of exogenous labels or dyes. We evaluated the ability of the excitation‐scanning approach to identify endogenous fluorescence signatures in multiple unlabeled tissue types. Signatures were screened using multi‐pass principal component analysis. Endmember extraction techniques revealed conserved autofluorescent signatures across multiple tissue types. We further examined the ability to detect known molecular signatures by constructing spectral libraries of common endogenous fluorophores and applying multiple spectral analysis techniques on test images from lung, liver and kidney. Spectral deconvolution revealed structure‐specific morphologic contrast generated from pure molecule signatures. These results demonstrate that excitation‐scanning spectral imaging, coupled with spectral imaging processing techniques, provides an approach for discriminating among tissue types and assessing the molecular composition of tissues. Additionally, excitation scanning offers the ability to rapidly screen molecular markers across a range of tissues without using fluorescent labels. This approach lays the groundwork for translation of excitation‐scanning technologies to clinical imaging platforms.
The role of glucose homeostasis on immune function in response to exercise: The impact of low or higher energetic conditions
Authors: Von Ah Morano Ana E. , Dorneles Gilson P. , Peres Alessandra , Lira Fábio S.
Published: September 2019

Immune cells are bioenergetically expensive during activation, which requires tightly regulated control of metabolic pathways. Both low and high glycemic conditions can modulate immune function. States of undernourishment depress the immune system, and in the same way, excessive intake of nutrients, such as an obesity state, compromise its functioning. Multicellular organisms depend on two mechanisms to survive: the regulation and ability to store energy to prevent starvation and the ability to fight against infection. Synergic interactions between metabolism and immunity affect many systems underpinning human health. In a chronic way, the breakdown of glycemic homeostasis in the body can influence cells of the immune system and consequently contribute to the onset of diseases such as type II diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's, and fat and lean mass loss. On the contrary, exercise, recognized as a primary strategy to control hyperglycemic disorders, also induces a coordinated immune‐neuro‐endocrine response that acutely modulates cardiovascular, respiratory, and muscle functions and the immune response to exercise is widely dependent on the intensity and volume that may affect an immunodepressive state. These altered immune responses induced by exercise are modulated through the “stress hormones” adrenaline and cortisol, which are a threat to leukocyte metabolism. In this context, carbohydrates appear to have a positive acute response as a strategy to prevent depression of the immune system by maintaining plasma glucose concentrations to meet the energy demand from all systems involved during strenuous exercises. Therefore, herein, we discuss the mechanisms through which exercise may promotes changes on glycemic homeostasis in the metabolism and how it affects immune cell functions under higher or lower glucose conditions.
Effect of sodium hypochlorite on the cyclic fatigue resistance: A scanning electron microscopy evaluation
Authors: Ertuğrul İhsan F.
Published: October 2019

The main purpose of this study was to compare the cyclic fatigue resistances of the three different nickel–titanium files in 2.5% sodium hypochlorite solution and distilled water at physiologic intracanal temperature (35°C). Three NiTi files such as One Curve (OC) (Micro‐Mega, Besancon, France), OneShape (OS) (Micro‐Mega), and Protaper Next (PTN) X2 (Dentsply Sirona, Ballaigues, Switzerland) were tested for cyclic fatigue resistance inside artificial stainless steel canal block with curvature 60° and 5 mm radius. The block was fixed inside a hot water bath of distilled water or 2.5% sodium hypochlorite and the temperature was set at 35 ± 1°C. The number of cycles to fracture data were recorded and all the fracture surfaces of files were evaluated by using scanning electron microscopy. The number of cyclic to fracture data were analyzed statistically via Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests. OC showed the highest cyclic fatigue resistance at distilled water while PTN X2 showed the lowest cyclic fatigue resistance at 2.5% sodium hypochlorite. When cycling fatigue test medium were changed from distilled water to sodium hypochlorite solution, the resistance of the files to cyclic fatigue were decreased. SEM analysis confirmed that all scanned samples were fractured due to cyclic fatigue. The OC rotary instruments have more cyclic resistance than OS and PTN X2. The sodium hypochlorite solution reduces the resistance of the rotary instruments.
The class of (P7,C4,C5)‐free graphs: Decomposition, algorithms, and χ‐boundedness
Authors: Cameron Kathie , Huang Shenwei , Penev Irena , Sivaraman Vaidy
Published: October 2019

As usual, () denotes the path on vertices, and () denotes the cycle on vertices. For a family of graphs, we say that a graph is ‐free if no induced subgraph of is isomorphic to any graph in . We present a decomposition theorem for the class of ‐free graphs; in fact, we give a complete structural characterization of ‐free graphs that do not admit a clique‐cutset. We use this decomposition theorem to show that the class of ‐free graphs is ‐bounded by a linear function (more precisely, every ‐free graph satisfies ). We also use the decomposition theorem to construct an algorithm for the minimum coloring problem, an algorithm for the maximum weight stable set problem, and an algorithm for the maximum weight clique problem for this class, where denotes the number of vertices and the number of edges of the input graph.
On the statistical analysis of rainstorm events between historical (1777–1907) and modern (1961–2010) periods in Seoul, Korea
Authors: Jun Changhyun , Qin Xiaosheng , Tung Yeou‐Koung , De Michele Carlo
Published: October 2019

In this study, an event‐based approach for developing precipitation indices of extreme hydrological events was proposed to analyse characteristics of rainstorm events over long‐term periods. Statistical properties of hourly rainfall data were summarized from the retrieved rainstorm events between historical (1777–1907) and modern (1961–2010) periods at Seoul rain gauge station, Korea. The trends and variations of rainstorm events reflecting rainfall depth/duration/intensity thresholds and annual maximum rainstorm events with the largest rainfall depths in these two periods were analysed and compared. The study results indicated that, at a 5% significance level, there were differences in the means and variances of the number of rainstorm events and the average rainfall depth/intensity per storm. For the historical period, the average rainfall depth, duration and intensity per storm with total rainfall durations had a temporal linear trend with slopes of 0.011 mm year−1, 0.027 hr year−1, and −0.009 mm hr−1 year−1, respectively; whereas, a general decreasing trend was detected during the modern period with slopes of −0.218 mm year−1, −0.076 hr year−1, and − 0.010 mm hr−1 year−1, respectively. In terms of annual maximum rainfall depth, no significant temporal trend was found in the historical period but an increasing trend (with a slope of 0.710 mm year−1) was detected for the modern period. This study was the first attempt to investigate the variability of rainfall characteristics in Seoul, Korea with high‐resolution historical data dating back to almost 250 years ago, using a storm‐event‐based concept which defined precipitation indices with a holistic consideration of the number of events and their rainfall depth, duration, and intensity.
How a river submerges into the sea: a geological record of changing a fluvial to a marine paleoenvironment during early Holocene sea level rise
Authors: HEPP D.A. , ROMERO O.E. , MÖRZ T. , DE POL‐HOLZ R. , HEBBELN D.
Published: October 2019

Coastal seas, and in particular estuarine systems, were significantly affected by Quaternary sea level changes. Furthermore, the dynamics of shelf and coastal evolution have had a strong impact on coastal landscapes inhabited by humans. The postglacial evolution of the vast North Sea shelf with its huge drainage systems, e.g. the Elbe Paleovalley and its tributary system, is an excellent research target to understand how coastal shelf environments change in response to sea level rise. In this study, we investigate infill sediments of the Paleo‐Ems valley – a drowned extension of the modern Ems River and part of the Elbe Paleovalley drainage system. Radiocarbon‐dated transgression sequences provide several new observations regarding the mode and rate of the river system submerging due to the Holocene transgression. Thus, the Paleo‐Ems valley submerged within a short time span of~200 years since the river was not able to adjust its gradient to the rapid rising sea level. The fate of the Paleo‐Ems is exemplary for the rapid change of a former fluvial landscape into a coastal landscape and finally into a submarine seascape. © 2019 The Authors.Journal of Quaternary SciencePublished by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Liquid chromatographic determination of trace levels of nitrophenols in water samples after dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction
Authors: Sohaniyan Maryam , Manoochehri Mahboobeh , Daghighi Asli Maryam
Published: October 2019

An efficient and fast dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction method was developed using MIL‐101(Cr)/poly (mercaptobenzothiazole)@magnetite nanoparticles for the preconcentration and determination of nitrophenols in river and rain water samples. High‐performance liquid chromatography‐Ultraviolet instrument was applied for the analysis of target nitrophenols. The effect of several variables on the extraction performance was explored via design of experiment approach. Limits of detection and linear dynamic ranges were attained in the range of 0.05–0.10 µg/L and 0.2–250 µg/L, respectively. The enrichment factors were in the range of 317–363. The precision (n = 3) of dispersive magnetic solid phase extraction method was in the range of 5.3–6.8%. Eventually, the method was utilized for the analysis of target nitrophenols in river and rain water samples.
Elevated Troponin: A Marker for Noncardiac Complications After Resection of Head and Neck Cancers
Authors: McHugh Tobial , Zhang Han , Xie Michael , Gupta Michael K.
Published: October 2019

Objective

To examine if troponin positivity (TP) in patients who undergo head and neck cancer mucosal resections (HNS) predicts noncardiac complications (NCC).

Background

Major HNSs are arduous operations that place stress on the patient's hemodynamic system. TP after noncardiac surgery previously has been shown in up to 25% of patients, which may signal cardiac complications (CC) or NCC. Although CC after HNS has been observed, no study has investigated the relationship of TP to NCC.

Methods

All patients who underwent HNS at a tertiary‐care cancer center from July 2014 to July 2016 were included and underwent postoperative troponin measurements as part of an institutional cardiac protocol. Comparative and multivariate regression analysis were used to compare TP and troponin‐negative (TN) patients for NCC.

Results

One hundred seventy‐two patients underwent HNS. Of those, 15% developed TP during the postoperative period. There was no significant difference between TP and TN for gender, tumor‐node‐metastasis staging, Charlson comorbidity index, and smoking status. Risk of NCC in TP was 73.1% versus 28.1% in TN (P < 0.001). A significant difference (P < 0.05) in wound complications, length of hospital stay (LOHS), and incidence of pneumonia was found between both groups. Nonparametric testing confirmed significant difference in pneumonia (Z = −3.469, P = 0.001) and LOHS (−3.110, P = 0.002). Multivariate regression analysis confirmed a significant difference in LOHS independent of CC (R2 = 0.122, P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

TP is not an uncommon occurrence after HNS and is associated with statistically significant increases in wound complications, LOHS, and pneumonia. However, the overall significance of these findings remains unclear, and further research is warranted to determine if outcomes may be improved by closely monitoring these patients for TP.

Level of Evidence

4 Laryngoscope, 130:2148–2152, 2020
Developing pathways to clarify pathogenicity of unclassified variants in Osteogenesis Imperfecta genetic analysis
Authors: Balasubramanian Meena , Hobson Emma , Skae Mars , McCaughey Janine , Stephens David J.
Published: October 2019

Background

With increased access to genetic testing, variants of uncertain significance (VUS) where pathogenicity is uncertain are being increasingly identified. More than 85% Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) patients have pathogenic variants in COL1A1/A2. However, when a VUS is identified, there are no pathways in place for determining significance.

Objective

Define a diagnostic pathway to confirm pathogenicity, providing patients with definitive genetic diagnosis, accurate recurrence risks, and prenatal testing options.

Methods

Functional studies on collagen secretion from cultured patient fibroblasts combined with detailed phenotyping and segregation family studies.

Results

We demonstrate data from a family with a VUS identified in type I collagen.

Family‐1

Six‐year‐old boy with failure‐to‐gain weight, talipes, fractures, on and off treatment with Pamidronate as diagnosis of OI uncertain. Transiliac bone biopsy at 2 years of age demonstrated active new bone formation within periosteum; bone cortices were normal thickness but increased porosity. Trabecular bone showed features of advanced osteoporosis. Genetic testing identified a de novo COL1A1 c.206_208delTGT, p.Leu69del variant. Sibling with similar phenotype but no fractures as yet, tested positive for variant raising concerns regarding her diagnosis, and management.

Results from three independent experiments (cell immunofluorescence, collagen secretion assay by Western Blot, and unbiased proteomics) from cultured patient fibroblasts demonstrate COL1A1 c.206_208delTGT, p.Leu69del variant causing a substantial defect to collagen extracellular matrix assembly confirming variant pathogenicity.

Conclusion

Access to genetic testing in OI is increasing as advances in genetic technologies decreases cost; a clinical diagnostic pathway needs to be implemented for managing variants identified by such testing.
Malan syndrome in a patient with 19p13.2p13.12 deletion encompassing NFIX and CACNA1A genes: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Bellucco Fernanda T. , de Mello Claudia B. , Meloni Vera A. , Melaragno Maria Isabel
Published: October 2019

Background

Malan syndrome is a recently introduced overgrowth disorder described in a limited number of individuals. Haploinsufficiency and also point mutations of NFIX gene have been proposed as its leading causative mechanism, however, due to the limited number of cases and different deletion sizes, genotype/phenotype correlations are still limited.

Methods

Here, we report the first Brazilian case of Malan syndrome caused by a 990 kb deletion in 19p13.2p13.12, focusing on clinical and behavioral aspects of the syndrome.

Results

The patient presented with macrocephaly, facial dysmorphisms, hypotonia, developmental delay, moderate thoracolumbar scoliosis, and seizures. The intellectual and behavioral assessments showed severe cognitive, language, and adaptive functions impairments. The 19p deleted region of our patient encompasses NFIX, CACNA1A, which seems to be related to a higher frequency of seizures among individuals with microdeletions in 19p13.2, and 15 other coding genes, including CC2D1A and NACC1, both known to be involved in neurobiological process and pathways.

Conclusion

Deletions involving NFIX gene should be considered in patients with overgrowth during childhood, macrocephaly, developmental delay, and seizures, as well as severe intellectual disability.
Integrated Analys of High‐Fat Challenge‐Induced Changes in Blood Cell Whole‐Genome Gene Expression
Authors: Matualatupauw Juri C. , O'Grada Colm , Hughes Maria F. , Roche Helen M. , Afman Lydia A. , Bouwman Jildau
Published: October 2019

Scope

Several studies have examined the whole‐genome gene expression response in blood cells to high‐fat challenges with differing results. The study aims to identify consistently up‐ or downregulated genes and pathways in response to a high‐fat challenge using several integration methods.

Methods and results

Three studies measuring the gene expression response to a high‐fat challenge in white blood cells are evaluated for common trends using several integration methods. Overlap in differentially expressed genes between separate studies is examined, p‐values of each separate study are combined, and data are analyzed as one merged dataset. Differentially expressed genes and pathways are compared between these methods. Selecting genes differentially expressed in the three separate studies result in 67 differentially expressed genes, primarily involved in circadian pathways. Using the Fishers p‐value method and a merged dataset analysis, changes in 1097 and 1182 genes, respectively, are observed. The upregulated genes upon a high‐fat challenge are related to inflammation, whereas downregulated genes are related to unfolded protein response, protein processing, cholesterol biosynthesis, and translation.

Conclusion

A general gene expression response to a high‐fat challenge is identified. Compared to separate analyses, integrated analysis provides added value for the discovery of a consistent gene expression response.
Multislot type ultra‐wideband electromagnetic bandgap structure for simultaneous switching noise mitigation
Authors: Choi Jun‐Ho , Kwon Ho‐Sang , Yang Jin‐Mo
Published: October 2019

A compact and cost effective multislot type electromagnetic bandgap (EBG) structure for high noise isolation in ultra‐wideband applications is proposed. The proposed multislot type structure is a hybrid EBG structure with multislot in an alternating impedance EBG unit cell to achieve both the excellent noise isolation and the bandwidth improvement of the noise suppression. This type of the hybrid structure shows a high noise suppression ability of above −40 dB in an ultra‐wideband stop frequency range from 3 to 20 GHz. The performance of the proposed multislot type EBG structure is evaluated and verified by comparing the simulated and measured results.
Equivalent short forms of the Situational Feature Recognition Test 2: Psychometric properties and analysis of interform equivalence and test–retest reliability
Authors: Gómez‐Gastiasoro Ainara , Peña Javier , Zubiaurre‐Elorza Leire , Ibarretxe‐Bilbao Naroa , Ojeda Natalia
Published: October 2019

Objective

To obtain two equivalent short forms of the “Situational Feature Recognition Test, Version 2,” a social perception test, and their psychometric properties.

Methods

Patients with schizophrenia (n = 101) were assessed at two different times. Statistical analyses were performed as follows: (1) Cronbach's alpha was used to assess reliability; (2) Spearman correlations, Wilcoxon signed‐rank test, and a 2 (form) × 2 (time) repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance were used to analyse interform equivalence; (3) Sensitivity to change was studied by a 2 (group) × 2 (time) repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance; (4) Spearman correlations were employed to assess test–retest reliability, convergent and discriminant validity, and relationship with functionality and symptoms.

Results

The short forms showed good internal consistency at both times. Significant and moderate correlation between forms was found along with no statistically significant form x time interaction. Hits and false positives of both forms were moderately correlated at both times. Group x time interaction was significant especially for hits when assessing sensitivity to change. Both forms were significantly correlated with other social cognition domains and with functionality.

Conclusions

Results of this study support the use of short forms of the Situational Feature Recognition Test, Version 2 especially in clinical trials and longitudinal studies among patients with schizophrenia.
Can Healthy Sleep Improve Long‐Term Bariatric Surgery Outcomes? Results of a Pilot Study and Call for Further Research
Authors: Zuraikat Faris M. , Thomas Elsa , Roeshot Devon , Gallagher Dympna , St‐Onge Marie‐Pierre
Published: October 2019

Healthy sleep is associated with lower body weight and could improve and sustain weight loss following bariatric surgery. To support this premise, preliminary data on the relation between sleep duration and quality and long‐term weight change in a subsample of participants from the Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery are presented. Results indicate a relation between sleep duration and BMI and percent weight loss 9 years after surgery. Additionally, sleep quality explained 25% of the variance in weight change between 6‐ and 9‐year follow‐up visits. These data from a small exploratory study, in combination with the known effects of sleep on energy balance, suggest that sleep may play an important role in both immediate and sustained weight loss following bariatric surgery. Herein, a model of the proposed bidirectional relation between sleep and weight loss is presented as well as a call for systematic investigations of the influence of sleep on long‐term weight management following bariatric surgery.