bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Too much is bad: increasing numbers of livestock and conspecifics reduce body mass in an avian scavenger
Authors: Donázar José A. , Barbosa Jomar M. , García‐Alfonso Marina , van Overveld Thijs , Gangoso Laura , de la Riva Manuel
Published: March 2020

Individual traits such as body mass can serve as early warning signals of changes in the fitness prospects of animal populations facing environmental impacts. Here, taking advantage of a 19‐yr monitoring, we assessed how individual, population, and environmental factors modulate long‐term changes in the body mass of Canarian Egyptian vultures. Individual vulture body mass increased when primary productivity was highly variable, but decreased in years with a high abundance of livestock. We hypothesized that carcasses of wild animals, a natural food resource that can be essential for avian scavengers, could be more abundant in periods of weather instability but depleted when high livestock numbers lead to overgrazing. In addition, increasing vulture population numbers also negatively affect body mass suggesting density‐dependent competition for food. Interestingly, the relative strength of individual, population and resource availability factors on body mass changed with age and territorial status, a pattern presumably shaped by differences in competitive abilities and/or age‐dependent environmental knowledge and foraging skills. Our study supports that individual plastic traits may be extremely reliable tools to better understand the response of secondary consumers to current and future natural and human‐induced environmental changes.
Sexual and gender minority individuals report higher rates of abuse and more severe eating disorder symptoms than cisgender heterosexual individuals at admission to eating disorder treatment
Authors: Mensinger Janell L. , Granche Janeway L. , Cox Shelbi A. , Henretty Jennifer R.
Published: March 2020

Eating disorders (EDs) occur at higher rates among sexual/gender minorities (SGMs). We currently know little about the risk factor profile of SGMs entering ED specialty care.

Objective

To (a) compare history of abuse‐related risk in SGMs to cisgender heterosexuals (CHs) when entering treatment, (b) determine if SGMs enter and exit treatment with more severe ED symptoms than CHs, and (c) determine if SGMs have different rates of improvement in ED symptoms during treatment compared to CHs.

Method

We analyzed data from 2,818 individuals treated at a large, US‐based, ED center, 471 (17%) of whom identified as SGM. Objective 1 was tested using logistic regression and Objectives 2 and 3 used mixed‐effects models.

Results

SGMs had higher prevalence of sexual abuse (OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.71, 2.58), other trauma (e.g., verbal/physical/emotional abuse; OR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.68, 2.54), and bullying (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.73, 2.62) histories. SGMs had higher global EDE‐Q scores than CHs at admission (γ = 0.42, SE = 0.08, p < .001) but improved faster early in treatment (γ = 0.316, SE = 0.12, p = .008). By discharge, EDE‐Q scores did not differ between SGMs and CHs.

Discussion

Our main hypothesis of greater abuse histories among SGMs was supported and could be one explanation of their more severe ED symptoms at treatment admission compared to CHs. In addition, elevated symptom severity in SGMs at admission coincides with greater delay between ED onset and treatment initiation among SGMs—possibly a consequence of difficulties with ED recognition in SGMs by healthcare providers. We recommend increased training for providers on identifying EDs in SGMs to reduce barriers to early intervention.
Synthesis and Characterization of a Layered Scandium MOF Containing a Sulfone‐Functionalized V‐Shaped Linker Molecule
Authors: Rönfeldt Pia , Reinsch Helge , Faßheber Nancy , Terraschke Huayna , Stock Norbert
Published: March 2020

A new scandium metal‐organic framework (MOF) with the composition [Sc(OH)(SDBA)], denoted Sc‐CAU‐11, was synthesized under solvothermal reaction conditions using 4,4‐sulfonyldibenzoic acid (H2SDBA), as a V‐shaped linker molecule. The crystal structure was refined from powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD) data employing the Rietveld method and using the structural model of the isostructural aluminium compound. Sc‐CAU‐11 crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma and is composed of chains of trans corner‐sharing ScO6 octahedra. The chains are connected by the linker molecules to form layers with intralayer porosity and an ABAB stacking sequence. Detailed characterization was carried out by elemental analysis, IR‐spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, gas sorption and luminescence measurements. Sc‐CAU‐11 shows a high thermal stability up to 500 °C in air, which is confirmed by temperature‐depended PXRD measurements. The optical properties were tuned by substituting Sc3+ ions in Sc‐CAU‐11 with trivalent europium and terbium ions and strong temperature as well as excitation dependent optical emission is observed.
Synthesis of Benzyl C‐Analogues of Dapagliflozin as Potential SGLT2 Inhibitors
Authors: Mukkamala Ramesh , Kumar Roshan , Banerjee Sanjay K. , Aidhen Indrapal Singh
Published: March 2020

Sodium‐glucose co‐transporter (SGLT) inhibitors are a novel class of therapeutic agents for the treatment of type 2 diabetes based on blocking of renal reabsorption of glucose. Dapagliflozin, a C‐aryl glucoside, has emerged as a successful drug in the market based on this concept. We have synthesized hitherto unreported C‐benzyl glucoside analogues of Dapagliflozin carrying the same aglycon present in the drug. The synthetic strategy involves in situ generation of functionalized arylmagnesium bromide with Weinreb‐amide (WA) functionality for the first time, and addition on to the 1‐β‐formyl‐2,3,4,6‐tetra‐O‐benzyl‐D‐glucopyranoside for the synthesis of a C‐benzyl glucoside building block 16. The WA functionality therein enabled variation in the nature of the distal ring of biarylmethane aglycon for convenient access to other analogues. All the new compounds were screened for their sodium‐glucose co‐transporters (SGLT1 and SGLT2) inhibition activity using cell‐based nonradioactive fluorescence glucose uptake assay. Among them, 14 with IC50: 0.64 nm emerged as the most potent SGLT2 inhibitor with the best selectivity for inhibition of SGLT2 (IC50:0.64 nm) over SGLT1 (IC50: 500 nm) as compare to Dapagliflozin. On the other hand, compound 15a exhibited moderate selectivity for inhibition of SGLT2 (IC50: 4.94 nm) over SGLT1 (IC50: 68.46 nm). These results presented herein amply demonstrate the promise of C‐benzyl analogues of Dapagliflozin as novel SGLT2 inhibitors for future investigations.
The impact of trading restrictions and margin requirements on stock index futures
Authors: Hu Jianqiang , Wang Tianxiang , Hu Wenwei , Tong Jun
Published: March 2020

Stock index futures in Chinese market have consistently diverged from their theoretical values. In this paper, we try to provide some explanations by proposing an equilibrium model. Although the model itself does not provide analytical solutions, it enables us to conduct extensive numerical studies and compare them with our empirical results on two major Chinese market indices, CSI300 and SSE50. Our results show that the divergence of stock index futures prices from their theoretical values may be due to various trading and regulatory constraints, such as position limits and margin requirements, which play significant roles in Chinese market.
Late Miocene constrictional strain in the northern Apennines: A case study from the Barabarca metaconglomerate (Elba Island, Italy)
Authors: Papeschi Samuele
Published: March 2020

Finite strain analyses were performed on a deformed metaconglomerate from the Calamita Unit in the Island of Elba. The Calamita Unit is a synkinematic contact aureole that was shaped by Late Miocene contractional deformation coeval with high‐temperature metamorphism. The metaconglomerate occurs as an L‐tectonite in the footwall of a major thrust, entirely surrounded by S‐tectonites developed in schistose rocks. Object lineations, defined by the preferred orientation of clasts, trend subparallel to the stretching lineations in the associated rocks. Quartz microstructures registered ductile deformation of clasts by grain boundary migration to bulging recrystallization, suggesting temperature decrease during deformation. Rf/ϕ analyses were carried out on three metaconglomerate samples using quartzite clasts as markers. The finite strain data show that the metaconglomerates are strongly deformed in the constrictional field with K values between ~3 and ~7. The constrictional deformation registered by the metaconglomerate with respect to the surrounding metapelites, which likely deformed under plane strain, can be interpreted as the result of flow partitioning in rheologically heterogeneous sequences during deformation. These results suggest the presence of significant strain gradients in the Calamita Unit, strictly associated with heterogeneously distributed ductile shear zones.
Neurofunctional correlates of eye to hand motor transfer
Authors: Modroño Cristián , Socas Rosario , Hernández‐Martín Estefanía , Plata‐Bello Julio , Marcano Francisco , Pérez‐González José M. , González‐Mora José L.
Published: March 2020

This work investigates the transfer of motor learning from the eye to the hand and its neural correlates by using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and a sensorimotor task consisting of the continuous tracking of a virtual target. In pretraining evaluation, all the participants (experimental and control group) performed the tracking task inside an MRI scanner using their right hand and a joystick. After which, the experimental group practiced an eye‐controlled version of the task for 5 days using an eye tracking system outside the MRI environment. Post‐training evaluation was done 1 week after the first scanning session, where all the participants were scanned again while repeating the manual pretraining task. Behavioral results show that the training in the eye‐controlled task produced a better performance not only in the eye‐controlled modality (motor learning) but also in the hand‐controlled modality (motor transfer). Neural results indicate that eye to hand motor transfer is supported by the motor cortex, the basal ganglia and the cerebellum, which is consistent with previous research focused on other effectors. These results may be of interest in neurorehabilitation to activate the motor systems and help in the recovery of motor functions in stroke or movement disorder patients.
Drug‐Induced Liver Injury in GI Practice
Authors: Sandhu Naemat , Navarro Victor
Published: March 2020

Although drug‐induced liver injury (DILI) is a rare clinical event, it carries significant morbidity and mortality, leaving it as the leading cause of acute liver failure in the United States. It is one of the most challenging diagnoses encountered by gastroenterologists. The development of various drug injury networks has played a vital role in expanding our knowledge regarding drug‐related and herbal and dietary supplement–related liver injury. In this review, we discuss what defines liver injury, epidemiology of DILI, its biochemical and pathologic patterns, and management.
Evaluation of glycoprotein E subunit and live attenuated varicella‐zoster virus vaccines formulated with a single‐strand RNA‐based adjuvant
Authors: Lee Su Jeen , Park Hyo‐Jung , Ko Hae Li , Lee Jung Eun , Lee Hyun Joo , Kim Hun , Nam Jae‐Hwan
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Varicella‐zoster virus (VZV), a human alphaherpesvirus 3, elicits both chickenpox and shingles and/or postherpetic neuralgia. A live attenuated vaccine (LAV) and glycoprotein E (gE) subunit vaccine were developed to prevent VZV‐induced diseases. We recently reported that single‐strand RNA (ssRNA) based on the intergenic region of the internal ribosome entry site of cricket paralysis virus (CrPV) is an effective adjuvant for protein‐based and virus‐like particle‐based vaccines. Here, Chinese hamster ovary expression system and an LAV from Oka/SK strains.

Methods

We appraised the adjuvant effect of the same CrPV ssRNA encoding the gE gene formulated in the two vaccines using VZV‐primed C57BL/6 mice and guinea pigs. Humoral immunity and cell‐mediated immunity were assessed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and ELISPOT in gE subunit vaccine and by ELISA and fluorescent antibody to membrane antigen in LAV.

Results

The gE subunit vaccine‐induced gE‐specific antibodies and CD4+ T‐cell responses (indicated by interferon‐γ [IFN‐γ] and interleukin‐2 secretion) in the ssRNA‐based adjuvant containing the VZV gE gene. Therefore, an ssRNA adjuvant combined with gE antigen can trigger the innate immune response and induce an adaptive immune response to ultimately activate humoral and cell‐mediated responses. VZV LAV could also induce VZV‐specific antibodies and IFN‐γ stimulated by LAV, whereas the effect of ssRNA as a vaccine adjuvant could not be confirmed. However, the ssRNA adjuvant increased VZV‐specific neutralizing antibody response.

Conclusions

Taken together, these results highlight that the gE subunit vaccine and LAV developed in this study can be functional VZV vaccines, and ssRNAs appear to function better as adjuvants in a subunit vaccine than in an LAV.
Ovarian cancer‐derived copy number alterations signatures are prognostic in chemoradiotherapy‐treated head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Essers Paul B.M. , van der Heijden Martijn , Vossen David , de Roest Reinout H. , Leemans C. René , Brakenhoff Ruud H. , van den Brekel Michiel W.M. , Bartelink Harry , Verheij Marcel , Vens Conchita
Published: March 2020

DNA copy number alterations (CNAs) are frequent in cancer, and recently developed CNA signatures revealed their value in molecular tumor stratification for patient prognosis and platinum resistance prediction in ovarian cancer. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is also characterized by high CNAs. In this study, we determined CNA in 173 human papilloma virus‐negative HNSCC from a Dutch multicenter cohort by low‐coverage whole genome sequencing and tested the prognostic value of seven cancer‐derived CNA signatures for these cisplatin‐ and radiotherapy‐treated patients. We find that a high CNA signature 1 (s1) score is associated with low values for all other signatures and better patient outcomes in the Dutch cohorts and The Cancer Genome Atlas HNSCC data set. High s5 and s7 scores are associated with increased distant metastasis rates and high s6 scores with poor overall survival. High cumulative cisplatin doses result in improved outcomes in chemoradiotherapy‐treated HNSCC patients. Here we find that tumors high in s1 or low in s6 are most responsive to a change in cisplatin dose. High s5 values, however, significantly increase the risk for metastasis in patients with low cumulative cisplatin doses. Together this suggests that the processes causing these CNA signatures affect cisplatin response in HNSCC. In conclusion, CNA signatures derived from a different cancer type were prognostic and associated with cisplatin response in HNSCC, suggesting they represent underlying molecular processes that define patient outcome.
A NEW NON‐TUNED SELF‐ADAPTIVE MACHINE‐LEARNING APPROACH FOR SIMULATING THE DISCHARGE COEFFICIENT OF LABYRINTH WEIRS
Authors: Norouzi Payam , Rajabi Ahmad , Izadbakhsh Mohammad Ali , Shabanlou Saeid , Yosefvand Fariborz , Yaghoubi Behrouz
Published: March 2020

In this study, the labyrinth weir discharge coefficient was simulated using the self‐adaptive extreme learning machine (SAELM) artificial intelligence model in two cases: normal orientation labyrinth weirs (NLWs) and inverted orientation labyrinth weirs (ILWs). First, the most optimized neuron of the hidden layer was computed. The number of hidden layer neurons was calculated as 30. Also, by analysing the results of different activation functions, it was concluded that the sigmoid activation function has higher accuracy than the others. Next, the superior model was identified by conducting a sensitivity analysis. The model approximated the discharge coefficient of labyrinth weirs with reasonable accuracy. For example, the R2, scatter index and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient for the best model were estimated as 0.966, 0.034 and 0.964, respectively. In addition, the ratio of the total head above the weir to the height of the weir crest (HT/P) and the ratio of length of apex geometry to width of a single cycle (A/w) were identified as the most effective parameters. Furthermore, the uncertainty analysis results indicated that the superior model had an overestimated performance. Then, a relationship was proposed in terms of all input variables for the superior model. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Reading Motivation in High School: Instructional Shifts in Student Choice and Class Time
Authors: Allred Johnny B. , Cena Michael E.
Published: March 2020

Research has shown that student choice of text and increased time spent on reading independently are two factors that can result in an increase in students’ reading motivation and enjoyment. The authors investigated implementation of evidence‐based practices to show how they played out in a high school English language arts classroom. The research was guided by two questions: (1) How does choice affect the reading motivation of a group of high school students? (2) How does silent reading time in class affect these students’ perceptions of reading? Findings reveal that students valued freedom of text choice, leading to increased reading self‐concepts and reading value. In addition, dedicating class time to reading and literature circle discussions helped students have more positive reading experiences than otherwise. These findings suggest benefits from flexibility in literature selection and instructional time, thereby providing a space in the classroom for student‐driven reading and discussion.
Mechanisms and individuality in chromium toxicity in humans
Authors: Pavesi Thelma , Moreira Josino Costa
Published: March 2020

With regards to health, chromium (Cr) is an ambiguous chemical element. Although it is considered to be an important micronutrient, it also is connected with several pathologies, including carcinogenicity. The mechanism of action of Cr and its compounds in humans is not yet fully understood. Currently, three possible mechanisms have been proposed for carcinogenesis: Cr(VI)‐induced multistage carcinogenesis, genomic instability, and epigenetic modification. Therefore, in addition to the toxicity of this metal and its ions, human susceptibility to Cr‐induced pathologies depends on external factors and individual characteristics, such as enzymatic polymorphisms, carriers, endogenous reducing system, adduct formation and stability, and efficiency of DNA repair mechanisms, among other factors. In fact, the variability of individual molecular constitutive factors, such as individual polymorphisms, creates an individualized environment for Cr toxicity. This mini‐review contemplates the essential variables in this process.
Gut microbiota and lipid metabolism alterations in mice induced by oral cadmium telluride quantum dots
Authors: Li Xiaohui , Hu Yun , Lv Yangfan , Gao Yu , Yuwen Lihui , Yang Wenjing , Weng Lixing , Teng Zhaogang , Wang Lianhui
Published: March 2020

The potential toxicity of cadmium‐containing quantum dots (QDs) has received much attention because of increasing biomedical applications. However, little has been known about how cadmium telluride (CdTe) QDs influence the gut microbiota and lipid metabolism. In this study, mice were exposed orally to CdTe QDs (200 μL of 0.2, 2, 20 or 200 μm; twice per week) for 4 weeks. The oral experiments showed CdTe QD exposure led to a decrease of the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio of gut microbiota, which highly negatively correlated with the low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in serum. In addition, the low‐dose (0.2 and 2 μm) CdTe QDs significantly increased the diversity of gut microbiota, and did not elevate the LDL, TG and TC levels in serum. The medium dose (20 μm) of CdTe QDs caused the biggest decrease of the F/B ratio, so it significantly increased the LDL, TG and TC levels compared with the control. Furthermore, high‐dose (200 μm) CdTe QDs caused various toxicities in the histopathology of liver and intestine, liver function and intestinal immunity, but did not significantly lead to changes of the LDL, TG and TC levels in serum. This study demonstrates that high‐dose oral CdTe QDs mainly lead to tissue damage of the liver and intestine, while the medium and low doses of oral CdTe QDs induce shifts of gut microbiota structure, which are associated with blood lipid levels.
Relaxation time constant based optical coherence elastography
Authors: Zhang Duo , Li Chunhui , Huang Zhihong
Published: March 2020

This study aimed at visualizing relative relaxation time constant (RTC) in soft tissue by using optical coherence elastography (OCE). We proposed a forced vibration model as a theoretical base to express RTC using axial gradient of periodic vibration phase captured by phase sensitive optical coherence tomography (PhS‐OCT). Validation of the model had been accomplished by experiments with isotropic and double‐layered phantoms. A fresh chicken breast sample treated with focused ultrasound was prepared to test performance of the RTC‐OCE in real tissue. All results were cross‐validated with indentation test and traditional strain‐based elastography. This study first utilized RTC mapping in 2D and 3D that covers the information of both elasticity and viscosity. The generated RTC mapping revealed the same mechanical difference internal sample which is correlated with conventional strain mapping. RTC mapping is potentially to be served as new biomarker for disease diagnosis in the future.
An improved recursive construction for disjoint Steiner quadruple systems
Authors: Etzion Tuvi , Zhou Junling
Published: March 2020

Let be the number of pairwise disjoint Steiner quadruple systems (SQS) of order . A simple counting argument shows that and a set of such systems is called a large set. No nontrivial large set was constructed yet, although it is known that they exist if  or is large enough. When and or , we present a recursive construction and prove a recursive formula on , as follows:
The related construction has a few advantages over some of the previously known constructions for pairwise disjoint SQSs.
Novel treatment for gastric intestinal metaplasia, a precursor to cancer
Authors: Lam Shiu Kum , Lau George
Published: March 2020

Background and Aim

Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is precancerous with a worldwide prevalence of 25%. Eradicating Helicobacter pylori prevented about half of gastric cancers; failure to prevent the rest was attributed to GIM. GIM is irreversible and often extensive. There is no treatment. Existing endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is designed to treat early gastric cancer of usually <2 cm. We designed a two‐endoscope technique of EMR for extensive lesions such as GIM.

Methods

Forty patients with histologically confirmed moderate to severe GIM (operative link on GIM [OLGIM] classification) received the treatment in a daycare center. Chromoendoscopy with methylene blue was first performed to indicate the GIM. Submucosal saline injections were used to lift the stained mucosa to form multiple safety cushions, which were transformed into artificial polyps by suction and ligation, using a cap familiar to gastroenterologists for ligation of esophageal varices. EMRs were then achieved by snare polypectomy. By rotating two gastroscopes, one was designated to perform lift and snare and the other to perform suction and ligation; cycles of lift–ligate–snare were performed until all stained mucosa was removed. Assessment chromoendoscopy with ≥seven biopsies was performed at 6 months.

Results

A total of 227 EMRs were performed, with a median of 3.5 per patient. Bleeding was uncommon and minimal. Gastric perforation ascribable to loss of a safety cushion occurred in one patient. Chromoendoscopy at 6 months in 36 willing patients showed no recurrence of GIM.

Conclusion

The two‐endoscope technique of EMR for GIM was essentially safe and effective, with no recurrence at 6 months. It could be performed by endoscopists with standard skills.
Edge proximity and matching extension in projective planar graphs
Authors: Fujisawa Jun , Seno Hiroki
Published: March 2020

A graph with at least vertices is said to be distance ‐extendable if, for any matching of with edges in which the edges lie at distance at least pairwise, there exists a perfect matching of containing . In this paper we prove that every 5‐connected triangulation on the projective plane of even order is distance 3 7‐extendable and distance 4 ‐extendable for any .
Shutter‐Speed DCE‐MRI Analyses of Human Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) Data
Authors: Bai Ruiliang , Wang Bao , Jia Yinhang , Wang Zejun , Springer Charles S. , Li Zhaoqing , Lan Chuanjin , Zhang Yi , Zhao Peng , Liu Yingchao
Published: March 2020

Background

The shutter‐speed model dynamic contrast‐enhanced (SSM‐DCE) MRI pharmacokinetic analysis adds a metabolic dimension to DCE‐MRI. This is of particular interest in cancers, since abnormal metabolic activity might happen.

Purpose

To develop a DCE‐MRI SSM analysis framework for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cases considering the heterogeneous tissue found in GBM.

Study Type

Prospective.

Subjects

Ten GBM patients.

Field Strength/Sequence

3T MRI with DCE‐MRI.

Assessments

The corrected Akaike information criterion (AICc) was used to automatically separate DCE‐MRI data into proper SSM versions based on the contrast agent (CA) extravasation in each pixel. The supra‐intensive parameters, including the vascular water efflux rate constant (kbo), the cellular efflux rate constant (kio), and the CA vascular efflux rate constant (kpe), together with intravascular and extravascular–extracellular water mole fractions (pb and po, respectively) were determined. Further error analyses were also performed to eliminate unreliable estimations on kio and kbo.

Statistical Tests

Student's t‐test.

Results

For tumor pixels of all subjects, 88% show lower AICc with SSM than with the Tofts model. Compared to normal‐appearing white matter (NAWM), tumor tissue showed significantly larger pb (0.045 vs. 0.011, P < 0.001) and higher kpe (3.0 × 10−2 s−1 vs. 6.1 × 10−4 s−1, P < 0.001). In the contrast, significant kbo reduction was observed from NAWM to GBM tumor tissue (2.8 s−1 vs. 1.0 s−1, P < 0.001). In addition, kbo is four orders and two orders of magnitude greater than kpe in the NAWM and GBM tumor, respectively. These results indicate that CA and water molecule have different transmembrane pathways. The mean tumor kio of all subjects was 0.57 s−1.

Data Conclusion

We demonstrate the feasibility of applying SSM models in GBM cases. Within the proposed SSM analysis framework, kio and kbo could be estimated, which might be useful biomarkers for GBM diagnosis and survival prediction in future.

Level of Evidence

4

Technical Efficacy

Stage 1 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:850–863.
Deep‐Learning Detection of Cancer Metastases to the Brain on MRI
Authors: Zhang Min , Young Geoffrey S. , Chen Huai , Li Jing , Qin Lei , McFaline‐Figueroa J. Ricardo , Reardon David A. , Cao Xinhua , Wu Xian , Xu Xiaoyin
Published: March 2020

Background

Approximately one‐fourth of all cancer metastases are found in the brain. MRI is the primary technique for detection of brain metastasis, planning of radiotherapy, and the monitoring of treatment response. Progress in tumor treatment now requires detection of new or growing metastases at the small subcentimeter size, when these therapies are most effective.

Purpose

To develop a deep‐learning‐based approach for finding brain metastasis on MRI.

Study Type

Retrospective.

Sequence

Axial postcontrast 3D T1‐weighted imaging.

Field Strength

1.5T and 3T.

Population

A total of 361 scans of 121 patients were used to train and test the Faster region‐based convolutional neural network (Faster R‐CNN): 1565 lesions in 270 scans of 73 patients for training; 488 lesions in 91 scans of 48 patients for testing. From the 48 outputs of Faster R‐CNN, 212 lesions in 46 scans of 18 patients were used for training the RUSBoost algorithm (MatLab) and 276 lesions in 45 scans of 30 patients for testing.

Assessment

Two radiologists diagnosed and supervised annotation of metastases on brain MRI as ground truth. This data were used to produce a 2‐step pipeline consisting of a Faster R‐CNN for detecting abnormal hyperintensity that may represent brain metastasis and a RUSBoost classifier to reduce the number of false‐positive foci detected.

Statistical Tests

The performance of the algorithm was evaluated by using sensitivity, false‐positive rate, and receiver's operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The detection performance was assessed both per‐metastases and per‐slice.

Results

Testing on held‐out brain MRI data demonstrated 96% sensitivity and 20 false‐positive metastases per scan. The results showed an 87.1% sensitivity and 0.24 false‐positive metastases per slice. The area under the ROC curve was 0.79.

Conclusion

Our results showed that deep‐learning‐based computer‐aided detection (CAD) had the potential of detecting brain metastases with high sensitivity and reasonable specificity.

Level of Evidence

3

Technical Efficacy Stage

2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2020;52:1227–1236.
The potential chemical structure of anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase
Authors: Lung Jrhau , Lin Yu‐Shih , Yang Yao‐Hsu , Chou Yu‐Lun , Shu Li‐Hsin , Cheng Yu‐Ching , Liu Hung Te , Wu Ching‐Yuan
Published: March 2020

An outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) occurred in Wuhan and it has rapidly spread to almost all parts of the world. For coronaviruses, RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) is an important polymerase that catalyzes the replication of RNA from RNA template and is an attractive therapeutic target. In this study, we screened these chemical structures from traditional Chinese medicinal compounds proven to show antiviral activity in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS‐CoV) and the similar chemical structures through a molecular docking study to target RdRp of SARS‐CoV‐2, SARS‐CoV, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV). We found that theaflavin has a lower idock score in the catalytic pocket of RdRp in SARS‐CoV‐2 (−9.11 kcal/mol), SARS‐CoV (−8.03 kcal/mol), and MERS‐CoV (−8.26 kcal/mol) from idock. To confirm the result, we discovered that theaflavin has lower binding energy of −8.8 kcal/mol when it docks in the catalytic pocket of SARS‐CoV‐2 RdRp by using the Blind Docking server. Regarding contact modes, hydrophobic interactions contribute significantly in binding and additional hydrogen bonds were found between theaflavin and RdRp. Moreover, one π‐cation interaction was formed between theaflavin and Arg553 from the Blind Docking server. Our results suggest that theaflavin could be a potential SARS‐CoV‐2 RdRp inhibitor for further study.
Single‐cell RNA sequencing study of retinal immune regulators identified CD47 and CD59a expression in photoreceptors—Implications in subretinal immune regulation
Authors: Liu Jian , Tang Miao , Harkin Kevin , Du Xuan , Luo Chang , Chen Mei , Xu Heping
Published: March 2020

The neuroretina is protected by its own defense system, that is microglia and the complement system. Under normal physiological conditions, microglial activation is tightly regulated by the neurons although the underlying mechanism remains elusive. Using published single‐cell RNA sequencing data sets, we found that immune regulatory molecules including CD200, CD47, CX3CL1, TGFβ, and complement inhibitor CD59a are expressed by various retinal neurons. Importantly, we found that photoreceptors express higher levels of CD47 and CD59a, which was further confirmed in cultured 661W cells, WERI‐Rb1 cells, and microdissected photoreceptors from human eyes. The expression of CD59a mRNA in 661W cells was upregulated by TNFα and hypoxia, whereas LPS, hypoxia, and IL‐4 upregulated CD47 mRNA expression in 661W cells. Immunofluorescence staining detected strong CD59a immunoreactivity in the outer nuclear layer, inner/outer segments, and discrete staining in ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), and outer plexiform layer. The expression of CD59a in photoreceptors was increased in the detached retina, but decreased in retinas from experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) mice. In EAU retina, CD59a was highly expressed by active immune cells. CD47 was detected in GCL, IPL, and inner nuclear layer and some photoreceptors. The expression of CD47 in photoreceptors was also increased in the detached retina but decreased in EAU retina. In a coculture system, 661W enhanced arginase‐1 and reduced IL‐6 mRNA expression in BV2 microglial cells. Our results suggest that photoreceptors express immune regulatory molecules and may have the potential to regulate immune activation in the outer retina/subretinal space under pathophysiological conditions.
Disinfection of contaminated metal implants with an Er:YAG laser
Authors: Kriechbaumer Lukas K. , Happak Wolfgang , Distelmaier Klaus , Thalhammer Gerhild , Kaiser Georg , Kugler Sylvia , Tan Yulong , Leonhard Matthias , Zatorska Beata , Presterl Elisabeth , Nürnberger Sylvia
Published: March 2020

Infections related to orthopedic procedures are considered particularly severe when implantation materials are used, because effective treatments for biofilm removal are lacking. In this study, the relatively new approach for infection control by using an erbium:yttrium‐aluminum‐garnet (Er:YAG) laser was tested. This laser vaporizes all water containing cells in a very effective, precise, and predictable manner and results in only minimal thermal damage. For preliminary testing, 42 steel plates and 42 pins were seeded with mixed cultures. First, the minimally necessary laser energy for biofilm removal was determined. Subsequently, the effectiveness of biofilm removal with the Er:YAG laser and the cleansing of the metal implants with octenidine‐soaked gauze was compared. Then, we compared the effectiveness of biofilm removal on 207 steel pins from 41 patients directly after explantation. Sonication and scanning electron microscopy were used for analysis. Laser fluences exceeding 2.8  J/cm2 caused a complete extinction of all living cells by a single‐laser impulse. Cleansing with octenidine‐soaked gauze and irradiation with the Er:YAG laser are both thoroughly effective when applied to seeded pins. In contrast, when explanted pins with fully developed biofilms were analyzed, we found a significant advantage of the laser procedure. The Er:YAG laser offers a secure, complete, and nontoxic eradication of all kinds of pathogens from metal implants without damaging the implant and without the possible development of resistance. The precise noncontact removal of adjacent tissue is a decisive advantage over conventional disinfectants. Therefore, laser irradiation could become a valuable method in every debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention procedure.
Regional and local scale variations in soil organic carbon stocks in West Greenland
Authors: Gries Philipp , Schmidt Karsten , Scholten Thomas , Kühn Peter
Published: March 2020

The soil organic carbon (SOC) pool of the Northern Hemisphere contains about half of the global SOC stored in soils. As the Arctic is exceptionally sensitive to global warming, temperature rise and prolonged summer lead to deeper thawing of permafrost‐affected soils and might contribute to increasing greenhouse gas emissions progressively. To assess the overall feedback of soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) to global warming in permafrost‐affected regions the spatial variation in SOCS at different environmental scales is of great interest. However, sparse and unequally distributed soil data sets at various scales in such regions result in highly uncertain estimations of SOCS of the Northern Hemisphere and here particularly in Greenland. The objectives of this study are to compare and evaluate three controlling factors for SOCS distribution (vegetation, landscape, aspect) at two different scales (local, regional). The regional scale reflects the different environmental conditions between the two study areas at the coast and the ice margin. On the local scale, characteristics of each controlling factor in form of defined units (vegetation units, landscape units, aspect units) are used to describe the variation in the SOCS over short distances within each study area, where the variation in SOCS is high. On a regional scale, we investigate the variation in SOCS by comparing the same units between the study areas. The results show for both study areas that SOCS are with 8 kg m−2 in the uppermost 25 cm and 16 kg m−2 in the first 100 cm of the soil, i.e., 3 to 6 kg m−2 (37.5%) higher than existing large scale estimations of SOCS in West Greenland. Our approach allows to rank the scale‐dependent importance of the controlling factors within and between the study areas. However, vegetation and aspect better explain variations in SOCS than landscape units. Therefore, we recommend vegetation and aspect for determining the variation in SOCS in West Greenland on both scales.
Fermented barley β‐glucan regulates fat deposition in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Xiao Xiang , Tan Cui , Sun Xinjuan , Zhao Yansheng , Zhang Jiayan , Zhu Ying , Bai Juan , Dong Ying , Zhou Xinghua
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND

Barley contains a relatively high concentration of the mixed‐linkage (1 → 3) (1 → 4) β‐glucan, which has been reported to be a functional food with prebiotic potential. In the current study we compared the properties of two neutral barley β‐glucans, obtained from raw barley: raw barley β‐glucan (RBG) and Lactobacillus plantarum dy‐1‐fermented barley (FBG).

RESULTS

Molecular characteristics revealed that the molecular weight of barley β‐glucan decreased from 1.13 × 105 D to 6.35 × 104 D after fermentation. Fermentation also improved the water / oil holding capacity, solubility, and swelling capacity of barley β‐glucan. Both RBG and FBG significantly improved the locomotive behavior of nematodes, thereby increasing their energy consumption and reducing fat deposition – the effect was more significant with FBG. These effects could potentially depend on nhr‐49, TGF‐daf‐7 mediated pathways and so on, in which nhr‐49 factor is particularly required.

CONCLUSION

These results suggested that fermentation may enhance in vitro physiological activities of barley β‐glucan, thereby altering the effects on the lipid metabolism in vivo. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
DNA stable‐isotope probing reveals potential key players for microbial decomposition and degradation of diatom‐derived marine particulate matter
Authors: Liu Ying , Fang Jiasong , Jia Zhongjun , Chen Songze , Zhang Li , Gao Wei
Published: March 2020

Microbially mediated decomposition of particulate organic carbon (POC) is a central component of the oceanic carbon cycle, controlling the flux of organic carbon from the surface ocean to the deep ocean. Yet, the specific microbial taxa responsible for POC decomposition and degradation in the deep ocean are still unknown. To target the active microbial lineages involved in these processes, 13C‐labeled particulate organic matter (POM) was used as a substrate to incubate particle‐attached (PAM) and free‐living microbial (FLM) assemblages from the epi‐ and bathypelagic zones of the New Britain Trench (NBT). By combining DNA stable‐isotope probing and Illumina Miseq high‐throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene, we identified 14 active bacterial taxonomic groups that implicated in the decomposition of 13C‐labeled POM at low and high pressures under the temperature of 15°C. Our results show that both PAM and FLM were able to decompose POC and assimilate the released DOC. However, similar bacterial taxa in both the PAM and FLM assemblages were involved in POC decomposition and DOC degradation, suggesting the decoupling between microbial lifestyles and ecological functions. Microbial decomposition of POC and degradation of DOC were accomplished primarily by particle‐attached bacteria at atmospheric pressure and by free‐living bacteria at high pressures. Overall, the POC degradation rates were higher at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa) than at high pressures (20 and 40 MPa) under 15°C. Our results provide direct evidence linking the specific particle‐attached and free‐living bacterial lineages to decomposition and degradation of diatomic detritus at low and high pressures and identified the potential mediators of POC fluxes in the epi‐ and bathypelagic zones.
Development of durable microelectrodes for the detection of hydrogen peroxide and pH
Authors: Clark Caelen M. , Ruszala Brandon M. , Ehrensberger Mark T.
Published: March 2020

Cathodic electrical stimulation has been investigated as a way to treat implant‐associated infection of orthopaedic devices. One of the proposed mechanisms of these effects is the changes in chemical gradients adjacent to the implant generated by the cathodic reaction products. Of these reaction products, both alkaline pH and hydrogen peroxide have been implicated as antimicrobial agents. However, direct measurement of these chemical effects has yet to be fully characterized for orthopaedic biomaterials. Microelectrodes are powerful tools that can be used to measure localized chemical conditions. Most commercially available sensors are fabricated from pulled glass pipettes, which make them quite fragile. In order to more easily make measurements of the effects of electrical stimulation, more durable sensors are desired. Solid‐state electrodes were fabricated from platinum and iridium micro‐wires to make H2O2 and pH‐sensitive electrodes, respectively. Additionally, a similar method was used to fabricate electrodes that were housed within a stainless steel needle, which could be used to penetrate and measure in solid samples without damaging the sensor. The H2O2 microelectrode was found to have a sensitivity of 34.1 pA/µM and a R2 value of .996. The pH microelectrode was found to have a linear calibration from 2 to 12 with a sensitivity of 76.7 mV/pH and a R2 of .996. The needle‐based electrodes were found to be able to detect changes in both H2O2 and pH when tested in an agar gel model.
Some results on linear nabla Riemann‐Liouville fractional difference equations
Authors: The Anh Pham , Babiarz Artur , Czornik Adam , Niezabitowski Michal , Siegmund Stefan
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we establish some criteria for boundedness, stability properties, and separation of solutions of autonomous nonlinear nabla Riemann‐Liouville scalar fractional difference equations. To derive these results, we prove the variation of constants formula for nabla Riemann‐Liouville fractional difference equations.
Global well‐posedness of the 3D incompressible nematic liquid crystal flows with density‐dependent viscosity coefficient
Authors: Liu Yang
Published: March 2020

This paper deals with the 3D incompressible nematic liquid crystal flows with density‐dependent viscosity in bounded domain. The global well‐posedness of strong solutions are established in the vacuum cases, provided the assumption that
is suitably small with large velocity. Furthermore, the exponential decay of the solution is also obtained.
Appointment scheduling at a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic using stochastic programming
Authors: Hur Youngbum , Bard Jonathan F. , Morrice Douglas J.
Published: March 2020

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the problem of constructing an appointment template for scheduling patients at a specific type of multidisciplinary outpatient clinic called an integrated practice unit (IPU). The focus is on developing and solving a stochastic optimization model for a back pain IPU in the face of random arrivals, an uncertain patient mix, and variable service times. The deterministic version of the problem is modeled as a mixed integer program with the objective of minimizing a weighted combination of clinic closing time (duration) and total patient waiting time (length of stay). A two‐stage stochastic program is then derived to account for the randomness and the sequential nature of the decisions. Although it was not possible to solve the two‐stage problem for even a limited number of scenarios, the wait‐and‐see (WS) problem was sufficiently tractable to provide a lower bound on the stochastic solution. The introduction of valid inequalities, limiting indices, and the use of special ordered sets helped to speed up the computations. A greedy heuristic was also developed to obtain solutions much more quickly. Out of practical considerations, it was necessary to develop appointment templates with time slots at fixed intervals, which are not available from the WS solution. The first to be derived was the expected value (EV) template that is used to find the expected value of the EV solution (EEV). This solution provides an upper bound on the objective function value of the two‐stage stochastic program. The average gap between the EEV and WS solutions was 18%. Results from extensive computational testing are presented for the EV template and for our adaptation of three other templates found in the literature. Depending on the relative importance of the two objective function metrics, the results demonstrate the trade‐off that exists between them. For the templates investigated, the “closing time” ranged from an average of 235 to 275 minutes for a 300‐minute session, while the corresponding “total patient time in clinic” ranged from 80 to 71 minutes.
Prolonged Parenteral Nutrition Is One of the Most Significant Risk Factors for Nosocomial Infections in Adult Patients With Intestinal Failure
Authors: Yang Jianbo , Sun Haifeng , Wan Songlin , Mamtawla Gulsudum , Gao Xuejin , Zhang Li , Wang Xinying
Published: March 2020

Background

Intestinal failure (IF) and its management are associated with an increased likelihood of infectious complications. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and potential risk factors for nosocomial infections (NIs) in hospitalized adult patients with IF.

Methods

In total, 259 eligible patients with IF admitted to a single clinical nutrition center in a tertiary referral hospital from January 1, 2012, to January 1, 2019, were retrospectively identified. NIs were defined according to the 2008 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for NIs.

Results

The mean age of the study population was 47.0 ± 17.7 years, and 158 (61.0%) were men. The mean body mass index was 16.2 ± 2.9 kg/m2, and 219 (84.6%) were diagnosed with malnutrition. The prevalence of NIs was 25.5% (113 NIs in 66 patients). The most common NIs were pneumonia (14.3%), bacteremia of unknown origin (13.5%), catheter‐related bloodstream infection (5.0%), lower respiratory tract infection (5.0%), surgical site infection (3.9%), and urinary tract infection (1.9%). Multivariate analysis revealed that decreased serum albumin level (odds ratio [OR], 0.884; 95% CI, 0.883–0.978, P < .05), presence of gallbladder stones or cholestasis (OR, 3.144; 95% CI, 1.044–9.464; P < .05), and prolonged parenteral nutrition (PN) use (OR, 1.072; 95% CI, 1.039–1.105; P < .001) were independent predictors for NIs.

Conclusions

NIs remain prevalent in hospitalized adult patients with IF. Prolonged PN use was one of the most significant predictors for NIs.