bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal characteristics of land degradation in the Fuxian Lake Basin, China: Past and future
Authors: Yang Chao , Li Qingquan , Chen Junyi , Wang Junjie , Shi Tiezhu , Hu Zhongwen , Ding Kai , Wang Guihua , Wu Guofeng 
Published: April 2020

AbstractFuxian Lake is one of the most important freshwater supply lakes of China; however, its water quality is affected by land degradation in its basin. This study aimed to monitor and simulate the spatiotemporal characteristics of land degradation in Fuxian Lake Basin. A comprehensive land degradation index (LDI), which integrates the indices for land use/land cover (LULC), vegetation coverage (VC), water loss and soil erosion (WLSE), wind erosion (WE) and soil moisture content (SMC), was proposed to describe the spatiotemporal characteristics of land degradation in 1990–2015; a CA‐Markov model was used to simulate and forecast the land degradation in 2020 and 2025; and the mechanisms behind land degradation were analyzed. The results showed that: (a) the degree of land degradation from 1990 to 2015 generally decreased, the most severe years of land degradation were 1990, 2000, and 2005, and the total area of degraded land remained steady at around 250 km2 from 2005 to 2015; (b) the land degradation in different years was primarily moderate, with few severe or extreme degradation; (c) the simulation showed land degradation would remain relatively stable in 2020 and 2025, and the degraded area would fluctuate slightly compared with that in 2015; and (d) the land degradation in this region was driven by both human factors and natural drivers. Therefore, some land degradation control measures should be set in advance for protecting this important supply area for freshwater.
Technical Note: Comprehensive performance tests of the first clinical real‐time motion tracking and compensation system using MLC and jaws
Authors: Chen Guang‐Pei , Tai An , Keiper Timothy D. , Lim Sara , Li X. Allen 
Published: April 2020

PurposeTo evaluate the performance of the first clinical real‐time motion tracking and compensation system using multileaf collimator (MLC) and jaws during helical tomotherapy delivery.MethodsAppropriate mechanical and dosimetry tests were performed on the first clinical real‐time motion tracking system (Synchrony on Radixact, Accuray Inc) recently installed in our institution. kV radiography dose was measured by CTDIw using a pencil chamber. Changes of beam characteristics with jaw offset and MLC leaf shift were evaluated. Various dosimeters and phantoms including A1SL ion chamber (Standard Imaging), Gafchromic EBT3 films (Ashland), TomoPhantom (Med Cal), ArcCheck (Sun Nuclear), Delta4 (ScandiDos), with fiducial or high contrast inserts, placed on two dynamical motion platforms (CIRS dynamic motion‐CIRS, Hexamotion‐ScandiDos), were used to assess the dosimetric accuracy of the available Synchrony modalities: fiducial tracking with nonrespiratory motion (FNR), fiducial tracking with respiratory modeling (FR), and fiducial free (e.g., lung tumor tracking) with respiratory modeling (FFR). Motion detection accuracy of a tracking target, defined as the difference between the predicted and instructed target positions, was evaluated with the root mean square (RMS). The dose accuracy of motion compensation was evaluated by verifying the dose output constancy and by comparing measured and planned (predicted) three‐dimensional (3D) dose distributions based on gamma analysis.ResultsThe measured CTDIw for a single radiograph with a 120 kVp and 1.6 mAs protocol was 0.084 mGy, implying a low imaging dose of 8.4 mGy for a typical Synchrony motion tracking fraction with 100 radiographs. The dosimetric effect of the jaw swing or MLC leaf shift was minimal on depth dose (<0.5%) and was <2% on both beam profile width and output for typical motions. The motion detection accuracies, that is, RMS, were 0.84, 1.13, and 0.48 mm for FNR, FR, and FFR, respectively, well within the 1.5 mm recommended tolerance. Dose constancy with Synchrony was found to be within 2%. The gamma passing rates of 3D dose measurements for a variety of Synchrony plans were well within the acceptable level.ConclusionsThe motion tracking and compensation using kV radiography, MLC shifting, and jaw swing during helical tomotherapy delivery was tested to be mechanically and dosimetrically accurate for clinical use.
Practical guidance for managing electromyography requests and testing during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Kassardjian Charles D. , Desai Urvi , Narayanaswami Pushpa ,   the AANEM Quality and Patient Safety Committee of the AANEM
Published: April 2020

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic has necessitated cancelation of elective or nonurgent contact with the healthcare system, including nonurgent nerve conduction studies and electromyography (electrodiagnostic [EDX] studies). The definitions of elective and nonurgent are physician judgments, and often are not straightforward. Clinical care must be provided to help our patients in a timely manner, while keeping them, healthcare personnel, and the community safe. Benefit/risk stratification is an important part of this process. We have stratified EDX studies into three categories: Urgent, Non‐urgent, and Possibly Urgent, in an effort to help clinicians triage these referrals. For each category, we provide a rationale and some examples. However, each referral must be reviewed on a case‐by‐case basis, and the clinical situation will evolve over time, necessitating flexibility in managing EDX triaging. Engaging the referring clinician and, at times, the patient, may be useful in the triage process.
Congenital neutropenia with variable clinical presentation in novel mutation of the SRP54 gene
Authors: Goldberg Lior , Simon Amos J. , Rechavi Gideon , Lev Atar , Barel Ortal , Kunik Vered , Toren Amos , Schiby Ginette , Tamary Hannah , Steinberg‐Shemer Orna , Somech Raz 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe SRP54 (signal recognition protein 54) is a conserved component of the ribonucleoprotein complex that mediates cotranslational targeting and translocation of proteins to the endoplasmic reticulum. In 2017, mutations in the gene have been described as a cause of congenital neutropenia with or without pancreatic insufficiency, and since then, only limited cases were added to the literature.MethodsTwo patients with neutropenia underwent hematological, immunological, and genetic work‐up, including lymphocyte phenotyping, immunoglobulins, and complement levels, antineutrophil and antinuclear antibodies, bone marrow FISH panel for myelodysplastic syndrome, whole‐exome sequencing, and in silico proteomic analysis.ResultsClinical findings in the two families revealed a wide spectrum of immunological and clinical manifestations, ranging from mild asymptomatic neutropenia during febrile illnesses to severe neutropenia and life‐threatening infection requiring leg amputation. Immunological and hematological work‐up showed isolated neutropenia with normal lymphocyte subpopulations, immunoglobulin and complement levels, and negative autoimmune tests. Bone marrow aspirations showed variability ranging from normal myelopoiesis to myeloid maturation arrest at the promyelocytic stage, with normal FISH panel for myelodysplastic syndrome. Genetic analysis identified a novel, de novo, in‐frame deletion in the SRP54 gene, c.342‐344delAAC, p.T115del. In silico proteomic analysis suggested impaired SRP54 protein function due to reduced GTP activity and stability.ConclusionsWe describe congenital neutropenia with variable clinical presentation in novel mutation of the SRP54 gene.
Physical activity for children undergoing acute cancer treatment: A qualitative study of parental perspectives
Authors: Grimshaw Sarah L. , Taylor Nicholas F. , Mechinaud Francoise , Conyers Rachel , Shields Nora 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about how to facilitate participation in physical activity among children receiving acute cancer treatment.ObjectiveTo understand the parental perspectives on physical activity for children during acute cancer treatment and explore strategies to overcome physical inactivity.MethodsA qualitative study was completed. Data were collected via semistructured interviews with parents of children (aged 4‐18 years) who were in their first nine months of cancer treatment. Data were analyzed thematically.ResultsTwenty parents were interviewed. A childhood cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment were described as setting in motion a spiral of physical inactivity. Parents identified movement restrictions as a result of commencing treatment and the hospital environment as factors initiating this decline. Parents described the subsequent impact of movement restrictions on their child over time including loss of independence, isolation, and low motivation. These three consequences further contributed to an inability and unwillingness to be physically active. Parents responded in a variety of ways to their child's inactivity, and many were motivated to overcome the barriers to physical activity yet exhibited a reduced capacity to do so. Suggested intervention strategies highlighted the need for comprehensive support from the organization providing treatment.ConclusionsReasons for reduced physical activity in children receiving acute treatment for cancer are complex and multifactorial. Inactivity cannot be addressed by children and parents alone but requires support from the oncology team through changes to the environment, services, and policies to promote physical activity. These findings may be used to inform targeted, effective, and feasible physical activity interventions.
Burnout in pediatric hematology oncology fellows: Results of a cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Moerdler Scott , Li Yunhui , Weng Shicheng , Kesselheim Jennifer 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBurnout is a significant problem in the medical community, including among pediatric hematology/oncology (PHO) faculty. However, the prevalence of burnout, its associated risk factors, and outcomes within PHO fellows are unknown. We present the results of a cross‐sectional study of PHO fellows from 21 training programs. A total of 45/115 fellows (39.1%) met criteria for high level of burnout. Fellows who met criteria for high burnout also demonstrated poor outcomes including decreased empowerment, increased doctor‐centered care, decreased self‐assessed humanism, and decreased satisfaction with training. Further longitudinal investigation is needed to better understand burnout and the causative factors affecting PHO fellows.
Fetal kidney charts of a novel measurement of the renal parenchymal thickness to evaluate fetal kidney growth and potential function
Authors: Brennan Sonja , Kandasamy Yogavijayan , Rudd Donna , Schneider Michal , Watson David 
Published: April 2020

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of this study was to develop new standard growth charts for fetal renal parenchymal thickness, length, and volume to define normal ranges for use in clinical practice and to assess the reliability of these measurements.MethodsThis was a prospective, longitudinal study of 72 low‐risk singleton pregnancies undergoing serial ultrasound examinations at least every four weeks. Multiple renal measurements were performed on both kidneys at each scan. The renal parenchymal thickness was measured in the mid‐sagittal plane. Standard charts were developed and the intra and interobserver reliability for the renal measurements was analysed.ResultsStandard charts were developed for fetal renal parenchymal thickness, length, and volume.ConclusionWe present novel charts, which demonstrate the growth of the fetal renal parenchyma during pregnancy. They will be useful in clinical practice to identify any alterations from these normal ranges, which may be an important criterion for assisting prenatal diagnosis of renal pathologies and future studies in the prediction of kidney function.
SARS‐CoV2 (COVID‐19) infection: is fetal surgery in times of national disasters reasonable?
Authors: Deprest Jan , Van Ranst Marc , Lannoo Lore , Bredaki Emma , Ryan Greg , David Anna , Richter Jute , Van Mieghem Tim 
Published: April 2020

AbstractEven though the global COVID‐19 pandemic may affect how medical care is delivered in general, most countries try to maintain steady access for women to routine pregnancy care, including fetal anomaly screening. This means that, also during this pandemic, fetal anomalies will be detected, and that discussions regarding invasive genetic testing and possibly fetal therapy will need to take place. For patients, concerns about Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome‐Corona Virus 2 will add to the anxiety caused by the diagnosis of a serious fetal anomaly. Yet, also for fetal medicine teams the situation gets more complex as they must weigh up the risks and benefits to the fetus as well as the mother, while managing a changing evidence base and logistic challenges in their healthcare system.
Fabrication and characterization of a wound dressing composed of polyvinyl alcohol/nanochitosan/Artemisia ciniformis extract: An RSM study
Authors: Baniasadi Mona , Baniasadi Hossein , Azimi Razieh , Khosravi Dehaghi Nafiseh 
Published: April 2020

AbstractThis study reported the fabrication and characterization of an electrospun wound dressing composed of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), nanochitosan (NC), and Artemisia ciniformis extract (AE). NC and AE wt% were defined as process parameters, and their effects on the diameter, mechanical properties, and cell attachment of the fibers were investigated using the Design Expert 7.0 software. The software provided quadratic equations, which were investigated statistically and graphically, confirmed that with the increase in the NC portion in the samples, the mechanical strength and fiber diameter increased. The increase is probably due to the proper dispersion of nanoparticle into a PVA matrix and the increased viscosity of the solution; however, cell viability showed an increasing/decreasing trend. The presence of AE lowered the mechanical properties of the samples while positively affecting cell viability. Furthermore, the samples had significant antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli as Gram‐negative bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus as Gram‐positive one, a notable property for wound dressings. Overall, our findings showed that PVA/NC/AE has an excellent potential for use in biomedical fields, particularly as a wound dressing.
Total synthesis of bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor and the protein diastereomer [Gly37D‐Ala]BPTI using Boc chemistry solid phase peptide synthesis
Authors: Donovan Alexander J. , Dowle Joanna , Yang Yanwu , Weiss Michael A. , Kent Stephen B. H. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractBovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) is a well‐studied model for investigation of protein folding and stability. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of wild‐type BPTI and a diastereomeric protein analogue [Gly37D‐Ala]BPTI. Each 58‐residue polypeptide chain was made by native chemical ligation of two peptide segments, BPTI[1‐29]‐αthioester and the appropriate version of the Cys30‐58 BPTI peptide segment. Boc chemistry in situ neutralization solid phase synthesis was used to prepare the peptide segment reactants. The resulting full‐length polypeptide chains were folded in a cysteine/cystine redox buffer to give synthetic protein molecules containing three disulfide bonds. The diastereomeric analogue [Gly37D‐Ala]BPTI folded as efficiently as the native protein. Synthetic proteins were characterized by analytical LCMS and by natural‐abundance 1H‐15N HSQC NMR fingerprinting. These results illustrate the power of Boc chemistry peptide synthesis and its utility for the total chemical synthesis of protein molecules.
Atg3 promotes Atg8 lipidation via altering lipid diffusion and rearrangement
Authors: Wang Shen , Li Yun , Ma Cong 
Published: April 2020

AbstractAtg3‐catalyzed transferring of Atg8 to phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in the phagophore membrane is essential for autophagy. Previous studies have demonstrated that this process requires Atg3 to interact with the phagophore membrane via its N‐terminal amphipathic helix. In this study, by using combined biochemical and biophysical approaches, our data showed that in addition to binding to the membranes, Atg3 attenuates lipid diffusion and enriches lipid molecules with smaller headgroup. Our data suggest that Atg3 promotes Atg8 lipidation via altering lipid diffusion and rearrangement.
Many‐body response of benzene at monolayer MoS2: Van der Waals interactions and spectral broadening
Authors: Umerbekova Alina , Pavanello Michele 
Published: April 2020

AbstractModels of surface enhancement of molecular electronic response properties are challenging for two reasons: (a) molecule‐surface interactions require a simultaneous solution of the molecular and the surface dynamic response (a daunting task), and (b) when solving for the electronic structure of the combined molecule + surface system, it is not trivial to single out the particular physical effects responsible for enhancement. To tackle this problem, in this work, we apply a formally exact decomposition of the system's response function into subsystem contributions by using subsystem density functional theory (DFT), which grants access to dynamic polarizabilities and optical spectra. In order to access information about the interactions between the subsystems, we extend a previously developed subsystem‐based adiabatic connection fluctuation‐dissipation theorem of DFT to separate the additive from the nonadditive correlation energy and identify the nonadditive correlation as the van der Waals interactions. As an example, we choose benzene adsorbed on monolayer MoS2. We isolate the contributions to benzene's dynamic response arising from the interaction with the surface, and for the first time, we evaluate the enhancements to the effectiveness of C6 coefficients as a function of benzene‐MoS2 distance and adsorption site. We also quantify the spectral broadening of the benzene's electronic excited states due to their interaction with the surface. We find that the broadening has a similar decay law with the molecule‐surface distance as the leading van der Waals interactions (ie,
R−6) and that the surface enhancement of dispersion interactions between benzene molecules is less than 5% but is still large enough (0.5 kcal/mol) to likely play a role in the prediction of interface morphologies.
Liquid‐Like Phases Preorder Peptides for Supramolecular Assembly
Authors: Rengifo Rolando F. , Sementilli Anthony , Kim Youngsun , Liang Chen , Li Noel Xiang'An , Mehta Anil K. , Lynn David G. 
Published: April 2020

AbstractControlling supramolecular assembly remains a major challenge for materials science and synthetic biology. Biopolymers organize into multimolecular architectures via two‐step nucleation processes involving dynamic intermediate solute‐rich phases. Here we present spectroscopic analyses of metastable phases formed with a congener of the Alzheimer's disease Aβ peptide that reveals diverse populations of single β‐sheets. The degree of order in this liquid‐like particle phase is remarkable both in the range of sheets and the selection of a single propagating nucleus. The resulting fibril seed is less stable in solution and cooperatively transforms into another fibril. The conformational dynamics of this peptide provide a mechanistic model for controlling the range of polymorphic amyloid assemblies in health and disease.
An infrageneric classification of Thesium (Santalaceae) based on molecular phylogenetic data
Authors: Zhigila Daniel A. , Verboom G. Anthony , Muasya A. Muthama 
Published: April 2020

AbstractRecent phylogenetic hypotheses reveal that Thesium (Santalaceae) is paraphyletic with respect to Austroamericium, Chrysothesium, Kunkeliella and Thesidium, suggesting the need for generic realignment. In addition, existing subgeneric and sectional classifications of this large genus lack a phylogenetic basis, thus compromising their predictive value. Using an expanded taxon sampling and a combination of nuclear (ITS) and chloroplast (matK, rpl32‐trnL, trnL‐F) DNA sequence data, we therefore re‐assessed the phylogenetic relationships of Thesium and used these as the basis of a new subgeneric classification of the genus. Our phylogeny confirms the need to sink the four segregate genera to render Thesium monophyletic. In addition, it resolves five well‐supported major clades within Thesium that we recognize as subgenera. Within Thesium, the South African endemic subgenus Hagnothesium is sister to the Eurasian subgenus Thesium (including Kunkeliella and Mauritanica). The subgenus Psilothesium, occurring in tropical South America (formerly genus Austroamericium) and tropical Africa, is sister to the rest of the subgenera, which are all confined to South Africa. Within the latter, the subgenus Discothesium consists of subtropical and temperate species, whereas subgenus Frisea, comprising the previously recognized sections Annulata, Barbata, Frisea, Imberbia and Penicillata, is entirely of the Greater Cape Floristic Region. To facilitate identification of subgenera, we identify morphological ancestral characters and present an identification key, brief diagnoses, species assigned, distribution and ecological data.
Variance heterogeneity genome‐wide mapping for cadmium in bread wheat reveals novel genomic loci and epistatic interactions
Authors: Hussain Waseem , Campbell Malachy T. , Jarquin Diego , Walia Harkamal , Morota Gota 
Published: April 2020

AbstractGenome‐wide association mapping identifies quantitative trait loci (QTL) that influence the mean differences between the marker genotypes for a given trait. While most loci influence the mean value of a trait, certain loci, known as variance heterogeneity QTL (vQTL) determine the variability of the trait instead of the mean trait value (mQTL). In the present study, we performed a variance heterogeneity genome‐wide association study (vGWAS) for grain cadmium (Cd) concentration in bread wheat. We used double generalized linear model and hierarchical generalized linear model to identify vQTL associated with grain Cd. We identified novel vQTL regions on chromosomes 2A and 2B that contribute to the Cd variation and loci that affect both mean and variance heterogeneity (mvQTL) on chromosome 5A. In addition, our results demonstrated the presence of epistatic interactions between vQTL and mvQTL, which could explain variance heterogeneity. Overall, we provide novel insights into the genetic architecture of grain Cd concentration and report the first application of vGWAS in wheat. Moreover, our findings indicated that epistasis is an important mechanism underlying natural variation for grain Cd concentration.