bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Detection of synthetic cannabinoid adulteration in the unregulated drug supply in three Canadian settings
Authors: Ti Lianping , Tobias Samuel , Maghsoudi Nazlee , Milloy M.‐J. , McDonald Karen , Shapiro Aaron , Beriault Daniel , Stefan Cristiana , Lysyshyn Mark , Werb Daniel 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIntroductionNovel psychoactive substances (NPS) are increasingly being consumed worldwide, with synthetic cannabinoids and synthetic opioids being the second and third most commonly used NPS, respectively. Certain synthetic cannabinoids can produce significant harms, particularly when used with opioids. The objective of this study was to characterise the presence of synthetic cannabinoids in the unregulated drug supply in three Canadian settingsMethodsIn the British Columbia setting, all samples were first analysed at point‐of‐care using combination Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and fentanyl immunoassay strips prior to confirmatory testing using quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and/or liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). In the Toronto, Ontario setting, the samples were analysed directly by GC/MS, LC/MS liquid chromatography‐high resolution/mass spectrometry.ResultsBetween January 2018 and December 2019, 38 (2.8%) synthetic cannabinoid samples were detected in the unregulated drug supply (25/909 in British Columbia and 13/440 in Ontario). In British Columbia and Ontario, 76% and 85% of samples, respectively, were expected by individuals to be an opioid. Synthetic cannabinoids detected included AMB‐FUBINACA, AB‐FUBINACA, 5‐fluoro‐MDMB‐PINACA, and 5‐fluoro‐MDMB‐PICA, and largely co‐occurred with fentanyl. In the British Columbia context, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy failed to detect synthetic cannabinoid compounds in almost half (48%) of the samples at point‐of‐care.Discussion and ConclusionsAs point‐of‐care technologies failed to detect these compounds in many occasions, our findings demonstrate the importance of laboratory confirmatory analysis to identify NPS. Given the high risk of harm associated with the consumption of synthetic cannabinoids, further research should investigate the reasons for adulteration.
On opportunities and threats to conserve the phylogenetic diversity of Neotropical palms
Authors: Velazco Santiago José Elías , Svenning Jean‐Christian , Ribeiro Bruno R. , Laureto Livia Maira Orlandi 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimPalms are an ecologically and societally important plant group, with high diversity in the Neotropics. Here, we estimated the impacts of future climate change on phylogenetic diversity (PD) of Neotropical palms under varying climatic and dispersal scenarios, assessed the effectiveness of the established network of protected areas (PAs) for conserving palms PD today and in 2070, and identified priority areas for the conservation of palm species and their evolutionary history in the face of climate change.LocationNeotropics.MethodsWe used ecological niche modelling to estimate the distribution of 367 species in the present and for 2070 based on two greenhouse gas emission and two dispersal scenarios. We calculated Faith's PD within each five arc‐minute grid cell to evaluate the effectiveness of PAs relative to null models and used phylogenetic spatial prioritisation analysis to detect priority areas.ResultsWe found that even under the most optimistic climatic and dispersal scenarios, the established network of PAs performed poorly in safeguarding palms PD under both current conditions and those projected for 2070. Significant losses in PD inside PAs are expected under future climate conditions, especially if species are unable to disperse to suitable areas. Nevertheless, a modest and strategic increase in the number of PAs could considerably improve the protection of palms PD in the present and 2070.Main conclusionsThe PD of Neotropical palms is poorly represented within the established network of PAs, at both present and in 2070. A higher realised dispersal rates would diminish PD losses inside the network of PAs. The conservation of palm PD can be improved through the expansion of PAs in strategic regions such as the upper portion of the Amazon Basin, Tropical Andes and Mesoamerica.
Transformation of western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) tree crowns by dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium tsugense, Viscaceae)
Authors: Calkins Stephen J. , Shaw David C. , Lan Yung‐Hsiang 
Published: December 2020

AbstractDwarf mistletoes (Arceuthobiumspecies) are arboreal, hemiparasitic plants of conifers that can change the structure and function of the tree crown. Hemlock dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium tsugensesubsp.tsugense)principally parasitizes western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and effects 10.8% of all western hemlock trees in Oregon, USA. In this study, we climbed 16 western hemlock trees (age 97–321 years, height 33–54.7 m) across a gradient of infection (0%–100% of branches infected) and measured occurrence of all dwarf mistletoe infections, dwarf mistletoe caused deformities, foliage, branch and crown metrics, and sapwood area. We then modelled over 25 different response variables using linear and generalized linear models with three metrics of severity as explanatory variables: total infection incidence, proportion of all live branches infected, and proportion of all live, infected branches with 33 per cent or more foliage distal to infection. A strong effect of dwarf mistletoe intensification was the reduction of branch foliage and an increase in the proportional amount of foliage distal to infections, with severely infected trees having the majority of foliage distal to infections. Increasing severity led to an apparent crown compaction as crown volumes decreased and became increasingly comprised of deformities. Sapwood area was unrelated to infection severity. Branch length and diameters were unrelated to increasing infection severity despite severely infected branches supporting 1–70 infections. The most severely infected tree had 3,615 individual plants in the crown. Our results suggested that shifts in crown structure and branch deformation, foliage amount, and foliage distal to infection, reflected a likely reduction of capacity for tree growth that coincided with a hypothesized increase in resource demand by dwarf mistletoe plants as infection severity intensified.
An ultrastructural connectomic analysis of a higher‐order thalamocortical circuit in the mouse
Authors: Sampathkumar Vandana , Miller‐Hansen Andrew , Murray Sherman S. , Kasthuri Narayanan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMany studies exist of thalamocortical synapses in primary sensory cortex, but much less in known about higher‐order thalamocortical projections to higher‐order cortical areas. We begin to address this gap using genetic labeling combined with large volume serial electron microscopy (i.e., “connectomics”) to study the projection from the thalamic posterior medial nucleus to the secondary somatosensory cortex in a mouse. We injected into this thalamic nucleus a cocktail combining a cre‐expressing virus and one expressing cre‐dependent ascorbate peroxidase that provides an electron dense cytoplasmic label. This “intersectional” viral approach specifically labeled thalamocortical axons and synapses, free of retrograde labeling, in all layers of cortex. Labeled thalamocortical synapses represented 14% of all synapses in the cortical volume, consistent with previous estimates of first‐order thalamocortical inputs. We found that labeled thalamocortical terminals, relative to unlabeled ones: were larger, were more likely to contain a mitochondrion, more frequently targeted spiny dendrites and avoided aspiny dendrites, and often innervated larger spines with spine apparatuses, among other differences. Furthermore, labeled terminals were more prevalent in layers 2/3 and synaptic differences between labeled and unlabeled terminals were greatest in layers 2/3. The laminar differences reported here contrast with reports of first‐order thalamocortical connections in primary sensory cortices where, for example, labeled terminals were larger in layer 4 than layers 2/3 (Viaene et al., 2011a). These data offer the first glimpse of higher‐order thalamocortical synaptic ultrastructure and point to the need for more analyses, as such connectivity likely represents a majority of thalamocortical circuitry.
Neurology training and research in the COVID‐19 pandemic: a survey of the Resident and Research Fellow Section of the European Academy of Neurology
Authors: Cuffaro Luca , Carvalho Vanessa , Di Liberto Giovanni , Klinglehoefer Lisa , Sauerbier Anna , Garcia‐Azorin David , Tábuas‐Pereira Miguel , Vashchenko Nina , Moro Elena , Bassetti Claudio L.A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackground and purposeThe COVID‐19 (SARS‐CoV‐2) outbreak has disrupted residency programmes due to university and hospitals’ priorities to face this emergency at all cost. Most research projects and clinical trials were temporarily stopped or postponed. The Resident and Research Fellow Section (RRFS) of the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) has decided to assess the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on neurology training.MethodsAll EAN RRFS members were invited to fill out an online questionnaire of 40 items concerning their clinical involvement during the COVID‐19 emergency, and the impact of the pandemic on their training (Appendix S1).ResultsOf the 227 RRFS members who completed the questionnaire, 222 were from Europe, and of those 111 were from Portugal, Italy or France. Responders highlighted that severe restrictions have been imposed to face this pandemic, including reduction of inpatient beds, prohibition of in‐person visits and limitation to hospital access for patients’ relatives. This was accompanied by an increase in email correspondence and phone calls with 50% of countries allowing telemedicine to reach outpatients. Seventy‐nine per cent of the respondents felt that the pandemic will probably have a serious impact on their training and career.ConclusionThe pandemic led to a disruption of neurology activities, including medical training and research. The long‐run impact of these changes remains unknown, but it will probably change the way neurology practice and training will be organized for future generations.
Floods increase carbon dioxide and methane fluxes in agricultural streams
Authors: Blackburn Samuel R. , Stanley Emily H. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Changes in climate are causing floods to occur more often and more intensely in many parts of the world, including agricultural landscapes of southern Wisconsin (U.S.A.). How flooding and greater flood frequency affect stream carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) fluxes and concentrations is not obvious. Thus, we asked how diffusive fluxes of CO2 and CH4 varied over time, particularly in response to floods, in agricultural streams, and what were likely causes for observed flood responses.

We measured concentrations and diffusive fluxes of CO2 and CH4 at 10 stream sites in mixed agricultural and suburban catchments in southern Wisconsin (U.S.A.) during the growing season (March–November) in a year that experienced multiple floods. Habitat, hydrologic, and water chemistry attributes were also quantified to determine likely drivers of changes in gas concentrations and fluxes.

Habitat and water chemistry, as well as CO2 and CH4 concentrations and fluxes were temporally erratic and lacked any seasonality. Carbon dioxide and CH4 concentrations and fluxes were higher during floods along with increased water velocity, turbidity, and dissolved organic carbon and decreases in dissolved oxygen, soft sediment depth, and macrophyte cover.

Increased gas concentrations and fluxes were probably due to flushing of gases from soils, respiration of organic matter in the channel, and increased gas exchange velocities during floods.

Flooding alleviated both supply and transfer limits on CO2 and CH4 emissions in these agricultural streams, and frequent and prolonged flooding during the growing season led to sustained high emissions from these streams. We hypothesise that such persistent increases in emissions during floods may be a common response to high precipitation periods for many agricultural streams.
West Asian colonisation of topmouth gudgeon, Pseudorasbora parva (Teleostei: Gobionidae): Genetic admixture at the crossroad of Europe and east Asia
Authors: Ganjali Zohreh , Esmaeili Hamid Reza , Zarei Fatah , Sayyadzadeh Golnaz , Eagderi Soheil , Gozlan Rodolphe E. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Iran is a major freshwater fish diversity hotspot in the Middle East, and is an important zoogeographical area in west Asia, acting as the crossroads and dispersal corridor between several major biogeographical realms of the world. The topmouth gudgeon, Pseudorasbora parva was first recorded in Iran on 6 May 1991 in the Caspian Sea basin and is now widely distributed across the country. Despite widespread distribution in the Iranian inland waters, its invasion history and genetic background remain unknown.

Here, based on the mitochondrial DNA control region (806 bp) sequence variation of 161 P. parva samples collected from 15 Iranian localities and additional sites in Europe and Asia, as well as a cytochrome c oxidase subunit I barcode database (615 bp) including 166 novel and archived sequences, we characterised the pattern of genetic diversity and its colonisation history in Iran.

Our results show the presence of three matrilineal haplotypes in Iran belonging to two distinct lineages: (1) a widespread lineage with a common haplotype found throughout the country and one exclusive haplotype confined to the Mashkid basin, whose origin can be traced back to a single introduction of a small number of propagules from Japan and corresponded to the Iranian introduction of P. parva in the late 1980s; (2) a Chinese lineage represented by a single haplotype found in the Shafarood River of the Caspian Sea basin but also translocated to central Iran, penetrated recently to northern Iran through natural dispersal from Azerbaijan as an extension of the European wave of invasion.

At the global scale, there is less genetic diversity in west Asia than in Europe and the Asian native range. At the local scale, estimates of genetic diversity in Iranian P. parva populations are extremely low but the Caspian Sea and Esfahan basins gained higher diversities from admixture of highly divergent Japanese and Chinese lineages. Our phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses also suggest the existence of multiple putative species in the native range of P. parva and stress the need of an integrative taxonomical approach based on additional morphological and nuclear DNA data.
Challenges and effective routes for formulating and delivery of epidermal growth factors in skin care
Authors: Eskens Olivia , Amin Samiul 
Published: December 2020

AbstractEpidermal growth factors are important morphogenetic proteins that instruct cell behaviour. They have many inferred applications within regenerative medicine and have shown promising results in skincare treatments. Many growth factors are known to have skin anti‐ageing benefits along with further potential in resolving scarring, acne and other skin disorders. Incorporation of these biologics into skincare formulations has been greatly hindered by low transdermal delivery efficacy, intricate material interactions and protein instability – especially within common cosmetic emulsions. This review explores the cosmeceutical capability of growth factors in skin care, current understandings of constituent interactions and advantageous delivery approaches for more effective topical delivery. The first section highlights the influences growth factor product formulation has on stability and synergy. Current understandings of growth factor formulating techniques in cosmetic products is limited, and the performance of other protein structures is an adequate point of reference. The second section examines emerging drug delivery systems to overcome the challenges of topical growth factor treatment. It is important to consider the coaction and durability of all components in a formulation simultaneously: active ingredients, product format and delivery vehicle, in order to engineer an optimal cosmeceutical product.
Determinants of inequality in Indian regular wage employment, 1993–2012
Authors: MENON Rahul 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThrough the use of decomposition exercises, this article estimates the relative contributions of different factors to inequality among Indian regular wage employees between 1993/94 and 2011/12. It also estimates the contributions of returns to factors and shares of factors determining inequality. The author finds that the single largest contributor among the regular wage workforce in India is access to higher education. However, institutional factors such as union membership and employment in the public sector also play important roles, indicating that inequality cannot be simply reduced to demographic or technical factors, but must also take into account the institutional structure of an economy.
Challenges in diagnosing hydroxychloroquine myopathy during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Pamphlett Roger , Wang Min‐Xia , Chan Renee CF 
Published: December 2020

AbstractHydroxychloroquine is being used for COVID‐19 symptoms and in clinical trials, but can cause a toxic myopathy that leads to muscle weakness. A review of skeletal muscle biopsies from patients with hydroxychloroquine myopathy gives pointers of steps that can be taken to diagnose this toxic myopathy early and help differentiate it from COVID‐19‐related muscle weakness.
Point‐of‐care testing of HbA1c, renal function and lipids in remote or disadvantaged regions
Authors: Handrinos Lena , Januszewski Andrzej S. , Trimble Elisabeth , Donelan Neil , Williams Paul , Jenkins Alicia J. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractFor optimal diabetes management HbA1c, lipid and renal function measurements are key. Suitable point‐of‐care systems can provide such data in remote areas, diabetes camps, disaster relief, small community hospitals and in community screening days in disadvantaged regions. Some systems are currently used in Australian rural, remote and indigenous health services.
Estimation of breeding value, genetic parameters and maternal effects of economic traits in rural male parent line chicken using pedigree relationships in an animal model
Authors: Ullengala Rajkumar , Prince Lawrence Leslie Leo , Haunshi Santosh , Paswan Chandan , Chatterjee Rudranath 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBreeding value (BV), genetic parameters and additive genetic, and maternal effects were evaluated on growth and production traits utilizing data from eight generations employing animal model in a rural male parent line (PD‐6) chicken at ICAR‐Directorate of Poultry Research, Hyderabad, India. The least squares means (LSM) for body weight (BW) and shank length (SL) up to 6 weeks of age varied significantly (p ≤ .01) among the generations and hatches. BW increased significantly (p ≤ .01) over the generations and decreased with the hatches. Sex also had a significant effect on BW and shank length except for BW at 0 day (BW0). LSM for BW (BW6) and Shank length (SL6) at 6 weeks of age were 598.84 ± 0.79 g and 74.57 ± 0.04 mm, respectively. Males recorded significantly (p ≤ .01) higher BWs and shank length. All the production traits were significantly (p ≤ .01) influenced by the generation effect. The overall LSM for age at sexual maturity (ASM), egg production at 40 weeks (EP40) and egg weight at 40 weeks (EW40) were 164.93 ± 0.23 days, 74.66 ± 0.40 eggs and 54.79 ± 0.08 g, respectively. Model 3 with additive, maternal permanent environmental and residual effects was the appropriate model for BW2, BW4, BW6, SL4 and SL6, whereas Model 4 with maternal effects was the best for BW0. The heritability estimates for BW6 and SL6 were 0.22 ± 0.02 and 0.18 ± 0.02, respectively. Model 1 with additive direct and residual effects was the best appropriate model for all the production traits. The heritability estimates of EP40 and EW40 were 0.16 ± 0.04 and 0.34 ± 0.05, respectively. BW and shank length were highly correlated with significant (p ≤ .05) positive association from different components. The correlation coefficient from direct additive component between egg production and BW40 was negative, while it was positive with less magnitude between egg production and BW20. The egg production and egg weights had a negative association at different ages. BV of SL6, the primary trait of selection, was significant (p ≤ .05) across the generations and increased linearly with an average genetic gain of 1.05 mm per generation. BV of BW6 was also significant (p ≤ .05) and increased linearly as correlated response with an average genetic response of 22.34 g per generation. BV of EP40 showed an increasing trend with a genetic gain of 0.02 eggs per generation. The EW 40 also increased linearly with an average genetic gain of 0.06 g. The average inbreeding coefficient of the population was 0.015. The study concluded that the population was in ideal status with a linearly increasing trend of average BV with negligible inbreeding over the eight generations of selection.
Comparison of electrophysiological characteristics of right‐ and left‐sided Mahaim‐type accessory pathways
Authors: Ozcan Emin Evren , Turan Oguzhan Ekrem , Akdemir Baris , Inevi Umut Dursun , Yilancioglu Resit Yigit , Baskurt Ahmet Anil , Alak Cetin , Bayrak Fatih 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimsMahaim‐type accessory pathways (MAPs) are generally right‐sided due to the embryological differentiation, but left‐sided localization is also possible. This study aims to compare the clinical and electrophysiological characteristics of right‐ and left‐sided MAPs.MethodsOf 251 patients diagnosed with AP by electrophysiological study between November 2015 and February 2020, 12 patients with MAP were included (right sided n = 8, left sided n = 4). MAP was diagnosed if; (1) no retrograde conduction; (2) anterograde decremental conduction; (3) adenosine sensitivity; and (4) Mahaim potential at successful ablation site were present.ResultsTen of twelve MAPs were clustered on the lateral walls of the mitral (n = 3, 75%) and tricuspid annuli (n = 7, 87.5%). Right‐sided MAPs were mostly long pathways extending toward the conduction system whereas left‐sided MAPs were short extending toward the neighboring myocardium. For right‐ and left‐sided APs, the median QRS times were 129 and 156 ms (p = .042), the median VAbl‐RVApex intervals were −12 and 64 ms (p = .007), the median QRS‐V(His) intervals were 16 and 86 ms (p = .120), and the median VAbl‐QRS interval was −8 and 12 ms (p = .017), respectively. Coexistence of dual atrioventricular node physiology was observed only in right‐sided APs (n = 3, 37.5%).ConclusionMAPs are more typically located on the right but may rarely be seen on the left. Catheter ablation was associated with high success without complications.