bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Major challenges in substance use research in Canada in 2019
Authors: Sornpaisarn Bundit , Ali Farihah , Elton-Marshall Tara , Imtiaz Sameer , Probst Charlotte , Sornpaisarn Sarnti , Rehm Jürgen 
Published: December 2020

Aims: To synthesize knowledge on substance use and substance-attributable burden in Canada to determine research priorities for the next 3 to 5 years.
Methods: We searched for and analyzed the latest epidemiological estimates of substance use prevalence and attributable burden and for economic data on the costs of substance use.
Results: Based on trends over 2014-2019, opioid, alcohol, and cannabis use were identified as research priorities due to their current or anticipated future impact on health burden in Canada. Specifically, future research efforts should be directed towards: (a) reducing the number of opioid prescriptions, investing in interventions for those already addicted to opioids, preventing both the development of opioid use disorders and deaths due to overdose; (b) identifying ways to reduce hazardous and harmful drinking, particularly among those with low socioeconomic status; and (c) monitoring and evaluating the impacts of the recent policy implementations for the legalization of cannabis on various outcomes. While tobacco attributable burden has been decreasing, it is important to continue to monitor vaping use over time.
Conclusions: Substance use is a significant and increasing risk factor for burden of disease, and research efforts are necessary to reduce this burden in Canada.
Insertion loop‐mediated folding propagation governs efficient maturation of hyperthermophilic Tk‐subtilisin at high temperatures
Authors: Uehara Ryo , Dan Nanako , Amesaka Hiroshi , Yoshizawa Takuya , Koga Yuichi , Kanaya Shigenori , Takano Kazufumi , Matsumura Hiroyoshi , Tanaka Shun‐ichi 
Published: December 2020

The serine protease Tk‐subtilisin from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis possesses three insertion loops (IS1‐IS3) on its surface, as compared to its mesophilic counterparts. Although IS1 and IS2 are required for maturation of Tk‐subtilisin at high temperatures, the role of IS3 remains unknown. Here, CD spectroscopy revealed that IS3 deletion arrested Tk‐subtilisin folding at an intermediate state, in which the central nucleus was formed, but the subsequent folding propagation into terminal subdomains did not occur. Alanine substitution of the aspartate residue in IS3 disturbed the intraloop hydrogen‐bonding network, as evidenced by crystallographic analysis, resulting in compromised folding at high temperatures. Taking into account the high conservation of IS3 across hyperthermophilic homologues, we propose that the presence of IS3 is important for folding of hyperthermophilic subtilisins in high‐temperature environments.
Oncological benefits of portal vein embolization for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Beppu Toru , Yamamura Kensuke , Okabe Hirohisa , Imai Katsunori , Hayashi Hiromitsu 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPortal vein embolization (PVE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was first introduced in 1986 and has been continuously developed throughout the years. Basically, PVE has been applied to expand the indication of liver resection for HCC patients of insufficient future liver remnant. Importantly, PVE can result in tumor progression in both embolized and non‐embolized livers; however, long‐term survival after liver resection following PVE is at least not inferior compared with liver resection alone despite the smaller future liver remnant volume. Five‐year disease‐free survival and 5‐year overall survival were 17% to 49% and 12% to 53% in non‐PVE patients, and 21% to 78% and 44% to 72% in PVE patients, respectively. At present, it has proven that PVE has multiple oncological advantages for both surgical and nonsurgical treatments. PVE can also enhance the anticancer effects of transarterial chemoembolization and can avoid intraportal tumor cell dissemination. Additional interventional transarterial chemoembolization and hepatic vein embolization as well as surgical two‐stage hepatectomy and associated liver partition and portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy can enhance the oncological benefit of PVE monotherapy. Taken together, PVE is an important treatment which we recommend for listing in the guidelines for HCC treatment strategies.
The scaling economics of small unit operations
Authors: Weber Robert S. , Askander Jalal A. , Barclay John A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe present a correlation that represents the capital costs of the components of even very small modular facilities. Conversion of distributed feedstocks (eg, associated natural gas, biomass, and carbonaceous wastes) could provide a small fraction of the liquid fuels now used for transportation in the U.S. (~6%), or nearly half of the chemical products now made from petroleum. However, those resources tend to be available at small geographically distributed sites, and they are difficult or expensive to transport to a distant processing center. Modular, and likely intensified, processes that can be numbered up promise to enable utilizing such distributed resources. Early stage economics evaluation of those processes requires cost estimates for the components, which are likely smaller in scale than can be accommodated by the 0.6 power law typically used in chemical engineering.
Quantitative ultrasound radiomics in predicting recurrence for patients with node‐positive head‐neck squamous cell carcinoma treated with radical radiotherapy
Authors: Dasgupta Archya , Fatima Kashuf , DiCenzo Daniel , Bhardwaj Divya , Quiaoit Karina , Saifuddin Murtuza , Karam Irene , Poon Ian , Husain Zain , Tran William T. , Sannachi Lakshmanan , Czarnota Gregory J. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis prospective study was conducted to investigate the role of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) radiomics in predicting recurrence for patients with node‐positive head‐neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with radical radiotherapy (RT). The most prominent cervical lymph node (LN) was scanned with a clinical ultrasound device having central frequency of 6.5 MHz. Ultrasound radiofrequency data were processed to obtain 7 QUS parameters. Color‐coded parametric maps were generated based on individual QUS spectral features corresponding to each of the smaller units. A total of 31 (7 primary QUS and 24 texture) features were obtained before treatment. All patients were treated with radical RT and followed according to standard institutional practice. Recurrence (local, regional, or distant) served as an endpoint. Three different machine learning classifiers with a set of maximally three features were used for model development and tested with leave‐one‐out cross‐validation for nonrecurrence and recurrence groups. Fifty‐one patients were included, with a median follow up of 38 months (range 7–64 months). Recurrence was observed in 17 patients. The best results were obtained using a k‐nearest neighbor (KNN) classifier with a sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and an area under curve of 76%, 71%, 75%, and 0.74, respectively. All the three features selected for the KNN model were texture features. The KNN‐model‐predicted 3‐year recurrence‐free survival was 81% and 40% in the predicted no‐recurrence and predicted‐recurrence groups, respectively. (p = 0.001). The pilot study demonstrates pretreatment QUS‐radiomics can predict the recurrence group with an accuracy of 75% in patients with node‐positive HNSCC.Clinical trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov.in identifier NCT03908684.
Defining Child Sexual Abuse: Perspectives from Mothers Who Experienced this Abuse
Authors: Lange Brittany C. L. , Condon Eileen M. , Gardner Frances 
Published: December 2020

Key Practitioner Messages

The definition of child sexual abuse (CSA) is highly variable in the literature. This is problematic as these differing definitions affect research results, which in turn inform practice.
A survey was conducted to ascertain survivors' definitions of CSA using both open‐ and closed‐ended questions.
The findings can be used to inform discussions of the CSA definition used by researchers and policymakers, and to inform CSA assessment among practitioners.
Unifying atmospheric biology research for the U.S. scientific community
Authors: Williams Claire G. , Smith David J. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractA global COVID‐19 pandemic, rising asthma and allergies, along with climate change impacting storm intensity and frequency, point to an urgent need to unify U.S. atmospheric biology research. To this end, we briefly define atmospheric biology, summarize its fragmented history, and then outline how to unify the field to provide benefits for the U.S. science community and its citizens. Atmospheric biology refers to the study of concentrations, sources, sinks, transformation, and impacts of airborne microorganisms inclusive of pollen, fungal spores, algae, lichens, bacteria, viruses, cellulose fibers, and other biomolecules or fragments of cells. Here our focus is biological particles, both respirable (PM10) and systemic (PM2.5). Due to its interdisciplinary dependencies and broadness of scales from nanometers to kilometers, atmospheric biology research is highly fragmented in the U.S. science community. It lacks shared paradigms and common vocabulary. This deficit calls for recognizing atmospheric biology as a research community in its own right, thereby linking human health to climate change. We need to recognize atmospheric biology’s importance to national security and science diplomacy. Advanced atmospheric biology research is being conducted in Europe, Russia, and China, not in the United States.
Crazy ants craving calcium: macronutrients and micronutrients can limit and stress an invaded grassland brown food web
Authors: Reihart Ryan W. , Angelos Kiersten P. , Gawkins Kaitlin M. , Hurst Shania E. , Montelongo Denise C. , Laws Angela N. , Pennings Steven C. , Prather Chelse M. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractNitrogen and phosphorus are thought to be the most important limiting nutrients in most terrestrial ecosystems, but little is known about how other elements may limit the abundance of arthropods. We utilized a fully factorial fertilization experiment that manipulated macronutrients (N and P, together) and micronutrients (calcium, sodium, potassium, separately), in large 30 × 30 m plots and sampled litter arthropods via pitfall trapping to determine the nutrients that limit this group. An invasive ant, Nylanderia fulva, numerically dominated the community and increased in abundance 13% in plots fertilized by Ca. Detritivores were not limited by any nutrient combination, but macronutrients increased predator abundance 43%. We also found that some combinations of macronutrients and micronutrients had toxic or stressful effects on the arthropod community: detritivores decreased in abundance 23% with the combination of macronutrients, Ca, and K, and 22% with macronutrients and K; and N. fulva decreased in abundance 24% in plots fertilized by K and 45% in plots fertilized by the combination of Na and K. Our work supports growing evidence that micronutrients, especially Ca and K, may be important in structuring grassland arthropod communities, and suggests that micronutrients may affect whether or not invasive ants reach numerical dominance.
Effect of Low-Intensity Vibration on Bone Strength, Microstructure, and Adiposity in Pre-Osteoporotic Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Rajapakse Chamith S , Johncola Alyssa J , Batzdorf Alexandra S , Jones Brandon C , Al Mukaddam Mona , Sexton Kelly , Shults Justine , Leonard Mary B , Snyder Peter J , Wehrli Felix W 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACT
There has been evidence that cyclical mechanical stimulation may be osteogenic, thus providing opportunities for nonpharmacological treatment of degenerative bone disease. Here, we applied this technology to a cohort of postmenopausal women with varying bone mineral density (BMD) T-scores at the total hip (−0.524 ± 0.843) and spine (−0.795 ± 1.03) to examine the response to intervention after 1 year of daily treatment with 10 minutes of vibration therapy in a randomized double-blinded trial. The device operates either in an active mode (30 Hz and 0.3 g) or placebo. Primary endpoints were changes in bone stiffness at the distal tibia and marrow adiposity of the vertebrae, based on 3 Tesla high-resolution MRI and spectroscopic imaging, respectively. Secondary outcome variables included distal tibial trabecular microstructural parameters and vertebral deformity determined by MRI, volumetric and areal bone densities derived using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) of the tibia, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-based BMD of the hip and spine. Device adherence was 83% in the active group (n = 42) and 86% in the placebo group (n = 38) and did not differ between groups (p = .7). The mean 12-month changes in tibial stiffness in the treatment group and placebo group were +1.31 ± 6.05% and −2.55 ± 3.90%, respectively (group difference 3.86%, p = .0096). In the active group, marrow fat fraction significantly decreased after 12 months of intervention (p = .0003), whereas no significant change was observed in the placebo group (p = .7; group difference −1.59%, p = .029). Mean differences of the changes in trabecular bone volume fraction (p = .048) and erosion index (p = .044) were also significant, as was pQCT-derived trabecular volumetric BMD (vBMD; p = .016) at the tibia. The data are commensurate with the hypothesis that vibration therapy is protective against loss in mechanical strength and, further, that the intervention minimizes the shift from the osteoblastic to the adipocytic lineage of mesenchymal stem cells. © 2020 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Superposition of waves or densities: Which is the nature of chemical resonance?
Authors: Wang Yang 
Published: December 2020

AbstractResonance is a fundamental and widely used concept in chemistry, but there exist two distinct theories of chemical resonance, based on quite different and incompatible premises: the wave‐function‐based resonance theory (WFRT), assuming the superposition of wave functions, versus the density‐matrix‐based resonance theory (DMRT), which interprets the resonance phenomenon as the superposition of density matrices. The latter theory, best known to the chemistry community as the natural resonance theory (NRT), has received much more popularity than the WFRT. In this contribution, the DMRT is shown to be inherently inadequate: (i) the exact density matrix expansion is mathematically impossible unless unphysical negative weights are introduced; (ii) any approximate density matrix representing the resonance hybrid lacks the idempotent property. Therefore, the validity of the NRT ansatz should be seriously questioned. The WFRT seems the only reasonable explanation of resonance so far, and has been shown to provide valuable insights into diverse chemical problems.
The m6A methyltransferase METTL14 inhibits the proliferation, migration, and invasion of gastric cancer by regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway
Authors: Liu Xin , Xiao Mingyang , Zhang Liang , Li Liuli , Zhu Guolian , Shen Erdong , Lv Mingyue , Lu Xiaobo , Sun Zhe 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundN6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification may participate in the regulation of occurrence and development of tumors. However, the m6A level and the potential regulatory mechanism of m6A in gastric cancer (GC) remain uncertain.MethodsRNA m6A quantification assay was conducted to detect the m6A level in GC tissues and cell lines. Methyltransferase‐like 14 (METTL14) expression in GC tissues was explored by bioinformatics and immunohistochemistry. Then, the function of METTL14 in GC cells was examined by CCK‐8, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, and Transwell assay. Besides, Western blotting was conducted to probe the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and the epithelial‐mesenchymal transformation (EMT) pathway‐related gene expression.ResultsThe m6A modification level was decreased in GC and METTL14 was a key regulator resulting in m6A disorder in GC. METTL14 was downregulated in GC by analyzing both clinical samples and bioinformatics. METTL14 overexpression suppressed GC cell proliferation and aggression by deactivating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and the EMT pathway, respectively.ConclusionsOur findings indicate that METTL14 partakes in the biological process of GC as a tumor suppressor and may be an emerging biomarker in GC.
Indigenous youth reconnect with cultural identity: The evaluation of a community‐ and school‐based traditional music program
Authors: Good Arla , Sims Lori , Clarke Keith , Russo Frank A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractReconnecting Indigenous youth with their cultural traditions has been identified as an essential part of healing the intergenerational effects of forced assimilation policies. Past work suggests that learning the music of one's culture can foster cultural identity and community bonding, which may serve as protective factors for well‐being. An 8‐week traditional song and dance program was implemented in a school setting for Indigenous youth. An evaluation was conducted using a mixed‐method design to determine the impact of the program on 35 youth in the community. A triangulation of qualitative and quantitative data revealed several important themes, including personal development, cultural development, social development, student engagement in school‐based programming, and perpetuating cultural knowledge. The program provided students with an opportunity to connect with their cultural traditions through activities that encouraged self and cultural expression. Community responses suggested that this type of programming is highly valued among Indigenous communities.
24‐Month HIV‐free survival among HIV‐exposed Infants in Lesotho: the PEAWIL cohort study
Authors: Tukei Vincent J , Machekano Rhoderick , Gill Michelle M , Tiam Appolinaire , Mokone Majoalane , Isavwa Anthony , Nyabela Malijane , Mots’oane Tsietso , Nchephe Seipati , Letsie Mosilinyane , Kassaye Seble G , Guay Laura 
Published: December 2020

AbstractIntroductionFollowing the implementation of the provision of lifelong antiretroviral therapy to all HIV‐positive pregnant or breastfeeding women for prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV by the Kingdom of Lesotho in 2013, we assessed the effectiveness of this approach by evaluating 24‐month HIV‐free survival among HIV‐exposed infants (HEIs).MethodsWe conducted a prospective observational cohort study that enrolled HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative pregnant women, with follow‐up of women and their infants for 24 months after delivery. Participant recruitment started in June 2014 and follow‐up ended in September 2018. Trained nurses collected study information through patient interviews and chart abstraction at enrolment and every three to six months thereafter. Maternal HIV testing, infant mortality, HIV transmission and HIV‐free survival rates were computed using Kaplan–Meier estimation. Cox regression hazard models were used to identify factors associated with infant HIV infection and death.ResultsBetween June 2014 and February 2016, we enrolled 653 HIV‐positive and 941 HIV‐negative pregnant women. Twenty‐seven HIV‐negative women acquired HIV during follow‐up. Ultimately, 634 liveborn HEI (382 (52%) male, 303 (48%) female, 3 missing) and 839 who remained HIV‐unexposed (HUIs) (409 (49.0%) male, 426 (51.0%) female, 4 missing) were followed; 550 HEIs and 701 HUIs completed the 24‐month follow‐up period. Of 607 (95.7%) HEIs who were tested for HIV at least once during follow‐up, 17 were found to be HIV‐positive. Two (9.5%) of 21 infants born to mothers who acquired HIV infection during follow‐up were HIV‐positive compared to 15 (2.4%) of 613 HEI born to women with known HIV infection. The risk of HIV transmission from HIV‐positive mothers to their infants by 24 months of age was 2.9% (95% CI: 1.8 to 4.7). The estimated 24‐month mortality rate among HEIs was 6.0% (95% CI: 4.4 to 8.2) compared to 3.8% (95% CI: 2.6 to 5.3) among HUIs (Log‐rank p = 0.065). HIV‐free survival at 24 months was 91.8% (95% CI: 89.2 to 93.7). Lower maternal age and birth weight were independently associated with increased HIV infection or death of infants.ConclusionsThe implementation of lifelong ART for PMTCT in the Lesotho public health system resulted in low HIV transmission, but survival of HEI remains lower than their HIV uninfected counterparts.
A retrofit to enable dynamic steering for transmit arrays without multiple amplifiers
Authors: Sun Chenhao , Patel Kevin , Wilcox Matthew , Dimitrov Ivan E. , Cheshkov Sergey , McDougall Mary , Wright Steven M. 
Published: December 2020

Purpose shimming is an important method for mitigating B1 inhomogeneity in high‐field MRI. Using independent power amplifiers for each transmit (Tx) element is the preferred method for B1 shimming but comes with a high cost. Conversely, the simplest approach to control a Tx array is by using coaxial cables of varying length in the Tx chain, but this approach is cumbersome and impractical for dynamic shimming. In this article, a system is described that enables dynamic, phase‐only, eight‐channel steering on a 7T MR scanner with only two power amplifiers.MethodsPower dividers were utilized to first split the existing two‐channel Tx signal into eight channels. Digitally controlled phase shifters on each channel were designed to provide independent phase shifts with a resolution of 22.5° (from 0°, 22.5° … 337.5°). To validate the system, an eight‐channel body dipole array was simulated and constructed for bench and 7T imaging and evaluation.ResultsThe phase conjugate steering method was employed at three different spatial positions in simulation, bench measurements, and scanner measurements—all with matching results. At the desired points, regions with homogenous were generated, indicating good Tx steering to the selected region.ConclusionThe described system can be used as a simple retrofit to existing hardware to provide phase control while avoiding the need to manually switch cables and without requiring independent power amplifiers for each channel, thus demonstrating the ability to perform dynamic shimming with increased degrees of freedom but without significantly increased hardware cost.
Topology optimization for three‐dimensional elastoplastic architected materials using a path‐dependent adjoint method
Authors: Abueidda Diab W. , Kang Ziliang , Koric Seid , James Kai A. , Jasiuk Iwona M. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis article introduces a computational design framework for obtaining three‐dimensional (3D) periodic elastoplastic architected materials with enhanced performance, subject to uniaxial or shear strain. A nonlinear finite element model accounting for plastic deformation is developed, where a Lagrange multiplier approach is utilized to impose periodicity constraints. The analysis assumes that the material obeys a von Mises plasticity model with linear isotropic hardening. The finite element model is combined with a corresponding path‐dependent adjoint sensitivity formulation, which is derived analytically. The optimization problem is parametrized using the solid isotropic material penalization method. Designs are optimized for either end compliance or toughness for a given prescribed displacement. Such a framework results in producing materials with enhanced performance through much better utilization of an elastoplastic material. Several 3D examples are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the mathematical framework.