bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The longitudinal negative impact of early stressful events on emotional and physical well‐being: The buffering role of cardiac vagal development
Authors: Patron Elisabetta , Calcagnì Antonio , Thayer Julian F. , Scrimin Sara 
Published: December 2020

AbstractEarly stressful events negatively affect emotional and physical well‐being. Cardiac vagal tone (CVT), which is associated with better emotional and physical well‐being, usually gradually increase in early childhood. Nonetheless, children's CVT developmental trajectories are greatly variable, such that CVT can increase or decrease across the years. The present study examines the longitudinal effects of early stressful events and the role of 4 years CVT developmental trajectory on children's emotional and physical well‐being. Forty‐two 4‐year‐old children were enrolled. Number of stressful events and resting electrocardiogram (ECG) were collected at T1. ECG was registered again after one (T2), two (T3) and three (T4) years. Children's emotional and physical well‐being were assessed at T4 through the Child Health and Illness Profile – Child Edition (CHIP–CE). CVT development was calculated as the angular coefficient, reflecting the developmental trajectory of CVT across the four timepoints. Results yielded that higher experienced stressful events predicted poorer emotional and physical well‐being after 4 years. The interaction between the number of stressful events and CVT development emerged on physical well‐being. Early stressful events negatively affect long‐term children's emotional and physical well‐being while a positive CVT development seems to mitigate the negative effects of early stressful events on physical well‐being.
Extreme evolutionary shifts in developmental timing establish the miniature Danionella as a novel model in the neurosciences
Authors: Conway Kevin W. , M. Kubicek Kole , Britz Ralf 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundSpecies of Danionella rank among the smallest of all vertebrates and their miniature size is correlated with an extreme case of progenesis, resulting in tiny, transparent sexually mature individuals. Progenesis has affected the entire skeleton of Danionella, in which 60 skeletal elements are absent, including some of the skull roofing bones. This lack of a skull roof combined with the presence of a fully formed hearing and sound producing apparatus has led to Danionella being used as an important model for neurophysiological studies.ResultsUsing both rank based and PGi analyses we investigate sequence heterochrony in the development of the skeleton of Danionella dracula and close relatives. Extreme heterochronic shifts affect the appearance of bony elements in Danionella dracula. This includes a delay in the appearance of most chondral skull bones, and a reduction or loss of dermal bones that would otherwise form the skull roof. In contrast, formation of the anterior region of the vertebral column, including the functionally important elements of the Weberian apparatus, is greatly accelerated.ConclusionsHere we show that the anatomical conditions that favor Danionella for brain research are the result of extreme heterochronic shifts that have acted differentially across the skeleton.
Sympatric divergence of the ergot fungus, Claviceps purpurea, populations infecting agricultural and nonagricultural grasses in North America
Authors: Liu Miao , Shoukouhi Parivash , Bisson Kassandra R. , Wyka Stephen A. , Broders Kirk D. , Menzies Jim G. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe ergot diseases of agricultural and nonagricultural grasses are caused by the infection of Claviceps spp. (Hypocreales, Ascomycota) on florets, producing dark spur‐like sclerotia on spikes that are toxic to humans and animals, leading to detrimental impacts on agriculture and economy due to the downgrading of cereal grains, import–export barriers, reduced yield, and ecological concerns. At least seven phylogenetic lineages (phylogenetic species) were identified within the premolecular concept of C. purpurea s.l. (sensu lato) in agricultural areas and vicinities in Canada and the Western United States. Claviceps purpurea s.s (sensu stricto) remained as the most prevalent species with a wide host range, including cereal crops, native, invasive, and weedy grasses. The knowledge on genetic diversity and distribution of C. purpurea s.s. in North America is lacking. The objective of the present study was to shed light on genetic differentiation and evolution of the natural populations of C. purpurea s.s. Multilocus DNA sequences of samples from Canada and the Western USA were analyzed using a phylogenetic network approach, and population demographic parameters were investigated. Results showed that three distinct genetically subdivided populations exist, and the subdivision is not correlated with geographic or host differentiations. Potential intrinsic mechanisms that might play roles in leading to the cessation of gene flows among the subpopulations, that is, mating and/or vegetative incompatibility, genomic adaptation, were discussed. The neutrality of two house‐keeping genes that are widely used for DNA barcoding, that is, translation elongation factor 1‐α (TEF1‐α) and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (RPB2), was challenged and discussed.
Developments and applications of separation and microfluidics methods coupled to electrospray mass spectrometry in glycomics of nervous system gangliosides
Authors: Sarbu Mirela , Ica Raluca , Zamfir Alina D. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractGangliosides are particularly abundant in the nervous system (NS) where their pattern and structure in a certain milieu or a defined region exhibit a pronounced specificity. Since gangliosides are useful biomarkers for diagnosis of NS ailments, a clear‐cut mapping of individual components represents a prerequisite for designing ganglioside‐based diagnostic procedures, treatments, or vaccines. These bioclinical aspects and the high diversity of ganglioside species claim for development of specific analytical strategies. This review summarizes the state‐of‐the‐art in the implementation of separation techniques and microfluidics coupled to MS, which have contributed significantly to the advancement of the field. In the first part, the review discusses relevant approaches based on HPLC MS and CE coupled to ESI MS and their applications in the characterization of gangliosides expressed in healthy and diseased NS. A considerable section is dedicated to microfluidics MS and ion mobility separation MS, developed for the study of brain gangliosidome and its changes triggered by various factors, as well as for ganglioside biomarker discovery in neurodegenerative diseases and brain cancer. In the last part of the review, the benefits and perspectives in ganglioside research of these high‐performance techniques are presented.
Co/Eu co‐doped electron transport layer enhances charge extraction and light absorption for efficient carbon‐based HTM‐free perovskite solar cells
Authors: Zhang Zhenyun , Qiu Fazheng , Shen Tao , Xu Lei , Ma Jingyuan , Qi Junjie 
Published: December 2020

SummaryCarbon‐based hole‐transport materials (HTM)‐free perovskite solar cells (C‐PSCs) have received increasing attention in photovoltaic fields thanks to the low priced and superior stability. Nevertheless, the C‐PSCs still suffer from low power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in comparison with conventional PSCs. Here, we report a bimetal Co/Eu co‐doping strategy to modify the electron transportation layer (ETL), simultaneously improving the charge extraction and light absorption and thus the performance of HTM‐free C‐PSCs. Systematic experiments suggest that (i) Co doping passivates the electronic trap‐states in TiO2 ETL, improving the charge transport properties; (ii) Eu doping enhances the photoresponse of PSCs. Combining them together in ETL, all the photovoltaic parameters of C‐PSCs are appreciably enhanced, leading to a PCE leap from 11.12 to 14.06% while keeping a superior device stability. These results may provide possibilities for the exploration of high‐efficiency C‐PSCs by further optimizing ETL with suitable doping.
Definitive intensity‐modulated radiotherapy or surgery for early oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: Propensity‐score‐matched, nationwide, population‐based cohort study
Authors: Liu Wen‐Chi , Liu Hsueh‐Erh , Kao Yi‐Wei , Qin Lei , Lin Kuan‐Chou , Fang Chih‐Yuan , Tsai Lo‐Lin , Shia Ben‐Chang , Wu Szu‐Yuan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundNo evidence is currently available to estimate the outcomes of intensity‐modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and surgery for patients with early oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (E‐OCSCC).MethodsWe recruited patients from the Taiwan Cancer Registry Database who had received a diagnosis of E‐OCSCC. Propensity score matching was performed, and Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze all‐cause mortality.ResultsIn the multivariate Cox regression analyses, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for surgery compared with definitive IMRT, T2N0M0 compared with T1N0M0, and male patients compared with female patients were 0.303 (0.245, 0.375), 1.340 (1.077, 1.668), and 2.012 (1.432, 2.826), respectively. The aHRs (95% CIs) for age 61 to 70, 71 to 80, and ≧81 years compared with <40 years were 2.984 (1.43, 4.225), 3.353 (2.578, 4.112), and 4.277 (4.104, 5.679), respectively.ConclusionsFor patients with E‐OCSCC, surgery may be considered the first option rather than definitive IMRT.
Maximal aerobic capacity is associated with hippocampal cognitive reserve in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Eisenstein Tamir , Yogev‐Seligmann Galit , Ash Elissa , Giladi Nir , Sharon Haggai , Shapira‐Lichter Irit , Nachman Shikma , Hendler Talma , Lerner Yulia 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMaximal aerobic capacity (MAC) has been associated with preserved neural tissue or brain maintenance (BM) in healthy older adults, including the hippocampus. Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) is considered a prodromal stage of Alzheimer's disease. While aMCI is characterized by hippocampal deterioration, the MAC‐hippocampal relationship in these patients is not well understood. In contrast to healthy individuals, neurocognitive protective effects in neurodegenerative populations have been associated with mechanisms of cognitive reserve (CR) altering the neuropathology‐cognition relationship. We investigated the MAC‐hippocampal relationship in aMCI (n = 29) from the perspectives of BM and CR mechanistic models with structural MRI and a memory fMRI paradigm using both group‐level (higher‐fit patients vs. lower‐fit patients) and individual level (continuous correlation) approaches. While MAC was associated with smaller hippocampal volume, contradicting the BM model, higher‐fit patients demonstrated statistically significant lower correlation between hippocampal volume and memory performance compared with the lower‐fit patients, supporting the model of CR. In addition, while there was no difference in brain activity between the groups during low cognitive demand (encoding of familiar stimuli), higher MAC level was associated with increased cortical and sub‐cortical activation during increased cognitive demand (encoding of novel stimuli) and also with bilateral hippocampal activity even when controlling for hippocampal volume, suggesting for an independent effect of MAC. Our results suggest that MAC may be associated with hippocampal‐related cognitive reserve in aMCI through altering the relationship between hippocampal‐related structural deterioration and cognitive function. In addition, MAC was found to be associated with increased capacity to recruit neural resources during increased cognitive demands.
Changing the landscape of obstetric resident education in low‐ and middle‐income countries using simulation‐based training
Authors: Meza Pamela K. , Bianco Katherine , Herrarte Edgar , Daniels Kay 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate simulation‐based training (SBT) in low‐ and‐middle‐income countries (LMIC) and the long‐term retention of knowledge and self‐efficacy.MethodsWe conducted an SBT course on the management of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), shoulder dystocia (SD), and maternal cardiac arrest (MCA) in three government teaching hospitals in Guatemala. We evaluated changes in knowledge and self‐efficacy using a multiple‐choice questionnaire for 46 obstetrics/gynecology residents. A paired Student's t test was used to analyze changes at 1 week and 6 months after the SBT.ResultsThere was an increase in scores in clinical knowledge of MCA (p < 0. 001, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81–1.49) and SD (p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.41–1.02) 1 week after SBT, and a statistically insignificant increase in PPH scores (p = 0.617, 95% CI −0.96 to 0.60). This increase in scores was maintained after 6 months for MCA (p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.69–1.53), SD (p = 0.02 95% CI 0.07–0.85), and PPH (p = 0.04, 95% CI 0.01–1.26). For MCA and SD, the levels of self‐efficacy were increased 1 week following training (p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.83–2.30 and p = 0.008, 95% CI 0.60–3.92, respectively), and at 6 months (p < 0.001, 95% CI 0.79–2.42 and p = 0.006, 95% CI 0.66–3.81, respectively). There was a slight increase in PPH self‐efficacy scores 1 week after SBT (p = 0.73, 95% CI −6.05 to 4.41), maintained after 6 months (p = 0.38, 95% CI −6.85 to 2.85).ConclusionSBT was found to be an effective and feasible method to increase short‐ and long‐term clinical knowledge and self‐efficacy of obstetric emergencies in LMIC.
Optimal Dosing of Meropenem in a Small Cohort of Critically Ill Children Receiving Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
Authors: Tan Wei Wei , Watt Kevin M. , Boakye‐Agyeman Felix , Cohen‐Wolkowiez Michael , Mok Yee Hui , Yung Chee Fu , Chan Yoke Hwee 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSevere sepsis is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in critically ill children. Meropenem is a broad‐spectrum antibiotic commonly used to treat sepsis. Current meropenem dosage recommendations for children on continuous renal replacement therapy are extrapolated from pharmacokinetic (PK) studies done in adults. Our study aims to determine the optimal dosing in critically ill septic children receiving continuous renal replacement therapy. A prospective single‐center PK study was performed in 9 children in the intensive care unit on continuous renal replacement therapy. Meropenem concentrations were measured from blood and effluent fluid samples. A population PK model was developed using nonlinear mixed‐effects modeling software (NONMEM, AstraZeneca UK Ltd, Cheshire, UK). Monte Carlo simulations were performed. The PK/pharmacodynamic target aimed for plasma concentrations above minimum inhibitory concentration of 4 mg/L for 100% of dosing interval (100%ƒT>MIC). A 2‐compartment model best characterized meropenem PK. Mean (range) clearance and elimination half‐life was 0.091 L/h/kg (0.04–0.157) and 3.9 hours (2.1–7.5), respectively. Dosing of 40 mg/kg/dose every 12 hours over 30 minutes achieved PK/PD target in only 32% while 20 mg/kg every 8 hours over 4 hours or 40 mg/kg every 8 hours over 2 hours achieved 100% ƒT>MIC target for at least 90% of simulated patients.
Regenerative medicine for the hepatobiliary system: A review
Authors: Huang Yu , Miyamoto Daisuke , Hidaka Masaaki , Adachi Tomohiko , Gu Wei‐Li , Eguchi Susumu 
Published: December 2020

AbstractLiver transplantation, the only proven treatment for end‐stage liver disease and acute liver failure, is hampered by the scarcity of donors. Regenerative medicine provides an alternative therapeutic approach. Tremendous efforts dedicated to liver regenerative medicine include the delivery of transplantable cells, microtissues, and bioengineered whole livers via tissue engineering and the maintenance of partial liver function via extracorporeal support. This brief review summarizes the current status of regenerative medicine for the hepatobiliary system. For liver regenerative medicine, the focus is on strategies for expansion of transplantable hepatocytes, generation of hepatocyte‐like cells, and therapeutic potential of engineered tissues in liver disease models. For biliary regenerative medicine, the discussion concentrates on the methods for generation of cholangiocyte‐like cells and strategies in the treatment of biliary disease. Significant advances have been made in large‐scale and long‐term expansion of liver cells. The development of tissue engineering and stem cell induction technology holds great promise for the future treatment of hepatobiliary diseases. The application of regenerative medicine in liver still lacks extensive animal experiments. Therefore, a large number of preclinical studies are necessary to provide sufficient evidence for their therapeutic effectiveness. Much remains to be done for the treatment of hepatobiliary diseases with regenerative medicine.
Preparation of novel symmetrical bistetrazole‐carbazole derivatives through a one‐pot Ugi‐azide reaction
Authors: Rahimi Shahnaz , Ghandi Mehdi 
Published: December 2020

AbstractA series of new symmetrical tetrazole‐based carbazole derivatives starting from the initially generated 3,6‐diformyl‐N‐alkylcarbazoles were successfully synthesized through a one‐pot Ugi‐azide reaction in moderate to high yields. Simplicity, easily accessible chemicals, mild reaction conditions, and fast separation of the products with the formation of bistetrazole‐based carbazole derivatives in one step are some advantages of this method. The structure of the products was characterized and confirmed by using spectroscopic techniques such as 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT‐IR, and MS spectroscopy.
Atrial fibrillation and the risk of 30‐day incident thromboembolic events, and mortality in adults ≥ 50 years with COVID‐19
Authors: Harrison Stephanie L. , Fazio‐Eynullayeva Elnara , Lane Deirdre A. , Underhill Paula , Lip Gregory Y. H. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundThere are limited data on the outcomes of adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) and atrial fibrillation (AF). The objectives were to (i) examine associations between AF, 30‐day thromboembolic events and mortality in adults with COVID‐19 and (ii) examine associations between COVID‐19, 30‐day thromboembolic events and mortality in adults with AF.MethodsA study was conducted using a global federated health research network. Adults aged ≥50 years who presented to 41 participating healthcare organizations between 20 January 2020 and 1 September 2020 with COVID‐19 were included.ResultsFor the first objective, 6589 adults with COVID‐19 and AF were propensity score matched for age, gender, race, and comorbidities to 6589 adults with COVID‐19 without AF. The survival probability was significantly lower in adults with COVID‐19 and AF compared to matched adults without AF (82.7% compared to 88.3%, Log‐Rank test P < .0001; Risk Ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.61 (1.46, 1.78)) and risk of thromboembolic events was higher in patients with AF (9.9% vs 7.0%, Log‐Rank test P < .0001; Risk Ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.41 (1.26, 1.59)). For the second objective, 2454 adults with AF and COVID‐19 were propensity score matched to 2454 adults with AF without COVID‐19. The survival probability was significantly lower for adults with AF and COVID‐19 compared to adults with AF without COVID‐19, but there was no significant difference in risk of thromboembolic events.ConclusionsAF could be an important risk factor for short‐term mortality with COVID‐19, and COVID‐19 may increase risk of short‐term mortality amongst adults with AF.
Simulation of catalytic toluene alkylation with methanol in fixed‐bed reactors
Authors: Fan Zong‐Liang , Su Xin , Wang Dong‐Liang , Zhang Dong‐Qiang , Duan Run‐Hao , Yang Yong 
Published: December 2020

AbstractToluene alkylation with methanol could serve as a green “molecular engineering” to produce para‐xylene (PX). However, the conversion and para‐selectivity are the key index to the application of this technology. Based on the reaction network and kinetics, the fixed‐bed models were introduced to analyze and optimize the para‐selectivity at reactor level. After the validation with the experimental results, the analysis of reaction kinetics showed that increasing temperature not only improves the main reaction rate, toluene conversion, and para‐selectivity, but also inhibits the competitiveness of methanol autocatalytic reaction, while higher feed molar ratio of toluene to methanol will suppress the olefins formation but reduce the conversion and promote the polymethylation process with a sharper temperature rise. Then, the one‐ and three‐dimensional model demonstrated that the conditions of 500‐520°C, feed molar ratio of 2‐3 would be favorable to the para‐selectivity, and keeping the wall 20‐30°C above the inlet temperature is beneficial for conversion, selectivity, and temperature control. These results have certain guiding value for the choice of reactor condition and further reactor design.
Community diversity metrics, interactions, and metabolic functions of bacteria associated with municipal solid waste landfills at different maturation stages
Authors: Sekhohola‐Dlamini Lerato , Selvarajan Ramganesh , Ogola Henry Joseph Odour , Tekere Memory 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMunicipal landfills are hot spots of dynamic bioprocesses facilitated by complex interactions of a multifaceted microbiome, whose functioning in municipal landfills at different maturing stages is poorly understood. This study determined bacterial community composition, interaction conetworks, metabolic functions, and controlling physicochemical properties in two landfills aged 14 and 36 years. High throughput sequencing revealed a similar distribution of bacterial diversity, evenness, and richness in the 14‐ and 36‐year‐old landfills in the 0–90 cm depth. At deeper layers (120–150 cm), the 14‐year‐old landfill had significantly greater bacterial diversity and richness indicating that it is a more active microcosm than the 36‐year‐old landfill, where phylum Epsilonbacteraeota was overwhelmingly dominant. The taxonomic and functional diversity in the 14‐year‐old landfill was further reflected by the abundant presence of indicator genera Pseudomonas,Lutispora,Hydrogenspora, and Sulfurimonas coupled with the presence of biomarker enzymes associated with carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) metabolism. Furthermore, canonical correspondence analysis revealed that bacteria in the 14‐year‐old landfill were positively correlated with high C, N, S, and phosphorus resulting in positive cooccurrence interactions. In the 36‐year‐old landfill, negative coexclusion interactions populated by members of N fixing Rhizobiales were dominant, with metabolic functions and biomarker enzymes predicting significant N fixation that, as indicated by interaction network, potentially inhibited ammonia‐intolerant bacteria. Overall, our findings show that diverse bacterial community in the 14‐year‐old landfill was dominated by copiotrophs associated with positive conetworks, whereas the 36‐year‐old landfill was dominated by lithotrophs linked to coexclusion interactions that greatly reduced bacterial diversity and richness.