bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development and validation of an innovative UPLC method to quantify lacosamide, oxcarbazepine, and lamotrigine in the serum of children with epilepsy in China
Authors: Zhao Ting , Yu Lu‐hai , Wang Ting‐ting , Feng Jie , Ma Long , Yu Jing , Sun Li , Li Hong‐jian , Sun Yan 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis study has developed and validated a novel UPLC method to quantify lacosamide (LCM), oxcarbazepine (OXC), and lamotrigine (LTG) in children with epilepsy in Xinjiang, China. Phenytoin sodium was used as the internal standard. The mobile phase contained ammonium dihydrogen phosphate solution (10 mmol/L, pH = 4.0) and methanol (55:45, v/v). The flow rate, injection volume, column temperature, and detection wavelength were 0.2 mL/min, 2 μL, 30°C, and 240 nm, respectively. The method was linear within 0.5–40, 2.5–80, and 2.5–40 μg/mL for LCM, 10‐hydroxycarbazepine (MHD), and LTG, respectively (r2 ≥ 0.998). The intra‐ and inter‐day precision as measured by the relative standard deviation values was between 1.36 and 4.50, 0.54 and 1.91, and 0.58 and 1.56%. Recovery ranged from 96.58 to 106.22%. All serum samples could be maintained for up to 3 h at ambient temperature, 24 h at 4°C, 30 days at −30°C, and after successive freeze–thaw cycles (24 h per cycle) in the absence of significant degradation.
Facial palsy during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Codeluppi Luca , Venturelli Francesco , Rossi Jessica , Fasano Antonio , Toschi Giulia , Pacillo Francesca , Cavallieri Francesco , Giorgi Rossi Paolo , Valzania Franco 
Published: November 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the incidence and clinical features of individuals presenting in emergency rooms (ER) with facial palsy during the Italian COVID‐19 outbreak and in the same period of 2019.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records for all accesses to the six ER in the province of Reggio Emilia, Italy, during the first phase of the COVID‐19 pandemic (27 February‐3 May 2020) to identify all cases of diagnosed facial palsy. Clinical information was retrieved for each patient and compared with that of facial palsy cases presenting in 2019.ResultBetween 27 February and 3 May 2020, 38 patients presented to provincial ERs for facial palsy; in 2019, there were 22 cases, for an incidence rate ratio of 1.73 (95% CI 1.02–2.92) for the 2020 cohort. Of the 2020 cohort, eight patients (21%) presented with active or recent symptoms consistent with COVID‐19 infection, compared with 2 (9%) in 2019 (p = .299); one was tested and resulted positive for SARS‐CoV‐2. Moreover, patients were younger (−11 years, p = .037) than those of the previous year and manifested a longer lag (+1.1 days, p = .001) between symptoms onset and ER presentation.ConclusionWe observed a higher occurrence of facial palsy during the COVID‐19 outbreak compared to the same period of the previous year; 21% of patients presenting with facial palsy had active or recent symptoms consistent with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, suggesting an excess risk of facial palsy during or after COVID‐19. These patients searched for medical attention later, probably because of the fear of contracting COVID‐19 during assistance.
Reevaluating waste as a resource under a circular economy approach from a system perspective: Findings from a case study
Authors: Puntillo Pina , Gulluscio Carmela , Huisingh Donald , Veltri Stefania 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe circular economy (CE), definable as a system focused on the reorganization of material, information, and energy flows to achieve greater resource efficiency through the reuse, remanufacturing, and recycling of materials, is a concept widely discussed by practitioners and scientists of many disciplines. Waste recycling is integral to the CE, but there are still few articles focused on waste, and only few studies shed light on CE implementation at the company level. This paper focuses on a particular type of waste, that is, absorbent hygiene products (AHPs), which represents a nonnegligible fraction of municipal solid waste, considered an increasingly serious global challenge. We conducted our analysis on FaterSMART, an Italian firm that developed a unique worldwide technology able to totally convert AHP raw material wastes into recyclable materials, under a CE approach. The case study findings are based upon semi‐structured interviews, direct observations, and analysis of FaterSMART's archival documents and are analyzed according to a framework developed for the research and focused on the place of waste from a linear economy, in which waste is considered a burden to CE, in which waste is considered a resource. The latter case is what we found that happens at FaterSMART. FaterSMART's findings could contribute to open up new management scenarios and stimulate further research into how this and similar types of technology will help societies to change from the “use‐it‐once‐and‐throw‐it away” mentality of linear business models to the sustainable CE model that fully conceptualize waste as a resource for the system.
Characteristics and risk factors for microbial infections during cancer immune checkpoint therapy
Authors: Kanjanapan Yada , Yip Desmond 
Published: November 2020

ABSTRACTThe risk of infection in patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is not well understood. Immune‐related adverse events requiring immunosuppressive therapy may impact infection risk. ICIs may induce an exaggerated immune response to latent infection. We assessed the incidence and risk factors for infections during cancer ICI therapy. A retrospective chart review of solid tumor patients treated with ICIs was conducted. Infectious episodes were defined as those where a microbial organism was cultured or identified through polymerase chain reaction. Infections which occurred during and up to 1 year following ICI therapy were considered “post‐ICI” infections. Of 327 patients, 47% had melanoma and 36% had non‐small cell lung cancer. The majority (77%) received single agent anti‐PD(L)1 antibody, 14% received combination anti‐PD(L)1 and anti‐CTLA4 antibody, and 9% single agent anti‐CTLA4 antibody. Infections occurred in 89 (27%) in the post‐ICI compared with 111 (34%) patients in the pre‐ICI period (p = 0.57). The most common types of infection were respiratory, genitourinary, and cutaneous infections. On multivariate analysis, only age over 67 years significantly predicted for development of infection on ICI (HR 1.73, p = 0.04). We did not find receipt of corticosteroids, combination ICI therapy, diabetes, or gender to significantly impact on infection risk. The rate of microbial infections among solid tumor patients receiving ICI therapy was 27%, comparable to the infection rate of 34% in the same cohort of patients in the period pre‐ICI therapy. Age over 67 years was significantly associated with infection post‐ICI.
Virginal breast hypertrophy in a 14‐year‐old girl: A case report
Authors: Pokhrel Biraj , Gautam Sandesh , Sharma Samit , Pokhrel Nishan Babu , Bhatta Naveen Chandra , Rayamajhi Sangam , Shrestha Jayan Man 
Published: November 2020

AbstractReduction mammoplasty with free nipple graft can be a good choice for early pubertal patients requiring massive reduction given its low recurrence and greater patient satisfaction.
Dynamic process monitoring using dynamic latent‐variable and canonical correlation analysis model
Authors: Lou Siwei , Wu Ping , Guo Lingling , He Jiajun , Zhang Xujie , Gao Jinfeng 
Published: November 2020

AbstractDynamic latent‐variable (DLV) modelling is a very effective method for dynamic process monitoring. However, the DLV method only focuses on auto‐correlation in process data but ignores the cross‐correlation between inputs and outputs. To overcome this shortcoming, a novel dynamic process monitoring method using dynamic‐latent variable and canonical correlation analysis (DLV‐CCA) is proposed. Considering the dynamics in the process data, the proposed DLV‐CCA method first utilizes the DLV method to decompose the input space into input dynamic and static subspaces. The output space is also decomposed into output dynamic and static subspaces by DLV. Then, canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is used to explore the cross‐correlation between the dynamic subspaces (including input dynamic and output dynamic subspaces) and the static subspaces (including input static and output static subspaces). According to the CCA results, residual signals are generated and corresponding Hotelling's T2 statistics are established to detect variations in these residual signals. A numerical example and a closed‐loop continuous stirred‐tank reactor (CSTR) are employed to demonstrate the superior performance of the DLV‐CCA based process monitoring compared with other relevant methods.
Awakening Sleeping Beauty: Vinyl Esters for Macrolactonization
Authors: Song Qi , Kong Luyao , Zhu Lili , Hong Ran , Huang Sha‐Hua 
Published: November 2020

AbstractMacrolactones play a critical role in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Numerous efforts have been devoted to developing synthetic methods for them. We highlighted a recent progress for building macrocycles (≥ 12‐membered) via bench‐stable vinyl ester (VE) intermediates, which have been underdeveloped for half century. These methods are mild and racemization‐free and warrant wide recognition in macrocyclization as the key step in complex molecule synthesis.
Incorporation of Gadolinium Oxide and Gadolinium Oxysulfide Microspheres: MRI/CT Monitoring and Promotion of Osteogenic/Chondrogenic Differentiation for Bone Implants
Authors: Huang Jing , Tang Zhaoyun , Guo Min , Wang Yu , Wang Zongliang , Wu Zhenxu , Zhang Peibiao 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe current biodegradable polymer materials, as orthopedic implants, can not be traced timely by using the existing medical imaging techniques due to low density and lack of relaxed hydrogen proton ability. Considering the paramagnetism of gadolinium and the particularity of micro/nano materials, we synthesized inorganic gadolinium oxide and gadolinium oxysulfide microspheres with regular morphology and uniform size without doped rare earth. After incorporation into biodegradable polymer of poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid), their effects on signals of MRI, CT and osteogenic/chondrogenic differentiation were investigated to acquisition of multifunctional micro/nano composites for bone implants. At the studied concentrations, gadolinium oxide microspheres showed higher signal than gadolinium oxysulfide microspheres on T1‐weighted imaging. Both of them were of fine biocompatibility and did not show their negative effect on adhesion and proliferation in the concentration of 0.4% (w/w, Gd/PLGA). Meanwhile, the osteogenic/chondrogenic differentiation of MC3T3‐E1 preosteoblasts, including ALP activity, calcium deposition and expression of Runx2, OPN, OCN, COL I and COL II in mRNA and protain, were stimulated at different level, which indicated that moderate use the inorganic gadolinium oxide and gadolinium oxysulfide microspheres could realize the function of tracing the polymer bone implants by MRI/CT and inducing the osteogenic/chondrogenic differentiation simultaneously.
A Guide to Using ClinTAD for Interpretation of DNA Copy Number Variants in the Context of Topologically Associated Domains
Authors: Spector Jacob D. , Wiita Arun P. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractDNA copy number variants (CNVs) are routinely evaluated as part of clinical diagnosis in both the prenatal and postnatal genetic settings. Current guidelines for interpreting the potential clinical significance of these CNVs, typically identified by chromosomal microarray, focus entirely on genes localized within the CNV region. However, recent work has suggested that some CNVs can actually produce clinical impacts by influencing transcription of genes outside the CNV region. These alterations of transcription appear to occur by disrupting the composition of DNA topologically associated domains (TADs), which strongly influence contacts between gene promoters and their associated enhancers. Here we present a set of detailed protocols for the use of the free software tool ClinTAD (https://www.clintad.com). This decision‐support software allows for prediction as to whether a given CNV may potentially disrupt a TAD boundary, and offers phenotype matching to genes near, but not within the CNV region, whose expression could be influenced by altered TAD architecture and that have phenotypic impacts related to that reported in a given patient. Our protocols here provide specific examples of how to implement these tools. In addition, the software has the capability to impact genomic research by evaluating multiple cases in parallel. We propose that this decision‐support tool can benefit and improve genetic diagnosis. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC.Basic Protocol 1: Evaluating a single case using ClinTADBasic Protocol 2: Evaluating a single case with multiple variants using ClinTADBasic Protocol 3: Evaluating multiple cases using ClinTADBasic Protocol 4: Creating tracks with custom data
Step toward repurposing drug discovery for COVID‐19 therapeutics through in silico approach
Authors: Marak Brilliant N. , Dowarah Jayanta , Khiangte Laldingluaia , Singh Ved Prakash 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe outbreak of SARS‐CoV‐2 has become a threat to global health and has led to a global economic crisis. Although the researchers worldwide are putting tremendous effort toward gaining more insights into this zoonotic virus and developing vaccines and therapeutic drugs, no vaccine or drug is yet available to combat COVID‐19 effectively. Drug discovery is often a laborious, time‐consuming, and expensive task. In this time of crisis, employing computational methods could provide a feasible alternative approach that can potentially be used for drug discovery. Therefore, a library of several antiparasitic and anti‐inflammatory drugs was virtually screened against SARS‐CoV‐2 proteases to identify potential inhibitors. The identified inhibitory drugs were further analyzed to confirm their activities against SARS‐CoV‐2. Our results could prove to be helpful in repurposing the drug discovery approach, which could substantially reduce the expenses, time, and resources required.
Metabolism and excretion of the benzodiazepine analogue etizolam in the horse
Authors: Johnson Erin , van Heemst Jasper , Benavides Jeshurun , Gray Bobby 
Published: November 2020

AbstractEtizolam is a benzodiazepine analogue that is approved for use in Japan, Italy and India but has recently appeared as a nonapproved product on the illicit drug market in Europe and North America. Etizolam was identified in a crystalline material seized at a Kentucky racetrack, raising concerns that this drug may have been used in racing. The aim of this study was to characterize the metabolism and excretion of etizolam in horses to generate information on its disposition and to incorporate the correct urinary and serum target analytes into anti‐doping screening procedures. Etizolam was administered both intravenous and orally at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg of body weight to three horses using a two‐way crossover design. Pre‐administration and post‐administration serum and urine samples were collected and experiments conducted to identify potential metabolites in these samples. Additionally, in vitro metabolism studies using horse liver S9 were undertaken to complement the in vivo metabolism studies. Numerous metabolites were id1entified in both serum and urine in additional to parent drug, with α‐hydroxy‐etizolam producing the most abundant analytical signal (in terms of signal intensity and duration of detection) of the identified metabolites in both matrices. Therefore, α‐hydroxy‐etizolam is considered to be the most appropriate analyte for detection for anti‐doping purposes. Analytical methods were developed and validated and then applied to post‐administration samples to generate concentrations of etizolam and its major metabolites in serum and urine, resulting in excretion profiles that can be used to guide approaches to detecting the use of the drug.
Natural regeneration in urban forests is limited by early‐establishment dynamics: implications for management
Authors: Piana Max R. , Hallett Richard A. , Aronson Myla F. J. , Conway Emily , Handel Steven N. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractUrban forested natural areas are valuable ecological and social resources, but long‐term sustainability of these habitats is challenged by environmental and social factors associated with urban ecosystems. Advances in city‐scale assessments of urban forests have increased the resolution of forest community types and conditions, allowing for improved understanding of ecological function, such as natural regeneration, in these urban habitats. By applying metrics of tree regeneration that are commonly used for the management of rural forests, urban ecologists can test the potential for traditional forest management strategies within our cities. In this study, we compare urban and rural oak–hickory forest composition and structure and the capacity for natural regeneration in the New York metropolitan area. Specifically, we use two metrics of advance regeneration that describe the abundance of seedlings and saplings at different size classes to test whether this management for natural regeneration is a viable option. We found differences in recruitment dynamics between urban and rural forests that have implications for the sustainability of these forests and new management strategies. First, after controlling for forest community type, species composition in urban and rural sites was significantly different across multiple strata and within the seed bank. Species‐specific capacity for natural regeneration was different in urban and rural sites, signaling the possibility of divergent successional trajectories. Second, while differences in species composition exist, both urban and rural sites were dominated by native species across all forest strata except for urban seed banks. Third, despite finding significantly lower average annual seedling abundance in urban (1.9 seedlings/m2) compared to rural (7.1 seedlings/m2) sites, we observed greater density of saplings in urban forests, and no significant difference in stocking index between sites. These findings suggest that early‐establishment barriers to recruitment are greater in urban forest sites. However, once established, seedling transition into advance regeneration stages may not be different between site types, and advance regeneration may, in some cases, be more viable in urban forested natural areas. These results highlight functional differences between urban and rural forest recruitment dynamics that may impact on the future community composition of oak–hickory forests in the two landscape settings.
In a comfort zone and beyond—Ecological plasticity of key marine mediators
Authors: Trudnowska Emilia , Balazy Kaja , Stoń‐Egiert Joanna , Smolina Irina , Brown Thomas , Gluchowska Marta 
Published: November 2020

AbstractCopepods of the genus Calanus are the key components of zooplankton. Understanding their response to a changing climate is crucial to predict the functioning of future warmer high‐latitude ecosystems. Although specific Calanus species are morphologically very similar, they have different life strategies and roles in ecosystems. In this study, C. finmarchicus and C. glacialis were thoroughly studied with regard to their plasticity in morphology and ecology both in their preferred original water mass (Atlantic vs. Arctic side of the Polar Front) and in suboptimal conditions (due to, e.g., temperature, turbidity, and competition in Hornsund fjord). Our observations show that “at the same place and time,” both species can reach different sizes, take on different pigmentation, be in different states of population development, utilize different reproductive versus lipid accumulation strategies, and thrive on different foods. Size was proven to be a very mutable morphological trait, especially with regard to reduced length of C. glacialis. Both species exhibited pronounced red pigmentation when inhabiting their preferred water mass. In other domains, C. finmarchicus individuals tended to be paler than C. glacialis individuals. Gonad maturation and population development indicated mixed reproductive strategies, although a surprisingly similar population age structure of the two co‐occurring species in the fjord was observed. Lipid accumulation was high and not species‐specific, and its variability was due to diet differences of the populations. According to the stable isotope composition, both species had a more herbivorous diatom‐based diet in their original water masses. While the diet of C. glacialis was rather consistent among the domains studied, C. finmarchicus exhibited much higher variability in its feeding history (based on lipid composition). Our results show that the plasticity of both Calanus species is indeed impressive and may be regulated differently, depending on whether they live in their “comfort zone” or beyond it.
Imeglimin preserves islet β‐cell mass in Type 2 diabetic ZDF rats
Authors: Hallakou‐Bozec Sophie , Kergoat Micheline , Moller David E. , Bolze Sébastien 
Published: November 2020

AbstractObjectivesType 2 diabetes (T2D) is driven by progressive dysfunction and loss of pancreatic β‐cell mass. Imeglimin is a first‐in‐class novel drug candidate that improves glycaemia and glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion in preclinical models and patients. Given evidence that imeglimin can attenuate β‐cell dysfunction and protect β cells in vitro, we postulated that imeglimin could also exert longer term effects to prevent pancreatic β‐cell death and preserve functional β‐cell mass in vivo.MethodsZucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) male rats were treated by oral gavage with imeglimin at a standard dose of 150 mg/kg or vehicle, twice daily for five weeks. At treatment completion, oral glucose tolerance tests were performed in fasted animals before a thorough histomorphometry and immunohistochemical analysis was conducted on pancreas tissue slices to assess cellular composition and disease status.ResultsImeglimin treatment significantly improved glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion (augmentation of the insulinogenic index) and improved glycaemia. Both basal insulinaemia and pancreatic insulin content were also increased by imeglimin. In ZDF control rats, islet structure was disordered with few β‐cells; after imeglimin treatment, islets appeared healthier with more normal morphology in association with a significant increase in insulin‐positive β‐cells. The increase in β‐cell mass was associated with a greater degree of β‐cell proliferation in the presence of reduced apoptosis. Unexpectedly, a decrease in as a α‐cell mass was also documented due to an apparent antiproliferative effect of imeglimin on this cell type.ConclusionIn male ZDF rats, chronic imeglimin treatment corrects a paramount component of type 2 diabetes progression: progressive loss of functional β‐cell mass. In addition, imeglimin may also moderate a‐cell turnover to further ameliorate hyperglycaemia. Cumulatively, these cellular effects suggest that imeglimin may provide for disease modifying effects to preserve functional β‐cell mass.