bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mitophagy is involved in the mitochondrial dysfunction of vitrified porcine oocytes
Authors: Xu Jiehuan , Zhang Defu , Ju Shiqiang , Sun Lingwei , Zhang Shushan , Wu Caifeng , Rui Rong , Dai Jianjun 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMitochondrial dysfunction is considered a crucial factor aggravating oocyte viability after vitrification‐warming. To clarify the role of mitophagy in mitochondrial extinction of vitrified porcine oocytes, mitochondrial function, ultrastructural characteristics, mitochondria‐lysosomes colocalization, and mitophagic proteins were detected with or without chloroquine (CQ) treatment. The results showed that vitrification caused mitochondrial dysfunction, including increasing reactive oxygen species production, decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, and mitochondrial DNA copy number. Damaged mitochondrial cristae and mitophagosomes were observed in vitrified oocytes. A highly fused fluorescence distribution of mitochondria and lysosomes was also observed. In the detection of mitophagic flux, mitophagy was demonstrated as increasing fluorescence aggregation of microtubule‐associated protein light chain 3B (LC3B), enhanced colocalization between LC3B, and voltage‐dependent anion channels 1 (VDAC1), and upregulated LC3B‐II/I protein expression ratio. CQ inhibited the degradation of mitophagosomes in vitrified oocytes, manifested as decreased mitochondria‐lysosomes colocalization, increased fluorescence fraction of VDAC1 overlapping LC3B, increased LC3B‐II/I protein expression ratio, and p62 accumulation. The inhibition of mitophagosomes degradation by CQ aggravated mitochondrial dysfunction, including increased oxidative damage, reduced mitochondrial function, and further led to loss of oocyte viability and developmental potentiality. In conclusion, mitophagy is involved in the regulation of mitochondrial function during porcine oocyte vitrification.
Optimal hierarchical clustering on a graph
Authors: Kahvecioğlu Gökçe , Morton David P. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractGiven an undirected graph with positive weights on the edges we study a parametric biobjective graph clustering problem. We remove a subset of edges to break the graph into smaller pieces, that is, connected components, or clusters. We seek to maximize the number of clusters while minimizing the weight of the removed edges. We identify nested solutions that lie on the concave envelope of the efficient frontier, yielding a hierarchical family of clusters, in strongly polynomial time. We demonstrate the performance of our approach on a graph defined by the schedule of football teams within the National Collegiate Athletic Association, which has a known hierarchical structure, and on a set of synthetic graphs generated from a stochastic block model with embedded hierarchical structure.
Polymorphisms and haplotypes of IL2RA, IL10, IFNG, IRF5, and CCR2 are associated with Epstein–Barr virus‐associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in children
Authors: Tang Nannan , Huang Junbin , Chen Chun , Wu Xiaojun , Xu Honggui , Chen Guohua , Xue Hongman 
Published: May 2021

AbstractObjectiveCytokine storms are central to the development of Epstein–Barr virus‐associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (EBV‐HLH). Previous studies have shown that single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cytokine genes may be associated with the development of EBV‐HLH in children. As such, we investigated the association between susceptibility to EBV‐HLH in children and SNPs and haplotypes of genes encoding interleukin‐2 receptor subunit alpha (IL2RA), interleukin‐10 (IL10), interferon gamma (IFNG), interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5), and C–C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2).MethodsSixty‐six children with EBV‐HLH and 58 healthy EBV‐seropositive controls were enrolled in this study. SNPs of IL2RA rs2104286, rs12722489, and rs11594656; IL10 rs1800896, rs1800871, and rs1800872; IFNG rs2430561, IRF5 rs2004640, and CCR2 rs1799864 were assayed and genotyped using the SNaPshot technique.ResultsFrequencies of the A allele of IL2RA rs2104286 and IL10 rs1800896, and C allele of IL‐10 rs1800872 were significantly higher in the EBV‐HLH group than in the control group. The AA genotype of IL2RA rs2104286 and IL10 rs1800896, and the CC genotype of IL10 rs1800872 might be associated with a significantly high risk of EBV‐HLH. However, the frequencies of genotypes and alleles of IL2RA rs2104286, IL10 rs1800871, IFNG rs2430561, IRF5 rs2004640, and CCR2 rs1799864 were similar in both groups. Additionally, IL2RA AGT (rs2104286–rs12722489–rs11594656) and IL10 ACC (rs1800896–rs1800871–rs1800872) haplotypes were also associated with an increased risk of EBV‐HLH.ConclusionsSNPs of IL2RA rs2104286, IL10 rs1800896 and rs1800872 and the haplotypes of IL2RA AGT and IL10 ACC were highly associated with susceptibility to EBV‐HLH in children.
Psychosocial risk and health care utilization in pediatric sickle cell disease
Authors: Woodward Kerri E. , Johnson Yelena L. , Cohen Lindsey L. , Dampier Carlton , Sil Soumitri 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIntroductionPain and complications related to pediatric sickle cell disease (SCD) are associated with higher health care utilization. In other pediatric chronic conditions, psychosocial screening can help identify children and families at risk of increased health care utilization to guide resource allocation, address treatment needs, and improve care. This study aimed to investigate the utility of psychosocial screening in predicting increased health care utilization among youth with SCD.MethodsYouth with SCD (n = 74, 8–18 years) and their parents were recruited from comprehensive SCD clinics. Parents completed the Psychosocial Assessment Tool (PAT), which categorized family psychosocial risk into one of three categories: Universal (minimal distress), Targeted (elevated distress), and Clinical (persistent distress). Youth reported on their pain characteristics, and health care utilization was extracted from medical chart review. Differences in health care utilization were evaluated using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and moderation analyses.ResultsBased on PAT risk, families were categorized into Universal (56.8%), Targeted (29.7%), and Clinical (13.5%) risk groups, with no significant group differences across demographic variables. Patients in the Targeted group reported significantly higher pain frequency than those in the Universal group (F[2, 66] = 3.7, p < .05). The association between pain frequency and health care utilization significantly varied on the basis of psychosocial risk, such that Clinical psychosocial risk strengthened the connection between pain frequency and health care utilization (β = .2, t = 2.1, p < .05).ConclusionsIntegrating the PAT into routine clinical care may help health care providers identify families in need of greater psychosocial or medical support to further optimize SCD management.
Comparative study of different carbon reinforcements at different length scales on the properties of polyvinyl alcohol composites
Authors: Alexander Rajath , Dinkar Ankit , Biswas Sujay , Dasgupta Kinshuk 
Published: May 2021

AbstractComparative studies on the mechanical behavior of the composites of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer with different carbon fillers such as multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), functionalized CNT (f‐CNT), and short carbon fiber (Cf), having similar geometry (1D) but different length scale, have been carried out. Microstructural analysis reveals better distribution of second phases with f‐CNT and Cf compared with MWCNT. Fourier‐transform infrared spectra indicate the interaction of functional groups of CNTs with the polymeric chain of PVA. X‐ray diffraction analysis shows improvement of crystallinity upon addition of carbon filler. Defect analysis of carbon reinforcement is carried out using Raman spectroscopy. The strength of the composite is increased by 138% with MWCNT reinforcement, by 201.8% with f‐CNT reinforcement, and by 87.9% with Cf reinforcement. The fractographs show pullout, branching, and bridging as strengthening mechanisms for MWCNT and f‐CNT in the PVA matrix, whereas mainly pullout as strengthening mechanism for Cf–PVA composite.
Theoretical kinetic studies of ethynyl radical with n‐butane
Authors: Dash Manas Ranjan , Mishra Subhashree Subhadarsini 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe rate coefficients of ethynyl radical reaction with n‐butane were computed for the first time using the canonical variational transition state theory (CVT) between 150 and 5000 K. The structures and frequencies of all the stationary points are computed at the M06‐2X/6‐31+G(d,p) level of theory. The potential energy surface scanned shows that two rotamers exist for n‐butane. Three different transition states were identified for each rotamers. The rate coefficients obtained over the temperature range of 150–500 K using the M06‐2X/6‐31+G(d,p) theory were used to derive the Arrhenius expression: k(T) = 1.35 × 10−17 T2.0 exp[1326/T] cm3 molecule−1 s−1. It is shown that the H‐abstraction from –CH2– group of n‐butane is the dominant reaction channel over the complete temperature range.
Ion transport and relaxation in phosphonium poly(ionic liquid) homo‐ and co‐polymers
Authors: Banerjee Palash , Pal Pulak , Ghosh Aswini , Mandal Tarun K. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn the present work, a poly(ionic liquid) (PIL), poly(triphenyl‐4‐vinylbenzylphosphonium chloride) and a series of its random copolymers with nonionic hydrophobic poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) are synthesized by conventional free radical polymerization (CFRP) and reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The understanding of some fundamental aspects about ion transport and relaxation mechanism in PIL and PIL copolymers are investigated using dielectric spectroscopy via several theoretical models. The influence of copolymer compositions, physical blending of neat PIL and PMMA, size of counter anions (Cl− and TFSI−) and variation of molecular weights on thermal stability, moisture sensitivity, ionic transport and relaxation properties are also studied. An enhancement of thermal stability and ionic transport property of the PIL copolymer is observed compared to those of the physically mixed blend of two homopolymers with same compositions. The incorporation of hydrophobic PMMA segment definitely decreases the moisture content in PIL copolymers than the PIL itself. In all these PIL‐ based systems, the temperature dependence of ionic conductivity, relaxation time and ion diffusivity are well described by Vogel‐Tammann‐Fulcher model. The studies of some fundamental properties of these new PIL copolymers with less moisture sensitivity may help in using them as potential polymer electrolytes in energy storage devices.
Nonsurgical management of dynamic pneumatocele via endobronchial administration of fibrin sealant
Authors: Klouda Timothy , Gunnlaugsson Sigfus , Shashi Kumar , Alomari Ahmad , Fishman Martha P. , Casey Alicia 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA 12‐year‐old male was admitted to the Medical Intensive Care Unit for respiratory failure requiring temporary tracheostomy secondary to an extensive necrotizing methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia. Imaging revealed destructive bronchiectasis and multifocal lung abscesses, more advanced in the right lung. He was discharged home after 42‐day hospital admission. 3.5 months after his discharge, he re‐presented to the Emergency Department with a large right pneumothorax and a pneumatocele measuring 10.2 × 6.2 cm2. He was admitted to the hospital and while his pneumothorax resolved in 2 days, the size of the pneumatocele was noted to fluctuate with different phases of respiration. A computed tomography scan of the chest demonstrated a fistula between the pneumatocele and right upper lobe bronchus. Following discussion between Pulmonary medicine and Interventional radiology, transbronchial closure of the air leak was planned. Intubation was done with a dual‐lumen endotracheal tube. Bronchography was performed using a diagnostic catheter. A large air leak was noted from the anterior segment of the right upper lobe bronchus. Embolization of the fistula was performed using n‐butyl cyanoacrylate (nBCA, glue) injected through a second catheter under fluoroscopic guidance. The residual pneumatocele slowly resolved over 2 months. Endobronchial embolization has been described in the literature as a treatment strategy for air leaks, largely in adult patients. Endobronchial embolization of large pneumatoceles and bronchopleural fistulas may offer an alternative treatment option with less morbidity than the classic surgical approach.
Cystic fibrosis year in review 2020: Section 2 pulmonary disease, infections, and inflammation
Authors: Antos Nicholas J. , Savant Adrienne P. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe outlook for those with cystic fibrosis (CF) has never been brighter with ever increasing life expectancy and the approval of the highly effective CFTR modulators, such as elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor. With that being said, the progressive pulmonary decline and importance of lung health, infection, and inflammation in CF remains. This review is the second part in a three‐part CF Year in Review 2020. Part one focused on the literature related to CFTR modulators while part three will feature the multisystem effects related to CF. This review focuses on articles from Pediatric Pulmonology, including articles from other journals that are of particular interest to clinicians. Herein, we highlight studies published during 2020 related to CF pulmonary disease, infection, treatment, and diagnostics.
Effect of electro‐acupuncture at ST 36 on maternal food restriction‐induced lung phenotype in rat offspring
Authors: Mou Qiujie , Ji Bo , Zhao Guozhen , Liu Yitian , Sakurai Reiko , Xie Yana , Zhang Qin , Dai Jian , Lu Yawen , Ge Yunpeng , Shi Tianyu , Xu Shuang , Rehan Virender K. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMaternal food restriction (MFR) during pregnancy leads to pulmonary dysplasia in the newborn period and increases susceptibility to diseases, such as asthma and chronic lung disease, later in life. Previous studies have shown that maternal electro‐acupuncture (EA) applied to “Zusanli” (ST 36) could prevent the abnormal expression of key lung developmental signaling pathways and improve the lung morphology and function in perinatal nicotine exposed offspring. There is a significant overlap in lung developmental signaling pathways affected by perinatal nicotine exposure and MFR during pregnancy; however, whether maternal EA at ST 36 also blocks the MFR‐induced lung phenotype is unknown. Here, we examined the effects of EA applied to maternal ST 36 on lung morphology and function and the expression of key lung developmental signaling pathways, and the hypercorticoid state associated with MFR during pregnancy. These effects were compared with those of metyrapone, an intervention known to block MFR‐induced offspring hypercorticoid state and the resultant pulmonary pathology. Like metyrapone, maternal EA at ST 36 blocked the MFR‐induced changes in key developmental signaling pathways and protected the MFR‐induced changes in lung morphology and function. These results offer a novel and safe, nonpharmacologic approach to prevent MFR‐induced pulmonary dysplasia in offspring.
Landfalling tropical cyclone characteristics and their multi‐timescale variability connected to monsoon and easterly formation environments over the western North Pacific
Authors: Teng Hsu‐Feng , Done James M. , Kuo Ying‐Hwa 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis study analyses the impacts of tropical cyclones (TCs) that formed in monsoon and easterly environments on the major coastlines of the western North Pacific (WNP) basin during 1981–2009. The TC formation processes, defined as the development of tropical cloud cluster to TC, associated with monsoon environments (monsoon trough, monsoon confluence, and north of monsoon trough) are categorized into monsoon‐type TCs (monsoon‐TCs). Similarly, those associated with easterly flow environments (easterly flow west and southwest of subtropical high) are categorized into easterly‐type TCs (easterly‐TCs). Monsoon‐TCs form farther westward and at lower latitudes than easterly‐TCs, contributing to higher landfall proportion on the coastal countries for monsoon‐TCs. Monsoon‐TCs have a higher probability of affecting southern China, Taiwan and Vietnam, while easterly‐TCs tend to affect eastern China, southern Japan and the Philippines. Monsoon‐TCs have more widely dispersed rainfall and slower translation speed during landfall than easterly‐TCs. These characteristics are consistent with stronger environmental moisture transport and weaker steering flow in monsoon environments. Landfalling TC intensity and size are not different between easterly‐ and monsoon‐TCs. Both easterly‐ and monsoon‐TCs have interannual (1–4 years) and interdecadal (8–11 years) variability, which are related to variability of the large‐scale monsoon trough. El Niño–Southern Oscillation is significantly correlated with the interannual variability of easterly‐ and monsoon‐TCs, and changes in the monsoon‐TC landfall proportion and easterly‐TC landfall intensity. The interdecadal variability mainly affects the background vorticity and cyclonic circulation, leading to changes in the formation number of easterly‐ and monsoon‐TCs. In summary, this study provides evidence for connections between multiscale variability of the large‐scale monsoon and easterly patterns, TC formation environments, and TC impacts on the WNP coasts.
Exophiala dermatitidis pneumonia with bronchiectasis required prolonged voriconazole treatment
Authors: Sekiguchi Ryo , Urabe Naohisa , Sakamoto Susumu , Sasaki Masakazu , Homma Sakae , Kishi Kazuma 
Published: May 2021

AbstractExophiala dermatitidis is a black fungus that rarely causes respiratory infection. We report a case of E. dermatitidis pneumonia with bronchiectasis that relapsed after 11 months of voriconazole (VRCZ) treatment in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient with bronchiectasis. A 65‐year‐old woman with RA and abnormal findings on chest radiography was referred for assessment of chronic cough and increased sputum production. She underwent bronchoscopy, and E. dermatitidis was identified from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Exophiala dermatitidis chronic lower respiratory tract infection and pneumonia were diagnosed. Although her condition improved after 11 months of VRCZ treatment, chest computed tomography (CT) images showed worsening at five months after the cessation of VRCZ treatment and E. dermatitidis was again detected in BALF. Re‐administration of VRCZ for two years improved symptoms and chest CT images, and her condition is currently stable. In patients with bronchiectasis, E. dermatitidis pneumonia might require prolonged antifungal treatment.
Versatile multilinked aerial robot with tilted propellers: Design, modeling, control, and state estimation for autonomous flight and manipulation
Authors: Zhao Moju , Anzai Tomoki , Shi Fan , Maki Toshiya , Nishio Takuzumi , Ito Keita , Kuromiya Naoki , Okada Kei , Inaba Masayuki 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA multilinked structure can benefit aerial robots in terms of both maneuvering and manipulation owing to its ability of aerial transformation. A coplanar multilinked model was developed in our previous study. However, the maneuvering and manipulation performances of that model were limited owing to the weak controllability. Therefore, we adopt tilted propellers in this study to enhance controllability. The related design, modeling, and control method are developed to achieve stable hovering and transformation with tilted propellers. Further, state estimation which involves time synchronization between sensors and multilinked kinematics is also presented in this study to enable fully autonomous flight in outdoor environments. The experimental evaluation of the design, modeling, and control method is performed to verify stability during aerial transformation. While, various autonomous outdoor experiments including trajectory following, fast maneuvering for intercepting a target, object grasping for delivery, and blanket manipulation for firefighting are also performed to verify the versatility of the proposed robot platform. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of a multilinked aerial robot that can achieve fully autonomous flight and manipulation tasks in an outdoor environment. We also applied our platform in all challenges of the 2020 Mohammed Bin Zayed International Robotics Competition, and we ranked in the third place in Challenge 1 and in the sixth place in Challenge 3 internationally, thereby demonstrating the reliable flight performance in the fields.
An autonomous unmanned aerial vehicle system for fast exploration of large complex indoor environments
Authors: Krátký Vít , Petráček Pavel , Báča Tomáš , Saska Martin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis paper introduces an autonomous system employing multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles for fast 3D exploration and inspection of vast, unknown, dynamic, and complex environments containing large open spaces as well as narrow passages. The system exploits the advantage of small‐size aerial vehicles capable of carrying all necessary sensors and computational power while providing full autonomy and mobility in constrained unknown environments. Particular emphasis is put on the robustness of the algorithms with respect to challenging real‐world conditions and the real‐time performance of all algorithms that enable fast reactions to changes in environment and thus also provide effective use of limited flight time. The system presented here was employed as a part of a heterogeneous ground and aerial system in the modeled Search & Rescue scenario in an unfinished nuclear power plant during the Urban Circuit of the Subterranean Challenge (SubT Challenge) organized by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. The main goal of this simulated disastrous scenario is to autonomously explore and precisely localize specified objects in a completely unknown environment and to report their position before the end of the mission. The proposed system was part of the multirobot team that finished in third place overall and in first place among the self‐funded teams. The proposed unmanned aerial vehicle system outperformed all aerial systems participating in the SubT Challenge with respect to versatility, and it was also the self‐deployable autonomous aerial system that explored the largest part of the environment.
Commercially Developed Tests of Reading Comprehension: Gold Standard or Fool’s Gold?
Authors: Clemens Nathan H. , Fuchs Douglas 
Published: May 2021

ABSTRACTMany seem to believe that researcher‐made tests are unnecessary, if not inappropriate, for evaluating reading comprehension interventions. We suggest that this view reflects a zeitgeist in which researcher‐made (proximal) tests that align with the researchers’ interventions are closely scrutinized and often devalued, whereas commercially developed (distal) tests, typically unaligned with the researchers’ interventions, escape such examination and judgment. We take issue with the zeitgeist. We object to what appears as an unthoughtful rejection of proximal tests and acceptance of the distal ones. We do so first by discussing the multidimensionality of reading comprehension; then, we present evidence that commercial tests explore few of the construct’s many dimensions, differ among themselves in the dimensions they address, and often have little to do with the aims and substance of researchers’ comprehension interventions. We argue that these facts are reason enough to reconsider commercial tests as the gold standard in program evaluation. Finally, we make a case for the supplemental use of researcher‐made tests and offer a framework to help researchers develop tests of reading comprehension that align more and less with their intervention programs.