bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Implementing newborn screening for sickle cell disease in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra: Results and lessons learned
Authors: Segbefia Catherine I. , Goka Bamenla , Welbeck Jennifer , Amegan‐Aho Kokou , Dwuma‐Badu Diana , Rao Sudha , Salifu Nihad , Oppong Samuel A. , Odei Eric , Ohene‐Frempong Kwaku , Odame Isaac 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundEarly diagnosis of sickle cell disease (SCD) through newborn screening (NBS) is a cost‐effective intervention, which reduces morbidity and mortality. In sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA) where disease burden is greatest, there are no universal NBS programs and few institutions have the capacity to conduct NBS. We determined the feasibility and challenges of implementing NBS for SCD in Ghana's largest public hospital.ProcedureThe SCD NBS program at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) is a multiyear partnership between the hospital and the SickKids Center for Global Child Health, Toronto, being implemented in phases. The 13‐month demonstration phase (June 2017–July 2018) and phase one (November 2018–December 2019) focused on staff training and the feasibility of universal screening of babies born in KBTH.ResultsDuring the demonstration phase, 115 public health nurses and midwives acquired competency in heel stick for dried blood spot sampling. Out of 9990 newborns, 4427 babies (44.3%) were screened, of which 79 (1.8%) were identified with presumptive SCD (P‐SCD). Major challenges identified included inadequate nursing staff to perform screening, shortage of screening supplies, and delays in receiving screening results. Strategies to overcome some of the challenges were incorporated into phase one, resulting in increased screening coverage to 83.7%.ConclusionsImplementing NBS for SCD in KBTH presented challenges with implications on achieving and sustaining universal NBS in KBTH and other settings in SSA. Specific steps addressing these challenges comprehensively will help build on the modest initial gains, moving closer toward a sustainable national NBS program.
Fetally‐injected drugs for immobilization and analgesia do not modify fetal brain development in a rabbit model
Authors: van der Veeken Lennart , Inversetti Annalisa , Galgano Angela , Bleeser Tom , Papastefanou Ioannis , van de Merwe Johannes , Rex Steffen , Deprest Jan 
Published: April 2021

AbstractObjectiveDuring fetal surgery, fetuses receive medication (atropine‐fentanyl‐curare) to prevent fetal pain, movement and bradycardia. Although essential there has been no detailed review of potential side effects. Herein we aimed to assess the effects of this medication cocktail on fetal brain development in a rabbit model.MethodsPregnant does underwent laparotomy at 28 days of gestation. Two pups of each horn were randomized to an ultrasound guided injection with medication (atropine‐cisatracurium‐fentanyl, as clinically used) or saline (sham). The third pup was used as control. At term, does were delivered by cesarean. Outcome measures were neonatal biometry, neuromotoric functioning and neuro‐histology (neuron density, synaptic density and proliferation).ResultsMaternal vital parameters remained stable during surgery. Fetal heart rates did not differ before and after injection, and were comparable for the three groups. At birth, neonatal body weights and brain‐to‐body weight ratios were also comparable. Both motor and sensory neurobehavioral scores were comparable. There were no differences in neuron density or proliferation. Sham pups, had a lower synaptic density in the hippocampus as compared to the medication group, however there was no difference in the other brain areas.ConclusionIn the rabbit model, fetal medication does not appear to lead to short‐term neurocognitive effects.
Structural dynamics of the complex of calmodulin with a minimal functional construct of eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase and the role of Thr348 autophosphorylation
Authors: Piserchio Andrea , Long Kimberly , Lee Kwangwoon , Kumar Eric A. , Abzalimov Rinat , Dalby Kevin N. , Ghose Ranajeet 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe calmodulin (CaM) activated α‐kinase, eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF‐2K), plays a central role in regulating translational elongation by phosphorylating eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF‐2), thereby reducing its ability to associate with the ribosome and suppressing global protein synthesis. Using TR (for truncated), a minimal functional construct of eEF‐2K, and utilizing hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HXMS), solution‐state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and biochemical approaches, we investigate the conformational changes accompanying complex formation between Ca2+‐CaM and TR and the effects of autophosphorylation of the latter at Thr348, its primary regulatory site. Our results suggest that a CaM C‐lobe surface, complementary to the one involved in recognizing the calmodulin‐binding domain (CBD) of TR, provides a secondary TR‐interaction platform. CaM helix F, which is part of this secondary surface, responds to both Thr348 phosphorylation and pH changes, indicating its integration into an allosteric network that encompasses both components of the Ca2+‐CaM•TR complex. Solution NMR data suggest that CaMH107K, which carries a helix F mutation, is compromised in its ability to drive the conformational changes in TR necessary to enable efficient Thr348 phosphorylation. Biochemical studies confirm the diminished capacity of CaMH107K to induce TR autophosphorylation compared to wild‐type CaM.
Two new invasive Ips bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in mainland China and their potential distribution in Asia
Authors: Li You , Johnson Andrew J , Gao Lei , Wu Chengxu , Hulcr Jiri 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundIps is a bark beetle genus of 45 species, many of which are pests of conifer forests and plantations under stress. Twelve Ips species are recorded from China and presumably native there. From 2016 to 2018, specimens suspected to be Ips calligraphus and Ips grandicollis, were collected from traps with ethanol as a sole lure in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China. Both species originate in North America and infest various species of native or introduced pines. Since Ips species are known to cause or exacerbate problems in pine plantations, and a regional survey using traps baited with attractants were implemented in this study to investigate the extent of the introduction.ResultsBoth I. calligraphus and I. grandicollis have been collected repeatedly from several traps with Ips attractants in Zhuhai, Guangdong, China since 2016. Potential distributions of these two species in Asia, inferred using MaxEnt, is extensive, given the high projected environmental suitability in North America, South America, Mediterranean Europe, Northern Africa, and Eastern Asia. The host plant of I. calligraphus from Zhuhai was identified as slash pine Pinus elliottii using DNA barcoding of gut contents from trapped individuals.ConclusionThis is the first report of the establishment of two American pine bark beetles, I. calligraphus and I. grandicollis in continental Asia. The gut content of both species suggests that these pest feeds on a non‐native host. Whether the two species present high‐risk to Asian forests will become clear with more research on their interactions with native pines.
Rhenium Effect on the Performance of CoMoNi/γ‐Al2O3 Catalyst in Thiophene Hydrodesulphurization. Performance Evaluation and Process Kinetics
Authors: Doukeh Rami , Leostean Cristian , Bolocan Ion , Trifoi Ancuta Roxana , Banu Ionut 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe rhenium effect on the performance of CoMoNi/γ‐Al2O3 catalyst was studied in thiophene hydrodesulphurization. The unsulfided and freshly sulfided catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption‐desorption, IR spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and total acidity. The effects of reaction temperature, pressure, and liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) on thiophene HDS performance shown that the activity of the CoMoNiRe/γ‐Al2O3 catalyst for thiophene HDS was superior to that of the CoMoNi/γ‐Al2O catalyst, which was mainly ascribed to the higher acidic functional groups. Based on Langmuir‐Hinshelwood approach, a kinetic model for thiophene HDS over both catalysts have been developed. In this respect, two mechanisms have been considered, one hypothesizing that hydrogen is adsorbed on different active centers than thiophene (two‐centers mechanism) and the other considering one type of active centers. Based on statistical reasons, the kinetic model considering two types of active centers proved to be more adequate in representing the experimental results.
Effects of Ni‐Loading on the Performance of Ni/SiO2 Catalysts for the Highly Selective Hydrogenation of Biphenyl to Cyclohexylbenzene
Authors: Li Wei , Zhao Zhipeng , Li Jianpeng , Liu Yuan , Gao Beibei , Li Xiaonan , Zhang Meng , Liu Zhongyi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis article investigated the effects of Ni loading on the performance of Ni/SiO2 catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of biphenyl (BP) to cyclohexylbenzene (CHB). The catalysts were characterized by the techniques of thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray powder diffraction, N2‐physisorption, scanning electron microscope, inductively coupled plasma‐atomic emission spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope, H2 temperature‐programmed reduction. It was found that under the given reaction conditions, BP conversion showed an increased trend with the increasing Ni loading. However, 25 % Ni/SiO2 catalyst exhibited the lower CHB yield than 20 % Ni/SiO2 catalyst, which was attributed to the overhydrogenation of BP on the former with the excessive metal active sites. Besides, over 25 % Ni/SiO2 catalyst, BP conversion gradually increased with the extended reaction time, the enhanced hydrogen pressure or the improved temperature, but CHB selectivity and yield increased first and then decreased. Additionally, isopropanol was considered to be the best one among the representative solvents in BP hydrogenation reaction. Moreover, the conversion of BP and the selectivity/yield of CHB could keep above 99 % and 96 %, respectively, after eight consecutive cycles.
Ti3+ Tuning the Ratio of Cu+/Cu0 in the Ultrafine Cu Nanoparticles for Boosting the Hydrogenation Reaction
Authors: Zhang Ziyang , Wang Zhong‐Li , An Kang , Wang Jiaming , Zhang Siran , Song Pengfei , Bando Yoshio , Yamauchi Yusuke , Liu Yuan 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHydrogenation of diesters to diols is a vital process for chemical industry. The inexpensive Cu+/Cu0‐based catalysts are highly active for the hydrogenation of esters, however, how to efficiently tune the ratio of Cu+/Cu0 and stabilize the Cu+ is a great challenge. In this work, it is demonstrated that doped Ti ions can tune the ratio of Cu+/Cu0 and stabilize the Cu+ by the TiOCu bonds in Ti‐doped SiO2 supported Cu nanoparticle (Cu/Ti–SiO2) catalysts for the high conversion of dimethyl adipate to 1,6‐hexanediol. In the synthesis of the catalysts, the Ti4+OCu2+ bonds promote the reduction of Cu2+ to Cu+ by forming Ti3+OVCu+ (OV: oxygen vacancy) bonds and the amount of Ti doping can tune the ratio of Cu+/Cu0. In the catalytic reaction, the O vacancy activates CO in the ester by forming new Ti3+δORCu1+δ bonds (OR: reactant oxygen), and Cu0 activates hydrogen. After the products are desorbed, the Ti3+δORCu1+δ bonds return to the initial state of Ti3+OVCu+ bonds. The reversible TiOCu bonds greatly improve the activity and stability of the Cu/Ti–SiO2 catalysts. When the content of Ti is controlled at 0.4 wt%, the conversion and selectivity can reach 100% and 98.8%, respectively, and remain stable for 260 h without performance degradation.
Developing deep learning in science classrooms: Tactics to manage epistemic uncertainty during whole‐class discussion
Authors: Chen Ying‐Chih , Techawitthayachinda Ratrapee 
Published: April 2021

AbstractScience teachers usually view students' uncertainty as a barrier to overcome, a negative experience to be avoided, a deficiency in need of remedy. Building on the theory of deep learning in science as a generative and sensemaking process, the purpose of this design‐based study is to identify tactics for teachers to manage their students' epistemic uncertainty as a pedagogical resource to develop student conceptual understanding during whole‐class discussion. Classroom observations of whole‐class discussion were collected from six teachers' classes ranging from third to eighth grade. A total of 18 whole‐class discussions were collected, transcribed, and analyzed. A storyline talk to manage uncertainty during whole‐class discussion was developed and consisted of three stages: (1) Raise epistemic uncertainty through creating ambiguous conditions; (2) Maintain epistemic uncertainty through preventing immature disclosure and discussing alternative explanations or conflicting ideas; and (3) Reduce epistemic uncertainty through making coherent connections among current uncertainty, prior knowledge, and familiar phenomena. Seven nuanced tactics used by teachers to achieve each stage of uncertainty management were identified. The results suggest that managing uncertainty goes beyond asking questions and problematizing phenomena. When engaging students in storyline‐based whole‐class discussion, teachers should focus on one specific uncertainty and establish a coherent, consistent storyline that raises, maintains, and reduces student uncertainty to horizontally and vertically construct a collective knowledge among students. The horizontal nature occurs within a stage of management, and the vertical nature of a storyline talk is related to moving along from stage to stage. Through the storyline talk focusing on students' epistemic uncertainty, students can truly become agents in the learning process when the lesson is centered on and driven by students' uncertainty.
AgNO3⋅NH4NO3 – an enigmatic double‐salt type “decomposition intermediate” of diamminesilver(I) permanganate
Authors: Béres Kende Attila , Petruševski Vladimir , Holló Berta Barta , Németh Péter , Fogaça Lara , Paiva Franguelli Fernanda , Farkas Attila , Menyhárd Alfréd , Szilágyi Imre Miklós , Kótai László 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe 1 : 1 type double salt of AgNO3 and NH4NO3 (NH4NO3 ⋅ AgNO3, compound 1) was prepared and its Raman spectrum was evaluated. IR and far‐IR spectra of compound 1 and its deuterated analog (ND4NO3 ⋅ AgNO3, compound 1‐D) were also studied. We identified two types of nitrate ions, one had a relatively strong, whereas the other is only weakly hydrogen bonded to the surrounding ammonium ions. The thermal decomposition features of compound 1 and its formation mechanism from [Ag(NH3)2]MnO4 (compound 2) at 80 °C with consecutive aqueous leaching of the decomposition residue has been elucidated. The solid phase decomposition product of compound 2 is presumably [Ag(NH3)NO3] (compound 3), which disproportionates into AgNO3 and [Ag(NH3)2]NO3 (compound 4). Compound 4 thermally decomposes in the solid phase into Ag+MnOx, while in aqueous solution its hydrolysis results in NH4NO3, which crystallizes out with an equimolar amount of AgNO3 formed during the disproportionation as compound 1.
t − b − τ Yukawa unification in non-holomorphic MSSM
Authors: Hiçyılmaz Yaşar 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
We show that in the CMSSM with the non-holomorphic soft SUSY breaking terms, the Yukawa coupling unification of the third family fermions at the GUT scale, called t − b − τ Yukawa unification (YU), is possible under the recent collider and Dark Matter results. The YU parameter can also be found Rtbτ≈ 1, called perfect unification. We find that the squark masses exceed 3 TeV while the stau can be considerably lighter. In the case of YU, the tan β is in the interval [46,55]. We obtain bino-like dark matter (DM) of mass in the range of 0.6 TeV ≲ $$ {m}_{\upchi_1^0} $$

m

χ
1
0

≲ 1.3 TeV where the recent Dark Matter direct detection limits are also satisfied. We also identify A-resonance solutions which reduce the relic abundance of LSP neutralino down to the ranges compatible with the current Planck measurements.
Locally finite two-loop amplitudes for off-shell multi-photon production in electron-positron annihilation
Authors: Anastasiou Charalampos , Haindl Rayan , Sterman George , Yang Zhou , Zeng Mao 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
We study the singularity structure of two-loop QED amplitudes for the production of multiple off-shell photons in massless electron-positron annihilation and develop counterterms that remove their infrared and ultraviolet divergences point by point in the loop integrand. The remainders of the subtraction are integrable in four dimensions and can be computed in the future with numerical integration. The counterterms capture the divergences of the amplitudes and factorize in terms of the Born amplitude and the finite remainder of the one-loop amplitude. They consist of simple one- and two-loop integrals with at most three external momenta and can be integrated analytically in a simple manner with established methods. We uncover novel aspects of fully local IR factorization, where vertex and self energy subdiagrams must be modified by new symmetrizations over loop momenta, in order to expose their tree-like tensor structures and hence factorization of IR singularities prior to loop integration. This work is a first step towards isolating locally the hard contributions of generic gauge theory amplitudes and rendering them integrable in exactly four dimensions with numerical methods.
Gauge invariant target space entanglement in D-brane holography
Authors: Das Sumit R. , Kaushal Anurag , Liu Sinong , Mandal Gautam , Trivedi Sandip P. 
Published: April 2021

Abstract
It has been suggested in arXiv:2004.00613 that in Dp-brane holography, entanglement in the target space of the D-brane Yang-Mills theory provides a precise notion of bulk entanglement in the gravity dual. We expand on this discussion by providing a gauge invariant characterization of operator sub-algebras corresponding to such entanglement. This is achieved by finding a projection operator which imposes a constraint characterizing the target space region of interest. By considering probe branes in the Coloumb branch we provide motivation for why the operator sub-algebras we consider are appropriate for describing a class of measurements carried out with low-energy probes in the corresponding bulk region of interest. We derive expressions for the corresponding Renyi entropies in terms of path integrals which can be directly used in numerical calculations.
Modeling indicates degradation of mRNA and protein as a potential regulation mechanisms during cold acclimation
Authors: Krantz Maria , Legen Julia , Gao Yang , Zoschke Reimo , Schmitz-Linneweber Christian , Klipp Edda 
Published: April 2021

AbstractPlants are constantly exposed to temperature fluctuations, which have direct effects on all cellular reactions because temperature influences reaction likelihood and speed. Chloroplasts are crucial to temperature acclimation responses of plants, due to their photosynthetic reactions whose products play a central role in plant metabolism. Consequently, chloroplasts serve as sensors of temperature changes and are simultaneously major targets of temperature acclimation. The core subunits of the complexes involved in the light reactions of photosynthesis are encoded in the chloroplast. As a result, it is assumed that temperature acclimation in plants requires regulatory responses in chloroplast gene expression and protein turnover. We conducted western blot experiments to assess changes in the accumulation of two photosynthetic complexes (PSII, and Cytb6f complex) and the ATP synthase in tobacco plants over two days of acclimation to low temperature. Surprisingly, the concentration of proteins within the chloroplast varied negligibly compared to controls. To explain this observation, we used a simplified Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) model of transcription, translation, mRNA degradation and protein degradation to explain how the protein concentration can be kept constant. This model takes into account temperature effects on these processes. Through simulations of the ODE model, we show that mRNA and protein degradation are possible targets for control during temperature acclimation. Our model provides a basis for future directions in research and the analysis of future results.
Airborne fungi in Longyearbyen area (Svalbard, Norway) — case study
Authors: Pusz Wojciech , Urbaniak Jacek 
Published: April 2021

AbstractStudies on the presence of atmospheric fungi in both Arctic and Antarctic polar areas are rare, and many of them were carried out briefly. Currently, when climate change is a fact, polar areas may be subject to various changes and fluctuations, negatively affecting sensitive polar ecosystems. The paper presents the results of tests on presence of fungi in the air over 30 years after the last investigations at the Svalbard Archipelago. A total of fifteen taxa of fungi were isolated in area of Longyearbyen, the majority of which were saprotrophic fungi of the genus Cladosporium that are associated with dead organic matter. Therefore, the presence of this taxon may be a good bioindicator of changes occurring in the Arctic environment, indirectly indicating the melting of glaciers and exposing increasingly larger areas inhabited by microorganisms, including fungi, which increase in number in the air. Additionally, the number of tourists visiting Longyearbyen is increasing, which may significantly affect the number and type of fungi in the air.
Preparation of bioactive glass nanoparticles with highly and evenly doped calcium ions by reactive flash nanoprecipitation
Authors: Ji Lijun , Xu Tong , Gu Jun , Liu Qingren , Zhou Shu , Shi Guojun , Zhu Zhengxi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractNanoscale bioactive glass particles have greater bioactivity than microscale bioactive glass particles, due to their high-specific surface area and fast ion release rate in body fluid. However, preparation of bioactive glass nanoparticles (BGNPs) is difficult since calcium is not easy to be highly doped into the forming silica atom network, leading to an uneven distribution and a low content of calcium. In addition, BGNPs are usually prepared in a dilute solution to avoid agglomeration of the nanoparticles, which decreases the production efficiency and increases the cost. In this work, BGNPs are prepared by a method of the reactive flash nanoprecipitation (RFNP) as well as a traditional sol–gel method. The results indicate that the BGNPs by the RFNP present a smaller size, narrower size distribution, more uniform composition, and better bioactivity than those by the traditional sol–gel method. The obtained BGNPs have uniform compositions close to the feed values. The high and even doping of calcium in the BGNPs is achieved. This successful doping of calcium into nanoparticles by the RFNP demonstrates a promising way to effectively generate high-quality BGNPs for bone repairs.