bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prostatic tissue in 46XX congenital adrenal hyperplasia: Case report and literature review
Authors: Elfekih Hamza , Ben Abdelkrim Asma , Marzouk Hajer , Saad Ghada , Gasmi Ayoub , Gribaa Moez , Zaghouani Hounaida , Hasni Yosra , Maaroufi Amel 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe presence of prostatic tissue, in addition to uterus and adrenal tumors, is possible in 46XX patients with CAH. Lesions of these organs are usually benign. However, complications including prostate and adrenal cancer were also reported.
para‐Selective Palladium‐Catalyzed C−H Difluoroalkylation by Weak Oxazolidinone Assistance
Authors: Fang Xinyue , Tan Yuqiang , Gu Linghui , Ackermann Lutz , Ma Wenbo 
Published: January 2021

AbstractHerein, we report a general and efficient method for the palladium‐catalyzed remote C(sp2)−H difluoroalkylation of N‐aryloxazolidinone derivatives with commercially available difluoroalkyl bromide. This method tolerates a wide range of functional groups with 26 examples in up to 96 % yields. Moreover, it proceeds with complete para‐selectivity. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicated that a single electron transfer process likely involved in this transformation.
Arsenic Adsorption on Modified Clay Minerals in Contaminated Soil and Water: Impact of pH and Competitive Anions
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Raj , Sarkar Binoy , Barman Arijit , Datta Samar Chandra , Manjaiah Kanchikeri Math 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study evaluates the arsenic adsorption behavior of Fe‐exchanged smectite and phosphate‐bound kaolinite, in soil, tap water and double distilled water in the presence of competing anions such as silicate, phosphate, and sulfate, and at variable pH values. The maximum amounts of As adsorbed in soil are 620.6 and 607.6 µg g–1 at pH 5 by Fe‐exchanged smectite and phosphate‐bound kaolinite, respectively. The pH‐modified Freundlich equation fits well (R2 > 0.96) to the adsorption data, distinguishing the effect of pH on adsorption. The coefficients of pH‐value are 0.04 and 0.05 for phosphate‐bound kaolinite and Fe‐exchanged smectite, suggesting that low pH is suitable for the adsorption. The As adsorption is decreased in tap water at low pH compared to the soil due to the presence of iron (Fe2+/3+), sulfate, and bicarbonate in tap water. Among the competing anions in distilled water, phosphate is the most interfering anion for As adsorption. The competition coefficients of As‐phosphate binary adsorption derived from the Sheindorf equation are 3.93 and 0.56 for Fe‐exchanged smectite and phosphate‐bound kaolinite at pH 5. The Fe‐exchanged smectite can be used more effectively than phosphate‐bound kaolinite for As remediation in systems having low pH (pH ≈5) and high phosphate concentration.
Phosphonate as a Stable Zinc‐Binding Group for “Pathoblocker” Inhibitors of Clostridial Collagenase H (ColH)
Authors: Voos Katrin , Schönauer Esther , Alhayek Alaa , Haupenthal Jörg , Andreas Anastasia , Müller Rolf , Hartmann Rolf W. , Brandstetter Hans , Hirsch Anna K. H. , Ducho Christian 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMicrobial infections are a significant threat to public health, and resistance is on the rise, so new antibiotics with novel modes of action are urgently needed. The extracellular zinc metalloprotease collagenase H (ColH) from Clostridium histolyticum is a virulence factor that catalyses tissue damage, leading to improved host invasion and colonisation. Besides the major role of ColH in pathogenicity, its extracellular localisation makes it a highly attractive target for the development of new antivirulence agents. Previously, we had found that a highly selective and potent thiol prodrug (with a hydrolytically cleavable thiocarbamate unit) provided efficient ColH inhibition. We now report the synthesis and biological evaluation of a range of zinc‐binding group (ZBG) variants of this thiol‐derived inhibitor, with the mercapto unit being replaced by other zinc ligands. Among these, an analogue with a phosphonate motif as ZBG showed promising activity against ColH, an improved selectivity profile, and significantly higher stability than the thiol reference compound, thus making it an attractive candidate for future drug development.
Biosurveillance for invasive insect pest species using an environmental DNA metabarcoding approach and a high salt trap collection fluid
Authors: Young Robert G. , Milián‐García Yoamel , Yu Jaeju , Bullas‐Appleton Erin , Hanner Robert H. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

With the increase in global trade and warming patterns, the movement, introduction, and establishment of non‐native insect species has increased. A rapid and effective early detection biosurveillance program to identify species of concern is needed to reduce future impacts and costs associated with introduced non‐native species. One of the challenges facing insect surveillance trapping methods is the sheer volume of individual specimens in the collections. Although molecular identification methods are improving, they currently have limitations (e.g., destructive processing of specimens) and a protocol addressing these limitations can support regulatory applications that need morphological evidence to corroborate molecular data.

The novel protocol presented here uses a metabarcoding approach to amplify environmental DNA from a saturated salt solution trap fluid, which retains trap specimens for downstream morphological identifications. The use of a saturated salt solution to preserve specimens in traps addresses issues with the high evaporation rate of ethanol in traps, and public safety concerns with other fluid preservation options with unattended traps in public settings.

Using a metabarcoding approach, a 407‐nucleotide segment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (COI) animal barcode region was successfully amplified from Lindgren funnel trap collection fluids. These traps were placed in forested areas to survey for wood‐boring beetles of regulatory concern. Our results displayed successful amplification of target taxa, including the molecular identification of the Japanese Beetle Popillia japonica, a species regulated in Canada. A second species, Anisandrus maiche, recently introduced to North America, was identified in every trap. The genus Lymantria, which contains numerous species of concern to North American woodlands, was also detected. Also, there were six other species identified of interest due to their potential impacts on native and crop flora and fauna.

Our results show how this protocol can be used as an efficient method for the surveillance of insects using a trap with a saturated salt solution and eDNA metabarcoding to detect species of regulatory concern.
Saproxylic insects and fungi in deciduous forests along a rural–urban gradient
Authors: Meyer Sandro , Rusterholz Hans‐Peter , Baur Bruno 
Published: January 2021

AbstractUrbanization is increasing worldwide and is regarded a major threat to biodiversity in forests. As consequences of intensive human use, the vegetation structure of naturally growing urban forests and their amount of deadwood can be reduced. Deadwood is an essential resource for various saproxylic insects and fungi. We assessed the effects of urbanization and forest characteristics on saproxylic insects and fungi. We exposed standardized bundles consisting of each three freshly cut beech and oak branches in 25 forests along a rural–urban gradient in Basel (Switzerland). After an exposure of 8 months, we extracted the saproxylic insects for 10 months using an emergence trap for each bundle. We used drilling chips from each branch to determine fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs). In all, 193,534 insect individuals emerged from the experimental bundles. Our study showed that the abundance of total saproxylic insects, bark beetles, longhorn beetles, total flies, moths, and ichneumonid wasps decreased with increasing degree of urbanization, but not their species richness. However, the taxonomic composition of all insect groups combined was altered by wood moisture of branches and that of saproxylic beetles was influenced by the degree of urbanization. Unexpectedly, forest size and local forest characteristics had a minor effect on saproxylic insects. ITS (internal transcribed spacer of rDNA) analysis with fungal specific primers revealed a total of 97 fungal OTUs on the bundles. The number of total fungal OTUs decreased with increasing degree of urbanization and was affected by the volume of naturally occurring fine woody debris. The composition of fungal OTUs was altered by the degree of urbanization and pH of the branch wood. As a consequence of the altered compositions of saproxylics, the association between total saproxylic insects and fungi changed along the rural–urban gradient. Our study shows that urbanization can negatively impact saproxylic insects and fungi.
Integrated hierarchical models to inform management of transitional habitat and the recovery of a habitat specialist
Authors: Eaton Mitchell J. , Breininger David R. , Nichols James D. , Fackler Paul L. , McGee Samantha , Smurl Michelle , DeMeyer David , Baker Jonny , Zondervan Maria B. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractQuantifying the contribution of habitat dynamics relative to intrinsic population processes in regulating species persistence remains an ongoing challenge in ecological and applied conservation. Understanding these drivers and their relationship is essential for managing habitat‐dependent species, especially those that specialize in transitional habitats. Limitations in the ability of natural disturbance to mediate transitional habitat dynamics have resulted in a decline in early‐ and mid‐successional vegetation structure and prompted the need for aggressive habitat management to replace natural perturbations and increase habitat structural complexity. We describe a collaborative effort with a group of independent land managers to design an adaptive management program for restoring an imperiled ecosystem and recovering declining populations of an endemic habitat specialist. We developed a set of integrated, hierarchical models to estimate management‐mediated transition rates among vegetation classes in two dominant scrub communities and the species response (local colonization and extinction probabilities) as a function of habitat state. Models were fit using a long‐term data set of habitat and occupancy observations from 361 Florida scrub‐jay territories across two Florida counties. Occupancy model results correspond closely to previous approaches of estimating differential survival and reproductive success associated with habitat conditions, with highest colonization and lowest extinction rates estimated for those habitat states found to have the highest rates of survival and reproduction. In addition to offering an innovative approach for jointly modeling habitat and species population dynamics, the program we describe will also be of interest from a management perspective by providing guidance for developing collaborative, adaptive management frameworks from the ground up. We engaged land managers via workshops to specify objectives and desired state‐variable conditions, identify management alternatives, and elicit consensus opinions on model parameters. Treating expert opinions as pseudo‐observations to define Dirichlet priors allowed us to make use of existing management knowledge. Formal learning was then accumulated by updating transition probability estimates as management activities were implemented over the study period. We believe this adaptive management framework provides a useful approach for increasing our understanding of complex ecological relationships and hope that it will be adopted by others who have interest in informing management and conservation efforts.
Impacts of two types of errors on the predictability of terrestrial carbon cycle
Authors: Sun Guodong , Mu Mu 
Published: January 2021

AbstractInitial errors and model parameter errors are two of the main factors that produce uncertainties in numerical simulations and predictions. It is crucial to determine in advance which of these types of errors should be reduced to improve numerical simulations and increase their prediction skill. In this study, a fundamental issue related to studies of the predictability about terrestrial carbon cycle is discussed. The relative importance of initial errors and model parameter errors in causing the prediction uncertainty of net primary production (NPP), which is part of the terrestrial carbon cycle, is assessed. The errors in NPP predictions related to initial errors and parameter errors are evaluated within the Lund–Potsdam–Jena (LPJ) model using the conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation approach for these two types of errors (CNOP‐I and CNOP‐P, respectively). This method explores the upper bounds of the prediction errors caused by initial errors and model parameter errors at a particular time in the future. The contributions of initial errors and model parameter errors to NPP prediction uncertainty are found to depend on climate backgrounds and the prediction timescale. For the moist and semimoist regions of China, initial errors play a more important role than model parameter errors in the prediction uncertainty of NPP for short prediction times. As the prediction time scale increases, model parameter errors lead to large errors in NPP predictions. However, in the arid and semiarid regions of China, the uncertainty in NPP predictions caused by model parameter errors is always larger than that caused by initial errors. The above results can be explained by analyzing variations in photosynthesis and autotrophic respiration. The numerical results also suggest that the skill of predictions of the terrestrial carbon cycle may be improved by reducing the different types of errors for different climatic regions and prediction timescales.
Development and implementation of a remote patient monitoring program for heart failure: a single‐centre experience
Authors: Baginski Bryana N. , Byrne Kaileigh A. , Vaz Dev G. , Barber Regina , Blackhurst Dawn , Tibbett Thomas P. , Guichard Jason L. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAimsRemote patient monitoring (RPM) in the management of heart failure (HF), including telemonitoring, thoracic impedance, implantable pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) monitors, and cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED)‐based sensors, has had varying outcomes in single platform studies. Uncertainty remains regarding the development of single‐centre RPM programs; additionally, no studies examine the effectiveness of dual platform RPM programs for HF. This study describes the implementation and outcomes of a dual platform RPM program for HF at a single centre.Methods and resultsAn RPM program was developed to include two platforms (e.g. CardioMEMS™ HF System and HeartLogic™ HF Diagnostic). To examine changes within each participant over time, study‐related outcomes including total hospitalizations (TH), total length of stay (TLOS), cardiac hospitalizations (CH), cardiac LOS (CLOS), and cardiac‐related emergency department (ED) visits were compared in two timeframes: 12 months pre‐enrolment and post‐enrolment into RPM. For 141 participants enrolled, there was a significant reduction in the likelihood of experiencing a CH by 19% (0.77 vs. 0.61 events/patient‐year; HR: 0.81, 95% CI: 0.67–0.97, P = 0.03) and a cardiac‐related ED visit by 28% (0.48 vs. 0.34 events/patient‐year; HR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.55–0.93, P = 0.01). There was also a 51% decrease (SE = 1.41, 95% CI: 2.79–8.38 days, P < 0.001) and 62% decrease (SE = 1.24, 95% CI: 3.35–8.22 days, P < 0.001) in TLOS and CLOS, respectively.ConclusionsA dual platform RPM program for HF using structured education, RPM‐capable devices, and alert‐specific medication titration reduces the likelihood of experiencing a cardiac hospitalization and cardiac‐related ED visit in this single‐centre study.
Tumor infiltrated immune cell types support distinct immune checkpoint inhibitor outcomes in patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Ku Bo Mi , Kim Youjin , Lee Kyoung Young , Kim Sang‐Yeob , Sun Jong‐Mu , Lee Se‐Hoon , Ahn Jin Seok , Park Keunchil , Ahn Myung‐Ju 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe evaluation of PD‐L1 expression alone has limitations in predicting clinical outcome in immune‐checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). This study aimed to evaluate the predictive and prognostic effects of the presence of various immune cells in pretreatment tissue samples and to identify determinants associated with response in patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with PD‐1 blockade. Immune cell distribution was heterogeneous and the most dominant immune cell type was T cells. Patients with durable clinical benefit (DCB) showed significantly higher PD‐L1 expression. The ratio of tumor/stroma region of T cell, B cell, and macrophage was significantly higher in patient with DCB. High intratumoral T‐ and B‐cell density (≥median) was associated with DCB in the low PD‐L1 expression (<50%) group. In univariate analyses, the overall survival (OS) benefit was shown according to intratumoral B‐cell density (p = 0.0337). The incidence of hyperprogressive disease (HPD) was 13.0%. The Chi‐square test revealed that HPD was significantly associated with intratumoral B‐cell density but not T‐cell or macrophage density. Our results demonstrate different predictive and prognostic values for infiltrating immune cells in tumor tissue, which may help in selecting patients for ICI.
Synthesis, Structural, and Conformational Analysis of 4′‐C‐Alkyl‐2′‐O‐Ethyl‐Uridine Modified Nucleosides
Authors: Nikam Rahul R. , Harikrishna S. , Gore Kiran R. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSugar modifications have attracted much attention due to their potential structural and functional influence on therapeutic nucleic acids. Herein, we report the synthesis of dual modified 4′‐C‐azidomethyl‐2′‐O‐ethyl‐uridine (4′‐AzM‐2′‐OEt−U) and 4′‐C‐aminomethyl‐2′‐O‐ethyl‐uridine (4′‐AM‐2′‐OEt−U) nucleosides using linear multi‐step synthesis (16 linear steps). Additionally, we report an alternative route for the synthesis of 2′‐O‐ethyl‐uridine nucleoside which has been achieved in three steps with an overall yield of 40 %. X‐ray structure of 4′‐AzM‐2′‐OEt−U illustrates that the nucleoside adopts C2′‐endo (South) conformation having a DNA‐type glycosidic bond (χ) angle of −116.01°. Computational studies revealed the C2′‐endo and C4′‐exo conformations for 4′‐AzM‐2′‐OEt−U and 4′‐AM‐2′‐OEt−U free nucleosides, respectively. The C4′‐exo conformation in 4′‐AM‐2′‐OEt−U free nucleoside is collectively stabilized by various non‐covalent interactions between positively charged aminomethyl and 2′,3′‐hydroxyl groups. Insights into the structural and conformational analysis of dual sugar modified nucleosides and oligonucleotides will be helpful in the rational design of modified nucleosides and therapeutic oligonucleotides.
Enhancing teaching and research skills in metal casting through a virtual casting lab
Authors: Sheikh Anwar K. , Khan Muhammad A. A. , Gasem Zuhair M. , Iqbal Hassan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis article describes the establishment of a virtual metal casting lab at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and its relevance in engineering education (teaching and research). The main objective of this work is to communicate the importance of virtual metal casting in engineering education and research, and to provide a framework for establishing and developing a lab to expand research in the area. Casting simulation softwares are briefly introduced followed by the details of setting up the lab and utilization of MAGMASoft at KFUPM. This includes methods of acquiring licenses of the software and its training, collaboration with the local industries, learning and capacity building at KFUPM at several stages. The utilization of casting simulations in undergraduate and graduate teaching, and in funded research projects reflects the continuous development of teaching and research skills of students, instructors, and researchers at the institution. Evaluation of virtual casting lab is discussed. Invigorated by encouraging results of the existing lab, an extension in the lab is proposed leading to a virtual casting quality center at KFUPM. It is expected that the results presented in this study will encourage institutes, universities, and industries in the region to develop in‐house virtual casting facilities for expanding research and development in the field.
Reality or fantasy—Perovskite semiconductor laser diodes
Authors: Gao Wei , Yu Siu Fung 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPerovskite semiconductor has emerged as a promising laser gain medium; however, it is still a challenge to fabricate electrically pumped perovskite lasers due to the insufficient electrical‐to‐optical conversion efficiency. Here, the current progress on the lasing performance of optically pumped perovskite lasers is reviewed. The advancement in the control of carrier transport and recombination properties of perovskite light‐emitting diode architectures is also studied. Hence, the obstacles preventing the fabrication of perovskite laser diodes are investigated. More importantly, a strategy toward electrically driven perovskite lasers is proposed base on the successful development of organic semiconductor laser diodes.image
Renewable energy and sustainable development: Evidence from OECD countries
Authors: Güney Taner 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study aims to investigate the effects of renewable energy on GDP and sustainable development. The data of Economic Cooperation and Development Organization (OECD) countries covering the period of 1990–2015 are included in the analysis. In this study, GDP and adjusted net savings (ANS) are used as indicators of sustainable development. ANS calculation is closely related to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and the concept of sustainable development. According to IV (two‐stage least square—2SLS) and two‐stage general method of moments IV (2SLS) estimates, renewable energy positively affects ANS per capita. However, non‐renewable energy negatively affects ANS per capita. Therefore, renewable energy causes an increase in sustainable development, while non‐renewable energy causes a decrease. As a result, OECD countries are recommended to prefer renewable energy rather than non‐renewable energy. OECD countries should make the necessary arrangements for the growth and development of the renewable energy sector and implement them quickly. Preferring renewable energy is extremely important to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.