bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Virtual Scientific Conferences: Benefits and How to Support Underrepresented Students
Authors: Estien Cesar O. , Myron Eli B. , Oldfield Callie A. , Alwin Ajisha ,   Ecological Society of America Student Section
Published: March 2021

AbstractEcological conferences provide a unique opportunity for scientists in the field of ecology to develop meaningful connections and exchange research in a rapid, multi‐day, in‐person format. For students and early‐career researchers, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, in‐person conferences are challenging to attend due to the burdens on finances and time. However, as COVID‐19 continues to restrict scientific societies' abilities to host large, in‐person conferences, virtual conferences have increased in prevalence. For students and early‐career researchers, virtual conferences present a multitude of benefits, including reduced attendance costs, increased accessibility to a wider range of conference resources, and reduced levels of anxiety. These factors make virtual conferences more accessible to those historically excluded from science. Further, microcommunities, which we define as a small network of individuals in the same career stage, can provide additional support for students via interacting closely with peers of the same identity, constructing workshops, and fostering belongingness in STEM. In this paper, we discuss the benefits associated with virtual conferences (focusing on students of underrepresented backgrounds), and we suggest methods to continue increasing inclusivity in STEM and scientific conferences as the world continues to adapt in response to the COVID‐19 pandemic.
The effects of engineered nanoparticles on nitrification during biological wastewater treatment
Authors: Xing Yun , Harper Willie F. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTechnological advancements in the past few decades have made it possible to manufacture nanomaterials at a large scale, and engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) are increasingly found in consumer products, such as cosmetics, sports products, and LED displays. A large amount of these ENPs end up in wastewater and potentially impact the performance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). One important function of the WWTP is nitrification, which is carried out by the actions of two groups of bacteria, ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and nitrite‐oxidizing bacteria (NOB). Since most ENPs are found to have or are designed to have antimicrobial activities, it is a legitimate concern that ENPs entering WWTPs may have negative impacts on nitrification. In this paper, the effects of ENPs on nitrification are discussed, focusing mainly on autotrophic nitrification by AOBs and NOBs. This review also covers ENP effects on anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox). Generally, nitrifiers in pure and mixed cultures can be inhibited by a variety of ENPs, but stress response mechanisms may attenuate toxicity. Long‐term studies demonstrated that a wide range of NPs could cause severe deterioration of AOBs and/or NOBs when the influent concentration exceeded an inhibition threshold. Proposed mechanisms include the generation of reactive oxygen species, dissolved metals, physical disruption of cell membranes, bacterial engulfment, and intracellular accumulation of ENPs. Future research needs are also discussed.
Practising counsellors’ identity salience in clinical supervision
Authors: Jones Connie T. , Welfare Laura E. , Cook Ryan 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCounsellors are called to appreciate variety within human experience and culture (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions, 2018). Similarly, counselling and psychotherapy supervisors who support the ongoing development of supervisees are tasked with understanding supervisees in their own cultural context. Supervisees and supervisors bring their own social and cultural identities into the supervisory space. In this study of 94 supervisees, the researchers sought to explore which social or cultural identity supervisees named as most salient in the supervisory relationship and whether the salient identity was one of minoritised or marginalised status. Gender, religion, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation or nationality was often listed as most salient. Further, individuals who identified with a minoritised/marginalised race/ethnicity, nationality or sexual orientation were likely to list that identity as most salient in their supervisory relationship. Implications include the importance of respectful inquisitiveness and supervisor readiness to consider a variety of salient social and cultural identities. Given many of these identities are invisible or ambiguous, supervisors who display cultural humility may be best positioned to provide culturally competent supervision.
Mechanical circulatory support in acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock: Challenges and importance of randomized control trials
Authors: Basir Mir B. , Pinto Duane S. , Ziaeian Boback , Khandelwal Akshay , Cowger Jennifer , Suh William , Althouse Andrew 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundAcute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock (CS) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.MethodsWe provide an overview of previously conducted studies on the use of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices in the treatment of AMI‐CS and difficulties which may be encountered in conducting such trials in the United States.ResultsWell powered randomized control trials are difficult to conduct in a critically ill patient population due to physician preferences, perceived lack of equipoise and challenges obtaining informed consent.ConclusionsWith growth in utilization of MCS devices in patients with AMI‐CS, efforts to perform well‐powered, randomized control trials must be undertaken.
BRAF‐mutated malignant melanoma with chondrosarcomatous differentiation in inguinal nodal metastasis
Authors: Abbati Francesca , Altimari Annalisa , Corti Barbara , Dika Emi , Sperandi Francesca , Melotti Barbara 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe report the case of a young woman who developed metastatic melanoma in the inguinal nodal region, which acquired chondrosarcomatous differentiation and preserved the BRAF mutation found in the primary tumor. The patient was treated with a BRAF/MEK inhibitor combination therapy (dabrafenib/trametinib), which was demonstrated to be effective and well‐tolerated.
Electrografted Interfaces on Metal Oxide Electrodes for Enzyme Immobilization and Bioelectrocatalysis
Authors: Harris Tomos G. A. A. , Heidary Nina , Frielingsdorf Stefan , Rauwerdink Sander , Tahraoui Abbes , Lenz Oliver , Zebger Ingo , Fischer Anna 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn this work, we demonstrate that diazonium electrografting of biocompatible interfaces on transparent conducting oxide indium tin oxide (ITO) can be controlled and optimized to achieve low charge transfer resistance, allowing highly efficient electron transfer to an immobilized model enzyme, the oxygen‐tolerant [NiFe]‐hydrogenase from Ralstonia eutropha. The use of a radical scavenger enables control of the interface thickness, and thus facilitates maximization of direct electron transfer processes between the enzyme's active center and the electrode. Using this approach, amine and carboxylic acid functionalities were grafted on ITO, allowing enzyme immobilization both under moderate electrostatic control and covalently via amide bond formation. Despite an initial decrease in catalytic activity, covalent immobilization led to an improvement in current stability compared to just electrostatically immobilized enzyme. Given the superior stability of electrografted interfaces in comparison to adsorbed or self‐assembled interfaces, we propose electrografting as an alternative approach for the functional immobilization of redox‐active enzymes on transparent conducting oxide (TCO) electrodes in bioelectronic devices.
Acute cardiovascular hospitalizations and illness severity before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Rao Vishal N. , Kelsey Michelle D. , Kelsey Anita M. , Russell Stuart D. , Mentz Robert J. , Patel Manesh R. , Fudim Marat 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundCardiovascular disease (CVD) hospitalizations declined worldwide during the COVID‐19 pandemic. It is unclear how shelter‐in‐place orders affected acute CVD hospitalizations, illness severity, and outcomes.HypothesisCOVID‐19 pandemic was associated with reduced acute CVD hospitalizations (heart failure [HF], acute coronary syndrome [ACS], and stroke [CVA]), and worse HF illness severity.MethodsWe compared acute CVD hospitalizations at Duke University Health System before and after North Carolina's shelter‐in‐place order (January 1–March 29 vs. March 30–August 31), and used parallel comparison cohorts from 2019. We explored illness severity among admitted HF patients using ADHERE (“high risk”: >2 points) and GWTG‐HF (“>10%”: >57 points) in‐hospital mortality risk scores, as well as echocardiography‐derived parameters.ResultsComparing hospitalizations during January 1–March 29 (N = 1618) vs. March 30–August 31 (N = 2501) in 2020, mean daily CVD hospitalizations decreased (18.2 vs. 16.1 per day, p = .0036), with decreased length of stay (8.4 vs. 7.5 days, p = .0081) and no change in in‐hospital mortality (4.7 vs. 5.3%, p = .41). HF hospitalizations decreased (9.0 vs. 7.7 per day, p = .0019), with higher ADHERE (“high risk”: 2.5 vs. 4.5%; p = .030), but unchanged GWTG‐HF (“>10%”: 5.3 vs. 4.6%; p = .45), risk groups. Mean LVEF was lower (39.0 vs. 37.2%, p = .034), with higher mean LV mass (262.4 vs. 276.6 g, p = .014).ConclusionsCVD hospitalizations, HF illness severity, and echocardiography measures did not change between admission periods in 2019. Evaluating short‐term data, the COVID‐19 shelter‐in‐place order was associated with reductions in acute CVD hospitalizations, particularly HF, with no significant increase in in‐hospital mortality and only minor differences in HF illness severity.
Recent Advances in Y6‐Based Semiconductors: Performance in Solar Cells, Crystallography, and Electronic Structure
Authors: Li Xuena , Lu Haipeng , Zhu Weigang 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe advent of crescent‐shaped Y6 and its derivatives have recently enabled exceptionally high solar cell performance metrics, for structural, physical, and transport characteristics that remain poorly understood. Here we summarize recent progress on crystallography, electronic structure, and device performance of this kind of non‐fullerene acceptors. First, we discuss molecular engineering and the crystal structure of Y6 and its derivatives. Second, we present theoretical modeling of the molecular orbitals, reorganization energy, and electronic couplings. Third, we summarize single carrier diode and solar cell performance, and discuss the correlations between crystal structure and computational insights. Finally, we discuss unsolved problems and future developments in this field. Overall, this Minireview summarizes crystal structure, computational understanding, and device metrics, thus providing an outlook for future organic semiconductors design and mechanistic studies in fundamental research and industrial applications.
Development of an improved method to estimate the days of continuous drug ingestion, based on the micro‐segmental hair analysis
Authors: Kuwayama Kenji , Miyaguchi Hajime , Kanamori Tatsuyuki , Tsujikawa Kenji , Yamamuro Tadashi , Segawa Hiroki , Okada Yuki , Iwata Yuko T. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTo prove drug‐related crimes, it is important to estimate the date on which a specific drug was ingested. Previously, we developed a method, “micro‐segmental hair analysis,” to estimate the day of ingestion of a single‐dose drug by segmenting a hair strand into 0.4‐mm segments, which correspond to daily hair growth. In this study, the method was improved to estimate the days of continuous drug ingestion. The subjects ingested four hay‐fever medicines (fexofenadine, epinastine, cetirizine, and loratadine) continuously (1–18 days) and chlorpheniramine as a single dose at intervals of several weeks as an internal temporal marker (ITM). The hair strands of the subjects were collected and subjected to a micro‐segmental analysis. The distribution curves of each hay‐fever medicine in a hair strand had broad peaks reflecting the number of days of drug ingestion. The positions on the curves corresponding to the first and final ingestion days of hay‐fever medicines were identified using the ITM. The positions were near the hair segments on both ends of full width at half maximum (W2) of the broad peak. When the first and final days of continuous ingestion were estimated using W2, independent of peak shape, the absolute average error from the actual ingestion days was approximately 2 days. Overall, we established a method to estimate the days of both single‐dose and continuous drug ingestions. Furthermore, the method would be useful to investigate drug ingestion history in various scenes such as drug‐related crimes and therapeutic drug monitoring.
Dietary sodium levels affect grasshopper growth and performance
Authors: Peterson Taylor N. , Welti Ellen A. R. , Kaspari Michael 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAnthropogenic activities are increasing terrestrial sodium availability through application of both saline irrigation water and road salt. Sodium often limits herbivore abundance, but less is known about the physiological, developmental, and behavioral means by which moderate increases in sodium availability can increase herbivore fitness. Here, we raised a grasshopper species on three no‐choice diets of wheatgrass watered with no sodium (control), a 1% (medium) sodium solution, and a 5% (high) sodium solution to examine the effects of sodium intake on grasshopper survival, morphology, and jumping performance. Grasshopper nymphs raised on a high sodium diet had lower weights and reduced survival compared to those raised on control or medium sodium diets. However, nymphs on a high sodium diet developed larger eye size standardized by body size and demonstrated increased jumping distance compared to nymphs on the control or medium sodium diets. As adults, grasshoppers on the medium sodium diet had the highest survival and grasshoppers on the high sodium diet had the least amount of cannibalism of the three treatments. Understanding the response of herbivore fitness to increasing diet sodium content is an important first step toward predicting how anthropogenic inputs of sodium into terrestrial systems will alter food webs.
Rethinking the management of immune checkpoint inhibitor‐related adrenal insufficiency in cancer patients during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Yuen Kevin C. J. , Mortensen Michael J. , Azadi Amir , Fonkem Ekokobe , Findling James W. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIntroductionThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is currently a major pandemic challenge, and cancer patients are at a heightened risk of severity and mortality from this infection. In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) use to treat multiple cancers has increased in oncology, but equally has raised the question of whether ICI therapy and its side‐effects is harmful or beneficial during this pandemic.MethodsA combination of published literature in PubMed between January 2010 and December 2020, recommended guidelines in non‐cancer patients, and clinical experience was utilized to outline recommendations on glucocorticoid timing and dosing regimens in ICI‐treated patients presenting with AI during this COVID‐19 pandemic.ResultsThe potential immune interaction between ICIs and COVID‐19 require major consideration because these agents act at the intersection between effective cancer immunotherapy and increasing patient susceptibility, severity and complications from the SARS‐CoV‐2 sepsis. Furthermore, ICI use can induce autoimmune adrenal insufficiency (AI) that further increases infection susceptibility. Thus, ICI‐treated cancer patients with AI may be at greater risk of COVID‐19 infection. Glucocorticoids are the cornerstone for replacement therapy, and for treatment and mitigation of adrenal crisis and relief of mass effects in ICI‐related hypophysitis. High‐dose glucocorticoids have also been used with cytotoxic chemotherapy as part of cancer treatment, and iatrogenic AI may arise after glucocorticoid discontinuation that increases the risk of adrenal crisis. Furthermore, in patients who develop the “long COVID‐19” syndrome, when to discontinue glucocorticoid therapy becomes crucial to avoid unnecessary prolongation of therapy and the development of iatrogenic hypercortisolemia.ConclusionDuring the COVID‐19 pandemic, much of cancer care have been impacted and an important clinical question is how to optimally manage ICI‐related AI during these unprecedented times. Herein, we suggest practical recommendations on the timing and dosing regimens of glucocorticoids in different clinical scenarios of ICI‐treated cancer patients presenting with AI during this COVID‐19 pandemic.
Copper‐Catalyzed Difluoroalkylation‐Thiolation of Alkenes Promoted by Na2S2O5
Authors: Gao Bao , Ni Yingjie , Liu Xiaojun , Jiang Tao , Yan Qian , Yang Ruiting , Zhang Xiuli 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA novel and convenient protocol for the difluoroalkylation‐thiolation of alkenes catalyzed by Cu/Na2S2O5 system has been developed. This reaction was carried out using readily available starting materials under mild conditions, wherein the C−C and C−S bonds simultaneously were constructed smoothly. The reaction features broad substrate scope of alkenes and disulfides, good functional group tolerance, and good to excellent yields with high selectivity.
Lupin protein isolate improves insulin sensitivity and steatohepatitis in vivo and modulates the expression of the Fasn, Gys2, and Gsk3b genes
Authors: Soto‐Luna Irma Catalina , García‐López Pedro Macedonio , Vargas‐Guerrero Belinda , Guzmán Tereso Jovany , Domínguez‐Rosales José Alfredo , Gurrola‐Díaz Carmen Magdalena 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAlthough studies on lupin protein isolate (LPI) have indicated the presence of a preventive effect on insulin resistance (IR) and lipid disturbances, their influence on established pathological traits has received little attention. Here, we evaluated the in vivo effects of LPI on IR and steatohepatitis as well as its influence on genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. We first induced IR and steatohepatitis in rats by maintaining them on a high‐fat diet for 5 weeks. Thereafter, we administered LPI to the rats daily for 3 weeks. LPI improved insulin sensitivity (AUC: 6,777 ± 232 vs. 4,971 ± 379, p < .05, pre‐ vs. post‐treatment values) and reduced glucose and triglyceride levels by one‐third. In addition, LPI‐treated rats exhibited attenuated steatohepatitis. At the molecular level, LPI treatment reduced liver Fasn gene expression substantially but increased Gys2 and Gsk3b levels. We concluded that the hypolipidemic and hypoglycemic activities of LPI may be caused by reduced liver lipogenesis and modulation of insulin sensitization mechanisms.
Lack of psychotropic medication changes among mood disordered women across the peripartum period
Authors: Standeven Lindsay R. , Payne Jennifer L. , Pangtey Meeta , Osborne Lauren M. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectivePeripartum depression is a leading contributor to peripartum morbidity and mortality. Despite the evidence for relative safety, many patients and providers remain reluctant to use or modify psychotropics in the peripartum period. We hypothesized that depressed women in the peripartum period taking psychiatric medications would not experience dose adjustments.MethodsWomen with a prior history of either Major Depressive Disorder or Bipolar Affective Disorder were followed through pregnancy and the postpartum period (N = 229). Depressive symptoms were measured with the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), with a score ≥ 13 indicating likely depression. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, chi‐square tests, and logistic regression.ResultsAntepartum depression was more common than postpartum depression (PPD; 29% vs. 20%); 38% of women with antepartum depression also had PPD. Regression analysis revealed that, although depressed women in pregnancy were not more likely to have a dose adjustment than nondepressed women (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 0.8–4.6), depressed women in the postpartum were more likely to receive a medication change than nondepressed women (OR: 6.3, 95% CI: 2.0–20.4).ConclusionsIn a naturalistic study, more medication adjustments for depression occurred in the postpartum than in pregnancy. This may indicate that antepartum depression is undertreated.
ME‐Net: Multi‐encoder net framework for brain tumor segmentation
Authors: Zhang Wenbo , Yang Guang , Huang He , Yang Weiji , Xu Xiaomei , Liu Yongkai , Lai Xiaobo 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMRI plays a vital role to evaluate brain tumor diagnosis and treatment planning. However, the manual segmentation of the MRI image is strenuous. With the development of deep learning, a large number of automatic segmentation methods have been developed, but most of them stay in 2D images, which leads to subpar performance. Aiming at segmenting 3D MRI, we propose a model for brain tumor segmentation with multiple encoders. Our model reduces the difficulty of feature extraction and greatly improves model performance. We also introduced a new loss function named “Categorical Dice,” and set different weights for different segmented regions at the same time, which solved the problem of voxel imbalance. We evaluated our approach using the online BraTS 2020 Challenge verification. Our proposed method can achieve promising results compared to the state‐of‐the‐art approaches with Dice scores of 0.70249, 0.88267, and 0.73864 for the intact tumor, tumor core, and enhancing tumor.
Changes and significance of plasma fibrinogen gamma‐chain concentration in preeclampsia patients
Authors: Zhu YuLi , Tan YunChang , Liang XiaoJun , OuYang LiangLiang , Wang YouNv , Tan LongYi , Shen Chao , Xu Wei , Hu ZhiJian , Zhou HuiXiang 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the plasma fibrinogen gamma‐chain concentration in preeclampsia patients and explore its value in preeclampsia prediction and auxiliary diagnosis.MethodsFollow‐up of pregnant women who regularly attended perinatal care at two hospitals in China was performed, and clinical data and plasma samples were collected at each examination until delivery. The gamma‐chain concentration was detected by Western blotting, and Quantity One Software was used for gamma‐chain grayscale value measurements.ResultsForty‐two patients with preeclampsia and 42 control patients completed the follow‐up. In the control group, the gamma‐chain concentration at 32 weeks of gestation was higher than that at 20 weeks of gestation, but the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). In the experimental group, the gamma‐chain concentration at preeclampsia diagnosis was significantly higher than that at 20 weeks of gestation (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the gamma‐chain concentration was higher at 20 weeks of gestation in the experimental group, but the difference was not statistically significant. However, at 32 weeks of gestation and at the time of diagnosis, the gamma‐chain concentration in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). At 32 weeks of gestation and at the time of diagnosis, the AUCs from ROC curve analysis of plasma fibrinogen gamma‐chain concentrations were 0.64 and 0.71, respectively.ConclusionPlasma fibrinogen synthesis and degradation were disrupted in preeclampsia patients before and after diagnosis, and gamma‐chain concentration was significantly increased. Plasma fibrinogen gamma chain may be of some value in preeclampsia prediction and auxiliary diagnosis.