bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epilepsy in Qatar: Causes, Treatment and Outcome
Authors: Haddad Naim , Elzafarany Abdullah Hesham , Aqeel Faten , Al Jurdi Ayman , Laswi Mujahed , Mahfoud Ziad , Abuhadra Nour , Al-Samman Yasser , Melikyan Gayane , Deleu Dirk
Published: July 2019

Rationale

Epilepsy is one of the most prevalent neurologic conditions. It is estimated to affect 70 million people worldwide. Epilepsy is an important cause of disability and mortality. It is associated with social stigma and significant economic costs. Although epilepsy is a disease with a worldwide distribution, its prevalence varies between different countries. Very little is known about the epidemiology of epilepsy in Qatar. Qatar's population is a mixture of native citizens and immigrants. We aim at describing the features of epilepsy in Qatar as such information is virtually lacking from the current literature.

Methods

A database was created in 2014 to summarize information retrospectively collected on patients with epilepsy seen through the national health system (HMC) adult neurology clinic. For each subject, in addition to the typical demographic variables, we identified the age at onset, seizure types, epilepsy syndrome, etiology, treatment and outcome. Brain imaging and EEG results were also tabulated. All these variables were analyzed using the statistical package for social science (IBM-SPSS, version 20).

Results

Of 504 patients included in the database, 467 with sufficient information were analyzed. Sixty percent were men. The mean age at the last clinic visit was 35. Native Qataris represented 38.5%, Asian subjects 33%, and Middle Eastern/North African (MENA) origin accounted for 25% of the studied population. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures were the most common seizure type, noted in 89% of subjects. Epilepsy was classified as focal in 65.5% of the cases, and generalized in 23%. EEGs were abnormal in 55.5 %, showing epileptiform discharges in 49% of subjects. Imaging studies revealed epileptogenic pathologies in 40% of reports. Common causes of epilepsy were: vascular (11%), hippocampal sclerosis (8%), infectious (6%) and trauma (6%). Sixty six percent of patients were receiving a single antiepileptic drug, and 53% were seizure free at the last follow-up. Overall, the most commonly prescribed drug was Leviteracetam (41%) followed by Valproic Acid (25%) and Carbamazepine (22%). On current therapy, 54% of patients were seizure-free, 41% had a partial response and five percent were refractory. When the patients were divided by geographical background, some differences were noted. Remote infections caused the epilepsy in 15% of Asian patients (with neurocysticercosis accounting for 10%), but only in 1% of Qatari and 3% of MENA subjects (with no reported neurocysticercosis) (p
Diabetes Mellitus: Unwanted Visitor in the Tertiary Heart Hospitals
Authors: El-Menyar Ayman , Al Suwaidi Jassim , Albinali Hajar , Al-Thani Hassan
Published: July 2019

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) constitute a major health care challenge worldwide. We evaluated the trends and outcome of DM in patients presenting with CVD over a 22-year period in the state of Qatar.

Methods

We performed a descriptive retrospective chart review of all admitted CVD patients, including DM from the Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery database at the Heart Hospital (HH) of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Qatar over a 22-year period.

Results

During the study period between the year 1991 and 2012, a total of 48,803 patients (77% males; 40.3% diabetics) were admitted to the HH, resulting in an average admissions rate of 2218 CVD patients per year. Two out of five CVD patients (40%) were known diabetics. Thus, it was estimated that 14.2 per 10,000 people of the general population in Qatar have both DM and CVD. On average each year, 895 CVD patients admitted to the HH are diabetics. The overall proportion of admissions for diabetic patients with CVD increased over the study duration. Diabetic males were 6 years younger than females. DM was more prevalent in Arabs (68 vs. 32%), but its burden showed a decreasing trend over time compared with South Asians. Diabetics presented with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (47.5 vs. 22.7%), tended to be 8 years younger compared with heart failure with DM. Over the study period, beta-blocker use increased substantially (from 10 to 71%). However, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEI/ARBs) were underutilized (from 30 to 56%). There were 4.4 deaths per 100 CVD admissions, which is equivalent to 97 deaths per year. Of this, 52% had DM (2.3 deaths per 100 CVD admissions). The overall case fatality rate (CFR) of DM was 5.6%. Diabetic Asian patients died 9 years earlier than diabetic Arabs at the HH. Age-adjusted Predictors of mortality in DM patients in the HH included lack of beta-blocker use (OR 4.35), lack of ACEI/ARBs use (OR 3.58), myocardial infarction (OR 3.20), lack of aspirin use (OR 2.56), and congestive heart failure (OR 1.75) (P = 0.001 for all).

Conclusions

In Qatar, DM is still a healthcare challenge. Although the admission rate of diabetic patients is increasing at the HH, the mortality rate is decreasing. Evidence-based medication use remains far from the guideline recommendation; however, it shows a substantial improvement. Lack of evidence-based CVD medications in diabetic patients is associated with a significant increase in the mortality in the HH. Efforts should be directed toward public awareness regarding CVD risk factors and DM through education programs and efficient primary and secondary prevention strategies.
The Secure Degrees of Freedom of the MIMO BC and MIMO MAC with Multiple Unknown Eavesdroppers
Authors: Khalil Mohamed , Khattab Tamer , Elfouly Tarek , Mohamed Amr
Published: July 2019

We investigate the secure degrees of freedom (SDoF) of a two-transmitter Gaussian multiple access channel with multiple antennas at the transmitters, a legitimate receiver and an unknown number of eavesdroppers each with a number of antennas less than or equal to a known value NE. The channel matrices between the legitimate transmitters and the receiver are available everywhere, while the legitimate pair have no information about the fading eavesdroppers’ channels. We provide the exact sum SDoF for the considered system. We show that it is equal to min(M1 + M2 − NE, 1/2(max(M1;N2 + max(M2;N) − NE,N). A new comprehensive upperbound is deduced and a new achievable scheme based on utilizing jamming is exploited. We prove that Cooperative Jamming is SDoF optimal even without the eavesdropper CSI available at the transmitters.
Assessment of the Solar Resource in Andean Regions by Comparison between Satellite Estimation and Ground Measurements: Study Case of Ecuador
Authors: Ordonez Freddy , Vaca-Revelo Diego , Lopez-Villada Jesus
Published: July 2019

To develop and implement solar technologies, it is necessary to know accurately the solar resource on the place. Consequently, several institutions working in renewable energy have made efforts to both measure solar radiation and develop models to estimate solar radiation. The main drawback with estimations is their lack of accuracy. Recently, the NREL (NSRDB) has update its meteorological database based in satellite estimations. Some validations have been reported, however, no studies about its validity for the Andean region have been done. In this work, measurements of global horizontal irradiation (GHI) from 53 stations placed along the Ecuadorian territory were compared with satellite estimation data from NSRDB. Statistical descriptive indicators of dispersion (RMSE, MBE) and goodness of fit (KS test) were used. The data were grouped in hourly, daily, weekly and monthly basis, as well as in clear and cloudy basis. Results show that monthly grouping may be used with confidence, since close to 95% of comparisons have a good fit. Also, results show that both, clear sky and cloudy models tend to overestimate solar radiation in such a region. Solar resource seems to be high in Ecuador since more than 75% of the territory has values over 3.8 kWh/m2day.
Assessment of Social Vulnerability to Wildfire in Missouri, United States of America
Authors: Akinola Omolola Victoria , Adegoke Jimmy , Ologunorisa Temi Emmanuel
Published: July 2019

Wildfire is a major environmental hazard causing property damage and destruction including biodiversity loss in the United States. In order to reduce property loss and destruction arising from wildfire, this study assessed and identified social vulnerability to wildfire in Missouri using the American Community Survey data on social and demographic variables for the state of Missouri and social vulnerability index (S0VI). The study divided Missouri into five geopolitical zones from which ten counties were randomly selected for this study. The selected counties formed the basis on which fourteen social and demographic indicators were identified and assessed using Bogardi, Birkmann and Cadona conceptual framework. The result of the analysis shows that S0VI estimated for the five geopolitical zones of Missouri is moderate with a rating scale of 1.42 – 1.71. Education, income and marital status have a rating scale of 2.0 - 3.0 attributed for the high value of Social Vulnerability to wildfire. Race / ethnicity, language spoken, employment and percentage of house units that are mobile homes had a low S0VI value of 1.0 thereby contributing positively to resilience to wildfire risk. The study observes that government involvement in wildfire risk reduction is quite impressive and should still be intensified. The policy implication of this study is that education and income are key variables that contribute to high wildfire risk in Missouri. The need for government to formulate a policy on environmental education of the populace especially for people of low income and education become imperative. This will go a long way in reducing damage and property loss arising from wildfire.
De digitale civiele procedure als onderdeel van een behoorlijke rechtspleging
Authors: de Groot Dineke
Published: July 2019

De digitale civiele procedure als onderdeel van een behoorlijke rechtspleging

Digitaal procederen in civiele procedures is in ontwikkeling. In dit artikel wordt ingegaan op de digitaliseringsdoelstelling van de wetgever en op ervaringen die zijn opgedaan rondom de ontwikkeling van digitaal procederen in civiele vorderingszaken (dagvaardingszaken) over rechtsgevolgen ter vrije bepaling van partijen.
Management of Nasal Silicone Granuloma
Authors: Harlim Ago
Published: July 2019

The use of silicone as filler material has been banned by the FDA. Nevertheless, there are still some risks of using topical silicone, particularly cosmetic products that contain silicone. Bioavailability of silicone in skin tissues and long-term complications of silicone use in cosmetic products must be evaluated for safety reasons. Silicone can penetrate to the skin by injection. Because of economic issues and the rarity of medical grade silicone, various developing countries use industrial silicone, which results in even more complications. Patients with liquid silicone injected to their nose will usually visit a doctor after experiencing complication issues such as granuloma, edema, and redness with telangiectasia. Usually the patients want to remove the silicone and treat the complication. Unfortunately, silicone is difficult to be removed completely. Some complications are difficult to treat. To handle this complication issue, the doctor has to create a specific design of nose implant, perform curettage, or remove silicone and granuloma, and then a laser treatment and steroid injection will be performed.
Cell Attachment and Osteoinductive Properties of Tissue Engineered, Demineralized Bone Fibers for Bone Void Filling Applications
Authors: B. McLean Julie , Carter Nigeste , Sohoni Payal , A. Moore Mark
Published: July 2019

Demineralized bone matrices (DBMs) have been used in a wide variety of clinical applications involving bone repair. Ideally, DBMs should provide osteoinductive and osteoconductive properties, while offering versatile handling capabilities. With this, a novel fiber technology, LifeNet Health-Moldable Demineralized Fibers (L-MDF), was recently developed. Human cortical bone was milled and demineralized to produce L-MDF. Subsequently, the fibers were lyophilized and terminally sterilized using low-dose and low-temperature gamma irradiation. Using L929 mouse fibroblasts, L-MDF underwent cytotoxicity testing to confirm lack of a cytotoxic response. An alamarBlue assay and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated L-MDF supported the cellular function and attachment of bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs). Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, L-MDF demonstrated BMP-2 and 7 levels similar to those reported in the literature. In vivo data from an athymic mouse model implanted with L-MDF demonstrated the formation of new bone elements and blood vessels. This study showed that L-MDF have the necessary characteristics of a bone void filler to treat osseous defects.
Capsaicin: An Uncommon Exposure and Unusual Treatment
Authors: Yenigun Onur , Thanassi Mark
Published: July 2019

Capsaicin, the active component of chili peppers, is an alkaloid that causes tissue irritation and burning especially upon contact with mucous membranes. While favored in certain cuisines around the world, it has also been weaponized in the form of pepper sprays and bear repellents. When significant capsaicin exposures occur, patients may present to the emergency department; thus, providers should be prepared to manage these cases effectively. In this case report we discuss an unusual exposure of capsaicin to the vaginal mucosa with successful treatment.
Why Party Members Matter? The Concept of High-quality Membership in Polish Political Parties: Communicational and Organizational Potential
Authors: Brodzińska-Mirowska Barbara , Wincławska Maria
Published: July 2019

Despite the decrease in membership in European political parties, members still have an important role to play. In this paper we introduce the concept of high-quality membership (HQM) and show the organizational and communication potential of party grassroots. We distinguished factors to be taken into account in order to build the concept of party HQM. Only then is the organizational and communication potential of party membership able to be maximized. We argue that high-quality membership is valuable for parties because it helps them to establish and maintain links with voters, who then elect representatives into local, regional, and national governments; members help to collect information, understand problems and seek solutions important to local communities and to society in general; finally, HQM helps to improve the image of the party in society. The questions we raise in this article do not concentrate entirely on the above functions of party members since we advance that if a party would like to benefit from high-quality membership it must first obtain basic knowledge about its members, their needs, expectations and judgements. Therefore, in this article we discuss what kind of knowledge is necessary for parties to achieve the goal of HQM, and how the role of members is now understood and assessed by party leaders.
Protest, omyl, nezájem? Neplatné hlasování v České republice a v nových demokraciích
Authors: Jarabinský Ivan
Published: July 2019

Lebeda, Tomáš and Lysek, Jakub et al.: Protest, omyl, nezájem? Neplatné hlasování v České republice a v nových demokraciích. Olomouc: Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci. 2017. 172 pages
Politické dopady zadlužování malých obcí v České republice: Případová studie Karlovarského kraje 2010–2014
Authors: Burešová Barbora
Published: July 2019

Hornek, Jakub: Politické dopady zadlužování malých obcí v České republice: Případová studie Karlovarského kraje 2010–2014. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství (SLON). 2016. 348 pages
Analysis of Causes of Death as Determined at Autopsy in a Single Institute, The Grant Medical College and Sir J. J. Hospital, Mumbai, India, Between 1884 and 1966: A Retrospective Analysis of 13 024 Autopsies in Adults
Authors: Lanjewar Dhaneshwar Namdeorao , Sheth Nikita Subhash , Lanjewar Sonali Dhaneshwar , Wagholikar Ulhas Laxman
Published: July 2019

Context.—

Grant Medical College and Sir J. J. Hospital, Mumbai (India), have a long tradition of clinical autopsies, wherein autopsy records have existed since 1884. The old autopsy records from 1884 to 1966 were discovered during a refurbishing drive of the pathology department in 2007.

Objective.—

To know the relative causes of deaths in Sir J. J. Hospital Mumbai from 1884 through 1966. To determine the rate of antemortem and postmortem discrepancies in the prehistology and posthistology era.

Design.—

The reports of clinical autopsies in the archives of the Department of Pathology from January 1884 to December 1966 were reviewed. Data such as sex, age, and clinical and autopsy diagnoses were collected, based on the autopsy records of 13 024 patients.

Results.—

Of 13 024 patients, 10 197 (78%) were male and 2827 (22%) were female. Most deaths (55%) involved individuals ages 21 to 40 years. Infections were the cause of death in 7281 of 13 024 patients (56%), followed by cardiovascular diseases in 2138 (16%) and neoplasms in 963 (7%). The overall disagreement between clinical diagnoses and postmortem findings was 4105 of 13 024 patients (31%). Discrepancy between antemortem and postmortem diagnoses in the prehistology era (before 1950) was found in 3053 of 8951 patients (34%), whereas in the posthistology era (after 1950), discrepancy was found in 1019 of 4073 patients (25%).

Conclusions.—

Historical collections provide baseline data against which modern observations can be compared. Such collections also offer a window on the past and often provide a less biased account of events. Historical collections of museum materials such as ours are valuable because they can serve as potential biorepository materials to facilitate future research. Apart from providing reliable data on the occurrence of diseases, the autopsy has an important role in providing information about conditions that are no longer prevalent. Medical institutes possessing old autopsy records, wet specimens, paraffin blocks, and slides should preserve such historical collections.
Zastosowanie metody minimalnego drzewa rozpinającego (najkrótszego dendrytu) w ocenie efektywności i spójności sieci osadniczej województwa mazowieckiego = Application of the minimum spanning tree method in assessing the effectiveness and cohesion of the settlement network of Mazowieckie voivodeship
Authors: Śleszyński Przemysław , Sudra Paweł
Published: July 2019

Contemporary settlement systems observed in Poland bear numerous traces of historical transformations of rural settlements which took place in the 19th century, at the time of foreign partitioning of Polish territory, in different ways in particular regions. The result of processes occurring from the second half of the 20th century is the extensive development of urban areas, and – after 1990 – chaotic, spontaneous processes of transformation in suburban zones. Research methods using graph theory have been applied for years in investigating settlement networks on various scales. One of the more useful graphs is the minimum spanning tree (MST), which connects all vertices in such a way that the sum of the distances between them is the shortest. This article presents the application of the minimum spanning tree (or shortest dendrite) method with a view to its suitability for determining the degree of dispersion and spatial cohesion of urbanised structures being assessed. Two indicators have been proposed thanks to alignment of the shortest dendrite length to other variables. The settlement network effectiveness indicator is the ratio of MST length to the population in an area. The settlement network cohesion indicator is in turn the ratio of the MST length to population density.
Mazowieckie voivodeship has been chosen as the research area, while address points obtained from the central official database collecting data from municipal records have been chosen as the source dataset. Over 1 million address points were considered, in line with their status as at the end of 2016. Minimum spanning trees were plotted for each of the 314 gminas (local-authority areas) aking up the voivodeship, using ArcGIS software.
Subsequently, the proposed indicators were calculated by reference to the MSTs. The results were then mapped. The proposed indicators may be helpful in studies on the origin of settlements, allowing areas with varying degrees of uniformity or isolation of building locations to be indicated. They can be made use of in comparative studies, especially concerning rural settlements, in which single-family housing predominates, and hamlets and uildings standing in isolation are present. The effectiveness indicator can be used in the assessment of infrastructural coverage, i.a. in the ontext of the costs of spatial chaos and demographic capacity.
Hacia una nueva gobernanza del destino turístico: el enfoque de gestión de los destinos turísticos inteligentes (DTI)
Authors: Giner Sánchez David
Published: July 2019

La evolución de las TIC e Internet muestra una clara influencia directa e indirecta en todos los ámbitos de desarrollo de los destinos turísticos, tanto en tareas internas como externas. Los destinos afrontan un nuevo ciclo de crecimiento en el que deben apoyarse, con mayor o menor intensidad, en el uso de nuevos desarrollos tecnológicos, pero también en nuevas fórmulas y estrategias de gestión y planificación. Se trata, al fin y al cabo, de abordar con garantías la necesidad de reorientarse hacia un modelo más eficiente, adaptado a los cambios de la demanda y basado en la integración de todos los elementos que conforman el destino, el turista y la población local entre ellos.

Es en este contexto en el que surge un nuevo marco de gestión en cuya base aparece la gobernanza turística y donde el uso de las TIC e Internet se presenta como pieza clave para facilitar esa transición hacia el nuevo modelo de destino turístico inteligente, basado en el conocimiento y en la participación activa de todos sus agentes, entre otros.
El mundo es finito, también para el turismo. Del multiplicador turístico al conflicto redistributivo
Authors: Gascón Jordi , Cañada Ernest
Published: July 2019

La suposición de que el crecimiento turístico puede ser sostenible está muy difundida en determinados sectores académicos y organismos públicos. La teoría del multiplicador turístico, planteada por Archer y Owen a principios de los setenta, es uno de sus fundamentos. Sin embargo, esta premisa se enfrenta con una realidad cada vez más presente: el planeta y sus recursos son finitos. El desarrollo económico tiene límites naturales. El artículo presenta una visión conflictivista del desarrollo turístico más acorde con esta realidad: el surgimiento de una nueva actividad económica o su crecimiento obliga a reestructurar el uso que se da a los recursos disponibles. Estos recursos no siempre se pueden multiplicar. Y en este proceso, generalmente, unos pierden y otros ganan.
Long-term warming results in species-specific shifts in seed mass in alpine communities
Authors: Zhang Chunhui , Ma Zhen , Zhou Huakun , Zhao Xinquan
Published: July 2019

Background

Global warming can cause variation in plant functional traits due to phenotypic plasticity or rapid microevolutionary change. Seed mass represents a fundamental axis of trait variation in plants, from an individual to a community scale. Here, we hypothesize that long-term warming can shift the mean seed mass of species.

Methods

We tested our hypothesis in plots that had been warmed over 18 years in alpine meadow communities with a history of light grazing (LG) and heavy grazing (HG) on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. In this study, seeds were collected during the growing season of 2015.

Results

We found that warming increased the mean seed mass of 4 (n = 19) species in the LG meadow and 6 (n = 20) species in the HG meadow, while decreasing the mean seed mass of 6 species in the LG and HG meadows, respectively. For 7 species, grazing history modified the effect of warming on seed mass. Therefore, we concluded that long-term warming can shift the mean seed mass at the species level. However, the direction of this variation is species-specific. Our study suggests that mean seed mass of alpine plant species appears to decrease in warmer (less stressful) habitats based on life-history theory, but it also suggests there may be an underlying trade-off in which mean seed mass may increase due to greater thermal energy inputs into seed development. Furthermore, the physical and biotic environment modulating this trade-off result in complex patterns of variation in mean seed mass of alpine plant species facing global warming.
Identify Attitude and Perception of Farmers on Mobile Based Agriculture: Reuters’ Market Light (RML)
Authors: Anbarasan P.
Published: July 2019

Farmers need dynamic information relating to agriculture and rural development. Therefore, to satisfy the need of information and knowledge, Reuters Market Light (RML) offers highly customized and localized agricultural related information service. RML provides information services via mobile phone-based Short Message Service (SMS) primarily aimed at farmers. The study was carried out in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu state. The results revealed that majority of the respondents had a strong positive attitude towards market and the respondents had a high level positive perception towards mobile phone with regard to farm information and technology transfer.
Biomarkers predictive value for early diagnosis of Stroke‐Associated Pneumonia
Authors: Zapata‐Arriaza Elena , Mancha Fernando , Bustamante Alejandro , Moniche Francisco , Pardo‐Galiana Blanca , Serrano‐Gotarredona Pilar , Navarro‐Herrero Silvia , Pallisa Esther , Faura Julia , Vega‐Salvatierra Ángela , Penalba Anna , Escudero‐Martínez Irene , Ramos‐Herrero Víctor Darío , Azurmendi Leire , Charles Sanchez Jean , Montaner Joan
Published: July 2019

To confirm the diagnostic accuracy of candidate biomarkers in stroke‐associated pneumonia (SAP), we prospectively enrolled ischemic stroke patients with NIHSS ≥ 10 on admission from March‐2016 to August‐2017. Blood samples were collected at baseline, 24 and 48 h after stroke onset. Biomarkers (MR‐proADM, suPAR, SAA) were determined by immunoassays. Regarding biomarkers, MR‐proADM at 24 h (P = 0.04) and both suPAR and SAA at 48 h (P = 0.036 and P = 0.057) were associated with pneumonia. The combination of SAA > 25.15 mg/dL and suPAR> 3.14 ng/mL at 48 h had 80% sensitivity and 95.8% specificity when both biomarkers were above the cut‐off. The evaluated biomarkers represent promising tools to be evaluated in future large, prospective studies on SAP. An accurate SAP diagnosis by thorax CT might help to reduce variability in such studies.
Monolithic Dual‐Material 3D Printing of Ionic Skins with Long‐Term Performance Stability
Authors: Yin Xiang‐Yu , Zhang Yue , Xiao Junfeng , Moorlag Carolyn , Yang Jun
Published: July 2019

Artificial “ionic skin” is of great interest for mimicking the functionality of human skin, such as subtle pressure sensing. However, the development of ionic skin is hindered by the strict requirements of device integration and the need for devices with satisfactory performance. Here, a dual‐material printing strategy for ionic skin fabrication to eliminate signal drift and performance degradation during long‐term use is proposed, while endowing the ionic skins with high sensitivity by 3D printing of ionic hydrogel electrodes with microstructures. The ionic skins are fabricated by alternative digital light processing 3D printing of two photocurable precursors: hydrogel and water‐dilutable polyurethane acrylate (WPUA), in which the ionically conductive hydrogel layers serve as soft, transparent electrodes and the electrically insulated WPUA as flexible, transparent dielectric layers. This novel dual‐material printing strategy enables strong chemical bonding between the hydrogel and the WPUA, endowing the device with designed characteristics. The resulting device has high sensitivity, minimal hysteresis, a response time in the millisecond range, and excellent repetition durability for pressure sensing. The results demonstrate the potential of the dual‐material 3D printing strategy as a pathway to realize highly stable and high‐performance ionic skin fabrication to monitor human physiological signals and human–machine interactions.
Energy‐Free, Singlet Oxygen‐Based Chemodynamic Therapy for Selective Tumor Treatment without Dark Toxicity
Authors: Chen Yanrui , Deng Jian , Liu Fang , Dai Peipei , An Yang , Wang Zheng , Zhao Yanjun
Published: July 2019

Traditional singlet oxygen‐based antitumor therapies have been burdened with the necessity of external energy (e.g., light and ultrasound) and harmful dark toxicity. Ascorbate at the pharmacological concentration could accumulate hydrogen peroxide only in the tumor site. It is postulated that the concurrent delivery of ascorbate and nanoparticulate hypochlorous ion (ClO−) could produce singlet oxygen at the tumor site as an energy‐free, tumor‐specific therapy. The ClO− is loaded in a hybrid core–shell nanocarrier consisting of a zeolitic imidazolate framework and amphiphilic poloxamer 188. Intracellular singlet oxygen production is verified in 4T1 cells by the cooperation between hybrid nanocarriers and ascorbate, which induces significant apoptotic cell death. Upon intravenous nanocarriers delivery plus intraperitoneal ascorbate administration to xenograft mice, the in vivo antitumor efficacy of this cooperative nanomedicine is demonstrated without noticeable side‐effects. This work demonstrates a proof‐of‐concept of singlet oxygen‐based chemodynamic therapy for selective tumor eradication, which produces a novel trigger‐free, singlet oxygen‐based cancer therapy without the side effects of traditional photodynamic and sonodynamic therapy.
A High Mobility Conjugated Polymer Enables Air and Thermally Stable CsPbI2Br Perovskite Solar Cells with an Efficiency Exceeding 15%
Authors: Zhao Huan , Yang Shaomin , Han Yu , Yuan Shihao , Jiang Hong , Duan Chenyang , Liu Zhike , Liu Shengzhong (Frank)
Published: July 2019

Inorganic cesium lead halide perovskite solar cells (PSCs), such as CsPbI2Br, have made a striking breakthrough with a power conversion efficiency of over 16%. However, CsPbI2Br is known to be very sensitive to moisture, and the intrinsic long‐term stability of CsPbI2Br film remains a critical challenge. Interface engineering has been proven to be an effective way for solving the instability‐to‐moisture issue and enhancing the performance of inorganic–organic hybrid PSCs, while there are a few reports on interface engineering for inorganic PSCs. Here, a conjugated polymer, poly(N‐alkyldiketopyrrolo‐pyrrole dithienylthieno[3,2‐b]thio‐phene) (DPP‐DTT), with high mobility is introduced as a novel interface passivation for CsPbI2Br PSCs, which can significantly reduce nonradiative recombination in perovskite, leading to significant enhancement in both efficiency and stability of CsPbI2Br PSCs. Through DPP‐DTT passivation, a champion efficiency of 15.14% is obtained in CsPbI2Br PSCs. Moreover, the Lewis base DPP‐DTT can serve as an ultrahydrophobic agent to hold the photovoltaic performance of CsPbI2Br PSCs under ambient environment with humidity or thermal stress. These results provide a simple while highly effective route of fabricating the highly efficient and stable inorganic PSCs.
Unravelling Why and to What Extent the Topology of Similar Ce‐Based MOFs Conditions their Photodynamic: Relevance to Photocatalysis and Photonics
Authors: Caballero‐Mancebo Elena , Cohen Boiko , Smolders Simon , De Vos Dirk E. , Douhal Abderrazzak
Published: July 2019

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are emerging materials for luminescent and photochemical applications. Armed with femto to millisecond spectroscopies, and fluorescence microscopy, the photobehaviors of two Ce‐based MOFs are unravelled: Ce‐NU‐1000 and Ce‐CAU‐24‐TBAPy. It is observed that both MOFs show ligand‐to‐cluster charge transfer reactions in ≈100 and ≈70 fs for Ce‐NU‐1000 and Ce‐CAU‐24‐TBAPy, respectively. The formed charge separated states, resulting in electron and hole generation, recombine in different times for each MOF, being longer in Ce‐CAU‐24‐TBAPy: 1.59 and 13.43 µs than in Ce‐NU‐1000: 0.64 and 4.91 µs. The linkers in both MOFs also undergo a very fast intramolecular charge transfer reaction in ≈160 fs. Furthermore, the Ce‐NU‐1000 MOF reveals excimer formation in 50 ps, and lifetime of ≈14 ns. The lack of this interlinkers event in Ce‐CAU‐24‐TBAPy arises from topological restriction and demonstrates the structural differences between the two frameworks. Single‐crystal fluorescence microscopy of Ce‐CAU‐24‐TBAPy shows the presence of a random distribution of defects along the whole crystal, and their impact on the observed photobehavior. These findings reflect the effect of linkers topology and metal clusters orientations on the outcome of electronic excitation of reticular structure, key to their applicability in different fields of science and technology, such as photocatalysis and photonics.
Photocatalytic performance of BiFeO3 based on MOFs precursor
Authors: Li Zhendong , Zhang Shilong , Xu Ruicheng , Zhang Qianwei , Wang Zhenhua , Fu Chunlin
Published: July 2019

BiFeO3 (BFO) is considered to be a potential visible light photocatalytic material for organic degradation due to its narrow band gap. In this work, the BFO with smaller band gap and better photocatalytic performance was prepared by thermal decomposition of we prepared smaller band gap and better photocatalytic performance BFO by thermal decomposition of MOFs precursor Bi[Fe (CN)6]·5H2O. Among them, BFO‐0.5 has the best photocatalytic activity, which the photocatalytic degradation rate of methyl orange (MO) aqueous solution is 98.1% within 60 minutes. The photocatalytic activity is almost unchanged after four cycles of use. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of BFO could be attributed to the enhanced optical absorption and smaller particles. It may be conducive to design more efficient photocatalysts for photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes.
Simulation of the effects of sea‐salt aerosols on cloud ice and precipitation of a tropical cyclone
Authors: Jiang Baolin , Lin Wenshi , Li Fangzhou , Chen Baojun
Published: July 2019

This study used the Weather Research and Forecasting model with chemistry (WRF‐Chem) with a parameterization for the emissions of sea‐salt aerosols to assess the effects of sea‐salt aerosols on a tropical cyclone. A control simulation (Ctl) and a simulation with a sea‐salt emission flux that is one‐tenth of that in Ctl (Low) were conducted. Results show that sea‐salt aerosols enhance the condensation process, promoting vertical motion and precipitation in a tropical cyclone. Peak precipitation value in Ctl is 120% that in Low. Enhanced vertical motion in Ctl results in increase of water vapor transport to the upper atmosphere, which promotes deposition growth of cloud ice crystals. Therefore, cloud ice mixing ratio and stratiform precipitation in Ctl are larger than those in Low. Stratiform precipitation in the rain band is about 0.5 mm/h in Ctl and about 0.4 mm/h in Low.
Effect of quercetin on E‐NTPDase/E‐ADA activities and cytokine secretion of complete Freund adjuvant–induced arthritic rats
Authors: Saccol Renata da Silva Pereira , da Silveira Karine Lanes , Adefegha Stephen Adeniyi , Manzoni Alessandra Guedes , da Silveira Leonardo Lanes , Coelho Ana Paula Visintainer , Castilhos Livia Gelain , Abdalla Fátima Husein , Becker Lara Vargas , Martins Nara Maria Beck , Oliveira Juliana Sorraila , Casali Emerson André , Leal Daniela Bitencourt Rosa
Published: July 2019

The effect of quercetin was assessed in rats induced with complete Freund adjuvant (CFA). Arthritis scores, paw oedema, latency, activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO), ectonucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (E‐NTPDase), and ectoadenosine deaminase (E‐ADA) in lymphocytes were determined. Furthermore, nucleotide and nucleoside levels as well as the secretion of pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory cytokines were evaluated. Animals were treated with saline and quercetin in doses of 5, 25, and 50 mg/kg for 45 days. The result revealed that quercetin (50 mg/kg) reduced arthritis score and paw oedema, and increased the latency in the thermal hyperalgesia test. Histopathological analysis showed that all the doses of quercetin reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells. MPO activity was increased in the arthritis group; however, quercetin reduced this activity. E‐NTPDase activity was increased in lymphocytes of arthritis rats, and treatment with quercetin reversed this increase. However, E‐ADA activity was reduced in the arthritis group, and treatment with quercetin modulated the activity of this enzyme in arthritis rat groups. Serum adenosine levels were increased in arthritis, and the levels were lowered with quercetin treatment. Quercetin treatment in arthritis groups decreased the elevated levels of cytokines in the arthritis control group. Thus, quercetin demonstrated an anti‐inflammatory effect, and this flavonoid may be a promising natural compound for the treatment of arthritis.

Significance of the study

Quercetin may represent a potential therapeutic compound in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Findings from this study indicate that quercetin suppresses swelling and attenuates the underlying inflammatory responses. This is the first report where quercetin was shown to modulate the immune response to arthritis via attenuation of the purinergic system (E‐NTPDase and E‐ADA activities) and the levels of IFN‐gamma and IL‐4. Thus, this work is relevant to basic research and may be translated into clinical practice.
Audiovisual telesupport system for cardiovascular catheter interventions: A preliminary report on the clinical implications
Authors: Adachi Toru , Sato Akira , Kuroki Kenji , Terai Tomoko , Hanaoka Daisuke , Hiraya Daigo , Machino Takeshi , Nogami Akihiko , Ieda Masaki , Aonuma Kazutaka
Published: July 2019

Objectives

This study aimed to validate the clinical implications of audiovisual telesupport system use.

Background

An audiovisual telesupport system with supervisors has been effective in guiding procedures when surgeons have limited experience with the technique. However, cardiovascular catheter interventions using an audiovisual telesupport system has not been previously reported.

Methods

Starting in September 2017, two cardiologists in Kamisu Saiseikai Hospital (Kamisu, Japan, with limited cardiologists) began performing cardiovascular catheter interventions using an audiovisual telesupport system. This system enabled them to perform catheter interventions with the support of advisors in the University of Tsukuba (Tsukuba, Japan). We retrospectively assessed procedure time and complications of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and catheter ablation (CA).

Results

In the first 10 months, 21 patients with coronary artery disease underwent PCI using this system. The mean procedure duration of PCI was 42 ± 10 min. Nine patients with tachyarrhythmia including supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), ventricular premature contraction (VPC), common atrial flutter, and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) underwent CA using this system. The mean CA procedure time was 134 ± 31 min for SVT, 100 ± 14 min for VPC, and 200 min for AF. All PCI and CA procedures were successfully performed without any complications.

Conclusions

The audiovisual telesupport system enabled cardiologists with limited human resources to provide safe and high‐quality catheter interventions.
Assessment of commercial hydrate inhibitors using the 3‐in‐1 method
Authors: Ovalle Sebastian , Martinez Camilo , Bonilla Luna , Lara Andres , Beltran Juan G.
Published: July 2019

Phase equilibria, kinetics, and morphology studies of gas hydrates require separate pieces of equipment and experimentation times in the order of days. Recently, we designed a reactor that allows for tight control of the crystallization temperature. Coupled with a novel method, this reactor can screen the crystal morphology, phase equilibria, and apparent kinetics of gas hydrates. Compared to traditional multi‐trial methods, the main advantage of this method is that only a single experiment, completed in the order of hours, is required to assess: (a) the change in hydrate growth velocity with respect to temperature, (b) the HLV equilibrium temperature at the experimental pressure, and (c) the change in crystal morphology with respect to driving force. Using this 3‐in‐1 method, methane hydrate growth and dissociation was studied in the presence of four commercial inhibitors. Phase equilibria, kinetics, and morphology were obtained for all hydrate systems with inhibitors. The standard uncertainty for the HLV equilibrium temperature was 0.05 K and for pressure 0.005 MPa. The apparent rates of growth were measured for all systems (standard uncertainty was 0.008 mm · s−1) and the difference between the inhibited systems and the pure system was very clear. Crystal habits varied considerably among inhibitors and radically with respect to the uninhibited system. Overall, we present an innovative technology to assess the morphology, kinetics, and thermodynamics of hydrate forming systems with a single apparatus. Furthermore, with little time investment, small sample sizes can be used to obtain replicates with minimum temperature and pressure uncertainties.
Multimodal PSSMA‐Functionalized GdF3 : Eu3+(Tb3+) Nanoparticles for Luminescence Imaging, MRI, and X‐Ray Computed Tomography
Authors: Shapoval Oleksandr , Kaman Ondřej , Hromádková Jiřina , Vavřík Daniel , Jirák Daniel , Machová Daniela , Parnica Jozef , Horák Daniel
Published: July 2019

Biocompatible poly(4‐styrenesulfonic acid‐co‐maleic acid)‐stabilized GdF3 : Eu3+(Tb3+) nanoparticles were obtained by a one‐step coprecipitation method in ethylene glycol or water. The particles are very small (3 nm), have a narrow size distribution, and were detectable by fluorescence, magnetic resonance, and X‐ray contrast imaging. These properties allow multimodal imaging, which has prospective applications in the simultaneous and detailed detection of diseased tissues.
Trade‐offs constrain the evolution of an inducible defense within but not between plant species
Authors: Agrawal Anurag A. , Hastings Amy P.
Published: July 2019

Inducible defense is a common form of phenotypic plasticity, and inducibility (change in defense after herbivore attack) has long been predicted to trade off with constitutive (or baseline) defense to manage resource allocation. Although such trade‐offs likely constrain evolution within species, the extent to which they influence divergence among species is unresolved. We studied cardenolide toxins among genetic families in eight North American Asclepias species, spanning the full range of defense in the genus. Using common environment experiments and chemical assays, we report a consistent trade‐off (negative genetic correlation) between concentrations of constitutive cardenolides and their inducibility within each species. However, no trade‐off was found in a phylogenetic analysis across species. To investigate factors driving differences in defense allocation among species we used latitude as a proxy for growing season and herbivore pressure and found that divergence into lower latitudes resulted in evolution of higher cardenolides overall. Next we used an enzymatic assay of the cellular target of cardenolides (sodium‐potassium ATPase) and confirm that higher cardenolides resulted in stronger toxicity to a sensitive species, but not to specialized monarch butterflies. Thus, plant speciation into biogeographic regions with alternative resources or pest pressure resulted in the macroevolution of cardenolide defense, especially against unspecialized herbivores. Nonetheless, trade‐offs persist in the extent to which this defense is allocated constitutively or is inducible among genotypes within each species.
Functional composition of epiphyte communities in the Colombian Andes
Authors: Agudelo Claudia Milena , Benavides Ana Maria , Taylor Tyeen , Feeley Kenneth J. , Duque Alvaro
Published: July 2019

We identify changes in the functional composition of vascular epiphytes along a tropical elevational gradient with the aim of quantifying the role of climate in determining the assembly of epiphyte communities. We measured seven leaf functional traits (leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf dry‐matter content, leaf thickness, force to punch, stomatal density, and potential conductance index) in the 163 most abundant epiphyte species recorded across 10 sites located along an elevational gradient between 60 and 2,900 m above sea level in the Colombian Andes. We grouped the epiphyte species into seven hierarchical functional groups according to their most characteristic leaf traits. Along the elevational gradient, the two main independent leaf trait dimensions that distinguished community assemblages were defined primarily by leaf area‐photosynthetic (LAPS) and mass‐carbon (LMCS) gradients. Mean annual temperature was the main determinant of species position along LAPS. In contrast, local changes in specific leaf area due to variation in the epiphytes’ relative height of attachment was the main determinant of their position along the LMCS. Our findings indicate that epiphytic plant leaves have evolved to optimize and enhance photosynthesis through a leaf area–based strategy and carbon acquisition through investments in construction costs of leaf area per unit of biomass that aim to regulate light capture and tissue development. Given that most studies of plant functional traits neglect vascular epiphytes, our quantification of the multiple dimensions of epiphyte leaf traits greatly augments our understanding of vascular plant function and adaptation to changing environments.
Recent excavations at Owl Ridge, interior Alaska: Site stratigraphy, chronology, and site formation and implications for late Pleistocene archaeology and peopling of eastern Beringia
Authors: Graf Kelly E. , Gore Angela K. , Melton J. Anne , Marks Tarah , DiPietro Lyndsay , Goebel Ted , Waters Michael R. , Rhode David
Published: July 2019

The early archaeological record of Beringia is complicated by the occurrence of several lithic industries. Site assemblages, dating from 14,000 to 12,800 years ago and located from the Yana‐Indigirka Lowlands of Siberia to the upper Tanana River basin, contain artifacts characteristic of the Nenana technological complex. After 12,800 years ago, site assemblages contain artifacts diagnostic of the Denali technocomplex. To explain the variation in lithic industries, we first and foremost need well‐stratified and well‐dated sites with multiple components so we securely know their ages and depositional relationships. We present excavation results of one such site located in interior Alaska, Owl Ridge, with the goal of assessing site stratigraphy, radiocarbon chronology, and natural site formation processes. Owl Ridge was visited three times during the Pleistocene‐Holocene transition with a Nenana‐complex occupation at 13,380–12,800 years ago followed by two Denali‐complex occupations at 12,540–11,430 years ago and 11,270–11,200 years ago. Assemblage change at Owl Ridge was diachronically patterned, as at the nearby Dry Creek archaeological site, and separated by two climatic events, a brief extremely windy Younger Dryas (lasting 300–250 years) and a very brief wetter period (lasting ~160 years). Our results indicate these climate and environmental conditions played a role in settlement of eastern Beringia.