bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Use of Topical Clobetasol among the Women in Hail Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study on Knowledge and Practice
Authors: Ansari Mukhtar , Palaian Subish , Ibrahim Mohamed Izham Mohamed , Shankar Pathiyil Ravi
Published: November 2019

Aims: The current study aimed to evaluate female consumers’ knowledge and practice about harmful effects of topical clobetasol applied on the face for cosmetic purposes. 

Study Design: Cross-sectional study. 

Place and Duration of Study: Randomly selected community pharmacies, well known cosmetic shops and shopping malls of Hail region, Saudi Arabia from March 2018 to June 2018.

Methodology: We included 391 participants who only used ‘clobetasol’ as a topical steroid at the time of interview, responses were collected as per the study tool and analyzed using SPSS for Windows, Version 16.0. Chicago, SPSS Inc..

Results: Relatives (28.1%), friends (25.6%) and community pharmacists (15.6%) contributed significantly towards using topical clobetasol cream. In 86.2% of the cases, the pharmacists who dispensed clobetasol did not inform the consumer about the harmful effects. Purchasing the cream without prescription (P = 0.025) was significantly associated with age. In the study, 41.9 % of the females experienced adverse effects, with the commonest one being hair growth on face (23%) followed by dermatrophy (14.8%); with a significant association with frequency of use (p<0.001).

Conclusion: There was haphazard use of topical clobetasol by females and they were unaware of the adverse effects. Over-the-counter availability of topical clobetasol, lack of knowledge about harmful effects, and lack of counseling on its safety profile by community pharmacists and other healthcare professionals are mainly responsible for its misuse and harmful consequences.
A Study on Relationship between Technical Efficiency and Climate Change Manifestations among Sesame Farmers in Benue State, Nigeria
Authors: Asogwa B. C. , Nwalem M. P. , Aye G. C.
Published: November 2019

The present study aims to analyse the relationship between technical efficiency and the adverse effect of climate change manifestations among sesame farmers in Benue State, Nigeria. A combination of purposive and random sampling techniques was used to select 372 sesame producers. Data were analysed by using the Cobb-Douglas stochastic frontier production function and Spearman correlation. The stochastic production function showed that farm size, seed, fertilizer, agrochemical and family labour significantly affect sesame output. The study also showed that education, farming experience, household size, access to extension; access to credit, access to market and membership to farmer association were positively related to technical efficiency of sesame farmers. The result further showed that the average technical efficiency of sesame farmers was 0.53. The result also revealed that there is a significant negative relationship between the level of adverse effects of climate change manifestation and technical efficiency among sesame farmers in the study area. It was therefore recommended that readily available farming inputs and subsidies should be entrenched. Credit facility, extension services and good market access should be provided to farmers. Education, information and training of farmers to adapt to climate change by changing their farming practices such as bush burning, de-forestation, rain-fed agriculture and land tenure systems should be encouraged.
Evaluation of Occupational Health and Infection Control Practices in Some Federal Medical Centers (FMCs) in Southern Nigeria
Authors: Allen O. T. , Nwaogazie I. L. , Douglas K.
Published: November 2019

The hospital is a high risk environment for the transmission of infections to health care workers, visitors, patients and the surrounding community. Healthcare workers are exposed to a variety of hazards which predisposes these “indispensable carers” to various life threatening infections and diseases. This study is aimed at evaluating the occupational hygiene and infection control practices in Federal Medical Center (FMC) Owerri and FMC Yenayoa, both located within southern Nigeria. Descriptive cross sectional study using a structured questionnaire and walk-through safety checklist was employed. A total of 379 healthcare workers were selected through disproportionate stratified sampling from the two facilities. The questionnaires were self-administered and analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0. Frequencies, chi-square were computed and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify the predisposing factors to which health workers are exposed; 60.7% of respondents were male, dominant age group; 30 – 39yrs, nurses represented a larger proportion (34.8%) of healthcare workers in this study; 51.7% and 48.3% of respondents in FMC Yenagoa and FMC Owerri respectively had a good knowledge of hazards and controls. There was a significant difference with chi-square as, 9.710 p-Value <0.008. Good level of attitude was 44.7% in Owerri and 21.2% in Yenagoa, chi-square 18.295 p-Value <0.001. Overall level of occupational hygiene and infection control practices was poor in both facilities. Health care workers had a very high level of exposure to ergonomic hazards (88.9%) and biological hazards 47.6% in Owerri and 55.3% in Yenagoa. Nurses were 5 times more at risk of ergonomic hazards (95%CI) – 5.96 (2.19–16.24)  p-Value < 0.001, while Medical Laboratory scientists were 5 times more at risk of chemical hazards (OR = 5.98, 95CI: 3.05–11.69, p-Value <0.001). The checklist revealed that both facilities were of imminent high risk category. Health care workers at FMC Yenagoa had higher exposures to all five categories of hazards than FMC Owerri. Working in FMC Owerri predisposes workers to higher health hazards than in FMC Yenagoa. There was better administrative controls including trainings and immunizations in FMC Yenagoa than in FMC Owerri.
Estimating Supply Response of Some Strategic Crops in Egypt Using ARDL Model
Authors: Eliw Moataz , Mottawea Abbas , El-Shafei Ahmed
Published: November 2019

This paper estimated the areas of main cereal crops in Egypt (Wheat, Maize, Rice) supply response of farm price, area harvested and net revenue by using Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model (ARDL) methodology to define the integral relationship between the dependent variable and independent variables, both in the long and short-run, in addition to determining the magnitude of the impacts of all dependent variables on the dependent variable, Main findings indicate that farmgate price has a statistically significant impact on wheat, maize and rice cultivated areas. Impact of yield on wheat cultivated area proved insignificant, while proved statistically significant on maize and rice cultivated areas. Impact of net revenue on wheat and maize cultivated areas were significant but was insignificant in case of rice. Applying ARDL bounds test revealed a long-term relationship between all variables in the model for wheat, but not for maize and rice, the study used the data during the period (2000-2017).
Clinical characteristics of jellyfish stings in Japan
Authors: Hifumi Toru , Fukuchi Yoshimune , Otani Norio , Kondo Yutaka , Kitamoto Takeshi , Kobayashi Kentaro , Nakaya Nobuaki , Tomioka Joji
Published: November 2019

Aim

Jellyfish known as “habu‐kurage” (Chironex yamaguchii) inhabit the waters surrounding Okinawa and Amami, Japan, and jellyfish stings are limited to areas outside the Japanese main island. However, the shifts promoted by global warming and increasingly intensive interactions with people have led to concerns regarding the possibility of increased jellyfish stings on the main island of Japan. Similar concerns are being raised all over the world. However, studies examining clinical characteristics of jellyfish stings have been limited to Australia, the USA, Europe, and South‐East Asia. Thus, this study aimed to examine for the first time the clinical characteristics of jellyfish stings in Japan.

Methods

We undertook retrospective questionnaire surveys from January 2013 to December 2017 to determine patient characteristics, treatment, and clinical outcomes. We compared patient characteristics between tourists and non‐tourists. The primary end‐point of the present study was to clarify the clinical characteristics of jellyfish stings.

Results

Over the 5‐year study period, 204 patients were identified from eight hospitals based on the basic questionnaire, and 35 patients with moderate‐to‐severe jellyfish stings were also identified. All patients recovered well, including five patients with severe jellyfish stings. Antivenom was not given. The time intervals from the occurrence of jellyfish stings to hospital arrival significantly differed between tourists and non‐tourists (P = 0.049), and all tourists visited the emergency department (P = 0.009).

Conclusions

Approximately 40 cases of jellyfish stings occurred annually in Japan between 2013 and 2017. Patients recovered well without the use of antivenom.
Sublimierbare Spin‐Crossover‐Komplexe: Vom Schalten des Spinzustands zu molekularen Bauelementen
Authors: Kumar Kuppusamy Senthil , Ruben Mario
Published: November 2019

Wegen ihres bistabilen, bei Raumtemperatur schaltbaren Spinzustands bilden aktive Übergangsmetallkomplexe mit Spin‐Crossover (SCO) eine wichtige Gruppe von schaltbaren molekularen Materialien. Aus vakuumsublimierbaren SCO‐Komplexen, einer Untergruppe der SCO‐Komplexe, lassen sich ultrareine Filme mit schaltbarem Spin herstellen, wie sie insbesondere in der molekularen Elektronik/Spintronik benötigt werden. Dünne Filme aus sublimierbaren SCO‐Komplexen wurden deshalb mit spektroskopischen und mikroskopischen Techniken auf ihren oberflächenabhängigen SCO untersucht. In diesem Aufsatz werden vakuumsublimierbare SCO‐Komplexe und ihre Entwicklung umfassend beschrieben, insbesondere die Fortschritte im Design und in der Herstellung von sublimierbaren funktionalen SCO‐Komplexen, in der Ausprägung desoberflächenabhängigen SCO in molekularen Multilagenfilmen und die Konstruktion von Bauelementen mit molekularen Dünnschicht‐Architekturen von sublimierbaren SCO‐Komplexen als aktive Schaltelemente.
An Adaptable N‐Heterocyclic Carbene Macrocycle Hosting Copper in Three Oxidation States
Authors: Liu Yang , Resch Stefan G. , Klawitter Iris , Cutsail George E. , Demeshko Serhiy , Dechert Sebastian , Kühn Fritz E. , DeBeer Serena , Meyer Franc
Published: November 2019

A neutral hybrid macrocycle with two trans‐positioned N‐heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) and two pyridine donors hosts copper in three oxidation states (+I–+III) in a series of structurally characterized complexes (1–3). Redox interconversion of [LCu]+/2+/3+ is electrochemically (quasi)reversible and occurs at moderate potentials (E1/2=−0.45 V and +0.82 V (vs. Fc/Fc+)). A linear CNHC‐Cu‐CNHC arrangement and hemilability of the two pyridine donors allows the ligand to adapt to the different stereoelectronic and coordination requirements of CuI versus CuII/CuIII. Analytical methods such as NMR, UV/Vis, IR, electron paramagnetic resonance, and Cu Kβ high‐energy‐resolution fluorescence detection X‐ray absorption spectroscopies, as well as DFT calculations, give insight into the geometric and electronic structures of the complexes. The XAS signatures of 1–3 are textbook examples for CuI, CuII, and CuIII species. Facile 2‐electron interconversion combined with the exposure of two basic pyridine N sites in the reduced CuI form suggest that [LCu]+/2+/3+ may operate in catalysis via coupled 2 e−/2 H+ transfer.
Super‐Soft and Super‐Elastic DNA Robot with Magnetically Driven Navigational Locomotion for Cell Delivery in Confined Space
Authors: Tang Jianpu , Yao Chi , Gu Zi , Jung Sunghwan , Luo Dan , Yang Dayong
Published: November 2019

Soft organisms such as earthworms can access confined, narrow spaces, inspiring scientists to fabricate soft robots for in vivo manipulation of cells or tissues and minimally invasive surgery. We report a super‐soft and super‐elastic magnetic DNA hydrogel‐based soft robot (DNA robot), which presents a shape‐adaptive property and enables magnetically driven navigational locomotion in confined and unstructured space. The DNA hydrogel is designed with a combinational dynamic and permanent crosslinking network through chain entanglement and DNA hybridization, resulting in shear‐thinning and cyclic strain properties. DNA robot completes a series of complex magnetically driven navigational locomotion such as passing through narrow channels and pipes, entering grooves and itinerating in a maze by adapting and recovering its shape. DNA robot successfully works as a vehicle to deliver cells in confined space by virtue of the 3D porous networked structure and great biocompatibility.
Hole and Electron Doping of the 4d Transition‐Metal Oxyhydride LaSr3NiRuO4H4
Authors: Jin Lun , Hayward Michael A.
Published: November 2019

Hole or electron doping of phases prepared by topochemical reactions (e.g. anion deintercalation or anion‐exchange) is extremely challenging as these low‐temperature conversion reactions are typically very sensitive to the electron counts of precursor phases. Herein we report the successful hole and electron doping of the transition‐metal oxyhydride LaSr3NiRuO4H4 by first preparing precursors in the range LaxSr4−xNiRuO8 0.5<x<1.4 and then converting into the corresponding LaxSr4−xNiRuO4H4 phases. This is particularly noteworthy as the (Ni/Ru)H2 sheets in the LaxSr4−xNiRuO4H4 phases are structurally analogous to the CuO2 sheets in cuprate superconductors and hole doping (Ni1+/2+, Ru2+) or electron doping (Ni2+, Ru1+/2+) yields materials with partial occupancy in Ni/Ru
–H 1s bands which are analogous to the partially occupied Cu
–O 2p bands present in the CuO2 sheets of doped superconducting cuprates.
Hierarchically Ordered Porous Carbon with Atomically Dispersed FeN4 for Ultraefficient Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Proton‐Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells
Authors: Qiao Mengfei , Wang Ying , Wang Quan , Hu Guangzhi , Mamat Xamxikamar , Zhang Shusheng , Wang Shuangyin
Published: November 2019

The low catalytic activity and poor mass transport capacity of platinum group metal free (PGM‐free) catalysts seriously restrict the application of proton‐exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Catalysts derived from Fe‐doped ZIF‐8 could in theory be as active as Pt/C thanks to the high intrinsic activity of FeN4; however, the micropores fail to meet rapid mass transfer. Herein, an ordered hierarchical porous structure is introduced into Fe‐doped ZIF‐8 single crystals, which were subsequently carbonized to obtain an FeN4‐doped hierarchical ordered porous carbon (FeN4/HOPC) skeleton. The optimal catalyst FeN4/HOPC‐c‐1000 shows excellent performance with a half‐wave potential of 0.80 V in 0.5 m H2SO4 solution, only 20 mV lower than that of commercial Pt/C (0.82 V). In a real PEMFC, FeN4/HOPC‐c‐1000 exhibits significantly enhanced current density and power density relative to FeN4/C, which does not have an optimized pore structure, implying an efficient utilization of the active sites and enhanced mass transfer to promote the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR).
Screening of the potentially active compounds from Polygonatum sibiricum using RAW264.7 cellular membranes coated magnetic beads fishing followed by HPLC analysis
Authors: Qi Qing‐ling , Yu Ya‐Ming , Tang Cheng
Published: November 2019

Target biomolecule‐immobilized magnetic beads could be used as a powerful tool for screening active compounds present in natural products. Low damage rates of the target proteins, associated with the availability of diverse automated online approaches for analysis, make it a valuable tool for affinity studies. RAW264.7 cells (a kind of murine macrophage cell line) were used in this study. These cellular membranes were immobilized onto the surface of MBs and were used for screening the active compounds of Polygonatum sibiricum. Combining this technique with HPLC led to the identification of an active compound and its biological activity was confirmed. This is the first report establishing the use of RAW264.7 cellular membrane‐coated magnetic bead fishing followed by HPLC analysis for screening active compounds from natural products.
Driver genes as predictive indicators of brain metastasis in patients with advanced NSCLC: EGFR, ALK, and RET gene mutations
Authors: Wang Huijuan , Wang Ziqi , Zhang Guowei , Zhang Mina , Zhang Xiaojuan , Li Haixia , Zheng Xuanxuan , Ma Zhiyong
Published: November 2019

Background

A retrospective analysis verified the role of gene mutations in brain metastasis in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Data from 552 patients with advanced NSCLC treated from January 2015 to June 2017 in the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University were retrospectively analyzed. Next‐generation sequencing was used to detect mutations in eight reported driver genes and various risk factors were evaluated.

Results

Of the 552 patients with advanced NSCLC, 153 (27.7%) had brain metastases. The univariate analysis showed that age (P = .008), gender (P = .016), smoking history (P = .010), lymph node metastasis (P = .003), and three driver genes, positive epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation (P = .001), positive anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene fusion (P = .021), and positive rearranged during transfection (RET) gene fusion (P = .003), were the factors influencing the incidence of brain metastasis. Logistic multivariate regression analysis revealed that positive EGFR mutation (P = .012), positive ALK gene fusion (P = .015), positive RET gene fusion (P = .003), pathological type (P = .009), lymph node N2‐3 metastasis (P < .001), and a younger age (P < .001) were independent risk factors for brain metastasis. In addition, a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted with the above factors with an area under the curve = 0.705 (P < .001).

Conclusions

An EGFR mutation, ALK gene fusion, and RET gene fusion in advanced NSCLC patients play roles in brain metastasis as positive driver genes.

Impact

An EGFR mutation, and ALK and RET gene fusions are risk factors for brain metastasis in advanced NSCLC patients.
Radiomics based on 18F‐FDG PET/CT could differentiate breast carcinoma from breast lymphoma using machine‐learning approach: A preliminary study
Authors: Ou Xuejin , Zhang Jing , Wang Jian , Pang Fuwen , Wang Yongsheng , Wei Xiawei , Ma Xuelei
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Our study assessed the ability 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) radiomics to differentiate breast carcinoma from breast lymphoma using machine‐learning approach.

Methods

Sixty‐five breast nodules from 44 patients diagnosed as breast carcinoma or breast lymphoma were included. Standardized uptake value (SUV) and radiomic features from CT and PET images were extracted using local image features extraction software. Six discriminative models including PETa (based on clinical, SUV and radiomic features from PET images), PETb (SUV and radiomic features from PET images), PETc (radiomic features only from PET images), CTa (clinical and radiomic features from CT images), CTb (radiomic features only from CT images), and SUV model were generated using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator method and linear discriminant analysis. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUCs), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated to evaluate the discriminative ability of these models.

Results

PETa and CTa models showed the best ability to differentiation in training and validation group (AUCs of 0.867 and 0.806 for PETa model, AUCs of 0.891 and 0.759 for CTa model, respectively).

Conclusion

Models based on clinical, SUV, and radiomic features of 18F‐FDG PET/CT images could accurately discriminate breast carcinoma from breast lymphoma.
A rigorous exploration of anal HPV genotypes using a next‐generation sequencing (NGS) approach in HIV‐infected men who have sex with men at risk for developing anal cancer
Authors: Piyathilake Chandrika J. , Badiga Suguna , Kumar Ranjit , Crowley Michael R. , Burkholder Greer A. , Raper James L.
Published: November 2019

Background

There are no HPV‐based measures for managing anal cancer (AC) in HIV‐infected (HIV+) men who have sex with men (MSM) because of the high positivity of high‐risk (HR)‐HPVs. As next‐generation sequencing (NGS) is able to describe the composition of HPVs as percent (%) reads rather than positive vs negative results, we used NGS approach to detect HPVs in anal samples of HIV+ MSM to test its ability to differentiate those who are diagnosed with atypical squamous cells of unknown significance or greater (ASCUS+) from those who are free of such lesions and to understand the burden of HPV infections in relation to HPV vaccines.

Methods

Study included 81 HIV+ MSM characterized for demographics, patient‐reported outcome measures, HIV related laboratory measures and anal cytology. We summarized NGS HPV data using % read cut points (>0%‐>30%) and tested the relationship between % reads of HR‐HPVs and risk of ASCUS+ using logistic regression.

Results

Forty‐six HPVs were detected at the >0% read cut point. The prevalence of any HR‐HPVs varied from 100% to 40% with >0% to >30% reads while ≥99% were infected with HR‐HPVs included or not included in the 9 valent HPV vaccine at the >0% read cut point. MSM with >30% HR‐HPV reads were 4.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with ASCUS+ compared to ≤30% reads (P = .033).

Conclusion

NGS‐based approach is more accurate than PCR‐based HPV testing for identifying HIV+ MSM at risk for developing AC. We raise the concern regarding the efficacy of current HPV vaccines for preventing AC in this high‐risk population.
Scytodecamide from the Cultured Scytonema sp. UIC 10036 Expands the Chemical and Genetic Diversity of Cyanobactins
Authors: Crnkovic Camila M. , Braesel Jana , Krunic Aleksej , Eustáquio Alessandra S. , Orjala Jimmy
Published: November 2019

Cyanobactins are a large family of cyanobacterial ribosomally synthesized and post‐translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) often associated with biological activities, such as cytotoxicity, antiviral, and antimalarial activities. They are traditionally described as cyclic molecules containing heterocyclized amino acids. However, this definition has been recently challenged by the discovery of short, linear cyanobactins containing three to five amino acids as well as cyanobactins containing no heterocyclized residues. Herein we report the discovery of scytodecamide (1) from the freshwater cyanobacterium Scytonema sp. UIC 10036. Structural elucidation based on mass spectrometry, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, and Marfey's method revealed 1 to be a linear decapeptide with an N‐terminal N‐methylation and a C‐terminal amidation. The genome of Scytonema sp. UIC 10036 was sequenced, and bioinformatic analysis revealed a cyanobactin‐like biosynthetic gene cluster consistent with the structure of 1. The discovery of 1 as a novel linear peptide containing an N‐terminal N‐methylation and a C‐terminal amidation expands the chemical and genetic diversity of the cyanobactin family of compounds.
Advances in CrossBoss/Stingray use in antegrade dissection reentry from the Asia Pacific Chronic Total Occlusion Club
Authors: Wu Eugene B. , Brilakis Emmanouil S. , Lo Sidney , Kalyanasundaram Arun , Mashayekhi Kambis , Kao Hsien‐Li , Lim Soo‐Teik , Ge Lei , Chen Ji‐Yan , Qian Jie , Lee Seung‐Whan , Harding Scott A. , Tsuchikane Etsuo
Published: November 2019

Antegrade dissection reentry with Stingray device (Boston Scientific, Marlborough, MA) accounts for 20–34% of the chronic total occlusion (CTO) cases in the various hybrid operators' CTO registries and is an important component of CTO crossing algorithms. The Stingray device can facilitate antegrade dissection and reentry, however its use is low outside North America and Europe. The Asia Pacific CTO Club along with three experience Stingray operators from the US, Europe and India, created an algorithm guiding use of the CrossBoss and Stingray catheter. This APCTO Stingray algorithm defines when to use the CrossBoss and Stingray device recommending a reduction in CrossBoss use except for in‐stent restenosis lesions and immediate transition from knuckle wiring to the Stingray device. When antegrade wiring fails, choice of Stingray‐facilitated reentry versus parallel wiring depends on operator experience, device availability, cost concerns, and anatomical factors. When the antegrade wire enters the subintimal space, we recommend using a rotational microcatheter to produce a channel and deliver the Stingray balloon—so called the “bougie technique.” We recommend early switch to Stingray rather than persisting with single wire redirection or parallel wire. We recommend choosing a suitable reentry zone based on preprocedural computer tomography or angiogram, routine use of stick and swap, routine use of Subintimal TRAnscatheter Withdrawal (STRAW) through the Stingray balloon, and the multi stick and swap technique. We believe these techniques and algorithm can facilitate incorporation of the Stingray balloon into the practice of CTO interventionists globally.
Coupling membrane filtration and wet air oxidation for advanced wastewater treatment: Performance at the pilot scale and process intensification potential
Authors: Pinchai Chamaiporn , Monnot Mathias , Lefèvre Sébastien , Boutin Olivier , Moulin Philippe
Published: November 2019

Bio‐refractory wastewater treatment is compulsory for a safe discharge into the environment. This paper aims to study the use of membrane processes to concentrate wastewater to be then treated by a hydrothermal process such as wet air oxidation for advanced and intensified wastewater treatment. The work focused on three different synthetic wastewaters of public or industrial interest: pharmaceutical wastewater, grey wastewater, and bilge wastewater. Membrane processes operated at the pilot scale enabled retentions as high as 100% of total organic carbon, more than 99% of turbidity, and 70% of hydrocarbon, respectively. High concentration factors were obtained. Membrane foulings were chemically reversible whatever the type of wastewater or the membrane process. Thanks to membrane filtrations, the volumes to be treated by wet air oxidation were drastically reduced, leading to high energy savings. Membrane retentates were then treated by wet air oxidation (300°C, 15 MPa) and resulted in more than an 83% mineralization rate, regardless of the effluent. The hybrid intensified process presented in this work strongly increased the possibility of discharging into the environment by mixing the process outputs or greatly reducing the discharge volume and ultimately the waste load.
Update and Challenges in Carbon Dioxide‐Based Polycarbonate Synthesis
Authors: Huang Jin , Worch Joshua C. , Dove Andrew P. , Coulembier Olivier
Published: November 2019

The utilization of carbon dioxide as a comonomer to produce polycarbonates has attracted a great deal of attention from both industrial and academic communities because it promises to replace petroleum‐derived plastics and supports a sustainable environment. Significant progress in the copolymerization of cyclic ethers (e.g., epoxide, oxetane) and carbon dioxide has been made in recent decades, owing to the rapid development of catalysts. In this Review, the focus is to summarize and discuss recent advances in the development of homogeneous catalysts, including metal‐ and organo‐based complexes, as well as the preparation of carbon dioxide‐based block copolymer and functional polycarbonates.
Disturbance and the elevation ranges of woody plant species in the mountains of Costa Rica
Authors: Muñoz Mazón Miguel , Klanderud Kari , Finegan Bryan , Veintimilla Darío , Bermeo Diego , Murrieta Eduardo , Delgado Diego , Sheil Douglas
Published: November 2019

Aim

To understand how disturbance—here defined as a transient reduction in competition—can shape plant distributions along elevation gradients. Theory suggests that disturbance may increase elevation ranges, especially at the lower range limits, through reduced competitive exclusion. Nevertheless, to date this relationship remains unclear.

Location

Mountains of Costa Rica.

Methods

We compared the elevation range of woody stems over 10 cm dbh (“trees”) observed in plots along two transects spanning a range of elevations in secondary (regrowth) and old‐growth forest (409 and 249 species, respectively). We also estimated these elevation ranges using nationwide data. In addition, we examined the influence of stem size and plot scale basal area (as a measure of competition) on species elevation range limits in the two gradients.

Results

In general, tree species ranges increased with elevation. Species in the secondary forest had broader elevation ranges (100–318 m broader than species in the old‐growth forest; Wilcoxon: p‐value <.001). Also, in the secondary transect, individuals with greater diameters had broader elevation ranges than those observed as smaller trees (137 m broader; Kruskal–Wallis: p‐value = .03). The lower range limit of species occurred more frequently in plots with lower (vs. higher) basal area than expected by chance in both forest types. We also observed higher elevation upper limits in old growth, but not in secondary forests, with lower (vs. higher) basal area.

Main conclusion

Disturbance relaxes the constraints imposed by competition and extends effective elevation ranges of species, particularly those in secondary forest, to warmer and cooler climates (minimum increase equivalent to about 0.6–1.4°C). Thus, suitable disturbance may assist species persistence under climate change. We believe this is the first study indicating a consistent relation between disturbance and woody plant species distributions along elevation gradients.
Dynamics of ADH and related genes responsible for the transformation of C6‐aldehydes to C6‐alcohols during the postharvest process of oolong tea
Authors: Zhou Zi‐Wei , Wu Qing‐Yang , Yao Zhi‐Ling , Deng Hui‐Li , Liu Bin‐Bin , Yue Chuan , Deng Ting‐Ting , Lai Zhong‐Xiong , Sun Yun
Published: November 2019

Aroma is an important index of tea quality. The volatile C6‐compounds formed from linoleic and linolenic acids in tea leaf lipids are essential components of tea. C6‐compounds are formed and transformed during the postharvest process of tea leaves. However, the metabolic flux of these C6‐compounds, the activities of related enzymes, and the transcription of related genes during the postharvest process of oolong tea remain unclear. In this study, the chemical profiles of C6‐aldehydes and C6‐alcohols, the pattern of ADH enzyme activity, and the level of CsADH gene expression during the postharvest process of oolong tea were investigated. We found that the turnover process had a positive effect on the accumulation of C6‐alcohols and simultaneously induced ADH activity, especially during the withering stage. The expression of CsADH peaked during the turnover stage. The relative expression level of CSA019598 typically increased during the postharvest process. Correlation analysis demonstrated that CSA019598 expression increased as ADH activity increased. This finding suggests that CSA019598 may play a prominent role in regulating ADH. These results advance our understanding of C6‐compound formation during the postharvest process of oolong tea. We aim to evaluate how green leaf volatiles affect the enzymatic formation and genetic transcription of aromatic compounds in oolong tea in future studies.
Liver retransplantation in adult recipients: analysis of a 38‐year experience in the Netherlands
Authors: Takagi Kosei , Domagala Piotr , Porte Robert J. , Alwayn Ian , Metselaar Herold J. , van den Berg Aad P. , van Hoek Bart , Ijzermans Jan N. M. , Polak Wojciech G.
Published: November 2019

Background

Liver retransplantation (re‐LT) accounts for up to 22% after primary liver transplantation (LT), and using donor livers for retransplantation can only be justified by successful outcomes.

Methods

A total of 2,387 adult recipients with 2,778 LT, between 1979 and 2017, were analyzed to determine risk factors and outcome of re‐LT in the Netherlands.

Results

Of 2,778 LT, 336 (12.1%) were first, 43 (1.5%) were second, and 12 (0.5%) were third or fourth re‐LT. The 5‐year patient survival for primary LT, and first, second, and third or fourth re‐LT were 74.0%, 70.8%, 63.3%, and 57.1%, respectively (P = 0.10). Recipient age (≤60 years) (OR 1.96, P < 0.001), era (1979–2006) (OR 1.56, P = 0.003), donor after circulatory death (DCD) (OR 1.96, P < 0.001), and cold ischemia time (CIT) (>9 h) (OR 1.42, P = 0.007) were significant risk factors for retransplantation after primary LT.

Conclusions

Recipient age, era, DCD, and prolonged CIT were identified as parameters for retransplantation. The outcome after the first re‐LT was good, and comparable to those of primary transplants. Survival after multiple re‐LT was not significantly different from the first retransplant group, legitimizing third and fourth re‐LT to well‐selected patients.
Optimal configuration and resolution for the first convection‐permitting ensemble of climate projections over the United Kingdom
Authors: Fosser Giorgia , Kendon Elizabeth , Chan Steven , Lock Adrian , Roberts Nigel , Bush Mike
Published: November 2019

Convection‐permitting models (CPMs) provide a better representation of sub‐daily precipitation statistics and convective processes on both climate and weather forecasting timescales. This study aims to establish what horizontal resolution and physical process settings are suitable for the first ensemble of convection‐permitting climate projections for the United Kingdom. For this purpose, 12‐year‐long simulations were run using three different convection‐permitting resolutions (grid spacing of 4 km, 2.2 km and 1.5 km) each with several configurations. The focus is on the ability to represent sub‐daily precipitation due to its potential for high impacts on society through flooding. The analysis shows that the use of a finer grid spacing within the convection‐permitting regime improves the representation of sub‐daily precipitation but the added value decreases as the grid becomes increasingly finer, while the computational costs substantially increase. Changes in the representation of physical processes can have as much impact as the grid spacing and can lead to similar differences in the diurnal cycle as between convection‐parametrized models and CPMs. Although the 4km model shows some key deficiencies that make it unreliable for climate projection, the 2.2km model performs as well as the 1.5km model for most of the metrics examined with considerable benefits in terms of computer cost. The optimal configuration and resolution identified here is being used for an ensemble of simulations run within the UK Climate Projections 2018 (UKCP18) project, which allows, for the first time, an estimate of uncertainty in future changes at convection‐permitting scale and providing more reliable climate change projections at local and hourly scales.
High‐Performance Sieving Electrophoresis for Single‐Nucleotide Polymorphisms with a Structuring Hydrogel Network
Authors: You Qingxiang , Wang Ping , Zhang Dawei , Li Zhenqing , Yamaguchi Yoshinori
Published: November 2019

Although DNAs with single‐nucleotide difference (e.g., 1000 and 1001 nt) can be resolved by capillary electrophoresis (CE), separation of the same length DNA with single‐nucleotide difference is still a great challenge, which is caused by the structural or thermodynamical fluctuation of the sieving matrix. Here, a homogeneous tetra‐arm poly (ethylene glycol) (Tetra‐PEG) polymer network is synthesized in a capillary, and single monoprotic ssDNA is successfully separated in the capillary filled with cross‐linked Tetra‐PEG polymer. Results show that the separation performance in both slab‐gel electrophoresis and CE is dramatically improved by Tetra‐PEG gel than polyacrylamide gel as sieving matrix. Moreover, separation based on Tetra‐PEG gel depends on not only the DNA size but also the chemical modification and DNA sequence, indicating that it is an ideal alternative to polyacrylamide gel.
Non‐Ideal Intermolecular Interactions between Charged PAMAM‐EDA Dendrimers at Low Concentrations
Authors: Freire Juan J.
Published: November 2019

Molecular dynamics simulations are performed for neutral or charged polyamidoamine dendrimers interacting through adequate numerical potentials over a range of relatively low solution concentrations similar to those used in most scattering experiments. According to the results, the neutral dendrimers show a near to linear variation of the inverse of the structure functions at zero scattering angle variable, 1/S(q = 0). However, the charged dendrimers show a remarkable departure from the linear behavior in the same range of concentrations. Therefore, it is concluded that the charged dendrimer systems do not behave as ideal dilute solutions in this concentration range. The behavior is similar for all the explored dendrimer generations and it is clearly related with the long‐range electrostatic repulsions between charged dendrimers. The maximum of the structure function is also analyzed as a function of concentration and its location is compared with existing experimental data.
13C NMR investigations of molecular order of rod‐like, bent‐core, and thiophene mesogens
Authors: Lobo Nitin P. , Ramanathan K.V. , Narasimhaswamy T.
Published: November 2019

In this review, methods to obtain the orientational order of topologically variant molecular mesogens using by one‐ and two‐dimensional (2D) solid‐state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy are described. Besides 13C chemical shifts, the 13C─1H dipolar couplings measured from 2D‐separated local field (SLF) technique are used for computing the order parameters of a variety of mesogens. The investigated molecules are composed of a variable number of rings in the core, that is, core ranging from simply one ring to five rings. Among the mesogens investigated, a special focus has been placed on mesogens with thiophene rings, which are gaining popularity as liquid crystalline organic semiconductors. The replacement of a phenyl ring by thiophene in the core has a dramatic influence on molecular topology, as observed from the measured order parameters. The review highlights the advantages of the 2D SLF method for understanding the local dynamics and for mapping the topology of mesogens through the measured order parameters. SLF NMR studies of as many as 24 molecular mesogens that vary in terms of the molecular structure as well as topology are covered in the review. Order parameters of the rings have been estimated from the 13C─1H dipolar couplings in the nematic, smectic A, smectic C, and tilted hexatic phases as well as in B1 and B2 mesophases of various mesogens. It is anticipated that, in the years to come, the 2D SLF method would provide advanced molecular information on structurally complex mesogens that are emerging in liquid crystal science through the incessant efforts of synthetic chemists.

The mini review covers the orientational order of topologically variant molecular mesogens determined by 1D and 2D solid‐state 13C NMR spectroscopy. Accordingly, rod‐like, bent‐core, and thiophene mesogens were subjected to 2D SLF measurements to get the order parameters from which the topology was established. The replacement of phenyl ring by thiophene and its influence on order parameters as well as on molecular topology is also discussed.
Thermo‐hydro‐mechanical modeling of unsaturated soils using isogeometric analysis: Model development and application to strain localization simulation
Authors: Shahrokhabadi Shahriar , Cao Toan Duc , Vahedifard Farshid
Published: November 2019

This study presents a thermo‐hydro‐mechanical (THM) model of unsaturated soils using isogeometric analysis (IGA). The framework employs Bézier extraction to connect IGA to the conventional finite element analysis (FEA), featuring the current study as one of the first attempts to develop an IGA‐FEA framework for solving THM problems in unsaturated soils. IGA offers higher levels of interelement continuity making it an attractive method for solving highly nonlinear problems. The governing equations of linear momentum, mass, and energy balance are coupled based on the averaging procedure within the hybrid mixture theory. The Drucker‐Prager yield surface is used to limit the modified effective stress where the model follows small strain, quasi‐static loading conditions. Temperature dependency of the surface tension is implemented in the soil‐water retention curve. Nonuniform rational B‐splines (NURBS) basis functions are used in the standard Galerkin method and weak formulations of the balance equations. Displacement, capillary pressure, gas pressure, and temperature are four independent quantities that are approximated by NURBS in spatial discretization. The framework is used to simulate strain localization in an undrained dense sand subjected to plane strain biaxial compression under different temperatures and displacement velocities. Results show that an increase in the displacement rate leads to reduction in the equivalent plastic strain while an increase in the temperature leads to an increase in the equivalent plastic strain. The findings suggest that the proposed IGA‐based framework offers a viable alternative for solving THM problems in unsaturated soils.
Operating theatre nurse specialist competence to ensure patient safety in the operating theatre: A discursive paper
Authors: von Vogelsang Ann‐Christin , Swenne Christine Leo , Gustafsson Birgitta Åkesdotter , Falk Brynhildsen Karin
Published: November 2019

Aim

To discuss specialist operating theatre nurses’ competence in relation to the general six core competencies and patient safety.

Design

A discursive analysis of legal statutes and scientific articles.

Methods

Swedish legal statutes and an overview of scientific articles on operating theatre nursing were deductively analysed and classified into healthcare providers’ general six core competencies.

Results

All healthcare professionals should possess the general core competencies, regardless of their discipline. The specific content within these competencies differs between disciplines. The specialized operating theatre nurse is the only healthcare professional having the competence to be responsible for asepsis, instrumentation, infection and complication, control and management of biological specimens during the surgical procedure. Besides operating theatre nurses, no other healthcare profession has the formal education, competence or skills to perform operating theatre nursing care in the theatre during the surgical procedure. Operating theatre nurse competence is therefore indispensable to ensure patient safety during surgery.
A hybrid high‐order formulation for a Neumann problem on polytopal meshes
Authors: Bustinza Rommel , Munguia‐La‐Cotera Jonathan
Published: November 2019

In this work, we study a hybrid high‐order (HHO) method for an elliptic diffusion problem with Neumann boundary condition. The proposed method has several features, such as: (a) the support of arbitrary approximation order polynomial at mesh elements and faces on polytopal meshes, (b) the design of a local (element‐wise) potential reconstruction operator and a local stabilization term, that weakly enforces the matching between local element‐ and face‐based on degrees of freedom, and (c) cheap computational cost, thanks to static condensation and compact stencil. We prove the well‐posedness of our HHO formulation, and obtain the optimal error estimates, according to previous study. Implementation aspects are thoroughly discussed. Finally, some numerical examples are provided, which are in agreement with our theoretical results.
Fertility and obstetrical outcomes after robot‐assisted laparoscopic myomectomy
Authors: Huberlant Stéphanie , Lenot Juliette , Neron Mathias , Ranisavljevic Noémie , Letouzey Vincent , De Tayrac Renaud , Masia Florent , Warembourg Sophie
Published: November 2019

Objective

To evaluate fertility after robot‐assisted laparoscopic myomectomy (RALM) in terms of pregnancy rates, and obstetrical outcomes.

Patients

This is a retrospective cohort of RALM performed for symptomatic leiomyomas among women who want to conceive. Medical data were retrospectively reviewed. An office hysteroscopy was prescribed 3 months after the surgery.

Results

Fifty‐three patients were included. The mean number of myomas was 2 ± 1.5 with a mean size of 69 ± 17.7 mm. A breach of the cavity was noticed in 15.1% of the cases. Two cases of intrauterine adhesions were diagnosed and treated during the post‐operative office hysteroscopy (5.7%).

Clinical pregnancy rates were 52.8% with a live birth rate of 41.5% in patients desiring pregnancy. A caesarean section was performed in 17 cases (70.8%). No case of uterine rupture was reported.

Conclusion

More than half of the patients became pregnant after RALM. A low rate of obstetrical complications was reported, with no uterine ruptures, highlighting the promise of this technique for infertile patients.
Order restricted inference in chronobiology
Authors: Larriba Yolanda , Rueda Cristina , Fernández Miguel A. , Peddada Shyamal D.
Published: November 2019

This paper is motivated by applications in oscillatory systems where researchers are typically interested in discovering components of those systems that display rhythmic temporal patterns. The contributions of this paper are twofold. First, a methodology is developed based on acircular signalplus error model that is defined using order restrictions. This mathematical formulation of rhythmicity is simple, easily interpretable and very flexible, with the latter property derived from the nonparametric formulation of the signal. Second, we address various commonly encountered problems in the analysis of oscillatory systems data. Specifically, we propose a methodology for (a) detecting rhythmic signals in an oscillatory system and (b) estimating the unknown sampling time that occurs when tissues are obtained from subjects whose time of death is unknown. The proposed methodology is computationally efficient, outperforms the existing methods, and is broadly applicable to address a wide range of questions related to oscillatory systems.
Comparison of immunohistochemistry and Ziehl‐Neelsen staining for detecting the distribution of Mycobacterium avium subsp avium in naturally infected domestic Pekin ducks (Anas platyrhynchos domestica)
Authors: Zhu Dekang , Chen Hongxi , Ou Xumin , Liu Mafeng , Wang Mingshu , Zhao Xinxin , Jia Renyong , Chen Shun , Sun Kunfeng , Yang Qiao , Wu Ying , Chen Xiaoyue , Cheng Anchun
Published: November 2019

In order to detect the distribution of Mycobacterium avium subsp avium (MAA) in naturally infected domestic Pekin ducks, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Ziehl‐Neelsen (ZN) staining were used and compared. Six organs, the liver, spleen, lung, kidney, duodenum and pectoralis muscle, were collected from naturally infected Pekin ducks. Paraffin embedded tissues were examined, and the results were compared. Statistical analysis was performed using Chi‐Square test. The results showed that the detection rates by IHC were similar with ZN staining in liver, lung, spleen and pectoralis muscle, but the detection rates by IHC were much higher than ZN staining in kidney and duodenum (p = .013, p = .0044). The liver (87.5%) and lung (81.3%) had the highest detection rates. Acid‐fast bacilli (AFB) were primarily found intracellularly in six organs using ZN staining. Similarly, the MAA antigens in those selected organs were also detected in the cytoplasm with different cell types. Specifically, MAA antigen was distributed in epithelioid macrophages and necrotic centres within the liver, lung, spleen and kidney, while they were observed in macrophages of the lamina propria and duodenal glands and degenerative myocytes in the pectoralis muscle. This comparative study provides an important insight into the distribution of MAA in infected domestic ducks and indicates that the detection rate by IHC was higher than that of ZN staining.