bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temperature-regulated biomass-derived hard carbon as a superior anode for sodium-ion batteries
Authors: Li Rong-Rong , He Xiang-Xi , Yang Zhuo , Liu Xiao-Hao , Qiao Yun , Xu Li , Li Li , Chou Shu-Lei
Published: August 2021

In this work, the Na+ storage mechanism of golden berry leaf-derived hard carbon can be divided into three stages: adsorption, intercalation and filling, and the storage mechanism evolves with the increase of carbonization temperature.
A palladium/Et3N·HI-catalyzed highly selective 7-endo alkyl-Heck-type reaction of epoxides and a DFT study on the mechanism
Authors: Dong Xu , Xu Li-Ping , Yang Yi , Liu Yunxia , Li Xin , Liu Qing , Zheng Liang , Wang Fagang , Liu Hui
Published: August 2021

A highly efficient 7-endo alkyl-Heck reaction was achieved via palladium catalyzed ring-opening of epoxides, providing a variety of 6-aryl-2,3,4,7-tetrahydro-1H-azepin-3-ols and 6-aryl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydrooxepin-3-ols.
Humidity sensor based on poly(lactic acid)/PANI–ZnO composite electrospun fibers
Authors: Parangusan Hemalatha , Bhadra Jolly , Ahmad Zubair , Mallick Shoaib , Touati Farid , Al-Thani Noora
Published: August 2021

The electrospinning technique has been successfully used to prepared micro-fibers of the poly(lactic acid)/polyaniline–zinc oxide (PLA/PANI–ZnO) composite for humidity sensor application.
A review of shape memory polymers based on the intrinsic structures of their responsive switches
Authors: Yang Lide , Lou Jiankun , Yuan Jianmin , Deng Jianru
Published: August 2021

Responsive switches classification by their intrinsic structures: physical switch and chemical one.
Bimetallic gold and palladium nanoparticles supported on copper oxide nanorods for enhanced H2O2 catalytic reduction and sensing
Authors: Sicwetsha Simbongile , Adeniyi Omotayo , Mashazi Philani
Published: August 2021

Mono- and bimetallic gold and palladium nanoparticles supported on copper oxide nanorods were prepared. Their catalytic performance towards the catalytic reduction of H2O2 to produce reactive oxygen radical species was evaluated.
Facile fabrication of micro-/nanostructured, superhydrophobic membranes with adjustable porosity by 3D printing
Authors: Mayoussi Fadoua , Doeven Egan H. , Kick Andrea , Goralczyk Andreas , Thomann Yi , Risch Patrick , Guijt Rosanne M. , Kotz Frederik , Helmer Dorothea , Rapp Bastian E.
Published: August 2021

3D printed micro/-nanostructured thin membranes with inherent adjustable porosity in the submicron range for the use as water–oil separators.
Separation of alkane and alkene mixtures by metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Wang Hao , Luo Dawei , Velasco Ever , Yu Liang , Li Jing
Published: August 2021

Metal–organic frameworks hold great promise for the separation of alkane and alkene mixtures in light of their diverse structures, high porosity, and tunable pore dimensions and surface functionality.
Electrodeposited Ni–Fe–P–FeMnO3/Fe multi-stage nanostructured electrocatalyst with superior catalytic performance for water splitting
Authors: Tan Xiao , Liu Xin , Si Yingying , Lv Zunhang , Li Zihan , Wang Guixue , Xie Guangwen
Published: August 2021

It is very important to design and prepare low-cost and high-efficiency electrocatalysts for water splitting in alkaline solution.
Optoelectronic devices based on the integration of halide perovskites with silicon-based materials
Authors: Liu Jingjing , Qu Junle , Kirchartz Thomas , Song Jun
Published: August 2021

Controlling the preparation of perovskite materials on the Si optoelectronics platform is a crucial step to realize perovskite-based optoelectronic devices. This review highlights the recent progress and remaining challenges in Si-based perovskite optoelectronic devices.
Atomic layer deposition-triggered hierarchical core/shell stable bifunctional electrocatalysts for overall water splitting
Authors: Kavinkumar T. , Seenivasan Selvaraj , Jung Hyeonjung , Han Jeong Woo , Kim Do-Heyoung
Published: August 2021

A synergistic strategy of interface engineering and surface modification is efficient to construct a promising bifunctional electrocatalyst for enhanced electrocatalytic water splitting.
Influence of surface topography on PCL electrospun scaffolds for liver tissue engineering
Authors: Gao Yunxi , Callanan Anthony
Published: August 2021

Electrospun polymer scaffolds with different surface topographies were made in this study, our results showed that these depression fibres can alter the performance of hepatocytes (HepG2).
Polymers and interfacial modifiers for durable perovskite solar cells: a review
Authors: Jones Dennis (Mac) , An Yu , Hidalgo Juanita , Evans Caria , Vagott Jacob N. , Correa-Baena Juan-Pablo
Published: August 2021

This review focuses on the advancements in stability of perovskite solar cells under stress from ambient moisture, high temperatures, and UV light exposure.
A donor–acceptor liganded metal–organic framework showcases the hydrogen-bond-enhanced sensing of N-heterocyclic explosives
Authors: Wang Junjie , Cheng Yao , Zhou Jie , Tang Weihua
Published: August 2021

Zn(ii)-based MOF for detecting FOX-7 like explosives is designed via hydrogen-bond-intensified host–guest interactions. The crystalline MOF achieves 0.14 ppm detection limit and a highest fluorescence quenching constant of 3.22 × 104 M−1.
Color tuning of di-boron derived TADF emitters: molecular design and property prediction
Authors: Li Jiaqi , Zhao Fei , Chen Yanan , Zhang Mingfan , Li Tingyu , Zhang Houyu
Published: August 2021

TADF emitters designed by modulating the diboron-derived acceptors are potentially highly efficient molecules with the full-color range emission.
Hearing Aid Consumer Reviews: A Linguistic Analysis in Relation to Benefit and Satisfaction Ratings
Authors: Manchaiah Vinaya , Swanepoel De Wet , Bailey Abram , Pennebaker James W. , Bennett Rebecca J.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

Online reviews have been used by hearing aid owners to share their experiences and to provide suggestions to potential hearing aid buyers, although they have not been systematically examined. The study was aimed at examining the hearing aid consumer reviews using automated linguistic analysis, and how the linguistic variables relate to self-reported hearing aid benefit and satisfaction ratings.

Method

The study used a cross-sectional design. One thousand three hundred seventy-eight consumer hearing aid reviews (i.e., text response to open-ended question), self-reported benefit and satisfaction ratings on hearing aids in a 5-point scale with meta-data (e.g., hearing aid brand, technology level) extracted from the Hearing Tracker website were analyzed using automated text analysis method known as the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count.

Results

Self-reported hearing aid benefit and satisfaction ratings were high (i.e., mean rating of 4.04 in a 5-point scale). Examining the association between overall rating and the key linguistic variables point to two broad findings. First, the more people were personally, socially, and emotionally engaged with the hearing device experience, the higher they rated their hearing device(s). Second, a minimal occurrence of clinic-visit language dimensions points to factors that likely affect benefit and satisfaction ratings. For example, if people mention paying too much money (money), their overall ratings are generally lower. Conversely, if people write about their health or home, the ratings were higher. There was no significant difference in linguistic analysis across different hearing aid brands and technology levels.

Conclusions

Hearing aid consumers are generally satisfied with their hearing device(s), and their online reviews contain information about social/emotional dimensions as well as clinic-visit related aspects that have bearing toward hearing aid benefit and satisfaction ratings. These results suggest that the natural language used by consumers provide insights on their perceived benefit/satisfaction from their hearing device.
Microplasma microphones
Authors: Béquin Philippe , Nanda Tonlio Adalbert , Durand Stéphane
Published: August 2021

It is shown experimentally that a microplasma created by a microstructured electrode array is sensitive to sound pressure. In this paper, two electrode architectures are used to create the microplasma. The sensitivity of these microplasma microphones, close to 0.4 nA/Pa, is estimated using a waveguide and a calibration method by comparison with a reference microphone. An empirical expression of the acoustic pressure sensitivity of microdischarges is proposed. The predictions of this empirical model are in good agreement with the experimental data.
Effectiveness of TENS and home exercises as an adjunct to drug therapy in the management of myogenous masticatory pain: a comparative study
Authors: Kandagal Veerabhadrappa Suresh , Anbananthan Thurka Devi , Ying Chee Xin , Ramamurthy Priyadarshini Hesarghatta , Yadav Seema , Bin Zamzuri Ahmad Termizi
Published: August 2021

Introduction: Pain relief is the primary goal of treatment in patients with myogenous temporomandibular disorder. This study evaluated the effectiveness of TENS and Home exercises as an adjunct to drugs in relieving myogenous masticatory pain. Materials and methods: This prospective clinical study was conducted on 60 patients with myogenous masticatory pain. Patients were randomly allocated into three groups of 20 patients each. Patients in Group A received TENS and drugs, while patients in Group B received home exercises and drugs and Group C received drugs only. The drugs prescribed were Diclofenac 50 mg and Orphenadrine 100 mg, to be taken twice daily for 5 days. All patients were followed up for three weeks. The severity of pain was recorded using the Visual Analog Scale. Inter and intragroup differences in the pain scores were analyzed using one-way ANOVA along with post hoc Tukey's test, and Paired t-test, respectively. p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: There was a significant reduction in the mean pain scores in all the three groups at 1st, 2nd, and 3rd post-treatment weeks as compared to the baseline scores with p < 0.001. However, when the pain scores were compared across groups, maximum pain reduction was observed in group A (0.2 ± 0.04), followed by group B (0.5 ± 0.06), and the least reduction was noticed in group C (2.1 ± 0.8). This result was significant with p < 0.001. Conclusion: Both TENS and Home exercises program were effective as adjuncts to drugs, in controlling myogenous masticatory pain, as compared to drugs alone.
Development of a Tool to Analyze the Economic Viability of Energy Communities
Authors: Carreras Fernando , Steinmaurer Gerald
Published: August 2021

Energy Communities (EC) are an instrument to improve the efficiency and autarky of Smart Grids by increasing the local consume of the energy locally produced. Energetic (energy flows, CO2 emissions) and economic (operative costs, acquisition and maintenance of technologies) aspects of all components of the EC must be evaluated to quantify the participation of the EC to achieve the proposed goal. Effective analysis of EC must account for numerous complexities and uncertainties, requiring advanced computational tools. The main contribution of this paper is the introduction of a software package to analyze the viability of ECs focused on the particularities imposed by the new Austrian law for renewable energies, which optimizes the energy flows between all participants. The results of the test case show more than a 14.2% reduction of global cost. At the same time, all participants achieve better results operating inside of the EC than alone. The range of cost reductions varies between 2.75% and 51%. The spread of these reductions opens a question about a fair and optimal way to set trade prices inside of the EC for future works.
Die soziale Dimension der Depression: Wenn auch die Beziehungen leiden
Authors: Aguilar-Raab Corina , Winter Friederike
Published: August 2021

Zu welchen Anteilen beruht die Depression auf Einschränkungen in der sozialen Interaktionsfähigkeit und in wie weit ist ferner die Beziehungsqualität betroffen? In diesem Beitrag beleuchten wir diese Aspekte, erläutern Ideen zum Einbezug von Kindern in familientherapeutische Settings und gehen auf die unterschiedlichen Perspektiven verschiedener psychotherapeutischer Verfahren insbesondere mit Blick auf die Paartherapie ein.
Acute MI Versus Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Krishna S. V. V. Mani
Published: August 2021

A 37-year-old female, who was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) 20 years earlier and on regular treatment, with a recent history of pulmonary thromboembolism on inj. clexane, presented with anginal type of chest pain of 4 hours duration ECG, showing ST elevation, and was finally diagnosed to have Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
Substitution of Ca2+ by Sn2+ and Sr2+ cations in P. placenta shells and single-crystal calcite through ion exchange reactions
Authors: Junio Jonathan B , Conato Marlon T , Mercado Candy C
Published: August 2021

Tin (Sn2+) and strontium (Sr2+) are potential replacements to lead (Pb2+) in perovskite synthesis since Sn is on the same IVA group in the periodic table as Pb while Sr is a promising alternative according to Goldschmidt’s rules and quantum mechanical analysis. The crystal radii of their ions are also nearly identical with Pb2+ = 1.33 Å, Sn2+ = 1.36 Å, and Sr2+ = 1.32 Å. In this study, both Sn and Sr were explored in transforming calcite, a polymorph of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) into a leaving group in the first step of a sequential ion-exchange reaction towards perovskite formation. Instead of forming the intermediate tin carbonate (SnCO3), the reaction resulted in the formation of gypsum or calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO4.2H2O) and Sn in the form of oxides. These oxides, however, are useful especially when these are in the form of tin dioxide-coated CaCO3 shell-core structures—having demonstrated flame retardant and smoke suppressant properties. On the other hand, calcite was successfully transformed into strontium carbonate (SrCO3) or strontianite through the cation exchange reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) were used to observe the resulting materials and understand the transformation of both Placuna placenta (or Capiz) shells and single-crystal calcite from the ion-exchange reactions.
Appropriate amount of TiB2 particles causes the ductile fracture of the un-weldable spray-formed 7055 aluminium alloy TIG-welded joint
Authors: Huang Ting , Xu Junhua , Yu Lihua , Cheng Yun , Hu Yunxuan , Zhang Hao
Published: August 2021

Spray-formed 7055 aluminium alloy is often referred to as an un-weldable aluminium alloy because of the low strength and high brittleness of the fusion welding joints prepared using the traditional welding wires. In this study, new welding wires with different content of TiB2 particles were developed, and the spray-formed 7055 aluminium alloy was welded using these wires in conjunction with the use of the TIG welding method. The microstructure and tensile properties of the TIG-welded joints were investigated. The results show that TiB2-7055 welded joints gradually change from coarse grain to fine equiaxial grain as a function of the content of TiB2 particles, and their tensile strengths and elongations first increase and then decrease. The tensile strength and elongation of 0 wt.% TiB2-7055, 0.5 wt.% TiB2-7055, 1.5 wt.% TiB2-7055 and 3.0 wt.% TiB2-7055 welds are 245 MPa and 1.5%, 270 MPa and 2.0%, 310 MPa and 5.4%, and 285 MPa and 2.4%, respectively. The tensile strength and elongation of the 1.5 wt.% TiB2-7055 weld were the highest, showing ductile fracture. The developments of new welding wires which consist of TiB2 particles promote additional applications of the spray-formed 7055 aluminium alloy.
Must Justice be a Goal for the Arbitrator?
Authors: Mayer Pierre
Published: August 2021

Justice is the goal which every arbitrator wants to achieve. However, “justice”, in the field of adjudication of disputes, may mean two different things. It may first mean: rendering an award, the content of which is in conformity with what the facts are and how the law applies to them. While this is the ordinary goal of the arbitrators, does it entail, for instance, that he or she must interfere if counsel for one party misses an essential argument? And should he or she accept the production of a new document, which might well be essential, although the production of documents at this stage of the proceedings is barred by the procedural rules? There are different answers to these two questions. The other notion of justice is synonymous to equity or fairness. It may conflict with justice in the first sense, and the question arises whether the former should prevail over the latter; here, again, different views are held.
Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatographic and Densitometric Methods for Sensitive Determination of Xipamide and Triamterene in Pure and Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms
Authors: Fares N V , El Fiky Haitham A , Badawey Amr M , Abd El Ghany Maha F
Published: August 2021

Background

Validated ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) densitometric methods were prescribed for determination of antihypertensive components.

Objective

To establish and validate rapid and accurate UPLC and TLC densitometric methods for determination of Xipamide and Triamterene in pure and dosage forms.

Methods

The first method, UPLC, depended on using an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse Plus C8 (50 mm × 2.1 mm, 1.8 μm) column, a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile-water (70 + 30, v/v) adjusted by acetic acid to obtain pH 3, 0.2 mL/min flow rate, and UV detection at 231.4 nm. The second method was a TLC densitometric method. Separation was achieved by using toluene-methanol-ethyl chloride-acetic acid (7 + 2 + 1 + 0.2, v/v/v) as the mobile phase, pre coated silica gel plates as the stationary phase, and UV detection at 300.0 nm.

Results

The obtained results were validated and statistically compared with official and reported methods. The obtained results showed high accuracy and reproducible results with excellent mean recoveries for both drugs.

Conclusion

The UPLC method showed shorter retention time for both Xipamide (0.88 min) and Triamterene (0.63 min), a lower detection limit of less than 0.055 µg/mL for both drugs with high selectivity, decreased injection volume (1 µL), and a lower flow rate than any HPLC method. Both proposed methods were sensitive, selective, and effectively applied to pure and dosage forms (Epitens®).

Highlights

Unprecedented sensitive, rapid, and reproducible UPLC and TLC methods were developed for selective determination of mixtures of Xipamide and Triamterene, with LOD os less than 0.076 µg/mL for both drugs.
Daily vaginal temperature in Girolando cows from three different genetic composition under natural heat stress
Authors: Carvalheira Luciano de Rezende , Wenceslau Raphael Rocha , Ribeiro Lilian dos Santos , de Carvalho Bruno Campos , Borges Álan Maia , Camargo Luiz Sérgio de Almeida
Published: August 2021

The present trial evaluated the effect of crossbred composition and Temperature and Humidity Index (THI) on vaginal temperature (VT) of Girolando dairy cows maintained under tropical pasture during warm seasons. The VT was monitored along 41 to 96 h in 615 Girolando cows with different Holstein (H) × Gir genetic composition (1/2 H = 284, 3/4 H = 248, and 7/8 H = 83) from six Brazilian farms in the summer of 2016 and 2017. VT of each cow at each hour of the day and the respective THI were averaged per hour across all monitoring days to generate an averaged value for VT and THI during 24 h. A linear mixed model with repeated measures using restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method for (co)variance components estimation procedure was employed. The final model adjusted the VT for the effects of cow, time, THI, farm, year, pregnancy status, body condition score (BCS), milk yield, genetic composition, and genetic composition*time interaction. Fixed effects were evaluated by ANOVA and tested with Tukey test in R software version 3.6.1 (R Core Team, 2019). Overall mean of VT, air temperature (AT), and THI were 39.06 ± 0.52 °C, 25.63 ± 0.40 °C, and 75.06 ± 3.96, respectively. VT had moderate positive correlation with THI (r² = 0.45, P < 0.001) and AT (r² = 0.46, P < 0.001). The VT had estimated linear increase of 0.05 °C for each THI unit increase (P < 0.001). Least square mean of VT varied among the farms (P < 0.001), pregnancy status (P < 0.001), and BCS (P < 0.05) but not for Milk yield (P > 0.05). The daily average VT was affected by genetic composition (P < 0.001) with highest temperature for 3/4 H (39.08 ± 0.06 °C a) and 7/8 H (39.09 ± 0.06 °C a) and lowest temperature for 1/2 H (38.95 ± 0.06 °C b). The difference of VT among the three crossbred groups varied in function of the time of the day, from 12:00 to 20:00 h (P < 0.001), with 3/4 Holstein and 7/8 Holstein cows reaching similar VT, above to the upper limit 39.1 °C and higher than 1/2 Holstein cows during all this period. In conclusion, Girolando cows are sensitive to heat stress in tropical condition during warm seasons. Moreover, Girolando cows with genetic composition higher than 3/4 Holstein display reduced thermoregulatory efficiency. Therefore, Girolando cows in tropical dairy farms require strategies to mitigate heat stress according to their genetic composition.
Neutrophil extracellular traps contribute to tissue plasminogen activator resistance in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Zhang Shuoqi , Cao Yuze , Du Jingwen , Liu Huan , Chen Xiaojing , Li Mengdi , Xiang Mengqi , Wang Chengyue , Wu Xiaoming , Liu Langjiao , Wang Chunli , Wu Yinsong , Li Zhuxin , Fang Shaohong , Shi Jialan , Wang Lihua
Published: August 2021

Circulating neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) resistant to t‐PA have not been studied completely although NETs in thrombi may contribute to tissue plasminogen activator (t‐PA) resistance. This research intended to elucidate whether circulating NETs are associated with t‐PA resistance and the underlying mechanism. The levels of NETs were detected in the circulating neutrophils, ischemic brain tissue of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients, and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) models. NET formation in blood, thrombi, and ischemic brain tissue of mice were analyzed by immunofluorescence. Exposed phosphatidylserine (PS) was assessed using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Procoagulant activity (PCA) was evaluated using fibrin formation assays, thrombin, and purified coagulation complex. The plasma levels of NETs in AIS patients were significantly higher than those in healthy individuals. After thrombolysis, a significant increase was noted in NET markers in no‐improvement patients, while the changes in improvement patients were not significant. Importantly, NETs were decorated with von Willebrand factor (vWF) and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) in the blood and thrombi, which could reverse the fibrinolytic effects. In addition, NETs activated platelets (PLTs) and endothelial cells (ECs), stimulating a procoagulant phenotype and facilitating vWF and PAI‐1 release. DNase I, activated protein C (APC), and sivelestat markedly inhibited these effects. Furthermore, targeting NETs protected mice from tMCAO‐induced cerebral ischemia, possibly by regulating vWF and PAI‐1. In summary, NETs may contribute to t‐PA resistance in AIS through activation of PLTs and ECs. Strategies against NETs may present a promising therapeutic approach to improve the thrombolysis efficiency of t‐PA in AIS patients.
Plasma renin and aldosterone concentrations related to endovascular ultrasound renal denervation in the RADIANCE-HTN SOLO trial
Authors: Fisher Naomi D.L. , Kirtane Ajay J. , Daemen Joost , Rader Florian , Lobo Melvin D. , Saxena Manish , Abraham Josephine , Schmieder Roland E. , Sharp Andrew S.P. , Gosse Philippe , Claude Lisa , Song Yang , Azizi Michel
Published: August 2021

Objective:

The RADIANCE-HTN SOLO trial demonstrated a greater reduction in daytime ambulatory SBP at 2 months by endovascular ultrasound renal denervation than sham procedure. We hypothesized that plasma renin and aldosterone concentrations would be associated with the SBP response to renal denervation.

Methods:

Hypertensive patients were randomized to renal denervation (n = 74) or sham (n = 72) after a 4-week washout of antihypertensive medications. In a 53-patient subset, 2-month and 6-month plasma renin and aldosterone concentration were measured. Dietary sodium was not controlled.

Results:

Mean age of the 29 treatment and 24 sham patients was 54 years; 62% were men; 17% black. Daytime ambulatory SBP fell in the denervation but not the sham group at 2 months (−7.8 ± 10.7 vs. −0.1 ± 10.1 mmHg; P = 0.048). Baseline plasma renin and aldosterone concentrations were in the low-normal range, did not change significantly at 2 months in either group and did not predict response to renal denervation. At 6 months, after the addition of antihypertensive medications, there was a significant rise in renin in the sham but not the denervation group.

Conclusion:

Although renal denervation but not sham resulted in a decrease in daytime ambulatory SBP at 2 months, renin and aldosterone concentrations did neither predict the BP response to renal denervation; nor did they fall after denervation. A rise in renin at 6 months in the sham group likely represents confounding from antihypertensive medications. Whether the BP-lowering effect of renal denervation depends on reducing local intrarenal renin release requires further study.
Comparative Propensity Matched Outcomes in Severe COVID-19 Respiratory Failure—Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation or Maximum Ventilation Alone
Authors: Mustafa Asif K. , Joshi Devang J. , Alexander Philip J. , Tabachnick Deborah R. , Cross Chadrick A. , Jweied Eias E. , Mody Nitesh S. , Huh Marc H. , Fasih Subia , Pappas Pat S. , Tatooles Antone J.
Published: August 2021

Objective:

Does extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) improve outcomes in ECMO-eligible patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure compared to maximum ventilation alone (MVA)?

Summary Background Data:

ECMO is beneficial in severe cases of respiratory failure when mechanical ventilation is inadequate. Outcomes for ECMO-eligible COVID-19 patients on MVA have not been reported. Consequently, a direct comparison between COVID-19 patients on ECMO and those on MVA has not been established.

Methods:

A total of 3406 COVID-19 patients treated at two major medical centers in Chicago were studied. One hundred ninety-five required maximum ventilatory support, and met ECMO eligibility criteria. Eighty ECMO patients were propensity matched to an equal number of MVA patients using detailed demographic, physiological, and comorbidity data. Primary outcome was survival and disposition at discharge.

Results:

Seventy-one percent of patients were decannulated from ECMO. Mechanical ventilation was discontinued in 75% ECMO and 16% MVA patients. Twenty-five percent of patients in the ECMO arm expired, 21% while on ECMO, compared with 74% in the MVA cohort. Mortality was significantly lower across all age and BMI groups in the ECMO arm. Sixty-eight percent ECMO and 26% MVA patients were discharged from the hospital. Fewer ECMO patients required long-term rehabilitation. Major complications such as septic shock, ventilator associated pneumonia, inotropic requirements, acute liver and kidney injuries are less frequent among ECMO patients.

Conclusions:

ECMO-eligible patients with severe COVID-19 respiratory failure demonstrate a 3-fold improvement in survival with ECMO. They are also in a better physical state at discharge and have lower overall complication rates. As such, strong consideration should be given for ECMO when mechanical ventilatory support alone becomes insufficient in treating COVID-19 respiratory failure.
Successful Liver Transplantation in a Patient With Acute COVID-19 Infection and Acute Liver Failure: A Case Report
Authors: Kidson Kristen M. , Park Jeieung , Charles Marthe K. , Omar Mahmoud , Krajden Mel , Wright Alissa J. , Hussaini Trana , Kim Peter T. W. , Chung Stephen W. , Yoshida Eric M.
Published: August 2021

Current liver transplantation societies recommend recipients with active coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) be deferred from transplantation for at least 2 wks, have symptom resolution and at least 1 negative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test.
1
This approach does not address patients who require urgent transplantation and will otherwise die from liver failure. We report a successful orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) in a patient with active COVID-19 infection. This is only the second to be reported worldwide and the first in Canada.
Sphingomonas aliaeris sp. nov., a new species isolated from pork steak packed under modified atmosphere
Authors: Heidler von Heilborn David , Reinmüller Jessica , Hölzl Georg , Meier-Kolthoff Jan P. , Woehle Christian , Marek Magdalena , Hüttel Bruno , Lipski André
Published: August 2021

Species belonging to the genus

Sphingomonas

have been isolated from environments such as soil, water and plant tissues. Many strains are known for their capability of degrading aromatic molecules and producing extracellular polymers. A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, motile, red-pigmented, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, rod-shaped strain, designated DH-S5T, has been isolated from pork steak packed under CO2-enriched modified atmosphere. Cell diameters were 1.5×0.9 µm. Growth optima were at 30 °C and at pH 6.0. Phylogenetic analyses based on both complete 16S rRNA gene sequence and whole-genome sequence data revealed that strain DH-S5T belongs to the genus

Sphingomonas

, being closely related to

Sphingomonas alpina

DSM 22537T (97.4 % gene sequence similarity), followed by

Sphingomonas qilianensis

X1T (97.4 %) and

Sphingomonas hylomeconis

GZJT-2T (97.3 %). The DNA G+C content was 64.4 mol%. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization value between the isolate strain and

S. alpina

DSM 22537T was 21.0 % with an average nucleotide identity value of 77.03 %. Strain DH-S5T contained Q-10 as the ubiquinone and major fatty acids were C18 : 1 cis 11 (39.3 %) and C16 : 1 cis 9 (12.5 %), as well as C16 : 0 (12.1 %) and C14 : 0 2-OH (11.4 %). As for polar lipids, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, dimethylphosphatidylethanolamine and sphingoglycolipid could be detected, alongside traces of monomethylphosphatidylethanolamine. Based on its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain DH-S5T (=DSM 110829T=LMG 31606T) is classified as a representative of the genus

Sphingomonas

, for which the name Sphingomonas aliaeris sp. nov. is proposed.
Single-shot rAAV5-based Vaccine Provides Long-term Protective Immunity against SARS-CoV-2 and Its Variants
Authors: Liao Guochao , Fan Xingxing , Lau Hungyan , Liu Zhongqiu , Li Chinyu , Xu Zeping , Zhang Yu , Qi Xiaoxiao , Li Dan , Zhu Qing , Chen Liqing , Zhou Hua , Zhu Sisi , Ke Bixia , Pan Hudan , Cong Zhe , Li Yongchao , Feng Qian , Lv Qi , Liu Jiangning , Liang Dan , Li An’an , Hong Wenshan , Li Yebo , Bao Linlin , Zhou Feng , Gao Hongbin , Liang Shi , Huang Bihong , Wu Miaoli , Qin Chuan , Ke Changwen , Liu Liang
Published: August 2021

The COVID-19 pandemic and the SARS-CoV-2 with its variants have posed unprecedented challenges worldwide. Existing vaccines have limited effectiveness against the SARS-CoV-2 variants. Therefore, novel vaccines to match current mutated viral lineages with long-term protective immunity are urgently in demand. In the current study, we for the first time designed a recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus 5 (rAAV5)-based vaccine named as rAAV-COVID-19 vaccine (Covacinplus) by using RBD-plus of spike protein with both the single-stranded and the self-complementary AAV5 delivering vectors (ssAAV5 and scAAAV5), which provides excellent protection from SARS-CoV-2 infection. A single dose vaccination induced the strong immune response against SARS-CoV-2. The induced neutralizing antibodies (NAs) titers were maintained at a high peak level of over 1:1024 even after more than one year of injection and accompanied with functional T-cells responses in mice. Importantly, both ssAAV- and scAAV-based RBD-plus vaccines exhibited high levels of serum NAs against current circulating variants including variants Alpha, Beta, Gamma and Delta. SARS-CoV-2 virus challenge test showed that ssAAV5-RBD-plus vaccine protected both young and old age mice from SARS-CoV-2 infection in the upper and the lower respiratory tracts. Moreover, whole genome sequencing demonstrated that AAV vector DNA sequences were not found in the genome of the vaccinated mice after one year vaccination, demonstrating excellent safety of the vaccine. Taken together, this study suggests that rAAV5-based vaccine is powerful against SARS-CoV-2 and its variants with long-term protective immunity and excellent safety, which has great potential for development into prophylactic vaccination in human to end this global pandemic.
Pericyte control of pancreatic islet blood flow impacts glucose homeostasis
Authors: Tamayo Alejandro , Gonçalves Luciana , Rodriguez-Diaz Rayner , Pereira Elizabeth , Canales Melissa , Caicedo Alejandro , Almaça Joana
Published: August 2021

The pancreatic islet depends on blood supply to efficiently sense plasma glucose levels and deliver insulin and glucagon into the circulation. Long thought to be passive conduits of nutrients and hormones, islet capillaries were recently found to be densely covered with contractile pericytes, suggesting local control of blood flow. Here we determined the contribution of islet pericytes to the regulation of islet blood flow, plasma insulin and glucagon levels, and glycemia. Selective optogenetic activation of pericytes in intraocular islet grafts contracted capillaries and diminished blood flow. In awake mice, acute clamping of islet blood flow by optogenetic or pharmacological activation of pericytes disrupted hormonal responses, glycemia, and glucose tolerance. Our findings indicate that pericytes mediate vascular responses in the islet that are required for adequate hormone secretion and glucose homeostasis. Vascular deficiencies commonly seen in the islets of people with type 2 diabetes may impair regulation of islet blood flow and thus precipitate islet dysfunction.
Role of green financing and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in technological innovation and corporate environmental performance: a COVID-19 perspective
Authors: Awawdeh Ala Eldin , Ananzeh Mohammed , El-khateeb Ahmad Ibrahiem , Aljumah Ahmad
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study is to estimate the relationship between technological innovation and corporate environmental performance among energy companies working in Egypt.

Design/methodology/approach

The study extended the aim with the intention to assess the role of green financing in enhancing corporate environmental performance. Partial least squares (PLS)-based structural equation modeling (SEM) is applied to estimate the nexus among study variables.

Findings

The results indicated that technological innovation influenced environmental performance and has a positive impact on company performance. The role of green financing for environmental performance is also significant and positive. Moreover, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has insignificant role in environmental performance of the energy companies in the study context.

Research limitations/implications

The study offers a valuable model for general managers of manufacturing organizations and policymakers to manage CSR, environmental strategy and green innovation in examining environmental performance. It can help to assist general managers of large manufacturing organizations to strengthen their internal resources like CSR, environmental strategy and green innovation to enhance environmental performance.

Practical implications

The findings of this article will help the practitioners to design policies regarding sustainable energy systems and green finance in the presence of any natural calamity.

Originality/value

This study primarily complements the existing literature by establishing how green financing and CSR can augment and/or interact between technological innovation and corporate environmental performance under COVID-19 crises, in a developing country.
Minimizing transportation cost of prefabricated modules in modular construction projects
Authors: Almashaqbeh Mohammad , El-Rayes Khaled
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The objective of this research study is to formulate and develop a novel optimization model that enables planners of modular construction to minimize the total transportation and storage costs of prefabricated modules in modular construction projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The model is developed by identifying relevant decision variables, formulating an objective function capable of minimizing the total transportation and storage costs and modelling relevant constraints. The model is implemented by providing all relevant planner-specified data and performing the model optimization computations using mixed-integer programming to generate the optimal solution.

Findings

A case study of hybrid modular construction of a healthcare facility is used to evaluate the model performance and demonstrate its capabilities in minimizing the total transportation and onsite storage costs of building prefabricated modules.

Research limitations/implications

The model can be most effective in optimizing transportation for prefabricated modules with rectangular shapes and might be less effective for modules with irregular shapes. Further research is needed to consider the shape of onsite storage area and its module arrangement.

Practical implications

The developed model supports construction planners in improving the cost effectiveness of modular construction projects by optimizing the transportation of prefabricated modules from factories to construction sites.

Originality/value

The original contributions of this research is selecting an optimal module truck assignment from a feasible set of trucks, identifying an optimal delivery day of each module as well as its location and orientation on the assigned truck and complying with relevant constraints including the non-overlap of modules on each truck, shipment weight distribution and aerodynamic drag reduction.
The effect of consumer self-confidence on information search and share intention
Authors: Jamil Khalid , Hussain Zahid , Gul Rana Faizan , Shahzad Muhammad Asim , Zubair Ahsan
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The knowledge about a specific product develops self-confidence among consumers and facilitates them to share and search for information. This study aims to highlight the effects of consumer’s self-esteem on search and share intentions of information. Furthermore, this relationship was analyzed through the mediation of subjective knowledge (SK).

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 1,136 Chinese respondents having a perception of purchasing cellphones. To analyze the data, check its normality and validity, analysis of moment structures (AMOS) was used. However, to inspect the relationship of study variables, “structural equation modeling” and Hayes and Preacher’s (2014) model were used to mediate the analysis.

Findings

The study results revealed that consumer’s self-confidence (information acquisition confidence, persuasive knowledge confidence, personal outcome decision-making and market interface confidence) affect the information search and share the intention of consumers. Additionally, the presence of SK significantly and positively mediates this relationship.

Originality/value

This study intends to investigate the role of all practical aspects of consumer’s self-confidence in searching and sharing information by mediating the role of SK. Moreover, it used all the possible and useful dimensions, which were ignored by previous studies.
Exit interviews as a tool to reduce parting employees’ complaints about their former employer and to ensure residual commitment
Authors: König Cornelius J. , Richter Manuela , Isak Isabela
Published: August 2021

Purpose

According to previous research, exit interviews do not fulfil the purpose of generating useful feedback from parting employees. According to signaling theory, they might, however, serve a different purpose: to leave one last good impression on parting employees, and the aim of this study was to test this.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was administered to a sample of 164 German employees.

Findings

Consistent with arguments based on signaling theory, those who experienced an exit interview reported more residual affective commitment toward their former employer and less willingness to complain about it, and these effects were mediated by interpersonal fairness perceptions. In addition, the probability of having an exit interview was found to depend on the resignation style of employees.

Research limitations/implications

This new perspective on exit interviews can renew the interest in studying how organizations manage the offboarding process.

Practical implications

This study advises employers to conduct “exit conversations” (as two-way interactions rather than one-way interviews) and to carefully plan the exit phase.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that proposes a signaling theory perspective of exit interviews and that links exit interviews with the literature on resignation styles.
Thirty‐year assessment of Asian Development Bank's forecasts
Authors: Tsuchiya Yoichi
Published: August 2021

This study assesses the performance of the forecasts of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for 45 countries between 1989 and 2019 with the following results: first, forecast accuracy and bias vary among countries and across variables; second, the Asian currency and global financial crises adversely affected the GDP and inflation forecast accuracy, whereas there were no such impacts on the current account forecast accuracy; third, the ADB's forecasts are broadly unbiased; fourth, inflation forecasts are efficient but the GDP and current account forecasts are not; finally, unbiasedness is broadly robust for the countries' regions. These results suggest that the ADB plays a grounding economic role in providing a reliable economic outlook for policymakers and businesses world wide.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: association of Helicobacter pylori infection with gastro‐oesophageal reflux and its complications
Authors: Zamani Mohammad , Alizadeh‐Tabari Shaghayegh , Hasanpour Amir Hossein , Eusebi Leonardo H. , Ford Alexander C.
Published: August 2021

Background

Conflicting results exist on the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and gastro‐oesophageal reflux (GOR), and its complications, such as erosive oesophagitis (EO) and Barrett's oesophagus (BO).

Aims

To explore the association of H. pylori infection with GOR symptoms and their complications

Methods

We searched Embase, PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases through December 2020 for relevant articles. Regarding the association between H. pylori and GOR symptoms (heartburn, regurgitation or reflux), we included observational studies comparing the prevalence of GOR symptoms between H. pylori‐positive and ‐negative individuals. Concerning the association between H. pylori and complications of GOR, we included studies comparing the prevalence of EO or BO between H. pylori‐positive and ‐negative individuals.

Results

In total, 36 papers were eligible. Based on seven cross‐sectional surveys, H. pylori infection was associated with a lower odds of GOR symptoms (odds ratio [OR] 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.61‐0.90). However, in four case‐control studies, H. pylori infection was not associated with odds of GOR symptoms (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.85‐0.1.43). In 26 cross‐sectional studies in patients with GOR symptoms, the OR for EO was 0.70 (95% CI 0.58‐0.84) in H. pylori‐positive vs ‐negative cases. Based on nine cross‐sectional studies in subjects with GOR complications, no significant association was found between H. pylori infection and either endoscopically‐diagnosed (OR 1.84, 95% CI 0.67‐5.02) or histologically confirmed (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.60‐1.20) BO.

Conclusions

Helicobacter pylori infection appears to be associated with a decreased odds of GOR symptoms and EO. In contrast, H. pylori infection did not seem to affect the odds of BO in patients with GER complications.
Challenges facing cross‐disciplinary collaboration in conservation ethics
Authors: Ferraro Kristy M. , Ferraro Anthony L. , Sommer Nathalie R.
Published: August 2021

The enterprise of conservation is inherently ethical, requiring conservationists to navigate morally challenging problems. Working together, conservationists and ethicists have developed the field of conservation ethics. Yet, due to the deeply interdisciplinary nature of the field, conservation ethics faces a unique set of challenges. We first comment on the harm caused by reciprocal ignorance between some practicing conservationists and ethicists. We then explore the difficulties of creating a widely applied ethic, examining conversations surrounding the recently emerged virtue ethic, Compassionate Conservation. By bringing attention to these challenges, and highlighting medical bioethics as a touchstone of productive applied ethical theory, we can help the field avoid unproductive pitfalls, as well as facilitate positive and productive communication and collaboration between the various members of the different disciplines involved.
Determinism and stochasticity in the spatial–temporal continuum of ecological communities: the case of tropical mountains
Authors: Khattar Gabriel , Macedo Margarete , Monteiro Ricardo , Peres‐Neto Pedro
Published: August 2021

Ecological communities are assembled in a spatial–temporal continuum. However, we still have a poor understanding of the relative importance of different mechanisms structuring community composition (i.e. beta‐diversity) in space and time. In this study, we start by introducing a conceptual model that capitalizes upon the core‐occasional species concept to predict that the assembly process in tropical mountains is driven by the deterministic turnover of core species in space via habitat sorting, but the turnover of occasional species through time via stochastic events of colonization and local extinctions. We then propose a general analytical framework that allows assessing these predictions by partitioning the total variance of a species‐by‐site‐by‐time matrix (i.e. total beta‐diversity) among its purely spatial (variation in space independent of time), purely temporal (variation in time independent of space) and spatiotemporal (i.e. variation across different sites across different moments in time) components. Through simulation models, we provided theoretical support that the proposed analytical framework is suitable to test the predictions derived from our conceptual model. We then used this framework to identify general patterns and quantify the relative importance of processes underlying the spatial and temporal organization of ten distinct insect metacommunities along a tropical elevational gradient. As predicted, we found that, across taxa, spatial beta‐diversity was mainly explained by environmental variation alone: a pattern that indicates the spatial turnover of core species. In contrast, temporal beta‐diversity could not be distinguished from the expectation of null models where communities are simply represented by random draws from species pools: a pattern that indicates a temporal turnover of occasional species within communities. Taken together, our findings illustrate how our conceptual model and quantitative framework can articulate a better understanding of community assembly in space and time.