bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of palliative care on clinical and patient‐centred outcomes in patients with advanced heart failure: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Sahlollbey Nick , Lee Christopher Kai Seng , Shirin Afraah , Joseph Philip
Published: March 2020

Aims

To examine the impact of palliative care on acute care hospitalizations, survival, symptoms, and quality of life (QOL) in patients with advanced heart failure.

Methods and results

We conducted a systematic search of publications through CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE, and MEDLINE originally up to July 2017, and then updated to June 2019. The study was registered (PROSPERO ID: CRD42017069685) prior to its initiation. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included that tested an interdisciplinary palliative care intervention (compared to usual care) primarily in a heart failure population. Main outcomes assessed were hospitalizations, mortality, QOL, and symptom burden. Ten independent RCTs were selected, representing a total of 1050 participants (921 with a diagnosis of heart failure). Compared with usual care, palliative care interventions were associated with a substantial reduction in hospitalizations [odds ratio 0.56 (0.33–0.94); four trials; I2 = 27%], modest improvement in QOL [standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.25; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06–0.45; seven trials; I2 = 15%], and modest reduction in symptom burden (SMD −0.29; 95% CI −0.54–0.03; three trials; I2 = 15%). There was no clear adverse impact on mortality. Most studies had methodological limitations that increased the risk of biases.

Conclusion

Compared to usual care, palliative care interventions substantially reduce hospitalizations, with no clear adverse effect on survival. Effects on QOL and symptom burden appear to be modest, and indicate that further efforts to improve these patient centred outcomes are needed.
Modified Versions of AM‐4 for the Aqueous Phase Isomerization of Aldo‐Saccharides
Authors: Antunes Margarida M. , Fernandes Auguste , Ribeiro M. Filipa , Lin Zhi , Valente Anabela A.
Published: March 2020

The isomerization of aldo‐saccharides to keto‐saccharides is an important transformation in biomass conversion processes. The use of eco‐friendly heterogeneous catalysts for these reactions is most attractive, albeit good catalytic stability continues a challenge. The as‐synthesized Aveiro‐Manchester material number 4 (AM‐4, Na3(Na,H)Ti2O2[Si2O6]2,2H2O) possessed isomerization activity, but limited stability. This versatile precursor material was modified to meet superior performances in the base‐catalyzed isomerization of the monosaccharides d‐glucose and d‐xylose, and the disaccharide d‐cellobiose, at 100 °C. Different alkali and alkaline‐earth metals were introduced into AM‐4, which influenced the catalytic properties. The Mg‐containing material was the most stable, leading to 27 % fructose yield from d‐glucose, 41 % cellobiulose from d‐cellobiose and 39 % xylulose from d‐xylose isomerization, at 2 h reaction.
Data‐driven nonrigid object feature analysis: Subspace application of incidence structure
Authors: Wells Nicholas , See Chung W.
Published: March 2020

In object recognition, feature extraction algorithms are designed to capture the discriminate statistics of objects. Due to pose, deformation and background clutter, the recognition of objects becomes nontrivial, particularly nonrigid samples. Through incidence and geometric structure, this article reports on the data‐driven identification of critical features located on object exemplar profiles. The investigation is demonstrated using the features of a cat's head and the application of the Hough transform to extract planar geometric features. A data‐driven recognition routine is described that accumulates prior knowledge for evaluating the error contribution of critical features impacting recognition confidence. In measuring affine facial features, feature parallelism is tracked to determine rotations and elevations of a cat's head. A preliminary recognition error of 8.2% and 17.8% is determined for a front training profile. An analysis proceeds to determine contributions to this error due the identified critical features.
A prediction method for the size distribution of saltating particles above a mixed‐size bed
Authors: Liu Li , Bo Tian‐Li
Published: March 2020

In aeolian saltation, the sand bed is a mixture of sand particle with a wide range of particle sizes. Generally, the particle size distribution (PSD) of saltating particles is ignored by previous aeolian transport models, which will result in differences between predictions and observations. To better understand the saltation process, a prediction method of the PSD of saltating particles was proposed in this article. The probability of contact between incident sand and bed sand was introduced into the particle‐bed collision process. An artificial PSD of the incident saltating particles was set as the initial condition. A stochastic particle‐bed collision model considering contact probability was then used in each iteration step to calculate a new PSD of saltating particles. Finally, the PSD of saltating particles can be determined when aeolian saltation reaches a steady state (saltation is in a steady state when its primary characteristics, such as horizontal mass flux and the concentration of saltating particles, remain approximately constant over time and distance). Meanwhile, according to the experimental results, a calculation formula for the contact parameter n is given, which characterizes the shielding effect of particles on each other. That is, if soil PSD and friction velocity were given, the PSD of saltating particles can be determined. Our results do not depend on the initial conditions, and the predicted results are consistent with the experimental results. It indicated that our method can be used to determine the PSD of saltating particles. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Erosion characteristics of loess tunnels on the Loess Plateau: A field investigation and experimental study
Authors: Li Xi‐An , Wang Li , Hong Bo , Li Lin‐Cui , Liu Jia , Lei Hao‐nan
Published: March 2020

Loess tunnels are a common geo‐hazard in the Loess Plateau and not only cause considerable soil and water loss, but also aggravate and even induce the occurrence and development of other disasters such as ground fissures, mudflows, collapses, and landslides. To date, research on the hydrological characteristics and erosion behaviour of loess tunnel systems has focused on field investigation data and limited river basin observation data, whereas field test information and data are very scarce. In this study, field surveys, observations, field scouring experiments, and laboratory‐based sediment percentage tests were conducted to analyse the erosion characteristics, spatial distribution, and hydrological characteristics of a large‐scale loess tunnel system in the hilly Loess Plateau southeast region of northern China. The results showed that the loess tunnel erosion exhibited periodicity. Tunnel erosion in each period shows a similar erosion process, that is, thin‐layer water flow erosion and lateral expansion, tunnel wall collapse and deposit due to the loss of support from the lateral erosion, and erosion and transport of deposits by water flow. Waterfall erosion, lateral erosion, headward erosion, and the resulting collapses were the main forms of tunnel erosion. Besides this, the base level of erosion significantly affects the erosion characteristics of the loess tunnel. The hydrological characteristics during field scouring experiments exhibited three different stages: a lag effect, attributed to the temporary loss of water velocity in the first stage; small water flow fluctuations in the second stage; and an increase in total seepage loss with increased water injection flow in the third stage. The erosion rate was positively correlated with the flow quantity. The results of this study not only provide valuable reference data for research on the mechanism and velocity of erosion events in loess, but also provide a theoretical basis for the prevention of loess tunnel disasters in engineering construction. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pebax/MWCNTs‐NH2 mixed matrix membranes for enhanced CO2/N2 separation
Authors: Song Chunfeng , Mujahid Muhammad , Li Run , Ahmad Siraj , Liu Qingling , Zhang Bing , Kitamura Yutaka
Published: March 2020

Mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) played a promising role in gas separation. However, the trade‐off between permeability and selectivity is still a challenge for its commercial application. Rational design of the inorganic filler, compatibility of filler with the polymer, and dispersion of filler into the polymer have a significant influence on the morphology and separation performance of a membrane. In this study, in order to produce defect‐free flat sheet MMMs, two different solvents (N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone and ethanol/water) were investigated to maximize the dispersion of filler (multi‐walled carbon nanotubes, MWCNTs) in Pebax. The prepared membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. CO2/N2 permeation tests were undertaken to investigate the solvent effect on membrane permeation properties. The result showed that membranes fabricated with higher molar volume solvent were more efficient for CO2 separation. Considering the trade‐off between different parameters (molar volume of solvent, fraction‐free volume, crystallinity of membranes), the permeability and CO2/N2 selectivity of Pebax/MWCNTs MMMs was optimized to 405 Barrer and 51, respectively. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Waste heat recovery from the stripped gas in carbon capture process by membrane technology: Hydrophobic and hydrophilic organic membrane cases
Authors: Xu Liqiang , Cui Qiufang , Tu Te , Liu Shuo , Ji Long , Yan Shuiping
Published: March 2020

In this study, hydrophobic polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and hydrophilic polyetheretherketone (PEEK) membranes were used as heat exchangers in rich‐split CO2 capture process to recover the waste heat from the stripped gas (i.e., mixture of water vapor and CO2). Technical feasibilities of these two membrane exchangers were assessed by heat recovery and energy intensity in the monoethanolamine (MEA)‐based carbon capture process. The heat recovery of these two membrane exchangers with different pore sizes were then systematically compared under various operating parameters. The underlying mass and heat transfer mechanisms of two membranes were also investigated and compared to figure out the suitable candidate for heat recovery. Additionally, the potential risks of using these membrane exchangers were identified and investigated. Results showed that the PTFE membrane displays a better heat recovery performance than the PEEK membrane with the same pore size. The heat recovery of both PTFE and PEEK membranes first increases to a plateau and then drops slightly with the increased CO2‐rich solvent flow rate. The heat recovery of PTFE and PEEK membranes decreases with the increased flow rate and water vapor fraction of the inlet stripped gas, MEA temperature, and MEA concentration. Furthermore, the larger pore size results in higher heat recovery for both PTFE and PEEK membranes. PTFE membranes displayed lower MEA transfer flux than PTFE membranes at any rich MEA flow rate as the enhanced MEA transfer from the cold solution to the other side via PEEK membrane pores filled with liquid water. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Bootstrapping promotes the RSFC‐behavior associations: An application of individual cognitive traits prediction
Authors: Wei Lijiang , Jing Bin , Li Haiyun
Published: March 2020

Resting‐state functional connectivity (RSFC) records enormous functional interaction information between any pair of brain nodes, which enriches the individual‐phenotypic prediction. To reduce high‐dimensional features, correlation analysis is a common way for feature selection. However, resting state fMRI signal exhibits typically low signal‐to‐noise ratio and the correlation analysis is sensitive to outliers and data distribution, which may bring unstable features to prediction. To alleviate this problem, a bootstrapping‐based feature selection framework was proposed and applied to connectome‐based predictive modeling, support vector regression, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, and Ridge regression to predict a series of cognitive traits based on Human Connectome Project data. To systematically investigate the influences of different parameter settings on the bootstrapping‐based framework, 216 parameter combinations were evaluated and the best performance among them was identified as the final prediction result for each cognitive trait. By using the bootstrapping methods, the best prediction performances outperformed the baseline method in all four prediction models. Furthermore, the proposed framework could effectively reduce the feature dimension by retaining the more stable features. The results demonstrate that the proposed framework is an easy‐to‐use and effective method to improve RSFC prediction of cognitive traits and is highly recommended in future RSFC‐prediction studies.
Environmental Risk Assessment of Nanomaterials in the Light of New Obligations Under the REACH Regulation: Which Challenges Remain and How to Approach Them?
Authors: Schwirn Kathrin , Voelker Doris , Galert Wiebke , Quik Joris , Tietjen Lars
Published: March 2020

Within the European regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH, EC No 1907/2006) specific provisions for nanomaterials were included, which have become effective on 1 January 2020. Although knowledge on the peculiarities of testing and assessing fate and effects of nanomaterials in the environment strongly increased in the last years, uncertainties about how to perform a reliable and robust environmental risk assessment for nanomaterials still remain. These uncertainties are of special relevance in a regulatory context, challenging both industry and regulators. The present paper presents current challenges in regulatory hazard and exposure assessment under REACH, as well as classification of nanomaterials, and makes proposals to address them. Still, the nanospecific considerations made here are expected to also be valid for environmental risk assessment approaches in other regulations of chemical safety. Inter alia, these proposals include a way forward to account for exposure concentrations in aquatic toxicity test systems, a discussion of how to account for availability of dissolving nanomaterials in aquatic test systems, and a pragmatic proposal to deduce effect data for soil organisms. Furthermore, it specifies how to potentially deal with nanoforms under the European regulation on Classification, Labelling and Packaging of substances and mixtures (CLP) and outlines the needs for proper exposure assessments of nanomaterials from a regulatory perspective. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2020;16:706–717. © 2020 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)
Healthy lifestyle and the risk of lymphoma in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study
Authors: Naudin Sabine , Solans Margalef Marta , Saberi Hosnijeh Fatemeh , Nieters Alexandra , Kyrø Cecilie , Tjønneland Anne , Dahm Christina C. , Overvad Kim , Mahamat‐Saleh Yahya , Besson Caroline , Boutron‐Ruault Marie‐Christine , Kühn Tilman , Canzian Federico , Schulze Matthias B. , Peppa Eleni , Karakatsani Anna , Trichopoulou Antonia , Sieri Sabina , Masala Giovana , Panico Salvatore , Tumino Rosario , Ricceri Fulvio , Chen Sairah L.F. , Barroso Leila L. , Huerta José M. , Sánchez Maria‐Jose , Ardanaz Eva , Menéndez Virginia , Amiano Exezarreta Pilar , Spaeth Florentin , Jerkeman Mats , Jirstom Karin , Schmidt Julie A. , Aune Dagfinn , Weiderpass Elisabete , Riboli Elio , Vermeulen Roel , Casabonne Delphine , Gunter Marc , Brennan Paul , Ferrari Pietro
Published: March 2020

Limited evidence exists on the role of modifiable lifestyle factors on the risk of lymphoma. In this work, the associations between adherence to healthy lifestyles and risks of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were evaluated in a large‐scale European prospective cohort. Within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), 2,999 incident lymphoma cases (132 HL and 2,746 NHL) were diagnosed among 453,808 participants after 15 years (median) of follow‐up. The healthy lifestyle index (HLI) score combined information on smoking, alcohol intake, diet, physical activity and BMI, with large values of HLI expressing adherence to healthy behavior. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate lymphoma hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). Sensitivity analyses were conducted by excluding, in turn, each lifestyle factor from the HLI score. The HLI was inversely associated with HL, with HR for a 1‐standard deviation (SD) increment in the score equal to 0.78 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.94). Sensitivity analyses showed that the association was mainly driven by smoking and marginally by diet. NHL risk was not associated with the HLI, with HRs for a 1‐SD increment equal to 0.99 (0.95, 1.03), with no evidence for heterogeneity in the association across NHL subtypes. In the EPIC study, adherence to healthy lifestyles was not associated with overall lymphoma or NHL risk, while an inverse association was observed for HL, although this was largely attributable to smoking. These findings suggest a limited role of lifestyle factors in the etiology of lymphoma subtypes.
Association of socioeconomic status and clinical and demographic conditions with the prevalence of preterm birth
Authors: Brink Lucy T. , Nel Daan G. , Hall David R. , Odendaal Hein J.
Published: March 2020

Objective

To examine the effects of socioeconomic and demographic conditions on the prevalence of preterm birth in a local community.

Methods

Pregnant women (aged ≥16 years) willing to provide informed consent in one of the two languages of the community were recruited in South Africa between August 2007 and January 2015. Specifically designed case report forms collected information and measurements prospectively.

Results

After reviewing the medical records of 5806 women, it was possible to identify those who had spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB), induced preterm birth (IPTB), or spontaneous term birth (STB). Women with IPTB (vs SPTB) were more obese and had higher education levels and household incomes; more had telephones and running water at home. They enrolled earlier and more developed hypertension and pre‐eclampsia. Women with SPTB (vs STB) were less obese, shorter, had smaller arm circumferences and higher gravidities and Edinburgh Depression Scores, lower education, fewer telephones, and less running water at home. More women with SPTB used methamphetamine, cigarettes, and were heavier smokers.

Conclusion

SPTB and IPTB should not be conflated. Programs to reduce the high prevalence of SPTB should include improving education, lifestyle, and socioeconomic conditions. Addressing hypertension should help reduce preterm inductions.
Fitness adaptive deer hunting‐based region growing and recurrent neural network for melanoma skin cancer detection
Authors: Divya D. , Ganeshbabu T. R.
Published: March 2020

This proposal aims to enhance the accuracy of a dermoscopic skin cancer diagnosis with the aid of novel deep learning architecture. The proposed skin cancer detection model involves four main steps: (a) preprocessing, (b) segmentation, (c) feature extraction, and (d) classification. The dermoscopic images initially subjected to a preprocessing step that includes image enhancement and hair removal. After preprocessing, the segmentation of lesion is deployed by an optimized region growing algorithm. In the feature extraction phase, local features, color morphology features, and morphological transformation‐based features are extracted. Moreover, the classification phase uses a modified deep learning algorithm by merging the optimization concept into recurrent neural network (RNN). As the main contribution, the region growing and RNN improved by the modified deer hunting optimization algorithm (DHOA) termed as Fitness Adaptive DHOA (FA‐DHOA). Finally, the analysis has been performed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Integration of plasmonic heating and on‐chip temperature sensor for nucleic acid amplification assays
Authors: Monshat Hosein , Wu Zuowei , Pang Jinji , Zhang Qijing , Lu Meng
Published: March 2020

Nucleic acid tests have been widely used for diagnosis of diseases by detecting the relevant genetic markers that are usually amplified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This work reports the use of a plasmonic device as an efficient and low‐cost PCR thermocycler to facilitate nucleic acid‐based diagnosis. The thermoplasmonic device, consisting of a one‐dimensional metal grating, exploited the strong light absorption of plasmonic resonance modes to heat up PCR reagents using a near‐infrared laser source. The plasmonic device also integrated a thin‐film thermocouple on the metal grating to monitor the sample temperature. The plasmonic thermocycler is capable of performing a PCR amplification cycle in ~2.5 minutes. We successfully demonstrated the multiplex and real‐time PCR amplifications of the antibiotic resistance genes using the genomic DNAs extracted from Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli and Campylobacter.
KLF5 influences cell biological function and chemotherapy sensitivity through the JNK signaling pathway in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zheng , Qiu Xinguang , Zhang Hao , Li Weihan
Published: March 2020

We aimed to investigate the effects of Krüppel‐like factor 5 (KLF5) on cell biological function and chemotherapy sensitivity of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) and explore the underlying mechanism. In this study, we found that KLF5 was expressed higher in ATC cells than that in normal thyroid cells. Knockdown of KLF5 inhibited proliferation, induced apoptosis and restrained invasion and migration abilities of ATC cells. KLF5 overexpression promoted proliferation and inhibited apoptosis of ATC cells in response to doxorubicin (Dox), whereas KLF5 knockdown increased the sensitivity of ATC cells to Dox. Multidrug resistance gene 1/permeability glycoprotein and ATP‐binding cassette superfamily G member 2 were heightened in ATC cells with KLF5 overexpression, but the opposite results were found in sh‐KLF5‐treated cells. Phosphorylation (p)‐c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) was upregulated in KLF5 overexpression cells, whereas it was downregulated in the KLF5 knockdown treatment group. Furthermore, KLF5 knockdown inhibited ATC growth and enhanced the Dox sensitivity of ATC by inactivating the JNK signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings concluded that KLF5 knockdown can remarkably inhibit the proliferation, invasion, and migration and induce apoptosis of ATC cells, and increase the chemotherapy sensitivity of ATC, all of which probably through inhibiting the JNK signaling pathway.
Antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and antifibrotic effects of the combination of liposomal resveratrol and carvedilol against doxorubicin‐induced cardiomyopathy in rats
Authors: Alanazi Abeer , Fadda Laila , Alhusaini Ahlam , Ahmad Rehab
Published: March 2020

The use of the cytotoxic antibiotic doxorubicin (DOXR) is limited by its dose‐dependent cardiotoxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of the combination of carvedilol (CARD) and liposomal resveratrol (LIPO RESV) against DOXR‐induced cardiomyopathy in rats. The results of the present study showed that DOXR administration significantly increased heart weight/body weight ratio by 35.6%, creatine kinase‐MB (CK‐MB) by 40.6%, troponin‐I levels by 85%, and decreased reduced glutathione level and superoxide dismutase activity by 47% and 52%, respectively compared to the control group. Moreover, cardiac caspase‐3 protein expression was upregulated by 51.6% vs the control group. In contrast, treatment of DOXR‐administered rats with CARD, RESV, or LIPO RESV and their combination for 6 weeks improved all the above‐mentioned measured parameters. In conclusion, concomitant administration of CARD and LIPO RESV exerted additive pharmacological effects in some measured parameters against DOXR‐induced cardiomyopathy and this may be a useful cardioprotective strategy.
The persistence of current market valuation of future capital investment
Authors: Beneda Nancy
Published: March 2020

This paper examines the valuation of future potential capital spending and research and development expense (capital investment) in current market value of equity. The purpose of this study is to develop an option modelling technique which can be used by financial analysts to assist in measuring the current market value of future new capital spending and the persistence of the value of capital investment. A capital investment Delta is developed, using option pricing modelling, as an indicator of productive future capital investment. This study uses a sample of initial public offerings (IPOs), which went public during the years, 2004 through 2015. The metrics are computed at the end of the second year after going public and then regressed on the next year NASDAQ adjusted stock return. The results of the study indicate that productive future capital investment, as developed in the current study, is persistent and is significantly associated with a firm's future stock performance.
Qualities required for new graduate visiting nurses: A qualitative study
Authors: Akiyama Akiko , Fukuyama Yumi
Published: March 2020

Background

The qualities required for new graduates to become visiting nurses remain unclear. The present study aimed to clarify the qualities required for new graduate visiting nurses.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with nine home‐visiting nurses. Content analysis was conducted by the transcribed data collected from visiting nurses.

Results

Years of nursing experience were ranged from 16 to 50. In total, 23 attributes were extracted and categorized.

Conclusion

Our findings indicated that the qualities required for new graduate visiting nurses were as follows: basic knowledge and skills required as professionals and appropriate attitudes as members of society.
The effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy on arterial stiffness and central hemodynamic parameters
Authors: Coksevim Metin , Akcay Murat , Yuksel Serkan , Yenercag Mustafa , Cerik Bugra , Gedikli Omer , Gulel Okan , Sahin Mahmut
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a device‐based method of treatment which decreases morbidity and mortality in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). This study was aimed to investigate the effects of CRT on hemodynamic and arterial stiffness parameters evaluated by noninvasive method, and determine whether there is a correlation between the changes after CRT in these parameters and the clinical response to CRT or not.

Methods

The study included 46 patients with HFrEF who were planned to undergo CRT implantation. Before the CRT implantation, clinical and demographic data were recorded from all patients. Hemodynamic and arterial stiffness parameters were measured oscillometrically by an arteriograph before CRT implantation. The patients were re‐evaluated minimum three months after CRT; the above‐mentioned parameters were measured again and compared to the pre‐CRT period.

Results

Compared to the period before CRT, mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) (116.8 ± 19.1 mm Hg vs 127.7 ± 20.9 mm Hg, P = .005), central SBP (cSBP) (106.2 ± 17.3 mm Hg vs 116.8 ± 18.7 mm Hg, P = .015), cardiac output (CO) (4.6 ± 0.8 lt/min vs 5.1 ± 0.8 lt/min, P = .002), stroke volume (65.6 ± 16.3 mL vs 72.0 ± 14.9 mL), and pulse wave velocity (PWV) (10 ± 1.6 m/sec vs 10.4 ± 1.8 m/sec, P = .004) increased significantly in post‐CRT period. In addition, the same parameters were significantly increased post‐CRT period in patients with clinical response. However, there was not any similar increase in nonresponder patients.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that SBP, CO, and PWV increased significantly after CRT. The modest increases in these parameters were observed to be associated with positive clinical outcomes.
Performance of RegCM4 simulations over Croatia and adjacent climate regions
Authors: Güttler Ivan , Stilinović Tomislav , Srnec Lidija , Branković Čedo , Coppola Erika , Giorgi Filippo
Published: March 2020

We investigate the impact of horizontal resolution, convection parameterization and lateral boundary conditions on the ability of a regional climate model ‐ RegCM4 to simulate the observed temperature and precipitation climatology over Croatia and surrounding regions. An ensemble of RegCM4 simulations over Europe has been generated including two resolutions (50 and 12.5 km), two different deep convection schemes and different boundary conditions (a reanalysis and four global climate models). Using two observational data sets (with and without the undercatch correction) shows that the magnitude of RegCM4 errors in winter precipitation also depends on observational uncertainty. While the mean precipitation amounts in high‐resolution simulations are generally overestimated in the cold part of the year, low‐resolution RegCM4 simulations are comparable to most of other EURO‐CORDEX models. When forced by ERA‐Interim, RegCM4 performs relatively poorly in reproducing temporal correlations against observations, but performs well in terms of spatial correlation. Whereas precipitation amounts from high‐resolution simulations need further improvements, the RegCM4 skill in simulating near‐surface temperature is high and well suited for impact studies.
Mechanical compression augments venous flow equal to intermittent pneumatic compression
Authors: Amanatullah Derek F. , Shah Harsh N. , Johnson Bonnie , Wall James
Published: March 2020

Intermittent pneumatic compression is part of the current standard of care model for preventing venous thromboembolic events (VTE) after total joint arthroplasty. Pneumatic motors limit the rate of inflation resulting in bulky devices with uncomfortable sleeves that inhibited patient compliance and mobility. Nonpneumatic mechanical devices are an alternative for providing mobile, graded, intermittent, sequential, rapid, and monitorable compression posthospitalization. Fifteen healthy volunteers underwent mechanical compression using the Cirvo (Radial Medical, Mountain View, CA) as well as pneumatic compression with four commercially available systems (VenaFlow Elite, Kendall SCD Compression System, ActiveCare DVT, Vasculaire Compression System) and manual calf compression. Peak flow velocity (PFV) was measured by ultrasound of the femoral vein during compression and at baseline. Mechanical compression for 1 second resulted in a significant increase in femoral venous PFV to 107.8 ± 38.2 cm/s from 17.1 ± 4.7 cm/s at baseline (P < .001). The change in femoral venous PFV with mechanical compression for 1 second (90.7 ± 34.9 cm/s) was not statistically different from pneumatic compression from VenaFlow system (106.0 ± 35.6 cm/s, P = .124) and statistically lower than manual calf compression (115.5 ± 26.8 cm/s, P = .015). Pneumatic compression from the VenaFlow system produced the largest change in femoral venous PFV of all commercial pneumatic systems tested. Mechanical compression replicates or exceeds femoral venous PFV available from currently available intermittent pneumatic compression.
Modulation in Aggregation Behavior of Cationic Surfactant in Presence of Fluoroquinolone Drug: A Physicochemical Approach
Authors: Pathania Lalita , Chauhan Suvarcha
Published: March 2020

Measurements of density, speed of sound, conductivity, and fluorescence spectroscopy have been carried out to study the interactions between cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide in an aqueous solution of the fluoroquinolone drug at different concentrations and temperatures. Volumetric and compressibility parameters, such as apparent molar volumes (
V
φ), isentropic compressibility (
κ
s), and apparent molar isentropic compressibility (κ
φ, s), have been obtained from density and speed of sound. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) is found to decrease with an increase in [antibiotic drug] and increase with an increase in temperature, accounting for the fact that hydrophilic dehydration plays a decisive role for micellization to take place. The various thermodynamic parameters indicate the spontaneity of micellization in the presence of drug moiety. The CMC values have been calculated using pyrene as a fluorescent probe at room temperature, and a good qualitative correlation is found to exist well with the CMC values determined using speed of sound and conductivity measurements.
Flexible organic light‐emitting‐diode‐based photonic skin for attachable phototherapeutics
Authors: Jeon Yongmin , Choi Hye‐Ryung , Park Kyoung‐Chan , Choi Kyung Cheol
Published: March 2020

Phototherapeutics is both safely noninvasive and can be employed to treat a variety of sites and diseases. Current rigid and bulky conventional light sources, such as LED or laser‐based phototherapy devices, are difficult to transport and use for regular irradiation treatments. To solve this problem, flexible organic light‐emitting diode (OLED) light sources are the best candidates, and if applied very thinly as a skin‐like platform, the ultimate attachable phototherapeutics can be realized. We demonstrated a very thin flexible OLED‐based photonic skin with a total thickness of 6 μm for application in attachable phototherapeutics. It was optimized by controlling the peak wavelengths (600–700 nm) and irradiation interval of the flexible OLED thus improving the regeneration effect of the artificial skin by up to 70%. In addition, when the flexible OLED‐based photonic skin was attached to a dressing film before being applied to the skin, it delivered the same electro‐optical properties, while protecting against external contamination. The OLED skin on the dressing film had an operating lifetime of more than 100 h. These results confirmed the applicability of flexible OLED‐based photonic skin to various light treatment areas, such as surgical wounds that require periodic irradiation.
Isolation and purification of alkaloids from the fruits of Macleaya cordata by ionic‐liquid‐modified high‐speed counter‐current chromatography
Authors: Liu Yuanyuan , Wang Wenjuan , Che Fenfang , Lu Yanzhen , Li Aoxin , Li Hao , Liu Jiangang , Wei Yun
Published: March 2020

Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. is a medicinal plant. The most important bioactive compounds of M. cordata are alkaloids that have many biological activities including antifungal, anti‐inflammatory, and antitumor. In this study, an ionic‐liquid‐modified high‐speed counter‐current chromatography method was established to obtain alkaloids from the fruits of M. cordata. The conditions of ionic‐liquid‐modified high‐speed counter‐current chromatography, including solvent systems, the content of ionic liquid (1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C4mim][BF4]), and the posttreatment of the ionic liquid, were investigated. Five alkaloids protopine, allocryptopine, sanguinarine, 8‐O‐demethylchelerythrine, and chelerythrine were separated from the extract of the fruits using a high speed counter‐current chromatography with two‐phase solvent system composed of dichloromethane/methanol/0.3 mol/L hydrochloric acid aqueous solution/[C4mim][BF4] (4:2:2:0.015, v/v). Their purities were 96.33, 95.56, 97.94, 96.22, and 97.90%, respectively. The results indicated that a small amount of ionic liquids as modifier of the two‐phase solvent system could shorten the separation time and improve the separation efficiency of the alkaloids from the fruits. The ionic‐liquid‐modified high‐speed counter‐current chromatography would provide a feasible way for highly effective separation of alkaloids from natural products.
Hospitalized Patients With New‐Onset Vocal Fold Immobility Warrant Inpatient Injection Laryngoplasty
Authors: Reder Lindsay , Bertelsen Caitlin , Angajala Varun , O'Dell Karla , Fisher Laurel
Published: March 2020

Objectives

To evaluate the impact of early inpatient bedside injection laryngoplasty (IL) in hospitalized patients with iatrogenic unilateral vocal fold immobility (UVFI).

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Methods

A retrospective review of hospitalized patients with iatrogenic UVFI undergoing IL between September 2013 and June 2017 was performed. Patients had a swallow evaluation by a speech‐language pathologist and bedside IL. Evaluated outcomes included swallow scores, return to diet, secondary events/procedures, and hospital length of stay. Outcomes related to etiology of UVFI were also examined.

Results

The cohort consisted of 90 patients (61% male, 52% after cardiac/cardiothoracic surgery). Seventy‐seven percent of all patients who could improve had increased swallow scores after IL. The lowest number (40%) from the subgroup of patients with high vagal injuries as the cause of UVFI obtained improvement in swallow scores, whereas 87% of those in the cardiac surgery group improved. There were more bronchoscopies and reintubations in patients before IL than after IL.

Conclusion

Hospitalized patients with UVFI are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality due to dysphagia. We advocate for early swallow evaluation and intervention with IL if there is dysphagia and risk of aspiration. Coordination of care between interdisciplinary teams is paramount to a successful inpatient IL program.

Level of Evidence

2b Laryngoscope, 131:115–120, 2021
Microwave Thermolysis Reduces Generalized and Social Anxiety in Young Adults With Axillary Hyperhidrosis
Authors: Parrish Carisa , Waldbaum Benjamin , Coleman Daniel , Blevins Carley , Rodgers Kristen , Lee Beverly , Ober Cecily , Hudhud Layla , Cox Solange , Griffin Candace , Chew Sunmi , Chen Bo , Brock Malcolm
Published: March 2020

Background and Objective

Hyperhidrosis (HH) is associated with impairments in quality of life (QOL) and elevated anxiety. Microwave thermolysis is a newer treatment that reduces sweating, yet effects on QOL and emotional symptoms have not been examined. Two treatment sessions are recommended to achieve 80% amelioration of clinical HH. We hypothesized that microwave thermolysis would reduce sweat severity, improve QOL, and reduce anxiety in young adults suffering from axillary HH in a prospective clinical trial.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

We enrolled 24 young adults (mean age = 23.57 years, 54% female) with elevated scores on the Hyperhidrosis Disease Severity Scale. All participants received one session of microwave thermolysis, and 83% received two sessions. Participants completed measures of sweat severity, QOL, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, social avoidance, and anxious/depressive mood symptoms at baseline; post‐first treatment; and following second treatment.

Results

At baseline, all participants had severe sweating; 87.5% had impaired QOL, 75% had elevated social anxiety, 50% with generalized anxiety, 48% with social avoidance, and 38% with anxious/depressed mood. Paired samples t tests indicated significant improvements from baseline to first procedure, including decreased sweating (t(21) = 5.68, P < 0.001), improved QOL (t(23) = 4.97, P < 0.001), and decreased generalized anxiety (t(23) = 8.11, P < 0.001), social anxiety (t(22) = 4.55, P < 0.001), mood symptoms (t(21) = 3.81, P = 0.001), and social avoidance (t(22) = 3.12, P = 0.005). After second treatment, further improvements were noted in sweating (t(18) = 3.28, P = 0.004) and QOL (t(18) = 3.83, P = 0.003), and a marginal trend for generalized anxiety (t(19) = 1.96, P = 0.064).

Conclusion

There were significant improvements in sweat severity, skin‐specific QOL, generalized anxiety, social anxiety, anxious/depressive symptoms, and social avoidance. The majority of the psychosocial benefit appears to emerge after one treatment of microwave thermolysis, whereas the level of sweat severity and QOL continued to show further improvements after a second treatment. Results would suggest that although two microwave thermolysis sessions are needed for maximal treatment optimization of axillary HH, patients may experience significant benefits in improving psychosocial functioning after just one session. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Transcranial Photobiomodulation (tPBM) With 1,064‐nm Laser to Improve Cerebral Metabolism of the Human Brain In Vivo
Authors: Pruitt Tyrell , Wang Xinlong , Wu Anqi , Kallioniemi Elisa , Husain Mustafa M. , Liu Hanli
Published: March 2020

Background and Objectives

In our previous proof‐of‐principle study, transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM) with 1,064‐nm laser was reported to significantly increase concentration changes of oxygenated hemoglobin (∆[HbO]) and oxidized‐state cytochrome c oxidase (∆[oxi‐CCO]) in the human brain. This paper further investigated (i) its validity in two different subsets of young human subjects at two study sites over a period of 3 years and (ii) age‐related effects of tPBM by comparing sham‐controlled increases of ∆[HbO] and ∆[oxi‐CCO] between young and older adults.

Study Design/Materials and Methods

We measured sham‐controlled ∆[HbO] and ∆[oxi‐CCO] using broadband near‐infrared spectroscopy (bb‐NIRS) in 15 young (26.7 ± 2.7 years of age) and 5 older (68.2 ± 4.8 years of age) healthy normal subjects before, during, and after right‐forehead tPBM/sham stimulation with 1,064‐nm laser. Student t tests were used to test statistical differences in tPBM‐induced ∆[HbO] and ∆[oxi‐CCO] (i) between the 15 young subjects and those of 11 reported previously and (ii) between the two age groups measured in this study.

Results

Statistical analysis showed that no significant difference existed in ∆[HbO] and ∆[oxi‐CCO] during and post tPBM between the two subsets of young subjects at two study sites over a period of 3 years. Furthermore, the two age groups showed statistically identical net increases in sham‐controlled ∆[HbO] and ∆[oxi‐CCO].

Conclusions

This study provided strong evidence to validate/confirm our previous findings that tPBM with 1,064‐nm laser enables to increase cerebral ∆[HbO] and ∆[oxi‐CCO] in the human brain, as measured by bb‐NIRS. Overall, it demonstrated the robust reproducibility of tPBM being able to improve cerebral hemodynamics and metabolism of the human brain in vivo in both young and older adults. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2020 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
γ‐Butyrolactone Copolymerization with the Well‐Documented Polymer Drug Carrier Poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) to Fine‐Tune Its Biorelevant Properties
Authors: Urbánek Tomáš , Trousil Jiří , Rak Dmytro , Gunár Kristýna , Konefał Rafał , Šlouf Miroslav , Sedlák Marián , Šebestová Janoušková Olga , Hrubý Martin
Published: March 2020

Polymeric drug carriers exhibit excellent properties that advance drug delivery systems. In particular, carriers based on poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) are very useful in pharmacokinetics. In addition to their proven biocompatibility, there are several requirements for the efficacy of the polymeric drug carriers after internalization, e.g., nanoparticle behavior, cellular uptake, the rate of degradation, and cellular localization. The introduction of γ‐butyrolactone units into the hydrophobic block enables the tuning of the abovementioned properties over a wide range. In this study, a relatively high content of γ‐butyrolactone units with a reasonable yield of ≈60% is achieved by anionic ring‐opening copolymerization using 1,5,7‐triazabicyclo[4.4.0]dec‐5‐ene as a very efficient catalyst in the nonpolar environment of toluene with an incorporated γ‐butyrolactone content of ≈30%. The content of γ‐butyrolactone units can be easily modulated according to the feed ratio of the monomers. This method enables control over the rate of degradation so that when the content of γ‐butyrolactone increases, the rate of degradation increases. These findings broaden the application possibilities of polyester‐polyether‐based nanoparticles for biomedical applications, such as drug delivery systems.
Novel SiO2‐Supported Chromium Oxide/Chromocene Dual Site Catalysts for Synthesis of Bimodal UHMWPE/HDPE in Reactor Alloys
Authors: Wang Kai , Jin Yulong , Liu Boping , Zhang Rui , Ren He , Zhao Ning , He Xuelian
Published: March 2020

Polyethylene (PE) with bimodal molecular weight distribution (MWD) has drawn attention from both academia and industry. Bimodal PE combines great processability with outstanding mechanical properties. The single‐reactor technology process through a dual site catalyst system is an optimal strategy considering the economic effect and the manufacturing technique. To satisfy the demand of the dual site catalyst system for producing bimodal PE, novel SiO2‐supported chromium oxide/chromocene dual site catalysts for ethylene polymerization are successfully synthesized and systematically investigated. The novel catalysts are prepared by using the residual hydroxyl groups on the surface of SiO2‐supported chromium oxide (CrOx) Phillips catalyst to introduce chromocene. It is found that the novel dual site catalysts combine the advantages of chromocene catalyst (S‐9 catalyst) and Phillips CrOx/SiO2 catalyst. The activities of the dual site catalysts are doubled at least compared to the S‐9 catalyst due to the high activity of the CrOx active center. The products of the dual site catalysts show significantly high molecular weight (MW) with bimodal MWD through ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/high‐density polyethylene in reactor alloys. The dual site catalysts show great hydrogen response according to the hydrogen experiment results, which lead to the easy control of MW.
On weak square, approachability, the tree property, and failures of SCH in a choiceless context
Authors: Apter Arthur W.
Published: March 2020

We show that the consistency of the theories “ holds below ” + “there is an injection ” + “both and fail” and + “ holds below ” + “there is an injection ” + “ satisfies the tree property” follow from the appropriate supercompactness hypotheses. These provide answers in a choiceless context to certain long‐standing open questions concerning , weak square, approachability, and the tree property. There is nothing special about , and the injection into can be from any ordinal λ (which means that pcf theory can fail badly in the models constructed if ).
Lowness for isomorphism, countable ideals, and computable traceability
Authors: Franklin Johanna N. Y. , Solomon Reed
Published: March 2020

We show that every countable ideal of degrees that are low for isomorphism is contained in a principal ideal of degrees that are low for isomorphism by adapting an exact pair construction. We further show that within the hyperimmune free degrees, lowness for isomorphism is entirely independent of computable traceability.
Fredholm property of non‐smooth pseudodifferential operators
Authors: Abels Helmut , Pfeuffer Christine
Published: March 2020

In this paper we prove sufficient conditions for the Fredholm property of a non‐smooth pseudodifferential operator P which symbol is in a Hölder space with respect to the spatial variable. As a main ingredient for the proof we use a suitable symbol‐smoothing.
Algebras of frequently hypercyclic vectors
Authors: Falcó Javier , Grosse‐Erdmann Karl‐G.
Published: March 2020

We show that the multiples of the backward shift operator on the spaces , , or c0, when endowed with coordinatewise multiplication, do not possess frequently hypercyclic algebras. More generally, we characterize the existence of algebras of ‐hypercyclic vectors for these operators. We also show that the differentiation operator on the space of entire functions, when endowed with the Hadamard product, does not possess frequently hypercyclic algebras. On the other hand, we show that for any frequently hypercyclic operator T on any Banach space, is algebrable for a suitable product, and in some cases it is even strongly algebrable.