bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fluoride effect on plasma electrolytic oxidation coating formed on Mg-Al alloy in alkaline electrolytes
Authors: Wang Lishi , Feng Tao , Yu Shanwen , Cheng Yihang , Bu Zhixiang , Hu Xinbin 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) is an effective protection technique developed for light alloys, such as aluminum, magnesium and titanium alloys. PEO electrolytes often contain fluorides, yet their functionality is not well understood during the oxide layer formation and growth. In the present work, we tracked the fluoride evolvement contained in PEO ceramic protective layer formed on AZ91 magnesium alloys. It is found that a fluoride rich layer with 1–2 μm thickness is often formed at the coating/substrate interface and nanocrystalline MgO islands with size of 20–60 nm are found to be embedded in amorphous coating substrate.
Investigation of LaAlO3 pervoskite compound for optoelectronic and thermoelectric devices under pressure
Authors: Yaseen Muhammad , Ashfaq Amna , Akhtar Anam , Asghar Rida , Ambreen Hina , Butt Mehwish Khalid , Noreen Saima , Ur Rehman Shafiq , Bibi Shamsa , Ramay Shahid M , Murtaza Adil 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
The electronic, optical and thermoelectric properties of LaAlO3 are studied under different pressure ranges (0–40 GPa) by using the full potential linear augmented plane wave method (FP-LAW). Calculations are done by Perdew–Burke–Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation (PBEsol-GGA) by utilizing Wien 2k code. It was observed that with the increase of pressure band gap increased and the nature of band gap transform from indirect to direct. In Optical properties, optical conductivity, refractive index, absorption coefficient, and dielectric function are calculated at different pressures. Thermoelectric properties have been studied at temperature (150–800 K) and pressure (0–40 GPa) by using Boltz Trap code. At 800 K the values of power factor were 6.831 W K−2. cm. s and 22.13 W K−2. cm. s, respectively. Figure of merit was achieved up to 0.6. Results revealed that LaAlO3 is a suitable candidate for optoelectronic and thermoelectric devices.
CdTe:Sn thin films deposited by the simultaneous laser ablation of CdTe and Sn targets
Authors: Rivera L P , García E , Cardona D , Pérez-Centeno A , Camps E , Santana-Aranda M A , Gómez-Rosas G , de Moure-Flores F , Chávez-Chávez A , Quiñones-Galván J G 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
CdTe:Sn thin films were grown by pulsed laser deposition on glass substrates at room temperature. The study of the changes in the chemical, structural and optical properties of the films as a function of the density of Sn ions calculated from Langmuir planar probe measurments is presented. Four films were grown by the simultaneous ablation of CdTe and Sn targets in vacuum. The Sn ion density was modified by varying the fluence on the Sn target, while the CdTe plasma density was kept constant for all the deposits. One CdTe film was grown as control sample using the same experimental conditions as in the CdTe:Sn films. The chemical composition was analyzed by XPS, where a dependence of the Sn incorporation into the CdTe lattice, on the Sn ion plasma density was demonstrated. The crystalline structure analysis by XRD showed a hexagonal structure for all the films. When the CdTe and Sn plasmas were combined, a preferential orientation in the plane (110) was observed for the resulting films. Furthermore, as Sn plasma density increased, the intensity of the (110) peak increased as well, suggesting that crystalline re-orientation is an effect of Sn incorporated into the CdTe lattice. Vibrational behavior was analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. A vibrational mode appeared at 118 cm−1 and was related to a Sn-Te vibration, suggesting the incorporation of substitutional Sn into the CdTe lattice. The Sn-Te bonding was confirmed by XPS by the appearance of signals centered at 485 and 494 eV, which correspond to Sn2+ in SnTe. Thin films thicknesses values were between 320 and 460 nm increasing with Sn ion density. The band gap calculated using UV–vis spectrophotometry, resulted in values ranging from 1.42 to 1.46 eV. PL measurements showed a slight blue shift of the near-edge emission as Sn plasma density increased.
Bidens pilosa Extract Effects on Pine Wilt: Causal Agents and Their Natural Enemies
Authors: Taba Satoshi , Ashikaga Koichiro , Oohama Tsuyoshi , Ajitomi Atsushi , Kiyuna Chouji , Kinjo Misa , Sekine Ken-Taro 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
We investigated the nematicidal and insecticidal activities of the aqueous extract from Bidens pilosa var. radiata on pine-wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) and Japanese pine sawyer (Monochamus alternatus) larvae and adults, the causal agent and vector of pine wilt, respectively. The aqueous extract killed the pine-wood nematode, adults, and larvae of the vector in vitro at all concentrations tested, and the effect decreased significantly with increasing extract dilution. Repellent activity was observed on the nematode and the vector adults as well, although the activity decreased with time in case of the vector. Furthermore, the aqueous extract of B. pilosa effectively promoted approximately 3.0–9.0 mm of hyphal growth in Beauveria spp., when compared with the control treatment. A minor insecticidal effect was also observed on two species of click beetle (Cryptalaus larvatus pini and Paracalais berus), which are natural predators of the Japanese pine-sawyer larvae. Pesticidal and repellent activities of the aqueous extract observed on several organisms related to pine wilt suggest that a multifactorial approach may effectively control this devastating disease.
Trace finite element methods for surface vector-Laplace equations
Authors: Jankuhn Thomas , Reusken Arnold 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
In this paper we analyze a class of trace finite element methods for the discretization of vector-Laplace equations. A key issue in the finite element discretization of such problems is the treatment of the constraint that the unknown vector field must be tangential to the surface (‘tangent condition’). We study three different natural techniques for treating the tangent condition, namely a consistent penalty method, a simpler inconsistent penalty method and a Lagrange multiplier method. The main goal of the paper is to present an analysis that reveals important properties of these three different techniques for treating the tangent constraint. A detailed error analysis is presented that takes the approximation of both the geometry of the surface and the solution of the partial differential equation into account. Error bounds in the energy norm are derived that show how the discretization error depends on relevant parameters such as the degree of the polynomials used for the approximation of the solution, the degree of the polynomials used for the approximation of the level set function that characterizes the surface, the penalty parameter and the degree of the polynomials used for the approximation of the Lagrange multiplier.
Safety of central compartment neck dissection for transoral endoscopic thyroid surgery in papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Wang Tiantian , Wu Yanping , Xie Qiuping , Yan Haichen , Zhou Xiaoming , Yu Xing , Chen Yufei , Xiang Cheng , Yan Haichao , Zhao Qunzi , Zhang Maolin , Qi Ming , Wang Ping , Wang Yong 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackgroundRemote access and endoscopic thyroid surgery has been gaining popularity because it allows patients to avoid a visible scar in the neck. There is limited data on transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy when it relates to patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. We aim to evaluate the safety of ipsilateral central compartment dissection for patients who undergo transoral thyroidectomy (thyroidectomy vestibular approach–compartment lymph node dissection).Patients and MethodsA total of 80 patients who underwent thyroidectomy vestibular approach–compartment lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma from June 2015 to September 2016 were identified. Over the same period, a matched cohort of 80 patients who underwent open thyroidectomy with routine ipsilateral central compartment dissection was also identified (Open-compartment lymph node dissection). The two groups were analyzed in terms of patient characteristics, perioperative clinical results and post-operative outcomes.ResultsAll patients were female with a mean age of 32-year. There was no difference in mean maximum tumor size and number of lymph nodes dissected. Moreover, there was no difference in average positive lymph nodes between thyroidectomy vestibular approach–compartment lymph node dissection and Open-compartment lymph node dissection (1.48 vs 1.08, P = 0.647). Operative time was longer in the thyroidectomy vestibular approach–compartment lymph node dissection group (193 vs 102 min, P &lt; 0.001). Thyroidectomy specific complications were similar with rates of temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy of 6.3 vs 8.8% and temporary hypocalcemia rates of 2.5 vs 5% in the thyroidectomy vestibular approach–compartment lymph node dissection and Open-compartment lymph node dissection groups, respectively.ConclusionsThyroidectomy vestibular approach–compartment lymph node dissection is a feasible and safe option for select patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who require central node dissection compared with Open-compartment lymph node dissection, and can be a viable alternative for patients wishing to avoid a visible scar.
Extreme Downregulation of Chromosome Y and Cancer Risk in Men
Authors: Cáceres Alejandro , Jene Aina , Esko Tonu , Pérez-Jurado Luis A , González Juan R 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Background
Understanding the biological differences between sexes in cancer is essential for personalized treatment and prevention. We hypothesized that the extreme downregulation of chromosome Y gene expression (EDY) is a signature of cancer risk in men and the functional mediator of the reported association between the mosaic loss of chromosome Y (LOY) and cancer.

Methods
We advanced a method to measure EDY from transcriptomic data. We studied EDY across 47 nondiseased tissues from the Genotype Tissue-Expression Project (n = 371) and its association with cancer status across 12 cancer studies from The Cancer Genome Atlas (n = 1774) and seven other studies (n = 7562). Associations of EDY with cancer status and presence of loss-off function mutations in chromosome X were tested with logistic regression models, and a Fisher’s test was used to assess genome-wide association of EDY with the proportion of copy number gains. All statistical tests were two-sided.

Results
EDY was likely to occur in multiple nondiseased tissues (P &lt; .001) and was statistically significantly associated with the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance pathway (false discovery rate = 0.028). EDY strongly associated with cancer risk in men (odds ratio [OR] = 3.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.58 to 8.46, P = .002), adjusted by LOY and age, and its variability was largely explained by several genes of the nonrecombinant region whose chromosome X homologs showed loss-of-function mutations that co-occurred with EDY during cancer (OR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.32 to 6.01, P = .007). EDY associated with a high proportion of EGFR amplifications (OR = 5.64, 95% CI = 3.70 to 8.59, false discovery rate &lt; 0.001) and EGFR overexpression along with SRY hypomethylation and nonrecombinant region hypermethylation, indicating alternative causes of EDY in cancer other than LOY. EDY associations were independently validated for different cancers and exposure to smoking, and its status was accurately predicted from individual methylation patterns.

Conclusions
EDY is a male-specific signature of cancer susceptibility that supports the escape from X-inactivation tumor suppressor hypothesis for genes that protect women compared with men from cancer risk.
Evolution of Cancer Care Delivery Research in the NCI Community Oncology Research Program
Authors: Geiger Ann M , O’Mara Ann M , McCaskill-Stevens Worta J , Adjei Brenda , Tuovenin Priyanga , Castro Kathleen M 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Research seeking to improve patient engagement with decision-making, use of evidence-based guidelines, and coordination of multi-specialty care has made important contributions to the decades-long effort to improve cancer care. The National Cancer Institute expanded support for these efforts by including cancer care delivery research in the 2014 formation of the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). Cancer care delivery research is a multi-disciplinary effort to generate evidence-based practice change that improves clinical outcomes and patient well-being. NCORP scientists and community-based clinicians and organizations rapidly embraced the addition of this type of research into the network, resulting in a robust portfolio of observational studies and intervention studies within the first 5 years of funding. This commentary describes the initial considerations in conducting this type of research in a network previously focused on cancer prevention, control, and treatment studies; characterizes the protocols developed to date; and outlines future directions for cancer care delivery research in the second round of NCORP funding.
Measuring Without a Ruler: Assessing Compliance with Calculative International Norms
Authors: Traven David , Holmes Marcus 
Published: December 2019

AbstractMeasuring compliance with international norms is usually taken to be a relatively straightforward exercise. To determine whether a state is compliant, scholars typically measure the level of conformity between their behavior and “the letter of the law.” IR theorists often disagree over whether compliance tells us anything meaningful about the causal effects of international norms, but most believe that it can at least be measured. We argue that, for certain norms and laws, this claim is too optimistic. We draw on recent insights from moral philosophy and moral psychology to distinguish between two types of international norms: (1) proscriptive norms that govern state practices by providing fairly specific rules of appropriateness for how states or other actors are expected to behave and (2) calculative norms, which do not stipulate any particular rules of appropriateness, but rather require that states take efforts to maximize or minimize a specific value. The laws of war, for example, hold that states cannot target civilians (proscriptive), but they do allow for tactics that generate collateral damage, as long as it is minimized (calculative). Because assessments of conformity between state practices and calculative norms require evaluation of intentions—which can be difficult at best to obtain, particularly in instances where actors have incentives to mislead or dissemble—measuring compliance by assessing behavior and its consequences can be very misleading and lead to false negatives. Using US bombing policy in Vietnam as an illustrative case, we show that failing to observe the differences between norm types can lead to confusion when evaluating the effects of international law.
Serum Folate of Less than 7.0 ng/mL is a Marker of Malnutrition
Authors: Kozman Diana , Mattox Samantha , Singh Gurmukh 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Objective
To identify clinical/laboratory factors associated with folate deficiency in tertiary care patients.

Methods
We reviewed the medical records of 1019 patients with serum folate &lt;7.0 ng/mL, 301 patients with serum folate of 15 ng/mL, and 300 patients with serum folate &gt; 23 ng/mL.

Results
Serum prealbumin levels were subnormal in 54.8% of patients with serum folate &lt;7.0 ng/mL. Vitamin B12, hemoglobin, and serum albumin levels were significantly lower in the &lt;7.0 ng/mL folate group. In 62.4% of patients with serum folate &lt;7.0 ng/mL, 1 or more markers of malnutrition were present. The low-folate group had a significantly higher prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, sepsis, and abnormal serum creatinine level. There were no significant differences in the 2 groups regarding diabetes; behavioral/neurological disorders, including drug and alcohol abuse; bariatric surgery; or a diagnosis of malnutrition. The average body mass index (BMI) for the &lt;7.0 ng/mL and 15 ng/mL folate groups was significantly different (28.89 and 28.31, respectively), although the difference does not appear to be clinically meaningful.

Conclusions
The prevalence of folate deficiency depends on what is considered a normal serum folate level. Approximately 10% of tertiary-care patients have levels &lt;7.0 ng/mL and exhibit other markers of malnutrition. It is recommended that patients with GI disorders, chronic kidney disease, and sepsis be routinely tested for serum folate levels, before administration of vitamin supplements. Patients with serum folate levels &lt;7.0 ng/mL should be evaluated for malnutrition, despite BMI &gt; 25. Folate supplementation should be administered only after excluding coexisting vitamin B12 deficiency.
A Depletion of Stop Codons in lincRNA is Owing to Transfer of Selective Constraint from Coding Sequences
Authors: Abrahams Liam , Hurst Laurence D 
Published: December 2019

AbstractAlthough the constraints on a gene’s sequence are often assumed to reflect the functioning of that gene, here we propose transfer selection, a constraint operating on one class of genes transferred to another, mediated by shared binding factors. We show that such transfer can explain an otherwise paradoxical depletion of stop codons in long intergenic noncoding RNAs (lincRNAs). Serine/arginine-rich proteins direct the splicing machinery by binding exonic splice enhancers (ESEs) in immature mRNA. As coding exons cannot contain stop codons in one reading frame, stop codons should be rare within ESEs. We confirm that the stop codon density (SCD) in ESE motifs is low, even accounting for nucleotide biases. Given that serine/arginine-rich proteins binding ESEs also facilitate lincRNA splicing, a low SCD could transfer to lincRNAs. As predicted, multiexon lincRNA exons are depleted in stop codons, a result not explained by open reading frame (ORF) contamination. Consistent with transfer selection, stop codon depletion in lincRNAs is most acute in exonic regions with the highest ESE density, disappears when ESEs are masked, is consistent with stop codon usage skews in ESEs, and is diminished in both single-exon lincRNAs and introns. Owing to low SCD, the maximum lengths of pseudo-ORFs frequently exceed null expectations. This has implications for ORF annotation and the evolution of de novo protein-coding genes from lincRNAs. We conclude that not all constraints operating on genes need be explained by the functioning of the gene but may instead be transferred owing to shared binding factors.
The impact of pharmaceutical innovation on the burden of disease in Ireland, 2000–2015
Authors: Lichtenberg Frank R 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Background
We perform an econometric assessment of the impact that pharmaceutical innovation had on the burden of disease in Ireland.

Methods
We use a difference-in-differences (or two-way fixed effects) research design: we investigate whether diseases for which more new drugs were launched had larger subsequent reductions in mortality. This design controls for the effects of general economic and societal factors (e.g. income, education, and behavioral risk factors), to the extent that those effects are similar across diseases.

Results
New Chemical Entities launched during 1983–1997 are estimated to have reduced the total number of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) lost in 2015 by about 234 600.

Conclusions
Pharmaceutical expenditure per DALY gained in 2015 from drugs launched during 1983–1997 was €1137, which indicates that the new drugs launched during 1983–1997 were very cost–effective, overall.
How Teachers Meet in Interdisciplinary Teams: Hangouts, Distribution Centers, and Melting Pots
Authors: Meeuwissen Stephanie N.E. , Gijselaers Wim H. , Wolfhagen Ineke H.A.P. , oude Egbrink Mirjam G.A. 
Published: December 2019

Purpose
To explore team learning processes among interdisciplinary teacher teams in the development of integrated health professions education and to investigate students’ perspectives on the quality of the educational courses.

Method
Using an exploratory, sequential mixed-methods design, the first author conducted 17 vignette-guided, semistructured interviews with teachers originating from diverse disciplines. These teachers worked in different courses of integrated, undergraduate health professions programs at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, the Netherlands. The interview guide and vignettes were based on team learning research. The interviews sought to establish how interdisciplinary teacher team members work together on integrated curricula. The vignettes reflected constructs of team learning processes: sharing, co-construction, and constructive conflict. Data were collected between November 2017 and March 2018 and analyzed using template analysis. Sequentially, course evaluation data were used to provide a descriptive analysis of students’ perspectives on educational quality (course organization, structure, learning effect, and alignment).

Results
Three team approaches were identified. In fragmented teams or “hangouts,” teachers individually worked on tasks that they were interested in, leaving their disciplinary mark. Framework-guided teams or “distribution centers” aimed to work within the given frameworks and organizational expectations, striving for disciplinary balance. Integrated teacher teams or “melting pots” used an interdisciplinary approach on all topics and put students at the center. Integrated teams reflected high-level team learning processes and were most satisfied with their (team)work. In contrast, fragmented and framework-guided teams mainly reflected low-level team learning processes. Students evaluated courses of integrated teacher teams highest on all investigated quality items (course organization, structure, learning effect, and alignment).

Conclusions
Successful interdisciplinary teacher teams are represented by an integrated approach with high-level team learning behavior and the best course evaluations. Therefore, health professions education management should actively encourage and facilitate integrated teacher teamwork.
Controversies in Perioperative Antimicrobial Prophylaxis
Authors: Decker Brooke K. , Nagrebetsky Alexander , Lipsett Pamela A. , Wiener-Kronish Jeanine P. , O’Grady Naomi P. 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Although clinical guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis across a wide array of surgical procedures have been proposed by multidisciplinary groups of physicians and pharmacists, clinicians often deviate from recommendations. This is particularly true when recommendations are based on weak data or expert opinion. The goal of this review is to highlight certain common but controversial topics in perioperative prophylaxis and to focus on the data that does exist for the recommendations being made.