bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Epidemiological Profile of End-Stage Renal Diseases in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alkhlaif A. A. , Alsuraimi A. K. , Bawazir A. A. 
Published: July 2020

Background/Aims: The Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation (SCOT) reported (2015) a total of 15,782 dialysis patients in Saudi Arabia. Out of these patients, 14,366 were treated via haemodialysis, whereas the remaining 1,416 underwent peritoneal dialysis.
Aims: This study aimed to assess common factors that led to ESRD among dialysis patients at King Abdullah’s Dialysis Care Project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Settings and Design: Cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted in the period May-September 2017, in King Abdullah’s Dialysis Care Project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Methods and Materials: This was a retrospective registry-based study using secondary data from the registry at King Abdullah’s Dialysis Care Project in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (South Center). Registered male and female adult dialysis patients at this centre were included in this study. Patient medical records including disease state, laboratory profiles, and medical complications were analyzed.
Statistical Analysis Used: Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS version 22) was used to analyse the data obtained. Various statistical analyses were conducted including means, frequencies, and regression analysis (odds ratio).A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered as significant in the study.
Results: A total of 300 patients (55% males and 45% females) were included in this study. The mean age of the sample was 53 years (±SD 16). The prevalence of overweight and obese ESRD patients were 26% and 30%, respectively. The high frequent co-morbidities among ESRD patients were hypertension (82%) followed by diabetes mellitus (57%). The results showed that out of 90% of dialysis complications, 10% were cases of infection.
Conclusions: ESRD is an important public health problem in Saudi Arabia with alarming in its annual rates. For a better understanding of the aetiology and specific risk factors provoking ESRD in Saudi Arabia, further studies need to be conducted.
Local Government Performance under a Federal System: The Nigerian Experience
Authors: Ukachukwu Chukwuma Chinedu 
Published: July 2020

This paper examines the local government practice under the federal system of government in Nigeria. It highlights the performance of local government system in Nigeria as a federal entity. It accounts for the circumstances which underline the performance of the local government system in Nigeria and the impact on its efficiency and effectiveness. The secondary method of collecting data has been adopted in this paper and data collected were subjected to further documentary analysis. David Easton’s systems theory is employed as the theoretical framework. The findings reveal that because the practice of federalism in Nigeria has failed to take into account the heterogeneous composition of its peoples, it adopted a uniform system of local government which has failed to make impact on the people within their localities. The paper recommends enthronement of genuine and practical democratic federal cultures across the country and a fundamental review of the laws that created the Nigerian local government system with a view to evolving fewer but stronger local governments that are relatively independent, functional and adapted to meet peculiar local needs.
Evaluation of Selective Fungicides and Biocontrol Agents for Suppression of Banded Leaf and Sheath Blight of Maize (Zea mays)
Authors: Venkateswarlu Bolla , Beura Surja Kanta 
Published: July 2020

The investigation was carried out for managing leaf and sheath blight of maize (Zea mays L.) by using different fungicides and bio control agents. The bio control agents and fungicides exhibited inhibitory action against the test pathogen under laboratory condition. Field experiment conducted during kharif season 2016 revealed that two sprays of validamycin (0.2%), 30 and 40 days after sowing, gave maximum grain yield (30.0 q/ha) and 100-seed weight (208.0 g) with minimum percentage disease incidence (7%), (severity 1 on 1-5 scale), followed by difenoconazole @ 0.15% and hexaconazole (0.2%) for effective control of BSLB. Use of bio control agents Trichoderma harzianum and Pseudomonas fluorescens was found as best strategy for BSLB management.
High Curie Temperature Ferromagnetism and High Hole Mobility in Tensile Strained Mn‐Doped SiGe Thin Films
Authors: Wang Huanming , Sun Sen , Lu Jiating , Xu Jiayin , Lv Xiaowei , Peng Yong , Zhang Xi , Wang Yuan , Xiang Gang 
Published: July 2020

AbstractDiluted magnetic semiconductors based on group‐IV materials are desirable for spintronic devices compatible with current silicon technology. In this work, amorphous Mn‐doped SiGe thin films are first fabricated on Ge substrates by radio frequency magnetron sputtering and then crystallized by rapid thermal annealing (RTA). After the RTA, the samples become ferromagnetic semiconductors, in which the Curie temperature increases with increasing Mn doping concentration and reaches 280 K with 5% Mn concentration. The data suggest that the ferromagnetism comes from the hole‐mediated process and is enhanced by the tensile strain in the SiGe crystals. Meanwhile, the Hall effect measurement up to 33 T to eliminate the influence of anomalous Hall effect reveals that the hole mobility of the annealed samples is greatly enhanced and the maximal value is ≈1000 cm2 V−1 s−1, owing to the tensile strain‐induced band structure modulation. The Mn‐doped SiGe thin films with high Curie temperature ferromagnetism and high hole mobility may provide a promising platform for semiconductor spintronics.
Structural Relaxation and Crystalline Phase Effects on the Exchange Bias Phenomenon in FeF2/Fe Core/Shell Nanoparticles
Authors: Velásquez Ever A. , Mazo‐Zuluaga Johan , Tangarife Edwin , Mejía‐López José 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn this study, the power of first‐principles methods along with molecular dynamics and atomistic Monte Carlo simulations is employed to elucidate the effects of the structural relaxation on the exchange bias (EB) behavior of FeF2/Fe core/shell nanoparticles. The effects of the crystalline phase are also explored by studying the EB features on the related nanoparticles modeled through simple cubic, body centered cubic, and face centered cubic systems. The results indicate that effects of both structural relaxation and crystalline phase on the EB phenomenon are crucial. Noticeable differences are found in the quantitative and qualitative results, as well as in conclusions from studies which, for the sake of simplicity, have used simple cubic crystalline structures for modeling the sample of study instead of its own crystalline model. To compare these results with experimental systems, hysteresis behaviors under field cooling procedures and for a sample made up by a particle diameter distribution D = 4.3 ± 0.7 nm, which is easily affordable at present, are presented. In that sense, this study raises a warning about the conclusions derived from previous works, and offers a suggestion to pay close attention to both the crystalline model and the structural relaxation of the nanoparticle systems exhibiting EB effects.
An abnormal clinical Allen's Test is not a contraindication for free radial forearm flap
Authors: Miller Travis J. , Safa Bauback , Watt Andrew J. , Chen Mang L. , Lin Walter C. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAn abnormal clinical Allen's test is not a definitive exclusion criterion for free radial forearm flap use. A surgical Allen's test may be useful to determine whether flap harvest is feasible in patients with an abnormal clinical Allen's test.
Iatrogenic hepatic granuloma (suspected liver metastatic lesion on imaging) caused by liver retraction during laparoscopic gastrectomy: A case report
Authors: Bekki Tomoaki , Yamamoto Yuji , Saeki Yoshihiro , Arihiro Koji , Tanabe Kazuaki , Ohdan Hideki 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThere are no previous reports of hepatic granuloma secondary to intraoperative liver retraction. Using softer hepatic retraction instruments and keeping hepatic retraction time to a minimum are vital in preventing postoperative liver damage.
Five‐day fever: The main presentation of childhood‐onset Takayasu arteritis
Authors: Javadi Parvaneh Vadood , Jari Mohsen , Rahmani Khosro , Azma Roxana , Shiari Reza 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn children with a nonspecific constitutional presentation such as prolonged fever, the physician should pay attention to primary vasculitides after ruling out the more common diseases such as infectious diseases, malignancies, and the other rheumatic disorders. The past history of autoimmunity may be a clue for this.
Rill network development on loessial hillslopes in China
Authors: Shen Haiou , Zheng Fenli , Zhang Xunchang John , Qin Chao 
Published: July 2020

AbstractRill network development not only potentially affects hillslope and drainage network evolution, but also causes severe soil degradation. However, the studies on rill network development remain inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the temporal and spatial development of hillslope rill networks and their characteristics based on rainfall simulations and field observations. A soil pan (10.0 m long × 3.0 m wide × 0.5 m deep) on a 20° slope was applied three successive simulated rains at two intensities of 50 and 100 mm h–1. The field observations were performed on two bare hillslope runoff plots (10.0 m long × 3.0 m wide) at 20°. Three typical erosive natural rainfall events were observed in the field, and rills were measured in detail, similar to the laboratory rainfall simulation. The results indicated that with increases in rainfall events, the rill network morphology varied from incipient formation to the maximum drainage network density. Four rill network development indicators (rill distribution density, distance between rills, rill bifurcation number, and confluence point number) exhibited different changes over time and space. Among the four indicators, the rill bifurcation number was the best indicator for describing rill network development. Rill flow energy increased and decreased cyclically on a slope ranging between ~3 and 4 m. Moreover, rill networks on loessial hillslopes generally evolved into dendritic rather than parallel forms. The development characteristics of the rill network were relatively similar between the laboratory simulation and natural field conditions. Over time, rill erosion control measures become increasingly difficult to implement as the rill network develops. The morphology of eroding rills evolved over time and space, which led to corresponding rill network development. Further study should quantify the impacts of rill network development on soil degradation and land development. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Role of programmed death‐ligand 1 in predicting the treatment outcome of salvage chemotherapy after nivolumab in recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Ueki Yushi , Takahashi Takeshi , Ota Hisayuki , Shodo Ryusuke , Yamazaki Keisuke , Horii Arata 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundIt was reported that treatment outcomes of the salvage chemotherapy (SCT) following nivolumab are fairly good compared with those of nivolumab itself. However, predictive factors of SCT for recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (R/M HNSCC) were not determined.MethodsTwenty‐one R/M HNSCC patients received SCT following nivolumab. The treatment outcome and predictive factors for the favorable response to SCT were investigated.ResultsThe objective response rate (ORR) and the disease control rate of SCT were 52.4% and 81.0%, respectively. The median progression‐free survival and the median overall survival time were 5.4 and 12.9 months, respectively. Patients with positive programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression showed greater tumor shrinkage evaluated by the response evaluation criteria in solid tumors and higher ORR than those with negative PD‐L1 expression.ConclusionsTreatment outcome of SCT following nivolumab in R/M HNSCC was favorable. PD‐L1 expression may be a predictive factor of SCT.
A note on the polynomial decay of a weakly dissipative viscoelastic system
Authors: Hassan Jamilu Hashim , Messaoudi Salim A. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn this note we study an abstract class of weakly dissipative second‐order systems with finite memory. We establish the polynomial decay of Rivera, Naso and Vegni for the solution of the system under a very weak condition on the relaxation function.
Stable renal function in children and adolescents with sickle cell disease after nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Pedersen Sasia J. V. , Monagel Dania A. , Mammen Cherry , Lewis Victor A. , Guilcher Gregory M. T. , Bruce Aisha A. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundSickle cell disease (SCD) is associated with renal complications starting as early as infancy. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) treatments using newer nonmyeloablative (NMA) conditioning regimens show promising results in treating SCD in the pediatric population, but renal outcome parameters after transplantation have not been described.AimTo describe baseline renal parameters as well as short‐ and long‐term renal outcomes in pediatric patients with SCD who underwent NMA‐HSCT.MethodsA retrospective chart review of pediatric patients who received NMA‐HSCT in Alberta, Canada. Short‐term renal outcomes evaluated were: (1) acute kidney injury (AKI), (2) fluid overload (FO), and (3) hypertension. Long‐term outcomes evaluated were: (1) estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) development and at last follow‐up with hyperfiltration defined as eGFR ≥ 150 mL/min/1.73 m2, (2) proteinuria, and (3) hypertension.ResultsThe mean follow‐up time was 128.6 weeks (standard deviations, 69.3). No posttransplant AKI events or FO were observed. eGFR remained > 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 at last follow‐up in all patients, whereas hyperfiltration was present in eight (44.4%) and four (22.2%) patients pre‐ and post‐HSCT, respectively, which are significantly different (P < 0.0001). Consequently, median GFR was significantly higher pre‐HSCT compared with 24 months HSCT (P < 0.009). Long‐term hypertension post‐HSCT was present in six patients (33.3%).ConclusionThis study describes stable kidney function in children with SCD after NMA‐HSCT without evidence of AKI or FO episodes. Rates of hyperfiltration decreased post‐HSCT, which signifies that NMA‐HSCT could potentially preserve long‐term renal function in this population at risk of progressive chronic kidney disease. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these novel findings.
Predicting phosphirane air stability using density functional theory
Authors: Gaston Jayden J. , McCosker Patrick M. , Yu Haibo , Keller Paul A. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractPhosphorus 3‐membered heterocycles, phosphiranes, provide an interesting synthetic scaffold with a potentially diverse range of reactions that are currently underexplored. This is in part due to their difficulty in synthesis, with many products and intermediates containing low air stability. With the application and extension of a density functional theory (DFT) model to phosphiranes by calculation at the UB3LYP/6‐31G(d) level of their radical cation singly occupied molecular orbital (SOMO), a correlation between calculated and relative experimental air stability has been demonstrated. The model also accounts for the stability of many synthesised substituted and unsubstituted phosphiranes and has allowed new synthetic targets to be identified, in particular, 1‐(2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butoxyphenyl)phosphirane exhibited high theoretical air stability. Because of the simplicity and efficiency of the model, its application enables phosphiranes to be screened for high bench stability, providing accessibility for their use in synthetic chemistry, in turn, realising the potential for incorporation of phosphiranes into complex synthetic strategies.
Near‐infrared‐induced photothermal decomposition of charge transfer complexes: A new way to initiate thermal polymerization
Authors: Caron Aurore , Dumur Frédéric , Lalevée Jacques 
Published: July 2020

AbstractA new approach for the near‐infrared (NIR)‐induced free‐radical photopolymerization of (meth)acrylate‐based polymers through the use of charge transfer complex (CTC) is proposed. This challenging strategy is based on near‐infrared sensitizers (e.g., cyanines) which act as very efficient heat generator (heater) upon NIR irradiation, allowing the activation of CTC in situ formed between an electron rich N‐aromatic amine and an iodonium salt used as an electron acceptor. The thermal ability of the different systems to initiate a polymerization upon thermal activation has been investigated by differential scanning calorimetry and their behaviors upon NIR irradiation have been examined by thermal imaging experiments. The role of cyanines has also been highlighted by spectrophotometry as well as Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. Finally, to highlight the huge potential of the proposed approach, these systems have been tested on glass and carbon fibers prepregs to the composite's development.
Blackfly Larvae (Simulium spp.) Can Intensify Methylmercury Biomagnification in Boreal Food Webs
Authors: Karjalainen Anna K. , Salmelin Johanna , Dimock Brian , Hintelmann Holger 
Published: July 2020

AbstractGlobal pollution of mercury (Hg) threatens ecosystem and human health. We measured total Hg (THg) and monomethylmercury (MMHg) concentrations in filter-feeding blackfly (Simulium spp.) larvae in the inflows and the outflows of six boreal lakes with no Hg point source pollution. THg in the larvae ranged from 0.03 to 0.31 mg kg−1 dw and MMHg between 0.02 and 0.25 mg kg−1 dw. The proportion of MMHg in the larvae was 74 ± 0.16% and ranged from 43 to 98% of THg, the highest proportions being comparable to those typically found in aquatic predatory insects and fish. We compared the larvae MMHg concentrations to river water quality, catchment land-use, and to size-adjusted lake pike THg data. Two of the investigated catchments have been affected by a multimetal biomine since 2008 and were characterized by higher conductivity and higher urban land-use activity. Larvae THg and MMHg concentrations were higher in the lake inflows than in outflows and associated with water conductivity and catchment land-use activity. Lake pike THg concentrations were highly correlated to lake outflow blackfly larvae MMHg concentrations. Our data illustrate that blackfly larvae take up high percentage of THg that is MMHg, which in turn is available for higher consumers in aquatic and terrestrial food webs.
Delivering Telerehabilitation to COVID-19 Inpatients: A Retrospective Chart Review Suggests it is a Viable Option
Authors: Rosen Kelsey , Patel Monika , Lawrence Cecelia , Mooney Brianne 
Published: July 2020

Background Guidelines for physical therapy management of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 recommend limiting physical therapists’ contact with patients when possible. Telehealth has been viewed as “electronic personal protective equipment” during the COVID-19 pandemic; although telerehabilitation has been shown to be effective with outpatients, it is unknown whether it is a viable option for hospitalized patients. Purpose Our facility developed an algorithm for the use of a physical therapy telerehabilitation program for inpatients with COVID-19. We sought to investigate the safety and viability of the program. Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients admitted with a diagnosis of COVID-19 who received either telerehabilitation only or a combination of telerehabilitation and in-person rehabilitation. Based on the algorithm, COVID-19 inpatients were selected to receive telerehabilitation if they could ambulate independently, could use technology, had stable vital signs, required minimal supplemental oxygen, and were cognitively intact. We analyzed data of inpatients who received telerehabilitation only, which included patient education, therapeutic exercises, and breathing techniques. Results Of 33 COVID-19 inpatients who received telerehabilitation, in-person rehabilitation, or a combination of the two, 12 patients received telerehabilitation only (age range, 33 to 65 years; all but one male). They demonstrated independence with their individualized home exercise programs in one to two sessions, did not require an in-person rehabilitation consultation, did not require increased oxygen, experienced no exacerbation of symptoms, and were discharged home. Conclusions Inpatient telerehabilitation appears to be a viable option for selected hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and may be a safe way of delivering inpatient rehabilitation to isolated or at-risk populations. At our hospital, the use of inpatient telerehabilitation reduced staff exposure while providing important education and services to patients. To our knowledge, no studies have investigated the use of telerehabilitation for hospitalized patients, including those with COVID-19. Our findings suggest that this innovative approach warrants further study.
On the characteristics of reporting ADL limitations and formal LTC usage across Europe
Authors: Fuino Michel , Rudnytskyi Iegor , Wagner Joël 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe increase in the proportion of elderly people in most industrialized countries triggers higher demand for long-term care (LTC) associated with limitations in activities of daily living (ADL). The aim of this research is to derive the drivers affecting the probability of reporting limitations in ADL and the probability of demanding formal LTC, e.g., personal care and services in domestic tasks. By using the most recent wave of a cross-national European survey on individuals aged over 50 years (SHARE, wave 6), we develop econometric models for identifying the effect of demographic, social and medical factors on ADL limitations and formal LTC along five conjectures. On the one hand, we analyze functional limitations and we find that characteristics such as the age, the gender, the wealth status and the education level influence the probability to report limitations. Further, while we find that pathologies significantly increase the probability to become dependent in general, the effect of cancer is lower. On the other hand, we find again an influence of the demographic and social factors on the probability to use formal LTC. We emphasize on the decrease in the probability due to the presence of the partner in the household, in particular for housekeeping tasks. This is less the case for help related with personal care. In addition, we note that pathologies such as cancer have no influence on the probability to report formal LTC while others like mental and Parkinson diseases highly increase it. We find that elderly living in countries with LTC family care schemes report less formal care than in others. This indicates the importance of LTC policies. Finally, we validate the robustness of our results by applying the models to data from earlier waves of the survey. Our findings give insights for the underwriting standards to be used in future LTC insurance products and for the design of LTC policy environments across Europe.
In Defence of Non-Ideal Political Deference
Authors: Brinkmann Matthias 
Published: July 2020

AbstractMany philosophers have claimed that relying on the testimony of others in normative questions is in some way problematic. In this paper, I consider whether we should be troubled by deference in democratic politics. I argue that (i) deference is less problematic in impure cases of political deference, and (ii) most non-ideal cases of political deference are impure. To establish the second point, I rely on empirical research from political psychology. I also outline two principled reasons why we should expect political deference to be untroubling: political problems are difficult and require a division of epistemic labour; furthermore, there is value in exercising epistemic solidarity with those one shares an identity or interests with.