bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Climate Change Responses of Cocoa Farmers in Ghana
Authors: Buxton David Nii Baah 
Published: June 2020

Background: Undoubtedly, vulnerability and adaptation of the agricultural sector to the adverse impacts of climate change are among the most crucial concerns of many developing countries where agriculture is largely rain-fed. In Ghana, the cocoa sector is the mainstay of the agricultural sector, contributing about 60% of agricultural GDP. The cacao tree is susceptible to the vagaries of climate, a fact which manifests in outbreak of pests and diseases and their pattern, loss of pods and early ripening of young pods, among others. Cocoa farmers have over the years used short-term (coping) strategies and long-term (adaptation) strategies to offset the effects of climate change on their production.
Methods: A field survey of 444 cocoa farmers in Ghana was conducted, using a guided interview schedule.
Results: Farmers’ coping strategies included those on crop, soil fertility and soil water management practices. Adaptation strategies included behavioural adjustments (spraying, fertilizer application, weed control, pruning) as well as institutional and technological adjustments (change in variety and increased extension services).
Conclusion: The study showed that farmers who perceived that the climate had changed and had some effect on their production usually employed adaptation measures. Differences in farmers in terms of personal managerial and entrepreneurial capacities and family circumstances influence their responses to climate change. However, one major challenge is to separate the adaptations in response to climate change from adaptations in response to other stimuli, such as market price or government policy changes that farmers face in the real world. Assessing adaptation strategies also provides the information needed by cocoa farmers to increase their capacity to moderate potential damages and to take advantage of opportunities, if any, to survive in a changing climate.
Effect of thalamic deep brain stimulation on swallowing in patients with essential tremor
Authors: Lapa Sriramya , Claus Inga , Reitz Sarah C. , Quick‐Weller Johanna , Sauer Sonja , Colbow Sigrid , Nasari Christiane , Dziewas Rainer , Kang Jun‐Suk , Baudrexel Simon , Warnecke Tobias 
Published: June 2020

AbstractObjectiveDeep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) is a mainstay treatment for severe and drug‐refractory essential tremor (ET). Although stimulation‐induced dysarthria has been extensively described, possible impairment of swallowing has not been systematically investigated yet.MethodsTwelve patients with ET and bilateral VIM‐DBS with self‐reported dysphagia after VIM‐DBS were included. Swallowing function was assessed clinically and using by flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing in the stim‐ON and in the stim‐OFF condition. Presence, severity, and improvement of dysphagia were recorded.ResultsDuring stim‐ON, the presence of dysphagia could be objectified in all patients, 42% showing mild, 42% moderate, and 16 % severe dysphagia. During stim‐OFF, all patients experienced a statistically significant improvement of swallowing function.InterpretationVIM‐DBS may have an impact on swallowing physiology in ET‐patients. Further studies to elucidate the prevalence and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are warranted.
Mortality Among Hospitalized Individuals With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the US Between 2006 and 2016
Authors: Anastasiou Christine , Trupin Laura , Glidden David V. , Li Jing , Gianfrancesco Milena , Shiboski Stephen , Schmajuk Gabriela , Yazdany Jinoos 
Published: June 2020

ObjectiveTo evaluate time trends in mortality for hospitalized adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared to the general hospitalized population (GHP), and to identify factors associated with increased risk of death among hospitalized SLE patients.MethodsWe used the National (Nationwide) Inpatient Sample to estimate all‐cause mortality for adults discharged from community hospitals in the US between 2006 and 2016. Poisson regression models were used to estimate the risk of in‐hospital death among all patients, including demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factors, comorbidity score, hospital region, SLE diagnosis, and race/ethnicity as covariates.ResultsAmong 340,467,049 hospitalizations analyzed, 1,903,279 had a discharge diagnosis of SLE. In adjusted analysis, the risk of inpatient death decreased among hospitalizations for patients with SLE from 2.2% to 1.5% (P < 0.001) between 2006 and 2016. All of the decrease in SLE mortality occurred between 2006 and 2008; after 2008, mortality stabilized at a rate statistically similar to the GHP. Hospitalizations for Black, Hispanic, and Asian/Pacific Islander patients with SLE were more likely to end in death compared to hospitalizations for either White patients with SLE or individuals of the same non‐White race/ethnicity without SLE.ConclusionIn the largest study of in‐hospital SLE mortality published to date, we found significant improvements in mortality for hospitalized patients with SLE in the US from 2006 until 2008, after which mortality stabilized at a level similar to that of the GHP. Our results also demonstrate a persistently high mortality burden among Black and Hispanic patients with SLE in the US and contribute new data revealing high mortality among Asian/Pacific Islander patients with SLE.
Cost‐Effectiveness of Colchicine Prophylaxis for Gout Flares When Commencing Allopurinol
Authors: Robinson Philip C. , Dalbeth Nicola , Donovan Peter 
Published: June 2020

ObjectiveColchicine prophylaxis to prevent gout flares when commencing urate‐lowering therapy is recommended by international rheumatology society guidelines. Whether this is a cost‐effective intervention is currently unknown. Our objective was to perform a cost‐effectiveness analysis using both a US cost input model and an Australian cost input model.MethodsThis cost‐effectiveness analysis was completed from the point of view of the third‐party payer. We used a 2‐arm decision tree with 1 arm commencing allopurinol with no colchicine prophylaxis and the other with colchicine prophylaxis. Model inputs were drawn from published literature where available. We completed a univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analysis to confirm the robust nature of the modeling. The time frame for the model was 6 months.ResultsThe colchicine prophylaxis arm resulted in a cost of $1,276 and 0.49 quality‐adjusted life‐years (QALYs), while in the placebo arm the cost was $516 and 0.47 QALYs, with an incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio of $34,004 per QALY gained. In Australia, where cost of colchicine was much lower, the colchicine arm dominated the placebo ($208 [Australian] in the colchicine arm versus $415 [Australian] in the placebo). Univariate and probability sensitivity analysis demonstrated that results were robust to changes in input parameters. In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, the probability of colchicine prophylaxis being the most cost‐effective option was 93% in the US and 100% in the Australian setting.ConclusionColchicine prophylaxis to prevent gout flares while commencing allopurinol in gout is very cost‐effective.
Alternating‐Current MXene Polymer Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Lee Seokyeong , Kim Eui Hyuk , Yu Seunggun , Kim Hyerim , Park Chanho , Park Tae Hyun , Han Hyowon , Lee Seung Won , Baek Soyeon , Jin Wookyoung , Koo Chong Min , Park Cheolmin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractMXenes (Ti3C2) are 2D transition‐metal carbides and carbonitrides with high conductivity and optical transparency. However, transparent MXene electrodes suitable for polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) have rarely been demonstrated. With the discovery of the excellent electrical stability of MXene under an alternating current (AC), herein, PLEDs that employ MXene electrodes and exhibit high performance under AC operation (AC MXene PLEDs) are presented. The PLED exhibits a turn‐on voltage, current efficiency, and brightness of 2.1 V, 7 cd A−1, and 12 547 cd m−2, respectively, when operated under AC with a frequency of 1 kHz. The results indicate that the undesirable electric breakdown associated with heat arising from the poor interface of the MXene with a hole transport layer in the direct‐current mode is efficiently suppressed by the transient injection of carriers accompanied by the alternating change of the electric polarity under the AC, giving rise to reliable light emission with a high efficiency. The solution‐processable MXene electrode can be readily fabricated on a flexible polymer substrate, allowing for the development of a mechanically flexible AC MXene PLED with a higher performance than flexible PLEDs employing solution‐processed nanomaterial‐based electrodes such as carbon nanotubes, reduced graphene oxide, and Ag nanowires.
Polymer–Covalent Organic Frameworks Composites for Glucose and pH Dual‐Responsive Insulin Delivery in Mice
Authors: Zhang Guiyang , Ji Yan , Li Xinle , Wang Xiaoyun , Song Mengmeng , Gou Huilin , Gao Shan , Jia Xudong 
Published: June 2020

AbstractGlucose and pH dual‐responsive insulin delivery carriers that have been validated in animal models, remain elusive and much desired. Herein, a new class of covalent organic frameworks (COFs)‐based insulin delivery nanocarriers is developed by encapsulating insulin (Ins) and glucose oxidase (GOx) into COFs (COF‐1 and COF‐5) via both Brønsted and Lewis type (N:→B) complexations. Subsequently, polyethylene glycolated fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC‐PEG) is incorporated into the COFs via the exchange reactions between the disulfide in insulin chains and the thiol in FITC‐PEG to afford a robust nano‐assembly (FITC‐PEG‐COF@Ins‐GOx). In vitro, the nanocarriers rely on the boroxine‐linked COFs’ response to pH and glucose dual‐stimulation and rendered sustainable insulin delivery. In vivo, the polymer–COFs composite displays excellent long‐acting anti‐diabetic effects on type 1 diabetic mice within 72 h without side effects after one injection. More intriguingly, the nanocomposites also show great promise for the efficient delivery of native proteins with high generality. To the authors’ knowledge, this represents the first study pertaining to a facile methodology to prepare COF‐based insulin‐delivery nanocarriers for in vitro and in vivo therapeutic applications.
Onion Epithelial Membrane Scaffolds Transfer Corneal Epithelial Layers in Reconstruction Surgery
Authors: Wang Guoliang , Chen Pei , Wang Yanzi , Wang Yixin , Reinach Peter S. , Xue Yuhua , Liu Zuguo , Li Cheng 
Published: June 2020

AbstractPlants and their extracts have been used especially in China for more than ten centuries for preventing and treating disease. However, there are only few reports describing their use in animal cell culture and tissue transplantation. In this study, onion epithelial membranes (OEM) is used as scaffolds to support cultures of a variety of cells such as fibroblasts and epithelial cells notably; they maintain the phenotypic characteristics of corneal epithelial cells. This improvement includes preservation of the proliferative potential and stemness of rabbit corneal epithelial cells (RCECs). Such an outcome suggests that this cost‐effective technology warrants further evaluation to determine if OEM is a viable candidate for use as scaffolds in corneal epithelial transplantation surgery. To test this possibility, rabbit corneal epithelial cells expanded on OEM are transplanted to treat corneal epithelial defects in limbal stem cell deficient rabbits. This procedure is successful because it shortens the time required for wound healing to restore losses in corneal epithelial integrity, and forms a more compact and stratified epithelium framework than the untreated group. Ultimately, should they be proven to be effective in other relevant animal model systems, their usefulness for treating wounds in a clinical setting warrants consideration.
Electrostatic Intraperitoneal Aerosol Delivery of Nanoparticles: Proof of Concept and Preclinical Validation
Authors: Van de Sande Leen , Rahimi‐Gorji Mohammad , Giordano Silvia , Davoli Enrico , Matteo Cristina , Detlefsen Sönke , D'Herde Katharina , Braet Helena , Shariati Molood , Remaut Katrien , Xie Feifan , Debbaut Charlotte , Ghorbaniasl Ghader , Cosyns Sarah , Willaert Wouter , Ceelen Wim 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThere is an increasing interest in intraperitoneal delivery of chemotherapy as an aerosol in patients with peritoneal metastasis. The currently used technology is hampered by inhomogenous drug delivery throughout the peritoneal cavity because of gravity, drag, and inertial impaction. Addition of an electrical force to aerosol particles, exerted by an electrostatic field, can improve spatial aerosol homogeneity and enhance tissue penetration. A computational fluid dynamics model shows that electrostatic precipitation (EP) results in a significantly improved aerosol distribution. Fluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) remain stable after nebulization in vitro, while EP significantly improves spatial homogeneity of NP distribution. Next, pressurized intraperitoneal chemotherapy with and without EP using NP albumin bound paclitaxel (Nab‐PTX) in a novel rat model is examined. EP does not worsen the effects of CO2 insufflation and intraperitoneal Nab‐PTX on mesothelial structural integrity or the severity of peritoneal inflammation. Importantly, EP significantly enhances tissue penetration of Nab‐PTX in the anatomical regions not facing the nozzle of the nebulizer. Also, the addition of EP leads to more homogenous peritoneal tissue concentrations of Nab‐PTX, in parallel with higher plasma concentrations. In conclusion, EP enhances spatial homogeneity and tissue uptake after intraperitoneal nebulization of anticancer NPs.
The Effect of Thiol Structure on Allyl Sulfide Photodegradable Hydrogels and their Application as a Degradable Scaffold for Organoid Passaging
Authors: Yavitt F. Max , Brown Tobin E. , Hushka Ella A. , Brown Monica E. , Gjorevski Nikolche , Dempsey Peter J. , Lutolf Matthias P. , Anseth Kristi S. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIntestinal organoids are useful in vitro models for basic and translational studies aimed at understanding and treating disease. However, their routine culture relies on animal‐derived matrices that limit translation to clinical applications. In fact, there are few fully defined, synthetic hydrogel systems that allow for the expansion of intestinal organoids. Here, an allyl sulfide photodegradable hydrogel is presented, achieving rapid degradation through radical addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (AFCT) reactions, to support routine passaging of intestinal organoids. Shear rheology to first characterize the effect of thiol and allyl sulfide crosslink structures on degradation kinetics is used. Irradiation with 365 nm light (5 mW cm−2) in the presence of a soluble thiol (glutathione at 15 × 10−3 m), and a photoinitiator (lithium phenyl‐2,4,6‐trimethylbenzoylphosphinate at 1 × 10−3 m), leads to complete hydrogel degradation in less than 15 s. Allyl sulfide hydrogels are used to support the formation of epithelial colonies from single intestinal stem cells, and rapid photodegradation is used to achieve repetitive passaging of stem cell colonies without loss in morphology or organoid formation potential. This platform could support long‐term culture of intestinal organoids, potentially replacing the need for animal‐derived matrices, while also allowing systematic variations to the hydrogel properties tailored for the organoid of interest.
Interface Engineering of Si Hybrid Nanostructures for Chemical and Biological Sensing
Authors: Li Jinghua , Rogers John A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractOpportunities for quantitative, real‐time monitoring of gases, ions, and biomolecules in the environment and in the human body motivate programs of fundamental and applied research on chemically selective sensors with fast response times. In this context, silicon field‐effect transistors are of considerable interest as label‐free, scalable platforms for detecting a variety of chemical and biological species. Herein, recent progress and research directions in this area are reviewed. The focus of this article is on operational parameters, device architectures, schemes for surface chemical functionalization, and methods for bio‐integration across a variety of use cases. The content includes strategies that combine Si with other functional materials to create hybrid structures for enhanced sensing performance. The final section highlights some remaining challenges and provides perspectives on the future of basic research and engineering development in this field.
Novel Solvent Systems for Biomass Fractionation Based on Hydrogen‐Bond Interaction: A Minireview
Authors: Wang Chenguang , Yang Shaoqi , Song Xiangbo , Pi Qifeng , Zhang Qi , Liu Qiying , Xu Ying , Chen Lungang , Ma Longlong 
Published: June 2020

AbstractExploring more efficient solvent systems is important for biomass fractionation that can significantly boost the efficiency of biomass catalytic conversion. Ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs) as novel hydrogen bond based solvents have attracted more and more attention. Research shows that the hydrogen bond between solvents and biomass is the main factor for their excellent performance in biomass fractionation. The cation or anion of ILs can form strong hydrogen bonding with biomass components during the pretreatment processes, which weakens the hydrogen bond interactions between biomass components, and further promotes the destruction of the biomass hydrogen bond network. Similar to ILs, with their designed hydrogen bond donors and acceptors, DESs can also form strong hydrogen bonds with biomass components for fractionation. Herein, this review outlines the recent development of biomass fractionation research through hydrogen‐bond interactions by using ILs and DESs with biomass. This work provides a framework for future investigation of biomass fractionation mechanisms, understanding the effect of ILs/DESs, and exploring more novel efficient biomass catalytic conversion systems.
Local Doxorubicin Delivery via 3D‐Printed Porous Scaffolds Reduces Systemic Cytotoxicity and Breast Cancer Recurrence in Mice
Authors: Dang Hoang Phuc , Shafiee Abbas , Lahr Christoph A. , Dargaville Tim R. , Tran Phong A. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractThe concept of using macroscale porous scaffolds as local drug reservoirs to prevent cancer recurrence has received little attention. To extend the use of these scaffolds as drug delivery devices, the morphology needs to be optimized. Here, a porous scaffold that can work as efficient drug reservoirs is developed. A combination of additive manufacturing and salt leaching techniques to produce scaffolds of medical grade poly(ε‐caprolactone) that has macroscale pores of 300–500 µm and intrastrut microscale pores of 5–35 µm in size is used. The chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin (DOX), is loaded onto the porous scaffolds by soaking with the loading efficacy as high as 90%. The DOX‐loaded scaffolds display a biphasic monotonic drug release up to 28 d, and a dose‐dependent chemotherapeutic effect against breast cancer cells, MDA‐MB‐231. Compared to one‐time intravenous injection of 40 µg DOX, implantation of scaffolds containing only 2 or 8 µg of DOX after tumor removal in mice shows lower cardio‐cytotoxicity, reduced local cancer recurrence, and is correlated with a lower metastasis progression in lungs, liver, and spleen in 28 d of treatment. These bimodal scaffolds are thus promising in the development of scaffolds in breast cancer after tumor removal.
Closely related winter wheat cultivar performance in U.S. Great Plains acid soils
Authors: Gillespie Christopher J. , Marburger David A. , Carver Brett F. , Zhang Hailin 
Published: June 2020

AbstractAluminum‐tolerant wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars are often employed to damper the yield‐limiting impacts of Al toxicity in acidic soils. Tolerance is often facilitated by the Al‐activated malate transporter 1 (ALMT1) gene, which increases anion permeability of wheat roots and exudes malate in the presence of Al. However, few studies have explored the phenotypic incongruities of closely related genotypes with ALMT1(+) or without ALMT1(−). A field study initiated in Stillwater, OK, on an Easpur loam (fine‐loamy, mixed, superactive, thermic Fluventic Haplustolls) was established to determine the Al tolerance of eight related winter wheat cultivars chosen for presence or absence of ALMT1 [Duster (+), Lonerider (+), OK14319 (+), Jagger (+), Iba (−), Gallagher (−), Spirit Rider (−), Smith's Gold (−)]. Significant differences were found among cultivars in their forage yield responses to Al concentration and soil acidity. Duster (first), Spirit Rider (second), and Gallagher (third) were the most acid tolerant and consistent in forage yield across study years. However, no such trend was observed in the grain yields of any of the cultivars, as there was no clear semblance of acid tolerance in grain yields between study years. Despite the similarity of genetic backgrounds, forage and grain yield productivity of cultivars in this study varied between years and was not wholly dependent on the presence or absence of the ALMT1 gene. Nevertheless, the utilization of acid‐tolerant winter wheat cultivars has the potential to significantly reduce forage yield loss under acidic soil conditions with high Al concentrations.
The clinical impact of time to response in de novo accelerated‐phase chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Ohanian Maro , Kantarjian Hagop M. , Shoukier Mahran , Dellasala Sara , Musaelyan Arine , Nogueras Gonzalez Graciela M. , Jabbour Elias , Abruzzo Lynne , Verstovsek Srdan , Borthakur Gautam , Ravandi Farhad , Garcia‐Manero Guillermo , Tamamyan Gevorg , Champlin Richard , Pierce Sherry , Ferrajoli Alessandra , Kadia Tapan , Cortes Jorge E. 
Published: June 2020

AbstractWe aimed to describe the impact of time to response on the outcomes of 75 patients with accelerated‐phase chronic myeloid leukemia (CML‐AP) at diagnosis. Patients had at least 1 feature of AP: blasts ≥15% (n = 2), basophils ≥20% (n = 19), platelets <100 × 109/L (n = 7), cytogenetic clonal evolution (n = 34), or more than one factor (n = 13). Thirty‐three patients received imatinib; 42 received a second‐generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor (2GTKI) (19 dasatinib and 23 nilotinib). We used chi‐square and Kaplan‐Meier analyses to determine the impact of various degrees of molecular and cytogenetic response at early time points (3 and 6 months) on rates of overall cytogenetic and molecular response, overall survival (OS), event‐free survival (EFS), transformation‐free survival (TFS), and failure‐free survival (FFS). After a median follow‐up of 96 months (range: 18‐224 months), the overall rate of complete cytogenetic response was 79%, of major molecular response, 71%, and of molecular reponse (MR)4.5, 59%. Patients who achieved a major cytogenetic response (MCyR) (n = 49) at 3 months had significantly better 3‐year OS (94% vs 75%; P = .002), TFS (98% vs 73%; P < .001), EFS (93% vs 42%; P < .001), and FFS (83% vs 25%; P < .001) rates than patients who did not have MCyR at 3 months. Most (67%) who eventually achieved sustained MR4.5 had achieved MCyR at 3 months. In de novo CML‐AP, early response at 3 and 6 months is a strong determinant of long‐term outcome.