bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinician adherence to the clinical practice guideline: Acute otitis externa
Authors: Mildenhall Nicholas , Honeybrook Adam , Risoli Thomas , Peskoe Sarah B. , Kim Amie , Kaylie David 
Published: November 2019

Objectives/HypothesisOver 10 years have passed since the Clinical Practice Guideline: Acute Otitis Externa (CPG‐AOE) was first published, and it has been several years since its update. We sought to assess clinicians’ adherence as well as referral patterns.Study DesignSurvey.MethodsA 23‐question survey was distributed to regional primary care clinicians evaluating demographic data, perception of the clinical practice guideline (CPG), adherence, and details of specialist referral. Statistical analysis was performed to compare adherence and referral patterns using the Fisher exact test or the χ2 test.ResultsOne hundred seventeen clinicians completed the survey. Fifteen respondents (12.8%) had reviewed the CPG. The recommendations with the least reported adherence were pain management (39.1%) and accounting for prior radiotherapy as a modifying factor (43.0%). The recommendations of prescribing ototopical therapy and avoiding systemic antimicrobials in uncomplicated acute otitis externa had adherence of 94.0% and 83.8%, respectively. When analyzed by provider type (e.g., resident, nurse practitioner/physician assistant), there were no significant differences in adherence. No significant differences in adherence were observed based on previous review of the CPG. When reporting frequency of specialist referral, the majority of respondents selected rarely (53.9%). The most favored reason for referral was symptoms >4 weeks (86.3%).ConclusionsOf the providers who responded, very few had reviewed the CPG‐AOE. Despite the added emphasis on pain management in the CPG update, this recommendation had the lowest adherence. Rates of adherence were similar across provider types and did not differ significantly if the CPG was reviewed. Efforts at improved provider education should be considered to increase adherence to the CPG.Level of EvidenceNA Laryngoscope, 130:1565–1571, 2020
Foraging strategy impacts plastic ingestion risk in seabirds
Authors: Caldwell Aliya , Seavey Jennifer , Craig Elizabeth 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPlastic debris is a pervasive environmental challenge described as a worldwide crisis for marine life, and seabirds are particularly sensitive to the pollutant. Seabirds exhibit a range of foraging strategies, from generalist scavengers to specialist predators, which likely influences their risk of plastic ingestion. Our study evaluates this relationship using two congeneric seabirds, including a generalist species (the Herring Gull, Larus argentatus) and a more specialist species (the Great Black‐backed Gull, Larus marinus) nesting in the Gulf of Maine. Analysis for stable isotopes of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) was used to evaluate interspecific differences in diet and niche size, while dietary samples were collected for analysis of plastic ingestion. Herring Gulls exhibited significantly larger isotopic niche size and displayed significantly higher rates of plastic ingestion than Great Black‐backed Gulls (p value < 0.01), though the range of physical characteristics and relative size of plastics in the diet did not differ significantly.
Split‐Sided Chest Study of Skin Rejuvenation Comparing Low‐Energy, 1,927‐nm Thulium Fractional Laser Treatment Prior to Photodynamic Therapy Versus Photodynamic Therapy Alone
Authors: Croix Jennifer , Burge Shannon , Chwalek Jennifer , Gmyrek Robyn , Chapas Anne 
Published: November 2019

Background and ObjectivesTreatment of photoaging and intrinsic aging of the chest, with the associated concerns of skin roughness, uneven pigmentation, laxity, atrophy, and telangiectasias, can be problematic because of the potential for worsened esthetic outcomes with existing treatments. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of using nonablative fractional laser therapy (FLT) pretreatment with photodynamic therapy (PDT) versus PDT alone for chest rejuvenation.Study Design/Materials and MethodsIn a randomized, evaluator‐blinded, split‐sided study, adult female patients with photodamage to the chest received three treatment courses over an 8‐week period with follow‐up visits at Weeks 12 and 20. FLT was applied to one side of the chest, randomly assigned at baseline, followed by aminolevulinic acid‐based PDT, delivered using a thermal, short incubation, broad area technique, to both sides of the chest. In‐person and photographic assessments were conducted using five‐point scales to evaluate outcomes including rhytides, pigmentation, skin texture, and telangiectasias.ResultsEleven adults completed the study, of whom 11 had improved scores for rhytides and 10 had improved scores for skin texture at Week 20. There was no significant difference in any efficacy outcome between FLT and PDT and standard PDT alone. The severity of adverse events was rated significantly greater with the combined FLT–PDT treatment vs PDT alone.ConclusionsSignificant improvements were observed vs baseline for both sides of the chest treated with FLT–PDT or standard PDT following three treatment sessions. No significant difference in efficacy was observed between treatment approaches, although adverse events were more severe on the FLT‐pretreated side. This study was not registered as it qualified as a nonsignificant risk study. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 The Authors. Lasers in Surgery and Medicine Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Combination of Dual Wavelength Picosecond and Nanosecond Pulse Width Neodymium‐Doped Yttrium–Aluminum–Garnet Lasers for Tattoo Removal
Authors: Kato Harunosuke , Kantaro Doi , Kanayama Koji , Araki Jun , Nakatsukasa Shuichi , Chi Daekwan , Mori Masanori , Fuse Yuma , Sakae Yuki , Uozumi Tomomi 
Published: November 2019

Background and ObjectivesTattoo removal by laser has been mostly performed using Q‐switched laser, which has nanosecond pulse width. In recent years, the efficacy of treatment with picosecond pulse width laser has also been reported.Study Design/Materials and MethodsUsing a picosecond‐domain, neodymium‐doped yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser with a potassium‐titanyl‐phosphate frequency‐doubling crystal, we performed a retrospective clinical study with combination treatment using pulse widths of 750 ps and 2 ns. The number of treatments was compared with the Kirby–Desai score. Tissue changes immediately after laser irradiation at 2 ns and 750 ps were compared using an electron microscope.ResultsThe combination treatment using pulse widths of 2 ns and 750 ps was safe and more effective than the Q‐switched neodymium‐doped yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser treatment. Tattoo removal was possible with significantly fewer treatment numbers than the Kirby–Desai score, without adverse events. The results from the scanning electron microscope revealed that ink particles irradiated by 750 ps were more dispersed than those by 2 ns.ConclusionsThe combination treatment with pulse widths of 2 ns and 750 ps and 1064 nm and 532 nm wavelengths using the neodymium‐doped yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser was safe and effective and can be a useful option for tattoo removal. Lasers Surg. Med. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Amorphous Silk Fibroin Nanofiber Hydrogels with Enhanced Mechanical Properties
Authors: Liu Jiawei , Ding Zhaozhao , Lu Guozhong , Wang Jingui , Wang Ling , Lu Qiang 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSilk fibroin (SF) hydrogels have been engineered as universal substrates for various tissue regenerations and drug delivery. Although different physical and chemical crosslinking strategies are developed to form SF hydrogels with suitable performances, a significant gap remains to match specific requirements of various tissues. Here, amorphous SF nanofibers with more tyrosine residues outside the surfaces are used to replace traditional SF. Under the same crosslinking conditions, the use of amorphous SF nanofibers results in tougher properties, four times higher stiffness than that from traditional SF solutions. Unlike previous SF hydrogels, the SF nanofiber hydrogels show high tunability in wide modulus range of 0.6–160 kPa under low SF concentrations (below 5 wt%), showing improved mechanical match with various soft tissues. Better stability and cytocompatibility are also achieved, further confirming the superiority of the hydrogels as the tissue substrates. Therefore, a feasible strategy is developed to optimize the performances of SF hydrogel via tuning the nano‐structural state in aqueous solutions, which will enrich SF‐based hydrogel family in future.
The Adhesion‐Enhanced Contact Electrification and Efficiency of Triboelectric Nanogenerators
Authors: Lapčinskis Linards , Mālnieks Kaspars , Blūms Juris , Knite Māris , Oras Sven , Käämbre Tanel , Vlassov Sergei , Antsov Mikk , Timusk Martin , Šutka Andris 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn the present work, the contact electrification of polymers that differ in adhesion strength is studied. Electrical current is measured along with adhesion in macroscale contacting‐separation experiments. Additionally, local adhesion and roughness are studied with atomic force microscopy to get deeper insight into relations between surface properties and electrification. Measurements reveal that higher surface charge is formed on more adhesive surfaces, thus confirming covalent bond cleavage as a mechanism for contact electrification of polymers. Investigated materials possess enhanced contact electrification making them attractive candidates for the conversion of mechanical energy to electrical in triboelectric nanogenerator devices.
Photo‐Induced Modification of Nanocellulose: The Design of Self‐Fluorescent Drug Carriers
Authors: Khine Yee Yee , Batchelor Rhiannon , Raveendran Radhika , Stenzel Martina H. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractNanocellulose is an excellent carrier to deliver drugs, as the material is biocompatible and has a desirable non‐spherical shape. However, nanocellulose displays low solubility in aqueous solution and needs to be modified with water‐soluble polymers in order to achieve high colloidal stability. In this study, (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yl)oxyl or (2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidin‐1‐yl)oxidanyl (TEMPO)‐oxidized cellulose nanofibers bearing carboxylic acid moieties (TOCNs) are modified by nitrile imine‐mediated tetrazole/carboxylic acid ligation. The advantage of this reaction is that TOCNs do not need to be modified further and the polymer with tetrazole end‐functionalities can be directly clicked onto the TOCNs forming fluorescent functional groups. Poly(2‐hydroxyethyl acrylate) with a tetrazole end‐functionality is prepared using RAFT polymerization. The polymer is mixed with TOCNs and after irradiation at λ = 326 nm for 10 h, fluorescent pHEA‐g‐TOCNs are obtained. The polymer‐grafted nanocellulose is found to disperse well in water and has only limited albumin binding. The uptake of these nanoparticles by MCF‐7 breast cancer cell lines can now be monitored by fluorescent microscopy without further modification. Excess negatively charged carboxylic groups of TOCNs allow doxorubicin loading by electrostatic interactions at various drug‐loading capacities. Higher drug loading is more efficient in inhibiting the cell proliferation, highlighting the effect of drug loading on toxicity.
Purifying Low‐Volume Combinatorial Polymer Libraries with Gel Filtration Columns
Authors: Upadhya Rahul , Kanagala Mythili J. , Gormley Adam J. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRecent advances in oxygen‐tolerant controlled/living radical polymer chemistry now enable efficient synthesis of diverse and combinatorial polymer libraries. While library synthesis has been dramatically simplified, equally efficient purification strategies for removal of small‐molecule impurities are not yet established in high throughput settings. It is shown that gel filtration columns for chromatography frequently used in the protein science community are well suited for high throughput polymer purification. Using either single‐use columns or gel filtration plates, the purification of 32 diverse polymers is demonstrated in a library with >95% removal of small molecule impurities and >85% polymer retention in a single purification step. Doing so replaces the typical procedure of polymer precipitation, which requires solvent optimization for each polymer in a complex library. Overall, this work raises awareness in the polymer science community that gel filtration is amenable to purification of large polymer libraries and can speed up the progress of combinatorial polymer chemistry.
Characteristic mode analysis and design of a slot‐loaded low‐profile wideband microstrip patch antenna
Authors: Chunling Chen 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn this letter, a slot‐loaded low‐profile wideband microstrip patch antenna is presented and analyzed. The theory of characteristic modes (TCM) is applied to study the bandwidth and the radiation performance of the proposed antenna. We find that the resonant frequencies of two characteristic modes, with similar characteristic current distributions and far field radiation patterns, are close to each other. By exciting these two modes simultaneously, the proposed microstrip patch antenna attains wide band properties. In addition, the radiation patterns are stable over the whole passband, which is consistent with the prediction by the TCM. The measurements reveal that the antenna's operating frequency ranges from 2.275 to 2.705 GHz with standing wave ratio less than 2, which exhibits a wide impedance bandwidth of 17.3%. The thickness of the proposed antenna is only 0.04λ0. The realized gain is stable and varies between 8.2 and 9.7 dBi within the whole passband. Consequently, the TCM shows potential applications in the area of the design of a high‐performance slot‐loaded microstrip patch antenna.
Polyspermy in angiosperms: Its contribution to polyploid formation and speciation
Authors: Toda Erika , Okamoto Takashi 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPolyploidization has played a major role in the long‐term diversification and evolutionary success of angiosperms. Triploid formation among diploid plants, which is generally considered to be achieved by fertilization of an unreduced gamete with a reduced one, has been accepted as a means of polyploid production. In addition, it has been supposed that polyspermy also contributes to the triploid formation in maize, wheat, and some orchids; however, such a mechanism has been considered uncommon because reproducing the polyspermic situation and unambiguously investigating developmental profiles of polyspermic zygotes are difficult. To overcome these problems, rice polyspermic zygotes have been successfully produced by electrofusion of an egg cell with two sperm cells, and their developmental profiles have been monitored. The triploid zygotes progress through karyogamy and divide into two‐celled embryos via a typical bipolar mitotic division; the two‐celled embryos further develop into triploid plants, indicating that polyspermic plant zygotes, unlike those of animals, can develop normally. Furthermore, progenies consisting of triparental genetic materials have been successfully obtained in Arabidopsis through the pollination of two different kinds of male parents with a female parent. These different pieces of evidence for development and emergence of polyspermic zygotes in vitro and in planta suggest that polyspermy is a key event in polyploidization and species diversification.
Removing rician bias in diffusional kurtosis of the prostate using real‐data reconstruction
Authors: Goodburn Rosie J. , Barrett Tristan , Patterson Ilse , Gallagher Ferdia A. , Lawrence Edward M. , Gnanapragasam Vincent J. , Kastner Christof , Priest Andrew N. 
Published: November 2019

PurposeTo compare prostate diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) metrics generated using phase‐corrected real data with those generated using magnitude data with and without noise compensation (NC).MethodsDiffusion‐weighted images were acquired at 3T in 16 prostate cancer patients, measuring 6 b‐values (0‐1500 s/mm2), each acquired with 6 signal averages along 3 diffusion directions, with noise‐only images acquired to allow NC. In addition to conventional magnitude averaging, phase‐corrected real data were averaged in an attempt to reduce rician noise‐bias, with a range of phase‐correction low‐pass filter (LPF) sizes (8‐128 pixels) tested. Each method was also tested using simulations. Pixelwise maps of apparent diffusion (D) and apparent kurtosis (K) were calculated for magnitude data with and without NC and phase‐corrected real data. Average values were compared in tumor, normal transition zone (NTZ), and normal peripheral zone (NPZ).ResultsSimulations indicated LPF size can strongly affect K metrics, where 64‐pixel LPFs produced accurate metrics. Relative to metrics estimated from magnitude data without NC, median NC K were lower (P < 0.0001) by 6/11/8% in tumor/NPZ/NTZ, 64‐LPF real‐data K were lower (P < 0.0001) by 4/10/7%, respectively.ConclusionCompared with magnitude data with NC, phase‐corrected real data can produce similar K, although the choice of phase‐correction LPF should be chosen carefully.
Factors affecting the response rate of frequency volume chart: A prospective nonrandomized controlled study
Authors: Oh Cheol Kyu , Park Myungchan , Chung Jae‐Seung , Park Sang Hyun , Kim Seong Cheol 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAimsTo evaluate if compliance with frequency volume charts can be improved if a physician explains its importance and to identify factors affecting compliance and accurate responses to frequency volume chart (FVC).MethodsWe identified patients ≥18 years of age with voiding dysfunction reported from July 2013 to February 2014. Patients were explained the importance of frequency volume charts by a doctor and then a nurse explained how to fill it (group A). Others were only explained how to fill it (group B).ResultsA total of 137 patients were enrolled. The response rate to frequency volume charts was higher in group A than in group B (94.3% vs 82.9%, P = .038). Patients ≥70 years of age, without a private health insurance, with high school education or higher, and without past medical history had a higher response rate in group A than in group B. In the multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, group A (odds ratio [OR], 4.87; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.04‐22.89; P = .045) and QoL (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.16‐4.46; P = .017) were factors associated with the response rate. In addition, group A (OR, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.03‐11.70; P = .045) and being 60's years old (vs 50's years, OR, 7.01; 95% CI, 1.36‐36.23; P = .020) were related to FVC complete response rate.ConclusionsFrequency volume chart compliance can be improved if physicians explain its importance for lower urinary tract symptoms diagnosis and management. The explanation and severe lower urinary tract symptoms are factors affecting compliance and the explanation and being 60's years old are related to accurate response.
Dynamic pricing and matching in ride‐hailing platforms
Authors: Yan Chiwei , Zhu Helin , Korolko Nikita , Woodard Dawn 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRide‐hailing platforms such as Uber, Lyft, and DiDi have achieved explosive growth and reshaped urban transportation. The theory and technologies behind these platforms have become one of the most active research topics in the fields of economics, operations research, computer science, and transportation engineering. In particular, advanced matching and dynamic pricing (DP) algorithms—the two key levers in ride‐hailing—have received tremendous attention from the research community and are continuously being designed and implemented at industrial scales by ride‐hailing platforms. We provide a review of matching and DP techniques in ride‐hailing, and show that they are critical for providing an experience with low waiting time for both riders and drivers. Then we link the two levers together by studying a pool‐matching mechanism called dynamic waiting (DW) that varies rider waiting and walking before dispatch, which is inspired by a recent carpooling product Express Pool from Uber. We show using data from Uber that by jointly optimizing DP and DW, price variability can be mitigated, while increasing capacity utilization, trip throughput, and welfare. We also highlight several key practical challenges and directions of future research from a practitioner's perspective.
Networks in economics and finance in Networks and beyond: A half century retrospective
Authors: Nagurney Anna 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis paper presents a panoramic view of research on economic and financial networks in the journal Networks, since its inception half a century ago. This paper focuses on both the breadth and depth of the journal articles, and within the context of earlier contributions, as well as more recent related ones in other scientific publications. From network optimization to game theory and a plethora of equilibrium concepts, along with novel dynamical systems frameworks, the journal has led the way in advancing economic and financial network models, algorithms, and applications. Moreover, Networks has helped to attract researchers in a variety of disciplines to the science of networks and the formulation and solution of associated problems drawn from the real world.
A discrete maximum principle for the weak Galerkin finite element method on nonuniform rectangular partitions
Authors: Liu Yujie , Wang Junping 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis article establishes a discrete maximum principle (DMP) for the approximate solution of convection–diffusion–reaction problems obtained from the weak Galerkin (WG) finite element method on nonuniform rectangular partitions. The DMP analysis is based on a simplified formulation of the WG involving only the approximating functions defined on the boundary of each element. The simplified weak Galerkin (SWG) method has a reduced computational complexity over the usual WG, and indeed provides a discretization scheme different from the WG when the reaction terms are present. An application of the SWG on uniform rectangular partitions yields some 5‐ and 7‐point finite difference schemes for the second order elliptic equation. Numerical experiments are presented to verify the DMP and the accuracy of the scheme, particularly the finite difference scheme.
Corporate policy entrepreneurship and cross‐boundary strategies: How a private corporation champions mobile healthcare payment innovation in China?
Authors: He Alex Jingwei , Ma Liang 
Published: November 2019

SummaryThe private nature of corporate actors does not necessarily preclude them from contributing to public interest. When business strategies and genuine public motivation are favorably aligned, corporate actors from the private sector can also drive public sector innovations. For a private corporation, policy entrepreneurship inherently entails crossing not only the public–private boundary but also various policy domains. This study formulates five propositions to characterize the cross‐boundary strategies of corporate policy entrepreneurship, a distinct form of policy entrepreneurship in a developing authoritarian state. The case study of mobile healthcare payment innovation in China finds that the corporate entrepreneur used a series of cross‐boundary strategies adeptly that eventually made the innovation not only adopted in one locality but also rapidly diffused nationwide. These strategies were not used in isolation or in a pure stepwise fashion but appeared to be recursive and interactive, suggesting the dynamic nature of corporate policy entrepreneurship in a multilevel governance system. More studies could be done to further examine strategies and processes of other forms of policy entrepreneurship in various national and sectoral settings.