bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Morbidities Experienced during and after the 2017 Flood in Port Harcourt
Authors: Amaechi A. S. , Ordinioha B. 
Published: November 2019

Background: Floods are a type of natural phenomena, identified as the world most common natural disaster with a major ravaging impact claiming lives, causing property damage, destruction of environment and infrastructure, and increasing health impacts. Port Harcourt Metropolis, the capital of Rivers State was greatly affected by the 2017 flood. Hence this study aims to determine the morbidities experienced during and after the 2017 flood.
Materials and Methods: The study was a combination of quantitative and qualitative research for effective triangulation. A cross-sectional study was carried out. Data were collected through self-administered semi-structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Data was analysed using Microsoft excel for editing, SPSS version 20 for quantitative analysis and Nvivo version 12.0 was used for qualitative analysis.
Results: A total of 210 respondents were administered questionnaires but had response rate of 96.67% and a total of 3 key informants were interviewed with a 100% response rate. Amongst these respondents were 44.8% male and 55.2% female, with respondents’ mean age of 35.96±11.15. The frequencies of occurrence of morbidities of the residents and the 2017 flood were analyzed using percentage and chi-square test and the result showed a statistical significance (p < 0.05) between both variables.
Conclusion: The findings showed that the morbidities experienced during the flood had higher prevalence than post flood morbidities, but an exception was dark urine. These flood risks and morbidity outcomes can however be controlled through adequate preventive measures and recommendable interventions.
Transaminases and Alkaline Phosphatases Activities in HIV/AIDS Patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy Attending Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto
Authors: Kakako Saheed Ladipo , Najim Zainab 
Published: November 2019

Background: HIV/AIDS causes life threatening opportunistic infections with increased morbidity and mortality. HAART intervention in HIV/AIDS patients has not only reduce morbidity and mortality but also cause hepatic injury and elevation of the liver enzymes.
Aim: To measure the liver enzymes in HIV/AIDS patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and HIV/AIDS negative subjects.
Methodology: Seventy patients aged 20-50 years with asymptomatic HIV seropositive infection on HAART, 39 of whom are on first line drug and 31 on second line drug were assessed and 30 apparently healthy subjects (control) that tested negative for HIV 1 and 2 were recruited into this study. Venous blood was collected to determine the plasma levels of ALT, AST and ALP using kinetic method. Data were statistically analyzed using paired t-tests, P<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Result: The activities of serum ALT and AST observed in HIV infected asymptomatic patients on HAART (first line and second line drug) were significantly higher (P<0.001) than in the HIV negative (control) group. No significant difference was observed in ALP of HIV infected asymptomatic patient on HAART (those on second line drug) P>0.05 while there was a significant difference in those on first line drug (P=0.0058) when compared with the control.
Conclusion: Management of HIV/AIDS patients with HAART should be done with caution because hepatic injury may ensue due to the HAART.
Seasonal Influenza Incidence in India: A Retrospective Study Based on Multiple Indian Hospital and Diagnostic Laboratory Centre
Authors: Jain Dinesh , Singh Manmohan , Budhiraja Sandeep , Tarai Bansidhar , Ghildiyal Sukanya 
Published: November 2019

The objective of the study is to understand the seasonal variation in influenza incidence across multiple Indian states by using diagnostic laboratories data of influenza.
Materials and Methods: Diagnostic laboratory-based data of subjects who were tested for influenza between 1st January April 2014 to December 2017 across seven Indian states were analysed. In diagnostic laboratories of Maharashtra, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Rajasthan RT-PCR was used for detection of H1N1 and laboratories of Tamil Nadu used GeneXpert along with RT-PCR. A total sample size of 10,755 was used in the descriptive observational retrospective study.
Results: In case of H1N1, sample population had almost equal male and female proportion (5172) with 36.5 years mean age. In majority of states, >3-5 years age group had the highest positivity rate. Paediatric age group (0-18 years) contributed 25% of total H1N1 burden, while older adults (>60 years) contributed 15% of the total sample. The yearly trends showed a higher incidence rate of H1N1 in 2015, followed by a decline during 2016 and a surge in 2017. Monthly trends showed consistent rise in H1N1 positivity rate during early months (January, February, and March) of 2015, 2016 and 2017. For influenza B, paediatric age group (0-18 years) showed the highest positivity rate and contributed almost 40% of total influenza ‘B’ burden.
Conclusion: This study highlights the importance of big data-based analytics and its use in understanding the epidemiological behaviour of diseases like influenza. Insight by leveraging laboratories data, like in the case of current research study, gives demographic patterns of influenza in terms of age, gender, seasons, and regions/states.
Etching of Semiconductor Devices
Authors: Lill Thorsten , Vahedi Vahid , Gottscho Richard A. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractPlasma etching or reactive ion etching (RIE) has been the workhorse for patterning of semiconductor devices since the early 1980s when it replaced wet etching in manufacturing. Today, RIE is reaching levels of performance that were unimaginable back then. At the same time, etching technologies such as atomic layer etching (ALE), radical dry vapor etching, and ion beam etching are finding their way into manufacturing for certain applications.Herein, we present an overview of dry etching technologies used in semiconductor manufacturing. The emphasis is on the elementary surface processes and how they impact the performance on the wafer. We will start from less complex etching technologies, which use just one kind of etching species, such as neutrals, radicals, or ions. Then we combine these techniques into cycling processes, which leads to the discussion of ALE. The highest level of complexity is reached in RIE with simultaneous species fluxes. Reactor designs for the various etching technologies and process control will be covered. Finally, the outlook into the future of semiconductor device etching will be given.
Biomaterials in Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Wang Yingying , Lee Bae Hoon , Zhao Allan Z. , Li Huaqiong 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBiomaterials play an important role in the treatment of bone defects by targeting bone tissue regeneration. In this article, we review important biomaterials that serve as a functional engineered scaffold for bone tissue engineering, including ceramics, metals, polymers, and supramolecular materials. Particular focus is placed on composites and supramolecular biomaterials, as these may be the leading materials for the next‐generation bone tissue engineering. In addition, we address basic principles on the selection and design of biomaterials for bone tissue engineering applications and discuss also current challenges and prospects of using engineered biomaterials in bone tissue regeneration.
A survey of surface imaging use in radiation oncology in the United States
Authors: Padilla Laura , Havnen‐Smith Amanda , Cerviño Laura , Al‐Hallaq Hania A. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractSurface imaging (SI) has been rapidly integrated into radiotherapy clinics across the country without specific guidelines and recommendations on its commissioning and use aside from vendor‐provided information. A survey was created under the auspices of AAPM TG‐302 to assess the current status of SI to identify if there is need for formal guidance. The survey was designed to determine the institutional setting of responders, availability and length of its use, commissioning procedures, and clinical applications. This survey was created in REDCap, and approved as IRB exempt to collect anonymized data. Questions were reviewed by multiple physicists to ensure concept validity and piloted by a small group of independent physicists to ensure process validity. All full members of AAPM self‐identified as “therapy” or “other” were sent the survey link by email. The survey was active from February to March 2018. Of 3677 members successfully contacted, 439 completed responses; the summary of these responses provides insight on current surface imaging clinical practices, though they should not be assumed to be representative of radiation oncology as a whole. Results showed that 53.3% of respondents have SI in their clinics, mostly in treatment rooms, rarely in simulation rooms. Half of those without SI plan on purchasing it within 3 years. Over 10% have SI but do not use it clinically, 36.8% classify themselves as “expert” users, and 85.5% agreed/strongly agreed that SI guidelines are needed. Initial positioning with SI is most common for breast/chestwall and SRS/SBRT treatments, least common for pediatrics. Use of SI for intra‐fraction monitoring follows a similar distribution. Gating with SI is most prevalent for breast/chestwall (66.0%) but also used in SBRT (33.0%), and non‐SBRT lung/abdomen (<30%) treatments. SI is a rapidly growing technology in the field with widespread use for several anatomic sites. Guidelines and recommendations on commissioning and clinical use are warranted.
Finite Size Effects on Light Propagation throughout Random Media: Relation between Optical Properties and Scattering Event Statistics
Authors: Miranda‐Muñoz José M. , Esteso Victoria , Jiménez‐Solano Alberto , Lozano Gabriel , Míguez Hernán 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis work introduces a thorough analysis of light transport in thin optically disordered media. The diffusive properties of a turbid material are generally dictated by the transport mean free path, lt. For depths larger than this characteristic length, light propagation can be considered fully randomized. There is however a range of thicknesses for which light becomes only partly randomized, as it only undergoes a single or very few scattering events. The effects of such finitude are experimentally and theoretically studied on the optical properties of the material, such as the angular distribution of scattered light. Simulations provide insight into the phenomena that occur within the optically disordered slab, like the number of scattering events that photons undergo during propagation throughout the material, as a function of the built‐in wavelength dependent scattering mean free path, lsc. This approach provides fundamental information about photon transport in finite optically random media, which can be put into practice to design diffusers with specific requirements in terms of the spectral and angular properties of the scattered light.
Polymetallic Complexes for Applications as Photosensitisers in Anticancer Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Felder Patrick S. , Keller Sarah , Gasser Gilles 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAfter the first successful clinical trials of monometallic photosensitizers (PSs) for photodynamic therapy (PDT), the use of polynuclear complexes is currently coming to the fore. These increasingly complex systems bear a high potential to overcome the drawbacks of their mononucleic peers by, for example, increasing the solubility of the PDT PSs and therefore their pharmacokinetic behavior, changing their internal quantum, and singlet oxygen efficiencies or adding supplementary imaging or therapeutical modalities, thus opening up the field for approaches in personalized medicine by combining therapy and diagnosis together in a single treatment. In this review, the most promising examples of polymetallic complexes used as PSs for anticancer PDT are presented.
Rapid Layer‐Specific Annealing Enabled by Ultraviolet LED with Estimation of Crystallization Energy for High‐Performance Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Ouyang Zhongliang , Abrams Henry , Bergstone Robert , Li Quantao , Zhu Feng , Li Dawen 
Published: November 2019

AbstractA rapid layer‐specific annealing on perovskite active layer enabled by ultraviolet (UV) light‐emitting diode (LED) is demonstrated and efficiency close to 19% is achieved in a simple planar inverted structure ITO/PEDOT:PSS/MAPbI3/PC71BM/Al without any device engineering. These results demonstrate that if the UV dosage is well managed, UV light is capable of annealing perovskite into high‐quality film rather than simply damaging it. Different in principle from other photonic treatment techniques that can heat up and damage underlying films, the UV‐LED‐annealing method enables layer‐specific annealing because LED light source is able to provide a specific UV wavelength for maximum light absorption of target film. Moreover, the layer‐specific photonic treatment allows accurate estimation of the crystallization energy required to form perovskite film at device quality level.
Affinity Laminated Chromatography Membrane Built‐in Electrodes for Suppressing Polysulfide Shuttling in Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Wang Yuxiao , Yu Ying , Tan Yeqiang , Li Tianyu , Chen Yanbing , Wang Shuang , Sui Kunyan , Zhang Hongzhang , Luo Yang , Li Xianfeng 
Published: November 2019

AbstractLithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries are promising candidates for energy storage, but suffer from capacity and cycling challenges caused by the serious shuttling effect of polysulfide (PS) ions. To address these issues, a sodium alginate (SA)‐derived affinity laminated chromatography membrane built‐in electrode is designed. This is the first attempt to utilize this type of membrane, which is widely used for the selective adsorption of proteins, in the battery field. An ordered multilayer structure throughout the electrode can easily be obtained, and the number of membrane layers can be also conveniently controlled by varying the cross‐linking time of SA. The PS shuttling effect is efficiently suppressed and the permeability of PSs is reduced by enveloping the carbon/sulfur powder in ultrathin laminated chromatography membranes. As a result, these designed electrodes deliver a superhigh initial capacity of 1492 mA h g−1, with a capacity retention almost 20% higher than the contrast. This low‐cost and easily mass‐producible strategy inspired by affinity chromatography is expected to effectively solve the PS shuttling problem toward high‐loading and long‐lifetime Li–S batteries in practice.
Chemical Approaches for Stabilizing Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Lee Jin‐Wook , Park Nam‐Gyu 
Published: November 2019

AbstractChemical bonding dictates not only the optoelectronic properties of materials, but also the intrinsic and extrinsic stability of materials. Here, the causes of intrinsic and extrinsic instability of perovskite materials are reviewed considering their correlation with the unique chemical‐bonding nature of perovskite materials. There are a number of key standardized stability tests established by the International Electrotechnical Commission for commercialized photovoltaic modules. Based on these procedures, the possible causes and related mechanisms of the material degradation that can arise during the test procedures are identified, which are discussed in terms of their chemical bonds. Based on the understanding of the critical causes, promising strategies for mitigating the causes to enhance the stability of perovskite solar cells are summarized. The stability of the state‐of‐the‐art perovskite solar cells implies a need for the development of improved stability‐testing protocols to move onto the next stage toward commercialization.
Financing urban growth in China: A case study of Guangzhou
Authors: Niu Meili , Wu Yan 
Published: November 2019

AbstractRapid urban growth has become a global phenomenon. As these city populations expand, urban governance is even more of a daunting challenge in many countries. China is not an exception. It is at once a transitional state still undergoing urbanization and economic development; it is also currently experiencing a slowing economy. China's cities must simultaneously continue to improve the quality of urban life while maintaining social stability. Using the city of Guangzhou as an example of China's mega‐cities, this study explores the financing strategies used by Chinese cities to manage urban growth. While economic growth has always been the main priority, Guangzhou's strategy has not followed China's traditional approach of growth for growth's sake; instead, it is relying on investment in innovation and transportation to promote the local economy. Education is also being stressed as a means of fostering human resources. However, undisciplined infrastructure financing and ineffective intergovernmental fiscal relations are jeopardizing the city's fiscal sustainability. To correct this will require further reforms of China's fiscal system and a careful sequencing of reforms to maintain a sustainable growth in the urban area.
Robust detection of intermittent multiplicative sensor fault
Authors: Zhang Junfeng , Christofides Panagiotis D. , He Xiao , Zhao Yinghong , Zhang Zhihao , Zhou Donghua 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn this paper, the detection problem of intermittent multiplicative sensor fault is investigated for stochastic uncertain systems. A robust optimal filter is designed according to the criterion of minimum estimation error covariance. Then, based on this, a residual generator is constructed, and the quantitative effect of the fault on it is discussed in detail. After that we design the evaluation function and detection threshold to achieve intermittent fault detection. Our proposed strategy has a recursive form and only includes simple arithmetic operations, thus it is suitable for real‐time online applications. Finally, a simulation example is given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
An improved multiple‐state observer of Boolean control networks
Authors: Yang Junqi , Gao Zihan , Li Zhiqiang , Qian Wei 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThis paper explores the issue of state estimation for Boolean control networks (BCNs), and a kind of improved multiple‐state observer is proposed. The improved multiple‐state observer can be described by means of a specific BCN that overcomes the difficulty of the existing multiple state observers where it is difficult to find a general expression for the observer gain matrix. Next, based on the states that can possibly generate the output and those that are observed by the designed observer in current time step, an adaptive algorithm that completes the design of the multiple‐state observer is provided to update the observer states, and which makes the state estimation of Boolean control networks feasible. Finally, an example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the obtained results.
Injury factors and pathological features of toxic milk mice during different disease stages
Authors: Zhou Xiang‐xue , Li Xun‐hua , Chen Ding‐bang , Wu Chao , Feng Li , Qin Hao‐lin , Pu Xiao‐Yong , Liang Xiu‐ling 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate different injury factors and pathological characteristics of the brain at different disease stages in toxic milk (TX) mice, an animal model of Wilson's disease (WD).MethodsThirty TX mice (10 each at 3, 6 and 12 months old) and 30 age‐matched C57 mice were used in this study. Corrected phase (CP) values were determined from susceptibility‐weighted images. Myelin content was determined by measuring inhibition optical density values of Luxol fast blue‐stained sections. Neurofilament protein 68 kDa (NF68), β‐amyloid precursor protein (β‐APP), and myelin basic protein (MBP) levels, as well as copper and iron content, in brain nuclei of the TX mouse were evaluated. Gene amplification ratios for catalase (CAT), GSH peroxidase (GSH‐PX), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mouse brain were also determined.ResultsCompared with C57 mice, neuronal cell counts were decreased in 12‐months‐old TX mice (p = .011). Myelin content was decreased in the lenticular nucleus (p = .029), thalamus (p = .030), and brainstem (p = .034) of 6‐months‐old TX mice; decreases in the corresponding nuclei (p = .044, .037, and .032, respectively) were also found in 12‐months‐old TX mice. MBP values were lower in the lenticular nucleus and thalamus (p = .027 and .016, respectively) of 6‐months‐old TX mice and in the corresponding nuclei (p = .24 and .040) of 12‐months‐old TX mice. NF‐68 values were lower in the lenticular nucleus and thalamus (p = .034 and .037, respectively) of 6‐months‐old TX mice and in the corresponding nuclei (p = .006 and .012) of 12‐months‐old TX mice. β‐APP values were higher in the thalamus of 6‐months‐old (p = .037) and 12‐months‐old (p = .012) TX mice. Iron content was higher in the lenticular nucleus, thalamus, and cerebellum (p = .044, .038, and .029, respectively) of 6‐months‐old TX mice and in the corresponding nuclei (p = .017, .024, and .029) of 12‐months‐old TX mice. The NOS gene amplification multiple was higher (p = .039), whereas the SOD1 gene amplification multiple was lower (p = .041) in 12‐months‐old TX mice. There was no correlation between metal content or oxidation index and pathological index.ConclusionsThe pathological characteristics of the brains of TX mice may differ at different ages. Different pathogenic factors, including copper and iron deposition and abnormal oxidative stress, are present at different stages.
Efficacy of neuroendoscopic surgery versus craniotomy for supratentorial hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage: A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Zhao Xu‐Hui , Zhang Su‐Zhen , Feng Jin , Li Zhen‐Zhong , Ma Zeng‐Lu 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundHypertensive cerebral hemorrhage (HCH) is a potentially life‐threatening neurological condition with an extremely high morbidity and mortality. In recent years, neuroendoscopy has been used to treat intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). However, the choice of neuroendoscopic surgery versus craniotomy for patients with intracerebral hemorrhages is controversial.AimWe conducted this meta‐analysis to assess the efficacy of neuroendoscopic surgery compared with craniotomy in patients with supratentorial hypertensive ICH.MethodsA systematic electronic search was conducted of online electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library updated on December 2017. The meta‐analysis only included randomized controlled studies.ResultsThree randomized controlled trials met our inclusion criteria. The pooled analysis of death showed that neuroendoscopic surgery decreased the rate of death when compared with craniotomy (RR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.26–1.29; p = .18). The pooled result of complications indicated that neuroendoscopic surgery has a tendency toward lower complications (RR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.28–0.49; p < .001).ConclusionsOur results suggested that neuroendoscopic surgery has lower complications, but no superior advantages in morbidity rates. Since the advantage of neuroendoscopic surgery has been performed in some area, the continuation of multi‐center comparative investigation with craniotomy may be necessary. Moreover, some efforts need to be taken in selecting appropriate patients with different treatments.