bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synergistic effect of sulfur dioxide and chloride on the corrosion of 3.55 wt% Ni weathering steel
Authors: Fu Gui-Qin , Dong-Liang Li , Jing Ma , Xin-Liang Gao , Miao-Yong Zhu 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
In this paper, we studied the synergistic effect of sulfur dioxide and chloride on the corrosion of weathering steel containing 3.55 wt% Ni. The weight loss and the rusts formed on weathering steel in atmosphere containing chloride, and a mixture of sulfur dioxide and chloride were studied by wet/dry cyclic corrosion tests. The results showed that in a chloride containing atmosphere, the rust presented a bi-layer structure, with a loose outer layer with chloride clustered and a dense inner layer containing goethite. Due to the synergistic effect of sulfur dioxide and chloride, the sample corrosion was accelerated, which changed the rust structure and phase distribution. Goethite formed in the outer rust layer with a shell-like morphology, which limited the volume changes causing crack formation. Chloride passed through the cracks to corrode the substrate and akaganeite formed in the inner rust layer, which eliminated the cation selectivity.
Glycerol mediated solution combustion synthesis of nano magnesia and its application in the adsorptive removal of anionic dyes
Authors: Murthy T P Krishna , Hari Krishna R , Chandraprabha M N , Divyashri G , Vanessa Crasto , Dhanyatha S V , Megha S , Swarnima Patil 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
This study reports solution combustion synthesis of magnesia nanoparticles (nMgO) using magnesium nitrate as oxidiser and glycerol as fuel. Size, morphology, crystal structure and surface properties of synthesised nMgO were analysed by PXRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR and Point of Zero Charge. The XRD pattern of nMgO confirmed prepared samples were single cubic-phase without any impurities. TEM analysis proved nMgO was in nano regime with an average particle diameter of 20–40 nm. FTIR spectra show the presence of characteristic peaks of nMgO and support the XRD results. The prepared nMgO was employed as an adsorbent for the removal of two anionic dyes viz. Indigo Carmine (IC) and Orange G (OG). Furthermore, various adsorption isotherms and kinetic models were performed to understand the kinetics and mechanism of the adsorption process. Experimental results demonstrated that the adsorption equilibrium data fit well to Sips isotherm (R2 > 0.98) and the saturated adsorption capacities of nMgO were found to be 262 mg g−1 for IC and 126 mg g−1 for OG. Adsorption kinetics analysis revealed that the adsorption followed pseudo-first-order model, with both film and pore diffusion governing the rate of adsorption. Excellent adsorption capacity combined with efficient regeneration proved the potential of the prepared nMgO as an adsorbent for the removal of harmful dyes from industrial effluent.
Impact of a multidisciplinary workflow on safety and management of patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia
Authors: Northam Kalynn A , Chen Sheh-Li , Stivers Andrew P , Cicci Jonathan D , Hedrick Tanner L , Rollins-Raval Marian A , Kasthuri Raj S 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Purpose
Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a serious complication of heparin administration. Management strategies are complex and include discontinuing heparin products, initiating alternative anticoagulants, interpreting laboratory test results, documenting heparin allergies, and providing patient education. Medication error reports and a retrospective review conducted at an academic medical center revealed an opportunity for a quality improvement initiative and led to the creation of a multidisciplinary workflow for the management of HIT. In a pre-post study, the impact of the multidisciplinary workflow on the safety and management of HIT was evaluated.

Methods
The preimplementation group consisted of adult patients tested for suspected HIT from April 4, 2014, through May 31, 2016; the postimplementation group consisted of adult patients tested from November 1, 2016, through October 31, 2018. The primary outcome was the incidence of heparin product administration while HIT testing was ongoing. The secondary outcome was the rate of appropriate heparin allergy documentation.

Results
The incidence of heparin product administration while HIT testing results were pending was significantly reduced, from 54.2% to 20.0% (P &lt; 0.001), after workflow implementation. The rate of appropriate heparin allergy documentation significantly increased, from 95.0% to 100% (P &lt; 0.001).

Conclusion
Implementation of a multidisciplinary workflow for the management of HIT significantly reduced the incidence of heparin administration while testing was ongoing and improved the rate of appropriate heparin allergy documentation.
Economic and workload impact of therapeutic interchange of inhaler medications and nebulizer solutions
Authors: Gonzalez Elizabeth , Glick Jason Alan , Shan Guogen , Talbot Jeffery N 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Purpose
To examine the financial impact of automatic formulary substitution of nebulization solutions for pressurized metered dose inhalers and dry powder inhalers and the effect of the automatic substitution initiative on respiratory care practitioner (RCP) workload at a community hospital.

Methods
A retrospective observational study was conducted in a 326-bed nonacademic community hospital. Adult patients who received respiratory medications and had an inpatient stay, were admitted for observation, or had an emergency room visit from December 2016 through February 2017 (the control group) or from December 2017 through February 2018 (the study group) were included in the analysis. The primary outcomes were the cost of respiratory medications per hospital stay and the number of RCP visits per hospital stay. The secondary outcome was the cost of wasted doses per hospital stay.

Results
A total of 3,766 patients were included in the study: 2,030 in the study group and 1,736 in the control group. The mean cost of respiratory medications per hospital stay was significantly lower in the study group vs the control group ($13.29 vs $36.48, P &lt; 0.001). The mean number of RCP visits per hospital stay was also statistically lower in the study group vs the control group (11.6 vs 12.9, P = 0.04). The mean cost of wasted doses was significantly lower in study group vs the control group ($0.25 vs $22.91, P &lt; 0.001).

Conclusion
Automatic formulary substitution of nebulization solutions for inhaler medications significantly decreased medication costs without increasing the average number of RCP visits per hospital stay.
A fine-scale map of genome-wide recombination in divergent Escherichia coli population
Authors: Kang Yu , Yuan Lina , Shi Xing , Chu Yanan , He Zilong , Jia Xinmiao , Lin Qiang , Ma Qin , Wang Jian , Xiao Jingfa , Hu Songnian , Gao Zhancheng , Chen Fei , Yu Jun 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Recombination is one of the most important molecular mechanisms of prokaryotic genome evolution, but its exact roles are still in debate. Here we try to infer genome-wide recombination within a species, utilizing a dataset of 149 complete genomes of Escherichia coli from diverse animal hosts and geographic origins, including 45 in-house sequenced with the single-molecular real-time platform. Two major clades identified based on physiological, clinical and ecological characteristics form distinct genetic lineages based on scarcity of interclade gene exchanges. By defining gene-based syntenies for genomic segments within and between the two clades, we build a fine-scale recombination map for this representative global E. coli population. The map suggests extensive within-clade recombination that often breaks physical linkages among individual genes but seldom interrupts the structure of genome organizational frameworks as well as primary metabolic portfolios supported by the framework integrity, possibly due to strong natural selection for both physiological compatibility and ecological fitness. In contrast, the between-clade recombination declines drastically when phylogenetic distance increases to the extent where a 10-fold reduction can be observed, establishing a firm genetic barrier between clades. Our empirical data suggest a critical role for such recombination events in the early stage of speciation where recombination rate is associated with phylogenetic distance in addition to sequence and gene variations. The extensive intraclade recombination binds sister strains into a quasisexual group and optimizes genes or alleles to streamline physiological activities, whereas the sharply declined interclade recombination split the population into clades adaptive to divergent ecological niches.
Does the spatial sorting of dispersal traits affect the phenotype of the non-dispersing stages of the invasive frogXenopus laevisthrough coupling?
Authors: Kruger Natasha , Measey John , Vimercati Giovanni , Herrel Anthony , Secondi Jean 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn amphibians, spatial sorting progressively enhances the dispersal capacities of dispersing stages in expanding populations but may enhance or limit the performance of the earlier non-dispersing stages. Phenotypic traits of non-dispersing tadpoles and metamorphs can be coupled, through carry-over effects and trade-offs, or decoupled to dispersal traits in adults. We used the globally invasive amphibian, Xenopus laevis, to examine whether spatial sorting of adult phenotypes affects the phenotype of larval stages to metamorphosis in the core and at the periphery of an invasive population in France. We combined common garden laboratory and outdoor experiments to test the effect of parental pond location (core or periphery) on morphology, development and survival to metamorphosis and found no differences between tadpoles. After metamorphosis, the only difference observed in either of the experiments was the larger body size of metamorphs from the periphery, and then only when reared in the laboratory. Differences in metamorph size may indicate that a shift of dispersal traits occur after metamorphosis in X. laevis. Thus, our findings illustrate that decoupled evolution through spatial sorting can lead to changes of X. laevis adult phenotypes that would enhance dispersal without affecting the phenotype of tadpoles before metamorphosis.
On semiparametric modelling, estimation and inference for survival data subject to dependent censoring
Authors: Deresa N W , Van Keilegom I 
Published: October 2020

SummaryWhen modelling survival data, it is common to assume that the survival time $T$ is conditionally independent of the censoring time $C$ given a set of covariates. However, there are numerous situations in which this assumption is not realistic. The goal of this paper is therefore to develop a semiparametric normal transformation model which assumes that, after a proper nonparametric monotone transformation, the vector $(T, C)$ follows a linear model, and the vector of errors in this bivariate linear model follows a standard bivariate normal distribution with a possibly nondiagonal covariance matrix. We show that this semiparametric model is identifiable, and propose estimators of the nonparametric transformation, the regression coefficients and the correlation between the error terms. It is shown that the estimators of the model parameters and the transformation are consistent and asymptotically normal. We also assess the finite-sample performance of the proposed method by comparing it with an estimation method under a fully parametric model. Finally, our method is illustrated using data from the AIDS Clinical Trial Group 175 study.
Not All Nitrogen Is Created Equal: Differential Effects of Nitrate and Ammonium Enrichment in Coastal Wetlands
Authors: Bowen Jennifer L , Giblin Anne E , Murphy Anna E , Bulseco Ashley N , Deegan Linda A , Johnson David S , Nelson James A , Mozdzer Thomas J , Sullivan Hillary L 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Excess reactive nitrogen (N) flows from agricultural, suburban, and urban systems to coasts, where it causes eutrophication. Coastal wetlands take up some of this N, thereby ameliorating the impacts on nearshore waters. Although the consequences of N on coastal wetlands have been extensively studied, the effect of the specific form of N is not often considered. Both oxidized N forms (nitrate, NO3−) and reduced forms (ammonium, NH4+) can relieve nutrient limitation and increase primary production. However, unlike NH4+, NO3− can also be used as an electron acceptor for microbial respiration. We present results demonstrating that, in salt marshes, microbes use NO3− to support organic matter decomposition and primary production is less stimulated than when enriched with reduced N. Understanding how different forms of N mediate the balance between primary production and decomposition is essential for managing coastal wetlands as N enrichment and sea level rise continue to assail our coasts.
Implementation of High-Sensitivity and Point-of-Care Cardiac Troponin Assays into Practice: Some Different Thoughts
Authors: Apple Fred S , Fantz Corinne R , Collinson Paul O ,   the IFCC Committee on Clinical Application of Cardiac Bio-Markers
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background
The primary role of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) Committee on Clinical Application of Cardiac Bio-Markers (C-CB) is to provide educational materials about cardiac biomarker use, emphasizing high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays.

Content
This mini-review, regarding high-sensitivity cardiac and point-of-care troponin assays, addresses 1) new IFCC C-CB/AACC Academy laboratory practice recommendations; 2) new and updated concepts from the Fourth Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction; 3) the role of point-of-care assays in practice and research; 4) regulatory challenges concerning point-of-care assays; e) testing in the COVID-19 world.

Summary
Implementation of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays makes a difference now and into the future in clinical practice and research. Providing point-of-care high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays and optimizing studies to allow clearance of these assays by regulatory agencies, in a timely fashion, may provide improved patient management and outcomes.
Bodily Abjection and the Politics of Resistance in Tom Paulin’s Greek Tragedies
Authors: Torrance Isabelle 
Published: October 2020

AbstractTom Paulin’s Greek tragedies present extremes of bodily abjection in order to service of a politics of resistance that is tied, in each case, to the political context of the drama’s production. The Riot Act (1984), Seize the Fire (1989), and Medea (2010), share a focus on the degradation of oppressed political groups and feature characters who destabilize the status quo. Yet the impact of disruptive political actions is not ultimately made clear. We are left wondering at the conclusion of each tragedy if the momentous acts of defiance we have witnessed have any power to create systemic change within politically rigged systems. The two 1980s plays are discussed together and form a sequence, with The Riot Act overtly addressing the Northern Irish conflict and Seize the Fire encompassing a broader sweep of oppressive regimes. The politics of discrimination in Medea are illuminated by comparison with similar themes in Paulin’s Love’s Bonfire (2010). Unlike other Northern Irish adaptations of Greek tragedy, Paulin’s dramas, arrested in their political moments, present little hope for the immediate future. Yet in asking us to consider if individual sacrifice is enough to achieve radical change they maintain an open channel for political discourse.
The Immunogenicity of the Influenza, Pneumococcal, and Hepatitis B Vaccines in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease Treated With Vedolizumab
Authors: Harrington Jill E , Hamilton Rachel E , Ganley-Leal Lisa , Farraye Francis A , Wasan Sharmeel K 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background
Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have an elevated risk for infection which is further increased by immunosuppressive medications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of influenza, PVC13, PPSV23, and hepatitis B vaccines in adults with IBD treated with vedolizumab as compared to those treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents or nonimmunosuppressive therapy.

Methods
In this prospective controlled trial, patients were vaccinated with the influenza, PVC13, PPSV23, and/or hepatitis B vaccines. Participants were grouped based on IBD medication regimen: (1) vedolizumab monotherapy, (2) vedolizumab plus immunomodulator, (3) anti-TNF plus immunomodulator, and (4) no immunosuppressive therapy (control). Vaccine responses were evaluated by comparing pre- and postvaccination titers. Disease activity and adverse events were monitored by the Harvey–Bradshaw Index or Simple Colitis Clinical Activity Index and by standardized phone interviews.

Results
No serious adverse events or significant changes in disease activity were reported. For the influenza vaccine, baseline titers were high in all groups, and no follow-up titers met criteria for adequate response. For the pneumococcal vaccines, all groups showed response to vaccination; there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. For the hepatitis B vaccine, 62.5% of patients receiving vedolizumab and 33.3% receiving anti-TNF therapy achieved a level of response &gt;10 mIU/mL.

Discussion
The inability to observe a response to the influenza vaccine was influenced by high baseline titers. For the hepatitis B vaccine, patients treated with vedolizumab experienced immunogenic response to vaccination that was noninferior to nonimmunosuppressed controls. All studied vaccines were well-tolerated. Vaccination should be encouraged in all adult patients with IBD.
Racial Disparities in Substance Use Treatment Completion Among Older Adults
Authors: Suntai Zainab D , Lee Lewis H , Leeper James D 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Racial disparities in substance use among young adults have been well documented in the substance use literature, but little attention has been paid to older adults. While being an older adult is positively associated with substance use treatment completion, racial disparities in treatment completion have yet to be examined. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent racial disparities exist in substance use treatment completion among older adults (65 and older).

Research Design and Methods
This cross-sectional study utilized data from the most recent Treatment Episode Data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which documents discharges from a publicly funded substance use treatment program in the United States. A total of 17,942 older adults reported to a substance use treatment program in 2017 and 6,653 met the criteria for the study. Chi-squared tests were used to analyze group differences and a binary logistic regression was used to predict substance use treatment completion.

Results
Results show that Black older adults were 37% less likely to complete a substance use treatment program than Whites (OR = 0.630) while Hispanic older adults were 26% more likely to complete a substance use treatment program than Whites (OR = 1.26).

Discussion and Implications
These results support the findings from similar studies with younger adults and support the theory that racial disparities are prevalent across the life span. Although Hispanics had a higher treatment completion rate than Whites, this is likely a reflection of familismo, where decisions about health treatments is a group process and a steady network of family members are available to provide advice and encouragement. The significant disparity observed between Black and White older adults suggest a need to consider cultural, historical, and systemic factors that affect voluntary termination of substance use treatment among Black older adults.
FLANNEL (Focal Loss bAsed Neural Network EnsembLe) for COVID-19 detection
Authors: Qiao Zhi , Bae Austin , Glass Lucas M , Xiao Cao , Sun Jimeng 
Published: October 2020

Abstract

Objective
The study sought to test the possibility of differentiating chest x-ray images of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) against other pneumonia and healthy patients using deep neural networks.

Materials and Methods
We construct the radiography (x-ray) imaging data from 2 publicly available sources, which include 5508 chest x-ray images across 2874 patients with 4 classes: normal, bacterial pneumonia, non–COVID-19 viral pneumonia, and COVID-19. To identify COVID-19, we propose a FLANNEL (Focal Loss bAsed Neural Network EnsembLe) model, a flexible module to ensemble several convolutional neural network models and fuse with a focal loss for accurate COVID-19 detection on class imbalance data.

Results
FLANNEL consistently outperforms baseline models on COVID-19 identification task in all metrics. Compared with the best baseline, FLANNEL shows a higher macro-F1 score, with 6% relative increase on the COVID-19 identification task, in which it achieves precision of 0.7833 ± 0.07, recall of 0.8609 ± 0.03, and F1 score of 0.8168 ± 0.03.

Discussion
Ensemble learning that combines multiple independent basis classifiers can increase the robustness and accuracy. We propose a neural weighing module to learn the importance weight for each base model and combine them via weighted ensemble to get the final classification results. In order to handle the class imbalance challenge, we adapt focal loss to our multiple classification task as the loss function.

Conclusion
FLANNEL effectively combines state-of-the-art convolutional neural network classification models and tackles class imbalance with focal loss to achieve better performance on COVID-19 detection from x-rays.
Osphranter rufus(Diprotodontia: Macropodidae)
Authors: Freedman Calli R , Rothschild Daniel , Groves Colin , Newman Amy E M 
Published: October 2020

AbstractOsphranter rufus (Desmarest, 1822) is a macropod commonly called the red kangaroo and is the largest extant marsupial. Sexually dimorphic in size and coat color, this large macropod is one of four species in the genus Osphranter. In general, males are larger than females, and are reddish-brown in color, whereas females are bluish-gray. O. rufus is endemic to Australia, where it inhabits both arid and semiarid areas with wide habitat preferences that include open plains, open desert, grassland, woodland, or shrubland habitats. Although it is regularly harvested for its meat and hide, O. rufus is an abundant species that is not of special conservation concern and it is listed as “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.