bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surfactant protein C dysfunction with new clinical insights for diffuse alveolar hemorrhage and autoimmunity
Authors: Tang Xiaolei , Shen Yuelin , Zhou Chunju , Yang Haiming , Liu Hui , Li Huimin , Liu Jinrong , Zhao Shunying 
Published: December 2019

AbstractImportanceSurfactant protein C (SP‐C) dysfunction is a rare disease associated with interstitial lung disease. Early therapies may improve outcomes but the diagnosis is often delayed owing to variability of manifestations.ObjectiveTo investigate the manifestations and outcomes of SP‐C dysfunction.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the records of five pediatric patients who were diagnosed with SP‐C dysfunction between February 2014 and April 2017 at Beijing Children's Hospital.ResultsThe five patients included two boys and three girls with a median age at diagnosis of 1.3 years. All patients presented with interstitial lung disease and had a heterozygous SFTPC mutation, including an I73T mutation in three patients, a V39L mutation in one patient, and a Y104H mutation in one patient. In addition to common respiratory manifestations, hemoptysis and anemia were observed in one patient with the I73T mutation. Elevated levels of autoantibodies and a large number of hemosiderin‐laden macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were found in two patients with the I73T mutation, suggesting the presence of diffuse alveolar hemorrage and autoimmunity. Chest high‐resolution computed tomography features included ground‐glass opacities, reticular opacities, cysts, and pleural thickening. Transbronchial lung biopsy was performed in one patient with the I73T mutation, which revealed the presence of some hemosiderin‐laden macrophages in alveolar spaces. All patients received treatment with corticosteroids; two received combined treatment with hydroxychloroquine. During follow‐up, the two patients who received hydroxychloroquine showed improved symptoms; of the remaining three patients, two died after their families refused further treatment, while the final patient was lost to follow‐up.InterpretationThis is the first report to describe a new phenotype of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage with autoimmunity in patients with I73T SFTPC mutation. Treatment with hydroxychloroquine should be considered for patients with SP‐C dysfunction.
Updates on management of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Yu Jason L. , Afolabi‐Brown Olufunke 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects about 1%–5% of the pediatric population. The consequences of untreated OSA in children include neurocognitive deficits, behavioral problems, poor school performance as well as systemic and pulmonary hypertension. The treatment options for pediatric OSA are numerous with a variety of surgical and non‐surgical interventions. As our understanding of the complexities of OSA grows, the options for management have continued to expand as well. The objectives of this review are to describe the commonly prescribed treatments for pediatric OSA including adenotonsillectomy as well as use of positive airway pressure. We also highlight other surgical and non‐surgical interventions available. In addition, we provide updates on current research focusing on newer diagnostic and experimental treatment modalities.
Noninvasive ventilation in a young infant with congenital central hypoventilation and 7‐year follow‐up
Authors: Xu Zhifei , Wu Yunxiao , Li Bei , Zheng Li , Liu Jingyuan , Shen Kunling 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIntroductionCongenital central hypoventilation syndrome (CCHS) is a rare disorder characterized by alveolar hypoventilation and autonomic system dysregulation secondary to mutations of the PHOX2B gene. Treatment consists of assisted ventilation using positive‐pressure ventilators via tracheostomy, bi‐level positive airway pressure (BPAP) via a noninvasive interface, negative‐pressure ventilators, or diaphragm pacing. The long‐term use of BPAP in younger children at home has been less frequently reported.Case presentationWe present a case of a 2‐month‐old infant with CCHS who was successfully managed by BPAP without the need for tracheostomy and followed up for 7 years.ConclusionCCHS is a rare disease that manifests as nocturnal desaturation and carbon dioxide retention in early life. Noninvasive ventilation can be successfully used in young infants via an appropriate mask.
Non‐Flat Universes and Black Holes in Asymptotically Free Mimetic Gravity
Authors: Chamseddine Ali H. , Mukhanov Viatcheslav , Russ Tobias B. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe recently proposed theory of “Asymptotically Free Mimetic Gravity” is extended to the general non‐homogeneous, spatially non‐flat case. We present a modified theory of gravity which is free of higher derivatives of the metric. In this theory asymptotic freedom of gravity implies the existence of a minimal black hole with vanishing Hawking temperature. Introducing a spatial curvature dependent potential, we moreover obtain non‐singular, bouncing modifications of spatially non‐flat Friedmann and Bianchi universes.
Hot water treatment: an effective method for disinfectingCastanea sativamill. dormant scions againstDryocosmus kuriphilusYasumatsu
Authors: Ciordia Marta , García Juan Carlos , Loureiro María Dolores 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe Asian chestnut gall wasp (ACGW)Dryocosmus kuriphilusYasumatsu is the most severe pest of the genusCastaneaworldwide. After its arrival in Europe, the insect dispersed rapidly from Italy to other European countries, as well as spreading over long distances within each country because of the unintentional transport of infested chestnut material owing to the fact that infestation inside the dormant buds is visually undetectable. Hot water treatment (HWT) has been tested in terms of pest and diseases control in propagation processes with a wide range of plant material and species, including the Asian chestnutCastanea mollissimacv ‘Qing’. Taking into account the different thermal tolerances of plant species, an experiment to disinfectCastanea sativascions from ACGW by HWT was performed.The effects of the immersion of dormant scions for 10 min at two water temperatures (49 and 52 °C), with and without a previous period of water hydration, were tested.RESULTSA 10 min soak at 49 °C was effective in killing ACGW larvae while retaining an excellent percentage of successful grafts. The pre‐HWT hydration stage did not influence the success of the treatment. Positive shoot growth was also recorded after HWT.CONCLUSIONSWe report for the first time the effectiveness of a simple and environmentally friendly protocol based on hot water for the disinfection of European chestnut (C. sativa) scions againstD. kuriphilus. This will enable nurseries to supply plants free from this pest, preventing the insect dispersion, which will have a positive socio‐economic impact to the chestnut tree sector. Also positive environmental impact will be favoured as gall wasp proliferation will decrease. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Covariate adjustment for randomized controlled trials revisited
Authors: Wang Jixian 
Published: December 2019

Covariate adjustment for the estimation of treatment effect for randomized controlled trials (RCT) is a simple approach with a long history, hence, its pros and cons have been well‐investigated and published in the literature. It is worthwhile to revisit this topic since recently there has been significant investigation and development on model assumptions, robustness to model mis‐specification, in particular, regarding the Neyman‐Rubin model and the average treatment effect estimand. This paper discusses key results of the investigation and development and their practical implication on pharmaceutical statistics. Accordingly, we recommend that appropriate covariate adjustment should be more widely used for RCTs for both hypothesis testing and estimation.
Constructing spin‐adiabatic states for the modeling of spin‐crossing reactions. I. A shared‐orbital implementation
Authors: Tao Yunwen , Pei Zheng , Bellonzi Nicole , Mao Yuezhi , Zou Zhu , Liang Wanzhen , Yang Zhibo , Shao Yihan 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn the modeling of spin‐crossing reactions, it has become popular to directly explore the spin‐adiabatic surfaces. Specifically, through constructing spin‐adiabatic states from a two‐state Hamiltonian (with spin‐orbit coupling matrix elements) at each geometry, one can readily employ advanced geometry optimization algorithms to acquire a “transition state” structure, where the spin crossing occurs. In this work, we report the implementation of a fully‐variational spin‐adiabatic approach based on Kohn‐Sham density functional theory spin states (sharing the same set of molecular orbitals) and the Breit‐Pauli one‐electron spin‐orbit operator. For three model spin‐crossing reactions (predissociation of N2O, singlet‐triplet conversion in CH2, and CO addition to Fe(CO)4), the spin‐crossing points were obtained. Our results also indicated the Breit‐Pauli one‐electron spin‐orbit coupling can vary significantly along the reaction pathway on the spin‐adiabatic energy surface. On the other hand, due to the restriction that low‐spin and high‐spin states share the same set of molecular orbitals, the acquired spin‐adiabatic energy surface shows a cusp (ie, a first‐order discontinuity) at the crossing point, which prevents the use of standard geometry optimization algorithms to pinpoint the crossing point. An extension with this restriction removed is being developed to achieve the smoothness of spin‐adiabatic surfaces.
First subadult specimen of Psephochelys polyosteoderma (Sauropterygia, Placodontia) implies turtle‐like fusion pattern of the carapace
Authors: Wang Wei , Ma Feimin , Li Chun 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPlacodonts are a group of turtle‐like animals, including placochelyids that are restricted entirely to the Triassic Tethyan realm. Their fossil remains are rare compared with other contemporaneous marine reptiles. Here, we report the first subadult specimen of the placochelyid Psephochelys polyosteoderma from south‐western China. It is the most complete specimen of this taxon known. The new fossil is referred confidently to Psephochelys polyosteoderma on the basis of the narrow and spatulate rostrum, toothless premaxillae, and carapace composed of small and numerous armour plates with relatively smooth surfaces. The new specimen provides additional anatomical information for Psephochelys polyosteoderma including the presence of transverse processes on the dorsal vertebrae lacking anteroposterior expansion, and a phalangeal formula in the pes of 1‐2‐3‐4‐2. The phylogeny of placodonts, especially the family Placochelyidae, is revised based on a character matrix incorporating additional postcranial characters. This resulted in a better‐resolved tree when compared with previous studies, with Psephochelys as a derived genus within Placochelyidae. On comparison with the adult holotype specimen, the incompletely developed armour in the new specimen reveals a fusion pattern of the carapace beginning with the axial and marginal regions. This surface fusion pattern resembles the ontogenetic process in the embryonic turtle shell, hinting at a possible deep homology with their common diapsid ancestor.
Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization of an Unusual Succinylated Starch Applied to Carbon Paste Electrodes
Authors: Sayka Rodrigo A. , Rozada Thiago C. , Lima Dhésmon , Pessôa Christiana A. , Viana Adriano G. , Fiorin Barbara C. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThis work presents the structural characterization of an unusual modified starch with succinic anhydride (2% w/v). The product characterized by infrared spectroscopy shows the carbonyl group band in 1724 cm−1, while the 13C NMR spectrum shows two signals in 174.71 and 31.61 ppm associated with the carbonyl and methylenic carbons from the symmetric succinyl group (OCOCH2CH2OCO). These analyses indicate a cross‐linked structure for the modified starch (CL starch). This product is used as a chemical modifier in carbon paste electrodes (CPE). Cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analyses show that the cross‐linked starch improves the electrochemical performance of the electrodes, since higher peak currents, lower charge transfer resistance values. Also, the increase in the CL starch proportion in CPE results in a higher current intensity for all proportions tested. This behavior can be attributed to decrease in hydrophilic character of the electrode material after the CL addition, which results in a lower capacitive behavior and a higher faradaic current. Among all the modified CPE, the one with 5% w/w CL per graphite proportion shows the best electrochemical features, suggesting its potential application as an electrochemical sensor for the detection of different chemical species of environmental and biological relevance.
Vertical shortening prediction for super‐tall buildings considering enclosure effect and coupling effect
Authors: Zhao Xin , Wang Lilin 
Published: December 2019

SummaryIn this paper, the time‐dependent vertical shortening behavior of the super‐tall building is studied considering the enclosure effect and the coupling effect. A combined method to predict the overall strain of the mega section is firstly proposed by combining the B3 model and the fiber modeling approach to consider the enclosure effect of mega steel and validated by a series of in‐house experiments. An iteration method is then proposed based on the construction sequence method to consider the coupling effect of stress and strain in the vertical shortening prediction and illustrated by a super‐tall building project. Finally, the vertical shortening predictions of the super‐tall building project are compared with the field monitoring records. The results show that the strain predictions by the combined method show good agreement with experiments. Without considering the enclosure effect, the overall strain of mega section is overestimated. The coupling effect affects more on the vertical shortening of the mega column than on that of the shear wall and more on the elastic shortening than on the inelastic shortening. Without considering the coupling effect, the elastic shortening is significantly underestimated in the mega column but slightly overestimated in the shear wall. The predictions of vertical shortening in the shear wall show reasonable agreement with the measurements, whereas those in the mega column show large disagreement with the measurements, which enlightens the necessity to improve the prediction method further.
An enhanced feature‐based sentiment analysis approach
Authors: Saeed Nagwa M. K. , Helal Nivin A. , Badr Nagwa L. , Gharib Tarek F. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIn the last few years, online reviews where individuals express their thoughts, interests, experiences, and opinions have broadly spread over the internet. Sentiment analysis has evolved to analyze these online reviews and provide valuable insights for both individuals and organizations that may help them in making decisions. Unfortunately the performance of sentiment analysis process is affected by the nature of online reviews' content that may contain emoticons and negation words. Moreover, spam reviews have been written for the purpose of deceiving others. Therefore, there is a need to develop an approach that considers these issues. In this paper, an enhanced approach for sentiment analysis is proposed which aims to enhance the performance of classifying reviews based on their features and assigning accurate sentiment score to features. This enhanced approach is achieved by handling negation, detecting emoticons, and detecting spam reviews using a combination of different types of properties which leads to achieving better predictive performance. The proposed approach has been verified against three datasets of different sizes. The results indicate that the proposed approach achieves a maximum accuracy of about 99.06% in detecting spam reviews and a maximum accuracy of about 97.13% in classifying reviews.This article is categorized under:
Algorithmic Development > Text Mining
Technologies > Classification
Technologies > Machine Learning
Scale‐up of electrospinning technology: Applications in the pharmaceutical industry
Authors: Vass Panna , Szabó Edina , Domokos András , Hirsch Edit , Galata Dorián , Farkas Balázs , Démuth Balázs , Andersen Sune K. , Vigh Tamás , Verreck Geert , Marosi György , Nagy Zsombor K. 
Published: December 2019

AbstractRecently, electrospinning (ES) of fibers has been shown to be an attractive strategy for drug delivery. One of the main features of ES is that a wide variety of drugs can be loaded into the fibers to improve their bioavailability, to enhance dissolution, or to achieve controlled release. Besides, ES is a continuous technology with low energy consumption, which can make it a very economic production alternative to the widely used freeze drying and spray drying. However, the low production rate of laboratory‐scaled ES has limited the industrial application of the technology so far. This article covers the various ES technologies developed for scaled‐up fiber production with an emphasis on pharmaceutically relevant examples. The methods used for increasing the productivity are complied, which is followed by a review of specific examples from literature where these technologies are utilized to produce oral drug delivery systems. The different technologies are compared in terms of their basic principles, advantages, and limitations. Finally, the different downstream processing options to prepare tablets or capsules containing the electrospun drug are covered as well.This article is categorized under:
Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies
Experiences of taking neuroleptic medication and impacts on symptoms, sense of self and agency: a systematic review and thematic synthesis of qualitative data
Authors: Thompson Jemima , Stansfeld Jacki L. , Cooper Ruth E. , Morant Nicola , Crellin Nadia E. , Moncrieff Joanna 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Purpose
Neuroleptic (antipsychotic) drugs reduce psychotic symptoms, but how they achieve these effects and how the drugs’ effects are experienced by people who take them are less well understood. The present study describes a synthesis of qualitative data about mental and behavioural alterations associated with taking neuroleptics and how these interact with symptoms of psychosis and people’s sense of self and agency.

Methods
Nine databases were searched to identify qualitative literature concerning experiences of taking neuroleptic medication. A thematic synthesis was conducted.

Results
Neuroleptics were commonly experienced as producing a distinctive state of lethargy, cognitive slowing, emotional blunting and reduced motivation, which impaired functioning but also had beneficial effects on symptoms of psychosis and some other symptoms (e.g. insomnia). For some people, symptom reduction helped restore a sense of normality and autonomy, but others experienced a loss of important aspects of their personality. Across studies, many people adopted a passive stance towards long-term medication, expressing a sense of resignation, endurance or loss of autonomy.

Conclusions
Neuroleptic drugs modify cognition, emotions and motivation. These effects may be associated with reducing the intensity and impact of symptoms, but also affect people’s sense of self and agency. Understanding how the effects of neuroleptics are experienced by those who take them is important in developing a more collaborative approach to drug treatment in psychosis and schizophrenia.
Tissue pretreatment for LC–MS/MS analysis of PUFA and eicosanoid distribution in mouse brain and liver
Authors: Reinicke Madlen , Dorow Juliane , Bischof Karoline , Leyh Judith , Bechmann Ingo , Ceglarek Uta 
Published: December 2019

AbstractPolyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and eicosanoids are important mediators of inflammation. The functional role of eicosanoids in metabolic-syndrome-related diseases has been extensively studied. However, their role in neuroinflammation and the development of neurodegenerative diseases is still unclear. The aim of this study was the development of a sample pretreatment protocol for the simultaneous analysis of PUFAs and eicosanoids in mouse liver and brain. Liver and brain samples of male wild-type C57BL/6J mice (11–122 mg) were used to investigate conditions for tissue rinsing, homogenization, extraction, and storage. A targeted liquid chromatography–negative electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry method was applied to quantify 7 PUFAs and 94 eicosanoids. The final pretreatment protocol consisted of a 5-min homogenization step by sonication in 650 μLn-hexane/2-propanol (60:40 v/v) containing 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol at 50 μg/mL. Homogenates representing 1 mg tissue were extracted in a single step withn-hexane/2-propanol (60:40 v/v) containing 0.1% formic acid. Autoxidation was prevented by addition of 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol at 50 μg/mL and keeping the samples at 4 °C during sample preparation. Extracts were dried under nitrogen and reconstituted in liquid chromatography eluent before analysis. Recovery was determined to range from 45% to 149% for both liver and brain tissue. Within-run and between-run variability ranged between 7% and 18% for PUFAs and between 1% and 24% for eicosanoids. In liver, 7 PUFAs and 15 eicosanoids were quantified; in brain, 6 PUFAs and 21 eicosanoids had significant differences within the brain substructures. In conclusion, a robust and reproducible sample preparation protocol for the multiplexed analysis of PUFAs and eicosanoids by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry in liver and discrete brain substructures was developed.
The relationship between pain, analgesics and survival in patients with advanced cancer; a secondary data analysis of the international European palliative care Cancer symptom study.
Authors: Boland Jason W , Allgar Victoria , Boland Elaine G , Bennett Mike I , Kaasa Stein , Hjermstad Marianne Jensen , Johnson Miriam 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Purpose
Opioids reduce cancer-related pain but an association with shorter survival is variably reported. Aim: To investigate the relationship between pain, analgesics, cancer and survival within the European Palliative Care Cancer Symptom (EPCCS) study to help inform clinical decision making.

Methods
Secondary analysis of the international prospective, longitudinal EPCCS study which included 1739 adults with advanced, incurable cancer receiving palliative care. In this secondary analysis, for all participants with date of death or last follow up, a multilevel Weibull survival analysis examined whether pain, analgesics, and other relevant variables are associated with time to death.

Results
Date of death or last follow-up was available for 1404 patients (mean age 65.7 [SD:12.3];men 50%). Secondary analysis of this group showed the mean survival from baseline was 46.5 (SD:1.5) weeks (95% CI:43.6–49.3). Pain was reported by 76%; 60% were taking opioids, 51% non-opioid analgesics and 24% co-analgesics. Opioid-use was associated with decreased survival in the multivariable model (HR = 1.59 (95% CI:1.38–1.84), p < 0.001). An exploratory subgroup analysis of those with C-reactive protein (CRP) measures (n = 219) indicated higher CRP was associated with poorer survival (p = 0.001). In this model, the strength of relationship between survival and opioid-use weakened (p = 0.029).

Conclusion
Opioid-use and survival were associated; this relationship weakened in a small sensitivity-testing subgroup analysis adjusting for CRP. Thus, the observed relationship between survival and opioid-use may partly be due to tumour-related inflammation. Larger studies, measuring disease activity, are needed to confirm this finding to more accurately judge the benefits and risks of opioids in advanced progressive disease.