bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Production of biodegradable microbial polymers from whey
Authors: Zikmanis Peteris , Kolesovs Sergejs , Semjonovs Pavels 
Published: July 2020

AbstractCurrent research in industrial microbiology and biotechnology focuses on the production of biodegradable microbial polymers as an environmentally friendly alternative to still dominant fossil-based plastics. Microbial polymers have an extensive biotechnological potential and are already widely used in a variety of fields ranging from medicine to technology. However, their increase in production and wider use is hampered by the high cost of raw materials and therefore requires a focus on cheaper inputs, including dairy by-products and waste such as cheese whey (CW). This is an environmentally unfriendly by-product of milk processing and reducing it would also reduce the risk of environmental pollution. This review summarises current knowledge on the use of CW and derived products to obtain commercially important microbial polymers, including information about producer cultures, fermentation techniques and methods used, composition of culture medium, cultivation conditions and productivity of bioprocesses. The main methods and applications of cheese whey pre-treatment are also summarised.
Establishment of a clinical SPECT/CT protocol for imaging of 161Tb
Authors: Marin I. , Rydèn T. , Van Essen M. , Svensson J. , Gracheva N. , Köster U. , Zeevaart J. R. , van der Meulen N. P. , Müller C. , Bernhardt P. 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
It has been proposed, and preclinically demonstrated, that 161Tb is a better alternative to 177Lu for the treatment of small prostate cancer lesions due to its high emission of low-energy electrons. 161Tb also emits photons suitable for single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging. This study aims to establish a SPECT protocol for 161Tb imaging in the clinic.

Materials and methods
Optimal settings using various γ-camera collimators and energy windows were explored by imaging a Jaszczak phantom, including hollow-sphere inserts, filled with 161Tb. The collimators examined were extended low-energy general purpose (ELEGP), medium-energy general purpose (MEGP), and low-energy high resolution (LEHR), respectively. In addition, three ordered subset expectation maximization (OSEM) algorithms were investigated: attenuation-corrected OSEM (A-OSEM); attenuation and dual- or triple-energy window scatter-corrected OSEM (AS-OSEM); and attenuation, scatter, and collimator-detector response-corrected OSEM (ASC-OSEM), where the latter utilized Monte Carlo-based reconstruction. Uniformity corrections, using intrinsic and extrinsic correction maps, were also investigated. Image quality was assessed by estimated recovery coefficients (RC), noise, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Sensitivity was determined using a circular flat phantom.

Results
The best RC and SNR were obtained at an energy window between 67.1 and 82.1 keV. Ring artifacts, caused by non-uniformity, were removed with extrinsic uniformity correction for the energy window between 67.1 and 82.1 keV, but not with intrinsic correction. Analyzing the lower energy window between 48.9 and 62.9 keV, the ring artifacts remained after uniformity corrections. The recovery was similar for the different collimators when using a specific OSEM reconstruction. Recovery and SNR were highest for ASC-OSEM, followed by AS-OSEM and A-OSEM. When using the optimized parameter setting, the resolution of 161Tb was higher than for 177Lu (8.4 ± 0.7 vs. 10.4 ± 0.6 mm, respectively). The sensitivities for 161Tb and 177Lu were 7.41 and 8.46 cps/MBq, respectively.

Conclusion
SPECT with high resolution is feasible with 161Tb; however, extrinsic uniformity correction is recommended to avoid ring artifacts. The LEHR collimator was the best choice of the three tested to obtain a high-resolution image. Due to the complex emission spectrum of low-energy photons, window-based scatter correction had a minor impact on the image quality compared to using attenuation correction only. On the other hand, performing attenuation, scatter, and collimator-detector correction clearly improved image quality. Based on these data, SPECT-based dosimetry for 161Tb-labeled radiopharmaceuticals is feasible.
Socio-economic inequalities in modern Russia and their perception by the population
Authors: Mareeva Svetlana 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis paper focuses on the objective situation regarding inequalities and their subjective perception by the population in Russia in recent years. It is shown that socio-economic inequalities are currently perceived by the population as excessive and illegitimate, and the gap between expectations and social reality has led to growing requests for “leveling” being made to the state. This analysis of the perception of social inequalities is carried out against a background of the objective situation with inequalities that is characterized by the equalization of incomes in the middle layer of society and simultaneously by the growing gap between the top and the rest of the population. Key challenges and crossroads that the state faces in terms of developing socio-economic policies aimed at reducing inequalities are identified.
Continuous versus intermittent short-acting β2-agonists nebulization as first-line therapy in hospitalized children with severe asthma exacerbation: a propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Kulalert Prapasri , Phinyo Phichayut , Patumanond Jayanton , Smathakanee Chutima , Chuenjit Wantida , Nanthapisal Sira 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
Short-acting β2-agonist (SABA) nebulization is commonly prescribed for children hospitalized with severe asthma exacerbation. Either intermittent or continuous delivery has been considered safe and efficient. The comparative efficacy of these two modalities is inconclusive. We aimed to compare these two modalities as the first-line treatments.

Methods
An efficacy research with a retrospective cohort study design was conducted. Hospital records of children with severe asthma exacerbation admitted to Hat Yai Hospital between 2015 and 2017 were retrospectively collected. Children initially treated with continuous salbutamol 10 mg per hour or intermittent salbutamol 2.5 mg per dose over 1–4 h nebulization were matched one-to-one using the propensity score. Competing risk and risk difference regression was applied to evaluate the proportion of children who succeeded and failed the initial treatment. Restricted mean survival time regression was used to compare the length of stay (LOS) between the two groups.

Results
One-hundred and eighty-nine children were included. Of these children, 112 were matched for analysis (56 with continuous and 56 with intermittent nebulization). Children with continuous nebulization experienced a higher proportion of success in nebulization treatment (adjusted difference: 39.5, 95% CI 22.7, 56.3, p < 0.001), with a faster rate of success (adjusted SHR: 2.70, 95% CI 1.73, 4.22, p < 0.001). There was a tendency that LOS was also shorter (adjusted mean difference − 9.9 h, 95% CI -24.2, 4.4, p = 0.176).

Conclusion
Continuous SABA nebulization was more efficient than intermittent nebulization in the treatment of children with severe asthma exacerbation.
Surgical management of submacular hemorrhage due to n-AMD: a comparison of three surgical methods
Authors: Grohmann Carsten , Dimopoulos Spyridon , Bartz-Schmidt Karl Ulrich , Schindler Philipp , Katz Toam , Spitzer Martin S. , Skevas Christos 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Background
To compare and assess the efficacy of three surgical methods for the treatment of acute submacular hemorrhage (ASH): pneumatic displacement with C2F6, in combination with intravitreal injection of bevacizumab and rtPA, pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with intravitreal injection of gas (C2F6), bevacizumab and subretinal injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA), pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) with intravitreal injection of gas (C2F6), bevacizumab and intravitreal injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA).

Methods
The study included 85 patients with ASH. In the group without PPV (A), patients were treated with intravitreal injection of C2F6, bevacizumab and rtPA. In the second and third group, patients underwent a PPV, intravitreal injection of bevacizumab, pneumatic displacement with C2F6 and a subretinal (B) or intravitreal (C) injection of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt PA).

Results
In group A, mean BCVA increased from preop logMAR 1.41 to 1.05, in group B from 1.46 to 1.28 and in group C from 1.63 to 1.33. In group A, CFT changed from 764 ± 340 μm at time point 0 to 246 ± 153 μm at time point 1, in group B from 987 ± 441 μm to 294 ± 166 μm and in group C from 642 ± 322 μm to 418 ± 364 μm. Patients had an average of 5 injections after surgery.

Conclusion
Our study demonstrates that the three methods are equally effective in improving the morphology and the BCVA of patients with ASH.
Fault line selection in cooperation with multi-mode grounding control for the floating nuclear power plant grid
Authors: Wang Yikai , Yin Xin , Xu Wen , Yin Xianggen , Wen Minghao , Jiang Lin 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe Floating nuclear power plant grid is composed of power generation, in-station power supply and external power delivery. To ensure the safety of the nuclear island, the in-station system adopts a special power supply mode, while the external power supply needs to be adapted to different types of external systems. Because of frequent single phase-ground faults and various fault forms, the fault line selection protection should be accurate, sensitive and adaptive. This paper presents a fault line selection method in cooperation with multi-mode grounding control. Based on the maximum united energy entropy ratio (MUEER), the optimal wavelet basis function and decomposition scale are adaptively chosen, while the fault line is selected by wavelet transform modulus maxima (WTMM). For high-impedance faults (HIFs), to enlarge the fault feature, the system grounding mode can be switched by the multi-mode grounding control. Based on the characteristic of HIFs, the fault line can be selected by comparing phase differences of zero-sequence current mutation and fault phase voltage mutation before and after the fault. Simulation results using MATLAB/Simulink show the effectiveness of the proposed method in solving the protection problems.
Redox-responsive tumor targeted dual-drug loaded biocompatible metal–organic frameworks nanoparticles for enhancing anticancer effects
Authors: Liu Chang , Xu Xiaoyu , Zhou Junnian , Yan Jiaqi , Wang Dongqing , Zhang Hongbo 
Published: July 2020

AbstractMetal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have proven to be a promising class of drug carriers due to their high porosity, crystalline properties with defined structure information, and abundant surface chemistry for further functionalization. However, there has not been extensive research on MOF-based drug carriers with stimuli-responsive, dual-drug delivery, and tumor targeting functions. Here, we demonstrate the strategy of constructing a redox responsive and tumor-targeted MOF as dual-drug carrier by anchoring functional disulfide anhydride and folic acid molecules to the organic links of MOFs, respectively. The MOF composites show the controlled release of loaded 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) entrapped within UiO-66-NH2 nanostructures modified with dichloroacetic acid, which acts as a synergistical drug to 5-FU in cancer cells. In addition, the overexpressed GSH in cancer cells attacks the thiolate moiety and is oxidized in the process as it cleaves the disulfide bonds, thereby achieving redox stimuli-responsive drugs release in MOFs. The confocal laser scanning microscopy further proved that conjugation of folic acid to the MOF surface can significantly enhance the targeting uptake of cancer cells. This work paves the way to the construction of stimuli responsive tumor-targeted Nano MOF based drug carriers with potential for cancer therapies.
Pyrethroid residues on tropical soil of an Indonesian tea plantation: analytical method development, monitoring, and risk assessment
Authors: Ariyani Miranti , Pitoi Mariska Margaret , Koesmawati Tiny Agustini , Maulana Hilman , Endah Een Sri , Yusiasih Retno 
Published: July 2020

AbstractDespite their massive application in tea plantation, synthetic pyrethroids had never been detected in tropical soils of tea plantation thus their risk has never been assessed. This research reported the detection of synthetic pyrethroids in tea plantation and assessed their aquatic ecotoxicological risk. A simplified analytical method based on the application of a miniaturized sample, solvent, and efficient ultra-sonic assisted extraction was developed for the determination of pyrethroids in the soil. The method was validated with the result of all parameters (recovery, % relative standard deviations, linearity, limit of detection (LoD), and matrix effect) met the acceptance limits suggested by European Commission guideline, thus deemed acceptable for the assessment of pyrethroids in tropical soil of tea plantation during the wet and dry season. Of the five synthetic pyrethroids, only permethrin was detected in both wet and dry seasons (< LoD – 0.36 μg g− 1), whereas deltamethrin was detected only in wet season (< LoD – 0.12 μg g− 1). Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry and X-ray diffraction revealed that the soil constituted by various soil minerals made permethrin more likely to persist than deltamethrin. Aquatic ecotoxicological risk assessment was performed on the basis of comparison between the maximum equilibrium concentration expected in water (ECEWmax) value and lethal concentration (LC50) of pyrethroids exposure for aquatic species (algae, crustacean, and fish) inhabiting the Upper Citarum River. The ECEWmax value for the present condition was lower than LC50 for all examined species, indicating that the high-level contamination in the future should have posed a high risk for all aquatic species based on their LC50.
Patient-Reported GI Outcomes in Patients With Anal Cancer Receiving Modern Chemoradiation
Authors: Kouzy Ramez , Abi Jaoude Joseph , Lin Daniel , El Alam Molly B. , Minsky Bruce D. , Koay Eugene J. , Das Prajnan , Holliday Emma B. , Klopp Ann H. , Colbert Lauren E. , Taniguchi Cullen M. 
Published: July 2020

PURPOSE: Among patients with anal cancer, chemoradiotherapy is often associated with toxicities that diminish quality of life. We describe the GI-related patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of patients with anal cancer receiving chemoradiotherapy to improve patient-physician communication. METHODS: We prospectively followed patients with nonmetastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the anal canal who received definitive chemoradiotherapy. Patients completed the bowel subdomain of the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC) questionnaire before treatment and at 4 subsequent timepoints. We used the paired Wilcoxon test to compare EPIC scores at different times. RESULTS: The study included 21 patients; median age was 57 years. Most patients (52%) had T2 and either N0 or N1 disease (81%). Most patients (91%) received chemotherapy with cisplatin-fluorouracil and either intensity-modulated radiotherapy or volumetric modulated arc therapy. Compared with the patients’ median overall summary score at baseline (66), their median score at 1 week (82) was higher ( P = .009), whereas their median score at 5 weeks (54) was lower ( P = .025). The patients’ median overall summary score at baseline and at 3 months did not differ ( P = .919). Three months after radiotherapy, most patients reported minimal adverse effects compared with baseline. CONCLUSION: The GI-related PROs of patients with anal cancer tend to fluctuate during radiotherapy but return to baseline by 3 months, at which time most patients report few or no residual adverse effects. We provide a clear timeline of GI acute toxicity using sequential PRO measurements that will improve patient-physician communication regarding expectations for cancer treatment.
Non-invasive Diagnostic Strategy in ACTH-dependent Cushing’s Syndrome
Authors: Frete Caroline , Corcuff Jean-Benoît , Kuhn Emmanuelle , Salenave Sylvie , Gaye Delphine , Young Jacques , Chanson Philippe , Tabarin Antoine 
Published: June 2020

Abstract

Context
Inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) is used to diagnose Cushing’s disease (CD) when dexamethasone-suppression and CRH tests, and pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), are negative or give discordant results. However, IPSS is an invasive procedure and its availability is limited.

Objective
To test a noninvasive diagnostic strategy associated with 100% positive predictive value (PPV) for CD.

Design
Retrospective study.

Setting
Two university hospitals.

Patients
A total of 167 patients with CD and 27 patients with ectopic ACTH-syndrome investigated between 2001 and 2016.

Main Outcome Measure(s)
Performance of a strategy involving the CRH and desmopressin tests with pituitary MRI followed by thin-slice whole-body computed tomography (CT) scan in patients with inconclusive results.

Results
Using thresholds of a cortisol increase &gt; 17% with an ACTH increase &gt; 37% during the CRH test and a cortisol increase &gt; 18% with an ACTH increase &gt; 33% during the desmopressin test, the combination of both tests gave 73% sensitivity and 98% PPV of CD. The sensitivity and PPV for pituitary MRI were 71% and 99%, respectively. CT scan identified 67% EAS at presentation with no false-positives. The PPV for CD was 100% in patients with positive responses to both tests, with negative pituitary MRI and CT scan. The Negative Predictive Value was 100% in patients with negative responses to both tests, with negative pituitary MRI and positive CT scan. Using this strategy, IPPS could have been avoided in 47% of patients in whom it is currently recommended.

Conclusions
In conjunction with expert radiologic interpretation, the non-invasive algorithm studied significantly reduces the need for IPSS in the investigation of ACTH-dependent Cushing’s syndrome.
Accuracy of diagnostic tests for respiratory syncytial virus infection within a paediatric hospital population in Kilifi County, Kenya
Authors: Mweu Marshal M. , Murunga Nickson , Otieno Juliet W. , Nokes D. James 
Published: July 2020

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced lower respiratory tract disease is a prominent cause of hospitalisation among children aged <5 years in developing countries. Accurate and rapid diagnostic tests are central to informing effective patient management and surveillance efforts geared towards quantifying RSV disease burden. This study sought to estimate the sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) (along with the associated factors) and predictive values of a direct immunofluorescence test (IFAT), and two real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assays for RSV infection within a paediatric hospital population: a multiplex rRT-PCR (MPX) and Fast-Track Diagnostics® (FTD) Respiratory Pathogens 33 (Resp-33) rRT-PCR. Methods: The study enlisted 1458 paediatrics aged ≤59 months admitted with acute respiratory illness at the Kilifi County Hospital between August 2011 and December 2013. A Bayesian latent class modelling framework was employed to infer the tests’ estimates based on the patients’ diagnostic data from the three tests. Results: The tests posted statistically similar Se estimates: IFAT (93.7%, [90.7; 95.0]), FTD (97.8%, [94.6; 99.4]) and MPX (97.5%, [94.2; 99.3]). As for Sp, FTD registered a lower estimate (97.4%, [96.2; 98.2]) than MPX (99.7%, [99.0; 100.0]) but similar to IFAT (99.0%, [98.2; 99.6]). The negative and positive predictive values were strong (>91%) and closely mimicked the pattern given by the Se and Sp values respectively. None of the examined covariates (age, sex and pneumonia status) significantly influenced the accuracy of the tests. Conclusions: The evaluation found little to choose between the three diagnostic tests. Nonetheless, with its relative affordability, the conventional IFAT continues to hold promise for use in patient care and surveillance activities for RSV infection within settings where children are hospitalised with severe acute respiratory illness.
Non-native fold of the putative VPS39 zinc finger domain
Authors: Butt Benjamin G. , Scourfield Edward J. , Graham Stephen C. 
Published: July 2020

Background: The multi-subunit homotypic fusion and vacuole protein sorting (HOPS) membrane-tethering complex is involved in regulating the fusion of late endosomes and autophagosomes with lysosomes in eukaryotes. The C-terminal regions of several HOPS components have been shown to be required for correct complex assembly, including the C-terminal really interesting new gene (RING) zinc finger domains of HOPS components VPS18 and VPS41. We sought to structurally characterise the putative C-terminal zinc finger domain of VPS39, which we hypothesised may be important for binding of VPS39 to cellular partners or to other HOPS components. Methods: We recombinantly expressed, purified and solved the crystal structure of the proposed zinc-binding region of VPS39. Results: In the structure, this region forms an anti-parallel β-hairpin that is incorporated into a homotetrameric eight-stranded β-barrel. However, the fold is stabilised by coordination of zinc ions by residues from the purification tag and an intramolecular disulphide bond between two predicted zinc ligands. Conclusions: We solved the structure of the VPS39 C-terminal domain adopting a non-native fold. Our work highlights the risk of non-native folds when purifying small zinc-containing domains with hexahistidine tags. However, the non-native structure we observe may have implications for rational protein design.
Elekcje marszałków poselskich na sejmach w okresie panowania Michała Korybuta Wiśniowieckiego – zarys problematyki
Authors: Leśniak Karolina 
Published: July 2020

Elections Of Sejm Marshals In The Time of Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki's Rule - Presentation Of The Research Topic
The article presents the outline of the research project on the elections of sejm Marshalls in the years 1669-1672. Only the last sejm assembled during Michał Korybut Wiśniowiecki’s reign was omitted due to its specificity – it was the 1673 pacification sejm. Various elements of the parliamentary procedures such as the initiation of the election, deputies’ attendance, the exchange between the Crown and Grand Duchy of Lithuania in fulfilling functions and proposing candidates to these functions, removal of deputies and finally the form of voting are taken into connsideration and discussed. Sejm diaries form the source base for the research, which is supplemented with existing historiograph
Trust and Disintermediation: Evidence from an Online Freelance Marketplace
Authors: Gu Grace , Zhu Feng 
Published: July 2020

As a platform improves trust between the two sides of its market to facilitate matching and transactions, it faces an increased risk of disintermediation: with sufficient trust, the two sides may circumvent the platform to avoid the platform’s fees. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between increased trust and disintermediation by leveraging a randomized control trial in an online freelance marketplace. We find that enhanced trust increases the likelihood of high-quality freelancers being hired. However, when the trust level is sufficiently high, it also increases disintermediation, which offsets the revenue gains from the increase in hiring high-quality freelancers. We also identify heterogeneity across clients and freelancers in their tendencies to disintermediate. We discuss strategies that platforms can use to mitigate the tension between trust building and disintermediation. This paper was accepted by Chris Forman, information systems.