bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cancer history is an independent risk factor for mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a propensity score-matched analysis
Authors: Meng Yifan , Lu Wanrong , Guo Ensong , Liu Jia , Yang Bin , Wu Ping , Lin Shitong , Peng Ting , Fu Yu , Li Fuxia , Wang Zizhuo , Li Yuan , Xiao Rourou , Liu Chen , Huang Yuhan , Lu Funian , Wu Xue , You Lixin , Ma Ding , Sun Chaoyang , Wu Peng , Chen Gang 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Although research on the effects of comorbidities on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients is increasing, the risk of cancer history has not been evaluated for the mortality of patients with COVID-19.

Methods
In this retrospective study, we included 3232 patients with pathogen-confirmed COVID-19 who were hospitalized between January 18th and March 27th, 2020, at Tongji Hospital in Wuhan, China. Propensity score matching was used to minimize selection bias.

Results
In total, 2665 patients with complete clinical outcomes were analyzed. The impacts of age, sex, and comorbidities were evaluated separately using binary logistic regression analysis. The results showed that age, sex, and cancer history are independent risk factors for mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 patients with cancer exhibited a significant increase in mortality rate (29.4% vs. 10.2%, P < 0.0001). Furthermore, the clinical outcomes of patients with hematological malignancies were worse, with a mortality rate twice that of patients with solid tumors (50% vs. 26.1%). Importantly, cancer patients with complications had a significantly higher risk of poor outcomes. One hundred nine cancer patients were matched to noncancer controls in a 1:3 ratio by propensity score matching. After propensity score matching, the cancer patients still had a higher risk of mortality than the matched noncancer patients (odds ratio (OR) 2.98, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.76–5.06). Additionally, elevations in ferritin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, procalcitonin, prothrombin time, interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were observed in cancer patients.

Conclusions
We evaluated prognostic factors with epidemiological analysis and highlighted a higher risk of mortality for cancer patients with COVID-19. Importantly, cancer history was the only independent risk factor for COVID-19 among common comorbidities, while other comorbidities may act through other factors. Moreover, several laboratory parameters were significantly different between cancer patients and matched noncancer patients, which may indicate specific immune and inflammatory reactions in COVID-19 patients with cancer.
Strategies to measure and improve emergency department performance: a scoping review
Authors: Austin Elizabeth E. , Blakely Brette , Tufanaru Catalin , Selwood Amanda , Braithwaite Jeffrey , Clay-Williams Robyn 
Published: June 2020

AbstractBackgroundOver the last two decades, Emergency Department (ED) crowding has become an increasingly common occurrence worldwide. Crowding is a complex and challenging issue that affects EDs’ capacity to provide safe, timely and quality care. This review aims to map the research evidence provided by reviews to improve ED performance.Methods and findingsWe performed a scoping review, searching Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL and PubMed (from inception to July 9, 2019; prospectively registered in Open Science Frameworkhttps://osf.io/gkq4t/). Eligibility criteria were: (1) review of primary research studies, published in English; (2) discusses a) how performance is measured in the ED, b) interventions used to improve ED performance and their characteristics, c) the role(s) of patients in improving ED performance, and d) the outcomes attributed to interventions used to improve ED performance; (3) focuses on a hospital ED context in any country or healthcare system. Pairs of reviewers independently screened studies’ titles, abstracts, and full-texts for inclusion according to pre-established criteria. Discrepancies were resolved via discussion. Independent reviewers extracted data using a tool specifically designed for the review. Pairs of independent reviewers explored the quality of included reviews using the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews tool. Narrative synthesis was performed on the 77 included reviews. Three reviews identified 202 individual indicators of ED performance. Seventy-four reviews reported 38 different interventions to improve ED performance: 27 interventions describing changes to practice and process (e.g., triage, care transitions, technology), and a further nine interventions describing changes to team composition (e.g., advanced nursing roles, scribes, pharmacy). Two reviews reported on two interventions addressing the role of patients in ED performance, supporting patients’ decisions and providing education. The outcomes attributed to interventions used to improve ED performance were categorised into five key domains: time, proportion, process, cost, and clinical outcomes. Few interventions reported outcomes across all five outcome domains.ConclusionsED performance measurement is complex, involving automated information technology mechanisms and manual data collection, reflecting the multifaceted nature of ED care. Interventions to improve ED performance address a broad range of ED processes and disciplines.
Opportunistic treatment of hepatitis C virus infection (OPPORTUNI-C): study protocol for a pragmatic stepped wedge cluster randomized trial of immediate versus outpatient treatment initiation among hospitalized people who inject drugs
Authors: Midgard H. , Finbråten A. K. , Malme K. B. , Berg-Pedersen R. M. , Tanum L. , Olsen I. C. , Bjørnestad R. , Dalgard O. 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Scaled-up direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among people who inject drugs (PWID) is crucial to reach the World Health Organization HCV elimination targets within 2030. One of the critical obstacles to HCV care in this population is the lack of treatment models within specialist healthcare adapted to marginalized individuals.

Methods
OPPORTUNI-C is a pragmatic stepped wedge cluster randomized trial comparing the efficacy of immediate initiation of HCV treatment with the current standard of care among PWID admitted for inpatient care. Screening for HCV RNA will be performed as soon as possible after admission. The intervention includes immediate non-invasive liver disease assessment, counseling, and initiation of pan-genotypic DAA treatment with individualized follow-up. Standard of care is a referral to outpatient care at discharge. To mimic usual clinical practice as closely as possible, we will use a pragmatic clinical trial approach utilizing clinical infrastructure, broad eligibility criteria, flexible intervention delivery, clinically relevant outcomes, and collection of data readily available from the electronic patient files. The stepped wedge design involves a sequential rollout of the intervention over 16 months, in which seven participating clusters will be randomized from standard of care to intervention in a stepwise manner. Randomization will be stratified according to cluster size to keep high prevalence clusters separated. The trial will include approximately 220 HCV RNA positive individuals recruited from departments of internal medicine, addiction medicine, and psychiatry at Akershus University Hospital, Oslo University Hospital, and Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway. Individuals not able or willing to give informed consent and those with ongoing HCV assessment or treatment will be excluded. The primary outcome is treatment completion, defined as dispensing of the final prescribed DAA package from the pharmacy within 6 months after inclusion. Secondary outcomes include treatment uptake, virologic response, reinfection incidence, and resistance-associated substitutions.

Discussion
Representing a novel model of care suited to reach and engage marginalized PWID in HCV care, this study will inform HCV elimination efforts locally and internationally. If the model proves efficacious and feasible, it should be considered for broader implementation, replacing the current standard of care.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04220645. Registered on 7 January 2020.
Structure-guided protein engineering increases enzymatic activities of the SGNH family esterases
Authors: Li Zhengyang , Li Long , Huo Yingyi , Chen Zijun , Zhao Yu , Huang Jing , Jian Shuling , Rong Zhen , Wu Di , Gan Jianhua , Hu Xiaojian , Li Jixi , Xu Xue-Wei 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Esterases and lipases hydrolyze short-chain esters and long-chain triglycerides, respectively, and therefore play essential roles in the synthesis and decomposition of ester bonds in the pharmaceutical and food industries. Many SGNH family esterases share high similarity in sequences. However, they have distinct enzymatic activities toward the same substrates. Due to a lack of structural information, the detailed catalytic mechanisms of these esterases remain barely investigated.

Results
In this study, we identified two SGNH family esterases, CrmE10 and AlinE4, from marine bacteria with significantly different preferences for pH, temperature, metal ion, and organic solvent tolerance despite high sequence similarity. The crystal structures of these two esterases, including wild type and mutants, were determined to high resolutions ranging from 1.18 Å to 2.24 Å. Both CrmE10 and AlinE4 were composed of five β-strands and nine α-helices, which formed one compact N-terminal α/β globular domain and one extended C-terminal domain. The aspartic residues (D178 in CrmE10/D162 in AlinE4) destabilized the conformations of the catalytic triad (Ser-Asp-His) in both esterases, and the metal ion Cd2+ might reduce enzymatic activity by blocking proton transfer or substrate binding. CrmE10 and AlinE4 showed distinctly different electrostatic surface potentials, despite the similar atomic architectures and a similar swap catalytic mechanism. When five negatively charged residues (Asp or Glu) were mutated to residue Lys, CrmE10 obtained elevated alkaline adaptability and significantly increased the enzymatic activity from 0 to 20% at pH 10.5. Also, CrmE10 mutants exhibited dramatic change for enzymatic properties when compared with the wide-type enzyme.

Conclusions
These findings offer a perspective for understanding the catalytic mechanism of different esterases and might facilitate the industrial biocatalytic applications.
Alkaline organosolv pretreatment of different sorghum stem parts for enhancing the total reducing sugar yields and p-coumaric acid release
Authors: Li Dandan , Long Liangkun , Ding Shaojun 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
The sorghum stem can be divided into the pith and rind parts with obvious differences in cell type and chemical composition, thus arising the different recalcitrance to enzyme hydrolysis and demand for different pretreatment conditions. The introduction of organic solvents in the pretreatment can reduce over-degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose, but significance of organic solvent addition in pretreatment of different parts of sorghum stem is still unclear. Valorization of each component is critical for economy of sorghum biorefinery. Therefore, in this study, NaOH–ethanol pretreatment condition for different parts of the sorghum stem was optimized to maximize p-coumaric acid release and total reducing sugar recovery.

Result
Ethanol addition improved p-coumaric acid release and delignification efficiency, but significantly reduced hemicellulose deconstruction in NaOH–ethanol pretreatment. Optimization using the response surface methodology revealed that the pith, rind and whole stem require different NaOH–ethanol pretreatment conditions for maximal p-coumaric acid release and xylan preservation. By respective optimal NaOH–ethanol pretreatment, the p-coumaric acid release yields reached 94.07%, 97.24% and 95.05% from pith, rind and whole stem, which increased by 8.16%, 8.38% and 8.39% compared to those of NaOH-pretreated samples. The xylan recoveries of pith, rind and whole stem reached 76.80%, 88.46% and 85.01%, respectively, which increased by 47.75%, 15.11% and 35.97% compared to NaOH pretreatment. Adding xylanase significantly enhanced the enzymatic saccharification of pretreated residues. The total reducing sugar yields after respective optimal NaOH–ethanol pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis reached 84.06%, 82.29% and 84.09% for pith, rind and whole stem, respectively, which increased by 29.56%, 23.67% and 25.56% compared to those of NaOH-pretreated samples. Considering the separation cost of the different stem parts, whole sorghum stem can be directly used as feedstock in industrial biorefinery.

Conclusion
These results indicated that NaOH–ethanol is effective for the efficient fractionation and pretreatment of sorghum biomass. This work will help to understand the differences of different parts of sorghum stem under NaOH–ethanol pretreatment, thereby improving the full-component utilization of sorghum stem.
Stab wound of the superficial femoral artery early diagnosed by point-of-care Doppler ultrasound
Authors: Blanco Pablo , Menéndez María Fernanda 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Traumatic vascular injury of the limbs has the potential to cause substantial patient morbidity and mortality, and therefore, early recognition and treatment are crucial to improve outcomes. While patients with hard signs of arterial injury mandate for an immediate surgical intervention, patients presenting with soft signs of arterial injury need further diagnostic evaluation.

Case presentation
A 24-year-old male was admitted to the emergency department after suffering a stab wound in the anterolateral aspect of his left upper thigh. Entry wound measures approximately 3 cm × 0.7 cm; no exit wound was observed. On examination of the injured limb, the thigh was swollen and painful. Skin color was mildly pale and skin temperature was slightly diminished in his leg; leg numbness was also pointed out by the patient. Common femoral artery pulse was normal, while distal pulses were diminished. Point-of-care Doppler ultrasound (DUS) showed a subfascial hematoma in the thigh, which filled on color Doppler, corresponding to a pseudoaneurysm. On spectral Doppler, signs of distal low blood supply were noted. The patient was immediately transferred to the operating room where a 1-cm laceration was found in the anterior aspect of the superficial femoral artery. The involved artery was successfully repaired and distal flow was reestablished, as assessed by clinical examination, pulse palpation and DUS.

Conclusions
Based on its several advantages, DUS should be considered as the first-line diagnostic tool in the diagnostic workup of patients with soft signs of arterial injury.
Delta opioid peptide [d-Ala2, d-Leu5] enkephalin confers neuroprotection by activating delta opioid receptor-AMPK-autophagy axis against global ischemia
Authors: Lai Zelin , Gu Lingling , Yu Lu , Chen Huifen , Yu Zhenhua , Zhang Cheng , Xu Xiaoqing , Zhang Mutian , Zhang Min , Ma Mingliang , Zhao Zheng , Zhang Jun 
Published: June 2020

Abstract
Background
Ischemic stroke poses a severe risk to human health worldwide, and currently, clinical therapies for the disease are limited. Delta opioid receptor (DOR)-mediated neuroprotective effects against ischemia have attracted increasing attention in recent years. Our previous studies revealed that DOR activation by [d-Ala2, d-Leu5] enkephalin (DADLE), a selective DOR agonist, can promote hippocampal neuronal survival on day 3 after ischemia. However, the specific molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the DOR-induced improvements in ischemic neuronal survival remain unclear.

Results
We first detected the cytoprotective effects of DADLE in an oxygen–glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGD/R) model and observed increased viability of OGD/R SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. We also evaluated changes in the DOR level following ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and DADLE treatment and found that DADLE increased DOR levels after ischemia in vivo and vitro. The effects of DOR activation on postischemic autophagy were then investigated, and the results of the animal experiment showed that DOR activation by DADLE enhanced autophagy after ischemia, as indicated by elevated LC3 II/I levels and reduced P62 levels. Furthermore, the DOR-mediated protective effects on ischemic CA1 neurons were abolished by the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Moreover, the results of the cell experiments revealed that DOR activation not only augmented autophagy after OGD/R injury but also alleviated autophagic flux dysfunction. The molecular pathway underlying DOR-mediated autophagy under ischemic conditions was subsequently studied, and the in vivo and vitro data showed that DOR activation elevated autophagy postischemia by triggering the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway, while the addition of the AMPK inhibitor compound C eliminated the protective effects of DOR against I/R injury.

Conclusion
DADLE-evoked DOR activation enhanced neuronal autophagy through activating the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 signaling pathway to improve neuronal survival and exert neuroprotective effects against ischemia.
A non-data-aided SNR estimator based on maximum likelihood method for communication between orbiters
Authors: Sun Zezhou , Gong Xin , Lu Fan 
Published: June 2020

AbstractSignal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is an important metric for performance assessment in numerous scenerios. In order to ensure the reliability and effectiveness of the system performance, plenty of situations require the information of SNR estimate. At the same time, Mars exploration has been a hot topic in recent years, which leads to the research attention of scholars extending to deep space. In this paper, a new SNR estimator related to deep space scene is proposed. On the one hand, the time of essential data transmission is limited in Mars exploration system. On the other hand, the relative position and condition between orbiters vary quickly all the time, which makes it difficult to obtain the accurate and significant information for Mars exploration. Therefore, it is obvious that the information of SNR can promote the system to adjust the signal transmission rate automatically. Subsequently, the estimation of SNR becomes a fundamental research in automatic digital communications. In this paper, an SNR estimation method based on non-data-aided (NDA) with maximum likelihood (ML) estimation is proposed to enhance the accuracy and reliability of Mars exploration process. Additionally, the Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRLB) related to the designed ML algorithm is derived. Finally, the Monte Carlo simulation results demonstrate that the proposed ML estimator algorithm obtains a superior performance when compared to the existing SNR estimators.
A new proof for the generalized law of large numbers under Choquet expectation
Authors: Chen Jing , Chen Zengjing 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn this article, we employ the elementary inequalities arising from the sub-linearity of Choquet expectation to give a new proof for the generalized law of large numbers under Choquet expectations induced by 2-alternating capacities with mild assumptions. This generalizes the Linderberg–Feller methodology for linear probability theory to Choquet expectation framework and extends the law of large numbers under Choquet expectation from the strong independent and identically distributed (iid) assumptions to the convolutional independence combined with the strengthened first moment condition.
Tenth order boundary value problem solution existence by fixed point theorem
Authors: Fabiano Nicola , Nikolić Nebojša , Shanmugam Thenmozhi , Radenović Stojan , Čitaković Nada 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn this paper we consider the Green function for a boundary value problem of generic order. For a specific case, the Leray–Schauder form of the fixed point theorem has been used to prove the existence of a solution for this particular equation. Our theoretical approach generalizes, extends, complements, and enriches several results in the existing literature.
Solving two-dimensional fuzzy Fredholm integral equations via sinc collocation method
Authors: Ma Yanying , Li Hu , Zhang Suping 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we present a numerical method to solve two-dimensional fuzzy Fredholm integral equations (2D-FFIE) by combing the sinc method with double exponential (DE) transformation. Using this method, the fuzzy Fredholm integral equations are converted into dual fuzzy linear systems. Convergence analysis is performed in terms of the modulus of continuity. Numerical experiments demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method.
Long-time behavior of stochastic reaction–diffusion equation with multiplicative noise
Authors: Wang Jing , Ma Qiaozhen , Liu Tingting 
Published: June 2020

AbstractIn this paper, we study the dynamical behavior of the solution for the stochastic reaction–diffusion equation with the nonlinearity satisfying the polynomial growth of arbitrary order $p\geq2$p≥2 and any space dimension N. Based on the inductive principle, the higher-order integrability of the difference of the solutions near the initial data is established, and then the (norm-to-norm) continuity of solutions with respect to the initial data in $H_{0}^{1}(U)$H01(U) is first obtained. As an application, we show the existence of $(L^{2}(U),L^{p}(U))$(L2(U),Lp(U)) and $(L^{2}(U),H_{0}^{1}(U))$(L2(U),H01(U))-pullback random attractors, respectively.
Near-coincidence point results in metric interval space and hyperspace via simulation functions
Authors: Ullah Misbah , Sarwar Muhammad , Khan Hasib , Abdeljawad Thabet , Khan Aziz 
Published: June 2020

AbstractRecently, Wu (Mathematics 6(11):219, 2018; Mathematics 6(6):90, 2018) introduced the concept of a near-fixed point and established some results on near fixed points in a metric interval space and hyperspace. Motivated by these papers, we studied the near-coincidence point theorem in these spaces via a simulation function. To show the authenticity of the established results and definitions, we also provide some examples.
Dynamics of a stochastic population model with Allee effects under regime switching
Authors: Ji Weiming , Liu Meng 
Published: June 2020

AbstractA stochastic single-species model with Allee effects under regime switching is developed and detected in the present study. First, extinction and persistence of the model are dissected. Subsequently, sufficient criteria are offered to ensure that the model possesses a unique ergodic stationary distribution. Finally, the theoretical outcomes are employed to evaluate the evolution of the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) in Africa, and some significant functions of stochastic perturbations are exposed.