bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Carboplatin delivery system based on poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether–cholesterol modified soy lecithin liposomes
Authors: Trang Le Ngoc Thuy , Nguyen Cuu Khoa , Nguyen Dai Hai 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Liposomes are well studied and proved to have enormous potential for carboplatin delivery in cancer treatment. However, to achieve an ideal liposome system with less leakage and controlled release for an effective delivery of carboplatin (CPT) to tumor sites is still in progress. In this study, poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether-cholesterol (mPEG-Chol) was prepared and used as a component, together with soy lecithin and cholesterol, to synthesize liposomes through thin film hydration method. The particle size distribution of obtained system of mPEG-Chol modified soy lecithin liposomes (mPEG-Chol-SLP) was then reduced by sonication, followed by extrusion. The properties of these nanoparticles including particle size, polydispersity index, zeta potential, and morphology were assessed by dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential measurement, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Using dialysis method as the in vitro tests, the drug loading and releasing efficiency were calculated with pre-determined formulas. The cytotoxicity in the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was evaluated through the cell proliferation assay WST-1. The results showed that CPT-loaded mPEG-Chol-SLP was spherical in shape with the average particle diameter and polydispersity index of 173.10 nm and 0.174, respectively. Moreover, the system was negatively charged, relatively colloidal stable, 70.49% for drug loading efficiency, and slowly released up to 48 h. In addition, the cytotoxicity data showed that mPEG-Chol-SLP was biocompatible nanocarrier and successfully reduced the toxicity of CPT. These results demonstrated that the obtained CPT-loaded mPEG-Chol-SLP reached one step closer to an ideal nanocarrier for CPT delivery.
Direct observation of layer-stacking and oriented wrinkles in multilayer hexagonal boron nitride
Authors: Chen Lingxiu , Elibol Kenan , Cai Haifang , Jiang Chengxin , Shi Wenhao , Chen Chen , Wang Hui Shan , Wang Xiujun , Mu Xiaojing , Li Chen , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Guo Yufeng , Meyer Jannik C , Wang Haomin 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) has long been recognized as an ideal substrate for electronic devices due to its dangling-bond-free surface, insulating nature and thermal/chemical stability. These properties of the h-BN multilayer are mainly determined by its lattice structure. Therefore, to analyse the lattice structure and orientation of h-BN crystals becomes important. Here, the stacking order and wrinkles of h-BN are investigated by transmission electron microscopy. It is experimentally confirmed that the layers in the h-BN flakes are arranged in the AA′ stacking. The wrinkles in a form of threefold network throughout the h-BN crystal are oriented along the armchair direction, and their formation mechanism was further explored by molecular dynamics simulations. Our findings provide a deep insight about the microstructure of h-BN and shed light on the structural design/electronic modulations of two-dimensional crystals.
Effects of pre-creep on dislocation and tensile property of Cr-Ni steel
Authors: Pei Hai-Xiang , Yang Xiao-Min , Fang Xu-Dong , Zhao Yu-Hong , Huo Hua 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Pre-creep experiments were performed on chromium-nickel (Cr-Ni) stainless steel in the early stage of creep. The temperature was held for 500–2000 h under high-temperature load conditions (873 K and 150 MPa), and various analysis methods, including optical microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction, were used to determine the pattern of dislocation evolution under different temperature-holding times. The results showed that the slip bands intersected at the initial stage of pre-creep, and a quadrilateral network structure was formed by the dislocation pinning. As the temperature-holding time increased, the dislocation network began to climb to form dislocation walls, dislocation cells, and other substructures. At 2000 h, the grain boundaries widened considerably; creep holes were found at the grain boundaries; and dislocation pairs with oscillating contrast occurred, which indicates nitrogen diffusion. The yield and tensile strengths of the Cr-Ni steel samples subjected to pre-creep at holding times of above 1000 h decreased after they were subjected to room-temperature tensile tests.
Whispering gallery and surface mode of electrons in lateral and corrugated quantum dots
Authors: Ramezanpour Shahab 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Quantum dots (QDs) are fundamental elements in the applications related to light–matter interaction, such as solar cells, lasers and sensors. Moreover, some modes of electrons including whispering galley modes (WGMs) and surface modes can be incorporated in many electronic systems, in high Q-resonators, and quantized reflection/transmission. Therefore, controlling and manipulating their energy spectra is vital. Here, we investigate energy spectra as well as WGM and surface mode of electrons in lateral and corrugated QDs. Although, lateral QDs are usually modelled by a 2D harmonic oscillator (with zero thickness), we show that even very small thickness of dots can change their energy spectra, also they can contain surface mode of electrons. Moreover, we investigate WGM in deformed QDs, and the dots which contain corners in their outermost region, and show that some degenerated points would be created. Meanwhile, in the corrugated QDs, the wavefunction would be distributed in the specific teeth based on its energy level.
Recent progress and challenges based on two-dimensional material photodetectors
Authors: Zhang Kaixuan , Zhang Libo , Han Li , Wang Lin , Chen Zhiqingzi , Xing Huaizhong , Chen Xiaoshuang 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) materials have excellent electronic and optoelectronic properties, such as ultrafast charge transport and tunable photon absorption. These 2D materials include topological semimetal graphene, semiconductor material black phosphorus, transition-metal dichalcogenides, etc. Studying the ultra-high optical response speed and sensitivity, broadband spectrum and other excellent performance photodetectors are the goals of continuous pursuit and challenge. 2D material photodetectors have become a research hotspot due to the special propert-ies of 2D materials including flexible tuning, no dangling bonds, high mobility, and many more. Herein, the electronic and optoelectronic properties of 2D materials and the quality factors of the photodetector are introduced. Then, the 2D material-based photodetectors with a detection wavelength from visible light to the terahertz band are summarized systematically. Finally, the prospects and challenges of 2D material-based photodetectors are discussed briefly.
Transforming data into insight: Establishment of a pharmacy analytics and outcomes team
Authors: Vest Mary-Haston , Colmenares Evan W , Pappas Ashley L 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Purpose
The importance of a data management strategy is increasingly necessary for demonstrating value and driving performance within pharmacy departments. Data analytics capabilities often do not match the pace of data accumulation. At our organization, the establishment of an embedded pharmacy analytics and outcomes (PAO) team has been instrumental to pharmacy services in generating and demonstrating value and proactively supporting a business intelligence strategy grounded in a data-driven culture.

Summary
The PAO team was established to support the operational and strategic needs of clinical, financial, and operational pharmacy services. The team is charged with implementing the vision of extending medication-use influence and data insight to drive value-based patient care outcomes while decreasing waste, optimizing therapeutic decisions, and achieving medication management standardization across the continuum of healthcare. The PAO team is composed of 3 pharmacist full-time equivalents (FTEs), 5 business analyst FTEs, 1 biostatistician FTE, 0.2 pharmacy intern FTE, and 1 pharmacy manager FTE. Pharmacy services leaders believe it is necessary to have a mix of both clinical and analytical skill sets, given the clinical nature of the data managed by team and complexities of the medication-use process.

Conclusion
Pharmacy reporting and analytics should require the same depth of scrutiny and overview as any other step in the medication-use process where pharmacists are held accountable. For our organization, it was critical to establish pharmacist-level oversight into every portion of the analytics process where medication data are involved. This structure has led to measurable improvements in patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and financial performance.
A non-linear regression method for estimation of gene–environment heritability
Authors: Kerin Matthew , Marchini Jonathan 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Motivation
Gene–environment (GxE) interactions are one of the least studied aspects of the genetic architecture of human traits and diseases. The environment of an individual is inherently high dimensional, evolves through time and can be expensive and time consuming to measure. The UK Biobank study, with all 500 000 participants having undergone an extensive baseline questionnaire, represents a unique opportunity to assess GxE heritability for many traits and diseases in a well powered setting.

Results
We have developed a randomized Haseman–Elston non-linear regression method applicable when many environmental variables have been measured on each individual. The method (GPLEMMA) simultaneously estimates a linear environmental score (ES) and its GxE heritability. We compare the method via simulation to a whole-genome regression approach (LEMMA) for estimating GxE heritability. We show that GPLEMMA is more computationally efficient than LEMMA on large datasets, and produces results highly correlated with those from LEMMA when applied to simulated data and real data from the UK Biobank.

Availability and implementation
Software implementing the GPLEMMA method is available from https://jmarchini.org/gplemma/.

Supplementary information
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Effectiveness of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccines Against Community-acquired Alveolar Pneumonia Attributable to Vaccine-serotype Streptococcus pneumoniae Among Children
Authors: Lewnard Joseph A , Givon-Lavi Noga , Dagan Ron 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Introduction
Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia among children. However, owing to diagnostic limitations, the protection conferred by pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) against pediatric pneumonia attributable to vaccine-serotype pneumococci remains unknown.

Methods
We analyzed data on vaccination and nasopharyngeal pneumococcal detection among children &lt;5 years old with community-acquired alveolar pneumonia (CAAP; “cases”) and those without respiratory symptoms (“controls”), who were enrolled in population-based prospective surveillance studies in southern Israel between 2009 and 2018. We measured PCV-conferred protection against carriage of vaccine-serotype pneumococci via the relative risk of detecting these serotypes among vaccinated versus unvaccinated controls. We measured protection against progression of vaccine serotypes from carriage to CAAP via the relative association of vaccine-serotype detection in the nasopharynx with CAAP case status, among vaccinated and unvaccinated children. We measured PCV-conferred protection against CAAP attributable to vaccine-serotype pneumococci via the joint reduction in risks of carriage and disease progression.

Results
Our analyses included 1032 CAAP cases and 7743 controls. At ages 12–35 months, a PCV13 schedule containing 2 primary doses and 1 booster dose provided 87.2% (95% confidence interval: 8.1–100.0%) protection against CAAP attributable to PCV13-serotype pneumococci, and 92.3% (–0.9%, 100.0%) protection against CAAP attributable to PCV7-serotype pneumococci. Protection against PCV13-serotype and PCV7-serotype CAAP was 67.0% (–424.3%, 100.0%) and 67.7% (–1962.9%, 100.0%), respectively, at ages 36–59 months. At ages 4–11 months, 2 PCV13 doses provided 98.9% (–309.8%, 100.0%) and 91.4% (–191.4%, 100.0%) against PCV13-serotype and PCV7-serotype CAAP.

Conclusions
Among children, PCV-conferred protection against CAAP attributable to vaccine-targeted pneumococcal serotypes resembles protection against vaccine-serotype invasive pneumococcal disease.
A case report of an aorto-pulmonary-venacaval fistula after penetrating cardiac injury
Authors: Koen Johannes Gerhardus , Wagenaar Riegardt , Janson Jacques T. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundPenetrating cardiac injury (PCI) is an accepted burden in high violent crime areas. Traumatic intracardiac fistulae are however not that commonly detected on initial presentation, with most of these injuries being detected post-operatively or at routine follow-up. The literature is devoid of general principles around the pre-operative planning and intra-operative management in these cases, and thus warrant documented case reports by clinical units experienced in the management of these challenging clinical scenarios.Case summaryWe describe a case report of a 29-year-old male patient presenting to our Cardiothoracic Unit with an aorto-pulmonary-venacaval fistula after a traumatic PCI. We describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic challenges, and institutional experience in the operative management of this case.DiscussionThe patient was treated successfully with repair via sternotomy and femoral cardiopulmonary bypass with no neurological, pulmonary, or cardiac sequelae at early follow-up. The importance of selective pre-operative imaging in PCI, appropriate pre-operative surgical planning, and surgical experience in the management of these injuries is highlighted in this case presentation.
Combination therapy with pulmonary arterial hypertension targeted drugs and immunosuppression can be a useful strategy for sarcoidosis-associated pulmonary hypertension: a case report
Authors: Sumimoto Keiko , Taniguchi Yu , Emoto Noriaki , Hirata Ken-Ichi 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Background
Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is one of the significant complications of sarcoidosis. In the clinical classification of PH proposed in the recent world symposium of PH 2018, sarcoidosis-associated PH is classified in Group 5. The mechanisms of sarcoidosis-associated PH are very heterogeneous. There is no evidence of effective treatment for this condition.

Case summary
We report a case of a 46-year-old female who developed severe pulmonary hypertension due to sarcoidosis. Her haemodynamics, exercise capacity, and functional class remarkably improved after the treatment with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) targeted drugs including macitentan and tadalafil and secondary immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids.

Discussion
This case emphasizes the importance of considering the underlying mechanisms of sarcoidosis-associated PH in order to choose appropriate treatment.
On the Benefit of Reinventing the Wheel: The Notion of a Single Internationally Wrongful Act
Authors: Gasbarri Lorenzo 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
This article is a critical reaction to the 2020 EJIL Foreword titled ‘Guiding Principles on Shared Responsibility in International Law’. It focuses on Principle 3, concerning a ‘single internationally wrongful act’, and it is divided into its constitutive elements: the meaning of same conduct (Section 2), the attribution to multiple persons (Section 3), the breach of obligations (Section 4) and the indivisible injury (Section 5). The main criticism is that the Guiding Principles make things more complex than they already are. The established principles of international responsibility provide simpler and more effective answers. This is particularly the case for Principle 3, which concerns multiple responsibilities arising from the same conduct. There are two main elements through which the Guiding Principles on Shared Responsibility seek to provide guidance in the case of a plurality of internationally responsible persons. First, they employ the comprehensive notion of an internationally wrongful act, while ARSIWA and ARIO distinguish between the two elements of attribution of conduct and the breach of an obligation. Second, the Guiding Principles consider the injury to be a constitutive element included in the definition of shared responsibility, while ARSIWA and ARIO only employ it in the context of reparation and countermeasures. There are no actual benefits coming from these attempts of clarification.
Atrial fibrillation burden: an update—the need for a CHA2DS2-VASc-AFBurden score
Authors: Tiver Kathryn D , Quah Jing , Lahiri Anandaroop , Ganesan Anand N , McGavigan Andrew D 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an established independent risk factor for stroke. Current guidelines regard AF as binary; either present or absent, with the decision for anti-coagulation driven by clinical variables alone. However, there are increasing data to support a biological gradient of AF burden and stroke risk, both in clinical and non-clinical AF phenotypes. As such, this raises the concept of combining AF burden assessment with a clinical risk score to refine and individualize the assessment of stroke risk in AF—the CHA2DS2VASc-AFBurden score. We review the published data supporting a biological gradient to try and construct a putative schema of risk attributable to AF burden.
An Innovating Tool to Enhance the Oral Health of Older Adults With or Without Dementia Through the 4Ms Model
Authors: Tabrizi Maryam , Melchor Margo 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Oral health of the elderly is the most neglected area of healthcare by many providers across healthcare disciplines. Often due to lack of Medicare funding and affordability of the elderly that leads to a constant high cost of non-traumatic dental related emergency department visits. By 2030, the number of adults in the USA will increase to 74 million. Over 22 million (30%) of older Americans will need specialized geriatric care. Simultaneously, in 2025, a national shortage of medical geriatricians will be close to 27,000 full time positions. This shortage has a greater impact on oral health often due to limited access, affordability and shortage of trained dentists to manage patients with special needs, particularly those with cognitive declines. There is an urgent need for an innovation for workforce enhancement nationwide. Innovation that can create a network of age-friendly dental clinics could be based on the 4Ms model-Mentation, Mobility, Medication, and Matters most. Project ECHO is a telementoring guided practice model that revolutionizes health education and increases workforce to provide best-practice specialty care by reducing health disparities. By utilization of the Project ECHO among community dentists, this makes transformation richly effective. Training oral health providers for utilizing the project ECHO model is a logical response for the shortage and to increase oral health access. Project ECHO trains general dentists & dental hygienists to provide specialty care services. Meaning the elderly can obtain the care they need in the right place, at the right time, with better treatment outcomes and reduces costs.
Social Engagement and Episodic Memory in Non-Hispanic Black and White Older Adults
Authors: Hamlin Abbey , Kraal A Zarina , Zahodne Laura 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Social engagement may confer cognitive benefits in older adulthood, but studies have typically been restricted to largely non-Hispanic White (NHW) samples. Levels of social engagement vary across race such that NHW report larger social networks, more frequent participation in social activities, and greater social support than non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB). Associations between social engagement and cognition may also vary by race, but research is sparse. The current cross-sectional study examined associations between different aspects of social engagement and episodic memory performance, as well as interactions between social engagement and race among NHB and NHW participants in the Michigan Cognitive Aging Project (N = 247; 48.4% NHB; age = 64.19 ± 2.92). Social engagement (network size, activities, support) was self-reported. Episodic memory was a z-score composite of immediate, delayed, and recognition trials of a list-learning task. Separate hierarchical linear regression models quantified interactions between race and each of the three social engagement variables on episodic memory, controlling for sociodemographics, depressive symptoms, and health conditions. Results showed a main effect of more frequent social activity on better episodic memory, as well as an interaction between race and social support indicating a significant positive association in NHB but not NHW. These preliminary findings suggest that participating in social activities may be equally beneficial for episodic memory across NHB and NHW older adults and that social support may be particularly beneficial for NHB. Future research is needed to determine the potential applications of these results in reducing cognitive inequalities through the development of culturally-relevant interventions.
Efficacy of Life Review Therapy Intervention on Life Satisfaction Among Older Adults Living in Taiwan Nursing Homes
Authors: Yao Ching-Teng , Lin Chia-Ju 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Life review therapy, used as part of a comprehensive therapy plan for increasing the quality of life of the elderly, helps them to resolve their past conflicts, and accept their present conditions. This study tested the effectiveness of a structured life review therapy protocol on the life satisfaction of institutionalized older adults. A quasi-experimental design was adopted in this study. Fifty older adults aged 65 or above were recruited from nursing homes in southern Taiwan through convenience sampling. The participants in the intervention group carried out life review therapy for eight weeks in addition to their daily activities. The participants in the comparison group maintained their daily activities. Both groups were evaluated using a life-satisfaction scale including two aspects of life worries and situations in weeks 1 and 8. Data were collected at baseline (T1), immediately post-intervention (T2). Generalized estimating equations were used to examine the effect of the intervention on the outcomes. The overall life satisfaction increased significantly over time for the intervention group compared to the comparison group from week 1 to week 8. The life review therapy programs showed promising effects in improving the life satisfaction of older adults living in nursing homes.