bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Combined insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐1/interleukin‐6 (Premaquick) versus fetal fibronectin for predicting preterm delivery among women with preterm contractions
Authors: Asiegbu Amarachukwu C. , Eleje George U. , Ibeneme Emmanuel M. , Onyegbule Onyema A. , Chukwu Leo C. , Egwim Adanna V. , Okonko Cherechi O. , Eze Stephen C. , Eke Ahizechukwu C. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractObjectivesTo compare accuracy between Premaquick (combined test for native insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐1 (IGFBP‐1), total IGFBP‐1, and interleukin‐6) and fetal fibronectin (Ffn) in predicting preterm delivery.MethodsProspective study among women at 28–36+6 gestational weeks with threatened preterm labor attending Federal Medical Center, Owerri, Nigeria, from August 2017 to February 2019. Cervico‐vaginal fluids were collected and tested by Premaquick and Ffn tests. The women were followed for 14 days. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative (NPV) and positive (PPV) predictive value for delivery were compared between the tests.ResultsAmong 213 women assessed for eligibility, 183 were enrolled and 175 completed the study. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of the Premaquick versus Ffn tests were, respectively, 96.3% versus 51.9%, 97.6% versus 98.4%, 89.7% versus 87.5%, 99.2% versus 90.3% and 97.3% versus 90.0% for preterm delivery within 14 days. Ffn had higher specificity (98.5% vs 97.8%; P>0.99), but Premaquick had higher PPV (92.7% vs 90.9%; P>0.99).ConclusionBoth tests seem to have high utility in predicting preterm delivery, but Premaquick showed higher accuracy in terms of sensitivity and PPV. Premaquick might be a feasible alternative to Ffn for predicting preterm delivery among symptomatic women in a low‐income setting.
Effectiveness of a pharmacist‐led population health approach to implementing statin therapy in primary prevention patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Troksa Kyle A. , Billups Sarah J. , Claus Liza W. , Vande Griend Joseph P. , Saseen Joseph J. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundStatin therapy in patients with diabetes is an evidence‐based treatment that reduces cardiovascular risk. Percentage of primary prevention patients with diabetes that are treated with statin therapy is a common evidence‐based quality measure within value‐based health care. Pharmacist‐led services increase statin initiation rates; however, limited data have compared the effectiveness of different approaches.Study objectivesOur objective was to compare statin initiation rates of a pharmacist‐led population health initiative in University of Colorado Health System primary care practices.DesignRetrospective cohort analysis.PatientsPrimary prevention patients with type 2 diabetes, age 40 to 75 years, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) of less than 190 mg/dL, and no active statin prescriptions were identified using reports generated from the University of Colorado Health System electronic health record.Measurements and main resultsClinical pharmacists identified patients using aforementioned reports from the health record and assessed appropriateness of statin therapy according to the 2018 American Heart Association (AHA)/American College of Cardiology (ACC)/multisociety cholesterol guideline recommendations (primary prevention patients with type 2 diabetes, age 40 to 75 years, and LDL‐C of <190 mg/dL) using two different methods. The single strategy cohort utilized embedded clinical pharmacists that used an upcoming visit approach to recommend statin therapy. The dual strategy cohort utilized centrally‐located clinical pharmacists that used both an upcoming visit and a prospective patient panel approach. Seven hundred and ninety‐three patient‐specific recommendations made between March 2018 and November 2018 from both cohorts; 200 patients were randomly selected for evaluation from each cohort.Statin initiation was 46% and 36% in the single strategy and dual strategy practices, respectively (P = .042). However across cohorts, initiation rates were 42.9% (134/312) with the upcoming visit approach and 31.5% (28/89) with the prospective patient panel approach (P = .049). Within the total clinic population, statin prescribing among primary prevention patients with diabetes increased from 69.3% in March 2018 to 74.7% in November 2018 (P < .05).ConclusionThis clinical pharmacist‐led initiative increased statin prescribing in primary prevention patients with type 2 diabetes who were previously untreated.
Repair of facial nerve crush injury in rabbits using collagen plus basic fibroblast growth factor
Authors: Wang Piao , Zhao Hao , Yao Yao , Lu Chao , Ma Jinling , Chen Renji , Pan Juli 
Published: February 2020

AbstractFacial nerves are frequently crushed or cut during facial surgery. In this study, the feasibility of repairing facial nerves in rabbits after crush or cut off injury was evaluated using collagen conduits with A collagen‐binding domain (CBD)‐human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). A total of 39 six‐month‐old New Zealand White rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of nine rabbits, and bilateral crush or cut off injuries were made on each animal's face. Three rabbits were classified as the healthy control. The facial nerves were cut or crushed and then were either untreated or wrapped with a collagen conduit plus bFGF. At the 15, 30, and 90 days after the injury, three rabbits in each group were sacrificed. Regeneration of the injured facial nerve was evaluated using electrophysiological examination (compound muscle action potentials, CAMPs), scanning electron microscopy, and histological observation. The results suggested that using collagen conduits with recombinant proteins CBD‐bFGF to repair facial nerves with crush or cut off injuries promoted functional facial nerve recovery. This treatment, as a possible therapeutic for patients with facial nerve injury, requires further investigation.
Autologous bionic tissue for inguinal hernia repair
Authors: Liu Hongyi , Chen Weibin , Zhao Bin , Quan Wei , Zhang Yinlong , Zhou Yuanyuan , Wan Zheng , Zhang Xiaohong , Xue Gang , Li Jietao , Luo Shuting , Wang Jinling , Liu Yun , Zhen Maochuan , Zhao Yilin 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe prosthetic mesh, which is widely used in tension‐free hernioplasty, often result in avascular stiff fibrotic scar or mesh shrinkage, causing chronic pain and infection. Here, we developed an autologous bionic tissue (ABT), which was composed of autologous bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) (PLGA) porous scaffolds, and extracellular matrix (ECM) produced by MSCs for inguinal hernioplasty. In ABT, MSCs produced a variety of ECM composites, such as structural proteins (insoluble collagen, elastin) that provided mechanical properties, macromolecules (hyaluronic acid, glycosaminoglycan) as water and cytokines reservoir, and cell‐engaging proteins (fibronectin, laminin). The above ECM composites reached the highest level in 21 days. ECM degradation related cytokines (MMP‐9 and its inhibitor TIMP‐1) reached the highest level on the 14th day. ECM increased the mechanical properties, elasticity, and flexibility of PLGA. Compared with the PLGA, ABT greatly inhibited inflammatory factors and promoted anti‐inflammatory factors (p < 0.05), and gradually reduced the M1/M2 ratio in vivo (p < 0.05). After implantation, the thickness of tissue regeneration (p < 0.05), the number of capillaries or mature vessels (p < 0.05), the mechanical properties of ABT (p < 0.05) were greater than PLGA. MSCs and ECM could reduce the inflammation caused by PLGA, and prevent PLGA from earlier degradation and facilitate host cellular infiltration, thus ABT could greatly promote tissue regeneration in hernia repairs.
miR‐200b‐3p mitigates oxaliplatin resistance via targeting TUBB3 in colorectal cancer
Authors: Wu Yu‐Zhu , Lin Hong‐Yue , Zhang Yin , Chen Wen‐Fa 
Published: February 2020

AbstractBackgroundNumerous abnormally expressed miRs have been reported involved in oxaliplatin (L‐OHP) resistance of colorectal cancer (CRC). The present study aimed to investigate whether miR‐200b‐3p could regulate L‐OHP resistance via targeting TUBB3 in CRC cells.MethodsL‐OHP resistant HT29 and HCT116 cells were exposed to escalating concentrations of L‐OHP up to 30 μm. The effect of miR‐200b‐3p on L‐OHP resistant CRC cells was then evaluated using the cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay. CRC cell apoptosis was detected using Annexin V‐FITC/PI double staining. Bioinformatics algorithms and luciferase reporter assays were also performed to investigate whether TUBB3 was a direct target of miR‐200b‐3p.ResultsmiR‐200b‐3p declined in L‐OHP resistant CRC tissues and cell lines, and the overexpression of miR‐200b‐3p elevated the L‐OHP sensitivity in L‐OHP resistant HT29 and HCT116 cells. In addition, we determined the potential mechanisms underlying miR‐200b‐3p‐mediated reversal of L‐OHP resistance by mediating its downstream target TUBB3, and the overexpression of miR‐200b‐3p could induce migration and growth inhibition and apoptosis in L‐OHP resistant HT29 and HCT116 cells by silencing βIII‐tubulin protein expression. However, the overexpression of TUBB3 reversed miR‐200b‐3p mimic‐induced migration, as well as growth inhibition and apoptosis, in L‐OHP resistant CRC cells.ConclusionsmiR‐200b‐3p improved L‐OHP resistance and induced growth inhibition and cell apoptosis in L‐OHP resistant CRC cells, and the underlying mechanism was mediated, at least partially, through the suppression of βIII‐tubulin protein expression.
Bond graph modelling and control enhancement of an off‐grid hybrid pumping system by frequency optimization
Authors: Mezghani Dhafer , Mami Abdelkader , Dauphin‐Tanguy Genevieve 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe climate's dependence requires a complex modelling and other optimization methods for the control of the hybrid system. Moreover, recently, and as for both the technological progression of the hardware and software, researchers may more and more optimize problems through the use of enabled platforms. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Our hybrid pumping installation contains a photovoltaic generator, a wind source, converters, and an induction motor‐pump group; it has a hybrid and complex character and requires a good modelling of the energetic point of view before passing the phase of design of control laws. So we use the graphical approach of modelling called dedicated graph for this type of system, and this tool showed very interesting results in the level of modelling, dimensioning, monitoring, and diagnosing. The numerical closed‐loop simulation of the complete model in an appropriate environment allows us to generate an optimization control in which the appropriate frequency depends on meteorological conditions. The simulations are made from the climatic conditions measured in a real system using a microcontroller ARDUINO board. These measurements are used to simulate the adopted control and to judge on the feasibility of our architecture adopted.
Kinetic study of the nitric oxide oxidation between 288 and 323 K, under pressure, focus on the oxygen influence on the reaction rate constant
Authors: Neyrolles Esther , Lara Cruz José , Bassil Georgio , Contamine François , Cezac Pierre , Arpentinier Philippe 
Published: February 2020

AbstractThe sequestration of carbon dioxide fumes from oxyfuel combustion is used to reduce significantly the carbon dioxide emissions from coal‐fired power plants. Impurities like nitric oxide, present in the fumes, can cause technical difficulties during the capture, the treatment, the transport, and the storage steps of the CO2 fumes. The purpose of this study is to better understand the oxidation of nitric oxide under pressure in the presence of carbon dioxide and in the experimental condition of flue gas treatment. This reaction is known to be a third‐order reaction, two order in nitric oxide and first order in oxygen. To examine the effect of the temperature, the pressure and the volume fraction of oxygen on the rate constant of oxidation, k1, an autoclave is used. The first experiment studies the influence of the temperature between 288 and 323 K. The results found are in the form of an Arrhenius‐type equation: k1 = 810 exp(620/T) and are in agreement with the literature. Carbon dioxide does not seem to have an influence on the rate constant, whereas our experimental measurements indicate an influence of the volume fraction of oxygen. The rate constant decreases when the oxygen volume fraction increases by up to 10%. Then the rate constant remains constant. This observation allows us to conclude that the mechanism involving the mechanism with a dimer of NO as an intermediate is more likely to be the mechanism involved in the nitric oxide oxidation in our experimental conditions: high pressure and ambient temperature. The rate constant k2, k–2, and k3 were also estimated in these conditions.
Energy‐based top‐down and bottom‐up relationships between fish community energy demand or production and phytoplankton across lakes at a continental scale
Authors: Bartrons Mireia , Mehner Thomas , Argillier Christine , Beklioglu Meryem , Blabolil Petr , Hesthagen Trygve , Holmgren Kerstin , Jeppesen Erik , Krause Teet , Podgornik Samo , Volta Pietro , Winfield Ian J. , Brucet Sandra 
Published: February 2020

AbstractFish community feeding and production rates may differ between lakes despite similar fish biomass levels because of differences in size structure and local temperature. Therefore, across‐lake comparisons of the strength and direction of top‐down and bottom‐up fish–phytoplankton relationships should consider these factors. We used the metabolic theory of ecology to calculate size‐ and temperature‐corrected community energy demand (CEDom) and community production (CP) of omnivorous fishes in 227 European lakes from major habitat types (MHTs) of polar freshwaters, temperate floodplain rivers and wetlands, and temperate coastal rivers. We related CEDom with total phosphorus (TP)‐corrected chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations to evaluate a potential top‐down directed trophic cascade from fish to phytoplankton. Furthermore, we related Chl a with CP to demonstrate potential bottom‐up effects of phytoplankton on fish. For both analyses, we added the CED of piscivorous fishes (CEDpi) as a predictor to account for potential predation effects on the omnivorous fish community. CEDom was weakly positively related with TP‐corrected Chl a, but the strength of the relationship differed between MHTs. In contrast, CP was consistently positively related with Chl a in the entire dataset. CEDpi did not contribute to top‐down or bottom‐up relationships. The application of metabolic variables characterizing fish community feeding and production rates makes these results robust because the approach accounted for the usually neglected effects of fish size and temperature in across‐lake comparisons. Our results suggest that bottom‐up effects from phytoplankton on fish secondary production in lakes are substantially stronger than top‐down effects from fish on phytoplankton biomass.
pH‐Sensitive Mechanical Properties of Elastin‐Based Hydrogels
Authors: Hollingshead Sydney , Liu Julie C. 
Published: February 2020

AbstractIonizable amino acids in protein‐based hydrogels can confer pH‐responsive behavior. Because elastin‐like polypeptides (ELPs) have an established sequence and can crosslink to form hydrogels, they are an ideal system for creating pH‐sensitive materials. This study examines different parameters that might affect pH‐sensitive behavior and characterizes the mechanical and physical properties between pH 3 and 11 of three ELP‐based crosslinked hydrogels. The first finding is that varying the amount of crosslinker affects the overall stiffness and resilience of the hydrogels but does not strongly affect water content, swelling ratio, or pH sensitivity. Second, the choice of two popular tag sequences, which vary in histidine and aspartic acid content, does not have a strong effect on pH‐sensitive properties. Last, selectively blocking lysine and tyrosine residues through acetylation significantly decreases the pH‐sensitive zeta potential. Acetylated hydrogels also demonstrate different behavior at low pH values with reduced swelling, reduced water content, and higher stiffness. Overall, this work demonstrates that ELP hydrogels with ionizable groups are promising materials for environmentally‐responsive applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, and microfluidics.
Nanoparticles Based on Hydrophobic Polysaccharide Derivatives—Formation Principles, Characterization Techniques, and Biomedical Applications
Authors: Gericke Martin , Schulze Peter , Heinze Thomas 
Published: February 2020

AbstractPolysaccharide (PS) nanoparticles (NP) are fascinating materials that combine huge application potential with the unique beneficial features of natural biopolymers. Different types of PS‐NP can be distinguished depending on the basic preparation principles (top‐down vs bottom‐up vs coating of nanomaterials) and the material from which they are obtained (native PS vs chemically modified PS derivatives vs nanocomposites). This review provides a comprehensive overview of an approach towards PS‐NP that has gained rapidly increasing interest within the last decade; the nanoself‐assembling of hydrophobic PS derivatives. This facile process is easy to perform and offers a broad structural diversity in terms of the PS backbone and the additional functionalities that can be introduced. Fundamental principles of different NP preparation techniques along with useful characterization methods are presented in this work. A comprehensive summary of PS‐NP prepared by different techniques and with various PS backbones and types/amounts of hydrophobic substituents is given. The intention is to demonstrate how different parameters determine the size, size distribution, and zeta‐potential of the particles. Moreover, application trends in biomedical areas are highlighted in which tailored functional PS‐NP are evaluated and constantly developed further.
Numerical evaluation of the capacity of galvanic anode systems for patch repair of reinforced concrete structures
Authors: Helm Christian , Raupach Michael 
Published: February 2020

AbstractCathodic protection (CP) is an electrochemical repair or corrosion prevention technique for steel structures exposed to a corrosive environment. For reinforced concrete (RC) usually impressed current CP is used, due to the comparably high resistivity of the concrete, serving as electrolyte. Nevertheless, the market provides a wide range of galvanic anode systems for RC structures. Their most common use is the application within the framework of partial concrete replacement due to chloride‐induced corrosion. This patch repair is often accompanied by the so‐called anode ring effect, causing accelerated corrosion of the rebar in the substrate concrete in the vicinity of repair patches. This is caused by the cathodic capabilities of the repassivated rebar. Galvanic anodes are reported to prevent this effect. In this paper, a numerical model is proposed, which is capable of determining the effectiveness of the method dependent on, for example, the type and quantity of anodes, rebar content, and geometry or climatic conditions. The method is presented for a specific set of input parameters and the applicability is discussed against the background of different protection criteria.
Solid Polymer Electrolytes Based on Copolymers of Cyclic Carbonate Acrylate and n‐Butylacrylate
Authors: Boujioui Fadoi , Damerow Helen , Zhuge Flanco , Gohy Jean‐François 
Published: February 2020

AbstractSolid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are prepared by mixing poly(2‐oxo‐1,3‐dioxolan‐4‐yl)methyl acrylate‐random‐n‐butylacrylate) [P(cyCA‐r‐nBA)] statistical copolymers with bis(trifluoromethane)sulfonimide lithium salt. The P(cyCA‐r‐nBA) copolymers are synthesized by reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer polymerization and different molar masses as well as copolymer composition are targeted in order to study the influence of the molecular parameters on the thermal, mechanical, and electrochemical properties of the SPEs obtained after mixing the copolymers with lithium salts. In the investigated experimental window, it is shown that the thermal and mechanical properties of the SPEs mainly depend on the composition of the copolymer and are poorly influenced by the molar mass. In sharp contrast, the ionic conductivities are more deeply influenced by the molar mass than by the composition of the copolymers. In this respect ionic conductivity values ranging from 4.2 × 10−6 S cm−1 for the lower molar mass sample to 8 × 10−8 S cm−1 for the higher molar mass one are measured at room temperature for the investigated SPEs.
Synthesis of Hyperbranched Polymers via Metal‐Free ATRP in Solution and Microemulsion
Authors: Cuneo Timothy , Wang Xiaofeng , Shi Yi , Gao Haifeng 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAtom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), as one of the most successful controlled radical polymerization techniques, has been broadly used by polymer chemists and nonspecialists for synthesis of various functional materials, although the use of copper as traditional catalyst often results in undesired color or properties. The first homopolymerization of an initiable monomer, that is, inimer, is reported via metal‐free ATRP using 10‐phenylphenothiazine (Ph‐PTH) as photocatalyst in both solution and microemulsion media. Although polymerizations of inimers in both media can be carried out, only the microemulsion polymerization of methacrylate‐based inimer 1 effectively confines the random bimolecular reaction within each segregated latex and produces hyperbranched polymers with high molecular weight and low polydispersity. Several experimental parameters in the microemulsion polymerization of inimer 1 are subsequently studied, including the Ph‐PTH amount, the solids content of microemulsion, and the light source of irradiation. The results not only provide an effective method to tune the structure and molecular weights of hyperbranched polymers in confined‐space polymerization, but also expand the toolbox of using metal‐free ATRP method for synthesizing highly branched polymers in controlled manner.
Highly Stretchable and Sensitive SBS/Graphene Composite Fiber for Strain Sensors
Authors: Li Wenyue , Zhou Yanfen , Wang Yuhao , Li Ying , Jiang Liang , Ma Jianwei , Chen Shaojuan 
Published: February 2020

AbstractFlexible strain sensors have attracted tremendous interests due to the emergence of intelligent wearable technology. Electrically conductive fibers are desirable candidates for flexible strain sensors, but up til now, there still exist enormous challenges to obtain conductive fibers exhibiting simultaneously high stretchability and high strain sensitivity. This paper introduces a poly (styrene‐butadiene‐styrene) (SBS)/graphene (Gr) composite fiber‐based flexible strain sensor fabricated by a facile and highly scalable wet spinning method. The results demonstrate that the graphene content has significant influence on the morphology, mechanical properties, and electromechanical properties of the composite fibers. The fibers with 5 wt% graphene have a wide response range of up to 100% strain, a high electrical sensitivity with the gauge factor of 10083.98 at 100% strain, and meanwhile, a high level of stability for 2100 stretching–releasing cycles under an applied strain of 20%. Furthermore, the SBS‐5%Gr composite fibers display excellent sensing performance in detecting human upper limb movements at different joints including hand joints, wrist joints, elbow joints, and shoulder joints.