bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Questionnaire survey to identify meal habits which influence adherence to oral 5‐aminosalicylic acid regimens in patients with ulcerative colitis
Authors: Suzuki Keiko , Fujii Hironori , Yamauchi Tomoyo , Kato‐Hayashi Hiroko , Ishihara Masashi , Iihara Hirotoshi , Hirose Chiemi , Nishida Shohei , Funato Miyui , Kobayashi Ryo , Yasuda Koji , Ino Yoko , Tamaki Hirofumi , Yamashita Shuji , Iguchi Kazuhiro , Noguchi Yoshihiro , Teramachi Hitomi , Takada Jun , Kubota Masaya , Ibuka Takashi , Araki Hiroshi , Shimizu Masahito , Suzuki Akio 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAimPatient adherence to oral 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA) therapy is key for the induction and maintenance of remission in ulcerative colitis (UC). We conducted a questionnaire survey of meal habits among patients with UC to determine which meal habits influence adherence to oral 5‐ASA regimens.MethodsThe anonymous questionnaire, including information on basic demographics, disease status, 5‐ASA use, and patient lifestyle, was given to outpatients receiving oral 5‐ASA for UC between January 2019 and April 2019 at Gifu University Hospital.ResultsA total of 101 patients replied to the questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that “Often skipping a meal” and “Multiple dose regimen” were factors in decreased adherence (<80%) to oral 5‐ASA medications. Among patients taking a multi‐daily dose, the rate of patients with ≥80% adherence to oral 5‐ASA medications replying to “Often skipping a meal” was significantly lower than in patients replying to “Three meals per day (Not skipping a meal)" (53.8% vs 81.3%. p = 0.032), although these differences were not found among patients taking a once‐daily dose (80.0% vs 100%. p = 0.529).ConclusionThese findings identify “Often skipping a meal” and “Multiple dose regimen” as factors associated with decreased adherence to oral 5‐ASA. Adherence to oral 5‐ASA in patients skipping a meal may be improved by adoption of a once‐daily dose regimen.
PPV Nanotube Sensor Arrays for Explosives Identification by Excitation Wavelength Regulation
Authors: Liu Xianbang , Hu Yongkang , Zhou Yuting , Zhang Peng , Gao Li , Liu Bingxin , Wu Zhaofeng , Zhang Lei 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe development of sensitive materials for standard and improvised explosives is greatly significant to homeland security. In this paper, the phosphotungstate (NaPT) doped polyphenylene vinylene (PPV) nanotube arrays (NTAs), with excellent optical response, chemical stability, and larger specific surface area, are successfully fabricated by means of the “precursor film” infiltration method. The efficient charge carriers' separation of PPV NTAs can be achieved by doping NaPT to realize the photoelectric detection of explosive vapors. In addition, the identification of six explosives, including ammonium nitrate (AN), dinitrotoluence (DNT), picric acid (PA), p‐nitrotoluene (PNT), triacetone triperoxide (TATP), and trinitrotoluene (TNT), can also be realized through the fingerprint atlas. Moreover, the adsorption energy and excited oscillator intensity has also been employed to explain the interaction between NaPT doped PPV nanotube arrays and various explosive molecules. Obviously, the NaPT doped PPV developed has the potential to be used as an explosive sensor.
Design, Development, and Evaluation of an Interwoven Electrospun Nanotextile Vascular Patch
Authors: Babu Rosebin , R Reshmi C , Joseph John , Sathy Binulal N. , Nair Shantikumar V. , Varma Praveen Kerala , Menon Deepthy 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThis study details the design and fabrication of woven electrospun nanotextile patches for vascular applications that meet the mechanical and biological requirements. Nanotextile vascular patches based on biodegradable polymers such as poly‐l‐lactic acid (PLLA) and poly(caprolactone)/collagen (PCL/Col) are fabricated by integrating the techniques of electrospinning and weaving. Fibrous polymeric nanoyarns obtained by electrospinning are strengthened via different postprocessing techniques of heat‐stretching and plying, to generate interwoven nanotextiles that are tightly packed, mechanically strong, yet flexible. The unique pattern of nanofibers within the nanotextile results in its exceptional anisotropic mechanical behavior, appropriate for a vascular patch material. Moreover, these matrices exhibit good hydrophilicity, protein adsorption, and hemocompatibility, when compared to the commercial controls such as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Furthermore, endothelial cells adhered, spread, and proliferate well on the nanotextile. Thus, this study demonstrates that the unique nanofibrous architecture of woven textiles aids in developing a novel biodegradable material, which meets the clinical standards of a vascular patch.
Robust arterial input function surrogate measurement from the superior sagittal sinus complex signal for fast dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI in the brain
Authors: Bourassa‐Moreau Benoît , Lebel Réjean , Gilbert Guillaume , Mathieu David , Lepage Martin 
Published: July 2021

PurposeAccurately estimating the arterial input function for dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI is challenging. An arterial input function is typically determined from signal magnitude changes related to a contrast agent, often leading to underestimation of peak concentrations. Alternatively, signal phase recovers the accurate peak concentration for straight vessels but suffers from high noise. A recent method proposed to fit the signal in the complex plane by combining the advantages of the previous 2 methods. The purpose of this work is to refine this complex‐based method to determine the venous output function (VOF), an arterial input function surrogate, from the superior sagittal sinus.MethodsWe propose a state‐of‐the‐art complex‐based method that includes direct compensation for blood inflow and signal phase correction accounting for the curvature of the superior sagittal sinus, generally assumed collinear with B0. We compared the magnitude‐, phase‐, and complex‐based VOF determination methods against various simulated biases as well as for 29 brain metastases patients.ResultsAngulation of the superior sagittal sinus relative to B0 varied widely within patients, and its effect on the signal phase caused an underestimation of peak concentrations of up to 65%. Correction significantly increased the VOF peak concentration for the phase‐ and complex‐based VOFs in the cohort. The phase‐based method recovered accurate peak concentrations but lacked precision in the tail of the VOF. Our complex‐based VOF completely recovered the effect of inflow and resulted in a high‐peak concentration with limited noise.ConclusionThe new complex‐based method resulted in high‐quality VOF robust against superior sagittal sinus curvature and variations in patient positioning.
Synergistic function of N‐P‐Cu containing supermolecular assembly networks in intumescent flame retardant thermoplastic polyurethane
Authors: Chen Kexin , Yang Dong , Shi Yongqian , Feng Yuezhan , Fu Libi , Liu Chuan , Chen Ming , Yang Fuqiang 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe design of high‐performance compounded flame retardants based on multielement can be of great significance for reducing the flammability of polymer materials. In this article, a new type of N‐P‐Cu containing supermolecular assembly network (MPCSN) flame retardant was prepared and subsequently added into thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer (TPU)/silicon microencapsulated ammonium polyphosphate (SiAPP) composites. The obtained results indicated that a series of TPU/SiAPP/MPCSN composites exhibited strong adhesions with the TPU matrix. Additionally, the thermal and flame retardant performances of TPU composites were markedly improved after the introduction of different proportions of SiAPP to MPCSN. For example, the peak of heat release rate, the total heat release, the peak of smoke production rate, the total smoke release of the TPU composite containing 7.5 wt% SiAPP and 2.5 wt% MPCSN (TPU/SiAPP3/MPCSN1) remarkably decreased by 68.7%, 52.9%, 52.4%, and 49.4%, respectively, besides the highest LOI value (27.5 vol%) and UL‐94 V‐0 rating, compared with those of pure TPU. The improved flame retardance of the TPU/SiAPP3/MPCSN1 composite was due to the explanations: On one hand, a compact intumescent char effectively protected the TPU matrix from heat and oxygen and retarded the gaseous products permeation into the combustion zone; on the other hand, evolved phosphorus‐containing free radicals captured the H• and HO• generated from the TPU material. The synergistic effect of SiAPP and MPCSN resulted in strong flame suppression, accompanied by 10.8% and 37.8% reductions in FIGRA and Av‐EHC, respectively. This article offers a facile approach to fabricate highly effective flame‐retardant TPU composites.
Second trimester maternal serum biomarkers and the risk of cerebral palsy
Authors: Peris Monique , Reid Susan M. , Dobie Stephen , Bonacquisto Leo , Shepherd Daisy A. , Amor David J. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAimsTo investigate whether second trimester maternal serum screening (2TMSS) biomarkers are associated with cerebral palsy (CP) and identify CP characteristics associated with abnormal biomarker levels.MethodIn this retrospective case–control data linkage study, we linked mothers of 129 singleton CP cases from a population register to their 2TMSS records and selected 10 singleton pregnancy controls per case (n = 1290). We compared mean and abnormal levels of alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP), beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (β‐hCG), unconjugated estriol (uE3), and inhibin between cases and controls and within CP subgroups.ResultsCompared to control pregnancies, CP pregnancies had higher mean levels of AFP (1.10 vs. 1.01 multiple of the population median [MoM], p = 0.01) and inhibin (1.10 vs. 0.98 MoM, p ≤ 0.01). CP pregnancies were 2.5 times more likely to be associated with high levels of AFP (OR 2.52 [95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30, 4.65]; p < 0.01) and 2.6 times for inhibin (OR 2.63 [95% CI 1.37, 4.77]; p < 0.01), and 6.8 times when AFP and inhibin were both elevated (OR 6.75 [95% CI 2.41, 18.94]; p < 0.01). In CP cases, high AFP and high inhibin levels were associated with preterm birth and low birthweight.InterpretationAbnormal second‐trimester biomarker levels suggest abnormal placentation plays a role in the causal pathway of some CP cases.
A hybrid machine learning/pharmacokinetic approach outperforms maximum a posteriori Bayesian estimation by selectively flattening model priors
Authors: Hughes Jasmine H. , Keizer Ron J. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractModel‐informed precision dosing (MIPD) approaches typically apply maximum a posteriori (MAP) Bayesian estimation to determine individual pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters with the goal of optimizing future dosing regimens. This process combines knowledge about the individual, in the form of drug levels or pharmacodynamic biomarkers, with prior knowledge of the drug PK in the general population. Use of “flattened priors” (FPs), in which the weight of the model priors is reduced relative to observations about the patient, has been previously proposed to estimate individual PK parameters in instances where the patient is poorly described by the PK model. However, little is known about the predictive performance of FPs and when to apply FPs in MIPD. Here, FP is evaluated in a data set of 4679 adult patients treated with vancomycin. Depending on the PK model, prediction error could be reduced by applying FPs in 42–55% of PK parameter estimations. Machine learning (ML) models could identify instances where FPs would outperform MAPs with a specificity of 81–86%, reducing overall root mean squared error (RMSE) of PK model predictions by 12–22% (0.5–1.2 mg/L) relative to MAP alone. The factors most indicative of the use of FPs were past prediction residuals and bias in past PK predictions. A more clinically practical minimal model was developed using only these two features, reducing RMSE by 5–18% (0.20–0.93 mg/L) relative to MAP. This hybrid ML/PK approach advances the precision dosing toolkit by leveraging the power of ML while maintaining the mechanistic insight and interpretability of PK models.
Dynamics of forecast‐error growth along cut‐off Sanchez and its consequence for the prediction of a high‐impact weather event over southern France
Authors: Binder Hanin , Rivière Gwendal , Arbogast Philippe , Maynard Karine , Bosser Pierre , Joly Bruno , Labadie Carole 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe representation of a high‐impact weather (HIW) event over southern France is evaluated in Météo‐France forecasts, and the sensitivity of the HIW forecast to the upstream upper‐level flow and the Mediterranean and North Atlantic humidity structure prior to the event is quantified. The event occurred in October 2016 during the international field experiment NAWDEX. The approach of an upper‐level potential vorticity (PV) cut‐off, referred to as cut‐off , triggered extreme precipitation over southern France. Many 2‐ to 7‐day ensemble forecasts predicted the maximum of the extreme precipitation and the location of the upper‐level PV cut‐off too far to the east. This eastward shift primarily resulted from an underestimation of the cut‐off intensity two days before the HIW and the subsequent downstream propagation and amplification of these errors in the vicinity of . Improving the representation of the cut‐off two days before the event significantly improved the forecast quality. Another error source were inaccuracies in the moisture structure in the eastern North Atlantic. Specifically, an underestimation of the moisture in the warm conveyor belt inflow led to errors in the low‐ and upper‐level circulation that eventually contributed to the eastward shift of the HIW two days later. Corrections in the eastern North Atlantic humidity structure further improved the forecast quality. On the other hand, corrections in the Mediterranean humidity structure had only a small impact on the accuracy of the forecast. The findings illustrate the importance of downstream error propagation and moist diabatic processes for the prediction of extreme weather over Europe, and demonstrate how targeted changes in the PV and humidity field a few days in advance can improve the quality of the forecasts.
The Shiryaev–Roberts control chart for Markovian count time series
Authors: Ottenstreuer Sebastian 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe present article examines the performance of the Shiryaev–Roberts (SR) procedure for Markov‐dependent count time series, using the Poisson INARCH(1) model as the representative data‐generating count process. For the purpose of easier performance evaluation, a comparative analysis with existing cumulative sum (CUSUM) results from the literature is provided. In particular, the zero‐state and the steady‐state behavior of the two control schemes is considered with regard to the average run length (ARL), the median run length, and the extra quadratic loss as performance measures. The comparison shows that SR performs at least as well as its more popular competitor in detecting changes in the process distribution. In terms of usability, however, the SR procedure has a practical advantage, which is illustrated by an application to a real data set. Moreover, a parametric bootstrap study based on a second data example investigates the effects of parameter estimation on the chart's true ARL to false alarm. In sum, the research reveals the SR chart to be the better tool for monitoring Markov‐dependent counts.
Roles of Proton in the Formation of Microspheres: Precipitation Polymerization of Styrene in Alcohols by Using AIBN as Initiator
Authors: Xu Xiuhang , Yu Haihua , Xia Yunfei , Qian Jiajia , Wang Fei , Zhou Chuan , Ni Henmei , Li Cuihong 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn this paper, the alcoholization of lyophobic monomer similar to the hydration was introduced into the mechanism of polystyrene microspheres formation in alcohols. Entropic charges emerged on the surface of alcoholization shell due to the order structure of alcohol molecules. Such an electric‐negative atmosphere attracted protons and cations which finally destroyed the alcoholization shell to release the lyophobic monomer. It was considered as the decisive factor on the stability of monomer mini‐droplets and the microspheres. Large number of protons favored the phase‐separation of monomer‐solvent and the stabilization of microspheres, but unfavored the stability of mini‐droplets. The precipitation polymerization of styrene was carried out in alcohols of EG, MeOH, EtOH and IPA by using AIBN. It was observed that pKa of alcohol significantly impacted the microspheres formation. Microspheres were prepared in EG and MeOH, but not in EtOH and IPA. According to the proposition of entropic charges, MAA, HAc, NaOH and KOH were employed to adjust the concentration of protons in EtOH and IPA. Consequentially, the microspheres were obtained by adding HAc, NaOH and KOH in EtOH and IPA. Effects of NaOH/KOH on the molecular weight of PSt and the size of microspheres were also investigated in EtOH and IPA. Microspheres of 0.93 and 1.11 μm were prepared with 15 wt% St and 0.1154 mol/L NaOH in EtOH and IPA, respectively, but not obtained with KOH.
Facile Surface Functionalization Strategy for Two‐Photon Lithography Microstructures
Authors: Zhang Junning , Ding Haibo , Liu Xiaojiang , Gu Hongcheng , Wei Mengxiao , Li Xiaoran , Liu Shengnan , Li Sen , Du Xin , Gu Zhongze 
Published: July 2021

AbstractTwo‐photon lithography (TPL) is a powerful tool to construct small‐scale objects with complex and precise 3D architectures. While the limited selection of chemical functionalities on the printed structures has restricted the application of this method in fabricating functional objects and devices, this study presents a facile, efficient, and extensively applicable method to functionalize the surfaces of the objects printed by TPL. TPL‐printed objects, regardless of their compositions, can be efficiently functionalized by combining trichlorovinylsilane treatment and thiol–ene chemistry. Various functionalities can be introduced on the printed objects, without affecting their micro‐nano topographies. Hence, microstructures with diverse functions can be generated using non‐functional photoresists. Compared to existed strategies, this method is fast, highly efficient, and non photoresist‐dependent. In addition, this method can be applied to various materials, such as metals, metal oxides, and plastics that can be potentially utilized in TPL or other 3D printing technologies. The applications of this method on the biofunctionalization of microrobots and cell scaffolds are also demonstrated.
Facile Preparation of MoS2 Nanocomposites for Efficient Potassium‐Ion Batteries by Grinding‐Promoted Intercalation Exfoliation
Authors: Wang Honglei , Niu Jiazheng , Shi Jun , Lv Wenzhen , Wang Hongguang , van Aken Peter A. , Zhang Zhonghua , Chen Runfeng , Huang Wei 
Published: July 2021

AbstractEfficient exfoliations of bulk molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) into few‐layered nanosheets in pure phase are highly attractive because of the promising applications of the resulted 2D materials in diversified optoelectronic devices. Here, a new exfoliation method is presented to prepare semiconductive 2D hexagonal phase (2H phase) MoS2–cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) nanocomposites using grinding‐promoted intercalation exfoliation (GPIE). This method with facile grinding of the bulk MoS2 and CNC powder followed by conventional liquid‐phase exfoliation in water can not only efficiently exfoliate 2H‐MoS2 nanosheets, but also produce the 2H‐MoS2/CNC 2D nanocomposites simultaneously. Interestingly, the intercalated CNC sandwiched in MoS2 nanosheets increases the interlayer spacing of 2H‐MoS2, providing perfect conditions to accommodate the large‐sized ions. Therefore, these nanocomposites are good anode materials of potassium‐ion batteries (KIBs), showing a high reversible capacity of 203 mAh g−1 at 200 mA g−1 after 300 cycles, a good reversible capacity of 114 mAh g−1 at 500 mA g−1, and a low decay of 0.02% per cycle over 1500 cycles. With these impressive KIB performances, this efficient GPIE method will open up a new avenue to prepare pure‐phase MoS2 and promising 2D nanocomposites for high‐performance device applications.
Territorial reserves of innovative development of the waste management systems in Ukraine
Authors: Kolodiichuk Volodymyr , Kolodiichuk Iryna , Kravtsiv Vasyl 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe article deals with the problem of noncompliance of the utilization capacity potential with the rate of waste generation, which entails environmental risks and potential economic losses due to insufficient recycling. The paper suggests the coefficient of the territorial balance of waste processing for the regions of Ukraine and provides relevant calculations. It allows to integrally assess the existing regional disparities between waste generation and disposal and determine priority regions for the construction of recycling facilities. The analysis of quantitative and qualitative parameters of the national waste management system was carried out, and the main problems of its development were identified. The ecological and economic assessment of the innovativeness of waste‐processing technologies is given, and the prospects of using the autoclave method of waste sterilization in Ukraine are determined. The paper outlines the method of determining the coordinates of a recycling enterprise's location in the region, taking into account the limits of the center of gravity of material flows, which in combination with autoclave technology secures innovative development of waste management system using territorial reserves.
Investigating food preference in zoo‐housed meerkats
Authors: Brox Bridget W. , Edwards Katheryn , Buist Natasha A. , Macaskill Anne C. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractUnderstanding food preference among animals in human care can support improvements to welfare through training and day‐to‐day care (e.g., diet management). Little has been published about food preference in zoo‐housed meerkats. Assessing meerkat food preference would be useful, not only for the welfare of that species, but also for developing approaches to assessing food preference in other group‐housed, social species. The specific aim of this study was to quantify food preference within the meerkat mob at Wellington Zoo. We developed a simple, cost‐effective method for characterizing the food preference hierarchy in meerkats by presenting pairs of foods to the mob as a group. We observed stable preference with the hierarchy for pups closely resembling that for adults. This study demonstrated that it is possible to assess food preference and identify a food preference hierarchy for a group of animals from a social species where it was neither practical nor appropriate to assess individuals' preferences separately.