bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does price deregulation increase drug price in China? An interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Xiong Yao , Xu Judy , Gao Yuexia 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe Chinese government removed the price ceiling of most drugs in June 2015 to establish a market‐driven pricing system. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the elimination of drug ceiling price (EDCP) policy on drug prices.MethodsUsing a national macro‐level dataset, we employed an interrupted time series method to study the abrupt level and gradual trend changes of Chinese and Western medicine consumer price index (CPI) between June 2014 and June 2017.ResultsThe policy exerted level change on Chinese medicine CPI, increasing 0.201% (95% CI 0.026% to 0.376%, p = 0.026). And the trend in Chinese medicine CPI was still decreased nonsignificantly after the EDCP policy. However, there was no significant price change in Western medicine.ConclusionThe EDCP policy has different effects on the prices of Chinese and Western medicines. Therefore, we need to pay more attention to the drug pricing mechanism in the future.
Testing the ‘two water worlds’ hypothesis under variable preferential flow conditions
Authors: Radolinski Jesse , Pangle Luke , Klaus Julian , Stewart Ryan D. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWidespread observations of ecohydrological separation are interpreted by suggesting that water flowing through highly conductive soil pores resists mixing with matrix storage over periods of days to months (i.e., two ‘water worlds’ exist). These interpretations imply that heterogeneous flow can produce ecohydrological separation in soils, yet little mechanistic evidence exists to explain this phenomenon. We quantified the separation between mobile water moving through preferential flow paths versus less mobile water remaining in the soil matrix after free‐drainage to identify the amount of preferential flow necessary to maintain a two water world's scenario. Soil columns of varying macropore structure were subjected to simulated rainfall of increasing rainfall intensity (26 mm h−1, 60 mm h−1, and 110 mm h−1) whose stable isotope signatures oscillated around known baseline values. Prior to rainfall, soil matrix water δ2H nearly matched the known value used to initially wet the pore space whereas soil δ18O deviated from this value by up to 3.4‰, suggesting that soils may strongly fractionate 18O. All treatments had up to 100% mixing between rain and matrix water under the lowest (26 mm h−1) and medium (60 mm h−1) rainfall intensities. The highest rainfall intensity (110 mm h−1), however, reduced mixing of rain and matrix water for all treatments and produced significantly different preferential flow estimates between columns with intact soil structure compared to columns with reduced soil structure. Further, artificially limiting exchange between preferential flow paths and matrix water reduced bypass flow under the most intense rainfall. We show that (1) precipitation offset metrics such as lc‐excess and d‐excess may yield questionable interpretations when used to identify ecohydrological separation, (2) distinct domain separation may require extreme rainfall intensities and (3) domain exchange is an important component of macropore flow.
Association between SP‐A rs1965708 gene polymorphism and allergic rhinitis risk in Chinese population
Authors: Yin Xinghong , Wang Bo , Yan Zhiqiang , Hu Lulu , Zhang Xinhai 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundPulmonary surfactant protein A (SP‐A) in the respiratory tract plays an important role in host. In the present, we assessed the association between SP‐A gene polymorphism and allergic rhinitis.MethodsUsing a case–control design, we compared the genotype frequencies of SP‐A rs1965708 between allergic rhinitis patients and healthy control group. Genotyping was performed using real‐time quantitative PCR‐based molecular identification methods. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to quantitatively assess the association between rs1965708 polymorphism and allergic rhinitis, and the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were also calculated.Results500 patients with allergic rhinitis and 500 healthy controls were included in the study. Compared with the CC genotype, we found that AA genotype of rs1965708 could increase the allergic rhinitis risk in the univariate analysis (OR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.56–4.54, p = 0.000). For dominant model, we found no significant difference in the dominant model (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 0.86–1.52, p = 0.367). In the recessive model, the CC genotype could elevate the risk of allergic rhinitis compared with CC + AA genotype (OR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.61–4.54, p = 0.000). Similar results were also found in the allele model (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.07–1.54, p = 0.008). Interactions between rs1965708 AA or AC and smoking increased the allergic rhinitis risk.ConclusionsThe rs1965708 variants of SP‐A gene polymorphism are associated with allergic rhinitis, and the A allele could increase the allergic rhinitis risk. The AA SNP variants that interact with smoking may alter the susceptibility to allergic rhinitis.
Intersection between macrophages and periodontal pathogens in periodontitis
Authors: Wang Wenzhe , Zheng Chenxi , Yang Jianhua , Li Bei 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPeriodontitis is a chronic infectious disease characterized by loss of periodontal attachment and resorption of alveolar bone. Dysregulated oral microbial community is the initial factor of periodontitis and causes excessive infiltration of immune cells in periodontal tissues. Macrophage, as an important part of the innate immune system, interacts continually with oral pathogens. Macrophages can recognize and phagocytize pathogens and apoptotic neutrophils and produce the specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) playing an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of tissue microenvironment. However, macrophages may also induce abnormal immune responses with the overstimulation from pathogens, leading to the destruction of periodontal tissues and alveolar bone. Looking for targeted drugs that can regulate the activities of oral pathogens and the functions of macrophages provides a new idea for periodontitis treatment. This review summarizes the interaction between macrophages and periodontal pathogens in periodontitis, focusing on the pro-inflammation and anti-inflammation phenotypes of macrophages, and briefly concludes potential new methods of periodontitis therapy targeted at oral pathogens and macrophages.
The influence of breast density and key demographics of radiographers on mammography reporting performance – a pilot study
Authors: Alakhras Maram , Al‐Mousa Dana S. , Alqadi Alaa K. , Sabaneh Haneen A. , Karasneh Ruba M. , Spuur Kelly M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIntroductionA high demand has been placed on radiologists to perform screen reads due to higher number of women undergoing mammography. This study aims to examine radiographer performance in reporting low compared with high‐mammographic density (MD) images; and to assess the influence of key demographics of Jordanian radiographers on their performance.MethodsThirty mammograms with varied MD were reported by 12 radiographers using the Breast Imaging‐Reporting and Data System (BI‐RADS). Radiographer performance was measured using sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV), and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC AUC). Performance measures were compared between cases with low‐ and high‐MD and between subgroups of radiographers according to key demographics.ResultsAll performance measures were significantly higher in low‐ compared to high‐MD cases (P value < 0.0). The mean sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and ROC AUC were 0.58, 0.68, 0.67, 0.63 and 0.69 respectively. PPV was significantly different for readers who had different years of experience in mammography, hours and cases per week P value = 0.023, 0.01, 0.017 respectively. ROC AUC was significantly different for radiographers with different number of hours and cases performed per week (P value = 0.001 and 0.004 respectively).ConclusionsThe results of this pilot study are encouraging however a more extensive study is required to determine if Jordanian radiographers are capable of successfully taking part in breast screen reading. The lack of skills and knowledge required for correct and consistent reporting of high‐MD images highlights the need for any formal training in mammographic interpretation to focus on the dense breast.
Present‐day and future climate over central and South America according to CMIP5/CMIP6 models
Authors: Ortega Geusep , Arias Paola A. , Villegas Juan Camilo , Marquet Pablo A. , Nobre Paulo 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn tropical regions, particularly in Central and South America (CSA), the projections of climate seasonality under climate change are still uncertain. This is especially true for ecologically‐relevant variables such as precipitation and temperature. However, assessments of model‐based projections of seasonal climate for this region are scarce. We analyzed the simulation of seasonal precipitation and air surface temperature in CSA and six sub‐regions within from 49 models included in the Coupled Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) and 33 models from CMIP6. In general, continental patterns and seasonality of both variables are moderately well resembled, while most models show systematic biases over the oceans, producing unrealistic spatial patterns. To quantify how well CMIP5/CMIP6 models simulate these variables, we used Taylor diagrams with respect to TRMM for precipitation and ERA5 for temperature. Precipitation shows the largest spread among models. Conversely, temperature shows a better simulation. CMIP5/CMIP6 models exhibit a better performance simulating both variables during December–January–February and March–April–May than during the other seasons. This is partly due to the reduced model biases in representing the Intertropical Convergence Zone during these two seasons. In general, biases are reduced in the CMIP6 models with respect to CMIP5. Regarding regional evaluations, precipitation patterns for Mesoamerica, Cerrado and Chaco regions are better reproduced compared to TRMM, while the annual cycles for the Andes hotspot, Central Chile and Guianas are not well simulated, mainly during their wet seasons. However, these biases are reduced in CMIP6 models. In regard to precipitation projections, models only agree over most of the regions with decreasing precipitation. Conversely, temperature exhibits a general consensus on persistent warming even during the historical period, with an average increase of 6°C by the end of the century, according to the CMIP6 models.
Investigating the urban heat and cool island effects during extreme heat events in high‐density cities: A case study of Hong Kong from 2000 to 2018
Authors: Ren Chao , Wang Kai , Shi Yuan , Kwok Yu Ting , Morakinyo Tobi Eniolu , Lee Tsz‐cheung , Li Yuguo 
Published: May 2021

AbstractUrban heat island (UHI) and cool island (UCI) effects are well‐known and prevalent in cities worldwide. An increasing trend of extreme heat events has been observed over the last few decades and is expected to continue in the foreseeable future. In this study, warm periods (May to September) of 2000–2018 were examined to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the UHI and UCI characteristics for the case study of Hong Kong, China. Twenty‐two weather stations in Hong Kong were classified into four categories, namely urban, urban oasis, suburban, and rural, with reference to the local climate zone (LCZ) scheme, to analyze UHI and UCI phenomena during extreme heat and non‐extreme heat situations. One representative type of extreme heat events was considered in this study: three consecutive hot nights with two very hot days in between (2D3N). Results show that both the UHI and UCI effects are exacerbated during extreme heat events. Using the concept of the UHI degree hours (UHIdh) and UCI degree hours (UCIdh), their spatial patterns in Hong Kong during extreme heat and non‐extreme heat situations were mapped based on multiple linear regression models. It is found that the predictor variable – windward/leeward index is a significant influential factor of both UHIdh and UCIdh during extreme heat events. The resulting UHIdh and UCIdh maps not only enhance our understanding on the spatial pattern and characteristics of the UHI and UCI during extreme heat events, but could also serve as a useful reference in climate change adaptation, heat‐health risk detection, cooling‐energy estimation and policy making.
Flavor impartment of mushroom on egg whites and sensory properties of egg whites with mushroom topping using quantitative descriptive analysis
Authors: Muniz Adriana , Du Xiaofen , Shanks Marcus 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDMushroom possesses desirable aroma, taste, texture, health‐promoting and disease‐preventing dietary components, making it an ideal ingredient, especially for animal‐based food substitution. Nevertheless, no study has replaced egg whites partially with mushrooms and investigated their sensory quality. This study aimed to investigate flavor impartment of mushroom on egg whites and the sensory quality of roasting and steaming egg whites replaced by white and crimini mushrooms at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30%, respectively, using a panel trained with aroma chemical references for 31 sensory attributes with 0–10 line scales.RESULTSRoasted and steamed egg whites possessed major sensory attributes of sulfury and egg‐like aroma and flavor (intensities > 3). After mushroom topping was added, the dominant sensory attributes shifted to mushroom‐based flavor characteristics, including mushroom‐like, earthy, dark meat, roasted, hay, soybean, potato, woody, umami, bitter, astringent and firmness texture. Mushroom variety showed significant (P ≤ 0.05) impacts on egg white sensory quality, with crimini introducing more intense flavor. The higher the mushroom proportion with egg whites, the more intense was the flavor associated with mushroom. Mushroom could enhance egg‐like flavor in multiple dimensions, including aroma, taste and texture, according to partial least square regression.CONCLUSIONWhite and crimini mushrooms enriched roasted and steamed egg white sensory quality with introduction of characteristic sensory attributes from mushrooms. Mushroom variety and proportion with egg whites displayed significant impacts on egg white sensory properties. The study contributed to understanding the impact of mushrooms on egg white sensory profile and served as a guide in incorporating mushroom in product development. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Inadequate prediction of postoperative complications in breast cancer surgery: An evaluation of the ACS Surgical Risk Calculator
Authors: Gonzalez‐Woge Miguel A. , Martin‐Tellez Karla S. , Gonzalez‐Woge Ricardo , Teran‐De‐la‐Sancha Kevin , de la Rosa‐Abaroa Marco , Garcia‐Cardenas Francisco J. , Munguia‐Garza Paulina , Cervantes‐Delgado Paloma , Garcia‐Tapia Prandiz Luis R. , Mangwani‐Mordani Simran , Esparza‐Arias Nereida , Bargallo‐Rocha Juan E. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe American College of Surgeon (ACS) Surgical Risk Calculator is an online tool that helps surgeons estimate the risk of postoperative complications for numerous surgical procedures across several surgical specialties.MethodsWe evaluated the predictive performance of the calculator in 385 cancer patients undergoing breast surgery. Calculator‐predicted complication rates were compared with observed complication rates; calculator performance was evaluated using calibration and discrimination analyses.ResultsThe mean calculator‐predicted rates for any complication (4.1%) and serious complication (3.2%) were significantly lower than the observed rates (11.2% and 5.2%, respectively). The area under the curve was 0.617 for any complication and 0.682 for serious complications. p Values for the Hosmer–Lemeshow test were significant (<.05) for both outcomes. Brier scores were 0.102 for any complication and 0.048 for serious complication.ConclusionsThe ACS risk calculator is not an ideal tool for predicting individual risk of complications following breast surgery in a Mexican cohort. The most valuable use of the calculator may reside in its role as an aid for patient‐led surgery planning. The possibility of introducing breast surgery‐specific data could improve the performance of the calculator. Furthermore, a disease‐specific calculator could provide more accurate predictions and include complications more frequently found in breast cancer surgery.
Soil physicochemical property and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi resilience to degradation and deforestation of a dry evergreen Afromontane forest in central Ethiopia
Authors: Asmelash Fisseha , Bekele Tamrat , Belay Zerihun , Kebede Fassil 
Published: May 2021

AbstractWe investigated the soil physicochemical property and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) resilience to the degradation and deforestation of a dry evergreen Afromontane forest, the Chilimo Forest (CF). Topsoil (1‐10 cm) physicochemical property, AMF spore abundance (SA), and AMF infectivity were determined across four land uses, viz., natural forest (NF), shrubland (ShL), cropland (CrL), and grazing land (GrL). According to the permutational multivariate analysis of variance and nonmetric multidimensional scaling results, soil physicochemical property was resilient to degradation (NF‐ShL conversion) but not deforestation (NF‐CrL or NF‐GrL conversions) of CF. The one‐way ANOVA results indicated that most soil physicochemical variables were significantly (p < 0.05) affected by land‐use change. Soil organic matter and total nitrogen, in particular, reduced significantly (p < 0.05) by up to 48% and 57% due to NF‐CrL and NF‐GrL conversions, respectively. Whereas SA was found to be resilient to both CF degradation and deforestation, AMF infectivity was resilient only to NF‐CrL conversion. Generally, our results did not show a similar pattern in soil physicochemical property, SA, and AMF infectivity resilience to degradation and deforestation. However, in the case of NF‐GrL conversion, both soil physicochemical property and AMF infectivity exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) low resilience. Based on our results, we conclude that soil physicochemical property and AMF are important factors to consider in CF restoration planning. When planting sites are either the croplands or grazing lands, soil amendment could be recommended. AMF inoculation, however, could be recommended when the planting sites are grazing lands. These recommendations may also apply widely to dry evergreen Afromontane forests restoration but additional studies are required.
Observation of “Frozen‐Phase” Propagation of THz Pulses in a Dispersive Optical System
Authors: Lu Yao , Wu Qiang , Xiong Hao , Huang Song , Pan Chongpei , Zhang Bin , Qi Jiwei , Chen Zhigang , Xu Jingjun 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDispersion occurs naturally in many wave systems. So far, a variety of techniques have been proposed and demonstrated to compensate the second‐order (group‐velocity) dispersion, such as dispersion management and nonlinear soliton formation, yet it is commonly believed that the first‐order dispersion (FOD) is less amenable and cannot be eliminated. In this work, it is shown that a phase‐invariant propagation of THz pulses, namely the “frozen‐phase” propagation, can be realized by a complete cancellation of the FOD, achieved by implementing a synchronized THz moving source with a locked initial phase. The dynamic generation and propagation process of the THz pulses is examined directly by a time‐resolved imaging system. To the best of authors' knowledge, this represents the first demonstration of the “frozen‐phase” propagation of a light pulse in dispersive optical systems.
Fluoride‐Triggered Self‐Degradation of Poly(2,4‐disubstitued 4‐hydroxybutyric acid) Derivatives
Authors: Kan Xiao‐Wei , Zhang Li‐Jing , Li Zhao‐Yue , Du Fu‐Sheng , Li Zi‐Chen 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSelf‐immolative polymers are a special kind of degradable polymers that depolymerize into small molecules through a cascade of reactions upon stimuli‐triggered cleavage of the polymer chain ends. This work reports the design and synthesis of a fluoride‐triggered self‐immolative polyester. A 2,4‐disubstitued 4‐hydroxy butyrate is first confirmed to quickly cyclize in solution to form a γ−butyrolactone derivative. Then, the Passerini three component reaction (P‐3CR) of an AB dimer (A: aldehyde, B: carboxylic acid) with tert‐butyl isocyanide or oligo(ethylene glycol) isocyanide affords two poly(2,4‐disubstitued 4‐hydroxybutyrate) derivatives (P2 and P3). Two silyl ether end‐capped polymers (P4 and P5) are abtained from P2 and P3, and their degradation in solution is examined by NMR spectrum and size exclusion chromatography. Polymers P4 and P5 are stable in the absence of tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF), while in the presence of TBAF, the molar masses of P4 and P5 gradually decrease with time together with the increase of the amount of formed 2,4‐disubstitued γ‐butyrolactone. The depolymerization mechanism is proposed. The first step is the fast removal of the silyl ether by fluoride. Then, the released hydroxyl group initiates the quick head‐to‐tail depolymerization of the polyester via intramolecular cyclization.
Kinetically Interlocking Multiple‐Units Polymerization of DNA Double Crossover and Its Application in Hydrogel Formation
Authors: Shi Jiezhong , Zhu Chenyou , Li Qian , Li Yujie , Chen Liangxiao , Yang Bo , Xu Jiang‐Fei , Dong Yuanchen , Mao Chengde , Liu Dongsheng 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA novel kinetically interlocking multiple‐units (KIMU) supramolecular polymerization system with DNA double crossover backbone is designed. The rigidity of DX endows the polymer with high molecular weight and stability. The observed concentration of the formed polymers is insensitive and stable under ultralow monomer concentration owing to the KIMU interactions, in which multiple noncovalent interactions are connected by the phosphodiester bonds. Furthermore, a pH‐responsive DNA supramolecular hydrogel is constructed by introducing a halfi‐motif domain into the DNA monomer. The rigidity of DNA polymer endows the hydrogel with high mechanical strength and low gelation concentration. This study enriches the KIMU strategy and offers a simple but effective way to fabricate long and stable supramolecular polymers by balancing the reversibility and stability. It also shows great potentials to construct next generation of smart materials, such as DNA nanostructures, DNA motors, and DNA hydrogels.
The development and application of matrix assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization: The teenage years
Authors: Caleb Bagley Michael , Garrard Kenneth P. , Muddiman David C. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn the past 15 years, ambient ionization techniques have witnessed a significant incursion into the field of mass spectrometry imaging, demonstrating their ability to provide complementary information to matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization. Matrix‐assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization is one such technique that has evolved since its first demonstrations with ultraviolet lasers coupled to Fourier transform‐ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometers to extensive use with infrared lasers coupled to orbitrap‐based mass spectrometers. Concurrently, there have been transformative developments of this imaging platform due to the high level of control the principal group has retained over the laser technology, data acquisition software (RastirX), instrument communication, and image processing software (MSiReader). This review will discuss the developments of MALDESI since its first laboratory demonstration in 2005 to the most recent advances in 2021.