bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Adsorptive Removal of Manganese Ions From Polluted Aqueous Media by Glauconite Clay- Functionalized Chitosan Nanocomposites: Adsorption, Kinetic, Isotherm, and Thermodynamic Investigations
Authors: Nassar Mostafa Y , Sobeih Marwa M. , El-Shahat M.F. , Osman A. , Zaid M. A. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
The presence of Mn(II) in water exceeding the permitted concentration declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) influences individuals, animals, and the ecosystem negatively. Therefore, there is a necessity for an efﬁcient material to eliminate this potentially toxic element from wastewater. We herein focused on an adsorptive removal of Mn(II) ions from polluted aqueous media using natural Egyptian glauconite clay (G) and its nanocomposites with a modified chitosan (CS). The applied chitosan was modified with glutaraldehyde (GL), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). The utilized nanocomposites were referred to as GL-CS/G, EDTA-GL-CS/G, SDS-CS/G, and CTAB-CS/G, respectively. The points of zero charge values of the as-prepared materials were estimated. The adsorption properties of the G clay and its nanocomposites toward the removal of Mn(II) ions from polluted aqueous media as well as the adsorption mechanism were explored using a batch technique. The glauconite (G) and its nanocomposites: GL-CS/G, CTAB-CS/G, EDTA-GL-CS/G, and SDS-CS/G, exhibited maximum adsorption capacity values of 3.750, 24.11, 26.25, 27.15, and 27.74mgg-1, respectively. The adsorption results fitted well the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. The determined thermodynamic parameters revealed that the Mn(II) ion adsorption process was endothermic, spontaneous, and physisorption controlled. Furthermore, the obtained adsorption results are encouraging and revealing a great potentiality for using the modified adsorbents as accessible adsorbents for Mn(II) ions removal from polluted aqueous solutions, depending on their reusability, high stability and good adsorption capacities.
In Search of Sustainable Livestock Management in the Dry Chaco: Effects of Different Shrub Removal Practices on Vegetation and Soil
Authors: Guzmán Luis Miguel , Villagra Pablo Eugenio , Quiroga Raúl Emiliano , Pereyra Diego Iván , Pelliza Martin Ernesto , Ricarte Ramón Armando , Blanco Lisandro Javier 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: In arid and semi-arid ecosystems in Argentina, dominance of shrublands and the search to increase the forage supply for livestock motivates interventions such as roller-chopping and hand-cutting to reduce the abundance of shrubs. However, an integral analysis of the effects of these practices from a sustainability point of view, including not only forage productivity but also other ecosystem service is still missing. We evaluated at the ecosystem level the impact of shrub removal on total production and phenology; at the local level the responses in cover, botanical composition and diversity of vegetation functional groups, as well as the effects on soil physical properties. We combined evaluation methodologies with remote sensing and field sampling in control (woodland, shrubland) and treated (roller chopping, hand cutting) sites in 16 paddocks.Results: In treated sites, grass cover increased significantly compared to untreated sites. However, total production, growing season length were reduced. Tree cover was lower in treated sites, while shrub cover was reduced in the hand-cutting compared to the other treatments. Forbs cover was not modified. In addition, species richness decreased in the treated sites, being higher in roller-chopped sites than in the hand-cut sites, while the species diversity index was only reduced in the latter type of disturbance. Soil mechanical resistance and bulk density were higher in treated sites, while infiltration rate did not change.Conclusions: shrub removal and pasture seeding on woodland and shrubland sites increases herbaceous forage production, but decreases total production and increases its temporal variability and rainfall dependence; it decreases functional diversity and increases surface soil compaction. These responses depend on the intensity of the woody biomass removal disturbance (roller-chopping or hand-cutting). In this respect, roller chopping appears to be a more conservative practice than hand cutting, as it maintains high levels of herbaceous forage production and functional diversity. However, it is necessary to consider the importance of maintaining native forest regeneration, as both types of disturbance affected this process. Our study highlights the importance to design selective interventions in the vegetation, compatible with the maintenance of functional diversity, the regeneration of tree strata and the increase in grass production.
Study of Cracking Mechanism and Wear Resistance in Laser Cladding Coating of Ni-based Alloy
Authors: Yu Zhenglei , Li Lunxiang , Zhang Deqiang , Shi Guangfeng , Yang Guang , Xu Zezhou , Zhang Zhihui 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Ni-based coatings with the addition of a plastic phase- an austenitic stainless net were prepared using laser cladding technology, and the CeO2 was added in cladding layers. The cracking mechanism, microhardness, microstructure, phase composition, and wear properties were investigated. The relationship between thermal stress and the elastic and plastic fracture had been developed from the standpoint of fracture mechanics and thermal elastic fracture mechanics. The Fracture criterion of the nickel-based coating was obtained, and the study has shown that the crack sensitivity could be reduced by decreasing the thermal expansion coefficient Δα. Then a new method was proposed, in which the substrate was prefabricated the stainless steel net. It was found that the number of cracks reduced significantly with the addition of stainless steel net. When the stainless steel net with 14 mesh was added in Ni-based coatings, the average microhardness of nickel composite coating was 565 HV0.2, which was 2.6 times higher than that of the 45 steel substrate. Although the rare earth oxide 4 wt.% CeO2 and stainless steel net were added in the Ni-based coating reducing the microhardness (the average microhardness is 425 HV0.2), the wear resistance of it improved substantially. The wear volume of Ni-Based composite coating was 0.56×10-5mm3·N-1·m-1, which was 85.1% lower than that of 45 steel and 61.9% lower than that of Ni-based coating without CeO2 and stainless steel net. The experiment results have shown that the Nickel-based composite coating is equipped with low crack sensitivity and high abrasive resistance with austenitic stainless net and the rare earth oxide 4 wt.% CeO2.
Staﬀ Shortage in German Intensive Care Units During the COVID-19 Pandemic - Not only a Sensed Dilemma: Results from a Nationwide Survey
Authors: Grimm Clemens , Dickel Steffen , Sachkova Alexandra , Popp Maria , Golinski Martin , Fichtner Falk , Kranke Peter , Seeber Christian , Laudi Sven , Voigt-Radloff Sebastian , Moerer Onnen 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: The surge in patients during the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the looming problem of staﬀ shortage in German ICUs possibly leading to worse outcomes for patients. Methods: Within the German Evidence Ecosystem CEOsys network, we conducted an online national mixed-methods survey assessing the standard of care in German ICUs treating patients with COVID-19. Results: A total of 171 German ICUs reported a median ideal number of patients per intensivist of 8 (interquartile range, IQR = 3rd quartile - 1st quartile = 4.0) and per nurse of 2.0 (IQR = 1.0). For COVID-19 patients, the median target was a maximum of 6.0 (IQR = 2.0) patients per intensivist or 2.0 (IQR = 0.0) patients per nurse. Targets for intensivists were rarely met by 15.2% and never met by 3.5% of responding institutions. Targets for nursing staﬃng could rarely be met in 32.2% and never in 5.3% of responding institutions.Conclusions: Shortages of staﬃng in the critical care setting are eminent during the COVID-19 pandemic and might not only negatively aﬀect patient outcomes, but also staﬀ wellbeing and healthcare costs. A joint eﬀort that scrutinizes the demands and structures of our health care system seems fundamental to be prepared for the future.
Correlation of serum vitamin D level with ketoacidosis in Chinese children with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Shu Jianbo , Wang Xinhui , Zhang Mingying , Zhi Xiufang , Guan Jun , Gu Chunyu , Pu Linjie , Gao Long , Cai Chunquan , Yang Wei , Lv Ling 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objective: Diabetic ketoacidosis is a common complication in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The purposes of the present study were to explore clinical correlates of serum vitamin D level in Chinese children with type 1 diabetes.Methods: A total of 143 inpatients (boys/girls = 60/83) were recruited from Tianjin Children’s Hospital. Their demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. These patients were divided into the non-DKA group(n=43) and DKA group(n=100).Results: The positive ZnT8-ab was significantly higher in DKA patients compared with non-DKA patients (p=0.038). There was a negative correlation between plasma glucose and the concentration of vitamin D(r =−0.188, p=0.024), although there was no significant difference in vitamin D between two groups of T1DM patients with or without DKA (p=0.317). The multiple logistic regression revealed that sex(male) and BMI were independent risk factors to predict the deficiency or insufficiency of Vitamin D in T1DM children. When BMI is lower than 16 kg/m2 according to the cut-off value of the ROC curve, it provides some implications of Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency in TIDM children ( 95%CI:0.534~0.721, P=0.014). Conclusions: Our results suggested that positive ZnT8-ab was associated with a greater risk of DKA at T1DM onset. Additionally, neither vitamin D levels nor the proportion of patients with different levels of vitamin D differed between the two groups inT1DM children with or without DKA. Furthermore, Vitamin D level was negatively correlated with plasma glucose, lower BMI and male children with T1DM were prone to be deficient or insufficient of Vitamin D.
The therapeutic potential and deleterious effect of glucocorticoids on AOM/DSS-induced colorectal cancer in mice
Authors: Pu Jun , Zhou Xinrui , Liu Jiaxin , Hou Peng , Ji Meiju 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely used in the treatment of various autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), but the effect of GCs on the development of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC) is largely undefined.
Methods

We first established azoxymethane and dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS)-induced colorectal cancer and DSS-induced colitis in mice. Dexamethasone (DEX) was then administered at different periods of time to determine its effect on tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Moreover, body weight, stool property and fecal blood of mice were recorded. At the end of the study, the number and load of tumors were evaluated, and the expression of proteins associated with cell proliferation were measured. To evaluate the inflammation in colon, we detected the level of pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα, and mucosal infiltration of inflammatory cells. Meanwhile, we also assessed the activity of MAPK/JNK pathway.
Results

AOM injection followed by three cycles of drinking water containing 1.5% DSS successfully induced multiple tumor formation in mouse colon and rectum. Both early and late DEX intervention suppressed tumor growth in mouse colorectum and significantly downregulated the expression of PCNA and cyclin D1. Meanwhile, DEX treatment significantly inhibited the TNFα production, mucosal infiltration of inflammatory cells and the activity of JNK pathway, which was more prominent in mice with early DEX intervention. However, DEX treatment deteriorated the general state of mouse manifested by greater loss of body weight and rectal bleeding.
Conclusions

Our data conclude that both early and late DEX intervention significantly ameliorate colonic inflammation and inhibit the development of AOM/DSS-induced colorectal cancer, at least partly due to the inhibition of MAPK/JNK pathway. However, the deleterious effect on the general condition of mouse may limit the duration of GCs treatment.
Preoperative incidence and risk factors of deep vein thrombosis in patients with an isolated patella fracture
Authors: Yang Weijie , Wei Qun , Wang Haicheng , Li Chao , Ding Kai , Li Ming , Zhu Yanbin , Chen Wei 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence, location, and related factors of preoperative deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in patients with isolated patellar fractures.
Methods

Patients with an isolated patellar fracture, admitted between January 2013 and December 2019 at our institution, were retrospectively analyzed. Upon admission, patients underwent routine Doppler ultrasound scanning (DUS) of the bilateral lower extremities to detect DVT; those with DVT were assigned to the case group and those without DVT to the control group. Data on demographics, comorbidities, and laboratory test results upon admission were extracted. Differences between the two groups were evaluated using univariate analyses, and independent risk factors associated with DVT were identified by logistic regression analysis.
Results

During the study window, 827 patients were included, of whom 5.8% (48/827) were found to have preoperative DVT. Among those with DVT, 85.4% (41/48), 8.3 % (4/48), and 6.3% (3/48) occurred in the injured, non-injured, and bilateral lower extremities, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age (each increase of 1 year) (odds ratio, OR = 1.02), residential area (OR = 5.00), delay of injury to DUS (in each day, OR = 1.33), and elevated plasma D-dimer level (> 0.5 µg/mL, OR = 2.47) were independent risk factors associated with DVT.
Conclusions

Despite the low prevalence of DVT after an isolated patellar fracture, this study underscores the importance of identifying those with a high risk of DVT, especially those with multiple identifiable factors, as well as the early targeted use of thromboembolic agents, to reduce DVT occurrence.
CILP&nbsp;Inhibits Brain Metastasis by Meditating Mast Cells via the MAPK&nbsp;Signaling Pathway in Breast Cancer
Authors: Sun Xiaolin , Zhou Xingguo , Feng Alei , Xu Gongwen , Wang Qiang , Li Qiang , Xu Linzong , Zhang Zhanyu , Liu Yingchao , Yang Zhe , Li Xiaomei 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: Approximately 15–30% of patients with breast cancer (BRCA) eventually develop brain metastases (BMs) with high morbidity and mortality. Herein, we aimed to identify genes specific to breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM) from an immune infiltration perspective.Methods: GSE100534 and GSE125989 were obtained from the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), then performed normalization using Rstudio and perl 5. We constructed a Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) and obtained differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in BMs sample compared with primary BRCA tissue. Then we performed GO and KEGG pathway analysis. The LinkedOmics and UALCAN analysis showed the expression of gene in BRCA. The Kaplan-Meier plotter database was used to evaluate the prognosis. The composition of significant tumor-infiltrating immune cells was assessed using the CIBERSORT algorithm. Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed the correlation between CILP gene and immune cells in TCGA cohort and Timer database. Using GSEA analysis, we conducted to identify the potential pathways in BCBM.Results: The cartilage intermediate layer protein (CILP) was a late event in BRCA (stage III to IV) with poor prognosis (P< 0.05). LinkedOmics showed that the mRNA expression of CILP was down-regulated in advanced cancer (P< 0.05). Besides, UALCAN analysis showed that CILP expression was downregulated in HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer which were more prone to BMs (P< 0.05). CILP was the hub gene which was significantly associated with BCBM identified by WGCNA (R2=−0.6, P=3e-06). We found that the resting infiltration of mast cells in the BCBM group was significantly lower than that in the primary BRCA group (P= 0.01). In addition, Spearman’s correlation analysis revealed that the expression of CILP positively correlated with that of mast cells (P< 0.05). Finally, the FCERI-mediated MAPK activation (NES=2.1847, P=0, FDR=0.0031), which could regulate mast cell activity, were enriched in BCBM.Conclusions: CILP can influence the progression of BRCA favored for BMs through meditating mast cells via the MAPK signaling pathway.
Clinical Outcomes and Safety of Polymyxin B in the Treatment of Carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative Bacterial Infections: a Real-world Multicenter Study
Authors: Zhang Xiaojuan , Qi Shaoyan , Duan Xiaoguang , Han Bing , Zhang Shuguang , Liu Shaohua , Wang Haixu , Zhang Haibo , Sun Tongwen 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background: High morbidity and mortality due to carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacilli (CR-GNB) has led to the resurgence of polymyxin B (PMB) use in the last decade. The aim of our multicenter, real-world study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of PMB in the treatment of CR-GNB infections.Methods: The real-world study included patients treated with intravenous PMB for at least 7 days during the period of October 2018 through June 2019. Associations between these variables and 28-day mortality or all-cause hospital mortality were explored through univariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression. Results: The study included 100 patients. Many patients presented with combined chronic conditions, septic shock, mechanical ventilation, and the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The mean duration of PMB therapy was 11 days (range 7–38 days). Temperature (38°C vs 37.1°C), white blood cells (14.13×109/L vs 9.28×109/L), C-reactive protein (103.55 ug/l vs 47.60 ug/l), procalcitonin (3.89 ng/ml vs 1.70 ng/ml) and APACHE Ⅱ levels (17.75 ± 7.69 vs 15.98 ± 7.95) were significantly decreased after PMB treatment. The bacteria eradication rate was 77.65%. The overall mortality at discharge was 15%, and 28-day mortality was 40%. Major adverse reactions occurred in 16 patients. Nephrotoxicity was observed in 7 patients (7%).Conclusions: Our results provide positive clinical and safety outcomes for PMB in the treatment of CR-GNB. Timely and appropriate use of PMB may be particularly useful in treating patients with sepsis in CR-GNB infections.
Making it normal for ‘new’ enrolments: Effect of institutional and pandemic influence on selecting an Engineering Institution under Covid-19 pandemic situation
Authors: Mahajan Prashant , Patil Vaishali 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Covid-19 pandemic has enforced Indian engineering institutions (EIs) to bring their previously half-shut shades completely down. Fetching new admissions into EI campus during pandemic it has become ‘now or never’ situation for EIs. During crises situation institutions have struggled to come back on the normal track. The pandemic that has changed students’ behavior and family’s preferences drastically due to mental stress and emotional life attached with it. Consequently, it becomes prerequisite, and emergency need to examine the choice characteristics influencing selection of EI during Covid-19 pandemic situation. The purpose of this study is to critically examine institutional influence and pandemic influence due to Covid-19 that affects students’ choice about an engineering institution (EI) and consequently to explore relationships between institutional and pandemic influence. The findings of this quantitative research, conducted through a self-reported survey have revealed that institutional as well as pandemic influence have governed the EI choice under Covid-19 pandemic. Secondly, pandemic influence is positively affected by institutional influence. The study demonstrated that EIs will have to reposition themselves to normalize pandemic influence by tuning institutional characteristics that regulates situational influence and new enrollments. It can be yardstick for policy makers to attract new enrollments under pandemic situation.
Is routine gastroscopy/colonoscopy reasonable in patients with suspected ovarian cancer: A retrospective study
Authors: Liu Guochen , Yan Junping , Long Shanshan , Liu Zhimin , Gu Haifeng , Tu Hua , Li Jundong 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Objective To evaluate the value of routine preoperative gastroscopy/colonoscopy in patients with suspected ovarian cancer for differential diagnosis and judgment of bowel resection.Methods All women diagnosed with suspected ovarian cancer who underwent gastroscopy/colonoscopy before surgery in our center were retrospectively identified. Gastroscopy/colonoscopy results and clinical pathology, imaging, and surgical findings were analyzed.Results 389 patients were included. Among them, 40 were ovarian metastasis. Compared with imaging, gastrointestinal endoscopy showed no statistical advantage in the specificity and sensitivity (99.4% vs. 99.7%, P = 1.0; 55.0% vs. 45.2%, P = 0.057; respectively). All patients with gastric/colonic cancer metastasize except for one had indicative imaging or tumor marker abnormalities. Three patients with colonic cancer metastases underwent optimal surgery and alive with no recurrence, the other 19 patients experienced palliative chemotherapy. There is no significant difference in the sensitivity of colonoscopy and imaging in predicting intestinal incision (61.5% vs. 43.8%, P = 0.804), whereas, the latter had higher specificity (87.8% vs. 74.3%, P = 0.001).Conclusions For patients with suspected ovarian cancer, the incidence of gastrointestinal metastases is low, routine gastroscopy/colonoscopy before treatment is less efficient. Gastroscopy/colonoscopy has limited power to predict the need for gastrointestinal resection before ovarian cancer surgery.
An Integrated Statistical-Graphical Approach for the Appraisal of the Natural Background Levels of Major Ions and Some Potentially Toxic Elements in the Groundwater of Urmia Aquifer, Iran
Authors: Amiri Vahab , Nakhaei Mohammad , Lak Razyeh , Li Peiyue 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
In this study, we attempted to calculate the Natural Background Level (NBL) for 19 selected chemical compounds in the Urmia aquifer, northwestern Iran. In this study, combined methods including pre-selection and statistical methods for determining NBL have been used. In the pre-selection method, the concentration of nitrate (NO3 ≥ 19.97 ppm) and chloride (Cl ≥ 200 ppm) were used as the main criteria to identify and eliminate samples affected by human activities. The selected concentration of nitrate is determined using the comparison of the results of various statistical and graphical evaluations including Quantile-Quantile plot (Q-Q plot), Box & Whisker plot (BW), Box & Whisker plot Iterative (BWI), Grubbs test, Mean and standard deviation (mean ± 2σ) (MSD), and median absolute deviation (MAD). After identifying the final data set, the NBL of the selected chemical compounds was calculated by two techniques including the Iterative 2σ technique (2σ) and calculated distribution function (CDF). Due to higher concentration relative to the reference values (REF), this study has focused on the calculation of NBL of SO4, F, As, Fe and Mn. Results showed that the upper limit of NBL calculated for these variables is about 125 ppm, 1 ppm, 8.5 ppb, 570 ppb, 80 ppb, respectively. Given that no study has been conducted to determine the NBL of chemical compounds in groundwater in Iran, the results of this study can be a roadmap for decision-makers and researchers to better manage this aquifer and other water resources in this country with limited freshwater resources.