bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Immature Platelet Fraction as a Non-Invasive Marker for Esophageal Varices
Authors: Soliman Alyaa Marzouk , Abd-Elsalam Sherief Mohamed , ALBendary Amal Saeid , Sayed Negm Osama El. 
Published: March 2021

Background: All cirrhotic patients should be screened for oesophageal varices (OV) at the time of diagnosis. The development of a non-invasive method for the detection of OV is a vital issue in subjects with cirrhosis to decrease the need for invasive endoscopic procedures that can be costly. This work aimed to evaluate immature platelet fraction (IPF) as a non-invasive marker and predictor of OV.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 80 cirrhotic patients with esophageal varices diagnosed by upper endoscopy. They were divided into Group (1): 40 patients with cirrhosis with esophageal varices and Group (2): 40 patients with cirrhosis and without esophageal varices. All patients were subjected to the complete history taking, physical examination, routine laboratory investigations (Complete blood count, IPF, C-reactive protein, Liver and kidney function tests, Bone marrow aspiration for some cases, Ascetic sample analysis when applicable), Pelvic-Abdominal ultrasonography, Child Pugh score assessment, Upper GIT endoscopy.
Results: There was a significant difference between the studied groups regarding IPF (p<0.001). At cutoff >12 IPF had (AUC= 0.993) with sensitivity of 97.5% and specificity of 97.5% for detection of esophageal varices. There was a significant negative correlation between IPF and platelets count (p- value < 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between IPF and Child Pugh score (p- value <0.001). There was a highly significant positive correlation between IPF and CRP (p value <0.001). There was significant difference between the two groups as regards splenic longitudinal diameter (p<0.001). As regards platelet count, there was a significant difference between the two groups (p<0.001). It was significantly lower in Group 1.
Conclusions: IPF is elevated in cirrhotic patients with naive esophageal varices than in cirrhotic patients without varices. IPF could be used as a noninvasive, easy to measure method for detection of the presence of esophageal varices at a cutoff level of >12.
Impact of complement activation on clinical outcomes in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Keller Christian W. , Oechtering Johanna , Wiendl Heinz , Kappos Ludwig , Kuhle Jens , Lünemann Jan D. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractWe determined activation profiles of the classical and alternative complement pathway in 39 treatment‐naïve patients with early relapse‐onset MS. Plasma concentrations of complement fragments were unchanged in MS compared to 32 patients with non‐inflammatory neurological diseases. Profiles in patients experiencing clinical exacerbations did not differ from patients with stable disease and did not correlate with baseline EDSS, numbers of T2 lesions and time to second relapse. Long‐term EDSS outcomes 4 years after diagnosis did not significantly correlate with baseline complement levels. These data do not support the use of complement activation products as biomarkers for disease activity in early MS.
Improving Ideality of P‐Type Organic Field‐Effect Transistors via Preventing Undesired Minority Carrier Injection
Authors: Wu Xiaofeng , Jia Ruofei , Pan Jing , Wang Jinwen , Deng Wei , Xiao Peng , Zhang Xiaohong , Jie Jiansheng 
Published: March 2021

AbstractElectron injection plays a crucial role in arousing the double‐slope characteristics for p‐type organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) with narrow‐bandgap organic semiconductors (OSCs). This issue will not only result in the misrepresentation of OFET performance but also may cause device instability, hence impeding their further development in real‐world applications. A facile and highly efficient approach is developed to circumvent this issue by implementing modification on the electrode/organic semiconductor interface. An ultrathin layer of wide‐bandgap OSC with suitable energy levels is introduced to block the undesirable electron injection. By this means, typical double‐slope behaviors and bias stress stability in the p‐type OFETs can be significantly improved. Using 2,8‐difluoro‐5,11‐bis(triethylsilylethynyl) anthradithiophene‐based OFETs the double‐slope behaviors of as‐fabricated devices are effectively converted to near‐ideal behaviors after modification, leading to a dramatic improvement of average reliability from 65.11% to 91.76%. Furthermore, the positive drift of transfer curves under prolonged bias stress is also successfully suppressed. This strategy demonstrates good universality and can provide a new guideline for the fabrication of OFETs with ideal behaviors.
Recent Progress on Biomaterials Fighting against Viruses
Authors: Li Si , Guo Xiao , Gao Rui , Sun Maozhong , Xu Liguang , Xu Chuanlai , Kuang Hua 
Published: March 2021

AbstractViruses not only pose severe threats to public health, but also influence the development of society. Over the past decade, rapid advances have been seen in the application of nanomaterials to virus research. As an interdisciplinary field, nanotechnology offers powerful functions because the structures of nanomaterials are unique, with remarkable physicochemical properties and excellent biocompatibility. Nanomaterials have been developed for virus detection and tracking and for antiviral strategies, to better understand viruses and reduce viral infections, implying a bright future for this field. Herein, the recent advances are systematically summarized regarding the nanomaterials used in viral studies. Representative applications of nanomaterials to viral detection and tracking are described. The antiviral effects achieved with nanomaterials based on different mechanisms are also described, including entry inhibition, inhibition of viral replication, and immunological enhancement. The current challenges and future opportunities in this promising field are also discussed.
Novel Process to Conductive Silver Nanowires Film via Simple Evaporative Crystallization of Silver Acetate/Polymer Solution on Substrates
Authors: Wang Wen‐Li , Jin Ren‐Hua 
Published: March 2021

AbstractEvaporative crystallization is a simple and widely used technique to obtain crystals. However, this is not well matching with preparation of nano scale crystals. In this study, a new method is established of self‐controlled evaporative crystallization of silver acetate in aqueous solution into crystalline silver acetate nanowire, which can conduct to the fabrication of conductive AgNWs films without presynthesis of metallic silver and printing equipment. In this method, the most important concept is to self‐control the anisotropic crystallization of metal ion by designed amphiphilic polyethyleneimine‐block‐polyphenyloxazoline (PEI‐b‐PPOZ) copolymers. Only casting an aqueous solution of silver acetate (AgOAc) containing PEI‐b‐PPOZ copolymers on substrate made silver acetate to grow spontaneously up towards networked crystalline nanowires (with high aspect ratio over 3000) film. This is completely directed by PEI‐b‐PPOZ block copolymers with water evaporation at ambient conditions. Heating of the crystalline AgOAc nanowires film at 200 °C yields metallic silver nanowires films which exhibit low sheet resistance of 20 Ω per sq indicating that the crystalline AgOAc nanowires can self‐template the thermal decomposition of AgOAc to give metallic nanowires.
Gamma‐Ray Detection Using Bi‐Poor Cs2AgBiBr6 Double Perovskite Single Crystals
Authors: Zhang Zheng , Cao Da , Huang Zhengjie , Danilov Evgeny O. , Chung Ching‐Chang , Sun Dali , Yang Ge 
Published: March 2021

AbstractLead halide perovskites have recently attracted intensive attention as competitive alternative candidates of legacy compound materials CdTe, CdZnTe, and TlBr for high sensitivity energy‐resolving gamma‐ray detection at room temperature. However, the use of lead in these lead halide perovskites, which is necessary for increasing the stopping power of gamma radiation, poses a serious environmental concern due to the high toxicity of lead. In this regard, environmental‐friendly perovskite‐based gamma‐ray detector materials with key energy‐resolving capabilities are highly desired. Here, the gamma energy‐resolving performance of a new class of all‐inorganic and lead‐free Cs2AgBiBr6 double perovskite single crystals (SCs) is reported. Two types of Cs2AgBiBr6 SCs, prepared by Bi‐normal and Bi‐poor precursor solutions, respectively, have been grown. Their mobilities and response to gamma radiation are presented. Density of trap states in Bi‐poor Cs2AgBiBr6 SCs (2.65 × 109 cm−3) is one order of magnitude lower than that in Bi‐normal Cs2AgBiBr6 SCs (3.85 × 1010 cm−3). Using laser‐induced photocurrent measurements, the obtained mobility–lifetime (μ–τ) product in Bi‐poor Cs2AgBiBr6 SCs is 1.47 × 10−3 cm2 V−1, indicating their great potentials for gamma‐ray detection. Further, the fabricated detector based on Bi‐poor Cs2AgBiBr6 SC shows response to 59.5 keV gamma‐ray with an energy resolution of 13.91%.
Supramolecular Chirality Transfer toward Chiral Aggregation: Asymmetric Hierarchical Self‐Assembly
Authors: Huang Shuai , Yu Haifeng , Li Quan 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSelf‐assembly, as a typical bottom‐up strategy for the fabrication of functional materials, has been applied to fabricate chiral materials with subtle chiral nanostructures. The chiral nanostructures exhibit great potential in asymmetric catalysis, chiral sensing, chiral electronics, photonics, and even the realization of several biological functions. According to existing studies, the supramolecular chirality transfer process combined with hierarchical self‐assembly plays a vital role in the fabrication of multiscale chiral structures. This progress report focuses on the hierarchical self‐assembly of chiral or achiral molecules that aggregate with asymmetric spatial structures such as twisted bands, helices, and superhelices in different environments. Herein, recent studies on the chirality transfer induced self‐assembly based on a variety of supramolecular interactions are summarized. In addition, the influence of different environments and the states of systems including solutions, condensed states, gel systems, interfaces on the asymmetric hierarchical self‐assembly, and the expression of chirality are explored. Moreover, both the driving forces that facilitate chiral bias and the supramolecular interactions that play an important role in the expression, transfer, and amplification of the chiral sense are correspondingly discussed.
History and Perspectives on Ultrafast Supercapacitors for AC Line Filtering
Authors: Park Jinwoo , Kim Woong 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSupercapacitors (SCs) are considered to be a promising energy storage device owing to their high‐power characteristics and long‐term cycling stabilities. Recently, ultrafast SCs have been extensively studied in the context of replacing the aluminum electrolytic capacitors (AECs) that are currently used for alternating current (AC) line filtering applications. Since the ultrafast SCs are generally more compact owing to their higher energy density, as compared to the AECs, replacement of the AECs with the SCs can lead to miniaturization of electronic devices. Here the progress in the development of electrodes, electrolytes, and cell configurations of ultrafast SCs is reviewed and the challenging issues that need to be considered to extend their applications are discussed. In addition, this review provides integrated perspectives on further development of electrodes and electrolytes.
Machine learning and bioinformatic analysis of brain and blood mRNA profiles in major depressive disorder: A case–control study
Authors: Qi Bill , Ramamurthy Janani , Bennani Imane , Trakadis Yannis J. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThis study analyzed gene expression messenger RNA data, from cases with major depressive disorder (MDD) and controls, using supervised machine learning (ML). We built on the methodology of prior studies to obtain more generalizable/reproducible results. First, we obtained a classifier trained on gene expression data from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of post‐mortem MDD cases (n = 126) and controls (n = 103). An average area‐under‐the‐receiver‐operating‐characteristics‐curve (AUC) from 10‐fold cross‐validation of 0.72 was noted, compared to an average AUC of 0.55 for a baseline classifier (p = .0048). The classifier achieved an AUC of 0.76 on a previously unused testing‐set. We also performed external validation using DLPFC gene expression values from an independent cohort of matched MDD cases (n = 29) and controls (n = 29), obtained from Affymetrix microarray (vs. Illumina microarray for the original cohort) (AUC: 0.62). We highlighted gene sets differentially expressed in MDD that were enriched for genes identified by the ML algorithm. Next, we assessed the ML classification performance in blood‐based microarray gene expression data from MDD cases (n = 1,581) and controls (n = 369). We observed a mean AUC of 0.64 on 10‐fold cross‐validation, which was significantly above baseline (p = .0020). Similar performance was observed on the testing‐set (AUC: 0.61). Finally, we analyzed the classification performance in covariates subgroups. We identified an interesting interaction between smoking and recall performance in MDD case prediction (58% accurate predictions in cases who are smokers vs. 43% accurate predictions in cases who are non‐smokers). Overall, our results suggest that ML in combination with gene expression data and covariates could further our understanding of the pathophysiology in MDD.
Neanderthal cranial remains from Baume Moula‐Guercy (Soyons, Ardèche, France)
Authors: Richards Gary D. , Guipert Gaspard , Jabbour Rebecca S. , Defleur Alban R. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractObjectivesWe provide the first comparative description of the Guercy 1 cranium and isolated cranial fragments from Baume Moula‐Guercy and examine their affinities to European Preneanderthals, Neanderthals, and Homo sapiens.Materials and MethodsThe Moula‐Guercy hominins derive from deposits chronostratigraphically and biostratigraphically dated to the Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e). For comparisons we compiled a sample of European and Southwest Asian subadult‐adult Middle‐to‐Late Pleistocene hominins (≈MIS 14–MIS 2; N = 184). This sample represents a Preneanderthal–Neanderthal group and a H. sapiens group, both of which were further divided into three time‐successive subgroups defined by associated marine isotope stages (MIS). Metric and morphological observations were made on the original fossils and a virtual reconstruction of Guercy 1. Developmental age and sex and the minimum–maximum number of individuals were assessed.ResultsGuercy 1 represents the remains of a late stage adolescent (≈15–16.0 years) female. Morphological and metric data combine to associate the total morphological pattern expressed in Guercy 1 with our MIS 7–MIS 5e (“Early Neanderthal”) subgroup. Some features, especially those related to the frontal, suggest linkage to a paleodeme comprising the Moula‐Guercy, Artenac, La Chaise Abri Suard and, possibly, the Biache‐Saint‐Vaast samples.DiscussionRemains of MIS 7–MIS 5e Neanderthals are rare and fragmentary, especially those dated to the Last Interglacial. The Baume Moula‐Guercy sample provides new insights into the total morphological pattern expressed in MIS 5e Neanderthals. Further, our results support earlier suggestions that MIS 7–MIS 5e European hominins represent a morphotype that is distinct from both earlier and later members of the Preneanderthal–Neanderthal group.
The Effect of RN Circulator–Scrub Person Dyad Consistency on Total OR Time and Turnover Time
Authors: Bathish Melissa A. , McLaughlin Margaret , Kleiner Catherine , Talsma AkkeNeel 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACTOperating room efficiency is an important consideration for perioperative nurse leaders because it can affect their facilities’ revenue and provider and patient satisfaction. Using consistent perioperative teams, including the same RN circulator and scrub person, for consecutive procedures may improve OR efficiency. This retrospective cross‐sectional cohort study assessed the effects of a consistent team in the form of RN circulator–scrub person dyads on the total OR and turnover times for 310 surgical procedures using electronic OR records data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program that was collected in 2008. Controlling for relevant variables (eg, procedure type consistency, number of staff members present, procedure complexity), the association between RN circulator–scrub person dyads and total OR time and turnover time was not significant.
Effects of mica modification with ethylene‐vinyl acetate wax on the water vapor barrier and mechanical properties of poly‐(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) nanocomposite films
Authors: Wang Yue , Liu Qi , Zhen Zhi‐Chao , Liu Jia‐Lei , Qiao Run‐Meng , He Wen‐Qing 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPoly‐(butylene adipate‐co‐terephthalate) (PBAT) is one of the most popular raw materials for degradable plastic films because of its good biodegradability, ductility, and processability. However, the application of this material is limited by its unsatisfactory water vapor barrier property. This study aims to improve the water vapor barrier and mechanical properties of PBAT films by introducing mica modified by ethylene‐vinyl acetate copolymer waxes (EVA‐mica). The EVA‐mica nanosheets showed a more uniform dispersion in the PBAT films than the mica nanosheets. The PBAT/EVA‐mica films containing 2% EVA‐mica demonstrated outstanding crystallinity, water vapor barrier, and mechanical properties compared with the pure PBAT films. Results showed a 20.23% increase in crystallinity, an 80.09% reduction in water vapor permeability, a 26.82% increase in tensile strength, and a 9.10% increase in tear strength. The enhanced water vapor barrier and mechanical properties of the PBAT/EVA‐mica nanocomposite films are favorable for their future application as biodegradable films.
Characterization of nuclear localization signal in Ostrinia furnacalis Masculinizer protein
Authors: Hirota Kanako , Matsuda‐Imai Noriko , Kiuchi Takashi , Katsuma Susumu 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBombyx mori Masculinizer protein (BmMasc) is essential for both masculinization and dosage compensation in B. mori. We previously identified a bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) of BmMasc and two essential residues (lysine at 274 [K274] and arginine at 275 [R275]) implicated in its function. Sequence comparison showed the presence of putative NLSs in lepidopteran Masc proteins, but their functional properties and critical residues are unknown. Here we characterized a putative NLS of Ostrinia furnacalis Masc (OfMasc) using B. mori ovary‐derived BmN‐4 cell line. Deletion and alanine scanning mutagenesis revealed that a putative NLS is required for nuclear localization of OfMasc. However, mutations at both K227 and R228, which correspond to K274 and R275 of BmMasc, respectively, do not greatly abolish the NLS activity. Additional mutagenesis analysis revealed that triple mutations at K227, R228, and K240 almost completely inhibited OfMasc nuclear localization. These results suggest that lepidopteran Masc proteins possess a common functional NLS, but the critical residues for its activity are different. Moreover, we examined the masculinizing activity of OfMasc derivatives and found that nuclear localization is not required for the masculinizing activity of OfMasc. The results from our studies indicate that lepidopteran Masc proteins function in the cytoplasm to drive masculinizing cascade.
Enhancing disk input output performance in consolidated virtualized cloud platforms using a randomized approximation scheme
Authors: HoseinyFarahabady MohammadReza , Taheri Javid , Zomaya Albert Y. , Tari Zahir , Bao Wei 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn a virtualized computer system with shared resources, consolidated virtual services (VSs) fiercely compete with each other to obtain the required capacity of resources, and this causes significant system's performance degradation. The performance of input output (I/O)‐bound applications running inside their own VS is mainly determined by the total time required to schedule every read/write request, plus the actual time needed by the device driver to complete the request. To achieve a right performance isolation of shared resources (e.g., the last level cache, memory bandwidth, and the disk buffer), it is essential to limit the performance degradation level among collocated applications, as simultaneously several I/O operations are requested by VSs, perhaps with different priorities. This article proposes a resource allocation controller that uses a fully polynomial‐time randomized approximation scheme to enable performance isolation of concurrent I/O requests in a shared system with multiple consolidated VSs. This controller uses a Monte Carlo sampling approach to measure and estimate the unknown attributes of operational requests originating from each VS. This is formalized as an optimization problem with the aim to minimize the degree of total quality of service (QoS) violation incidents in the entire platform. We associated a reward function to every working machine that represents the fulfillment degree of quality of service metric among all running VSs. The conducted comprehensive set of experiments showed that the proposed algorithm can reduce the QoS violation incidents by 32%, compared with the result which is obtained by employing the default resource allocation policy embedded in the existing Linux container layer.
Breeding heat tolerant orchardgrass germplasm for summer persistence in high temperature stress environments of the southeastern United States
Authors: Billman Eric D. , Morrison Jesse I. , Baldwin Brian S. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractOrchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) could serve as a cool‐season perennial in southeastern production systems, but often does not behave as a true perennial under high temperature stress conditions of the region. This work sought to develop heat‐tolerant orchardgrass germplasm through recurrent phenotypic selection (RPS) that would both reduce secondary seed dormancy caused by high soil temperatures and improve stand persistence over summer months. Selection was conducted in a growth chamber 40/30 °C (12/12 h, light/darkness), with germinated seedlings subjected to an additional 2–3 wk of 40/30 °C conditions. The base germplasm (Cycle 0) and selected individuals (Cycles 1–3) were transplanted into the field, then harvested for seed. Forty‐degree germination tests compared mean cumulative germination, velocity of germination within 8 d (VOG8), and realized heritability (). Stand persistence was assessed 1 yr after transplanting. Results from 2018 tests indicated Cycle 3 seed germination was greater (82%) than all previous cycles of selection, and VOG8 was eight times greater than that of Cycle 0. Additive gene action also increased, with final = .45, and preliminary data from Cycle 3 10‐mo‐stand persistence (56%) was double that of Cycle 0 (27%). These results indicated a significant improvement over the base germplasm for both germination at high temperatures and stand persistence in the field. This could lead to improved stand survival and greater adoption by southeastern forage producers.