bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A systematic review on SARS‐CoV‐2‐associated fungal coinfections
Authors: Soni Shringika , Namdeo Pudake Ramesh , Jain Utkarsh , Chauhan Nidhi 
Published: September 2021

AbstractA severe pandemic of Coronavirus Disease (COVID‐19) has been sweeping the globe since 2019, and this time, it did not stop, with frequent mutations transforming into virulent strains, for instance, B.1.1.7, B.1.351, and B.1.427. In recent months, a fungal infection, mucormycosis has emerged with more fatal responses and significantly increased mortality rate. To measure the severity and potential alternative approaches against black fungus coinfection in COVID‐19 patients, PubMed, Google Scholar, World Health Organization (WHO) newsletters, and other online resources, based on the cases reported and retrospective observational analysis were searched from the years 2015–2021. The studies reporting mucormycosis with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) coinfection and/or demonstrating potential risk factors, such as a history of diabetes mellitus or suppressed immune system were included, and reports published in non‐English language were excluded. More than 20 case reports and observational studies on black fungus coinfection in COVID‐19 patients were eligible for inclusion. The results indicated that diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemic, and immunocompromised COVID‐19 patients with mucormycosis were at a higher risk. We found that it was prudent to assess the potential risk factors and severity of invasive mycosis via standardized diagnostic and clinical settings. Large‐scale studies need to be conducted to identify early biomarkers and optimization of diagnostic methods has to be established per population and geographical variation. This will not only help clinicians around the world to detect the coinfection in time but also will prepare them for future outbreaks of other potential pandemics.
Ensemble‐based surrogate modeling of microwave antennas using XGBoost algorithm
Authors: Kalayci Hakan , Ayten Umut Engin , Mahouti Peyman 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWith respect to the ever‐increasing performance needs in communication technologies, the need for accurate and computational efficient design optimization methods for high‐end microwave designs are also increased. Many studies had been proposed for the last decades for creating numerical modeling methods for having high accurate, stable, and computation efficient solutions suitable to be used in the design optimization process. Ensemble learning is a technique that the models are strategically created and combined to solve a specific computer intelligence challenge and primarily employed to boost the efficiency of a model or to lower the risk of a weak learner collection. Herein, XGBoosting‐based ensemble learning had been used for having surrogate models for three different microwave designs. In the first and second study cases, two microwave designs from the literature are taken into consideration for testing the performance of the proposed model with existing methods. Furthermore, a novel antenna design had been studied as a third study case with sparse training samples, to test the performance of the proposed modeling technique. As a result, the proposed method had achieved a remarkable performance for all the mentioned study cases both based on its own performance measures and its comparison with the counterpart algorithms.
Evaluating the longitudinal effect of colorectal surgery on health‐related quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer
Authors: Reudink Muriël , Molenaar Charlotte J. L. , Bonhof Cynthia S. , Janssen Loes , Mols Floortje , Slooter Gerrit D. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesSurgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) negatively affects health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). Addressing shortcomings in literature, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of surgery for CRC on the course of HRQoL from baseline up to 2 years after diagnosis.MethodsIn this prospective, population‐based study patients with newly diagnosed CRC were included between 2016 and 2019. HRQoL was assessed by the EORTC QLQ‐C30 questionnaire over time both between and within subgroups of patients that underwent right‐sided colonic, left‐sided colonic, and rectal resection using linear mixed model analyses.ResultsThe study included 415 patients of whom 148 patients underwent right‐sided colonic (36%), 147 left‐sided colonic (35%), and 120 rectal resection (29%). Overall, HRQoL scores restored to baseline level 1 year after diagnosis. Impact of surgery seems to be more prominent in patients who underwent rectal resection, as they experienced more pain and had worse role and social functioning scores 4 weeks after surgery. Finally, among patients who underwent left‐sided and rectal resection, physical functioning did not return to baseline level during follow‐up.ConclusionThis study shows several differences (between‐group and within‐group) in HRQoL according to surgery type and offers perspective which patients may need additional support in the care pathway.
Mastoid obliteration and external auditory canal reconstruction with silicone block in canal wall down mastoidectomy
Authors: Faramarzi Mohammad , Kaboodkhani Reza , Faramarzi Ali , Roosta Sareh , Erfanizadeh Mohammadjavad , Hosseinialhashemi Milad 
Published: September 2021

AbstractObjectiveTo prevent cavity problems in canal wall down mastoidectomy, silicone block for mastoid obliteration was used.MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, 39 patients (21 males and 18 females) underwent canal wall down mastoidectomy and mastoid obliteration using silicone block. We evaluated the postoperative outcome, the time until epithelialization of the cavity, graft success rate, and the hearing outcome.ResultsThe time until complete epithelialization of the mastoid cavity was 35.5 ± 5.4 days. We had a graft success rate of 100% during the follow‐ups. The postoperative evaluation revealed 36 dry ears (92.3%) patients without any cavity problems. However, one ear developed granulation tissue, and two ears had partially exposed silicone block, which required revision mastoidectomy. Regarding hearing outcomes, a complication such as deaf ear was not reported.ConclusionSilicone block is safe and suitable for mastoid obliteration and external auditory canal reconstruction in canal wall down mastoidectomy.Level of Evidence4.
Cardiopulmonary exercise performance and factors associated with aerobic capacity in neuromuscular diseases
Authors: Ramdharry Gita M. , Wallace Amanda , Hennis Philip , Dewar Elizabeth , Dudziec Magdalena , Jones Katherine , Pietrusz Aleksandra , Reilly Mary M. , Hanna Michael G. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIntroduction/AimsAerobic deconditioning, due to lower levels of physical activity, could impact independence for people with neuromuscular conditions. We report the maximal cardiopulmonary response in a cohort of people with Charcot Marie Tooth disease type 1A (CMT 1A) and inclusion body myositis (IBM). We also explored potential predictors of aerobic capacity with measures of physical impairment and functional performance.MethodsParticipants underwent maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) using a semi‐recumbent cycle ergometer. Data were analyzed to determine the peak O2 consumption (VO2 peak), anaerobic threshold (AT), maximum heart rate (MHR), ventilatory equivalent for CO2 slope (VE/VCO2), and respiratory exchange ratio (RER). Impairment, functional and patient reported measures were also recorded. Predicted CPET variables were calculated based on published normative data for age, gender, and weight.ResultsTwenty‐two people with CMT and 17 people with IBM were recruited. Both groups showed significantly lower VO2 peak, MHR, AT, and VE/VCO2. The CMT group overall performed better than the IBM group, with significantly higher VO2 peak, MHR, and AT, but lower VE/VCO2. Linear regression analysis demonstrated that VO2 peak was related to body fat percentage and 6‐min walk distance for both groups, and steps per day for the IBM group.DiscussionLower than predicted CPET variables were observed that were not explained by cardiopulmonary limitations or reduced effort, implicating peripheral factors in limiting the cycling task. Regression analysis implied prediction of VO2 peak by body fat percentage and 6‐min walk distance. Six‐minute walk distance could be a potential proxy measure of cardiopulmonary fitness.
A stress‐influence‐function with adaptive strength feature approach for stress constrained continuum topology optimization via small‐loop sequential strategy
Authors: Xia Haijun , Qiu Zhiping , Liu Yue 
Published: September 2021

AbstractRecently, the stress‐influence‐function (SIF) approach is presented for stress constrained continuum topology optimization. The SIF approach provides an alternative for continuum topology optimization with stress constraints. However, the SIF approach is not good at controlling the maximum stress of the elements compared to the conventional approach. In the study, the stress‐influence‐function with adaptive strength feature (SIF‐ASF) approach via small‐loop sequential strategy is proposed to achieve better control on the maximum elemental stress. First, the stress constrained continuum topology optimization formulation is given and the SIF approach is briefly introduced. Then the SIF‐ASF approach is proposed for stress constrained continuum topology optimization, in which the strength feature in the stress influence function is adjusted in each iterative step of the optimization process. The adjoint‐vector based sensitivity analysis to the design variables is further discussed. Three numerical examples are given to illustrate the applicability and validity of the proposed SIF‐ASF approach. It is shown that the proposed SIF‐ASF approach can achieve better control on the maximum elemental stress than the SIF approach. Moreover, the proposed SIF‐ASF approach may obtain a lighter structure than the conventional approach.
Clinical outcomes for pediatric patients receiving radiotherapy for solid tumor central nervous system metastases
Authors: Howard Thomas P. , Boyle Patrick J. , Marcus Karen J. , Haas‐Kogan Daphne A. , Liu Kevin X. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractCentral nervous system (CNS) metastases are rare, but devastating complications of pediatric solid tumors. Radiotherapy alone or postresection serves as an important treatment; however, data on the use of whole‐brain radiotherapy (WBRT) versus focal radiotherapy, including stereotactic radiosurgery or stereotactic radiotherapy, for these indications are limited. We report a single institution experience of 26 pediatric patients treated with radiotherapy for solid tumor CNS metastases without leptomeningeal disease. Focal radiotherapy (n = 10) was well tolerated and survival outcomes did not differ between patients treated with WBRT (n = 16) versus focal radiation, suggesting that focal radiotherapy may be considered for patients with limited CNS metastases.
Effect of annular expansion pipe extruder head on mechanical properties of pipes
Authors: Pan Yu Xi , Li Nan , Wang Jin Yan , Wang Dan Hui , Pan Xiao Tong , Liu Cheng , Jian Xi Gao 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWith polymer pipes being used more commonly, performance requirements are increasing. Studies on the enhancement of mechanical properties of polymer pipes are particularly important. In this study, a self‐designed annular expansion pipe extruder head was used to enhance the mechanical properties of HDPE pipes. Different morphologies of the HDPE pipes were produced under different processing conditions. When the extrusion angle was 30° (P30), the best mechanical properties were obtained. The hoop tensile strength and axial tensile strength were 14.5% and 41.0% higher, respectively, compared with the specimen without expansion (P0). This improvement of mechanical properties can be attributed to several reasons. First, the processing parameters of P30 reached the threshold shear rate and strain for shish‐kebab formation, as shown by scanning electron microscopy. Second, P30 has the highest orientation parameter and crystallinity of 0.679 and 67.27%, respectively, from 2D wide‐angle diffraction (WAXD). Polarized FTIR shows the same trend as 2D‐WAXD. Third, the outer bamboo‐like self‐reinforced structure is formed inside the pipe at 30° expansion angle while the core layer has a well‐formed crystal structure; the special structure improves the overall performance of HDPE pipe. This method can be utilized in large‐scale industrial production.
Optimizing sexual and reproductive health across the lifespan in people with cystic fibrosis
Authors: West Natalie E. , Kazmerski Traci M. , Taylor‐Cousar Jennifer L. , Tangpricha Vin , Pearson Kelsie , Aitken Moira L. , Jain Raksha 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWith improved therapies, people with cystic fibrosis are living longer and healthier lives and increasingly have questions surrounding their sexual and reproductive health. This article will summarize the important issues of which providers should be aware during the lifespan of people with cystic fibrosis, including puberty, adulthood, and menopause. A wide range of sexual and reproductive health topics are addressed such as puberty, transgender and gender nonbinary identities, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, hypogonadism, sexual functioning, cyclical hemoptysis, and urinary incontinence. We discuss gaps in knowledge and current evidence as well as management strategies to optimize care. Our goal is to support providers to enable them to give comprehensive care throughout the lifespan of people with cystic fibrosis.
Biophysical study of the structure and dynamics of the antimicrobial peptide maximin 1
Authors: Timmons Patrick B. , Hewage Chandralal M. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractMaximin 1 is a cationic, amphipathic antimicrobial peptide found in the skin secretions and brains of the Chinese red belly toad Bombina maxima. The 27 amino acid residue‐long peptide is biologically interesting as it possesses a variety of biological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antitumour and spermicidal activities. Its three‐dimensional structural model was obtained in a 50/50% water/2,2,2‐trifluoroethanol‐d3 mixture using two‐dimensional NMR spectroscopy. Maximin 1 was found to adopt an α‐helical structure from residue Ile2 to Ala26. The peptide is amphipathic, showing a clear separation between polar and non‐polar residues. The interactions with sodium dodecyl sulfate micelles, a widely‐used bacterial membrane‐mimicking environment, were modelled using molecular dynamics simulations. The peptide maintains an α‐helical conformation, occasionally displaying a flexibility around the Gly9 and Gly16 residues, which is likely responsible for the peptide's low haemolytic activity. It is found to preferentially adopt a position parallel to the micellar surface, establishing a number of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions with the micelle.
Fate of translocated American eel (Anguilla rostrata) in the lower Ottawa River and passage behavior at a multichannel barrier
Authors: Twardek William M. , Stoot Lauren J. , Cooke Steven J. , Lapointe Nicolas W. R. , Browne David R. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAmerican eel (Anguilla rostrata) is considered endangered under the IUCN's red list. Hydropower facilities are considered a significant threat to American eel, impacting both the outmigration of adults and upstream migration of juveniles. To overcome upstream passage issues, juvenile eels may be trapped and transported around barriers as a mitigation strategy, though few studies have evaluated the efficacy of this approach. To understand the fate of transported eels, we monitored posttranslocation movements in a 110‐km reach of the Ottawa River bounded by two hydropower facilities: Carillon Hydroelectric Generating Station (lower barrier) and Chaudière Falls Hydroelectric Facility (upper barrier). Additionally, we assessed the approach behavior of eels that reached the upper barrier, a multichannel facility, to assess potential fishway locations. To assess these objectives, 40 juvenile eels (440–640 mm) were implanted with acoustic transmitters and were transported and released either just upstream (~6 km) of the lower barrier or just downstream of the upper barrier (~2 km), approximately, 60 and 166 km from the capture site, respectively. Over the three‐month study period, 78% of tagged eels remained upstream of the lower barrier. Of the nine eels that returned downstream of the lower barrier, seven were from the downstream release site; however, the proportion of eels that returned downstream of the lower barrier did not differ significantly between release sites. One eel passed the upper barrier despite no existing fish‐passage structures. At the upper barrier, most eels visited just one of the five channels, suggesting that more than one passage structure may be necessary to allow eels entering different channels to pass upstream of the barrier. Findings from this work will help inform passage efforts for American eel, particularly in the Ottawa River where eel populations have declined severely from their historic abundance.
2D GaN for Highly Reproducible Surface Enhanced Raman Scattering
Authors: Zhao Shasha , Wang Huiliu , Niu Lixin , Xiong Wenqi , Chen Yunxu , Zeng Mengqi , Yuan Shengjun , Fu Lei 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSurface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) based on 2D semiconductors has been rapidly developed due to their chemical stability and molecule‐specific SERS activity. High signal reproducibility is urgently required towards practical SERS applications. 2D gallium nitride (GaN) with highly polar Ga–N bonds enables strong dipole–dipole interactions with the probe molecules, and abundant DOS (density of states) near its Fermi level increases the intermolecular charge transfer probability, making it a suitable SERS substrate. Herein, 2D micrometer‐sized GaN crystals are demonstrated to be sensitive SERS platforms with excellent signal reproducibility and stability. Strong dipole–dipole interaction between the dye molecule and 2D GaN enhances the molecular polarizability. Furthermore, 2D GaN benefits its SERS enhancement by the combination of increased DOS and more efficient charge transfer resonances when compared with its bulk counterpart.
Anaemia following medical leech therapy for caudal superficial epigastric skin flap salvage in a Shorthaired Chihuahua
Authors: Wang Zhe , Upchurch David A. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractA 6.5‐year‐old, 6.1 kg, spayed female Shorthaired Chihuahua was referred for surgical removal of a mast cell tumour regrowth on the right caudal thigh. In the right perineal region lateral to the base of the tail, there was a 4 × 5 cm soft tissue mass with focal alopecia in the centre. Complete excision of the mass was achieved with a caudal superficial epigastric skin flap for closure. At 5 days postoperatively, the distal 25% of the skin flap showed evidence of venous congestion. Medical leech therapy was performed, and the flap was salvaged successfully; however, the dog developed acute anaemia due to excessive blood loss and received a packed red blood cell transfusion. The dog recovered uneventfully after transfusion and the skin flap had healed completely at recheck (26 days postoperatively). To the authors' knowledge, this was the first report of anaemia requiring blood transfusion after leech therapy in dogs.
Investigation of textile dyeing effluent using activated sludge system to assess the removal efficiency
Authors: Malik Ahmed , Hussain Maham , Uddin Fahim , Raza Waseem , Hussain Sadiq , Habiba Um‐e‐ , Malik Tayyaba , Ajmal Zeeshan 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIn this current work, the performance of an aerobic granular sludge (AGS) for real textile wastewater was investigated based on system operational parameters evaluation. The study was performed for 90 days, and sampling was done once a week in which textile dyeing effluent from the textile mill was collected and subjected to laboratory‐scale treatment. The samples from the inlet, the outlet of the wastewater plant, and within the bioreactor were collected at various concentrations of mixed liquid suspended solids (MLSS), and hydraulic retention remained the same in the investigated period of 53 h. The objective of this study was to analyze the AGS system performance assessment by evaluating the effect of different MLSS concentrations on chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), and oil/grease removal from real‐based textile water. The results showed that removal of organic material from the process water increases with an increase in MLSS concentration in the bioreactor and gradually shifts removal of COD from 91.2% to 94.5%. As the concentration of microorganisms in the reactor (aeration tank) increases, the degradation of waste organics in the wastewater increases as well. Moreover, the % removal of TSS (83.5% to 98%) and removal of oil/grease (62.5% to 76.4%) were also increased. These results ultimately suggest that the utilization of an activated sludge system can effectively treat complex and highly polluted denim textile wastewater to avoid secondary pollution posed by this industry.Practitioner Points

The effectiveness of aerobic granular sludge was investigated for industrial textile effluent.
The increase in MLSS results in increase of % COD removal efficiency to 94.5%.
The AGS system can efficiently treat complicated and highly contaminated textile wastewater.
Randomness and Providence: Is God a Bowler or a Curler?
Authors: Clark Kelly James , Koperski Jeffrey 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSome theists take God to govern the cosmos by way of intervention. Others deny that God would violate the laws of nature. The distinction is illustrated by contrasting the sports of curling and bowling, which are in turn developed into memorable metaphors for divine providence. The two major scientific challenges to providence—Darwinian evolution and quantum mechanics—are also introduced.
Reconciling Meticulous Divine Providence with Objective Chance
Authors: Koons Robert C. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractRandomness can be defined in terms of objective probability: an event is random just in case its objective probability (in the circumstances) is other than zero or one. There is a tension between objective probability and divine providence: if God has arranged for E to occur, then its objective probability would seem to be one. I will first show that this tension creates problems for six models of how to combine worldly chance with divine providence: determinism, Molinism, Thomism, divine luck, the multiverse, and van Inwagen’s theory of chance. I will then develop two new solutions to this problem.
Creatio Continua and Quantum Randomness
Authors: Salim Emil , Malik Shoaib Ahmed 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSome thinkers in the Christian and Islamic traditions assert that God doesn’t only create the universe ex nihilo, but that he also continuously recreates the universe in order to preserve its existence. This chapter will discuss randomness vis-à-vis the doctrine of continuous creation as understood in both religious traditions. We argue that the doctrine of continuous creation in its version that is held by both Christians and Muslims would preclude ontic quantum randomness. The reason is that in the doctrine of continuous creation, God is ultimately and meticulously responsible for the existence of objects and properties at every single moment.