bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heparin-binding protein and procalcitonin in the diagnosis of pathogens causing community-acquired pneumonia in adult patients: a retrospective study
Authors: Cai Rentian , Li Huihui , Tao Zhen 
Published: March 2021

The performance of inflammatory markers in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) caused by different pathogens has not been fully studied. We sought to find the differences in the concentrations of procalcitonin (PCT) and heparin-binding protein (HBP) between patients with CAP caused by different pathogens. We enrolled 162 patients with CAP, divided into three groups on the basis of bacterial (n = 108), fungal (n = 21) and viral (n = 33) infection. Complete leukocyte counts and the concentration of HBP and PCT were measured, and the differences were compared with nonparametric tests. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the significant differences in the sensitivity and specificity of the indicators. The leukocyte and neutrophils counts and the concentrations of HBP and PCT in the viral group were significantly lower than those in the other two groups (p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the concentration of HBP and PCT as well as leukocyte and neutrophils counts were 0.927, 0.892, 0.832 and 0.806 for distinguishing bacterial from viral infection, respectively. The best cut-off value was 20.05 ng/mL for HBP, with a sensitivity of 0.861 and specificity of 0.939. The best cut-off value was 0.195 ng/mL for PCT, with a sensitivity of 0.991 and specificity of 0.636. The best cut-off value was 5.195 × 109/L and 4.000 × 109/L for leukocyte and neutrophils counts, with sensitivity of 0.694 and 0.880 and specificity of 0.667 and 0.636, respectively. The AUC of HBP, PCT and leukocyte and neutrophil counts for distinguishing fungal from viral infection were 0.851, 0.883, 0.835 and 0.830, respectively. The best cut-off values were 29.950 ng/mL, 0.560 ng/mL, 5.265 × 109/L and 3.850 × 109/L, with sensitivity of 0.667, 0.714, 0.905 and 0.952 and specificity of 0.970, 0.879 0.667 and 0.606, respectively. There were no significant differences in the three indicators between the bacterial and fungal infection groups. The concentration of CRP showed no significant differences among the three groups. Consequently, the stronger immune response characterized by higher inflammation markers including HBP and PCT can help distinguish bacterial and fungal CAP from viral CAP.
Which Strategy to Manage Severe Vaso-occlusive Crisis in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Countries with Limited Healthcare Capacities?
Authors: Ngolet Lydie Ocini , Bango Chelsea Jayne , Mawandza Peggy , Dokekias Alexis Elira 
Published: March 2021

We evaluated the treatment of morphine by intravenous patient controlled analgesia versus intermittent subcutaneous routes on patients with sickle cell disease developing severe vaso-occlusivecrisis.
Objectives: The primary objective was to compare intravenous patient controlled analgesia (PCA) versus intermittent subcutaneous injection of morphine (SC) on sickle cell patients developing severe vaso-occlusive crisis during the first 24 hours of admission. The secondary objective was to assess the side effects of morphine in both regimens.
Methods: A randomized controlled trial of 77 patients in the PCA and 81 in the SC group was conducted at the Sickle Cell Center of Brazzaville in the Republic of Congo. Participants aged from
15 to 45 years old with severe vaso-occlusive crisis were included in the study.
Results: Both regimens provided pain relief. However, a significant pain reduction was observed 30 minutes after the administration of morphine in the PCA group (P= 0.001). The mean scores in the PCA and SC regimens were respectively: 1.16±1.40 and 4.30±2.32. The total median dose of morphine administered in the PCA regimen was markedly lower: 24,6±4,16 mg versus 36.6±3.1 mg in the SC group (P=0.01). Morphine administered by PCA provided pain relief during 24 hours while intermittent severe pain was experienced in the SC group (P=0.014). Sedation score S2, S3 was significantly observed in the SC group (P< 0.05).
Retrospective SPECT/CT dosimetry following transarterial radioembolization
Authors: Thompson Briana C. , Dezarn William A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTransarterial radioembolization (TARE) effectively treats unresectable primary and metastatic liver tumors through intra‐arterial injection of Yttrium‐90 (90Y) beta particle emitting microspheres which implant around the tumor. Current dosimetry models are highly simplistic and there is a large need for an image‐based dosimetry post‐TARE, which would improve treatment safety and efficacy. Current post‐TARE imaging is 90Y bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT and we study the use of these images for dosimetry. Retrospective image review of ten patients having a Philips HealthcareTM SPECT/CT following TARE SIR‐Spheres® implantation. Emission series with attenuation correction were resampled to 3 mm resolution and used to create image‐based dose distributions. Dose distributions and analysis were performed in MIM Software SurePlanTM utilizing SurePlanTM Local Deposition Method (LDM) and a dose convolution method (WFBH). We sought to implement a patient‐specific background subtraction prior to dose calculation to make these noisy bremsstrahlung SPECT images suitable for post‐TARE dosimetry. On average the percentage of mean background counts to maximum count in the image across all patients was 9.4 ± 4.9% (maximum = 7.6%, minimum = 2.3%). Absolute dose increased and profile line width decreased as background subtraction value increased. The average value of the LDM and WFBH dose methods was statistically the same. As background subtraction value increased, the DVH curves become unrealistic and distorted. Background subtraction on bremsstrahlung SPECT image has a large effect on post‐TARE dosimetry. The background contour defined provides a systematic estimate to the activity background that accounts for the scanner and patient conditions at the time of the image study and is easily implemented using commercially available software. Using the mean count in the background contour as a subtraction across the entire image gave the most realistic dose distributions. This methodology is independent of microsphere and software manufacturer allowing for use with any available products or tools.
A Single‐Dose, Implant‐Based, Trivalent Virus‐like Particle Vaccine against “Cholesterol Checkpoint” Proteins
Authors: Ortega‐Rivera Oscar A. , Pokorski Jonathan K. , Steinmetz Nicole F. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death globally. Lowering cholesterol levels in plasma is the mainstay therapy; however lifelong treatment and adverse effects call for improved therapeutic interventions. A trivalent vaccine candidate targeting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin‐9 (PCSK9), apolipoprotein B (ApoB), and cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is developed. Vaccine candidates are developed using bacteriophage Qβ‐based virus‐like particles (VLPs) displaying antigens of PCKS9, ApoB, and CETP, respectively. Vaccine candidate mixtures are formulated as slow‐release PLGA:VLP implants using hot‐melt extrusion. The delivery of the trivalent vaccine candidate via the implant produced antibodies against the cholesterol checkpoint proteins at levels comparable to a three‐dose injection schedule with soluble mixtures. The reduction in PCSK9 and ApoB levels in plasma, inhibition of CETP (in vitro), and total plasma cholesterol decrease is achieved. Altogether, a platform technology for a single‐dose multi‐agent proteins is presented.
Therapeutic Delivery of Pip4k2c‐Modified mRNA Attenuates Cardiac Hypertrophy and Fibrosis in the Failing Heart
Authors: Magadum Ajit , Singh Neha , Kurian Ann Anu , Sharkar Mohammad Tofael Kabir , Sultana Nishat , Chepurko Elena , Kaur Keerat , Żak Magdalena M. , Hadas Yoav , Lebeche Djamel , Sahoo Susmita , Hajjar Roger , Zangi Lior 
Published: March 2021

AbstractHeart failure (HF) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. One of the risk factors for HF is cardiac hypertrophy (CH), which is frequently accompanied by cardiac fibrosis (CF). CH and CF are controlled by master regulators mTORC1 and TGF‐β, respectively. Type‐2‐phosphatidylinositol‐5‐phosphate‐4‐kinase‐gamma (Pip4k2c) is a known mTORC1 regulator. It is shown that Pip4k2c is significantly downregulated in the hearts of CH and HF patients as compared to non‐injured hearts. The role of Pip4k2c in the heart during development and disease is unknown. It is shown that deleting Pip4k2c does not affect normal embryonic cardiac development; however, three weeks after TAC, adult Pip4k2c−/− mice has higher rates of CH, CF, and sudden death than wild‐type mice. In a gain‐of‐function study using a TAC mouse model, Pip4k2c is transiently upregulated using a modified mRNA (modRNA) gene delivery platform, which significantly improve heart function, reverse CH and CF, and lead to increased survival. Mechanistically, it is shown that Pip4k2c inhibits TGFβ1 via its N‐terminal motif, Pip5k1α, phospho‐AKT 1/2/3, and phospho‐Smad3. In sum, loss‐and‐gain‐of‐function studies in a TAC mouse model are used to identify Pip4k2c as a potential therapeutic target for CF, CH, and HF, for which modRNA is a highly translatable gene therapy approach.
Copper (II) Phthalocyanine (CuPc) Based Optoelectronic Memory Device with Multilevel Resistive Switching for Neuromorphic Application
Authors: Das Biswajit , Samanta Madhupriya , Sarkar Pranab , Ghorai Uttam K. , Mallik Abhijit , Chattopadhyay Kalyan K. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe 1D nanotubular organic semiconductor, copper (II) phthalocyanine (CuPc), embedded in poly‐methyl methacrylate (PMMA) is employed for the first time for multilevel resistive switching (RS) and neuromorphic applications. Single–double bonded planar CuPc tubes are synthesized via simple solvothermal methods and dispersed in the PMMA solution with different weight concentrations. The composite sample is deposited on an ITO coated transparent, flexible and conducting PET substrate to form Ag/CuPc@PMMA/ ITO device. I–V characterizations of the cell reveal a formation free, bipolar, non‐volatile, multilevel RS effect. The device shows a significantly large resistance ON/OFF ratio of 104, low threshold operating voltage (<2 V), large endurance (>104 cycles) and long retention time (>104 s) at room temperature. The multilevel resistive states are induced by visible light illumination. Based on the experimental data, the conduction mechanism of this type of RS memory device under the optical and the electrical impulse is attributed by the charge trapping and detrapping methods. The synaptic short‐term and long‐term potentiation are also studied on the device during the identical pulse training process. The proposed RS active material is a potential candidate for future artificial neural systems that simulate characteristics of human memory.
Investigating HOMO Energy Levels of Terminal Emitters for Realizing High‐Brightness and Stable TADF‐Assisted Fluorescence Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes
Authors: Lee Yi‐Ting , Chan Chin‐Yiu , Tanaka Masaki , Mamada Masashi , Balijapalli Umamahesh , Tsuchiya Youichi , Nakanotani Hajime , Hatakeyama Takuji , Adachi Chihaya 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBy simple modification of the functional groups on the boron–nitrogen‐containing skeleton, the energy level of the highest occupied molecular orbital (EHOMO) of emitters can be easily adjusted. Blue‐emission derivatives are developed, which are capable of showing small full width at half maximums and high photoluminescence quantum yields. Blue thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF)‐assisted fluorescence organic light‐emitting diodes (TAF‐OLEDs) based on two new emitters as the terminal emitter are fabricated, resulting in high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of up to 21.9%, high color purity, and high brightness (Lmax = 63 777 cd m−2). By analyzing the transient electroluminescence spectra of the TAF‐OLEDs, it is found that a smaller EHOMO difference between TADF‐assistant dopant (TADF‐AD) and terminal emitter efficiently helps to decrease hole trapping inside the emitting layer, hence resulting in a lower efficiency rolloff and a longer operational device lifetime. TAF‐OLEDs based on CzBNCz as a terminal emitter having the closest EHOMO to that of TADF‐AD show a maximum EQE of 21.9% together with a reduced efficiency rolloff (EQEs of 21.2% and 19.8% at 100 and 1000 cd m−2, respectively). This research provides a designing principle for a terminal emitter in TAF‐OLEDs with well‐matched energy levels towards reaching the requirements of commercial displays.
Epitaxial Stabilization of Metastable 3C BaRuO3 Thin Film with Ferromagnetic Non‐Fermi Liquid Phase
Authors: Lee Sang A , Ok Jong Mok , Lee Jegon , Hwang Jae‐Yeol , Yoon Sangmoon , Park Se‐Jeong , Song Sehwan , Bae Jong‐Seong , Park Sungkyun , Lee Ho Nyung , Choi Woo Seok 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThin films of perovskite ruthenates of the general formula ARuO3 (A = Ca and Sr) are versatile electrical conductors for viable oxide electronics. They are also scientifically intriguing, as they exhibit nontrivial electromagnetic ground states depending on the A‐site element. Among them, realization of the cubic perovskite (3C) BaRuO3 in thin film form has been a challenge so far, because the 3C phase is metastable with the largest formation energy among the various polymorph phases of BaRuO3. In this study, 3C BaRuO3 thin films are successfully prepared employing epitaxial stabilization. The 3C BaRuO3 thin films show itinerant ferromagnetism with a transition temperature of ≈48 K and a non‐Fermi liquid phase. The epitaxial stabilization of the 3C BaRuO3 further enables to make a standard comparison of perovskite ruthenates, thereby establishing the importance of the RuO orbital hybridization in understanding the itinerant magnetic system.
Fabrication of High Specific Electrical Conductivity and High Ampacity Carbon Nanotube/Copper Composite Wires
Authors: Bazbouz Mohamed B. , Aziz Atif , Copic Davor , De Volder Michael , Welland Mark E. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA challenge is to integrate Cu with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and form a free‐standing composite wire. This is achieved by first making a CNT filament using high concentration (20 g L−1 ) CNT dispersion, an acid‐free wet spinning process and then by replacing the polymer with copper using heat based polymer decomposition and periodic pulse reverse electroplating. It is demonstrated that indeed the specific conductivity and the current‐carrying capability (or ampacity) are increased manifold. The multiwalled CNT (MWCNT)/Cu composite wires developed in this paper have electrical conductivity σ ≈ 5.5 × 10 5 S cm−1. These MWCNT/Cu wires are 2/3rd the weight of bulk Cu wires. Their specific electrical conductivity is σρ ≈ 9.38 ×10 4 S cm2 g−1 which is 45% higher than International Annealed Copper Standard Cu. These composite wires have an ampacity of A ≈ 20 × 105 and 4 × 105 A cm−2 for 1.5 and 17 mm gauge length wires, respectively, which is four to six times higher than pure Cu depending on the wire lengths. MWCNTs volume percentage in the MWCNT/Cu wire is about 40%.
Sustainable optimization of waste management network over extended planning time horizon
Authors: Saif Yousef , Almansoori Ali , Elkamel Ali 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThis study proposes a multiperiod mixed integer linear programming model for the management of a single municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment plant with sustainability as the objective. Discrete and continuous variables define the capacity selections for diverse MSW technologies, and the operation of the MSW network, respectively. The economic target is considered to maximize the net present value. The environmental impact is the minimization of a normalized environmental objective function (NEOF). The social target is the maximization of jobs. An interesting feature about the research work is the requirement of biodrying technologies for MSW moisture content control. Due to the conflicted nature among the sustainability components, a multiobjective optimization (MO) is carried out to find the Pareto optimal solutions. The MO results show that the Pareto optimal solutions vary around profit range of $4.9–8.5 billion, NEOF impact range of 3.2–3.6 units, and social benefit range of 2700–4828 jobs.
Dispersionsgebundene, isolierte Dimere in der Gasphase: Beobachtung des kürzesten intermolekularen C‐H⋅⋅⋅H‐C Abstands mittels stimulierter Raman‐Spektroskopie
Authors: Maué Dominique , Strebert Patrick H. , Bernhard Dominic , Rösel Sören , Schreiner Peter R. , Gerhards Markus 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTriphenylmethan und seine (substituierten) all‐meta‐tert‐Butyl‐Triphenylmethan‐Dimere, (TPM)2 und (T tBuPM)2, wurden mit stimulierter Raman‐Spektroskopie in Molekularstrahlexperimenten (Ionization loss stimulated Raman spectroscopy, ILSRS) untersucht, um struktursensitive Schwingungen zu analysieren. Damit konnte die Frage beantwortet werden, ob die kürzlich beschriebene lineare Kopf‐an‐Kopf‐Anordnung in (T tBuPM)2 aufgrund von Kristallpackungseffekten resultiert oder auch in der Gasphase vorherrscht und folglich durch außerordentlich starke London‐Dispersionswechselwirkungen (LD) bedingt ist. Unsere Studie belegt eindeutig, dass die Kopf‐an‐Kopf‐Anordnung auch unter isolierten Molekularstrahlbedingungen ohne Kristallpackungseffekte beobachtet wird. Bei entsprechend deuteriertem (T tBuPM)2, welches in der hier zugeordneten Struktur einen ungewöhnlich kurzen C‐D⋅⋅⋅D‐C‐Abstand aufweist, zeigt die zentrale Raman‐aktive aliphatische C‐D‐Streckschwingung eine charakteristische Blauverschiebung im Vergleich zu anderen Dimeranordnungen. Da im Fall von (TPM)2 die LD‐stabilisierenden tert‐Butylgruppen fehlen, zeigt es eine annähernd S6‐symmetrische Rücken‐an‐Rücken‐Anordnung.
Antitumor Agents Based on Metal–Organic Frameworks
Authors: Gao Peng , Chen Yuanyuan , Pan Wei , Li Na , Liu Zhuang , Tang Bo 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMetal–organic frameworks (MOFs) hold great promise for biomedical applications owing to their unique properties. The porous structures make MOFs excellent candidates for the delivery of different drugs; the flexibility in choosing metal ions and organic ligands makes it feasible to prepare MOFs with intrinsic antitumor activities and further devise MOF–drug synergistic systems; many other types of antitumor agents could also be developed using MOFs as the precursors/templates. Thus, the past two decades have witnessed the great development of MOF‐based drugs, especially in the antitumor field. This Minireview mainly focuses on the design and applications of MOF‐based antitumor agents. Four aspects covering the whole field are introduced: MOFs as carriers, MOFs as antitumor agents, MOF–drug synergistic systems, and MOF‐derived antitumor agents. The challenges and opportunities of MOFs for clinical antitumor applications are also discussed.
Facile preparation of agaraldehyde chitosan‐based composite beads as effectual adsorbent especially towards amido black
Authors: Kholiya Faisal , Singh Ankit , Gosai Amit , Meena Ramavatar 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAgaraldehyde and chitosan (CHI) functional beads as dye adsorbent were prepared under aqueous medium under ambient temperature and used for removing seven dyes from aqueous solutions. The resulting porous CHI‐Aald (R‐Aald‐CHI) bio‐beads were characterized by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscope. The dye removal efficiency was studied using seven dyes (amido black [AB], bromophenol blue, crystal violet, bismarck brown, cotton blue, methyl orange, methylene blue), but detail study was done on AB. AB adsorption was followed the Langmuir‐isotherm and pseudo‐second order kinetics. The effects of adsorption parameters were investigated, and maximum AB 1506 mg/g was adsorbed under the optimum conditions. The linear and nonlinear forms of Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms and two kinetic models pseudo‐first‐order and pseudo‐second‐order were studied. The results show that adsorption follow both isotherm model while for kinetics of adsorption follow pseudo‐second‐order. The results of this work showed that R‐Aald‐CHI was encouraging adsorbent to remove dyes from wastewater, especially AB.
Tensor product‐based model transformation approach to cart position modeling and control in pendulum‐cart systems
Authors: Hedrea Elena‐Lorena , Precup Radu‐Emil , Petriu Emil M. , Bojan‐Dragos Claudia‐Adina , Hedrea Ciprian 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe paper presents the application of the tensor product (TP)‐based model transformation technique to model and control the cart position of single‐input multi‐output pendulum‐cart systems (PCSs). The modeling is first carried out. The derived TP model, the nonlinear model of PCS, and the laboratory equipment are tested in the same open‐loop scenario, and their corresponding outputs are collected, measured, and compared. The parallel distributed compensation (PDC) technique is next applied to TP‐based cart position controller design. A linear state feedback control design is also designed in order to conduct a comparative analysis. The two proposed control system structures are experimentally validated and tested in the same scenarios on the laboratory equipment, and their performance indices are analyzed and compared.
Carlson's Trophic State Index is a poor predictor of cyanobacterial dominance in drinking water reservoirs
Authors: Fernandez‐Figueroa Edna G. , Buley Riley P. , Barros Mario U. G. , Gladfelter Matthew F. , McClimans William D. , Wilson Alan E. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA 20‐month survey of 71 surface drinking water utilities across 44 waterbodies was conducted to determine whether the commonly used Trophic State Index (TSI) is a reliable indicator of eutrophication in drinking water sources. Raw water quality results showed that cyanobacteria, cyanotoxins (i.e., microcystin), and taste and odor (T&O) compounds (i.e., 2‐methylisoborneol and geosmin) were generally low in the utilities sampled. TSI values based on chlorophyll concentrations (TSI Chl‐a) were closely related to phytoplankton, cyanotoxin, and T&O concentrations and indicated that most drinking water sources were mesotrophic or eutrophic. However, TSI values based on total phosphorus (TSI TP) indicated that the drinking water sources were eutrophic or hypereutrophic. These results suggest that TSI Chl‐a is a better predictor of cyanobacteria and their compounds than TSI TP. Phytoplankton abundance decreased with depth; therefore, managers should consider switching to deeper intakes when TSI Chl‐a values increase to reduce removal costs.