bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
#3125 Novel framework for neurocognitive COVID-19 assessment
Authors: Mathur Jai , Carson Alan 
Published: July 2021

BackgroundThe neurotrophic effects of Covid-19 are becoming increasingly recognized, with altered mental state now being the second most common presenting complaint insert numbers. A key question is whether this has long term consequences. Cognitive problems are commonly reported in patients 3 months after acute infection as part of the so called Long-Covid syndrome. However, the underlying cause is not well understood. Candidate explanations include legacy from encephalitis and stroke; however, other complications such as the sequelae, delirium, remain underexplored. Furthermore, little consideration has been given to functional cognitive disorders and the cognitive consequences of depression, anxiety and fatigue.AimsWe propose a structured approach to clinical assessment for clinicians reviewing late cognitive complaints after COVID 19.MethodsWe created our own unique framework for neurocognitive Covid assessment based upon a review of the literature.ResultsCovid status- Any positive test. If not review of core symptoms such as breathlessness, headache, anosmia, nasal obstruction, cough, myalgia, or gustatory dysfunction; duration, extent of exposure to Covid confirmed cases. Consider rapid antibody testing.Neuropsychiatric history- Part 1 symptoms at onset- in particular disruptions of consciousness and altered mental state. Acute memory impairment, anterograde/retrograde and with/without a temporal gradient. neurocognitive function. ITU admission and oxygen requirements.Part 2 Current cognitive and mental state- in addition to standard history seek evidence of internal inconsistency of memory symptoms and attentional dysregulation. Has social cognition and meta-cognition been affected. Note attribution bias i.e. no Im not depressed, I cant enjoy anything because of my symptomsBackground history- subtle suggestion of neurodegeneration and depression, anxiety and functional symptoms should be explored.MRI findings- signal changes in the medial temporal lobe, nonconfluent multifocal white matter hyperintense lesions, and isolated white matter microhemorrhages.Novel biomarkers IL-6, MCP-1, and IP-10.ConclusionCognitive symptoms are common after confirmed and assumed COVID exposure. We propose a framework for neuropsychiatric assessment and the use of adjuvant imaging and potential biomarkers.
9 When the spark goes out: the neurology of apathy and motivation
Authors: Husain Masud 
Published: July 2021

Disorders of motivation are common across brain disorders. Clinicians frequently encounter pathological apathy across a range of conditions, including many neurodegenerative conditions such as small cerebrovascular disease, Parkinsons and Alzheimers disease. It is now becoming understood that apathy has a poor prognosis for long-term functional and cognitive outcome. Unfortunately, we understand very little about the mechanisms underlying the syndrome.In this talk, I shall put forward a conceptual framework with which we can begin to understand apathy by considering the processes that normally underlie motivated, goal- directed behavior. In particular Ill focus on the ability to generate options for behavior and effort-based decision making for rewards. Recent studies of the latter have been particularly revealing in both healthy people and neurological patient populations.Several lines of evidence suggest that when we make decisions about how much effort we might invest in actions, we weigh up the costs involved for the potential rewards to be obtained. Functional imaging in healthy people reveals both medial frontal and basal ganglia involvement when individuals make such decisions. In patients with apathy, this evaluation is altered. Apathetic patients show blunted sensitivity to rewards and less inclination to invest effort for low rewards than healthy individuals. Some evidence shows that these factors can be improved by dopaminergic medication. The findings support the view that it might be possible to provide a mechanistic account of the syndrome of apathy which might lead to treatments for the disorder.
Relationship between flood severity and risk of hospitalisation in the Mekong River Delta of Vietnam
Authors: Phung Dung T , Warren Joshua L , Chu Cordia Ming-Yeuk , Dubrow Robert 
Published: July 2021

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between flood severity and risk of hospitalisation in the Vietnam Mekong River Delta (MRD).MethodsWe obtained data on hospitalisations and hydro-meteorological factors during 2011–2014 for seven MRD provinces. We classified each day into a flood-season exposure period: the 2011 extreme annual flood (EAF); 2012–2014 routine annual floods (RAF); dry season and non-flood wet season (reference period). We used province-specific Poisson regression models to calculate hospitalisation incidence rate ratios (IRRs). We pooled IRRs across provinces using random-effects meta-analysis.ResultsDuring the EAF, non-external cause hospitalisations increased 7.2% (95% CI 3.2% to 11.4%); infectious disease hospitalisations increased 16.4% (4.3% to 29.8%) and respiratory disease hospitalisations increased 25.5% (15.5% to 36.4%). During the RAF, respiratory disease hospitalisations increased 8.2% (3.2% to 13.5%). During the dry season, hospitalisations decreased for non-external causes and for each specific cause except injuries.ConclusionsWe observed a gradient of decreasing risk of hospitalisation from EAF to RAF/non-flood wet season to dry season. Adaptation measures should be strengthened to prepare for the increased probability of more frequent extreme floods in the future, driven by climate change.
Nitrogen dioxide exposure from domestic gas cooking and airway response in asthmatic women
Authors: Ng T P , Seet C S R , Tan W C , Foo S C 
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUNDPrevious studies have not found a consistent association between exposure to domestic cooking using gas appliances and exacerbation of asthma. We investigated the immediate airflow response to acute exposure from single episodes of gas cooking, and peak airflow variability from continued exposure to repeated episodes of gas cooking in a group of non-smoking asthmatic women.METHODSSixteen adult non-smoking women with mild to severe persistent asthma were studied. The acute short term level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) during gas cooking episodes and the mean exposure to NO2from repeated gas cooking episodes were measured over a 2 week period, as well as proxy measures of frequency of cooking on each day and the length of time spent cooking each day. Their asthma status was monitored using peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) before and after cooking, 2 week self-recorded serial readings of PEFR, respiratory symptom severity score, and use of rescue bronchodilators for acute asthma attacks.RESULTSCooking was significantly associated with an immediate mean fall in PEFR of 3.4% (p=0.015, pairedttest). The acute short term NO2level during cooking was significantly correlated with the fall in PEFR (r=–0.579; p=0.019). The frequency of cooking over a 2 week period was positively correlated with the mean exposure to NO2(r=0.529; p=0.042). Continued exposure to NO2over a 2 week period was associated significantly with increased frequency of rescue bronchodilator usage for asthma attacks (r=0.597; p=0.031). However, it was negatively associated with PEFR variability (r=–0.512; p=0.051) and respiratory symptom severity score (r= –0.567; p=0.043), probably due to the masking effects of bronchodilator treatment.CONCLUSIONSAcute short term exposure to NO2from single episodes of gas cooking is associated with immediate airflow limitation. Continued exposure from repeated episodes of gas cooking in asthmatic women is associated with greater use of rescue bronchodilators.
Bedside tracer gas technique accurately predicts outcome in aspiration of spontaneous pneumothorax
Authors: Kiely D G , Ansari S , Davey W A , Mahadevan V , Taylor G J , Seaton D 
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUNDThere is no technique in general use that reliably predicts the outcome of manual aspiration of spontaneous pneumothorax. We have hypothesised that the absence of a pleural leak at the time of aspiration will identify a group of patients in whom immediate discharge is unlikely to be complicated by early lung re-collapse and have tested this hypothesis by using a simple bedside tracer gas technique.METHODSEighty four episodes of primary spontaneous pneumothorax and 35 episodes of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax were studied prospectively. Patients breathed air containing a tracer (propellant gas from a pressurised metered dose inhaler) while the pneumothorax was aspirated percutaneously. Tracer gas in the aspirate was detected at the bedside using a portable flame ioniser and episodes were categorised as tracer gas positive (>1 part per million of tracer gas) or negative. The presence of tracer gas was taken to imply a persistent pleural leak. Failure of manual aspiration and the need for a further intervention was based on chest radiographic appearances showing either failure of the lung to re-expand or re-collapse following initial re-expansion.RESULTSA negative tracer gas test alone implied that manual aspiration would be successful in the treatment of 93% of episodes of primary spontaneous pneumothorax (p<0.001) and in 86% of episodes of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax (p=0.01). A positive test implied that manual aspiration would either fail to re-expand the lung or that early re-collapse would occur despite initial re-expansion in 66% of episodes of primary spontaneous pneumothorax and 71% of episodes of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax. Lung re-inflation on the chest radiograph taken immediately after aspiration was a poor predictor of successful aspiration, with lung re-collapse occurring in 34% of episodes by the following day such that a further intervention was required.CONCLUSIONSNational guidelines currently recommend immediate discharge of patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax based primarily on the outcome of the post-aspiration chest radiograph which we have shown to be a poor predictor of early lung re-collapse. Using a simple bedside test in combination with the post-aspiration chest radiograph, we can predict with high accuracy the success of aspiration in achieving sustained lung re-inflation, thereby identifying patients with primary spontaneous pneumothorax who can be safely and immediately discharged home and those who should be observed overnight because of a significant risk of re-collapse, with an estimated re-admission rate of 1%.
Anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa antibody detection in patients with bronchiectasis without cystic fibrosis
Authors: Caballero E , Drobnic M-E , Pérez M-T , Manresa J-M , Ferrer A , Orriols R 
Published: July 2021

BACKGROUNDPseudomonas aeruginosa is a frequent cause of infection in patients with bronchiectasis. Differentiation between non-infected patients and those with different degrees of P aeruginosainfection could influence the management and prognosis of these patients. The diagnostic usefulness of serum IgG antibodies againstP aeruginosa outer membrane proteins was determined in patients with bronchiectasis without cystic fibrosis.METHODSFifty six patients were classified according to sputum culture into three groups: group A (n=18) with no P aeruginosain any sample; group B (n=18) with P aeruginosa alternating with other microorganisms; and group C (n=20) with P aeruginosa in all sputum samples. Each patient had at least three sputum cultures in the 6 months prior to serum collection. Detection of antibodies was performed by Western blot and their presence against 20 protein bands (10–121 kd) was assessed.RESULTSAntibodies to more than four bands in total or to five individual bands (36, 26, 22, 20 or 18 kd) differentiated group B from group A, while antibodies to a total of more than eight bands or to 10 individual bands (104, 69, 63, 56, 50, 44, 30, 25, 22, 13 kd) differentiated group C from group B. When discordant results between the total number of bands and the frequency of P aeruginosa isolation were obtained, the follow up of patients suggested that the former, in most cases, predicted chronic P aeruginosacolonisation.CONCLUSIONIn patients with bronchiectasis the degree of P aeruginosa infection can be determined by the number and type of outer membrane protein bands indicating which serum antibodies are present.
Effects of one dark septate endophytic fungal and two Helotiales strains on the growth of plane-leaved willow (Salix planifolia) cuttings on iron ore waste rock
Authors: Jean Roudy , Khasa Damase Phambu , Boudreau Stéphane 
Published: July 2021

Plants maintain beneficial mutualistic relationships with the mycobiont communities found in their rhizosphere, leading to an increase in plant productivity and health. In nutrient-depleted substrates like mine tailings, mycobiont inoculation is often recommended to help restore a successful plant cover. Our 15-week greenhouse experiment aimed to assess the individual effects of a dark septate endophyte (Phialocephala fortinii C.J.K. Wang & H.E. Wilcox #4 (KX611529)) and two Helotiales strains (Rhizoscyphus ericae (D.J. Read) W.Y. Zhuang & Korf #22 (EU221877) and Meliniomyces sp. #1 (KT275679)) on the growth of plane-leaved willow (Salix planifolia Pursh) cuttings on sterilized and unsterilized waste rock. Rhizoscyphus ericae increased shoot biomass of cuttings on sterilized waste rock, whereas Meliniomyces sp. had a positive effect on cuttings grown on unsterilized waste rock. However, P. fortinii strain had no effect on the survival rate, shoot production, and biomass production of S. planifolia cuttings. This study demonstrates that controlled inoculation with ecologically well-adapted mycobionts could promote plant establishment and productivity on abandoned waste rock and could be an efficient and integrated biotechnological approach for ecological restoration of Canadian mining boreal ecosystems.
Co-application of wood biochar and paper mill biosolids affects yield and short-term nitrogen and phosphorus availability in temperate loamy soils
Authors: Gagnon Bernard , Ziadi Noura , Manirakiza Eric 
Published: July 2021

Amending croplands with forest residues may help in restoring soil properties in fields subject to intensive land management. Despite their known benefits when applied separately, co-application of wood biochar with paper mill biosolids (PB) has seen little investigation under field conditions. A study was initiated in Québec, QC, Canada, to determine the effect of a single application of wood biochar with and without PB on the nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability of two pH-neutral to alkaline loamy soils. Biochar at 0, 10, and 20 Mg dry weight·ha−1 and PB at 30 Mg wet weight·ha−1 were applied before planting of corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in 2018. Residual effect of this co-application was determined under soybean and corn in the subsequent year. In both years, corn received supplemental N and P from mineral fertilizers according to local agronomic recommendations. Co-applying biochar and PB reduced soil NO3-N availability in the year of application and decreased corn yield by 1.0 Mg·ha−1 compared with biochar or PB applied alone, but these amendments did not affect soybean yields. In the following year, the previous biochar addition increased soybean yield by 0.6 Mg·ha−1 but had little effect on corn. For both years, biochar addition induced a large increase in soil Mehlich-3 P. This study revealed that wood biochar positively impacted P status of these soils but was not a source of N to crops even when co-applied with PB.
Analysis of tooth-bound fluoride after the application of coating materials on the enamel surface with an in-air micro PIXE/PIGE
Authors: Okuyama K. , Tamaki Y. , Matsuda Y. , Saito T. , Yamamoto H. , Naito K. , Hayashi M. , Suzuki K. 
Published: July 2021

Tooth-bound (KOH-insoluble) fluoride prevents caries via long retention within the tooth structure. Tooth-bound fluoride in the enamel was investigated after applying various fluoride-containing tooth-coating materials using an in-air micro [Formula: see text] PIXE/PIGE system. Three different fluoride-containing or a non-fluoride containing coating materials were applied to the coronal enamel surface of 24 extracted human molars. The samples were stored in water for 1 or 7 days and then sectioned into two slices. One slice was immersed in 1M KOH solution for 24 h for KOH-insoluble fluoride (KOH(T)) analysis. The second slice was not subjected to KOH treatment and was used to analyze the whole fluoride (KOH-soluble plus insoluble fluoride: KOH(U)). Fluorine and calcium distribution were measured in all the slices with [Formula: see text]PIXE/PIGE. KOH(U) was higher than KOH(T) on some materials, especially those that released more fluoride. For KOH(T), there was no significant difference among all fluoride-containing materials in the 7-day group. However, there were significant differences in the KOH(U) samples during the same period. PIXE/PIGE analysis confirmed the presence of tooth-bound fluoride in the enamel adjacent to the fluoride-containing coating materials. The amount of tooth-bound fluoride depended on the type of material.
Large igneous provinces of the Amazonian Craton and their metallogenic potential in Proterozoic times
Authors: Reis Nelson Joaquim , Teixeira W. , D'Agrella-Filho M. S. , Bettencourt J. S. , Ernst R. E. , Goulart L. E. A. 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
This paper overviews the Proterozoic large igneous provinces (LIPs) of the Amazonian Craton, characterized by large volumes of extrusive and intrusive magmatic rocks. We reassess the geologic, geochronological and geochemical information to stablish three intracontinental felsic volcanic–plutonic igneous belts (i.e. SLIPs), namely: Orocaima (1.98–1.96 Ga), Uatumã (1.88–1.87 Ga) and Alta Floresta (1.80–1.79 Ga). The Avanavero LIP (1.79–1.78 Ga), as well as the Rincón del Tigre-Huanchaca LIP (1.11 Ga) are also revisited. The relationships of these events to intraplate settings through time and space are apparent. We examine the main characteristics of each magmatic event in light of the U–Pb zircon and baddeleyite ages and coupled isotopic–geochemical constraints, the geodynamic significance and metallogenetic potential. The Uatumã and Alta Floresta SLIPs host the most important mineral resources within the Amazonian Craton. Global barcode matches of the Proterozoic SLIP/LIP events of Amazonia are also addressed, as well as their possible links with geological timescale periods: the Orosirian, Statherian and Stenian boundaries. We also evaluate the available palaeomagnetic data to address issues related to the barcode match of such SLIP/LIP events in the context of supercontinent cycles.
In-Situ Electrochemical Construction of Stable Water Oxidation Catalysts
Authors: Chen Jiaye , Geng Dongsheng 
Published: July 2021

Hydrogen has been regarded as a perfect future energy source alternative to fossil energy because of its wide application in chemical industry and great potential in fuel cells. However, the high overpotential is often required for the anodic reaction (OER) of the water splitting. Presently, the best catalysts for OER are based on precious metals (such as IrO2 and RuO2), however, the high cost and scarcity of these catalysts limit their wide applications. Therefore, non-noble metal catalysts have attracted much attention as electrocatalysts used in alkaline electrolyzer. However, it is more important to improve the stability than the activity of non-noble metal catalysts towards their large-scale application, especially under extreme electrolysis conditions. This work developed an OER electrocatalyst with superlattice structure by in-situ electrochemical process, which shows high electrocatalytic activity and stability in alkaline.
Nickel phosphate (NPO) with nanowire morphology was synthesized by hydrothermal reaction firstly. ꞵ-Ni(OH)2 was obtained by in-situ electrochemical scanning the NPO powder coated on carbon papers in alkaline solution. ꞵ-Ni(OH)2-CNTs were also prepared by the same method with the only difference of mixing NPO and CNTs. Catalytic activity of ꞵ-Ni(OH)2 for OER was evaluated by the three-electrode system in 1 M KOH solution. And the catalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis.
Figure 1a shows the uniform NPO nanowire with a diameter of 5 nm obtained by hydrothermal reaction. Figure 1b-d display that the ꞵ-Ni(OH)2 nanosheets with superlattice structure has been successfully synthesized with the use of NPO nanowires as precursor by in-situ electrochemical method under alkaline condition. High resolution TEM shows that the thickness of ꞵ-Ni(OH)2 and NiOOH layer is 0.9 nm and 0.6 nm, respectively. The ꞵ-Ni(OH)2 and ꞵ-Ni(OH)2-CNTs showed high activity and stability toward the OER with an overpotential of 310 mV and 270 mV to reach the current density of 10 mA cm-2, respectively, and a long-term stability of 100 h showed in Figure 1e-f. This excellent property may be related to the superlattice structure which improves the efficiency of electronic transmission.

Figure 1. (a) TEM picture of Ni3(PO4)2; (b) TEM pictures of ꞵ-Ni(OH)2; (c) Elemental mapping of ꞵ-Ni(OH)2; (d) XPS spectra of P 2p of ꞵ-Ni(OH)2; (e) iR-corrected polarization curves of ꞵ-Ni(OH)2, ꞵ-Ni(OH)2-CNTs, IrO2, and RuO2 in 1 M KOH solution; (f) Chronopotentiometry curves of ꞵ-Ni(OH)2 and ꞵ-Ni(OH)2-CNTs at the potential of 1.54 V and 1.50 V, respectively.

Figure 1
Photoassisted Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Riceberry Rice Extract and Their Antibacterial Application
Authors: Jiamboonsri Pimsumon , Wanwong Sompit 
Published: July 2021

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been attractive in biomedical applications due to its nontoxic and eco-friendly approach. This study presents the facile, rapid, and cost-effective synthesis of AgNPs by photoassisted chemical reduction using Riceberry (RB) rice extract as a reducing agent. The effects of reaction parameters including photoirradiation, irradiation time, the volume ratio of silver nitrate (AgNO3) to RB extract, and pH condition on the AgNP formation were also investigated. The characterization of AgNPs was determined by UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. For antibacterial application, the synthesized AgNPs were studied by disc diffusion method against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results indicated that light irradiation was an important factor to accelerate the formation of AgNPs. The synthesis parameters including volume of RB extract and pH condition significantly affected the particle size and crystallinity of AgNPs. The volume ratio of AgNO3 to RB extract 1 : 12.5 at pH 2.5 under photoirradiation was the successful condition to form nanometer-sized crystalline particles (average particle size of

59.48
±
0.37

nm

) within 30 min with a rate constant of 0.210 min–1. The FT-IR measurement also suggested that the phytochemical constituents in RB extract were served as reducing and stabilizing agents for the synthesis of AgNPs. Additionally, the obtained AgNPs from various conditions demonstrated the antibacterial activity against both strains. Therefore, this study proposes an effective integration technique to synthesize AgNPs within a short time for antibacterial application.