bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sinonasal and gastrointestinal bacterial composition and abundance are stable after 1 week of once‐daily oral antibiotic treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Siu Joey , Mackenzie Brett Wagner , Klingler Lilian , Biswas Kristi , Wang Yi , Hung Cheung‐Tak , Jeong Soo Hee , Barnett Daniel , Tingle Malcolm Drummond , Douglas Richard George 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackgroundDespite the widespread prescription of antibiotics for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), their efficacy remains uncertain. Limited penetration of systemic antibiotics into the sinonasal mucosa has been reported previously by this group. This study aimed to investigate the short‐term effects of antibiotics on the sinus and gut microbiota as well as any relationships these had with drug distribution.MethodsThirty subjects undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery for CRS were randomized to one of three groups: (1) doxycycline (100 mg daily for 7 days); (2) roxithromycin (300 mg daily for 7 days); and (3) control (no antibiotics given). Sinonasal and stool samples collected before and after treatment were analyzed using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene‐targeted amplicon sequencing and Droplet Digital polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for bacterial community composition and the quantification of bacterial DNA, respectively.ResultsThere were no significant major bacterial community shifts or changes to bacterial diversity and load following the treatment period in all patient groups. Non‐significant trend reductions were observed in gut microbial diversity with antibiotics. For the roxithromycin group, sinonasal bacterial diversity was negatively correlated with serum drug levels and reduced overall compared to controls (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Staphylococcus ASV129 in sinonasal samples reduced with increasing mucus doxycycline levels (p = 0.01).ConclusionAntibiotic prescription for CRS should be further investigated because of preliminary evidence of poor sinonasal drug penetration, unproven efficacy, and the potential impact of dysbiosis in the sinuses and off‐target sites. Further studies should consider distinguishing the presence of DNA from viable and nonviable bacteria.
Surface‐Mediated Construction of an Ultrathin Free‐Standing Covalent Organic Framework Membrane for Efficient Proton Conduction
Authors: Liu Lin , Yin Liying , Cheng Dongming , Zhao Shuai , Zang Hong‐Ying , Zhang Ning , Zhu Guangshan 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAs a new class of crystalline porous organic materials, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have attracted considerable attention for proton conduction owing to their regular channels and tailored functionality. However, most COFs are insoluble and unprocessable, which makes membrane preparation for practical use a challenge. In this study, we used surface‐initiated condensation polymerization of a trialdehyde and a phenylenediamine for the synthesis of sulfonic COF (SCOF) coatings. The COF layer thickness could be finely tuned from 10 to 100 nm by controlling the polymerization time. Moreover, free‐standing COF membranes were obtained by sacrificing the bridging layer without any decomposition of the COF structure. Benefiting from the abundant sulfonic acid groups in the COF channels, the proton conductivity of the SCOF membrane reached 0.54 S cm−1 at 80 °C in pure water. To our knowledge, this is one of the highest values for a pristine COF membrane in the absence of additional additives.
Research on the rheological and flow characteristics of a supramolecular gel in fractures
Authors: Wang Bo , Sun Jinsheng , Shen Feng , Lv Kaihe , Wang Jintang 
Published: April 2021

AbstractLoss circulation is one of the major concerns in drilling and well construction. An effective way to control drilling fluid loss and strengthen the wellbore is to plug fractures and holes with loss circulation materials. In this work, a hydrophobic association supramolecular hydrogel GP‐A developed by n‐dodecylacrylamide, methacrylamide and 2‐acrylamide‐2‐methylpropylsulfonic acid was proposed as a potential lost circulation material for malignant drilling fluid loss. The results show that the initial decomposition temperature of GP‐A was 172°C, and the flow characteristics conform to the Herschel‐Bulkley model with yield stress. Microstructural analysis shows that GP‐A gel with a 3D spatial network, and hydrogen bonds between branched chains form a dynamically recoverable structure. Based on POLYFLOW, the Phan Thien–Tanner model with viscoelastic parameters was used to simulate the viscoelastic flow characteristics of the fluid in fractures. The higher the concentration is, the greaterK, and the higher the inlet driving pressure, while the nonlinear relationship between the driving pressure and the gel slug length is evident. The introduction of supramolecular gel polymer as a loss circulation material is an innovative research topic, which provides a new method to simulate the flow of polymer fluid in fractures.
Synthesis and characterization of electrolyte substrate materials based on hyperbranched polyurethane elastomers for anodic bonding
Authors: Zhang Weixuan , Wang Mixue , Zhao Haocheng , Liu Xin , Liu Ruoyun , Xie Xiaoling , Wu Yuling 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA series of hyperbranched polyurethane elastomers (PEO‐HBPUEs) as polymer electrolyte substrate materials was developed for anodic bonding with aluminum (Al) foil in micro‐electro‐mechanical system (MEMS) devices. The PEO‐HBPUEs were prepared by pre‐polymerization method with toluene‐2,4‐diisocyanate(TDI), polypropylene glycol (PPG), 1,4‐butanediol(BDO), trimethylolpropane(TMP), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulphonyl)imide (LiTFSI), and polyethylene oxide (PEO)‐based electrolyte in varying proportions via solution casting technique at room temperature. All prepared PEO‐HBPUEs exhibited low glass transition temperatures, good thermal stabilities, and suitable mechanical properties. The XRD results showed that PEO‐HBPUEs are amorphous, and LiTFSI was well dissolved in the polymer matrix. The component of PEO‐based electrolyte in PEO‐HBPUEs contributed to increase the ionic conductivity, of which the highest value reached 1.23 × 10−3 S/cm at 75°C for PEO‐HBPUE4. The anodic bonding of PEO‐HBPUE substrate with Al foil was conducted by the coupling action of electric field, temperature field, and pressure field. A clear intermediate bonding layer between the substrate and Al foil was observed and the elements diffusion around bonding layer can be detected by SEM, indicating PEO‐HBPUEs and Al foil have been jointed together successfully. The highest tensile strength of the bonding interface of PEO‐HBPUE4/Al reached 1.88 MPa. All results demonstrated that the prepared PEO‐HBPUEs materials would be promising substrates for flexible MEMS device that can be applied to flexible packaging by anodic bonding technology.
A rapid LC–MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of berberine and irbesartan in rat plasma: Application to the drug–drug pharmacokinetic interaction study after oral administration in rats
Authors: Zhou Hao , Li Wenyue , Sun Ling , Li Wenfang , Liu Qian 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA sensitive, reproducible, and specific liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated to simultaneously determine the concentration of berberine (BBR) and irbesartan in Sprague–Dawley rat plasma, and applied to study the pharmacokinetic drug–drug interaction (DDI) between BBR and irbesartan in rats. In this method, diphenhydramine was used as the internal standard, and the liquid–liquid extraction method using ethyl acetate as the extraction agent was used for sample preparation. After extraction, the prepared samples were run on an Agilent Welchrom C18 column with the mobile phase consisting of methanol–acetonitrile–water solution with 0.5% formic acid (45:50:5, v/v/v) at a flow rate of 0.8 mL·min−1. The analytes BBR, irbesartan, and diphenhydramine (IS) were detected using multiple reactions monitoring mode, with the ion transitions being m/z 336.1 → m/z 320.0, m/z 429.1 → m/z 206.9, and m/z 256.2 → m/z 167.0, respectively. In the rats’ plasma, BBR had good linearity in the range of 0.5–100 ng·mL−1 with the lower limit of quantitation of 0.5 ng·mL−1, and the accuracy, intra‐day, and inter‐day precision were less than 12.33%. Irbesartan had good linearity in the range of 20–1200 ng·mL−1 with the lower limit of quantification of 20 ng·mL−1, and the accuracy, intra‐day, and inter‐day precision were less than 13.55%. The validated method was verified to meet the determination requirements of biological samples. It was the first time to study the pharmacokinetics of DDI between BBR and irbesartan successfully, which would be necessary and beneficial to explore the clinical safety and efficacy of the combination of BBR and irbesartan in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
Evolution of Anticariogenic Resin‐Modified Glass Ionomer Cements
Authors: Malik Zuleikha , Qasim Butt Danial , Qasim Butt Zainab , Muhammad Nawshad , Kaleem Muhammad , Liaqat Saad , Adnan Khan Muhammad , Samad Khan Abdul 
Published: April 2021

AbstractWith advancing technology and exponential growth in scientific research, new perspectives in dental materials are being discovered. Conservative dentistry advocates maximum tooth preservation by revised restorative materials. Resin‐modified glass ionomer cement (RMGIC) is a flexible group of dental materials that can be used for restoring, lining, luting, and sealing teeth. Much advancements have been achieved to make them inherently anticariogenic as an adjunct to their fluoride release. In an attempt to resolve issues of secondary caries, white spot lesions, and cavitation, nanoparticles of metals such as zinc, silver, and titanium have been added. Biomaterials with regenerative potential like bioactive glass and hydroxyapatite are being explored as well. Similarly, antibiotics and natural resins like propolis and chlorhexidine have shown tremendous response against caries causing the oral pathogen Streptococcus mutans. This comprehensive review sheds light on the recent research in RMGIC, contemplating the repercussions of incorporating antibacterial agents into these types of cement.
Trace Metal Loading of B‐N‐Co‐doped Graphitic Carbon for Active and Stable Bifunctional Oxygen Reduction and Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts
Authors: Sikdar Nivedita , Schwiderowski Philipp , Medina Danea , Dieckhöfer Stefan , Quast Thomas , Brix Ann Cathrin , Cychy Steffen , Muhler Martin , Masa Justus , Schuhmann Wolfgang 
Published: April 2021

AbstractUnderstanding the structure‐property relations of non‐precious metal heteroatom co‐doped carbon electrocatalysts exhibiting high activity as well as long‐term durability for both ORR and OER remains challenging but is indispensable for the development of bifunctional ORR/OER electrocatalysts. We propose B‐N‐co‐doped graphitic 2D carbon nanostructures impregnated with controlled amount of transition metals (M‐BCN; M=Co, Ni, Fe, Cu) as bifunctional ORR/OER electrocatalysts. Co‐BCN outperformed the Ni‐, Fe‐, Cu‐based BCN catalysts exhibiting potential values of 0.87 V and 1.62 V at −1 mA/cm2 and 10 mA/cm2 during ORR and OER, respectively. Importantly, Co‐BCN shows bifunctional cyclic stability (Δη; EOER−EORR=0.75 V) of up to 300 cycles in 1 M KOH for a duration of 20 h with total activity loss of only 10.2 % (ORR) and 6.2 % (OER), respectively. A low loading of the metal precursors was used to preserve porosity and to facilitate the formation of metal nanoparticles or M−NxB/C type species embedded in the graphitic carbon layers. The B‐N‐co‐doped graphitic layers also protect the embedded metal nanoparticles explaining the observed long‐term stability.
An In‐Situ Self‐regeneration Catalyst for the Production of Renewable Penta‐1,3‐diene
Authors: Feng Ruilin , Qi Yanlong , Liu Shijun , Cui Long , Dai Quanquan , Bai Chenxi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractCatalyst deactivation is a problem of great concern for many heterogeneous reactions. Here, an urchin‐like LaPO4 catalyst was easily developed for pentane‐2,3‐diol dehydration; it has an impressive ability to restore the activity in situ by itself during the reaction, accounting for its high stability. This facilitates the efficient production of renewable penta‐1,3‐diene from pentane‐2,3‐dione via a novel approach, where penta‐2,3‐diol was obtained as an intermediate in 95 % yield under mild conditions.
Oxidative Coordination versus C3−C(O)Me Bond Cleavage in Acetylacetonate Iridium Complexes
Authors: Rivas Christopher E. , Alvarado‐Monzon Jose C. , Gonzalez‐Garcia Gerardo , Jimenez‐Halla J. Oscar C. , Rangel‐Garcia Jesus , Cristobal Crispin , Lopez Jorge A. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractIridabicycles [Ir{κ3‐N,C,O‐(pyC(H)=C(C(O)Me)2}(Cl)(L−L)](L−L=cod (cod=1,5‐cyclooctadiene), 1 a; bipy (bipy=2,2’‐bipyridine), 1 b) have been obtained by oxidative coordination of 3‐(pyridine‐2‐yl‐methylene)pentane‐2,4‐dione L1, to the complexes [{Ir(μ‐Cl)(cod)}2] and [{Ir(μ‐Cl)(coe)2}2] (coe=cis‐cyclooctene), the latter in the presence of bipy. Remarkably, cleavage of the C3−C(O)Me bond of L1 has instead been achieved in the reaction with [Ir(Cl)(dmb)2] (dmb=2,3‐dimethylbutadiene), yielding a compound formulated as [Ir{κ2‐N,C‐(pyC(H)C(C(O)Me))}(CO)(μ‐Cl)(Me)]2, 2. Treatment of dimer 2 with DMSO or PMe3 produced the complexes[Ir{κ2‐N,C‐(pyC(H)C(C(O)Me)}(CO)Cl(Me)L] (L=DMSO, 3 a; PMe3, 3 b). Plausible mechanisms for the reactions leading to complexes 1 and 2 are proposed by means of DFT calculations.
Process evolution in cell and gene therapy from discovery to commercialization
Authors: Csaszar Elizabeth , Mills Sara , Zandstra Peter W. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe field of cell and gene therapy (CGT) is maturing at a rapid rate. Manufacturing remains a major challenge and manufacturing failures and limitations are a notable source of CGT products not meeting specification or being held back from regulatory approvals. To ensure that products remain compliant and competitive throughout their lifecycle, CGT process development requires both ongoing advancement of fit‐for‐purpose technologies to allow for and support well‐designed development studies, and a methodology that enables these studies to occur effectively during focused product development campaigns. We describe a framework for ongoing innovation in CGT process development, manufacturing, and clinical testing, based on the quality by design (QbD) approach. We propose use of the concepts of process discovery, process characterization, and process development in an iterative way to refine the design space as a product matures. This strategy is enabled by the early implementation of broad and robust analytics, and a modular approach to accelerate optimization. With these strategies, CGT developers can prospectively plan for comparability studies and develop in a stage‐appropriate manner, to allow for ongoing innovation and improvements from discovery through to commercialization.
Early ultrasound evaluation identifies excellent responders to neoadjuvant systemic therapy among patients with triple‐negative breast cancer
Authors: Adrada Beatriz E. , Candelaria Rosalind , Moulder Stacy , Thompson Alastair , Wei Peng , Whitman Gary J. , Valero Vicente , Litton Jennifer K. , Santiago Lumarie , Scoggins Marion E. , Moseley Tanya W. , White Jason B. , Ravenberg Elizabeth E. , Yang Wei T. , Rauch Gaiane M. 
Published: April 2021

BACKGROUNDHeterogeneity exists in the response of triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) to standard anthracycline (AC)/taxane‐based neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NAST), with 40% to 50% of patients having a pathologic complete response (pCR) to therapy. Early assessment of the imaging response during NAST may identify a subset of TNBCs that are likely to have a pCR upon completion of treatment. The authors aimed to evaluate the performance of early ultrasound (US) after 2 cycles of neoadjuvant NAST in identifying excellent responders to NAST among patients with TNBC.METHODSTwo hundred fifteen patients with TNBC were enrolled in the ongoing ARTEMIS (A Robust TNBC Evaluation Framework to Improve Survival) clinical trial. The patients were divided into a discovery cohort (n = 107) and a validation cohort (n = 108). A receiver operating characteristic analysis with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and a multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to model the probability of a pCR on the basis of the tumor volume reduction (TVR) percentage by US from the baseline to after 2 cycles of AC.RESULTSOverall, 39.3% of the patients (42 of 107) achieved a pCR. A positive predictive value (PPV) analysis identified a cutoff point of 80% TVR after 2 cycles; the pCR rate was 77% (17 of 22) in patients with a TVR ≥ 80%, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.77‐0.92; P < .0001). In the validation cohort, the pCR rate was 44%. The PPV for pCR with a TVR ≥ 80% after 2 cycles was 76% (95% CI, 55%‐91%), and the AUC was 0.79 (95% CI, 0.70‐0.87; P < .0001).CONCLUSIONSThe TVR percentage by US evaluation after 2 cycles of NAST may be a cost‐effective early imaging biomarker for a pCR to AC/taxane‐based NAST.
Non‐electrolytic‐capacitor boost converter with non‐pulsating ripple‐free output current
Authors: Zhang Guidong , Chen Weichen , Yu Samson S. , Zhang Yun 
Published: April 2021

SummaryA novel boost converter is proposed in this study, which is based on a newly designed impedance network, instead of using the traditional Z‐network structure and large electrolytic capacitors (ECs) to suppress current ripples. Besides, the proposed topology has ripple‐free output current, which is designed to improve the output current quality of the traditional boost converter and to enhance the voltage conversion ratio compared to the traditional Z‐network boost converter. The newly proposed impedance network consists of two inductor and capacitor (LC) pairs—one LC pair function as the intermediate energy transferring branch and the other pair as the output branch to obtain non‐pulsating output current. The operating principle and performance of the proposed converter are analyzed in detail for demonstrating its advanced features. Furthermore, the feasibility of the proposed converter topology is validated by its simulations and experimental studies. Compared to ECs, non‐electrolytic capacitors (NECs) have the benefit of low cost, small size, and long operating life, which brings high economical advantages to the proposed converter with enhanced voltage conversion performances.
Non‐isolated high step‐up/step‐down quadratic converter for light‐emitting diode driving
Authors: Corrêa Douglas Rosa , de Morais Aniel Silva , Tofoli Fernando Lessa 
Published: April 2021

SummaryThis work presents an alternating current–direct current (AC–DC) single‐switch quadratic single‐ended primary inductance converter (SEPIC) for applications involving light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). The proposed topology is basically composed of two cascaded SEPIC stages, where the first one provides input power factor correction (PFC) and the second one allows obtaining power control (PC) for dimming purposes. It is also capable of providing high step‐up or step‐down without requiring the use of extreme duty ratios. A detailed qualitative analysis is derived, from which it is possible to obtain a consistent design procedure. Experimental results from a laboratory prototype are thoroughly discussed aiming at validating the theoretical assumptions.
Silylating Disulfides and Thiols with Hydrosilicones Catalyzed by B(C6F5)3
Authors: Liao Mengchen , Zheng Sijia , Brook Michael A. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHydrosilanes and silicones, catalyzed with B(C6F5)3, may be used to silylate thiols or cleave disulfides giving silyl thio ethers. Alcohols were found to react faster than thiols or disulfides, while alkoxysilanes (the Piers‐Rubinsztajn reaction) were slower such that the overall order of reactivity was found to be HO>HS>SS>SiOEt. The resulting silane and silicone‐protected thio ethers produced from the sulfur‐based functional groups could be cleaved to thiols using alcohols or mild acid with rates that depend on the steric bulk of the siloxane.
UV sensitive ZnO and TiO2‐ZnO nanocrystalline transparent glass‐ceramic materials for photocatalytic decontamination of surface water and textile industry wastewater
Authors: Abdel‐Wahed Mahmoud S. , Abdel‐Karim Ahmed , Margha Fatma H. , Gad‐Allah Tarek A. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe dispersion of pollutants in the aquatic environment is an emerging health concern worldwide. In this sense, it is essential to develop new materials that can improve the treatment quality of both water and wastewater. The present study has demonstrated evidence of the applicability of recyclable glass‐ceramic materials for the efficient photocatalytic treatment of real surface water and textile industry wastewater. Two glass compositions containing TiO2 or ZnO‐TiO2 have been investigated. The studied materials exhibited good performance in terms of humic acid and COD removal from raw surface water and textile industry wastewater, respectively. However, ZnO‐TiO2 glass‐ceramic photocatalyst was the best photocatalyst with maximum efficiency of 53% HA removal from surface water and 75% decolorization (or 60% COD removal) of wastewater. What is more, the reusability tests confirmed a minor variation (<4%) in the photocatalytic efficacy for three consecutive usages. Therefore, the prepared materials are suitable for the applications in which reusability is an important key factor such as water and wastewater decontamination.
Updated probabilistic seismic performance assessment framework for ordinary standard bridges in California
Authors: Deb Angshuman , Zha Alex L. , Caamaño‐Withall Zachary A. , Conte Joel P. , Restrepo José I. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractWith the recent advent of performance‐based earthquake engineering (PBEE) in seismic design practice of buildings serving as an impetus for this work, initial steps toward a fully probabilistic performance‐based seismic design (PBSD) method for bridges, a less trodden area in terms of PBEE applications, are taken herein by assembling an updated probabilistic seismic performance assessment framework for ordinary standard bridges (OSBs) in California. The framework stems from the comprehensive PBEE methodology developed under the auspices of the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research (PEER) Center. With performance measures defined as the risk associated with the exceedance of a set of damage/limit‐states (LSs), improvements from the state‐of‐the‐art literature on the PEER PBEE methodology are incorporated, including (1) introduction of an improved intensity measure ‐ average spectral acceleration over a period range, (2) conditional mean spectrum‐based hazard‐consistent and site‐specific ground motion selection, (3) introduction of material strain‐based engineering demand parameters, (4) use of practical LSs pertinent to seismic damage evaluation of bridges, and (5) development of strain‐based normalized fragility functions for the considered LSs. The updated framework, assembled herein using a specific testbed California OSB as a case in point, is general within its scope and is applicable to the gamut of design situations representative of the population of OSBs in California. With the PEER PBEE framework implemented for OSBs in an updated and rigorous form, the groundwork for utilizing this framework in the context of PBSD of such bridges is laid.