bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Beating of Eucalyptus Pulp Fibers under Neutral and Alkaline Conditions – A Valley Beater Study
Authors: Dölle Klaus , Bajrami Bardhyl 
Published: June 2021

Beating is one of the most important and complicated processes that influences paper production and paper quality from both a process and a paper property standpoint.
With increasing costs, environmental regulations and competitiveness in the today’s global market, paper and board producers revisit existing production process to decrease production costs. New approached with additives such as new developed in-situ precipitated paper fillers materials have the potential to reduce production cost and increase profit margins.
For this research bleached eucalyptus Kraft pulp adjusted to a pH of 7.5, 11.0 and 12.3, and laboratory manufactured in-situ precipitated calcium carbonate with a filler level based on oven dry fiber content of 20.9% and 41.7% and a pH of 7.5, and commercial produced precipitated calcium carbonate filler of 10% and 20%. All pulp suspensions were beaten for 80 minutes with samples taken at the unbeaten level and 20 minutes increments.
The beating curve over 80 minutes beating time show that pulp suspensions with in-situ produced filer material have a higher dewatering ability with increasing filler content compared to the pulps with commercial PCC and different pH values.
Viscosity slightly decreases for pulp suspension with commercial and in-situ produced filler content. Pulp suspension at a pH of 12.3 showed a significant decrease in viscosity over the 80 minutes beating time, superseding the filler containing pulp suspensions.
Basis weight decreased over beating time for all pulp suspensions, which can be explained with an increased fines production during beating and lower fiber retention during handsheet forming.
The breaking length index increase for all pulp suspensions till 40 minutes of beating time for the filler containing pulp suspensions.
Tear index and burst index curves based on beating time are similar for all pulp suspensions with a maximum at 40 minutes beating for the tear index and 60 minutes beating for the burst index. High filler containing pulp suspension showed the lowest tear index.
Formulation Development and Optimization of Sustained Release Microspheres of Acebrophylline
Authors: Shah Niyati , Sheikh Ayesha , Jain Hitesh 
Published: June 2021

Objectives: Aim of present work is to prepare and evaluate Sustained release microspheres of Acebrophylline for treatment of Asthma.
Experimental work: In present investigation, attempt was made to prepare sustained release microspheres of Acebrophylline with different polymer ratio using Ionic gelation method. Drug- excipient compatibility studies were performed by FTIR. The best suited Microspheres formulation was found on the basis production yield, entrapment efficiency and in vitro release study. Optimized batch of microspheres (B2) was characterized for FTIR, DSC, and SEM analysis. The drug release data of optimized batch was fitted into different release kinetic models. The optimized batch of microspheres (B2) was subjected for the short term stability study at 40 ± 2°C with RH of 75% for a period of 1 month.
Results and discussion: There was no interaction found between drug and excipients. Sodium alginate (2%) concentration, Eudragit RS-100 (1:2) ratio gave highest sustainable property and CaCl2 (2.5%) concentration had a good cross linking property. This observation done on the basis of production yield, entrapment efficiency and In vitro release study. The Microspheres prepared from Ionic gelation method had Drug : Eudragit RS100 (1:2), 2 % Sodium alginate and 2.5 % CaCl2 (B2) give 99.2 % drug release over the periods of 12 hr. The drug release from optimized microspheres formulation (B2) follows first order release kinetic. DSC study showed the melting behavior of drug present into microspheres. SEM studies showed that optimized microspheres were spherical and rough surface. Stability study proved that optimized formulation (B2) was stable.
Conclusion: Drug: Polymer ratio and Volume of CaCl2 had significant effect on % Entrapment efficiency and Drug release. From the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) study observed that microspheres was spherical and rough surface. Non Fickian diffusion was the mode of drug release from Acebrophylline- loaded microspheres. After stability study no physical changes & almost same drug release was observed in microspheres. Hence, the formulation B2 was stable.
Assessment of the Deficiency of Vitamin D among the Tuberculosis Patients at People Medical College Hospital Nawabshah, Pakistan
Authors: Sial Sikander Ali , Tanwani Bhojo Mal , Jamali Anwar Ali , Shaikh Farheen , Zardari Asad Ali , Kajal Laxmi , Ahmer Arslan 
Published: June 2021

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess deficiency of Vitamin D among the Tuberculosis Patients at People’s Medical College Hospital (PMCH) Nawabshah, Pakistan.
Methodology: This was a case-control study in which 184 new diagnosed tuberculosis patients aged between 30 to 50 years were selected and 200 were taken as control. The study was conducted from June 2020 to May 2021. Well-structured questionnaire was administered to both case and control groups. Body mass index (BMI) was recorded as (kg/m2). Blood samples were collected for the presence of Vitamin D3 levels. Statistical Software for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23 was used to analyze the data.
Results: The mean age and standard deviation (SD) of the patients was 45.11 ± 7.99 years and gender distribution was females 94/184 (51%) and males 90/184 (49%) in patients. There was Vitamin D deficiency in 79/184 (39%) patients.
Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency was common among tuberculosis patients in contrast to control group. The female patients with low Body Mass Index (BMI) (kg/m2) were having the more deficiency of Vitamin D. Vitamin D supplementation has vital role in tuberculosis treatment and prevention.
Single‐Mode, High‐Brightness, and High‐Speed VCSEL Arrays
Authors: Khan Zuhaib , Shi Jin‐Wei 
Published: June 2021

AbstractOptical sources such as high‐brightness and high‐speed vertical‐cavity surface‐emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays are preferred for a variety of applications such as, LiDAR, 3‐D sensing, and free‐space optical communication (FSC). However, further improvement in depth of resolution and ranging distance for these time‐of‐flight (ToF)‐driven systems can be accomplished by using VCSEL arrays having high brightness (large output power and narrow divergence angle) and faster response time. However, to increase the output power of these VCSEL arrays to watt level, several light emission apertures (several hundreds) need to be connected in parallel, which results in large parasitic capacitance. Hence, RC‐limited bandwidth becomes an influential aspect that restricts the speed of these high‐power VCSEL arrays. In this review article, we discuss recent progresses in high‐power VCSEL arrays and our own achievements in this field. By using tensile strain (induced by electroplated copper substrate) and Zn‐diffusion technique, we elaborate our previous work in which we successfully demonstrated a novel VCSEL array having high power (3 W), highly single mode (SM), high brightness (1 e−2divergence angle, ∼10°), and single‐polarized output performance without increasing threshold current (Ith) and intra‐cavity loss. Furthermore, thanks to the oxide‐relief process, which has tendency to decrease the parasitic capacitance that leads to rise time of demonstrated VCSEL array as short as around 100 ps. This number is around ten times shorter than that of commercially available VCSEL arrays with the same output power level (∼3 W) at the same wavelength (∼940 nm).
Germline DNA damage repair gene mutations in pancreatic cancer patients with personal/family histories of pancreas/breast/ovarian/prostate cancer in a Japanese population
Authors: Hata Tatsuo , Mizuma Masamichi , Motoi Fuyuhiko , Ishida Masaharu , Ohtsuka Hideo , Nakagawa Kei , Morikawa Takanori , Furukawa Toru , Unno Michiaki 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAimCancer patients with personal/family histories of pancreatic/breast/ovarian/prostate cancer are associated with a higher likelihood of harboring DNA damage repair (DDR)‐related germline mutations. Here, we aimed to obtain a better understanding of DDR‐related germline mutations in Japanese pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients with personal and/or family histories of BRCA‐related cancers of the pancreas, breast, ovary, and prostate.MethodsWe performed next‐generation sequencing (NGS) and evaluated germline mutations in nine DDR‐related genes (BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, PALB2, CHEK2, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2) in PDAC patients with personal and/or family histories.ResultsOf 196 patients with PDAC, 39 (19.9%) fulfilled the criteria for at least one family history of pancreatic/breast/ovarian/prostate cancer in first‐degree relatives (sibling–sibling or parent‐child) or the personal history of these malignancies. Targeted NGS revealed that four (10.2%) of 39 patients with personal/family histories harbored deleterious germline mutations—two in BRCA2, one in ATM, and one in MLH1. Both the BRCA2 variants showed frameshift mutations due to short insertion/deletions. In the 39 patients undergoing NGS, a similar distribution of the clinicopathological characteristics was observed between those with deleterious mutations/variants of unknown significance (VUSs) and with benign/wild types. Patients with deleterious germline mutations/VUSs in DDR‐related genes showed a significantly more favorable prognosis than those with benign mutations/wild‐type genes (hazard ratio: 0.160, P = .040).ConclusionsA significant fraction of PDAC patients with personal/family histories of BRCA‐related cancers harbored deleterious germline mutations in DDR‐related genes. DDR‐related germline gene mutations might be a favorable prognostic factor in patients with pancreatic cancer.
Rapid Luminescent Enhancement Triggered by One‐shot Needlestick‐stimulus Using a Liquescent Gold(I) Salt
Authors: Zhang Di , Suzuki Shuichi , Naota Takeshi 
Published: June 2021

AbstractLuminescence from a gold(I) complex with an N‐heterocycliccarbene‐based ligand, 1+⋅NTf2−, increased rapidly upon the application of one‐shot needlestick‐stimulus. The weakly orange‐emitting solid‐state of 1+⋅NTf2− was prepared by cooling its melted liquid to 90 °C. Upon applying a weak pinpoint stimulus with a needle, this weakly orange‐emitting solid state transformed into an intensively violet‐blue‐emitting state on a timescale of seconds. The emission after applying the stimulus could be visualized upon UV excitation even under ambient room light. This sequential phase transition from a stable solid to a liquid and then to a metastable solid could occur repeatedly without any measurable degradation of the complex. Various shapes could be prepared by casting the liquid‐state complex into molds of different designs. This rapid response is thought to be triggered by the flexible intermolecular interactions in the kinetically generated aggregates formed upon cooling the liquid state, and by the strong Au–Au interactions in the thermodynamically stable crystals after applying the needlestick‐stimulus.
Systematic Review of Preoperative Patient Readiness
Authors: Torres Gian Carlo S. , Fernandez Dennis F. , Ledbetter Leila , Relf Michael V. 
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACTPreoperative readiness indicates the patient’s capacity to process information, consider possible outcomes, and decide to undergo a surgical procedure. This systematic review examines how the term “patient readiness” is used in the literature and synthesizes how preoperative interventions address readiness. A medical librarian searched five electronic databases to identify articles published between July 1, 2008, and June 30, 2019, that address studies including adult patients scheduled for surgery who participated in programs designed to foster readiness or studies that explored surgical readiness. After extracting 28 studies, the authors assessed the articles for quality and thematically synthesized them to describe actions and indicators of patient readiness according to the Perioperative Patient Focused Model. Readiness can positively influence surgical outcomes (eg, pain, satisfaction); however, there is a paucity of high‐level, quality evidence that discusses surgical readiness for perioperative care. Nurses should use the information in this review to improve patient‐centered preoperative care.
Time‐Dependent Analysis of Risk of New‐Onset Heart Failure Among Patients With Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis
Authors: Lin Chun‐Yu , Chen Hung‐An , Hsu Tsai‐Ching , Wu Chun‐Hsin , Su Yu‐Jih , Hsu Chung‐Yuan 
Published: June 2021

ObjectiveTo determine the risk and time trends of heart failure (HF) leading to hospitalization in individuals newly diagnosed as having polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) relative to non‐PM/DM controls at the general population level.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from a nationwide insurance database in Taiwan. Patients with incident PM/DM and without a history of HF were selected between 2000 and 2013. Unmatched and propensity score–matched cohorts were established separately. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for the risk of HF in the unmatched cohort. In the propensity score–matched cohort, general population controls were selected and matched at a 1:1 ratio to the patients with PM/DM based on propensity scores, which accounted for the confounding factors of age, sex, index date (year) of first diagnosis, comorbidities, and medication usage. The cumulative incidence of HF was estimated using the Kaplan‐Meier method. A stratified Cox proportional hazards model was used to calculate the HR for the risk of HF events at different follow‐up time points among patients with PM/DM compared with non‐PM/DM controls in the propensity score–matched cohort.ResultsIn the unmatched cohort, the study assessed 2,025 patients with PM/DM and 196,109 general population controls. Results of multivariable Cox regression analysis, adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, and medication usage, revealed a greater risk of HF leading to hospitalization in the PM/DM group than in the control group (adjusted HR 3.29, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 2.60–4.18). After matching based on propensity score, a total of 1,997 pairs of PM/DM patients and general population controls were identified. In this propensity score–matched cohort, the cumulative incidence of HF in patients with PM/DM at 3 years, 5 years, and 10 years was 3.3%, 4.4%, and 7.4%, respectively. The absolute difference in HF risk in the PM/DM group compared with the control group was 1.8% at 3 years, 2.1% at 5 years, and 3.0% at 10 years. Compared with general population controls, patients with PM/DM exhibited an augmented risk of HF (HR 2.06, 95% CI 1.36–3.12). Analyses stratified according to follow‐up time point revealed that the increased risk of HF persisted for up to 10 years after the PM/DM diagnosis.ConclusionThese results indicate that the risk of HF leading to hospitalization was increased in patients with PM/DM throughout the study period, supporting the need for greater vigilance in the monitoring of patients with PM/DM for the development of this potentially lethal complication.
Isolation of lignin‐containing cellulose nanocrystals: life‐cycle environmental impacts and opportunities for improvement
Authors: Zargar Shiva , Jiang Jungang , Jiang Feng , Tu Qingshi 
Published: June 2021

AbstractDeep eutectic solvent (DES) has recently been attracting great interest for its role in isolating nanocellulose owing to its distinct advantages of biodegradability, low toxicity, and recyclability. Lignin‐containing cellulose nanocrystals (LCNCs) obtained using DES pretreatment has led to an improvement in the production of nanomaterials. Understanding the potential environmental impacts of this novel technology at the laboratory scale provides important insights to improve its sustainability at full scale in the future. This study evaluates the environmental impacts of the production of LCNCs from thermomechanical pulp (TMP) following acidic DES pretreatment (using a binary system of ‘choline chloride – oxalic acid dihydrate’ or a ternary system of ‘choline chloride – oxalic acid dihydrate – p‐toluenesulfonic acid’) based on various laboratory trials. The evaluation was conducted through a cradle‐to‐gate life‐cycle assessment for global warming potential (GWP), acidification potential (AP) and the cumulative energy demand (MJ). The average GWP, AP, and energy use were 39 kg CO2‐eq, 0.17 kg SO2‐eq, and 995 MJ per kg LCNCs, respectively. The sensitivity analysis showed that different degrees of reduction in environmental impact could be achieved by varying the input volume and/or reuse frequency of DES solutions. The largest reductions in GWP, AP, and energy use were achieved by reducing the input volume of DES solutions to 20% of its default value. The results of this LCA study illustrate the direction for future research and development (R&D) to further improve the sustainability of this DES‐mediated LCNC production technology. Through comparisons with the existing literature, this study also confirms the predominant contribution of chemical manufacturing to the overall environmental impacts of nanocellulose isolation technologies in general. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Geographical mobility and children’s non‐completion of upper secondary education in Finland and Germany: Do parental resources matter?
Authors: McMullin Patricia , Karhula Aleksi , Kilpi‐Jakonen Elina , Erola Jani 
Published: June 2021

It is often assumed that families migrate to improve their economic and social prospects, and that these additional resources can benefit the whole family. However, existing research suggests that many children who have experienced (internal) migration underperform compared to their non‐migrating peers in terms of different socioeconomic outcomes. In this article, we study the effects of geographical mobility on children’s non‐completion of upper secondary education in Finland and Germany using Finnish register data and the German National Educational Panel Study. Our findings indicate that moving during childhood is associated with the risk of not attaining any secondary degree in both countries. In Finland, this is mostly explained by negative selection into moving (i.e. those who move are more likely to be disadvantaged). In Germany, however, an independent association between moving and educational attainment remains after taking into account various reasons why families move. Furthermore, for both Germany and Finland, any labour force status or earning gains parents make after a move do not seem to compensate for the negative influence of internal migration on children’s educational dropout. Overall, we conclude that geographically mobile children may be a vulnerable subgroup in the inter‐generational transmission of inequality, therefore schools have an important role to play in integrating internal migrants—as well as international migrants—into the social networks of the schools they arrive in.
Precise and reliable control of gene expression in Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Authors: Qian Yuanchao , Kong Wentao , Lu Ting 
Published: June 2021

AbstractAgrobacterium tumefaciens is a soil‐borne bacterium that is known for its DNA delivery ability and widely exploited for plant transformation. Despite continued interest in improving the utility of the organism, the lack of well‐characterized engineering tools limits the realization of its full potential. Here, we present a synthetic biology toolkit that enables precise and effective control of gene expression in A. tumefaciens. We constructed and characterized six inducible expression systems. Then, we optimized the one regulated by cumic acid through amplifier introduction and promoter engineering and evaluated its 15 cognate promoters. To establish fine‐tunability, we constructed a series of spacers and a promoter library to systematically modulate both translational and transcriptional rates. We finally demonstrated the application of the tools by co‐expressing genes with altered expression levels using a single signal. This study provides precise expression tools for A. tumefaciens, facilitating rational engineering of the bacterium for advanced plant biotechnological applications.
Polymer Nanodiscs and Their Bioanalytical Potential
Authors: Farrelly Michelle D. , Martin Lisandra L. , Thang San H. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMembrane proteins (MPs) play a pivotal role in cellular function and are therefore predominant pharmaceutical targets. Although detailed understanding of MP structure and mechanistic activity is invaluable for rational drug design, challenges are associated with the purification and study of MPs. This review delves into the historical developments that became the prelude to currently available membrane mimetic technologies before shining a spotlight on polymer nanodiscs. These are soluble nanosized particles capable of encompassing MPs embedded in a phospholipid ring. The expanding range of reported amphipathic polymer nanodisc materials is presented and discussed in terms of their tolerance to different solution conditions and their nanodisc properties. Finally, the analytical scope of polymer nanodiscs is considered in both the demonstration of basic nanodisc parameters as well as in the elucidation of structures, lipid–protein interactions, and the functional mechanisms of reconstituted membrane proteins. The final emphasis is given to the unique benefits and applications demonstrated for native nanodiscs accessed through a detergent free process.
Facile Approach to C‐Glucosides by Using a Protecting‐Group‐Free Hiyama Cross‐Coupling Reaction: High‐Yielding Dapagliflozin Synthesis
Authors: Vaňková Karolína , Rahm Michal , Choutka Jan , Pohl Radek , Parkan Kamil 
Published: June 2021

AbstractInvited for the cover of this issue is Kamil Parkan and co‐workers at University of Chemistry and Technology and Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Prague. The cover graphic depicts a schematic representation of the assembly of aryl‐C‐glycosides based on a protecting‐group‐free Hiyama reaction. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.202101052.