bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Caplacizumab Model‐Based Dosing Recommendations in Pediatric Patients With Acquired Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Authors: Bergstrand Martin , Hansson Emma , Delaey Bernard , Callewaert Filip , De Passos Sousa Rui , Sargentini‐Maier Maria Laura 
Published: October 2021

AbstractAcquired thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (aTTP) is a rare and life‐threatening autoimmune thrombotic microangiopathy. Caplacizumab, evaluated in phase II and III studies in adults, shortens the time to platelet count response and reduces aTTP exacerbations, has a favorable safety profile, and can potentially reduce refractoriness and mortality associated with aTTP. Since no children with aTTP were enrolled in these clinical trials, caplacizumab has been initially approved for use only in adult patients with aTTP (10 mg). Pediatric dosing recommendations were developed using model‐based simulations. A semimechanistic pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic population model has been developed describing the interaction between caplacizumab and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag) following intravenous and subcutaneous administration of caplacizumab in different adult populations, at various dose levels, using nonlinear mixed‐effects modeling. Based on the allometrically scaled pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model, different dosing regimens were simulated in 8000 children (aged 2‐18 years). Simulated caplacizumab exposures and vWF:Ag levels across different age categories were compared to an adult reference group. A simulated daily dose of 5 mg in children weighing <40 kg and of 10 mg in children weighing ≥40 kg resulted in similar exposures and vWF:Ag suppression across age and weight groups. Despite the lack of pediatric clinical data, the results of this modeling and simulation analysis constituted the basis for the European extension of indication for caplacizumab (10 mg) to adolescents aged >12 years and with a body weight ≥40 kg. This represents a rare case in which regulatory authorities have deemed a modeling and simulation study robust enough to approve a variation of indication.
Investigation of polyacrylamide hydrogel‐based molecularly imprinted polymers using protein gel electrophoresis
Authors: EL Sharif Hazim F. , Giosia Flavio , Reddy Subrayal M. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractIn conjunction with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), molecular imprinting methods have been applied to produce a multilayer mini‐slab in order to evaluate how selectively and specifically a hydrogel‐based molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) binds bovine haemoglobin (BHb, ~64.5 kDa). A three‐layer mini‐slab comprising an upper and lower layer and a MIP, or a non‐imprinted control polymer dispersion middle layer has been investigated. The discriminating MIP layer, also based on polyacrylamide, was able to specifically bind BHb molecules in preference to a protein similar in molecular weight such as bovine serum albumin (BSA, ~66 kDa). Protein staining allowed us to visualise the protein retention strength of the MIP layer under the influence of an electric field. This method could be applied to other proteins with implications in effective protein capture, disease diagnostics, and protein analysis.
SARS‐CoV‐2 variant with mutations in N gene affecting detection by widely used PCR primers
Authors: Laine Pia , Nihtilä Hanna , Mustanoja Ella , Lyyski Annina , Ylinen Anne , Hurme Jukka , Paulin Lars , Jokiranta Sakari , Auvinen Petri , Meri Taru 
Published: October 2021

AbstractWhile most of the spontaneous mutations in the viral genome have no functional, diagnostic, or clinical consequences, some have. In February 2021, we noticed in Southern Finland coronavirus disease 2019 cases where two commercial polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses failed to recognize the used N gene target but recognized the other target gene of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Complete viral genome sequence analysis of the strains revealed several mutations that were not found at that time in public databases. A short 3 bp deletion and three subsequent single nucleotide polymorphisms in the N gene were found exactly at the site where an early published and widely used N gene‐based PCR primer is located, explaining the negative results in the N gene PCR. Later the variant strain was identified as a member of the B.1.1.318 Pango lineage that had first been found from Nigerian samples collected in January 2021. This strain shares with the Beta variant the S gene E484K mutation linked to impaired vaccine protection, but differs from this variant in several other ways, for example by deletions in the N gene region. Mutations in the N gene causing diagnostic resistance and on the other hand E484K mutation in the causing altered infectivity warrants careful inspection on virus variants that might get underdiagnosed.
The seasonal predictability of the wet season over Peninsular Florida
Authors: Narotsky Carly D. , Misra Vasubandhu 
Published: October 2021

AbstractIn this study, we examine the seasonal predictability of Peninsular Florida (PF)'s boreal summer season, which is also known as the PF wet season (PFWS) due to the coinciding peak of the robust seasonal cycle of rainfall. The seasonal predictability is examined in the Community Climate System Model, version 4 (CCSM4), which is one of the models of the North American Multi‐Model Ensemble used for routine, operational seasonal forecasts by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Center (CPC). An objective definition of the onset and the demise of the PFWS are then implemented, and the predictability of the onset, the demise and the seasonal rainfall anomaly is assessed from the CCSM4 seasonal hindcasts. Our study shows that the 33 years (1983–2015) of the CCSM4 seasonal hindcasts display very poor deterministic and probabilistic skill in predicting the onset and the demise of the PFWS and its seasonal rainfall anomalies for all lead times. It is shown that the seasonal hindcasts display poor skill for both the fixed calendar month and varying seasonal length of the PFWS. In many of these instances, the skills deteriorate with the lead time of the CCSM4 hindcasts, although, in some cases, they bear no relation (e.g., demise date of the PFWS). Our analysis reveals that the interannual variability of the location of the western ridge of the North Atlantic subtropical high is poorly rendered in the seasonal hindcast of CCSM4 with respect to reanalysis. This could explain the origins of some of the potential issues of the CCSM4 seasonal hindcasts with the variability of the PFWS.
The role of the timing of sudden stratospheric warmings for precipitation and temperature anomalies in Europe
Authors: Monnin Erika , Kretschmer Marlene , Polichtchouk Inna 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe Northern Hemisphere stratospheric polar vortex (SPV), a band of fast westerly winds over the Pole extending from approximately 10 to 50 km altitude, is a key driver of European winter weather. Extremely weak polar vortex states, so called sudden stratospheric warmings (SSWs), are on average followed by dry and cold weather in Northern Europe, as well as wetter weather in Southern Europe. However, the surface response of SSWs varies greatly between events, and it is not well understood which factors modulate this difference. Here, we address the role of the timing of SSWs within the cold season (December–March) for the temperature and precipitation response in Europe. Given the limited sample size of SSWs in the observations, hindcasts of the seasonal forecasting model SEAS5 from the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts are analysed. First, we evaluate key characteristics of stratosphere–troposphere coupling in SEAS5 against reanalysis data and find them to be reasonably well captured by the model, justifying our approach. We then show that in SEAS5, early winter (December and January) SSWs are followed by more pronounced surface impacts compared to late winter (February and March) SSWs. For example, in Scotland, the low precipitation anomalies are roughly twice as severe after early winter SSWs than after late winter SSWs. The difference in the response cannot be explained by more downward propagating SSWs in early winter, or by different monthly precipitation climatologies. Instead, we demonstrate that the differences result from stronger SPV anomalies associated with early winter SSWs. This is a statistical artefact introduced through the commonly used SSW event definition, which involves an absolute threshold, and, therefore, leads to stronger SPV anomalies during early winter SSWs when the stratospheric mean state is stronger. Our study highlights the sensitivity of surface impacts to SSW event definition.
Predictors of anatomical and functional outcomes following tympanoplasty: A retrospective study of 413 procedures
Authors: Zhu Xiao‐Hui , Zhang Yong‐Li , Xue Ruo‐Yan , Xie Meng‐Yao , Tang Qi , Yang Hua 
Published: October 2021

AbstractObjectivesTo identify the predictors of anatomical and functional outcomes following tympanoplasty.Study DesignA retrospective cohort study.MethodsPatients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) who underwent a tympanoplasty at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2019 were retrospectively included. Outcome measures included graft success and postoperative pure tone audiometry air‐bone gap (PTA‐ABG) at last follow‐up (≥6 months). PTA‐ABG and MERI were calculated. Descriptive, univariable, and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the predictors of the graft and hearing outcomes.ResultsDuring the study, 385 patients (167 male, 218 female, median age 44 years) undergoing 413 procedures were studied. Out of this, 219 ears underwent tympanoplasty, 45 ears had tympanoplasty with canal wall up mastoidectomy, and 149 ears had tympanoplasty with canal wall down mastoidectomy. At the last follow‐up, the overall graft success rate was 91.3% (377/413) and the overall hearing success rate was 40% (165/413). Multivariable analysis results showed that the obstructed aditus ad antrum (OR 2.67, 95%CI 1.13‐6.30; P = .025) was an independent prognostic factor for graft failures. Moreover, the obstructed aditus ad antrum (OR 2.18, 95%CI 1.16‐4.08; P = .015) and MERI >3 (OR 6.53, 95%CI 3.55‐12.02; P < .001) were independent predictors of hearing failures (PTA‐ABG > 20 dB).ConclusionsAditus ad antrum patency was an independent predictor of both graft and hearing success among patients following tympanoplasty. MERI score greater than three was found to be a significant predictor of postoperative hearing and could serve as a useful tool for assisting clinicians in perioperative risk assessment.Level of Evidence4.
Seasonality of dissolved organic matter in lagoon ecosystems along the Alaska Beaufort Sea coast
Authors: Connolly Craig T. , Crump Byron C. , Dunton Kenneth H. , McClelland James W. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractSeasonal variations in dissolved organic matter (DOM) fluxes from land to sea have been well documented in the Arctic, yet remarkably little is known about how DOM varies seasonally within Arctic coastal waters. This is particularly true for shallow inshore environments. Here we document seasonality of DOM in lagoons along the eastern Alaska Beaufort Sea coast during the spring ice break‐up (June), summer open‐water (August), and late winter ice‐covered (April) periods. We measured dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations, C:N ratios, and chromophoric DOM (CDOM) characteristics (SUVA254 and S275–295). On average, lagoon DOC was highest during spring (~200 μM) and lowest during winter (~120 μM). C:N and SUVA254 also differed markedly between spring (C:N ~ 28; SUVA254 ~ 3.5 L mg C−1 m−1) and winter (C:N ~ 16; SUVA254 ~ 2.2 L mg C−1 m−1). Average S275–295 values (~14–17 × 10−3 nm−1) were not significantly different among seasons, but variability in S275–295 was much lower in spring. This was attributed to terrestrial runoff based on its relatively uniform composition during the spring freshet. Seasonal variations in lagoon DOM were broadly correlated with variations in salinity (i.e., lagoon water transitioned from largely fresh in spring to hypersaline in winter), but a mixing analysis revealed strong evidence of processing and net DOC generation in summer. We also found evidence of DOC processing and build‐up under the ice over the winter. This baseline understanding of DOM seasonality in Arctic lagoons is essential for evaluating climate‐linked impacts on Arctic coastal ecosystems and broader feedbacks associated with carbon cycling.
Sunlight‐Mediated Degradation of Polyethylene under the Synergy of Photothermal CH Activation and Modification
Authors: Kong Shengnan , He Congze , Dong Jin , Li Ning , Xu Chaoran , Pan Xiangcheng 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThe reuse of waste plastic has always been one of the challenges in the field of macromolecular science. The authors report that the degradation of polyethylene (PE) plastics can be achieved by a photothermal reaction using tetrabutylammonium decatungstate (TBADT) as photocatalysts, and the grafting of diisopropyl azodicarboxylate (DIAD) onto PE concurrently occurs under sunlight irradiation. Through adjusting the amount of DIAD or TBADT used in the reaction, low molecular weight PE waxes with tunable polarity can be prepared. This method can be applied to different sorts of PE plastics including films, gloves, and bags. Subsequently, synthesized low molecular weight PE‐graft‐DIAD waxes are used as compatibilizers to successfully realize the compatibilized blending of polyolefin plastics and starch, which paved a viable way to reuse waste plastics to reduce environmental pollution.
Characterization of endogenous promoters of GapC1 and GS for recombinant protein expression in Phaeodactylum tricornutum
Authors: Erdene‐Ochir Erdenedolgor , Shin Bok‐Kyu , Huda Md Nazmul , Lee Eun Ha , Song Dae‐Geun , Jung Choonkyun , Pan Cheol‐Ho 
Published: October 2021

AbstractAlthough diatoms have been utilized as a cellular factory to produce biopharmaceuticals, recombinant proteins, and biofuels, only a few numbers of gene promoters are available. Therefore, the development of novel endogenous promoters is essential for the production of a range of bioactive substances. Here, we characterized the activities of endogenous promoters glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GapC1) and glutamine synthetase (GS) of Phaeodactylum tricornutum using green fluorescent protein (GFP) under different culture conditions. Compared with the widely used fucoxanthin chlorophyll‐binding protein A (fcpA) promoter, the GS promoter constitutively drove the expression of GFP throughout all growth phases of P. tricornutum, regardless of culture conditions. Additionally, the GFP level driven by the GapC1 promoter was the highest at the log phase, similar to the fcpA promoter, and increased light and nitrogen‐starvation conditions reduced GFP levels by inhibiting promoter activity. These results suggested that the GS promoter could be utilized as a strong endogenous promoter for the genetic engineering of P. tricornutum.
Insights into ground response during underground coal gasification through thermo‐mechanical modeling
Authors: Gao Wu , Zagorščak Renato , Thomas Hywel Rhys 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThis paper presents a coupled thermo‐mechanical model to investigate the ground response during underground coal gasification (UCG). The model incorporated the temporal and spatial development of temperature, the gradual growth of the cavity, and temperature‐dependent material properties. Model verification was made against two benchmarks to acquire the confidence for the predictive purpose. The first exercise demonstrated the correctness of the model implemented in COMPASS. The second exercise showed that using the ash‐filled cavity to represent null or empty zones is a good option in the numerical modeling and provided highly comparable results to other models. Based on the Hanna UCG trial, different cases were simulated to investigate the effects of the cavity size in the coal seam and the thermal expansion coefficient of the caprock and base rock on key features that take place during the process of UCG. A maximum temperature in the range of 1200–1500 ℃ was induced by the gasification of coal, and a cavity with a maximum length of 13.5 m was formed after 30 days of simulation. Meanwhile, small vertical displacement in the range of ‐5–12 mm took place near the cavity because of the thermal expansion of the geologic materials and the reduction of the overall weight with the creation of the cavity. In addition, it was found the thermal expansion coefficients can influence the thermo‐mechanical response of geologic materials, but the effects were insignificant when its order of magnitude was smaller than 10‐6 K‐1.
Intestinal mycobiota composition and changes in children with thalassemia who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Yalcin Siddika Songul , Aksu Tekin , Kuskonmaz Baris , Ozbek Namık Yasar , Pérez‐Brocal Vicente , Celik Melda , Uckan Cetinkaya Duygu , Moya Andrés , Dinleyici Ener Cagri 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackground: Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) alters the diversity of the intestinal bacterial microbiota. This study aimed to evaluate human mycobiota composition pre‐HSCT and post‐HSCT in children with thalassemia.Method: Ten children with thalassemia undergoing allogeneic HSCT were enrolled. The stool samples were collected before the transplantation regimen, before the transplant day, and +15, +30 days, and three months after transplantation. Stool samples were also collected from the donor and the patient's caregivers. Gut mycobiota composition was evaluated with metagenomic analysis.Results: Pretransplant mycobiota of children with thalassemia (the predominant genus was Saccharomyces, 64.1%) has been shown to approximate the diverse mycobiota compositions of healthy adult donors but becomes altered (lower diversity) following transplant procedures. Three months after HSCT, phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were 83.4% and 15.6%, respectively. The predominant species were Saccaharomyces_uc and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (phylum Ascomycota); we also observed Malassezia restricta and Malassezia globosa (phylum Basidiomycota) (∼13%). On day 90 after HSCT, we observed 65.3% M. restricta and 18.4% M. globosa predominance at the species level in a four‐year‐old boy with acute graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) (skin and gut involvement) 19 days after transplantation included.Conclusion: The mycobiota composition of children with thalassemia altered after HSCT. We observed Malassezia predominance in a child with GVHD. Further studies in children with GVHD will identify this situation.
Post‐extrusion process for the robust preparation of highly uniform multiphase polymeric 3D printing filaments
Authors: Gancheva Teodora , Li Youjian , Pilon Daniel , Gauthier Matthieu , Akbarzadeh Abdolhamid , Favis Basil D. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractFused filament fabrication 3D printing demands the preparation of polymeric filaments of highly uniform dimensions in order to achieve the best possible mechanical performance. This stringent requirement is a challenging task and becomes even more difficult when multiphase hybrid polymers are used. In this work, a post‐extrusion setup is presented, allowing for the preparation of immiscible quaternary polymeric blend filaments of highly stable dimensions. The polymer blend used is bio‐based and is comprised of poly(L‐lactide), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(ether‐b‐amide), and polyamide‐11. The setup is connected to an extruder die. By incorporating a precisely localized temperature control over a pathway of 66 mm, the extrudate melt is initially transformed into a stable semisolid state. Forced convection cooling, imposed at a distance of 4–5 mm from the last static cooling zone, allows thereafter the complete solidification of the profile. Filaments with a uniform diameter of 1.75 and 2.85 mm are manufactured. The developed approach can be used to manufacture, otherwise non‐processable, complex quaternary polymer blend filaments with a highly controlled diameter in the range of 0.1–4.5 mm with no restriction regarding the filament length. The produced filaments were used to 3D print dogbone samples with very high elongation at break.
Microstructured biphasic hydrogels for highly sensitive and asymmetric sensors with temperature‐dependent sensitivity
Authors: Gao Tenglong , Gao Xin , Li Tuoqi , Zhang Jiuyang 
Published: October 2021

AbstractMicrofabrication of advanced architectures in flexible polymers has been a prevalent strategy to achieve high‐performance stretchable sensors. However, such microfabrication is usually challenging, requiring delicate synthesis with expensive instruments. This work utilizes the microphase separation in biphasic hydrogels (BHs) to conveniently achieve microstructured high‐performance sensors. Different microphase separated structures were observed in BH sensors depending on the oil/water ratios and temperature, resulting in many unexpected features. The BH sensors show excellent extensibility (1000%) and phenomenal mechanical durability (>1000 compressive cycles). The microphase separated non‐conductive phase (oil phase) and conductive phase (water phase) lead to structured conductive microchannels of water phase, providing the high resistive sensitivity (gauge factor > 50), superior than many reported flexible sensors. Interestingly, the sensory behaviors of BHs are drastically varied around body temperature due to the melting point of oil phases (eicosane, 36.8°C), making BH sensors highly suitable to monitor human bodily motions. The BH sensors are able to discern a series of subtle writings via resistive change attributed by the asymmetric deformation in soft microchannels from microphase separation. In this work, the BH sensors are successfully utilized to discern bodily motions, voice and writings around body temperature.
Muscle Fatigue Sensor Based on Ti3C2Tx MXene Hydrogel
Authors: Lee Kang Hyuck , Zhang Yi‐Zhou , Kim Hyunho , Lei Yongjiu , Hong Seunghyun , Wustoni Shofarul , Hama Adel , Inal Sahika , Alshareef Husam N. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractMXene‐based hydrogels have received significant attention due to several promising properties that distinguish them from conventional hydrogels. In this study, it is shown that both strain and pH level can be exploited to tune the electronic and ionic transport in MXene‐based hydrogel (M‐hydrogel), which consists of MXene (Ti3C2Tx)‐polyacrylic acid/polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel. In particular, the strain applied to the M‐hydrogel changes MXene sheet orientation which leads to modulation of ionic transport within the M‐hydrogel, due to strain‐induced orientation of the surface charge‐guided ionic pathway. Simultaneously, the reorientation of MXene sheets under the axial strain increases the electronic resistance of the M‐hydrogel due to the loss of the percolative network of conductive MXene sheets during the stretching process. The iontronic characteristics of the M‐hydrogel can thus be tuned by strain and pH, which allows using the M‐hydrogel as a muscle fatigue sensor during exercise. A fully functional M‐hydrogel is developed for real‐time measurement of muscle fatigue during exercise and coupled it to a smartphone to provide a portable or wearable digital readout. This concept can be extended to other fields that require accurate analysis of constantly changing physical and chemical conditions, such as physiological changes in the human body.