bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Health System Productivity In Sub-Saharan Africa: Tuberculosis Control In High Burden Countries
Authors: ATAKE Esso - Hanam 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background: 21 of the 30 countries with a high tuberculosis (TB) burden are in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). SSA is also home to 74% of all HIV-positive TB patients reported worldwide in 2014. This paper analyses the productivity changes of TB programs and decompose this productivity down into technological change and technical efficiency. Method: this study was carried out in 16 SSA countries where TB is highly endemic and covers the period 2009-2016. The data is taken from the annual reports of global TB Program. We used the Hicks-Moorsteen index to compute and decompose total factor productivity (TFP), and the β-convergence and σ-convergence tests to check for convergence patterns among SSA countries. Results: The largest increase in the TFP (35.7%) in 2016 with respect to the base year corresponds to the cutbacks in inputs (9.1%) and a positive change in outputs (0.9%). We found that technological change has been the main driver of the TFP growth, and that increasing technical efficiency may be the first objective in efforts to improve the TFP of TB programs. Our findings support the hypothesis of convergence among SSA countries in the fight against TB. Moreover, corruption was considered as one of the most important determinants of tuberculosis control in SSA countries.Conclusion: the findings suggest that improving the technical efficiency of TB programs mainly calls for better resource allocation, capacity building in governance and management of programs, improved training of the health providers and stronger prevention policies. An efficient use of funds will arguably reduce the number of tuberculosis cases and TB burden. The Global Fund must closely monitor all the grants in its portfolio and respond decisively and urgently to any instances of corruption.
Comparison of Dentoskeletal and Soft Tissue Changes Between Tooth-Borne and Tooth-Bone-Borne Hybrid Nonsurgical Rapid Maxillary Expansions in Adults: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: An Jung-Sub , Seo Bo-Yeon , Ahn Sug-Joon 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Background
Despite the gradual increase in the use of rapid maxillary expansion (RME), specifically RME with the aid of skeletal anchorage in adults, there have been no reports comparing dentoskeletal and soft tissue changes between nonsurgical tooth-borne and tooth-bone-borne RMEs in adults. This study aimed to analyse differences in dentoskeletal and soft tissue changes between tooth-borne and tooth-bone-borne RMEs using a similar appliance design and the same expansion protocol in adult patients.
Methods
Twenty-one patients with tooth-borne expansion (a conventional expansion screw with two premolars and two molar bands for dental anchorage [T-RME]) and the same number of patients with tooth-bone-borne hybrid expansion (a conventional expansion screw with two premolar and two molar bands for dental anchorage and four mini-implants in the palate for skeletal anchorage [H-RME]) were included. Dentoskeletal and soft tissue variables at pretreatment (T1) and after expansion (T2) were measured using posteroanterior and lateral cephalograms and frontal photographs. The sex distribution of the two groups was analysed using the chi-square test, and the change after RME in each group was evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Differences in pretreatment age, expansion duration, post-expansion duration, and dentoskeletal and soft tissue changes after RME between the two groups were determined using the Mann–Whitney U test.
Results
There were no significant differences in the expansion protocol, pretreatment conditions, and sex distribution between the two groups. Despite similar degrees of dental expansion at the crown level between the two groups, H-RME induced increased skeletal and parallel expansion of the maxilla compared to T-RME. After expansion, H-RME demonstrated increased forward displacement of the maxilla without significant changes in the vertical dimension, while T-RME exhibited increased backward displacement of the mandible, increased vertical dimension, and decreased overbite. Both groups showed significant retroclination and extrusion of the maxillary incisors without significant intergroup differences. There were no significant soft tissue changes between the two groups.
Conclusion
This study suggests that using skeletal anchorage in RME may induce increased skeletal and parallel expansion of the maxilla without significant effects on the vertical dimension.
Green Wavelength Femtosecond Laser Ablated Copper Surface
Authors: Liu Yi-Hsien , Cheng Chung-Wei 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
During green wavelength femtosecond laser ablation, d-band electrons are excited to become free and to participate in the absorption process. The increased electron temperature also induces the density of state shift and causes the gap between the d-band and the Fermi level to expand. The d-band electron transition effect during the laser ablation process causes nonlinear absorption, therefore, it should always be considered during simulations of laser-copper interaction.This study used a single femtosecond laser pulse with a wavelength of 515 nm and a pulse duration of 300 fs to ablate copper with fluence 0.7 - 63 J/cm2. The experimental results were compared with the theoretical results, where a modified Drude-critical point model was adopted to simulate the ablation depth. The modified model considered the electron transition effect and a two-temperature model that assumed both the linear and nonlinear absorption effect. Comparison of the experimental and simulated results revealed that the simulated ablation depth obtained using the nonlinear absorption model was consistent with the experimental results.
Quantitative serology for SARS-CoV-2 using self-collected saliva and finger-stick blood
Authors: Campbell Christopher , Padmanabhan Nikhil , Romero Daniel , Joe Jessica , Gebremeskel Mikias , Manjula Navaratnam , Wohlstadter Noah , Wohlstadter Rachel , Goodwin Paul , Quintero Lillian , Debad Jeff , Sigal George , Wohlstadter Jacob 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Convenient and widespread serology testing may alter the trajectory of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study seeks to leverage high-throughput, multiplexed serologic assays, which have been adopted as benchmarks for vaccine efficacy, to support large-scale surveys of SARS-CoV-2 immunity using finger-stick blood and/or saliva. Specifically, we optimized MSD’s serology assays, which were analytically validated for serum, to test self-collected finger-stick blood and saliva samples. We show that these assays can be used with FDA-registered specimen collection devices to obtain quantitative measurements for self-collected samples. Antibody levels were measured using an electrochemiluminescent (ECL) multiplex immunoassay, which has been used to measure humoral responses to several COVID-19 vaccines, including those funded by the U.S. Government’s Operation Warp Speed. First, we show that salivary antibodies are stable without refrigeration or preservatives for at least five days. Using matched samples, we show that testing of saliva and finger-stick blood equivalently identified individuals with humoral responses to CoV-2 antigens. Moreover, we piloted a simple saliva collection kit that can be used to safely send samples through the mail. This work demonstrates that robust methods for self-collection of finger-stick blood and saliva, in combination with quantitative, automated immunoassays, provide the technical capabilities needed to support large-scale serology testing.
Implicitly perturbed Hamiltonian: a class of versatile and general-purpose molecular representations for machine learning
Authors: Alibakhshi Amin , Hartke Bernd 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Unraveling challenging problems by machine learning has recently become a hot topic in many scientific disciplines. For developing rigorous machine-learning models to study
problems of interest in molecular sciences, translating molecular structures to quantitative representations as suitable machine-learning inputs play a central role. Many different molecular representations and the state-of-the-art ones, although efficient in studying numerous molecular features, still are suboptimal in many challenging cases, as discussed in the context of the present research. The main aim of the present study is to introduce the Implicitly Perturbed Hamiltonian (ImPerHam) as a class of versatile representations for more efficient machine learning of challenging problems in molecular sciences. ImPerHam representations are defined as energy attributes of the molecular Hamiltonian, implicitly perturbed by a number of hypothetic or real arbitrary solvents based on continuum solvation models. We demonstrate the outstanding performance of machine-learning models based on ImPerHam representations for three diverse and challenging cases of predicting inhibition of the CYP450 enzyme, high precision, and transferrable evaluation of conformational energy of molecular systems, and accurately reproducing solvation free energies for large benchmark sets.
COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy among Singaporean Primary Healthcare Workers
Authors: Koh Sky Wei Chee , Liow Yiyang , Loh Victor Weng Keong , Liew Seaw Jia , Chan Yiong-Huak , Young Doris 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
BackgroundFactors affecting COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among primary healthcare workers (HCW) remain poorly understood. This study aims to identify factors associated with vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among HCW.MethodsA multi-centre online cross-sectional survey was performed across 6 primary care clinics from May to June 2021, after completion of vaccination exercise. Demographics, profession, years working in healthcare, residential status, presence of chronic medical conditions, self-perceived risk of acquiring COVID-19 and previous influenza vaccination were collected. HCW who accepted vaccine were then asked to rank their top 5 reasons for vaccine acceptance; HCW who were vaccine hesitant had to complete the 5C scale on psychological antecedents of vaccination.Results557 out of 1182 eligible HCW responded (47.1%). 29 were excluded due to existing contraindications. Among 557 respondents, vaccine acceptance rate was 94.9% (n=501) and 5.1% were hesitant (n=27). COVID-19 vaccine acceptance was not associated with sex, age, ethnicity, profession, number of years in healthcare, living status, presence of chronic diseases, self-perceived risk or previous influenza vaccination. The top 3 reasons for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance ranked by 501 HCW were to protect their family and friends, protect themselves from COVID-19 and due to high risk of acquiring COVID-19 because of their jobs. The 15-item questionnaire from the 5C psychological antecedents of vaccination was completed by 27 vaccine hesitant HCW. The mean scores for the components of the 5Cs were: ‘Confidence’ (3.96), ‘Complacency’ (3.23), ‘Constraint’ (2.85), ‘Calculation’ (5.79) and ‘Collective responsibility’ (4.12).ConclusionCOVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is a minute issue among Singapore primary HCW, having achieved close to 95% acceptance rate with 5% hesitancy rate. Future studies can focus on other settings with higher hesitancy rates, and acceptance of booster vaccinations with the emergence of the delta COVID-19 variant.Trial RegistrationThis study was approved by the National Healthcare Group (NHG) Domain Specific Review Board (DSRB), Singapore on 26th April 2021 (Reg No. 2021/00213).
Impact of variability in the hydrological cycle components on vegetation growth in an alpine basin of the southeastern Tibet Plateau, China
Authors: Ban Chunguang , Xu Zongxue , Zuo Depeng , Zhang Rui , Chen Hao , Ye Chenlei , Wang Jing , Waciren Da 
Published: November 2021

AbstractVegetation is affected by hydrological cycle components that have altered under the influence of climate change. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the impact of hydrological cycle components on regional vegetation growth, especially in alpine regions. In this study, we employed multiple satellite observations to comprehensively investigate the spatial heterogeneity of hydrological cycle components in the Yarlung Zangbo River (YZR) basin for the period 1982–2014 and to determine the underlying mechanisms driving regional vegetation growth. Results showed that the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values during May–October were high, and the NDVI values increased from the upper reaches of the YZR to its lower reaches, reflecting the enhancement of vegetation growth. Annual precipitation, precipitation-actual evapotranspiration (AET), and snow water equivalent (SWE) all affect terrestrial water storage in the YZR basin through changes in soil moisture (SM), i.e., SM is the intermediate variable. Seasonal variability of vegetation is controlled mainly by precipitation, temperature, AET, SM anomaly, and SWE. Groundwater storage anomalies (GWA) and terrestrial water storage anomalies (TWSA) were not reliable indicators of vegetation growth in the YZR basin and the midstream and downstream regions. The effects of GWA and TWSA on vegetation occurred in the upstream region.
L-carnitine: Searching for New Therapeutic Strategy for Sepsis Management
Authors: Sahebnasagh Adeleh , Avan Razieh , Monajati Mahila , Hashemi Javad , Habtemariam Solomon , Negintaji Sina , Saghafi Fatemeh 
Published: November 2021

:
In this review, we discussed the biological targets of carnitine, its effects on
immune function, and how L-carnitine supplementation may help critically ill patients.
L-carnitine is a potent antioxidant. L-carnitine depletion has been observed in prolonged
intensive care unit (ICU) stays, while L-carnitine supplementation has beneficial effects
in health promotion and regulation of immunity. It is essential for the uptake of fatty
acids into mitochondria. By inhibiting the ubiquitin-proteasome system, down-regulating
the apelin receptor in cardiac tissue, and reducing β-oxidation of fatty acid, carnitine may
decrease vasopressor requirement in septic shock and improve clinical outcomes of this
group of patients. We also reviewed animal and clinical studies that have been recruited
for evaluating the beneficial effects of L-carnitine in the management of sepsis/ septic
shock. Additional clinical data are required to evaluate the optimal daily dose and duration
of L-carnitine supplementation.
Changing Pain Management Strategy from Opioid-centric Towards Improve Postoperative
Cognitive Dysfunction with Dexmedetomidine
Authors: Su Chunhong , Ren Xiaojun , Wang Hongpei , Ding Xiaomei , Guo Jian 
Published: November 2021

Objective:
This study was aimed to investigate the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on improving
the level of pain and disability to find out the possible correlation between psychological factors with pain management
satisfaction and physical function in patients with femoral neck fractures.

Methods:
One hundred twenty-four adult patients with stable femoral neck fractures (type I and II, Garden classification)
who underwent internal fixation, were prospectively enrolled including 62 patients in the DEX group and 62
patients in the control group. The magnitude of disability using Harris Hip Score, Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction
(POCD) using Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE score), Quality of Recovery (QoR-40), pain-related
anxiety (PASS-20), pain management and pain catastrophizing scale (PCS) were recorded on the first and second day
after surgery.

Results:
The DEX group on the first and second days after surgery exhibited higher quality of recovery scores,
greater satisfaction with pain management, low disability scores, less catastrophic thinking, lower pain anxiety,
greater mini mental state examination scores and less opioid intake and the differences were statistically significant
compared with the control group (P<0.001). Emergence agitation and incidence of POCD were significantly less in
the DEX group (P<0.001). Decreased disability was associated with less catastrophic thinking and lower pain anxiety,
but not associated with more opioid intake (P<0.001). Higher QoR-40 scores had a negative correlation with
more catastrophic thinking and more opioid intake (P<0.001). Greater satisfaction with pain management was correlated
with less catastrophic thinking and less opioid intake (P<0.001).

Conclusion:
Using DEX as an adjunct to anesthesia could significantly improve postoperative cognitive dysfunction
and the quality of recovery and these improvements were accompanied by decrease in pain, emergence agitation, and
opioid consumption by DEX administration. Since pain relief and decreased disability were not associated with prescribing
greater amounts of opioid intake in the patients, improving psychological factors, including reducing catastrophic
thinking or self-efficacy about pain, could be a more effective strategy to reduce pain and disability, meanwhile
reducing opioid prescription in the patients. Our findings showed that DEX administration is safe sedation with
anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antiemetic effects and it could help change pain management strategy from opioidcentric
towards improved postoperative cognitive dysfunction.
Angelica archangelica and Ginkgo biloba Extracts Recover Functional Blood
Hemoglobin Derivatives in Rabbits Exposed to High Altitude
Authors: Gamal-Eldeen Amira M. , Raafat Bassem M. , Almehmadi Mazen M. , El-Daly Sherien M. , Faizo Nahla L. , Althobaiti Fayez 
Published: November 2021

Background:
Shortage of oxygen is a common condition for residents of high-altitude (HA) areas. In mammals, hemoglobin (Hb) has four derivatives: oxyhemoglobin (Hb-O2), carboxyhemoglo-bin (Hb-CO), sulfhemoglobin (Hb-S), and methemoglobin (Met-Hb). In HA areas, aberrant physio-logical performance of blood hemoglobin is well-established.

Objective:
The study aimed to investigate the influence of 30 days of HA residence on rabbits' total Hb, Hb derivatives, Hb autooxidation rate, and antioxidant enzymes in comparison to low-altitude control rabbits. Further, the study aimed to investigate the effect of antioxidant-rich Angelica archan-gelica and/or Ginkgo biloba extracts on the same parameters in HA-resident rabbits.

Methods:
Rabbits subjected to 30 days of HA residence were compared to low-altitude control rabbits. HA-residence rabbits were then orally administered 0.11 g/kg b.wt. of Angelica archangelica and/or Ginkgo biloba extract for 14 days. Hb derivatives and Hb autooxidation rate were measured spectro-photometrically. Antioxidant enzymes were estimated using specialized kits.

Results:
Compared to low-altitude rabbits, 30-day HA-residence rabbits showed a noticeable increase (p<0.05) in Hb-O2 and Hb-CO concentration. In addition, Met-Hb concentration, autooxidation rate of Hb molecules, and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) exhib-ited a remarkable increase in HA-residence rabbits (p<0.01), reflective of rapid ROS generation. In HA-residence rabbits, both individual and combined treatment with antioxidant-rich extracts for 14 days resulted in recovery to near-normal functional levels of Hb-O2 and Met-Hb, Hb autooxidation rate, and activities of SOD and GPx, while only combined treatment led to Hb-O2 recovery.

Conclusion:
The findings suggest that functional Hb levels may be recovered by oral administration of A. archangelica, G. biloba, or combined treatments. In conclusion, oxidative stress due to living in HA areas may be avoided by supplementation with natural antioxidants.
CCNE1 Promotes Progression and is Associated with Poor Prognosis in
Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Zhang Lili , Ma Guoliang , Yang Lulu , Dong Jing 
Published: November 2021

Background:
Mounting evidence has shown that Cyclin E1 (CCNE1) facilitates various carcinoma progression, but its function in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear.

Objective:
Our study aims to explore the significance of CCNE1 in clinical progression and study its biological functions in LUAD.

Methods:
CCNE1 expressions in LUAD specimens and cells were detected through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-RCR) and western blot. An immunohistochemistry technique was used to detect CCNE1 expression to explore its association with clinical parameters. The LUAD cells with stable knockdown of CCNE1 were constructed by small interfering RNA. The effect of CCNE1 on LUAD cells proliferation and apoptosis was evaluated through Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, and Annexin V/propidium iodide (AV-PI) assays, respectively. The cell migration and invasion were evaluated by Wound-healing and Transwell assays, respectively. The xenograft and lung metastasis mouse models were introduced to analyze how CCNE1 knockdown affects tumor growth and tumor metastasis.

Results:
CCNE1 expression was upregulated in LUAD tissue and cells. CCNE1 knockdown inhibited LUAD cellular malignant behavior in vitro and reduced tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. High expression of CCNE1 was correlated with big tumor size, cancer stage, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis.

Conclusions:
CCNE1 overexpression promotes LUAD growth, metastasis, and forebode poor prognosis: it can serve as a new prognostic marker of LUAD.
The Prognostic Significance of White Blood Cell and Platelet Count for Inhospital Mortality and Pneumonia in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: You Shoujiang , Sun Xin , Zhou Yi , Zhong Chongke , Chen Juping , Zhai Wanqing , Cao Yongjun 
Published: November 2021

Background:
We investigated the combined effect of white blood cell (WBC) and
platelet count on in-hospital mortality and pneumonia in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients.

Methods:
A total of 3,265 AIS patients enrolled from December 2013 to May 2014 across 22 hospitals
in Suzhou city were included in the present study. We divided patients into four groups according
to their level of WBC and platelet count: LWHP (low WBC and high platelet), LWLP (low
WBC and low platelet), HWHP (high WBC and high platelet), and HWLP (high WBC and low
platelet). A logistic regression model was used to estimate the combined effect of WBC and
platelet counts on all-cause in-hospital mortality and pneumonia in AIS patients.

Results:
HWLP was associated with a 2.07-fold increase in the risk of in-hospital mortality in comparison
to LWHP (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.07; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-4.18; P-trend
=0.020). The risk of pneumonia was significantly higher in patients with HWLP than those with
LWHP (adjusted OR 2.29; 95% CI, 1.57-3.35; P-trend <0.001). The C-statistic for the combined
WBC and platelet count was higher than WBC count or platelet count alone for the prediction of in-
-hospital mortality and pneumonia (all P < 0.01).

Conclusion:
High WBC count combined with a low platelet count level at admission was independently
associated with in-hospital mortality and pneumonia in AIS patients. Moreover, the combination
of WBC count and platelet count level appeared to be a better predictor than WBC count or
platelet count alone.