bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Liquid chromatographic method to follow‐up ceftazidime and pyridine in portable elastomeric infusion pumps over 24 h
Authors: Nguyen Tam , Menten Laurien , Spriet Isabel , Quintens Charlotte , Van Schepdael Ann , Adams Erwin 
Published: November 2021

AbstractPortable infusion pumps are an interesting solution to continue outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) at the patient's home. However, the use of ceftazidime for such applications is challenging in view of its relatively poor stability in solution. In this study, elastomeric infusion pumps with 6 or 7 g of ceftazidime were deflated over 24 h in an oven at 33°C while ceftazidime and its degradation product, pyridine, were regularly monitored. Hereto, a fast and sensitive liquid chromatographic (LC) method has been developed using a Kinetex® C18 (150 × 3 mm, 2.6 μm) column with gradient elution. Ammonium formate 20 mM and acetonitrile (ACN) were mixed in a ratio of 98:2 v/v for mobile phase A and 85:15 v/v for mobile phase B. Both were adjusted to pH 4.5 with formic acid. The flow rate was set at 0.4 mL/min. The solution with a starting dose of 6 g ceftazidime was found to be degraded 10% after an average of 19 h 11 min so that an administration of 6 g to the patient was not reached. For the solution with a starting dose of 7 g of ceftazidime, 10% degradation was observed after an average of 18 h 42 min. However, by starting from a higher dose, an average of 6.56 g of ceftazidime could be administered over 24 h. In addition, 1.0% of pyridine versus ceftazidime pentahydrate with sodium carbonate (=mixture for injection) was formed over 24 h.
Lens antenna adjustment for telecommunication and imaging modes in a sub‐THz radio system
Authors: Ghavidel Ali , Myllymäki Sami , Kokkonen Mikko , Tervo Nuutti , Jantunen Heli 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis article presents a concept of a dual‐mode operated sub‐THz frequency radio system by adjusting the lens‐antenna distance for either telecommunication or imaging modes. The signal transmittance and imaging capabilities are demonstrated using a continuous wave operated transceiver with operation frequency 220 to 330 GHz where the 6G wireless radio system could be allocated. A high‐gain bullet‐shape lens antenna was investigated for imaging the natural object (Bergenia leaf) in the short‐range line‐of‐sight radio link. The bullet lens performed with the gain of 28 dB and the 1° beamwidth over the frequency band. For the demonstration of dual‐mode operation, the leaf was placed into the middle of the radio link path and then its image was synthesized at three lenses to the antenna‐distances by utilizing the inverse synthetic‐aperture radar technique. For image synthesizing, the movement pattern area (100 mm × 100 mm) is defined with 5 mm steps to sweep the object area. Three 100 mm × 100 mm images by 5 mm steps from different lens positions in focal axis distances (4, 15, and 30 mm were synthesized. The comparison shows that 15 mm distance has the highest gain and 30 mm distance has the higher image quality. Therefore, there is the possibility to switch from the high gain low‐resolution mode to the low gain high‐resolution mode by changing the lens position in terms of the feed. The imaging feasibility can be applied at 6G radio systems if adjustable lens systems are used revealing the new potential features in future radios.
Effects of Richardson and Biot number on double‐diffusive Casson fluid flow with viscous dissipation
Authors: M. Chandrashekar Kemparaju , Nandeppanavar Mahantesh M. , Nagaraj Raveendra , Madikiri Sreelatha 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAn analysis is done of the effect of Richardson and Biot number on double‐diffusive mixed convective Casson fluid stream with viscous dissipation on warmth and mass stream with convective limit conditions and radiating vertical plate. The R‐K method with shooting procedure is used to solve the transformed equations mathematically. The accuracy of the numerical procedure has been validated through a comparison of the current work compared with prior available results. The sheer surface stress, Nusselt, and Sherwood number are increased with enhancement in Prandtl number. The Biot number Βi > 0.1 is investigated and increasing Biot number is observed to enhance the friction coefficient, Nusselt, and Sherwood number are increased. The influence of pertinent constraints on distinct flow parameters is determined and analyzed through tables and graphs.
Noninvasive risk stratification of intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasia with malignant potential by serum apolipoprotein‐A2‐isoforms
Authors: Felix Klaus , Honda Kazufumi , Nagashima Kengo , Kashiro Ayumi , Takeuchi Keiko , Kobayashi Takashi , Hinterkopf Sascha , Gaida Matthias M. , Dang Hien , Brindl Niall , Kaiser Jörg , Büchler Markus W. , Strobel Oliver 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIntraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) are premalignant lesions of pancreatic cancer. An accurate serum biomarker, which allows earlier identification of asymptomatic individuals with high‐risk for developing cancer, is of urgent need. Apolipoprotein A2‐isoforms (apoA2‐i) have previously been identified as biomarkers in pancreatic cancer. This study investigates a potential clinical application of the serum apoA2‐i for risk stratification of IPMN and associated cancer. The concentrations of apoA2‐i were retrospectively determined in 523 patient sera specimen, composed of 305 IPMNs with preinvasive lesions with different grades of dysplasia and invasive cancer, 140 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, 78 with other cystic lesions and healthy controls cohorts, using an apoA2‐i enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay kit. The diagnostic performance of serum apoA2‐i was assessed and compared to routine clinical marker CA 19‐9. ApoA2‐i levels were significantly reduced in all IPMN samples regardless of stage compared to healthy controls. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of IPMNs with high‐grade dysplasia and IPMN with associated carcinoma revealed the area under curve (AUC) of 0.91 and >0.94, respectively. The respective sensitivities were 70% and 83% with a specificity of 95%, and significantly higher than the gold standard biomarker CA 19‐9. AUC values of apoA2‐i for detecting IPMN‐associated carcinoma of colloid and ductal subtypes were 0.990 and 0.885, respectively. ApoA2‐i has the potential to early detect the risk of malignancy of patients with IPMN. The serological apoA2‐i test in combination with imaging modalities could help improve the diagnosis of IPMN malignancy. Further validation in larger and independent international cohort studies is needed.
Unnexins: Homologs of innexin proteins in Trypanosomatidae parasites
Authors: Güiza Juan , García Aníbal , Arriagada Javiera , Gutiérrez Camila , González Jorge , Márquez‐Miranda Valeria , Alegría‐Arcos Melissa , Duarte Yorley , Rojas Maximiliano , González‐Nilo Fernando , Sáez Juan C. , Vega José L. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractLarge‐pore channels, including those formed by connexin, pannexin, innexin proteins, are part of a broad family of plasma membrane channels found in vertebrates and invertebrates, which share topology features. Despite their relevance in parasitic diseases such as Chagas and malaria, it was unknown whether these large‐pore channels are present in unicellular organisms. We identified 14 putative proteins in Trypanosomatidae parasites as presumptive homologs of innexin proteins. All proteins possess the canonical motif of the innexin family, a pentapeptide YYQWV, and 10 of them share a classical membrane topology of large‐pore channels. A sequence similarity network analysis confirmed their closeness to innexin proteins. A bioinformatic model showed that a homolog of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) could presumptively form a stable octamer channel with a highly positive electrostatic potential in the internal cavities and extracellular entrance due to the notable predominance of residues such as Arg or Lys. In vitro dye uptake assays showed that divalent cations‐free solution increases YO‐PRO‐1 uptake and hyperosmotic stress increases DAPI uptake in epimastigotes of T. cruzi. Those effects were sensitive to probenecid. Furthermore, probenecid reduced the proliferation and transformation of T. cruzi. Moreover, probenecid or carbenoxolone increased the parasite sensitivity to antiparasitic drugs commonly used in therapy against Chagas. Our study suggests the existence of innexin homologs in unicellular organisms, which could be protein subunits of new large‐pore channels in unicellular organisms.
Tangibility of representations in engineering courses and the workplace
Authors: Barner Matthew S. , Adam Brown Shane , Bornasal Floraliza , Linton David 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundSituated cognition theory suggests that representations of concepts are products of the environment wherein we learn and apply concepts. This research builds on situated cognition by investigating how concepts are tangible to a professional engineering environment.Purpose/HypothesisThe tangibility of concepts in relation to social and material contexts was defined and explored in this study. Specifically, the conceptual representations of structural loads were examined within workplace and academic environments.Design/MethodA researcher conducted ethnographic fieldwork at a private engineering firm and in undergraduate engineering courses. Data sources from this fieldwork included the ethnographer's participant‐observation field notes, formal and informal interviews, and artifact documentation.ResultsFindings from this study described how academic representations of structural loads are more or less tangible to the social and material contexts of engineering practice. Representations documented in the workplace were found to be tangible to (1) real‐world conditions, (2) project/stakeholder constraints, and (3) engineering tools. Conversely, representations documented in the courses studied exhibited various degrees of tangibility to none, some, or all of these three traits.ConclusionsThese findings explicitly identify the ways in which representations of structural loads differ across academic and workplace environments and how these differences may contribute to the education–practice gap. Specific suggestions for making academic representations more tangible to workplace environments are provided based on findings from in the workplace, previous engineering education literature, and best practices observed in the courses studied. Future research considerations and the value of ethnographic methodology to situated cognition theory are also discussed.
Southwest Pacific tropical cyclone development classification utilizing machine learning and synoptic composites
Authors: Bhowmick Rupsa , Trepanier Jill C. , Haberlie Alex M. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis study evaluates the ability of machine learning algorithms to classify tropical depressions (TDs) and tropical storms (TSs) in the western region of the southwest Pacific Ocean (SWPO). Decision rules are generated to predict the environment required for a depression to fully develop into a mature storm, and the most influential predictors in the classification decision are ranked. TD and TS are discriminated based on a maximum sustained wind speed threshold (≥17 ms−1). Various aerosol, thermodynamic, and dynamic parameters are extracted closest to the initiation point of each non‐developing and developing sample. The covariates associated with each labelled sample are used to train a decision tree and random forest model. Results using a testing dataset suggest the random forest approach more accurately distinguishes between non‐developing and developing samples. The classification accuracy of the decision tree and random forest are 72% and 91%, respectively. Random forest outperformed the decision tree by providing higher accuracy in test data. The most important variables for binary classification are sea salt aerosol optical depth (AOD), 1,000 mb relative humidity, and sea surface temperature. AOD is a quantitative estimate of the aerosols presents in the air through the extinction of a ray of light as it passes through the atmosphere. Mean composite maps constructed in an unsupervised manner have been created for the most important variables identified by the random forest classifier during TD and TS events to highlight the difference in geophysical and aerosol variables' climatology during the two different classifications. This work will advance the risk management strategies for northeastern Australia and other SWPO basin islands to control their tropical cyclone related losses through prioritizing forecasting variables that are the strongest predictors of the strengthening of tropical depressions into tropical cyclones.
Bringing seascape ecology to the deep seabed: A review and framework for its application
Authors: Swanborn Denise J.B. , Huvenne Veerle A.I. , Pittman Simon J. , Woodall Lucy C. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractSeascape ecology is an emerging pattern‐oriented and integrative science conceptually linked to landscape ecology. It aims to quantify multidimensional spatial structure in the sea and reveal its ecological consequences. The seascape ecology approach has made important advances in shallow coastal environments, and increasing exploration and mapping of the deep seabed provides opportunities for application in the deep ocean. We argue that seascape ecology, with its integrative and multiscale perspective, can generate new scientific insights at spatial and temporal scales relevant to ecosystem‐based management. Seascape ecology provides a conceptual and operational framework that integrates and builds on existing benthic ecology and habitat mapping research by providing additional pattern‐oriented concepts, tools and techniques to (1) quantify complex ecological patterns across multiple scales; (2) link spatial patterns to biodiversity and ecological processes; and (3) provide ecologically meaningful information that is operationally relevant to spatial management. This review introduces seascape ecology and provides a framework for its application to deep‐seabed environments. Research areas are highlighted where seascape ecology can advance the ecological understanding of deep benthic environments.
Enhanced Strong Coupling of TMDC Monolayers by Bound State in the Continuum
Authors: Al‐Ani Ibrahim A. M. , As'Ham Khalil , Huang Lujun , Miroshnichenko Andrey E. , Hattori Haroldo T. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractTransition‐metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) monolayers have been considered a perfect platform for realizing exciton‐polariton at room temperature due to their direct bandgap and large binding energy of exciton. It is well established that strong coupling depends on the field enhancement induced by optical nanocavity with a high‐quality factor (Q‐factor). In this work, the enhanced strong coupling between the exciton of TMDC monolayer and the cavity resonance based on a symmetry protected magnetic dipole (MD) bound state in the continuum (BIC) and electric toroidal dipole (TD) BIC is demonstrated. It is found that strong coupling can be realized between the exciton in a TMDC monolayer and quasi‐BIC (QBIC) by varying the incidence angle, period of the grating, the width of the slit, and the position of the slit for symmetry protected BIC. Besides, strong coupling between exciton and TD BIC is also demonstrated by integrating a WSe2 monolayer onto a compound grating. It is found that Rabi‐splitting strongly depends on the location of TMDC monolayer, Q‐factor of the resonator, and the thickness of the structure. By carefully adjusting these three critical parameters, Rabi‐splitting can be up to 38 (1L‐WSe2), 65 (1L‐WS2), 40 (1L‐MoSe2), and 60 meV(1L‐MoS2).
Efficacy and safety of CO2 laser in the treatment of chronic wounds: A Retrospective Matched Cohort Trial
Authors: Guan Haonan , Zhang Di , Ma Xian , Lu Yechen , Dong Jiaoyun , Niu Yiwen , Liu Yingkai , Lu Shuliang , Xu Jiping , Tang Jiajun 
Published: November 2021

AbstractObjectivesTreating chronic cutaneous wounds is challenging, and debridement is a central concept in treating them. Studies have shown that CO2 laser debridement can control local infection and promote the wound healing process. The present study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of fully ablative CO2 laser debridement compared to routine surgical debridement in the treatment of chronic wounds.MethodsThe retrospective cohort study was conducted on patients with chronic (>1 month) cutaneous wounds (≥1 cm2) between December 1, 2017, and December 1, 2020, in the Wound Healing Center at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, China. Patients treated with CO2 laser debridement with a DEKA SmartXide2 C80 (DEKA) (the CO2 laser group) were compared with matched control patients with similar baseline characteristics who had undergone routine surgical debridement (the routine group). The primary outcome was time‐to‐heal (days) for chronic wounds in two groups, and secondary outcomes included the wound area and BWAT (Bates–Jensen wound assessment tool) score before treatment, and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after treatment.ResultsThe study included 164 patients (82 in the CO2 laser group and 82 matched in the routine group). The time‐to‐heal for patients in the CO2 laser group (41.30 ± 17.11) was significantly shorter than that of the patients in the routine group (48.51 ± 24.32) (p = 0.015). At 3 and 4 weeks after treatment, the absolute wound area of the CO2 laser group was significantly smaller than that of the routine group. Also, the CO2 laser group exhibited a significantly lower relative area at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after treatment. The CO2 laser group yielded significantly lower BWAT scores at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after treatment. Additionally, the relative BWAT score was significantly lower in the CO2 laser group than the relative scores in the routine group at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after treatment. No adverse events related to the treatments were observed in either group during the study period.ConclusionsThe present study has shown that fully ablative CO2 laser debridement has several advantages over routine sharp surgical debridement. It is superior at ameliorating wound status and reducing wound area, and it also significantly reduces the time‐to‐heal for chronic wounds, without causing any adverse events.
Quantitative investigation of laser ablation based on real‐time temperature variations and OCT images for laser treatment applications
Authors: Fan Yingwei , Ma Qiong , Li Mengsha , Luan Dian , Kang Hongxiang 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackground and ObjectiveLasers are widely employed in clinical applications. In vivo monitoring of real‐time information about different‐wavelength laser surgeries would provide important surgical feedback for surgeons or clinical therapy instruments. However, the quantitative effect of laser ablation or vaporization still needs to be further explored and investigated. Here, we investigate and quantitatively evaluate the ablation variations and morphological changes of two laser ablation models: point‐ and sweeping‐based models.MethodsAn infrared thermal imager was used to monitor the temperature variations, and curve fitting was used to build the relationship between the laser radiation duration/sweeping speed and quantitative parameters of the ablated areas. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) images were used to visualize the inner structure and evaluate the depth of the ablated craters. Optical attenuation coefficients (OACs) were computed to characterize the normal and ablated tissues.ResultsThe results demonstrated that there was a good linear relationship between radiation duration and temperature variation. Similarly, a linear relationship was observed between the sweeping speed and quantitative parameters of craters or scratches (width and depth). The mean OAC of normal tissues was significantly distinguished from the mean OACs of the ablated craters or scratches.ConclusionLaser ablation was investigated based on a quantitative parameter analysis, thermal detection, and OCT imaging, and the results successfully demonstrated that there is a linear relationship between the laser parameters and quantitative parameters of the ablated tissues under the current settings. Such technology could be used to provide quantitative solutions for exploring the laser‐tissue biological effect and improve the performance of medical image‐guided laser ablation in the future.
Astrocytic Changes in Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation Protein Levels in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Chen Chun , Mossman Emily , Malko Philippa , McDonald David , Blain Alasdair P. , Bone Laura , Erskine Daniel , Filby Andrew , Vincent Amy E. , Hudson Gavin , Reeve Amy K. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundMitochondrial dysfunction within neurons, particularly those of the substantia nigra, has been well characterized in Parkinson's disease and is considered to be related to the pathogenesis of this disorder. Dysfunction within this important organelle has been suggested to impair neuronal communication and survival; however, the reliance of astrocytes on mitochondria and the impact of their dysfunction on this essential cell type are less well characterized.ObjectiveThis study aimed to uncover whether astrocytes harbor oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) deficiencies in Parkinson's disease and whether these deficiencies are more likely to occur in astrocytes closely associated with neurons or those more distant from them.MethodsPostmortem human brain sections from patients with Parkinson's disease were subjected to imaging mass cytometry for individual astrocyte analysis of key OXPHOS proteins across all five complexes.ResultsWe show the variability in the astrocytic expression of mitochondrial proteins between individuals. In addition, we found that there is evidence of deficiencies in respiratory chain subunit expression within these important glia and changes, particularly in mitochondrial mass, associated with Parkinson's disease and that are not simply a consequence of advancing age.ConclusionOur data show that astrocytes, like neurons, are susceptible to mitochondrial defects and that these could have an impact on their reactivity and ability to support neurons in Parkinson's disease.