bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Frequently Thickened Nerve in Hansen’s Disease
Authors: Shivaraman P. Vignesh , Thomas Jayakar 
Published: September 2021

Background: Leprosy by definition is a chronic granulomatous infection of the skin and superficial nerves in the skin caused by Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis. [1] It most commonly involves the nose, eyes, throat, and sometimes the testicles. The bacilli are most frequently transmitted via droplets, from the nose during close contact with untreated cases of leprosy. Leprosy was first mentioned in 700BC. Leprosy is common in tropical and subtropical Asia, some Pacific countries, Africa, and South America [2]. It is not known how leprosy is transmitted. Although skin lesions and nerve thickening manifest together, they also appear as separate entities. This study aims to find out the frequently thickened nerves in different spectrums of Hansen’s disease.
Objectives: To determine the frequently thickened nerves in different spectrums of Hansen’s disease.
Methods: This descriptive study was conducted in Chettinad Hospital and the Research Institute from June 2021 to August 2021. The patients were biopsy-proven Hansen's disease in a different spectrum of the disease, nerve thickening was obtained using palpation method. The Sample size was small due to the prevailing covid situation at the period during which the study was conducted.
Results: The data collected from the examination of the different spectrum of disease, the pattern of frequently thickened nerves were evaluated. A total number of 30 patients were examined by palpation method among which 10 patients showed ulnar nerve thickening,7 patients showed greater auricular nerve thickening, 4 patients showed radial cutaneous nerve thickening, 9 patients showed sural nerve thickening.
Conclusion: In our study, the most common thickened nerve was the ulnar nerve, secondary to that was the sural nerve. This study concludes the only examination done by palpation method, further diagnostic studies might increase the accuracy and specificity of the above-collected data.
Scientific evidence on disk hernia in elderly person / Evidências científicas sobre hérnia de disco na pessoa idosa
Authors: Montenegro Cícera Patrícia Daniel , Veloso Laura de Sousa Gomes Veloso de Sousa Gomes , Miguel Maria das Graças Duarte , Moreira Maria Adelaide Silva Paredes 
Published: September 2021

Objetivo: identificar as produções científicas sobre hérnia de disco na pessoa idosa. Método: protocolo de scoping review segundo o método do Joanna Briggs Institute com artigos das bases de dados CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, MEDLINE e ScienceDirect. Analisaram-se 10 artigos cujos critérios de inclusão foram investigações primárias e/ou secundárias, qualitativas e quantitativas escritos em inglês, português e espanhol, formando 3 categorias temáticas. O recorte do estudo foi delimitado a partir da observação na prática profissional dos pesquisadores sobre o aumento de casos de idosos com hérnia de disco. Resultados: a cirurgia representa constante indicação médica para o tratamento da hérnia de disco. Conclusão: a lombalgia decorrente da hérnia de disco é uma frequente causa de incapacidade nos adultos e idosos com protocolos cirúrgicos constantes, principalmente quando há compressão neural. No entanto, estudos mostram a possibilidade de regressão quando os pacientes são submetidos aos tratamentos conservadores.
High Gain Solution‐Processed Carbon‐Free BiSI Chalcohalide Thin Film Photodetectors
Authors: Farooq Sidra , Feeney Thomas , Mendes Joao O. , Krishnamurthi Vaishnavi , Walia Sumeet , Della Gaspera Enrico , van Embden Joel 
Published: September 2021

AbstractChalcohalide semiconductors are an emergent class of materials for optoelectronics. Here, the first work on BiSI chalcohalide thin film photodetectors (PDs) is presented. An entirely new method for the fabrication of bismuth chalcohalide thin films (BiOI and BiSI) is developed. This method circumvents the use of any ligands or counter ions during fabrication and provides highly pure thin films free of carbon residues and other contaminants. When integrated into lithographically patterned lateral PDs these BiSI thin films show outstanding performances and high stability. The direct ≈1.55 eV bandgap of BiSI perfectly accommodates optical sensing over the full visible spectrum. The responsivity (R) of the BiSI PDs reaches 62.1 A W−1, which is the best value reported to date across chalcohalide materials of any type. The BiSI PDs display remarkable sensitivity to low light levels, supporting a broad operational detectivity ≈1012 Jones over four decades in light intensity, with a peak specific detectivity (D*) of 2.01 × 1013 Jones. The dynamics of photocurrent generation are demonstrated to be dominated by photoconductive gain. These results cement BiSI as an exciting candidate for high performance photodetector applications and encourage ongoing work in BiSX (X = Cl, Br, I) materials for optoelectronics.
Sustained Antitumor Immunity Based on Persistent Luminescence Nanoparticles for Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Wang Ruoping , Shi Junpeng , Song Liang , Zheng Shenghui , Liu Xiaolong , Hong Maochun , Zhang Yun 
Published: September 2021

AbstractImmunotherapy holds great promise for cancer treatment. The key to improving the therapeutic effect is to drive the patient's own immune system to produce a strong, effective, and enduring tumor‐specific immune response. Engineered nanoplatforms show promising potential in strengthening antitumor immune responses. However, current nanotherapeutic platforms based on exogenous responses stimulate the immune system only in a transitory and limited manner, which translates into insufficient immune activation and a low therapeutic efficacy. A novel targeted nano‐immunostimulant (ZGS‐Si‐Pc@HA) is fabricated by coupling persistent luminescence nanoparticles with a photosensitizer and hyaluronic acid for sustained immune stimulation upon irradiation with biological window (659 nm) light. ZGS‐Si‐Pc@HA persistently drives reactive oxygen species production to induce immunogenic cell death, causing a durable tumor‐specific immune response. Upon intratumoral injection, ZGS‐Si‐Pc@HA effectively alleviates immune tolerance and promotes T lymphocyte tumor infiltration. Further, ZGS‐Si‐Pc@HA enhances the therapeutic effect of checkpoint blockade immunotherapy, effectively inhibiting bilateral tumor growth and triggering an immunological memory effect. Nano‐immunostimulants not only provide a new way to boost cancer immunotherapy, but also offer a reliable strategy for fighting cancer metastasis and recurrence clinically.
Short‐Term Preclinical Application of Functional Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell‐Derived Airway Epithelial Patches
Authors: Varma Ratna , Marin‐Araujo Alba E. , Rostami Sara , Waddell Thomas K. , Karoubi Golnaz , Haykal Siba 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAirway pathologies including cancer, trauma, and stenosis lack effective treatments, meanwhile airway transplantation and available tissue engineering approaches fail due to epithelial dysfunction. Autologous progenitors do not meet the clinical need for regeneration due to their insufficient expansion and differentiation, for which human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are promising alternatives. Airway epithelial patches are engineered by differentiating hiPSC‐derived airway progenitors into physiological proportions of ciliated (73.9 ± 5.5%) and goblet (2.1 ± 1.4%) cells on a silk fibroin–collagen vitrigel membrane (SF‐CVM) composite biomaterial for transplantation in porcine tracheal defects ex vivo and in vivo. Evaluation of ex vivo tracheal repair using hiPSC‐derived SF‐CVM patches demonstrate native‐like tracheal epithelial metabolism and maintenance of mucociliary epithelium to day 3. In vivo studies demonstrate SF‐CVM integration and maintenance of airway patency, showing 80.8 ± 3.6% graft coverage with an hiPSC‐derived pseudostratified epithelium and 70.7 ± 2.3% coverage with viable cells, 3 days postoperatively. The utility of bioengineered, hiPSC‐derived epithelial patches for airway repair is demonstrated in a short‐term preclinical survival model, providing a significant leap for airway reconstruction approaches.
Volatilizable Solid Additive‐Assisted Treatment Enables Organic Solar Cells with Efficiency over 18.8% and Fill Factor Exceeding 80%
Authors: Bao Sunan , Yang Hang , Fan Hongyu , Zhang Jianqi , Wei Zhixiang , Cui Chaohua , Li Yongfang 
Published: September 2021

AbstractControlling the self‐assembling of organic semiconductors to form well‐developed nanoscale phase separation in the bulk‐heterojunction active layer is critical yet challenging for building high‐performance organic solar cells (OSCs). Particularly, the similar anisotropic conjugated structures between nonfullerene acceptors and p‐type organic semiconductor donors raise more complexity on manipulating their aggregation toward appropriate phase separation. Herein, a new approach to tune the morphology of photoactive layer is developed by utilizing the synergistic effect of dithieno[3,2‐b:2′,3′‐d]thiophene (DTT) and 1‐chloronaphthalene (CN). The volatilizable solid additive DTT with high crystallinity can restrict the over self‐assembling of nonfullerene acceptors during the film casting process, and then allowing the refining of phase separation and molecular packing with the simultaneous volatilization of DTT under thermal annealing. Consequently, the PTQ10:m‐BTP‐PhC6:PC71BM‐based ternary OSCs processed by the dual additives of CN and DTT record a notable power‐conversion efficiency of 18.89%, with a remarkable FF of 80.6%.
Construction of Six‐Oxygen‐Coordinated Single Ni Sites on g‐C3N4 with Boron‐Oxo Species for Photocatalytic Water‐Activation‐Induced CO2 Reduction
Authors: Wang Yuying , Qu Yang , Qu Binhong , Bai Linlu , Liu Yang , Yang Zhao‐Di , Zhang Wei , Jing Liqiang , Fu Honggang 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe configuration regulation of single‐atom photocatalysts (SAPCs) can significantly influence the interfacial charge transfer and subsequent catalytic process. The construction of conventional SAPCs for aqueous CO2 reduction is mainly devoted toward favorable activation and photoreduction of CO2, however, the role of water is frequently neglected. In this work, single Ni atoms are successfully anchored by boron‐oxo species on g‐C3N4 nanosheets through a facile ion‐exchange method. The dative interaction between the B atom and the sp2 N atom of g‐C3N4 guarantees the high dispersion of boron‐oxo species, where O atoms coordinate with single Ni (II) sites to obtain a unique six‐oxygen‐coordinated configuration. The optimized single‐atom Ni photocatalyst, rivaling Pt‐modified g‐C3N4 nanosheets, provides excellent CO2 reduction rate with CO and CH4 as products. Quasi‐in‐situ X‐ray photoelectron spectra, transient absorption spectra, isotopic labeling, and in situ Fourier transform infrared spectra reveal that as‐fabricated six‐oxygen‐coordinated single Ni (II) sites can effectively capture the photoelectrons of CN along the BO bridges and preferentially activate adsorbed water to produce H atoms to eventually induce a hydrogen‐assisted CO2 reduction. This work diversifies the synthetic strategies for single‐atom catalysts and provides insight on correlation between the single‐atom configuration and reaction pathway.
Engineering d‐p Orbital Hybridization in Single‐Atom Metal‐Embedded Three‐Dimensional Electrodes for Li–S Batteries
Authors: Han Zhiyuan , Zhao Shiyong , Xiao Jiewen , Zhong Xiongwei , Sheng Jinzhi , Lv Wei , Zhang Qianfan , Zhou Guangmin , Cheng Hui‐Ming 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSingle‐atom metal catalysts (SACs) are used as sulfur cathode additives to promote battery performance, although the material selection and mechanism that govern the catalytic activity remain unclear. It is shown that d‐p orbital hybridization between the single‐atom metal and the sulfur species can be used as a descriptor for understanding the catalytic activity of SACs in Li–S batteries. Transition metals with a lower atomic number are found, like Ti, to have fewer filled anti‐bonding states, which effectively bind lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and catalyze their electrochemical reaction. A series of single‐atom metal catalysts (Me = Mn, Cu, Cr, Ti) embedded in three‐dimensional (3D) electrodes are prepared by a controllable nitrogen coordination approach. Among them, the single‐atom Ti‐embedded electrode has the lowest electrochemical barrier to LiPSs reduction/Li2S oxidation and the highest catalytic activity, matching well with the theoretical calculations. By virtue of the highly active catalytic center of single‐atom Ti on the conductive transport network, high sulfur utilization is achieved with a low catalyst loading (1 wt.%) and a high area‐sulfur loading (8 mg cm−2). With good mechanical stability for bending, these 3D electrodes are suitable for fabricating bendable/foldable Li–S batteries for wearable electronics.
Solution‐Processed Ultrathin Semiconductor Films for High‐Performance Ammonia Sensors
Authors: Chen Han , Hu Qi , Qiu Longzhen , Wang Xiaohong 
Published: September 2021

AbstractA high‐performance ammonia sensor based on a donor‐acceptor conjugated polymer, bithiophene and bis(2‐oxoindolin‐3‐ylidene)‐benzodifuran‐dione (PBIBDF‐BT), is designed and fabricated. To improve its sensing performance, a polymer semiconductor ultrathin film with a minimum thickness of ≈4 nm is prepared using a phase separation method. The relationship between the ammonia sensing performance and film thickness is systematically studied. The ammonia sensor based on an ultrathin film shows a high sensitivity (S = 953) and a response time of less than one second (Tres = 0.63 ± 0.11 s). The preparation of ultrathin film sensors by the phase separation method not only expands the existing preparation methods of ammonia gas sensors but also provides a simple and effective design strategy for the fabrication of rapid‐response gas detection sensors in the future. In addition, the advantage of the solution phase separation method to control the thickness of the ultrathin film helps to understand the gas sensing mechanism and the sensing behavior of ultrathin film devices.
Producing Microscale Ge Textures via Titanium Nitride‐ and Nickel‐Assisted Chemical Etching with CMOS‐Compatibility
Authors: Liao Yikai , Shin Sang Ho , Jin Yuhao , Wang Qi Jie , Kim Munho 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAs an emerging anisotropic wet etching technique, metal‐assisted chemical etching (MacEtch) has been widely employed for fabricating nano‐ and micro‐structures of germanium (Ge) for potential infrared (IR) photonics and optoelectronics. However, traditional noble metal catalysts such as Au and Ag limit its application in complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processes, as Au is considered as a detrimental deep‐level impurity in Ge. In this work, the feasibility of exploring TiN and Ni as CMOS‐compatible catalysts for Ge MacEtch is investigated. Both TiN and Ni catalysts exhibit inverse MacEtch behavior, resulting in formation of inverted pyramid and v‐groove Ge microscale textures which exhibit outstanding IR antireflection performance. No catalyst delamination of TiN is observed during etching, while it can be avoided by inserting a Ti adhesive layer beneath Ni catalyst. Schottky contact barrier of metal catalyst with Ge is also investigated indicating similar hole injection efficiency among TiN, Ni, and Ti/Ni with Ge junction due to strong Fermi level pinning effect. The TiN‐ and Ni‐assisted chemical etching of Ge shed light on CMOS‐compatible Ge‐based photonic and optoelectronic applications.
Smallholder farmers’ climate change adaptation practices contribute to crop production efficiency in southern Ethiopia
Authors: Sedebo Dessalegn Anshiso , Li Gu‐Cheng , Abebe Kidane Assefa , Etea Bekele Gebisa , Ahiakpa John Kojo , Ouattara N'Banan , Olounlade Ambaliou , Frimpong Stephen 
Published: September 2021

AbstractClimate‐smart practices that have added benefits of improving agricultural productivity are an imperative for improving smallholder farming. However, there are few insights into how smallholder climate‐smart adaptation practices influence their technical (in)efficiency. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of smallholders’ climate‐smart adaptation practices on their crop production technical efficiency (TE) in the Lemo district of southern Ethiopia. We used focus group discussion, experts’ consultations and household survey to collect data from 600 smallholder crop producers across six rural kebeles. We computed smallholder farmers’ climate change adaptation indices based on experts' consultations and estimated the TE of the smallholder farmers using Stochastic Frontier Analysis. The smallholder farmers in the Lemo district have adopted climate‐smart agricultural practices such as terracing, crop diversification, improved soil amendment practices, varying planting or harvesting schedules, and crop rotation. The smallholder farm households practicing more adaptation strategies on a larger scale were more technically efficient than their counterparts with their TE averaging 11.31, 8.62, and 6.71% for major crops, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), and teff [Eragrostis tef) (Zucc.) Trotter] production, respectively. Our model also revealed that adaptation to climate change has a positive and significant contribution to the technical efficiency of major crops, wheat, and teff production. Other key determinants of TE are farming experience, education, access to extension services, livestock holdings, and farm household income. Overall, our study suggests a policy shift to promote smallholder farmers adaptation to climate change using climate‐smart practices for an effective response to climate change impact while enhancing TE.
Modeling and optimization of flow distribution in multistage pipe distributors
Authors: An Min , Guan Xiaoping , Yang Ning 
Published: September 2021

AbstractMultistage pipe distributors are generally used in industrial‐scale reactors to generate uniform fluid distribution and reduce dead zones at reactor bottom. This study aims to develop an accurate and easy‐to‐use model for design and optimization of these distributors, integrating the advantages of analytical models and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. For analytical models, the empirical correlations of pressure recovery coefficient and discharge coefficient were systematically evaluated. CFD simulations of single‐stage distributors reveal the mechanisms behind flow maldistribution, that is, the relationship between vortex evolution at branch corner and discharge coefficient. A three‐phase characteristic for discharge coefficient along flow direction is found with increasing the ratio of branch length to diameter. A generalized discharge coefficient was then proposed to represent an intrinsic approach to optimize flow uniformity. Finally, the analytical model was extended to multistage distributors by a double‐convergence solution strategy, and provides guidelines of design and optimization of these complex distributors for process industry.
The possibility of short‐term hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis suppression with high‐volume, high‐dose nasal mometasone irrigation in postsurgical patients with chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Brown Hannah J. , Batra Pete S. , Eggerstedt Michael , Ganti Ashwin , Papagiannopoulos Peter , Tajudeen Bobby A. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundMedically refractory chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is often treated with functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and high‐volume steroid nasal irrigation. While budesonide is the most common steroid irrigation for this indication, mometasone has a superior pharmacokinetic profile, which may allow dose escalation. The safety and efficacy of mometasone at higher concentrations than previously used in treating CRS have not been explored.MethodsPatients were recruited from a tertiary level clinic between June 2018 and December 2019. Inclusion criteria included adults (>18 years); CRS diagnosis; previous FESS; pre‐treatment morning cortisol within normal range; minimum of twice daily high‐volume sinonasal mometasone irrigations (total dose of 4 mg) for 12 weeks; and post‐treatment morning cortisol measured within 2 weeks following the study period. Patients with potential for endogenous or exogenous disruption of the HPA axis were excluded.Results14 patients were enrolled in this prospective cohort study. In all but one patient, pre‐ and post‐treatment morning cortisol levels were not significantly different and were within normal limits (6.7‐25.4 μg/dL). Following an uninterrupted 12‐week treatment course, no evidence of HPA axis suppression was found (P = 0.915). The single patient who was found to have a low (1.3 μg/dL) post‐treatment morning serum cortisol level reportedly received an intraarticular steroid shot several days prior to the blood draw. She remained asymptomatic and her rechecked serum cortisol was within normal limits at 12.3 μg/dL.ConclusionsHigh‐volume 2 mg twice daily sinonasal mometasone irrigations did not cause HPA axis suppression in a representative sample of patients with refractory CRS post‐FESS with normal baseline cortisol levels.
Binaural processing deficit and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Wang Changming , Wang Zhibin , Xie Beijia , Shi Xinrui , Yang Pengcheng , Liu Lei , Qu Tianshu , Qin Qi , Xing Yi , Zhu Wei , Teipel Stefan J. , Jia Jianping , Zhao Guoguang , Li Liang , Tang Yi 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSpeech comprehension in noisy environments depends on central auditory functions, which are vulnerable in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Binaural processing exploits two ear sounds to optimally process degraded sound information; its characteristics are poorly understood in AD. We studied behavioral and electrophysiological alterations in binaural processing among 121 participants (AD = 27; amnestic mild cognitive impairment [aMCI] = 33; subjective cognitive decline [SCD] = 30; cognitively normal [CN] = 31). We observed impairment of binaural processing in AD and aMCI, and detected a U‐shaped curve change in phase synchrony (declining from CN to SCD and to aMCI, but increasing from aMCI to AD). This improvement in phase synchrony accompanying more severe cognitive stages could reflect neural adaptation for binaural processing. Moreover, increased phase synchrony is associated with worse memory during the stages when neural adaptation apparently occurs. These findings support a hypothesis that neural adaptation for binaural processing deficit may exacerbate cognitive impairment, which could help identify biomarkers and therapeutic targets in AD.
Expected wait times for access to a disease‐modifying Alzheimer's treatment in the United States
Authors: Mattke Soeren , Hanson Mark 
Published: September 2021

AbstractIntroductionA 2017 study had analyzed the preparedness of the U.S. health care system to deliver a disease‐modifying Alzheimer's treatment and predicted substantial wait times. We update the prediction with an improved model and newer data.MethodsThe model tracks patients from initial evaluation, cognitive testing by a dementia specialist, confirmatory biomarker testing, and infusion delivery. All steps after initial evaluation are assumed to be capacity constrained. Model parameters and assumptions about care‐seeking behavior were derived from the published literature and expert input.ResultsIf patients were referred based on a brief cognitive test, wait times for specialist visits would reach around 50 months. If referral also required a positive blood‐based biomarker test, wait times would be around 12 months. In both scenarios, wait times for confirmatory biomarker testing and infusion treatment would be limited.DiscussionBetter diagnostic tools at initial evaluation may reduce unnecessary delays in access to treatment.