bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determination of Endovaginal Ultrasound Proficiency and Learning Curve Among Emergency Medicine Trainees
Authors: Derr Charlotte , Shteyman Alan , Jackson Saundra A. , Lu Yuanyuan , Campbell Tabitha , De Lucia Anthony , Merritt Raymond , Lupez Kathryn , Elkes Johnathon , Hansen Allyson , Jelic Tomislav , DeRespino Allison , Grant Ashley 
Published: October 2021

ObjectivesPerforming and interpreting endovaginal ultrasound is an important skill used during the evaluation of obstetric and gynecologic emergencies. This study aims to describe the level of proficiency and confidence achieved after performing 25 endovaginal examinations.MethodsThis is a prospective study at a single urban academic emergency department. Participants performed a minimum of 25 endovaginal ultrasounds under the supervision of a point‐of‐care ultrasound expert. Anatomical structures were identified by the expert under ultrasound prior to each session. Each examination was scored for agreement of findings between the participant and expert. The data were used to develop a performance curve identifying when proficiency was achieved, where experiential benefit diminished, and when participants felt confident.ResultsA total of 1117 endovaginal ultrasound examinations were performed by 50 participants. Agreement after 25 examinations was highest (>95%) for probe insertion and preparation, bladder and uterus identification, and directionality. Agreement was lowest for identification of the ovaries (76%). Experiential benefit plateaus occurred earliest (10 exams) for preparation and insertion followed by bladder identification and directionality. Surprisingly, ovarian experiential benefit plateaued at 16 exams. Participant confidence improved overall and was lowest for the identification of ovaries and abnormal pelvic anatomy.ConclusionsThere is a significant learning curve when performing endovaginal ultrasound. Our data do not support the use of 25 examinations as a minimum standard for identification of the ovaries or abnormal ovarian pathology.
Thermal, Mechanical, and Ion‐Conductive Properties of Crosslinked Poly[(ethylene carbonate)‐co‐(ethylene oxide)]‐Lithium Bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide Electrolytes
Authors: Nishimura Naomi , Hashinokuchi Junpei , Tominaga Yoichi 
Published: October 2021

AbstractA random copolymer consisting of ethylene carbonate (EC) and ethylene oxide (EO) units with allyl side groups is synthesized as a matrix for solid polymer electrolytes (SPE). By introducing crosslinking structure to the copolymer, creating a polymer matrix with superior mechanical strength while maintaining good ionic conductivity is being attempted. A tensile test indicates that introduction of the crosslinking structure improves the elastic modulus and maximum stress. When a lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide is added to these polymers at 80 mol%, the conductivity of the crosslinked polymer‐based electrolyte increases slightly. Vogel–Tammann–Fulcher (VTF) analysis reveals that values of the activation energy for crosslinked polymer‐based electrolytes are clearly lower than those of the starting copolymer. The changes in the constant A with increasing salt concentration are very different, but the A values at 80 mol% are almost the same. This VTF behavior suggests that the crosslinking structure has a larger effect on the increase in the carrier ions and also on the decrease in the energy for ionic conduction with increasing salt concentration.
Dendrimer‐Based Polyion Complex Vesicles: Loops Make Loose
Authors: Huang Jianan , Li Chendan , Gao Yifan , Cai Ying , Guo Xuhong , Cohen Stuart Martien A. , Wang Junyou 
Published: October 2021

AbstractAssociations of amphiphiles assume their various morphologies according to the so‐called packing parameter under thermodynamic control. However, one may raise the question of whether polymers can always relax fast enough to obey thermodynamic control, and how this may be checked. Here, a case of polyion complex (PIC) assemblies where the morphology appears to be subject to kinetic control is discussed. Poly (ethylene oxide)‐b‐(styrene sulfonate) block copolymers are combined with cationic PAMAM dendrimers of various generations (2–7). The PEO‐PSS diblocks, and the corresponding PSS‐PEO‐PSS triblocks should have nearly identical packing parameters, but surprisingly creat different assemblies, namely core‐shell micelles and vesicles, respectively. Moreover, the micelles are very stable against added salt, whereas the vesicles are not only much more sensitive to added salt, but also appear to exchange matter on relevant time scales. The small and largely quenched early‐stage precursor complexes are responsible for the morphological and dynamic differences, implying that kinetic control may also be a way to obtain particles with well‐defined and useful properties. The exciting new finding that triblocks produce more “active” vesicles will hopefully trigger the exploration of more pathways, and so learn how to tune PICsomes toward specific applications.
Nuclear receptor 4A1 (NR4A1) antagonists target paraspeckle component 1 (PSPC1) in cancer cells
Authors: Mohankumar Kumaravel , Shrestha Rupesh , Safe Stephen 
Published: October 2021

AbstractParaspeckles compound 1 (PSPC1) is a multifunctional protein that plays an important role in cancer cells, where PSPC1 is a master regulator of pro‐oncogenic responses that includes activation of TGFβ (TGFβ1), TGFβ‐dependent EMT, and metastasis. The pro‐oncogenic activities of PSPC1 closely resembled those observed for the orphan nuclear receptor 4A1 (NR4A1, Nur77) and knockdown of NR4A1 decreased expression of PSPC1 in MDA‐MB‐231 breast, H1299 lung, and SNU449 liver cancer cells. Similar results were observed in these same cell lines after treatment with bisindole–derived (CDIMs) NR4A1 antagonists. Moreover, PSPC1‐dependent regulation of TGFβ, genes associated with cancer stem cells and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) were also downregulated after NR4A1 silencing or treatment of breast, lung, and liver cancer cells with CDIM/NR4A1 antagonists. Results of chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays suggest that NR4A1 regulates PSPC1 through interaction with an NBRE sequence in the PSPC1 gene promoter. These results coupled with in vivo studies showing that NR4A1 antagonists inhibit breast tumor growth and downregulate PSPC1 in tumors indicate that the pro‐oncogenic nuclear PSPC1 factor can be targeted by CDIM/NR4A1 antagonists.
Contact‐mediated nucleation in melt emulsions investigated by rheo‐nuclear magnetic resonance
Authors: Kaysan Gina , Schork Nicolas , Herberger Sabrina , Guthausen Gisela , Kind Matthias 
Published: October 2021

AbstractIncreasing the efficiency of disperse phase crystallization is of great interest for melt emulsion production as the fraction of solidified droplets determines product quality and stability. Nucleation events must appear within every single one of the μm‐sized droplets for solidification. Therefore, primary crystallization requires high subcooling and is, thus, time and energy consuming. Contact‐mediated nucleation is a mechanism for intensifying the crystallization process. It is defined as the successful nucleation of a subcooled liquid droplet induced by contact with an already crystallized droplet. We investigated contact‐mediated nucleation under shear flow conditions up to shear rates of 457 s−1 for a quantitative assessment of this mechanism. Rheo‐nuclear magnetic resonance was successfully used for the time‐resolved determination of the solids fraction of the dispersed phase of melt emulsions upon contact‐mediated nucleation events. The measurements were carried out in a dedicated Taylor–Couette cell. The efficiency of contact‐mediated nucleation
decreased with increasing shear rate, whereas the effective second order kinetic constant
increased approximately linearly at small shear rates and showed a linear decrease for shear rates higher than about 200 s−1. These findings are in accordance with coalescence theory. Thus, the nucleation rate is optimal at specific flow conditions. There are limitations for successful inoculation at a low shear rate because of rare contact events and at a high shear rate due to too short contact time.
Community foundations provide collaborative responses and local leadership in midst of COVID‐19
Authors: Azevedo Lauren , Bell Andrew , Medina Pamela 
Published: October 2021

AbstractCommunity foundations are uniquely positioned within their localities to provide immediate needs and realize their communities' strengths, resources, and challenges, affording them opportunities to be highly effective in responding to crises. Many community foundations act not only as grant‐makers and social investors, but also as community mobilizers, experts, facilitators, and leaders, who work on identifying areas of greatest need to catalyze meaningful social change. As the COVID‐19 pandemic has quickly spread across the United States, many community foundations are spearheading immediate relief efforts locally and mobilizing millions of dollars throughout the U.S. This article highlights the initial response efforts of specific community foundations to the COVID‐19 outbreak, including operations, shifts in funding priorities, and fund allocation oversight. Moving forward, it will be increasingly critical for community foundations and all philanthropists to strategically prioritize funding initiatives, voice local concerns to policymakers, and advocate for both state and federal policies related to nonprofit support.
Knowledge of Nature and the Nature of Knowledge: Student natural history knowledge and the significance of birds
Authors: Gosler Andrew G. , Tilling Stephen M. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractWe studied the natural history knowledge (NHK) of students (18–19 years), considering the salience of nature expressed through the knowledge of names of organisms, routes for knowledge transmission and acquisition and the potential of specific taxa to represent a student's overall knowledge.We report a 2‐year study of the NHK of 149 UK‐resident first‐year biology students surveyed by means of a free‐listing exercise, facilitating the assessment of salience, prior to participation in a residential field course run by the University of Oxford.Each year, students anonymously completed a questionnaire asking them to name any five species in each of five taxonomic groups (birds, trees, mammals, butterflies and wildflowers) found wild in the British Isles, also stating if those named were native or introduced. Metadata were collected on the students' background and sources of knowledge (e.g. family, teachers, etc.).Of the five taxonomic groups, birds were the best known by the students, while butterflies were the most poorly known group. However, although asked for names at species level, while 94% of students could name five British bird taxa, only 55.7% named them at species level, many giving folk generics such as ‘duck’ or ‘seagull’ instead. For butterflies, only 12.8% of students correctly named five British species, and 47% named none.Family influences, self‐motivation and knowledge of birds, rather than formal education, best predicted students’ overall NHK. While urban/rural residency had a small effect on NHK, it strongly influenced the relative importance of other factors.Factor analysis showed that NHK was best represented by knowledge of birds. Furthermore, the bird species named predicted students’ total NHK as well as the students’ knowledge of birds. Asked to name their favourite bird, students with family influence were significantly more likely to name native species.We describe the complex interplay between context, family and formal education in developing nature salience; roles which we define as nature ‘advocacy’. In the urban context, the advocacy of family and teachers was essential to engage young people with nature, while this was not so in a rural context. We briefly consider the implications of our study for natural history education going forward.A freePlain Language Summarycan be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Health‐related quality of life in infants, toddlers and young children with sickle cell disease
Authors: Houwing Maite E. , Muntendam Madieke J. , van Muilekom Maud M. , Teela Lorynn , Fijnvandraat Karin , de Pagter Anne P. J. , Heijboer Henriëtte , van Oers Hedy A. , Cnossen Marjon H. , Haverman Lotte 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundLittle is known about health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in young children with sickle cell disease living in a European country.MethodsA retrospective cross‐sectional evaluation of TNO‐AZL Preschool Children Quality of Life questionnaire (TAPQOL, 0–1 year) and Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL, 2–7 years) data was conducted. Study participants included caregivers of children with sickle cell disease aged 0–7 years attending the sickle cell centre at the Erasmus Medical Center or the Amsterdam University Medical Centers between April 2012 and October 2020. Comparisons were made with normative data on HRQoL in the general paediatric population.ResultsThe study enrolled 136 caregivers of 136 children. In children aged 0–5 years, no significant differences emerged between children with sickle cell disease and the general population. However, in children aged 5–7 years, children with sickle cell disease scored significantly lower on all subscales except for emotional functioning. Multiple regression models showed a negative association between age and HRQoL. No association was found between HRQoL and disease severity or sociodemographic characteristics.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that HRQoL is negatively correlated with age in young children with sickle cell disease with a significantly lower HRQoL in 5‐ to 7‐year‐olds when compared to the general population. Our study underlines the importance of measuring HRQoL in young children to identify patients with impaired HRQoL early in life in order to be able to intervene accordingly. Future research should focus on deepening the knowledge of factors influencing HRQoL in children with sickle cell disease.
Synthesis, properties and applications of well‐designed hybrid polymers based on polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane
Authors: Wang Cheng , Zhou Likang , Du Qinqing , Shan Tianyu , Zheng Kai , He Jing , He Huiwen , Chen Si , Wang Xu 
Published: October 2021

AbstractPolyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) as a frontier organic/inorganic hybrid material with multiple structures has exhibited great potential in robust property extension in the past decade because of its stable cage structure and flexible modification. Recent research on the design strategies of modifying T8‐POSS and various T8‐POSS deviations has inspired the emergence of multidisciplinary applications. In this review, we describe the most common synthetic methods of T8‐POSS, including monofunctional and octafunctional POSS deviations, and then discuss some frequently combined groups' properties, such as POSS‐cyclodextrin, POSS‐azobenzene, base‐pair ending POSS and POSS‐copolymer, and classify them based on their self‐assembly driving force. Moreover, these designations serve as advanced interactive machines with humans, including drug delivery systems, fluorescent probes, sensors and stretchable devices. Finally, we describe the prospects and challenges of the application of the expansion of smart POSS interactive materials. © 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Electrode metallization for scaled perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells: Challenges and opportunities
Authors: Rehman Atteq ur , Van Kerschaver Emmanuel P. , Aydin Erkan , Raja Waseem , Allen Thomas G. , De Wolf Stefaan 
Published: October 2021

AbstractMonolithic perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells have the potential to reach very high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in a cost‐effective manner. In the last decade, significant technological advancements have been made for lab‐scale devices (~1 cm2), with PCEs now higher than the theoretical PCE limit of single‐junction silicon solar cells. For market entry of such tandems, the involved processing steps need to be scaled to industrial wafer dimensions, typically >244 cm2, which also mandates the development of adequate electrode‐metallization strategies. Here we discuss challenges and opportunities related to this, including the required properties of the front metal grid for perovskite/silicon tandems, as well as key motivations and challenges in adopting screen‐printed metallization, which is the current standard for mainstream silicon solar cells. We give a cost estimation for the front metal grid by considering the cost of low‐temperature metal pastes that are compatible with the thermal budget limitations imposed by the perovskite top cell. We also consider opportunities to employ alternative metallization schemes that arise from the reduction in current density in tandem solar cells compared to single‐junction devices. Lastly, we discuss possible routes to replace or minimize the silver content in costly silver‐based metallization for industrial applications.
‘VT Sweet’: A vegetable soybean cultivar for commercial edamame production in the mid‐Atlantic USA
Authors: Zhang Bo , Lord Nilanka , Kuhar Thomas , Duncan Susan , Huang Haibo , Ross Jeremy , Rideout Steven , Arancibia Ramon , Reiter Mark , Li Song , Chen Pengyin , Mozzoni Leandro , Gillen Anne , Yin Yun , Neill Clinton , Carneiro Renata , Yu Dajun , Sutton Kemper , Li Xiaoying , Wang Zhibo , Buss Glenn 
Published: October 2021

AbstractCommercially viable cultivars adapted to U.S. production regions that meet consumer acceptance criteria are desperately needed by the growing domestic edamame industry. Here, we report the development and release of ‘VT Sweet’ (Reg. no. CV‐542, PI 699062), the first vegetable soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] cultivar released by Virginia Tech. VT Sweet is a late maturity group (MG) V cultivar (relative maturity 5.6, 129 d to harvest) with determinate growth habit, purple flowers, gray pubescence, tan pod wall, and yellow hila. VT Sweet has superior characteristics for edamame such as large pod size (13.9 g/10 pods; 40.4 mm long, 11.4 mm wide, and 7.6 mm thick) and low one‐bean pod proportion (15%), as well as low pod pubescence density (359 hairs/2.4 cm2). VT Sweet also showed high overall consumer acceptability (6.0 ± 1.7; 9 = like extremely) and favorable tolerance to native pests. When compared with the commercial edamame check ‘UA Kirksey’, VT Sweet showed 102% of the check yield, a higher average field emergence rate (74.9 vs. 68.1%), and comparable consumer acceptability (6.05 vs. 6.10). Therefore, VT Sweet is an ideal cultivar for growers who are interested in commercial edamame production in the mid‐Atlantic region of the United States.
Impact of prostate biopsy secondary pathology review on radiotherapy management
Authors: Siedow Michael , Eisner Mariah , Yaney Alexander , Washington Iman , Zynger Debra , Martin Douglas , Mo Xiaokui , Diconstanzo Dominic , Diaz Dayssy Alexandra 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe Gleason scoring system is the most widely used method to assess prostate adenocarcinoma pathology however interobserver variability is significant. Gleason score, PSA level, and clinical stage comprise the NCCN risk stratification that guides treatment decision making. Given the importance of an accurate Gleason score and wide interobserver variability, referral centers routinely review outside pathology at the time of consultation. We sought to address the impact a secondary pathology review had on radiation therapy treatment recommendations in men with prostate cancer at our institution.MethodsWe retrospectively collected patient data on 342 patients seen at our institution from January 2012 to December 2018. Clinicopathologic data were used to subdivide patients into risk groups and available treatment options per NCCN criteria. Cases reviewed by our genitourinary pathologist (GUP) were compared with reports from outside pathologists. Inter‐rater reliability between pathologists was assessed with weighted Cohen's kappa statistic and agreement of treatment options was determined by McNemar's exact tests.ResultsGUP scored more cores positive in 16.47% of cases on secondary review. Primary Gleason score was changed in 12.28% of patients and secondary score in 26.02% of cases. Total Gleason score was different in 29.24% of cases, 19.01% were downgraded and 10.23% upgraded. The weighted kappa statistic was 0.759 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.711, 0.807). 18.77% of patients were assigned to a different NCCN risk group following secondary review. The weighted kappa statistic comparing NCCN risk stratification was 0.802 (95% CI: 0.754, 0.850). Secondary review influenced radiation therapy recommendations pertaining to brachytherapy boost and androgen deprivation therapy in men with high risk disease (χ2 = 5.33, p = 0.0386; χ2 = 8.05, p = 0.0072, respectively). Kappa statistic was found to be highest when GUP assessed high‐risk disease versus all other categories (κ = 0.823, 95% CI: 0.750, 0.895).ConclusionsWe found nearly one in five men (18.7%) was assigned a different NCCN risk group and thus offered potentially different treatment options after a secondary pathology review at our institution. Given the inherent nature of prostate cancer and lung disease‐specific survival associated with modern therapies, our study demonstrates the importance of a secondary pathology review and its potential impact on radiation therapy recommendations.
Dynamics of the QTc interval over a 24‐h dose interval after start of intravenous ciprofloxacin or low‐dose erythromycin administration in ICU patients
Authors: Berger Florine A. , van Weteringen Willem , van der Sijs Heleen , Hunfeld Nicole G. M. , Bunge Jeroen J. H. , de Groot Natasja M. S. , van den Bemt Patricia M. L. A. , van Gelder Teun 
Published: October 2021

AbstractQTc interval prolongation is an adverse effect associated with the use of fluoroquinolones and macrolides. Ciprofloxacin and erythromycin are both frequently prescribed QTc‐prolonging drugs in critically ill patients. Critically ill patients may be more vulnerable to developing QTc prolongation, as several risk factors can be present at the same time. Therefore, it is important to know the QTc‐prolonging potential of these drugs in the intensive care unit (ICU) population. The aim of this study was to assess the dynamics of the QTc interval over a 24‐hour dose interval during intravenous ciprofloxacin and low‐dose erythromycin treatment. Therefore, an observational study was performed in ICU patients (≥18 years) receiving ciprofloxacin 400 mg t.i.d. or erythromycin 100 mg b.i.d. intravenously. Continuous ECG data were collected from 2 h before to 24 h after the first administration. QT‐analyses were performed using high‐end holter software. The effect was determined with a two‐sample t‐test for clustered data on all QTc values. A linear mixed model by maximum likelihood was applied, for which QTc values were assessed for the available time intervals and therapy. No evident effect over time on therapy with ciprofloxacin and erythromycin was observed on QTc time. There was no significant difference (p = 0.22) in QTc values between the ciprofloxacin group (mean 393 ms) and ciprofloxacin control group (mean 386 ms). The erythromycin group (mean 405 ms) and erythromycin control group (mean 404 ms) neither showed a significant difference (p = 0.80). In 0.6% of the registrations (1.138 out of 198.270 samples) the duration of the QTc interval was longer than 500 ms. The index groups showed slightly more recorded QTc intervals over 500 ms. To conclude, this study could not identify differences in the QTc interval between the treatments analyzed.