bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Drive‐up INR testing and phone‐based consultations service during COVID‐19 pandemic in a pharmacist‐lead anticoagulation clinic in Qatar: Monitoring, clinical, resource utilization, and patient‐ oriented outcomes
Authors: Alhmoud Eman N. , Abd El Samad Osama Badry , Elewa Hazem , Alkhozondar Ola , Soaly Ezeldin , El Anany Rasha 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has resulted in unprecedented pressure on healthcare systems and led to widespread utilization of telemedicine or telehealth services. Combined with teleclinics, using drive‐up fingerstick International normalized ratio (INR) testing was recommended to decrease exposure risk of anticoagulation patients.ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of transitioning from clinic‐based anticoagulation management services to drive‐up and phone‐based services during COVID‐19 pandemic in Qatar.MethodsThe study comprised of two components: a retrospective cohort study of all eligible patients who attended anticoagulation clinic over 1‐year period (6 months before and 6 months after service transition) and a cross‐sectional survey of eligible patients who agreed to provide data about their satisfaction with the new service. Monitoring parameters, clinical outcomes, and resource utilization related to warfarin therapy were compared before and after service transition. Patients' experience was explored through a structured survey.ResultsThere was no statistically significant difference between clinic‐based and phone‐based anticoagulation services in mean time and number of visits within therapeutic range (P = .67; P = .06 respectively); mean number of extreme subtherapeutic and supratherapeutic INR values (P = .32 and P = .34, respectively); incidence of thromboembolic complications and warfarin related hospitalization. There was one reported bleeding and one emergency visit (0.9%) in the phone‐based group vs none in the clinic‐based group. Frequency of INR testing and compliance to attending clinics appointments declined significantly (P = .002; P = .001, respectively). Overall, patients were highly satisfied with the new service. The majority of patients found it better (51.6%) or just as good as the traditional service (44.5%). Patients who preferred the new service were significantly younger than their counterparts (P = .005).ConclusionThe service of drive‐up INR testing and phone‐based consultations was shown to be comparable to traditional anticoagulation service, a finding that supports maintaining such services as part of the new normal after the pandemic is over.
The impact of an URAT1 polymorphism on the losartan treatment of hypertension and hyperuricemia
Authors: Wu Liting , Fan Yingchao , Wang Yuan , Li Zhumeng , Mao Delong , Zhuang Wenfang 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundThis study was designed to evaluate the impact of polymorphisms in the urate transporter 1 (URAT1) gene on the uricosuric action of losartan therapy in hypertensive patients suffering from hyperuricemia.MethodsA MassARRAY approach was used to detect single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci in the URAT1 and CYP2C9 genes (16 and 2 loci, respectively) in 111 patients with hypertension and hyperuricemia taking losartan and in 121 healthy controls. In addition, we compared serum urate (SUA) levels and other key clinical biochemistry indices between these two patient groups.ResultsWe detected significant differences between the two patient groups with respect to age, SUA, urea, creatine, triglycerides, high‐density lipoprotein, low‐density lipoprotein, and fasting plasma glucose (all p < 0.05). In addition, we found that hypertensive patients with hyperuricemia were more likely to exhibit the rs3825016(C/T) (36.9% vs 21.5%, p = 0.03), and we determined that a 2‐week treatment course with losartan was associated with significant decreases in SUA values (p < 0.001).ConclusionOur findings indicate that the URAT1 rs3825016 polymorphism may influence the uricosuric action of losartan.
Resistance to immunotherapy in human malignancies: Mechanisms, research progresses, challenges, and opportunities
Authors: Bashash Davood , Zandi Zahra , Kashani Bahareh , Pourbagheri‐Sigaroodi Atieh , Salari Sina , Ghaffari Seyed H. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractDespite remarkable advances in different types of cancer therapies, an effective therapeutic strategy is still a major and significant challenge. One of the most promising approaches in this regard is immunotherapy, which takes advantage of the patients' immune system; however, the many mechanisms that cancerous cells harbor to extend their survival make it impossible to gain perfect eradication of tumors. The response rate to cancer immunotherapies, especially checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive T cell therapy, substantially differs in various cancer types with the highest rates in advanced melanoma and non‐small cell lung cancer. Indeed, the lack of response in many tumors indicates primary resistance that can originate from either tumor cells (intrinsic) or tumor microenvironment (extrinsic). On the other hand, some tumors show an initial response to immunotherapy followed by relapse in few months (acquired resistance). Understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms of immunotherapy resistance makes it possible to develop effective strategies to overcome this hurdle and boost therapy outcomes. In this review, we take a look at immunotherapy strategies and go through a number of primary and acquired resistance mechanisms. Also, we present various ongoing methods to overcoming resistance and introduce some promising fields to improve the outcome of immunotherapy in patients affected with cancer.
The career outlook of engineering PhDs: Influence of postdoctoral research positions on early career salaries and the attainment of tenure‐track faculty positions
Authors: Main Joyce B. , Wang Yanbing , Tan Li 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe number of engineering PhDs pursuing postdoctoral research scholar (postdoc) positions has steadily increased in the last 30 years. Postdoc positions are commonly thought of as a step toward academic careers. However, engineering PhDs are more likely to work in industry, which leaves open the question of the role of postdocs in the career trajectories of engineering PhDs.Purpose/hypothesisThis study examines the factors associated with attainment of postdocs. It also identifies the influence of postdocs on attainment of tenure‐track faculty positions and early career salaries.Design/methodSuper's “life span, life space” theory informs the analytical approach. Descriptive and regression analyses, and propensity score matching, are conducted using a nationally representative sample of engineering PhDs from the 1993–2013 National Science Foundation Survey of Doctorate Recipients data set merged with the 1985–2013 Survey of Earned Doctorates.ResultsEngineering PhDs primarily funded by research assistantships and who graduated from a doctoral program with higher‐ranked research activities and greater proportions of previous cohorts pursuing postdocs are more likely to attain postdoc positions. Among engineering PhDs, postdoctoral scholars are more likely than PhDs in nonacademic positions to attain tenure‐track faculty positions. Early career average salaries are relatively similar between postdoctoral scholars and PhDs without postdoc experiences working in the academic sector.ConclusionsPostdoctoral research positions can provide a viable pathway toward careers in the academic sector. Engineering doctoral programs can potentially apply research findings toward student career development and preparation, and engineering students and PhDs can leverage the career outlook information for decision‐making and career preparation.
Design, synthesis, and biological activity studies of a new class of sulfonated aurones: First synthesis of acidoaurone isolated from Phyllanthus acidus
Authors: Venkateswarlu Somepalli , Murty Gandrotu Narasimha , Satyanarayana Meka , Siddaiah Vidavalur 
Published: September 2021

AbstractA novel series of aurones were designed by introducing sulfonic acid group on ring‐A and ring‐B of known natural aurones such as hispidol, sulfuretin, maritimetin, and aureusidin. These sulfonated aurones were synthesized by a unique approach. Sulfonation on ring‐A or ring‐B converts water‐insoluble aurones into highly water‐soluble aurones. The sulfonated aurones were tested for their antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and AChE inhibition activities along with their natural aurones. Ring‐A sulfonated aurones displayed higher antioxidant activity, 5‐LOX, and AChE inhibition in comparison with their corresponding natural aurones. Ring‐B sulfonated aurones exhibited potent 5‐LOX inhibitory activity and significant antioxidant activity. Acidoaurone, a first sulfonated aurone isolated from Phyllanthus acidus was synthesized for the first time and was well characterized using NMR, LC–MS, and further confirmed by HMBC.
GdDO3NI Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Allows Imaging of Hypoxia After Brain Injury
Authors: Moghadas Babak , Bharadwaj Vimala N. , Tobey John P. , Tian Yanqing , Stabenfeldt Sarah E. , Kodibagkar Vikram D. 
Published: September 2021

BackgroundBrain tissue hypoxia is a common consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) due to the rupture of blood vessels during impact and it correlates with poor outcome. The current magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques are unable to provide a direct map of tissue hypoxia.PurposeTo investigate whether GdDO3NI, a nitroimidazole‐based T1 MRI contrast agent allows imaging hypoxia in the injured brain after experimental TBI.Study TypeProspective.Animal ModelTBI‐induced mice (controlled cortical impact model) were intravenously injected with either conventional T1 agent (gadoteridol) or GdDO3NI at 0.3 mmol/kg dose (n = 5 for each cohort) along with pimonidazole (60 mg/kg) at 1 hour postinjury and imaged for 3 hours following which they were euthanized.Field Strength/Sequence7 T/T2‐weighted spin echo and T1‐weighted gradient echo.AssessmentInjured animals were imaged with T2‐weighted spin‐echo sequence to estimate the extent of the injury. The mice were then imaged precontrast and postcontrast using a T1‐weighted gradient‐echo sequence for 3 hours postcontrast. Regions of interests were drawn on the brain injury region, the contralateral brain as well as on the cheek muscle region for comparison of contrast kinetics. Brains were harvested immediately post‐imaging for immunohistochemical analysis.Statistical TestsOne‐way analysis of variance and two‐sample t‐tests were performed with a P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsGdDO3NI retention in the injury region at 2.5–3 hours post‐injection was significantly higher compared to gadoteridol (mean retention fraction 63.95% ± 27.43% vs. 20.68% ± 7.43% for gadoteridol at 3 hours) while it rapidly cleared out of the muscle region. Pimonidazole staining confirmed the presence of hypoxia in both gadoteridol and GdDO3NI cohorts, and the later cohort showed good agreement with MRI contrast enhancement.Data ConclusionGdDO3NI was successfully shown to visualize hypoxia in the brain post‐TBI using T1‐weighted MRI at 2.5–3 hours postcontrast.Evidence Level1Technical EfficacyStage 1
Association of anti‐HBc and liver inflammation in HBeAg‐negative chronic hepatitis B virus‐infected patients with normal ALT and detectable HBV DNA
Authors: Yao Kefang , Wang Jian , Wang Lijuan , Xia Juan , Yan Xiaomin , Wu Weihua , Liu Jiacheng , Wang Li , Yin Shengxia , Tong Xin , Ding Weimao , Huang Rui , Wu Chao 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSerum hepatitis B core antibody (anti‐HBc) is associated with liver inflammation in chronic hepatitis B patients. This study aimed to investigate whether anti‐HBc could serve as a predictor of significant liver inflammation in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)‐negative chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infected patients with normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and detectable HBV DNA. Treatment‐naïve HBeAg‐negative chronic HBV infected patients with normal ALT and detectable HBV DNA who underwent liver biopsy were retrospectively included from two medical centers. Liver inflammation grade was evaluated using the Scheuer scoring system and significant liver inflammation was defined as ≥G2. Serum anti‐HBc levels were measured by commercial immunoassays (Abbott GmbH & Co. KG). A total of 117 patients were included and 50 (42.7%) patients showed significant liver inflammation. Serum anti‐HBc levels in patients with significant liver inflammation were significantly higher than patients with no or mild liver inflammation (<G2) (p < 0.001). High serum anti‐HBc (odds ratio 1.562, 95% confidential interval 1.157–2.110, p = 0.004) was an independent risk factor of significant liver inflammation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of serum anti‐HBc in predicting significant liver inflammation was 0.769 and the optimal cut‐off value was 10.87 S/CO, with a sensitivity of 59.2% and a specificity of 87.9%. Our data revealed that a substantial of HBeAg‐negative chronic infection patients with normal ALT and detectable HBV DNA showed significant liver inflammation. Serum anti‐HBc can predict significant liver inflammation in these patients.
Extraction of non‐starch lipid from protease‐treated wheat flour
Authors: Abdul Manan Siti Farhiah , Li Jihong , Hsieh Chao‐Feng , Faubion Jon , Shi Yong‐Cheng 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDLipids account for 2.0–2.5% of wheat flour by dry weight and affect properties and quality of cereal foods. A new method was developed to extract non‐starch lipids from wheat flour. Wheat flour was first hydrolyzed with a protease and followed by extraction of non‐starch lipids by water‐saturated butanol (WSB).RESULTProtein hydrolysis by protease followed by extraction of non‐starch lipids with WSB increased yield to 1.9 ± 0.3% from 1.0 ± 0.1% with no protease treatment. The lipid profile showed a significant increase in phospholipid compounds extracted with protease hydrolysis (5.9 ± 0.8 nmol·g−1) versus without enzymatic treatment (2.4 ± 1.3 nmol g−1).CONCLUSIONImproved lipid extraction yield and phospholipid compounds following protease‐assisted extraction method provided additional insight towards the understanding of protein–lipid interaction in wheat flour. The new protease‐assisted extraction method may be applied to analyzing non‐starch lipids in other types of wheat flours and other cereal flours. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Effects of Ca2+ on migration of dissolved organic matter in limestone soils of the southwest China karst area
Authors: Xiao Peiwen , Xiao Baohua , Adnan Muhammad 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe prospect of carbon sequestration in soils of karst areas remains unclear. The study on migration and transformation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in limestone soil under the high calcium environment of karst regions has seldom been reported. This study conducted soil column experiments on two surface soils (H1 and S2) and two subsurface soils (H2 and S2) from two limestone soil profiles in the karst region of southwest China and investigated their DOM leaching behaviours under different Ca2+ concentration levels. The results showed that the DOM leaching process can be described by the Elovich equation, including a rapid DOM release stage and the relatively stable DOM release stage. When the Ca2+ concentration of eluent increases from 0 to 2.5 mmol L−1, the percentage of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) loss in H1, H2, S1, and S2 soils decreased from 66.3% to 58.8%, from 76.2% to 72.4%, from 73.0% to 68.8%, and from 52.5% to 46.6%, respectively, and the apparent molecular weight of leached DOM increases, the aromaticity of leach DOM and the contribution of humic‐like components decrease. The results further show that the influence of Ca2+ on easily leaching DOM is stronger than that on the stable DOM, indicating that high Ca2+ runoff can enrich high aromaticity and high molecular weight soil organic matter (SOM) in the limestone soil during the leaching process. This research is helpful to understand the migration and fate of SOM in limestone soils and provides theoretical support for increasing soil carbon sinks in karst areas.
Livestock grazing‐induced large‐scale biotic homogenization in arid Mediterranean steppe rangelands
Authors: Merdas Saifi , Kouba Yacine , Mostephaoui Tewfik , Farhi Yassine , Chenchouni Haroun 
Published: September 2021

AbstractDespite many studies that have explored the effect of livestock grazing on plant communities, the response of species composition and diversity to livestock grazing in arid rangelands remains ambiguous. This study examined the effects of livestock grazing on plant communities in arid steppe rangelands of North Africa. Plant diversity of annual species, perennial species, and all species combined were measured and compared between grazed and grazing‐excluded areas. We also examined the relative importance of species turnover and community nestedness. Moreover, the effects of livestock grazing on beta diversity at local among transects and landscape among sites scales were examined using the multiplicative diversity partitioning. Results revealed that livestock grazing significantly decreased the alpha diversity of all species combined and the diversity of annual plants. Livestock grazing induced a shift in plant community composition where most species composition variation (~74%) was due to infrequent species replacement 'turnover' between the two management types rather than nestedness (~26%). Results revealed also that among transects, beta diversity was higher in grazed steppes than in grazing‐excluded steppes. Whereas, among sites, beta diversity was lower in grazed steppes compared to grazing‐excluded steppes. These findings suggest that livestock grazing in arid steppe rangelands increases the variation in plant species composition at a local spatial scale and engenders vegetation homogeneity at a landscape spatial scale. Therefore, the implementation of appropriate management practices such as short‐term grazing exclusion is mandatory to prevent these ecosystems from large‐scale biotic homogenization.
Questionnaires mentioned in academic research 1996–2019: Rapid increase but declining citation impact
Authors: Fairclough Ruth , Thelwall Mike 
Published: September 2021

AbstractQuestionnaires are a device to elicit human perspectives, self‐reports or knowledge. This article investigates which broad academic fields use questionnaires, whether this use is increasing, and whether it generates average citation impact. This is investigated through a nonprobability sample: articles mentioning questionnaires in their titles, abstracts, or keywords. This procedure captures a minority of research using questionnaires, with substantial biases against fields using alternative terminology, such as ‘instrument’ or ‘survey’, or that rarely explicitly mention questionnaires in titles, abstract or keywords because they play a minor role. The results suggest that the proportion of journal articles using questionnaires tripled between 1996 and 2019, and this proportion increased in all 27 broad Scopus fields. Over the same period, the citation impact of the identified research declined from above average to below average. Thus, whilst academic research seems to be increasingly using questionnaires, the quality or scholarly value of research using questionnaires may be declining. These are tentative conclusions because of the unknown sampling bias for the set of questionnaire‐based articles analysed.
High parathyroid hormone levels after parathyroidectomy for parathyroid adenoma are not related to the cellularity of the remaining glands
Authors: Sagiv Rotem , Delgado Bertha , Sadeh Re'em , Shashar Sagi , Fraenkel Merav , Yegodayev Ksenia M. , Elkabets Moshe , Joshua Ben‐Zion 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundPatients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) treated surgically occasionally have normalized calcium, but persistently high parathyroid hormone (PTH). We hypothesized that a possible explanation for this phenomenon is an underlying hyperplasia rather than adenoma.MethodsRetrospective cohort of patients who underwent parathyroidectomy for PHPT with biopsy of a normal‐appearing parathyroid gland were included. Cellularity level of each biopsy and of the adenoma's rim was determined.ResultsForty‐seven patients were included. Of them, 19 (40%) had postoperative normocalcemia but elevated PTH. There was no correlation between cellularity either in the rim or of the normal‐appearing parathyroid gland and postoperative PTH. The postoperative high PTH group had higher preoperative PTH (P = 0.001) and larger adenomas (P = 0.025).ConclusionsHigh PTH levels after successful parathyroidectomy in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism do not appear to result from underlying hyperplasia. A possible alternative explanation is that these patients have a higher preoperative burden of disease.
Advance care planning in adults with oral cancer: Multi‐institutional cross‐sectional study
Authors: Forner David , Lee Daniel J. , Grewal Rajan , MacDonald Jenna , Noel Christopher W. , Taylor S. Mark , Goldstein David P. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractPurposePatients undergoing head and neck surgery are often elderly and frail with significant comorbidities. Discussion and documentation of what patients would desire for end‐of‐life care and decision‐making is, therefore, essential for delivering patient‐centered care.Materials and MethodsThis was a retrospective, cross‐sectional study of patients undergoing surgery for head and neck cancer at two large, academic, tertiary care centers in Canada. Advance care planning was defined as any documentation of advance directives, resuscitation orders, or end‐of‐life care preferences.ResultsAmong 301 patients, advance care planning was documented for 31 (10.3%). Patients with locally advanced disease (T3+) were twice as likely to have advance care planning documentation compared to those with early disease (RR 1.97, 95%CI [0.98, 3.97]).ConclusionsIn this multi‐institutional cross‐sectional study of two large academic centers, we have demonstrated that advance care planning and documentation is overall poor in patients undergoing surgery for oral cancer. These findings may have health policy implications, as advance care planning is associated with increased patient and provider satisfaction and improved alignment of patient goals and care delivered. Future work will investigate barriers and facilitators to advance care‐planning documentation in this setting.
Effects of seagrass overgrazing on sediment erosion and carbon sink capacity: Current understanding and future priorities
Authors: Dahl Martin , Björk Mats , Gullström Martin 
Published: September 2021

AbstractWe searched the literature for experimental and observational studies assessing the effects of seagrass overgrazing on erosion of sediment and sedimentary organic carbon (SOC) and found that most studies reported a significant impact, likely caused by a cascading effect (i.e., seagrass shoot loss → belowground biomass degradation → sediment destabilization or SOC erosion). However, there appears to be a clear lack of knowledge on the extent and mechanisms behind SOC erosion in seagrass meadows and we highlight the need for research to (1) define spatial and temporal scales of occurrence; (2) assess the influence of belowground biomass degradation, sediment characteristics, and hydrodynamic exposure on sediment stabilization; and (3) estimate the greenhouse gas emission after a disturbance. Such information would help coastal resource managers to address the causes and effects of SOC loss and sediment erosion when evaluating impacts of global change on coastal ecosystems.
On the prime divisors of element orders
Authors: Hung Nguyen Ngoc , Yang Yong 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe number of different prime divisors of the order of a finite group G is bounded above by a quartic function of the maximum number of different prime divisors of the order of a single element in G. This improves earlier results of J. Zhang, T. M. Keller, and A. Moretó.