bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Bayesian mixing model framework for quantifying temporal variation in source of sediment to lakes across broad hydrological gradients of floodplains
Authors: Kay Mitchell L. , Swanson Heidi K. , Burbank Jacob , Owca Tanner J. , MacDonald Lauren A. , Savage Cory A. M. , Remmer Casey R. , Neary Laura K. , Wiklund Johan A. , Wolfe Brent B. , Hall Roland I. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPaleolimnological reconstructions provide insights into hydrological variability of dynamic floodplain lakes. However, spatial and temporal integration of multiple reconstructions often remains underdeveloped because the efficacy of different paleolimnological measurements varies among lakes due to gradients in energy of floodwaters and sediment composition. Here, we use linear discriminant analysis to identify 10 significant elemental concentrations in sediment obtained from multiple sampling campaigns that distinguish among three end‐member allochthonous sources for lakes in the Peace‐Athabasca Delta (PAD; Canada): Athabasca River, Peace River, and local catchment runoff. Over 90% of sediment samples were correctly classified into original groups after cross‐validation due to the distinctiveness of the three end‐members, which permitted development of a robust Bayesian mixing model to discern the relative contributions of sediment from the three sources. We evaluate performance of the mixing model via application to sediment cores from two adjacent lakes in the Athabasca sector of the PAD and demonstrate its effectiveness to discriminate three known hydrological phases during the past 300 years. Notably, model results indicated that ~ 60% of the sediment originated from the Peace River during the largest ice‐jam flood event on record (1974), which was unrecognized by other methods. The approach provides a new, universal method that can be applied across the full range of sediment composition to quantify changes in source, frequency, and magnitude of sediment delivery by river floodwaters to lakes and is transferable to other dynamic floodplain landscapes where broad range of sediment composition challenges application of other approaches.
FORMED IN THE CRUCIBLE OF CRISIS: MY APPROACH AND INSIGHTS ON LEADING PFIZER’S EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
Authors: Read Ian C. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe author details his experience as chief executive officer (CEO) of Pfizer, a top five global pharmaceutical company, and in particular his working with the company’s Executive Leadership Team (ELT). He details the company’s turnaround from a period of crisis during the previous leadership regime and outlines four principles that led to its success. The author contends that these principles can work for other executives, either in corporations, or elsewhere. In his words, they are #1: Build trust on the ELT. #2: Align on a fully shared view of the strategic business challenge and needed actions, uniting the ELT. #3: Link the business challenge to needed culture change. #4: Keep the ELT focused on enterprise‐level decisions and true cross‐divisional collaboration opportunities. Each principle is described in detail, revolving around the author’s experience with his Pfizer ELT. For instance, within principle #1, he writes, “How the CEO responds to mistakes can build or diminish trust, especially but not limited to the big mistakes.” Within #2: “My goal was to build a common understanding of our key challenges and from there, set strategy and a game plan for creating a company we could once again be proud of.”
Structurally Functionalized Cupric Oxide Encapsulated Chitosan Grafted Polyaniline Composite for Potentiometric Sensing of Methyl Parathion
Authors: Kushwaha Chandra Shekhar , Singh Pratibha , Abbas N. S. , Shukla S. K. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractElectrochemical detection of residual methyl parathion (MPT) has been demonstrated over chemically functionalized and surface interactive CuO encapsulated chitosan grafted polyaniline (CuO‐en‐CHIT‐g‐PANI) composite under optimized conditions. The analytical results confirm the formation of CuO‐en‐CHIT‐g‐PANI with porous, interactive, and plane aligned crystalline to use as a sensing electrode with electrical conductivity, i.e., 3.75 × 10−4 S cm−1, reversible interactivity after making a thin film of composite over glass coated with ITO by spin‐coated technique. Further, the developed electrode is explored for potentiometric sensing of MPT in natural and artificial samples after monitoring of surface‐induced potential under optimum conditions, i.e., pH = 7.0 and 25 °C. The observed parameters are linear ultrasensitive concentration range 2.0–100 × 10−6 m, sensitivity 3.0408 mV µm−1 cm−2, detection limit 0.1 × 10−6 m, time of response 180 s, time of recovery 20 s, and stability for 70 d. Further, the mechanism for sensing MPT has explicated through observed potential and associative oxidative interactions between MPT and sensing electrode.
A novel TLE6 mutation, c.541+1G>A, identified using whole‐exome sequencing in a Chinese family with female infertility
Authors: Mao Bin , Jia Xueling , Liu Hongfang , Xu Xiaojuan , Zhao Xiaodong , Yuan Yue , Li Hongxing , Ma Xiaoling , Zhang Lili 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundOocytes have a lot of maternal RNAs and proteins, which are used by the early embryo before zygotic genome activation. Transducin‐like enhancer of split 6 (TLE6) is a component of a subcortical maternal complex which plays a critical role in early embryonic development.MethodsThe patient had been diagnosed with primary infertility for 6 years and had undergone multiple failed in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. Genomic DNA samples were extracted from her parents’ peripheral blood as well as hers. Whole‐exome sequencing and Sanger validation were performed to identify candidate variants.ResultsWe identified a novel transducin‐like enhancer of split 6 (TLE6) gene mutations in the female patient with recurrent IVF/ICSI failure. The patient carried a homozygous mutation (NM_001143986.1(TLE6): c.541+1G>A) and had viable but low‐quality embryos. Her parents both had heterozygous mutations at this locus.ConclusionOur study expands the mutational and phenotypic spectrum of TLE6 and suggests the important role of TLE6 during embryonic development. Our findings have implications for the genetic diagnosis of female infertility with recurrent IVF/ICSI failure.
A T1‐based correction method for proton resonance frequency shift thermometry in breast tissue
Authors: McLean McKenzie , Parker Dennis L. , Odéen Henrik , Payne Allison 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPurposeDevelop and evaluate the effectiveness of a T1‐based correction method for errors in proton resonant frequency shift thermometry due to non‐local field effects caused by heating in fatty breast tissues.MethodsComputational models of human breast tissue were created by segmenting MRI data from a healthy human volunteer. MR‐guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) heating and MR thermometry measurements were simulated in several locations in the heterogeneous segmented breast models. A T1‐based correction method for PRF thermometry errors was applied and the maximum positive and negative errors and the root mean squared error (RMSE) in a region around each heating location was evaluated with and without correction. The method uses T1 measurements to estimate the temperature change in fatty tissues and correct for their influence. Experimental data from a heating study in cadaver breast tissue were analyzed, and the expected PRFS error computed.ResultsThe simulated MR thermometry had maximum single voxel errors ranging between 10% and 18% when no correction was applied. Applying the correction led to a considerable improvement, lowering the maximum error range to 2%–5%. The 5th to 95th percentile interval of the temperature error distribution was also lowered with correction, from approximately 3.5 to 1°C. This correction worked even when T1 times were uniformly raised or lowered by 5%–10%. The experimental data showed predicted errors of 15%.ConclusionsThis simulation study demonstrates that the T1‐based correction method reduces MR thermometry errors due to non‐local effects from heating in fatty tissues, potentially improving the accuracy of thermometry measurements during MRgFUS treatments. The presented correction method is reliant on having a patient‐specific 3D model of the breast, and may be limited by the accuracy of the fat temperatures which in turn may be limited by noise or bias present in the T1 measurements.
Evaluation of gastrointestinal symptoms in pediatric patients post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: Ileo‐colonoscopy versus sigmoidoscopy. A single‐center experience and review of literature
Authors: Slae Mordechai , Pinhasov Diana , Averbuch Diana , Davidovics Zev , Or Ehud Even , Reif Shimon , Stepensky Polina , Zaidman Irina 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackgroundHematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a curative therapy used to treat high‐risk hematological malignant disorders and other life‐threatening nonmalignant diseases. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms post‐HSCT might be due to GI graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) or GI infections or both. GI endoscopy with biopsies is safe and beneficial in guiding the management of GI symptoms in children after HSCT, justifying the therapeutic management and contributing to improved outcomes.MethodsA retrospective cohort study including 16 children with malignant and nonmalignant diseases that underwent allogeneic HSCT who had 24 ileo‐colonoscopies performed for GI symptoms. To facilitate an evidence‐based approach to the endoscopic evaluation of GI symptoms in pediatric patients post HSCT, we examined whether a full ileo‐colonoscopy, which includes right colon and terminal ileum (TI), as opposed to a limited sigmoidoscopy, was more accurate in the evaluation of GI symptoms in pediatric patients post HSCT.ResultsSpecific findings on the right colon/TI were found in nine out of 24 ileo‐colonoscopies (38%, CI = 19%–59%). The macroscopic findings on ileo‐colonoscopy were compared with the histopathologic findings. When macroscopic findings were present, there were matching histopathologic findings in 100% of cases. However, even in the absence of any macroscopic findings on ileo‐colonoscopy, there were histopathological findings in 29% of the cases (p‐value = .016).ConclusionsThis cohort favors ileo‐colonoscopy over sigmoidoscopy, with systematic biopsy sampling, in evaluating GI symptoms in pediatric patients post HSCT.
Noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis in children and adolescents: Follow‐up over a decade
Authors: Ullmann Nicola , Porcaro Federica , Petreschi Francesca , Cammerata Michela , Allegorico Annalisa , Negro Valentina , Cutrera Renato 
Published: July 2021

AbstractBackground:Noncystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (NCFB) is still considered an “orphan disease” in pediatric age.Objective:The study describes the clinical and functional features, the instrumental, and microbial findings of a large cohort of patients with NCFB, followed in a single tertiary level hospital.Methods:Children and adolescents diagnosed with NCFB from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019 were included. Data from the diagnosis and during the years of follow‐up were recorded retrospectively.Results:One hundred and thirty‐eight patients were enrolled. The most common cause of NCFB was postinfectious (33%), followed by primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) (30%), esophageal atresia (EA) (9.5%), and secondary immunodeficiency (9.5%). Chronic cough was the most frequent symptom. The median age of symptoms presentation was 3 years (interquartile age [IQR]: 12–84), with a precocious onset in PCD and EA groups. The median age of CT diagnosis was 9 years for all groups but PCD patients who were diagnosed at older age. Lingula, medium, upper, and lower lobes were more involved in PCD group, while diffuse distribution was observed in the postinfectious one. Microbial exams showed Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization higher in PCD patients (22%). Despite microbial differences in airways colonization, no difference in respiratory exacerbation rate was recorded among groups. Lung function tests demonstrated the stability of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) over time, except for the secondary immunodeficiency group.Conclusions:The role of infections in developed countries should not be underestimated and a major effort to obtain an earlier identification of bronchiectasis should be taken. A prompt diagnosis of NFCB could help to reduce the frequency of exacerbations and improve the stability of lung function over time.
Impact of COVID‐19 on pediatric pulmonology healthcare practice
Authors: Nayir Buyuksahin Halime , Emiralioglu Nagehan , Ademhan Tural Dilber , Ozsezen Beste , Sunman Birce , Guzelkas Ismail , Yalcin Ebru , Dogru Deniz , Ozcelik Ugur , Kiper Nural 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIntroductionCoronavirus 2019 (COVID‐19) is typically spread by droplets and has had a remarkable effect on pediatric pulmonology healthcare practice. Here, we aimed to evaluate the effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the clinical follow‐up and hospital visits of patients followed up at a pediatric pulmonology unit at a tertiary care center.MethodsThis study was an observational descriptive study performed at a tertiary care center pediatric pulmonology unit between January 2019 and December 2020. We analyzed the outpatient visits, laboratory procedures which including pulmonary function tests (PFTs), diffusion capacity assessment, plethysmography, and lung clearance index (LCI), high‐speed video microscopy, gastric aspirate sampling, and Flexible fiberoptic bronchoscopy (FFB) during clinical follow‐up, and hospitalization numbers of patients with chronic lung diseases during the COVID‐19 pandemic and compared them with the previous year before the pandemic started.ResultsIn 2020, compared with 2019, outpatient visits decreased by 42.2%; from 8324 patients to 4804 patients and other laboratory procedures decreased after the pandemic started; PFTs including spirometry by 87.2%; from 2990 to 380 tests, diffusion capacity assessment from 172 to 55 tests, plethysmography from 172 to 53 and LCI from 70 to 9 tests, also high‐speed video microscopy analyses by 64.3% from 300 to 107 patients, and gastric aspirate sampling by 75.5% from 42 to 9 patients. FFB procedures also decreased by 59.1%, from 142 to 58 patients, and only 15 were after the first reported case of COVID‐19 in our country, and they were all for urgent indications. None of these patients was positive pretesting for COVID‐19 who underwent the FFB. There was no significant decrease in patients' hospitalization due to pulmonary exacerbation in cystic fibrosis, interstitial lung disease, and primary ciliary dyskinesia.
Change in CF care during COVID‐19 pandemic: Single‐center experience in a middle‐income setting
Authors: Hatziagorou Elpis , Toulia Ilektra , Avramidou Vasiliki , Kampouras Asterios , Tsara Venetia , Tsanakas John 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIntroductionThe coronavirus 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has demanded care changes for patients with chronic disease. Patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) are considered at higher risk of developing severe manifestations in the case of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, and a need for new ways of safer care delivery has been required to avoid transmission.ObjectivesTo assess the impact of the lockdown during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic and remote monitoring on patient's health status and daily maintenance therapy in a middle‐income resource setting.MethodsDuring the first wave of the pandemic period, we changed from regular clinic visits to telephone visit calls to monitor our patients' health condition and adherence to physiotherapy and physical exercise.ResultsA total of 120 patients or their caregivers have been contacted by telephone call visits over 10 weeks. During this period, 38 patients (28.33%) were identified to have pulmonary exacerbation; 89.5% were prescribed oral antibiotics, 3% were hospitalized to get iv antibiotics, and 8% of the patients presented other CF complications. Most of the patients did not change the frequency of the daily physiotherapy. Moreover, 71% of the patients who performed regular physical exercise changed the frequency and the type of exercise during the quarantine period. Interestingly, mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s and body weight increased significantly and after the lockdown period.ConclusionsDuring the COVID‐19 pandemic, the implementation of telephone contact processes aiming for CF patients' appropriate care is of great importance. Further studies are needed to evaluate patient outcomes when transitioning from face‐to‐face clinics to telemedicine clinics.
A robust meta‐method for interpreting the out‐of‐control signal of multivariate control charts using artificial neural networks
Authors: Bersimis Sotiris , Sgora Aggeliki , Psarakis Stelios 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMultivariate control charts are an effective mean to identify an out‐of‐control process in several (industrial or non‐industrial) fields, where the quality depends on many related variables. However, the main shortcoming of these charts is that they fail to indicate which measured variable or variables has or have shifted. In order to address this issue, several alternative analytical approaches that aim to diagnose the responsible variable or variables for the out‐of‐control signal and help identify aberrant variables have been proposed. However, there is no particular method that can be considered as panacea, since its performance depends on several parameters, such as the correlation among the variables, and so forth. In this paper, a meta‐method is proposed that combines the results of several well‐known analytical methods in order to identify robustly the out‐of‐control variables. The obtained results show that the proposed meta‐method achieves high performance and it is extremely robust under different scenarios of out‐of‐control processes.
X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization of band offsets of MgO/Mg2Si and SiO2/Mg2Si heterojunctions
Authors: Liao Yangfang , Xie Jing , Lv Bing , Xiao Qingquan , Xie Quan 
Published: July 2021

MgO and SiO2 are the natural oxide layer on the surface of Mg2Si and the excellent gate dielectric layer materials. MgO/Mg2Si and SiO2/Mg2Si heterojunctions were successfully prepared by magnetron sputtering. The valence band offset (VBO) and conduction band offset (CBO) of the two heterojunctions were measured by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) method, and the values were 2.64 and 3.90 eV for MgO/Mg2Si and 3.24 and 4.43 eV for SiO2/Mg2Si, respectively. Different degree of band bending occurs on the two interfaces. As a result, the band diagrams of the both interfaces are all Type‐I (Straddled) band alignment. Such high VBO and CBO can provide suitable barrier heights for both electrons and holes (>1 eV); therefore, both MgO and SiO2 can be suitable candidates for the preparation of Mg2Si‐based thin film transistors.
A Plasmon‐Enhanced SnSe2 Photodetector by Non‐Contact Ag Nanoparticles
Authors: Sun Xiaoli , Sun Jiamin , Xu Jinlong , Li Ziqi , Li Rang , Yang Zaixing , Ren Feng , Jia Yuechen , Chen Feng 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe 2D layered materials are promising candidates for broadband, low‐cost photodetectors. One deficiency of 2D materials is the relatively low absorbance of light, limiting the applications of the 2D photodetectors. Doping of plasmonic nanoparticles into 2D materials may enhance the optical absorbance owing to the localized surface plasmonic resonance (LSPR) effect; however, considerable defects may be introduced into the 2D materials at the same time, resulting in certain degradation of device performance. Here, a novel design of 2D photodetectors with enhanced photoresponsivity by non‐contact plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) is proposed, consisting of a hybrid structure of few‐layer SnSe2 transferred a fused silica (SiO2) plate with embedded Ag NPs. The system of Ag NPs‐in‐SiO2 shows strong LSPR effect with significantly enhanced optical absorption, acting on SnSe2 in a non‐contact configuration. Benefiting from well‐preserved intrinsic features of SnSe2 and LSPR effect, the responsivity of the photodetector is enhanced by 881 times with the bias voltage of 0.1 V, which is superior to previously reported results of plasmon‐enhanced 2D photodetectors. Moreover, the SiO2 with embedded Ag NPs is recyclable and can be easy to be recombined with different 2D materials. This work offers additional strategy for development of efficient, low‐cost 2D photodetectors by using plasmonic NPs.
Silica‐Enveloped 2D‐Sheet‐to‐Nanocrystals Conversion for Resilient Catalytic Dry Reforming of Methane
Authors: Jang Sun Woo , Dutta Soumen , Kumar Amit , Kim Soo Min , You Young‐Woo , Lee In Su 
Published: July 2021

AbstractHere, lamellar confinement strategy is introduced for “sheet‐to‐nanocrystals (NCs)” conversion within a 2D‐SiO2 envelope, which constructs a catalytic nanocartridge holding a platoon of isolated and in‐plane‐aligned ultrasmall Ni‐NCs, performing as a robust and coking‐resistant catalytic system for dry reforming of methane. Overcoming the problem of unavoidable bulk crystal growth from multiple sheets‐stack or sheet‐on‐open‐support, silica bilayer‐encasing tightly clamps the atomic‐thin Ni(OH)2‐nanosheet during thermal conversion and further hinders the migratory fusion of the resultant Ni‐NCs. Upon heating‐cooling cycle, the flapping silica envelope clutches the Ni‐NCs like “eggs in a carton,” subsequently, ensuring their thermal stability. Owing to the unique 2D‐enveloped rigid architecture, Ni‐NCs can circumvent sintering and coke deposition while tolerating the high temperatures (>700 °C) for long operation (>100 h), affording high conversions to syngas.
An unpredicted ancient colonization of the West Indies by North American rodents: dental evidence of a geomorph from the early Oligocene of Puerto Rico
Authors: Marivaux Laurent , Vélez‐Juarbe Jorge , Viñola López Lázaro W. , Fabre Pierre‐Henri , Pujos François , Santos‐Mercado Hernán , Cruz Eduardo J. , Grajales Pérez Alexandra M. , Padilla James , Vélez‐Rosado Kevin I. , Cornée Jean‐Jacques , Philippon Mélody , Münch Philippe , Antoine Pierre‐Olivier 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe West Indies are a natural laboratory for the study of biogeography and evolution, especially for mammals. The modality of their arrival in the Caribbean islands is a highly controversial issue, and palaeontological evidence remains particularly elusive. Lower Oligocene deposits of Puerto Rico (c. 29.5 Ma) have recently yielded the oldest archipelago rodents, with teeth of two chinchilloid caviomorphs of South American origin. Here we report the discovery of additional dental remains from the same level, testifying to the occurrence of another rodent group. Their morphology is singular but otherwise characteristic of North/Central American geomyin geomorphs (including extant kangaroo rats, pocket mice, and pocket gophers), and leads us to propose here a new taxon: Caribeomys merzeraudi gen. et sp. nov. The evidence of geomorphs in the West Indies challenges the view that all extinct and extant Antillean rodents derived from South American sources. The morphological singularity of this Puerto Rican geomorph also suggests an early split of this insular lineage from coeval mainland counterparts, and its dispersal towards the West Indies sometime around the Eocene–Oligocene transition. This unexpected rodent adds to the few cases of Antillean terrestrial vertebrates of North American origins, such as solenodonotan eulipotyphlans. In the absence of subaerial land connections between both landmasses, an overwater dispersal may explain mid‐Palaeogene colonization of the West Indies by geomorph rodents.