bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of a semi‐automatic, intensive follow‐up for improving efficacy and adherence of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chen Yao , Yuan Hongxun , Ye Hui , Shi Zongming , Deng Xin , Zhang Xuezhi , Hou Xikang 
Published: February 2021

AbstractA complete understanding and good adherence are crucial for successful Helicobacter pylori eradication. Proper frequency of reminders might be helpful to both doctors and patients to maintain adherence during treatment. The study was to evaluate the influence of an intensive follow‐up system based on a clinical database on H. pylori eradication therapy. A total of 196 eligible patients were equally and randomly divided into an intensive follow‐up group and a control group. Both groups were administered bismuth‐containing quadruple therapy for 14 days. Patients in the intensive follow‐up group were informed of pre‐treatment, including the duration and potential adverse events. Subsequently, they received telephone follow‐ups on days 3 and 14 and 3 days before the urea breath test (UBT). The time points were automatically reminded by a follow‐up system in the established clinical database. The control group was only informed of pre‐treatment information. UBT was performed 4 weeks after treatment in both groups to assess the presence of H. pylori. The eradication rate, patient compliance, and adverse events were calculated and compared. The H. pylori eradication rates of the intensive follow‐up and control groups were 94.7% (90/95, 95% CI: 90%–99%) and 92.9% (78/84, 95% CI: 87%–98%), respectively, by PP analysis (p = 0.601), and 91.8% (90/98, 95% CI: 86%–97%) and 81.6% (80/98, 95% CI: 74%–89%) by ITT analysis (p = 0.035). Adverse events occurred in 9 intensive follow‐up group patients and 12 in the control group. Adherence was 96.9% (95/98) in the intensive follow‐up group and 85.7% (84/98) in the control group. Semi‐automatic intensive follow‐up contributed to a higher eradication rate and adherence to H. pylori treatment.
The Yin and Yang of traditional Chinese and Western medicine
Authors: Fu Rao , Li Jie , Yu Huatao , Zhang Yang , Xu Zhihong , Martin Cathie 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe success of Western Scientific approaches to medicine, over the last 150 years, can be measured by substantial increases in life expectancy, reductions in infant mortality and the virtual elimination of many infectious diseases accompanied by development of effective management practices for noncommunicable diseases. However, major challenges remain in the form of infectious diseases that evolve resistance to pharmaceuticals rapidly, new diseases, particularly those caused by viruses and effective long‐term treatments for chronic, noncommunicable diseases. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can offer complementary treatments based on personalised interventions, informed by knowledge accumulated from empirical observations gathered over centuries of practice, that address the impact of disease on the whole body.We provide examples of both infectious and noncommunicable diseases where the combination of Western Scientific Medicine (WSM) and TCM can benefit patients in terms of the speed and efficacy of recovery or disease management. TCM is a healing skill based on practice, while WSM is scientific, based on experiments. Against this background, an understanding of the mechanisms of action of traditional Chinese medicinal preparations will offer fresh routes to discovery and development of new therapeutics as well as patented medical prescriptions, which will rely heavily on modern scientific methodologies for their adoption and success, particularly those in plant genomics, plant breeding and synthetic biology.
Identification and characterization of six β‐crystallin gene mutations associated with congenital cataract in Chinese families
Authors: Yu Yinhui , Qiao Yue , Ye Yang , Li Jinyu , Yao Ke 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundThis study aims to identify the underlying genetic defects of β‐crystallin (CRYB) genes responsible for congenital cataracts in a group of Chinese families.MethodsDetailed family history and clinical data of six Chinese families with autosomal dominant congenital cataracts were recorded. Targeted exome sequencing was applied to detect the underlying genetic defects for the families. Generated variants were confirmed by PCR and sanger sequencing. Afterward, bioinformatic analysis through several computational predictive programs was performed to assess impacts of mutations on protein structure and function.ResultsA total of 53 participants (23 affected and 30 unaffected) from six unrelated Chinese families were recruited. Cataract phenotypes covered nuclear, total, posterior polar, pulverulent, snowflake‐like, and zonular. Through targeted exome sequencing, six mutations in four β‐crystallin genes were revealed which included five missense mutations CRYBB1 p.Q70P, CRYBB2 p.E23Q, CRYBB2 p.A49V, CRYBB2 R188C, CRYBA4 p.M14K and one splice mutation CRYBB3 c.75+1 G>A. In silico results predicted pathogenic for all four missense variants except variant CRYBB2‐p.A49V yielded results as tolerant. The CRYBB3 c.75+1 G>A splice site mutation was predicted to be deleterious by leading to a broken splice site, a premature stop codon, and subsequently resulting in a short peptide of 113 amino acids, which may affect protein features.ConclusionThe obtained results expanded mutational and phenotype spectrum of β‐crystallin genes and offer clues for pathogenesis of congenital cataracts. The data also demonstrated that targeted exome sequencing is valuable for providing molecular diagnostic information for congenital cataract patients.
Vitamin D status and CYP27B1‐1260 promoter polymorphism in Tunisian patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Fakhfakh Raouia , Feki Sawsan , Elleuch Aida , Neifar Manel , Marzouk Sameh , Elloumi Nesrine , Hachicha Hend , Abida Olfa , Bahloul Zouhir , Ayadi Fatma , Masmoudi Hatem 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAimAn association between serum vitamin D (Vit D) levels and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been reported by several studies that suggested the involvement of genetically determined characteristics of enzymes of vitamin D metabolism. Our study aimed to evaluate the relationship between 25 hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) level, the most representative metabolite of VitD status, and polymorphism of the cytochrome P450, CYP27B1 gene, which influence vitamin D metabolism, and serum levels, in SLE Tunisian patients.Material and MethodsA cross‐sectional study has been conducted in SLE patients (supplemented and not supplemented patients), matched to healthy controls by age and gender. The 25[OH]D serum level was measured by chemiluminescence assay and CYP27B1‐1260 genetic polymorphism was carried out using PCR‐RFLP methods. Statistical analysis was made using Shesis and SPSS.20 Software.ResultsControls and Vit D not supplemented patients’ groups presented the highest percentage of hypovitaminosis D. A significant difference in the mean level of circulating 25[OH]D between Vit D supplemented SLE patients and controls was observed (23.91 ng/ml and 7.18 ng/ml, respectively p = 3.4 105). Our results showed a correlation of high 25[OH]D level with complement component 3 levels and prednisolone drug. Moreover, the analysis of CYP27B1‐1260 polymorphism in SLE patients and controls revealed a nonsignificant allelic or genotypic association.ConclusionDespite the sunny climate, the high prevalence of Vit D deficiency is common in Tunisia. This hypovitaminosis D feature may affect the Vit D levels in our SLE patients but a direct association with the disease or with the genetically determined features remains unclear. More studies are needed to establish thresholds and susceptibility genes according to the characteristics of each population.
Region‐optimized virtual (ROVir) coils: Localization and/or suppression of spatial regions using sensor‐domain beamforming
Authors: Kim Daeun , Cauley Stephen F. , Nayak Krishna S. , Leahy Richard M. , Haldar Justin P. 
Published: February 2021

PurposeIn many MRI scenarios, magnetization is often excited from spatial regions that are not of immediate interest. Excitation of uninteresting magnetization can complicate the design of efficient imaging methods, leading to either artifacts or acquisitions that are longer than necessary. While there are many hardware‐ and sequence‐based approaches for suppressing unwanted magnetization, this paper approaches this longstanding problem from a different and complementary angle, using beamforming to suppress signals from unwanted regions without modifying the acquisition hardware or pulse sequence. Unlike existing beamforming approaches, we use a spatially invariant sensor‐domain approach that can be applied directly to raw data to facilitate image reconstruction.Theory and MethodsWe use beamforming to linearly mix a set of original coils into a set of region‐optimized virtual (ROVir) coils. ROVir coils optimize a signal‐to‐interference ratio metric, are easily calculated using simple generalized eigenvalue decomposition methods, and provide coil compression.ResultsROVir coils were compared against existing coil‐compression methods, and were demonstrated to have substantially better signal suppression capabilities. In addition, examples were provided in a variety of different application contexts (including brain MRI, vocal tract MRI, and cardiac MRI; accelerated Cartesian and non‐Cartesian imaging; and outer volume suppression) that demonstrate the strong potential of this kind of approach.ConclusionThe beamforming‐based ROVir framework is simple to implement, has promising capabilities to suppress unwanted MRI signal, and is compatible with and complementary to existing signal suppression methods. We believe that this general approach could prove useful across a wide range of different MRI applications.
Longitudinal study of sub‐regional cerebral viscoelastic properties of 5XFAD Alzheimer's disease mice using multifrequency MR elastography
Authors: Majumdar Shreyan , Klatt Dieter 
Published: February 2021

PurposeTo study sub‐regional, longitudinal changes occurring inside brains of 5XFAD mice, an Alzheimer’s disease (AD) model, based on viscoelastic parameters derived using MR elastography and their spatial variation.MethodsFemale 5XFAD and non‐transgenic B6SJLF1/J mice as controls (n = 9 for both groups) were used for the study. Scans were performed inside a 9.4T preclinical MRI scanner using SampLe Interval Modulation‐magnetic resonance elastography (SLIM‐MRE). Experiments were performed at ages 2, 4, and 6 mo, and by using three actuation frequencies: 900, 1000, and 1100 Hz. Multifrequency dual elasto‐visco (MDEV) reconstruction was used to combine 3D multifrequency MRE data and calculate magnitude , and phase angle φ, of the complex shear modulus . Mean values were measured for the overall brain and sub‐regions associated with the early onset of AD, to check for the effect of aging and mouse model. Spatial coefficient of variation (CV) of both parameters across different age‐groups were analyzed.Results and φ values reduced with age for overall brain in 5XFAD mice with significant difference in mean between 5XFAD and control mice at 6 mo (P = .029). Analyzing values from the hippocampal region highlighted drop in mean and φ values. The CV of inside hippocampus enabled differentiation at 4 mo with it being significantly lower in 5XFAD mice (P = .0007).ConclusionMultifrequency 3D MRE revealed longitudinal viscoelastic changes in 5XFAD mice and the CV of in brain sub‐regions may qualify as biomarker for early diagnosis of AD.
Beneficial effect of Bletilla striata extract solution on zymosan‐induced interstitial cystitis in rat
Authors: Liu Yi‐Ching , Lee Wei‐Ting , Liang Ching‐Chung , Lo Tsia‐Shu , Hsieh Wu‐Chiao , Lin Yi‐Hao 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAimsInterstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic pain syndrome that is characterized by suprapubic pain upon bladder filling. Bletilla striata, a well‐known traditional Chinese herb with established efficacy in wound healing and anti‐inflammation, was hypothesized to improve the symptoms of IC possibly though forming a physical barrier that could isolate the bladder tissue from irritants. This study was conducted to evaluate the beneficial effects of intravesical treatment with B. striata extract solution (BSES) on visceral pain and bladder function of rats with zymosan‐induced IC.MethodsThirty female rats were randomly divided into control group, zymosan‐induced cystitis rats treated with normal saline (Z + NS), and zymosan‐induced cystitis rats treated with BSES (Z + BSES). All rats underwent evaluation for abdominal withdrawal reflex (AWR) scores to assess visceral hypersensitivity, cystometrography, and electromyogram (EMG) of both external urethral sphincter and bladder detrusor. Data were analyzed by one way analysis of variance.ResultsThe Z + NS group had an increased visceral hypersensitivity as compared to control group. Rats treated with BSES (Z + BSES group) had decreased AWR scores and amplitude of bladder detrusor‐EMG. Besides, BSES treatment improved overactive bladder with significant effects on the extend of micturition interval and increase of storage of urine.ConclusionsIntravesical instillation of BSES can significantly alleviate zymosan‐induced visceral hypersensitivity and bladder overactivity associated with IC. This study suggested that intravesical instillation with BSES might be a promising treatment for IC.
Psychometric properties of Copenhagen Burnout Inventory among nurses
Authors: Montgomery Aoyjai P. , Azuero Andres , Patrician Patricia A. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWorldwide, nurses have been reporting high levels of burnout. Given the high prevalence of nurse burnout, measurements of burnout need to be carefully considered for their validity and reliability. Our research team used a relatively new instrument to measure burnout among nurses: the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). This 19‐item instrument measures burnout in three dimensions: Personal, Work‐related, and Client‐related Burnout. However, the psychometric properties of the CBI have not been examined in nurses. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the CBI in a state‐wide survey of inpatient staff nurses. A total of 928 registered nurses working in Alabama‐area hospitals (N = 42 hospitals) participated in this study. Confirmatory factor analysis resulted in an adequate fit to the data and supported construct validity. As evidence of convergent validity, the CBI was moderately to highly correlated with measures of the overall work environment, job satisfaction, and intent to leave, in the anticipated directions. The Cronbach's alphas for Personal Burnout, Work‐related Burnout, and Client‐related Burnout were 0.91, 0.89, and 0.92, respectively, demonstrating excellent internal consistency reliability for the subscales. Based on our data, the CBI demonstrates adequate validity and reliability for measuring burnout among frontline nurses. As nurses provide care to the most vulnerable patients in healthcare systems, their psychological well‐being is important due to the impact on quality of care on patient outcomes. The availability of the CBI on its website allows nurses, nurse managers, and researchers to evaluate burnout in a variety of nursing populations with no licensing costs.
Electrochemical Proton Intercalation in Vanadium Pentoxide Thin Films and its Electrochromic Behavior in the near‐IR Region
Authors: Buchheit Annika , Teßmer Britta , Muñoz‐Castro Marina , Bracht Hartmut , Wiemhöfer Hans‐Dieter 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis work examines the proton intercalation in vanadium pentoxide (V2O5) thin films and its optical properties in the near‐infrared (near‐IR) region. Samples were prepared via direct current magnetron sputter deposition and cyclic voltammetry was used to characterize the insertion and extraction behavior of protons in V2O5 in a trifluoroacetic acid containing electrolyte. With the same setup chronopotentiometry was done to intercalate a well‐defined number of protons in the HxV2O5 system in the range of x=0 and x=1. These films were characterized with optical reflectometry in the near‐IR region (between 700 and 1700 nm wavelength) and the refractive index n and extinction coefficient k were determined using Cauchy’s dispersion model. The results show a clear correlation between proton concentration and n and k.
Organic–inorganic hybrid polytriazoles; synthesis and shape memory properties
Authors: Ragin Ramdas Meppadiyath , Santhosh Kumar Kalamblayil Sankaranarayanan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractShape memory polymers (SMPs) are “intelligent” visco‐elastic materials, which exhibit recovery of original shape upon exposure to external stimuli like temperature, light, and solvents. In this work, organic–inorganic hybrid polytriazoles (OIPs) were synthesized via copper‐ catalyzed azide‐alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction. Toward this, triglycidyl isobutyl POSS azide (Az‐POSS, inorganic core), trisphenyl azide (TA, organic core), and propargylated phloroglucinol (PPG) were click cross‐linked at respective cross‐linking temperature. For pure inorganic core‐based polytriazole, no shape memory property was observed. However, film derived from 100% organic core exhibits good shape memory properties with a Tg of 35°C. For OIPs, the Tg was reduced and turned into hydrophobic with increase in Az‐POSS content. The shape retention and recovery of these hybrid polymers are >95% and they are thermally stable up to 300°C.
Contact stress prediction model of double‐layer elastomer with functionally graded and composite structure
Authors: Jin Mingsheng , Zhu Dongjie , Wang Liming , Ye Senbin , Li Zhixin , Dong Xiaoxing , Wen Donghui 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAs hard and brittle materials are widely used in the modern industry, it is essential to effectively achieve uniform material removal. In the present study, a contact stress prediction model for double‐layer elastomer under uniform displacement load was proposed. It aims to predict the contact stress distribution based on the structure size and material parameters of the double‐layer elastomer and optimize the relevant parameters to improve the uniformity of material removal. The functionally graded and composite structured lapping and polishing plate (FG/CS‐LPP) was developed by mixing abrasive particles and rubber with different mass ratios to get different Young's moduli. Through optical microscope, the surface morphology was observed, and the mechanism of Young's modulus gradient change was demonstrated. After numerical simulation analysis, the effect of Young's modulus fluctuation on contact stress distribution trend was evaluated. As for the contact stress prediction model, an equivalent Young's modulus model and compensation function H(z) was introduced to simplify the analytical process. Further, the obtained equivalent equation was verified by simulations and experiments with an average percentage deviation of ~2% and ~6%, respectively. By fitting calculated and simulated values with a deviation of less than 5%, the compensation function H(z) was established. Finally, the contact stress prediction model was obtained and validated by simulations and experiments, the percentage deviation is less than 13%. Accordingly, the contact stress prediction model can provide a theoretical basis for FG/CS‐LPP to achieve uniform material removal.
Reinforced mechanical properties and heat resistance of recycled acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene/anhydrous zinc chloride coordination composites
Authors: Wang Yingqing , Liu Pengying , Li Qiuying , Wu Chifei 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn this work, the recycled acrylonitrile‐butadiene‐styrene (rABS)/anhydrous zinc chloride (ZnCl2) composites were prepared and the reinforcing effects of the rABS/ZnCl2 composites were investigated using various characterization techniques. During heat pressing at 190°C, a strong coordination interaction occurred between Zn2+ of ZnCl2 particles and CN groups of rABS matrix, which resulting in an enhancement of mechanical and thermal properties in comparison with the neat rABS. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dissolution experiments, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy were applied to prove the coordination reaction. Scanning electron microscopy showed ZnCl2 particles were homogeneously dispersed in the rABS matrix. Tensile test analysis showed that the flexural strength and tensile strength of rABS/ZnCl2 composites increased by around 12.07% and 18.17%, respectively, when adding 7 phr of ZnCl2 into the rABS resin. Furthermore, heat deflection temperature analysis, thermogravimetric analysis as well as dynamic mechanical analysis proved that the coordination reaction dramatically improved the heat resistance of rABS matrix. Besides, the recycling ability of the composites had also been proved.
How love of nature promotes green consumer behaviors: The mediating role of biospheric values, ecological worldview, and personal norms
Authors: Wu Lingqiong , Zhu Yan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPrevious studies have pointed out the importance of emotional affiliation with nature in fostering environmentalism, but the mechanisms through which such emotional motives influence pro‐environmental behaviors are still unclear. To address this issue, this study introduced love of nature into the value–belief–norm model as an emotional basis. The model was examined in predicting high‐cost and low‐cost green consumer behaviors (GCBs) in selected undergraduate student populations in eastern China. Using data from an online survey (N = 291), this study found personal norms positively predicted both high‐cost and low‐cost GCBs. Ecological worldview positively predicted low‐cost GCBs and its effect was larger than that of personal norms. Love of nature had positive effects on biospheric values and personal norms. The relationships between love of nature and the two types of GCBs were mediated mainly by personal norms, ecological worldview, and biospheric values. The results supported the argument that emotional affiliation to nature offers an essential basis for a moral concern that guides GCBs. The findings also suggest moral concerns may be more salient for difficult and inconvenient GCBs.
Schizophrenia patients with poor clinical insight report less subjective memory problems
Authors: Ye Jun‐yan , Yang Tian‐xiao , Lui Simon S.Y. , Cui Ji‐fang , Qin Xiao‐jing , Jia Lu‐xia , Cheung Eric F.C. , Gan Ming‐yuan , Tan Shu‐ping , Wang Ya , Chan Raymond C.K. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThis study aimed to explore the relationships among clinical insight, subjective memory complaints, and objective memory performance in patients with schizophrenia. We recruited 205 patients with schizophrenia and 221 healthy controls in this study. The participants were administered a subjective‐report scale on memory (the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire), and several objective memory tasks measuring verbal memory, visual memory, and working memory. Clinical insight was measured with an item in the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. We found that when patients with schizophrenia were divided into subgroups with good and poor insight, both subgroups showed impairment in memory performance compared with controls. The schizophrenia patients with good insight reported similar memory complaints as controls whereas patients with poor insight reported less memory complaints than did the controls. These findings suggest that clinical insight may be related to subjective memory complaints, but not objective memory performance.