bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Burden of Sciatica on US Medicare Recipients
Authors: Maslak Joseph P. , Jenkins Tyler J. , Weiner Joseph A. , Kannan Abhishek S. , Patoli Daneel M. , McCarthy Michael H. , Hsu Wellington K. , Patel Alpesh A. 
Published: September 2019

Objective:
This study evaluates the disease burden of sciatica on the US Medicare cohort.

Background Data:
Sciatica is a common disability that has important physical, mental, and economic effects. The Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (HOS) is a demographic and outcomes survey used to monitor the performance of Medicare Advantage health plans in the United States. The HOS includes data on demographics, chronic medical conditions, and patient-reported outcomes.

Methods:
Medicare HOS data for cohorts from 2007 to 2013 were obtained. Patients were placed into two categories based on the survey results: with or without a history of sciatica. Baseline demographics, chronic medical conditions, and physical health symptoms were aggregated. In addition, average VR-12 physical component summary and mental component summary scores were calculated for each group at baseline and at 2-year follow-up. A Fisher exact test was used to assess significance for categorical variables, and a t-test was used for continuous variables. VR-12 changes as small as 1 to 2 units have been found to be clinically and socially relevant.

Results:
The baseline cohort data of 1,000,952 patients yielded 250,869 patients (25%) who reported the diagnosis of sciatica, compared with 750,083 patients (75%) without sciatica. Patients with a history of sciatica tended to be younger, less educated, and notably with more medical comorbidities. Physical component summary outcomes were approximately 8 units lower in the sciatica group at baseline and 7 units lower at 2-year follow-up. Mental component summary outcomes were 6 units lower in the sciatica group at baseline and 5 units lower at 2-year follow-up.

Conclusion:
A large percentage of the US Medicare cohort suffers from symptomatic sciatica. Our study identified a 25% prevalence in the Medicare cohort. In addition, sciatica is associated with an increased incidence of comorbid medical conditions and poor health-related quality of life.

Level of Evidence:
Level III

Study Design:
Observational-Cohort Study
Things within Things? Toward an Ontology of the Firm
Authors: Harris Joshua Lee ,   Philosophy Documentation Center
Published: September 2019

The burgeoning analytic literature on “social ontology”—that is, the properly ontological status of “social” phenomena, such asinstitutions, firms and nation-states—has yielded some promising avenues of research for economists interested in the economic agency of groups as opposed to individual persons. Following M. D. Ryall, in this paper I offer a preliminary sketch of an ontology of social entities inspired by the work of Bernard Lonergan and the Aristotelian metaphysical tradition.
Revision of the poorly known Neotropical butterfly genus Zischkaia Forster, 1964 (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae, Satyrinae), with descriptions of nine new species
Authors: Nakahara Shinichi , Zacca Thamara , Dias Fernando M.S. , Dolibaina Diego R. , Xiao Lei , Espeland Marianne , Casagrande Mirna M. , Mielke Olaf H.H. , Lamas Gerardo , Huertas Blanca , Kleckner Kaylin , Willmott Keith R. 
Published: September 2019

We provide the first comprehensive taxonomic revision of the poorly known South American butterfly genus Zischkaia Forster, 1964, hitherto regarded as including three described species. A phylogenetic analysis based on DNA sequence data shows that Zischkaia is monophyletic and consists of two morphologically diagnosable clades. Morphological characters and DNA ‘barcodes’ support the recognition of twelve species in the genus, a significant increase even for the relatively poorly studied subtribe Euptychiina. Consequently, nine new species are described and named herein, including Z. arctoa Nakahara, sp. nov., Z. chullachaki Nakahara & Zacca, sp. nov., Z. baku Zacca, Dolibaina & Dias, sp. nov., Z. arenisca Nakahara, Willmott & Hall, sp. nov., Z. argyrosflecha Nakahara, L. Miller & Huertas, sp. nov., Z. abanico Nakahara & Petit, sp. nov., Z. josti Nakahara & Kleckner, sp. nov., Z. mielkeorum Dolibaina, Dias & Zacca, sp. nov. and Z. warreni Dias, Zacca & Dolibaina, sp. nov. In addition, a neotype is designated for Satyrus pacarus Godart, [1824], and lectotypes are designated for Euptychia amalda Weymer, 1911, Euptychia fumata Butler, 1867 and Euptychia saundersii Butler, 1867.
CeRNA network analysis and functional enrichment of salt sensitivity of blood pressure by weighted-gene co-expression analysis
Authors: Cao Han , Qi Han , Liu Zheng , Peng Wen-Juan , Guo Chun-Yue , Sun Yan-Yan , Pao Christine , Xiang Yu-Tao , Zhang Ling 
Published: September 2019

Background
Salt sensitivity of blood pressure (SSBP) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The pathogenic mechanisms of SSBP are still uncertain. This study aimed to construct the co-regulatory network of SSBP and data mining strategy based on the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) theory.

Methods
LncRNA and mRNA microarray was performed to screen for candidate RNAs. Four criteria were used to select the potential differently expressed RNAs. The weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) package of R software and target miRNA and mRNA prediction online databases were used to construct the ceRNA co-regulatory network and discover the pathways related to SSBP. Gene ontology enrichment, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and KEGG pathway analysis were performed to explore the functions of hub genes in networks.

Results
There were 274 lncRNAs and 36 mRNAs that differently expressed between salt-sensitive and salt-resistant groups (P < 0.05). Using WGCNA analysis, two modules were identified (blue and turquoise). The blue module had a positive relationship with salt-sensitivity (R = 0.7, P < 0.01), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (R = 0.53, P = 0.02), and total cholesterol (TC) (R = 0.55, P = 0.01). The turquoise module was positively related with triglyceride (TG) (R = 0.8, P < 0.01) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (R = 0.54, P = 0.01). Furthermore, 84 ceRNA loops were identified and one loop may be of great importance for involving in pathogenesis of SSBP. KEGG analysis showed that differently expressed mRNAs were mostly enriched in the SSBP-related pathways. However, the enrichment results of GSEA were mainly focused on basic physical metabolic processes.

Conclusion
The microarray data mining process based on WGCNA co-expression analysis had identified 84 ceRNA loops that closely related with known SSBP pathogenesis. The results of our study provide implications for further understanding of the pathogenesis of SSBP and facilitate the precise diagnosis and therapeutics.
Screening and identification of SipC-interacting proteins inSalmonellaenteritidis using Gal4 yeast two-hybrid system in duck
Authors: Zhang Yu , Gu Tiantian , Chen Yang , Zhu Guoqiang , Vongsangnak Wanwipa , Xu Qi , Chen Guohong 
Published: September 2019

The zoonotic pathogenSalmonellanot only reduces the production performance in ducks, but also poses a serious threat to human health through eggs and pollutes water bodies through feces. SipC, an effector protein of type III secretion systems (T3SS) inSalmonella, mediates translocation of effectors into the eukaryotic host. However, the precise role of SipC effectors remains unknown in ducks. In this study, the SipC from duck granulosa cells (dGCs) was selected as bait, and the SipC-interacting proteins inSalmonellaenteritidis (SE) were screened using Gal4 yeast two-hybrid system in duck. Twelve SipC-interacting proteins were identified. Among those, the p53-effector related to PMP-22 (PERP) and TGF-β activated kinase 1-binding protein 2 (TAB2) were selected to further confirm the function by GST pull-downin vitro. Over-expression of PERP resulted in not only increasing SE adhesion and invasion but also triggering the production of IL-1β and IFN-α in SE infected dGCs, while knock-down PERP showed the opposite tendency (P < 0.01). In addition, TAB2 significantly induced the production of IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-α, and INF-γ in SE infected dGCs (P < 0.05), but did not cause obvious changes in SE adhesion and invasion. When thesipCin SE was deleted, the activities of duck PERP and TAB2 were abolished because they could not bind to SipC. Taken together, although the protein of PERP and TAB2 can interact with SipC, their mechanisms were different in duck challenged by SE. Therefore, PERP was involved in SE invasion and inflammatory response of dGC ovaries, and TAB2 only contributed to dGCs inflammatory response, which provided critical insights about the mechanism in host- bacterium protein interactions duringSalmonellainvasion in duck.
Economic Assessment of Napier Grass Production Using Different Fertilizer Combinations under Smallholder Farming Conditions in the Central Highlands of Kenya
Authors: Ndwiga Bridget W. , Arunga Esther E. , Ngetich Felix K. 
Published: September 2019

Aims: The objective of the study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using different fertilizer combinations to improve Napier grass production within the smallholder farms.
Study Design: The experimental design was a Randomised Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates per treatment. The treatments were: Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP); rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) manure; rabbit manure plus rabbit urine; DAP plus Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN); DAP plus rabbit urine; Control; and Conventional method.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was done in Embu County, Kenya from March 2015 to January 2016.
Methodology: The economic analysis to determine the most cost-effective fertilizer was done using gross margins and cost-benefit ratios approach.
Results: Rabbit manure plus urine had the highest cost of production averages at US$.154 8.13 per year at p<0.05 while the conventional method was US$ 494.59 at p<0.05. The study revealed that the most cost-effective fertilizer in Embu County was DAP plus rabbit urine treatment under ‘‘Tumbukiza’’ pits.
Conclusion: The projections are that by the end of the second cropping year, the treatment top-dressed with either rabbit urine or CAN would be having higher gross margins since the initial cost would have been recovered. Farmers in Embu County are encouraged to integrate the use of both organic and inorganic fertilizers to achieve high production in a cost-effective way.
Trends in Social Inequality in Exposure to Bullying at School 1994-2018
Authors: Due Pernille , Damsgaard Mogens Trab , Rasmussen Mette , Holstein Bjørn Evald 
Published: September 2019

Aims: To examine social inequality in exposure to bullying at school among adolescents and changes in social inequality over time. We applied data from seven nationally representative school surveys in 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014 and 2018 in Denmark, the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study.
Methodology: The study population was 11-, 13- and 15-year-olds, response rate 87.9%, N=33,460 with comparable data about exposure to bullying and socioeconomic status. The analyses included 1) absolute social inequality, i.e. percent difference in exposure to bullying between low and high socioeconomic groups and 2) relative social inequality based on logistic regression analyses with odds ratios for exposure to bullying by socioeconomic background.
Results: The prevalence of exposure to bullying decreased from 24.4% in 1994 to 4.9% in 2018. Bullying was significantly most prevalent among schoolchildren from lower socioeconomic groups. The absolute social inequality decreased from 10.7% in 1994 to 3.9% in 2018. The relative social inequality was 1.30 (1.19-1.43) in middle and 1.77 (1.59-1.96) in low socioeconomic group, compared to high. There was no significant change in relative social inequality from 1994 to 2018.
Conclusion: In the period 1994 to 2018 with substantial reduction in exposure to bullying at school there was a decrease in the absolute social inequality and an unchanged relative social inequality in exposure to bullying.
Use of FDA‐Approved Medications: Biologics for Psoriatic Arthritis in Patients at an Urban Outpatient Rheumatology Clinic
Authors: Khanna Ira , Kozicky Orysia , Fischer Harry 
Published: September 2019

ObjectivePsoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis that manifests as peripheral arthritis, dactylitis, enthesitis, and spondylitis. Biologics, particularly tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis) and some interleukin 17 (IL‐17) and interleukin 23 (IL‐23) inhibitors, are the only US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved treatments shown to limit joint damage in clinical trials for PsA. Conventional synthetic disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs have also been adapted to PsA treatment. Current 2018 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines regard TNFis as first‐line therapy in treatment‐naïve patients. The aim of this project is to review the prescribing practices for patients with PsA at an urban rheumatology office, with a focus on biologic prescribing.MethodsA retrospective chart review was performed to search for patients seen from June 1, 2017, to June 1, 2018, using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes for PsA. A log of prescribing practices listed the use of biologics versus oral small molecules (OSMs) (methotrexate, sulfasalazine, leflunomide, and apremilast) across different ages, sex, and disease severity.ResultsThis study included a total of 97 patients (40 women and 57 men), and 66% were on biologics (60% of women and 70% of men). There was no sex bias in biologic prescribing (P = 0.59). Use of biologics was highest in the 38 to 57 years age group and lowest in the 78 to 97 years age group, although, statistically, there was no age bias in biologic prescribing (P = 0.22). Biologics provided superior disease control (84.37%) compared with nonbiologics (66.6%) (P = 0.0016). OSMs provided slightly better control (69.5%) over apremilast monotherapy (61.5%) (P = 0.016).ConclusionThere is no age or sex bias in prescribing practices for PsA. In accordance with the ACR, patients with controlled symptoms on OSMs are being appropriately maintained. Although apremilast is allocated as an add‐on therapy, 13.4% of patients were on apremilast monotherapy. This quality improvement project reveals that in most instances, biologics are being appropriately initiated as the primary mode of therapy for patients with PsA at our outpatient practice; however, treatment modifications can be made regarding patients who are managed with apremilast alone.
Immune‐Informed Mucin Hydrogels Evade Fibrotic Foreign Body Response In Vivo
Authors: Yan Hongji , Seignez Cédric , Hjorth Morgan , Winkeljann Benjamin , Blakeley Matthew , Lieleg Oliver , Phillipson Mia , Crouzier Thomas 
Published: September 2019

AbstractThe immune‐mediated foreign body response to biomaterial implants can trigger the formation of insulating fibrotic capsules that can compromise implant function. To address this challenge, the intrinsic bioactivity of the mucin biopolymer, a heavily glycosylated protein that forms the protective mucus gel covering mucosal epithelia, is leveraged. By using a bioorthogonal inverse electron demand Diels–Alder reaction, mucins are crosslinked into implantable hydrogels. It is shown that mucin hydrogels (Muc‐gels) modulate the immune response driving biomaterial‐induced fibrosis. Muc‐gels do not elicit fibrosis 21 days after implantation in the peritoneal cavity of C57Bl/6 mice, whereas medical‐grade alginate hydrogels are covered by fibrous tissues. Further, Muc‐gels dampen the recruitment of innate and adaptive immune cells to the gel and trigger a pattern of very mild activation marked by a noticeably low expression of the fibrosis‐stimulating transforming growth factor beta 1 cytokine. Macrophages recruited to Muc‐gels upregulate the gene expression of the protein inhibitor of activated STAT 1 (PIAS1) and SH2‐containing phosphatase 1 (SHP‐1) cytokine regulatory proteins, which likely contributes to their low cytokine expression profiles. With this advance in mucin materials, an essential tool is provided to better understand mucin bioactivities and to initiate the development of new mucin‐based and mucin‐inspired “immune‐informed” materials for implantable devices subject to fibrotic encapsulation.
Ultrafine Titanium Nitride Sheath Decorated Carbon Nanofiber Network Enabling Stable Lithium Metal Anodes
Authors: Lin Kui , Qin Xianying , Liu Ming , Xu Xiaofu , Liang Gemeng , Wu Junxiong , Kang Feiyu , Chen Guohua , Li Baohua 
Published: September 2019

AbstractNonuniform local electric field and few nucleation sites on the reactive interface tend to cause detrimental lithium (Li) dendrites, which incur severe safety hazards and hamper the practical application of Li metal anodes in batteries. Herein, a carbon nanofiber (CNF) mat decorated with ultrafine titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles (CNF‐TiN) as both current collector and host material is reported for Li metal anodes. Uniform Li deposition is achieved by a synergetic effect of lithiophilic TiN and 3D CNF configuration with a highly conductive network. Theoretical calculations reveal that Li prefers to be adsorbed onto the TiN sheath with a low diffusion energy barrier, leading to controllable nucleation sites and dendrite‐free Li deposits. Moreover, the pseudocapacitive behavior of TiN identified through kinetics analysis is favorable for ultrafast Li+ storage and the charge transfer process, especially under a high plating/stripping rate. The CNF‐TiN‐modified Li anodes deliver lower nucleation overpotential for Li plating and superior electrochemical performance under a large current density (200 cycles at 3 mA cm−2) and high capacity (100 cycles with 6 mAh cm−2), as well as a long‐running lifespan (>600 h). The CNF‐TiN‐based full cells using lithium iron phosphate and sulfur cathodes exhibit excellent cycling stability.
Controlling Electrostatic Interaction in PEDOT:PSS to Overcome Thermoelectric Tradeoff Relation
Authors: Ju Duckhyun , Kim Daegun , Yook Hyunwoo , Han Jeong Woo , Cho Kilwon 
Published: September 2019

AbstractA high power factor must be achieved to improve the thermoelectric (TE) output of organic TE materials though the tradeoff between electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient is a serious obstacle to the further development of these materials. Here, systematic control of the electrostatic interaction between a conducting polymer and a dopant induces a positive deviation from this TE tradeoff relation so that the electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient simultaneously increase. Upon reduction of the electrostatic interaction, substantial changes in the film morphology, chain conformation, and crystalline ordering are observed, all of which critically affect the TE charge transport. As a result, the electrostatic interaction control is found to be an effective strategy to enhance the power factor, overcoming the tradeoff between TE parameters. Adapting this strategy to poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene‐sulfonate results in a remarkable power factor (=700.2 µW m−1 K−2 ) and figure of merit ZT (=0.25).
A Dual‐Model Imaging Theragnostic System Based on Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced Cancer Phototherapy
Authors: Huang Chenlu , Zhang Zhiming , Guo Qing , Zhang Li , Fan Fan , Qin Yu , Wang Hai , Zhou Sheng , Ou‐Yang Wenbin , Sun Hongfan , Leng Xigang , Pan Xiangbin , Kong Deling , Zhang Linhua , Zhu Dunwan 
Published: September 2019

AbstractMesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) show great promise to be exploited as versatile multifunctional nanocarriers for effective cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this work, perfluorohexane (PFH)‐encapsulated MSNs with indocyanine green (ICG)–polydopamine (PDA) layer and poly(ethylene glycol)–folic acid coating (designated as MSNs‐PFH@PDA‐ICG‐PEG‐FA) are successfully fabricated to achieve tumor ultrasonic (US)/near‐infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging as well as photothermal therapy (PTT)/photodynamic therapy (PDT). MSNs‐PFH@PDA‐ICG‐PEG‐FA exhibits good monodispersity with high ICG loading, significantly enhances ICG photostability, and greatly improves cellular uptake. Upon single 808 nm NIR irradiation, the nanocarrier not only efficiently generates hyperthermia to realize PTT, but also produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) for effective PDT. Meanwhile, NIR irradiation can trigger PFH to undergo vaporization and provide a super‐resolution US image. Thus, the PTT/PDT combination therapy can be dually guided by PFH‐induced US imaging and ICG‐induced NIRF imaging. In vivo antitumor studies demonstrate that PTT/PDT from MSNs‐PFH@PDA‐ICG‐PEG‐FA significantly inhibits tumor growth and achieves a cure rate of 60% (three out of five mice are completely cured). Hence, the multifunctional MSNs appear to be a promising theragnostic nanoplatform for multimodal cancer imaging and therapy.
Fast Gelation of Ti3C2Tx MXene Initiated by Metal Ions
Authors: Deng Yaqian , Shang Tongxin , Wu Zhitan , Tao Ying , Luo Chong , Liang Jiachen , Han Daliang , Lyu Ruiyang , Qi Changsheng , Lv Wei , Kang Feiyu , Yang Quan‐Hong 
Published: September 2019

AbstractGelation is an effective way to realize the self‐assembly of nanomaterials into different macrostructures, and in a typical use, the gelation of graphene oxide (GO) produces various graphene‐based carbon materials with different applications. However, the gelation of MXenes, another important type of 2D materials that have different surface chemistry from GO, is difficult to achieve. Here, the first gelation of MXenes in an aqueous dispersion that is initiated by divalent metal ions is reported, where the strong interaction between these ions and OH groups on the MXene surface plays a key role. Typically, Fe2+ ions are introduced in the MXene dispersion which destroys the electrostatic repulsion force between the MXene nanosheets in the dispersion and acts as linkers to bond the nanosheets together, forming a 3D MXene network. The obtained hydrogel effectively avoids the restacking of the MXene nanosheets and greatly improves their surface utilization, resulting in a high rate performance when used as a supercapacitor electrode (≈226 F g−1 at 1 V s−1). It is believed that the gelation of MXenes indicates a new way to build various tunable MXene‐based structures and develop different applications.
Snail‐Inspired Dry Adhesive with Embedded Microstructures for Enhancement of Energy Dissipation
Authors: Kim Jiwon , Kim Da Wan , Baik Sangyul , Hwang Gui Won , Kim Tae‐il , Pang Changhyun 
Published: September 2019

AbstractIn various organisms in nature, the energy‐dissipation layers within their adhesive systems are known to play a significant role in enhancement of adhesion performance in pulling and peeling directions. Reported here is that the pedal‐muscle structures of snails can be exploited to form a repeatable, microstructure‐embedded adhesive, enabling enhanced adhesion in both pulling (13 N cm−2) and peeling (20 J m−2) directions with excellent repeatability (<1000 cycles). The measured adhesion strengths and energies depend on the geometrical and material parameters of the micro architecture in bio‐inspired adhesives, which are in good agreement with a simple theory based on elastic potential and dissipation energies. By employing an energy‐dissipation layer with embedded microstructures, the snail‐inspired adhesive (SIA) shows better resistance against vibrational resistance than conventional pressure‐sensitive adhesives. To improve its adaptability on rough surfaces, gecko‐like hairs are implemented on the top surface of SIA, demonstrating robust fixation against the skin.