bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pelvic floor muscle activity during fast voluntary contractions in continent and incontinent women
Authors: Leitner Monika , Moser Helene , Eichelberger Patric , Kuhn Annette , Radlinger Lorenz 
Published: January 2019

AimsStress urinary incontinence (SUI) has also been attributed to a lower speed of contraction of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM). Therefore, PFM assessment and training implement fast voluntary contractions (FVC). The purpose of the study was to explore FVC regarding feasibility, on‐/offset and rate of activity determination, as well as differences between continent (CON) and stress urinary incontinent (SUI) women.MethodsFifty women were included and examined by means of PFM EMG during rest, maximum voluntary contractions (MVC), and five FVC. MVC‐peak activity was used to normalize EMG‐data. On‐/offset of muscle activity was determined as mean of rectified rest activity plus 1 standard deviation. Linear regression was calculated for rate of activity from onset to peak, peak to offset, and within 200 ms after both onset and peak. Peak activity and time variables related to onset, peak, and offset were calculated.ResultsOn‐/offsets were evaluable for 234/222 of 250 FVC by a computer‐based algorithm, 16/28 on‐/offsets had to be determined manually. There was no significant difference between groups (CON/SUI) regarding FVC peak (92.1/99.3 %MVC), time to peak (514.2/525.6 ms), and increase of activity (182.8/182.1 %MVC/s). The SUI group showed a significantly slower activity decrease (−120.7/−74.4 %MVC/s).ConclusionsFVC analyses were shown to be feasible. The significant difference observed between the groups did not refer to activity increase but instead to a prolonged relaxation phase in the SUI group. This prompts to reconsider the interpretation of FVC in PFM testing and training.
Family members' beliefs and attitudes towards visiting policy in the intensive care units of Ghana
Authors: Yakubu Yakubu H. , Esmaeili Maryam , Navab Elham 
Published: January 2019

AbstractAimThis study aimed to investigate family members' beliefs and attitudes towards the visiting policies of intensive care units (ICUs).DesignIt employed a descriptive cross‐sectional quantitative design.MethodThis study recruited four public hospitals in Ghana with a sample of 200 family members. The study was conducted using a self‐administered questionnaire. The data were collected and analysed with SPSS version 16.ResultsThis study revealed that while family members believed in the beneficial effect of adhering to open visiting policies in ICUs, their attitudes were sceptical and restrictive. Most family members preferred the acceptable number of visitors within 24 hr to be two, and according to them, only one person should be allowed to enter at a time. There was a meaningful relationship between the families' beliefs and religion (p = 0.02), educational level (p = 0.03) and family status (p = 0.02). Furthermore, a meaningful relationship was also observed between the families' attitudes and status (p = 0.04) and their level of education (p = 0.05). The studied family members showed concern in this regard and did not want the community style of visiting to be implemented, which could hinder patients' recovery.
Palliative care service in patients with childhood cancer from a tertiary pediatric oncology center
Authors: Ho Karin KH , Cheng Frankie WT , Lin Molin KY , Wai Shirley , Lee Vincent , Li Chi‐kong 
Published: January 2019

ABSTRACTImportancePediatric palliative care (PPC) has gained great attention in western countries, however data on Hong Kong children receiving PPC are limited. There are gaps in knowledge about the PPC needs in local children with cancer.ObjectiveTo assess the current situation of PPC service of Hong Kong children with cancer.MethodsWe performed a 10‐year retrospective review in a tertiary pediatric oncology unit and studied the referral pattern, clinical characteristics and services provided.ResultsTotally 117 children were referred to PPC Team which constituted 65% deceased children within the study period. The commonest diagnoses were central nervous system tumour (32.5%), leukaemia (25.6%) and neuroblastoma (9.4%). Ninety‐one percent of children were referred after the last relapse or stopping curative treatment. The median time of referral to death was 77 days [interquartile range (IQR): 35, 182]. The median number of hospital admission after referral was 2 (IQR: 1, 5), with a median of 27 days total hospital stay (IQR: 10, 60). The reasons for admission were palliative chemotherapy (16.1%), pain control (12.1%) and platelet transfusion (11.2%). For the death episode, the median duration of hospital stay was 15 days (IQR: 2, 46). Most patients received oxygen (82.0%), intravenous fluid (81.2%) and intravenous analgesic (52.1%). A total of 111 (94.9%) children died in hospital, 15 had been admitted into intensive care unit (ICU) but only 5 (4.5%) died in ICU.InterpretationPain control and platelet transfusion were common reasons of readmission. Death in ICU and at home was uncommon in Hong Kong situation.
Quantitative monitoring of minimal residual disease in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia using TEL‐AML1 fusion transcript as a marker
Authors: Zhao Xiaoxi , Gao Chao , Cui Lei , Li Weijing , Liu Shuguang , Zhang Ruidong , Liu Yi , Wu Minyuan , Li Zhigang 
Published: January 2019

ABSTRACTImportanceBy demonstrating with TEL‐AML1, this study indicated that mRNAs transcribed from fusion genes are ideal targets for minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and that different thresholds are needed to apply them into the risk stratification.ObjectiveTEL‐AML1 expression was measured at three time points to 1) determine cut‐off values for predicting acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) relapse; 2) investigate the prognostic value of this method and how well the results at these time points correlated; 3) determine the correlation between MRD levels assessed using this marker and that determined by immunoglobulin/T‐cell receptor (Ig/TCR) rearrangement detection.MethodsTEL‐ AML1 expression in 62 children with ALL was quantitated by real‐time quantitative PCR at day 15, day 33, and month 3. The relationship between patient outcome and TEL‐AML1 level was analyzed at each time point. The correlation between the MRD levels determined by TEL‐AML1 or Ig/TCR rearrangements was also analyzed.ResultsFor day 33, 6.68 TEL‐AML1 copies/104 ABL copies was determined to be the best cut‐off value. Higher levels were correlated with relapse (P = 0.001). For day 15 and month 3, the best cut‐off values were 336.5 and 0.85 copies/104 ABL copies respectively; patients with higher expression levels had lower RFSs (day 15: P = 0.027; month 3: P = 0.023). For days 15 and 33, MRD levels assessed using TEL‐AML1 or Ig/TCR rearrangements were strongly correlated [Spearman rank correlation coefficient (ρ) = 0.729 (day 15), 0.719 (day 33); P < 0.001 (both)], and both methods were equally effective at predicting relapse. At month 3, there was moderate correlation between the results derived from the two markers (ρ = 0.418, P = 0.003); however, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that TEL‐AML1 was a better prognostic marker.InterpretationTEL‐AML1 is an effective marker for MRD assessment and relapse prediction in children with ALL.
A novel silicon heterojunction IBC process flow using partial etching of doped a‐Si:H to switch from hole contact to electron contact in situ with efficiencies close to 23%
Authors: Sivaramakrishnan Radhakrishnan Hariharsudan , Uddin M.D. Gius , Xu Menglei , Cho Jinyoun , Ghannam Moustafa , Gordon Ivan , Szlufcik Jozef , Poortmans Jef 
Published: January 2019

AbstractWe present a novel process sequence to simplify the rear‐side patterning of the silicon heterojunction interdigitated back contact (HJ IBC) cells. In this approach, interdigitated strips of a‐Si:H (i/p+) hole contact and a‐Si:H (i/n+) electron contact are achieved by partially etching a blanket a‐Si:H (i/p+) stack through an SiOx hard mask to remove only the p+ a‐Si:H layer and replace it with an n+ a‐Si:H layer, thereby switching from a hole contact to an electron contact in situ, without having to remove the entire passivation. This eliminates the ex situ wet clean after dry etching and also prevents re‐exposure of the crystalline silicon surface during rear‐side processing. Using a well‐controlled process, high‐quality passivation is maintained throughout the rear‐side process sequence leading to high open‐circuit voltages (VOC). A slightly higher contact resistance at the electron contact leads to a slightly higher fill factor (FF) loss due to series resistance for cells from the partial etch route, but the FF loss due to J02‐type recombination is lower, compared with reference cells. As a result, the best cell from the partial etch route has an efficiency of 22.9% and a VOC of 729 mV, nearly identical to the best reference cell, demonstrating that the developed partial etch process can be successfully implemented to achieve cell performance comparable with reference, but with a simpler, cheaper, and faster process sequence.
Mechanisms of the reaction between benzonitrile and 4‐octyne catalyzed by Ni(PMe3)2: A theoretical investigation
Authors: Zhou Da‐Gang , Wang Peng 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe reaction mechanisms of benzonitrile and 4‐octyne catalyzed by Ni(PMe3)2 have been investigated using density functional theory (DFT) method at the B3LYP/6‐31+G(d,p) level, and the conductor‐like polarizable continuum model (CPCM) model was applied to simulate the solvent effect. The computational results suggest that benzonitrile has three possible paths to generate metallic intermediate. Then insertion and reductive elimination reactions happen between the metallic intermediate and 4‐octyne to yield the final product (Z)‐3‐phenyl‐2‐propyl‐2‐hexenenitrile. The analysis of frontier molecular orbital and electron density difference could help to reveal the substance of this reaction. And the results could provide valuable insights into these types of interactions and related ones.
Gravitational Waves from Generalized Newtonian Sources
Authors: van Holten J. W. 
Published: January 2019

AbstractI review the elementary theory of gravitational waves on a Minkowski background and the quadrupole approximation. The modified conservation laws for energy and momentum keeping track of the gravitational‐wave flux are presented. The theory is applied to two‐body systems in bound and scattering states subject to newtonian gravity generalized to include a force allowing for orbital precession. The evolution of the orbits is studied in the adiabatic approximation. From these results I derive the conditions for capture of two bodies to form a bound state by the emission of gravitational radiation.
Memantine protects thalamocortical hyper‐glutamatergic transmission induced by NMDA receptor antagonism via activation of system xc−
Authors: Okada Motohiro , Fukuyama Kouji , Kawano Yasuhiro , Shiroyama Takashi , Ueda Yuto 
Published: January 2019

AbstractDeficiencies in N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA)/glutamate receptor (NMDAR) signaling have been considered central to the cognitive impairments of schizophrenia; however, an NMDAR antagonist memantine (MEM) improves cognitive impairments of Alzheimer's disease and schizophrenia. These mechanisms of paradoxical clinical effects of NMDAR antagonists remain unclear. To explore the mechanisms by which MK801 and MEM affect thalamocortical transmission, we determined interactions between local administrations of MK801, MEM, system xc− (Sxc), and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) on extracellular glutamate and GABA levels in the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus (MDTN) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) using dual‐probe microdialysis with ultra‐high‐pressure liquid chromatography. Effects of MK801 and MEM on Sxc activity were also determined using primary cultured astrocytes. Sxc activity was enhanced by MEM, but was unaffected by MK801. MK801 enhanced thalamocortical glutamatergic transmission by GABAergic disinhibition in the MDTN. In the MDTN and the mPFC, MEM weakly increased glutamate release by activating Sxc, whereas MEM inhibited thalamocortical glutamatergic transmission. Paradoxical effects of MEM were induced following secondary activation of inhibitory II‐mGluR and III‐mGluR by exporting glutamate from astroglial Sxc. The present results suggest that the effects of therapeutically relevant concentrations of MEM on thalamocortical glutamatergic transmission are predominantly caused by activation of Sxc rather than inhibition of NMDAR. These demonstrations suggest that the combination between reduced NMDAR and activated Sxc contribute to the neuroprotective effects of MEM. Furthermore, activation of Sxc may compensate for the cognitive impairments that are induced by hyperactivation of thalamocortical glutamatergic transmission following activation of Sxc/II‐mGluR in the MDTN and Sxc/II‐mGluR/III‐mGluR in the mPFC.
Immunosuppressive effects of the standardized extract of Zingiber zerumbet on innate immune responses in Wistar rats
Authors: Ghazalee Nor Shazliana , Jantan Ibrahim , Arshad Laiba , Haque Md. Areeful 
Published: January 2019

Zingiber zerumbet rhizome has been used in traditional medicine mainly for the treatment of various immune‐inflammatory related ailments and has been shown to exhibit a wide spectrum of biological effects especially antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities. The present study was aimed to investigate the immunosuppressive effects of the standardized 80% ethanol extract of Z. zerumbet at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg on the innate immune responses in male Wistar rats. The immune parameters determined were chemotaxis of neutrophils, Mac‐1 expression, engulfment of Escherichia coli by neutrophils, reactive oxygen species production, and plasma lysozyme and ceruloplasmin levels. Zerumbone was qualitatively and quantitatively determined in the extract by using a validated reversed‐phase HPLC, whereas liquid chromatography tandem‐mass spectrometry (LC ‐MS/MS) was used to profile the secondary metabolites. Z. zerumbet significantly inhibited the migration of neutrophils, expressions of CD11b/CD18 integrin, phagocytic activity, and production of reactive oxygen species in a dose‐dependent manner. The extract also dose‐dependently inhibited the expressions of lysozyme and ceruloplasmin in the rat plasma. Z. zerumbet extract possessed strong inhibitory effects on the innate immune responses and has potential to be developed into an effective immunosuppressive agent.
Innovation, intermediation, and the nature of entrepreneurship: A historical perspective
Authors: Toms Steven , Wilson Nick , Wright Mike 
Published: January 2019

Research SummaryWe consider two sources of innovation, technical and financial, and examine their separate and joint impacts, through the process of financial intermediation, on the nature of entrepreneurial opportunity. These impacts are time dependent and reflect the institutional context of entrepreneurship. As illustrations, we investigate three historical episodes, ranging from the product led innovations of the industrial revolution, to the closely aligned innovations of the buyout wave of the 1980s to the more recent effects of finance led innovation. We identify systematic underlying factors that can cause significant differences in the entrepreneurial opportunity set.Managerial SummaryWe provide lessons from three historical periods regarding how policy toward entrepreneurship might ensure technical and financial innovations are successfully intermediated. This implies an alliance‐based notion of entrepreneurship, underpinned by enabling systems of governance and suitable institutions reduced dependence on specific individuals or generations. A balance also should be struck to mitigate risky investment through sharing, and specifically equalizing rights and information between borrowers and lenders. Regulatory changes should discourage capital and information hoarding and support risky lending to asset‐backed, knowledge‐based industrial projects.
An Amphiphilic Mesoporous Polymer Comprising a “built‐in” Imidazolium Ionic Liquid via Nanocasting Method as a Novel Catalyst Support with Combined Prospects
Authors: Karimi Babak , Artelli Zahra , Mohammadi Fariba , Mansouri Fariborz , Hasannia Maliheh , Marefat Mohammad Reza , Vali Hojatollah , Mastrorilli Piero , Todisco Stefano 
Published: January 2019

AbstractAn imidazolium based ionic liquid bearing triethylene glycol (TEG) tag was employed as a functional monomer together with divinylbenzene to prepare a novel hydrophilic mesoporous polymer containing ionic liquid functionalities via nanocasting method using SBA‐15 as a hard template. The material was characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N2 sorption analysis, thermo‐gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), elemental analysis (CHN), solid‐state NMR spectroscopy and contact angle measurement. It was found that the hydrophobic/hydrophilic properties of initial template, stepwise addition of monomers and initiator as well as amount of carrier solvent are of the important parameters in preparation of the polymer with uniform pore structure. Benefited from the combined properties such as incorporation of ionic liquid within the pore system of a flexible organic matrix together with its hydrophilic character, the material was found as an appropriate support to generate highly dispersed and very small size of Pd nanoparticles inside the pores. The prepared catalyst in this way, demonstrated outstanding activity, recyclability and high durability in the Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction of varied aryl halides with boronic acids in water as a green reaction medium. The beneficial role of imidazolium ionic liquid in the formation of small and highly active Pd nanoparticles was confirmed with comparative experiments.
One‐Pot Catalytic Conversion of Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) to Propylene at 240 °C
Authors: Kang Shimin , Chen Huigan , Zheng Yuying , Xiao Yukui , Xu Yongjun , Wang Zepan 
Published: January 2019

AbstractPoly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), a renewable feedstock from microorganisms, was a good resource for propylene production by a simple one‐pot reaction. The reaction was catalyzed by triruthenium dodecacarbonyl (TD) at relatively mild temperature (240 °C), and the yield and selectivity of propylene reached 22.9 wt% and 46.8%, respectively. A small part of hydrocarbon oils reached 9 wt% was also obtained, which contained 79.1 wt% of carbon and 12.3 wt% of hydrogen, with a theoretical high heating value of 41.2 MJ/kg.
Schiff Bases of Tetrahydrocurcumin as Potential Anticancer Agents
Authors: Mahal Ahmed , Wu Ping , Jiang Zi‐Hua , Wei Xiaoyi 
Published: January 2019

AbstractTetrahydrocurcumin (THC) is a metabolite of curcumin and a valuable lead structure in medicinal chemistry due to its curcumin‐induced biological effects and its derivatives can be promising antitumor agents. Thirteen Schiff base derivatives of THC (1‐13) were synthesized by direct condensation of THC with various primary amines in moderate to very good yield (45‐94%) and their structures confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HR‐ESI‐MS and IR techniques. Furthermore, these compounds were screened for in vitro anticancer activity against three human cancer cell lines including human epithelial lung carcinoma (A549), human epithelial cervical cancer (HeLa) and human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF‐7). Most compounds exhibit moderate to good anticancer activity against all three tested cell lines and are significantly more active than THC. Compound 12 bears an N‐(4‐trifluromethyl)phenylethyl group and is the most active compound with IC50 values ranging from 4.8 to 12.7 μM. The results obtained herein are important for further structure modifications of THC and the exploitation of the therapeutic potential of THC derivatives as anticancer agents.
Flexible Solid‐State Supercapacitor Based on Carbon Nanotube/Fe3O4/Reduced Graphene Oxide Binary Films
Authors: Xie Shuxiao , Dong Fei , Li Jinsong 
Published: January 2019

AbstractA novel flexible nanoarchitecture is fabricated via the facile electrophoresis of a reduced graphene oxide (rGO) network on carbon nanotube (CNT)‐Fe3O4 film for supercapacitor electrode applications. The interconnected networks of graphene with large specific surface area (248.4 m2 g−1) improve the diffusion of the electrolyte ions into the electrode. The resulting supercapacitor exhibits a high specific energy density of 36.7 Wh kg−1, specific capacitance of 275.6 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 and excellent cyclic stability with only 7.1% loss of its initial specific capacitance after 10000 change‐discharge cycles. These results suggest that such CNT‐Fe3O4‐rGO composite is very promising for next generation high‐performance supercapacitors.
Sequential Oscillations in the Ferroin‐Catalyzed Belousov‐Zhabotinsky Reaction: The Case of Oxalacetic Acid Substrate
Authors: Nagy Tibor , Szászi József , Kovács Sándor , Zsuga Miklós , Kéki Sándor 
Published: January 2019

AbstractA novel sequential, dual‐frequency oscillations were found in the Ferroin‐catalyzed Belousov‐Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction when oxalacetic acid was employed as the substrate. The reactions were followed spectrophotometrically at a wavelength of 490 nm. The reaction revealed a “trumpet”‐shape oscillation pattern at relatively low oxalacetic acid (OAA) concentration, while at higher OAA concentration oscillation splits into a low and a high frequency region separated by a short second “induction period”. Furthermore, the effect of the initial reactant concentrations such as those of bromate, ferroin, sulfuric acid and oxalacetic acid were also investigated. It was observed that oscillation started to appear at shorter reaction time upon increasing the concentrations of bromate and ferroin, while it changed according to a minimum curve as a function of sulfuric acid concentration. However, in the case of OAA increasing its concentration resulted in increasing “induction periods”, i. e., the onset of oscillation shifted to longer reaction times. The origin of the “trumpet”‐shape oscillation patterns and the two‐phase oscillation was interpreted by means of the Oregonator model.
A Turn‐on Fluorescence Probe For Rapid, Sensitive And Visual Detection of Formaldehyde
Authors: Cheng Huan‐ren , Zou Li‐wei , Yang Ling , Wang Zhi‐guo , Lu Xiao‐ju 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThe sensitive and selective determination of formaldehyde is very significant in food safety and environmental protection. In this paper, a novel perylenediimide based fluorescent probe for formaldehyde has been constructed. The probe can be used to detect formaldehyde rapidly, facilely and sensitively, and it exhibited an obvious fluorescence enhancement (at 582 nm) within 1 minutes, and the enhanced yellow fluorescence can be easily observed by the naked eyes. Importantly, the probe showed strong anti‐interference abilities to protons and other small molecules. Moreover, the density functional theory was performed to understand the Turn‐On process and the probe was successfully used to detect formaldehyde in living cells.