bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bacteriological profiling of burn wound infections at the national burn care centre of Pakistan
Authors: Muhammad Rehan  , Tariq Iqbal  , Nimra Ghaffar  , Naima Komal  , Muhammad Shais Khan  
Published: December 2024

Objective: Burn wound infection is the second most important cause of death in burn patients. The current study goal was to assess the prevalence of burn wound infection including burn types and burn-related infections, in the national burn care centre.
Methodology: This was a prospective investigation of all burn patients (n=371) admitted to Burn Care Centre, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad, Pakistan, between November 2021 to April 2022. Patients with less than 24 hours of hospital stay and those with incomplete records were excluded (n=23). Analysis was performed using a data-collection sheet to record demographic, microbiological, and burn data. No randomization was necessary as all patients were included. Results were deemed significant when the p-value was < 0.05.
Results: In total, 348 burn patients were included. The mean age was 17.81 years. The common burns were scald burns in the paediatrics age group while in the adult age group, flame burns were the most common. The mean total burned body surface area (TBSA) was 48.64%, while the mean length of stay in the hospital was 21.4 days for swab culture-positive patients while 13.6 for remaining individuals. The most common isolated organism was Pseudomonas aeruginosa (68.60%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (32.55%), and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (16.27%).
Conclusion: Our burn patients were most commonly infected with P. aeruginosa. Surveillance and management of these microorganisms must be instigated to reduce the rate of morbidity and mortality of burn patients with infections.
Comparison of Effect of Prophylactic Aminophylline, Dexamethasone and Placebo in Prevention of Post Dural Puncture Headache
Authors: Sehrish Mehmood  , Yasmeen Afridi  , Farah Naz  , Rana Imran Sikandar  , Suresh Kumar  , Naheed Fatima  
Published: December 2024

Objective: To compare the preventive effect of prophylactic aminophylline, dexamethasone and placebo in the prevention for postdural puncture headache in adult patients undergoing below umbilicus surgery.
Material and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was done at department of anesthesia and Critical care at PIMS hospital, Islamabad from January 2018 to June 2018. Adult cases of 18 -45 years of both genders undergoing below umbilicus surgery were included. All the patients were divided in 3 groups. Group A (Aminophylline) patients received 1.5 mg/kg of IV Aminophylline over 10 minutes, group B (Dexamethasone) patients received 0.1 mg/kg of IV Dexamethasone whereas group C (Placebo) patients received IV saline, 15 minutes before the end of the surgery. The frequency of post dural puncture headache along with complications of therapy was noted at 24 hours and 48 hours of surgery and compared in all three groups. Chi-square test was employed to compare the occurrence of PDPH in all three groups and P-value ≤0.05 was considered as significant.
Results: At 24 hours headache was present in 2% of patients in group A, 2% in group D and 10.8% of patients in group P. The frequency of headache was similar in group A and D, but was significantly lesser than placebo group (P = 0.003) at 2 hours. At 48 hours no patient in group A reported headache while headache was present in 7.8% (n=8) of patients in group B and 12.7% (n=13) of patients in group C. The frequency of headache was significantly lesser in group A as compared to group B and C (P = 0.001).
Conclusions: Post-dural puncture headache observed to the significantly lesser in patients treated with Aminophylline and Dexamethasone compared to placebo group at 24 hours, while headache was significantly lesser in patients treated with Aminophylline as compared to Dexamethasone and Placebo group.
Frequency of Acute Kidney Injury Following Liver Transplant and Factors Associated With AKI
Authors: Kulsoom Ilyas  , Zunera Jahanzeb  , Hafeez-ud-din  , Mehwish Ahmed  , Anum ilyas  , Sumera Ikram  
Published: December 2024

Objective: This study aimed to determine AKI frequency in post-liver transplant patients and the factors associated with AKI.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Nephrology, Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad. Permission was obtained from the hospital ethics committee and written informed consent was administered to all 367 study patients. Information during surgery (blood loss, cold and warm ischemia time) was recorded. Serum creatinine was measured 24 hourly in all recipients during their postoperative hospital stay. All the data collection was conducted by the researcher himself to maintain data quality and compliance with the study protocol. The data was analyzed in SPSS software version 20.0.
Results: The mean age was 51.5 ± 9.6 years. There were 213 (58%) males and 154 (42%) females cases. After liver transplant, 10 (2.7%) cases had acute kidney injury. There were 128 (34.9%) cases who had the presence of comorbidity, 122 (33.2%) cases had blood loss > 2500 ml, 125 (34.1%) cases had warm ischemia time >10 minutes and 110 (30%) cases had cold ischemia time >7 hours. AKI was associated with comorbidity, blood loss >2500 ml, warm ischemia time >10 min, and cold ischemia time of >7 hours (p-value <0.05).
Conclusion: The frequency of AKI following post-liver transplant was less though, but it was higher in factors that can be controlled before, during, or after the liver transplant. Hence, by managing the preoperative morbidities, controlling blood loss, and warm and cold ischemia time we can prevent post-liver transplant acute kidney injury.
Comparative Assessment of Alveolar Osteitis Following Mandibular Third Molar Surgery With and Without Using Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF)
Authors: Iftikhar Ali , Umar Farooq  , Faheem Ahmed  , Zahoor Ahmed Rana  , Shahryar Akhtar Khokhar  , Sana Zafar  
Published: December 2024

OBJECTIVE
To compare the frequency of alveolar osteitis with and without application of PRF in the extracted socket after lower wisdom extraction.
MATERIAL AND METHODS A randomized controlled trail conducted in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, PIMS, Islamabad from 01 November 2017 to 30 July 2019 to compare the frequency of alveolar osteitis with and without use of Platelet-rich fibrin after mandibular third molar removal. The Data was analyzed by using SPSS Version 22.0. Mean and standard deviation were used for quantitative variables like patient’s age. Frequency and percentage were calculated for qualitative variables.
RESULTS The mean age of participants were 23.58 ± 3.21 with majority (96.4%) having age of 25 years, in which majority (65.2%) were female patients. Dry Socket reported in 18.0% patients.
CONCLUSION Platelet rich Fibrin was found to be effective, reliable, cost effective and safe for the third molar surgeries when compared with Non – PRF
Key words Alveolar Osteitis, Platelet Rich Fibrin, and Third Molar.
Association of vaccine intention against COVID-19 using the 5C Scale and its constructs: a Pima County, Arizona cross-sectional survey
Authors: Block Ngaybe Maiya G. , Mantina Namoonga , Pope Benjamin , Raghuraman Veena , Marczak Jacob , Velickovic Sonja , Jordan Dominique , Kinkade Mary , Perez-Velez Carlos Mario , Krauss Beatrice J. , Advani Shailesh M. , Bell Melanie , Madhivanan Purnima 
Published: December 2024

Background
Vaccine hesitancy has been ranked as one of the top 10 threats to global health by the World Health Organization. The 5C model (Confidence, Calculation of risk, Complacency, Collective Responsibility, and Constraints) and an accompanying tool to measure vaccine hesitancy, summarize several significant explanatory variables, and move beyond the most common explanatory variable, Confidence.

Methods
From January to May 2021, we administered a cross-sectional survey among adults in Pima County, Arizona in collaboration with the local health department to assess psychological antecedents to (i.e., psychological factors that lead to) COVID-19 vaccination using the 5C Scale. Participants were recruited virtually for the survey using multiple recruitment methods. Unadjusted and adjusted hierarchical ordinal logistic regressions were conducted to determine if the 5C variables had an association with intention to vaccinate (or intent to vaccinate) against COVID-19.

Results
Of the 1,823 participants who responded to the survey, 924 (76%) were included in the final analyses. Respondents were White (71%), non-Hispanic (59%), Female (68%), Liberal (37%) and Married (46%). The average age of the participants was 43.9 (±1.3) years. Based on the 5C Scale, Confidence (adjOR:3.64, CI [3.08–4.29]), Collective Responsibility (adjOR:1.94, CI [1.57–2.39]) and Complacency (adjOR:0.64, CI [0.51–0.80]) were significantly associated with intention to vaccinate against COVID-19.

Conclusion
Three of the five 5C variables were associated with the intention to vaccinate, two positively and one negatively. A limitation of the study was that the sample was not weighted to be representative of Pima County. Future research should focus on determining which interventions can bolster Confidence and Collective Responsibility attitudes in communities, while dampening Complacency, to better promote vaccine uptake.
Supramolecular Presentation of Hyaluronan onto Model Surfaces for Studying the Behavior of Cancer Stem Cells
Authors: Pang Xinqing , O'Malley Clare , Borges João , Rahman Muhammad M. , Collis Dominic W. P. , Mano João F. , Mackenzie Ian C. , S. Azevedo Helena 
Published: August 2019

AbstractThe supramolecular presentation of extracellular matrix components on surfaces provides a platform for the investigation and control of cell behavior. Hyaluronan (HA) is one of the main components of the extracellular environment and has been shown to play an important role in different cancers and their progression. However, current methods of HA immobilization often require its chemical modification. Herein, a peptide‐based self‐assembled monolayer (SAM) is used as an anchor to immobilize unmodified HA on a bare gold surface, as demonstrated by the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring. Peptide‐HA surfaces show increased roughness and greater hydrophobicity when compared to poly‐D‐lysine/HA surfaces, as measured by atomic force microscopy and water contact angle, respectively. Additionally, the peptide SAM can be micro‐contact printed and used to restrict the presentation of HA to specific regions, thereby creating HA patterned surfaces to examine cell behavior. When used for cell culture, these surfaces result in altered adhesion and migration of LUC4 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells. These biomimetic surfaces can provide insights into the role of HA in cancer and other diseases and be used as a platform for the development of cell sorting devices.
Integrin‐Targeted Cyclic Forces Accelerate Neural Tube‐Like Rosette Formation from Human Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Topal Tuğba , Fan Zhenzhen , Deng Laura Y. , Krebsbach Paul H. , Deng Cheri X. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractMechanical forces play important roles in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) differentiation. To investigate the impact of dynamic mechanical forces on neural induction of hESCs, this study employs acoustic tweezing cytometry (ATC) to apply cyclic forces/strains to hESCs by actuating integrin‐bound microbubbles using ultrasound pulses. Accelerated neural induction of hESCs is demonstrated as the result of combined action of ATC and neural induction medium (NIM). Specifically, application of ATC for 30 min followed by culture in NIM upregulates neuroecdoderm markers Pax6 and Sox1 as early as 6 h after ATC, and induces neural tube‐like rosette formation at 48 h after ATC. In contrast, no changes are observed in hESCs cultured in NIM without ATC treatment. In the absence of NIM, ATC application decreases Oct4, but does not increase Pax6 and Sox1 expression, nor does it induce neural rossette formation. The effects of ATC are abolished by inhibition of FAK, myosin activity, and RhoA/ROCK signaling. Taken together, the results reveal a synergistic action of ATC and NIM as an integrated mechanobiology mechanism that requires both integrin‐targeted cyclic forces and chemical factors for accelerated neural induction of hESCs.
A Multibeam Interference Model for Analyzing Complex Near‐Field Images of Polaritons in 2D van der Waals Microstructures
Authors: Liao Baoxin , Guo Xiangdong , Hu Debo , Zhai Feng , Hu Hai , Chen Ke , Luo Chen , Liu Mengkun , Yang Xiaoxia , Dai Qing 
Published: August 2019

AbstractVan der Waals (vdW) materials are among the most promising candidates for photonic integrated circuits because they support a full set of polaritons that can manipulate light at deep subdiffraction nanoscale. It is possible to directly probe the propagating polaritons in vdW materials in real space via scattering‐type scanning near‐field optical microscopy, such that the wave vector and lifetime of the polaritons can be extracted from as‐measured interference fringes by Fourier analysis. However, this method is unsuitable for clutter interference patterns in samples exhibiting inadequate fringes due to small size (less than 10 µm) or complex edges that are often encountered in nanophotonic devices and new material characterization. Here, a multibeam interference model is developed to analyze complex images by disentangling them into periodic patterns and residue. By employing phase stationary approximation, polariton wave vector can be derived from offset ratio of the center point, and the ratio of polariton reflection and scattering rates at the edge is obtained from the ratio of the periodic and aperiodic patterns. This method can be widely used in the optical characterization of new vdW materials that are difficult to synthesize into large crystals, as well as nanophotonic integrated devices with unique boundaries.
2D Metal–Organic Frameworks as Multifunctional Materials in Heterogeneous Catalysis and Electro/Photocatalysis
Authors: Dhakshinamoorthy Amarajothi , Asiri Abdullah M. , Garcia Hermenegildo 
Published: August 2019

AbstractMetal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are composed of particles with 3D geometry and are currently among the most widely studied heterogeneous catalysts. To further increase their activity, one of the recent trends is to develop related 2D materials with a high aspect ratio derived from a large lateral size and a small thickness. Here, the use of these 2D MOFs as catalysts, electrocatalysts, and photocatalysts is summarized, illustrating the advantages of these 2D materials compared to analogous 3D MOFs. The state of the art is summarized in tables and, when possible, pertinent turnover number (TON) and frequency (TOF) values. This enhanced activity of 2D MOFs derives from the accessibility of the active sites, the presence of a higher density of defects, and exchangeable coordination positions around the MOFs, as well as from their ability to form thin films on electrodes or surfaces. The importance of providing convincing evidence of the stability of 2D MOFs under reaction conditions and general characterization data of the used 2D material after catalysis is highlighted. In the last part, views regarding challenges in the field and new developments that can be expected are presented.
Strong Metasurface–Josephson Plasma Resonance Coupling in Superconducting La2−xSrxCuO4
Authors: Schalch Jacob S. , Post Kirk , Duan Guangwu , Zhao Xiaoguang , Kim Young Duck , Hone James , Fogler Michael M. , Zhang Xin , Basov Dmitri N. , Averitt Richard D. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractTerahertz spectroscopy of the c‐axis Josephson plasma resonance (JPR) in high‐temperature cuprates is a powerful probe of superconductivity, providing a route to couple to and interact with the condensate. Electromagnetic coupling between metasurface arrays of split ring resonators (SRRs) and the JPR of a La2−xSrxCuO4 single crystal (Tc = 32 K) is investigated. The metasurface resonance frequency (ωMM), determined by the SRR geometry, is swept through the JPR frequency (ωJPR = 1.53 THz) using a series of interchangeable tapes applied to the same single crystal. Terahertz reflectivity measurements on the resulting hybrid superconducting metamaterials (HSMMs) reveal anticrossing behavior characteristic of strong coupling. The experimental results, validated with numerical simulations, indicate a normalized Rabi frequency of ΩR = 0.29. Further, it is shown that HSMMs with ωMM > ωJPR provide a route to couple to hyperbolic waveguide modes in c‐axis cuprate samples. This work informs future possibilities for optimizing the coupling strength of HSMMs and investigating nonlinear superconductivity under high field terahertz excitation.
High‐Detectivity Flexible Near‐Infrared Photodetector Based on Chalcogenide Ag2Se Nanoparticles
Authors: Lee Won‐Yong , Ha Seunghyun , Lee Hyunjae , Bae Jin‐Hyuk , Jang Bongho , Kwon Hyuk‐Jun , Yun Yeonghun , Lee Sangwook , Jang Jaewon 
Published: August 2019

AbstractNovel, low‐voltage, high‐detectivity, solution‐processed, flexible near‐infrared (NIR) photodetectors for optoelectronic applications are realized and their optoelectronic properties are investigated for the first time. This is achieved by synthesizing Ag2Se nanoparticles (NPs) in aqueous solutions, and depositing highly crystalline Ag2Se thin films at 150 °C with redistributed Ag2Se NPs in aqueous inks. The high conductivity and low trap concentration of the 150 °C annealed Ag2Se films result from the Ag formed inside the films and the improved film quality, respectively. These factors are both critical for the realization of high‐performance flexible photodetectors. The fabricated device exhibits a high detectivity of 7.14 × 109 Jones (above 1 × 109) at room temperature, delivering low power consumption. This detectivity is superior to those of reported low band‐gap semiconductor systems, although the device has undergone 0.38% compressive and tensile strains. Moreover, the performance of the device is better than that of MoS2‐based phototransistors, black arsenic phosphorus field‐effect transistors, or commercial thermistor bolometers at room temperature (D* ≈ 108 Jones), and is exposed to mid‐infrared light.
Size‐Related Electrochemical Performance in Active Carbon Nanostructures: A MOFs‐Derived Carbons Case Study
Authors: Gadipelli Srinivas , Li Zhuangnan , Lu Yue , Li Juntao , Guo Jian , Skipper Neal T. , Shearing Paul R. , Brett Dan J. L. 
Published: August 2019

AbstractMetal–organic framework–derived carbon nanostructures have generated significant interest in electrochemical capacitors and oxygen/hydrogen catalysis reactions. However, they appear to show considerably varied structural properties, and thus exhibit complex electrochemical–activity relationships. Herein, a series of carbon polyhedrons of different sizes, between 50 nm and µm, are synthesized from zeolitic imidazolate frameworks, ZIF‐8 (ZIF‐derived carbon polyhedrons, ZDCPs) and their activity is studied for capacitance and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Interestingly, a well‐correlated performance relationship with respect to the particle size of ZDCPs is evidenced. Here, the identical structural features, such as specific surface area (SSA), microporosity, and its distribution, nitrogen doping, and graphitization are all strictly maintained in the ZDCPs, thus allowing identification of the effect of particle size on electrochemical performance. Supercapacitors show a capacity enhancement of 50 F g−1 when the ZDCPs size is reduced from micrometers to ≤200 nm. The carbonization further shows a considerable effect on rate capacitance—ZDCPs of increased particle size lead to drastically reduced charge transportability and thus inhibit their performance for both the charge storage and the ORR. Guidelines for the capacitance variation with respect to the particle size and SSA in such carbon nanostructures from literature are presented.
A Versatile Pyramidal Hauerite Anode in Congeniality Diglyme‐Based Electrolytes for Boosting Performance of Li‐ and Na‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Pham Duong Tung , Vu Trang Thi , Kim Sungjin , Sambandam Balaji , Mathew Vinod , Lim Jinsub , Kim Jaekook 
Published: August 2019

AbstractFor the first time, environmentally friendly sulfur‐rich pyramidal MnS2 synthesized via a single‐step hydrothermal process is used as a high‐performance anode material in Li‐ion and Na‐ion batteries. The superior electrochemical performance of the MnS2 electrode along with its high compatibility with ether‐based electrolytes are analyzed in both half‐ and full‐cell configurations. The reversible capacities of ≈84 mAh g−1 and ≈74 mAh g−1 at a current density of 50 mA g−1 are retained in the Li‐ion and Na‐ion full‐cells, respectively, over 200 cycles with excellent capacity retentions. Moreover, important findings regarding activation processes in the presence of a new phase transition and protective electrolyte interphase layer are revealed using ab initio density function theory calculation and in situ potentio‐electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The detailed complex redox mechanism of MnS2 in Li/Na half‐cells is also elucidated by ex situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy.
Rheology, polymorphic crystal transformation, thermal, and mechanical properties of long‐chain branched isotactic poly(1‐butene)
Authors: Maimaitiming Aizezi , Wu Guozhong , Tan Hairong , Wang Minglei , Zhang Maojiang , Hu Jiangtao , Xing Zhe 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACTEffects of long‐chain branches (LCBs) on the rheology, crystal polymorphism, polymorphic transformation, and corresponding thermal and mechanical properties at different crystallization conditions, of isotactic poly(1‐butene) (iPB‐1) are systematically studied. The complex viscosity decreases and tangent increases with the increase of LCB concentration, and they inversely correlate with gels. The low branched samples crystallize into pure Form II by compression molding and cooling the melt to room temperature at a low crystallization cooling rate, whereas the moderate‐to‐highly branched samples crystallize into mixtures of Forms II and III, with a 1–30% fraction of crystals of Form III. The transformation of Form II into Form I in low branched iPB‐1 was not significantly decelerated at different crystallization cooling rates, which is important in thermoforming, foaming, and extrusion blowing processes. Upon heating, Form III in highly branched iPB‐1 with gels does not cold‐crystallize into Form II even at a low heating rate. The low‐to‐highly branched samples mainly in Form I exhibit high yield strength, high melting temperature, and lower ductility, while the highly branched iPB‐1 containing gels and mixtures of Forms I, III, and I′ possess brittleness. Under stretching, Form III predominantly transforms into Form I via a solid–solid crystal transition. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48411.
Effect of g‐C3N4 nanofiller as filler on mechanical properties of multidirectional glass fiber epoxy hybrid composites
Authors: Naidu P. Pratap , Raghavendra Gujjala , Ojha Shakuntala , Paplal Banoth 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACTAn experimental study was carried out to investigate the flexural strength of glass‐fiber‐reinforced (multidirectional woven glass fiber) epoxy hybrid composites filled with different proportions (1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, and 3%) of graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C3N4) filler. g‐C3N4 powder filled glass epoxy composites were fabricated in conventional hand lay‐up method. Results showed an increase in flexural strength of g‐C3N4 particles content by 2% and beyond which the strength decreased. With the addition of 2 wt % of g‐C3N4 in glass‐fiber‐reinforced epoxy composites, the tensile strength increased by 11% and the flexural strength increased by 13%. The eroded surface of the specimen was observed under scanning electron microscope and the results are reported. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48413.