bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The importance of validating intracranial bleeding diagnoses in The Health Improvement Network, United Kingdom: Misclassification of onset and its impact on the risk associated with low‐dose aspirin therapy
Authors: Cea Soriano Lucía , Gaist David , Soriano‐Gabarró Montse , García Rodríguez Luis A. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate misclassification of intracranial bleeding (ICB) onset in The Health Improvement Network and assess its impact on risk associated with low‐dose aspirin preventive therapy.MethodsA total of 199 049 new users of low‐dose aspirin and 1:1 matched non‐users were followed to identify incident ICB cases with validation involving manual review of patient records and linked hospital data. The index date was the date of the recorded diagnosis (initial cases). After a second manual review including free text comments, the index date was backdated to the first symptom date; prevalent cases were excluded. Two nested case‐control analyses were undertaken: using initial cases and using final cases (with backdated index date). Current, recent, and past low‐dose aspirin use was defined as 0 to 7, 8 to 90, and 91 to 365 days before the index date, respectively.ResultsAmong 1635 initial and 1611 final ICB cases, there were, respectively, 37% vs 38% current users of low‐dose aspirin, 10% vs 8% recent users, and 7% vs 7% past users. Current users with duration <3 months accounted for 6% of initial cases and 4% of final cases. Compared with never use, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) using initial and final cases, respectively, were current use 0.97 (0.84‐1.12) vs 0.97 (0.84‐1.12); <3 months current use, 1.65 (1.28‐2.13) vs 1.13 (0.85‐1.50); recent use 1.52 (1.24‐1.88) vs 1.10 (0.88‐1.37); and past use 1.30 (1.03‐1.64) vs 1.17 (0.92‐1.48).ConclusionsMisclassifying ICB onset in The Health Improvement Network marginally impacts the categorization of low‐dose aspirin use yet notably affects estimates of associated risk.
Cost‐effectiveness analysis of robot‐assisted vs. open partial nephrectomy
Authors: Buse Stephan , Hach Carolin E. , Klumpen Phillip , Schmitz Karoline , Mager Rene , Mottrie Alexandre , Haferkamp Axel 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe cost‐effectiveness of robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) vs. the open procedure is not established.MethodsWe estimated in‐hospital complications and the cost of RAPN vs. open partial nephrectomy (OPN) using an economic model. Costs incurred both intraoperatively and in hospital were considered. US data were extracted from existing literature.ResultsMean in‐hospital costs were $14,824 (95% CI $13,368–$16,898) for RAPN and $15,094 (95% CI $13,491–$17,140) for OPN. Complications after RAPN occurred in 23.3% (95% CI 20.0–25.8%) and after OPN in 36.1% (95% CI 35.6–36.6%) of the patients. In a sensitivity analysis, limited centre experience was associated with relevant increase in RAPN cost and consequently in low cost‐effectiveness.ConclusionsIn this economic model based on US data, RAPN resulted in nominally lower cost but fewer perioperative complications than OPN. RAPN was not cost‐effective in less experienced centres.
Nonhierarchical Heterostructured Fe2O3/Mn2O3 Porous Hollow Spheres for Enhanced Lithium Storage
Authors: Ren Wenhao , Liu Dongna , Sun Congli , Yao Xuhui , Tan Jian , Wang Chongmin , Zhao Kangning , Wang Xuanpeng , Li Qi , Mai Liqiang 
Published: May 2018

AbstractHigh capacity transition‐metal oxides play significant roles as battery anodes benefiting from their tunable redox chemistry, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, the application of these conversion‐type electrodes is hampered by inherent large volume variation and poor kinetics. Here, a binary metal oxide prototype, denoted as nonhierarchical heterostructured Fe2O3/Mn2O3 porous hollow spheres, is proposed through a one‐pot self‐assembly method. Beyond conventional heteromaterial, Fe2O3/Mn2O3 based on the interface of (104)Fe2O3 and (222)Mn2O3 exhibits the nonhierarchical configuration, where nanosized building blocks are integrated into microsized spheres, leading to the enhanced structural stability and boosted reaction kinetics. With this design, the Fe2O3/Mn2O3 anode shows a high reversible capacity of 1075 mA h g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, an outstanding rate capability of 638 mA h g−1 at 8 A g−1, and an excellent cyclability with a capacity retention of 89.3% after 600 cycles.
Mass Measurements Reveal Preferential Sorption of Mixed Solvent Components in Porous Nanoparticles
Authors: Modena Mario M. , Hirschle Patrick , Wuttke Stefan , Burg Thomas P. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe interplay of physical and chemical properties at the nanometer scale provides porous nanoparticles with unique sorption and interaction capabilities. These properties have aroused great interest toward this class of materials for application ranging from chemical and biological sensing to separation and drug delivery. However, so far the preferential uptake of different components of mixed solvents by porous nanoparticles is not measured due to a lack of methods capable of detecting the resulting change in physical properties. Here, a new method, nanomechanical mass correlation spectroscopy, is used to reveal an unexpected dependence of the effective mass density of porous metal–organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles on the chemistry of the solvent system and on the chemical functionalization of the MOF's internal surface. Interestingly, the pore size of the nanoparticles is much too large for the exclusion of small solvent molecules by steric hindrance. The variation of effective density of the nanoparticles with the solvent composition indicates that a complex solvent environment can form within or around the nanoparticles, which may substantially differ from the solvent composition.
Nanoscale “Noise‐Source Switching” during the Optoelectronic Switching of Phase‐Separated Polymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Yang Myungjae , Cho Duckhyung , Kim Jeongsu , Shin Narae , Shekhar Shashank , Hong Seunghun 
Published: May 2018

AbstractA method is developed to directly map nanoscale “noise‐source switching” phenomena during the optoelectronic switching of phase‐separated polymer nanocomposites of tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) and phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) molecules dispersed in a polystyrene (PS) matrix. In the method, electrical current and noise maps of the nanocomposite film are recorded using a conducting nanoprobe, enabling the mapping of a conductivity and a noise‐source density. The results provide evidence for a repeated modulation in noise sources, a “noise‐source switching,” in each stage of a switching cycle. Interestingly, when the nanocomposite is “set” by a high bias, insulating PS‐rich phases shows a drastic decrease in a noise‐source density which becomes lower than that of conducting TTF‐PCBM‐rich phases. This can be attributed to a trap filling by charge carriers generated from a TTF (donor)–PCBM (acceptor) complex. In addition, when the film is exposed to UV, an optical switching occurs due to chemical reactions which lead to irreversible changes on the noise‐source density and conductivity. The method provides a new insight on noise‐source activities during the optoelectronic switching of polymer nanocomposites and thus can be a powerful tool for basic noise research and applications in organic memory devices.
A Fully Biodegradable Battery for Self‐Powered Transient Implants
Authors: Huang Xueying , Wang Dan , Yuan Zhangyi , Xie Wensheng , Wu Yixin , Li Rongfeng , Zhao Yu , Luo Deng , Cen Liang , Chen Binbin , Wu Hui , Xu Hangxun , Sheng Xing , Zhang Milin , Zhao Lingyun , Yin Lan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBiodegradable transient devices represent an emerging type of electronics that could play an essential role in medical therapeutic/diagnostic processes, such as wound healing and tissue regeneration. The associated biodegradable power sources, however, remain as a major challenge toward future clinical applications, as the demonstrated electrical stimulation and sensing functions are limited by wired external power or wireless energy harvesters via near‐field coupling. Here, materials' strategies and fabrication schemes that enable a high‐performance fully biodegradable magnesium–molybdenum trioxide battery as an alternative approach for an in vivo on‐board power supply are reported. The battery can deliver a stable high output voltage as well as prolonged lifetime that could satisfy requirements of representative implantable electronics. The battery is fully biodegradable and demonstrates desirable biocompatibility. The battery system provides a promising solution to advanced energy harvesters for self‐powered transient bioresorbable implants as well as eco‐friendly electronics.
A Generalizable Top‐Down Nanostructuring Method of Bulk Oxides: Sequential Oxygen–Nitrogen Exchange Reaction
Authors: Lee Lanlee , Kang Byungwuk , Han Suyoung , Kim Hee‐eun , Lee Moo Dong , Bang Jin Ho 
Published: May 2018

AbstractA thermal reaction route that induces grain fracture instead of grain growth is devised and developed as a top‐down approach to prepare nanostructured oxides from bulk solids. This novel synthesis approach, referred to as the sequential oxygen–nitrogen exchange (SONE) reaction, exploits the reversible anion exchange between oxygen and nitrogen in oxides that is driven by a simple two‐step thermal treatment in ammonia and air. Internal stress developed by significant structural rearrangement via the formation of (oxy)nitride and the creation of oxygen vacancies and their subsequent combination into nanopores transforms bulk solid oxides into nanostructured oxides. The SONE reaction can be applicable to most transition metal oxides, and when utilized in a lithium‐ion battery, the produced nanostructured materials are superior to their bulk counterparts and even comparable to those produced by conventional bottom‐up approaches. Given its simplicity and scalability, this synthesis method could open a new avenue to the development of high‐performance nanostructured electrode materials that can meet the industrial demand of cost‐effectiveness for mass production.
Metal Nanoparticle Carbon Gel Composites in Environmental Water Sensing Applications
Authors: Niu Pengfei , Gich Martí , Roig Anna , Fernández‐Sánchez César 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe synthesis of organic‐inorganic nanocomposites that can interact with different environmental pollutants and can be mass‐produced are very promising materials for the fabrication of chemical sensor devices. Among them, metal (or metal oxide) nanoparticles doped conductive porous carbon composites can be readily applied to the production of electrochemical sensors and show enhanced sensitivity for the measurement of water pollutants, thanks to the abundant accessible and functional sites provided by the interconnected porosity and the metallic nanoparticles, respectively. In this personal account, an overview of several synthesis routes of porous carbon composites containing metallic nanoparticles is given, paying special attention to those based on sol‐gel techniques. These are very powerful to synthesize hybrid porous materials that can be easily processed into powders and thin films, so that they can be implemented in electrode fabrication processes based on screen‐printing and lithography techniques, respectively. We emphasize the sol‐gel routes developed in our group for the synthesis of bismuth or gold nanoparticle doped porous carbon composites applied to fabricate electrochemical sensors that can be scaled down to produce miniaturized on‐chip sensing devices for the sensitive detection of heavy metal pollutants in water. The trend towards the miniaturization of electrochemical sensors to be readily employed as analytical tools in environmental monitoring follow the market requirements of rapid and accurate on‐site analysis, small sample consumption and waste production, as well as potential for continuous or semi‐continuous in‐situ determination of a wide variety of target analytes.
Recent Advances in the Separation of Rare Earth Elements Using Mesoporous Hybrid Materials
Authors: Hu Yimu , Florek Justyna , Larivière Dominic , Fontaine Frédéric‐Georges , Kleitz Freddy 
Published: May 2018

AbstractOver the past decades, the need for rare earth elements (REEs) has increased substantially, mostly because these elements are used as valuable additives in advanced technologies. However, the difference in ionic radius between neighboring REEs is small, which renders an efficient sized‐based separation extremely challenging. Among different types of extraction methods, solid‐phase extraction (SPE) is a promising candidate, featuring high enrichment factor, rapid adsorption kinetics, reduced solvent consumption and minimized waste generation. The great challenge remains yet to develop highly efficient and selective adsorbents for this process. In this regard, ordered mesoporous materials (OMMs) possess high specific surface area, tunable pore size, large pore volume, as well as stable and interconnected frameworks with active pore surfaces for functionalization. Such features meet the requirements for enhanced adsorbents, not only providing huge reactional interface and large surface capable of accommodating guest species, but also enabling the possibility of ion‐specific binding for enrichment and separation purposes. This short personal account summarizes some of the recent advances in the use of porous hybrid materials as selective sorbents for REE separation and purification, with particular attention devoted to ordered mesoporous silica and carbon‐based sorbents.
Temporal Variability of Dissolved Organic Radiocarbon in the Deep North Pacific Ocean
Authors: Druffel Ellen R M , Griffin Sheila , Wang Ning , Walker Brett D 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTWe report marine dissolved organic carbon (DOC) ∆14C from seawater collected from the North central Pacific Ocean (NCP) in 2015. These measurements show DOC ∆14C values averaged –235±5‰ (n=3) in the mixed layer (24–81 m) and –544±5‰ (n=5) in the deep water (1500–5139 m). A comparison of these data with two previously published DOC ∆14C profiles from the NCP in 1985 and 1987 reveals that deep DOC ∆14C values have decreased. We discuss several possible mechanisms that could cause such a shift in DOC ∆14C values, including spatial inhomogeneity and temporal variability due to changes in the dissolution and ∆14C value of surface derived particles in the deep sea. We find that forthcoming profiles of DOC ∆14C results from the NCP will determine the primary mechanisms controlling deep DOC ∆14C distributions, and changes over the past three decades.
Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aspects of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection: a systematic review
Authors: Graepp Fontoura Iolanda , Soeiro Barbosa David , Paes Antonio Marcus de Andrade , Santos Floriacy Stabnow , Santos Neto Marcelino , Fontoura Volmar Morais , Costa Jackson Mauricio Lopes , Abreu Silva Ana Lúcia 
Published: May 2018

AbstractCoinfection with human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has become an emerging public health problem in several parts of the world, with high morbidity and mortality rates. A systematic review was carried out in the literature available in PubMed, Scielo and Lilacs related to HVL associated with HIV coinfection, seeking to analyze epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aspects. Of the 265 articles found, 15 articles were included in the qualitative analysis, which referred to the results of HVL treatment in patients coinfected with HIV. In the published articles between 2007 and 2015, 1171 cases of HVL/HIV coinfection were identified, 86% males, average age 34 years, liposomal amphotericin B was the most commonly used drug, cure rates 68 and 20% relapses and 19% deaths, five different countries, bone marrow was used in 10/15 manuscripts. HVL/HIV coinfection is a major challenge for public health, mainly due to the difficulty in establishing an accurate diagnosis, low response to treatment with high relapse rates and evolution to death. In addition, these two pathogens act concomitantly for the depletion of the immune system, contributing to worsening the clinical picture of these diseases, which requires effective surveillance and epidemiological control measures.
Mis-modelling Singapore: China's Challenges in Learning from the City-state
Authors: Thompson Mark R. , Ortmann Stephan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractSingapore exemplifies what China strives for: resilient authoritarianism despite advanced development with good governance and political stability. But lessons Chinese observers draw from the Southeast Asian city-state have been selective, leading to misconceptions. We focus on three key areas in which Chinese observers claim inspiration from the “Singapore model.” The first, Singapore's “Asian values” discourse which is seen to provide an ideological defense of non-democratic rule, overestimates the impact of top-down conservative culturalism while underestimating the difficulty of propagating Confucianism in officially still communist China. Second, while elections in Singapore are seen to bolster the ruling People Action Party's legitimacy in Singapore, they have been implemented to such a limited extent in China that any legitimation gain is unlikely. Finally, the chief lesson derived from Singapore's fight against corruption, the importance of a committed leadership, ignores the importance of the rule of law in Singapore, a legacy of colonialism very different from China's post-totalitarian trajectory.
Feature evaluation and selection for condition monitoring using a self-organizing map and spatial statistics
Authors: Silva Rui G. , Wilcox Steven J. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis paper presents a novel approach to sensor-based feature evaluation and selection using a self-organizing map and spatial statistics as a combined technique applied to tool condition monitoring of the turning process. This approach takes advantage of the unique features of unsupervised neural networks combined with spatial statistics to perform analyses into the contributions of the different sensor-based features, carrying large quantities of noise, to achieve a classification of tool wear and a quantitative measure of each feature's suitability. This method does not assume a prior direct correlation between features avoiding misconstructions inherent to common approaches that assume that only obviously correlated features should be considered for condition monitoring. Instead, and taking advantage of neural networks ability to perform non-linear modeling, it has allowed a prior modeling of the process and then analyzed each feature's contribution toward classification. It was found that some of the commonly used features have proven to have a significant contribution to the classification of cutting tool wear, whereas others adversely affect classification performance. Further, it is demonstrated that the proposed combined technique can be used extensively to quantitatively evaluate the contribution of different features toward system monitoring in the presence of noisy data.
A retrospective comparison of intensity-modulated arc therapy and 3-dimensional conformal approaches in the planning of grade 3 gliomas
Authors: Sheazadi Lubna , Appleyard Robert , Foley Natalie , Foran Bernadette 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPurposeTo evaluate the extent to which intensity-modulated arc therapy (IMAT) for high-grade gliomas is comparable with three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT) in relation to the dose delivered to normal brain tissue (NBT), planning target volume (PTV) conformity and the dose delivered to brainstem and optic chiasma.MethodA total of 16 randomly selected 3DCRT treatment plans of grade 3 gliomas were re-planned using an IMAT planning technique and dose–volume histograms were compared. Primary outcomes were maximum, mean, 1/3 and 2/3 doses to NBT outside the PTV. Also the maximum, mean, D50 and D20 doses to PTV. Secondary outcomes were maximum and mean doses to the brainstem and optic chiasm. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare data.ResultsIMAT led to a statistically significant increase in mean dose to NBT (34·4 versus 33·3 Gy, (p=0·047) but a statistically significant reduction in maximum dose to NBT (62·7 versus 63·8 Gy, p=0·004) compared with 3DCRT. IMAT led to statistically significant reductions in maximum, D50 and D20 doses to the PTV (63·3 versus 64·7 Gy, p=0·001; 60·0 versus 60·7 Gy, p=0·001 and 60·5 versus 61·8 Gy, p=0·002, respectively). No statistically significant differences were seen in doses to brainstem and optic chiasm.ConclusionIMAT is at least comparable with 3DCRT in relation to minimising dose to NBT and ensuring good PTV conformity. Doses delivered to organs at risk using IMAT were also comparable with 3DCRT. This study supports the continued use of IMAT for the treatment of high-grade gliomas.
Modelling the role of opportunistic diseases in coinfection
Authors: Marvá Marcos , Bravo de la Parra Rafael , Venturino Ezio 
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we formulate a model for evaluating the effects of an opportunistic disease affecting only those individuals already infected by a primary disease. The opportunistic disease act on a faster time scale and it is represented by an SIS epidemic model with frequency-dependent transmission. The primary disease is governed by an SIS epidemic model with density-dependent transmission, and we consider two different recovery cases. The first one assumes a constant recovery rate whereas the second one takes into account limited treatment resources by means of a saturating treatment rate. No demographics is included in these models.Our results indicate that misunderstanding the role of the opportunistic disease may lead to wrong estimates of the overall potential amount of infected individuals. In the case of constant recovery rate, an expression measuring this discrepancy is derived, as well as conditions on the opportunistic disease imposing a coinfection endemic state on a primary disease otherwise tending to disappear. The case of saturating treatment rate adds the phenomenon of backward bifurcation, which fosters the presence of endemic coinfection and greater levels of infected individuals. Nevertheless, there are specific situations where increasing the opportunistic disease basic reproduction number helps to eradicate both diseases.
Anthropometric measurements in Ponseti treated clubfeet
Authors: Agarwal Anil , Rastogi Anuj 
Published: May 2018

Introduction: We measured the foot dimensions in the Ponseti treated idiopathic clubfeet to compare differences in foot sizes, if any.
Patient and Methods: The foot length and width in unaffected, unilateral and bilateral clubfeet were measured and analysed statistically.
Results: Average follow up was 22.2 months. Bilateral feet were similar in size. The unilateral affected feet matched in size with contralateral unaffected feet. The size difference between bilateral and unilateral affected feet was not significant. The bilateral feet were significantly smaller than age matched unaffected feet [in length 0.8 cm (6.1%); p = 0.03 and in width 0.2 cm, (3.7%); p = 0.03]. The unilateral foot was comparable with contralateral unaffected foot both during and post bracing.
Conclusions: Post Ponseti treatment, inter bilateral, unilateral affected versus unaffected, bilateral versus unilateral affected feet matched in size. The overall clubfeet size especially those with bilateral disease were significantly shorter than unaffected side. The Ponseti managed unilateral foot size was comparable with unaffected foot during the bracing duration and size comparability was maintained even after bracing protocol of 3 years was over.