bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mean Platelet Volume as a Prognostic Indicator in Sickle Cell Anemia
Authors: Khandekar Aditya , Acharya Sourya , Shukla Samarth 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
Aim: To assess the use of mean platelet volume (MPV) as a prognostic indicator of sickle cell disease (SCD).
Materials and methods: Fifty sickle cell patients aged 18 to 60 years, attending the Medicine outpatient department (OPD) and sickle cell clinic, or admitted with an ongoing crisis, were chosen as the study group, and 50 healthy participants were chosen as controls. A pro forma detailing relevant clinical history was obtained, with emphasis on admissions. Then, a blood sample was collected and analyzed for various parameters.Patients were classified into two categories:• Category 1: Patients with <3 reported vaso-occlusive crises in the previous year, and• Category 2: Patients with >3 reported vaso-occlusive crises in the previous year, or admitted to the medicine ward/intensive care unit (ICU), currently with an ongoing crises.
Results: Mean hemoglobin (Hb) values were found to be statistically lower in sickle cell patients compared with controls, while mean total leukocyte count (TLC) and mean neutrophil % values were higher in sickle cell patients. Mean platelet volume in category 2 patients was higher compared with category 1 patients (p < 0.001), and values correlated with the mean neutrophil percentages. Also, MPV, TLC, and neutrophil % values showed a statistically significant drop (p < 0.001) 2 weeks after treatment for sickle cell crises.
Conclusion: Thus, MPV can be used as a potential marker to identify patients at a greater risk of developing vaso-occlusive crises in the future, which, in a developing country like India, can be a key step toward affordable, primary prevention of future emergencies.
Somatic and functional compensations in junior badminton players
Authors: Jaworski Janusz , Żak Michał , Lech Grzegorz , Bujas Przemysław , Żak Stanisław , Tchórzewski Dariusz 
Published: July 2018

PurposeThe aim of the study was to examine mutual compensations of somatic and functional variables in a group of junior badminton players.MethodsThe material of the study represented the results of 24 elite Polish badminton players with average competitive experience of 8.2 year. Basic somatic characteristics, coordination motor abilities, and motor fitness in terms of speed abilities, maximum anaerobic power, muscle strength, and cardiorespiratory strength were examined.ResultsThe morphofunctional profiles in 7 players with top skill level are not identical. The variables that form these profiles interact with and compensate for each other. Some elite players show dominance of physical abilities, while somatic or coordination motor abilities are more pronounced in others. Several athletes were also characterized by a balanced morphofunctional profile.ConclusionsThe phenomenon observed requires further examinations, especially those based on the data derived from the category of senior champions.
Gluteal activation and increased frontal plane projection angle during a step-down test in young women
Authors: Barbosa Alexandre Carvalho , Vieira Edgar Ramos , Barbosa MIchelle Almeida , Fernandes Ilha , Damázio Marcela , Badaró Bárbara 
Published: July 2018

PurposeTo investigate how the activation of gluteus maximus and gluteus medius interacts with different frontal plane projection angles (FPPA) in healthy young women presenting dynamic knee valgus in one limb while performing the step-down test.MethodsThe total of 18 young women presenting FPPA > 15° during the step-down test in one limb (dynamic knee valgus) were assessed. The other limb should present less than 15° for comparisons. The amplitude of muscle activation was assessed through surface electromyography of gluteus medius and gluteus maximus during 8 subsequent weight bearing step-down tests.ResultsFPPA was positively correlated with gluteus maximus activation and with the assessed side showing FPPA > 15°, which also revealed increased activation of gluteus maximus. No differences were noted for gluteus medius. The principal component analysis explained 73% of the variance in 2 components, with gluteus maximus explaining 48% of the variance on the 1st component. Gluteus medius explained 25% on the 2nd component.ConclusionsGluteus maximus seems to be a major component to explain dynamic knee valgus in women without symptoms of patellofemoral pain, probably owing to weakness and lack of stabilization of other proximal muscles of the hip-knee complex during the task.
Psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Motor Observation Questionnaire for Teachers (MOQ-T)
Authors: Nowak Agata , Schoemaker Marina 
Published: July 2018

PurposeDevelopmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting 6–10% of school-aged children. DCD causes chronic motor impairments which distinguish children from their developmentally typical peers. To adapt and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Motor Observation Questionnaire for Teachers (MOQ-T) for use in a Polish child population.MethodsPhysical education teachers assessed a normative sample of 348 children using the MOQ-T. Internal consistency was evaluated by calculating Cronbach’s alpha. Factor analysis was performed to investigate construct validity. A clinic-referred sample (<i>n</i> = 31) and a control group (<i>n</i> = 33) were recruited and concurrent validity was assessed by calculating correlations between the MOQ-T and the Körperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK). Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analysis assessed discriminative validity.ResultsCronbach's alpha for the total MOQ-T score was 0.962. Factor analysis identified three factors: gross motor skills, fine motor skills, and general motor coordination. A negative correlation between the MOQ-T and KTK scores was found in both the control and clinic-referred groups. The AUC metric for the sample was 0.96 (CI: 0.90–1.00). Sensitivity was 0.80 for total MOQ-T scores at or above 44.5 with a specificity of 94%.ConclusionsThe psychometric properties of the MOQ-T as a DCD screening instrument in Polish school-aged children are promising. Further investigation warrants the inclusion of larger population samples and additional validity comparisons such as with the commonly used Movement Assessment Battery for Children (Second Edition).
Mineralogy and physicochemical features of Saharan dust wet deposited in the Iberian Peninsula during an extreme red rain event
Authors: Rodriguez-Navarro Carlos , di Lorenzo Fulvio , Elert Kerstin 
Published: July 2018

Abstract. The mineralogy and physicochemical features of Saharan dust particles help to identify source areas and determine their biogeochemical, radiative, and health effects, but their characterization is challenging. Using a multianalytical approach, here we characterized with unprecedented level of detail the mineralogy and physicochemical properties of Saharan dust particles massively wet deposited ( ∼  18 g m−2) following an extreme red rain event triggered by a northern African cyclone that affected the southern Iberian Peninsula during 21–23 February 2017. Abundant palygorskite and illite, and relatively high carbonate contents, well-known northern and north-western Saharan dust indicators, along with low chlorite content and significant amounts of smectites and kaolinite, whose abundance increases southwards in the western Sahara, complemented by satellite imagery and back/forward trajectories, show that the most probable dust source areas were (i) southern/central Algeria, northern Mali, and northwestern Niger, and (ii) northern Algeria, southern Tunisia, and northwestern Libya. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy analyses, including Z-contrast high angle annular dark field (HAADF) imaging and analytical electron microscopy (AEM), show that clay minerals include abundant structural Fe (55 % of the total Fe) and typically form nanogranular aggregates covered or interspersed with amorphous/poorly crystalline iron oxyhydroxide nanoparticles (ferrihydrite), which account for  ∼  18 % of the free Fe, the rest being goethite and hematite. These nanogranular aggregates tend to form rims lining large silicate and carbonate particles. Such internally mixed iron-containing phases are the main contributors to the observed absorption of solar and thermal radiation, and along with the abundant coarse/giant particles ( > 10 µm) strongly affect the dust direct radiative forcing. The lack of secondary sulfates in aggregates of unaltered calcite internally mixed with clays/iron-rich nanoparticles shows that iron-rich nanoparticles did not form via atmospheric (acid) processing but were already present in the dust source soils. Such iron-rich nanoparticles, in addition to iron-containing clay (nano)particles, are the source of the  ∼  20 % soluble (bioavailable) iron in the studied desert dust. The dust particles are a potential health hazard, specifically the abundant and potentially carcinogenic iron-containing palygorskite fibers. Ultimately, we show that different source areas are activated over large desert extensions, and large quantities of complex dust mixtures are transported thousands of kilometers and wet-deposited during such extreme events, which dwarf any other Saharan dust event affecting southwestern Europe. The past, present, and future trends, as well as impacts, of such extreme events must be taken into account when evaluating and modeling the manifold effects of the desert dust cycle.
A study of earthquake recurrence based on a one-body spring-slider model in the presence of thermal-pressurized slip-weakening friction and viscosity
Authors: Wang Jeen-Hwa 
Published: July 2018

Abstract. Earthquake recurrence is studied from the temporal variation in slip through
numerical simulations based on the normalized form of equation of motion of a
one-body spring-slider model with thermal-pressurized slip-weakening friction
and viscosity. The wear process, whose effect is included in the friction
law, is also taken into account in this study. The main parameters are the
normalized characteristic displacement, Uc, of the friction law
and the normalized damping coefficient (to represent viscosity), η.
TR, D, and τD are the recurrence time
of events, the final slip of an event, and the duration time of an event,
respectively. Simulation results show that TR increases when
Uc decreases or η increases, D and τD
decrease with increasing η, and τD increases with
Uc. The time- and slip-predictable model can describe the
temporal variation in cumulative slip. When the wear process is considered,
the thickness of slip zone, h, which depends on the cumulated slip,
S(t) = ∑D(t), i.e., h(t) = CS(t) (C is a
dimensionless increasing rate of h with S), is an important parameter
influencing TR and D. Uc is a function of h and
thus depends on cumulated normalized slip, ∑U, with an increasing rate of C. In
the computational time period, the wear process influences the recurrence of
events and such an effect increases with C when C > 0.0001. When
viscosity is present, the effect due to wear process becomes stronger. Both
TR and D decrease when the fault becomes more mature, thus
suggesting that it is more difficult to produce large earthquakes along a
fault when it becomes more mature. Neither the time-predictable nor the
slip-predictable model can describe the temporal variation in cumulative slip
of earthquakes under the wear process with large C.
Funcionalidade e qualidade de vida de crianças com deficiência
Authors: Santos Patrícia Domingos dos , Silva Franciele Cascaes da , Sousa Bianca Andrade de , Pires Greicy Kelly Wosniak , Iop Rodrigo Da Rosa , Ferreira Elizandra Gonçalves , Silva Rudney Da 
Published: July 2018

Introdução: Professores da educação infantil são capazes de fornecer informações realistas acerca da funcionalidade e da qualidade de vida de crianças com deficiências incluídas nas classes regulares.Objetivo: Analisar a funcionalidade e a qualidade de vida de crianças com deficiência inseridas na educação infantil da rede pública de ensino de Capital do Sul do Brasil. Método: Foram selecionados professores de educação especial. professores de sala. professores de educação física. professores auxiliares de educação especial e auxiliares de sala de crianças com deficiência. entre dois e cinco anos de idade. que apresentam comprometimentos motores e estão inseridas na educação infantil da rede municipal de Florianópolis. Os instrumentos utilizados foram: Inventário de Avaliação Pediátrica de Incapacidade e o Questionário Pediátrico sobre Qualidade de Vida versão 4.0. além de uma ficha de identificação.Resultados: Houve semelhanças entre os relatos dos professores sobre funcionalidade e qualidade de vida das crianças. Conclusão: Há diferentes formações acadêmicas. categorias profissionais e carga horária de trabalho. porém os relatos destes professores apresentaram certa homogeneidade. indicando que estão tentos às tarefas educativas e de cuidados destas crianças. promovendo o processo de inclusão. o desenvolvimento infantil e o bem estar geral da criança.
Socioeconomic status is not associated with health-related quality of life in a group of overweight middle-aged men
Authors: Derraik José G.B. , Albert Benjamin B. , de Bock Martin , Butler Éadaoin M. , Hofman Paul L. , Cutfield Wayne S. 
Published: July 2018

Socioeconomic status is a known determinant of health. In secondary data analyses, we assessed whether socioeconomic status affected health-related quality of life in a group of overweight (body mass index 25–30 kg/m2) middle-aged (45.9 ± 5.4 years) men, recruited in Auckland (New Zealand). Health-related quality of life was assessed with SF-36v2 three times: at baseline, and 12 and 30 weeks later. Socioeconomic status was determined by geo-coded deprivation scores derived from current address using the New Zealand Index of Deprivation 2006 (NZDep2006), as well as capital value of residence. Univariable and multivariable analyses showed no associations between measures of socioeconomic status and any mental or physical health domains. Our findings may reflect the fact that these men are not currently experiencing comorbidities associated with overweight.
Quantized H∞ filtering for state‐delayed systems with finite frequency specifications
Authors: El Hellani D. , El Hajjaji A. , Ceschi R. 
Published: July 2018

SummaryThis paper presents a novel design approach for the finite frequency (FF) H∞ filtering problem for discrete‐time state‐delayed systems with quantized measurements. The system state and output are assumed affected by FF external noises. Attention is focused on the design of a stable filter that guarantees the stability and a prescribed ℓ2 gain performance level for the filtering error system in the FF domain of input noises. Sufficient conditions for the solvability of this problem are developed by choosing an appropriate Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional based on the delay partitioning technique and using the FF ℓ2 gain definition combined with the generalized S‐procedure. Then, by means of Finsler's lemma, the derived conditions are linearized and additional slack variables are further introduced to more flexible result. Final filter design conditions are consequently established in terms of linear matrix inequalities in three different frequency ranges, ie, low‐, middle‐ and high‐frequency range. Finally, a simulation example is presented to illustrate the effectiveness and the merits of the proposed approach.
Precursor Solution Annealing Forms Cubic‐Phase Perovskite and Improves Humidity Resistance of Solar Cells
Authors: Khlyabich Petr P. , Hamill J. Clay , Loo Yueh‐Lin 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSolar cells with light‐absorbing layers comprising organometal halide perovskites have recently exceeded 22% efficiency. Despite high power‐conversion efficiencies, the stability of these devices, particularly when exposed to humidity and oxygen, remains poor. In the current study, a pathway to increase the stability of methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) based solar cells towards humidity is demonstrated, while maintaining the simplicity and solution‐processability of the active layers. Thermal annealing of the precursor solution prior to deposition induces the formation of cubic‐phase perovskite films in the solid state at room temperature. The experiments demonstrate that this improved ambient stability is correlated with the presence of the cubic phase at device operating temperatures, with the cubic phase resisting the formation of perovskite monohydrate—a pathway of degradation in conventionally processed perovskite thin films—on exposure to humidity.
Gate‐Induced Massive and Reversible Phase Transition of VO2 Channels Using Solid‐State Proton Electrolytes
Authors: Jo Minguk , Lee Hyeon Jun , Oh Chadol , Yoon Hyojin , Jo Ji Young , Son Junwoo 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe use of gate bias to control electronic phases in VO2, an archetypical correlated oxide, offers a powerful method to probe their underlying physics, as well as for the potential to develop novel electronic devices. Up to date, purely electrostatic gating in 3‐terminal devices with correlated channel shows the limited electrostatic gating efficiency due to insufficiently induced carrier density and short electrostatic screening length. Here massive and reversible conductance modulation is shown in a VO2 channel by applying gate bias VG at low voltage by a solid‐state proton (H+) conductor. By using porous silica to modulate H+ concentration in VO2, gate‐induced reversible insulator‐to‐metal (I‐to‐M) phase transition at low voltage, and unprecedented two‐step insulator‐to‐metal‐to‐insulator (I‐to‐M‐to‐I) phase transition at high voltage are shown. VG strongly and efficiently injects H+ into the VO2 channel without creating oxygen deficiencies; this H+‐induced electronic phase transition occurs by giant modulation (≈7%) of out‐of‐plane lattice parameters as a result of H+‐induced chemical expansion. The results clarify the role of H+ on the electronic state of the correlated phases, and demonstrate the potentials for electronic devices that use ionic/electronic coupling.
A Highly Crystalline Fused‐Ring n‐Type Small Molecule for Non‐Fullerene Acceptor Based Organic Solar Cells and Field‐Effect Transistors
Authors: Song Xin , Gasparini Nicola , Nahid Masrur Morshed , Chen Hu , Macphee Sky Marie , Zhang Weimin , Norman Victoria , Zhu Chenhui , Bryant Daniel , Ade Harald , McCulloch Iain , Baran Derya 
Published: July 2018

AbstractN‐type organic small molecules (SMs) are attracting attention in the organic electronics field, due to their easy purification procedures with high yield. However, only a few reports show SMs that perform well in both organic field‐effect transistors (OFETs) and organic solar cells (OSCs). Here, the synthesis and characterization of an n‐type small molecule with an indacenodithieno[3,2‐b]thiophene (IDTT) core unit and linear alkylated side chain (C16) (IDTTIC) are reported. Compared to the state‐of‐the‐art n‐type molecule IDTIC, IDTTIC exhibits smaller optical bandgap and higher absorption coefficient, which is due to the enhanced intramolecular effect. After mixing with the polymer donor PBDB‐T, IDTIC‐based solar cells deliver a power conversion efficiency of only 5.67%. In stark contrast, the OSC performance of IDTTIC improves significantly to 11.2%. It is found that the superior photovoltaic properties of PBDB‐T:IDTTIC blends are mainly due to reduced trap‐assisted recombination and enhanced molecular packing coherence length and higher domain purity when compared to IDTIC. Moreover, a significantly higher electron mobility of 0.50 cm2 V−1 s−1 for IDTTIC in OFET devices than for IDTIC (0.15 cm2 V−1 s−1) is obtained. These superior performances in OSCs and OFETs demonstrate that SMs with extended π‐conjugation of the backbone possess a great potential for application in organic electronic devices.
Platelet–Leukocyte Hybrid Membrane‐Coated Immunomagnetic Beads for Highly Efficient and Highly Specific Isolation of Circulating Tumor Cells
Authors: Rao Lang , Meng Qian‐Fang , Huang Qinqin , Wang Zixiang , Yu Guang‐Tao , Li Andrew , Ma Weijie , Zhang Nangang , Guo Shi‐Shang , Zhao Xing‐Zhong , Liu Kan , Yuan Yufeng , Liu Wei 
Published: July 2018

AbstractBiomimetic cell‐membrane‐camouflaged nanoparticles with desirable features have been widely used for various biomedical applications. However, the current research focuses on single cell membrane coating and using multiple cell membranes for nanoparticle functionalization is still challenging. In this work, platelet (PLT) and leukocyte (WBC) membranes are fused, PLT–WBC hybrid membranes are coated onto magnetic beads, and then their surface is modified with specific antibodies. The resulting PLT–WBC hybrid membrane‐coated immunomagnetic beads (HM‐IMBs) inherit enhanced cancer cell binding ability from PLTs and reduce homologous WBC interaction from WBCs, and are further used for highly efficient and highly specific isolation of circulating tumor cells (CTCs). By using spiked blood samples, it is found that, compared with commercial IMBs, the cell separation efficiency of HM‐IMBs is improved to 91.77% from 66.68% and the cell purity is improved to 96.98% from 66.53%. Furthermore, by using the HM‐IMBs, highly pure CTCs are successfully identified in 19 out of 20 clinical blood samples collected from breast cancer patients. Finally, the robustness of HM‐IMBs is verified in downstream CTC analysis such as the detection of PIK3CA gene mutations. It is anticipated that this novel hybrid membrane coating strategy will open new possibilities for overcoming the limitations of current theranostic platforms.
Ordered Mesoporous C70 with Highly Crystalline Pore Walls for Energy Applications
Authors: Benzigar Mercy R. , Joseph Stalin , Baskar Arun V. , Park Dae‐Hwan , Chandra Goutam , Umapathy Siva , Talapaneni Siddulu Naidu , Vinu Ajayan 
Published: July 2018

AbstractMesoporous materials with carbon framework structure can offer distinctive functionalities with tunable electronic or catalytic properties. Many synthetic routes including hard or soft templating approaches are developed for the fabrication of various ordered mesoporous carbon based materials which have demonstrated unique catalytic and energy storage properties. So far, most of these techniques deliver only mesoporous carbon with amorphous wall structures which limit their performance in many applications. Fullerenes exhibit unique structure and significant properties including superconductivity, electrochemical stability, and heat resistance. Herein, for the first time, the preparation of highly ordered mesoporous fullerene C70 materials with tunable porous structure and controlled rod‐shaped morphology through the thermal oligomerization of fullerene C70 molecules inside the mesopore channels of SBA‐15 silica as a hard template with the help of chlorinated aromatics, wherein the solubility of fullerenes is high, is reported. It is demonstrated that these metal‐free mesoporous fullerene C70 framework with a high surface area and bimodal pores with multifunctionality exhibit excellent performance in the oxygen reduction reaction for fuel cells and supercapacitors. This simple strategy can also be extended to other fullerene nanostructures with different carbon atoms which can exhibit interesting physicochemical properties and find applications in catalysis and energy storage.