bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cases of thallium intoxication in Syria: A diagnostic and a therapeutic challenge
Authors: Almassri Ibrahim , Sekkarie Mohamed 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
In mid-March 2015, a mother and her teenage daughter and son from Syria presented to a Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) refugee clinic in the Beqaa Valley in Lebanon with the chief complaints of hair loss together with weakness and numbness of their lower extremities. They reported that on March 1, a military foe of their relative had given him several boxes of Middle Eastern cookies which were consumed by over 20 members of their families and neighbors. Soon after the consumption, most members of the households developed symptoms including abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Later, many of the affected individuals, including the three who presented to the clinic, had pain and weakness in the extremities, skin lesions, and hair loss. Two subjects died inside Syria of kidney failure. In this report, we describe the diagnostic challenges faced until the arrival to the diagnosis of thallium intoxication and the therapeutic obstacles to getting adequate therapy. We also report the results of a survey sent to all subjects in the affected households and discuss the context of lawlessness that led to this intoxication and perhaps other cases.
Knowledge, attitude, and practices associated with the diagnosis and management of skin and soft-tissue infections among medical students, residents, and attending physicians
Authors: Beatty Norman , August Jessica Anthony , Saenz Joe , Nix David E , Matthias Kathryn R , Mohajer Mayar Al 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSkin and soft-tissue infections (SSTIs) are commonly encountered by medical students, residents, and trainees. The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has updated its recommendations regarding SSTI diagnosis and management in June 2014. We assessed knowledge, attitude, and practices toward diagnosis and management of SSTIs using an online survey. We disseminated the survey to medical students, residents, and attending physicians practicing in family and internal medicine department at a university-based hospital. A total of 103 surveys were completed out of 121 sent (85.1%) between July 2015 and March 2016. There were nine medical questions in the survey. The mean of correct answers was 4.5/9 ± 2.0. Medical knowledge correlated with the level of education (P < 0.001) but not with subspecialty (P = 0.97). Around 35% were familiar with the updated IDSA guidelines pertaining to SSTIs. The majority (85%) responded that the hospital staff would benefit from additional training and 75% agreed that more antibiotic stewardship education is needed. Our study shows that there are significant opportunities for development among students and physicians who encounter SSTIs.
Delayed bilateral obturator nerve injury due to compressing bilateral pelvic lymphoceles after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and bilateral lymphadenectomy for prostatic carcinoma
Authors: Aljomaa Ayman 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA clinically significant obturator nerve injury is uncommon after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and lymphadenectomy. If the injury is due to a direct intraoperative event such as transection or stretching of the nerve, the patients present typically in the immediate postoperative period. On the other hand, an indirect injury through compression of the nerve through a pelvic fluid collection (hematoma or lymphocele) progresses insidiously and delays the presentation of these patients making a dilemma in recognizing these patients and differentiating them from those with other causes of neurological deficits. A delay in the correct management of the compressing collections may negatively affect the neurological function of the patient. We demonstrate a 61-year-old male who presented with pain and motor weakness of obturator origin 1 week after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and lymphadenectomy for prostatic cancer. The computed tomography scan showed bilateral pelvic lymphoceles possibly compressing the obturator nerves. The neurological function has improved after evacuation of these collections. This case emphasizes the importance of considering delayed postsurgical compression of the obturator nerve in our differential diagnosis when patients present with typical signs and symptoms of obturator nerve injury after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy and lymphadenectomy. Early diagnosis and evacuation of these collections would improve the neurological outcome.
Prophylactic mastectomy for the prevention of breast cancer: Review of the literature
Authors: Alaofi Rawan K. , Nassif Mohammed O. , Al-Hajeili Marwan R. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractThe high incidence and recurrence rate of breast cancer has influenced multiple strategies such as early detection with imaging, chemoprevention and surgical interventions that serve as preventive measures for women at high risk. Prophylactic mastectomy is one of the growing strategies of breast cancer risk reduction that is of a special importance for breast cancer gene mutation carriers. Women with personal history of cancerous breast lesions may consider ipsilateral or contralateral mastectomy as well. Existing data showed that mastectomy effectively reduces breast cancer risk. However, careful risk estimation is necessary to wisely select individuals who will benefit from preventing breast cancer.
The strategies of water–carbon regulation of plants in a subtropical primary forest on karst soils in China
Authors: Wang Jing , Wen Xuefa , Zhang Xinyu , Li Shenggong 
Published: July 2018

Abstract. Coexisting plant species in a karst ecosystem may use diverse strategies of
trade off between carbon gain and water loss to adopt to the low soil
nutrient and low water availability conditions. An understanding of the impact of
CO2 diffusion and maximum carboxylase activity of Rubisco
(Vcmax) on the light-saturated net photosynthesis (A) and
intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) can provide insight into physiological
strategies of the water–carbon regulation of coexisting plant species used in
adaptation to karst environments at the leaf scale. We selected 63 dominant
species (across 6 life forms) in a subtropical karst primary forest in
southwestern China, measured their CO2 response curves, and calculated
the corresponding stomatal conductance to CO2 (gs), mesophyll
conductance to CO2 (gm), and Vcmax. The results showed that
gs and gm varied about 7.6- and 34.5-fold, respectively,
and that gs was positively related to gm. The contribution of gm
to the leaf CO2 gradient was similar to that of gs. gs ∕ A,
gm ∕ A and gt ∕ A was negatively related to Vcmax ∕ A. The
relative limitations of gs (ls), gm (lm), and Vcmax
(lb) to A for the whole group (combined six life forms) were
significantly different from each other (P < 0.05). lm was the
largest (0.38 ± 0.12), followed by lb (0.34 ± 0.14), and
ls (0.28 ± 0.07). No significant difference was found between ls, lm, and lb for trees
and tree/shrubs, while lm was the largest, followed by lb and ls for shrubs, grasses, vines and ferns
(P < 0.05). iWUE varied about 3-fold (from 29.52 to 88.92 µmol CO2 mol−1 H2O) across all species, and was significantly
correlated with gs, Vcmax, gm ∕ gs, and Vcmax ∕ gs.
These results indicated that karst plants maintained relatively high A and
low iWUE through the covariation of gs, gm, and Vcmax
as an adaptation to a karst environment.
MIRU-profiler: a rapid tool for determination of 24-loci MIRU-VNTR profiles from assembled genomes ofMycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Rajwani Rahim , Shehzad Sheeba , Siu Gilman Kit Hang 
Published: July 2018

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) resulted in an estimated 1.7 million deaths in the year 2016. The disease is caused by the members ofMycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which includesMycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium bovisand other closely related TB causing organisms. In order to understand the epidemiological dynamics of TB, national TB control programs often conduct standardized genotyping at 24 Mycobacterial-Interspersed-Repetitive-Units (MIRU)-Variable-Number-of-Tandem-Repeats (VNTR) loci. With the advent of next generation sequencing technology, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has been widely used for studying TB transmission. However, an open-source software that can connect WGS and MIRU-VNTR typing is currently unavailable, which hinders interlaboratory communication. In this manuscript, we introduce the MIRU-profiler program which could be used for prediction of MIRU-VNTR profile from WGS ofM. tuberculosis.ImplementationThe MIRU-profiler is implemented in shell scripting language and depends on EMBOSS software. The in-silico workflow of MIRU-profiler is similar to those described in the laboratory manuals for genotypingM. tuberculosis. Given an input genome sequence, the MIRU-profiler computes alleles at the standard 24-loci based on in-silico PCR amplicon lengths. The final output is a tab-delimited text file detailing the 24-loci MIRU-VNTR pattern of the input sequence.ValidationThe MIRU-profiler was validated on four datasets: complete genomes from NCBI-GenBank (n = 11), complete genomes for locally isolated strains sequenced using PacBio (n = 4), complete genomes for BCG vaccine strains (n = 2) and draft genomes based on 250 bp paired-end Illumina reads (n = 106).ResultsThe digital MIRU-VNTR results were identical to the experimental genotyping results for complete genomes of locally isolated strains, BCG vaccine strains and five out of 11 genomes from the NCBI-GenBank. For draft genomes based on short Illumina reads, 21 out of 24 loci were inferred with a high accuracy, while a number of inaccuracies were recorded for three specific loci (ETRA, QUB11b and QUB26). One of the unique features of the MIRU-profiler was its ability to process multiple genomes in a batch. This feature was tested on all completeM. tuberculosisgenome (n = 157), for which results were successfully obtained in approximately 14 min.ConclusionThe MIRU-profiler is a rapid tool for inference of digital MIRU-VNTR profile from the assembled genome sequences. The tool can accurately infer repeat numbers at the standard 24 or 21/24 MIRU-VNTR loci from the complete or draft genomes respectively. Thus, the tool is expected to bridge the communication gap between the laboratories using WGS and those using the conventional MIRU-VNTR typing.
Exercise can improve sleep quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Banno Masahiro , Harada Yudai , Taniguchi Masashi , Tobita Ryo , Tsujimoto Hiraku , Tsujimoto Yasushi , Kataoka Yuki , Noda Akiko 
Published: July 2018

BackgroundInsomnia is common. However, no systematic reviews have examined the effect of exercise on patients with primary and secondary insomnia, defined as both sleep disruption and daytime impairment. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to examine the effectiveness/efficacy of exercise in patients with insomnia.MethodsWe searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify all randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of exercise on various sleep parameters in patients with insomnia. All participants were diagnosed with insomnia, using standard diagnostic criteria or predetermined criteria and standard measures. Data on outcome measures were subjected to meta-analyses using random-effects models. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool and Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach were used to assess the quality of the individual studies and the body of evidence, respectively.ResultsWe included nine studies with a total of 557 participants. According to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (mean difference [MD], 2.87 points lower in the intervention group; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.95 points lower to 1.79 points lower; low-quality evidence) and the Insomnia Severity Index (MD, 3.22 points lower in the intervention group; 95% CI, 5.36 points lower to 1.07 points lower; very low-quality evidence), exercise was beneficial. However, exercise interventions were not associated with improved sleep efficiency (MD, 0.56% lower in the intervention group; 95% CI, 3.42% lower to 2.31% higher; moderate-quality evidence). Only four studies noted adverse effects. Most studies had a high or unclear risk of selection bias.DiscussionOur findings suggest that exercise can improve sleep quality without notable adverse effects. Most trials had a high risk of selection bias. Higher quality research is needed.
Biochemical and structural insights into an allelic variant causing the lysosomal storage disorder – aspartylglucosaminuria
Authors: Pande Suchita , Bizilj William , Guo Hwai‐Chen 
Published: July 2018

Aspartylglucosaminuria (AGU) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by defects of the hydrolase glycosylasparaginase (GA). Previously, we showed that a Canadian AGU mutation disrupts an obligatory intramolecular autoprocessing with the enzyme trapped as an inactive precursor. Here, we report biochemical and structural characterizations of a model enzyme corresponding to a Finnish AGU allele, the T234I variant. Unlike the Canadian counterpart, the Finnish variant is capable of a slow autoprocessing to generate detectible hydrolyzation activity of the natural substrate of GA. We have determined a 1.6 Å‐resolution structure of the Finnish AGU model and built an enzyme–substrate complex to provide a structural basis for analyzing the negative effects of the point mutation on KM and kcat of the mature enzyme.EnzymeGlycosylasparaginase or aspartylglucosaminidase, EC3.5.1.26.
Do tests facilitate decision‐making performance on a transfer task?
Authors: Avci Gunes , Woods Steven P. , Tierney Savanna M. , Kordovski Victoria M. , Morgan Erin E. 
Published: July 2018

AbtractTesting can improve later recall of information. However, much less is known about the potential use of testing in promoting the transfer of learning. In this study, we investigated whether testing improves decision‐making performance on a transfer task in a sample of 98 university students using a between‐subjects design. After studying several statements about a fictional disease under different learning conditions (restudy, free recall, and multiple‐choice), participants were asked to recall this information and subsequently make medical decisions concerning the fictional disease (i.e., the transfer task). The present study found no advantage of testing conditions over restudy condition on the 30‐min delayed memory task. However, participants in the active retrieval practice (i.e., free recall) group performed significantly better on the transfer task over those in both restudy and multiple‐choice groups. These results suggest free‐recall tests promote the transfer of learning.
Getting Bacteria in Shape: Synthetic Morphology Approaches for the Design of Efficient Microbial Cell Factories
Authors: Volke Daniel C. , Nikel Pablo I. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractSupported by the tools of contemporary synthetic biology, the field of metabolic engineering has advanced in its overarching purpose of contributing efficient bioprocesses for the synthesis of biochemicals by addressing a number of cell and process parameters. The morphology and spatial organization of bacterial biocatalysts has been somewhat overlooked in such endeavors. The shape, size, and surface features of bacteria are maintained over evolutionary timescales and, under tight control of complex genetic programs, are faithfully reproduced each generation—and offer a phenomenal target for manipulations. This review discusses how these structural traits of bacteria can be exploited for designing efficient biocatalysts based on specific morphologies of both single cells and natural and artificial communities (e.g., catalytic biofilms). Examples are presented on how morphologies and physical forms of bacterial cell factories can be programmed while engineering their biochemical activities. The concept of synthetic morphology opens up strategies for industrial purposes and holds the potential to improve the economic feasibility of some bioprocesses by endowing bacteria with emergent, useful spatial properties. By entertaining potential applications of synthetic morphology in the future, this review outlines how multicellular organization and bacterial biorobots can be programmed to fulfill complex tasks in several fields.
Folding Large Graphene‐on‐Polymer Films Yields Laminated Composites with Enhanced Mechanical Performance
Authors: Wang Bin , Li Zhancheng , Wang Chunhui , Signetti Stefano , Cunning Benjamin V. , Wu Xiaozhong , Huang Yuan , Jiang Yi , Shi Haofei , Ryu Seunghwa , Pugno Nicola M. , Ruoff Rodney S. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractA folding technique is reported to incorporate large‐area monolayer graphene films in polymer composites for mechanical reinforcement. Compared with the classic stacking method, the folding strategy results in further stiffening, strengthening, and toughening of the composite. By using a water–air‐interface‐facilitated procedure, an A5‐size 400 nm thin polycarbonate (PC) film is folded in half 10 times to a ≈0.4 mm thick material (1024 layers). A large PC/graphene film is also folded by the same process, resulting in a composite with graphene distributed uniformly. A three‐point bending test is performed to study the mechanical performance of the composites. With a low volume fraction of graphene (0.085%), the Young's modulus, strength, and toughness modulus are enhanced in the folded composite by an average of 73.5%, 73.2%, and 59.1%, respectively, versus the pristine stacked polymer films, or 40.2%, 38.5%, and 37.3% versus the folded polymer film, proving a remarkable mechanical reinforcement from the combined folding and reinforcement of graphene. These results are rationalized with combined theoretical and computational analyses, which also allow the synergistic behavior between the reinforcement and folding to be quantified. The folding approach could be extended/applied to other 2D nanomaterials to design and make macroscale laminated composites with enhanced mechanical properties.
Record Efficiency Stable Flexible Perovskite Solar Cell Using Effective Additive Assistant Strategy
Authors: Feng Jiangshan , Zhu Xuejie , Yang Zhou , Zhang Xiaorong , Niu Jinzhi , Wang Ziyu , Zuo Shengnan , Priya Shashank , Liu Shengzhong (Frank) , Yang Dong 
Published: July 2018

AbstractEven though the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of rigid perovskite solar cells is increased to 22.7%, the PCE of flexible perovskite solar cells (F‐PSCs) is still lower. Here, a novel dimethyl sulfide (DS) additive is developed to effectively improve the performance of the F‐PSCs. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveals that the DS additive reacts with Pb2+ to form a chelated intermediate, which significantly slows down the crystallization rate, leading to large grain size and good crystallinity for the resultant perovskite film. In fact, the trap density of the perovskite film prepared using the DS additive is reduced by an order of magnitude compared to the one without it, demonstrating that the additive effectively retards transformation kinetics during the thin film formation process. As a result, the PCE of the flexible devices increases to 18.40%, with good mechanical tolerance, the highest reported so far for the F‐PSCs. Meanwhile, the environmental stability of the F‐PSCs significantly enhances by 1.72 times compared to the device without the additive, likely due to the large grain size that suppresses perovskite degradation at grain boundaries. The present strategy will help guide development of high efficiency F‐PSCs for practical applications.
Effect of the anther‐smut fungus Microbotryum on the juvenile growth of its host Silene latifolia
Authors: Antonovics Janis , Abbate Jessica L. , Bruns Emily L. , Fields Peter D. , Forrester Nicole J. , Gilbert Kimberly J. , Hood Michael E. , Park Timothy , Taylor Douglas R. 
Published: July 2018

Premise of the StudyPlant pathogens that form persistent systemic infections within plants have the potential to affect multiple plant life history traits, yet we tend to focus only on visible symptoms. Anther smut of Silene latifolia caused by the fungus Microbotryum lychnidis‐dioicae induces the anthers of its host to support fungal spore production instead of pollen, and the pathogen is primarily transmitted among flowering plants by pollinators. Nevertheless, most of its life cycle is spent in the asymptomatic vegetative phase, and spores falling on seedlings or nonflowering plants can also infect the host. The purpose of this study was to ask whether the fungus also had an effect on its host plant in the juvenile vegetative phase before flowering as this is important for the disease dynamics in species where infection of seedlings is commonplace.MethodsLeaf length and leaf number of inoculated and uninoculated juvenile plants were compared in greenhouse experiments, and in one experiment, disease status of the plants at flowering was determined.Key ResultsInoculated plants had shorter but more leaves, and reduced root mass at the early juvenile (preflowering) stage. Some of these effects were detectable in plants that were inoculated but showed no disease symptoms at flowering.ConclusionsThese results show that pathogenic fungi can have endophyte‐like effects even in the total absence of their typical and more charismatic symptoms, and conversely that the assessment of endophyte effects on the fitness of their hosts should include all stages of the host life cycle.
Der chaotrope Effekt als Aufbaumotiv in der Chemie
Authors: Assaf Khaleel I. , Nau Werner M. 
Published: July 2018

AbstractNach vereinzelten Berichten zu Wechselwirkungen klassischer chaotroper Ionen (z. B. I−, SCN−, ClO4−) mit makrocyclischen Wirtmolekülen, Biomolekülen und hydrophoben neutralen Oberflächen in wässriger Lösung, stellte sich vor kurzem heraus, dass der chaotrope Effekt, orthogonal zum hydrophoben Effekt, eine generische Antriebskraft für die supramolekulare Aggregation ist. Der chaotrope Effekt wird am wirksamsten bei sehr großen Ionen, die jenseits der klassischen Hofmeister‐Reihe liegen und als superchaotrope Ionen bezeichnet werden können (z. B. Borat‐Cluster und Polyoxometallate). In diesem Kurzaufsatz stellen wir eine kontinuierliche Skala der Wasser‐Solut‐Wechselwirkungen vor, die die Solvatation kosmotroper, chaotroper und hydrophober Solute ebenso umfasst wie die Schaffung von Leerstellen (Kavitation). Neuere Beispiele für die Assoziation chaotroper Anionen an hydrophobe synthetische und biologische Bindungsstellen, Lipiddoppelschichten und Oberflächen werden besprochen.
Multiphase‐Assembly of Siloxane Oligomers with Improved Mechanical Strength and Water‐Enhanced Healing
Authors: Liu Meijin , Liu Peng , Lu Gang , Xu Zhengtao , Yao Xi 
Published: July 2018

AbstractHealable silicone materials have great technical impact in coatings, smart actuators, and flexible electronics, however, current healable silicone materials lack mechanical tunability. Herein, we designed and synthesized a new type of healable silicone through hydrogen‐bond assisted multiphase assembly of siloxane oligomers. Besides the enhanced mechanical strength, unique water‐enhanced healing was observed in the polymer network which is due to the reversible dissociation/association of multivalent hydrogen bonds in the presence of water.