bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption of Fe‐doped silicon oxycarbide nanocomposites
Authors: Du Bin , Qian Junjie , Hu Ping , He Chao , Cai Mei , Wang Xuan , Shui Anze 
Published: October 2019

AbstractPolymer‐derived ceramics (PDCs), such as SiOC, SiCN, SiBCN, and SiC are considered the best candidates for designing high‐performance microwave absorber due to their controllable structure, homogeneous element composition at atom level, tunable electromagnetic and electrochemical properties. Herein, Fe ions doped silicon oxycarbide (Fe ions‐SiOC) ceramics have been successfully fabricated via solvothermal method. The electromagnetic absorption performances of the nanocomposites prove to be controllable via tailoring Fe ion contents. The Fe ions effectively enhance both the interfacial polarization of amorphous SiOC, and the dielectric properties of the nanocomposites but barely effect magnetic properties of the nanocomposite. As for 0.16 mol/L‐SiOC ceramics annealed at 1450°C, the effective absorption bandwidth as high as 2.00 GHz and reflection loss of −59.60 dB at 5.40 GHz with the thickness of 4.55 mm are obtained. Such work opens up a novel and simple route to scale up the PDC‐based materials with broadband and excellent microwave absorbing performances.
Identification of insulin gene variants in patients with neonatal diabetes in the Chinese population
Authors: Fu Junling , Wang Tong , Li Mingmin , Xiao Xinhua 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAims/IntroductionNeonatal diabetes mellitus is created by alterations in the genes responsible for beta‐cell mass and/or function. The present study aimed to evaluate the genetic variants in the insulin gene (INS) in four Chinese infants aged <12 months with diabetes onset, and to explore the clinical and genetic characteristics of permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus caused by INS mutations.Materials and MethodsThe complete coding sequences of KCNJ11, ABCC8 and INS were detected using Sanger sequencing. The pathogenicity of the mutations was determined based on the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, and the structure of wild‐type and mutant proteins was predicted using the web‐based tool, Phyre2.ResultsOne novel mutation (p.I99_C100insSI) and three previously reported variants (p.G32S, p.R89C and p.C96R) in INS were identified in four infants with early‐onset diabetes. All the mutations in the four patients were de novo. Except for mutation R89C, which causes permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus through the addition of an additional cysteine residue at the cleavage site of the A chain and C‐peptide, the other three mutations affected disulfide bonds. The patients had diabetes with marked hyperglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis, and were then treated with exogenous insulin. Mutations in crucial regions of the INS might give rise to diabetes with varying severity.ConclusionsThis study enriches our awareness of the mutant spectrum in INS, and suggests the important role of INS in the development of permanent neonatal diabetes mellitus.
Associations of anemia and hemoglobin with hemoglobin A1c among non‐diabetic workers in Japan
Authors: Sakamoto Nobuaki , Hu Huanhuan , Nanri Akiko , Mizoue Tetsuya , Eguchi Masafumi , Kochi Takeshi , Nakagawa Tohru , Honda Toru , Yamamoto Shuichiro , Ogasawara Takayuki , Sasaki Naoko , Nishihara Akiko , Imai Teppei , Miyamoto Toshiaki , Yamamoto Makoto , Okazaki Hiroko , Tomita Kentaro , Uehara Akihiko , Hori Ai , Shimizu Makiko , Murakami Taizo , Kuwahara Keisuke , Fukunaga Ami , Kabe Isamu , Sone Tomofumi , Dohi Seitaro 
Published: October 2019

AbstractAims/IntroductionWe examined the association between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and anemia, which was categorized into three groups according to mean corpuscular volume (MCV), as well as the association between hemoglobin in the non‐anemic range and HbA1c.Materials and MethodsWe used the 2016 health checkup data from 36,422 workers without diabetes. Anemic people were divided into three groups based on MCV: <80, 80–90 and >90 fL. Non‐anemic people were divided into four groups based on their hemoglobin levels. We carried out multiple linear regression models to estimate the means and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of HbA1c.ResultsFor men, 0.2% had anemia with MCV <80 fL, 0.5% had anemia with MCV 80–90 fL, 0.9% had anemia with MCV >90 fL and 98.4% had no anemia. For women, the corresponding values were 6.1, 6.4, 2.8 and 84.7%, respectively. The adjusted mean HbA1c (%) values for men with anemia with MCV <80, 80–90 and >90 fL were 5.67 (95% CI 5.60–5.74), 5.58 (95% CI 5.54–5.62) and 5.41 (95% CI 5.37–5.44), respectively. Among men without anemia, HbA1c (%) increased from 5.36 (95% CI 5.34–5.39) in those with hemoglobin ≥17.5 mg/dL to 5.45 (95% CI 5.45–5.46) in those with hemoglobin 13.0 to <14.5 mg/dL (P for trend <0.001). The HbA1c values were higher in men with anemia with MCV <80 fL or MCV 80–90 fL, but lower in men with MCV >90 fL, compared with non‐anemic men with hemoglobin 13.0 to <14.5 mg/dL (All P < 0.001). Similar findings were observed in women.ConclusionsWe observed elevated HbA1c among anemic people with MCV <80 fL or MCV 80–90 fL, and decreased HbA1c among anemic people with MCV >90 fL, suggesting that different types of anemia might influence HbA1c differently. In addition, non‐anemic people with lower hemoglobin levels had higher HbA1c levels, suggesting that hemoglobin levels are in need of consideration when interpreting HbA1c values among non‐anemic people.
Self‐esteem change during the transition from university to work
Authors: Reitz Anne K. , Shrout Patrick E. , Denissen Jaap J. A. , Dufner Michael , Bolger Niall 
Published: October 2019

AbstractObjectiveThe current study examined whether the transition from university to work, a major developmental milestone in young adulthood, was related to stability and change in self‐esteem.MethodSelf‐esteem was assessed in the last year of their master's program (T1) of 163 27‐year old students and 14 months later, when they had graduated and half of them had started a full‐time job (T2). Daily diaries were used to assess the occurrence of achievement‐ and affiliation‐related experiences on 14 consecutive days at T1 and T2. We compared the full‐time job beginners and a comparison group without a full‐time job with regard to their mean‐level change, rank‐order stability and correlated change of self‐esteem and daily experiences.ResultsFirst, job beginners increased in self‐esteem, but the difference to the mean‐level change of the comparison group was only small. Second, self‐esteem was less stable among job beginners than among the comparison group. Third, the changes in achievement‐related daily experiences and self‐esteem correlated positively in the job‐beginner group but not in the comparison group.ConclusionsThe findings underline the role of daily experiences during life transitions for individual differences in self‐esteem change. The discussion calls for accounting for unique transition experiences to advance theory and research on self‐esteem development.
Insights into the genetic architecture of sexual dimorphism from an interspecific cross between two diverging Silene (Caryophyllaceae) species
Authors: Baena‐Díaz Fernanda , Zemp Niklaus , Widmer Alex 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe evolution of sexual dimorphism in species with separate sexes is influenced by the resolution of sexual conflicts creating sex differences through genetic linkage or sex‐biased expression. Plants with different degrees of sexual dimorphism are thus ideal to study the genetic basis of sexual dimorphism. In this study we explore the genetic architecture of sexual dimorphism between Silene latifolia and Silene dioica. These species have chromosomal sex determination and differ in the extent of sexual dimorphism. To test whether QTL for sexually dimorphic traits have accumulated on the sex chromosomes and to quantify their contribution to species differences, we create a linkage map and performed QTL analysis of life history, flower and vegetative traits using an unidirectional interspecific F2 hybrid cross. We found support for an accumulation of QTL on the sex chromosomes and that sex differences explained a large proportion of the variance between species, suggesting that both natural and sexual selection contributed to species divergence. Sexually dimorphic traits that also differed between species displayed transgressive segregation. We observed a reversal in sexual dimorphism in the F2 population, where males tended to be larger than females, indicating that sexual dimorphism is constrained within populations but not in recombinant hybrids. This study contributes to the understanding of the genetic basis of sexual dimorphism and its evolution in Silene.
Cross‐cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Greek Version of the Central Sensitization Inventory
Authors: Bilika Paraskevi , Neblett Randy , Georgoudis George , Dimitriadis Zacharias , Fandridis Emmanouil , Strimpakos Nikolaos , Kapreli Eleni 
Published: October 2019

AbstractObjectivesRecent studies support the opinion that central sensitization (CS) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of many chronic pain conditions. CS refers to hyperexcitability of the central nervous system, which can result in pain hypersensitivity and other somatosensory symptoms. Recognition of CS‐related symptomology is crucial in chronic pain evaluation and rehabilitation. The Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) was created to evaluate symptoms that have been found to be associated with CS. The aim of the current study was the cross‐cultural adaptation of the CSI into Greek (CSI‐Gr).MethodsTo evaluate discriminate validity, 200 patients with chronic pain and 50 healthy control subjects participated. The sample was divided into 4 diagnostic groups (fibromyalgia, single pain complaints, multiple pain complaints, and a control group) and into 5 CSI severity subgroups, from subclinical to extreme. Convergent validity was determined by evaluation of the relationship between the CSI‐Gr and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS). Additionally, 30 patients completed the CSI a second time for the purpose of a test/retest analysis.ResultsThe results showed high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.994) and test‐retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.993). The standard error of measurement was 2.1. The CSI‐Gr correlated moderately with the PCS (r = 0.68). Statistically significant differences were found among the 3 comparison groups, with patients who had fibromyalgia reporting the highest CSI severity and healthy control subjects reporting the lowest severity.ConclusionsAs determined in the present study, the CSI‐Gr was found to be a reliable and valid tool for recognition of CS‐related symptomology.
Use of pediatric donor en bloc kidneys along with bladder segment in pediatric liver‐kidney and multivisceral‐kidney transplantation
Authors: Kunzler de Oliveira Maia Filipe , Tekin Akin , Nicolau‐Raducu Ramona , Beduschi Thiago , Selvaggi Gennaro , Vianna Rodrigo , Ammar Al Nuss Mohamad , González Javier , Gaynor Jeffrey J. , Ciancio Gaetano 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe combination of pediatric multivisceral and kidney transplantation leads to additional recipient risks due to the number of anastomoses and to the small sizes of donor structures. The inclusion of donor kidneys, ureters, and a bladder patch en bloc with multivisceral organs decreases the number and complexity of anastomoses and has not yet been reported. Four patients were transplanted in this fashion; three underwent multivisceral‐kidney and one underwent liver‐kidney transplantation. The first patient was a 3‐year‐old male with polycystic kidney disease and congenital hepatic fibrosis. The second was a 7‐year‐old female with complications from necrotizing enterocolitis. The third was a 12‐month‐old male with megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome and secondary hydronephrosis, and the fourth was a 3‐year‐old male with multiple intestinal resections secondary to incarcerated hernia. The third patient developed a right ureteral stenosis with an intact bladder patch. The fourth child expired from maintained abdominal sepsis. The first 3 patients maintained normal graft function. There were no cases of thrombosis, arterial stenosis, or urinary leakages. These reported cases demonstrate that small pediatric en bloc transplantation of the multivisceral organs and dual kidneys with a bladder patch anastomosis is a feasible and less complex alternative to the standard procedure.
Physical capacity, not skeletal maturity, distinguishes competitive levels in male Norwegian U14 soccer players
Authors: Grendstad Halvard , Nilsen Ann‐Kristin , Rygh Cecilie Brekke , Hafstad Arild , Kristoffersen Morten , Iversen Vegard Vereide , Nybakken Tone , Vestbøstad Mona , Algrøy Erling André , Sandbakk Øyvind , Gundersen Hilde 
Published: October 2019

The main aim of the present study was to compare skeletal maturity level and physical capacities between male Norwegian soccer players playing at elite, sub‐elite and non‐elite level. Secondary, we aimed to investigate the association between skeletal maturity level and physical capacities. One hundred and two U14 soccer players (12.8‐14.5 years old) recruited from four local clubs, and a regional team were tested for bone age and physical capacities. Bone age was estimated with x‐ray of their left hand and used to indicate maturation of the skeleton. Players went through a comprehensive test battery to assess their physical capacities. Between‐groups analysis revealed no difference in chronological age, skeletal maturity level, leg strength, body weight, or stature. However, elite players were superior to sub‐elite and non‐elite players on important functional characteristics as intermittent‐endurance capacity (running distance: 1664 m ± 367 vs 1197 m ± 338 vs 693 m ± 235) and running speed (fastest 10 m split time: 1.27 seconds ± 0.06 vs 1.33 seconds ± 0.10 vs 1.39 seconds ± 0.11), in addition to maximal oxygen uptake (), standing long jump, and upper body strength (P < .05 for all comparisons). Medium‐to‐large correlations were found between skeletal maturity level and peak force (r = 695, P < .01), power (r = 684, P < .01), sprint (r = −.471, P<.001), and jump performance (r = .359, P < .01), but no correlation with upper body strength, , or intermittent‐endurance capacity. These findings imply that skeletal maturity level does not bias the selection of players, although well‐developed physical capacity clearly distinguishes competitive levels. The superior physical performance of the highest‐ranked players seems related to an appropriate training environment.
Does localized iron loss in venous disease lead to systemic iron deficiency? A descriptive pilot study
Authors: Ferris Amy E. , Harding Keith G. 
Published: October 2019

ABSTRACTHaemosiderin deposition in the legs of patients with venous leg ulcers is well established, and several theories suggest this stored iron has a role in disease pathophysiology. In this novel pilot study of patients with chronic venous leg ulcers, we aimed to establish the relationship between wound fluid iron levels, serum iron parameters and healing. Fifteen patients with venous ulcers were included in the study. Blood samples were taken for full blood count and iron studies, while simultaneously wound fluid was obtained from the wound surface using filter paper. Wound areas were measured at initial and 4 week (+/− 2 day) follow‐up visits. We found a positive correlation between wound fluid and serum iron (correlation co‐efficient 0.27) and those with the lowest wound fluid iron level were also anemic. No association was found between initial wound area and wound fluid iron level but the largest wound areas were found in patients with anemia. Only 38% of patients demonstrated a reduction in wound area during the 4 week study, and 80% of those were not anemic or iron deficient. Conversely in those patients whose wounds did not reduce in size 88% were anemic or iron deficient. These findings demonstrate a previously unrecognized phenomenon of systemic iron store depletion secondary to leaching out of the body in wound exudate. In addition, these results suggest a high prevalence of anemia in patients with chronic venous ulcers, though whether this is cause or effect requires further research. Our findings also suggest that patients with venous ulcers have a high prevalence of iron deficiency and anemia, which appears to be often undiagnosed, and that diagnostic criteria for iron deficiency in patients with chronic wounds need to be revised to reflect the effect of chronic inflammation on iron metabolism.
Postnatal intermittent hypoxia enhances phrenic and reduces vagal upper airway motor activities in rats by epigenetic mechanisms
Authors: Bittencourt‐Silva Paloma G. , Menezes Miguel Furtado , Mendonça‐Junior Bolival A. , Karlen‐Amarante Marlusa , Zoccal Daniel B. 
Published: October 2019

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
What are the alterations in respiratory motor activity that may underlie ventilatory dysfunctions in juvenile and adult animals exposed to postnatal chronic intermittent hypoxia?

What is the main finding and its importance?
Postnatal chronic intermittent hypoxia modifies the motor activity to pumping and upper airway respiratory muscles in rats, mediated by epigenetic DNA hypermethylation, enhancing resting pulmonary ventilation and predisposing to collapse of the upper airways in juvenile and adult life.

AbstractPeriods of apnoea, commonly observed in prematures and newborns, are an important risk factor for the development of cardiorespiratory diseases in adulthood. In the present study, we evaluated changes in pulmonary ventilation and respiratory motor pattern in juvenile and adult rats exposed to postnatal chronic intermittent hypoxia (pCIH). Newborn male Holtzman rats (P1) were submitted to pCIH (6% O2 for 30 s, every 9 min, 8 h a day (09.30–17.30 h)) during their first 10 days of life, while control animals were maintained under normoxic conditions (20.8% O2). Thereafter, animals of both groups were maintained under normoxia until the experiments. Unanaesthetized juvenile pCIH rats (n = 27) exhibited elevated tidal volume and respiratory irregularities (P < 0.05) compared to control rats (n = 7). Decerebrate, arterially perfused in situ preparations of juvenile pCIH rats (n = 11) displayed augmented phrenic nerve (PN) burst amplitude and reduced central vagus nerve activity in comparison to controls (n = 10). At adulthood, pCIH rats (n = 5) showed enhanced tidal volume (P < 0.05) and increased respiratory variability compared to the control group (n = 5). The pCIH‐induced changes in ventilation and respiratory motor outputs were prevented by treatment with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor decitabine (1 mg kg−1, i.p.) during the exposure to pCIH. Our data demonstrate that pCIH in rats impacts, in a persistent way, control of the respiratory pattern, increasing PN activity to the diaphragm and reducing the vagal‐related activity to laryngeal muscles, which, respectively, may contribute to improve resting pulmonary ventilation and predispose to collapse of the upper airways during quiet breathing.
Perspectives of health professionals towards deprescribing practice in Asian nursing homes: a qualitative interview study
Authors: Kua Chong-Han , Mak Vivienne SL , Lee Shaun Wen Huey 
Published: October 2019

ObjectiveTo examine the determinants of deprescribing among health professionals in nursing homes, focusing on knowledge, practice and attitude.DesignThis was a qualitative study comprising semi-structured face-to-face interviews guided by 10 open-ended questions. Interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved and no new ideas were formed. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed for themes. To derive themes, we employed directed content analysis of transcript data. Coding was completed using a combination of open, axial and selective coding.SettingFour nursing homes in Singapore.ParticipantsThe study involved 17 participants (comprising 4 doctors, 4 pharmacists and 9 nurses).ResultsTwo key themes were identified, enablers and challenges. These were enablers and challenges faced by doctors, pharmacists and nurses towards deprescribing. The identified subthemes for enablers of deprescribing were: (1) awareness of medications that are unnecessary or could be targeted for deprescribing; (2) improving quality of life for patients with limited life expectancy; (3) improving communication between doctors, pharmacists and nurses; (4) systematic deprescribing practice and educational tools and (5) acknowledgement of possible benefits of deprescribing. The identified subthemes for challenges of deprescribing were: (1) symptoms not acknowledged as possibly drug-related; (2) lack of knowledge in patient’s and family members’ preferences; (3) lack of coordination between health professionals in hospitals and nursing homes and (4) limited tools for deprescribing. The development of a local guideline, mentoring nurses, case discussions, better shared decision-making and improving multidisciplinary communication, may help to support the process of deprescribing.ConclusionIn conclusion, this study highlighted that deprescribing in the nursing homes is perceived by health professionals to be challenging and future research could assess how routine case studies, mentoring and better multidisciplinary communication could improve deprescribing knowledge and process in the nursing homes.
Which orthopaedic trauma patients are likely to refuse to participate in a clinical trial? A latent class analysis
Authors: O’Hara Nathan N , Degani Yasmin , Marvel Debra , Wells David , Mullins C Daniel , Wegener Stephen , Frey Katherine , Joseph Tara , Hurst Jonathan , Castillo Renan , O’Toole Robert V 
Published: October 2019

ObjectiveThe study aimed to assess systematic differences in the characteristics of patients that consented for the trial compared with the broader pool of eligible patients in a large, pragmatic orthopaedic trauma trial.DesignA retrospective observational study performed from April 2017 to March 2018.SettingAcademic trauma centre in Baltimore, USA.ParticipantsThere were 642 eligible adult trial participants with an operative fracture to the appendicular skeleton and were indicated for blood clot prophylaxis. The median age of the sample was 50 years (IQR: 31–63), and 60% were male.Primary outcome measureThe primary outcome was the refusal to enrol in the trial. Demographic and injury covariates were included in iterations of latent class models. The final model was selected based on a minimum Bayesian information criterion.ResultsThe final model identified three clusters with five covariates predictive of cluster membership (age, neighbourhood-based socioeconomic status, alcohol use, multiple fractures, multiple surgeries). The three clusters were associated with 22% (Cluster 1), 38% (Cluster 2) and 62% (Cluster 3) refusal rates, respectively. Members of Cluster 3 (n=84) were most commonly between 66 and 80 years of age (49% vs 6% (Cluster 1) and 21% (Cluster 2)), of high neighbourhood-based socioeconomic status (85% vs 63% (Cluster 1) and 8% (Cluster 2)), with isolated fractures (100% vs 80% (Cluster 1) and 92% (Cluster 2)), and were less likely to have multiple surgeries compared with the other clusters (28% vs 47% (Cluster 1) and 35% (Cluster 2)).ConclusionIn this study, the likelihood of refusing to participate in the trial ranged from 22% to 62% in the three identified clusters. Elderly age, high socioeconomic status, and less severe injuries defined the cluster that was most likely to refuse trial participation.Trial registration numberNCT02984384.