bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mortality risk in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and its association to asthma
Authors: Alt Jeremiah A. , Thomas Andrew J. , Curtin Karen , Wong Jathine , Rudmik Luke , Orlandi Richard R. 
Published: March 2017

BackgroundChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a highly prevalent inflammatory condition, with significant effects on morbidity and quality of life. Given that other chronic inflammatory conditions have been associated with increased mortality risk, we sought to evaluate the relationship between mortality and CRS including the influence of asthma. Our objective was to determine if CRS, with or without asthma, is associated with altered risk of mortality.MethodsUsing a statewide population database, we retrospectively identified 27,005 patients diagnosed with CRS between 1996 and 2012, and 134,440 unaffected controls matched 5:1 on birth year and sex. Risk of mortality was determined from Cox models and Kaplan‐Meier curves were used to compare survival.ResultsA significant interaction between CRS and asthma status was observed in which CRS appeared to confer a protective effect in asthma patients. Asthma, when present, increased mortality in CRS‐negative controls (p‐interaction < 0.0001). Independent of asthma status, CRS patients exhibited a decreased mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74 to 0.85) compared to controls. However, in patients diagnosed at or before the median age of CRS onset (42 years) independent of asthma status, survival was not improved (HR = 0.98; 95% CI, 0.81 to 1.18). Risk of mortality was greater in CRS with nasal polyps (n = 1643) compared to 25,362 polyp‐negative CRS patients (HR = 1.38; 95% CI, 1.09 to 1.77).ConclusionCRS was associated with lower risk of mortality compared to controls, and appeared to mitigate increased mortality from asthma. We posit that better survival conferred by CRS may be secondary to treatment. However, the etiology of this relationship and the effect of CRS treatment on mortality are unknown.
Experimental and First‐Principles Evidence for Interfacial Activity of Ru/TiO2 for the Direct Conversion of m‐Cresol to Toluene
Authors: Omotoso Taiwo O. , Baek Byeongjin , Grabow Lars C. , Crossley Steven P. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe selective cleavage of C−O bonds in phenolic species is perhaps the most difficult transformation required for converting biomass‐derived monomers to aromatic fuels and chemicals. Metals supported on reducible oxides, such as Ru/TiO2, have demonstrated considerable promise for a variety of selective C−O cleavage reactions, but the active site has been subject of a great deal of speculation. This paper employs a combination of theory and experiments to investigate the nature of the active site for the selective transformation of m‐cresol to toluene. Through variation of metal loading, particle size and support phase, we show that sites responsible for direct C−O cleavage of m‐cresol lie at the perimeter of the metal particle. The activation barrier for C−O cleavage is reduced from 1.4 eV on the Ru surface to 0.7 eV at an interfacial site. The introduction of water facilitates a further reduction to 0.3 eV via a proton‐assisted C‐O cleavage. These results answer a longstanding question regarding the nature of these important active sites, with broad implications for biomass upgrading.
An Electrochemiluminescent Biosensor Based on Interactions between a Graphene Quantum Dot−Sulfite Co‐reactant System and Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Zhou Chen , Chen Yingmei , You Xu , Dong Yongqiang , Chi Yuwu 
Published: March 2017

AbstractGraphene quantum dots (GQDs) are recently emerging carbon nanomaterials. GQDs have been recognized as attractive electrochemiluminescence (ECL) luminophores, owing to their environmental friendliness, facile preparation, easy labeling, and high ECL activity. However, in terms of the co‐reactant of GQDs ECL, only strongly oxidative S2O82− has been well studied and applied in GQD‐based ECL sensing, which seriously limits the application of GQD ECL sensors. In the present work, we found that the commonly used reducing reagent, sulfite (SO32−), could serve as a new type of co‐reactant of GQD ECL. Moreover, GQDs exhibited much higher ECL activity than spherical carbon quantum dots when using SO32− as the co‐reactant, owing to more abundant surface states of GQDs. Further investigation showed that GQD/SO32− ECL could be sensitively quenched by H2O2 at physiological pH. On this basis, new, green, and simple ECL chemical and biological sensors have been proposed for the detection of H2O2 and biologically interesting molecules such as glucose. Additionally, the ECL reaction and sensing mechanisms have also been studied and discussed.
Biogel‐Derived Polycrystalline MnO Spheres/S‐Doped Carbon Composites with Enhanced Performance as Anode Materials for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Yang Hongzhan , Liu Wei , Zhang Yuan , Wang Huanlei , Liu Shuang , Chen Shougang , Cheng Fengli , Zhao Shuping , Hao Enchao 
Published: March 2017

AbstractTo meet the practical requirement of advanced storage equipment, electrode materials with low cost, high performance, and readily available large‐scale production are of intensive concern. In this work, a natural marine biomass, gelidium amansii, was used to fabricate novel polycrystalline MnO spheres/S‐doped carbon composites (MnO/SC) with hierarchical porosity by using a simple bio‐sol‐gel and pyrolysis process. By inducing biogels, the unique composites of polycrystalline MnO spheres encapsulated and interwoven in a sulfur‐doped carbon net were created, which leads to a higher loading of active materials in contrast to other reported bio‐derived MnO/C materials. As anode materials for lithium‐ion batteries, the obtained MnO/SC composites delivered a high reversible capacity of 1100 mAh g−1 after 200 cycles at 0.2 A g−1 and a superior long‐term cycling performance of over 500 mAh g−1 after 1000 cycles even at the high current density of 2 A g−1. Therefore, the present work represents a feasible large‐scale fabrication approach toward high‐performance electrode materials on the basis of rich natural biogels.
Efficient Electrocatalyst for Glucose and Ethanol Based on Cu/Ni/N‐Doped Graphene Hybrids
Authors: Wu Kong‐Lin , Jiang Bin‐Bin , Cai Ya‐Miao , Wei Xian‐Wen , Li Xiang‐Zi , Cheong Weng‐Chon 
Published: March 2017

AbstractCopper/nickel nanoparticle‐decorated N‐doped graphene (Cu/Ni/N‐graphene) hybrids were prepared by using a solvothermal method, and further employed as a sensing material for fabricating a sensitive non‐enzymatic glucose and ethanol sensor. Compared with Cu, Cu/N‐graphene, Ni, Ni/N‐graphene, Cu50/Ni50 nanoparticles, and Cu51/Ni49/graphene, the Cu52/Ni48/N‐graphene showed enhanced electrochemical activity to glucose and ethanol oxidation, owing to the synergetic effects of Cu and Ni together with N‐graphene sheets in the hybrids. The results showed that the Cu52/Ni48/N‐graphene hybrid‐modified electrode exhibited excellent performance for glucose detection with a wider linear range (from 0.5 μM to 4.6 mM), lower limit of detection (0.2 μM, S/N=3), and higher sensitivity (1847.56 μA mM−1 cm−2) than other modified electrodes. Furthermore, the presented non‐enzymatic sensor also displayed a good response toward ethanol oxidation with a wide linear range from 0.2 to 37.1 mM, lower detection limit of 0.1 mM (S/N=3), and faster response time (5 s). These results indicated that the excellent properties could promote the potential application of the bimetals and N‐graphene sheets as enhanced materials in constructing non‐enzymatic sensors for electrochemical analysis.
Fabrication of Holey Graphene: Catalytic Oxidation by Metalloporphyrin‐Based Covalent Organic Framework Immobilized on Highly Ordered Pyrolytic Graphite
Authors: Seo Wanji , White David L. , Star Alexander 
Published: March 2017

AbstractWe report a facile chemical method for fabricating holey graphene by catalytic oxidation of highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) using an FeIII porphyrin complex‐based covalent organic framework (COF) as a bifunctional surface catalyst–template. We demonstrate regular hole formation after oxidation with H2O2 and NaOCl, COF removal, and HOPG exfoliation.
Calculation of cancellous bone elastic properties with the polarization‐based FFT iterative scheme
Authors: Colabella Lucas , Ibarra Pino Ariel Alejandro , Ballarre Josefina , Kowalczyk Piotr , Cisilino Adrián Pablo 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe Fast Fourier Transform–based method, originally introduced by Moulinec and Suquet in 1994 has gained popularity for computing homogenized properties of composites. In this work, the method is used for the computational homogenization of the elastic properties of cancellous bone. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study where the Fast Fourier Transform scheme is applied to bone mechanics. The performance of the method is analyzed for artificial and natural bone samples of 2 species: bovine femoral heads and implanted femurs of Hokkaido rats. Model geometries are constructed using data from X‐ray tomographies, and the bone tissue elastic properties are measured using microindentation and nanoindentation tests. Computed results are in excellent agreement with those available in the literature. The study shows the suitability of the method to accurately estimate the fully anisotropic elastic response of cancellous bone. Guidelines are provided for the construction of the models and the setting of the algorithm.
Review of Microfluidic Devices for On‐Chip Chemical Sensing
Authors: WATANABE TAKAHIRO , SASSA FUMIHIRO , YOSHIZUMI YOSHITAKA , SUZUKI HIROAKI 
Published: March 2017

SUMMARYMicrofluidic techniques can be a basis to realize user‐friendly microanalytical devices of high performance. Required operations include injection of solutions to reaction chambers, volume measurement, and mixing of solutions. For this purpose, the use of surface tension is attractive. In hydrophobic flow channels, solutions can be moved stably in the form of plugs. Otherwise, solutions can be transported by capillary action in a hydrophilic flow channel and stopped at a hydrophobic valve. The valve can be opened autonomously by switching the mixed potential by wetting a zinc electrode formed in a controlling flow channel. In this review paper, we introduce some of our microfluidic devices particularly focusing on devices that work based on surface tension.
Global Mammal Parasite Database version 2.0
Authors: Stephens Patrick R. , Pappalardo Paula , Huang Shan , Byers James E. , Farrell Maxwell J. , Gehman Alyssa , Ghai Ria R. , Haas Sarah E. , Han Barbara , Park Andrew W. , Schmidt John P. , Altizer Sonia , Ezenwa Vanessa O. , Nunn Charles L. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractIlluminating the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of parasites is one of the most pressing issues facing modern science, and is critical for basic science, the global economy, and human health. Extremely important to this effort are data on the disease‐causing organisms of wild animal hosts (including viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminths, arthropods, and fungi). Here we present an updated version of the Global Mammal Parasite Database, a database of the parasites of wild ungulates (artiodactyls and perissodactyls), carnivores, and primates, and make it available for download as complete flat files. The updated database has more than 24,000 entries in the main data file alone, representing data from over 2700 literature sources. We include data on sampling method and sample sizes when reported, as well as both “reported” and “corrected” (i.e., standardized) binomials for each host and parasite species. Also included are current higher taxonomies and data on transmission modes used by the majority of species of parasites in the database. In the associated metadata we describe the methods used to identify sources and extract data from the primary literature, how entries were checked for errors, methods used to georeference entries, and how host and parasite taxonomies were standardized across the database. We also provide definitions of the data fields in each of the four files that users can download.
Independent academic Data Monitoring Committees for clinical trials in cardiovascular and cardiometabolic diseases
Authors: Filippatos Gerasimos S. , de Graeff Pieter , Bax Jeroen J. , Borg John‐Joseph , Cleland John G.F. , Dargie Henry J. , Flather Marcus , Ford Ian , Friede Tim , Greenberg Barry , Henon‐Goburdhun Cécile , Holcomb Richard , Horst Bradley , Lekakis John , Mueller‐Velten Guenther , Papavassiliou Athanasios G. , Prasad Krishna , Rosano Giuseppe M.C. , Severin Thomas , Sherman Warren , Stough Wendy Gattis , Swedberg Karl , Tavazzi Luigi , Tousoulis Dimitris , Vardas Panagiotis , Ruschitzka Frank , Anker Stefan D. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractData Monitoring Committees (DMCs) play a crucial role in the conducting of clinical trials to ensure the safety of study participants and to maintain a trial's scientific integrity. Generally accepted standards exist for DMC composition and operational conduct. However, some relevant issues are not specifically addressed in current guidance documents, resulting in uncertainties regarding optimal approaches for communication between the DMC, steering committee, and sponsors, release of information, and liability protection for DMC members. The Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), in collaboration with the Clinical Trials Unit of the European Heart Agency (EHA) of the ESC convened a meeting of international experts in DMCs for cardiovascular and cardiometabolic clinical trials to identify specific issues and develop steps to resolve challenges faced by DMCs.The main recommendations from the meeting relate to methodological consistency, independence, managing conflicts of interest, liability protection, and training of future DMC members. This paper summarizes the key outcomes from this expert meeting, and describes the core set of activities that might be further developed and ultimately implemented by the ESC, HFA, and other interested ESC constituent bodies. The HFA will continue to work with stakeholders in cardiovascular and cardiometabolic clinical research to promote these goals.
Zur Beurteilung der Standsicherheit von Böschungen mit unterschiedlichen Verfahren
Authors: Schweiger Helmut F. , Tschuchnigg Franz 
Published: March 2017

AbstractZur Beurteilung der Standsicherheit und damit von Sicherheitsfaktoren von Böschungen, Hängen und Dämmen werden in der Praxis vorwiegend Grenzgleichgewichtsbetrachtungen, meist mittels Lamellenverfahren, eingesetzt. Neuere Untersuchungen zeigen jedoch, dass diese Verfahren in manchen Fällen Ergebnisse liefern, die deutlich auf der unsicheren Seite liegen können. Als Alternative bieten sich numerische Verfahren wie die Finite‐Elemente‐Methode an, wobei zwei unterschiedliche Formulierungen zum Einsatz kommen können. Erstens Formulierungen, die auf Verschiebungsansätzen beruhen, und zweitens Formulierungen, die die Schrankentheoreme der Plastizitätstheorie als Grundlage haben. In diesem Beitrag wird gezeigt, dass diese numerischen Verfahren den Lamellenverfahren hinsichtlich Aussagekraft generell überlegen sind, wenn auch ein etwas höherer Berechnungsaufwand in Kauf zu nehmen ist.
Experimental investigation of convective heat transfer coefficient of Al2O3/water nanofluid at lower concentrations in a car radiator
Authors: Gulhane Amit , Chincholkar S.P. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractFor many years, water and ethylene glycol were used as conventional coolants in automotive car radiators, but these coolants offer lower thermal conductivity than is required. This study is focused on the application of water‐based Al2O3 nanofluid at lower concentrations in a car radiator. The Al2O3 nanoparticles with an average diameter of 50 nm are dispersed in demineralized water at four different volume concentrations (0.1 vol. % to 0.4 vol. %) without any dispersant or stabilizer. Flow rate is varied in the range of 2 l/min to 5 l/min and inlet coolant temperature to the radiator is set to 50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C. The results show that the heat transfer coefficient increases with an increase in particle concentration, flow rate, and inlet temperature of coolant and the maximum increase in heat transfer coefficient is 45.87 % compared to pure water. However, the Nusselt number increases with the increase in particle concentration, Reynolds number, and inlet temperature of the coolant. In addition with the experimental study, a regression analysis is performed by using the ANOVA method and generates a correlation for the convective heat transfer coefficient.
The role of insufficient copper in lipid synthesis and fatty‐liver disease
Authors: Morrell Austin , Tallino Savannah , Yu Lei , Burkhead Jason L. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractThe essential transition metal copper is important in lipid metabolism, redox balance, iron mobilization, and many other critical processes in eukaryotic organisms. Genetic diseases where copper homeostasis is disrupted, including Menkes disease and Wilson disease, indicate the importance of copper balance to human health. The severe consequences of insufficient copper supply are illustrated by Menkes disease, caused by mutation in the X‐linked ATP7A gene encoding a protein that transports copper from intestinal epithelia into the bloodstream and across the blood–brain barrier. Inadequate copper supply to the body due to poor diet quality or malabsorption can disrupt several molecular level pathways and processes. Though much of the copper distribution machinery has been described and consequences of disrupted copper handling have been characterized in human disease as well as animal models, physiological consequences of sub‐optimal copper due to poor nutrition or malabsorption have not been extensively studied. Recent work indicates that insufficient copper may be important in a number of common diseases including obesity, ischemic heart disease, and metabolic syndrome. Specifically, marginal copper deficiency (CuD) has been reported as a potential etiologic factor in diseases characterized by disrupted lipid metabolism such as non‐alcoholic fatty‐liver disease (NAFLD). In this review, we discuss the available data suggesting that a significant portion of the North American population may consume insufficient copper, the potential mechanisms by which CuD may promote lipid biosynthesis, and the interaction between CuD and dietary fructose in the etiology of NAFLD. © 2016 IUBMB Life, 69(4):263–270, 2017
WFS1 and GJB2 mutations in patients with bilateral low‐frequency sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Kasakura‐Kimura Natsuko , Masuda Masatsugu , Mutai Hideki , Masuda Sawako , Morimoto Noriko , Ogahara Noboru , Misawa Hayato , Sakamoto Hirokazu , Saito Koichiro , Matsunaga Tatsuo 
Published: March 2017

ObjectiveEvaluating the prevalence of specific gene mutations associated with a certain audiometric configuration facilitates clinical assessment of patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). WFS1 is responsible for autosomal dominant nonsyndromic deafness 6/14/38 and is the most frequent genetic cause of low‐frequency SNHL (LFSNHL); however, the exact prevalence of WFS1 mutations in LFSNHL is unknown. Therefore, we evaluated genetic mutations and clinical features in patients with nonsyndromic bilateral LFSNHL, focusing on the WFS1.Study DesignRetrospective case series from 2002 to 2013 at the National Hospital Organization Tokyo Medical Center and collaborating hospitals.MethodsWFS1, GJB2, and mitochondrial DNA mutation screening was carried out for 74 of 1,007 Japanese probands with bilateral LFSNHL.ResultsWFS1 and GJB2 mutations were identified in eight of 74 cases (10.8%). Four cases had heterozygous WFS1 mutations; one case had a heterozygous WFS1 mutation and a heterozygous GJB2 mutation; and three cases had biallelic GJB2 mutations. Three cases with WFS1 mutations were sporadic; two of them were confirmed to be caused by a de novo mutation based on the genetic analysis of their parents. In the case with mutations in both WFS1 and GJB2, a de novo mutation of WFS1 was confirmed in the proband's mother by genetic screening of the mother's parents.ConclusionGenetic screening focusing on LFSNHL has not been conducted. The present study first revealed the prevalence of specific gene mutations. WFS1 autosomal dominant mutations were identified even in sporadic cases. Our results also suggested a mutational hotspot in WFS1.Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 127:E324–E329, 2017
Role of Combination Antimicrobial Therapy for Vancomycin‐Resistant Enterococcus faecium Infections: Review of the Current Evidence
Authors: Yim Juwon , Smith Jordan R. , Rybak Michael J. 
Published: March 2017

Enterococcus species are the second most common cause of nosocomial infections in the United States and are particularly concerning in critically ill patients with preexisting comorbid conditions. Rising resistance to antimicrobials that were historically used as front‐line agents for treatment of enterococcal infections, such as ampicillin, vancomycin, and aminoglycosides, further complicates the treatment of these infections. Of particular concern are Enterococcus faecium strains that are associated with the highest rate of vancomycin resistance. The introduction of antimicrobial agents with specific activity against vancomycin‐resistant Enterococcus (VRE) faecium including daptomycin, linezolid, quinupristin‐dalfopristin, and tigecycline did not completely resolve this clinical dilemma. In this review, the mechanisms of action and resistance to currently available anti‐VRE antimicrobial agents including newer agents such as oritavancin and dalbavancin will be presented. In addition, novel combination therapies including β‐lactams and fosfomycin, and the promising results from in vitro, animal studies, and clinical experience in the treatment of VRE faecium will be discussed.
Survey of Emergency and Essential Surgical, Obstetric and Anaesthetic Services Available in Bangladeshi Government Health Facilities
Authors: Loveday Jonathan , Sachdev Sonal P. , Cherian Meena N. , Katayama Francisco , Akhtaruzzaman A. K. M. , Thomas Joe , Huda N. , Faragher E. Brian , Johnson Walter D. 
Published: March 2017

AbstractObjectiveEvaluate the capacity of government‐run hospitals in Bangladesh to provide emergency and essential surgical, obstetric and anaesthetic services.MethodsCross‐sectional survey of 240 Bangladeshi Government healthcare facilities using the World Health Organisation Situational Analysis Tool to Assess Emergency and Essential Surgical Care (SAT). This tool evaluates the ability of a healthcare facility to provide basic surgical, obstetric and anaesthetic care based on 108 queries that detail the infrastructure and population demographics, human resources, surgical interventions and reason for referral, and available surgical equipment and supplies. For this survey, the Bangladeshi Ministry of Health sent the SAT to sub‐district, district/general and teaching hospitals throughout the country in April 2013.ResultsResponses were received from 240 healthcare facilities (49.5% response rate): 218 sub‐district and 22 district/general hospitals. At the sub‐district level, caesarean section was offered by 55% of facilities, laparotomy by 7% and open fracture repair by 8%. At the district/general hospital level, 95% offered caesarean section, 86% offered laparotomy and 77% offered open fracture treatment. Availability of anaesthesia services, general equipment and supplies reflected this trend, where district/general hospitals were better equipped than sub‐district hospitals, though equipment and infrastructure shortages persist.ConclusionThere has been overall impressive progress by the Bangladeshi Government in providing essential surgical services. Areas for improvement remain across all key areas, including infrastructure, human resources, surgical interventions offered and available equipment. Investment in surgical services offers a cost‐effective opportunity to continue to improve the health of the Bangladeshi population and move the country towards universal healthcare coverage.