bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of COVID Pandemic on Pattern and Outcome of Admissions in a Paediatric Emergency Unit in Sokoto, Nigeria
Authors: Isezuo Khadijat O. , Adamu Asma’u 
Published: June 2024

Background: The COVID pandemic had widespread impact on the world population, especially on health-care. This ranged from direct effects of the infection on populace, in addition to changing pattern of morbidity and mortality, children inclusive.
Objectives: To compare the pattern and outcome of admissions during the COVID pandemic period (2020 – 2021) to the preceeding year (2019) in the emergency Paediatric unit (EPU) of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto.
Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study. The admission records of children aged > 1 month to 15 years were retrieved, relevant information extracted, entered into a study proforma and analysed with SPSS version 24.
Results: Total admissions were 3741. The 1st pandemic year (2020) had the lowest (1116, 29.8%) while 1406 (37.6%) and 1219 (32.6%) patients were admitted in 2019 and 2021.
The lowest admission was between March and June 2020 coinciding with the lockdown, highest was in August 2020 when restrictions had been lifted. The topmost admissions yearly were malaria, acute respiratory infections and acute gastroenteritis. The trend showed that all cases reduced in the pandemic years (2020-2021) but respiratory infections increased. Mortality was highest in 2020 (p=0.001). Malaria was the highest cause of mortality for the 3 years, however, mortality rate from sepsis, cardiac and respiratory diseases rose sharply in the pandemic years. Three confirmed cases of COVID were seen with 1 mortality.
Conclusion: Admission rates reduced during the pandemic year in 2020 however, with increased rate of mortality. There was increase rate of sepsis, cardiac and respiratory mortality following the pandemic.
Tunable Anisotropic Wettability of Rice Leaf‐Like Wavy Surfaces
Authors: Lee Seung Goo , Lim Ho Sun , Lee Dong Yun , Kwak Donghoon , Cho Kilwon 
Published: September 2012

AbstractRice leaves can directionally shed water droplets along the longitudinal direction of the leaf. Inspired by the hierarchical structures of rice leaf surfaces, synthetic rice leaf‐like wavy surfaces are fabricated that display a tunable anisotropic wettability by using electrostatic layer‐by‐layer assembly on anisotropic microwrinkled substrates. The nanoscale roughness of the rice leaf‐like surfaces is controlled to yield tunable anisotropic wettability and hydrophobic properties that transitioned between the anisotropic/pinned, anisotropic/rollable, and isotropic/rollable water droplet behavior states. These remarkable changes result from discontinuities in the three‐phase (solid–liquid–gas) contact line due to the presence of air trapped beneath the liquid, which is controlled by the surface roughness of the hierarchical nanostructures. The mechanism underlying the directional water‐rolling properties of the rice leaf‐like surfaces provides insight into the development of a range of innovative applications that require control over directional flow.
Assessing the effectiveness of a long‐standing rocky intertidal protected area and its contribution to the regional conservation of species, habitats and assemblages
Authors: Alexander Timothy J. , Gladstone William 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACT

The acceptance of reserves as a useful management strategy relies on evidence of their effectiveness in preserving stocks of harvested species and conserving biodiversity. A history of ad hoc decisions in terrestrial and marine protected area planning has meant that many of these areas are contributing inefficiently to conservation goals. The conservation value of existing protected areas should be assessed when planning the placement of additional areas in a reserve network.
This study tested (1) the effectiveness of protection for intertidal molluscs of a marine reserve (Bouddi Marine Extension, NSW, Australia) established in 1971, and (2) the contribution of the protected area to the conservation of regional species, assemblages, and habitats.
The shell length and population density of one harvested (Cellana tramoserica), and three non‐harvested species (Bembicium nanum, Morula marginalba, Nerita atramentosa) of intertidal molluscs were examined in the protected area and two reference locations over two seasons.
The heavily collected limpet C. tramoserica was significantly larger in the protected area and was the only species to exhibit a significant difference. No species significantly differed in population density between the protected area and reference locations.
Temporally replicated surveys of macro‐molluscs at 21 locations over 75 km of coastline identified that the existing protected area included 50% of species, two of five assemblage types and 19 of 20 intertidal rocky shore habitats surveyed in the study region. Reservation of a further three rocky reefs would protect a large proportion of species (71%), a representative of each assemblage and all habitat types.
Despite originally being selected in the absence of information on regional biodiversity, the protected area is today an effective starting point for expansion to a regional network of intertidal protected areas. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural, Electronic, and Optical Properties of Metallo Base Pairs in Duplex DNA: A Theoretical Insight
Authors: Samanta Pralok K. , Manna Arun K. , Pati Swapan K. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractUsing density functional theory calculations, we investigated the structural, energetic, electronic, and optical properties of recently synthesized duplex DNA containing metal‐mediated base pairs. The studied duplex DNA consists of three imidazole (Im) units linked through metal (Im‐M‐Im, M=metal) and four flanking A:T base pairs (two on each side). We examined the role of artificial base pairing in the presence of two distinctive metal ions, diamagnetic Ag+ and magnetic Cu2+ ions, on the stability of duplex DNA. We found that metal‐mediated base pairs form stable duplex DNA by direct metal ion coordination to the Im bases. Our results suggest a higher binding stability of base pairing mediated by Cu2+ ions than by Ag+ ions, which is attributed to a larger extent of orbital hybridization. We furthermore found that DNA modified with Im‐Ag+‐Im shows the low‐energy optical absorption characteristic of π–π*orbital transition of WC A:T base pairs. On the other hand, we found that the low‐energy optical absorption peaks for DNA modified with Im‐Cu2+‐Im originate from spin–spin interactions. Additionally, this complex exhibits weak ferromagnetic coupling between Cu2+ ions and strong spin polarization, which could be used for memory devices. Moreover, analyzing the role of counter ions (Na+) and the presence of explicit water molecules on the structural stability and electronic properties of the DNA duplex modified with Im‐Ag+‐Im, we found that the impact of these two factors is negligible. Our results are fruitful for understanding the experimental data and suggest a potential route for constructing effective metal‐mediated base pairs in duplex DNA for optoelectronic applications.
Sodium current inhibition by nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF)—fact or artifact?
Authors: Verkerk Arie O. , van Ginneken Antoni C.G. , Wilders Ronald 
Published: September 2012

AbstractIn two recent publications in Bioelectromagnetics it has been demonstrated that the voltage‐gated sodium current (INa) is inhibited in response to a nanosecond pulsed electric field (nsPEF). At the same time, there was an increase in a non‐inactivating “leak” current (Ileak), which was attributed to the formation of nanoelectropores or larger pores in the plasma membrane. We demonstrate that the increase in Ileak, in combination with a residual series resistance, leads to an error in the holding potential in the patch clamp experiments and an unanticipated inactivation of the sodium channels. We conclude that the observed inhibition of INa may be largely, if not fully, artifactual. Bioelectromagnetics 34:162–164, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Photoluminescence property of A9B(VO4)7 [A = Ca, Sr, Ba and B = La, Gd] phosphors
Authors: Singh Roshani , Dhoble S. J. 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTA new efficient phosphor, A9B(VO4)7 [A = Ca, Sr, Ba and B = La, Gd] has been synthesized by the solid‐state method at high temperature. X‐ray diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of the compound. Photoluminescence excitation measurements show that the phosphor can be efficiently excited by near‐ultraviolet light from 300 nm to 400 nm to realize emission covering the 397–647 nm region of visible spectrum. Therefore, newly synthesized novel phosphor may be useful as green‐emitting phosphor in solid‐state lighting. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Randomized clinical trial of dexamethasone versus placebo in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair
Authors: Tolver M A , Strandfelt P , Bryld E B , Rosenberg J , Bisgaard T 
Published: September 2012

Abstract

Background
The effect of dexamethasone on recovery and length of convalescence has not been evaluated in patients after laparoscopic groin hernia repair. It was hypothesized that preoperative intravenous dexamethasone would reduce postoperative pain.

Methods
Men undergoing transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) inguinal hernia repair were randomized to receive either a single intravenous dose of 8 mg dexamethasone or placebo (saline) 30–60 min before operation in a randomized double-blind trial. Patients in the two groups received similar standardized anaesthesia and analgesic regimens. The primary outcome measure was pain during coughing on postoperative day 1. Secondary outcomes were postoperative discomfort, fatigue and length of convalescence. Pain scores, discomfort and fatigue were recorded before surgery and daily on postoperative days 0–3 in a standard manner using visual analogue, verbal rating and numerical rating scales. The use of analgesics and antiemetics on the day of operation was recorded. The duration of time away from work and leisure activities was registered.

Results
The study enrolled 80 patients. No significant differences were found between the groups regarding postoperative pain, need for analgesia, discomfort, fatigue, nausea, vomiting or length of convalescence. Patients who received placebo used significantly more antiemetics in the postanaesthesia care unit (PACU) than patients in the dexamethasone group (P = 0·026).

Conclusion
A single preoperative dose of 8 mg dexamethasone before laparoscopic groin hernia repair had no clinical effect on early postoperative pain, discomfort or fatigue after TAPP inguinal hernia repair, but resulted in a significantly lower use of antiemetics in the PACU. Registration number: NCT01170780 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).
Oncoplastic surgery for breast cancer based on tumour location and a quadrant-per-quadrant atlas
Authors: Clough K B , Ihrai T , Oden S , Kaufman G , Massey E , Nos C 
Published: September 2012

Abstract

Background
The majority of published techniques for oncoplastic surgery rely on an inverted-T mammoplasty, independent of tumour location. These techniques, although useful, cannot be adapted to all situations. A quadrant-per-quadrant atlas of mammoplasty techniques for large breast cancers was developed in order to offer breast surgeons a technique dependent on tumour location, which reduces the risk of postoperative complications and delay to adjuvant therapy.

Methods
From 2005 to 2010, a series of eligible women with breast cancer were treated by quadrant-specific oncoplastic techniques. All complications and any delay to adjuvant treatment were recorded prospectively, along with local and distant cancer recurrences. Cosmetic outcome was evaluated using a five-point scale.

Results
A total of 175 patients were analysed. The median tumour size, after histological examination, was 25 (range 4–90) mm. Twenty-three patients (13·1 per cent) had involved margins. Seventeen of these patients were treated by mastectomy and three had a re-excision. Complications occurred in 13 patients (7·4 per cent), which led to a delay to adjuvant treatment in three (1·7 per cent). After a median follow-up of 49 (range 23–96) months, three patients had developed a local recurrence. The mean score after cosmetic evaluation was 4·6 of 5.

Conclusion
A quadrant-per-quadrant approach to oncoplastic techniques for breast cancer was developed that tailors the mammoplasty for each tumour location. This panel of techniques should be a useful guide for breast surgeons, and extends the possibilities for breast conservation for large or poorly limited cancers, with a low complication rate and good cosmetic results.
Outcome of abdominosacral resection for locally advanced primary and recurrent rectal cancer
Authors: Bhangu A , Brown G , Akmal M , Tekkis P 
Published: September 2012

Abstract

Background
The aim was to assess the indications for and outcomes of abdominosacral resection for patients with locally advanced primary and recurrent rectal cancer.

Methods
Consecutive patients undergoing abdominosacral resection between January 2006 and December 2011 were identified from a prospectively maintained database. The main endpoints were 3-year local recurrence-free (LRFS) and disease-free (DFS) survival.

Results
Thirty patients underwent abdominosacral resection, 22 for recurrent rectal cancer and eight for locally advanced primary cancer. Sacrectomy was performed at S1/2 in five, S3 in 11 and S4/5 in 14 patients. R0 resection was achieved in 23 patients; all seven positive margins (R1) were in patients with recurrent disease. There were no deaths in hospital or within 30 days. S1/2 sacrectomy was associated with the highest rate of major complications (60 per cent versus 27 and 29 per cent for S3 and S4/5 respectively) and long-term complications (60, 36 and 14 per cent). Overall 3-year LRFS was 66 per cent and 3-year DFS was 55 per cent. Both were significantly better in patients with negative compared with positive margins (LRFS: 87 versus 0 per cent, P &lt; 0·001; DFS: 71 versus 0 per cent, P = 0·033).

Conclusion
Abdominosacral resection was associated with long-term survival in carefully selected patients with advanced rectal cancer. Postoperative complications were common and often multiple. Sacrectomy for locally advanced primary rectal cancer was associated with a low margin-positive rate and should be considered as an acceptable treatment. Margin-positive resection was associated with poor survival outcomes and should be avoided.
Caudate lobe-sparing subtotal hepatectomy for primary hepatolithiasis
Authors: Dong J , Lau W Y , Lu W , Zhang W , Wang J , Ji W 
Published: September 2012

Abstract

Background
Patients with frequent and life-threatening attacks of cholangitis due to bilateral primary hepatolithiasis with atrophy of the main liver and giant hypertrophy of the caudate lobe were assessed for caudate lobe-sparing subtotal hepatectomy.

Methods
This was a retrospective study of prospectively collected data from patients who underwent subtotal hepatectomy with sparing of the caudate lobe (resection of 7 liver segments, leaving only the caudate lobe) between March 2003 and December 2009. All patients had concomitant bile duct exploration and choledochoscopy. Perioperative and long-term outcomes were analysed.

Results
Immediate stone clearance was obtained in all 12 patients enrolled in the study. Two patients had strictureplasty of the strictured caudate bile duct. There was no hospital mortality and six complications developed in three patients. At a mean follow-up of 51 months, one patient had developed recurrent stones in the caudate lobe bile ducts at 8 months and died from acute purulent cholangitis, 17 months after surgery. The remaining 11 patients were symptom-free with no further attacks of acute cholangitis.

Conclusion
In selected patients with bilateral primary hepatolithiasis, caudate lobe-sparing subtotal hepatectomy is a safe and effective treatment.
Rapid and sensitive LC‐MS/MS method for determination of megestrol acetate in human plasma: application to a human pharmacokinetic study
Authors: Seo Ji‐Hyung , Park Ji‐Sun , Jo Min‐Ho , Park Mi‐Sun , Ryu Ju‐Hee , Cho Young‐Wuk , Shim Wang‐Sup , Noh Gyu‐Jeong , Lee Kyung‐Tae 
Published: September 2012

ABSTRACTA rapid, simple and fully validated LC‐MS/MS method was developed and validated for the determination of megestrol acetate in human plasma using tolbutamide as an internal standard (IS) after one‐step liquid–liquid extraction with methyl‐tert‐butyl‐ether. Detection was performed using electrospray ionization in positive ion multiple reaction monitoring mode by monitoring the transitions m/z 385.5 → 267.1 for megestrol acetate and m/z 271.4 → 155.1 for IS. Chromatographic separation was performed on a YMC Hydrosphere C18 column with an isocratic mobile phase, which consisted of 10 mm ammonium formate buffer (adjusted to pH 5.0 with formic acid)–methanol (60:40, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The achieved lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 1 ng/mL (signal‐to‐noise ratio > 10) and the standard calibration curve for megestrol acetate was linear (r > 0.99) over the studied concentration range (1–2000 ng/mL). The proposed method was fully validated by determining its specificity, linearity, LLOQ, intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy, recovery, matrix effect and stability. The validated LC‐MS/MS method was successfully applied for the evaluation of pharmacokinetic parameters of megestrol acetate after oral administration of a single dose 800 mg of megestrol acetate (Megace™) to five healthy Korean male volunteers under fed conditions. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Fermentation behavior of an osmotolerant yeast D. hansenii for Xylitol production
Authors: Misra Swati , Raghuwanshi Shailendra , Saxena Rajendra K. 
Published: September 2012

AbstractRealizing the importance of xylitol as a high‐valued compound that serves as a sugar substitute, a new, one step thin layer chromatographic procedure for quick, reliable, and efficient determination of xylose and xylitol from their mixture was developed. Two hundred and twenty microorganisms from the laboratory stock cultures were screened for their ability to produce xylitol from D‐xylose. Amongst these, an indigenous yeast isolate no.139 (SM‐139) was selected and identified as Debaryomyces hansenii on the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics and (26S) D1/D2 r DNA region sequencing. Debaryomyces hansenii produced 9.33 gL−1 of xylitol in presence of 50.0 gL−1 of xylose in 84 h at pH 5.5, 30°C, 200 rpm. In order to utilize even higher concentrations of xylose for maximum xylitol production, a xylose enrichment technique was developed. The strain of Debaryomyces hansenii was obtained through xylose enrichment technique in a statistically optimized medium containing 0.3% yeast extract, 0.2% peptone, 0.03% MgSO4.7H2O along with 1% methanol. The culture was inoculated with 6% inoculum and incubated at 30°C and 250 rpm. A yield of 0.6 gg−1 was obtained with a xylitol volumetric productivity of 0.65 g/L h−1 in the presence of 200 gL−1 of xylose although up to 300 gL−1 of xylose could be tolerated through batch fermentation. Through this technique, even higher concentrations of xylose as substrate could be potentially utilized for maximum xylitol production. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2012
NMR Studies of HAR1 RNA Secondary Structures Reveal Conformational Dynamics in the Human RNA
Authors: Ziegeler Melanie , Cevec Mirko , Richter Christian , Schwalbe Harald 
Published: September 2012

AbstractComparative genomics has shown that noncoding RNAs can display substantial differences between humans and chimpanzees. The human accelerated region 1 (HAR1) is a section in the human genome that exhibits the most strongly accelerated rate of nucleotide substitution in relation to the chimpanzee genome. It is associated with higher cognitive functions in human brains. The HAR1 region of the HAR1F gene is transcribed into a 118 nt noncoding RNA. We provide experimental data to validate available secondary structure models of chimpanzee and human HAR1 RNA by utilizing CD and NMR spectroscopy and applying a “divide‐and‐conquer” strategy. The mutations lead to more dynamic secondary and tertiary structure in the human HAR1 RNA, presumably as part of its function. We have also determined NMR solution structures of helix H1 as the most conserved part of the chimpanzee and human HAR1 RNAs. Helix H1 contains a GAA asymmetric internal loop, the structure of which had not been solved previously. 37 nt chimpanzee and human RNA fragments (c37 and h37 RNAs) differ in a single base pair. h37 RNA folds into a slightly more stable and rigid structure than c37 RNA. Both NMR structures show structural heterogeneity of the residues corresponding to the GAA loop.
Genome Mining of the Biosynthetic Gene Cluster of the Polyene Macrolide Antibiotic Tetramycin and Characterization of a P450 Monooxygenase Involved in the Hydroxylation of the Tetramycin B Polyol Segment
Authors: Cao Bo , Yao Fen , Zheng Xiaoqing , Cui Dongbing , Shao Yucheng , Zhu Changxiong , Deng Zixin , You Delin 
Published: September 2012

AbstractA polyene macrolide antibiotic tetramycin biosynthetic gene cluster was identified by genome mining and isolated from Streptomyces hygrospinosus var. beijingensis. Genetic and in silico analyses gave insights into the mechanism of biosynthesis of tetramycin, and a model of the tetramycin biosynthetic pathway is proposed. Inactivation of a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase gene, tetrK, resulted in the production of a tetramycin B precursor: tetramycin A, which lacks a hydroxy group in its polyol region. TetrK was subsequently overexpressed heterologously in E. coli with a His6 tag, and purified TetrK efficiently hydroxylated tetramycin A to afford tetramycin B. Kinetic studies revealed no inhibition of TetrK by substrate or product. Surprisingly, sequence‐alignment analysis showed that TetrK, as a hydroxylase, has much higher homology with epoxidase PimD than with hydroxylases NysL and AmphL. The 3D structure of TetrK was then constructed by homology modeling with PimD as reference. Although TetrK and PimD catalyzed different chemical reactions, homology modeling indicated that they might share the same catalytic sites, despite also possessing some different sites correlated with substrate binding and substrate specificity. These findings offer good prospects for the production of improved antifungal polyene analogues.
Sulfite Action in Glycolytic Inhibition: In Vivo Real‐Time Observation by Hyperpolarized 13C NMR Spectroscopy
Authors: Meier Sebastian , Solodovnikova Natalia , Jensen Pernille R. , Wendland Jürgen 
Published: September 2012

AbstractDetecting the molecular targets of xenobiotic substances in vivo poses a considerable analytical challenge. Here, we describe the use of an NMR‐based tracer methodology for the instantaneous in vivo observation of sulfur(IV) action on cellular metabolism. Specifically, we find that glycolytic flux is directed towards sulfite adducts of dihydroxyacetone phosphate and pyruvate as off‐pathway intermediates that obstruct glycolytic flux. In particular, the pyruvate–sulfite association hinders the formation of downstream metabolites. The apparent in vivo association constant of pyruvate and sulfite agrees with the apparent inhibition constant of CO2 formation, thus supporting the importance of pyruvate interception in disturbing central metabolism and inhibiting NAD regeneration.