bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Malnutrition and associated factors among sick children needing hospital care in District Umerkot, Pakistan
Authors: Vistro Jan Muhammad , Mughal Hafiza Summaiyah 
Published: April 2024

Background: In the Umerkot area of Pakistan, where malnutrition is common, a local hospital discovered that one-third of the hospitalized children were undernourished. The purpose of this research was to identify the prevalence of malnutrition and its associated among pediatric inpatients.
Methods: A cross-sectional research was carried out on 298 children who were hospitalized to the District Headquarter Hospital in Umerkot and ranged in age from 06 months to 05 years. In order to determine malnutrition in accordance with WHO guidelines, anthropometry measures such as mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) were taken. The clinical diagnosis, immunization history, and food intake were documented.
Results: The prevalence of malnutrition was 34.6%, with moderate (26.5%) and severe (8.1%) cases included. In children, underweight afflicted 29.5%. Common diagnoses during admission were measles (18.8%), pneumonia (17.4%), and diarrhea (15.8%). Malnutrition was significantly correlated with inadequate food intake and an age-inappropriate vaccination rate of 8.7%, which is in agreement with previous research results.
Conclusions: In order to address the critically high prevalence of inpatient malnutrition, pediatric care must include standards for nutritional assessment and treatment as well as capacity development. In local communities, it's also critical to do routine growth monitoring and to promote immunization, proper hygiene, and balanced diets.
Keywords: Malnutrition; Pediatrics; Nutritional status; Mid-upper arm circumference; Pakistan
Guarding the Vulnerable: Perceptions of Security and Workplace Violence in Pediatric and Gynecological Care Settings of Karachi
Authors: Siddiqui Muhammad Bilal , Mufaddal Tasneem , Ali Syed Tabeena , Otho Muhammad Suleman 
Published: April 2024

Background: Violence in the workplace against medical professionals is a serious problem, especially in developing nations like Pakistan. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the opinions of medical professionals regarding Karachi's current hospital security protocols and pinpoint opportunities for enhancement.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 414 healthcare providers from public and private hospitals in Karachi, Pakistan was undertaken. The participants' sociodemographic characteristics, encounters with workplace violence, evaluations of hospital security measures, and recommendations for enhancement were all encompassed in the questionnaire. The data were analysed utilising descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multinomial logistic regression.
Results: A significant proportion of the participants expressed discontentment with security standards, citing insufficient staffing (71.7%), absence of monitoring systems (72.7%), and inadequate access control guidelines (64.7%). A greater frequency of reported workplace violence was substantially correlated with overall dissatisfaction with security (82.3% vs. 58.1%, p < 0.001). The results of multinomial logistic regression showed that being a nurse (OR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.12-2.68) and being dissatisfied with security measures (OR = 3.21, 95% CI: 1.87-5.52) were independent risk factors for workplace violence. Increasing security staff, improving surveillance systems, and fortifying access control protocols were among the recommendations for improvement.
Conclusions: Improved hospital security measures are essential to address workplace violence against healthcare providers in Karachi. Implementing the recommended strategies can create a safer work environment and enhance the quality of patient care.
Keywords: Workplace violence, healthcare providers, hospital security, Karachi, Pakistan, perceptions.
High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry in Peptide and Protein Analysis
Authors: Shen Tun‐Li 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
Since the 1970s, high‐performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) has gone through many stages of development. The main technical challenge has been the coupling of liquid chromatography (LC) systems with mass spectrometers. Soft ionization techniques that have contributed to HPLC/MS for peptide and protein study include fast atom bombardment (FAB), matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), and electrospray ionization (ESI). Among these techniques, FAB was developed first and used extensively in the 1980s; it lacked the sensitivity of the other two more recent techniques. MALDI and ESI are comparable in terms of sensitivity and the types of biomolecules that can be analyzed. However, MALDI has the slight advantage of being more tolerant to salts and able to analyze complex mixtures. On the other hand, the ability of ESI to interface mass spectrometry (MS) directly with LC makes it extremely useful for protein and peptide analysis. Another advantage that ESI offers is its ability to produce multiply charged protein ions, which allows the observation of large proteins with mass analyzers of limited mass range. In this article, we discuss the experimental parameters that are important in HPLC/MS and the considerable progress made in ESI source design and capillary HPLC/MS.

In the study of natural and synthetic peptides, HPLC/MS has been used to separate, characterize, and sequence the peptides being investigated. In protein analysis, HPLC/MS is most useful in characterizing protein posttranslation modification such as glycosylation and phosphorylation. We discuss specific HPLC/MS methods for detecting glycopeptides and phosphopeptides during chromatographic separation by monitoring marker ions: Hex
+
(
m
/
z
163), HexNAc
+
(
m
/
z
204), NeuAc
+
(
m
/
z
292), and HexHexNAc
+
(
m
/
z
366) for glycopeptides, and PO
2
−
(
m
/
z
63) and PO
3
−
(
m
/
z
79) for phosphopeptides. Another important application of HPLC/MS is in proteomic analysis. Here, the most significant development in the first decade of proteomics analysis has been the implementation of MS as the primary analytical technique to identify proteins separated by two‐dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2‐D/PAGE). Additionally, the need to identify gel‐separated proteins has promoted various MS‐based protein database search strategies. These include peptide mass mapping using proteolytic peptide masses for database search and using peptide fragmentation data obtained from tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to search protein sequence databases. Finally, we examine the more recent advances in proteomics in integrating multidimensional LC–MS/MS and the analysis of large‐scale proteomics datasets.
Fluorescence in Organized Assemblies
Authors: Memon Najma , Balouch Aamna , Hinze Willie L. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis article provides an overview of the general properties of organized assembly (ordered media) systems, such as aqueous surfactant and bile salt micelles, lipid (liposomes) and surfactant vesicles, and cyclodextrins (CDs), and summarizes their utilization to enhance the performance of analytical fluorescence measurements. In many instances, organic molecules and metal complex species when included within a CD cavity or solubilized and bound to surfactant aggregates exhibit enhanced fluorescence, improving detectability of such analytes. The altered microenvironment within the organized medium can impede the interfering action of other species (inorganic or organic) present in the sample matrix, which often improves the selectivity of the analytical method. These benefits of improved sensitivity and selectivity arise from the compartmentalization, isolation, and shielding of the excited singlet state of the guest analyte from quenching and nonradiative decay processes, as well as preventing side reactions that otherwise can occur in bulk solution (or sample matrix). Organic solvents or time‐consuming extraction steps can also be avoided, owing to the increased solubility of nonpolar organic or inorganic reagents and/or analyte molecules in water in the presence of the organized medium, allowing the use of an aqueous medium to perform the procedure. The possibility of conducting reactions and forming fluorescent organic or metal chelates in micellar (or other organized) media that are not observed in a bulk homogeneous solvent system serves to expand the scope of possible chemistries for design/development of new, unique, and improved fluorescent assays. Examples of fluorescent methods for determination of both organic and inorganic analytes are provided, which serve to illustrate the advantages and benefits accrued from the use of the micelles, vesicles, liposomes, or CDs in such procedures, along with experimental considerations and cautions in utilizing organized media.
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Instrumentation
Authors: Bai Shi 
Published: October 2008

Abstract
The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer consists of a superconducting magnet, a sample probe, a radio‐frequency (RF) transmitter, a receiver, and a computer for instrument control and data processing. The superconducting magnet provides an ultrastable magnetic field in the central volume of the magnet. To maintain the current, the solenoid that produces the field is immersed in liquid helium to maintain the superconducting state. Surrounding the magnet volume is a set of vacuum jackets and a liquid nitrogen–filled volume to isolate the low‐temperature regions from room temperature. The magnet has a bore to house the sample probe and a room‐temperature shim (RTS) coil assembly to reduce inhomogeneity of the magnetic field across the active sample volume. The sample to be analyzed is usually dissolved in a deuterated solvent and is contained in a specially ground glass tube that is inserted into the volume of the probe coil. RF pulses, from one or a set of high‐power transmitters, are applied to the sample through the RF coil that surrounds the active sample area to perturb the sample. The RF pulses are controlled to ensure precise frequency, phase, duration, and amplitude of the RF voltage. The response of the sample is gathered by recording the induced voltage across the RF coil. The response (the signal) is digitized as a so‐called free induction decay (FID) with a high‐performance RF receiver including a preamplifier, an amplifier, and an analog‐to‐digital converter (ADC). By using Fourier transformation (FT), the time‐domain FID is converted into the frequency‐domain spectrum, often known as the NMR spectrum.
Activation Analysis of Large Samples
Authors: Bode Peter 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThere is a trend in many analytical techniques towards the use of smaller sizes of the test portion, and sometimes submilligram amounts are being used. The limitation to the size of the test portion can pose the analyst with problems when the amount of material collected is large. Subsampling and preparation of a representative test portion may be difficult if homogenization is impossible or extremely expensive, or if homogenization introduces contamination. An alternative approach has been introduced in the 1990s by the development of large sample neutron activation analysis (LSNAA), later followed by large sample photon activation analysis. These techniques are capable of direct analysis of samples with masses of hundreds of grams to several kilograms. Though the principles and physics of large sample activation analysis are thoroughly understood, the method is still not as versatile or applicable as, for example, normal small sample neutron activation analysis. In this article, the physics of LSNAA is described, including methods of calibration. Examples are given of irradiation and counting facilities and the special aspects of quality control are discussed. Several examples are given of applications of large sample analysis, e.g., for studies related to electronic waste, complete archaeological and cultural artifacts, high‐purity materials, and materials of irregular shape.
Activity Determination and Localization of Radioactive Point Source in a Large Medium
Authors: Alfassi Zeev B. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe activity and localization of a small‐sized radioactive source in a large medium was studied for various cases by the simultaneous use of several detectors. The γ‐emitting source and the neutron‐emitting source were both studied. This also led to an α‐emitting source, which cannot be detected from outside of the medium unless the neutrons from their (α,n) reaction with low Z elements are detected. A special actual case of commercial lung counter with four semiplanar HPGe detectors is described in detail. For large boxes, NaI(Tl) detectors were used for γ measurements measuring only the full‐energy peaks. For neutrons, only thermal neutrons were measured with3He detectors. To increase the fraction of the thermal neutrons and to protect the measurer, the sample was surrounded by a fence made of 5‐cm polypropylene.
Microwave‐assisted synthesis, spectroscopy and biological aspects of binuclear titanocene chelates of isatin‐2,3‐bis(thiosemicarbazones)
Authors: Banerjee Priyanka , Pandey Om P. , Sengupta Soumitra K. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThe reactions of bis(cyclopentadienyl)titanium(IV) chloride with a new class of bis(thiosemicarbazones) (H2L), derived by condensing isatin with different N(4)‐substituted thiosemicarbazides, have been studied both by a conventional stirring method and also using microwave technology. Binuclear products of type [{(η5‐C5H5)2TiCl} 2(L)] have been isolated in both cases. Tentative structural conclusions are drawn for the reaction products based upon analysis, electrical conductance, magnetic moment and spectral (UV‐visible, IR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR) data. FAB mass spectra of these compounds were also recorded to confirm the binuclear structures. Studies were conducted to assess the growth inhibiting potential of the ligands and complexes against various fungal, viral and bacterial strains. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Synthesis, structural characterization and cytotoxic activity of diorganotin(IV) complexes of N‐(5‐halosalicylidene)tryptophane
Authors: Tian Laijin , Yang Hongjun , Zheng Xiaoliang , Ni Zhonghai , Yan Dongmei , Tu Linglan , Jiang Jianzhuang 
Published: October 2008

AbstractFour new diorganotin(IV) complexes of N‐(5‐halosalicylidene)tryptophane, R2Sn[5‐X‐2‐OC6H3CHNCH(CH2Ind)COO] [Ind = 3‐indolyl; R, X = Et, Cl (1); Et, Br(2); n‐Bu, Cl (3); n‐Bu, Br (4)], were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR (1H, 13C and 119Sn) spectra. The crystal structures of complexes 1–3 were determined by X‐ray single crystal diffraction and showed that the tin atoms are in a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry and form five‐ and six‐membered chelate rings with the tridentate ligand. Intermolecular weak interactions in 1–3 link molecules, respectively, into a two‐dimensional array, a one‐dimensional infinite chain and a one‐dimensional double‐chain supramolecular structure. Bioassay results of the compounds indicated that the dibutyltin complexes 3 and 4 have potent in vitro cytotoxic activity against two human tumor cell lines, CoLo205 and Bcap37, while the diethyltin complexes 1 and 2 display weak cytotoxic activity. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Solvent vapor‐induced self assembly and its influence on optoelectronic conversion of poly(3‐hexylthiophene): Methanofullerene bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells
Authors: Zhao Yun , Guo Xiaoyang , Xie Zhiyuan , Qu Yao , Geng Yanhou , Wang Lixiang 
Published: October 2008

AbstractNanoscale‐phase separation of electron donor/acceptor blends is crucial for efficient charge generation and collection in polymer bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells. We investigated solvent vapor annealing effect of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/methanofullerene (PCBM) blend on its morphology and optoelectronic properties. The organic solvents of choice for the treatment have a major effect on the morphology of P3HT/PCBM blend and the device performance. Ultraviolet‐visible absorption spectroscopy shows that specific solvent vapor annealing can induce P3HT self‐assembling to form well‐ordered structure; and hence, the absorption in the red region and the hole transport are enhanced. The solvent that has a poor solubility to PCBM would cause large PCBM clusters and result in a rough blend film. By combining an appropriate solvent vapor treatment and post‐thermal annealing of the devices, the power conversion efficiency is enhanced. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009
A Feasibility Study on the Use of Li4V3O8 as a High Capacity Cathode Material for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Ng See‐How , Tran Nicolas , Bramnik Kirill G. , Hibst Hartmut , Novák Petr 
Published: October 2008

AbstractLi4V3O8 materials have been prepared by chemical lithiation by Li2S of spherical Li1.1V3O8 precursor materials obtained by a spray‐drying technique. The over‐lithiated vanadates were characterised physically by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and electrochemically using galvanostatic charge‐discharge and cyclic voltammetry measurements in both the half‐cell (vs. Li metal) and full‐cell (vs. graphite) systems. The Li4V3O8 materials are stable in air for up to 5 h, with almost no capacity drop for the samples stored under air. However, prolonged exposure to air will severely change the composition of the Li4V3O8 materials, resulting in both Li1.1V3O8 and Li2CO3. The electrochemical performance of these over‐lithiated vanadates was found to be very sensitive to the conductive additive (carbon black) content in the cathode. When sufficient carbon black is added, the Li4V3O8 cathode exhibits good cycling behaviour and excellent rate capabilities, matching those of the Li1.1V3O8 precursor material, that is, retaining an average charge capacity of 205 mAh g−1 at 2800 mA g−1 (8C rate; 1C rate means full charge or discharge of a battery in one hour), when cycled in the potential range of 2.0–4.0 V versus Li metal. When applied in a non‐optimised full cell system (vs. graphite), the Li4V3O8 cathode showed promising cycling behaviour, retaining a charge capacity (Li+ extraction) above 130 mAh g−1 beyond 50 cycles, when cycled in the voltage range of 1.6–4.0 V, at a specific current of 117 mA g−1 (C/3 rate).
In vivo conversion of BM plasmacytoid DC into CD11b+ conventional DC during virus infection
Authors: Liou Li‐Ying , Blasius Amanda L. , Welch Megan J. , Colonna Marco , Oldstone Michael B. A. , Zuniga Elina I. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractDC are a highly heterogeneous population that plays a critical role in host defense. We previously demonstrated that virus infection induces BM plasmacytoid DC (pDC) differentiation into CD11b+ conventional DC (cDC) upon in vitro culture with Fms‐like tyrosine kinase 3 ligand (Flt3L). Here we use immunoglobulin D‐J rearrangements and pDC adoptive transfer to provide definitive proof supporting BM pDC conversion into CD11b+ cDC during in vivo viral infection. We show that in vivo BM pDC conversion into CD11b+ cDC relates to enhanced ability to prime virus‐specific T cells. Furthermore, we demonstrate that in vivo pDC conversion does not rely on viral infection of BM pDC, but instead is mediated by type I IFN signaling. Finally, by exploiting recently identified pDC‐specific Ab, we provide further characterizations of the BM pDC fraction that exhibits this broader developmental plasticity. Collectively, these data indicate that BM pDC actively contribute to the CD11b+ cDC pool during in vivo viral infection and delineates molecular, functional, and phenotypic features of this novel developmental pathway.
NK cells and Treg cells: A fascinating dance cheek to cheek
Authors: Zimmer Jacques , Andrès Emmanuel , Hentges François 
Published: October 2008

AbstractNK cells and Treg cells are both a major focus of current immunological interest. It is therefore not surprising that their interactions have been and continue to be investigated. New and challenging studies have been published in the past couple of years that confirm and extend previous knowledge in this area. In this Viewpoint, we will briefly review and comment on the recent literature
regarding NK/Treg interactions.
Non‐cytotoxic protection by human NK cells in mucosal secondary lymphoid tissues
Authors: Münz Christian 
Published: October 2008

AbstractEven though NK cells have been named for their spontaneous cytotoxicity, a large subpopulation of human NK cells primarily responds to activation with cytokine secretion and not killing. These CD56brightCD16− NK cells are abundant in secondary lymphoid tissues, can restrict pathogens that have breached mucosal barriers, and assist Th1 polarization during immune response priming. This exciting new aspect of NK‐cell biology is discussed in this viewpoint.
Killers and beyond: NK‐cell‐mediated control of immune responses
Authors: Andoniou Christopher E. , Coudert Jérôme D. , Degli‐Esposti Mariapia A. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractEffective immunity requires coordinated activation of innate and adaptive immune responses. NK cells are principal mediators of innate immunity, able to respond to challenge quickly and generally without prior activation. The most acknowledged functions of NK cells are their cytotoxic potential and their ability to release large amounts of cytokines, especially IFN‐γ. Recently, it has become clear that NK cells are more than assassins. Indeed, NK cells play critical roles in shaping adaptive immunity.
Cobalt and Copper Coordination Polymers Containing Acetylacetonato‐Derived Ligands and Bidentate Pyridine Coligands: Synthesis, Crystal Structures and Magnetic Properties
Authors: Atienza Javier , Gutiérrez Angel , Felisa Perpiñán M. , Sánchez Ana E. 
Published: October 2008

AbstractOne‐dimensional chain derivatives of the general formula [M(acac)2(μ‐bipyridine)] were obtained from (acetylacetonato)cobalt(II) or (trifluoromethylacetylacetonato)copper(II) derivatives and bipyridine‐like bridging ligands: 1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethane, 4,4′‐bpa (1, Co; 2, Cu), trans‐1,2‐bis(4‐pyridyl)ethylene, 4,4′‐bpe (3, Co; 4, Cu), 1,2‐bis(2‐pyridyl)ethylene, 2,2′‐bpe (5, Co) or pyrazine (7, Cu). The reaction of the copper parent derivative with 2,2′‐bpe gives rise, however, to a dimeric species [{Cu(tfacac)2}2(μ‐2,2′‐bpe)] (6). Derivatives 4–7 were characterized by X‐ray crystallography, which showed linear (4, 7) or zigzag chains (5), depending on the bipyridine ligand shape. In the chain complexes, the metal centre is six‐coordinate; the oxygen donor atoms of the acetylacetonato ligands occupy the equatorial positions and the bridging bipyridine ligands are in trans axial positions. Compound 6 forms a dimer with the two copper atoms in a square pyramidal environment, in which the nitrogen atoms of the bridging 2,2′‐bpe ligand occupy the apical position in each pyramid. Magnetic susceptibility studies of the cobalt compounds are dominated by the spin–orbit coupling characteristic of this metal ion. At low temperatures and in the copper derivatives, weak antiferromagnetic interactions along the chain were observed.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Recent Advances in the Design and Coordination Chemistry of Heteroscorpionate Ligands Bearing Stereogenic Centres
Authors: Otero Antonio , Fernández‐Baeza Juan , Lara‐Sánchez Agustín , Tejeda Juan , Sánchez‐Barba Luis Fernando 
Published: October 2008

AbstractThis review concerns the recent studies carried out by our research group and others aimed at the design of heteroscorpionate ligands based on bis(pyrazol‐1‐yl)methane‐containing stereogenic centres. The capability of these systems to stabilize chiral complexes from early to late transition metals, through their behaviour as multidentate hybrid ligands, is also described.(© Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2008)