bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Striving for Performance Excellence: Ten Years’ Experience &amp; Impact of Accreditation on Quality, Safety, and Overall Performance in King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC) – A Mixed-Methods Study
Authors: Baksh Maram M. , Amer Yasser S. , Titi Maher , Jamal Diana , Al-Muammar Abdulrahman , El-Jardali Fadi 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
BackgroundThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has undergone a healthcare system transformation to improve healthcare delivery and quality and central to this is the accreditation for healthcare facilities. Hospitals in KSA have relied on international accreditation bodies and are now shifting to national accreditation boards. The objective of this paper is to assess long-term effects of national and international accreditation through measuring staff perception after ten years of participation in multiple accreditation surveys.MethodsThis mixed-methods study was conducted at the King Saud University Medical City. The quantitative tool was adapted from previous studies and was made available in both English and Arabic. Respondents were asked to evaluate their involvement in accreditation and hospital readiness for another accreditation survey using 11 subscales. ANOVA was used to evaluate differences in mean scores based on level of participation in accreditation surveys. A qualitative interview tool was also used to elicit input from key stakeholders, senior leaders, and managers from the university hospitals. ResultsA total of 630 respondents completed the survey. The subscale on Patient Safety scored highest with an average and those measuring Accreditation Impact, Quality Impact and Quality Management closely followed. ANOVA results showed a significantly increasing mean score with increasing involvement of respondents in accreditation with highest scores observed for the first accreditation survey. Linear regression results showed increases in selected outcomes when with increasing subscale scores for patient satisfaction, management and leadership and others. Findings from the qualitative component showed that accreditation supported improved and sustained quality of care. Despite some differences and challenges in implementing both international and national accreditation standards, there were areas of complementarity which supported quality improvement. Respondents also noted improvements in patient outcomes as a result of participation in accreditation.ConclusionThis study is the first to examine the long-term impact of accreditation over an extended period in KSA. The long-term assessment of accreditation conducted in this study revealed that staff perception about performance was highest during the first cycle and consistently decreased with consequent surveys. The slight and incremental decrease in scale scores reveal that the benefits of accreditation were retained.
Skeletal Muscle Atrophy is Exacerbated By Steatotic and Fibrotic Liver-Derived TNF-Alpha in Senescence-Accelerated Mice
Authors: Shirakami Yohei , Kato Junichi , Maeda Toshihide , Ideta Takayasu , Sakai Hiroyasu , Shimizu Masahito 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Although liver diseases, including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), are associated with skeletal muscle atrophy, the mechanism behind their association has not been fully elucidated. In this study, the effects of aging and NASH on the skeletal muscle and the interaction between the liver and muscle were investigated using a diet-induced NASH model in senescence-accelerated mice (SAM). A total of four groups of SAM and its control mice were fed either an NASH-inducing or control diet. In the SAM/NASH group, the histopathology of NASH and markers of oxidative stress were significant. Skeletal muscles were also markedly atrophied. The expression of the ubiquitin ligase Murf1 in the muscle was significantly increased with muscle atrophy, while that of Tnfa was not significantly different. In contrast, the hepatic Tnfa expression and serum TNF-α levels were significantly increased in the SAM/NASH group. These results suggest that liver-derived TNF-α might promote muscle atrophy associated with steatohepatitis and aging through Murf-1. The metabolomic analysis of skeletal muscle indicated higher spermidine and lower tryptophan levels in the NASH-diet group. The findings of this study revealed an aspect of liver-muscle interaction, which might be important in developing treatments for sarcopenia associated with liver diseases.
Foot-and-mouth disease virus 3A hijacks Sar1 and Sec12 for ER remodeling in a COPII-independent manner
Authors: Lee Heng-Wei , Jiang Yi-Fan , Chang Hui-Wen , Cheng Ivan-Chen 
Published: January 2022

Abstract

Positive-stranded RNA viruses modify host organelles to form replication organelles (ROs) for their replication. Enteroviral 3A protein has been demonstrated to be highly associated with the COPI pathway, in which factors work on the ER-to-Golgi intermediate and the Golgi. However, Sar1, a COPII factor exerting coordinated action at endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites, rather than COPI factors, is required for foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) replication. Therefore, we thought that deep understanding of FMDV 3A was the key to explaining the differences and to unlocking the secret of FMDV RO formation. In this study, FMDV 3A was confirmed as a peripheral membrane protein capable of modifying the ER into vesicle-like structures, which were neither COPII vesicles nor autophagosomes. When the C-terminus of 3A was truncated, it would be located at the ER without vesicular modification. This change was revealed by mGFP and APEX2 fusion constructs observed by fluorescence microscopy and electron tomography, respectively. Referring to other 3A truncation, the minimal region for modification was aa 42–92. Furthermore, we found that the remodeling was related to two COPII factors, Sar1 and Sec12. Both interacted with 3A, but their binding domains on 3A were different. Finally, we hypothesized that the N-terminus of 3A would interact with Sar1 as its C-terminus simultaneously interacted with Sec12, which possibly would enhance Sar1 activation. On the ER membrane, two active Sar1 were connected by 3A with regions of aa 42–59 and aa 76–92, causing curvature of the membrane. This mechanism is distinct from the traditional COPII pathway and should be crucial for FMDV RO formation.
Hydro-Geophysical Study for Well Design in Lower Reaches of Kasai River Basin, Eastern India
Authors: Sinha Ranjan , Shrivastava Shalivahan 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Saltwater intrusion and up coning in coastal aquifer is a common phenomenon brought either due to flow of seawater into freshwater aquifer originally caused by groundwater abstraction near the coast or due to wrong casing design of water wells. This necessitates a study of aquifer disposition along with demarcation of fresh water saline water interface of Kasai River basin, Eastern India to determine the depth to freshwater and recommend the borehole design. In this study geophysical and hydrogeological techniques were employed to map to demarcate fresh and saline water interface. The phenomenon of saline water up coning is also noticed and accordingly water wells have been designed. For the said study, twenty two geophysical logs, sixty five lithological logs and hydrogeological data of eighty eight sites spread across Kasai River basin were utilized. The study shows that there are three regional aquifers exist in the area. It is recommended that water wells in the study area is to be constructed with artificial gravel packing of size 2-3mm and screen slot size is suggested to be 1.2mm. Since the sites are affected with saline water, hence isolation of zone is mandatory with proper cementing material or packer. This research work is able to develop a design model for the boreholes located in the area. The work as a whole will serve as a vital role in scientific management of groundwater resource and enable the rational planning in coastal aquifers so as to avoid fresh and saline water intermixing and up-coning.
Midface Resection And Reconstruction In Head And Neck Oncology: A 20 Years Single Institution Experience
Authors: Vakis G. , Kotrotsiou M. , Neamonitou F. , Papala D. , Stavrianos S. 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background: Midface tumors are relatively uncommon as midface comprises less than 1% of all malignant tumors and incorporate a distinct group of lesions, with a high variety of histological types and biological behavior. The purpose of the study is to present our experience in managing patients with advanced midface tumors for a 20-year period.Materials & Methods: From January 2000 to May 2020, we performed 72 excisions and reconstructions in 36 patients where their medical records were reviewed by the head and neck oncology clinic. The commonest anatomical site of the primary was the maxilla in 19 patients and bilaterally in 5 patients. In 15 patients there was an orbital and anterior fossa extension. In 6 patients there was a parotid and middle ear extension and in 1 patient there was a lip involvement.Results: Surgical resection included maxillectomy in the majority of the cases in combination with orbital exenteration or orbitectomy and anterior fossa resection. In 8 cases parotidectomy and mastoidectomy/ core petrosectomy was performed. One patient was subjected to total petrosectomy. Reconstruction was performed with radial forearm osteocutaneous free flap in 4 cases, latissimus with scapular bone flap in one case, lengthening temporalis myoplasty in 19 cases, rectus femoris in one case and anterolateral thigh flap in 5 cases in combination with temporalis and vastus lateralis in one case respectively and bilateral karapandzic flap in 1 case. The patients were followed-up from 2005 to 2020. To date, 23 patients (63.8%) are disease free with no recurrences of the disease and 4.4% of all patients presented disease recurrence during the follow-up period.Conclusions: In conclusion midface resections are safely performed with a combination of microvascular and dynamic reconstruction of the face offering our patients quality of life improvement.Level of Evidence: Level V, therapeutic study
Factors Driving the Spatiotemporal Variation of Dissolved Organic Carbon Flux from Croplands in the Midwestern USA
Authors: Tian Yong Qian , Yu Qian , Carrick Hunter , Becker Brian , Confesor Remegio , Francek Mark , Anderson Olivia 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Improving understanding of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) cycling from farmlands to rivers is a challenge due to the complex influence of farming practices, the hydrology of predominantly flat lowlands, and seasonal snowpack effects. Monthly field DOC concentrations were measured throughout the year at sub-basin scale across the Chippewa River Watershed, which falls within the Corn Belt of the Midwestern United States. The observations from croplands were benchmarked against the data sampled from hilly forested areas in the Connecticut River Watershed. The Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) was used to simulate daily soil water properties. This method tests for a framework for using the combination of new field data, hydrological modelling, and knowledge-based reclassification of Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) to analyze the predictors of both the spatial and temporal changes of DOC over farmlands. Our results show: 1) DOC concentrations from cropland baseflow were substantially high throughout the year, especially for spring runoff/snowmelt scenarios, 2) gradient analysis with spatial factors only was able to explain ~82% of observed annual mean DOC concentrations, and 3) with both spatial and temporal factors: [Evapotranspiration, Soil Water, and Ground Water], the analysis explained ~81% of seasonal and ~54% of daily variations in observed DOC concentrations.
Daminozide Enhances Vigor and Steviol Glycoside Yield of Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bert.) Propagated in the Temporary Immersion Bioreactor
Authors: Saptari Rizka Tamania , Esyanti Rizkita Rachmi , Putranto Riza Arief 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) contains sweet compound widely used as natural sweetener, steviol glycoside (SG). SG is a diterpenoid secondary metabolite synthesized from ent-kaurenoic acid, the same precursor of Gibberellin (GA). Therefore, in this study, a GA inhibitor, Daminozide (0, 10, 20 ppm) was used to block ent-kaurenoic acid conversion towards GA synthesis in attempt to increase SG content of stevia propagated in Temporary Immersion Bioreactor (TIB). Daminozide in 10 mg/L was observed to be the optimum concentration which increased biomass weight and SG content (stevioside and rebaudioside A) up to 40%. The treatment also increased transcripts accumulation of genes enrolled in SG biosynthesis, such as SrKA13H, SrUGT85C2, and SrUGT76G1, indicating SG pathway become more active due to the inhibition of GA pathway. Furthermore, the inhibition of GA was also indicated by the upregulated expression of GA biosynthesis gene (GA3ox) as the result of feedback regulation, and the downregulated expression of GA catabolism gene (GA2ox2) as the result of feed-forward regulation caused by inhibitor treatment.
Complete Response To Tislelizumab In A Muscle-Invasive Urothelial Carcinoma After Surgery Associated With Tumor Mutational Burden High: A Case Report
Authors: Jin Jing , Yang Qidong , Yu Yangyang , Chen Lin , Pan Shouhua 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Muscle-invasive urothelial carcinoma (MIUC) is a highly aggressive urothelial carcinoma. Radical cystectomy (RC) is standard of treatment, but still more than 50% patients with cancer invading the muscularis propria or involving the regional lymph nodes will have metastatic recurrence. In CheckMate274 study, programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor nivolumab as adjuvant treatment has shown effective for patients with MIUC. Tislelizumab is an anti-human PD-1 monoclonal IgG4 antibody which was specifically engineered to minimize FcɣR macrophage binding to abrogate antibody-dependent phagocytosis. But there is no report of tislelizumab as adjuvant treatment in MIUC currently. Here, we report a case of MIUC in a patient with PD-L1-negative, microsatellite stable (MSS), high tumor mutational burden (TMB-H) obtained complete response (CR) receiving tislelizumab therapy after surgery. Progression-free survival (PFS) exceeded 6 months since tislelizumab treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of MIUC patient with PD-L1-negative, MSS and TMB-H who responded well to tislelizumab as adjuvant treatment. However, we still need more studies to assess the efficacy of tislelizumab as adjuvant treatment in MIUC and to confirm that TMB is a predicted biomarker of tislelizumab for efficacy.
Structural Seismic Damage Assessment Method Based on Structural Dynamic Characteristics
Authors: Wang Mingzhen , Gao Lin , Yang Zailin 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
The seismic damage state of building structure can be evaluated by observing the fundamental period change of structure. Firstly, the fundamental period calculation formula that adapts to the deformation pattern and distribution mode of horizontal seismic action for reinforced concrete frame structure is derived. Secondly, the seismic damage assessment standard of building structure considering period variation is established. Then, the seismic damage assessment method of building structure is constructed. Finally, the seismic damage example is used to verify the established evaluation method. The results show that the established research method has high accuracy and good engineering practicability.
Sulfonated poly(arylene ether nitrile)-based composite membranes enhanced with Ca2+ bridged carbon nanotube-graphene oxide networks
Authors: Feng Mengna , Ma Yan , Chang JiaJia , Lin Jing , Xu Ying , Feng Yan , Huang Yumin , Hua Luoju 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
As the core component of proton exchange membrane fuel cell, proton exchange membranes (PEM) have attracted much attention of researchers. To trade-off the proton conduction, dimensional stability and anti-oxidation ability, graphene oxide (GO) and acidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) using calcium ion as coordination bridge (GO-Ca2+-MWCNT) was synthesized, and then incorporating into sulfonated poly(arylene ether nitrile) (SPEN) to fabricate SPEN/GO-Ca2+-MWCNT organic-inorganic composite membranes by solution-casting method and explore the influence of varying loading on performances as PEM. It was found that the proton conductivity of the composite membranes was higher than that of SPEN, while maintaining better dimensional stability, excellent anti-oxidation ability and good mechanical properties. All of these were attributed to the formation of three-dimensional structure between GO and MWCNT bridged by Ca2+. Particularly, the SPEN/GO-Ca2+-MWCNT-1 composite membrane exhibited excellent tensile strength of 71.45 MPa, better thermal stability as well as high proton conductivity (0.054 S/cm at 30 ℃, and 0.193 S/cm at 90 ℃), above 10-2 S/cm, satisfying the requirement of fuel cells. All in all, the results indicate that the filler with three-dimensional network structure can effectively improve the performances of SPEN, and the prepared composite membranes show potential applications in many fields.
Seismic Collapse Probability and Life Cycle Cost Assessment of Isolated Structures Subjected to Pounding With Smart Hybrid Isolation System Using a Modified Fuzzy Based Controller
Authors: Rayegani Arash , Nouri Gholamreza 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
The possibility of pounding on isolated structures with surrounding moat walls is one of the concerns in the design of isolation systems, especially in pulse-type near-field earthquakes. This paper puts forward the seismic probability assessment of structures equipped with passive and smart hybrid isolation systems by considering pounding possibilities. This investigation is performed on isolated structures equipped with a high damper rubber bearing (HDRB) considering stiff moat walls around the structure. In the Hybrid isolation system, magnetorheological dampers (MR) are considered an adaptive dissipation energy device along with isolators using an optimized novel interval Type-2 fuzzy logic controller with adaptive red-zone function (IT2FS+RZF) to reduce pounding possibilities. The fragility curves of the building for various cases are determined using IDA analysis, and possible damage costs are evaluated by using exceedance probability in each damage level. This study concludes that the collapse probability of the isolated structures with restrains at the code-based distance is over the acceptable limit of ASCE 7-22. The smart additional damping system with the proposed controller reduces the possible damage cost of the building by about 64% compared to the uncontrolled system and puts the collapse probability of the structure in the acceptable range.
Synthesis Factors Dependence of Magnetic Properties of CoFe2O4 and CoFe2-xGdxO4 Semicrystalline Nanoparticles with desired Morphology through Hydrothermal Procedure
Authors: Hosseinzadeh Hamid , Oveisi Hamidreza 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
In the present study, CoFe2O4 and CoFe2-xGdxO4 nanoparticles were synthesized by the hydrothermal process. The CoFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized at different temperatures (70oC, 100oC, 150oC, and 200oC), molar ratio of CoCl2/ FeCl3 (0/2, 0.75/2, 1/2, 1.5/2, and 2/2). Gadolinium-doped cobalt ferrite (CoFe2-xGdxO4) nanoparticles have also been synthesized with Gd/Fe molar ratios of 0.18 and 0.53. The XRD patterns indicate that cobalt ferrite and Gadolinium-doped cobalt ferrite nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized without impurities with a medium degree of crystallinity. The XRD patterns show that by increasing the synthesis temperature from 70oC to 200oC, the size of the nanoparticles decreased from 50.49nm to 32.45nm while the morphology of the nanoparticles also changed from a shapeless and agglomerated state to a spherical shape. The XPS curve illustrated several peaks corresponding to Fe+3, Co+2, and O 1s. The binding energies for Co and Fe were consistent with Fe 2p and Co 2p binding energies for cobalt ferrite nanoparticles. The magnetic saturation value (Ms) increased from 17.253 emu/g to 54.438 emu/g with a rise in the synthesis temperature. The effects of FeCl3/CoCl2 molar ratio on the magnetic properties showed the highest value of Ms (54.438 emu/g) and the coercivity (HC) of 744.56 Oe for a 2/1 molar ratio. The addition of gadolinium to the composition resulted in a reducing of the magnetic properties of nanoparticles; accordingly, the amount of saturated magnetization was reduced to 22.469 emu/g. Another effect of gadolinium dopant in the composition was a change in nanoparticle morphology from spherical to rod shape. The final aim of this study was to investigate the possible utilization of CoFe2O4 and CoFe2-xGdxO4 nanoparticles in medical treatment in the near future.
Fragility Analysis of Structural Pounding Between Adjacent Structures Arranged in Series With Various Alignment Configurations Under Near-field Earthquakes
Authors: Ebrahimiyan Fahimeh , Hadianfard Mohammad Ali , Naderpour Hosein , Jankowski Robert 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
A major cause of local to total damages is related to structural pounding in a large number of past earthquakes. In general, these collisions take place as a result of differences in the dynamic characteristics of the colliding structures. To acquire a better perception of the behavior of structures, in this paper, three structures featuring different heights are modeled in series and with various configurations next to each other in OpenSees. To determine the collision effects of the structures, three different configurations of 4-, 8- and 12-story adjacent reinforced concrete special moment resisting frames were considered. Then, by conducting an incremental dynamic analysis, their structural seismic limit state capacities were assessed via 20 near-field record subsets recommended by FEMA-P695. At last, for the above adjacent buildings with various separation distances and configurations, the fragility curves were determined, and the probability of exceedance from the primary Hazus-MH failure criteria was estimated. In addition, the results were compared with those obtained when this phenomenon did not take place for buildings to have a better perception of the pounding phenomenon. The results of the analyses show that arranging adjacent structures in series greatly affects the collapse capacities of the colliding structures. In addition, in the case when the shorter structure is placed in the middle of two taller structures, it results in the most critical situation among all configurations, and in this case, a higher reduction is observed in the structural performance levels.
Characteristics of ZnO and Al Doped ZnO Thin Films Prepared by Sol Gel Method for Solar Cell Applications
Authors: Bouacheria M.A. , Djelloul A. , Adnane M. 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Pure and Al-doped ZnO (AZO) thin films with different aluminium (Al) concentrations (Al: 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 wt.%) were prepared on p-type Si(100) substrate by a dip-coating technique using different zinc and aluminum precursors. The structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of these films were investigated using a number of techniques, including the X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Atomic force electron microscopy (AFM), ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry, photoluminescence(PL) spectroscopy and four-point probe technique. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results shown that the obtained (AZO) films were polycrystalline with a highly c-axis preferred (002) orientation, and the average crystallites size decrease from 28.32 to 24.61 nm with the increase in Al dopant concentration. The studies demonstrated that the ZnO film had a good transparency in the visible range with the maximum transmittance of 95% and the band gaps (Eg) varied from 3.16 to 3.26 eV by alumium doping. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images showed that the surface morphology of the films changed with increase of Al-doping. The photoluminescence spectra also showed changed with Al-doping.