bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Experimentation and optimization of wear behavior on polytetrafluoroethylene composites using response surface methodology and bald eagle search optimization
Authors: Gajjal Priya S , Lathkar Geeta S 
Published: September 2022

AbstractIn Industries, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is used as a solid lubricant due to its excellent toughness, lack of reactivity, high‐thermal stability, and so forth. However, the abrasive resistive behavior is minimal for the virgin PTFE polymer. In this study, the wear and coefficient of friction (COF) of PTFE composite prepared by the combination of 10% halloysite, 10% graphite, and 10% bronze are investigated. The investigations are performed on a pin‐on‐disc test rig and analysis is done by response surface methodology (RSM), especially in Box‐Behnken Design (BBD). The experimentation is performed by varying the sliding distance (Ds), sliding velocity (Vs), and applied load (L). In the analysis of COF, the load is considered as a significant parameter, and sliding distance is an influencing parameter for wear rate. From the experimentation, the proposed PTFE composite promotes COF of 0.0052 and a wear rate of 0.62 × 10−5 mm3/Nm. Such observed wear rate and COF are 2.8 times and 1.5 times better than the pure PTFE. The experimented outcomes are validated using hybrid DBN‐based bald eagle search optimization (DBN‐BESO), and RSM. From the validated results, the proposed hybrid DBN‐BESO prediction process using the Matlab platform promotes closer values to the experimented outcomes. Besides, the parametric optimization is conducted using RSM and BESO approaches with the objective of minimum wear rate and COF. The optimized BESO results are superior to the RSM. BESO‐based optimized wear rate is 0.0317 × 10−5 mm3/Nm and COF is 0.0352.
Financial toxicity and mental well‐being of the oral cancer survivors residing in a developing country in the era of COVID 19 pandemic – A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Thaduri Abhinav , Garg Pankaj K. , Malhotra Manu , Singh Mahendra Pal , Poonia Dharma Ram , Priya Madhu , Tyagi Amit , Kumar Amit , Bhardwaj Abhishek , Jat Bhinyaram , Panuganti Achyuth , Majumdar Kinjal , Usmani Shahab , Vikramjit singh  
Published: September 2022

AbstractObjectivesThe primary outcome measures evaluated the financial toxicity and mental well‐being of the oral cancer survivors.MethodsA cross‐sectional study of oral cancer survivors who were disease‐free for more than 6 months after treatment and visited the hospital for a routine follow‐up is included in the study. Mental well‐being and financial toxicity were evaluated using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale ‐ 21 (DASS 21) and Comprehensive Score for financial Toxicity (COST‐ Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy) questionnaires. A literature review was done to compare the results with financial toxicity and mental health in cancer patients from the pre‐pandemic era.ResultsA total of 79 oral cancer survivors were included in the study, predominantly males (M: F = 10:1). The age ranged from 26 to 75 years (The median age is 49). The full‐time employment dropped from 83.5% in the pre‐treatment period to 21.5% post‐treatment. Depression was observed in 58.2% and anxiety in 72.2%. Unemployed survivors were observed to have more depression (OR = 1.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.3–5.4, p = 0.6), anxiety (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 0.3–21.2, p = 0.1) and stress (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 0.3–6.6, p = 0.5) than rest of the cohort. On univariate analysis, unemployed survivors (M = 11.8 ± 3.8, p = 0.01) had significantly poorer financial toxicity scores. Survivors with depression (M = 16.4 ± 7.1, p = 0.06) and stress (M = 14.4 ± 6.8, p = 0.002) had poor financial toxicity scores. On multifactorial analysis of variance, current employment (p = 0.04) and treatment modality (p = 0.05) were significant factors impacting the financial toxicity.ConclusionThere is a trend towards increased incidence of depression, anxiety, and stress among oral cancer survivors compared to the literature from the pre‐COVID era. There is significant financial toxicity among either unemployed or part‐time workers. This calls for urgent public/government intervention to prevent the long‐term impact of financial toxicity on survival and quality of life.
Point‐of‐care ultrasound in pre‐bronchoscopy assessment of acute dyspnea: A case of concurrent massive pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis
Authors: Ahmad Mohammad Amirul Shahril bin , Nyanti Larry Ellee , Yeoh Jie Cong , A Hing Chan Tha , Chai Chan Sin , Tie Siew Teck 
Published: September 2022

AbstractPoint‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) leads to efficient real‐time diagnosis in a wide range of medical specialties. We describe the use of cardiac, lung and lower limb POCUS to rapidly diagnose massive pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis in a 64‐year‐old patient presenting with acute dyspnea prior to elective bronchoscopy. Left femoral vein thrombus and features of increased right heart pressure on POCUS led to the decision to administer fibrinolytic therapy, with subsequent CT pulmonary angiogram confirming bilateral PE. The use of POCUS allowed for rapid imaging and interpretation leading to a rapid diagnosis of PE, thus fast‐tracking lifesaving anticoagulation, especially in an outpatient setting.
Air embolism after transbronchial lung cryobiopsy: A case report
Authors: Kawataki Masanori , Nakanishi Yosuke , Niwa Takashi , Ishida Tadashi 
Published: September 2022

AbstractA 76‐year‐old woman underwent transbronchial lung cryobiopsy (TBLC) and transbronchial lung biopsy (TBLB) for examination of interstitial infiltrates. After the examination, the patient's consciousness became clouded, and head computed tomography showed an air embolus. She was started on 100% oxygen, and her consciousness improved, but she remained hemiplegic on the left side and dysphagic. Vascular air embolism (VAE) is a rare but serious complication. Although cases of VAE have been reported with conventional transbronchial forceps biopsy, cases of VAE after TBLC are quite rare, and thus this case is reported.
Preparation of a Bi2MoO6/Bi2Sn2O7 Composite Photocatalyst and Its Photocatalytic Performance and Toxicity Test
Authors: Zhang Shichuan , Li Xiulong , Huang Meiyi , Shan Mengde , Chen Jing , Hao Fengqi , Li Jingmei , Luan Jingfei , Zhang Wei , Liang Fangbin 
Published: September 2022

AbstractIn this study, a three‐dimensional(3D) hierarchical Bi2MoO6/Bi2Sn2O7 composite photocatalytic material was synthesized by a solvothermal method. It was proved that the photocatalytic activity of Bi2MoO6/Bi2Sn2O7 composites for the degradation of Rhodamine B(RhB) and Tetracycline (TC) was much higher than that of pure Bi2MoO6 and pure Bi2Sn2O7 under LED irradiation. Among them, Bi2MoO6/Bi2Sn2O7 had the best photocatalytic activity, and the photodegradation efficiency of RhB and TC reached 95.28 % and 87.45 %, respectively. After five cycles of degradation of RHB and TC solutions, the composite still maintained good photocatalytic activity. Through the free radical trapping experiment, it was concluded that O2− and h+ were the main active substances for the degradation of organic compounds by composite photocatalyst. Through the plant toxicity test, it was proved that the composite didn't affect the normal growth of the plant. Therefore, this study provides a new material for the treatment of organic wastewater in production and life, which has important environmental protection significance.
Daily association of stressors with perceived cognitive performance: Moderating role of age
Authors: Joshi Rhitik Samir , Vigoureux Taylor F. D. , Lee Soomi 
Published: September 2022

AbstractStress can elicit both positive and negative impacts on cognition. Less is known about whether and how daily stressors are associated with perceived cognitive performance in healthcare workers. We examined daily associations between stressors and perceived cognitive performance in nurses and whether these associations differed by age or nursing tenure. Using 14‐day smartphone‐based ecological momentary assessment, 60 inpatient nurses at a U.S. cancer hospital reported the frequency and severity of daily stressors (e.g., arguments, accidents). Each day, participants subjectively evaluated their mental focus, memory, and processing speed. Multilevel modelling examined the within‐ and between‐person associations of daily stressors with cognitive performance. More stressors were associated with poorer perceived cognitive performance at both within‐ and between‐person levels for both daily stressor frequency and severity. For moderation by age, the within‐person stressor severity—cognitive performance relationship was only significant for nurses who were younger, but not for those who were older. Similarly, the within‐person associations of daily stressor frequency and severity with cognitive performance were only significant for nurses with a shorter tenure. Findings suggest daily stressors may degrade perceived cognitive performance in nurses and the impact may be stronger for those who are younger or with less experience on the job.
Governors and electoral hazard in the allocation of federal disaster aid
Authors: Husted Thomas , Nickerson David 
Published: September 2022

AbstractU.S. public disaster aid provide elected officials opportunities to engage in “electoral hazard,” where an incumbent can influence the probability of re‐election by allocating aid to influence voters' expectations of their future welfare. This is the first test for electoral hazard in the allocation of federal aid to counties exposed to the risk of economic loss from disasters by incumbent state governors running for re‐election. Using a unique county‐level data set, we estimate the determinants of the equilibrium allocation strategy of an incumbent in the presence of electoral hazard. Controlling for loss and the demographic, economic and political characteristics of at‐risk counties, we find the average incumbent governor seeking re‐election actively engages in the manipulation of voter expectations by allocating greater shares and magnitudes of the largest federal disaster aid program to those at‐risk counties that awarded the incumbent governor a plurality of votes in the preceding election.
Techniques for analytical estimation of COVID‐19 clinical candidate, niclosamide in pharmaceutical and biomedical samples
Authors: Gupta Deepank S. , Bharate Sonali S. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractNiclosamide is a well‐known broad‐spectrum antiparasitic drug used for human as well as veterinary tapeworm infections. Recently, it attracted attention as an antiviral agent for treating coronavirus disease 2019. It is administered orally in humans to treat tapeworm infections. Furthermore, it is a registered pesticide and molluscicide to control infections in the aquaculture industry. Its chronic environmental exposure has potential toxicities when such contaminated seafood is consumed. Therefore, monitoring its residual concentration in food products (seafood, water, water waste, etc.) and pharmaceuticals (active pharmaceutical ingredients, bulk drugs, and formulations) is imperative. The present review critically investigates the sophisticated techniques employed for analyzing niclosamide, its degradation products, and metabolites in various samples and matrices. The future scope for green analytical methods, green sample extraction and preparation is also deliberated.
Recent Advances in Anode Electrocatalysts for Direct Formic Acid Fuel Cell‐II‐Platinum‐Based Catalysts
Authors: Hossain SK Safdar , Ahmad Alwi Muhammad Mudassir , Saleem Junaid , Al‐Odail Faisal , Basu Avijit , Mozahar Hossain Mohammad 
Published: September 2022

AbstractPlatinum‐based catalysts have a long history of application in formic acid oxidation (FAO). The single metal Pt is active in FAO but expensive, scarce, and rapidly deactivates. Understanding the mechanism of FAO over Pt important for the rational design of catalysts. Pt nanomaterials rapidly deactivate because of the CO poisoning of Pt active sites via the dehydration pathway. Alloying with another transition metal improves the performance of Pt‐based catalysts through bifunctional, ensemble, and steric effects. Supporting Pt catalysts on a high‐surface‐area support material is another technique to improve their overall catalytic activity. This review summarizes recent findings on the mechanism of FAO over Pt and Pt‐based alloy catalysts. It also summarizes and analyzes binary and ternary Pt‐based catalysts to understand their catalytic activity and structure relationship.
Anisotropic assembly and fluorescence enhancement of conjugated polymer nanostructures
Authors: Men Xiaoju , Fang Xiaofeng , Liu Zhihe , Zhang Zhe , Wu Changfeng , Chen Haobin 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe electronic properties of conjugated polymers depend sensitively on their conformation and morphology. However, control over the morphology of conjugated polymers is highly challenging. Here, we demonstrate a facile approach for assembling conjugated polymers into anisotropic nanostructures. In a water–tetrahydrofuran (H2O–THF) binary solvent, we prepared ellipsoidal nanoparticles, which can subsequently self‐assemble into triangle‐ring and rod‐like nanostructures in a stepwise manner. The transitions among these morphologies can be rationally regulated by tuning the volume ratio of H2O to THF and the polymer concentration. The nanostructures show shape‐dependent absorption from 383 to 403 nm and significant fluorescence enhancement with a quantum yield up to 70%. The oxetane groups in the polymer side chains and the presence of surfactant in the solvent are decisive for the anisotropic assembly. We further demonstrate multicolor fluorescent nanowires with good structural integrity over doping of dye molecules or other fluorescent polymers. Single nanowires were characterized by high‐order super‐resolution optical fluctuation imaging, which revealed spatial distribution of the photooxidation sites along single nanowire for easily generating hole polarons.
Spinal epidural empyema in a dog as a suspected consequence of a post‐neutering infection
Authors: Deards Emma , Korzybska Ewelina , Platt Simon , Tauro Anna 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAn 8‐month‐old, male German shepherd dog presented for acute collapse following orchiectomy. Pyrexia, scrotal inflammation and purulent discharge from the surgical incision were found and medical therapy including antimicrobials was initiated for suspected septic shock. The dog was referred 2 days later paraplegic with absent nociception. Blood work revealed neutrophilia. Magnetic resonance imaging supported a presumptive diagnosis of C7–T2 spinal epidural empyema, while computed tomography imaging showed signs associated with scrotal inflammation with multifocal lymphadenopathies and splenic lymphoid hyperplasia. Histopathology of the epidural material obtained through decompressive surgery revealed a neutrophilic to pyogranulomatous inflammation. Blood, urine and epidural material cultures were negative. The dog failed to improve and was euthanased. This study suggests that spinal epidural empyema could result from routine procedures. Prompt recognition of specific constellation of clinical signs (i.e., pyrexia and spinal pain) and biochemical abnormalities (i.e., neutrophilia) as a neurological emergency and appropriate intervention may alter prognosis.
Optimizing captive short‐beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) fecal sample identification and hormonal analysis
Authors: Dutton‐Regester Kate J. , Roser Alice , Meer Haley , Renfree Marilyn B. , Johnston Stephen D. , Keeley Tamara 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe objectives of this study were to develop a fecal marking protocol to distinguish male from female samples during the echidna breeding season and to determine if normalizing fecal progesterone metabolite data for inorganic content improves the detection of biologically relevant changes in metabolite concentrations. Over a period of 6 weeks, four echidnas were provided with green food coloring powder mixed into 20 g of their regular feed with the dose adjusted weekly by 0.05 g. The proportion of organic (feces) versus inorganic matter (sand) in the fecal samples of three echidnas was determined by combustion of organic matter. Hormonal data was then expressed as metabolite concentration per total dry mass (with sand) of extracted sample versus metabolite concentration per total mass of organic material (without sand). The optimal dose of food coloring powder was 0.30 g: this was excreted in the feces of all echidnas within 24 h of consumption with color present for two consecutive days. Correction for inorganic content (sand) did not significantly affect variability of fecal progesterone metabolite levels (mean CV ± SE with sand: 142.3 ± 13.3%; without sand: 127.0 ± 14.4%; W = 6, p = .2500), or the magnitude of change from basal to elevated fecal progesterone metabolite concentrations (mean ± SE with sand: 8.4 ± 1.7; without sand: 6.6 ± 0.5, W = 10, p = .1250). Furthermore, progesterone metabolite concentrations before and after correction for sand contamination correlated strongly (r = .92, p = < .001). These methods will facilitate future reproductive endocrinology studies of echidna and other myrmecophagous species.
Evaluating countries’ performances by means of rank trajectories: functional measures of magnitude and evolution
Authors: Fortuna Francesca , Naccarato Alessia , Terzi Silvia 
Published: September 2022

AbstractCountries’ performance can be compared by means of indicators, which in turn give rise to rankings at a given time. However, the ranking does not show whether a country is improving, worsening or is stable in its performance. Meanwhile, the evolutionary behaviour of a country’s performance is of fundamental importance to assess the effect of the adopted policies in both absolute and comparative terms. Nevertheless, establishing a general ranking among countries over time is an open problem in the literature. Consequently, this paper aims to analyze ranks’ dynamic by means of the functional data analysis approach. Specifically, countries’ performances are evaluated by taking into account both their ranking position and their evolutionary behaviour, and by considering two functional measures: the modified hypograph index and the weighted integrated first derivative. The latter are scalar measures that are able to reflect trajectories behaviours over time. Furthermore, a novel visualisation technique based on the suggested measures is proposed to identify groups of countries according to their performance. The effectiveness of the proposed method is shown through a simulation study. The procedure is also applied on a real dataset that is drawn from the Government Effectiveness index of 27 European countries.
Björk–Sjölin condition for strongly singular convolution operators on graded Lie groups
Authors: Cardona Duván , Ruzhansky Michael 
Published: September 2022

AbstractIn this work we extend the $$L^1$$

L
1

-Björk-Sjölin theory of strongly singular convolution operators to arbitrary graded Lie groups. Our criteria are presented in terms of the oscillating Hörmander condition due to Björk and Sjölin of the kernel of the operator, and the decay of its group Fourier transform is measured in terms of the infinitesimal representation of an arbitrary Rockland operator. The historical result by Björk and Sjölin is re-obtained in the case of the Euclidean space.
Hand posture, but not vision of the hand, affects tactile spatial resolution in the grating orientation discrimination task
Authors: French B. , Chiaro N. V. Di , Holmes N. P. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe grating orientation discrimination task (GOT) is a sensitive and reliable measure of tactile spatial resolution, or acuity. We used the GOT in three experiments to investigate the effects of hand posture and hand visibility on spatial acuity. Participant sex and experimental design were also manipulated. Healthy adult participants received brief touches to their index fingertips of grated, domed objects. Their task was to decide whether the gratings ran 'along' or 'across' their finger. Measures of the smallest grating width for which participants could reliably discriminate between orientations were recorded as threshold. Experiment 1 evaluated the effect of two- versus one-interval discrimination, hand used and participant sex. Experiments 2 and 3 evaluated the effects of hand visibility (visible or covered) and hand posture (in front or to the side). Females were better than males; the two-interval task resulted in lower thresholds than the one-interval task; and left and right hand thresholds were not significantly different. Most importantly, while hand visibility did not have a significant effect on the task, thresholds were affected by hand posture—worse when the hand was oriented to the side of the body than in front. These results replicate previously reported effects of sex (or finger size), but failed to replicate the so-called ‘visual enhancement of touch’ (VET) effect. We also report a meta-analysis of 27 VET studies, finding a significant effect of ‘non-informative’ vision on tactile perception. Our novel finding is that hand posture affects tactile acuity.
Evaluating the Impact of Preoperative Geriatric‐Specific Variables and Modified Frailty Index on Postoperative Outcomes After Elective Pancreatic Surgery
Authors: Cramer Christopher L. , Kane William J. , Lattimore Courtney M. , Turrentine Florence E. , Zaydfudim Victor M. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackgroundPursuing pancreatic resection in elderly patients is often complex and limited by concern for functional status and postoperative risk. This study examines the associations between two different preoperative functional status metrics with postoperative outcomes in the geriatric population.MethodsPatients who participated in the ACS NSQIP Geriatric Surgery Research File pilot program (2014–2018) undergoing elective pancreatic operations were included. Two clinically meaningful functional status scores were calculated: the presence of one or more geriatric‐specific variable (GSV) and a 5‐factor modified frailty index (mFI‐5). Multivariable logistic regression adjusting for ACS NSQIP‐estimated risk was performed to evaluate associations between preoperative GSV, mFI‐5 and 30‐day outcome measures.ResultsA total of 1266 patients were included: 808 (64%) age 65–74, 302 (24%) age 75–80, and 156 (12%) age ≥ 81; 843 (67%) patients underwent pancreatoduodenectomy. Operations were performed for pancreatic adenocarcinoma in 712 (56%) patients. Older patients had greater likelihood of postoperative morbidity (35% vs 31% vs 47%, by age group, p = 0.004) and discharge to a facility (12% vs 23% vs 48%, by age group, p < 0.001). Adjusting for ACS NSQIP predicted risk, patients with a preoperative GSV were more likely to require reoperation and discharge to a facility (OR 1.81 [95% CI 1.03–3.16] and 3.95 [95% CI 2.91–5.38], respectively). The mFI‐5 was not associated with postoperative outcomes (all p ≥ 0.18).ConclusionThe presence of a preoperative GSV is associated with reoperation and discharge to a skilled facility following elective pancreatic resection. Geriatric‐specific variables should be considered in joint preoperative decision making to optimize care.