bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Resident Perceptions on the Health Risks Associated with Solid Waste Disposal at Kalundu Dumpsite, Kitui County – Kenya on the Surrounding Human Settlement
Authors: Matheka Valilian Kavutha , O. Manono Bonface , Muriu-Ng’ang’a Felista 
Published: August 2022

Aims: Urban centers of developing countries are growing at very rapid rates. This has been accompanied by increased use of resources and enormous waste generation. The generated waste is dumped in the outskirts of the urban where they can have negative impacts on the environment and surrounding human settlements. This study therefore aims to assess the perceived health risks of Kalundu dumpsite in Kitui Town, Kitui County of Kenya.
Study Design: A survey design was used to collect data from people living within 500 meter radius of Kalundu dumpsite.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out between January 2020 and December 2020 in Kitui Town of Kitui County, Kenya.
Methodology: A Semi - structured questionnaire was administered to 78 respondents to collect data on perceived health risks they associate with the presence of Kalundu dumpsite in their locality. The collected data was coded and then analyzed. Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used to test the link between respondent characteristics and perceived health risks.
Results: 83.3% of respondents perceived the presence of the dumpsite in their vicinity as a health hazard that they attributed to cause diseases (Malaria, chest pain; diarrhea, and cholera) and other negative environmental effects (smoke, odour, and habitat for disease vectors and pathogens). Children under the age of 5 years were the most vulnerable.
Conclusion: There is a perceived link between waste deposited onto Kalundu dumpsite and human and environmental health of the surrounding community.
Severity of Splenic Trauma and Its Surgical Outcome among Patients Presented at Liaquat University Hospital, Pakistan
Authors: Soomro Suhail Ahmed , Shah Riaz Ahmed , Abro Abdul Sattar , Abbasi Mushtaq Ahmad , Ahsan Muhammad Fahim , Khatti Shahnawaz 
Published: August 2022

Objective: To determine the severity of splenic trauma and its surgical outcome among patients presented with abdominal blunt trauma at surgical emergency of Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro (Hyderabad)
Material and Methods: This prospective case series study was conducted in the department of Surgery at Liaquat University Hospital Jamshoro, from December 2013 to November 2014. Patients having a diagnosis of abdominal trauma with a diagnosis of splenic injury, aged above 18 years and both genders were included. All the patients underwent surgical treatment as per indications. Patients were monitored during hospital stays to assess the outcome. A study proforma was employed to gather data and SPSS software version 20 was utilized for the analysis of it.
Results: The study included 60 patients; their mean age was 28.3±12.4 years. Most of the cases 51(84.9%) were between 18 and 40 years of age. Males were predominant with a male to female ratio of 3.1:1. The majority of the cases (48.3% and 33.3%, respectively) had Grade III and Grade IV injuries, and none of our patients were diagnosed as Grade V by the scan. Overall among 30 cases, developed complications, particularly as 10 cases had pulmonary infection, 08 cases had intra-abdominal bleeding, wound infection was in 9 and 1 had developed over-whelming post splenectomy (OPSS). The overall mortality rate was 5.0%.
Conclusion: Splenic trauma and its severity in patients having blunt abdominal trauma were observed to be the most frequent. A better outcome has been observed, and it is also depending on the immediate arrival, accurate diagnosis, surgeons' ability, and experience.
Complications After Implantation of Subcutaneous Central Venous Ports: Focus on Infection and Catheter Pinch-off
Authors: Nakamura Takatoshi , Sato Takeo , Torii Shinzo , Sasaki Jiichiro , Naito Masanori , Yamashita Keishi , Watanabe Masahiko 
Published: August 2022

Objective
The objective of this study was to determine the causes of postoperative complications associated with subcutaneous central venous ports.

Summary of Background Data
Central venous ports were subcutaneously implanted in 523 patients between January 2005 and December 2013.

Methods
The purpose of port implantation was administration of chemotherapy in 439 patients and home central venous nutrition in 84 patients. The underlying disease was malignant in 481 patients and benign in 42.

Results
The median follow-up was 12 months (range, 1–99 months), and postoperative complications developed in 69 patients (13%). Infection occurred in 40 patients (7.6%) and catheter pinch-off in 11 patients (3%). Significant risk factors for infection were nutritional port placement (P &lt; 0.001) and use of a femoral vein approach (P = 0.001). A left subclavian approach was a significant risk factor for catheter pinch-off (P = 0.003).

Conclusions
Postoperative complications, mainly infections and catheter pinch-off, developed in 13% of the patients. As for measures against complications, a femoral vein approach should be avoided to prevent infection. Moreover, because ports for parenteral nutrition require multiple punctures, methods to reduce the number of punctures and techniques for disinfection and management should be reevaluated. To prevent catheter pinch-off, an internal jugular vein approach should be used instead of a left subclavian approach.
A comparison of patient tolerance of hysterosalpingo‐contrast sonography (HyCoSy) with Echovist®‐200 and X‐ray hysterosalpingography for outpatient investigation of infertile women
Authors: Ayida G. , Kennedy S. , Barlow D. , Chamberlain P. 
Published: July 2002

AbstractThe aim of this study was to assess patient tolerance of two outpatient tests. Sixty‐six infertile women were prospectively randomized to hysterosalpingo‐contrast sonography (HyCoSy) (n = 34) or X‐ray hysterosalpingography (HSG) (n = 32). The procedures were performed by the same operator. The uterine cavity outline and tubal patency were determined by both procedures. The mean times taken and the volume of contrast medium required for HyCoSy and HSG were similar: 12.1 ± 5.2 and 9.5 ± 4.8 min and 9.4 ± 5.2 and 11.5 ± 8.4 ml, respectively. Side‐effects were assessed during the procedure, at 2h, 24 h and 28 days. The most common side‐effect was pelvic pain, in 56/66 (84%) women, occurring during the procedures (HyCoSy 19/34 (56%); HSG 23/32 (72/%)) and/or in the following 24 h (HyCoSy l4/34 (41%); HSG 15/32 (47%)). This was described as less severe or equal to their usual period pains (HyCoSy 100%; HSG 8.5%). Only 12/66 (18%) women required simple non‐steroidal analgesia (HyCoSy 8/34 (24%); HSG 4/32 (13%)). There were no significant differences between the two methods concerning the frequency or severity of pains at different stages during and after the procedure or analgesia requirements. HyCoSy and HSG are equally well tolerated outpatient procedures for assessing tubal patency and uterine abnormalities. In addition, HyCoSy avoids the risks of ovarian irradiation and allows scanning of the uterine corpus and ovaries at the same time. Copyright © 1996 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Recent developments in LIDAR Thomson scattering measurements on JET (invited)
Authors: Gowers C. W. , Brown B. W. , Fajemirokun H. , Nielsen P. , Nizienko Y. , Schunke B. 
Published: July 2002

The LIDAR Thomson scattering technique uses the time of flight of a short laser pulse to spatially resolve measurements of electron temperature (Te) and density (ne) in a plasma. The technique was pioneered at JET and the first profiles were obtained in 1986. The initial system used a 3 J, 0.5 Hz, 300 ps ruby laser and microchannel-plate photomultiplier detectors to make Te and ne profile measurements with ∼10 cm spatial resolution. Since then we have sought to improve both the spatial resolution and frequency of measurement during a JET pulse. It has proved possible to develop a 4 Hz version of the ruby laser and to enhance the rate of cycling of detection and digitizing to match. The main LIDAR system has now been upgraded to 4 Hz and first JET profiles obtained with the new system are presented. For a LIDAR system, the spatial resolution δL along the laser path is given by δL=(c/2)(τ2L+τ2D)1/2, where c is the velocity of light, τL the laser pulse width, and τD the detection system response time. Over a limited spatial extent it is possible to improve spatial resolution by using a streak camera detection system. We have successfully improved the spatial resolution by a factor of 2 by setting up a streak camera detection system in parallel with the main photomultiplier system.
The much shorter response time of the streak camera gave ∼5 cm resolution over a 75 cm segment of the ∼2 m plasma diameter. This system was used to examine profile details in the outer part of the JET plasma. Results from this high-resolution LIDAR detection system will be presented. Building on the improved spatial resolution obtained with the streak camera technique, we have now designed and installed a new LIDAR scattering system to diagnose the divertor region of the JET plasma. The laser for the new system is again ruby but uses a different principle to obtain short pulses. We have demonstrated with colleagues from the Troitsk Institute the conversion, using SBS pulse compression, of a standard 25 ns ruby laser into a 300 ps system suitable for LIDAR applications. The main components of the JET Divertor LIDAR system are also described.
Myosin Light Chain Kinase as a Multifunctional Regulatory Protein of Smooth Muscle Contraction
Authors: Gao Ying , Ye Li‐Hong , Kishi Hiroko , Okagaki Tsuyoshi , Samizo Koichi , Nakamura Akio , Kohama Kazuhiro 
Published: July 2002

AbstractMyosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is a regulatory protein for smooth muscle contraction, which acts by phosphorylating 20‐kDa myosin light chain (MLC20) to activate the myosin ATPase activity. Although this mode of action is well‐established, there are numerous reports of smooth muscle contraction that is not associated with MLC20 phosphorylation. The kinase activity for the phosphorylation is localized at the central part of MLCK, which is also furnished with actin‐binding activity at its N terminal and myosin‐binding activity at its C terminal. This article overviews as to how such multifunctional properties of MLCK modify the actin‐myosin interaction and presents our observations that the phosphorylation is not obligatory in induction of smooth muscle contraction.
Regulation of Actin Polymerization in Cell-free Systems by GTPγS and Cdc42
Authors: Zigmond Sally H. , Joyce Michael , Borleis Jane , Bokoch Gary M. , Devreotes Peter N. 
Published: July 2002

We have established a cell-free system to investigate pathways that regulate actin polymerization. Addition of GTPγS to lysates of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) or Dictyostelium discoideum amoeba induced formation of filamentous actin. The GTPγS appeared to act via a small G-protein, since it was active in lysates ofD. discoideum mutants missing either the α2- or β-subunit of the heterotrimeric G-protein required for chemoattractant-induced actin polymerization in living cells. Furthermore, recombinant Cdc42, but not Rho or Rac, induced polymerization in the cell-free system. The Cdc42-induced increase in filamentous actin required GTPγS binding and was inhibited by a fragment of the enzyme PAK1 that binds Cdc42.
In a high speed supernatant, GTPγS alone was ineffective, but GTPγS-loaded Cdc42 induced actin polymerization, suggesting that the response was limited by guanine nucleotide exchange. Stimulating exchange by chelating magnesium, by adding acidic phospholipids, or by adding the exchange factors Cdc24 or Dbl restored the ability of GTPγS to induce polymerization. The stimulation of actin polymerization did not correlate with PIP2 synthesis.
Every monotone graph property has a sharp threshold
Authors: Friedgut Ehud , Kalai Gil 
Published: July 2002

In their seminal work which initiated random graph theory Erdös and Rényi discovered that many graph properties have sharp thresholds as the number of vertices tends to infinity. We prove a conjecture of Linial that every monotone graph property has a sharp threshold. This follows from the following theorem. Let

V
n

(
p
)
=
{
0
,
1

}
n

V_n(p)= \{0,1\}^n

denote the Hamming space endowed with the probability measure

μ
p

\mu _p

defined by

μ
p

(

ϵ
1

,

ϵ
2

,
…
,

ϵ
n

)
=

p
k

⋅
(
1
−
p

)

n
−
k

\mu _p (\epsilon _1, \epsilon _2, \dots , \epsilon _n)= p^k \cdot (1-p)^{n-k}

, where

k
=

ϵ
1

+

ϵ
2

+
⋯
+

ϵ
n

k=\epsilon _1 +\epsilon _2 +\cdots +\epsilon _n

. Let

A
A

be a monotone subset of

V
n

V_n

. We say that

A
A

is symmetric if there is a transitive permutation group

Γ
\Gamma

on

{
1
,
2
,
…
,
n
}

\{1,2,\dots , n\}

such that

A
A

is invariant under

Γ
\Gamma

.

Theorem. For every symmetric monotone

A
A

, if

μ
p

(
A
)
>
ϵ

\mu _p(A)>\epsilon

then

μ
q

(
A
)
>
1
−
ϵ

\mu _q(A)>1-\epsilon

for

q
=
p
+

c
1

log
⁡
(
1

/

2
ϵ
)

/

log
⁡
n

q=p+ c_1 \log (1/2\epsilon )/\log n

. (

c
1

c_1

is an absolute constant.)
MULTICLUSTAL: a systematic method for surveying Clustal W alignment parameters.
Authors: Yuan J , Amend A , Borkowski J , DeMarco R , Bailey W , Liu Y , Xie G , Blevins R 
Published: July 2002

Abstract
MULTICLUSTAL is a Perl script designed to automate the process of alignment parameter choice for Clustal W with the goal of generating high quality multiple sequence alignments.
A New Approach to Simplifying and Harmonizing Cancer Clinical Trials—Standardizing Eligibility Criteria
Authors: Gerber David E. , Singh Harpreet , Larkins Erin , Ferris Andrea , Forde Patrick M. , Selig Wendy , Basu Roy Upal 
Published: August 2022

ImportanceClinical trial sponsors rely on eligibility criteria to control the characteristics of patients in their studies, promote the safety of participants, and optimize the interpretation of results. However, in recent years, complex and often overly restrictive inclusion and exclusion criteria have created substantial barriers to patient access to novel therapies, hindered trial recruitment and completion, and limited generalizability of trial results. A LUNGevity Foundation working group developed a framework for lung cancer clinical trial eligibility criteria. The goals of this framework are to (1) simplify eligibility criteria, (2) facilitate stakeholders’ (patients, clinicians, and sponsors) search for appropriate trials, and (3) harmonize trial populations to support intertrial comparisons of treatment effects.ObservationsClinicians and representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, the National Cancer Institute, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency, and the LUNGevity Foundation undertook a process to identify and prioritize key items for inclusion in trial eligibility criteria. The group generated a prioritized library of terms to guide investigators and sponsors in the design of first-line, advanced non–small cell lung cancer clinical trials intended to support marketing application. These recommendations address disease stage and histologic features, enrollment biomarkers, performance status, organ function, brain metastases, and comorbidities. This effort forms the basis for a forthcoming FDA draft guidance for industry.Conclusions and RelevanceAs an initial step, the recommended cross-trial standardization of eligibility criteria may harmonize trial populations. Going forward, by connecting diverse stakeholders and providing formal opportunity for public input, the emerging FDA draft guidance may also provide an opportunity to revise and simplify long-standing approaches to trial eligibility. This work serves as a prototype for similar efforts now underway for other cancers.
Influence of Social Support, Financial Status, and Lifestyle on the Disparity Between Inflammation and Disability in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Gwinnutt James M. , Norton Sam , Hyrich Kimme L. , Lunt Mark , Combe Bernard , Rincheval Nathalie , Ruyssen‐Witrand Adeline , Fautrel Bruno , McWilliams Daniel F. , Walsh David A. , Nikiphorou Elena , Kiely Patrick D. W. , Young Adam , Chipping Jacqueline R. , MacGregor Alex , Verstappen Suzanne M. M. 
Published: August 2022

ObjectiveTo investigate how social support, financial status, and lifestyle influence the development of excess disability in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsData were obtained from the Étude et Suivi des Polyarthrites Indifférenciées Récentes (ESPOIR) cohort study of people with RA. A previous analysis identified groups with similar inflammation trajectories but markedly different disability over 10 years; those in the higher disability trajectory groups were defined as having “excess disability.” Self‐reported data regarding contextual factors (social support, financial situation, lifestyle) were obtained from participants, and they completed patient‐reported outcome measures (pain, fatigue, anxiety, depression) at baseline. The direct effect of the contextual factors on excess disability and the effect mediated by patient‐reported outcome measures were assessed using structural equation models. Findings were validated in 2 independent data sets (Norfolk Arthritis Register [NOAR], Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Network [ERAN]).ResultsOf 538 included ESPOIR participants (mean age ± SD 48.3 ± 12.2 years; 79.2% women), 200 participants (37.2%) were in the excess disability group. Less social support (β = 0.17 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.08, 0.26]), worse financial situation (β = 0.24 [95% CI 0.14, 0.34]), less exercise (β = 0.17 [95% CI 0.09–0.25]), and less education (β = 0.15 [95% CI 0.06, 0.23]) were associated with excess disability group membership; smoking, alcohol consumption, and body mass index were not. Fatigue and depression mediated a small proportion of these effects. Similar results were seen in NOAR and ERAN.ConclusionGreater emphasis is needed on the economic and social contexts of individuals with RA at presentation; these factors might influence disability over the following decade.
Discovery of a 2D Hybrid Silver/Antimony‐Based Iodide Double Perovskite Photoferroelectric with Photostrictive Effect and Efficient X‐Ray Response
Authors: Wang Chang‐Feng , Li Haojin , Ji Qun , Ma Chuang , Liu Lang , Ye Heng‐Yun , Cao Bo , Yuan Guoliang , Lu Hai‐Feng , Fu Da‐Wei , Ju Ming‐Gang , Wang Jinlan , Zhao Kui , Zhang Yi 
Published: August 2022

Abstract2D hybrid halide double perovskites (HHDPs) have been demonstrated to be a promising alternative to conventional lead‐based halide perovskites as a new system of photoferroelectrics, due to their unique characteristics of environmental friendliness, favorable stability, and fascinating optoelectronic properties. Herein, for the first time, a 2D iodide double perovskite photoferroelectric is reported based on Ag/Sb ions, (4,4‐DFPD)4AgSbI8 (4,4‐DFPD = 4,4‐difluoropiperidinium), which possesses a high Curie temperature of 414 K (above BaTiO3), a large spontaneous polarization of 9.6 μC cm−2, ferroelectric photovoltaic effect, and photostrictive effect. Notably, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the discovery of photostriction in HHDP photoferroelectrics is unprecedented. Moreover, (4,4‐DFPD)4AgSbI8 exhibits an impressive X‐ray responsivity, with a sensitivity as high as 704.8 μC Gyair−1 cm−2 at 100 V bias and a detection limit as low as 0.36 μGyair s−1 at 10 V bias, both of which outperform the current all HHDP photoferroelectrics. This work enriches the photoferroelectric family, and proves that Ag/Sb‐based HHDP photoferroelectrics are a promising candidate for the next‐generation optoelectronic devices.
Unified Therapeutic‐Prophylactic Vaccine Demonstrated with a Postoperative Filler Gel to Prevent Tumor Recurrence and Metastasis
Authors: Cao Dinglingge , Guo Wen , Cai Caiyun , Tang Jingyu , Rao Weihan , Wang Yang , Wang Yaoben , Yu Lin , Ding Jiandong 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAlthough surgical resection is currently the first choice of clinical treatment for most solid tumors, postoperative cancer recurrence and metastasis are the main causes of mortality. Herein, the authors aim to enable immunotherapy consistent with surgery. To this end, the term “therapeutic‐prophylactic vaccine (TPV)” is suggested, and a TPV‐gel is developed as a filler after resection of ≈90% tumor to eradicate residue tumor (therapeutic) and prevent recurrence and metastasis (prophylactic). The TPV‐gel is made of the matrix of blends of two poly(d,l‐lactide‐co‐glycolide)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(d,l‐lactide‐co‐glycolide) block copolymers and the bioactive substances of inorganic calcium salt and organic R837. The aqueous system of polymeric block blends undergoes a sol‐gel transition upon heating and thus leads to an injectable hydrogel filling the resection site; loading of CaCl2 and CaCO3 results in the release of calcium ions out of the TPV‐gel, which induces immunogenic cell death of the residual tumor cells; R837, an immune adjuvant, is dispersed in the TPV‐gel as microcrystal and can be released to awaken immune responses. The therapeutic and prophylactic efficacy of this TPV‐gel is confirmed in vitro and in vivo using a postoperative breast 4T1 mice model.
Biomimetic Aggregation‐Induced Emission Nanodots with Hitchhiking Function for T Cell‐Mediated Cancer Targeting and NIR‐II Fluorescence‐Guided Mild‐Temperature Photothermal Therapy
Authors: Yang Xing , Yang Ting , Liu Qiqi , Zhang Xiuwen , Yu Xinghua , Kwok Ryan T. K. , Hai Luo , Zhang Pengfei , Tang Ben Zhong , Cai Lintao , Gong Ping 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPhotothermal therapy (PTT) holds potential as an alternative approach for effective cancer treatment since it exerts minimal side effects on normal tissues. However, the photothermal stimulation increases the expression of heat shock protein (HSP) in tumor cells, rendering the tumor cells insensitive to heat and thus constraining the effects of PTT. In this study, biomimetic aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) photothermal agents with hitchhiking ability (DC@BPBBT dots) are developed by coating the nanoaggregates of the NIR AIE polymeric photothermal agents with dendritic cell (DC) membranes. Notably, the inner nanoaggregate (BPBBT dots) holds bright second‐window near infrared (NIR‐II) fluorescence (quantum yield of up to 3.47%) and a high photothermal conversion performance (photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 30.5%), and the outer cell membrane can facilitate the hitchhiking of DC@BPBBT dots on endogenous T cells and enhance the tumor delivery efficiency by about 1.2 times. Furthermore, DC@BPBBT dots can activate and stimulate T cells in vivo to secrete cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α), which can reduce the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) to render tumor cells more sensitive to heat. This study not only provides an alternative heat shock protein inhibition strategy based on immune cell interactions but also provides a hitchhike approach for drug delivery in cancer photothermal immunotherapy.