bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis associated with treatment failure for intrinsic and efflux pump mediated resistance: a comparative retro perspective cohort study
Authors: Mushtaq Fizza , Raza Syed Mohsin , Ahmad Adeel , Aslam Hina , Din Sunia Karam , Rakha Allah , Saleem Sidrah , Ahmad Irfan 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Background: To treat tuberculosis is very complicated and difficult procedure that involves the administration of a panel of five antimicrobial drugs for the period of 6 months. The purpose of this study was to determine antimicrobial drug resistant features of Mycobacterium tuberculosis associated with treatment failure and to determine efficacy of the second line drugs and the efflux pump inhibitor verapamil against M. tuberculosis associated with treatment failure.Methods: The identity of isolates was confirmed by ZN staining and multiplex PCR through detection of Mycobacterium species specific loci rv0577, mtbk_20680, 16S rRNA, RD9, IS 1311, mass_3210 and mkan_rs12360. Drug susceptibly testing (DST) and efficacy of the efflux pump inhibitor verapamil were performed through MGIT 960. Mutations associated with drug resistance were determined through DNA sequencing of ropB, katG, pncA, rrs and eis loci. The transcription of efflux pump gene rv1258 was assessed by real time quantitative PCR. Results: Upon monitoring 1200 tuberculosis patients, 64 were found not-cured after six months of treatment course. From M. tuberculosis isolates recovered from sputum of these 64 patients, 3.1% isolates were detected resistant to four anti M. tuberculosis drugs (extreme drug resistant) 48.4% were resistant to three anti M. tuberculosis drugs (extensive drug resistant), 26.5% were resistant to two anti M. tuberculosis drugs (multi drug resistant). High frequency of resistance to the second line drug amikacin was detected in 26,5% isolates whereas moxifloxacin and linezolid resistance was detected in only 3.1% isolates. The Serine 315 in katG was the most frequent amino acid mutated in treatment failure group. Three novel mutations were detected at codons 99, 149 and 154 in pncA associated with pyrazinamide resistance. Rifampicin and isoniazid enhanced the transcription of the efflux pump gene rv1258 in drug susceptible isolates collected from the treatment failure patients whereas verapamil reduced minimum inhibitory concentrations of antimicrobial drugs in these isolates.Conclusion: The use of Amikacin as a second line drug is not appropriate as compare to moxifloxacin and linezolid. Verapamil enhanced anti-bacterial activity of rifampicin and isoniazid in drug susceptible M. tuberculosis isolates cured from treatment failure patients but not in drug resistant isolates.
Attitudes and influencing factors of nursing assistants towards hospice and palliative care in Chinese nursing homes: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ye Zhuojun , Jing Limei , Zhang Haoyu , Qin Yongfa , Chen Hangqi , Yang Jiying , Zhu Ruize , Wang Jingrong , Zhang Huiwen , Xu Yifan , Chu Tianshu 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Background: Hospice and palliative care (HPC) in China are mainly available at public primary care institutions, where nursing homes (NHs) are rarely involved. Nursing assistants (NAs) play an essential role in the HPC multidisciplinary team, but little is known about their attitudes towards HPC. This study aimed to identify the attitudes and factors influencing HPC among NAs.Methods: A cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate NAs’ attitudes towards HPC with an indigenized scale in Shanghai. A total of 165 formal NAs were recruited from 3 urban and 2 suburban NHs between October 2021 and January 2022. The questionnaire was composed of 4 parts, demographic characteristics, attitudes (20 items with 4 sub-concepts), knowledge (9 items), and training needs (9 items) for HPC. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple linear regression were performed to analyse NAs’ attitudes, influencing factors, and their correlations.Results: In total, 156 questionnaires were valid. The mean score of attitudes was 72.44±9.56 (range: 55~99), with a mean item score of 3.6±0.5 (range: 1~5). The highest score rate was “perception of the benefits for the life quality promotion” (81.23%), and the lowest score rate was “perception of the threats from the worsening conditions of advanced patients” (59.92%). NAs’ attitudes towards HPC were positively correlated with knowledge score (r=0.46, p<0.01) and training needs (r=0.33, p<0.01). Marital status (β=0.185), previous training experience (β=0.201), area of NHs (β=0.193), knowledge of HPC (β=0.294), and training needs (β=0.157) for HPC constituted the significant predictors of attitudes (p<0.05), which explained 30.8% of the overall variance.Conclusion: NAs’ attitudes towards HPC were moderate, but the knowledge level still needs improvement. As integrated HPC in NHs can be achieved only with the participation of positive and enabled NAs, thus targeted training is highly recommended based on the significant factors identified in this study.
Photocatalytic Aerobic Oxidative Functionalization (PAOF) Reaction of Benzyl Alcohols by GO-MIL-100(Fe) Composite in Glycerol/K2CO3 Deep Eutectic Solvent
Authors: Abbasi Sepideh , Naimi-Jamal Mohammad Reza , Javanshir Shahrzad , Heydari Akbar 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

An MIL-100 (Fe)/graphene oxide (GO) hybrid, a fairly-known composite, was made through a simple one-step procedure and played a highlighted role in the photo-induced oxidative functionalization of the benzylic C-H bond. To identify the given binary composite, various techniques were applied: FT-IR, P-XRD, SEM, Nitrogen absorption-desorption analysis, TGA, TEM, and UV-Visible DRS spectra. Proportions of GO used within the structure of the prepared composite differently ranged from low to high amount, and the most optimized ratio met at 38.5% of GO as the most efficient catalyst. Additionally, the reaction ran in Glycerol/K2CO3 (2:1) as the optimal solvent. The elemental roles of O2•− and H+ were supposed to be the major ones for running a tandem oxidation-Knoevenagel reaction. The heterogeneity and reusability of the catalyst were also examined, and confirmed after five successive runs.
A novel flexible model to calibrate single-layer height for ionospheric modelling using neural network model
Authors: Xu Lei , Gao Jingxiang , Li Zengke , Shu Mingcong , Yang Xu 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
In the study of 2-D ionospheric modelling, the single-layer hypothesis is one of the most widely used definitions for construction and usage of ionospheric models, on which most ionospheric model and products exploited are based. Ionospheric effective height (IEH), as a key factor to affect ionospheric modelling accuracies by dominating the mapping errors, is defined as the single-layer height. Of previous studies, the fixed IEH model for a global or local area is unreasonable with respect of the dynamic ionosphere obviously. Bearing this problem in mind, we try to find a flexible-IEH solution based on neural network models, namely backpropagation neural network optimized by genetic algorithm (BP-NN-GA) and radial basis function neural network (RBF-NN). In this method, variables calibrating a given ray path and reflecting geomagnetic and solar activities are taken as inputs, and the outputs of IEHs are derived from mapping function converting slant total electron content (STEC) to vertical total electron content (VTEC) obtained from International GNSS Service (IGS) final global ionospheric map (GIM). Data of Hongkong Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) on DOY 102, 2021 are chosen to construct and validate the flexible IEH model. First, some efforts are conducted to confirm variability of IEH and give some support to our contributions. Subsequently, minimum root mean square (RMS) values of VTECs from final GIMs and raw ionospheric measurements are calculated to determine IEH and RMS value varies from 1.73 to 5.81 TECU. Likewise, the RMS values are calculated based on the flexible IEH model in different periods and the results show the two kinds of trained NN models have slightly different performances, but most of RMS values are below 2 TECU a lot smaller than previous results. Finally, to validate the reliability of the flexible model, taking VTEC calculated by IGS final GIM as reference, we calculate the RMS values of VTECs estimated by GIM and spherical harmonics functions (SHFs) based on the fixed and flexible IEH model. Compare with values of around 2.2 TECU obtained by SHF based the fixed IEH model, the RMS values of SHFs based on the flexible IEH models of RBF-NN and BP-NN-GA are around 1.8 and 1.9 TECU with improving accuracies of approximately 18% and 13%, respectively. Gathering all findings above together verifies the reliability and feasibility of the flexible IEH model constructed by NN model.
Characterization of nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in secondary organic aerosol derived from photooxidation of naphthalene in the presence of NO2
Authors: Zhu Mincong , Huang Mingqiang , Wang Weichao , Shan Xiaobin , Sheng Liusi , Zhao Weixiong , Gu Xuejun , Zhang Weijun 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Nitrated Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (NPAHs) widely exist in atmospheric aerosol particles are important constituents of brown carbon. Naphthalene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are vital precursors of NPAHs. The NPAHs components of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) generated by the photooxidation of naphthalene under different concentrations of NO2 in chamber are on-line measured using synchrotron radiation vacuum ultraviolet photoionization aerosol mass spectrometer (VUV-PIMS) and verified off-line with optical spectrometry in this study. The results demonstrate that NO2 can promote the generation of NPAHs and formation of SOA. Using VUV-PIMS on-line detection, and combined with off-line UV-Vis and infrared spectroscopy verification, it is determined that carboxyls and naphthols are main components of naphthalene SOA particles without NO2, and nitro-naphthalene, dinitro-naphthalene, nitro-naphthol and dinitro-naphthol via the nitration of OH-naphthalene adduct and naphthol products of naphthalene are identified as principal constituents of SOA with NO2. The increase of strong chromophore of N = O of nitro group in NPAHs strengthens the absorbing ability of naphthalene SOA particles. The averaged mass absorption coefficient (< MAC>) over 200–600 nm of naphthalene SOA particles is increases gradually with the increasing concentration of NO2. The < MAC > of naphthalene SOA particles with 1000 ppb NO2 is 688 cm2/g, which is close to to that of biomass burning organic aerosol particles. These results offer the reference for exploring the formation mechanism and optical properties of NPAHs under the background of high concentration of NOx in urban atmosphere.
A deep learning model based on concatenation approach to predict difficulty of extracting a mandibular third molar tooth
Authors: Kwon Dohyun , Ahn Jaemyung , Kim Chang-Soo , Kang Dong-ock , Paeng Jun-Young 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Background: Assessing the difficulty of tooth extraction is the most important factor to consider before surgeries. The purpose of this study was to create a practical predictive model for assessing the difficulty of extracting the mandibular third molar tooth using deep learning. The accuracy of the model was evaluated by comparing the extraction time predicted by deep learning with the actual time required for extraction.Methods: A total of 724 panoramic X-ray images and clinical data were used for artificial intelligence (AI) prediction of extraction difficulties. Clinical data such as age, sex, maximum mouth opening, body weight, height, the time from the start of incision to the start of suture, and surgeon’s experience were recorded. Data augmentation and weight balancing were used to improve learning abilities of AI models. Extraction time predicted by the concatenated AI model was compared with the actual extraction time.Results: The final combined model (CNN + MLP) model achieved an R value of 0.8315, an R-squared value of 0.6839, a p-value of less than 0.0001, and a mean absolute error (MAE) of 2.95 min with the test dataset.Conclusions: Our proposed model for predicting difficulty of extracting mandibular third molar tooth performs well with a high accuracy in clinical practice.
Two-dimensional Identification of Microplastics: Comparison of Optical Photothermal Infrared Spectroscopy with Fourier-Transform Infrared and Raman Spectroscopy
Authors: Böke Julia Sophie , Popp Jürgen , Krafft Christoph 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
In recent years, vibrational spectroscopic techniques based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) or Raman microspectroscopy have been suggested to fulfill the unmet need for microplastic particle detection and identification. Inter-system comparison of data from reference polymers enables assessing the reproducibility between instruments and advantages of emerging quantum cascade laser infrared (IR) techniques such as optical photothermal infrared (O-PTIR) spectroscopy. In our work, IR and Raman spectra of nine plastics, namely polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), silicone, polylactide acid (PLA) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) were simultaneously acquired using an O-PTIR based IR and Raman instrument in non-contact, reflection mode. Comprehensive band assignments were presented. We determined the agreement of O-PTIR with standalone attenuated total reflection FTIR and Raman spectrometers based on the hit quality index (HQI) and introduced the two-dimensional identification (2D-HQI) approach using both Raman- and IR-HQIs. Finally, microplastic particles were prepared as test samples from known material by wet grinding and subjected to the 2D-HQI identification approach. We concluded that this framework offers improved identification of microplastic particles in environmental, nutritious and biological materials.
Pharmacogenetics in critical care: the expression of rs776746 polymorphism and acetaminophen response in sepsis and septic shock
Authors: Scorcella C , Domizi R , Amoroso S , Carsetti A , Casarotta E , Castaldo P , D’angelo C , Damiani E , Gasparri F , Donati Abele , Adrario E 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
BackgroundPharmacogenetics could represent a further resource to understand the interindividual heterogeneity of response of the host to the insult and to medications and to provide a personalized approach to the critical care patient. Methods: Secondary analysis of data from the prospective observational study NCT02750163. The expression of two polymorphisms of hepatic metabolism of acetaminophen (ACT) was investigated in 50 adult septic and septic shock patients treated with ACT for pyrexia. Results: 8% of the patients expressed rs776746 polymorphism and showed significantly higher plasma levels of ACT and a more evident (but not statistically significant) defervescence than wild type patients, and patients with rs8330p. Discussion: Identifying specific genotypes of response to ACT may be helpful to guide a more personalized titration of therapy in sepsis and septic shock. Further studies are needed to understand the role of pharmacogenetics in sepsis.
Perovskite quantum dots modulating upconversion nanomaterials For Cancer Early Detections
Authors: He Yue , Rao Hongtao , Wang JingJing , Wu Ying , Han Caiqin , Yan Changchun , Temple Hunter , Zhang Le , Chen Wei , Liu Ying 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Background
The accurate diagnosis and treatment of cancer cell lesions need a high standard of detection technology. Fluorescent probes to perform cancer biomarker detection have become a popular research issue. However, fluorescent probes still face enormous challenges of complex design and difficult detection.
Results
In this work, we propose a novel composite material UCNPs@SiO2 + QDs based on the combination of rare earth upconversions (UCNPs) and perovskite quantum dots (QDs) and design a new fluorescent probe MB-UCNPs@SiO2 + QDs with molecular beacon (MB) as the carrier, that can be excited by near-infrared light, emitted in the visible wavelength, specifically identified and highly sensitive. Under the excitation of 980 nm near-infrared light, the UCNPs and QDs in the composite produced the maximum efficiency of energy transfer through fluorescence resonance, and the multi-emission light of UCNPs synergistically excited the re-emission of QDs, and the energy transfer efficiency is 70.6%. By changing the doping ratio of QDs halogen elements in UCNPs@SiO2 + QDs, it is possible to modulate the precise luminescence of UCNPs@SiO2 + QDs in the entire wavelength range of visible light at different positions. The novel fluorescent probe is obtained using UCNPs@SiO2 + QDs and Black Hole Quencher-1 (BHQ1) quenching groups linked to the two respective sides of MB, selecting as the target of detection the myeloma cancer biomarker miRNA-155, a difficult diagnostic and complex developmental type, and have achieved specific recognition and low concentration of miRNA-155 and a detection limit of 73.5 pM.
Conclusions
This fluorescent probe design can provide new ideas for the early diagnosis and treatment of cancer, tumors, and cardiovascular diseases.
Enhancement of Screening Mammograms for Better Mass Inspection using Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Transform
Authors: CHITTATTU ANNIE JULIE JOSEPH , Naz Farah , Narayanan Pournami Pulinthanathu 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Breast cancer has become one of the most common cancers worldwide. It is also one of the leading causes of death in women. Early detection of breast cancer is the need of the hour as it offers increased treatment options, better survival chances and improved quality of life. The most economic technique is screening mammograms, to promote breast cancer identification at an early stage. However, image quality of screening mammograms is poor because they use low dose X-rays for image acquisition. Hence special attention is to be paid for enhancing the quality of screening mammograms.This paper proposes an enhancement strategy for screening mammograms based on Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Transform (DTCWT).The DTCWT yields six directionally selective high pass sub-bands at +150,-150,+450,-450,+750,-750 on multiple scales.The reconstruction from the decomposed bands produce resultant image with enhancement in directional edges. Thus edge details are enhanced, which provides improved visualization of mass boundaries present inside the breast tissues.The experimental study on three publicly available mammogram datasets using the proposed DTCWT has the lowest Absolute Mean Brightness Error (AMBE) and Root Mean square Error (RMSE). Also, this method has higher values for Structural Similarity Index Metric (SSIM) and Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR), which are indicators of overall image quality improvement and preservation of structural similarity. The proposed method offers PSNR values of 54.3612, 46.043, 48.8719 and SSIM is 0.9977, 0.9869, 0.9916 for the MIAS, DDSM and Inbreast datasets respectively.The proposed DTCWT based mammogram enhancement can be used as an efficient preprocessing technique in a computer-aided diagnosis system to detect breast cancer in its early stage. The comparison of the proposed method with many of the recent algorithms depicts the overall dominance of its performance, with the minimum error and good signal enhancement.
High Multiplicity Strip Packing with Three Rectangle Types
Authors: Bloch-Hansen Andrew , Solis-Oba Roberto , Yu Andy 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
The two-dimensional strip packing problem consists of packing in a rectangular strip of width \(1\) and minimum height a set of \(n\) rectangles, where each rectangle has width \(0 &#x003C; w \leq 1\) and height \(0 &#x003C; h \leq h_{max}\). We consider the high-multiplicity version of the problem in which there are only \(K\) different types of rectangles. For the case when \(K = 3\), we give an algorithm providing a solution requiring at most height \(\frac{3}{2}h_{max} + \epsilon\) plus the height of an optimal solution, where \(\epsilon\) is any positive constant. For the case when \(K = 4\), we give an algorithm providing a solution requiring at most \(\frac{7}{3}h_{max} + \epsilon\) plus the height of an optimal solution. For the case when \(K &#x003E; 3\), we give an algorithm providing a solution requiring at most \(\lfloor\frac{3}{4}K\rfloor + 1 + \epsilon\) plus the height of an optimal solution.
Sodium chloride against Dawestrema cycloancistrium in juvenile Arapaima gigas
Authors: AFFONSO Elizabeth Gusmão , QUEIROZ Marieta Nascimento , ONO Eduardo Akifumi , Porto Sanny Maria Andrade , Claudiano Gustavo da Silva 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the use of sodium chloride (NaCl) against monogenoid infestations in pirarucu (Arapaima gigas). Two assays were conducted with pirarucu juveniles, the first comprising an in vitro exposure to 8; 9; 10 and 11 g.L− 1 NaCl and comparison to controls not exposed to NaCl, and the second, an in vivo exposure to NaCl at the same concentrations applied in the in vitro exposure. The best in vitro results were observed for one hour exposures at 9, 10 and 11 g.L− 1 NaCl, resulting in 60% and 100% parasite mortality, respectively. In vivo exposures to 8 and 10 g.L− 1 NaCl were 36 and 22% efficient, respectively, following two hours of exposure, with no mortality. Some dose-dependent changes were observed in exposed fish, such as decreased hemoglobin and HCM values at the highest NaCl concentration compared to the other NaCl concentrations and the control group. More frequent gill tissue alterations were observed compared to the control group at the highest NaCl concentrations (10 and 11 g.L− 1). Decreased mean (p < 0.05) water pH values and increased mean electrical conductivity were noted compared to the control group. Our findings suggest that NaCl exhibits low toxicity towards pirarucu and anthelmintic activity to the monogenoid Dawestrema cycloancistrium, directly influenced by exposure time and concentration.
Partial staple line reinforcement with synthetic buttressing material in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a propensity score-matched analysis
Authors: Eckharter Christoph , Heeren Nickolaus , Mongelli Francesco , Sykora Martin , Mühlhäusser Julia , Lottenbach Nathalie , Scheiwiller Andreas , Metzger Jürg , Gass Jörn-Markus 
Published: August 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Staple line leakage (SLL) and staple line bleeding (SLB) are the most relevant postoperative complications of sleeve gastrectomy (SG). It is controversial whether and which method of staple line reinforcement (SLR) can best reduce these complications. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether reinforcement of the most proximal part of the staple line with synthetic buttressing material (GORE® SEAMGUARD®), a strategy we termed partial SLR (p-SLR), reduces the 30-day incidence of SLL.
Methods
A retrospective search of medical records of all bariatric patients from 2010 to 2019 was performed. Patients who underwent SG with either p-SLR or no SLR (non-SLR) were included. Intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were analyzed before and after propensity score matching (PSM).
Results
Data from 431 patients were analyzed (364 in the p-SLR group and 67 in the non-SLR group). No difference in the 30-day incidence of SLL was observed between the two groups. The 30-day incidence of SLB (1.1% vs. 6.0% in the p-SLR and non-SLR groups, respectively), operative time (72 vs. 95 minutes), and length of hospital stay (4 (3–4) vs. 4 (4–5) days (IQR)) were significantly lower in the p-SLR group. These results were confirmed by PSM analysis.
Conclusion
P-SLR with GORE® SEAMGUARD® does not reduce the 30-day incidence of SLL. Although our analysis showed a significant reduction in the 30-day incidence of SLB in the p-SLR group, this result should be interpreted with caution.