bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reducing unnecessary routine laboratory testing for noncritically ill patients with COVID‐19
Authors: Shin Dawi , Krouss Mona , Alaiev Daniel , Mestari Nessreen , Talledo Joseph , Zaurova Milana , Chandra Komal , Manchego Peter A. , Tsega Surafel , Uppal Amit , Faillace Robert T. , Moskovitz Joshua , Ford Kenra , Bouton Michael , Cho Hyung J. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractBackgroundReducing unnecessary routine laboratory testing is a Choosing Wisely® recommendation, and new areas of overuse were noted during the COVID‐19 pandemic.ObjectiveTo reduce unnecessary repetitive routine laboratory testing for patients with COVID‐19 during the pandemic across a large safety net health system.Designs, Settings and ParticipantsThis quality improvement initiative was initiated by the System High‐Value Care Council at New York City Health + Hospitals (H + H), the largest public healthcare system in the United States consisting of 11 acute care hospitals.Interventionfour overused laboratory tests in noncritically ill hospitalized patients with COVID‐19 were identified: C‐reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and procalcitonin. A two‐pronged electronic health record intervention was implemented consisting of (1) nonintrusive, informational nudge statements placed on selected order sets, and (2) a forcing function of one consecutive day limit on ordering.Main Outcome and MeasuresThe average of excess tests per encounter days (ETPED) for each of four target laboratory testing only in patients with COVID‐19.ObjectiveInterdisciplinary System High‐Value Care Council identified four overused laboratory tests (inflammatory markers) in noncritically ill hospitalized patients with COVID‐19: C‐reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and procalcitonin. Within an 11‐hospital safety net health system, a two‐pronged electronic health record intervention was implemented consisting of (1) nonintrusive, informational nudge statements placed on selected order sets, and (2) a forcing function of one consecutive day limit on ordering. The preintervention period (March 16, 2020 to January 24, 2021) was compared to the postintervention period (January 25, 2021 to March 22, 2022).ResultsTime series linear regression showed decreases in CRP (−17.9%, p < .05), ferritin (−37.6%, p < .001), and LDH (−30.1%, p < .001). Slope differences were significant (CRP, ferritin, and LDH p < 0.001; procalcitonin p < 0.05). Decreases were observed across weekly averages: CRP (−19%, p < .01), ferritin (−37.9%, p < .001), LDH (−28.7%, p < .001), and procalcitonin (−18.4%, p < .05).ConclusionThis intervention was associated with reduced routine inflammatory marker testing in non‐intensive care unit COVID‐19 hospitalized patients across 11 hospitals. Variation was high among individual hospitals.
Metformin use and the risks of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Yen Fu‐Shun , Wei James Cheng‐Chung , Yip Hei‐Tung , Hsu Chih‐Cheng , Hwu Chii‐Min 
Published: November 2022

AbstractHerpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia cause substantial pain in patients. Persons with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are prone to zoster infection and postherpetic neuralgia due to compromised immunity. We conducted this study to evaluate the risks of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia between metformin users and nonusers. Propensity score matching was utilized to select 47 472 pairs of metformin users and nonusers from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2017. The Cox proportional hazards models were used for comparing the risks of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia between metformin users and nonusers in patients with T2D. Compared with no‐use of metformin, the adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for metformin use in herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia were 0.70 (0.66, 0.75) and 0.510 (0.39, 0.68), respectively. A higher cumulative dose of metformin had further lower risks of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia than metformin no‐use. This nationwide cohort study demonstrated that metformin use was associated with a significantly lower risk of herpes zoster and postherpetic neuralgia than metformin no‐use. Moreover, a higher cumulative dose of metformin was associated with further lower risks of these outcomes.
Effectiveness of SARS‐CoV‐2‐inactivated vaccine and the correlation to neutralizing antibodies: A test‐negative case–control study
Authors: Liu Can , Zhang Jiawei , Zeng Yongbin , Huang Chun , Chen Falin , Cao Yingping , Wu Siying , Wei Donghong , Lin Zhong , Zhang Yali , Zhang Ling , Teng Jing , Li Zishun , Hong Guolin , Yang Tianci , Ye Huiming , Tu Haijian , Xiao Yupeng , Huang Lishan , Lin Caorui , Chen Tianbin , Deng Yanqin , Ou Qishui , Li Jinming 
Published: November 2022

AbstractSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 breakthrough infection in highly vaccinated populations raises study on the effectiveness for inactivated vaccine, including effectiveness of the vaccine dose, the continuance of effectiveness, the effectiveness against severe/critical coronavirus disease 2019 and against secondary attacks. A population of 10 870 close contacts were investigated in a Delta variant's epidemic. The effectiveness of vaccination was estimated in a test‐negative case–control study. In addition, serum was used to detect neutralizing antibodies, to explore their correlation to effectiveness. The vaccine effectiveness (VE) values were estimated for populations aged 12 years or older. The overall adjusted VE was 56.2% and a two‐dose vaccine was more effective than a one‐dose vaccine (56.7% vs. 43.8%). In addition, the population that got the second dose vaccine within 2 months showed higher VE than the population vaccinated for longer than 2 months (61.5% vs. 52.3%). Among the population who vaccinated 2 doses or within 2 months, a higher level of neutralizing antibodies was observed. For infected cases, vaccinated populations showed lower rates of transmission (2.63% vs. 4.36%). Further, those vaccinated cases, who were not found causing transmission, had a higher level of antibodies. The study provided a full view of the effectiveness of inactivated vaccines in a real‐world setting. The time‐related VE against infection and lower transmission of breakthrough vaccinated cases were observed, which may indicate that a necessity of a booster vaccine to maintain the effectiveness and high level of neutralizing antibody.
Resolution of inter/intraspecies variation in Weissella group requires multigene analysis and functional characterization
Authors: Joglekar Amruta , Nimonkar Yogesh , Bajaj Abhay , Prakash Om 
Published: November 2022

AbstractWeissella confusa and Weissella cibaria strains isolated from the human‐ gut are considered as potential probiotics, but remain under‐explored owing to their ambiguous taxonomic assignment. The present study assesses the taxonomic resolution of 11 strains belonging to W. confusa and W. cibaria species and highlights the inter‐ and intraspecies variations using an array of phenetic and molecular methods. Remarkable genomic variability among the strains was observed by phylogenetic analysis using concatenated housekeeping genes (pheS, gyrB, and dnaA) along with 16S rRNA gene sequence, suggesting intraspecies variations; which is also supported by the phenetic data. Analysis showed that 16S rRNA gene sequence alone could not resolve the variation, and among the tested marker genes, signals from pheS gene provide better taxonomic resolution. The biochemical and antibiotic susceptibility tests also showed considerable variations among the isolates. Additionally, 'quick' identification using mass spectroscopy‐based matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight mass spectra was accurate up to genus only, and not species level, for the Weissella group. The study highlights need for inclusion of functional, phenetic, and multigene phylogenetic analysis in addition to 16S rRNA gene‐based identification for the Weissella group, to provide better resolution in taxonomic assignments, which is often a prerequisite for the selection of potential strains with biotechnological applications.
Habitat selection and space use overlap between feral horses, pronghorn, and greater sage‐grouse in cold arid steppe
Authors: Hennig Jacob D. , Scasta J. D. , Pratt Aaron C. , Wanner Caitlyn P. , Beck Jeffrey L. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractPopulations of feral horses (Equus ferus caballus) in the western United States have increased during the past decade, consequently affecting co‐occurring wildlife habitat. Feral horses may influence 2 native wildlife species, greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage‐grouse) and pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) through mechanisms of habitat alteration and competition. Wyoming, USA, contains the largest populations of pronghorn and sage‐grouse of any state and also has the highest degree of range overlap between feral horses and these species. Consequently, the effects that horses may have on pronghorn and sage‐grouse populations in Wyoming have implications at local, state, and population‐wide levels. Managers need information concerning habitat selection and space use overlap among these species to develop appropriate management strategies; yet this information is absent for most feral horse management areas. To address this knowledge need, we attached global positioning system (GPS) transmitters to horses, pronghorn, and sage‐grouse within the greater Bureau of Land Management–Adobe Town Herd Management Area in southern Wyoming and northern Colorado, USA, between 2017 and 2021 to evaluate habitat selection and space use of all species during 3 biologically relevant seasons: spring (Apr–Jun; sage‐grouse breeding, nesting, and early‐brood rearing; pronghorn late gestation and early parturition), summer (Jul–Oct; sage‐grouse summer and late‐brood rearing; pronghorn late parturition and breeding), and winter (Nov–Mar; non‐breeding season). Feral horses selected flatter slopes and shorter mean shrub height across all seasons and were closer to water in spring and summer. Pronghorn habitat selection was similar to horses, but they also avoided oil and gas well pads year‐round. During spring, sage‐grouse selected greater herbaceous cover, flatter slopes, and areas farther from well pads. In summer, sage‐grouse selected greater mean shrub height, flatter slopes, and were closer to water. In winter, sage‐grouse selected flatter slopes and areas with greater vegetation production during the preceding summer. Our results indicate strong year‐round overlap in space use between horses and pronghorn, whereas overlap between horses and sage‐grouse is greatest during the summer in this region. Consequently, managers should recognize the potential for horses to influence habitat quality of pronghorn and sage‐grouse in the region.
Optimizing fisheries for blue carbon management: Why size matters
Authors: Falciani Jonathan E. , Grigoratou Maria , Pershing Andrew J. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractFish contribute to the export of carbon out of the euphotic zone. They ingest organic carbon fixed by phytoplankton, store it in their tissues for their lifetime, and contribute to long‐term sequestration by producing sinking fecal pellets, respiring at depth, or via their own sinking carcasses. While the flux of carbon through fish is small relative to the export flux by plankton, humans have a direct influence on fish communities and thus on the magnitude of carbon storage and flux. We use a size spectrum model to examine the combined effect of fishing and trophic dynamics on the total carbon stored as biomass of a simulated community of fish. By sampling 10,500 possible fishing strategies that randomize fishing mortality and size‐selectivity, we consider optimal strategies that balance several UN Sustainable Development Goals addressing (1) food security, (2) climate action, and (3) marine conservation. The model shows that fishery management strategies that preferentially conserve large species increase overall carbon stored in the fish community. This study presents a perspective for considering carbon storage and sequestration in fisheries management alongside alternative objectives such as food production and biodiversity conservation. Our study focused on the state (total carbon in the living community). Incorporating rate processes like fecal pellet flux, vertical migration, and natural mortality would build toward a more holistic carbon approach to fisheries management.
Integrated Chalcogenide Photonics for Microresonator Soliton Combs
Authors: Xia Di , Yang Zelin , Zeng Pingyang , Zhang Bin , Wu Jiayue , Wang Zifu , Zhao Jiaxin , Huang Jianteng , Luo Liyang , Liu Dong , Yang Shuixian , Guo Hairun , Li Zhaohui 
Published: November 2022

AbstractIntegrated nonlinear photonics, combined nonlinear optics with state‐of‐the‐art photonic integration, play a crucial role in chip‐integrated technologies including optical frequency combs, molecular spectroscopy, and quantum optics. Optical materials with favorable properties are the foundation to promote integrated photonic devices with bandwidth, efficiency, and flexibility in high‐volume chip‐scale fabrication. In this work, a newly developed chalcogenide glass‐Ge25Sb10S65 (GeSbS) is presented for nonlinear photonic integration and for dissipative soliton microcomb generation. The GeSbS features wide transparency (0.5–10 µm), strong nonlinearity (1.3 × 10−18 m2 W−1), and low thermo‐refractive coefficient (3.1 × 10−5 K−1), and is complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)‐compatible in fabrication. In this platform, chip‐integrated optical microresonators with an average intrinsic quality (Q) factor of ≈1.97 × 106 are implemented, and lithographically controlled dispersion engineering is carried out. In particular, both a bright soliton‐based microcomb with bandwidth of 240 nm (≈1440–1680 nm) and a dark‐pulse comb with bandwidth of 80 nm (≈1510–1590 nm) are generated in a single microresonator in its separated fundamental polarized mode families.The ten‐milliwatt level of soliton microcomb operation power facilitates the monolithically integrated photonic circuits. The results provide a potential material platform for integrated nonlinear photonics for highly compact and high‐intensity nonlinear interactions in visible and infrared regions.
Stability for localized integral operators on weighted spaces of homogeneous type
Authors: Fang Qiquan , Shin Chang Eon , Tao Xiangxing 
Published: November 2022

AbstractLinear operators with off‐diagonal decay appear in many areas of mathematics including harmonic and numerical analysis, and their stability is one of the basic assumptions. In this paper, we consider a family of localized integral operators in the Beurling algebra with kernels having mild singularity near the diagonal and certain Hölder continuity property, and prove that their weighted stabilities for different exponents and Muckenhoupt weights are equivalent to each other on a space of homogeneous type with Ahlfors regular measure.
Corrosion of rebars in recycled glass concrete under tropical marine environment
Authors: Hoil‐Canul E. , Maldonado‐López L. , Díaz‐Ballote L. , Casanova‐Calam G. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractThis study demonstrates the potential use of recycled powder glass as cement replacement to prepare durable concrete and avoid infrastructure corrosion in tropical marine environments using limestone as fine and coarse aggregates. Samples for corrosion measurements were prepared with #3 (∼9.5 mm) bars and without reinforcement for carbonation, chloride penetration, and mechanical strength tests. Powder glass was used as partial cement replacement by 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % (weight percent). Over two years, the corrosion behavior of rebars was recorded through corrosion potential measurements and linear polarization resistance. In addition, carbonation depth and chloride penetration were analyzed from samples that were not reinforced. Results showed that replacing cement with glass does not change the mechanical strength at 28 days, but after 90 days of curing showed an increment as a function of time and recycled glass powder amount. The chloride penetration and the carbonation front are reduced substantially. Consequently, a moderate corrosion level was observed when the corrosion onset was established. Excellent corrosion protection was identified for a 0.70 water to cement ratio and 5 % cement replacement.
Study on characterization methods of the deformation properties of soft material polydimethylsiloxane using the indentation test
Authors: Tang Q. , Qian S. , Zhou S. , Ni Z. , Bian D. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractSoft materials are widely used in biomedical and flexible electronics fields, while their deformation properties are affected by many factors. It is difficult to obtain accurate characteristic parameters using common test methods. In this work, polydimethylsiloxane is used as the tested object, and the samples with different mass ratios of curing agent/base and thicknesses are prepared. The deformation properties of polydimethylsiloxane under the conditions of different loads and two indenters are investigated using the experiment and finite element analysis, and the factors affecting its deformation properties are discussed. The results demonstrate that the elastic modulus of polydimethylsiloxane is positively correlated with the content of curing agent, and the load has no significant role in its deformation properties. The correlation coefficients between the indentation tests and finite element results are in excess of 0.92. The difference between the modulus of the spherical indentation mode and the elastic modulus of the standard tensile test is lower than 3 %, while the flat‐ended indentation mode is more applicable to characterizing deformation properties of soft materials with variable thickness. These results will provide a new insight into the deformation characterization of soft materials.
Analysis of NRD guide devices using rigorous two‐dimensional full‐vectorial FDTD method
Authors: Bashir Tahir , Morimoto Keita , Iguchi Akito , Tsuji Yasuhide , Kashiwa Tatsuya 
Published: November 2022

AbstractIn this paper, a rigorous two‐dimensional full‐vectorial finite difference time domain (2D‐FVFDTD) method is developed for an efficient analysis of nonradiative dielectric waveguide (NRD guide) devices with three‐dimensional structure. A Convolutional perfectly matched layer is employed as an absorbing boundary condition. Furthermore, we have established a rigorous formulation for estimating the modal power of each and mode. We confirmed the validity of the proposed method through the analysis of NRD crossing and T‐branch guide devices. Excellent accuracy is achieved by the cross comparison of 2D‐FVFDTD results with recently developed two‐dimensional full vectorial finite element method.
Designing a quality assurance process for quality control of nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics studies of human blood
Authors: Muti Isabella H. , Gonzalez Sanchez‐Dahl Matteo , Zhong Anya B. , Weng JianXiang , Füzesi Mark V. , Kivisäkk Pia , Hyman Bradley T. , Arnold Steven E. , Feldman Adam S. , Mercaldo Nathaniel D. , Cheng Leo L. 
Published: November 2022

AbstractHigh‐resolution magic angle spinning (HRMAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)‐based metabolomics has demonstrated its utility in studies of biofluids for various diseases. HRMAS NMR spectroscopy is uniquely well suited for analyzing human blood samples because of the small quantity of samples and minimal preparation required. To develop this methodology into standardized clinical protocols, establishment of the method's quality assurance (QA) and evaluations of its quality control (QC) are critical. This study aims to assess the QA/QC measured from human blood specimens in the form of serum and plasma through within‐subject and between‐subject comparisons, as well as stability and consistency comparisons over several freezing–thawing cycles of sample storage conditions, and most importantly, the agreement of pooled control samples against individual samples.
Tri(3‐alkoxyl‐3‐oxopropyl) phosphine oxides derived from PH3 tail gas as a novel phosphorus‐containing plasticizer for polylactide
Authors: Liu Qing‐Wen , Hong Yu‐Lin , Wang Chang , Liu Yun , Liu Cheng‐Mei 
Published: November 2022

AbstractPreparing a polylactide (PLA)/plasticizer system has been regarded as an effective solution to improve the ductility of brittle PLA. In this reach, a novel type of alkyl phosphine oxides consisting of three aliphatic ester substituents was prepared from PH3 tail gas, and its potential to be employed as a PLA plasticizer was studied. Differential scanning calorimeter tests confirmed that the newly‐prepared plasticizer decreased the Tg of PLA (28 wt% plasticizer) from 52°C (neat PLA) to 11°C, and increased the elongation at break from 11% (neat PLA) to 271% (plasticized PLA). X‐ray diffraction results showed that the crystallization degree of PLA (28 wt% plasticizer) increased from 0.12% of neat PLA to 14.04%, while Young's modulus of PLA remained as high as 121.3 MPa, which was much higher than that of the PLA/citrate ester systems with same plasticizer content. These novel phosphorus‐containing plasticizers exhibited excellent thermal stability and a weight‐loss of the system no more than 2.5% at 180°C; therefore, no unpleasant volatiles were released during processing. In contrast, the weight loss of the PLA/citrate system was as high as 10.8% at 180°C, forming heavy fog with an unpleasant smell during thermal mixing. Scanning electron microscopy was employed to observe the microstructure of the PLA/plasticizer systems, which indicated that the carboxylic butyl ester‐containing phosphine oxides was compatible with PLA matrix.
Enhanced mechanical and thermal properties of graphene nanoplatelets‐reinforced polyamide11/poly(lactic acid) nanocomposites
Authors: Ucpinar Durmaz Bedriye , Aytac Ayse 
Published: November 2022

AbstractThe present paper aims to obtain a sustainable nanocomposite by using bio‐based polyamide 11 and biodegradable poly (lactic acid) blend as matrix and graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) as nanofiller. GNP was incorporated in the PA11/PLA blend matrix in the ratio of 0.5‐1‐3‐5‐10 wt% through the twin‐screw extruder. The crystallinity of PA11 in the blend, which was 12.9%, increased with the inclusion of GNP, and the highest crystallinity value was observed at 20% for the 1GNP sample. The crystallinity of PLA in the blend, which was 2.3%, increased to 4.6% with 5 wt% GNP addition. The inclusion of GNP to PA11/PLA improved the thermal degradation temperatures and increase the char residue. Also, increments were observed for storage modulus, loss modulus, and glass transition temperature of the matrix with the inclusion of GNP. The addition of GNP caused the tensile strength of the matrix to increase first and then decrease at higher amounts due to the agglomerations. 0.5–1 wt% GNP increased tensile strength by 10% and 5%, respectively. Increasing the amount of GNP to 10 wt% led to a sharp decrease in tensile strength by 24%. Overall, GNP is a suitable nanofiller to enhance the thermal and mechanical features of the PA11/PLA blend.