bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Technical Note: Performance of CyberKnife® tracking using low‐dose CT and kV imaging
Authors: Nano Tomi F. , Capaldi Dante P. I. , Yeung Timothy , Chuang Cynthia F. , Wang Lei , Descovich Martina
Published: October 2020

Purpose

To investigate the effects of CT protocol and in‐room x‐ray technique on CyberKnife® (Accuray Inc.) tracking accuracy by evaluating end‐to‐end tests.

Methods

End‐to‐end (E2E) tests were performed for the different tracking methods (6D skull, fiducial, spine, and lung) using an anthropomorphic head phantom (Accuray Inc.) and thorax phantom (CIRS Inc.). Bolus was added to the thorax phantom to simulate a large patient and to evaluate the performance of lung tracking in a more realistic condition. The phantoms were scanned with a Siemens Sensation Open 24 slice CT at low dose (120 kV, 70 mAs, 1.5 mm slice thickness) and high dose (120 kV, 700 mAs, 1.5 mm slice thickness) to generate low‐dose and high‐dose digitally reconstructed radiographs (DRRs). The difference in initial phantom alignment, Δ(Align), and in total targeting accuracy, E2E, were obtained for all tracking methods with low‐ and high‐dose DRRs. Additionally, Δ(Align) was determined for different in‐room x‐ray imaging techniques (0.5 to 50 mAs and 100 to 140 kV) using a low‐dose lung tracking plan.

Results

Low‐dose CT scans produced images with high noise; however, for these phantoms the targets could be easily delineated on all scans. End‐to‐end results were less than 0.95 mm for all tracking methods and all plans. The greatest difference in initial alignment Δ(Align) and E2E results between low‐ and high‐dose CT protocols was 0.32 and 0.24 mm, respectively. Similar results were observed with a large thorax phantom. Tracking using different in‐room x‐ray imaging techniques (mAs) corresponding to low exposures (resulting in high image noise) or high exposure (resulting in image saturation) had alignment accuracy Δ(Align) greater than 1 mm.

Conclusions

End‐to‐end targeting accuracy within tolerance (<0.95 mm) was obtained for all tracking methods using low‐dose CT protocols, suggesting that CT protocol should be set by target contouring needs. Additionally, high tracking accuracy was achieved for in‐room x‐ray imaging techniques that produce high‐quality images.
BISON: Brain tissue segmentation pipeline using T1‐weighted magnetic resonance images and a random forest classifier
Authors: Dadar Mahsa , Collins D. Louis
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Tissue segmentation from T1‐weighted (T1W) MRI is a critical requirement in many neuroscience and clinical applications. However, accurate tissue segmentation is challenging because of the variabilities in tissue intensity profiles caused by differences in scanner models, acquisition protocols, and age. In addition, many methods assume healthy anatomy and fail in the presence of pathology such as white matter hyperintensities (WMHs). We present BISON (Brain tISsue segmentatiON), a new pipeline for tissue segmentation using a random forest classifier and a set of intensity and location priors based on T1W MRI.

Methods

BISON was developed and cross‐validated using multiscanner manual labels of 72 subjects aged 5 to 96 years. We also assessed the test–retest reliability of BISON on two data sets: 20 subjects with scan/rescan MR images and manual segmentations and 90 scans from a single individual. The results were compared against Atropos, a state‐of‐the‐art commonly used tissue classification method from advanced normalization tools (ANTs).

Results

BISON cross‐validation dice kappa values against manual segmentations of 72 MRI volumes yielded κGM = 0.88, κWM = 0.85, κCSF = 0.77, outperforming Atropos (κGM = 0.79, κWM = 0.84, κCSF = 0.64), test–retest values on 20 subjects of κGM = 0.94, κWM = 0.92, κCSF = 0.77 outperforming both manual (κGM = 0.92, κWM = 0.91, κCSF =0.74) and Atropos (κGM = 0.87, κWM = 0.92, κCSF = 0.79). Finally, BISON outperformed Atropos, FAST (fast automated segmentation tool) from the FMRIB (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain) Software Library, and SPM12 (statistical parametric mapping 12) in the presence of WMHs.

Conclusion

BISON can provide accurate and robust segmentations in data from various age ranges and scanner models, making it ideal for performing tissue classification in large multicenter and multiscanner databases.
A cross‐sectional study of early mobility practice in intensive care units in Sarawak Hospitals, Malaysia
Authors: Yong Siew Yieng , Siop Sidiah , Kho Wee Meng
Published: October 2020

Aims

To determine the prevalence, characteristics of EM activities, the relationship between level of activity and mode of ventilation and adherence rate of EM protocol.

Background

Mobilizing ICU patients remains a challenge, despite its safety, feasibility and positive short‐term outcomes.

Design

A cross‐sectional point prevalence study.

Methods

All patients who were eligible and admitted to the adult ICUs during March 2018 were recruited. Data were analysed by using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 24 for Windows.

Results

The prevalence of EM practice was 65.6%. The most frequently reported avoidable and unavoidable factors inhibit mobility were deep sedation and vasopressor infusion, respectively. Level II of activity was the most common level of activity performed in ICU patients. The invasive ventilated patient had 12.53 the odds to stay in bed as compared to non‐invasive ventilated patient. An average adherence rate of EM protocol was 52.5%.
Predictive factors affecting stress among nurses providing care at COVID‐19 isolation hospitals at Egypt
Authors: Hendy Abdelaziz , Abozeid Ahmed , Sallam Gehan , Abboud Abdel Fattah Hadya , Ahmed Abdelkader Reshia Fadia
Published: October 2020

Aims

To examine predictive factors affecting stress among nurses providing care at COVID‐19 Isolation Hospitals at Egypt.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study conducted in five Isolation governmental hospitals for COVID‐19. 374 nurses included at the study. Characteristic forms, factors affecting nurses’ stress and Nursing Stress Scale (NSS) were used to collect data.

Results

(52.1%) of studied nurses had moderate level of total nursing stress scale. Also, (26.2%) of them had severe level, while (13.4% & 8.3%) of them had mild and normal level, respectively. Mean SD score of studied nurses regarding to total nursing stress scale was 99.47 ± 10.671.

Conclusions

Training for COVID‐19, availability of PPE, educational level and attention of hospital administration were negative predictor factors for nurses’ stress, while having children, people showed that COVID‐19 is stigma, fears of infection, workplace, fear of transmission infection for family and nurse to patient ratio were positive predictors.
Visceral Adiposity and Glucoregulatory Peptides are Associated with Susceptibility to Type 2 Diabetes: The TOFI_Asia Study
Authors: Sequeira Ivana Roosevelt , Yip Wilson , Lu Louise , Jiang Yannan , Murphy Rinki , Plank Lindsay , Zhang Shaoping , Liu Hong , Chuang Chia‐Lin , Vazhoor‐Amarsingh Greeshma , Cooper Garth , Poppitt Sally
Published: October 2020

Objective

Ethnic differences in fat deposition contribute to type 2 diabetes (T2D). Identification of biomarkers that underpin dysglycemia are needed for better‐targeted prevention and treatment.

Methods

The cross‐sectional thin‐on‐the‐outside‐fat‐on‐the‐inside (TOFI)_Asia study investigated adipose depots and clinical biomarkers as predictors of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and insulin resistance (IR; assessed using the updated homeostatic model assessment of IR) in lean and overweight normo‐ and dysglycemic Chinese (n = 199) and Caucasian (n = 158) individuals. Multivariate least‐angle regression models were used to identify predictors of FPG and IR.

Results

At similar age and BMI, Chinese individuals had lower body weight but had a greater percentage of total abdominal adipose tissue and a greater percentage of total visceral adipose tissue (VAT) (all P < 0.005). In Chinese individuals, FPG, hemoglobin A1c, fasting insulin, and triglycerides were higher, whereas HDL cholesterol and total and high‐molecular‐weight adiponectin levels were lower (all P < 0.0001). Raised liver enzyme and peptide concentrations (P < 0.02) were consistent with increased T2D risk. Lean Chinese women (<25 kg/m2) had greater total abdominal adipose tissue (kilograms) and VAT (kilograms) than Caucasian women, exhibiting the TOFI profile, with raised FPG (P < 0.001) and IR (P = 0.01). Risk factors for elevated FPG specific to Chinese individuals included male gender, VAT, and triglycerides (R2 = 0.33), and risk factors for IR specific to Chinese individuals included amylin, C‐peptide, and glucagon (R2 = 0.49). VAT, amylin, and C‐peptide were predictors in Caucasian individuals.

Conclusions

VAT contributed to dysglycemia in both ethnicities, particularly in Chinese individuals characterized by the TOFI phenotype, as did the glucoregulatory peptides amylin and C‐peptide, providing targets for T2D prevention.
Numerical investigation of distributed‐order fractional optimal control problems via Bernstein wavelets
Authors: Rahimkhani P. , Ordokhani Y.
Published: October 2020

The aim of this article is to investigate an efficient computational method for solving distributed‐order fractional optimal control problems. In the proposed method, a new Riemann‐Liouville fractional integral operator for the Bernstein wavelet is given. This approach is based on a combination of the Bernstein wavelets basis, fractional integral operator, Gauss‐Legendre numerical integration, and Newton's method for solving obtained system. Easy implementation, simple operations, and accurate solutions are the essential features of the proposed method. The error analysis of the proposed method is carried out. Examples reveal the applicability of the proposed technique.
Characteristics associated with time‐to‐treatment initiation for chronic Hepatitis C with new direct acting antivirals
Authors: Karmarkar Taruja , Padula William V. , Gaskin Darrell J. , Watson Eric , Rodriguez Carla V.
Published: October 2020

Background

Interferon‐free direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) were introduced in 2013 and have transformed the therapeutic landscape for chronic Hepatitis C (HCV). Although treatment is recommended for almost all persons infected with HCV, clinical and psychosocial factors may affect treatment initiation.

Methods

We conducted an observational cohort study of Kaiser Permanente Mid‐Atlantic States members with prevalent or incident HCV infection identified from November 2013 through May 2016 to identify predictors of DAA initiation. We used Cox regression with time‐dependent covariates to compare time to treatment by clinical, demographic and societal factors.

Results

Of 2962 patients eligible for DAA therapy, 33% (n = 980) initiated treatment over the study period. The majority of patients (97%) were persistent with therapy and most (95%) tested for sustained virologic response (SVR) achieved cure. We found no effect of race, insurance type or fibrosis stage on treatment initiation. We observed that patients aged 41‐60 years (aHR: 2.014, 95% CI: 1.12, 3.60) and 61‐80 years (aHR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.15‐3.75) had higher treatment rates compared to younger patients. Incident cases were more likely to be treated than prevalent cases (aHR: 3.05, 95% CI: 2.40‐3.89). Patients with a history of substance use disorder (SUD) were less likely (aHR: 0.805, 95% CI: 0.680, 0.953) to be treated.

Conclusions

In the first 3 years of DAA availability, one‐third of patients with HCV initiated therapy, and almost all were persistent and achieved cure. While curative, DAAs remain highly priced. Triaging for non‐clinical reasons or perceptions about patients will stall our ability to eradicate HCV.
Novel pranoprofen‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) conjugates: microwave‐assisted synthesis and structural characterization
Authors: Impallomeni Giuseppe , Mineo Placido Giuseppe , Vento Fabiana , Ballistreri Alberto
Published: October 2020

Biodegradable polymers are used in many biomedical devices, such as implants, cellular scaffolds and drug delivery systems. To improve drug delivery capability and to reduce systemic toxicity, the interest in polymer–drug conjugates has increased remarkably. With this aim, pranoprofen (PPF) (an effective non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug used mainly in ophthalmology) was conjugated to poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL) via microwave‐assisted transesterification, acid‐catalyzed by p‐toluenesulfonic acid. The products obtained were characterized by NMR, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry, gel permeation chromatography (which gave proof of the covalent link between PPF and PCL) and thermal analyses. The conjugates were found to contain up to 4.3% w/w of PPF and had molecular weights ranging from 5 to 12 kDa. © 2020 Society of Industrial Chemistry
Molecular basis of the interaction of Hsp90 with its co‐chaperone Hop
Authors: Lott Antonia , Oroz Javier , Zweckstetter Markus
Published: October 2020

The heat shock protein (Hsp) Hsp90 is one of the most abundant proteins in the cell. It controls the functional turnover of proteins being involved in protein folding, refolding, transport as well as protein degradation. Co‐chaperones influence Hsp90's activity in different ways, among which the Hsp organizing protein (Hop) was found to inhibit its ATP hydrolysis upon binding. Despite the availability of a number of studies investigating the Hsp90:Hop complex, several aspects of the Hsp90:Hop interaction have remained unresolved. Here, we employed a combinatory approach comprising native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isothermal titration calorimetry, multiangle light scattering, isothermal titration calorimetry, small‐angle X‐ray scattering, dynamic light scattering, and nuclear magnetic resonance, spectroscopy to obtain a comprehensive picture about the human Hsp90β:Hop association in solution. Our data show that only one Hop molecule binds the Hsp90β dimer, Hop can interact with the open and closed state of Hsp90β, and Hop's TPR2A‐2B domains determine the affinity for Hsp90's C‐terminal and middle domain, whereby the interaction with the C‐terminal domain of Hsp90β is sufficient to induce an allosteric conformational change between the two Hsp90β monomers in the Hsp902:Hop1 complex. Together, this study highlights the important role of the co‐chaperone Hop in reorganizing Hsp90 for efficient client loading.
The AbDesign computational pipeline for modular backbone assembly and design of binders and enzymes
Authors: Lipsh‐Sokolik Rosalie , Listov Dina , Fleishman Sarel J.
Published: October 2020

The functional sites of many protein families are dominated by diverse backbone regions that lack secondary structure (loops) but fold stably into their functionally competent state. Nevertheless, the design of structured loop regions from scratch, especially in functional sites, has met with great difficulty. We therefore developed an approach, called AbDesign, to exploit the natural modularity of many protein families and computationally assemble a large number of new backbones by combining naturally occurring modular fragments. This strategy yielded large, atomically accurate, and highly efficient proteins, including antibodies and enzymes exhibiting dozens of mutations from any natural protein. The combinatorial backbone‐conformation space that can be accessed by AbDesign even for a modestly sized family of homologs may exceed the diversity in the entire PDB, providing the sub‐Ångstrom level of control over the positioning of active‐site groups that is necessary for obtaining highly active proteins. This manuscript describes how to implement the pipeline using code that is freely available at https://github.com/Fleishman‐Lab/AbDesign_for_enzymes.
Resettlement of China‐born immigrants in Australia: Age, duration of stay and interstate migration
Authors: Guan Qing
Published: October 2020

Internal migration is an important settlement adjustment process for immigrants. For a high migration country, such as Australia, understanding the internal migration patterns is also needed for studying the demographic dynamics of immigration. With large numbers of immigrants now coming from Asia, little is known about how they move subsequently within Australia and whether they follow similar patterns of European‐origin groups. This paper examines resettlement patterns of the largest non‐European‐origin population in Australia: immigrants born in mainland China. Data from the 1986–2016 Australian Censuses are used to examine the complex relationship between age, duration of stay and interstate migration observed amongst China‐born immigrants in comparison with other major overseas‐born populations. Results show that migration probabilities peak for young and recently arrived immigrants, with an evident age‐on‐arrival effect. Considerable variations in migration patterns are identified across birthplaces, states and territories of residence and arrival cohorts. Interstate migration of China‐born immigrants increased over time, with recent arrivals exhibiting higher migration probabilities than that of the Australia‐born population in 2016. The findings extend our knowledge on immigrants adjustment and (re)settlement in the destination society and provide a basis for examining Australia's regional migration policies.
Development and evaluation of an ensemble forecast/hindcast system for storm surges in the Río de la Plata Estuary
Authors: Dinápoli Matías G. , Simionato Claudia G. , Moreira Diego
Published: October 2020

The development and evaluation of ensemble hindcasting and forecasting systems (EHS and EFS, respectively) for storm surges in the Río de la Plata Estuary (RdP) is presented. The models were forced by atmospheric sea level pressure and 10 m winds. The ensemble forcing for the EHS was generated by temporal‐spatial shifting of the operational global control ERA5 reanalysis provided by the European Centre of Medium‐Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF), because the ERA5 associated ensemble shows too little dispersion in this area. EFS was instead based on a lead time of 4 days and forced with the 50‐member high‐resolution ensemble prediction system of the ECMWF. EHS was evaluated over a long period (the 2000–2010 decade), whereas EFS was evaluated for the ten most extreme surges that occurred during that period: five positive (which caused coastal flooding) and five negative (which affected navigation and drinking water supply) events. Based on traditional statistics (area under the ROC curve and Brier scores), both systems were assessed from a probabilistic point of view. Results show that both EHS and EFS can incorporate more than 90% of the observations in the uncertainty range. They also showed good skill in hindcasting and forecasting surges, particularly extreme events, EHS being about 20% better than the control model and EFS up to 55% better, in agreement with state‐of‐the‐art models developed for other parts of the world. Results also showed that EFS can predict most of the surge peaks with 95% confidence, with a range of uncertainty of about ±0.90 m and ±9 hr. Therefore, results encourage the implementation of EHS and EFS as useful and robust tools for future climate studies, decision makers and the general public, to improve the quality of risk management decisions by quantifying forecast uncertainty.
Who is Australian? National belonging and exclusion in Australian history textbooks
Authors: Moore Robyn
Published: October 2020

Although multiculturalism replaced the White Australia Policy in the 1970s, the Australian nation continues to be imagined predominantly as a White space from which Aborigines, Torres Strait Islanders and peoples of non‐White immigrant heritage are excluded. Whereas White people's positioning as Australian is secure and taken for granted, non‐White people’s Australianness is fraught and tentative. In this article, I employ critical whiteness studies to explore the reproduction of racialised categories of national belonging and exclusion. Using textbooks as records of dominant narratives, I examine how Australian history narratives in secondary school textbooks produce and maintain the White solipsism which enables the nation to be imagined as White. From a sample of 16 texts released this century by a leading Australian publisher of secondary school textbooks, I excluded 10 which duplicated the content of other texts or did not cover my chosen focus: narratives of the Australia gold rushes and national identity. I conducted iterative critical discourse analysis on the remaining six texts. My analysis shows that, despite explicit attempts to improve textbook content, implicitly White solipsism is reinforced rather than disrupted. This functions to uphold constructions of the nation as White, excluding Aborigines, Torres Strait Islanders and peoples of non‐White immigrant heritage from national belonging. Further work is needed to ensure history narratives interrupt and contest White solipsism and its attendant privileging of White Australians. Educators raised in White societies need to recognise their likely enculturation in White solipsism and learn to avoid unintentionally reinscribing categories of national belonging and exclusion.
Explicit multiobjective model predictive control for nonlinear systems with symmetries
Authors: Ober‐Blöbaum Sina , Peitz Sebastian
Published: October 2020

Model predictive control is a prominent approach to construct a feedback control loop for dynamical systems. Due to real‐time constraints, solving model‐based optimal control problems in a very short amount of time can be challenging. For linear‐quadratic problems, Bemporad et al have proposed an explicit formulation where the underlying optimization problems are solved a priori in an offline phase. In this article, we present an extension of this concept in two significant ways. We consider nonlinear problems and—more importantly—problems with multiple conflicting objective functions. In the offline phase, we build a library of Pareto optimal solutions from which we then obtain a valid compromise solution in the online phase according to a decision maker's preference. Since the standard multiparametric programming approach is no longer valid in the nonlinear situation, we instead use interpolation between different entries of the library. To reduce the number of problems that have to be solved in the offline phase, we exploit symmetries in the dynamical system and the corresponding multiobjective optimal control problem. The results are verified using two different examples from autonomous driving.
Parameter clustering in Bayesian functional principal component analysis of neuroscientific data
Authors: Margaritella Nicolò , Inácio Vanda , King Ruth
Published: October 2020

The extraordinary advancements in neuroscientific technology for brain recordings over the last decades have led to increasingly complex spatiotemporal data sets. To reduce oversimplifications, new models have been developed to be able to identify meaningful patterns and new insights within a highly demanding data environment. To this extent, we propose a new model called parameter clustering functional principal component analysis (PCl‐fPCA) that merges ideas from functional data analysis and Bayesian nonparametrics to obtain a flexible and computationally feasible signal reconstruction and exploration of spatiotemporal neuroscientific data. In particular, we use a Dirichlet process Gaussian mixture model to cluster functional principal component scores within the standard Bayesian functional PCA framework. This approach captures the spatial dependence structure among smoothed time series (curves) and its interaction with the time domain without imposing a prior spatial structure on the data. Moreover, by moving the mixture from data to functional principal component scores, we obtain a more general clustering procedure, thus allowing a higher level of intricate insight and understanding of the data. We present results from a simulation study showing improvements in curve and correlation reconstruction compared with different Bayesian and frequentist fPCA models and we apply our method to functional magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalogram data analyses providing a rich exploration of the spatiotemporal dependence in brain time series.
Who responds to changes to the federal adoption tax credit? Evidence from Florida
Authors: Rodgers Luke P. , Wallace Cullen T.
Published: October 2020

The federal adoption tax credit (ATC) can help offset the cost of adoption, yet it is unclear whether it has a positive impact on the number of adoptions or if it merely transfers resources to households who would have adopted anyway. The ATC has primarily been a nonrefundable tax credit, but in 2010 and 2011 the full amount (over $13,000) was available as a refundable tax credit, representing a substantial increase in the benefit to lower‐ and middle‐income families—those with typically low tax liability. Using county‐level data from Florida, we estimate an increase of 265 additional public adoptions over what would be expected at the end of 2011. Relative decreases in adoptions in the first months of 2012 suggest that much of this increase is due to retiming rather than new adoptions. The response appears to be concentrated in lower‐ and middle‐income households living in higher‐income, more populated areas.
Finite‐state model extraction and visualization from Java program execution
Authors: K. P. Jevitha , Jayaraman Swaminathan , Jayaraman Bharat , M Sethumadhavan
Published: October 2020

Finite‐state models are extensively used for discrete systems and they have also been adopted for the analysis and verification of concurrent systems. Programs that have a repetitive cycle, such as event‐driven servers and controllers, lend themselves to finite‐state modeling. In this article, we use the termmodel extractionto refer to the construction of a finite‐state model from an execution trace of a Java program and a set of key attributes, that is, a subset of the fields of the objects in the program execution. By choosing different sets of attributes, different finite‐state models (or views) of the execution can be obtained. Such models aid program comprehension and they can also be used in debugging a program. We present algorithms for model extraction and also formodel abstractionin order to reduce the size of the extracted models so that they are amenable to visualization. For long executions, we show how to minimize the overhead of execution trace collection through a bytecode instrumentation technique; and, for large models, which are not amenable to visualization, we show how key properties of the extracted model can be checked against declarative specifications. We have implemented our techniques in the context of JIVE, an Eclipse plugin that supports runtime visualization and analysis of Java program executions. We illustrate our techniques through a collection of case studies of varying size and complexity, from classic problems of concurrency control to a medium‐size protocol for authorization (OAuth2.0 protocol) to a large‐scale software that underlies web applications (Apache Tomcat server).
Cryopreservation of ferret (Mustela putorius furo) sperm collected by rectal massage and electroejaculation: Comparison of a decelerating and an accelerating freezing rate protocol
Authors: Toledano‐Díaz Adolfo , Castaño Cristina , Velázquez Rosario , Bóveda Paula , López‐Sebastián Antonio , Martínez‐Nevado Eva , Villaverde‐Morcillo Silvia , Esteso Milagros C. , Santiago‐Moreno Julián
Published: October 2020

The domestic ferret (Mustela putorius furo) provides a good model for developing new reproductive technologies for use with threatened related species. Such technologies could also be used in the reproductive management of this pet species. The present work reports an improved freezing protocol for ferret sperm. Semen was collected by electroejaculation plus rectal massage (in an attempt to reduce the electrical stimulation necessary) from five adult male ferrets, and then subjected to one of two freezing protocols: (a) from 5 to −35°C at 40°C/min, then from −35 to −65°C at 17°C/min, and finally from −65 to −85°C at 3°C/min—a decelerating freezing rate; and (b) from 5 to − 10°C at 5°C/min, and then from −10 to −130°C at 60°C/min—an accelerating freezing rate. After thawing, the viability and acrosomal integrity of the sperm frozen via the two‐step accelerating method were better than those frozen via the three‐step decelerating method (43.3 ± 3.5% and 71.2 ± 3.4% compared with 29.7 ± 3.7% and 58.8 ± 3.4% respectively; p < .05). No differences were seen between the methods with respect to sperm motility variables; most sperm (>90%) remained static with both freezing methods. In conclusion, although the method with accelerating freezing rate was associated with better post‐thaw sperm viability and acrosome integrity values, neither of the two freezing methods tested provided adequate motility results after thawing. Combining rectal massage with electrical stimuli seemed to reduce the number of the latter required for successful sperm collection.
Genotyping of PCV3 based on reassembled viral gene sequences
Authors: Chung Hee‐Chun , Nguyen Van Giap , Park Yong‐ho , Park Bong‐Kyun
Published: October 2020

Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) has been reported in many countries such as USA, China, Korea and many European countries during 2015–2018. The six PCV3 strains named IH, SJ, N5, N10, N13 and N62 were detected out of 220 samples by PCR methods while the prevalence our study was conducted in 2017 to 2018. The six detected strains were hard to genotype with reference viruses due to their diverse phylogenetic relationship. PCV3 capsid, ORF3 and replicase protein coding genes were reassembled at the nucleotide sequence level, then 16 new reassembled PCV3 sequences were generated. Based on the maximum likelihood mapping analysis of 303 PCV3 sequences a model with a combination of replicase, ORF3 and capsid protein coding genes was selected as the most appropriate target for genotyping, which provided the best support for the clade classification into three genotypes and several subtypes (genotype 1, genotype 2; subtype: a and b, genotype 3; subtype a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h). This study, the IH_Korea_2017 and N62_Korea_2018 strains belong to genogroup 3 (subtype a) the SJ_Korea_2017 strain genogroup 3 (subtype g) and the N5, N10, N13 Korea_ 2018 strains genogroup 3 (subtype f), respectively. In conclusion, this study may provide insights to classification of PCV3 genotypes around the world.
Hermitian Theta Series and Maaß Spaces Under the Action of the Maximal Discrete Extension of the Hermitian Modular Group
Authors: Wernz Annalena
Published: October 2020

Let $$\Gamma _n(\mathcal {\scriptstyle {O}}_{\mathbb {K}})$$

Γ
n

(

O

K

)

denote the Hermitian modular group of degree n over an imaginary quadratic number field $$\mathbb {K}$$
K
and $$\Delta _{n,\mathbb {K}}^*$$

Δ

n
,
K

∗

its maximal discrete extension in the special unitary group $$SU(n,n;\mathbb {C})$$

S
U
(
n
,
n
;
C
)

. In this paper we study the action of $$\Delta _{n,\mathbb {K}}^*$$

Δ

n
,
K

∗

on Hermitian theta series and Maaß spaces. For $$n=2$$

n
=
2

we will find theta lattices such that the corresponding theta series are modular forms with respect to $$\Delta _{2,\mathbb {K}}^*$$

Δ

2
,
K

∗

as well as examples where this is not the case. Our second focus lies on studying two different Maaß spaces. We will see that the new found group $$\Delta _{2,\mathbb {K}}^*$$

Δ

2
,
K

∗

consolidates the different definitions of the spaces.
Ordering properties of radial ground states and singular ground states of quasilinear elliptic equations
Authors: Colucci R. , Franca M.
Published: October 2020

In this paper we discuss the ordering properties of positive radial solutions of the equation $$\begin{aligned} \Delta _p u(x)+ k |x|^{\delta } u^{q-1}(x)=0 \end{aligned}$$

Δ
p

u

(
x
)

+
k

|
x
|

δ

u

q
-
1

(
x
)

=
0

where $$x \in {\mathbb {R}}^n, n>p>1, k>0, \delta>-p, q>p$$

x
∈

R

n

,
n
>
p
>
1
,
k
>
0
,
δ
>
-
p
,
q
>
p

. We are interested both in regular ground states u (GS), defined and positive in the whole of $${\mathbb {R}}^n$$

R

n

, and in singular ground states v (SGS), defined and positive in $${\mathbb {R}}^n \setminus \{0\}$$

R

n

\

{
0
}

and such that $$\lim _{|x| \rightarrow 0} v(x)=+\infty $$

lim

|
x
|
→
0

v

(
x
)

=
+
∞

. A key role in this analysis is played by two bifurcation parameters $$p^{JL}(\delta )$$

p

JL

(
δ
)

and $$p_{jl}(\delta )$$

p

jl

(
δ
)

, such that $$p^{JL}(\delta )>p^*(\delta )>p_{jl}(\delta )>p$$

p

JL

(
δ
)

>

p
∗

(
δ
)

>

p

jl

(
δ
)

>
p

: $$p^{JL}(\delta )$$

p

JL

(
δ
)

generalizes the classical Joseph–Lundgren exponent, and $$p_{jl}(\delta )$$

p

jl

(
δ
)

its dual. We show that GS are well ordered, i.e. they cannot cross each other if and only if $$q \ge p^{JL}(\delta )$$

q
≥

p

JL

(
δ
)

; this way we extend to the $$p>1$$

p
>
1

case the result proved in Miyamoto (Nonlinear Differ Equ Appl 23(2):24, 2016), Miyamoto and Takahashi (Arch Math Basel 108(1):71–83, 2017) for the $$p \ge 2$$

p
≥
2

case. Analogously we show that SGS are well ordered, if and only if $$q \le p_{jl}(\delta )$$

q
≤

p

jl

(
δ
)

; this latter result seems to be known just in the classical $$p=2$$

p
=
2

and $$\delta =0$$

δ
=
0

case, and also the expression of $$p_{jl}(\delta )$$

p

jl

(
δ
)

has not appeared in literature previously.
Double phase problems with variable growth and convection for the Baouendi–Grushin operator
Authors: Bahrouni Anouar , Rădulescu Vicenţiu D. , Winkert Patrick
Published: October 2020

In this paper we study a class of quasilinear elliptic equations with double phase energy and reaction term depending on the gradient. The main feature is that the associated functional is driven by the Baouendi–Grushin operator with variable coefficient. This partial differential equation is of mixed type and possesses both elliptic and hyperbolic regions. We first establish some new qualitative properties of a differential operator introduced recently by Bahrouni et al. (Nonlinearity 32(7):2481–2495, 2019). Next, under quite general assumptions on the convection term, we prove the existence of stationary waves by applying the theory of pseudomonotone operators. The analysis carried out in this paper is motivated by patterns arising in the theory of transonic flows.
On the stability of periodic binary sequences with zone restriction
Authors: Su Ming , Wang Qiang
Published: October 2020

Traditional global stability measure for sequences is hard to determine because of large search space. We propose the k-error linear complexity with a zone restriction for measuring the local stability of sequences. For several classes of sequences, we demonstrate that the k-error linear complexity is identical to the k-error linear complexity within a zone, while the length of a zone is much smaller than the whole period when the k-error linear complexity is large. These sequences have periods $$2^n$$

2
n

, or $$2^v r$$

2
v

r

(r odd prime and 2 is primitive modulo r), or $$2^v p_1^{s_1} \cdots p_n^{s_n}$$

2
v

p
1

s
1

⋯

p
n

s
n

($$p_i$$

p
i

is an odd prime and 2 is primitive modulo $$p_i^2$$

p
i
2

, where $$1\le i \le n$$

1
≤
i
≤
n

) respectively. In particular, we completely determine the spectrum of 1-error linear complexity with any zone length for an arbitrary $$2^n$$

2
n

-periodic binary sequence.
Cyclooxygenase activity mediates colorectal cancer cell resistance to the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid
Authors: Volpato Milene , Ingram Nicola , Perry Sarah L , Spencer Jade , Race Amanda D , Marshall Catriona , Hutchinson John M , Nicolaou Anna , Loadman Paul M , Coletta P Louise , Hull Mark A
Published: October 2020

Purpose

The naturally-occurring omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is safe, well-tolerated and inexpensive, making it an attractive anti-cancer intervention. However, EPA has only modest anti-colorectal cancer (CRC) activity, when used alone. Both cyclooxygenase (COX) isoforms metabolise EPA and are over-expressed in CRC cells. We investigated whether COX inhibition increases the sensitivity of CRC cells to growth inhibition by EPA.

Methods

A panel of 18 human and mouse CRC cell lines was used to characterize the differential sensitivity of CRC cells to the growth inhibitory effects of EPA. The effect of CRISPR-Cas9 genetic deletion and pharmacological inhibition of COX-1 and COX-2 on the anti-cancer activity of EPA was determined using in vitro and in vivo models.

Results

Genetic ablation of both COX isoforms increased sensitivity of CT26 mouse CRC cells to growth inhibition by EPA in vitro and in vivo. The non-selective COX inhibitor aspirin and the selective COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib increased sensitivity of several human and mouse CRC cell lines to EPA in vitro. However, in a MC38 mouse CRC cell tumour model, with dosing that mirrored low-dose aspirin use in humans, thereby producing significant platelet COX-1 inhibition, there was ineffective intra-tumoral COX-2 inhibition by aspirin and no effect on EPA sensitivity of MC38 cell tumours.

Conclusion

Cyclooxygenase inhibition by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs represents a therapeutic opportunity to augment the modest anti-CRC activity of EPA. However, intra-tumoral COX inhibition is likely to be critical for this drug-nutrient interaction and careful tissue pharmacodynamic profiling is required in subsequent pre-clinical and human studies.
Expanding spectrum of “spitzoid” lesions: a small series of 4 cases with MAP2K1 mutations
Authors: Kerckhoffs K. G. P. , Aallali T. , Ambarus C. A. , Sigurdsson V. , Jansen A. M. L. , Blokx W. A. M.
Published: October 2020

The molecular background of a significant proportion of spitzoid neoplasms is still unknown. Recently, activating mutations in MAP2K1 have been described in a few spitzoid lesions, but not in benign Spitz nevi. We report four cases of melanocytic tumors with spitzoid features in which a MAP2K1 mutation was detected. The lesions did not show a single distinct phenotype and ranged from benign to malignant. Two cases resembled desmoplastic Spitz nevi. Based on the combination of morphological, immunohistochemical, and molecular findings, one case was classified as benign, one as probably benign, possibly intermediate low-grade (MELTUMP—melanocytic tumor of unknown malignant potential), one case was classified as intermediate (MELTUMP), and one case was considered a superficial spreading melanoma with spitzoid features. Based on this, we conclude that MAP2K1 mutations can indicate a spitzoid genetic signature and can be found in both benign and malignant spitzoid neoplasms.
Five Specific Tongue Movements in a Healthy Population
Authors: Kappert Kilian D. R. , van Dijk Simone , Wellenstein David , van Alphen Maarten J. A. , van Son Rob J. J. H. , Smeele Ludi E. , Balm Alfons J. M.
Published: October 2020

The importance of tongue mobility on speech, oral food transport, and swallowing is well recognized. However, whether the individual tongue mobility influences postoperative function in oral cancer treatment remains to be elucidated. This study assesses the ability to perform five tongue movements as rolling, twisting (two sides), folding, and the ‘cloverleaf’ in a healthy population. Because a tumor in oral cancer patients often restricts the mobility of the tongue, it might be helpful to know if it is possible to recall any of those movements without demonstrating it. Two observers asked 387 Dutch healthy adults if they could perform one of the five specific tongue movements and were subsequently asked to demonstrate the five movements. The distribution in the Dutch population is: rolling: 83.7%, cloverleaf: 14.7%, folding: 27.5%, twisting left: 36.1% and twisting right: 35.6%. The percentage of people that can fold their tongue is almost ten times higher (3% versus 27.5%) than in previous research, and it was found that the ability to roll the tongue is not a prerequisite for folding of the tongue. A relationship between gender or right-handedness and the ability to perform certain tongue movements could not be found. Of the participants, 9.9% and 13.1% incorrectly assumed that they could demonstrate tongue rolling and cloverleaf. Tongue folding and twisting (left or right) were incorrectly assumed in 36.9%, 24.1%, and 25.4% of the cases. Rolling and cloverleaf are preferred for future prediction models because these movements are easy to recall without demonstrating.
Thirty years after anorexia nervosa onset, serum neurofilament light chain protein concentration indicates neuronal injury
Authors: Wentz Elisabet , Dobrescu Sandra Rydberg , Dinkler Lisa , Gillberg Carina , Gillberg Christopher , Blennow Kaj , Råstam Maria , Zetterberg Henrik
Published: October 2020

Little is known about the long-term consequences of anorexia nervosa (AN) in terms of possible brain neuronal injury. We aimed at investigating whether women with adolescent-onset AN exhibit increased serum levels of neurofilament light chain protein (NfL), a biomarker for neuronal injury, compared with matched controls at 30-year follow-up. Blood samples were collected from 34 women with adolescent-onset AN and 38 matched healthy comparison women (COMP), at a mean age of 44 years (range 38–48 years). NfL was measured in serum using the in-house single molecule array (Simoa) method. The individuals were asked whether they or their parents had been diagnosed with dementia. The Swedish National Patient Register was searched for diagnoses related to dementia. Serum NfL concentrations were significantly higher in the AN group (AN 27.7 pg/ml; COMP 19.0 pg/ml; p = 0.041). When individuals with medical/neurological disorders in the AN and COMP groups were excluded, there was a statistically non-significant trend towards higher concentrations in the AN group (AN 27.4 pg/ml; COMP 18.8 pg/ml; p = 0.060). None of the participants had been diagnosed with dementia. There was no significant correlation between serum NfL and AN duration (r = 0.15). There was a moderate negative correlation between the serum NfL concentration and the current BMI in the AN group (r = 0.44). This is the first time that serum NfL has been assessed in middle-aged women with a history of adolescent-onset AN. The results suggest that there might be increased axonal degeneration as a sequel of AN. Individuals remaining underweight had higher serum NfL concentrations than those with a normal/high BMI. Additional studies are needed to confirm increased serum NfL concentrations in individuals recovered from AN. There is a need for further study of axonal degeneration as a consequence of AN.
How flood risks shape policies: flood exposure and risk perception in Swiss municipalities
Authors: Glaus Anik , Mosimann Markus , Röthlisberger Veronika , Ingold Karin
Published: October 2020

Despite an increasing number of people exposed to flood risks in Europe, flood risk perception remains low and effective flood risk management policies are rarely implemented. It becomes increasingly important to understand how local governments can design effective flood risk management policies to address flood risks. In this article, we study whether high flood exposure and flood risk perception correlate with the demand for a specific design of flood risk management policies. We take the ideal case of Switzerland and analyze flood risk management portfolios in 18 flood-prone municipalities along the Aare River. We introduce a novel combination of risk analysis and public policy data: we analyze correlations between recorded flood exposure data and survey data on flood risk perception and policy preferences for selected flood risk management measures. Our results indicate that local governments with high flood risk perception tend to prefer non-structural measures, such as spatial planning and ecological river restoration, to infrastructure measures. In contrast, flood exposure is neither linked to flood risk perception nor to policy preferences. We conclude that flood risk perception is key: it can decisively affect local governments’ preferences to implement specific diversified policy portfolios including more preventive or integrated flood risk management measures. These findings imply that local governments in flood-prone areas should invest in raising their population’s awareness capacity of flood risks and keep it high during periods without flooding.
Validity of visual assessment of aortic valve morphology in patients with aortic stenosis using two-dimensional echocardiography
Authors: Nemchyna Olena , Soltani Sajjad , Solowjowa Natalia , Schoenrath Felix , Hrytsyna Yuriy , Unbehaun Axel , Kempfert Jörg , Stein Julia , Knosalla Christoph , Hagendorff Andreas , Knebel Fabian , Falk Volkmar , Knierim Jan
Published: October 2020

The diagnostic value of a visual assessment of aortic valve (AV) morphology for grading aortic stenosis (AS) remains unclear. A visual score (VS) for assessing the AV was developed and its reliability with respect to Doppler measurements and the calcium score (ctCS) derived by multislice computed tomography was evaluated. 99 Patients with AS of various severity and 38 patients without AS were included in the analysis. Echocardiographic studies were evaluated using the new VS which includes echogenicity, thickening, localization of lesions and leaflet mobility, with a total score ranging from 0 to 11. The association of VS with ctCS and the severity of AS was analyzed. There was a significant correlation of VS with AV hemodynamic parameters and with ctCS. The cut-off value for the detection of AS of any grade was a VS of 6 (sensitivity 95%, specificity 85% for women; sensitivity 85%, specificity 88% for men). A VS of 9 for women and of 10 for men was able to predict severe AS with a high specificity (96% in women and 94% in men, AUC 0.8 and 0.86, respectively). The same cut-off values were identified for the detection of ctCS of ≥ 1600 AU and ≥ 3000 AU with a specificity of 77% and 82% (AUC 0.69 and 0.81, respectively). Assessment of aortic valve morphology can serve as an additional diagnostic tool for the detection of AS and an estimation of its severity.
Implications of climate change mitigation strategies on international bioenergy trade
Authors: Daioglou Vassilis , Muratori Matteo , Lamers Patrick , Fujimori Shinichiro , Kitous Alban , Köberle Alexandre C. , Bauer Nico , Junginger Martin , Kato Etsushi , Leblanc Florian , Mima Silvana , Wise Marshal , van Vuuren Detlef P.
Published: October 2020

Most climate change mitigation scenarios rely on increased use of bioenergy to decarbonize the energy system. Here we use results from the 33rd Energy Modeling Forum study (EMF-33) to investigate projected international bioenergy trade for different integrated assessment models across several climate change mitigation scenarios. Results show that in scenarios with no climate policy, international bioenergy trade is likely to increase over time, and becomes even more important when climate targets are set. More stringent climate targets, however, do not necessarily imply greater bioenergy trade compared to weaker targets, as final energy demand may be reduced. However, the scaling up of bioenergy trade happens sooner and at a faster rate with increasing climate target stringency. Across models, for a scenario likely to achieve a 2 °C target, 10–45 EJ/year out of a total global bioenergy consumption of 72–214 EJ/year are expected to be traded across nine world regions by 2050. While this projection is greater than the present trade volumes of coal or natural gas, it remains below the present trade of crude oil. This growth in bioenergy trade largely replaces the trade in fossil fuels (especially oil) which is projected to decrease significantly over the twenty-first century. As climate change mitigation scenarios often show diversified energy systems, in which numerous world regions can act as bioenergy suppliers, the projections do not necessarily lead to energy security concerns. Nonetheless, rapid growth in the trade of bioenergy is projected in strict climate mitigation scenarios, raising questions about infrastructure, logistics, financing options, and global standards for bioenergy production and trade.