bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dopaminergic mechanisms underlying the expression of antipsychotic-induced dopamine supersensitivity in rats
Authors: Servonnet Alice , Allain Florence , Gravel-Chouinard Alice , Hernandez Giovanni , Caporuscio Casey Bourdeau , Legrix Mathilde , Lévesque Daniel , Rompré Pierre-Paul , Samaha Anne-Noël
Published: September 2020

Antipsychotic treatment can produce a dopamine-supersensitive state, potentiating the response to dopamine receptor stimulation. In both schizophrenia patients and rats, this is linked to tolerance to ongoing antipsychotic treatment. In rodents, dopamine supersensitivity is often confirmed by an exaggerated psychomotor response to d-amphetamine after discontinuation of antipsychotic exposure. Here we examined in rats the dopaminergic mechanisms mediating this enhanced behavioural response, as this could uncover pathophysiological processes underlying the expression of antipsychotic-evoked dopamine supersensitivity. Rats received 0.5 mg/kg/day haloperidol via osmotic minipump for 2 weeks, before treatment was discontinued. After cessation of antipsychotic treatment, rats showed a supersensitive psychomotor response to the D2 agonist quinpirole, but not to the D1 partial agonist SKF38393 or the dopamine reuptake blocker GBR12783. Furthermore, acute D1 receptor blockade (using SCH39166) decreased the exaggerated psychomotor response to d-amphetamine in haloperidol-pretreated rats, whereas acute D2 receptor blockade (using sulpiride) enhanced it. Thus, after discontinuation of antipsychotic treatment, D1- and D2-mediated transmission differentially modulate the expression of a supersensitive response to d-amphetamine. This supersensitive behavioural response was accompanied by enhanced GSK3β activity and suppressed ERK1/2 activity in the nucleus accumbens (but not caudate-putamen), suggesting increased mesolimbic D2 transmission. Finally, after discontinuing haloperidol treatment, neither increasing ventral midbrain dopamine impulse flow nor infusing d-amphetamine into the cerebral ventricles triggered the expression of already established antipsychotic-evoked dopamine supersensitivity, suggesting that peripheral effects are required. Thus, while dopamine receptor-mediated signalling regulates the expression of antipsychotic-evoked dopamine supersensitivity, a simple increase in central dopamine neurotransmission is insufficient to trigger this supersensitivity.

HIGHLIGHTS

Antipsychotic exposure can lead to a state of dopamine (DA) supersensitivity

In rats, this DA supersensitivity potentiates d-amphetamine-induced locomotion

We report that D2 transmission promotes DA supersensitivity and D1 transmission tempers it

D-amphetamine’s central effects are also insufficient to reveal DA supersensitivity
Controlling the flow of interruption in working memory
Authors: Hakim Nicole , Feldmann-Wüstefeld Tobias , Awh Edward , Vogel Edward K
Published: September 2020

Visual working memory (WM) must maintain relevant information, despite the constant influx of both relevant and irrelevant information. Attentional control mechanisms help determine which of this new information gets access to our capacity-limited WM system. Previous work has treated attentional control as a monolithic process–either distractors capture attention or they are suppressed. Here, we provide evidence that attentional capture may instead be broken down into at least two distinct sub-component processes: 1) spatial capture, which refers to when spatial attention shifts towards the location of irrelevant stimuli, and 2) item-based capture, which refers to when item-based WM representations of irrelevant stimuli are formed. To dissociate these two sub-component processes of attentional capture, we utilized a series of EEG components that track WM maintenance (contralateral delay activity), suppression (distractor positivity), item individuation (N2pc), and spatial attention (lateralized alpha power). We show that relevant interrupters trigger both spatial and item-based capture, which means that they undermine WM maintenance more. Irrelevant interrupters, however, only trigger spatial capture from which ongoing WM representations can recover more easily. This fractionation of attentional capture into distinct sub-component processes provides a framework by which the fate of ongoing WM processes after interruption can be explained.
On the effects of selection and mutation on species tree inference
Authors: Wascher Matthew , Kubatko Laura S.
Published: September 2020

A common question that arises when inferring species-level phylogenies from genome-scale data is whether selection acting on certain parts of the genome could create a bias in the inferred phylogeny. While most methods for species tree inference currently assume the multispecies coalescent (MSC), all methods that we are aware of utilize only the neutral coalescent process. If selection is in fact present, failure to adequately model it could introduce substantial bias. We work toward rigorously addressing this question using mathematical theory by deriving a version of the coalescent including selection and mutation as a limiting approximation of the Wright-Fisher model with selection and mutation, and showing that it can be used to closely approximate the distribution of coalescent times in the presence of selection and mutation. We confirm the adequacy of the approximation with a simulation study, and discuss its implications for species tree inference. Our results show that in a general class containing many cases of interest, selection has only a small impact on the coalescent process, and ignoring selection when it is present does not have a substantial negative impact on inference of the species tree topology.
Characterization of SOX2, OCT4 and NANOG in ovarian cancer tumor-initiating cells
Authors: Robinson Mikella , Gilbert Samuel F , Waters Jennifer A , Lujano-Olazaba Omar , Lara Jacqueline , Alexander Logan J , Green Samuel E , Burkeen Gregory , Patrus Omid , Holmberg Ryne , Wang Christine , House Carrie D
Published: September 2020

Identification of tumor initiating cells (TICs) has traditionally relied on expression of surface markers such as CD133, CD44, and CD117 and enzymes such as aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). Unfortunately, these markers are often cell type specific and not reproducible across patient samples. A more reliable indication of TICs may include elevated expression of stem cell transcription factors such as SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG that function to support long-term self-renewal, multipotency, and quiescence. RNA-sequencing studies presented here highlight a potential role for SOX2 in cell cycle progression in cells grown as 3-D spheroids, which are more tumorigenic and contain higher numbers of TICs than their 2-D monolayer cultured counterparts. SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG have not been comprehensively evaluated in ovarian cancer cell lines, although their expression is often associated with tumorigenic cells. We hypothesize that SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG will be enriched in ovarian TICs and will correlate with chemotherapy resistance, tumor initiation, and expression of traditional TIC markers. To investigate this hypothesis, we evaluated SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG in a panel of eight ovarian cancer cell lines grown as a monolayer in standard 2-D culture or as spheroids in TIC-enriching 3-D culture. Our data show that the high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) lines CAOV3, CAOV4, OVCAR4, and OVCAR8 had longer doubling-times, greater resistance to chemotherapies, and significantly increased expression of SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG in TIC-enriching 3-D culture conditions. We also found that in vitro chemotherapy treatment enriches for cells with significantly higher expression of SOX2. We further show that the traditional TIC marker, CD117 identifies ovarian cancer cells with enhanced SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG expression. Tumor-initiation studies and analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) suggest a stronger role for SOX2 in ovarian cancer relapse compared with OCT4 or NANOG. Overall, our study clarifies the expression of SOX2, OCT4, and NANOG in TICs from a variety of ovarian cancer cell lines. Our findings suggest that SOX2 expression is a stronger indicator of ovarian TICs with enhanced tumor-initiation capacity and potential for relapse. Improved identification of ovarian TICs will advance our understanding of TIC biology and facilitate the design of better therapies to eliminate TICs and overcome chemotherapy resistance and disease relapse.
Exploring Patterns and Trends in COVID-19 Exports from China, Italy, and Iran
Authors: McHenry M.L. , Soliman A. , Dailey B. , Chen T. , Letterio J.J. , Luo G.
Published: September 2020

This paper investigates COVID-19 exported cases by country and the time it takes between entry until case confirmation for the exported cases using publicly available data. We report that the average days from entry to confirmation is 7.7, 5.0 and 4.7 days for travelers from China, Italy, and Iran respectively. Approximately, one-third of all exported cases were confirmed within 3 days of entry suggesting these travelers were mildly symptomatic or symptomatic in arrival. We also found that earlier exported cases from each country had a longer time between entry to confirmation by an average of 3 days compared to later exports. Based upon our data, reported exported cases from South Korea were far fewer in comparison to those from China, Italy and Iran. Therefore, we suggest that careful monitoring of likely symptomatic travelers and better public awareness may lead to faster confirmation as well as reduced transmission of COVID-19 pandemic.
Protocols for rational design of protein solubility and aggregation properties using Aggrescan3D standalone
Authors: Kuriata Aleksander , Badaczewska-Dawid Aleksandra E. , Pujols Jordi , Ventura Salvador , Kmiecik Sebastian
Published: September 2020

Protein aggregation is a major hurdle in the development and manufacturing of protein-based therapeutics. Development of aggregation-resistant and stable protein variants can be guided by rational redesign using computational tools. Here, we describe the architecture and functionalities of the Aggrescan3D (A3D) standalone package for the rational design of protein solubility and aggregation properties based on three-dimensional protein structures. We present the case studies of the three therapeutic proteins, including antibodies, exploring the practical use of the A3D standalone tool. The case studies demonstrate that protein solubility can be easily improved by the A3D prediction of non-destabilizing amino acid mutations at the protein surfaces.
Mobile ear-EEG to study auditory attention in everyday life
Authors: Hölle Daniel , Meekes Joost , Bleichner Martin G.
Published: September 2020

Most research investigating auditory perception is conducted in controlled laboratory settings, potentially restricting its generalizability to the complex acoustic environment outside the lab. The present study, in contrast, investigated auditory attention with long-term recordings (>6 h) beyond the lab using a fully mobile, smartphone-based ear-centered electroencephalography (EEG) setup with minimal restrictions for participants. Twelve participants completed iterations of two variants of an oddball task where they had to react to target tones and to ignore standard tones. A rapid variant of the task (tones every 2 seconds, 5 minutes total time) was performed seated and with full focus in the morning, around noon and in the afternoon under controlled conditions. A sporadic variant (tones every minute, 160 minutes total time) was performed once in the morning and once in the afternoon while participants followed their normal office day routine. EEG data, behavioural data, and movement data (with a gyroscope) were recorded and analyzed. The expected increased amplitude of the P3 component in response to the target tone was observed for both the rapid and the sporadic oddball. Miss rates were lower and reaction times were faster in the rapid oddball compared to the sporadic one. The movement data indicated that participants spent most of their office day at relative rest. Overall, this study demonstrated that it is feasible to study auditory perception in everyday life with long-term ear-EEG.
Unexpectedly high mutation rate of a deep-sea hyperthermophilic anaerobic archaeon
Authors: Gu Jiahao , Wang Xiaojun , Ma Xiaopan , Sun Ying , Xiao Xiang , Luo Haiwei
Published: September 2020

Deep-sea hydrothermal vents resemble the early Earth, and thus the dominantThermococcaceaeinhabitants, which occupy an evolutionarily basal position of the archaeal tree and take an obligate anaerobic hyperthermophilic free-living lifestyle, are likely excellent models to study the evolution of early life. Here, we determined that unbiased mutation rate of a representative species,Thermococcus eurythermalis, exceeded that of all known free-living prokaryotes by 1-2 orders of magnitude, and thus rejected the long-standing hypothesis that low mutation rates were selectively favored in hyperthermophiles. We further sequenced multiple and diverse isolates of this species and calculated thatT. eurythermalishas a lower effective population size than other free-living prokaryotes by 1-2 orders of magnitude. These data collectively indicate that the high mutation rate of this species is not selectively favored but instead driven by random genetic drift. The availability of these unusual data also helps explore mechanisms underlying microbial genome size evolution. We showed that genome size is negatively correlated with mutation rate and positively correlated with effective population size across 30 bacterial and archaeal lineages, suggesting that increased mutation rate and random genetic drift are likely two important mechanisms driving microbial genome reduction. Future determinations of the unbiased mutation rate of more representative lineages with highly reduced genomes such asProchlorococcusandPelagibacteralesthat dominate marine microbial communities are essential to test these hypotheses.
Single-dose ethanol intoxication causes acute and lasting neuronal changes in the brain
Authors: Knabbe Johannes , Protzmann Jil , Schneider Niklas , Dannehl Dominik , Berger Michael , Wei Shoupeng , Strahle Christopher , Jaiswal Astha , Lugani Sophie , Zheng Hongwei , Krüger Marcus , Rohr Karl , Spanagel Rainer , Scholz Henrike , Bilbao Ainhoa , Engelhardt Maren , Cambridge Sidney B.
Published: September 2020

Alcohol intoxication at early ages is a risk factor for development of addictive behavior. To uncover neuronal molecular correlates of acute ethanol intoxication, we used stable-isotope labeled mice combined with quantitative mass spectrometry to screen over 2000 hippocampal proteins of which 72 changed synaptic abundance up to two-fold after ethanol exposure. Among those were mitochondrial proteins and proteins important for neuronal morphology, including MAP6 and Ankyrin-G. Based on these candidate proteins, we found acute and lasting molecular, cellular, and behavioral changes following a single intoxication in alcohol-naïve mice. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed a shortening of axon initial segments. Longitudinal two-photonin vivoimaging showed increased synaptic dynamics and mitochondrial trafficking in axons. Knockdown of mitochondrial trafficking in dopaminergic neurons abolished conditioned alcohol preference inDrosophila. This introduces mitochondrial trafficking as a process implicated in reward learning, and highlights the potential of high-resolution proteomics to identify cellular mechanisms relevant for addictive behavior.
Psilocybin rescues sociability deficits in an animal model of autism
Authors: Mollinedo-Gajate Irene , Song Chenchen , Sintes-Rodriguez Marcos , Whelan Tobias , Soula Anaïs , Selimbeyoglu Aslihan , Hurley Shaun , Knöpfel Thomas
Published: September 2020

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by core deficits in social interaction. The classic serotonergic psychedelic psilocybin has been suggested as a therapeutic agent that may ameliorate in the core symptomology of ASD. We found that the acute response to psilocybin was attenuated in the prenatal valproic acid exposure mouse model of ASD, and importantly, psilocybin rescued the social behavioural abnormalities present in these ASD model mice.
CLPX regulates erythroid heme synthesis by control of mitochondrial heme synthesis enzymes and iron utilization
Authors: Rondelli Catherine M. , Perfetto Mark , Danoff Aidan , Bergonia Hector , Gillis Samantha , Nicolas Gael , Puy Herve , West Richard , Phillips John D. , Yien Yvette Y.
Published: September 2020

Heme is a prosthetic group that plays a critical role in catalyzing life-essential redox reactions in all cells, including critical metabolic processes. Heme synthesis must be tightly co-regulated with cellular requirements in order to maximize utilization and minimize toxicity. Terminally differentiating erythroid cells have an extremely high demand for heme for hemoglobin synthesis. While the enzymatic reactions of heme synthesis are extremely well studied, the mechanisms by which the mitochondrial homeostatic machinery interacts with and regulates heme synthesis are poorly understood. Knowledge of these regulatory mechanisms are key to understanding how red cells couple heme production with heme demand. Heme synthesis is tightly regulated by the mitochondrial AAA+ unfoldase CLPX, which has been reported to promote heme synthesis by activation of yeast δ-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS/Hem1). CLPX was also reported to mediate heme-induced turnover of ALAS1 in human cells. However, a mutation in the ATP binding domain of CLPX that abrogated ATP binding caused an increase in ALAS activity, contrary to previous predictions that CLPX activated ALAS. Using loss-of-function assays in murine cells and zebrafish, we interrogated the mechanisms by which CLPX regulates erythroid heme synthesis. We found that consistent with previous studies, CLPX is required for erythroid heme synthesis. We show that ALAS2 stability and activity were both increased in the absence of CLPX, suggesting that CLPX primarily regulates ALAS2 by control of its turnover. However, we also showed that CLPX is required for PPOX activity and maintenance of FECH levels, likely accounting for the heme deficiency in the absence of CLPX. Lastly, CLPX is required for iron metabolism during erythroid terminal differentiation. Our results show that the role of CLPX in heme synthesis is not conserved across eukaryotes. Our studies reveal a potential mechanism for the role of CLPX in anemia and porphyria, and reveal multiple nodes at which heme synthesis is regulated by the mitochondrial housekeeping machinery.
The role of discretionary pension accruals in earnings management
Authors: Hsieh Su-Jane , Su Yuli , Chang Chun-Chia Amy
Published: September 2020

Purpose

Managers of defined-benefit (DB) firms have considerable discretion in deriving pension costs and flexibility in cash contributions to pension plans. Pension accruals occur when cash contributions differ from pension costs. The manipulable nature of pension costs and cash contributions allows managers of DB firms to manipulate pension accruals to achieve their desired earnings. We study whether DB firms with earnings management attributes (referred to as suspect DB firms) used more discretionary pension accruals (DPA) than non-suspect DB firms, especially after the passage of Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors develop an aggregate measure of DPA to capture overall earnings management in pension accounting. They then employ a multivariate regression model to study whether the suspect DB firms engage in more DPA than non-suspect firms and to assess the impact of SOX on DPA for all DB firms and for suspect DB firms.

Findings

The authors find evidence that suspect firms inflate DPA to achieve their earnings goals and also that all DB firms and the suspect firms use more DPA in the post-SOX era compared to the pre-SOX period. In contrast, they observe no significant difference in real activities earnings management (REM) between suspect and non-suspect firms. In addition, neither the entire sample of DB firms nor the suspect firms display a significant change in REM after SOX.

Research limitations/implications

The samples in the study are limited to firms with defined pension plans; thus, the findings cannot be generalized to all firms. In addition, as in other empirical studies relying on models to estimate earnings management proxies, this study inherits estimation errors from Jones and Roychowdhury's models. Consequently, the impact of these estimation errors cannot be ruled out.

Practical implications

The empirical findings of the study appear that instead of deterring DB firms from engaging in pension accruals earnings management, enacting the stringent anti-fraud SOX prompts these firms to rely more on accrual-based discretionary pension rather than switch to real activities manipulation to manage earnings.

Originality/value

While many prior studies focus on the impact of managing individual pension assumptions on earnings, the authors study overall earnings management in pension accounting by developing a model to derive an aggregate measure of pension earnings management.
Nationwide revisitation reveals thousands of local extinctions across the ranges of 713 threatened and rare plant species
Authors: Kempel Anne , Bornand Christophe N. , Gygax Andreas , Juillerat Philippe , Jutzi Michael , Sager Lionel , Bäumler Beat , Eggenberg Stefan , Fischer Markus
Published: September 2020

Despite increasing awareness of global biodiversity loss, we lack quantitative data on local extinctions for many species. This is especially true for rare species, which are typically assessed on the basis of expert judgment rather than data. Revisiting previously assessed populations enables estimation of local extinction rates and the identification of species characteristics and habitats with high local extinction risk. Between 2010 and 2016, in a nationwide revisitation study, 420 volunteer botanists revisited 8,024 populations of the 713 rarest and most threatened plant species in Switzerland recorded between 1960 and 2001. Of the revisited 8,024 populations, 27% had gone locally extinct. Among critically endangered species, the local extinctions increased to 40%. Species from ruderal and freshwater habitat types showed the highest proportion of local extinctions. Our results provide compelling evidence for rapid and widespread local extinctions and suggest that current conservation measures are insufficient. Local extinctions precede and provide early warnings for global extinctions. The ongoing loss of populations suggests that we will lose species diversity unless we scale up species‐targeted conservation and restoration measures, especially in anthropogenic landscapes.
Microneedling in androgenetic alopecia; comparing two different depths of microneedles
Authors: Faghihi Gita , Nabavinejad Samin , Mokhtari Fatemeh , Fatemi Naeini Farahnaz , Iraji Fariba
Published: September 2020

Background

Microneedling has shown to have positive therapeutic effects in treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA); however, the best microneedling protocol is still controversial.

Aims

Investigating effect of microneedling with 2 different depths of penetration on promoting hair growth in patients with AGA.

Methods

Sixty patients, in the age of 18‐45 years old with moderate and severe AGA, were allocated into 3 groups of control: treatment with minoxidil 5% lotion; group A: treatment with minoxidil 5% lotion and biweekly microneedling with a depth of 1.2 mm and group B: treatment with minoxidil 5% lotion and biweekly microneedling with a depth of 0.6 mm during 12 weeks. Efficacy parameters including change of hair count and hair thickness from baseline and assessment of hair growth by patient and investigator were evaluated.

Results

Compared with the baseline, a significant increase in hair count and hair thickness was observed in all three groups after completion of the treatment course (P < .05). The mean rise in hair count (P = .017) and hair thickness (P = .007) was significantly greater in group B compared with control group. Investigator's evaluation of hair regrowth was significantly greater in group A (P = .04) and group B (P = .007) compared with control group.

Conclusion

Microneedling with a depth of 0.6 mm in combination with minoxidil is more effective than minoxidil monotherapy in patients with AGA in terms of hair count and hair thickness. This depth of penetration tended to be more beneficial than depth of 1.2 mm.
Associations Among Health Literacy, End‐of‐Life Care Expenditures, and Rurality
Authors: Shi Kewei , Hung Peiyin , Wang Shi‐Yi
Published: September 2020

Purpose

To examine differential associations between health literacy (HL) and end‐of‐life (EOL) care expenditures by rurality.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study included all urban and rural counties in the United States. County‐level HL data were estimated using 2010 US Census and 2011 American Community Surveys data; EOL expenditures in 2010 were derived from the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care database. Hierarchical generalized linear regressions were used to assess associations between HL and EOL care, controlling for county‐level characteristics and focusing on rurality (with areas classified as urban, rural micropolitan, or rural noncore).

Findings

Of 3,137 US counties, 100 (3.2%) counties where 7.6 million Americans live had low HL (LHL). Counties with LHL had significantly higher average expenditures in the last 6 months of life and during terminal hospitalization than counties with high HL (HHL) (both P < .001). There was a statistically significant interaction between HL and rurality (P < .001). EOL expenditures were significantly higher in LHL counties than HHL counties in urban areas, while no such relationship appeared in rural areas. Average estimated EOL expenditures among LHL counties decreased by rurality ($16,953, $14,939, and $12,671 for urban, rural micropolitan, and rural noncore areas, respectively), while average estimated expenditures in HHL counties were around $14,000 in each of these areas.

Conclusions

HL and EOL expenditures were inversely associated with urban America but unrelated to rural areas. Counties with HHL had constant expenditures regardless of rurality. Interventions targeting HL may help reduce EOL expenditures and rural‐urban disparities in EOL care.
A Novel, Efficient, Unit Circle-Based, Method for Positioning and Operating Cryo-Surgical Probes in Convex Target Areas
Authors: Magalov Zaur , Avraham Shitzer , David Degani
Published: September 2020

A novel method for positioning and operating needle-like cryo-surgical probes in 2D convex target areas is presented. The method is based on the recorded dynamic performance of a single probe, termed “unit circle,” (UC) embedded in a semi-infinite, tissue-like medium. Up to 15 cryo-probes, inserted into the same depth, are operated uniformly for 2–5 min. A predetermined number of probes are rearranged inside the target area until a “tight configuration” is obtained. The probes are initially arranged inside the target area such that the “lethal temperature” circles produced by them are tangent to its contour and to both adjacent lethal temperature circles. Subsequently, all probes are repositioned inwardly, each at a specific distance that depends on the local radius of curvature of the target area. Resulting total “defect areas”—internal and external—for a number of demonstrated cases, amounted to between 2.5% and 7.6% of the target area. The lower values of the defect areas were obtained with increasing numbers of inserted probes coupled with shorter operating times. Possible freezing damages to regions beyond the target area were reduced by up to about 30% for these cases. Similar results were obtained for a case of combined convex-concave target area, treated with additional, externally inserted, heating probes.
Experimental Study on Laser-Induced Protrusion in Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording
Authors: Cheng Qilong , Wang Haoyu , Sakhalkar Siddhesh V. , Bogy David B.
Published: September 2020

In heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR), a laser is introduced to create a hot spot on the media and locally heat the magnetic layer to its Curie temperature. Besides the optical power that the laser provides to the media, thermal energy diffuses inside the slider and induces an extra protrusion, which is called laser-induced protrusion (LIP). The LIP needs to be considered and compensated during flying in the HAMR conditions. In this study, we focus on long timescale (milliseconds) of laser heating during the flying condition. When the laser is switched from OFF to ON, the touchdown power, indicated by an acoustic emission (AE) sensor, decreases due to spacing loss and the touchdown power change (ΔTDP) is used as the measure of the LIP. A component-level spinstand stage for HAMR heads and media is used to study the LIP as a function of laser-on time, laser current and linear velocity. Our experimental results show that it takes around 20 ms for the LIP to reach steady state and the protrusion size is proportional to the square of laser current. As the operating linear velocity increases from 12 m/s to 24 m/s, the LIP decreases by approximately 52%.
Quadratic Interpolation Based on Robot Trajectory Denoising for Human Motion Imitation
Authors: Mei Ruo-Syuan , Chang Hsien-Ting , Chang Jen-Yuan
Published: September 2020

Telerobotic has been introduced into complex environment to imitate human dexterous motion, such as remote surgeries on medical sites. However, presence of noise often leads to non-smooth target trajectory, causing robot to vibrate severely. Although most high-end robotic arms have facilitated torque control with torque sensors, it is costly and hard to realize widely in different scenarios. For the purpose of inexpensive and easy realized method, this paper proposes a model free based approach, which is divided as follows: The first part is “signal denoising” by applying empirical mode decomposition to target signals and smoothing out some of components with Savitzky-Golay filter. The second part is “quadratic interpolation” by applying down sampling operation on target signals to minimize robot vibration, adding more sample points to fit original signals, and then interpolating with quadratic polynomial functions. Through this scheme of signal processing, we generate simpler target signals that resemble original signals with piecewise constant acceleration values. The results are also provided to demonstrate the improvement of several input parameter values during experiments. In this paper, an approach is presented to match telerobotic target signals for human motion imitation to robotic arms kinematic motion.
Implementation of Reduce AI-NN Model for Highly Accurate Blood Pressure Measurement
Authors: Lin Jerry , Pandey Rajeev Kumar , Chao Paul C.-P.
Published: September 2020

This study proposes a reduce AI model for the accurate measurement of the blood pressure (BP). In this study varied temporal periods of photoplethysmography (PPG) waveforms is used as the features for the artificial neural networks to estimate blood pressure. A nonlinear Principal component analysis (PCA) method is used herein to remove the redundant features and determine a set of dominant features which is highly correlated to the Blood pressure (BP). The reduce features-set not only helps to minimize the size of the neural network but also improve the measurement accuracy of the systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). The designed Neural Network has the 5-input layer, 2 hidden layers (32 nodes each) and 2 output nodes for SBP and DBP, respectively. The NN model is trained by the PPG data sets, acquired from the 96 subjects. The testing regression for the SBP and DBP estimation is obtained as 0.81. The resultant errors for the SBP and DBP measurement are 2.00±6.08 mmHg and 1.87±4.09 mmHg, respectively. According to the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) and British Hypertension Society (BHS) standard, the measured error of ±6.08 mmHg is less than 8 mmHg, which shows that the device performance is in grade “A”.
Mass Production and Film Thickness Control of Meso Porous Silica Thin Films
Authors: Tamada Makio , Sunami Yuta
Published: September 2020

Mesoporous silica (referred to as MPS), which has pores of hexagonal or cubic structure of several nm to several tens of nm on the surface, is attracting attention as a new material. MPS has a very large specific surface area, so it is used as an adsorbent for gas and water vapor, as a moisture absorbent, and as a separating material. Transparent MPS is also expected to be an optical functional material. MPS thin film is expected to be used as a thin film as an application example. Since MPS thin film can be used in various applications, it will be further developed by mass production. Leads to Therefore, in this study, mass production of MPS thin films and controlled the film thickness was studied. Roll-to-roll (referred to as R2R) production method and a micro gravure printing method was adopted as a method of mass production: transporting polypropylene film and coating on it. As a result, the MPS thin film prepared in this study had a pore structure. it was confirmed that the film thickness could be controlled by changing the peripheral speed ratio. It is considered that the size of the liquid pool between the coating rolls changed. The size and arrangement of the pores could be confirmed by FE-SEM observation.
Vision-Based Moving Obstacle Avoidance for Cable-Driven Parallel Robots Using Improved Rapidly Exploring Random Tree
Authors: Xu Jiajun , Park Kyoung-su
Published: September 2020

In this study, the improved vision-based rapidly exploring random tree (RRT) algorithm is proposed to address moving obstacle avoidance for cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs). The improved RRT algorithm is goal-biased with dynamic stepsize makes it possible to implement in dynamic environments. For the implementation of algorithm on CDPRs, the improved RRT considers various collisions caused by the cable. The axis-aligned bounding box (AABB) algorithm is used for the fast re-planning during the RRT process. Additionally, the improved RRT algorithm premeditates the complex constrains include force feasible workspace (FFW) and the segment-to-segment angle. The related simulation is given in order to illustrate the algorithm. An experimental setup is also presented using the drone as a moving obstacle and the Faster-RCNN vision algorithm to obtain the coordinate of the drone. The experiment result shows that the proposed algorithm can apply in CDPRs with the dynamic environment validly.
Magnetoelectric Coupling Behavior in High Frequency Regime of the Nano Bi-Layer L-T Mode Bar Structure
Authors: Saengow Treetep , Choowitsakunlert Salinee , Silapunt Rardchawadee
Published: September 2020

This paper describes the magnetoelectric (ME) coupling behavior of the nano bi-layer L-T (longitudinal-transverse) mode bar structure through the ME coefficient mathematical model that is developed in high frequency regime. Terfenol-D and Lead Zirconate Titanate (PZT) are used as ferromagnetic (FM) and ferroelectric (FE) layers, respectively. The ME coefficients are determined at different layer thickness ratios and products of the operating frequency (f) and structure length (l). It is found that the ME coefficient and optimal thickness ratio increases and decreases exponentially respectively, with fl. The minimum and maximum peak ME coefficients at fl values of 0.1 and 1,200 respectively, are around 1,756 and 5,617 mV/Oe·cm with the optimal thickness ratio of 0.43 and 0.19, respectively.
A Method to Reduce Head-Disk Interface (HDI) Degradation Risk During Thermal Asperity (TA) Mapping in a Hard Disk Drive
Authors: Srivastava Abhishek , Rai Rahul , Venkatesh Karthik , Knigge Bernhard
Published: September 2020

One of the issues in thermal asperity (TA) detection using an embedded contact sensor (ECS) is the degradation caused to the read/write elements of the head while interacting with the TA. We propose a method to reduce such head-disk interaction (HDI) during TA detection and classification by flying higher at low thermal fly-height control (TFC) power, which minimizes the interaction of the TA with the head. The key idea is to scan the head at higher fly height, but with higher ECS bias voltage. Initial experiments have shown that the TA count follows a negative cubic relationship with the backoff at various bias levels, and that it follows a square relationship with bias at various backoff levels. Using a sample set, the calibration curves i.e. the golden relationship between these parameters can be established. Using these, one can start the TA detection at the highest backoff and high ECS bias, and start to estimate the nominal TA count. By mapping out these TAs and ensuring the head does not fly over them again to prevent HDI, the fly height can then be lowered, and the rest of the TA cluster can be scanned. Following this method iteratively, the entire TA cluster can be mapped out with minimal interaction with the head. Although this method entails an increase in the test time to detect and map all TAs, compared to detecting them with TFC being on, this can help improve the reliability of the drive by protecting the sensitive read/write elements especially for energy assisted recording from HDI.
“Someone’s Got My Back”: Older People’s Experience of the Coaching for Healthy Ageing Program for Promoting Physical Activity and Preventing Falls
Authors: Haynes Abby , Sherrington Catherine , Wallbank Geraldine , Lester David , Tong Allison , Merom Dafna , Rissel Chris , Tiedemann Anne
Published: September 2020

The Coaching for Healthy Ageing trial evaluated the impact on physical activity (PA) and falls based on a year-long intervention in which participants aged 60+ receive a home visit, regular health coaching by physiotherapists, and a free activity monitor. This interview study describes the participants’ experiences of the intervention and ideas for improvement. The authors sampled purposively for maximum variation in experiences. The data were analyzed thematically by two researchers. Most of the 32 participants reported that the intervention increased PA levels, embedded activities, and generated positivity about PA. They were motivated by quantified PA feedback, self-directed goals, and person-centered coaching. Social connectivity motivated some, but the intervention did not support this well. The intervention structure allowed participants to trial and embed activities. Autonomy and relatedness were emphasized and should be included in future program theory. The authors identified synergistic effects, likely “essential ingredients,” and potential areas for improving this and similar interventions.
Sedentary Behavior, Physical Inactivity, and Metabolic Syndrome: Pilot Findings From the Rapid Assessment Disuse Index Study
Authors: Shuval Kerem , Sahar Liora , Gabriel Kelley Pettee , Knell Gregory , Weinstein Galit , Gafni Gal Tal , Lobelo Felipe , DiPietro Loretta
Published: September 2020

Background: The Rapid Assessment Disuse Index (RADI) is a brief tool aimed to promptly assess primary care patients’ overall physical inactivity and sedentary behavior. This study examines the relation between physical inactivity and sitting time (RADI) to cardiometabolic risk among primary care patients. Methods: Survey data and electronic medical record information were collated to explore the association between RADI scores (cumulative and sitting) to metabolic syndrome (and components) among women and men, using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Among women, the cumulative RADI score was not significantly associated with metabolic syndrome. However, the RADI sitting score was related to low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and metabolic syndrome. That is, a transition to a higher RADI sitting score by 1 unit (vs remaining in the score) was related with a 1.4 and 1.3 times higher odds for having low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.87) and metabolic syndrome (95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.64), respectively. Among men, no significant relations were found. Conclusions: The RADI sitting score is positively and significantly related to high-density lipoprotein and metabolic syndrome among women, yet not men. Due to the RADI’s potential clinical utility, future research should attempt to examine these relations in larger, more robust samples and adjudicated outcomes using a prospective design.
Narrow path charted for editing genes of human embryos
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: September 2020

Panel outlines most justifiable uses if safety is ensured.
A reading list for uncertain times
A Series of Fortunate Events: Chance and the Making of the Planet, Life, and You
,
Sean B. Carroll
, Princeton University Press, 2020. 224 pp.
Unsustainable Inequalities: Social Justice and the Environment
,
Lucas Chancel, Malcolm DeBevoise, translator
, Belknap Press, 2020. 184 pp.
Failure to Disrupt: Why Technology Alone Can't Transform Education
,
Justin Reich
, Harvard University Press, 2020. 336 pp.
Blockchain Chicken Farm: And Other Stories of Tech in China's Countryside
,
Xiaowei Wang
, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2020. 256 pp.
The Secret Lives of Planets: Order, Chaos, and Uniqueness in the Solar System
,
Paul Murdin
, Pegasus, 2020. 288 pp.
The Great Secret: The Classified World War II Disaster That Launched the War on Cancer
,
Jennet Conant
, Norton, 2020. 400 pp.
Entanglements: Tomorrow's Lovers, Families, and Friends
,
Sheila Williams, editor
, MIT Press, 2020. 240 pp.
Predict and Surveil: Data, Discretion, and the Future of Policing
,
Sarah Brayne
, Oxford University Press, 2020. 224 pp.
Authors: Knight Ivor , Bowser Gillian , Singh Kanwal , Garg Arti , Bloemhard Heather , Reczek Peter , Mathew Esha , Keller Joseph B.
Published: September 2020

From an incisive ethnography of predictive policing to a compelling indictment of technology-enabled learning tools, the books on this year's fall reading list offer valuable context to the myriad challenges currently facing humanity. Dive deep into a public health disaster shrouded in secrecy, sit with the uncomfortable questions raised by a fictional foray into the future of intimacy, confront the challenges to sustainable development posed by environmental racism, and learn what a QR-coded chicken in rural China portends about the future of agriculture. When you are through, sit back and marvel at the odds stacked against humanity from the start with an entertaining romp through evolution and then leave your earthly worries behind with an ambitious tour of the Solar System.
Oxidation of Cytochrome 605 Is the Rate-Limiting Step when Ferrimicrobium acidiphilum Respires Aerobically on Soluble Iron
Authors: Blake Robert C. , Guidry Jessie J. , Anthony Micah D. , Ban Bhupal , Smith Kayla A. , Walton Noelle N. , Painter Richard G.
Published: September 2020

The identities and functions of proteins involved in aerobic respiration on extracellular ferrous ions at acidic pH are poorly understood in the four phyla of Gram-positive eukaryotes and archaea where such activities occur.
In situ
absorbance measurements were conducted on
Fm. acidiphilum
as it respired on extracellular iron using an integrating cavity absorption meter that permitted accurate optical measurements in turbid suspensions of the intact bacterium under physiological conditions. The significance of these measurements is that they permitted a direct spectrophotometric examination of the extents and rates of biological electron transfer events
in situ
under noninvasive physiological conditions without disrupting the complexity of the live cellular environment. One thing is certain: one way to understand how a protein functions in an intact organism is to actually observe that protein as it functions in the intact organism. This paper provides an example of just such an observation.
Tomoelastography for non-invasive detection of ameloblastoma and metastatic neck lymph nodes
Authors: Beier Marie , Sack Ingolf , Beck-Broichsitter Benedicta , Hamm Bernd , Marticorena Garcia Stephan Rodrigo
Published: September 2020

Ameloblastoma is a benign epithelial tumour and the most common odontogenic tumour, accounting for about 18% of cases. We present a patient to illustrate the first use of tomoelastography for quantitatively mapping tissue stiffness (shear wave speed) and fluidity (loss angle of the complex shear modulus) in a metastasised ameloblastoma of the left mandible. Tomoelastography maps clearly depicted the extent of the tumour by abnormally high values of stiffness and fluidity (1.73±0.23 m/s, 1.18±0.08 rad) compared with normal values in the contralateral mandible (1.04±0.09 m/s, 0.93±0.12 rad). Abnormal stiffness also revealed metastatic involvement of the neck lymph nodes (1.30±0.03 m/s vs 0.86±0.01 m/s). Taken together, stiffness and fluidity measured by tomoelastography can sensitively detect the presence and extent of bone tumours and metastatic spread to cervical lymph nodes.
Missed diagnosis of imperforate hymen later presenting with hypertension
Authors: Chia Moira , Ho Christopher
Published: September 2020

An adolescent girl presented with hypertension and was found to have haematocolpos and imperforate hymen. She had a background of chronic abdominal pain and had sought medical attention multiple times prior, with the diagnosis being missed as pubertal evaluation and perineal examination had been neglected during those visits. Hypertension resolved following hymenectomy and drainage of haematocolpos with no long-term sequelae.