bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MULTI-FACTOR BUILDING DEFORMATION ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION MODEL BASED ON MULTI-SOURCE DATE
Authors: Huang M. Q. , Zhou L. , Qi L. X. , Huang H. Y. , Tang M. Y. , Shi Y. J.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Normally, when using standard Kalman filter to analyze and predict the buildings deformation, the influence of a single factor is generally considered, or some factors are selected subjectively. In many cases, the objective influence of multiple effective factors on the model cannot be really considered, which adversely affects the accuracy of the model prediction and then affects the adaptability and prediction accuracy of the model. Aim at this problem, in this paper, we introduced grey relational analysis to determine the factor choice by calculating the grey relational grade of each impact factor. Then, we regarded the selected factors as state input vectors. Finally, we incorporated the state input vectors into model to establish grey relational Kalman filter model with considering multi-factors. In addition, we compared and analyzed the grey relational Kalman filter model with the stepwise regression model and BP neural network model that both can take into consideration the influence of multiple factors. The result of example analysis shows that the grey relational Kalman filter model can effectively select the factor which has great influence on deformation into the model as the state input vector during the modeling process, and the prediction accuracy of the recursive algorithm of standard Kalman filter is improved. Compared with the stepwise regression model and BP neural network model, the self-adaptability of the grey relational Kalman filter model is improved and the accuracy of the prediction results is also higher.
ORTHOPHOTO SHADOW DETECTION METHOD UNDER ARTIFICIAL SHADOW
Authors: Zhang W. X. , Zhou G. Q. , Yue T. , Jia B. , Bao X. , Huang Y. S. , Wang Q. Y.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Shadows are ubiquitous in high-resolution images, especially in urban regions where there are more serious shadow occlusions. In order to improve the detection effect of shadows, this paper analyzes the characteristics and properties of shadows in orthophotos, and proposes an orthophoto shadow detection method under artificial shadow. Firstly, the shadow modeling tool is used to calculate the shadow regions (i.e. artificial shadow) caused by the building obstructing the sun's rays. Secondly, the relaxation matching algorithm is extended by the position and the shape of the shadow polygon as characteristic constraints. The relaxation matching algorithm is extended by the position and shape as shadow polygon’s characteristic constraints. Thirdly, the feature constraint value is calculated which between the shadow polygons of the two images. The correlation coefficient is used to obtain the initial probability value of each shadow polygon in the orthophoto. Finally, the optimal solution is obtained by continuous correction and iteration of the initial probability value. The method performs an overall matching of the two images and obtains the position of the shadow regions of the buildings in the orthophoto image. Experiment shows that this method reduces the mismatch rate and improves the matching accuracy. This method can detect shadow regions of buildings in orthophoto quickly and efficiently.
LIDAR DATA FILTERING BASED ON THE IMPROVED WINDOW SIZE OF PROGRESSIVE MATHEMATICAL MORPHOLOGY
Authors: Lu X. J. , Luo L. , Zhou B. , Huang Y. H. , Wu C. L.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Filtering is one of the core post-processing steps of airborne LiDAR point cloud data. It is difficult for traditional mathematical morphology filtering algorithms to preserve sudden terrain features, especially when using larger filtering windows. In this paper, an improved progressive mathematical morphology filtering algorithm is proposed to solve the problem which is difficult to filter out a large area of non-ground points effectively and causes omission filtering on prominent topographic features. First the elevation information of point cloud data is meshed, and then the opening operation (erosion and dilation) is performed. By improving the mathematical formula of window size, the window size and the corresponding elevation difference threshold are iterated continuously. Within each corresponding filtering window, objects that are larger than the size of the structural element window are retained, and objects smaller than the size of the structural element window are filtered. Fourteen samples provided by ISPRS committee were selected to test the performance of the proposed method. Experimental results show that the improved method can effectively filter out most of the non-ground points, and this method can achieve great results not only in urban flat areas, but also in the mountains. Compared with the traditional filtering methods, the filter performance of the new method proposed in this paper has been greatly improved. The method in this paper obtains the lower errors and retains the complex topographic features.
MONITORING AND ANALYZING THE SURFACE SUBSIDENCE IN LANGFANG BY TIME-SERIES INTERFEROMETRIC RADAR TECHNIQUE
Authors: Zhou L. , Wen X. L. , Lu X. J. , Shi Y. J. , Ma J. , Zhang D.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. In this paper, the subsidence change maps in Langfang were obtained using ASAR images covering Langfang area acquired from August 2007 to September 2010 with the Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PSInSAR) technique. Surface subsidence spatial-temporal characteristics in Langfang was investigated. The analysis of experimental results show that 1) prominent uneven subsidence patterns were identified in Langfang. Specifically, surface subsidence rates ranged from −77 mm/year to 4 mm/year, and maximum subsidence rate was detected in Nanjianta Town; 2) the standard deviation of the target point subsidence rates in the study area ranges from 0.8 mm/year to 9.3 mm/year, 70.4% of the monitoring point standard deviations in study area are less than 3 mm/year; 3) surface subsidence time series presented nonlinear variation trend. The surface subsidence has a tendency to gradually expand around the center of Nanjianta Town, and the scope and trend of expansion to the north and west of Langfang are more serious.
DETECTION OF ARTIFICIAL OBJECTS IN REMOTE SENSING IMAGE BASED ON DEEP LEARNING
Authors: Dai Y. , Xiao J. S. , Yi B. S. , Lei J. F. , Du Z. Y.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Aiming at multi-class artificial object detection in remote sensing images, the detection framework based on deep learning is used to extract and localize the numerous targets existing in very high resolution remote sensing images. In order to realize rapid and efficient detection of the typical artificial targets on the remote sensing image, this paper proposes an end-to-end multi-category object detection method in remote sensing image based on the convolutional neural network to solve several challenges, including dense objects and objects with arbitrary direction and large aspect ratios. Specifically, in this paper, the feature extraction process is improved by utilizing a more advanced backbone network with deeper layers and combining multiple feature maps including the high-resolution features maps with more location details and low-resolution feature maps with highly-abstracted information. And a Rotating Regional Proposal Network is adopted into the Faster R-CNN network to generate candidate object-like regions with different orientations and to improve the sensitivity to dense and cluttered objects. The rotation factor is added into the regional proposal network to control the generation of anchor box’s angle and to cover enough directions of typical man-made objects. Meanwhile, the misalignment caused by the two quantifications operations in the pooling process is eliminated and a convolution layer is appended before the fully connected layer of the final classification network to reduce the feature parameters and avoid overfitting. Compared with current generic object detection method, the proposed algorithm focus on the arbitrary oriented and dense artificial targets in remote sensing images. After comprehensive evaluation with several state-of-the-art object detection algorithms, our method is proved to be effective to detect multi-class artificial object in remote sensing image. Experiments demonstrate that the proposed method combines the powerful features extracted by the improved convolutional neural networks with multi-scale features and rotating region network is more accurate in the public DOTA dataset.
THE POWER LINE HEIGHT ANALYSIS CHART DRAWING BASE ON MAPMATRIX
Authors: He Y. R. , Ma W. W. , Wang X. R. , Dai J. Q. , Zheng J. L.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. The power patrol has been completed by manual field investigation, which is inefficient, costly and unsafe. In order to extract the height of the power line and its surrounding ground objects more quickly and conveniently, and better service for power line patrol. This paper uses remote sensing data of unmanned aerial vehicle to carry out aerial triangulation, stereo model establishment and binocular stereo vision height extraction base on MapMatrix software, then obtains the power line height analysis chart. Then LiDAR point cloud data is used to verify the accuracy of the power line height analysis chart. The results show that this method not only meets the standard of power line patrol, but also improves the efficiency and quality of power line patrol.
STUDY AND ANALYSIS OF REMOTE SENSING DATA PARALLEL PROCESSING
Authors: Li C. Y. , Zhou G. Q. , Zhou X. , Liu D. Q.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. This paper analyzes a varieties of procedure of remote sensing data processing, and explores the common mathematical models, common algorithm models, and public function processing units of data processing shared by different tasks or even different parts within an individual task. Public modules are established to improve the parallelism of remote sensing data processing based on FPGA, which has excellent parallel processing performance. In addition, in order to reduce the resource consumption and increase the calculation efficiency of the designed FPGA program, the method of avoiding floating-point arithmetic and division operation in FPGA programming are discussed in this paper. There are a large number of common calculation modules between different tasks, such as the rotation matrix calculation module in attitude solution, geometric correction, and orthorectification task. Image preprocessing, feature information extraction, image threshold separation, and connected region markers are all common processing modules for a target detection task. In the same task, there is also a common calculation module. When using the FPGA design program, the power series of 2 can be used to convert the floating-point operation to fixed-point operation with an acceptable precision. A similar approach can transform the division operation into multiplication and shift operations, thereby improve the computational performance of FPGA programming.
INVERSION OF SOIL MOISTURE BY WAVELET ANALYSIS AND MULTI-STAR FUSION
Authors: Zhang Z. G. , Ren C. , Liang Y. J. , Pan Y. L. , Huang Y. B. , Zhou L.
Published: February 2020

Abstract. Soil moisture content is an important parameter in hydrology, meteorology and agriculture, and it is of great significance for meteorological forecast, flood disaster and water resource cycle. Global Positioning System Interferometric Reflectometry (GPS-IR) is a new remote sensing technique with low cost, high efficiency and high resolution.. Using GPS-IR to invert soil moisture, snow depth, sea level and other aspects compared with traditional measurements, greatly reducing the difficulty of measurement and improving the accuracy of estimation. In view of how to efficiently and accurately separate satellite reflection signals and invert soil moisture, this paper considers the time-rate characteristics of wavelet analysis and the advantages of multi-star fusion. This paper proposes a combination of wavelet analysis and multi-star fusion estimation model for the existing research and analysis. First, the GPS satellite straight and reflected signals are separated by wavelet analysis, and then the relative delay phase is obtained by the sine fitting model. The multi-satellite relative delay phase is effectively analyzed and selected by a linear regression model. Finally, the change in soil moisture is estimated by establishing a multi-star fusion model. The feasibility and effectiveness of using wavelet analysis and multiple GPS satellites to estimate soil moisture were compared and analyzed.Take the monitoring data provided by the PBO of the US Sector Boundary Observation Program as an example. Comparative analysis of the feasibility and effectiveness of soil moisture estimation using single or multiple GPS satellites.The results of the two data show that the linear regression equation can better describe the relationship between relative delay phase and soil moisture.Wavelet analysis fully exploits the performance of the identification trend term in the process of satellite reflection signal separation.Using a single satellite for soil moisture inversion, it is difficult to accurately grasp the variation law of soil moisture, and the error of inversion error fluctuates greatly, which is prone to jump phenomenon.Multiple satellites can effectively combine the advantages of each satellite and effectively suppress abnormal jumps.The method of this paper gives full play to the advantages of multiple linear regression models.This model effectively suppresses the transition phenomenon. It combines wavelet analysis and multi-star fusion to effectively suppress abnormal jump values. The estimation error is stable and the inversion accuracy is improved, which provides soil moisture monitoring. An accurate and efficient method.This not only ensures the stability of local errors during the separation of satellite reflected signals, but also effectively suppresses abnormal jumps when estimating a single satellite. A single satellite does not easily affect the inversion process. Therefore, soil moisture estimation can be feasible and effective as a linear event estimate.
Evaluation of sleep quality and risk of obstructive sleep apnea in patients referred for aesthetic rhinoplasty
Authors: Miyahara Lucas Kenzo , Stefanini Renato , Suguri Vinicius Magalhães , Wawginiak Guilherme Henrique , Balsalobre Rafael de Andrade , Haddad Fernanda Louise Martinho
Published: February 2020

Importance >Aesthetic rhinoplasty is the fifth surgical procedure most performed worldwide by plastic surgeons. With the growing demand for rhinoplasty, there is an unmet need for research into the profile of patients who seek aesthetic nasal surgery in an attempt to improve not only cosmetic dissatisfactions, but also the manifestations of other, possibly interrelated disorders, especially sleep disturbances.

Objective To evaluate the sleep quality and the risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in patients referred for aesthetic rhinoplasty, as well as the association of these conditions with nasal symptoms. Design: Cross-sectional study performed at the period of June/2016 to August/2017. Setting: Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery - Universidade Federal de São Paulo. Participants: Patients of both sexes, aged 18 to 65 years, who were referred for aesthetic rhinoplasty. We evaluated 46 patients, two of whom were excluded because they were outside the inclusion age criteria. Main Outcome(s) and Measure(s): Anterior rhinoscopy and the following validated surveys were used. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; Epworth Sleepiness Scale; Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scale; Berlin Questionnaire. The visual analog scale for snoring was also used.

Results Of the 44 participants, 18 (41%) were males and 26 (59%) were females. 82% had poor sleep quality. 46% presented excessive daytime sleepiness. There was a high risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in 27%. Regarding to nasal symptoms, the mean score in the Nasal Obstructive Symptoms Evaluation was 66.25±25.38. When comparing the groups with good and poor sleep quality, we observed a higher risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (p=0.05) in patients with poor sleep quality. Patients at high risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnea had higher scores on the Nasal Obstructive Symptoms Evaluation (p=0.001) and on the analogue snoring scale (p<0.001) compared to patients at low risk.

Conclusions We observed a high occurrence of poor sleep quality in participants. All participants who were at high risk for obstructive sleep apnea were also classified as having poor sleep quality. An association was also observed between the presence of high risk for obstructive sleep apnea and presence of nasal symptoms.
Mecanismos de prevención del acceso indebido a la historia clínica por parte del personal sanitario y nueva legislación de protección de datos
Authors: Casanova Asencio Andrea Salud
Published: February 2020

El acceso injustificado a la historia clínica por parte del personal sanitario es un problema práctico de marcada incidencia en la actualidad, que no ha conseguido resolverse a pesar de los avances de los últimos años en materia de historia clínica. Al mismo tiempo, la nueva legislación de protección de datos (RGPD y la nueva LOPDGDD) supone un cambio en el modelo de seguridad de los mismos, al requerir una responsabilidad proactiva por parte del responsable del tratamiento, que deberá estudiar el riesgo al que los datos están sometidos por dicho tratamiento con el fin de adoptar las medidas técnicas y organizativas más adecuadas para garantizar la seguridad de los datos ya desde el propio diseño del sistema. Con esta perspectiva, se realiza una exposición y análisis de una serie de mecanismos preventivos de diverso tipo que, aplicados en conjunto, habrían de ser útiles para gestionar de mejor manera el problema de los accesos indebidos a la historia clínica por parte del personal sanitario sin vinculación asistencial.

Access to the medical history by health personnel that isn’t justified by the supplying of the adequate health care –hence being deemed as an unjustified access- is currently a prominent practical problem which hasn’t been solved despite the advance shown by medical history regulations in the last few years. At the same time, the new data protection regulation (GDPR and Spanish LOPDGDD) introduces a new model for the security of the data, emphasizing what is known as “accountability” by the controller of the data, which translates into data protection by design and by default. From this perspective, a series of preventive mechanisms to avoid unjustified access to a medical history is analysed and presented, assuming that the problem requires the joint application of at least several of these preventive tools.
Clusters of cooperative ion channels enable a membrane-potential-based mechanism for short-term memory
Authors: Pfeiffer Paul , Egorov Alexei V , Lorenz Franziska , Schleimer Jan-Hendrik , Draguhn Andreas , Schreiber Susanne
Published: February 2020

Across biological systems, cooperativity between proteins enables fast actions, supra-linear responses, and long-lasting molecular switches. In the nervous system, however, the function of cooperative interactions between voltage-dependent ionic channels remains largely unknown. Based on mathematical modeling, we here demonstrate that clusters of strongly cooperative ion channels can plausibly form bistable conductances. Consequently, clusters are permanently switched on by neuronal spiking, switched off by strong hyperpolarization, and remain in their state for seconds after stimulation. The resulting short-term memory of the membrane potential allows to generate persistent firing when clusters of cooperative channels are present together with non-cooperative spike-generating conductances. Dynamic clamp experiments in rodent cortical neurons confirm that channel cooperativity can robustly induce graded persistent activity – a single-cell based, multistable mnemonic firing mode experimentally observed in several brain regions. We therefore propose that ion channel cooperativity constitutes an efficient cell-intrinsic implementation for short-term memories at the voltage level.
β11-12 linker isomerization governs acid-sensing ion channel desensitization and recovery
Authors: Rook Matthew L , Williamson Abby , Lueck John D , Musgaard Maria , Maclean David M
Published: February 2020

Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are neuronal sodium-selective channels activated by reductions in extracellular pH. Structures of the three presumptive functional states, high-pH resting, low-pH desensitized, and toxin-stabilized open, have all been solved for chicken ASIC1. These structures, along with prior functional data, suggest that the isomerization or flipping of the β11–12 linker in the extracellular, ligand-binding domain is an integral component of the desensitization process. To test this, we combined fast perfusion electrophysiology, molecular dynamics simulations and state-dependent non-canonical amino acid cross-linking. We find that both desensitization and recovery can be accelerated by orders of magnitude by mutating resides in this linker or the surrounding region. Furthermore, desensitization can be suppressed by trapping the linker in the resting state, indicating that isomerization of the β11–12 linker is not merely a consequence of, but a necessity for the desensitization process in ASICs.
Life Without a Journal Deal
Authors: Widmark Cecilie Heyman , Lieungh Erik
Published: February 2020

What is it like to work at a library where the largest journal subscription deal was terminated? How do the researchers really feel about it? And what solutions are recommended?

In this episode, we explore what Swedish librarians and researchers experienced during the time period when they didn’t have a journal deal with Elsevier (from 2018-2020). Did they manage? Did they save money? And did the researchers from the institution really voice their concerns? Our guest is Cecilie Heyman Widmark, she is a librarian working with Open Access, Media and Publishing at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden.

The host of this episode is Erik Lieungh.
NKAP promotes renal cell carcinoma growth via AKT/mTOR signalling pathway
Authors: Ma Qian , Hou Lifang , Gao Xinghua , Yan Keqiang
Published: February 2020

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the seventh most common site for malignant tumours worldwide leading to a high risk of death. NKAP is a conserved nuclear protein that has critical roles in the development, maturation, and functional acquisition of T cells, iNKT cells, and cancers. But the function and underlying mechanism of NKAP in RCC is still unknown. Knockdown of NKAP by siRNA interference (siNKAP) was used to explore the roles of NAKP in human RCC cells. Here, we found that siNKAP strongly inhibited the proliferation and motility of Ketr‐3 and 786‐0 cells and induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the expression of anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl2 in the siNKAP group was strongly decreased, while the expression of pro‐apoptotic proteins Bax, cleaved Caspase‐3, and cleaved Caspase‐9 was significantly increased. Finally, to identify the potential mechanisms, we detected related proteins of the AKT/mTOR signalling pathway by western blot assay. We found that siNKAP significantly inhibited the expression of cyclin D1 and the phosphorylation of AKT and mTOR. The findings for the first time reveal that the AKT/mTOR signalling pathway is involved in the oncogenic role of NKAP in RCC, which provides an important basis for exploring the molecular regulation mechanism of RCC.

Significance of the study

There is an urgent need to study the molecular mechanisms involved in RCC to promote the development of early diagnosis and more effective treatment options. This research provides an important basis for exploring the accurate regulatory mechanism of NKAP in RCC and a novel perspective to find the potential utility of NKAP inhibitors for RCC therapy.
The diagnosis of autism: Considerations for supporting children and parents
Authors: Sheinkopf Stephen J.
Published: February 2020

Recent years have seen an increasing range of individuals referred to clinics due to concerns about a possible autism diagnosis. Clinics are encountering this diagnostic question at both younger and older ages, and in the context of increasing psychiatric complexity. The result is a need for continued attention to a careful diagnostic process and awareness of challenges to a differential diagnosis in complex circumstances. Referrals at different ages and in the context of varying levels of clinical complexity require careful consideration for the process of feedback sessions and post‐evaluation counseling. It is also worthwhile to consider different influences on referral patterns, as being cognizant of these clinical dynamics can help to counsel families and individuals, whether or not an evaluation returns a diagnosis of autism.
Implementing a safety plan intervention as part of suicide risk screening
Authors: Walters Anne S.
Published: February 2020

Several months ago, this commentary focused on implementation of the Joint Commission requirement to begin suicide screenings for behavioral health patients as of July 2019, and last month's commentary by Dr. Alex Bettis described strides made in suicide prevention for children and adolescents in Rhode Island. As part of the suicide prevention initiative, she gave a brief description of the structured safety plan used to ensure a safe transition home. With consultation from this team, we have continued work on the implementation of safety planning for patients that screen in the moderate or high risk for suicide category using the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale Screener. The Joint Commission national patient safety goal for suicide prevention specifies that the “plan to mitigate the risk for suicide” be documented, but there is little specific guidance on the process. This may in part be due to the paucity of research on “contracting for safety” and “safety planning” (Knesper et al., 2011).
National cancer screening program for gastric cancer in Korea: Nationwide treatment benefit and cost
Authors: Suh Yun‐Suhk , Lee Joonki , Woo Hyeongtaek , Shin Dongwook , Kong Seong‐Ho , Lee Hyuk‐Joon , Shin Aesun , Yang Han‐Kwang
Published: February 2020

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nationwide benefit and cost of the national cancer screening program (NCSP) for gastric cancer treatment.

Methods

For this nationwide, population‐based study, the Korean National Health Insurance Big Data Base, which included gastric cancer–related treatment information and the costs for all patients with gastric cancer who were 40 years old or older between 2004 and 2013, was restructured. Patients with gastric cancer who participated in the NCSP at least once (the screening group) were compared with those who did not participate in the NCSP (the nonscreening group).

Results

The screening group (n = 116,775) spent significantly less on medical care expenses than the nonscreening group (n = 74,927) during the 5 years since the initial treatment (P < .0001). The screening group presented a significantly better prognosis for 5 and 9 years than the nonscreening group (P < .0001). The screening group revealed a 41% decreased hazard ratio (P < .0001) for death in comparison with the nonscreening group; the prognostic benefit became more obvious when treatment was started within the first 4 months after screening. The age‐standardized mortality rate ratio of the screening group versus the nonscreening group was 0.62 (P < .0001). The NCSP for gastric cancer required an average of 22,169,769 Korean Republic won (US $20,309) for 1 life‐year saved, which was less than the average gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in Korea.

Conclusions

The screening group had significantly lower medical care expenses and showed a significantly better prognosis than the nonscreening group. On the basis of the GDP per capita, the NCSP for gastric cancer was cost‐effective for treatment prognosis.
Urban population density estimation based on spatio‐temporal trajectories
Authors: Xue Fei , Cao Yang , Ding Zhiming , Tang Hengliang , Yang Xi , Chen Lei , Li Juntao
Published: February 2020

Regional population density has temporal and spatial characteristics, and most of the existing prediction models fail to take these two characteristics into account at the same time, which results in unsatisfactory forecasting results. To address this problem, we use the deep learning models to predict the crowd distribution in the evacuation area, so as to realize the recommendation of the evacuation area. First, a raster population density prediction model based on long short‐term memory (LSTM) is studied, and then a multiarea population density prediction model considering temporal and spatial characteristics, named ST‐LSTM, is designed. The results of our extensive experiments on the real dataset show that our proposed ST‐LSTM is both effective and efficient.
Icosahedral Carborane Superacids and their Conjugate Bases Comprising H, F, Cl, and CN Substituents: A Theoretical Investigation of Monomeric and Dimeric Cages
Authors: Brzeski Jakub , Czapla Marcin , Skurski Piotr
Published: February 2020

Theoretical investigation of the H(CHB11X11) (X=H, F, Cl, CN), H(CHB11XnY11‐n) (X,Y=F, Cl; n=1,5), and dimeric (H(CHB11X11))2 (X=F, Cl) carborane superacids performed at the B3LYP/6‐311++G(d,p) theory level revealed the similarity of their equilibrium structures and the possibility of nearly barrierless hydrogen atom migration among the substituents attached to one side of the icosahedral CB11 cage. The vertical electron detachment energies predicted at the OVGF/6‐311++G(3df,2pd) theory level for the conjugate bases (CHB11X11)− were found to span the 5.82–9.00 ev range. The acid strengths (manifested by the Gibbs free deprotonation energies spanning the 213–266 kcal/mol range) predicted for the icosahedral H(CHB11X11) carborane systems confirm their superacidic properties which might be increased even further by the attachment of the second carborane H(CHB11X11) unit that leads to a dimeric structure mimicking a part of an experimentally observed H‐bridged polymeric chain. The Gibbs free deprotonation energy of the dimeric (H(CHB11Cl11))2 acid was predicted to be smaller by 17 kcal/mol than that of the corresponding monomeric H(CHB11Cl11) acid.
Adult patients with undiagnosed conditions and their responses to unresolved uncertainty from exome sequencing
Authors: Neustadt Ahna , Owczarzak Jill , Mu Weiyi , Cohen Julie S. , Erby Lori
Published: February 2020

Patients pursuing exome sequencing (ES) in their quest for diagnosis will most often experience unresolved uncertainty from their ES results because the majority of ES results are non‐diagnostic. This study explored and compared the experiences of receiving two types of ES results that may result in diagnostic uncertainty. Semi‐structured phone interviews were conducted with 23 adult patients with undiagnosed conditions who received either a negative result or a result with one or more variants of uncertain significance (VUSs) from ES. Interviews were transcribed and subjected to thematic and comparative analyses. Participants accurately understood their results and described various sources of genomic uncertainty including probability, complexity, and ambiguity. Their acclimation to illness uncertainty resulted in realistic expectations about and acceptance of their results. Participants still hoped that ES would end their diagnostic odyssey. Hope and optimism were used to cope with continued uncertainty. No thematic differences were found between the experiences of those who received negative results versus those who received VUSs. Our findings may inform clinical practices of informed consent and disclosure of negative results and VUSs through a greater consideration of patients' reactions, concerns, and challenges with adaptation to uncertainty.
Ethical and professional challenges encountered by Japanese healthcare professionals who provide genetic counseling services
Authors: Yoshida Akiko , Nakada Haruka , Inaba Akira , Takahashi Masayo
Published: February 2020

It is important to identify ethical and professional challenges associated with genetic counseling services and systems to improve these services. In previous studies, specific challenges in genetic counseling were categorized into 16 domains. However, these studies were limited to a few countries, and genetic counseling differs according to national cultures or systems. Thus, additional efforts should be made to collect and analyze challenges in genetic counseling to address these issues. We interviewed 48 genetic counseling professionals in Japan (including 29 clinical geneticists, 17 genetic counselors, and 2 other professionals) about anecdotes that included ethical professional challenges. Thematic analysis was used to code the interview data, and anecdotes were categorized according to the ethical and professional challenges. The anecdotes (n = 333) were classified into the 16 previously identified domains and three unique subcategories: ‘lack of understanding about genetic professionals or departments of genetic counseling by other professionals and patients’, ‘insufficient communication skills to carry out counseling on the part of the genetic counseling professionals’, and ‘lack of a system for self‐improvement’. Many of the anecdotes also noted the emotional responses domain. The challenges experienced by Japanese genetic counseling professionals described herein will improve the quality of the service these professionals provide. Furthermore, the results can assist development of high‐quality genetic counseling systems in countries developing these systems.
Three‐year outcomes of childhood inflammatory bowel disease in New Zealand: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Martin Natalie G , Roberts Amin J , Evans Helen M , Bishop Jonathan , Day Andrew S
Published: February 2020

Background and Aim

High rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have been documented in New Zealand (NZ) children. The objectives of this study were to describe the outcomes and disease course of childhood IBD in the first 3 years following diagnosis.

Methods

All children diagnosed with IBD in 2015 in NZ were included. Clinical data obtained during routine care for 3 years following diagnosis were analyzed. Growth parameters, disease activity scores, and blood parameters were compared at diagnosis and follow up.

Results

Three‐year outcome data were available for 48 of 51 children. At follow up, median age was 15.1 years, and 34 had Crohn's disease (CD), 11 had ulcerative colitis (UC), and three had IBD‐unclassified (IBDU). Although disease progression including development of perianal disease occurred in 13 (38%) of 34 children with CD, the majority (n = 30) had inflammatory disease at follow up. Disease extension occurred in 25% (2/8) of children initially diagnosed with UC. Of all IBD patients, the mean body mass index z‐score increased from −0.40 to +0.10 (P = 0.01). Disease activity scores reduced from diagnosis to follow up in both CD (mean pediatric Crohn's disease activity index 35–6, P < 0.001) and UC (mean pediatric ulcerative colitis activity index 44–6, P < 0.001). Overall, 56% of children received steroids, 44% of children with CD received biologic therapy, and four children with CD or UC had intestinal surgery.

Conclusions

Most children with IBD were in remission with improved growth 3 years after diagnosis. Biologic therapies were commonly prescribed. This is the first NZ study assessing disease course in pediatric IBD. Ongoing follow up will continue to inform outcomes.
Structural changes to the uterus of the dwarf ornate wobbegong shark (Orectolobus ornatus) during pregnancy
Authors: Buddle Alice L. , Otway Nicholas M. , Van Dyke James U. , Thompson Michael B. , Murphy Christopher R. , Dowland Samson N. , Simpfendorfer Colin A. , Ellis Megan T. , Whittington Camilla M.
Published: February 2020

Embryos of the viviparous dwarf ornate wobbegong shark (Orectolobus ornatus) develop without a placenta, unattached to the uterine wall of their mother. Here, we present the first light microscopy study of the uterus of O. ornatus throughout pregnancy. At the beginning of pregnancy, the uterine luminal epithelium and underlying connective tissue become folded to form uterine ridges. By mid to late pregnancy, the luminal surface is extensively folded and long luminal uterine villi are abundant. Compared to the nonpregnant uterus, uterine vasculature is increased during pregnancy. Additionally, as pregnancy progresses the uterine epithelium is attenuated so that there is minimal uterine tissue separating large maternal blood vessels from the fluid that surrounds developing embryos. We conclude that the uterus of O. ornatus undergoes an extensive morphological transformation during pregnancy. These uterine modifications likely support developing embryos via embryonic respiratory gas exchange, waste removal, water balance, and mineral transfer.
The characteristics of late summer extreme precipitation in northern China and associated large‐scale circulations
Authors: Chen Zhiheng , Zhang Jie
Published: February 2020

Extreme precipitation occurs frequently in northern China. Understanding the characteristics of extreme precipitation is conducive to improving prediction accuracy rates of extreme precipitation events and disaster prevention. An analysis of 55‐year daily precipitation data, which has been represented by R10mm since 1961, reveals non‐uniform variations in late summer extreme precipitation in northern China. The study aims at establishing an objective classification of major impact large‐scale circulations corresponding to extreme precipitation events. Utilizing the circulation classification, this study divides extreme precipitation events into the westerly mode (WM), westerly subtropical mode (WSM) and typhoon mode (TYM), thereby carrying out individual evaluations of types of extreme precipitation in northern China. The results indicate that the frequency distributions of WM and WSM in northern China both have decadal characteristics. Highly frequent WM from the 1980s to the early 2000s is a response to the enhancement of meridionality in westerly winds, which could strengthen the latitudinal positive–negative–positive circulation distribution of Pacific‐Japan wave train patterns in East Asia; however, the late summer WSM in northern China is different from WM. The enhancement (abatement) of the westerly wind meridionality and relatively southward (northward) position of the Western Pacific subtropical high (WPSH) leads to a stretching southward (northward) front rain belt on the northwest edge of WPSH, thereby favouring WSM in Central China and East China (North China, Northeast China and the eastern parts of Northwest China). The decadal variations in the meridionality in westerly winds and WPSH positions are closely related to sea surface temperature anomalies in the North Atlantic and Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), respectively. The results of this study provide theoretical references for decadal extreme precipitation predictions.
Supplementation with Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella protothecoides, and Schizochytrium sp. increases propionate‐producing bacteria in in vitro human gut fermentation
Authors: Jin Jong Beom , Cha Jin Wook , Shin Il‐Shik , Jeon Jin Young , Cha Kwang Hyun , Pan Cheol‐Ho
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND

Gut microbiota are major contributors to host metabolism and are considered as potential targets of novel therapeutics. Microalgae have a strong potential for use as prebiotics because they are a rich source of proteins, fatty acids, fiber, and minerals for nutritional supplementation in humans. Nevertheless, there has been insufficient research into the effect of microalgae on gut microbiota. To investigate the effects of three edible microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorella protothecoides, and Schizochytrium sp.) on gut microbiota, simulated digestion and colonic fermentation were examined.

RESULTS

Following in vitro digestion, the microalgae displayed different levels of bioaccessibility and the nutrient analysis revealed that unabsorbed nutrients during the digestion process could be used for colonic fermentation. Following colonic fermentation, the control, inulin, and microalgae groups displayed different metabolite tendencies when investigated with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic analysis. In particular, microalgae supplementation increased the proportion of propionate in the colonic culture (control: 19.14%, Inulin: 18.38%, C. vulgaris: 25.80%, C. protothecoides: 25.46%, and Schizochytrium sp.: 25.56%). Microbial profiling analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing also disclosed that the relative abundance of Bacteroides (control: 1.91%, inulin: 2.61%, C. vulgaris: 14.77%, C. protothecoides: 11.17%, and Schizochytrium sp.: 5.51%) and Dialister (control: 0.08%, inulin: 2.06%, C. vulgaris: 6.79%, C. protothecoides: 4.45%, and Schizochytrium sp.: 4.48%), involved in propionate metabolism increased more than in the inulin group.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest the potential use of microalgae as a functional food to increase propionate generation because propionate has been reported to be effective in weight loss and the inhibition of pathogen infection. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Microglia‐Related Gene Triggering Receptor Expressed in Myeloid Cells 2 (TREM2) Is Upregulated in the Substantia Nigra of Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Authors: Sánchez‐Ruiz de Gordoa Javier , Erro María Elena , Vicuña‐Urriza Janire , Zelaya María Victoria , Tellechea Paula , Acha Blanca , Zueco Sara , Urdánoz‐Casado Amaya , Roldán Miren , Blanco‐Luquin Idoia , Mendioroz Maite
Published: February 2020

Background

The role of the microglia‐related gene triggering receptor expressed in myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) in primary tauopathies, such as progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), still remains unclear.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to profile overall and transcript‐specific TREM2 expression levels in the substantia nigra (SN) of PSP patients and controls.

Methods

SN samples from neuropathologically confirmed PSP cases (n = 24) and controls (n = 14) were used to measure TREM2 and TREM2‐modulating gene Membrane‐spanning 4‐domains subfamily A member 4A (MS4A4A) mRNA levels by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Correlation with hyperphosphorylated tau protein burden was assessed.

Results

Overall TREM2 and each of the 3 TREM2 transcripts mRNA levels were significantly increased in the SN of PSP cases versus controls. TREM2 mRNA levels positively correlated with hyperphosphorylated tau burden in SN, specifically in neurons. The MS4A4A gene was also upregulated in PSP patients versus controls.

Conclusions

These results add evidence to the involvement of microglia in the disease process of PSP. These findings support the idea that different tauopathies may share common patterns of deregulation in innate immune molecular pathways. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Efficient higher‐order discretization of the magnetic field integral equation by means of vector spaces with a solenoidal‐no solenoidal decomposition
Authors: Gil José M. , Conde‐Pumpido Fernando
Published: February 2020

In this work, we apply curl and divergence conforming basis functions to the discretization of the magnetic field integral equation. The bases are hierarchical of any order, for 3D curved surfaces. The convergence of the method is tested for high and low‐order basis functions by using some canonical examples. This approach, because of the splitting subspaces, allows a better modeling of the component star of the current at very low frequencies. Improvements for the calculation of far field, made by using this formulation at the low frequency regime, are finally shown. Presented results lead to a better performance of the combined fields integral equation (CFIE) when the suggested higher‐order bases are applied.
Alkaline‐developable positive‐type photosensitive polyimide with high mechanical strength and high resolution based on chain extendable poly(amic acid), thermally degradable cross‐linker and photoacid generator
Authors: Yeh Yao‐Ming , Ueda Mitsuru , Hsu Chain‐Shu
Published: February 2020

A positive‐type photosensitive polyimide (PSPI) based on a chain extendable poly(amic acid) (PAA), a thermally degradable cross‐linker 1,3,5‐tris[(2‐vinyloxy)ethoxy]benzene (TVEB), and a photoacid generator (PAG) (5‐propylsulfonyloxyimino‐5H‐thiophene‐2‐ylidene)‐(2‐methylphenyl)acetonitrile (PTMA) has been developed. The chain extendable PAA was prepared from 3,3′,4,4′‐biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) and 4,4′‐oxydianiline (ODA) and end‐capped with di‐tert‐butyl dicarbonate (DIBOC) in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP), which has a controlled molecular weight for developing in a 2.38 wt% tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide aqueous solution (TMAH
aq) and undergoes a chain extending reaction during curing stage. The photosensitive resist solution was formulated with the polymerization solution (30 wt% in NMP), TVEB (15 wt% for the polymer), and PAG (4.5 wt% for the polymer). The PSPI showed a sensitivity of 47 mJ cm−2 and a contrast of 5.8 when exposed to 365‐nm light, followed by postexposure baking at 90 °C for 10 min and development with the 2.38 wt% TMAH
aq at room temperature. A fine‐positive image with 3‐μm line‐and‐space patterns was obtained on a 3‐μm thick film exposed to UV light at 365 nm in the contact‐printed mode. After thermal curing at 350 °C for 1 hr, the resulting PSPI features excellent mechanical strength and elongation.
Theoretical modeling relating to temperature and cap/end for carbon nanotubes under hydrostatic pressure
Authors: Gao Ming , Bian Lichun
Published: February 2020

In this paper, based on the molecular mechanics coupled with an atomistic‐based molecular mechanics theory, the equivalent elastic moduli of temperature‐dependence for single walled carbon nanotubes are analyzed. Under a hydrostatic pressure, two types of carbon nanotubes with the closed‐end and the open‐end are considered, respectively, and the difference between bulk modulus and transverse/radial modulus of these nanotubes is also assessed. The present results show that the bulk modulus and transverse modulus of single‐walled carbon nanotubes are very sensitive to the temperature and end states. Whether having end caps or not, the bulk modulus and radial modulus of carbon nanotubes vary with the external hydrostatic pressure, and they decrease with the increase of the tube diameter and the ambient temperature. However, the circumferential modulus increases with the increase of nanotube diameters. With the increase of temperatures, the bulk modulus and transverse modulus become insensitive to the diameters.
Nucleic Acid–Based Therapies for Atherosclerosis
Authors: Mäkinen Petri , Ruotsalainen Anna-Kaisa , Ylä-Herttuala Seppo
Published: February 2020

Purpose of Review

Atherosclerosis is characterized by accumulation of lipids and chronic inflammation in medium size to large arteries. Recently, RNA-based antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are being developed, along with small molecule-based drugs and monoclonal antibodies, for the treatment of risk factors associated with atherosclerosis. The purpose of this review is to describe nucleic acid–based therapeutics and introduce novel RNAs that might become future tools for treatment of atherosclerosis.

Recent Findings

RNA-based inhibitors for PCSK9, Lp(a), ApoCIII, and ANGPTL3 have been successfully tested in phase II–III clinical trials. Moreover, multiple microRNA and long non-coding RNAs have been found to reduce atherogenesis in preclinical animal models.

Clinical trials especially with ASOs and siRNAs directed to liver, targeting cholesterol and lipoprotein metabolism, have shown promising results. Additional research in larger patient cohorts is needed to fully evaluate the therapeutic potential of these new drugs.