bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
CYP19A1 (aromatase) dominates female gonadal differentiation in chicken (Gallus gallus) embryos sexual differentiation
Authors: Jin Kai , Zuo Qisheng , Song Jiuzhou , Zhang Yani , Chen Guohong , Li Bichun 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Cytochrome P450 Family 19 SubFamily A member 1 (CYP19A1) gene encodes an aromatase which regulates the sexual differentiation in vertebrates by initiating and maintaining 17β-Estradiol (E2) synthesis. Here, we described the spatiotemporal expression pattern of CYP19A1 and its functional role in the embryonic gonad development in amphoteric chickens (Gallus gallus). Results showed that CYP19A1 exhibited a sexually dimorphic expression pattern in female gonads early at embryonic day 5.5 (HH 28) and robustly expressed within the cytoplasm in ovarian medullas. Most importantly, we induced the gonadal sex reversal by ectopically delivering the aromatase inhibitor (AI) or estradiol (E2) into chicken embryos. To further explore the role of CYP19A1 in chicken embryonic sexual differentiation, we successfully developed an effective method to deliver lentiviral particles with CYP19A1 manipulation into chicken embryos via embryonic intravascular injection. The analysis of interference and overexpression of CYP19A1 provided solid evidences that CYP19A1 is both necessary and sufficient to initiate sex differentiation toward female in chicken embryos. Collectively, this work demonstrates that CYP19A1 is a crucial sex differentiation gene in the embryonic development, which provides a foundation for understanding the mechanism of sex determination and differentiation in chickens.
The influence of bulk composition on the long-term interior-atmosphere evolution of terrestrial exoplanets
Authors: Spaargaren Rob J. , Ballmer Maxim D. , Bower Dan J. , Dorn Caroline , Tackley Paul J. 
Published: September 2020

Aims.The secondary atmospheres of terrestrial planets form and evolve as a consequence of interaction with the interior over geological time. We aim to quantify the influence of planetary bulk composition on the interior–atmosphere evolution for Earth-sized terrestrial planets to aid in the interpretation of future observations of terrestrial exoplanet atmospheres.Methods.We used a geochemical model to determine the major-element composition of planetary interiors (MgO, FeO, and SiO2) following the crystallization of a magma ocean after planet formation, predicting a compositional profile of the interior as an initial condition for our long-term thermal evolution model. Our 1D evolution model predicts the pressure–temperature structure of the interior, which we used to evaluate near-surface melt production and subsequent volatile outgassing. Volatiles are exchanged between the interior and atmosphere according to mass conservation.Results.Based on stellar compositions reported in the Hypatia catalog, we predict that about half of rocky exoplanets have a mantle that convects as a single layer (whole-mantle convection), and the other half exhibit double-layered convection due to the presence of a mid-mantle compositional boundary. Double-layered convection is more likely for planets with high bulk planetary Fe-content and low Mg/Si-ratio. We find that planets with low Mg/Si-ratio tend to cool slowly because their mantle viscosity is high. Accordingly, low-Mg/Si planets also tend to lose volatiles swiftly through extensive melting. Moreover, the dynamic regime of the lithosphere (plate tectonics vs. stagnant lid) has a first-order influence on the thermal evolution and volatile cycling. These results suggest that the composition of terrestrial exoplanetary atmospheres can provide information on the dynamic regime of the lithosphere and the thermo-chemical evolution of the interior.
Umbau der Vergütung – ein Systemwechsel
Authors: Schanz Benno 
Published: September 2020

ZusammenfassungDie Umstellung auf das neue Pflegebudget bedeutet für die Krankenhäuser veränderte Verhandlungen mit den Kassen. Dabei geht es um klinikindividuelle Pflegekosten – und damit um viel Geld. Ein Überblick über die Hintergründe.
Neuropsychological Functioning in Patients with Cushing’s Disease and Cushing’s Syndrome
Authors: Siegel Sonja , Kirstein Cedric Fabian , Grzywotz Agnieszka , Hütter Bernd Otto , Wrede Karsten Henning , Kuhna Victoria , Kreitschmann-Andermahr Ilonka 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Purpose To present a systematic review of the presence and severity of neuropsychological impairment in the six main neuropsychological domains (attention, executive function, language, visuospatial processing, intelligence, and memory) in patients with Cushing’s disease (CD) and/or Cushing’s Syndrome (CS) at various stages of the illness. The work aims to identify neuropsychological leverage points for focused diagnosis and rehabilitation in CS/CD patients.
Methods A pubmed literature search was performed and augmented by searching the reference lists of review articles identified by this search strategy. After excluding irrelevant hits, we systematically extracted data from 27 studies for each main neuropsychological domain, differentiating between active disease, short- and long-term remission.
Results The literature gives evidence for neuropsychological impairment in all domains in Cushing patients with active disease. The most consistent impairments concerned memory and visuo-spatial processing, whereas the data are discordant for all other domains. Significant improvement of neuropsychological function – although not returning to normal in all domains – is shown in short-term and long-term remission of the disease. However, the published literature is thin, suffering from repetitive subsample analyses publishing, methodological concerns as lack of control for confounders such as depression.
Conclusions Memory is the most extensively investigated domain in CS/CD patients and impairment is most prominent in active disease. Patients should be counseled that neuropsychological function will improve with normalization of hypercortisolism and over time. More studies with more stringent methodological criteria, larger patient samples and controlling for confounders are required to enhance our understanding of neuropsychological function in patients with CS/CD.
Epidemiological Profile of the Victims of Sexual Violence Treated at a Referral Center in Southern Brazil
Authors: Santarem Michelle Dornelles , Marmontel Mariane , Pereira Nathália Lima , Vieira Letícia Becker , Savaris Ricardo Francalacci 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Objective To characterize the sociodemographic profile of women victims of sexual violence treated at a university hospital in southern Brazil.
Method The present cross-sectional study included all female victims of sexual violence who attended the sexual violence unit at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (HCPA, in the Portuguese acronym) from April 18, 2000 to December 31, 2017. Data were extracted from the electronic record of the patients and stored in a standardized questionnaire database with epidemiological aspects of the victim, the perpetrators and the type of aggression. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-squared test for trend and descriptive statistics with 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results During the length of the study, 711 women victims of sexual violence were treated. The mean age of the patients was 24.4 (±10) years old (range from 11 to 69 years old) and most of the victims were white (77.4%), single (75.9%) and sought care at the unit within 72 hours after the occurrence (80.7%). In most cases, violence was exerted by a single perpetrator (87.1%), who was unknown in 67.2% of cases. Victims < 19 years old showed a higher risk of not using contraception (relative risk [RR] = 2.7; 95% CI = 1.9–3.6).
Conclusion Most victims of sexual violence were treated within 72 hours of the occurrence. The majority of these victims were white and young, and those < 19 years old had a higher risk of not using contraception and to know the sexual perpetrator.
Neurological Problems in COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Saini Shiv Kumar , Anand Kuljeet Singh , Juneja Abhishek , Mahajan Rakesh Kumar 
Published: September 2020

AbstractCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a potentially severe acute respiratory infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This outbreak, which emerged in Wuhan city, rapidly spread throughout China and has now become a global public health concern. SARS-CoV-2 is a highly pathogenic and transmissible virus. Common clinical manifestations of COVID-19 include fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, muscle ache, headache, and confusion. Currently, there is no confirmed effective therapeutic strategy for COVID-19 because the pathological mechanism is poorly understood. In addition to the respiratory system involvement, recent evidence has shown that SARS-CoV-2 can affect other organ systems including nervous, vascular, digestive, and urinary system. Various neurological complications have also been described in various studies. Nervous system involvement in the case of SARS-CoV-2 is explained by direct neuro invasion, immune mechanism, and other systemic factors. Neurological complications due to SARS-CoV-2 include both central and peripheral nervous system involvement. Central nervous system complications range from mild headache to seizures, encephalitis, myelitis, and acute cerebrovascular accidents. Peripheral nervous system complications range from vague muscle pains to Guillain–Barré syndrome. This article briefly discusses the various neurological and mental health issues related to COVID-19.
Organic matter from the Chicxulub crater exacerbated the K–Pg impact winter
Authors: Lyons Shelby L. , Karp Allison T. , Bralower Timothy J. , Grice Kliti , Schaefer Bettina , Gulick Sean P. S. , Morgan Joanna V. , Freeman Katherine H. 
Published: September 2020

Significance
Burn markers are observed in many records of the Cretaceous–Paleogene asteroid impact and mass extinction event. These materials could be derived from wildfires on land or from sedimentary rocks hit by the asteroid. We present a detailed record of molecular burn markers (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs]) from the Chicxulub crater and in ocean sediments distant from the impact site. PAH features indicate rapid heating and a fossil carbon source and are consistent with sedimentary carbon ejected from the impact crater and dispersed by the atmosphere. Target rock-derived soot immediately contributed to global cooling and darkening that curtailed photosynthesis and caused widespread extinction. PAH evidence indicates wildfires were present but less influential on global climate and extinction.
The early Aurignacian dispersal of modern humans into westernmost Eurasia
Authors: Haws Jonathan A. , Benedetti Michael M. , Talamo Sahra , Bicho Nuno , Cascalheira João , Ellis M. Grace , Carvalho Milena M. , Friedl Lukas , Pereira Telmo , Zinsious Brandon K. 
Published: September 2020

Significance
We report the remarkable discovery of an early Aurignacian occupation, ∼5,000 years older than any Upper Paleolithic site in westernmost Eurasia. The archaeological and radiocarbon data provide definitive evidence that modern humans were in western Iberia at a time when, if present at all, Neanderthal populations would have been extremely sparse. This discovery has important ramifications for our understanding of the process of modern human dispersal and replacement of Neanderthal populations. The results support a very rapid, unimpeded dispersal of modern humans across western Eurasia and support the notion that climate and environmental change played a significant role in this process.
Suspicious minds in times of crisis: determinants of Romanians’ beliefs in COVID-19 conspiracy theories
Authors: Stoica Cătălin Augustin , Umbreș Radu 
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACT
The current pandemic has generated many conspiracy theories (CTs). In this paper, we investigate several determinants of COVID-19 CTs using survey data from Romania. Some of our findings are consistent with those of previous studies on other CTs: low values of social integration, open-mindedness, and analytical thinking predict conspiracy thinking as well as higher levels of collective narcissism. Other findings run counter to those of prior research on CTs. We hypothesize that this might be due to the specificity of the CTs under scrutiny and related to the Romanian context.
Analysis of the contributions of human factors and natural factors affecting the vegetation pattern in coastal wetlands
Authors: Zang Zheng , Wu Xiaowei , Niu Yun , Mao Guangxiong 
Published: September 2020

ABSTRACT

Introduction
: Accurate identification of the dominant factors affecting coastal wetlands can provide a reference for vegetation rehabilitation. In this study, quantitative analysis was performed on the Yancheng coastal wetland using ANOVA and geostatistical methods.
Outcomes/other
: The results indicated that in the directions perpendicular and parallel to the coastline, the soil moisture and salinity in the study area exhibited relatively significant (p<0.05) spatial variability. Vegetation in the southern experimental zone was in a low-moisture, low-salinity ecological niche, whereas vegetation in the northern experimental zone was in a high-moisture, high-salinity ecological niche. Soil salinity exhibited higher spatial variability than soil moisture, and it was most correlated with unvegetated mudflats, followed by areas with Spartina alterniflora, Suaeda glauca, and Phragmites australis.
Discussion
: The fitting of the semivariogram showed that the nugget and sill of the ratio were relatively low (<25%) for soil moisture and salinity in the northern experimental zone and northern buffer zone, whereas these values were relatively high (>75%) for soil moisture and salinity in the southern experimental zone and southern buffer zone.
Conclusion
: Compared with the northern study area, the contribution of human disturbance to the spatial heterogeneity of soil moisture and salinity in the southern study area is higher.
Microdosimetry-based determination of tumour control probability curves for treatments with 225Ac-PSMA of metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Mínguez Gabiña Pablo , Roeske John C , Mínguez Ricardo , Rodeño Emilia , Gómez de Iturriaga Alfonso 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
We performed Monte Carlo simulations in order to determine, by means of microdosimetry calculations, tumour control probability (TCP) curves for treatments with 225Ac-PSMA of metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Realistic values of cell radiosensitivity, nucleus size and lesion size were used for calculations. As the cell radiosensitivity decreased, the nucleus size decreased and the lesion size increased, the absorbed dose to reach a given TCP increased. The widest variations occurred with regard to the cell radiosensitivity. For the Monte Carlo simulations, in order to address a non-uniform PSMA expression, different 225Ac-PSMA distributions were considered. The effect of these different PSMA distributions resulted in small variations in the TCP curves (maximum variation of 5%). Absorbed doses to reach a TCP of 0.9 for a uniform 225Ac-PSMA distribution, considering a relative biological effectiveness (RBE) of 5, ranged between 35.0 Gy and 116.5 Gy. The lesion absorbed doses per administered activity reported in a study on treatments with 225Ac-PSMA of mCRPC ranged between 1.3 Gy MBq−1 and 9.8 Gy MBq−1 for a RBE = 5. For a 70 kg-patient to whom 100 kBq kg−1 of 225Ac-PSMA are administered, the range of lesion absorbed doses would be between 9.1 Gy and 68.6 Gy. Thus, for a single cycle of 100 kBq kg−1, a number of lesions would not receive an absorbed dose high enough to reach a TCP of 0.9.
Data-driven estimation of noise variance stabilization parameters for low-dose x-ray images
Authors: Hariharan Sai Gokul , Strobel Norbert , Kaethner Christian , Kowarschik Markus , Fahrig Rebecca , Navab Nassir 
Published: September 2020

Abstract

Purpose. Denoising x-ray images corrupted by signal-dependent mixed noise is usually approached either by considering noise statistics directly or by using noise variance stabilization (NVS) techniques. An advantage of the latter is that the noise variance can be stabilized to a known constant throughout the image, facilitating the application of denoising algorithms designed for the removal of additive Gaussian noise. A well-performing NVS is the generalized Anscombe transform (GAT). To calculate the GAT, the system gain as well as the variance of electronic noise are required. Unfortunately, these parameters are difficult to predict from the x-ray tube settings in clinical practice, because the system gain observed at the detector depends on the beam hardening caused by the patient. Materials and Methods. We propose a data-driven method for estimating the parameters required to carry out an NVS using the GAT. It utilizes the energy compaction property of the discrete cosine transform to obtain the NVS parameters using a robust regression approach relying on a linear Poisson-Gaussian model. The method has been experimentally validated with respect to beam hardening as well as denoising performance for different dose and scatter levels. Results. Across a range of low-dose x-ray settings, the proposed robust regression approach has estimated both system gain and electronic noise level with an average error of only 4.2%. When used to perform a GAT followed by the denoising of low-dose x-ray images, performance gains of 5% for peak-signal-to-noise ratio and 4% for structural similarity index can be obtained. Conclusion. The parameters needed to calculate the GAT can be estimated efficiently and robustly using a data-driven approach. The improved parameter estimation method facilitates a more accurate GAT-based NVS and, hence, better denoising of low-dose x-ray images when algorithms designed for additive Gaussian noise are applied.
Investigation of electrical performance and operation stability of RF-sputtered InSnZnO thin film transistors by oxygen-ambient rapid thermal annealing
Authors: Maeng Seohyun , Kim Hyunjin , Choi Gisang , Choi Youngjoon , Oh Saeroonter , Kim Jaekyun 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
We investigated the electrical properties and operational stability of amorphous indium-tin-zinc-oxide (a-ITZO) thin-film transistors (TFTs). We fabricated the a-ITZO TFTs using deposition by radio frequency sputtering at room temperature followed by a rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process at different temperatures and oxygen pressure (P
O2). This is a more practical annealing route compared to a conventional furnace. Based on film densification and oxygen vacancy optimization, the a-ITZO TFTs exhibited 9.8 cm2 Vs−1, 0.82 V/decade and 1.39 V, for saturation mobility, sub-threshold swing and threshold voltage, respectively. Operation stability tests and hysteresis behavior of a-ITZO TFTs suggest that oxygen vacancy concentration of a-ITZO thin films gradually decreases under higher P
O2, consequently affecting the threshold voltage and the shift seen after a gate bias stress test. This observation suggests that gate bias stress and hysteresis stability of an a-ITZO device is due to the effect of oxygen-controlled pressure in the RTA process. This a-ITZO TFTs electrical characterization qualitatively coincides with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopic analyses of oxygen vacancy concentration in a-ITZO thin films. Thus, our systematic a-ITZO thin film optimization using the oxygen-ambient RTA process is a practical basis for high-performance amorphous oxide semiconductor TFT post-annealing methods.
Electro-mechanical properties of thermoplastic polyurethane films and tubes modified by hybrid carbon nanostructures for pressure sensing
Authors: Pérez-Aranda C , Valdez-Nava Z , Gamboa F , Cauich-Rodríguez J V , Avilés F 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Electrical and piezoresistive properties of hybrid nanocomposite films and tubes made of a segmented aliphatic polyurethane modified with multilayer graphene sheets (MLGSs), multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and hybrid mixtures of both, were investigated. Hybrid nanocomposites were fabricated at a total weight concentration (

Φ
T

) of 5 wt.%, with relative weight concentration of MLGSs with respect to MWCNTs (

Φ
R

)

of 25%, 50% and 75%. The electrical conductivity of these films is dominated by the MWCNT network, observing electrical MLGS-MWCNT collaborative effects only for

Φ
R

= 25%. Dielectric impedance spectroscopy indicates that the nanocomposites display capacitive effects at frequencies higher than tens of Hz, which is explained by interfacial polarization. The burst pressure and circumferential stiffness of internally pressurized tubes fabricated from these films is slightly higher for tubes containing only MWCNTs. The strain fields in the pressurized tubes, determined by digital image correlation, showed localized strain gradients, and the piezoresistive response of the electro-conductive tubes was nonlinear. The highest pressure sensitivity factor (4.59 kPa−1) was obtained for hybrid nanocomposite tubes with

Φ
R

= 25%.
Influence of neon seeding on the deuterium retention and surface modification of ITER-like forged tungsten
Authors: Yuan Yue , Wang Ting , Kreter Arkadi , Reinhart Michael , Terra Alexis , Möeller Sören , Cheng Long , Linsmeier Christian , Lu Guang-Hong 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
In order to investigate the effect of neon seeding on deuterium retention and surface modification of ITER-like forged tungsten with grains elongated perpendicular to the surface, pure and neon-seeded deuterium plasma exposures were performed in the linear plasma device PSI-2. The ion percentage of neon in the mixed plasma was around 10%. The sample temperature and deuterium ion fluence were kept at 450 K and 1 × 1026 m−2, respectively. The incident ion energy was 40 eV, just reaching the tungsten sputtering threshold for neon. Surface observations show that neon seeding leads to pronounced cracking and erosion of blister caps and a significant reduction of small blisters (<0.8 μm). This is possibly attributed to surface sputtering and the inhibitory effect of neon-induced defects on blister nucleation by hindering dislocation movements. On the other hand, neon seeding increases the total deuterium retention by ∼70% according to the thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) measurements. A low-temperature desorption peak (∼660 K) which should be mainly ascribed to deuterium de-trapping from dislocations is observed to be broadened and shifts towards higher temperature in the case of neon seeding, suggesting enhanced inward diffusion and trapping of deuterium. An additional deuterium release peak appears at a higher temperature (∼803 K), indicating the creation of new deuterium-traps induced by neon. A comparison of the results of nuclear reaction analysis and TDS reveals that neon seeding not only increases deuterium retention in the surface region (<7.2 μm) but also in the bulk (>7.2 μm). We ascribe the enhanced deuterium retention to the increased deuterium-traps in the top-surface induced by Ne irradiation and the vertical grain boundary configuration of the forged W promoting the inward diffusion of deuterium.