bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Internal Superior Laryngeal Nerve in Humans: Evidence for Pure Sensory Function
Authors: Santoso Laura F. , Jafari Samah , Kim Daniel Y. , Paydarfar David 
Published: March 2020

ObjectivesTo determine if the internal branch of the superior laryngeal nerve (iSLN) provides direct motor innervation to the interarytenoid muscle, a laryngeal adductor critical for airway protection. We studied the iSLN‐evoked motor response in the interarytenoid and other laryngeal muscles. If the iSLN is purely sensory, there will be no detectable short latency motor response upon supramaximal stimulation, indicating the absence of a direct efferent conduction path.Study DesignIntraoperative case series.MethodsIn seven anesthetized patients undergoing laryngectomy for unilateral laryngeal carcinoma, the iSLN of the unaffected side was electrically stimulated intraoperatively with 0.1‐ms pulses of progressive intensities until supramaximal stimulation was reached. Electromyographic responses were measured in the ipsilateral interarytenoid, thyroarytenoid, and cricothyroid muscles.ResultsNone of the subjects exhibited short‐latency interarytenoid motor responses to iSLN stimulation. Supramaximal electrical stimulation of the intact iSLN evoked ipsilateral motor responses with long latencies: 18.7–38.5 ms in the interarytenoid (n = 6) and 17.8–24.9 ms in the thyroarytenoid (n = 5). Supramaximal stimulation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve evoked ipsilateral motor responses with short latencies: 1.6–3.9 ms in the interarytenoid (n = 6) and 1.6–2.7 ms in the thyroarytenoid (n = 6).ConclusionThe iSLN provides no functional efferent motor innervation to the interarytenoid muscles. The iSLN exclusively evokes an interarytenoid motor response via afferent activation of central neural circuits that mediate the laryngeal reflex arc. These findings suggest that the role of the iSLN in vital laryngopharyngeal functions, such as normal swallowing and protection of the airway from aspiration, is purely sensory.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 131:E207–E211, 2021
Defective Human Motion Perception in Cervical Dystonia Correlates With Coexisting Tremor
Authors: Martino Davide , Bonassi Gaia , Lagravinese Giovanna , Pelosin Elisa , Abbruzzese Giovanni , Avanzino Laura 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe ability to predict temporal outcome of body movement is abnormal in idiopathic dystonia and can be altered by cerebellar neuromodulation. Tremor in cervical dystonia might be associated with performance on motion perception tasks.MethodsA total of 15 cervical dystonia patients with and 14 without tremor and 15 age‐matched healthy participants estimated the termination of videos showing different movements (handwriting a sentence, ball reaching a target) after these were darkened at different time intervals.ResultsCervical dystonia patients with tremor exhibited greater absolute timing error across all intervals of the hand motion task (group × task interaction effect, F2,41 = 4.57; P = 0.016). The percentage of responses in anticipation for both motion tasks did not differ across groups, suggesting lack of timing error directionality.ConclusionsTemporal processing of perceived motion in cervical dystonia is associated with the presence of tremor. Cortico‐cerebellar network abnormalities in cervical dystonia might account for motion processing changes in these patients. © 2020 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Employing double posts to excite the centerline longitudinal slot antennas
Authors: Moradian Mahdi 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA straightforward method is introduced for feeding the longitudinal slot antennas, which are centered along the waveguide centerline. In the proposed method, two posts are introduced next to each slot. The posts are arranged such that they have offsets from the waveguide centerline. Furthermore, the posts are placed near the tips of the slots. The performed study shows that the spacing between the posts as well as their offsets from the centerline is the main parameters that control the radiated energy by the antennas. To verify the effectiveness of the suggested slot antennas, some design graphs are derived for a special case of the suggested slot antennas and a linear array is then designed, implemented, and measured. The usefulness of the suggested slot antennas is validated by a design example and its simulation and the measurement results.
Mutual coupling reduction in Fabry‐Pérot cavity antenna array
Authors: Zhan Junlin , Xu Feng , Liu Shui , Deng Senshen , Yang Ling , Qiang Jingxia 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThis letter presents the mutual coupling reduction in Fabry‐Pérot (FP) cavity antenna array. Partially reflecting surface (PRS) and analogous artificial magnetic conductor reflectarray in the cavity participate in phase and magnitude modulation with spatial decoupling solution. With the proper design for the cells of PRS and reflectarray, along with the distance between them, scattered and surface waves are analyzed independently to achieve the trade‐off between mutual coupling reduction and high directivity. With decoupling optimization, S21 decreases from −20 to −30 dB, and the gain of the decoupling FP cavity antenna array fed by single source drops acceptably from 14.3 to 13.6 dBi simultaneously. The low E‐plane coupling coefficient and envelope correlation coefficient are achieved. Besides, the height of the decoupling FP cavity antenna array is lower than 6.3 mm owing to the participation of reflectarray. That the measured results are in good agreements with simulated results verifies the decoupling FP cavity antenna array performances.
Trajectory‐based VMAT for cranial targets with delivery at shortened SAD
Authors: Mullins Joel , Renaud Marc‐André , Heng Veng , Ruo Russell , DeBlois François , Seuntjens Jan 
Published: March 2020

IntroductionTrajectory‐based volumetric modulated arc therapy (tr‐VMAT) treatment plans enable the option for noncoplanar delivery yielding steeper dose gradients and increased sparing of critical structures compared to conventional treatment plans. The addition of translational couch motion to shorten the effective source‐to‐axis distance (SAD) may result in improved delivery precision and an increased effective dose rate. In this work, tr‐VMAT treatment plans using a noncoplanar “baseball stitch” trajectory were implemented, applied to patients presented with cranial targets, and compared to the clinical treatment plans.MethodsA treatment planning workflow was implemented: (a) beamlet doses were calculated for control points defined along a baseball stitch trajectory using a collapsed‐cone convolution‐superposition algorithm; (b) VMAT treatment plans were optimized using the column generation approach; (c) a final dose distribution was calculated in Varian Eclipse using the analytical anisotropic algorithm by importing the optimized treatment plan parameters. Tr‐VMAT plans were optimized for ten patients presented with cranial targets at both standard and shortened SAD, and compared to the clinical treatment plans through isodose distributions, dose‐volume histograms, and dosimetric indices. The control point specifications of the optimized tr‐VMAT plans were used to estimate the delivery time.ResultsThe optimized tr‐VMAT plans with both shortened and standard SAD delivery yielded a comparable plan quality to the clinical treatment plans. A statistically significant benefit was observed for dose gradient index and monitor unit efficiency for shortened SAD tr‐VMAT plans, while improved target volume conformity was observed for the clinical treatment plan (P ≤ 0.05). A clear dosimetric benefit was not demonstrated between tr‐VMAT delivery at shortened SAD compared to standard SAD, but shortened SAD delivery yielded a fraction size–dependent reduction in the estimated delivery time.ConclusionThe implementation of “baseball stitch” tr‐VMAT treatment plans to patients presented with cranial targets demonstrated comparable plan quality to clinical treatment plans. The delivery at shortened SAD produced a fraction size–dependent decrease in estimated delivery time.
Melt spinning of propylene carbonate‐plasticized poly(acrylonitrile)‐co‐poly(methyl acrylate)
Authors: König Simon , Kreis Philipp , Reinders Leonie , Beyer Ronald , Wego Andreas , Herbert Christian , Steinmann Mark , Frank Erik , Buchmeiser Michael R. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe primary use of poly(acrylonitrile) (PAN) fibers, commonly referred to as acrylic fibers, is in textile applications like clothing, furniture, carpets, and awnings. All commercially available PAN fibers are processed by solution spinning; however, alternative, more cost‐effective processes like melt spinning are still highly desired. Here, the melt spinning of PAN‐co‐poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) plasticized with propylene carbonate (PC) at 175°C is reported. The use of methyl acrylate (MA) as comonomer and PC as an external plasticizer renders the approach a combination of internal and external plasticization. Various mixtures of PAN and PC used in this work were examined by rheology, subjected to melt spinning, followed by discontinuous and continuous washing, respectively. The best fibers were derived from a PAN‐co‐PMA copolymer containing 8.1 mol‐% of MA having a number‐average molecular weight M
n of 34 000 g/mol, spun in the presence of 22.5 wt.‐% of PC. The resulting fibers were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), and were subjected to mechanical testing.
High Intensity Interval Exercise Increases Platelet and Transforming Growth Factor‐β Yield in Platelet‐Rich Plasma
Authors: Baria Michael R. , Miller Meghan M. , Borchers James , Desmond Shannon , Onate James , Magnussen Robert , Vasileff William Kelton , Flanigan David , Kaeding Christopher , Durgam Sushmitha 
Published: March 2020

BackgroundPlatelet‐rich plasma (PRP) is an emerging orthobiologic treatment for musculoskeletal conditions like osteoarthritis. Two studies have demonstrated the influence of longer duration exercise on PRP composition, but no study has ever explored the impact of high intensity interval exercise (HIIE) on PRP content.ObjectiveTo quantify cellular and growth factor content changes in PRP after 4 minutes of HIIE.DesignControlled laboratory pilot study.SettingAcademic sports medicine center.ParticipantsTen healthy volunteers (5 male, 5 female).InterventionVolunteers had PRP prepared from 15 mL of whole blood using a single spin, plasma‐based system (autologous conditioned plasma [ACP]) immediately before and after 4 minutes of HIIE on a stationary exercise bike (Tabata protocol).Main Outcome MeasureThe PRP was sent for complete blood counts and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β, platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐1, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).ResultsMean platelet count in PRP increased from 367.4 ± 57.5 k/μL to 497.7 ± 93.3 k/μL after 4 minutes of HIIE (P < .001). TGF‐β also increased from 8237.2 ± 7676.5 pg/mL to 21 535.7 ± 4062.6 pg/mL postexercise (P = .004). The other cellular components (leukocytes, red blood cells, and mean platelet volume) and growth factors (PDGF, IGF‐1, and VEGF) were not significantly changed.ConclusionsA short 4‐minute bout of HIIE significantly increased the total platelet count and TGF‐β concentration in PRP.
The roles and potential of lentil prebiotic carbohydrates in human and plant health
Authors: Johnson Nathan , Johnson Casey R. , Thavarajah Pushparajah , Kumar Shiv , Thavarajah Dil 
Published: March 2020

Societal Impact StatementLentils are not only rich in protein and micronutrients, but they also have significant amounts of prebiotic carbohydrates, which provide benefits to human health. Beneficial microorganisms ferment lentil prebiotic carbohydrates in the colon, which impart gut health benefits to the consumer. In addition, prebiotic carbohydrates provide benefits to lentil plant health through their roles in carbon transport, storage, and abiotic stress tolerance. Advantageous to both human and plant health, prebiotic carbohydrates should be a prominent target for breeding efforts to improve lentil as a crop, as well as its nutritional value to consumers.
Summary
Diet‐related ailments, such as obesity and micronutrient deficiencies, have global adverse impacts on society. Lentil is an important staple crop, especially in South Asia and Africa, and has been associated with the prevention of chronic illnesses, including type II diabetes, obesity, and cancer. Lentil, a cool‐season food legume, is rich in protein and micronutrients while also containing a range of prebiotic carbohydrates, such as raffinose family oligosaccharides (RFOs), fructooligosaccharides, sugar alcohols (SAs), and resistant starch (RS), which contribute to lentil's health benefits. Prebiotic carbohydrates are fermented by beneficial microorganisms in the colon, which impart health benefits to the consumer. Prebiotic carbohydrates are also vital to lentil plant health, being associated with carbon transport/storage and abiotic stress tolerance. Important to both human and plant health, prebiotic carbohydrates in lentil are a prominent candidate for nutrigenomic breeding efforts. New lentil cultivars could help to combat global health problems, while also proving resilient to climate change. The objectives of this review are to: (a) discuss the benefits lentil prebiotic carbohydrates confer to human and plant health; (b) describe the biosynthesis pathways of two prominent prebiotic carbohydrate families in lentil, RFOs and SAs; and (c) consider the potential of prebiotic carbohydrates in terms of future nutritional breeding efforts.
Performance analysis of rocking shear wall‐frame structure
Authors: Xia Guiyun 
Published: March 2020

SummaryIncorporating the shear deformation effect of the shear wall and the restrained moment effect of the link beam, a continuum model is presented to conduct the preliminary analysis of the rocking shear wall‐frame structure. It can be applicable to fixed/hinged systems with link beams fixed/hinged at the ends and to clamped/rocking shear wall‐frame structures with clamped/rocking shear wall at the base. Its comprehension can improve the accuracy and integrality of the analytical theory for shear wall‐frame structures. Analytical solutions to three loading scenarios are derived and make manual computation possible. A finite element with the analytical solutions as the shape functions is presented. This formulation is convenient to analyze the stepped shear wall‐frame structures with variable cross sections along the height and under complicated loads. The frequency equations and mode shapes are also derived. Numerical examples demonstrate the accuracy and excellent predictions of the present model and the finite element formulation.
Prevalence of negative sliding sign representing pouch of Douglas obliteration during pelvic transvaginal ultrasound for any indication
Authors: Leonardi M. , Martins W. P. , Espada M. , Georgousopoulou E. , Condous G. 
Published: March 2020

ABSTRACTObjectivesPouch of Douglas (POD) obliteration can be predicted with a high degree of certainty and reproducibility using the dynamic transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) sliding‐sign technique. So far, studies on POD obliteration prediction have focused on tertiary‐care populations with high prevalence of endometriosis; however, POD obliteration may exist in individuals with asymptomatic endometriosis or other conditions. Our primary aim was to determine the prevalence of a negative sliding sign, representing POD obliteration, in a cohort of patients undergoing TVS for any gynecological indication.MethodsThis was a prospective observational study of consecutive women with an indication for gynecological TVS, conducted at a high‐volume ultrasound practice between July and August 2018. Clinical and surgical history, indication for TVS and TVS findings were documented. The prevalence of TVS‐confirmed POD obliteration, determined by interpretation of the sliding sign, was calculated for the entire cohort and for the subgroups of women with and without risk factors for endometriosis. High risk for endometriosis was defined as having (1) a TVS referral for endometriosis‐like pelvic pain or endometriosis specifically and/or (2) clinical symptoms or signs suggestive of endometriosis. Low risk was defined as the absence of these characteristics.ResultsDuring the study period, 1043 consecutive women underwent TVS. After excluding those who underwent transabdominal ultrasound, had a history of hysterectomy or with missing data, 909 women were analyzed. The prevalence of a negative sliding sign in the entire cohort was 47/909 (5.2%). A negative sliding sign was observed in 22/639 (3.4%) women with a low risk for endometriosis and 25/243 (10.3%) of those with a high risk for endometriosis (difference in proportions, 6.9% (95% CI 2.8–10.9%); P < 0.001).ConclusionsWe have demonstrated an overall prevalence of a negative sliding sign, suggesting POD obliteration, of 5.2% (or 1/20) in women seeking TVS for a gynecological indication. The prevalence of negative sliding sign in low‐risk women is not negligible (3.4% or 1/29 women). These women are most likely to have asymptomatic endometriosis or another important etiology of POD obliteration. The prevalence of a negative sliding sign is approximately three‐times higher in women with signs and/or symptoms of endometriosis (10.3% vs 3.4%). Copyright © 2020 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Analytical and numerical fluid–structure interaction study of a microscale piezoelectric wind energy harvester
Authors: Alaei Elham , Afrasiab Hamed , Dardel Morteza 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn this paper, an analytical approach and two numerical models have been developed to study an energy‐harvesting device for micropower generation. This device uses wind energy to oscillate a cantilevered beam attached to a piezoelectric layer for generating electric energy output. The analytical approach and the first numerical model consider the fluid–structure interaction phenomenon in the harvester performance. The equations governing beam oscillations and airflow have been coupled to a set of four differential equations in the analytical approach. This set of equations has been solved to determine the beam deflection and the air pressure variation with time. The numerical methods have been conducted by employing a commercial software. The results of the analytical method and the first numerical model have been compared in different working conditions, and their credibility has been discussed. In the second numerical model, the electromechanical performance of the piezoelectric material has also been incorporated in the harvester device analysis. This model has been verified against experimental data for the output voltage and power of the device available in the literature. Finally, the effect of different geometrical parameters has been studied on the harvester performance, and suggestions have been made to improve the harvester efficiency.
Bootstrapping line defects in $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 theories
Authors: Gimenez-Grau Aleix , Liendo Pedro 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
We study half-BPS line defects in $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 superconformal theories using the bootstrap approach. We concentrate on local excitations constrained to the defect, which means the system is a 1d defect CFT with osp(4∗|2) symmetry. In order to study correlation functions we construct a suitable superspace, and then use the Casimir approach to calculate a collection of new superconformal blocks. Special emphasis is given to the displacement operator, which controls deformations orthogonal to the defect and is always present in a defect CFT. After setting up the crossing equations we proceed with a numerical and analytical bootstrap analysis. We obtain numerical bounds on the CFT data and compare them to known solutions. We also present an analytic perturbative solution to the crossing equations, and argue that this solution captures line defects in $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 gauge theories at strong coupling.
On the effective properties of foams in the framework of the couple stress theory
Authors: Skrzat Andrzej , Eremeyev Victor A. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn the framework of the couple stress theory, we discuss the effective elastic properties of a metal open-cell foam. In this theory, we have the couple stress tensor, but the microrotations are fully described by displacements. To this end, we performed calculations for a representative volume element which give the matrices of elastic moduli relating stress and stress tensors with strain and microcurvature tensors.
Quantification of diacylglycerol and triacylglycerol species in human fecal samples by flow injection Fourier transform mass spectrometry
Authors: Ertl Verena M. , Höring Marcus , Schött Hans-Frieder , Blücher Christina , Kjølbæk Louise , Astrup Arne , Burkhardt Ralph , Liebisch Gerhard 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe intestinal microbiome plays an important role in human health and disease and fecal materials reflect the microbial activity. Thus, analysis of fecal metabolites provides insight in metabolic interactions between gut microbiota and host organism. In this work, we applied flow injection analysis coupled to Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FIA-FTMS) to identify and quantify lipid species in human fecal samples. Fecal homogenates were subjected to lipid extraction and analyzed by FIA-FTMS. The analysis of different subjects revealed a vast heterogeneity of lipid species abundance. The majority of samples displayed prominent signals of triacylglycerol (TG) and diacylglycerol (DG) species that could be verified by MS2 spectra. Therefore, we focused on the quantification of TG and DG. Method validation included limit of quantification, linearity, evaluation of matrix effects, recovery, and reproducibility. The validation experiments demonstrated the suitability of the method, with exception for approximately 10% of samples, where we observed coefficients of variation higher than 15%. Impaired reproducibility was related to sample inhomogeneity and could not be improved by additional sample preparation steps. Additionally, these experiments demonstrated that compared with aqueous samples, samples containing isopropanol showed higher amounts of DG, presumably due to lysis of bacteria and increased TG lipolysis. These effects were sample-specific and substantiate the high heterogeneity of fecal materials as well as the need for further evaluation of pre-analytic conditions. In summary, FIA-FTMS offers a fast and accurate tool to quantify DG and TG species and is suitable to provide insight into the fecal lipidome and its role in health and disease.