bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First report of genetic diversity and risk factor analysis of equine piroplasm infection in equids in Jilin, China
Authors: Zhao Shaowei , Wang Hao , Zhang Shuang , Xie Suzhu , Li Hang , Zhang Xuancheng , Jia Lijun 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne hemoprotozoan disease of equids, caused by Theileria equi and Babesia caballi. Equine piroplasmosis represents a serious challenge to the equine industry due to important economic losses worldwide. The present study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of Theileria equi and Babesia caballi infections in equids from Jilin Province, China.

Methods
A total of 220 blood samples (192 horses and 28 donkeys/mules) were collected from March 2018 to October 2019 in five districts of Jilin Province and analyzed by PCR. Potential risk factors, including the region, sex, management, and host species of the animals were assessed in relation to T. equi infection. Moreover, the V4 hypervariable region of the T. equi 18S rRNA gene was analyzed to identify specific genotypes.

Results
The overall prevalence of T. equi in equids was 27.7%, whereas B. caballi infection was not identified. The district with the highest positive rate was Baicheng (43.3%), followed by Tonghua (28.9%), Yanbian (26.4%), Jilin (23.3%), and Liaoyuan (20.9%). The sex of the animals and farm management were identified as main risk factors, which were significantly associated with the prevalence of Equine piroplasmosis (P < 0.05). The risk factor analysis indicated that the females were at a higher risk (OR: 2.48, 95% CI: 1.17–5.27) of being infected compared to the males, whereas the organized farm was protective factor (OR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.22–0.80). The phylogenetic analyses revealed that there were two T. equi genotypes (A and E) in Jilin.

Conclusions
Our findings provided important epidemiological data for the prevention and control of T. equi infection in Jilin, China.
Personalized cancer therapy prioritization based on driver alteration co-occurrence patterns
Authors: Mateo Lidia , Duran-Frigola Miquel , Gris-Oliver Albert , Palafox Marta , Scaltriti Maurizio , Razavi Pedram , Chandarlapaty Sarat , Arribas Joaquin , Bellet Meritxell , Serra Violeta , Aloy Patrick 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIdentification of actionable genomic vulnerabilities is key to precision oncology. Utilizing a large-scale drug screening in patient-derived xenografts, we uncover driver gene alteration connections, derive driver co-occurrence (DCO) networks, and relate these to drug sensitivity. Our collection of 53 drug-response predictors attains an average balanced accuracy of 58% in a cross-validation setting, rising to 66% for a subset of high-confidence predictions. We experimentally validated 12 out of 14 predictions in mice and adapted our strategy to obtain drug-response models from patients’ progression-free survival data. Our strategy reveals links between oncogenic alterations, increasing the clinical impact of genomic profiling.
Focal brain ischemia in mice does not cause electrophysiological signs of critical illness neuropathy
Authors: Huehnchen Petra , Toyka Klaus Viktor , Gertz Karen , Endres Matthias , Boehmerle Wolfgang 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Objective
Critical illness polyneuropathy (CIP) is a common complication of severe systemic illness treated in intensive care medicine. Ischemic stroke leads to an acute critical injury of the brain with hemiparesis, immunosuppression and subsequent infections, all of which require extended medical treatment. Stroke-induced sarcopenia further contributes to poor rehabilitation and is characterized by muscle wasting and denervation in the paralytic, but also the unaffected limbs. Therefore, we asked whether stroke leads to an additional CIP-like neurodegeneration.

Results
Focal brain ischemia was induced in adult mice by 60-min middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo) following reperfusion and led to functional deficits and marked hemispheric brain atrophy. Nerve conduction function and muscle potentials were measured in the ipsilateral sciatic nerve and gastrocnemius and quadriceps muscle with electroneurography/-myography on days 10, 22, 44 after stroke. An additional crush-injury to the sciatic nerve was included in two sham mice as positive control (sham +). We found no differences in nerve conduction function nor spontaneous electromyographic activity between MCAo and sham animals. Sham + mice developed marked reduction of the motor action potential amplitudes and conduction velocities with pathologic spontaneous activity. In conclusion, we found no peripheral nerve dysfunction/degeneration as signs of a CIP-like phenotype after MCAo.
T2 heterogeneity: a novel marker of microstructural integrity associated with cognitive decline in people with mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Wearn Alfie R. , Nurdal Volkan , Saunders-Jennings Esther , Knight Michael J. , Isotalus Hanna K. , Dillon Serena , Tsivos Demitra , Kauppinen Risto A. , Coulthard Elizabeth J. 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Early Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnosis is vital for development of disease-modifying therapies. Prior to significant brain tissue atrophy, several microstructural changes take place as a result of Alzheimer’s pathology. These include deposition of amyloid, tau and iron, as well as altered water homeostasis in tissue and some cell death. T2 relaxation time, a quantitative MRI measure, is sensitive to these changes and may be a useful non-invasive, early marker of tissue integrity which could predict conversion to dementia. We propose that different microstructural changes affect T2 in opposing ways, such that average ‘midpoint’ measures of T2 are less sensitive than measuring distribution width (heterogeneity). T2 heterogeneity in the brain may present a sensitive early marker of AD pathology.

Methods
In this cohort study, we tested 97 healthy older controls, 49 people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 10 with a clinical diagnosis of AD. All participants underwent structural MRI including a multi-echo sequence for quantitative T2 assessment. Cognitive change over 1 year was assessed in 20 participants with MCI. T2 distributions were modelled in the hippocampus and thalamus using log-logistic distribution giving measures of log-median value (midpoint; T2μ) and distribution width (heterogeneity; T2σ).

Results
We show an increase in T2 heterogeneity (T2σ; p < .0001) in MCI compared to healthy controls, which was not seen with midpoint (T2μ; p = .149) in the hippocampus and thalamus. Hippocampal T2 heterogeneity predicted cognitive decline over 1 year in MCI participants (p = .018), but midpoint (p = .132) and volume (p = .315) did not. Age affects T2, but the effects described here are significant even after correcting for age.

Conclusions
We show that T2 heterogeneity can identify subtle changes in microstructural integrity of brain tissue in MCI and predict cognitive decline over a year. We describe a new model that considers the competing effects of factors that both increase and decrease T2. These two opposing forces suggest that previous conclusions based on T2 midpoint may have obscured the true potential of T2 as a marker of subtle neuropathology. We propose that T2 heterogeneity reflects microstructural integrity with potential to be a widely used early biomarker of conditions such as AD.
Geometry of color perception. Part 2: perceived colors from real quantum states and Hering’s rebit
Authors: Berthier M. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractInspired by the pioneer work of H.L. Resnikoff, which is described in full detail in the first part of this two-part paper, we give a quantum description of the space$\mathcal{P}$Pof perceived colors. We show that$\mathcal{P}$Pis the effect space of a rebit, a real quantum qubit, whose state space is isometric to Klein’s hyperbolic disk. This chromatic state space of perceived colors can be represented as a Bloch disk of real dimension 2 that coincides with Hering’s disk given by the color opponency mechanism. Attributes of perceived colors, hue and saturation, are defined in terms of Von Neumann entropy.
Survival of soft tissue sarcoma patients after completing six cycles of first-line anthracycline containing treatment: an EORTC-STBSG database study
Authors: Verschoor Arie Jan , Litière Saskia , Marréaud Sandrine , Judson Ian , Toulmonde Maud , Wardelmann Eva , LeCesne Axel , Gelderblom Hans 
Published: September 2020

Abstract
Background
Doxorubicin based chemotherapy is standard first line treatment for patients with soft tissue sarcoma. Currently several options to improve survival after doxorubicin based chemotherapy are being studied. This study reports on survival after completing 6 cycles of doxorubicin containing first line treatment, which is important when designing studies trying to improve outcomes of first line treatment.

Methods
A retrospective database analysis was performed on 2045 patients from 12 EORTC sarcoma trials (inclusion period 1980–2012) receiving first line doxorubicin based chemotherapy for advanced soft tissue sarcoma in order to establish progression free survival and overall survival after completing 6 cycles of first line doxorubicin based chemotherapy. Endpoints were overall survival and progression free survival. Factors studied were histologic subtype and type of doxorubicin chemotherapy.

Results
748 of 2045 (36.6%) received at least 6 cycles and did not progress during or at the end of chemotherapy. 475 of 2045 (23.2%) of patients received exactly 6 cycles and did not progress during or at the end of chemotherapy. Median progression free survival after 6 cycles of doxorubicin based chemotherapy was 4.2 months (95% confidence interval 3.7–4.8) and median overall survival 15.7 months (14.0–17.8). Median progression free survival and overall survival from randomisation/registration were 8.7 months (95% confidence interval 8.2–9.1) and 20.1 months (95% confidence interval 18.3–22.3) respectively. Significant differences in progression free survival were found between chemotherapy regimens, but not for overall survival. These data are also reported for patients receiving 7 or more cycles of chemotherapy and for patients with 3 or more cycles of chemotherapy.

Conclusion
This large retrospective study is the first to report progression free survival and overall survival after completion of 6 cycles of first line doxorubicin containing chemotherapy. These results are important when designing new studies exploring for example maintenance therapy after doxorubicin based chemotherapy.
Network resource optimization with reinforcement learning for low power wide area networks
Authors: Park Gyubong , Lee Wooyeob , Joe Inwhee 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAs the 4th industrial revolution using information becomes an issue, wireless communication technologies such as the Internet of Things have been spotlighted. Therefore, much research is needed to satisfy the technological demands for the future society. A LPWA (low power wide area) in the wireless communication environment enables low-power, long-distance communication to meet various application requirements that conventional wireless communications have been difficult to meet. We propose a method to consume the minimum transmission power relative to the maximum data rate with the target of LoRaWAN among LPWA networks. Reinforcement learning is adopted to find the appropriate parameter values for the minimum transmission power. With deep reinforcement learning, we address the LoRaWAN problem with the goal of optimizing the distribution of network resources such as spreading factor, transmission power, and channel. By creating a number of deep reinforcement learning agents that match the terminal nodes in the network server, the optimal transmission parameters are provided to the terminal nodes. The simulation results show that the proposed method is about 15% better than the existing ADR (adaptive data rate) MAX of LoRaWAN in terms of throughput relative to energy transmission.
Coverless image steganography based on DenseNet feature mapping
Authors: Liu Qiang , Xiang Xuyu , Qin Jiaohua , Tan Yun , Qiu Yao 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSince the concept of coverless information hiding was proposed, it has been greatly developed due to its effectiveness of resisting the steganographic tools. Most existing coverless image steganography (CIS) methods achieve excellent robustness under non-geometric attacks. However, they do not perform well under some geometric attacks. Towards this goal, a CIS algorithm based on DenseNet feature mapping is proposed. Deep learning is introduced to extract high-dimensional CNN features which are mapped into hash sequences. For the sender, a binary tree hash index is built to accelerate index speed of searching hidden information and DenseNet hash sequence, and then, all matched images are sent. For the receiver, the secret information can be recovered successfully by calculating the DenseNet hash sequence of the cover image. During the whole steganography process, the cover images remain unchanged. Experimental results and analysis show that the proposed scheme has better robust compared with the state-of-the-art methods under geometric attacks.
Ground states for infinite lattices with nearest neighbor interaction
Authors: Chen Peng , Hu Die , Zhang Yuanyuan 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSun and Ma (J. Differ. Equ. 255:2534–2563, 2013) proved the existence of a nonzero T-periodic solution for a class of one-dimensional lattice dynamical systems, $$\begin{aligned} \ddot{q_{i}}=\varPhi _{i-1}'(q_{i-1}-q_{i})- \varPhi _{i}'(q_{i}-q_{i+1}),\quad i\in \mathbb{Z}, \end{aligned}$$

q
i

¨

=

Φ

i
−
1

′

(

q

i
−
1

−

q
i

)
−

Φ
i
′

(

q
i

−

q

i
+
1

)
,

i
∈
Z
,
where $q_{i}$

q
i

denotes the co-ordinate of the ith particle and $\varPhi _{i}$

Φ
i

denotes the potential of the interaction between the ith and the $(i+1)$
(
i
+
1
)
th particle. We extend their results to the case of the least energy of nonzero T-periodic solution under general conditions. Of particular interest is a new and quite general approach. To the best of our knowledge, there is no result for the ground states for one-dimensional lattice dynamical systems.
Abundant distinct types of solutions for the nervous biological fractional FitzHugh–Nagumo equation via three different sorts of schemes
Authors: Abdel-Aty Abdel-Haleem , Khater Mostafa M. A. , Baleanu Dumitru , Khalil E. M. , Bouslimi Jamel , Omri M. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe dynamical attitude of the transmission for the nerve impulses of a nervous system, which is mathematically formulated by the Atangana–Baleanu (AB) time-fractional FitzHugh–Nagumo (FN) equation, is computationally and numerically investigated via two distinct schemes. These schemes are the improved Riccati expansion method and B-spline schemes. Additionally, the stability behavior of the analytical evaluated solutions is illustrated based on the characteristics of the Hamiltonian to explain the applicability of them in the model’s applications. Also, the physical and dynamical behaviors of the gained solutions are clarified by sketching them in three different types of plots. The practical side and power of applied methods are shown to explain their ability to use on many other nonlinear evaluation equations.
Fast collocation method for a two-dimensional variable-coefficient linear nonlocal diffusion model
Authors: Zhang Xuhao , Cheng Aijie 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn this paper, a fast collocation method is developed for a two-dimensional variable-coefficient linear nonlocal diffusion model. By carefully dealing with the variable coefficient in the integral operator and then analyzing the structure of the coefficient matrix, we can reduce the computational operations in each Krylov subspace iteration from $O(N^{2})$
O
(

N
2

)
to $O(N\log N)$
O
(
N
log
N
)
and the memory requirement for the coefficient matrix from $O(N^{2})$
O
(

N
2

)
to $O(N)$
O
(
N
)
. Numerical experiments are carried out to show the utility of the fast collocation method.
Note on some representations of general solutions to homogeneous linear difference equations
Authors: Stević Stevo , Iričanin Bratislav , Kosmala Witold , Šmarda Zdeněk 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIt is known that every solution to the second-order difference equation$x_{n}=x_{n-1}+x_{n-2}=0$xn=xn−1+xn−2=0,$n\ge 2$n≥2, can be written in the following form$x_{n}=x_{0}f_{n-1}+x_{1}f_{n}$xn=x0fn−1+x1fn, where$f_{n}$fnis the Fibonacci sequence. Here we find all the homogeneous linear difference equations with constant coefficients of any order whose general solution have a representation of a related form. We also present an interesting elementary procedure for finding a representation of general solution to any homogeneous linear difference equation with constant coefficients in terms of the coefficients of the equation, initial values, and an extension of the Fibonacci sequence. This is done for the case when all the roots of the characteristic polynomial associated with the equation are mutually different, and then it is shown that such obtained representation also holds in other cases. It is also shown that during application of the procedure the extension of the Fibonacci sequence appears naturally.
An Anchorage Technique for Shear Strengthening of RC T-Beams Using NSM-BFRP Bars and BFRP Sheet
Authors: Diab Hesham M. , Sayed Ahmed M. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThis study presents a detailed experimental program for reinforced concrete T-beams strengthened in shear with near-surface mounted (NSM) basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars. This paper aims to introduce and evaluate a nonmechanical anchorage technique for shear strengthening using NSM-BFRP bars. T-beams were strengthened using manually manufactured closed or U-shaped hybrid BFRP stirrups (BFRP bars and BFRP sheets). The experimental program was developed to study the effects of these anchorage techniques. The results showed that the shear capacity increased by 8%–46% for beams strengthened with NSM-BFRP bars without anchorage. However, the presence of the proposed anchorage system increased the shear capacity of the strengthened beams by 39.6%–81.6%. Moreover, the maximum strains induced in the BFRP bars ranged from 27 to 59% of their ultimate strains according to the spacing between the NSM and the presence of the anchorage. The proposed anchorage technique prevented the premature debonding of the NSM-BFRP bars.
Meta-modeling of a simulation chain for urban air quality
Authors: Hammond J. K. , Chen R. , Mallet V. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractUrban air quality simulation is an important tool to understand the impacts of air pollution. However, the simulations are often computationally expensive, and require extensive data on pollutant sources. Data on road traffic pollution, often the predominant source, can be obtained through sparse measurements, or through simulation of traffic and emissions. Modeling chains combine the simulations of multiple models to provide the most accurate representation possible, however the need to solve multiple models for each simulation increases computational costs even more. In this paper we construct a meta-modeling chain for urban atmospheric pollution, from dynamic traffic modeling to air pollution modeling. Reduced basis methods (RBM) aim to compute a cheap and accurate approximation of a physical state using approximation spaces made of a suitable sample of solutions to the model. One of the keys of these techniques is the decomposition of the computational work into an expensive one-time offline stage and a low-cost parameter-dependent online stage. Traditional RBMs require modifying the assembly routines of the computational code, an intrusive procedure which may be impossible in cases of operational model codes. We propose a non-intrusive reduced order scheme, and study its application to a full chain of operational models. Reduced basis are constructed using principal component analysis (PCA), and the concentration fields are approximated as projections onto this reduced space. We use statistical emulation to approximate projection coefficients in a non-intrusive manner. We apply a multi-level meta-modeling technique to a chain using the dynamic traffic assignment model LADTA, the emissions database COPERT IV, and the urban dispersion-reaction air quality model SIRANE to a case study on the city of Clermont-Ferrand with over 45, 000 daily traffic observations, a 47, 000-link road network, a simulation domain covering $$180\,\text {km}^2$$

180

km
2

. We assess the results using hourly NO$$_2$$

2

concentration observations measured at stations in the agglomeration. Computational times are reduced from nearly 3 h per simulation to under 0.1 s, while maintaining accuracy comparable to the original models. The low cost of the meta-model chain and its non-intrusive character demonstrate the versatility of the method, and the utility for long-term or many-query air quality studies such as epidemiological inquiry or uncertainty quantification.
Combined application of single-energy metal artifact reduction and reconstruction techniques in patients with Cochlear implants
Authors: Wei Fanqin , Li Jiahui , Zhou Chunxiang , Li Yun , Wang Xianren , Huang Bixue , Sun Qiyang , Xiong Guanxia 
Published: September 2020

Background The purpose of this study was to develop an effective method of reducing metal artifacts in cochlear implant (CI) electrodes. Methods The temporal bones of 30 patients (34 ears) after CI were examined with 320-detector row computed tomography, which was evaluated by two senior radiologists using a double-blind method. Noise, artifact index, signal-to-noise ratio, and the subjective image quality score were compared before versus after using single-energy metal artifact reduction (SEMAR). The electrode position, single electrode visibility, and electrode count were evaluated using SEMAR combined with either multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) or maximum intensity projection. Results The two radiologists’ measurements had good consistency. SEMAR significantly reduced the image noise and artifacts index and significantly improved the signal-to-noise ratio and subjective image quality score ( P < 0.01). The combination of SEMAR with MPR was conducive to accurate assessment of electrode position and single-electrode visibility. The combination of SEMAR with MIP facilitated accurate and intuitive matching of the assessed electrode count with the number of electrodes implanted during the operation ( P = 0.062). Conclusion SEMAR significantly reduces metal artifacts generated by CI electrodes and improves the quality of computed tomography images. The combination of SEMAR with MPR and maximum intensity projection is beneficial for evaluating the position and number of CI electrodes.