bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Novel Duplication in ATXN2 as Modifier for Spinocerebellar Ataxia 3 (SCA3) and C9ORF72‐ALS
Authors: Laffita‐Mesa Jose Miguel , Nennesmo Inger , Paucar Martin , Svenningsson Per 
Published: October 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe ataxin‐2 (ATXN2) gene contains a cytosine‐adenine‐guanine repeat sequence ranging from 13 to 31 repeats, but when surpassing certain thresholds causes neurodegeneration. Genetic alterations in ATXN2 other than pathological cytosine adenine guanine (CAG) repeats are unknown.Methods/ResultsWe have identified a 9–base pair duplication in the 2‐gene ATXN2 sense/antisense region. The duplication was found in a Swedish family with spinocerebellar ataxia 3 with parkinsonism, conferring a deviated age at onset unexplained by the concomitant presence of ATXN2 intermediate alleles. Similarly, C9ORF72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases bearing the same duplication had earlier age at onset than those with C9ORF72 and ATXN2 intermediate alleles. No effect was evident in Parkinson's disease (PD) cases without known PD gene mutations.ConclusionsWe describe the first genetic alteration other than the known intermediate‐range CAG repeats in ATXN2. This 9–base pair duplication may act as an additional hit among carriers of pathological nucleotide expansions in ATXN3 and C9ORF72 with ATXN2 intermediate. © 2020 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
First experimental investigation of simultaneously tracking two independently moving targets on an MRI‐linac using real‐time MRI and MLC tracking
Authors: Liu Paul Z. Y. , Dong Bing , Nguyen Doan Trang , Ge Yuanyuan , Hewson Emily A. , Waddington David E. J. , O'Brien Ricky , Liney Gary P. , Keall Paul J. 
Published: October 2020

PurposeHigh quality radiotherapy is challenging in cases where multiple targets with independent motion are simultaneously treated. A real‐time tumor tracking system that can simultaneously account for the motion of two targets was developed and characterized.MethodsThe multitarget tracking system was implemented on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐linac and utilized multi‐leaf collimator (MLC) tracking to adapt the radiation beam to phantom targets reproducing motion with prostate and lung motion traces. Multitarget tracking consisted of three stages: (a) pretreatment aperture segmentation where the treatment aperture was divided into segments corresponding to each target, (b) MR imaging where the positions of the two targets were localized, and (c) MLC tracking where an updated treatment aperture was calculated. Electronic portal images (EPID) acquired during irradiation were analyzed to characterize geometric uncertainty and tracking latency.ResultsMultitarget MLC tracking effectively accounted for the motion of both targets during treatment. The root‐mean‐square error between the centers of the targets and the centers of the corresponding MLC leaves were reduced from 5.5 mm without tracking to 2.7 mm with tracking for lung motion traces and reduced from 4.2 to 1.4 mm for prostate motion traces. The end‐to‐end latency of tracking was measured to be 328 ± 44 ms.ConclusionsWe have demonstrated the first experimental implementation of MLC tracking for multiple targets having independent motion. This technology takes advantage of the imaging capabilities of MRI‐linacs and would allow treatment margins to be reduced in cases where multiple targets are simultaneously treated.
How thin can you go? Performance of thin copper and aluminum RF coil conductors
Authors: Barta Radim , Volotovskyy Vyacheslav , Wachowicz Keith , Fallone B. Gino , De Zanche Nicola 
Published: October 2020

PurposeTo evaluate the impact of emerging conductor technology on RF coils. Performance and resulting image quality of thin or alternate conductors (eg, aluminum instead of copper) and thicknesses (9‐600 μm) are compared in terms of SNR.MethodsEight prototype RF coils (15 cm × 15 cm square loops) were constructed and bench‐tested to measure quality factor. The coils used 6‐mm‐wide conducting strips of either copper or aluminum of a few different thicknesses (copper: 17, 32, 35, 127, 600 μm; aluminum: 9, 13, 20, 127 μm) on acetate projector sheets for backing. Corresponding image SNR was measured at 0.48 tesla (20.56 MHz).ResultsThe coils spanned a range of unloaded quality factors from 89 to 390 and a fivefold range of losses. The image SNRs were consistent with the coils’ bench‐measured efficiencies (0.33‐0.73). Thin aluminum conductors (9 μm) led to the highest reduction in SNR (65% that of 127 μm copper). Thin copper (<32 μm) conductors lead to a much smaller decrease in SNR (approximately 10%) compared to 127 μm copper. No performance difference was observed between 127 μm thick copper and aluminum. The much thicker 600 μm copper bars only yield a 5% improvement in SNR.ConclusionEven at 0.48 tesla, copper RF coil conductors much thinner than those in conventional construction can be used while maintaining SNR greater than 50% that of thick copper. These emerging coil conductor technologies enable RF coil functionality that cannot be achieved otherwise.
Deep learning‐based method for reducing residual motion effects in diffusion parameter estimation
Authors: Gong Ting , Tong Qiqi , Li Zhiwei , He Hongjian , Zhang Hui , Zhong Jianhui 
Published: October 2020

PurposeConventional motion‐correction techniques for diffusion MRI can introduce motion‐level–dependent bias in derived metrics. To address this challenge, a deep learning‐based technique was developed to minimize such residual motion effects.MethodsThe data‐rejection approach was adopted in which motion‐corrupted data are discarded before model‐fitting. A deep learning‐based parameter estimation algorithm, using a hierarchical convolutional neural network (H‐CNN), was combined with motion assessment and corrupted volume rejection. The method was designed to overcome the limitations of existing methods of this kind that produce parameter estimations whose quality depends strongly on a proportion of the data discarded. Evaluation experiments were conducted for the estimation of diffusion kurtosis and diffusion‐tensor–derived measures at both the individual and group levels. The performance was compared with the robust approach of iteratively reweighted linear least squares (IRLLS) after motion correction with and without outlier replacement.ResultsCompared with IRLLS, the H‐CNN‐based technique is minimally sensitive to motion effects. It was tested at severe motion levels when 70% to 90% of the data are rejected and when random motion is present. The technique had a stable performance independent of the numbers and schemes of data rejection. A further test on a data set from children with attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder shows the technique can potentially ameliorate spurious group‐level difference caused by head motion.ConclusionThis method shows great potential for reducing residual motion effects in motion‐corrupted diffusion‐weighted–imaging data, bringing benefits that include reduced bias in derived metrics in individual scans and reduced motion‐level–dependent bias in population studies employing diffusion MRI.
Horizontal vibration of a rigid strip footing on viscoelastic half‐space
Authors: Zheng Changjie , Cai Yuanjie , Luan Lubao , Kouretzis George , Ding Xuanming 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis paper presented an analytical method for determining the response of a rigid strip foundation resting on the surface of a viscoelastic half‐space to horizontal dynamic loads, and the associated transient soil displacements resulting from the vibration of the footing. This mixed boundary value problem was solved by means of Jacobi orthogonal polynomials, a more efficient method compared to transforming the dual integral equations resulting from the boundary conditions to Fredholm integral equations. Displacements and stresses of the soil‐footing system were accordingly obtained by applying the inverse Fourier transform. Finally, we used the proposed solution to investigate the effects of material damping and Poisson's ratio of soil on the dynamic response of the strip footing, and the resulting soil displacements.
Carbon disulfide solvent, helping to clarify the Stokes shift in diphenylpolyenes
Authors: Catalán Javier 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe Stokes shift found by Hausser et al. in diphenylpolyenes, which increases by lengthening its polyene chain, has received in the last 80 years a series of explanations, which we believe are not satisfactory. In this current work, using of CS2 as solvent for the fluorescence measurements of 1,6‐diphenylhexatriene (DPH) and 1,8‐diphenyloctatetraene (DPO) against temperature, it is concluded that the Stokes shift, shown by the diphenylpolyenes, is of structural origin and that it disappears from its photophysical behavior if it is possible that these compounds in their ground electronic state adopt a planar molecular structure, from which to initiate their photophysics.
Computational design of mixed chirality peptide macrocycles with internal symmetry
Authors: Mulligan Vikram Khipple , Kang Christine S. , Sawaya Michael R. , Rettie Stephen , Li Xinting , Antselovich Inna , Craven Timothy W. , Watkins Andrew M. , Labonte Jason W. , DiMaio Frank , Yeates Todd O. , Baker David 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCyclic symmetry is frequent in protein and peptide homo‐oligomers, but extremely rare within a single chain, as it is not compatible with free N‐ and C‐termini. Here we describe the computational design of mixed‐chirality peptide macrocycles with rigid structures that feature internal cyclic symmetries or improper rotational symmetries inaccessible to natural proteins. Crystal structures of three C2‐ and C3‐symmetric macrocycles, and of six diverse S2‐symmetric macrocycles, match the computationally‐designed models with backbone heavy‐atom RMSD values of 1 Å or better. Crystal structures of an S4‐symmetric macrocycle (consisting of a sequence and structure segment mirrored at each of three successive repeats) designed to bind zinc reveal a large‐scale zinc‐driven conformational change from an S4‐symmetric apo‐state to a nearly inverted S4‐symmetric holo‐state almost identical to the design model. These symmetric structures provide promising starting points for applications ranging from design of cyclic peptide based metal organic frameworks to creation of high affinity binders of symmetric protein homo‐oligomers. More generally, this work demonstrates the power of computational design for exploring symmetries and structures not found in nature, and for creating synthetic switchable systems.
Chlamydia trachomatis glyceraldehyde 3‐phosphate dehydrogenase: Enzyme kinetics, high‐resolution crystal structure, and plasminogen binding
Authors: Schormann Norbert , Campos Juan , Motamed Rachael , Hayden Katherine L. , Gould Joseph R. , Green Todd J. , Senkovich Olga , Banerjee Surajit , Ulett Glen C. , Chattopadhyay Debasish 
Published: October 2020

AbstractGlyceraldehyde 3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is an evolutionarily conserved essential enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. GAPDH is also involved in a wide spectrum of non‐catalytic cellular ‘moonlighting’ functions. Bacterial surface‐associated GAPDHs engage in many host interactions that aid in colonization, pathogenesis, and virulence. We have structurally and functionally characterized the recombinant GAPDH of the obligate intracellular bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis, the leading cause of sexually transmitted bacterial and ocular infections. Contrary to earlier speculations, recent data confirm the presence of glucose‐catabolizing enzymes including GAPDH in both stages of the biphasic life cycle of the bacterium. The high‐resolution crystal structure described here provides a close‐up view of the enzyme's active site and surface topology and reveals two chemically modified cysteine residues. Moreover, we show for the first time that purified C. trachomatis GAPDH binds to human plasminogen and plasmin. Based on the versatility of GAPDH's functions, data presented here emphasize the need for investigating the Chlamydiae GAPDH's involvement in biological functions beyond energy metabolism.
Therapeutic benefits of rutin and its nanoformulations
Authors: Negahdari Ramin , Bohlouli Sepideh , Sharifi Simin , Maleki Dizaj Solmaz , Rahbar Saadat Yalda , Khezri Khadijeh , Jafari Samira , Ahmadian Elham , Gorbani Jahandizi Negar , Raeesi Safa 
Published: October 2020

BackgroundRutin as a natural flavonoid compound has revealed an extensive range of therapeutic potentials.PurposeThe current paper is focused on the numerous studies on rutin nanoformulations regarding its broad spectrum of therapeutic potentials.Study and methodsA review was conducted in electronic databases (PubMed) to identify relevant published literature in English. No restrictions on publication date were imposed.ResultsThe literature search provided 7,078 results for rutin. Among them, 25 papers were related to the potential biological activities of rutin nanoformulations. Polymeric nanoparticles were the most studied nanoformulations for rutin (14 titles) and lipid nanoparticles (5 titles) were in second place. The reviewed literature showed that rutin has been used as an antimicrobial, antifungal, and anti‐allergic agent. Improving the bioavailability of rutin using novel drug‐delivery methods will help the investigators to use its useful effects in the treatment of various chronic human diseases.ConclusionIt can be concluded that the preparation of rutin nanomaterials for the various therapeutic objects confirmed the enhanced aqueous solubility as well as enhanced efficacy compared to conventional delivery of rutin. However, more investigations should be conducted to confirm the improved bioavailability of the rutin nanoformulations.
Robust optimal tracking control for multiplayer systems by off‐policy Q‐learning approach
Authors: Li Jinna , Xiao Zhenfei , Li Ping , Cao Jiangtao 
Published: October 2020

SummaryIn this article, a novel off‐policy cooperative game Q‐learning algorithm is proposed for achieving optimal tracking control of linear discrete‐time multiplayer systems suffering from exogenous dynamic disturbance. The key strategy, for the first time, is to integrate reinforcement learning, cooperative games with output regulation under the discrete‐time sampling framework for achieving data‐driven optimal tracking control and disturbance rejection. Without the information of state and input matrices of multiplayer systems, as well as the dynamics of exogenous disturbance and command generator, the coordination equilibrium solution and the steady‐state control laws are learned using data by a novel off‐policy Q‐learning approach, such that multiplayer systems have the capability of tolerating disturbance and follow the reference signal via the optimal approach. Moreover, the rigorous theoretical proofs of unbiasedness of coordination equilibrium solution and convergence of the proposed algorithm are presented. Simulation results are given to show the efficacy of the developed approach.
Limiting water range: Crop responses related to in‐season soil water dynamics, weather conditions, and subsoil compaction
Authors: Pulido‐Moncada Mansonia , Petersen Carsten T. , Munkholm Lars J. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe least limiting water range (LLWR) has been used as a soil structural quality indicator for identifying in‐season water dynamics, yet studies focusing on its use for detecting in‐season water stresses and their effect on crop response on severely compacted subsoils are scarce. The objectives of this study were, therefore, to examine the in‐season water dynamics on a tile‐drained soil with compacted subsoil in the light of two different approaches for calculating LLWR (standard LLWR by da Silva et al. [1994] and refined LLWR by Pulido‐Moncada & Munkholm [2019]) and to evaluate the crop response to aboveground and belowground conditions. Information on LLWRs was obtained from soil sampling in the most contrasting treatments of a compaction experiment: with and without compaction. In‐season water dynamics were measured from 2017 to 2019. The refined LLWR approach defined a wider range of water content nonlimiting for plant growth compared with the da Silva et al. approach. Compaction affected the LLWRs (p < .05), yet no significant effect of subsoil compaction on crop yield was found. Cumulative aeration and water stress day indicators identified from the refined LLWR were significantly related to grain yield (p < .05). The lower winter wheat yield in 2018 compared with 2019 seemed to be related to the direct impact of weather factors on aboveground growth and to aeration and water stresses. The apparent lack of compaction effect suggests further studies are needed to determine if in‐season stresses derived from the LLWRs can be related to crop development and yield under different soil and weather conditions.
Thermally induced changes in solubility and speciation of lead and iron minerals in a contaminated soil
Authors: Sonoda Kent , Hashimoto Yohey , Wang Shan‐Li 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis study investigated the effects of thermal treatment on the solubility and speciation of lead (Pb) adsorbed on synthesized hematite (Pb‐Hm) and in an anthropogenically contaminated soil. The temperature of thermal treatment ranged from 100 to 900 °C, and the speciations of Pb and iron were determined using X‐ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. In Pb‐Hm samples, the concentration of water‐extractable Pb significantly decreased after being treated at 300 and 600 °C (∼0.50 mg Pb L–1) compared with the untreated sample (9.83 mg Pb L–1). Under this temperature range, about 50% of the Pb‐Hm was transformed into massicot (β‐PbO). At 700 °C and above, a slight increase of water‐extractable Pb was probably caused by the formation of minium (Pb3O4). In the contaminated soil, water‐extractable Pb increased gradually from 0.30 to 0.40 mg Pb L–1 with increasing temperature from 25 to 200 °C; then it decreased rapidly to 0.09 mg Pb L–1 at 300 °C and further decreased to 0.004 mg Pb L–1 at 900 °C. Cerussite (PbCO3) and Pb associated with hematite were the major Pb species in the contaminated soil. In the process of thermal treatment, the significant decrease of water‐extractable Pb in the contaminated soil was caused by the transformation of cerussite into hematite‐associated Pb, accompanied by the transformation from ferrihydrite to hematite.
Numerical investigation on the shear behavior of prestressed concrete beams with small rectangular openings
Authors: Ye Jia‐Bin , Cai Jian , Zuo Zhi‐Liang , Chen Qing‐Jun , Tang Xu‐Lin , Zhao Xiaoqin 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe numerical investigation focused on the shear behavior of prestressed concrete (PC) beams with small rectangular openings, using the software ABAQUS. Three variables, including the prestressing force, the height of the opening and its length, were considered. The numerical results exhibited a good agreement with the previous experimental outcomes, and the parametric analysis was conducted to study the local internal force distribution of two chords during the loading process. The results indicate that for RC beams with openings, the shear proportion variation of the top chord is stable as the opening size changes, while it decreases almost linearly with the increase of prestressing force for PC beams with openings. The position of contraflexure point is found to be proportional to the root of the reinforcement ratio of the chord, and it moves towards the support with the increase of the prestressing force. Furthermore, the empirical equations to determine the shear proportions and the position of contraflexure point between chords are established.
Protective effects of ethyl acetate extract from Shorea roxburghii against diabetes induced testicular damage in rats
Authors: Zhao Ling‐Ling , Makinde Emmanuel Ayobami , Olatunji Opeyemi Joshua 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDiabetic mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder that is associated with several complications including testicular dysfunction. This research investigated the protective action of the ethyl acetate extract from Shorea roxburghii (SRE) on diabetes induced testicular damage in rats. Diabetic rats were orally administered with SRE at doses of 100 and 400 mg/kg for 4 weeks. SRE improved the body weight gain, testes weight, testes index and increased serum concentration of testosterone. Furthermore, SRE increased the testicular antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. In addition, SRE ameliorated testicular inflammatory mediators such as myeloperoxidase, tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6, p38 MAPK and nuclear factor kappa B activation and decreased testicular cell apoptosis in the treated diabetic rats. SRE also raised sperm parameters after treatment of diabetic rats. Conclusively, our results suggested that SRE ameliorated diabetes induced testicular damage by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation.
Metatalk Moves: Examining Tools for Collective Academic Discourse Learning
Authors: Phillips Galloway Emily , McClain Janna B. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractEducators are increasingly aware of the role of classroom talk in cultivating students’ language knowledge, which in turn supports their skilled reading comprehension. The result has been greater attention to teacher talk moves that transform class discussions into opportunities for language learning. However, less focus has been placed on the strategies used by students as they work together to both learn language and learn about language. The authors focus on a fourth‐grade classroom in which students scaffold one another’s language development through powerful language‐focused talk, or metatalk, during a small‐group vocabulary activity. By examining the characteristics of these metatalk episodes and delineating talk moves used by students within them, the authors make visible moves that educators might note and build from. This study informs instruction that capitalizes on the language knowledge held by individual learners in the service of collective language learning for all.
Wearable sweat sensing for prolonged, semicontinuous, and nonobtrusive health monitoring
Authors: Moonen Emma J.M. , Haakma Jelte R. , Peri Elisabetta , Pelssers Eduard , Mischi Massimo , den Toonder Jaap M.J. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractTogether with the upcoming market for wearable consumer technologies, noninvasive and continuous health monitoring has become a new trend in the healthcare landscape. In recent years, significant research has been targeted toward the development of wearable sensing devices for monitoring biomarker levels in nonobtrusively accessible biofluids such as tears, urine, saliva, and sweat. Sweat could be an ideal candidate for prolonged, semicontinuous, and nonobtrusive health monitoring because sweat is a continuously accessible biofluid containing physiologically and metabolically rich information. However, challenges still remain toward commercialized wearable sweat‐sensing devices, and the correlation between biomarker concentrations in sweat with health conditions still seems to be not fully understood. This review article aims to display the full scope of sweat sensing for health monitoring, starting from the fundamentals of human sweat, via modeling of the sweat gland physiology toward wearable sweat‐sensing devices in research and commercialization efforts. Finally, the challenges of sweat sensing that still have to be overcome toward the utilization of sweat sensing in the conventional healthcare settings are discussed.