bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dual-band and dual-polarized programmable metasurface unit with independent channels
Authors: Niu Ling Yun , Zhang Hao Chi , He Pei Hang , Tang Min , Wang Meini , Zhang Le Peng , Bai Guo Dong , Mao Junfa , Cui Tie Jun 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Highly efficient aperture use and real-time control are important for current RF systems to achieve outstanding system performance. In this paper, we propose a novel dual-band and dual-polarized programmable metasurface unit (PMU) with two switchable phase states. Utilizing the dual-band and dual-polarized properties of parasitic patch antennas, the PMU can realize independent control of two channels by switching the PIN diodes. Because of the separation of frequency bands and orthogonal polarizations, the PMU posesses high isolation between two channels. Meanwhile, spoof surface plasmon polariton and choke structures are designed to further improve channel isolation. Each channel of the PMU has two states (state ‘0’ and state ‘1’) with a 180° phase difference between them, which is the basis for constructing programmable metasurfaces. The simulated and measured results illustrate the excellent performance of the proposed PMU. Through a detailed discussion of the functions of metasurfaces composed of the proposed PMU, the independent control of two channel beams is demonstrated in real time. Hence, the proposed dual-band and dual-polarized PMU may find wide applications in satellite communications, radar systems and other scenarios.
Scattering modes of skyrmions in a bilayer system with ferromagnetic coupling
Authors: Vojkovic S , Cacilhas R , Pereira A R , Altbir D , Núñez Á S , Carvalho-Santos V L 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Magnetic skyrmions are quasiparticle-like textures that are topologically different from a single domain magnetization state. Their topological protection, combined with the low current density needed to move them, make these objects relevant to be used as information storage structures. In such a context, the analysis of the interactions between skyrmions is interesting and relevant for future applications. In this work, through micromagnetic simulations and numerical calculations, we studied the interaction between two skyrmions living on different parallel ferromagnetic racetracks connected by an exchange-like interaction. The upper and lower racetracks are separated by a height offset and the interaction between the upper and the lower skyrmion is analyzed in terms of the magnetic and geometrical parameters. Three states are predicted, as a function of these parameters: scattered or free skyrmions, bound skymions, and annihilated skyrmions. Our results, presented in a phase diagram, demonstrate that even in the case here called free skyrmions, there is a small and brief interaction when both are close enough, but the skyrmion in the top layer does not drag the skyrmion in the bottom layer. For bound skyrmions, both keep linked during larger times. In the latter case, there are strong changes in the velocity of the skyrmions induced by the effect of a higher effective mass when both are coupled.
Detection of 28 Corticosteroids in Pharmaceutical and Proprietary Chinese Medicinal Products Using Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Chan Candace Yim , Ng Sau Wah , Ching Chor Kwan , Mak Tony Wing Lai 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
With their potent anti-inflammatory effects, corticosteroids are popular adulterants in illicit health products for allergies, dermatitis and pain control. Their illegal supply over the counter is also a common practice for similar conditions. Prolonged, unsupervised usage of corticosteroids often leads to severe adverse effects including Cushing syndrome, adrenal insufficiency and immunosuppression. Confirming clinical suspicion of unsupervised corticosteroid usage is challenging. Apart from evaluating the adrenal function, identifying the concerned drug is the most direct proof of its consumption. While detecting corticosteroids or their metabolites in biological specimens is convincing evidence of their usage, such approach is analytically difficult. More importantly, this approach would not be useful if the patient has stopped taking the drug for some time—a situation that is often encountered clinically. We advocate a more direct approach by measuring corticosteroids in suspicious medicinal products. In the current study, a liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous detection of 28 corticosteroids in pharmaceutical and proprietary Chinese medicine products was developed and validated for the purpose. The method was applied to 388 cases of suspected unsupervised corticosteroids usage. Among 1,000 products tested, corticosteroids were found in 276 of them and confirmed the clinical suspicion.
Plasma Inflammatory Biomarkers Predict CD4+ T-cell Recovery and Viral Rebound in HIV-1 Infected Africans on Suppressive Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Kroeze Stefanie , Rossouw Theresa M , Steel Helen C , Wit Ferdinand W , Kityo Cissy M , Siwale Margaret , Akanmu Sulaimon , Mandaliya Kishor , De Jager Marleen , Ondoa Pascale , Reiss Peter , Rinke De Wit Tobias F , Kootstra Neeltje A , Hamers Raph L 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
This multicountry prospective study investigated whether persistent systemic inflammation, measured by 8 plasma biomarkers, in HIV-1-infected Africans during suppressive antiretroviral therapy (ART) (viral load &lt;50 copies/mL), was associated with CD4+ T-cell recovery and viral rebound (&gt;1000 copies/mL) during long-term treatment. On-ART sCD14 and C-reactive protein concentrations were inversely associated with subsequent CD4+ T-cell counts. Risk of viral rebound was increased for participants with higher on-ART CXCL10 concentrations and reduced for those with a greater sCD163 decline during the first year of ART. Persistent systemic inflammation predicted CD4+ T-cell recovery and viral rebound, warranting further mechanistic research in relation to clinical outcomes.
Measurement of cell volume using in-line digital holography
Authors: Ling Hangjian , Sridhar Kaushik , Gollapudi Sumanth , Kumar Jyoti , Ohgami Robert S 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The measurement of the volume of blood cells is important for clinical diagnosis and patient management. While digital holography microscopy has been used to obtain such information, previous off-axis setups usually involve a separated reference beam and are thus not very easy to implement. Here, we use the simple in-line Gabor setup without separation of a reference beam to measure the shape and volume of cells mounted on glass slides. Inherent to the in-line holograms, the reconstructed phase of the object is affected by the virtual image noise, producing errors in the cell volume measurement. We optimized our approach to use a single hologram without phase retrieval, increasing distance between cell and hologram plane to reduce the measurement error of cell volume to less than 6% in some instances. Therefore, the in-line Gabor setup can be a useful and simple tool to obtain volumetric and morphologic cellular information.
Preliminary evidence of fluorescence in Mediterranean heterobranchs
Authors: Betti F , Bavestrello G , Cattaneo-Vietti R 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTBiofluorescence, the ability to exploit light with short wavelengths, such as ultraviolet (UV) and blue, and re-emit it with lower energy and longer wavelengths, is considered a widespread phenomenon among marine animals and has many ecological roles in intra- and interspecific communication. Heterobranch sea slugs are believed to rely almost exclusively on their colour patterns for survival, with coloration serving as camouflage or as a warning to predators of heterobranch toxicity (aposematic coloration). Since solar light is progressively absorbed by seawater with a constant loss of longer wavelengths, it is unclear how heterobranch coloration can maintain its ecological role below the water surface. The present study investigates, for the first time, in situ biofluorescence in 53 species of Mediterranean Heterobranchia to determine whether these animals rely on light emission to enhance the visibility of their colour patterns. The ability to fluoresce when illuminated by UV and blue light (wavelengths &lt;470 nm) appeared to be quite widespread among nudibranchs (i.e. found in c. one-third of the encountered species), while no evidence of light emission was found in non-nudibranch heterobranchs. The majority of fluorescent species were Cladobranchia belonging to the superfamilies Fionoidea and Aeolidioidea. Nudibranchs fluoresced in four different colours, with green being the most common. Light emission was often restricted to particular body regions, such as the cerata of Cladobranchia. These preliminary data might indicate that fluorescence plays an essential role in the enhancement of nudibranch aposematic coloration.
Hydrogen–deuterium exchange reveals a dynamic DNA-binding map of replication protein A
Authors: Ahmad Faiz , Patterson Angela , Deveryshetty Jaigeeth , Mattice Jenna R , Pokhrel Nilisha , Bothner Brian , Antony Edwin 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Replication protein A (RPA) binds to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and interacts with over three dozen enzymes and serves as a recruitment hub to coordinate most DNA metabolic processes. RPA binds ssDNA utilizing multiple oligosaccharide/oligonucleotide binding domains and based on their individual DNA binding affinities are classified as high versus low-affinity DNA-binding domains (DBDs). However, recent evidence suggests that the DNA-binding dynamics of DBDs better define their roles. Utilizing hydrogen–deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), we assessed the ssDNA-driven dynamics of the individual domains of human RPA. As expected, ssDNA binding shows HDX changes in DBDs A, B, C, D and E. However, DBD-A and DBD-B are dynamic and do not show robust DNA-dependent protection. DBD-C displays the most extensive changes in HDX, suggesting a major role in stabilizing RPA on ssDNA. Slower allosteric changes transpire in the protein–protein interaction domains and linker regions, and thus do not directly interact with ssDNA. Within a dynamics-based model for RPA, we propose that DBD-A and -B act as the dynamic half and DBD-C, -D and -E function as the less-dynamic half. Thus, segments of ssDNA buried under the dynamic half are likely more readily accessible to RPA-interacting proteins.
Variable Diagnostic Performance of Stool Xpert in Pediatric Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Gebre Meseret , Cameron Lindsay Hatzenbuehler , Tadesse Getachew , Woldeamanuel Yohannes , Wassie Liya 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Background
Difficult specimen collection and low bacillary load make microbiological confirmation of tuberculosis (TB) in children challenging. In this study, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic accuracy of Xpert on stool for pediatric tuberculosis.

Methods
Our search included studies from 2011 through 2019, and specific search terms were used to retrieve articles from Pubmed, EMBASE, BIOSIS, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar. Risk of bias was assessed using the QUADAS 2 tool. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018083637). Summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity were conducted using meta-disc Software assuming a random-effects model.

Results
We identified 12 eligible studies, which included data from 2177 children, of whom 295 (13.6%) had bacteriologically confirmed TB on respiratory specimens. The pooled sensitivity of Xpert MTB/RIF on stool specimens compared with bacteriologically confirmed tuberculosis with respiratory specimens was 0.50 (95% CI, 0.44–0.56) with an I2 of 86%, which was statistically significant (P &lt; .001). The pooled specificity was 0.99 (95% CI, 0.98–0.99; I2 = 0.0%; P = .44).

Conclusions
Despite the observed heterogeneity, stool may be considered an additional specimen to support diagnosis of pulmonary TB in children, especially in settings where it is impossible to get respiratory samples. Further studies should evaluate its optimization as a diagnostic tool.
START-Play Physical Therapy Intervention Impacts Motor and Cognitive Outcomes in Infants With Neuromotor Disorders: A Multisite Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Harbourne Regina T , Dusing Stacey C , Lobo Michele A , McCoy Sarah W , Koziol Natalie A , Hsu Lin-Ya , Willett Sandra , Marcinowski Emily C , Babik Iryna , Cunha Andrea B , An Mihee , Chang Hui-Ju , Bovaird James A , Sheridan Susan M 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Objective
Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy of the Sitting Together and Reaching to Play (START-Play) intervention in young infants with neuromotor disorders.

Method
This randomized controlled trial compared usual care early intervention (UC-EI) with START-Play plus UC-EI. Analyses included 112 infants with motor delay (55 UC-EI, 57 START-Play) recruited at 7 to 16 months of age across 5 sites. START-Play included twice-weekly home visits with the infant and caregiver for 12 weeks provided by physical therapists trained in the START-Play intervention; UC-EI was not disrupted. Outcome measures were the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition (Bayley); the Gross Motor Function Measure; reaching frequency; and the Assessment of Problem Solving in Play (APSP). Comparisons for the full group as well as separate comparisons for infants with mild motor delay and infants with significant motor delay were conducted. Piecewise linear mixed modeling estimated short- and long-term effects.

Results
For infants with significant motor delay, positive effects of START-Play were observed at 3 months for Bayley cognition, Bayley fine motor, and APSP and at 12 months for Bayley fine motor and reaching frequency outcomes. For infants with mild motor delay, positive effects of START-Play for the Bayley receptive communication outcome were found. For the UC-EI group, the only difference between groups was a positive effect for the APSP outcome, observed at 3 months.

Conclusion
START-Play may advance reaching, problem solving, cognitive, and fine motor skills for young infants with significant motor delay over UC-EI in the short term. START-Play in addition to UC-EI may not improve motor/cognitive outcomes for infants with milder motor delays over and above usual care.

Impact
Concepts of embodied cognition, applied to early intervention in the START-Play intervention, may serve to advance cognition and motor skills in young infants with significant motor delays over usual care early intervention.

Lay Summary
If you have a young infant with significant delays in motor skills, your physical therapist can work with you to develop play opportunities to enhance your child’s problem solving, such as that used in the START-Play intervention, in addition to usual care to help your child advance cognitive and motor skills.
Design, manufacture and testing of a prototype obstacle-detection device at blind corners: an automated highway system technology
Authors: Atombo Charles , Gbey Emmanuel , Holali Apevienyeku Kwami 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Traffic accidents on highways are attributed mostly to the "invisibility" of oncoming traffic and road signs. "Speeding" also causes drivers to reduce the effective radius of the vehicle path in the curve, thus trespassing into the lane of the oncoming traffic. The main aim of this paper was to develop a multisensory obstacle-detection device that is affordable, easy to implement and easy to maintain to reduce the risk of road accidents at blind corners. An ultrasonic sensor module with a maximum measuring angle of 15° was used to ensure that a significant portion of the lane was detected at the blind corner. The sensor covered a minimum effective area of 0.5 m2 of the road for obstacle detection. Yellow light was employed to signify caution while negotiating the blind corner. Two photoresistors (PRs) were used as sensors because of the limited number of pins on the microcontroller (Arduino Uno). However, the device developed for this project achieved obstacle detection at blind corners at relatively low cost and can be accessed by all road users. In real-world applications, the use of piezoelectric accelerometers (vibration sensors) instead of PR sensors would be more desirable in order to detect not only cars but also two-wheelers.
Longitudinal Changes in Hearing Aid Use and Hearing Aid Management Challenges in Infants
Authors: Visram Anisa Sadru , Roughley Amber Jemima , Hudson Caroline Louise , Purdy Suzanne Carolyn , Munro Kevin James 
Published: December 2020

Objective:
If the benefits of newborn hearing screening and early intervention are to be fully realized, there is a need to understand the challenges of hearing aid management in infants. The aim was to investigate longitudinal changes in hearing aid use and hearing aid management challenges in very young infants.

Design:
Eighty-one primarily female (99%) caregivers of infant hearing aid users completed a questionnaire about hearing aid management experiences, first when their infants were 3 to 7 months old (1 to 6 months after hearing aid fitting) and again at 7 to 21 months of age. Hearing aid data logging was compared with caregiver reports of daily use for 66 infants.

Results:
The main hearing aid management challenges reported by caregivers were performing listening checks and troubleshooting. These challenges reduced over the approximately 5-month time period but remained a problem with around a quarter of respondents still not confident or unsure about troubleshooting, and around a third not performing a daily listening check. Mean daily hearing aid use, obtained from data logging, declined significantly over time from 6.6 to 5.3 hours. Further analysis revealed reduced hearing aid use was primarily among infants with profound losses (n = 11). Caregivers overestimated daily hours of use at both time points. Caregivers reported difficulty with the infants pulling out their hearing aids, especially at the later time point.

Conclusions:
The findings from this relatively large sample of caregivers of young infants, assessed at two time points, revealed significant challenges in hearing aid management, including highly variable daily hearing aid use. Interventions that use behavior change techniques may be needed to ensure intentions are consistently turned into successful actions, if the benefits of newborn hearing screening and early intervention are to be fully realized.
Long-term outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention for in-stent chronic total occlusion
Authors: Gong Ming-Lian , Mao Yi , Liu Jing-Hua 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Background
The development of the technique has improved the success rate of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for in-stent chronic total occlusion (IS-CTO). However, long-term outcomes remain unclear. The present study sought to investigate long-term outcomes of PCI for IS-CTO.

Methods
A total of 474 IS-CTO patients were enrolled at two cardiac centers from 2015 to 2018 retrospectively. These patients were allocated into either successful or failed IS-CTO PCI groups. The primary endpoint (major adverse cardiac events [MACE]) consisted of recurrent angina pectoris (RAP), target-vessel myocardial infarction (MI), heart failure, cardiac death, or ischemia-driven target-vessel revascularization (TVR) at follow-up. Multivariable Cox regression analysis was used to investigate the association between treatment appropriateness and clinical outcomes.

Results
A total of 367 patients were successfully treated with IS-CTO PCI while 107 patients had failed recanalization. After a median follow-up of 30 months (interquartile range: 17–42 months), no significant difference was observed between the two groups for the following parameters: cardiac death (successful PCI vs. failed PCI: 0.9% vs. 2.7%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.442; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.21–9.887; P = 0.709), RAP (successful PCI vs. failed PCI: 40.8% vs. 40.0%; adjusted HR: 1.025; 95% CI: 0.683–1.538; P = 0.905), heart failure (successful PCI vs. failed PCI: 6.1% vs. 2.7%; adjusted HR: 0.281; 95% CI: 0.065–1.206; P = 0.088), target-vessel related MI (successful PCI vs. failed PCI: 1.5% vs. 2.7%; adjusted HR: 1.150; 95% CI: 0.221–5.995; P = 0.868), MACE (successful PCI vs. failed PCI: 44.2% vs. 45.3%; adjusted HR: 1.052; 95% CI: 0.717–1.543; P = 0.797). More patients were free of angina in the successful IS-CTO PCI group compared with failed PCI in the first (80.4% vs. 60%, P < 0.01) and second years (73.3% vs. 60.0%, P = 0.02) following up. Successful IS-CTO PCI had a lower incidence of MACE in the first and second years (20.2% vs. 40.0%, P < 0.01; 27.9% vs. 41.3%, P = 0.023) compared with failed PCI. After a median follow-up of 30 months, the reocclusion rate was 28.5% and TVR was 26.1% in the successful IS-CTO PCI group. Receiving >18 months of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) was an independent predictor of decreased risk of TVR (HR: 2.682; 95% CI: 1.295–5.578; P = 0.008) or MACE (without TVR) (HR: 1.898; 95% CI: 1.036–3.479; P = 0.038) in successful IS-CTO PCI.

Conclusions
After a median follow-up of 30 months, the successful IS-CTO PCI group had MACE similar to that of the failed PCI group. However, the successful IS-CTO PCI group had improved angina symptoms and were free from requiring coronary artery bypass grafting in the first or second years. To decrease MACE, DAPT was found to be essential and recommended for at least 18 months for IS-CTO PCI.
Association between serum bilirubin concentration and Parkinson's disease: a meta-analysis
Authors: Jin Jia-Ning , Liu Xian , Li Ming-Juan , Bai Xin-Ling , Xie An-Mu 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Background:
The antioxidant effects of bilirubin in Parkinson's disease (PD) have recently gained much attention from the research community. However, results from these studies have been conflicting. This meta-analysis is conducted to assess the relationship between the serum bilirubin concentration and the risk of PD.

Methods:
Two reviewers performed a systematic literature search across five databases (MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials). The case-control studies regarding bilirubin levels in PD patients published up to April 2020 were included. These studies were subjected to rigorous scrutiny and data extraction to determine the standard mean difference (SMD) and the 95% confidence interval (CI), which were analyzed using the Stata V.12.0 statistical software.

Results:
A total of eight studies which included 1463 PD cases and 1490 controls were incorporated into our meta-analysis. SMD analysis showed that there was a higher total bilirubin (TBIL) and direct bilirubin (DBIL) levels in PD patients compared with controls (for TBIL, SMD: 0.300, 95% CI: 0.050–0.549, P = 0.018; for DBIL, SMD: 0.395, 95% CI: 0.102–0.688, P = 0.008). However, no significant relationship was found between the serum indirect bilirubin and PD patients (SMD: −0.223, 95% CI: −0.952–0.505, P = 0.548). A subgroup analysis based on ethnicity indicated that the serum TBIL was higher in PD patients of Caucasian descent in contrast to matched healthy controls (SMD: 0.511, 95% CI: 0.324–0.698, P = 0.000, I
2 = 58.0%).

Conclusion:
Higher serum bilirubin levels in PD patients suggest that bilirubin might play a role in the pathogenesis of PD and have the potential to be utilized as a biochemical marker for PD diagnosis and treatment.