bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Fixed‐time sliding mode cooperative control for multiagent networks via event‐triggered strategy
Authors: Song Ge , Shi Peng , Agarwal Ramesh K. 
Published: October 2020

SummaryIn this article, the problem of event‐triggered‐based fixed‐time sliding mode cooperative control is addressed for a class of leader‐follower multiagent networks with bounded perturbation. First, a terminal integral sliding mode manifold with fast convergent speed is designed. Then, a distributed consensus tracking control strategy based on event‐triggered and sliding mode control is developed that guarantees the multiagent networks achieve consensus within a fixed time which is independent of initial states of agents in comparison with the finite‐time convergence. Furthermore, the update frequency of control law can be considerably reduced and Zeno behavior can be removed by utilizing the proposed event‐triggered control algorithm. Simulation examples are used to show the effectiveness of the new control protocol.
Progenitor cell therapy for acquired pediatric nervous system injury: Traumatic brain injury and acquired sensorineural hearing loss
Authors: Baumgartner James E. , Baumgartner Linda S. , Baumgartner Michael E. , Moore Ernest J. , Messina Steven A. , Seidman Michael D. , Shook David R. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWhile cell therapies hold remarkable promise for replacing injured cells and repairing damaged tissues, cell replacement is not the only means by which these therapies can achieve therapeutic effect. For example, recent publications show that treatment with varieties of adult, multipotent stem cells can improve outcomes in patients with neurological conditions such as traumatic brain injury and hearing loss without directly replacing damaged or lost cells. As the immune system plays a central role in injury response and tissue repair, we here suggest that multipotent stem cell therapies achieve therapeutic effect by altering the immune response to injury, thereby limiting damage due to inflammation and possibly promoting repair. These findings argue for a broader understanding of the mechanisms by which cell therapies can benefit patients.
Rabbit neurospheres as a novel in vitro tool for studying neurodevelopmental effects induced by intrauterine growth restriction
Authors: Barenys Marta , Illa Miriam , Hofrichter Maxi , Loreiro Carla , Pla Laura , Klose Jördis , Kühne Britta Anna , Gómez-Catalán Jesús , Braun Jan Matthias , Crispi Fatima , Gratacós Eduard , Fritsche Ellen 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The aim of this study was to develop a rabbit neurosphere culture to characterize differences in basic processes of neurogenesis induced by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). A novel in vitro neurosphere culture has been established using fresh or frozen neural progenitor cells from newborn (PND0) rabbit brains. After surgical IUGR induction in pregnant rabbits and cesarean section 5 days later, neural progenitor cells from both control and IUGR groups were isolated and directly cultured or frozen at −80°C. These neural progenitor cells spontaneously formed neurospheres after 7 days in culture. The ability of control and IUGR neurospheres to migrate, proliferate, differentiate to neurons, astrocytes, or oligodendrocytes was compared and the possibility to modulate their responses was tested by exposure to several positive and negative controls. Neurospheres obtained from IUGR brains have a significant impairment in oligodendrocyte differentiation, whereas no significant differences are observed in other basic processes of neurogenesis. This impairment can be reverted by in vitro exposure of IUGR neurospheres to thyroid hormone, which is known to play an essential role in white matter maturation in vivo. Our new rabbit neurosphere model and the results of this study open the possibility to test several substances in vitro as neuroprotective candidates against IUGR induced neurodevelopmental damage while decreasing the number of animals and resources and allowing a more mechanistic approach at a cellular functional level.
Nanonickel Oxides Prepared by Atomic Layer Deposition as Efficient Catalyst for the Dehydrogenation of N‐Heterocycles
Authors: Du Liyong , Shi Li , Liu Yunxiao , Ling Yong , Zhang Yanan , Zhou Changjian , Xiong Biao 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAn efficient heterogeneous catalyst nickel oxide supported on graphene nanoplatelets (NiO/Gr) has been developed for the aerobic and additive‐free dehydrogenation of N‐heterocycles. This catalyst was easily prepared by atomic layer deposition from nickel(II) diketonate–diamine and ozone, which has advantages of excellent activity, low metal loading, simple preparation, stability for multiple reuse. The reactions proceed in good yields with broad substrate scope under mild conditions by using tiny quantity of catalyst. Interestingly, pharmaceutically relevant tetrahydro‐β‐carboline derivative can also be oxidized successfully to afford the important intermediate. The control experiments suggest that this catalytic dehydrogenation experiences radical‐type oxidation.
Amyloid Fibril‐Templated High‐Performance Conductive Aerogels with Sensing Properties
Authors: Han Yangyang , Cao Yiping , Bolisetty Sreenath , Tian Tian , Handschin Stephan , Lu Canhui , Mezzenga Raffaele 
Published: October 2020

AbstractAmyloid fibrils have garnered increasing attention as viable building blocks for functional material design and synthesis, especially those derived from food and agricultural wastes. Here, amyloid fibrils generated from β‐lactoglobulin, a by‐product from cheese industries, have been successfully used as a template for the design of a new class of high‐performance conductive aerogels with sensing properties. These mechanically stable aerogels with three‐dimensional porous architecture have a large surface area (≈159 m2 g−1), low density (≈0.044 g cm−3), and high electrical conductivity (≈0.042 S cm−1). A pressure sensing device is developed from these aerogels based on their combined electrical conductivity and compressible properties. More interestingly, these aerogels can be employed to design novel enzyme sensors by exploiting the proteinaceous nature of amyloid fibrils. This study expands the scope of structured amyloid fibrils as scaffolds for in situ polymerization of conducting polymers, offering new opportunities to design materials with multiple functionalities.
The SU(3) spin model with chemical potential by series expansion techniques
Authors: Kim Jangho , Pham Anh Quang , Philipsen Owe , Scheunert Jonas 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The SU(3) spin model with chemical potential corresponds to a simplified version of QCD with static quarks in the strong coupling regime. It has been studied previously as a testing ground for new methods aiming to overcome the sign problem of lattice QCD. In this work we show that the equation of state and the phase structure of the model can be fully determined to reasonable accuracy by a linked cluster expansion. In particular, we compute the free energy to 14-th order in the nearest neighbour coupling. The resulting predictions for the equation of state and the location of the critical end points agree with numerical determinations to $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(1%) and $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(10%), respectively. While the accuracy for the critical couplings is still limited at the current series depth, the approach is equally applicable at zero and non-zero imaginary or real chemical potential, as well as to effective QCD Hamiltonians obtained by strong coupling and hopping expansions.
Effective entropy of quantum fields coupled with gravity
Authors: Dong Xi , Qi Xiao-Liang , Shangnan Zhou , Yang Zhenbin 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Entanglement entropy, or von Neumann entropy, quantifies the amount of uncertainty of a quantum state. For quantum fields in curved space, entanglement entropy of the quantum field theory degrees of freedom is well-defined for a fixed background geometry. In this paper, we propose a generalization of the quantum field theory entanglement entropy by including dynamical gravity. The generalized quantity named effective entropy, and its Renyi entropy generalizations, are defined by analytic continuation of a replica calculation. The replicated theory is defined as a gravitational path integral with multiple copies of the original boundary conditions, with a co-dimension-2 brane at the boundary of region we are studying. We discuss different approaches to define the region in a gauge invariant way, and show that the effective entropy satisfies the quantum extremal surface formula. When the quantum fields carry a significant amount of entanglement, the quantum extremal surface can have a topology transition, after which an entanglement island region appears. Our result generalizes the Hubeny-Rangamani-Takayanagi formula of holographic entropy (with quantum corrections) to general geometries without asymptotic AdS boundary, and provides a more solid framework for addressing problems such as the Page curve of evaporating black holes in asymptotic flat spacetime. We apply the formula to two example systems, a closed two-dimensional universe and a four-dimensional maximally extended Schwarzchild black hole. We discuss the analog of the effective entropy in random tensor network models, which provides more concrete understanding of quantum information properties in general dynamical geometries. We show that, in absence of a large boundary like in AdS space case, it is essential to introduce ancilla that couples to the original system, in order for correctly characterizing quantum states and correlation functions in the random tensor network. Using the superdensity operator formalism, we study the system with ancilla and show how quantum information in the entanglement island can be reconstructed in a state-dependent and observer-dependent map. We study the closed universe (without spatial boundary) case and discuss how it is related to open universe.
The persistence of the Chekanov–Eliashberg algebra
Authors: Dimitroglou Rizell Georgios , Sullivan Michael G. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe apply the barcodes of persistent homology theory to the c Chekanov–Eliashberg algebra of a Legendrian submanifold to deduce displacement energy bounds for arbitrary Legendrians. We do not require the full Chekanov–Eliashberg algebra to admit an augmentation as we linearize the algebra only below a certain action level. As an application we show that it is not possible to $$C^0$$

C
0

-approximate a stabilized Legendrian by a Legendrian that admits an augmentation.
Performance assessment of two motion management systems for frameless stereotactic radiosurgery
Authors: Wang Hao , Xu Zhiyong , Grantham Kevin , Zhou Yongkang , Cui Taoran , Zhang Yin , Liu Bo , Wang Xiao , Vergalasova Irina , Reyhan Meral , Weiner Joseph , Danish Shabbar F. , Yue Ning , Nie Ke 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Background/Purpose
Frameless stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) requires dedicated systems to monitor patient motion in order to avoid inaccurate radiation delivery due to involuntary shifts. The purpose of this study is to assess the accuracy and sensitivity of two distinct motion monitoring systems used for frameless SRS.

Methods
A surface image-guided system known as optical surface monitoring system (OSMS), and a fiducial marker-based system known as high definition motion management (HDMM) as part of the latest Gamma Knife Icon® were compared. A 3D printer-based cranial motion phantom was developed to evaluate the accuracy and sensitivity of these two systems in terms of: (1) the capability to recognize predefined shifts up to 3 cm, and (2) the capability to recognize predefined speeds up to 3 cm/s. The performance of OSMS, in terms of different reference surfaces, was also evaluated.

Results
Translational motion could be accurately detected by both systems, with an accuracy of 0.3 mm for displacement up to 1 cm, and 0.5 mm for larger displacements. The reference surface selection had an impact on OSMS performance, with flat surface resulting in less accuracy. HDMM was in general more sensitive when compared with OSMS in capturing the motion, due to its faster frame rate, but a delay in response was observed with faster speeds. Both systems were less sensitive in detection of superior-inferior motion when compared to lateral or vertical displacement directions.

Conclusion
Translational motion can be accurately and sensitively detected by OSMS and HDMM real-time monitoring systems. However, performance variations were observed along different motion directions, as well as amongst the selection of reference images. Caution is needed when using real-time monitoring systems for frameless SRS treatment.
Pelvic angioembolization: how urgently needed?
Authors: Devaney Giles Lawrence , King Kate Louise , Balogh Zsolt Janos 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Angioembolization (AE) has been questioned as first-line modality for hemorrhage control of pelvic fracture (PF)-associated bleeding due to its potential inconsistent timely availability. We aimed to describe the patterns of AE use with hemostatic resuscitation and hypothesized that time to AE improved during the study period.

Methods
A Level-1 trauma center’s prospective PF database was analyzed. All consecutive PFs referred to angiography between 01/01/2009 and 12/31/2018 were included. All suspected pelvic hemorrhage was managed with AE; pelvic packing was not performed. Demographics, injury/shock severity, 24-h transfusion data, time to AE and mortality were recorded. Data are presented as median (IQR).

Results
During the 10-year study period, 1270 PF patients were treated. Thirty-six (2.8%) [75% male, 49 (33;65) years, ISS 36 (24;43), base deficit 3.65 (5.9;0.6), transfusions 4(2;7)] had AE. The indication for AE was clinical suspicion (CS) of pelvic bleeding [CS 24(67%)] or arterial blush on CT [CT 12 (33%)]. Median time to AE was 141 min for CS, and 223 min for CT, with no change over the study period. Patients with CS had a higher ISS, worse base deficit, greater transfusion requirements and faster time to AE. Five patients (14%) died. There were no deaths attributed to exsanguination.

Conclusions
Time to AE did not improve. Patients referred from CT are physiologically different from CS and should be analyzed accordingly, with CS resulting in faster time to AE in sicker patients. Contemporary resuscitation challenges the need for hyperacute AE as no patients exsanguinated despite time to AE of more than 2 h.
Long-term effects of empagliflozin on excitation-contraction-coupling in human induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes
Authors: Pabel Steffen , Reetz Florian , Dybkova Nataliya , Shomroni Orr , Salinas Gabriela , Mustroph Julian , Hammer Karin P. , Hasenfuss Gerd , Hamdani Nazha , Maier Lars S. , Streckfuss-Bömeke Katrin , Sossalla Samuel 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin improved cardiovascular outcomes in patients with diabetes. As the cardiac mechanisms remain elusive, we investigated the long-term effects (up to 2 months) of empagliflozin on excitation-contraction (EC)-coupling in human cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CM) in a blinded manner. IPSC from 3 donors, differentiated into pure iPSC-CM (4 differentiations), were treated with a clinically relevant concentration of empagliflozin (0.5 μmol/l) or vehicle control. Treatment, data acquisition, and analysis were conducted externally blinded. Epifluorescence microscopy measurements in iPSC-CM showed that empagliflozin has neutral effects on Ca2+ transient amplitude, diastolic Ca2+ levels, Ca2+ transient kinetics, or sarcoplasmic Ca2+ load after 2 weeks or 8 weeks of treatment. Confocal microscopy determining possible effects on proarrhythmogenic diastolic Ca2+ release events showed that in iPSC-CM, Ca2+ spark frequency and leak was not altered after chronic treatment with empagliflozin. Finally, in patch-clamp experiments, empagliflozin did not change action potential duration, amplitude, or resting membrane potential compared with vehicle control after long-term treatment. Next-generation RNA sequencing (NGS) and mapped transcriptome profiles of iPSC-CMs untreated and treated with empagliflozin for 8 weeks showed no differentially expressed EC-coupling genes. In line with NGS data, Western blots indicate that empagliflozin has negligible effects on key EC-coupling proteins. In this blinded study, direct treatment of iPSC-CM with empagliflozin for a clinically relevant duration of 2 months did not influence cardiomyocyte EC-coupling and electrophysiology. Therefore, it is likely that other mechanisms independent of cardiomyocyte EC-coupling are responsible for the beneficial treatment effect of empagliflozin.

Key messages

This blinded study investigated the clinically relevant long-term effects (up to 2 months) of empagliflozin on cardiomyocyte excitation-contraction (EC)-coupling.

Human cardiomyocytes derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CM) were used to study a human model including a high repetition number of experiments.

Empagliflozin has neutral effects on cardiomyocyte Ca2+ transients, sarcoplasmic Ca2+ load, and diastolic sarcoplasmic Ca2+ leak.

In patch-clamp experiments, empagliflozin did not change the action potential.

Next-generation RNA sequencing, mapped transcriptome profiles, and Western blots of iPSC-CM untreated and treated with empagliflozin showed no differentially expressed EC-coupling candidates.
A workflow to build PBTK models for novel species
Authors: Schneckener Sebastian , Preuss Thomas G. , Kuepfer Lars , Witt Johannes 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPhysiology-based pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic (PBPK/TK) models allow us to simulate the concentration of xenobiotica in the plasma and different tissues of an organism. PBPK/TK models are therefore routinely used in many fields of life sciences to simulate the physiological concentration of exogenous compounds in plasma and tissues. The application of PBTK models in ecotoxicology, however, is currently hampered by the limited availability of models for focal species. Here, we present a best practice workflow that describes how to build PBTK models for novel species. To this end, we extrapolated eight previously established rabbit models for several drugs to six additional mammalian species (human, beagle, rat, monkey, mouse, and minipig). We used established PBTK models for these species to account for the species-specific physiology. The parameter sensitivity in the resulting 56 PBTK models was systematically assessed to rank the relevance of the parameters on overall model performance. Interestingly, more than 80% of the 609 considered model parameters showed a negligible sensitivity throughout all models. Only approximately 5% of all parameters had a high sensitivity in at least one of the PBTK models. This approach allowed us to rank the relevance of the various parameters on overall model performance. We used this information to formulate a best practice guideline for the efficient development of PBTK models for novel animal species. We believe that the workflow proposed in this study will significantly support the development of PBTK models for new animal species in the future.
The zero length column technique to measure adsorption equilibrium and kinetics: lessons learnt from 30 years of experience
Authors: Brandani Stefano , Mangano Enzo 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThe zero length column technique has been developed over the past 30 years as a versatile experimental method to measure adsorption equilibrium and kinetics. In this review we discuss in detail the theory that forms the basis for the technique in order to understand how to design and operate efficiently a system. Experimental checks that should be performed to ensure the correct interpretation of the dynamic response are presented and examples are used to identify how to avoid major errors in determining diffusion time constants. The review concludes with an overview of all experimental studies available in the literature to date and a set of recommendations that should help improve the standard in the reported equilibrium and kinetic properties.
Building Projects on the Local Communities’ Planet: Studying Organizations’ Care-Giving Approaches
Authors: Derakhshan Roya 
Published: October 2020

AbstractThis study examines local communities’ lived experiences and organizations’ care-giving processes regarding four oil and gas projects deployed in three countries. Analyzing the empirical data through the lens of ethics of care reveals that, together with mature justice, the inclination to care conceived at the focal organization creates an ethical culture encouraging caring activities by individuals at the local level. Through close communications with communities, project decision makers at the local level recognize the demanded care of local communities and develop organizations’ caring capacity. The empirical analysis revealed that the care-giving process can also be influenced by the power dynamics of the network of stakeholders. This research emphasizes on the success of a bottom-up approach in caring for local communities, and sheds light on the capability of large organizations in giving care to their distal stakeholders by adopting this approach. Furthermore, it indicates that justice and care both have some useful characteristics and are complementary but, most importantly, are socially constructed and not mutually exclusive.
Exploring the Perceptions of the Ageing Experience in Singaporean Older Adults: a Qualitative Study
Authors: Shiraz F. , Hildon Z. L. J. , Vrijhoef H. J. M. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractUnderstanding older adults perceptions of health and adaptation processes to ageing can allow for more culturally aligned services and better targeted care. The aim of this exploratory qualitative study was to examine older adults perceptions of physical, psychological and social health and further understand the processes of adaptation and self-management of these health perceptions. Semi-structured in depth interviews (IDI) were conducted with ethnically diverse older adults in Singapore, aged 60 and above. Participants were asked open ended questions about their physical health, psychological health and their current social health and relationships. They were also asked methods of adaptation to these age related changes. In total, forty participants were interviewed. A thematic analysis identified five main themes when exploring perceptions of physical, psychological and social health. These included; 1) Slowing down 2) Relationship harmony 3) Financial harmony 4) Social connectedness and 5) Eating together. Adaptation and self-management of these health perceptions included six additional themes; 1) Keep moving 2) Keep learning; where continued self-determination and resilience was a key method in adapting to negative thoughts about declining physical health 3) Adopting avoidant coping behaviours 4) ‘It feels good to do good’; where finding meaning in life was to help others 5) ‘Power of Prayer’; which highlighted how older adults relegated responsibilities to a higher spiritual power 6) Social participation; which included engaging in community and religious social activities that all contributed to self-management of older adults psychological health and social health. In conclusion, our study highlighted specific cultural nuances in older adults perceptions of health, particularly psychological and social health. These findings can help develop more targeted intervention programmes and better methods of measuring older adults health, which can assist with the global ageing phenomena.