bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Magnetic resonance shear wave elastography using transient acoustic radiation force excitations and sinusoidal displacement encoding
Authors: Hofstetter Lorne W , Odéen Henrik , Bolster Bradley D , Christensen Douglas A , Payne Allison , Parker Dennis L 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
A magnetic resonance (MR) shear wave elastography technique that uses transient acoustic radiation force impulses from a focused ultrasound (FUS) transducer and a sinusoidal-shaped MR displacement encoding strategy is presented. Using this encoding strategy, an analytic expression for calculating the shear wave speed in a heterogeneous medium was derived. Green’s function-based simulations were used to evaluate the feasibility of calculating shear wave speed maps using the analytic expression. Accuracy of simulation technique was confirmed experimentally in a homogeneous gelatin phantom. The elastography measurement was compared to harmonic MR elastography in a homogeneous phantom experiment and the measured shear wave speed values differed by less than 14%. This new transient elastography approach was able to map the position and shape of inclusions sized from 8.5 to 14 mm in an inclusion phantom experiment. These preliminary results demonstrate the feasibility of using a straightforward analytic expression to generate shear wave speed maps from MR images where sinusoidal-shaped motion encoding gradients are used to encode the displacement-time history of a transiently propagating wave-packet. This new measurement technique may be particularly well suited for performing elastography before, during, and after MR-guided FUS therapies since the same device used for therapy is also used as an excitation source for elastography.
Correlation of critical current density to quasi-biaxial texture and grain boundary cleanliness in fully dense Bi-2212 wires
Authors: Oloye T A , Matras M , Jiang J , Hossain S I , Su Y , Trociewitz U P , Hellstrom E E , Larbalestier D C , Kametani F 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The distinctive quasi-biaxial texture of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O
x
(Bi-2212) plays an important role in enabling high critical current density (J
c) in Bi-2212 round wires (RWs). Here we studied three over pressure heat treated wires with J
c varying by a factor of ∼10, all being fully dense. Using electron backscatter diffraction, we observed the differences in biaxial texture in these three wires. Transmission electron microscopy also revealed differences in grain boundary (GB) cleanliness and connectivity. These analyses showed that high J
c is unambiguously correlated to the best biaxial texture, which is in turn correlated to slow cooling from the liquid melt into solid Bi-2212. However, at 4.2 K, there is a negligible difference in intragrain pinning in the three wires, suggesting that the J
c variation by a factor of ∼10 is primarily due to variable filament and intergrain connectivity. The principal determinants of intergrain connectivity is the quasi-biaxial texture and GB cleanliness. Overall, J
c optimization of the Bi-2212 RW is a complex multi-variable process, but this study shows that maximizing the biaxial texture quality is an important first step in such an optimization process.
Wolves choose ambushing locations to counter and capitalize on the sensory abilities of their prey
Authors: Gable Thomas D , Homkes Austin T , Johnson-Bice Sean M , Windels Steve K , Bump Joseph K 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Comprehensive knowledge of ambush behavior requires an understanding of where a predator expects prey to be, which is generally unknowable because ambush predators often hunt mobile prey that exhibit complex, irregular, or inconspicuous movements. Wolves (Canis lupus) are primarily cursorial predators, but they use ambush strategies to hunt beavers (Castor canadensis). Terrestrial beaver activity is predictable because beavers use well-defined, conspicuous habitat features repeatedly. Thus, studying where wolves wait-in-ambush for beavers provides a unique opportunity to understand how predators choose ambush locations in relation to prey activity. We searched 11 817 clusters of GPS locations from wolves in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem, International Falls, MN, and documented 748 ambushing sites and 214 instances where wolves killed beavers. Wolves chose ambush locations: 1) with olfactory concealment to avoid detection from the highly developed olfactory senses of beavers and 2) close (generally &lt;5 m) to beaver habitat features to take advantage of beavers’ inability to visually detect motionless predators. Our work describes in detail the ambush strategies wolves use to hunt beavers and continues to overturn the traditional notion that wolves rely solely on cursorial hunting strategies. We also demonstrate that ambush predators can anticipate the movements and behavior of their prey due to a fundamental understanding of their prey’s sensory abilities. Wolves, therefore, and likely ambush predators in general, appear capable of simultaneously accounting for abiotic and biotic factors when choosing ambush locations, ultimately allowing them to counter and capitalize on the sensory abilities of their prey.
Bisphenols alter thermal responses and performance in zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Wu Nicholas C , Seebacher Frank 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Plastic pollutants are novel environmental stressors that are now persistent components of natural ecosystems. Endocrine disrupting chemicals such as bisphenols that leach out of plastics can modify physiological responses of animals by interfering with hormone signalling. Here, we tested whether three commonly produced bisphenols, bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS), impair thermal acclimation of swimming performance and metabolic enzyme [citrate synthase (CS) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH)] activities in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio). We found that exposure to 30-μg l−1 BPF and BPS, but not BPA, reduced swimming performance, and no interactions between bisphenol exposure and acclimation (3 weeks to 18°C and 28°C) or acute test (18°C and 28°C) temperatures were found. BPA interacted with acclimation and acute test temperatures to determine CS activity, an indicator of mitochondrial density and aerobic metabolic capacity. BPS reduced CS activity and an interaction (at a one-tailed significance) between acclimation temperature and BPF exposure determined CS activity. LDH activity reflects anaerobic ATP production capacity, and BPA and BPF altered the effects of thermal acclimation and acute test temperatures on LDH activity. Our data show that all bisphenols we tested at ecologically relevant concentrations can disrupt the thermal responses of fish. BPS and BPF are used as environmentally safer alternatives to BPA, but our data show that these bisphenols are also of concern, particularly in thermally variable environments.
Enrichment of loss-of-function and copy number variants in ventricular cardiomyopathy genes in ‘lone’ atrial fibrillation
Authors: Lazarte Julieta , Laksman Zachary W , Wang Jian , Robinson John F , Dron Jacqueline S , Leach Emma , Liew Janet , McIntyre Adam D , Skanes Allan C , Gula Lorne J , Leong-Sit Peter , Cao Henian , Trost Brett , Scherer Stephen W , Hegele Robert A , Roberts Jason D 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Aims
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a complex heritable disease whose genetic underpinnings remain largely unexplained, though recent work has suggested that the arrhythmia may develop secondary to an underlying atrial cardiomyopathy. We sought to evaluate for enrichment of loss-of-function (LOF) and copy number variants (CNVs) in genes implicated in ventricular cardiomyopathy in ‘lone’ AF.

Methods and results
Whole-exome sequencing was performed in 255 early onset ‘lone’ AF cases, defined as arrhythmia onset prior to 60 years of age in the absence of known clinical risk factors. Subsequent evaluations were restricted to 195 cases of European genetic ancestry, as defined by principal component analysis, and focused on a pre-defined set of 43 genes previously implicated in ventricular cardiomyopathy. Bioinformatic analysis identified 6 LOF variants (3.1%), including 3 within the TTN gene, among cases in comparison with 4 of 503 (0.80%) controls [odds ratio: 3.96; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.11–14.2; P = 0.033]. Further, two AF cases possessed a novel heterozygous 8521 base pair TTN deletion, confirmed with Sanger sequencing and breakpoint validation, which was absent from 4958 controls (P = 0.0014). Subsequent cascade screening in two families revealed evidence of co-segregation of a LOF variant with ‘lone’ AF.

Conclusion
‘Lone’ AF cases are enriched in rare LOF variants from cardiomyopathy genes, findings primarily driven by TTN, and a novel TTN deletion, providing additional evidence to implicate atrial cardiomyopathy as an AF genetic sub-phenotype. Our results also highlight that AF may develop in the context of these variants in the absence of a discernable ventricular cardiomyopathy.
Quality assessment of real-world data repositories across the data life cycle: A literature review
Authors: Liaw Siaw-Teng , Guo Jason Guan Nan , Ansari Sameera , Jonnagaddala Jitendra , Godinho Myron Anthony , Borelli Alder Jose , de Lusignan Simon , Capurro Daniel , Liyanage Harshana , Bhattal Navreet , Bennett Vicki , Chan Jaclyn , Kahn Michael G 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Objective
Data quality (DQ) must be consistently defined in context. The attributes, metadata, and context of longitudinal real-world data (RWD) have not been formalized for quality improvement across the data production and curation life cycle. We sought to complete a literature review on DQ assessment frameworks, indicators and tools for research, public health, service, and quality improvement across the data life cycle.

Materials and Methods
The review followed PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Databases from health, physical and social sciences were used: Cinahl, Embase, Scopus, ProQuest, Emcare, PsycINFO, Compendex, and Inspec. Embase was used instead of PubMed (an interface to search MEDLINE) because it includes all MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms used and journals in MEDLINE as well as additional unique journals and conference abstracts. A combined data life cycle and quality framework guided the search of published and gray literature for DQ frameworks, indicators, and tools. At least 2 authors independently identified articles for inclusion and extracted and categorized DQ concepts and constructs. All authors discussed findings iteratively until consensus was reached.

Results
The 120 included articles yielded concepts related to contextual (data source, custodian, and user) and technical (interoperability) factors across the data life cycle. Contextual DQ subcategories included relevance, usability, accessibility, timeliness, and trust. Well-tested computable DQ indicators and assessment tools were also found.

Conclusions
A DQ assessment framework that covers intrinsic, technical, and contextual categories across the data life cycle enables assessment and management of RWD repositories to ensure fitness for purpose. Balancing security, privacy, and FAIR principles requires trust and reciprocity, transparent governance, and organizational cultures that value good documentation.
Exposure to OFDI and regional labour markets: evidence for routine and non-routine jobs in Great Britain
Authors: Gagliardi Luisa , Iammarino Simona , Rodríguez-Pose Andrés 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
This article explores the role of subnational geography in the analysis of the consequences of Outward Foreign Direct Investment (OFDI) for workers performing different typologies of jobs. We qualify jobs according to their knowledge content, degree of tradability and response to agglomeration economies. While the former two dimensions are key to signal the intensity to OFDI exposure of different typologies of jobs, the latter contributes to explain the unequal spatial distribution of benefits and losses from OFDI in terms of job creation/destruction. We theorise areas that are more severely exposed to OFDI experience job losses in routine occupations, whereas they do not necessarily benefit from job creation in non-routine jobs. To test our hypothesis, we make use of a balanced panel dataset at the local labour market level, exploiting variations in OFDI exposure and in the job composition of local areas. Our findings—robust to numerous checks, including unobserved global and local trends—indicate that job losses concentrate in regions that were more exposed to OFDI based on their initial industry mix, and affect individuals performing mainly routine tasks. In these same areas, however, no significant effects are found when looking at job creation in non-routine occupations.
Age–metallicity dependent stellar kinematics of the Milky Way disc from LAMOST and Gaia
Authors: Wu Yaqian , Xiang Maosheng , Chen Yuqin , Zhao Gang , Bi Shaolan , Li Chengdong , Li Yaguang , Huang Yang 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACT
We investigate the stellar kinematics of the Galactic disc in 7 &lt; R &lt; 13 kpc using a sample of 118 945 red giant branch (RGB) stars from the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST) and Gaia. We characterize the median, dispersion and skewness of the distributions of the three-dimensional stellar velocities, actions and orbital parameters across the age–metallicity and the disc R–Z plane. Our results reveal abundant but clear stellar kinematic patterns and structures in the age–metallicity and the disc R–Z plane. The most prominent features are the strong variations of the velocity, action and orbital parameter distributions from the young, metal-rich thin disc to the old, metal-poor thick disc; a number of smaller-scale structures (such as velocity streams, north–south asymmetries, and kinematic features of spiral arms) are clearly revealed. Particularly, the skewness of Vϕ and Jϕ reveals a new substructure at R ≃ 12 kpc and Z ≃ 0 kpc, possibly related to dynamical effects of spiral arms in the outer disc. We further study the stellar migration by analysing the stellar orbital parameters and stellar birth radii. The results suggest that the thick disc stars near the solar radii and beyond are mostly migrated from the inner disc of R ∼ 4−6 kpc as a result of their highly eccentrical orbits. Stellar migration resulting from dynamical processes with angular momentum transfer (churning) is prominent for both the old, metal-rich stars (outward migrators) and the young metal-poor stars (inward migrators). The spatial distribution in the R–Z plane for the inward migrators born at a Galactocentric radius of &gt;12 kpc shows clear age stratifications, possibly evidence that these inward migrators are consequences of splashes triggered by merger events of satellite galaxies that have lasted the past few Gyr.
Correlating spectral and timing properties in the evolving jet of the microblazar MAXI J1836−194
Authors: Lucchini M , Russell T D , Markoff S B , Vincentelli F , Gardenier D , Ceccobello C , Uttley P 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACT
During outbursts, the observational properties of black hole X-ray binaries vary on time-scales of days to months. These relatively short time-scales make these systems ideal laboratories to probe the coupling between accreting material and outflowing jets as the accretion rate varies. In particular, the origin of the hard X-ray emission is poorly understood and highly debated. This spectral component, which has a power-law shape, is due to Comptonization of photons near the black hole, but it is unclear whether it originates in the accretion flow itself, or at the base of the jet, or possibly the interface region between them. In this paper, we explore the disc–jet connection by modelling the multiwavelength emission of MAXI J1836−194 during its 2011 outburst. We combine radio through X-ray spectra, X-ray timing information, and a robust joint-fitting method to better isolate the jet’s physical properties. Our results demonstrate that the jet base can produce power-law hard X-ray emission in this system/outburst, provided that its base is fairly compact and that the temperatures of the emitting electrons are subrelativistic. Because of energetic considerations, our model favours mildly pair-loaded jets carrying at least 20 pairs per proton. Finally, we find that the properties of the X-ray power spectrum are correlated with the jet properties, suggesting that an underlying physical process regulates both.
Co-formation of the thin and thick discs revealed by APOGEE-DR16 andGaia-DR2
Authors: Beraldo e Silva Leandro , Debattista Victor P , Nidever David , Amarante João A S , Garver Bethany 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACTSince thin disc stars are younger than thick disc stars on average, the thin disc is predicted by some models to start forming after the thick disc had formed, around 10 Gyr ago. Accordingly, no significant old thin disc population should exist. Using 6D coordinates from Gaia-DR2 and age estimates from Sanders & Das, we select ∼24 000 old stars (${\tau \gt 10\mbox{$\, \mathrm{Gyr}$}}$, with uncertainties $\lesssim 15{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) within $2\mbox{$\, \mathrm{kpc}$}$ from the Sun (full sample). A cross-match with APOGEE-DR16 (∼1000 stars) reveals comparable fractions of old chemically defined thin/thick disc stars. We show that the full sample pericentre radius (rper) distribution has three peaks, one associated with the stellar halo and the other two having contributions from the thin/thick discs. Using a high-resolution N-body + SPH simulation, we demonstrate that one peak, at $\mbox{$r_\mathrm{per}$}\approx 7.1\mbox{$\, \mathrm{kpc}$}$, is produced by stars from both discs that were born in the inner Galaxy and migrated to the Solar Neighbourhood. In the Solar Neighbourhood, ∼1/2 (∼1/3) of the old thin (thick) disc stars are classified as migrators. Our results suggest that thin/thick discs are affected differently by radial migration inasmuch as they have different eccentricity distributions, regardless of vertical scale heights. We interpret the existence of a significant old thin disc population as evidence for an early co-formation of thin/thick discs, arguing that clump instabilities in the early disc offer a compelling explanation for the observed trends.
Adapting active reflector technology for greater sensitivity and sky-coverage in FAST-like telescopes
Authors: Li Jian-Ling , Peng Bo , Jin Cheng-Jin , Li Hui , Strom Richard G , Liu Bin , Chai Xiao-Ming , Liu Li-Jia 
Published: December 2020

ABSTRACT
The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope (FAST), the largest single-dish radio telescope in the world, has implemented an innovative technology for its huge reflector, which changes the shape of the primary reflector from spherical to that of a paraboloid of 300-m aperture. Here, we explore how the current FAST sensitivity can potentially be further improved by increasing the illuminated area (i.e. the aperture of the paraboloid embedded in the spherical surface). Alternatively, the maximum zenith angle can be increased to give greater sky coverage by decreasing the illuminated aperture. Different parabolic apertures within the FAST capability are analyzed in terms of how far the spherical surface would have to move to approximate a paraboloid. The sensitivity of FAST can be improved by approximately 10 per cent if the aperture of the paraboloid is increased from 300 to 315 m. The parabolic aperture lies within the main spherical surface and does not extend beyond its edge. The maximum zenith angle can be increased to approximately 35º from $26{_{.}^{\circ}}4$, if we decrease the aperture of the paraboloid to 220 m. This would still give a sensitivity similar to the Arecibo 305-m radio telescope. Radial deviations between paraboloids of different apertures and the spherical surfaces of differing radii are also investigated. Maximum zenith angles corresponding to different apertures of the paraboloid are further derived. A spherical surface with a different radius can provide a reference baseline for shape-changing applied through active reflector technology to FAST-like telescopes.
Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Outpatient Antibiotic Prescriptions in the United States
Authors: Buehrle Deanna J , Nguyen M Hong , Wagener Marilyn M , Clancy Cornelius J 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In April 2020, there were significant reductions in prescription fills of each of the 10 most prescribed outpatient antibiotics in the United States. Monthly azithromycin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, and levofloxacin fills did not rebound significantly from April through July 2020. Coronavirus disease 2019 had an immediate and sustained impact on US outpatient antibiotic prescribing.
On interacting higher-spin bosonic gauge fields in the BRST-antifield formalism
Authors: Sakaguchi Makoto , Suzuki Haruya 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
We examine interacting bosonic higher-spin gauge fields in the BRST-antifield formalism. Assuming that an interacting action $S$ is a deformation of the free action with a deformation parameter $g$, we solve the master equation $(S,S)=0$ from the lower orders in $g$. It is shown that, choosing a certain cubic interaction as the first-order deformation, we can solve the master equation and obtain an action containing all orders in $g$. The antighost number of the action obtained is less than or equal to two. Furthermore, we show that the action obtained is lifted to that of interacting bosonic higher-spin gauge fields on anti-de Sitter spaces.
Epidural Block Treatment on Postherpetic Neuralgia and Comorbid Spine Metastasis of Malignant Tumor: Two Cases of Report
Authors: Dai Jin-Yan , Hong An-Lan , Wang Yan 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

Introduction:
Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a painful condition that occurs after herpes zoster skin lesions have subsided and that lasts for more than 1 month. PHN is usually difficult to treat.
We herein present two cases of PHN comorbid with spinal metastasis of a malignant tumor. Both patients responded well to an epidural block.

Case presentation:
Patient 1 was a 54-year-old woman who had PHN for 35 days. Patient 2 was a 74-year-old woman who had PHN for 65 days. Both patients were treated with an epidural block and found to have spinal metastasis from a malignant tumor.

Discussion:
The routinely used dermatological medications for the treatment of herpes zoster and PHN have slow and unsatisfactory analgesic effects. Epidural block treatment provides a new approach for patients who cannot tolerate or do not respond to these commonly used drugs. Physicians should pay special attention to patients who have a history of a malignant tumor or are suspected to have spinal disease. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the spine is recommended for such patients, and epidural block treatment should be performed after a spinal tumor or other lesions have been excluded.

Conclusion:
Epidural block treatment provides a new approach for patients of herpes zoster or PHN, but the treatment should be performed after a spinal tumor or other spinal lesions have been excluded.