bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Red blood cell distribution width predicts long-term mortality in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury: a retrospective database study
Authors: Jia Linpei , Cui Shijun , Yang Jingyan , Jia Qiang , Hao Lixiao , Jia Rufu , Zhang Hongliang 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAcute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious complication in the intensive care unit (ICU), which may increase the mortality of critically ill patients. The red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has proved useful as a predictor of short-term prognosis in critically ill patients with AKI. However, it remains unknown whether RDW has a prognostic value of long-term all-cause mortality in these patients. The data of 18279 critically ill patients with AKI at first-time hospital admission were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database. The tertiles of the RDW values were used to divide subjects into three groups, namely RDW < 13.6% for the low RDW group, 13.6% ≤ RDW < 15.2% for the middle RDW group and RDW ≥ 15.2% for the high RDW group. Demographic data, mortality, 4-year survival time and severity scale scores were compared among groups. The Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox regression analysis were performed to assess the impact of RDW on all-cause mortality in AKI patients. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was done to evaluate the prognostic value of RDW on the long-term outcome of critically ill patients with AKI. The median age of the enrolled subjects was 65.6 years. AKI patients with a higher RDW value had significantly shorter survival time and higher death rate. By the Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients in the higher RDW group presented significantly shorter survival time and higher death rate. The Cox regression model indicated RDW as an independent risk factor of all-cause mortality of AKI patients (HR 1.219, 95% CI, 1.211 to 1.228). By the ROC analysis, RDW appeared more efficient in predicting long-term prognosis as compared with conventional severity scales. The AUC of RDW (95% CI, 0.712 to 0.725) was significantly higher than other severity scale scores. In conclusion, RDW is positively correlated to survival time of 4-year follow-up in critically ill patients with AKI, and RDW is an independent prognostic factor of long-term outcomes of these patients.
Femtosecond-laser-irradiation-induced structural organization and crystallinity of Bi2WO6
Authors: Pinatti Ivo M. , Gouveia Amanda F. , Doñate-Buendía C. , Mínguez-Vega Gladys , Andrés Juan , Longo Elson 
Published: March 2020

AbstractControlling the structural organization and crystallinity of functional oxides is key to enhancing their performance in technological applications. In this work, we report a strong enhancement of the structural organization and crystallinity of Bi2WO6 samples synthetized by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method after exposing them to femtosecond laser irradiation. X-ray diffraction, UV-vis and Raman spectroscopies, photoluminescence emissions, energy dispersive spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were employed to characterize the as-synthetized samples. To complement and rationalize the experimental results, first-principles calculations were employed to study the effects of femtosecond laser irradiation. Structural and electronic effects induced by femtosecond laser irradiation enhance the long-range crystallinity while decreasing the free carrier density, as it takes place in the amorphous and liquid states. These effects can be considered a clear cut case of surface-enhanced Raman scattering.
Heating Enhancement of a Droplet on a Superhydrophobic Surface
Authors: Al-Sharafi Abdullah , Yilbas Bekir S. , Al-Qahtani Hussain 
Published: March 2020

AbstractEnhancement of heating of a droplet on a hydrophobic surface is investigated. A vertical metal (column) pin is introduced in the droplet and the fluid heating, due to the column pin, is examined. The droplet heating is initiated at the hydrophobic surface and the column pin located in the droplet. The effect of the flow currents on the thermal fields inside the droplet fluid is assessed. An experiment is conducted to assure the velocity simulation results while using the particle image velocimetry (PIV). We demonstrated that the velocity simulations are in good agreement with the data obtained from PIV measurements. Two circulating structures are observed inside the droplet, which are related to the buoyancy and the Marangoni currents. The presence of the column pin changes the number of circulations cells to four inside the droplet. Heated fluid in region of the droplet-solid interface is transferred by the buoyancy current towards the droplet sides and heat diffusion increases temperature rise in the droplet central region. The Nusselt number attains larger values for the droplet with column pin configuration than that of the free droplet, which becomes apparent for the large droplet volumes. The Bond number improves with the presence of the column pin in the droplet; but, the Bond number values become smaller than unity for all the droplets with and without column pin configurations considered.
Spontaneous alloparental care of unrelated offspring by non-breeding Amphiprion ocellaris in absence of the biological parents
Authors: Phillips Elizabeth , DeAngelis Ross , Gogola Joseph V. , Rhodes Justin S. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMany species display alloparental care, where individuals care for offspring that are not their own, but usually the behavior is contingent on the individual receiving some direct or indirect benefit. In anemonefish, after removing the breeding male, non-breeders have been observed providing care for eggs they did not sire and which are not kin. Previously this behavior was interpreted as coerced by the female. The purpose of this study was to test the alternative hypothesis that the alloparental care occurs spontaneously without prodding by the female. Groups of Amphiprion ocellaris (male, female and non-breeder) were maintained in the laboratory and behavior monitored after removing the male and both the male and female. Non-breeders began to care for eggs after male removal and further increased parental care after male and female removal. Level of care was not as high as experienced males, but additional experiments showed performance increases with experience. In a separate experiment, non-breeders were placed alone in a novel aquarium and eggs from an established spawning pair were introduced. Approximately 30% of the fish displayed extensive fathering behavior within 90 min. Taken together, our results demonstrate that fathering behavior in A. ocellaris occurs spontaneously, independent of paternity or kinship.
Innovation in wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)
Authors: Amici Federica , Caicoya Alvaro L. , Majolo Bonaventura , Widdig Anja 
Published: March 2020

AbstractInnovation is the ability to solve novel problems or find novel solutions to familiar problems, and it is known to affect fitness in both human and non-human animals. In primates, innovation has been mostly studied in captivity, although differences in living conditions may affect individuals’ ability to innovate. Here, we tested innovation in a wild group of Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus). In four different conditions, we presented the group with several identical foraging boxes containing food. To understand which individual characteristics and behavioural strategies best predicted innovation rate, we measured the identity of the individuals manipulating the boxes and retrieving the food, and their behaviour during the task. Our results showed that success in the novel task was mainly affected by the experimental contingencies and the behavioural strategies used during the task. Individuals were more successful in the 1-step conditions, if they participated in more trials, showed little latency to approach the boxes and mainly manipulated functional parts of the box. In contrast, we found no effect of inhibition, social facilitation and individual characteristics like sex, age, rank, centrality, neophobia and reaction to humans, on the individuals’ ability to innovate.
Effect of manure and mineral fertilisers on the content of light and heavy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil
Authors: Krzebietke Sławomir , Mackiewicz-Walec Ewa , Sienkiewicz Stanisław , Załuski Dariusz 
Published: March 2020

AbstractA study was conducted to explore the effects of fertilisation with farmyard manure (FYM) and mineral fertilisers on the content of PAHs in soil. The analyses were made on soil samples (collected in 1998–2009) from a long-term field experiment set up in 1986 in Bałcyny near Ostróda. The content of light and heavy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was determined on a gas chromatograph coupled with an FID detector. The analytical data were processed statistically according to an analysis of variance with repeated measurements. The content of light and heavy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was significantly higher in soil fertilised with FYM than in soil nourished only with mineral fertilisers. The effect of increasing doses of potassium on total light PAHs in soil depended on a fertilisation system – there was either a distinct decrease in soil fertilised with mineral substances alone or a slight increase in soil fertilised with manure. Regular soil liming significantly raised the ∑ of heavy PAHs in soil treated with manure but significantly decreased it in soil supplied only mineral fertilisers.
Long Noncoding RNA CTC Inhibits Proliferation and Invasion by Targeting miR-146 to Regulate KIT in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Liao Baochun , Liu Shi , Liu Jiafeng , Reddy Pulusu Ajay Kumar , Ying Yong , Xie Yang , Wang Jianhua , Zeng Xiangtai 
Published: March 2020

AbstractSeveral lines of evidence have shown that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are dysregulated in many diseases. Nevertheless, the biological relevance of the lncRNAs in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) has not been fully explored. We demonstrated that CTC was a negative regulator of PTC cell migration and invasionin vitroandin vivo. We found that microRNA-146 (miR-146) is an inhibitory target of CTC. We then demonstrated that CTC functioned as a miR-146 decoy to de-repress expression of KIT. Further study demonstrated that CTC modulated the progression and chemoresistance of PTC cells via miR-146 and KIT. The analysis of hundreds of clinical specimens revealed that CTC and KIT levels were downregulated, whereas miR-146 levels were greater in PTC tissues than in normal thyroid. Their expression levels correlated with one another. In conclusion, CTC functions as a competing endogenous RNA to inhibit the progression and chemoresistance of PTC cells, and identifies CTC serve as a potential therapeutic agent to suppress PTC progression.
Effects of different transcranial direct current stimulation protocols on visuo-spatial contextual learning formation: evidence of homeostatic regulatory mechanisms
Authors: Grasso Paolo A. , Tonolli Elena , Miniussi Carlo 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn the present study we tested the effects of different transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) protocols in the formation of visuo-spatial contextual learning (VSCL). The study comprised three experiments designed to evaluate tDCS-induced changes in VSCL measures collected during the execution of a visual search task widely used to examine statistical learning in the visuo-spatial domain. In Experiment 1, we probed for the effects of left-posterior parietal cortex (PPC) anodal-tDCS (AtDCS) at different timings (i.e. offline and online) and intensities (i.e. 3 mA and 1.5 mA). The protocol producing the more robust effect in Experiment 1 was used in Experiment 2 over the right-PPC, while in Experiment 3, cathodal-tDCS (CtDCS) was applied over the left-PPC only at a high intensity (i.e. 3 mA) but varying timing of application (offline and online). Results revealed that high intensity offline AtDCS reduced VSCL regardless of the stimulation side (Experiment 1 and 2), while no significant behavioral changes were produced by both online AtDCS protocols (Experiment 1) and offline/online CtDCS (Experiment 3). The reduced VSCL could result from homeostatic regulatory mechanisms hindering normal task-related neuroplastic phenomena.
Abundant human anti-Galα3Gal antibodies display broad pathogen reactivity
Authors: Bernth Jensen Jens Magnus , Petersen Mikkel Steen , Ellerman-Eriksen Svend , Møller Bjarne Kuno , Jensenius Jens Christian , Sørensen Uffe B. Skov , Thiel Steffen 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAntibodies of the IgG class to terminal Galα3Gal (IgG anti-αGal) is abundant in human plasma and are reported to bind most sepsis-causing Gram-negative bacteria. However, these seminal findings, made more than two decades ago, have not been reexamined. Our aim was to assess IgG anti-αGal´s pathogen reactivity. We affinity purified IgG anti-αGal from a therapeutic grade normal human IgG pool applying two rounds of positive selection with Galα3Gal-coupled beads and included removal of column matrix reactive antibodies. The purified antibodies were rigorously characterized in terms of specificity and purity in various solid-phase immunoassays. We used flow cytometry to study reactivity against 100 consecutive clinical isolates diagnosed as cause of sepsis in humans. We found that the purified IgG anti-αGal displays high specificity for Galα3Gal. Also, IgG anti-αGal at 5 mg/L bound 56 out of 100 pathogens with predilection for Gram-positive bacteria binding 39 out of 52 strains. We confirm that although IgG anti-αGal comprise a small fraction of the human antibody pool (~0.1%), these antibodies targets an impressively large part of pathogens causing invasive disease.
Sex differences in proximal femur shape: findings from a population-based study in adolescents
Authors: Frysz Monika , Gregory Jennifer , Aspden Richard M. , Paternoster Lavinia , Tobias Jonathan H. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHip shape is an important determinant of hip osteoarthritis (OA), which occurs more commonly in women. However, it remains unclear to what extent differences in OA prevalence are attributed to sex differences in hip shape. Here, we explore sex differences in proximal femur shape in a cohort of adolescents. Hip morphology was quantified using hip DXA scans from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Independent modes of variation (hip shape mode (HSM) scores) were generated for each image using an adult reference statistical shape model (N = 19,379). Linear regression was used to examine sex differences for the top ten HSMs, adjusting for age, height, lean and fat mass. Complete outcome and covariate data were available for 4,428 and 4,369 participants at ages 14 and 18 years, respectively. Several HSMs showed sex differences at both time points. The combined effect of sex on hip shape at age 14 reflected flatter femoral head and smaller lesser trochanter in females compared with males and, following adjustment for age and body size, these differences became more pronounced. At age 18, smaller lesser trochanter and femoral neck width (FNW) in females still remained although differences in femoral head, femoral shaft and FNW were largely attenuated following adjustment. Sexual dimorphism in proximal femur shape can be discerned in adolescence and early adulthood. Observed differences in proximal femur shape, particularly at age 14 were largely independent of body size, however to what extent differences in hip shape in early life play a role in predisposing to hip OA in later life remains to be determined.
Formation of distinct prion protein amyloid fibrils under identical experimental conditions
Authors: Ziaunys Mantas , Sneideris Tomas , Smirnovas Vytautas 
Published: March 2020

AbstractProtein aggregation into amyloid fibrils is linked to multiple neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. A better understanding of the way these aggregates form is vital for the development of drugs. A large detriment to amyloid research is the ability of amyloidogenic proteins to spontaneously aggregate into multiple structurally distinct fibrils (strains) with different stability and seeding properties. In this work we show that prion proteins are capable of forming more than one type of fibril under the exact same conditions by assessing their Thioflavin T (ThT) binding ability, morphology, secondary structure, stability and seeding potential.
Sub-cycle coherent control of ionic dynamics via transient ionization injection
Authors: Zhang Qian , Xie Hongqiang , Li Guihua , Wang Xiaowei , Lei Hongbin , Zhao Jing , Chen Zhiming , Yao Jinping , Cheng Ya , Zhao Zengxiu 
Published: March 2020

AbstractUltrafast ionization of atoms or molecules by intense laser pulses creates extremely non-stationary ionic states. This process triggers attosecond correlated electron-hole dynamics and subsequent ultrafast non-equilibrium evolution of matters. Here we investigate the interwoven dynamic evolutions of neutral nitrogen molecules together with nitrogen ions created through transient tunnel ionization in an intense laser field. Based on the proposed theoretical frame, it is found that nitrogen molecular ions are primarily populated in the electronically excited states, rather than staying in the ground state as predicted by the well-known tunneling theory. The unexpected result is attributed to sub-cycle switch-on of time-dependent polarization by transient ionization and dynamic Stark shift mediated near-resonant multiphoton transitions. These findings corroborate the mechanism of nitrogen molecular ion lasing and are likely to be universal. The present work opens a route to explore the important role of transient ionization injection in strong-field induced non-equilibrium dynamics.
Speed sign recognition in complex scenarios based on deep cascade networks
Authors: Wang Huafeng , Yuan Risheng , Pan Haixia , Liu Wanquan , Xing Zhiqiang , Huang Jian 
Published: March 2020

Speed sign is one of the most important instant indications for drivers to adjust the speed of their cars. In the literature, almost all of the existing methods for speed sign recognition are based on static pictures with clean images. When dealing with the traffic signs in complex environments, these existing approaches often have inaccurate detected areas, which lead to the difficulty of recognition. The authors propose a deep cascade network to improve the recognition of the speed signs with a structure of cascade subnetworks. The proposed network is composed of a localisation subnetwork and a classification subnetwork. The difficult issue in complex scenarios is the detection of the speed sign due to its small resolution, occlusion, colour fading etc. The proposed localisation subnetwork can improve the localisation accuracy by borrowing the idea of locating the targets from coarse to fine. Ultimately, the classification sub‐network extracts more effective features for speed sign recognition. The experimental results illustrate that the proposed method outperforms the YOLOv2 or YOLOv3 model in identifying the speed sign in complex scenarios with at least 6% higher in terms of area under curve, and this will promote the improvement of recognition significantly.
Bootstrap capacitorless DCM VOT buck converter with dead‐time‐based off‐time calibration for magnetic resonance wireless power transfer
Authors: Ma Hyunggun , Namgoong Gyeongho , Choi Eunho , Park Woojin , Lee Bonyoung , Jang Heedon , Park Kyeongmin , Na Kyungmin , Bien Franklin 
Published: March 2020

This study reports a miniaturised discontinuous conduction mode (DCM) variable on‐time (VOT) buck converter providing an output of 1.8 V in the input range of 3–12 V to support applications with large wireless coupling. Conventionally, an additional large capacitor has been used as a bootstrap capacitor to drive the high‐side switch of buck converters, which prevents minimisation. In this study, a standalone momentary power consumption level shifter is proposed to remove the additional bootstrap capacitor and increase the power conversion efficiency (PCE) in the buck converter. A Zener diode is utilised to reduce the power consumption of the level shifter. In addition, a dead‐time‐based off‐time calibration circuit is proposed to further increase the PCE by reducing the low‐side conduction loss. The proposed circuit is fabricated with a TSMC 0.18‐µm BCD process, and the core circuit occupies an active area of 0.68 mm2 with two external components. It provides output currents in the range of 20 µA to 3 mA with a maximum switching frequency of 750 kHz. The maximum efficiency of the converter below 5 mW is 80.2%.
Spatially resolved spectroscopy of close massive visual binaries with HST/STIS
Authors: Maíz Apellániz J. , Barbá R. H. 
Published: March 2020

Context. The spectroscopic characterization of many O-type stars is hampered by a nearby companion.
Aims. We want to obtain spatially resolved spectroscopy of close O-type visual binaries to derive their spectral types.
Methods. We used the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) to obtain long-slit blue-violet spectroscopy of eight Galactic O-type stars with nearby visual companions and used spatial-profile fitting to extract the separate spectra. We also used the ground-based Galactic O-Star Spectroscopic Survey to study more distant visual components.
Results. We spatially resolve seven of the eight systems, present spectra for their components, and obtain their spectral types. Those seven multiple systems are ι Ori Aa,Ab,B; 15 Mon Aa,Ab,C; τ CMa Aa,Ab,B,C,D,E; HD 206 267 Aa,Ab,C,D; HD 193 443 A,B; HD 16 429 Aa,Ab; and IU Aur A,B. This is the first time that spatially resolved spectroscopy of the close visual binaries of those systems is obtained. We establish the applicability of the technique as a function of the separation and magnitude difference of the binary.