bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Non‐Hermitian perturbations of Hermitian matrix‐sequences and applications to the spectral analysis of the numerical approximation of partial differential equations
Authors: Barbarino Giovanni , Serra‐Capizzano Stefano 
Published: March 2020

SummaryThis article concerns the spectral analysis of matrix‐sequences which can be written as a non‐Hermitian perturbation of a given Hermitian matrix‐sequence. The main result reads as follows. Suppose that for every n there is a Hermitian matrix Xn of size n and that {Xn}n∼λf, that is, the matrix‐sequence {Xn}n enjoys an asymptotic spectral distribution, in the Weyl sense, described by a Lebesgue measurable function f; if with ‖·‖2 being the Schatten 2 norm, then {Xn+Yn}n∼λf. In a previous article by Leonid Golinskii and the second author, a similar result was proved, but under the technical restrictive assumption that the involved matrix‐sequences {Xn}n and {Yn}n are uniformly bounded in spectral norm. Nevertheless, the result had a remarkable impact in the analysis of both spectral distribution and clustering of matrix‐sequences arising from various applications, including the numerical approximation of partial differential equations (PDEs) and the preconditioning of PDE discretization matrices. The new result considerably extends the spectral analysis tools provided by the former one, and in fact we are now allowed to analyze linear PDEs with (unbounded) variable coefficients, preconditioned matrix‐sequences, and so forth. A few selected applications are considered, extensive numerical experiments are discussed, and a further conjecture is illustrated at the end of the article.
Impact of Exposure to Antibiotics During Pregnancy and Infancy on Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Wan Shengrong , Guo Man , Zhang Ting , Chen Qing , Wu Maoyan , Teng Fangyuan , Long Yang , Jiang Zongzhe , Xu Yong 
Published: March 2020

ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate whether antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and infancy was associated with childhood overweight or obesity.MethodsPubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched from the inception date to April 18, 2019, to identify observational studies that investigated the association between antibiotic exposure during pregnancy and infancy and childhood overweight or obesity. After study selection and data extraction, the meta‐analysis was conducted using Stata software version 12.0 (StataCorp LP, College Station, Texas). The evaluation of the methodological quality was carried out by AMSTAR 2 (Bruyère Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada).ResultsA total of 23 observational studies involving 1,253,035 participants were included. The meta‐analysis showed that prenatal exposure to antibiotics was not significantly associated with childhood overweight or obesity, whereas an increased risk of overweight or obesity was seen in subgroup analysis of the second trimester (risk ratio = 1.13; 95% CI: 1.06‐1.22; P = 0.001). In contrast, antibiotic exposure during infancy could increase the risk of childhood overweight or obesity (risk ratio = 1.14; 95% CI: 1.06‐1.23; P = 0.001).ConclusionsThis meta‐analysis found that antibiotic exposure during the second trimester and infancy could increase the risk of childhood overweight or obesity.
Measurements of the sediment flocculation characteristics in the Three Gorges Reservoir, Yangtze River
Authors: Li Wenjie , Yu Chengfeng , Yang Shengfa , Yang Yunping , Yang Wei , Xiao Yi 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe flocculation of fine sediments in the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) was confirmed in previous studies, but the flocculation characteristics have yet to be fully clarified. In this study, field measurements were conducted in the TGR to investigate the sediment flocculation characteristics. First, the instantaneous flow velocity and sediment concentration were measured through Acoustic Doppler velocimeter and sediment sampling. Then, the effective settling velocity was calculated based on the sediment diffusion theory to deduce the floc size and flocculation degree. Finally, the influences of particle size, flow velocity, and sediment concentration on flocculation were analyzed. Results showed that flocculation occurred in more than half of the sediments in the TGR, and the maximum flocculation degree was between 10 and 30. Flocculation weakened as particle diameter increased, with the critical particle size being approximately 0.018 mm, meaning that flocculation was unlikely to occur when the particle size exceeded the critical value. As the flow velocity increased, the flocculation degree first increased and then decreased, with the critical flow velocity being approximately 0.7 m/s, but the critical flow velocity increased with an increase in sediment concentration and tended to be a constant. The flocculation degree also increased with increasing sediment concentration and tended to be constant when the sediment concentration exceeded approximately 0.5 kg/m3. The results provide new information on the flocculation characteristics of the TGR and should be useful for understanding and simulating fine sediment transport in the TGR.
Cryopreservation of DNA Origami Nanostructures
Authors: Xin Yang , Kielar Charlotte , Zhu Siqi , Sikeler Christoph , Xu Xiaodan , Möser Christin , Grundmeier Guido , Liedl Tim , Heuer‐Jungemann Amelie , Smith David M. , Keller Adrian 
Published: March 2020

AbstractAlthough DNA origami nanostructures have found their way into numerous fields of fundamental and applied research, they often suffer from rather limited stability when subjected to environments that differ from the employed assembly conditions, that is, suspended in Mg2+‐containing buffer at moderate temperatures. Here, means for efficient cryopreservation of 2D and 3D DNA origami nanostructures and, in particular, the effect of repeated freezing and thawing cycles are investigated. It is found that, while the 2D DNA origami nanostructures maintain their structural integrity over at least 32 freeze–thaw cycles, ice crystal formation makes the DNA origami gradually more sensitive toward harsh sample treatment conditions. Whereas no freeze damage could be detected in 3D DNA origami nanostructures subjected to 32 freeze–thaw cycles, 1000 freeze–thaw cycles result in significant fragmentation. The cryoprotectants glycerol and trehalose are found to efficiently protect the DNA origami nanostructures against freeze damage at concentrations between 0.2 × 10−3 and 200 × 10−3 m and without any negative effects on DNA origami shape. This work thus provides a basis for the long‐term storage of DNA origami nanostructures, which is an important prerequisite for various technological and medical applications.
Micro‐/Nanomotors toward Biomedical Applications: The Recent Progress in Biocompatibility
Authors: Ou Juanfeng , Liu Kun , Jiang Jiamiao , Wilson Daniela A. , Liu Lu , Wang Fei , Wang Shuanghu , Tu Yingfeng , Peng Fei 
Published: March 2020

AbstractInspired by the highly versatile natural motors, artificial micro‐/nanomotors that can convert surrounding energies into mechanical motion and accomplish multiple tasks are devised. In the past few years, micro‐/nanomotors have demonstrated significant potential in biomedicine. However, the practical biomedical applications of these small‐scale devices are still at an infant stage. For successful bench‐to‐bed translation, biocompatibility of micro‐/nanomotor systems is the central issue to be considered. Herein, the recent progress in micro‐/nanomotors in biocompatibility is reviewed, with a special focus on their biomedical applications. Through close collaboration between researches in the nanoengineering, material chemistry, and biomedical fields, it is expected that a promising real‐world application platform based on micro‐/nanomotors will emerge in the near future.
Decision‐making for the efficient life cycle management of structures
Authors: Zimmert Florian , Braml Thomas , Keuser Manfred 
Published: March 2020

AbstractStructures made of structural concrete are designed to withstand different time‐dependent or time‐independent influences during their expected service lifetime. Most of these influences can be considered in a sufficient manner by mathematical and statistical approaches, while some do appear combined with certain structural, environmental, and material boundary conditions. These can, in most cases, not be foreseen, verified or they change during the lifecycle of a concrete structure. It is therefore obligatory to rely on an efficient conservation strategy for each structure to ensure its safety and overall economic efficiency. For this purpose, the fib Model Code for Concrete Structures 2010 already suggests a general workflow to follow a predefined or provisional conservation strategy and condition control procedure. These existing proposals are yet of very general nature and disclaim practical decision‐making rules to survey and assess existing structures as part of a condition‐based conservation strategy. In this contribution, the main decision‐making options at an early stage of a construction's life cycle management are pointed out, considering their importance for a structure's time‐dependent performance and their relation to continuative decisions for conservation management. Proposals for the implementation of practical advice for condition‐based conservation strategies in international guidelines are made.
Experimental evaluation of punching shear capacity of reinforced concrete slabs with horizontal crack due to compression rebar corrosion
Authors: Ikehata Shinya , Ishiguro Hirotaka , Nakano Takato , Nakamura Hikaru 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPunching shear capacity of deteriorated reinforced concrete slab is experimentally investigated in this study. Since horizontal crack near the upper side rebar is often observed in deteriorated reinforced concrete bridge deck slabs due to rebar corrosion, horizontal crack propagation behavior was investigated by accelerated electric corrosion test. Then, in order to evaluate the influence of the horizontal crack on punching shear capacity of slabs, loading tests were carried out using the test specimens with the corrosion‐induced crack and with an artificial horizontal crack. According to the test results, the horizontal crack near the upper side rebar has a significant impact on punching shear capacity of slabs, and it is confirmed that punching shear capacity of reinforced concrete slab correlates to the width of the horizontal crack. Also, it is revealed that cover concrete above horizontal crack does not effectively work if width of the horizontal crack grows to a certain amount.
Transcription and splicing: A two‐way street
Authors: Tellier Michael , Maudlin Isabella , Murphy Shona 
Published: March 2020

AbstractRNA synthesis by RNA polymerase II and RNA processing are closely coupled during the transcription cycle of protein‐coding genes. This coupling affords opportunities for quality control and regulation of gene expression and the effects can go in both directions. For example, polymerase speed can affect splice site selection and splicing can increase transcription and affect the chromatin landscape. Here we review the many ways that transcription and splicing influence one another, including how splicing "talks back" to transcription. We will also place the connections between transcription and splicing in the context of other RNA processing events that define the exons that will make up the final mRNA.This article is categorized under:
RNA Processing > Splicing Mechanisms
RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing
Modeling immune cell behavior across scales in cancer
Authors: Makaryan Sahak Z. , Cess Colin G. , Finley Stacey D. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractDetailed, mechanistic models of immune cell behavior across multiple scales in the context of cancer provide clinically relevant insights needed to understand existing immunotherapies and develop more optimal treatment strategies. We highlight mechanistic models of immune cells and their ability to become activated and promote tumor cell killing. These models capture various aspects of immune cells: (a) single‐cell behavior by predicting the dynamics of intracellular signaling networks in individual immune cells, (b) multicellular interactions between tumor and immune cells, and (c) multiscale dynamics across space and different levels of biological organization. Computational modeling is shown to provide detailed quantitative insight into immune cell behavior and immunotherapeutic strategies. However, there are gaps in the literature, and we suggest areas where additional modeling efforts should be focused to more prominently impact our understanding of the complexities of the immune system in the context of cancer.This article is categorized under:
Biological Mechanisms > Cell Signaling
Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Mechanistic Models
Models of Systems Properties and Processes > Cellular Models
Bounds in Cohen’s Idempotent Theorem
Authors: Sanders Tom 
Published: March 2020

AbstractSuppose that G is a finite Abelian group and write $${\mathcal {W}}(G)$$W(G) for the set of cosets of subgroups of G. We show that if $$f:G \rightarrow {\mathbb {Z}}$$f:G→Z satisfies the estimate $$\Vert f\Vert _{A(G)} \le M$$‖f‖A(G)≤M with respect to the Fourier algebra norm, then there is some $$z:{\mathcal {W}}(G) \rightarrow {\mathbb {Z}}$$z:W(G)→Z such that $$\begin{aligned} f=\sum _{W \in {\mathcal {W}}(G)}{z(W)1_W}\quad \text { and }\quad \Vert z\Vert _{\ell _1({\mathcal {W}}(G))} =\exp (M^{4+o(1)}). \end{aligned}$$f=∑W∈W(G)z(W)1Wand‖z‖ℓ1(W(G))=exp(M4+o(1)).
Urinary incontinence in a fitness club setting—is it a workout problem?
Authors: Haakstad Lene A. H. , Gjestvang Christina , Lamerton Tayla , Bø Kari 
Published: March 2020

Abstract
Introduction
The aims of the present study were to report longitudinal data on the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in a fitness club setting and to investigate whether gym members are educated about and exercise their pelvic floor muscles.

Methods
New members (125 women) from 25 fitness clubs in Oslo, Norway, filled in a 25-min online questionnaire (SurveyXact) at four time points (onset, 3, 6 and 12 months of fitness club membership). The questionnaire covered background/health information, membership dropout and exercise habits, including pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT). A modified Subjective Health Complaints Inventory (SHC Inventory) and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF) were used to gather repeated measures of UI.

Results
At onset, 3, 6 and 12 months of fitness club membership, 16.8%, 13.8%, 19.6% and 18.7% reported UI, respectively (p = 0.11). Of these, 57.1% to 76.2% reported leakage during exercise and perceived the UI to be slight. Less than 8% had received information about PFMT by the fitness club staff. Adherence to regular exercise and PFMT throughout the follow-up period (minimum two sessions/week) did not show any association with absent or present UI at 12 months (p = 0.48 and p = 0.63) and was reported by 30% and 22.2% of the participants, respectively.

Conclusions
About 17% reported UI at onset of fitness club membership, with no changes in proportions throughout the first year. Adherence to regular exercise and PFMT did not show any association with absent or present UI at 12 months. Few had been taught PFMT.
Harmonic tropical morphisms and approximation
Authors: Lang Lionel 
Published: March 2020

AbstractHarmonic amoebas are generalisations of amoebas of algebraic curves immersed in complex tori. Introduced by Krichever in 2014, the consideration of such objects suggests to enlarge the scope of tropical geometry. In the present paper, we introduce the notion of harmonic morphisms from tropical curves to affine spaces and show how these morphisms can be systematically described as limits of families of harmonic amoeba maps on Riemann surfaces. It extends previous results about approximation of tropical curves in affine spaces and provides a different point of view on Mikhalkin’s approximation Theorem for regular phase-tropical morphisms, as stated e.g. by Mikhalkin in 2006. The results presented here follow from the study of imaginary normalised differentials on families of punctured Riemann surfaces and suggest interesting connections with compactifications of moduli spaces.
Quantification of the dynamics of population heterogeneities in CHO cultures with stably integrated fluorescent markers
Authors: Möller Johannes , Rosenberg Marcel , Riecken Kristoffer , Pörtner Ralf , Zeng An-Ping , Jandt Uwe 
Published: March 2020

AbstractCell population heterogeneities and their changes in mammalian cell culture processes are still not well characterized. In this study, the formation and dynamics of cell population heterogeneities were investigated with flow cytometry and stably integrated fluorescent markers based on the lentiviral gene ontology (LeGO) vector system. To achieve this, antibody-producing CHO cells were transduced with different LeGO vectors to stably express single or multiple fluorescent proteins. This enables the tracking of the transduced populations and is discussed in two case studies from the field of bioprocess engineering: In case study I, cells were co-transduced to express red, green, and blue fluorescent proteins and the development of sub-populations and expression heterogeneities were investigated in high passage cultivations (total 130 days). The formation of a fast-growing and more productive population was observed with a simultaneous increase in cell density and product titer. In case study II, different preculture growth phases and their influence on the population dynamics were investigated in mixed batch cultures with flow cytometry (offline and automated). Four cell line derivatives, each expressing a different fluorescent protein, were generated and cultivated for different time intervals, corresponding to different growth phases. Mixed cultures were inoculated from them, and changes in the composition of the cell populations were observed during the first 48 h of cultivation with reduced process productivity. In summary, we showed how the dynamics of population heterogeneities can be characterized. This represents a novel approach to investigate the dynamics of cell population heterogeneities under near-physiological conditions with changing productivity in mammalian cell culture processes.
Factors Associated with High Preoperative Anxiety: Results from Cluster Analysis
Authors: Jarmoszewicz Krzysztof , Nowicka‐Sauer Katarzyna , Zemła Adam , Beta Sebastian 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundPreoperative anxiety is a common patients’ reaction related to serious adverse events post‐operatively. The aim was to explore the characteristics of cardiac surgery patients experiencing high preoperative anxiety.MethodsA total of 127 patients (mean age 64.48 years; 34.6% women) assessed their level of anxiety while waiting for surgery, need for information, depression and illness perception with the use of Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale, Visual Analogue Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire, respectively. Clinical and socio‐demographic data were gathered using structured interview and medical files review. K‐means and hierarchical cluster analyses were performed. α 0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe analysis revealed two different clusters: Cluster 1 involved 46 patients (36.2%; mean age 58.91); Cluster 2 involved 81 patients (63.8%; mean age 67.65). Patients from Cluster 2 had significantly higher anxiety on the day prior to surgery (12.09 vs. 7.93), at a decision stage (6.16 vs. 3.85) and during prehospitalization week (8.01 vs. 4.41). These patients also had more negative illness perception (43.84 vs. 28.35), depressive symptoms (4.9 vs. 2.5) and higher information desire (6.68 vs. 5.54) than patients from Cluster 1. Female sex and planned combined surgery were additional contributors to higher anxiety.ConclusionsPatients scheduled for cardiac surgery experienced high anxiety throughout the presurgery period. Early intervention addressing not only anxiety but also illness perception and depressive symptoms seems vital. The results can be helpful in planning tailored, needs‐based psycho‐educational intervention which might improve patients’ preoperative psychological state.
Task Deconstruction of Colonic Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection (cESD): An Expert Consensus
Authors: Dickinson Karen J. , Dunkin Brian J. , Nguyen‐Lee John J. , Ali Aman B. , Zajac Stephanie 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBackgroundSlow adoption of colonic ESD (cESD) in the US is multifactorial due to: lack of clinical training construct (e.g., gastric ESD in Japan), complication risks, and technical difficulty. More than 28,000 patients/year undergo colonic resection for benign lesions that could be managed effectively with cESD. Selected patients could avoid surgery if procedural adoption of cESD increased due to more accessible training. Current US cESD training is scarce, and existing programs are piecemeal. There is a need to develop an effective national training program for practicing endoscopists. A prerequisite to training development is a comprehensive task list delineating procedural steps. The aim of this work was to describe an evidence‐based method of deconstructing cESD into the essential steps to provide a task list to guide teaching and assessment.MethodsSubject‐matter experts (SMEs) performed a literature review to create an initial procedural step list. Eleven clinical cESD SMEs and four educational SMEs formed a ‘cESD Working Group’ to develop consensus regarding steps. Through a two‐stage modified Delphi process, a consensus on a comprehensive standard cESD deconstructed task list was reached. The aim was to standardize cESD teaching to efficiently bring a novice to safe performance.ResultsA literature review identified eight initial cESD steps. First‐round Delphi consensus was gained on seven steps. Semi‐structured focus group discussions resulted in consensus on a modified version of 7 of the initial steps, with addition of two steps. Consensus on procedural actions needed to perform each step was achieved after the hands‐on laboratory. The final result was a ten‐step deconstructed task list for standard cESD.ConclusionThe development of a standardized cESD procedural task list provides a foundation to safely and efficiently teach cESD to practicing endoscopists. This list can be used to develop a training pathway to increase procedural adoption. Selected patients currently undergoing colonic resections could benefit from increased adoption of cESD.