bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Drug repurposing: Antimicrobial and antibiofilm effects of penfluridol against Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Zeng Xianghai , She Pengfei , Zhou Linying , Li Shijia , Hussain Zubair , Chen Lihua , Wu Yong 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe bacterium Enterococcus faecalis has increasingly attracted global attention as an important opportunistic pathogen due to its ability to form biofilms that are known to increase drug resistance. However, there are still no effective antibiofilm drugs in clinical settings. Here, by drug repurposing, we investigated the antibacterial activity of penfluridol (PF), an oral long‐acting antipsychotic approved by the FDA, against E. faecalis type strain and its clinical isolates. It was found that PF inhibited the growth of E. faecalis planktonic cells with the MIC and MBC of 7.81 µg/ml and 15.63 ~ 62.50 µg/ml, respectively. Moreover, PF could significantly prevent the biofilm formation of E. faecalis at the concentration of 1 × MIC. Furthermore, PF significantly eradicated 24 h pre‐formed biofilms of E. faecalis in a dose‐dependent manner, with a concentration range of 1 × MIC to 8 × MIC. Here, through the checkerboard method with other tested conventional antibiotics, we also determined that gentamycin, penicillin G, and amikacin showed partial synergistic antibacterial effects with PF. Also, PF showed almost no hemolysis on human erythrocytes. In a mouse peritonitis model, a single dose of 20 mg/kg of PF treatment could significantly reduce the bacterial colonization in the liver (~5‐fold reduction) and spleen (~3‐fold reduction). In conclusion, these findings indicated that after structural optimization, PF has the potential as a new antibacterial agent against E. faecalis.
Beam characterization of a custom, handheld focused ultrasound system using thermochromic liquid crystal films
Authors: Mohammadabadi Ali , Ahmed Nabid , Restaino Stephen , Frenkel Victor 
Published: December 2020

AbstractFocused Ultrasound (FUS) continues to gain acceptance in the clinical realm for its ability to provide effective, non‐invasive therapeutic treatments to almost any region of the body for a host of ablative and non‐ablative applications. The development of FUS devices and their implementation requires reliable characterization and quality assurance methods to verify acoustic pressure fields and focal region characteristics. The use of hydrophones is a conventional technique for mapping the acoustic field in 3 dimensions to provide focal dimensions and location. Hydrophones, however, are expensive and may be damaged even at relatively low acoustic amplitudes. Data collection with these devices can also be labor intensive and difficult to accurately reproduce. We present preliminary findings for the development of an alternative characterization process for FUS transducers that is relatively inexpensive and time efficient. Thermochromic liquid crystal (TLC) film sensors exploit the thermochromic effect, in which exposure to specific temperature changes cause a visible change in colour. The method was tested on a portable FUS system developed in‐house for FUS‐based therapeutic applications, comprised of a 3.57 MHz FUS transducer, and a custom‐fabricated coupling cone. The results demonstrated that this method using TLC films was able to accurately provide dimensions of the focal zone and its position relative to the transducer hardware. Numerical simulations were performed along with acoustic hydrophone measurements to corroborate this data, which were found to be in general agreement. With future refinements, this cost‐effective method could be practical as an expedient and cost‐effective characterization technique for in‐house FUS transducer development.
Problem alcohol use among rural head and neck cancer patients at diagnosis: Associations with health‐related quality of life
Authors: Howren M. Bryant , Christensen Alan J. , Adamowicz Jenna L. , Seaman Aaron , Wardyn Shylo , Pagedar Nitin A. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjectiveProblem alcohol use in persons with head and neck cancer (HNC) is associated with poor outcomes, including survival. Some evidence suggests that individuals living in rural areas may be at greater risk of problem alcohol use. The present exploratory cross‐sectional study sought to examine problem alcohol use at diagnosis in a sample of HNC patients by rural versus urban status.MethodsSelf‐reported problem alcohol use as measured by the Short Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (SMAST) was examined in rural and urban HNC patients at diagnosis (N = 454). Multivariable linear regression analysis was conducted to examine correlates of problem alcohol use. Subgroup analyses examined HNC‐specific health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) by problem drinking status at diagnosis and 3‐ and 12‐month postdiagnosis in rural patients.ResultsMultivariable linear regression analysis controlling for age, cancer site, cancer stage, depressive symptoms at diagnosis, and tobacco use at diagnosis indicated that rural residence was significantly associated with SMAST scores at diagnosis such that rural patients were more likely to report higher scores (ß = 0.095, sr2 = 0.010, p = 0.04). Covariate‐adjusted subgroup analyses suggest that rural patients with self‐reported problem alcohol use may exhibit deficits in HNC‐specific HRQOL at diagnosis and 3‐ and 12‐month postdiagnosis.ConclusionsHNC patients should be screened for problem alcohol use at diagnosis and counseled regarding the deleterious effects of continued drinking during treatment and beyond. Because access to treatment and referral options may be lacking in rural areas, additional ways of connecting rural patients to specialty care should be explored.
Postoperative intracerebral haematomas following stereotactic biopsies: Poor planning or poor execution?
Authors: Zanello Marc , Roux Alexandre , Debacker Clément , Peeters Sophie , Edjlali‐Goujon Myriam , Dhermain Frédéric , Dezamis Edouard , Oppenheim Catherine , Lechapt‐Zalcman Emmanuèle , Harislur Marc , Varlet Pascale , Chretien Fabrice , Devaux Bertrand , Pallud Johan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundPostoperative intracerebral haematomas represent a serious complication following stereotactic biopsy. We investigated the possible underlying causes – poor planning or poor execution – of postoperative intracerebral haematomas following stereotactic biopsies.MethodsWe performed a technical investigation using a retrospective single‐centre consecutive series of robot‐assisted stereotactic biopsies for a supratentorial diffuse glioma in adults. Each actual biopsy trajectory was reviewed to search for a conflict with an anatomical structure at risk.ResultsFrom 379 patients, 12 (3.2%) presented with a postoperative intracerebral haematoma ≥20 mm on postoperative CT‐scan (3 requiring surgical evacuation); 11 of them had available intraoperative imaging (bi‐planar stereoscopic teleangiography x‐rays at each biopsy site). The actual biopsy trajectory was similar to the planned biopsy trajectory in these 11 cases. In 72.7% (8/11) of these cases, the actual biopsy trajectory was found to contact a structure at risk (blood vessel and cerebral sulcus) and identified as the intracerebral haematoma origin.ConclusionsRobot‐assisted stereotactic biopsy is an accurate procedure. Postoperative intracerebral haematomas mainly derive from human‐related errors during trajectory planning.
A comparative study on the dynamic behaviour of 10 MW conventional and compact gearboxes for offshore wind turbines
Authors: Wang Shuaishuai , Nejad Amir , Bachynski Erin E. , Moan Torgeir 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis study compares the dynamic behaviour of a conventional and a compact gearbox for the DTU 10 MW wind turbine supported on a monopile offshore structure. The conventional gearbox configuration is composed of two planetary epicyclic stages and one parallel stage, while the compact gearbox configuration consists of a fixed planetary stage and a differential compound epicyclic stage. The design methodology for these two gearboxes is described, and the final gearbox specifications show a lighter weight and smaller volume for the compact gearbox design compared to the conventional one. Computational gearbox models are established using the multi‐body system dynamic analysis method. A decoupled approach is employed for the gearbox load effect analysis. Comparisons of the dynamic behaviour between these two gearboxes are conducted under pure torque load cases, tangential pin position error conditions and non‐torque load cases. The results demonstrate that the compact gearbox has better dynamic performance under different torque load cases and is more robust to withstand the effects of manufacturing errors and rotor non‐torque loads compared to the conventional gearbox. It is believed that the proposed compact gearbox concept is promising and would be a good alternative for multi‐megawatt floating wind turbines, although challenging with respect to the design and operation complexity.
On resolving the dark LMA solution at neutrino oscillation experiments
Authors: Choubey Sandhya , Pramanik Dipyaman 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
In presence of non standard interactions (NSI), the solar neutrino data is consistent with two solutions, one close to the standard LMA solution with sin2θ12 ≃ 0.31 and another with $$ {\sin}^2{\theta}_{12}^D\simeq 0.69\left(=1-{\sin}^2{\theta}_{12}\right) $$

sin
2

θ
12
D

≃
0.69

=
1
−

sin
2

θ
12

. The latter has been called the Dark LMA (DLMA) solution in the literature and essentially brings an octant degeneracy in the measurement of the mixing angle θ12. This θ12 octant degeneracy is hard to resolve via oscillations because of the existence of the so-called “generalised mass hierarchy degeneracy” of the neutrino mass matrix in presence of NSI. One might think that if the mass hierarchy is independently determined in a non-oscillation experiment such as neutrino-less double beta decay, one might be able to break the θ12 octant degeneracy. In this paper we study this in detail in the context of long-baseline experiments (Pμμ channel) as well as reactor experiments (Pee channel) and show that if we combine information from both long-baseline and reactor experiments we can find the correct octant and hence value of θ12. We elaborate the reasons for it and study the prospects of determining the θ12 octant using T2HK, DUNE and JUNO experiments. Of course, one would need information on the neutrino mass hierarchy as well.
Treatment with the calcineurin inhibitor and immunosuppressant cyclosporine A impairs sensorimotor gating in Dark Agouti rats
Authors: Brosda Jan , Becker Thorsten , Richter Mathis , Jakobs Marie , Hörbelt Tina , Bendix Ivo , Lückemann Laura , Schedlowski Manfred , Hadamitzky Martin 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Rationale
Calcineurin is a protein regulating cytokine expression in T lymphocytes and calcineurin inhibitors such as cyclosporine A (CsA) are widely used for immunosuppressive therapy. It also plays a functional role in distinct neuronal processes in the central nervous system. Disturbed information processing as seen in neuropsychiatric disorders is reflected by deficient sensorimotor gating, assessed as prepulse inhibition (PPI) of the acoustic startle response (ASR).

Objective
Patients who require treatment with immunosuppressive drugs frequently display neuropsychiatric alterations during treatment with calcineurin inhibitors. Importantly, knockout of calcineurin in the forebrain of mice is associated with cognitive impairments and symptoms of schizophrenia-like psychosis as seen after treatment with stimulants.

Methods
The present study investigated in rats effects of systemic acute and subchronic administration of CsA on sensorimotor gating. Following a single injection with effective doses of CsA, adult healthy male Dark Agouti rats were tested for PPI. For subchronic treatment, rats were injected daily with the same doses of CsA for 1 week before PPI was assessed. Since calcineurin works as a modulator of the dopamine pathway, activity of the enzyme tyrosine hydroxylase was measured in the prefrontal cortex and striatum after accomplishment of the study.

Results
Acute and subchronic treatment with the calcineurin inhibitor CsA disrupted PPI at a dose of 20 mg/kg. Concomitantly, following acute CsA treatment, tyrosine hydroxylase activity was reduced in the prefrontal cortex, which suggests that dopamine synthesis was downregulated, potentially reflecting a stimulatory impact of CsA on this neurotransmitter system.

Conclusions
The results support experimental and clinical evidence linking impaired calcineurin signaling in the central nervous system to the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric symptoms. Moreover, these findings suggest that therapy with calcineurin inhibitors may be a risk factor for developing neurobehavioral alterations as observed after the abuse of psychomotor stimulant drugs.
Asymptotic Growth of the Local Ground-State Entropy of the Ideal Fermi Gas in a Constant Magnetic Field
Authors: Leschke Hajo , Sobolev Alexander V. , Spitzer Wolfgang 
Published: December 2020

AbstractWe consider the ideal Fermi gas of indistinguishable particles without spin but with electric charge, confined to a Euclidean plane $${{\mathbb {R}}}^2$$

R

2

perpendicular to an external constant magnetic field of strength $$B>0$$

B
>
0

. We assume this (infinite) quantum gas to be in thermal equilibrium at zero temperature, that is, in its ground state with chemical potential $$\mu \ge B$$

μ
≥
B

(in suitable physical units). For this (pure) state we define its local entropy $$S(\Lambda )$$

S
(
Λ
)

associated with a bounded (sub)region $$\Lambda \subset {{\mathbb {R}}}^2$$

Λ
⊂

R

2

as the von Neumann entropy of the (mixed) local substate obtained by reducing the infinite-area ground state to this region $$\Lambda $$
Λ
of finite area $$|\Lambda |$$

|
Λ
|

. In this setting we prove that the leading asymptotic growth of $$S(L\Lambda )$$

S
(
L
Λ
)

, as the dimensionless scaling parameter $$L>0$$

L
>
0

tends to infinity, has the form $$L\sqrt{B}|\partial \Lambda |$$

L

B

|
∂
Λ
|

up to a precisely given (positive multiplicative) coefficient which is independent of $$\Lambda $$
Λ
and dependent on B and $$\mu $$
μ
only through the integer part of $$(\mu /B-1)/2$$

(
μ
/
B
-
1
)
/
2

. Here we have assumed the boundary curve $$\partial \Lambda $$

∂
Λ

of $$\Lambda $$
Λ
to be sufficiently smooth which, in particular, ensures that its arc length $$|\partial \Lambda |$$

|
∂
Λ
|

is well-defined. This result is in agreement with a so-called area-law scaling (for two spatial dimensions). It contrasts the zero-field case $$B=0$$

B
=
0

, where an additional logarithmic factor $$\ln (L)$$

ln
(
L
)

is known to be present. We also have a similar result, with a slightly more explicit coefficient, for the simpler situation where the underlying single-particle Hamiltonian, known as the Landau Hamiltonian, is restricted from its natural Hilbert space $$\text{ L}^2({{\mathbb {R}}}^2)$$

L
2

(

R

2

)

to the eigenspace of a single but arbitrary Landau level. Both results extend to the whole one-parameter family of quantum Rényi entropies. As opposed to the case $$B=0$$

B
=
0

, the corresponding asymptotic coefficients depend on the Rényi index in a non-trivial way.
Efficacy and safety of iguratimod combined with methotrexate vs. methotrexate alone in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Chen L.-J. , Zhou Y.-J. , Wen Z.-H. , Tian F. , Li J.-Y. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe current systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of iguratimod (IGU) combined with methotrexate (MTX) versus MTX alone in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Two independent investigators searched for original randomized controlled trials (RCTs) related to the combination of IGU and MTX in RA published before November 1, 2019, in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), and WanFang Data. Additionally, we searched clinical trial registry websites. We assessed the methodological quality of the included trials using the Cochrane Collaboration tool and the seven-point Jadad scale. Statistical analyses were performed using Review Manager (RevMan) 5.3 (Copenhagen: The Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration, 2014). Meta-regression and publication bias analyses were performed using Stata version 14 software (StataCorp., College Station, TX, USA). A total of 7 RCTs consisting of 665 participants, with 368 participants in the active arm and 297 in the placebo arm, were included in the meta-analysis. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) value was better in the IGU + MTX group than in the MTX alone group, with a pooled relative risk (RR) for ACR20 (American College of Rheumatology 20% improvement criteria), ACR50, and ACR70 of 1.40 (95% CI, 1.13–1.74), 2.09 (95% CI, 1.67–2.61), and 2.24 (95% CI, 1.53–3.28), respectively. The results of the meta-analysis demonstrated that there was no statistical significance in adverse events (1.06 (95% CI, 0.92–1.23)). The combined treatment is an effective, safe, and economical treatment option for patients who do not respond well to methotrexate alone or for patients who cannot afford expensive biologics that have no confirmed efficacy.
Deep soil exploration vs. topsoil exploitation: distinctive rooting strategies between wheat landraces and wild relatives
Authors: Nakhforoosh Alireza , Nagel Kerstin A. , Fiorani Fabio , Bodner Gernot 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Aims
Diversity of root systems among genetic resources can contribute to optimize water and nutrient uptake. Topsoil exploitation vs. deep soil exploration represent two contrasting ideotypes in relation to resource use. Our study reveals how rooting patterns changed between wheat wild progenitors and landraces in regard to these ideotypes.

Methods
Root (partitioning, morphology, distribution, elongation, anatomy) and shoot traits (dry-matter, leaf area, assimilation) of durum landraces, wild emmer and wild einkorn from Iran, Syria, Turkey and Lebanon were phenotyped using the GrowScreen-Rhizo platform. Distinctive rooting patterns were identified via principal component analysis and relations with collection site characteristics analyzed.

Results
Shoot trait differentiation was strongly driven by seed weight, leading to superior early vigor of landraces. Wild progenitors formed superficial root systems with a higher contribution of lateral and early-emerging nodal axes to total root length. Durum landraces had a root system dominated by seminal axes allocated evenly over depth. Xylem anatomy was the trait most affected by the environmental influence of the collection site.

Conclusions
The durum landrace root system approximated a deep soil exploration ideotype which would optimize subsoil water uptake, while monococcum-type wild einkorn was most similar to a topsoil exploiting strategy with potential competitive advantages for subsistence in natural vegetation.
Construal level theory and escalation of commitment
Authors: Benschop Nick , Nuijten Arno L. P. , Keil Mark , Rohde Kirsten I. M. , Lee Jong Seok , Commandeur Harry R. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractEscalation of commitment causes people to continue a failing course of action. We study the role of construal level in such escalation of commitment. Consistent with the widely held view of construal level as a primed effect, we employed a commonly used prime for manipulating this construct in a laboratory experiment. Our findings revealed that the prime failed to produce statistically significant differences in construal level, which was measured using the Behavior Identification Form (BIF). Furthermore, there was no effect of the prime on escalation of commitment, or on constructs that have previously been linked to construal level such as the perceived importance of feasibility considerations relative to desirability considerations, and the number of pros and cons that subjects can think of.Interestingly, however, subjects’ actual construal level scores on the BIF were found to significantly affect escalation. Specifically, our findings show that people with a low construal level are less willing to continue a failing project. This relation is mediated by the perceived importance of the feasibility of the project relative to its desirability. For people with a low construal level, the perceived importance of feasibility relative to desirability is higher, which in turn makes escalation of commitment less likely.Our findings are consistent with prior research suggesting that priming construal level may not always be effective. Thus, while construal level has typically been regarded as a state-like variable that can be primed, in this study, we show that construal level may also be considered as a trait.
COVID Lockdowns, Social Distancing, and Fatal Car Crashes: More Deaths on Hobbesian Highways?
Authors: Meyer Marshall W. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Research Question
What happened to US traffic safety during the first US COVID-19 lockdown, and why was the pattern the opposite of that observed in previous sudden declines of traffic volume?

Data
National and local statistics on US traffic volume, traffic fatalities, injury accidents, speeding violations, running of stop signs, and other indicators of vehicular driving behavior, both in 2020 and in previous US economic recessions affecting the volume of road traffic.

Methods
Comparative analysis of the similarities and differences between the data for the COVID-19 lockdown in parts of the USA in March 2020 and similar data for the 2008–2009 global economic crisis, as well as other US cases of major reductions in traffic volume.

Findings
The volume of traffic contracted sharply once a COVID-19 national emergency was declared and most states issued stay-at-home orders, but motor vehicle fatality rates, injury accidents, and speeding violations went up, and remained elevated even as traffic began returning toward normal. This pattern does not fit post-World War II recessions where fatality rates declined with the volume of traffic nor does the 2020 pattern match the pattern during World War II when traffic dropped substantially with little change in motor vehicle fatality rates.

Conclusions
The findings are consistent with a theory of social distancing on highways undermining compliance with social norms, a social cost of COVID which, if not corrected, poses potential long-term increases in non-compliance and dangerous driving.