bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Noninvasive prenatal paternity testing by means of SNP‐based targeted sequencing
Authors: Tam Jacqueline Chor Wing , Chan Yee Man , Tsang Shui Ying , Yau Chung In , Yeung Shuk Ying , Au Ka Ki , Chow Chun Kin 
Published: November 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo develop a method for noninvasive prenatal paternity testing based on targeted sequencing of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).MethodSNPs were selected based on population genetics data. Target‐SNPs in cell‐free DNA extracted from maternal blood (maternal cfDNA) were analyzed by targeted sequencing wherein target enrichment was based on multiplex amplification using QIAseq Targeted DNA Panels with Unique Molecular Identifiers. Fetal SNP genotypes were called using a novel bioinformatics algorithm, and the combined paternity indices (CPIs) and resultant paternity probabilities were calculated.ResultsFetal SNP genotypes obtained from targeted sequencing of maternal cfDNA were 100% concordant with those from amniotic fluid‐derived fetal genomic DNA. From an initial panel of 356 target‐SNPs, an average of 148 were included in paternity calculations in 15 family trio cases, generating paternity probabilities of greater than 99.9999%. All paternity results were confirmed by short‐tandem‐repeat analysis. The high specificity of the methodology was validated by successful paternity discrimination between biological fathers and their siblings and by large separations between the CPIs calculated for the biological fathers and those for 60 unrelated men.ConclusionThe novel method is highly effective, with substantial improvements over similar approaches in terms of reduced number of target‐SNPs, increased accuracy, and reduced costs.
Moving boundary truncated grid method: Multidimensional quantum dynamics
Authors: Lu Chun‐Yaung , Lee Tsung‐Yen , Chou Chia‐Chun 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe moving boundary truncated grid (TG) method is used to study wave packet dynamics of multidimensional quantum systems. As time evolves, appropriate Eulerian grid points required for propagating a wave packet are activated and deactivated with no advance information about the dynamics. This method is applied to the Henon‐Heiles potential and wave packet barrier scattering in two, three, and four dimensions. Computational results demonstrate that the TG method not only leads to a great reduction in the number of grid points needed to perform accurate calculations but also is computationally more efficient than the full grid calculations.
Complex absorbing potentials for stark resonances
Authors: Ben‐Asher Anael , Moiseyev Nimrod 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn this work, we study the problem in calculation of Stark resonances by using complex absorbing potentials (CAPs), and its solutions. The motivation of using CAPs for calculating Stark resonances stems from the fact that CAPs can be easily inserted to a large variety of available codes for calculating the electronic structure of molecules and atoms. Our conclusion is that the appropriate CAPs for studying ac/dc Stark resonances are those that are associated with smooth‐exterior‐scaling (SES) transformations, which rotate the spatial contour of integration into the complex plane. The performance of SES‐CAPs vs standard commonly used CAPs in different types of basis sets is investigated.
Thermodynamic description and quasinormal modes of adS black holes in Born-lnfeld massive gravity with a non-abelian hair
Authors: Hendi Seyed Hossein , Momennia Mehrab 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe construct a new class of asymptotically (a)dS black hole solutions of Einstein-Yang-Mills massive gravity in the presence of Born-Infeld nonlinear electrody­ namics. The obtained solutions possess a Coulomb electric charge, massive term and a non-abelian hair as well. We calculate the conserved and thermodynamic quantities, and investigate the validity of the first law of thermodynamics. Also, we investigate thermal stability conditions by using the sign of heat capacity through canonical ensemble. Next, we consider the cosmological constant as a thermodynamical pressure and study the van der Waals like phase transition of black holes in the extended phase space thermodynamics. Our results indicate the existence of a phase transition which is affected by the parameters of theory. Finally, we consider a massless scalar perturbation in the background of asymptotically adS solutions and calculate the quasinormal modes by employing the pseu­ dospectral method. The imaginary part of quasinormal frequencies is the time scale of a thermal state (in the conformal field theory) for the approach to thermal equilibrium.
Renormalized AdS gravity and holographic entanglement entropy of even-dimensional CFTs
Authors: Anastasiou Giorgos , Araya Ignacio J. , Güijosa Alberto , Olea Rodrigo 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe derive a general formula for renormalized entanglement entropy in even- dimensional CFTs holographically dual to Einstein gravity in one dimension higher. In order to renormalize, we adapt the Kounterterm method to asymptotically locally AdS manifolds with conical singularities. On the gravity side, the computation considers extrin- sic counterterms and the use of the replica trickà laLewkowycz-Maldacena. The boundary countertermBdis shown to satisfy a key property, in direct analogy to the Euler density: when evaluated on a conically singular manifold, it decomposes into a regular part plus a codimension-2 version of itself located at the conical singularity. The renormalized entropy thus obtained is shown to correspond to the universal part of the holographic entangle- ment entropy, which for spherical entangling surfaces is proportional to the central chargeathat is the subject of thea-theorem. We also review and elucidate various aspects of the Kounterterm approach, including in particular its full compatibility with the Dirichlet condition for the metric at the conformal boundary, that is of standard use in holography.
Power-enhanced leading-logarithmic QED corrections to Bq→ μ+μ−
Authors: Beneke Martin , Bobeth Christoph , Szafron Robert 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
We provide a systematic treatment of the previously discovered power- enhanced QED corrections to the leptonic decay Bq→ μ+μ− (q = d, s) in the frame- work of soft-collinear effective theory (SCET). Employing two-step matching on SCETI and SCETII, and the respective renormalization group equations, we sum the leading- logarithmic QED corrections and the mixed QED-QCD corrections to all orders in the couplings for the matrix element of the semileptonic weak effective operator Q9. We pro- pose a treatment of the B-meson decay constant and light-cone distribution amplitude in the presence of process-specific QED corrections. Finally we include ultrasoft photon radiation and provide updated values of the non-radiative and radiative branching fractions of Bq→ μ+μ− decay that include the double-logarithmic QED and QCD corrections.
Effect of abiotic stress factors on polyphenolic content in the skin and flesh of pear by UPLC-PDA-Q/TOF-MS
Authors: Cebulak Tomasz , Oszmiański Jan , Kapusta Ireneusz , Lachowicz Sabina 
Published: November 2019

AbstractGrowing social interest in foods with high biological quality results in the need to look for possibilities of increasing the biological quality of food products. The aim of this research was an attempt to estimate the increase of polyphenolic compounds (by UPLC-PDA-MS/MS) in the flesh and skin of pear under the influence of stress elicitors such as UVC radiation, L-EMF, H-EMF and US with various exposure times. The applied stress factors differentiated the content of phenolic acids, flavan-3-ols and flavonols both in flesh and in skin. In all cases, pear skin demonstrated a decrease in the sum of polyphenolic compounds; however, when it comes to flavan-3-ols and procyanidins, the concentration of the compounds increased in two cases: after a 30-min exposure to L-EMF (+ 18%) and after a 5-min exposure to H-EMF (+ 20%). Following a 30-min flesh exposure to US, the determined sum of polyphenolic compounds was + 28% higher than in the control sample. It was observed that the level of flavan-3-ols and procyanidins in the flesh increased after a 60-min exposure to UVC radiation and low-frequency and high-frequency electromagnetic fields, and after a 20-min and 30-min exposure to ultrasounds. The presence of flavonols was only observed in pear skin. The research results show that it is possible to produce juice with a higher content of polyphenolic compounds, because juice is obtained mainly from the flesh; however, there is a need for further research to confirm the observed tendencies in the changes of polyphenolic compounds in fractions of pears.
Plant oil mixtures as a novel botanical pesticide to control gregarious locusts
Authors: Abdelatti Zainab Ali Saad , Hartbauer Manfred 
Published: November 2019

AbstractFor thousands of years, large locust swarms have caused severe problems in agriculture. People fight against current outbreaks by using chemical pesticides or an insect fungus known as Green Muscle™. While chemical pesticides may be harmful for humans and non-target species, the sporulation of the fungus takes a long period of time and requires conditions of high humidity that are not always found in the field. In this study, we tested the toxicity of a linseed oil/bicarbonate emulsion against gregarious desert locusts and screened for plant essential oils that enhance its toxicity. Finally, we combined three essential oils to develop a novel formulation that is effective against the desert and migratory locust species after single spray treatment. Within 24 h, this formulation caused a mean mortality rate of 80% and 100% of desert and migratory locusts, respectively. Its toxicity is based on a synergistic effect resulting from the combination of caraway, orange peel and wintergreen oils. In addition, we tested this botanical pesticide on two beetle species regarded either as alternative or beneficial non-target species. The first species, mealworm beetles, did not suffer from the spray treatment and behaved normally after 8 days. In contrast, 67.7% of ladybird adults died in the same time span. Interestingly, the growth of wheat seedlings was almost unaffected by spraying this botanical pesticide. These results suggest this botanical pesticide can be used as a strong agent against desert and migratory locusts, but needs to be used with care to minimize unwanted side effects on the ecosystem.
Corporate Social Responsibility as Obligated Internalisation of Social Costs
Authors: Johnston Andrew , Amaeshi Kenneth , Adegbite Emmanuel , Osuji Onyeka 
Published: November 2019

AbstractWe propose that corporations should be subject to a legal obligation to identify and internalise their social costs or negative externalities. Our proposal reframes corporate social responsibility (CSR) as obligated internalisation of social costs, and relies on reflexive governance through mandated hybrid fora. We argue that our approach advances theory, as well as practice and policy, by building on and going beyond prior attempts to address social costs, such as prescriptive government regulation, Coasian bargaining and political CSR.
Scientific complications and controversies noted in the field of CdS/CdTe thin film solar cells and the way forward for further development
Authors: Dharmadasa I. M. , Alam A. E. , Ojo A. A. , Echendu O. K. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Cadmium telluride-based solar cell is the most successfully commercialised thin film solar cell today. The laboratory-scale small devices have achieved ~ 22%, and commercial solar panels have reached ~ 18% conversion efficiencies. However, there are various technical complications and some notable scientific contradictions that appear in the scientific literature published since the early 1970s. This review paper discusses some of these major complications and controversies in order to focus future research on issues of material growth and characterisation, post-growth processing, device architectures and interpretation of the results. Although CdTe can be grown using more than 14 different growth techniques, successful commercialisation has been taken place using close-space sublimation and electrodeposition techniques only. The experimental results presented in this review are mainly based on electrodeposition. Historical trends of research and commercial successes have also been discussed compared to the timeline of novel breakthroughs in this field. Deeper understanding of these issues may lead to further increase in conversion efficiencies of this solar cell. Some novel ideas for further development of thin film solar cells are also discussed towards the end of this paper.
Government assistance and total factor productivity: firm-level evidence from China
Authors: Harris Richard , Li Shengyu 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIndustrial policy, particularly through the provision of large-scale assistance to industry in the form of ‘tax holidays’ and subsidies to firms, is very important in China. A major contribution of this paper is to introduce firm-level measures of assistance directly into industry-level production functions determining firm output using Chinese firm-level panel data for 1998–2007 and analysing the impact of government assistance on TFP at the firm-level. Our results indicate inverted U-shaped gains from assistance: across the 26 industries considered, firms receiving assistance rates of 1–10, 10–19, 20–49 and 50+% experienced on average 4.5, 9.4, 9.2 and −3% gains in TFP level, respectively. We then decompose the growth of TFP and relate it to assistance and formal political connections between firms and the government. We find in general firms receiving assistance contributed relatively more to TFP growth than non-assisted firms. However, this was largely through new firms being ‘encouraged’ to start-up rather than through firms open throughout 1998 to 2007 improving. There is also evidence that closure rates were truncated as a result of assistance. Moreover, the better results for assisted firms was very much ‘driven’ by a sub-group that received assistance but had no formal political connections and were not State-owned.
Methods for Classifying Nonprofit Organizations According to their Field of Activity: A Report on Semi-automated Methods Based on Text
Authors: Litofcenko Julia , Karner Dominik , Maier Florentine 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
There are various methods for classifying nonprofit organizations (NPOs) according to their field of activity. We report our experiences using two semi-automated methods based on textual data: rule-based classification and machine learning with curated keywords. We use those methods to classify Austrian nonprofit organizations based on the International Classification of Nonprofit Organizations. Those methods can provide a solution to the widespread research problem that quantitative data on the activities of NPOs are needed but not readily available from administrative data, long high-quality texts describing NPOs’ activities are mostly unavailable, and human labor resources are limited. We find that in such a setting, rule-based classification performs about as well as manual human coding in terms of precision and sensitivity, while being much more labor-saving. Hence, we share our insights on how to efficiently implement such a rule-based approach. To address scholars with a background in data analytics as well as those without, we provide non-technical explanations and open-source sample code that is free to use and adapt.
The transfer of specific mitochondrial lipids and proteins to lipid droplets contributes to proteostasis upon stress and aging in the eukaryotic model system Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Geltinger Florian , Tevini Julia , Briza Peter , Geiser Amrito , Bischof Johannes , Richter Klaus , Felder Thomas , Rinnerthaler Mark 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Originally Lipid droplets (LDs) were considered as being droplets for lipid storage only. Increasing evidence, however, demonstrates that LDs fulfill a pleiotropy of additional functions. Among them is the modulation of protein as well as lipid homeostasis. Under unfavorable pro-oxidative conditions, proteins can form aggregates which may exceed the overall proteolytic capacity of the proteasome. After stress termination LDs can adjust and support the removal of these aggregates. Additionally, LDs interact with mitochondria, specifically take over certain proteins and thus prevent apoptosis. LDs, which are loaded with these harmful proteins, are subsequently eliminated via lipophagy. Recently it was demonstrated that this autophagic process is a modulator of longevity. LDs do not only eliminate potentially dangerous proteins, but they are also able to prevent lipotoxicity by storing specific lipids. In the present study we used the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae to compare the proteome as well as lipidome of mitochondria and LDs under different conditions: replicative aging, stress and apoptosis. In this context we found an accumulation of proteins at LDs, supporting the role of LDs in proteostasis. Additionally, the composition of main lipid classes such as phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylinositols, phosphatidylglycerols, triacylglycerols, ceramides, phosphatidic acids and ergosterol of LDs and mitochondria changed during stress conditions and aging.
Definitions of Long-Term Weight Regain and Their Associations with Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Voorwinde Vera , Steenhuis Ingrid H. M. , Janssen Ignace M. C. , Monpellier Valerie M. , van Stralen Maartje M. 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Introduction
The prevalence and clinical significance of weight regain after bariatric surgery remains largely unclear due to the lack of a standardized definition of significant weight regain. The development of a clinically relevant definition of weight regain requires a better understanding of its clinical significance.

Objectives
To assess rates of weight regain 5 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) and sleeve gastrectomy (SG), applying six definitions and investigating their association with clinical outcomes.

Methods
Patients were followed up until 5 years after surgery and weight regain was calculated. Regression techniques were used to assess the association of weight regain with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the presence of comorbidities.

Results
A total of 868 patients participated in the study, with a mean age of 46.6 (± 10.4) years, of which 79% were female. The average preoperative BMI was 44.8 (± 5.9) kg/m2 and the total maximum weight loss was 32% (± 8%). Eighty-seven percent experienced any regain. Significant weight regain rates ranged from 16 to 37% depending on the definition. Three weight regain definitions were associated with deterioration in physical HRQoL (p < 0.05), while associations between definitions of weight regain and the presence of comorbidities 5 years after surgery were not significant.

Conclusion
These results indicate that identifying one single categorical definition of clinically significant weight regain is difficult. Additional research into the clinical significance of weight regain is needed to inform the development of a standardized definition that includes all dimensions of surgery success: weight, HRQoL, and comorbidity remission.
Mechanical impact stimulation platform tailored for high-resolution light microscopy
Authors: Halonen Heidi T. , Hyttinen Jari A.K. , Ihalainen Teemu O. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractHigh frequency (HF) mechanical vibration has been used in vitro to study the cellular response to mechanical stimulation and induce stem cell differentiation. However, detailed understanding of the effect of the mechanical cues on cellular physiology is lacking. To meet this limitation, we have designed a system, which enables monitoring of living cells by high-resolution light microscopy during mechanical stimulation by HF vibration or mechanical impacts. The system consists of a commercial speaker, and a 3D printed sample vehicle and frame. The speaker moves the sample in the horizontal plane, allowing simultaneous microscopy. The HF vibration (30–200 Hz) performances of two vehicles made of polymer and aluminum were characterized with accelerometer. The mechanical impacts were characterized by measuring the acceleration of the aluminum vehicle and by time lapse imaging. The lighter polymer vehicle produced higher HF vibration magnitudes at 30–50 Hz frequencies than the aluminum vehicle. However, the aluminum vehicle performed better at higher frequencies (60–70 Hz, 90–100 Hz, 150 Hz). Compatibility of the system in live cell experiments was investigated with epithelial cells (MDCKII, expressing Emerald-Occludin) and HF (0.56Gpeak,30 Hz and 60 Hz) vibration. Our findings indicated that our system is compatible with high-resolution live cell microscopy. Furthermore, the epithelial cells were remarkable stable under mechanical vibration stimulation. To conclude, we have designed an inexpensive tool for the studies of cellular biophysics, which combines versatile in vivo like mechanical stimuli with live cell imaging, showing a great potential for several cellular applications.
Life and Death in the American City: Men’s Life Expectancy in 25 Major American Cities From 1990 to 2015
Authors: Fenelon Andrew , Boudreaux Michel 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
The past several decades have witnessed growing geographic disparities in life expectancy within the United States, yet the mortality experience of U.S. cities has received little attention. We examine changes in men’s life expectancy at birth for the 25 largest U.S. cities from 1990 to 2015, using mortality data with city of residence identifiers. We reveal remarkable increases in life expectancy for several U.S. cities. Men’s life expectancy increased by 13.7 years in San Francisco and Washington, DC, and by 11.8 years in New York between 1990 and 2015, during which overall U.S. life expectancy increased by just 4.8 years. A significant fraction of gains in the top-performing cities relative to the U.S. average is explained by reductions in HIV/AIDS and homicide during the 1990s and 2000s. Although black men tended to see larger life expectancy gains than white men in most cities, changes in socioeconomic and racial population composition also contributed to these trends.
Computing abelian varieties over finite fields isogenous to a power
Authors: Marseglia Stefano 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
In this paper we give a module-theoretic description of the isomorphism classes of abelian varieties A isogenous to $$B^r$$Br, where the characteristic polynomial g of Frobenius of B is an ordinary square-free q-Weil polynomial, for a power q of a prime p, or a square-free p-Weil polynomial with no real roots. Under some extra assumptions on the polynomial g we give an explicit description of all the isomorphism classes which can be computed in terms of fractional ideals of an order in a finite product of number fields. In the ordinary case, we also give a module-theoretic description of the polarizations of A.