bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Structural and transport mechanism studies of copper selenide nanoparticles
Authors: Liew Josephine Ying Chyi , Talib Zainal Abidin , Zainal Zulkarnain , Kamarudin Mazliana Ahmad , Osman Nurul Huda , Lee Han Kee 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Copper selenide (CuSe) nanoparticles were successfully prepared via chemical precipitation method at room temperature. The field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microsccopy (AFM) micrograph showed the synthesized CuSe powder is nanoparticles. The energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis and inductively coupling plasma (ICP) analysis showed the formation of the stoichiometric CuSe compound. In-situ x-ray diffraction (XRD) at temperatures ranging from 100 to 473 K was performed to study the structure stability of the CuSe compound. The electrical conductivity, Hall mobility, carrier sheet density and thermal diffusivity of the CuSe compound have been investigated at various temperatures to study the electron-phonon transport mechanism in the compound.
Determination of intrinsic effective fields and microwave polarizations by high-resolution spectroscopy of single nitrogen-vacancy center spins
Authors: Kölbl J , Kasperczyk M , Bürgler B , Barfuss A , Maletinsky P 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
We present high-resolution optically detected magnetic resonance spectroscopy on single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center spins in diamond at and around zero magnetic field. The experimentally observed transitions depend sensitively on the interplay between the microwave (MW) probing field and the local intrinsic effective field comprising strain and electric fields, which act on the NV spin. Based on a theoretical model of the magnetic dipole transitions and the MW driving field, we extract both the strength and the direction of the transverse component of the effective field. Our results reveal that for the diamond crystal under study, strain is the dominant contribution to the effective field. Our experiments further yield a method for MW polarization analysis in a tunable, linear basis, which we demonstrate on a single NV spin. Our results are of importance to low-field quantum sensing applications using NV spins and form a relevant addition to the ever-growing toolset of spin-based quantum sensing.
Occurrence and health risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water resources of the typical plain river network area
Authors: Du Haonan 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Drinking water sources play a significant role in providing water for urban residents and public services. The pollution and health risk of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in drinking water sources have attracted extensive attention. In this study, river water samples were collected from two drinking water resources of the typical plain river network area in eastern China, and tap water samples were collected from public places. The concentration of the 16 priority PAHs in river water and drinking water were determined by SPE-GC-MS. The results indicated that the concentrations of Σ16PAHs ranged 128-183 ng/L in the autumn and 61.3-87.3 ng/L in the winter, respectively. The cancer risks and non-cancer risks of adults associated with drinking water intake were low, but it still deserved more attention.
Physical and mechanical properties of urea formaldehyde and phenol formaldehyde-bonded particleboards made from corn stalk
Authors: Prasetiyo K W , Astari L , Syamani F A , Subyakto  
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Biomass from annual fibers and agricultural wastes as a raw material to produce particleboard or other composite panels has gained increased popularity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the suitability of corn stalk as a material for particleboard manufacturing. The effect of adhesive type and concentration on the physical and mechanical properties of particleboard manufactured from corn stalk was evaluated. Particleboards were produced using hot-pressing machine at temperature of 130 °C for urea formaldehyde (UF) and 150 °C for phenol formaldehyde (PF) adhesives until 10 min. The size of particleboards and target density were 25 mm x 25 mm x 0.9 mm and 0.8 g/cm3, respectively. The adhesive content was varied from 8, 10 and 12 wt%. The results showed that the physical and mechanical properties of particleboards had better values with increasing the adhesive concentration. The board bonded with PF adhesive showed better physical and mechanical properties than the board bonded with UF adhesive. The modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity and internal bond of the board bonded with 12 wt% of PF fulfilled the requirement of the JIS A 5908 (2003) for type 13 particleboard.
Application of Grassmann phase space theory to Cooper pair model
Authors: Kidwani N M , Dalton B J 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
This paper concerns the application of Grassmann phase space theory (GSPT) to treat the dynamical evolution of systems of identical fermions, such as ultracold gases of fermionic atoms. Phase space theory (which originated from quantum optics) is increasing in importance since it overcomes certain issues associated with other theoretical methods, such as Greens functions, variational methods, quantum-Monte-Carlo equations, etc. In phase-space theory quantum states are represented by quasi-probability distribution functions of phase space variables associated with canonical system operators—such as annihilation, creation operators. Evolution is described via a Fokker-Planck equation for the distribution function, which is equivalent to Ito stochastic equations for (time dependent) stochastic phase space variables. Quantum correlation functions given as averages of products of phase space variables over the quasi-probability distributions then become stochastic averages of products of stochastic phase space variables. In GSPT, the phase space variables are Grassmann numbers, but as computer representation of g-numbers is difficult, Grassmann phase space methods were regarded as being computationally inaccessible. However, previous work using the un-normalised B distribution shows that computer representation of Grassmann variables is unnecessary. Stochastic averages of products for quantum correlation functions at later times are related linearly to stochastic averages at earlier times via stochastic matrices only involving c-numbers. Thus, GSPT calculations of quantum correlation functions now only involve c-number computations. This paper presents the first correct numerical calculation of a quantum correlation function for a fermionic system using stochastic methods based on Grassmann phase space theory, namely the time dependence of the coherence between two Cooper pair states in a four-mode fermion system, where the short and finite time solutions can be compared to known exact results. Good agreement between the stochastic and exact results is found, showing that GPST is a valid approach for treating fermionic systems. The treatment of time evolution involves a novel use of the eigenvalues and biorthogonal column eigenvectors of a stochastically determined c-number matrix M and its transpose. Other topics of interest in ultra-cold fermi gases for which the GSPT could be applied are highlighted, such as the strong interaction regime for the BEC/BCS crossover achieved using magnetically tuned Feshbach resonance techniques.
Identification of normal modes responsible for ferroelectric properties in organic ferroelectric CBDC
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Sanghamitra 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Structure and dynamics of hydrogen bonded organic ferroelectric CBDC (1-cyclobutene-1,2-dicarboxylic acid, C6H8O4) have been investigated using inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectroscopy and first principles lattice dynamics. Vibrational modes of O–H–O bending, related with two different types of hydrogen bonds, inter and intra-molecular, are manifested as two sets of doublets in the range of 900–1400 cm−1 in the INS spectrum. First principles density functional theory (DFT) is used to assign these doublets to out-of-the-plane and in-plane vibrations of these two types of O–H—O bending modes. Correlating structure and dynamics we find that although the local structures of the hydrogen bonded protons are similar, their medium range order may influence their vibrational frequencies. Vibrational modes of non-hydrogen bonded protons also are assigned separately in the spectrum. Comparing the calculated and the experimental INS spectra it is predicted that hydrogen bonded O–H bonds are more anharmonic than non-hydrogen bonded C–H bonds. From the calculated Born effective charge tensor it is predicted that inter-molecular hydrogen bonds contribute more to the ferroelectric polarisation of CBDC than intra-molecular ones. A large LO-TO splitting of the O–H stretching mode at 2471 cm−1 is identified with the mode that has significant contribution to the ferroelectric polarisation. As this mode is sensitive to long range Coulomb interactions and is responsible for ferroelectric properties of the material, vibrational spectroscopy combined with DFT calculations is proposed as a characterisation tool to investigate ferroelectric properties in the CBDC molecular crystal.
Highlights of 2019 Protein Engineering Summit (PEGS) in Boston, USA: advancing antibody-based cancer therapies to the clinic
Authors: Li Hong , Li You , Wang Cheng , Wang Shouye , Ho Mitchell 
Published: November 2019

AbstractThe 15th Annual Protein Engineering Summit (PEGS) organized by Cambridge Healthtech Institute was held in Boston, USA, from 8 to 12 April 2019. This report highlights the presentations in the Oncology Stream of this meeting with a focus on bispecific antibodies (BsAbs). A variety of BsAb formats with different target antigens (CD3, CTLA4, PD-1, PD-L1, EGFR, HER2, BCMA, CD19, CD20, CD38, CD123, TGFβ, PSMA, etc.) have been discussed, in which the T-cell engaging (anti-CD3) BsAb is the most studied construct to exhibit promising immunotherapeutic activities. The BsAb formats include IgG-like structures or antibody fragments composed of antigen-binding sites only. Preclinical and clinical data from different BsAbs demonstrated the potential therapeutic applications in various solid tumors and hematological malignancies. The ongoing development of BsAb formats will help overcome current clinical issues, such as tumor selectivity and antigen coverage. This report also covers several presentations about emerging targets (e.g. mesothelin, CD47) and new technologies in the field of antibody engineering and therapeutics.
Microglial depletion prevents extracellular matrix changes and striatal volume reduction in a model of Huntington's disease
Authors: Crapser Joshua D , Ochaba Joseph , Soni Neelakshi , Reidling Jack C , Thompson Leslie M , Green Kim N 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
Huntington’s disease is associated with a reactive microglial response and consequent inflammation. To address the role of these cells in disease pathogenesis, we depleted microglia from R6/2 mice, a rapidly progressing model of Huntington’s disease marked by behavioural impairment, mutant huntingtin (mHTT) accumulation, and early death, through colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor inhibition (CSF1Ri) with pexidartinib (PLX3397) for the duration of disease. Although we observed an interferon gene signature in addition to downregulated neuritogenic and synaptic gene pathways with disease, overt inflammation was not evident by microglial morphology or cytokine transcript levels in R6/2 mice. Nonetheless, CSF1Ri-induced microglial elimination reduced or prevented disease-related grip strength and object recognition deficits, mHTT accumulation, astrogliosis, and striatal volume loss, the latter of which was not associated with reductions in cell number but with the extracellular accumulation of chondroitin sulphate proteoglycans (CSPGs)—a primary component of glial scars. A concurrent loss of proteoglycan-containing perineuronal nets was also evident in R6/2 mice, and microglial elimination not only prevented this but also strikingly increased perineuronal nets in the brains of naïve littermates, suggesting a new role for microglia as homeostatic regulators of perineuronal net formation and integrity.
Longitudinal neuroimaging following combat concussion: sub-acute, 1 year and 5 years post-injury
Authors: Mac Donald Christine L , Barber Jason , Andre Jalal , Panks Chris , Zalewski Kody , Temkin Nancy 
Published: November 2019

AbstractQuestions remain regarding the long-term impact of combat concussive blast exposure. While efforts have begun to highlight the clinical impact, less is known about neuroimaging trajectories that may inform underlying pathophysiological changes post-injury. Through collaborative efforts in combat, following medical evacuation, and at universities in the USA, this study followed service members both with and without blast concussion from the sub-acute to 1-year and 5-year outcomes with quantitative neuroimaging. The following two primary and two exploratory groups were examined: combat-deployed controls without blast exposure history ‘non-blast control’ and concussive blast patients (primary) and combat concussion arising not from blast ‘non-blast concussion’ and combat-deployed controls with blast exposure history ‘blast control’ (exploratory). A total of 575 subjects were prospectively enrolled and imaged; 347 subjects completed further neuroimaging examination at 1 year and 342 subjects completed further neuroimaging examination at 5 years post-injury. At each time point, MRI scans were completed that included high-resolution structural as well as diffusion tensor imaging acquisitions processed for quantitative volumetric and diffusion tensor imaging changes. Longitudinal evaluation of the number of abnormal diffusion tensor imaging and volumetric regions in patients with blast concussion revealed distinct trends by imaging modality. While the presence of abnormal volumetric regions remained quite stable comparing our two primary groups of non-blast control to blast concussion, the diffusion tensor imaging abnormalities were observed to have varying trajectories. Most striking was the fractional anisotropy ‘U-shaped’ curve observed for a proportion of those that, if we had only followed them to 1 year, would look like trajectories of recovery. However, by continuing the follow-up to 5 years in these very same patients, a secondary increase in the number of reduced fractional anisotropy regions was identified. Comparing non-blast controls to blast concussion at each time point revealed significant differences in the number of regions with reduced fractional anisotropy at both the sub-acute and 5-year time points, which held after adjustment for age, education, gender, scanner and subsequent head injury exposure followed by correction for multiple comparisons. The secondary increase identified in patients with blast concussion may be the earliest indications of microstructural changes underlying the ‘accelerated brain aging’ theory recently reported from chronic, cross-sectional studies of veterans following brain injury. These varying trajectories also inform potential prognostic neuroimaging biomarkers of progression and recovery.
Health Care as Vocation? Practicing Faithfully in an Age of Disenchantment
Authors: Kinghorn Warren A 
Published: November 2019

AbstractIn his 1917 lecture “Science as a Vocation,” Max Weber challenged current and aspiring scholars to abandon any pretense that science (Wissenschaft) bears within itself any meaning. In a disenchanted age, he argued, science could at best offer “knowledge of the techniques whereby we can control life . . . through calculation,” and any meaning or moral direction to scientific research—including religious meaning—must be imposed on it from without. Weber presciently anticipated that many present-day health care practitioners would struggle to find meaning for their work within complex “state-capitalist” health care systems, along with predictable quasi-religious responses. But how are Christian practitioners to practice faithfully in a disenchanted age? The authors of this special issue lean deeply into the loci of Christian theology and Christian practice, some challenging the views of the body and of nature that informed Weber’s theory of disenchantment, and all offering resources and paths by which practitioners might “look the fate of the age full in the face” with courage and wisdom.
Calling, Virtue, and the Practice of Medicine
Authors: Whitt Jason D 
Published: November 2019

Abstract
This essay argues that an account of vocation that ties one’s work with divine calling stands counter to the biblical witness of calling in the New Testament. Rather than calling to a particular profession, the biblical account of calling is to a unique way of living that is to exemplify the followers of Christ. Therefore, the re-enchantment of medicine is not accomplished when one makes the practice itself sacred simply by imagining it as one’s divine calling. Rather, the sacredness of medicine is rooted in the character of the physician whose daily decisions and patient interactions are the outcomes of virtues inculcated in worship, prayer, Bible study, and all other practices that mark the life of faith. Thus, the practitioner avoiding burnout asks not “Am I called to be a physician?” but “How as a physician in the daily practice of medicine might I exemplify my calling to Christ-likeness?”
Comparing the performance of artificial intelligence and conventional diagnosis criteria for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy using electrocardiography
Authors: Kwon Joon-Myoung , Jeon Ki-Hyun , Kim Hyue Mee , Kim Min Jeong , Lim Sung Min , Kim Kyung-Hee , Song Pil Sang , Park Jinsik , Choi Rak Kyeong , Oh Byung-Hee 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Aims
Although left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has a high incidence and clinical importance, the conventional diagnosis criteria for detecting LVH using electrocardiography (ECG) has not been satisfied. We aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm for detecting LVH.

Methods and results
This retrospective cohort study involved the review of 21 286 patients who were admitted to two hospitals between October 2016 and July 2018 and underwent 12-lead ECG and echocardiography within 4 weeks. The patients in one hospital were divided into a derivation and internal validation dataset, while the patients in the other hospital were included in only an external validation dataset. An AI algorithm based on an ensemble neural network (ENN) combining convolutional and deep neural network was developed using the derivation dataset. And we visualized the ECG area that the AI algorithm used to make the decision. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the AI algorithm based on ENN was 0.880 (95% confidence interval 0.877–0.883) and 0.868 (0.865–0.871) during the internal and external validations. These results significantly outperformed the cardiologist’s clinical assessment with Romhilt-Estes point system and Cornell voltage criteria, Sokolov-Lyon criteria, and interpretation of ECG machine. At the same specificity, the AI algorithm based on ENN achieved 159.9%, 177.7%, and 143.8% higher sensitivities than those of the cardiologist’s assessment, Sokolov-Lyon criteria, and interpretation of ECG machine.

Conclusion
An AI algorithm based on ENN was highly able to detect LVH and outperformed cardiologists, conventional methods, and other machine learning techniques.
Left ventricular apical pacing in children: feasibility and long-term effect on ventricular function
Authors: Kovanda Jan , Ložek Miroslav , Ono Shin , Kubuš Peter , Tomek Viktor , Janoušek Jan 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Aims
Left ventricular apical pacing (LVAP) has been reported to preserve left ventricular (LV) function in chronically paced children with complete atrioventricular block (CAVB). We sought to evaluate long-term feasibility of LVAP and the effect on LV mechanics and exercise capacity as compared to normal controls.

Methods and results
Thirty-six consecutive paediatric patients with CAVB and LVAP in the absence (N = 22) or presence of repaired structural heart disease (N = 14, systemic LV in all) and 25 age-matched normal controls were cross-sectionally studied after a median of 3.9 (interquartile range 2.1–6.8) years of pacing using echocardiography and exercise stress testing. Pacemaker implantation was uneventful and there was no death. Probability of the absence of pacemaker-related surgical revision (elective generator replacement excluded) was 89.0% at 5 years after implantation. Left ventricular apical pacing patients had lower maximum oxygen uptake (P = 0.009), no septal to lateral but significant apical to basal LV mechanical delay (P &lt; 0.001) which correlated with decreased LV contraction efficiency (P = 0.001). Left ventricular ejection fraction and global longitudinal LV strain were, however, not different from controls. Results were similar in both the presence and absence of structural heart disease.

Conclusion
Left ventricular apical pacing is technically feasible with a low reintervention rate. Mechanical synchrony between LV septum and free wall is maintained at the price of an apical to basal mechanical delay associated with LV contraction inefficiency as compared to healthy controls. Global LV systolic function is, however, not negatively affected by LVAP.
Commonly Used Screening Instruments to Identify Frailty Among Community-Dwelling Older People in a General Practice (Primary Care) Setting: A Study of Diagnostic Test Accuracy
Authors: Ambagtsheer Rachel C , Visvanathan Renuka , Dent Elsa , Yu Solomon , Schultz Timothy J , Beilby Justin 
Published: November 2019

Abstract

Background
Rapid frailty screening remains problematic in primary care. The diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) of several screening instruments has not been sufficiently established. We evaluated the DTA of several screening instruments against two reference standards: Fried’s Frailty Phenotype [FP] and the Adelaide Frailty Index [AFI]), a self-reported questionnaire.

Methods
DTA study within three general practices in South Australia. We randomly recruited 243 general practice patients aged 75+ years. Eligible participants were 75+ years, proficient in English and community-dwelling. We excluded those who were receiving palliative care, hospitalized or living in a residential care facility.
We calculated sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, Youden Index and area under the curve (AUC) for: Edmonton Frail Scale [EFS], FRAIL Scale Questionnaire [FQ], Gait Speed Test [GST], Groningen Frailty Indicator [GFI], Kihon Checklist [KC], Polypharmacy [POLY], PRISMA-7 [P7], Reported Edmonton Frail Scale [REFS], Self-Rated Health [SRH] and Timed Up and Go [TUG]) against FP [3+ criteria] and AFI [&gt;0.21].

Results
We obtained valid data for 228 participants, with missing scores for index tests multiply imputed. Frailty prevalence was 17.5% frail, 56.6% prefrail [FP], and 48.7% frail, 29.0% prefrail [AFI]. Of the index tests KC (Se: 85.0% [70.2–94.3]; Sp: 73.4% [66.5–79.6]) and REFS (Se: 87.5% [73.2–95.8]; Sp: 75.5% [68.8–81.5]), both against FP, showed sufficient diagnostic accuracy according to our prespecified criteria.

Conclusions
Two screening instruments—the KC and REFS, show the most promise for wider implementation within general practice, enabling a personalized approach to care for older people with frailty.