bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Host contribution to parasite persistence is consistent between parasites and over time, but varies spatially
Authors: Bielby Jon , Price Stephen J. , Monsalve‐CarcaÑo Camino , Bosch Jaime 
Published: November 2020

AbstractMost parasites and pathogens infect multiple hosts, but a great deal of variation exists in the role of those hosts in persistence of infection. Understanding which hosts are most important in maintaining parasites can provide a clearer target for infection control. Recently developed empirical and theoretical approaches provide a way to quantify the relative contribution of hosts within a community and place them in a multi‐host framework to better direct control efforts. Amphibians provide a framework for better understanding multi‐host–multi‐parasite dynamics. Two well‐studied amphibian parasites, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) and Ranavirus, infect multiple host species and exhibit a great deal of heterogeneity in how they affect hosts. We used these two parasites and a community of five amphibian species to investigate the relative importance of hosts in parasite persistence, and how any patterns varied spatially and temporally. At two sites (Lake Ercina and Lake Lloroza in the Picos de Europa National Park, Spain) we collected data on the prevalence and shedding rate of parasite infection for both Bd and Ranavirus, and the abundance of each species’ life stages. We used these data to parameterize a recently developed modeling framework, which was used to quantify the relative contribution of each host to the community reproductive number, R0. By comparing each host‐category over time and between sites we were able to identify consistencies in which host was responsible for the maintenance of these two parasites. Within a site one species consistently contributed the most to the persistence of both parasites. This consistency did not transfer between sites, the maintenance host species being different for each. At one site (Ercina), life stages of the common midwife toad, Alytes obstetricans, acted as the maintenance host for both Bd and Ranavirus. In contrast, at the second site, Lloroza, the alpine newt, Ichthyosaura alpestris, fulfilled that role. A single host species was responsible for infection persistence of both parasites at each lake. Attempts to control the infection levels and impacts of multiple parasites can benefit from a community epidemiology approach, and provide clarity on which hosts are the foci of mitigation efforts. However, at a small spatial scale, the target host may vary according to the physical qualities of those sites and the demographics of the host community.
Combined systems based on OSOFC/HSOFC: Comparative analysis and multi‐objective optimization of power and emission
Authors: Mojaver Parisa , Khalilarya Shahram , Chitsaz Ata 
Published: November 2020

SummaryAn integrated system, including a biomass gasifier, a solid oxide fuel cell, heat pipes, and an organic Rankine cycle, was modeled and validated. The system performance was assessed in two different cases based on: (a) oxygen‐ion conducting electrolyte and (b) proton‐conducting electrolyte solid oxide fuel cells. At low current densities, the system based on proton‐conducting electrolyte cell presented larger values of power. In contrast, the system based on oxygen‐ion conducting electrolyte cell had a better performance from power viewpoint at high current densities. This phenomenon was similar for energy and exergy efficiencies and emission. The comparative analysis revealed that the system based on oxygen‐ion conducting electrolyte cell had higher power output than the system based on proton‐conducting electrolyte cell (204.2 kW against 178.7 kW) at their optimum conditions, while the system based on proton‐conducting electrolyte cell presented lower emission (996.5 kg/MW h against 1560.7 kg/MW h). The TOPSIS method was utilized to solve the multi‐criteria decision‐making problem. The results indicated that the system based on proton‐conducting electrolyte cell had a better performance than the system based on oxygen‐ion conducting electrolyte cell.
Solar‐powered microwave pyrolysis of corn stover for value‐added products and process techno‐economic assessment
Authors: Fodah Ahmed Elsayed Mahmoud , Ghosal Manoj Kumar , Behera Debaraj 
Published: November 2020

SummaryMicrowave pyrolysis, powered by the solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity has been studied for safe and effective disposal of one of the abundantly available agro‐residues that is, corn stover (CS) in India. The study focuses on maximizing the yields of value‐added products that is, wood vinegar and biochar, because of their several applications in the agriculture and easy trading among the farmers with a scope of earning higher economic benefits. The effects of different levels microwave power, reaction time, and various concentrations of additive (biochar) on the yields of the pyrolytic products have been investigated. Under the optimal conditions of pyrolysis (input power of 700 W for microwave, pyrolysis reaction duration of 20 minutes and use of 5% additive from biochar), the yields of wood vinegar and biochar were measured to be 31 and 34 wt%, respectively, with the lower yields of both tars (9.64 wt%) and gas (25.2 wt%). The wood vinegar, obtained from the study, contained about 28%‐32% acids, 10%‐15% phenols, 18%‐20% ketones, and 12% alcohol with the pH in the range of 2.94‐3.21. The lower heating value (LHV) of biochar ranged from 22‐27 MJ/kg. From the techno‐economic and environmental assessment, the monthly income, payback period and quantity of CO2 mitigation are estimated to be USD 44, 3.5 years and 25.6 tones in case of lab‐scale set up and USD 44114, 1.7 years, and 20 549 tones for scaled‐up production systems, respectively. These findings would contribute to diminish the greenhouse gases emissions, mitigate climate change, and help to derive economic benefits for the farmers along with the effective utilization of agro‐residues.
An experimental study on the performance evaluation of a combined sensible‐latent heat thermal energy storage
Authors: Suresh Charmala , Saini Rajeshwer Prasad 
Published: November 2020

SummaryThermal energy storage (TES) is one of the significant technologies for reducing the discrepancy between ever‐increasing energy demand and utilization. Sensible and latent heat based TES concepts are the most widely implemented technologies for thermal applications. However, these two storage technologies have drawbacks of lower energy storage ability, higher thermocline degradation for sensible heat storage and lower thermal conductivity of the phase change material (PCM) causing higher charge and discharge times for latent heat storage. To counter these issues, a novel combined sensible‐latent heat storage system has been proposed. The concept of combined sensible‐latent thermal storage is to place the latent heat storage media above the sensible storage media in the storage container. In the present experimental study, an experimental investigation of the proposed storage system and conventional sensible storage system was performed during charge and discharge cycles. The proposed storage system used concrete spheres as sensible storage media and paraffin encapsulated capsules having the same diameter of 38 mm, as a latent heat storage media. A comparative assessment has been made for two different configurations based on temperature profile, storage capacity, charge and discharge times, energy transferred, and energy recovered. The experimental results reveal that the novel combined sensible‐latent heat storage has lower thermocline degradation during discharge and higher energy storage capacity relative to the sensible storage system. The discharge time and energy utilization is prolonged by adding the PCM capsules above the concrete spheres and also the temperature drop at outlet of the storage system has been reduced than the sensible storage. Based on the analysis, the novel combined sensible‐latent heat storage was found to have a better performance compared with the conventional sensible heat storage system.
Brain mapping of auditory steady‐state responses: A broad view of cortical and subcortical sources
Authors: Farahani Ehsan Darestani , Wouters Jan , van Wieringen Astrid 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAuditory steady‐state responses (ASSRs) are evoked brain responses to modulated or repetitive acoustic stimuli. Investigating the underlying neural generators of ASSRs is important to gain in‐depth insight into the mechanisms of auditory temporal processing. The aim of this study is to reconstruct an extensive range of neural generators, that is, cortical and subcortical, as well as primary and non‐primary ones. This extensive overview of neural generators provides an appropriate basis for studying functional connectivity. To this end, a minimum‐norm imaging (MNI) technique is employed. We also present a novel extension to MNI which facilitates source analysis by quantifying the ASSR for each dipole. Results demonstrate that the proposed MNI approach is successful in reconstructing sources located both within (primary) and outside (non‐primary) of the auditory cortex (AC). Primary sources are detected in different stimulation conditions (four modulation frequencies and two sides of stimulation), thereby demonstrating the robustness of the approach. This study is one of the first investigations to identify non‐primary sources. Moreover, we show that the MNI approach is also capable of reconstructing the subcortical activities of ASSRs. Finally, the results obtained using the MNI approach outperform the group‐independent component analysis method on the same data, in terms of detection of sources in the AC, reconstructing the subcortical activities and reducing computational load.
Marijuana legalization and disability claiming
Authors: Maclean Johanna Catherine , Ghimire Keshar M. , Nicholas Lauren Hersch 
Published: November 2020

AbstractWe study the effect of recent legalization of recreational marijuana use laws (RMLs) in the United States on new applications and allowances for Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income over the period 2001–2019. We combine administrative caseload data from the Social Security Administration with state policy changes using two‐way fixed‐effects methods. We find that RML adoption increases applications for both benefits. However, there is no change in allowances post‐RML. We provide suggestive evidence that the observed changes in applications post‐RML are driven by increases in marijuana misuse and selective migration, and decreases in unemployment.
Obstetric vesico‐vaginal fistulas: Midvaginal and juxtacervical fistula repair outcomes in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Maroyi Raha , Shahid Usama , Vangaveti Venkat , Rane Ajay , Mukwege Denis 
Published: November 2020

AbstractObjectiveThis study aims to establish the postoperative success rates of midvaginal versus juxtacervical obstetric vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) repairs. In addition, we aim to quantify the impact of patient sociodemographic variables, fistula classification, and surgical repair techniques associated with postoperative outcomes.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 420 women who had undergone a primary obstetric VVF repair. All data were collected from the Panzi Hospital, Democratic Republic of Congo between 2015 and 2017. Patient notes were analyzed to determine sociodemographic variables, symptoms, fistula classification, surgical repair techniques, and postoperative follow up. Binary logistic regression presented as χ2 for trend was used to establish P values.ResultsOverall, 95.6% and 96.2% of midvaginal and juxtacervical VVF, respectively, underwent a successful repair. The principal prognostic factor associated with a statistically significant likelihood of a successful repair was the degree of fibrosis noted preoperatively (P =0.004, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.38–94.61). Furthermore, VVF were more likely to have a successful repair if they were closed in two layers (P = 0.004, 95% CI 1.86–25.81) and sutured vertically (P = 0.005, 95% CI 1.16–2.52).ConclusionOverall, high postoperative success rates of obstetric VVF repair can be expected among well‐trained surgeons but a complex interplay of factors means that the ability to preoperatively foreshadow individual outcomes remains difficult.
Using Question Generation to Improve Reading Comprehension for Middle‐Grade Students
Authors: Stevens Elizabeth A. , Murray Christy S. , Fishstrom Sarah , Vaughn Sharon 
Published: November 2020

AbstractStudents in the middle grades are expected to read complex texts to acquire content knowledge, particularly in social studies/history and science. Most students with disabilities are included in social studies/history and science classes yet read below grade level, requiring significant support with accessing text knowledge. Question generation is one high‐impact, evidence‐based practice that content area teachers can use to support students as they read complex text. This practice has been studied in rigorous research studies, and findings suggest that students’ reading comprehension increases when they apply the practice while reading. The authors provide an overview of question generation, including explanations of each step in the instructional process, so content area teachers can integrate this reading comprehension practice into their instruction.
Addressing pregnancy‐related concerns in women with inflammatory bowel disease: Insights from the patient's perspective
Authors: Flanagan Emma K , Richmond Jacqui , Thompson Alexander J , Desmond Paul V , Bell Sally J 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackground and AimTherapeutic options for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have expanded, as has the use of IBD medications in women during the reproductive period. However, no qualitative data exist that examine the pregnancy‐related concerns of women with IBD in the current era of widespread immunomodulator and biologic use. Hence, we aimed to explore in detail the impact of IBD on pregnancy from the patient's perspective.MethodsThis qualitative study used semistructured interviews to explore participants' experiences regarding IBD and pregnancy until no new themes emerged. Key themes were identified using thematic analysis.ResultsFifteen women with IBD were interviewed. The majority of participants reported lingering concerns regarding their IBD medications, despite advice from their gastroenterologist that the drugs were considered safe in pregnancy. Participants more often reported medication‐related fears, such as potential negative effects on their child's immune system, than concerns regarding the effect of the disease itself on their pregnancy outcomes. A common theme was a perceived lack of knowledge among non‐IBD clinicians regarding IBD medications during pregnancy, which augmented pre‐existing anxiety.ConclusionsThis study is the first of its kind to provide an in‐depth assessment of female patients' perspectives of IBD in relation to conception, pregnancy, and caring for offspring. In particular, this research characterizes the unique fears and persisting anxieties regarding IBD medications in pregnancy. The study has unearthed important insights into the specific concerns and support needs of women with IBD in order to facilitate nonjudgmental counseling designed around patient concerns and beliefs.
Liver stiffness assessment as an alternative to hepatic venous pressure gradient for predicting rebleed after acute variceal bleed: A proof‐of‐concept study
Authors: Agarwal Samagra , Sharma Sanchit , Anand Abhinav , Gunjan Deepak , Saraya Anoop 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackground and AimHepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG), although an important determinant in predicting rebleeding after an episode of acute variceal bleed (AVB), is seldom utilized in clinical practice. We aimed to study the role of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) after variceal bleeding as a potential noninvasive predictor of rebleed.MethodsThis was a post hoc analysis of clinical trial of patients undergoing HVPG (postbleed HVPG) and LSM (postbleed LSM) assessment within 3–5 days of index AVB. HVPG response was assessed after 4 weeks of pharmacotherapy. Comparative assessment of long‐term rebleeding rates stratified using postbleed LSM, postbleed HVPG, and HVPG response was performed. Decision curve analysis (DCA) was conducted to identify the most appropriate tool for routine use.ResultsLong‐term clinical and HVPG response data were available for 48 patients post‐AVB, of whom 45 patients had valid postbleed LSM. Rebleeding occurred in 13 (28%) patients over a median follow‐up of 4 years with no early rebleeds. Postbleed LSM >30 kPa and baseline HVPG >15 mm Hg were optimal cutoffs for identifying patients at high risk of rebleeding. Time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic curves and competing risk analysis accounting for death showed similar discriminative values for all three stratification tools. At usual risk thresholds, HVPG response had maximum benefit on DCA followed by postbleed LSM. On DCA, 50–60 additional HVPGs were required to detect one additional patient at high risk of rebleed.ConclusionLiver stiffness measurement during AVB can potentially be used as an alternative to portal pressure indices in decompensated cirrhosis to identify those at high risk of late‐onset rebleed.
Morphological study of the integument and corporal skeletal muscles of two psammophilous members of Scincidae (Scincus scincus and Eumeces schneideri)
Authors: Canei Jérôme , Nonclercq Denis 
Published: November 2020

AbstractSand deserts are common biotopes on the earth's surface. Numerous morphological and physiological adaptations have appeared to cope with the peculiar conditions imposed by sandy substrates, such as abrasion, mechanical resistance and the potential low oxygen levels. The psammophilous scincids (Lepidosauria) Scincus scincus and Eumeces schneideri are among those. S. scincus is a species frequently used to study displacement inside a sandy substrate. E. schneideri is a species phylogenetically closely related to S. scincus with a similar lifestyle. The aims of this study focus on the morphology of the integument and the muscular system. Briefly, we describe interspecific differences at the superficial architecture of the scales pattern and the thickness of the integument. We highlight a high cellular turnover rate at the level of the basal germinal layer of the epidermis, which, we suggest, corresponds to an adaptation to cutaneous wear caused by abrasion. We demonstrate the presence of numerous cutaneous holocrine glands whose secretion probably plays a role in the flow of sand along the integument. Several strata of osteoderms strengthen the skin. We characterize the corporal (M. longissimus dorsi and M. rectus abdominus) and caudal muscular fibers using immunohistochemistry, and quantify them using morphometry. The musculature exhibits a high proportion of glycolytic fast fibers that allow rapid burying and are well adapted to this mechanically resistant and oxygen‐poor substrate. Oxidative slow fibers are low in abundance, less than 10% in S. scincus, but a little higher in E. schneideri.
Rapid adaptation and continuous performance evaluation of SARS‐CoV‐2 envelope gene (E‐gene) real‐time RT‐PCR assays to support the hospital surge in test demand
Authors: Ho Yolanda I. I. , Wong Ann H. , Leung Eddie C. M. , Wong River C. W. , Lai Raymond W. M. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractWe describe the timely adaption of both published WHO E‐gene protocol and commercially available LightMix Modular E‐gene assay to the test platform (ABI 7900 Fast real‐time analyzer and TaqMan Fast One‐step Virus Master Mix) available in an accredited tertiary hospital laboratory with an on‐going evaluation to ensure the provision of quality service within the time constraint. The LightMix Modular E‐gene was slightly more sensitive when compared to the WHO E‐gene, both analytically and diagnostically. The assay was recommended for screening of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. With the availability of technically competent staff through continuous training, the provision of round‐the‐clock service is feasible despite the test is of high complexity. The thermal cycling duration of the adapted LightMix E‐gene and WHO E‐gene is shortened by half and one hour respectively and allows the number of runs to double when 24‐h round‐the‐clock service is provided. An increase in testing capacity could support surges in testing demand, which is essential to control the current SARS‐CoV‐2 pandemic, to prevent potential overwhelming of the healthcare system, and to optimize utilization of the isolation beds.
Miniaturized tunable bandstop filter using multilayer technology
Authors: Qian Kewei , Tian Miao 
Published: November 2020

AbstractA new type of miniaturized tunable bandstop filter (BSF) based on multilayer technology is presented in this letter. One of the transmission zero could be individually tuned by replacing an outer replaceable element, which can be considered as part of the inner resonant cell of the bandstop filter. Thus, a tradeoff between the stopband rejection depth and bandwidth can be conveniently realized according to different applications. A bandstop filter works from 3.1 to 4.2 GHz has been designed and fabricated in a low temperature cofired ceramic (LTCC) substrate to verify the proposed concept. By virtue of the LTCC multilayer technology, the filter occupies a very compact volume of 2.0 mm × 1.2 mm × 0.8 mm.
Deformable MR‐CBCT prostate registration using biomechanically constrained deep learning networks
Authors: Fu Yabo , Wang Tonghe , Lei Yang , Patel Pretesh , Jani Ashesh B. , Curran Walter J. , Liu Tian , Yang Xiaofeng 
Published: November 2020

Background and purposeRadiotherapeutic dose escalation to dominant intraprostatic lesions (DIL) in prostate cancer could potentially improve tumor control. The purpose of this study was to develop a method to accurately register multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with CBCT images for improved DIL delineation, treatment planning, and dose monitoring in prostate radiotherapy.Methods and materialsWe proposed a novel registration framework which considers biomechanical constraint when deforming the MR to CBCT. The registration framework consists of two segmentation convolutional neural networks (CNN) for MR and CBCT prostate segmentation, and a three‐dimensional (3D) point cloud (PC) matching network. Image intensity‐based rigid registration was first performed to initialize the alignment between MR and CBCT prostate. The aligned prostates were then meshed into tetrahedron elements to generate volumetric PC representation of the prostate shapes. The 3D PC matching network was developed to predict a PC motion vector field which can deform the MRI prostate PC to match the CBCT prostate PC. To regularize the network’s motion prediction with biomechanical constraints, finite element (FE) modeling‐generated motion fields were used to train the network. MRI and CBCT images of 50 patients with intraprostatic fiducial markers were used in this study. Registration results were evaluated using three metrics including dice similarity coefficient (DSC), mean surface distance (MSD), and target registration error (TRE). In addition to spatial registration accuracy, Jacobian determinant and strain tensors were calculated to assess the physical fidelity of the deformation field.ResultsThe mean and standard deviation of our method were 0.93 ± 0.01, 1.66 ± 0.10 mm, and 2.68 ± 1.91 mm for DSC, MSD, and TRE, respectively. The mean TRE of the proposed method was reduced by 29.1%, 14.3%, and 11.6% as compared to image intensity‐based rigid registration, coherent point drifting (CPD) nonrigid surface registration, and modality‐independent neighborhood descriptor (MIND) registration, respectively.ConclusionWe developed a new framework to accurately register the prostate on MRI to CBCT images for external beam radiotherapy. The proposed method could be used to aid DIL delineation on CBCT, treatment planning, dose escalation to DIL, and dose monitoring.