bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of adhesive-free focused high-frequency PVDF copolymer transducers fabricated on spherical cavities
Authors: Habib A , Wagle S , Decharat A , Melandsø F 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
A layer-by-layer deposition method for fabricating a focused ultrasonic transducer from piezoelectric copolymers has been developed. The fabrication process involves engraving a spherical cavity of 2 mm diameter on polyethyleneimines (PEI) polymer substrate. Surface roughness of the engraved spherical cavity is measured and compared with simulated line scan. Then, the transducer response was investigated by observing the acoustic pulse reflection from the glass plate used as reflector in a focal point. The average central frequency responses were measured to be 48.5 MHz, with a lower and upper −6 dB frequencies of approximately 25 and 76.5 MHz, yielding a bandwidth of 94.2%. A scanning hydrophone system has been employed to determine the focal zone of the transducer and compared with simulation using COMSOL Multiphysics. Two-dimensional surface scanning was performed on the test sample to provide the ultrasonic imaging of the transducer prototype and compare the image with commercial PVDF transducer with a center frequency of (48.5 ± 1) MHz.
Multi-parameter estimation with multi-mode Ramsey interferometry
Authors: Li Xinwei , Cao Jia-Hao , Liu Qi , Tey Meng Khoon , You Li 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Estimating multiple parameters simultaneously is of great importance to measurement science and application. For a single parameter, atomic Ramsey interferometry (or equivalently optical Mach–Zehnder interferometry) is capable of providing the precision at the standard quantum limit (SQL) using unentangled probe states as input. In such an interferometer, the first beam splitter represented by unitary transformation U generates a quantum phase sensing superposition state, while the second beam splitter U
−1 recombines the phase encoded paths to realize interferometric sensing in terms of population measurements. We prove that such an interferometric scheme can be directly generalized to estimation of multiple parameters (associated with commuting generators) to the SQL precision using multi-mode unentangled states, if (but not iff) U is orthogonal, i.e. a unitary transformation with only real matrix elements. We show that such a U can always be constructed experimentally in a simple and scalable manner. The effects of particle number fluctuation and detection noise on such multi-mode interferometry are considered. Our findings offer a simple solution for estimating multiple parameters corresponding to mutually commuting generators.
Novel spectral unmixing approach for electron energy-loss spectroscopy
Authors: Cai Ren-Fong , Chang Mu-Tung , Lo Shen-Chuan , Chen Chien-Chun 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Electron energy-loss spectroscopy is a well-established technique for characterizing low-Z elements in materials. Typically, a measured spectrum image is contributed from several materials when the composition of the specimen is sophisticated. Therefore, decomposing the distribution of each endmember is crucial to material scientists. In this article, we combined multiple linear least-squares fitting and k-means clustering to resolve the aforementioned issue. In addition, our method can nearly extract the true endmembers in materials unsupervisedly. Simulated and experimental data were employed to evaluate the performance and feasibility of our method.
Demonstration of lateral resolution enhancement by focusing amplitude modulated radially polarized light in a confocal imaging system
Authors: Meng Peiwen , Pham Hong-Liên , Pereira Silvania F , Urbach H Paul 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Lateral resolution enhancement is demonstrated in a confocal imaging system with amplitude-modulated radially polarized (RP) light at the wavelength

λ
=
632

nm
.

Annular pupil fields and optimized amplitude distribution functions can be realized with a spatial light modulator. By comparing images obtained with full and amplitude modulated apertures of RP illuminations using a high numerical aperture (NA = 0.9), spatial resolution of

d
=
0.358
λ

has been achieved experimentally. This result agrees very well with theoretical simulation results and will be helpful in improving performance of the non-fluorescent imaging systems.
iMRM: a platform for simultaneously identifying multiple kinds of RNA modifications
Authors: Liu Kewei , Chen Wei 
Published: February 2020

AbstractMotivationRNA modifications play critical roles in a series of cellular and developmental processes. Knowledge about the distributions of RNA modifications in the transcriptomes will provide clues to revealing their functions. Since experimental methods are time consuming and laborious for detecting RNA modifications, computational methods have been proposed for this aim in the past five years. However, there are some drawbacks for both experimental and computational methods in simultaneously identifying modifications occurred on different nucleotides.ResultsTo address such a challenge, in this article, we developed a new predictor called iMRM, which is able to simultaneously identify m6A, m5C, m1A, ψ and A-to-I modifications in Homo sapiens, Mus musculus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In iMRM, the feature selection technique was used to pick out the optimal features. The results from both 10-fold cross-validation and jackknife test demonstrated that the performance of iMRM is superior to existing methods for identifying RNA modifications.Availability and implementationA user-friendly web server for iMRM was established at http://www.bioml.cn/XG_iRNA/home. The off-line command-line version is available at https://github.com/liukeweiaway/iMRM.Contactgreatchen@ncst.edu.cnSupplementary informationSupplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Isolation of infectious, non-fibrillar and oligomeric prions from a genetic prion disease
Authors: Vanni Ilaria , Pirisinu Laura , Acevedo-Morantes Claudia , Kamali-Jamil Razieh , Rathod Vineet , Di Bari Michele Angelo , D’Agostino Claudia , Marcon Stefano , Esposito Elena , Riccardi Geraldina , Hornemann Simone , Senatore Assunta , Aguzzi Adriano , Agrimi Umberto , Wille Holger , Nonno Romolo 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Prions are transmissible agents causing lethal neurodegenerative diseases that are composed of aggregates of misfolded cellular prion protein (PrPSc). Despite non-fibrillar oligomers having been proposed as the most infectious prion particles, prions purified from diseased brains usually consist of large and fibrillar PrPSc aggregates, whose protease-resistant core (PrPres) encompasses the whole C-terminus of PrP. In contrast, PrPSc from Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease associated with alanine to valine substitution at position 117 (GSS-A117V) is characterized by a small protease-resistant core, which is devoid of the C-terminus. We thus aimed to investigate the role of this unusual PrPSc in terms of infectivity, strain characteristics, and structural features. We found, by titration in bank voles, that the infectivity of GSS-A117V is extremely high (109.3 ID50 U/g) and is resistant to treatment with proteinase K (109.0 ID50 U/g). We then purified the proteinase K-resistant GSS-A117V prions and determined the amount of infectivity and PrPres in the different fractions, alongside the morphological characteristics of purified PrPres aggregates by electron microscopy. Purified pellet fractions from GSS-A117V contained the expected N- and C-terminally cleaved 7 kDa PrPres, although the yield of PrPres was low. We found that this low yield depended on the low density/small size of GSS-A117V PrPres, as it was mainly retained in the last supernatant fraction. All fractions were highly infectious, thus confirming the infectious nature of the 7 kDa PrPres, with infectivity levels that directly correlated with the PrPres amount detected. Finally, electron microscopy analysis of these fractions showed no presence of amyloid fibrils, but only very small and indistinct, non-fibrillar PrPresparticles were detected and confirmed to contain PrP via immunogold labelling. Our study demonstrates that purified aggregates of 7 kDa PrPres, spanning residues ∼90–150, are highly infectious oligomers that encode the biochemical and biological strain features of the original sample. Overall, the autocatalytic behaviour of the prion oligomers reveals their role in the propagation of neurodegeneration in patients with Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease and implies that the C-terminus of PrPSc is dispensable for infectivity and strain features for this prion strain, uncovering the central PrP domain as the minimal molecular component able to encode infectious prions. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that non-fibrillar prion particles are highly efficient propagators of disease and provide new molecular and morphological constraints on the structure of infectious prions.
Age-Related Decline in the Topological Efficiency of the Brain Structural Connectome and Cognitive Aging
Authors: Li Xin , Wang Yezhou , Wang Wenxiao , Huang Weijie , Chen Kewei , Xu Kai , Zhang Junying , Chen Yaojing , Li He , Wei Dongfeng , Shu Ni , Zhang Zhanjun 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Brain disconnection model has been proposed as a possible neural mechanism for cognitive aging. However, the relationship between structural connectivity degeneration and cognitive decline with normal aging remains unclear. In the present study, using diffusion MRI and tractography techniques, we report graph theory-based analyses of the brain structural connectome in a cross-sectional, community-based cohort of 633 cognitively healthy elderly individuals. Comprehensive neuropsychological assessment of the elderly subjects was performed. The association between age, brain structural connectome, and cognition across elderly individuals was examined. We found that the topological efficiency, modularity, and hub integration of the brain structural connectome exhibited a significant decline with normal aging, especially in the frontal, parietal, and superior temporal regions. Importantly, network efficiency was positively correlated with attention and executive function in elderly subjects and had a significant mediation effect on the age-related decline in these cognitive functions. Moreover, nodal efficiency of the brain structural connectome showed good performance for the prediction of attention and executive function in elderly individuals. Together, our findings revealed topological alterations of the brain structural connectome with normal aging, which provides possible structural substrates underlying cognitive aging and sensitive imaging markers for the individual prediction of cognitive functions in elderly subjects.
The Effects of Children's Gender Composition on Filial Piety and Old-Age Support*
Authors: Guo Rufei , Zhang Junsen 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Do parents forge children’s preference for old-age support? Becker (1993) conjectures that the inculcation of filial piety increases parents’ investment in children’s human capital. We provide the first empirical evidence on parents’ instilling of filial piety in children, by combining the natural experiment of twins with China’s One-Child Policy to obtain exogenous variations in children’s gender composition. Among the different models of filial-piety inculcation, our empirical results favour a Beckerian model of altruism inculcation in which parents solicit support from the child with a higher earnings endowment.
Partial lung resection by uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery: technique and pitfalls
Authors: Hirai Kyoji , Usuda Jitsuo 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
The use of uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has increased worldwide. The number of facilities introducing this simple and cost-effective surgical procedure in Japan has also increased. Partial lung resection is performed to diagnose or treat various cases and surgeons are required to flexibly deal with it. This report describes the technique and pitfalls of partial lung resection by uniportal VATS.
Altered aortic arch geometry in patients with type B aortic dissection
Authors: Cao Long , Lu Weihang , Ge Yangyang , Wang Xinhao , He Yuan , Sun Guoyi , Liu Jie , Liu Xiaoping , Jia Xin , Xiong Jiang , Ma Xiaohui , Zhang Hongpeng , Wang Lijun , Guo Wei 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study aims to evaluate differences in proximal aorta geometry and identify specific anatomical predictors of type B aortic dissection (TBAD).

METHODS
We evaluated computed tomographic angiograms of controls (n = 185) and patients with acute TBAD (n = 173). Using propensity score matching, we created 2 groups of 127 patients. 3mensio Vascular software was used to analyse the computed tomographic angiograms and measure the diameter, length, tortuosity index and angulation of the proximal aorta (divided into ascending aorta and aortic arch). Tortuosity index was calculated by dividing the centre lumen line length of the aortic segment by its shortest length. Angulation was measured by the centre lumen line ‘tangent line angle’. Two independent multivariable models identified significant anatomical associations regarding the tortuosity and angulation geometry.

RESULTS
Aortic diameter and ascending aorta and aortic arch lengths in TBAD increased significantly. The aortic arch tortuosity was significantly higher in the TBAD group (P &lt; 0.001), with no difference regarding the ascending aorta (P = 0.11). Ascending aorta and aortic arch angulation were significantly higher in the TBAD group (P = 0.01, P &lt; 0.001, respectively). Multivariable analyses showed that increased aortic arch tortuosity and angulation were significant predictors of the development of TBAD [odds ratio (OR) 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40–2.59; P &lt; 0.001 and OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.04–1.12; P &lt; 0.001], respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
In addition to proximal aorta dilation and elongation, we identified increased aortic arch tortuosity and angulation as possible specific predictors of TBAD.
Optimal versus suboptimal mitral valve repair: late results in a matched cohort study
Authors: De Bonis Michele , Zancanaro Edoardo , Lapenna Elisabetta , Trumello Cinzia , Ascione Guido , Giambuzzi Ilaria , Ruggeri Stefania , Meneghin Roberta , Abboud Sabrin , Agricola Eustachio , Del Forno Benedetto , Buzzatti Nicola , Monaco Fabrizio , Pappalardo Federico , Castiglioni Alessandro , Alfieri Ottavio 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
After mitral repair for degenerative mitral regurgitation (MR), no or mild (≤1+/4+) residual MR should remain. Occasionally patients are left with more than mild residual MR (&gt;1+/4+) for a number of reasons. The aim of this study was to assess the late implications of such a suboptimal repair in a matched cohort study.

METHODS
From 2006 to 2013, a total of 2158 patients underwent mitral repair for degenerative MR in our institution. Fifty patients (2.3%) with residual MR &gt;1+ at hospital discharge (study group) were matched up to 1:2 with 91 patients operated on during the same period who were discharged with MR ≤1+ (control group). The median follow-up was 8 years (interquartile range 6.3–10.1, longest 12.7 years). A comparative analysis of the outcomes in the 2 groups was performed.

RESULTS
Overall survival at 8 years was 87 ± 8% in the study group and 92 ± 3% in the control group (P = 0.23). There were 3 late deaths (6.0%) in the study group and 6 deaths (6.6%) in the control group. Freedom from reoperation was similar (P = 1.0). At 8 years the prevalence of MR ≥3+ was significantly higher in the study group (15.6% vs 2.1%, P &lt; 0.001) as was the use of diuretics, beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin-receptor blockers. Interestingly, even in the control group, a gradual progression of MR was observed because 13.3% of the patients had MR ≥2+ at 8 years with a significant increase over time (P &lt; 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
Residual MR more than mild at hospital discharge is associated with lower durability of mitral repair and the need for more medical therapy in the long term. However, even an initial optimal result does not completely arrest the progression of the degenerative process.
Physical Activity as Moderator of the Association Between APOE and Cognitive Decline in Older Adults: Results from Three Longitudinal Cohort Studies
Authors: Stringa Najada , van Schoor Natasja M , Milaneschi Yuri , Ikram M Arfan , Del Panta Vieri , Koolhaas Chantal M , Voortman Trudy , Bandinelli Stefania , Wolters Frank J , Huisman Martijn 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Background
Previous studies have suggested that the association between APOE ɛ 4 and dementia is moderated by physical activity (PA), but the results remain inconclusive and longitudinal data on cognitive decline are missing. In this study, we examine whether there is a gene–environment interaction between APOE and PA on cognitive decline in older adults using 9-year follow-up data of three cohort studies.

Methods
We followed 7,176 participants from three longitudinal cohort studies: Longitudinal Aging Study Amsterdam (LASA), InCHIANTI, and Rotterdam Study for 9 years. PA was assessed with self-reported questionnaires and was categorized in low, moderate, and high PA. Cognitive function was assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and cognitive decline was defined as a decrease of three points or more on the MMSE during 3 years follow-up. We fitted logistic regression models using generalized estimating equations adjusting for age, sex, education, depressive symptoms, and number of chronic disease. Interaction between APOE and PA was tested on multiplicative and additive scale.

Results
Cohorts were similar in most aspects but InCHIANTI participants were on average older and had lower education. APOE ɛ 4 carriers had higher odds of cognitive decline (odds ratio [OR] = 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.29–1.64) while PA was not significantly associated with cognitive decline overall (moderate PA: OR = 0.87, 0.67–1.13; high PA: OR = 0.71, 0.36–1.40). There was no evidence for an interaction effect between PA and APOE ɛ 4 in cognitive decline in older adults (APOE × moderate PA: p = .83; APOE × high PA: p = .90).

Conclusions
Previous claims of a gene–environment interaction between APOE ɛ 4 and PA in cognitive decline are not supported by our results.
Does Winning a Patent Race lead to more follow-on Innovation?
Authors: Thompson Neil C , Kuhn Jeffrey M 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Competition between firms to invent and patent an idea, or “patent racing,” has been much discussed in theory, but seldom analyzed empirically and never at scale. This article introduces an empirical way to identify patent races, and provides the first broad-based view of them in the real world. It reveals that patent races are common, particularly in information-technology fields. The article then analyzes the effect of winning a patent race, showing that patent race winners do significantly more follow-on innovation, and their follow-on research is more similar to what was covered by the patent.
(JEL CODES: O34, O32, O31)
New candidates for regulated gene integrity revealed through precise mapping of integrative genetic elements
Authors: Mageeney Catherine M , Lau Britney Y , Wagner Julian M , Hudson Corey M , Schoeniger Joseph S , Krishnakumar Raga , Williams Kelly P 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Integrative genetic elements (IGEs) are mobile multigene DNA units that integrate into and excise from host bacterial genomes. Each IGE usually targets a specific site within a conserved host gene, integrating in a manner that preserves target gene function. However, a small number of bacterial genes are known to be inactivated upon IGE integration and reactivated upon excision, regulating phenotypes of virulence, mutation rate, and terminal differentiation in multicellular bacteria. The list of regulated gene integrity (RGI) cases has been slow-growing because IGEs have been challenging to precisely and comprehensively locate in genomes. We present software (TIGER) that maps IGEs with unprecedented precision and without attB site bias. TIGER uses a comparative genomic, ping-pong BLAST approach, based on the principle that the IGE integration module (i.e. its int-attP region) is cohesive. The resultant IGEs from 2168 genomes, along with integrase phylogenetic analysis and gene inactivation tests, revealed 19 new cases of genes whose integrity is regulated by IGEs (including dut, eccCa1, gntT, hrpB, merA, ompN, prkA, tqsA, traG, yifB, yfaT and ynfE), as well as recovering previously known cases (in sigK, spsM, comK, mlrA and hlb genes). It also recovered known clades of site-promiscuous integrases and identified possible new ones.
Association of motivations and barriers with participation and performance in a pedometer-based intervention
Authors: Sheshadri Anoop , Kittiskulnam Piyawan , Delgado Cynthia , Sudore Rebecca , Lai Jennifer C , Johansen Kirsten L 
Published: February 2020

Abstract

Background
A randomized trial of a pedometer-based intervention with weekly activity goals led to increased walking among dialysis patients. However, the association of participant-expressed motivations and barriers to participation and performance in such an intervention has not been determined.

Methods
Thirty dialysis patients were randomized to a 12-week pedometer-based intervention with weekly step goals. Participants were asked about motivations and barriers to the increasing activity via weekly semi-scripted telephone interviews. We examined the association of these motivations and barriers with achieving weekly goals, reaching overall targets and increasing steps through multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, dialysis modality and baseline steps.

Results
The most common motivations were desire to maintain/improve functional ability (30%) and activity (30%). The most common barriers were health-related (33%). Motivation to maintain/improve functional ability was associated with achieving weekly goals 17.9% more often [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7–34.2] and with a greater increase in steps (1524 steps; 95% CI 61–2989) than those lacking this motivation. Experiencing a health-related barrier was not associated with the decreased achievement of weekly goals but was associated with lower odds of reaching overall targets (odds ratio = 0.06; 95% CI 0.01–0.53) and a smaller increase in steps (−1640 steps, 95% CI −3244 to −36). No patients who reported weather/environmental barriers or safety concerns reached overall targets.

Conclusions
Participants who express a desire to maintain/improve functional ability may be particularly suited for activity interventions. Health-related setbacks should be met with revised goals. Reporting environmental or safety concerns may merit lowering overall targets.