bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High repetition rate deposition of boron nitride films using femtosecond pulsed laser
Authors: Melaibari A , Eltaher M A 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Cubic (c-BN), and hexagonal (h-BN) boron nitride thin films are of interest in many applications and industries because of their unique mechanical, thermal and chemical properties. In this work, we investigate high repetition rate deposition of BN films using femtosecond pulsed laser deposition. Boron nitride (BN) films were deposited on silicon wafers using 800 nm, 100 fs Ti:sapphire femtosecond laser with 2.4 mJ pulse energy and high repetition rate of 1 kHz using a c-BN target. The deposited films were analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and optical profilometer. Nano-indentation tests were performed to measure the hardness of the adhered film. The results indicate the influence of the high repetition rate on the film growth, crystalline arrangement and adhesion. The experimental work is utilized to identify the process parameters that can be used in pulsed laser deposition (PLD) process to grow thick and adherent BN films.
19-element vertical cavity surface emitting laser arrays with inter-vertical cavity surface emitting laser ridge connectors
Authors: Haghighi Nasibeh , Moser Philip , Zorn Martin , Lott James A 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
We achieve record concurrent combinations of bandwidth (18 GHz), optical output power (150 mW), and wall plug efficiency (30%) with a unique arrangement of 19-element, electrically parallel 980 nm vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays. We use a new two-dimensional, quasi honeycomb geometry with inter-VCSEL ridge connectors—made nonconducting by selective thermal oxidation—to improve heat dissipation and facilitate a single top surface anode contact. Via on-wafer probing we perform static and dynamic measurements over the wide temperature range of 23 °C to 85 °C and extract, report, and discuss key array figures-of-merit.
Nonsingular decoupled terminal sliding-mode control for a class of fourth-order under-actuated nonlinear systems with unknown external disturbance
Authors: Rajaei Arman , Vahidi-Moghaddam Amin , Eghtesad Mohammad , Necsulescu D S , Yazdi Ehsan Azadi 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
This study is concerned with the design of a nonsingular decoupled terminal sliding mode controller for a class of fourth-order under-actuated uncertain nonlinear systems with unknown external disturbance. For the unmeasured disturbance, a disturbance observer with finite-time convergence of estimation error to zero is proposed. The nonsingular decoupled terminal sliding mode controller is designed by utilizing the output of the proposed disturbance observer. Also, an input saturation constraint and control singularity are considered in the controller design. The finite-time stability and convergence of the disturbance observer are proved for the closed-loop system. In addition, the control of an electrostatically actuated Timoshenko nanobeam subjected to Casimir force is simulated to demonstrate the effectiveness and performance of the proposed control scheme.
Quantifying the influence of graphene film nanostructure on the macroscopic electrical conductivity
Authors: Rizzi Leo , Wijaya Amaliya F , Palanisamy Logeshwaran Vellingirisamy , Schuster Jörg , Köhne Martin , Schulz Stefan E 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Graphene films have emerged as a promising nanostructured material class to exploit graphene's outstanding nanoscopic properties on the macroscale. Their potential applications include solar cells (Eda et al 2008 Appl. Phys. Lett.
92, 233305; Müllen et al 2008 Nano Lett.
8, 323–7), antennas (Zhang et al 2018 Electronics
7, 285; Song et al 2018 Carbon
130, 164–9), or electromagnetic interference shielding (Zhou et al 2017 Nanoscale
9, 18613–8; Wan et al 2017 Carbon
122, 74–81; Wang et al 2018 Small
14, 1704332), all of which require a high electrical conductivity. While an outstanding electrical conductivity is a key feature of pristine graphene monolayers, the transfer to the macroscale is challenging. Here, we combined theory and experiment to quantify the impact of specific structural graphene film properties. We synthesized graphene films with systematically varied flake sizes, studied their electrical conductivities, and found excellent agreement to simulations with a three-dimensional random resistor network model. In a further percolation-type study, we computed the critical share of non-conductive elements in a graphene film θ
c = 10% where a substantial loss of electrical conductivity occurs. We prepared mixed films from graphene and graphene oxide to validate the threshold experimentally. In combination, experiments and simulations provide a coherent picture of how the graphene film microstructure is related to the macroscopic electrical conductivity (Rizzi et al 2018 ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces
10 43088–94; Rizzi et al 2019 Comput. Mater. Sci.
161, 364–70). Our findings provide valuable insights for the production of highly conductive graphene-based macro-materials.
GABA and glutamate deficits from frontotemporal lobar degeneration are associated with disinhibition
Authors: Murley Alexander G , Rouse Matthew A , Jones P Simon , Ye Rong , Hezemans Frank H , O’Callaghan Claire , Frangou Polytimi , Kourtzi Zoe , Rua Catarina , Carpenter T Adrian , Rodgers Christopher T , Rowe James B 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Behavioural disinhibition is a common feature of the syndromes associated with frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). It is associated with high morbidity and lacks proven symptomatic treatments. A potential therapeutic strategy is to correct the neurotransmitter deficits associated with FTLD, thereby improving behaviour. Reductions in the neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA correlate with impulsive behaviour in several neuropsychiatric diseases and there is post-mortem evidence of their deficit in FTLD. Here, we tested the hypothesis that prefrontal glutamate and GABA levels are reduced by FTLD in vivo, and that their deficit is associated with impaired response inhibition. Thirty-three participants with a syndrome associated with FTLD (15 patients with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia and 18 with progressive supranuclear palsy, including both Richardson’s syndrome and progressive supranuclear palsy-frontal subtypes) and 20 healthy control subjects were included. Participants undertook ultra-high field (7 T) magnetic resonance spectroscopy and a stop-signal task of response inhibition. We measured glutamate and GABA levels using semi-LASER magnetic resonance spectroscopy in the right inferior frontal gyrus, because of its strong association with response inhibition, and in the primary visual cortex, as a control region. The stop-signal reaction time was calculated using an ex-Gaussian Bayesian model. Participants with frontotemporal dementia and progressive supranuclear palsy had impaired response inhibition, with longer stop-signal reaction times compared with controls. GABA concentration was reduced in patients versus controls in the right inferior frontal gyrus, but not the occipital lobe. There was no group-wise difference in partial volume corrected glutamate concentration between patients and controls. Both GABA and glutamate concentrations in the inferior frontal gyrus correlated inversely with stop-signal reaction time, indicating greater impulsivity in proportion to the loss of each neurotransmitter. We conclude that the glutamatergic and GABAergic deficits in the frontal lobe are potential targets for symptomatic drug treatment of frontotemporal dementia and progressive supranuclear palsy.
Human model of IRX5 mutations reveals key role for this transcription factor in ventricular conduction
Authors: Al Sayed Zeina R , Canac Robin , Cimarosti Bastien , Bonnard Carine , Gourraud Jean-Baptiste , Hamamy Hanan , Kayserili Hulya , Girardeau Aurore , Jouni Mariam , Jacob Nicolas , Gaignerie Anne , Chariau Caroline , David Laurent , Forest Virginie , Marionneau Céline , Charpentier Flavien , Loussouarn Gildas , Lamirault Guillaume , Reversade Bruno , Zibara Kazem , Lemarchand Patricia , Gaborit Nathalie 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Aims
Several inherited arrhythmic diseases have been linked to single gene mutations in cardiac ion channels and interacting proteins. However, the mechanisms underlying most arrhythmias, are thought to involve altered regulation of the expression of multiple effectors. In this study, we aimed to examine the role of a transcription factor (TF) belonging to the Iroquois homeobox family, IRX5, in cardiac electrical function.

Methods and results
Using human cardiac tissues, transcriptomic correlative analyses between IRX5 and genes involved in cardiac electrical activity showed that in human ventricular compartment, IRX5 expression strongly correlated to the expression of major actors of cardiac conduction, including the sodium channel, Nav1.5, and Connexin 40 (Cx40). We then generated human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) derived from two Hamamy syndrome-affected patients carrying distinct homozygous loss-of-function mutations in IRX5 gene. Cardiomyocytes derived from these hiPSCs showed impaired cardiac gene expression programme, including misregulation in the control of Nav1.5 and Cx40 expression. In accordance with the prolonged QRS interval observed in Hamamy syndrome patients, a slower ventricular action potential depolarization due to sodium current reduction was observed on electrophysiological analyses performed on patient-derived cardiomyocytes, confirming the functional role of IRX5 in electrical conduction. Finally, a cardiac TF complex was newly identified, composed by IRX5 and GATA4, in which IRX5 potentiated GATA4-induction of SCN5A expression.

Conclusion
Altogether, this work unveils a key role for IRX5 in the regulation of human ventricular depolarization and cardiac electrical conduction, providing therefore new insights into our understanding of cardiac diseases.
Combined Genome and Transcriptome Analyses of the Ciliate Schmidingerella arcuata (Spirotrichea) Reveal Patterns of DNA Elimination, Scrambling, and Inversion
Authors: Smith Susan A , Maurer-Alcalá Xyrus X , Yan Ying , Katz Laura A , Santoferrara Luciana F , McManus George B 
Published: August 2020

AbstractSchmidingerella arcuata is an ecologically important tintinnid ciliate that has long served as a model species in plankton trophic ecology. We present a partial micronuclear genome and macronuclear transcriptome resource for S. arcuata, acquired using single-cell techniques, and we report on pilot analyses including functional annotation and genome architecture. Our analysis shows major fragmentation, elimination, and scrambling in the micronuclear genome of S. arcuata. This work introduces a new nonmodel genome resource for the study of ciliate ecology and genomic biology and provides a detailed functional counterpart to ecological research on S. arcuata.
Life Course Socioeconomic Disadvantage and the Aging Immune System: Findings From the Health and Retirement Study
Authors: Noppert Grace A , Stebbins Rebecca C , Dowd Jennifer B , Hummer Robert A , Aiello Allison E 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Objectives
Previous research has documented a consistent association between current socioeconomic status (SES) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Early life is likely a critical period for CMV exposure and immune development, but less is known about early-life socioeconomic factors and CMV, particularly in older age populations. Using data from the Health and Retirement Study, we investigated the association between life course socioeconomic disadvantage and immune response to CMV among older adults.

Methods
Using ordered logit models, we estimated associations between several measures of socioeconomic disadvantage and the odds of being in a higher CMV Immunoglobulin G (IgG) response category in a sample of 8,168 respondents aged older than 50 years.

Results
We found a significant association between educational attainment and CMV IgG response. Those with less than a high school education had 2.00 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.67–2.40) times the odds of being in a higher CMV category compared to those with a college degree or greater. In addition, we also observed a significant association with parental education and CMV response. Individuals with parents having 8 years or less of schooling had 2.32 (95% CI: 2.00–2.70) times the odds of higher CMV response compared to those whose parents had greater than high school education.

Discussion
CMV IgG levels in older adults are associated with both early-life and adult SES. Life course socioeconomic disadvantage may contribute to disparities in immunological aging.
Ageism in Working Life: A Scoping Review on Discursive Approaches
Authors: Previtali Federica , Keskinen Katri , Niska Miira , Nikander Pirjo 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Background and Objectives
This review investigates the contribution of discursive approaches to the study of ageism in working life. It looks back on the 50 years of research on ageism and the body of research produced by the discursive turn in social science and gerontology.

Research Design and Methods
This study followed the 5-step scoping review protocol to define gaps in the knowledge on ageism in working life from a discursive perspective. About 851 papers were extracted from electronic databases and, according to inclusion and exclusion criteria, 39 papers were included in the final review.

Results
The selected articles were based on discursive approaches and included study participants along the full continuum of working life (workers, retirees, jobseekers, and students in training). Three main themes representing the focal point of research were identified, namely, experiences of ageism, social construction of age and ageism, and strategies to tackle (dilute) ageism.

Discussion and Implications
Discursive research provides undeniable insights into how participants experience ageism in working life, how ageism is constructed, and how workers create context-based strategies to counteract age stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Discursive research on ageism in the working life needs further development about the variety of methods and data, the problematization of age-based labeling and grouping of workers, and a focus on the intersection between age and other social categories. Further research in these areas can deepen our understanding of how age and ageism are constructed and can inform policies about ways of disentangling them in working life.
A phylogenetic view and functional annotation of the animal β1,3-glycosyltransferases of the GT31 CAZy family
Authors: Petit Daniel , Teppa Roxana Elin , Harduin-Lepers Anne 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe formation of β1,3-linkages on animal glycoconjugates is catalyzed by a subset of β1,3-glycosyltransferases grouped in the Carbohydrate-Active enZYmes family glycosyltransferase-31 (GT31). This family represents an extremely diverse set of β1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases [B3GNTs and Fringe β1,3-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases], β1,3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferases (B3GALNTs), β1,3-galactosyltransferases [B3GALTs and core 1 β1,3-galactosyltransferases (C1GALTs)], β1,3-glucosyltransferase (B3GLCT) and β1,3-glucuronyl acid transferases (B3GLCATs or CHs). The mammalian enzymes were particularly well studied and shown to use a large variety of sugar donors and acceptor substrates leading to the formation of β1,3-linkages in various glycosylation pathways. In contrast, there are only a few studies related to other metazoan and lower vertebrates GT31 enzymes and the evolutionary relationships of these divergent sequences remain obscure. In this study, we used bioinformatics approaches to identify more than 920 of putative GT31 sequences in Metazoa, Fungi and Choanoflagellata revealing their deep ancestry. Sequence-based analysis shed light on conserved motifs and structural features that are signatures of all the GT31. We leverage pieces of evidence from gene structure, phylogenetic and sequence-based analyses to identify two major subgroups of GT31 named Fringe-related and B3GALT-related and demonstrate the existence of 10 orthologue groups in the Urmetazoa, the hypothetical last common ancestor of all animals. Finally, synteny and paralogy analysis unveiled the existence of 30 subfamilies in vertebrates, among which 5 are new and were named C1GALT2, C1GALT3, B3GALT8, B3GNT10 and B3GNT11. Altogether, these various approaches enabled us to propose the first comprehensive analysis of the metazoan GT31 disentangling their evolutionary relationships.
That’s classified! Inventing a new patent taxonomy
Authors: Billington Stephen D , Hanna Alan J 
Published: August 2020

AbstractInnovation researchers currently make use of various patent classification schemas, which are hard to replicate. Using machine learning techniques, we construct a transparent, replicable and adaptable patent taxonomy, and a new automated methodology for classifying patents. We contrast our new schema with existing ones using a long-run historical patent dataset. We find quantitative analyses of patent characteristics are sensitive to the choice of classification; our interpretation of regression coefficients is schema dependent. We suggest much of the innovation literature should be carefully interpreted in light of our findings.
Finite difference approach to fourth-order linear boundary-value problems
Authors: Ben-Artzi Matania , Kramer Benjamin 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Discrete approximations to the equation $$\begin{equation*}L_\textrm{cont}u = u^{(4)} + D(x) u^{(3)} + A(x) u^{(2)} + (A^{\prime}(x)+H(x)) u^{(1)} + B(x) u = f, \quad x\in[0,1]\end{equation*}$$are considered. This is an extension of the Sturm–Liouville case $D(x)\equiv H(x)\equiv 0$ (Ben-Artzi et al. (2018) Discrete fourth-order Sturm–Liouville problems. IMA J. Numer. Anal., 38, 1485–1522) to the non-self-adjoint setting. The ‘natural’ boundary conditions in the Sturm–Liouville case are the values of the function and its derivative. The inclusion of a third-order discrete derivative entails a revision of the underlying discrete functional calculus. This revision forces evaluations of accurate discrete approximations to the boundary values of the second-, third- and fourth-order derivatives. The resulting functional calculus provides the discrete analogs of the fundamental Sobolev properties of compactness and coercivity. It allows us to obtain a general convergence theorem of the discrete approximations to the exact solution. Some representative numerical examples are presented.
The bypassing of healthcare facilities among National Health Insurance Scheme enrollees in Ibadan, Nigeria
Authors: Oladimeji Adetola O , Adewole David A , Adeniji Folashayo 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Background
Bypassing occurs when patients knowingly visit a health facility other than the one they live nearest to. In Ibadan, southwest Nigeria, the majority of enrollees in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) receive medical care in just 12% of the available NHIS-accredited facilities. Given that enrollees access healthcare services at highly subsidized rates under the scheme, this study aimed to determine the factors responsible for the observed distribution of enrollees across these health facilities.

Methods
The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted among NHIS enrollees receiving care at outpatient departments of five randomly selected accredited health facilities in Ibadan. A total of 311 NHIS enrollees were consecutively recruited and a semistructured, pretested, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to elicit information from respondents. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to present results at 5% level of significance. Distance traveled by patients from their residence to the facilities was measured using Google maps.

Results
The mean age of respondents was 37.1±16.1 y. There were 167 (53.7%) males and 224 (72.3%) were married. The bypassing rate was 174 (55.3%). More than a third of enrollees, 127 (41.0%), reported that their hospital choice was made based on physician referral, 130 (41.8%) based on personal choice, 26 (8.4%) based upon the recommendation of the Health Management Organization (HMO), while 27 (8.7%) were influenced by friends/family/colleagues. Bypassing was positively associated with educational status (X2 = 13.147, p=0.004). Respondents who bypassed expended additional time and money traveling to the farther away hospitals, 35.1 (±34.66) min and 389.51 (±545.21) naira per visit, respectively.

Conclusion
The level of bypassing among enrollees was fairly high. Enrollees should be properly guided regarding the need to access healthcare in facilities closer to them by their HMOs and physicians in the case of referrals. This will reduce bypassing and the cost of travel leading to better outcomes among enrollees.
Trends, patterns and cause-specific neonatal mortality in Tanzania: a hospital-based retrospective survey
Authors: Mangu Chacha D , Rumisha Susan F , Lyimo Emanuel P , Mremi Irene R , Massawe Isolide S , Bwana Veneranda M , Chiduo Mercy G , Mboera Leonard E G 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Background
Globally, large numbers of children die shortly after birth and many of them within the first 4 wk of life. This study aimed to determine the trends, patterns and causes of neonatal mortality in hospitals in Tanzania during 2006–2015.

Methods
This retrospective study involved 35 hospitals. Mortality data were extracted from inpatient registers, death registers and International Classification of Diseases-10 report forms. Annual specific hospital-based neonatal mortality rates were calculated and discussed. Two periods of 2006–2010 and 2011–2015 were assessed separately to account for data availability and interventions.

Results
A total of 235 689 deaths were recorded and neonatal deaths accounted for 11.3% (n=26 630) of the deaths. The majority of neonatal deaths (87.5%) occurred in the first week of life. Overall hospital-based neonatal mortality rates increased from 2.6 in 2006 to 10.4 deaths per 1000 live births in 2015, with the early neonates contributing 90% to this rate constantly over time. The neonatal mortality rate was 3.7/1000 during 2006–2010 and 10.4/1000 during 2011–2015, both periods indicating a stagnant trend in the years between. The leading causes of early neonatal death were birth asphyxia (22.3%) and respiratory distress (20.8%), while those of late neonatal death were sepsis (29.1%) and respiratory distress (20.0%).

Conclusion
The majority of neonatal deaths in Tanzania occur among the early newborns and the trend over time indicates a slow improvement. Most neonatal deaths are preventable, hence there are opportunities to reduce mortality rates with improvements in service delivery during the first 7 d and maternal care.