bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measurement of proptosis using computed tomography based three-dimensional reconstruction software in patients with Graves’ orbitopathy
Authors: Huh Jung , Park Sang Joon , Lee Jeong Kyu 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe evaluation of proptosis is essential for the diagnosis of orbital disease. We have developed a computed tomography (CT)-based three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction software to measure the degree of proptosis. To verify clinical usefulness and reliability, the degree of proptosis was measured in 126 patients with Graves’ orbitopathy (GO) with 3D reconstruction software and compared with those obtained with Hertel exophthalmometer and CT. The proptosis values measured by 3D reconstruction software, CT, and Hertel exophthalmometer were closely related to each other, but showed significant differences (p < 0.001). In contrast, the amount of change in proptosis after orbital decompression were not different among the three measurements (p = 0.153). The intra-observer correlation coefficients of the 3D reconstruction software, CT, and Hertel exophthalmometer measurements were 0.997, 0.942, and 0.953, respectively. In patients with strabismus, the intra-observer correlation coefficient of CT and Hertel exophthalmometer decreased to 0.895 and 0.920, respectively, but the intra-observer correlation coefficient of the 3D reconstruction software did not change to 0.996. The inter-observer correlation coefficients of CT and 3D reconstruction software for three different ophthalmologists were 0.742 and 0.846, respectively. In conclusion, the measurement of proptosis by 3D reconstruction software seems to be a reliable method, especially in the presence of eyeball deviation.
Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex infection in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) using an interferon gamma release assay in a captive elephant herd
Authors: Songthammanuphap Songkiat , Puthong Songchan , Pongma Chitsuda , Buakeaw Anumart , Prammananan Therdsak , Warit Saradee , Tipkantha Wanlaya , Kaewkhunjob Erngsiri , Yindeeyoungyeon Wandee , Palaga Tanapat 
Published: September 2020

AbstractTuberculosis is highly contagious disease that can be transmitted between humans and animals. Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) in captivity live in close contact with humans in many Asian countries. In this study, we developed an interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) for elephant TB detection using antigens from the MTB complex (MTBC) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) as stimulating antigens (PPD, ESAT6, CFP10) to elicit a cell-mediated immune response (CMIR). The developed assay was applied to an elephant herd of more than 60 animals in Thailand, and the results were compared with those obtained through serological detection. IGRA has sufficient sensitivity for detecting elephant interferon gamma (eIFNγ) from specific antigen-stimulated PBMCs. Among 60 animals tested, 20 samples (33.3%) showed negative results for both MTBC and NTM infection. Eighteen samples (30%) showed positive responses against PPD from M. bovis and/or ESAT6 and CFP10, indicating MTBC infection. In contrast, only 15.6% showed seropositivity in a commercial serological test kit for elephant TB. The discrepancies between serological and CMIR highlight that the two methods may detect different stages of elephant TB. Therefore, employing both tests may enable them to complement each other in correctly identifying elephants that have been exposed to MTBC.
Characterization of basigin monoclonal antibodies for receptor-mediated drug delivery to the brain
Authors: Christensen Sarah Christine , Krogh Berit Olsen , Jensen Allan , Andersen Christian Brix Folsted , Christensen Søren , Nielsen Morten Schallburg 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe brain uptake of biotherapeutics for brain diseases is hindered by the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB selectively regulates the transport of large molecules into the brain and thereby maintains brain homeostasis. Receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT) is one mechanism to deliver essential proteins into the brain parenchyma. Receptors expressed in the brain endothelial cells have been explored to ferry therapeutic antibodies across the BBB in bifunctional antibody formats. In this study, we generated and characterized monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) binding to the basigin receptor, which recently has been proposed as a target for RMT across the BBB. Antibody binding properties such as affinity have been demonstrated to be important factors for transcytosis capability and efficiency. Nevertheless, studies of basigin mAb properties' effect on RMT are limited. Here we characterize different basigin mAbs for their ability to associate with and subsequently internalize human brain endothelial cells. The mAbs were profiled to determine whether receptor binding epitope and affinity affected receptor-mediated uptake efficiency. By competitive epitope binning studies, basigin mAbs were categorized into five epitope bins. mAbs from three of the epitope bins demonstrated properties required for RMT candidates judged by binding characteristics and their superior level of internalization in human brain endothelial cells.
More frequent and widespread persistent compound drought and heat event observed in China
Authors: Yu Rong , Zhai Panmao 
Published: September 2020

AbstractCompound drought and heat event (CDHE) causes severe impacts on agriculture, ecosystem, and human health. Based on daily maximum surface air temperature and meteorological drought composite index data in China, changing features of CDHEs in warm season from 1961 to 2018 is explored at a daily time scale based on a strict and objective definition in this study. Results reveal that CDHEs have occurred more frequently and widely in China, especially since the late 1990s. Notably, such changes are more obvious in Southwest China, eastern Northwest China, northern North China, and the coastal area of southeastern China. A prominent feature is that persistent CDHEs on a daily scale have increased significantly. To better understand climate change of compound extreme events, further studies on the physical mechanism, especially attribution analyses at a regional scale, are urgently needed.
Cell-free DNA concentration in patients with clinical or mammographic suspicion of breast cancer
Authors: Peled Michal , Agassi Ravit , Czeiger David , Ariad Samuel , Riff Reut , Rosenthal Maia , Lazarev Irena , Novack Victor , Yarza Shaked , Mizrakli Yuval , Douvdevani Amos 
Published: September 2020

AbstractMammography has a crucial role in the detection of breast cancer (BC), yet it is not limitation-free. We hypothesized that the combination of mammography and cell-free DNA (cfDNA) levels may better discriminate patients with cancer. This prospective study included 259 participants suspected with BC before biopsy. Blood samples were taken before biopsy and from some patients during and at the end of treatment. cfDNA blood levels were measured using our simple fluorescent assay. The primary outcome was the pathologic diagnosis of BC, and the secondary aims were to correlate cfDNA to severity, response to treatments, and outcome. Median cfDNA blood levels were similar in patients with positive and negative biopsy: 577 vs. 564 ng/ml (p = 0.98). A significant decrease in cfDNA blood level was noted after the following treatments: surgery, surgery and radiation, neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery, and at the end of all treatments. To conclude, the cfDNA level could not be used in suspected patients to discriminate BC. Reduction of tumor burden by surgery and chemotherapy is associated with reduction of cfDNA levels. In a minority of patients, an increase in post-treatment cfDNA blood level may indicate the presence of a residual tumor and higher risk. Further outcome assessment for a longer period is suggested.
Electrochemical analysis of anionic analytes in weakly supported media using electron transfer promotion effect: a case study on nitrite
Authors: Khoshroo Alireza , Fattahi Ali 
Published: September 2020

AbstractIn this study, a simple technique was developed for the electrochemical detection of anionic analytes in weakly supported media. This was conducted by the use of electrochemical paper-based analytical devices (ePADs). A sensing platform was modified with nereistoxin and used to determine nitrite as a case study. The electrochemical response was improved due to the accelerated electron transfer between the sensing platform and the nitrite through the electrostatic interaction of the amino group of nereistoxin and the nitrite. The electrocatalytic current of the nitrite in the presence of nereistoxin was enhanced in the weakly supported media. By using nereistoxin as a signal enhancer, 97% of the electrochemical signal was obtained at the low ionic strength of the electrolyte, while less than 35% of this signal was obtained in the absence of nereistoxin. The limit of detection was as low as 20 nM using an ePAD. Generally, the proposed ePAD serves as a promising, efficient and low-cost device for sensing applications in weakly supported media.
Emission characteristics of ultrafine particles from bare and Al2O3 coated graphite for high temperature applications
Authors: Yadav S. K. , Shukla P. , Joshi Manish , Khan Arshad , Kaushik A. , Jha Ajit Kumar , Sapra B. K. , Singh R. S. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractOwing to its exceptional properties at high temperature, graphite is used in several applications such as structural material and fuel block in high temperature nuclear reactors. Air ingress is one of the serious safety concerns in these reactors. Oxidation of graphite leading to increased porosity affects its mechanical strength and may lead to core collapse resulting in a severe accident. During such a scenario, generation of graphite particles could be the main hazard. Once generated, these particles often in fine and ultrafine sizes, may carry radioactivity to large distances and/or for long times. These particles owing to their higher surface to volume ratio possess an additional inhalation hazard. Ultrafine particles have the potential to enter into respiratory tract and cause damage to body organs. Coating of graphite components is preferred to reduce the oxidation induced damages at high temperatures. In the present work, effect of alumina (Al2O3) coating on the emission characteristics of particles from graphite under high temperature conditions has been investigated. Bare and Al2O3 coated graphite specimens were heated within a closed chamber at varying temperatures during these experiments. Temporal evolution of concentrations of gases (CO and CO2) and particles were measured. The results reveal that Al2O3 coating on the graphite delayed the oxidation behavior and the structure of graphite remained largely intact at high temperatures. A significant reduction in aerosol formation and CO emission was also noticed for the coated specimens.
Improved culture enrichment broth for isolation of Arcobacter-like species from the marine environment
Authors: Rahman Faiz Ur , Andree Karl B. , Salas-Massó Nuria , Fernandez-Tejedor Margarita , Sanjuan Anna , Figueras Maria J. , Furones M. Dolors 
Published: September 2020

AbstractArcobacter-like species are found associated with many matrices, including shellfish in marine environments. The culture media and conditions play a major role in the recovery of new Arcobacter-like species. This study was aimed to develop a culture media for isolation and enhanced growth of Arcobacter-like spp. from marine and shellfish matrices. For this purpose, 14 different Arcobacter-like spp. mostly isolated from shellfish, were grown in 24 different formulations of enrichment broths. The enrichment broths consisted of five main groups based on the organic contents (fresh oyster homogenate, lyophilized oyster either alone or in combination with other standard media), combined with artificial seawater (ASW) or 2.5% NaCl. Optical density (OD420nm) measurements after every 24 h were compared with the growth in control media (Arcobacter broth) in parallel. The mean and standard deviation were calculated for each species in each broth and statistical differences (p < 0.05) among broths were calculated by ANOVA. The results indicated that shellfish-associated Arcobacter-like species growth was significantly higher in Arcobacter broth + 50% ASW and the same media supplemented with lyophilized oysters. This is the first study to have used fresh or lyophilized oyster flesh in the enrichment broth for isolation of shellfish-associated Arcobacter-like spp.
Impact of fabrication errors and refractive index on multilevel diffractive lens performance
Authors: Banerji Sourangsu , Cooke Jacqueline , Sensale-Rodriguez Berardi 
Published: September 2020

AbstractMultilevel diffractive lenses (MDLs) have emerged as an alternative to both conventional diffractive optical elements (DOEs) and metalenses for applications ranging from imaging to holographic and immersive displays. Recent work has shown that by harnessing structural parametric optimization of DOEs, one can design MDLs to enable multiple functionalities like achromaticity, depth of focus, wide-angle imaging, etc. with great ease in fabrication. Therefore, it becomes critical to understand how fabrication errors still do affect the performance of MDLs and numerically evaluate the trade-off between efficiency and initial parameter selection, right at the onset of designing an MDL, i.e., even before putting it into fabrication. Here, we perform a statistical simulation-based study on MDLs (primarily operating in the THz regime) to analyse the impact of various fabrication imperfections (single and multiple) on the final structure as a function of the number of ring height levels. Furthermore, we also evaluate the performance of these same MDLs with the change in the refractive index of the constitutive material. We use focusing efficiency as the evaluation criterion in our numerical analysis; since it is the most fundamental property that can be used to compare and assess the performance of lenses (and MDLs) in general designed for any application with any specific functionality.
In situ elemental analyses of living biological specimens using ‘NanoSuit’ and EDS methods in FE-SEM
Authors: Takaku Yasuharu , Takehara Sayuri , Suzuki Chiaki , Suzuki Hiroshi , Shimomura Masatsugu , Hariyama Takahiko 
Published: September 2020

AbstractEnergy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) carried out alongside scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a common technique for elemental analysis. To investigate “wet” biological specimens, complex pre-treatments are required to stabilize them under the high vacuum conditions of high-resolution SEM. These often produce unwanted artifacts. We have previously reported that the polymerization of natural surface substances on organisms by the electron beam of the SEM setup or by plasma irradiation causes a nano-scale layer to form—called a “NanoSuit”—that can act as a barrier and keep organisms alive and hydrated in a field-emission SEM system. In the study reported herein, we examined the suitability of the NanoSuit method for elemental analyses of biological specimens by EDS. We compared experimental results for living Drosophila larvae and Aloe arborescens specimens prepared by the NanoSuit method and by conventional fixation. The NanoSuit method allowed accurate detection of the elemental compositions at high resolution. By contrast, specimens prepared by the conventional fixation method displayed additional EDS signals corresponding to the elements in the chemicals involved in the fixation process. Our results demonstrate that the NanoSuit method is useful for studying hydrous samples via EDS and SEM, particularly in biological sciences.
3-D electromagnetic radiative non-Newtonian nanofluid flow with Joule heating and higher-order reactions in porous materials
Authors: Alaidrous Amel A. , Eid Mohamed R. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe aim of this work is to discuss the effect ofmth-order reactions on the magnetic flow of hyperbolic tangent nanofluid through extending surface in a porous material with thermal radiation, several slips, Joule heating, and viscous dissipation. In order to convert non-linear partial differential governing equations into ordinary ones, a technique of similarity transformations has been implemented and then solved using the OHAM (optimal homotopy analytical method). The outcomes of novel effective parameters on the non-dimensional interesting physical quantities are established utilizing the tabular and pictorial outlines. After a comparison with previous literature studies, the results were finely compliant. The study explores that the reduced Nusselt number is diminished for the escalating values of radiation, porosity, and source (sink) parameters. It is found that the order of the chemical reactionm = 2 is dominant in concentration as well as mass transfer in both destructive and generative reactions. Whenm reinforces for a destructive reaction, mass transfer is reduced with 34.7% and is stabled afterη = 3. In the being of the destructive reaction and Joule heating, the nanofluid's temperature is enhanced.
Development of humanized mouse and rat models with full-thickness human skin and autologous immune cells
Authors: Agarwal Yash , Beatty Cole , Ho Sara , Thurlow Lance , Das Antu , Kelly Samantha , Castronova Isabella , Salunke Rajeev , Biradar Shivkumar , Yeshi Tseten , Richardson Anthony , Bility Moses 
Published: September 2020

AbstractThe human skin is a significant barrier for protection against pathogen transmission. Rodent models used to investigate human-specific pathogens that target the skin are generated by introducing human skin grafts to immunocompromised rodent strains. Infection-induced immunopathogenesis has been separately studied in humanized rodent models developed with human lymphoid tissue and hematopoietic stem cell transplants. Successful co-engraftment of human skin, autologous lymphoid tissues, and autologous immune cells in a rodent model has not yet been achieved, though it could provide a means of studying the human immune response to infection in the human skin. Here, we introduce the human Skin and Immune System (hSIS)-humanized NOD-scid IL2Rγnull (NSG) mouse and Sprague–Dawley-Rag2tm2hera Il2rγtm1hera (SRG) rat models, co-engrafted with human full-thickness fetal skin, autologous fetal lymphoid tissues, and autologous fetal liver-derived hematopoietic stem cells. hSIS-humanized rodents demonstrate the development of human full-thickness skin, along with autologous lymphoid tissues, and autologous immune cells. These models also support human skin infection following intradermal inoculation with community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The co-engraftment of these human skin and immune system components into a single humanized rodent model could provide a platform for studying human skin infections.
Ocean model resolution dependence of Caribbean sea-level projections
Authors: van Westen René M. , Dijkstra Henk A. , van der Boog Carine G. , Katsman Caroline A. , James Rebecca K. , Bouma Tjeerd J. , Kleptsova Olga , Klees Roland , Riva Riccardo E. M. , Slobbe D. Cornelis , Zijlema Marcel , Pietrzak Julie D. 
Published: September 2020

AbstractSea-level rise poses severe threats to coastal and low-lying regions around the world, by exacerbating coastal erosion and flooding. Adequate sea-level projections over the next decades are important for both decision making and for the development of successful adaptation strategies in these coastal and low-lying regions to climate change. Ocean components of climate models used in the most recent sea-level projections do not explicitly resolve ocean mesoscale processes. Only a few effects of these mesoscale processes are represented in these models, which leads to errors in the simulated properties of the ocean circulation that affect sea-level projections. Using the Caribbean Sea as an example region, we demonstrate a strong dependence of future sea-level change on ocean model resolution in simulations with a global climate model. The results indicate that, at least for the Caribbean Sea, adequate regional projections of sea-level change can only be obtained with ocean models which capture mesoscale processes.
Moderate static magnetic fields enhance antitumor CD8+ T cell function by promoting mitochondrial respiration
Authors: Zhu Xiaoyan , Liu Yan , Cao Xianxia , Liu Haifeng , Sun Ao , Shen Hao , Zhao Jingyao , Li Ronghong , Wu Ligang , Fang Zhicai , Wang Hui , Zhai Qiwei 
Published: September 2020

AbstractWith the discovery of magnetoreceptor mechanisms in animals, it materialized the novel applications of controlling cell and animal behaviors using magnetic fields. T cells have shown to be sensitive to magnetic fields. Here, we reported that exposure to moderate SMFs (static magnetic fields) led to increased granule and cytokine secretion as well as ATP production and mitochondrial respiration from CD8+ T cells. These effects were inhibited by knocking down the Uqcrb and Ndufs6 genes of mitochondrial respiratory chain, whose transcriptions were regulated by candidate magnetoreceptor genes Isca1 and Cry1/Cry2. SMF exposure also promoted CD8+ T cell granule and cytokine secretion and repressed tumor growth in vivo. SMFs enhanced CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity, and the adoptive transfer into tumor-bearing mice resulted in enhanced antitumor effects. Collectively, our study suggests that moderate SMFs enhance CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity by promoting mitochondrial respiration and promoted the antitumor function of CD8+ T cells.
Imaging reconstruction comparison of different ghost imaging algorithms
Authors: Liu Hong-Chao 
Published: September 2020

AbstractAs an indirect and computational imaging approach, imaging reconstruction efficiency is critical for ghost imaging (GI). Here, we compare different GI algorithms, including logarithmic GI and exponential GI we proposed, by numerically analysing their imaging reconstruction efficiency and error tolerance. Simulation results show that compressive GI algorithm has the highest reconstruction efficiency due to its global optimization property. Error tolerance studies further manifest that compressive GI and exponential GI are sensitive to the error ratio. By replacing the bucket input of compressive GI with different bucket object signal functions, we integrate compressive GI with other GI algorithms and discuss their imaging efficiency. With the combination between the differential GI (or normalized GI) and compressive GI, both reconstruction efficiency and error tolerance will present the best performance. Moreover, an optical encryption is proposed by combining logarithmic GI, exponential GI and compressive GI, which can enhance the encryption security based on GI principle.