bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Time-resolved cathodoluminescence of DNA triggered by picosecond electron bunches
Authors: Renault Jean Philippe , Lucas Bruno , Gustavsson Thomas , Huetz Alain , Oksenhendler Thomas , Staicu-Casagrande Elena-Magdalena , Géléoc Marie 
Published: March 2020

AbstractDespite the tremendous importance of so-called ionizing radiations (X-rays, accelerated electrons and ions) in cancer treatment, most studies on their effects have focused on the ionization process itself, and neglect the excitation events the radiations can induce. Here, we show that the excited states of DNA exposed to accelerated electrons can be studied in the picosecond time domain using a recently developed cathodoluminescence system with high temporal resolution. Our study uses a table-top ultrafast, UV laser-triggered electron gun delivering picosecond electron bunches of keV energy. This scheme makes it possible to directly compare time-resolved cathodoluminescence with photoluminescence measurements. This comparison revealed qualitative differences, as well as quantitative similarities between excited states of DNA upon exposure to electrons or photons.
Landscape factors influencing honey bee colony behavior in Southern California commercial apiaries
Authors: Meikle William G. , Weiss Milagra , Beren Eli 
Published: March 2020

AbstractColony brood levels, frames of bees (adult bee mass) and internal hive temperature were monitored for 60 colonies for each of two years as they were moved from agricultural, tree crop and mountain landscapes in southern California to blueberry and almond pollination sites. Hive weight was also continuously monitored for 20 of those hives for 6 weeks for both years, during commercial pollination. Pesticide residues in wax, honey and beebread samples were analyzed by composite apiary samples. While colonies in mountain sites had more adult bees and brood than those in agricultural sites in August, by October brood levels were higher in colonies from agricultural sites. Though hives from different original landscapes differed in size in October, hive assessments revealed no differences between the groups after co-wintering when graded for commercial almond pollination. Beebread from hives in agricultural sites had greater agrochemical diversity and in general higher pesticide hazard quotients than those from mountain sites, but those hives also had higher and more constant temperatures from September until January than hives from mountain sites. Hives placed in commercial almond pollination gained on average 287 g per d, compared to an average loss of 68 g per d for colonies in commercial blueberry pollination, although weight data indicated greater foraging effort by colonies in blueberries, possibly due to the proximity and abundance of almond pollen during bloom. Temperature monitoring was effective at distinguishing hive groups and had the best overall value in terms of equipment, installation, colony disturbance and information yield.
Selection of reference genes for normalization of RT-qPCR data in gene expression studies in Anthonomus eugenii Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
Authors: Pinheiro Daniele H. , Siegfried Blair D. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is the main insect pest of peppers (Capsicum spp.) throughout the southern U.S. and a potential target for novel control methods that may require gene expression analyses. Careful selection of adequate reference genes to normalize RT-qPCR data is an important prerequisite for gene expression studies since the expression stability of reference genes can be affected by the experimental conditions leading to biased or erroneous results. The lack of studies on validation of reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis in A. eugenii limits the investigation of gene expression, therefore it is needed a systematic selection of suitable reference genes for data normalization. In the present study, three programs (BestKeeper, geNorm and NormFinder) were used to analyze the expression stability of candidate reference genes (β-ACT, ArgK, EF1-α, GAPDH, RPL12, RPS23, α-TUB, 18S and 28S) in A. eugenii under different experimental conditions. Our results revealed that the most stably expressed reference genes in A. eugenii varied according to the experimental condition evaluated: developmental stages (EF1-α, 18S and RPL12), sex (RPS23 and RPL12), low temperature (GAPDH and α-TUB), high temperature (α-TUB and RPS23), all temperatures (α-TUB and GAPDH), starvation (RPL12 and α-TUB), and dsRNA exposure (α-TUB and RPL12). Our study provides for the first time valuable information on appropriate reference genes that can be used in the analysis of gene expression by RT-qPCR in biological experiments involving A. eugenii.
Characterisation of microbunching instability with 2D Fourier analysis
Authors: Brynes A. D. , Akkermans I. , Allaria E. , Badano L. , Brussaard S. , Ninno G. De , Gauthier D. , Gaio G. , Giannessi L. , Mirian N. S. , Penco G. , Perosa G. , Rebernik P. , Setija I. , Spampinati S. , Spezzani C. , Trovò M. , Veronese M. , Williams P. H. , Wolski A. , Mitri S. Di 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThe optimal performance of high-brightness free-electron lasers (FELs) is limited by the microbunching instability, which can cause variations in both the slice energy spread and longitudinal profile of electron beams. In this paper, we perform 2D Fourier analysis of the full bunch longitudinal phase space, such that modulations in both planes can be studied simultaneously. Unlike the standard 1D analysis, this method is able to reveal modulations in a folded phase space, which would otherwise remain uncovered. Additionally, the plasma oscillation between energy and density modulations is also revealed by this method. The damping of the microbunching instability, through the use of a laser heater, is also analysed with this technique. We confirm a mitigation of the amplitude of modulation and a red-shift of the microbunching frequency as the energy spread added increases. As an outcome of this work, a systematic experimental comparison of the development of the instability in the presence of different compression schemes is here presented for the first time.
In-line filtration in very preterm neonates: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Virlouvet Anne-Laure , Pansiot Julien , Toumazi Artemis , Colella Marina , Capewell Andreas , Guerriero Emilie , Storme Thomas , Rioualen Stéphane , Bourmaud Aurélie , Biran Valérie , Baud Olivier 
Published: March 2020

AbstractIn-line filtration is increasingly used in critically-ill infants but its benefits, by preventing micro-particle infusion in very preterm neonates, remain to be demonstrated. We conducted a randomized controlled trial among very preterm infants allocated to receive either in-line filtration of all the intra-venous lines or standard care without filters. The primary outcome was differences greater than 20% in the median changes in pro-inflammatory cytokine serum concentrations measured at day 3 and day 8 (+/−1) using a Luminex multianalytic profiling technique. Major neonatal complications were analyzed as secondary predefined outcomes. We randomized 146 infants, assigned to filter (n = 73) or control (n = 73) group. Difference over 20% in pro-inflammatory cytokine concentration between day 3 and day 8 was not found statistically different between the two groups, both in intent-to-treat (with imputation) and per protocol (without imputation) analyses. The incidences of most of neonatal complications were found to be similar. Hence, this trial did not evidence a beneficial effect of in-line filtration in very preterm infants on the inflammatory response syndrome and neonatal morbidities. These data should be interpreted according to local standards in infusion preparation and central line management.
Blood meal sources and bacterial microbiome diversity in wild-caught tsetse flies
Authors: Gaithuma Alex , Yamagishi Junya , Hayashida Kyoko , Kawai Naoko , Namangala Boniface , Sugimoto Chihiro 
Published: March 2020

AbstractTsetse flies are the vectors of African trypanosomiasis affecting 36 sub-Saharan countries. Both wild and domestic animals play a crucial role in maintaining the disease-causing parasites (trypanosomes). Thus, the identification of animal reservoirs of trypanosomes is vital for the effective control of African trypanosomiasis. Additionally, the biotic and abiotic factors that drive gut microbiome diversity in tsetse flies are primarily unresolved, especially under natural, field conditions. In this study, we present a comprehensive DNA metabarcoding approach for individual tsetse fly analysis in the identification of mammalian blood meal sources and fly bacterial microbiome composition. We analyzed samples from two endemic foci, Kafue, Zambia collected in June 2017, and Hurungwe, Zimbabwe sampled in April 2014 (pilot study) and detected DNA of various mammals including humans, wild animals, domestic animals and small mammals (rat and bat). The bacterial diversity was relatively similar in flies with different mammalian species DNA, trypanosome infected and uninfected flies, and female and male flies. This study is the first report on bat DNA detection in wild tsetse flies. This study reveals that small mammals such as bats and rats are among the opportunistic blood meal sources for tsetse flies in the wild, and the implication on tsetse biology and ecology needs to be studied.
Prediction of the Vaccine-derived Poliovirus Outbreak Incidence: A Hybrid Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Hemedan Ahmed A. , Abd Elaziz Mohamed , Jiao Pengcheng , Alavi Amir H. , Bahgat Mahmoud , Ostaszewski Marek , Schneider Reinhard , Ghazy Haneen A. , Ewees Ahmed A. , Lu Songfeng 
Published: March 2020

AbstractRecently, significant attention has been devoted to vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) surveillance due to its severe consequences. Prediction of the outbreak incidence of VDPF requires an accurate analysis of the alarming data. The overarching aim to this study is to develop a novel hybrid machine learning approach to identify the key parameters that dominate the outbreak incidence of VDPV. The proposed method is based on the integration of random vector functional link (RVFL) networks with a robust optimization algorithm called whale optimization algorithm (WOA). WOA is applied to improve the accuracy of the RVFL network by finding the suitable parameter configurations for the algorithm. The classification performance of the WOA-RVFL method is successfully validated using a number of datasets from the UCI machine learning repository. Thereafter, the method is implemented to track the VDPV outbreak incidences recently occurred in several provinces in Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The results demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the WOA-RVFL algorithm in detecting the VDPV outbreak incidences, as well as its superior performance to the traditional RVFL method.
Opioid drug use in emergency and adverse outcomes among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a multicenter observational study
Authors: Viglino Damien , Daoust Raoul , Bailly Sebastien , Faivre-Pierret Caroline , Charif Isma , Roustit Matthieu , Paquet Jean , Debaty Guillaume , Pépin Jean-Louis , Maignan Maxime , Chauny Jean-Marc 
Published: March 2020

AbstractThere is still debate as to the safety of non-palliative opioid administration to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients punctually treated for an acute complaint. All patients over 40 presenting at two university hospital emergency departments (Montréal Qc, Grenoble Fr) from March 2008 to September 2014 with dyspnea, abdominal pain or trauma were retrieved, and COPD patients were selected. Our primary endpoint was a composite criterion including invasive ventilation and death. Comparisons between visits in which opioid drugs were prescribed and those without opioids were performed using an inverse probability of treatment and censoring weight (IPTCW) estimator to adjust for baseline confounders. A survival weighted Cox model was used. 7799 visits by COPD patients were identified, corresponding to 4173 unique patients. Opioid drug prescription was reported in 1317 (16.9%) visits. After applying IPCTW weighting, opioid prescription was found to be associated with the composite criterion of poor clinical outcomes (HR = 4.73 (2.94; 7.61), p < 0.01). When taken separately, this association remained significant for invasive ventilation and death, but not for NIV. All sensitivity analyses confirmed the association, except for patients with trauma or abdominal pain as the main complaint. This excess risk is observed whatever the route of administration.
Changing accommodation behaviour during multifocal soft contact lens wear using auditory biofeedback training
Authors: Wagner Sandra , Schaeffel Frank , Troilo David 
Published: March 2020

AbstractBiofeedback training has been used to access autonomically-controlled body functions through visual or acoustic signals to manage conditions like anxiety and hyperactivity. Here we examined the use of auditory biofeedback to improve accommodative responses to near visual stimuli in patients wearing single vision (SV) and multifocal soft contact lenses (MFCL). MFCLs are one evidence-based treatment shown to be effective in slowing myopia progression in children. However, previous research found that the positive addition relaxed accommodation at near, possibly reducing the therapeutic benefit. Accommodation accuracy was examined in 18 emmetropes and 19 myopes while wearing SVCLs and MFCLs (centre-distance). Short periods of auditory biofeedback training to improve the response (reduce the lag of accommodation) was performed and accommodation re-assessed while patients wore the SVCLs and MFCLs. Significantly larger accommodative lags were measured with MFCLs compared to SV. Biofeedback training effectively reduced the lag by ≥0.3D in individuals of both groups with SVCL and MFCL wear. The training was more effective in myopes wearing their habitual SVCLs. This study shows that accommodation can be changed with short biofeedback training independent of the refractive state. With this proof-of-concept, we hypothesize that biofeedback training in myopic children wearing MFCLs might improve the treatment effectiveness.
Comparison of 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT with 11C-acetate PET/CT in re-staging of prostate cancer relapse
Authors: Regula Naresh , Kostaras Vasileios , Johansson Silvia , Trampal Carlos , Lindström Elin , Lubberink Mark , Velikyan Irina , Sörensen Jens 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPositron emission tomography (PET) imaging is used to localize recurrent disease in prostate cancer (PCa). The tracer 68Ga-PSMA-11 visualizes lesions overexpressing prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), while 11C-acetate visualizes lesions with increased anabolic metabolism. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of PSMA-PET and acetate-PET in re-staging patients with biochemical relapse. Thirty PCa patients with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) relapse after primary curative therapy were prospectively evaluated. PET/CT examinations using 11C-acetate and 68Ga-PSMA-11 were performed. Identified lesions were categorized according to anatomical location and PET measurements were correlated with PSA at time of scan. Tumour lesions showed higher semi-quantitative uptake values on PSMA-PET than acetate-PET. PSMA-PET identified more lesions in 11 patients, fewer lesions in eight patients, and identical number of lesions in 11 patients. This study indicates better diagnostic performance of PSMA-PET, particularly in detecting lymph node (81% vs 60%, p = 0.02) and bone metastasis (95% vs 61%, p = 0.0001) compared to acetate-PET. However, 38% of PSMA-expressing metastases appear to be metabolically inactive and 15% of metabolically active metastases lack PSMA expression. Addition of PET with a metabolic tracer, such as 11C-acetate, might be beneficial before making treatment decisions.
Repetitive regime of highly focused liquid microjets for needle-free injection
Authors: Krizek Jan , Delrot Paul , Moser Christophe 
Published: March 2020

AbstractFast liquid jets are investigated for use as a needle-free drug delivery system into an elastic tissue such as skin. Using smaller jet diameters in a repetitive regime can mitigate bruising and pain associated with current injectors. In this study, we aim to unravel the potential of the method to deliver liquids into biological tissues having higher elasticity than healthy skin (i.e >60 kPa). To address this challenge, we have implemented a laser-based jetting system capable of generating supersonic liquid microjets in a repetitive regime. We provide insights on the penetration of microjets into hydrogel samples with elastic modulus ranging from 16 kPa to 0.5 MPa. The unprecedented speeds of injection (>680 m/s) together with a newly introduced repetitive regime opens possibilities for usage in needle-free drug administration into materials with elasticity covering the wide spectrum of biological soft tissues like blood vessels, all skin layers, scarred or dried skin or tumors.
Multi-Systemic Biological Risk and Cancer Mortality: The NHANES III Study
Authors: Acheampong Teofilia , Jiang Luohua , Ziogas Argyrios , Odegaard Andrew O. 
Published: March 2020

AbstractMulti-systemic biological risk (MSBR), a proxy for allostatic load, is a composite index of biomarkers representing dysregulation due to responses to chronic stress. This study examined the association of an MSBR index with cancer mortality. The sample included n = 13,628 adults aged 20–90 from the NHANES III Linked Mortality File (1988–1994). The MSBR index included autonomic (pulse rate, blood pressure), metabolic (HOMAir, triglycerides, waist circumference), and immune (white blood cell count, C-reactive protein) markers. We fit Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of overall cancer mortality risk, according to quartiles (q) of the index. In multivariable models, compared to those in q1, q4 had a 64% increased risk for cancer mortality (HR = 1.64, 95% CI:1.13–2.40). The immune domain drove the association (HR per unit = 1.19, 95% CI:1.07–1.32). In stratified analyses, the HR for those with a BMI ≥ 25 was 1.12 per unit (95% CI:1.05–1.19) and those with a BMI < 25 was 1.04 per unit (95% CI:0.92–1.18). MSBR is positively associated with risk for cancer mortality in a US sample, particularly among those who are overweight or obese. The utilization of standard clinical measures comprising this index may inform population cancer prevention strategies.
Microplastics in sea ice and seawater beneath ice floes from the Arctic Ocean
Authors: Kanhai La Daana K. , Gardfeldt Katarina , Krumpen Thomas , Thompson Richard C. , O’Connor Ian 
Published: March 2020

AbstractWithin the past decade, an alarm was raised about microplastics in the remote and seemingly pristine Arctic Ocean. To gain further insight about the issue, microplastic abundance, distribution and composition in sea ice cores (n = 25) and waters underlying ice floes (n = 22) were assessed in the Arctic Central Basin (ACB). Potential microplastics were visually isolated and subsequently analysed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy. Microplastic abundance in surface waters underlying ice floes (0–18 particles m−3) were orders of magnitude lower than microplastic concentrations in sea ice cores (2–17 particles L−1). No consistent pattern was apparent in the vertical distribution of microplastics within sea ice cores. Backward drift trajectories estimated that cores possibly originated from the Siberian shelves, western Arctic and central Arctic. Knowledge about microplastics in environmental compartments of the Arctic Ocean is important in assessing the potential threats posed by microplastics to polar organisms.
Vulnerability to predation may affect species distribution: plovers with broader arctic breeding range nest in safer habitat
Authors: Léandri-Breton Don-Jean , Bêty Joël 
Published: March 2020

AbstractLower vulnerability to predation should increase the capacity of prey populations to maintain positive population growth rate in regions characterized by high predation pressure. Some arctic-nesting shorebirds nest almost exclusively in areas where predation pressure is regularly released. The few species that can breed within the entire distribution range of the Arctic Fox, the main nest predator in the arctic tundra, are supposedly less sensitive to predation. However, empirical data supporting this hypothesis are scarce and mechanisms driving interspecific variation in vulnerability to nest predation are poorly documented. We monitored nest success of two arctic-nesting shorebirds with contrasting breeding distribution and nesting habitat. We found that (i) when co-existing at the same breeding site, the widely distributed Ringed Plovers nesting along stony shores showed a higher nest survival rate than the Golden Plovers nesting in mesic tundra, and (ii) such differences in nest survival were at least partly driven by the nesting habitat typeper se, with lower predation risk in stony shores than in adjacent mesic tundra. We suggest that the use of safer nesting habitat by some shorebird species can contribute to maintaining viable breeding populations over a broader distribution range.
Influences of the three-dimensional parameters of pterygium on corneal astigmatism and the intraocular lens power calculation
Authors: Tang Yating , Qian Dongjin , Wei Ling , Du Yu , Qiu Xiaodi , Lu Yi , Zhu Xiangjia 
Published: March 2020

AbstractPterygium morphology had great effect on corneal astigmatism and intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation in cataract patients. However, previous studies all focused on the pterygium surface parameters, the invasion degree or cross-sectional area of the pterygia into the corneal stroma were neglected. We studied the effect of three-dimensional parameters of pterygium on corneal astigmatism and IOL power prediction. We enrolled 81 eyes of 81 patients with primary nasal pterygium, measured the corneal astigmatism (Pentacam HR) and predicted IOL power change (IOLmaster500) before and after pterygium surgery. The three-dimensional parameters of pterygium (length, width, area, height and invasion cross-sectional area) were measured by slit lamp photography and Scheimpflug images. After pterygium surgery, corneal astigmatism decreased from 4.35 ± 4.24 to 1.07 ± 0.95 D and total corneal refractive power increased from 43.02 ± 1.96 to 43.95 ± 0.95 D (both P < 0.001). The predicted IOL power decreased from 22.87 ± 2.82 to 21.71 ± 2.85 D (P < 0.001) after surgery. Notably, 34 eyes (41.98%) had ≥3.0 D of pterygium induced astigmatism (PIA), and 33 eyes (40.74%) had ≥1.0 D of predicted IOL power change. PIA was independently influenced by the pterygium surface area (r = 0.43, P < 0.001) and cross-sectional area (r = 1.25, P = 0.018), while the predicted IOL power change was independently affected by the pterygium width (r = 0.70, P < 0.001). Cataract surgeons could evaluate the effects of a pterygium according to its three-dimensional parameters and prepare an optimal surgical strategy for cataract combined pterygium patients.