bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A design of fuzzy inference systems to predict tensile properties of as-cast alloy
Authors: Tan He , Tarasov Vladimir , Jarfors Anders E. W. , Seifeddine Salem 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn this study, a design of Mamdani type fuzzy inference systems is presented to predict tensile properties of as-cast alloy. To improve manufacturing of light weight cast components, understanding of mechanical properties of cast components under load is important. The ability of deterministic models to predict the performance of a cast component is limited due to the uncertainty and imprecision in casting data. Mamdani type fuzzy inference systems are introduced as a promising solution. Compared to other artificial intelligence approaches, Mandani type fuzzy models allow for a better result interpretation. The fuzzy inference systems were designed from data and experts’ knowledge and optimized using a genetic algorithm. The experts’ knowledge was used to set up the values for the inference engine and initial values for the database parameters. The rule base was automatically generated from the data which were collected from casting and tensile testing experiments. A genetic algorithm with real-valued coding was used to optimize the database parameters. The quality of the constructed systems was evaluated by comparing predicted and actual tensile properties, including yield strength, Y.modulus, and ultimate tensile strength, of as-case alloy from two series of casting and tensile testing experimental data. The obtained results showed that the quality of the systems has satisfactory accuracy and is similar to or better than several machine learning methods. The evaluation results also demonstrated good reliability and stability of the approach.
Asymmetric vector moving average models: estimation and testing
Authors: De Gooijer Jan G. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractWe propose the class of asymmetric vector moving average (asVMA) models. The asymmetry of these models is characterized by different MA filters applied to the components of vectors of lagged positive and negative innovations. This allows for a detailed investigation of the interrelationships among past model innovations of different sign. We derive some covariance matrix properties of an asVMA model under the assumption of Gaussianity. Related to this, we investigate the global invertibility condition of the proposed model. The paper also introduces a maximum likelihood estimation procedure and a multivariate Wald-type test statistic for symmetry versus the alternative of asymmetry. The finite-sample performance of the proposed multivariate test is studied by simulation. Furthermore, we devise an exploratory test statistic based on lagged sample cross-bicovariance estimates. The estimation and testing procedures are used to uncover asymmetric effects in two US growth rates, and in three US industrial prices.
Inferring functional units in ion channel pores via relative entropy
Authors: Schmidt Michael , Schroeder Indra , Bauer Daniel , Thiel Gerhard , Hamacher Kay 
Published: February 2021

AbstractCoarse-grained protein models approximate the first-principle physical potentials. Among those modeling approaches, the relative entropy framework yields promising and physically sound results, in which a mapping from the target protein structure and dynamics to a model is defined and subsequently adjusted by an entropy minimization of the model parameters. Minimization of the relative entropy is equivalent to maximization of the likelihood of reproduction of (configurational ensemble) observations by the model. In this study, we extend the relative entropy minimization procedure beyond parameter fitting by a second optimization level, which identifies the optimal mapping to a (dimension-reduced) topology. We consider anisotropic network models of a diverse set of ion channels and assess our findings by comparison to experimental results.
Simultaneous quantification of the most common and proteolytic Pseudomonas species in raw milk by multiplex qPCR
Authors: Maier Christopher , Hofmann Katharina , Huptas Christopher , Scherer Siegfried , Wenning Mareike , Lücking Genia 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The heat-stable peptidase AprX, secreted by psychrotolerant Pseudomonas species in raw milk, is a major cause of destabilization and premature spoilage of ultra-high temperature (UHT) milk and milk products. To enable rapid detection and quantification of seven frequent and proteolytic Pseudomonas species (P. proteolytica, P. gessardii, P. lactis, P. fluorescens, P. protegens, P. lundensis, and P. fragi) in raw milk, we developed two triplex qPCR assays taking into account species-dependent differences in AprX activity. Besides five species-specific hydrolysis probes, targeting the aprX gene, a universal rpoB probe was included in the assay to determine the total Pseudomonas counts. For all six probes, linear regression lines between Cq value and target DNA concentration were obtained in singleplex as well as in multiplex approaches, yielding R2 values of > 0.975 and amplification efficiencies of 85–97%. Moreover, high specificity was determined using genomic DNA of 75 Pseudomonas strains, assigned to 57 species, and 40 other bacterial species as templates in the qPCR. Quantification of the target species and total Pseudomonas counts resulted in linear detection ranges of approx. 103–107 cfu/ml, which correspond well to common Pseudomonas counts in raw milk. Application of the assay using 60 raw milk samples from different dairies showed good agreement of total Pseudomonas counts calculated by qPCR with cell counts derived from cultivation. Furthermore, a remarkably high variability regarding the species composition was observed for each milk sample, whereby P. lundensis and P. proteolytica/P. gessardii were the predominant species detected.

Key points
• Multiplex qPCR for quantification of seven proteolytic Pseudomonas species and total Pseudomonas counts in raw milk
• High specificity and sensitivity via hydrolysis probes against aprX and rpoB
• Rapid method to determine Pseudomonas contamination in raw milk and predict spoilage potential
A bottom-up approach towards a bacterial consortium for the biotechnological conversion of chitin to l-lysine
Authors: Vortmann Marina , Stumpf Anna K. , Sgobba Elvira , Dirks-Hofmeister Mareike E. , Krehenbrink Martin , Wendisch Volker F. , Philipp Bodo , Moerschbacher Bruno M. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractChitin is an abundant waste product from shrimp and mushroom industries and as such, an appropriate secondary feedstock for biotechnological processes. However, chitin is a crystalline substrate embedded in complex biological matrices, and, therefore, difficult to utilize, requiring an equally complex chitinolytic machinery. Following a bottom-up approach, we here describe the step-wise development of a mutualistic, non-competitive consortium in which a lysine-auxotrophic Escherichia coli substrate converter cleaves the chitin monomer N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) into glucosamine (GlcN) and acetate, but uses only acetate while leaving GlcN for growth of the lysine-secreting Corynebacterium glutamicum producer strain. We first engineered the substrate converter strain for growth on acetate but not GlcN, and the producer strain for growth on GlcN but not acetate. Growth of the two strains in co-culture in the presence of a mixture of GlcN and acetate was stabilized through lysine cross-feeding. Addition of recombinant chitinase to cleave chitin into GlcNAc2, chitin deacetylase to convert GlcNAc2 into GlcN2 and acetate, and glucosaminidase to cleave GlcN2 into GlcN supported growth of the two strains in co-culture in the presence of colloidal chitin as sole carbon source. Substrate converter strains secreting a chitinase or a β-1,4-glucosaminidase degraded chitin to GlcNAc2 or GlcN2 to GlcN, respectively, but required glucose for growth. In contrast, by cleaving GlcNAc into GlcN and acetate, a chitin deacetylase-expressing substrate converter enabled growth of the producer strain in co-culture with GlcNAc as sole carbon source, providing proof-of-principle for a fully integrated co-culture for the biotechnological utilization of chitin.
Graphical abstract

Key Points• A bacterial consortium was developed to use chitin as feedstock for the bioeconomy.• Substrate converter and producer strain use different chitin hydrolysis products.• Substrate converter and producer strain are mutually dependent on each other.
Consensus report from the 9th International Forum for Liver Magnetic Resonance Imaging: applications of gadoxetic acid-enhanced imaging
Authors: Koh Dow-Mu , Ba-Ssalamah Ahmed , Brancatelli Giuseppe , Fananapazir Ghaneh , Fiel M. Isabel , Goshima Satoshi , Ju Sheng-Hong , Kartalis Nikolaos , Kudo Masatoshi , Lee Jeong Min , Murakami Takamichi , Seidensticker Max , Sirlin Claude B. , Tan Cher Heng , Wang Jin , Yoon Jeong Hee , Zeng Mengsu , Zhou Jian , Taouli Bachir 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Objectives
The 9th International Forum for Liver Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) was held in Singapore in September 2019, bringing together radiologists and allied specialists to discuss the latest developments in and formulate consensus statements for liver MRI, including the applications of gadoxetic acid–enhanced imaging.

Methods
As at previous Liver Forums, the meeting was held over 2 days. Presentations by the faculty on days 1 and 2 and breakout group discussions on day 1 were followed by delegate voting on consensus statements presented on day 2. Presentations and discussions centered on two main meeting themes relating to the use of gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI in primary liver cancer and metastatic liver disease.

Results and conclusions
Gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI offers the ability to monitor response to systemic therapy and to assist in pre-surgical/pre-interventional planning in liver metastases. In hepatocellular carcinoma, gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI provides precise staging information for accurate treatment decision-making and follow-up post therapy. Gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI also has potential, currently investigational, indications for the functional assessment of the liver and the biliary system. Additional voting sessions at the Liver Forum debated the role of multidisciplinary care in the management of patients with liver disease, evidence to support the use of abbreviated imaging protocols, and the importance of standardizing nomenclature in international guidelines in order to increase the sharing of scientific data and improve the communication between centers.

Key Points
• Gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI is the preferred imaging method for pre-surgical or pre-interventional planning for liver metastases after systemic therapy.
• Gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI provides accurate staging of HCC before and after treatment with locoregional/biologic therapies.
• Abbreviated protocols for gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI offer potential time and cost savings, but more evidence is necessary. The use of gadoxetic acid–enhanced MRI for the assessment of liver and biliary function is under active investigation.
Mitigated viral myocarditis in A/J mice by the immunoproteasome inhibitor ONX 0914 depends on inhibition of systemic inflammatory responses in CoxsackievirusB3 infection
Authors: Goetzke Carl Christoph , Althof Nadine , Neumaier Hannah Louise , Heuser Arndt , Kaya Ziya , Kespohl Meike , Klingel Karin , Beling Antje 
Published: February 2021

AbstractA preclinical model of troponin I-induced myocarditis (AM) revealed a prominent role of the immunoproteasome (ip), the main immune cell-resident proteasome isoform, in heart-directed autoimmunity. Viral infection of the heart is a known trigger of cardiac autoimmunity, with the ip enhancing systemic inflammatory responses after infection with a cardiotropic coxsackievirusB3 (CV). Here, we used ip-deficient A/J-LMP7−/−mice to investigate the role of ip-mediated effects on adaptive immunity in CV-triggered myocarditis and found no alteration of the inflammatory heart tissue damage or cardiac function in comparison to wild-type controls. Aiming to define the impact of the systemic inflammatory storm under the control of ip proteolysis during CV infection, we targeted the ip in A/J mice with the inhibitor ONX 0914 after the first cycle of infection, when systemic inflammation has set in, well before cardiac inflammation. During established acute myocarditis, the ONX 0914 treatment group had the same reduction in cardiac output as the controls, with inflammatory responses in heart tissue being unaffected by the compound. Based on these findings and with regard to the known anti-inflammatory role of ONX 0914 in CV infection, we conclude that the efficacy of ip inhibitors for CV-triggered myocarditis in A/J mice relies on their immunomodulatory effects on the systemic inflammatory reaction.
Postoperative headache after surgical treatment of cerebellopontine angle tumors: a systematic review
Authors: Pogoda Louis , Nijdam Jelle S. , Smeeing Diederik P. J. , Voormolen Eduard H. J. , Ziylan Fuat , Thomeer Hans G. X. M. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Purpose
Postoperative headache (POH) is a complication that occurs after surgical resection of cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors. The two most common surgical approaches are the translabyrinthine (TL), and retrosigmoid (RS) approach. The objective of this systematic review was to investigate whether POH occurs more frequently after RS compared to TL approaches.

Methods
A systematic search was conducted in Cochrane, Pubmed and Embase. Studies were included if POH after CPA tumor removal was reported and both surgical approaches were compared. The methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool.

Results
In total, 3,942 unique articles were screened by title and abstract. After the initial screening process 63 articles were screened for relevance to the inquiry, of which seven studies were included. Three studies found no significant difference between both surgical approaches (p = 0.871, p = 0.120, p = 0.592). Three other studies found a lower rate of POH in the TL group compared to the RS group (p = 0.019, p < 0.001, p < 0.001). Another study showed a significantly lower POH rate in the TL group after one and six months (p = 0.006), but not after 1 year (p = 0.6).

Conclusion
The results of this systematic review show some evidence of a lower rate of POH in favor of the TL approach versus the RS approach for CPA tumor resection. Prospective research studies are needed to further investigate this finding.
Association between monoamine oxidase A promoter polymorphism and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome: a meta-analysis
Authors: Zhou Qiaoxia , Gong Daoyin , Zhang Yu , Huang Feijun 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Introduction
The etiology of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) remains an unsolved problem. The aim of this meta-analysis is to investigate the potential association between monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) promoter variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism and SIDS risk.

Methods
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted on studies from accessible electronic databases. Each VNTR variant was examined in each gender independently by comparing with the pooled results of other alleles.

Results
A total of six independent case–control studies including 1022 SIDS cases and 1839 controls were enrolled in this meta-analysis. In both of the whole populations and Caucasian populations, male infants with the low-MAOA-expression alleles (2R+3R) were found to exhibit a statistically significant increased risk of SIDS, whereas those with a 4R allele exhibited a reduced risk of SIDS. Besides, an increased risk of SIDS was detected in male Caucasian infants with 2R or 3R alleles. However, none of the allele or genotype variants was associated with SIDS in female victims.

Conclusion
In male Caucasian infants, the low expression of MAOA promoter VNTR alleles (2R and 3R) is associated with an increased risk of SIDS, and the existence of the 4R allele could be regarded as a protective factor.
Retinal capillary involvement in early post-COVID-19 patients: a healthy controlled study
Authors: Savastano Maria Cristina , Gambini Gloria , Cozzupoli Grazia Maria , Crincoli Emanuele , Savastano Alfonso , De Vico Umberto , Culiersi Carola , Falsini Benedetto , Martelli Francesco , Minnella Angelo Maria , Landi Francesco , Pagano Francesco Cosimo , Rizzo Stanislao ,   Gemelli Against COVID-19 Post-Acute Care Study Group
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Systemic vascular involvement in COVID-19 has been identified in several patients: not only endothelial derangement and increased permeability are reported to be early hallmarks of organ damage in patients with COVID-19 but are also the most important cause of worsening of clinical conditions in severe cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. There are several reasons to hypothesize that the eye, and the retina in particular, could be a target of organ damage in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods
This cohort observational study analyzes OCT angiography and structural OCT of 70 post-COVID-19 patients evaluated at 1-month hospital discharge and 22 healthy control subjects. Primary outcomes were macular vessel density (VD) and vessel perfusion (VP); structural OCT features were evaluated as secondary outcomes. In addition, patients and healthy volunteers were evaluated for best corrected visual acuity, slit lamp photograph, and fundus photo image.

Results
VD and VP in 3 × 3 and 6 × 6 mm scans for SCP and DCP showed no significant differences between the groups. Similarly, CMT and GCL did not reveal significant differences between post-COVID-19 and healthy patients. Nine patients (12.9%) featured retinal cotton wool spots and 10 patients had vitreous fibrillary degeneration. The prevalence of epiretinal membrane and macular hole was similar in the two groups. One case of extra papillary focal retinal hemorrhage was reported in the post-COVID-19 group.

Conclusions
Macula and perimacular vessel density and perfusion resulted unaltered in mild post-COVID-19 patients at 1-month hospital discharge, suggesting no or minimal retinal vascular involvement by SARS-CoV-2.
Reference values for maximum oxygen uptake relative to body mass in Dutch/Flemish subjects aged 6–65 years: the LowLands Fitness Registry
Authors: van der Steeg Geertje E. , Takken Tim 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
The maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) is considered the best measure of cardiorespiratory fitness.

Aim
To provide up-to-date reference values for the VO2max per kilogram of body mass (VO2max/kg) obtained by CPET in the Netherlands and Flanders.

Methods
The Lowlands Fitness Registry contains data from health checks among different professions and was used for this study. Data from 4612 apparently healthy subjects, 3671 males and 941 females, who performed maximum effort during cycle ergometry were analysed. Reference values for the VO2max/kg and corresponding centile curves were created according to the LMS method.

Results
Age had a negative significant effect (p < .001) and males had higher values of VO2max/kg with an overall difference of 18.0% compared to females.
Formulas for reference values were developed:

Males: VO2max/kg = − 0.0049 × age2 + 0.0884 × age + 48.263 (R2 = 0.9859; SEE = 1.4364)

Females: VO2max/kg = − 0.0021 × age2 − 0.1407 × age + 43.066 (R2 = 0.9989; SEE = 0.5775).

Cross-validation showed no relevant statistical mean difference between measured and predicted values for males and a small but significant mean difference for females. We found remarkable higher VO2max/kg values compared to previously published studies.

Conclusions
This is the first study to provide reference values for the VO2max/kg based on a Dutch/Flemish cohort. Our reference values can be used for a more accurate interpretation of the VO2max in the West-European population.
Prevalence and genetic diversity of avian haemosporidian parasites in wild bird species of the order Columbiformes
Authors: Schumm Yvonne R. , Bakaloudis Dimitris , Barboutis Christos , Cecere Jacopo G. , Eraud Cyril , Fischer Dominik , Hering Jens , Hillerich Klaus , Lormée Hervé , Mader Viktoria , Masello Juan F. , Metzger Benjamin , Rocha Gregorio , Spina Fernando , Quillfeldt Petra 
Published: February 2021

AbstractDiseases can play a role in species decline. Among them, haemosporidian parasites, vector-transmitted protozoan parasites, are known to constitute a risk for different avian species. However, the magnitude of haemosporidian infection in wild columbiform birds, including strongly decreasing European turtle doves, is largely unknown. We examined the prevalence and diversity of haemosporidian parasites Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon and subgenera Haemoproteus and Parahaemoproteus in six species of the order Columbiformes during breeding season and migration by applying nested PCR, one-step multiplex PCR assay and microscopy. We detected infections in 109 of the 259 screened individuals (42%), including 15 distinct haemosporidian mitochondrial cytochrome b lineages, representing five H. (Haemoproteus), two H. (Parahaemoproteus), five Leucocytozoon and three Plasmodium lineages. Five of these lineages have never been described before. We discriminated between single and mixed infections and determined host species-specific prevalence for each parasite genus. Observed differences among sampled host species are discussed with reference to behavioural characteristics, including nesting and migration strategy. Our results support previous suggestions that migratory birds have a higher prevalence and diversity of blood parasites than resident or short-distance migratory species. A phylogenetic reconstruction provided evidence for H. (Haemoproteus) as well as H. (Parahaemoproteus) infections in columbiform birds. Based on microscopic examination, we quantified parasitemia, indicating the probability of negative effects on the host. This study provides a large-scale baseline description of haemosporidian infections of wild birds belonging to the order Columbiformes sampled in the northern hemisphere. The results enable the monitoring of future changes in parasite transmission areas, distribution and diversity associated with global change, posing a potential risk for declining avian species as the European turtle dove.
A limited-size ensemble of homogeneous CNN/LSTMs for high-performance word classification
Authors: Ameryan Mahya , Schomaker Lambert 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe strength of long short-term memory neural networks (LSTMs) that have been applied is more located in handling sequences of variable length than in handling geometric variability of the image patterns. In this paper, an end-to-end convolutional LSTM neural network is used to handle both geometric variation and sequence variability. The best results for LSTMs are often based on large-scale training of an ensemble of network instances. We show that high performances can be reached on a common benchmark set by using proper data augmentation for just five such networks using a proper coding scheme and a proper voting scheme. The networks have similar architectures (convolutional neural network (CNN): five layers, bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM): three layers followed by a connectionist temporal classification (CTC) processing step). The approach assumes differently scaled input images and different feature map sizes. Three datasets are used: the standard benchmark RIMES dataset (French); a historical handwritten dataset KdK (Dutch); the standard benchmark George Washington (GW) dataset (English). Final performance obtained for the word-recognition test of RIMES was 96.6%, a clear improvement over other state-of-the-art approaches which did not use a pre-trained network. On the KdK and GW datasets, our approach also shows good results. The proposed approach is deployed in the Monk search engine for historical-handwriting collections.