bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
On the calibration of Astigmatism particle tracking velocimetry for suspensions of different volume fractions
Authors: Brockmann Philipp , Hussong Jeanette 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn the present study, we demonstrate for the first time how Astigmatism Particle Tracking Velocimetry (APTV) can be utilized to measure suspensions dynamics. Measurements were successfully performed in monodisperse, refractive index matched suspensions of up to a volume fraction of $$\varPhi =19.9\%$$

Φ
=
19.9
%

. For this, a small percentage ($$\varPhi <0.01\%$$

Φ
<
0.01
%

) of the particles is labeled with fluorescent dye acting as tracers for the particle tracking procedure. Calibration results show, that a slight deviation of the refractive index of liquid and particles leads to a strong shape change of the calibration curve with respect to the unladen case. This effect becomes more severe along the channel height. To compensate the shape change of the calibration curves the interpolation technique developed by Brockmann et al. (Exp Fluids 61(2): 67, 2020) is adapted. Using this technique, the interpolation procedure is applied to suspensions with different volume fractions of $$\varPhi <0.01\%$$

Φ
<
0.01
%

, $$\varPhi =4.73\%$$

Φ
=
4.73
%

, $$\varPhi =9.04\%$$

Φ
=
9.04
%

, $$\varPhi =12.97\%$$

Φ
=
12.97
%

, $$\varPhi =16.58\%$$

Φ
=
16.58
%

and $$\varPhi =19.9\%$$

Φ
=
19.9
%

. To determine the effect of volume fraction on the performance of the method, the depth reconstruction error $$\sigma _z$$

σ
z

and the measurement volume depth $$\varDelta z$$

Δ
z

, obtained in different calibration measurements, are estimated. Here, a relative position reconstruction accuracy of $$\sigma _z$$

σ
z

/$$\varDelta z$$

Δ
z

= 0.90% and $$\sigma _z$$

σ
z

/$$\varDelta z$$

Δ
z

= 2.53% is achieved for labeled calibration particles in dilute ($$\varPhi <0.01\%$$

Φ
<
0.01
%

) and semi-dilute ($$\varPhi \approx 19.9\%$$

Φ
≈
19.9
%

) suspensions, respectively. The measurement technique is validated for a laminar flow in a straight rectangular channel with a cross-sectional area of 2.55 × 30 mm$$^2$$

2

. Uncertainties of 1.39% and 3.34% for the in-plane and 9.04% and 22.57% for the out-of-plane velocity with respect to the maximum streamwise velocity are achieved, at solid volume fractions of $$\varPhi <0.01\%$$

Φ
<
0.01
%

and $$\varPhi =19.9\%$$

Φ
=
19.9
%

, respectively.
Ozone disrupts the communication between plants and insects in urban and suburban areas: an updated insight on plant volatiles
Authors: Masui Noboru , Agathokleous Evgenios , Mochizuki Tomoki , Tani Akira , Matsuura Hideyuki , Koike Takayoshi 
Published: January 2021

AbstractPlant–insect interactions are basic components of biodiversity conservation. To attain the international Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the interactions in urban and in suburban systems should be better understood to maintain the health of green infrastructure. The role of ground-level ozone (O3) as an environmental stress disrupting interaction webs is presented. Ozone mixing ratios in suburbs are usually higher than in the center of cities and may reduce photosynthetic productivity at a relatively higher degree. Consequently, carbon-based defense capacities of plants may be suppressed by elevated O3more in the suburbs. However, contrary to this expectation, grazing damages by leaf beetles have been severe in some urban centers in comparison with the suburbs. To explain differences in grazing damages between urban areas and suburbs, the disruption of atmospheric communication signals by elevated O3via changes in plant-regulated biogenic volatile organic compounds and long-chain fatty acids are considered. The ecological roles of plant volatiles and the effects of O3from both a chemical and a biological perspective are presented. Ozone-disrupted plant volatiles should be considered to explain herbivory phenomena in urban and suburban systems.
Dense bone islands in pediatric patients: a case series study
Authors: Alfahad S. , Alostad M. , Dunkley S. , Anand P. , Harvey S. , Monteiro J. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background
Dense Bone Islands (DBIs) are anatomic variants defined as radiopaque lesions consisting of hamartomatous cortical bone, often presenting as incidental radiographic findings. DBIs can also be known as idiopathic osteosclerosis, bone whorl, focal periapical osteopetrosis, bone scar and enostosis. We found a paucity of literature for management and reporting of this condition in children. For this reason, the authors describe sixteen cases of children and adolescents with dense bony islands and suggest a pathway for management.

Case series
Cases presented to the RNENT and Eastman Dental Hospital or private practice, either as chance findings or for diagnosis and treatment planning of undiagnosed radiopaque areas. The individuals were aged between 10 and 17 years; 6 boys and 10 girls. All radiographic reports described DBIs. Diagnoses were confirmed by a Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology Consultant and advised no intervention. In some cases, monitoring was advised. Caution in orthodontic tooth movement was advised for five patients.

Conclusion
DBIs are common findings that seldom require treatment; however, caution should be exercised when undertaking orthodontic movement in the area of a DBI due to a potential risk of root resorption. Accurate identification and multidisciplinary management are of utmost importance.
Free Vibration and Transmission Response Analysis for Torsional Vibration of Circular Annular Plate
Authors: Liu Wei , Sun HaiLong , Zhao Qiang 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn this paper, free vibration and transmission response for the torsional vibration of circular annular plate are presented. To the author’s knowledge, few studies can be found for the torsional vibration from wave standpoint. For this purpose, in this study, natural frequencies for the torsional vibration of annular plate with clamped–clamped and free–free boundaries are calculated. The natural frequencies obtained by wave approach are compared with those derived by the classical method. Furthermore, transmissibility curves of the periodic annular model and Fibonacci annular model are analyzed. The finite element simulations are carried out to verify the theoretical results. Finally, the influence of inner radius and length ratio on the transmission response is also discussed. The obtained results are useful for the torsional vibration reduction of machinery structures.
Biodiesel production from slaughter wastes of broiler chicken: a potential survey in Iran
Authors: Faraji Mahyari Zahra , Khorasanizadeh Zeinab , Khanali Majid , Faraji Mahyari Khadijeh 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBiodiesel is a kind of biofuels that can be mixed with diesel and used as fuel. Selecting cheap and available feedstock is a prominent step in producing biodiesel economically. This paper presents the pros and cons of biodiesel and its production methods. The diesel demand is significantly high in Iran, especially in the transportation sector; On the other hand, the amount of produced waste is significant in chicken slaughterhouses. Considering this type of feedstock as a source to produce biodiesel not only can reduce the associated environmental problems, but also can supply some of the diesel needs. Hence, this paper also estimates biodiesel production potential from poultry slaughter waste and its cost. Based on the results, 736 kilotonnes of poultry slaughter waste is produced annually in Iran, which can be used as feedstock to produce 112 million liters of biodiesel by transesterification process with the production cost of around 14,277 rial/liter; i.e. 30% of diesel demand in the transportation sector can be supplied by B2 (98% diesel and 2% biodiesel) or diesel demand growth in this sector converted to B20 to increase economical and environmental sustainability.
Forced free vibrations of a square plate
Authors: D’Alessio S. J. D. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe vibrations of a square plate with free edges that is forced at its center has been investigated experimentally and numerically. A two-step finite volume scheme is proposed and is tested against an exact solution to a related problem. The governing equation and numerical solution procedure were constructed to closely mimic the experiment. Good agreement was found between the numerical simulations and the experiments.
A space-fractional Pennes bioheat conduction model for skin tissue
Authors: Yang Jiangong , Sun Yifei 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis study attempts to develop a modified Pennes bioheat conduction model for skin tissue, by using space-fractional derivative. The developed fractional model is applied to capture the thermal behaviour of the skin tissue subjected to heating and cooling procedures. It is found that with the increase of the fractional order, the predicted temperature of the skin tissue at the heating stage increases, while it decreases at the cooling stage. Irrespective of the value of the fractional order, the simulated temperature along the skin tissue at both heating and cooling stages became stable after several seconds thermal conduction. The fractional model reduces to the original Pennes model when the fractional order equals to two.
National trends in insulin resistance and β‐cell dysfunction among adults with prediabetes: NHANES 2001–2016
Authors: Zhang Hao‐Jie , Tan Xiao , Wang Ning‐Jian 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundInsulin resistance is the central abnormality and mechanism underlying the progression of cardiometabolic‐based chronic diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the trends in insulin resistance and β‐cell dysfunction from 2001 to 2016 among US adults with undiagnosed diabetes, prediabetes, and normal glucose regulation and to provide sex‐specific information using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) 2001–2016.MethodsData from 14,481 participants aged over 20 years from 8 consecutive 2‐year cross–sectional cycles of the NHANES from 2001 to 2016 were used. Updated homoeostasis model assessment 2 (HOMA2: HOMA2%B for β‐cell function and HOMA2IR for insulin resistance) was used as a surrogate measure. We defined the upper sex‐specific tertile of HOMA2IR as insulin resistance and the lower corresponding tertile of HOMA2%B as low β‐cell function.ResultsIn both sexes with undiagnosed diabetes, HOMA2%B (men, Ptrend = 0.118; women, Ptrend = 0.184) and HOMA2IR (men, Ptrend = 0.710; women, Ptrend = 0.855) remained stable over time. In the prediabetes group, both sexes exhibited significant increasing trends in HOMA2%B (men, Ptrend < 0.010; women, Ptrend < 0.010) and HOMA2IR (men, Ptrend < 0.010; women, Ptrend < 0.050). Adjusting for waist circumference mildly attenuated the trend in HOMA2IR and insulin resistance in men (Ptrend < 0.010), but it resulted in no significance in women (Ptrend = 0.196). In regard to normal glucose regulation, both sexes presented significant decreasing trends in low β‐cell function (men, Ptrend < 0.050; women < 0.010) and attenuated trends in insulin resistance (men, Ptrend = 0.196; women, Ptrend = 0.121).ConclusionsOver 16 years, insulin resistance demonstrated an increasing trend in adult US population with prediabetes, while β‐cell function showed a compensatory increasing trend. Identifying people with prediabetes early and focusing on reducing insulin resistance as the intervention core, especially controlling central obesity, might increase the opportunity for cardiovascular and diabetes risk reduction.
Treatment of choledocolithiasis by laparoscopic exploration of the bile tract after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
Authors: Vargas Avila Arcenio Luis , de Alba Cruz Israel , Flores Julian Vargas , Nagore Ancona Jesus Fernando , Cortazar Sánchez Carlos Arturo , Sánchez Diana Luis , Domínguez Rodríguez Jorge Alejandro , Molina Tabárez Karla Belén 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACT

Introduction:
There are three treatment options for choledocholithiasis: endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy; laparoscopic exploration of the main bile duct with concomitant cholecystectomy; and open cholecystectomy with exploration of the main bile duct.

Material and methods:
A retrospective, descriptive, observational study was taken of patients with a diagnosis of cholecysto-choledocholithiasis that failed ERCP and who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with exploration of the bile duct.

Results:
From January 2009 to December 2018, 2322 ERCP procedures were performed at Hospital Regional Ignacio Zaragoza, with a failed procedure rate of 3.2% which is equivalent to 75 patients; endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed on all 75 patients and 60 (80%) of these patients had cholelithiasis with choledocholithiasis. Access to the bile duct through choledochotomy was required in all 75 patients, achieving successful stone extraction and bile duct clearance in 95%. Fifteen (20%) of these patients that had had laparoscopic cholecystectomy presented choledocholithiasis de novo more than two years after cholecystectomy. Nine patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy and 6 patients underwent open cholecystectomy. Patients averaged 6 hospital days post-procedure. Surgical times ranged from 150 min to 210 min.

Conclusion:
Laparoscopic reoperation of the biliary tract is a reasonable alternative for patients with a history of previous biliary surgery who have failed the ERCP approach.

Highlights
Almond diversity and homozygosity define structure, kinship, inbreeding, and linkage disequilibrium in cultivated germplasm, and reveal genomic associations with nut and seed weight
Authors: Pavan Stefano , Delvento Chiara , Mazzeo Rosa , Ricciardi Francesca , Losciale Pasquale , Gaeta Liliana , D’Agostino Nunzio , Taranto Francesca , Sánchez-Pérez Raquel , Ricciardi Luigi , Lotti Concetta 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAlmond [Prunus dulcisMiller (D.A. Webb)] is the main tree nut species worldwide. Here, genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was applied to 149 almond cultivars from the ex situ collections of the Italian Council for Agricultural Research (CREA) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), leading to the detection of 93,119 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The study of population structure outlined four distinct genetic groups and highlighted diversification between the Mediterranean and Californian gene pools. Data on SNP diversity and runs of homozygosity (ROHs) allowed the definition of kinship, inbreeding, and linkage disequilibrium (LD) decay in almond cultivated germplasm. Four-year phenotypic observations, gathered on 98 cultivars of the CREA collection, were used to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and, for the first time in a crop species, homozygosity mapping (HM), resulting in the identification of genomic associations with nut, shell, and seed weight. Both GWAS and HM suggested that loci controlling nut and seed weight are mostly independent. Overall, this study provides insights on the almond cultivation history and delivers information of major interest for almond genetics and breeding. In a broader perspective, our results encourage the use of ROHs in crop science to estimate inbreeding, choose parental combinations minimizing the risk of inbreeding depression, and identify genomic footprints of selection for specific traits.
Shikonin inhibits proliferation of melanoma cells by MAPK pathway-mediated induction of apoptosis
Authors: Lee Jae Han , Han So Hee , Kim You Min , Kim Sung Hyun , Yoo Eun Seon , Woo Joong Seok , Jung Gi Hwan , Jung Soo Hyun , Kim Bum Seok , Jung Ji Youn 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Shikonin, a natural product isolated from the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, exhibits pharmacological effects against inflammation, ulcers, infections, and tumors. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the antitumor effects of shikonin on the human melanoma cell line, A375SM, and in an in vivo mouse xenograft model. We examined the anticancer effects of shikonin by in vitro experiments (MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay, 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) stain, annexin V/ propidium iodide (PI) stain, and protein analysis of apoptosis and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways). Further, the anticancer effect in vivo was confirmed through a xenograft model. Our results showed that shikonin inhibited the proliferation of melanoma cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, shikonin significantly increased nucleus and chromatin condensation and early/late apoptosis. Shikonin also increased the pro-apoptotic proteins and decreased the anti-apoptotic proteins. Additionally, shikonin was overexpressed in MAPK pathways. Investigation of the effects of shikonin in a mouse xenograft model not only showed decreased A375SM tumor volume but also increased apoptosis as determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Furthermore, pathologic changes were not observed in the liver and kidney of mice. Collectively, the study indicated that shikonin inhibited the proliferation of the human melanoma cells by inducing apoptosis, mediated by MAPK pathway and that it is a potential candidate for an anticancer drug against melanoma cancer.
No evidence for brain renin–angiotensin system activation during DOCA-salt hypertension
Authors: Uijl Estrellita , Ren Liwei , Mirabito Colafella Katrina M. , van Veghel Richard , Garrelds Ingrid M. , Domenig Oliver , Poglitsch Marko , Zlatev Ivan , Kim Jae B. , Huang Stephen , Melton Lauren , Hoorn Ewout J. , Foster Don , Danser A.H. Jan 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Brain renin–angiotensin system (RAS) activation is thought to mediate deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertension, an animal model for human primary hyperaldosteronism. Here, we determined whether brainstem angiotensin II is generated from locally synthesized angiotensinogen and mediates DOCA-salt hypertension. To this end, chronic DOCA-salt-hypertensive rats were treated with liver-directed siRNA targeted to angiotensinogen, the angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist valsartan, or the mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist spironolactone (n = 6–8/group). We quantified circulating angiotensinogen and renin by enzyme-kinetic assay, tissue angiotensinogen by Western blotting, and angiotensin metabolites by LC-MS/MS. In rats without DOCA-salt, circulating angiotensin II was detected in all rats, whereas brainstem angiotensin II was detected in 5 out of 7 rats. DOCA-salt increased mean arterial pressure by 19 ± 1 mmHg and suppressed circulating renin and angiotensin II by &gt;90%, while brainstem angiotensin II became undetectable in 5 out of 7 rats (&lt;6 fmol/g). Gene silencing of liver angiotensinogen using siRNA lowered circulating angiotensinogen by 97 ± 0.3%, and made brainstem angiotensin II undetectable in all rats (P&lt;0.05 vs. non-DOCA-salt), although brainstem angiotensinogen remained intact. As expected for this model, neither siRNA nor valsartan attenuated the hypertensive response to DOCA-salt, whereas spironolactone normalized blood pressure and restored brain angiotensin II together with circulating renin and angiotensin II. In conclusion, despite local synthesis of angiotensinogen in the brain, brain angiotensin II depended on circulating angiotensinogen. That DOCA-salt suppressed circulating and brain angiotensin II in parallel, while spironolactone simultaneously increased brain angiotensin II and lowered blood pressure, indicates that DOCA-salt hypertension is not mediated by brain RAS activation.
Performance evaluation of Nakagami‐m fading with impulsive noise
Authors: Ashraf Umer , Begh Gh. Rasool 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe main motivation for considering noise to be Gaussian is the central limit theorem (CLT), which accounts for the perturbations that are additive in nature. However, a communication link may be severely affected due to the presence of potential non‐Gaussian sources of noise. This paper considers an important class of non‐Gaussian noise known as symmetric alpha‐stable (SS) noise. To this end, using binary phase‐shift keying (BPSK) modulation, the bit‐error rate (BER) performance of a communication link subjected to Nakagami‐m fading and SS noise is investigated by employing three approaches: exact, asymptotic and approximate. A closed‐form expression for the probability of error over Nakagami‐m fading subjected to bi‐parameter Cauchy–Gaussian mixture noise (BCGM) model is obtained. The effect of fading parameter (m) and impulsive index () on the BER is analyzed for different settings. The derived results corroborate with Monte Carlo simulations.
Low‐complexity sphere decoding for MIMO‐SCMA systems
Authors: Pan Zhipeng , Lei Jing , Wen Lei , Tang Chaojing , Wang Zhongfeng 
Published: January 2021

AbstractMultiple‐input multiple‐output‐sparse code multiple access, a non‐trivial integration of sparse code multiple access and multiple‐input multiple‐output techniques, is able to achieve high spectrum efficiency and massive user connections. However, this integration also increases the complexity of signal detection. Here, the signal detection problem of multiple‐input multiple‐output sparse code multiple access is transformed into a tree search problem and use sphere decoding to detect the signal. By setting the initial radius to positive infinity, sphere decoding can achieve optimal maximum likelihood performance while the complexity is high. In order to further reduce the complexity of sphere decoding, a block‐wise sorted QR decomposition algorithm is proposed. Based on block‐wise sorted QR decomposition, the improved sphere decoding, namely block‐wise sorted QR decomposition‐sphere decoding, is able to make the tree search more efficient. Since only the detection order of each user's signal has been changed, block‐wise sorted QR decomposition‐sphere decoding can maintain the optimal maximum likelihood performance. Simulation results and complexity analysis show that block‐wise sorted QR decomposition‐sphere decoding can achieve optimal performance and both hard‐output and soft‐output block‐wise sorted QR decomposition‐sphere decoding have much lower complexity than joint message passing algorithm. Furthermore, given the same signal‐to‐noise ratio, the complexity of block‐wise sorted QR decomposition‐sphere decoding decreases with the increase of receiving antennas, while the complexity of joint message passing algorithm increases linearly.
Security‐reliability tradeoff analysis of joint relay‐user pair and friendly jammer selection for physical layer security against multiple eavesdroppers
Authors: Zhang Guangna , Gao Yuanyuan , Luo Huadong , Liu Xiaochen , Guo Mingxi , Sha Nan , Wang Shijie 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis paper examines a wireless communication network comprised of a source and multiple relay‐user pairs in face of multiple malicious eavesdroppers. In order to improve the physical layer security of cooperative communication networks, a joint relay‐user pair and friendly jammer selection (JRUPaFJS) scheme is proposed. Apart from the impacts of friendly jammers on the eavesdroppers, that on the legitimate users is also taken into account due to the presence of channel state information estimation errors. The traditional round‐robin (TRR) scheme and traditional pure relay‐user pair selection (TPRUPS) scheme are considered as benchmark schemes. The exact closed‐form expressions of outage probability and intercept probability for the TRR and TPRUPS schemes as well as JRUPaFJS scheme over Rayleigh fading channels are derived. It is verified that the proposed JRUPaFJS scheme outperforms both the TRR and TPRUPS schemes in terms of their SRT, which demonstrates the wireless security and reliability benefits of exploiting JRUPaFJS scheme. Moreover, as the number of relay‐user pairs increases, the SRT of the TPRUPS and JRUPaFJS schemes improve notably, while as the number of eavesdroppers increases, the SRT of all the three schemes become worse.