bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The role of a two-assay serological testing strategy for anti-HCV screening in low-prevalence populations
Authors: Huang Yanfang , Pan Huifen , Gao Qin , Lv Panpan , Xu Xiaoqin , Zhao Zhen 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHCV screening depends mainly on a one-assay anti-HCV testing strategy that is subject to an increased false-positive rate in low-prevalence populations. In this study, a two-assay anti-HCV testing strategy was applied to screen HCV infection in two groups, labelled group one (76,442 people) and group two (18,415 people), using Elecsys electrochemiluminescence (ECL) and an Architect chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA), respectively. Each anti-HCV-reactive serum was retested with the other assay. A recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA) and HCV RNA testing were performed to confirm anti-HCV positivity or active HCV infection. In group one, 516 specimens were reactive in the ECL screening, of which CMIA retesting showed that 363 (70.3%) were anti-HCV reactive (327 positive, 30 indeterminate, 6 negative by RIBA; 191 HCV RNA positive), but 153 (29.7%) were not anti-HCV reactive (4 positive, 29 indeterminate, 120 negative by RIBA; none HCV RNA positive). The two-assay strategy significantly improved the positive predictive value (PPV, 64.1% & 90.1%, P < 0.05). In group two, 87 serum specimens were reactive according to CMIA screening. ECL showed that 56 (70.3%) were anti-HCV reactive (47 positive, 8 indeterminate, 1 negative by RIBA; 29 HCV RNA positive) and 31 (29.7%) were anti-HCV non-reactive (25 negative, 5 indeterminate, 1 positive by RIBA; none HCV RNA positive). Again, the PPV was significantly increased (55.2% & 83.9%, P < 0.05). Compared with a one-assay testing strategy, the two-assay testing strategy may significantly reduce false positives in anti-HCV testing and identify inactive HCV infection in low-seroprevalence populations.
Barrier properties of fungal fruit body skins, pileipelles, contribute to protection against water loss
Authors: Lendzian Klaus J. , Beck Andreas 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe permeability of intact fungal fruit body skins (pileipelles) with respect to water and oxygen was determined for the first time. Methods that have been successfully applied to plant surfaces were used to study isolated pileipelles. Mechanically isolated skins from five genera of Basidiomycota (species of Amanita, Russula, Stropharia, Tapinella, and Tricholomopsis) were mounted between two compartments simulating the inner (fruit body) and the outer (aerial) space. Fluxes of water and oxygen across the skins were measured. Water loss via intact skins differed markedly from evaporation of water from a water surface. The skins reduced water loss by factors of 10 to 30, with permeability ranging from 2.8 to 9.8 × 10−4 ms−1. Oxygen permeability was much lower and ranged from 0.8 to 6.0 × 10−6 ms−1. Chloroform-extractable substances play a minor, but significant role as transport barrier during water permeance. Water and oxygen permeability were dependent on the humidity in the aerial compartment. Higher humidity in the air increased permeability and the hydration/water content of the skins. The ecological implications include impacts to fungal growth, sporulation and spore release.
Nonlinear magnetoelectric effects in Al-substituted strontium hexaferrite
Authors: Liu Ying , Popov Maksym , Zavislyak Igor , Qu Hongwei , Zhang T. , Zhang Jitao , Page M. R. , Balbashov A. M. , Srinivasan G. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis report is on the observation and theory of electric field E induced non-linear magnetoelectric (NLME) effects in single crystal platelets of ferrimagnetic M-type strontium aluminum hexagonal ferrite. Using microwave measurement techniques, it was found that a DC electric field along the hexagonal c-axis results in significant changes in the saturation magnetization and uniaxial magneto-crystalline anisotropy field and these changes are proportional to the square of the applied static electric field. The NLME effects were present with or without an external bias magnetic field. The E-induced variation in magnetic order parameters is attributed to weakening of magnetic exchange and spin–orbit interactions since conduction electrons in the ferrite are effectively excluded from both interactions while being in transit from one Fe ion to another. We present a phenomenological theory which considers magneto-bielectric effects characterized by a quadratic term in electric field E in the free energy density. The coefficients for the NLME coupling terms have been calculated from experimental data and they do show variations with the Al substitution level and the largest rates of change of the saturation magnetization and anisotropy constant change with the applied power were observed for x = 0.4. It was also clear from the study that strength of the NLME effect does not depend on the amount Al substitution, but critically depends on the electrical conductivity of the sample with the highest NLME coefficients estimated for the sample with the highest conductivity. Results of this work are of importance for a new family of electric field tunable, miniature, high frequency ferrite devices.
Soil zinc, serum zinc, and the potential for agronomic biofortification to reduce human zinc deficiency in Ethiopia
Authors: De Groote Hugo , Tessema Masresha , Gameda Samuel , Gunaratna Nilupa S. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractHuman zinc deficiency is a global public health problem. Many African soils are zinc deficient (ZnD), indicating fertilizers could increase crop yields and grain Zn levels, thereby increasing Zn in the food supply and alleviating human Zn deficiency. To analyze associations among soil Zn, human Zn deficiency, and child nutritional status, we combined the Ethiopian soil Zn map and the Ethiopian National Micronutrient Survey (ENMS). ENMS provides representative, georeferenced data on child nutritional status using anthropometry of children under five years old (CU5) and on human Zn deficiency among CU5 and women of reproductive age (WRA) using the recommended biomarker, serum Zn. ZnD soils mostly occur in lower altitudes, which are less populated and outside the main crop-producing areas. Serum Zn deficiencies were high, and correlated to soil Zn for children, but not for WRA. About 4 million Ethiopian CU5 are ZnD, and, of these, about 1.5 million live on low-Zn soils (< 2.5 mg/kg), while 0.3 million live on ZnD soils (< 1.5 mg/kg). Therefore, if Zn fertilizers are only applied on ZnD soils, their impact on child Zn deficiency may be limited. Greater impact is possible if Zn fertilizers are applied to soils with sufficient Zn for plant growth and if this results in increased grain Zn. Optimal soil Zn levels for plant and human nutrition may be different, and context-specific optimal levels for the latter must be determined to develop nutrition-sensitive fertilizer policies and recommendations.
Nutricosmetic effects of Asparagus officinalis: a potent matrix metalloproteinase-1 inhibitor
Authors: Sriyab Suwannee , Laosirisathian Nachtharinee , Punyoyai Chanun , Anuchapreeda Songyot , Tima Singkome , Chiampanichayakul Sawitree , Chaiyana Wantida 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the nutricosmetic effect of Asparagus officinalis extracts. The tip and spear of A. officinalis were successively extracted with 95% ethanol. The rutin, phenolic, and flavonoid contents of A. officinalis extracts were investigated. The antioxidant activities were determined by 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) and a ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), elastase, and hyaluronidase inhibition were determined by in vitro enzyme reaction assay. The cytotoxicity was analyzed on peripheral blood mononuclear cellss. Findings revealed that drying temperature and drying duration had significant effects on the chemical composition and biological activity of A. officinalis extract. A. officinalis tips dried at 50 °C for 24 h contained the (significantly) highest flavonoid and rutin content. The most potent extract was from A. officinalis spears since it possessed the (significantly) highest MMP-1, elastase, and hyaluronidase inhibition rates of 83.4 ± 1.5%, 70.4 ± 4.1%, and 75.2 ± 1.0%, respectively. Interestingly, at the same concentration, the A. officinalis spear extract was more potent in MMP-1 inhibition than oleanolic acid and epigallocatechin gallate, the well-known natural MMP-1 inhibitors. The results show that A. officinalis extract is an attractive source of natural anti-skin-wrinkle ingredients.
Declines and recovery in endangered Galapagos pinnipeds during the El Niño event
Authors: Páez-Rosas Diego , Torres Jorge , Espinoza Eduardo , Marchetti Adrian , Seim Harvey , Riofrío-Lazo Marjorie 
Published: April 2021

AbstractCurrently, the Galapagos sea lion (GSL, Zalophus wollebaeki) and Galapagos fur seal (GFS, Arctocephalus galapagoensis) are among the most important endemic species for conservation in the Galapagos Archipelago. Both are classified as “Endangered” since their populations have undergone drastic declines over the last several decades. In this study we estimated the abundance of both otariids, and their population trends based using counts conducted between 2014 and 2018 in all their rookeries, and we analyzed the influence of environmental variability on pup production. The GSL population size in 2018 in the archipelago was estimated to be between 17,000 to 24,000 individuals and has increased at an average annual rate of 1% over the last five years after applying correction factors. The highest number of GSL counted in the archipelago was in 2014 followed by a population decline of 23.8% in 2015 that was associated with the El Niño event that occurred during that year. Following this event, the population increased mainly in the northern, central and southeastern rookeries. The GSL pup abundance showed a decreasing trend with the increase in intensity of the El Niño. The GFS population in 2018 was counted in 3,093 individuals and has increased at an annual rate of 3% from 2014 to 2018. A high number of GFS counted in 2014 was followed by a population decrease of 38% in 2015, mainly in the western rookeries. There was interannual population fluctuations and different growth trends among regions of the archipelago. GSL and GFS pup abundance has a strong decreasing tendency with the increase in the subthermocline temperature (ST) and the El Niño 1 + 2 index. Our results provide evidence that both species are highly vulnerable to periodic oceanographic-atmospheric events in the Galapagos Archipelago which impact prey abundance and the flow of energy in the unique Galapagos ecosystem.
Pallidal versus subthalamic deep-brain stimulation for meige syndrome: a retrospective study
Authors: Liu Jiayu , Ding Hu , Xu Ke , Liu Ruen , Wang Dongliang , Ouyang Jia , Liu Zhi , Miao Zeyu 
Published: April 2021

AbstractDeep-brain stimulation (DBS) is an effective treatment for patients with Meige syndrome. The globus pallidus interna (GPi) and the subthalamic nucleus (STN) are accepted targets for this treatment. We compared 12-month outcomes for patients who had undergone bilateral stimulation of the GPi or STN. Forty-two Asian patients with primary Meige syndrome who underwent GPi or STN neurostimulation were recruited between September 2017 and September 2019 at the Department of Neurosurgery, Peking University People’s Hospital. The primary outcome was the change in motor function, including the Burke–Fahn–Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale movement (BFMDRS-M) and disability subscale (BFMDRS-D) at 3 days before DBS (baseline) surgery and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Secondary outcomes included health-related quality of life, sleep quality status, depression severity, and anxiety severity at 3 days before and 12 months after DBS surgery. Adverse events during the 12 months were also recorded. Changes in BFMDRS-M and BFMDRS-D scores at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months with DBS and without medication did not significantly differ based on the stimulation target. There were also no significant differences in the changes in health-related quality of life (36-Item Short-Form General Health Survey) and sleep quality status (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) at 12 months. However, there were larger improvements in the STN than the GPi group in mean score changes on the 17-item Hamilton depression rating scale (− 3.38 vs. − 0.33 points; P = 0.014) and 14-item Hamilton anxiety rating scale (− 3.43 vs. − 0.19 points; P < 0.001). There were no significant between-group differences in the frequency or type of serious adverse events. Patients with Meige syndrome had similar improvements in motor function, quality of life and sleep after either pallidal or subthalamic stimulation. Depression and anxiety factors may reasonably be included during the selection of DBS targets for Meige syndrome.
Route towards efficient magnetization reversal driven by voltage control of magnetic anisotropy
Authors: One Roxana-Alina , Béa Hélène , Mican Sever , Joldos Marius , Veiga Pedro Brandão , Dieny Bernard , Buda-Prejbeanu Liliana D. , Tiusan Coriolan 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe voltage controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) becomes a subject of major interest for spintronics due to its promising potential outcome: fast magnetization manipulation in magnetoresistive random access memories with enhanced storage density and very low power consumption. Using a macrospin approach, we carried out a thorough analysis of the role of the VCMA on the magnetization dynamics of nanostructures with out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy. Diagrams of the magnetization switching have been computed depending on the material and experiment parameters (surface anisotropy, Gilbert damping, duration/amplitude of electric and magnetic field pulses) thus allowing predictive sets of parameters for optimum switching experiments. Two characteristic times of the trajectory of the magnetization were analyzed analytically and numerically setting a lower limit for the duration of the pulses. An interesting switching regime has been identified where the precessional reversal of magnetization does not depend on the voltage pulse duration. This represents a promising path for the magnetization control by VCMA with enhanced versatility.
Transcriptomic analysis identifies differences in gene expression in actinic keratoses after treatment with imiquimod and between responders and non responders
Authors: Trager Megan H. , Rizk Emanuelle , Rose Sharon , Zhu Kuixi , Lau Branden , Fullerton Benjamin T. , Pradhan Jaya , Moore Michael , Srivastava Ayush C. , Singer Giselle , Gartrell Robyn , Chang Rui , Geskin Larisa J. , Saenger Yvonne M. , Goldenberg Gary 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe presence of actinic keratoses (AKs) increases a patient’s risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma by greater than six-fold. We evaluated the effect of topical treatment with imiquimod on the tumor microenvironment by measuring transcriptomic differences in AKs before and after treatment with imiquimod 3.75%. Biopsies were collected prospectively from 21 patients and examined histologically. RNA was extracted and transcriptomic analyses of 788 genes were performed using the nanoString assay. Imiquimod decreased number of AKs by study endpoint at week 14 (p < 0.0001). Post-imiquimod therapy, levels of CDK1, CXCL13, IL1B, GADPH, TTK, ILF3, EWSR1, BIRC5, PLAUR, ISG20, and C1QBP were significantly lower (adjusted p < 0.05). Complete responders (CR) exhibited a distinct pattern of inflammatory gene expression pre-treatment relative to incomplete responders (IR), with alterations in 15 inflammatory pathways (p < 0.05) reflecting differential expression of 103 genes (p < 0.05). Presence of adverse effects was associated with improved treatment response. Differences in gene expression were found between pre-treatment samples in CR versus IR, suggesting that higher levels of inflammation pre-treament may play a part in regression of AKs. Further characterization of the immune micro-environment in AKs may help develop biomarkers predictive of response to topical immune modulators and may guide therapy.
Children With Cochlear Implants Use Semantic Prediction to Facilitate Spoken Word Recognition
Authors: Blomquist Christina , Newman Rochelle S. , Huang Yi Ting , Edwards Jan 
Published: April 2021

Purpose
Children with cochlear implants (CIs) are more likely to struggle with spoken language than their age-matched peers with normal hearing (NH), and new language processing literature suggests that these challenges may be linked to delays in spoken word recognition. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether children with CIs use language knowledge via semantic prediction to facilitate recognition of upcoming words and help compensate for uncertainties in the acoustic signal.

Method

Five- to 10-year-old children with CIs heard sentences with an informative verb (
draws
) or a neutral verb (
gets
) preceding a target word (
picture
). The target referent was presented on a screen, along with a phonologically similar competitor (
pickle
). Children's eye gaze was recorded to quantify efficiency of access of the target word and suppression of phonological competition. Performance was compared to both an age-matched group and vocabulary-matched group of children with NH.

Results
Children with CIs, like their peers with NH, demonstrated use of informative verbs to look more quickly to the target word and look less to the phonological competitor. However, children with CIs demonstrated less efficient use of semantic cues relative to their peers with NH, even when matched for vocabulary ability.

Conclusions
Children with CIs use semantic prediction to facilitate spoken word recognition but do so to a lesser extent than children with NH. Children with CIs experience challenges in predictive spoken language processing above and beyond limitations from delayed vocabulary development. Children with CIs with better vocabulary ability demonstrate more efficient use of lexical-semantic cues. Clinical interventions focusing on building knowledge of words and their associations may support efficiency of spoken language processing for children with CIs.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14417627
Reducing conversion range in wavelength exchange networks
Authors: Lin Bey‐Chi 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAll‐optical cross‐connects need to perform switching not only in the space domain, but also in the wavelength domain. Switching in the wavelength domain requires wavelength converters (WCs), and WCs capable of simultaneously performing multiple wavelength conversions have been invented. We can use multiple stages of such WCs to form a wavelength exchange network to allow an even larger number of simultaneous wavelength conversions. However, WCs with a full conversion range are often difficult to implement. In the paper, we develop new techniques and theories that can reduce the conversion range requirement and still maintain the full connectivity of all‐optical space/wavelength switches.
A tunable detector for distributed targets when signal mismatch occurs
Authors: Cui Yufeng , Liu Weijian , Du Qinglei , Liu Jun , Wang Yong‐Liang 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAiming at the problem of distributed target detection when there is signal mismatch, this paper proposes a tunable detector, which is characterised by a tunable parameter. The proposed detector can realise the flexible detection of mismatch signals by adjusting the tunable parameter, and hence the directivity (robustness or selectivity to mismatched signals) of the tunable detector can be smoothly adjusted. In addition, the tunable detector can obtain approximately the same detection performance as the corresponding generalised likelihood ratio test in the absence of signal mismatch. The proposed tunable detector also possesses the constant false alarm rate property. Numerical examples illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed detector.
Proton implantation in just above active region for improvement of power conversion efficiency of VCSELs
Authors: Miyamoto Tomoyuki , Sakamoto Hayato 
Published: April 2021

AbstractImproving the power conversion efficiency of vertical cavity surface‐emitting lasers (VCSELs) by three‐dimensionally control of the carrier concentration, which is the main mechanism of the electrical resistance and optical absorption has been investigated using the proton implantation technique just above the active region. The fabricated VCSELs showed improved power conversion efficiency of approximately 3 points without serious deterioration of threshold current and operating voltage. Improvement of slope efficiency from 0.5 W/A to 0.6 W/A is the main cause and these improved the output power by 1.2 times.
Description of space charge transport in oil‐paper insulation using adaptive time‐stepping transient upstream finite element method
Authors: Liu Jiefeng , Shi Mingchen , Zhang Yiyi , Gao Bing , Zhang Wei , Liang Shuo 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe charge transport and accumulation in oil–paper can cause the insulation degradation. So far, the most widely used model to simulate space charge transport and accumulation is the bipolar charge transport (BCT) model, which can well simulate the space charge dynamics. However, there are two shortcomings in the algorithms for solving the BCT model. One is that there is almost no use of vectorisation technology, which may increase the complexity of the algorithm, the other is the usage of fixed step size which might bring extra computation cost. In view of this, an adaptive time‐stepping transient upstream finite element method (FEM) is developed to solve the BCT model considering trapping/detrapping, as well as the recombination phenomenon under DC condition in this article. Then, a vectorisation technology is used in the method to optimise the algorithm. Moreover, the adaptive time‐stepping method is introduced in simulation to reduce computation time and calculation amount. Simulation results are obtained by programing and later presented, which are basically consistent with the corresponding experimental results. Therefore, the proposed method is expected to promote the optimization design of the oil–paper insulation system.
Transient fault identification method for bipolar short‐circuit fault on MMC‐HVDC overhead lines based on hybrid HVDC breaker
Authors: Li Botong , Li Chunbo , Li Bin , Wen Weijie , Cui Hanqing , Su Jiang 
Published: April 2021

AbstractA bipolar short‐circuit transient fault identification method for overhead transmission lines in modular multi‐level converter‐based high voltage direct current (MMC‐HVDC) grid based on the hybrid HVDC breaker is proposed. The circuit breakers on both sides of the positive and negative overhead transmission lines will trip after a bipolar short‐circuit fault in the MMC‐HVDC grid. In order to identify whether the fault is a transient fault, the isolating switch of the DC breaker on one line side is reclosed first, and the voltage change on this line side in the case of transient and permanent faults is analysed. By comparing the electrical characteristics of the voltage on the line side under transient and permanent faults, a transient fault identification method is proposed, and the calculation method of the setting value of the criterion is obtained. Finally, by building the MMC‐HVDC system model for simulation in power systems computer aided design, the accuracy and effectiveness of the proposed method for transient fault identification are verified.