bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Retinal Neurodegeneration and Choroidal Thickness in Patients with Inactive Gravesʼ Ophthalmopathy
Authors: Kurt Muhammed M. , Akpolat Cetin , Evliyaoglu Ferhat , Yilmaz Merve , Ordulu Fikriye 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Purpose The study was conducted for the assessment of the retinal nerve fiber layer, ganglion cell layer, and subfoveal choroidal thickness changes in patients with inactive Gravesʼ ophthalmopathy (GO) using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) before the development of active GO findings.
Materials and Methods The cross-sectional designed study consisted of patients with inactive Gravesʼ ophthalmopathy (study group) and healthy subjects (control group). The thicknesses of the retinal ganglion cell layer, retinal nerve fiber layer, and subfoveal choroid (SFCT) were measured using SS-OCT with deep range imaging technology to compare these parameters between the study and control groups.
Result Patients with inactive Gravesʼ ophthalmopathy had higher values of intraocular pressure but similar best-corrected visual acuity (p = 0.001, p = 0.232, respectively). The retinal nerve fiber layer was thinner only in the superior zone of the study group (p = 0.039), whereas similar values were noted in the temporal, nasal, and inferior areas as well as the average thickness. We did not observe any statistically significant difference in any sector of the ganglion cell layer between the study and control groups. A thicker mean subfoveal choroidal thickness value was measured in patients with inactive Gravesʼ ophthalmopathy than in healthy subjects (p = 0.013) in correlation with a clinical activity score (p = 0.046).
Conclusion SS-OCT showed minimal retinal neurodegenerative alteration and significant choroidal thickening in inactive GO. Thus, SS-OCT might be a beneficial technique to detect retinal neurodegenerative and choroidal changes earlier in the stage of inactive GO before the development of active GO signs, which may affect the time and type of treatment modalities to prevent further ocular or systemic complications. Additionally, SFCT may be a good indicator for assessment of the severity of Gravesʼ disease.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Inpatient Volume at a Tertiary Eye Care Center in Germany with Corneal Main Specialization
Authors: Seitz Berthold , Szentmáry Nóra , Tóth Gábor , Xanthopoulou Kassandra , Stachon Tanja , Németh János , Hécz Réka , Berkó-Göttel Barbara , Pfuhl Thorsten , Smola Sigrun 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background To estimate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on emergency inpatient volume in a tertiary eye care center in Germany with corneal main subspecialization.
Material and Methods A retrospective review of ocular emergency patients who attended the inpatient unit of the Department of Ophthalmology of Saarland University, Homburg/Saar, Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic, between 1 March and 30 April 2020, in comparison to the same time period in 2019. For each subject, clinical history and surgical reports were reviewed. After 24 March 2020, PCR examinations for SARS-CoV-2 were performed from throat swab specimens in all patients using real-time RT-PCR.
Results Totally, 135 patients were admitted in 2019 and 115 patients in 2020 as emergency cases. The patient age at the time of admission did not differ significantly between the two time periods (63.6 ± 17.9 years vs. 62.5 ± 19.6 years) (p = 0.792), but the average length of hospital stays increased significantly for 2020 (4.0 ± 3.6 vs. 4.4 ± 2.7 days, p = 0.043). The percentage of admissions due to acute corneal hydrops (0% vs. 3.5%) increased significantly from 2019 to 2020 (χ2 = 4.772, p = 0.028), however, there was not a significant difference between the two years for any other diagnosis (χ2 ≤ 3.564, p ≥ 0.059). From 2019 to 2020, the percentage of acute intravitreal anti-VEGF injections decreased significantly (7.9% vs. 1.3%, χ2 = 3.985, p = 0.045), but the proportion of other emergency surgeries did not differ between the two years (χ2 ≤ 3.617, p ≥ 0.057). COVID-19 PCR examination was performed in 66 (57.4%)
cases in 2020 and all samples (100%) were negative.
Conclusions The COVID pandemic did not change emergency inpatient volume in our department, but duration of hospital stay was extended on average by 8 hours, mainly due to additional COVID-19-PCR examinations. The proportion of the most frequently performed surgeries did not change remarkably between 2019 and 2020, but with the introduction of Muraineʼs sutures in 2019, the percentage of admissions with acute corneal hydrops (with or without subsequent surgery) increased for 2020. No urgent surgery had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic at our department; all operations were performed successfully.
Two-Year Follow-Up: Therapeutic Success with Respect to Axial Length of Stand-Alone Xen45 Gel Stent Implantation and Combined Procedures
Authors: Gernhart Markus , Hohberger Bettina , Laemmer Robert 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background Up to now, no data have been available on the therapeutic success rate of Xen45 gel stent with respect to axial length (AL). The present study aimed to investigate a potential influence of AL on therapeutic success in stand-alone Xen45 gel stent implantation or combination with cataract surgery in open-angle glaucoma patients (OAG) with a follow-up of 2 years.
Materials and Methods In this retrospective observational study, 98 eyes of 87 glaucoma patients of the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Erlangen Nürnberg, and from the Erlangen Glaucoma Registry (NCT00494923; ISSN 2191-5008, CS-2011) underwent stand-alone Xen45 gel stent implantation or a combination with cataract surgery. Therapeutic success was defined as ≥ 20% IOP reduction with the same or fewer anti-glaucomatous eye drops needed compared to baseline, yet without additional glaucoma-related surgery (expect bleb needling). Therapeutic failure was classified as any additional glaucoma-related surgery, IOP reduction < 20% or if more local anti-glaucomatous eye drops were applied compared to baseline.
Results The therapeutic success rate was 60.7% (1 year) and 62.5% (2 years). No statistical difference was observed when procedures were combined with cataract surgery (p > 0.05). Subgroup analysis yielded no significantly different therapeutic success when considering glaucoma subtype [1 year: 61.5% (POAG), 60% (SAOG), 2 years: 54.5% (POAG), 69.2% (SOAG); p > 0.05]. Anti-glaucomatous medication use was lowered from 2.72 ± 1.04 at baseline to 0.61 ± 0.99 (1 year) and 0.7 ± 1.04 (2 years). The therapeutic success rate was seen to be independent of axial length for group and subgroup analysis (p > 0.05). Emmetropic eyes (22.0 – 24.5 mm) showed a statistically higher needling rate than myopic eyes (> 24.5 mm, p = 0.02).
Conclusion Minimal invasive glaucoma surgery is one therapeutic option in OAG eyes, with good reduction in IOP even after 24 months (with additional bleb needling). Therapeutic success seemed to be independent of axial length in the present study.
Beta-Glucuronidase Inhibition by Constituents of Mulberry Bark
Authors: Bai Yue , Chen Lu , Cao Yun-Feng , Hou Xu-Dong , Jia Shou-Ning , Zhou Qi , He Yu-Qi , Hou Jie 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIntestinal bacterial β-glucuronidases, the key enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis of various glucuronides into free aglycone, have been recognized as key targets for treating various intestinal diseases. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects and mechanisms of the Mulberry bark constituents on E. coli β-glucuronidase (EcGUS), the most abundant β-glucuronidases produced by intestinal bacteria. The results showed that the flavonoids isolated from Mulberry bark could strongly inhibit E. coli β-glucuronidase, with IC50 values ranging from 1.12 µM to 10.63 µM, which were more potent than D-glucaric acid-1,4-lactone. Furthermore, the mode of inhibition of 5 flavonoids with strong E. coli β-glucuronidase inhibitory activity (IC50 ≤ 5 µM) was carefully investigated by a set of kinetic assays and in silico analyses. The results demonstrated that these flavonoids were noncompetitive
inhibitors against E. coli β-glucuronidase-catalyzed 4-nitrophenyl β-D-glucuronide hydrolysis, with Ki
values of 0.97 µM, 2.71 µM, 3.74 µM, 3.35 µM, and 4.03 µM for morin (1), sanggenon C (2), kuwanon G (3), sanggenol A (4), and kuwanon C (5), respectively. Additionally, molecular docking simulations showed that all identified flavonoid-type E. coli β-glucuronidase inhibitors could be well-docked into E. coli β-glucuronidase at nonsubstrate binding sites, which were highly consistent with these agentsʼ noncompetitive inhibition mode. Collectively, our findings demonstrated that the flavonoids in Mulberry bark displayed strong E. coli β-glucuronidase inhibition activity, suggesting that Mulberry bark might be a promising dietary supplement for ameliorating β-glucuronidase-mediated intestinal toxicity.
Updates to the Oxford Space Environment Goniometer to measure visible wavelength bidirectional reflectance distribution functions in ambient conditions
Authors: Curtis R. J. , Warren T. J. , Bowles N. E. 
Published: March 2021

Understanding how the surfaces of airless planetary bodies—such as the Moon—scatter visible light enables constraints to be placed on their surface properties and top boundary layer inputs to be set within thermal models. Remote sensing instruments—such as Diviner onboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter—measure thermal emission and visible light scattering functions across visible (∼0.38–0.7 µm) to thermal infrared (TIR) wavelengths (∼0.7–350 μm). To provide ground support measurements for such instruments, the Oxford Space Environment Goniometer (OSEG) was built. Initially, the OSEG focused on measuring TIR directional emissivity functions for regolith and regolith simulant samples in a simulated space environment, but it has recently been modified to measure visible wavelength Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Functions (BRDFs) of samples in ambient conditions. Laboratory-measured BRDFs can be used (1) to test and to help interpret models—such as the Hapke photometric model—and (2) as visible scattering function inputs for thermal models. This paper describes the modifications to and initial calibration measurements taken by the Visible Oxford Space Environment Goniometer with a 532 nm laser, and details how this setup can be used to measure BRDFs of regolith and regolith simulant samples of airless planetary bodies.
Improved motional Stark effect signal processing using fast Fourier transform spectral analysis
Authors: Makowski M. A. , Victor B. S. 
Published: March 2021

A Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) based method has been developed, which improves the frequency response of the Motional Stark Effect (MSE) system by about a factor of 10 over the conventional analog lock-in method. The method uses fits to rigorously derived analytic expressions for the FFT spectral components of the MSE signal to accurately obtain the amplitudes and phases of the 2f1 and 2f2 photo-elastic modulator (PEM) frequencies that encode the polarization angle. Since no frequency filtering is used in the FFT method, the frequency response is limited by fundamental measurement properties: the frequency response of the detector, photon statistics, sample rate, and the ability to resolve the spectral components. In contrast, the frequency response of the analog lock-in is limited by a low pass filter with a cutoff of around 500 Hz. In the case of the DIII-D MSE system, the output of the photo-multiplier tube detector was sampled at 500 kHz and FFTs with as few as 100 points were used to obtain the amplitudes of the 2f1 and 2f2 PEM frequency components. This corresponds to a frequency response of 5 kHz, about ten times faster than the analog lock-in amplifier system. Details of the FFT method will be presented and compared to those of the analog lock-in system.
High power and high repetition frequency sub-nanosecond pulse generator with two-phase immersion cooling technique
Authors: Ren Linyuan , Wang Yanan , Yang Zihao , Ding Weidong 
Published: March 2021

In this paper, a 60-stage Marx circuit with the two-phase immersion cooling technique is presented. The performance parameters of the pulse generator with phase change immersion cooling and forced air cooling are compared. The results show that the maximum repetition rate is increased from 80 to 260 kHz, the pulse drift is significantly reduced from 900 to 200 ps, and the temperature rise of transistors is controlled effectively to enhance the stability of the amplitude. We also studied the influence of temperature on the turn-on and turn-off processes of the transistors to show the importance of heat management under high repetition conditions. Finally, a pulse generator is developed with the repetition rate of 200 kHz, the rise time of 180 ps, and the amplitude of 2350 V on a matched 50 Ω resistive load, which can work for more than 30 min.
Rules of contact inhibition of locomotion for cells on suspended nanofibers
Authors: Singh Jugroop , Pagulayan Aldwin , Camley Brian A. , Nain Amrinder S. 
Published: March 2021

Significance
When cells heal a wound or invade a new area, they coordinate their motion. Coordination is often studied by looking at what happens after pairs of cells collide. Postcollision, cells often exhibit contact inhibition of locomotion—they turn around and crawl away from the point where they touched. Past knowledge of repolarization on contact comes from studies on flat surfaces, unlike cells in the body, which crawl along fibers. We discover that cells on single fibers walk past one another, but cells in contact with multiple fibers stick to one another and move as pairs. This outcome changes to walk past after cell division. Our experiments and models reveal how the environment regulates cell–cell coordination after contact.
Parametric FEM modeling of multilayer castellated canted cosine theta (CCT) magnets
Authors: Ortwein Rafal , Kirby Glyn 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCanted cosine theta (CCT) magnets have received increased attention in the recent years due to their inherent characteristics of high field quality and low conductor stresses, as each turn is supported by the metallic former. CCT geometry is suitable for complex magnets—such as nested dipoles, which allow full 360° control of the magnetic field direction. Modeling and design of such magnets is the subject of this work. A parametric 3D modeling framework for multilayer CCT magnets has been developed and optimized allowing efficient model generation without a need for both: CAD software and time consuming meshing. The model has been created using the APDL scripting language and solved using the Ansys software. By direct generation of nodes and elements the time to generate a model with one million elements was of the order of 10 min. A framework for script generation was developed, as well as the relations between the mesh parameters and the total number of nodes and elements. Detailed mesh dependence study was carried-out with in-depth analysis of solver performance (solution time, amount of written data, RAM requirements). Global and local convergence criteria were introduced to find the optimal mesh size. The case of a four layer 2.5 Tm nested dipole was analyzed in details including the worst-case scenario with full debonding between the CCT layers. Thanks to the castellations the nested-dipole is safe to support 144 000 Nm of torque due to Lorentz forces even with full de-bonding between the layers.
Zero-energy corner states protected by generalized chiral symmetry in C
4 symmetric crystals
Authors: Li Yu-Zeng , Liu Zheng-Fang , Xu Xun-Wei , Wu Qing-Ping , Xiao Xian-Bo , Liu Mei-Rong , Chang Lu-Lu , Zhang Ruo-Long 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
We investigated the corner-states characteristics of C
4-symmetric higher-order topological crystalline insulators. By evaluating the charge polarization and fractional corner charge, we obtained the abundant topological properties for different intercell hoppings amplitudes and identified that the non-trivial fractional corner charges are accompanied by second-order topological corner states. Interestingly, there are two different types of corner states topologically protected by generalized chiral symmetry, which guarantees that both corner states are pinned to zero energy. One of the corner states is localized at the corners like the one protected by generalized chiral symmetry of three-atom sublattice. However, the other corner states are localized at the two sublattices nearest to the corners, which has no counterpart in a lattice with generalized chiral symmetry. Moreover, both of them have robustness against defects and disorder.
A Multi-response Aluminum Metal-organic Frameworks for Fluorescence Sensing of Fe3+, Sr2+, SiO3
2− and Toluene
Authors: Ma Xuelin , Zhang Xiaoyong , Han Limin , Hao Zhanzhong , Yong Shengli 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
A new Aluminum metal-organic frameworks(Al-MOF) based on tricarboxylate ligands(L){L = 2,2’,2’-([1,3,5]-triazine-2,4,6-triimino)tribenzoic acid)} has been designed and synthesized. It can be served as a platform of multi-responsive fluorescence sensor for Fe3+, Sr2+ and SiO3
2− in water, which is mainly due to the significant enhancement effect of these ions on the fluorescence intensity of Al-MOF. Especially, Fe3+ ions are rarely able to induce MOFs fluorescence enhancement. The limit of detection for three kinds of ions is 6.62* 10−6 M, 5.37* 10−6 M, 6.85* 10−10 M respectively. Meanwhile, It can also be used as a multi-response fluorescence probe to detect toluene in DMF solution, limit of detection is 9.16* 10−3 M respectively. The structure of Al-MOF was characterized by FTIR, 1H NMR, SEM, TAG, PXRD and element analysis. The PXRD showed that the structure of Al-MOF remained the high water stability and pH stability. The application of water samples and vegetables showed that Al-MOF had high sensitive detection for Fe3+ ions.
Assessing Disparities in Reduction Mammaplasty: There Is Room for Improvement
Authors: Morris Martin P , Christopher Adrienne N , Patel Viren , Broach Robyn B , Fischer John P , Butler Paris D 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Background
Racial and socioeconomic disparities in access and quality of surgical care are well documented in many surgical subspecialties, including plastic surgery.

Objectives
The authors aimed to determine if demographic disparities exist in preoperative and postoperative satisfaction after breast reduction mammaplasty, utilizing patient-reported quality of life (QoL) scores.

Methods
Patients who underwent breast reduction mammaplasty between 2015 and 2020 were identified. Patients who underwent complex concomitant procedures were excluded. Patient demographics and QoL, as measured by the BREAST-Q, were extracted. Wilcoxon Rank Sum and Kruskal-Wallis tests were employed to compare QoL scores across demographic subgroups.

Results
A total of 115 patients met the inclusion criteria. QoL improved across all 4 BREAST-Q domains (all P &lt; 0.001). Disparities were shown to exist in the following: median income vs postoperative satisfaction with information (P &lt; 0.001), BMI vs preoperative physical well-being (P &lt; 0.001), and ethnicity vs preoperative physical well-being (P = 0.003). A sub-group analysis of Caucasian patients compared with Black/African American patients revealed significant inequalities in BMI (P &lt; 0.001), median income by zip code (P &lt; 0.001), improvement in satisfaction with breasts (P = 0.039), satisfaction with information (P = 0.007), and satisfaction with office staff (P = 0.044).

Conclusions
Racial and socioeconomic inequalities exist in preoperative and postoperative satisfaction for patients undergoing breast reduction mammaplasty. Institutions should focus on developing tools for equitable and inclusive patient education and perioperative counseling.

Level of Evidence: 2
A Bayesian semiparametric approach for inference on the population partly conditional mean from longitudinal data with dropout
Authors: Josefsson Maria , Daniels Michael J , Pudas Sara 
Published: March 2021

SummaryStudies of memory trajectories using longitudinal data often result in highly nonrepresentative samples due to selective study enrollment and attrition. An additional bias comes from practice effects that result in improved or maintained performance due to familiarity with test content or context. These challenges may bias study findings and severely distort the ability to generalize to the target population. In this study, we propose an approach for estimating the finite population mean of a longitudinal outcome conditioning on being alive at a specific time point. We develop a flexible Bayesian semiparametric predictive estimator for population inference when longitudinal auxiliary information is known for the target population. We evaluate the sensitivity of the results to untestable assumptions and further compare our approach to other methods used for population inference in a simulation study. The proposed approach is motivated by 15-year longitudinal data from the Betula longitudinal cohort study. We apply our approach to estimate lifespan trajectories in episodic memory, with the aim to generalize findings to a target population.
Sexual violence as a sexual script in mainstream online pornography
Authors: Vera-Gray Fiona , McGlynn Clare , Kureshi Ibad , Butterby Kate 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
This article examines the ways in which mainstream pornography positions sexual violence as a normative sexual script by analysing the video titles found on the landing pages of the three most popular pornography websites in the United Kingdom. The study draws on the largest research sample of online pornographic content to date and is unique in its focus on the content immediately advertised to a new user. We found that one in eight titles shown to first-time users on the first page of mainstream porn sites describe sexual activity that constitutes sexual violence. Our findings raise serious questions about the extent of criminal material easily and freely available on mainstream pornography websites and the efficacy of current regulatory mechanisms.
Tau mis-splicing correlates with motor impairments and striatal dysfunction in a model of tauopathy
Authors: Damianich Ana , Facal Carolina Lucia , Muñiz Javier Andrés , Mininni Camilo , Soiza-Reilly Mariano , Ponce De León Magdalena , Urrutia Leandro , Falasco German , Ferrario Juan Esteban , Avale María Elena 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases caused by the abnormal metabolism of the microtubule associated protein tau (MAPT), which is highly expressed in neurons and critically involved in microtubule dynamics. In the adult human brain, the alternative splicing of exon 10 in MAPT pre-mRNA produces equal amounts of protein isoforms with either three (3R) or four (4R) microtubule binding domains. Imbalance in the 3R:4R tau ratio is associated with primary tauopathies that develop atypical parkinsonism, such as progressive supranuclear palsy and corticobasal degeneration. Yet, the development of effective therapies for those pathologies is an unmet goal. Here we report motor coordination impairments in the htau mouse model of tauopathy which harbour abnormal 3R:4R tau isoforms content, and in contrast to TauKO mice, are unresponsive to l-DOPA. Preclinical-PET imaging, array tomography and electrophysiological analyses indicated the dorsal striatum as the candidate structure mediating such phenotypes. Indeed, local modulation of tau isoforms by RNA trans-splicing in the striata of adult htau mice, prevented motor coordination deficits and restored basal neuronal firing. Together, these results suggest that abnormal striatal tau isoform content might lead to parkinsonian-like phenotypes and demonstrate a proof of concept that modulation of tau mis-splicing is a plausible disease-modifying therapy for some primary tauopathies.