bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Variations of risk factors for ischemic stroke and its subtypes in Chinese patients in Taiwan
Authors: Tsai Chung-Fen , Sudlow Cathie L. M. , Anderson Niall , Jeng Jiann-Shing 
Published: May 2021

AbstractChinese have a higher stroke incidence and a different distribution of ischemic stroke (IS) subtypes as compared with Caucasians. Herein we aimed to investigate the prevalence and associations of major risk factors in IS and its subtypes in Chinese patients. From 2006 to 2011, we included 4953 acute IS patients consecutively recruited in National Taiwan University Hospital Stroke Registry (mean age 68 years; male 59%). For each risk factor, we accessed the proportion in all IS patients, and calculated odds ratios for each main IS subtype versus other subtypes. Multiple logistic regression models were used to adjust for confounders, and to examine the associations of risk factors with IS subtypes. Compared with other ischemic subtypes, large artery atherosclerotic and lacunar strokes were associated with hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidaemia, while cardioembolic strokes were associated with ischemic heart disease. Furthermore, the associations with hypertension and diabetes became stronger in lacunar strokes after adjusting for confounders, but not in other ischemic subtypes.
Here we report the variable effects of risk factors on different IS subtypes in Chinese patients in Taiwan. Our findings could help shed light on different mechanisms of IS subtypes and provide targets to make more effective strategies for IS prevention.
Novel capsid binder and PI4KIIIbeta inhibitors for EV-A71 replication inhibition
Authors: Tan Yong Wah , Yam Wan Keat , Kooi Rachel Jia Wen , Westman Jacob , Arbrandt Gustav , Chu Justin Jang Hann 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral illness generally manifests as a mild disease in young children and immunocompromised adults. It has however emerged as a significant public health threat in recent years as outbreaks have been occurring regularly, especially in the Asia–Pacific. The disease can result from infections by a wide variety of human enteroviruses, particularly, Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) has garnered more attention due to its association with severe disease in infected patients. Despite the potential to result severe neurological complications or even fatality, there is currently no effective antiviral for treatment of EV-A71 infections and the only vaccines available are restricted to distribution in China. In this study, we report the in vitro and in vivo evaluation of two candidate antiviral compounds active against EV-A71, a viral capsid inhibitor (G197) and a novel host-targeting phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase III beta inhibitor (N373) which, especially when used in combination, can significantly improve the survival and pathology of infected mice.
The influence of spacer composition on thermomechanical properties, crystallinity, and morphology in ionene segmented copolymers
Authors: Liesen Nicholas T. , Wang Meng , Taghavimehr Mehrnoosh , Lee Jae Sang , Montazami Reza , Hall Lisa M. , Green Matthew D. 
Published: May 2021

A series of segmented ammonium ionenes with varying weight fractions of 2000 g mol−1 poly(ethylene glycol) or poly(tetramethylene oxide) soft segments were synthesized and analogous systems were modeled using coarse-grained simulations.
Evaluation of spice and herb as phyto-derived selective modulators of human retinaldehyde dehydrogenases using a simple in vitro method
Authors: Bui Thi Bao Chau , Nosaki Shohei , Kokawa Mito , Xu Yuqun , Kitamura Yutaka , Tanokura Masaru , Hachimura Satoshi , Miyakawa Takuya 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Selective modulation of retinaldehyde dehydrogenases (RALDHs)—the main aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) enzymes converting retinal into retinoic acid (RA), is very important not only in the RA signaling pathway but also for the potential regulatory effects on RALDH isozyme-specific processes and RALDH-related cancers. However, very few selective modulators for RALDHs have been identified, partly due to variable overexpression protocols of RALDHs and insensitive activity assay that needs to be addressed. In the present study, deletion of the N-terminal disordered regions is found to enable simple preparation of all RALDHs and their closest paralog ALDH2 using a single protocol. Fluorescence-based activity assay was employed for enzymatic activity investigation and screening for RALDH-specific modulators from extracts of various spices and herbs that are well-known for containing many phyto-derived anti-cancer constituents. Under the established conditions, spice and herb extracts exhibited differential regulatory effects on RALDHs/ALDH2 with several extracts showing potential selective inhibition of the activity of RALDHs. In addition, the presence of magnesium ions was shown to significantly increase the activity for the natural substrate retinal of RALDH3 but not the others, while His-tag cleavage considerably increased the activity of ALDH2 for the non-specific substrate retinal. Altogether we propose a readily reproducible workflow to find selective modulators for RALDHs and suggest potential sources of selective modulators from spices and herbs.
Constraining the overcontact phase in massive binary evolution
Authors: Abdul-Masih Michael , Sana Hugues , Hawcroft Calum , Almeida Leonardo A. , Brands Sarah A. , de Mink Selma E. , Justham Stephen , Langer Norbert , Mahy Laurent , Marchant Pablo , Menon Athira , Puls Joachim , Sundqvist Jon 
Published: May 2021

Context. As potential progenitors of several exotic phenomena including gravitational wave sources, magnetic stars, and Be stars, close massive binary systems probe a crucial area of the parameter space in massive star evolution. Despite the importance of these systems, large uncertainties regarding the nature and efficiency of the internal mixing mechanisms still exist.
Aims. We aim to provide robust observational constraints on the internal mixing processes by spectroscopically analyzing a sample of three massive overcontact binaries at different metallicities.
Methods. Using optical phase-resolved spectroscopic data, we performed an atmosphere analysis using more traditional 1D techniques and the most recent 3D techniques. We compared and contrasted the assumptions and results of each technique and investigated how the assumptions affect the final derived atmospheric parameters.
Results. We find that in all three cases, both components of a system are highly overluminous, indicating either efficient internal mixing of helium or previous nonconservative mass transfer. However, we do not find strong evidence of the helium or CNO surface abundance changes that are usually associated with mixing. Additionally, we find that in unequal-mass systems, the measured effective temperature and luminosity of the less massive component places it very close to the more massive component on the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. These results were obtained independently using both of the techniques mentioned above. This suggests that these measurements are robust.
Conclusions. The observed discrepancies between the temperature and the surface abundance measurements when compared to theoretical expectations indicate that additional physical mechanisms that have not been accounted for so far may be at play.
The Ratio of the Distal Femur Width to the Tibial Plateau Width with Advancing Age
Authors: Schlatterer Daniel Robert , Kessler Raymond , Donahue Jeffrey , Amersi Arish , Robinson Weston , Khakharia Saurabh 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHistorically, intraoperative analysis of knee fracture procedures relied upon a fluoroscopic reduction assessment by the surgeon. This is a subjective assessment due to the lack of linear measurement reference data. Compared with the knee, the ankle and wrist have well-established bony anatomical relationships to guide reduction assessment during fracture treatment. The purpose of this study was to (1) determine the width ratios in the knee (plateau to femur) with aging, and (2) determine knee width changes with aging. One-hundred and fifty consecutive uninjured knee radiographs were reviewed. In all age groups, the width ratio of the articular distal femoral (ADF) to the articular tibial plateau (ATP) is greater than 1.0 and between 1.03 and 1.05. The tibia plateau width is on average 9.34 mm wider and the femoral width is 8.0 mm wider in the 61 to 80 age group than the ATP and the ADF in the younger age groups. In conclusion, the articular tibial plateau width and the articular distal femoral width are nearly equal across ages 20 to 80 years. An absolute articular width value by age cannot be assigned because articular widths change with aging.
National Decline in Knee Fusions Performed for Salvage of Chronic Periprosthetic Total Knee Infections
Authors: Rajaee Sean S. , Kavolus Joseph J. , Hayden Brett L. , Estok Daniel M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe primary purpose of this study was to study and compare rates of two salvage operations for patients with chronically infected total knee arthroplasties: (1) knee arthrodesis and (2) above knee amputation (AKA). An analysis was performed comparing the inpatient hospital characteristics and complications between the two procedures. Secondarily, we presented rates of all surgically treated periprosthetic total knee infections over a 6-year period. Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we identified all patients with a periprosthetic infection (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision [ICD-9] 996.66) from 2009 to 2014. Subsequently, we identified surgically treated total knee infections through the following ICD-9 codes: 00.80 (all component revision), 00.84 (liner exchange), 80.06 (removal of prosthesis), 84.17 (AKA), and 81.22 (knee fusion). From 2009 to 2014, the annual incidence of surgically treated total knee periprosthetic infections increased by 34.9% nationally, while the annual incidence of primary total knees increased by only 13.9%. Salvage operations (AKA and knee fusion) represented 5.8% of all surgically treated infections. The rate of knee fusions decreased from 1.9% of surgically treated infections in 2009 to 1.4% in 2014 (p < 0.05), while the rate of AKA stayed steady at 4.5% of cases over the 6-year period. Length of stay was significantly shorter in the knee fusion group (7.9 vs. 10.8 days, p < 0.05), but total hospital costs were higher (33,016 vs. 24,933, p < 0.05). In the multivariable adjusted model, patients undergoing knee fusion had significantly decreased odds of being discharged to skilled nursing facility (odds ratio: 0.42, 95% confidence interval: 0.31–0.58). The annual incidence of surgically treated periprosthetic total knee infections is increasing. The rate of knee arthrodesis for chronic periprosthetic total knee infections is decreasing. Reasons for this downward trend in knee fusions should be evaluated carefully as knee fusions have shown to have the potential advantage of improved mobility and decreased patient morbidity for chronic PJI. The level of evidence is III.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic during the Lockdown on the Traumatic Brain Injury—An Institutional Experience
Authors: Nayak Nitish , Singh Prashant Raj , Sharma Raghvendra Kumar , Gupta Surendra Kumar , Gandhoke Charandeep Singh , Sharma Anil Kumar 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Background Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) contribute to a significant socioeconomic impact, primarily affecting the lower-income sections of the society. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a marked reduction in in-patient attendance. We are highlighting the impact of lockdown in neurotrauma cases in our institution compared to the prelockdown period.
Methods We have done the retrospective review of the patients admitted due to TBI in prelockdown (January 14–March 21, 2020) and lockdown period (March 25–May 31, 2020) for the same duration of the 68 days at our tertiary institution. We have included demographic characteristics (age, sex), mode of injury, the severity of TBI, radiological diagnosis (computed tomography scan), and treatment obtained in our study. We compared the data for percentage (%) reduction of TBI cases and factors responsible for it during the lockdown period.
Result A total of 166 patients were included in both groups. TBI’s most common mechanism was road traffic accident, but we observed an increase in self-fall (16.9% vs. 38.1%) and assault (11.2% vs. 19%) during the lockdown period. We have noted that moderate TBI increased during the lockdown period by 17%. Overall, there is a reduction of 67% in TBI cases during the lockdown period.
Conclusion The COVID pandemic has limited road traffic activity, and strict implementation of lockdown has restricted the infection and has reduced the neurotrauma emergencies. Simultaneously, moderate TBI cases have increased because of the lack of transportation facility and delay in the management of mild TBI cases.
Suppression of the vacuum space-charge effect in fs-photoemission by a retarding electrostatic front lens
Authors: Schönhense G. , Kutnyakhov D. , Pressacco F. , Heber M. , Wind N. , Agustsson S. Y. , Babenkov S. , Vasilyev D. , Fedchenko O. , Chernov S. , Rettig L. , Schönhense B. , Wenthaus L. , Brenner G. , Dziarzhytski S. , Palutke S. , Mahatha S. K. , Schirmel N. , Redlin H. , Manschwetus B. , Hartl I. , Matveyev Yu. , Gloskovskii A. , Schlueter C. , Shokeen V. , Duerr H. , Allison T. K. , Beye M. , Rossnagel K. , Elmers H. J. , Medjanik K. 
Published: May 2021

The performance of time-resolved photoemission experiments at fs-pulsed photon sources is ultimately limited by the e–e Coulomb interaction, downgrading energy and momentum resolution. Here, we present an approach to effectively suppress space-charge artifacts in momentum microscopes and photoemission microscopes. A retarding electrostatic field generated by a special objective lens repels slow electrons, retaining the k-image of the fast photoelectrons. The suppression of space-charge effects scales with the ratio of the photoelectron velocities of fast and slow electrons. Fields in the range from −20 to −1100 V/mm for Ekin = 100 eV to 4 keV direct secondaries and pump-induced slow electrons back to the sample surface. Ray tracing simulations reveal that this happens within the first 40 to 3 μm above the sample surface for Ekin = 100 eV to 4 keV. An optimized front-lens design allows switching between the conventional accelerating and the new retarding mode. Time-resolved experiments at Ekin = 107 eV using fs extreme ultraviolet probe pulses from the free-electron laser FLASH reveal that the width of the Fermi edge increases by just 30 meV at an incident pump fluence of 22 mJ/cm2 (retarding field −21 V/mm). For an accelerating field of +2 kV/mm and a pump fluence of only 5 mJ/cm2, it increases by 0.5 eV (pump wavelength 1030 nm). At the given conditions, the suppression mode permits increasing the slow-electron yield by three to four orders of magnitude. The feasibility of the method at high energies is demonstrated without a pump beam at Ekin = 3830 eV using hard x rays from the storage ring PETRA III. The approach opens up a previously inaccessible regime of pump fluences for photoemission experiments.
Immersion in a minority language
Authors: Ní Chlochasaigh Karen , Shiel Gerry , Ó Duibhir Pádraig 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
When the earliest Irish language immersion schools outside Irish-speaking (Gaeltacht) areas were established, students were likely to come from relatively high socioeconomic backgrounds. While research has shown positive outcomes for these students, less is known about the outcomes of immersion education for students from areas of social disadvantage. Of 145 Irish immersion primary schools in the Republic of Ireland in 2016, 13 (8%) served low socioeconomic status (SES) communities. The current study examined the achievements of Grade 3 (n. = 283) and Grade 6 (n. = 235) students in these schools on nationally-standardised tests of English reading and mathematics. Their scores are compared to those of students attending schools in areas of disadvantage nationally. Immersion students in Grade 3 achieved lower mean scores on both English reading and mathematics when compared with their low-SES English-medium peers. However, Grade 6 students achieved at about the same level in mathematics and outperformed their low-SES peers nationally in English reading.
Anomalous effects of dielectric coated plasmonic metal nanoparticles on solar absorption enhancement in perovskite thin films
Authors: Shen Chenglong , Deng Liren , Wang Ningning , Huang Yu 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Localized surface plasmon resonances in metallic nanostructures have been extensively harnessed for light absorption enhancement in various solar cells, including perovskite solar cells (PSCs). For stabilization and functionalization, plasmonic metal nanostructures are often coated with dielectric shells. In this work, we numerically investigate the effects of dielectric coated plasmonic metal nanoparticles (NPs) on solar absorption enhancement in perovskite thin films. To our surprise, a further absorption enhancement compared with the films embedding bare Ag NPs can be achieved when using thin dielectric coating of high refractive index, while an absorption reduction in comparison with bare perovskite thin films may take place when the embedded Ag NPs are coated with thick dielectric shells of low refractive index. The physics behind is addressed within classic electrodynamics. These anomalous effects extend our knowledge of PSCs, providing guidelines for optimized design of plasmonic solar cells.
Target domains in nanometric Permalloy disks with columnar structure
Authors: Ponomareva Svetlana , Morel Robert , Joisten Hélène , Sabon Philippe , Dieny Bernard 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
We conducted a thorough experimental and numerical study of the micromagnetic properties of Permalloy (Ni80Fe20) microdisks exhibiting target domain structures at remanence. Vortex configurations are quite common in such microdisks and correspond to an in-plane (IP) flux closure configuration of cylindrical symmetry with an out-of-plane (OOP) magnetized core. In contrast, target domain configuration are observed in thicker microdisks and are characterized by a vortex configuration of the IP component of the magnetization superposed to an OOP component of magnetization which oscillates as a function of the distance to the microdisk center resulting in the formation of concentric domains. The ratio of the OOP oscillatory component of the magnetization to the IP vortex one increases with the thickness of the microdisk. Hysteresis loops were measured under IP and OOP field. The results at remanence and under magnetic field could be interpreted by micromagnetic simulations in which the microdisks were described as an assembly of partially coupled columns representing the granular nanostructure of the films from which the microdisks were patterned. Quite original magnetization processes take place in these microdisks exhibiting target domain remanent configuration. These include in particular entire flipping of the domain configuration and annihilation/creation of ring domains.
Plasma–graphene interactions: combined effects of positive ions, vacuum-ultraviolet photons, and metastable species
Authors: Vinchon P , Glad X , Bigras G Robert , Sarkissian A , Martel R , Stafford L 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
This study compares the impact of different plasma environments on the damage formation dynamics of polycrystalline monolayer graphene films on SiO2/Si substrates and investigates the combined effects often observed in low-pressure argon plasmas. After careful characterization of the discharge properties by Langmuir probes and optical absorption spectroscopy, three operating conditions were selected to promote graphene irradiation by either positive ions, metastable species, or vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) photons. In all cases, hyperspectral Raman imaging of graphene reveals plasma-induced damage. In addition, defect generation is systematically slower at grain boundaries (GBs) than within the grains, a behavior ascribed to a preferential self-healing of plasma-induced defects at GBs. The evolution of selected Raman band parameters is also correlated with the energy fluence provided to the graphene lattice by very-low-energy ions. From such correlation, it is shown that the presence of VUV photons enhances the defect formation dynamics through additional energy transfer. On the other hand, the presence of metastable species first impedes the defect generation and then promotes it for higher lattice disorder. While this impediment can be linked to an enhanced defect migration and self-healing at nanocrystallite boundaries in graphene, such effect vanishes in more heavily-damaged films.
Temperature activated conductivity of Ge2Sb2Te5: connection to the variation of Fermi level and implications on resistance drift
Authors: Vorobyov Y , Ermachikhin A , Yakubov A , Trusov E , Fedyanina M , Lazarenko P , Kozyukhin S 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The non-Arrhenius behaviour of Ge2Sb2Te5 conductivity is attributed to the non-linear temperature dependence of the Fermi level, assuming extended state conduction by free holes. The temperature-dependent Fermi level is shown to alter values of activation energy and prefactor for conductivity so that their exact determination becomes impossible using the conductivity data alone. However, if one assumes the temperature dependence of the Fermi level to be a parabolic function. Then, two of three model parameters can be retrieved; to obtain the third parameter one has to make an assumption about the value of prefactor for conductivity. Applying the proposed analysis scheme to Ge2Sb2Te5, reasonable values of Fermi level position are obtained and the change of Fermi level as a result of resistance drift phenomenon is demonstrated.
Continuous manipulation of acoustic wavefront using a programmable acoustic metasurface
Authors: Gong Kemeng , Zhou Xin , Ouyang Huajiang , Mo Jiliang 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
Conventional passive acoustic metasurfaces (AMSs) can hardly reconfigure their topologies or structural parameters, which limits their wide applications. In this paper, a programmable AMS which contains an array of reconfigurable subwavelength unit cells, regulated by a set of stepper motors with lead screws and a cost-effective control system is presented. The unit of the AMS is composed of a parallel one-dimensional daisy-chained slit with five Helmholtz resonators. The phase shift of the transmission wave through the AMS units can be precisely controlled over the full phase range and continuously tuned by varying the slit width at high transmission efficiency. Benefitting from such a mechanism, the designed AMS is able to achieve continuous versatile wave manipulation functions in simulation and in experiment by engineering the phase and amplitude of transmission waves, including tuneable acoustic refraction, tuneable acoustic focusing and tuneable acoustic self-bending. Thus, this proposed AMS holds a great potential for a wide range of applications including diagnostic sonography, active non-destructive evaluation, acoustic holography, noncontact micro-particles manipulation and energy harvesting.