bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Direct PCR amplification from saliva sample using non-direct multiplex STR kits for forensic DNA typing
Authors: Shrivastava Pankaj , Jain Toshi , Kumawat R. K. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractDue to its proficiency to provide the most discriminating results for forensic applications, medical research and anthropological studies, multiplex PCR based STR analysis has been established as the most efficient technique in the forensic DNA analysis. Several multiplex amplification kits based on 4, 5 and 6 dyes chemistry are commercially available and used in forensic DNA typing across the globe. These multiplex PCR systems are routinely used for amplification of multiple STR loci (Autosomal, Y and/or X STR’s) in the DNA extracted from various biological samples. In the routine forensic DNA testing, DNA profile obtained is compared with the DNA profile of the reference sample, which takes a certain turnaround time and employs costly lab resources. Successive development in forensic DNA typing have resulted in advent of improved multiplex kits which have reduced the effective analysis time, cost and minimized the number of steps required in comparison to conventional forensic DNA typing. Specialized direct amplification compatible multiplex kits are also available nowadays. These kits are relatively costlier but still require few pre-processing steps, which does not make them worth the hefty cost. Herein, this study, we have used non-direct multiplex STR kits to assess their efficacy for direct amplification. In the present study, 103 saliva samples were directly amplified without any pre-treatment of the samples using thirteen non-direct multiplex kits (4 dyes, 5 dyes and 6 dyes chemistry based) for forensic DNA typing. Here, we report a validated direct PCR amplification protocol from the reference saliva samples by omitting DNA extraction and quantification steps, which resulted in 80% reduction of the turnaround time. The developed protocol is cost effective, time efficient and it does not compromise with the quality of DNA profiles. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report for direct amplification of DNA with the most commonly used non-direct multiplex STR kits without any pre-treatment of the sample. Complete DNA profiles matching all the essential quality parameters were obtained successfully from all the tested samples.
Direct correlation of local fluence to single-pulse ultrashort laser ablated morphology
Authors: Sakurai Haruyuki , Konishi Kuniaki , Tamaru Hiroharu , Yumoto Junji , Kuwata-Gonokami Makoto 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBasic studies on ultrafast laser ablation processes are important for expanding their utility. In particular, understanding the ablated morphology in relation to the incident pulse is critical for micromachining, and an important benchmark for simulations. However, current morphological analyses rely on vast simplifications of experimental conditions, such as a singular fluence value to reduce a unique beam profile, or the maximum crater depth or diameter to describe the ablated morphology. Here, we develop a morphology analysis method in which we take the full two-dimensional information of both the input beam profile and the ablated morphology, and spatially correlate the two without data reduction. We show, using sapphire as a benchmark material, that this serves as a robust way to extract well-studied values and dependencies, such as the ablation threshold, and also as a way to probe the spatial independence of the process. We anticipate that our findings will modernize current study techniques to meet the demand for increased, high-quality data such as that required for artificial intelligence-based analysis.
Intrinsic differences and realistic perspectives of lithium-sulfur and magnesium-sulfur batteries
Authors: Bieker Georg , Küpers Verena , Kolek Martin , Winter Martin 
Published: March 2021

AbstractFollowing in the footsteps of lithium-sulfur batteries, magnesium-sulfur batteries offer a high theoretical energy content and are composed of cheap and more environmentally-friendly electrode materials. In comparison to lithium-sulfur, however, current magnesium-sulfur batteries suffer from higher overpotentials at the magnesium anode and the sulfur cathode, lower material utilization and reversibility at the sulfur cathode, and an excessive demand of electrolyte. Here, a side-by-side comparison of the processes at the two metal anodes and at the sulfur cathode in Li+- or Mg2+-based electrolytes highlights how most of the challenges facing magnesium-sulfur batteries are intrinsically rooted in the nature of the magnesium species, requiring different research directions than lithium-sulfur batteries. An evaluation of the energy content and the corresponding costs on a practical cell stack level illustrates the importance of overcoming these challenges.
Exploring the structural changes in nitrogen-fixing microorganisms of rhizosheath during the growth of Stipagrostis pennata in the desert
Authors: Tian Yongzhi , Ma Xiaolin , Li Yuanting , Cheng Cong , An Dengdi , Ge Fengwei 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Purpose: Rhizosheath is an adaptive feature for the survival of Stipagrostis pennata in desert systems. Although microorganisms play important ecological roles in promoting the nitrogen cycle of rhizosheath, the diversity and function of nitrogen-fixing microorganism communities have not been fully understood.
Materials and methods: Therefore, the aim of the present study is to explore the nitrogen fixation ability of rhizosheaths and the changes in abundance of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms at different growth periods of S. pennata. We sequenced the nifH gene through sequencing to identify the structure and diversity of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms of S. pennata at different growth periods of rhizosheaths.
Results: A total of 1256 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified by nifH sequence and distributed in different growth periods. There were five OTUs distributed in each sample at the same time, and the abundance and diversity of microorganisms in fruit period were much higher than those in other periods. Mainly four phyla were involved, among which Proteobacteria was the most abundant in all groups.
Conclusions: In general, the present study investigated the abundance and characteristics of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms of rhizosheaths in different growth periods of S. pennata. It also may elucidate and indicate that the structure of nitrogen-fixing microorganisms of rhizosheaths in different growth periods of S. pennata had changed.
In Deutschland erworbene West-Nil-Virusinfektion bei einem nierentransplantierten Patienten
Authors: Karrasch Matthias , Pein Ulrich , Fritz Annekathrin , Lange Danica , Moritz Stefan , Amann Kerstin , Schmidt-Chanasit Jonas , Cadar Daniel , Tappe Dennis , Gabriel Martin 
Published: March 2021

Zusammenfassung
Einleitung Das West-Nil-Virus (WNV) ist ein weit verbreitetes Flavivirus, das hauptsächlich zwischen Vögeln von verschiedenen Mückenarten (z. B. Culex, Aedes) übertragen wird, aber auch auf Säugetiere einschließlich Menschen übertragen werden kann. Das Krankheitsspektrum reicht von asymptomatischen Infektionen bis hin zu infektiöser Enzephalitis. Risikofaktoren für schwere Erkrankungen sind Alter, Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen und ein immungeschwächter Zustand.
Anamnese und klinischer Befund Hier berichten wir über einen 60-jährigen männlichen Patienten, der 2 Jahre nach seiner Nierentransplantation aufgrund einer hypertensiven Nephropathie mit schwerem Fieber an das Universitätsklinikum Halle (Saale) überwiesen wurde.
Untersuchungen und Diagnose Es konnte zunächst kein Infektionsfokus gefunden werden. Am 6. Tag im Verlauf seiner Krankheit entwickelte der Patient neurologische Symptome, sodass der Verdacht auf eine virale Enzephalitis gestellt wurde.
Therapie und Verlauf Die im Raum stehende virale Enzephalitis wurde mit Aciclovir parenteral anbehandelt. Nach initialer Reduktion der Immunsuppression wurde eine koinzidente Funktionsverschlechterung des Nierentransplantats mit Methylprednisolon behandelt. Eine WNV-Infektion wurde aufgrund kürzlich aufgetretener Fälle bei Menschen in der näheren Umgebung der Stadt Leipzig vermutet. Es konnte WNV der Linie 2 im Urin des Patienten durch RT-PCR und im Verlauf eine Serokonversion von anti-WNV-IgM zu anti-WNV-IgG nachgewiesen werden. Die Behandlung mit Aciclovir wurde u. a. daraufhin abgebrochen. Der Patient erholte sich vollständig und die transplantierte Niere erlangte wieder eine angemessene Funktion. Die Biopsie des Transplantats zeigte keine relevante Abstoßung.
Folgerung Dieser Fall unterstreicht die Notwendigkeit, seltenere Krankheitsursachen wie die WNV-Infektion insbesondere in Risikogruppen zu berücksichtigen. WNV kann mittels PCR im Blut und Liquor früh im Verlauf der Infektion nachgewiesen werden, wird aber auch über einen längeren Zeitraum im Urin ausgeschieden. Eine Serokonversion zu anti-WNV-IgG und -IgM kann gezeigt werden, aber die serologische Kreuzreaktivität in der Flavivirus-Familie muss berücksichtigt werden.
Diagnostik und Therapie neuropathischer Schmerzen
Authors: Fabig Sophie-Charlotte , Kersebaum Dilara , Sendel Manon , Gierthmühlen Janne , Baron Ralf 
Published: March 2021

ZUSAMMENFASSUNGDie Ätiologie neuropathischer Schmerzen gründet auf einer Schädigung des somatosensorischen Systems. Sie unterscheiden sich von nozizeptiven Schmerzen, bei welchen das somatosensorische System intakt ist, nicht nur in ihrer Schmerzqualität, sondern auch in ihrer Therapie. Periphere neuropathische Schmerzen, beispielsweise aufgrund einer Polyneuropathie, werden von zentralen neuropathischen Schmerzen, beispielsweise als Folge eines Schlaganfalls abgegrenzt. Bei der Diagnostik neuropathischer Schmerzen, wird zwischen „sicheren“, „wahrscheinlichen“, „möglichen“ und „unwahrscheinlichen“ neuropathischen Schmerzen unterschieden. Eine gründliche Anamnese, welche durch Fragebögen ergänzt werden kann, und körperliche Untersuchung sind bei der Diagnostik erforderlich. Zum Erkennen der „Positiv“- und „Negativsymptome“, welche für neuropathische Schmerzen charakteristisch sind, kann man sich einfacher „Bedside-Tools“ bedienen. Für die Sicherung der Diagnose können die Quantitative Sensorische Testung (QST), Methoden der Bildgebung und der klassischen Elektrophysiologie sowie die Hautbiopsie und weitere spezialisierte Methoden eingesetzt werden. Das Ansprechen neuropathischer Schmerzen auf klassische Analgetika ist in der Regel schlecht. Daher werden als Medikamente erster Wahl Antikonvulsiva und Antidepressiva eingesetzt. Auch topisch applizierte Substanzen wie Capsaicin oder Lidocain und niedrigpotente Opioide finden in der Therapie neuropathischer Schmerzen häufig ihre Anwendung. Oft ist eine Kombination mehrerer Substanzen erforderlich. Die Trigeminusneuralgie sowie der zentrale Schmerz nach Schlaganfall oder bei Multipler Sklerose weisen Besonderheiten in ihrer Diagnostik und Therapie auf, welchen in Exkursen Aufmerksamkeit gewidmet werden soll.
Current Challenges for Education and Training in Transanal Surgery
Authors: Costedio Meagan 
Published: March 2021

AbstractTransanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a technique that was introduced in the 1980s for improved exposure to upper rectal polyps. This technique, though initially difficult to master due to new skill acquisition for surgeons, has spared many patients proctectomy. There are many benign indications for transanal endoscopic surgery which has led to in vivo operating room training with fewer undesirable effects to the patient. With the explosion of laparoscopic technology this transanal technique is no longer limited to intraluminal pathology, but is now being used to remove the entire rectum. In transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME), benign indications are less common, translating to potentially more severe oncologic patient consequences during the early phase of adoption. For this reason, strict training criteria consensus guidelines have been developed by the experts in taTME. The current consensus statements agree that training surgeons should have performed a minimum of 10 laparoscopic TME procedures and should have some experience with transanal surgery. Surgeons need to attend a formal training course and should start clinically on benign or early malignant pathology without threated circumferential resection margins. Surgeons also need to have their first cases proctored until deemed proficient by the proctor and monitor their morbidity, oncologic, and functional outcomes prospectively.
Role of Digital Resources in Minimally Invasive Colorectal Surgery Training
Authors: Paine Heidi , Chand Manish 
Published: March 2021

AbstractLaparoscopic techniques have become the standard for many benign and malignant colorectal pathologies. Recently, the application of robotic-assisted technologies has been, and continues to be, explored. These new technologies require different skill sets and bring novel training challenges, and today's trainees must demonstrate competence in more techniques than ever. Compounding this is the reducing time spent operating in current training programs due to caps on working hours and service pressures.The need for adjunctive training strategies outside the operating room has prompted development of multimedia and digital resources to build the cognitive skills crucial in both nontechnical and technical aspects of surgery. Many are based on principles of cognitive task analysis, breaking down operations, and key decisions into nodal points to be mentally rehearsed. Resources built on this technique have shown improvements in both operative and nonoperative skills, suggesting these resources can advance trainees along the learning curve in minimally invasive surgical techniques.More work to fully elucidate the clinical benefits of such resources is required before their role as a substitute for lost operative training hours can be established. Despite this, alongside other developing technologies such as simulation, they are a promising addition to the armamentarium of the modern-day colorectal trainee.
Formation of beams with nonuniform polarisation of radiation in a cw waveguide terahertz laser
Authors: Gurin O.V. , Degtyarev A.V. , Dubinin N.N. , Legenkiy M.N. , Maslov V.A. , Muntean K.I. , Ryabykh V.N. , Senyuta V.S. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
A method for obtaining non-Gaussian light beams with azimuthal field polarisation in a waveguide quasi-optical cavity is described. The method is based on the employment of polarisation-selective diffraction structures as laser mirrors. Efficient excitation of such beams at the output from an optically pumped waveguide HCOOH laser (λ = 0.4326 mm) with an inhomogeneous reflecting input and semitransparent output mirrors is confirmed theoretically and experimentally.
Pre-Columbian transregional captive rearing of Amazonian parrots in the Atacama Desert
Authors: Capriles José M. , Santoro Calogero M. , George Richard J. , Flores Bedregal Eliana , Kennett Douglas J. , Kistler Logan , Rothhammer Francisco 
Published: March 2021

Significance
The brightly colored feathers of macaws, amazons, and other neotropical parrots were one of the most important symbols of wealth, power, and sacredness in the pre-Columbian Americas. Andean highland and coastal societies imported these exotic goods from Amazonian tropical forests by little-understood mechanisms of exchange. The study of 27 complete and partially mummified and skeletonized remains of at least six species of parrots from five archaeological sites in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile provides evidence that capturing, transporting, and keeping macaws, amazons, and conures as pets was part of this provisioning system, likely motivated by their significance for producing and representing relational wealth.
Invariant plastic deformation mechanism in paramagnetic nickel–iron alloys
Authors: Dong Zhihua , Li Wei , Schönecker Stephan , Jiang Bin , Vitos Levente 
Published: March 2021

Significance
Peculiar materials properties, such as Invar anomalies, including low thermal expansion and anomalous temperature dependence of modulus of elasticity, had substantial academic and technical impact. Today both invariant effects are associated with the interplay between temperature and magnetic order and thus they are considered to be specific to magnetically ordered alloys. In this work, an invariant phenomenon manifesting in temperature-independent stacking fault energy is discovered in magnetically disordered Ni–Fe alloys. Based on our understanding of the atomic-level mechanisms behind this Invar anomaly, a similar invariant phenomenon is identified in other systems including nonmagnetic alloys. These findings advance the design of high-temperature alloys with exceptional plastic stability.
Provisional COVID-19 infrastructure induces large, rapid increases in cycling
Authors: Kraus Sebastian , Koch Nicolas 
Published: March 2021

Significance
Active travel makes people healthier and creates a wide range of additional social and environmental benefits. The provision of dedicated infrastructure is considered a crucial policy to increase cycling. However, evaluating the impact of this type of intervention is difficult because infrastructure changes are typically slow. The rollout of so-called pop-up bike lanes during the COVID-19 pandemic is a unique empirical context to estimate the pull effect of new cycling infrastructure. We show that the policy has worked. We find large increases in cycling. This result is robust for a variety of empirical counterfactuals. Further research is needed to investigate whether this change is persistent and whether similar results can be achieved in situations outside the context of a pandemic.
Corythucha ciliata (sycamore lace bug).
Authors: Dominiak Bernie , Gillespie Peter 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

C. ciliata, the sycamore lace bug, is a highly invasive pest insect of plane (sycamore) trees (Platanus sp.). It is likely that its spread is facilitated by human activity, particularly vehicles along major transport routes. Maceljski (1986) states that these insects are "good fliers", but most authors (e.g. Wade, 1917) suggest that their delicate wings make them weak fliers and that human activity is more likely to lead to the spread of this species. The occurrence of plane tree hosts will limit the distribution of C. ciliata, but as these trees are widely planted throughout the world in streets and parks as ornamental shade trees, there is considerable scope for their further advance.
Diaporthe helianthi (stem canker of sunflower).
Authors: Mathew Febina , Block Charles , Harveson Robert , Gulya Thomas , Ryley Mal , Thompson Susan , Markell Samuel 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

No effect of D. helianthi on wild Helianthus spp. in North America has been documented. Though the fungus could be said to have invaded Europe, its spread has probably been mediated by human activity rather than by natural means. In any case, sunflower is an annual exotic crop in Europe, planted in monoculture, and the disease has not affected the extent of sunflower cultivation. So D. helianthi cannot be said to be invasive.
Paspalum conjugatum (buffalo grass).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

Paspalum conjugatum is a vigorous, creeping perennial grass with long stolons and dense culms that may grow up to 1 m tall. It has been extensively introduced as a forage and lawn grass and it can now be found naturalized across tropical and subtropical regions. P. conjugatum tolerates high levels of disturbance and pollution, grows vigorously under partial shade, spreads easily by seeds and stolons, and can withstand acidic and low-nutrient soils. Once established, this grass behaves as an aggressive weed in active pastures and agricultural lands, but also in disturbed and undisturbed natural forests and grasslands. It forms a dense ground cover that competes with and inhibits the establishment of other plant species, including other grasses and crops. In the Pacific region, it has been stated that some native forests have become extinct due to this grass pest.
Rottboellia cochinchinensis (itch grass).
Authors: Rojas-Sandoval Julissa , Acevedo-Rodríguez Pedro , Riches Charlie 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

The erect, profusely tillering annual grass R. cochinchinensis grows up to a height of 4 m or more and is extremely competitive with annual crops, readily invading disturbed sites along roads and railways. Commonly known as itchgrass, it has brace roots near the base of the plant, a cylindrical spikelet seedhead and siliceous hairs on the leaf sheath that can penetrate and irritate the skin. Individual plants produce 2000 to 16,000 seeds that are shed as soon as they mature. A native of Indo-China, it is naturalised throughout the tropics of Asia, and is found in north-eastern Australia and savannah zones of Africa. It has been introduced into tropical America, as a potential pasture grass in the USA in the early 1900s and since the 1960s has been spread widely by contaminated rice seed, agricultural equipment and along transport routes in Central and South America, the Caribbean, and in the Gulf Coast region of the USA. An aggressive, significant weed in more than 40 countries, R. cochinchinensis is listed as a Federal Noxious Weed in the USA, and is suggested by Vibrans (2009) to be possibly the most harmful invasive plant in Mexico.
A generalized Hartle–Hawking wave function
Authors: Alexander Stephon , Herczeg Gabriel , Magueijo João 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
The Hartle–Hawking wave function is known to be the Fourier dual of the Chern–Simons or Kodama state reduced to mini-superspace, using an integration contour covering the whole real line. But since the Chern–Simons state is a solution of the Hamiltonian constraint (with a given ordering), its Fourier dual should provide a solution (i.e. beyond mini-superspace) of the Wheeler DeWitt equation representing the Hamiltonian constraint in the metric representation. We write down a formal expression for such a wave function, to be seen as the generalization beyond mini-superspace of the Hartle–Hawking wave function. Its explicit evaluation (or simplification) depends only on the symmetries of the problem, and we illustrate the procedure with anisotropic Bianchi models and with the Kantowski–Sachs model. A significant difference of this approach is that we may leave the torsion inside the wave functions when we set up the ansatz for the connection, rather than setting it to zero before quantization. This allows for quantum fluctuations in the torsion, with far reaching consequences.
Bandwidth and noise analysis of high-Q MEMS gyroscope under force rebalance closed-loop control
Authors: Bu Feng , Fan Bo , Xu Dacheng , Guo Shuwen , Zhao Heming 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
The force-to-rebalance (FTR) closed-loop detection method is commonly used to expand the bandwidth (BW) for micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) gyroscopes with low-frequency split and high-quality factors. However, the relationship between the BW and output noise is often incompatible; thus, reducing the detection accuracy of the gyroscope. This paper presents an analysis of the BW and noise spectra under modulation-demodulation FTR gyroscopes. The expressions for the BW and the noise-equivalent rate (NER) spectrum are derived to explore the effects of the loop gain on the BW and NER. It is demonstrated that the gain of the amplifier circuit is maximally transferred to the vibration displacement signal conversion part, which can reduce the output noise without affecting the BW. The simulation and experimental results on the Cobweb-like disk resonator gyroscope show that the derived expressions of BW and NER are correct, and the noise optimization method is effective, which provides an idea for the realization of a high-precision MEMS gyroscope.