bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of anisotropy energy of SmCo5 by ceasing the coupling at 2c sites in the crystal lattice with Cu substitution
Authors: Haider Syed Kamran , Ngo Hieu Minh , Kim Dongsoo , Kang Young Soo 
Published: May 2021

AbstractSmCo5 and SmCo5−xCux magnetic particles were produced by co-precipitation followed by reduction diffusion. HRTEM confirmed the Cu substitution in the SmCo5 lattice. Non-magnetic Cu was substituted at “2c” site in the SmCo5 crystal lattice and effectively stopped the coupling in its surroundings. This decoupling effect decreased magnetic moment from SmCo5 (12.86 μB) to SmCo4Cu (10.58 μB) and SmCo3Cu2 (7.79 μB) and enhanced anisotropy energy from SmCo5 (10.87 Mega erg/cm3) to SmCo4Cu (14.05 Mega erg/cm3) and SmCo3Cu2 (14.78 Mega erg/cm3). Enhancement of the anisotropy energy increased the coercivity as its values for SmCo5, SmCo4Cu and SmCo3Cu2 were recorded as 4.5, 5.97 and 6.99 kOe respectively. Being six times cheaper as compared to Co, substituted Cu reduced the price of SmCo3Cu2 up to 2%. Extra 15% Co was added which not only enhanced the Mr value but also reduced the 5% of the total cost because of additional weight added to the SmCo3Cu2. Method reported in this work is most energy efficient method on the synthesis of Sm–Co–Cu ternary alloys until now.
Adaptation to recent outcomes attenuates the lasting effect of initial experience on risky decisions
Authors: Kóbor Andrea , Kardos Zsófia , Takács Ádám , Éltető Noémi , Janacsek Karolina , Tóth-Fáber Eszter , Csépe Valéria , Nemeth Dezso 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBoth primarily and recently encountered information have been shown to influence experience-based risky decision making. The primacy effect predicts that initial experience will influence later choices even if outcome probabilities change and reward is ultimately more or less sparse than primarily experienced. However, it has not been investigated whether extended initial experience would induce a more profound primacy effect upon risky choices than brief experience. Therefore, the present study tested in two experiments whether young adults adjusted their risk-taking behavior in the Balloon Analogue Risk Task after an unsignaled and unexpected change point. The change point separated early “good luck” or “bad luck” trials from subsequent ones. While mostly positive (more reward) or mostly negative (no reward) events characterized the early trials, subsequent trials were unbiased. In Experiment 1, the change point occurred after one-sixth or one-third of the trials (brief vs. extended experience) without intermittence, whereas in Experiment 2, it occurred between separate task phases. In Experiment 1, if negative events characterized the early trials, after the change point, risk-taking behavior increased as compared with the early trials. Conversely, if positive events characterized the early trials, risk-taking behavior decreased after the change point. Although the adjustment of risk-taking behavior occurred due to integrating recent experiences, the impact of initial experience was simultaneously observed. The length of initial experience did not reliably influence the adjustment of behavior. In Experiment 2, participants became more prone to take risks as the task progressed, indicating that the impact of initial experience could be overcome. Altogether, we suggest that initial beliefs about outcome probabilities can be updated by recent experiences to adapt to the continuously changing decision environment.
Diagnostic biomarkers in tear fluid: from sampling to preanalytical processing
Authors: Bachhuber Franziska , Huss André , Senel Makbule , Tumani Hayrettin 
Published: May 2021

AbstractTear fluid is receiving growing attention as a source for novel diagnostic biomarkers. Multiple techniques are available for its collection and impact the composition of acquired samples. We sought to provide a direct comparison of two collection methods with regard to implementation, acceptance, and impact on sample composition. Tear fluid was collected from fifteen healthy volunteers with capillary tubes and Schirmer strips and analyzed for total protein and IgG concentrations. Sampling parameters and perception by test persons were compared. The use of capillary tubes was more convenient for the participants while causing more effort for the collector. Tear flow rates as well as the relative and absolute amount of IgG were higher when Schirmer strips were used. Consecutive collections with Schirmer strips significantly influenced tear flow rates, IgG, and protein concentrations. A moderate correlation was observed between tear flow rates and IgG concentrations for both methods. Samples collected with both methods can be analyzed by isoelectric focusing, a potential diagnostic application in the field of neurology. The specific advantages and limitations of tear fluid sampling with either capillary tubes or Schirmer strips demonstrate the need for a thorough investigation of collection methods with regard to the application of interest.
Simultaneous determination of low molecule benzotriazoles and benzotriazole UV stabilizers in wastewater by ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction followed by GC–MS detection
Authors: Kotowska Urszula , Struk-Sokołowska Joanna , Piekutin Janina 
Published: May 2021

AbstractA rapid, sensitive, economically and ecologically friendly method based on one-step ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction and in situ derivatization followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry for simultaneous determination of low molecular benzotriazoles and benzotriazole-based ultraviolet filters was developed. The optimized method allows quantification of benzotriazole, 4-methylbenzotriazole, 5-methylbenzotriazole; 5-chlorobenzotriazole, 2-(2′-hydroxy-3′-tert-butyl-5′-methylphenyl)-5-chlorobenzortriazole and 2-(2′-hydroxy-5′-(1,1,3,3-tetramethylbutyl)phenyl)benzotriazole in municipal and industrial (dairy) wastewater. The method was validated using real influent and effluent wastewater and samples at various stages of the purification process. Relative recoveries obtained using wastewater as sample matrix were between 77 and 137%, method limits of detection from 0.001 to 0.035 µg/L, method limits of quantification from 0.003 to 0.116 µg/L, the repeatability expressed by the coefficient of variation did not exceed 12%. The use of the method for the determination of tested compounds in municipal and industrial wastewater showed their presence in most of the tested samples, in concentrations from LoD to 6.110 µg/L. The conducted studies of samples from municipal wastewater treatment plant located in north-east Poland showed that the effectiveness of benzotriazole removal by this plant wasfrom 29 to 84%. The load of tested compounds released into the environment by this facility ranges from 2 to 269 mg/day/1000 inhabitants.
Paracoccus denitrificans: a genetically tractable model system for studying respiratory complex I
Authors: Jarman Owen D. , Biner Olivier , Wright John J. , Hirst Judy 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMitochondrial complex I (NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase) is a crucial metabolic enzyme that couples the free energy released from NADH oxidation and ubiquinone reduction to the translocation of four protons across the inner mitochondrial membrane, creating the proton motive force for ATP synthesis. The mechanism by which the energy is captured, and the mechanism and pathways of proton pumping, remain elusive despite recent advances in structural knowledge. Progress has been limited by a lack of model systems able to combine functional and structural analyses with targeted mutagenic interrogation throughout the entire complex. Here, we develop and present the α-proteobacterium Paracoccus denitrificans as a suitable bacterial model system for mitochondrial complex I. First, we develop a robust purification protocol to isolate highly active complex I by introducing a His6-tag on the Nqo5 subunit. Then, we optimize the reconstitution of the enzyme into liposomes, demonstrating its proton pumping activity. Finally, we develop a strain of P. denitrificans that is amenable to complex I mutagenesis and create a catalytically inactive variant of the enzyme. Our model provides new opportunities to disentangle the mechanism of complex I by combining mutagenesis in every subunit with established interrogative biophysical measurements on both the soluble and membrane bound enzymes.
Neurotropic influenza A virus infection causes prion protein misfolding into infectious prions in neuroblastoma cells
Authors: Hara Hideyuki , Chida Junji , Uchiyama Keiji , Pasiana Agriani Dini , Takahashi Etsuhisa , Kido Hiroshi , Sakaguchi Suehiro 
Published: May 2021

AbstractMisfolding of the cellular prion protein, PrPC, into the amyloidogenic isoform, PrPSc, which forms infectious protein aggregates, the so-called prions, is a key pathogenic event in prion diseases. No pathogens other than prions have been identified to induce misfolding of PrPC into PrPSc and propagate infectious prions in infected cells. Here, we found that infection with a neurotropic influenza A virus strain (IAV/WSN) caused misfolding of PrPC into PrPSc and generated infectious prions in mouse neuroblastoma cells through a hit-and-run mechanism. The structural and biochemical characteristics of IAV/WSN-induced PrPSc were different from those of RML and 22L laboratory prions-evoked PrPSc, and the pathogenicity of IAV/WSN-induced prions were also different from that of RML and 22L prions, suggesting IAV/WSN-specific formation of PrPSc and infectious prions. Our current results may open a new avenue for the role of viral infection in misfolding of PrPC into PrPSc and formation of infectious prions.
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) rescues cognitive decline, neuroinflammation and cytoskeletal alterations in a model of post-operative cognitive decline (POCD) in middle-aged rats
Authors: Garrone B. , Durando L. , Prenderville J. , Sokolowska E. , Milanese C. , Di Giorgio F. P. , Callaghan C. , Bianchi M. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPost-operative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a debilitating clinical phenomenon in elderly patients. Management of pain in elderly is complicated because analgesic opiates elicit major side effects. In contrast, paracetamol (acetaminophen) has shown analgesic efficacy, no impact on cognition, and its side effects are well tolerated. We investigated the efficacy of paracetamol, compared to the opioid analgesic buprenorphine, in a model of POCD by investigating cognitive decline, allodynia, peripheral and hippocampal cytokines levels, and hippocampal microtubule dynamics as a key modulator of synaptic plasticity. A POCD model was developed in middle-aged (MA) rats by inducing a tibia fracture via orthopaedic surgery. Control MA rats did not undergo any surgery and only received isoflurane anaesthesia. We demonstrated that cognitive decline and increased allodynia following surgery was prevented in paracetamol-treated animals, but not in animals which were exposed to anesthesia alone or underwent the surgery and received buprenorphine. Behavioral alterations were associated with different peripheral cytokine changes between buprenorphine and paracetamol treated animals. Buprenorphine showed no central effects, while paracetamol showed modulatory effects on hippocampal cytokines and markers of microtubule dynamics which were suggestive of neuroprotection. Our data provide the first experimental evidence corroborating the use of paracetamol as first-choice analgesic in POCD.
Atmospheric feedback explains disparate climate response to regional Arctic sea-ice loss
Authors: Levine Xavier J. , Cvijanovic Ivana , Ortega Pablo , Donat Markus G. , Tourigny Etienne 
Published: May 2021

AbstractArctic sea-ice loss is a consequence of anthropogenic global warming and can itself be a driver of climate change in the Arctic and at lower latitudes, with sea-ice minima likely favoring extreme events over Europe and North America. Yet the role that the sea-ice plays in ongoing climate change remains uncertain, partly due to a limited understanding of whether and how the exact geographical distribution of sea-ice loss impacts climate. Here we demonstrate that the climate response to sea-ice loss can vary widely depending on the pattern of sea-ice change, and show that this is due to the presence of an atmospheric feedback mechanism that amplifies the local and remote signals when broader scale sea-ice loss occurs. Our study thus highlights the need to better constrain the spatial pattern of future sea-ice when assessing its impacts on the climate in the Arctic and beyond.
A follicular regulatory Innate Lymphoid Cell population impairs interactions between germinal center Tfh and B cells
Authors: O’Connor Margaret H. , Muir Roshell , Chakhtoura Marita , Fang Michael , Moysi Eirini , Moir Susan , Carey Alison J. , Terk Alyssa , Nichols Carmen N. , Metcalf Talibah , Petrovas Constantinos , Cameron Mark J. , Tardif Virginie , Haddad Elias K. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractInnate Lymphoid Cells (ILCs) are immune cells typically found on mucosal surfaces and in secondary lymphoid organs where they regulate the immune response to pathogens. Despite their key role in the immune response, there are still fundamental gaps in our understanding of ILCs. Here we report a human ILC population present in the follicles of tonsils and lymph nodes termed follicular regulatory ILCs (ILCFR) that to our knowledge has not been previously identified. ILCFRhave a distinct phenotype and transcriptional program when compared to other defined ILCs. Surprisingly, ILCFRinhibit the ability of follicular helper T (Tfh) cells to provide B cell help. The localization of ILCFRto the germinal centers suggests these cells may interfere with germinal center B cell (GC-B) and germinal center Tfh cell (GC-Tfh) interactions through the production of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β. Intriguingly, under conditions of impaired GC-Tfh-GC-B cell interactions, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, the frequency of these cells is increased. Overall, we predict a role for ILCFRin regulating GC-Tfh-GC-B cell interactions and propose they expand in chronic inflammatory conditions.
Environmental DNA monitoring of oncogenic viral shedding and genomic profiling of sea turtle fibropapillomatosis reveals unusual viral dynamics
Authors: Farrell Jessica A. , Yetsko Kelsey , Whitmore Liam , Whilde Jenny , Eastman Catherine B. , Ramia Devon Rollinson , Thomas Rachel , Linser Paul , Creer Simon , Burkhalter Brooke , Schnitzler Christine , Duffy David J. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPathogen-induced cancers account for 15% of human tumors and are a growing concern for endangered wildlife. Fibropapillomatosis is an expanding virally and environmentally co-induced sea turtle tumor epizootic. Chelonid herpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) is implicated as a causative virus, but its transmission method and specific role in oncogenesis and progression is unclear. We applied environmental (e)DNA-based viral monitoring to assess viral shedding as a direct means of transmission, and the relationship between tumor burden, surgical resection and ChHV5 shedding. To elucidate the abundance and transcriptional status of ChHV5 across early, established, regrowth and internal tumors we conducted genomics and transcriptomics. We determined that ChHV5 is shed into the water column, representing a likely transmission route, and revealed novel temporal shedding dynamics and tumor burden correlations. ChHV5 was more abundant in the water column than in marine leeches. We also revealed that ChHV5 is latent in fibropapillomatosis, including early stage, regrowth and internal tumors; higher viral transcription is not indicative of poor patient outcome, and high ChHV5 loads predominantly arise from latent virus. These results expand our knowledge of the cellular and shedding dynamics of ChHV5 and can provide insights into temporal transmission dynamics and viral oncogenesis not readily investigable in tumors of terrestrial species.
Sterol O-acyltransferase 2 chaperoned by apolipoprotein J facilitates hepatic lipid accumulation following viral and nutrient stresses
Authors: Sun Hung-Yu , Chen Tzu-Ying , Tan Yu-Ching , Wang Chun-Hsiang , Young Kung-Chia 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe risks of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) include obese and non-obese stresses such as chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but the regulatory determinants remain obscure. Apolipoprotein J (ApoJ) served as an ER-Golgi contact-site chaperone near lipid droplet (LD), facilitating HCV virion production. We hypothesized an interplay between hepatic ApoJ, cholesterol esterification and lipid deposit in response to NAFLD inducers. Exposures of HCV or free-fatty acids exhibited excess LDs along with increased ApoJ expression, whereas ApoJ silencing alleviated hepatic lipid accumulation. Both stresses could concomitantly disperse Golgi, induce closer ApoJ and sterol O-acyltransferase 2 (SOAT2) contacts via the N-terminal intrinsically disordered regions, and increase cholesteryl-ester. Furthermore, serum ApoJ correlated positively with cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels in normal glycaemic HCV patients, NAFLD patients and in mice with steatosis. Taken together, hepatic ApoJ might activate SOAT2 to supply cholesteryl-ester for lipid loads, thus providing a therapeutic target of stress-induced steatosis.
Joint timing‐offset and channel estimation for physical layer network coding in frequency selective environments
Authors: Abdallah Saeed , Saad Mohamed , Alnajjar Khawla , El‐Moursy Ali A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis paper considers the problem of joint timing‐offset and channel estimation for physical‐layer network coding systems operating in frequency‐selective environments. Three different algorithms are investigated for the joint estimation of the channel coefficients and the fractional timing offset. The first algorithm is based on the maximum‐likelihood (ML) criterion assuming baud‐rate (BR) sampling. The second algorithm also assumes BR sampling and is based on the special properties of Zadoff‐Chu training sequences. In the third algorithm, oversampling at double the baud‐rate (DBR) is used and the least‐squares (LS) estimation criterion applied. While the above algorithms assume that the integer timing offset is known, three generalized‐likelihood‐ratio tests (GLRTs) are also considered for integer offset error correction that integrate very well with the proposed estimation algorithms. Our simulation studies show that the DBR‐LS estimator provides the highest estimation accuracy, significantly outperforming both BR estimators and performing very close to the corresponding Cramer–Rao bound. A gain of 4 dB is observed in symbol‐error‐rate performance using the DBR‐LS algorithm. The DBR‐GLRT also provides substantially higher probability of error correction.
State prediction based control schemes for nonlinear systems with input delay and external disturbance
Authors: Zhu Bing , Chen Mou , Li Tao 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn this paper, a control scheme based on state prediction is proposed for a class of nonlinear systems subject to input delay and external disturbance. Firstly, as for constant input delay, an improved control scheme that combining state prediction with dynamic surface control (DSC) technique is proposed, which can compensate for the input delay completely. Secondly, by considering the constant input delay and external disturbance, an effective controller based on state prediction, DSC technique and disturbance observer is presented to tackle the disturbed input‐delayed nonlinear systems. Thirdly, as for time‐varying input delay and external disturbance, a control scheme that includes state prediction, DSC technique, input saturation and sliding mode disturbance observer is further proposed to tackle the tracking control for the addressed nonlinear systems. Besides, some theorems are given to ensure that all signals in the closed‐loop systems can be semi‐globally ultimately uniformly bounded (UUB) under the proposed control schemes. Finally, by utilising the dynamic model of quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), some simulations are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of our proposed results.
Adaptive colour restoration and detail retention for image enhancement
Authors: He Kangjian , Tao Dapeng , Xu Dan 
Published: May 2021

AbstractComputer vision‐based crowd understanding and analysis technology has been widely used in public safety due to the rapid growth of population and the frequent occurrence of various accidents. Improving imaging quality is the key to improve the performance of crowd analysis, density estimation, target recognition, segmentation, and detection in computer vision tasks. Due to the complex imaging environment such as fog and low illumination, some images taken in outdoor environment often have the problems of colour distortion, lack of details, and the poor imaging quality, which affect the subsequent visual tasks. To improve the imaging quality and visual effect, an adaptive colour restoration and detail retention‐based method is proposed for image enhancement. First, to overcome the problem of colour distortion caused by low illumination and fog, a multi‐channel fusion based adaptive image colour restoration method is proposed. To make the enhancement result more consistent with human observation, the detail retention‐based method is applied to enhance the details. Experimental results demonstrate that the authors' results are effective and outperform the compared methods both in visual and objective evaluations.
C‐ITS road‐side unit deployment on highways with ITS road‐side systems: A techno‐economic approach
Authors: Degrande Thibault , Van den Eynde Simon , Vannieuwenborg Frederic , Colle Didier , Verbrugge Sofie 
Published: May 2021

AbstractConnectivity and cooperation are considered important prerequisites to automated driving, as they are crucial elements in increasing the safety of future automated vehicles and their full integration in the overall transport system. Although many European Member States, as part of the C‐Roads Platform, have implemented and are still implementing Road‐side Units (RSUs) for Cooperative Intelligent Transportation Systems (C‐ITS) within pilot deployment projects, the platform aspires a wide extension of deployments in the coming years. Therefore, this paper investigates techno‐economic aspects of C‐ITS RSU deployments from a road authority viewpoint. A two‐phased approach is used, in which firstly the optimal RSU locations are determined, taking into account existing road‐side infrastructure. Secondly, a cost model translates the amount of RSUs into financial results. It was found that traffic density has a significant impact on required RSU density, hence impacting costs. Furthermore, major cost saving can be obtained by leveraging existing road‐side infrastructure. The proposed methodology is valuable for other member states, and in general, to any other country aspiring to roll out C‐ITS road infrastructure. Results can be used to estimate required investment costs based on legacy infrastructure, as well as to benchmark with the envisioned benefits from the deployed C‐ITS services.