bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The optical system of the Tenerife Microwave Spectrometer: a window for observing the 10–20 GHz sky spectra
Authors: Alonso-Arias P. , Fuerte-Rodríguez P.A. , Hoyland R.J. , Rubiño-Martín J.A. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The TMS optical system is based on a decentered
dual-reflector system in a Gregorian configuration to observe with
an angular resolution of less than 2°. The primary goal
of the present study is to evaluate the final design and verify that
it satisfies the design requirements. We aim for low
cross-polarization (-30 dB), low sidelobe (-25 dB) levels, and a
stable beam in terms of shape (low ellipticity) and size over a full
octave bandwidth (10–20 GHz). We performed both ray-tracing and
full-wave simulations using the CST Studio software in order to
investigate the system behaviour. We gave special attention to the
beam frequency variation and polarization leakage. We have
characterized the effects on the radiation pattern produced by the
cryostat window. We present the final design of the TMS optical
system, as well as a complete study of the system's performance in
terms of cross-polarization, sidelobes, ellipticity and
beamwidth. We discuss the effects of sidelobes and study the need
for a baffle.
Measurements and analysis of different front-end configurations for monolithic SiGe BiCMOS pixel detectors for HEP applications
Authors: Martinelli F. , Magliocca C. , Cardella R. , Charbon E. , Iacobucci G. , Nessi M. , Paolozzi L. , Rücker H. , Valerio P. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
This paper presents a small-area monolithic pixel detector
ASIC designed in 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS technology for the upgrade of
the pre-shower detector of the FASER experiment at CERN. The purpose
of this prototype is to study the integration of fast front-end
electronics inside the sensitive area of the pixels and to identify
the configuration that could satisfy at best the specifications of
the experiment. Self-induced noise, instabilities and cross-talk
were minimised to cope with the several challenges associated to the
integration of pre-amplifiers and discriminators inside the pixels.
The methodology used in the characterisation and the design choices
will also be described. Two of the variants studied here will be
implemented in the pre-production ASIC of the FASER experiment
pre-shower for further tests.
High-accuracy absolute magnetometry with application to the Fermilab Muon g-2 experiment
Authors: Flay D. , Kawall D. , Chupp T. , Corrodi S. , Farooq M. , Fertl M. , George J. , Grange J. , Hong R. , Osofsky R. , Ramachandran S. , Swanson E. , Winter P. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
We present details of a high-accuracy absolute scalar magnetometer
based on pulsed proton NMR. The B-field magnitude is determined
from the precession frequency of proton spins in a cylindrical
sample of water after accounting for field perturbations from
probe materials, sample shape, and other corrections. Features of the design,
testing procedures, and corrections necessary for qualification
as an absolute scalar magnetometer are described. The device was
tested at B = 1.45 T but can be modified for a range exceeding
1–3 T. The magnetometer was used to calibrate other NMR magnetometers
and measure absolute magnetic field magnitudes to an accuracy
of 19 parts per billion as part of a measurement of the muon
magnetic moment anomaly at Fermilab.
The effect of MV image spatial resolution on the patient positioning and patient specific QA
Authors: Dudas D. , Koniarova I. , Prusa P. , Koncek O. , Osmancikova P. , Semmler M. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Electronic portal imaging device (EPID) is a common part of
almost each radiotherapy treatment unit. It is a quick and simple
tool for various clinical procedures, e.g. verification of patient
positioning or patient specific QA. Currently available EPIDs have
usually the spatial resolution below 0.5 mm. As EPIDs are not
primarily designed for diagnostics, even lower spatial resolution
might be acceptable. This work assesses the effect of MV image
spatial resolution on clinical routines which employ the EPID and
addresses the minimal technical requirements of such devices. The
aim is to determine if EPIDs with poorer spatial resolution are able
to reach the same clinical quality as currently used EPIDs. The
effects of MV image spatial resolution on the imaging performance,
patient positioning and patient specific QA were studied. The lower
spatial resolution was simulated by manually downsampling the
original images down to 4× poorer spatial resolution. The
study includes an analysis of 96 images used for the patient
positioning verification and 61 treatment field images used for the
patient specific QA.
Digital holographic camera with extended stochastic illumination for non-destructive inspection of silicon optics
Authors: Dwivedi Gaurav , Pensia Lavlesh , Debnath Sanjit K , Kumar Raj 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
In the present work, we propose a compact digital holographic camera (DHC) with extended stochastic illumination for full-field non-destructive inspection of silicon optics fabricated in a computerized numerical control machine. The developed technique overcomes the limitation of digital holography imparted by the finite size of the active area of the recording sensor that can image a specular surface. The original aspect of this research work is to develop a system that enables reconstruction and testing of a specular surface. For this a dual diffuser configuration is incorporated in a compact DHC developed for non-destructive testing (NDT) applications. The generation of a stochastic illumination beam using the diffusers is explained by simulating the propagation of a light beam through a random phase function of the scattering medium. The stochastic optical field produced by the combination of diffusers in the DHC makes the camera suitable for NDT of the specular surface of silicon optics. The effects of the number of diffusers and their relative positions on the imaging area of the specular object are studied for development of an optimized configuration of DHC. Applicability of the proposed scheme is demonstrated through detection of defects in silicon optics using digital holographic interferometry.
Paper-based triboelectric nanogenerator and activities of salt ions
Authors: Palsaniya Shatrudhan , Nehra Komal , Dasmahapatra Ashok Kumar 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
This work presents a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG) fabrication using polytetrafluoroethylene, aluminum foil, and cellulose paper. Mechanical interactions lead to atomic defects that stimuli the delocalized electrostatic charge carriers and kinetic energy. The addition of ionic salt’s microdroplets improved the TENG’s performance. Eventually, surface charge activities have escalated the electrical signals. Further, studied spontaneously increased charge transport performance at the steady-state condition in the presence of NaCl ionic droplets. We considered that these ionic activities actively participated in detecting salt ions.
Dimension investigation to pneumatic network bending soft actuators for soft robotic applications
Authors: Salem Mohamed E M , Wang Qiang 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Soft actuators have been investigated for robots that interact with people, such as industrial robots, entertainment robots, and medical robots. Although soft actuators have been utilised in several applications, design tools that can assist in the effective and systematic design of actuators are needed. This paper focused on the most common soft actuators for bending motion, the Pneumatic Networks bending actuators. Paper presented a survey on the effects of changing the dimensions on the soft actuator and its cross-section shape on the soft actuator flexibility and the forces generated at different applied pressures. This survey can be used to optimize the dimension ratio for the soft actuator and the cross-section shape. Furthermore, this paper analyzed the possible reasons for the dimension change effect. The performance of the bending soft actuator was evaluated using ABAQUS/CAE software simulation models to provide quantitative insights into the actuators’ behaviours. Thus, this paper provided a lot of insights that can be used to guide and accelerate the soft actuator design process to create strong and flexible Pneumatic Networks bending actuators. Using the paper insights outputs, a soft gripper was designed that can grasp many complex objects without needing any modification in the gripper shape. To show the proposed actuators’ capacity to do complicated movements and expand their applications, a completely soft hand was created that can mimic the mobility of the human hand as nearly as possible, and this ability was verified using hand sign language settings.
Systemic L-ornithine supplementation specifically increases ovarian putrescine levels during ovulation in mice
Authors: Lavergne Christopher L J , Tao Yong , Ren Yanping , Lafleur Nahantara , Liu X Johné 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
In all mammalian species examined thus far, the ovaries produce a burst of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and putrescine during ovulation or after application of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Aged mice have significantly reduced levels of this periovulatory ODC and putrescine rise. Putrescine supplementation, in vitro during oocyte maturation or in mouse drinking water during the periovulatory period, reduces egg aneuploidies and embryo resorption, improving fertility of aged mice. These studies suggest that periovulatory putrescine supplementation may be a simple and effective therapy for reproductive aging for women. However, putrescine supplementation is expected to increase widespread tissue putrescine levels, raising concerns of nonspecific and unwanted side effects. Given that ODC is highly expressed in the ovaries during ovulation but otherwise exhibits low activity in most tissues, we hypothesized that periovulatory supplementation of L-ornithine, the substrate of ODC, might be suitable for delivering putrescine specifically to the ovaries. In this study, we have demonstrated that systemic application of L-ornithine via oral gavage or subcutaneous injection increased ovarian putrescine levels; the increase was restricted to animals that had been injected with hCG. Furthermore, L-ornithine specifically increased ovarian putrescine levels without affecting putrescine levels in any other tissues. However, our attempts to improve fertility of aged mice through L-ornithine supplementation in mouse drinking water produced either no effects (1% L-ornithine) or negative impact on fertility (4% ornithine). Our results suggest that it might not be feasible to achieve fertility-enhancing ovarian putrescine levels via L-ornithine supplementation in drinking water without encountering undesired consequences of high dose of exogenous L-ornithine.
Amphetamine-induced dopamine release and impulsivity in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Song Alexander K , Hay Kaitlyn R , Trujillo Paula , Aumann Megan , Stark Adam J. , Yan Yan , Kang Hakmook , Donahue Manus J , Zald David H , Claassen Daniel O 
Published: December 2021

AbstractImpulsive-compulsive behaviours manifest in a substantial proportion of subjects with Parkinson’s disease. Reduced ventral striatum dopamine receptor availability, and increased dopamine release is noted in patients with these symptoms. Prior studies of impulsivity suggest that midbrain D2 autoreceptors regulate striatal dopamine release in a feedback inhibitory manner, and in healthy populations, greater impulsivity is linked to poor proficiency of this inhibition. This has not been assessed in a Parkinson’s disease population. Here, we applied 18F-fallypride PET studies to assess striatal and extrastriatal D2-like receptor uptake in a placebo-controlled oral dextroamphetamine sequence. We hypothesized that Parkinson’s disease patients with impulsive-compulsive behaviours would have greater ventral striatal dopaminergic response to dextroamphetamine, and that an inability to attenuate ventral striatal dopamine release via midbrain D2 autoreceptors would underlie this response.Twenty patients with Parkinson’s disease (mean age = 64.1 ± 5.8 years) both with (n = 10) and without (n = 10) impulsive-compulsive behaviours, participated in a single-blind dextroamphetamine challenge (oral; 0.43 mg/kg) in an OFF dopamine state. All completed PET imaging with 18F-fallypride, a high-affinity D2-like receptor ligand, in the placebo and dextroamphetamine state.Both voxelwise and region of interest analyses revealed dextroamphetamine-induced endogenous dopamine release localized to the ventral striatum, and the caudal-medial orbitofrontal cortex. The endogenous dopamine release observed in the ventral striatum correlated positively with patient-reported participation in reward-based behaviours, as quantified by the self-reported Questionnaire for Impulsivity in Parkinson’s disease Rating Scale. In participants without impulsive-compulsive behaviours, baseline midbrain D2 receptor availability negatively correlated with ventral striatal dopamine release; however, this relationship was absent in those with impulsive-compulsive behaviours. These findings emphasize that reward-based behaviours in Parkinson’s disease are regulated by ventral striatal dopamine release, and suggest that loss of inhibitory feedback from midbrain autoreceptors may underlie the manifestation of impulsive-compulsive behaviours.
The long and the short of Huntington’s disease: how the sphingolipid profile is shifted in the caudate of advanced clinical cases
Authors: Phillips Gabrielle R. , Saville Jennifer T. , Hancock Sarah E. , Brown Simon H. J. , Jenner Andrew M. , McLean Catriona , Fuller Maria , Newell Kelly A. , Mitchell Todd W. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractHuntington’s disease is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that onsets in late adulthood as progressive and terminal cognitive, psychiatric and motor deficits. The disease is genetic, triggered by a CAG repeat (polyQ) expansion mutation in the Huntingtin gene and resultant huntingtin protein. Although the mutant huntingtin protein is ubiquitously expressed, the striatum degenerates early and consistently in the disease. The polyQ mutation at the N-terminus of the huntingtin protein alters its natural interactions with neural phospholipids in vitro, suggesting that the specific lipid composition of brain regions could influence their vulnerability to interference by mutant huntingtin; however, this has not yet been demonstrated in vivo. Sphingolipids are critical cell signalling molecules, second messengers and membrane components. Despite evidence of sphingolipid disturbance in Huntington’s mouse and cell models, there is limited knowledge of how these lipids are affected in human brain tissue. Using post-mortem brain tissue from five brain regions implicated in Huntington’s disease (control n = 13, Huntington’s n = 13), this study aimed to identify where and how sphingolipid species are affected in the brain of clinically advanced Huntington’s cases. Sphingolipids were extracted from the tissue and analysed using targeted mass spectrometry analysis; proteins were analysed by western blot. The caudate, putamen and cerebellum had distinct sphingolipid changes in Huntington’s brain whilst the white and grey frontal cortex were spared. The caudate of Huntington’s patients had a shifted sphingolipid profile, favouring long (C13–C21) over very-long-chain (C22–C26) ceramides, sphingomyelins and lactosylceramides. Ceramide synthase 1, which synthesizes the long-chain sphingolipids, had a reduced expression in Huntington’s caudate, correlating positively with a younger age at death and a longer CAG repeat length of the Huntington’s patients. The expression of ceramide synthase 2, which synthesizes very-long-chain sphingolipids, was not different in Huntington’s brain. However, there was evidence of possible post-translational modifications in the Huntington’s patients only. Post-translational modifications to ceramide synthase 2 may be driving the distinctive sphingolipid profile shifts of the caudate in advanced Huntington’s disease. This shift in the sphingolipid profile is also found in the most severely affected brain regions of several other neurodegenerative conditions and may be an important feature of region-specific cell dysfunction in neurodegenerative disease.
The neurovascular couplings between electrophysiological and hemodynamic activities in anticipatory selective attention
Authors: Zhao Chenguang , Li Dongwei , Guo Jialiang , Li Bingkun , Kong Yuanjun , Hu Yiqing , Du Boqi , Ding Yulong , Li Xiaoli , Liu Hanli , Song Yan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractSelective attention is thought to involve target enhancement and distractor inhibition processes. Here, we recorded simultaneous electroencephalographic (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data from human adults when they were pre-cued by the visual field of coming target, distractor, or both of them. From the EEG data, we found alpha power relatively decreased contralaterally to the to-be-attended target, as reflected by the positive-going alpha modulation index. Late alpha power relatively increased contralaterally to the to-be-suppressed distractor, as reflected by the negative-going alpha modulation index. From the fNIRS data, we found enhancements of hemodynamic activity over the contralateral hemisphere in response to both the target and the distractor anticipation but within nonoverlapping posterior brain regions. More importantly, we described the specific neurovascular modulation between alpha power and oxygenated hemoglobin signal, which showed a positive coupling effect during target anticipation and a negative coupling effect during distractor anticipation. Such flexible neurovascular couplings between EEG oscillation and hemodynamic activity seem to play an essential role in the final behavioral outcomes. These results provide unique neurovascular evidence for the dissociation of the mechanisms of target enhancement and distractor inhibition. Individual behavioral differences can be related to individual differences in neurovascular coupling.
Household Contact Tracing With Intensified Tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Screening in South Africa: A Cluster-Randomized Trial
Authors: Martinson Neil A , Lebina Limakatso , Webb Emily L , Ratsela Andrew , Varavia Ebrahim , Kinghorn Anthony , Lala Sanjay G , Golub Jonathan E , Bosch Zama , Motsomi Kegaugetswe P , MacPherson Peter 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Background
Household contact tracing for tuberculosis (TB) may facilitate diagnosis and access to TB preventive treatment (TPT). We investigated whether household contact tracing and intensive TB/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening would improve TB-free survival.

Methods
Household contacts of index TB patients in 2 South African provinces were randomized to home tracing and intensive HIV/TB screening or standard of care (SOC; clinic referral letters). The primary outcome was incident TB or death at 15 months. Secondary outcomes included tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity in children ≤14 years and undiagnosed HIV.

Results
From December 2016 through March 2019, 1032 index patients (4459 contacts) and 1030 (4129 contacts) were randomized to the intervention and SOC arms. Of intervention arm contacts, 3.2% (69 of 2166) had prevalent microbiologically confirmed TB. At 15 months, the cumulative incidence of TB or death did not differ between the intensive screening (93 of 3230, 2.9%) and SOC (80 of 2600, 3.1%) arms (hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], .66–1.24). TST positivity was higher in the intensive screening arm (38 of 845, 4.5%) compared with the SOC arm (15 of 800, 1.9%; odds ratio, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.07–4.72). Undiagnosed HIV was similar between arms (41 of 3185, 1.3% vs 32 of 2543, 1.3%; odds ratio, 1.02; 95% CI, .64–1.64).

Conclusions
Household contact tracing with intensive screening and referral did not reduce incident TB or death. Providing referral letters to household contacts of index patients is an alternative strategy to home visits.

Clinical Trials Registration
ISRCTN16006202.
Pivotal Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trial of the Safety, Tolerability, and Immunogenicity of 20-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine in Adults Aged ≥18 Years
Authors: Essink Brandon , Sabharwal Charu , Cannon Kevin , Frenck Robert , Lal Himal , Xu Xia , Sundaraiyer Vani , Peng Yahong , Moyer Lisa , Pride Michael W , Scully Ingrid L , Jansen Kathrin U , Gruber William C , Scott Daniel A , Watson Wendy 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Background
Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have significantly reduced pneumococcal disease, but disease from non-PCV serotypes remains. The safety, tolerability, and immunogenicity of a 20-valent PCV (PCV20) were evaluated.

Methods
This pivotal phase 3, randomized, double-blind study enrolled adults into 3 age groups (≥60, 50–59, and 18–49 years) at US and Swedish sites. Participants were randomized to receive 1 PCV20 or 13-valent PCV (PCV13) dose. After 1 month, participants aged ≥60 years also received 1 dose of saline or 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). Safety assessments included local reactions, systemic events, adverse events, serious adverse events, and newly diagnosed chronic medical conditions. Opsonophagocytic activity geometric mean titers 1 month after PCV20 were compared with 13 matched serotypes after PCV13 and 7 additional serotypes after PPSV23 in participants aged ≥60 years; noninferiority was declared if the lower bound of the 2-sided 95% confidence interval for the opsonophagocytic activity geometric mean titer ratio (ratio of PCV20/saline to PCV13/PPSV23 group) was &gt;0.5. PCV20-elicited immune responses in younger participants were also bridged to those in 60–64-year-olds.

Results
The severity and frequency of prompted local reactions and systemic events were similar after PCV20 or PCV13; no safety concerns were identified. Primary immunogenicity objectives were met, with immune responses after PCV20 noninferior to 13 matched serotypes after PCV13 and to 6 additional PPSV23 serotypes in participants aged ≥60 years; serotype 8 missed the statistical noninferiority criterion. PCV20 induced robust responses to all 20 vaccine serotypes across age groups.

Conclusions
PCV20 was safe and well tolerated, with immunogenicity comparable to that of PCV13 or PPSV23. PCV20 is anticipated to expand protection against pneumococcal disease in adults.

Clinical Trials Registration
NCT03760146.
Declarative Programming with Intensional Sets in Java Using JSetL
Authors: Cristiá Maximiliano , Fois Andrea , Rossi Gianfranco 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIntensional sets are sets given by a property rather than by enumerating their elements. In a previous work, we have proposed a decision procedure for a first-order logic language which provides restricted intensional sets (RISs), i.e. a sub-class of intensional sets that are guaranteed to denote finite—though unbounded—sets. In this paper, we show how RIS can be exploited as a convenient programming tool also in a conventional setting, namely the imperative O-O language Java. We do this by considering a Java library, called JSetL, that integrates the notions of logical variable, (set) unification and constraints that are typical of constraint logic programming languages into the Java language. We show how JSetL is naturally extended to accommodate for RIS and RIS constraints and how this extension can be exploited; on the one hand, to support a more declarative style of programming and, on the other hand, to effectively enhance the expressive power of the constraint language provided by the library.