bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor enhancing agents on cognition in dementia: an exploratory systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Chang Chun-Hung , Liu Chieh-Yu , Chen Shaw-Ji , Tsai Hsin-Chi 
Published: November 2021

AbstractMultiple N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor enhancing agents have had promising effects on cognition among patients with dementia. However, the results remain inconsistent. This exploratory meta-analysis investigated the effectiveness of NMDA receptor enhancing agents for cognitive function. PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Controlled trials assessing add-on NMDA receptor enhancing agent treatment in patients with dementia and using cognition rating scales were eligible and pooled using a random-effect model for comparisons. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated in each study from the effect size; positive values indicated that NMDA receptor enhancing agent treatment improved cognitive function. Funnel plots and the I2 statistic were evaluated for statistical heterogeneity. Moderators were evaluated using meta-regression. We identified 14 RCTs with 2224 participants meeting the inclusion criteria. Add-on NMDA receptor enhancing agents had small positive significant effects on overall cognitive function among patients with dementia (SMD = 0.1002, 95% CI 0.0105–0.1900, P = 0.02860). Subgroup meta-analysis showed patients with Alzheimer’s Disease and trials using the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale as the primary outcome had small positive significant effects (SMD = 0.1042, 95% CI 0.0076–0.2007, P = 0.03451; SMD = 0.1267, 95% CI 0.0145–0.2388, P = 0.2686). This exploratory meta-analysis showed a very small, positive, and significant effect on overall cognition function in patients with dementia. Studies with larger samples are needed to evaluate different cognitive domains and phases of dementia.
New cine magnetic resonance imaging parameters for the differential diagnosis of chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction
Authors: Sato Hiroki , Ogihara Hiroyuki , Takahashi Kazuya , Kawata Yuzo , Kojima Yuichi , Tominaga Kentaro , Yokoyama Junji , Hamamoto Yoshihiko , Terai Shuji 
Published: November 2021

AbstractChronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) is a severe and refractory intestinal motility disorder whose diagnosis currently relies on subjective imaging assessments. Cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may potentially improve the quantitative analysis of gastrointestinal motility; however, suitable CIPO detection parameters should be determined. Cine MRI was performed in seven patients with CIPO and 11 healthy controls. The logarithm of the Mahalanobis distance (x1) and distance variation per time (x2) were used as the original parameters to determine CIPO diagnostic thresholds. Furthermore, the correlation between cine MRI findings and CIPO severity was investigated. Threshold values of α = 1.10 and β = 0.15 for x1 and x2, respectively, produced a CIPO diagnosis sensitivity of 1.00 (7/7) and specificity of 0.82 (9/11). The resulting error was 0.11 (2/18). The two parameters were correlated (Pearson’s correlation coefficient: − 0.52). Any of the intestinal tracts of patients with severe CIPO requiring home parenteral nutrition belonged to the region defined by x1 ≥ 1.10 and x2 ≤ 0.15. Cine MRI is effective for the quantitative evaluation of small intestinal motility and CIPO diagnosis when using the abovementioned parameters and can be useful for treatment decision-making. However, these parameters have a wide distribution in healthy volunteers; this may complicate the detection of other disorders.
Magnonic key based on skyrmion clusters
Authors: Saavedra E. , Tejo F. , Vidal-Silva N. , Escrig J. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn this work, we report the excitation of spin-waves modes in skyrmion clusters hosted in Co/Pt nanodots by applying an in-plane magnetic field pulse. The direction at which the magnetic field is applied enables the excitation of five main spin-waves modes that are understood in terms of only azimuthal-like modes, which are shown to be strongly dependent on the number of skyrmions stabilized in the system. This feature converts the present system in a mechanism to activate and suppress a set of given modes, which in turn we propose to be utilized as a magnonic key based skyrmion cluster. Our results could be useful in manufacturing potential magnonic logic devices based in skyrmionic textures.
Reduced and stable feature sets selection with random forest for neurons segmentation in histological images of macaque brain
Authors: Bouvier C. , Souedet N. , Levy J. , Jan C. , You Z. , Herard A.-S. , Mergoil G. , Rodriguez B. H. , Clouchoux C. , Delzescaux T. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn preclinical research, histology images are produced using powerful optical microscopes to digitize entire sections at cell scale. Quantification of stained tissue relies on machine learning driven segmentation. However, such methods require multiple additional information, or features, which are increasing the quantity of data to process. As a result, the quantity of features to deal with represents a drawback to process large series or massive histological images rapidly in a robust manner. Existing feature selection methods can reduce the amount of required information but the selected subsets lack reproducibility. We propose a novel methodology operating on high performance computing (HPC) infrastructures and aiming at finding small and stable sets of features for fast and robust segmentation of high-resolution histological images. This selection has two steps: (1) selection at features families scale (an intermediate pool of features, between spaces and individual features) and (2) feature selection performed on pre-selected features families. We show that the selected sets of features are stables for two different neuron staining. In order to test different configurations, one of these dataset is a mono-subject dataset and the other is a multi-subjects dataset to test different configurations. Furthermore, the feature selection results in a significant reduction of computation time and memory cost. This methodology will allow exhaustive histological studies at a high-resolution scale on HPC infrastructures for both preclinical and clinical research.
Structural, energetic and lipophilic analysis of SARS-CoV-2 non-structural protein 9 (NSP9)
Authors: de O. Araújo Jéssica , Pinheiro Silvana , Zamora William J. , Alves Cláudio Nahum , Lameira Jerônimo , Lima Anderson H. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn SARS-CoV-2 replication complex, the Non-structural protein 9 (Nsp9) is an important RNA binding subunit in the RNA-synthesizing machinery. The dimeric forms of coronavirus Nsp9 increase their nucleic acid binding affinity and the N-finger motif appears to play a critical role in dimerization. Here, we present a structural, lipophilic and energetic study about the Nsp9 dimer of SARS-CoV-2 through computational methods that complement hydrophobicity scales of amino acids with molecular dynamics simulations. Additionally, we presented a virtual N-finger mutation to investigate whether this motif contributes to dimer stability. The results reveal for the native dimer that the N-finger contributes favorably through hydrogen bond interactions and two amino acids bellowing to the hydrophobic region, Leu45 and Leu106, are crucial in the formation of the cavity for potential drug binding. On the other hand, Gly100 and Gly104, are responsible for stabilizing the α-helices and making the dimer interface remain stable in both, native and mutant (without N-finger motif) systems. Besides, clustering results for the native dimer showed accessible cavities to drugs. In addition, the energetic and lipophilic analysis reveal that the higher binding energy in the native dimer can be deduced since it is more lipophilic than the mutant one, increasing non-polar interactions, which is in line with the result of MM-GBSA and SIE approaches where the van der Waals energy term has the greatest weight in the stability of the native dimer. Overall, we provide a detailed study on the Nsp9 dimer of SARS-CoV-2 that may aid in the development of new strategies for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19.
Changes in shoulder outcomes using ultrasonographic assessment of breast cancer survivors: a prospective longitudinal study with 6-month follow-up
Authors: Gala-Alarcón Paula , Prieto-Gómez Virginia , Bailón-Cerezo Javier , Yuste-Sánchez María José , Arranz-Martín Beatriz , Torres-Lacomba María 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis study aimed to describe changes in supraspinatus tendon thickness, acromiohumeral distance, and the presence of fluid in the subacromial bursa as measured by ultrasound, as well as shoulder range of motion and strength, perceived shoulder disability, and health-related quality of life in women before and after breast cancer treatment. Women who underwent surgery for unilateral breast cancer who did not suffer from shoulder pain or difficulty performing activities of daily living in the 6 months prior to surgery were included. One pre-surgical (A0) and three post-surgical assessments at 7–10 days (A1), 3 months (A2), and 6 months (A3) after surgery were carried out. The thickness of the supraspinatus tendon on the affected side decreased between post-surgical (A1) and 6-month (A3) follow-up assessments (p = 0.029), although the minimal detectable change was not reached. The active range of motion of the affected shoulder decreased after surgery. Strength changes were observed in both shoulders after surgery. The intensity of shoulder pain increased between post-surgical and 6-month follow-up assessments. Shoulder function was decreased at the post-surgical assessment and increased throughout the follow-ups. Health-related quality of life declined after surgery. A trend of decreasing thickness of the supraspinatus tendon of the affected shoulder was observed. Detecting these possible structural changes early would allow for early or preventive treatment.
Microstructure and phase composition of bronze Montefortino helmets discovered Mediterranean seabed to explain an unusual corrosion
Authors: Armetta Francesco , Saladino Maria Luisa , Scherillo Antonella , Caponetti Eugenio 
Published: November 2021

AbstractTwo Monterfortino helmets, recovered in the Mediterranean seabed, show unusual features with respect to the more common helmets of the same period and found in underwater environments. Hence, they were investigated by a multi-analytical approach, which allowed us to identify the compounds constituting the helmets and to make some considerations about their metallurgy, although all the metal was converted to degradation products. The helmets, originally made in bronze, have maintained their original shape because of copper sulphides formation. The observed differences in composition between the two helmets were attributed to the position modification, of one of them, into the seabed along centuries. For the first time, a microstructural investigation permits to reconstruct the history of the aging processes involved in the total oxidation of roman bronze helmet metal.
Three-dimensional morphological analysis of spermatogenesis in aged mouse testes
Authors: Nakano Taito , Nakata Hiroki , Kadomoto Suguru , Iwamoto Hiroaki , Yaegashi Hiroshi , Iijima Masashi , Kawaguchi Shohei , Nohara Takahiro , Shigehara Kazuyoshi , Izumi Kouji , Kadono Yoshifumi , Mizokami Atsushi 
Published: November 2021

AbstractSpermatogenesis, which is a continuous process from undifferentiated spermatogonia to spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules, declines with age. To investigate changes in spermatogenesis with aging, we reconstructed the seminiferous tubules of 12 mice aged 12 to 30 months from serial sections and examined age-related and region-specific alterations in the seminiferous epithelium and spermatogenic waves in three dimensions. The basic structure of the seminiferous tubules, including the numbers of tubules, terminating points, branching points, and total tubule length, did not change with age. Age-related alterations in spermatogenesis, primarily assessed by the formation of vacuoles in Sertoli cells, were detected in the seminiferous tubules at 12 months. The proportion of altered tubule segments with impaired spermatogenesis further increased by 24 months, but remained unchanged thereafter. Altered tubule segments were preferentially distributed in tubule areas close to the rete testis and those in the center of the testis. Spermatogenic waves became shorter in length with age. These results provide a basis for examining the decline of spermatogenesis not only with aging, but also in male infertility.
Trajectory of body mass index and height changes from childhood to adolescence: a nationwide birth cohort in Japan
Authors: Matsumoto Naomi , Kubo Toshihide , Nakamura Kazue , Mitsuhashi Toshiharu , Takeuchi Akihito , Tsukahara Hirokazu , Yorifuji Takashi 
Published: November 2021

AbstractTo investigate the dynamics of body mass index (BMI) and height changes in childhood leading to obesity in adolescents. BMI Z-scores were calculated using the LMS (lambda–mu–sigma) method based on yearly height and weight information (age 1.5–15 years) from a nationwide Japanese birth cohort that started in 2001 (n = 26,711). We delineated the trajectories of BMI and height changes leading to obesity at age 15 years using mixed effect models. Children who became obese at the age of 15 years kept relatively high BMI z-scores through childhood for both genders, and had an increasing trend over time as opposed to the normal weight group, with an increasing slope during puberty. Early adiposity rebound was associated with overweight or obesity at the age of 15 years. Age at peak height velocity (APHV) occurred earlier in the obese/overweight group at age 15 years than in the normal weight group, and occurred later in the underweight group. Obese adolescents experienced early adiposity rebound timing and maintained a serial BMI z-score increase throughout childhood, with a greater slope at puberty. An earlier peak in height gain during puberty may have contributed to the observed patterns of BMI change.
Excessive application of chemical fertilizer and organophosphorus pesticides induced total phosphorus loss from planting causing surface water eutrophication
Authors: Liu Liyuan , Zheng Xiangqun , Wei Xiaocheng , Kai Zhang , Xu Yan 
Published: November 2021

AbstractTotal phosphorus (TP) loss from planting was one of the resources causing agricultural non-point source pollution. It is significant to clarify the factors influencing TP loss, as well as explore the relationship between TP loss from planting and surface water eutrophication for making recommendations on the reduction of environmental pollution. In this study, the minimum and maximum of average TP loss was appeared in Qinghai and Shandong province with the TP loss of 7.7 × 102 t and 7.5 × 103 t from 2012 to 2014, respectively. The results of structural equation model (SEM) indicating that the effect of anthropogenic drivers on TP loss was more important than natural conditions due to the higher path coefficient of anthropogenic drivers (0.814) than that of natural conditions (0.130). For anthropogenic drivers, the path coefficients of usage of fertilizer and pesticides, which was often excessively applied in China, were 0.921 and 0.909, respectively causing they the two dominant factors affecting TP loss. Annual precipitation and relative humidity, which were belongs to natural conditions, increased TP loss by enhancing leaching and surface runoff. However, light duration could reduce TP loss by promoting crop growth and increasing TP absorption of crops, with a path coefficient of − 0.920. TP loss of each province in per unit area from planting was significantly correlated with TP concentration of its surface water (p < 0.05), suggesting that TP loss from planting was the main factor causing surface water eutrophication. This study targeted presented three proposals to reduce the TP loss from planting, including promotion of scientific fertilization technologies, restriction of organophosphorus pesticides, and popularization of water saving irrigation technologies. These findings as well as suggestions herein would provide direction for the reduction of TP loss from planting.
A study on the impact of the users’ characteristics on the performance of wearable fall detection systems
Authors: Santoyo-Ramón José Antonio , Casilari-Pérez Eduardo , Cano-García José Manuel 
Published: November 2021

AbstractWearable Fall Detection Systems (FDSs) have gained much research interest during last decade. In this regard, Machine Learning (ML) classifiers have shown great efficiency in discriminating falls and conventional movements or Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) based on the analysis of the signals captured by transportable inertial sensors. Due to the intrinsic difficulties of training and testing this type of detectors in realistic scenarios and with their target audience (older adults), FDSs are normally benchmarked against a predefined set of ADLs and emulated falls executed by volunteers in a controlled environment. In most studies, however, samples from the same experimental subjects are used to both train and evaluate the FDSs. In this work, we investigate the performance of ML-based FDS systems when the test subjects have physical characteristics (weight, height, body mass index, age, gender) different from those of the users considered for the test phase. The results seem to point out that certain divergences (weight, height) of the users of both subsets (training ad test) may hamper the effectiveness of the classifiers (a reduction of up 20% in sensitivity and of up to 5% in specificity is reported). However, it is shown that the typology of the activities included in these subgroups has much greater relevance for the discrimination capability of the classifiers (with specificity losses of up to 95% if the activity types for training and testing strongly diverge).
Epidemiological associations with genomic variation in SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Rahnavard Ali , Dawson Tyson , Clement Rebecca , Stearrett Nathaniel , Pérez-Losada Marcos , Crandall Keith A. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractSARS-CoV-2 (CoV) is the etiological agent of the COVID-19 pandemic and evolves to evade both host immune systems and intervention strategies. We divided the CoV genome into 29 constituent regions and applied novel analytical approaches to identify associations between CoV genomic features and epidemiological metadata. Our results show that nonstructural protein 3 (nsp3) and Spike protein (S) have the highest variation and greatest correlation with the viral whole-genome variation. S protein variation is correlated with nsp3, nsp6, and 3′-to-5′ exonuclease variation. Country of origin and time since the start of the pandemic were the most influential metadata associated with genomic variation, while host sex and age were the least influential. We define a novel statistic—coherence—and show its utility in identifying geographic regions (populations) with unusually high (many new variants) or low (isolated) viral phylogenetic diversity. Interestingly, at both global and regional scales, we identify geographic locations with high coherence neighboring regions of low coherence; this emphasizes the utility of this metric to inform public health measures for disease spread. Our results provide a direction to prioritize genes associated with outcome predictors (e.g., health, therapeutic, and vaccine outcomes) and to improve DNA tests for predicting disease status.
Classical benchmarking for microwave quantum illumination
Authors: Karsa Athena , Pirandola Stefano 
Published: November 2021

AbstractQuantum illumination theoretically promises up to a 6 dB error‐exponent advantage in target detection over the best classical protocol. The advantage is maximised by a regime that includes a very high background, which occurs naturally when one considers microwave operation. Such a regime has well‐known practical limitations, though it is clear that, theoretically, knowledge of the associated classical benchmark in the microwave is lacking. The requirement of amplifiers for signal detection necessarily renders the optimal classical protocol here different to that which is traditionally used, and only applicable in the optical domain. This work outlines what is the true classical benchmark for the microwave Quantum illumination using coherent states, providing new bounds on error probability and closed formulae for the receiver operating characteristic, for both optimal (based on quantum relative entropy) and homodyne detection schemes. An alternative source generation procedure based on coherent states is also proposed, which demonstrates the potential to make classically optimal performances achievable in optical applications. The same bounds and measures for the performance of such a source are provided, and its potential utility in the future of room temperature quantum detection schemes in the microwave is discussed.
Optimal gain‐scheduling control of proton exchange membrane fuel cell: An LMI approach
Authors: Afsharinejad Amir , Asemani Mohammad Hassan , Dehghani Maryam , Abolpour Roozbeh , Vafamand Navid 
Published: November 2021

AbstractHere, an optimal linear parameter varying (LPV) controller is developed for non‐linear proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) systems. Two performance criteria are involved in the optimal controller, including the membrane pressure and the power of the PEMFC. The former should be minimized; and, the latter should be maximized. Since the goal is to derive sufficient conditions in terms of linear matrix inequality (LMI) constraints, both performances are re‐formulated and augmented in a unique convex optimization problem. Further, the non‐linear PEMFC with the equilibrium profile dependent on time‐varying parameters, that is, current and temperature, is represented by an LPV model. Using the LMI constraints and the obtained LPV model, the gains of the controller are derived. Comparing with the state‐of‐the‐art methods, the proposed approach offers an optimal control approach with a systematic design method, in which both practical issues are treated, simultaneously. To show the advantages of the developed approach, six typical controllers, including the proposed and existing approaches, are considered and several numerical simulation results are conducted.
Time‐domain and frequency‐domain exponential ambiguity functions and their application in joint estimation of delay and Doppler shift
Authors: Liu Lubo , Ji Yuandong , Zhang Lu 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe classical ambiguity function (AF) in radar signal processing often has a low and fixed resolution in the presence of adjacent multi‐targets. The frequency‐domain exponential ambiguity function (FEAF) was previously presented with a variable exponent p introduced in the frequency‐domain expression of the AF whose range resolution and output signal‐to‐noise ratio can be mutually replaced by controlling the exponent p. However, the FEAF mainly improves the range resolution of reference signals, but it cannot improve its velocity resolution. In this study, on the basis of symmetry theory in the time and frequency domains, a time‐domain exponential ambiguity function (TEAF) was defined by indexing the time‐domain expression of AF. The time‐frequency properties of the defined TEAF are similar and symmetric to those of the FEAF. On the basis of the combination of the FEAF and TEAF with multi‐exponents and a modified CLEAN algorithm for stepwise elimination and estimation of targets, the authors proposed a new joint estimation algorithm for delays and Doppler shifts of multi‐targets. Simulation experiments indicated that the proposed estimation algorithm achieves higher accuracies in delay and Doppler shift estimation in comparison with the traditional AF‐based estimation algorithm and the FEAF‐based estimation algorithm.