bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Bone-conducted Responses in the Neonatal rat Auditory Cortex
Authors: Makarov Roman , Sintsov Mikhail , Valeeva Guzel , Starikov Pavel , Negrov Dmitry , Khazipov Roustem 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Rats are born deaf and start hearing at the end of the second postnatal week, when the ear canals open and low-intensity sounds start to evoke responses in the auditory cortex. Here, using µECoG electrode arrays and intracortical silicon probe recordings, we found that bone-conducted (BC) sounds evoked biphasic responses in the auditory cortex starting from postnatal day (P) 8. The initial phase of these responses, generated by thalamocortical input, was followed by intracortical propagation within supragranular layers. BC-evoked responses co-localized with the responses evoked by electrical stimulation of the cochlea and the deepest layers of the inferior colliculus prior to onset of low-threshold hearing (P13), as well as with the responses evoked by high-frequency (30 kHz) low-intensity (70 dB) air-conducted sounds after that. Thus, BC signals reach high-frequency processing regions of the auditory cortex well before the onset of low-threshold hearing, reflecting early integrity of the auditory system.
Impact of Donation Physicians on Deceased Organ Donation: A Systematic Review
Authors: Squires Janet E. , Aloisio Laura D. , Santos Wilmer John , Cho-Young Danielle , Taljaard Monica , Gritters Nills , Dhanani Sonny , Knoll Gregory 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: An emerging strategy to increase deceased organ donation is to use dedicated donation physicians to champion organ donation. We sought to conduct a systematic review of the effectiveness of donation physicians in improving organ donation outcomes.Methods: A systematic review was conducted following Cochrane principles. MEDLINE, Embase, and CINHAL databases were searched from inception to March 26, 2020. Quantitative studies examining the effects of donation physicians on all deceased organ donation outcomes were considered for inclusion. Review articles, editorials and opinion articles, and case studies were excluded. Study selection was completed independently by two team members; all discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Two team members independently extracted data from studies. Results: A total of 1,017 studies were screened, and 12 met inclusion criteria. Included studies were published between 1994 and 2019. Half used an interrupted time series design (n = 6; 50%), three (25%) were cohort studies, and three (25%) used a before-and-after study design. Outcomes (reported in greater than 50% of included articles) included consent/refusal rate (n = 8; 67%), number of potential donors (n = 7; 58%), and number of actual donors (n = 7; 58%). Across studies and design types, there was an increase in potential organ donors ranging from 8 to 143% (Mdn = 33%), an increase in actual organ donors from 15 to 113% (Mdn = 27%), an increase in donor consent rate from -3 to 258% (Mdn = 12%) and an increase in deceased donor transplants from 13 to 24% (Mdn = 19%) following the introduction of donation physicians.Conclusions: Donation physicians have the potential to significantly improve deceased organ donation. Further implementation and evaluation of donation physician programs is warranted. However, implementation should be undertaken with a clear plan for a methodologically rigorous evaluation of outcomes.
Clinical Outcomes of Laparoscopic Proximal Qastrectomy with Double Tract Reconstruction in Early Stage of Siewert type II for Adenocarcinoma of Esophagogastric Junction
Authors: Liu Lei , Liu Xiangui , Le Laiping , Huang Hui , Wei Chen 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Objective: The aim of the current study was to investigate the surgical related complication rates, nutritional status, prognosis and the quality of daily life following laparoscopic proximal gastrectomy(LPG)with double tract reconstruction in comparisonto those of laparoscopic total gastrectomy(LTG) for Siewert type II adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junctionin three tertiary institutions. Methods: We compared the postoperative outcomes of the two surgical approaches using a well-characterized cohort of early stage gastric carcinoma patients through a retrospective reviewbetweenJanuary2017, and December2018. Both groups were compared regarding patient characteristics, surgical results, the change of body mass index, serum hemoglobinalbumin, vitaminB12and quality of life(qol).Qol was assessed by the Chinese version ofQuality of Life Questionnaire Oesophagogastric-25(QLQ-OG25). The incidence of reflux esophagitis, dumping syndrome, and retention syndrome, were also compared to evaluate postoperative restoration.Results: Both study groups were comparable with respect to general patient characteristics. No mortality and no significant differences were found for qol and surgery- related data except operation time(p < 0.05). The LPG group was associated with a better recovery of body max index ,a fewer incidence of reflux complications and better nutrition parameters (p < 0.05) than the LTG group.Conclusions: In this study, double tract reconstruction after a LPG procedure is safe for gastro esophageal junction cancer. It is superior to the LTG with respect to less incidence of reflux disease,better body weight and improved postoperative nutrition status.
An Updated Geographical Distribution of Leishmania Species Involved in Human Leishmaniasis in Colombia
Authors: Vélez Iván D. , Muskus Carlos , Robledo Sara M. 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Leishmaniasis in an endemic disease in Colombia. This country ranks second in number of cases of leishmaniasis in Latin America and is one of the four countries with the largest number of Leishmania species. Although leishmaniasis is a notifiable disease, the information about the geographic distribution of Leishmania species circulating in the country is fragmented. Since 1990, when the first distribution map was published in Colombia, very few new reports have described the Leishmania species present in Colombia and their geographic distribution. In this report we included 1,833 natural isolates obtained from human cases of leishmaniasis. Their geographical origin together with those reported by other authors let us confirm the presence of Leishmania species in 30 of 32 Colombian departments, being Quindío and San Andres/Providencia free of transmission. In this work, L. braziliensis is described for first time in the departments of Atlántico, Caldas and Vaupes and L. panamensis in the departments of Guajira and Vaupés. It is also confirmed that L. panamensis and L. braziliensis coexist in the same regions being the main causative agents of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Colombia; nonetheless, L. panamensis predominates in the north and western regions whereas L. braziliensis predominates in the southeast region.
Silicon promotes the control of Meloidogyne incognita in lettuce by increasing ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds
Authors: Alonso Tales Arthur de Souza , Silva Dalila Lopes da , Prado Renato de Mello , Soares Pedro Luiz Martins , Tenesaca Luis Felipe Lata , Ferreira Rivanildo Júnior 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The use of silicon (Si) has a physical barrier effect on plant tissues, decreasing nematode infection in different crops. Notwithstanding, research on lettuce crop is lacking, especially regarding the chemical mechanisms of action of this beneficial element. Therefore, this study evaluates the effect of Si supply on lettuce plants infested with 0, 6000, and 12000 eggs and second stage juveniles of M. incognita, both in the absence and in the presence of Si (2 mM) in the nutrient solution. Silicon increases phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid, reducing the M. incognita population and decreasing oxidative stress. It also increases chlorophyll index and the quantum efficiency of the photosystem II (FV/FM), favoring the growth and production of lettuce plants. The use of Si decreased the number of nematodes and affected their reproduction, decreasing the number of eggs and galls in the roots of lettuce plants, being yet another sustainable alternative for the control of M. incognita. The Si benefit would be due to the combined effect of the physical barrier and the chemical action from the increase in phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid in plant tissues, improving the physiological aspects of plants.
Study on Crystallization Mechanism of GeSn Interlayer for Low Temperature Ge/Si Bonding
Authors: Wang Ziwei , Zhang Ziqi , Huang Donglin , Ke Shaoying , Li Zongpei , Huang Wei , Wang Jianyuan , Li Cheng , Chen Songyan 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Low temperature bonding technologies is necessary in next-generation photonic integrated circuits, such as flexible optoelectronic devices, low dark current Ge/Si devices and so on. Since Germanium-Tin (GeSn) alloy has lower crystallization temperature, in this work, amorphous GeSn with 5% Sn alloy by magnetron sputtering is introduced as an intermediate layer for wafer bonding innovatively. And high strength Ge/Si heterojunction with a crystal GeSn layer is realized without any surface activation process. Two mechanisms in the interlayer crystallization are put forward and substantiated experimentally and theoretically: 1) the a-GeSn turns to be poly-GeSn due to the induction of the c-Ge substrate. 2) Stress between Si wafer and interlayer due to thermal mismatch contributes to the crystallization. It is concluded that GeSn semiconductor interlayer bonding would be one of the potential technologies for bonding process.
A novel design of fast and compact all-optical full-adder using nonlinear resonant cavities
Authors: Naghizade Saleh , Saghaei Hamed 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
In this paper, we report a new design of all-optical full-adder using two nonlinear resonators. The PhC-based full-adder consists of three input ports (A, B, and C for input bits), two nonlinear resonant cavities, several waveguides, and two output ports (for the Sum and Carry). Eight silicon rods and a nonlinear rod composed of doped glass form each resonant cavity. The well-known plane wave expansion technique is used to calculate the photonic band structure. It shows a wide photonic bandgap in the wavelength range of 1365 nm to 2074 nm covering the C and L optical transmission bands. The finite-difference time-domain method is applied to study the light propagation inside the full-adder. Our numerical results demonstrate when the incoming light intensity increases, the nonlinear optical Kerr effect appears and controls the direction of light emitted inside the structure as desired. The maximum time delay and footprint of the proposed full-adder are about 3ps and 758.5 µm2, respectively. Therefore, due to the low time delay and small footprint, the presented design can be used as a basic mathematical operator in the all-optical arithmetic logic unit.
Comparative Analysis of Chicken Cecal Microbial Diversity and Taxonomic Composition in Response to Dietary Variation using 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequencing
Authors: Rashid Zubia , Yousaf Muhammad Zubair , Gilani Syed Muddassar Hussain , Zehra Sitwat , Ali Ashaq , Azhar Abid , Galani Saddia 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Antibiotic resistance poses a serious threat to human and animal health. As a consequence, their use in conventional poultry feed may be replaced by non-antibiotic additives (alternatives to antibiotics, ATAs). Phytogenic feed additives and organic acids have been gaining considerable attention that could abate the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria and strengthen gut function in broiler chickens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of phytogenic feed additives and organic acids on cecal microbial diversity using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of the V3-V4 region. In this study, 240 chicks were divided into five treatments comprising: a controlled basal diet (CON), antibiotic group (AB), phytogenic feed additives (PHY), organic acids (ORG) and a combination of PHY + ORG (COM). A distinctive microbial community structure was observed amongst different treatments with an increased microbial diversity in AB, ORG and COM (p < 0.05). The synergistic effects of PHY and ORG increased the population of beneficial bacteria that belonged to the phyla: Firmicutes, Bacteroides and Proteobacteria in the cecum. The presence of the species Akkermansia muciniphila (involved in mucin degradation) and Bacillus safensis (a probiotic bacterium) were noticed in COM and PHY, respectively. Clustering analysis revealed a higher relative abundance of similar microbial community composition between AB and ORG groups. In conclusion, treatments with PHY and ORG modified the relative abundance and presence/absence of specific microbiota in the chicken cecum. Hence, cecal microbiota modulation through diet is a promising strategy to reduce cross-contamination of zoonotic poultry pathogens.
Ammonia-oxidizing Archaea (AOA) are Winners to Survive in Oxygen-limited Habitat Compared to Ammonia-oxidizing Bacteria (AOB)
Authors: Dai Peigang , Song Wenjing , Che Zhao , Zhang Lili , Dong Zhaorong 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Purpose: Both ammonia oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) perform the ammonia oxidation together. These two kinds of microbes present a convenient model for studying niche specialization. To date, few surveys concentrated on the influence of oxygen concentration on niche specialization of AOA and AOB in intertidal zones. Methods: Here, high-throughput sequencing by Illumina MiSeq and qPCR were applied to detect the change of abundance, diversity as well as community structure of both AOA and AOB with 0-60 cm sediments depth in the intertidal zone in Qingdao.Results and Conclusion: The AOA/AOB amoA gene copy numbers and AOA/AOB OTU numbers were all increased as sediment depth went deeper, which indicated that AOA were more adaptive to oxygen-limited niches compared to AOB and oxygen indeed led to the niche specialization of AOA and AOB in intertidal sediments. The dominant AOA and AOB were the Nitrosopumilus and Nitrosospira clusters, respectively, which indicated an ecological success in intertidal zone. Oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) was significantly positively correlated with AOB abundance and AOB OTU numbers (P < 0.01). In addition, both TN (P < 0.01) and pH (P < 0.05) were significantly and negatively correlated with AOB abundance. TN was also significantly and negatively correlated with AOB OTU numbers (P < 0.05).
Image quality and lesion detectability in low-dose paediatric 18F-FDG scans using total-body PET/CT
Authors: Hu Ying-Ying , Zhao Yu-Mo , Chen Tao , Zhang Wei-Guang , Wang Lin-Hao , Feng Jiatai , Li Chen-Wei , Zhang Xu , Fan Wei 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the effects of dose reduction on image quality and lesion detectability of oncological 18F-FDG total-body PET/CT in paediatric oncological patients, and explore the minimum threshold of administered tracer activity.Methods: A total of 33 paediatric patients (weight, 8.5–58.5 kg; age 0.8–17.6 years) underwent total-body PET/CT using uEXPLORER scanner with an 18F-FDG administered dose of 3.7 MBq/kg and an acquisition time of 600 s were retrospectively enrolled. Low-dose images (0.12 – 1.85 MBq/kg) were simulated by truncating the list-mode PET data to reducing count density. Subjective image quality was rated on a 5-point scale. Semi-quantitative uptake metrics for low-dose images were assessed using region-of-interest (ROI) analysis of healthy liver and suspected lesions and were compared to full-dose images. The micro-lesion detectability was compared among the dose-dependent PET images.Results: Our analysis shows that sufficient subjective image quality and lesion conspicuity could be maintained down to 1/30th (0.12 MBq/kg) of the administered dose of 18F-FDG, where good image quality scores were given to 1/2- and 1/10- dose groups. The image noise was significantly more deranged than the overall quality and lesion conspicuity in 1/30- to 1/10-dose groups (all P < 0.05). With reduced doses, quantitative analysis of ROIs showed that SUVmax and SD in the liver increased gradually (P < 0.05), but SUVmax in the lesions and lesion-to-background ratio (LBR) showed no significant deviation down to 1/30-dose. 100% of the 18F-FDG-avid micro-lesions identified in full-dose images were localised down to 1/15-dose images; while 97% of the lesion were localized in 1/30-dose images.Conclusion: The total-body PET/CT might significantly decrease the administered dose upon maintaining the image quality and diagnostic performance of micro-lesions in paediatric patients. Data suggests that using total-body PET/CT, optimal image quality could be achieved with an administered dose-reduction down to 1/10-dose (0.37 MBq/kg).
Market liquidity and capital structure: Does it really matter for Vietnam’s family ownership?
Authors: Nguyen Kien Son , Nguyen Van Thi Hong , Le Hang Thu 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
This study analyzes the moderating effect of different kinds of family ownership on the relationship between market liquidity and capital structure. Using a new sample of 315 Vietnam listed firms for five years, we figured out a significant negative link between stock market liquidity and capital structure. However, it is well noted that there is an adverse reaction from family ownership where the higher the dual-class control and dynamic structure mechanism, the more control-enhancement the family ownership will be, which leads to a higher risk aversion regarding debt-bankruptcy. In this sense, corporate leverage had responded positively to an increase in stock liquidity in the case of family ownership intervention.
Exploring the Synergistic Potential of Fuzzy Methodology Based Multi-Objective Optimisation in the Performance, Emission and Stability Trade-Off Study of an Existing Conventional CRDI Diesel Engine Powered With Schleichera Oleosa Biodiesel/Diesel Blends
Authors: jatoth Ramachander , Gugulothu Santhosh Kumar 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
The common rail direct injection diesel engine is an advanced combustion method to use alternative fuel with higher fuel economy and, reduce NOx and soot emissions. The present paper aims to investigate the influence of Schleichera oleosa oil (Kusum oil) on CRDI engine performance. This paper deals with the study on the influence of the Schleichera oleosa oil (Kusum oil) when added to diesel blend (B25, B50, B75, B100) on the emission, combustion and performance characteristics of a four stroke, single cylinder, common rail direct injection diesel engine working at a fixed speed and varying operating scenarios. The mixture of kusum oil blend and air is ignited by diesel through fuel injector into the combustion chamber at the end of compression stroke. It is noticed from the experimental results that, with an increase of kusum oil in the blends, ignition delay (ID) increases and start of combustion (SOC) is retarded. It is noticed that B100 shows the highest ID and low in-cylinder pressure; however, B50 shows the lowest ID compared to higher fractions of biodiesel blends. An increase in biodiesel proportion reduces NOx and smoke opacity but, HC and CO emissions increase compared to pure diesel mode engine. B25 shows the highest brake thermal efficiency (12%) compared to remaining biodiesel blends and baseline diesel engine. For finding optimum blend for lower BSFC, NOx, UHC and higher BTE Taguchi method is considered. Then Fuzzy rule is considered for two inputs parameters (load and fuel blend) and single output variable (MPCI). By considering multi-objective optimization technique, it is found that B25 blend has optimal MPCI value (0.68) which makes it best blend for enhancing the performance and lowering the emissions.
Evolution of Waste Iron Rust into α-Fe2O3/CNF and α-Fe2O3/PANI Composites as an Efficient Positive Electrode for Sustainable Hybrid Super-capacitor
Authors: Bhuse Darpan Vijaykumar , Bhuse Vijaykumar M , Atram Ramdas G , Atram Rounak R , Kondawar Subhash B 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
A green and sustainable approach to recycle the waste iron rust into a valuable α modification of Fe2O3 via simple grinding and calcination for application in hybrid supercapacitor is reported. The α-Fe2O3 was coupled with conducting polymer carbon nanofibers (CNF) and Poly aniline (PANI) to form composite hybrid supercapacitor electrode materials. The conventional hydrothermal, electro-spinning processes were used to prepare composites. X-ray diffraction, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM), Selected Area Electron Diffraction (SAED), Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy were used to study the structural, morphological and compositional properties of as synthesised α-Fe2O3 and its composites with CNF and PANI. The α-Fe2O3/CNF and α-Fe2O3/PANI composites coated on carbon rod were used as electrodes in a three-electrode system to study Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy, Cyclic Voltammetry and Galvanostatic Charge-Discharge in 1M H2SO4. It is observed that α-Fe2O3/PANI exhibit higher response as against α-Fe2O3/CNF with respect to specific capacitance; 192.29 Fg-1 (88.88 Fg-1), energy density; 11.28 WhKg-1 (3.084 WhKg-1) power density; 162.44Wkg-1 (69.39 Wkg-1) with capacitance retention of 80% (75%). The heavy dispersion of α-Fe2O3 over long CNF and PANI fibres with intimate contact resulted in abundant active sites for electrochemical reactions leading to obtained result. The rust derived α-Fe2O3 with PANI offer excellent stability to act as potential candidate for sustainable hybrid supercapacitor application.
Cold-Inducible RNA-Binding Protein (CIRP) Potentiates Uric Acid-Induced IL-1β Production
Authors: Fujita Yuya , Yago Toru , Matsumoto Haruki , Asano Tomoyuki , Matsuoka Naoki , Temmoku Jumpei , Sato Shuzo , Furuya Makiko , Suzuki Eiji , Watanabe Hiroshi , Kawakami Atsushi , Migita Kiyoshi 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Gout is an autoinflammatory disease driven by interleukin-1 (IL-1) induction in response to uric acid crystals. IL-1β production is dependent on inflammasome activation, which requires a priming signal, followed by an activating signal. The cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP) has been recently identified as a damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP). In this study, we evaluated the roles of CIRP in monosodium urate (MSU)-mediated IL-1β secretion using human neutrophils.
Methods
Human neutrophils were stimulated by MSU in the presence or absence of CIRP priming to determine NLRP3 inflammasome activation and subsequent caspase-1 activation and IL-1β production. Cellular supernatants were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the presence of IL-1β or caspase-1 (p20). The cellular supernatants and lysates were also analyzed by immunoblotting using anti-cleaved IL-1β or anti-cleaved caspase-1 antibodies. Additionally, pro-IL-1β and NLRP3 transcript levels were analyzed by real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR).
Results
Neither CIRP nor MSU stimulation alone induced sufficient IL-1β secretion from neutrophils. However, MSU stimulation induced IL-1β secretion from CIRP-primed neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner. This MSU-induced IL-1β secretion from CIRP-primed neutrophils was accompanied by the induction of cleaved IL-1β (p17). Furthermore, cleaved caspase-1 was induced in the cellular lysates of CIRP/MSU-treated neutrophils. Additionally, CIRP stimulation induced the expression of pro-IL-1β mRNA and protein in neutrophils.
Conclusions
Our data indicate that CIRP, an endogenous stress molecule, triggers uric acid-induced mature IL-1β induction as a priming stimulus for NLRP3 inflammasome in human neutrophils. We propose that CIRP acts as an important proinflammatory stimulant that primes and activates inflammasome and pro-IL-1β processing in response to uric acid in innate immune cells.