bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surgical impact of a dedicated endocrine surgeon on an academic otolaryngology department
Authors: Iwata Ayaka J. , Chang Steven S. , Ghanem Tamer A. , Singer Michael C. 
Published: May 2019

ObjectivesEndocrine surgery is emerging as a dedicated subspecialty in otolaryngology. We assess the impact of an endocrine surgeon on an academic otolaryngology department's thyroid and parathyroid surgery volume.MethodsA retrospective study of overall endocrine caseloads and resident case logs at a single academic center in the Midwest was performed. All thyroid and parathyroid cases performed by the otolaryngology department at an academic center from 2011 to 2017 were reviewed. In September 2012, an otolaryngologist who had completed an American Head and Neck Society endocrine surgery fellowship joined the faculty. The volume of endocrine surgery performed by the residents was also analyzed. Comparison of means and linear regression models were performed.ResultsFrom 2011 to 2012, the department performed a mean of 77 thyroid and 11.5 parathyroid surgeries annually. After the endocrine surgeon joined the department, this increased to an average of 212.8 thyroidectomies (P < 0.01) and 72.4 parathyroidectomies (P < 0.01) a year. The head and neck surgeons and generalists still performed an average of 42.4 thyroidectomies and 2.6 parathyroidectomies a year. For graduating residents, the average number of thyroid/parathyroid cases increased from 42.5 in 2012 to 151 in 2016.ConclusionThe addition of a fellowship‐trained endocrine surgeon substantially increased the thyroid and parathyroid surgical volume of the otolaryngology department. Importantly, generalists and head and neck surgeons in the department continued to perform a significant number of these cases. Departments seeking similar surgical growth and expanded resident experience may consider the value of engaging a dedicated endocrine surgeon.Level of Evidence4Laryngoscope, 130:832–835, 2020
Rising bubbles enhance the gelatinous nature of the air–sea interface
Authors: Robinson Tiera‐Brandy , Wurl Oliver , Bahlmann Enno , Jürgens Klaus , Stolle Christian 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBubbles rising through the water column are known to scavenge organic material and microorganisms, and transport them through the air–sea interface after bursting. This mechanism has important implications for air–sea exchange processes. However, little is known about how bubbles influence the chemical and biological properties of the sea‐surface microlayer (SML), a gelatinous film at the air–sea interface. We used floating mesocosms in the coastal Baltic Sea and a laboratory tank filled with seawater from the North Sea to study the effect of bubbling on the gelatinous nature of the SML. Bubbling was found to always increase concentrations of transparent exopolymer particles (TEP) in the SML. In the field, TEP in the SML already increased after 2 min (53% ± 63%) and 10 min (19% ± 12%) bubbling, respectively. During the tank experiment, TEP enriched in the SML by 312% (± 244%) after > 3 h of bubbling. Therefore, bubbling is a highly efficient mechanism for TEP enrichment in the SML. Bubbling caused enrichment and depletion of microbial abundances (prokaryotes, flagellates, eukaryotes) in the SML. However, the incorporation of 3H‐thymidine (i.e., bacterial carbon production) was consistently stimulated after 10 min of bubbling in the field experiment, indicating a bubble‐induced import of unstressed bacteria and fresh organic substrates into the SML. Overall, our results suggest that the gelatinous matrix of the SML is re‐formed within min after disruption by bursting bubbles, and, thus, highlights the importance of biogeochemical interactions within the air–sea interface.
A Free‐Space Orbital Angular Momentum Multiplexing Communication System Based on a Metasurface
Authors: Tan Heyun , Deng Junhong , Zhao Ruizhe , Wu Xiong , Li Guixin , Huang Lingling , Liu Jie , Cai Xinlun 
Published: May 2019

AbstractOptical vortex beams carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) have received great attention since the 1990s. In particular, OAM offers an additional degree of freedom, thus, enabling boosting of data transmission capacity in communication systems. One of the major challenges of OAM‐based communication lies in multiplexing OAM via a kind of effective, compact, and flexible approach. Here, a novel approach to achieve the generation and combination of OAM beams by a pre‐engineered reflective metasurface chip is demonstrated. Compared to traditional methods of OAM generation, this approach shows superiorities of broadband operating wavelength, high mode purity, flexible design, and compact size. Moreover, a free‐space OAM multiplexing communication experiment based on the single metasurface is successfully carried out, performing 448 Gbit s−1 data transmission with four different topological charges of OAM and two polarizations by 28‐GBaud QPSK signals. This work experimentally demonstrates promising applications of the metasurface in high‐capacity optical communication systems.
Severe presentation and complex brain malformations in an individual carrying a CCND2 variant
Authors: Cappuccio Gerarda , Ugga Lorenzo , Parrini Elena , D’Amico Alessandra , Brunetti‐Pierri Nicola 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackgroundMegalencephaly‐polymicrogyria‐polydactyly‐hydrocephalus (MPPH) is a developmental brain disorder characterized by megalencephaly and bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria due to defects in genes of the PI3K‐AKT pathway. Only a few patients with CCND2 mutations have been reported to date.MethodsWe describe an individual harboring a de novo variant in CCND2 undergoing neuroradiological evaluation including diffusion tensor imaging (DTI).ResultsThe individual presented with a severe brain malformation extending to both brainstem and cerebellum with hypomyelination not previously reported in CCND2‐related disorder. Severe hypoplasia and white matter disorganization were confirmed by DTI.ConclusionThis report expands the phenotypic spectrum of the disorder due to CCND2 variants.
Genetic variants in the ITPR2 gene are associated with Kashin‐Beck Disease in Tibetan
Authors: He Xue , Bai Mei , Liu Ming , Wang Li , He Yongjun , Rong Hao , Yuan Dongya , Jin Tianbo 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBackgroundKashin‐Beck Disease (KBD) is a chronic, endemic osteoarthropathy. Inositol 1,4,5‐triphosphate receptor type 2 (ITPR2) gene is involved in chondrocytes. We speculated that single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ITPR2 gene may have an association with KBD in Tibetan.MethodsTo prove this hypothesis, a total of eight SNPs (rs1049376, rs11048526, rs11048556, rs11048585, rs16931011, rs10842759, rs2230372, and rs7134213) were selected, and genotyped in 316 KBD patients and 320 controls. The association between ITPR2 variants and KBD risk was assessed by logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe study identified significant association (p = 0.019) between KBD and a novel locus, ITPR2 SNP rs11048526 (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.07–2.08). The variant A/G genotype frequency in rs11048526 had a significantly increased risk of KBD in co‐dominant model (OR = 3.70, 95% CI = 1.26–10.89, p = 0.018), dominant model (OR = 3.56, 95% CI = 1.22–10.40, p = 0.020), log‐additive model (OR = 3.00, 95% CI = 1.12–8.00, p = 0.029) after adjusted for age and gender.ConclusionThe results indicate a potential association between ITPR2 and KBD risk in Tibetan. Further work is required to confirm these results and explore the mechanisms of these effects.
Unexpected behavior of the 3JCH coupling constant in unsaturated compounds
Authors: Couto Uenifer Rodrigues , Navarro‐Vázquez Armando , Tormena Cláudio Francisco 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe experimental and theoretical behavior of the (OC)CCH 3JCH coupling constant is investigated for a series of α,β‐unsaturated compounds (1 to 8), and for some of them, the well‐known relationship (3JCHcis < 3JCHtrans) was observed. However, for some compounds, close values for 3JCHcis and 3JCHtrans couplings were observed, and for aldehydes group containing compounds (7 and 8E), an inversion order is observed (3JCHcis > 3JCHtrans). In all cases where the 3JCHcis < 3JCHtrans relationship it is not followed, a polar group or electronegative atom oriented in opposite direction (s‐trans) to the HCC hydrogen is present, suggesting that conformational preference of such polar group or atoms are important factor on the behavior of 3JCH couplings. Taking all of these in consideration, a new Karplus‐type equation was proposed for 3JCH couplings in α,β‐unsaturated compounds, which can be used for configurational and conformational assignment on trisubstituted double bond derivatives.
Supplementation of maturation medium with CoQ10 enhances developmental competence of ovine oocytes through improvement of mitochondrial function
Authors: Heydarnejad Alireza , Ostadhosseini Somayyeh , Varnosfaderani Shiva Rouhollahi , Jafarpour Farnoosh , Moghimi Ali , Nasr‐Esfahani Mohammad Hossein 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIn vitro maturation (IVM) can impair the balance between antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress, and jeopardize embryo development by increasing oxidative stress, reducing energy metabolism, and causing improper meiotic segregation. Balancing the energy production and reduction of oxidative stress can be achieved by supplementation with coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an electron transporter in the mitochondrial inner membrane. To improve the in vitro production of ovine embryos, we studied the effect of CoQ10 supplementation during the maturation of sheep oocytes. A minimum of 100 cumulus‐oocyte complexes (COCs) were matured in the presence of 15, 30, or 50 μM CoQ10 in three to five replicates; next, in vitro fertilization and culture in a subset of oocytes were done. Our data revealed that compared to control oocytes or other concentrations of CoQ10, supplementation with 30 µM CoQ10 resulted in a significant increase in blastocyst formation and hatching rates, improved the distribution, relative mass and potential membrane of mitochondria, decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species and glutathione and lessened the percentage of oocytes with misaligned chromosomes after spindle assembly. The relative expression levels of apoptosis markers CASPASE3 and BAX were significantly reduced in CoQ10‐treated oocytes and cumulus cells whereas the relative expression level of GDF9, an oocyte‐specific growth factor, significantly increased. In conclusion, supplementation with CoQ10 improves the quality of COCs and the subsequent developmental competence of the embryo.
A mutant MATR3 mouse model to explain multisystem proteinopathy
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Yamashita Satoshi , Hara Kentaro , Doki Tsukasa , Tawara Nozomu , Ikeda Tokunori , Misumi Yohei , Zhang Ziwei , Matsuo Yoshimasa , Nagai Makiko , Kurashige Takashi , Maruyama Hirofumi , Ando Yukio 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMutations in the Matrin 3 (MATR3) gene have been identified as a cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or vocal cord and pharyngeal weakness with distal myopathy (VCPDM). This study investigated the mechanism by which mutant MATR3 causes multisystem proteinopathy (MSP) including ALS and VCPDM. We first analyzed the muscle pathology of C57BL/6 mice injected with adeno‐associated viruses expressing human WT or mutant (S85C) MATR3. We next generated transgenic mice that overexpress mutant (S85C) MATR3, driven by the CMV early enhancer/chicken β‐actin promoter, and evaluated their clinicopathological features. Intramuscular injection of viruses expressing WT and mutant MATR3 induced similar myogenic changes, including smaller myofibers with internal nuclei, and upregulated p62 and LC3‐II. Mutant MATR3 transgenic mice showed decreased body weight and lower motor activity. Muscle histology demonstrated myopathic changes including fiber‐size variation, internal nuclei and rimmed vacuoles. Spinal cord histology showed a reduced number of motor neurons, and activation of microglia and astrocytes. Comprehensive proteomic analyses of muscle demonstrated upregulation of proteins related to chaperones, stress response, protein degradation, and nuclear function. Overexpression of WT and mutant MATR3 similarly caused myotoxicity, recapitulating the clinicopathological features of MSP. These models will be helpful for analyzing MSP pathogenesis and for understanding the function of MATR3. © 2019 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A Modern Point of View on Anomalies
Authors: Monnier Samuel 
Published: May 2019

AbstractWe review the concept of anomaly field theory, namely the fact that the anomalies of a d‐dimensional field theory can be encoded in a ‐dimensional field theory functor. We give numerous examples of anomaly field theories, explain how classical facts about anomalies are recovered from the anomaly field theory, and review recent work on global anomaly cancellation in 6d supergravity where this concept was instrumental. We also sketch the status of global anomaly cancellation checks in string theory. This paper is based on a talk given at the Durham Symposium ‘Higher Structures in M‐theory’ in August 2018.
Potential of the European earwig (Forficula auricularia) as a biocontrol agent of the soft and stone fruit pest Drosophila suzukii
Authors: Bourne Adam , Fountain Michelle T , Wijnen Herman , Shaw Bethan 
Published: May 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe unintentional introduction of Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) from Asia has caused global economic losses in the soft and stone fruit industries. Pesticide use can have unintended negative impacts on natural enemies, disrupting attempts to incorporate integrated pest management programmes. Generalist predators could potentially act as biocontrol agents of D. suzukii. In this context, the predatory capabilities of the European earwig (Forficula auricularia) were investigated.RESULTSIn semi‐field conditions, F. auricularia were effective at reducing the reproductive rate of D. suzukii in more densely populated enclosures. In controlled laboratory conditions, significant negative effects of earwigs were observed for both low (three breeding pairs) and high (six breeding pairs) D. suzukii densities. Both semi‐field and laboratory experiments revealed that F. auricularia predation on adult D. suzukii could not account for the subsequent reductions in population density.CONCLUSIONSReductions in both larval and adult offspring in the presence of earwigs indicate an impact on D. suzukii via predation prior to metamorphosis or disruption of oviposition. Although F. auricularia may predate D. suzukii populations, its capacity to act as a biocontrol agent may be limited. However, results suggest that F. auricularia may be a more effective biocontrol agent earlier in the growing season. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Impacts of networking effects on software reliability growth processes: A multi‐attribute utility theory approach
Authors: Yi Zelong , Wen Yumei , Wu Xiaokun 
Published: May 2019

AbstractSoftware reliability growth models, which are based on nonhomogeneous Poisson processes, are widely adopted tools when describing the stochastic failure behavior and measuring the reliability growth in software systems. Faults in the systems, which eventually cause the failures, are usually connected with each other in complicated ways. Considering a group of networked faults, we raise a new model to examine the reliability of software systems and assess the model's performance from real‐world data sets. Our numerical studies show that the new model, capturing networking effects among faults, well fits the failure data. We also formally study the optimal software release policy using the multi‐attribute utility theory (MAUT), considering both the reliability attribute and the cost attribute. We find that, if the networking effects among different layers of faults were ignored by the software testing team, the best time to release the software package to the market would be much later while the utility reaches its maximum. Sensitivity analysis is further delivered.
Reducing the complexity of visual navigation: Optical track controller for long‐range unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Rosser Kent , Chahl Javaan 
Published: May 2019

AbstractUsing vision for navigation of airborne systems provides an opportunity for motion relative to the ground to be controlled in the absence of other supporting sensors including global navigation satellite systems. Rather than relying on computationally intensive localization techniques such as online map construction, identification and tracking of landmarks, or otherwise producing an explicit quantitative estimate of position, we propose and have experimentally demonstrated a closed‐loop visual navigation reflex which we term the optical ground course controller. The behavior is applicable to fixed wing aircraft traversing long ranges, and reduces the online computation and sensors required compared to other visual methods. This method combines the kinematics of fixed wing aircraft flight, the direction of apparent motion of an image sequence, and a magnetic compass to create a bioinspired optomotor reflex similar to those observed in insects. This behavior accurately controls track in the inertial reference frame (path taken over the ground) with only limited dependence on altitude, speed, and wind. We show that the proposed behavior is naturally convergent and stable, and present experimental results from simulation and real‐world flight demonstrating that the method performs robustly, producing improvement over both magnetic‐referenced and visual odometry‐based navigation within the limits of the sensor.
Modelling the effects of climate and flow regulation on ice‐affected backwater staging in a large northern river
Authors: Rokaya Prabin , Peters Daniel L. , Bonsal Barrie , Wheater Howard , Lindenschmidt Karl‐Erich 
Published: May 2019

AbstractIn cold region environments, ice‐jam floods (IJFs) pose a severe risk to local communities, economies, and ecosystems. Previous studies have shown that both climate and regulation affect IJF probabilities, but their relative impacts are poorly understood. This study presents a probabilistic modelling framework that couples hydrologic and hydraulic models to assess the relative role of regulated and naturalized flows on ice‐affected backwater staging. The framework is evaluated at an IJF‐prone town on the Peace River in western Canada, which has been regulated since 1972. Naturalized flows were generated for the comparison, and ice‐affected backwater profiles were calculated along jams of varying length and location and for different combinations of model parameters and boundary conditions. Results show significant differences in backwater staging (~2 m for a return period of T = 1:10 year) between two study time periods (1973–1992 vs 1993–2012) as compared with two different hydraulic flow conditions (regulated vs naturalized), suggesting a larger role of climate than regulation in backwater staging. However, regulation was found to offset flood risk during the 1973–1992 period and exacerbate flood risk during the 1993–2012 period.
3D Patternable Supercapacitors from Hierarchically Architected Porous Fiber Composites for Wearable and Waterproof Energy Storage
Authors: Wen Jianfeng , Xu Bingang , Zhou Jinyun , Xu Jiangtao , Chen Yuejiao 
Published: May 2019

AbstractHigh‐performance wearable supercapactors (SCs) are gaining prominence as portable energy storage devices. To further enhance both energy and power density, the significant relationship between structure and performance inspires a delicate design of 3D patternable supercapacitors with a hierarchical architecture of porous conductive fibers composited with pseudocapacitive materials. In this work, the polypyrrole nanowires arrays decorated 3D graphite felt fiber assembly is initially fabricated as the conductive scaffold, followed by the distribution of the highly conductive and pseudocapacitive NiCoSe2 nanoparticles. Moreover, to realize the goal of standardized batch and pattern processing of the wearable SCs, laser engraving and silicone sealing techniques are employed, and SC devices with different patterns are successfully fabricated and encapsulated. Notably, the resulting SCs exhibit both stable electrochemical performance and effective waterproof properties, with the highest specific capacitance of 5.21 F cm−3 (113.36 F g−1) at the current density of 0.025 A cm−3 (0.5 F g−1), and the highest energy density of 1.09 mWh cm−3 (22.14 Wh kg−1) at a power density of 16.5 mW cm−3 (358.7 W kg−1).
Highly Porous Microcarriers for Minimally Invasive In Situ Skeletal Muscle Cell Delivery
Authors: Kankala Ranjith Kumar , Zhao Jia , Liu Chen‐Guang , Song Xiao‐Jie , Yang Da‐Yun , Zhu Kai , Wang Shi‐Bin , Zhang Yu Shrike , Chen Ai‐Zheng 
Published: May 2019

AbstractMicroscale cell carriers have recently garnered enormous interest in repairing tissue defects by avoiding substantial open surgeries using implants for tissue regeneration. In this study, the highly open porous microspheres (HOPMs) are fabricated using a microfluidic technique for harboring proliferating skeletal myoblasts and evaluating their feasibility toward cell delivery application in situ. These biocompatible HOPMs with particle sizes of 280–370 µm possess open pores of 10–80 µm and interconnected paths. Such structure of the HOPMs conveniently provide a favorable microenvironment, where the cells are closely arranged in elongated shapes with the deposited extracellular matrix, facilitating cell adhesion and proliferation, as well as augmented myogenic differentiation. Furthermore, in vivo results in mice confirm improved cell retention and vascularization, as well as partial myoblast differentiation. These modular cell‐laden microcarriers potentially allow for in situ tissue construction after minimally invasive delivery providing a convenient means for regeneration medicine.
Experimental study on the compressive strength and shrinkage of concrete containing fly ash and ground granulated blast‐furnace slag
Authors: Li Qingfu , Zhang Qiuyu 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThis paper presents an experimental investigation on the compressive strength and shrinkage (drying shrinkage and plastic shrinkage) property of concrete specimens with fly ash (FA) and ground granulated blast‐furnace slag (GGBS), and moreover, the content level and curing age were considered in this experiment. The results show that the addition of FA and GGBS has a significant effect on the compressive strength and shrinkage properties of concrete. It indicated that the compressive strength of specimens decreases gradually due to the reduction of cement hydration products, when the curing age is less than 14 days. Nevertheless, once the curing time exceeds 7 days, the compressive strength increases initially and then decreases. Similarly, the compressive strength of concrete with GGBS increases slightly at first and then decreases, when the content level exceeds the critical value. The variety rule of plastic shrinkage cracks with FA and GGBS is similar to that of compressive strength; however, the variety rule of drying shrinkage strain is contrary to the above experimental results. Furthermore, in the early stage of curing, the GGBS is the main factor on improving strength and drying shrinkage properties, though for the later stage, the FA becomes the main factor instead of GGBS.