bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Dynamic simulation of bistable electrofluidic device based on a combined design of electrode and wettability patterning
Authors: Zhao Qing , Tang Biao , Bai Pengfei , Zhou Rui , Li Hui , Li Fahong , Groenewold Jan , Zhou Guofu 
Published: March 2018

AbstractElectrowetting has shown its power in manipulating microfluidics. Of particular interest is a bistable electrowetting system, which enables versatile low power consumption applications. A combined design of electrode and wettability patterning, which includes a unique three‐electrode structure and wettability barrier, was proposed and introduced into as a new electrofluidic display (EFD) architecture. This architecture should be manufacturable in a fairly straightforward way within LCD cell‐making technology. For this architecture, an electrohydrodynamic two phase flow simulation was carried out using the COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software. The results show that this new EFD architecture could achieve a bistable display property. Compared with conventional EFD, the electro‐optical performance (the aspect ratio and response time) of this design has also been greatly improved.
Non‐Volatile Silicon Photonics Using Nanoscale Flash Memory Technology
Authors: Grajower Meir , Mazurski Noa , Shappir Joseph , Levy Uriel 
Published: March 2018

AbstractNonvolatile flash memory technology is widely used in our daily life. Following the recent progress in silicon photonics, there is now an opportunity to embed flash memories also in photonic applications. As of today, chip scale photonic devices, e.g., micro‐resonators, are becoming essential building blocks in modern silicon photonics. However, their properties, such as their resonance frequencies, fluctuate due to fabrication tolerances, significantly limiting their applicability. Here, by integrating the well‐established non‐volatile flash memory technology into silicon photonic circuitry, this major obstacle is tackled and electrical post trimming of such resonators is demonstrated. Specifically, the Metal‐Oxide‐Nitride‐Oxide‐Silicon (MONOS) structure is used to trap charges in the thin silicon nitride layer, located in close proximity to the silicon device layer. This enables accumulating charges in the silicon, modifying the effective index of the optical mode and consequently the resonance frequency. By doing so, a robust and CMOS compatible nonvolatile memory solution is provided, which not only allows for precise trimming of the resonance frequency of the photonic device, but can also be easily manufactured and commercialized. This approach paves the way for efficient utilization of photonic structures such as resonators and interferometers in chip scale silicon photonics and electro optic systems, with a wide range of applications spanning from filters, switches and modulators, to sensors, and even lasers.
Analysis of mutations in EXT1 and EXT2 in Brazilian patients with multiple osteochondromas
Authors: Santos Savana C. L. , Rizzo Isabela M. P. O. , Takata Reinaldo I. , Speck‐Martins Carlos E. , Brum Jaime M. , Sollaci Claudio 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundMultiple osteochondromas is a dysplasia characterized by growth of two or more osteochondromas. It is genetically heterogeneous, caused by pathogenic variants in EXT1 or EXT2 genes in 70%–90% of patients. The EXT1 is more often mutated than EXT2 gene, with a variable prevalence between populations. There are no data about EXT1 and EXT2 pathogenic variants in patients with multiple osteochondromas in Brazilian population. The aim of this survey is to characterize these to determine the genotype profile of this population.MethodsDNA sequencing (Sanger Method) and MLPA analysis were performed to identify point mutations and deletions/duplications in the sample of 153 patients in 114 families.ResultsGermline variants were identified in 83% of families in which EXT2 variants were detected in 46% and EXT1 in 37% of cases. No variants were detected in 17% of them. We identified 50 different variants, 33 (13 frameshift, 11 nonsense, 5 missense, 2 splice site mutation, and 2 large deletions) in EXT1 and 17 (6 frameshift, 6 splice site mutation, 3 nonsense, 1 missense, and 1 large deletion) in EXT2. Of all 50 variants, 31 (62%) were novel, including 20 out of 33 (60,6%) EXT1 and 11 out of 17 (64.7%) EXT2 alleles. The vast majority of variants (88%) were “loss‐of‐function” and two novel hotspots in EXT2 gene were observed in our study.ConclusionThe prevalence of variants detected in the EXT2 gene differs from other researches from Latin America, European, and Asian population. This uncommon prevalence could be related with the newly characterized variant hotspot sites detected in EXT2 gene (p.Ala409Profs*26 and p.Ser290*). A high number of novel variants were also identified indicating that Brazilian population has a unique genetic profile. Characterizing this population and establishing its genotype is essential to understand the molecular pathogenesis of this disease in Brazil.
Reduced anatomical clutter in digital breast tomosynthesis with statistical iterative reconstruction
Authors: Garrett John W. , Li Yinsheng , Li Ke , Chen Guang‐Hong 
Published: March 2018

PurposeDigital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) has been shown to somewhat alleviate the breast tissue overlapping issues of two‐dimensional (2D) mammography. However, the improvement in current DBT systems over mammography is still limited. Statistical image reconstruction (SIR) methods have the potential to reduce through‐plane artifacts in DBT, and thus may be used to further reduce anatomical clutter. The purpose of this work was to study the impact of SIR on anatomical clutter in the reconstructed DBT image volumes.MethodsAn SIR with a slice‐wise total variation (TV) regularizer was implemented to reconstruct DBT images which were compared with the clinical reconstruction method (filtered backprojection). The artifact spread function (ASF) was measured to quantify the reduction of the through‐plane artifacts level in phantom studies and microcalcifications in clinical cases. The anatomical clutter was quantified by the anatomical noise power spectrum with a power law fitting model: NPSa( f) = α f−β. The β values were measured from the reconstructed image slices when the two reconstruction methods were applied to a cohort of clinical breast exams (N = 101) acquired using Hologic Selenia Dimensions DBT systems.ResultsThe full width half maximum (FWHM) of the measured ASF was reduced from 8.7 ± 0.1 mm for clinical reconstruction to 6.5 ± 0.1 mm for SIR which yields a 25% reduction in FWHM in phantom studies and the same amount of ASF reduction was also found in clinical measurements from microcalcifications. The measured β values for the two reconstruction methods were 3.17 ± 0.36 and 2.14 ± 0.39 for the clinical reconstruction method and the SIR method, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P << 0.001). The dependence of β on slice location using either method was negligible.ConclusionsStatistical image reconstruction enabled a significant reduction of both the through‐plane artifacts level and anatomical clutter in the DBT reconstructions. The β value was found to be β≈2.14 with the SIR method. This value stays in the middle between the β≈1.8 for cone beam CT and β≈3.2 for mammography. In contrast, the measured β value in the clinical reconstructions (β≈3.17) remains close to that of mammography.
Characterization and suppression of stripe artifact in velocity‐selective magnetization‐prepared unenhanced MR angiography
Authors: Shin Taehoon , Qin Qin 
Published: March 2018

PurposeTo characterize and suppress stripe artifact associated with velocity‐selective (VS) magnetization for unenhanced MRA.MethodsExtended phase graph formalism was used to show that the stripe artifact contains multiples of the fundamental frequency that is determined by the area of unipolar VS gradient. Four VS preparation pulses whose excitation profiles are spatially shifted by quarter the fundamental period of the stripes, were applied alternately. For further suppression of the artifact, k‐space data at kz = 0 were averaged over the 4 VS preparations. The proposed schemes were tested in a chicken breast phantom and healthy human subjects.ResultsWhen the standard VS preparation scheme was used, stripe artifact was shown in all the reconstructed images and appeared as artifactual peaks in k‐space that corresponded to the first and second order harmonics of the fundamental frequency. Alternate application of the 4 phase‐shifted VS preparation pulses suppressed the stripes, but not completely, as evidenced by residual erroneous peaks in k‐space. After the k‐space averaging, the stripe artifact was nearly eliminated.ConclusionStripe artifact in VS‐MRA consists of multiples of the fundamental frequency and can be effectively suppressed through alternate application of phase‐shifted VS preparations along with k‐space averaging.
Influence of Stocking Density on Growth, Digestive Enzyme Activity, Immunity, and Cortisol Levels of Subadult Half-smooth Tongue Sole Cynoglossus semilaevis in a Recirculating Aquaculture System
Authors: Liu Gang , Ye Zhangying , Liu Dezhao , Zhu Songming 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
According to the authors' experience of culturing Half-smooth Tongue Sole Cynoglossus semilaevis, high stocking densities lead to production failure, but few studies have addressed the problem. The purpose of this experiment was to evaluate the impact of stocking density on the growth and physiological parameters of subadult (700–1,200 g) Half-smooth Tongue Soles. The experimental design was completely randomized with three replications and one factorial scheme with three stocking densities: low density (LD; 200 fish/tank, 3.51 kg/m2), medium density (MD; 300 fish/tank, 5.30 kg/m2), and high density (HD; 400 fish/tank, 7.06 kg/m2). After 90 d, final mean body weight in the LD group was 1,003.4 g, which was 7.85% higher than that in the HD group. In addition, the activities of digestive enzymes (lipase and amylase) were depressed in the HD group relative to the other groups. Levels of immunology indicators (lysozyme, total superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase) were significantly lower in the HD group than in the LD and MD groups. The cortisol concentration was significantly higher in the HD group than in the LD and MD groups. These results show that growth, enzyme activity, and cortisol levels in Half-smooth Tongue Soles are negatively affected when the fish are cultured at high stocking density.
Neonatal hyperglycemia alters the neurochemical profile, dendritic arborization and gene expression in the developing rat hippocampus
Authors: Rao Raghavendra , Nashawaty Motaz , Fatima Saher , Ennis Kathleen , Tkac Ivan 
Published: March 2018

Hyperglycemia (blood glucose concentration >150 mg/dL) is common in extremely low gestational age newborns (ELGANs; birth at <28 week gestation). Hyperglycemia increases the risk of brain injury in the neonatal period. The long‐term effects are not well understood. In adult rats, hyperglycemia alters hippocampal energy metabolism. The effects of hyperglycemia on the developing hippocampus were studied in rat pups. In Experiment 1, recurrent hyperglycemia of graded severity (moderate hyperglycemia (moderate‐HG), mean blood glucose 214.6 ± 11.6 mg/dL; severe hyperglycemia (severe‐HG), 338.9 ± 21.7 mg/dL; control, 137.7 ± 2.6 mg/dL) was induced from postnatal day (P) 3 to P12. On P30, the hippocampal neurochemical profile was determined using in vivo 1H MR spectroscopy. Dendritic arborization in the hippocampal CA1 region was determined using microtubule‐associated protein (MAP)‐2 immunohistochemistry. In Experiment 2, continuous hyperglycemia (mean blood glucose 275.3 ± 25.8 mg/dL; control, 142.3 ± 2.6 mg/dL) was induced from P2 to P6 by injecting streptozotocin (STZ) on P2. The mRNA expression of glycogen synthase 1 (Gys1), lactate dehydrogenase (Ldh), glucose transporters 1 (Glut1) and 3 (Glut3) and monocarboxylate transporters 1 (Mct1), 2 (Mct2) and 4 (Mct4) in the hippocampus was determined on P6. In Experiment 1, MRS demonstrated lower lactate concentration and glutamate/glutamine (Glu/Gln) ratio in the severe‐HG group, compared with the control group (p < 0.05). Phosphocreatine/creatine ratio was higher in both hyperglycemia groups (p < 0.05). MAP‐2 histochemistry demonstrated longer apical segment length, indicating abnormal synaptic efficacy in both hyperglycemia groups (p < 0.05). Experiment 2 showed lower Glut1, Gys1 and Mct4 expression and higher Mct1 expression in the hyperglycemia group, relative to the control group (p < 0.05). These results suggest that hyperglycemia alters substrate transport, lactate homeostasis, dendritogenesis and Glu‐Gln cycling in the developing hippocampus. Abnormal neurochemical profile and dendritic structure due to hyperglycemia may partially explain the long‐term hippocampus‐mediated cognitive deficits in human ELGANs.
Copper Supplementation in Premature Infants With Parenteral Nutrition–Associated Cholestasis
Authors: Gupta Kunal , Wang Hongyue , Amin Sanjiv B. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of intermittent parenteral copper supplementation (IPC) on serum copper status and biochemical and hematological measures of copper toxicity and deficiency in premature infants with parenteral nutrition (PN)–associated cholestasis (PNAC). We performed a prospective nested observational study in premature infants with PNAC who received IPC after the development of PNAC. Infants with chromosomal disorders, TORCH (toxoplasmosis, parvovirus, syphilis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes, human immunodeficiency virus) infection, metabolic disorder, and/or surgical abnormality of the hepatobiliary system were excluded. Serum copper concentrations were measured once every 2–4 weeks while receiving PN; 24 premature infants were studied. The mean gestational age (GA) of infants was 28.6 ± 4.7 weeks. On regression analysis, there was no significant association between IPC and serum copper concentration (coefficient 2.72, 95% CI: −27 to 32; P = .84) after controlling for GA, gender, and baseline copper intake before PNAC. There was no significant association of IPC with alanine and aspartate transaminases levels (hepatotoxicity) and platelet count, hematocrit, white blood cell count, and neutrophil count (measures of copper deficiency) after controlling for confounders. GA and postmenstrual age were independently and positively associated with serum copper concentration after controlling for confounders on regression analyses. Thus, IPC in premature infants with PNAC does not influence copper status and is not associated with biochemical and hematological measures of copper deficiency and/or toxicity. Serum copper concentration in premature infants with PNAC receiving IPC is determined by the degree of prematurity and postmenstrual age.
Tracking and debriefing birth data at scale: A mobile phone application to improve obstetric and neonatal care in Bihar, India
Authors: Spindler Hilary , Dyer Jessica , Bagchi Kingshuk , Ranjan Vikash , Christmas Amelia , Cohen Susanna R. , Sterling Mona , Shah Malay Bharat , Das Aritra , Mahapatra Tanmay , Walker Dilys 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimThis analysis assessed changes over time in skill and knowledge related to the use of evidence‐based practices associated with quality of maternal and neonatal care during a nurse midwife mentoring intervention at primary health clinics (PHCs) in Bihar, India.DesignNurse midwife mentors (NMMs) entered live birth observation data into a mobile App from 320 PHCs.MethodsThe NMMs completed prompted questions in the App after every live birth witnessed. The App consisted of questions around three main themes, “What went well?”, “What needed improvement?” and “What can be done differently next time?”.ResultsObservational data from 5,799 births was recorded by 120 NMMs in 320 PHCs. Knowledge and skill during normal spontaneous vaginal deliveries and complicated deliveries with either a postpartum haemorrhage or non‐vigorous infant all showed statistically significant improvement (p < .001) over time using a Chi‐squared test for trend with a mean increase of 41% across all indicators.
The nurse′s challenge of caring for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary health care
Authors: Gustafsson Tanja , Nordeman Lena 
Published: March 2018

AbstractAimThe aim was to describe asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease nurses′ experiences of caring for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in primary health care.DesignDescriptive qualitative research.MethodsTen asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease specialized nurses were interviewed. Systematic Text Condensation by Malterud was used to analyse the data.ResultsTwo main categories were found: the patient‐nurse relationship and available resources. Several challenges emerged when connecting with patients and the nurses found it difficult to individualize care. They struggled with a lack of time and support from other professionals. Being responsible for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease practice was experienced as positive, but could become overwhelming. The asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease nurses described several challenges and the need for support and resources to provide the best possible care for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Cardiometabolic risk factors in treatment‐seeking youth versus population youth with obesity
Authors: Fox C. K. , Kaizer A. M. , Ryder J. R. , Rudser K. D. , Kelly A. S. , Kumar S. , Gross A. C. ,   on behalf of POWER Work Group
Published: March 2018

SummaryBackgroundAlthough obesity affects approximately one in five youths, only a fraction is treated in pediatric weight management clinics. Characteristics distinguishing youth with obesity who seek weight management treatment from those who do not are largely unknown. Yet identification of specific health characteristics which differentiate treatment‐seeking from non‐treatment seeking youth with obesity may shed light on underlying motivations for pursuing treatment.ObjectivesCompare the cardiometabolic profiles of an obesity treatment‐seeking sample of youth to a population‐based sample of youth with obesity, while controlling for body mass index (BMI).MethodsThis cross‐sectional study included participants, ages 12–17 years, with obesity from the Pediatric Obesity and Weight Evaluation Registry (POWER) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, representing the treatment‐seeking and population samples, respectively. Mean differences were calculated for systolic and diastolic blood pressure percentiles, total cholesterol, low‐density and high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin and alanine aminotransferase, while adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, insurance status, and multiple of the 95th BMI percentile.ResultsThe POWER and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cohorts included 1,823 and 617 participants, respectively. The POWER cohort had higher systolic blood pressure percentile (mean difference 17.4, 95% confidence interval [14.6, 20.1], p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure percentile (21.8 [19, 24.5], p < 0.001), triglycerides (42.3 [28, 56.5], p < 0.001) and alanine aminotransferase (7.5 [5.1, 9.8], p < 0.001) and lower fasting glucose (−6.9 [−8.2, −5.6], p < 0.001) and high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol (−2.3 [−3.8, −0.9], p < 0.002). There were no differences in total cholesterol or low‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol or clinical differences in glycated hemoglobin.ConclusionFor a given BMI, obesity treatment‐seeking youth are more adversely affected by cardiometabolic risk factors than the general population of youth with obesity. This suggests that treatment‐seeking youth may represent a distinct group that is at particularly high risk for the development of future cardiometabolic disease.
Model‐reduction in micromechanics of polycrystalline materials
Authors: Michel Jean‐Claude , Suquet Pierre 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe present study is devoted to the generalization of the Nonuniform Transformation Field Analysis (NTFA), a model‐reduction approach introduced by the authors. First, the local fields of internal variables are decomposed on a reduced basis of modes. Second, the effective (average) dissipation potential of the phases is replaced by accurate approximations. The reduced evolution equations of the models, in other words the homogenized constitutive relations, can be entirely expressed explicitly in terms of quantities which are pre‐computed “off‐line”. The example of creep of polycrystalline ice is used to assess the accuracy of the models. Their predictions, both the overall response and the local response, are shown to be in good agreement with full‐field simulations with a significant speed‐up. (© 2017 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Turbulent superstructures in Rayleigh‐Bénard convection for varying Prandtl numbers
Authors: Pandey Ambrish , Schumacher Jörg 
Published: March 2018

AbstractUsing direct numerical simulations, we study the properties of turbulent superstructures in thermal convection in a large aspect ratio square cell. We estimate the characteristic length scale of superstructures using spatial auto‐correlation functions and two‐dimensional power spectra, and observe that the typical length scale increases weakly with increasing Prandtl number. We also find that the Prandtl number dependence of heat and momentum transport are similar to those observed in small aspect ratio systems. (© 2017 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
The combination of POD model reduction with adaptive finite element methods in the context of phase field models
Authors: Gräßle Carmen , Hinze Michael 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn the present paper we derive a reduced order model utilizing proper orthogonal decomposition (POD‐ROM), for which we utilize adaptively obtained spatial snapshots. In a fully discrete setting this contains the challenge that the snapshots are vectors of different lengths. In order to handle this issue, we interprete the snapshots as elements of a common Hilbert space and consider the POD method from an infinite‐dimensional perspective. Thus, the inner product of pairs of snapshots can be computed explicitely, which enables us to build the reduced order model. This approach is applied to a phase field model which is described by a Cahn‐Hilliard equation. In the numerical examples we illustrate our appoach and compare a nonsmooth with a smooth free energy concerning the influence on the quality of the solution to the ROM. (© 2017 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
A fuzzy finite element method for sparse experimental data based on a possibilistic approach
Authors: Dridger Alex , Caylak Ismail , Mahnken Rolf 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThis work considers the possibilistic interpretation of the fuzzy set theory for the fuzzy finite element method (FFEM). The underlying uncertainty type of design variables arises from sparse experimental data and is referred to as imprecise probability. In this context, a linear elastic body with given sparse experimental results for the design variables Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio is studied. To this end, the fuzzy input parameters are represented by possibility distributions generated by a probability‐possibility transformation. A computational approach involving the α‐level discretization technique [4] is applied in order to calculate the possibility of a quantity of interest. Finally, our method is applied in a numerical example for a plate with a ring hole. (© 2017 Wiley‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)