bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantum Based Particle Swarm Optimization for Equivalent Circuit Design of Terminal Antenna Impedance
Authors: Mescia L. , Mevoli G. , Bia P. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractIn this paper, an improved quantum‐behaved particle swarm optimization (QPSO) approach for modeling antenna impedance is illustrated. In the proposed study, the enhanced weighted quantum particles swarm optimization (EWQPSO) is introduced with the aim to achieve local convergence acting on a reduced number of free parameters. To verify the performance of the proposed EWQPSO, several tests involving Ipersphere, Alpine, De Jong, Zakharov, Salomon functions were carried out. The obtained results demonstrated that the convergence is achieved more quickly by the EWPSO than other optimization algorithms based on QPSO. A lumped element equivalent circuit was designed to model the terminal impedance of a broadband planar sinuous antenna in the frequency range from 1 to 3 GHz. The developed EWQPSO algorithm is then used to recover all the parameters characterizing the equivalent circuit. The resulting circuit exhibited a good impedance fidelity over the whole frequency range.
Terahertz near-field microscopy based on an air-plasma dynamic aperture
Authors: Wang Xin-ke , Ye Jia-sheng , Sun Wen-feng , Han Peng , Hou Lei , Zhang Yan 
Published: May 2022

AbstractTerahertz (THz) near-field microscopy retains the advantages of THz radiation and realizes sub-wavelength imaging, which enables applications in fundamental research and industrial fields. In most THz near-field microscopies, the sample surface must be approached by a THz detector or source, which restricts the sample choice. Here, a technique was developed based on an air-plasma dynamic aperture, where two mutually perpendicular air-plasmas overlapped to form a cross-filament above a sample surface that modulated an incident THz beam. THz imaging with quasi sub-wavelength resolution (approximately λ/2, where λ is the wavelength of the THz beam) was thus observed without approaching the sample with any devices. Damage to the sample by the air-plasmas was avoided. Near-field imaging of four different materials was achieved, including metallic, semiconductor, plastic, and greasy samples. The resolution characteristics of the near-field system were investigated with experiment and theory. The advantages of the technique are expected to accelerate the advancement of THz microscopy.
An Optoelectronic thermometer based on microscale infrared-to-visible conversion devices
Authors: Ding He , Lv Guoqing , Cai Xue , Chen Junyu , Cheng Ziyi , Peng Yanxiu , Tang Guo , Shi Zhao , Xie Yang , Fu Xin , Yin Lan , Yang Jian , Wang Yongtian , Sheng Xing 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThermometric detectors are crucial in evaluating the condition of target objects spanning from environments to the human body. Optical-based thermal sensing tools have received extensive attention, in which the photon upconversion process with low autofluorescence and high tissue penetration depth is considered as a competent method for temperature monitoring, particularly in biomedical fields. Here, we present an optoelectronic thermometer via infrared-to-visible upconversion, accomplished by integrated light receiving and emission devices. Fully fabricated thin-film, microscale devices present temperature-dependent light emission with an intensity change of 1.5% °C−1 and a spectral shift of 0.18 nm °C−1. The sensing mechanism is systematically characterized and ascribed to temperature dependent optoelectronic properties of the semiconductor band structure and the circuit operation condition. Patterned device arrays showcase the capability for spatially resolved temperature mapping. Finally, in vitro and in vivo experiments implemented with integrated fiber-optic sensors demonstrate real-time thermal detection of dynamic human activity and in the deep brain of animals, respectively.
Optical nonlinearity goes ultrafast in 2D semiconductor-based nanocavities
Authors: Genco Armando , Cerullo Giulio 
Published: May 2022

AbstractHybrid systems of silver nanodisks strongly coupled to monolayer tungsten-disulfide (WS2) show giant room-temperature nonlinearity due to their deeply sub-wavelength localized nature, resulting in ultrafast modifications of nonlinear absorption in a solid-state system.
A double-layered liquid metal-based electrochemical sensing system on fabric as a wearable detector for glucose in sweat
Authors: Chen Xuanqi , Wan Hao , Guo Rui , Wang Xinpeng , Wang Yang , Jiao Caicai , Sun Kang , Hu Liang 
Published: May 2022

AbstractIntegrated electrochemical sensing platforms in wearable devices have great prospects in biomedical applications. However, traditional electrochemical platforms are generally fabricated on airtight printed circuit boards, which lack sufficient flexibility, air permeability, and conformability. Liquid metals at room temperature with excellent mobility and electrical conductivity show high promise in flexible electronics. This paper presents a miniaturized liquid metal-based flexible electrochemical detection system on fabric, which is intrinsically flexible, air-permeable, and conformable to the body. Taking advantage of the excellent fluidity and electrical connectivity of liquid metal, a double-layer circuit is fabricated that significantly miniaturizes the size of the whole system. The linear response, time stability, and repeatability of this system are verified by resistance, stability, image characterization, and potassium ferricyanide tests. Finally, glucose in sweat can be detected at the millimolar level using this sensing system, which demonstrates its great potential for wearable and portable detection in biomedical fields, such as health monitoring and point-of-care testing.
FBXO2 targets glycosylated SUN2 for ubiquitination and degradation to promote ovarian cancer development
Authors: Ji Jing , Shen Jing , Xu Yuxin , Xie Mengru , Qian Qilan , Qiu Teng , Shi Wen , Ren Dexu , Ma Jinming , Liu Wei , Liu Bin 
Published: May 2022

AbstractSAD1/UNC84 domain protein-2 (SUN2) plays a tumor suppressor role in various types of cancer by inhibiting cancer cell proliferation, migration and promoting apoptosis. However, the post-translational regulation of SUN2 and the cellular mechanism responsible for its proteasomal degradation remains largely unknown. Here, we show that FBXO2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase of the F-box proteins (FBPs) family targets glycosylated SUN2 for ubiquitination and degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). By integrating the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and the Encyclopedia of Cancer Cell Lines (CCLE) databases, we revealed that FBXO2 was selectively highly expressed in ovarian cancer (OV) tissues and cells. Patients with relatively high FBXO2 expression levels were associated with worse prognosis. Manipulation of the expression of FBXO2 affecting ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration/invasion in vitro, and tumor growth in mice in vivo. The transcription factor SOX6 promoted FBXO2 expression by recognizing a putative response element localized on the promoter region of FBXO2. Abnormally highly expressed FBXO2 recognized and targeted glycosylated SUN2 protein for ubiquitination-depended degradation to prevent cell apoptosis, promote cell proliferation, and ultimately promote the progression of OV. Thus, we revealed a new SOX6-FBXO2-SUN2 axis that contributed to the development of OV, and targeting this axis may represent an effective OV treatment strategy.
Clinical outcome of nosocomial pneumonia caused by Carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria in critically ill patients: a multicenter retrospective observational study
Authors: Chen Chih-Yu , Yang Kuang-Yao , Peng Chung-Kan , Sheu Chau-Chyun , Chan Ming-Cheng , Feng Jia-Yih , Wang Sheng-Huei , Chen Chia-Min , Zheng Zhe-Rong , Liang Shinn-Jye , Lin Yu-Chao ,   T-CARE (Taiwan Critical Care and Infection) Group, Chen Chih-Yu , Wu Bing-Ru , Shen Yi-Cheng , Chen Wei-Cheng , Liang Shinn-Jye , Lin Yu-Chao , Yang Kuang-Yao , Feng Jia-Yih , Peng Chung-Kan , Wang Sheng-Huei , Sheu Chau-Chyun , Chen Chia-Min , Chan Ming-Cheng , Zheng Zhe-Rong 
Published: May 2022

AbstractNosocomial pneumonia caused by carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacteria (CRGNB) is a growing threat due to the limited therapeutic choices and high mortality rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors for mortality in patients with nosocomial pneumonia caused by CRGNB and the impact of colistin-based therapy on the outcomes of intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We conducted a retrospective study of the ICUs in five tertiary teaching hospitals in Taiwan. Patients with nosocomial pneumonia caused by CRGNB from January 2016 to December 2016 were included. Prognostic factors for mortality were analyzed using multivariate logistic regression. The influence of colistin-based therapy on mortality and clinical and microbiological outcomes were evaluated in subgroups using different severity stratification criteria. A total of 690 patients were enrolled in the study, with an in-hospital mortality of 46.1%. The most common CRGNB pathogens were Acinetobacter baumannii (78.7%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.0%). Significant predictors (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval) of mortality from multivariate analysis were a length of hospital stay (LOS) prior to pneumonia of longer than 9 days (2.18, 1.53–3.10), a sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score of more than 7 (2.36, 1.65–3.37), supportive care with vasopressor therapy (3.21, 2.26–4.56), and escalation of antimicrobial therapy (0.71, 0.50–0.99). There were no significant differences between the colistin-based therapy in the deceased and survival groups (42.1% vs. 42.7%, p = 0.873). In the subgroup analysis, patients with multiple organ involvement (> 2 organs) or higher SOFA score (> 7) receiving colistin-based therapy had better survival outcomes. Prolonged LOS prior to pneumonia onset, high SOFA score, vasopressor requirement, and timely escalation of antimicrobial therapy were predictors for mortality in critically ill patients with nosocomial CRGNB pneumonia. Colistin-based therapy was associated with better survival outcomes in subgroups of patients with a SOFA score of more than 7 and multiple organ involvement.
Developmental independence of median fins from the larval fin fold revises their evolutionary origin
Authors: Miyamoto Kazuhide , Kawakami Koichi , Tamura Koji , Abe Gembu 
Published: May 2022

AbstractThe median fins of modern fish that show discrete forms (dorsal, anal, and caudal fins) are derived from a continuous fold-like structure, both in ontogeny and phylogeny. The median fin fold (MFF) hypothesis assumes that the median fins evolved by reducing some positions in the continuous fin fold of basal chordates, based on the classical morphological observation of developmental reduction in the larval fin folds of living fish. However, the developmental processes of median fins are still unclear at the cellular and molecular levels. Here, we describe the transition from the larval fin fold into the median fins in zebrafish at the cellular and molecular developmental level. We demonstrate that reduction does not play a role in the emergence of the dorsal fin primordium. Instead, the reduction occurs along with body growth after primordium formation, rather than through actively scrapping the non-fin forming region by inducing cell death. We also report that the emergence of specific mesenchymal cells and their proliferation promote dorsal fin primordium formation. Based on these results, we propose a revised hypothesis for median fin evolution in which the acquisition of de novo developmental mechanisms is a crucial evolutionary component of the discrete forms of median fins.
Evidence for the intermediate disturbance hypothesis and exponential decay in replacement in Streptococcus pneumoniae following use of conjugate vaccines
Authors: Paulo A. Cristina , Sá-Leão Raquel 
Published: May 2022

AbstractUnderstanding how pneumococci respond to pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) is crucial to predict the impact of upcoming higher-valency vaccines. However, stages in pneumococcal community succession following disturbance are poorly understood as long-time series on carriage are scarce and mostly evaluated at end-point measurements. We used a 20-year cross-sectional dataset of pneumococci carried by Portuguese children, and methods from community ecology, to study community assembly and diversity following use of PCV7 and PCV13. Two successional stages were detected upon introduction of each PCV: one in which non-vaccine serotypes increased in abundance, fitted by a broken-stick model, and a second in which the community returned to the original structure, fitted by a geometric series, but with different serotype profile and a drop in richness as great as 24%. A peak in diversity was observed for levels of intermediate vaccine uptake (30–40%) in agreement with the intermediate disturbance hypothesis. Serotype replacement was fitted by an exponential decay model (R2 = 80%, P < 0.001). The half-life for replacement was 8 years for PCV7 and 10 years for PCV13. The structure of the pneumococcal community is resilient to vaccine pressure. The increasing loss of diversity, however, suggests it could eventually reach a threshold beyond which it may no longer recover.
Association between microRNAs 10b/21/34a and acute toxicity in glioblastoma patients treated with radiotherapy and temozolomide
Authors: Stepanović Aleksandar , Nikitović Marina , Stanojković Tatjana P. , Grujičić Danica , Bukumirić Zoran , Srbljak Ivana , Ilić Rosanda , Milošević Snežana , Arsenijević Tatjana , Petrović Nina 
Published: May 2022

AbstractA personalized approach to chemoradiation is important in reducing its potential side effects and identifying a group of patients prone to toxicity. MicroRNAs have been shown to have a predictive potential for radiotoxicity. The goal of the study was to test if levels of miRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of glioblastoma patients are associated with toxicity and to identify the peak time point for toxicity. MicroRNA-10b/21/34a levels were measured in 43 patients with and without toxicity, at baseline, at the 15th, and at the 30th fraction by Real-Time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction. MicroRNA-10b/21 levels increased with toxicity grade (p = 0.014; p = 0.013); miR-21/34a levels were significantly different between patients with and without toxicity at the 15th fraction (p = 0.030; p = 0.045), while miR-34a levels significantly changed during treatment (p < 0.001). All three miRNAs showed a significantly high positive correlation with one another. MiR-34a might be considered as a predictive factor for toxicity due to its changes during treatment, and differences between the groups with and without toxicity; miR-10b might be used to predict toxicity; miR-10b/21 might be used for predicting the grade of toxicity in GB patients.
Actions of CSF2 and DKK1 on bovine embryo development and pregnancy outcomes are affected by composition of embryo culture medium
Authors: Amaral Thiago F. , de Grazia Joao Gabriel Viana , Martinhao Luany Alves Galvao , De Col Felipe , Siqueira Luiz Gustavo B. , Viana Joao Henrique M. , Hansen Peter J. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractProcedures for in vitro embryo production in cattle have not been optimized. In the current experiment, we utilized a 3 × 3 factorial design to test whether the proportion of embryos becoming blastocysts in culture and the pregnancy rate after embryo transfer are affected by type of serum in the medium [no serum; 3% (v/v) KnockOut Serum Replacement (SR); 3% (v/v) fetal bovine serum (FBS)] and addition of specific embryokines [vehicle; 10 ng/mL colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2); 100 ng/mL dickkopf related protein 1 (DKK1)] at day 5 of culture. Embryos were produced using abattoir-derived ovaries and Y-sorted semen from two Angus sires. The percent of putative zygotes and cleaved embryos becoming blastocysts was improved by SR and FBS. Pregnancy rate at day 30 was determined for 1426 Nelore recipients and calving rate for 266 recipients. In the absence of CSF2 or DKK1, pregnancy rates were lower for embryos cultured with SR or FBS. CSF2 and DKK1 reduced pregnancy rate for embryos cultured without serum but had no detrimental effect in the SR or FBS groups. Indeed, CSF2 blocked the negative effect of FBS on pregnancy rate. Data on birth weights were available for 67 bull calves. There were no effects of treatment. The sire used to produce embryos had significant and large effects on development to the blastocyst stage, pregnancy rate at day 30, calving rate and pregnancy loss between day 30 and calving. Results indicate that (1) SR and FBS can improve embryonic development in vitro while also compromising competence of embryos to survive after transfer, (2) actions of CSF2 and DKK1 depend upon other characteristics of the embryo production system, and (3) sire can have a large effect on embryonic development before and after transfer.
Filtering electrons by mode coupling in finite semiconductor superlattices
Authors: Luo Xiaoguang , Shi Jian , Zhang Yaoming , Niu Ziang , Miao Dongpeng , Mi Huiru , Huang Wei 
Published: May 2022

AbstractElectron transmission through semiconductor superlattices is studied with transfer matrix method and resonance theory. The formation of electron band-pass transmission is ascribed to the coupling of different modes in those semiconductor superlattices with the symmetric unit cell. Upon Fabry-Pérot resonance condition, Bloch modes and two other resonant modes are identified to be related to the nature of the superlattice and its unit cell, respectively. The bands related to the unit cell and the superlattice overlap spontaneously in the tunneling region due to the shared wells, and the coupling of perfect resonances results in the band-pass tunneling. Our findings provide a promising way to study electronic systems with more complicated superlattices or even optical systems with photonic crystals.
Individualism versus collective movement during travel
Authors: Doherty Clare T. M. , Laidre Mark E. 
Published: May 2022

AbstractCollective movement may emerge if coordinating one’s movement with others produces a greater benefit to oneself than can be achieved alone. Experimentally, the capacity to manoeuvre simulated groups in the wild could enable powerful tests of the impact of collective movement on individual decisions. Yet such experiments are currently lacking due to the inherent difficulty of controlling whole collectives. Here we used a novel technique of experimentally simulating the movement of collectives of social hermit crabs (Coenobita compressus) in the wild. Using large architectural arrays of shells dragged across the beach, we generated synchronous collective movement and systematically varied the simulated collective’s travel direction as well as the context (i.e., danger level). With drone video from above, we then tested whether focal individuals were biased in their movement by the collective. We found that, despite considerable engagement with the collective, individuals’ direction was not significantly biased. Instead, individuals expressed substantial variability across all stimulus directions and contexts. Notably, individuals typically achieved shorter displacements in the presence of the collective versus in the presence of the control stimulus, suggesting an impact of traffic. The absence of a directional bias in individual movement due to the collective suggests that social hermit crabs are individualists, which move with a high level of opportunistic independence, likely thanks to the personal architecture and armour they carry in the form of a protective shell. Future studies can manipulate this level of armour to test its role in autonomy of movement, including the consequences of shell architecture for social decisions. Our novel experimental approach can be used to ask many further questions about how and why collective and individual movement interact.
Convolutional neural network for automatic maxillary sinus segmentation on cone-beam computed tomographic images
Authors: Morgan Nermin , Van Gerven Adriaan , Smolders Andreas , de Faria Vasconcelos Karla , Willems Holger , Jacobs Reinhilde 
Published: May 2022

AbstractAn accurate three-dimensional (3D) segmentation of the maxillary sinus is crucial for multiple diagnostic and treatment applications. Yet, it is challenging and time-consuming when manually performed on a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) dataset. Recently, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have proven to provide excellent performance in the field of 3D image analysis. Hence, this study developed and validated a novel automated CNN-based methodology for the segmentation of maxillary sinus using CBCT images. A dataset of 264 sinuses were acquired from 2 CBCT devices and randomly divided into 3 subsets: training, validation, and testing. A 3D U-Net architecture CNN model was developed and compared to semi-automatic segmentation in terms of time, accuracy, and consistency. The average time was significantly reduced (p-value < 2.2e−16) by automatic segmentation (0.4 min) compared to semi-automatic segmentation (60.8 min). The model accurately identified the segmented region with a dice similarity co-efficient (DSC) of 98.4%. The inter-observer reliability for minor refinement of automatic segmentation showed an excellent DSC of 99.6%. The proposed CNN model provided a time-efficient, precise, and consistent automatic segmentation which could allow an accurate generation of 3D models for diagnosis and virtual treatment planning.
Classification of severe aortic stenosis and outcomes after aortic valve replacement
Authors: Ahn Yura , Choi Se Jin , Lim Soyeoun , Kim Joon Bum , Song Jong-Min , Kang Duk-Hyun , Song Jae-Kwan , Kim Hwa Jung , Kang Joon-Won , Yang Dong Hyun , Kim Dae-Hee , Koo Hyun Jung 
Published: May 2022

AbstractAortic valve calcium scoring by cardiac computed tomographic (CT) has been recommended as an alternative to classify the AS (aortic stenosis) severity, but it is unclear that whether CT findings would have additional value to discriminate significant AS subtypes including high gradient severe AS, classic low-flow, low gradient (LF-LG) AS, paradoxical LF-LG AS, and moderate AS. In this study, we examined the preoperative clinical and cardiac CT findings of different subtypes of AS in patients with surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) and evaluated the subtype classification as a factor affecting post-surgical outcomes. This study included 511 (66.9 ± 8.8 years, 55% men) consecutive patients with severe AS who underwent surgical AVR. Aortic valve area (AVA) was obtained by echocardiography (AVAecho) and by CT (AVACT) using each modalities measurement of the left ventricular outflow tract. Patients with AS were classified as (1) high-gradient severe (n = 438), (2) classic LF-LG (n = 18), and (3) paradoxical LF-LG (n = 55) based on echocardiography. In all patients, 455 (89.0%) patients were categorized as severe AS according to the AVACT. However, 56 patients were re-classified as moderate AS (43 [9.8%] high-gradient severe AS, 5 [27.8%] classic LF-LG AS, and 8 [14.5%] paradoxical LF-LG AS) by AVACT. The classic LF-LG AS group presented larger AVACT and aortic annulus than those in high-gradient severe AS group and one third of them had AVACT ≥ 1.2 cm2. After multivariable adjustment, old age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.04, P = 0.049), high B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) (HR, 1.005; P < 0.001), preoperative atrial fibrillation (HR, 2.75; P = 0.003), classic LF-LG AS (HR, 5.53, P = 0.004), and small aortic annulus on CT (HR, 0.57; P = 0.002) were independently associated with major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) after surgical AVR.