bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thermally damaged porcine skin is not a surrogate mechanical model of human skin
Authors: Gallagher Samara , Kruger Uwe , Josyula Kartik , Rahul  , Gong Alex , Song Agnes , Sweet Robert , Makled Basiel , Parsey Conner , Norfleet Jack , De Suvranu 
Published: March 2022

AbstractPorcine skin is considered a de facto surrogate for human skin. However, this study shows that the mechanical characteristics of full thickness burned human skin are different from those of porcine skin. The study relies on five mechanical properties obtained from uniaxial tensile tests at loading rates relevant to surgery: two parameters of the Veronda-Westmann hyperelastic material model, ultimate tensile stress, ultimate tensile strain, and toughness of the skin samples. Univariate statistical analyses show that human and porcine skin properties are dissimilar (p < 0.01) for each loading rate. Multivariate classification involving the five mechanical properties using logistic regression can successfully separate the two skin types with a classification accuracy exceeding 95% for each loading rate individually as well as combined. The findings of this study are expected to guide the development of effective training protocols and high-fidelity simulators to train burn care providers.
Bias at the third nucleotide of codon pairs in virus and host genomes
Authors: Plant Ewan P. , Ye Zhiping 
Published: March 2022

AbstractGenomes of different sizes and complexity can be compared using common features. Most genomes contain open reading frames, and most genomes use the same genetic code. Redundancy in the genetic code means that different biases in the third nucleotide position of a codon exist in different genomes. However, the nucleotide composition of viruses can be quite different from host nucleotide composition making it difficult to assess the relevance of these biases. Here we show that grouping codons of a codon-pair according to the GC content of the first two nucleotide positions of each codon reveals patterns in nucleotide usage at the third position of the 1st codon. Differences between the observed and expected biases occur predominantly when the first two nucleotides of the 2nd codon are both S (strong, G or C) or both W (weak, A or T), not a mixture of strong and weak. The data indicates that some codon pairs are preferred because of the strength of the interactions between the codon and anticodon, the adjacent tRNAs and the ribosome. Using base-pairing strength and third position bias facilitates the comparison of genomes of different size and nucleotide composition and reveals patterns not previously described.
Detecting structural variations with precise breakpoints using low-depth WGS data from a single oxford nanopore MinION flowcell
Authors: Leung Henry C. M. , Yu Huijing , Zhang Yifan , Leung Wing Sze , Lo Ivan F. M. , Luk Ho Ming , Law Wai-Chun , Ma Ka Kui , Wong Chak Lim , Wong Yat Sing , Luo Ruibang , Lam Tak-Wah 
Published: March 2022

AbstractStructural variation (SV) is a major cause of genetic disorders. In this paper, we show that low-depth (specifically, 4×) whole-genome sequencing using a single Oxford Nanopore MinION flow cell suffices to support sensitive detection of SV, particularly pathogenic SV for supporting clinical diagnosis. When using 4× ONT WGS data, existing SV calling software often fails to detect pathogenic SV, especially in the form of long deletion, terminal deletion, duplication, and unbalanced translocation. Our new SV calling software SENSV can achieve high sensitivity for all types of SV and a breakpoint precision typically ± 100 bp; both features are important for clinical concerns. The improvement achieved by SENSV stems from several new algorithms. We evaluated SENSV and other software using both real and simulated data. The former was based on 24 patient samples, each diagnosed with a genetic disorder. SENSV found the pathogenic SV in 22 out of 24 cases (all heterozygous, size from hundreds of kbp to a few Mbp), reporting breakpoints within 100 bp of the true answers. On the other hand, no existing software can detect the pathogenic SV in more than 10 out of 24 cases, even when the breakpoint requirement is relaxed to ± 2000 bp.
Development of spray-drying-based surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Matsumoto Chigusa , Gen Masao , Matsuki Atsushi , Seto Takafumi 
Published: March 2022

AbstractWe report a spray-drying method to fabricate silver nanoparticle (AgNP) aggregates for application in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). A custom-built system was used to fabricate AgNP aggregates of four sizes, 48, 86, 151, and 218 nm, from drying droplets containing AgNPs atomized from an AgNP suspension. Sample solutions of Rhodamine B (RhB) at 10–6, 10–8, and 10–10 M concentrations were dropped onto the AgNP aggregates as probe molecules to examine the enhancement of the Raman signals of the RhB. The ordering of the analytical enhancement factors (AEFs) by aggregate size at a 10–6 M RhB was 86 nm > 218 nm > 151 nm > 48 nm. When RhB concentrations are below 10–8 M, the 86 and 151 nm AgNP aggregates show clear RhB peaks. The AEFs of the 86 nm AgNP aggregates were the highest in all four aggregates and higher than those of the 218-nm aggregates, although the 218-nm aggregates had more hot spots where Raman enhancement occurred. This finding was attributable to the deformation and damping of the electron cloud in the highly aggregated AgNPs, reducing the sensitivity for Raman enhancement. When RhB was premixed with the AgNP suspension prior to atomization, the AEFs at 10–8 M RhB rose ~ 100-fold compared to those in the earlier experiments (the post-dropping route). This significant enhancement was probably caused by the increased opportunity for the trapping of the probe molecules in the hot spots.
Mechanisms of D1/D2-like dopaminergic agonist, rotigotine, on lower urinary tract function in rat model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Ouchi Mifuka , Kitta Takeya , Chiba Hiroki , Higuchi Madoka , Togo Mio , Abe-Takahashi Yui , Shinohara Nobuo 
Published: March 2022

AbstractParkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. As activation of dopaminergic receptors is fundamentally involved in the micturition reflex in PD, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of a single dose of rotigotine ([−]2-(N-propyl-N-2-thienylethylamino)-5-hydroxytetralin) on intercontraction interval (ICI) and voiding pressure (VP) in a rat model of PD. We used 27 female rats, PD was induced by injecting 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA; 8 μg in 2 μL of 0.9% saline containing 0.3% ascorbic acid), and rotigotine was administrated at doses of 0.125, 0.25, or 0.5 mg/kg, either intravenous or subcutaneous injection. In rats with 6-OHDA-induced PD, intravenous injection of 0.25 or 0.5 mg/kg rotigotine led to a significantly lower ICI than after vehicle injection (p < 0.05). Additionally, VP was significantly lower in animals administered rotigotine compared to those injected with vehicle (p < 0.05). Compared to vehicle-injected animals, subcutaneous administration of rotigotine (0.125, 0.25, or 0.5 mg/kg) led to a significantly higher ICI at 2 h after injection (p < 0.05); however, there was no change in ICI after injection with (+)-SCH23390 hydrochloride. Dermal administration of rotigotine in a rat model of PD could suppress an overactive bladder.
Left atrial reverse remodeling improves risk stratification in patients with heart failure with recovered ejection fraction
Authors: Shiba Masayuki , Kato Takao , Morimoto Takeshi , Yaku Hidenori , Inuzuka Yasutaka , Tamaki Yodo , Ozasa Neiko , Seko Yuta , Yamamoto Erika , Yoshikawa Yusuke , Kitai Takeshi , Yamashita Yugo , Iguchi Moritake , Nagao Kazuya , Kawase Yuichi , Morinaga Takashi , Toyofuku Mamoru , Furukawa Yutaka , Ando Kenji , Kadota Kazushige , Sato Yukihito , Kuwahara Koichiro , Kimura Takeshi 
Published: March 2022

AbstractWe aimed to investigate the relationship between left atrial (LA) reverse remodeling and prognosis of heart failure (HF) with recovered ejection fraction (EF) (HFrecEF). Among 1,246 patients with acute heart failure enrolled in the prospective longitudinal follow-up study, 397 patients with HF with mildly-reduced EF and with reduced EF at discharge were analyzed. Echocardiography was performed during the index hospitalization and at the 6-month follow-up after discharge. They were divided into non-HFrecEF (n = 227) and HFrecEF (n = 170) groups. The primary outcome measure was a composite of all-cause death or hospitalization for HF. The cumulative 180-day incidence of the primary outcome measure after follow-up echocardiography was significantly lower in the HFrecEF group than in the non-HFrecEF group (8.9% versus 23.4%, log-rank P = 0.0002). LA reverse remodeling was associated with a lower cumulative 6-month incidence of the primary outcome measure in the HFrecEF group (4.7% versus 18.0%; HR: 0.27, 95%CI: 0.09–0.79, P = 0.01), but not in the non-HFrecEF group (24.4% versus 22.6%; HR: 1.13, 95%CI: 0.65–1.96, P = 0.28) with a significant LA reverse remodeling-by-HFrecEF interaction (P for interaction = 0.02). Combination of left ventricular and atrial reverse remodeling may help in improving HF risk stratification.
Calculation model and experimental study of the collapse strength of titanium alloy tubing and casing
Authors: Liu Qiang , Li Ning , Shen Zhao-xi , Zhao Mi-feng , Xie Jun-feng , Zhu Guo-chuan , Xu Xin , Yin Cheng-xian 
Published: March 2022

AbstractTitanium alloy has become a promising candidate material for oil country tubular goods (OCTGs) in harsh service environments owing to its high specific strength, low density, low elastic modulus, excellent toughness, excellent anti-fatigue and corrosion resistance. However, because the high-quality natural gas resources in China are mainly concentrated deep underground, titanium alloy tubing and casing will bear great external pressure loads underground, so the collapse strength of titanium alloy tubing and casing is very important for the safety of the string in the well. In this paper, a new collapse strength calculation model, the strength collapse criterion model (SCM), was proposed for titanium alloy tubing and casing. 35 different specifications of titanium alloy tubing and casing were selected for the full-scale collapse tests to verify the reliability of the established SCM model. Furthermore, the effect of different key parameters (such as strength, ovality, eccentricity and residual stress) on collapse strength of titanium alloy pipes were investigated systematically and compared with the same specifications of steel pipes. The strength collapse criterion model and analysis results can provide a technical reference for the design and use of titanium alloy OCTGs in the petroleum and natural gas industries.
Urban noise and surrounding city morphology influence green space occupancy by native birds in a Mediterranean-type South American metropolis
Authors: Arévalo Constanza , Amaya-Espinel Juan David , Henríquez Cristián , Ibarra José Tomás , Bonacic Cristián 
Published: March 2022

AbstractUrban green spaces provide natural habitat for birds in urban landscapes, yet the effects of noise and surrounding urban morphology on bird community structure and distribution are not well understood in Latin America, the second most urbanized region in the world. Santiago of Chile is the single city belonging to the Mediterranean ecosystem in South America and is subject to extensive urbanization as seen throughout Latin America. We examined the role of 65 urban green spaces—6 large urban parks (PAR) and 59 small green spaces (SGS)—in harboring native birds during winter 2019, analyzing the quality of green areas in terms of vegetation (i.e. NDVI, native vegetation, and tree cover), exotic bird species, noise levels, and surrounding urban morphology (i.e. building height and cover). Significantly higher noise levels were detected in SGS, along with significantly greater exotic bird (n = 4) richness and abundance than PAR, which possessed significantly greater native bird (n = 25) richness and abundance. Native birds were more abundant than exotic birds in green spaces with average noise levels < 52 dB and average NDVI > 0.5. Occupancy models indicate that green space occupancy by 50% of modeled native bird species was influenced by maximum noise levels, playing a larger role than vegetation (30%) and urban morphology (0%). We stress the importance of developing networks of large green spaces in rapidly urbanizing regions, with abundant tree cover, surrounded by smaller urban morphology, and regulating noise levels to ensure the conservation of native bird communities in cities, particularly those that are threatened.
Comparing reliability between 3D imaging and 2D photography for external nasal anthropometry
Authors: Seo Yoon-Soo , Jo Ki-Hun , Kim Joo-Yeon , Kwon Jae-Hwan 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThis study investigates and compares the reliability and reproducibility of two facial anthropometric methods about external nasal angles, 3D imaging and conventional 2D photography. 2D photograph images and 3D images about external nose of 30 volunteers were taken using digital camera and Morpheus 3D scanner. To evaluate intra-rater reliability, each images were taken over two different days for each subject by the same researcher. To evaluate inter-rater reliability, another researcher took each images for each subject on the first day. The reliability of each method for measuring 4 external nasal angle is obtained using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and compared. Inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of both 3D imaging and 2D photography had excellent agreement in all 4 nasal angles. In the nasofacial angular parameter, Inter-rater ICC, 2D photography was significantly higher than 3D imaging. Result of intra-rater ICC also showed both 3D imaging and 2D photography had good reliability in all 4 nasal angles. Similar to those of inter-rater ICC, nasofacial angular parameter showed statistically significant differences between 3D imaging and 2D photography. In terms of reliability, both 2D and 3D showed appropriate anthropometric results and considering its own advantage, each methods can be used complementarily.
Engagement with video content in the blended classroom
Authors: Smith David P. , Francis Nigel J. 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Blended learning is becoming the expected norm for core content delivery in many institutions. Pre-recorded videos in the form of screencasts are the primary delivery method, with students being asked to engage with the content in this medium. Usage is only likely to increase into the future as delivery moves away from traditional lectures and seminars. In this perspective, we look at the use of video material as a means of content delivery and how to help students engage with it. Theoretical literature around cognitive loading and active learning, alongside personal experience of delivery, is drawn on to give a framework for creating engaging recordings and learning activities.
Stability‐oriented RAN slicing based on joint communication and computation offloading
Authors: Zhang Yong , Hu Yuqi , Ma Tengteng 
Published: March 2022

AbstractNetwork slicing and mobile edge computing are key technologies in 5G/6G networks. Stable allocation of slicing resources is a challenge while communication and computation offloading coexist. To meet the service requirements of communication and computation offloading, a radio access network model which consists of enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) slicing users, ultra‐reliable low latency communication (URLLC) slicing users, base stations integrated with MEC servers, and fog nodes with computing power are proposed. By employing the Lyapunov optimisation technique, a slicing resource allocation algorithm is proposed to maintain the queue stability and minimise the energy consumption of the system. For eMBB and URLLC slices, long time interval and short time interval resource allocation algorithms are proposed respectively. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can guarantee the long‐term stability of the network system while ensuring the service requirements.
Completion time minimization for UAV enabled data collection with communication link constrained
Authors: Wu Binbin , Guo Daoxing , Zhang Bangning , Zhang Xiaokai , Wang Hongbin , Wang Haichao , Jiang Hao 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThis paper studies unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) enabled industrial Internet of Things while a UAV dispatched to collect data of low‐power ground sensor nodes (SNs) in multi‐obstacle environment. The authors aim to minimize the completion time while satisfying the communication link constraints of each SN and obstacle avoidance, data collection requirements etc. To this end, the authors first formulate the completion time minimization problem by jointly optimizing the UAV trajectory and collection sequence of SNs. The problem is difficult to be optimally solved, as it is non‐convex. To tackle this problem, the authors first transform the original problem to a Traveling Salesman Problem‐like (TSP‐like) problem based on a hover point that can naturally satisfy the communication link constraints of data collection. The dynamic programming (DP) algorithm to figure out the order in which the UAV collects each SN, which gives the initial path of the UAV traversing each SN from the beginning point to the end point. Next, the authors consider the general scenarios of data collection tasks where the UAV also communicates while flying. The authors construct an equivalent problem with integer variable constraints for the original problem with indicative function constraints. The authors rewrite the non‐convex constraints of the equal problem by introducing slack variables and leveraging the SCA, and add the discrete region threat constraints for the traditional path discretization method. Finally, the simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm under different parameter configurations.
Bandpass filters based on integrated aperture‐ and gap‐coupled discontinuities
Authors: Nosrati Amir , Mohammad‐Taheri Mahmoud 
Published: March 2022

AbstractAn electromagnetic coupling mechanism is discussed for distributed‐element aperture‐ and gap‐coupled discontinuities based on rigorous lumped‐element equivalent circuit analysis. The two discontinuities are analysed in terms of their transmission poles and transmission zeros for the selectivity enhancement of microwave and or millimetre‐wave components. The integration of these two discontinuities is put forward for bandpass filter design. A frequency‐dependent lumped‐element equivalent circuit is employed to study the behaviour of the two distributed‐element discontinuities in the transverse direction. Bandpass filters are characterised based on the dual aperture‐ and gap‐coupled discontinuities integrated within substrate integrated waveguide structures. It is shown that multiple transmission zeros close to transmission poles are realised due to the magnetic and electric field cancelation in the gap‐coupled discontinuity, while the aperture‐coupled discontinuity contributes to a resonator with a higher quality factor. The integration of both aperture‐ and gap‐coupled discontinuities shows the priority of this kind of microwave resonator in terms of selectivity, size, and upper stopband in comparison with the conventional aperture‐coupled one.
A wideband and high‐gain fully metallic lens antenna for terahertz applications
Authors: Xiong Qi , Ye Jia , Pan Wei , Yan Lianshan 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn this letter, a high‐gain fully metallic lens antenna operating in 110–170 GHz frequency range is designed and fabricated. The antenna is composed of a feeding E‐plane horn, a metallic lens and a flared H‐plane horn. The metallic lens consisting of oblique metal plates and two horn arrays is used to compensate the phase difference in the E‐plane. A prototype is fabricated in aluminium by low‐cost computer numerical control milling technology. Experiments are carried out to verify the design. Measurement results of the prototype show that the proposed antenna can achieve a wide impedance bandwidth of 42.85% across 110–170 GHz with an input reflection coefficient below −10 dB. In addition, the maximum gain is 29.2 dBi at 170 GHz. These performances of the proposed antenna indicate the potential for terahertz applications.
A current reference with wide temperature operation range and low temperature drift
Authors: Ding Liqiang , Cai Xiaowu , Wang Yang , Han Zhengsheng , Li Bo , Zhao Fazhan 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThis work introduces a current reference with wide temperature operation range and low temperature drift, which can be used in high‐performance intelligent power driver ICs. The core idea of the design is to use the non‐linear characteristics of the drain current of MOSFET working in the sub‐threshold region to realize the compensation of the reference current in low temperature and high‐temperature section, then to reduce the fluctuation of reference current in the whole temperature range (TR). Compared with conventional structures, the temperature drift coefficient of this design is reduced by one order of magnitude. The proposed circuit is designed and verified under a 0.18 μm BCD technology, which occupies a footprint of about 0.085 mm2. Measured data shows that the output reference current at 1 μA has a temperature coefficient of 53.5 ppm/℃ during TR of −40–150℃.
Demand response considering user behaviour differences for load serving entity: A multi‐agent deep reinforcement learning approach
Authors: Zeng Kaiwen , Wang Haizhu , Liu Jianing , Lin Bin , Du Bin , You Yi 
Published: March 2022

AbstractDemand response can reshape the load profiles by adjusting the energy price to improve overall performance of power grids. For the load serving entities (LSEs), the optimal demand response shall satisfy operation constraints and gain maximised profits. However, the individual end‐consumer will surely value electricity differently, and price adjustments without considering the differences of user behaviours may induce unbalanced dispatch and degrade the overall profits. Given affordable price ranges under which the non‐critical loads can properly response to price signals, the demand response can be operated in a manner where non‐critical loads at different areas coordinately adjusted to achieve the global dispatch objectives. For this purposes, this paper proposes a cooperative demand response approach for LSE pricing based on a multi‐agent deep reinforcement learning approach. The learning approach constructs the distributed pricing agents that cooperatively determine the price signals to be responded by different load clusters. To update the parameters of pricing agents, the deep deterministic policy gradient is derived considering the constraints and different behaviours of load clusters. The effectiveness of the proposed cooperative demand response method is verified based on numerical simulations.