bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analytical procedures for determination of phenolics active herbal ingredients in fortified functional foods: an overview
Authors: Sik Beatrix , Székelyhidi Rita , Lakatos Erika , Kapcsándi Viktória , Ajtony Zsolt
Published: November 2021

Fortification of foods with phenolic compounds is becoming increasingly popular due to their beneficial physiological effects. The biological activities reported include antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, or neuroprotective effects. However, the analysis of polyphenols in functional food matrices is a difficult task because of the complexity of the matrix. The main challenge is that polyphenols can interact with other food components, such as carbohydrates, proteins, or lipids. The chemical reactions that occur during the baking technologies in the bakery and biscuit industry may also affect the results of measurements. The analysis of polyphenols found in fortified foods can be done by several techniques, such as liquid chromatography (HPLC and UPLC), gas chromatography (GC), or spectrophotometry (TPC, DPPH, FRAP assay etc.). This paper aims to review the available information on analytical methods to fortified foodstuffs while as presenting the advantages and limitations of each technique.
Electrode array design determines scalar position, dislocation rate and angle and postoperative speech perception
Authors: Ketterer Manuel Christoph , Aschendorff Antje , Arndt Susan , Beck Rainer
Published: November 2021

Purpose

The aim of this study is to examine the scalar dislocation rate in straight and perimodiolar electrode arrays in relation to cochlear morphology. Furthermore, we aim to analyze the specific dislocation point of electrode arrays depending on their design and shape and to correlate these results to postoperative speech perception.

Methods

We conducted a comparative analysis of patients (ears: n = 495) implanted between 2013 and 2018 with inserted perimodiolar or straight electrode arrays from Cochlear™ or MED-EL. CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) was used to determine electrode array position (scalar insertion, intra-cochlear dislocation, point of dislocation and angular insertion depth). Furthermore, cochlear morphology was measured. The postoperative speech discrimination was compared regarding electrode array dislocation, primary scalar insertion and angular insertion depth.

Results

The electrode array with the highest rate of primary SV insertions was the CA; the electrode array with the highest rate of dislocations out of ST was the FlexSoft. We did not find significantly higher dislocation rates in cochleostomy-inserted arrays. The angle of dislocation was electrode array design-specific. A multivariate nonparametric analysis revealed that the dislocation of the electrode array has no significant influence on postoperative speech perception. Nevertheless, increasing angular insertion depth significantly reduced postoperative speech perception for monosyllables.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the significant influence of electrode array design on scalar location, dislocation and the angle of dislocation itself. Straight and perimodiolar electrode arrays differ from each other regarding both the rate and place of dislocation. Insertion via cochleostomy does not lead to increased dislocation rates in any of the included electrode arrays. Furthermore, speech perception is significantly negatively influenced by angular insertion depth.
Transformers analyzing poetry: multilingual metrical pattern prediction with transfomer-based language models
Authors: de la Rosa Javier , Pérez Álvaro , de Sisto Mirella , Hernández Laura , Díaz Aitor , Ros Salvador , González-Blanco Elena
Published: November 2021

The splitting of words into stressed and unstressed syllables is the foundation for the scansion of poetry, a process that aims at determining the metrical pattern of a line of verse within a poem. Intricate language rules and their exceptions, as well as poetic licenses exerted by the authors, make calculating these patterns a nontrivial task. Some rhetorical devices shrink the metrical length, while others might extend it. This opens the door for interpretation and further complicates the creation of automated scansion algorithms useful for automatically analyzing corpora on a distant reading fashion. In this paper, we compare the automated metrical pattern identification systems available for Spanish, English, and German, against fine-tuned monolingual and multilingual language models trained on the same task. Despite being initially conceived as models suitable for semantic tasks, our results suggest that transformers-based models retain enough structural information to perform reasonably well for Spanish on a monolingual setting, and outperforms both for English and German when using a model trained on the three languages, showing evidence of the benefits of cross-lingual transfer between the languages.
Cancer in adolescents and young adults in Japan: epidemiology and cancer strategy
Authors: Nakata Kayo , Hiyama Eiso , Katanoda Kota , Matsuda Tomohiro , Tada Yuma , Inoue Masami , Kawa Keisei , Maru Mitsue , Shimizu Chikako , Horibe Keizo , Miyashiro Isao
Published: November 2021

According to national cancer registry data in Japan, approximately 20,000 adolescents and young adults (AYAs, age 15–39 years) are newly diagnosed with cancer each year. Improvements in treatment and care for AYAs with cancer are included in the Phase Three Basic Plan to Promote Cancer Control Programs in Japan. This article reviews current cancer incidence and survival for AYAs with cancer in Japan using population-based cancer registry data. Mortality data through 2019 from the Vital Statistics of Japan are also described. Encouragingly, the 5-year survival probability for AYA cancers has continued to improve, in parallel with childhood cancers, and the mortality rate has decreased. There has been increasing attention to these vulnerable patients and improved partnerships and collaboration between adult and pediatric oncology; however, obstacles to the care of this population still exist at multiple levels. These obstacles relate to specific areas: research efforts and enrollment in clinical trials on AYA malignancies, AYA-specific psychosocial support such as education, financial support, and oncofertility care, and cancer care systems. It is important for Japanese oncologists, health care providers, and health policy makers to recognize that the AYA population remains vulnerable and still have unmet needs.
Absorption of Pulsed Terahertz and Optical Radiation in Earthworm Tissue and Its Heating Effect
Authors: Abufadda Mahmoud H. , Mbithi Nelson M. , Polónyi Gyula , Nugraha Priyo S. , Buzády Andrea , Hebling János , Molnár László , Fülöp József A.
Published: November 2021

The transmission of THz, near-infrared (1030 nm), and green (515 nm) pulses through Eisenia andrei body wall is studied, which consists of epithelial layer and circular and longitudinal muscles. Samples with the full-body cross-section were also investigated. The transmitted power for the green pulses followed the Beer-Lambert law of exponential attenuation for all thicknesses and tissue structures. Different body wall and body center absorption coefficients were found in case of infrared pulses. In the THz range, the body wall absorption coefficient steadily increases from about 80 cm–1 at 0.2 THz to about 273 cm–1 at 2.5 THz. Numerical estimation indicates that THz pulses of 5-μJ energy and 1-kHz repetition rate (5-mW average power) cause only a small temperature increase of about 0.4 K, suggesting that heating has minor contribution to biological effectiveness.
Developments in the knowledge-based economy research field: a bibliometric literature review
Authors: Aparicio Gloria , Iturralde Txomin , Rodríguez Ana Vilma
Published: November 2021

This study aims to synthesize and organize existing the knowledge in the knowledge-based economy (KBE) research field. Using the Web of Science Core Collection, this study conducts a bibliometric literature review of 1228 articles published from 1991 to 2020. The results reveal the research evolution and identify some of the field’s most active and influential articles, journals, and authors. Moreover, this analysis enhances the understanding of the research field’s conceptual and intellectual structure based on a global overview of the relevant literature and its authors. The bibliometric analysis also reveals seven thematic clusters: (1) KBE fundamentals, (2) knowledge management, (3) knowledge work, (4) knowledge generation, (5) knowledge environments, (6) new post-capitalism, and (7) KBE reconceptualization. These clusters provide a holistic view of the field and, in so doing, facilitate future research by providing a research map as to guide the advancement of the existing knowledge on this topic. Based on the bibliometric and content analyses, some future research avenues have been proposed to provide clues for this task.
Surface Properties and Mechanical Performance of Ti-Based Dental Materials: Comparative Effect of Valve Alloying Elements and Structural Defects
Authors: Sotniczuk Agata , Majchrowicz Kamil , Kuczyńska-Zemła Donata , Pisarek Marcin , Adamczyk-Cieślak Bogusława , Garbacz Halina
Published: November 2021

Two approaches can be taken when designing properties of the native oxide layers formed on Ti-based biomedical materials: (i) changing the chemical composition of the substrate by adding biocompatible, valve alloying elements, and (ii) changing the microstructure of the substrate—especially its level of defectiveness—through large plastic deformation. However, especially in the aggressive fluoridated oral environment, it is still unknown what factor is more effective in terms of enhancing oxide layer protectiveness against biocorrosion: (i) the presence of valve alloying elements, or (ii) a high number of structural defects. To gain knowledge about the separate influence of both of these factors, surface properties were examined for commercially pure Ti and Ti–Nb–Ta–Zr alloy in microcrystalline state as well as after multiple-pass cold rolling, a process that can be readily scaled up to the industrial level. This study showed that while valve-alloying elements and structural defects individually have a beneficial effect on Ti oxide layer properties in fluoridated medium, they not have to act in a synergistic manner. These findings have to be taken into account when designing future Ti-based dental materials together with analyzing their mechanical performance with respect to mechanical strength and elastic properties.
Reducing Kidney Discard With Artificial Intelligence Decision Support: the Need for a Transdisciplinary Systems Approach
Authors: Threlkeld Richard , Ashiku Lirim , Canfield Casey , Shank Daniel B. , Schnitzler Mark A. , Lentine Krista L. , Axelrod David A. , Battineni Anil Choudary Reddy , Randall Henry , Dagli Cihan
Published: November 2021

Purpose of Review

A transdisciplinary systems approach to the design of an artificial intelligence (AI) decision support system can more effectively address the limitations of AI systems. By incorporating stakeholder input early in the process, the final product is more likely to improve decision-making and effectively reduce kidney discard.

Recent Findings

Kidney discard is a complex problem that will require increased coordination between transplant stakeholders. An AI decision support system has significant potential, but there are challenges associated with overfitting, poor explainability, and inadequate trust. A transdisciplinary approach provides a holistic perspective that incorporates expertise from engineering, social science, and transplant healthcare. A systems approach leverages techniques for visualizing the system architecture to support solution design from multiple perspectives.

Developing a systems-based approach to AI decision support involves engaging in a cycle of documenting the system architecture, identifying pain points, developing prototypes, and validating the system. Early efforts have focused on describing process issues to prioritize tasks that would benefit from AI support.
Forest Carbon Management: a Review of Silvicultural Practices and Management Strategies Across Boreal, Temperate and Tropical Forests
Authors: Ameray Abderrahmane , Bergeron Yves , Valeria Osvaldo , Montoro Girona Miguel , Cavard Xavier
Published: November 2021

Purpose of Review

Carbon sequestration and storage in forest ecosystems is often promoted as a solution for reducing CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. Yet, our understanding is lacking regarding how forest management strategies affect the net removal of greenhouse gases and contribute to climate change mitigation. Here, we present a review of carbon sequestration and stock dynamics, following three strategies that are widely used in boreal, temperate and tropical forests: extensive forest management, intensive forest management and old-growth forest conservation.

Recent Findings

Several studies show that specific forest management strategies can improve carbon sequestration capacity and soil carbon storage. Within these studies, the old-growth forest conservation strategy results in greater carbon storage in soils than do extensive and intensive forest management. Intensive forest management enhances forest carbon sequestration capacity through afforestation using fast-growing species, mechanical soil preparation from low to moderate intensity and N fertilization. Extensive forest management is an intermediate compromise regarding carbon sequestration and soil carbon storage, between conservation and intensive forest management strategies. With respect to silvicultural treatments, partial cutting is a practice that increases forest carbon sequestration rates and maintains higher carbon storage in soils compared to clear-cuts. Each silvicultural practice that is discussed in this review showed a similar effect on forest carbon in all biomes, although the magnitude of these effects differs mainly in terms of heterotrophic respiration.

To achieve sustainable management and fulfill industrial demand and profitability, specific gaps must be dealt with to improve our scientific knowledge regarding forest carbon sequestration in a climate change context, mainly through the integration of the three aforementioned strategies in a functional zoning approach at the landscape scale. We present a review with promising strategies for guiding sustainable forest management in such a global context.
Ethical and Social Issues for Health Care Providers in the Intensive Care Unit during the Early Stages of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan: a Questionnaire Survey
Authors: Seino Yusuke , Aizawa Yayoi , Kogetsu Atsushi , Kato Kazuto
Published: November 2021

This questionnaire-based observational study was conducted in July 2020 with the aim of understanding the ethical and social issues faced by health care providers (HCPs) registered with the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine in intensive care units (ICUs) during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. There were 200 questionnaire respondents, and we analyzed the responses of 189 members who had been involved in COVID-19 treatment in ICUs. The ethical and social issues that HCPs recognized during the pandemic were difficulties in the decision-making process with patients’ families, limitations of life-sustaining treatment, lack of palliative care, and inadequate mental support for patients’ families and HCPs. Regarding decision-making on issues of clinical ethics during the pandemic, more than half of the respondents thought they had failed to provide sufficient palliative care to patients and responded that they experienced moral distress. The free-text responses on moral distress revealed issues such as unusual treatment and care, restricted visits, challenging situations for HCPs, and psychological burden. Additionally, 38.1% of respondents experienced episodes of social prejudice or discrimination and 4.7% experienced a shortage of medical resources. Our study result shows that the moral distress of HCPs was caused by difficulties in patient-centered decision-making and insufficient medical care to patients and their families. These were caused mainly by a lack of communication due to the stronger implementation of infection control measures. We believe that it is important to address ethical and social issues during a pandemic in order to provide appropriate medical care and prevent burnout among HCPs.
School strikers enacting politics for climate justice: Daring to think differently about education
Authors: White Peta J. , Ferguson Joseph P. , O’Connor Smith Niamh , O’Shea Carre Harriet
Published: November 2021

Two school strikers − Niamh and Harriet − come together with two environmental education academics − Peta and Joseph − to explore what it means to be young people enacting politics for the environment in Australia, and what this might mean for re-imagining education. Niamh and Harriet are leaders of, and were integral to initiating, the highly effective School Strike 4 Climate − Australia (SS4C) movement, enacting ‘principled disobedience’. Peta and Joseph work in teacher education, preparing future teachers who will teach students who are increasingly climate savvy and politically active. In coming together and through the lens of pragmatism, we highlight the political nature of what Niamh and Harriet have been undertaking as they negotiate social, cultural, educational and environmental issues implicated in the climate crisis. Collaborative autoethnography framed our exploration of motivations for action, politics and education within our communities. Through Niamh’s and Harriet’s experiences, we explore how young people express agency while developing identity. Our autoethnographic conversations highlighted the experience and political agency that many of our young people demonstrate and led to us reflecting on the resulting opportunity for educators to ‘dare to think’ differently about education.
Domestic military missions in Latin America: Civil-military relations and the perpetuation of democratic deficits
Authors: Jenne Nicole , Martínez Rafael
Published: November 2021

Latin American militaries are today in many regards inoperative and obsolete as an instrument of defence. Yet, they seek to maintain their organisational power and privileges. Governments, on the other hand, lack the adequate means to fight criminality, persisting poverty and social inequality. In an apparent win-win situation, Latin American governments have used the military as a wildcard to step in where civilian state capacity falls short, including for urban and border patrols, literacy campaigns and to collect garbage, among many other tasks. The military's manifold internal use has been defended mainly based on pragmatic reasons. We argue instead that the ostensive pareto optimality between militaries and governments has had negative effects for civil-military relations from a democratic governance point of view that takes into consideration the efficiency and effectiveness of how the state delivers basic services across different policy areas.
Ethnic Ties, Organized Opposition and Voter Defection in Authoritarian Elections
Authors: Cheng Chao-Yo , Lin Yi-Tzu
Published: November 2021

Existing studies of ethnic voting mainly focus on democratic elections. In electoral autocracies, politically subordinate ethnicity can help citizens coordinate against the incumbent. However, we argue that collective action will be constrained when the group grows large, as it becomes costly for its members to form common behavioural norms and carry out effective sanctions through shared ethnic ties under authoritarian repression. Drawing on unique historical surveys in Taiwan, we study how Taiwanese ethnicity and local ethnic demography jointly induced voters' defection against the hegemonic KMT regime. We find that the pro-defection or anti-incumbent effect of Taiwanese ethnicity fell as the share of Taiwanese citizens in a township increased. However, the relative size of the Taiwanese group no longer undermined pro-defection ethnic voting after the KMT lifted the ban on opposition parties. Our results illustrate that formal organizations play a critical role in sustaining the informational salience of ethnicity in the elections.
Essential nutrient element profiles in rice types: a risk–benefit assessment including inorganic arsenic
Authors: Menon Manoj , Smith Amelia , Fennell Joseph
Published: November 2021

Rice is consumed by nearly half of the global population and a significant source of energy and nutrients. However, rice consumption can also be a significant pathway of inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure, thus requiring a risk–benefit assessment. This study assessed nutrient element (NE) densities in fifty-five rice types (white, brown and wild rice) marketed in the UK. Densities of essential NE were used to rank rice types in meeting daily NE targets under different consumption scenarios through a newly developed optimisation approach. Using iAs data from these rice types, we assessed the margin of exposure (MOE) for low (the UK) and high (Bangladesh) rice intake scenarios. Our results showed that brown and wild rice are significantly higher in many NE and significantly contribute to dietary reference value (DRV). Our modelling showed that switching to brown or wild rice could increase the intake of several essential nutrients by up to eight times that of white rice. Using rice consumption data for mid-to-high-consumption countries, we estimate that brown rice could provide 100 % adult DRV for Fe, Mg, Cr, P and Mo, and substantial contributions for Zn, Se and K. Our results show that the amount of rice primarily determines risk from iAs consumed rather than the type of rice. Therefore, switching from white to brown or wild rice could be beneficial, provided iAs concentration in rice is within the recommended limits.
The Pre-Grenvillian assembly of the southeastern Laurentian margin through the U–Pb–Hf detrital zircon record of Mesoproterozoic supracrustal sequences (Central Grenville Province, Quebec, Canada)
Authors: Papapavlou K. , Moukhsil A. , Poirier A. , Davies J.H.F.L.
Published: November 2021

The detrital zircon perspective on the pre-collisional crustal evolution of the Grenville Province remains poorly explored. In this study, we conducted in situ laser ablation U–Pb–Hf isotopic microanalysis on detrital zircon grains from three pre-orogenic (>1 Ga) supracrustal sequences that crop out in the Central Grenville Province (Lac Saint-Jean region, QC, CA). Detrital zircon grains from vestiges of these sequences record three dominant age peaks at c. 1.46 Ga, 1.62 Ga, 1.85 Ga, and a subordinate peak at 2.7 Ga. The 1.46 Ga and 1.62 Ga age peaks are recorded in detrital zircon grains from a quartzite associated with a metavolcanic sequence (i.e. Montauban Group) with a maximum depositional age of c. 1.44 Ga. In contrast, the c.1.85 Ga age peak is observed from recycled zircon grains in metasediments with maximum depositional ages between 1.2 and 1.3 Ga. The suprachondritic Hf isotope composition in detrital zircon grains of the 1.46 Ga and 1.62 Ga age populations records juvenile crustal growth during peri-Laurentian accretionary orogenesis related to the Pinwarian (1.4–1.5 Ga) and Mazatzalian–Labradorian (1.6–1.7 Ga) events. The detrital zircon grains associated with Penokean–Makkovikian (1.8–1.9 Ga) source rocks record reworking of c. 2.7 Ga continental crust derived from a near-chondritic mantle reservoir. Overall, crust-forming and basement reworking events associated with accretionary orogenesis in southeastern Laurentia are retained in the detrital zircon load of Precambrian basins even after the terminal Grenvillian collision and assembly of Rodinia.
Deleting Unreported Innovation
Authors: Koh Ping-Sheng , Reeb David M. , Sojli Elvira , Tham Wing Wah , Wang Wendun
Published: November 2021

The absence of observable innovation data for a firm often leads us to exclude or classify these firms as non-innovators. We assess the reliability of six methods for dealing with unreported innovation using several different counterfactuals for firms without reported R&D or patents. These tests reveal that excluding firms without observable innovation or imputing them as zero innovators and including a dummy variable can lead to biased parameter estimates for observed innovation and other explanatory variables. Excluding firms without patents is especially problematic, leading to false-positive results in empirical tests. Our tests suggest using multiple imputation to handle unreported innovation.
Reported practice patterns in the ambulatory care setting for patients with CHD
Authors: Goldmuntz Elizabeth , Zheng Zihe , Shea Judy A.
Published: November 2021

Introduction:

In the absence of evidence-based guidelines, paediatric cardiologists monitor patients in the ambulatory care setting largely according to personal, patient, institutional, and/or financial dictates, all of which likely contribute to practice variability. Minimising practice variability may optimise quality of care while incurring lower costs. We sought to describe self-reported practice patterns and physician attitudes about factors influencing their testing strategies using vignettes describing common scenarios in the care of asymptomatic patients with tetralogy of Fallot and d-transposition of the great arteries.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of paediatric cardiologists attending a Continuing Medical Educational conference and at our centre. The survey elicited physician characteristics, self-reported testing strategies, and reactions to factors that might influence their decision to order an echocardiogram.

Results:

Of 267 eligible paediatric cardiologists, 110 completed the survey. The majority reported performing an annual physical examination (66–82%), electrocardiogram (74–79%), and echocardiogram (56–76%) regardless of patient age or severity of disease. Other tests (i.e. Holter monitors, exercise stress tests or cardiac MRIs) were ordered less frequently and less consistently. We observed within physician consistency in frequency of test ordering. In vignettes of younger children with mild disease, higher frequency testers were younger than lower frequency testers.

Conclusions:

These results suggest potential practice pattern variability, which needs to be further explored in real-life settings. If clinical outcomes for patients followed by low frequency testers match that of high frequency testers, then room to modify practice patterns and lower costs without compromising quality of care may exist.
Seed-shattering phenology at soybean harvest of economically important weeds in multiple regions of the United States. Part 3: Drivers of seed shatter
Authors: Schwartz-Lazaro Lauren M. , Shergill Lovreet S. , Evans Jeffrey A. , Bagavathiannan Muthukumar V. , Beam Shawn C. , Bish Mandy D. , Bond Jason A. , Bradley Kevin W. , Curran William S. , Davis Adam S. , Everman Wesley J. , Flessner Michael L. , Haring Steven C. , Jordan Nicholas R. , Korres Nicholas E. , Lindquist John L. , Norsworthy Jason K. , Sanders Tameka L. , Steckel Larry E. , VanGessel Mark J. , Young Blake , Mirsky Steven B.
Published: November 2021

Seed retention, and ultimately seed shatter, are extremely important for the efficacy of harvest weed seed control (HWSC) and are likely influenced by various agroecological and environmental factors. Field studies investigated seed-shattering phenology of 22 weed species across three soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]-producing regions in the United States. We further evaluated the potential drivers of seed shatter in terms of weather conditions, growing degree days, and plant biomass. Based on the results, weather conditions had no consistent impact on weed seed shatter. However, there was a positive correlation between individual weed plant biomass and delayed weed seed–shattering rates during harvest. This work demonstrates that HWSC can potentially reduce weed seedbank inputs of plants that have escaped early-season management practices and retained seed through harvest. However, smaller individuals of plants within the same population that shatter seed before harvest pose a risk of escaping early-season management and HWSC.
Andic Soil Properties and Tephra Layers Hamper C Turnover in Icelandic Peatlands
Authors: Möckel Susanne Claudia , Erlendsson Egill , Gísladóttir Guðrún
Published: November 2021

Due to frequent volcanic activity and erosion of dryland soils, magnified by land use after human settlement (ca. 870 CE), peatlands in Iceland receive regular additions of mineral eolian deposits. Their soils may develop not only histic but also andic characteristics. Yet, mineral eolian deposition as an environmental determinant of peatlands in Iceland is still poorly understood, not least with regard to the peatlands carbon (C) stores. This study advances our understanding of the impact of tephra deposition on Histosols by elucidating interactions between C characteristics and andic soil properties. We compare Histosols from three Icelandic peatlands of different degrees of exposure to eolian deposition by evaluating data sets of their C structure derived by 13C NMR spectroscopy, andic soil properties based on selective extractions of Al, Fe, and Si, and decomposition proxies C/N, δ13C, and δ15N. By applying multivariate statistical methods, we are able to present several important patterns. Soil organic matter of Histosols with andic properties is less decomposed than that of Histosols without notable andic properties. Andic soil properties seem to impact their C structure by facilitating the formation of organo‐mineral complexes, which particularly hamper the decomposition of chemically more labile C groups. Tephra layers appear to hamper microbial activity in deeper soil layers by preventing input of fresh organic matter. The interaction of andic and histic soil properties and the protective role of major tephra deposits may enable an unusual potential for long‐term C stabilization in a natural peatland environment.
The root meristem is shaped by brassinosteroid control of cell geometry
Authors: Fridman Y. , Strauss S. , Horev G. , Ackerman-Lavert M. , Reiner-Benaim A. , Lane B. , Smith R. S. , Savaldi-Goldstein S.
Published: November 2021

Growth extent and direction determine cell and whole-organ architecture. How they are spatio-temporally modulated to control size and shape is not well known. Here we tackled this question by studying the effect of brassinosteroid (BR) signalling on the structure of the root meristem. Quantification of the three-dimensional geometry of thousands of individual meristematic cells across different tissue types showed that the modulation of BR signalling yields distinct changes in growth rate and anisotropy, which affects the time that cells spend in the meristem and has a strong impact on the final root form. By contrast, the hormone effect on cell volume was minor, establishing cell volume as invariant to the effect of BR. Thus, BR has the highest effect on cell shape and growth anisotropy, regulating the overall longitudinal and radial growth of the meristem, while maintaining a coherent distribution of cell sizes. Moving from single-cell quantification to the whole organ, we developed a computational model of radial growth. The simulation demonstrates how differential BR-regulated growth between the inner and outer tissues shapes the meristem and thus explains the non-intuitive outcomes of tissue-specific perturbation of BR signalling. The combined experimental data and simulation suggest that the inner and outer tissues have distinct but coordinated roles in growth regulation.
Efficacy on radiofrequency ablation according to the types of benign thyroid nodules
Authors: Li Jianhua , Xue Wenping , Xu Pengfei , Deng Zhen , Duan Caiwen , Zhang Danhua , Zheng Shouhua , Cui Kefei , Qiu Xinguang
Published: November 2021

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been recommended as minimally invasive treatment for patients with symptomatic benign thyroid nodules (BTNs) because of the large number of clinical applications. This retrospective observational study sought to evaluate the clinical outcomes of RFA for BTNs. From 2014 to 2019, a sample size of 1289 patients treated by RFA were 262 ones with solid nodules and 1027 ones with cystic-solid nodule, respectively. The efficacy including the nodule maximal diameter reduction ratio (MDRR), the volume reduction ratio (VRR) and the cosmetic scores reduction ratio (CSRR). The results of the nodule MDRR and VRR in the cystic-solid nodule group were significantly better than those in the solid nodule group at the 3rd and 6th month, and the CSRR in the two groups showed statistically significant difference at the 3rd month. In a word, RFA is an effective method for symptomatic benign solid or cystic-solid nodules. The achieved MDRR and VRR in the cystic-solid nodule group were significantly better than those in the solid nodule group at the 3rd and 6th month.
A low serum iron level is a potential predictor of poor renal function in patients following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a retrospective study
Authors: Soong Tien-Chou , Feng I.-Jung , Chen Jen-Yin , Chen I.-Wen , Tong Hong-Yi , Yang Ming-Yuen , Wu Shu-Fen , Yew Ming , Hung Kuo-Chuan
Published: November 2021

This study aimed to assess the association of serum iron level (Iron) with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) after bariatric surgery (BS). We reviewed 210 patients with mean age of 39.1 ± 10.6 years (body mass index, 41.4 ± 5.5 kg/m2) undergoing BS. The primary outcome was the relationship between Iron and eGFR at 12-month after surgery. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed using postoperative eGFR as dependent variables and using Iron and other variables (i.e., age) as independent variables. At 12-month follow-up, 94 patients were analyzed. BMI significantly decreased, whereas serum iron level significantly increased. Although the percentage of patients with eGFR of < 90 mL/min/1.73 m2 increased during the study period, no significant difference was found in postoperative 12-month eGFR. No correlations were noted between Iron and eGFR at baseline and postoperative 1 and 6 months, whereas a significant relationship was observed between Iron and postoperative 12-month eGFR. Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that Iron and presence of diabetes were the independent predictors of postoperative 12-month eGFR. This pilot study showed a positive association of postoperative serum iron level with renal function in this patient population. Further large-scale trials are needed to confirm the findings.
Immune classification and identification of prognostic genes for uveal melanoma based on six immune cell signatures
Authors: Gao Guohong , Yu Zhilong , Zhao Xiaoyan , Fu Xinyi , Liu Shengsheng , Liang Shan , Deng Aijun
Published: November 2021

Cutaneous melanoma could be treated by immunotherapy, which only has limited efficacy on uveal melanoma (UM). UM immunotyping for predicting immunotherapeutic responses and guiding immunotherapy should be better understood. This study identified molecular subtypes and key genetic markers associated with immunotherapy through immunosignature analysis. We screened a 6-immune cell signature simultaneously correlated with UM prognosis. Three immune subtypes (IS) were determined based on the 6-immune cell signature. Overall survival (OS) of IS3 was the longest. Significant differences of linear discriminant analysis (LDA) score were detected among the three IS types. IS3 with the highest LDA score showed a low immunosuppression. IS1 with the lowest LDA score was more immunosuppressive. LDA score was significantly negatively correlated with most immune checkpoint-related genes, and could reflect UM patients’ response to anti-PD1 immunotherapy. Weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) identified that salmon, purple, yellow modules were related to IS and screened 6 prognostic genes. Patients with high-expressed NME1 and TMEM255A developed poor prognosis, while those with high-expressed BEX5 and ROPN1 had better prognosis. There was no notable difference in OS between patients with high-expressed LRRN1 and ST13 and those with low-expressed LRRN1 and ST13. NME1, TMEM255A, Bex5 and ROPN1 showed potential prognostic significance in UM.
Short and long-range electron transfer compete to determine free-charge yield in organic semiconductors
Authors: Carr Joshua M. , Allen Taylor G. , Larson Bryon W. , Davydenko Iryna G. , Dasari Raghunath R. , Barlow Stephen , Marder Seth R. , Reid Obadiah G. , Rumbles Garry
Published: November 2021

Marcus theory explains photoinduced electron transfer from donor molecules to a fullerene host when all microstates are included, and formation of free charge competes with charge-transfer states.
Palladium-catalyzed direct construction of oxazoline-containing polycyclic scaffolds via tandem addition/cyclization of nitriles and arylboronic acids
Authors: Cui Shu-Qiang , Cheng Na , Ma Qian-Qian , Wei Zhong-Lin , Liao Wei-Wei
Published: November 2021

An efficient construction of oxazoline-containing polycyclic scaffolds through a Pd-catalyzed addition/cyclization of (hetero)arene tethered O-acyl cyanohydrin units and arylboronic acids is described.
3D printed nickel catalytic static mixers made by corrosive chemical treatment for use in continuous flow hydrogenation
Authors: Kundra Milan , Zhu Yutong , Nguyen Xuan , Fraser Darren , Hornung Christian H. , Tsanaktsidis John
Published: November 2021

Catalytic static mixers, 3D printed from nickel alloys, were treated with etching or leaching solutions to activate their surfaces for use in hydrogenation of alkenes, aldehydes and nitro-groups.
Simulation Study of the Damage Mechanisms Appearing in a Cross Ply Composite Material Loaded in Uniaxial Tension
Authors: Tsivolas Eleftherios , Gergidis Leonidas N. , Paipetis Alkiviadis S.
Published: November 2021

The objective of this paper is to predict the different damage mechanisms in multiple scales that can occur in a cross ply composite material loaded in uniaxial tension. The simulated composite material consists of four epoxy-glass fibre layers [0/90]s and the material of each layer is transversely isotropic with viscous effects that occurred from micromechanical homogenization using Mori-Tanaka formulation, extended for visco-elastic materials. For the prediction of the cracking and interlaminar delamination, cohesive contacts were used and the final crack density results were compared with the corresponding experimental ones. Finally a microscale analysis was performed in a Representative Volume Element (RVE) to observe the matrix cracking behaviour in smaller scale.
Examination of Fracture Mechanisms in two Al – Ti – V – Cr – (Si) High Entropy Alloys
Authors: Chaskis Spyridon , Kiousis Dimitrios , Stavroulakis Pavlos , Goodall Russell , Papaefthymiou Spyros
Published: November 2021

This work focuses on the examination of two High Entropy Alloys (HEAs), the AlTiVCr and AlTiVCr–Si7.2, which have been observed to fail in a brittle manner directly after casting. Understanding the failure mechanics is a prerequisite for an alternative enhanced alloy design in order to prevent early failure without loading application. The specimens were produced using the Vacuum Arc Melting methodology in a protective argon atmosphere. The material was re–melted five times in combination with electromagnetic stirring in order to achieve a fully homogenized microstructure. Based on our findings, the failure occurred in the first 10 minutes after casting during slow cooling. Similarly, the same took place during thermal treatment after the third re–melting. The specimens were first prepared for optical (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The material consists of a coarse dendritic microstructure as well as a retained BCC phase, which is the AlTiVCr phase. In the AlTiVCr – Si7.2 alloy a uniformly dispersed, angular intermetallic compound, namely the Ti5Si3, was identified, which increases the failure resistance of the material. Based on these findings the alloy will be redesigned.
Microstructural Characterization of AlCrTiV – Si High Entropy Alloy for advanced applications
Authors: Daskalopoulos Ioannis , Chaskis Spyridon , Bouzouni Marianthi , Stavroulakis Pavlos , Goodall Russell , Papaefthymiou Spyros
Published: November 2021

This work deals with the microstructural characterization of two equiatomic high-entropy, low-density alloys (HEA), the AlCrTiV and AlCrTiV-Si7.2. These alloys can serve as potential candidates for advanced applications where high strength and enhanced ductility is demanded. For ensuring high ductility the alloys must contain as minimum as possible hard precipitates. As the strength increase is based on both solid solution and precipitation hardening, the laboratory made alloys were investigated in as-cast and heat-treated conditions. For the heat treatment a high soaking temperature of 1200°C for 8 hours was selected to ensure microstructure homogenization. Micrographic observations of the AlCrTiV and AlCrTiV-Si7.2 samples in the as-cast condition indicated the presence of a dendritic microstructure. Furthermore, chemical micro-analysis showed segregation in the matrix in both samples. This is a critical result as this segregation will lead to heavy precipitation at interdendritic regions, it may sensitize these regions and in the worst-case scenario may cause cleavage fracture in the micro scale, which can trigger brittle fracture during cooling even without the application of deformation. However, the selected heat treatment eliminated the segregation phenomena forcing the alloying elements to be uniformly distributed in the matrix. At the center of the heat-treated AlCrTiV-Si7.2 sample the fragmentation and spheroidization of the intermetallic phase Ti5Si3 was observed. For the same sample, at the mold-sample’s interface, the particles Ti5Si3 were shown to dissolve and form aggregates. Both alloys exhibited high hardness values with small differences between the as-cast and heat-treated conditions, which indicates that the AlCrTiV–Si7.2 high entropy alloy presents high yield strength and may operate at high temperatures without deterioration of the mechanical properties nor unexpected failure.
Comparative Study of Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of Inconel® 718 and Waspaloy® Welds
Authors: Kaldellis Angelos , Alexandratou Anastasia , Kladis Anastasios , Deligiannis Stavros , Tsakiridis Petros , Fourlaris George
Published: November 2021

This research work focuses on the mechanical behaviour comparative assessment in conjunction with microstructural evolution characterization of Waspaloy® and Inconel® 718, following TIG and EB welding. Both of the forth-mentioned alloys are precipitation strengthened Ni-based superalloys, widely used in chemical, petrochemical and aerospace industries. More specifically, Waspaloy® is strengthened by the precipitation of the ordered fcc gamma prime intermetallic phase, γ΄ - Ni3(Al,Ti), while Inconel® 718 is mainly hardened by the ordered bct gamma double prime phase, γ΄΄ - Ni3Nb, in addition to γ΄. After both welding processes, samples of the above superalloys were subjected to appropriate post-weld heat treatment, according to SAE Aerospace Material Specifications. The mechanical response of the tested specimens is assessed via uniaxial tensile tests, combined with fractography. Furthermore, the microstructural characterization of TIG and EB welds is conducted by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), coupled with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), while phase identification was performed through X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). The main objective of the present research work is to examine the influence of post-weld heat treatment on the Waspaloy® and Inconel® EBW and TIG welds microstructural evolution features, correlating them with their corresponding mechanical behaviour.
Hardness behavior of W. Nr. 1.7709 steel, oil quenched and tempered between 475°C and 575°C
Authors: Mantzoukas John , Papageorgiou Dimitris G. , Medrea Carmen , Stergiou Constantinos
Published: November 2021

Steel components frequently involve a heat treatment to improve mechanical properties. In order to meet difficult working conditions, several components are hardened by quenching. W. Nr. 1.7709 is a representative structural steel with very low thermal conductivity among EN wrought alloy steels, which is extensively used after hardening and tempering. Although the steelmakers provide technical information about their heat treatment sequence, the tempering diagram of the specific grade has not been designed yet. The present paper analyses the temper resistance of the specific steel after oil quenching and tempering at high temperatures. Samples of identical chemical compositions were accordingly prepared and randomized. Five groups of ten specimens were austenitized at 960°C, hold for 30 minutes and were quenched in oil. They were tempered for two hours at different temperatures between 475°C and 575°C. Specific temperatures are interesting to the heat treaters, as they could allow certain transformations which take place during tempering. Hardness measurements were carried out and statistically processed. The tempering diagram was plotted to the specified temperature range. The influence of tempering temperature on steel hardness was analysed and the resistance to tempering back of the steel was discussed. The tempering diagram is critical for metallurgists as it represents a guide to define the proper tempering parameters so that the hardness predicted according to the mechanical property requirements are obtained.
Numerical modeling of the low cycle fatigue: effect of manufacturing imperfections caused by machining process
Authors: Abarkan Ikram , Khamlichi Abdellatif , Shamass Rabee
Published: November 2021

The majority of mechanical components in nuclear power plants must be designed to withstand extreme cyclic loading conditions. In fact, when these components are subjected to low cycle fatigue, machining imperfections are considered one of the most significant factors limiting their service life. In the present work, using finite element analysis, a methodology has been suggested to predict the fatigue life of cylindrical parts made of 316 SS, at ambient temperature, under nominal strain amplitude ranging from ± 0.5 to ±1.2% with various surface roughness conditions. Two different multiaxial strain-life criteria have been considered to estimate the fatigue life, namely Brown-Miller and maximum shear strain. The comparison between the predicted and the experimental fatigue lifetimes has revealed that the adopted multiaxial strain life criteria can successfully estimate the fatigue life of 316 SS grade under uniaxial loading conditions. Furthermore, it has been found that the fatigue life decreases as the surface roughness average value increases, which indicates that surface regularities have a significant impact on low cycle fatigue life. Therefore, the proposed methodology is found to be capable of assessing the impact of surface roughness on the fatigue life of this specific steel in the low cycle fatigue regime.
Probabilistic strength assessment through analytical modelling of pillars found in ship structures
Authors: Vasileiou Angelos S. , Anyfantis Konstantinos N.
Published: November 2021

The compressive strength of pillars found in ship structures is studied under a reliability perspective. Monte Carlo Simulations (MCS) are applied, aided by a stratified sample scheme (i.e. Latin Hypercube), to account for uncertainty within the problem’s input variables (yield stress, elastic modulus, initial bow imperfection). MCSs were applied for three slenderness ratio values (low, medium, high), for hollow-circular, hollow-square and “H” shape cross-sections, and multiple geometries per slenderness ratio, per cross-section. The pillar’s strength is calculated based on the Perry-Robertson formula. The probabilistic resistance per pillar was modelled by generating the probability density function that best describes the statistical nature of the sample data. In this paper we illustrate the probabilistic nature of the compression column resistance, and compare it to the deterministic resistance suggested by regulatory bodies.