bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Different Planting Times on Yield and Quality Features in Some Mint Species (Mentha longifolia, Mentha x piperita, Mentha spicata)
Authors: YEŞİL Meryem
Published: June 2022

This study, which was carried out to determine the effect of planting times (April 15th, May 1st, May 15th) on agricultural properties in the species of Mentha longifolia, Mentha x piperita and Mentha spicata, was conducted in the trial field of Faculty of Agriculture in Ordu University in 2018-2019. In the study, plant height, fresh herb yield, drug herba yield, fresh leaf yield and drug leaf yield, essential oil rate and essential oil yield were investigated. In both trial years, the plantings of April 15 and May 1 generally came to the forefront in terms of the characters examined in all species. Looking at the species, Mentha longifolia took first place in essential oil ratio in both years, Mentha x piperita in all the features examined except for plant height, in the first year, and Mentha spicata in all characters, in the second year.
A Smartphone Application to Compute Soil Erosion based on the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE)
Authors: Simonet Daniel , Ali Tarig A.
Published: June 2022

Erosion negatively affects farming. It leads to a 50% decline in land productivity (Nellemann et al, 2009). In Africa, erosion generates significant yield reduction (Eswaran, Lal & Reich, 2001). The loss of 75 billion tons of soil per year represent a cost of US$400 billion. An acre of U.S. cropland loses 5 tons of soil per year (Briggs, 2020). Moreover, soil carried away is the source of respiratory illnesses and damages that amount to over $14 billion per year (Eswaran, Lal & Reich, 2001). Furthermore, erosion reduces soil water-holding capacity. The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) is the major tool to calculate erosion caused by rainfall erosivity; the resistance of the environment (including soil erodibility; topographical factor, plant cover, and farming techniques) and human techniques (erosion control practices in farming) (Roose, 1996). RUSLE is instrumental in keeping erosion within acceptable limits. This paper presents a new, and the first of its type, smartphone application developed to help farmers and stakeholders compute soil erosion at any location in the world using the RUSLE model. Such an application can help land users to have a more accurate perception about soil erosion and its negative impact.
Drip fertigation improves seed cotton yield, water productivity and profitability of cotton raised under high density planting system in semi-arid environment
Authors: Singh Kulvir , Rathore Pankaj , Brar Ajmer Singh , Mishra Sudhir Kumar
Published: June 2022

The wasteful system of flood irrigation being widely practiced for cotton production in India needs replacement by efficient irrigation systems for conserving water. Cotton productivity can be boosted by optimizing the nutrient and water application through modern resource conservation techniques. Therefore, a field experiment has been conducted during summer (Kharif) season of year 2016 and 2017 to investigate consequence of surface drip irrigation along with N fertilization on the growth and seed cotton yield (SCY) under recently introduced high density planting system (HDPS) in India. The experiment having combinations of 3 drip irrigation {60, 80 and 100% of crop evapo-transpiration (ETc)} and 3 N fertigation levels {125 (94 kg N), 100 (75 kg N) and 75% (56 kg N) of recommended N dose (RDN)} along with control (i.e. conventional practice of irrigation through surface flood and soil broadcasting of urea as  100% RDN i.e., 75 kg N ha-1) has been conducted in complete randomized block design replicated thrice. Drip irrigation scheduled at 0.8 ETc recorded 2.5 and 23.2% higher SCY (2509 kg ha-1) than 1.0 ETc and 0.6 ETc, respectively. Among N levels, highest SCY (2452 kg) was observed with 75 kg N application, whereas 56 kg N ha-1 recorded least. A combination of drip fertigation at 0.8 ETc and 100% RDN elucidated 11.6, 61.5, 13.9 %, and 42.9 % higher SCY, water use efficiency, nitrogen use efficiency and benefit: cost ratio than control, respectively. Drip fertigation at 1.0 ETc along with 100% RDN improved SCY by 7.3% over control.
Estimation of summer maize biomass based on a crop growth model
Authors: Li Weiguo , Zhang Chuanbo , Ma Tinghuai , Li Wei
Published: June 2022

The challenge in the field of agricultural remote sensing monitoring has always been how to use crop growth models to quantitatively analyze the dynamic changes of regional summer maize biomass（referring to aboveground biomass weight，AGBW）. In this study, we constructed a summer maize biomass process simulation model (SMSMBP) to analyze AGBW and its change characteristics at different growth stages of field summer maize in Jianghuai regional along the east coast of China. First, the initial biomass simulation model was used to estimate AGBW of summer maize from the seedling emergence to the jointing stage, from the jointing to the tasseling stage , and from the tasseling to the grain filling stage. Then, the biomass simulation model parameters were adjusted based on measured leaf area index and AGBW data at the jointing stage of summer maize. Finally, the adjusted model was used to estimate AGBW from jointing to tasseling and from tasseling to filling. The results showed that the relative errors of the predicted and measured values of summer maize AGBW from seedling emergence to before jointing, during the early stage of jointing, before tasseling, and during the grain filling stage were 3.35%, 11.56%, 23.26%, and 15.83%, respectively. For the adjusted model , the root mean square error (RMSE) between the predicted and the measured values before tasseling was 219.43 kg/hm2 and the relative error was 4.18%, and the relative error between the predicted and the measured values during the grain filling stage was 3.44%. Adjusting the model parameters using data from the maize jointing stage improved the prediction from jointing to tasseling and from tasseling to grain filling. This study provides a reference for the prediction of AGBW and its dynamic changes in different growth stages of summer maize, and could assist agricultural management department to adjust production measures.

Keywords: Biomass; Estimation; Planting areas along the east coast of China; Process simulation model; Summer maize
The value of applying a myrrh extract to manage and control date palm aphids in Saudi Arabia and their classification
Authors: Al-Keridis Lamya Ahmed
Published: June 2022

The date palm can be affected by aphids resulting in the development of sooty mould. Extracts from myrrh plants were utilized as biological insecticides on aphids to learn its impact. Myrrh extracts had been evaluated using four separate amounts, namely 500, 1000, 5000, and l0000 ppm. They were applied two times and then inspected at 12 and 24 h after the exposure to be contrasted to the unexposed samples. The aphids eating date palms were subjected to myrrh extracts and categorized. The bio-insecticidal effects have been investigated based on specific dynamics and genetic evaluation of both exposed and unexposed aphid samples. The biologically insecticidal effects are relevant (P < 0.05) regarding all the four selected factors. Moreover, the genetic evaluation indicated that unfinished genetic sequences have dramatically increased upon elevating amounts of myrrh extracts (0, 500, 1000, 5000, and 10000 ppm). Meanwhile, the average genetic distance has reduced with enlarged amounts of myrrh extract in the 24-h period in the case of the exposed aphids in contrast to unexposed samples. Myrrh extracts are very strong and perspective biological
Kalirin mediates Rac1 activation downstream of calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II to stimulate glucose uptake during muscle contraction
Authors: Liu Sasa , Qi Rui , Zhang Juan , Zhang Chang , Chen Liming , Yao Zhi , Niu Wenyan
Published: June 2022

In this study, we investigated the role of calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) in contraction‐stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle. C2C12 myotubes were contracted by electrical pulse stimulation (EPS), and treadmill running was used to exercise mice. The activities of CaMKII, the small G protein Rac1, and the Rac1 effector kinase PAK1 were elevated in muscle by running exercise or EPS, while they were lowered by the CaMKII inhibitor KN‐93 and/or small interfering RNA (siRNA)‐mediated knockdown. EPS induced the mRNA and protein expression of the Rac1‐GEF Kalirin in a CaMKII‐dependent manner. EPS‐induced Rac1 activation was lowered by the Kalirin inhibitor ITX3 or siRNA‐mediated Kalirin knockdown. KN‐93, ITX3, and siRNA‐mediated Kalirin knockdown reduced EPS‐induced glucose uptake. These findings define a CaMKII‐Kalirin‐Rac1 signaling pathway that contributes to contraction‐stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle myotubes and tissue.
Quotidian Ethics
Authors: Benatar David
Published: June 2022

Quotidian ethics, or “everyday ethics” as it is sometimes known, is a branch of applied ethics devoted to studying the moral questions, problems, and issues that arise in the daily lives of ordinary people. This field of inquiry is distinguished in two ways. First, the problems of quotidian ethics are ones that arise very commonly. Second, quotidian ethics is to be distinguished from various kinds of professional ethics and from the ethics of public policy and law. Various examples of quotidian ethical questions are provided. Although some questions in quotidian ethics have received considerable attention, many other questions in this field have been neglected. Some of the possible reasons for this are surveyed. A case is also made for the importance of quotidian ethical questions.
Zhuangzi
Authors: Chong Kim‐Chong
Published: June 2022

Zhuangzi (ca. 369–286bce), along with Laozi, is a seminal figure in philosophical Daoism. The 33‐chapter text of theZhuangziis a result of extensive editing by the fourth‐century commentator Guo Xiang, and it is widely believed that the first seven (“Inner”) chapters were either written by the historical Zhuangzi or best represent his thought. Some central themes can be discerned throughout the text. These are encapsulated in the remark by Xunzi that Zhuangzi was blinded by heaven and did not pay attention to human beings. We analyze this statement to bring out the main features of Zhuangzi's philosophical ethics.
Common Good
Authors: Mansbridge Jane , Boot Eric
Published: June 2022

The common good has traditionally been a keystone of normative political theory, but its meaning has been contested. Possible meanings include the aggregrative, procedural, and unitary, and, most recently, a civic account seeing the common good as those goods that all sharequamembers of the public. The balance between different meanings has changed over time, with aggregative meanings (i.e., the common good as the sum of individual goods) increasing in frequency from the eighteenth century on but challenged in the twentieth. In a major twentieth‐century confrontation, empirical social scientists joined some philosophers to argue both that a single conception of the common good was inappropriate for a pluralist society and that the common good could not be known. In response, deliberative theorists, civic republicans, and communitarians argued that uncertainty and contest regarding its meaning should not prevent individuals or communities from trying to act for the common good or from developing a politics in which the common good, conceived always as contested, plays a central role.
Inheritance
Authors: Melkevik Åsbjørn
Published: June 2022

Whether intergenerational transfers of wealth should be allowed is morally significant. On the one hand, inheritance can reinforce intergenerational bonds, and it is common to argue for the unity of property and succession, such that the former cannot be looked on as complete without the latter. On the other hand, historically few laws did as much to stoke inequality as inheritance laws. Today, inheritance remains a major concern of the literature on equality of opportunity. Yet such a concern with inheritance is not specific to egalitarians. Some classical liberals have even justified abolishing the inheritance of wealth altogether, or making inheritance taxation a necessary part of a system of free enterprise to preserve market competition. Depending on how inheritance is understood, philosophers have accordingly proposed many detailed schemes of inheritance taxation and rules of intestacy. This entry examines more specifically arguments for freedom of testation, proposed regulations of the right to inherit, some schemes of inheritance taxation, and, finally, some nonpecuniary moral questions. affecting inheritance.
Epistemic Vices and Vice Epistemology
Authors: Dunne Gerry
Published: June 2022

If you wanted to build the perfect purveyor of knowledge, you would do well to avoid human beings. They are too error prone. They are, more often than not, defective inquirers. They have limited attention spans, limited cognitive processing powers, unreliable and inefficient memories, inherently flawed intellectual characters, and pedestrian interpersonal and intrapersonal skills. They are flawed listeners. They are at times dogmatic and prejudicial reasoners. Too often they cannot get out of their own way – life, work, character flaws, relationships; indeed, the trappings of being human in a socially oriented split‐attention environment strip them of being the very best version of themselves. More often than not, we are less than we ought to be. Enter vice epistemology. Theorists in this field seek to foreground the value of better understanding epistemic vices that obstruct knowledge acquisition, sharing, auditing, and production. Rather than focus on knowledge acquired via strictly controlled laboratory conditions, vice epistemologists seek to better understand the nature, scope, identity, and significance of intellectual character traits, attitudes, and ways of thinking, which systematically, though not invariably, block the path to knowledge. Contra virtue epistemologists who spend a great deal of time untangling how prototypical virtuous thinkers under ideal conditions should think, vice epistemologists look to more fully understand how, on balance, imperfect people, with imperfect cognition, in a contested fact‐value world, actually think, reason, question, inquire, generate inferences, handle evidence, and so on. This entry surveys epistemic vices, in particular how they corrupt knowledge acquisition, auditing, and sharing.
Moral Repair
Authors: Cohen Andrew I.
Published: June 2022

Moral repair includes a variety of acts or processes by which agents make up for deficiencies, losses, failures, or transgressions. Moral repair can take many forms, including compensation, reparation, punishment, atonement, commemoration, apology, forgiveness, forgetting, and other interpersonal relations/processes. The parties to moral repair can be individuals, groups, or institutions, living, dead, or yet to be born. Moral repair typically repairs relationships of some sort.
Algorithms
Authors: Dare Tim
Published: June 2022

Humans identify patterns, apply rules, classify data, and make predictions and decisions based on those activities. The data sets that would inform these processes in an ideal world are vast, but there are too many cases, too many images, too much research, too many variables, too many combinations between variables, and so on for humans to identify and process. Many of those data now exists in forms that can be accessed electronically, creating the opportunity for computers to at least enhance, and perhaps take over, many reasoning tasks previously carried out by humans. Computers can access and use algorithms to process vastly larger data sets than can their human counterparts. They can identify patterns indiscernible to humans, without tiring, and without running out of capacity to consider more cases. So understood, computer algorithms are a tremendously valuable tool. However, they also pose very clear ethical risks.
Feminist Theory of Moral Responsibility
Authors: Ciurria Mich
Published: June 2022

Feminist philosophy provides unique insight into moral responsibility. The general consensus in philosophy, including feminist theory, is that responsibility tracks or responds to features of a person's self, such as attitudes and capacities. But feminists think of the self in a unique way: as relational and socially embedded. This raises novel questions about how we should hold people responsible. Are people responsible for (the effects of) their relationships, social connections, and shared attitudes, or only their personal choices and thoughts? Are people responsible for ignorance and collective wrongdoing, even if these things are widely accepted in their culture? Do people participate in oppressive practices because they lack access to relevant moral information, or because they have a vested interest in ignoring the testimony of their victims? Since feminist philosophy is so internally diverse, we find a range of answers to these questions. But there is growing consensus that we need to pay more attention to marginalized voices – voices that call into question the dominant standpoint of nondisabled white women.
Nudges
Authors: Engelen Bart
Published: June 2022

Nudges have become an increasingly popular policy tool and topic for academic discussions. They influence people's behavior through deliberately and smartly designing people's choice environments and framing (information about) their options. Examples are everywhere: in traffic (lines on the road), in healthcare (framing treatment options), on the work floor (opt‐out systems for health insurance), in supermarkets (product placement), and online (clickbait videos and messages). This entry covers the historical background of nudges and explains what nudges are exactly and how they differ from more traditional influencing techniques. The main focus, however, lies on the state‐of‐the‐art discussions on the ethics of nudging. The entry discusses the rationale behind nudges and analyzes the main moral worries they raise. Nudges can be used for illicit ends and are arguably manipulative and disrespectful violations of people's autonomy and agency. It concludes after discussing some of the most recent challenges that come with online nudges.
Association Between Patient‐Reported Outcomes and Treatment Failure in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
Authors: Taxter Alysha , Donaldson Brittany C. , Rigdon Joseph , Harry Onengiya
Published: June 2022

Objective

Children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) frequently exhibit symptoms months before diagnosis. The aims of this study were to assess whether baseline patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) are associated with changes in JIA pharmacotherapy treatment and whether symptom duration prior to JIA diagnosis is associated with disease activity scores over time.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of patients with an incident diagnosis of JIA. Patient‐reported symptom duration, pain, energy, disease activity, sleep, anxiety, and depression screenings, as well as provider‐reported disease activity and joint count, were collected during routine clinical care. Cox proportional hazards evaluated PROs, disease activity scores, and symptom duration with initial medication failure within 9 months of diagnosis. Multivariate mixed effects linear regression evaluated the association of symptom duration with disease activity scores.

Results

There were 58 children (66% female, 35% oligoarticular JIA) in the cohort. Nearly half of patients failed initial therapy within 9 months. Unadjusted analysis showed that higher energy (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69‐0.99; P = 0.04) and longer symptom duration (HR: 0.96; 95% CI: 0.93‐0.99; P = 0.03) at diagnosis were protective against medication failure. Adjusted analysis showed that symptom duration prior to diagnosis was protective against medication failure (HR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.92‐0.99; P = 0.02); there was no association between medication failure and pain, psychiatric symptoms, or disease activity scores. There was a positive association with longer symptom duration and higher disease activity at 30 and 60 days, but this was not sustained.

Conclusion

Higher energy levels and longer symptom duration are protective against initial JIA treatment failures. Initial treatments informed by patient‐reported data could lead to more successful outcomes by changes in treatment paradigms.
Report: Investing in accreditation offers return of more than 600%
Authors: Enos Gary
Published: June 2022

In what is being called the first comprehensive study demonstrating the tangible value of behavioral health accreditation, a report based on data from 180 providers calculates a $7.23 return for every dollar invested in accreditation. As substantial as this return appears, authors of the report say the study likely underestimates the actual benefit because providers that did not furnish complete data for the survey were assumed not to derive any benefit from their accreditation‐related spending.
APA meeting features SUD issues
Authors: Knopf Alison
Published: June 2022

The annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) held earlier this month had many important sessions focused on substance use disorders (SUDs). Considering that the APA's new president, Petros Levounis, M.D., is an addiction expert, this wasn't surprising. In fact, the first session to sell out was a pre‐conference all‐day session headed by Levounis on how to use buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorders.
Femtomolar‐Level Molecular Sensing of Monolayer Tungsten Diselenide Induced by Heteroatom Doping with Long‐Term Stability
Authors: Lv Qian , Tan Junyang , Wang Zhijie , Yu Lingxiao , Liu Bilu , Lin Junhao , Li Jia , Huang Zheng‐Hong , Kang Feiyu , Lv Ruitao
Published: June 2022

Surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a sensitive, fast, and nondestructive technology to detect trace amounts of molecules. The development of ultrasensitive and environmentally stable noble‐metal‐free SERS substrates is crucial for practical applications but still very challenging. In this contribution, an in situ substitutional doping strategy to synthesize Re‐doped WSe2 (Re‐WSe2) with different doping levels is reported. By increasing the Re content to ≈50 at%, the Re‐WSe2 alloy inherits the 1T″ phase of the ReSe2 lattice. Furthermore, Nb atoms are doped into the 1T″ Re‐WSe2 alloy to further modulate its electronic structure. The as synthesized 1T″ Nb, Re‐WSe2 demonstrates a femtomolar‐level molecular sensing capability with a detectable concentration of 5 × 10–15 m and the corresponding enhancement factor is 2.0 × 109, which is superior to that of most non‐noble‐metal SERS substrates and comparable or even superior to that of noble‐metal substrates to the best of the authors’ knowledge. More importantly, the as‐synthesized 1T″ Nb, Re‐WSe2 exhibits excellent air‐stability over a long term (≈6 months) and selective detection capability in the mixed molecular solution, which are essential for their practical applications. The work provides a new strategy for the rational design of noble‐metal‐free SERS substrates to achieve ultrasensitive molecular sensing.
Atomic Layer Deposition of MoS2 Decorated TiO2 Nanotubes for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Shen Chengxu , Wierzbicka Ewa , Schultz Thorsten , Wang Rongbin , Koch Norbert , Pinna Nicola
Published: June 2022

A thermal atomic layer deposition (ALD) process to fabricate MoS2 thin films is successfully demonstrated by using cycloheptatriene molybdenum tricarbonyl (C7H8Mo(CO)3) and H2S as precursors at an ALD temperature below 300 °C. The process is systematically investigated, showing a typical self‐limiting characteristic within an ALD temperature window of 225–285 °C and a high growth‐per‐cycle of 0.11 nm. The as‐deposited films are amorphous while they can be crystallized in situ by sulfurization with H2S at a low temperature of 300 °C. A prototypical application of the developed ALD process is demonstrated by constructing a MoS2/TiO2 heterostructure through depositing MoS2 onto anodized TiO2 nanotubes for photoelectrochemical water splitting. The MoS2/TiO2 heterostructures exhibit approximately three times superior photoelectrochemical performance than the pristine TiO2 nanotubes. This is attributed to an enhanced visible light‐harvesting ability of MoS2 and an improved separation of the photo‐generated charge carriers at the heterostructure interface, which is affirmed by a staggering gap (type II) between MoS2 and TiO2 as probed by ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy.
Strong Induced Circular Dichroism in a Hybrid Lead‐Halide Semiconductor Using Chiral Amino Acids for Crystallite Surface Functionalization
Authors: Heindl Markus W. , Kodalle Tim , Fehn Natalie , Reb Lennart K. , Liu Shangpu , Harder Constantin , Abdelsamie Maged , Eyre Lissa , Sharp Ian D. , Roth Stephan V. , Müller‐Buschbaum Peter , Kartouzian Aras , Sutter‐Fella Carolin M. , Deschler Felix
Published: June 2022

Chirality is a desired property in functional semiconductors for optoelectronic, catalytic, and spintronic applications. Here, introducing enantiomerically‐pure 3‐aminobutyric acid (3‐ABA) into thin films of the 1D semiconductor dimethylammonium lead iodide (DMAPbI3) is found to result in strong circular dichroism (CD) in the optical absorption. X‐ray diffraction and grazing incidence small angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS) are applied to gain molecular‐scale insights into the chirality transfer mechanism, which is attributed to a chiral surface modification of DMAPbI3 crystallites. This study demonstrates that the CD signal strength can be controlled by the amino‐acid content relative to the crystallite surface area. The CD intensity is tuned by the composition of the precursor solution and the spin‐coating time, thereby achieving anisotropy factors (gabs) as high as 1.75 × 10–2. Grazing incidence wide angle scattering reveals strong preferential ordering that can be suppressed via tailored synthesis conditions. Different contributions to the chiroptical properties are resolved by a detailed analysis of the CD signal utilizing an approach based on the Mueller matrix model. This report of a novel class of chiral hybrid semiconductors with precise control over their optical activity presents a promising approach for the design of circularly polarized light detectors and emitters.
Functional Immune Cell‐Derived Exosomes Engineered for the Trilogy of Radiotherapy Sensitization
Authors: Ma Xiaotu , Yao Meinan , Gao Yu , Yue Yale , Li Yao , Zhang Tianjiao , Nie Guangjun , Zhao Xiao , Liang Xiaolong
Published: June 2022

The limited efficacy of radiotherapy leads to radio‐resistance and high rates of tumor recurrence and metastasis, which is caused by tumor hypoxia, rapid DNA damage repair, and especially the suppressive immune microenvironment of tumor. Lots of immune cell‐derived exosomes can regulate antitumor immunity, but their application in enhancing radiotherapy is rarely studied. Herein, as a model of concept, M1 macrophage‐derived exosomes (M1Exos) is engineered as effective radiotherapy sensitizers, realizing the trilogy of radiotherapy sensitization: 1) M1Exos is engineered to express catalases on the inside of membrane, which can effectively relieve tumor hypoxia, and enhance DNA damage. 2) The DNA damage repair inhibitor is loaded in M1Exos to effectively inhibit DNA damage repair. 3) M1Exos can polarize M2 macrophages into M1 phenotypes, and the anti‐PD‐L1 nanobody engineered on the outside of M1Exos can relieve the immunosuppression of T cells, both ultimately leading to the remodeling of the tumor suppressive microenvironment. The trilogy of radiotherapy sensitization achieves excellent antitumor efficacy, exhibiting the good utility of engineering immune cell‐derived exosomes as radiotherapy sensitizers, inspiring the future efforts to explore different kinds of immune cell‐derived exosomes for enhanced radiotherapy.
Mathematical modeling of the effects of Wnt‐10b on bone metabolism
Authors: Cook Carley V. , Islam Mohammad Aminul , Smith Brenda J. , Ford Versypt Ashlee N.
Published: June 2022

Bone health is determined by factors including bone metabolism or remodeling. Wnt‐10b alters osteoblastogenesis through pre‐osteoblast proliferation and differentiation and osteoblast apoptosis rate, which collectively lead to the increase of bone density. To model this, we adapted a previously published model of bone remodeling. The resulting model for the bone compartment includes differential equations for active osteoclasts, pre‐osteoblasts, osteoblasts, osteocytes, and the amount of bone present at the remodeling site. Our alterations to the original model consist of extending it past a single remodeling cycle and implementing a direct relationship to Wnt‐10b. Four new parameters were estimated and validated using normalized data from mice. The model connects Wnt‐10b to bone metabolism and predicts the change in trabecular bone volume caused by a change in Wnt‐10b input. We find that this model predicts the expected increase in pre‐osteoblasts and osteoblasts while also pointing to a decrease in osteoclasts when Wnt‐10b is increased.
Separation of α‐ketoglutaric acid by salting‐out extraction coupled with solar‐driven distillation
Authors: Shi Xueqi , Yang Meng , Chu Aqiang , Zhang Fengyi , Fang Jing , Xu Ning , Jiang Yanjun , Li Hao
Published: June 2022

Alpha‐ketoglutaric acid (α‐KG), as an essential intermediate in biosynthesis and drug synthesis, has a broad application prospect. However, the lower product concentration and impurities in the α‐KG production make the downstream separation more complex and costly. In this study, α‐KG was separated from biotransformation broth by salting‐out extraction (SOE) combined with solar‐driven distillation. First, the aqueous two‐phase system (ATPS) consisting of acetone/(NH4)2SO4 was selected by comparison. The effects of acetone/(NH4)2SO4 concentration, temperature, α‐KG concentration, and pH on the distribution behavior of α‐KG in ATPS were investigated. Under the optimized conditions, higher extraction efficiency and purity of α‐KG were obtained in the actual biotransformation broth. In addition, solar evaporation was used to achieve preconcentration of the organic phase and salt recovery, significantly reducing energy consumption. The method is environmentally friendly and easy to operate, providing a new idea for separating low concentration products in biosynthesis.
Molecular and archaeological evidence on the geographical origin of domestication for Camelina sativa
Authors: Brock Jordan R. , Ritchey Melissa M. , Olsen Kenneth M.
Published: June 2022

Premise

Camelina (gold‐of‐pleasure or false flax) is an ancient oilseed crop with emerging applications in the production of sustainable, low‐input biofuels. Previous domestication hypotheses suggested a European or western Asian origin, yet little genetic evidence has existed to assess the geographical origin for this crop, and archaeological data have not been systematically surveyed.

Methods

We utilized genotyping‐by‐sequencing of 185 accessions of C. sativa and its wild relatives to examine population structure within the crop species and its relationship to populations of its wild progenitor, C. microcarpa; cytotype variation was also assessed in both species. In a complementary analysis, we surveyed the archaeological literature to identify sites with archaeobotanical camelina remains and assess the timing and prevalence of usage across Europe and western Asia.

Results

The majority of C. microcarpa sampled in Europe and the United States belongs to a variant cytotype (2n = 38) with a distinct evolutionary origin from that of the crop lineage (2n = 40). Populations of C. microcarpa from Transcaucasia (South Caucasus) are most closely related to C. sativa based on cytotype and population structure; in combination with archaeological insights, these data refute prior hypotheses of a European domestication origin.

Conclusions

Our findings support a Caucasus, potentially Armenian, origin of C. sativa domestication. We cannot definitively determine whether C. sativa was intentionally targeted for domestication in its own right or instead arose secondarily through selection for agricultural traits in weedy C. sativa, as originally proposed by Vavilov for this species.
Prepubertal onset of type 2 diabetes in Shashi–Pena syndrome due to ASXL2 mutation
Authors: Murphy Siobhan A. , O'Rourke Niamh E. , O'Grady Michael Joseph
Published: June 2022

Type 2 diabetes remains rare in the pediatric population and the majority of cases occur during puberty. A combination of genetic and environmental factors leads to the development of insulin resistance and β‐cell failure. An increased prevalence is recognized in a number of rare genetic disorders such as Alström and Bardet–Biedl syndromes. Recently, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder, Shashi–Pena syndrome due to the dominant negative effect of heterozygous mutations in additional Sex‐Combs‐Like Genes 2 (ASXL2) has been reported. ASXL2 null mice exhibit glucose intolerance, insulin resistance and lipodystrophy. The regulatory role of ASXL2 in glucose and lipid homeostasis occurs through its interaction with peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), a gene implicated in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes on genome‐wide association studies. Thiazolidinediones, used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, exert their effects as direct agonists of PPARγ. We report the first case of type 2 diabetes in Shashi–Pena syndrome, occurring in an 8‐year‐old prepubertal boy with no family history. In addition, the proband had dyslipidemia, and fatty infiltration of the liver with elevated transaminases. Mutation of ASXL2 in humans, through its interaction with PPARγ appears to cause a phenotype of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Further reported cases will assist in confirming this association.
Getting to net zero through extended producer responsibility
Authors: Helferty P. Hugh
Published: June 2022

The application of Extended Producer Responsibility, including for greenhouse gases, to manufacturing broadly would go a long way toward enabling society to meet its net zero goals. Within the oil and gas industry, this could be achieved by phasing‐in a Carbon Takeback Obligation. American leadership in applying Extended Producer Responsibility to include greenhouse gases could both reduce U.S. emissions and help drive other countries to do so.
Carbon Nitride Photocatalysts with Integrated Oxidation and Reduction Atomic Active Centers for Improved CO2Conversion
Authors: Ou Honghui , Ning Shangbo , Zhu Peng , Chen Shenghua , Han Ali , Kang Qing , Hu Zhuofeng , Ye Jinhua , Wang Dingsheng , Li Yadong
Published: June 2022

Single‐atom active‐site catalysts have attracted significant attention in the field of photocatalytic CO2conversion. However, designing active sites for CO2reduction and H2O oxidation simultaneously on a photocatalyst and combining the corresponding half‐reaction in a photocatalytic system is still difficult. Here, we synthesized a bimetallic single‐atom active‐site photocatalyst with two compatible active centers of Mn and Co on carbon nitride (Mn1Co1/CN). Our experimental results and density functional theory calculations showed that the active center of Mn promotes H2O oxidation by accumulating photogenerated holes. In addition, the active center of Co promotes CO2activation by increasing the bond length and bond angle of CO2molecules. Benefiting from the synergistic effect of the atomic active centers, the synthesized Mn1Co1/CN exhibited a CO production rate of 47 μmol g−1 h−1, which is significantly higher than that of the corresponding single‐metal active‐site photocatalyst.
Tuning the Anisotropic Facet of Lead Chromate Photocatalysts to Promote Spatial Charge Separation
Authors: Jiang Wenchao , Ni Chenwei , Zhang Lingcong , Shi Ming , Qu Jiangshan , Zhou Hongpeng , Zhang Chengbo , Chen Ruotian , Wang Xiuli , Li Can , Li Rengui
Published: June 2022

A crucial issue in artificial photosynthesis is how to modulate the behaviors of photogenerated charges of semiconductor photocatalysts. Here, using lead chromate (PbCrO4) as an example, we conducted the morphology tailoring from parallelepiped (p‐PbCrO4) to truncated decahedron (t‐PbCrO4) and elongated rhombic (r‐PbCrO4), resulting in exposed anisotropic facets. The spatial separation of photogenerated charges closely correlates to the anisotropic facets of crystals, which can only be realized for t‐PbCrO4and r‐PbCrO4. The charge‐separation efficiencies exhibit a quasilinear relation with the surface photovoltage difference between anisotropic facets. The r‐PbCrO4gives an apparent quantum efficiency of 6.5 % at 500 nm for photocatalytic water oxidation using Fe3+ions as electron acceptors. Moreover, the oxidation reverse reaction from Fe2+to Fe3+ions was completely blocked with ∼100 % of Fe3+conversion achieved on the anisotropic PbCrO4crystals.
Advanced material characterization techniques for sodium‐ion battery
Authors: Liu Xiangyu , Tong Shuai , Zhang Xiaoyu , Jia Min , Yan Xiaohong
Published: June 2022

Sodium‐ion batteries, which are viewed as the alternative candidate for lithium‐ion batteries, are now receiving extensive attention in recent years. This is because of the earth's abundance, the widespread sodium resource, and the low cost of battery production. Despite tremendous effort has been made to improve the battery performance of sodium‐ion batteries, several serious problems hinder the large‐scale practical applications. These problems such as low energy density and efficiency, poor cycle life, and low charge/discharge rate are largely determined by fundamental mechanism issues of electrode materials that are not sufficiently understood yet. Therefore multiple techniques should be used to get an in‐depth understanding of material properties. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the material characterization technique is provided and hope it could improve the battery research for all the scientific researchers.
Comparative stability of intraocular lenses during 2–20 years of artificial aging, potential effects in terms of biocompatibility
Authors: Tortolano Lionel , Mrad Omar , Manerlax Katia , Khalfoun Chaineze , Yousfi Rayane , Saunier Johanna , Secretan Philippe‐Henri , Yagoubi Najet
Published: June 2022

Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are worldwide used for cataract surgery. Mostly made of acrylate polymers, they can lead to an unexpected biocompatibility reaction such as posterior capsular opacification (PCO). Acrylate polymers suffer from both oxidative and heat/thermal aging that affect their properties. We examined the stability of four currently available acrylic IOLs, three hydrophobic and one amphiphilic, under artificial aging that simulate intraocular conditions from 2 to 20 years. Released degradation products were detected by reversed‐phase high performance liquid chromatography. Thermal properties were investigated using thermogravimetric analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry measurements. Surface topography was analyzed by atomic force microscopy. The effect on biocompatibility was estimated with protein sorption of the aged lenses. Both surface and thermal properties changed under aging. Surface roughness of implants increased under aging in a kinetic in two steps. The aging also changed the polymer structure. These changes lead to a variable release of degradation products according to the chemical design of the copolymer. Glass temperature transition (Tg) and thermal degradation stability also suffered from aging. The aging has led to significant changes in protein sorption affinity to IOL surfaces. For pure hydrophobic acrylic copolymer, stability was higher for copolymers containing at least one fluoro methacrylate. The amphiphilic polymer appeared to have a time‐dependent aging that can affect the implant flexibility and could impact late biocompatibility reaction and tolerance.
Investigations of pectin nanostructures for enhanced percutaneous delivery of fusidic acid
Authors: Bostanudin Mohammad F. , Arafat Mosab , Tan Suk Fei , Sarker Md Zaidul I.
Published: June 2022

The study aims to formulate and characterize nanoformulations produced from amphipathically‐modified pectin containing fusidic acid, making clear the importance of nanocarrier amphipathicity in boosting drug permeation through the skin. For this purpose, the amphipathically‐modified pectin (GBE‐PEC) fabrication was achieved following glycidol butyl ether modification via the nucleophilic substitution SN2 reaction, which was then characterized using thermal analysis, spectroscopic, and chromatographic tools. The materials were subsequently converted into spherical nanostructures (NSs) (size 250–290 nm; zeta potential −25 to −34 mV) via a nanoprecipitation in situ cross‐linking approach, demonstrating low viscosity and good colloidal stability under pH 4 conditions. The encapsulated fusidic acid (loading degree 14.9%) was released from GBE‐PEC NSs in a more controlled fashion, with release profiles best characterized by the Higuchi model. Interactions with HaCaT cells in vitro demonstrated no apparent cytotoxicity at application relevant conditions, with efficient cellular absorption as evidenced by flow cytometry analysis. Using Franz diffusion cells, GBE‐PEC NSs had a 2‐fold greater penetration rate through the Strat‐M® membrane than the native pectin NSs. Overall, the study has introduced new insights into the design, fabrication, characterization, and tremendous potential of NSs formulated from GBE‐PEC for percutaneous delivery of poorly penetrating actives, which merit further analysis.
Neurochemical profile of the myenteric plexus in the rat colorectal region
Authors: Kirov Todor V. , Atanasova Dimitrinka Y. , Lazarov Nikolai E.
Published: June 2022

The enteric nervous system, a major subdivision of the autonomic nervous system, is known for its neurochemical heterogeneity and complexity. The myenteric plexus, one of its two principal components, primarily controls peristalsis and its dysfunction may lead to a number of gastrointestinal motility disorders. The myenteric neurons have been described to use a wide variety of neurotransmitters although no evidence has been reported for the existence of adrenergic neurons in the hindgut. This study aims at elucidating the chemical coding of neurons in the myenteric plexus of the rat colon and anorectal region with particular emphasis on cholinergic and the so‐called nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) transmitter systems. The immunostaining for choline acetyltransferase revealed an intense staining of the myenteric ganglia with clear delineation of their neuronal cell bodies and without local distributional differences in the colonic region. The myenteric ATPergic structures were mostly limited to fiber bundles surrounding unstained myenteric neurons and penetrating the two muscle layers. We also observed an abundance of intensely stained varicose substance P‐immunopositive fibers, ensheathing the immunonegative myenteric neuronal cell bodies in a basket‐like manner. Applying NADPH‐diaphorase histochemistry and nitric oxide synthase immunohistochemistry, we were able to demonstrate numerous nitrergic somata of myenteric neurons with Dogiel Type I morphology. Apart from the observed nitrergic distributional patterns, no distinct variations were found in the staining intensity or distribution of myenteric structures in the colon and anorectal area. Our results suggest that myenteric neurons in the distal intestinal portion utilize a broad spectrum of enteric transmitters, including classical and NANC transmitters.
Personal information management burden: A framework for describing nonwork personal information management in the context of inequality
Authors: Cushing Amber L. , Kerrigan Páraic
Published: June 2022

This research reports on qualitative interviews with 31 participants who are Irish parents, identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer (LGBQ), and who expressed difficulty in the process of obtaining birth certificates for their children. Our aim was to use personal information management (PIM) and personal digital archiving (PDA) as a lens to explore the invisible work that the Irish government requires of a sexual minority parent group to obtain “equal” treatment in the birth registration and birth certificate process. Our findings suggest overlap with existing information behavior research (IB) that explore invisible information work, IB as a burden, information marginalization, information vulnerability, and information overload, and the everyday in IB. We propose a new framework: personal information burden (PIM‐B) which is characterized by additional PIM activities, negative affect, lack of identity self extension to the personal information, and additional information seeking. We propose that a PIM‐B may be used as an indicator of inequality in future research.
Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis response to nerve blocks and trigger point injections
Authors: Patil Soha , Daniel Gabrielle , Tailor Yogita , Mamsaang Marjorie , Natarajan Janaki , Moody Erika , James Neha , Vyas Rakhi , Shrikhande Allyson
Published: June 2022

Objectives

Bladder pain syndrome (BPS)/interstitial cystitis (IC) is a debilitating condition characterised by bladder/pelvic pain and pressure as well as persistent or recurrent urinary symptoms in the absence of an identifiable cause. It is hypothesised that in addition to organ specific visceral hypersensitivity, contributions of the hypertonic pelvic floor, peripheral sensitisation, and central sensitisation exacerbate this condition. The aim of this paper is to investigate outcomes of treating underlying neuromuscular dysfunction and neuro‐plastic mechanisms in BPS/IC patients.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of 84 patients referred to an outpatient pelvic rehabilitation centre with a diagnosis of BPS/IC given to them by a urologist. All 84 patients failed to progress after completing 6 weeks of pelvic floor physical therapy and underwent an institutional review board approved protocol (IRB# 17‐0761) consisting of external ultrasound‐guided trigger point injections to the pelvic floor musculature, peripheral nerve blocks of the pudendal and posterior femoral cutaneous nerves and continued pelvic floor physical therapy once weekly for 6 weeks. Pelvic pain intensity and functionality were measured pretreatment and 3 months posttreatment using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Functional Pelvic Pain Scale (FPPS).

Results

Pretreatment, mean VAS was 6.23 ± 2.68 (95% CI 5.65 to 6.80). Posttreatment mean VAS was 3.90 ± 2.63 (95% CI 3.07–4.74). Mean FPPS before treatment was 11.98 ± 6.28 (95% CI 10.63 to 13.32). Posttreatment mean FPPS was 7.68 ± 5.73 (95% CI 6.45–8.90). Analysis of subcategories within FPPS indicated highest statistically significant improvement in the categories of bladder, intercourse and working.

Conclusions

Analysis suggests the treatment was effective at ameliorating bladder pain and function including urinary urgency, frequency, and burning in BPS/IC patients.