bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
WBC count predicts heart failure in diabetes and coronary artery disease patients: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kawabe Atsuhiko , Yasu Takanori , Morimoto Takeshi , Tokushige Akihiro , Momomura Shin‐ichi , Sakakura Kenichi , Node Koichi , Inoue Taku , Ueda Shinichiro ,   The CHD Collaborative Investigators
Published: July 2021

Aims

White blood cell (WBC) count in healthy people is associated with the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and mortality. This study aimed to determine whether WBC count predicts heart failure (HF) requiring hospitalization as well as all‐cause death, acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and established CAD.

Methods

We conducted this retrospective registry study that enrolled consecutive patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and CAD based on coronary arteriography records and medical charts at 70 teaching hospitals in Japan from 2005 to 2015. A total of 7608 participants (28.2% women, mean age 68 ± 10 years) were eligible. In the cohort, the median (interquartile range) and mean follow‐up durations were 39 (16.5–66.1 months) and 44.3 ± 32.7 months, respectively. The primary outcome was HF requiring hospitalization. The secondary outcomes were AMI, stroke, all‐cause death, 3‐point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (AMI/stroke/death) and 4‐point MACE (AMI/stroke/death/HF requiring hospitalization). Outcomes were reported as cumulative incidences (proportion of patients experiencing an event) and incidence rates (events/100 person‐years). The primary and secondary outcomes were assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method and were compared using the log‐rank test stratified by the baseline WBC count. The association between the WBC count at baseline and each MACE was assessed using the Cox proportional hazard model and expressed as the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) after adjusting for other well‐known risk factors for MACE.

Results

During the follow‐up, 880 patients were hospitalized owing to HF. The WBC Quartile 4 (≥7700 cells/μL) had significantly lower HF event‐free survival rate (log‐rank test, P < 0.001). The HRs for HF events requiring hospitalization with each WBC quartile compared with the lowest in the first WBC quartile were 1 for Quartile 1 (WBC < 5300 cells/μL), 1.20 (95% CI, 0.96–1.5; P = 0.1) for Quartile 2 (5300 ≤ WBC < 6400), 1.34 (95% CI, 1.08–1.67; P = 0.009) for Quartile 3 (6400 ≤ WBC < 7700) and 1.62 (95% CI, 1.31–2.00; P < 0.001) for Quartile 4 after adjusting for covariates. Similar findings were observed for the risk of AMI and death; however, no significant difference was found for stroke. WBC Quartile 4 patients had a significantly lower 3‐ or 4‐point MACE‐free survival rate (log‐rank test, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

A higher WBC count is a predictor of hospitalization for HF, all‐cause death and AMI but not for stroke in patients with concurrent Type 2 diabetes mellitus and established CAD.
The ergoreflex: how the skeletal muscle modulates ventilation and cardiovascular function in health and disease
Authors: Aimo Alberto , Saccaro Luigi Francesco , Borrelli Chiara , Fabiani Iacopo , Gentile Francesco , Passino Claudio , Emdin Michele , Piepoli Massimo Francesco , Coats Andrew J.S. , Giannoni Alberto
Published: July 2021

The control of ventilation and cardiovascular function during physical activity is partially regulated by the ergoreflex, a cardiorespiratory reflex activated by physical activity. Two components of the ergoreflex have been identified: the mechanoreflex, which is activated early by muscle contraction and tendon stretch, and the metaboreflex, which responds to the accumulation of metabolites in the exercising muscles. Patients with heart failure (HF) often develop a skeletal myopathy with varying degrees of severity, from a subclinical disease to cardiac cachexia. HF‐related myopathy has been associated with increased ergoreflex sensitivity, which is believed to contribute to dyspnoea on effort, fatigue and sympatho‐vagal imbalance, which are hallmarks of HF. Ergoreflex sensitivity increases significantly also in patients with neuromuscular disorders. Exercise training is a valuable therapeutic option for both HF and neuromuscular disorders to blunt ergoreflex sensitivity, restore the sympatho‐vagal balance, and increase tolerance to physical exercise. A deeper knowledge of the mechanisms mediating ergoreflex sensitivity might enable a drug or device modulation of this reflex when patients cannot exercise because of advanced skeletal myopathy.
Oxidative Stability and In Vitro Release Properties of Encapsulated Wheat Germ Oil in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Cell‐Based Microcapsules
Authors: Cetinkaya Nilgun , Koc Tugca Bilenler , Karabulut Ihsan
Published: July 2021

This research aims to evaluate the feasibility of Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell‐based microencapsulation for wheat germ oil (WGO) based on oxidative stability and in vitro release properties. Microencapsulation of samples is achieved by freeze‐drying WGO‐in water emulsions containing alive, non‐plasmolyzed, and plasmolyzed yeast cells. The encapsulation efficiency (EE), loading capacity (LC), release characteristics, and oxidative stability of WGO are determined before and after microencapsulation. The amount of β‐carotene in the digesta is used to evaluate the release properties. Plasmolyzed yeast cells yield the highest EE (43.1%) and LC (216.5 g kg−1). In cases where alive and non‐plasmolyzed yeast cells were used as an encapsulant, a higher release rate was obtained in esophagus‐stomach conditions, while higher digestion took place mainly in the duodenum and ileum with plasmolyzed cells. Encapsulation of WGO in plasmolyzed yeast cells provide the lowest peroxide and p‐anisidine values and the highest oxidative protection during the accelerated oxidation test at 60 °C for 24 days. This result is also confirmed by Rancimat induction time.

Practical Applications: Removing the plasma content by plasmolysis changes the structure of the yeast cell membrane and improves the encapsulation ability and release properties. Encapsulation of WGO with plasmolyzed yeast cells provides superiority in oxidative stability compared to native WGO. The potential value of WGO as an ingredient in the preparation of functional foods could be achieved by yeast cell encapsulation.
Synthesis and Functionalization of C6/C7 Substituted Pyrido[3,2‐d]pyrimidines
Authors: Hofmann Philipp E. , Meinecke Jannick , Harms Klaus , Koert Ulrich
Published: July 2021

An efficient synthesis of functionalized pyrido[3,2‐d]pyrimidines is reported. Starting from 4‐aminopyrimidine‐3‐carbaldehydes, a Horner‐Wadsworth‐Emmons olefination followed by a photoisomerization/cyclization installed the fused pyridine ring. Using substituted HWE‐reagents various substituents could be introduced in the 7‐position of the pyrido[3,2‐d]pyrimidines. Functionalization of the pyridone substructure allowed late variation in the 6‐position. In order to obtain amine‐linked bis‐pyridopyrimidines, 7‐bromo‐pyridopyrimidines were converted with their 7‐amino‐counterpart by Hartwig–Buchwald amination.
Amorphous Carbon Film with Self‐modified Carbon Nanoparticles Synthesized by Low Temperature Carbonization of Phenolic Resin for Simultaneous Sensing of Dopamine and Uric Acid
Authors: Li Jilong , Wang Yanhui , Li Rushuo , Lu Bowen , Yuan Yungang , Gao Hongwei , Song Shiwei , Zhou Shuyu , Zang Jianbing
Published: July 2021

A self‐modified film electrode consisting of homogeneous snowflake‐shaped nanoparticles on the amorphous carbon substrate (HNAC) was prepared by low temperature carbonization of phenolic resin. Such a unique structure was beneficial to enhance the electroanalysis signal responds. Simultaneous detection of DA and UA was performed on the HNAC using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at pH 8 phosphate buffer. The well‐defined oxidation peak potential separation reached 260 mV between DA and UA. Meanwhile, the detection limit of HNAC were 0.401 μM (DA) and 2.800 μM (UA).
The Institutional Grammar Tool meets the Narrative Policy Framework: Narrating institutional statements in consultation
Authors: Dunlop Claire A. , Kamkhaji Jonathan C. , Radaelli Claudio M. , Taffoni Gaia
Published: July 2021

We compare the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) and the Institutional Grammar Tool (IGT). Given the focus of this special issue on the NPF, we first theorize how the IGT can contribute to the development of NPF categories, but also how the former gains conceptual leverage from the latter. We argue that it is useful to consider jointly NPF and IGT as this expands the benefit of NPF usage for policy researchers—uncovering not only the stories policy actors tell but also what these stories mean in terms of institutional statements. We provide a demonstration of how the conversation between these two policy lenses may develop by analyzing original data on the design of consultation procedures in the European Union, Finland, Ireland, and Malta.
Between virus correlations in the outcome of infection across host species: Evidence of virus by host species interactions
Authors: Imrie Ryan M. , Roberts Katherine E. , Longdon Ben
Published: July 2021

Virus host shifts are a major source of outbreaks and emerging infectious diseases, and predicting the outcome of novel host and virus interactions remains a key challenge for virus research. The evolutionary relationships between host species can explain variation in transmission rates, virulence, and virus community composition between hosts, but it is unclear if correlations exist between related viruses in infection traits across novel hosts. Here, we measure correlations in viral load of four Cripavirus isolates across experimental infections of 45 Drosophilidae host species. We find positive correlations between every pair of viruses tested, suggesting that some host clades show broad susceptibility and could act as reservoirs and donors for certain types of viruses. Additionally, we find evidence of virus by host species interactions, highlighting the importance of both host and virus traits in determining the outcome of virus host shifts. Of the four viruses tested here, those that were more closely related tended to be more strongly correlated, providing tentative evidence that virus evolutionary relatedness may be a useful proxy for determining the likelihood of novel virus emergence, which warrants further research.
Safety assessment of HEA‐enriched Cordyceps cicadae mycelia on the central nervous system (CNS), cardiovascular system, and respiratory system in ICR male mice
Authors: Fu Hsin‐I , Hsu Jui‐Hsia , Li Tsung‐Ju , Yeh Shu‐Hsing , Chen Chin‐Chu
Published: July 2021

Cordyceps cicadae, an entomopathogenic fungus, is a source of traditional Chinese medicine in China. Due to the low yield of wild C. cicadae, artificial cultivation approaches will be needed to meet the increasing market demand. Using bioreactor culture can increase mass production and the abundance of the active component, N6‐(2‐hydroxyethyl)‐adenosine (HEA). Here, we describe a safety assessment for a novel mycelium preparation method. Many studies have confirmed the safety of C. cicadae mycelia. However, the acute safety pharmacology of the C. cicadae enriched with the high HEA (3.90 mg/g) compound has not been evaluated. This study evaluated the central nervous system (CNS), cardiovascular system, and respiratory system in ICR male mice via oral gavage administration. For each requested item, two batches of eight mice tested on a vehicle (0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose, CMC) and C. cicadae mycelia (1,000 mg/kg) were performed. The heart rate at 60 min for the vehicle and C. cicadae mycelium treatment was 700.3 ± 55.4 and 603.0 ± 42.3 bpm, respectively (p = .4279). For echocardiographic analysis, the LV mass of the vehicle and drug treatment was 86.7 ± 6.4 and 80.2 ± 7.7, respectively (p = .0933). In the respiratory test, the tidal volume of the vehicle and drug treatments was 0.11 ± 0.01 and 0.14 ± 0.01 at 60 min, respectively (p = .4262). These results demonstrate that the oral administration of HEA‐enriched C. cicadae mycelia is safe for the CNS, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems.
Neuroanatomical norms in the UK Biobank: The impact of allometric scaling, sex, and age
Authors: Williams Camille Michèle , Peyre Hugo , Toro Roberto , Ramus Franck
Published: July 2021

Few neuroimaging studies are sufficiently large to adequately describe population‐wide variations. This study's primary aim was to generate neuroanatomical norms and individual markers that consider age, sex, and brain size, from 629 cerebral measures in the UK Biobank (N = 40,028). The secondary aim was to examine the effects and interactions of sex, age, and brain allometry—the nonlinear scaling relationship between a region and brain size (e.g., total brain volume)—across cerebral measures. Allometry was a common property of brain volumes, thicknesses, and surface areas (83%) and was largely stable across age and sex. Sex differences occurred in 67% of cerebral measures (median |β| = .13): 37% of regions were larger in males and 30% in females. Brain measures (49%) generally decreased with age, although aging effects varied across regions and sexes. While models with an allometric or linear covariate adjustment for brain size yielded similar significant effects, omitting brain allometry influenced reported sex differences in variance. Finally, we contribute to the reproducibility of research on sex differences in the brain by replicating previous studies examining cerebral sex differences. This large‐scale study advances our understanding of age, sex, and brain allometry's impact on brain structure and provides data for future UK Biobank studies to identify the cerebral regions that covary with specific phenotypes, independently of sex, age, and brain size.
Immunohistochemical expression of ErbB/HER family proteins in patients with vulvar cancer
Authors: Baiocchi Glauco , de Freitas Rosyane Rena , Bovolim Graziele , Badiglian‐Filho Levon , da Costa Alexandre Andre Balieiro Anastacio , De Brot Louise
Published: July 2021

Objective

To investigate the immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of the ErbB/HER family in primary vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC).

Methods

We analyzed a series of 125 patients who were surgically treated for VSCC from January 1980 to June 2016. All cases had lymph node (LN) staging and 80 had LN metastasis. A tissue microarray was built for epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), HER2, HER3, and HER4 IHC staining.

Results

In the primary tumor we found positive expressions for EGFR, HER2, HER3, and HER4 in 5%, 0.9%, 0.9%, and 22.8%, respectively. For the LN metastasis, expressions of EGFR and HER4 were positive in 22.2% and 39.1%, respectively. No cases had positive staining for HER2 and HER3 in the LN metastasis. For HER4, positive expression correlated with smaller tumor sizes (P = 0.02). However, positive HER4 was related to adverse prognostic factors such as: histological grade (P = 0.012), presence of lymphovascular space invasion (40.9% vs 16.2%; P = 0.035), and perineural invasion (57.1% vs 16.7%; P = 0.006). Notably, all cases with LN metastasis had positive HER4 in the primary tumor (P < 0.001). ErbB/HER family expression was not related to worse survival.

Conclusion

EGFR, HER2, and HER3 were infrequently expressed in VSCC by IHC. HER4 IHC expression was found in 22.8% of cases and was related to adverse prognostic factors.
Simulation and optimal control for a long‐distance water diversion project under different rainfall types: A case study in the Middle Route of China's South‐to‐North Water Diversion Project*
Authors: Qiao Yu , Li Jiahong , Cui Wei , Long Yan , Lei Xiaohui
Published: July 2021

Rainfall and rainstorms pose potential risks and significant threats to open‐channel water diversion projects. In long‐distance water diversion projects, it is difficult to observe the hydraulic response through measured data directly and comprehensively. Without accurate hydraulic responses and advanced control strategies for the different rainfall types, operators or decision‐makers are unable to respond effectively to hydraulic changes in the case of sudden occurrences of rainfall or rainstorms. In this study, a simulation and optimal control model focusing on solving the Saint Venant equation based on the computational finite difference method and the combined particle swarm optimization algorithm, was established and applied to a long‐distance water diversion project, namely the Middle Route of the South‐to‐North Water Diversion Project, China, to analyse the hydraulic response and control the disturbance of various rainfall types. The simulation model was validated based on the calculation results, indicating that the simulation model yielded a relatively high precision with an error margin of 2.5%. The optimal control model can effectively reduce the maximum increase in water level caused by the different rainfall types in the range of 0.10–0.20 m.
The influence of social media usage on the DuPont method of analysis
Authors: Jeppson Nathan H. , Ruddy John A. , Salerno David F.
Published: July 2021

In this study, we provide new evidence regarding return on equity and its components for firms recognized for their effective use of social media compared to firms that use social media to a lesser extent. Using the Russell 3000 firms, we compare firms’ return on equity and sub components using difference in means tests and regression analysis. We find that firms recognized for their effective use of social media generate higher return on equity than other firms. Furthermore, when testing the disaggregation components, we find that the increased return on equity exhibited by firms using social media effectively is due to higher asset turnover and lower interest burden. We also find that such firms experience a higher tax burden.
The ultrasound‐guided attenuation parameter is useful in quantification of hepatic steatosis in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Ogino Yu , Wakui Noritaka , Nagai Hidenari , Igarashi Yoshinori
Published: July 2021

Aim

To determine the utility of the ultrasound‐guided attenuation parameter (UGAP) for quantifying hepatic steatosis in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods

Subjects were 84 patients with NAFLD (53 men, 31 women; mean age 54 [20–81] years) who underwent liver biopsy and ultrasonography using a GE LOGIQ E9 system and C1‐6 probe at our hospital between 2017 and 2020. B‐Mode imaging of segment V in the liver was acquired and echo attenuation was assessed using UGAP. Steatosis score (S0: <5%; S1: 5%–33%; S2: 34%–66%; S3: ≥67%) from liver specimens was compared with the attenuation coefficient (AC; dB/cm/MHz) using UGAP.

Results

Steatosis score was S0 for 9 patients, S1 for 40, S2 for 21, and S3 for 14. AC by steatosis score was 0.52 ± 0.07, 0.63 ± 0.07, 0.74 ± 0.06, and 0.78 ± 0.06 dB/cm/MHz for S0, S1, S2, and S3, respectively. AC by UGAP differed significantly between S0 and S1, S0 and S2, S0 and S3, S1 and S2, and S1 and S3 (all P < 0.01), demonstrating a significant increase with steatosis score. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed good diagnostic performance of UGAP for patients with steatosis score ≥1, ≥2, and ≥3 (AUROC = 0.94, 0.95, and 0.88, respectively). Liver fat content (%) from liver specimens and AC (r = 0.81, P < 0.01) showed a significant positive correlation.

Conclusion

UGAP is useful for quantifying hepatic steatosis in patients with NAFLD.
Health‐related quality of life in Norwegian adults with Fabry disease: Disease severity, pain, fatigue and psychological distress
Authors: Pihlstrøm Hege Kampen , Weedon‐Fekjær Mina Susanne , Bjerkely Birgitte Leisner , von der Lippe Charlotte , Ørstavik Kristin , Mathisen Per , Heimdal Ketil , Jenssen Trond Geir , Dahle Dag Olav , Solberg Olga Karin , Sigurdardottir Solrun
Published: July 2021

Health‐related quality of life (HRQOL) is reduced in Fabry disease (FD) and associated with clinical disease manifestations, but few have used Fabry‐specific severity scores to study how disease burden interferes with quality of life. We investigated how the Fabry DS3, consisting of four somatic domains and one patient‐reported item, associates with HRQOL, while also evaluating fatigue, pain and psychological distress as possible predictors. Thirty‐six adults with FD completed the Short‐form Health Survey (SF‐36), the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), the brief pain inventory (BPI) and reported fatigue on a visual analog scale. Clinical data were collected from the last multidisciplinary hospital visit. Using correlation and hierarchical linear regression analyses, we examined associations between demographic, clinical and self‐reported predictors and the SF‐36 physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) component summary scores. Males scored lower than the general population in all SF‐36 domains (P < .05). General health and social functioning were reduced in females. Before including self‐reported symptom scores, DS3 showed associations with PCS (P = .009). Our fully adjusted model explained 66% of the variation in PCS, where education (P = .040) and fatigue (P = .002) retained significance. With HADS depression score (P = .001) as the sole significant factor, our regression model explained 56% of the variation in MCS. The DS3 score has implications for HRQOL in FD. Low education and fatigue represent major barriers to physical well‐being, while depression strongly influences mental quality of life. Fatigue should be recognized as an important endpoint in future FD trials. Increased efforts to diagnose and treat affective disorders are warranted.
Going against the grain: The role of skilled migrants' self‐regulation in finding quality employment
Authors: Zikic Jelena , Klehe Ute‐Christine
Published: July 2021

Skilled migrants constitute a significant and growing population in our knowledge economy, as they self‐initiate international careers in search of permanent resettlement. Yet, once in the new country, many skilled migrants face dire disappointments in that the jobs offered to them often fall short of their training and aspirations. The current quantitative study combines existing insights from qualitative migration research on the barriers to quality employment with self‐regulation research during job search. We identify mechanisms by which migrants may proactively self‐regulate towards better employment quality. Among 356 skilled migrants in Canada, migration‐specific barriers (a perceived lack of language proficiency and credential recognition) weakened migrants' self‐regulation efforts in the form of career‐related exploration (goal establishment) and planning (goal planning). Migrants' proactivity and social support received fostered self‐regulation, however. Career planning, albeit not career exploration, significantly predicted migrants' quality of employment 9 months later, particularly when combined with a high level of credential recognition. Results are relevant for the limited literature on skilled migrants' transition into the new labor market, the study of self‐regulation in challenging career contexts, and the prevention of unsatisfactory employment.
Clinical outcomes of patients with endometrioid epithelial ovarian cancer following surgical treatment
Authors: Cybulska Paulina , Tseng Jill , Zhou Qin C. , Iasonos Alexia , Delair Deborah F. , Mueller Jennifer J. , Long Roche Kara C. , Abu‐Rustum Nadeem R. , Leitao Mario M.
Published: July 2021

Background

Endometrioid epithelial ovarian cancer (EEOC) is rare, and its management poorly defined. We examined factors associated with 5‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) after surgery for EEOC.

Methods

Retrospective study: treatment and outcomes of all EEOC patients undergoing initial surgery at, or presenting to, our institution within 3 months of initial surgery, 1/2002‐9/2017.

Results

In total, 212 patients were identified. Median follow‐up, 63.9 months (range, 0.7–192); median age at diagnosis, 52 years (range, 20–88); disease stage: I, n = 145 (68%); II, n = 47 (22%); III/IV, n = 20 (9%); FIGO grade: 1, 127 (60%); 2, 66 (31%); 3, 17 (8%); unknown, 2 (1%). One hundred twenty‐eight (60%) had endometriosis; 75 (35%), synchronous endometrioid endometrial cancer (80%, IA); 101 (48%), complete surgical staging; 8 (5%), positive pelvic lymph nodes (LNs); 6 (4%), positive para‐aortic LNs; 176 (97%), complete gross resection; 123 (60%), postoperative chemotherapy; 56(28%), no additional treatment. Five‐year PFS, 83% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 76.6%–87.8%); 5‐year overall survival (OS), 92.7% (95% CI: 87.7%–95.8%). Age, stage, and surgical staging were associated with improved 5‐year PFS, and younger age at diagnosis with improved 5‐year OS (p < 0.001). Chemotherapy did not improve 5‐year PFS in IA/IB versus observation, but improved survival in IC (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.22–4.59, p = 0.99; HR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.04–0.7, p = 0.006).

Conclusions

Age, stage, and full surgical staging were associated with improved 5‐year PFS. Chemotherapy showed no benefit in IA/IB disease.
Determination and analysis of monosaccharides in Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharides from different areas by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole trap tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Hu Jiayi , Cheng He , Xu Jun , Liu Junlin , Xing Lihua , Shi Suying , Wang Rui , Wu Zhendong , Yu Nianjun , Peng Daiyin
Published: July 2021

We wanted to explore a new method for the determination of monosaccharides in Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua polysaccharide using the ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography quadrupole trap tandem mass spectrometry. In this study, hydrochloric acid was used instead of trifluoroacetic acid to hydrolyze polysaccharides, and hydrolysis time was greatly reduced from 5–9 h to 1 h. The 1‐phenyl‐3‐methyl‐5‐pyrazolone was used for pre‐column derivatization of monosaccharides. The parameters of linearity (R2 > 0.999), stability (1.63–2.52%), intra‐day and inter‐day precision (0.69–0.95%, 1.81–2.77%), repeatability (1.89–2.65%), and recovery (97.63–102.24%) of the method were verified. Satisfactory validation results showed this method could be used to determine the target components. The results indicated the polysaccharide contained glucose, mannose, rhamnose, galactose, ribose, and arabinose. Technique for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution and principal component analysis were used to build an evaluation model based on the monosaccharide composition. The evaluation results showed that the samples from the Qingyang County of Anhui Province were the best when the monosaccharides were used as the evaluation index. Therefore, a new method was established to detect the monosaccharide content of polysaccharides from Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua and comprehensively evaluate the quality of Chinese medicines with polysaccharides as the main active ingredient.
Film Blowing of Biodegradable Polymer Nanocomposites for Agricultural Applications
Authors: Mistretta Maria Chiara , Botta Luigi , La Mantia Francesco Paolo , Di Fiore Antonino , Cascone Marco
Published: July 2021

Films for agricultural applications, such as greenhouses films or mulching films are generally made of polyolefins such as linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) or low‐density polyethylene. However, the use of biodegradable and/or compostable polymers is increasing, which enjoy the additional advantage that they can be left on the site since a fine life would be gradually assimilated to the underlying soil. Nevertheless, biodegradable polymeric films often do not have suitable mechanical performances. In this work, biodegradable polymer‐based nanocomposite films are prepared by film blowing and compared with traditional LLDPE based nanocomposites. In particular, a biodegradable polymer blend and two different inorganic nanofillers (an organo‐modified clay and a calcium carbonate with a hydrophobic coating) are used for the preparation of the nanocomposites. A detailed investigation of obtained materials is performed through rheological, mechanical, and optical characterizations. Adding nanofillers led to an increase of rigidity and tear strength of blown films without negatively affecting their ductility.
Microstructure and compressive properties of Al‐Si10‐Mg lattice structures manufactured using selective laser melting
Authors: Huo P.C. , Zhao Z.Y. , Bai P.K. , Du W.B. , Zhao R.X. , Zhang L.Z. , Wang Q. , Wu L.Y. , Han B. , Han J.N. , Tie D.
Published: July 2021

In this study, the aluminum alloy lattice structure was processed using selective laser melting, and the compressive behaviour was studied. When the porous aluminum alloy was compressed along the building direction, the compressive stress initially increased, followed by a decrease, and then another increase. The aluminum alloy lattice structure mainly underwent the stages of elasticity, shearing, collapse, and then densification in the course of the compression process; the fracture primarily occurred at the joints of the pillars and the support plates. Moreover, the fractures of the aluminum alloy lattice structure, as prepared by selective laser melting, exhibited dimples of different sizes and shapes. The silicon content at the bottom of such a dimple was higher than that at the edges. When the stress level reached its limit and was insufficient to coordinate the plastic deformation of the two phases (α‐aluminum / silicon interface), micro‐pores formed at the interface (the dimples resulted from the breakage of numerous micro‐pores after aggregation), which caused the silicon content at the bottom of the dimple to be higher than that at the edge.
Finite element analysis on shape deformation of the macro‐structure region during hot‐rolling process for gear steel FAS3420H and its modification
Authors: Liu S. , Wang F.M. , Li C.R.
Published: July 2021

The rectangular macro‐segregation region in the core of hot‐rolled steel bar has a great influence on the heat treatment distortion of an automotive gear steel FAS3420H. In order to understand the distortion process of the segregation region during hot‐rolling process, a finite element (FE) analysis of the whole hot‐rolling process was carried out by software DEFORM‐3D, and a constructed constitutive model was embedded into DEFORM‐3D to describe the deformation process. The results show there is an inhomogeneous strain distribution at the cross‐section of hot‐rolled round bar, which results in uneven distortion of the segregation region in different directions. A square segregation region, which can reduce inhomogeneous distortion of gear in the subsequent heat treatment, is obtained after being rolled by simulation calculation verified through experiment.
Numerical analysis of flow behaviour, grain size prediction and experimental verification of hot rolled ultralow carbon niobium microalloyed steel
Authors: Khalifa H. , Megahed G.M. , El‐Bitar T. , Taha M.A.
Published: July 2021

Niobium bearing ultralow carbon micro alloyed dual phase steel grade steel with chemical composition of 0.045 wt.% carbon, 0.04 wt.% niobium, 0.59 wt.% chromium, 0.9 wt.% manganese, 0.28 wt.% silicon is investigated. The design of thermomechanical treatment needs knowledge about the flow behaviour at high deformation temperatures, to be used for this steel in industrial plants. Therefore, this work aims to predict, for the investigated steel, the flow behaviour and mean flow stress. A phenomenological constitutive model is established to derive the flow stress using the hyperbolic sinusoidal Arrhenius mathematical model. The relation between stress and strain with Zener‐Hollomon parameter is studied. Mean flow stress has been figured out by measurements taken from compact slab production plant log data using a constitutive model. The constitutive model is further verified by multiple hits of flat compression setup mode at BährTTS820 physical simulator. The tests were performed under specific thermochemical schedule simulating compact slab production plant. The results show good agreement between the calculated flow stress, Non‐recrystallization temperature and experimentally measured values obtained from the physical simulation. Ferrite grain size is modelled and predicted then validated by experimental rolled specimens in a practical hot strip mill.
The important role of titanium microalloying in refining austenite grain of heavy‐duty H‐beam steel during rough rolling produced by a new technology
Authors: Wang Y. , Li J. , Li F. , Ge Z. , Xing J. , Li Na , Zhu G. , Ding H. , Chen Q.
Published: July 2021

A new technology of austenite grain refinement, fine austenite enhanced ferrite transformation, is proposed for heavy‐duty hot‐rolled H‐beam steels in this work. Titanium microalloying is very important and necessary for the new technology. The effect of titanium on the prior austenite grain size of steels during simulated rough rolling was investigated. The results show that the prior austenite grain sizes of specimens with titanium and niobium elements are much finer than those of specimens with niobium but without titanium deformed at the same parameters. For the alloying composition of studied steels, titanium nitride particle maybe precipitated in specimens with titanium at above 1,200 °C, however, niobium carbide particles can't form in specimens without titanium at above 1,150 °C. The thermodynamically stable titanium nitride particles can impede the grain growth at high temperature for example furnace heating before rough rolling and bring the epitaxial growth of niobium carbide on pre‐existing themselves which induces a large number of titanium nitride‐niobium carbide composite precipitates. These fine precipitates can pin austenite grain boundaries effectively and ensure austenite grain refinement.
Efficient approach for dielectric permittivity measurements of liquids adopting a 3D‐printed cavity resonator
Authors: Rocco Giulia Maria , Barmuta Paweł , Bao Xiue , Schreurs Dominique , Bozzi Maurizio
Published: July 2021

This paper presents an operator‐friendly and cost‐efficient approach to characterize the dielectric permittivity of liquids flowing in narrow tubes, such as drainage tubes used as part of the wound healing process in hospitals. The approach is based on an oscillator such that the characterization can be achieved with minimal operator (e.g., nurse) training. The oscillator's frequency is set by a 3D‐printed cavity resonator as to offer flexibility for the tube line to pass through. The oscillator design had to be tailored to ensure the oscillation condition to be met over a wide range of varying liquid compositions passing through the 3D‐printed cavity resonator. The design and results of a proof‐of‐concept implementation are presented and discussed.
Hybrid cross entropy—cuckoo search algorithm for solving optimal power flow with renewable generators and controllable loads
Authors: Sarda Jigar , Pandya Kartik , Lee Kwang Y.
Published: July 2021

The demand of energy is increasing due to the growing population of the world and improvements of technology. One of the best significant solution techniques to fulfill this energy demand is utilization of renewable energy sources (RESs). Modern power systems, which integrate RESs, such as wind, small hydro or solar energy sources need to carry out the uncertainty by the accessibility of demanded or injected power. Therefore, it is necessary to consider uncertainty costs in optimal power flow (OPF) problems. This paper proposed a novel hybrid meta‐heuristic algorithm entitled cross entropy—cuckoo search algorithm (CE‐CSA). The application of levy flights in the cuckoo search algorithm (CSA) improves the local exploitation capability while the CE method is used in the initial stage for global exploration due to its fast convergence. The effectiveness of the proposed hybrid algorithm has been demonstrated in solving the OPF problem, considering RESs and controllable loads for different stochastic scenarios in a benchmark system to minimize the total operation cost. To verify its effectiveness, its performance is compared with the most advanced and recently proposed hybrid meta‐heuristic techniques. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm can solve the OPF problems with RESs and controllable loads efficiently and can give better solutions compared to different techniques. The conventional statistical method called analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, Tukey honestly significant difference test, and Wilcoxon sign rank test are performed for comparative analysis of different techniques. The results of this test show the validation of CE‐CSA compared to different optimization techniques.
Exploring PIF4's contribution to early flowering in plants under daily variable temperature and its tissue‐specific flowering gene network
Authors: Jenkitkonchai Jutapak , Marriott Poppy , Yang Weibing , Sriden Napaporn , Jung Jae‐Hoon , Wigge Philip A. , Charoensawan Varodom
Published: July 2021

Molecular mechanisms of how constant temperatures affect flowering time have been largely characterized in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana; however, the effect of natural daily variable temperature outside laboratories is only partly explored. Several flowering genes have been shown to play important roles in temperature responses, including PHYTOCHROME‐INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4) and FLOWERING LOCUS C (FLC), the two genes encoding for the transcription factors (TFs) that act antagonistically to regulate flowering time by activating and repressing floral integrator FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), respectively. In this study, we have taken a multidisciplinary approach to explore the contribution of PIF4 to the early flowering observed in the daily variable temperature (VAR) and to broaden its transcriptional network using publicly available transcriptomic data. We observed early flowering in the natural accessions Col‐0, C24 and their late flowering hybrid C24xCol grown under VAR, as compared with a constant temperature (CON). The loss‐of‐function mutation of PIF4 exhibits later flowering in VAR in both the Col‐0 parent and the C24xCol hybrid, suggesting that PIF4, at least in part, contributes to acceleration of flowering in the VAR condition. To investigate the interplay between PIF4 and its flowering regulator counterparts, FLC and FT, we performed transcriptional analyses and found that VAR increased PIF4 transcription at the end of the day when temperature peaked at 32°C, when FT transcription was also elevated. On the other hand, we observed a decrease in FLC transcription in the 4‐week‐old plants grown in VAR, as well as in the plants with PIF4 overexpression grown in CON. These results raise a possibility that PIF4 might also regulate FT indirectly through the repression of FLC, in addition to the well‐characterized direct control of PIF4 over FT. To further expand our view on the PIF4‐orientated flowering gene network in response to temperature changes, we have constructed a coexpression–transcriptional regulatory network by combining publicly available transcriptomic data and gene regulatory interactions of PIF4 and its closely related flowering genes, PIF5, FLC, and ELF3. The network model reveals conserved and tissue‐specific regulatory functions, which are useful for confirming as well as predicting the functions and regulatory interactions between these key flowering genes.
Measuring canopy height in soybean and wheat using a low‐cost depth camera
Authors: Morrison Malcolm J. , Gahagan Alison Claire , Lefebvre Marc Bruno
Published: July 2021

Canopy height is an essential trait in high throughput phenotyping that is often only captured as a single point, which is not always representative of canopy height. New 3D depth cameras such as the RealSense D415 (Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, CA, USA) may provide a fast and affordable solution for measuring height from portable, ground‐based phenomics systems. Our goal was to determine if the D415 was effective at measuring crop heights under field conditions in wheat (Triticum aestivum) and soybean (Glycine max) plots. The D415 camera was integrated into our PlotCam platform using the open software development kit from Intel. Distance arrays were captured for each plot at weekly intervals over the growing season. These were compared to canopy heights measured using a single point LiDAR (SPL) system operated by hand. Over the growing season the D415 heights were significantly correlated with the SPL heights in both wheat and soybean with coefficients of 0.77 and 0.95 and NRMSE 0.23 and 0.17 m, respectively. Early season D415 height measurements were not as similar to the SPL as the mid‐and late‐season measurements in wheat and soybean. The relatively low cost and open software development kit of the D415 makes it a promising tool for high throughput phenotyping applications.
Molecular innovations underlying resistance to nicotine and neonicotinoids in the aphid Myzus persicae
Authors: Troczka Bartlomiej J , Singh Kumar Saurabh , Zimmer Christoph T , Vontas John , Nauen Ralf , Hayward Alex , Bass Chris
Published: July 2021

The green peach aphid, Myzus persicae, is a globally distributed highly damaging crop pest. This species has demonstrated an exceptional ability to evolve resistance to both synthetic insecticides used for control, and natural insecticides produced by certain plants as a chemical defense against insect attack. Here we review work characterizing the evolution of resistance in M. persicae to the natural insecticide nicotine and the structurally related class of synthetic neonicotinoid insecticides. We outline how research on this topic has provided insights into long‐standing questions of both evolutionary and applied importance. These include questions pertaining to the origins of novel traits, the number and nature of mutational events or ‘adaptive steps’ underlying the evolution of new phenotypes, and whether host plant adaptations can be co‐opted to confer resistance to synthetic insecticides. Finally, research on the molecular mechanisms underlying insecticide resistance in M. persicae has generated several outstanding questions on the genetic architecture of resistance to both natural and synthetic xenobiotics, and we conclude by identifying key knowledge gaps for future research. © 2021 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Prediction of overall survival in patients across solid tumors following atezolizumab treatments: A tumor growth inhibition–overall survival modeling framework
Authors: Chan Phyllis , Marchand Mathilde , Yoshida Kenta , Vadhavkar Shweta , Wang Nina , Lin Alyse , Wu Benjamin , Ballinger Marcus , Sternheim Nitzan , Jin Jin Y. , Bruno René
Published: July 2021

The objectives of the study were to use tumor size data from 10 phase II/III atezolizumab studies across five solid tumor types to estimate tumor growth inhibition (TGI) metrics and assess the impact of TGI metrics and baseline prognostic factors on overall survival (OS) for each tumor type. TGI metrics were estimated from biexponential models and posttreatment longitudinal data of 6699 patients. TGI‐OS full models were built using parametric survival regression by including all significant baseline covariates from the Cox univariate analysis followed by a backward elimination step. The model performance was evaluated for each trial by 1000 simulations of the OS distributions and hazard ratios (HR) of the atezolizumab‐containing arms versus the respective controls. The tumor growth rate estimate was the most significant predictor of OS across all tumor types. Several baseline prognostic factors, such as inflammatory status (C‐reactive protein, albumin, and/or neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio), tumor burden (sum of longest diameters, number of metastatic sites, and/or presence of liver metastases), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, and lactate dehydrogenase were also highly significant across multiple studies in the final multivariate models. TGI‐OS models adequately described the OS distribution. The model‐predicted HRs indicated good model performance across the 10 studies, with observed HRs within the 95% prediction intervals for all study arms versus controls. Multivariate TGI‐OS models developed for different solid tumor types were able to predict treatment effect with various atezolizumab monotherapy or combination regimens and could be used to support design and analysis of future studies.
Estimation of Shockley–Read–Hall Lifetime in Homoepitaxial n‐GaN on Low‐Dislocation‐Density GaN Substrates Prepared by Hydride Vapor Phase Epitaxy and Maskless 3D
Authors: Mochizuki Kazuhiro , Ohta Hiroshi , Horikiri Fumimasa , Mishima Tomoyoshi
Published: July 2021

By eliminating the influence of surface recombination, the reported consideration that on‐resistance of GaN p+n diodes fabricated on free‐standing substrates should be limited by nonradiative recombination around dislocation lines is validated. The validation is based on analyses of 1) bulk nonradiative recombination current densities (Jnr), determined from the y intercept of forward‐current density/inverse of anode radius plots, of diodes fabricated on two kinds of vapor‐phase epitaxially grown freestanding substrates (i.e., maskless 3D [M‐3D, dislocation density Ndis ≤ 4 × 105 cm−2] and void‐assisted separation [VAS, Ndis = 1–4 × 106 cm−2]) and 2) distributions of two‐photon photoluminescence (2PPL) from an n‐GaN layer identifying dislocations as dark spots. Based on the extracted values of Jnr, the Shockley–Read–Hall lifetime of GaN p+n diodes on M‐3D and VAS substrates, and are, respectively, estimated to be 11 and 2 ns. Under the assumption of high excitation for the 2PPL measurement, the use of of 11 ns reproduces the 2PPL data with the effective dislocation radius ranging from 0.2 to 2 nm.
Investigation of Ultrafast Carrier Dynamics in InGaN/GaN‐Based Nanostructures Using Femtosecond Pump–Probe Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Aggarwal Tarni , Udai Ankit , Banerjee Debashree , Pendem Vikas , Chouksey Shonal , Saha Pratim , Sankaranarayanan Sandeep , Ganguly Swaroop , Bhattacharya Pallab , Saha Dipankar
Published: July 2021

GaN‐based optoelectronic devices including light‐emitting diodes and lasers realized with quantum‐confined nanostructures, revolutionized the solid‐state lighting. Excited‐state ultrafast nonlinear dynamics of these nanostructures are crucial in determining the device performance in terms of luminescence efficacy, emission spectra, wall‐plug efficiency, turn‐on delay, lasing threshold current, and modulation bandwidth. Therefore, understanding the carrier and photon dynamics of these nanostructures is of utmost importance. A comparative investigation of ultrafast nonlinear carrier‐photon dynamics of 2D, 1D, and 0D InGaN/GaN nanostructures is carried out. Femtosecond pump–probe absorption spectroscopy is used uniformly herein to obtain the wavelength‐dependent ultrafast kinetics of these nanostructures, with a temporal resolution of ≈50 fs. Carrier thermalization and relaxation processes of all the samples are studied both experimentally and theoretically. Distinguished phenomena, such as fast carrier trapping and subsequent detrapping of the carriers from sub‐bandgap defect states are observed. Real‐time monitoring of quantum confined Stark effect, enhanced radiative recombination, and diffusion‐limited carrier kinetics are manifested. Carrier capture and recombination time constants are calculated theoretically, considering quantum properties. Theoretical values are in good agreement with the experimental observations. In addition, transient absorption spectroscopy is used to investigate and decouple the surface and the bulk properties of GaN surfaces.