bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A comprehensive evaluation of soil moisture and soil temperature from third‐generation atmospheric and land reanalysis data sets
Authors: Li Mingxing , Wu Peili , Ma Zhuguo
Published: March 2020

Soil moisture and soil temperature, reflecting a synthetic climate regime, are vitally important for climate change assessments and adaption. As historical in situ measurements of soil states are extremely scarce and spatially uneven, reanalysis products play an increasingly important role in filling these gaps. The focus of this paper is on water–heat covariations in reanalysis products and a joint evaluation of soil moisture and soil temperature in five widely used atmospheric and land reanalyses is presented using in situ observations from 25 networks during various periods from 1979 to 2017. At the network scale, the five reanalyses show statistically significant correlations with observations, and the European Centre for Medium‐Range Weather Forecasts ERA5 shows higher skills than the other four products and a significant improvement over its predecessor. The National Centers for Environmental Prediction Climate Forecast System Reanalysis performs better in terms of long‐term trends. The most skilful signals in the five reanalyses are the seasonal cycles, with correlation coefficients of over 0.9. However, long‐term trends are substantially weaker than the observed trends and still tend to perform poorly over the high latitudes during cold seasons. Soil temperature reanalyses show even better skills, with mean correlation coefficients over 0.9 between anomalies; ERA5 shows enhanced annual ranges toward the high latitudes and altitudes. A joint evaluation of soil temperature and soil moisture showed physically consistent water–heat covariations in the soil in conjunction with atmospheric fluxes during the growing season over the Northern Hemisphere. This report suggests a good future for reanalysis products and their potential role in land surface climate change assessments.
Role of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans‐induced autophagy in inflammatory response
Authors: Lee Hyun Ah , Park Mi Hee , Song Yuri , Na Hee Sam , Chung Jin
Published: March 2020

Background

Aggressive periodontitis is characterized by the early‐onset and rapid progression of periodontal destruction and is closely associated with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. Autophagy is a conserved process that is critical for removing damaged proteins, organelles, and even intracellular pathogens. Therefore, this study examined whether A. actinomycetemcomitans induces autophagy. In addition, the relationship among autophagy, bacterial internalization, and inflammatory molecules in periodontal aggressive inflammation was analyzed.

Methods

The expression of autophagy‐related proteins in human gingival tissue and THP‐1 cells was assessed by Western blot analysis. The formation of light chain 3 (LC3) puncta was examined by confocal microscopy. The degree of bacterial internalization into the cells was determined by the viable cell count. Phagocytosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were measured using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry.

Results

When macrophages were infected with live A. actinomycetemcomitans, the autophagy influx was activated by the increase in LC3‐II, autophagy‐related gene 5/12, and Beclin‐1 expression through the Toll‐like receptors and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase signaling pathways. The inhibition of A. actinomycetemcomitans‐induced autophagy suppressed bacterial internalization via phagocytosis into the macrophages and increased interleukin (IL)‐1β production. Moreover, treatment with an ROS inhibitor inhibited these enhanced inflammatory responses.

Conclusions

A. actinomycetemcomitans‐induced autophagy promotes bacterial internalization by phagocytosis, which restricts the excessive inflammatory response by downregulating IL‐1β and ROS production in macrophages. Thus, A. actinomycetemcomitans‐induced autophagy and its role in regulating the inflammatory response may play an important role in the aggressive periodontal inflammatory process, and be a target for the development of new periodontal therapies.
A rapid rice blast detection and identification method based on crop disease spores' diffraction fingerprint texture
Authors: Yang Ning , Yu Junjie , Wang Aiying , Tang Jian , Zhang Rongbiao , Xie Liangliang , Shu Fangyu , Kwabena Oppong Paul
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND

Rice blast fungus is a worldwide disease, and it is one of the most serious rice diseases in the north and south rice fields in China. The initial symptoms of rice blast are not obvious, and the speed of transmission is fast. Manual identification is time‐consuming and laborious. At present, it is a great challenge to realize rapid and accurate early identification of rice blast.

RESULTS

In this paper, an identification method based on crop disease spores' diffraction fingerprint texture for rice blast was studied; this method utilizes the light field and texture features of diffraction images. To verify the reliability of the model that we proposed, we selected two methods of manual identification and machine recognition to compare and detect rice blast spores. The experimental results show that the identification of light diffraction characteristics is not only higher than the traditional manual recognition by microscope (increased by more than 0.3%), but also faster after neural network training (increased by more than 90%). The diffraction recognition method used in this study, based on crop disease spores' diffraction fingerprint texture, can be completed in a few seconds, and its test accuracy is 97.18%.

CONCLUSION

The proposed method, a rapid rice blast detection and identification method based on crop disease spores' diffraction fingerprint texture, has certain advantages compared with the existing manual identification by microscope. This method can be applied to the recognition of rice blast in agricultural research. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
The prognostic significance of the 8th edition AJCC TNM staging system for non–small‐cell lung cancer is not applicable to lung cancer as a second primary malignancy
Authors: Shi Shuai , Xie Hui , Yin Wei , Zhang Yuqian , Peng Xiong , Yu Fenglei , Shemanski Kimberly A. , Kim Anthony W. , Wang Xiang
Published: March 2020

Background and Objectives

It is unclear whether the prognostic significance of the 8th American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) tumor, node, metastasis (TNM) staging system for non–small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is applicable to lung cancer as a second primary malignancy (LCSPM). This study used a population‐based database to evaluate this relationship.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with second primary lung cancer after a nonpulmonary malignancy were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry from 2004 to 2015. Cumulative incidence function (CIF) and multivariable CIF regression analyses were performed to estimate the difference in disease‐specific mortality (DSM) among different TNM stages.

Results

Our cohort included 2687 patients from the SEER database. After CIF analysis, although rates of 1‐year, 3‐year, and 5‐year DSM trended higher with increasing TNM stages, the DSM curves overlapped for many subcategories. In a multivariable regression analysis, hazards ratios (HRs) for subcategories of stage Ι demonstrated no significant difference compared with the reference stage ΙA1 ([ΙA2 HR = 1.120; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.477‐2.626]; [ΙA3 HR = 1.762; 95% CI, 0.752‐4.126]; [ΙB HR = 2.003; 95% CI, 0.804‐4.911]). The following HRs trended higher for increasing TNM stages but with overlapping CIs among adjacent stage groupings.

Conclusion

The 8th edition AJCC TNM staging system fails to provide accurate prognostic value for LCSPM.
Simultaneous analysis of current‐use pesticides and their transformation products in water using mixture‐sorbent solid phase extraction and high‐performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Tan Baoxiang , Xiong Jingjing , Li Huizhen , You Jing
Published: March 2020

Pesticides have posed significant threats to aquatic ecosystems, yet little is known about their transformation products. The challenge is to simultaneously analyze various pesticides and transformation products in water as they have distinct physicochemical properties. A mix‐mode solid phase extraction method was established to simultaneously analyze current‐use pesticides and their transformation products using a mixture of hydrophile–lipophile balance, weak anion, and cation exchange resins (2:1:1, w/w/w) in combination with high‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry for chemical quantification. Neutral, acidic, and alkaline methanol were used as the elution solvent. Box‐Behnken design was applied to optimize extraction conditions. Optimal conditions were as follows: sorbent mass, 200 mg; volume of elution solvent, 5 mL × 3; pH 4. The method was validated for compounds at concentrations from 20 to 1000 ng/L in different types of water samples, with recovery being from 43.5 ± 3.1 to 141 ± 35%. Low method detection limits (0.02−5.6 ng/L) implied that the developed method was sensitive. Finally, the method was applied to monitor current‐use pesticides and their transformation products in natural waters. Frequent detection of transformation products of pesticides indicated that their contribution to aquatic risk should not be ignored.
Impulse response function analysis of the impacts of land value‐added tax policy on government performance
Authors: Liu Day‐Yang , Yao Hsin‐Hsin , Lu Wen‐Min , Lin Cheng‐Hsien
Published: March 2020

In this study, an epsilon‐based network data envelopment analysis is employed to construct assessment mechanisms for government performance. Moreover, performance indicators of two dimensions of tax collection efficiency and financial effectiveness are measured. We propose a vector autoregression model in which all economic variables are regarded as dependent variables to address the disadvantages of traditional regression model. The conclusions are as follows: (a) measures of tax collection efficiency deteriorated, whereas those of financial effectiveness improved. (b) In an impulse response analysis of the model, an increase in government‐published land values produced significantly increased tax collection efficiency.
Vertical integration and first‐mover advantages in environmental taxes
Authors: Bárcena‐Ruiz Juan Carlos , Campo María Luz
Published: March 2020

This paper analyzes whether vertical integration between firms and suppliers encourages governments to behave as leaders in environmental policies. To study this issue, we consider transboundary pollution and two countries, with one firm in each country. We find that whether governments prefer to be leaders or followers in environmental taxes depends on two factors: whether firms are vertically integrated or not and the degree to which environmental pollution spills over to trading partners. When this overspill takes an intermediate value, taxes are set sequentially under vertical integration, but they are set simultaneously without it.
Mental health groups providing support, education in wake of COVID‐19
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: March 2020

As news and updates continue to spread regarding the new coronavirus (COVID‐19), the deadly virus that causes respiratory illness and pneumonia, mental health groups and organizations have issued information to consumers, providers and the mental health community at large about ways of addressing the virus and seeking information from public health sources.
Family factors play key role in children's suicidal ideation
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: March 2020

While the rate of death by suicide among children in the United States has tripled within the last decade, little is known about the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation and behaviors in children, according to researchers of a new study published online in JAMA.
Partnership sets new vision for MH care delivery for Minnesotans
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: March 2020

Observing the challenges people in Minnesota face in finding mental health services, and, upon doing so, experiencing long wait times, a coalition of public and private purchasers and a behavioral health company have partnered to offer a solution to these challenges to the state's employers.
Advocates for the homeless seeking funding for COVID‐19
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: March 2020

Now that the federal $8.3 billion appropriations bill has passed and been signed into law this month to stem the spread of the new coronavirus (COVID‐19), advocates are hoping some of that funding reaches one of this country's most vulnerable populations: the homeless.
Global boundedness and Hölder regularity of solutions to general p(x,t)‐Laplace parabolic equations
Authors: Ding Mengyao , Zhang Chao , Zhou Shulin
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we establish global boundedness and Hölder regularity of the weak solution to the following parabolic p(x,t)‐Laplace equation:

under some proper assumptions on a and b. The Hölder continuity given in the present work extends known results to the equation with a general nondivergence term.
A new approach for soft topology and soft function via soft element
Authors: Taşköprü Kemal , Altıntaş İsmet
Published: March 2020

In this article, we give some new properties of elementary operations on soft sets and then we introduce a new soft topology by using elementary operations over a universal set with a set of parameters called elementary soft topology. Also, we define a topology, members of which are collections of the soft elements and give the relation between this topology and elementary soft topology. We show that this new soft topology is different from those previously defined soft topologies. We prove some of the properties of the topological concepts we investigate in this topology. Finally, we describe soft function and soft continuity and give an application of the soft function as soft set approach to the rotation in
.
GPU‐accelerated parallel forward method to establish parametric scattering center models for complex targets
Authors: Huang Kai , He Si‐Yuan , Zhang Yun‐Hua , Yin Hong‐Cheng , Zhang Liang‐Liang , Zhu Guo‐Qiang
Published: March 2020

Forward method to establish parametric scattering center models is highly efficient for radar feature extraction of target. Nevertheless, scattering center extraction especially for multiple reflections is still time‐consuming due to path tracing, ray clustering, and parameter determination from electrically large and complex targets. As the multiple reflection items add, the time consumption of forward parametric scattering center modeling method increases dramatically, which can hardly meet the practical requirements. In this work, we propose a graphics processing unit‐accelerated forward parametric scattering center modeling method together with stackless KD‐Tree traversal technique that accelerates path tracing, clustering, and parameter determination to extract parametric scattering centers. Concurrently, the parameters of the scattering centers arising from triple (usually the maximum number of reflections) or above reflection items are forward determined for obtaining feature information as much as possible from complex target. Finally, the reconstructed radar characteristics from parametric models have been verified by comparison with exactly simulated results. Meanwhile, those examples using this improved method have achieved great speedup.
Technical Note: Effect of transducer position and ground plane configuration on image quality in MR‐guided focused ultrasound therapies
Authors: Payne Allison , Minalga Emilee , Merrill Robb , Parker Dennis L. , Hadley J. Rock
Published: March 2020

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of a focused ultrasound transducer position and ground plane configuration on magnetic resonance image quality.

Methods

The effect of transducer position with respect to the MRI B0 field and the radiofrequency receive coils was evaluated in a breast‐specific MRgFUS system with an integrated RF phased‐array coil. Image signal‐to‐noise ratio was evaluated at different transducer locations. The effect of ultrasound transducer ground plane configuration was evaluated using a replica transducer with 12 ground plane configurations. All evaluations were performed at 3 Tesla.

Results

Both transducer position and ground plane configuration were found to have a considerable effect on overall image SNR. A 67% increase in SNR was achieved by positioning the transducer face perpendicular to the B0 field. A 25% increase in SNR was achieved by segmenting the replica transducer ground plane from one continuous plane to nine individual segments.

Conclusions

Advances in focused ultrasound hardware allow for integrated radiofrequency MRI coils as well as adjustable transducer positioning. The placement of the ultrasound transducer with respect to both the magnetic field and RF coils can have a considerable effect on image SNR and the resulting MR images that are used for MR‐guided focused ultrasound treatment planning, monitoring and assessment.
Design of a focused collimator for proton therapy spot scanning using Monte Carlo methods
Authors: Geoghegan Theodore J. , Nelson Nicholas P. , Flynn Ryan T. , Hill Patrick M. , Rana Suresh , Hyer Daniel E.
Published: March 2020

Purpose

When designing a collimation system for pencil beam spot scanning proton therapy, a decision must be made whether or not to rotate, or focus, the collimator to match beamlet deflection as a function of off‐axis distance. If the collimator is not focused, the beamlet shape and fluence will vary as a function of off‐axis distance due to partial transmission through the collimator. In this work, we quantify the magnitude of these effects and propose a focused dynamic collimation system (DCS) for use in proton therapy spot scanning.

Methods

This study was done in silico using a model of the Miami Cancer Institute’s (MCI) IBA Proteus Plus system created in Geant4‐based TOPAS. The DCS utilizes rectangular nickel trimmers mounted on rotating sliders that move in synchrony with the pencil beam to provide focused collimation at the edge of the target. Using a simplified setup of the DCS, simulations were performed at various off‐axis locations corresponding to beam deflection angles ranging from 0° to 2.5°. At each off‐axis location, focused (trimmer rotated) and unfocused (trimmer not rotated) simulations were performed. In all simulations, a 4 cm water equivalent thickness range shifter was placed upstream of the collimator, and a voxelized water phantom that scored dose was placed downstream, each with 4 cm airgaps.

Results

Increasing the beam deflection angle for an unfocused trimmer caused the collimated edge of the beamlet profile to shift 0.08–0.61 mm from the baseline 0° simulation. There was also an increase in low‐dose regions on the collimated edge ranging from 14.6% to 192.4%. Lastly, the maximum dose,

, was 0–5% higher for the unfocused simulations. With a focused trimmer design, the profile shift and dose increases were all eliminated.

Conclusions

We have shown that focusing a collimator in spot scanning proton therapy reduces dose at the collimated edge compared to conventional, unfocused collimation devices and presented a simple, mechanical design for achieving focusing for a range of source‐to‐collimator distances.
Using Remote Sensing to Assess Alligator Gar Spawning Habitat Suitability in the Lower Mississippi River
Authors: Allen Yvonne , Kimmel Kayla , Constant Glenn
Published: March 2020

Floodplains are an important part of large-river ecosystems; the frequency, timing, duration, and spatial extent of inundation drive habitat quality and determine the suitability of these habitats for both aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Managers have traditionally had very limited information with which to evaluate and quantify the dynamics of large-river floodplains. Alligator Gar Atractosteus spatula use floodplains in the lower Mississippi River for spawning and have experienced declines in historic range that have been partly attributed to declines in spawning habitat availability. The Alligator Gar has therefore been identified by the American Fisheries Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and many state agencies as a species of concern in the lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. The goal of this study was to develop landscape-level spatial data to determine the extent and quality of floodplain habitat that may be available for Alligator Gar spawning. Multi-temporal analysis of remote sensing imagery was used to develop spatial data products that defined floodplain inundation extent, inundation frequency, and temperature. These products were combined with existing layers of physical habitat structure to define and quantify spawning habitat suitability throughout the entire area subject to direct inundation by the lower Mississippi River. Habitat suitability categories were defined based on meeting unique combinations of inundation, temperature, and physical structure so that the most suitable conservation measures can be applied to improve local conditions.
Investigating work‐related stress among health professionals at different hierarchical levels: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Peter Karin A. , Schols Jos M. G. A. , Halfens Ruud J. G. , Hahn Sabine
Published: March 2020

Aim

To determine the extent of stress at work among health professionals working in upper‐, middle‐ and lower‐management positions and those not working in management positions.

Design

Cross‐sectional design and randomly selected hospitals, nursing homes and home care organizations.

Methods

The study sample included nursing staff and midwives, physicians, medical–technical and medical–therapeutic professionals at all hierarchical levels (N = 8,112). Data were collected using self‐report questionnaires and analysed using multiple regression models.

Results

Health professionals in upper‐ and middle‐management positions reported higher quantitative demands, severe work–private life conflicts (p < .05) as well as less role clarity in middle‐management positions (B = −1.58, p < .05). In lower‐management positions, health professionals reported higher physical (B = 3.80, p < .001) and emotional demands (B = 1.79, p < .01), stress symptoms (B = 1.81, p < .05) and job dissatisfaction (B = −1.17, p < .05). Health professionals without management responsibilities reported the poorest working conditions in relation to various stressors, job satisfaction (B = −5.20, p < .001) and health‐related outcomes (e.g. burnout symptoms: B = 1.89, p < .01).
The Role of Weight Perception in Race Differences in BMI Among College Graduate and Non–College Graduate Women
Authors: Bell Caryn N. , Blackman Carr Loneke T.
Published: March 2020

Objective

Racial differences in BMI increase with education. Weight perception may be an important factor in overweight and obesity in black women. The aim of this study was to determine the mediating role of weight underassessment on race differences in BMI in college graduates compared with non–college graduates.

Methods

Weight perception was assessed among respondents to the 2007‐2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (n = 4,871). Those who had BMI‐assessed overweight or obesity and self‐assessed underweight or about‐right weight underassessed their weight. The associations between race and BMI through weight underassessment by college graduate status were determined using a moderated mediation analysis.

Results

Black women had higher BMI than white women (β = 2.72, SE = 0.28), and disparities were larger in college graduates (β = 3.50, SE = 0.25) compared with non–college graduates (β = 0.78, SE = 0.15). Non–college graduate black women were more likely to underassess their weight (z score = 0.43, SE = 0.05). Indirect associations between race and BMI through weight underassessment were found only among non–college graduates (z score = −0.02, SE = 0.01), but race differences in BMI remained after accounting for weight perception among college graduates and non–college graduates.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that a nuanced, intersectional understanding of weight perception and BMI among women is required to address racial disparities in obesity.
Cold‐Activated Brown Adipose Tissue is Associated with Less Cardiometabolic Dysfunction in Young Adults with Obesity
Authors: Mihalopoulos Nicole L. , Yap Jeffrey T. , Beardmore Britney , Holubkov Richard , Nanjee M. Nazeem , Hoffman John M.
Published: March 2020

Objective

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that young adults with obesity and cold‐activated brown adipose tissue (BAT) are less likely to have metabolic dysfunction (dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, and hypertension) than those without cold‐activated BAT. Previous studies have noted a potentially protective effect of BAT and higher adiponectin/leptin ratios, but they have acknowledged that the clinical implications of these findings remain uncertain.

Methods

Twenty‐one females and twenty‐three males with obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) underwent a 2‐hour cooling protocol before 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (18F‐FDG)‐positron emission tomography/x‐ray computed tomography scan to determine the prevalence, volume, and 18F‐FDG uptake of cold‐activated BAT.

Results

Cold‐activated BAT was identified in 43% of participants (11 female, 8 male); females had greater 18F‐FDG uptake. Those with cold‐activated BAT had a lesser degree of metabolic dysfunction. Cold‐activated BAT volume correlated with triglycerides (inversely) and adiponectin (concordantly). Body‐mass‐adjusted cold‐activated BAT activity correlated with high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (concordantly). Males with cold‐activated BAT had lower leptin and higher adiponectin/leptin ratio.

Conclusions

A high prevalence of cold‐activated BAT was found in the study participants. BAT could be important in decreasing metabolic dysfunction among young adults with obesity, making it a potential target for treating metabolically unhealthy obesity.
Study on structure and performance of surface‐metallized carbon fibers reinforced rigid polyurethane composites
Authors: Huang Momo , Li Weiwei , Liu Xiaojing , Feng Ming , Yang Jie
Published: March 2020

The simultaneous promotion in mechanical and electrical properties of rigid polyurethane (RPU) is an important task for expanding potential application. In this work, carbon fibers (CFs) reinforced RPU composites were prepared with the goal of improving mechanical and electrical properties. Metallized CFs meet our performance requirements and can be easily achieved via electrodeposition. However, the weak bonding strength in fiber‐metal‐RPU interface restricts their application. Inspired by the reducibility and wonderful adhesion of dopamine (DA), we proposed a new and efficient electrochemical method to fabricate metallized CFs, where DA polymerization was simultaneously integrated coupled with the reduction of metal ions (Ni2+). The characterization results helped us to gain insight about the reaction mechanism, which was never reported as far as we know. Compared with pure RPU, the tensile, interlaminar shear and impact strength of polydopamine (PDA)‐nickel (Ni) modified CFs/RPU composites were improved by 11.2%, 21.0%, and 78.0%, respectively, which attributed to the strong interfacial adhesion, including mechanical interlocking and chemical crosslinking between treated CFs and RPU. In addition, the PDA‐Ni surface treatment method also affected the dispersion of short CFs in the RPU, which increased the possibility of conductor contact and reduced insulator between fibers networks, resulting in higher electrical conductivity.
‘ND Whitetail’, a new white kidney bean with high seed yield and intermediate resistance to white mold and bacterial blights
Authors: Osorno Juan M. , Vander Wal Albert J. , Posch John , Simons Kristin , Grafton Kenneth F. , Pasche Julie S.
Published: March 2020

‘ND Whitetail’ (Reg. no. CV‐327, PI 690447; PVP‐201900175) is a new white kidney bean cultivar developed by the dry bean breeding program at North Dakota State University and released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Within the Andean gene pool, kidney beans are the most economically important market classes worldwide, with dark‐red kidney bean being the most commonly grown class, followed by light‐red and white kidneys. There is an increased interest in white kidney bean in the United States, mostly stimulated by novel research claiming additional health benefits related to its consumption. However, biotic and abiotic stresses still limit the full seed yield potential of kidney bean cultivars. Averaged across environments, the seed yield of ND Whitetail was significantly higher by 650, 976, and 459 kg ha−1 than ‘Beluga’, ‘Silver Cloud’, and ‘Snowdon’, respectively. ND Whitetail has an average plant height of 52 cm and matures in approximately 101 d. Results from canning tests showed that ND Whitetail received a canning score of 5.1. ND Whitetail has high levels of resistance to white mold and Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) along with intermediate resistance to bacterial diseases. Given the superior seed yield quality and agronomic performance, useful agronomic traits such as seed size, BCMV resistance, white mold and halo blight resistance, and superior canning quality, ND Whitetail could become an important white kidney cultivar in the United States.
‘ND Pegasus’, a new great northern bean with upright plant architecture and high seed yield
Authors: Osorno Juan M. , Vander Wal Albert J. , Posch John , Simons Kristin , Grafton Kenneth F. , Pasche Julie S.
Published: March 2020

‘ND Pegasus’ great northern bean (PVP‐201900176, Reg. no. CV‐328, PI 690448) is a new cultivar developed by the dry bean breeding program at North Dakota State University and released by the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station. Great northern bean is a market class of significant economic importance in the United States. In North Dakota especially, biotic and abiotic stresses are the main factors for seed yield reductions. Between 2013 and 2018, ND Pegasus, along with great northern cultivars commonly grown in the region, was tested across more than 35 environments in North Dakota and other states. Seed yield of ND Pegasus was significantly higher by 560, 414, and 571 kg ha‐1 compared with ‘Matterhorn’, ‘Aries’, and ‘Powderhorn’, respectively. However, seed yield of ND Pegasus and ‘Taurus’ were similar. ND Pegasus has an excellent upright architecture that improves the efficiency of direct harvest. Based on greenhouse and DNA marker data, ND Pegasus is resistant to Bean common mosaic virus and has improved resistance to white mold. ND Pegasus has excellent seed quality (color, shape, and size) and is larger than most commercial cultivars commonly grown in the region. ND Pegasus has acceptable canning quality based on some pilot testing. The average plant height of ND Pegasus is 71 cm, and 100‐seed weight 36.8 g. It matures in approximately 103 d. Other agronomic traits of economic importance are within commercial acceptable ranges.
Cold Shock Domain Containing E1 (CSDE1) Protein is Overexpressed and Can be Targeted to Inhibit Invasiveness in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Liu Hui , Li Xiang , Dun Matthew D. , Faulkner Sam , Jiang Chen Chen , Hondermarck Hubert
Published: March 2020

Pancreatic cancer has a dismal prognosis and to date there are no targeted therapies for this malignancy. Using shotgun proteomics, the mRNA binding protein cold shock domain containing E1 (CSDE1), also called upstream‐of‐N‐Ras, is detected in pancreatic cancer cell lines but not in normal pancreatic epithelial cells. The expression of CSDE1 in pancreatic cancer cells is confirmed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry of human pancreatic tumors. In vitro functional assays show that siRNA downregulation of CSDE1 or gene knockout using CRISPR‐Cas9 significantly reduce the invasiveness of pancreatic cancer cells. Together, this study reveals that CSDE1 is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer and is a potential therapeutic target to inhibit pancreatic cancer cell invasion.
The effect of in situ‐formed copolymers on the morphology of reactive poly(phenylene ether)/poly(amide‐6) blends
Authors: Moyses Stephan , Ramakrishnan Vaidyanath , Lietzau Christian , Bajaj Pooja
Published: March 2020

Poly(phenylene ether) (PPE)/poly(amide‐6) (PA6) blends are examined in light of the information provided by two‐dimensional chromatography and chemorheology. Chromatography provides a snapshot of the blend composition in the finished material, while rheology presents us with a direct insight into the reactions taking place in the melt. Block copolymer formation is chromatographically confirmed for the blends prepared with a coupling agent, but also for the blend prepared without any coupling agent. No co‐continuous morphology is observed by scanning electron microscope. Instead, a coarse structure of PPE droplets in the PA6 matrix is obtained for the blend prepared without coupling agent. This is explained by the combined effects of the low viscosity of PA6 and the inherently formed copolymers. The PPE domains are smaller in the blends prepared with the coupling agents. Their size is correlated with the copolymer formation, surface tension, and interphase relaxation time. The data evidence a complex system where reactions resulting in the formation of copolymer via coupling or grafting take place together with the extension of the PPE and condensation growth of the PA6 polymers.
Application of docking methodologies to modeled proteins
Authors: Singh Amar , Dauzhenka Taras , Kundrotas Petras J. , Sternberg Michael J. E. , Vakser Ilya A.
Published: March 2020

Protein docking is essential for structural characterization of protein interactions. Besides providing the structure of protein complexes, modeling of proteins and their complexes is important for understanding the fundamental principles and specific aspects of protein interactions. The accuracy of protein modeling, in general, is still less than that of the experimental approaches. Thus, it is important to investigate the applicability of docking techniques to modeled proteins. We present new comprehensive benchmark sets of protein models for the development and validation of protein docking, as well as a systematic assessment of free and template‐based docking techniques on these sets. As opposed to previous studies, the benchmark sets reflect the real case modeling/docking scenario where the accuracy of the models is assessed by the modeling procedure, without reference to the native structure (which would be unknown in practical applications). We also expanded the analysis to include docking of protein pairs where proteins have different structural accuracy. The results show that, in general, the template‐based docking is less sensitive to the structural inaccuracies of the models than the free docking. The near‐native docking poses generated by the template‐based approach, typically, also have higher ranks than those produces by the free docking (although the free docking is indispensable in modeling the multiplicity of protein interactions in a crowded cellular environment). The results show that docking techniques are applicable to protein models in a broad range of modeling accuracy. The study provides clear guidelines for practical applications of docking to protein models.
Understanding and managing the risk during transient operations
Authors: Vaughen Bruce K.
Published: March 2020

This paper presents the results from more than 50 incidents attributed in part to the process safety risks associated with abnormal, transient operations during start‐ups and shut‐downs. A transient operation is defined in this paper as the time when the process is in transition between one operating state and another. In particular, the transient operations‐related focus is on the time when equipment is taken from its safe, idle state to its safe operating conditions (a start‐up) and vice versa, when the equipment is then taken back to its safe, idle state (a shut‐down). There are 10 different start‐up and shut‐down operating modes during normal operations, abnormal operations, and emergency operations. The incidents in this review were attributed to weaknesses in administrative controls that did not work as planned and engineering controls that did not perform as expected. Due to these weaknesses, unexpected events occurred, resulting in quick decisions made without adequately understanding the hazards, evaluating the risks, or managing the changes. In many cases, had the asset integrity and reliability program been in place or effective operational readiness review performed before attempting the process restarts, the risks associated with the transient operating mode could have been reduced.
Attract and kill: spinosad containing spheres to control onion maggot (Delia antiqua)
Authors: Willett Denis S , Filgueiras Camila C , Nyrop Jan P , Nault Brian A
Published: March 2020

BACKGROUND

Onion maggot (Delia antiqua) is a pest of onions worldwide. Current means of managing this pest rely heavily on prophylatic insecticide treatments at planting. These options may not be viable in organic production systems or situations where insecticide‐resistant populations occur. Here we explore the efficacy of an attract and kill strategy for control of D. antiqua evaluating the ability of attractive, spinosad containing spheres to kill adult D. antiqua and reduce crop losses.

RESULTS

Spinosad containing spheres were able to consistently kill D. antiqua adults over the course of the field season (mortality range: between 49% and 59% on average). Pairing spinosad spheres with Delia Lure increased efficacy by 72% compared with the spheres alone. Performance of this attract and kill strategy also can reduce damage by D. antiqua larvae in the field, but it did not achieve a level of control comparable to the level provided by a conventional insecticide treatment.

CONCLUSION

Implementation of this attract and kill strategy could be a valuable tool in situations where conventional pesticides are either not available or desired, where additional control techniques are needed, or to provide a season‐long option for control of D. antiqua populations. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Revisit of test‐then‐pool methods and some practical considerations
Authors: Li Wen , Liu Frank , Snavely Duane
Published: March 2020

Test‐then‐pool is a simple statistical method that borrows historical information to improve efficiency of the drug development process. The original test‐then‐pool method examines the difference between the historical and current information and then pools the information if there is no significant difference. One drawback of this method is that a nonsignificant difference may not always imply consistency between the historical and current information. As a result, the original test‐then‐pool method is more likely to incorrectly borrow information from the historical control when the current trial has a small sample size. Statistically, it is more natural to use an equivalence test for examining the consistency. This manuscript develops an equivalence‐based test‐then‐pool method for a continuous endpoint, explains the relationship between the two test‐then‐pool methods, explores the choice of an equivalence margin through the overlap probability, and proposes an adjustment to the nominal testing level for controlling type I error under the true consistency scenario. Furthermore, the analytical forms of the type I error and power for the two test‐then‐pool methods are derived, and practical considerations for using them are presented.
Biological effects of red beetroot and betalains: A review
Authors: Hadipour Elham , Taleghani Akram , Tayarani‐Najaran Nilufar , Tayarani‐Najaran Zahra
Published: March 2020

Over the past few years, the use of natural substances as protective or therapeutic agents has gained much attention worldwide. Recent modern studies have shown a variety of health benefits for red beetroot and its active compounds betalains (also betanin) such as antioxidative, anti‐inflammation, anticancer, blood pressure and lipid lowering, also antidiabetic and anti‐obesity effects. Betanin, the main component of the red beetroot, is a betalain glycosidic pigment, which is used as a food additive. This review summarizes findings in the literature and shows the therapeutic potential of red beetroot and its active compounds (betalains) as promising alternatives for supplemental therapies in multiple diseases.
Forcing of the Martian polar annulus by Hadley cell transport and latent heating
Authors: Scott R. K. , Seviour W. J. M. , Waugh D. W.
Published: March 2020

A hierarchy of idealized models is used to investigate the roles of Hadley cell forcing and latent heat release from carbon dioxide condensation in determining the annular potential vorticity structure of the Martian winter polar vortex. The angular momentum conserving the Hadley cell model of Lindzen and Hou with summer hemisphere heating maximum of appropriate strength and latitude produces a strong westerly jet near 60°N, which is similar in strength to the winter polar night jet on Mars. Although the corresponding potential vorticity profile in the angular momentum conserving and thermal wind regions has no annular structure resembling the Martian one, there is an implied δ‐function at the discontinuity in zonal wind. This δ‐function is smoothed out by explicit diffusion in full axisymmetric model integrations forming a partial annular structure, though a local maximum in potential vorticity at the pole persists and is further enhanced when cooling representing the polar night is included. A distinct polar minimum and clear annular potential vorticity structure are obtained, however, when an additional representation of polar latent heating is also included. Full eddy‐permitting shallow‐water model integrations confirm the basic structure obtained by the axisymmetric model and suggest a nominal value of viscosity appropriate as a representation of the effects of eddy mixing. Instability of the polar annulus leads to vacillation‐type behaviour involving eddy growth and annulus disruption, followed by re‐formation under the influence of radiative relaxation. The degree of transience and mean eddy activity both show an increase with stronger latent heating and the resulting deeper polar potential vorticity minimum, showing that mixing in polar regions may be dependent on details of polar carbon dioxide condensation. Vacillation time‐scales are also shown to vary with radiative time‐scales, but through a modification of instability growth rate rather than as a result of direct radiative restoration.
Steiner degree distance indices: Chemical applicability and bounds
Authors: Redžepović Izudin , Mao Yaping , Wang Zhao , Furtula Boris
Published: March 2020

The k‐center Steiner degree distance (
SDD
k(G)) has recently been introduced as a natural extension of the degree distance DD(G). In this paper, the prediction potential of
SDD
k(G) is discussed. Then, the relation between this and some other well‐known distance‐based indices of trees is derived to explain its prediction potential. Finally, the lower and upper bounds of
SDD
k(G) in terms of some other graph invariants are presented.
Using ONIOM calculations to investigate the abilities of simple and nitrogen, boron, sulfur‐doped carbon nanotubes in sensing of carbon monoxide
Authors: Tavakol Hossein , Hassani Fahimeh , Shahabi Dana
Published: March 2020

In this work, geometries, stabilities, and electronic properties of the carbon monoxide (CO) molecule as an adsorbent in a simple carbon nanotube (CNT) and nitrogen (N), boron (B), sulfur (S)‐doped CNTs (NCNT, BCNT, and SCNT) with parallel and perpendicular configurations are fully considered using ONIOM, natural bond orbital, and quantum theory of atom in molecule (QTAIM) calculations. The adsorption energies (Ead) demonstrate that a CO molecule could be adsorbed on the surface of the simple CNT with parallel configuration and N‐doped CNT with perpendicular configuration in an exothermic process. QTAIM calculations showed the close‐shell (noncovalent) interactions between the CO molecule and CNT or N, B, S‐doped CNTs. In addition, the energy gap (Eg) values between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital are calculated. In accordance with the results of energy gap, simple and N‐doped CNTs could be used as CO sensors.
A rapid liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of levodopa, carbidopa, entacapone and their six related compounds in film‐coated tablets
Authors: Burmaoğlu Rıfat Emre , Sağlık Aslan Serap
Published: March 2020

Rationale

A liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method has been developed and validated to determine levodopa, carbidopa, entacapone, and corresponding six related substances – levodopa impurity B, levodopa impurity C, methyldopa, methylcarbidopa, entacapone impurity C, and entacapone impurity A – in film‐coated tablets for the first time.

Methods

Chromatographic separation was achieved with a gradient elution by using a C18 column, a mobile phase containing 0.5% formic acid in water and 0.5% formic acid in methanol. The mobile phase flow rate was 0.5 mL min−1. The UV detector was set at 280 nm and the triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode.

Results

The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) results were 1.3 and 3.94 ng mL−1 for levodopa impurity B; 5.26 and 15.9 ng mL−1 for levodopa impurity C; 0.833 and 2.53 ng mL−1 for methyldopa; 3.31 and 10.0 ng mL−1 for methylcarbidopa; 1.67 and 5.06 ng mL−1 for entacapone impurity C; and 0.61 and 1.86 ng mL−1 for entacapone impurity A.

Conclusions

The method was rapid, linear, accurate, and reproducible. The LC/MS/MS method that was developed to determine the related substances and assay of levodopa, carbidopa, and entacapone can be used to evaluate the quality of regular samples in the pharmaceutical industry. It can be also used to test the stability of samples.
Propagation of human prostate tissue from induced pluripotent stem cells
Authors: Hepburn Anastasia C. , Curry Emma L. , Moad Mohammad , Steele Rebecca E. , Franco Omar E. , Wilson Laura , Singh Parmveer , Buskin Adriana , Crawford Susan E. , Gaughan Luke , Mills Ian G. , Hayward Simon W. , Robson Craig N. , Heer Rakesh
Published: March 2020

Primary culture of human prostate organoids and patient-derived xenografts is inefficient and has limited access to clinical tissues. This hampers their use for translational study to identify new treatments. To overcome this, we established a complementary approach where rapidly proliferating and easily handled induced pluripotent stem cells enabled the generation of human prostate tissue in vivo and in vitro. By using a coculture technique with inductive urogenital sinus mesenchyme, we comprehensively recapitulated in situ 3D prostate histology, and overcame limitations in the primary culture of human prostate stem, luminal and neuroendocrine cells, as well as the stromal microenvironment. This model now unlocks new opportunities to undertake translational studies of benign and malignant prostate disease.

Significance statement Growing cells from prostate cancer biopsies in the laboratory to study mechanisms of disease and to discover new treatments is fraught with difficulties and often not possible. This work establishes a new means to grow “mini 3D prostates” in the laboratory. It shows proof of concept that genetic modifications are possible in this innovative model, which lays the foundations for new preclinical approaches to personalized care previously considered too challenging. Specifically, in future work, one can develop genetically engineered prostate cancers in a dish, tailored to the specific genetic profiles of individual patients, and determine their best response to a range of drug treatments.