bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Microfluidic Concept for Successful in Vitro Culture of Mouse Embryos
Authors: Mancini Vanessa , McKeegan Paul , Schrimpe-Rutledge Alexandra C. , Codreanu Simona Gabriela , Sherrod Stacy D. , McLean John A. , Picton Helen M. , Pensabene Virginia
Published: February 2021

Innovative techniques for gene editing have enabled accurate animal models of human diseases to be established. In order for these methods to be successfully adopted in the scientific community, the optimization of procedures used for breeding genetically altered mice is required. Among these, the in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure is still suboptimal and the culture methods do not guarantee the development of competent embryos. Critical aspects in traditional in vitro embryo culture protocols include the use of mineral oil and the stress induced by repetitive handling of the embryos. A novel microfluidic system was designed and fabricated in poly dimethyl siloxane (PDMS) to allow for efficient in vitro production of mouse embryos. Culture experiments conducted by completing the industry gold standard Mouse Embryo Assay excluded any harmful fluidic stress and plastic toxicity. The developmental competence of the embryos developed in the device was consistently confirmed by high blastocyst rate (>80%), hatching and outgrowth rate, and matched with analysis of energy substrate metabolism and expression of genes related to implantation potential. Metabolomics analyses of spent culture media allowed for biologically important metabolite changes to be observed throughout embryo development, and for identification of specific overrepresented metabolic pathways affected by the microfluidic environment. Moreover, mass spectrometry data identified plastic-related compounds released in medium, and confirmed leaching of low molecular weight species into the culture medium that might be associated to un-crosslinked PDMS. Finally, these data show the potential for the system to study preimplantation embryo development and to improve the embryo culture techniques used for human assisted conception.
Characterization and Optical Gas Sensing Properties of BaSnO3 Synthesized By Novel Technique: Flame Spray Pyrolysis
Authors: ONGUN Merve ZEYREK , OGUZLAR Sibel , Akalin Alper S. , Yildirim Serdar
Published: February 2021

Barium stannate (BaSnO3) particles were synthesized using a one-step flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) method. The fabricated ceramic powders were investigated in terms of the structural, morphological, and optical properties by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta particle size analyzer, UV-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The XRD results showed the structure of BaSnO3 crystals have been obtained when the powders were exposed at high temperature, specifically at 1200 °C. The synthesized particles in the submicron size in a range of 70-980 nm were produced. The optical band gap value of the synthesized crystals was calculated by means of reflectance spectra with the Kubelka-Munk method and found as 3.14 eV. When the powders excited at 375 nm, they exhibited emission bands in the visible and near-infrared region (NIR) of the electromagnetic spectrum. As far as we know, this is the first time BaSnO3 crystals have been synthesized using the FSP technique. In this study, the intensity- and decay time- based gas sensing properties of BaSnO3 embedded in ethyl cellulose thin films when exposed to the vapors of ethanol, acetone, and ammonia were also measured.
Maize Endochitinase Expression in Response to Fall Armyworm Herbivory
Authors: Han Yang , TAYLOR ERIN B , LUTHE DAWN
Published: February 2021

A large percentage of crop loss is due to insect damage yearly, especially caterpillar damage. Plant chitinases are considered excellent candidates to combat these insects since they can catalyze chitin degradation in peritrophic matrix (PM), an important protective structure in caterpillar midgut. Compared to chemical insecticides, chitinases could improve host plant resistance and be both economically and environmentally advantageous. The focus of this research was to find chitinase candidates that could improve plant resistance by effectively limiting caterpillar damage. Five classes of endochitinase (I-V) genes were characterized in the maize genome, and we further isolated and cloned four chitinase genes (chitinase A, chitinase B, chitinase I, and PRm3) present in two maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines Mp708 and Tx601, with different levels of resistance to caterpillar pests. Further, we investigated the role of these maize chitinases in response to fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda, FAW) attacks. Results from gene expression and enzyme assays from maize leaves indicated that both chitinase transcript abundance and enzymatic activity increased in response to FAW feeding and mechanical wounding. Furthermore, chitinase retained activity inside the caterpillar’s midgut since specific activity was detected in both the food bolus and frass. When examined under scanning electron microscopy, PMs from Tx601-fed caterpillars showed structural damage when compared to diet controls. Analysis of chitinase transcript abundance after caterpillar feeding and proteomic analysis of maize leaf trichomes in the two inbreds suggested that the chitinase PRm3 in Tx601 has potential insecticidal properties.
Key genes in the phenylpropanoids biosynthesis pathway have different expression patterns under various abiotic stresses in the Iranian red and green cultivars of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.)
Authors: Shahivand Mojgan , Drikvand Reza Mir , Gomarian Masoud , Samiei Kamran
Published: February 2021

Phenylpropanoids are a large and important family of plant secondary metabolites. The biosynthetic pathway of phenylpropanoids is induced in plants under environmental stresses to cope with these harmful conditions. In the present study, for the first time, we identified and characterized one reference gene (ACTIN) and three key biosynthetic genes (4CL, C4H and CVOMT) in the Iranian red and green cultivars of sweet basil. Also, the expression patterns of 4CL, C4H and CVOMT biosynthetic genes were determined for the first time in the Iranian red and green cultivars of sweet basil under cold, drought, heat, light and salt stresses. The results showed that the ACTIN, 4CL, C4H and CVOMT genes identified in the Iranian cultivars are identical to other cultivars in terms of all characteristics such as ORF length, protein sequence length, molecular weight, functional domains, lack of signal peptide, subcellular localization site, and secondary structures. Our results also revealed that the 4CL, C4H and CVOMT biosynthetic genes have different expression in the Iranian red and green cultivars of sweet basil under abiotic stresses and their expression patterns are cultivar-dependent. The findings of this study can advance our knowledge of phenylpropanoids biosynthesis in plants under environmental stresses. These findings also can be used in plant breeding programs for stress tolerance in sweet basil and other plants.
Over-correction of Curvature in Surgical Segments Cause the Non-surgical Curvature Loss in One- and Two-level Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion
Authors: Yingjun Guo , Liu Hao , Yi Yang , Yang Meng , Chen Ding , Ying Hong , Beiyu Wang
Published: February 2021

Background: In some patients with anterior cervical disecetomy anf fusion (ACDF), the correction degree of cervical curvature after surgery is less than that of the surgical segment curvature, which we defined as non-surgical curvature loss (NSCL). This study aims to elucidate the notification of NSCL and its possible causes. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 122 patients with one- or two-level ACDF from October 2012 to June 2017. The pre-operative and post-operative Cobb angle of C2-7, surgical segments and non-surgical segments were measured and analyzed by lateral cervical X-ray. Results: All patients were followed up for 22.87±3.15 months. Both one- and two-level ACDF could improve the cervical curvature. In the evaluation of NSCL, it was found that the incidence was 37.50% (27/72) in one-level ACDF and 48.00% (24/50) in two-level ACDF. Furthermore, the NSCL does not spontaneously recover after surgery. By comparing patients with and without NSCL, it was found that patients with NSCL had a significantly higher correction degree in the surgical segments, while the degree of NSCL was significantly and positively correlated with the correction degree of the surgical segments. For patients with a slight correction degree of surgical segment, the cervical curvature was well-improved and maintained post-operatively. Conclusion: In summary, the correction of the surgical segment curvature in ACDF should not be overemphasized, because excessive correction may cause NSCL. Even if the surgical segment curvature is only slightly corrected, a good improvement in cervical curvature can still be attained.
WITHDRAWN: Multiple Pulmonary Metastases of Giant Cell Tumor of Bone with expression of VEGFR-2 Successfully Treated by Denosumab and Apatinib: A Rare Case Report
Authors: gong taojun , Luo Yi , Wang Yitian , Zheng Chuanxi , Fang Jianguo , Min Li , Zhou Yong , Tu Chongqi
Published: February 2021

Background: Giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is a rare benign but locally aggressive bone tumor. It has a high tendency for local recurrence, which may increase the occurrence of lung metastasis. Currently, the treatment of pulmonary metastases of GCTB is controversial. Denosumab is the preferred regimen for unresectable metastatic lesions, but there are no alternative treatment options when denosumab is resistant. So far, no case reports of metastatic GCTB treated with denosumab and apatinib have been published. Case presentation: This is a case report of a 26-year-old female who experienced right knee pain for over 6 months. Radiography and computed tomography revealed osteolytic bony destruction in the proximal right tibia. Using histological, radiological, and clinical techniques, a diagnosis of GCTB was achieved. Meanwhile, the immunohistochemical stain-identified the tumor cells were positive for vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2). After intralesional curettage of the primary tumor and wide resection of local recurrence surgeries, she developed recurrent hemoptysis. Chest computed tomography (CT) images showed multiple pulmonary nodules. She was administrated denosumab therapy but disease progression was confirmed after four months of treatment. She then received denosumab and apatinib therapy for 24 months, after a partial response was achieved.Conclusions: We depict a case of multiple pulmonary metastases of GCTB successfully controlled by denosumab and apatinib therapy. VEGFR-2 may be an effective therapeutic target for GCTB with pulmonary metastasis when denosumab is ineffective.
The strategy to calculate impedance using RMHHT estimator for continuous and discontinuous broadband magnetotelluric time series data
Authors: Chen Hao , Mizunaga Hideki , Tanaka Toshiaki Toshiaki , Wang Gang
Published: February 2021

MT method is widely used in exploration surveys worldwide but hardly applicable in urban areas because of the large amount of artificial electromagnetic noise. The MT time-series data at night is much quieter than in the daytime because most of the electric equipments are shut down for several hours during nighttime. Therefore, we focused on calculating the MT impedance using the quiet time-series data. In this research, the data observed by the Phoenix System was used. The data contain continuous and discontinuous time-series data. As an alternative way, we introduced a robust impedance estimator based on the Hilbert-Huang transform (RMHHT). We indicated that this technique needs 4-hour data to get a reliable impedance up to 1,000-second in the numerical simulation. This short measurement time makes it possible to carry out MT surveys in urban areas with strong noises. This paper demonstrated a strategy to process the broadband MT time-series data properly by the RMHHT estimator. Finally, a successful case study, using the nighttime data to get reliable impedance tensor in the areas contaminated by heavy noises, was demonstrated.
“Evaluation of a COVID-19 IgM and IgG Rapid Test and Assessment of Specific Antibody Response in COVID-19 patients, Tunisia 2020”
Authors: hejer letaief , Dhaouadi Sonia , Hechaichi Aicha , Safer Mouna , Harizi Chahida , Telmoudi Khouloud , Bougatef Souha , Bouabid Leila , Derouiche Sondes , Salah Hamida Ben , Mili Nawel El , Moussa Rym , Letaief Fethi , Abdelkader Latifa , Bouhali Ridha , Messaoud Amor Ben , Boutiba Ilhem , Abid Salma , Loussaief Chawki , Belgh Asma Sriha , Bahri Olfa , Chahed Mohamed , Alaya Nissaf Ben
Published: February 2021

Background COVID-19 pandemic is a massive global health emergency. Although RT-PCR is the gold standard for diagnosing suspected cases, there is a need of serological tests to investigate antibody responses. Many serologic immunoassays have been developed to detect antibodies to SARS-CoV2, including rapid tests. This study assessed the clinical performance of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody test (colloidal gold immunochromatography, LEPU TECHNOLOGY) and evaluated the kinetic antibody response in COVID-19 patients.Methods: Samples collected by finger stick; obtained from RT-PCR confirmed cases and samples of negative controls were tested with the IgM/IgG Detection Kit . Results: The kit shows a clinical sensitivity of 65.7 % [59.7%-71.3%] and a specificity of 96.3% [93.0%-98.3%]. The predictive positive value and negative predictive value were respectively 95.2% [91.0%-97.8%] and 71.4% [66.1%-76.2%]. The seroconversion of specific IgM and IgG antibodies were observed as early as the 2nd day after symptom onset.Conclusions: This test is quite useful for assessing previous virus exposure, although negative results may be unreliable during the first weeks after infection. Longitudinal studies on antibody responses during and post infection are needed.
Modeling and nonlinear energy-based anti-swing control of underactuated dual ship-mounted cranes systems
Authors: Hu Die , Qian Yuzhe , Fang Yongchun , Chen Yuzhu
Published: February 2021

As the volume and the mass of the payload increases, it is often necessary to use two ship-mounted cranes to jointly transport huge payloads under marine environment. Compared with a single ship-mounted crane, dual ship-mounted cranes contain more state variables, geometric constraints and coupling dynamics, which bring more challenges in kinematic analysis and controller design for such complicated underactuated systems. In order to solve these problems, the dynamic model of the dual ship-mounted cranes systems are established based on Lagrange's method. Considering different practical requirements, two energy-based nonlinear controllers for dual ship-mounted cranes are developed, including a full state feedback control method and an output feedback control method. More preciously, during the control design process, the saturation constraints of the controllers have been fully considered. Meanwhile, the proposed controllers can achieve accurate positioning of the double-constrained derricks as well as effective elimination of payload swing. The stability of the equilibrium point of the closed-loop system is analyzed by using Lyapunov techniques and Lasalle's invariance principle. As far as we know, the modeling and the output feedback controller design of dual ship-mounted cranes are proposed for the first time in this paper. At the same time, the design and analysis process does not need to linearize the complex nonlinear dynamics equations, while the proposed output feedback control method is robust against the situations when the velocity signals are unknown/unavailable. Finally, a series of experiments are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed nonlinear controllers.
Why Women Choose to Delivery at Home in India: A Study of Prevalence, Factors, and Socio-Economic Inequality
Authors: Patel Ratna , Marbaniang Strong P , Srivast Shobhit , Kumar Pradeep , Chauhan Shekhar
Published: February 2021

Background: Most of childbirth complications usually arise during the time of delivery and are difficult to predict, but can be effectively managed through delivery at the health facility equipped with skilled birth attendants placed in an enabling environment. Despite many efforts put by the Government to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths through institutional birth deliveries, statistics suggest that these deaths are still very high in India. This study sought to determine the prevalence of home births and identifying the factors influencing women choice.Methods: Data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) conducted during 2005-06 and 2015-16 was used in the study. The respondents were women 15-49 years, a sample of 36,850 and 1, 90,898 women from two time period were included in the study. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the factors influencing home delivery. Results: Women’s who give birth at home has reduced by 39.6% from 58.5%. As compared to women below 18 years, those who were above 25 years were less likely to give birth at home [OR: 0.57; CI: 0.49-0.68] and [OR: 0.76; CI:0.70-0.82]. Women with full ANC visit were less likely to give birth at home as compare to women with no ANC visit [OR: 0.34; CI: 0.28-0.41] and [OR: 0.41; CI: 0.38-0.45]. In central India the odds of delivering babies at home was high in 2005-06 [OR: 1.15; CI: 1.01-1.32] whereas in 2015-16 the situation was opposite [OR: 0.92; CI: 0.87 -0.98] in reference to women from north India. Conclusion: There is a need to promote institutional deliveries, special focus to be given to poor women, women with higher parity, uneducated women, and rural women. Much work needs to be done in the rural parts of the country as rural women were more likely to opt for home delivery than their counterparts.
The relationship between disability and parental status: A register study of the 1968 to 1970 birth cohorts
Authors: Namatovu Fredinah , Lundevaller Erling Häggström , Vikström Lotta
Published: February 2021

Background: Having children is a major life course event yet some disabilities could make it biologically challenging and some others could limit access to necessary socioeconomic resources. To date, there is relatively little data on disability and parental status and our study aims to investigate this relationship. Methods: This longitudinal cohort study was based on register data obtained from all people born in Sweden from 1968 to 1970 (n=440,202). We performed descriptive analyses, graphical plots, logistic regression and Cox regression analyses. Results: Our findings from both logistic regression and Cox regression indicated that individuals that started to receive disability benefits at an early age had reduced chances of having children during the follow-up duration. Men with disabilities were less likely to have children when compared to women with disabilities and to men and women without disabilities. Conclusions: We found evidence that disability during early adulthood was associated with reduced chances of having children. Findings support policies and programmes aimed at promoting optimal health during early adulthood, as this would promote continued labour force participation, reduce early use of disability benefits and possibly improve chances of becoming a parent.
Use of Arthropod Diversity and Abundance to Evaluate Cropping Systems
Authors: Olfert Owen , Johnson Gregory D. , Brandt Stewart A. , Thomas A. Gordon
Published: February 2021

Economic viability and soil degradation are major issues facing farmers in the grassland ecozone of the northern Great Plains. Management strategies such as crop diversification, reduced fallow, and reduced inputs are being promoted as solutions. However, knowledge of the impacts of these management strategies on the grassland ecozone is lacking. Studies using a systems approach, applied as the experimental framework with which to monitor and assess alternate input and cropping strategies, are being conducted through the collaboration of crop, pest, economic, and soil scientists. Five examples are presented that highlight the arthropod (insects, spiders, and mites) component of multidisciplinary studies designed to evaluate crop management strategies. They demonstrate that arthropods are the most diverse group of organisms in the ecosystems studied and include beneficial and pest species. These studies attempt to utilize the arthropod assemblages to characterize the ecosystems that they inhabit. Ecosystem‐based, baseline arthropod faunas are integral to evaluating existing cropping practices and aid in the redesign of farming systems to make them economically viable and environmentally sustainable.
Pulse Crop Adaptation in the Northern Great Plains
Authors: Miller Perry R. , McConkey Brian G. , Clayton George W. , Brandt Stewart A. , Staricka James A. , Johnston Adrian M. , Lafond Guy P. , Schatz Blaine G. , Baltensperger David D. , Neill Karnes E.
Published: February 2021

Pulse crops discussed in this review include soybean (Glycine max L.), dry pea (Pisum sativum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.). Basic maturity requirements, yield relationships with rainfall and temperature, relative yield comparisons, water relationships, water use efficiency (WUE), crop management, tillage systems, and the rotational impact of these crops on productivity were considered. With the exception of soybean, maturity requirements for pulse crops are met in most locations within the northern Great Plains. Yield was more closely related to growing season precipitation than maximum temperature for all pulse crops except dry bean and lentil. The inability to effectively relate weather parameters to dry pea and lentil yield may indicate broad adaptation of these two pulse crops within the northern Great Plains. Correlation analyses showed the productivity of chickpea, dry pea, and lentil to be most closely associated with each other and for dry bean productivity to be most closely associated with that of soybean, effectively grouping pulse crops into their respective cool‐ and warm‐season classifications. Dry pea and chickpea had high WUE values, similar to spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Examination of plant water relations of these crops revealed an ability for chickpea and dry pea to grow at lower relative water contents than spring wheat. Increased wheat grain yield and/or protein following pulse crops under widely different N‐limiting growth conditions indicated a consistent N benefit provided by pulse crops to wheat. Four general research needs were identified. First, comparative adaptation among pulse crops remains poorly understood. Second, best management practices and key production risks remain incompletely characterized. Thirdly, the knowledge of rotational effects of pulse crops in the northern Great Plains remains imprecise and inadequate. Fourth, genetic improvement for early maturity, increased yield, improved harvestability, and disease resistance requires attention. Pulse crops are poised to play a much greater role in diversifying cropping systems in the northern Great Plains but require that these key research areas be addressed so that their production potential can be realized.
TopCross High‐Oil Corn Production
Authors: Thomison Peter R. , Geyer Allen B. , Lotz Larry D. , Siegrist Howard J. , Dobbels Tammy L.
Published: February 2021

The TopCross grain production system is rapidly gaining popularity as the preferred method of producing high‐oil corn (Zea mays L.). A blend (TC Blend) of two types of corn is planted to produce TopCross high‐oil corn (HOC) grain. Limited information is available on the effects of the TopCross system on agronomic traits that may determine the profitability of HOC production. Field experiments and on‐farm studies were performed in 1995 to 1999 across a range of production environments in Ohio to compare the agronomic performance of TC Blends with their conventional counterparts (check hybrids). Grain yields of TC Blends averaged across experiments and on‐farm studies were 8% less than those of check hybrids. The TC Blends were as tolerant to drought conditions as the check hybrids. Stalk lodging and barrenness were comparable for TC Blends and check hybrids. Little evidence existed that kernel set in TC Blends was reduced by inadequate pollen availability due to the limited number of pollinator plants in the blend. Factors that may contribute to the differences in grain yields between TC Blends and check hybrids included lower plant populations in TC Blends at harvest, competition between the two components of the blend (TC Blend pollinators and male sterile grain parents), and the physiological cost of oil synthesis. The lower grain yield, higher grain moisture content, and lower test weight associated with TC Blends should be considered when determining TopCross HOC production costs, especially if HOC grain is being produced under contract.
Tillage and Rotation Effects on Soil Physical Characteristics
Authors: Katsvairo Tawainga , Cox William J. , van Es Harold
Published: February 2021

Farmers are adopting different cropping systems, so our objective was to identify tillage × rotation interactions for soil physical characteristics in the sixth year of a tillage (moldboard plow, chisel, and ridge) × rotation {continuous corn (Zea mays L.), soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]–corn and soybean–wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)/clover (Trifolium pretense L.)–corn} study. Moldboard plow had lower penetration resistance (0.97 MPa) and bulk density (1.19 g cm−3) and greater infiltration (75 μm s−1) and porosity (−2.5 to −40 kPa soil water potential) compared with ridge tillage (1.39 MPa, 1.31 g cm−3, and 24 μm s−1, respectively) at the sixth leaf (V6) stage and greater infiltration (106 and 31 μm s−1, respectively) during early grain fill (R3) of corn. In ridge tillage, the interrow had lower penetration resistance (1.10 Mpa) and bulk density (1.28 g cm−3) and greater infiltration (35 μm s−1) vs. the row (1.68 MPa, 1.34 g cm−3, and 13 μm s−1, respectively) at V6 but greater penetration resistance (3.13 and 2.46 MPa, respectively) at R3. The soybean–wheat/clover–corn rotation had the greatest earthworm densities (504 m−2) and infiltration (68 μm s−1) among rotations at V6. Earthworm densities and infiltration explained about 25% of corn yield variability, which may have contributed in part to the 15 to 40% yield advantage for corn in the soybean–wheat/clover–corn rotation in moldboard plow. Tillage × rotation interactions did not exist for soil physical characteristics, so 5‐yr tillage effects would be consistent across rotations.
Corn Yield as Affected by Liming and Tillage System on an Acid Brazilian Oxisol
Authors: Ernani Paulo R. , Bayer Cimelio , Maestri Leonardo
Published: February 2021

Tillage system affects many soil parameters that may influence plant growth. This study evaluated the effect of liming on corn (Zea mays L.) yield and chemical characteristics of a Humic Hapludox (clayey, kaolinitic, goethitic, termic) under both conventional tillage (CT) and no‐tillage (NT) systems. Rates of dolomitic lime, from 0 to 18 t ha−1, were plowed into the soil in 1992 in southern Brazil; our study was conducted from 1996 through 1999. Lime rate was allocated to subplots, and tillage systems to main plots, in a split‐plot design. Corn yield increased with liming in all years and was higher with CT than with NT in 2 of 3 yr. Averaged across years and systems, liming increased yield by 66%, which ranged from 4.4 to 7.8 t ha−1. The highest average yield (7.8 t ha−1) was obtained at pH 6.5; yields at pH 6.0 or 5.5 were 97 and 89% of the maximum, respectively. Liming reduced soil organic matter (SOM) in both systems, but nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn) remained above sufficiency on all treatments. Aluminum, pH, SOM, and other nutritional parameters did not differ between tillage systems, partly because limestone was initially incorporated in all plots and partly due to dilution effects in the plow layer because sampling was not stratified in small depths. Some soil restriction impaired by absence of plowing, probably increases in bulk density, offset the benefits of NT on plant growth and was responsible for the smaller yield in this tillage system compared with CT.
Transition to Dryland Agriculture
Authors: Norwood Charles A. , Dumler Troy J.
Published: February 2021

Corn (Zea mays L.) is grown on more irrigated hectares than any crop in the Great Plains. Much of this area is irrigated from the Ogallala aquifer, which is being depleted. Research was conducted at Garden City, KS, from 1998 through 2000 to compare grain yield and water use of short‐ and long‐season corn hybrids to determine if limited irrigation is a viable alternative to dryland in an area of declining ground water. Corn hybrids having maturities of 104 d (H1) and 116 d (H2) were grown at populations averaging 44000 (P1) and 69000 (P2) plants ha−1. Treatments were dryland and 150 mm (one irrigation) and 300 mm (two irrigations) of water. When irrigated, H2 yielded most in the two wettest years, but H1 yielded most in the driest year. Average grain yields from dryland, one irrigation, and two irrigations of H1 were 6.38, 8.23, and 8.79 Mg ha−1, respectively. For H2, yields were 5.75, 9.04, and 9.75 Mg ha−1, respectively. Grain yield responses from two irrigations did not occur for either hybrid in 1999 or for H1 in 1998. At current pumping costs of about $0.20 mm−1, it is probably not economically feasible to irrigate more than once unless the corn price exceeds $0.099 kg−1. Irrigating long‐season corn once, given a price of $0.099 kg−1, will increase profits by $71 ha−1 more than dryland production and $44 ha−1 more than with a short‐season hybrid. Lower corn prices and/or higher pumping costs will force the conversion of irrigated hectares to dryland.
Timothy Yield and Nutritive Value by the CATIMO Model
Authors: Bonesmo Helge , Bélanger Gilles
Published: February 2021

Mechanistic simulation models can assist in developing recommendations to optimize yield and nutritive value and in understanding the complex interaction among plant growth, nutritive value, and environmental conditions. In this paper, we present the growth and N concentration modules of an integrated model [CATIMO (Canadian Timothy Model)] of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) primary growth and nutritive value. This growth model features radiation interception and use efficiency, leaf and stem growth, leaf senescence, and a N function based on the critical N concentration of whole plants. Model parameters were calibrated to key model attributes: leaf area index (LAI); forage N concentration; and leaf, stem, and forage dry matter (DM) yields. Calibration measurements were taken weekly on timothy primary growth in four different years at one location (Fredericton, NB, Canada). Overall, the model satisfactorily fitted the measured values with root mean square errors of 32.8, 42.0, and 65.9 g m−2 leaf, stem, and forage DM yield, respectively. The model tended to underestimate stem DM yield at the end of the primary growth cycle, overestimate forage N concentration under nonlimiting N conditions, and underestimate N concentration under limiting N conditions. The model satisfactorily fitted LAI in 3 of 4 yr. Summary statistics of the calibration indicate a successful description of growth and development of the essential plant components required for modeling digestibility.
Herbage Productivity and Botanical Composition of Hill Pasture as a Function of Clipping and Site Features
Authors: Belesky David P. , Feldhake Charles M. , Boyer Douglas G.
Published: February 2021

Complex topography and varied soil of hill‐land pastures create microsite conditions that support an array of floristic associations and herbage production patterns. This complicates management for forage and livestock production because the seasonal distribution and quantity of forage vary. Our objective was to determine herbage production and floristic composition of a hill pasture as a function of site characteristics and canopy management. An existing 3‐ha hill pasture watershed was oversown with white clover (Trifolium repens L.) and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and fertilized with reactive phosphate (PO4) rock (PR). Replicated plots on each of four sites were clipped once (stockpiled), twice (hay harvest), or three times (long rotation) annually. Site had a significant impact on cumulative herbage production, whereas the influence of clipping was mixed. The least (1.9 Mg ha−1) amount of herbage production in a given season occurred on a northeast (NE)‐facing site and the greatest (4.6 Mg ha−1) in a natural drainage area (ND) traversing the pasture. Herbage production increased by about 80% with overseeding and PR, but the relative ranking of production among sites stayed the same. Botanical composition was also strongly influenced by site, with velvetgrass (Holcus lanatus L.) predominating in ND and red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) occurring primarily on the NE site. The stockpiled treatments became dominated by grasses and weeds 4 yr after treatments were imposed, regardless of site, and were similar to the least productive site (NE‐facing) in the pasture. Our results suggest that application of amendments to the more productive portions of a site are likely to have greater return.
Phase space sampling and inference from weighted events with autoregressive flows
Authors: Stienen Bob , Verheyen Rob
Published: February 2021

We explore the use of autoregressive flows, a type of generative model with tractable likelihood, as a means of efficient generation of physical particle collider events.
The usual maximum likelihood loss function is supplemented by an event weight, allowing for inference from event samples with variable, and even negative event weights.
To illustrate the efficacy of the model, we perform experiments with leading-order top pair production events at an electron collider with importance sampling weights, and with next-to-leading-order top pair production events at the LHC that involve negative weights.
Dark Matter EFT, the Third -- Neutrino WIMPs
Authors: Bischer Ingolf , Plehn Tilman , Rodejohann Werner
Published: February 2021

Sterile neutrinos coupling only to third-generation fermions are attractive dark matter candidates. In an EFT approach we demonstrate that they can generate the observed relic density without violating constraints from direct and indirect detection. Such an EFT represents a gauged third-generation B-L model, as well as third-generation scalar or vector leptoquarks. LHC measurements naturally distinguish the different underlying models.
Riemannian optimization of isometric tensor networks
Authors: Hauru Markus , Van Damme Maarten , Haegeman Jutho
Published: February 2021

Several tensor networks are built of isometric tensors, i.e. tensors
satisfying W\dagger W = \mathbb{1}W†W=1.
Prominent examples include matrix product states (MPS) in canonical
form, the multiscale entanglement renormalization ansatz (MERA), and
quantum circuits in general, such as those needed in state preparation
and quantum variational eigensolvers. We show how gradient-based
optimization methods on Riemannian manifolds can be used to optimize
tensor networks of isometries to represent e.g. ground states of 1D
quantum Hamiltonians. We discuss the geometry of Grassmann and Stiefel
manifolds, the Riemannian manifolds of isometric tensors, and review how
state-of-the-art optimization methods like nonlinear conjugate gradient
and quasi-Newton algorithms can be implemented in this context. We apply
these methods in the context of infinite MPS and MERA, and show
benchmark results in which they outperform the best previously-known
optimization methods, which are tailor-made for those specific
variational classes. We also provide open-source implementations of our
algorithms.
Religiosity in the Midst of the Wage System and the Fading of Ti'ayo in Gorontalo Tradition
Authors: Nusi Arfan , Mooduto Fahimah M. , Tungkagi Donald Q.
Published: February 2021

People are very thick with the religious practices which combine religion and culture in Gorontalo. One of the religious spirits in the tradition is ti'ayo (community self-help). It is a farmer comes to everyone. It offers requests for helping others in the context of working together without wages in their garden. This cycle always occurs between one farmer and other farmers for decades. In addition, cultivating the values of togetherness among farmers. Economically, ti'ayo tradition also reduces the cost of cultivating gardens. The source of the research was obtained from qualitative anthropological research. The data were obtained using observation techniques and in-depth interviews. The aim is to see wage practices amid the fading ti'ayo tradition in the society of Gorontalo. The result is people's religiosity is slowly getting weaker. It is indicated since ti'ayo tradition replaced with a wage system. It also usually strengthens relationships and harmony among people and maintains brotherhood. However, this tradition has not survived until now; it seems that the community is living individually, between one farmer and others as if they have lost their sensitivity. The effect is the difficulty of the farmers in maintaining its life amid the onslaught of the wage system. The economic constraints of farmers are increasingly complex, including the borrowing capital from creditors with guarantees of garden or rice fields, instead of getting benefits from the harvest; precisely, they have to pay for the debts.
Demans ile Temporal Lob Epilepsisi Arasındaki İlişki
Authors: YILDIRIM Erol , SOĞUKKANLI Kübra , HANOĞLU Lütfü
Published: February 2021

Temporal lob epilepsisi ve Alzheimer hastalığı (AH), hipokampus ve meziyal temporal yapılarda benzer bir fizyopatoloji sergiler. Her iki hastalıkta da klinik bulgulardan önce nöral ağ değişiklikleri mevcuttur. İki antite arasındaki bu benzerlik nedeniyle, çeşitli çalışmalarda nöbetler ve bunama arasında nasıl bir ilişki olduğu araştırılmıştır. Bu çalışmada ise, meziyal temporal sklerozlu bireylerin demansa daha yatkın olup olmadığı ve AH’nin epilepsiye yol açıp açmadığı sorularına cevap aranmıştır. Bu doğrultuda, biri uzun yıllardır epilepsi tedavisi görmekteyken demans tanısı alan, diğerine ise aynı anda hem epilepsi hem demans tanısı konan yetmişli yaşlardaki iki hastanın klinik bulguları ele alınmıştır. Diğer bir konu olarak da, AH’de nöbet görülme olasılığının oldukça yüksek olmasından doğan AH’nin nöbetlere yol açıp açmadığı sorusu ve bunun kognitif yıkımla olan ilişkisi, çeşitli çalışmalardan veriler ışığında tartışılmıştır. Ayrıca bu ilişki hızlanmış unutma ve konsolidasyon bağlamında da ele alınmıştır.
Multipl Skleroz Tanılı ve Sağlıklı Kadınların Alt Üriner Sistem Semptomlarının Karşılaştırılması
Authors: TEKİN Gözde , ÖZENGİN Nuriye , AYDIN TÜRKOĞLU Sule , ANKARALI Handan , BAKAR Yeşim
Published: February 2021

Amaç: Bu çalışmada, multipl skleroz (MS) tanılı kadınların ve sağlıklı gönüllülerin alt üriner sistem semptomlarını karşılaştırmak amaçlanmıştır.
Yöntem: Çalışmaya MS’li 48 kadın (ortalama yaş 41,13±10,93 yıl) ile sağlıklı 51 kadın (38,88±10,26 yıl) dahil edildi. Sosyodemografik özellikler kaydedildikten sonra alt üriner sistem semptomları Bristol Kadın Alt Üriner Sistem Semptomları İndeksi (BKAÜSSİ) ile, pelvik taban prob¬lemleri Pelvik Taban Distres Envanteri-20 (PTDE-20) ve Global Pelvik Taban Rahatsızlık Anketi (GPTRA) ile, aşırı aktif mesane semptomları Aşırı Aktif Mesane Anketi-V8 (AAM-V8) ile, yaşam kali¬tesi Multipl Skleroz Yaşam Kalitesi Anketi-54 (MSYKA-54) ile değerlendirildi.
Bulgular: İki grubun BKAÜSSİ depolama, inkontinans ve yaşam kalitesi alt boyut ve toplam puan¬ları arasında anlamlı fark saptandı (p≤0,05). Üriner inkontinans şikayetleri, mikst üriner inkontinans sıklığı, pelvik taban problemleri ve aşırı aktif mesane semptomları MS’li kadınlarda sağlıklı kadınlara kıyasla daha yaygındı (p≤0,05). MS’li kadınların ortalama MSYKA-54 bileşik fiziksel ve mental sağ¬lık puanları sırasıyla 58,65±19,08 ve 63,68±20,48 idi, ortalama MSYKA-54 total sağlık puanları ise 122,33±36,2 olarak tespit edildi.
Sonuç: MS’li kadınlarda alt üriner sistem semptomları daha yaygındır ve yaşam kalitesi olumsuz etkilenmektedir. Klinik değerlendirmelerde üriner inkontinans problemleri göz ardı edilme¬meli, alt üriner sistem semptomları da incelenmelidir
An Evaluation of Tp-e Interval and its Associations with Electrolyte Imbalances in the Electrocardiography of Elderly Patients on Hemodialysis
Authors: CANDEMİR Mustafa , DEMİR Mehmet Emin , CANDEMİR Burcu , NURKOÇ Serdar
Published: February 2021

Aim: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) due to arrhythmias is a major cause of death in elderly patients on hemodialysis (HD). It has been found that prolonged Tp-e interval (Tpe) on electrocardiography (ECG) and increased Tpe/QTc ratio are strongly associated with SCD. In this study, we aimed to inves¬tigate the effects of changes in serum electrolyte levels on the pre- and post-HD ECG parameters, particularly Tpe. Methods: The study included 160 HD patients (with no disease or medication known to affect the QT interval) and 80 age- and sex-matched controls with normal kidney functions. All participants were aged 55 years or older. Pre- and post-HD serum electrolyte values and ECG re¬cordings were obtained. The heart rate, QRS interval, QTc, Tpe, and Tpe/QTc values were calculated. The pre-HD data were compared with the post-HD data as well as with controls. Results: The pre- and post-HD Tpe (p<0.001 for both comparisons) and Tpe/QTc (p=0.024 and p<0.001, respectively) values were significantly higher in the HD group than in the control group. The post-HD Tpe and Tpe/QTc values were significantly increased compared to the pre-HD values (p<0.001 for each comparison). The pre-HD Tpe was longer in patients with hypocalcemia or hy¬perphosphatemia than in normocalcemic and normophosphatemic patients (p=0.04 for both data¬sets). ΔTpe was significantly correlated with Δcalcium (r=-0.19, p=0.02) and Δphosphorus (r=-0.23, p=0.004). Conclusion: In the elderly patients on HD, Tpe, which was prolonged before HD, was even more prolonged after HD. Hypocalcemia and hyperphosphatemia may be among the un¬derlying factors.
An Evaluation of the Mechanisms of Isolated Orthopedic Injuries in Farm Accidents
Authors: YÜCE Ali
Published: February 2021

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms and characteristics of isolated orthopedic injuries from farm accidents which involve the extremities.
Methods: The medical records of 138 patients (31 females, 107 males) who presented to the emergency department with isolated orthopedic injuries from farm accidents were reviewed retrospectively. Data on patient age and sex, mechanism of injury, injured site/extremity, injury type, treatment performed, distance from accident location to hospital, approximate time from ac¬cident to hospital arrival, season of injury, and whether skin integrity was impaired were recorded.
Results: The mean patient age was 35.08 (7–71) years. The injuries occurred during the use of riding animals (n=14, 10.1%), combine harvester/tractor equipment (n=14, 10.1%), cattle (n=24, 17.4%), saw/ ax/hammer (n=47, 34.1%) and tractors (n=23, 16.7%) and due to falling from height (n=16, 11.6%). Of all accidents, 23 (16.7%) occurred in spring, 66 (47.8%) in summer, 30 (21.7%) in autumn, and 19 (13.8%) in winter. Mechanism of injury was statistically significantly related to season, sex, and site of injury (p=0.001). The time to emergency department visit was shorter in cases with impaired skin integrity (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The mechanism of injury can vary seasonally together with the works performed and machines used. The time to emergency department visit can vary according to whether skin integrity is impaired. As a result of the division of labor in families working in agricul¬ture, mechanism of injury can also vary by sex.
Chemical Behavior of Cysteine in Organic Synthesis
Authors: Darroudi Mahdieh , Ziarani Ghodsi Mohammadi
Published: February 2021

Introduction:

Cysteine is a versatile amino acid for selective chemical modification of proteins with
both chemical and biological innovations, which plays a key role in different organic reactions.

Materials and Methods:

Chemical modification of proteins is a rapidly expanding area in chemical biology. Selective
installation of biochemical probes has led to a better understanding of natural protein modification and
macromolecular function. In other cases, such as chemical alterations, the protein function has entirely changed.
This review paper considers the organic reaction of cysteine, the reactivity of this α-amino acid containing sulfur,
and several methodologies are also discussed. Herein, we focused on the reaction of cysteine and its application
in organic synthesis, which includes addition, condensation, substitution, oxidation, and ring-opening reactions.

Results and Discussion:

Hence monitoring of cysteine is pivotal through the preparation of some fluorescent
probes to detect cysteine in high sensitivity. Also, a bibliometric analysis was carried out using Web of Science
and Scopus databases that demonstrated significant contributions being observed in organic synthesis. Analysis
of keywords revealed that research hotspots were cysteine, sensor, unclassified drug, and amino acid.

Conclusion:

Therefore, it seems that future research focuses on using cysteine amino acids in various fields as
natural products and organic reactions. This focused review highlights the enduring utility of cysteine in protein
modification and sensor preparation, with a special focus on recent innovations in chemistry and biology associated
with such modifications.
Conformable Fractional SEIR Epidemic Model With Treatment
Authors: Malik Arti , Kumar Nitendra , Alam Khursheed
Published: February 2021

Background:

The present paper is based on models of conformable fractional differential
equations to describe the dynamics of certain epidemics.

Methods:

In this paper, we have divided the population into groups, namely susceptible, exposed,
infectious, and recovered, and also described the treatment modalities.

Results:

The analytical study of the model shows two equilibrium points (disease-free equilibrium
and endemic equilibrium).

Conclusion:

For both cases, local asymptotic stability has been proven. In conclusion, we have presented
the numerical simulation.