bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compact Microstrip Quasi‐Elliptic Bandpass Filter With Ultrabroad Reflectionless Range and High Selectivity
Authors: Zhang Awei , Xu Jinping , Liu Zhiqiang
Published: November 2024

In this letter, a method of designing quasi‐elliptic bandpass filter with ultrabroad reflectionless bandwidth and high selectivity is proposed. It is implemented on the basis of a quasi‐elliptic absorptive lowpass filter (ALPF) prototype that features both a low‐reflection response over all normalized frequencies and two controllable transmission zeros near the passband. A distributed‐element absorptive bandpass filter (ABPF) scheme using coupled‐line units is derived from this quasi‐elliptic ALPF prototype. With this distributed‐element ABPF scheme, both ultrabroad reflectionless bandwidth and compact size can be realized. Equations for closed‐form design are derived. A microstrip ABPF operating at 2.0 GHz (i.e., f0) is designed for validation. The measured roll‐off rates of the upper and lower transition bands are 116.44 and 157.41 dBc/GHz, respectively. The return loss is better than 10 dB from direct current to 6.25f0. The size of the overall circuit is 0.12λg2.
Solar Cell Efficiency Tables (Version 65)
Authors: Green Martin A. , Dunlop Ewan D. , Yoshita Masahiro , Kopidakis Nikos , Bothe Karsten , Siefer Gerald , Hao Xiaojing , Jiang Jessica Yajie
Published: November 2024

Consolidated tables showing an extensive listing of the highest independently confirmed efficiencies for solar cells and modules are presented. Guidelines for inclusion of results into these tables are outlined, and new entries since July 2024 are reviewed.
Computational Studies of the Optoelectronic and Charge Transport Properties of Porphyrin and Corrole‐Based Molecules
Authors: Dhiman Angat , Ramachandran C. N.
Published: November 2024

The structural, optoelectronic and charge transport properties of porphyrin and its analogues are investigated using the density functional theoretical methods. Most of the above molecules absorb in visible region with high light harvesting efficiency. The small energy gap between the frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) suggests that porphyrin and its derivatives can be used in organic semiconductors. Electronic properties such as ionization potential, electron affinity, reorganization energy and the charge transfer integral are calculated to obtain their charge transport properties. It is revealed that porphyrin, porphyrazine and phthalocyanine act as hole transporters, whereas corrole and corrolazine act as electron transporters.
A root system architecture measurement pipeline for apple rootstocks
Authors: Sabety Jean , Serrano Alicia , Khan Awais
Published: November 2024

A robust root system architecture (RSA) is vital for tree health and fruit production of perennial fruit crops across diverse environments over many years. Consequently, RSA holds significant importance for fruit crop breeding programs. However, phenotyping tree roots presents a significant challenge due to their size, complexity, and lack of an existing efficient root phenotyping system. This study aimed to address this gap by developing and validating a root phenotyping pipeline for large, complex, apple root systems. Root traits of both greenhouse and field‐grown apple trees were captured using either a camera or by imaging shaved roots with a flatbed scanner. These images were then analyzed with five root phenotyping software, RhizoVision, ImageJ, DIRT, RootGraph, and PlantCV, as well as visually ranked. Afterward, all these measurements were compared to hand‐measured root traits to evaluate their accuracy. RhizoVision accurately (p < 0.05) measured all traits for both greenhouse and field‐grown apple root systems. RhizoVision was able to accurately measure surface area and volume of intact crowns in as little as three photos. RootGraph and PlantCV showed varying degrees of accuracy. RhizoVision emerged as the most efficient and accurate method, providing root trait data without requiring extensive preprocessing of images, thus offering a reliable approach for phenotyping large apple root systems.
Spirometry Versus Forced Oscillation to Assess Lung Function Outcome at 5 Years of Age
Authors: Tepper Robert S. , Milner Kristin , Harris Julia , Lee Brianna , Cunningham Michelle , Tiller Christina , Shorey‐Kendrick Lyndsey E. , Schilling Diane , Brownsberger Julie , MacDonald Kelvin , Vu Annette , Park Byung S. , Spindel Eliot R. , Morris Cynthia D. , McEvoy Cindy T.
Published: November 2024

Background

Spirometry is the gold standard for assessing airway function for clinical studies; however, obtaining high‐quality data in young children remains challenging. Since the forced oscillation technique (FOT) requires less subject cooperations, there has been increasing interest in FOT, particularly in young children. We evaluated whether spirometry and FOT in young children provides comparable ability to detect a treatment effect.

Methods

We recently reported in a randomized controlled trial that vitamin C compared to placebo treatment of mothers who smoked during pregnancy (MSDP) results in the offspring having significantly higher forced expiratory flows (FEFs) at 5‐years of age, as well as significantly less wheeze at 4–6 years of age. In these same offspring, we also measured respiratory impedance using FOT at 8‐Hz impedance at 3, 4, and 5 years of age.

Results

Although spirometry demonstrated significantly increased FEFs in vitamin C compared to placebo‐treatment group at 5 years of age (p < 0.001), we were not able to detect a similar treatment effect using FOT impedance.

Conclusions

It may be challenging to obtain technically successful spirometry in preschool children; however, FEFs may provide a better outcome than single‐frequency FOT impedance to assess improvements in airway function in these young subjects.
Adaptive Risk‐Adjusted Weighted CUSUM Chart for Monitoring Surgical Performance
Authors: Li Longhui , Liu Zixian , Shang Yanfen , Pei Zhaona , Gao Ning
Published: November 2024

Detecting changes in surgical performance early is important to improve the quality of surgery. In recent years, numerous risk‐adjusted control charts have been applied to monitor surgical performance. The conventional risk‐adjusted cumulative sum (CUSUM) charts need to be preset with the out‐of‐control odds ratio, and the performance of the control charts can be significantly affected by the actual change level. To effectively monitor changes in surgical performance, this paper proposes a novel adaptive risk‐adjusted weighted cumulative sum (RA‐WCUSUM) chart for monitoring binary surgical outcomes, where a weighting function based on standardized residuals is applied to the log‐likelihood ratio statistic. The proposed method is compared with several competing charts through simulation, and the simulation results show the superiority of the proposed method. A cardiac surgery dataset is used to demonstrate the application of the proposed method.
Hierarchical Distributed Model‐Free Adaptive Fault‐Tolerant Vehicular Platooning Control
Authors: Zhang Peng , Che Wei‐Wei
Published: November 2024

In this article, a hierarchical distributed model‐free adaptive fault‐tolerant vehicular platooning control scheme for nonlinear vehicular platooning systems (VPSs) is studied. First of all, the dynamic linearization technique (DLT) is utilized to acquire an equivalent linear data model for nonlinear VPSs. Secondly, a hierarchical control structure is developed to realize the vehicular platooning tracking control task, which consists of the upper‐layer adaptive distributed observer and the under‐layer decentralized model‐free adaptive vehicular platooning tracking controller. In order to make each follower vehicle get the leader's information, the adaptive distributed observer is employed to get the estimation value of leader's information. In addition, for the purpose of ensuring the safety of driving, the radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) algorithm is utilized to address the problem of sensor failures. Based on this, a novel hierarchical distributed model‐free adaptive fault‐tolerant vehicular platooning control scheme is designed to achieve simultaneous tracking of vehicular position and speed. Lastly, the validity of the theoretical control scheme is demonstrated through a realistic and detailed simulation example of a VPS.
Sustainable innovation: Case studies from product development
Authors: Leal Filho Walter , Sigahi Tiago F. A. C. , Anholon Rosley , Rampasso Izabela Simon , Platje Johannes (Joost) , Velazquez Luis , Salvia Amanda Lange
Published: November 2024

Attempts to implement sustainable development in industry are hampered by the fact that production processes are often not environmentally sound. Therefore, there is a need for innovation processes that are sustainable. This means that they need to be durable on the one hand, but also with reduced materials consumption and a low carbon footprint, on the other. Current trends suggest that much could be gained, by undertaking research that may lead to more sustainable industrial production and processes. Against this background, this paper describes the characteristics of sustainable innovation, discusses what makes innovation sustainable, and introduces a set of case studies where different types of innovation in product development are described, drawing the lessons learned. The paper concludes by describing the items, which need to be considered in the future, to make a greater use of sustainable innovation principles in product development, as part of a systemic transformation.
Sustainable Craft Culture: Socio‐Cultural Drivers and Economic Impact on Sustainable Development
Authors: Dhar Bablu Kumar , Chawla Udit , Mulchandani Devika
Published: November 2024

The craft culture of West Bengal, India, is deeply rooted in rich socio‐cultural traditions and plays a crucial role in advancing economic development and sustainability. This study explores the intricate socio‐cultural drivers that shape West Bengal's craft culture and examines their profound impact on sustainable development. The research delves into the historical, religious, and social dynamics that influence both the commercialization and preservation of traditional crafts. The qualitative study was performed using Grounded Theory and laddering technique, which highlighted the significance of cultural preservation, identity, and community engagement while illuminating the close relationship between craftspeople and their trade. The quantitative study highlights that the craft industry is influenced by eight major factors. It was further identified that the factors having the major impact were Perceived Cultural Preservation, Perceived Cultural Identity, Community Engagement, and Education and Awareness, highlighting the crucial role these areas play in maintaining and advancing West Bengal's craft culture. When considered collectively, the studies offer a thorough grasp of the cultural relevance influencing West Bengal's artisan traditions. By bridging the gap between cultural preservation and economic imperatives, this study provides a comprehensive framework for supporting the resilience and vitality of traditional crafts in the contemporary global landscape.
Q‐Learning in Dynamic Treatment Regimes With Misclassified Binary Outcome
Authors: Liu Dan , He Wenqing
Published: November 2024

The study of precision medicine involves dynamic treatment regimes (DTRs), which are sequences of treatment decision rules recommended based on patient‐level information. The primary goal of the DTR study is to identify an optimal DTR, a sequence of treatment decision rules that optimizes the clinical outcome across multiple decision points. Statistical methods have been developed in recent years to estimate an optimal DTR, including Q‐learning, a regression‐based method in the DTR literature. Although there are many studies concerning Q‐learning, little attention has been paid in the presence of noisy data, such as misclassified outcomes. In this article, we investigate the effect of outcome misclassification on identifying optimal DTRs using Q‐learning and propose a correction method to accommodate the misclassification effect on DTR. Simulation studies are conducted to demonstrate the satisfactory performance of the proposed method. We illustrate the proposed method using two examples from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data I Epidemiologic Follow‐up Study and the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health Study.
Applications of Graphene Derivatives in All‐Solid‐State Supercapacitors
Authors: Mombeshora Edwin T. , Muchuweni Edigar , Hashemi Hamed
Published: November 2024

The recent progression in electronics and humankind's increased dependence on electronic gadgets have significantly impacted energy supply and demand metrics. In the past, batteries have been able to meet these demands adequately. However, their low power density (Ps) has inspired alternative energy storage advancements that can foster a transition to net‐carbon‐zero via renewables. Supercapacitor (SC) innovations, such as the recent emergence of solid‐state supercapacitors (SSCs), have gained tremendous attention owing to their mechanical robustness, safety, possible flexibility, long cycle life, portability, prospective high Ps, and suitability for advanced energy technologies. Complimentary to the affordable and lightweight material design requirements is the enormous potential of the graphene family in SSCs owing to facile synthesis advantages, easy scalability and, processing high electrical conductivity, low costs, and mechanical robustness among others. Therefore, the review highlights the recent efforts to advance SSCs with the graphene family in electrodes and electrolytes. The work discusses SC basic concepts and main characterization techniques, and applications of the graphene family in both electrolytes and electrodes of SSCs. Finally, the merits, demerits and prospects of incorporating graphene derivatives to advance SSC performance and sustainability are outlined. Key research directions, including machine learning, are also recommended from the reviewed studies.
Boosting Photoconductivity by Increasing the Structural Complexity of Multivariate Covalent Organic Frameworks
Authors: Gordo‐Lozano Marta , Martínez‐Fernández Marcos , Paitandi Rajendra Prasad , Martínez José I. , Segura José L. , Seki Shu
Published: November 2024

The assessment of the photoconductivity of Donor‐Acceptor (D‐A) ordered bulk heterojunctions is gaining attention for the development of innovative organic semiconductors in optoelectronics. Here, the synthesis of pyrene‐based (D) Covalent Organic Frameworks, achieve through a multivariate reaction involving two distinct acceptors is reported (A). The products are characterized using powder x‐ray diffraction, N2 sorption isotherms, electronic microscopy, and in silico calculations, among other techniques. These characterizations reveal that the multicomponent synthesis enables the modification of properties (e.g., bandgap) of the framework while preserving its structural features, such as crystallinity and porosity. The ordered D‐A arrays position these materials as promising candidates for photoconductive semiconductors, particularly regarding the variation in the composition of isotopological frameworks. Photoconductivity experiments demonstrate a volcano‐type correlation with respect to the A moiety content, with the optimal value reaching 7.9 × 10−5 cm2 V−1 s−1 for the bare NIP25%‐COF. This study illustrates how introducing diverse acceptor units through multivariate synthesis can enhance the photoconductivity of these materials via “defect” engineering, without sacrificing their crystalline or porous characteristics and avoiding the need for de novo synthesis.
Engineering the Local Atomic Environments of Te‐Modulated Fe Single‐Atom Catalysts for High‐Efficiency O2 Reduction
Authors: Li Zongge , Liu Shuhua , Kang Wenjun , Zeng Suyuan , Qu Konggang , Meng Fanpeng , Wang Lei , Li Rui , Yang Yikai , Song Kepeng , Xiong Shenglin , Nan Bing , Li Haibo
Published: November 2024

Atomically dispersed metal‐nitrogen‐carbon materials (AD‐MNCs) are considered the most promising non‐precious catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), but it remains a major challenge for simultaneously achieving high intrinsic activity, fast mass transport, and effective utilization of the active sites within a single catalyst. Here, an AD‐MNCs consisting of defect‐rich Fe‐N3 sites dispersed with axially coordinated Te atoms on porous carbon frameworks (Fe1Te1‐900) is designed. The local charge densities and energy band structures of the neighboring Fe and Te atoms in FeN3‐Te are rearranged to facilitate the catalytic conversion of the O‐intermediates. Meanwhile, the negative shift of the d‐band center in FeN3‐Te reduces the energy barrier limit for effective desorption of the final OH* intermediate. In the electrochemical evaluation, Fe1Te1‐900 presents a more positive onset potential and half‐wave potentials of 1.03 and 0.89 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, respectively. Furthermore, the liquid zinc‐air batteries assembled with Fe1Te1‐900 exhibited excellent performances compared to commercial Pt/C. This work opens up new ideas for the development of high‐performance ORR electrocatalysts for applications in various energy conversion and storage technologies.
Silver(I)‐Mediated 2D DNA Nanostructures
Authors: Vecchioni Simon , Lo Rainbow , Huang Qiuyan , Wang Kun , Ohayon Yoel P. , Sha Ruojie , Rothschild Lynn J. , Wind Shalom J.
Published: November 2024

Structural DNA nanotechnology enables the self‐organization of matter at the nanometer scale, but approaches to expand the inorganic and electrical functionality of these scaffolds remain limited. Developments in nucleic acid metallics have enabled the incorporation of site‐specific metal ions in DNA duplexes and provide a means of functionalizing the double helix with atomistic precision. Here a class of 2D DNA nanostructures that incorporate the cytosine‐Ag+‐cytosine (dC:Ag+:dC) base pair as a chemical trigger for self‐assembly is described. It is demonstrated that Ag+‐functionalized DNA can undergo programmable assembly into large arrays and rings, and can be further coassembled with guanine tetraplexes (G4). It is shown that 2D DNA lattices can be assembled with a variety of embedded nanowires at tunable spacing. These results serve as a foundation for further development of self‐assembled, metalated DNA nanostructures, with potential for high‐precision DNA nanoelectronics with nanometer pitch.
Halide‐Diffusion‐Assisted Perovskite Lamination Process for Semitransparent Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Cheng Jian , Kim Wooyeon , Choi In , Yu Subin , Koo Bonkee , Ko Min Jae
Published: November 2024

Semitransparent perovskite solar cells (PSCs) efficiently absorb light from both front and rear sides under illumination, and hence, PSCs have the potential for use in applications requiring bifacial or tandem solar cells. A facile method to fabricate semitransparent PSCs involves preparing a perovskite (PVSK) film on two transparent substrates and then laminating the substrates together. However, realizing high‐performance laminated semitransparent PSCs is challenging because the imperfect contact at the PVSK interlayer results in void formation and partial degradation of PVSK. To address this issue, a halide‐diffusion‐assisted lamination (HDL) method is proposed. In the method, a controlled halide concentration gradient is used to effectively laminate the top and bottom PVSK layers. Semitransparent PSCs prepared through the HDL method (hereafter referred to as HDL‐PSCs) exhibited a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.93%. In particular, an HDL‐PSC exhibited higher thermal stability, maintaining its initial PCE for over 1200 h at 85 °C.
Dip‐Pen Nanolithography‐Based Fabrication of Meta‐Chemical Surface for Heavy Metal Detection: Role of Poly‐Methyl Methacrylate in Sensor Sensitivity
Authors: Okbi Rahma , Alkrenawi Mohammed , Yadav Krishna Kumar , Shamir Dror , Kornweitz Haya , Peled Yael , Zohar Moshe , Burg Ariela
Published: November 2024

A meta‐chemical surface is being patterned via dip‐pen nanolithography (DPN) for novel electrochemical heavy metal sensors. The unique feature of DPN allows a precise transfer of desired ink onto various surfaces. Two kinds of sensors are being developed, which differ by the ligand in the poly‐methyl methacrylate (PMMA)‐based ink: 1,8‐diaminonaphthalene (DAN) and D‐penicillamine (D‐PA). The nanosize, the surface‐to‐volume ratio (18.6 and 23.1 μm−1 for DAN‐ and D‐PA‐based ink, respectively), and the binding strength between the ligand and the cation (2.21 and −21.37 kcal mol−1 for DAN‐ and D‐PA‐based ink, respectively) are found to be the source of their high sensitivity, with limit of detection values of 0.40 and 0.30 ppb for DAN and D‐PA, respectively. According to the DFT calculations, the binding reactions in the presence of PMMA are more exergonic; this indicates that PMMA added to the ink for the patterning process improves the binding between the metals and the ligands. This enhanced binding between the metals and the ligands is a crucial and innovative function of the PMMA that can enhance sensor performance.
How the Kinetic Balance Between Charge‐Transfer and Mass‐Transfer Influences Zinc Anode Stability: An Ultramicroelectrode Study
Authors: Rana Ashutosh , Faisal Md. Arif , Roy Kingshuk , Nguyen James H. , Paul Saptarshi , Dick Jeffrey E.
Published: November 2024

Aqueous zinc‐metal batteries (AZMBs) represent a promising frontier in battery technology, offering sustainable and safe alternatives to traditional non‐aqueous batteries. Despite their potential, understanding the kinetics of zinc electrodeposition—a critical factor in AZMB performance—remains underexplored. Utilizing voltammetry on ultramicroelectrodes, we investigate how scan rate influences key processes of nucleation and growth during Zn2+ electrodeposition. The findings highlight the efficacy of the Butler‐Volmer formulation in capturing electron‐transfer kinetics, contrasting with complex electron transfer kinetic models used for non‐aqueous battery chemistries. We clearly demonstrate that there is a strong dependence of scan rate on the measured value of kinetic parameters (exchange current). To accurately probe the charge transfer kinetics, it is essential to apply fast scan voltammetry to decouple the influence of mass transfer, ensuring that the measured current is independent of the scan rate. Furthermore, by studying a model electrolyte additive, the intricate balance between charge transfer and mass transfer dynamics is unveiled, and this information is crucial for enhancing the stability of zinc metal anodes. These insights pave the way for developing advanced electrolyte and current collector formulations, promising enhanced cyclability and sustainability in zinc metal batteries.
Development of UHPLC‐MS/MS Method for Evaluation of the Acute Oral Toxicity and Pharmacokinetics of Ursodeoxycholic Acid and Silymarin Combination in Rats
Authors: Hammam Mennatallah A. , Zakaria Zainab , Rabee Mahmoud , Rabea Al‐Taher , Hafez Donia E. , Abdel‐Halim Mohammad , Ismail Ahmed Ibrahim , El‐Sayed Mansy Azza
Published: November 2024

The combination of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and silymarin has been shown to alleviate various hepatic conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the acute oral toxicity and in vivo pharmacokinetics of the combination in female Sprague Dawley rats. The acute oral toxicity and the pharmacokinetic studies were conducted using 17 rats divided into five groups and 30 rats assigned into four control groups and one treatment group, respectively. A new UHPLC/MS‐MS method was applied to determine silibinin (SIL) and UDCA in plasma, urine, and feces. This method used the BEH C8 column (1.7 µm, 100 × 2.1 mm) with a gradient elution of 0.01% formic acid in water and 0.01% formic acid in acetonitrile. The acute oral toxicity study revealed that administering the combination at 5000 mg/kg preserves a wide safety margin. In the pharmacokinetic study, the combination resulted in a significant enhancement of the absorption of both drugs and a reduction of the renal elimination of silymarin. The oral LD50 of the combination was higher than 5000 mg/kg, so according to the OECD guidelines, it was classified in Category 5 GHS. The presented data serve as scientifically defensible safety data with a defined absorption and elimination profile for the combination.
Autocorrelated Errors in Panel Linear Regression: A New Objective Bayesian Perspective
Authors: Xie Haifan , Xie Yunlang , Yu Pengyi
Published: November 2024

A challenge to the estimation and inference of panel linear regression models consists in the uncertainty associated with the unknown autocovariance of errors. For an improved quantification of this uncertainty particularly in the context of wide panels, the study derives an objective Bayesian posterior of the interested coefficients where the unknown autocovariance of errors is marginalized out. Due to the intractability of the posterior's normalizing constant, estimation and inference rely on the Monte Carlo samples generated from the No‐U‐Turn Sampler algorithm. Theoretic works show that the proposed Bayesian method approaches the properties of generalized least squares (GLS) asymptotically. Simulation tests reveal that the Bayesian method performs closer to GLS compared to other frequentist methods, achieving a relatively reasonable balance between robustness and efficiency. For a real application, the Bayesian method is extended to the case of unbalanced panel and then compared with other methods in examining the ambiguous relation between CEO duality and financial performance. Finally, limitations of the current study and recommendations for the future research are discussed.
Co‐Administration of a Plantain‐Based Diet and Quercetin Modulates Atrazine‐Induced Testicular Dysfunction in Rats via Testicular Steroidogenesis and Redox‐Inflammatory Processes
Authors: Rotimi Damilare Emmanuel , Elekofehinti Olusola Olalekan , Oluba Olarewaju Michael , Adeyemi Oluyomi Stephen
Published: November 2024

Plantain has been reported to enhance testicular function indices, however, the mechanism remains unknown. The present study investigated the action mechanisms of a plantain‐based diet in the treatment of rat testicular dysfunction caused by exposure to atrazine (ATZ). The rats were grouped into 10 groups (5 rats each); control group, 50% plantain‐based diet (50% PBD), 25% PBD, 12.5% PBD, quercetin (QUE), ATZ only, 50% PBD + ATZ, 25% PBD + ATZ, 12.5% PBD + ATZ, and QUE + ATZ for 21 days. Results revealed that ATZ treatments in rats lowered gonadal hormone levels and the semen quality (sperm concentration, motility, count, and viability), damaged testicular morphology and functions, and impaired redox‐inflammatory balance as well as cholinergic and purinergic activities. However, treatment with PBD and QUE ameliorated the testicular toxicity induced by ATZ, although the treatment did not improve the rat semen quality. In addition, the ATZ + QUE and QUE groups showed mild to moderate atrophic degenerative changes, with reduced spermatogenic activity. Together, the results are evidence that 21 days of exposure to ATZ impaired testicular function. However, co‐administration of atrazine and PBD improves rat gonadal hormones, redox state, inflammatory indices, cholinergic, and purinergic activities, as well as histoarchitecture of the testes.
Enhancing prediction accuracy of grain yield in wheat lines adapted to the southeastern United States through multivariate and multi‐environment genomic prediction models incorporating spectral and thermal information
Authors: McBreen Jordan , Babar Md. Ali , Jarquin Diego , Khan Naeem , Harrison Steve , DeWitt Noah , Mergoum Mohamed , Lopez Ben , Boyles Richard , Lyerly Jeanette , Murphy J. Paul , Shakiba Ehsan , Sutton Russel , Ibrahim Amir , Howell Kimberly , Smith Jared H. , Brown‐Guedira Gina , Tiwari Vijay , Santantonio Nicholas , Van Sanford David A.
Published: November 2024

Enhancing predictive modeling accuracy in wheat (Triticum aestivum) breeding through the integration of high‐throughput phenotyping (HTP) data with genomic information is crucial for maximizing genetic gain. In this study, spanning four locations in the southeastern United States over 3 years, models to predict grain yield (GY) were investigated through different cross‐validation approaches. The results demonstrate the superiority of multivariate comprehensive models that incorporate both genomic and HTP data, particularly in accurately predicting GY across diverse locations and years. These HTP‐incorporating models achieve prediction accuracies ranging from 0.59 to 0.68, compared to 0.40–0.54 for genomic‐only models when tested under different prediction scenarios both across years and locations. The comprehensive models exhibit superior generalization to new environments and achieve the highest accuracy when trained on diverse datasets. Predictive accuracy improves as models incorporate data from multiple years, highlighting the importance of considering temporal dynamics in modeling approaches. The study reveals that multivariate prediction outperformed genomic prediction methods in predicting lines across years and locations. The percentage of top 25% lines selected based on multivariate prediction was higher compared to genomic‐only models, indicated by higher specificity, which is the proportion of correctly identified top‐yielding lines that matched the observed top 25% performance across different sites and years. Additionally, the study addresses the prediction of untested locations based on other locations within the same year and in new years at previously tested locations. Findings show the comprehensive models effectively extrapolate to new environments, highlighting their potential for guiding breeding strategies.
USTA's Lisa Campos: Breaking new ground, literally, in athletic administration
Authors: Elfman Lois
Published: November 2024

In June, the University of Texas System approved a contract extension for Dr. Lisa Campos, vice president for intercollegiate athletics at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). In her almost 7 years at UTSA, Campos has propelled the athletic department to a new level. Her comprehensive strategic plan, the Roadrunner Game Plan, has created a culture of excellence for student‐athletes and intensified interest in the San Antonio community.
Validation of a reduction in time for avian influenza virus isolation using specific pathogen‐free embryonated chicken eggs
Authors: Reid Scott M. , Coward Vivien J. , James Joe , Hansen Rowena D. E. , Birch Colin , Bakrania Mayur , Brookes Sharon M. , Brown Ian H. , Banyard Ashley C.
Published: November 2024

Background

The international gold standard for avian influenza virus (AIV) diagnosis is virus isolation (VI) in specific pathogen‐free embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs). AIV isolation typically involves a 6‐day turnaround, during which premises under suspicion for notifiable AIV infection are held under restriction regardless of molecular diagnoses, often with significant welfare implications.

Methods

A reduction in time for negation by VI was investigated following experimental inoculation of AIV from known‐positive original clinical material into ECEs. VI data derived from more than 600 case investigations from epizootics of high‐pathogenicity AIV (HPAIV) in Great Britain since 2016 and from low‐pathogenicity AIV (LPAIV) cases in Great Britain since 2014 were examined to support a reduction in test timing using alternative regimens.

Results

HPAIVs were isolated during the first passage, and for LPAIV VI, the second passage could be reduced to 2 days. Power analysis showed that the benefit of reducing the number of days outweighed the risk of missing a positive isolate.

Limitations

Limited data were available from experimental inoculations.

Conclusion

This truncated methodology, which enables an earlier release of restrictions, may substantially ease the economic implications of restriction. It could also reduce bird welfare implications and improve international standards without loss of test performance.
Cyclophosphamide-induced testicular injury: the role of chrysin in mitigating iron overload and ferroptosis
Authors: Saleh Dalia O. , Abo El Nasr Nesma M. E. , Hussien Yosra A. , El-Baset Marawan Abd , Ahmed Kawkab A.
Published: November 2024

This study evaluated the beneficial effects of chrysin against cyclophosphamide (CP)-induced testicular toxicity in rats across several parameters, including hormones, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and protein expression. Rats were pretreated with oral doses of chrysin at 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg daily for 7 days. On the 8th day, all groups except controls received CP (200 mg/kg) injection. Chrysin doses continued for 7 more days. Hormones, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, apoptosis regulators, and iron regulatory proteins were assessed. CP decreased testosterone, inhibin B, GSH, and GPx4 and increased FSH, cholesterol, MDA, IL-6, and BAX. It also drastically reduced TfR1, liprin, and IREB2. Chrysin dose-dependently counteracted these effects. The highest 100 mg/kg chrysin dose increased testosterone, inhibin B, GSH, GPx4, BCL2, TfR1, liprin, and IREB2 while decreasing FSH, cholesterol, MDA, IL-6, and BAX close to control levels. There were also significant incremental benefits for testosterone, inhibin B, and other parameters with higher chrysin doses. Chrysin dose-dependently attenuated CP-induced hormonal dysfunction, oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and iron-regulatory protein suppression. The maximum dose showed the most optimal protective effects in restoring the testicular toxicity markers. These results validate the promising spermatoprotective properties of chrysin against chemotherapeutic germ cell damage.
Antioxidant interaction between α-tocopherol and quercetin in homogeneous solutions of peroxidating methyl linoleate
Authors: Becker Eleonora Miquel , Jørgensen Søren S. , Andersen Mogens L. , Skibsted Leif H.
Published: November 2024

Interaction between α-tocopherol and quercetin as antioxidants was studied by quantification of both compounds in air-saturated tert-butyl alcohol as a hydrogen-bonding solvent during oxidation of dissolved methyl linoleate initiated by lipophilic α,α´-azobis-isobutyronitrile (AIBN) at 50 °C. The main question of the study was, if α-tocopherol and quercetin regenerate each other from their one-electron oxidized radical forms when they both are present during lipid autoxidation. α-Tocopherol with an initial concentration of 0.14 mM was by HPLC-analysis found to be depleted first, indicating that α-tocopherol is a more effective antioxidant. The concentration of quercetin, also initially 0.14 mM as followed spectrophotometrically, remained constant until α-tocopherol was consumed. The rate of α-tocopherol depletion was found to be independent of the presence of quercetin. Cyclic voltammetry showed that α-tocopherol is more easily oxidized than quercetin. Quercetin has previously been reported to regenerate the more reducing α-tocopherol during oxidation of lipid substrates in polar hydrogen-bonding solvents based on measured oxygen consumption rates. Our results further indicate that regeneration reactions between α-tocopherol and quercetin as antioxidants are of little if any importance, most likely due to the low extent of quercetin oxidation when they both are present. This conclusion was further supported by simulation of time profiles, from which an upper limit of 400 M−1·s−1 was estimated for the second-order rate constant for α-tocopherol regeneration of quercetin.
Offspring’s early-life performance varies with father’s sperm quality in a genetically monogamous seabird
Authors: Manas Frédéric , Pineaux Maxime , Humann-Guilleminot Ségolène , Hatch Scott A. , Blanchard Pierrick , Leclaire Sarah
Published: November 2024

Although the effect of sperm quality is well studied in the context of sperm competition, its effect on offspring performance, especially after the embryo stages, has been less investigated. Here, we investigated whether the proportion of spermatozoa with normal morphology was associated with offspring performance during chick development in the black-legged kittiwake, a behaviorally and genetically monogamous seabird in which sperm competition is absent. First, we found that, at hatching, the difference in body condition between the first- and second-hatched siblings was higher when the father had a lower proportion of normal spermatozoa. We discuss this result in light of maternal allocation strategy to manipulate sibling competition. Second, we showed that, in first-hatched chicks, body mass growth between hatching and the age of 10 days, body condition at the age of 10 days and maximum body mass reached before fledging were positively related to the proportion of normal spermatozoa in the father’s sperm. Overall, our results support the role of sperm quality on offspring performance in the black-legged kittiwake and call for further studies investigating the importance of sperm quality in genetically monogamous species.
A Note on Asymmetric Hypergraphs
Authors: Bohnert Dominik , Winter Christian
Published: November 2024

A k-graph $$\mathcal {G}$$
G
is asymmetric if there does not exist an automorphism on $$\mathcal {G}$$
G
other than the identity, and $$\mathcal {G}$$
G
is called minimal asymmetric if it is asymmetric but every non-trivial induced sub-hypergraph of $$\mathcal {G}$$
G
is non-asymmetric. Extending a result of Jiang and Nešetřil (J Comb Theory Ser B 164: 105–118, 2024), we show that for every $$k\ge 3$$

k
≥
3

, there exist infinitely many minimal asymmetric k-graphs which have maximum degree 2 and are linear. Further, we show that there are infinitely many 2-regular asymmetric k-graphs for $$k\ge 3$$

k
≥
3

.
Video laryngoscopy in neonate and infant intubation—a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kuitunen Ilari , Räsänen Kati , Huttunen Tuomas T.
Published: November 2024

We aimed to analyze the effect of video laryngoscopy on intubation success, time to intubation, and adverse events in infants and neonates. A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed, for which a neonates (age less than 29 days) and infants (age less than 365 days) needing to be intubated were included. The main outcomes were first attempt success rate in the intubation, time to intubation, and adverse events. Evidence certainty was assessed according to GRADE. We included 13 studies. Seven studies with 897 patients focused on neonates, and the first attempt success rate was higher in the video laryngoscopy group (RR 1.18, CI: 1.03–1.36). Six studies included 1039 infants, and the success rate was higher in the video laryngoscopy group (RR 1.06, CI: 1.00–1.20). Time to intubation was assessed in 11 trials, and there was no difference between the groups (mean difference 1.2 s, CI − 2.2 s to + 4.6 s). Odds of desaturation (OR 0.62, CI 0.42–0.93) and nasal/oral trauma (OR 0.24, CI 0.07–0.85) were lower in the video laryngoscopy group. Evidence certainties varied between moderate and low.

Conclusion: We found moderate certainty evidence that the use of video laryngoscopy improves first attempt success rates in neonate and infant intubations, while the time to intubation did not differ between video and direct laryngoscopy groups. Further studies are still needed to improve the first intubation success rates in neonates.

What is known:
• Video laryngoscopy has been shown to improve first-pass intubation success rates and reduce time to intubation in adults and older children.
What is new:
• Video laryngoscopy improved the first attempt intubation success rates both in neonates and in infants.
• Video laryngoscopy did not increase the time to intubation, and it was associated with less adverse events than direct laryngoscopy.
Trophic generalism in the winter moth: a model species for phenological mismatch
Authors: Weir Jamie C.
Published: November 2024

Climate change has the potential to disrupt phenological synchrony among interacting species that vary in their phenological sensitivity to temperature. The phenological synchrony observed between winter moth Operophtera brumata caterpillars and oak leafing in spring has become an emblematic test case of this phenomenon, with caterpillars seemingly advancing their phenology more than their host-plant. However, work on this trophic interaction—and on phenological mismatch more widely—routinely overlooks the potential for trophic generalism to buffer the negative effects of mismatch. In the largest study of its kind—using over 3500 individuals reared from egg to pupa—I tested the performance of winter moth caterpillars from four UK populations across nine host-plant species, and considered how adaptation to locally abundant host-plants may modulate performance in different populations. I found that caterpillars survive and grow well across a range of host-plant species, with some evidence of a host-plant by population interaction in performance. Contrary to widespread assumptions, oak seems a relatively poor host-plant species. Occupying a broad trophic niche may help consumers like the winter moth exploit a narrow phenological niche, whereby phenological variation among host-plant species buffers them against asynchrony with any one particular host-plant species. Determining the significance of trophic generalism in the ecology of consumers is a crucial first step towards assessing its role as a potential buffering mechanism and, hence, evaluating the true threat posed by mismatch.
Incidence and impact of food aversions among patients with cancer receiving outpatient chemotherapy: a one-year prospective survey
Authors: Suka Machi , Katsube Atsushi , Fujimoto Reiko , Uwagawa Tadashi , Shimada Takashi , Yano Shingo , Yamauchi Takashi , Yanagisawa Hiroyuki
Published: November 2024

Purpose

To determine the current incidence and impact of chemotherapy-associated food aversions in a variety of cancer types.

Methods

Cancer patients aged 18 years and older who received chemotherapy infusions at the outpatient chemotherapy unit of a university hospital between May 2022 and April 2023 were included in the study (n = 243). To monitor the occurrence of food aversions, participants were asked to complete a food preference questionnaire each time they visited the outpatient chemotherapy unit.

Results

During the one-year survey period, one in four cancer patients receiving outpatient chemotherapy developed food aversions, and one in four of them complained of interference with daily life due to eating problems at the same time or later. The median time to the onset of food aversion was 46 (interquartile range 36–77) days after the start of chemotherapy. The incidence of food aversions was significantly higher in patients who were women, had a digestive, gynecologic, or breast cancer, and received more cytotoxic agents in chemotherapy. Patients who developed food aversions tended to lose more body weight than those who did not.

Conclusion

Food aversions were still common among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Even an aversion to a single food may have affected the patient’s nutritional status. Healthcare professionals should closely monitor the occurrence of food aversions, especially in the early days of chemotherapy induction, to detect an increasing risk of malnutrition.

Trial registration

Not applicable.
Explainable ensemble deep learning-based model for brain tumor detection and classification
Authors: Hosny Khalid M. , Mohammed Mahmoud A. , Salama Rania A. , Elshewey Ahmed M.
Published: November 2024

Brain tumors are very dangerous as they cause death. A lot of people die every year because of brain tumors. Therefore, accurate classification and detection in the early stages can help in recovery. Various deep learning techniques have achieved good results in brain tumor classification. The traditional deep learning methods and training the neural network from scratch are time-consuming and can last for weeks of training. Therefore, in this work, we proposed an ensemble approach depending on transfer learning that utilizes pre-trained models of DenseNet121 and InceptionV3 to detect three forms of brain tumors: meningioma, glioma, and pituitary. While developing the ensemble model, some changes were made to the architecture of pre-trained models by replacing their classifiers (fully connected and SoftMax layers) with a new classifier to adopt the recent task. In addition, gradient-weighted class activation maps (Grad-CAM) are an explainable model to verify results and achieve high confidence. The suggested model was validated using a publicly available dataset and achieved 99.02% accuracy, 98.75% precision, 98.98% recall, and a 98.86% F1 score. The suggested approach outperformed others in detecting and classifying brain tumor MRI data, and verifying results using the explainable model achieved a high degree of trust.
Asymptotic formula for the Morse index of radial solutions on expanding annuli: Allen-Cahn equation and scalar filed equation
Authors: Miyamoto Yasuhito , Nakashima Kimie
Published: November 2024

Let

$$A_R\subset \mathbb {R}^N$$

A
R

⊂

R

N

,

$$N\ge 2$$

N
≥
2

, be an annulus with inner radius R and outer radius

$$R+1$$

R
+
1

. We are concerned with the elliptic Neumann problem

$$\begin{aligned} {\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} \varepsilon ^2\Delta u+f(u)=0 & \text {for}\ x\in A_R,\\ \frac{\partial u}{\partial n}=0 & \text {for}\ x\in \partial A_R, \end{array}\right. } \end{aligned}$$

ε
2

Δ
u
+
f

(
u
)

=
0

for

x
∈

A
R

,

∂
u

∂
n

=
0

for

x
∈
∂

A
R

,

where

$$\varepsilon >0$$

ε
>
0

is a small constant. In particular, the Allen-Cahn equation

$$f(u)=u-u^3$$

f

(
u
)

=
u
-

u
3

and the scalar field equation

$$f(u)=-u+u^p$$

f

(
u
)

=
-
u
+

u
p

,

$$p>1$$

p
>
1

, are studied. We establish sharp asymptotic formulas of the Morse index of n-mode radial solutions as

$$R\rightarrow \infty $$

R
→
∞

. In the case of the scalar field equation the first n eigenvalues of the linearization around n-mode solutions of the one-dimensional problem

$$\begin{aligned} {\left\{ \begin{array}{ll} \varepsilon ^2u''-u+u^p=0 & \text {for}\ 0<x<1,\\ u'(0)=u'(1)=0 \end{array}\right. } \end{aligned}$$

ε
2

u

′
′

-
u
+

u
p

=
0

for

0
<
x
<
1
,

u
′

(
0
)

=

u
′

(
1
)

=
0

become important. We show that, as

$$\varepsilon \rightarrow 0$$

ε
→
0

, the first

$$\ell $$

ℓ

eigenvalues converge to

$$-(p+3)(p-1)/4$$

-
(
p
+
3
)
(
p
-
1
)
/
4

and the other

$$n-\ell $$

n
-
ℓ

eigenvalues converge to 0, where

$$\ell $$

ℓ

is the number of the local maximum points of an n-mode solution u(x) on [0, 1].
Reducing segregation in vibrated binary-sized granular mixtures by excessive small particle introduction
Authors: Nakai Fumiaki , Yoshii Kiwamu
Published: November 2024

We numerically examine binary-sized granular mixtures confined between two parallel walls subjected to vertical vibration using the discrete element method. For a size ratio of 3 between large and small particles, we study the structure of large particles in moderately dense regimes where the combined two-dimensional packing fractions of both particle sizes exceed 1. When the fraction of small particles is small, segregation of the large particles occurs. In contrast, as the fraction of small particles increases, an effective repulsion between the large particles emerges over distances greater than the large particle diameter, suppressing their segregation. The emergence of reduction in segregation is confirmed for another size ratio, vibrational acceleration, system size, and for a case of bidisperse size distribution. Additionally, at the size ratio of 3, the effective repulsion induces a hexagonal phase of the large particles at packing fractions lower than in mono-component systems. This work will provide a fresh insight into granular physics, prompting further experimental and theoretical study.

Graphical Abstract