bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Formation of H3+ in Collisions of H2+ with H2 Studied in a Guided Ion Beam Instrument
Authors: Savić Igor , Schlemmer Stephan , Gerlich Dieter 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn order to study collisions between ions and neutrals, a new Guided Ion Beam (GIB) apparatus, called NOVion, has been assembled and tested. The primary purpose of this instrument is to measure absolute cross sections at energies relevant for technical or inter‐ and circumstellar plasmas. New and improved results are presented for forming H3+ in collisions of H2+ with H2. Between 0.1 eV and 2 eV, our measured effective cross sections are in good overall agreement with most previous measurements. However, at higher energies, our results do not show the steep decline, recommended in the standard literature. After critical evaluation of all experimental and theoretical data, a new analytical function is proposed, describing properly the dependence of the title reaction on the collision energy up to 10 eV.
Beyond Beer's Law: Revisiting the Lorentz‐Lorenz Equation
Authors: Mayerhöfer Thomas G. , Popp Jürgen 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIn this contribution we show how the Lorentz‐Lorenz and the Clausius‐Mosotti equations are related to Beer's law. Accordingly, the linear concentration dependence of absorbance is a consequence of neglecting the difference between the local and the applied electric field. Additionally, it is necessary to assume that the absorption index and the related refractive index change is small. By connecting the Lorentz‐Lorenz equations with dispersion theory, it becomes obvious that the oscillators are coupled via the local field. We investigate this coupling with numerical examples and show that, as a consequence, the integrated absorbance of a single band is in general no longer linearly depending on the concentration. In practice, the deviations from Beer's law usually do not set in before the density reaches about one tenth of that of condensed matter. For solutions, the Lorentz‐Lorenz equations predict a strong coupling also between the oscillators of solute and solvent. In particular, in the infrared spectral region, the absorption coefficients are prognosticated to be much higher due to this coupling compared to those in the gas phase.
The role of board of directors in intellectual capital disclosure after the advent of integrated reporting
Authors: Vitolla Filippo , Raimo Nicola , Marrone Arcangelo , Rubino Michele 
Published: May 2020

AbstractIntellectual capital is an important tool for strengthening a firm's competitive advantage and helping it achieve its medium‐ and long‐term financial objectives. Currently accepted accounting principles do not outline strict rules and regulations for intellectual capital disclosure. However, the advent of integrated reporting offer firms an innovative tool to disseminate this information. Although previous research has analysed the intellectual capital found in integrated reports, no studies have analysed the board of directors' role in intellectual capital disclosure policies. This study uses agency theory to analyse the effect of board characteristics on intellectual capital disclosure quality (ICDQ) in the context of integrated reporting. To this end, it develops a new scoring system to measure ICDQ. The results, based on a sample of 130 international firms operating in different sectors, show a positive relationship between board size, independence, diversity and activity with ICDQ.
Draft genome of the famous ornamental plant Paeonia suffruticosa
Authors: Lv Shuzuo , Cheng Shu , Wang Zhanying , Li Shiming , Jin Xin , Lan Lei , Yang Bing , Yu Kang , Ni Xuemei , Li Ning , Hou Xiaogai , Huang Gang , Wang Jie , Dong Yang , Wang Erqiang , Huang Jiangtao , Zhang Gengyun , Zhang Canjun 
Published: May 2020

AbstractTree peony (Paeonia Sect. Moutan) is a famous ornamental plant, with huge historical, cultural, and economic significance worldwide. In this study, we reported the ~13.79 Gb draft genome of a wide‐grown Paeonia suffruticosa cultivar “Luo shen xiao chun,” representing the largest sequenced genome in dicots to date. Phylogenetic analyses based on genome sequences demonstrated that P. suffruticosa was placed as sister to Vitales, and they together formed a clade that was sister to Rosids, weakly supporting a relationship of ((Saxifragales and Vitales) and Rosids). The identification and expression analysis of MADS‐box genes based on the genome assembly and de novo transcriptome assembly of P. suffruticosa revealed that the function of C class genes was restricted in flower development, which might be responsible for the stamen petalody in tree peony cultivars. Overall, the first sequenced genome in the family Paeoniaceae provides an important resource for the origin, domestication, and evolutionary study as well as cultivar breeding in tree peony.
Altered rainfall patterns reduce plant fitness and disrupt interactions between below‐ and aboveground insect herbivores
Authors: Aguirrebengoa Martin , Menéndez Rosa , Müller Caroline , González‐Megías Adela 
Published: May 2020

AbstractEvidence is accumulating of the disruptive effects of climate change on species interactions. However, little is known about how changes in climate patterns, such as temporal shifts in rainfall events, will affect multitrophic interactions. Here, we investigated the effects of changes in rainfall patterns on the interactions between root herbivores, a plant, and its associated aboveground insects in a semiarid region by experimentally manipulating in the field rainfall intensity and frequency. We found that a shift in rainfall severely constrained biomass acquisition and flowering of the plantMoricandia moricandioides, resulting in fitness reduction. Importantly, enhanced rainfall affected the interactions between below‐ and some aboveground herbivores, disrupting the positive effects of root herbivores on chewing insects. The shifts in precipitation had also plant‐mediated consequences for planthoppers, the dominant sapsuckers in our study system. A combination of mechanisms involving biomass acquisition and plant defenses seemed to be responsible for the different responses of insects and their interactions with the plant. This study provides evidence that altered rainfall patterns due to climate change affect not only trophic groups differentially but also their interactions.
Current advances and approaches in wind speed and wind power forecasting for improved renewable energy integration: A review
Authors: Santhosh Madasthu , Venkaiah Chintham , Vinod Kumar D. M. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractWind power is playing a pivotal part in global energy growth as it is clean and pollution‐free. To maximize profits, economic scheduling, dispatching, and planning the unit commitment, there is a great demand for wind forecasting techniques. This drives the researchers and electric utility planners in the direction of more advanced approaches to forecast over broader time horizons. Key prediction techniques use physical, statistical approaches, artificial intelligence techniques, and hybrid methods. An extensive review of the current forecasting techniques, as well as their performance evaluation, is here presented. The techniques used for improving the prediction accuracy, methods to overcome major forecasting problems, evolving trends, and further advanced applications in future research are explored.
The knowledge, attitude, and practices of food handlers in central South African hospices
Authors: Nkhebenyane Jane Sebolelo , Lues Ryk 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe escalating number of foodborne diseases and food poisoning outbreaks demand a better call for improved food‐handling practices. Hospices are typically described as nongovernmental organizations that offer palliative care to terminally ill patients. The majority of hospice food handlers are not trained in food safety aspects, and services are offered on a voluntary basis. In this study, a descriptive survey design comprising of semistructured questionnaire was utilized to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the hospice food handlers (n = 100) in hospices around Central South Africa. More than half of the participants (68%) had not taken basic food safety training. The average percentage of the correct answers on the knowledge questionnaire was 66.8%. The participants had a mean age of 35 years (SD = 9.27). Attendance of food safety course had a significant effect on both the practices of using gloves to touch or distribute unwrapped foods (χ2 = 8.411, p‐value = .012), and washing hands after using gloves (χ2 = 12.560, p‐value = .001). The overall KAP mean score was 78.38. A statistically significant difference was found between the trained and untrained food handlers regarding food safety knowledge (p < .001). There was substantial lack of knowledge regarding the correct temperature for a refrigerator including hot ready‐to‐eat food.
Later retirement, job strain, and health: Evidence from the new State Pension age in the United Kingdom
Authors: Carrino Ludovico , Glaser Karen , Avendano Mauricio 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThis paper examines the impact of raising the State Pension age on women's health. Exploiting a UK pension reform that increased women's State Pension age for up to 6 years since 2010, we show that raising the State Pension age leads to an increase of up to 12 percentage points in the probability of depressive symptoms, alongside an increase in self‐reported medically diagnosed depression among women in a lower occupational grade. Our results suggest that these effects are driven by prolonged exposure to high‐strain jobs characterised by high demands and low control. Effects are consistent across multiple subcomponents of the General Health Question and Short‐Form‐12 (SF‐12) scores, and robust to alternative empirical specifications, including “placebo” analyses for women who never worked and for men.
Hepatic Molecular Signatures Highlight the Sexual Dimorphism of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
Authors: Vandel Jimmy , Dubois‐Chevalier Julie , Gheeraert Céline , Derudas Bruno , Raverdy Violetta , Thuillier Dorothée , Gaal Luc , Francque Sven , Pattou François , Staels Bart , Eeckhoute Jérôme , Lefebvre Philippe 
Published: May 2020

Background and Aims
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is considered as a pivotal stage in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progression, given that it paves the way for severe liver injuries such as fibrosis and cirrhosis. The etiology of human NASH is multifactorial, and identifying reliable molecular players and/or biomarkers has proven difficult. Together with the inappropriate consideration of risk factors revealed by epidemiological studies (altered glucose homeostasis, obesity, ethnicity, sex, etc.), the limited availability of representative NASH cohorts with associated liver biopsies, the gold standard for NASH diagnosis, probably explains the poor overlap between published “omics”‐defined NASH signatures.

Approach and Results
Here, we have explored transcriptomic profiles of livers starting from a 910‐obese‐patient cohort, which was further stratified based on stringent histological characterization, to define “NoNASH” and “NASH” patients. Sex was identified as the main factor for data heterogeneity in this cohort. Using powerful bootstrapping and random forest (RF) approaches, we identified reliably differentially expressed genes participating in distinct biological processes in NASH as a function of sex. RF‐calculated gene signatures identified NASH patients in independent cohorts with high accuracy.

Conclusions
This large‐scale analysis of transcriptomic profiles from human livers emphasized the sexually dimorphic nature of NASH and its link with fibrosis, calling for the integration of sex as a major determinant of liver responses to NASH progression and responses to drugs.
PSIXAS: A Psi4 plugin for efficient simulations of X‐ray absorption spectra based on the transition‐potential and Δ‐Kohn–Sham method
Authors: Ehlert Christopher , Klamroth Tillmann 
Published: May 2020

AbstractNear edge X‐ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectra and their pump‐probe extension (PP‐NEXAFS) offer insights into valence‐ and core‐excited states. We present PSIXAS, a recent implementation for simulating NEXAFS and PP‐NEXAFS spectra by means of the transition‐potential and the Δ‐Kohn–Sham method. The approach is implemented in form of a software plugin for the Psi4 code, which provides access to a wide selection of basis sets as well as density functionals. We briefly outline the theoretical foundation and the key aspects of the plugin. Then, we use the plugin to simulate PP‐NEXAFS spectra of thymine, a system already investigated by others and us. It is found that larger, extended basis sets are needed to obtain more accurate absolute resonance positions. We further demonstrate that, in contrast to ordinary NEXAFS simulations, where the choice of the density functional plays a minor role for the shape of the spectrum, for PP‐NEXAFS simulations the choice of the density functional is important. Especially hybrid functionals (which could not be used straightforwardly before to simulate PP‐NEXAFS spectra) and their amount of “Hartree‐Fock like” exact exchange affects relative resonance positions in the spectrum.
Clinicopathological and survival characteristic of mismatch repair status in ovarian clear cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhu Jun , Ke Guihao , Bi Rui , Wu Xiaohua 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesWe sought to explore the expression of mismatch repair (MMR) status and its correlation with clinicopathologic and survival characteristics in ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC).MethodsExpression of four MMR proteins (MLH1, PMS, MSH2, and MSH6) were measured using tissue microarray‐based immunohistochemistry in 120 OCCC patients. The associations of clinicopathologic parameters with recurrence‐free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed by the Kaplan‐Meier method, and multivariate analysis was further performed by the Cox regression model.ResultsOverall, 120 OCCC patients met the entry criteria, and their MMR status was detected, consisting of 24 patients with dMMR and 96 patients with proficient MMR (pMMR). Patients with dMMR were strongly associated with platinum‐sensitive disease (P = .006) and large tumor volume (P = .038). Among all the patients who have received surgery, tumors with dMMR had a better RFS and OS than those with pMMR (hazard ratio [HR] for recurrence: 0.459 [95% confidence interval {95% CI} = 0.224‐0.940], P = .029; HR for death: 0.381 [95% CI = 0.170‐0.853], P = .015). In subgroup analysis, dMMR patients experienced a better trend of RFS (HR = 0.273; P = .055) and OS (HR = 0.165; P = .040) than pMMR cases among early stages (I‐II), but this difference was not observed in advanced stage (III‐IV) patients. Meanwhile, pMMR was associated with a more favorable trend of prognosis than dMMR in platinum‐resistant patients (RFS: HR = 0.317, P = .051; OS: HR = 0.370, P = .046). Multivariate analysis revealed that only advanced stages (III‐IV) were adverse independent prognosticators for both RFS (HR = 5.938 [95% CI = 2.804‐12.574]; P < .001) and OS (HR = 6.209 [95% CI = 2.724‐14.156]; P < .001).ConclusionTumors with dMMR were related to better OS in OCCC on univariate analysis. Only the tumor stage was an independent prognosticator for both RFS and OS. MMR status is a potentially valuable prognostic index in OCCC patients, and larger prospective studies are required to validate its prognostic role.
Carotid Plaque Strain Indices Were Correlated With Cognitive Performance in a Cohort With Advanced Atherosclerosis, and Traditional Doppler Measures Showed no Association
Authors: Mitchell Carol C. , Wilbrand Stephanie M. , Cook Thomas D. , Meshram Nirvedh H. , Steffel Catherine N. , Nye Rebecca , Varghese Tomy , Hermann Bruce P. , Dempsey Robert J. 
Published: May 2020

ObjectivesTraditional Doppler measures have been used to predict cognitive performance in patients with carotid atherosclerosis. Novel measures, such as carotid plaque strain indices (CPSIs), have shown associations with cognitive performance. We hypothesized that lower mean middle cerebral artery (MCA) velocities, higher bulb–internal carotid artery (ICA) velocities, the MCA pulsatility index (PI), and CPSIs would be associated with poorer cognitive performance in individuals with advanced atherosclerosis.MethodsNeurocognitive testing, carotid ultrasound imaging, transcranial Doppler imaging, and carotid strain imaging were performed on 40 patients scheduled for carotid endarterectomy. Kendall tau correlations were used to examine relationships between cognitive tests and the surgical‐side maximum peak systolic velocity (PSV; from the bulb, proximal, mid, or distal ICA), mean MCA velocity and PI, and maximum CPSIs (axial, lateral, and shear strain indices used to characterize plaque deformations with arterial pulsation). Cognitive measures included age‐adjusted indices of verbal fluency, verbal and visual learning/memory, psychomotor speed, auditory attention/working memory, visuospatial construction, and mental flexibility.ResultsParticipants had a median age of 71.0 (interquartile range, 9.75) years; 26 were male (65%), and 14 were female (35%). Traditional Doppler parameters, PSV, mean MCA velocity, and MCA PI did not predict cognitive performance (all P > .05). Maximum CPSIs were significantly associated with cognitive performance (P < .05).ConclusionsTraditional velocity measurements of the maximum bulb‐ICA PSV, mean MCA velocity, and PI were not associated with cognitive performance in patients with advanced atherosclerotic disease; however, maximum CPSIs were associated with cognitive performance. These findings suggest that cognition may be associated with unstable plaque rather than blood flow.
Experimental Research on the Evaluation of Left Ventricular Function by Layered Speckle Tracking in a Constrictive Pericarditis Rat Model
Authors: Wang Xin , Qiao Wei , Xiao Yangjie , Sun Lijuan , Ren Weidong 
Published: May 2020

ObjectivesIn animal models with constrictive pericarditis (CP), detecting the function of cardiac systole by conventional noninvasive ultrasound is a challenge. We aimed to detect cardiac dysfunction in rat models with CP in the early stage by layered speckle tracking.MethodsWe compared a rat CP model (n = 23, injected with a solution of 1‐mg/mL lipopolysaccharides [0.5 mL] and a 10% talc suspension [0.5 mL]) with a control group (n = 20, no injection). After 8 weeks, conventional echocardiography and layered speckle tracking were used to assess the left ventricular structures and functions in the groups.ResultsThe global circumferential strain (CS) and longitudinal strain (LS) were decreased in the CP group (P < .05). The CS of the epicardial and middle layers in the CP group was decreased (P < .05), but the endocardial layer was not statistically different. The LS of the epicardial layer was decreased (P < .05), but the middle and endocardial layers were not statistically different. The global free‐wall and septal‐wall CS of the CP group was decreased (P < .05), mainly due to the decrease of CS of the epicardial and middle layers. The global free‐wall LS of the CP group was decreased (P < .05), mainly due to the decrease of LS of the epicardial and middle layers. There were no significant differences between the groups in global LS of the septal wall.ConclusionsIn the early stage of CP, subepicardial myocardial damage precedes that of the subendocardial myocardium, and free‐wall damage precedes that of the septal wall.
Secondary soil salinization in urban lawns: Microbial functioning, vegetation state, and implications for carbon balance
Authors: Gavrichkova Olga , Brykova Ramilla A. , Brugnoli Enrico , Calfapietra Carlo , Cheng Zhongqi , Kuzyakov Yakov , Liberati Dario , Moscatelli Maria Cristina , Pallozzi Emanuele , Vasenev Viacheslav I. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractDeicing agents cause soil salinization and degradation in urban areas. We assessed the capacity of urban lawns to maintain carbon sequestration and nutrient cycling with increasing soil salinity. The sensitivity to soil salinity of the main ecosystem players: plants and microorganisms were assessed considering their complex interactions between each other and environment. The effects of low and moderate soil salinization by common deicing agent (NaCl) were evaluated in mesocosms planted with two urban lawns: Lolium perenne and mixture of grasses. Mesocosm‐, plant‐, and soil‐level gas exchange were assessed on a short‐term (days) and long‐term (months) scales. Microbial response was characterized by analyzing the microbial properties and activities of nine enzymes. Carbon balance remained independent on the salinity due to cancelling effect of lowered gross primary production (GPP, −20%), decreased C input by plants into the soil (−40% for mixture) balanced by slower microbial decomposition of organic matter (−20%) and so, lower soil respiration (−35%). GPP declined as a long‐term response by a combination of stomatal constraint on photosynthesis with leaf respiration increase. Toxic effects of salinization on soil respiration were observed only for temperatures above 15°C. Microbial community with high C:N ratio (common for fungi) was the most sensitive to salinization. The death of microbial biomass (−31% for Lolium) and cell lysis increased soil enzyme activities (+38% for Lolium). We conclude that C balance of urban lawns remain homeostatic at secondary salinization. Temperature effects and plant‐microbial interactions will determine C and nutrients cycling under salinity stress in urban lawns.
Complicated ventricular arrhythmia and hematologic myeloproliferative disorder in RIT1‐associated Noonan syndrome: Expanding the phenotype and review of the literature
Authors: Aly Safwat A. , Boyer Kenneth M. , Muller Brie‐Ann A. , Marini Davide , Jones Carolyn H. , Nguyen Hoang H. 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundNoonan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder secondary to RASopathies, which are caused by germ‐line mutations in genes encoding components of the RAS mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathway. RIT1 (OMIM *609591) was recently reported as a disease gene for Noonan syndrome.Methods and ResultsWe present a patient with RIT1‐associated Noonan syndrome, who in addition to the congenital heart defect, had monocytosis, myeloproliferative disorder, and accelerated idioventricular rhythm that was associated with severe hemodynamic instability. Noonan syndrome was suspected given the severe pulmonary stenosis, persistent monocytosis, and “left‐shifted” complete blood counts without any evidence of an infectious process. Genetic testing revealed that the patient had a heterozygous c.221 C>G (pAla74Gly) mutation in the RIT1.ConclusionWe report a case of neonatal Noonan syndrome associated with RIT1 mutation. The clinical suspicion for Noonan syndrome was based only on the congenital heart defect, persistent monocytosis, and myeloproliferative process as the child lacked all other hallmarks characteristics of Noonan syndrome. However, the patient had an unusually malignant ventricular dysrhythmia that lead to his demise. The case highlights the fact that despite its heterogeneous presentation, RIT1‐associated Noonan syndrome can be extremely severe with poor outcome.