bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Does Obesity Cause Thyroid Cancer? A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Fussey Jonathan Mark , Beaumont Robin N , Wood Andrew R , Vaidya Bijay , Smith Joel , Tyrrell Jessica 
Published: May 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe incidence of thyroid cancer is rising, and relatively little is known about modifiable risk factors for the condition. Observational studies have suggested a link between adiposity and thyroid cancer; however, these are subject to confounding and reverse causality. Here, we used data from the UK Biobank and Mendelian randomization approaches to investigate whether adiposity causes benign nodular thyroid disease and differentiated thyroid cancer.MethodsWe analyzed data from 379 708 unrelated participants of European ancestry in the UK Biobank and identified 1812 participants with benign nodular thyroid disease and 425 with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. We tested observational associations with measures of adiposity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. One and 2-sample Mendelian randomization approaches were used to investigate causal relationships.ResultsObservationally, there were positive associations between higher body mass index (odds ratio [OR], 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.22), higher waist-hip ratio (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.09-1.23), and benign nodular thyroid disease, but not thyroid cancer. Mendelian randomization did not support a causal link for obesity with benign nodular thyroid disease or thyroid cancer, although it did provide some evidence that individuals in the highest quartile for genetic liability of type 2 diabetes had higher odds of thyroid cancer than those in the lowest quartile (OR, 1.45; CI, 1.11-1.90).ConclusionsContrary to the findings of observational studies, our results do not confirm a causal role for obesity in benign nodular thyroid disease or thyroid cancer. They do, however, suggest a link between type 2 diabetes and thyroid cancer.
Diabetic Rat Hearts Show More Favorable Metabolic Adaptation to Omegaven Containing High Amounts of n3 Fatty Acids Than Intralipid Containing n6 Fatty Acids
Authors: Lucchinetti Eliana , Lou Phing-How , Hersberger Martin , Clanachan Alexander S. , Zaugg Michael 
Published: May 2020

BACKGROUND:
While Omegaven, an omega-3 (n3) fatty acid–based lipid emulsion, fosters insulin signaling in healthy hearts, it is unknown whether beneficial metabolic effects occur in insulin-resistant diabetic hearts.

METHODS:
Diabetic hearts from fructose-fed Sprague–Dawley rats were perfused in the working mode for 90 minutes in the presence of 11 mM glucose and 1.2 mM palmitate bound to albumin, the first 30 minutes without insulin followed by 60 minutes with insulin (50 mU/L). Hearts were randomly allocated to Intralipid (25 and 100 µM), Omegaven (25 and 100 µM), or no emulsion (insulin alone) for 60 minutes. Glycolysis, glycogen synthesis, and glucose oxidation were measured with the radioactive tracers [5-3H]glucose and [U-14C]glucose. Central carbon metabolites, acyl-coenzyme A species (acyl-CoAs), ketoacids, purines, phosphocreatine, acylcarnitines, and acyl composition of phospholipids were measured with mass spectrometry.

RESULTS:
Diabetic hearts showed no response to insulin with regard to glycolytic flux, consistent with insulin resistance. Addition of either lipid emulsion did not alter this response but unexpectedly increased glucose oxidation (ratio of treatment/baseline, ie, fold change): no insulin 1.3 (0.3) [mean (standard deviation)], insulin alone 1.4 (0.4), insulin + 25 µM Intralipid 1.8 (0.5), insulin + 100 µM Intralipid 2.2 (0.4), P < .001; no insulin 1.3 (0.3), insulin alone 1.4 (0.4), insulin + 25 µM Omegaven 2.3 (0.5) insulin + 100 µM Omegaven 1.9 (0.4), P < .001. Intralipid treatment led to accumulation of acylcarnitines as a result of the released linoleic acid (C18:2-n6) and enhanced its integration into phospholipids, consistent with incomplete or impaired β-oxidation necessitating a compensatory increase in glucose oxidation. Accumulation of acylcarnitines was also associated with a higher nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide reduced/oxidized (NADH/NAD+) ratio, which inhibited pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), and resulted in excess lactate production. In contrast, Omegaven-treated hearts showed no acylcarnitine accumulation, low malonyl-CoA concentrations consistent with activated β-oxidation, and elevated PDH activity and glucose oxidation, together indicative of a higher metabolic rate possibly by substrate cycling.

CONCLUSIONS:
Omegaven is the preferred lipid emulsion for insulin-resistant diabetic hearts.
What Motivates Innovative Entrepreneurs? Evidence from a Global Field Experiment
Authors: Guzman Jorge , Oh Jean Joohyun , Sen Ananya 
Published: May 2020

Entrepreneurial motivation is important to the process of economic growth. However, evidence on the motivations of innovative entrepreneurs, and how those motivations differ across fundamental characteristics, remains scant. We conduct three interrelated field experiments with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Inclusive Innovation Challenge to study how innovative entrepreneurs respond to messages of money and social impact and how this varies across gender and culture. We find consistent evidence that women and individuals located in more altruistic cultures are more motivated by social-impact messages than money, whereas men and those in less altruistic cultures are more motivated by money than social impact. The estimates are not driven by differences in the type of company, its size, or other observable characteristics, but, instead, appear to come from differences in the underlying motivations of innovative entrepreneurs themselves. This paper was accepted by Joshua Gans, business strategy.
Evaluation of Mixing Uniformity for Inline Mixers by Image Processing
Authors: Dai Xiang , Xu Youlin , Chen Junyang , Zheng Jiaqiang 
Published: May 2020

HighlightsFour inline mixers with different structures are designed and tested for DNIS applications.A new method for evaluating inline mixing uniformity by image processing is presented.While higher carrier flow rates cause better uniformity, changes due to higher mixing ratios are complicated.The multi-injection jet mixer has simplified structure and relatively satisfactory mixing efficacy.Abstract. Effective and specialized mixing devices that can achieve pesticide injection and inline mixing simultaneously are required to achieve better mixing efficacy in direct nozzle injection systems (DNISs), especially when high-viscosity pesticides are used. To evaluate the inline mixing efficacies of four inline mixers with different structures under various application conditions and to propose optimized structures for those inline mixers, a new method for evaluating uniformity based on image processing is presented. The results of experiments show that the proposed method is adequate for determining mixing uniformity. The mixing uniformity of each mixer increased with carrier flow rates (Q) ranging from 800 to 2,000 mL min-1, but the variations were less significant than those achieved by varying the mixing ratio (P) from 1:100 to 10:100. The mixing uniformity in the jet mixer (mixer A) clearly decreased with an increase in P at different values of Q because the pesticide gradually concentrated on one side of the detection tube. The layered mixer (mixer B) performed better than mixer A, especially at high P. The extension tube installed downstream of mixer B to improve uniformity was shorter than that of mixer A. Mixer C, whose structure was a combination of mixers A and B, had optimal mixing efficacy and the most complicated structure. The uniformity of the multi-injection jet mixer (mixer D) (Haverage = 12.46) obtained by simplifying mixer C was superior to that of mixers A (Haverage = 15.35) and B (Haverage = 14.65) but inferior to that of mixer C (Haverage = 4.08). With a relatively simple structure, mixer D may generally meet the uniformity requirements, thus resulting in advantages for practical use in DNISs, although further structural optimization of mixer D seems necessary. Keywords: Direct nozzle injection system, Image processing, Inline mixers, Mixing uniformity, Principal component analysis, Various application conditions.
Energy Consumption of Sugarcane Basecutting Using Contra- Rotating Basecutters
Authors: Wang Fenglei , Ma Shaochun , Ke Wenli , Xing Haonan , Bai Jing 
Published: May 2020

HighlightsThe objective of this study was to investigate the parameters of a new type of contra-rotating basecutter on the energy consumption during support cutting.Rotational speed of basecutting discs and feeding rate of sugarcane stalks had significant influence on the cutting energy consumption, while tilt angle of discs and blade number on each disc had no significant influence on it.The influencing order of the factors used in this research was disc rotational speed &gt; feeding rate &gt; disc tilt angle &gt; blade number, and the basecutting energy was minimum when the above four factors were 150 rpm, 1.0 m·s-1, 20°, and 4.Abstract. Previous studies on a new type of contra-rotating basecutter that was designed based on the support-cutting theory mainly focused on the relationship between the cutting quality of sugarcane stalks and the basecutter parameters. However, the relationship between these factors and the energy consumption during basecutting was not studied. Therefore, a contra-rotating basecutting platform was developed to investigate how the rotational speed (RS) and tilt angle (TA) of the cutting disc, cutting blade number (BN), and sugarcane stalk feeding rate (FR) affected basecutting energy consumption through a series of bench tests, which included four single-factor experiments and a four-factor four-level orthogonal experiment. Results of the single-factor experiments showed that the basecutting energy consumption increased with increasing RS and BN, while the energy consumption decreased with increasing TA and FR. In addition, t-test results among the four levels of each factor indicated that the differences were not significant (p &gt; 0.05) for level 3 vs. 4 of TA, for level 2 vs. 3 and level 2 vs. 4 of BN, and for level 2 vs. 3 of FR. However, there were significant differences between the other two levels of each factor. ANOVA of the orthogonal experiment results showed that RS and FR had significant influence on basecutting energy consumption, while TA and BN had no significant influence. The influencing order of the four factors on energy consumption was RS &gt; FR &gt; TA &gt; BN (F-values of 19.64 &gt; 10.04 &gt; 4.95 &gt; 2.45). Finally, the optimal combination was determined as 150 rpm for RS, 20° for TA, 4 for BN, and 1.0 m.s-1 for FR. This study provides references for the optimal design of contra-rotating basecutters, which could greatly reduce energy consumption during sugarcane harvest. Keywords: Contra-rotating basecutter, Energy consumption, Orthogonal experiment, Single-factor experiment, Support-cutting theory.
Multi-Variable Sensitivity Analysis, Calibration, and Validation of a Field-Scale SWAT Model: Building Stakeholder Trust in Hydrologic and Water Quality Modeling
Authors: Karki Ritesh , Srivastava Puneet , Bosch David D. , Kalin Latif , Lamba Jasmeet , Strickland Timothy C. 
Published: May 2020

HighlightsSWAT can adequately simulate runoff, soil moisture, cotton and peanut yields, and nitrate at field scale.Muskingum routing and adjusting DIS_STREAM are important to simulate fields as watersheds rather than HRUs.Crop yield calibration is critical for improving SWAT model robustness in nutrient transport simulations and for building stakeholder trust.SWAT can quantify the impacts of different management scenarios at the field scale.Abstract. Multi-variable calibration of a field-scale Soil and Water Assessment (SWAT) model is critical for understanding the true impacts of irrigation and nutrient best management practices (BMPs) on hydrology, water quality, and agricultural productivity and for building stakeholder trust for eventual BMP implementation at the watershed scale. This study evaluated the ability of SWAT to simulate runoff, soil moisture, cotton and peanut yields, and nitrate in conventionally tilled and strip-tilled plots while also evaluating the differences in hydrological and nutrient simulation parameters for the two tillage practices. Modeling results showed that SWAT adequately simulated runoff, soil moisture, cotton and peanut yields, and nitrate at the field scale and that calibrated values for the curve number of operation (CNOP) were different for the conventionally tilled and strip-tilled plots and critical to runoff calibration. It was also important to change the routing method from variable storage to Muskingum and to adjust DIS_STREAM for runoff simulation if the field was to be simulated as a watershed rather than as an HRU. Sequential calibration of surface runoff, soil moisture, crop yield, and nitrate showed that crop yield can be an important consideration for improving SWAT model robustness in nutrient transport simulations. Soil moisture calibration did not have a significant effect on runoff simulations. Evaluation of the impacts of different management scenarios showed that soil moisture sensor-based irrigation, cover crop, and strip tillage had the highest potential for reducing nutrient loss and conserving water while maintaining agricultural productivity in southern Georgia. This study also demonstrated to stakeholders that the SWAT model can successfully quantify the impacts of different management scenarios on their farm fields. Keywords: Agricultural BMPs, Field-scale SWAT, Multi-variable calibration, SWAT, SWAT-CUP.
Effect of Blending Amaranth Grain with Maize Kernels on Maize Weevil Control during Storage
Authors: Bbosa Denis , Brumm Thomas J. , Bern Carl J. , Rosentrater Kurt A. , Raman D. Raj 
Published: May 2020

HighlightsMixing amaranth grain and maize is a promising pesticide-free method for controlling maize weevils in stored maize.A 1:1 mixture by volume of maize and amaranth reduced the number of live weevils by 66% after 160 d of storage as compared to maize stored without amaranth.A further reduction in live weevils could be achieved by completely covering all maize kernels with a layer of amaranth.Insect-infested maize-amaranth mixtures had reduced spoilage due to mold during storage as compared to insect-infested maize stored without amaranth.Abstract. Amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) is used as a vegetable, food, forage, and sometimes an ornamental. Amaranth grain has higher protein content than other cereals, making it a good choice for human consumption. Maize is among the three most widely grown grains in the world, but it can experience large postharvest losses during storage due to infestation by the maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais). Due to the small size of amaranth seeds, this study postulated that amaranth grain can be blended with maize during storage to fill the intergranular spaces between maize kernels, reducing the overall void volume to minimize maize weevil movements to access the kernels, and thereby controlling the maize weevil population. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects on maize weevil control of blending maize with amaranth grain during storage versus storing maize alone. Three 208 L (55 gal) steel barrels were loaded with 160 kg (353 lb) of maize, and three were loaded with a maize-amaranth mixture (1:1 by volume), all with initial weevil populations of 25 live weevils per kg of maize. Blending maize with amaranth for storage reduced the number of live weevils after 160 days by 66% compared to storing maize alone. Additional reduction of live weevils could be accomplished if the maize were completely covered by amaranth grain, further restricting maize weevil access to the maize kernels. Keywords: Broken corn and foreign material, Insects, Insect infestation, Mechanical damage, Moisture content, Postharvest losses, Relative humidity, Temperature, Test weight.
A Review of Grain Kernel Damage: Mechanisms, Modeling, and Testing Procedures
Authors: Chen Zhengpu , Wassgren Carl , Ambrose Kingsly 
Published: May 2020

HighlightsPublished literature on grain kernel damage during handling is reviewed.Types and sources of grain kernel damage are discussed.Factors affecting the level of grain kernel damage are outlined.Models to predict grain kernel damage and corresponding test devices are summarized.Abstract. Grain kernel damage during harvest and handling continues to be a challenge in grain postharvest operations. This damage causes physical and physiological changes to grain, which reduces the grain quality and leads to significant yield loss. During harvesting and handling, grain kernels are subject to complex loading conditions consisting of a combination of impact, shear, and compression forces. The main damage mechanisms include impact, which causes external and internal cracks or even fragmentation of the kernel; attrition, which generates fine material; jamming, which deforms and breaks kernels due to high compressive forces; and fatigue, which produces broken kernels and fine material via repeatedly applied loads. Grain kernel damage accumulates as the grain moves through harvesting and handling operations. Harvesting is the major cause of cracks and breakage, while conveying after drying produces fine material. This article provides a comprehensive review of the types of grain kernel damage, sources of grain kernel damage, factors affecting damage, predictive damage models, and the experimental methods used to assess the damage. This review shows that although there is considerable empirical data focused on kernel damage, there is a lack of generalizable mechanics-based predictive models. Mechanics-based models are desirable because they would be useful for providing guidance on designing and operating grain handling processes to minimize kernel damage and thus improve grain quality. In addition, several damage models developed for non-grain particulate materials based on fracture mechanics are reviewed. With some modifications and detailed property analysis, there is potential for adapting the models developed for inorganic materials to predict grain kernel damage. Keywords: Grain kernel damage, Grain harvesting and handling, Breakage susceptibility, Grain damage prediction.
Streambank Stabilization Design, Research, and Monitoring: The Current State and Future Needs
Authors: Bigham Kari A. 
Published: May 2020

HighlightsEleven general streambank stabilization (SBS) techniques have been used worldwide.Rules-of-thumb and practitioner experience are still heavily applied in SBS design.Research needs include assessing the spatiotemporal variability of SBS and improving numerical simulation.Future SBS experiments need to include design details with results that can be easily communicated to designers.Abstract. Streambank stabilization techniques, designed to maximize localized streambank shear strength and/or minimize the forces acting on a streambank, have been in existence for centuries and are still a popular river management technique used by practitioners worldwide. The purpose of this literature review is to identify common streambank stabilization techniques, compile and summarize the recent peer-reviewed journal articles on these techniques, and determine research needs. Eleven general streambank stabilization practices, consisting of both instream structures and streambank management techniques, are identified in this literature review. Over 140 peer-reviewed journal articles on these techniques have been published over the last 20 years. To improve design and implementation of streambank stabilization techniques, two major research needs were identified: (1) further assess and quantify the spatiotemporal effects that streambank stabilization practices have on bank erosion, hydraulics, sediment transport, and habitat and (2) continue to improve numerical models for streambank stabilization design in order to holistically evaluate and address these effects. In addition, a list of specific research needs for each stabilization technique is provided. To help address these research needs, it is recommended that future streambank stabilization publications should (1) use consistent technique nomenclature, (2) provide characteristic details about the techniques and channels studied, (3) justify the experimental setup, and (4) explain how the research will improve streambank stabilization design. Keywords: Bankfull bench, Barb, Bioengineering, Deflector, Dike, Dyke, Groin, Groyne, Jetty, Large woody debris, LPSTP, Retarder, Revetment, Riprap bank, River training, Shaping, Spur, Stream restoration, Streambank erosion, Streambank stabilization, Toe rock, Toe
Denitrifying Bioreactor Woodchip Recharge: Media Properties after Nine Years
Authors: Feyereisen Gary W. , Hay Christopher , Tschirner Ulrike W. , Kult Keegan , Wickramarathne Niranga M. , Hoover Natasha , Soupir Michelle L. 
Published: May 2020

HighlightsWood media harvested from a nine-year-old denitrifying bioreactor were evaluated.Media physical changes had multiple causes and effects.Impacts of the physical changes may have been exacerbated by development of preferential flow.LCIs &gt; 0.6 showed C quality declined but media still supported N removal.Abstract. There is a lack of information on denitrifying bioreactors treating subsurface drainage water at the end of their initial design life due to the relative newness of the technology and the relatively long estimated life. A denitrifying bioreactor (15 m L × 7.6 m W × 1.1 m D) installed in August 2008 in Greene County, Iowa, was recharged with new woodchips in November 2017 (age 9.25 years), providing the opportunity to evaluate the properties of the wood media at the end of design life. The objective was to pair a battery of physical, chemical, and nitrate-N removal tests on the wood media harvested from the bioreactor with field observations to assess likely reasons why denitrifying bioreactors treating tile drainage may need to be recharged. The two types of wood media harvested from the bioreactor (termed woodchips and mixed shreds) had median particle sizes (D50) of 12.1 and 7.7 mm, respectively, and saturated hydraulic conductivities of 4.2 ±3.0 and 3.1 ±1.0 cm s-1 (mean ± standard deviation), which were within the range of reported values for woodchips, albeit at the low end. The wood media carbon content and quality had degraded (e.g., lignocellulose indices of 0.63 to 0.74, nearing the range of decomposition stabilization), although batch tests suggested the robustness of wood as a carbon source to support nitrate removal (e.g., 65% nitrate concentration reduction in drainage water). Woodchip degradation along with sedimentation from the drainage system likely reduced conductivities over time. Development of preferential flow paths through the bioreactor was indicated by low bioreactor outflow rates (i.e., reduced permeability) and reduced hydraulic efficiency based on conservative tracer testing. These changes in media properties and linked impacts resulted in the need to recharge this bioreactor after nine years. Keywords: Denitrifying bioreactor, Hydraulic conductivity, Nitrate, Water quality.