bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Grit, fit, gender, and academic achievement among first‐year college students
Authors: Whipple Sara S. , Dimitrova‐Grajzl Valentina 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAcademic achievement is a known predictor of career trajectory and future earnings. Thus, a great deal of research has been devoted to understanding the variables that impact academic achievement. The purpose of the current study is to extend existing scholarly work by examining the predictive power of both cognitive and noncognitive variables on first‐year academic achievement of students at a military college. We focus on the concepts of grit and person–environment (P–E) fit as our key noncognitive predictors of success. We investigate if grit affects academic achievement and if it operates differently for men and women. Given the unique educational setting of our study, we capture a P–E fit by examining whether a student is a recipient of an ROTC scholarship. Our empirical results suggest that grit has a positive effect on college grade point average for male participants but not a significant effect on female participants. Furthermore, we find that ROTC scholarships, as a proxy for fit, positively predict first‐year academic achievement. These findings have policy implications for admissions and financial aid offices as well as teachers and support staff.
Changing times: Opportunities for altering winter wheat phenology
Authors: Sheehan Hester , Bentley Alison 
Published: November 2020

Social Impact StatementClimate change presents challenges to agricultural production systems. Wheat is a significant crop in the United Kingdom, occupying 40% of arable land area. Increased temperatures and drought risk are predicted to lead to future productivity losses. Plant breeders and researchers are working to develop more resilient wheat varieties although are often driven by different motivating factors compared to farmers. Here, we report on a dialog with agronomists working with farmers in wheat‐producing regions throughout the UK to gain greater understanding of the farm‐level importance of wheat flowering time and maturity along with the future opportunities and risks presented by earlier flowering varieties.
Summary
Optimized environmental adaptation is the cornerstone of regional crop breeding. Recent and predicted future instability for long‐standing adaptive response presents new challenges to selective breeding. Wheat is a long day plant, requiring extended daylength to initiate flowering, a response controlled by the Photoperiod‐1 (Ppd‐1) gene. Mutations conferring photoperiod insensitivity arose during domestication, allowing rapid flowering in both short and long days and extending wheat's adaptive range. In the United Kingdom, wheat production is dominated by photoperiod‐sensitive winter varieties which have a relatively narrow window of flowering time. Changing seasonal conditions alongside mounting logistics pressure as a result of loss of effective agrochemicals and increasing seasonal weather fluctuations mean that greater flexibility in varietal flowering time is likely required to sustain UK wheat productivity. In this Opinion piece, we present findings from a recent dialog with UK agronomists on the demand and likely potential for greater flowering time range in winter wheat varieties. This provides important insight connecting farmer priorities and demands with ongoing genetic research and breeding. Our findings highlight the farm‐level importance of wheat phenology and provide recommendations for future research and plant breeding.
Irreversible Adsorption of Serum Proteins onto Nanoparticles
Authors: von Baeckmann Cornelia , Kählig Hanspeter , Lindén Mika , Kleitz Freddy 
Published: November 2020

AbstractWhen a material comes in contact with serum or plasma, proteins will immediately adsorb to its surface. The extent of serum protein adsorption as well as the composition of the protein corona is thought to be decisive for the biological fate. The understanding of the mechanism underlying the concurrent adsorption of multiple proteins and the exact ways by which the adsorbed proteins interact with the biological setting, is still rudimentary. For both cases, a correct estimate of the composition of the protein corona is the key for an improved understanding. The protein corona composition is typically analyzed indirectly through analysis of the supernatant after protein desorption. However, in most cases the particles are not analyzed afterward in order to ensure that all proteins indeed have desorbed. Here, the results related to the analysis of the amounts of proteins in the corona are reported, focusing on the desorbed as well as the fraction of proteins that do not desorb. Irreversible protein adsorption can be observed in some cases. The results show that, in addition of the analysis of the supernatant, analysis of the particles is of critical importance to fully characterize the protein corona formed on nanoparticles.
Comparing decannulation failures and successes in pediatric tracheostomy: An 18‐year experience
Authors: Kolb Caroline M. , Halbert Kelly , Xiao Wendi , Strang Abigail R. , Briddell Jenna W. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractObjectivesThere is a paucity of published literature identifying patients at higher risk of decannulation failure. The purpose of this study is to evaluate patient factors that may predict successful decannulation of pediatric tracheostomy patients and analyze factors contributing to tracheostomy decannulation failures.MethodsA retrospective chart review of tracheostomy outcomes was conducted at a pediatric referral hospital. Successful and failed decannulations were compared using the following patient variables: age at tracheostomy, sex, ethnicity, gestational age and weight, the primary indication for tracheostomy, comorbidities, age at decannulation attempt, polysomnography data, and status of airway before decannulation as assessed endoscopically by airway team.ResultsFour hundred thirty‐nine tracheostomies were performed over the 18‐year period with 173 decannulation attempts. The overall rate of successful decannulation on the first attempt was 91.9% (159 of 173), with an eventual decannulation success rate of 97.1% (168 of 173). Compared with failed decannulations, the patients with successful decannulations had a shorter duration of tracheostomy and no medical comorbidities. Gestational age and weight approached, but did not achieve, statistical significance. After 25 months with a tracheostomy, approximately 50% of patients are decannulated with very few decannulations occurring after 75 months. The overall mortality rate in this cohort was 18.6% (78 of 420) with a tracheostomy‐related mortality rate of 0.95% (4 of 420).ConclusionsThe decannulation protocol at this institution is successful nearly 92% of the time. Fewer medical comorbidities, shorter duration of tracheostomy placement, and older gestational age may improve the likelihood of successful decannulation. Future studies are needed to determine the optimal timing and workup to evaluate patients for decannulation.
Pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and pharmacogenetic assays to monitor clopidogrel therapy
Authors: Alvitigala Bhawani Yasassri , Gooneratne Lallindra Viranjan , Constantine Godwin Roger , Wijesinghe Rajapaksha Arachchige Namal Kumarasiri , Arawwawala Liyanage Dona Ashanthi Menuka 
Published: November 2020

AbstractClopidogrel is the most common and widely used antiplatelet agent for patients with coronary artery disease following confirmation by electrocardiographic studies. The nonresponsiveness of patients to clopidogrel and the possibility of testing for clopidogrel resistance by platelet function assays (PFA) are contentious issues. Light transmission aggregometry (LTA) is considered as the gold standard test among all PFA. In this review, the most commonly used PFA used for monitoring the effect of clopidogrel, LTA, vasodilator‐stimulated phosphoprotein assay phosphorylation, rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) delta and ROTEM platelet, thromboelastography, PFA‐100, VerifyNow P2Y12 assay, Multiplate analyzer, Plateletworks assay and pharmacogenetic studies, are comparatively discussed including their principles of action, advantages, and disadvantages. VerifyNow P2Y12 assay can be accepted as the ideal point of care test out of the discussed assays. However, modified assays are required which could overcome the limitations associated with currently available assays.
Why has the authorization of microbial biological control agents been slower in the EU than in comparable jurisdictions?
Authors: Sundh Ingvar , Eilenberg Jørgen 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe aim of this study was to identify reasons why the authorization of microbial pest control agents is lengthier under regulatory frameworks of the European Union (EU) than in comparable jurisdictions. A main conclusion is that although the EUʼs regulatory processes have strong scientific foundations, the most appropriate scientific concepts, knowledge and expertise have not been applied in the safety assessment of microorganisms and biological control. Tradition and conceptual legacies from assessments of conventional chemical pesticides have likely contributed to this by steering the evaluations of microorganisms in less appropriate directions. According to our investigation, the current framework for microbial plant protection products complies poorly with the principles that legislation should have legal predictability, proportionality, and that it should be non‐discriminative, for instance in comparison to corresponding regulations in comparable jurisdictions. We also found that existing possibilities to take non‐safety and ethical considerations into account can probably be used more. To rationalize the EUʼs authorization of microbial control products, both the basic legislation and the evaluations of agents and products need stronger rooting in fundamental microbiological science. © 2020 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Identification of the Aedes aegypti nAChR gene family and molecular target of spinosad
Authors: Lan Jianqiang , Wang Zihe , Chen Zhaohui , Zhang Lei , Zhao Jianguo , Guan Qingfeng , Liao Chenghong , Liu Nannan , Han Qian 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDSpinosad is an insecticide with unique mode of action (MOA) of disrupting nicotinic acetylcholine receptor and is efficacious against many insect species. Mutations in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α6 subunit have been identified that are associated with levels of spinosad resistance, but the molecular characterization of the nAChR gene family and a causative association between nAChR α6 and resistance to spinosad in Aedes aegypti, a primary vector of many arboviruses, have not yet been reported.RESULTSIn this study, we identified 10 candidate nAChR subunits in Ae. Aegypti, nAChRα1–α9 and nAChRβ1, showing similarly orthologous relationships with Anopheles gambiae. With the application of the CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing system, we introduced a 32‐bp deletion at the 5′ end of the Aaeα6 (Ae. aegypti nAChR α6) gene in a homozygous mutant strain (Aaeα6‐KO). The mutation produced two successive pre‐mature stop codons, resulting in loss of function in the target receptor. The Aaeα6‐KO mutant strain exhibited a 320‐fold level of resistance to spinosad compared with wildtype. A recessive mode of inheritance for spinosad resistance was found in the Aaeα6‐KO strain.CONCLUSIONCRISPR/Cas9 introduced truncated Aaeα6 receptor in Ae. aegypti resulted in an increased level of resistance to spinosad, suggesting that the conserved nAChR α6 subunit is the target for spinosad insecticide. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Analyses of structural dynamics revealed flexible binding mechanism for the Agrilus mali odorant binding protein 8 towards plant volatiles
Authors: Li Dexian , Li Chunbo , Liu Deguang 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBACKGROUNDVolatiles from host plants are an important source of insect pest attractants and repellents. Insect odorant binding proteins (OBPs) have been widely characterized, but the molecular binding dynamics and underlying mechanisms are still not well understood. Thus, we characterized binding characteristics of AmalOBP8 from the apple buprestid beetle (Agrilus mali Matsumura), an unprecedented serious threat to rare apple germplasm resources and local ecosystems.RESULTSFluorescence studies demonstrated that the quenching mechanism was clearly static. AmalOBP8 was found to bind with both volatiles at single independent sites. Negative thermodynamic parameters suggested that binding interactions between AmalOBP8 and both volatiles could occur spontaneously. Hydrogen bonding was the key force in AmalOBP8's binding to geranyl formate, for which the amino acid residue Trp106 played a critical role in the binding pocket. Multiple Leu residues in AmalOBP8 created a strong hydrophobic environment, and formed the binding pocket for (Z)‐3‐hexenyl hexanoate. Compared to classic OBPs, in addition to lack of one disulfide bridge, AmalOBP8 had a small α‐helix (α7) at the C‐terminus, resulting in greater flexibility and adaptability for this protein to bind with different compound molecules.CONCLUSIONKey residues of AmalOBP8 in binding interactions with plant volatiles were clarified. AmalOPB8 had a large ligand binding spectrum and great flexibility in binding with plant volatiles, providing good molecular targets for screening insect attractants and repellents. Our results can promote understanding of insects' perception of various odorants, and establish a foundation for discovery of new pest control agents. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
Information theory and Wigner crystallization: A model perspective
Authors: Thompson David C. , Anderson James S. M. , Sen K. D. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAccurate restricted Hartree‐Fock (RHF) wave‐functions are used to investigate information theoretic properties of the model problem of two interacting electrons confined within an infinite spherical potential of radius R. Benchmark quality calculations are performed to characterize this system via a range of information measures as a function of the tunable parameter R, across the full electron correlation regime (low to high correlation; small R to large R). Both the Shannon information entropy and a statistical complexity measure provide quantitative insight regarding the onset of the formation of a “Wigner molecule” state for this system.
Acute eosinophilic pneumonia accompanied with COVID‐19: a case report
Authors: Murao Koutaro , Saito Atsushi , Kuronuma Koji , Fujiya Yoshihiro , Takahashi Satoshi , Chiba Hirofumi 
Published: November 2020

AbstractWe report a case of acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) triggered by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection. A 77‐year‐old man experienced left‐sided chest pain and shortness of breath. Reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) revealed a positive result, and he was treated with favipiravir, ciclesonide, and lascufloxacin, but he showed poor improvement. On the other hand, computed tomography (CT) images were atypical for COVID‐19 infection, and the elevation of eosinophil was found in blood and the fluid obtained by bronchoscopy. So, we clinically diagnosed this case as AEP. Administration of prednisolone dramatically improved the patient's clinical condition and chest radiograph findings, which were consistent with the clinical course of AEP. This case suggests the importance of considering the complications of AEP when treating patients with COVID‐19 infection.
Development and application of the average pelvic shape in virtual pelvic fracture reconstruction
Authors: Ead Maha S. , Palizi Mehrdad , Jaremko Jacob L. , Westover Lindsey , Duke Kajsa K. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractBackgroundWith unilateral pelvic fractures, the contralateral hemipelvis can be used as a template in virtual reconstruction; however, this cannot be applied for bilateral fractures. Therefore, statistical shape modelling was used to build average pelvic shapes that can serve as templates when reconstructing bilaterally fractured pelvises.MethodsFour average shape models were created for male and female, left and right hemipelves from 20 male and 20 female subjects. They were used as templates to reconstruct eight unilaterally fractured pelvises.ResultsThe average root‐mean‐square of deviations between the reconstructed and intact hemipelves was 1.46 ± 0.32 mm, which is less than the 2 mm threshold for causing hip joint complications.ConclusionThis indicates that the reconstructions are reliable and the average shape models can be used to reconstruct bilaterally fractured pelvises. The proposed technique can potentially provide quick and accurate treatment plans for pelvic fracture patients, which is necessary for recovery.
Bioinspired Assembly of Double Honeycomb‐Like Hierarchical Capsule Confined Encapsulation with Functional Micro/Nanocrystals
Authors: Qin Lei , Gao Mingzhen , Zhang Mengyuan , Li Xiong , Ru Rui , Luo Huili , Zhang Guoliang 
Published: November 2020

AbstractInspired by “micro/nanoreactor” effect of cellular organelle on specific biochemical reactions, a double honeycomb‐like hierarchical capsule confined encapsulation with functional micro/nanocrystals is designed. The bioinspired hierarchical capsules derived from polymeric composite microspheres are successfully fabricated through a combination of selective chemical etching and pyrolysis. In situ introduction of functional guests (including organometallic molecules, tetraethoxysilane, or metal–organic frameworks (MOFs)) into internal cellular structure of microspheres is first put forward by phase inversion method. The development of selective etching creates honeycomb‐like structure on the outside surface of capsule and allows sulfur to homogeneously distribute into matrix. With the novel approach, the hierarchical channels (micro–meso–macropore) of composite capsule enhance transportation of reactants and dispersion of active sites, and thus exhibit superior photocatalytic oxidation and electromagnetic absorbing. The promising strategy will be applied more generally to encapsulate different species into hierarchical capsule with tailored properties and functionalities.
Complex Nucleic Acid Hybridization Reactions inside Capillary‐Driven Microfluidic Chips
Authors: Salva Marie L. , Rocca Marco , Hu Yong , Delamarche Emmanuel , Niemeyer Christof M. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractNucleic acid hybridization reactions play an important role in many (bio)chemical fields, for example, for the development of portable point‐of‐care diagnostics, and often such applications require nucleic acid‐based reaction systems that ideally run without enzymes under isothermal conditions. The use of novel capillary‐driven microfluidic chips to perform two isothermal nucleic acid hybridization reactions, the simple opening of molecular beacon structures and the complex reaction cascade of a clamped‐hybridization chain reaction (C‐HCR), is reported here. For this purpose, reagents are arranged in a self‐coalescence module (SCM) of a passive silicon microfluidic chip using inkjet spotting. The SCM occupies a footprint of ≈7 mm2 of a ≈0.4 × 2 cm2 microfluidic chip. By means of fluorophore‐labeled DNA probes, the hybridization reactions can be analyzed in just ≈2 min and using only ≈3 µL of the sample. Furthermore, the SCM chip offers a variety of reagent delivery options, allowing, for example, the influence of the initiator concentration on the kinetics of C‐HCR to be investigated systematically with minimal sample and time requirements. These results suggest that self‐powered microfluidic chips equipped with a SCM provide a powerful platform for performing and investigating complex reaction systems.
Torsional strengthening of tubular type RC beams with NSM technique: Structural performance and cracking process using DIC
Authors: Gowda Chandan C. , Barros Joaquim A. O. , Guadagnini Maurizio , Pereira Eduardo 
Published: November 2020

AbstractDespite the key role of thin‐walled tubular reinforced concrete (RC) members in major critical infrastructure projects, for example, bridges, their torsional performance is still not well understood and the effectiveness of strengthening systems cannot be easily assessed, especially when using innovative strengthening materials. With a large part of critical infrastructure approaching its design service life, these issues are becoming more and more important. This paper examines the torsional behavior of thin‐walled tubular RC beams and evaluates the contribution of different strengthening configurations using carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) reinforcement applied according to the near surface mounted (NSM) technique. Six strengthened specimens are tested with different amounts of CFRP laminates in the longitudinal and transverse direction. Digital image correlation (DIC) is used to gain a deeper understanding of the contribution of the NSM CFRP laminates to the fracture process and overall deformation behavior of the RC elements. The crack mouth opening displacement (CMOD) of the critical crack is compared to those of the other cracks, and the torsional crack evolution is assessed against the strain evolution in the CFRP laminates. The results confirm the effectiveness of NSM CFRP strengthening solutions for thin‐walled RC members, and provide clear evidence that torsional performance can be improved in terms of torsional moment carrying capacity, torsional stiffness, torsional angle of rotation and limiting the crack width propagation, which improves the aggregate interlock shear resisting mechanism.
Transdisciplinary soil hydrology
Authors: Hopmans Jan W. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIn this paper, I present an evolutional pathway from disciplinary towards transdisciplinary science and research and offer contemporary examples of interdisciplinary research in soil hydrology. I further explore exciting opportunities that can lead to transdisciplinary research (TDres), as society demands for our science expertise to be increasingly involved in developing solutions in global issues of sustainability, food and water security, as well as in the decision‐making process. By way of TDres involvement in public policy, the scientist is going to be working in the trans‐science domains for which (s)he is likely not very prepared. Recommendations are presented to better train students and early‐career scientists so that they can be effective in participating in TDres and communicating their scientific knowledge to relevant stakeholders, the public, and decision makers as part of the policy‐making process.