bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validation of the new mechanistic scale‐up of gas‐solid fluidized beds using advanced non‐invasive measurement techniques
Authors: Efhaima Abdelsalam , Al‐Dahhan Muthanna H. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis study focuses on the validation of a new mechanistic of scale‐up for hydrodynamics similarity of gas‐solid fluidized bed reactors that was developed in our Multiphase Reactors Engineering and Applications Laboratory (mReal). It is based on maintaining identical or relatively similar time‐averaged radial profiles of gas holdups in two differently sizes gas‐solid fluidized beds to achieve local and global similarities of the dimensionless hydrodynamic parameters. This is because the gas‐dynamic dictates the hydrodynamics of gas‐solid fluidized beds. The new scale‐up method has been successfully validated by assessing for the first time the local hydrodynamic parameters, such as time‐averaged cross‐sectional distributions and radial‐profiles of gas and solids holdups at different axial levels, which were measured by gamma‐ray computed tomography technique. In addition, the particle velocity field and turbulent parameters (shear stress, normal stresses, and turbulent kinetic energy) were measured by radioactive particle tracking technique. The experimental results showed that achieving similarity in the radial profiles of the gas holdup in the geometrically similar beds is essential for ensuring identical or relatively similar local and global hydrodynamics similarity. As the differences increase in terms of magnitude and trend in the gas holdup radial profiles between two beds, the differences increase in the detailed hydrodynamics.
Prey capture in protists utilizing microtubule filled processes and surface motility
Authors: Bloodgood Robert A. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractSurface motility, which can be visualized by the movement of live prey organisms, polystyrene microspheres or other inert particles, has been shown to occur in a wide variety of microtubule‐filled extensions of the protistan cell surface, although the associated functions remain enigmatic. This article integrates an extensive but poorly known body of literature showing that surface motility, associated with microtubule‐filled cell extensions such as flagella, axopodia, actinopodia, reticulopodia, and haptonema, plays a crucial role in protistan prey capture. Surface motility has been most extensively studied inChlamydomonaswhere it is responsible for flagella‐dependent whole cell gliding motility. The force transduction machinery for gliding motility inChlamydomonasis intraflagellar transport. Other than inChlamydomonas, this field has not moved far beyond the descriptive to the mechanistic because of technical challenges associated with many of the protistan organisms that utilize surface motility for prey capture. The purpose of this article is to rekindle interest in the protistan systems that utilize surface motility for prey capture at a time when newly emerging molecular tools for working with protists are poised to reinvigorate a field that has been quiescent too long.
Vimentin's side gig: Regulating cellular proteostasis in mammalian systems
Authors: Morrow Christopher S. , Moore Darcie L. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIntermediate filaments (IFs) perform a diverse set of well‐known functions including providing structural support for the cell and resistance to mechanical stress, yet recent evidence has revealed unexpected roles for IFs as stress response proteins. Previously, it was shown that the type III IF protein vimentin forms cage‐like structures around centrosome‐associated proteins destined for degradation, structures referred to as aggresomes, suggesting a role for vimentin in protein turnover. However, vimentin's function at the aggresome has remained largely understudied. In a recent report, vimentin was shown to be dispensable for aggresome formation, but played a critical role in protein turnover at the aggresome through localizing proteostasis‐related machineries, such as proteasomes, to the aggresome. Here, we review evidence for vimentin's function in proteostasis and highlight the organismal implications of these findings.
Distribution and morphology of P2X3‐immunoreactive subserosal afferent nerve endings in the rat gastric antrum
Authors: Hirakawa Masato , Yokoyama Takuya , Yamamoto Yoshio , Saino Tomoyuki 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe present study investigated the morphological characteristics of subserosal afferent nerve endings with immunoreactivity for the P2X3 purinoceptor (P2X3) in the rat stomach by immunohistochemistry of whole‐mount preparations using confocal scanning laser microscopy. P2X3 immunoreactivity was observed in subserosal nerve endings proximal and lateral to the gastric sling muscles in the distal antrum of the lesser curvature. Parent axons ramified into several lamellar processes to form net‐like complex structures that extended two‐dimensionally in every direction on the surface of the longitudinal smooth muscle layer. The axon terminals in the periphery of P2X3‐immunoreactive net‐like structures were flat and looped or leaf‐like in shape. Some net‐like lamellar structures and their axon terminals with P2X3 immunoreactivity were also immunoreactive for P2X2. P2X3‐immunoreactive nerve fibers forming net‐like terminal structures were closely surrounded by S100B‐immunoreactive terminal Schwann cells, whereas axon terminals twined around these cells and extended club‐, knob‐, or thread‐like protrusions in the surrounding tissues. Furthermore, a retrograde tracing method using fast blue dye indicated that most of these nerve endings originated from the nodose ganglia of the vagus nerve. These results suggest that P2X3‐immunoreactive subserosal nerve endings have morphological characteristics of mechanoreceptors and contribute to sensation of a mechanical deformation of the distal antral wall associated with antral peristalsis.
Evaluation of a Pilot Vancomycin Precision Dosing Advisory Service on Target Exposure Attainment Using an Interrupted Time Series Analysis
Authors: Stocker Sophie L. , Carland Jane E. , Reuter Stephanie E. , Stacy Alexandra E. , Schaffer Andrea L. , Stefani Maurizio , Lau Cindy , Kirubakaran Ranita , Yang Jennifer J. , Shen Catriona F.J. , Roberts Darren M. , Marriott Deborah J.E. , Day Richard O. , Brett Jonathan 
Published: November 2020

This study evaluated the ability of a pilot therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) Advisory Service to facilitate vancomycin therapeutic target attainment within a real‐world clinical setting. The Service provided area under the concentration‐time curve (AUC)–guided vancomycin dose recommendations, using Bayesian forecasting software and clinical expertise, to prescribers at an Australian hospital. A retrospective audit of intravenous vancomycin therapy (> 48 hours) in adults (≥ 18 years old) was undertaken over a 54‐month period to evaluate attainment of established vancomycin pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic targets (AUC over 24 hours / minimum inhibitory concentration: 400–600) before (36‐month period) and after (18‐month period) Service implementation. Interrupted time series analysis was employed to evaluate monthly measures of the median proportion of therapy spent within the target range. Indices of time to target attainment were also assessed before and after Service implementation. The final cohort comprised 1,142 courses of vancomycin (816 patients); 835 courses (596 patients) and 307 courses (220 patients) administered before and after Service implementation, respectively. Prior to piloting the Service, the median proportion of time in the target range was 40.1% (95% CI, 34.3–46.0%); this increased by 10.4% (95% CI, 1.2–19.6%, P = 0.03) after the Service, and was sustained throughout the post‐Service evaluation period. Post‐Service target attainment at 48–72 hours after initiation of therapy was increased (7.8%, 95% CI, 1.3–14.3%, P = 0.02). The findings of this study provide evidence that a consultative TDM Service can facilitate attainment of vancomycin therapeutic targets; however, optimization of the Service may further improve the use of vancomycin.
Designer Ferrocene Catholyte for Aqueous Organic Flow Batteries
Authors: Chen Qianru , Li Yuanyuan , Liu Yahua , Sun Pan , Yang Zhengjin , Xu Tongwen 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe aqueous organic flow battery (AOFB) holds enormous potential as an energy storage device for fluctuating renewable electricity by exploiting the redox reactions of water‐soluble organic molecules. The current development is impeded by lack of organic molecules adequate as catholyte, yet how the catholyte structure impacts the battery lifetime remains unexplored. Here, six ferrocene derivatives with deliberately tuned chemical structure were devised. They underwent reversible redox reactions in water, and the redox potentials were inversely related to the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy of their energized forms. The stability of the ferrocene derivatives was evaluated in full flow cells and in symmetric cells. Density function theory calculations, along with experimental results, revealed that the localized LUMO density on Fe led to fast capacity fading. BQH−Fc, which has the lowest LUMO density on Fe, showed the highest stability. No capacity loss was observed for the BQH−Fc/BTMAP−Vi cell at 0.1 m, and a high capacity retention rate of 99.993 % h−1 was recorded at 1.5 m, which could be attributed to electrolyte crossover. To facilitate explorations of robust and high capacity catholytes, a method was established to predict the water solubility of ferrocene molecules, and calculations were in good accordance with measured values.
Polyacrylamide‐Mediated Silver Nanoparticles for Selectively Enhancing Electroreduction of CO2 towards CO in Water
Authors: Han Xiaofei , Liu Lin , Yuan Jiayi , Zhang Xinsheng , Niu Dongfang 
Published: November 2020

AbstractConversion of the greenhouse gas CO2 to value‐added products is an important challenge for sustainable energy research. Here, a durably nanohybrid composed of Ag nanoparticles and polyacrylamide was constructed for the selectively electroreduction of CO2 to CO. The nanohybrid exhibited an outstanding CO faradaic efficiency of 97.2±0.2 % at −0.89 VRHE (vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode) with a desirable CO partial current density of −22.0±2.3 mA cm−2 and maintained the CO faradaic efficiency above 95 % over a wide potential range (−0.79 to −1.09 VRHE), showing excellent stability during a 48 h prolonged electrolysis. The origins of selective enhancement of CO2 reduction over the nanohybrid stemmed from the activation of CO2 via hydrogen bond and the low basicity of the amide. DFT calculations implied that the synergy of Ag nanoparticles and amide could better stabilize the key intermediate (*COOH) and effectively lower the overpotential of CO2 reduction. These results establish the synergistic effects of organic/inorganic hybrid as a complementary method for tuning selectivity in CO2‐to‐fuels catalysis.
Urbanization mediates the effects of water quality and climate on a model aerial insectivorous bird
Authors: Sullivan S. Mažeika P. , Corra Joseph W. , Hayes Jeffry T. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAerial insectivorous birds have experienced alarming population declines in eastern North America. Meanwhile, urbanization continues to increase rapidly, with urban land use comprising 69.4 million acres (1 acre = 0.40 ha), or 3.6% of total land area, in the contiguous United States. Multiple environmental changes are associated with urbanization, including alterations to local climate, changes in habitat structure, and potential shifts in both terrestrial and emergent aquatic flying insects on which aerial insectivorous birds rely. Here, we investigated the linkages between urbanization, water quality, and Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) reproductive success and body condition at seven river‐riparian sites representing urban and protected land use in Columbus, Ohio (USA) over five consecutive years (2014–2018). Tree Swallows at urban and protected sites relied on emergent aquatic insects for 37.4% and 30.8% (SD = 28.4% and 24.1%) of their nutritional subsidies, respectively. Despite the loss of environmental quality generally attributed to cities, Tree Swallows exhibited greater reproductive success in urban settings where climate was more amenable to egg and nestling survival, and the breeding season was longer. Urban‐nesting Tree Swallows initiated laying 7.9 d earlier and fledged 35% more young per nest than those at protected sites. Multiple characteristics of urban sites appeared to drive these patterns, including differences in mean and extreme air temperatures and measures of water quality (e.g., water temperature, nutrient concentrations, turbidity). However, chronic effects of elevated Hg concentrations, which were 482% greater in adult swallow blood at urban sites than at protected sites where swallows exhibited a 17.4% lower trophic position, may disadvantage individuals in other ways. Further, although Tree Swallows are a good model aerial insectivore bird species, characteristics of urban landscapes that benefit Tree Swallows may not advantage other aerial insectivorous birds owing to differences in life‐history and foraging strategies. These findings implicate urbanization, local climate, and water quality as important considerations in the conservation of aerial insectivorous birds.
Extracting ecological metrics from archeological surveys of shipwrecks using submersible video and laser‐line scanning
Authors: Johnson Katrina H. , Paxton Avery B. , Taylor J. Christopher , Hoyt Joseph , McCord John , Hoffman William 
Published: November 2020

AbstractEcological metrics derived from habitat surveys can provide information necessary to understand population, community, and ecosystem processes. Here, we present a case study on the feasibility of extracting ecological metrics from archeological studies of shipwrecks. Even though shipwrecks that are the focus of archeological surveys also form habitat for diverse flora and fauna, shipwrecks are often studied separately by archeologists and ecologists. Conducting joint archeological and ecological surveys promises to maximize research resources and outputs, yet this cross‐disciplinary approach is rare. Here, we test the feasibility of extracting ecological metrics from archeological surveys of two historically significant and deep (200 m) shipwrecks, the German U‐boat U‐576 and the Nicaraguan freighter SS Bluefields, which sank in close proximity to one another on the continental shelf of North Carolina, USA during World War II. First, we assessed fish density, community composition, behavior, and spatial distribution on these shipwrecks using video and laser‐line scanning data collected from human‐occupied submersibles during archeological surveys. Second, we examined the ecological benefits and biases of pairing laser‐line scanning and video surveys designed for archeological specifications. Our approach allowed us to pinpoint locations of fish around the shipwrecks and to identify these fish to fine taxonomic levels. The extracted ecological data revealed that both shipwrecks hosted high densities (U‐576 38.2 ± 4.0; SS Bluefields 32.0 ± 18.0 per along‐ship transect) of demersal fishes, including grouper species, and that fish concentrated around high‐relief shipwreck features. More broadly, our findings demonstrate the utility and benefits of collecting multipurpose and cross‐disciplinary data and provide a proof‐of‐concept for conducting joint archeological and ecological studies.
An experimental approach to assessing the impact of ecosystem engineers on biodiversity and ecosystem functions
Authors: Losapio Gianalberto , Schmid Bernhard , Bascompte Jordi , Michalet Richard , Cerretti Pierfilippo , Germann Christoph , Haenni Jean‐Paul , Neumeyer Rainer , Ortiz‐Sánchez Francisco Javier , Pont Adrian C. , Rousse Pascal , Schmid Jürg , Sommaggio Daniele , Schöb Christian 
Published: November 2020

AbstractPlants acting as ecosystem engineers create habitats and facilitate biodiversity maintenance within plant communities. Furthermore, biodiversity research has demonstrated that plant diversity enhances the productivity and functioning of ecosystems. However, these two fields of research developed in parallel and independent from one another, with the consequence that little is known about the role of ecosystem engineers in the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning across trophic levels. Here, we present an experimental framework to study this relationship. We combine facilitation by plants acting as ecosystem engineers with plant–insect interaction analysis and variance partitioning of biodiversity effects. We present a case‐study experiment in which facilitation by a cushion‐plant species and a dwarf‐shrub species as ecosystem engineers increases positive effects of plant functional diversity (ecosystem engineers and associated plants) on ecosystem functioning (flower visitation rate). The experiment, conducted in the field during a single alpine flowering season, included the following treatments: (1) removal of plant species associated with ecosystem engineers, (2) exclusion (covering) of ecosystem engineer flowers, and (3) control, i.e., natural patches of ecosystem engineers and associated plant species. We found both positive and negative associational effects between plants depending on ecosystem engineer identity, indicating both pollination facilitation and interference. In both cases, patches supported by ecosystem engineers increased phylogenetic and functional diversity of flower visitors. Furthermore, complementarity effects between engineers and associated plants were positive for flower visitation rates. Our study reveals that plant facilitation can enhance the strength of biodiversity–ecosystem functioning relationships, with complementarity between plants for attracting more and diverse flower visitors being the likely driver. A potential mechanism is that synergy and complementarity between engineers and associated plants increase attractiveness for shared visitors and widen pollination niches. In synthesis, facilitation among plants can scale up to a full network, supporting ecosystem functioning both directly via microhabitat amelioration and indirectly via diversity effects.
Renal profiling based on estimated glomerular filtration rate and spot urine sodium identifies high‐risk acute heart failure patients
Authors: Biegus Jan , Zymliński Robert , Testani Jeffrey , Marciniak Dominik , Zdanowicz Agata , Jankowska Ewa A. , Banasiak Waldemar , Ponikowski Piotr 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAimsIn acute heart failure (AHF), assessment of renal function comprises estimation of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which does not provide any information about renal sodium/water handling. We describe the interactions between urinary sodium concentration and eGFR to better characterize AHF patients.Methods and resultsIn 219 patients with AHF, spot urine sodium (UNa+) and eGFR were assessed on admission, day 1 and day 2 of hospitalization. We found no correlation between UNa+ and eGFR (calculated on each consecutive day, as an average of all three values, and as changes from baseline; all P > 0.05). The population was subsequently divided into four profiles based on eGFR (preserved vs. impaired; cutoff of 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) and UNa+ (sodium excreter vs. non‐excreter; cutoff of 60 mmol/L). At day 1, there were 70 (31.9%) patients classified as preserved eGFR/sodium excreter, 37 (16.8%) as impaired eGFR/sodium non‐excreter, 72 (32.9%) as impaired eGFR/sodium excreter, and 40 (18%) as preserved eGFR/sodium non‐excreter. Both sodium non‐excreter profiles were associated with an increased risk of in‐hospital heart failure worsening [odds ratio (OR) 2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3–6.4], inotrope use (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.1–6.7) and rehospitalization due to AHF (OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.6–6.2; all P < 0.05). The preserved eGFR/sodium non‐excreter profile was associated with highest 1‐year mortality (52.5%) and remained an independent prognosticator after adjustment for other prognosticators (hazard ratio 2.9, 95% CI 1.7–5.2; P < 0.0005).ConclusionsIn AHF, values of spot UNa+ and eGFR are not interrelated. Concomitant assessment of eGFR and spot UNa+ may be useful for better clinical and therapeutic profiling of patients.
Does genetic diversity protect host populations from parasites? A meta-analysis across natural and agricultural systems
Authors: Gibson Amanda Kyle , Nguyen Anna E. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIf parasites transmit more readily between closely related hosts, then parasite burdens should decrease with increased genetic diversity of host populations. This important hypothesis is often accepted at face value—notorious epidemics of crop monocultures testify to the vulnerability of host populations that have been purged of diversity. Yet the relationship between genetic diversity and parasitism likely varies across contexts, differing between crop and noncrop hosts and between experimental and natural host populations. Here, we used a meta-analytic approach to ask if host diversity confers protection against parasites over the range of contexts in which it has been tested. We synthesized the results of 102 studies, comprising 2004 effect sizes representing a diversity of approaches and host-parasite systems. Our results validate a protective effect of genetic diversity, while revealing significant variation in its strength across biological and empirical contexts. In experimental host populations, genetic diversity reduces parasitism by ∼20% for noncrop hosts and by ∼50% for crop hosts. In contrast, observational studies of natural host populations show no consistent relationship between genetic diversity and parasitism, with both strong negative and positive correlations reported. This result supports the idea that, if parasites preferentially attack close relatives, the correlation of genetic diversity with parasitism could be positive or negative depending upon the potential for host populations to evolve in response to parasite selection. Taken together, these results reinforce genetic diversity as a priority for both conservation and agriculture and emphasize the challenges inherent to drawing comparisons between controlled experimental populations and dynamic natural populations.
The roles of standard cigarettes in assuring the ignition resistance of soft furnishings
Authors: Gann Richard G. , Kim Ickchan , Lund Steven P. , Guthrie William F. , Robbins Amanda P. , Hnetkovsky Edward J. , Davis Rick D. 
Published: November 2020

SummaryRegulations for cigarette ignition resistance (CIR) of soft furnishings (beds and upholstered furniture) and less fire‐prone cigarettes have contributed substantially to the decrease in losses from cigarette‐initiated fires over time. Two standard reference cigarettes play key roles in mitigating these losses and in sustaining the effectiveness of the fire safety regulations as exogenous changes occur. SRM 1082 provides a uniform, durable supply of cigarettes for use in ASTM E2187 that assures manufacturers and regulators of compliance with regulations for reduced ignition propensity cigarettes; enables quality control of cigarette fire test performance; enables assurance of uniform interlaboratory test results; obviates effects on fire safety as tobacco crops and smokers change over time; and, when the original ASTM E2187 substrate material was no longer available, enabled adding a new, equivalent substrate. SRM 1196 provides a uniform, durable supply of cigarettes for assurance of consistent interlaboratory evaluation of the ignition resistance of soft furnishings using the mandated test methods; obviates possible unknown changes in soft furnishings' CIR due to the evolving ignition strength of the original test cigarette over time; and provided a test cigarette that was stronger than most cigarettes being smoked after manufacture of the original commercial test cigarette ceased.