bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of foliar fungus‐mediated interactions with below and aboveground enemies of the invasive plant Ageratina adenophora
Authors: Fang Kai , Chen Li‐Min , Zhang Han‐Bo 
Published: November 2020

AbstractPlant–fungal associations are frequently key drivers of plant invasion success. Foliar fungi can benefit their invasive hosts by enhancing growth promotion, disease resistance and environmental stress tolerance. However, the roles of foliar fungi may vary when a given invasive plant faces different stresses. In this study, we designed three independent experiments to evaluate the effects of a foliar fungus, Colletotrichum sp., on the growth performance of the invasive plant Ageratina adenophora under different soil conditions, as well as the responses of A. adenophora to the foliar fungal pathogen Diaporthe helianthi and to herbivory. We found that the soil type was the most influential factor for the growth of A. adenophora. The role of the foliar fungus Colletotrichum sp. varied in the different soil types but generally adversely affected leaf development in A. adenophora. Colletotrichum sp. may be a weak latent foliar pathogen that can enhance the pathogenicity of D. helianthi on leaves of A. adenophora and marginally reduce signs of herbivory by natural insects in the wild on A. adenophora seedlings. In general, the benefits of the foliar fungus Colletotrichum to the fitness of A. adenophora are not significant in the context of this experimental design. However, our data highlight the need to consider both aboveground and belowground biota in different soil habitats when evaluating the effects of foliar fungi.
Endothelial dysfunction and C‐reactive protein predict the incidence of heart failure in hypertensive patients
Authors: Maio Raffaele , Perticone Maria , Suraci Edoardo , Sciacqua Angela , Sesti Giorgio , Perticone Francesco 
Published: November 2020

AbstractAimsEndothelial dysfunction and heart failure are associated, but no prospective studies demonstrated that impaired endothelium‐dependent vasodilation predicts incident heart failure. We designed this study to test whether endothelial dysfunction is associated with incident heart failure in a group of hypertensives.Methods and resultsWe enrolled 735 White never‐treated hypertensive outpatients free from heart failure, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and previous cardiovascular events. Endothelium‐dependent vasodilation was investigated by intra‐arterial infusion of acetylcholine, and laboratory determinations were obtained by standard procedures. During the follow‐up [median 114 months (range 26–206)], there were 208 new cases of heart failure (3.1 events/100 patient‐years). Dividing the study population in progressors and non‐progressors, we observed that progressors were older, showed a higher prevalence of being female, and had a higher baseline heart rate, glucose, insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment (HOMA), creatinine, and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) mean values, while estimated glomerular filtration rate and maximal acetylcholine‐stimulated forearm blood flow were lower. In the multiple Cox regression analysis, female gender [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.454, 95% CI = 1.067–1.981], fasting glucose (HR = 1.186, 95% CI = 1.038–1.357), hs‐CRP (HR = 1.162, 95% CI = 1.072–1.259), HOMA (HR = 1.124, 95% CI = 1.037–1.219), acetylcholine‐stimulated forearm blood flow (HR = 0.779, 95% CI = 0.695–0.874), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR = 0.767, 95% CI = 0.693–0.849) maintained an independent association with the outcome. Successively, testing the interaction between forearm blood flow and hs‐CRP, we observed that patients who have hs‐CRP values above the median and forearm blood flow under the median show a higher risk of developing heart failure (HR = 7.699, 95% CI = 4.407–13.451).ConclusionsThe present data demonstrate that an impaired endothelium‐dependent vasodilation and hs‐CRP predict development of incident heart failure in hypertensives.
Transgenerational effects in offspring of chronically irradiated populations of Drosophila melanogaster after the Chernobyl accident
Authors: Yushkova Elena , Bashlykova Ludmila 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe zone of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster represents the largest area of chronic low‐intensity radioactive impact on the natural ecosystems. The effects of chronic low‐dose irradiation for natural populations of organisms and their offspring are unknown. The natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster sampled in 2007 in Chernobyl sites with different levels of radiation contamination were investigated. The offspring of specimens from these populations were studied under laboratory conditions to assess the effects of parental irradiation on the mutation process and survival of the offspring. Transgenerational effects of radioactive contamination were observed at the level of gross chromosomal rearrangements (dominant lethal mutations). The frequency of point/gene mutations (recessive sex‐linked lethal mutations) of the offspring of the irradiated parents corresponded to the actual level of spontaneous mutations. The survival rate of offspring decreased over 160 generations and significantly correlated with the dominant lethal mutation levels. Our results provide a compelling evidence that other factors (distance from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, time after the initial exposure, selection site and origin of population) can affect the changes in the levels of the studied parameters along with the parental radiation exposure. They can also make a significant contribution to the health of the offspring of animals exposed to radioactive contamination. These data should be useful for future radioecological studies which will clarify the true mechanisms of transgenerational inheritance and generation of mutations to the offspring of chronically irradiated animals and their reactions to the interaction of various environmental factors.
A history of Hanford tank waste, implications for waste treatment, and disposal
Authors: Colburn Heather A. , Peterson Reid A. 
Published: November 2020

AbstractMore than 40 years of plutonium processing have left almost 56 million gallons of mixed radioactive waste sequestered in 177 underground tanks on the Hanford Site. Three different processing technologies were employed for plutonium purification in addition to uranium scavenging and fission product removal from the tank waste. All of these chemical processes have contributed to a complex waste stream that varies from tank to tank that presents downstream processing challenges to render the waste into a safe form for long‐term storage. The current disposition pathway for Hanford tank waste is vitrification. To maximize waste loading and minimize the number of high‐level waste canisters stored in a geologic repository, pretreatment of the waste is required. Both pretreatment and vitrification operations are impacted by the waste composition.
Selection of seismic intensity measures for prescribed limit states using alternative nonlinear dynamic analysis methods
Authors: Ebrahimian Hossein , Jalayer Fatemeh 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIn performance‐based earthquake engineering, the suitability of an intensity measure (IM) is expressed through its efficiency and sufficiency. An efficient IM leads to a small record‐to‐record variability in the estimation of demand given seismic intensity. A sufficient IM is one that renders the estimation of demand for all intensity levels independent of all other ground motion parameters. Given that establishing sufficiency is not a trivial task, the relative sufficiency measure (RSM) has been proposed previously based on information theory concepts. RSM can be employed for quantifying the relative sufficiency of an IM with respect to another IM by the amount of extra information that it relays on average about the ground motion for the estimation of a demand parameter of interest. RSM has been so far conditioned on a linear logarithmic regression probability model, better known as the Cloud Analysis (CA), which relies on unscaled ground‐motion records. This work lays out the methodology for estimating both the efficiency and RSM in terms of the damage measure directly (instead of demand parameter) and by employing alternative nonlinear dynamic analysis procedures (NDAPs), such as, a modified version of CA that considers the collapse‐cases explicitly and the incremental dynamic analysis. It is demonstrated that the RSM can be sensitive to the NDAP employed, while it does not demonstrate significant sensitivity to the limit state of interest. An alternative measure of efficiency (known in literature as proficiency), directly measured as the dispersion in the fragility curve, shows more sensitivity to the limit state.
Critical Aspects of Metal–Organic Framework‐Based Materials for Solar‐Driven CO2 Reduction into Valuable Fuels
Authors: He Yiqiang , Li Chunguang , Chen Xiao‐Bo , Rao Heng , Shi Zhan , Feng Shouhua 
Published: November 2020

AbstractPhotoreduction of CO2 into value‐added fuels is one of the most promising strategies for tackling the energy crisis and mitigating the “greenhouse effect.” Recently, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely investigated in the field of CO2 photoreduction owing to their high CO2 uptake and adjustable functional groups. The fundamental factors and state‐of‐the‐art advancements in MOFs for photocatalytic CO2 reduction are summarized from the critical perspectives of light absorption, carrier dynamics, adsorption/activation, and reaction on the surface of photocatalysts, which are the three main critical aspects for CO2 photoreduction and determine the overall photocatalytic efficiency. In view of the merits of porous materials, recent progress of three other types of porous materials are also briefly summarized, namely zeolite‐based, covalent–organic frameworks based (COFs‐based), and porous semiconductor or organic polymer based photocatalysts. The remarkable performance of these porous materials for solar‐driven CO2 reduction systems is highlighted. Finally, challenges and opportunities of porous materials for photocatalytic CO2 reduction are presented, aiming to provide a new viewpoint for improving the overall photocatalytic CO2 reduction efficiency with porous materials.
White matter hyperintensities at critical crossroads for executive function and verbal abilities in small vessel disease
Authors: Camerino Ileana , Sierpowska Joanna , Reid Andrew , Meyer Nathalie H. , Tuladhar Anil M. , Kessels Roy P. C. , de Leeuw Frank‐Erik , Piai Vitória 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThe presence of white matter lesions in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is among the main causes of cognitive decline. We investigated the relation between white matter hyperintensity (WMH) locations and executive and language abilities in 442 SVD patients without dementia with varying burden of WMH. We used Stroop Word Reading, Stroop Color Naming, Stroop Color‐Word Naming, and Category Fluency as language measures with varying degrees of executive demands. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) was used as a control task, as it measures processing speed without requiring language use or verbal output. A voxel‐based lesion–symptom mapping (VLSM) approach was used, corrected for age, sex, education, and lesion volume. VLSM analyses revealed statistically significant clusters for tests requiring language use, but not for SDMT. Worse scores on all tests were associated with WMH in forceps minor, thalamic radiations and caudate nuclei. In conclusion, an association was found between WMH in a core frontostriatal network and executive‐verbal abilities in SVD, independent of lesion volume and processing speed. This circuitry underlying executive‐language functioning might be of potential clinical importance for elderly with SVD. More detailed language testing is required in future research to elucidate the nature of language production difficulties in SVD.
Turnover of local government core officials, political connections and the investment and financing of private‐sector enterprises
Authors: Yu Han , Nahm Abraham Y. , Song Zengji 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIn this study, we examined the power operation and policymaking mechanisms of local governments in China and analysed the sources of risk in macroeconomic policies. Based on the reality of local governance in China, this article defines political uncertainty as normal or abnormal changes in the Standing Members of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Provincial‐level Committee. We analysed the impact of turnovers of these local core officials upon the investment and financing of local private‐sector enterprises. We found that when changes in provincial inner core officials happened normally, the long‐term impact on the investment and financing of local private‐sector enterprises was not so obvious. However, when senior officials were investigated for corruption, the investment and financing of enterprises dropped significantly. For enterprises with personal political capital only, the impact of local core official turnover upon firm financing was even more pronounced. For private‐sector enterprises with partial state ownership, however, this negative impact was significantly weakened in the long term.
Effect of air‐abrasion at pre‐ and/or post‐sintered stage and hydrothermal aging on surface roughness, phase transformation, and flexural strength of multilayered monolithic zirconia
Authors: Yilmaz Ali Dogus , Okutan Yener 
Published: November 2020

AbstractThis study aimed to evaluate the effect of air‐abrasion/sintering order and autoclave aging on the surface roughness (Ra), phase transformation, and biaxial flexural strength (BFS) of monolithic zirconia. A total of 104 monolithic zirconia specimens (Katana ML) were divided into eight groups according to airborne‐particle abrasion protocols and hydrothermal aging: control (non‐aged: C‐, aged: C+), air‐abrasion before sintering (BS‐, BS+), air‐abrasion after sintering (AS‐, AS+), and air‐abrasion before and after sintering (BAS‐, BAS+). A steam autoclave was used for accelerated aging, and Ra values were measured with a surface profilometer. All specimens were analyzed by X‐ray diffraction to determine any phase transformation on the zirconia surface. BFS was measured by using the piston‐on‐three‐balls method. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were performed on one specimen per group. BS and BAS groups showed higher Ra values compared with groups C and AS. The aging process significantly increased the monoclinic phase content of all specimens. Lower monoclinic levels were found in AS+ and BAS+ compared with other aged groups. The AS groups exhibited higher flexural strength values relative to control groups, whereas BS groups exhibited significantly lower flexural strength values (p <.05). There was no reduction in flexural strength by using the BAS protocol. Air‐abrasion of zirconia at the pre‐sintered stage only is not recommended in clinical use because of the remarkable decrease in flexural strength.
Chronic stress reverses enhanced neophobia following an acute stressor in European starlings
Authors: de Bruijn Robert , Romero L. Michael 
Published: November 2020

AbstractNeophobia is an animal's avoidance of novelty. Animals tend to respond to novel objects by increasing their latency to approach the objects, and they eventually habituate after repeated exposure by attenuating this increased approach latency. Interestingly, the physiological stress response does not appear to have a causal link to neophobia, although acute stress can prevent animals from habituating to novel objects, possibly through a permissive effect. Chronic stress can induce an anxiety‐like state in animals, while often disrupting the ability to respond to acute stress. We thus hypothesized that chronic stress may increase neophobia and tested this by inducing chronic stress in wild‐caught European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris). Four distinct anthropogenic stressors were administered daily for 30 min each in a randomized order for 21 days. We then evaluated whether exposure to chronic stress altered the latency to approach a novel object placed on or near a food dish presented after overnight fasting. Chronically stressed birds and nonstressed controls exhibited similar initial neophobic responses to novel objects and showed similar habituation in response to repeated exposure. However, when birds were exposed to 15 min of restraint before repeated exposure to the same object, habituation was eliminated in control birds (i.e., they continued to respond with neophobia), whereas chronically stressed birds continued to show habituation as measured by attenuated approach latencies. These results demonstrate that an acute stress response (restraint) has a different impact on neophobia depending upon whether the bird is or is not concurrently exposed to chronic stress.
Phase transitions in benzene under dynamic and static compression
Authors: Rao Usha , Chaurasia S. , Mishra Ajay K. , Pasley John 
Published: November 2020

AbstractPhase transitions in liquid benzene under laser shocked conditions are studied using high‐resolution time‐resolved Raman spectroscopic technique. The C‐C ring breathing mode (υ1) of benzene at 993 cm−1 is analyzed to monitor the phase transitions occurring in the Raman spectra during shock wave propagation in the pressure range 1.3–5 GPa. Phase transition from liquid benzene to solid benzene (Phase I) is observed below 1.3 GPa, and above this pressure, another phase transition from Phases I and II occurs. We also performed Raman spectroscopic measurements under static compression employing diamond anvil cell (DAC) to compare the effect of shock wave on benzene with isothermal compression using DAC. In static pressure measurements, the first phase transition from liquid to solid benzene (orthorhombic) occurs at 0.3 GPa, and the second phase transition from benzene I (orthorhombic) to benzene Phase II (monoclinic) occurs at 2.3 GPa, which is higher than that observed in case of shock compression experiments. The observed high‐resolution spectrum enables us to determine the effect of pressure gradient upon the Raman spectrum of benzene in shocked condition. One‐dimensional radiation‐hydrodynamic simulations were performed to corroborate the Raman spectroscopic results under dynamic compression. Simulated spatial profiles of the shock wave propagation in benzene at different delay times are used to explain the observation of multiple Raman modes in the spectral region 990–1020 cm−1. It is understood that different regions of the sample experience distinct pressure due to shock pressure gradient across the sample. The new Raman modes appearing in this spectral region are attributed to the Raman signals due to phase transition and from differently shocked regions of benzene under dynamic compression. The effect of reflected shock wave from benzene‐glass interface manifested in terms of red shifting and intensity enhancement of Raman modes at higher pressure is explained in this study.
Reconstruction after periacetabular tumor resection with Lumic® endoprosthesis: What are the midterm results?
Authors: Erol Bulent , Sofulu Omer , Sirin Evrim , Saglam Fevzi , Buyuktopcu Omer 
Published: November 2020

AbstractIntroductionThis study aimed to analyze the midterm outcomes of LUMiC® endoprosthetic reconstruction following periacetabular resection of primary bone sarcomas and carcinoma metastases.Patients and MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the charts of 21 patients (11 male [52.3%], 10 female [47.6%]; mean age 47 ± 16 years) for whom a LUMiC® endoprosthesis (Implantcast) was used to reconstruct a periacetabular defect after internal hemipelvectomy. The tumor was pathologically diagnosed as Ewing's sarcoma in six (28.5%), chondrosarcoma in 10 (47.6%), and bone metastasis from carcinoma in five (23.8%) patients.ResultsThe median follow‐up of patients was 57.8 months (95% confidence interval: 51.9–63.7). The implant survival rate at 1, 2, and 5 years were 95.2%, 85.7%, and 80.9%, respectively. The overall complication rate was 33.3% (n = 7). Four (19%) complications resulted in reconstruction failure. Total reoperation rate was 28.5% (n = 6). The complications were soft tissue failure/dislocation in two patients, aseptic loosening in one, infection in two, and local recurrence in two. At the time of study, seven patients were alive with no evidence of disease, seven were alive with disease, and seven died of disease. The 5‐year overall survival rate and local recurrence‐free survival rates were 67% and 76%, respectively. The median Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score at final follow‐up was 70% (range: 50%–86.6%).ConclusionWe conclude that LUMiC® endoprosthesis provides good functional outcomes and a durable reconstruct. Even though this reconstruction method presents some complications, it provides a stable pelvis in the management of periacetabular malignant tumors.
Phonation Threshold Pressure/Flow for Reflecting Glottal Closure in Unilateral Vocal Fold Paralysis
Authors: Jen Jung Hsuan , Chan Roger W. , Wu Chia‐Hsin , Wang Chi‐Te 
Published: November 2020

ObjectivePrevious theoretical analysis predicted that phonation threshold flow (PTF) could be a more sensitive aerodynamic measure than phonation threshold pressure (PTP) for reflecting glottal incompetence. This study investigated the feasibility of whether PTP and PTF may differentiate subjects with unilateral adductor vocal fold paralysis and paresis (UAVFP) from those without, and whether PTP and PTF could reflect the extent of incomplete glottal closure associated with UAVFP.MethodsPTP and PTF were quantified for 13 subjects with UAVFP and 21 control subjects with normal voice, and the normalized glottal gap area (NGGA) based on videostroboscopic image analysis was quantified for subjects with UAVFP.ResultsSignificant differences in both PTP and PTF were found between subjects with UAVFP and control subjects. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated a higher discriminatory ability of PTP for differentiating subjects with UAVFP from those without (area under the curve of 0.905 for PTP, 0.678 for PTF), yet a significant positive correlation was found between PTF and NGGA (Spearman's ρ = 0.571) but not between PTP and NGGA (ρ = −0.364).ConclusionResults supported the feasibility of using PTP and PTF as potential diagnostic indicators for reflecting glottal closure in UAVFP, with PTP potentially more sensitive for differentiating subjects with and without incomplete glottal closure. These preliminary findings were limited by the small sample size, with further studies needed to verify whether PTF could be more sensitive for reflecting the extent of incomplete glottal closure, as predicted theoretically.Level of Evidence3 Laryngoscope, 131:E1598–E1604, 2021