bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polarity‐induced grain growth of gadolinium‐doped ceria under field‐assisted sintering technology/spark plasma sintering (FAST/SPS) conditions
Authors: Sistla Sree Koundinya , Mishra Tarini Prasad , Deng Yuanbin , Kaletsch Anke , Bram Martin , Broeckmann Christoph 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis study aims to understand the effect of the electrical field on microstructure evolution during field‐assisted sintering or spark plasma sintering (FAST/SPS) of 10 mol% gadolinium‐doped ceria (GDC) with experimental and numerical methods. The novelty of this study has been the observation of enhanced grain growth in the region closer to the anode, even under FAST/SPS conditions with electrical fields less than 5 V/cm. The grain growth kinetics, including determination of activation energy and grain‐boundary mobility, were analyzed along the cross section of the samples for different temperatures and dwell periods. With an increase in distance from the anode, reduction in the activation energy for grain growth and grain‐boundary mobility was observed. These observations attributed to the attraction of oxygen ions to the anode region under an electrical field with an increase in defects along the grain boundaries. Thereby an increase in the grain‐boundary mobility and larger grains in that region were observed. A homogenous microstructure was observed in a case where the current did not flow through the sample. Furthermore, a numerical strategy has also been developed to simulate this behavior in addition to heat generation, heat transfer, and densification using Finite Element Methods (FEM) simulations. The simulation results provided an insight into the presence of a potential difference across the cross section of the samples. The simulation results were also in good agreement with the experimental observations.
Office blood pressure threshold of 130/80 mmHg better predicts uncontrolled out‐of‐office blood pressure in apparent treatment‐resistant hypertension
Authors: Lee Chan Joo , Ha Jeong‐Ha , Kim Jang Young , Kim In‐Cheol , Ryu Sung Kee , Rhee Moo‐Yong , Lee Ju‐Hee , Lee Jung‐Hee , Lee Hae‐Young , Ihm Sang‐Hyun , Chung Joong Wha , Choi Jung Hyun , Shin Jinho , Park Sungha , Kario Kazuomi 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of office blood pressure (BP) threshold of 140/90 and 130/80 mmHg for correctly identifying uncontrolled out‐of‐office BP in apparent treatment‐resistant hypertension (aTRH). We analyzed 468 subjects from a prospectively enrolled cohort of patients with resistant hypertension in South Korea (clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03540992). Resistant hypertension was defined as office BP ≥ 130/80 mmHg with three different classes of antihypertensive medications including thiazide‐type/like diuretics, or treated hypertension with four or more different classes of antihypertensive medications. We conducted different types of BP measurements including office BP, automated office BP (AOBP), home BP, and ambulatory BP. We defined uncontrolled out‐of‐office BP as daytime BP ≥ 135/85 mmHg and/or home BP ≥ 135/85 mmHg. Among subjects with office BP < 140/90 mmHg and subjects with office BP < 130/80 mmHg, 66% and 55% had uncontrolled out‐of‐office BP, respectively. The prevalence of controlled and masked uncontrolled hypertension was lower, and the prevalence of white‐coat and sustained uncontrolled hypertension was higher, with a threshold of 130/80 mmHg than of 140/90 mmHg, for both office BP and AOBP. The office BP threshold of 130/80 mmHg was better able to diagnose uncontrolled out‐of‐office BP than 140/90 mmHg, and the net reclassification improvement (NRI) was 0.255. The AOBP threshold of 130/80 mmHg also revealed better diagnostic accuracy than 140/90 mmHg, with NRI of 0.543. The office BP threshold of 130/80 mmHg showed better than 140/90 mmHg in terms of the correspondence to out‐of‐office BP in subjects with aTRH.
Enhanced conditions to obtain a clarified purple araça (Psidium myrtoides) fruit extract
Authors: Ferreira Franz Berbert , Magalhães Flávia de Santana , Cardoso Vicelma Luiz , Reis Miria Hespanhol Miranda 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis study evaluated the kinetics of extraction for bioactive compounds from purple araça fruit followed by the microfiltration process for extract clarification. The parametric study showed time (up to 60 min) and temperature (313, 333, 353, and 363 K) influences on the extraction of bioactive compounds from purple araça fruit. Extraction kinetics were adjusted to the second order kinetic model (R2 > 0.9871). The best extraction conditions were at 353 K for 45 min. Purple araça fruit extract presented total phenolic and flavonoid contents of 5.29 ± 0.12 mgGAE g−1 and 2.79 ± 0.09 mgRutin g−1, respectively, FRAP value of 21.77 ± 1.10 mgFeSO4 g−1 and DPPH antioxidant capacity of 48.85 ± 2.02%. Concentrations of gallic acid, (−)‐Epicatechin, and (−)‐Epigallocatechin were 132.01 ± 1.22, 127.03 ± 1.45, and 60.45 ± 0.59 μg g−1, respectively. The microfiltration process with an acetate cellulose membrane of 0.22 μm pore size was efficient for clarifying the purple araça fruit extract, with steady state flux of 4.17 × 10−6 m3s−1 m−2 and reductions in total solids from 2.83 ± 0.01 to 1.43 ± 0.02%, without significant reductions in the concentration of bioactive compounds. These results suggest the valorization of purple araça fruit as a promising source of bioactive compounds for cosmeceutical, pharmaceutical and food industries and application of the microfiltration process for clarification purposes.Practical ApplicationsPurple araça (Psidium myrtoides) is a tropical and exotic fruit with considerable concentration of bioactive compounds. The purple araça fruit extract presents higher concentration of bioactive compounds than other fruits from the same Psidium species, such as the guava fruit. Suggested aqueous extraction conditions are temperature and time of 80°C 45 min, respectively. The microfiltration process is then proposed for extract clarification, with substantial reductions in total solid concentration and turbidity, without reducing bioactive compound concentrations. Thus, the microfiltered purple araça fruit presents suitable characteristics to be used as a ready‐to‐drink product or to be submitted for further concentration processes.
Effects of maternal and fetal choline concentrations on the fetal growth and placental DNA methylation of 12 target genes related to fetal growth, adipogenesis, and energy metabolism
Authors: Nakanishi Misao , Funahashi Nobuaki , Fukuoka Hideoki , Nammo Takao , Sato Yuichi , Yoshihara Hajime , Oishi Hajime , Tanaka Mamoru , Yano Tetsu , Minoura Shigeki , Kato Norihiro , Yasuda Kazuki 
Published: December 2020

AbstractAimWe performed a birth cohort study involving 124 mother–infant pairs to investigate whether placental DNA methylation is associated with maternal choline status and fetal development.MethodsPlasma choline concentration was assayed longitudinally in the 1st and 3rd trimesters and at term‐pregnancy in mothers and cord blood. Placental DNA methylation was measured for 12 target candidate genes that are related to fetal growth, adipogenesis, lipid and energy metabolism, or long interspersed nuclear elements.ResultsHigher maternal plasma and cord blood choline levels at term tended to associate with lower birthweight (r = −0.246, P < 0.013; r = −0.290, P < 0.002) and body mass index (BMI) at birth (r = 0.344, P < 1E−3; r = −0.360, P < 1E−3). The correlation between maternal plasma choline level and cord blood choline level was relatively modest (r = 0.049, P = 0.639). There was an inverse correlation between placental DNA methylation at the retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRA) gene and maternal plasma choline level (r = −0.188 to r = −0.452, P = 0.043 to P < 1E−3 at three points). RXRA methylation level was positively associated with birthweight and BMI at birth (r = 0.306, P = 0.001; r = 0.390, P < 1E−3). Further, RXRA methylation was inversely correlated with RXRA gene expression level (r = 0.333, P < 1E−3).ConclusionOur results suggest that the association between maternal choline status and placental RXRA methylation represents a potential fetal programing mechanism contributing to fetal growth.
Intersections of Feminist Identification and Hostile Sexism
Authors: Hernandez Amanda D. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis research examines the relationship between religious identification and feminist identification. Additionally, it investigates the extent of hostile sexist attitudes among those who identify as religious feminists. Utilizing 2016 American National Election Survey data, I find that religious women are no more or less likely to identify as feminist than the religiously unaffiliated, while evangelical and black Protestant men are less likely to identify as feminist. Further, both black Protestant women and Catholic men who identify as feminist express hostile sexist sentiment to a higher degree than their feminist unaffiliated counterparts, along with Latinas and Asian‐identified men. This study offers quantitative insights into the relationship between feminist identification, religious affiliation, and hostile sexist attitudes. Additional implications for this study include conceptualizations of feminism and sexism more broadly in society.
Plant carbohydrate depletion impairs water relations and spreads via ectomycorrhizal networks
Authors: Sapes Gerard , Demaree Patrick , Lekberg Ylva , Sala Anna 
Published: December 2020

Summary

Under prolonged drought and reduced photosynthesis, plants consume stored nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs). Stored NSC depletion may impair the regulation of plant water balance, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, and whether such mechanisms are independent of plant water deficit is not known. If so, carbon costs of fungal symbionts could indirectly influence plant drought tolerance through stored NSC depletion.

We connected well‐watered Pinus ponderosa seedling pairs via ectomycorrhizal (EM) networks where one seedling was shaded (D) and the other kept illuminated (LD) and compared responses to seedling pairs in full light (L). We measured plant NSCs, osmotic and water potential, and transfer of 13CO2 through EM to explore mechanisms linking stored NSCs to plant water balance regulation and identify potential tradeoffs between plant water retention and EM fungi under carbon‐limiting conditions.

NSCs decreased from L to LD to D seedlings. Even without drought, NSC depletion impaired osmoregulation and turgor maintenance, both of which are critical for drought tolerance. Importantly, EM networks propagated NSC depletion and its negative effects on water retention from carbon stressed to nonstressed hosts.

We demonstrate that NSC storage depletion influences turgor maintenance independently of plant water deficit and reveal carbon allocation tradeoffs between supporting fungal symbionts and retaining water.
Topography as a factor driving small‐scale variation in tree fine root traits and root functional diversity in a species‐rich tropical montane forest
Authors: Pierick Kerstin , Leuschner Christoph , Homeier Jürgen 
Published: December 2020

Abstract

We investigated the variation in tree fine root traits and their functional diversity along a local topographic gradient in a Neotropical montane forest to test if fine root trait variation along the gradient is consistent with the predictions of the root economics spectrum on a shift from acquisitive to conservative traits with decreasing resource supply.

We measured five fine root functional traits in 179 randomly selected tree individuals of 100 species and analysed the variation of single traits (using Bayesian phylogenetic multilevel models) and of functional trait diversity with small‐scale topography.

Fine roots exhibited more conservative traits (thicker diameters, lower specific root length and nitrogen concentration) at upper slope compared with lower slope positions, but the largest proportion of variation (40–80%) was explained by species identity and phylogeny. Fine root functional diversity decreased towards the upper slopes.

Our results suggest that local topography and the related soil fertility and moisture gradients cause considerable small‐scale variation in fine root traits and functional diversity along tropical mountain slopes, with conservative root traits and greater trait convergence being associated with less favourable soil conditions due to environmental filtering. We provide evidence of a high degree of phylogenetic conservation in fine root traits.
Replaying the evolutionary tape to investigate subgenome dominance in allopolyploid Brassica napus
Authors: Bird Kevin A. , Niederhuth Chad E. , Ou Shujun , Gehan Malia , Pires J. Chris , Xiong Zhiyong , VanBuren Robert , Edger Patrick P. 
Published: December 2020

Summary

Allopolyploidisation merges evolutionarily distinct parental genomes (subgenomes) into a single nucleus. A frequent observation is that one subgenome is ‘dominant’ over the other subgenome, often being more highly expressed.

Here, we ‘replayed the evolutionary tape’ with six isogenic resynthesised Brassica napus allopolyploid lines and investigated subgenome dominance patterns over the first 10 generations postpolyploidisation.

We found that the same subgenome was consistently more dominantly expressed in all lines and generations and that >70% of biased gene pairs showed the same dominance patterns across all lines and an in silico hybrid of the parents. Gene network analyses indicated an enrichment for network interactions and several biological functions for the Brassica oleracea subgenome biased pairs, but no enrichment was identified for Brassica rapa subgenome biased pairs. Furthermore, DNA methylation differences between subgenomes mirrored the observed gene expression bias towards the dominant subgenome in all lines and generations. Many of these differences in gene expression and methylation were also found when comparing the progenitor genomes, suggesting that subgenome dominance is partly related to parental genome differences rather than just a byproduct of allopolyploidisation.

These findings demonstrate that ‘replaying the evolutionary tape’ in an allopolyploid results in largely repeatable and predictable subgenome expression dominance patterns.
Complications of surgical mesh patches after kidney transplantation in children—A case series
Authors: Amir Noa , Taher Amir , Thomas Gordon , Shun Albert , Durkan Anne 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundAbdominal compartment syndrome after kidney transplantation in pediatric recipients is a recognized complication relating to size discrepancy requiring abdominal wall closure over a large adult allograft. In order to circumvent this problem, our center implemented use of a surgical mesh, Surgisis® (Cook Surgical, Bloomington, IN), for abdominal wall closure in very small children to increase the surface covering over the organ and prevent compression. In this article, we report on the complications encountered following the use of these mesh patches.MethodsA retrospective case review was conducted of all pediatric kidney transplants from September 2006 to December 2018 and divided into abdominal wall closure with and without implantation of Surgisis® mesh patch. Review of clinical notes was performed to identify information with respect to clinical course and post‐operative outcomes.ResultsA surgical mesh patch was used in 7 pediatric recipients, of which 5 (71%) presented with post‐operative complications. Three recipients were found to have bowel obstruction related to the surgical patch, necessitating bowel resection in one child. In addition, three children developed large serous fluid collections between the subcutaneous layers and the surgical mesh, requiring surgical drainage in two.ConclusionsIn view of these findings, we recommend close surveillance for potential complications in this cohort. Future research is needed to explore the safety of different approaches to achieve abdominal wall closure in this group.
Transcriptome analysis reveals key genes regulating signaling and metabolic pathways during the growth of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) shoots
Authors: Lan Yangang , Wu Lin , Wu Min , Liu Huanlong , Gao Yameng , Zhang Kaimei , Xiang Yan 
Published: December 2020

AbstractMoso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis), a high‐value bamboo used to produce food (young shoots), building, and industrial goods. To explore key candidate genes regulating signal transduction and metabolic processes during the initiation of stem elongation in moso bamboo, a transcriptome analysis of the shoots during three successive early elongation stages was performed. From cluster and differential expression analyses, 2984 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were selected for an enrichment analysis. The DEGs were significantly enriched in the plant hormone signal transduction, sugar and starch metabolism, and energy metabolism pathways. Consequently, the DEG expression patterns of these pathways were analyzed, and the plant endogenous hormone and carbon metabolite (including sucrose, total soluble sugar, and starch) contents for each growth stage, of the shoot, were determined. The cytokinin‐signaling pathway was continuously active in the three successive elongation stages, in which several cytokinin‐signaling genes played indispensable roles. Additionally, many key DEGs regulating sugar, starch metabolism, and energy conversion, which are actively involved in energy production and substrate synthesis during the continuous growth of the shoots, were found. In summary, our study lays a foundation for understanding the mechanisms of moso bamboo growth and provides useful gene resources for breeding through genetic engineering.
Osmoregulation and its actions during the drought stress in plants
Authors: Ozturk Munir , Turkyilmaz Unal Bengu , García‐Caparrós Pedro , Khursheed Anum , Gul Alvina , Hasanuzzaman Mirza 
Published: December 2020

AbstractDrought stress, which causes a decline in quality and quantity of crop yields, has become more accentuated these days due to climatic change. Serious measures need to be taken to increase the tolerance of crop plants to acute drought conditions likely to occur due to global warming. Drought stress causes many physiological and biochemical changes in plants, rendering the maintenance of osmotic adjustment highly crucial. The degree of plant resistance to drought varies with plant species and cultivars, phenological stages of the plant, and the duration of plant exposure to the stress. Osmoregulation in plants under low water potential relies on synthesis and accumulation of osmoprotectants or osmolytes such as soluble proteins, sugars, and sugar alcohols, quaternary ammonium compounds, and amino acids, like proline. This review highlights the role of osmolytes in water‐stressed plants and of enzymes entailed in their metabolism. It will be useful, especially for researchers working on the development of drought‐resistant crops by using the metabolic‐engineering techniques.
Consistent Aggregation with Superlative and Other Price Indices
Authors: von Auer Ludwig , Wengenroth Jochen 
Published: December 2020

AbstractVarious fields of economic analysis (e.g. growth and productivity) and economic policy (e.g. monetary and social policy) rely on accurate measures of price change. Unfortunately, the price index formulae that most price statisticians consider as particularly accurate—the superlative indices of Fisher, Törnqvist, and Walsh—are believed to violate the property of consistency in aggregation. This property, however, is indispensable for economic studies that attempt to disaggregate the overall result into the contributions of individual entities such as sectors of the economy or groups of products. The present paper introduces a thoroughly motivated formal definition of consistency in aggregation and proves that, contrary to general perception, the three superlative price indices can be considered as consistent in aggregation. Furthermore, many other price indices are shown to be consistent in aggregation. The theoretical findings are applied to the Swedish consumer price index.
The Proximal Robbins–Monro Method
Authors: Toulis Panos , Horel Thibaut , Airoldi Edoardo M. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe need for statistical estimation with large data sets has reinvigorated interest in iterative procedures and stochastic optimization. Stochastic approximations are at the forefront of this recent development as they yield procedures that are simple, general and fast. However, standard stochastic approximations are often numerically unstable. Deterministic optimization, in contrast, increasingly uses proximal updates to achieve numerical stability in a principled manner. A theoretical gap has thus emerged. While standard stochastic approximations are subsumed by the framework Robbins and Monro (The annals of mathematical statistics, 1951, pp. 400–407), there is no such framework for stochastic approximations with proximal updates. In this paper, we conceptualize a proximal version of the classical Robbins–Monro procedure. Our theoretical analysis demonstrates that the proposed procedure has important stability benefits over the classical Robbins–Monro procedure, while it retains the best known convergence rates. Exact implementations of the proximal Robbins–Monro procedure are challenging, but we show that approximate implementations lead to procedures that are easy to implement, and still dominate standard procedures by achieving numerical stability, practically without trade-offs. Moreover, approximate proximal Robbins–Monro procedures can be applied even when the objective cannot be calculated analytically, and so they generalize stochastic proximal procedures currently in use.
MLK4‐mediated phosphorylation of histone H3T3 promotes flowering by transcriptional silencing ofFLC/MAFinArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Wang Zhen , Kang Junmei , Armando Casas‐Mollano Juan , Dou Yongchao , Jia Shangang , Yang Qingchuan , Zhang Chi , Cerutti Heriberto 
Published: December 2020

SummaryCasein kinase I (CK1), a ubiquitous Ser/Thr protein kinase in eukaryotes, plays a critical role in higher plant flowering. Arabidopsis CK1 family member MUT9‐LIKE KINASEs, such as MLK1 and MLK3, have been shown to phosphorylate histone H3 at threonine 3 (H3T3), an evolutionarily conserved residue, and the modification is associated with the transcriptional repression of euchromatic and heterochromatic loci. This study demonstrates thatmlk4‐3, a T‐DNA insertion mutant ofMLK4, flowered late, and that overexpression ofMLK4caused early flowering. The nuclear protein MLK4 phosphorylated histone H3T3 bothin vitroandin vivo, and this catalytic activity required the conserved lysine residue K175. mutation of MLK4 at K175 failed to restore the level of phosphorylated H3T3 (H3T3ph) or to complement the phenotypic defects ofmlk4‐3. TheFLC/MAF‐clade genes, includingFLC,MAF4andMAF5, were significantly upregulated inmlk4‐3. The double mutantmlk4‐3 flc‐3flowered earlier thanmlk4‐3, suggesting that functionalFLCis crucial for flowering repression inmlk4‐3. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that MLK4 bound toFLC/MAFchromatin and that H3T3ph occupancy at the promoter ofFLC/MAFwas negatively associated with its transcriptional level. In accordance, H3T3ph accumulated atFLC/MAFin35S::MLK4/mlk4‐3but diminished in35S::MLK4(K175R)/mlk4‐3 plants. Moreover, the amount of RNA Pol II deposited atFLC/MAFwas clearly enriched inmlk4‐3relative to the wild type. Therefore,MLK4‐dependent phosphorylation of H3T3 contributes to accelerating flowering by repressing the transcription of negative flowering regulatorFLC/MAF. This study sheds light on the delicate control of flowering by the plant‐specific CK1, MLK4, via post‐translational modification of histone H3.