bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison among nine alfalfa breeding schemes based on actual biomass yield gains
Authors: Annicchiarico Paolo , Pecetti Luciano 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe definition of efficient selection methods for biomass yield of alfalfa and other open‐pollinated forage crops has lagged behind, despite its crucial importance for breeders. This study, performed in northern Italy, aimed to compare nine breeding schemes encompassing the evaluation of replicated clones and half‐sib (HS), first selfing generation (S1) or second selfing generation (S2) families without or with within‐family selection. The comparison was based on actual gains for dry‐matter yield over 43 mo and final plant survival across irrigated and rainfed cropping of advanced generation synthetics (Syn‐3) built from 12 selected parents. The study envisaged biomass yield selection over 31 mo under dense planting among 125 S0 plants and/or their progenies, after a stage of stratified mass selection which acted as a benchmark for genetic gains and whose genetic progress over the original genetic base was concurrently assessed. Half‐sib progeny‐based selection exhibited highest genetic gains with respect to unit time and return on yearly investment for direct costs for both biomass yield and crop persistence. Among‐and‐within‐HS family selection ranked second, and S1 progeny‐based selection ranked third, for yield gains, whereas three schemes implying two selfing generations were valuable for improving persistence but not yield. The initial stage of stratified mass selection was time‐ and cost‐efficient for improving yield but not persistence. We provided information also on self‐fertility and inbreeding depression variation across selfing generations, genetic variation of clonal, HS, S1 and S2 material, and consistency of S0 parent value across different types of material. Our results may have implications for field‐based and genomic selection.
H2‐free Plastic Conversion: Converting PET back to BTX by Unlocking Hidden Hydrogen
Authors: Lu Shenglu , Jing Yaxuan , Feng Bo , Guo Yong , Liu Xiaohui , Wang Yanqin 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe strong desire for a circular economy makes obtaining fuels and chemicals via plastic degradation an important research topic in the 21st century. Here, the first example of the H2‐free polyethylene terephthalate (PET) conversion to BTX (benzene, toluene and xylene) was achieved by unlocking hidden hydrogen in the ethylene glycol part over Ru/Nb2O5 catalyst. Among the whole process (hydrolysis, reforming and hydrogenolysis/decarboxylation), the parallel hydrogenolysis and decarboxylation were competing and the rate‐determining step. Ru/Nb2O5 exhibited superior hydrogenolysis and poorer decarboxylation performance in direct comparison with Ru/NiAl2O4, accordingly contributing to the distinct selectivity to alkyl aromatics among BTX. Ru species on Nb2O5, unlike those on NiAl2O4, showed more Ruδ+ species owing to the strong interaction between Ru and Nb2O5, restricting the undesired decarboxylation. Along with NbOx species for C−O bond activation, excellent reactivity towards the H2‐free conversion of PET back to BTX with alkyl aromatics as dominant species was achieved. This H2‐free system was also capable of converting common real PET plastics back to BTX, adding new options in the circular economy of PET.
Green Hydrothermal Synthesis of Fluorescent 2,3‐Diarylquinoxalines and Large‐Scale Computational Comparison to Existing Alternatives
Authors: Amaya‐García Fabián , Caldera Michael , Koren Anna , Kubicek Stefan , Menche Jörg , Unterlass Miriam M. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractHere, the hydrothermal synthesis (HTS) of 2,3‐diarylquinoxalines from 1,2‐diketones and o‐phenylendiamines (o‐PDAs) was achieved. The synthesis is simple, fast, and generates high yields, without requiring any organic solvents, strong acids or toxic catalysts. Reaction times down to <10 min without decrease in yield could be achieved through adding acetic acid as promoter, even for highly apolar biquinoxalines (yield >90 % in all cases). Moreover, it was shown that HTS has high compatibility: (i) hydrochlorides, a standard commercial form of amines, could be used directly as combined amine source and acidic catalyst, and (ii) Boc‐diprotected o‐PDA could be directly employed as substrate that underwent HT deprotection. A systematic large‐scale computational comparison of all reported syntheses of the presented quinoxalines from the same starting compounds showed that this method is more environmentally friendly and less toxic than all existing methods and revealed generic synthetic routes for improving reaction yields. Finally, the application of the synthesized compounds as fluorescent dyes for cell staining was explored.
Night lighting and anthropogenic noise alter the activity and body condition of pinyon mice (Peromyscus truei)
Authors: Willems Joshua S. , Phillips Jennifer N. , Vosbigian Ryan A. , Villablanca Francis X. , Francis Clinton D. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractAnthropogenic noise and artificial night lighting have been shown to have substantial effects on animal behavior, physiology, and species interactions. Despite the large body of previous work, very few studies have studied the combined effects of light and noise pollution, especially experimentally in the field. Rodents are a highly diverse group that are predominantly nocturnal and occupy a wide range of habitats worldwide, frequently in close association with human development, placing them at a heightened risk from sensory disturbances. To test the singular and combined effects of various levels of anthropogenic light and noise exposure on pinyon mouse (Peromyscus truei) activity and body condition, we used standard trapping methods across a gradient of light and noise and the two combined and accounted for variation of moonlight, vegetation structure, and weather. We hypothesized that increased levels of artificial light would decrease trap success and lead to lower body condition due to an increase in perceived predation risk and that increased noise levels would increase trap success and body condition due to a reduction in predation risk and/or release from competition. Pinyon mouse trap success declined as light intensity increased, and the effect was comparable to that of moonlight, which is well known to influence rodent activity and perception of predation risk. Although noise pollution did not alter trap success of pinyon mice, individuals captured in noisier areas at the beginning of the season had lower body condition than those from quieter areas. Body condition was uninfluenced by noise and light later in the season. We also found no evidence of any additive or synergistic effects of the two stimuli. Our results provide evidence that alterations to the sensory environment from anthropogenic activity can affect wild rodents in several ways. As anthropogenic development increases to meet the demands of growing human populations, more ecosystems will be exposed to increased levels of sensory disturbance, making the understanding of how these changes affect wildlife critical to ongoing conservation efforts.
Palliative care in pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart disease: systematic review and expert opinion
Authors: Constantine Andrew , Condliffe Robin , Clift Paul , Tulloh Robert , Dimopoulos Konstantinos ,   the CHAMPION Steering Committee
Published: March 2021

AbstractAimsPulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is common amongst patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). It is a severe and complex condition that adversely affects quality of life and prognosis. While quality of life questionnaires are routinely used in clinical pulmonary hypertension practice, little is known on how to interpret their results and manage PAH‐CHD patients with evidence of impaired health‐related quality of life, especially those with advanced disease and palliative care needs.Methods and resultsWe performed a systematic review of studies concerning palliative care for people with PAH‐CHD, also reviewing the health‐related quality of life literature pertaining to these patients. Of 330 papers identified through initial screening, 17 were selected for inclusion. Underutilization of advance care planning and palliative care resources was common. Where palliative care input was sought, this was frequently late in the course of the disease. No studies provided evidence‐based clinical criteria for triggering referral to palliative care, a framework for providing tailored care in this patient group, or how to manage the risk of sudden cardiac death and implantable cardioverter defibrillators in advanced PAH‐CHD. We synthesize this information into eight important areas, including the impact of PAH‐CHD on quality of life, barriers to and benefits of palliative care involvement, advance care planning discussions, and end‐of‐life care issues in this complex patient group, and provide expert consensus on best practice in this field.ConclusionsThis paper presents the results of a systematic review and expert statements on the preferred palliative care strategy for patients with PAH‐CHD.
A Kinetic Approach for Assessing the Uptake of Ag from Pristine and Sulfidized Ag Nanomaterials to Plants
Authors: Lahive E. , Schultz C.L. , Van Gestel C.A.M. , Robinson A. , Horton A.A. , Spurgeon D.J. , Svendsen C. , Busquets-Fité M. , Matzke M. , Green Etxabe A. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Nanomaterials (NMs) are thermodynamically unstable by nature, and exposure of soil organisms to NMs in the terrestrial environment cannot be assumed constant. Thus, steady-state conditions may not apply to NMs, and bioaccumulation modeling for uptake should follow a dynamic approach. The one-compartment model allows the uptake and elimination of a chemical to be determined, while also permitting changes in exposure and growth to be taken into account. The aim of the present study was to investigate the accumulation of Ag from different Ag NM types (20 nm Ag0 NMs, 50 nm Ag0 NMs, and 25 nm Ag2S NMs) in the crop plant wheat (Triticum aestivum). Seeds were emerged in contaminated soils (3 or 10 mg Ag/kg dry soil, nominal) and plants grown for up to 42 d postemergence. Plant roots and shoots were collected after 1, 7, 14, 21, and 42 d postemergence; and total Ag was measured. Soil porewater Ag concentrations were also measured at each sampling time. Using the plant growth rates in the different treatments and the changing porewater concentrations as parameters, the one-compartment model was used to estimate the uptake and elimination of Ag from the plant tissues. The best fit of the model to the data included growth rate and porewater concentration decline, while showing elimination of Ag to be close to zero. Uptake was highest for Ag0 NMs, and size did not influence their uptake rates. Accumulation of Ag from Ag2S NMs was lower, as reflected by the lower porewater concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021;40:1859–1870. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
The QUICK scheme is a third‐order finite‐volume scheme with point‐valued numerical solutions
Authors: Nishikawa Hiroaki 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we resolve the ever‐present confusion over the Quadratic Upwind Interpolation for Convective Kinematics (QUICK) scheme: it is a second‐order scheme or a third‐order scheme. The QUICK scheme, as proposed in the original reference (B. P. Leonard, Comput. Methods. Appl. Mech. Eng., 19, (1979), 59‐98), is a third‐order (not second‐order) finite‐volume scheme for the integral form of a general nonlinear conservation law with point‐valued solutions stored at cell centers as numerical solutions. Third‐order accuracy is proved by a careful and detailed truncation error analysis and demonstrated by a series of thorough numerical tests. The QUICK scheme requires a careful spatial discretization of a time derivative to preserve third‐order accuracy for unsteady problems. Two techniques are discussed, including the QUICKEST scheme of Leonard. Discussions are given on how the QUICK scheme is mistakenly found to be second‐order accurate. This paper is intended to serve as a reference to clarify any confusion about third‐order accuracy of the QUICK scheme and also as the basis for clarifying economical high‐order unstructured‐grid schemes as we will discuss in a subsequent paper.
Quetiapine promotes oligodendroglial process outgrowth and membrane expansion by orchestrating the effects of Olig1
Authors: Wang Xiaorui , Su Yixun , Li Tao , Yu Guangdan , Wang Yuxin , Chen Xiaoying , Yin Chenrui , Tang Ziqin , Yi Chenju , Xiao Lan , Niu Jianqin 
Published: March 2021

AbstractOligodendroglial lineage cells go through a series of morphological changes before myelination. Prior to myelination, cell processes and membrane structures enlarge by approximately 7,000 times, which is required to support axonal wrapping and myelin segment formation. Failure of these processes leads to maldevelopment and impaired myelination. Quetiapine, an atypical antipsychotic drug, was proved to promote oligodendroglial differentiation and (re)myelination, pending detailed effects and regulatory mechanism. In this study, we showed that quetiapine promotes morphological maturation of oligodendroglial lineage cells and myelin segment formation, and a short‐term quetiapine treatment is sufficient to induce these changes. To uncover the underlying mechanism, we examined the effect of quetiapine on the Oligodendrocyte transcription factor 1 (Olig1). We found that quetiapine upregulates Olig1 expression level and promotes nuclear Olig1 translocation to the cytosol, where it functions not as a transcription modulator, but in a way that highly correlates with oligodendrocyte morphological transformation. In addition, quetiapine treatment reverses the negative regulatory effect of the Olig1‐regulated G protein‐coupled receptor 17 (GPR17) on oligodendroglial morphological maturation. Our results demonstrate that quetiapine enhances oligodendroglial differentiation and myelination by promoting cell morphological transformation. This would shed light on the orchestration of oligodendroglia developmental mechanisms, and provides new targets for further therapeutic research.
Improving the replicability of neuroimaging findings by thresholding effect sizes instead of p‐values
Authors: Vandekar Simon N. , Stephens Jeremy 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe classical approach for testing statistical images using spatial extent inference (SEI) thresholds the statistical image based on the p‐value. This approach has an unfortunate consequence on the replicability of neuroimaging findings because the targeted brain regions are affected by the sample size—larger studies have more power to detect smaller effects. Here, we use simulations based on the preprocessed Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) to show that thresholding statistical images by effect sizes has more consistent estimates of activated regions across studies than thresholding by p‐values. Using a constant effect size threshold means that the p‐value threshold naturally scales with the sample size to ensure that the target set is similar across repetitions of the study that use different sample sizes. As a consequence of thresholding by the effect size, the type 1 and type 2 error rates go to zero as the sample size gets larger. We use a newly proposed robust effect size index that is defined for an arbitrary statistical image so that effect size thresholding can be used regardless of the test statistic or model.
Prognostic Value of the 13C‐Methacetin Breath Test in Adults with Acute Liver Failure and Non‐acetaminophen Acute Liver Injury
Authors: Fontana Robert J. , Stravitz R. Todd , Durkalski Valerie , Hanje James , Hameed Bilal , Koch David , Reuben Adrian , Ganger Daniel , Olson Jody , Liou Iris , McGuire Brendan M. , Clasen Kristen , Lee William M. 
Published: March 2021

Background and Aims
The 13C‐methacetin breath test (MBT) is a noninvasive, quantitative hepatic metabolic function test. The aim of this prospective, multicenter study was to determine the utility of initial and serial 13C‐MBT in predicting 21‐day outcomes in adults with acute liver failure (ALF) and non‐acetaminophen acute liver injury (ALI).

Approach and Results
The 13C‐MBT BreathID device (Exalenz Biosciences, Ltd.) provided the percent dose recovery (PDR) for a duration of 60 minutes after administration of 13C‐methacetin solution as the change in exhaled 13CO2/12CO2 compared with pre‐ingestion ratio on study days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7. Results were correlated with 21‐day transplant‐free survival and other prognostic indices. A total of 280 subjects were screened for enrollment between May 2016 and August 2019. Median age of the 62 enrolled patients with adequate data was 43 years, 79% were Caucasian, 76% had ALF with the remaining 24% having ALI. The mean PDR peak on day 1 or day 2 was significantly lower in nonsurvivors compared with transplant‐free survivors (2.3%/hour vs. 9.1%/hour; P < 0.0001). In addition, serial PDR peaks were consistently lower in nonsurvivors versus survivors (P < 0.0001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of the 13C‐MBT in the combined cohort was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.79‐0.97) and higher than that provided by King’s College (AUROC = 0.70) and Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease scores (AUROC = 0.83). The 13C‐MBT was well tolerated with only two gastrointestinal adverse events reported.

Conclusions
The 13C‐MBT is a promising tool to estimate the likelihood of hepatic recovery in patients with ALF and ALI. Use of the PDR peak data from the 13C‐MBT point‐of‐care test may assist with medical decision making and help avoid unnecessary transplantation in critically ill patients with ALF and ALI.
Pigmented median raphe cyst of the penis that developed after middle age without infection or trauma history
Authors: Kii Toshihiko , Taguchi Satoru , Nagahama Kiyotaka , Shimoyamada Hiroaki , Honda Kazuki , Tomida Yoshihiro , Matsumoto Ryuki , Kitamura Junji , Ninomiya Naoki , Masuda Kazuki , Nakamura Yu , Yamaguchi Tsuyoshi , Kinjo Manami , Tambo Mitsuhiro , Okegawa Takatsugu , Higashihara Eiji , Shibahara Junji , Fukuhara Hiroshi 
Published: March 2021

IntroductionMedian raphe cysts are rare benign lesions of the male genitalia that can develop anywhere along the midline from meatus to anus. They are believed to be caused by a defect in closure of median raphe during embryonic development. These cysts commonly appear in childhood or adolescence, although some are diagnosed after middle age, typically triggered by infection or trauma. Pigmented median raphe cysts, or those containing melanin pigment and/or melanocytes, are extremely rare.Case presentationA 78‐year‐old man visited our hospital with a complaint of a penile mass that he first noticed in his 50s which slowly grew, eventually causing voiding difficulty. He had no history of infection or trauma. The lesion was excised, and the pathological diagnosis was pigmented median raphe cyst.ConclusionWe successfully treated a rare case of pigmented median raphe cyst of the penis that developed after middle age without infection or trauma history.
Raman spectroscopy for glutathione measurements in Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains with different antibiotic resistance
Authors: Zyubin Andrey , Lavrova Anastasia , Manicheva Olga , Dogonadze Marine , Belik Vitaly , Samusev Ilya 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MbT) drug resistance remains a serious problem to global public health and usually leads to a lethal outcome in patients with such strain MbT. Precise and rapid identification of a specific MbT strain is vital for the appointment of anti‐tuberculosis therapy. We continue investigation  of deactivated MbT strains of the Beijing family by Raman spectroscopy method and focus on glutathione (GSH) as a potential biomarker for strains identification. Strains under the study have different drug sensitivity: sensitive, multi, and extensively drug resistant. Samples were investigated by Raman spectrometry with He‐Ne (633 nm) laser excitation source in the “fingerprint” region. As a result, GSH vibrational bands for potential strain discrimination were determined. These differences can be described for drug‐sensitive and drug‐resistant strains taken of pulmonary and extra‐pulmonary forms of tuberculosis. We suppose that the obtained results can be useful for new diagnostic tools development for identification of different MbT strains in clinical medicine and research practice.
Assessment of earthworms as an indicator of soil degradation: A case‐study on loess soils
Authors: Li Yanpei , Wang Jiao , Shao Ming'an 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSoil degradation restricts the development of agriculture, and the degree of soil degradation is related to land use type, and efficient evaluation methods are helpful for the timely implementation of remedial measures to ensure soil sustainability. Earthworms are directly affected by the deterioration of soil properties during the degradation process. The feasibility of using earthworms to assess soil degradation, however, still needs to be verified. In our Loess Plateau study, earthworm biomass, density, and diversity (Shannon‐Wiener, species richness, and Pielou's evenness) were investigated under nine different land use types (natural woodland, shrubland and grassland; planted woodland, shrubland and grassland; and cropland, orchard, abandoned land) and we analyzed their relationships with soil degradation. Our results showed earthworm biomass, density, and diversity associated with a low degree of degradation were significantly higher than those associated with a high degree of degradation. Earthworms can comprehensively characterize the physicochemical properties and biological characteristics of soils under different land use types. Linear correlations showed a significant relationship between the soil degradation index and the earthworm indices, indicating that the latter could be used to effectively evaluate and represent the degree of degradation of soils on the Loess Plateau over a certain degradation range. Nevertheless, this evaluation method requires further validation before wider use.
MicroRNA‐328‐5p Alleviates Macrophage Lipid Accumulation through the Histone Deacetylase 3/ATP‐binding cassette transporter A1 pathway
Authors: Huang Jiang‐Wei , Jiang Xin , Li Zi‐Li , Jiang Chang‐Rong 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMicroRNA‐328 (miR‐328) was reported to protect against atherosclerosis, but its role in foam cell formation remains unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of miR‐328‐5p on macrophage lipid accumulation and the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that miR‐328‐5p expression was robustly decreased in oxidized low‐density lipoprotein (ox‐LDL)‐treated macrophages. Treatment of human acute monocytic leukemia cel (THP‐1) macrophage‐derived foam cells with a miR‐328‐5p mimic markedly increased [3H]‐cholesterol efflux, inhibited lipid droplet accumulation, and decreased intracellular total cholesterol (TC), free cholesterol (FC) and cholesteryl ester (CE) contents. Upregulation of miR‐328‐5p also reduced the expression of histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) but increased the levels of ATP‐binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) in THP‐1 macrophage‐derived foam cells. Mechanistically, miR‐328‐5p inhibited HDAC3 expression by directly targeting its 3′UTR, thereby promoting ABCA1 expression and the subsequent cholesterol efflux. Furthermore, miR‐328‐5p mimic treatment did not affect the uptake of Dil‐ox‐LDL or the expression of scavenger receptor‐A (SR‐A), thrombospondin receptor (CD36) and ABCG1. Taken together, these findings suggest that miR‐328‐5p alleviates macrophage lipid accumulation through the HDAC3/ABCA1 pathway.