bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Improving the yield potential in maize by constructing the ideal plant type and optimizing the maize canopy structure
Authors: Li Rongfa , Zhang Guoqiang , Liu Guangzhou , Wang Keru , Xie Ruizhi , Hou Peng , Ming Bo , Wang Zhigang , Li Shaokun 
Published: July 2021

AbstractUnderstanding the impact of changes in the crop canopy on yield is important in order to meet future food demands. We designed a field experiment to investigate the relationships between crop‐related factors and yield gaps in maize to enhance crop yields from 2010 to 2018 in Qitai, China. Maize grain yields (n = 247) were divided into four yield ranges: <15 Mg ha−1 (n = 30), 15–18 Mg ha−1 (n = 79), 18–21 Mg ha−1 (n = 114), and >21 Mg ha−1 (n = 24). The characteristics of the maize canopy structure as well as the light interception, photosynthetic potential, and radiation utilization efficiency in these four yield ranges were analyzed. The canopy structure of treated fields with yields >21 Mg ha−1 had a higher leaf area index (7.2), lower ear ratio (0.39), longer internodes above the ear (20.1 cm), larger leaf orientation value (LOV) above the ear (48.6), smaller leaf angle above the ear (18°), and smaller LOV below the ear (36.0) when compared to the other treatments. These findings suggested that the yield gap is dependent on canopy structure, and the evolutionary trend also accounted for significant increases in post‐LAD (p < 0.01), changes in crop growth rate (CGR; p < 0.01), net assimilation rate (NAR; p < 0.05), and radiation utilization efficiency. The radiation utilization efficiencies in the 15–18, 18–21, and >21 Mg ha−1 treatments (1.23, 1.28, and 1.38 g MJ−1, respectively) were higher than for the <15 Mg ha−1 treatment (1.10 g MJ−1). Furthermore, there are opportunities to narrow the yield gaps by optimizing the canopy structure to make full use of the solar radiation resources. Our results will help breeders choose an ideal canopy structure to improve yield. In addition, our results may serve as a general guide for other maize growing regions.
Texture, color, and sensory changes occurring in chocolate bars with filling during storage
Authors: Hřivna Luděk , Machálková Lenka , Burešová Iva , Nedomová Šárka , Gregor Tomáš 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe impact of storage temperature (6, 12, 20, 30℃) and period (2, 6, 10, 18, 26 weeks) on the texture, color, and sensory characteristics of dark and milk‐filled chocolate bars was studied. Temperatures of 6 and 12℃ were the most suitable for bar storage; these samples were evaluated not to be significantly deteriorated by the storage period. The condition of samples stored at 20℃ started to deteriorate after 10 weeks in storage; the decline was observed mainly in meltdown rate and off‐flavors, resulting in low overall acceptability. This effect was more evident in dark chocolate bars. Keeping the bars at 24℃ for 24h immediately after production (retemperation) improved the bar resistance to fat bloom, even if the decrease in the sensory quality was observed at the beginning of the storage period.
Gastrointestinal transit tolerance, cell surface hydrophobicity, and functional attributes of Lactobacillus Acidophilus strains isolated from Indigenous Dahi
Authors: Farid Wajiha , Masud Tariq , Sohail Asma , Ahmad Nazir , Naqvi S. M. Saqlan , Khan Sipper , Ali Amjad , Khalifa Salah A. , Hussain Abid , Ali Sartaj , Saghir Maryum , Siddeeg Azhari , Manzoor Muhammad Faisal 
Published: July 2021

AbstractStrains of Lactobacillus acidophilus WFA1 (KU877440), WFA2 (KU877441), and WFA3 (KU877442) were isolated from indigenous Dahi (yogurt), screened, and selected based on acid and bile tolerance along with the antimicrobial activity. These selected strains were further assessed for their probiotic and functional attributes. Results for simulated gastric and intestinal tolerance/ resistance revealed that all three strains can resist and survive under the following mentioned conditions. To access cell surface hydrophobicity, bacterial adhesion to hydrocarbons (BATH), cellular auto‐aggregation, and salt aggregation were performed. In BATH, adhesion of strains against three hydrocarbons namely xylene, dichloromethane, and hexadecane was conducted. The results show that strains showed the least adhesion to xylene (54.25%) as compared to dichloromethane (55.25%) and hexadecane (56.65%). WFA1 showed maximum adherence percentage (55.48%) followed WFA2 (55.48%) and WFA3 (51.38%). Cellular auto‐aggregation varied from 21.72% to 30.73% for WFA3 and WFA1, respectively. In the salt aggregation test (SAT), WFA1, WFA2, and WFA3 aggregated at 0.6, 1.0, and 2.0 molar concentrations of ammonium sulfate, respectively. PCR amplification of bile salt hydrolase gene (bsh) was performed and sequences were submitted to the public database of NCBI and Gene bank under accession numbers, KY689139, KY689140, and KY689141. Additionally, a cholesterol‐lowering assay was conducted and up to 26% reduction in cholesterol was observed by the strains. Regarding functional properties, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, and antioxidant potential, strain WFA1 showed promising results EPS (1.027mg/ml), DPPH (80.66%), ABTS (81.97%), and reducing power (1.787). It can be concluded from the present study that the mentioned strains of L. acidophilus (WFA1, WFA2, and WFA3) are strongly hydrophobic; thus having an ability to survive and colonize under the gastrointestinal tract which confirms their probiotic nature. Regarding their functional properties, L. acidophilus WFA1 (KU877440) showed excellent properties of antioxidants and EPS production.
CARMN‐NOTCH2 fusion transcript drives high NOTCH2 expression in glomus tumors of the upper digestive tract
Authors: Girard Nicolas , Marin Cristi , Hélias‐Rodzewicz Zofia , Villa Chiara , Julié Catherine , de Lajarte‐Thirouard Anne‐Sophie , de Beauce Simon Martin , Lagorce‐Pages Christine , Renaud Florence , Cazals‐Hatem Dominique , Guedj Nathalie , Cros Jérome , Raffin‐Sanson Marie‐Laure , Selves Janick , Terris Benoit , Fléjou Jean‐François , Garchon Henri‐Jean , Coindre Jean‐Michel , Emile Jean‐François 
Published: July 2021

AbstractGlomus tumors (GTs) are perivascular tumors mostly occurring in the distal extremities. Rare cases arise in the digestive tract and may be misdiagnosed with neuroendocrine or gastrointestinal stromal tumors. We aimed to specify the features of GT of the upper digestive tract. Clinical, histological, phenotypic, and molecular features of 16 digestive GTs were analyzed, of whom two underwent whole exome and RNA sequencing to search for gene alterations. RNA‐sequencing disclosed a t(1:5)(p13;q32) translocation, which resulted in the fusion of CARMN and NOTCH2 in two GTs. The fusion gene encoded a protein sequence corresponding to the NOTCH2 intracellular domain that functions as transcription factor. These finding was supported by high expression of genes targeted by NOTCH. The CARMN‐NOTCH2 translocation was detected in 14 out of 16 (88%) GTs of the upper digestive tract; but in only in two out of six cutaneous GTs (33%). Most digestive GT arose from the stomach (n = 13), and the others from duodenal (2) or oesophagous (1). Nuclear expression of NOTCH2 was detected in the 14 cases containing the fusion transcripts. The CARMN‐NOTCH2 fusion transcript may contribute to activation of the NOTCH2 pathway in GT and drive tumor development. The high frequency of this translocation in GT of the upper digestive track suggest that detection of nuclear NOTCH2 expression may be useful diagnostic biomarker of these tumors.
Ethicists and Activists
Authors: Kaebnick Gregory E. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn some sense, argues Christopher Meyers in the lead article in this, the July‐August 2021, issue of the Hastings Center Report, to be a good ethicist is to be an activist. The question for the ethicist, and for Meyers, is about how hard and far to push: how much personal risk to shoulder, how much to tick off colleagues, how much institutional disruption to create, how much to look like an angry protester. Meyers argues for aiming at the middle, in two senses. In a time of anger and activism about relentless, pervasive, overwhelming wrongs, the question of balance is increasingly front of mind. A set of commentaries we solicited both welcome Meyers's call for activism and push for more.
Functional neuroanatomy of arithmetic in monolingual and bilingual adults and children
Authors: Brignoni‐Pérez Edith , Matejko Anna A. , Jamal Nasheed I. , Eden Guinevere F. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPrior studies on the brain bases of arithmetic have not focused on (or even described) their participants' language backgrounds. Yet, unlike monolinguals, early bilinguals have the capacity to solve arithmetic problems in both of their two languages. This raises the question whether this ability, or any other experience that comes with being bilingual, affects brain activity for arithmetic in bilinguals relative to monolinguals. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare brain activity in 44 English monolinguals and 44 Spanish‐English early bilinguals, during the solving of arithmetic problems in English. We used a factorial design to test for a main effect of bilingual Language Experience. Based on the known modulating roles of arithmetic operation and age, we used two arithmetic tasks (addition and subtraction) and studied two age groups (adults and children). When collapsing across operations and age, we found broad bilateral activation for arithmetic in both the monolingual group and the bilingual group. However, an analysis of variance revealed that there was no effect of Language Experience, nor an interaction of Language Experience with Operation or Age Group. Bayesian analyses within regions of interest chosen for their role in arithmetic further supported the finding of no effect of Language Experience on brain activity underlying arithmetic. We conclude that early bilingualism does not influence the functional neuroanatomy of simple arithmetic.
Assessing fine fescue mixtures and plant growth regulator applications to determine their effect on traffic tolerance and divot recovery
Authors: Reiter Maggie , Mihelich Nicole T. , Qiu Yinjie , Horgan Brian P. , Watkins Eric 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThere has been some transition to using low‐input fine fescues on golf courses, but these species have poor traffic tolerance and divot recovery, making them impractical for playable areas on golf courses. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of the plant growth regulator (PGR) trinexapac‐ethyl on the performance of fine fescue mixtures when managed as a golf course fairway and to identify fine fescue mixtures that perform well under traffic stress. Twenty‐five mixtures were tested that combined ‘Treazure II’ chewings fescue (Festuca rubraL. ssp.commutataGaudin), ‘Beacon’ hard fescue (Festuca brevipilaTracey), ‘Navigator II’ strong creeping red fescue (Festuca rubraL. ssp.rubraGaudin), ‘Shoreline’ slender creeping red fescue [Festuca rubraL. ssp.littoralis(G. Mey.) Auquier], and ‘Quatro’ sheep fescue (Festuca ovinaL.). Field experiments were conducted in St. Paul, MN, with PGR, mixture, and traffic treatments. The benefits of the PGR trinexapac‐ethyl on fine fescue fairway quality was relatively small compared with the benefits of traffic management and mixture selection. Hard fescue, slender creeping red fescue, strong creeping red fescue, and sheep fescue had the greatest impact on increasing visual turfgrass quality after traffic treatments. There was no significant difference in divot recovery with any mixtures, and no divots had recovered after 12 mo.
Approaches for setting occupational exposure limits in the pharmaceutical industry
Authors: Ahuja Varun , Krishnappa Mohan 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe use of pharmaceutical drugs has provided a cure for many diseases. However, unintended exposure to drugs in the manufacturing workplace can cause significant health hazards to workers. It is important to protect the workforce from these deleterious effects by limiting exposure to an acceptable level, the occupational exposure limit (OEL). OEL is defined as airborne concentrations (expressed as a time‐weighted average for a conventional 8‐h workday and a 40‐h work week) of a substance to which nearly all workers may be repeatedly exposed (for a working lifetime) without adverse effects. Determination of OELs has become very challenging over time, requiring an overall assessment of the preclinical and clinical data of the drug being manufactured. Previously, to derive OEL values, toxicologists used animal no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level (NOAEL) data, which have been replaced with the overall assessment of animal and human data, placing a higher emphasis on human health‐based data. A major advantage of working with human pharmaceuticals is that sufficient clinical data are available for them in most cases. The present manuscript reviews the latest knowledge regarding the derivation of occupational exposure limits as health‐based exposure limits (HBELs) for pharmaceuticals. We have provided examples of OEL calculations for various drugs including levofloxacin (CAS No. 100986‐85‐4), dienogest (CAS no. 65928‐58‐7), and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, CAS no. 50–78‐2) using human data. This report will benefit professionals in the OEL domain in understanding this highly important, growing, and challenging field.
Toward optical spectroscopy‐guided lung biopsy: Demonstration of tissue‐type classification
Authors: Rodriguez‐Diaz Eladio , Kaanan Samer , Vanley Christopher , Qureshi Tauseef , Bigio Irving J 
Published: July 2021

AbstractThe diagnostic yield of standard tissue‐sampling modalities of suspected lung cancers, whether by bronchoscopy or interventional radiology, can be nonoptimal, varying with the size and location of lesions. What is needed is an insitu sensor, integrated in the biopsy tool, to objectively distinguish among tissue types in real time, not to replace biopsy with an optical diagnostic, but to verify that the sampling tool is properly located within the target lesion. We investigated the feasibility of elastic scattering spectroscopy (ESS), coupled with machine learning, to distinguish lung lesions from the various nearby tissue types, in a study with freshly‐excised lung tissues from surgical resections. Optical spectra were recorded with an ESS fiberoptic probe in different areas of the resected pulmonary tissues, including benign‐margin tissue sites as well as the periphery and core of the lesion. An artificial‐intelligence model was used to analyze, retrospectively, 2032 measurements from excised tissues of 35 patients. With high accuracy, ESS was able to distinguish alveolar tissue from bronchi, alveolar tissue from lesions, and bronchi from lesions. This ex vivo study indicates promise for ESS fiberoptic probes to be integrated with surgical intervention tools, to improve reliability of pulmonary lesion targeting.
Nanophase surface arrays on poly (lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) upregulate neural cell functions
Authors: Mimiroglu Didem , Yanik Tulin , Ercan Batur 
Published: July 2021

AbstractNerve guidance channels (NGCs) promote cell‐extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions occurring within the nanoscale. However, studies focusing on the effects of nanophase topography on neural cell functions are limited, and mostly concentrated on the sub‐micron level (>100 nm) surface topography. Therefore, the aim of this study was to fabricate <100 nm sized structures on poly lactic‐co‐glycolic acid (PLGA) films used in NGC applications to assess the effects of nanophase topography on neural cell functions. For this purpose, nanopit surface arrays were fabricated on PLGA surfaces via replica molding method. The results showed that neural cell proliferation increased up to 65% and c‐fos protein expression increased up to 76% on PLGA surfaces having nanophase surface arrays compared to the control samples. It was observed that neural cells spread to a greater extend and formed more neurite extensions on the nanoarrayed surfaces compared to the control samples. These results were correlated with increased hydrophilicity and roughness of the nanophase PLGA surfaces, and point toward the promise of using nanoarrayed surfaces in NGC applications.
Graphene oxide incorporated amino‐functionalized iron terephthalate composite as a heterogeneous Fenton‐like catalyst
Authors: Liew Aaron Shun Yao , Nguang Sing Yew , Minggu Lorna Jeffrey , Tahir Norini , Moh Pak Yan 
Published: July 2021

AbstractAmino‐functionalized iron terephthalate metal–organic framework (NH2‐MIL‐88B) has been studied for its adsorption and catalytic properties due to its high surface area and unique topological architecture. Functionality of the material can be improved through surface modification to increase active sites for the targeted applications. In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was incorporated to the NH2‐MIL‐88B material to obtain composite with improved adsorption and catalytic properties. The results showed that GO/NH2‐MIL‐88B in dark (as GO/NH2‐MIL‐88B/Dark system) was capable to adsorb 28.1% of methylene blue (MB) in water, which is about twice the adsorption of MB by the NH2‐MIL‐88B material in dark (as NH2‐MIL‐88B/Dark system). Furthermore, with the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the GO/NH2‐MIL‐88B composite in dark condition (as GO/NH2‐MIL‐88B/H2O2/Dark) and the GO/NH2‐MIL‐88B composite under ultraviolet‐A (UV‐A) irradiation (as GO/NH2‐MIL‐88B/H2O2/UV‐A) have shown promising Fenton‐like behavior, which have removed 72.2% and 92.3% of MB in water, respectively. The removal of MB was well fitted to the Langmuir–Hinshelwood pseudo‐first order kinetics model with the reaction rate constant, k1 = 0.0221 min−1 and k1 = 0.0426 min−1 for GO/NH2‐MIL‐88B/H2O2/Dark and GO/NH2‐MIL‐88B/H2O2/UV‐A system, respectively. This study implies that the GO/NH2‐MIL‐88B composite can be a good catalyst for the heterogeneous Fenton‐like degradation of cationic pollutants in water.
B‐lines beyond the thoracic cavity ‐ ultrasound identification of intercostal pulmonary hernia
Authors: Gordon Richard , Karfunkle Benjamin , Smith Hannah , Larimore Katheryn , Turgiss Krystal , Najeemuddin Syed 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIntercostal pulmonary hernia is a rare condition that may present to the emergency department spontaneously, following blunt trauma or as a complication of thoracic surgery. With the evolution of minimally invasive thoracic surgery pulmonary hernia may become more common. In this case of postoperative chest pain, incisional swelling, and shortness of breath, we present the ultrasound characteristics of a postoperative intercostal pulmonary hernia and its resemblance to subcutaneous emphysema.
Bilateral axillary pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia in a premenopausal woman: A case report with imaging findings
Authors: Jung Hyun Kyung , Kim Woogyeong 
Published: July 2021

AbstractPseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia is a benign proliferative mesenchymal lesion of the breast. To date, only a few cases of axillary pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia with imaging findings have been reported in the literature. Herein, we report a rare case of pseudoangiomatous stromal hyperplasia in both axillae in a previously healthy 46‐year‐old woman and describe the imaging findings, including ultrasonography and computed tomography findings.
Microplastics interaction with terrestrial plants and their impacts on agriculture
Authors: Ullah Raza , Tsui Martin Tsz‐Ki , Chen Huan , Chow Alex , Williams Clinton , Ligaba‐Osena Ayalew 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMicroplastics (MPs) are widespread in natural ecosystems and have attracted considerable attention from scientists all over the world because they are believed to threaten every life form. In addition to their potential physical and chemical effects on organisms, MPs may act as a carrier for many micropollutants, including antibiotics, heavy metals, and others. Over the last 10–15 yr, extensive research has been carried out on MPs in marine environments regarding their sources, fate, and toxicity. However, studies concerning their accumulation in the soil ecosystem, uptake, internalization, and impacts on photosynthetic components of the terrestrial ecosystem and risk assessments have been scanty. Thus, there is a large knowledge gap on the extent to which terrestrial environments, especially agroecosystems, are affected by MPs and their subsequent risks to human health. This review summarizes up‐to‐date findings about MPs on terrestrial environments and provides guidelines for future studies regarding the phytotoxic effects of MPs on plants; the mechanism of uptake and translocation in plant tissues; detection tools for MPs in plants; impacts on plant growth, plant development, and agricultural productivity; and, most important, the future prospects of MPs interaction and accumulation in plants.
Estimating dissolved phosphorus losses from legacy sources in pastures: The limits of soil tests and small‐scale rainfall simulators
Authors: Nash David M. , Weatherley A. J. , Kleinman Peter J. A. , Sharpley Andrew N. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractA legacy of using P fertilizers on grazed pastures has been enhanced soil fertility and an associated increased risk of P loss in runoff. Rainfall simulation has been extensively used to develop relationships between soil test P (STP) and dissolved P (DP) in runoff as part of modeling efforts scrutinizing the impact of legacy P. This review examines the applicability of rainfall simulation to draw inferences related to legacy P. Using available literature, we propose a mixing layer model with chemical transfer to describe DP mobilization from pasture soils where readily available P in the mixing layer is rapidly exhausted and contact time controls DP concentrations responsible for subsequent DP mobilization. That conceptual model was shown to be consistent with field monitoring data and then used to assess the likely effect of rainfall simulation protocols on DP mobilization, highlighting the influence of soil preparation, scale and measurement duration, and, most important, hydrology that can facilitate the physical transport of P into and out of surface flow. We conclude that rainfall simulation experimental protocols can have severe limitations for developing relationships between DP in runoff and STP that are subsequently used to estimate legacy P contributions to downstream water resources.