bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of brown adipose tissue vascular density on body adiposity in healthy Japanese infants and children
Authors: Kuroiwa Miyuki , Hamaoka‐Fuse Sayuri , Amagasa Shiho , Kime Ryotaro , Endo Tasuki , Tanaka Riki , Kurosawa Yuko , Hamaoka Takafumi 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackground and ObjectiveThe importance of brown adipose tissue (BAT) is well recognized in healthy infants and children. However, information regarding age‐related changes in BAT vascular density (BAT‐d) and the impact of BAT‐d on body adiposity are lacking. This study aimed to evaluate the normal values of BAT‐d, factors influencing BAT‐d, and the impact of BAT‐d on body adiposity in healthy infants and children.MethodsThis study included 240 participants (127 girls and 113 boys) aged 1 month to 5 years. The tissue total hemoglobin concentration in the supraclavicular region adjusted according to the subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness (SAT) ([total‐Hb‐Adj]sup) as BAT‐d. SAT in the deltoid and interscapular regions (SATdel+int), the Kaup index (body weight [g]/height or length [cm]/height or length [cm] × 10) as body adiposity, and fertilization season were also measured.ResultsThe [total‐Hb‐Adj]sup of boys was higher than that of girls (r = 0.277, p = 0.009). Younger children had a significantly higher Kaup index (r = 0.495, p < 0.001) and SATdel+int (r = 0.614, p < 0.001) than older children. Children who had higher [total‐Hb‐Adj]sup had a significantly lower Kaup index (r = 0.495, p = 0.037) and SATdel+int (r = 0.614, p < 0.001).ConclusionThe [total‐Hb‐Adj]sup, as a parameter of BAT‐d, is negatively correlated with body adiposity in children aged 1 month to 5 years, and BAT might affect human obesity to a much greater extent than expected. To prevent or treat obesity in early childhood, the level of BAT‐d should be considered when using a dietary intervention.
Critical assessment of structural changes in some copolyamide‐clay hybrid materials in correlation with the filler characteristics
Authors: Zănoagă Mădălina , Airinei Anton , Fifere Nicuşor , Grigoraş Cristian‐Vasile , Ţîmpu Daniel , Tanasă Fulga 
Published: August 2021

AbstractA series of three copolyamide‐clay hybrid nanocomposites were prepared using three different smectite clays (bentonite, montmorillonite K10, and Nanomer I.30P) by a solventless melt mixing process. The influence of the nature of clays on the structural changes was critically assessed by comparison with the neat copolyamide. Nanocomposite samples were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wide angle X‐ray diffractometry (WAXD), UV–vis spectrometry and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The testing yielded in direct and indirect evidences of structural changes induced by the presence of clays in correlation with their characteristics, as nature of the clay, particle size, granulometric distribution, and particle dispersion into the matrix.
Fabrication of polymeric solar thermal fuel composite for solar energy storage applications
Authors: Telgerafchi Armaghan Ehsani , Mehranpour Milad , Nazockdast Hossein 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSolar energy storage and conversion have remained significant global challenges. This article discusses how to fabricate a polymeric solar thermal fuel (P‐STF) composite with unique thermal storage abilities. In this regard, we aim at developing a novel method for dispersing multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) functionalized with azobenzene molecules (modified azobenzene molecules) in ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA). The modification of azobenzene (functionalization) enhances the energy storage density of AZO molecules, and the addition of fillers (MWCNT) leads to the production of the P‐STF composite with the potential to store and convert solar energy to thermal energy. The differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test verifies the P‐STF composite's capacity to absorb solar energy and release it as heat. Thus, the uncharged nanocomposites required heat energy at the melting point temperature of EVA (Enthalpy 18.392 J/g). However, the EVA‐AZO‐MWCNT 10% and EVA‐AZO‐MWCNT 5% nanocomposites released heat energy rather than requiring it to melt with enthalpy −37.6526 and −1.2609 J/g, respectively, which indicates the heat release in the P‐STF composite. Moreover, oscillatory shear rheological measurement (RMS) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) demonstrate that modified azobenzene (MWCNT‐AZO) is well dispersed in the polymer matrix (EVA).
Drug repurposing of dextromethorphan as a cellular target for the management of influenza
Authors: Cummings Tammy H. , Magagnoli Joseph , Hardin James W. , Sutton S. Scott 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundInfluenza viruses are responsible for seasonal epidemics and sporadic pandemics of varying severity in humans, and additional treatment options are needed. High‐throughput siRNA screens and a pre‐clinical research model demonstrated that dextromethorphan (DM) has anti‐viral activity as a cellular target for treatment of influenza. This study examined DM usage and hospitalization rates among patients with laboratory‐confirmed influenza in a national cohort of United States veterans. We aimed to evaluate the potential drug repurposing of DM as a cellular target for the management of influenza utilizing a large, national claims and electronic health record database.MethodsThis retrospective drug‐disease association cohort study was conducted using data from the Veterans Affairs Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI). We used a cohort with laboratory‐confirmed diagnosis of influenza and international classification of disease (ICD)‐9/10 diagnosis codes of fever, cough, influenza, or acute upper respiratory infection in an outpatient setting. The study outcome is inpatient hospitalization (all‐cause and respiratory) within 30 days of influenza diagnosis. We estimated the relative risk for all‐cause and respiratory hospitalizations using Poisson generalized linear model (GLM) and a greedy nearest neighbor propensity score 1:1 matched sub‐analysis for both hospitalization models.FindingsA total of 18,677 patients met the inclusion and exclusion criteria and were evaluated in our study. The cohorts consisted of 2801 patients dispensed DM and 15,876 untreated patients (no DM). The Poisson GLM adjusted for covariates demonstrated a relative risk reduction of 34% for all‐cause hospitalizations (Relative Risk (RR) 0.66, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.525–0.832) and 40% for respiratory hospitalizations (RR 0.597, 95% CI 0.423–0.843) in patients with influenza treated with DM.ConclusionInfluenza viruses continue to emerge and cause infection (including pandemics) in humans, so there remains a critical need to advance the understanding of influenza treatment. Our results demonstrated reduced hospitalization rates for influenza patients treated with DM. Further research on cellular targets and/or DM is warranted for the treatment of influenza.
The emerging threat of human‐use antifungals in sustainable and circular agriculture schemes
Authors: Sallach J. Brett , Thirkell Tom J. , Field Katie J. , Carter Laura J. 
Published: August 2021

Societal Impact StatementRapidly growing global populations mandate greater crop productivity despite increasingly scarce natural resources, including freshwater. The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices seek to address such issues, but an unintended consequence is the exposure of agricultural soils and associated biota to emerging contaminants including azole pharmaceutical antifungals. We show that environmentally relevant exposure to three commonly prescribed azole antifungals can reduce mycorrhizal 33P transfer from the soil into the host plant. This suggests that exposure to azoles may have a significant impact on mycorrhizal‐mediated transfer of nutrients in soil‐plant systems. Understanding the unintended consequences of sustainable agricultural practices is needed to ensure the security and safety of future food production systems.Summary

Sustainable farming practices are increasingly necessary to meet the demands of a growing population under constraints imposed by climate change. These practices, in particular the reuse of wastewater and amending soil with wastewater derived biosolids, provide a pathway for man‐made chemicals to enter the agricultural environment.
Among the chemicals commonly detected in wastewater and biosolids are pharmaceutical azole antifungals. Fungi, in particular mycorrhiza‐forming fungal symbionts of plant roots, are key drivers of nutrient cycling in the soil–plant system. As such, greater understanding of the impacts of azole antifungal exposure in agricultural systems is urgently needed.
We exposed wheat (Triticum aestivum L. cv. ‘Skyfall’) and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to environmentally relevant concentrations of three azole antifungals (clotrimazole, miconazole nitrate and fluconazole). We traced the mycorrhizal‐acquired 33P from the soil into the host plant in contaminated versus non‐contaminated soils and found 33P transfer from mycorrhizal fungi to host plants was reduced in soils containing antifungals. This represents a potentially major disruption to soil nutrient flows as a result of soil contamination.
Our work raises the major issue of exposure of soil biota to pharmaceuticals such as azole antifungals, introduced via sustainable agricultural practices, as a potentially globally important disruptive influence on soil nutrient cycles. The impacts of these compounds on non‐target organisms, beneficial mycorrhizal fungi in particular, could have major implications on security and sustainability of future food systems.
Impacts of initial conditions and model configuration on simulations of polar lows near Svalbard using Polar WRF with 3DVAR
Authors: Xue Jianjun , Bromwich David H. , Xiao Ziniu , Bai Lesheng 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe impacts of initial conditions and model configuration on the simulations of polar lows (PLs) near Svalbard, the global “hotspot” for PL activity, were investigated using the Polar Weather Research and Forecasting (Polar WRF or PWRF) model and WRF three‐dimensional data assimilation (3DVAR). The well‐documented PL case presented by Sergeev et al., in 2017 from March 26, 2013 featuring in situ aircraft observations is revisited using PWRF and 3DVAR to identify the most suitable model configuration to simulate PLs. The simulation results using initial conditions from PWRF and 3DVAR cycling runs were compared with those of cold‐start experiments using reanalysis as the initial condition. For cycling runs, the impacts of initial conditions from synoptic observations together with satellite radiances were superior to the assimilation of synoptic data alone. Several additional experiments were undertaken to further refine the PWRF configuration by considering the horizontal resolution, analysis nudging, digital filter initialization, and two boundary‐layer and four microphysics schemes. Based on the chosen configuration of Polar WRF and 3DVAR from the case‐study, the monthly reanalysis mode with 3 hr time window cycling data assimilation and short‐term forecasts using PWRF alone were performed for March 2013 and the PLs that formed over the Nordic Seas were evaluated. Manual identification and verification of PLs were performed using thermal infrared satellite imagery and 10 m scatterometer winds. Overall, nine PLs were identified in addition to the case presented by Sergeev et al., in 2017. Both the case‐study and monthly simulation results show that the high‐resolution initial condition is the most important factor, but a reasonable forecast model configuration can help to improve the simulation performance. Satellite radiance data are very important for producing the high‐resolution initial conditions for Polar WRF to simulate PLs successfully; the best performance was obtained by assimilating both synoptic data and satellite radiances.
Analysis and optimization of split‐plot operating window experiments: Methodology and application
Authors: Wang Juan , Byun Jai‐Hyun , Ma Yizhong 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe method of Operating Window (OW) is a statistical‐engineering approach to improve the robustness and reliability of products/processes. Like many industrial experiments, operating window experiments are often conducted with a split‐plot structure in order to accommodate the nature of some experimental factors. Existing research on OW has paid little attention to this aspect of the OW experiments. In this paper we focus on the modeling and optimization of OW experiments by incorporating the split‐plot structure. For ease of reading, we use the ubiquitous paper feeder example to illustrate each step of modeling and optimization. First, we employ the generalized linear mixed effects models (GLMM) to model the complex error structure afforded by the split‐plot structure. Then we obtain statistically significant variables for each failure mode in the feeder example: misfeed and multifeed. These analysis results enable us to make inference about the predicted failure probability for each mode. The optimization step is performed by minimizing some performance measures proposed in the literature, especially the one by Joseph and Wu.1 Performance measures for each control run are calculated and then modeled in terms of the identified control variables, which lead to the identification of optimal settings of these variables. This case study not only reveals the split‐plot structure common in industrial experiments and identify the key factors for the process, but also provides some additional insights on the process.
Bayesian accelerated life testing: A generalized Eyring‐Birnbaum‐Saunders model
Authors: Smit Neill , Raubenheimer Lizanne 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn this paper, an accelerated life testing model using the Birnbaum‐Saunders distribution and the generalized Eyring model is explored. A Bayesian approach is proposed, considering the combined effect of one thermal stressor and one non‐thermal stressor. The model is demonstrated via an application to an electronics epoxy packaging ALT data set, with temperature and humidity as accelerated stressors. Markov chain Monte Carlo methods are employed to generate posterior samples for inference. A sensitivity analysis is performed via the deviance information criterion. The predictive reliability is also investigated.
Model selection based on validation criteria for Gaussian process regression: An application with highlights on the predictive variance
Authors: Demay Charles , Iooss Bertrand , Le Gratiet Loic , Marrel Amandine 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe manufacturing quality of industrial pieces is linked with the intrinsic concentration field of certain chemical species. Thus, from punctual measurements sparsely distributed on the piece, a robust estimation of the maximum concentration is very valuable. To this aim, Gaussian Process regression models may be used, providing useful confidence interval at each interpolation location. However, the specification of the underlying covariance function from sparse data may be arduous, both in terms of function form and hyperparameters. This specification problem, also referred to as a model selection problem, may be addressed in several ways, from expert knowledge to numerical estimation. Regarding the covariance function form, the predictivity coefficient is commonly used as a primary criteria and focuses on the prediction capabilities of the model predictor. In this paper, other criteria related to the correctness of the model variance, covariance and more generally to the whole conditional distribution are added. This methodology is applied on the Kriging of chemical measurements spatially distributed on circular domains, where several classical covariance functions are fitted and compared. The results highlight the need to include the above mentioned criteria to get a predictive model with robust uncertainty. The Kriging models are then used to quantify the uncertainty on the highest concentration via the use of conditional simulations.
A function based adaptive EWMA mean monitoring control chart
Authors: Noor‐ul‐Amin Muhammad , Arshad Asma , Hanif Muhammad 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAdaptive control charts are getting remarkable place in statistical process control for monitoring production systems with efficiently simple design schemes. These tools are preferred to get rapid detection of shifts in manufacturing items. In this paper, a new exponentially weighted moving average function‐based adaptive control chart is proposed. The idea of design is to determine plotting exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) statistic smoothing constant value as per system arising shift magnitude through a continuous function. As a result, the process mean shift of any size can be catered in a rapid manner than other counterparts. The Monte Carlo simulations are performed to determine the run‐length profiles of the proposed chart and the efficacy of the chart is assessed through average run length, standard deviation of run length, and the percentiles of run length. A comparative discussion with the existing adaptive EWMA (AEWMA) charts proved the efficacy of the concept for all types of small to moderate and large shifts in the favor of the concept. The proposed chart application is explained with the help of an illustrative example and a real‐life industrial dataset to get a deep insight into the concept.
The clinical significance of the calf circumference in non‐small‐cell lung cancer patients who undergo surgery
Authors: Nagoya Akihiro , Kanzaki Ryu , Kimura Kenji , Fukui Eriko , Kanou Takashi , Ose Naoko , Funaki Soichiro , Minami Masato , Shintani Yasushi 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundCalf circumference (CC), the greatest girth of the lower leg, is a simple tool for assessing sarcopenia. Its significance in patients with resectable non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is unknown.MethodsA total of 684 NSCLC patients who underwent surgery were included in the present study. The relationship between parameters of sarcopenia [i.e. the CC and skeletal mass index (SMI)] and the short‐term and long‐term outcomes was retrospectively analysed.ResultsThe median CC (34.5 cm for men and 32.0 cm for women) was selected as the cut‐off value of the CC for the analysis in this study, and the patients were classified into the smaller CC (SC) and normal CC (NC) groups. The mean age of the SC group was significantly older than that of the NC group (70.8 vs. 65.8 years, P < 0.01), whereas the body mass index of the SC group was lower than that of the NC group (20.6 vs. 23.6, P < 0.01). The respiratory function of the SC group was poorer in comparison with the NC group. The mean SMI of the SC group was significantly lower than that of the NC group in both men (47.9 vs. 54.1, P < 0.01) and women (40.1 vs. 44.0, P < 0.01). The prevalence of sarcopenia (defined by a lower SMI) was higher in the SC group than in the NC group (38.8% vs. 11.8%, P < 0.01). The post‐operative complication rate was higher in the SC group than in the NC group (28.8% vs. 19.3%, P < 0.01). In the multivariate analysis, the CC was an independent risk factor for grade ≥3 post‐operative complications [odds ratio: 1.90 (1.07–3.38), P = 0.03]. In all patients, the 5 year overall survival (OS) rate of the SC group was significantly worse than that of the NC group (75.5% vs. 82.3%, P < 0.01). The difference in OS according to CC was significant in men but not in women. In a multivariate analysis, the CC was not an independent prognostic factor for the OS [hazard ratio: 1.07 (0.75–1.55), P = 0.70]. When patients were divided into four groups according to the CC and SMI, the CC was able to stratify the OS of patients with a normal SMI (P = 0.02) in men but not in women.ConclusionsThe CC was found to be a useful predictor for both short‐term and long‐term outcomes. The CC plays a complementary role to the SMI, proving useful for prognostic stratification that was unable to be performed by SMI alone in men.
PFAS removal from groundwaters using Surface‐Active Foam Fractionation
Authors: Burns David J. , Stevenson Paul , Murphy Peter J. C. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractResults from a field trial commissioned for the Australian Department of Defence at the Army Aviation Centre Oakey evaluated the effectiveness of the Surface‐Active Foam Fractionation (SAFF) process at removing per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater. The study showed that the SAFF process is effective in removing ≥99.5% of the aggregate of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in PFAS‐contaminated groundwater, and consistently achieved the criteria for these PFAS species prescribed in the Australian PFAS National Environmental Management Plan (HEPA, 2020) water quality specification, and exceeded such by a factor of 3.3 over the 12‐month study period. The field trial also demonstrated the sustainability attributes of SAFF since it requires no chemical reagents nor adsorbent media, other than air introduced to the foam fractionation vessels. However, when an anionic exchange (AIX) resin “polisher” was installed downstream of SAFF, all trace detectable PFAS species were removed. In addition, by reducing the PFAS loading, the SAFF process extends the AIX resin lifespan. The field trial demonstrated that the removal (i.e., separation and concentration) extent of PFAS species due to SAFF is closely correlated with the adsorption coefficient of the molecules at the gas–liquid interface. When the reported adsorption coefficient is greater than approximately 1.0 × 10−6 m, practically all of the PFAS species, including PFOS, PFHxS, and PFOA, were removed by SAFF. Longer‐chain PFAS species that benefit from higher adsorption coefficients are easier to remove than shorter‐chain species that exhibit lower adsorption coefficient values. It is noted that the presence of dissolved electrolytes arising from the site groundwater being classified as hard is believed to enhance the adsorption coefficients, and so SAFF is likely to become still more effective in brackish, saline, and reverse osmosis reject waters.
Feasibility of using a software‐defined baseband for multiple space per aperture (MSPA) ground operations
Authors: Browne Mwakyanjala Moses , Hyvönen Petrus , de Oliveira Élcio Jeronimo , van de Beek Jaap 
Published: August 2021

SummaryThis paper presents the feasibility of performing multiple spacecraft per aperture (MSPA) ground operations by using a low‐cost software‐defined baseband (SDB). The SDB is a Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS)‐compliant baseband that employs a personal computer for signal processing and a low‐cost commercial‐off‐the‐shelf RF front end for RF signal sampling. The SDB is customized to offer traditional telemetry, tracking, and command (TT&C) services for near‐Earth missions operating in S band. The study starts by reviewing MSPA methods already studied by space agencies such as NASA and ESA before going to MSPA methods proposed in the latest CCSDS blue book on RF and modulation systems. The feasibility of operating the CCSDS‐proposed multiple uplink carrier MSPA method using the SDB is assessed after evaluating in‐band interference and out‐of‐band emissions from the uplink signals radiated by the low‐cost RF front end employed by the SDB. Furthermore, we present a case study where the SDB is used in MSPA operations on a typical solid‐state amplifier (SSPA) amplifier typically used in near‐Earth missions.