bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Classification and analysis of sea‐effect snowbands for Danube Sea area in Black Sea
Authors: Yavuz Veli , Deniz Ali , Özdemir E. Tuncay , Kolay Oğuzhan , Karan Haldun 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIn this study, for the Danube Sea Area (Danube Region—western part of the Black Sea), the structure of the sea effect snow (SES) bands, meteorological conditions in which SES bands occurred, and SES band types are analysed for the period 2009–2018. In the 10‐year period, snowy times were determined using aviation reports published by four airports within the borders of the Marmara Region. SES events and SES bands were determined by examining the several satellite images (Channel 9‐IR, Natural Colour‐RGB, Airmass‐RGB, Channel 6‐VW) obtained from the Spinning‐Enhanced Visible and Infrared Imager (SEVIRI) device on MSG‐2 (Meteosat‐9) and MSG‐3 (Meteosat‐10) satellites. The Danube Region is divided into six sub‐regions. Five different types of SES bands were analysed separately for each sub‐region. Some meteorological conditions that are known to play an important role in the formation of SES bands (presence, thickness and level of the inversion layer; wind structure in the upper levels over the sea; sea surface temperature—SST) were analysed for the snowy times with sea‐effect. According to the preliminary results; a total of 186 days were found to be snowy, 75 days of these snowy days occurred with sea‐effect, and SES bands were seen in 8 days but did not cause snowfall in the Marmara Region. Type‐2 (T‐2) band was the most common band type (85%) over the Danube Region. The inversion layer(s) were observed between the level of 850–700 hPa in 52 days of 75 snowy days with sea effect. The majority of the direction of the upper‐level winds (at 850 and 700 hPa) was found to be northern (North‐N, Northwest‐NW, Northeast‐NE). The lowest average SST value (6.02°C) observed in the sub‐region ‘A’ and the highest average SST value (8.66°C) was observed in the sub‐region ‘F’.
Synoptic timescale linkage between midlatitude winter troughs Sahara temperature patterns and northern Congo rainfall: A building block of regional climate variability
Authors: Ward Neil , Fink Andreas H. , Keane Richard J. , Guichard Françoise , Marsham John H. , Parker Douglas J. , Taylor Christopher M. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractA coherent synoptic sequence, mostly over North Africa, is identified whereby an upper‐level midlatitude trough (in November–March) excites several days of quasi‐stationary near‐surface warming across the Sahara, leading to rainfall events over northern Congo (NC), and perturbed weather more widely. Ahead of NC rainfall events, composite sequences first identify troughs for several days near Iberia, followed by relatively quick transfer to the Central Mediterranean (CMed). Iberia and CMed daily trough‐strength indices reveal that both lead to warming and NC rainfall. Iberia trough linkages develop through West Africa and take longer to reach NC, while CMed linkages reach NC faster (2–3 days), with impact extent focused mostly south and east of CMed. Building up to the rainfall events, initial warming over the central Sahara migrates southeastward close to NC, ultimately with typical magnitude of about 1–2°C at 10–15°N. Such anomalies are statistically predictive for NC daily rainfall and associated nearby atmospheric features: anomalous low‐level southerly wind and increased moisture; anomalous low‐level westerly wind and vertical easterly shear to 600 hPa; increased mid‐level moisture (600 hPa), which along with low‐level moisture, connects northward into midlatitudes. A secondary route identified by which Iberia troughs can impact NC rainfall is through direct atmospheric teleconnection with precipitation to the west of NC, and subsequent migration of that convection eastward into NC. The eastern side of NC generally shows a small lag on western parts, and links more strongly to CMed troughs. Taken together, the lagged synoptic expression of Iberia and CMed troughs is widespread over several days, including much of North Africa (to equatorial latitudes), southwestern Asia, eastern Africa and the western Indian Ocean. Overall, these results can contribute to situational awareness for weather forecasters across the zones influenced by the troughs, while also providing a framework for climate timescale analyses.
Seasonal soil nitrogen dynamics affect yields of lowland rice in the savanna zone of West Africa
Authors: Yameogo Poulouma Louis , Becker Mathias , Segda Zacharie 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackground: Rice production in low‐input systems of West Africa relies largely on nitrogen supply from the soil. Especially in the dry savanna agro‐ecological zone, soil organic N is mineralized during the transition period between the dry and the wet seasons. In addition, in the inland valley landscape, soil N that is mineralized on slopes may be translocated as nitrate into the lowlands. There, both in‐situ mineralized as well as the laterally translocated nitrate‐N will be exposed to anaerobic conditions and is thus prone to losses.Aim: We determined the dynamics of soil NO3‐N along a valley toposequence during the dry‐to‐wet season transition period and the effects of soil N‐conserving production strategies on the grain yield of rainfed lowland rice grown during the subsequent wet season.Methods: Field experiments in Dano (Burkina Faso) assessed during two consecutive years the temporal dynamics and spatial fluxes of soil nitrate along a toposequence. We applied sequential and depth‐stratified soil nitrate analysis and nitrate absorption in ion exchange resin capsules in lowlands that were open to subsurface interflow and in those where the interflow from the was intercepted. During one year only we also assessed the effect of pre‐rice vegetation on conserving this NO3‐N as well as on N addition by biological N2 fixation in legumes using δ15N isotope dilution. Finally, we determined the impact of soil N fluxes and their differential management during the transition season on growth, yield and N use of rainfed lowland rice.Results: Following the first rainfall event of the season, soil NO3‐N initially accumulated and subsequently decreased gradually in the soil of the valley slope. Much of this nitrate N was translocated by lateral sub‐surface flow into the valley bottom wetland. There, pre‐rice vegetation was able to absorb much of the in‐situ mineralized and the laterally‐translocated soil NO3‐N, reducing its accumulation in the soil from 40–43 kg N ha−1 under a bare fallow to 1–23 kg N ha−1 in soils covered by vegetation. Nitrogen accumulation in the biomass of the transition season crops ranged from 44 to 79 kg N ha−1 with a 36–39% contribution from biological N2 fixation in the case of legumes. Rice agronomic performance improved following the incorporation as green manure of this “nitrate catching” vegetation, with yields increasing up to 3.5 t ha−1 with N2‐fixing transition seasons crops.Conclusion: Thus, integrating transition season legumes during the pre‐rice cropping niche in the prevailing low‐input systems in inland valleys of the dry savanna zone of West Africa can temporarily conserve substantial amounts of soil NO3‐N. It can also add biologically‐fixed N, thus contributing to increase rice yields in the short‐term and, in the long‐term, possibly maintaining or improving soil fertility in the lowland.
Perspectives from the Fritz‐Scheffer Awardee 2017. How mucilage affects soil hydraulic dynamics#
Authors: Kroener Eva 
Published: January 2021

Take home messageMucilage is a hydrogel exuded at root tips, which can hold large amounts of water but turns hydrophobic once dried. It is very challenging to understand the interplay of these opposite mechanisms and to incorporated them into hydraulic soil models. My summary of experimental and modelling approaches and observations at various scales is meant to help improving soil–plant water dynamic models and may also be helpful when water dynamics need to be considered in biogeochemical rhizosphere models.
A history of violence: magma incubation, timing and tephra distribution of the Los Chocoyos supereruption (Atitlán Caldera, Guatemala)
Authors: Cisneros de León Alejandro , Schindlbeck‐Belo Julie C. , Kutterolf Steffen , Danišík Martin , Schmitt Axel K. , Freundt Armin , Pérez Wendy , Harvey Janet C. , Wang Kuo‐Lung , Lee Hao‐Yang 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACTThe climactic Los Chocoyos (LCY) eruption from Atitlán caldera (Guatemala) is a key chronostratigraphic marker for the Quaternary period given the extensive distribution of its deposits that reached both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Despite LCY tephra being an important marker horizon, a radioisotopic age for this eruption has remained elusive. Using zircon (U–Th)/He geochronology, we present the first radioisotopically determined eruption age for the LCY of 75 ± 2 ka. Additionally, the youngest zircon crystallization 238U–230Th rim ages in their respective samples constrain eruption age maxima for two other tephra units that erupted from Atitlán caldera, W‐Fall (130 +16/−14 ka) and I‐Fall eruptions (56 +8.2/−7.7 ka), which under‐ and overlie LCY tephra, respectively. Moreover, rim and interior zircon dating and glass chemistry suggest that before eruption silicic magma was stored for >80 kyr, with magma accumulation peaking within ca. 35 kyr before the LCY eruption during which the system may have developed into a vertically zoned magma chamber. Based on an updated distribution of LCY pyroclastic deposits, a new conservatively estimated volume of ~1220 ± 150 km3 is obtained (volcanic explosivity index VEI > 8), which confirms the LCY eruption as the first‐ever recognized supereruption in Central America.
Late Pleistocene and Holocene Afromontane vegetation and headwater wetland dynamics within the Eastern Mau Forest, Kenya
Authors: Githumbi Esther N. , Courtney Mustaphi Colin J. , Marchant Rob 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACTThe Mau Forest Complex is Kenya's largest fragment of Afromontane forest, providing critical ecosystem services, and has been subject to intense land use changes since colonial times. It forms the upper catchment of rivers that drain into major drainage networks, thus supporting the livelihoods of millions of Kenyans and providing important wildlife areas. We present the results of a sedimentological and palynological analysis of a Late Pleistocene–Holocene sediment record of Afromontane forest change from Nyabuiyabui wetland in the Eastern Mau Forest, a highland region that has received limited geological characterization and palaeoecological study. Sedimentology, pollen, charcoal, X‐ray fluorescence and radiocarbon data record environmental and ecosystem change over the last ~16 000 cal a bp. The pollen record suggests Afromontane forests characterized the end of the Late Pleistocene to the Holocene with dominant taxa changing from Apodytes, Celtis, Dracaena, Hagenia and Podocarpus to Cordia, Croton, Ficus, Juniperus and Olea. The Late Holocene is characterized by a more open Afromontane forest with increased grass and herbaceous cover. Continuous Poaceae, Cyperaceae and Juncaceae vegetation currently cover the wetland and the water level has been decreasing over the recent past. Intensive agroforestry since the 1920s has reduced Afromontane forest cover as introduced taxa have increased (Pinus, Cupressus and Eucalyptus).
Early identification of Aspergillus spp. contamination in milled rice by E‐nose combined with chemometrics
Authors: Gu Shuang , Wang Zhenhe , Chen Wei , Wang Jun 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDRice grains can be contaminated easily by certain fungi during storage and in the market chain, thus generating a risk for humans. Most classical methods for identifying and rectifying this problem are complex and time‐consuming for manufacturers and consumers. However, E‐nose technology provides analytical information in a non‐destructive and environmentally friendly manner. Two‐feature fusion data combined with chemometrics were employed for the determination of Aspergillus spp. contamination in milled rice.RESULTSLinear discriminant analysis (LDA) indicated that the efficiency of fusion signals (‘80th s values’ and ‘area values’) outperformed that of independent E‐nose signals. Linear discriminant analysis showed clear discrimination of fungal species in stored milled rice for four groups on day 2, and the discrimination accuracy reached 92.86% by using an extreme learning machine (ELM). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis showed that the volatile compounds had close relationships with fungal species in rice. The quantification results of colony counts in milled rice showed that the monitoring models based on ELM and the genetic algorithm optimized support vector machine (GA‐SVM) (R2 = 0.924–0.983) achieved better performances than those based on partial least squares regression (PLSR) (R2 = 0.877–0.913). The ability of the E‐nose to monitor fungal infection at an early stage would help to prevent contaminated rice grains from entering the food chains.CONCLUSIONSThe results indicated that an E‐nose coupled with ELM or GA‐SVM algorithm could be a useful tool for the rapid detection of fungal infection in milled rice, to prevent contaminated rice from entering the food chain. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Quality control of fresh strawberries by a random forest model
Authors: Ribeiro Michele N , Carvalho Iago A , Fonseca Gabriel A , Lago Rafael C , Rocha Lenízy CR , Ferreira Danton D , Vilas Boas Eduardo VB , Pinheiro Ana CM 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDStrawberry quality is one of the most important factors that guarantees consistent commercialization of the fruit and ensures the consumer's satisfaction. This work makes innovative use of random forest (RF) to predict sensory measures of strawberries using physical and physical‐chemical variables. Furthermore, it also employs these same physical and physical‐chemical variables to classify strawberries in the classes "satisfied" or "not satisfied" and "would pay more" or "wouldn't pay more. The RF‐based model predicts the acceptance, expectation, ideal of sweetness, ideal of acidity, and the ideal of succulence based on the physical and physical‐chemical data. Then, the predicted parameters are used as input for the RF‐based classification model.RESULTSThe RF achieved a coefficient of determination R2 > 0.72 and a root‐mean‐squared error (RMSE) smaller than 0.17 for the prediction task, which indicates that one can estimate the sensory measures of strawberries using physical and physical–chemical data. Furthermore, the RF was able to classify 87.95% of the strawberry samples correctly into the classes ‘satisfied’ and ‘not satisfied’ and 78.99% in the classes ‘would pay more’ or ‘would not pay more’. A two‐step RF model, which employed both physical and physical–chemical data to classify strawberry samples regarding the consumer's response also correctly classified 100% and 90.32% of the samples with respect to consumers’ satisfaction and their willingness to pay more, respectively.CONCLUSIONThe results indicate that the developed models can be used in the quality control of strawberries, supporting the establishment of quality standards that consider the consumer's response. The proposed methodology can be extended to control the sensory quality of other fruits. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
The influence of fusion display mode on the user's sense of personal security in virtual immersion system
Authors: Hu Mingwei , Weng Dongdong , Guo Jie , Wang Yongtian 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDuring the immersive virtual reality experience, because the visual senses are completely enclosed in the virtual environment, they are unable to perceive environmental changes in the real world and produce unsafe feelings, which affects their experience in virtual reality systems. In order to improve people's sense of security in the immersive virtual reality experience, the paper has designed four ways to interact with the real world in a virtual environment, so that users can get real‐world information in the virtual environment. This paper tests users' changes in their sense of security during immersive virtual reality experiences under the influence of various interaction methods and conduct psychological analysis. Twenty‐one volunteers are recruited to participate in the experiment, and their personal safety and psychological effects are tested. The experimental results show that the method of using Yolcat neural network to segment the captured images according to categories and then fuse the segmented images into the virtual environment can improve the user's sense of security without destroying the immersion.
Use of the superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap for reconstruction after sarcoma resection
Authors: Yoshimatsu Hidehiko , Karakawa Ryo , Fuse Yuma , Tanakura Kenta , Yamamoto Takumi , Okada Akira , Daniel Bassem W. , Yano Tomoyuki 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundPostoperative complications after flap‐coverage in sarcoma treatment can postpone postoperative adjunct treatments. Here, we present our experience with the use of the superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap after sarcoma resection.Patients and MethodsPatients undergoing immediate reconstruction surgery with a flap after sarcoma resection at a single institution from February 2017 to April 2020 were identified. Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical characteristics, and complications were examined.ResultsThirty‐five consecutive patients underwent reconstructions using a SCIP flap (34 free and one pedicled SCIP flaps). We also identified 47 consecutive patients who underwent reconstruction with other pedicled or free flaps over the same time period. No significant differences were found in patient age, gender, defect size, or operative time between these two groups. The incidences of overall complications (20/47 [42.6%] vs. 3/35 [8.5%], p < .001), flap dehiscence (7/47 [14.8%] vs. 0/35 [0%], p = .018), and total flap complications (15/47 [31.9%] vs. 2/35 [5.7%], p = .005) were statistically greater in the control group than in the SCIP group.ConclusionWith its minimal postoperative complication rate both in the reconstruction site and the donor site, the SCIP flap can be considered an optimal reconstruction option after sarcoma resection.
Is resection for noncolorectal, nonneuroendocrine liver metastases justified?
Authors: Patkar Shraddha , Niyogi Devayani , Parray Amir , Goel Mahesh 
Published: January 2021

AbstractIntroductionThe role of hepatectomy in non‐colorectal, nonneuroendocrine liver metastasis (NCNN) is not clearly defined. This study represents a step towards surgical frame‐shift as an integral part of treatment pathway in these heterogeneous, arbitrarily treated tumors. It aims to provide answers regarding favorable tumor types and patient profiles for which liver metastasectomy would prove beneficial.Materials and MethodsRetrospective analysis of prospectively maintained database of hepatectomy in NCNN liver metastasis.ResultsA total of 50 patients out of 516 patients underwent liver resection during this period. In 27 patients, the liver metastases presented synchronously whereas the other 23 were metachronous. Median disease‐free interval (DFI) was 36 months. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) were the most common type of primary malignancy (15, 30%). In 41 patients, the liver was the only site of metastases. At a median follow‐up of 32.5 months, 24 patients developed recurrences. Five‐year overall (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) for the entire cohort was 60% and 32%, respectively. Median OS was highest in the breast (93 months) followed by GIST (56 months). Patients with longer DFI showed improved OS. (p = .04).ConclusionLiver resection for NCNN metastases is safe and feasible in selected patients with good survival outcomes. Longer DFI correlates with better survival.
Assessing the use of finite element analysis for mechanical performance evaluation of intervertebral body fusion devices
Authors: Baumann Andrew P. , Graf Thomas , Peck Jonathan H. , Dmitriev Anton E. , Coughlan Dezba , Lotz Jeffrey C. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundIntervertebral body fusion devices (IBFDs) are a widely used type of spinal implant placed between two vertebral bodies to stabilize the spine for fusion in the treatment of spinal pathologies. Assessing mechanical performance of these devices is critical during the design, verification, and regulatory evaluation phases of development. While traditionally evaluated with physical bench testing, empirical assessments are at times supplemented with computational models and simulations such as finite element analysis (FEA). However, unlike many mechanical bench tests, FEA lacks standardized practices and consistency of implementation.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were twofold. First, to identify IBFD 510(k) submissions containing FEA and conduct a comprehensive review of the elements provided in the FEA reports. Second, to engage with spinal device manufacturers through an anonymous survey and assess their practices for implementing FEA.MethodsFirst, a retrospective analysis of 510(k) submissions for IBFDs cleared by the FDA between 2013 and 2017 was performed. The contents of FEA test reports were quantified according to FDA guidance. Second, a survey inquiring about the use of FEA was distributed to industry and academic stakeholders. The survey asked up to 20 questions relating to modeler experience and modeling practices.ResultsSignificant gaps were present in model test reports that deemed the data unreliable and, therefore, unusable for regulatory decision‐making in a high percentage of submissions. Nonetheless, the industry survey revealed most stakeholders employ FEA during device evaluation and are interested in more prescriptive guidelines for executing IBFD models.ConclusionsThis study showed that while inconsistencies and gaps in FEA execution do exist within the spinal device community, the stakeholders are eager to work together in developing standardized approaches for executing computational models to support mechanical performance assessment of spinal devices in regulatory submissions.
Why Participate in Peer Review?
Authors: Kerig Patricia K. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThe scholarly publishing enterprise is currently undergoing a “crisis,” likely exacerbated by the global pandemic, in which peer reviewers are increasingly less available to perform reviews at the same time the flow of submitted manuscripts has not subsided. This editorial considers possible reasons why scholars might decline to participate in the peer review process, including the lack of compensation for this time‐consuming and effort‐laden service activity; questions about the fairness, validity, and efficacy of peer review; a commonly experienced dearth of training in peer review skills; and the fact that a lack of diversity in the sciences, academia, and the professions is reflected in the makeup of scholarly publishing leadership such that peer review is not necessarily conducted by one's “peers.” Potential considerations are also offered on the other side of the ledger. These include the benefits that accrue to our own scholarship and publishing acumen when we review the work of others; the value of peer review to the quality of our journals and the excellence of our field; the positive contributions that thoughtful and educative reviews can make to the work of our colleagues; recent initiatives designed to increase representativeness, reduce bias, and guard against conflicts of interest in the peer reviewing process; the availability of guides and tutorials to assist emerging scholars to develop the relevant skills and acumen; and the ways in which peer reviewing can set the stage for professional growth and entry into leadership positions in the field of scholarly publishing.