bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Projected Changes in Meteorological Drought Over East Africa Inferred from Bias-Adjusted CMIP6 Models
Authors: Ayugi Brian , Shilenje Zablon Weku , Babaousmail Hassen , Sian Kenny T.C. Lim Kam , Mumo Richard , Dike Victor Nnamdi , Iyakaremye Vedaste , Chehbouni Abdelghani , Ongoma Victor 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
The ongoing global warming has caused unprecedented changes in the climate system, leading to climate change and increase in drought occurrence, duration, severity and intensity. This research uses the sixth phase of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6) data to investigate the projected changes in drought events over East Africa (EA) under four Shared Socioeconomic Pathway (SSP) emission scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-4.0 and SSP5-8.5). Drought is quantified using the standardized precipitation index (SPI) considering different measures: drought duration (DD), drought frequency (DF), drought severity (DS) and drought intensity (DI). The CMIP6 data are first bias-corrected using a quantile mapping method, with the Climatic Research Unit (CRU)’s precipitation data as the observation. Evaluating the accuracy and reliability of historical data before and after correction demonstrates the importance of such approach. The projection results show that a drying pattern is expected during the mid future, while the end of the century is projected to get wetter, with a stronger magnitude for the wetting than the drying trend. Moreover, the dry areas of EA are likely to experience more frequent drought events with longer duration and stronger intensity and severity in the far future. In contrast, the highland and lake regions are likely witness a decrease in drought occurrences, affirming the “dry gets drier and wet gets wetter” theory over EA. This study identifies possible drought hotspots over EA, thus enabling early preparation for such events.
Temperature Estimation of an Entangled Pair of Trapped Ions
Authors: Neto O. P. de Sá , Costa H. A. S. , Prataviera G. A. , de Oliveira M. C. 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
We apply estimation theory to a system formed by two interacting trapped ions. By using the Fisher matrix formalism, we introduce a simple scheme for estimation of the temperature of the longitudinal vibrational modes of the ions. We use the ions interaction to effectively infer the temperature of the individual ions, by optimising the interaction time evolution and by measuring only over one of the ions. We also investigate the effect of a non-thermal reservoir over the inference approach. The non-classicality of one of the ions vibrational modes, introduced due to a squeezed thermal reservoir, improves the indirect inference of the individual temperatures.
Effects of the Combination of High-intensity Interval Training and Ecdysterone on Learning and Memory Abilities, Antioxidant Enzymes Activities, and Neuronal Population in an Amyloid-beta-induced Rat Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Gholipour Parsa , Komaki Alireza , Ramezani Mahdi 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
AimsOxidative stress and neuronal death are the primary reasons for the progression of amyloid-beta (Aβ) deposition and cognitive deficits in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Ecdysterone, a common derivative of ecdysteroids, possesses free radical scavenging and cognitive-improving effects. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) may be a therapeutic strategy for improving cognitive decline and oxidative stress. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of HIIT alone and its combination with Ecdysterone on the changes in learning and memory functions, hippocampal antioxidant enzymes activities, and neuronal population after AD induced by Aβ in male rats. Materials and methodsFollowing ten days of Aβ-injection, HIIT exercise and Ecdysterone treatment (10 mg/kg/day; P.O.) were initiated and continued for eight consecutive weeks in rats. At the end of the treatment period, rat’s learning and memory functions were assessed using water-maze and passive-avoidance tests. Moreover, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and neuronal population were evaluated in rat’s brains.Resultshe results indicated that Aβ injection disrupted spatial/passive avoidance learning and memory in both water-maze and passive-avoidance paradigms, accompanied by a decrease in the superoxide dismutase and catalase (as endogenous antioxidants) in rat hippocampus. Additionally, Aβ injection resulted in neuronal loss in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Although consumption of Ecdysterone separately improved spatial/passive avoidance learning and memory impairments, recovered hippocampal activity of SOD and CAT, and prevented the hippocampal neuronal loss, its combination with HIIT resulted in a more powerful and effective amelioration in all the above-mentioned Aβ-neuropathological changes.Conclusion﻿The current work's data confirms that a combination of HIIT exercise and Ecdysterone treatment could be a promising potential therapeutic agent against AD-associated cognitive decline, owing to their free radical scavenging and neuroprotective properties.
Efficient Plant Regeneration via Meristematic Nodule Culture in Paeonia Ostii ‘Feng Dan’
Authors: Xu Li , Cheng Fangyun , Zhong Yuan 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Tree peony (Paeonia sect. Moutan) is an economically important multipurpose woody plant in terms of its medical, ornamental and oil values, but its breeding and industrial development are severely limited due to inefficient traditional propagation methods and existing in vitro regeneration systems. Meristematic nodules (MNs) are an attractive alternative to solve this problem. This study first presented a protocol for in vitro regeneration of P. ostii ‘Feng Dan’ via MN culture with four consecutive steps, including embryogenic callus (EC) formation, MN induction and leaf cluster differentiation, shoot elongation, rooting and acclimatization. The highest EC induction rate (81.25%) was achieved when cotyledons were cultured on modified Murashige and Skoog (mMS) medium with 4.04 µM N-(2-chloro-4-pyridyl)-N-phenylurea (CPPU)+5.37 µM α-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) for 30 days. The optimal MN induction rate (100%) and leaf cluster differentiation rate (45.83%) were obtained when ECs were cultured on modified woody plant medium (mWPM) supplemented with 2.02 µM CPPU+2.27 µM thidiazuron (TDZ) for a subculture time of 10 days. The combination of 1.29 µM 6-benzyladenine (BA)+0.58 µM gibberellin (GA3) yielded the best shoot elongation (13.40 shoots per nodule), rooting rate (43.33%) and survival rate (45.83%). The protocol will play an important role in mass propagation, breeding and genetic improvement of tree peony.
Comparison and Gas Loading Impact on Counter- and Concurrent Trickle-Bed Reactor Configurations for Ex-Situ Biomethanation
Authors: Sposob Michal , Wahid Radziah 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
In this work, the two different configurations (counter- and concurrent) of laboratory scale trickle-bed reactors for ex-situ biomethanation were studied under continuous operation. Reactors operating at thermophilic conditions (50°C) were fed with H2 and CO2 (ratio 4:1) while cow manure used as liquid phase and source of nutrients for microbiota. Studies were performed at the gas loading rate ranging from 10 m3/m3/d to 30 m3/m3/d. The counter-current configuration performed better and had a higher stability compared to concurrent configuration. It achieved 96.1 ± 2.5% of CH4 at gas loading 10 m3/m3/d compared to 86.4 ± 3.3% of CH4 in concurrent at the same loading. At gas loadings >15 m3/m3/d, the concurrent configuration had unstable performance (decreasing CH4 content), while the counter-current reactor exhibited stable performance even at the highest studied loading (30 m3/m3/d), with 68.5 ± 2.5% of CH4. The hydrogenotrophic methanogens such as Methanobacterium (45.7-64.9%) and Methanothermobacter prevailed in both configurations.
Natural Radiation of Chemical Fertilisers and Radiological Impact on Agriculture Soil
Authors: Abbasi Akbar 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
To investigate, the radiological hazards indices of chemical fertilisers commonly used in agriculture soils of Arasbaran, Iran, the activity concentration of 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in four types of chemical fertilisers were measured by gamma spectrometry system. The concentration range for 226Ra, 232Th and 40K were obtained from 54±2.2 to 1585±29.4, 6±0.1 to 157±9.1 and 31±1.5 to 1496 ± 32.8 Bq/kg, respectively. The obtained results showed that the average of radiation hazard parameters for the fertilisers were higher than the reference level for the gamma index(Ig), alpha index(Ia), absorbed dose rate(D), and ambient dose equivalent rate (H*(10)) values. The outcomes give rise to that more parameters values are over the permissible limit, increasing the likelihood of adverse health consequences.
A Modular Product Design Framework For The Home Appliance Industry
Authors: Lima Matheus Bólico , Kubota Flavio Issao 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Methodologies that optimize product development are becoming increasingly important due to global competition. Additionally, customers have been more demanding in terms of product quality, also requiring more environmentally friendly goods and services. In order to accomplish with these goals, this study builds a product modularization framework for developing new products. We developed our protocol based on the Modular Function Deployment (MFD) and the Product Line Commonality Index (PCI). We obtained the modules after applying MFD and compared them with an actual product developed by a home appliance organization, to ensure validity in both theory and practice. We chose the hinge module to apply PCI, finding a significant potential to communize the component. A careful analysis of MFD and PCI outcomes in the product development process may increase modularization efficiency and bring pertinent information for product architecture decisions and strategies. However, it is noteworthy that a market analysis is needed before communizing components. On one hand, companies may reduce development and manufacturing costs through part commonality. On the other hand, there may be market rejection due to product design and architecture changes.
Composition and yield of non-cellulosic and cellulosic sugars in soluble and particulate fractions during consolidated bioprocessing of poplar biomass by Clostridium thermocellum
Authors: Biswal Ajaya K. , Hengge Neal N. , Black Ian M. , Atmodjo Melani A. , Mohanty Sushree S. , Ryno David , Himmel Michael E. , Azadi Parastoo , Bomble Yannick J. , Mohnen Debra 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background
Terrestrial plant biomass is the primary renewable carbon feedstock for enabling transition to a sustainable bioeconomy. Consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) by the cellulolytic thermophile Clostridium thermocellum offers a single step microbial platform for production of biofuels and biochemicals via simultaneous solubilization of carbohydrates from lignocellulosic biomass and conversion to products. Here, solubilization of cell wall cellulosic, hemicellulosic, and pectic polysaccharides in the liquor and solid residues generated during CBP of poplar biomass by C. thermocellum was analyzed.
Results
The total amount of biomass solubilized in the C. thermocellum fermentation platform was 5.8, 10.3, and 13.7% of milled non-pretreated poplar after 24, 48, and 120 h, respectively. When combined, these results demonstrate solubilization of 24% cellulose and 17% non-cellulosic sugars after 120 h, consistent with prior reports. The solubilization of non-cellulosic sugars by C. thermocellum compared to uninoculated control fermentations was 13 to 36% of arabinose (Ara), xylose (Xyl), galactose (Gal), mannose (Man), and glucose (Glc); and 15% and 3% of fucose and glucuronic acid, respectively. No rhamnose was solubilized and 71% of the galacturonic acid (GalA) was solubilized. These results indicate that C. thermocellum may be selective for the types and/or rate of solubilization of the non-cellulosic wall polymers. Xyl, Man, and Glc were found to accumulate in the fermentation liquor at levels greater than in uninoculated control fermentations, whereas Ara and Gal did not accumulate, suggesting that C. thermocellum solubilizes both hemicelluloses and pectins but utilizes them differently. After five days of fermentation, the amount of Rha in the solid residues increased 27%, indicating that the Rha-containing polymers (i.e., rhamnogalacturonan I, RG-I) were not effectively solubilized by C. thermocellum CBP. Comparison of the sugars in the liquor versus solid residue showed that C. thermocellum solubilized hemicellulosic xylan and mannan but did not fully utilize them, solubilized and appeared to utilize pectic homogalacturonan, and did not solubilize pectic RG-I.
Conclusions
The significant increase in Rha in poplar solid residues following CBP indicates that C. thermocellum did not solubilize RG-I. These results support the hypothesis that this pectic glycan may be a barrier for efficient solubilization of poplar by C. thermocellum.
Peripheral inflammatory biomarkers of methamphetamine withdrawal based on the neuro-inflammation hypothesis: the possible improvement effect of exercise
Authors: Wang Jingsong , Lu Chunxia , Zheng Lan , Zhang Jun 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background：Investigate how exercise affects the desire for methamphetamine (MA) withdrawal and to explore the mechanisms of peripheral inflammation.Methods： Ninety methamphetamine withdrawal patients participated enrolled in the study. The subjects were grouped according to the degree of craving induced by the clues: non craving control group (NCC group), craving control group (CC group) and craving exercise group (CE group). The CE group performed aerobic combined resistance training. The ELISA method was then used to detect plasma IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β concentrations, Visual Analogue Scale(VAS) measurement of cue-induced cravings under Virtual Reality(VR) exposure (VR-VAS) and the Desires for Drug Questionnaire (DDQ) were used to assess cravings.Results：Plasma IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, levels as well as the VR-VAS and DDQ scores of methamphetamine withdrawal patients were significantly reduced after exercise; The scores of VR-VAS were positively correlated with the plasma concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β.Conclusions：This study confirmed that plasma IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β can be used as biomarkers of peripheral inflammation in methamphetamine withdrawal patients to predict the degree of craving. At the same time,eight weeks of incremental load aerobic combined with resistance training reduces peripheral inflammation, significantly reduces the level of craving for MA extraction.
The Utility of Multi-Modal Intra-Operative Neurophysiological Monitor in Corrective Surgery for Thoracic Tuberculosis with Kyphosis
Authors: Huang Xianming , Huang Shishu , Gong Quan , Luo Chao , Song Yueming , Liu Limin , Yang Xi , Xiao Tingting , Zhou Chunguang , Zhou Zhongjie 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background

This study assesses performance and utility of motor evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials during corrective surgery to thoracic tuberculosis with kyphosis (TTK), as well as corresponding risk factors.
Methods

Patients diagnosed with TTK and underwent TTK corrective surgery from 2012 to 2018 were included. Relevant Data were retrospectively collected. Measures of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) performance were calculated. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under ROC curve (AUC) were deployed to identify the diagnostic accuracy of potential recovery. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to determine risk factors correlated with IONM alerting.
Results

68 patients were included. The mean age was 31.7±20.3 years (3-78 years). IONM alerting occurred in 12 surgeries (12/68, 17.6%), of which 6 were somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) alerting, 2 motor evoked potential (MEP) alerting, and 4 combinations of both SSEP and MEP. There were 10 posterior vertebral column resections (PVCRs) and 2 pedicle subtraction osteotomies (PSOs) with 1.83±1.19 vertebra resected. Four (4/68, 5.89%) patients were identified with presence of postoperative neurological deficits (PNDs). Calculated measures of performance of MEP and SSEP were as follows: sensitivity of 0.75, specificity of 0.86, positive predictive value (PPV) of 0.25, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.98 respectively. The AUC of evoked potential recovery in diagnosing a PND was 0.884. On logistic regression analysis, sever kyphosis was determined as the independent risk factor for IONM alerting.
Conclusions

Multimodal IONM can benefit 66.7% participants from neural impingement under appropriate intervention after IONM alerting. Corrective surgery in TTK is at risk of spinal injury, especially in severe kyphosis requiring three-column osteotomy.
Kernel-based Data Transformation Model for Nonlinear Classification of Symbolic Data
Authors: Yan Xuanhui , Chen Lifei , Guo Gongde 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Symbolic data are usually composed of some categorical variables used to represent discrete entities in many real-world applications. Mining of symbolic data is more difficult than numerical data due to the lack of inherent geometric properties of this type of data. In this paper, we use two kinds of kernel learning methods to create a kernel estimation model and a non-linear classification algorithm for symbolic data. By using the kernel smoothing method, we construct a squared-error consistent probability estimator for symbolic data, followed by a new data transformation model proposed to embed symbolic data into Euclidean space. Based on the model, the inner product and distance measure between symbolic data objects are reformulated, allowing a new Support Vector Machine (SVM), called SVM-S, to be defined for non-linear classification on symbolic data using the Mercer kernel learning method. The experiment results show that SVM can be much more effective for symbolic data classification based on our proposed model and measures.
The Effect of 6-months Fruit-rich Diet on Liver Steatosis, Liver Enzymes, Insulin Resistance, and Lipid Profile in Patients With Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Alami Farkhondeh , Alizadeh Mohammad , Shateri Kamran 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background Despite various recommended dietary approaches to improve the Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), the effect of fruits is not clear. In addition, observational studies reported conflicting results. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of fruit rich diet (FRD) on liver steatosis, liver enzymes, Insulin resistance, and lipid profile in patients with NAFLD.MethodsEighty adults with a diagnosed NAFLD participated in this randomized controlled trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to the FRD group with consumption of at least 4 servings/day or the control group with consumption of less than 2 servings/day. The grade of steatosis, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), lipid profile, fasting blood sugar (FBS), and insulin resistance were evaluated at the baseline and at the end of the study.ResultsThe mean daily intake of fruits during the study was 6.96±0.61 and 1.65±0.17 servings in the FRD and control groups, respectively. After 6 months of intervention, there was a significant increase in BMI (P<0.001), the grade of steatosis (P<0.001), liver enzymes (P<0.001), dyslipidemia (P<0.001), FBS (P<0.001), and insulin resistance (P<0.001) in the FRD group. In contrast, an improvement was observed in BMI (P<0.001), steatosis (P<0.001), lipid profile (P<0.05), and insulin resistance (P<0.001) in the control group. Adjusting for the effect of change in energy and other food groups intake, and BMI did not alter the findings of the study. ConclusionThe present study showed that consumption of fruits more than 4 servings/day exacerbates steatosis, dyslipidemia, and glycemic control in NAFLD patients. Trial registrationThis trial was registered at Iranian randomized clinical trial website with IRCT registration no. IRCT20201010048982N1on October 15, 2020.
Stem Cell Induction and Plant Regeneration Are Affected By Medium Components in Maca (Lepidium Meyenii Walp)
Authors: Kahrizi Danial , Farr Atefeh Fahimi , Chaghakaboodi Zeinab , Khazaei Mozafar , Sozmen Esra Ucar , Dogan Hulya 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Selection, propagation and conservation of important genotypes are important in medicinal-industrial plants. Nowadays, using tissue culture and regeneration techniques of medicinal plants under in vitro conditions has been able to proliferate medicinal plants widely, which is much higher than traditional methods of vegetative propagation. Maca (Lepidium meyenii), is an industrial plant whose root is the usable part. Maca has valuable medicinal effects such as sexual enhancement and reproductive power, infertility treatment, improved sperm count and quality, anti-stress, osteoporosis prevention and more. This study was conducted to induce callus and regeneration of Maca. First, MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of Kinetin, NAA and 2,4-D (0.5, 1 and 2 μM respectively) and control were compared for callus induction from root and leaves. After 38 days of incubation, the first callus appeared, after 50 days of callus induction and after 79 days regeneration occurred. The callus induction experiment was performed for the study of the effect of three explants (leaf, stem and root) and seven hormone levels. The regeneration experiment was carried out by studying the effect of three explants (leaf, stem and root) on eight levels of the hormone. The results of data analysis on callus induction showed that the effects of explants, hormones and their interactions on callus induction percentage were highly significant but not significant on callus growth rate. The results of regression analysis showed that explants, hormones and their interactions had no significant effect on regeneration percentage.
Quasi- Perfect Vortices Generated by Pancharatnam-Berry Phase Metasurfaces for Optical Spanners and OAM Communication
Authors: Shen Zhe , Xiang Zhiyuan , Shen Yaochun 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Optical vortex (OV) can be used in the fields of optical manipulation and optical communication because of its inherent orbital angular momentum (OAM). The size of the OV ring increases with the correlated topological charge (TC), making the OV with large TC not suitable for optical rotation and short-distance communication. Perfect vortex (PV) has attracted much attention due to that its optical transmission profile is almost independent of TC. In this manuscript, we proposed a method to generate quasi- perfect vortices (Q-PVs) by Pancharatnam–Berry (PB) phase metasurfaces, the so-called Q-PV can be regarded as an annularly focused optical vortex with spiral phase countermarked on the ring. It has a similar property to PV in that its light profile hardly changes with TC in the focal plane. We demonstrated that the Q-PV can be used for optical spanners that particles are trapped and rotated on the specific orbit. Non-coaxial and coaxial Q-PV arrays were further generated for OAM communication applications. We believe that the proposed Q-PVs has potential applications in optical manipulation and optical communication.