bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extremely Southward Migration of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current During the Last Interglacial
Authors: Lu Lijuan , Zheng Xufeng , Chen Zhong , Weber Michael , Peck Victoria , Reilly Brendan , Yan Wen , Chen Tianyu , Yan Hong , Gong Xun , Wu Shuzhuang , Zheng Liwei , WAN SHIMING , Du Yan , Tauxe Lisa , Brachfeld Stefanie , Williams Trevor , Martos Yasmina , Du Zhiheng , Garcia Marga , Perez Lara , Warnock Jonathan , Kao Shuh-Ji 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) acts as a critical component to regulate the global thermohaline circulation and climate. However, active debate remains about the relative strength of ACC during current/past warm periods and underlying driving mechanisms. Here, we present sortable silt mean grain size records from the Scotia Sea to infer the ACC strength over the past 160 ka. The 22-ka cycles of sortable silt mean grain size suggest that the precession-driven contraction/expansion of Subtropical Jet dominates the migration of ACC fronts, and thus ACC speed and potential Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation stability. We find that the bottom flow speed during MIS 5e was over three times faster than the Holocene, with no apparent difference in ACC speed between the Holocene and the Last Glacial Maximum. We suggest that a southward shift of oceanic fronts of ~5° could cause the additional speed-up of ACC during MIS 5e. This could induce warmer water flowing in the ACC to approach and melt the Antarctica continental ice shelves, with corresponding effects on global sea level and the global climate.
High Efficiency Stabilization of Lead in Contaminated Soil by Thermal-organic Acid Activated Phosphate Rock
Authors: Song Ziwen , Zhang Zhuo , Luo Canyu , Yang Likun , Wu Jin 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Phosphate rock powder (PR) has been shown to possess the potential to stabilize lead (Pb) in soil. Most of the phosphorus (P) minerals in the world are low-grade ores, which makes it difficult to achieve the expected stabilization effect on heavy metals. This study compared the changes in the phase composition and structure of PR and three kinds of activated phosphate rock powder (APR) (organic acid activated PR, thermal activated PR, and thermal-acid activated PR), and used APR for the stabilization of Pb-contaminated soil. PR/APR was characterized by different methods. The stabilization effectiveness of APR on Pb-contaminated soil was evaluated by toxicity leaching procedure, the Pb products adsorbed on APR and stabilization mechanism of APR on Pb were analyzed. The results showed that the crystallinity of fluorapatite phase decreased after all the activation treatments. The APR showed decreased crystallinity and 3.4-fold increase in specific surface area, and a 53.07% and 49.32% increase in soluble P content in oxalic acid activated PR and citric acid activated PR, respectively, when compared with those of PR. These changes improved the stabilization effect of APR on Pb-contaminated soil, and the stabilization effectiveness was as follows: thermal-acid activated PR > organic acid activated PR > thermal activated PR. In particular, oxalic acid-600℃ activated PR showed the best effect, presenting 94.0%-99.8% reduction in Pb leaching concentration following addition of 2%-10% modifier. Product characterization after Pb adsorption on APR showed that Pb was adsorbed onto APR by forming pyromorphite precipitation with APR.
Reproductive and Economic Evaluation of Sexual Stimulation in Anestrus Period at a Farm Experiencing Neonatal Lamb Losses
Authors: TAKCI Abdurrahman , KIVRAK Mehmet Bugra , MURAT Hakan , CIZMECI Sakine Ulkum 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Lamb deaths occurring in the neonatal phase, which covers the first four weeks after birth, cause serious economic losses for farms. This study was carried out on 140 Akkaraman-Kangal sheep that lost their lambs due to pneumonia and enteritis in the neonatal phase during the anestrus period. In the study, an intravaginal sponge containing progesterone was applied to the animals in Group 1 (n:70) on day 0, and 7 days after the application, the vaginal sponges were removed, and 263 µg PGF2α and 500 IU eCG (PMSG) hormone were applied. After removing the intravaginal sponge, rams were introduced for 7 days (between the days 8th and 14th ). Without any manipulations to the animals in Group 2, the ram effect was utilized by performing simultaneous ram introduction with Group 1. To determine the reproductive response, the economic implications between the groups were compared by considering the reproductive parameters such as oestrous rate, pregnancy rate, multiple pregnancy rate, embryonic death rate, number of births, number of offspring, and fertility. The study group created a positive economic difference compared to the control group while analyzing the statistical differences in terms of each reproductive parameter between the study and control groups. When lamb losses are experienced in farms that build their profitability on lamb production, it was concluded that pregnancy should be achieved by sexual stimulation without waiting for the breeding season.
Does Agricultural Mechanization Improve Agriculture Environment Efficiency?-Evidence from China’s Planting Industry
Authors: Zhu Yingyu , Zhang Yan , Piao Huilan 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
It has important theoretical value and practical significance to study the impact of agricultural mechanization (AM) on agriculture environment efficiency (AEE), as AM is an important way to improve the level of rural modernization and accelerate the high-quality development of agriculture, while the increase of energy consumption of AM has brought greenhouse gas emissions. Using the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2001 to 2019, this article adopts stochastic frontier analysis method with output oriented distance function to measure AEE based on net carbon sink, and empirically analyzes the impact of AM on AEE. The empirical analysis finds that the AEE of the whole country and all provinces shows an upward trend with time, and has significant spatial positive autocorrelation characteristics. There is a Kuznets inverted "U" relationship between AM and AEE. Meanwhile, AM has spatial spillover effect and time cumulative effect on AEE, and this basic conclusion is still robust after using instrumental variables, spatial autoregressive model, sub sample regression, changing spatial weight matrix and independent. Further research shows that the effect of AM on AEE depends on the input effect and output effect caused by AM, and the mechanism is mainly reflected in agricultural technology progress, expansion of the scale of agricultural operation, optimization of resource allocation and spatial spillover. Given these findings, the paper adds considerable value to the empirical literature and also provides various policy- and practical implications.
Unsupervised Learning Architecture for Classifying the Transient Noise of Interferometric Gravitational-Wave Detectors
Authors: Sakai Yusuke , Itoh Yousuke , Jung Piljong , Kokeyama Keiko , Kozakai Chihiro , Nakahira Katsuko T. , Oshino Shoichi , Shikano Yutaka , Takahashi Hirotaka , Uchiyama Takashi , Ueshima Gen , Washimi Tatsuki , Yamamoto Takahiro , Yokozawa Takaaki 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
In the data of laser interferometric gravitational wave detectors, transient noise with non-stationary and non-Gaussian features occurs at a high rate. It often causes problems such as instability of the detector, hiding and/or imitating gravitational-wave signals. This transient noise has various characteristics in the time-frequency representation, which is considered to be associated with environmental and instrumental origins. Classification of transient noise can offer one of the clues for exploring its origin and improving the performance of the detector. One approach for the classification of these noises is supervised learning. However, generally, supervised learning requires annotation of the training data, and there are issues with ensuring objectivity in the classification and its corresponding new classes. On the contrary, unsupervised learning can reduce the annotation work for the training data and ensuring objectivity in the classification and its corresponding new classes. In this study, we propose an architecture for the classification of transient noise by using unsupervised learning, which combines a variational autoencoder and invariant information clustering. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed architecture, we used the dataset (time-frequency two-dimensional spectrogram images and labels) of the LIGO first observation run prepared by the Gravity Spy project. We obtain the consistency between the label annotated by Gravity spy project and the class provided by our proposed unsupervised learning architecture and provide the potential for the existence of the unrevealed classes.
Reproducibility and Reliability of Pancreatic Pharmacokinetic Parameters Derived from Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Zhao Weiwei , Yu Jing , Bi Yuyu , Huan Yi , Zhu Yuanqiang , Zhang Weiqi , Zheng Jianmin , Quan Zhiyong , Yang Yong 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Objectives
Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) with Extended Tofts Linear (ETL) model has been used in tissue and tumor evaluation. However, its reliability and reproducibility in pancreatic evaluation has been unclear. It is also unclear whether pancreatic DCE-MRI pharmacokinetic parameters were consistent and stable among different pancreatic regions, ages and genders.
Methods
Pancreatic pharmacokinetic parameters of 54 volunteers were calculated using DCE-MRI with ETL model. Firstly, Intra- and inter-observer reproducibility was evaluated using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CoV). Secondly, subgroup evaluation of pancreatic DCE-MRI pharmacokinetic parameters was performed. 54 subjects were divided into three groups in virtue of pancreatic region, three groups according to age, two groups according to gender, which pharmacokinetic parameters among and between different groups were calculated and compared.
Results
There was excellent agreement and low variability of intra- and inter-observer to pancreatic DCE-MRI pharmacokinetic parameters. The intra- and inter-observer ICCs of Ktrans, kep, ve, vp were 0.971, 0.952, 0.959, 0.944 and 0.947, 0.911, 0.978, 0.917, respectively. The intra- and inter-observer CoVs of Ktrans, kep, ve, vp were 9.98%, 5.99%, 6.47%, 4.76% and 10.15%, 5.22%, 6.28%, 5.40%, respectively. There were no significant differences of Ktrans, kep among different pancreatic regions, among different age groups, between male and female groups (P all > 0.10). Only, pancreatic ve of old group was higher than that of young and middle-aged groups (P = 0.042, 0.001), and vp of pancreatic head was higher than that of pancreatic body and tail (P = 0.014, 0.043).
Conclusions
DCE-MRI with ETL model is reliable and reproducible for quantitative assessment of pancreatic pharmacokinetic parameters. ve varies with age and vp varies with pancreatic region, which can provide guidance for the selection of normal reference in the pharmacokinetics study of pancreatic diseases.
Impacts of R&amp;D Expenditures On Firms’ Innovation and Financial Performance: A Panel Data Evidence from Ethiopian Firms
Authors: Mulugeta Tsegaye 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
In the era of the rapid development of knowledge economy and science, all countries have thought highly of technical innovation and greatly increased investment in R&D from time to time. The vast literature indicates that the relationship between R&D and firms’ performance is highly complex while evidences suggest that R&D positively influences firms’ performance, yet the process how R&D activities influence firms’ performance is still mixing. This paper explores the impacts of investment in R&D on firms’ performance from 476 firms in Ethiopia by employing a combination of the fixed-effect, PSM and ETE estimation methods. The findings of this study support the existence of a strong interaction between R&D activities and firms’ performance. The empirical results reveal that investment in R&D positively influences both innovation and long-term financial performance, while it negatively impacts shorter-term financial performance. Moreover, results show that the impacts of R&D activities vary significantly along the different category of firms confirming that heterogeneity is possible issue among firms considered. The results also indicate that availability of credit is more important moderating factor for the relationship between R&D investment and firms’ performance than legal system. The results from the current study have important implications for firms especially those from developing countries like Ethiopia with growing R&D operations. We propose that Ethiopian firms should invest more on R&D activities, such as the production of fundamental research and applied research to have better performance and enhance their competitiveness in the future.
Elevated Serum Midkine Levels in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infected Patients
Authors: Ketenci Sema , Kalaycı M. Uygar , Dündar Bağnu , Duranay Recep , Aynacıoğlu A.Şükrü 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused important health, economic, social, and cultural problems worldwide. Recent findings demonstrate an excessive cytokine release during the disease development, especially in the seriously life-threatening form of COVID-19. Among other chemokines and cytokines that are released in high amounts at the infection site of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), midkine (MK), which is an important pro-inflammatory growth factor/ cytokine, can be also overexpressed and contribute to the pathophysiological process in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Serum was collected from 87 intensive care unit (ICU) patients that are COVID-19 positive and 50 healthy volunteers in the control group with a negative PCR test and without disease symptoms. Circulating MK concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a commercial human MK kit. COVID-19 patients had a significantly higher serum MK concentration compared to non-COVID-19 control subjects (1892.8 ± 1615.8 pg/ml versus 680.7 ± 907.6 pg/ml, respectively; P < 0.001). The cut-off MK concentration was 716.7 pg/ml, with the sensitivity and specificity of 75.9 % and 76.0 %, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUCROC) of MK was = .827. Our findings showed that circulating MK levels are significantly increased in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. We suggest that MK is involved in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and may be a part of hypercytokinaemia. Therefore, MK may serve as a supporting inflammatory marker in the diagnosis of COVID-19 and by blocking MK actions or its targets may attenuate the inflammatory process and the severity of the disease.
AZFa Y Gene, DDX3Y, Evolved Novel Testis Transcript Variants in Primates with Proximal 3´UTR Polyadenylation for Germ Cell Specific Translation
Authors: Vogt Peter H. , Rauschendorf M-A. , Zimmer J. , Drummer C. , Behr R. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Translational control is a major level of gene expression regulation in the male germ line. DDX3Y located in the AZFa region of the human Y chromosome encodes a conserved RNA helicase important for translational control at the G1-S phase of the cell cycle. In human, DDX3Y protein is expressed only in premeiotic male germ cells. In primates, DDX3Y evolved a second promoter producing novel testis-specific transcripts. Here, we show primate species-specific use of alternative polyadenylation (APA) sites for the testis-specific DDX3Y transcript variants. They have evolved first in the 3´UTRs of primate DDX3Y transcripts. A distal APA site is used for polyadenylation of DDX3Y testis transcripts in Callithrix jacchus; two proximal APAs in Macaca mulatta, in Pan trogloydates and in human. This shift corresponds with a significant increase of DDX3Y protein expression in the macaque testis and kidney tissue. In chimpanzee and human, shift to predominant use of the most proximal APA site is associated with translation of these DDX3Y transcripts in only premeiotic male germ cells. We therefore assume evolution of a positive selection process for functional DDX3Y testis transcripts in these primates to promote increase of their stability and balancing translation efficiency especially in the male germ line.
As Time Goes By: Effects of Basal Chronotype and School Timing on Chronotype Development During Adolescence
Authors: Ferrante Guadalupe Rodriguez , Goldin Andrea , Sigman Mariano , Leone Maria 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
The misalignment between late chronotypes and early school start times affect health, performance and psychological well-being of adolescents. Here we test whether, and how, the basal chronotype (i.e. chronotype at the beginning of secondary school) and the school timing affect the magnitude and the direction of the developmental change in chronotype during adolescence. We evaluated a sample of Argentinian students (n=259) who were randomly assigned to attend school in the morning (07:45am-12:05pm), afternoon (12:40pm-05:00pm) or evening (05:20pm-09:40pm) school timings. Importantly, chronotype and sleep habits were assessed longitudinally in the same group of students along secondary school (at 13-14 y.o. and 17-18 y.o.). Our results show that: (1) although chronotypes partially align with class time, this effect is insufficient to fully account for the differences observed in sleep-related variables between school timings; (2) both school timing and basal chronotype independently affect the direction and the magnitude of chronotype change, with greater delays associated with earlier basal chronotypes and later school timings. The practical implications of these results are challenging and should be considered in the design of future educational timing policies to improve adolescents’ well-being.
Recombination Drives Emergence of Orf Virus Diversity: Evidence From the First Complete Genome of Indian Orf Virus and Comparative Genomic Analysis
Authors: Nayak Debasis , Sahu Basanta , Majee Prativa , Singh Ravi , Sahoo Niranjan 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Contagious pustular dermatitis is a disease that primarily infects small ruminants and has the zoonotic potential evoked by a Parapoxvirus, Orf virus (ORFV). This study evaluated an ORFV outbreak in goats that arose in Madhya Pradesh, a state of central India, during 2017 by constructing phylogenetic trees and unveiling its transboundary potential. Thereafter, the complete genome of an ORFV strain named Ind/MP has revealed the presence of 139,807bp nucleotide sequences, GC content 63.7%, 132 open reading frames (ORFs) circumscribed by inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) of 3,910bp. Evolutionary parameters such as selection pressure (θ=dN/dS), nucleotide diversity (π), etc., demonstrate the ORFV exhibit purifying selection. A total of forty recombination events were observed, out of which Ind/MP strains were engaged in twenty-one recombination events indicating this strain can recombine for the generation of new variants.
Analysis of Site Amplification and Nonlinear Response Based on Ground Motion Records at MYGH10 Station in Japan
Authors: Zhang Shiliang , Tao Dongwang , Xie Quancai , Ma Qiang , Wang Fuchen 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Strong horizontal ground motions with the peak ground acceleration (PGA) larger than 1400 gal were observed at Yamamoto (MYGH10) station during the February 2021 Mj 7.3 off the east coast of Honshu, Japan, Fukushima earthquake. Firstly, in this paper, we discussed and verified the theoretical assumptions of the “Nakamura” method under weak and strong ground motions. The site amplification factor of the MYGH10 station was estimated using the surface horizontal-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) and the surface-to-borehole spectral ratio (SBSR), and the corrected HVSRC, respectively. Meanwhile, the reasons for underestimating the site amplification factor when using HVSR were explained. The vertical amplification phenomenon of seismic P-wave in the high-frequency band was analysed under weak and strong ground motions. Secondly, we utilized HVSR, SBSR, and theoretical transfer function (TTF) based on the 1D wave propagation theory to study the nonlinear site response of MYGH10 station under the mainshock of the Fukushima earthquake and the historically weak and strong ground motions, respectively. The changes in frequencies and amplitudes of the spectral ratio curves when nonlinearities were occurring at the site were analysed and compared using the spectra ratio curves of weak ground motion records and TTF as references. Finally, the recovery of the site after strong nonlinearity was also evaluated by comparing the spectral ratio curves of aftershocks records. We found that the most significant amplification factor of the site increased from 7 to more than 10, and the predominant frequency decreased from 10 Hz to 3.8 Hz under the mainshock of the Fukushima earthquake. The predominant frequency returned to the previous value within three days after the mainshock, but the amplification factor did not.
Multidecadal, Continent-level Analysis Found No Impact of Climate Warming on Wheat Aphids
Authors: Sun Xiao , Sun Yumei , Ma Ling , Liu Zhen , Wang Qiyun , Wang Dingli , Zhang Chujun , Yu Hongwei , Xu Ming , Ding Jianqing , Siemann Evan 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Temperature drastically determines insect abundances, thus under climate change, identifying major drivers affecting pest insect populations is critical to world food security and agricultural ecosystem health. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis with data obtained from 120 studies across China and Europe from 1970 to 2017 to reveal the roles of climate and agricultural practices in determining populations of wheat aphids. We showed aphid loads on wheat had distinct patterns between these two regions, with a significant increase in China but decrease in Europe over this time period. Although average winter and growing season temperatures increased over this period in both regions, we found no evidence showing climate warming affected aphid loads. Rather, differences in pesticide use, fertilization, land use, and natural enemies between China and Europe may be key factors accounting for differences in aphid pest populations. These findings provide insights for developing effective agroecosystem management under global change. These long-term data suggest that climate change may not be the most important driver of agricultural pest loads. Therefore, under global environmental change, consideration of multiple factors at large spatial-temporal scales will likely provide more insights for developing effective agroecosystem management to safeguard world food security.