bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of different moisture content and varieties on physico–mechanical properties of maize kernel and pedicel
Authors: Su Yuan , Cui Tao , Xia Guoyi , Gao Xiaojun , Li Yibo , Qiao Mengmeng , Xu Yang 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe aim of this study was to determine various physical, mechanical, and pedicel strengths of 28 maize cultivars, with initial moisture content ranging between 19.24 to 36.64% (w.b.). These properties are such as slenderness ratio of maize ear, dimensions, density and 100–seed weight of kernels, picking force of kernel pedicel from cob (pedicel strength). The range of the slenderness ratio of maize ear was 24.91–36.99%. The range of weight for kernel and ear were 176.68–300.09 g, 141.78–229.22 g, respectively. In terms of the sphericity of kernels which ranges between 0.62 and 0.77 depending on the cultivars. When the kernel moisture in the range of 19.24–22.50%, the range of required force for remove one kernel from the cob is 4.71–7.94 N. When the kernel moisture is greater than 22.50%, the maximum force required is 28.50 N. The force required to remove kernels from the cob along the axial direction is greater than that at the radial direction. The knowledge of these parameters is important for the development of new threshing equipment and for reducing the losses that occurred in maize production.Practical ApplicationsMaize is one of the most versatile cereal crops of the world but has a wide application in many industries. The determination of the physical and mechanical properties of maize ear, kernel, and pedicel will provide the reference to design the process of threshing equipment, postharvest machinery, and so forth, in the processing and manufacturing industries.
Prevalence of sleep disruption and determinants of sleepiness in a cohort of Italian hospital physicians: The PRESOMO study
Authors: Lecca Rosamaria , Bonanni Enrica , Battaglia Elvia , Maestri Michelangelo , Figorilli Michela , Congiu Patrizia , Gioi Gioia , Meloni Federico , Cocco Pierluigi , Puligheddu Monica 
Published: June 2021

AbstractNightshift work can cause daytime somnolence and decreased alertness, and can increase risk of medical errors, occupational injuries and car accidents. We used a structured questionnaire, including the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), to assess the prevalence and the determinants of sleep disruption in 268 Italian University hospital physicians from Cagliari (N = 57), Milan (N = 180) and Pisa (N = 31), who participated in the multicentre study on the prevalence of sleep disturbance among hospital physicians (PRESOMO); 198 of them (74%) were engaged in nightshift work. We explored the association between history of nightshift work and poor sleep quality and daytime somnolence with multivariate logistic regression, adjusting by personal and lifestyle covariates. Age, female gender, taking medication interfering with sleep and an elevated ESS score were significant predictors of poor sleep quality and daytime somnolence. Nightshift work was associated with a higher prevalence of unrestful sleep (84% versus 70%; odds ratio [OR] = 2.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18–5.05) and daytime dozing (57% versus 35%; OR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.03–3.64), with an upward trend by years of engagement in nightshift work for both conditions (p = .043 and 0.017, respectively), and by number of nightshifts/year for unrestful sleep (p = .024). Such an association was not detected with the ESS scale. Our results suggest that nightshift work significantly affects sleep quality and daytime somnolence in hospital physicians, who might underestimate their daytime dozing problem, when asked to subjectively scale it.
Conservation genomics reveals pesticide and pathogen exposure in the declining bumble bee Bombus terricola
Authors: Tsvetkov Nadejda , MacPhail Victoria J. , Colla Sheila R. , Zayed Amro 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn recent years, many pollinators have experienced large population declines, which threaten food security and the stability of natural ecosystems. Bumble bees are particularly important because their ability to “buzz” pollinate and tolerate cooler conditions make them critical pollinators for certain plants and regions. Here, we apply a conservation genomics approach to study the vulnerable Bombus terricola. We sequenced RNA from 30 worker abdomens, 18 of which were collected from agricultural sites and 12 of which were collected from nonagricultural sites. We found transcriptional signatures associated with exposure to insecticides, with gene expression patterns suggesting that bumble bees were exposed to neonicotinoids and/or fipronil—two compounds known to negatively impact bees. We also found transcriptional signatures associated with pathogen infections. In addition to the transcriptomic analysis, we carried out a metatranscriptomic analysis and detected five pathogens in the abdomens of workers, three of which are common in managed honey bee and bumble bee colonies. Our conservation genomics study provides functional support for the role of pesticides and pathogen spillover in the decline of B. terricola. We demonstrate that conservation genomics is an invaluable tool which allows researchers to quantify the effects of multiple stressors that impact pollinator populations in the wild.
Vortex‐induced vibration measurement of a long‐span suspension bridge through noncontact sensing strategies
Authors: Zhang Jian , Zhou Liming , Tian Yongding , Yu Shanshan , Zhao Wenju , Cheng Yuyao 
Published: June 2021

AbstractLong‐span bridges are susceptible to vortex‐induced vibration (VIV), which affects the serviceability and safety of bridges when the vibration amplitude is too large and lasts for a long time. Traditional contact‐type sensing technologies (i.e., accelerometers and linear variable differential transformer) are inconvenient and dangerous to be installed on long‐span bridges for monitoring VIV events. To address this limitation, this article focuses on the VIV measurement of a long‐span suspension bridge through noncontact sensing strategies. The contribution of this article lies in (1) noncontact sensing technologies including microwave radar, optical camera and video equipment were employed to measure multiple‐point displacements of the studied bridge under VIV events; (2) dynamic properties of the bridge (i.e., natural frequency, damping ratio, mode shapes) and characteristics of the VIV event (i.e., single‐mode vibration and dominant vibration mode switch) were identified by analyzing monitoring data; (3) an early warning framework for VIV event of long‐span suspension bridges was proposed based on monitored dynamic responses and wind fields; specifically, two indicators, the dominant vibration frequency and the similarity between bridge shape and vibration mode shape, were proposed to identify the VIV event, and then the root mean square (RMS) of measured response was further calculated to determine whether there is a need to trigger the warning system or not. The proposed noncontact VIV measurement strategy has the advantage of rapid measurement of vibration magnitude, rapid identification of dynamic properties of the studied bridge and characteristics of the VIV event, which are helpful for the government and bridge owners to make decisions on vibration mitigation measures and to avoid safety issues.
Indoor camera pose estimation via style‐transfer 3D models
Authors: Chen Junjie , Li Shuai , Liu Donghai , Lu Weisheng 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMany vision‐based indoor localization methods require tedious and comprehensive pre‐mapping of built environments. This research proposes a mapping‐free approach to estimating indoor camera poses based on a 3D style‐transferred building information model (BIM) and photogrammetry technique. To address the cross‐domain gap between virtual 3D models and real‐life photographs, a CycleGAN model was developed to transform BIM renderings into photorealistic images. A photogrammetry‐based algorithm was developed to estimate camera pose using the visual and spatial information extracted from the style‐transferred BIM. The experiments demonstrated the efficacy of CycleGAN in bridging the cross‐domain gap, which significantly improved performance in terms of image retrieval and feature correspondence detection. With the 3D coordinates retrieved from BIM, the proposed method can achieve near real‐time camera pose estimation with an accuracy of 1.38 m and 10.1° in indoor environments.
An optimization strategy to improve the deep learning‐based recognition model of leakage in shield tunnels
Authors: Xue Yadong , Jia Fei , Cai Xinyuan , Shadabfar Mahdi , Huang Hongwei 
Published: June 2021

AbstractDue to the interference problems of complex on‐site installations attached to shield tunnel lining surface, deep learning models, developed for leakage datasets of shield tunnels, are not prepared to meet engineering requirements. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to optimize the original model based on the characteristics of leakage datasets. For this purpose, the present study adopted Mask R‐CNN as the baseline and improved its performance from two aspects, including the properties of shield tunnel leakage datasets and detection errors of the original model in the testing set. With reference to the properties of leakage datasets, the model compression technique was implemented to remove the redundant parameters in the training stage and enhance the detection accuracy and speed of the original model. Besides, three error types were grouped to explore the optimization direction in practical application. Accordingly, four different optimization measurements were fulfilled step‐by‐step to improve the model performance. It was concluded that the compressed model with 62% sparsity reached average precision (AP) of 0.399 at the detection speed of 7 frames per second (FPS), which was 0.144 higher and 2 FPS faster than that of the original model, respectively. The improvements in the model concerned were also quite different with the three error types moderated, indicating that the optimization direction of the original model needed to be focused on the error types with higher AP promotion. In addition, the AP value of the original model significantly augmented from 25.5% to 51.1% upon minimizing the detection errors on shield tunnel leakage datasets.
Balanced semisupervised generative adversarial network for damage assessment from low‐data imbalanced‐class regime
Authors: Gao Yuqing , Zhai Pengyuan , Mosalam Khalid M. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn recent years, applying deep learning (DL) to assess structural damages has gained growing popularity in vision‐based structural health monitoring (SHM). However, both data deficiency and class imbalance hinder the wide adoption of DL in practical applications of SHM. Common mitigation strategies include transfer learning, oversampling, and undersampling, yet these ad hoc methods only provide limited performance boost that varies from one case to another. In this work, we introduce one variant of the generative adversarial network (GAN), named the balanced semisupervised GAN (BSS‐GAN). It adopts the semisupervised learning concept and applies balanced‐batch sampling in training to resolve low‐data and imbalanced‐class problems. A series of computer experiments on concrete cracking and spalling classification were conducted under the low‐data imbalanced‐class regime with limited computing power. The results show that the BSS‐GAN is able to achieve better damage detection in terms of recall and score than other conventional methods, indicating its state‐of‐the‐art performance.
A simple high‐volume culture technique—Good substitute for polymerase chain reaction for the detection of Aspergillus species in bronchoalveolar lavage samples
Authors: Subhagan Haritha , Savio Jayanthi , Padaki Priyadarshini , Srivastava Sweta , Thomas Pavana , Veerappan Rajeshwari , Ramachandran Priya , Michael Raj Ashok John 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundAspergillus species is the most common agent of invasive pulmonary fungal disease. Culture‐based diagnosis considered as gold standard is limited by the fungal load in samples. Detection of Aspergillus by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been included as a diagnostic criterion by European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC). Most routine laboratories lack facilities for molecular diagnosis. Better yield using high‐volume culture (HVC) technique has been reported. Studies have not compared HVC and PCR for detection of Aspergillus species in respiratory samples from patients with suspected invasive pulmonary Aspergillosis (IPA) not on antifungal therapy.ObjectiveThis pilot study compared HVC and PCR for the detection of Aspergillus species in respiratory samples from treatment naïve patients.MethodsBronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) samples from 30 patients with clinical suspicion of IPA were evaluated. Direct microscopy, culture both conventional (CC) and HVC and qualitative Pan Aspergillus PCR were performed. Latent class model was used for statistical analysis.ResultsSensitivity of HVC (100%) was better compared with CC (60%) and comparable to that of PCR (100%). Specificities of CC, HVC and PCR were 100%, 100% and 25%, respectively.ConclusionHigh‐volume culture is a simple cost‐effective technique with a high sensitivity and specificity. It can be easily introduced in routine microbiology laboratories. In centres with the availability of infrastructure for molecular analysis, Aspergillus PCR with other mycological techniques can be used for better diagnosis and management of patients with IPA.
Dietary shifts in a group of early Eocene euarchontans (Microsyopidae) in association with climatic change
Authors: Selig Keegan R. , Chew Amy E. , Silcox Mary T. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMicrosyopidae is a family of plesiadapiforms known from over 1500 stratigraphically controlled specimens from the southern Bighorn Basin of Wyoming spanning the first three million years of the early Eocene. The early Eocene is characterized by rapid fluctuations in climate during the period represented by this collection of microsyopids, making this an ideal sample to examine how climate may have influenced early stem primate biology, particularly diet. An evolving lineage of microsyopids is known from before, during, and after Biohorizon A, a faunal turnover event associated with a period of localized cooling. Dental topographic analysis (DTA) metrics quantify functional aspects of molars including curvature, complexity and relief, and covary with diet in extant taxa. Here, we use DTA to examine microsyopid dietary change over time, particularly in association with this cooling event. Our results suggest that microsyopids had molars that are functionally like extant insectivorous/omnivorous euarchontans. The earliest occurring species, Arctodontomys wilsoni, is characterized by molars that became more like modern insectivores over time. During Biohorizon A, A. wilsoni is replaced by A. nuptus, which has molars that are more like those of extant omnivores with a mixed diet including fruit. After Biohorizon A, A. nuptus appears more insectivorous, as is the later occurring Microsyops angustidens, which evolves from A. nuptus. Overall, we provide potential evidence for a causal scenario in which local climate change coincided with a dietary transition among microsyopids. Our results have implications for understanding how diet was a prime mover for the evolution of Primates.
Cryptochromes are the dominant photoreceptors mediating heliotropic responses of Arabidopsis inflorescences
Authors: Serrano Alejandro Miguel , Vanhaelewyn Lucas , Vandenbussche Filip , Boccalandro Hernán Esteban , Maldonado Belén , Van Der Straeten Dominique , Ballaré Carlos Luis , Arana María Verónica 
Published: June 2021

AbstractInflorescence movements in response to natural gradients of sunlight are frequently observed in the plant kingdom and are suggested to contribute to reproductive success. Although the physiological and molecular bases of light‐mediated tropisms in vegetative organs have been thoroughly investigated, the mechanisms that control inflorescence orientation in response to light gradients under natural conditions are not well understood. In this work, we have used a combination of laboratory and field experiments to investigate light‐mediated re‐orientation of Arabidopsis thaliana inflorescences. We show that inflorescence phototropism is promoted by photons in the UV and blue spectral range (≤500 nm) and depends on multiple photoreceptor families. Experiments under controlled conditions show that UVR8 is the main photoreceptor mediating the phototropic response to narrowband UV‐B radiation, and phototropins and cryptochromes control the response to narrowband blue light. Interestingly, whereas phototropins mediate bending in response to low irradiances of blue, cryptochromes are the principal photoreceptors acting at high irradiances. Moreover, phototropins negatively regulate the action of cryptochromes at high irradiances of blue light. Experiments under natural field conditions demonstrate that cryptochromes are the principal photoreceptors acting in the promotion of the heliotropic response of inflorescences under full sunlight.
Power dynamics in families affected by parental alienation
Authors: Harman Jennifer J. , Maniotes Christopher R. , Grubb Caitlyn 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to apply interdependence theory to understand the power dynamics in families affected by parental alienation. We hypothesized that the power dynamics between alienating and alienated parents are imbalanced such that this form of family violence (Harman et al., 2018) more closely resembles intimate terrorism than situational couple violence, where power dynamics are more similar between partners. We also hypothesized that shared parenting custodial arrangements would afford more power to targeted parents than unequal parenting plans and provide them with more opportunities for action. A qualitative analysis of transcripts from interviews with targeted parents of alienating behaviors (n = 79) using interdependence theory as a framework found support for our hypotheses: most situations described by parents were of asymmetric dependence, with power concentrated almost exclusively with the alienating parent, and/or were direct challenges made by the alienating parent to gain control over their children and the targeted parent. In addition, the proportion of situations in which asymmetries in power were described was highest when the alienating parent had primary or sole custody of the children. Discussion focuses on the need to better understand and consider the role of power in the assessment of parental alienation so that appropriate and effective interventions may be implemented to protect children and their family members.
Switching between newly learned languages impacts executive control
Authors: Jiao Lu , Liu Cong , Schwieter John W. , Chen Baoguo 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPrevious research has explored the relationship between language control and executive control based on performance in bilinguals' skilled languages. However, this relationship between bilingualism and executive control has not been examined at the very initial stage of language learning. In the present study, we trained Chinese speakers to learn words in German and Japanese, two languages with which they had no prior experience. In pre‐ and post‐training, we measured participants' electrophysiological data to investigate how switching between these two newly learned languages affected executive control. We observed that, while lacking the language switching effect in the behavioral data, a flanker task elicited larger N2 and P3 amplitudes in the post‐training session when participants were required to switch between German and Japanese compared to when they responded to only German or Japanese. These results provided evidence of language control of newly learned languages on domain‐general executive control, specifically at the (very) initial period of language learning. Our findings support the adaptive nature of the relationship between bilingual language control and executive control.
Radiation of waves by a submerged nearly circular rough plate in ice‐covered ocean
Authors: Das Arijit , De Soumen , Mandal B. N. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractA rough nearly circular (and/or circular) plate submerged in some ice‐covered ocean is undergoing a heaving motion. This radiation problem is reduced to a hypersingular integral equation over the surface of the rough plate. Perturbation method further simplifies the governing equation to get a system of hypersingular integral equations. The geometry of nearly circular plate has been conformally mapped onto a unit disc and the modified equations have been solved by a spectral method proved to be efficient for the case of a circular disc. Both rough disc and rough nearly circular plate have been considered for the numerical results. The effects of the flexural rigidity of ice cover and submergence depth of the plate on added mass and damping coefficient have been investigated along with the effect of roughness of the plate on these hydrodynamic coefficients.
Multilevel population and socioeconomic variation in health insurance coverage in India
Authors: Khan Pijush Kanti , Perkins Jessica M. , Kim Rockli , Mohanty Sanjay K. , Subramanian Sankaran V. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractObjectivesThis study explores population‐level variation in different types of health insurance coverage in India. We aimed to estimate the extent to which contextual factors at community, district, and state levels may contribute to place‐based inequalities in coverage after accounting for household‐level socioeconomic factors.MethodsWe used data from the 2015–2016 National Family Health Survey in India, which provides the most recent and comprehensive information available on reports of different types of household health insurance coverage. We used multilevel regression models to estimate the relative contribution of different population levels to variation in coverage by national, state, and private health insurance schemes.ResultsAmong 601,509 households in India, 29% reported having coverage in 2015–2016. Variation in each type of coverage existed between population levels before and after adjusting for differences in the distribution of household socioeconomic and demographic factors. For example, the state level accounted for 36% of variation in national scheme coverage and 41% of variation in state scheme coverage after adjusting for household characteristics. In contrast, the community level was the largest contextual source of variation in private insurance coverage (accounting for 24%). Each type of coverage was associated with higher socioeconomic status and urban location.ConclusionsContextual factors at community, district, and state levels contribute to variation in household health insurance coverage even after accounting for socioeconomic and demographic factors. Opportunities exist to reduce disparities in coverage by focusing on drivers of place‐based differences at multiple population levels. Future research should assess whether new insurance schemes exacerbate or reduce place‐based disparities in coverage.