bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genome-wide identification of RING finger genes in flax (Linum usitatissimum) and analyses of their evolution
Authors: Meng Xianwen , Liu Jing , Zhao Mingde 
Published: November 2021

Background
Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is an important crop for its seed oil and stem fiber. Really Interesting New Gene (RING) finger genes play essential roles in growth, development, and biotic and abiotic stress responses in plants. However, little is known about these genes in flax.

Methods
Here, we performed a systematic genome-wide analysis to identify RING finger genes in flax.

Results
We identified 587 RING domains in 574 proteins and classified them into RING-H2 (292), RING-HCa (181), RING-HCb (23), RING-v (53), RING-C2 (31), RING-D (2), RING-S/T (3), and RING-G (2). These proteins were further divided into 45 groups according to domain organization. These genes were located in 15 chromosomes and clustered into three clades according to their phylogenetic relationships. A total of 312 segmental duplicated gene pairs were inferred from 411 RING finger genes, indicating a major contribution of segmental duplications to the RING finger gene family expansion. The non-synonymous/synonymous substitution ratio of the segmentally duplicated gene pairs was less than 1, suggesting that the gene family was under negative selection since duplication. Further, most RING genes in flax were differentially expressed during seed development or in the shoot apex. This study provides useful information for further functional analysis of RING finger genes in flax and to develop gene-derived molecular markers in flax breeding.
Assessment of the Seasonal Water Quality Changes in Semi-Urban Surface Tanks of Noyyal River Basin
Authors: Aravind P. , Selvakumar S. , Thiyagarajan G. , Boomiraj K. , Kannan Balaji 
Published: November 2021

Aims: The history of Noyyal river in Coimbatore is known for water quality and taste since the colonial period. The river water is used mainly for drinking, irrigation and industrial purposes to districts of Coimbatore, Tiruppur and Karur with many anaicuts and tanks. In the recent past due to urbanization and industrialization the river water has been polluted in the greater extend.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted to investigate the water quality status of five important upper reach semi-urban tanks of Noyyal river basin in the year 2020 -2021.
Methodology: We have collected the sample season wise in the five tanks and analyzed for pH, EC, TDS, TSS, total hardness, alkalinity, chlorides and sulphates as well as heavy metals such as zinc, copper, cadmium and lead.
Results: The results of our water quality analysis showed that most of the parameters are above the maximum permissible limits of CPCB standards for drinking water in India. The heavy metals concentrations were many folds higher than the CPCB permissible limits. The correlation analysis, Anova and PCA showed that the EC and TDS, alkalinity and sulphates, chlorides and sulphates and alkalinity and chlorides had higher correlation in the water quality analysis and they are interrelated to one another. In the monsoon season the pollution status is less and during summer season the pollution load is higher in the all tanks. During the monsoon season because of intensive water flow dilute the pollution load as well high rate of degradation due to high dissolved oxygen content of river water. Since, he Noyyal river is seasonal river, during summer, there would be very less or no flow of water into the tank increase the pollution load. The Narasampathy tank had comparatively less pollution than other tanks, since, it is the first tank in the upper reach of the Noyyal basin and has less inhabitants and industry.
Conclusion: We concluded that the tanks are polluted due to urbanization and industrialization in and around the Noyyal basin and there is an urgent need to tackle this problem by making eco-friendly and economically viable treatment system to sustain the water quality.
Methanol Extract of Azanza garckeana Fruit Pulps Protects against Formalin-Induced Reproductive Toxicity in Adult Albino Male Mice
Authors: B. Bukar Bukata , Ezeh Faith , Y. Sabo Sunday 
Published: November 2021

Introduction: The aqueous extract of Azanza garckeana was recently reported of exhibiting ameliorative and pro-fertility properties however the protective effects on formalin testicular toxicity have not been studied.
Objective: This study investigated the protective effect of methanol extract of Azanza garckeana on formalin-induced testicular toxicity.
Methods: Forty male albino mice were randomly divided into 8 groups of 5. Animals in the first group (1) served as control and administered normal saline (1 ml/kg) by the oral route daily for 40 days. In similar manner, animal in groups 2 received formalin (10 mg/kg) by the IP route, while animals in groups 3; 4 and 5 concurrently received formalin (10 mg/kg IP) and extract at doses of 125; 250 and 500 mg/kg respectively by the oral route. Mice in groups 6; 7 and 8 received the extract at doses of 125; 250 and 500 mg/kg respectively. Phytochemical analysis was conducted for each constituent using specific methods. Gonadotropin and sperm analysis were carried out using standard methods.
Result: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of various constituents, but notably flavonoids. Induced-toxicity with formalin and concurrent treatment with extract at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg from day 20 to 40 caused significant body weight increase compared to baseline (p < 0.05). Similarly, treatment with the extract alone at all doses caused significant increase in body weight from day 20 to 40 (p < 0.05). Treatment with the extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg, caused a significant increase in weight of testes and epididymis compared to control and untreated group (p < 0.05).The extract induced significant increase in gonadotropin levels of animals compared to control and the untreated group (p < 0.05).The extract at 125 mg/kg demonstrated the highest fecundity potential, but there was no any consistent relationship between GSI and fecundity.
Conclusion: This investigation was able to establish the protective and pro-fertility potentials of methanol extract of Azanza garckeana.
Tailoring Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Performance of Conductive Nanocomposite Coating Using Textile Substrates
Authors: Duan Minghan , Hou Yijie , Guo Min , Li Xiangpeng , Li Xian , Wang Jilong , Ma Ying 
Published: November 2021

AbstractTextile‐substrate electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding materials show great promise for next‐generation electronic communication technology challenges. A new strategy based on structure optimization is highly desired for wearable electronic devices to improve EMI shielding performance. Here, the enhancement effect of fabric structure on the shielding effectiveness (SE) of conductive nanocomposite coating is demonstrated. Plain fabrics with different fabric densities are weaved and used as the substrate to be layer‐by‐layer assembled by graphite oxide and polypyrrole. The resulting conductive nanocomposite coating endows common cotton fabrics with electrical conductivity and EMI shielding ability. In comparison, the EMI SE of the conductive coated fabrics is depended on the fabric density, that is, the pore size. Specifically, the EMI SE of the coated fabric can be increased by ≈71% through the control of fabric structure. Interestingly, the EMI SE is always the maximum at the fabric density of 100 × 100 picks/ 10 cm, different from the electrical conductivity. Moreover, the sueding treatment was proven to be useful to further improve the EMI SE of the conductive coated fabrics. This work presents the significance of substrate structures in EMI shielding, offering new opportunities for the development of high efficiency EMI shielding fabrics.
Luminescence and Structural Characteristics of Lead Halide Perovskite Films Deposited In Situ by a Versatile Multisource Aerosol Assisted Chemical Vapor Deposition (AACVD) Method
Authors: Balderas‐Aguilar Jesús U. , Falcony‐Guajardo Ciro , Velázquez‐Nevárez Gonzalo A. , González‐Pérez Valeria , Martínez‐Guerra Eduardo , Aguirre‐Tostado Francisco S. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractMost solution‐based synthetic routes for perovskite film deposition take place under highly controlled atmospheres and cannot be easily escalated for mass production. Here, the control in situ over luminescent, morphological, and structural characteristics of hybrid and inorganic perovskite films deposited on top of hot glass substrates by multisource AACVD is reported. By simply adjusting the methylammonium chloride (MACl) to lead bromide (PbBr2) molar ratio in the N‐N dimethylformamide (DMF) precursor solution, a gradual transformation from orthorhombic PbBr2 to cubic MAPbBr2Cl hybrid perovskite films is observed, and the generation of highly luminescent MAPbBr3−xClx nanoparticulate domains in a PbBr2 matrix is easily achieved when a specific ratio is used. Additionally, the crystallization of the films is performed in situ modified by the implementation of an antisolvent stream source during deposition which in turn yields films with superior luminescence properties. Finally, an NIR emitting CsPbBr2Cl:Yb inorganic perovskite film is deposited to probe the versatility of the multisource AACVD system, by the simultaneous deposition of separated PbBr2/YbCl3·6H2O/DMF and CsCl/methanol solutions. The high degree of control on the final properties of the films indicates that AACVD could be a breakthrough for low‐cost, scalable, high‐throughput metal‐halide perovskite film deposition.
Increasing grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency of summer maize and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by applying urea ammonium nitrate solution
Authors: Ma Zhentao , Ren Baizhao , Zhao Bin , Liu Peng , Zhang Jiwang 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe contradiction between the high grain yield of summer maize (Zea mays L.) and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the field can be resolved by selecting effective nitrogen (N) sources and fertilization methods. In this study, two fertilization methods were used: (a) urea ammonium nitrate solution (UAN) and urea (210 kg ha–1 nitrogen applied) were applied by farmers' traditional fertilization method; and (b) fertigation of four UAN application rates: CK (no N applied), AF1 (126 kg N ha–1), AF2 (168 kg N ha–1), AF3 (210 kg N ha–1). The results showed that both hybrids (DH518 and DH605) applied UAN under the traditional fertilization method increased grain yield by 2.4 and 1.8% and enhanced nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by 25.1 and 9.9%, respectively, compared with urea. While under fertigation treatment, the grain yield increased by 7.6 and 6.6%, and the NUE increased by 23.2 and 12.4%. Grain yield increased with the increase of UAN application, and the NUE showed a trend of rising first and then falling under fertigation treatment. Both the cumulative N2O emissions and N2O emission factor showed an increasing trend as well. An application rate of UAN at 168 kg N ha–1 (AF2) resulted in a NUE that was 49% higher than urea. Compared with urea, the global warming potential (GWP) and greenhouse gas intensity (GHGI) of AF2 were reduced by 29.5% and 31.2%, respectively. These indicated that optimizing the application rate of UAN through fertigation would achieve better summer maize yield and environmental benefits.
Heat transfer enhancement in fin channels using aeroelastically fluttering reeds
Authors: Jha Sourabh , Glezer Ari , Realff Matthew J. , Blaine Miriam E. , Mai Jiaqi , Pearlstein Arne J. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractForced convection heat transfer in rectangular channels is enhanced by aeroelastically fluttering thin reeds extending over the channel span. The resulting small‐scale vortical motions substantially increase local heat transfer at the channel walls and mixing between the wall thermal boundary layers and the channel's core flow. Mechanisms associated with evolution of these small‐scale motions and their thermal effects are experimentally studied in a channel of width W, span , and length . Reed effects on heat transfer are characterized at Reynolds numbers (Re) of 2000, 7000, and 12,000 using embedded thermocouple arrays, and related to small‐scale motions by particle image velocimetry and hot‐wire anemometry. Reed‐induced small‐scale motions increase turbulent kinetic energy, increasing the global Nusselt number (by up to 145% at Re = 7000), with enhancement being sustained even when the base flow becomes fully turbulent (Re = 12,000). Enhancement is also demonstrated for fin arrays. Single‐reed computations show the effect of reed length on enhancement. Computations with two reeds, one downstream of the trailing edge of the other, predict heat transfer enhancement significantly greater than twice the single‐reed result, and point the way to use of a streamwise array of reeds in long channels. A techno‐economic analysis for an air‐cooled condenser suggests that fluttering reeds can be economically justified for a range of operating conditions.
C−C Coupling Is Unlikely to Be the Rate‐Determining Step in the Formation of C2+ Products in the Copper‐Catalyzed Electrochemical Reduction of CO
Authors: Chang Xiaoxia , Li Jing , Xiong Haocheng , Zhang Haochen , Xu Yifei , Xiao Hai , Lu Qi , Xu Bingjun 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe identity of the rate‐determining step (RDS) in the electrochemical CO reduction reaction (CORR) on Cu catalysts remains unresolved because: 1) the presence of mass transport limitation of CO; and 2) the absence of quantitative correlation between CO partial pressure (pCO) and surface CO coverage. In this work, we determined CO adsorption isotherms on Cu in a broad pH range of 7.2–12.9. Together with electrokinetic data, we demonstrate that the reaction orders of adsorbed CO at pCO <0.4 and >0.6 atm are 1st and 0th, respectively, for multi‐carbon (C2+) products on three Cu catalysts. These results indicate that the C−C coupling is unlikely to be the RDS in the formation of C2+ products in the CORR. We propose that the hydrogenation of CO with adsorbed water is the RDS, and the site competition between CO and water leads to the observed transition of the CO reaction order.
Bulky Cyclometalated Ruthenium Nitrates for Challenging Z‐Selective Metathesis: Efficient One‐Step Access to α‐Oxygenated Z‐Olefins from Acrylates and Allyl Alcohols
Authors: Xu Yan , Gan Quan , Samkian Adrian E. , Ko Jeong Hoon , Grubbs Robert H. 
Published: November 2021

Abstractα‐Oxygenated Z‐olefins are ubiquitous in biologically active molecules and serve as versatile handles for organic synthesis, but their syntheses are often tedious and less selective. Here we report the efficient Z‐selective metathesis of various terminal acrylates and allyl alcohols, which enables facile and selective construction of high value‐added α‐oxygenated Z‐olefins from readily available feedstock chemicals. These challenging metathesis transformations are enabled by novel cyclometalated Ru‐carbene‐nitrate complexes bearing bulky‐yet‐flexible side arms, whose assembly was unlocked by new organometallic syntheses.
Pneumorrhachis following cervical spine surgery
Authors: Bautista M. , Wright J. , Pippalapalli J. , Schramm M. W. J. , Anderson I. A. , Pandit M. H. 
Published: November 2021

SummaryA 66‐year‐old man experienced symptomatic pneumorrhachis (air within the spinal canal) following a cervical laminoplasty for the excision of meningioma. Following an uneventful intraoperative course, he suffered a fluctuating hemiparesis of varying severity. Urgent imaging demonstrated extradural and intradural air in the spinal canal. Treatment with supplemental oxygen and dexamethasone was commenced, and the patient’s symptoms improved over a period of three days with full resolution at six weeks. Pneumorrhachis can be avoided by allowing air to escape from the spinal canal through positioning, and displacement with irrigation fluid at the time of wound closure. However, if pneumorrhachis does occur, oxygen therapy, positioning of the patient to mitigate the gravitational effect of the air bubbles and supportive treatment are the central elements of management. Other possible causes of neurological deficit should be ruled out. This is particularly important as treatment options for some differential diagnoses can potentially cause harm if started based on clinical impression alone, for example, re‐exploration for suspected haematoma. Only a small number of previous reports have described symptomatic pneumorrhachis as a complication of spinal surgery. This patient was successfully managed with conservative measures following the exclusion of other spinal cord pathologies.
Synthesis and application of hybrid waterborne polyurethane/acrylate dispersion with diol grafting agent containing carbon–carbon double bond
Authors: Jiang Yang , Wang Shaofei , Xu Changhai , Du Jinmei 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn this work, polyurethane/acrylate waterborne hybrid polymer (WPUA) colloids were synthesized by grafting with a new diol agent containing carbon–carbon double bond to create chemical bonds between polyurethane and polyacrylate chains. WPUAs were obtained by a solvent‐free and surfactant‐free method with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), poly(tetrahydrofuran) (PTMG), 2,2‐bis(hydroxymethyl)butyric acid, and diol grafting agent in the polyurethane part, and methyl methacrylate, n‐butyl acrylate, and octadecyl acrylate in the polyacrylate portion. When the R value was 1.5 and WPU/PA was 5:5, hybrid WPUA dispersion was obtained with the satisfied particle size and colloidal stability. WPUA dispersion was applied on textile substrates for water repellent. Scanning electron microscope results showed that WPUA covered the fabric surface and formed a thin film. Contact angle measurements of water have revealed that the addition of WPUA to the textile improved the water repellency and increased the contact angle to 152°. Moreover, WPUA coated fabrics had good durability against washing. After 50 laundering cycles, the static water contact angle of the fabric coated with the WPUA could maintain at 143°.
The effect of temperature on the electrical and thermal conductivity of graphene‐based polymer composite films
Authors: Tarhini Ali , Alchamaa M. Walid , Khraiche Massoud , Kazan Michel , Tehrani‐Bagha Ali 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn this work, we studied the effect of temperature on the electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties of graphene‐based poly(vinylidene fluoride‐co‐hexafluoropropylene) composites. Graphene‐based polymer composites (PC‐Gn) with various graphene content were prepared using solution mixing and molding process. The physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of the PC‐Gn composites were investigated using different characterization techniques including differential scanning calorimetry, scanning electron microscopy, potentiostatic electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). DMA results showed that the strength of obtained PC‐Gn composites increased with higher graphene wt%. The in‐plane electrical and thermal conductivity values were measured over a temperature range from 25 to 125°C using a four‐point probe electrical conductivity system and optothermal Raman technique, respectively. Our results showed that temperature had a noticeable effect on the in‐plane electrical and thermal conductivity values for PC‐Gn where both values gradually decreased by the increment of temperature. We believe that by increasing temperature, the vibration of composite particles became more severe, which increased the system's anharmonicity and strongly reduced the lifetimes of electrons and phonons in the composite. Further analysis, including electrochemical analysis, was also done on all composite films showing that our process produced highly conductive films that potentially can be used in many electrochemical applications in the future.
Imidazole derivative with an intramolecular hydrogen bond as thermal latent curing accelerator for epoxy/phenolic resins
Authors: Wei Wei , Gou Haolan , Sun Xin , Fei Xiaoma , Li Xiaojie , Liu Xiaoya 
Published: November 2021

AbstractOne‐component epoxy systems with long shelf life during storage or transportation, while high curing reactivity during molding as well as satisfactory mechanical and thermal performances after curing, are extremely essential for industrial application. Herein, we used salicylaldehyde and o‐phenylenediamine to synthesize 2‐(2′‐hydroxyphenyl)‐1H‐benzimidazole (HPBI), an imidazole derivative with an intramolecular hydrogen bond between the phenolic hydroxyl group and the pyridine‐type nitrogen atom of imidazole ring, and further employed HPBI as a thermal latent curing accelerator for epoxy/phenolic resins. The intramolecular hydrogen bond endowed HPBI with inert activity toward resins at room temperature, making the one‐component resin system a long‐term storage stability (21 days of shelf life at 30°C). Once rising the temperature to a high degree, a rather high activity of HPBI to accelerate the curing process of epoxy/phenolic resins. It was attributed to the effective release of high activity of the pyridine‐type nitrogen by breaking the intramolecular hydrogen bond at high temperature. In addition, the resulted thermosets from HPBI also possessed the comparable Tg (>130°C, determined by DMA) and thermostability (Td‐5% > 380°C) with that from common curing accelerators. Therefore, HPBI was proved to be a promising thermal latent curing accelerator applied in electronic packaging field.
Scalable, methanol‐free manufacturing of the SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor‐binding domain in engineered Komagataella phaffii
Authors: Dalvie Neil C. , Biedermann Andrew M. , Rodriguez‐Aponte Sergio A. , Naranjo Christopher A. , Rao Harish D. , Rajurkar Meghraj P. , Lothe Rakesh R. , Shaligram Umesh S. , Johnston Ryan S. , Crowell Laura E. , Castelino Seraphin , Tracey Mary K. , Whittaker Charles A. , Love J. Christopher 
Published: November 2021

AbstractPrevention of COVID‐19 on a global scale will require the continued development of high‐volume, low‐cost platforms for the manufacturing of vaccines to supply ongoing demand. Vaccine candidates based on recombinant protein subunits remain important because they can be manufactured at low costs in existing large‐scale production facilities that use microbial hosts like Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris). Here, we report an improved and scalable manufacturing approach for the SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein receptor‐binding domain (RBD); this protein is a key antigen for several reported vaccine candidates. We genetically engineered a manufacturing strain of K. phaffii to obviate the requirement for methanol induction of the recombinant gene. Methanol‐free production improved the secreted titer of the RBD protein by >5X by alleviating protein folding stress. Removal of methanol from the production process enabled to scale up to a 1200 L pre‐existing production facility. This engineered strain is now used to produce an RBD‐based vaccine antigen that is currently in clinical trials and could be used to produce other variants of RBD as needed for future vaccines.