bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Breeding plant type for adaptation to high plant density in tropical maize—A step towards productivity enhancement
Authors: Sandhu Surinder , Dhillon Baldev Singh 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBreeding for tolerance to high plant density (HPD) stress resulted in remarkable increase in grain yield per unit area in temperate maize. In spite of improved germplasm and reasonable adoption of hybrid technology, average maize productivity in tropics is still much below the achievable potential, primarily due to natural abiotic stresses and poor management due to lack of access to key inputs. A tropical maize plant, inherently distinguished with tall stem, numerous long dropping leaves, bushy tassel, rapid postsilking leaf senescence and prone to lodging, needs to be redesigned for amenability to HPD stress. With reference to the historical outlook on plant type modifications in temperate maize for adaptation to HPD and, hence, to minimize decrease in grain yield per plant resulting from crowding stress, we delineated HPD adaptation traits, which need to be focused during selection to enhance the productivity in tropical maize, a source of food, feed and livelihood to millions of resources‐poor farmers.
Geochemical record of the subsurface redox gradient in marine red beds: A case study from the Devonian Prague Basin, Czechia
Authors: Bábek Ondřej , Vodrážková Stanislava , Kumpan Tomáš , Kalvoda Jiří , Holá Markéta , Ackerman Lukáš 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMarine red beds are usually interpreted as indicating water column oligotrophy, good bottom‐water oxygenation and redox conditions. Lower Devonian successions of the Prague Basin, Czechia, exhibit a distinct centimetre to metre‐scale alternation of layers of marine red beds, grey carbonates, marls and black shales. In order to understand why the redox potential fluctuated so rapidly, reflectance spectroscopy, microscopy, elemental geochemistry data and stable isotopes of Mo have been analysed in this paper. Whilst the grey and black facies only contain goethite, the marine red beds are enriched with synsedimentary and early diagenetic, submicronic hematite, which is present in micrite, skeletal interiors, microstromatolites and oncoids. It was formed by microbially mediated precipitation, the replacement of detrital Fe phyllosilicates, and/or by the oxidation of microbially precipitated Fe‐bearing aluminosilicate precursors. The marine red beds are frequently enriched in Fe, depleted in U, V, Mo and Cu, and show negative δ98Mo values indicating oxic conditions. Peloidal micrite, microbial coatings and cements with the marine red beds exhibit positive (up to 9) Ce/Ce* anomalies. The non‐red facies show opposite patterns. This geochemical variability is probably related to Mn oxyhydroxide cycling and organic matter remineralization along the sediment subsurface redox gradient, particularly by reactions between pore water and various elemental pools. These patterns, combined with the centimetre‐scale colour alternation of the sediments, may reflect redox zonation that has been preserved beneath the ancient seafloor. Four zones are recognized: (i) the oxic zone of Fe‐oxide precipitation (marine red beds); suboxic zones of (ii) Fe enrichment, and (iii) U‐Mo enrichment; and (iv) suboxic–anoxic zone of Cu, V (± Mo) enrichment. The presented model of a marine red bed origin from redox reactions in the sediment subsurface contradicts models of the formation of marine red beds through iron enrichment from Fe2+ supersaturated ocean waters following periods of ocean anoxia.
Autonomous Docking of Hybrid-Wheeled Modular Robots With an Integrated Active Genderless Docking Mechanism
Authors: Sohal Shubhdildeep Singh , Sebastian Bijo , Ben-Tzvi Pinhas 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
This paper presents a self-reconfigurable modular robot with an integrated two degrees-of-freedom (DOF) active docking mechanism. Active docking in modular robotic systems has received a lot of interest recently as it allows small versatile robotic systems to coalesce and achieve the structural benefits of large systems. This feature enables reconfigurable modular robotic systems to bridge the gap between small agile systems and larger robotic systems. The proposed self-reconfigurable mobile robot design exhibits dual mobility using a tracked drive for longitudinal locomotion and a wheeled drive for lateral locomotion. The 2-DOF docking interface allows for efficient docking while tolerating misalignments. To aid autonomous docking, visual marker-based tracking is used to detect and re-position the source robot relative to the target robot. The tracked features are then used in Image-Based Visual Servoing to bring the robots close enough for the docking procedure. The hybrid-tracking algorithm allows eliminating external pixelated noise in the image plane resulting in higher tracking accuracy along with faster frame update on a low-cost onboard computational device. This paper presents the overall mechanical design and the integration details of the modular robotic module with the docking mechanism. An overview of the autonomous tracking and docking algorithm is presented along with a proof-of-concept real-world demonstration of autonomous docking and self-reconfigurability. Experimental results to validate the robustness of the proposed tracking method, as well as the reliability of the autonomous docking procedure, are also presented.
A Normal Equation-Based Extreme Learning Machine for Solving Linear Partial Differential Equations
Authors: Dwivedi Vikas , Srinivasan Balaji 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
This paper develops an extreme learning machine for solving linear partial differential equations (PDEs) by extending the normal equations approach for linear regression. The normal equations method is typically used when the amount of available data is small. In PDEs, the only available ground truths are the boundary and initial conditions (BC and IC). We use the physics-based cost function use in state-of-the-art deep neural network-based PDE solvers called physics-informed neural network (PINN) to compensate for the small data. However, unlike PINN, we derive the normal equations for PDEs and directly solve them to compute the network parameters. We demonstrate our method’s feasibility and efficiency by solving several problems like function approximation, solving ordinary differential equations (ODEs), and steady and unsteady PDEs on regular and complicated geometries. We also highlight our method’s limitation in capturing sharp gradients and propose its domain distributed version to overcome this issue. We show that this approach is much faster than traditional gradient descent-based approaches and offers an alternative to conventional numerical methods in solving PDEs in complicated geometries.
Effect of the welding process on microstructure, microhardness and residual stresses of capacitor discharge stud welded joint
Authors: Zhang Qian , Zhang Bao-Zhu , Luo Yun , Yang Gang , Zheng Hong-xiang 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Capacitor discharge (CD) stud welding is a common and fast connection technology. This paper presents an experimental and simulation study of the stud weld joint of copper stud and carbon plate. An optimized stud welding process was proposed based on microstructure, microhardness and residual stresses of CD stud welded joint. The results show that a narrow weld seam with widmanstaten structure were formed because of quickly cooling. For the longer stud extension length, the width of weld zone becomes wider and the microstructure becomes more uniform. As the increase of welding voltage and stud extension length, the microhardness increases then decreases. However, the residual stresses are increased with welding voltage increases, while they are decreased with the increases of stud extension length. The optimized welding voltage and stud extension length should be designed to 90 V and 5 mm, respectively. This study will provide a great significance to the stud welding on site.
Master Sintering Curve of W-Mo-Cu Alloy Prepared by Electric Field Sintering
Authors: Liu Yanfang , Feng Keqin , Zhou Hongling 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
The master sintering curve (MSC) was developed for the densification description and prediction of W-Mo-Cu alloy sintered by electric field sintering. W-Mo-Cu compacts were sintered at a temperature of 975 °C, the pressure of 30 MPa, and heating rate of 25,75,125 °C/s, respectively. The MSC of W-Mo-Cu alloy was successfully constructed with the calculated value Q = 110 kJ/mol and experimental data (such as shrinkage data and sintering time and temperature) of the compact. The shrinkage response and the densification process of the compact were studied with the MSC. What is more, the densification of the alloy was verified and predicted by the MSC. The results show that the MSC is a promising strategy for predicting the densification evolution of the ternary alloy during sintering.
Optimum Design and Trafficability Analysis for an Articulated Wheel-Legged Forestry Chassis
Authors: Sun Zhibo , Zhang Dan , Li Zhilong , Shi Yan , Wang Na 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
High trafficability and stability are the most two significant features of the forestry chassis. In this study, in order to improve surface trafficability, a novel articulated wheel-legged forestry chassis (AWLFC) is presented. To balance the trafficability and stability, a serial suspension system which is a combination with the active four-bar linkage articulated suspension (AFLAS) and passive V shape rocker-bogie is proposed. Then, parameter optimization with a comprehensive object function is implemented not only to enhance the trafficability and stability benefit of the structure but also to reduce the wheel slip. After that, through the flexible kinematic model based on screw theory, characteristics such as leveling ability and surface profile accessibility of the chassis are analyzed. The minimum accessible radius is obtained as 3088 mm, and the longitudinal and lateral leveling angle reaches to 22 deg and 28.7 deg separately. The new chassis performs better on leveling ability and surface profile accessibility than the forestry chassis in the current literature. Finally, through the results of simulation and prototype experiment, error rates related to the flexible analysis are reduced by 12.2% and 8.6% compared with the rigid model. Previously inaccessible forestry working environments can be available with the development of AWLFC.
Generating Genotype-Specific Aminoglycoside Combinations with Ceftazidime/Avibactam for KPC-Producing
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Huang Yanqin , Sokolowski Karol , Rana Amisha , Singh Nidhi , Wang Jiping , Chen Ke , Lang Yinzhi , Zhou Jieqiang , Kadiyala Neera , Krapp Fiorella , Ozer Egon A. , Hauser Alan R. , Li Jian , Bulitta Jürgen B. , Bulman Zackery P. 
Published: June 2021

Antibiotic combinations, including ceftazidime/avibactam (CAZ/AVI), are frequently employed to combat KPC-producing
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(KPC-Kp), though such combinations have not been rationally optimized. Clinical KPC-Kp isolates with common genes encoding aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes (AMEs),
aac(6′)-Ib′
or
aac(6′)-Ib
, were used in static time-kill assays (
n
= 4 isolates) and the hollow-fiber infection model (HFIM;
n
= 2 isolates) to evaluate the activity of gentamicin, amikacin, and CAZ/AVI alone and in combinations.
Paleomagnetic dating of prehistoric lava flows from the urban district of Catania (Etna volcano, Italy)
Authors: Magli Andrea , Branca Stefano , Speranza Fabio , Risica Gilda , Siravo Gaia , Giordano Guido 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Determining the ages of past eruptions of active volcanoes whose slopes were historically inhabited is vitally important for investigating the relationships between eruptive phenomena and human settlements. During its almost three-millennia-long history, Catania—the biggest city lying at the toe of Etna volcano—was directly impacted only once by the huge lava flow emplaced during the A.D. 1669 Etna flank eruption. However, other lava flows reached the present-day Catania urban district in prehistoric ages before the founding of the city in Greek times (729/728 B.C., i.e., 2679/2678 yr B.P.). In this work, the Holocene lava flows of Barriera del Bosco, Larmisi, and San Giovanni Galermo, which are exposed in the Catania urban district, were paleomagnetically investigated at 12 sites (120 oriented cores). Paleomagnetic dating was obtained by comparing flow-mean paleomagnetic directions to updated geomagnetic reference models for the Holocene. The Barriera del Bosco flow turns out to represent the oldest eruptive event and is paleomagnetically dated to the 11,234–10,941 yr B.P. and 8395–8236 yr B.P. age intervals. The mean paleomagnetic directions from the San Giovanni Galermo and Larmisi flows overlap when statistical uncertainties are considered. This datum, along with geologic, geochemical, and petrologic evidence, implies that the two lava flows can be considered as parts of a single lava field that erupted in a narrow time window between 5494 yr B.P. and 5387 yr B.P. The emplacement of such a huge lava flow field may have buried several Neolithic settlements, which would thus explain the scarce occurrence of archaeological sites of that age found below the town of Catania.
Opening injection pressure monitoring using an in-line device does not prevent intraneural injection in an isolated nerve model
Authors: Mejia Jorge , Varela Victor , Domenech Javier , Goffin Pierre , Prats-Galino Alberto , Sala-Blanch Xavier 
Published: June 2021

BackgroundInjection pressure monitoring using in-line devices is affordable and easy to implement into a regional anesthesia practice. However, solid evidence regarding their performance is lacking. We aimed to evaluate if opening injection pressure (OIP), measured with a disposable in-line pressure monitor, can prevent intraneural (subepineural) injection using 15 pound per square inch (PSI) as the reference safety threshold.MethodsAn isolated nerve model with six tibial and six common peroneal nerves from three unembalmed fresh cadavers was used for this observational study. A mixture of 0.5% ropivacaine with methylene blue was injected intraneurally at a rate of 10 mL/min, to a maximum of 3 mL. OIP was recorded for each injection as well as evidence of intraneural contrast. Injected volume at 15 and 20 PSI was recorded, and when it leaked out the epineurium, if it occurred.ResultsIn all cases, OIP was<15 PSI and intraneural contrast was evident before the safety threshold. The 15–20 PSI mark was attained in 5 of 12 injections (41%), with a median injected volume of 0.9 mL (range 0.4–2.3 mL). Peak pressure of >20 PSI was reached in two injections (at 0.6 mL and 2.7 mL). Contrast leaked out the epineurium in 11 of 12 injections (91%) with a median injected volume of 0.6 mL (range 0.1–1.3 mL).ConclusionsOur results suggest that in-line pressure monitoring may not prevent intraneural injection using an injection pressure of 15 PSI as reference threshold. Due to the preliminary nature of our study, further evidence is needed to demonstrate clinical relevance.
Impact of lung function on cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular risk factors: a two sample bidirectional Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: Au Yeung Shiu Lun , Borges Maria Carolina , Lawlor Debbie A , Schooling C Mary 
Published: June 2021

IntroductionObservational studies suggested lung function is inversely associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) although these studies could be confounded. We conducted a two sample Mendelian randomisation study using summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to clarify the role of lung function in CVD and its risk factors, and conversely the role of CVD in lung function.MethodsWe obtained genetic instruments for forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1: 260) and forced vital capacity (FVC: 320) from publicly available UK Biobank summary statistics (n=421 986) and applied to GWAS summary statistics for coronary artery disease (CAD) (n=184 305), stroke (n=446 696), atrial fibrillation (n=1 030 836) and heart failure (n=977 320) and cardiovascular risk factors. Inverse variance weighting was used to assess the impact of lung function on these outcomes, with various sensitivity analyses. Bidirectional Mendelian randomisation was used to assess reverse causation.ResultsFEV1 and FVC were inversely associated with CAD (OR per SD increase, 0.72 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.82) and 0.70 (95%CI 0.62 to 0.78)), overall stroke (0.87 (95%CI 0.77 to 0.97), 0.90 (95% CI 0.82 to 1.00)) and some stroke subtypes. FEV1 and FVC were inversely associated with type 2 diabetes and systolic blood pressure. Sensitivity analyses produced similar findings although the association with CAD was attenuated after adjusting for height (eg, OR for 1SD FEV10.95 (0.75 to 1.19), but not for stroke or type 2 diabetes. There was no strong evidence for reverse causation.ConclusionHigher lung function likely protect against CAD and stroke.
Circulating Fatty Acids Associated with Advanced Liver Fibrosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in South Texas Hispanics
Authors: Jiao Jingjing , Kwan Suet-Ying , Sabotta Caroline M. , Tanaka Honami , Veillon Lucas , Warmoes Marc O. , Lorenzi Philip L. , Wang Ying , Wei Peng , Hawk Ernest T. , Almeda Jose Luis , McCormick Joseph B. , Fisher-Hoch Susan P. , Beretta Laura 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackground:Hispanics in South Texas have high rates of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Liver fibrosis severity is the strongest predictive factor of NAFLD progression to HCC. We examined the association between free fatty acids (FA) and advanced liver fibrosis or HCC in this population.Methods:We quantified 45 FAs in plasma of 116 subjects of the Cameron County Hispanic Cohort, 15 Hispanics with HCC, and 56 first/second-degree relatives of Hispanics with HCC. Liver fibrosis was assessed by FibroScan.Results:Advanced liver fibrosis was significantly associated with low expression of very long chain (VLC) saturated FAs (SFA), odd chain SFAs, and VLC n-3 polyunsaturated FAs [PUFA; AOR; 95% confidence interval (CI), 10.4 (3.7–29.6); P &lt; 0.001; 5.7 (2.2–15.2); P &lt; 0.001; and 3.7 (1.5–9.3); P = 0.005]. VLC n3-PUFAs significantly improved the performance of the noninvasive markers for advanced fibrosis - APRI, FIB-4, and NFS. Plasma concentrations of VLC SFAs and VLC n-3 PUFAs were further reduced in patients with HCC. Low concentrations of these FAs were also observed in relatives of patients with HCC and in subjects with the PNPLA3 rs738409 homozygous genotype.Conclusions:Low plasma concentrations of VLC n-3 PUFAs and VLC SFAs were strongly associated with advanced liver fibrosis and HCC in this population. Genetic factors were associated with low concentrations of these FAs as well.Impact:These results have implications in identifying those at risk for liver fibrosis progression to HCC and in screening this population for advanced fibrosis. They also prompt the evaluation of VLC n-3 PUFA or VLC SFA supplementation to prevent cirrhosis and HCC.
CD86+ Antigen-Presenting B Cells Are Increased in Cancer, Localize in Tertiary Lymphoid Structures, and Induce Specific T-cell Responses
Authors: Wennhold Kerstin , Thelen Martin , Lehmann Jonas , Schran Simon , Preugszat Ella , Garcia-Marquez Maria , Lechner Axel , Shimabukuro-Vornhagen Alexander , Ercanoglu Meryem S. , Klein Florian , Thangarajah Fabinshy , Eidt Sebastian , Löser Heike , Bruns Christiane , Quaas Alexander , von Bergwelt-Baildon Michael , Schlößer Hans A. 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

The role of B cells in antitumor immunity and their impact on emerging immunotherapies is increasingly gaining attention. B-cell effector functions include not only secretion of antibodies, but also presentation of antigens to T cells. A physiologic B-cell subset with immunostimulatory properties was described in humans, defined by a high expression of CD86 and downregulation of CD21. We used multicolor flow cytometry and IHC to elucidate abundance and spatial distribution of these antigen-presenting B cells (BAPC) in blood (peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PBMC) and tumor samples of 237 patients with cancer. Antigen-specific T-cell responses to cancer testis antigens were determined using tetramer staining and sorted BAPCs in FluoroSpot assays for selected patients. We found that BAPCs were increased in the tumor microenvironment of 9 of 10 analyzed cancer types with site-specific variation. BAPCs were not increased in renal cell carcinoma, whereas we found a systemic increase with elevated fractions in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) and PBMCs of patients with colorectal cancer and gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. BAPCs were localized in lymphoid follicles of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) and were enriched in tumors with increased numbers of TLSs. BAPCs isolated from tumor-draining lymph nodes of patients with cancer showed increased percentages of tumor antigen–specific B cells and induced responses of autologous T cells in vitro. Our results highlight the relevance of BAPCs as professional antigen-presenting cells in tumor immunity and provide a mechanistic rationale for the observed correlation of B-cell abundance and response to immune checkpoint inhibition.
РОЛЬ ІНФОРМАЦІЙНО-КОМУНІКАТИВНИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ У НАВЧАЛЬНОМУ ПРОЦЕСІ
Authors: Данилевич Ю. О. , Наумова Л. В. , Мілевська-Вовчук Л. С. 
Published: June 2021

У статті розглянуто провідні стратегії організації навчання студентів в умовах дистанційного викладання на практичних кафедрах Тернопільського національного медичного університету.
Показано, що зростання творчої компоненти освіти та підвищення активності всіх учасників навчального процесу як студентів, так і викладачів сприяє модифікації інтерактивного навчання, пов’язаного з використанням комп’ютерних систем, мультимедійних технологій; навчально-методичної продукції нового покоління.
Розглянуто інноваційну навчальну технологію та сучасні методи викладання як загальнодидактичний процес, що полягає у використанні сукупності оригінальних способів і прийомів спільної діяльності суб’єктів освітнього процесу, спрямованих на досягнення мети навчання, розвитку особистості та креативно-фахового здобуття знань і компетенцій відповідно до завдань підготовки професіоналів нового часу.
Проаналізовано і доведено, що найкращого результату в навчанні можна досягнути тоді, коли ролі викладача й студента врівноважені: обидва працюють для того, щоб навчатися, ділитися своїми знаннями, досягненнями свого життєвого досвіду.
Впровадження інформаційно-комунікаційних технологій у навчальний процес, на практичних заняттях з терапії, сприяє більш повному оволодінню системою знань та вмінь, розвиває творчу спрямованість пізнавальної діяльності студентів, забезпечує об’єктивний самоконтроль і самоперевірку отриманих знань, допомагає формуванню відповідних професійних компетентностей та особистісних якостей, дозволяє викладачам забезпечити диференційований підхід у навчанні.
У роботі проаналізовано доступні інтерактивні методики та форми навчання, узагальнено найоптимальніші способи, форми і методи оцінювання роботи студентів на онлайн-платформах, доступних у даний час.
Автори стверджують, що педагогічні підходи до викладання постійно вимагають пошуку новітніх засобів, які здатні принести в навчальний процес елемент новизни, підвищити інтерес здобувачів вищої освіти, особливо в період карантину.