bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perceptions of education during COVID‐19 among agronomy, soil, and environmental science students
Authors: Moorberg Colby J. , Howe Sarah , Donnelly Kevin J. , Min Doohong 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic required changes in college course delivery, which may influence student perceptions of their education. We examined those perceptions among Students of Agronomy, Soil, and Environmental Sciences (SASES). The goals were to determine how changes in education during the COVID‐19 pandemic (a) changed student perceptions of online education, (b) shifted student comfort with online education and communication, and (c) highlighted issues limiting student success. A link to an online survey was sent to SASES members in late 2020 resulting in 31 responses. Course format shifted from mostly face‐to‐face delivery to synchronous and asynchronous online delivery following the COVID‐19 shutdown. Students perceived decreased instructor effort and increased student effort. Nearly all students had access to devices. However, access to fast, reliable internet was a common issue. A small percentage of students were more likely to take online courses after the pandemic, yet a majority were now more comfortable taking online classes and using virtual meeting software. Student concern for COVID‐19 was low. However, most reported wearing masks in buildings and on campus. Students reported increases and decreases in hours worked, with both changes resulting in perceived positive and negative academic impacts. These results should be considered by instructors and administrators planning instruction format changes during and after the COVID‐19 pandemic.
When low and high tech solutions converge: Adapting to teaching soils during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Mashtare Michael L. , Lee Charlotte I. , Fulk‐Bringman Sherry S. , Lott Erica A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractCOVID‐19 restrictions required a transition of our Soil Science and Forest Soils courses to an online format. A pre‐transition survey found that ∼10% of students enrolled in our courses lacked high‐speed internet capable of streaming videos and/or computers compatible with the applications in our Learning Management System (LMS). To ensure that students with limited internet or technology were not left behind, we adopted a low‐tech/bandwidth delivery (slides + transcript with LMS‐delivered assessments) of all lectures and recitation activities. Students could also complete either a low‐tech/bandwidth (lab slides + transcripts) or high‐tech/bandwidth lab option (delivered via video). Upon completion, students were surveyed to assess preferences and perceptions which are vital in understanding how our approach impacted student motivation, engagement with the material, and overall course satisfaction. Despite 90% of the students having access to high‐speed internet, ∼45% of the students used the low‐tech solutions either exclusively or half the time, even when high‐tech options (such as video) were available. Overall, students felt the low‐tech/bandwidth delivery of the lecture (∼87%) and recitation (∼76%) material was effective. Students (∼74%) also reported that online delivery of the lab material effectively supported their learning and was an effective replacement for the in‐lab learning experience. Students preferred in‐person to online delivery (63 vs. 17%) with 20% undecided. Noting the flexibility and organization of the course, 69% of the students felt the online delivery of our courses was more effective than their other courses despite, or perhaps because of, the lack of high‐tech delivery. Our experience demonstrates one approach to adapting an in‐person course to a virtual environment that considers inequities in broadband and technology access. Despite being perceived as effective by our students, low‐tech options were less preferred than in‐person instruction suggesting that, while effective, it was not viewed as equivalent.
Human subsistence strategy in the Ordos Plateau, Inner Mongolia, China, during the Qin and Han dynasties: Using stable isotope analysis
Authors: Hou Liangliang , Hu Chunbai , Wu Tianhui , Zhao Yanni , Deng Hui , Guo Yi 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis article aims to reveal the subsistence economy of the Qin and Han empires and why they continued to advance northward to defeat the Huns (Xiongnu 匈奴) and other grassland peoples in the Ordos Plateau. We present the δ13C and δ15N results for the dietary reconstruction of animals and humans from the Fuluta cemetery in the Ordos Plateau, a nomadic farming junction area, from the late Qin dynasty (221–207 BCE) to the Western Han dynasty (202 BCE to 8 AD). Results show that the δ13C and δ15N values for humans (−8.5 ± 0.4‰, 9.2 ± 0.5‰, n = 29), pigs (−8.6 ± 1.4‰, 7.7 ± 1.1‰, n = 3) and dogs (−9.1 ± 0.3‰, 7.7 ± 0.4‰, n = 3) were generally higher than those for cattle (−15.7 ± 1.4‰, 6.5 ± 1.0‰, n = 8) and sheep (−17.8 ± 0.9‰, 6.2 ± 1.6‰, n = 11), indicating humans, pigs and dogs may have relied primarily on C4‐based food (millet), whereas cattle and sheep mainly relied on C3‐based food (wild plants). Related research shows that the diet of the population of the Fuluta cemetery was relatively homogenous and mainly based on millet agriculture and domestic animals, such as pigs, indicating that millet‐based agriculture was narrowly focused on for subsistence in the frontier region of northern China. The results of stable isotope work of the past populations in the surrounding areas of the Ordos Plateau from the period of the late Western Zhou dynasty (1046–771 BCE) to the Han dynasties (202 BCE to 220 AD) show trends of northward advancement and stability of the agricultural economy were constantly strengthening. Therefore, agriculturalization in the Ordos Plateau may have been the motivating force for Qin and Han imperial expansion into the frontier region.
Recurrence Outcomes Less Favorable in T1 Rectal Cancer than in T1 Colon Cancer
Authors: Chang Li-Chun , Shun Chia-Tung , Lin Been-Ren , Sanduleanu Silvia , Hsu Weng-Feng , Wu Ming-Shiang , Chiu Han-Mo 
Published: May 2021

Abstract

Background
With the implementation of screening programs worldwide, diagnosis of early-stage colorectal cancer steadily increased, including T1 cancer. Current T1 cancer treatment does not differ according to anatomic location. We therefore compared the disease-free survival of T1 cancer arising from the rectum versus the colon.

Methods
The hospital-based study included subjects with T1 cancer at National Taiwan University Hospital from 2005 to 2014. Clinical, colonoscopy, and histopathology were reviewed for patients with a mean follow-up time of 7.1 (0.7–12.9) years. We conducted Kaplan-Meier analysis to compare the risk of recurrence by cancer location and Cox regression analysis to identify risk factors for T1 cancer recurrence.

Results
The final cohort included a total of 343 subjects with T1 cancer (mean age, 64.9 ± 11.7 years; 56.1% male), of whom 25 underwent endoscopic resection alone. Of the subjects who underwent surgery, 50 had lymph node metastasis and 268 did not. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the risk of recurrence was higher in T1 rectal cancer than T1 colon cancer (p = .022). Rectal location and larger neoplasm size were independent risk factors for recurrence, with hazard ratios of 4.84 (95% confidence interval, 1.18–19.92), and 1.32 (95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.65), respectively. The occurrence of advanced histology did not differ between T1 rectal and colon cancers (p = .58).

Conclusion
T1 cancers arising from the rectum had less favorable recurrence outcomes than those arising from the colon. Further studies are needed to examine whether adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy can reduce the risk of recurrence in T1 rectal cancer.

Implications for Practice
Current T1 colorectal cancer treatment and surveillance do not differ according to anatomic location. Clinical, colonoscopy, and histopathology were reviewed for 343 patients with T1 cancer with a mean follow-up time of 7.1 years. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the risk of recurrence was higher in T1 rectal cancer than T1 colon cancer. Moreover, the rectal location was an independent risk factor for recurrence. T1 cancers from the rectum had less favorable recurrence outcomes than those arising from the colon. It is critical to clarify whether adjuvant therapy or more close surveillance can reduce recurrence risk in T1 rectal cancer.
Comorbid early psychosis and borderline personality disorder: Conceptualizing clinical overlap, etiology, and treatment
Authors: West Michelle L. , Guest Ryan M. , Carmel Adam 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDespite substantial efforts aimed at the detection and intervention for early symptoms of mental illness, there is relatively limited research on the clinical overlap between borderline personality disorder (BPD) and early psychosis, for example, clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis, in young people. We present a narrative review of the clinical overlap between BPD and psychosis spectrum symptoms. Both conditions have unstable temporal course, and both are marked by functional impairment, increased suicide risk, and higher rates of psychiatric inpatient services. We then review evidence‐based treatments for psychosis and BPD, emphasizing treatments for early presentations of these symptoms and initial research considering treatments for the overlap. Psychotherapies with the strongest empirical support include cognitive behavioral models, with BPD showing limited response to adjunctive pharmacotherapy. We end by discussing specific recommendations for future research, including longitudinal studies to determine the predictors of the course of illness and the development of treatments to target comorbid BPD and CHR symptoms.
Sensitivity assessment andSDHC‐I86Fmutation frequency ofPhakopsora pachyrhizipopulations to benzovindiflupyr and fluxapyroxad fungicides from 2015 to 2019 inBrazil
Authors: Mello Flávia Elis de , Mathioni Sandra Marisa , Fantin Lucas Henrique , Rosa Daniel Dias , Antunes Ricardo Francisco Desjardins , Filho Norton Rodrigues Chagas , Duvaresch Dhiego Leandro , Canteri Marcelo Giovanetti 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDFungicides of the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (SDHIs) group have been used in soybean to control Asian soybean rust (ASR) caused byPhakopsora pachyrhizi. Fungal populations with less sensitivity to SDHI fungicides have been reported since 2015.RESULTSIn this study, fungal sensitivity to benzovindiflupyr (BZV) and fluxapyroxad (FXD) was assessed using a total of 770P. pachyrhizipopulations sampled over four soybean growing seasons. Cross‐resistance, intrinsic activity, and frequency of SDHC‐I86F mutation were also analyzed. The average effective concentration to inhibit 50% (EC50) and SDHC‐I86F frequency increased over the 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 soybean‐seasons. FourteenP. pachyrhizipopulations had the EC50value above 10 mg L−1for both carboxamides. No difference was found in intrinsic active to BZV and FXD fungicides for sensitiveP. pachyrhizipopulations. ForP. pachyrhiziclassified as less sensitive BZV showed the highest fungitoxicity effect. High frequency of the C‐I86F mutation was observed in samples collected in volunteer soybean plants. The maximum frequency of SDHC‐I86F mutation in the population was 50% and resulting in ASR populations with low sensitivity to SDHIs. A low correlation between bioassay and SDHC‐I86F mutation was observed possible due to the dikaryotic nature of rust fungi or other mutations in the other succinate dehydrogenase subunits.CONCLUSIONThe present work provides an overview of a large sampling size ofP. pachyrhizipopulations and their performance over the four crop seasons. The high frequency of SDHC‐I86F mutation and low sensitivity to SDHIs are widely distributed in the main soybean growing regions in Brazil and present in volunteer plants in the soybean‐free period. Further detailed studies are needed to identify novel point mutations affecting the effectiveness of SDHIs. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Detecting placebo and drug effects on Parkinson's disease symptoms by longitudinal item‐score models
Authors: Chen Chao , Jönsson Siv , Yang Shuying , Plan Elodie L. , Karlsson Mats O. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractThis study tested the hypothesis that analyzing longitudinal item scores of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale could allow a smaller trial size and describe a drug's effect on symptom progression. Two historical studies of the dopaminergic drug ropinirole were analyzed: a cross‐over formulation comparison trial in 161 patients with early‐stage Parkinson's disease, and a 24‐week, parallel‐group, placebo‐controlled efficacy trial in 393 patients with advanced‐stage Parkinson's disease. We applied item response theory to estimate the patients’ symptom severity and developed a longitudinal model using the symptom severity to describe the time course of the placebo response and the drug effect on the time course. Similarly, we developed a longitudinal model using the total score. We then compared sample size needs for drug effect detection using these two different models. Total score modeling estimated median changes from baseline at 24 weeks (90% confidence interval) of −3.7 (−5.4 to −2.0) and −9.3 (−11 to −7.3) points by placebo and ropinirole. Comparable changes were estimated (with slightly higher precision) by item‐score modeling as −2.0 (−4.0 to −1.0) and −9.0 (−11 to −8.0) points. The treatment duration was insufficient to estimate the symptom progression rate; hence the drug effect on the progression could not be assessed. The trial sizes to detect a drug effect with 80% power on total score and on symptom severity were estimated (at the type I error level of 0.05) as 88 and 58, respectively. Longitudinal item response analysis could markedly reduce sample size; it also has the potential for assessing drug effects on disease progression in longer trials.
Impact of study design and statistical model in pharmacogenetic studies with gene‐treatment interaction
Authors: Couffignal Camille , Mentré France , Bertrand Julie 
Published: May 2021

AbstractGene‐treatment interactions, just like drug‐drug interactions, can have dramatic effects on a patient response and therefore influence the clinician decision at the patient’s bedside. Crossover designs, although they are known to decrease the number of subjects in drug‐interaction studies, are seldom used in pharmacogenetic studies. We propose to evaluate, via realistic clinical trial simulations, to what extent crossover designs can help quantifying the gene‐treatment interaction effect. We explored different scenarios of crossover and parallel design studies comparing two symptom‐modifying treatments in a chronic and stable disease accounting for the impact of a one gene and one gene‐treatment interaction. We varied the number of subjects, the between and within subject variabilities, the gene polymorphism frequency and the effect sizes of the treatment, gene, and gene‐treatment interaction. Each simulated dataset was analyzed using three models: (i) estimating only the treatment effect, (ii) estimating the treatment and the gene effects, and (iii) estimating the treatment, the gene, and the gene‐treatment interaction effects. We showed how ignoring the gene‐treatment interaction results in the wrong treatment effect estimates. We also highlighted how crossover studies are more powerful to detect a treatment effect in the presence of a gene‐treatment interaction and more often lead to correct treatment attribution.
Influences of oxidation ability on precision in nitrogen isotope measurements of organic reference materials using elemental analysis‐isotope ratio mass spectrometry
Authors: Wang Nan , Liu Jingyu , Zhang Yang , Xia Cuimei , Lin Deju , Che Yangli , Wu Jianzheng , Bao Rui 
Published: May 2021

RationaleThe precision of the standard measurements of reference materials (RMs) is critical to normalize the raw δ15N values of samples to the international scale. Because the measurement configuration is required to moderate the properties of both RMs and samples for obtaining an ideal measurement precision, it is important to determine the appropriate measurement configurations of RMs to achieve accurate nitrogen isotope compositions of samples. Therefore, it is critical to systematically examine RMs for optimizing the configurations and further improve the measurement precision.MethodsGas source isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) coupled with an online elemental analyzer (EA) equipped with a single‐quartz reactor was performed to analyze the nitrogen isotope compositions. Some adjustments were made as follows: (a) as the in‐house working standard, urea was used to investigate the influences of combustion through moderating the different oxygen injections (0–20 mL) and sample delay times (10–12 s) and optimize the combustion conditions to enhance oxidation ability; (b) CO2 from the sample gas stream was removed to prevent interferences between CO2 and N2; (c) international RMs, including USGS40 (l‐glutamic), IAEA600 (caffeine), and soil standard (B2153) with a low organic content, were systematically analyzed under the optimized configurations, and the precisions of the δ15N values were further examined.ResultsOur results showed that sufficient oxygen should be injected to improve the sample combustion when analyzing δ15N in natural samples such as soil or marine sediment with low organic content. In addition, the measurement precision of δ15N was affected by the tailing of the CO2 peak from the gas chromatography column into the subsequent sample measurement if the EA is equipped with a single‐quartz reactor column. Our adjustments can produce an optimized repeatability and accuracy of the δ15N value, especially for RMs with low organic content, and the uncertainty of the measurements is improved to be better than 0.1‰ under optimized configurations.ConclusionsThe analytical conditions such as the oxygen flow rate and injection time or sample introduction time into the EA need to be adjusted depending on the combustion conditions of the RMs and samples to obtain a reliable accuracy of measurement. We recommend that when analyzing δ15N of natural samples such as soil or marine sediment samples with low organic content, more oxygen should be injected to improve the combustion of the samples. In addition, CO2 should be removed from the sample gas stream before being introduced into the isotope ratio mass spectrometer when the EA is equipped with a single‐quartz reactor.
Assisted reproductive technique outcomes in patients with endometrioma undergoing sclerotherapy vs laparoscopic cystectomy: Prospective cross‐sectional study
Authors: Alborzi Saeed , Askary Elham , Keramati Pegah , Moradi Alamdarloo Shaghayegh , Poordast Tahereh , Ashraf Mohammad Ali , Shomali Zahra , Namavar Jahromi Behieh , Zahiri Sorouri Ziba 
Published: May 2021

AbstractPurposeThe authors compared assisted reproductive technique (ART) outcomes and the recurrence rate of endometrioma in the infertile patients undergoing sclerotherapy vs laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy.MethodsIn this prospective cross‐sectional study, a total of 101 infertile patients, with unilateral endometriomas, were divided into two groups. The first group (n = 57) underwent ART after 1 year of unsuccessful spontaneous pregnancy after laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy; the second group (n = 44) had ethanol sclerotherapy (EST) at the time of oocyte retrieval. The authors measured the number of oocytes, clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), live birth rate (LBR), complication, and recurrence of endometriomas as the primary and secondary outcomes.ResultsThe two groups had no significant differences in baseline characteristics and ovarian stimulation markers and also total number of oocytes. 42.1% and 34.1% of the patients (n = 24 and 15) had clinical pregnancy, and 38.6% and 29.5% (n = 22 and 13) had live birth following ART cycles in the surgery group and sclerotherapy group (P = .41, 0.34). The recurrence rates were 14.0% and 34.1% in the surgery and sclerotherapy groups (P = .017, X2 = 5.67).ConclusionsEthanol sclerotherapy can be a good alternative to surgery concerning the treatment of endometrioma; however, the recurrence of the disease in this group is significantly higher.
A novel adaptive code block group hybrid automatic repeat request scheme for low earth orbit satellite networks
Authors: Deng Zhongliang , Liu Hao , Wang Ke , Lin Wenliang , Yu Xiaoyi , Zheng Shixuan 
Published: May 2021

SummaryLow earth orbit (LEO) satellite networks provide important support to expand 5G‐and‐beyond networks to realize global coverage. Hybrid automatic repeat requests (HARQs) can greatly improve the reliability of transmission through dynamic satellite channels. Due to the large propagation delay in LEO satellite channels, the biggest challenges of HARQ in satellite networks are the delayed channel state information (CSI) and overflow of receiver memory. In this paper, we propose a novel adaptive code block group HARQ (ACBG‐HARQ) scheme that achieves lower retransmission rates with reliable data receiving. First, we build a new channel state model (CSM) to describe the relationship between the packet error rate (PER) and global channel degradation. Three states of receiver memory allocation for HARQ are designed with respect to the channel state and memory occupation: idle state, non‐full state, and full state. Then, we propose an optimal HARQ scheme for LEO satellite networks with the Markov decision process (MDP) based on the fuzzy Q‐learning (FQL) algorithm to improve the accuracy of ACBG‐HARQ state transfer, which contributes to adaptive selection of the HARQ code block group size. Simulation results show that the ACBG‐HARQ scheme can achieve a maximum spectrum efficiency gain of 10% and that the probability of receiver memory overflow is reduced by 1%∼6%.