bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Persistence of financial efficiency in tourism and hospitality firms
Authors: Sharma Sharad , Jaisinghani Dinesh , Joshi Mahesh , Goyal Jatin , Aggarwal Arun 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis paper analyses the nature and degree of persistence of the financial efficiency of the tourism and hospitality industry in China. Efficiency scores and the degree of persistence of firm efficiency are estimated using data envelopment analysis and dynamic panel regression, respectively. The results confirm significant and positive persistence of the financial efficiency of sample firms over 9 years, and support the ‘performance‐persistence’ theory. The findings of this study can help new industry entrants formulate market‐entry strategies and make investment decisions. In addition, existing firms can use the findings as a guide to increase their financial efficiency and sustainability.
Rooting Out Genetic Structure of Invasive Wild Pigs in Texas
Authors: Mangan Anna M. , Piaggio Antoinette J. , Bodenchuk Michael J. , Pierce Courtney F. , Smyser Timothy J. 
Published: September 2021

ABSTRACTInvasive wild pigs (Sus scrofa), also called feral swine or wild hogs, are recognized as among the most destructive invasive species in the world. Throughout the United States, invasive wild pigs have expanded rapidly over the past 40 years with populations now established in 38 states. Of the estimated 6.9 million wild pigs distributed throughout the United States, Texas supports approximately 40% of the population and similarly bears disproportionate ecological and economic costs. Genetic analyses are an effective tool for understanding invasion pathways and tracking dispersal of invasive species such as wild pigs and have been used recently in California and Florida, USA, which have similarly long‐established populations and high densities of wild pigs. Our goals were to use molecular approaches to elucidate invasion and migration processes shaping wild pig populations throughout Texas, compare our results with patterns of genetic structure observed in California and Florida, and provide insights for effective management of this invasive species. We used a high‐density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array to evaluate population genetic structure. Genetic clusters of wild pigs throughout Texas demonstrate 2 distinct patterns: weakly resolved, spatially dispersed clusters and well‐resolved, spatially localized clusters. The disparity in patterns of genetic structure suggests disparate processes are differentially shaping wild pig populations in various localities throughout the state. Our results differed from the patterns of genetic structure observed in California and Florida, which were characterized by localized genetic clusters. These differences suggest distinct biological and perhaps anthropogenic processes are shaping genetic structure in Texas. Further, these disparities demonstrate the need for location‐specific management strategies for controlling wild pig populations and mitigating associated ecological and economic costs. © 2021 The Wildlife Society. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
Bacterial taxa and fungal diversity are the key factors determining soil multifunctionality in different cropping systems
Authors: Zhang Jiangzhou , Li Tengteng , Jia Jiyu , Zhang Junling , Zhang Fusuo 
Published: September 2021

AbstractSoil microbes in the topsoil have long been the centre of cropping systems, yet the influence of subsoil microbes on soil functions remains elusive. Sustainable crop management will require an in‐depth understanding of interactions of cropping patterns, soil microbials and multifunctionality. This study aimed to explore the relationships between soil microbials and multifunctionality in both topsoil and subsoil of different cropping systems. We did paired samplings from four cash crops and adjacent wheat/ maize rotation system fields at 0–15 cm and 15–30 cm depths on calcareous soils: cotton (C)‐wheat (WC), grape (G)‐wheat (WG), vegetable (V)‐wheat (WV) and watermelon (W)‐wheat (WW). The results showed that soil multifunctionality in topsoil was higher than in subsoil across all soil samples. In topsoil, soil multifunctionality in W was significantly higher than other cash crops, and the highest and lowest values were in the WG and WC, respectively. In the subsoil, soil multifunctionality in the C was significantly lower than other cash crops. Across the wheat fields, soil multifunctionality were significantly higher in WG and WW than in WC and WV. The structural equation model showed that soil organic carbon, bacterial community composition and fungal diversity were positively correlated with soil multifunctionality in both soil depths. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes in topsoil were the important drivers, while Firmicutes and Gemmatimonadetes were in the subsoil. Our results suggest that microbes in both topsoil and subsoil should be integrated into agricultural management practices. The alteration of fungal diversity and bacterial community composition may significantly affect soil multifunctionality in intensive agroecosystems.
Responses of extreme high temperatures to urbanization in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration in the context of a changing climate
Authors: Wang Yujie , Ren Yuyu , Song Lianchun , Xiang Yang 
Published: September 2021

AbstractExtreme high‐temperature event is one of the most urgent climate issues faced by coordinated development of the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region (BTH) in the future due to global warming and urbanization. Based on the homogenized daily temperatures from 174 meteorological observation stations, six extreme hot events were detected. The results revealed the spatiotemporal change characteristics of the extreme high temperature in the BTH. The acquired evidence showed the maximum daily minimum temperature (TNx), high‐temperature days (SU35), hot night days (TR25), and heatwave spell durations (HWDI) have significantly increased, while the daily temperature range (DTR) has significantly decreased (p < 0.01) during 1961–2018. The SU35, TR25 and HWDI in 2010s were 68%, 2.8 times and 2.1 times higher than that in 1980s, respectively. Moreover, since 1961, the high‐temperature season in the BTH has been getting longer at a rate of 7.4d/10a. The study also revealed the contribution of urbanization on high‐temperature indices depends on city size and location in the BTH. The magnitudes of the indices change in the downtown area of Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang ranked top in the 13 cities of the BTH, which are closely related to the urban development. The mean contribution of urbanization on maximum daily maximum temperature (TXx), TNx, SU35 and TR25 was 68%, 45% and 27% in Beijing, Tianjin and Shijiazhuang, respectively. The socio‐economic driving factors have an important impact on the change rates of the extreme high‐temperature indices, which means that controlling population, city size and reducing energy consumption could effectively alleviate the urban heat island (UHI) effect and slow down the high‐temperature events in the BTH. In the future, it is vital to further study and investigate the mechanism of the extreme high‐temperature changes through numerical simulations and to research their impact and response in this region.
Public–private engagement (PPE) in hydromet services and the role of the academic sector
Authors: Frei Thomas 
Published: September 2021

AbstractNational meteorological and hydrological services (NMHSs) play a key role in gathering data and in providing services like early warnings, basic weather forecasts or climate analysis. In most developing countries, NMHSs are public services facing hindering financial constraints and shortages of skilled personnel. Both the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and academia play a long‐standing role in creating, innovating and fostering technology and services in meteorology and hydrology (hydromet services). At the same time, the role of the private sector in weather service provision is strongly growing all around the world. In order to maximize socio‐economic benefits from hydromet services, it is necessary that countries are considering how to strategically embrace the benefits that the private and academic sectors can offer without jeopardizing the provision of public services. A recent World Bank report suggests that public–private engagement (PPE) can create and sustain effective hydromet value chains. Moving towards PPE not only creates opportunities for the academic sector but in many instances critically depends on it for capacity building, to further develop trust relationships between the sectors, to provide spaces in which collaboration between the sectors can be tested and last but not least serve as a source and conduit for new technologies. This paper intends to stimulate discussion on PPE and the role that academics and academic institutions can take to foster sustainable hydromet value chains.
LncRNA‐H19 gene plays a significant role in regulating glioma cell function
Authors: Liu Ping , Huang Xinqiong , Wu Haijun , Yin Guoling , Shen Liangfang 
Published: September 2021

AbstractBackgroundGlioma is an aggressive adult primary cancer, and is characterized by low cure rate, poor prognosis, and high recurrence. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of lncRNA‐H19 gene silencing on glioma cell function.MethodslncRNA‐H19 interference vector (LV3‐si‐H19) and negative control vector (LV3‐NC) were stably transfected into U251 and U87‐MG cells, respectively. Quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) was performed to investigate the expression of lncRNA‐H19. Cell proliferation capacity was tested by adopting cell counting kit (CCK8), and propidium iodide (PI) was used for cell cycle analysis. Meanwhile, flow cytometry (FCM) method was used to investigate cell apoptosis, cell migration capacity was detected via wound healing and transwell experiments, and sphere‐forming ability was examined in serum‐free suspension culture. Additionally, glioma animal models were conducted through injecting U251 cells to estimate the effects of lncRNA‐H19 on glioma growth in vivo.ResultsKnocking down lncRNA‐H19 gene could effectively suppress the proliferation of U251 and U87‐MG cells. The knockdown of lncRNA‐H19 remarkably inhibited the migration and blocked cycle progressions of U251 and U87‐MG cells, yet, no obvious changes were observed in cell apoptosis. Besides, inhibiting lncRNA‐H19 expression could attenuate sphere‐forming function of U251 and U87‐MG cells. Additionally, tumor volume and weight were significantly reduced in rats injected with U251 LV‐si‐H19 cell line compared to untransfected and negative controls, when survival time was obviously prolonged in U251 LV‐si‐H19 injection groups.ConclusionLncRNA‐H19 gene plays a carcinogenic role in glioma progression via enhancing aggressive behavior of glioma cells.
A phased array applicator based on open ridged‐waveguide antenna for microwave hyperthermia
Authors: Aram Morteza Ghaderi , Aliakbarian Hadi , Trefná Hana Dobšíček 
Published: September 2021

AbstractRadiative hyperthermia is a clinically applied cancer treatment modality where antenna design is crucial to achieving therapeutic goals. Serving as the building block of a phased‐array configuration, antennas are typically arranged in a cylindrical or elliptical array called applicator. This short communication proposes an elliptical phased array applicator based on a compact, UWB design from the category of double‐ridged horn antennas customized for hyperthermia systems. The performance of the antenna, named open ridged‐waveguide, has been experimentally assessed based on the quality metrics of the hyperthermic community. The proposed design achieves an ultra‐wideband range of operation from 400 to 800 MHz with an aperture size of 3 by 4 cm. Moreover, thanks to the shielding provided by the metallic housing, the design proves good isolation better than −30 dB throughout the band. The power deposition capability of the proposed applicator followed by the thermal analysis is also investigated for a realistic head and neck patient model. The results indicate very good quality metrics achieved in the treatment planning of the patient.
Ankyrin‐repeat and SOCS box‐containing protein 9 (ASB9) regulates ovarian granulosa cells function and MAPK signaling
Authors: Nosratpour Soma , Ndiaye Kalidou 
Published: September 2021

AbstractAnkyrin‐repeat and SOCS box‐containing proteins (ASB) interact with the elongin B‐C adapter via their SOCS box domain and with the cullin and ring box proteins to form E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes within the protein ubiquitination pathway. ASB9 in particular is a differentially expressed gene in ovulatory follicles (OFs) induced by the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge or hCG injection in ovarian granulosa cells (GC) while downregulated in growing dominant follicles. Although ASB9 has been involved in biological processes such as protein modification, the signaling network associated with ASB9 in GC is yet to be fully defined. We previously identified and reported ASB9 interactions and binding partners in GC including PAR1, TAOK1, and TNFAIP6/TSG6. Here, we further investigate ASB9 effects on target binding partners regulation and signaling in GC. CRISPR/Cas9‐induced inhibition of ASB9 revealed that ASB9 regulates PAR1, TAOK1, TNFAIP6 as well as genes associated with proliferation and cell cycle progression such as PCNA, CCND2, and CCNE2 while CCNA2 was not affected. Inhibition of ASB9 was also associated with increased GC number and decreased caspase3/7 activity, CASP3 expression, and BAX/BCL2 ratio. Furthermore, ASB9 induction in OF in vivo 24 h post‐hCG is concomitant with a significant decrease in phosphorylation levels of MAPK3/1 while pMAPK3/1 levels increased following ASB9 inhibition in GC in vitro. Together, these results provide strong evidence for ASB9 as a regulator of GC activity and function by modulating MAPK signaling likely through specific binding partners such as PAR1, therefore controlling GC proliferation and contributing to GC differentiation into luteal cells.
Citric acid functionalized cellulose monolith for continuous‐flow removal of cationic dye in water
Authors: Xie Zhengtian , Li Linxuan , Hsu Yu‐I , Asoh Taka‐Aki , Uyama Hiroshi 
Published: September 2021

AbstractDeveloping efficient yet cost‐effective material from bioresources for dye removal is promising in both economic and environmental protection aspects. Here, a monolithic cellulose material functionalized with citric acid is reported as an absorbent for continuous‐flow removal of cationic dye. The functionalization process is realized by a direct esterification reaction between citric acid and cellulose without any other additions. The obtained monolithic absorbent possesses a 3D connected porous structure, which enables the application of the product in a continuous‐flow fashion. Results indicate that the produced monolith has a good adsorption ability to methylene blue. Moreover, the product can be reused after a fast desorption process by flowing with a salt solution. This work provides a simple strategy for fabricating green absorbents based on biofriendly cellulose and citric acid, which exhibits a potential of industrial application for water treatment.
N‐doped carbon nanotube sponges and their excellent lithium storage performances
Authors: Zhu Qi , Botello‐Méndez Andrés R. , Cheng Luhua , Fajardo‐Diaz Juan , Muñoz‐Sandoval Emilio , López‐Urias Florentino , Wang Jiande , Gohy Jean‐François , Charlier Jean‐Christophe , Vlad Alexandru 
Published: September 2021

AbstractPreparation, analysis and lithium storage performance of a series of nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotube sponges (CNX) is presented in this work. The synthesis was performed using an aerosol‐assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) in a bi‐sprayer system by using various carbon and nitrogen precursors made of mixtures of benzylamine with toluene, urea, pyridine and 1,2‐dichlorbenzene, with ferrocene as catalyst. A series of physico‐chemical analysis techniques are used to characterize the composition and the morphology of the obtained materials, and a correlation of these with the lithium storage performances is attempted. The samples reveal an interconnected core‐shell CNX fiber morphology with a CNT‐core surrounded by an amorphous carbon shell. Appealing lithium storage performances are attained, while also considering aspects of safety, low potential, and long‐term cycling stability. The best performing sponges display a high specific capacity (223 mAh g−1) when cycled in a practically relevant voltage window (0.01–1V vs. Li), high first cycle (90%) and long‐term cycling (99.3%) coulombic efficiencies and excellent capacity retention after 1500 cycles. This study further analyses the interplay between the morphology and the physico‐chemistry of nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotube materials for Lithium storage and provides guidelines for future developments.
Large deformation bending of single‐ply fabric reinforced polymer composite
Authors: Gao Jifeng , Chen Wujun , Chen Jubing , Hu Jianhui , Zhao Bing , Zhang Daxu , Fang Guangqiang , Peng Fujun 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThis study investigates the large deformation bending properties of a single‐ply fabric reinforced polymer composite (SpFRPC) by the innovative counterweight balanced column bending test (CWB‐CBT) and microscopic analysis. The influences of temperatures and asymmetric weave structure on SpFRPC's bending properties are emphasized. In glassy state at 15°C, SpFRPC failed in a brittle manner, with the ultimate moment and initial bending stiffness per width 19.16 Nmm and 448.61 Nmm2. The bending capacity decreased to negligible at 40°C in the rubbery state but vice versa for deformability, reaching the curvature of 0.135 mm−1 within maximum accommodation of this CWB‐CBT fixture. The asymmetric weave structure enabled larger deformability when bent outward than inward, resulting in more significant stiffness and ultimate moment inward than outward. The transverse yarns' gaps were the weak locations of bending fracture, especially at weave intersection edges. In general, the present work provides an exploratory study for understanding the folding mechanical properties of the SpFRPC.
The effect of simultaneous heat/fire and impact on carbon fibril and particle release from carbon fiber‐reinforced composites
Authors: Chapple Robert , Kandola Baljinder K. , Myler Peter , Ferry Laurent , Lopez‐Cuesta José‐Marie , Chivas‐Joly Carine , Erskine Emmajane L. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractA novel laboratory scale testing equipment has been designed and developed, which combines impact and heat/fire conditions to enable the testing of composite laminates, including the ability to capture debris/particles released during the test. This incorporates a pendulum impactor to create impact whilst the sample is exposed to a cone heater at a particular heat flux for a specified period of time. A protocol for testing samples under different conditions and capturing particles released, both from the front and back faces, along with effluents has been provided. A carbon fiber‐reinforced epoxy composite was impacted whilst being exposed to different heat fluxes for a range of time periods. A loss of stiffness related to the heating exposure time was found to affect the damage type. At lower heat fluxes, the captured particles included broken carbon fibers, decomposed resinous particles and resin coated fibers. Quantitative and morphological analyses of captured particles demonstrated that the sizes of decomposed resin particles and fibers reduced with longer exposure time or increased heat flux. This information could be useful to provide insight into potential health hazards of components of the composites.
Images carried before the fire: The power, promise, and responsibility of latent phenotyping in plants
Authors: Feldmann Mitchell J. , Gage Joseph L. , Turner‐Hissong Sarah D. , Ubbens Jordan R. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractUnderstanding the genetic basis of plant traits requires comprehensive and quantitative descriptions of the phenotypic variation that exists within populations. Cameras and other sensors have made high‐throughput phenotyping possible, but image‐based phenotyping procedures involve a step where a researcher selects the traits to be measured. This feature selection step is inherently prone to human biases. Recently, a set of phenotyping approaches, which are referred to collectively as latent phenotyping techniques, have arisen in the literature. Latent phenotyping techniques isolate a latent source of variance in the data, such as stress or genotype, and then quantify the effect of this latent source of variance using latent variables without defining any conventional traits. In this review, we discuss the differences between, and challenges of, both traditional and latent phenotyping.
Stability investigations of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes immediately after death in a pig model support the applicability of postmortem hepatic CYP quantification
Authors: Pedersen Kata W. , Hansen Jakob , Hasselstrøm Jørgen B. , Jornil Jakob R. 
Published: September 2021

AbstractQuantification of drug‐metabolizing cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms using LC–MS/MS has been proposed as a potential way of estimating antemortem CYP levels using postmortem tissue, but the postmortem stability of CYP proteins is incompletely investigated. If one can use data obtained from the analysis of postmortem specimens to inform physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models this greatly increases the access to rare specimens among special subpopulations. In this study, we developed and validated an LC–MS/MS method for targeted CYP protein quantification in a porcine animal model to study postmortem stability. We measured 19.9–28.3 pmol CYP1A2, 50.3–66.2 pmol CYP2D25, 132.9–142.7 pmol CYP2E1, and 16.8–48 pmol CYP3A29 protein per mg PLM in nondegraded tissue. In tissue stored at 4°C, we found that the CYP protein levels were unaffected by degradation after 72 h. At 21°C CYP1A2, CYP2D25, and CYP2E1 protein levels were nearly unaffected by degradation after 24 h, whereas a loss of approximately 50% was seen after 48 h. At 21°C CYP3A29 had a loss of 50% at 24 h and 70% at 48 h exhibiting less postmortem stability. In vitro enzyme activity measurements in the same tissue stored at 21°C showed a 50% decrease after 24 h and a complete loss of enzyme activity after 48 h. When stored at 4°C, the in vitro enzyme activity decreased to 50% activity after 96 h. In conclusion, measuring CYP levels by an LC–MS/MS approach was clearly less affected by postmortem changes than an activity‐based approach. The found postmortem stability for 24 h at 21°C for 3 out of 4 CYP isoforms supports the use of properly stored postmortem tissue to inform PBPK models.