bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Indices for daily temperature and precipitation in Madagascar, based on quality‐controlled and homogenized data, 1950–2018
Authors: Randriamarolaza Luc Yannick Andréas , Aguilar Enric , Skrynyk Oleg , Vicente‐Serrano Sergio M. , Domínguez‐Castro Fernando 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThis study updates knowledge on climate evolution in Madagascar from 1950 to 2018. Changes were analyzed using annual and seasonal climate indices at regional and station level. The original daily series of minimum and maximum temperature and precipitation obtained from 28 meteorological stations were quality controlled and homogenized. Thirty‐seven (37) climate indices were obtained from the daily series. The results show that changes in temperature had a higher degree of spatial coherence than changes in precipitation. Trends for temperature indices were mostly significant at 0.05 level and compatible with warming. Changes in minimum temperatures were greater than those for the maximum, leading to a significant decrease in the diurnal temperature range (DTR). Warm nights increased more than warm days, (0.70 days⋅decade–1) and cold nights decreased more than cold days, (0.21 days⋅decade–1). In addition, we found more stations with significant trends for very cold nights (92.60%) than for very warm days (51.80%) but they progressed differently (decrease and increase, respectively). Station‐by‐station precipitation index trends were mostly non‐significant at 0.05 level, and most regional precipitation index showed decreasing trends. A shift in precipitation magnitude was observed around 2000–2018, a period of intensified drying (where 70.40% of stations recorded non‐significant decreasing trends). An analysis of drought characteristics (i.e., intensity, magnitude and duration) highlighted the situation, especially in the south‐east at an annual timescale.
Biological soil crusts enhance moisture and nutrients in the upper rooting zone of sandy soil agroecosystems
Authors: Nevins Clayton J. , Strauss Sarah L. , Inglett Patrick W. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackground: Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are commonly found in arid ecosystems and are known to have increased carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations compared to non‐crusted soil. Similar biocrusts were recently identified in Florida, USA sandy soil agroecosystems where they could impact soil biogeochemical cycling, particularly of C and N, in the crop rooting zone.Aims: Therefore, this research assessed the impacts of biocrusts on soil moisture, available and microbial C and N concentrations, and soil stable N isotopic ratios (δ15N) in the upper rooting zone (0–15 cm) below biocrusts compared to nearby control bare soils without biocrusts.Methods: Intact soil cores (0–15 cm) were collected from crusted and non‐crusted (control) locations in three sandy soil, citrus agroecosystems. Soil cores were partitioned into three depths: a surface (0–1 cm), a middle (1–5 cm), and a subsurface depth (5–15 cm), and were analyzed for soil moisture and multiple C and N cycling pools.Results: Biocrust presence and sampling depth (0–1 cm, 1–5 cm, and 5–15 cm) had significant impacts on soil physical, chemical, and biological parameters at the sites. All sites had increased bulk total C and total N, soluble (ammonium, nitrate, dissolved organic N, and salt extractable C), and microbial (microbial biomass C/N) C and N concentrations in the biocrust surface depth compared to the control without biocrusts. Nitrate and total inorganic N (ammonium + nitrate) were enriched below biocrusts (1–5 cm) with one site having 96% and 71% more nitrate and total inorganic N, respectively, under biocrusts compared to controls. This additional plant‐available N was likely provided by the biocrust, as indicated by the δ15N. Further, the soil below biocrusts (1–5 cm) at one agroecosystem had 44% more microbial biomass C and a significantly lower MBC:MBN than soil without biocrusts.Conclusions: Overall, results illustrate these naturally occurring biocrusts have the potential to benefit agroecosystems by enriching soil C and N in the crop rooting zone, indicating the potential for biocrusts to effect overall soil quality and health.
A review on the potentials of using feeds rich in water‐soluble carbohydrates to enhance rumen health and sustainability of dairy cattle production
Authors: Klevenhusen Fenja , Zebeli Qendrim 
Published: June 2021

AbstractCows are adapted to degrade structural plant carbohydrates (SC), such as cellulose and hemicelluloses, prevailing in grasses. Yet, the need for energy‐dense diets in many intensive dairy production systems has shifted the dairy cattleʼs diet from SC‐rich to high levels of starch. Feeding of starch‐rich diets increases the risk of ruminal acidosis in cows, and feeding starch in the form of grains intensifies the competition over cereal grains and arable land among different livestock species, as well as between livestock and humans. Besides cellulose and hemicelluloses, grasses are also often rich in water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC), which comprise mono‐, di‐, oligo‐ and polysaccharides (fructans). Although the ruminal fermentation profile of mono‐ and disaccharides resembles that of starch, the degradation of oligo‐ and polysaccharides is slower, and their fermentation elicits a rather protecting effect on ruminal pH. When harvested in an early phase (i.e. ear emergence), grass hay and silages can reach WSC levels up to 150–200 g kg−1 dry matter and energy levels close to starch‐rich diets, allowing a significantly reduced inclusion of concentrate supplements. By doing so, this will enhance both rumen health and the sustainability of milk production. However, because the WSC are chemically very heterogeneous, the patterns and extent of their ruminal fermentation are difficult to predict without a clear analytical characterization. This review article aims to summarize both the benefits and potentials, as well as the challenges, with respect to using WSC‐rich feedstuffs in the nutrition of dairy cattle and their effects on ruminal fermentation characteristics and milk production. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Beyond the PAR spectra: impact of light quality on the germination, flowering, and metabolite content of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni)
Authors: Rengasamy Narendren , Othman Rofina Y , Che Hang S , Harikrishna Jennifer A 
Published: June 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDStevia rebaudiana is a high value crop due to the strong commercial demand for its metabolites (steviol glycosides) but has limited geographical cultivation range. In non‐native environments with different daylength and light quality, Stevia has low germination rates and early flowering resulting in lower biomass and poor yield of the desired metabolites. In this study, artificial lighting with light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) was used to determine if different light quality within and outside of the photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) range can be used to improve germination rates and yields for production of steviol glycosides for the herbal supplement and food industry.RESULTSPlants treated with red and blue light at an intensity of 130 μmol m−2 s−1 supplemented with 5% of UV‐A light under a 16‐h photoperiod produced the most desirable overall results with a high rate of germination, low percentage of early flowering, and high yields of dry leaf, stevioside and rebaudioside A, 175 days after planting.CONCLUSIONWhile red and blue light combinations are effective for plant growth, the use of supplemental non‐PAR irradiation of UV‐A wavelength significantly and desirably delayed flowering, enhanced germination, biomass, rebaudioside A and stevioside yields, while supplemental green light improved yield of biomass and rebaudioside A, but not stevioside. Overall, the combination of red, blue and UV‐A light resulted in the best overall productivity for Stevia rebaudiana. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Soil erosion facilitates shrub encroachment in Patagonian herbaceous steppes
Authors: Romero Ovalle Paula Estelí , Bisigato Alejandro Jorge , Campanella María Victoria 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPrevious studies in northeastern Patagonia suggested that, mainly as a consequence of overgrazing by sheep, the herbaceous steppes are being replaced by shrub steppes dominated by Chuquiraga avellanedae as a consequence of shrub encroachment. The herbaceous steppe presents a thick sandy loam to loamy sand A‐horizon lying on a clay‐horizon while the shrub steppe presents the clay‐horizon at or near the soil surface. The thickness reduction of the remaining A‐horizon and the formation of desert pavements are evidence of soil erosion. As previous studies suggested that shrub encroachment co‐occurs with the erosion of the sandy A‐horizon, we hypothesized that shrub encroachment is favored by the presence of an clay‐horizon near the soil surface. We expected that C. avellanedae emergence and establishment would be higher as the clay horizon is closer to the soil surface and the A‐horizon is reduced. We performed field and greenhouse experiments to evaluate seedling emergence and establishment along a gradient of A‐horizon thickness. We found that the presence of a relatively thin sandy layer on the surface had a negative influence on both shrub emergence and establishment. The summer drought was not a critical period for the seedlings. Conversely, the highest seedling mortality took place during late winter in sandy soils, suggesting that these soils are more susceptible to frost heaving than clay soils. In conclusion, soil erosion in the northeastern Patagonian steppes would indirectly facilitate shrub encroachment due to differences in frost heaving susceptibility between sandy and clay soils.
The ratio of triglycerides to high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol is associated with the risk of chronic kidney disease in Korean men
Authors: Kim Joungyoun , Bae Yoon‐Jong , Shin Sang‐Jun , You Hyo‐Sun , Lee Jae‐woo , Kang Hee‐Taik 
Published: June 2021

AbstractDyslipidemia is nephrotoxic and can result in the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The ratio of triglycerides (TG) to high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) (TG/HDL‐C ratio) is well‐correlated with insulin resistance and cardiovascular events. The aim of this study is to examine the association between the TG/HDL‐C ratio and CKD in Korean adults. This study was retrospectively designed based on the National Health Insurance Service‐National Health Screening cohort. Seventy three thousand and fifty‐two participants aged between 40 and 79 years old at baseline (2009–2010) were included in the final analyses. The study population was classified into three tertile groups (T1, T2, and T3) according to the TG/HDL‐C ratio by sex. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for CKD were calculated using Cox proportional hazard regression models. The median follow‐up duration was 5.9 years. Higher tertile groups of the TG/HDL‐C ratio had lower estimated glomerular filtration rates in both sexes. The cumulative incidence of CKD of T1, T2, and T3was 11.89%, 12.90%, and 12.91%, respectively, in men and 10.17%, 10.61%, and 14.87%, respectively, in women (allpvalues < 0.001). Compared with T1of the TG/HDL‐C ratio, the HRs (95% CIs) of T2and T3for CKD were 1.212 (1.118–1.315) and 1.183 (1.087–1.287), respectively, in men and 0.895 (0.806–0.994) and 1.038 (0.937–1.150), respectively, in women after being fully adjusted. Higher TG/HDL‐C ratios were positively associated with CKD development in men, while middle levels of TG/HDL ratios reduced the CKD incidence in women.
Clinical Utility of 18F‐APN‐1607 Tau PET Imaging in Patients with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
Authors: Li Ling , Liu Feng‐Tao , Li Ming , Lu Jia‐Ying , Sun Yi‐Min , Liang Xiaoniu , Bao Weiqi , Chen Qi‐Si , Li Xin‐Yi , Zhou Xin‐Yue , Guan Yihui , Wu Jian‐Jun , Yen Tzu‐Chen , Jang Ming‐Kuei , Luo Jian‐Feng , Wang Jian , Zuo Chuantao ,   the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Neuroimage Initiative (PSPNI)
Published: June 2021

ABSTRACTBackground18F‐APN‐1607 is a novel tau PET tracer characterized by high binding affinity for 3‐ and 4‐repeat tau deposits. Whether 18F‐APN‐1607 PET imaging is clinically useful in PSP remains unclear.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to investigate the clinical utility of 18F‐APN‐1607 PET in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and assessment of disease severity in patients with PSP.MethodsWe enrolled 3 groups consisting of patients with PSP (n = 20), patients with α‐synucleinopathies (MSA with predominant parkinsonism, n = 7; PD, n = 10), and age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls (n = 13). The binding patterns of 18F‐APN‐1607 in PET/CT imaging were investigated. Regional standardized uptake ratios were compared across groups and examined in relation to their utility in the differential diagnosis of PSP versus α‐synucleinopathies. Finally, the relationships between clinical severity scores and 18F‐APN‐1607 uptake were investigated after adjustment for age, sex, and disease duration.ResultsCompared with healthy controls, patients with PSP showed increased 18F‐APN‐1607 binding in several subcortical regions, including the striatum, putamen, globus pallidus, thalamus, subthalamic nucleus, midbrain, tegmentum, substantia nigra, pontine base, red nucleus, raphe nuclei, and locus coeruleus. We identified specific regions that were capable of distinguishing PSP from α‐synucleinopathies. The severity of PSP was positively correlated with the amount of 18F‐APN‐1607 uptake in the subthalamic nucleus, midbrain, substantia nigra, red nucleus, pontine base, and raphe nuclei.Conclusions18F‐APN‐1607 PET imaging holds promise for the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and assessment of disease severity in patients with PSP. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
A feasibility study on deep learning‐based individualized 3D dose distribution prediction
Authors: Ma Jianhui , Nguyen Dan , Bai Ti , Folkerts Michael , Jia Xun , Lu Weiguo , Zhou Linghong , Jiang Steve 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPurposeRadiation therapy treatment planning is a trial‐and‐error, often time‐consuming process. An approximately optimal dose distribution corresponding to a specific patient's anatomy can be predicted by using pre‐trained deep learning (DL) models. However, dose distributions are often optimized based not only on patient‐specific anatomy but also on physicians’ preferred trade‐offs between planning target volume (PTV) coverage and organ at risk (OAR) sparing or among different OARs. Therefore, it is desirable to allow physicians to fine‐tune the dose distribution predicted based on patient anatomy. In this work, we developed a DL model to predict the individualized 3D dose distributions by using not only the patient's anatomy but also the desired PTV/OAR trade‐offs, as represented by a dose volume histogram (DVH), as inputs.MethodsIn this work, we developed a modified U‐Net network to predict the 3D dose distribution by using patient PTV/OAR masks and the desired DVH as inputs. The desired DVH, fine‐tuned by physicians from the initially predicted DVH, is first projected onto the Pareto surface, then converted into a vector, and then concatenated with feature maps encoded from the PTV/OAR masks. The network output for training is the dose distribution corresponding to the Pareto optimal DVH. The training/validation datasets contain 77 prostate cancer patients, and the testing dataset has 20 patients.ResultsThe trained model can predict a 3D dose distribution that is approximately Pareto optimal while having the DVH closest to the input desired DVH. We calculated the difference between the predicted dose distribution and the optimized dose distribution that has a DVH closest to the desired one for the PTV and for all OARs as a quantitative evaluation. The largest absolute error in mean dose was about 3.6% of the prescription dose, and the largest absolute error in the maximum dose was about 2.0% of the prescription dose.ConclusionsIn this feasibility study, we have developed a 3D U‐Net model with the patient's anatomy and the desired DVH curves as inputs to predict an individualized 3D dose distribution that is approximately Pareto optimal while having the DVH closest to the desired one. The predicted dose distributions can be used as references for dosimetrists and physicians to rapidly develop a clinically acceptable treatment plan.
The multifacility center problems with random demand weights
Authors: Berman Oded , Wang Jiamin 
Published: June 2021

AbstractWe study two p‐center models on a network with probabilistic demand weights. In the first, which is called the maximum probability p‐center problem, the objective is to maximize the probability that the maximum demand‐weighted distance between the demand and the open facilities does not exceed a given threshold value. In the second, referred to as the β‐VaR p‐center problem, the objective is to minimize the value‐at‐risk of the maximum demand‐weighted distance with a pre‐selected confidence level. It is shown that both models are NP‐hard. We develop algorithms for solving the two models and conduct computational experiments to compare their performance. We recommend that the branch and bound algorithm be applied to solve the first model, and an ensemble optimization method to solve the second model. The solution approaches presented can be easily extended to the case where the random demand weights are not independent.
Extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma in children, adolescents, and young adults. An analysis of three prospective studies of the Cooperative Weichteilsarkomstudiengruppe (CWS)
Authors: Koscielniak Ewa , Sparber‐Sauer Monika , Scheer Monika , Vokuhl Christian , Kazanowska Bernarda , Ladenstein Ruth , Niggli Felix , Ljungman Gustaf , Paulussen Michael , Bielack Stefan S. , Seitz Guido , Fuchs Joerg , Hallmen Erika , Klingebiel Thomas , on behalf of the CWS Study Group  
Published: June 2021

AbstractBackgroundWe have analyzed the outcome of patients with localized extraskeletal Ewing sarcoma (EES) treated in three consecutive Cooperative Weichteilsarkomstudiengruppe (CWS) soft tissue sarcoma (STS) studies: CWS‐91, CWS‐96, and CWS‐2002P.MethodsPatients were treated in CWS‐91 with four‐ (vincristine, dactinomycin, doxorubicin, and ifosfamide [VAIA] or cyclophosphamide [VACA II]) or five‐drug (+etoposide [EVAIA]) cycles, in CWS‐96 they were randomly assigned to receive VAIA or CEVAIE (+carboplatin and etoposide), and in CWS‐2002P with VAIA III plus optional maintenance therapy (MT) with cyclophosphamide and vinblastine. Local therapy consisted of resection and/or radiotherapy (RT).ResultsTwo hundred forty‐three patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The 5‐year event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 63% (95% confidence interval [CI] 57–69) and 73% (95% CI 67–79), respectively. The 5‐year EFS by study was 64% (95% CI 54–74) in CWS‐91, 57% (95% CI 48–66) in CWS‐96, and 79% (95% CI 67–91) in CWS‐2002P (n.s.). The 5‐year OS was 72% (95% CI 62–82) in CWS‐91, 70% (95% CI 61–79) in CWS‐96, and 86% (95% CI 76–96) in CWS‐2002P (n.s.). In CWS‐96, 5‐year EFS and OS in the VAIA arm versus the CEVAIE were 65% (95% CI 52–81) versus 55% (95% CI 39–76) log‐rank p = .13, and 85% (95% CI 75–96) versus 61% (95% CI 45–82), log‐rank p = .09.ConclusionOur analysis provides interesting information on the treatment and specificities of EES, which can be useful for a better understanding of this rare entity and should be considered in the development of future clinical trials for Ewing sarcoma defined as FET–ETS fusion positive tumors.
Triphenylphosphine‐containing microcapsules fabricated from Pickering emulsions as a thermal latent curing accelerator for an epoxy/anhydride system
Authors: Gou Haolan , Zhang Bowen , Wei Wei , Fei Xiaoma , Li Xiaojie , Liu Xiaoya 
Published: June 2021

AbstractLatent curing accelerators are essential for application to one‐component epoxy systems in various industries, such as coatings, adhesives and electronic packaging. Herein, we developed organic–inorganic hybrid microcapsules encapsulating triphenylphosphine (TPP) by Pickering emulsion polymerization of styrene and methoxyethyl methacrylate with dimethoxydiphenylsilane‐modified silica nanoparticles as emulsifiers. The microcapsules were further surface‐modified by epoxy silane and employed as a thermal latent curing accelerator for an epoxy/anhydride system. Good dispersibility and interfacial bonding of the hybrid microcapsules with the resin matrix were observed. Compared with TPP, the microcapsule‐type accelerator endowed the one‐component epoxy curing system with significantly enhanced storage stability at room temperature of 25 °C (a pot life of 20 days) and a comparable curing activity at high temperature. The activity of the encapsulated accelerator can be blocked and released rapidly and effectively with increasing temperature to trigger the segmental motion of the polymeric microcapsules. Furthermore, the addition of microcapsules increased the glass transition temperature and thermal stability of the epoxy thermosets owing to the organic–inorganic hybrid character. Moreover, the toughness of the cured resin was also improved. Therefore, the latent curing accelerator demonstrated a promising prospect for application in high‐performance one‐pot epoxy formulations. © 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Understanding dispersity control in photo‐atom transfer radical polymerization: Effect of degree of polymerization and kinetic evaluation
Authors: Rolland Manon , Lohmann Victoria , Whitfield Richard , Truong Nghia P. , Anastasaki Athina 
Published: June 2021

AbstractIn photo‐atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), dispersity can be efficiently controlled by varying the deactivator concentration. In this work, we provide mechanistic insight into dispersity‐controlled photo‐ATRP by conducting detailed kinetics under a range of conditions. For the lower dispersity polymers, a conventional first‐order kinetic profile was observed accompanied by a linear evolution of number average molecular weight (Mn) with conversion while the reactions reached moderate to high conversions (between 66% and 93%). Whereas, when polymers of high dispersity were targeted, the Mn remained relatively constant throughout the polymerization and the reactions ceased at less than 50% of conversion. In particular, for Ð = 1.84, a significant deviation between theoretical and experimental molecular weights was evident. This deviation was unambiguously attributed to slow initiation as indicated by 1H NMR, where significant percentages of unreacted initiator were observed. Importantly, the addition of ligand at the polymerization plateau re‐initiated the polymerization and led to the complete consumption of the unreacted initiator, thus enabling the synthesis of one‐pot diblock copolymers. We subsequently evaluated the effect of the degree of polymerization (DP) on the obtained dispersity when a constant catalyst ratio was maintained. Based on the interpolation of those experiments results, we could predict experimental conditions for any desirable DPs and dispersities.