bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Spatial and temporal characteristics of abrupt heavy rainfall events over Southwest China during 1981–2017
Authors: Chen Yangruixue , Wang Xiaofang , Huang Ling , Luo Yali 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACTThe spatial and temporal characteristics of abrupt heavy rainfall events (AHRE: defined as 3‐hr rainfall amount ≥50 mm and at least one 1‐hr rainfall amount ≥20 mm during the 3 hr) over southwest China (SWC) between 1981 and 2017, including their occurrence frequency, intensity, and duration, were investigated based on hourly rainfall data collected from 468 rain gauge stations. The occurrence frequency of these AHREs exhibited large spatial variability among different regions. We distinguished three regions with high occurrence rates of AHREs: the Sichuan Basin (subregion A, SR‐A), South Guizhou–North Guangxi (subregion B, SR‐B), and West Hunan (subregion C, SR‐C). Overall, the amount of rainfall generated by the AHREs was more closely related to event duration than event intensity. Analysis of the monthly variations showed that the frequency of AHREs over SWC mostly (ca., 86.8%) appeared in the warm season (May–August) and peaked in July. But the peak month exhibited distinct regional features, with it occurring in midsummer over SR‐A, late spring or early summer over SR‐B, and early summer over SR‐C. With regards to diurnal variations, AHREs over areas with higher (lower) topography were initiated mostly in the afternoon (around midnight). In addition, short‐duration (1–3 hr) AHREs began most frequently in the late afternoon, whereas the long‐duration events (>6 hr) tended to begin around midnight. Composite analysis of the anomalies of moisture, equivalent potential temperature, and wind during extreme AHRE days revealed that AHRE occurrence coincided with an abnormal low‐level cyclonic circulation, which enhanced wind convergence and the transport of moist and warm air, providing favourable thermodynamic conditions for AHRE formation. These results advance our understanding of rainfall characteristics over SWC and provide observation‐based metrics for the evaluation of numerical simulations.
Efficient biorefinery of whole cassava for citrate production using Aspergillus niger mutated by atmospheric and room temperature plasma and enhanced co‐saccharification strategy
Authors: Wang Baoshi , Tan Fengling , Yu Feifei , Li Hua , Zhang Mingxia 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe non‐grain crop cassava has attracted intense attention in the biorefinery process. However, efficient biorefinery of whole cassava is faced with some challenges due to the existence of strain inhibition and refractory cellulose during the citrate production process.RESULTSHere, a novel breeding method – atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) – was applied for strain improvement of citrate‐producing strain Aspergillus niger from whole cassava. The citrate yield of the mutant obtained using ARTP mutagenesis increased by 36.5% in comparison with the original strain. Moreover, citric acid fermentation was further improved on the basis of an enhanced co‐saccharification strategy by supplementing glucoamylase and cellulase. The fermentation efficiency increased by 35.8% with a 17.0 g L−1 reduction in residual sugar on a pilot scale.CONCLUSIONSAll these results confirmed that a combination of the novel breeding method and enhanced co‐saccharification strategy could be used to efficiently refine whole cassava. The results also provide inspiration for the production of value‐added products and waste disposal in agro‐based industries. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Analysis of the difference between aged and degenerated pit mud microbiome in fermentation cellars for Chinese Luzhou‐flavor baijiu by metatranscriptomics
Authors: Zhou Wen , Liao Zuomin , Wu Zhengyun , Suyama Taikei , Zhang Wenxue 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBACKGROUDChinese Luzhou‐flavor baijiu (LFB) was fermented in an underground cellar, and the bottom and side of the cellar were covered with pit muds (PMs), where the metabolic activity of the microorganisms had a significant effect on the LFB quality. PMs can be divided into aged pit mud (AP) and degenerated pit mud (DP), thus, the qualities of LFB generated from AP and DP were different. In this essay, metatranscriptomics method was applied to illustrate the differences of the two PMs, as well as to search out the pivotal microorganisms and genes influencing the quality of LFB.RESULTSArchaea, Clostridium and some thermophilic microorganisms might bring significant effect in AP, while the active eukaryota and Anaeromyxobacter would cause degeneration in PM. Also, the metabolism of carbohydrate and amino acid were more active in AP. What is more, carbohydrate, amino acid and their derivant can produce important organic acids via the activity of the microorganisms in PMs. There were eight critical enzymes noticed in the organic acids metabolic pathway, which were more actively expressed in AP, demonstrating active expression of the critical genes related to organic acid metabolism could have a positive effect on LFB quality.CONCLUSIONThis study identified specific differences in active microorganisms, active expressed genes and the expression levels of key genes in vital metabolic pathway between AP and DP. Which may be the actual reason for the differences in the quality of LFB made from different PMs. Mastering these results will provide assistance to improve the quality of LFB. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Combined effects of cations in fertilizer solution on antioxidant content in red lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)
Authors: Sawatdee Sopanat , Prommuak Chattip , Jarunglumlert Teeraya , Pavasant Prasert , Flood Adrian E 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDRed lettuce is consumed worldwide because it is a great source of natural antioxidants. To design a fertilizer formula to boost its nutritional value, this research simultaneously studied the effects of significant cations among the macronutrients for plant growth (K, Mg and Ca) and the effects of the electrical conductivity (EC) of the nutrient solution on phenolic compound production and mass productivity of hydroponically grown red lettuce.RESULTSRed lettuce grown under the control treatment provided the highest mass productivity (under low‐stress conditions). The highest antioxidant content, measured as milligrams of phenolic compounds per gram dry weight (at a high‐stress condition) via both Folin–Ciocalteu and HPLC analyses, was observed in growth media containing 100 ppmK : 20 ppm Mg : 70 ppm Ca (with EC equal to 1241 μS cm−1). It was found that EC within the range of this examination had no significant effect on the mass productivity or on phenolic compound productivity. The phenolic compound productivity, defined as the amount of phenolic compounds produced per unit of planting area per unit of time, was optimized with the optimum formula for maximum phenolic compound productivity of 90 ppm K : 29 ppm Mg : 77 ppm Ca, or a corresponding EC of 1307 μS cm−1.CONCLUSIONSThe study demonstrates that health‐promoting nutrient production in red lettuce could be stimulated in a practical manner by adjusting the cation concentrations in fertilizer solution. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Lumped kinetic simulation of hydrodenitrogenation for full‐range middle‐low temperature coal tar
Authors: Zhu Yonghong , Dan Yong , Du Chongpeng , Tian Feng , Liu Yaqing , Sun Zhihui , Fan Xiaoyong , Li Dong 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWith the increasingly prominent environmental problems and depletion of light petrochemical resources, the clean utilization of heavy oil has become the research focal area. The hydrodenitrogenation (HDN) experiments and kinetics of full‐range middle‐low temperature coal tar (MLCT) was studied on a fixed‐bed reactor with a Ni‐Mo/γ‐Al2O3 catalyst. Two kinds of three‐lumped kinetic models (K1 and K1.24) based on different reaction orders and high‐middle‐low reactivities were established and fitted by a simulated annealing algorithm for coal tar HDN reactions. The results presented good correspondence with experimental data following an average relative error of less than 0.3%. The effect of temperature, pressure, and liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) on HDN of different reactivity nitrogen compounds (NCs) of MLCT was studied using the lumped kinetic models. Also, the difference between K1 and K1.24 models on the embodiment ability for HDN laws was also discussed from multiple perspectives. It has been observed that the HDN reactions of low and middle reactivity NCs are more influenced by LHSV; high temperature and pressure are more critical for the removal of low reactivity NCs, and low‐temperature or ‐pressure zone have larger effects on coal tar HDN reactions, especially at high LHSV; temperature has much more influence than pressure on the HDN effect, particularly towards the low reactivity NCs. The results of HDN laws for high reactivity NCs are concordant with K1 and K1.24 models. The K1.24 model is a bit more reasonable to reveal the HDN law of middle to low reactivity NCs.
Mathematical Modeling of Free Radical Solution Terpolymerization Reactions in a Batch and Continuous Flow Stirred Tank Reactors
Authors: Luciani Carla V. , Choi Kyu Yong 
Published: January 2021

AbstractA mathematical model that describes a free radical solution terpolymerization is applied to styrene (St), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and maleic anhydride (MAh) polymerization system. This terpolymerization model allows for the use of either monofunctional or bifunctional peroxide initiators, and it is applied to batch and continuous reactions. The key model outputs are global monomer conversion, terpolymer composition, terpolymer average molecular weights, and terpolymer monomer sequence distributions. A few kinetic parameters are estimated such that global conversion is properly predicted by the model including initiator efficiency and two termination rate constants. Molecular weights are shown to be dominated by chain transfer reactions. Experimental trends of conversion, terpolymer molar masses (molecular weights), and composition are reasonably well predicted by the model.
Direct targeting of β‐catenin in the Wnt signaling pathway: Current progress and perspectives
Authors: Wang Zhen , Li Zilu , Ji Haitao 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAberrant activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling circuit is associated with cancer recurrence and relapse, cancer invasion and metastasis, and cancer immune evasion. Direct targeting of β‐catenin, the central hub in this signaling pathway, is a promising strategy to suppress the hyperactive β‐catenin signaling but has proven to be highly challenging. Substantial efforts have been made to discover compounds that bind with β‐catenin, block β‐catenin‐mediated protein–protein interactions, and suppress β‐catenin signaling. Herein, we characterize potential small‐molecule binding sites in β‐catenin, summarize bioactive small molecules that directly target β‐catenin, and review structure‐based inhibitor optimization, structure–activity relationship, and biological activities of reported inhibitors. This knowledge will benefit future inhibitor development and β‐catenin‐related drug discovery.
Nanoconfined water governs polarization‐related properties of self‐assembled peptide nanotubes
Authors: Salehli Ferid , Aydin Abuzer O. , Chovan Drahomir , Kopyl Svitlana , Bystrov Vladimir , Thompson Damien , Tofail Syed A.M. , Kholkin Andrei 
Published: January 2021

AbstractDiphenylalanine (FF) demonstrates a robust ability to self‐assemble at the nanoscale forming a variety of structures ranging from nanospheres to nano‐ and microtubes resulting in outstanding functional properties including pyro‐ and piezoelectricity. FF nanotubes mimic the structure of β‐amyloid fibrils characteristic of Alzheimer's disease and thus can serve as a model material in biology and medicine. In this work, we report experimental proof that water trapped inside nanotubes exhibits dielectric properties similar to that of bulk water despite being confined in an ∼1 nm internal cavity. FF peptides thus provide a suitable template for the stabilization of the tetrahedral configuration of bulk water. Several phase transitions were observed via broadband dielectric spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. Of these, two glass transitions at 205 K and 133 K related to different phases of water were found. The presence of α‐relaxation in the so‐called “no man's land” leads to a global glass transition at Tg = 133 K and structural phase transition at 230 K characteristic of tetrahedral water. The characterized collective response of water dipoles to an external electric field renders high pyro‐ and piezoelectric activity and non‐linear optical effects in FF dipeptides, conferring polarization‐dependent functionality to this important class of biomaterials.
Impact of radical prostatectomy on bladder function as demonstrated on urodynamics study—A systematic review
Authors: Yao Henry H. , Hoe Venetia , Crump Robert T. , Sengupta Shomik , O'Connell Helen E. , Carlson Kevin V. , Baverstock Richard J. 
Published: January 2021

AbstractAimsThis study aims to describe the effects of radical prostatectomy (RP) on bladder function by performing a systematic review of urodynamics study findings before and after RP.MethodsThis systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guideline and registered on PROSPERO (CRD42020206844). A systematic search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase. Studies were included if they involved men who underwent RP and had urodynamics study performed preoperatively, postoperatively, or both. Studies that included only subgroups of patients based on symptoms were excluded. Three hundred and four articles were screened, with 20 articles included. A qualitative analysis was performed.ResultsThe rate of baseline bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) pre‐RP was 19%–67%. All six studies with comparative data pre‐ and postoperatively demonstrated a decrease in the rate of patients with equivocal or clear obstruction. The baseline rates of detrusor overactivity (DO) varied widely from 11% to 61.2%. Six of eight studies with 6 months or more follow‐up showed an improvement in the rates of DO ranging from 3.0% to 12.5%. The rate of de novo DO ranged from 0% to 54.5%. Four studies reported an increased rate of impaired bladder contractility and two of three studies showed a worsening rate of impaired bladder compliance following RP. This review is limited by the absence of level I/II studies.ConclusionsUrodynamics study shows that BOO is improved following RP in most patients. RP resolves DO in some patients and cause de novo DO in others. The net effect is a reduced overall rate of DO in most studies. Bladder compliance and contractility may be impaired after RP.
Are visual inspection and digital palpation reliable methods to assess ability to perform a pelvic floor muscle contraction? An intra‐rater study
Authors: Pena Caroline C. , Bø Kari , de la Ossa Aura M. P. , Fernandes Ana C. N. L. , Aleixo Devechio N. , de Oliveira Flávia M. F. , Ferreira Cristine H. J. 
Published: January 2021

ABSTRACTAimsTo investigate the intrarater reliability of visual inspection and digital palpation to classify women's ability to perform a voluntary pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction and the association between the two methods.MethodsThis was a test–retest clinical study including 44 women. The ability to perform a PFM voluntary contraction was evaluated two times in all participants using visual inspection and digital palpation. All analyzed participants were assessed with a 7‐day interval between the two assessments and by the same examiner. Kappa's agreement coefficient was used to estimate the intrarater reliability, and Fisher's exact test was used to analyze association between the two methods.ResultsThis study found a substantial intrarater reliability of visual inspection (k = 0.73; p < .001) and digital palpation (k = 0.74; p < .001). A significant association between visual inspection and digital palpation was found at both time points (p < .001).ConclusionBoth visual inspection and digital palpation have substantial intrarater reliability and visual inspection can be recommended when vaginal palpation is not tolerated.
Nonconforming finite element method for coupled Poisson–Nernst–Planck equations
Authors: Shi Xiangyu , Lu Linzhang 
Published: January 2021

AbstractA nonconforming finite element method (FEM) is developed and investigated for the coupled Poisson–Nernst–Planck (PNP) equations with low order element. Then, by use of the special properties of this element, that is, the interpolation operator is equivalent to its projection operator, and the consistency error estimate can reach order of O(h2) which is one order higher than that of its interpolation error estimates when the exact solution belongs to H3(Ω), the superclose estimates of order O(h2) and O(h2 + τ) in the broken H1‐norm are derived with new techniques for the semidiscrete scheme and backward Euler fully discrete scheme, respectively. Further, through employing interpolation postprocessing approach, the corresponding global superconvergence results are obtained. Finally, some numerical results are provided to confirm the theoretical analysis. It seems that our results have never been found in the existing literature. Here h and τ denote the mesh size and time step, respectively.
Cell‐cycle risk score more accurately determines the risk for metastases and death in prostatectomy patients compared with clinical features alone
Authors: Swanson Gregory P. , Lenz Lauren , Stone Steven , Cohen Todd 
Published: January 2021

AbstractBackgroundProstate cancer treatment aims to prevent metastases and disease‐specific mortality. Pathologic parameters have limited ability to predict these outcomes, but biomarkers can improve risk discrimination. We evaluated the ability of cell‐cycle progression and combined cell‐cycle risk scores to predict metastases and disease‐specific mortality after prostatectomy.MethodsEligibility included (1) treatment with radical prostatectomy (1985–1997); (2) cell‐cycle progression score; (3) preoperative prostate‐specific antigen; (4) no neoadjuvant therapy; and (5) clinical follow‐up (N = 360). Cancer of the prostate risk assessment postsurgical score was combined with cell cycle progression into the prespecified combined cell‐cycle risk score. Hazard ratios (HRs) are reported per unit score.ResultsIn total, 11% (41/360) developed metastases and 9% (33/360) experienced disease‐specific mortality. Combined cell‐cycle risk score predicted metastases and disease‐specific mortality post‐radical prostatectomy (p < 1 × 10−8). Adjusting for cancer of the prostate risk assessment postsurgical score, the combined cell‐cycle risk score remained a predictor of metastases (HR = 3.03 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.49, 6.20]; p = .003] and disease‐specific mortality (HR = 3.40 [95% CI: 1.52, 7.59]; p = .004). Of patients with biochemical recurrence, 25% (41/163) developed metastases. Cancer of the prostate risk assessment postsurgical score was predictive of metastases postbiochemical recurrence but was improved by the addition of cell cycle progression (HR = 1.70 [95% CI: 1.14, 2.53]; p = .012). The combined cell‐cycle risk was also prognostic of metastases post‐biochemical recurrence (HR = 1.56 [95% CI: 1.20, 2.03]; p = .001).ConclusionCombined cell‐cycle risk and cell cycle progression scores predict metastases and disease‐specific mortality post‐radical prostatectomy and should help identify patients at greatest risk of treatment failure who might benefit from earlier intervention.
Model systems for studying extrahepatic pathogenesis of hepatitis E virus. Current knowledge and future directions
Authors: El‐Mokhtar Mohamed A. , Sayed Ibrahim M. 
Published: January 2021

SummaryHepatitis E Virus is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis globally. HEV infection is endemic in developing countries. Also, autochthonous and sporadic cases are reported in developed countries. HEV causes acute and chronic infections. Besides, extrahepatic manifestations including neurological, renal, haematological, acute pancreatitis and complications during pregnancy are associated with HEV infections. The pathogenesis of HEV in the extrahepatic tissues is either due to direct cytopathic effect mediated by the virus replication, or immunological mechanisms caused by an uncontrollable host response. Researchers have used different in vivo and in vitro models to study the pathogenesis of HEV in the extrahepatic tissues and analyse the host immune response against HEV infection. This review highlights the extrahepatic disorders associated with HEV infection. We focused on the in vivo and in vitro models as a tool for elucidating the HEV infection beyond the liver and studying the mechanisms of HEV induced tissue damages.
Fault estimation and synchronization control for complex dynamical networks with time‐varying coupling delay
Authors: Sakthivel Rathinasamy , Sakthivel Ramalingam , Kwon Oh‐Min , Kaviarasan Boomipalagan 
Published: January 2021

AbstractThis article is devoted to simultaneously solve the problems of fault estimation and synchronization for a class of delayed coupling complex dynamical networks. First, an intermediate estimator is established for each node with the aid of the relative information from the neighboring nodes. Second, a distributed memory state feedback controller is designed with respect to the estimated state values and fault signals. Third, some error systems are formulated by introducing appropriate linear transformations. Then, a set of delay‐dependent criteria is obtained to ensure that the states of the resulting systems are uniformly bounded and subsequently, the explicit design method of the desired gain matrices is presented. At last, the feasibility of established theoretical results is validated by the support of two numerical examples in which one is an application example based on the aircraft model. Different from the existing fault estimation techniques, the proposed method does not require the observer matching condition and the upper bounds of the fault signals, which reduces the conservatism significantly.
Transcriptional and functional characterization of neonatal circulating Innate Lymphoid Cells
Authors: Bennstein Sabrina Bianca , Scherenschlich Nadine , Weinhold Sandra , Manser Angela Riccarda , Noll Angela , Raba Katharina , Kögler Gesine , Walter Lutz , Uhrberg Markus 
Published: January 2021

AbstractInnate lymphoid cells (ILCs), comprising ILC1, 2, and 3 subpopulations, play unique roles in maintaining microbiome homeostasis, mucosal tissue integrity, and control of inflammation. So far, their characterization is dominantly based on tissue-resident ILCs, whereas little information is available on circulating ILCs, in particular in newborns. In order to get a deeper understanding of neonatal innate immunity, we analyzed the transcriptomes and effector functions of cord blood (CB) ILCs. By RNAseq analysis, all ILC subsets could be clearly distinguished from each other. CB-derived ILCs were generally closer related to neonatal T than natural killer (NK) cells and several factors shared by all three ILC subsets such as CD28, CCR4, and SLAMF1 are commonly expressed by T cells but lacking in NK cells. Notably, CB ILCs exhibited a unique signature of DNA binding inhibitor (ID) transcription factors (TF) with high ID3 and low ID2 expression distinct from PB- or tonsil-derived ILCs. In vitro stimulation of sorted CB ILCs revealed distinct differences to tissue-resident ILCs in that ILC1-like and ILC3-like cells were nonresponsive to specific cytokine stimulation, indicating functional immaturity. However, CB ILC3-like cells expressed toll-like receptors TLR1 and TLR2 and upon stimulation with the TLR2:1 ligand Pam3CSK4, responded with significantly increased proliferation and cytokine secretion. Together, our data provide novel insights into neonatal ILC biology with a unique TF signature of CB ILCs possibly indicating a common developmental pathway and furthermore a role of CB ILC3-like cells in innate host defense.