bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Method comparison of beta‐hydroxybutyrate point‐of‐care testing to serum in healthy children
Authors: Parmar Komalben , Mosha Maua , Weinstein David A. , Riba‐Wolman Rebecca 
Published: August 2021

AbstractKetone production is a physiological phenomenon that occurs to avoid irreversible neurological damage from hypoglycemia, thereby serving as a marker of metabolic stress. The primary ketone body, beta‐hydroxybutyrate (BHB), guides the diagnostic evaluation and management of many hypoglycemic disorders. Serum and point‐of‐care (POC) BHB values were not been compared in children without diabetes or metabolic disorders. We aim at comparing the serum and point‐of‐care BHB values in healthy children after an overnight fast. Eligible participants were ≤18 years of age prospectively recruited from elective procedures through our surgery centers. Exclusion criteria included a history of diabetes, hypopituitarism, adrenal, metabolic or inflammatory disorders, dietary restrictions, trauma, or use of medications that might affect blood glucose. The main outcome measure was comparing serum and POC BHB levels after a period of fasting. Data from 94 participants (mean age 8.29 ± 5.68 years, 54.3% male, 45.7% female, BMI mean 19.28 ± 5.25 kg/m2) were analyzed. There was a strong correlation between serum BHB (mean 0.25 ± 0.23 mmol/L) and POC BHB (mean 0.18 ± 0.20 mmol/L) (rs = 0.803, p < 0.0001). The majority (96.81%) of values for serum BHB compared with POC BHB fell within 0.1 ± 0.1 mmol/L. The average of difference between serum and POC BHB (the bias) was 0.064 mmol/L (95% CI 0.047–0.081), and percentage error was 3.19%. Point‐of‐care BHB is accurate and comparable to serum BHB levels in our cohort of children after an overnight fast.SynopsisPoint‐of‐care BHB agrees with serum values in healthy children.
The heat wave of October 2020 in central South America
Authors: Marengo Jose A. , Ambrizzi Tercio , Barreto Naurinete , Cunha Ana Paula , Ramos Andrea M. , Skansi Milagros , Molina Carpio Jorge , Salinas Roberto 
Published: August 2021

AbstractDuring September–November 2020, the meteorological services of Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, and Bolivia reported record‐high maximum temperatures in several warm spells during this season. Positive and significant trends in heat wave frequency, intensity, and duration have been recorded since the 1980s, particularly in large cities. In this study, a heat wave is defined as a period in which both daily maximum and minimum air temperatures exceed the corresponding climatological 90th percentile for three or more consecutive days during September–November 2020. In this period, an intense heat wave during the first half of October and two heat waves events in November resulted in record‐breaking daily maximum temperatures in several locations in central South America. Places experienced temperature of about 10°C above normal, and some locations reported maximum temperatures above 40°C for several days in a row. Because its intensity and geographical extension, affecting central South America from southern Peruvian Amazon to southeastern Brazil, the heat wave of September 23–October 15 was selected as a case study. This intense heat wave was due a persistent atmospheric blocking located starting in late September and lasting until middle October 2020, a continuous presence of a warm air mass for several consecutive days contributed to pronounced positive temperature anomalies, possibly reinforced by extremely low soil moisture. This makes it easier for these high‐pressure systems to generate extreme heat waves because more of the sun's energy is going into heating the atmosphere rather than evaporating non‐existent water in the soil. This heat wave aggravated the drought over the Pantanal and other regions in October 2020, increasing fires and impacts on natural and human systems, representing a severe drought‐heat compound event. This vicious cycle of drought and extreme heat is of the kind expected under a warming climate.
Adrenal biopsy, as a diagnostic method, is associated with decreased overall survival in patients with T1/T2 adrenocortical carcinoma: A propensity score‐matched analysis
Authors: Naffouje Samer A. , Sabesan Arvind , Hallanger‐Johnson Julie , Kirtane Kedar , Gonzalez Ricardo J. , Mullinax John 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIntroductionThe standard diagnosis for adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is clinical diagnosis (CD) based on radiographic and biochemical studies. Biopsy diagnosis (BD) is seldom required for the suspicion of secondary malignancy. We aim to study the impact of BD in the context of underlying T1/T2 ACC on overall survival (OS) compared with CD.MethodsNational Cancer Database (NCDB) for endocrine malignancies was utilized. Only patients with non‐metastatic ACC, whose method of diagnosis and local disease extension were reported, and received a surgical adrenalectomy with curative intent were included. Patients were divided by disease stage into T1/T2, T3, and T4 groups. A propensity score match was applied to those with T1/T2 disease who received CD versus BD and the Kaplan–Meier method was used to compare OS.ResultsIn total, 4000 patients with ACC were reported in the database, 1410 met selection criteria. Eight hundred and thirty patients had T1/T2, 365 had T3, and 162 had T4 ACC. Of patients with T1/T2 ACC, 742 (89.4%) received CD versus 88 (11.6%) with BD. A propensity score was calculated per a multivariable regression model with 79 patients matched from each group. Exact matching was applied for margin status and adjuvant therapies. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed a significant difference in median OS between CD versus BD patients in the matched data set (103.89 ± 15.65 vs. 54.93 ± 8.22 months; p = 0.001). In all comers, patients with T1/T2 ACC and BD had comparable median OS to that of patients with T3 ACC (52.21 ± 9.69 vs. 36.01 ± 3.33 months; p = 0.446).ConclusionBD in T1/T2 ACC could be associated with disease upstaging and worse OS outcomes.
A pulse‐width adjustable electro‐optic Q‐switched nanosecond laser oscillator
Authors: Zhao Chen , Bai Zhenxu , Chen Yifu , Qi Yaoyao , Ding Jie , Li Sensen , Yan Xiusheng , Wang Yulei , Lu Zhiwei 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAn all‐solid‐state pulse width adjustable Nd:YAG nanosecond laser at 1064 nm is demonstrated based on the bidirectional voltage supplied Q‐switched technology. Continuously adjustable pulse‐width from 4.6 to 32.3 ns is generated in a linear cavity, which is laser diode side‐pumped at 808 nm at 100 Hz repetition rate. With 27 ns Q‐switch duration, the shortest pulse width of 4.6 ns with single pulse energy of 0.77 mJ and a near‐Gaussian beam quality (M2 < 1.6) is obtained. Our results suggest an approach to generating pulse‐width adjustable nanosecond lasers for applications in LIDAR.
The overlapping geography of cognitive ability and chronotype
Authors: Ujma Péter Przemyslaw , Kirkegaard Emil Ole William 
Published: August 2021

AbstractChronotype and cognitive ability are two human phenotypes with an uneven geographic distribution due to both selective migration and causal environmental effects. In our study, we aimed to examine the relationship between geographic variables, cognitive ability and chronotype. We used a large anonymized sample (n = 25,700, mostly from the USA, UK, Canada and Australia) of dating site users to estimate chronotype and cognitive ability from questionnaire responses using item response theory. We matched each user to geographic coordinates and city size using the reported locations and geographic databases. In line with previous research we found that male sex, younger age, residence in a more populous locale, higher cognitive ability and more westward position within the same time zone were associated with later chronotype. Male sex, younger age, residence in a more populous locale, later chronotype and higher latitude were associated with higher cognitive ability, but the effect of population on chronotype and latitude on cognitive ability was only present in the USA. The relationship between age and chronotype was stronger in males, and the relationship between chronotype and cognitive ability was stronger in males and in older participants. Population density had an independent association with cognitive ability, but not chronotype. Our results confirm the uneven geographic distribution of chronotype and cognitive ability. These findings generalize across countries, but they are moderated by age and sex, suggesting both biological and cultural effects.
Simple and efficient heterologous expression of necrosis‐inducing effectors using the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Dagvadorj Bayantes , Solomon Peter S. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractPlant fungal pathogens cause devastating diseases on cereal plants and threaten global food security. During infection, these pathogens secrete proteinaceous effectors that promote disease. Some of these effectors from necrotrophic plant pathogens induce a cell death response (necrosis), which facilitates pathogen growth in planta. Characterization of these effectors typically requires heterologous expression, and microbial expression systems such as bacteria and yeast are the predominantly used. However, microbial expression systems often require optimization for any given effector and are, in general, not suitable for effectors involving cysteine bridges and posttranslational modifications for activity. Here, we describe a simple and efficient method for expressing such effectors in the model plant Nicotiana benthamiana. Briefly, an effector protein is transiently expressed and secreted into the apoplast of N. benthamiana by Agrobacterium‐mediated infiltration. Two to three days subsequent to agroinfiltration, the apoplast from the infiltrated leaves is extracted and can be directly used for phenotyping on host plants. The efficacy of this approach was demonstrated by expressing the ToxA, Tox3, and Tox1 necrosis‐inducing effectors from Parastagonospora nodorum. All three effectors produced in N. benthamiana were capable of inducing necrosis in wheat lines, and two of three showed visible bands on Coomassie‐stained gel. These data suggest that N. benthamiana–agroinfiltration system is a feasible tool to obtain fungal effectors, especially those that require disulfide bonds and posttranslational modifications. Furthermore, due to the low number of proteins typically observed in the apoplast (compared with intracellular), this simple and high‐throughput approach circumvents the requirement to lyse cells and further purifies the target proteins that are required in other heterologous systems. Because of its simplicity and potential for high‐throughput, this method is highly amenable to the phenotyping of candidate protein effectors on host plants.
Registration of ‘Lightning’ barley
Authors: Hayes P. , Carrijo D. R. , Filichkin T. , Fisk S. , Helgerson L. , Hernandez J. , Meints B. , Sorrells M. E. 
Published: August 2021

Abstract‘Lightning’ (Reg. no. CV‐374, PI 698654), experimental designation DH130910, is a two‐row facultative barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) released by Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station in 2020. It was bred for fall planting and is well adapted to the U.S. Pacific Northwest and New York State. Because it does not require vernalization for a timely vegetative to reproductive transition, Lightning can be planted in the spring and will flower and mature in a similar time frame as spring growth habit cultivars. Lightning is a doubled haploid produced via anther culture and was advanced through fall‐planted trials from 2013 to 2019. Facultative growth habit was validated in unreplicated trials in multiple years; replicated yield trial data are available for 2020. Lightning was developed with the goal of commercial production as a malting cultivar. It was tested in the American Malting Barley Association (AMBA) Pilot Program, but it is not on the AMBA recommended list, due to unsatisfactory quality when malted using standard protocols. Because Lightning will produce excellent malt with adjustments to malting protocol, it was released as a cultivar based on its potential for malting and based on its yield and test weight advantage over check cultivars ‘Endeavor’ and ‘Wintmalt’. Furthermore, it has broad‐spectrum disease resistance (moderate to high resistance to scald, stripe rust, powdery mildew, net blotch, and Fusarium head blight).
Pitolisant, a wake‐promoting agent devoid of psychostimulant properties: Preclinical comparison with amphetamine, modafinil, and solriamfetol
Authors: Krief Stéphane , Berrebi‐Bertrand Isabelle , Nagmar Isabelle , Giret Martin , Belliard Simon , Perrin David , Uguen Marilyne , Robert Philippe , Lecomte Jeanne‐Marie , Schwartz Jean‐Charles , Finance Olivier , Ligneau Xavier 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSeveral therapeutic options are currently available to treat excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in patients suffering from narcolepsy or obstructive sleep apnea. However, there are no comparisons between the various wake‐promoting agents in terms of mechanism of action, efficacy, or safety. The goal of this study was to compare amphetamine, modafinil, solriamfetol, and pitolisant at their known primary pharmacological targets, histamine H3 receptors (H3R), dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin transporters, and in various in vivo preclinical models in relation to neurochemistry, locomotion, behavioral sensitization, and food intake. Results confirmed that the primary pharmacological effect of amphetamine, modafinil, and solriamfetol was to increase central dopamine neurotransmission, in part by inhibiting its transporter. Furthermore, solriamfetol increased levels of extracellular dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, and decreased the 3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl acetic acid (DOPAC)/DA ratio in the striatum, as reported for modafinil and amphetamine. All these compounds produced hyperlocomotion, behavioral sensitization, and hypophagia, which are common features of psychostimulants and of compounds with abuse potential. In contrast, pitolisant, a selective and potent H3R antagonist/inverse agonist that promotes wakefulness, had no effect on striatal dopamine, locomotion, or food intake. In addition, pitolisant, devoid of behavioral sensitization by itself, attenuated the hyperlocomotion induced by either modafinil or solriamfetol. Therefore, pitolisant presents biochemical, neurochemical, and behavioral profiles different from those of amphetamine and other psychostimulants such as modafinil or solriamfetol. In conclusion, pitolisant is a differentiated therapeutic option, when compared with psychostimulants, for the treatment of EDS, as this agent does not show any amphetamine‐like properties within in vivo preclinical models.
Robust optimal transition maneuvers control for tail‐sitter unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Yang Yunjie , Yang Jiali , Wang Xiangyang , Zhu Jihong 
Published: August 2021

AbstractOptimal transition has been widely studied for tail‐sitter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). However, since the derived optimal control can only be applied in an open‐loop form, unmodeled dynamics and external disturbances cannot be restrained. Aiming at this problem, this article presents a method to obtain optimal transition maneuvers in the presence of these uncertainties. The approach includes two steps: nonlinear trajectory optimization and robust trajectory tracking. For the trajectory optimization, the minimum altitude variation front and back transition trajectories are derived. Different from existing optimal transition studies, considerable actuator margins are reserved in this step. Thus the tail‐sitter possesses control efforts to perform closed‐loop corrections for uncertainties. For the trajectory tracking, a robust controller in the form of feedforward plus feedback is proposed. The feedforward term directly employs the derived optimal control to improve the dynamic response of the system. The feedback term adopts linear control and acceleration‐based compensator to place desired poles and restrain all uncertainties. To the authors' knowledge, this article is the first time to study the tail‐sitter robust transition control method considering the transition optimality and actuator margins. It is proved that the tracking errors converge into a specified neighborhood of the origin in a finite time. Simulation studies corroborate the performance of the optimal transition trajectories and the robust trajectory tracking controller.
Supervised machine learning for power and bandwidth management in very high throughput satellite systems
Authors: Ortiz‐Gómez Flor G. , Tarchi Daniele , Martínez Ramón , Vanelli‐Coralli Alessandro , Salas‐Natera Miguel A. , Landeros‐Ayala Salvador 
Published: August 2021

SummaryIn the near future, very high throughput satellite (VHTS) systems are expected to have a high increase in traffic demand. However, this increase will not be uniform over the service area and will be also dynamic. A solution to this problem is given by flexible payload architectures; however, they require that resource management is performed autonomously and with low latency. In this paper, we propose the use of supervised machine learning, in particular a classification algorithm using a neural network, to manage the resources available in flexible payload architectures. Use cases are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, and a discussion is made on all the challenges that are presented.
Preparation and Characterization of Glucose and Sulfamate Double‐Modified Biodegradable Waterborne Polyurethane
Authors: Wu Guangfeng , Li Yingchun , Yang Zhihui , Zhang Huixuan 
Published: August 2021

AbstractA kind of glucose and sulfamate double‐modified waterborne polyurethane (WPU) was synthesized by using glucose (GLC) and N‐[(2‐amionoethyl)‐amino] ethane sulphonated sodium (AAS) as internal crosslinking agent, polycaprolactone glycol (PCL) as soft segment, 2,2‐bis(hydroxymethyl) propionic acid (DMPA) and N‐[(2‐amionoethyl)‐amino] ethane sulphonated sodium (AAS) as hydrophilic monomers. The influences of AAS and GLC content on the WPU structure and properties were analyzed and characterized by high speed of centrifugation, particle size examination, ATR‐FTIR, TEM, DMA, TGA, SEM, tensile tests, contact angle, water uptake and degradation measurements. The test results indicated that the modified biodegradable WPU had great comprehensive properties. Compared with the unmodified polyurethane, the prepared cross‐linked WPU had a good stability (over 6 months), outstanding mechanical strength (51.55 MPa for WPU4 films) and biodegradability (the weight loss in soil and PBS/lipase reached 25.2 % and 11.8 % for 6 weeks), which made them appropriate supplements for the traditional waterborne polyurethanes in the future.
Exploring Ruthenium‐Based Organometallic Inhibitors against Plasmodium falciparum Calcium Dependent Kinase 2 (PfCDPK2): A Combined Ensemble Docking, QM/MM and Molecular Dynamics Study
Authors: Patel Dhaval , Athar Mohd , Jha Prakash C. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractRecent advances in the metal‐organic framework (MOF) have accelerated the discovery of novel metal‐based anticancer, antibacterial and antimalarial compounds. This is substantiated by many serendipitously discovered metals (Ru, Rh, and Ir) based inhibitors that established the importance of metal inserted into the known organic scaffold. Conversely, it is possible to design novel bioactive compounds by mimicking hypervalent carbon atoms by transition metals. This process can be facilitated by computational drug discovery by treating metal centres using optimized parameters that can be used for molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Further, the method can be plugged with high computational power and refined algorithms to interpret chemical phenomena with atomic‐level insights. In the present work, we have demonstrated an approach for parameterizing three organometallic ligands (FLL, E52, and staurosporine) using MCPB.py. In particular, we report that E52 and FLL have a better shape complimentary and affinity compared to staurosporine identified inhibitor (staurosporine) against Calcium‐dependent protein kinases 2 (CDPK2). This study also revealed that a flexible approach (ensemble) outperforms the given target with dynamic movements. The calculated MM‐PBSA energies for staurosporine, FLL and E52 were −66.461±2.192, −67.182±1.971 and −91.339±2.745 kJ/mol, respectively.
Hydrothermal Synthesis of γ‐Fe2O3/rGO Hybrid Nanocomposite as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Feng Qianqian , Chen Zifeng , Zhou Ke , Sun Meiling , Ji Xianran , Zheng Hui , Zhang Yang 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe preparation of a low‐cost, recycled and efficient electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is highly desirable in fuel cells and metal‐air batteries. Herein, γ‐Fe2O3/reduced Graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposite is fabricated through a simple and environmentally friendly approach and applied as a high‐performance ORR electrocatalyst. Multiple characterizations confirm the formation of γ‐Fe2O3/rGO nanocomposite and exhibit well crystal structure, microstructure, and magnetic properties. Furthermore, the cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry measurements confirm that the γ‐Fe2O3/rGO exhibits high ORR catalytic performance for the synergistic effect. Consequently, the obtained γ‐Fe2O3/rGO might be a promising non‐precious, cheap and recycled catalyst for fuel cells and metal‐air batteries.
Recent Developments in the Palladium‐Catalyzed/Norbornene‐Mediated Synthesis of Carbo‐ and Heterocycles
Authors: Patel Monak , Desai Bhargav , Ramani Arti , Dholakiya Bharatkumar Z. , Naveen Togati 
Published: August 2021

AbstractHeterocycles and carbocyclic cores are ubiquitous scaffolds in organic molecules and important components of many natural products, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and organic materials. Thus, developing efficient synthetic methodologies for the easy generation of carbo‐ and heterocycles is an important goal in synthetic chemistry. This review is mainly focused on the recent developments in the synthesis of various carbo‐ and heterocyclic compounds via palladium catalyzed/norbornene mediated cascade process triggered byorthoC−H alkylation, amination or arylation of aryl iodides and covers the literature from 2010‐2021.
Research on the flexural performance of reinforced engineered cementitious composite beams
Authors: Jin Hesong , Li Fuhai , Hu Dinghan 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe bending performance of polypropylene fiber reinforced engineered cementitious composite (PP‐ECC) beams was studied. A total of five reinforced concrete (RC) beams were prepared and tested. The test variables include matrix type, longitudinal reinforcement diameter, and longitudinal reinforcement ratio. The study found that ECC is an ideal building material to improve the bending performance of RC beams. For the failure mode, even if the ultimate load is reached, no local cracks are observed in the ECC beam. On the contrary, due to the high ductility of the ECC material, multiple microcracks appear in the tension zone of the beam. From the perspective of bending performance, the use of ECC materials as the matrix of RC beams can not only increase the cracking load, yield load, and ultimate load of RC beams but also increase its ductility and energy absorption capacity. A method for predicting the flexural bearing capacity of ECC beams considering the effect of fiber tensile stress is proposed. The experimental data in this study are compared with the experimental data in the previous literature, and the prediction results of this model and other previous models are obtained. The average ratio of the predicted value of the flexural bearing capacity of the RC beam to the experimental value is 0.979, and the coefficient of variation is 0.016.