bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Planting Distances in Several Genotypes of Yellow Maize (Zea Mays l.)
Authors: Al-Ameer Lena Jamal Abd , Naser Naseer Maroof 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Two field experiments were carrid out in Abi Gharaq, Al-Masaleeb in Autumn season, 2020 and Spring season, 2021 in the fields of Technical college/Musayyib for finding out the effect of planting distances in several genotypes of yellow maize (Zea Mays L.). Five genotypes are used as parents and the first one of it is used in planting the second season and in three experimental units for both distancing and genotypes. The distances were (60cm, 70cm, and 80cm) among the species for each five species from each experimental unit (three experimental units) and the soil was structured for five genotypes. The characteristics of the crop and its ingredients (the average number of kernels in the plant, the average kernel height(cm), the average number of rows in a kernel, the average number of seeds in a row, the average number of kernel seeds, the average weight of 300 seeds (gm), and the average crop seeds for the plant (gm)/a plant) are studied for each experimental unit. The data are analyzed statistically for each characteristic according to variance analysis and using a least significant difference test (LSD) under the level of 5% for autumn and spring seasons using the standard design for agricultural experiments (RCBD). The results have shown the excess of the first density in most of the characteristics studied. As for the species, the results have shown the excess the of the first genotype over all other genotypes.
Performance Test of Solar – Powered Ice Maker Machine: Case Study in Bantul, Yogyakarta
Authors: Wullandari P , Sedayu B B 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Research on performance test of a solar-powered ice maker machine has been conducted in Bantul, Yogyakarta. This study aimed to observe the correlation between intensity of sunlight to the power battery capacity rates generated from solar panels in regard with the performance of ice maker machine. The testing was conducted during various weather conditions i.e. sunny, cloudy and light rain. The type of ice maker observed was a flake ice maker machine with specifications of the production capacity of 105 - 120 kgs/day, producing flake ice with dimensions of 2 x 3 x 3 mm3. The energy of the machine was generated by nine solar panels with maximum power of 200 Wp (watt peak) per panel. A set of three panels was arranged in series, it was then coupled to other sets in parallel. The results showed that the power battery capacity was in corresponded to the sunlight intensity during sunny weather with the correlation: y = 0.009x - 26.08, while during cloudy dan raining conditions, the power capacity rates of the battery showed a declining with the correlation: y = 0.008x - 23.92 and y = 0.007x + 69.41, respectively. The ice production capacity during sunny, cloudy and light rainy weathers were 4.34 kg ice/hour; 4.63 kg ice / hour and 4.17 kg ice / hour respectively. Input power from solar panels depends on the intensity of sunlight. The ice produced by ice makers in cloudy weather conditions is much greater than the ice produced during sunny or rainy weather conditions.
Simulation of process control for production of 5-HMF from old coconut water
Authors: Ahmad Joharee N A , Ali J Mohd , Mohd Fuad M N , Abd Rahman N 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
5-Hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) is one of the intermediate chemicals produced from biomass through the process of dehydration of glucose and fructose in acidic conditions. Biomass resources are one of the sources that attract the attention of many users of unlimited biomass resources, in addition to being able to produce environmentally friendly products such as bio fuels and bio chemicals. Old coconut water and oil palm tree trunk sap was chosen in this study because of its abundance in Malaysia. It is an essential organic compound for the production of bioplastics, chemicals, building materials, fuels, textiles, cosmetics and food. Although the production of 5-HMF is relatively simple, in fact, the synthesis of 5-HMF is complicated by the occurrence of multiple reactions at one time, especially when using biomass as a raw material. In this report, process control of production of 5-HMF from biomass is presented using fuzzy logic controller for controlling temperature of a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). The objective of this paper is to develop a control system for a non-isothermal temperature control of a CSTR with the most stable response curve. Through simulation results, fuzzy logic control performs better because there was no overshoot and successfully reaches the set point at faster settling time.
How Families Make Their Way Into Your Heart: Exploring the Associations Between Daily Experiences Involving Family Members and Cardiovascular Health
Authors: Chai Hye Won , Almeida David M 
Published: November 2021

Abstract

Background
Cardiovascular disease is a critical public health issue and a growing body of literature on relationships and health point to individuals’ interactions and involvement with family members as significant correlates of cardiovascular outcomes. However, less is known about the implications of daily encounters with family members on cardiovascular health outcomes and how the associations vary across adulthood.

Purpose
The aims of this study were to examine the associations of positive and negative daily experiences with family members with comprehensive measures of cardiovascular health and to further explore how age moderates these associations.

Methods
This study used data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) II and MIDUS Refresher. The sample was composed of respondents who participated in two subprojects of MIDUS, namely the National Study of Daily Experiences (NSDE) and Biomarker Project (N = 1,312). Indices of cardiovascular health included inflammatory markers, autonomic functioning, and Life’s Simple 7 scores.

Results
Results showed that the associations between daily family experiences and cardiovascular outcomes differed by age. Having more daily negative experiences with family members was associated with better cardiovascular health outcomes among young adults and worse cardiovascular outcomes among older adults. Having more daily positive experiences was also associated with lower heart rate variability for older adults.

Conclusions
Results revealed that contrary to the general assumption that negative experiences have health-damaging effects, frequent involvement with family members in daily life, even negative ones, may be indicative of active engagement in life that could be health promoting for younger adults.
The reverse ontological argument
Authors: Collin James Henry 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Modal ontological arguments argue from the possible existence of a perfect being to the actual (necessary) existence of a perfect being. But modal ontological arguments have a problem of symmetry; they can be run in both directions. Reverse ontological arguments argue from the possible nonexistence of a perfect being to the actual (necessary) nonexistence of a perfect being. Some familiar points about the necessary a posteriori, however, show that the symmetry can be broken in favour of the ontological argument.
Impact of growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonist on decidual stromal cell growth and apoptosis in vitro
Authors: Wu Hsien-Ming , Chen Liang-Hsuan , Schally Andrew V , Huang Hong-Yuan , Soong Yung-Kuei , Leung Peter C K , Wang Hsin-Shih 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Endometrial stromal cells remodeling is critical during human pregnancy. Growth hormone-releasing hormone and its functional receptor have been shown to be expressed in gynecological cancer cells and eutopic endometrial stromal cells. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential clinical uses of antagonists of growth hormone-releasing hormone as effective antitumor agents because of its directly antagonistic effect on the locally produced growth hormone-releasing hormone in gynecological tumors. However, the impact of growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonists on normal endometrial stromal cell growth remained to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonist (JMR-132) on cell proliferation and apoptosis of human decidual stromal cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results showed that growth hormone-releasing hormone and the splice variant 1 of growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor are expressed in human decidual stromal cells isolated from the decidual tissues of early pregnant women receiving surgical abortion. In addition, treatment of stroma cells with JMR-132 induced cell apoptosis with increasing cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities and decrease cell viability in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Using a dual inhibition approach (pharmacological inhibitors and siRNA-mediated knockdown), we showed that JMR-132-induced activation of apoptotic signals are mediated by the activation of ERK1/2 and JNK signaling pathways and the subsequent upregulation of GADD45alpha. Taken together, JMR-132 suppresses cell survival of decidual stromal cells by inducing apoptosis through the activation of ERK1/2- and JNK-mediated upregulation of GADD45alpha in human endometrial stromal cells. Our findings provide new insights into the potential impact of growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonist on the decidual programming in humans.
Killing and Allowing to Die: Insights from Augustine
Authors: Sulmasy Daniel P 
Published: November 2021

AbstractOne major argument against prohibiting euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide (PAS) is that there is no rational basis for distinguishing between killing and allowing to die: if we permit patients to die by forgoing life-sustaining treatments, then we also ought to permit euthanasia and PAS. In this paper, the author argues, contra this claim, that it is in fact coherent to differentiate between killing and allowing to die. To develop this argument, the author provides an analysis of Saint Augustine’s distinction between martyrdom and suicide, highlighting the relevance of intention in the assessment of an agent’s actions. As a general matter of ethics, the intentions of agents, not just the outcomes of their actions, matter enormously for drawing distinctions between what is permissible and what is impermissible. Constructing an Augustinian account of this distinction between killing and allowing to die, the author argues that it is coherent to hold that assisted suicide is wrong, while also accepting that it is permissible to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining treatments.
Academic Research Consortium High Bleeding Risk Criteria associated with 2-year bleeding events and mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement discharge: a Japanese Multicentre Prospective OCEAN-TAVI Registry Study
Authors: Mizutani Kazuki , Nakazawa Gaku , Yamaguchi Tomohiro , Ogawa Mana , Okai Tsukasa , Yashima Fumiaki , Naganuma Toru , Yamanaka Futoshi , Tada Norio , Takagi Kensuke , Yamawaki Masahiro , Ueno Hiroshi , Tabata Minoru , Shirai Shinichi , Watanabe Yusuke , Yamamoto Masanori , Hayashida Kentaro 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAimsTo investigate the ability of the Academic Research Consortium for High Bleeding Risk (ARC-HBR) criteria and ARC-HBR score to predict 2-year bleeding and mortality in patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).Methods and resultsWe enrolled 2514 patients who underwent successful TAVR during 2013–17. In this study, we used the ARC-HBR score for further HBR-risk stratification, and the ARC-HBR score was calculated as follows: each major criterion was 2 points and each minor criterion was 1 point. The impact of the ARC-HBR criteria and increasing ARC-HBR score on the incidence of moderate/severe bleeding events, mortality, and ischaemic stroke in the first 2 years were evaluated. We used survival classification and regression tree (CART) analysis for 2-year moderate or severe bleeding events, and patients were statistically classified into HBR low- (ARC-HBR score ≤1), intermediate- (ARC-HBR score = 2–4), or high-risk (ARC-HBR score ≥5) groups, and 91.4% were at HBR (ARC-HBR score ≥2). The rates of 2-year moderate/severe bleeding events and all-cause mortality were higher in the ARC-HBR group and highest in the HBR high-risk group. An increased HBR score was significantly associated with moderate/severe bleeding events [hazard ratio (HR) 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07–1.31; P = 0.001] and all-cause mortality (adjusted HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.17–1.32; P &lt; 0.001).ConclusionsThe ARC-HBR criteria identify patients at HBR after TAVR; an increased ARC-HBR score is associated with 2-year moderate/severe bleeding events and mortality.
English medium higher education in China: challenges and ELT support
Authors: Zhou Sihan , McKinley Jim , Rose Heath , Xu Xin 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
This mixed-methods study explores the language-related difficulties and ELT support offered in English-medium programmes at eight universities in China. Data included a student questionnaire (n = 394) measuring the difficulties of 45 academic tasks, organized around the four skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Results revealed students faced the largest difficulties with productive skills, especially writing. To explore structural language support for overcoming such challenges, fieldwork interviews with twenty-six senior faculty at eight universities in four cities in China were conducted. These revealed three main types of institutional support: concurrent language support from English language teachers offered alongside English medium programmes; preparatory programmes taken before students enrolled in English medium courses, which were prevalent in language-specialist universities; and self-access learning and writing centres, which were found at two transnational universities. When structural support was lacking, content teachers reported making grassroots efforts to help students understand content via use of the students’ multilingual repertoires in explanations, interactions, and materials.
High-Quality Genome Assembly of Oleaginous Red Yeast Sporobolomyces roseus CGMCC 2.4355
Authors: Li Chunji , Cheng Ping , Sun Yunhao , Qin Di , Yu Guohui 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Sporobolomyces roseus is an important oleaginous red yeast with critical biotechnological applications and has received significant recognition as a valuable source of industrial enzymes, carotenoids, and lipids. To reveal the genetic basis and functional components underlying its biotechnological applications, a high-quality genome assembly is required. Here, we present a novel genome assembly of S. roseus CGMCC 2.4355 using a combination of Illunima and Oxford Nanopore technologies. The genome has an assembly size of 21.4 Mb and consists of 15 scaffolds with an N50 length of 2,126,566 bp and GC content of 49.52%. The assembly is of high integrity, comprising 95.2% complete Benchmarking Universal Single-Copy Orthologs (BUSCOs) as evaluated by a genome completeness assessment. The genome was predicted to contain 8,124 protein-coding genes, 6,890 of which were functionally annotated. We believe that the combination of our analyses and high-quality genome assembly will promote the basic development of S. roseus as an agent for biotechnological applications and make a significant contribution to assess the evolutionary relationship of Sporobolomyces species.
Muller’s ratchet of the Y chromosome with gene conversion
Authors: Sakamoto Takahiro , Innan Hideki 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Muller’s ratchet is a process in which deleterious mutations are fixed irreversibly in the absence of recombination. The degeneration of the Y chromosome, and the gradual loss of its genes, can be explained by Muller’s ratchet. However, most theories consider single-copy genes, and may not be applicable to Y chromosomes, which have a number of duplicated genes in many species, which are probably undergoing concerted evolution by gene conversion. We developed a model of Muller’s ratchet to explore the evolution of the Y chromosome. The model assumes a nonrecombining chromosome with both single-copy and duplicated genes. We used analytical and simulation approaches to obtain the rate of gene loss in this model, with special attention to the role of gene conversion. Homogenization by gene conversion makes both duplicated copies either mutated or intact. The former promotes the ratchet, and the latter retards, and we ask which of these counteracting forces dominates under which conditions. We found that the effect of gene conversion is complex, and depends upon the fitness effect of gene duplication. When duplication has no effect on fitness, gene conversion accelerates the ratchet of both single-copy and duplicated genes. If duplication has an additive fitness effect, the ratchet of single-copy genes is accelerated by gene duplication, regardless of the gene conversion rate, whereas gene conversion slows the degeneration of duplicated genes. Our results suggest that the evolution of the Y chromosome involves several parameters, including the fitness effect of gene duplication by increasing dosage and gene conversion rate.
Gonadal Rejuvenation of Mice by Growth Differentiation Factor 11
Authors: Zhou Yang , Ni Shousheng , Li Congjun , Song Lili , Zhang Shicui 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11), also known as bone morphogenetic protein 11, has been shown to have rejuvenation and antiaging properties, but little information is available regarding the role of GDF11 in reproductive system to date. In this study, we first confirmed the bioavailability of recombinant GDF11 (rGDF11) by oral delivery in mice. We also showed that dietary intake of rGDF11 had little influence on body and gonadal (ovary/testis) weights of recipient mice, indicating their general condition and physiology were not affected. Based on these findings, we started to test the function of rGDF11 in ovary and testis of mice and to explore the underlying mechanisms. It was found that to some extent, rGDF11 could attenuate the senescence of ovarian and testicular cells, and contribute to the recovery of ovarian and testicular endocrine functions. Moreover, rGDF11 could rescue the diminished ovarian reserve in female mice and enhance the activities of marker enzymes of testicular function (sorbitol dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) in male mice, suggesting a potential improvement of fertility. Notably, rGDF11 markedly promoted the activities of antioxidant enzymes in the ovary and testis, and remarkably reduced the levels of lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the ovary and testis. Collectively, these results suggest that GDF11 can protect ovarian and testicular functions of aged mice via slowing down the generation of ROS through enhancing activities of antioxidant enzymes.
The Urinary Microbiome of Older Adults Residing in a Nursing Home Varies With Duration of Residence and Shows Increases in Potential Pathogens
Authors: Bradley Evan S , Schell Brent , Ward Doyle V , Bucci Vanni , Zeamer Abigail , Haran John P 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
The community of bacteria that colonize the urinary tract, the urinary microbiome, is hypothesized to influence a wide variety of urinary tract conditions. Older adults who reside in nursing homes are frequently diagnosed and treated for urinary tract conditions such as urinary tract infection. We investigated the urinary microbiome of older adults residing in a nursing home to determine if there are features of the urinary microbiome that are associated with specific conditions and exposure in this population. We were also interested in the stability of urinary microbiome over time and in similarities between the urinary and gastrointestinal microbiome. Urine samples were prospectively collected over a period of 10 months from a cohort of 26 older adults (aged &gt;65 years) residing in a single nursing home located in Central Massachusetts. Serial samples were obtained from 6 individuals over 10 months and 5 participants were concurrently enrolled in a study of the gastrointestinal microbiome. Information collected on participants included demographics, medical history, duration of residence in the nursing home, frailty, dementia symptoms, urinary symptoms, antibiotic treatment, urinary catheterization, and hospitalizations over a 10-month period. Clean catch, midstream urine samples were collected and stored at −80°C. DNA was extracted and 16S rRNA gene sequencing was performed. The length of stay in the nursing facility and the Clinical Frailty Scale correlated with significant changes in microbiome composition. An increase in the relative abundance of a putative urinary pathogen, Aerococcus urinae, was the largest factor influencing change that occurred over the duration of residence.
Relative Trajectories of Gait and Cognitive Decline in Aging
Authors: Jayakody Oshadi , Breslin Monique , Ayers Emmeline , Verghese Joe , Barzilai Nir , Milman Sofiya , Weiss Erica , Blumen Helena M 
Published: November 2021

Abstract

Background
Gait and cognition decline with advancing age, and presage the onset of dementia. Yet, the relative trajectories of gait and cognitive decline in aging are poorly understood—particularly among those with the motoric cognitive risk (MCR) syndrome. This study compared changes in simple and complex gait performance and cognition, as a function of age and MCR.

Methods
We examined gait and cognitive functions of 1 095 LonGenity study participants (mean age = 75.4 ± 6.7 years) with up to 12 years of annual follow-up. Participants were of Ashkenazi Jewish descent, free of dementia, ambulatory, and had a 12.2% MCR prevalence at baseline. Gait speed was measured at usual pace walking (single-task walking, STW-speed) and walking while talking (WWT-speed). Eleven neuropsychological test scores were examined separately, and as a global cognition composite. Linear mixed-effects models adjusted for baseline sex, education, parental longevity, cognitive impairment, and global health were used to estimate changes in gait and cognition, as a function of age and MCR.

Results
STW-speed, WWT-speed, and cognitive tests performance declined in a nonlinear (accelerating) fashion with age. STW-speed declined faster than WWT-speed and cognitive test scores. People with MCR showed faster rates of decline on figure copy and phonemic fluency.

Conclusions
Gait declines at a faster rate than cognition in aging. People with MCR are susceptible to faster decline in visuospatial, executive, and language functions. This study adds important knowledge of trajectories of gait and cognitive decline in aging, and identifies MCR as a risk factor for accelerated cognitive decline.