bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
TAM KJ‐Q14 ESU and TAM 12J‐39 ESU upland cotton germplasm with improved fiber bundle strength
Authors: Smith C. Wayne , Joy Kolbyn , Hague Steve , Hequet Eric , Kelly Brendan , Jones Don 
Published: May 2021

AbstractProduction of quality cotton yarns depends on cotton fibers that are long, strong, and uniform in length. Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutumL.) yarn produced in the United States is spun predominately on open‐end spinning technology, while globally, ring technology predominates. Open‐end technology offers speed of production, while ring offers flexibility in size and quality of yarn. A newer technology, vortex spinning, provides spinning speeds that exceed that of open‐end spinning and is 30 times that of ring spinning. In order for upland cotton fibers to compete with man‐made fibers as newer technology is adopted, breeders must develop genotypes that produce longer, stronger, and finer fibers that are more uniform in length distribution. The Cotton Improvement Program at Texas A&M AgriLife Research has developed and released upland cotton germplasm with fiber length equal to that of pima cotton (G. barbadenseL.) and fiber strength greater than upland cultivars currently marketed. TAM KJ‐Q14 ESU (extra strength upland) and TAM 12J‐39 ESU (Reg. no. GP‐1084, PI 698109 and Reg. no. GP‐1085 PI 698110, respectively) were developed as part of the effort to provide upland cotton breeders with parental material to incorporate fiber strength into new cultivars. TAM KJ‐Q14 ESU combines excellent fiber length with fiber strength exceeding 350 kN m kg–1while TAM 12J‐39 ESU combines competitive yield potential with fiber strength exceeding 350 kN m kg–1. Both germplasm lines will provide breeders with additional sources of excellent fiber strength in good to excellent agronomic profiles.
A Comparative Evaluation of Natural and Synthetic Binder Systems and their Influence on the Thermal and Mechanical Properties of Gallic Acid‐KNO3‐KClO3 Tertiary Pyrotechnic Mixture
Authors: Pathak Tribhuvan Kumar , Sharma Vandana , Singh Jassal Pyar , Pal Singh Raj , Johar Rajni 
Published: May 2021

AbstractTannic acid is a natural binder that was comparatively investigated against four different types of conventional synthetic binders phenol‐formaldehyde resin, carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt, ethylcellulose, and hydroxyethylcellulose which are being used in aerosol forming pyrotechnic formulations for firefighting application. It has been found that the nature of the binder in an amount of 3 % significantly influences the fire suppression performance, thermal and mechanical characteristics of gallic acid‐based aerosol‐forming pyrotechnic mixture. The safety and performance characteristics of these formulations were evaluated by conducting analysis specific to pyrotechnic formulations, i. e., calorimetric analysis, linear solid strand burn rate measurement, TGA/DSC thermal analysis, compression test, moisture content, and fire suppression test. These formulations were designed to discharge fire extinguishing aerosol and it can be inferred from the values obtained from these analyses that tannic acid is a preferred binder to the other four binder systems for the Gallic acid‐KNO3‐KClO3 pyrotechnic mixture.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of the Influence of PEG‐TDI Aging Degradation on Diffusibility and Compatibility of NG and BTTN
Authors: Kong Lingze , Dong Kehai , Tang Yanhui , Lai Shuaiguang 
Published: May 2021

AbstractIn this study, the molecular dynamics method was used to explore the effects of the degradation of an adhesion agent (PEG‐TDI) in a nitrate ester plasticized polyether propellant on the compatibility and diffusibility of energetic plasticizers (NG and BTTN) and the glass transition temperature and mechanical properties of the blend system (PEG‐TDI/NG/BTTN). The radial distribution function, the mean square radius of gyration, and fractional free volume of the PEG‐TDI/NG/BTTN system under different degrees of degradation conditions were calculated. The diffusibility and compatibility of NG and BTTN, the glass transition temperature, and the mechanical properties of the blended system were then discussed. The results showed that, with aggravation of the degree of PEG‐TDI degradation, the fractional free volume in the system decreased, intermolecular hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions enhanced, and the size of the polymeric nematic decreased. These changes eventually caused the diffusion ability of NG and BTTN to weaken, compatibility to be enhanced, and glass transition temperature, stiffness, and yield strength of the PEG‐TDI/NG/BTTN system to increase.
Drp1‐dependent peptide reverse mitochondrial fragmentation, a homeostatic response in Friedreich ataxia
Authors: Johnson Joseph , Mercado‐Ayón Elizabeth , Clark Elisia , Lynch David , Lin Hong 
Published: May 2021

AbstractFriedreich ataxia is an autosomal recessive, neurodegenerative disease characterized by the deficiency of the iron‐sulfur cluster assembly protein frataxin. Loss of this protein impairs mitochondrial function. Mitochondria alter their morphology in response to various stresses; however, such alterations to morphology may be homeostatic or maladaptive depending upon the tissue and disease state. Numerous neurodegenerative diseases exhibit excessive mitochondrial fragmentation, and reversing this phenotype improves bioenergetics for diseases in which mitochondrial dysfunction is a secondary feature of the disease. This paper demonstrates that frataxin deficiency causes excessive mitochondrial fragmentation that is dependent upon Drp1 activity in Friedreich ataxia cellular models. Drp1 inhibition by the small peptide TAT‐P110 reverses mitochondrial fragmentation but also decreases ATP levels in frataxin‐knockdown fibroblasts and FRDA patient fibroblasts, suggesting that fragmentation may provide a homeostatic pathway for maintaining cellular ATP levels. The cardiolipin‐stabilizing compound SS‐31 similarly reverses fragmentation through a Drp1‐dependent mechanism, but it does not affect ATP levels. The combination of TAT‐P110 and SS‐31 does not affect FRDA patient fibroblasts differently from SS‐31 alone, suggesting that the two drugs act through the same pathway but differ in their ability to alter mitochondrial homeostasis. In approaching potential therapeutic strategies for FRDA, an important criterion for compounds that improve bioenergetics should be to do so without impairing the homeostatic response of mitochondrial fragmentation.
A system reliability estimation method by the fourth moment saddle point approximation and copula functions
Authors: Zhu Li‐Sha , Lu Hao , Zhang Yi‐Min 
Published: May 2021

AbstractDespite many advances in the field of computational system reliability analysis, estimating the joint probability distribution of correlated non‐normal state variables on the basis of incomplete statistical data brings great challenges for engineers. To avoid multidimensional integration, system reliability estimation usually requires the calculation of marginal failure probability and joint failure probability. The current article proposed an integrated approach for estimating system reliability on the basis of the high moment method, saddle point approximation, and copulas. First, the statistic moment estimation based on the stochastic perturbation theory is presented. Thereafter, by constructing CGF (concise cumulant generating function) for the state variable with its first four statistical moments, a fourth moment saddle point approximation method is established for the component reliability estimation. Second, the copula theory is briefly introduced and extensively utilized two‐dimensional copulas are presented. The best fit copula for estimating the probability of system failure is selected according to the AIC (Akaike Information Criterion). Finally, the derived method is applied to three numerical examples for the sake of a comprehensive validation.
Trocylation of 3‐quinuclidinol, a key marker for the chemical warfare agent 3‐quinuclidinyl benzilate, for its enhanced detection at low levels in complex soil matrices by electron ionization gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Valdez Carlos A. , Leif Roald N. , Vu Alexander K. , Salazar Edmund P. 
Published: May 2021

RationaleDetection of 3‐quinuclidinol (3Q), a marker for the chemical warfare agent 3‐quinuclidinyl benzilate, is very difficult by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS), providing low, broad signals even when analyzed in isolated form. Therefore, a method that can convert 3Q into a substrate with enhanced detectability by GC/MS would be an important tool for its analysis.Methods2,2,2‐Trichloroethoxycarbonyl chloride (TrocCl) was used in the derivatization of 3Q in three different soils of varying composition and total organic content (Virginia type A soil, Nebraska EPA standard soil and Ottawa sand) when present at a 10 μg g−1 concentration in each. A direct derivatization protocol and one involving the pre‐extraction of the analyte were evaluated for their individual efficiencies and subsequent analysis using electron ionization GC/MS.ResultsThe practical derivatization of 3Q, when present at low levels (10 μg g−1) in three different soil matrices, was found to be rapid (1 h) and to take place smoothly at ambient temperature (and as low as 4°C). The method detection limit was determined to be 30 ng mL−1 for the Virginia type A soil, 49 ng mL−1 for the Nebraska EPA standard soil and 72 ng mL−1 for the Ottawa sand sample.ConclusionsAn expedient and practical derivatization method for 3Q, a chemical warfare degradation product difficult to detect by GC/MS, has been realized using trichloroethyl chloroformate. The reaction provides 3Q‐Troc, a derivative with better detectability than 3Q by electron ionization GC/MS such as peak sharpness and a unique mass spectrum for its unambiguous identification.
Integrating robot‐assisted ultrasound tracking and 3D needle shape prediction for real‐time tracking of the needle tip in needle steering procedures
Authors: Konh Bardia , Padasdao Blayton , Batsaikhan Zolboo , Ko Seong Young 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundNeedle insertions have been used in several minimally invasive procedures for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Real‐time position of the needle tip is an important information in needle steering systems.MethodsThis work introduces a robot‐assisted ultrasound tracking (R‐AUST) system integrated with a needle shape prediction method to provide 3D position of the needle tip. The tracking system is evaluated in phantom and ex vivo beef liver tissues.ResultsAn average error of 0.60 mm was found for needle insertion tests inside the phantom tissue. The R‐AUST integrated with shape prediction in the beef liver tissue was able to track the needle tip with an average and maximum error of 0.37 and 0.67 mm, respectively. The average error reported in this work is within the mean allowable needle placement error (<2.7 mm) in targeted procedures.ConclusionsIntegration of R‐AUST tracking method with needle shape prediction results in a reasonably accurate real‐time tracking suitable for ultrasound‐guided needle insertions.
Modelling species distribution from camera trap by‐catch using a scale‐optimized occupancy approach
Authors: Wevers Jolien , Beenaerts Natalie , Casaer Jim , Zimmermann Fridolin , Artois Tom , Fattebert Julien 
Published: May 2021

AbstractHabitat selection is strongly scale‐dependent, and inferring the characteristic scale at which an organism responds to environmental variation is necessary to obtain reliable predictions. The occupancy framework is frequently used to model species distribution with the advantage of accounting for imperfect observation, but occupancy studies typically do not define the characteristic scale of the modelled variables. We used camera trap data from winter wildlife surveys in the Swiss part of the Jura Mountains to model occupancy of wild boar (Sus scrofa) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). We used a three‐step approach: (1) first, we identified factors influencing detectability; (2) second, we optimized the characteristic scale of each candidate explanatory variable; and (3) third, we fit multivariable, multiscale occupancy models in relation to land cover, human presence and topography. Wild boar occupancy was mainly influenced by the interaction between elevation within 2500 m and the proportion of forested areas within a 2500 m, with a nonsignificant additional effect of the interaction between ruggedness within 1900 m and the proportion of forested areas within 2500 m as well as the distance to urban areas. Roe deer occupancy was mainly associated with the interaction between ruggedness within 900 m and the proportion of open landscape within 900 m, with an additional nonsignificant effect of the interaction between elevation within 1500 m and the proportion of open landscape within 900 m as well as the distance to urban areas. Incorporating scale optimization in occupancy modelling of camera trap data can greatly improve the understanding of species‐environment relationships by combining the possibility of occupancy models to correct for detection bias and simultaneously allowing to infer the characteristic scale at which certain factors influence the distribution of the organisms studied.
Aging Modulates the Effects of Ischemic Injury Upon Mesenchymal Cells within the Renal Interstitium and Microvasculature
Authors: Shaw Isaac W. , O'Sullivan Eoin D. , Pisco Angela O. , Borthwick Gary , Gallagher Kevin M. , Péault Bruno , Hughes Jeremy , Ferenbach David A. 
Published: May 2021

Abstract
The renal mesenchyme contains heterogeneous cells, including interstitial fibroblasts and pericytes, with key roles in wound healing. Although healing is impaired in aged kidneys, the effect of age and injury on the mesenchyme remains poorly understood. We characterized renal mesenchymal cell heterogeneity in young vs old animals and after ischemia-reperfusion-injury (IRI) using multiplex immunolabeling and single cell transcriptomics. Expression patterns of perivascular cell markers (α-SMA, CD146, NG2, PDGFR-α, and PDGFR-β) correlated with their interstitial location. PDGFR-α and PDGFR-β co-expression labeled renal myofibroblasts more efficiently than the current standard marker α-SMA, and CD146 was a superior murine renal pericyte marker. Three renal mesenchymal subtypes; pericytes, fibroblasts, and myofibroblasts, were recapitulated with data from two independently performed single cell transcriptomic analyzes of murine kidneys, the first dataset an aging cohort and the second dataset injured kidneys following IRI. Mesenchymal cells segregated into subtypes with distinct patterns of expression with aging and following injury. Baseline uninjured old kidneys resembled post-ischemic young kidneys, with this phenotype further exaggerated following IRI. These studies demonstrate that age modulates renal perivascular/interstitial cell marker expression and transcriptome at baseline and in response to injury and provide tools for the histological and transcriptomic analysis of renal mesenchymal cells, paving the way for more accurate classification of renal mesenchymal cell heterogeneity and identification of age-specific pathways and targets.
Current Perspectives of Limbal-Derived Stem Cells and its Application in Ocular Surface Regeneration and Limbal Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Singh Vivek , Tiwari Anil , Kethiri Abhinav Reddy , Sangwan Virender Singh 
Published: May 2021

AbstractLimbal stem cells are involved in replenishing and maintaining the epithelium of the cornea. Damage to the limbus due to chemical/physical injury, infections, or genetic disorders leads to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD) with partial or total vision loss. Presently, LSCD is treated by transplanting limbal stem cells from the healthy eye of the recipient, living-related, or cadaveric donors. This review discusses limbal-derived stem cells, the importance of extracellular matrix in stem cell niche maintenance, the historical perspective of treating LSCD, including related advantages and limitations, and our experience of limbal stem cell transplantation over the decades.
Trends and Prospects in UiO‐66 Metal‐Organic Framework for CO2 Capture, Separation, and Conversion
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Helal Aasif , Abdelnaby Mahmoud M. , Alloush Ahmed M. , Zeama Mostafa , Yamani Zain H. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractAmong thousands of known metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), the University of Oslo's MOF (UiO‐66) exhibits unique structure topology, chemical and thermal stability, and intriguing tunable properties, that have gained incredible research interest. This paper summarizes the structural advancement of UiO‐66 and its role in CO2 capture, separation, and transformation into chemicals. The first part of the review summarizes the fast‐growing literature related to the CO2 capture reported by UiO‐66 during the past ten years. The second part provides an overview of various advancements in UiO‐66 membranes in CO2 purification. The third part describes the role of UiO‐66 and its composites as catalysts for CO2 conversion into useful products. Despite many achievements, significant challenges associated with UiO‐66 are addressed, and future perspectives are comprehensively presented to forecast how UiO‐66 might be used further for CO2 management.
Serum phosphate is associated with mortality among patients admitted to ICU for acute pancreatitis
Authors: Hedjoudje Abdellah , Farha Jad , Cheurfa Chérifa , Grabar Sophie , Weiss Emmanuel , Badurdeen Dilhana , Kumbhari Vivek , Prat Frédéric , Levy Philippe , Piton Gaël 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackground and AimsRoutine laboratory tests can be useful predictors in the early assessment of the severity and mortality of acute pancreatitis (AP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of clinical and laboratory parameters for the prediction of mortality among patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for AP.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital made publicly available to examine the relationship between routine clinical and laboratory parameters with respect to mortality for AP. Cox proportional hazard ratio was used to evaluate the impact of several routine laboratory markers on mortality. Receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve was performed to determine the accuracy of diagnosis of laboratory tests by using area under curve (AUC) for the respective analysis.ResultsIn total, 499 patients were admitted to the ICU for AP. Several factors for predicting mortality in AP at admission were identified in the multivariate analysis: alkaline phosphatase hazard ratio (HR) = 1.00 (1.00–1.00, p = 0.024), anion gap HR = 1.09 (1.00–1.20, p = 0.047), bilirubin total HR = 1.11 (1.06–1.17, p < 0.001), calcium total HR = 0.59 (0.42–0.84, p = 0.004), phosphate HR = 1.51 (1.18–1.94, p = 0.001), potassium HR = 1.91 (1.03–3.55, p = 0.041), white blood cells HR = 1.04 (1.00–1.07, p = 0.028). The AUC of serum phosphate level for mortality was 0.7 in the ROC analysis. The optimal cut‐off value of serum phosphate level for prediction of mortality was 3.78 mg/dl (sensitivity, 0.58; specificity, 0.78).ConclusionIn this large cohort, we identified baseline serum phosphate as the most valuable single routine laboratory test for predicting mortality in AP. Future prospective studies are required to confirm these results.
Morbid obesity but not obesity is associated with increased mortality in patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: A national cohort study
Authors: Chen Bing , Yo Chia‐Hung , Patel Ramya , Liu Bolun , Su Ke‐Ying , Hsu Wan‐Ting , Lee Chien‐Chang 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe relationship between body weight and outcomes of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is unclear.ObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the impact of obesity and morbid obesity on mortality and ERCP‐related complications in patients who underwent ERCP.MethodsWe conducted a US population‐based retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Readmissions Databases (2013–2014). A total of 159,264 eligible patients who underwent ERCP were identified, of which 137,158 (86.12%) were normal weight, 12,522 (7.86%) were obese, and 9584 (6.02%) were morbidly obese. The primary outcome was in‐hospital mortality. The secondary outcomes were the length of stay, total cost, and ERCP‐related complications. Multivariate analysis and propensity score (PS) matching analysis were performed. The analysis was repeated in a restricted cohort to eliminate confounders.ResultsPatients with morbid obesity, as compared to normal‐weight patients, were associated with a significantly higher in‐hospital mortality (hazard ratio [HR]: 5.54; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.23–25.04). Obese patients were not associated with significantly different mortality comparing to normal weight (HR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.14–7.12). Patients with morbid obesity were also found to have an increased length of hospital stay and total cost. The rate of ERCP‐related complications was comparable among the three groups except for a higher cholecystitis rate after ERCP in obese patients.ConclusionsMorbid obesity but not obesity was associated with increased mortality, length of stay, and total cost in patients undergoing ERCP.
Trial for use nanoselenium particle with different dietary regime in Oreochromis niloticus and Mugil cephalus polyculture ponds: Growth efficiency, haematological, antioxidant, immunity and transcriptional analysis
Authors: Moustafa Eman M. , Abd El‐Kader Marwa F. , Hassan Montaser M. , Fath El‐Bab Ahmed F. , Omar Amira , Farrag Foad , Gewida Ahmed G. , Abd‐Elghany Mohamed F. , Shukry Mustafa , Alwakeel Rasha A. 
Published: May 2021

AbstractBackgroundFish farming is one of the most productive economies in the world. One of the essential goals in fish production is to minimize processing costs while maintaining and increasing the vital functions, weight and immunity of fish.ObjectiveWe conducted this study to explore nanoselenium (Nano‐Se) particles in various feeding schemes.Material and MethodNano‐Se particles incorporated in the basal diet at (0.5 mg/kg diet), and the fish was divided into six groups after adaptation as the follows: The first group was feed daily with a diet containing Nano‐Se (0.5 mg/kg diet); the second group was exposed to a feeding programme in which it has day feeding followed by day of starvation with a diet containing Nano‐Se (0.5 mg/kg diet); the third group was day feeding followed by 2 days of starvation; the fourth group served as a negative control group in which this group was continuous feeding with a basal diet without Nano‐Se; the fifth group was day feeding with the basal diet followed by a day of starvation; and the sixth group was day feeding with basal diet followed by 2 days of starvation.ResultOur result revealed that Group 2 showed significant improvement in haematological parameters, red blood cells and haemoglobin with a substantial increase in total protein (p < 0.05) as well as lysosomal and phagocytic activity with considerable upregulation of growth hormone and insulin growth factor 1 in addition to markedly increase in the pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Finally, this study offers the first‐time dietary regime with Nano‐Se supplementation that saves the feeding cost and increases fish welfare and growth.