bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plant Regeneration from Unpollinated Ovules of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) on Growing Media with Different Carbohydrates
Authors: Tomaszewska-Sowa Magdalena , Keutgen Anna J. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractSugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.) is referred to as a strategic species due to its exceptional economic and functional importance. Sugar beet is cultivated in order to provide material for sugar production as it is the world’s second source after sugar cane. However, in this species, the regeneration of haploid shoots is difficult in comparison to other cultures or isolated microspores. Haploid plants of sugar beet can be derived from in vitro culture mostly via gynogenesis. Therefore, the aim of this research has been to increase the effectiveness of shoot formation from unpollinated sugar beet ovules by optimising the regeneration technique via induced gynogenesis. Various types and concentrations of chosen carbohydrates in media were evaluated. The Murashige and Skoog medium containing 4.4 μmol/L of 6-benzylaminopurine was solidified by 0.7% of agar and enriched with either sucrose (0.06 mol/L or 0.09 mol/L), glucose (0.09 mol/L), fructose (0.09 mol/L), maltose (0.09 mol/L) or with a combination of sucrose (0.04 mol/L) and mannitol (0.04 mol/L) or with sucrose (0.04 mol/L) and fructose (0.04 mol/L). The control medium contained 0.09 mol/L sucrose without any cytokinins. Of all the analysed media, the best for shoot regeneration turned out to be the media with 4.4 µmol/L 6-benzylaminopurine, solidified with 0.7% agar, additionally containing 0.09 mol/L glucose or 0.06 mol/L sucrose. On those media, over three-fold more shoots compared with the control medium were produced.
The indigenous settlement of Monte Iato (western Sicily): an ethnoarchaeometric approach for outlining local Archaic ceramic productions
Authors: Montana G. , Polito A. M. , Kistler E. , Mohr M. , Spatafora F. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAn ethnoarchaeometric approach has been followed to identify the textural and compositional characteristics of the ceramic pastes produced in ancient Iaitas/Ietas, an indigenous site located in western Sicily on Monte Iato, a few tens of kilometres from Palermo. This approach was primarily motivated by the lack of discovered Archaic kilns or production sites/workshops and the inability to identify reference groups. Raw clays were sampled in the territory of San Cipirello and San Giuseppe Iato (today’s municipalities both sited on the northern slopes of Monte Iato), together with representative historic tiles and bricks locally produced until fairly recently. Grain-size analysis and experimental firings were performed on the clay samples. A significant number of archaeological ceramic samples (incised and painted indigenous pottery dating back to the seventh–fifth centuries BCE) from stratigraphic excavations on Monte Iato, and hypothesized as local productions on a stylistic-morphological basis, was carefully selected for archaeometric analysis. This set of samples (90 in total, comprising raw clays, historic tiles/bricks and archaeological ceramics) underwent a combined chemical and mineralogical-petrographic analysis to identify any possible compositional matching. This approach enabled the identification of minero-petrographic and chemical markers pertinent to the indigenous Archaic pottery produced at Monte Iato, although no evidence of coeval ceramic kilns has been found so far. Local raw clay sources have been documented and some significant points of the chaîne opératoire adopted in antiquity have been noted (clay mixing and tempering practices). Attesting Monte Iato as a centre of ceramic production and defining both the microscopic fabric and the average composition of local pastes open up new perspectives in the complex issue concerning the production and regional circulation of incised and painted indigenous ceramics in Archaic Sicily.
Weighted Choquard Equation Perturbed with Weighted Nonlocal Term
Authors: Singh Gurpreet 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe investigate the following problem $$\begin{aligned} -\mathrm{div}(v(x)|\nabla u|^{m-2}\nabla u)+V(x)|u|^{m-2}u= \left( |x|^{-\theta }*\frac{|u|^{b}}{|x|^{\alpha }}\right) \frac{|u|^{b-2}}{|x|^{\alpha }}u+\lambda \left( |x|^{-\gamma }*\frac{|u|^{c}}{|x|^{\beta }}\right) \frac{|u|^{c-2}}{|x|^{\beta }}u \quad \text { in }{\mathbb {R}}^{N}, \end{aligned}$$

-

div
(
v

(
x
)

|
∇
u
|

m
-
2

∇
u
)
+
V

(
x
)

|
u
|

m
-
2

u
=

|
x
|

-
θ

∗

|
u
|

b

|
x
|

α

|
u
|

b
-
2

|
x
|

α

u
+
λ

|
x
|

-
γ

∗

|
u
|

c

|
x
|

β

|
u
|

c
-
2

|
x
|

β

u

in

R

N

,

where $$b, c, \alpha , \beta >0$$

b
,
c
,
α
,
β
>
0

, $$\theta ,\gamma \in (0,N)$$

θ
,
γ
∈
(
0
,
N
)

, $$N\ge 3$$

N
≥
3

, $$2\le m< \infty$$

2
≤
m
<
∞

and $$\lambda \in {\mathbb {R}}$$

λ
∈
R

. Here, we are concerned with the existence of groundstate solutions and least energy sign-changing solutions and that will be done by using the minimization techniques on the associated Nehari manifold and the Nehari nodal set respectively.
Dodecyl Mercaptan Functionalized Copper Mesh for Water Repellence and Oil-water Separation
Authors: Tian Yanling , Feng Jiekai , Cai Zexin , Chao Jiaqi , Zhang Dawei , Cui Yuxiao , Chen Faze 
Published: August 2021

AbstractReckless discharge of industrial wastewater and domestic sewage as well as frequent leakage of crude oil have caused serious environmental problems and posed severe threat to human survival. Various nature inspired superhy-drophobic surfaces have been successfully applied in oily water remediation. However, further improvements are still urgently needed for practical application in terms of facile synthesis process and long-term durability towards harsh environment. Herein, we propose a simple one-step dodecyl mercaptan functionalization method to fabricate Super-hydrophobic-Superoleophilic Copper Mesh (SSCM). The prepared SSCM possesses excellent water repellence and oil affinity, enabling it to successfully separate various oil-water mixtures with high separation efficiency (e.g., > 99% for hexadecane-water mixture). The SSCM retains high separating ability when hot water and strong corrosive aqueous solutions are used to simulate oil-water mixtures, indicating remarkable chemical durability of the dodecyl mercaptan functionalized copper mesh. Additionally, the efficiency can be well maintained during 50 cycles of separation, and the water repellence is even stable after storage in air for 120 days, demonstrating the reusability and long-term stability of the SSCM. Furthermore, the functionalized mesh also shows good mechanical robustness towards abrasion by sandpaper, and oil-water separation efficiency of > 96% can be obtained after 10 cycles of abrasion. The reported one-step dodecyl mercaptan functionalization could be a simple method for increasing the water repellence of copper mesh, and thereby be a great candidate for treating large-scale oily wastewater in harsh environments.
Review of Recent Progress in Robotic Knee Prosthesis Related Techniques: Structure, Actuation and Control
Authors: Sun Yuanxi , Tang Hao , Tang Yuntao , Zheng Jia , Dong Dianbiao , Chen Xiaohong , Liu Fuqiang , Bai Long , Ge Wenjie , Xin Liming , Pu Huayan , Peng Yan , Luo Jun 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAs the essential technology of human-robotics interactive wearable devices, the robotic knee prosthesis can provide above-knee amputations with functional knee compensations to realize their physical and psychological social regression. With the development of mechanical and mechatronic science and technology, the fully active knee prosthesis that can provide subjects with actuating torques has demonstrated a better wearing performance in slope walking and stair ascent when compared with the passive and the semi-active ones. Additionally, with intelligent human-robotics control strategies and algorithms, the wearing effect of the knee prosthesis has been greatly enhanced in terms of stance stability and swing mobility. Therefore, to help readers to obtain an overview of recent progress in robotic knee prosthesis, this paper systematically categorized knee prostheses according to their integrated functions and introduced related research in the past ten years (2010–2020) regarding (1) mechanical design, including uniaxial, four-bar, and multi-bar knee structures, (2) actuating technology, including rigid and elastic actuation, and (3) control method, including mode identification, motion prediction, and automatic control. Quantitative and qualitative analysis and comparison of robotic knee prosthesis-related techniques are conducted. The development trends are concluded as follows: (1) bionic and lightweight structures with better mechanical performance, (2) bionic elastic actuation with energy-saving effect, (3) artificial intelligence-based bionic prosthetic control. Besides, challenges and innovative insights of customized lightweight bionic knee joint structure, highly efficient compact bionic actuation, and personalized daily multi-mode gait adaptation are also discussed in-depth to facilitate the future development of the robotic knee prosthesis.
Mechatronic Design of a Robot for Upper Limb Rehabilitation at Home
Authors: Curcio Elio Matteo , Carbone Giuseppe 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThis paper addresses the design of a novel bionic robotic device for upper limb rehabilitation tasks at home. The main goal of the design process has been to obtain a rehabilitation device, which can be easily portable and can be managed remotely by a professional therapist. This allows to treat people also in regions that are not easily reachable with a significant cost reduction. Other potential benefits can be envisaged, for instance, in the possibility to keep social distancing while allowing rehabilitation treatments even during a pandemic spread. Specific attention has been devoted to design the main mechatronic components by developing specific kinematics and dynamics models. The design process includes the implementation of a specific control hardware and software. Preliminary experimental tests are reported to show the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed design solution.
Influence of nickel doping on MnO2 nanoflowers as electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction
Authors: Worku Ababay Ketema , Ayele Delele Worku , Habtu Nigus Gabbiye 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Doping is promising strategy for the alteration of nanomaterials to enhance their optical, electrical, and catalytic activities. The development of electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reactions (ORR) with excellent activity, low cost and durability is essential for the large-scale utilization of energy storage devices such as batteries. In this study, MnO2 and Ni-doped MnO2 nanowires were prepared through a simple co-perception technique. The influence of nickel concentration on electrochemical performance was studied using linear sweep voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry. The morphological, thermal, structural, and optical properties of MnO2 and Ni-doped MnO2 nanowires were examined by SEM, ICP-OES, FT-IR, XRD, UV–Vis, BET and TGA/DTA. Morphological analyses showed that pure MnO2 and Ni-doped MnO2 had flower-like and nanowire structures, respectively. The XRD study confirmed the phase transformation from ε to α and β phases of MnO2 due to the dopant. It was also noted from the XRD studies that the crystallite sizes of pure MnO2 and Ni-doped MnO2 were in the range of 2.25–6.6 nm. The band gaps of MnO2 and 0.125 M Ni-doped MnO2 nanoparticles were estimated to be 2.78 and 1.74 eV, correspondingly, which can be seen from UV–Vis. FTIR spectroscopy was used to determine the presence of functional groups and M–O bonds (M = Mn, Ni). The TGA/TDA examination showed that Ni-doping in MnO2 led to an improvement in its thermal properties. The cyclic voltammetry results exhibited that Ni-doped MnO2 nanowires have remarkable catalytic performance for ORR in 0.1 M KOH alkaline conditions. This work contributes to the facile preparation of highly active and durable catalysts with improved catalytic performance mainly due to the predominance of nickel.

Article Highlights

MnO2 and Ni-doped MnO2 nanowires were synthesized via a facile co-perception approach.

Nickel doping in MnO2 induces the formation of wire-like nanostructures.

Nickel doping enhances the electrochemical activity and thermal stability of MnO2 nanoflowers.

The addition of nickel into MnO2 promoted the catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction.

A higher catalytic activity was achieved in 0.125 M Ni-MnO2 nanowires.

Graphic abstract
Does homeopathy reduce the cost of conventional drug prescribing?
Authors: Jain Asha 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThere is little research on cost–effectiveness of homeopathy in General Practice. This study aimed to compare the costs of homeopathic prescribing with conventional drugs prescribing. Data were collected for 4 years on all patients who were treated homeopathically. Costs of homeopathic remedies and costs of conventional drugs which otherwise would be prescribed for these patients was calculated for the total duration of treatment. Savings were calculated. One hundred patients were included in the study. Average cost savings per patient was £60.40. The majority of patients had improved and most did not report any side-effects. The limitations of this study are that it is based on one GP's work, with a small number of patients so definite and generalisable conclusions cannot be drawn. Moreover, calculated costs in this study are based on drugs only, it does not take into account doctor's time, special investigations and time off sick. Future work needs to be carried out to include all of these points for a comprehensive economic analysis.
Environmentalism and Global International Society
Authors: Falkner Robert 
Published: August 2021

Environmentalism and Global International Society reveals how environmental values and ideas have transformed the normative structure of international relations. Falkner argues that environmental stewardship has become a universally accepted fundamental norm, or primary institution, of global international society. He traces the history of environmentalism's rise from a loose set of ideas originating in the nineteenth century to a globally applicable norm in the twentieth century, which has come to redefine international legitimacy and states' global responsibilities. He shows how this deep norm change came about as a result of the interplay between non-state and state actors, and how the new environmental norm has interacted with the existing primary institutions of global international society, most notably sovereignty and territoriality, diplomacy, international law, and the market. This book shifts the attention from the presentist focus in the study of global environmental politics to the longue durée of global norm change in the greening of international relations.
COVID-19 pandemic: insights into molecular mechanisms leading to sex-based differences in patient outcomes
Authors: Kumar Ashutosh , Narayan Ravi K. , Kulandhasamy Maheswari , Prasoon Pranav , Kumari Chiman , Kumar Sujeet , Pareek Vikas , Sesham Kishore , Shekhawat Prakash S. , Kant Kamla , Kumar Santosh 
Published: August 2021

Abstract
Recent epidemiological studies analysing sex-disaggregated patient data of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) across the world revealed a distinct sex bias in the disease morbidity as well as the mortality – both being higher for the men. Similar antecedents have been known for the previous viral infections, including from coronaviruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and middle-east respiratory syndrome (MERS). A sound understanding of molecular mechanisms leading to the biological sex bias in the survival outcomes of the patients in relation to COVID-19 will act as an essential requisite for developing a sex-differentiated approach for therapeutic management of this disease. Recent studies which have explored molecular mechanism(s) behind sex-based differences in COVID-19 pathogenesis are scarce; however, existing evidence, for other respiratory viral infections, viz. SARS, MERS and influenza, provides important clues in this regard. In attempt to consolidate the available knowledge on this issue, we conducted a systematic review of the existing empirical knowledge and recent experimental studies following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The qualitative analysis of the collected data unravelled multiple molecular mechanisms, such as evolutionary and genetic/epigenetic factors, sex-linkage of viral host cell entry receptor and immune response genes, sex hormone and gut microbiome-mediated immune-modulation, as the possible key reasons for the sex-based differences in patient outcomes in COVID-19.
Partial C*-dynamics and Rokhlin dimension
Authors: ABADIE FERNANDO , GARDELLA EUSEBIO , GEFFEN SHIRLY 
Published: August 2021

AbstractWe develop the notion of the Rokhlin dimension for partial actions of finite groups, extending the well-established theory for global systems. The partial setting exhibits phenomena that cannot be expected for global actions, usually stemming from the fact that virtually all averaging arguments for finite group actions completely break down for partial systems. For example, fixed point algebras and crossed products are not in general Morita equivalent, and there is in general no local approximation of the crossed product$A\rtimes G$by matrices overA. Using decomposition arguments for partial actions of finite groups, we show that a number of structural properties are preserved by formation of crossed products, including finite stable rank, finite nuclear dimension, and absorption of a strongly self-absorbing$C^*$-algebra. Some of our results are new even in the global case.We also study the Rokhlin dimension of globalizable actions: while in general it differs from the Rokhlin dimension of its globalization, we show that they agree if the coefficient algebra is unital. For topological partial actions on spaces of finite covering dimension, we show that finiteness of the Rokhlin dimension is equivalent to freeness, thus providing a large class of examples to which our theory applies.
Greenland ice-sheet wide glacier classification based on two distinct seasonal ice velocity behaviors
Authors: Vijay Saurabh , King Michalea D. , Howat Ian M. , Solgaard Anne M. , Khan Shfaqat Abbas , Noël Brice 
Published: August 2021

AbstractGreenland glaciers exhibit variable seasonal velocity signals that may reflect differences in subglacial hydrology. Here, we conduct a first GrIS-wide glacier classification based on seasonal velocity patterns derived from 2017 Sentinel-1 radar data. Our classification focuses on two distinct seasonal ice velocity patterns, with the first (type-2 from Moon and others, 2014) showing periods of both speedup and slowdown during the melt season, and the second (type-3) instead showing a longer period of slowdown from elevated velocities in the winter and spring. We analyze 221 glaciers in 2017 and show that 48 exhibit type-2 behavior, and 72 exhibit type-3 behavior. We extend the classification to 2018 and 2019 and find that while the glaciers meeting each criterion vary year to year, type-2 is consistently more common in the northern regions and type-3 is more common in the south. Our results highlight the varied impact of meltwater on subglacial drainage systems and glacier flow in Greenland.
Barbaric Women: Race and the Colonization of Gender in Interwar Egypt
Authors: Takla Nefertiti 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThis article analyzes the sensationalized media coverage of a serial murder case during the Egyptian revolution of the early interwar era. Despite conflicting evidence, the media blamed the murders on two sisters from southern Egypt named Raya and Sakina. Through a close reading of Egyptian editorials and news reports, I argue that middle-class nationalists constructed Raya and Sakina as barbaric women who threatened to pull the nation back in time in order to legitimize their claim to power. Borrowing from Ann Stoler's analysis of the relationship between race and sexuality and Maria Lugones's concept of the modern/colonial gender system, this article maintains that race was as central to nationalist conceptions of female barbarism as gender, sexuality, and class. The enduring depiction of Raya and Sakina as the quintessential barbaric Egyptian women symbolizes the way in which the modern woman was constructed at the intersection of race and sexuality.
Multi-trait selection index and cluster analyses in Angus cattle
Authors: Fernandes G. M. , Savegnago R. P. , Freitas L. A. , El Faro L. , Roso V. M. , de Paz C. C. P. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractIn breeding programmes, the genetic selection process is based on the prediction of animal breeding values, and its results may vary according to the employed selection method. The current study developed an economic selection index for animals of the Angus breed; performed cluster analyses using the breeding values in order to evaluate the genetic profile of the animals candidates to selection, and compared the obtained results between the economic selection index and the cluster analyses. The evaluated traits included weaning weight, 18-month weight, scrotal circumference, fat thickness and ribeye area. Economic values were obtained using bioeconomic modelling, simulating a complete cycle production system of beef cattle breeds in Brazil, and the selection objective were the weaning rate and slaughter weight. The chosen selection index was composed of all of the traits used as selection criteria for the simulated production system. During the cluster analyses, the population was divided into two to four groups, in which the groupings containing potential animals were assessed. The animals of the grouping which was used for comparison with the selection index were identified, and most of the bulls that were included in the index were among the best in the analysed group. These results suggest that the cluster analyses can be used as a tool for the selection of animals to be used as parents for future generations.
Condensed tannins extracted from Quebracho affect the fermentation profile, nutritional quality and in vitro gas production of pornunça (Manihot spp.) silages
Authors: Carvalho D. T. Q. , Lucena A. R. F. , Nascimento T. V. C. , Moura L. M. L. , Marcelino P. D. R. , Queiroz M. A. À. , Moraes S. A. , Gois G. C. , Menezes D. R. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe objective was to evaluate the fermentation profile, in vitro gas production and nutritional quality of pornunça (Manihot spp.) silages containing levels of condensed tannin (CT; 0, 4, 8 and 12% on dry matter (DM) basis), at five opening times (0, 3, 7, 14, 28 and 56 days). A completely randomized design in a 4 × 5 factorial arrangement was adopted, with four replications, totalling 80 experimental silos. The pH and NH3-N analyses were performed at all opening times of the silos. The other analyses were performed only with silages opened at 56 days of storage. There was an interaction effect between CT levels and silo opening times for pH and NH3-N. Tannin levels in pornunça silages after 56 days ensiling increased the pH and DM and reduced crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF). There was a quadratic effect for NH3-N, acetic acid, butyric acid, gas losses, dry matter recovery (DMR), hemicellulose and acid detergent fibre. Inclusion of 4 and 8% CT in pornunça silage promotes a rapid decline in pH, being within the acceptable limit for adequate fermentation at 3 days of ensiling. Silages with 4% CT establish the pH at 28 days of opening the silos, with reduced NH3-N. Silages with 4% CT present higher concentrations of acetic and butyric acids and greater DMR. Inclusion of CT in pornunça silage after 56 days ensiling increases DM and reduces CP and NDF, directly affecting the in vitro degradability and reducing gas production.