bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating maize and soybean grain dry-down in the field with predictive algorithms and genotype-by-environment analysis
Authors: Martinez-Feria Rafael A. , Licht Mark A. , Ordóñez Raziel A. , Hatfield Jerry L. , Coulter Jeffrey A. , Archontoulis Sotirios V. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractA delayed harvest of maize and soybean crops is associated with yield or revenue losses, whereas a premature harvest requires additional costs for artificial grain drying. Accurately predicting the ideal harvest date can increase profitability of US Midwest farms, but today’s predictive capacity is low. To fill this gap, we collected and analyzed time-series grain moisture datasets from field experiments in Iowa, Minnesota and North Dakota, US with various maize (n = 102) and soybean (n = 36) genotype-by-environment treatments. Our goal was to examine factors driving the post-maturity grain drying process, and develop scalable algorithms for decision-making. The algorithms evaluated are driven by changes in the grain equilibrium moisture content (function of air relative humidity and temperature) and require three input parameters: moisture content at physiological maturity, a drying coefficient and a power constant. Across independent genotypes and environments, the calibrated algorithms accurately predicted grain dry-down of maize (r2 = 0.79; root mean square error, RMSE = 1.8% grain moisture) and soybean field crops (r2 = 0.72; RMSE = 6.7% grain moisture). Evaluation of variance components and treatment effects revealed that genotypes, weather-years, and planting dates had little influence on the post-maturity drying coefficient, but significantly influenced grain moisture content at physiological maturity. Therefore, accurate implementation of the algorithms across environments would require estimating the initial grain moisture content, via modeling approaches or in-field measurements. Our work contributes new insights to understand the post-maturity grain dry-down and provides a robust and scalable predictive algorithm to forecast grain dry-down and ideal harvest dates across environments in the US Corn Belt.
Sampling Techniques on Collecting Fine Carbon Nanotube Fibers for Exposure Assessment
Authors: Khattak Jared , Theisen Daniel , Tsai Candace S. J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractCarbon nanotube (CNT) sampling using an open-faced 25 mm cassette fiber sampling method and a newly developed direct sampling device was evaluated for the size fractioned analysis of collected airborne CNT fibers to improve the sampling and analytical methods. The open-faced 25 mm cassette fiber sampling method primarily collected large agglomerates, with the majority of collected particles being larger than two micrometer in size. Most of CNT structures collected by the new direct sampling device were individual fibers and clusters smaller than one micrometer with a high particle number concentration discrepancy compared to the open-faced 25 mm cassette method raising the concern of this sampling method to representatively characterize the respirable size fraction of CNT aerosols. This work demonstrates that a specialized technique is needed for collecting small fibers to provide a more representative estimate of exposure. It is recommended that an additional sampler be used to directly collect and analyze small fibers in addition to the widely accepted sampling method which utilizes an open-faced 25 mm cassette.
Detection of smoking status from retinal images; a Convolutional Neural Network study
Authors: Vaghefi Ehsan , Yang Song , Hill Sophie , Humphrey Gayl , Walker Natalie , Squirrell David 
Published: May 2019

AbstractCardiovascular diseases are directly linked to smoking habits, which has both physiological and anatomical effects on the systemic and retinal circulations, and these changes can be detected with fundus photographs. Here, we aimed to 1- design a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), using retinal photographs, to differentiate between smokers and non-smokers; and 2- use the attention maps to better understand the physiological changes that occur in the retina in smokers. 165,104 retinal images were obtained from a diabetes screening programme, labelled with self-reported “smoking” or “non-smoking” status. The images were pre-processed in one of two ways, either “contrast-enhanced” or “skeletonized”. Experiments were run on an Intel Xeon Gold 6128 CPU @ 3.40 GHz with 16 GB of RAM memory and a NVIDIA GeForce TiTan V VOLTA 12 GB, for 20 epochs. The dataset was split 80/20 for training and testing sets, respectively. The overall validation outcomes for the contrast-enhanced model were accuracy 88.88%, specificity 93.87%. In contrast, the outcomes of the skeletonized model were accuracy 63.63%, specificity 65.60%. The “attention maps” that were generated of the contrast-enhanced model highlighted the retinal vasculature, perivascular region and the fovea most prominently. We trained a customized CNN to accurately determine smoking status. The retinal vasculature, the perivascular region and the fovea appear to be important predictive features in the determination of smoking status. Despite a high degree of accuracy, the sensitivity of our CNN was low. Further research is required to establish whether the frequency, duration, and dosage (quantity) of smoking would improve the sensitivity of the CNN.
Towards minimally-invasive, quantitative assessment of chronic kidney disease using optical spectroscopy
Authors: Belghasem Mostafa E. , A’amar Ousama , Roth Daniel , Walker Joshua , Arinze Nkiruka , Richards Sean M. , Francis Jean M. , Salant David J. , Chitalia Vipul C. , Bigio Irving J. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe universal pathologic features implicated in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA). Current methods of estimating IFTA are slow, labor-intensive and fraught with variability and sampling error, and are not quantitative. As such, there is pressing clinical need for a less-invasive and faster method that can quantitatively assess the degree of IFTA. We propose a minimally-invasive optical method to assess the macro-architecture of kidney tissue, as an objective, quantitative assessment of IFTA, as an indicator of the degree of kidney disease. The method of elastic-scattering spectroscopy (ESS) measures backscattered light over the spectral range 320–900 nm and is highly sensitive to micromorphological changes in tissues. Using two discrete mouse models of CKD, we observed spectral trends of increased scattering intensity in the near-UV to short-visible region (350–450 nm), relative to longer wavelengths, for fibrotic kidneys compared to normal kidney, with a quasi-linear correlation between the ESS changes and the histopathology-determined degree of IFTA. These results suggest the potential of ESS as an objective, quantitative and faster assessment of IFTA for the management of CKD patients and in the allocation of organs for kidney transplantation.
De novo aggregation of Alzheimer’s Aβ25-35 peptides in a lipid bilayer
Authors: Smith Amy K. , Klimov Dmitri K. 
Published: May 2019

AbstractA potential mechanism of cytotoxicity attributed to Alzheimer’s Aβ peptides postulates that their aggregation disrupts membrane structure causing uncontrollable permeation of Ca2+ ions. To gain molecular insights into these processes, we have performed all-atom explicit solvent replica exchange with solute tempering molecular dynamics simulations probing aggregation of the naturally occurring Aβ fragment Aβ25-35 within the DMPC lipid bilayer. To compare the impact produced on the bilayer by Aβ25-35 oligomers and monomers, we used as a control our previous simulations, which explored binding of Aβ25-35 monomers to the same bilayer. We found that compared to monomeric species aggregation results in much deeper insertion of Aβ25-35 peptides into the bilayer hydrophobic core causing more pronounced disruption in its structure. Aβ25-35 peptides aggregate by incorporating monomer-like structures with stable C-terminal helix. As a result the Aβ25-35 dimer features unusual helix head-to-tail topology supported by a parallel off-registry interface. Such topology affords further growth of an aggregate by recruiting additional peptides. Free energy landscape reveals that inserted dimers represent the dominant equilibrium state augmented by two metastable states associated with surface bound dimers and inserted monomers. Using the free energy landscape we propose the pathway of Aβ25-35 binding, aggregation, and insertion into the lipid bilayer.
Giant beaver palaeoecology inferred from stable isotopes
Authors: Plint Tessa , Longstaffe Fred J. , Zazula Grant 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThis is a multi-individual (n = 11), stable carbon and nitrogen isotope study of bone collagen (δ13Ccolandδ15Ncol) from the giant beaver (genusCastoroides). The now-extinct giant beaver was once one of the most widespread Pleistocene megafauna in North America. We confirm thatCastoroidesconsumed a diet of predominantly submerged aquatic macrophytes. These dietary preferences rendered the giant beaver highly dependent on wetland habitat for survival.Castoroides’δ13Ccolandδ15Ncoldo not support the hypothesis that the giant beaver consumed trees or woody plants, which suggests that it did not share the same behaviours asCastor(i.e., tree-cutting and harvesting). The onset of warmer, more arid conditions likely contributed to the extinction ofCastoroides. Six new radiocarbon dates help establish the chronology of the northward dispersal of the giant beaver in Beringia, indicating a correlation with ice sheet retreat.
Pressure dependence of direct optical transitions in ReS2 and ReSe2
Authors: Oliva Robert , Laurien Magdalena , Dybala Filip , Kopaczek Jan , Qin Ying , Tongay Sefaattin , Rubel Oleg , Kudrawiec Robert 
Published: May 2019

AbstractThe ReX2 system (X = S, Se) exhibits unique properties that differ from other transition metal dichalcogenides. Remarkably, its reduced crystal symmetry results in a complex electronic band structure that confers this material in-plane anisotropic properties. In addition, multilayered ReX2 presents a strong 2D character even in its bulk form. To fully understand the interlayer interaction in this system, it is necessary to obtain an accurate picture of the electronic band structure. Here, we present an experimental and theoretical study of the electronic band structure of ReS2 and ReSe2 at high-hydrostatic pressures. The experiments are performed by photoreflectance spectroscopy and are analyzed in terms of ab initio calculations within the density functional theory. Experimental pressure coefficients for the two most dominant excitonic transitions are obtained and compared with those predicted by the calculations. We assign the transitions to the Z k-point of the Brillouin zone and other k-points located away from high-symmetry points. The origin of the pressure coefficients of the measured direct transitions is discussed in terms of orbital analysis of the electronic structure and van der Waals interlayer interaction. The anisotropic optical properties are studied at high pressure by means of polarization-resolved photoreflectance measurements.
Bismuth drugs tackle Porphyromonas gingivalis and attune cytokine response in human cells
Authors: Cheng Tianfan , Lai Yau-Tsz , Wang Chuan , Wang Yi , Jiang Nan , Li Hongyan , Sun Hongzhe , Jin Lijian 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Periodontitis is the leading cause of severe tooth loss and edentulism in adults worldwide and is closely linked to systemic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Porphyromonas gingivalis is the key pathogen in periodontitis. Herein, we provided the first evidence that bismuth drugs suppress P. gingivalis in its planktonic, biofilm, and intracellular states. In total, 42 bismuth-associated proteins were identified including its major virulent factors (e.g., gingipains, hemagglutinin HagA, and fimbriae). Bismuth perturbed its iron acquisition, disturbed the energy metabolism and virulence, and deactivated multiple key enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutase and thioredoxins). Moreover, bismuth inhibited its biofilm formation and disrupted the 3-day matured biofilms. Notably, the internalized P. gingivalis in various human cells (e.g., human gingival epithelium progenitors, HGEPs) was oppressed by bismuth but not the commonly used antibiotic metronidazole. Importantly, bismuth drugs enabled the counteraction of immuno-inflammatory responses in different host cells perturbed by P. gingivalis. The production of IL-6 and IL-8 attenuated by P. gingivalis in both of native and IL-1β-stimulated HGEPs was restored, while the bacterium-enhanced expression of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα in THP-1 macrophages was alleviated. This proof-of-concept study brings prospects for the potential reposition of the routinely used anti-Helicobacter pylori bismuth drugs to better manage inflammatory diseases such as periodontitis and P. gingivalis-related complex systemic disorders.
Pattern of Lipid Abnormalities Among South Asian Indians With Cushing’s Syndrome and the Short Term Impact of Surgical Correction of Hypercortisolism
Authors: Dhingra Atul , Ganie Mohd , Dharmshaktu Pramila , Chakraborty Semanti , Jyotsna Viveka , Gupta Nandita 
Published: May 2019

AbstractAtherosclerotic cardiovascular events are one of the common causes of mortality in patients with Cushing’s syndrome (CS). Atherogenic dyslipidemia is more common among South Asian Indians as compared to other ethnicities and is likely to worsen among patients with CS. This retrospective study was done over 5 years at a single institute to evaluate the pattern of lipid abnormalities in subjects with CS and the changes in lipid parameters after surgical control of hypercortisolemia. The study was done in two parts. In the first part, records of patients with CS diagnosed over 3 years were retrospectively reviewed. Hormonal and metabolic parameters including fasting plasma glucose (FPG), post prandial plasma glucose (PPPG), HbA1c, serum lipids, serum cortisol and plasma ACTH were recorded. In the second part, lipid parameters were rechecked among patients who underwent surgery and a median follow up of 4±2 months after remission. Out of the 126 patients diagnosed with endogenous CS over 3 years, 100 patients were eligible for inclusion in the study. At baseline, sixty five (65%) patients had dyslipidemia as defined by the NCEP-ATPIII criteria. 47 out of 63 (74.6%) subjects achieved remission after surgical management of CS. 32 (68.1%) of these patients had dyslipidemia prior to surgery. After excluding 1 death, 26 of 46 (56.5%) subjects had dyslipidemia after the follow up period. Lipid abnormalities are common among South Asian Indian subjects with endogenous CS and the pattern persists in most of them, 3 months after surgical correction of hypercortisolism.
Selenium and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Current Knowledge and Future Directions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Hajizadeh-Sharafabad Fatemeh , Moludi Jalal , Tutunchi Helda , Taheri Ehsaneh , Izadi Azimeh , Maleki Vahid 
Published: May 2019

AbstractPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), as the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-aged women, is recognized by hyperandrogenism and insulin resistance. Selenium (Se) potentially possesses therapeutic effects on PCOS due to antioxidant and insulin-like properties. This systematic review evaluates the potential role of Se in the complications of PCOS. A systematic review was performed on published studies reporting the effects of Se on PCOS. Three major databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar were searched until December 2018. A total of 7 human studies and two in vitro studies met the inclusion criteria. Two out of three case-control studies showed that serum Se levels tend to decrease in patients with PCOS. Of four studies that evaluated the impact of Se supplementation on insulin resistance, only one study showed protective effects of Se against insulin resistance. Two out of three studies reported the antioxidant effect of Se. Few studies investigating anti-androgenic effect of Se presented controversial results. There were three studies that evaluated the anti-hyperlipidemic effect of Se, of which two surveys indicated the lowering effects of Se on VLDL and LDL-cholesterol. The reviewed studies confirmed inverse relationships between serum Se levels and some androgenic hormones in PCOS. Se is able to attenuate insulin resistance and dyslipidemia. The available data are currently insufficient to support the protective effects of Se on PCOS.
The Relationship between the Anteroposterior Diameter of the Patellar Tendon, Pain and Functionality in Volleyball Players – An Observational Study
Authors: Calvo Gonell Alfonso , Macia Soler Loreto , Moncho Joaquin 
Published: May 2019

Objective To determine whether the anteroposterior (AP) diameter of the patellar tendon in volleyball players is associated with a greater sensation of pain and decreased functionality.
Material and Methods A descriptive, observational, cross-sectional study conducted on volleyball players. The scores on the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment–Patella (VISA-P) scale were registered, together with the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the AP diameter of the patellar tendon, at 5 and at 10 mm distal to the inferior pole of the patella. The demographic, anthropometric and playing characteristics were registered and multiple linear regression models were constructed in order to analyze the relationship between the study variables.
Results The final sample comprised 112 players. The AP diameter was greater in men and showed a positive significant association with the score on the VAS scale and a negative significant association with the VISA-P for both tendons after adjusting for the remaining variables.
Conclusions The measurement of the AP diameter of the patellar tendon may be useful for the prevention of sports injuries in volleyball players as a greater tendon diameter is significantly associated with increased perceived pain and decreased functionality. Future studies should include a biomechanical analysis of jump and reception techniques.
Possible observation of quantum spin-nematic phase in a frustrated magnet
Authors: Kohama Yoshimitsu , Ishikawa Hajime , Matsuo Akira , Kindo Koichi , Shannon Nic , Hiroi Zenji 
Published: May 2019

Significance
Spin-nematic state in frustrated ferromagnet is one of the exotic states of matter at high magnetic field that could arise as the Bose–Einstein condensation of the two-magnon bound state. Its experimental detection in a real material has long been hindered by the fact that the order parameter of the spin-nematic state, spin quadrupole moment, is hard to detect with conventional magnetic probes available in high magnetic field. Here we design a calorimeter for the pulsed magnetic field studies and perform state-of-the-art measurements of heat capacity and magnetocaloric effect up to 33 T. These results provide strong prima facie evidence for a spin-nematic state in the copper-based mineral volborthite.
Elasticity of individual protocadherin 15 molecules implicates tip links as the gating springs for hearing
Authors: Bartsch Tobias F. , Hengel Felicitas E. , Oswald Aaron , Dionne Gilman , Chipendo Iris V. , Mangat Simranjit S. , El Shatanofy Muhammad , Shapiro Lawrence , Müller Ulrich , Hudspeth A. J. 
Published: May 2019

SignificanceOur hearing depends on mechanosensitive channels in hair cells of the inner ear. Experiments suggest that each channel is opened by a “gating spring,” an elastic element that conveys displacement of a hair bundle to the channel. Appropriate stiffness of the gating spring permits the discrimination of different sound amplitudes; if the spring is too stiff, then a faint sound will elicit the same response as a loud sound, opening all of a cell’s channels. Although the tip link—a fine molecular filament—might be the gating spring, its properties have remained controversial. Using high-precision optical tweezers, we demonstrate that the mechanical properties of a tip link protein correlate with those of a gating spring in vivo.
Structural and optical studies on PVA capped SnS films grown by chemical bath deposition for solar cell application
Authors: Devi P Mallika Bramaramba , Reddy G. Phaneendra , Reddy K. T. Ramakrishna 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
Tin monosulphide (SnS) thin films capped by PVA have been successfully deposited on glass substrates for cost effective photovoltaic device applications by a simple and low-cost wet chemical process, chemical bath deposition (CBD) at different bath temperatures varying in the range, 50–80 °C. X–ray diffraction analysis showed that the deposited films were polycrystalline in nature, showing orthorhombic structure with an intense peak corresponding to (040) plane of SnS. These observations were further confirmed by Raman analysis. FTIR spectra showed the absorption bands which corresponds to PVA in addition to SnS. The scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy studies revealed that the deposited SnS films were uniform and nanostructured with an average particle size of 4.9 to 7.6 nm. The optical investigations showed that the layers were highly absorbing with the optical absorption coefficient ~105 cm–1. A decrease in optical band gap from 1.92 to 1.55 eV with an increase of bath temperature was observed. The observed band gap values were higher than the bulk value of 1.3 eV, which might be due to quantum confinement effect. The optical band gap values were also used to calculate particle size and the results are discussed.
Magneto-transport properties of the off-stoichiometric Co2MnAl film epitaxially grown on GaAs (001)
Authors: Yu Zhifeng , Wang Hailong , Ma Jialin , Tong Shucheng , Zhao Jianhua 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
We have investigated the magneto-transport properties of an off-stoichiometric full-Heusler alloy Co2MnAl single-crystalline film. The Co1.65Mn1.35Al (CMA) film epitaxially grown on Ⅲ–Ⅴ semiconductor GaAs substrate exhibits perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The resistivity of the CMA film increases with the temperature T decreasing from 300 to 5 K, showing a semiconducting-like transport behavior. Different activation energies are found in three temperature regions with transition temperatures of 35 and 110 K. In the meanwhile, the remanent magnetization can be described by T
3/2 and T
2 laws in the corresponding medium and high T ranges, respectively. The transition at around 110 K could be attributed to the ferromagnetism evolving from localized to itinerant state. The Curie temperature of the CMA film is estimated to be ~640 K. The intrinsic anomalous Hall conductivity of ~55 Ω–1cm–1 is obtained, which is almost twenty times smaller than that of Co2MnAl.
Machine learning for the modeling of interfaces in energy storage and conversion materials
Authors: Artrith Nongnuch 
Published: May 2019

Abstract
The properties and atomic-scale dynamics of interfaces play an important role for the performance of energy storage and conversion devices such as batteries and fuel cells. In this topical review, we consider recent progress in machine-learning (ML) approaches for the computational modeling of materials interfaces. ML models are computationally much more efficient than first principles methods and thus allow to model larger systems and extended timescales, a necessary prerequisites for the accurate description of many interface properties. Here we review the recent major developments of ML-based interatomic potentials for atomistic modeling and ML approaches for the direct prediction of materials properties. This is followed by a discussion of ML applications to solid–gas, solid–liquid, and solid–solid interfaces as well as to nanostructured and amorphous phases that commonly form in interface regions. We then highlight how ML has been used to obtain important insights into the structure and stability of interfaces, interfacial reactions, and mass transport at interfaces. Finally, we offer a perspective on the current state of ML potential development and identify future directions and opportunities for this exciting research field.