bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Maize edible-legumes intercropping systems for enhancing agrobiodiversity and belowground ecosystem services
Authors: Jalloh Abdul A. , Mutyambai Daniel Munyao , Yusuf Abdullahi Ahmed , Subramanian Sevgan , Khamis Fathiya 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIntensification of staple crops through conventional agricultural practices with chemical synthetic inputs has yielded positive outcomes in food security but with negative environmental impacts. Ecological intensification using cropping systems such as maize edible-legume intercropping (MLI) systems has the potential to enhance soil health, agrobiodiversity and significantly influence crop productivity. However, mechanisms underlying enhancement of biological soil health have not been well studied. This study investigated the shifts in rhizospheric soil and maize-root microbiomes and associated soil physico-chemical parameters in MLI systems of smallholder farms in comparison to maize-monoculture cropping systems (MMC). Maize-root and rhizospheric soil samples were collected from twenty-five farms each conditioned by MLI and MMC systems in eastern Kenya. Soil characteristics were assessed using Black oxidation and Walkley methods. High-throughput amplicon sequencing was employed to analyze fungal and bacterial communities, predicting their functional roles and diversity. The different MLI systems significantly impacted soil and maize-root microbial communities, resulting in distinct microbe sets. Specific fungal and bacterial genera and species were mainly influenced and enriched in the MLI systems (e.g., Bionectria solani, Sarocladium zeae, Fusarium algeriense, and Acremonium persicinum for fungi, and Bradyrhizobium elkanii, Enterobacter roggenkampii, Pantoea dispersa and Mitsuaria chitosanitabida for bacteria), which contribute to nutrient solubilization, decomposition, carbon utilization, plant protection, bio-insecticides/fertilizer production, and nitrogen fixation. Conversely, the MMC systems enriched phytopathogenic microbial species like Sphingomonas leidyi and Alternaria argroxiphii. Each MLI system exhibited a unique composition of fungal and bacterial communities that shape belowground biodiversity, notably affecting soil attributes, plant well-being, disease control, and agroecological services. Indeed, soil physico-chemical properties, including pH, nitrogen, organic carbon, phosphorus, and potassium were enriched in MLI compared to MMC cropping systems. Thus, diversification of agroecosystems with MLI systems enhances soil properties and shifts rhizosphere and maize-root microbiome in favor of ecologically important microbial communities.
Assessing the feasibility of test-and-cull and test-and-segregation approaches for the control of high-prevalence bovine tuberculosis in Ethiopian intensive dairy farms
Authors: Lakew Matios , Tadesse Biniam , Srinivasan Sreenidhi , Aschalew Muluken , Andarge Bekele , Kebede Dirshaye , Etifu Addisu , Alemu Tena , Yalew Bekele , Benti Teferi , Olani Abebe , Abera Shubisa , Bedada Wegene , Fromsa Abebe , Mekonnen Getnet Abie , Almaw Gizat , Ameni Gobena , Ashenafi Hagos , Gumi Balako , Bakker Douwe , Kapur Vivek 
Published: June 2024

AbstractBovine tuberculosis (bTB) is endemic and has a substantial impact on the livestock sector in Ethiopia and other low and middle-income countries (LMICs). With a national emphasis on dairy farm intensification to boost milk production and spur economic growth, the incidence of bTB is anticipated to rise. However, Ethiopia, like other LMICs, lacks a comprehensive national bTB control strategy due to the economic and social infeasibility of traditional test-and-cull (TC) approaches. To inform the development of such a strategy, we evaluated the effectiveness and feasibility of TC and test-and-segregation (TSg) strategies for bTB control on Ethiopian dairy farms. A TC approach was used at Farm A [N = 62; comparative cervical test (CCT) > 4 mm, starting prevalence 11.3%] while TSg was implemented at Farm B (N = 45; CCT > 4 mm, prevalence 22.2%), with testing intervals of 2–4 months. Both strategies achieved a reduction in bTB prevalence to 0%, requiring seven rounds of TC over 18 months at Farm A, and five rounds of TSg over 12 months at Farm B’s negative herd. The results show that adopting more sensitive thresholds [CCT > 0 mm or single cervical test (SCT) > 2 mm] during later rounds was pivotal in identifying and managing previously undetected infections, emphasizing the critical need for optimized diagnostic thresholds. Cost analysis revealed that TC was approximately twice as expensive as TSg, primarily due to testing, labor, and cow losses in TC, versus construction of new facilities and additional labor for TSg. This underscores the economic and logistical challenges of bTB management in resource-limited settings. Taken together, our study highlights an urgent need for the exploration of alternative approaches including TSg and or vaccination to mitigate within herd transmission and enable implementation of bTB control in regions where TC is not feasible.
In idiopathic scoliosis distances of spinal cord to thoracic pedicle are within 2 mm in a large region of the thoracic apex
Authors: Burger Joost A. , Becker Luis , Li Zhao , Wang Zhen , Schmidt Hendrik , Pumberger Matthias , Schömig Friederike 
Published: June 2024

AbstractDespite a 15% misplacement rate of screws in idiopathic scoliosis surgery, little is known about the relationship between pedicles and nerve structures in the entire thoracic curve. This study aimed to explore the spinal cord’s proximity to the pedicle wall at each thoracic vertebra in the entire thoracic curve, while considering different anatomical changes. Spinal cord to medial pedicle distances were measured on magnetic resonance imaging in 73 patients who underwent posterior spinal fusion with pedicle screw instrumentation. Associations with different variables were examined. A total of 51 patients (69.9%) showed a distance within 2 mm at the apex vertebra on the concave side, more than 50% had a distance within 2 mm in the next thoracic vertebra level above and below, and more than 25% two levels above and below. Weak correlations were found between proximity of the spinal cord at the apex vertebra and vertebra’s level and Cobb angle on the concave side (r = − 0.310, P = 0.008, r = 0.380, P = 0.001, respectively). These results emphasize the importance of thorough assessment when placing thoracic pedicle screws in idiopathic scoliosis patients. Further research is warranted to develop surgical strategies aimed at preventing potentially neurological complications resulting from screw misplacement.
Genetic basis of an elite wheat cultivar Guinong 29 with harmonious improvement between multiple diseases resistance and other comprehensive traits
Authors: Xiao Bei , Qie Yanmin , Jin Yuli , Yu Ningning , Sun Nina , Liu Wei , Wang Xiaolu , Wang Jiaojiao , Qian Zejun , Zhao Ya , Yuan Tangyu , Li Linzhi , Wang Fengtao , Liu Cheng , Ma Pengtao 
Published: June 2024

AbstractFungal diseases, such as powdery mildew and rusts, significantly affect the quality and yield of wheat. Pyramiding diverse types of resistance genes into cultivars represents the preferred strategy to combat these diseases. Moreover, achieving collaborative improvement between diseases resistance, abiotic stress, quality, and agronomic and yield traits is difficult in genetic breeding. In this study, the wheat cultivar, Guinong 29 (GN29), showed high resistance to powdery mildew and stripe rust at both seedling and adult plant stages, and was susceptible to leaf rust at the seedling stage but slow resistance at the adult-plant stage. Meanwhile, it has elite agronomic and yield traits, indicating promising coordination ability among multiple diseases resistance and other key breeding traits. To determine the genetic basis of these elite traits, GN29 was tested with 113 molecular markers for 98 genes associated with diseases resistance, stress tolerance, quality, and adaptability. The results indicated that two powdery mildew resistance (Pm) genes, Pm2 and Pm21, confirmed the outstanding resistance to powdery mildew through genetic analysis, marker detection, genomic in situ hybridization (GISH), non-denaturing fluorescence in situ hybridization (ND-FISH), and homology-based cloning; the stripe rust resistance (Yr) gene Yr26 and leaf rust resistance (Lr) genes Lr1 and Lr46 conferred the stripe rust and slow leaf rust resistance in GN29, respectively. Meanwhile, GN29 carries dwarfing genes Rht-B1b and Rht-D1a, vernalization genes vrn-A1, vrn-B1, vrn-D1, and vrn-B3, which were consistent with the phenotypic traits in dwarf characteristic and semi-winter property; carries genes Dreb1 and Ta-CRT for stress tolerance to drought, salinity, low temperature, and abscisic acid (ABA), suggesting that GN29 may also have elite stress-tolerance ability; and carries two low-molecular-weight glutenin subunit genes Glu-B3b and Glu-B3bef which contributed to high baking quality. This study not only elucidated the genetic basis of the elite traits in GN29 but also verified the capability for harmonious improvement in both multiple diseases resistance and other comprehensive traits, offering valuable information for breeding breakthrough-resistant cultivars.
Examining sea levels forecasting using autoregressive and prophet models
Authors: Elneel Leena , Zitouni M. Sami , Mukhtar Husameldin , Al-Ahmad Hussain 
Published: June 2024

AbstractGlobal climate change in recent years has resulted in significant changes in sea levels at both global and local scales. Various oceanic and climatic factors play direct and indirect roles in influencing sea level changes, such as temperature, ocean heat, and Greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. This study examined time series analysis models, specifically Autoregressive Moving Average (ARIMA) and Facebook’s prophet, in forecasting the Global Mean Sea Level (GMSL). Additionally, Vector Autoregressive (VAR) model was utilized to investigate the influence of selected oceanic and climatic factors contributing to sea level rise, including ocean heat, air temperature, and GHG emissions. Moreover, the models were applied to regional sea level data from the Arabian Gulf, which experienced higher fluctuations compared to GMSL. Results showed the capability of autoregressive models in long-term forecasting, while the Prophet model excelled in capturing trends and patterns in the time series over extended periods of time.
Exploring online consumer behavior on fraudulent energy-saving products
Authors: Li Pingfei , Zheng Dingwei , Yan Li , Zhou Qianxi 
Published: June 2024

AbstractPurchasing energy-saving products is key for public participation in energy conservation and sustainable development. However, the sale of fraudulent energy-saving products has boomed through online shopping, with little research on these products and consumer demands. This study explored the underlying factors driving consumer purchases of fraudulent energy-saving products and measured their impact on environmental awareness. Sales data for such products from four major online shopping platforms were collected. Results suggested unique demand characteristics from consumers who unknowingly purchase fraudulent energy-saving products, referred to as “hidden energy savers”, including a preference for moderately priced products, a desire for straightforward energy-saving explanations, and a tendency to seek multiple additional features, even if they conflict with the core functionality. Perceived installation and usage difficulty significantly influences purchasing behavior. A practical survey of freight companies and individual transporters’ demand for freight energy-saving products was conducted as a case study to validate the practical application of this research. This study presents a novel perspective on public energy-saving behavior, aiding in creating true energy-saving products, boosting public energy conservation interest, and reducing the negative impact of fraudulent products on environmental awareness. It also sheds light on hidden consumer needs, guiding the development of authentic energy-saving products.
Time to symptom onset and manual reduction outcomes as predictors of bowel viability in incarcerated obturator hernias
Authors: Gokon Yusuke , Ohki Yusuke , Ogino Takahiro , Hatoyama Keiichiro , Shimizu Kenji , Katsura Kazunori , Kashiwadate Toshiaki , Abe Takayuki , Sato Koichiro 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe current study aimed to identify the indications for manual reduction in incarcerated obturator hernias (OH). Further, whether time to symptom onset and manual reduction outcomes can be predictors of bowel viability and the need for bowel resection in incarcerated OH were examined. This retrospective study included 26 patients with incarcerated OH who underwent surgery. All patients underwent manual reduction, and computed tomography scan after manual reduction confirmed hernia release. Multivariate analyses were performed to determine the predictors of bowel resection. The bowel resection group had a significantly longer average time to symptom onset than the nonbowel resection group (88 vs 36 h). Further, the bowel resection group was more likely to have failed manual reduction than the nonbowel resection group. A time to symptom onset of ≥ 72 h and failed manual reduction were significant predictors of bowel viability. Age, sex, hernia localization, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status score, and laboratory findings did not differ significantly between the bowel resection and nonbowel resection groups. Time to symptom onset and manual reduction outcomes are significant predictors of bowel viability in incarcerated OH. Patients with a time to symptom onset of ≥ 72 h and failed manual reduction require surgical evaluation due to a high risk of bowel nonviability. Therefore, a cautious approach is required in the management of OH, and further research on optimized treatment protocols should be conducted.
Optimized PAR-2 RING dimerization mediates cooperative and selective membrane binding for robust cell polarity
Authors: Bland Tom , Hirani Nisha , Briggs David C , Rossetto Riccardo , Ng KangBo , Taylor Ian A , McDonald Neil Q , Zwicker David , Goehring Nathan W 
Published: June 2024

AbstractCell polarity networks are defined by quantitative features of their constituent feedback circuits, which must be tuned to enable robust and stable polarization, while also ensuring that networks remain responsive to dynamically changing cellular states and/or spatial cues during development. Using the PAR polarity network as a model, we demonstrate that these features are enabled by the dimerization of the polarity protein PAR-2 via its N-terminal RING domain. Combining theory and experiment, we show that dimer affinity is optimized to achieve dynamic, selective, and cooperative binding of PAR-2 to the plasma membrane during polarization. Reducing dimerization compromises positive feedback and robustness of polarization. Conversely, enhanced dimerization renders the network less responsive due to kinetic trapping of PAR-2 on internal membranes and reduced sensitivity of PAR-2 to the anterior polarity kinase, aPKC/PKC-3. Thus, our data reveal a key role for a dynamically oligomeric RING domain in optimizing interaction affinities to support a robust and responsive cell polarity network, and highlight how optimization of oligomerization kinetics can serve as a strategy for dynamic and cooperative intracellular targeting.
µPhos: a scalable and sensitive platform for high-dimensional phosphoproteomics
Authors: Oliinyk Denys , Will Andreas , Schneidmadel Felix R , Böhme Maximilian , Rinke Jenny , Hochhaus Andreas , Ernst Thomas , Hahn Nina , Geis Christian , Lubeck Markus , Raether Oliver , Humphrey Sean J , Meier Florian 
Published: June 2024

AbstractMass spectrometry has revolutionized cell signaling research by vastly simplifying the analysis of many thousands of phosphorylation sites in the human proteome. Defining the cellular response to perturbations is crucial for further illuminating the functionality of the phosphoproteome. Here we describe µPhos (‘microPhos’), an accessible phosphoproteomics platform that permits phosphopeptide enrichment from 96-well cell culture and small tissue amounts in <8 h total processing time. By greatly minimizing transfer steps and liquid volumes, we demonstrate increased sensitivity, >90% selectivity, and excellent quantitative reproducibility. Employing highly sensitive trapped ion mobility mass spectrometry, we quantify ~17,000 Class I phosphosites in a human cancer cell line using 20 µg starting material, and confidently localize ~6200 phosphosites from 1 µg. This depth covers key signaling pathways, rendering sample-limited applications and perturbation experiments with hundreds of samples viable. We employ µPhos to study drug- and time-dependent response signatures in a leukemia cell line, and by quantifying 30,000 Class I phosphosites in the mouse brain we reveal distinct spatial kinase activities in subregions of the hippocampal formation.
Coordinated finite‐time control of multiple motors with saturation constraints
Authors: Zhang Changfan , Zhang Junming , He Jing , Jia Lin , Zhou Yang 
Published: June 2024

AbstractA multi‐motor coordinated tracking control strategy based on a disturbance sliding‐mode observer and an anti‐saturation non‐singular fast‐terminal sliding mode is proposed to address the issues of slow convergence and controller output saturation in multi‐motor coordinated control systems. Firstly, a mathematical model of a multi‐motor traction system considering uncertain parameter perturbations, external disturbances, and dead zones was established. Secondly, a disturbance sliding‐mode observer was designed based on the mathematical model to eliminate motor disturbances and estimate the torque. The observer's forward compensation was added to design a total‐consensus‐based fast non‐singular terminal sliding‐mode controller. Then, a fast anti‐saturation auxiliary system with fast finite‐time convergence was constructed. Finally, a comparative experiment was conducted with traditional anti‐saturation sliding‐mode control to demonstrate that the proposed method had faster convergence, stronger disturbance rejection, and better tracking performance in the presence of multi‐motor parameter perturbations, unknown disturbances, and input saturation.
Modelling and analysis of a superconducting magnetic coupler used for cryogenic pump
Authors: Ai Liwang , Ma Pengfei , Miao Sen , Jiang Siyuan , Xu Xiaozhuo 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIt is difficult to achieve low heat leakage and leak‐free rotary sealing for conventional small‐ and medium‐sized cryogenic liquid pumps (CLPs). This is because the motor in a room‐temperature environment is connected to the pump impeller (in a cryogenic environment) via a long transmission shaft. An axial flux‐concentration superconducting magnetic coupler (AFCSMC) is proposed for CLP to eliminate the transmission shaft. Firstly, the structure and the operation mechanism of AFCSMC are described. Then, a 2D electromagnetic modelling method for AFCSMC is established based on the H‐φ formulation and also validated experimentally in terms of the prediction on the levitation force and the guidance force. Thus, the 2D numerical simulations of AFCSMC are performed in an equivalent static system instead of the actual double rotor motion system in which the moving mesh is quite complicated. It is investigated that dependences of the transmission torque on the key electromagnetic structural parameters, such as permanent magnet arrangement, number of pole‐pairs, ferromagnetic yoke, operating slip, and so on. The results indicate that the average transmitting torque is less affected by the operating slip, and AFCSMC can start asynchronously and operate in steady state with a synchronous speed. With the advantages of low loss, risk‐free of desynchronising, and overload protection, the proposed AFCSMC can provide a competitive candidate for mechanical power transmission technologies in cryogenic engineering.
Explicit coordinated signal control using soft actor–critic for cycle length determination
Authors: Zhang Kun , Xu Hongfeng , Pan Baofeng , Zheng Qiming 
Published: June 2024

AbstractExplicit signal coordination carries prior knowledge of traffic engineering and is widely accepted for global implementation. With the recent popularity of reinforcement learning, numerous researchers have turned to implicit signal coordination. However, these methods inevitably require learning coordination from scratch. To maximize the use of prior knowledge, this study proposes an explicit coordinated signal control (ECSC) method using a soft actor–critic for cycle length determination. This method can fundamentally solve the challenges encountered by traditional methods in determining the cycle length. Soft actor–critic was selected among various reinforcement learning methods. A single agent was administered to the arterials. An action is defined as the selection of a cycle length from among the candidates. The state is represented as a feature vector, including the cycle length and features of each leg at every intersection. The reward is defined as departures that indirectly minimize system vehicle delays. Simulation results indicate that ECSC significantly outperforms the baseline methods, as evident in system vehicle delay across nearly all demand scenarios and throughput in high demand scenarios. The ECSC revitalizes explicit signal coordination and introduces new perspectives on the application of reinforcement learning methods in signal coordination.
Medikamentöse Therapien des Ulcus cruris
Authors: Ronicke Moritz , Erfurt-Berge Cornelia 
Published: June 2024

ZusammenfassungChronische Wunden belasten viele Patienten in Deutschland sowie weltweit. Medikamentöse Therapien spielen aktuell bei den häufigeren Ursachen wie dem Ulcus cruris venosum oder dem Ulcus cruris arteriosum noch eine untergeordnete Rolle, obwohl für einzelne Therapien gute Daten vorliegen. Für seltenere Krankheitsbilder wie Kalziphylaxie, Necrobiosis lipoidica und Pyoderma gangraenosum mangelt es oft an belastbaren Studien. Medikamentöse Behandlungen sind hier jedoch für die Abheilung essenziell. Insgesamt mangelt es bei allen genannten Erkrankungen an zugelassenen Therapien. In diesem Artikel werden mögliche medikamentöse Therapieoptionen bei allen genannten Erkrankungen diskutiert.
Silylium-Ion-Initiated Twofold Halodealkylation of Fully Alkylated Silanes
Authors: He Tao , Oestreich Martin , Randt Tobias , Klare Hendrik F. T. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe synthesis of silanes starting from multifunctionalized precursors often suffers from low chemoselectivity due to the similar kinetic reaction profiles, leading to the formation of difficult to separate side products. The opposite approach, which is an access based on unreactive tetraalkylsilanes as starting materials, is far less developed. Making use of the silylium-ion-initiated chemoselective halodealkylation of tetraalkylsilanes recently developed by our laboratory, an extension of this protocol, namely the direct synthesis of dihalosilanes from tetraalkylsilanes, is reported. Following a sequence of halodehydrogenation and halodealkylation, trialkylhydrosilanes can also be converted into dihalosilanes. Commercially available 1,2-dihaloethane acts as the halogen source and is involved in the generation of the catalytically active arenium ion by an SEAr substitution of the benzene solvent. The formation of an uncommon halogen-substituted silylium ion as an intermediate is assumed, likely accounting for the need of an elevated reaction temperature.