bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extracorporeal photopheresis: Is one ounce of blood enough? Case reports
Authors: Kumukova Irina , Kurnikova Elena , Trakhtman Pavel 
Published: December 2023

AbstractExtracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) has proven effective in the treatment of several diseases, including acute and chronic graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. In its standard version, ECP requires leukapheresis to obtain a fraction of mononuclear cells. The possibility of using leukapheresis is limited by the requirements for vascular access and the somatic status of the patient. We have developed a new ECP method that does not require leukapheresis. This paper presents a description of two clinical cases of severe refractory GVHD treated by micro‐ECP.
Preparation of ionic liquid modified graphene and its effect on enhancing the properties of PA6 composites
Authors: Zhang Jiayu , Hong Xiaodong , Long Jiapeng , Liang Bing 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn this study, an ionic liquid (IL) with imidazole and amide groups has been prepared, and used to modify graphene (TSG) by ball milling to fabricate ionic liquid functional graphene (TSG‐IL). During the melt blending process, TSG‐IL forms hydrogen bond with the amide group of PA6, which destroys the hydrogen bond of PA6 itself, enhances the interfacial force between TSG‐IL and PA6 matrix, and improves the dispersion of TSG‐IL in PA6 matrix. There has been some improvement in the mechanical and thermal conductivity of PA6 composites. Additionally, the presence of amide groups makes it easy to form hydrogen bonds between TSG‐IL sheets, thus strengthening the connection between TSG‐IL and each other, which is conducive to the construction of thermal conductivity network. The findings indicate that compares to TSG/PA6 composites with the same filler amount, the TSG‐IL/PA6 composites have better heat conductivity and higher mechanical characteristics. 9 wt.% TSG‐IL/PA6 composite has the highest thermal conductivity (0.498 W·m−1·k−1), which is 92.3% and 17.2% greater than that of pure PA6 and 9 wt.% TSG/PA6, and its impact strength (11.12 kJ/m2) is 11.0% and 7% higher, which would be a popular candidate material in the field of thermal conductivity.Highlights
Imidazole ionic liquids with amide groups was synthesized.
Amide groups were modified onto graphene sheets by ball‐milling.
The dispersion of TSG‐IL in PA6 was studied.
Improved mechanical property and thermal conductivity of TSG‐IL/PA6 composites.
Nylon 6/palygorskite nanocomposites: The influence of clay surface modification and processing parameters on the clay dispersion, mechanical, thermal, and rheological properties
Authors: Uribe‐Calderon Jorge Alonso , Cisneros‐Rosado David , May‐Pat Alejandro , Sanchez‐Valdes Saul 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe influence of surface modification and some processing parameters on the palygorskite (Pal) dispersion and the mechanical, thermal and rheological properties of the resulting Nylon 6 nanocomposites was investigated. Natural Pal was surface modified with hexadecyl tributyl phosphonium and 3‐aminopropyl trimethoxysilane to produce organoclays with different surface energy values. Nylon 6/Pal nanocomposites were produced by twin screw extrusion and then injection molded, Pal loading was 2 wt. % in all the cases. A screw configuration was designed to impose different level of shear stresses to the nanocomposites during processing, and nanocomposites were extruded at two different screw speeds. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations indicated that Pal was dispersed differently depending mainly on the degree of shear stress and surface modification of Pal. The best tensile mechanical properties were achieved with Pal exhibiting the lowest surface energy value dispersed with the screw having high shear configuration. The fatigue life of nylon 6 improved with addition of Pal. The experimental results give some guidelines for producing Nylon 6/Pal nanocomposites with improved properties.
Effect of contextual diversity on word recognition in different semantic contexts
Authors: Mu Zhongchen 
Published: December 2023

AbstractEfficient word recognition is important to facilitate reading comprehension. Two important factors influence word recognition—word frequency (WF) and contextual diversity (CD)—but studies have not reached consistent conclusions on their role. Based on previous studies, the present study strictly controlled the anticipation of sentence context on target words. In the context of the semantic incongruence of Chinese sentences—that is, when the context is equivalent and low in anticipation of the target noun—CD effects were found on late processing indicators of the eye movement data of parafoveal words, and the CD feature of parafoveal words led to a significant parafoveal‐on‐foveal effect. However, none of these results were found in the semantically reasonable (semantic congruence) context. The results suggested that high CD words are better at adapting to unexposed or learned contexts, which was not the case for high WF words.
Simulation‐based analysis of weld line strength of glass fiber‐reinforced polymer in injection molding
Authors: Kameya Kyoko , Ogata Hiroyuki , Tanohata Naoki 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe injection molding market is expected to grow with the increasing demand from various industries, such as automotive and furniture. However, weld lines in the injection molded part reduce the structural strength and affects its appearance. This study evaluates the effect of the weld line on the structure by shifting the position of the weld line outside the area where the load is applied by manipulating the opening time of the injection gates. We examined the effect of weld lines on the strength of a chair through coupled resin flow and structural analyses. The analysis revealed that the position of the weld lines is crucial for structural strength if the knockdown factor (KDF) is low. Additionally, controlling the opening time of the gate and shifting the position of the weld line improved the structure's appearance, number of weld line and avoid the lower meeting angle. However, depending on the material, the effect may be weak. For example, when the weld line location did not change much despite changing the gate timing, little change was observed in the number of weld lines. Hence, the improvement strategy of weld line should be considered for material types and strength.Highlights
Injection molding growth driven by automotive, packaging, furniture demand.
Weld lines impact structural strength and appearance.
Shifting weld line position outside load area improves the structural appearance and strength.
Effects of shifting weld line position depended on the material types.
Weld line position is crucial for low knockdown factor and affects strength.
Biological control of wheat powdery mildew disease by the termite‐associated fungus Aspergillus chevalieriBYST01 and potential role of secondary metabolites
Authors: Zhang Shuxiang , Huang Zhongdi , Xu Huanhuan , Liu Qihua , Jiang Zhou , Yin Caiping , Han Guomin , Zhang Wei , Zhang Yinglao 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBACKGROUNDWheat powdery mildew, caused by the biotrophic pathogen Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici (Bgt) is a serious fungal disease. Natural metabolites produced by microorganisms are beneficial biological control agents to inhibit Bgt. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Aspergillus chevalieri BYST01 on wheat powdery mildew.RESULTSA strain isolated from the termite was identified as A. chevalieri BYST01 by morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analysis. The fermentation broth of BYST01 showed good biocontrol effect on the Bgt in vivo with the control efficiencies of 81.59% and 71.34% under the protective and therapeutic tests, respectively. Four known metabolites, including the main compound physcion (30 mg/L), were isolated from the fermentation broth of BYST01 extracted with ethyl acetate. Importantly, under a concentration of 0.1 mM, physcion repressed conidial germination of Bgt with an inhibition rate of 77.04% in vitro and showed important control efficiencies of 80.36% and 74.64% in vivo under the protective and therapeutic tests, respectively. Hence, the BYST01 showed important potential as a microbial cell factory for the high yield of the green natural fungicide physcion. Finally, the biosynthetic gene clusters responsible for physicon production in BYST01 was predicted by analyzing a chromosome‐scale genome obtained using a combination of Illumina, PacBio, and Hi‐C sequencing technologies.CONCLUSIONAspergillus chevalieri BYST01 and its main metabolite physcion had a significant control effect on wheat powdery mildew. The biosynthesis pathway of physcion in BYST01 was predicted. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
Engineered Living Material Bioreactors with Tunable Mechanical Properties using Vat Photopolymerization
Authors: Altin‐Yavuzarslan Gokce , Sadaba Naroa , Brooks Sierra M. , Alper Hal S. , Nelson Alshakim 
Published: December 2023

Abstract3D‐printed engineered living materials (ELM) are promising bioproduction platforms for agriculture, biotechnology, sustainable energy, and green technology applications. However, the design of these platforms faces several challenges, such as the processability of these materials into complex form factors and control over their mechanical properties. Herein, ELM are presented as 3D‐printed bioreactors with arbitrary shape geometries and tunable mechanical properties (moduli and toughness). Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) is used as the precursor to create polymer networks that encapsulate the microorganisms during the vat photopolymerization process. A major limitation of PEGDA networks is their propensity to swell and fracture when submerged in water. The authors overcame this issue by adding glycerol to the resin formulation to 3D print mechanically tough ELM hydrogels. While polymer concentration affects the modulus and reduces bioproduction, ELM bioreactors still maintain their metabolic activity regardless of polymer concentration. These ELM bioreactors have the potential to be used in different applications for sustainable architecture, food production, and biomedical devices that require different mechanical properties from soft to stiff.
Ultra‐Stable Ti Vacancies‐Pt Atomic Clusters Structure on Titanium Oxycarbide Supports for High Current Density Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Zhang Jintao , Wang Mingyong , An Jialiang , Shi Haotian , Dai Lei , Jiao Shuqiang 
Published: December 2023

AbstractElectrocatalysts with low Pt loading mass to achieve high current density (≥1 A cm−2) for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) are still extremely challenging due to the limited intrinsic activity and weak stability of catalytic sites. The modulation of the electronic microenvironment of the support‐Pt structure is crucial to enhance the intrinsic activity and stability of catalytic sites. Herein, an innovative titanium oxycarbide (TiVCO) solid solution with Ti vacancies (TiV) is proposed as support to anchor sub‐nanoscale Pt atomic clusters (Pt ACs) and a stable “TiV‐Pt ACs” structure is carefully designed. The electronic microenvironment of “TiV‐Pt ACs” is indirectly optimized by an unsaturated C/O site near TiV. Thanks to this, novel “TiV‐Pt ACs” structure (Pt@TiVCO) with low Pt loading mass (2.44 wt.%) exhibits excellent HER activity in acidic solution and the mass activity is more than ten times that of commercial 20% Pt/C at the overpotentials of 50 and 100 mV. Particularly, Pt@TiVCO shows amazing stability at high and fluctuating current density of 1–2 A cm−2 for 120 h. This work provides a novel and promising method to develop stable and low‐loading Pt‐based catalysts adapting to high current density.
Structural, Thermo‐Functional, and Rheological Properties of Dielectric Modified Underutilized Jicama (Pachyrhizus, spp.) Starch
Authors: Kishore Anand , Singh Anupama , Sharanagat Vijay Singh , Pati Kalidas 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn this study, underutilized jicama starch (JS) is treated in dielectric‐heating at different power (300, 450, 600 W) and time (1, 3, 5 min), and the change in structural, thermo‐functional, and rheological properties is observed. The dielectric modification increases the water absorption (0.81–2.88 g g−1), whereas the oil absorption capacity (1.02–0.83 g g−1) and bulk density (0.52–0.39 g mL−1) are reduced as compared to native starch. Lightness (95.46–96.26) of JS non‐significantly varies with dielectric‐heating, whereas a significant effect is observed in redness (0.01–0.06) and yellowness (3.74–4.24). The apparent viscosity of all treated samples shows shear thinning behavior. All the pasting properties other than the setback and pasting temperature of dielectric treated samples are significantly (p < 0.05) decreased at higher power than control. The onset (46.50–81.67 °C), peak (64–99.23 °C), and end temperature (68.27–100.77 °C) of gelatinization transition increased, which shows better thermal stability as compared to control. The strong‐peak for the control and treated sample is observed at around 1000 cm−1 wavenumber in the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The structural changes have been observed by X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron micrographs (SEM) shows shrinkage and deformation at each power and time.
Use of bee venom in preventive medicine: An experimental hepatic encephalopathy study in rats
Authors: Bayraktar Mustafa , Hacımüftüoğlu Ahmet , Okkay Ufuk , Koçak Mehmet Nuri , Kösedağ Murat , Tekin Erdal , Çelik Muhammet , Okkay Irmak Ferah , Bayram Cemil , Ertuğrul Muhammet Sait , Sezen Selma 
Published: December 2023

AbstractObjectivesBee venom is used for medicinal purposes, including the treatment of neurological and liver diseases, but its use as a primary health care approach for preventive purposes requires further exploration. The aim of this study was to provide the first investigation into the possible protective effects of bee venom against hepatic encephalopathy, a serious neurodegenerative disease.Materials and MethodsAn experimental animal study was conducted in which healthy albino Sprague–Dawley rats were randomized into three groups: healthy, control and bee venom groups. All rats were tested for locomotor activity at the beginning and end of the study. No intervention was made in the healthy group, whereas hepatic encephalopathy was induced in the control and bee venom groups by the administration of thioacetamide (TAA) (200 mg/kg/day). The bee venom group also received bee venom (5 mg/kg/day) subcutaneously every day for 14 days prior to the TAA administration.ResultsThe results for the final locomotor activity tests were statistically better in the bee venom group than in the control group, supporting a beneficial effect of prophylactic bee venom application. Blood ammonia levels and liver weights, determined as indicators of inflammation, were lower in the bee venom group than in the control group and were close to levels in the healthy group, but not statistically significant.ConclusionsBee venom administration has protective effects against the development of hepatic encephalopathy and offers a promising therapeutic opportunity in preventive medicine.
Mutation Breeding for Resistance to Striga Hermonthica in Sorghum and Rice for Sustainable Food Production in Sudan
Authors: Awad Ayman Abdel Maged 
Published: December 2023

AbstractStriga is the most limiting biotic constraint to sorghum and rice production in much of Sudan. This chapter describes protocols used to screen for Striga resistance among gamma irradiated elite sorghum and rice cultivars adapted to Sudanese agroecologies. The original cultivars show high yield potential but are Striga susceptible. The physical mutagenesis attempted to create genetic variants among these Sudanese cultivars with improved Striga resistance. Methods for collecting, cleaning, storing and testing germination of S. hermonthica seeds suitable for resistance screening are also described.
Identification of Closely Related Polymorphisms with Striga Resistance Using Next Generation Sequencing
Authors: Cui Songkui , Ghanim Abdelbagi M. A. , Yoshida Satoko 
Published: December 2023

AbstractMolecular markers are powerful tools to enhance speed of breeding. Recent advances of sequencing technology allow us to identify most polymorphisms in a genome. Whole genome resequencing of an F2 segregating population can identify those polymorphisms that co-segregate with a mutant phenotype, which theoretically include the gene responsible for Striga resistance gained through mutagenesis. This protocol explains the isolation of high-quality genomic DNA for sequencing and step-by-step procedures for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identification from bulked F2 sequences.
Symptomatic Non-stenotic Carotid Disease in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source
Authors: Marko Martha , Singh Nishita , Ospel Johanna M. , Uchida Kazutaka , Almekhlafi Mohammed A. , Demchuk Andrew M. , Nogueira Raul G. , McTaggart Ryan A. , Poppe Alexandre Y. , Rempel Jeremy L. , Tymianski Michael , Hill Michael D. , Goyal Mayank , Menon Bijoy K. ,   the ESCAPE-NA1 Investigators
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Non-stenotic (< 50%) carotid disease may play an important etiological role in ischemic stroke classified as embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). We aimed to assess the prevalence of non-stenotic carotid disease and its association with ipsilateral ischemic stroke.

Methods
Data are from ESCAPE-NA1, a randomized controlled trial investigating the neuroprotectant nerinetide in patients with acute ischemic stroke and large vessel occlusion (LVO). The degree of stenosis of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) and high-risk plaque features were assessed on baseline computed tomography (CT) angiography. We evaluated the association of non-stenotic carotid disease and ipsilateral stroke by age-adjusted and sex-adjusted logistic regression and calculated the attributable risk of ipsilateral stroke caused by non-stenotic carotid disease.

Results
After excluding patients with non-assessable imaging, symptomatic > 50% carotid stenosis and extracranial dissection, 799/1105 (72.1%) patients enrolled in ESCAPE-NA1 remained for this analysis. Of these, 127 (15.9%) were classified as ESUS. Non-stenotic carotid disease occurred in 34/127 ESUS patients (26.8%) and was associated with the presence of ipsilateral ischemic stroke (odds ratio, OR 1.6, 95% confidence interval, CI 1.0–2.6, p = 0.049). The risk of ipsilateral ischemic stroke attributable to non-stenotic carotid disease in ESUS was estimated to be 19.7% (95% CI −5.7% to 39%), the population attributable risk was calculated as 4.3%. Imaging features such as plaque thickness, plaque irregularity or plaque ulceration were not different between non-stenotic carotids with vs. without ipsilateral stroke.

Conclusion
Non-stenotic carotid disease frequently occurs in patients classified as ESUS and is associated with ipsilateral ischemic stroke. Our findings support the role of non-stenotic carotid disease as stroke etiology in ESUS, but further prospective research is needed to prove a causal relationship.
Häufung von Komplikationen der akuten Otitis media und Sinusitis bei Kindern 2022/2023
Authors: Voß Noemi , Sadok Nadia , Goretzki Sarah , Dohna-Schwake Christian , Meyer Moritz F. , Mattheis Stefan , Lang Stephan , Stähr Kerstin 
Published: December 2023

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Akute Mastoiditiden und orbitale Komplikationen der akuten Rhinosinusitis gehören zu den häufigsten Komplikationen pädiatrischer Infektionen in der Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde.

Ziel der Arbeit
Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Häufigkeit von akuter Mastoiditis und orbitalen Komplikationen der akuten Rhinosinusitis bei Kindern nach Aufhebung der COVID-19-Sozialdistanzierung im Vergleich zu vor Beginn der Pandemie zu untersuchen.

Material und Methoden
In die Studie eingeschlossen wurden alle Kinder mit akuter Mastoiditis und orbitalen Komplikationen bei akuter Sinusitis im Zeitraum von April 2017 bis März 2023, die am untersuchten Universitätsklinikum stationär behandelt wurden. Die drei Zeiträume von April 2017 bis März 2020 (vor der Pandemie in Deutschland), April 2020 bis März 2022 (während der Kontaktbeschränkungen in der Pandemie) und April 2022 bis März 2023 (nach Aufhebung der Kontaktbeschränkungen) wurden mittels deskriptiver Statistik miteinander verglichen.

Ergebnisse
Insgesamt wurden 102 Kinder (43 mit akuter Mastoiditis, 42 %, und 59 mit orbitalen Komplikationen einer akuten Sinusitis, 58 %) eingeschlossen. Im Zeitraum 2022/2023 wurden mehr als doppelt so viele Kinder mit akuter Mastoiditis und circa dreimal so viele Kinder mit orbitalen Komplikationen einer akuten Rhinosinusitis stationär behandelt im Vergleich zum Durchschnitt der Zeiträume 2017/2018, 2018/2019 und 2019/2020. Im Zeitraum 2020/2021 lag die Anzahl dieser Patient:innen unter dem Durchschnitt der vorangegangenen Jahre.

Schlussfolgerung
Die diesjährige saisonale Häufung von Infekten der oberen Atemwege geht einher mit einem überdurchschnittlichen Auftreten von orbitalen Komplikationen und Mastoiditiden.
Perpetual American Options with Asset-Dependent Discounting
Authors: Al-Hadad Jonas , Palmowski Zbigniew 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIn this paper we consider the following optimal stopping problem $$\begin{aligned} V^{\omega }_{\text {A}}(s) = \sup _{\tau \in {\mathcal {T}}} {\mathbb {E}}_{s}[e^{-\int _0^\tau \omega (S_w) dw} g(S_\tau )], \end{aligned}$$

V
A
ω

(
s
)

=

sup

τ
∈
T

E
s

[

e

-

∫
0
τ

ω

(

S
w

)

d
w

g

(

S
τ

)

]

,

where the process $$S_t$$

S
t

is a jump-diffusion process, $${\mathcal {T}}$$
T
is a family of stopping times while g and $$\omega $$
ω
are fixed payoff function and discount function, respectively. In a financial market context, if $$g(s)=(K-s)^+$$

g

(
s
)

=

(
K
-
s
)

+

or $$g(s)=(s-K)^+$$

g

(
s
)

=

(
s
-
K
)

+

and $${\mathbb {E}}$$
E
is the expectation taken with respect to a martingale measure, $$V^{\omega }_{\text {A}}(s)$$

V
A
ω

(
s
)

describes the price of a perpetual American option with a discount rate depending on the value of the asset process $$S_t$$

S
t

. If $$\omega $$
ω
is a constant, the above problem produces the standard case of pricing perpetual American options. In the first part of this paper we find sufficient conditions for the convexity of the value function $$V^{\omega }_{\text {A}}(s)$$

V
A
ω

(
s
)

. This allows us to determine the stopping region as a certain interval and hence we are able to identify the form of $$V^{\omega }_{\text {A}}(s)$$

V
A
ω

(
s
)

. We also present a put-call symmetry for American options with asset-dependent discounting. In the case when $$S_t$$

S
t

is a spectrally negative geometric Lévy process we give exact expressions using the so-called omega scale functions introduced in [30]. We show that the analysed value function satisfies the HJB equation and we give sufficient conditions for the smooth fit property as well. Finally, we present a few examples for which we obtain the analytical form of the value function $${V}^{\omega }_{\text {A}}(s)$$

V

A
ω

(
s
)

.