bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Foliar humic acid and salicylic acid application stimulates physiological responses and antioxidant systems to improve maize yield under water limitations
Authors: Altaf Adnan , Nawaz Fahim , Majeed Sadia , Ahsan Muhammad , Ahmad Khawaja Shafique , Akhtar Gulzar , Shehzad Muhammad Asif , Javeed Hafiz Muhammad Rashad , Farman Muhammad 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBackgroundHumic acid (HA) is an organic acid that is naturally present in soil organic matter and improves nutrient availability and the mechanisms involved in plant growth and development. Likewise, salicylic acid (SA) is an important plant hormone involved in the regulation of plant growth and development. A pot experiment was carried out to determine the effects of individual or combined HA and SA application on growth and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) under drought stress conditions. Two maize hybrids, namely, 30T60 (drought tolerant) and 75S75 (drought sensitive), were grown in semi‐controlled conditions and foliar applied with SA (1 mM), HA (100 mg L−1) and their combination (HA + SA). The plants were exposed to drought stress at the tasseling stage (R1, 60 days after sowing) for 2 weeks, while control plants were given normal irrigation.ResultsThe results showed that HA and SA applications significantly enhanced the gas exchange characteristics (photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance), and antioxidant activity (catalase, guaiacol peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase) of water stressed maize plants. Foliar SA spray significantly increased the photosynthetic efficiency and activity of enzymatic antioxidants closely followed by HA + SA application that ultimately improved the yield and net benefit cost ratio of maize under water deficit conditions.ConclusionOur findings suggest that foliar spraying of SA at the initiation of the reproductive stage is a cost‐effective strategy to obtain a high maize yield under limited water conditions.
Reconstruction of Abdominal Wall Defect with Composite Scaffold of 3D Printed ADM/PLA in a Rat Model
Authors: Song Zhicheng , Yang Dongchao , Hu Qingxi , Wang Yiming , Zhang Haiguang , Dong Wenpei , Yang Jianjun , Gu Yan 
Published: February 2023

AbstractAbdominal wall defects are a frequently occurring condition in surgical practice. The most important are material structure and biocompatibility. In this study, polylactic acid (PLA) mesh composited with a 3D printing of acellular dermal matrix (ADM) material is used to repair abdominal wall defects. The results show that the adhesion score of ADM/PLA composite scaffolds is smaller than PLA meshes. Immunohistochemical assessment reveals that the ADM/PLA composite scaffold can effectively reduce the inflammatory response at the contact surface between the meshes and the abdominal organs. And the ADM/PLA composite scaffold can effectively reduce the expression levels of the inflammation‐related factors IL‐6 and IL‐10. In addition, the ADM/PLA composite scaffold repair is rich in the expression levels of tissue regeneration‐related factors vascular endothelial growth factor and transforming growth factor β. Thus, ADM/PLA composite scaffolds can effectively reduce surrounding inflammation to effectively promote the repair of abdominal wall defects.
High birefringence and near‐zero dispersion control of nonlinear photonic crystal fibers with a double‐cladded coaxial core
Authors: Kim Jeong 
Published: February 2023

AbstractOptical propagation characteristics of high birefringence (HB), near‐zero chromatic dispersion, and small effective mode area are first investigated along with simultaneously effective controllability for the new double‐cladded coaxial core photonic crystal fibers with the breakthrough air‐hole defects at the middle‐top, middle‐bottom, right‐top, and left‐bottom, as pairs, which enable the adaptation of novel systematic approach for design goals in the inner first hexagonal cladding layer. Compared with results (around 3.2 × 10−4) of well‐known HB optical fibers, superior performance for preserving the lightwave polarization state by about three times higher HB levels has been achieved with additive advantages of fabrication from only pure fused silica material and broadly unlimited stable single‐mode operation.
A robust computational strategy for failure prediction of masonry structures using an improved multi‐surface damage‐plastic based interface model
Authors: Nie Yu , Sheikh Abdul , Visintin Phillip , Griffith Michael 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn this study, a new traction‐separation based constitutive model for use in finite element simulation of masonry joints under complex loading conditions is developed for cohesive elements. The proposed model is formulated using damage parameters and plastic deformation with mutual couplings, and can accurately simulate the complex nonlinear behaviors of masonry joints considering hardening or softening of strength and stiffness degradation. To enhance the numerical stability of the model, plasticity and damage are separated algorithmically and implemented in two phases. In the first phase, the plastic deformations are treated using a multi‐surface plasticity model composed of a smooth hyperbolic yield surface for tension‐shear mixed‐mode failure and an elliptical cap primarily for the compressive failure. This is implemented in effective stress space and helps restrict the evolution of yield surfaces with no softening, significantly enhancing the efficiency of stress return mapping by the closed point projection method. In addition, an adaptive sub‐stepping scheme is adopted to further improve the robustness of the numerical implementation. In the second phase, nominal stresses are computed from the effective stresses using damage parameters. The evolution of these damage parameters is defined in terms of plastic work which is defined by a polynomial form, and is recommended in this study for a better calibration capability. Improvements are made in the formulation of compressive cap including incorporation of hardening of strength and stiffness degradations as these are ignored in existing interface models. This approach helped improve simulation of masonry under cyclic loads with tension‐compression transitions. For the structural level applications, the interface model is implemented within a finite element program, which is utilized to simulate failure of a number of masonry specimens under in‐plane/out‐of‐plane monotonic/cyclic loading. The simulated results are rigorously validated with existing experimental data that shows a good potential in modeling masonry structures.
Obesity and overweight are linked to increased sodium‐glucose cotransporter 1 and glucose transporter 5 levels in duodenum
Authors: Fiorentino Teresa Vanessa , De Vito Francesca , Suraci Evelina , Marasco Raffaella , Hribal Marta Letizia , Luzza Francesco , Sesti Giorgio 
Published: February 2023

AbstractObjectivePrior evidence indicates that individuals with obesity have an accelerated intestinal glucose absorption. This cross‐sectional study evaluated whether those with overweight or obesity display higher duodenal protein levels of the glucose carriers sodium‐glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT‐1), glucose transporter 2 (GLUT‐2), and glucose transporter 5 (GLUT‐5).MethodsSGLT‐1, GLUT‐2, and GLUT‐5 protein levels were assessed on duodenal mucosa biopsies of 52 individuals without diabetes categorized on the basis of their BMI as lean, with overweight, or with obesity.ResultsIndividuals with overweight and obesity exhibited progressively increased duodenal protein levels of SGLT‐1 and GLUT‐5 as compared with the lean group. Conversely, no differences in duodenal GLUT‐2 abundance were found among the three groups. Univariate analysis showed that SGLT‐1 and GLUT‐5 protein levels were positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, 1‐hour post‐load glucose, fasting and post‐load insulin, and insulin secretion and resistance levels. Furthermore, a positive relationship was detected between intestinal GLUT‐5 levels and serum uric acid concentrations, a product of fructose metabolism known to be involved in the pathogenesis of obesity and its complications.ConclusionsIndividuals with overweight and obesity display enhanced duodenal SGLT‐1 and GLUT‐5 abundance, which correlates with increased postprandial glucose concentrations, insulin resistance, and hyperinsulinemia.
Investigating the use of natural hollow fibers from common milkweed to improve the mechanical and thermal properties of epoxy resin
Authors: Sanchez‐Diaz Simon , Ouellet Carl , Elkoun Saïd , Robert Mathieu 
Published: February 2023

AbstractMilkweed floss was used as a reinforcement to develop lightweight epoxy composites with enhanced thermal insulating properties. Seed fibers fromAsclepias Syriacaharvested in Quebec were used for this study. Some fibers were treated with acetone to remove their protective hydrophobic coating. Epoxy resin was blended with 15% w/w of native or acetone‐treated milkweed floss to form prepregs. The prepregs were casted into molds, degassed, and compressed to produce the composites. The composites were passed through a post‐curing phase before characterization. The composites and the epoxy resin alone were characterized to determine their density, porosity, thermal conductivity, thermal degradation, mechanical resistance, and thermo‐mechanical behavior. The composites reinforced with native or acetone‐treated milkweed floss were 7.4% and 10.3% lighter than the epoxy resin, respectively. The specific elastic modulus of the resin increased by 9.6% and 20.1% with the addition of native or acetone‐treated fibers, respectively. The thermal conductivity of the epoxi decreased by 7.8% and 15.6% with the use of native or acetone‐treated milkweed floss, respectively. Due to their low weight and reduced thermal conductivity, the milkweed‐reinforced epoxy composites may find applications in the production of structural and insulating elements for vehicles and buildings.
Qualitative and quantitative contaminants assessment in recycled pellets from post‐consumer plastic waste by means of spectroscopic and thermal characterization
Authors: Cozzarini Luca , Marsich Lucia , Ferluga Alessio 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe complexity of any plastic recycling initiative lies in the heterogeneous nature of the post‐consumer commingled plastic waste stream: recycling treatments are challenging without prior reliable sorting. A suitable identification system should be able to recognize different plastics and blends. Nowadays, the main technique used as quality control in plastic waste sorting centers is differential scanning calorimetry, whose result can be purely qualitative or semi‐quantitative, since only the crystalline fraction is evaluated. Moreover, the time required for data acquisition is relatively long. Infrared spectroscopy is an alternative, faster technique extensively used in applied research, but not widely utilized in industry. In this work, the cross‐use of infrared spectroscopy and calorimetry is tested in a real, practical case: the quality control of recycled pellets (namely composed of polyolefins only), which represent the output of a commingled plastic recycling plant and are used as secondary raw materials for different applications. Appropriate infrared spectroscopy calibration curves were built to allow the quantitative analysis with respect to the most common polymers found in the commingled plastic waste stream; the composition and contaminants in the recycled pellets were thereby determined and tracked through different production batches through the cross‐use of the two techniques outlined above.
Targeting lipid metabolism with natural products: A novel strategy for gastrointestinal cancer therapy
Authors: Guo Cui , Zhang Lanlan , Zhao Maoyuan , Ai Yanling , Liao Wenhao , Wan Lina , Liu Qingsong , Li Songtao , Zeng Jinhao , Ma Xiao , Tang Jianyuan 
Published: February 2023

AbstractGastrointestinal cancer (GIC), including gastric cancer and colorectal cancer, is a common malignant tumor originating from gastrointestinal epithelial cells. Although the pathogenesis of GIC remains unclear, aberrant lipid metabolism has emerged as a hallmark of cancer. Several enzymes, proteins, and transcription factors are involved in lipid metabolism reprogramming in GIC, and their abnormal expression can promote lipid synthesis and accumulation of lipid droplets through numerous mechanisms, thereby affecting the growth, proliferation, and metastasis of GIC cells. Studies show that some natural compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and saponins, can inhibit the de novo synthesis of lipids in GIC, reduce the level of lipid accumulation, and subsequently, inhibit the occurrence and development of GIC by regulating Sterol regulatory element‐binding protein 1 (SREBP‐1), adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), phosphatidylinositol‐3‐kinase/Akt and the mammalian target of rapamycin PI3K/Akt/mTOR, amongst other targets and pathways. Therefore, targeting tumor lipid metabolism is the focus of anti‐gastrointestinal tumor therapy. Although most natural products require further high‐quality studies to firmly establish their clinical efficacy, we review the potential of natural products in the treatment of GIC and summarize the application prospect of lipid metabolism as a new target for the treatment of GIC, hoping to provide a reference for drug development for gastrointestinal tumors.
Two cases of large tracheobronchial schwannomas completely resected by rigid bronchoscopy with multiple instruments
Authors: Kim Changhwan , Nam Hae‐Seong , Ko Yousang 
Published: February 2023

AbstractPrimary tracheobronchial schwannomas are extremely rare. Surgical treatment has been the first choice for these benign tumours due to the substantial residual rates and recurrences after bronchoscopic resection. In addition, there has been limited information on bronchoscopic removal of endobronchial schwannomas. We describe two cases of large tracheal and bronchial schwannomas that were completely and successfully resected by snare electrocautery, insulation‐tipped knife, and argon plasma coagulation under rigid bronchoscopy. These cases highlight that rigid bronchoscopic treatment with these multiple instruments can be a good treatment option for endotracheal or endobronchial schwannomas.
Quantum mechanics and Alexander Bogdanov's worldview: A conversation
Authors: Rovelli Carlo , Jackson Michael C. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThis paper is a transcript of the dialogue between Carlo Rovelli and Mike Jackson after Rovelli's delivery of the 2021 Annual Mike Jackson Lecture, hosted by the Centre for Systems Studies at the University of Hull. The dialogue covers a range of topics, including how Rovelli developed a sense of curiosity in his youth; the connection between his interests in science and politics; the pathology of disciplinary divisions in academia; the value of Bogdanov's transdisciplinarity; Rovelli's theory of quantum gravity; the notions of granularity, indeterminism and relationality underpinning quantum mechanics; the role of the observer; mistaken uses of quantum mechanics; relational and network views of the world; how the discipline of Physics is becoming more systemic; the concept of levels of analysis in relation to nature and human inquiry; and the future for humanity.
Context-Specific Issues and Challenges of Policing in the Pacific
Authors: Watson Danielle , Howes Loene , Dinnen Sinclair , Bull Melissa , Amin Sara N. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIssues and challenges are not uncommon to policing organisations across the globe. For those in Pacific Islands countries and territories (PICTs), common issues such as functioning in a limited or resource-constrained environment and adapting to continuously increasing stakeholder demands are further compounded by geographic context. The region presents unique policing spaces, which means that policing challenges characterised as normal or conventional must be dealt with alongside unconventional policing issues specific to PICTs with varied governance arrangements, strained resources, diverse cultures and traditions, reliance on external support, spaces that are policed by alternative means, and large and often fragmented jurisdictions. This chapter provides an overview of the challenges faced by police organisations in PICTs and shows that policing in these contexts is as much about improvisation as it is about discretion and professional practice. It establishes a context for later discussions about crime in PICTs; formal and informal policing roles across the region underscored by geography, tradition, culture, and religion; international policing agendas; and contemporary shifts in arguments about women in policing.
Conclusion
Authors: Watson Danielle , Howes Loene , Dinnen Sinclair , Bull Melissa , Amin Sara N. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractPolice organisations of the Pacific reflect the diversity and complexity of the countries and territories of the region, in terms of their size and the legitimacy and technical capabilities of these relatively young states. This short concluding chapter reflects upon the issues faced by Pacific Island policing organisations as discussed in previous chapters. It acknowledges the challenges police face in negotiating with diverse sources of authority and multiple actors in domestic settings and international settings, as well as the increasing vulnerability of Pacific Island countries and territories to transnational crime and insecurity produced through global mobility and communications technology, and the implications of changing gender dynamics on policing across the region. The chapter calls for further research on Pacific policing that adopts indigenous methodologies, community participation, and stakeholder partnerships to inform appropriately nuanced and contextualised policy and action on policing in the Pacific Islands.
Embedding of the Georgi-Glashow SU(5) model in the superconformal algebra
Authors: Alvarez P. D. , Chavez R. A. , Zanelli J. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
We present a scheme to construct grand unified models based on the superconformal algebra and the inclusion of matter fields in the adjoint representation of supersymmetry. As an illustration, we implemented the Georgi-Glashow SU(5) model. The model predicts the existence of a dark (1,24, 0) + (5,5*, −y′) + (5*,5, y′) sector and an anomalous U(1)Z.
On the rank of general linear series on stable curves
Authors: Christ Karl 
Published: February 2023

AbstractWe study the dimension of loci of special line bundles on stable curves and for a fixed semistable multidegree. In case of total degree $$d = g - 1$$

d
=
g
-
1

, we characterize when the effective locus gives a Theta divisor. In case of degree $$g - 2$$

g
-
2

and g, we show that the locus is either empty or has the expected dimension. This leads to a new characterization of semistability in these degrees. In the remaining cases, we show that the special locus has codimension at least 2. If the multidegree in addition is non-negative on each irreducible component of the curve, we show that the special locus contains an irrreducible component of expected dimension.
A catastrophe theory-based model for optimal control of chemical reactions by means of oriented electric fields
Authors: Bofill Josep Maria , Quapp Wolfgang , Albareda Guillem , Moreira Ibério de P. R. , Ribas-Ariño Jordi , Severi Marco 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe effect of oriented external electric fields (OEEF) on chemical reactivity has been studied theoretically and computationally in the last decades. A central goal in this research area is to predict the orientation and the smallest amplitude electric field that renders a barrierless chemical process with the smallest possible strength. Recently, a model to find the optimal electric field has been proposed and described (Bofill JM et al., J. Chem. Theory Comput. 18:935, 2022). We here proof that this model is based on catastrophe and optimum control theories. Based on both theories a technical treatment of the model is given and applied to a two-dimensional generic example that provides insight into its nature and capability. Finally, the model is applied to determine the optimal OEEF for the trans-to-cis isomerization of a [3]cumulene derivative.
Flaxseed mucilage/calcium phosphate composites as bioactive material for bone tissue regeneration
Authors: Salama Ahmed , Saleh Safaa , Abou-Zeid Ragab E. , Akl Engy M. , Tolba Emad 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBiocompatible polymers are attractive material for the manufacturing of surgical implants which break down in vivo without the necessity for a consequent operation for removal. Elaboration of composite biomaterials scaffolds as artificial bone graft materials remains a major task in bioengineering. Flaxseed mucilage was used as bioactive polysaccharide for preparing composite scaffolds made of calcium phosphate embedded in mucilage matrix. Calcium chloride was mixed with mucilage followed by the addition of phosphate precursor to stimulate the in situ formation of calcium phosphate. The obtained scaffolds mucilage/calcium phosphate at different pHs (5 and 8) were characterized using FTIR, XRD, TGA, SEM/EDX and TEM. The results showed the formation of two phases: mucilage/dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (MU/brushite) and mucilage/hydroxyapatite (MU/HA). MTT test was applied to evaluate viability of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts cells, and the formed hybrids at various pH conditions were classified as non-cytotoxic. These findings establish the potential of developed composite to be used as bone graft substitute materials.
Time series radiomics for the prediction of prostate cancer progression in patients on active surveillance
Authors: Sushentsev Nikita , Rundo Leonardo , Abrego Luis , Li Zonglun , Nazarenko Tatiana , Warren Anne Y. , Gnanapragasam Vincent J. , Sala Evis , Zaikin Alexey , Barrett Tristan , Blyuss Oleg 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Serial MRI is an essential assessment tool in prostate cancer (PCa) patients enrolled on active surveillance (AS). However, it has only moderate sensitivity for predicting histopathological tumour progression at follow-up, which is in part due to the subjective nature of its clinical reporting and variation among centres and readers. In this study, we used a long short-term memory (LSTM) recurrent neural network (RNN) to develop a time series radiomics (TSR) predictive model that analysed longitudinal changes in tumour-derived radiomic features across 297 scans from 76 AS patients, 28 with histopathological PCa progression and 48 with stable disease. Using leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV), we found that an LSTM-based model combining TSR and serial PSA density (AUC 0.86 [95% CI: 0.78–0.94]) significantly outperformed a model combining conventional delta-radiomics and delta-PSA density (0.75 [0.64–0.87]; p = 0.048) and achieved comparable performance to expert-performed serial MRI analysis using the Prostate Cancer Radiologic Estimation of Change in Sequential Evaluation (PRECISE) scoring system (0.84 [0.76–0.93]; p = 0.710). The proposed TSR framework, therefore, offers a feasible quantitative tool for standardising serial MRI assessment in PCa AS. It also presents a novel methodological approach to serial image analysis that can be used to support clinical decision-making in multiple scenarios, from continuous disease monitoring to treatment response evaluation.

Key Points
•LSTM RNN can be used to predict the outcome of PCa AS using time series changes in tumour-derived radiomic features and PSA density.
•Using all available TSR features and serial PSA density yields a significantly better predictive performance compared to using just two time points within the delta-radiomics framework.
•The concept of TSR can be applied to other clinical scenarios involving serial imaging, setting out a new field in AI-driven radiology research.