bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Changes in rhizosphere soil nitrogen fractions associated with enzyme activities are linked to the microbial community following intercropping combined with nitrogen fertilization
Authors: Liu Chunjuan , Gong Xiangwei 
Published: February 2022

AbstractCereal/legume intercropping is effective for reducing chemical fertilizer inputs and achieving sustainable development. However, the effects of intercropping combined with nitrogen (N) fertilization on rhizosphere soil microbial characteristics and N dynamics–enzyme activity relationships remain unclear. A field experiment was performed to analyze rhizosphere soil N fractions, related enzyme activities, and microbial communities on the Chinese Loess Plateau. The results showed that proso millet/mung bean intercropping (PM) combined with suitable N fertilization increased the total nitrogen (TN), ammonium (NH4+), nitrate (NO3−), and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) contents and enzyme activities, whereas the high N input (especially for N3) showed a decreasing trend. MBN was more closely associated with enzyme activities than were other N fractions. Intercropping and N fertilization strongly affected the bacterial and fungal diversity and community composition, as shown by a shift from K– to r–strategist dominance. Proteobacteria was the dominant bacterial phylum and was more abundant under intercropping than under sole cropping (SP), whereas Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi abundances were lower under PM than under SP. Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota were dominant fungal phyla whose abundances were significantly associated with rhizosphere soil N fractions and enzyme activities, although a high N input may inhibit microbial growth under intercropping systems. Overall, the observed changes in rhizosphere soil enzyme activities were most strongly affected by MBN driven by soil bacteria and fungi. These results provide scientific guidance for using rational fertilizer and further studying the mechanisms allowing reduced fertilizer use and increased efficiency under intercropping combined with N management.
ACCELERATING THE PATH TO CORPORATE LEADERSHIP FOR ALL WOMEN
Authors: Smith Ella L.J. Bell , Nkomo Stella M. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe authors detail new research related to the 20th anniversary edition of their landmark book Our Separate Ways: Black and White Women and the Struggle for Professional Identity. It is described as “the first book to provide an in‐depth look at how race and gender affect the advancement of women into senior leadership positions in corporate America. The book was based on life history interviews conducted with 120 Black and White women executives who had risen to senior leadership positions in their companies.” Although there have been some positive changes since then, “the barriers we identified more than two decades ago persist, and the advice we provided then remains relevant.” They also note some crucial challenges that affect both African American women and men: “Achieving real, organizational change to eradicate systemic racism in the workplace requires some heavy lifting by leaders.” The authors believe that “ending systemic racism requires a deeper understanding of its meaning and the actions to address it. As we explain in Our Separate Ways, racism refers to the existence of a dominant racial hierarchy that places White people at the top and other racial groups below them in respect to advantage and disadvantage. It is systemic because it exists in all spheres of society.”
Multiple solutions for p(x)${p(x)}$‐curl systems with nonlinear boundary condition
Authors: Ge Bin , Lu Jian‐Fang 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn this paper, we study the ‐curl problem of the type:
where is a bounded simply connected domain with a C1, 1 boundary denoted by , , is a continuous function, , and is a Carathéodory function. We obtain the existence and multiplicity of solutions for a class of ‐curl systems in the absence of Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz condition under superlinear case. Besides, we also obtain infinitely many solutions under sublinear case.
Meta‐Analysis: Efficacy and Tolerability of Vesicular Monoamine Transporter Type 2 Inhibitors in the Treatment of Tic Disorders
Authors: Behling Emily , Farhat Luis C. , Landeros‐Weisenberger Angeli , Bloch Michael H. 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTVesicular monoamine transporter type 2 (VMAT2) inhibitors may be an effective therapy for chronic tic disorders (CTD), including Tourette syndrome (TS), but there has not been a meta‐analysis compiling available evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis to evaluate the efficacy, acceptability, and tolerability of VMAT2 inhibitors for CTD/TS. PubMed, CENTRAL, and Embase were searched for double‐blinded RCTs of VMAT2 inhibitors versus placebo for the treatment of CTD/TS. Change in tic severity measured by the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (efficacy) and rates of discontinuation attributed to adverse effects (tolerability) or all causes (acceptability) were extracted closest to 12 weeks. Mean difference (MD) and odds ratio (OR) were the effect size indexes for efficacy and acceptability/tolerability, respectively. Data were pooled through random‐effects meta‐analysis weighted by inverse variance. Five RCTs involving eight comparisons were included. Meta‐analysis found a nonsignificant effect on efficacy (k = 8; N = 583; MD = −0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], −1.93 to 0.50; P = 0.24), and there was certainty that the true effect is nonclinically meaningful (high quality of evidence). Meta‐analysis found decreased tolerability (k = 7; N = 626; OR = 2.67; 95% CI, 1.21–5.92; P = 0.01) and decreased acceptability (k = 8; N = 626; OR = 1.90; 95% CI, 1.14–3.18; P = 0.01), although those comparisons were limited because of the relatively small number of events across trials. Meta‐analyses did not support the efficacy of VMAT2 inhibitors in the short‐term treatment of tic disorders and suggested no clinically meaningful effect of these agents on tic symptoms. © 2022 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
A bottom‐up optimization method for inverse design of two‐dimensional clamped‐free elastic rods
Authors: Qin Longhui , Zhu Jianxiong , Huang Weicheng 
Published: February 2022

AbstractRod‐like structures, such as DNA, climbing plants, and cables, pervade the nature and our daily life and also belong to a frequently encountered engineering problem, which usually assume a deformed shape based on the competition between elasticity (stretching, bending, twisting) and external forces (e.g., gravity). These structures often undergo geometrically nonlinear deformation under its own weight. Computing the natural (undeformed) shape of a rod from the observed deformed configuration is a nonlinear inverse problem. Here we introduce a numerical method to solve this problem in case planar (2D) rods, that is, beams, under a clamped‐free boundary condition. A simulation model is developed based on the discrete elastic rods (DER) algorithm to address the forward deformation process from natural to deformed shapes under gravity. Based on the internal mechanical link among the nodes on the discretized elastic rod, a bottom‐up optimization method is proposed in this article for an efficient inverse solution. Associated with it, a global searching algorithm is developed to search for the optimal bending curvature along the arc length of the rod. The method is numerically validated for accuracy and sheds light on the inverse design of rod‐like structures for various applications, for example, soft robots and tails of animated characters.
Artificial intelligence trained with integration of multiparametric MR‐US imaging data and fusion biopsy trajectory‐proven pathology data for 3D prediction of prostate cancer: A proof‐of‐concept study
Authors: Kaneko Masatomo , Fukuda Norio , Nagano Hitomi , Yamada Kaori , Yamada Kei , Konishi Eiichi , Sato Yoshinobu , Ukimura Osamu 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundWe aimed to develop an artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that predicts the volume and location of clinically significant cancer (CSCa) using convolutional neural network (CNN) trained with integration of multiparametric MR‐US image data and MRI‐US fusion prostate biopsy (MRI‐US PBx) trajectory‐proven pathology data.MethodsTwenty consecutive patients prospectively underwent MRI‐US PBx, followed by robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). The AI algorithm was trained with the integration of MR‐US image data with a MRI‐US PBx trajectory‐proven pathology. The relationship with the 3D‐cancer‐mapping of RARP specimens was compared between AI system‐suggested 3D‐CSCa mapping and an experienced radiologist's suggested 3D‐CSCa mapping on MRI alone according to the Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI‐RADS) version 2. The characteristics of detected and undetected tumors at AI were compared in 22,968 image data. The relationships between CSCa volumes and volumes predicted by AI as well as the radiologist's reading based on PI‐RADS were analyzed.ResultsThe concordance of the CSCa center with that in RARP specimens was significantly higher in the AI prediction than the radiologist' reading (83% vs. 54%, p = 0.036). CSCa volumes predicted with AI were more accurate (r = 0.90, p < 0.001) than the radiologist's reading. The limitations include that the elastic fusion technology has its own registration error.ConclusionsWe presented a novel pilot AI algorithm for 3D prediction of PCa. AI was trained by integration of multiparametric MR‐US image data and fusion biopsy trajectory‐proven pathology data. This deep learning AI model may more precisely predict the 3D mapping of CSCa in its volume and center location than a radiologist's reading based on PI‐RADS version 2, and has potential in the planning of focal therapy.
Effects of cycling and rowing on serum concentrations of prostate‐specific antigen: A randomized study of 101 male subjects
Authors: Lunacek Andreas , Tischler Mathias , Mrstik Christof , Hebenstreit Doris , Oeser Reinhard , Bektic Jasmin , Klocker Helmut , Horninger Wolfgang , Plas Eugen 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectiveTo determine the effects if cycling and rowing on serum prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) levels.MethodsMale volunteers (n = 101), aged 20–80 (mean, 49.9) years were randomized to exercise at the first or second study visit. They performed 1 h of either cycling or rowing on a stationary machine. To determine exercise‐induced effects on the PSA level, serum total PSA (tPSA) and free PSA (fPSA) concentrations were evaluated before and after exercise and another sampling was performed at the second study visit. Pre‐exercise and postexercise tPSA and fPSA concentrations were compared using the Wilcoxon matched‐pairs test. The results were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U‐test.ResultsA significant (p < 0.001) average increase in tPSA after exercise (1.14 ± 1.11 ng/ml to 1.24 ± 1.26 ng/ml [mean, +8.8%]) was observed after both cycling and rowing, without significant differences between the sports (p = 0.54). The exercise‐induced increase in PSA concentration affected participants aged ≥50 years (difference, 0.16 ± 0.37; p < 0.001), but not those aged <50 years (difference, 0.01 ± 0.06; p = 0.23). The effect size was clinically irrelevant in all except two outliers, in whom a distinct increase of PSA level by averages of 1.80 ng/ml (+55%) for tPSA and 1.25 ng/ml (+227%) for fPSA following cycling was observed.ConclusionRowing and cycling generally do not have a clinically relevant effect on PSA levels. However, outliers exist. Our findings do not support abstaining from exercise during the days approaching PSA sampling.
Knockdown of ecdysteroid synthesis genes results in impaired molting and high mortality in Bactericera cockerelli (Hemiptera: Triozidae)
Authors: Paredes‐Montero Jorge R , Arif Usman , Brown Judith K 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBACKGROUNDRNA‐mediated interference (RNAi) has become a promising biopesticide technology with which to direct sequence‐specific gene knockdown of key targets in the potato psyllid (PoP) Bactericera cockerelli, resulting in significant mortality. In this study, three strategically selected target genes, ATF4, C7 and D24, essential for the biosynthesis and regulation of ecdysteroids, were evaluated for knockdown and mortality using oral delivery of individual, paired and all three double‐stranded RNAs (dsRNAs), in five replicated experiments. Knockdown was determined as the fold‐change in gene expression using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction.RESULTSKnockdown of the D24 target, at 39%–45%, resulted in 51% PoP mortality by 10 days post‐ingestion (dpi) of dsRNA. Knockdown of C7, at 38%–61%, resulted in 53% mortality by 10 dpi, whereas dsD24 ingestion resulted in 65% mortality by 10 dpi when dsD24 and dsC7 were co‐delivered. Three phenotypes, INCOMEC, PREMEC and SWOLLEN, were observed at a frequency of 4%–12%, and are consistent with incomplete ecdysis in immature and/or adult PoP. Adult PoP exhibiting INCOMEC survived for several days but were unable to mate or fly, whereas SWOLLEN and PREMEC were lethal to the immature instars. Knockdown of ATF4 did not result in the mortality or malformations in immature and adult PoP.CONCLUSIONSCompared with knockdown of individual D24 and C7 targets, significantly greater RNAi penetrance was achieved following delivery of combined dsRNAs. The highest knockdown that resulted in incomplete ecdysis and/or mortality was obtained for targets with predicted involvement in the same or interacting pathway(s). Knockdown of ATF4 was apparently “rescued” by uncharacterized compensatory gene(s) or effects. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Estimation and expected sample size in Simon's two‐stage designs that stop as early as possible
Authors: Daletzakis Antonios , van den Bor Rutger , Jonker Marianne A. , Roes Kit C. B. , van Tinteren Harm 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIn early phase clinical studies in oncology, Simon's two‐stage designs are widely used. The trial design could be made more efficient by stopping early in the second stage when the required number of responses is reached, or when it has become clear that this target can no longer be met (a form of non‐stochastic curtailment). Early stopping, however, will affect proper estimation of the response rate. We propose a uniformly minimum‐variance unbiased estimator (UMVUE) for the response rate in this setting. The estimator is proven to be UMVUE using the Rao‐Blackwell theorem. We evaluate the estimator's properties in terms of bias and mean squared error, both analytically and via simulations. We derive confidence intervals based on sample space orderings, and assess the coverage. For various design options, we evaluate the reduction in expected sample size as a function of the true response rate. Our method provides a solution for estimating response rates in case of a non‐stochastic curtailment Simon's two‐stage design.
The impact of seasonal and event‐based infiltration on transition metals (Cu, Ni, Co) in tropical cave drip water
Authors: Warken Sophie F. , Kuchalski Lea , Schröder‐Ritzrau Andrea , Vieten Rolf , Schmidt Martina , Höpker Sebastian N. , Hartland Adam , Spötl Christoph , Scholz Denis , Frank Norbert 
Published: February 2022

RationaleThe first‐row transition metals Cu, Ni, and Co show a strong binding affinity to natural organic matter. Compared to dissolved elements and stable water isotopes, they may be transported rapidly through the soil and host rock into caves in response to infiltration events. This study aims to assess the potential of transition metal ratios as indicators for infiltration changes in response to the seasonal and/or event‐based rainfall variation.MethodsWe developed a protocol to analyze Cu, Ni, and Co in the cave drip water using collision cell ICP‐QMS without extensive sample pretreatment. The high Ca matrix leads to significant isobaric interferences on all isotope masses. Our method includes a correction of these matrix effects and yields results with comparable accuracy and reproducibility to other published methods. We applied this protocol to drip water samples from Larga Cave (Puerto Rico) covering at least two full annual cycles between 2014 and 2019 on a bimonthly scale.ResultsThe analysis of external reference materials yielded a reproducibility between 4.7% and 9.2% (relative standard deviation), validating the accuracy of the matrix correction method. The limit of detection is <0.04 ppb for Cu, <0.02 ppb for Ni, and <0.008 ppb for Co. The analysis of drip water samples from Larga Cave reveals pronounced changes of several orders of magnitude in all Element (El) to Ca, Cu/Ni, and Cu/Co ratios in response to seasonal infiltration changes. In addition, we observe a partly even stronger response after major tropical storms and heavy precipitation events of the period of record, for example, tropical storm “Bertha” (2014) and the category 5 hurricanes “Irma” and “Maria” (both 2017).ConclusionsTransition metal ratios can be accurately measured in cave drip waters with high Ca matrix. At our tropical site, these are promising tracers of infiltration changes in response to changes in the amount of rainfall, providing the first step toward tropical cyclone reconstruction using trace elements in speleothems.
Understanding the Energetic Components Influencing the Thermodynamic Quantities of Carbonic Anhydrase Protein upon Ligand Binding
Authors: Gnanasekaran Ramachandran , Xu Yao 
Published: February 2022

AbstractWe perform structural analysis and calculate the vibrational energy diffusivities, represented as heat‐communication map, between a carbonic anhydrase II and its binding inhibitor benzosulfonamide, to identify critical residues involved in the secondary and tertiary adaptations surrounding the active site, such as HID95, HIE118, HID93, THR197, and HIE198. Notably, the water molecules surrounding the active sites play an essential part in the energy flow. The stability of the docked ligand is assessed using its structural deviation and free energy calculation. Additionally, density functional theory calculations are used to evaluate specific binding energies, resulting in prominent residues such as THR197, THR198, and HIE118 with high binding potential to the benzosulfonamide ligand.
Unemployment insurance programs and the choice to leave the labor force
Authors: Conway Patrick J. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractI extend a labor‐market search and matching model of equilibrium with unemployment insurance (UI) program to incorporate the choice to participate in the labor market. UI reform that lowers the UI payment increases search intensity but discourages labor‐market participation. Reducing UI payments has the moral‐hazard effects derived in the literature but also a non‐participation effect. UI reform in North Carolina in mid‐2013 provides an empirical test of the model using data from the Current Population Survey. The reduction in size and duration of UI payments led to no significant increase in employment but a significant increase in those exiting the labor force.
Neue klinische Anwendungsbereiche der Niederfeld-Magnetresonanztomographie
Authors: Breit Hanns-Christian , Vosshenrich Jan , Bach Michael , Merkle Elmar M. 
Published: February 2022

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Die Niederfeld-Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT) erlebt aufgrund technischer Neuerungen eine Renaissance. Die Geräte der neuen Generation bieten neue Anwendungsspektren in der Bildgebung und eine mögliche Antwort auf den steigenden Kostendruck im Gesundheitssystem.

Fragestellung
Einfluss der Feldstärke auf die Technik, Physik, Bildakquisition und die diagnostische Qualität der Untersuchungen.

Material und Methode
Rekapitulation der wichtigen grundlegenden physikalischen Parameter für Bildgewinnung und Qualität. Erste klinische Erfahrungen mit einem neuen 0,55-T-Niederfeldscanner.

Ergebnisse
Niedrigere Feldstärken als die klinisch aktuell verbreiteten 1,5 T und 3 T sind in der Bildgewinnung durch ein zu erwartendes geringeres Signal-zu-Rausch Verhältnis gekennzeichnet. Ob dies eine diagnostische Limitation ist, muss in Studien evaluiert werden, da es verschiedene Optionen gibt, dieses vermeintliche Defizit zu kompensieren. Dies kann durch eine Verlängerung der Akquisitionszeit oder durch Einsatz von Nachverarbeitungsverfahren mit Hilfe der künstlichen Intelligenz (KI) geschehen. Zudem ist zu validieren, in welchen Körperregionen und bei welchen Krankheitsbildern die Bildqualität diagnostisch ausreichend ist. Erste Untersuchungen in unserer Klinik sind vielversprechend und zeigen beispielsweise diagnostische Qualität ohne relevanten Zeitverlust für Untersuchungen der Lendenwirbelsäule. Potenzielle Stärken aufgrund geringerer Suszeptibilitätsartefakte ergeben sich in der Lungenbildgebung oder bei Implantaten.

Schlussfolgerung
Niederfeldscanner bieten eine Vielzahl von neuen Anwendungsfeldern mit feldstärkebedingten Vorteilen. Bei den meisten anderen klinischen Untersuchungsfeldern kann mindestens eine diagnostische Qualität erwartet werden.
Rhenium-osmium geochronology of gersdorffite and skutterudite-pararammelsbergite links nickel–cobalt mineralization to the opening of the incipient Meliata Ocean (Western Carpathians, Slovakia)
Authors: Majzlan Juraj , Mikuš Tomáš , Kiefer Stefan , Creaser Robert A. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe multi-orogenic crustal segment of the Central Western Carpathians comprises a Variscan basement that is host to small nickel–cobalt (Ni–Co) arsenide and sulfarsenide mineralizations at Ľubietová-Kolba and Čierna Lehota (Slovakia). Here, we constrain the timing of Ni–Co mineralization by using rhenium-osmium (Re–Os) isotope geochemistry of (1) gersdorffite (NiAsS) after krutovite (NiAs2) at Ľubietová-Kolba, and (2) a mixture of skutterudite-pararammelsbergite (CoAs3–NiAs2) from the Čierna Lehota deposit, hosted by metamorphosed carbonaceous rocks. Gersdorffite, which is bereft of common Os, returns a Re–Os model age of 238.2 ± 1.0 (2σ) million years (Ma). Four aliquots of the skutterudite-pararammelsbergite mixture define a robust model 1 isochron at 238.2 ± 12.7 (2σ) Ma (mean square weighted deviates – MSDW = 0.95). A crustal source of Os, and by inference other metals, is inferred from the initial 187Os/188Os ratio of 0.90 ± 0.01 of this isochron. We conclude that studied Ni–Co mineralizations are related to an extensional tectonic regime and hydrothermal fluid flow in connection with the opening of the Meliata ocean in the Middle Triassic (Ladinian).