bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Wholly Biobased Polyamide Thermoplastic Elastomer‐Cellulose Nanocomposites
Authors: Nurhamiyah Yeyen , Yoon Sungkwon , Chen Biqiong 
Published: April 2022

AbstractPolymers play a prominent role in daily lives; however, there is a growing concern on the depleting fossil resources triggering the research for sustainable alternatives. Here, novel wholly biobased nanocomposites are prepared from polyamide 36,36 (PA36,36) thermoplastic elastomer and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs). Further, the influence of CNC addition and CNC loading on the morphological features, thermal and mechanical properties of PA36,36 is studied. The presence of CNC in PA36,36 affects the thermal degradation of PA36,36. The additions of 10 and 30 wt% CNCs to the PA36,36 improve the tensile strength and Young's modulus by up to 700% and 750% to 9.6 and 6.8 MPa, respectively, while still maintaining relatively high elongation at break values. The hardness of the polymer increases significantly after the inclusion of CNC. The PA36,36/CNC nanocomposites also show relatively good resilience when exposed to 100% strain. Overall, these biobased thermoplastic elastomer nanocomposites can be potential alternatives for some existing rubbers with low or medium hardness.
Upgrading the mechanical properties of marine structural steel by enhancement of acicular ferrite formation
Authors: Amer A.E. , Hong S.H. , Shash A.Y. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThis work reports the results of an investigation of the effect of magnesium addition on microstructure evolution, acicular ferrite formation together with the change in the mechanical properties of micro‐alloyed steel plates. The investigated steel is subjected to high heat input (4.5 kJ mm−1) simulating the thermal cycle of heat affected zones, conducted by induction heating in a computer controlled weld thermal cycle simulator. Both magnesium and magnesium free steel samples have carbon and aluminum contents of 0.08 wt.% and 0.009 wt.%, respectively, are investigated. The change in microstructure, hardness and crack tip opening displacement fracture toughness properties due to magnesium addition is evaluated, and compared with the other steel having the same chemical compositions but without Magnesium. The fracture toughness tests reveal the increase of magnesium steel‘s crack tip opening displacement values. In contrast, the hardness measuring presents the decrease of its hardness due to the decrease of martensite volume fraction and reduction in ferrite grain size. Optical and transmission electron microscopy observations detect some microstructural morphology that can affect the mechanical properties of such steels. Hence, the improved toughness of magnesium containing steel are attributed to both the generation of acicular ferrite nucleated within the matrix, refined microstructure and the bainite dominated microstructure in steel.
Transverse displacements of cracked beams on Pasternak soil
Authors: Imamović D. , Skrinar M. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe response analysis of cracked beams resting on elastic foundations can be conveniently and satisfactorily addressed by applying the simplified crack model within the 1D finite element model. For the very commonly implemented Winkler's soil model, the exact transverse displacements’ interpolation functions, the stiffness matrix, as well as the corresponding load‐vector for the linearly distributed continuous transverse load were recently presented in closed symbolic forms. This paper upgrades the existing 1D finite element solution to the more realistic Pasternak soil model. The derivation implements the exact Winkler soil model transverse displacements’ functions as interpolation functions of the Pasternak soil model. In this way, a complementary stiffness matrix is obtained which upgrades the existing Winkler solution into an approximate Pasternak soil model solution. Also this matrix is derived in closed symbolic form and it can be easily added to the existing finite element solutions. The implementation and the quality of the results are being presented through a comparative case study to support the discussed approach.
Cascade Path Augmentation Unet for bladder cancer segmentation in MRI
Authors: Yu Jie , Cai Lingkai , Chen Chunxiao , Fu Xue , Wang Liang , Yuan Baorui , Yang Xiao , Lu Qiang 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundTreatment choices for patients with bladder cancer (BCa) are determined by the presence of muscular invasion. The precise segmentation of the inner and outer walls (IW and OW), as well as the bladder tumor (BT), is crucial for improving computer‐aided diagnosis of muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (MIBC).PurposeTo propose a novel deep learning‐based model to improve the segmentation accuracy of the IW, OW, and BT, which can be useful in clinical practice.MethodsWe proposed a Cascade Path Augmentation Unet (CPA‐Unet) network to conduct multi‐regional segmentation of the bladder using 1545 T2‐weighted MRI scans. The model employs a cascade strategy to eliminate the redundant information in the background. Unet is used to segment the bladder from the background in the rough segmentation. The path augmentation structure is used in the fine segmentation to mine multi‐scale features. Additionally, the partial dense connection is adopted as the skip connection module to concatenate the low‐ and high‐level sematic features.Results
The CPA‐Unet is trained using 1391 T2WI slices and tested using 154 T2WI slices. In comparison to previous deep learning‐based methods, the CPA‐Unet achieves superior segmentation results in terms of Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and Hausdorff distance (HD) (IW: DSC = 98.19%, HD = 2.07 mm; OW: DSC = 82.24%, HD = 2.62 mm; BT: DSC = 87.40%, HD = 0.76 mm).ConclusionsOur proposed CPA‐Unet network is capable of segmenting the bladder into its IW and OW, as well as tumors. The segmentation results provide a reliable and effective foundation for computer‐assisted clinical diagnosis of MIBC.
HDR prostate brachytherapy plan robustness and its effect on in‐vivo source tracking error thresholds: A multi‐institutional study
Authors: Poder Joel , Koprivec Dylan , Dookie Yashiv , Howie Andrew , Cutajar Dean , Damato Antonio L. , Côté Nicolas , Petasecca Marco , Bucci Joseph , Rosenfeld Anatoly 
Published: April 2022

AbstractPurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the effect of departmental planning techniques on appropriate in‐vivo source tracking error thresholds for high dose rate (HDR) prostate brachytherapy (BT) treatments, and to determine if a single in‐vivo source tracking error threshold would be appropriate for the same patient anatomy.MethodsThe prostate, rectum, and urethra were contoured on a single patient transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) dataset. Anonymized DICOM files were disseminated to 16 departments who created an HDR prostate BT treatment plan on the dataset with a prescription dose of 15 Gy in a single fraction. Departments were asked to follow their own local treatment planning guidelines. Source positioning errors were then simulated in the 16 treatment plans and the effect on dose–volume histogram (DVH) indices calculated. Change in DVH indices were used to determine appropriate in‐vivo source tracking error thresholds. Plans were considered to require intervention if the following DVH conditions occurred: prostate V100% < 90%, urethra D0.1cc > 118%, and rectumtt Dmax > 80%.ResultsThere was wide variation in appropriate in‐vivo source tracking error thresholds among the 16 participating departments, ranging from 1 to 6 mm. Appropriate in‐vivo source tracking error thresholds were also found to depend on the direction of the source positioning error and the endpoint. A robustness parameter was derived, and found to correlate with the sensitivity of plans to source positioning errors.ConclusionsA single HDR prostate BT in‐vivo source tracking error threshold cannot be applied across multiple departments, even for the same patient anatomy. The burden on in‐vivo source tracking devices may be eased through improving HDR prostate BT plan robustness during the plan optimisation phase.
Effects of Ambient Ammonia-Nitrogen Exposure on Uric Acid and Urea Metabolic Pathways and Tissue Distribution in the Swimming Crab Portunus trituberculatus
Authors: Zhang Xin , Ren Qin , Tong Ruixue , Pan Luqing 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Ammonia-nitrogen (ammonia-N) is an important threat factor to the development of the crustacean breeding industry; however, information on nitrogen metabolism remains limited. In this study, effects of ammonia-N on the metabolic pathways and tissue distribution of nitrogenous wastes were investigated in swimming crabs Portunus trituberculatus. The results showed that ammonia content in the hemolymph of crabs exposed to 1- and 5-mg/L NH4Cl (ammonia-N concentrations were 1.36 and 5.31 mg/L, respectively) significantly (P &lt; 0.05) increased with time. The expression of xanthine oxidase was significantly up-regulated in gills and muscles but was significantly down-regulated in the hepatopancreas of crabs exposed to 1- and 5-mg/L NH4Cl after 6–12 h. The expression of uricase was significantly up-regulated in gills and muscles at 3 h, whereas it was significantly down-regulated in hepatopancreas during 6–12 h but up-regulated again after 24 h. Moreover, the expression levels of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase III and arginase were significantly up-regulated in gills and muscles but significantly down-regulated in the hepatopancreas of crabs exposed to 5-mg/L NH4Cl after 6–12 h. Furthermore, under 5-mg/L NH4Cl stress, trace amounts of uric acid were detected, which significantly increased in hepatopancreas and hemolymph at 3 h, in muscles at 6–12 h, and in gills at 6–24 h. In addition, similar to hemolymph ammonia, urea was also significantly increased after NH4Cl exposure. Moreover, uric acid was mainly stored in muscles and urea was primarily synthesized in the hepatopancreas. This study provides a theoretical basis for further study on the nitrogen metabolism mechanism in crustaceans.
‘The ghost of environmental history’: Analysing the evolving governance of communal rangeland resources in Machubeni, South Africa
Authors: Falayi Menelisi , Gambiza James , Schoon Michael 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe need to effectively govern and manage communal rangeland resources has become more important over the past two decades, given the extent of biodiversity loss caused by a myriad of drivers interacting at different scales.Using in‐depth interviews, participant observations and historical information from organisational records, we analysed the application of governance objectives between 1947 and 2017 and their corresponding rangeland condition outcome in Machubeni (South Africa) communal lands.The results show that while the application of governance objectives varied through time, there has been a steady degradation of local rangeland resources since apartheid, due to internal and external drivers of change. This reveals a disconnection between management and resource conditions, suggesting that a return to effective governance alone will not necessarily result in improved rangeland condition in Machubeni, but that more radical steps such as prolonged periods of resting, reseeding and building individual and group agency, are needed. These findings can help practitioners working in post‐colonial territories to design effective rangeland management models.Read the freePlain Language Summaryfor this article on the Journal blog.
In vitro fertilization using sperm activated by ML‐2–3 isolated from Morinda lucida Bentham leaves
Authors: Ohta Tomoe , Uto Takuhiro , Shoyama Yukihiro , Sakyiamah Maxwell Mamfe , Appiah Alfred Ampomah , Tanaka Hiromitsu 
Published: April 2022

AbstractPurposeML‐2–3 is a novel tetracyclic iridoid derived from Morinda lucida Bentham leaves. This compound has anti‐trypanosomal and anti‐leishmanial effects. In this study, the authors investigated effects of ML‐2–3 on in vitro fertilization (IVF) rates, motility, and acrosome reaction of the mouse sperm.MethodsIVF was performed using sperm from BALB/cByJJcl mice treated with ML‐2–3. Computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was performed on the sperm of C57BL/6J mice to investigate sperm motility. The effect of ML‐2–3 on the acrosome reaction was examined by observing the fluorescence of sperm labeled with the acrosin‐EGFP transgene.ResultsML‐2–3 improved IVF in BALB/cByJJcl mice with low fertilization rates. The optimum concentration of ML‐2–3 in sperm pre‐culture medium was 20 µM, and no significant toxicity of ML‐2–3 was observed in developing embryos at this concentration. ML‐2–3 affected sperm motility but not the acrosome reaction. ML‐2–3 increased the IVF rate of mouse sperm that had been refrigerated for 3 days.ConclusionsML‐2–3 can improve the outcome of IVF and motility without inducing the acrosome reaction in mice. These effects of ML‐2–3 on sperm behaviors are different from those of the similar drugs.
Fertilization, embryo culture, and clinical results using low lactate embryo culture medium for pre‐culture, insemination, and beyond
Authors: Kobanawa Masato 
Published: April 2022

AbstractPurposeWe focused on the metabolism of oocytes in pre‐culture and insemination and compared these results between our existing fertilization medium, GEMS Fertilisation Medium (GEMS group) (Merck BioPharma) and Continuous Single Culture Medium—NX Complete (CSCM‐NXC group) (FUJIFILM Irvine Scientific).MethodsPatients under 42 years of age were received controlled ovarian stimulation and oocytes were retrieved. Those were pre‐cultured and fertilized with either GEMS fertilization medium or CSCM‐NXC. After fertilization was confirmed, embryos were cultured using CSCM‐NXC in both groups. The embryos were cryopreserved at blastocyst stage (3BB or more, Gardner classification) and then transferred in HRT cycles.ResultsThe fertilization rate of both groups was the same, but the 3PN rate was significantly lower in the CSCM‐NXC group. In terms of embryo culture results, the CSCM‐NXC group had a significantly higher rate of good quality blastocysts, high‐grade embryos, and embryos with a high degree of expansion.ConclusionsThe use of CSCM‐NXC, a low lactate embryo culture medium, from pre‐culture and for insemination, increases the energy metabolic efficiency of oocytes and cumulus cells, making it possible to supply sufficient energy ATP for fertilization and early division, which is thought to promote good embryonic development.
Early Literacy in Everyday Settings: Creating an Opportunity to Learn for Low‐income Young Children
Authors: Neuman Susan B. , Knapczyk Jillian 
Published: April 2022

AbstractPersistent concerns about income and social inequality have raised questions about how to address opportunity gaps in access to literacy learning for low‐income young children. Recognizing the need to strengthen learning opportunities, this study examines how specially designed hybrid spaces within the ‘everyday’ place of a neighborhood laundromat might support children’s literacy development. Twenty laundromats in high‐poverty neighborhoods from a large urban city participated in the research: 10 in which small spaces were reconfigured to create literacy‐related play settings; 10, in which remained “business as usual” control sites. Conducted over two phases, the 7‐month study examined changes in children’s literacy activities resulting from the physical design changes alone, and subsequent changes when combined with a trusted messenger, a public librarian, who assisted in their activities. Results indicated that these hybrid spaces dramatically increased children’s time on literacy‐related activities, especially when given adult assistance, averaging 47‐minutes per child of sustained activity. These results suggest that intentionally‐designed everyday spaces may play an important role in increasing young children’s access to resources and opportunity to learn.
Highly Efficient and Reusable Polymer Supported Palladium Catalyst for Copper Free Sonogashira Reaction in Water
Authors: Sruthi Pambingal Rajan , Nimmi Puthan Purayil , Babu Sukumaran Santhosh , Anas Saithalavi 
Published: April 2022

AbstractDevelopment of a novel, greener and efficient heterogeneous catalytic system for copper free Sonogashira reaction in water is described. This novel catalyst can be easily prepared by a simple method through synthetic modification of nitrile group in Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) using monoethanolamine (MEA) followed by its complexation with palladium chloride (PdCl2). The resulting polymer Pd complex (mPAN‐Pd) was characterized by means of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy‐Dispersive X‐ray Spectroscopy (EDAX), Inductively Coupled Mass Spectrometry (ICP‐MS) and X‐ray Photo Electron Spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. mPAN‐Pd was then explored as highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst for Sonogashira coupling reaction under copper and ligand free conditions in water affording the corresponding coupling products up to 97 % isolated yield. Moreover, the catalyst was recovered by simple filtration after the reaction and reused for next 5 cycles with excellent stability and activity. This is the first report on the use of ethanolamine modified PAN Pd (II) complex as an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for a coupling reaction.
Structural Diversity of D‐Alanine: D‐Alanine Ligase and Its Exploration in Development of Antibacterial Agents Against the Multi‐Variant Bacterial Infections
Authors: Mayank  , Sidhu Jagpreet Singh , Joshi Gaurav , Sindhu Jayant , Kaur Navneet , Singh Narinder 
Published: April 2022

AbstractD‐alanine: D‐alanine ligase (Rv2981c or Ddl) (EC 6.3.2.4) is a bacterial protein that performs critical functions for the proper growth and development of bacterial cells. Understanding the activity profile of Ddl within the various strains of the bacteria seems vital in broad‐spectrum antimicrobial drug discovery. Therefore, to understand this heterologous nature, we focused on understanding the functional impact of the structural differences in the Ddl protein from Legionella pneumophila and E. coli bacteria. The structural features and dynamic behavior of Ddl, the interaction pattern, and the docking score of the Ddl‐ATP/ADP are also found significantly different from each other. In‐depth analysis viz molecular dynamics simulation and residue interaction network (RIN) studies provided us the detailed insight into the differences in the Ddl proteins from both the bacteria. In conclusion, understanding the inter‐specific differences in the antibiotic targets Ddl in the case of diverse bacterial strains is vital for rationalizing the treatment of these infectious diseases. Therefore, the current work attempts to foresee the development of more efficacious antibacterial agents devoid of emerging resistance to bacterium strains.
Chemical Fabrication of Efficient Blue‐luminescent Carbon Quantum Dots from Coal Washery Rejects (Waste) for Detection of Hg2+ and Cr6+ Ions in Water
Authors: Boruah Anusuya , Saikia Binoy K. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractAn economical facile method was established for the preparation of luminescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) by utilizing the waste coal washery rejects as precursor materials. The derived CQDs were extensively characterized for their physio‐chemical properties and they (Mcqds and Dcqds) show an efficient maximum quantum yield of 11 % with an average particle size of 2.5‐3.0 nm. The derived CQDs exhibited better physical and chemical properties at maximum excitation and emission wavelengths of 360 nm and 450 nm, respectively, with blue‐light emission. The as‐synthesized CQDs (Mcqds) were applied as a fluorescent sensing probe for sensitive detection of Hg2+ and Cr6+ ions in water samples, showing reasonable limit of detection and quantification with recovery percentage of 96–100 %. The study has shown potential for using such cheap waste‐material derived CQDs as for further development of sensing devices in future.
Modulation of Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Properties in Ru(II)‐Terpyridyl End‐Capped Homobimetallic Organometallic Complexes by Varying π‐Conjugated Organic Spacers
Authors: Sil Amit , Roy Sourav Saha , Mishra Vipin Kumar , Islam Sk Najmul , Mishra Sabyashachi , Patra Sanjib K. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractA series of wire‐like binuclear Ru(II) complexes, 10–13, of general formula [(tpy‐C6H4‐Me)(PPh3)2Ru−C≡C−Ar‐C≡C−Ru(PPh3)2(tpy‐C6H4‐Me)]2+, (tpy‐C6H4‐Me=4′(4‐tolyl)‐2,2′‐6′,2′′‐terpyridyl; Ar=thienyl, phenyl, benzothiadiazolyl and fluorenyl respectively) have been judiciously designed, developed and characterized by various spectroscopic tools. The aromatic bridging moieties have been varied systematically to tune not only the chain length but also the electronic nature of the spacer units. To understand the intermetallic electronic properties, electrochemical and UV‐Vis‐NIR spectroscopic studies have been explored. Electrochemical studies reveal reversible redox waves for 10, and quasi‐reversible to irrreversible redox waves for 11–13 in the region of 0.30‐0.60 V and 0.55‐0.75 V (with respect to reference electrode of Ag/AgCl), presumably due to successive one electron oxidation of the Ru(II) conjugates. Interestingly, complexes 10 and 11 show promising NIR absorption (ϵ in order of 103 M−1cm−1). Electron transfer in the diruthenium wire‐like complexes can be perturbed to different extent by varying the spacer units. The computational studies (DFT and TDDFT) further support the structure property relationship, electrochemical and spectrsopic properties which is mediated through the participation of the bridging ligand in the corresponding mono‐oxidized organometallic wire‐like complexes.
Stereoselective Synthesis of α‐ʟ‐Rhamnopyranosides from ʟ‐Rhamnal Employing Ruthenium‐Catalysis
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Kumar Nitin , Gurawa Aakanksha , Kashyap Sudhir 
Published: April 2022

AbstractAn alternative and highly efficient ʟ‐rhamnosylation highlighting the dual‐catalysis of ruthenium reagent under a stereocontrolled process has been realized. The Ru‐mediated direct glycosylation‐dihydroxylation from ʟ‐rhamnal is amenable to a wide range of acceptors, including sugars, amino acids, natural products, and bioactive scaffolds. The one‐pot protocol tolerating diverse functional groups is attractive due to the valuable synthetic utility in assembling biologically significant α‐ʟ‐rhamnopyranosides in good yields. The mechanistic rationalization for the α‐anomeric selectivity and syn‐diastereoselective dihydroxylation employing Ru‐catalysis has been presented.
Sliding Cyclodextrin Molecules along Polymer Chains to Enhance the Stretchability of Conductive Composites
Authors: Du Ruichun , Jin Qi , Zhu Tangsong , Wang Changxian , Li Sheng , Li Yanzhen , Huang Xinxin , Jiang Ying , Li Wenlong , Bao Tianwei , Cao Pengfei , Pan Lijia , Chen Xiaodong , Zhang Qiuhong , Jia Xudong 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe demand for stretchable electronics with a broader working range is increasing for wide application in wearable sensors and e‐skin. However, stretchable conductors based on soft elastomers always exhibit low working range due to the inhomogeneous breakage of the conductive network when stretched. Here, a highly stretchable and self‐healable conductor is reported by adopting polyrotaxane and disulfide bonds into the binding layer. The binding layer (PR‐SS) builds the bridge between polymer substrates (PU‐SS) and silver nanowires (AgNWs). The incorporation of sliding molecules endows the stretchable conductor with a long sensing range (190%) due to the energy dissipation derived from the sliding nature of polyrotaxanes, which is two times higher than the working range (93%) of conductors based on AP‐SS without polyrotaxanes. Furthermore, the mechanism of sliding effect for the polyrotaxanes in the elastomers is investigated by SEM for morphological change of AgNWs, in situ small‐angle x‐ray scattering, as well as stress relaxation experiments. Finally, human‐body‐related sensing tests and a self‐correction system in fitness are designed and demonstrated.