bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prediction of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease using anthropometry and body fat measures by sex and race/ethnicity in the United States
Authors: Jones Gieira S. , Graubard Barry I. , Alvarez Christian S. , McGlynn Katherine A. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjectiveThe prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing in the United States and is strongly linked to obesity in many, but not all, racial/ethnic groups. It is conceivable that the lack of correspondence is related to differential fat distribution. The study objective was to examine which fat distribution measures best predicted NAFLD by sex within racial/ethnic groups.MethodsThe analysis included 1,404 participants from the 2017‐2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analyses compared the ability of dual‐energy x‐ray absorptiometry‐measured percentage total fat and abdominal fat with measured BMI, waist circumference, and waist to height ratio to predict ultrasound transient‐elastography‐assessed NAFLD in each sex and racial/ethnic group.ResultsAUC analysis found the best predictors of NAFLD among men were waist circumference and total abdominal fat area (AUC: 84.1%) and the best predictor among women was visceral fat (AUC: 85.2). NAFLD prediction by body fat measures, however, was similar between racial/ethnic groups.ConclusionsThe best predictors of NAFLD, using body fat distribution measures, vary by sex but not by racial/ethnic group.
Desulfurization of Morupule Coal with Subcritical Aqueous Ethanol Extraction
Authors: Nermark Fiona M. , Mapolelo Mmilili M. , Darkwa James , Wendt Ola F. , Turner Charlotta 
Published: August 2022

AbstractCoal combustion greatly contributes to global emissions of toxic gases into the atmosphere, with sulfur emissions as one of the prominent pollutants in addition to carbon dioxide. Nevertheless, Botswana utilizes Morupule's sub‐bituminous coal with average sulfur and ash contents, as determined in this study being 1.9 and 24.4 % by weight with an average calorific value of 22 MJ Kg−1 to generate electricity. We report an optimized extraction method for reducing total sulfur in Morupule coal from 1.9±0.2 to 0.43±0.02 wt.% at optimum conditions of ethanol/water (90/10, v/v %) at 129 °C (105 bars) in 10 minutes. A Box–Behnken experimental design was employed to select the optimal conditions of temperature (100–180 °C), water proportion in ethanol (10–90, v/v %) and extraction time (10–30 minutes), thus reducing the total sulfur under these mild conditions compared to conventional extraction. The optimized conditions were however not efficient in removing ash.
The in situ synthesis of weakly entangled ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene/polyethylene wax blends and its synergetic disentanglement effect on LLDPE reinforcement
Authors: Chen Yuming , Tao Gan , Li Wei , Zhou Qi , Shu Baoqiang , Jiang Binbo , Wang Jingdai , Yang Yongrong 
Published: August 2022

AbstractHigh‐performance ultrahigh‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)/low‐molecular‐weight polyethylene (PE) mixture additives were proven to be effective for enhancing commercial high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) resins, which were synthesized by the complicated dual‐site immobilized catalyst system. In this paper, PE wax components were preadded in the polymerization reactor for in situ synthesizing the UHMWPE/PE wax binary blends with just a single SiO2/MgCl2 supported Z–N catalyst modified by the active site isolators. The influence of PE wax addition on the catalytic activity, molecular weight, thermodynamic property, particle size, and entanglement density was systematically researched. It was evidenced that the catalytic activity and molecular weight exhibit a linear relationship with the ethylene solubility caused by the PE wax addition. Besides, the competition between chain propagation/crystallization balance and PE wax long chains entanglement effect arising from the PE wax addition leads to the minimum entanglement density (GNt = 0.59) of UHPE‐20%. The disbalance of chain propagation rate and chain crystallization rate can be broken by PE particle fragmentation, inducing rapidly increased entanglements. Furthermore, with the synergistic disentanglement influence of reduced entanglements for UHMWPE and the chain diffusion ability for PE wax, the LU‐30 sample with a mixture of UHPE‐30% and linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) exhibits the optimum strength/stiffness/toughness properties. The tensile strength, Young's modulus, and impact strength of LU‐30 reach 18.2 MPa (+4%), 172.1 MPa (+53.8%), 60.5 kJ/m2 (+13.1%), respectively, compared with those of pure LLDPE. The overall enhanced mechanical properties are attributed to the intensive signal intensity and tightly stacked form of shish‐kebab structures, which were verified by the two‐dimensional small angle X‐ray scattering and two‐dimensional wide angle X‐ray diffraction patterns. In addition, the in situ polymerization method of UHMWPE/PE wax with SiO2/MgCl2 supported Z–N catalysts exhibits a great probability of efficient utilization of low‐molecular‐weight polyethylene by‐products (PE wax).
The effect of dielectric and thermal properties of plastic mold materials on the high frequency welding of three‐dimensional foam components
Authors: Schneider Kevin , Gothe Bastian , Drexler Maximilian , Siltamaeki Jarkko , Weiger Helge , Seefried Andreas , Drummer Dietmar 
Published: August 2022

AbstractHigh‐frequency heating processes are widely used in industry, for example, for food processing, wood drying, or plastic welding. A recent development in this field uses radio‐frequency heating to fuse particle foam beads to complex components. The aim of using the modified process is to reduce the energy consumption of particle foam fusion. Within this process, the molds used must be electrically insulating to ensure the building of an electrical field. For this purpose, mold made of two different plastics were analyzed. Additional to the dielectric, mechanical, and thermal expansion, the thermal conductivity of the mold materials are of great interest. Although welding is finished quickly, cooling to the demolding temperature is comparably long. To achieve shorter cooling and therefore shorter process times, the mold materials were modified by two different thermal conductive but electrically insulating fillers. By the use of the thermally optimized mold materials, a reduction in cooling time of up to 40% was possible. At the same time, the heating step was hardly affected. Mechanical properties were enhanced while thermal expansion was reduced.
Registration of ‘UC‐Capay’, a low‐grain‐protein, non–glycoside nitrile producing, California‐adapted, two‐rowed spring malting barley
Authors: del Blanco Isabel Alicia , Hegarty Joshua M. , Dubcovsky Jorge 
Published: August 2022

AbstractCalifornia has a fast‐growing malting industry in need of local production of malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to provide malt to a well‐established craft brewing industry. ‘UC‐Capay’ (Reg. no. CV‐376, PI 698168, PVP application number 202100205) is the third malting barley cultivar released by the University of California, following ‘UC Tahoe’ (2016) and ‘Butta 12’ (2019). UC‐Capay is an early‐flowering, two‐rowed spring malting barley with low grain protein content, characterized by its exceptional large and plump grains. UC‐Capay is adapted to the California's Central Valley (Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys) and is resistant to all common diseases present in this region. UC‐Capay is a non‐glycoside nitrile producer, a trait highly valued by craft maltsters and distillers. UC‐Capay meets the quality standards of a craft malting and brewing industry interested in sourcing locally grown barley.
Efficacy and safety of permissive hypercapnia in preterm infants: A systematic review
Authors: Ozawa Yuri , Miyake Fuyu , Isayama Tetsuya 
Published: August 2022

AbstractContextIn adults, permissive hypercapnia reduces mortality and ventilation duration. However, in preterm infants, the findings from past research regarding the efficacy and safety of permissive hypercapnia are controversial.ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of permissive hypercapnia versus normocapnia in preterm infants on mechanical ventilation.Data SourcesMEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and CINAHLStudy SelectionPublished randomized controlled trials (RCTs), non‐RCTs, interrupted time series, cohort studies, case–control studies, and controlled before‐and‐after studies were included.Data ExtractionTwo reviewers independently screened the title, abstract, and full text, extracted data, assessed the risk of bias, and evaluated certainty of evidence (CoE) according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment and Development and Evaluation approach. A meta‐analysis of RCTs was performed using the random‐effects model.ResultsFour RCTs (693 infants) and one cohort study (371 infants) were included. No significant differences existed between the permissive hypercapnia and normocapnia groups for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) (risk ratio [RR], 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74–1.18; very low CoE) and a composite outcome of death or BPD (RR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.90–1.23; very low CoE). Permissive hypercapnia may increase necrotizing enterocolitis (RR, 1.69; 95% CI, 0.98–2.91; very low CoE), but the null or trivial effect cannot be excluded. No significant differences existed between the two groups for any other outcome assessed (very low‐to‐low CoE).LimitationsThe sample sizes were less than the optimal sizes for all outcomes assessed, indicating the need for further trials.ConclusionsPermissive hypercapnia did not have any significant benefit or harm in preterm infants.
An avirulent Ralstonia solanacearum strain FJAT1458 outcompetes with virulent strain and induces tomato plant resistance against bacterial wilt
Authors: Zheng Xuefang , Xiao Rongfeng , Chen Meichun , Wu Huijun , Gao Xuewen , Wang Jieping 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBACKGROUNDBacterial wilt (BW) caused by Ralstonia solanacearum (RS) is considered as one of the most destructive plant diseases. An avirulent strain of RS, FJAT1458, is a potential biocontrol agent of BW. In this study, the mechanism of FJAT1458 against BW was evaluated.RESULTSFJAT1458 was tagged with the red fluorescent protein gene, and the resulting strain was named as FJAT1458‐RFP. When FJAT1458‐RFP and FJAT91‐GFP (a virulent strain of RS labelled with the green fluorescent protein gene), were co‐inoculated in potted tomato plants, the colonization of FJAT91‐GFP reached an almost undetectable level at 7 days post‐inoculation (dpi) in the roots and at 9 dpi in rhizosphere soil. When they were co‐inoculated in a hydroponic tomato growing system, numbers of the two strains were similar at 3 dpi in the root tissues; however, FJAT91‐GFP was not detected at 9 dpi while FJAT1458‐RFP maintained 1.77 × 105 CFU g−1. The inoculation of FJAT1458‐RFP alone or combination with FJAT91‐GFP significantly increased tomato root activity. Moreover, expression levels of the defense‐related genes PR‐1a, GLUA, and CHI3 in tomato roots were significantly up‐regulated by FJAT1458‐RFP and co‐inoculation of FJAT1458‐RFP and FJAT91‐GFP at 5 dpi, compared to the control (water, CK) treatment. Noteworthy, expression levels of GLUA in the treatments of FJAT1458‐RFP and FJAT1458‐RFP + FJAT91‐GFP were 12.22‐ and 12.05‐fold higher than that in the CK at 5 dpi, respectively.CONCLUSIONSThe results suggested that the avirulent strain FJAT1458‐RFP could suppress colonization of the virulent strain in tomato roots, and induce tomato plant resistance against BW. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.
Cluster Gauss‐Newton method analyses of PBPK model parameter combinations of coproporphyrin‐I based on OATP1B‐mediated rifampicin interaction studies
Authors: Yoshikado Takashi , Aoki Yasunori , Mochizuki Tatsuki , Rodrigues A. David , Chiba Koji , Kusuhara Hiroyuki , Sugiyama Yuichi 
Published: August 2022

AbstractCoproporphyrin I (CP‐I) is an endogenous biomarker supporting the prediction of drug–drug interactions (DDIs) involving hepatic organic anion transporting polypeptide 1B (OATP1B). We previously constructed a physiologically‐based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for CP‐I using clinical DDI data with an OATP1B inhibitor, rifampicin (RIF). In this study, PBPK model parameters for CP‐I were estimated using the cluster Gauss–Newton method (CGNM), an algorithm used to find multiple approximate solutions for nonlinear least‐squares problems. Eight unknown parameters including the hepatic overall intrinsic clearance (CLint,all), the rate of biosynthesis (vsyn), and the OATP1B inhibition constant of RIF(Ki,u,OATP) were estimated by fitting to the observed CP‐I blood concentrations in two different clinical studies involving changing the RIF dose. Multiple parameter combinations were obtained by CGNM that could well capture the clinical data. Among those, CLint,all, Ki,u,OATP, and vsyn were sensitive parameters. The obtained Ki,u,OATP for CP‐I was 5.0‐ and 2.8‐fold lower than that obtained for statins, confirming our previous findings describing substrate‐dependent Ki,u,OATP values. In conclusion, CGNM analyses of PBPK model parameter combinations enables estimation of the three essential parameters for CP‐I to capture the DDI profiles, even if the other parameters remain unidentified. The CGNM also clarified the importance of appropriate combinations of other unidentified parameters to enable capture of the CP‐I concentration time course under the influence of RIF. The described CGNM approach may also support the construction of robust PBPK models for additional transporter biomarkers beyond CP‐I.
Olive leaf extract inhibits metastatic melanoma spread through suppression of epithelial to mesenchymal transition
Authors: De Cicco Paola , Ercolano Giuseppe , Tenore Gian Carlo , Ianaro Angela 
Published: August 2022

AbstractOlive tree leaves are an abundant source of bioactive compounds with several beneficial effects for human health, including a protective role against many types of cancer. In this study, we investigated the effect of an extract, obtained from olive tree (Olea europaea L.) leaves (OLE), on proliferation, invasion, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) on metastatic melanoma, the highly aggressive form of skin cancer and the deadliest diseases. Our results demonstrated that OLE inhibited melanoma cells proliferation through cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptotic cell death. Moreover, OLE suppressed the migration, invasion, and colonies formation of human melanoma cells. Similar to our in vitro findings, we demonstrated that the oral administration of OLE inhibited cutaneous tumor growth and lung metastasis formation in vivo by modulating the expression of EMT related factors. In addition, the anti‐proliferative and anti‐invasive effects of OLE against melanoma were also related to a simultaneous targeting of mitogen‐activated protein kinase and PI3K pathways, both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our findings suggest that OLE has the potential to inhibit the metastatic spread of melanoma cells thanks to its multifaceted mechanistic effects, and may represent a new add‐on therapy for the management of metastatic melanoma.
Food sensors: Off‐package and on‐package approaches
Authors: Kuswandi Bambang , Moradi Mehran , Ezati Parya 
Published: August 2022

AbstractFood sensors are an emerging technology used in food quality monitoring and safety, potentially decreasing food loss and waste and protecting the health of consumers. Food sensors integrated into intelligent packaging systems are promising to enhance food shelf‐life during transportation, distribution, storage, and selling. In this review, the role of food sensors in the intelligent packaging system, their developments, and challenges are discussed. First, we discuss the motivation behind food sensors in the food quality and safety management system, followed by the background of the intelligent packaging development and factors involved in the food properties monitoring. Then, food sensor approaches, both on‐package and off‐package sensors, were discussed. Following, the examples of potential food sensors integrated into a packaging system, which allows monitoring food quality and safety, were also described, followed by several strategies to monitor premature food spoilage. Finally, the prospects of an on‐package sensor as a smart packaging and related challenges are addressed.
A review of microservices autoscaling with formal verification perspective
Authors: Jawaddi Siti Nuraishah Agos , Johari Muhammad Hamizan , Ismail Azlan 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe process of scaling microservices is a challenging task, especially in maintaining optimum resource provisioning while respecting QoS constraints and SLA. Many research works have proposed autoscaling approaches for microservices, however, less likely concerned with the correctness guarantee of the proposed algorithms. Hence, it is significant to gather and summarize these approaches to foster future innovation. Meanwhile, a few reviews have been published concerning microservices from different aspects. Therefore, our review complements the existing by focusing on autoscaling with verification perspectives. This study highlights the recent contributions in three inter‐related main topics that were published within the year 2017 to 2022, namely, microservice, verification, and autoscaling. Due to limited resources on verification for microservice autoscaling, we widen the perspective by considering the verification for autoscaling in cloud‐based systems. Based on our findings, we found that the formal method is not a new thing in verifying the autoscaling policies in cloud‐based systems, and one recent study that implements the formal method in the microservices area has been identified. Apart from the autoscaling techniques, we have also determined several factors that have been a concern in scaling the microservices as well as the relatable metrics. Meanwhile, from a verification perspective, we identified that probabilistic model checking is the common formal verification technique used to verify microservices and cloud autoscaling. Finally, we recommend open challenges from two perspectives which highlight the verification for existing microservice autoscaling and verification for ML‐based microservice autoscaling.
A model for predicting the splitting bearing capacity of Fiber Reinforced Concrete elements under partially loaded areas
Authors: Trabucchi Ivan , Tiberti Giuseppe , Plizzari Giovanni A. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractConcrete elements are frequently subjected to partially loaded areas; a typical example is represented by precast tunnel segments. In fact, during the excavation process, the hydraulic jacks of the boring machine exert, on the last assembled ring, high forces concentrated on small areas with respect to the size of ring joint. Similarly, when lining is embedded in ground, high hooping forces are transmitted through longitudinal joints, which present a contact zone smaller than the segment cross section. In both cases, spreading these loads into tunnel segments result in tensile transverse stresses which may cause splitting cracks. In the last decades, the growing desire to find more economic and sustainable solutions has driven enormous efforts in the tunnel industry to find new design solution such those based on Fiber Reinforced Concrete (FRC) or a combination of FRC and traditionally steel rebars. Research studies have already demonstrated the ability of fibers in controlling splitting crack phenomena. However, there is a lack of knowledge on reliable analytical approaches to quantify these benefits. The main aim of this paper is to develop a new model for determining the bearing capacity of FRC elements under partially loaded areas when splitting failure occurs. The analytical model herein reported allows a good prediction of the maximum loads exhibited by FRC prisms tested under high concentrated loads, whose data were selected from the literature.
Investigating the performance of stone columns in an extremely soft clay—A case study
Authors: Harelimana Vincent , Ping Yuan Jun , Gao Zhu Jun , Umuhuza Salomon K. A. 
Published: August 2022

SummaryStone columns are used to improve soft soils; however, they fail through bulging, punching, and lateral expansion when the soil is extremely soft. The present study investigated the performance of stone columns in an extremely soft clay (ESC) through the addition of the appropriate geosynthetic materials. Field test was conducted for the foremost purpose of obtaining the optimal spacing between the consecutive stone columns and therefore prevents the failures of stone columns in ESC soils. The study further examined the failure modes of stone columns for the case of ESC soils. The computer programming software FLAC 3D was used for modeling and simulation, while Auto CAD was used to draw needed geometries of the case study. The results revealed that the full encasement of the stone column with suitable geogrids, optimal spacing, and proper design of cushion will enable the efficient use of stone columns as a composite foundation in ESC. The considered appropriate thickness of the cushion was found to be 30 cm, and this cushion helps the embedded soft clay soils to work together with the installed encased stone columns in ESC soils. The center‐to‐center (optimal) spacing between two consecutive stone columns showed optimal performance at distance S ≤ 5d of the diameter of the stone column. These findings show that stone column encased with suitable geogrids and optimal spacing will improve the bearing capacity, reduce settlement, and decrease the lateral deflection as well as hoop strain of the foundation.
Multimodal analgesic technique in a peacock (Pavo cristatus) anaesthetised for orthopaedic surgery
Authors: Marchese Giorgia Anna , Calvo Carrasco Daniel , Pascal Manuel 
Published: August 2022

AbstractA 6‐month‐old, male peacock (Pavo cristatus) underwent right‐sided corrective tibiotarsal osteotomy under general anaesthesia. Butorphanol (1 mg/kg) and midazolam (1 mg/kg) were administered in the pectoral muscle as pre‐anaesthetic medications. Anaesthesia was induced with intravenous alfaxalone (2.5 mg/kg) and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Intermittent positive‐pressure ventilation was applied. A nerve stimulator‐guided femoral nerve block and a nerve stimulator‐ and ultrasound‐guided sciatic nerve block were performed before surgery with lidocaine. An intravenous bolus of ketamine (1 mg/kg), followed by infusion (20 µg/kg/min) was administered intraoperatively. No nociception was recorded during surgery. This case report describes a successful multimodal analgesic technique in a peacock anaesthetised for orthopaedic surgery.
Four‐Coordinate Germylene and Stannylene and their Reactivity towards Se & Te**
Authors: Hossain Jabed , Parvin Nasrina , Shah Brij Kumar , Khan Shabana 
Published: August 2022

AbstractIn this work, we have prepared a bulky ligand supported chlorogermylene (LGeCl) [L=C6H4‐2‐{C(Me)=NAr*}; Ar*=(2,6‐bis(diphenylmethyl)‐4‐methylphenyl)] (2), chlorostannylene (LSnCl) (3), four‐coordinate germylene (L2Ge) (4) and four‐coordinate stannylene (L2Sn) (5). Subsequently, the reactions of 4 and 5 with elemental selenium and tellurium led to the isolation of respective heavy ketones (7‐9). All the compounds are well characterized by multinuclear NMR techniques and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction studies.