bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multi‐Terminal Artificial Synaptic Devices with More Controllable Brain‐Like Spike‐Based Behaviors
Authors: Li Guoqing , Dai Mingzhi , Zhang Yuejun 
Published: February 2022

AbstractArtificial synaptic devices have attracted attention because such devices with brain‐like spike‐based characteristics are the basis for developing neuromorphic computing and artificial intelligence. Electric devices for artificial synaptic devices typically include two‐terminal and three‐terminal devices. However, there is a gap between the massive multi‐terminal (i.e., close to 3D) 3D connectivity in the brain with stochastic inherence and devices under 2D control, owing to the limited number of terminals, that is, two or three number of terminalsterminals. There is a need for updated designs that can bridge the gap between electronic devices that cannot mimic artificial synaptic behaviors effectively and large‐scale circuits that can mimic those multi‐terminal behaviors effectively but consume considerable amounts of power. Herein, multi‐terminal brain‐like artificial synaptic devices with small footprint and spike‐based behaviors, the structure of which is developed frombased on a standard transistor, which and could have a good potential of mass application due towith the structure's nice area efficiency and scalability, are proposed. These devices have an increased ability to mimic stochastic inherence behaviors but require lower energy than existing complex computing platforms. This design effectively mimics the artificial synaptic behaviors employed in 3D muti‐terminal connectivity control. Furthermore, it enables easier device control and fabrication in mass production. Thus, the proposed multi‐terminal devices with artificial synaptic behaviors are nice candidates for next‐generation neuromorphic computing and artificial intelligence electronic systems.
The long‐run prevalence of food insufficiency among older Americans
Authors: Levy Helen 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe prevalence of food insufficiency among seniors in any given year is well‐documented, but the prevalence of this hardship over a longer time period in later life is unknown. Using panel data from the Health and Retirement Study, I find that about 8% of seniors report food insufficiency over a 2‐year recall window, while 22% experience it at some point over the two decades of their 60s and 70s. Food insufficiency is not concentrated among a small group of persistently disadvantaged elderly, but is instead a surprisingly common feature of the later life course.
U.S. agricultural university students' mental well‐being and resilience during the first wave of COVID‐19: Discordant expectations and experiences across genders
Authors: Ehmke Mariah D. , Katare Bhagyashree , Kiesel Kristin , Bergtold Jason S. , Penn Jerrod M. , Boys Kathryn A. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic's first wave led to declining mental health and life satisfaction outcomes for college students, especially women. While women in undergraduate agricultural programs outperformed men academically prior to and during the pandemic, the achievement may have come at personal cost, especially for those women with fewer personal and environmental resiliency resources. Our research objective was to expand on personal, social, and environmental factors linked with lower mental health and life satisfaction scores for students in agriculture during the pandemic. We measured the influence of such factors across gender‐based mental health and life satisfaction outcomes. Our data were collected from 2030 students using an on‐line survey across six land‐grant university college of agriculture in agriculturally as many distinct regions of the United States. We estimated OLS and Ordered Probit models of their mental health and life satisfaction self‐assessments. Our findings reveal students' mental health and life satisfaction were reduced due to a paucity of personal (e.g., less future orientation or graduate school aspirations, food and housing insecurity, and personal health risks) and environmental (e.g., lower quality on‐line learning experiences, isolation, family health risk, discrimination experiences) resiliency resources. Our results suggest women were more likely than men to be adversely affected by reduced resiliency resources. These findings suggest university emergency response policies need to address students' needs for housing and food security, on‐line course development and delivery, tele health and mental health resources, broad social inclusion and diversity to decrease risk of female attrition and support all students in agricultural degree programs.
Increasing soil organic carbon sequestration and yield stability by no‐tillage and straw‐returning in wheat–maize rotation
Authors: Shi Jianglan , Wang Shujuan , Li Shuo , Tian Xiaohong 
Published: February 2022

AbstractKnowledge about the changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and grain yields under different field management practices is necessary for achieving agricultural sustainability. An 8‐yr experiment for testing different tillage and straw management practices was conducted in a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–maize (Zea mays L.) rotation system in the southern Loess Plateau of China. Three tillage methods (control with no‐tillage and straw removal [CK], no‐tillage with straw stubbles 30–40 cm in height [NT], and rotary tillage with straw incorporation [RT]) were applied before maize planting, and two straw treatments (straw return [SR] and no straw return [SR0]) were applied after maize harvest. Over the 8 yr, SOC stocks exhibited similar dynamic changing trends in all treatments but were higher under NT, RT, and SR than under CK‐SR0. Compared with the initial soil, SOC stock increased the most (34.1%) in NT‐SR. Compared with the CK‐SR0, the NT‐SR, RT‐SR, CK‐SR, NT‐SR0, and RT‐SR0 increased wheat grain yields by 47.2, 36.8, 24.9, 25.1, and 20.0%, respectively. Similar trends were found for maize grain yields. The NT, RT, and SR increased crop yield stability with the highest sustainable yield index in NT‐SR for both wheat (.67) and maize (.70). Overall, the combination of no‐tillage with wheat straw stubbles 30–40 cm in height and maize straw return was the best strategy for improving SOC stocks, grain yields, and agricultural sustainability for grain production in dry, sub‐humid areas of northwestern China.
Ovarian recovery via autologous platelet‐rich plasma: New benchmarks for condensed cytokine applications to reverse reproductive aging
Authors: Sills E. Scott 
Published: February 2022

AbstractHealth and life expectancy gains have pushed the overall number of menopausal patients to record levels. Because maternal age at first pregnancy also continues to rise, it is unsurprising that reduced birth rates are consistently reported across many populations. Both trends severely strain national demographics and present a socioeconomic challenge for which no satisfactory solution currently exists. Symptomatic menopause and infertility/miscarriage are met with standard therapies like hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and in vitro fertilization, respectively. Although these accepted interventions do supply some cover, both are expensive, low yield, and not without controversy. Meanwhile, ovarian steroid output and competent oocyte availability approach unrecoverable loss beyond age ~35 years, irrespective of treatment. Received wisdom holds that postnatal oogenesis in humans is impossible, a tenet which until recently encountered little serious confrontation. Reassessing this paradigm is overdue given proof‐of‐concept work on native sex steroid rejuvenation, de novo euploid oogenesis, ovulation, blastocyst development, fetal growth, and healthy term livebirths—all apparently possible with intraovarian insertion of platelet‐rich plasma (PRP). Discrete functional analysis of the full platelet‐derived cytokine array carried with PRP unfortunately for now, is incomplete. Here, selected platelet releasate constituents and measured effects are framed to address advances in wellness and women’s health. Emphasis is on cytokines best positioned to enable recovery of senescent ovarian function sufficient to suspend synthetic HRT dependency and/or permit egg retrieval and pregnancy. Whereas the chronicle of progress in other clinical fields does invite generalization of fresh platelet applications to reproductive endocrinology, basic mechanistic questions remain open.
Food store accessibility affects nutritional intake through shopping frequency and food intake in middle‐aged to older adults in rural Nagasaki, Japan
Authors: Kosaka Satoko , Nakao Rieko , Goto Chiho , Umezaki Masahiro , Ohnishi Mayumi 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectivesThe food environment is an important determinant of dietary and nutritional intake, but studies thus far have reported mixed results. We examined associations between food store accessibility and nutritional intake among middle‐aged to older adults in rural Japan using data from a questionnaire survey of national health insurance enrollees.MethodsThe survey was conducted in Nagasaki, Japan, for individuals aged 40–74 years. Direct distances from home and food store density were estimated using a geographic information system (GIS). We focused on protein, vitamin D, and calcium intake for their preventive effects on frailty and sarcopenia. To examine the effects of food store accessibility on nutritional intake, we hypothesized a model with a chain of associations of food store accessibility, shopping frequency, food intake frequency, and nutritional intake. We performed a path analyses to explore the food items to be included in the models, associations between the variables, and fitness of the models.ResultsWe obtained final models with satisfactory fit indices. The resultant models included significant associations between: 1) accessibility indicators and shopping frequency, 2) shopping frequency and intake frequency for two or four categories of food, and 3) intake frequency and nutritional intake.ConclusionsThe results demonstrated that accessibility to food stores, assessed in terms of direct distance from home and food store density, can affect the intake of protein, vitamin D, and calcium through the effect on shopping frequency and intake frequency of some categories of food items, among middle‐aged to older adults in Nagasaki, Japan.
Computerized restoration of a fossil cranium based on selective elimination of estimated taphonomic deformation
Authors: Amano Hideki , Rae Todd C. , Tsoukala Evangelia , Nakatsukasa Masato , Ogihara Naomichi 
Published: February 2022

AbstractObjectivesDue to taphonomic processes, fossils have often undergone plastic deformation. To correctly assess the morphological affinities of such specimens, the original antemortem shape of the deformed specimens must be reconstructed. Here we describe a method to mathematically isolate and selectively eliminate the taphonomic deformation of a fossil cranium for restoration of its original antemortem appearance, and apply this method to reconstruction of a cranium of Mesopithecus from the late Miocene of Greece.Materials and methodsThree‐dimensional (3D) models of the fossil cranium and the crania of phylogenetically close extant species were generated, and 3D shape variations of the crania were analyzed based on anatomical and sliding semi‐landmarks. Using principal component analysis, we attempt to extract the taphonomic deformation component of the shape variation that is presumably orthogonal to the hyperplane describing interspecific variations of the intact crania of the extant species. Landmarks were repositioned so that the extracted taphonomic component is selectively eliminated. A thin‐plate spline was used to describe the 3D transformation from original and repositioned landmarks, and the entire surface of the fossil was restored.ResultsThe proposed method successfully extracted and eliminated the component of the taphonomic deformation and enabled restoration of the original antemortem appearance of the deformed fossil cranium.DiscussionUnlike conventional methodologies, the proposed method does not rely on the assumption of symmetry for correction of taphonomic deformation. Although some methodological limitations apply, the proposed method may contribute to improved accuracy, objectivity, and transparency in virtual reconstruction of deformed cranial fossils.
Synthesis of phosphazene‐triazine bi‐base sulfonate and its applications in flame‐retardant modified polycarbonate
Authors: Sun Chuangchuang , Zhang Wei , Cui Yihua , Liu Dongyue 
Published: February 2022

AbstractA phosphazene‐triazine bi‐base sulfonate compound (CPNS) was synthesized using hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene, cyanuric chloride, and sodium p‐hydroxybenzene sulfonate as raw materials. The chemical structure was determined by FTIR, 1H NMR 31P NMR (NMR stands for nuclear magnetic resonance), and elemental analysis of P, Na. To study the flame retardant properties of CPNS, a series of modified polycarbonate (MPC) with different ratios of CPNS were prepared. The flame retardant performance and thermal stability of CPNS/MPC were characterized by limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL‐94 vertical burning test, cone calorimetry test, and TG. Results show that when CPNS is added to 0.3%, the CPNS/MPC can pass the UL94 V‐0 level with an LOI value of 35.3% and reduce the peak heat release rate by 16.89% during the combustion. TG results show that adding 0.1% CPNS can decrease the initial decomposition temperature of the MPC by 68°C in nitrogen and 27°C in air. The reduction of the initial decomposition temperature means that the flame retardant promotes the isomerization reaction of polycarbonate accelerates the formation of an intermediate char on the surface. Investigation of intermediate char residue's morphology and chemical structure demonstrates that CPNS promotes the formation of more complete and compact char residue, which acts not only there is increased opportunity for radical recombination reactions in the condensed phase but also as physical barriers to inhibit the transfer of heat and oxygen, resulting in good flame retardant properties.
3D biocompatible bone engineering foams with tunable mechanical properties and porous structures
Authors: Zeng Xiyang , Wang Li , Chen Xiaohu , Luo Kun , Li Junfeng 
Published: February 2022

AbstractLarge bone defects due to accidental injuries and fractures as well as the mismatch between the implant material and the defect site are major problems in biomedicine. Bone tissue engineering offers a solution to this problem. In this paper, a series of three‐dimensional porous composite scaffolds with shape memory were prepared using polycaprolactone and polytetrahydrofuran as soft segment materials, hexamethylene diisocyanate as hard segment materials and amorphous calcium phosphate/calcium citrate (CAP) as inorganic fillers. The scaffolds have tunable mechanical properties, melt temperature, surface wettability, a pore size range of 100–800 μm and a high degree of connectivity. In vitro mineralization showed good mineral deposition and energy dispersion spectrometer displayed uniform distribution of Ca and P elements on the surface. The composite scaffold exhibited good shape memory properties at 37°C. The shape fixation rate (Rf) and shape recovery rate (Rr) were maintained at 94.1% and 94.4% after five compression cycles. The resulting scaffold promoted MG63 cell proliferation to some extent. The scaffold is expected to be used clinically for the treatment of large bone defects.
Cooperative modification of PVDF electroactive films due to the exfoliated and oriented Na+‐MMT with assistance of different cationic chain length ionic liquids
Authors: Liu Yan , Hu Jing , Zhao Xuanchen , Xie Junhao , Song Shixin , Sun Shulin 
Published: February 2022

AbstractPoly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) based nano dielectric composites have been investigated widely due to their potential application in sensors, actuators, and energy storage fields. To achieve these goals, a novel modification of PVDF electroactive films was prepared due to the exfoliated and oriented Na+‐MMT with the assistance of different cationic chain length imidazole‐based ionic liquids. The results proved the ion exchange between Na+‐MMT and ILs promoted exfoliation and uniform dispersion of Na+‐MMT in PVDF matrix efficiently even under a low ILs content (<0.05%). Furthermore, the existence of ILs and shearing force contributed to the oriented dispersion of Na+‐MMT. The synergistic effect of Na+‐MMT and ILs induced the crystal conformation transition from non‐polar α‐crystal to electroactive β/γ crystal. The ILs with longer cationic chains behaved much higher inducibility for PVDF electroactive phases. Compared with pure PVDF, PVDF/Na+‐MMT/ILs nanocomposites with longer cationic chain ILs showed higher dielectric constant, breakdown strength, and energy density, while kept low‐dielectric loss and conductivity. The improved compatibility between PVDF and Na+‐MMT due to the ion exchange and decreased crystal size for the polar β/γ crystal enhanced the transparency and elongation at break of PVDF/Na+‐MMT/ILs nanocomposites significantly. The results proved [C16MIM][Cl] behaved optimum synergistic modification effect for the nanocomposites, and which showed potential applications in dielectric energy storage and microelectronic fields.
Demographics and significance of porotic hyperostosis as assessed by surface microscopy
Authors: Rothschild Bruce M. , Jellema Lyman , Lambert Wayne 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundExamination of parietal surface anatomy has been limited because standard techniques have insufficient resolution to identify and characterize the structures of interest. Perspectives derived thereof have not clarified their nature. Surface microscopy is pursued as a nondestructive technique to assess the character and implications of porotic pores (referred to as porotic hyperostosis), which have been subject of much speculation.MethodsThe external surface of the skulls, selected on the basis of age and gender, from the Hamann‐Todd human collection are examined by epi‐illumination microscopy for surface pores and to assess correlation with age, ethnicity, gender, anemia, infection, cancer, hypertrophic bone disorders, renal disease, and fractures.ResultsPore‐like surface defects are present in 2.7%–5% of individuals in the third‐fifth decades of life; 7%, in the sixth‐eighth; and 25%, in the ninth‐11th, but absent in the second decade of life. They are gender and birthdate independent, but slightly more common in African Americans. Fractures are more common among individuals with parietal pores, while tuberculosis, cancer, and hypertrophic bone diseases and anemia are less common.DiscussionThis is the first study to actually examine the prevalence of parietal pores as a function of known age, race, and sex and provides a baseline for comparison with populations in which those variables are not clearly identifiable. While some porotic pores may be related to marrow hyperplasia, transcortical circulation may explain the majority.
An apparently phylogeny‐independent method for identification of skeletal (longitudinal) growth cessation (skeletal maturity) in birds
Authors: Rothschild Bruce 
Published: February 2022

AbstractIdentification of skeletal maturity is of interest as a measure of species longevity and for identifying its maximal achievable size/mass. Measurement of age on the basis of growth arrest/accentuation lines and external fundamental system evidences cessation or at least extreme slowing of circumferential bone growth. Such intramembranous (periosteal)‐derived growth is distinct from the endochondral ossification responsible for longitudinal growth and therefore achievable organismal size/mass. As subchondral transcortical channels are required for nourishment, their loss should identify cessation of longitudinal growth. Predicated on phylogenetic bracketing/relationship and shared anatomical structures with and without growth plates, birds represent an appropriate model for the study of dinosaur ontogeny. Persistence of transcortical subchondral channels in the long bones of birds are examined at ×100–200 magnification and correlated with bone length. Transcortical channels are present in subchondral articular surfaces, but disappear when terminal longitudinal growth is achieved. Articular vascular channels perforating articular surfaces from within the bone are detected. Loss of penetrating channels is interpreted as evidence of skeletal growth cessation, identifying the longitudinal bone length at which skeletal growth cessation has been achieved. The current study provides evidence that maximal bone length does correlate with endochondral cessation growth. Failure of circumferential growth reduction/cessation to correlate with bone length may be related to lack of synchronicity of periosteal‐based circumferential growth with the endochondral process responsible for bone lengthening. Loss/closure of articular vascular channels may be the most reliable measure of a bird's achievement of maximal growth (indicating cessation of appendicular element lengthening).
How does early‐life adversity shape telomere dynamics during adulthood? Problems and paradigms
Authors: Marasco Valeria , Smith Steve , Angelier Frédéric 
Published: February 2022

AbstractAlthough early‐life adversity has been associated with negative consequences during adulthood, growing evidence shows that such adversity can also lead to subsequent stress resilience and positive fitness outcomes. Telomere dynamics are relevant in this context because of the link with developmental conditions and longevity. However, few studies have assessed whether the effects of early‐life adversity on developmental telomere dynamics may relate to adult telomere dynamics. We propose that the potential links between early‐life adversity and adult telomere dynamics could be driven by developmental constraints (the Constraint hypothesis), by the nature/severity of developmental adversity (the Resilience hypothesis), or by developmental‐mediated changes in individual life‐history strategies (the Pace of Life hypothesis). We discuss these non‐mutually exclusive hypotheses, explore future research directions, and propose specific studies to test these hypotheses. Our article aims to expand our understanding of the evolutionary role of developmental conditions on adult telomere dynamics, stress resilience and ageing.
Investigating Ion Transport through Artificial Transmembrane Channels Containing Introverted Groups
Authors: Li Ya‐Wei , Fu Yong‐Hong , Hou Jun‐Li 
Published: February 2022

Comprehensive SummaryThe investigation on the relationship between structure and transport activity of artificial transmembrane channels has still remained a challenge because of lacking strategy to precisely arrange the functional group in the channel structures. Herein, we report a general strategy to monitor ion transport through the artificial channels by using unimolecular tubular molecules containing introverted groups. We found that the ion transport rate decreased with elongation of the introverted sidechains and the channel with propyl group as the introverted sidechain exhibited the longest opening duration time. Moreover, we have revealed that, comparing to the ion transport rate, the opening duration is a more important factor for determining the transport activity of the artificial channels.