bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of buds transcriptome and identification of two florigen gene AkFTs in Amorphophallus konjac
Authors: Gao Han , Zhao Yan , Huang Lihua , Huang Yu , Chen Jinjun , Zhou Haiyan , Zhang Xuewen 
Published: April 2022

AbstractLeaves and flowers of Amorphophallus konjac do not develop simultaneously thus unique features can be elucidated through study of flowering transformation in A. konjac. In this study, transcriptome libraries of A. konjac leaf buds (LB) and flower buds (FB) were constructed followed by high-throughput sequencing. A total of 68,906 unigenes with an average length of 920 bp were obtained after library assembly. Out of these genes, 24,622 unigenes had annotation information. A total of 6859 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified through differential expression analysis using LB as control. Notably, 2415 DEGs were upregulated whereas 4444 DEGs were downregulated in the two transcriptomes. Go and KEGG analysis showed that the DEGs belonged to 44 functional categories and were implicated in 98 metabolic pathways and 38 DEGs involved in plant hormone signal transduction. Several genes were mined that may be involved in A. konjac flower bud differentiation and flower organ development. Eight DEGs were selected for verification of RNA-seq results using qRT-PCR analysis. Two FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) genes named AkFT1 and AkFT2 were identified though homologous analysis may be the florigen gene implicated in modulation of A. konjac flowering. These genes were significantly upregulated in flower buds compared with the expression levels on leaf buds. Overexpression of AkFT genes though heterologous expression in Arabidopsis showed that the transgenics flowered at a very early stage relative to wild type plants. These findings indicate that AkFT1 and AkFT2 function as regulation genes in A. konjac flowering development and the two genes may present similar functions during flowering transition.
Clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of 118 cases of myeloid sarcoma
Authors: Zhao Haiqiu , Dong Zhenkun , Wan Dingming , Cao Weijie , Xing Haizhou , Liu Zhenzhen , Fan Jixin , Wang Haiqiong , Lu Runqing , Zhang Yinyin , Cheng Qianqian , Jiang Zhongxing , He Fei , Xie Xinsheng , Guo Rong 
Published: April 2022

AbstractMyeloid sarcoma is a rare manifestation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and is associated with poor overall survival (OS). The optimal treatment remains unclear. The study retrospectively evaluated 118 patients with myeloid sarcoma who were treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2010 to July 2021. All cases were diagnosed by tissue biopsy. 41 patients underwent genetic mutation analysis. The most frequent genetic mutations were KIT (16.6%), followed by TET2 (14.6%), and NRAS (14.6%). The median survival time of 118 patients was 4 months (range, 1–51 months), while the median survival time of 11 patients who received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) was 19 months (range, 8–51 months). 4 (36.4%) of the 11 patients experienced relapse within 1 year after transplantation. 1 patient died from a severe infection. Of the 6 surviving patients, 5 patients have received maintenance treatment with decitabine after transplantation, and all remained in a state of recurrence-free survival. Patients with myeloid sarcoma have a very unfavorable outcome. Allo-HSCT is an effective treatment option. Recurrence remains the main cause of transplant failure. Maintenance treatment with decitabine after transplantation can prolong the recurrence-free survival time, although these results must be verified in a study with expanded sample size.
Grasp-squeeze adaptation to changes in object compliance leads to dynamic beta-band communication between primary somatosensory and motor cortices
Authors: Cu Huy , Lynch Laurie , Huang Kevin , Truccolo Wilson , Nurmikko Arto 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIn asking the question of how the brain adapts to changes in the softness of manipulated objects, we studied dynamic communication between the primary sensory and motor cortical areas when nonhuman primates grasp and squeeze an elastically deformable manipulandum to attain an instructed force level. We focused on local field potentials recorded from S1 and M1 via intracortical microelectrode arrays. We computed nonparametric spectral Granger Causality to assess directed cortico-cortical interactions between these two areas. We demonstrate that the time-causal relationship between M1 and S1 is bidirectional in the beta-band (15–30 Hz) and that this interareal communication develops dynamically as the subjects adjust the force of hand squeeze to reach the target level. In particular, the directed interaction is strongest when subjects are focused on maintaining the instructed force of hand squeeze in a steady state for several seconds. When the manipulandum’s compliance is abruptly changed, beta-band interareal communication is interrupted for a short period (~ 1 s) and then is re-established once the subject has reached a new steady state. These results suggest that transient beta oscillations can provide a communication subspace for dynamic cortico-cortical S1–M1 interactions during maintenance of steady sensorimotor states.
Toward passive BCI: asynchronous decoding of neural responses to direction- and angle-specific perturbations during a simulated cockpit scenario
Authors: Jalilpour Shayan , Müller-Putz Gernot 
Published: April 2022

AbstractNeuroimaging studies have provided proof that loss of balance evokes specific neural transient wave complexes in electroencephalography (EEG), called perturbation evoked potentials (PEPs). Online decoding of balance perturbations from ongoing EEG signals can establish the possibility of implementing passive brain-computer interfaces (pBCIs) as a part of aviation/driving assistant systems. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of identifying the existence and expression of perturbations in four different conditions by using EEG signals. Fifteen healthy participants experienced four various postural changes while they sat in a glider cockpit. Sudden perturbations were exposed by a robot connected to a glider and moved to the right and left directions with tilting angles of 5 and 10 degrees. Perturbations occurred in an oddball paradigm in which participants were not aware of the time and expression of the perturbations. We employed a hierarchical approach to separate the perturbation and rest, and then discriminate the expression of perturbations. The performance of the BCI system was evaluated by using classification accuracy and F1 score. Asynchronously, we achieved average accuracies of 89.83 and 73.64% and average F1 scores of 0.93 and 0.60 for binary and multiclass classification, respectively. These results manifest the practicality of pBCI for the detection of balance disturbances in a realistic situation.
Niche differentiation of comammox Nitrospira in sediments of the Three Gorges Reservoir typical tributaries, China
Authors: Zhang Jiahui , Hu Mingming , Wang Yuchun , Zhao Jianwei , Li Shanze , Bao Yufei , Wen Jie , Hu Jinlong , Zhou Mingzhi 
Published: April 2022

AbstractComplete ammonia oxidizer (Comammox) can complete the whole nitrification process independently, whose niche differentiation is important guarantee for its survival and ecological function. This study investigated the niche differentiation of comammox Nitrospira in the sediments of three typical tributaries of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR). Clade A and clade B of comammox Nitrospira coexisted in all sampling sites simultaneously. The amoA gene abundance of clade A and B was gradually increased or decreased along the flow path of the three tributaries with obvious spatial differentiation. The amoA gene abundance of comammox Nitrospira clade A (6.36 × 103 − 5.06 × 104 copies g−1 dry sediment) was higher than that of clade B (6.26 × 102 − 6.27 × 103 copies g−1 dry sediment), and the clade A amoA gene abundance was one order of magnitude higher than that of AOA (7.24 × 102 − 6.89 × 103 copies g−1 dry sediment) and AOB (1.44 × 102 − 1.46 × 103 copies g−1 dry sediment). A significant positive correlation was observed between comammox Nitrospira clade A amoA gene abundance and flow distance (P < 0.05). The number of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in two sub-clades of clade A accounted for the majority in different tributaries, indicating that clade A also had population differentiation among different tributaries. This study revealed that comammox Nitrospira in the sediments of TGR tributaries have niche differentiation and clade A.2 played a more crucial role in comammox Nitrospira community.
Identification and Comprehension of Narrow Focus by Arabic-Speaking Adolescents With Moderate-to-Profound Hearing Loss
Authors: Kawar Khaloob , Kishon-Rabin Liat , Segal Osnat 
Published: April 2022

Purpose:Processing narrow focus (NF), the stressed word in the sentence, includes both the perceptual ability to identify the stressed word in the sentence and the pragmatic–semantic ability to comprehend the nonexplicit linguistic message. NF and its underlying meaning can be conveyed only via the auditory modality. Therefore, NF can be considered as a measure for assessing the efficacy of the hearing aid (HA) and cochlear implants (CIs) for acquiring nonexplicit language skills. The purpose of this study was to assess identification and comprehension of NF by HA and CI users who are native speakers of Arabic and to associate NF outcomes with speech perception and cognitive and linguistic abilities.Method:A total of 46 adolescents (age range: 11;2–18;8) participated: 18 with moderate-to-severe hearing loss who used HAs, 10 with severe-to-profound hearing loss who used CIs, and 18 with typical hearing (TH). Test materials included the Arabic Narrow Focus Test (ANFT), which includes three subtests assessing identification (ANFT1), comprehension of NF in simple four-word sentences (ANFT2), and longer sentences with a construction list at the clause or noun phrase level (ANFT3). In addition, speech perception, vocabulary, and working memory were assessed.Results:All the participants successfully identified the word carrying NF, with no significant difference between the groups. Comprehension of NF in ANFT2 and ANFT3 was reduced for HA and CI users compared with TH peers, and speech perception, hearing status, and memory for digits predicted the variability in the overall results of ANFT1, ANFT2, and ANFT3, respectively.Conclusions:Arabic speakers who used HAs or CIs were able to identify NF successfully, suggesting that the acoustic cues were perceptually available to them. However, HA and CI users had considerable difficulty in understanding NF. Different factors may contribute to this difficulty, including the memory load during the task as well as pragmatic-linguistic knowledge on the possible meanings of NF.
Investigation on effect of semiconducting screen on space charge behaviour of polypropylene‐based polymers for HVDC cables
Authors: Zhou Mingyu , Wang Haitian , Ren Xintong , Chen George , Luo Yi , Yu Fan 
Published: April 2022

AbstractHigh voltage direct current (HVDC) power transmission cable is critical for realising sustainability through renewable energy revolution. Eco‐friendly thermoplastic polypropylene (PP)‐based polymers/nanocomposites are regarded as promising candidates for replacing current thermoset crosslinked polyethylene (XLPE) cables. As an essential component of the extruded HVDC cable for improving conductor/insulation interface and suppressing charge injection to insulation at high DC electrical stresses, developing semiconducting (SC) screens that are compatible with PP‐based insulation is of similar importance but has not been well studied yet. This work aims at designing PP‐based semiconducting screens and investigating space charge behaviours of SC/PP/SC sandwich specimen to unfold the effect of semiconducting materials, bonding methods, applied DC electric field, and temperature on charge injection, accumulation, transportation, and dissipation in PP‐based insulation. Although conventional thermal, mechanical, and low field electrical characterisations demonstrated that all of the developed semiconducting materials meet the performance criteria of commercial semiconducting materials, their space charge and local electric field distribution varied significantly at high DC fields. Compared with the traditional non‐bonded configuration used at lab‐scale, charge injection was enhanced in hot‐pressed SC/PP/SC samples with tightly bonded interfaces, which better reflects the real situation in extruded cables. High temperature further intensified charge injections. Besides, our results also revealed that high temperature and electric field strongly influence charge mobilities and consequently their distribution and local electric field in PP‐based insulations.
Pituitary Macroadenoma: Fooling the Ophthalmologist before Giving Him the Role of the Whistle-Blower
Authors: Tran Lara , Papasavvas Ioannis , Herbort Carl P. 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Purpose To describe cases diagnosed with pituitary macroadenoma during the follow-up of their primary ocular pathologies.
Methods Charts of patients followed in the Centre for Ophthalmic Specialized Care for diverse pathologies and who had subsequently developed a pituitary macroadenoma were retrieved.
The primary pathologies were noted. The delay of the diagnosis after sufficiently compatible perimetric signs became available was calculated and the evolution after the neurosurgical
intervention was reported.
Results In total, from 2003 to 2020, 16/14 966 (0.1%) pituitary macroadenoma patients were recorded. In 10 patients, the disease was noted in their history. In 6 patients (2 females,
4 males; 0.04%), macroadenoma occurred during the follow-up for their primary ocular pathologies. Mean age at first presentation was 65.16 ± 8.52 years. Primary pathologies included
amblyopia (1), glaucoma (2), cataract (4), and uveitis (2). Mean duration of symptoms was 18.17 ± 13.11 months. Mean delay from first suspicious visual field signs to diagnosis was
125 ± 207.93 days. All patients underwent one surgical treatment with or without radiotherapy except one where a second intervention was required. All patients have seen their visual field
improve after surgical intervention. Mean preoperative Mean defect (MD) was 13.43 ± 8.68 dB OD and 13.4 ± 5.07 dB OS. Mean postoperative MD was 8.2 ± 10.27 dB OD and 5.42 ± 4.12 dB OS.
Conclusion Pituitary macroadenomas are prone to be missed or diagnosed with delay when ophthalmic patients are already followed for another pathology that prevents the clinician from
diligently evoking the diagnosis. Despite profound visual field loss, visual recovery was almost complete in 4/6 patients, indicating that even diagnostic delay did not preclude recovery in
our series.
Strabismus Surgery: A Retrospective Comparison of Different Postoperative Treatment Regimes to Prevent Infections
Authors: Felber Daniel , Roulez Francoise , Palmowski-Wolfe Anja 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background As studies have shown postsurgical polyvidone-iodine to be at least equal to postsurgical topical antibiotics, our postsurgical care regime was adjusted accordingly in
2017. Here, we retrospectively compared the postsurgical infection rate in patients who underwent strabismus surgery prior to and following this change in regimen in a routine clinical
setting.
Patients and Methods In this retrospective and explorative study, data from 162 adult patients who had undergone strabismus surgery was extracted from files: 98 patients who had
received topical gentamycin in a combination ointment with steroid (postsurgery) followed by 1 week of topical gentamycin with nonsteroidal antiphlogistic eye drops for 1 week (group 1) and
64 who had received polyvidone-iodine once immediately postsurgically instead. We compared both groupsʼ postsurgical healing period regarding occurrence of bacterial conjunctival infection
and conjunctival swelling and redness as well as other complications. Data were extracted from the entries of the routine follow-up dates on postsurgical days 1, 7, and at 3 months.
Results Mean age of group 1 was 49 years and 51 years in group 2. There was no significant difference between the kind of surgeries (recessions/resections) or the number of patients
who had undergone a reoperation. There was no significant difference between the groups for any of the endpoints analyzed at any of the three regular follow-up dates. From group 1, 12.04%
and from of group 2, 6.25% showed bacterial conjunctivitis 1 week postsurgery. There was no endophthalmitis.
Conclusion Topical polyvidone-iodine given once at the end of strabismus surgery is a good alternative to topical antibiotics with a comparable healing progress. It carries a
comparable risk of infection as seen with a 1-week course of topical antibiotics. The advantages are less manipulation of the eye, no bacterial resistance caused, and cost efficiency. In
addition, the lack of anti-inflammatories given in group 2 did not pose a disadvantage.
The Reaction of Ketoximes with Hypervalent Iodine Reagents: Beckmann Rearrangement and Hydrolysis to Ketones
Authors: Maegawa Tomohiro , Miki Yasuyoshi , Oishi Ryohei , Maekawa Ayumi , Segi Kazutoshi , Hamamoto Hiromi , Nakamura Akira 
Published: April 2022

AbstractWe investigated the reaction of ketoximes with hypervalent iodine reagents. A combination of PhI(OAc)2 and BF3·Et2O promoted the Beckmann rearrangement of ketoximes, thus yielding the corresponding amides. From a detailed investigation of the reaction, we determined that the Beckmann rearrangement is preceded by acetylation of the hydroxy group of the ketoxime in situ, accelerating the Beckmann rearrangement. We confirmed that the acetylated ketoxime undergoes the Beckmann rearrangement with BF3·Et2O. The reaction of ketoximes with Koser’s reagent [PhI(OH)OTs] in the presence of tetrahydrofuran results in hydrolysis, affording the corresponding ketones in high yields at room temperature.
Livestock guardian dog protection of free-range poultry from the red fox
Authors: Roddick S. , Kreplins T. L. , Kobryn H. T. , Fleming P. A. 
Published: April 2022

Context Predation of layer chickens is a major issue for free-range egg producers. Using livestock guardian dogs (LGD) to protect free-ranging poultry is a possible option for producers, although there is little published literature regarding how the dogs protect chickens. Aims This case study was conducted at a free-range egg production farm in Western Australia, where red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) were a common predator of chickens prior to introducing Maremma LGD. We investigated LGD responses to experimental cues that might indicate fox incursion (fox urine and calls). Methods Four dogs were GPS tracked and monitored using camera traps. Over the first week, experimental fox cues were set out around the paddock boundaries, alternating with ‘non-cue’ experimental control nights. We recorded whether the LGD altered (1) their space use, (2) activity patterns (movement speed), or (3) behaviour in response to these cues. We also recorded (4) distances between LGD from known sightings of foxes. Key results The Maremmas appeared to work independently of each other, covering separate areas. There was no significant difference in overnight home range area by experimental fox cue treatment, but there was a significant (P < 0.001) treatment × dog interaction term for distance moved. Three dogs spent most of their time at night around the chicken shelters and generally increased distances moved on experimental fox cue nights. The fourth dog was more bonded to people and did not alter its movements. Paradoxically, dogs rested more and barked less on experimental fox cue nights; however, we recorded foxes on camera traps placed around the chicken shelters on 17 of the 23 nights of monitoring, and the high background activity level of foxes on this property compromised our experimental control (nights without experimental fox cues). The dogs did not move towards known fox sightings. Conclusions The Maremmas in this trial closely guarded the chicken shelters rather than maintaining the entire paddock as a predator-exclusion zone. Implications Understanding how guardian dogs behave when challenged by potential predators will help increase producers’ confidence in the efficacy of these dogs as a viable method to protect livestock from predation threat.
Optimisation of antioxidant, antimicrobial and metal-chelating properties of bioactive peptides from blood wastes by enzymatic hydrolysis
Authors: Kumari Sarita , Pandey Anurag , Soni Arvind , Mahala Anurag , Sarkar Srobana , Suradkar Umesh , Ambedkar Y. R. 
Published: April 2022

Context Production of bioactive peptides from slaughterhouse wastes through use of enzymatic hydrolysis adds economic value and reduces environmental hazard from its direct disposal to landfill. Aim The present study was conducted to evaluate antioxidant, antimicrobial and metal-chelating activity of sheep, goat and rabbit plasma hydrolysate from blood. Methods Plasma protein of sheep, goat and rabbit blood was hydrolysed by using trypsin enzyme at optimum conditions of 37°C, pH 8.0 and 1:100 enzyme to substrate ratio, with different hydrolysis time. In vitro digestibility of digested and undigested plasma protein hydrolysates was analysed by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The antioxidant activity of plasma protein and its hydrolysates was assayed by ABTS+ and DPPH radical-scavenging activities and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Antimicrobial activities of undigested and digested samples were evaluated by the well diffusion method. The chelating activity of Fe2+ was determined by the formation of Fe2+–ferrozine complex. Key results The degree of hydrolysis increased up to 8 h for sheep hydrolysate, and up to 6 h for goat and rabbit hydrolysate. Plasma hydrolysate from rabbit exhibited higher ABTS+ and DPPH radical-scavenging activities along with increased FRAP activity. Strong bacterial inhibition was observed against E. coli, and moderate activity against B. cereus, S. enterica and S. aureus at 6 and 8 h by plasma hydrolysate of all species. Metal-chelating activity increased linearly and was highest for rabbit plasma hydrolysate. Conclusion Plasma hydrolysate from trypsin digestion of sheep, goat and rabbit blood wastes exhibited antioxidant activities; the most potent activity was found for rabbit plasma hydrolysate. Furthermore, the efficient iron-chelating activity of plasma hydrolysates and inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms indicate the bioactive potential of plasma hydrolysate obtained from sheep, goat and rabbit blood. Implications The functional properties of plasma hydrolysate of the different species suggest a promising source of nutraceuticals for food industries looking to convert abattoir wastes.
International intelligibility revisited*
Authors: Thir Veronika 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
The Lingua Franca Core (LFC) proposes that NURSE is the only vowel quality important for international intelligibility, yet research findings regarding this issue are mixed. Moreover, it is unclear whether phonetic (rather than phonemic) substitutions of NURSE also affect international intelligibility more negatively than other phonemic vowel substitutions, though this seems unlikely on the basis of considerations of functional load (FL). This study compares the international intelligibility of two vowel substitutions typical of Austrian learners of English: the phonetic replacement of NURSE with a rounded and diphthongized vowel, and the phonemic replacement of TRAP with a vowel close to cardinal [ɛ]. The findings suggest that, contrary to the LFC but in line with FL considerations, the phonetic substitution of NURSE is more intelligible to an international audience than the substitution of TRAP with [ɛ]. However, differences in intelligibility between the two substitutions were largely ‘neutralized’ once contextual support was available.