bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) concentration on yield in Prunus dulcis, Pistacia vera, and Juglans regia
Authors: Zwieniecki Maciej A. , Davidson Anna M. , Orozco Jessica , Cooper Katelyn B. , Guzman-Delgado Paula 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSuccessful yield in orchards is the culmination of a series of events that start with plants entering dormancy with adequate energy reserves (non-structural carbohydrates; NSC). These NSC are responsible for the maintenance of activities during dormancy and extending onto the period of activeness. Using multi-year yield information and monthly NSC content in twigs, we show that high levels of carbohydrate in Prunus dulcis, Pistachio vera, and Juglans regia during the winter months are indeed associated with high yield, while high levels of the NSC in late summer often correlate with low yield. An evaluation of monthly NSC level importance on yield revealed that for P. dulcis high levels in February were a good predictor of yield and that low levels throughout summer were associated with high yield. In P. vera, high levels of NSC in December were best predictors of yield. J. regia exhibited peculiar patterns; while high pre-budbreak reserves were associated with high yields they only played a minor role in explaining crop, the most important months for predicting yields were June and July. Results suggest that NSC levels can serve as good predictors of orchard yield potential and should be monitored to inform orchard management.
Newly described anatomical opening on forelimb tendon in the artiodactyls and its relation to knee clicks
Authors: Pyszko Martin , Němeček Petr , Horák Ondřej , Páral Václav , Kotrba Radim , Hoffman Louwrens C. , Robovský Jan 
Published: March 2022

AbstractTo understand which morphological/anatomical parts may be responsible in artiodactyl ungulates for the clicking sound made when moving, this research focuses on the forelimb tendon apparatus where an undescribed opening in the fibrous cuff (manica flexoria), called hereafter for its shape as an “oval window” in themanica flexoria(OWMF), was detected. This oval window was found in 24 of the 25 species of four families (Camelidae, Giraffidae, Cervidae, and Bovidae) evaluated; the exception being inBos taurus taurus(Domestic cattle). The length and width of the OWMF enabled correct species discrimination between the majority of species, but remained conservative intraspecifically, as it did not differ between the left and right side of the forelimb, third and fourth digits, or between sexes. When evaluating the shape of OWMF in individual species, and measuring its length and width, 18 out of the 24 species investigated had this window as an oval shape, the remaining 25% of species exhibited more oval-oblong shapes with either proximal or distal asymmetry. The function of the OWMF in the thoracic autopodium of most ruminant even-toed ungulates is not yet fully understood. Its most likely function is to help balance the pressure inside the ligament cuff and reduce the friction of the touching surfaces of the muscle tendons—thus facilitating the movement of the digits when walking. None of the absolute or relative OWMF parameters fit exclusively with the occurrence and distribution of knee-clicks produced by some bovids and cervids during movement, so the mechanism responsible for this sound remains cryptic from the present anatomical perspective.
E.Co.Tech-electrochemical handheld breathalyzer COVID sensing technology
Authors: Banga Ivneet , Paul Anirban , France Kordel , Micklich Ben , Cardwell Bret , Micklich Craig , Prasad Shalini 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBreathomics is widely emerging as a strategy for non-invasive diagnosis of respiratory inflammation. In this study, we have evaluated the metabolic signals associated with Coronavirus (SARS COV-2), mainly the release of nitric oxide in breath. We have demonstrated the utility of a breath analyzer-based sensor platform for the detection of trace amounts of this target species. The sensor surface is modified with Room Temperature Ionic Liquid (RTIL) that allows faster diffusion of the target gas and can be used for gas sensing application. A low limit of detection (LOD) of 50 parts per billion has been achieved with a 95% confidence interval for detection of nitric oxide.. This inhouse designed sensor is incorporated into a breath analyzer system that displays enhanced sensitivity, specificity, linearity, and reproducibility for NO gas monitoring. The developed sensor platform can detect target concentrations of NO ranging from 50 to 250 ppb, using 1-Ethyl-3-methylimidazolium Tetrafluoroborate ([EMIM]BF4) as RTIL and displays fast response time of 5 s, thereby allowing easy detection of the target gas species. The sensor successfully quantifies the diffusion current and charge modulations arising within the electrical double layer from the RTIL–NO interactions through DC-based chronoamperometry (CA). The subjects tested negative and positive are significantly different (p < 0.01). The prototype can potentially be used for human health monitoring and screening, especially during the pandemic due to its portability, small size, an embedded RTIL sensing element, integrability with a low-power microelectronic device, and an IoT interface.
Cell cycle arrest is an important mechanism of action of compound Kushen injection in the prevention of colorectal cancer
Authors: Sun Jie , Li Mei , Lin Tingru , Wang Di , Chen Jingyi , Zhang Yu , Mu Qing , Su Huiting , Wu Na , Liu Aiyu , Yu Yimeng , Liu Yulan , Wang Shaojie , Yu Xin , Guo Jingzhu , Yu Weidong 
Published: March 2022

AbstractCompound Kushen injection (CKI) is the most widely used traditional Chinese medicine preparation for the comprehensive treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) in China, but its underlying molecular mechanisms of action are still unclear. The present study employed a network pharmacology approach, in which we constructed a “bioactive compound-target-pathway” network. Experimental RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis was performed to identify a key “bioactive compound-target-pathway” network for subsequent experimental validation. Cell cycle, proliferation, autophagy, and apoptosis assays and a model of azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in mice were employed to detect the biological effect of CKI on CRC. Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry were performed to verify the selected targets and pathways. We constructed a predicted network that included 82 bioactive compounds, 34 targets, and 33 pathways and further screened an anti-CRC CKI “biological compound (hesperetin 7-O-rutinoside, genistein 7-O-rutinoside, and trifolirhizin)-target (p53 and checkpoint kinase 1 [CHEK1])” network that targeted the “cell cycle pathway”. Validation experiments showed that CKI effectively induced the cell-cycle arrest of CRC cells in vitro and suppressed the development of CRC in vivo by downregulating the expression of p53 and CHEK1. Our findings confirmed that inducing cell-cycle arrest by CKI is an important mechanism of its anti-CRC action, which provides a direct and scientific experimental basis for the clinical application of CKI.
Quantifying the contribution of transcription factor activity, mutations and microRNAs to CD274 expression in cancer patients
Authors: Bruns Imke B. , Beltman Joost B. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractImmune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis have been remarkably successful in inducing tumor remissions in several human cancers, yet a substantial number of patients do not respond to treatment. Because this may be partially due to the mechanisms giving rise to high PD-L1 expression within a patient, it is highly relevant to fully understand these mechanisms. In this study, we conduct a bioinformatic analysis to quantify the relative importance of transcription factor (TF) activity, microRNAs (miRNAs) and mutations in determining PD-L1 (CD274) expression at mRNA level based on data from the Cancer Genome Atlas. To predict individual CD274 levels based on TF activity, we developed multiple linear regression models by taking the expression of target genes of the TFs known to directly target PD-L1 as independent variables. This analysis showed that IRF1, STAT1, NFKB and BRD4 are the most important regulators of CD274 expression, explaining its mRNA levels in 90–98% of the patients. Because the remaining patients had high CD274 levels independent of these TFs, we next investigated whether mutations associated with increased CD274 mRNA levels, and low levels of miRNAs associated with negative regulation of CD274 expression could cause high CD274 levels in these patients. We found that mutations or miRNAs offered an explanation for high CD274 levels in 81–100% of the underpredicted patients. Thus, CD274 expression is largely explained by TF activity, and the remaining unexplained cases can largely be explained by mutations or low miRNA abundance.
Characterization of basal ganglia volume changes in the context of HIV and polysubstance use
Authors: Monick Andrew J. , Joyce Michelle R. , Chugh Natasha , Creighton Jason A. , Morgan Owen P. , Strain Eric C. , Marvel Cherie L. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractHIV and psychoactive substances can impact the integrity of the basal ganglia (BG), a neural substrate of cognition, motor control, and reward-seeking behaviors. This study assessed BG gray matter (GM) volume as a function of polysubstance (stimulant and opioid) use and HIV status. We hypothesized that comorbid polysubstance use and HIV seropositivity would alter BG GM volume differently than would polysubstance use or HIV status alone. We collected structural MRI scans, substance use history, and HIV diagnoses. Participants who had HIV (HIV +), a history of polysubstance dependence (POLY +), both, or neither completed assessments for cognition, motor function, and risk-taking behaviors (N = 93). All three clinical groups showed a left-lateralized pattern of GM reduction in the BG relative to controls. However, in the HIV + /POLY + group, stimulant use was associated with increased GM volume within the globus pallidus and putamen. This surpassed the effects from opioid use, as indicated by decreased GM volume throughout the BG in the HIV-/POLY + group. Motor learning was impaired in all three clinical groups, and in the HIV + /POLY + group, motor learning was associated with increased caudate and putamen GM volume. We also observed associations between BG GM volume and risk-taking behaviors in the HIV + /POLY- and HIV-/POLY + groups. The effects of substance use on the BG differed as a function of substance type used, HIV seropositivity, and BG subregion. Although BG volume decreased in association with HIV and opioid use, stimulants can, inversely, lead to BG volume increases within the context of HIV.
Exosomal miR-143-3p derived from follicular fluid promotes granulosa cell apoptosis by targeting BMPR1A in polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Zhao Yuanyuan , Pan Shuhong , Li Yunying , Wu Xiaohua 
Published: March 2022

AbstractPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that occurs in women of reproductive age. Anovulation caused by abnormal follicular development is still the main characteristic of PCOS patients with infertile. Granulosa cell (GC) is an important part of the follicular microenvironment, the dysfunction of which can affect follicular development. Increasing evidence indicates that exosomal miRNAs derived from the follicular fluid (FF) of patients play critical roles during PCOS. However, which follicular fluid-derived exosomal miRNAs play a pivotal role in controlling granulosa cell function and consequently follicular development remain largely unknown, as does the underlying mechanism. Herein, we showed that miR-143-3p is highly expressed in the follicular fluid exosomes of patients with PCOS and can be delivered into granulosa cells. Furthermore, functional experiments showed that translocated miR-143-3p promoted granulosa cell apoptosis, which is important in follicle development. Mechanistically, BMPR1A was identified as a direct target of miR-143-3p. Overexpression of BMPR1A reversed the effects of exosomal miR-143-3p on GC apoptosis and proliferation by activating the Smad1/5/8 signaling pathway. These results demonstrate that miR-143-3p-containing exosomes derived from PCOS follicular fluid promoted granulosa cell apoptosis by targeting BMPR1A and blocking the Smad1/5/8 signaling pathway. Our findings provide a novel mechanism underlying the roles of exosomal-miRNAs in the follicular fluid of PCOS patients and facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies for PCOS.
The resurrection of tellurium as an elemental two-dimensional semiconductor
Authors: Qiu Gang , Charnas Adam , Niu Chang , Wang Yixiu , Wu Wenzhuo , Ye Peide D. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe graphene boom has triggered a widespread search for novel elemental van der Waals materials thanks to their simplicity for theoretical modeling and easy access for material growth. Group VI element tellurium is an unintentionally p-type doped narrow bandgap semiconductor featuring a one-dimensional chiral atomic structure which holds great promise for next-generation electronic, optoelectronic, and piezoelectric applications. In this paper, we first review recent progress in synthesizing atomically thin Te two-dimensional (2D) films and one-dimensional (1D) nanowires. Its applications in field-effect transistors and potential for building ultra-scaled Complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor (CMOS) circuits are discussed. We will also overview the recent study on its quantum transport in the 2D limit and progress in exploring its topological features and chiral-related physics. We envision that the breakthrough in obtaining high-quality 2D Te films will inspire a revisit of the fundamental properties of this long-forgotten material in the near future.
Three-body aggregation of guest molecules as a key step in methane hydrate nucleation and growth
Authors: Hu Wenfeng , Chen Cong , Sun Jingyue , Zhang Ning , Zhao Jiafei , Liu Yu , Ling Zheng , Li Weizhong , Liu Weiguo , Song Yongchen 
Published: March 2022

AbstractGas hydrates have an important role in environmental and astrochemistry, as well as in energy materials research. Although it is widely accepted that gas accumulation is an important and necessary process during hydrate nucleation, how guest molecules aggregate remains largely unknown. Here, we have performed molecular dynamics simulations to clarify the nucleation path of methane hydrate. We demonstrated that methane gather with a three-body aggregate pattern corresponding to the free energy minimum of three-methane hydrophobic interaction. Methane molecules fluctuate around one methane which later becomes the central gas molecule, and when several methanes move into the region within 0.8 nm of the potential central methane, they act as directional methane molecules. Two neighbor directional methanes and the potential central methane form a three-body aggregate as a regular triangle with a distance of ~6.7 Å which is well within the range of typical methane-methane distances in hydrates or in solution. We further showed that hydrate nucleation and growth is inextricably linked to three-body aggregates. By forming one, two, and three three-body aggregates, the possibility of hydrate nucleation at the aggregate increases from 3/6, 5/6 to 6/6. The results show three-body aggregation of guest molecules is a key step in gas hydrate formation.
Subaerial volcanism is a potentially major contributor to oceanic iron and manganese cycles
Authors: Longman Jack , Palmer Martin R. , Gernon Thomas M. , Manners Hayley R. , Jones Morgan T. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSurface ocean availability of the micronutrients iron and manganese influences primary productivity and carbon cycling in the ocean. Volcanic ash is rich in iron and manganese, but the global supply of these nutrients to the oceans via ash deposition is poorly constrained. Here, we use marine sediment-hosted ash composition data from ten volcanic regions, and subaerial volcanic eruption volumes, to estimate global ash-driven nutrient fluxes. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we estimate average fluxes of dissolved Iron and Manganese from volcanic sources to be between 50 and 500 (median 180) and 0.6 and 3.2 (median 1.3) Gmol yr−1, respectively. Much of the element release occurs during early diagenesis, indicating ash-rich shelf sediments are likely important suppliers of aqueous iron and manganese. Estimated ash-driven fluxes are of similar magnitude to aeolian inputs. We suggest that subaerial volcanism is an important, but underappreciated, source of these micronutrients to the global ocean.
Towards a business case for CO2 mineralisation in the cement industry
Authors: Strunge Till , Renforth Phil , Van der Spek Mijndert 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe cement industry, an industry characterised by low margins, is responsible for approximately 7% of anthropogenic CO2equivalent (CO2e) emissions and holds the highest carbon intensity of any industry per unit of revenue. To encourage complete decarbonisation of the cement industry, strategies must be found in which CO2eemission reductions are incentivised. Here we show through integrated techno-economic modelling that CO2mineralisation of silicate minerals, aiming to store CO2in solid form, results in CO2eemission reductions of 8–33% while generating additional profit of up to €32 per tonne of cement. To create positive CO2mineralisation business cases two conditions are paramount: the resulting products must be used as a supplementary material in cement blends in the construction industry (e.g., for bridges or buildings) and the storage of CO2in minerals must be eligible for emission certificates or similar. Additionally, mineral transport and composition of the product are decisive.
Investigating the effects of supercritical antisolvent process and food models on antioxidant capacity, bioaccessibility and transepithelial transport of quercetin and rutin
Authors: Ozkan Gulay , Franco Paola , De Marco Iolanda , Capanoglu Esra , Esatbeyoglu Tuba 
Published: March 2022

Effects of the Supercritical Anti-Solvent and food models on the antioxidant capacity, bioaccessibility and transport dynamics of flavonol-loaded microparticles were investigated using a combined in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell culture model.
Efficient token circulation strategies against misers in device‐to‐device relay using token‐based incentive mechanisms
Authors: Wang You‐Chiun , Chang Fu‐Chun 
Published: March 2022

AbstractDevice‐to‐device (D2D) relay not only broadens the service coverage of a base station (BS) but also raises network capacity. When the channel quality of a user equipment (UE) is not good, it requests another UE to relay its data from the BS. Since many UEs are owned by self‐interested users, token‐based incentive (TBI) mechanisms allow UEs selling and buying relay services by exchanging tokens, thereby pricking UEs on to act as relay nodes. However, such mechanisms are vulnerable to the miser problem, where malicious UEs keep collecting tokens from others but never spend tokens. Eventually, negotiable tokens will gradually decrease, so more and more UEs have very few tokens to buy relay services, which restrains D2D relay. To conquer the miser problem, this paper proposes three token circulation strategies, which tax UEs and redistribute the taxed tokens to those UEs in need. Thus, misers can be prevented from hoarding tokens and breaking a TBI mechanism. The proposed strategies need not add tokens to the network, so they will not cause inflation of tokens. Simulation results show that these strategies can keep high D2D throughput with the existence of misers, which protects TBI mechanisms and promotes the performance of D2D relay.
Adaptive filtering method combined with quality map for InSAS interferogram
Authors: Huang Pan , Teng Xiaojie , Zhong Heping 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe quality of interferogram, which is limited by various phase noise, will greatly influence the subsequent processes of interferometric synthetic aperture sonar (InSAS), such as phase unwrapping and digital elevation model (DEM) estimation. Therefore, phase filtering is an essential step in signal processing for InSAS. In this paper, an adaptive filtering method combined with quality map is proposed to suppress the phase noise while preserving the fringe edges. The main advantage of the new approach is the size of filtering window can be adaptively selected according to the quality map. A function between window size and quality map is established, which controls the strength of filtering. In the area of high quality, the window size is large to remove noise, otherwise, in the low quality area, the window size is small to keep edge details. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated via some illustrative simulated experiment and the real InSAS data.
Observer based sliding mode control of PMSM speed regulation system with a novel reaching law
Authors: Zou Quan , Li Xiaoxiang , Chen Dong 
Published: March 2022

AbstractA novel reaching law based sliding mode control of PMSM speed regulation system with uncertainties and unknown external disturbance is proposed in this paper. The proposed reaching law mainly consists of a time‐varying gain and a fractional power term of the sliding variable. And the time‐varying gain is auto‐tuned by the sliding variable such that it is large when the sliding variable is far away from the sliding surface to speed‐up the reaching process, and vice versa. Unlike the existing auto‐tuning power rate reaching law (PRRL), the proposed reaching law provides a guaranteed reaching time independently on initial conditions. Moreover, the reaching time can be effectively reduced by tuning the gains of the reaching law. Based on this new reaching law, a disturbance observer is designed to estimate the unknown total disturbance and a sliding mode controller is designed for the robust control of PMSM speed regulation system based on the estimated disturbance. Simulations and experiments are carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control method.
Soil impulse ionisation model based on dynamic changes of electric field
Authors: Wen Xishan , Li Chun , Chen Jiahao , Tong Xuefang , Mei Hao , Zhou Guangyuan , Xu Bichuan , Lu Hailiang 
Published: March 2022

AbstractSoil ionisation has an important influence on impulse characteristics of grounding conductor. This paper introduced improvements to an existing soil ionisation model considering the influence of electric field on the change of soil resistivity, while soil resistivity is not directly dependent on soil electric field. The validity of improved soil ionisation model was verified by surge response of vertical conductor in uniform soil and horizontally stratified soil. Furthermore, the impulse experiment was carried out on horizontal conductor in soil with finite volumes. Based on experimental configuration, the corresponding calculation model was built, and calculated results were in good agreement with experimental results.