bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soil salt and NaCl have different effects on seed germination of the halophyte Suaeda salsa
Authors: Gao Ruiru , Wei Xiaoya , He Zhan , Zhao Ruihua , Wang Kai , Yang Xuejun , Walck Jeffrey L.
Published: April 2018

Seed germination is a key life‐history stage of halophytes. Most studies on seed germination of halophytes have focused on the effects of a single salt, while little information is available on the effects of mixed salt in the natural habitat. Due to the contribution of multiple ions in saline soil, we hypothesized that the effect of mixed salt on seed germination will differ from that of a single salt and the mechanism of how germination is affected will differ as well. The effects of mixed salt and NaCl on germination, water imbibition, and ionic concentrations of seeds of Suaeda salsa (L.) Pall. were compared at various salinity levels. Germination percentage (GP) and rate (GR) decreased with increasing salinity level, regardless of salt type. There was no difference in GP or GR between mixed salt and NaCl when the salinity level was below 20 dS m−1. Above 20 dS m−1, GP and GR in NaCl were lower than those in mixed salt. At the same salinity level, Na+ concentration in seeds was higher in NaCl than that in mixed salt, but the reverse was true for Ca2+ and Mg2+ concentrations. Imbibition rate for seeds in NaCl was lower than that in mixed salt at the same salinity level. Addition of Ca2+ and Mg2+ alleviated the inhibition of NaCl on seed germination. In conclusion, our results suggest that the effects of soil salts and NaCl on seed germination are different, and using NaCl instead of soil salt might not be realistic to show the effect of saline stress on seed germination of halophytes in the natural habitat.
Physics and hydraulics of the rhizosphere network
Authors: Benard Pascal , Zarebanadkouki Mohsen , Carminati Andrea
Published: April 2018

Take home messageMucilage secreted by roots and EPS produced by microorganisms alter the physical properties of the soil solution and impact the water dynamics in the rhizosphere. The high viscosity of mucilage and EPS is responsible for the formation of thin filaments and interconnected thin lamellae that span throughout the soil matrix maintaining the continuity of the liquid phase across the pore space even during severe drying. The impact of these mechanisms on plant and microorganisms needs to be explored.
Victor M. Shorrocks: Conventional and organic farming—A comprehensive review through the lens of agriculturalscience
Authors: Kirchmann Holger
Published: April 2018

No abstract.
Synthesis, Characterization, Solution Behavior, and Density Functional Theory Analysis of Some Pyridinium‐Based Ionic Liquids
Authors: Tiwari Ashish , Sahoo Mira , Soreng Pratima , Mishra Bijay K.
Published: April 2018

Some picolinium ionic liquids (IL) [α/γ‐PicC
n][Br/NO3] (n = 3, 5, 7) were synthesized and characterized by 1H NMR data. The surface tension and density of all the IL were determined. The aggregation behavior of these IL in aqueous medium and in dichloromethane was assessed from the variation of electrical conductivity in these media. The critical aggregation concentrations of these IL in aqueous medium were found to decrease significantly by the addition of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. The structural features and the conformation of these IL were further investigated by using density functional theory calculations. The bromide ion was found to be inclined asymmetrically to one side of the pyridinium nucleus, while the nitrogen of the nitrate group lies close to the nitronium ion of the pyridinium nucleus.
Improving the lipid profile of ready‐to‐cook meat products by addition of omega‐3 microcapsules: effect on oxidation and sensory analysis
Authors: Pérez‐Palacios Trinidad , Ruiz‐Carrascal Jorge , Jiménez‐Martín Estefanía , Solomando Juan Carlos , Antequera Teresa
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

The omega‐3 enrichment of ready‐to‐cook meat products by microencapsulated fish oil (MFO) addition was analyzed. Accordingly, three batches of chicken nuggets were prepared: (i) control (C); (ii) enriched in bulk fish oil (BFO); and (iii) with added MFO. Sensory features, acceptability, oxidative stability and volatile compounds were analyzed.

RESULTS

MFO nuggets did not differ from C ones with respect to any sensory trait. BFO showed increased juiciness and saltiness but decreased meat flavor. Acceptability was not affected by enrichment. Consumers were not able to differentiate between C and MFO in a triangle test, although they could clearly identify BFO nuggets. Higher levels of lipid and protein oxidation indicators and of volatile compounds from fatty acid oxidation were found in BFO nuggets compared to C and MFO nuggets.

CONCLUSION

Enrichment of ready‐to‐cook meat products in omega‐3 fatty acids with MFO provides both lipid and protein oxidative protection without changes in sensory quality. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Influence of thermal treatment on the characteristics of major oyster allergen Cra g 1 (tropomyosin)
Authors: Fang Lei , Li Guoming , Gu Ruizeng , Cai Muyi , Lu Jun
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

Shellfish, including oysters, often cause allergic reactions in adults. Thermal treatment is one of the most common technologies for dealing with seafood, which may affect biological properties. The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of heating on the conformation and potential allergenicity of oyster‐derived tropomyosin (Cra g 1).

RESULTS

Sodium dodecylsulphate‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that there was an apparent band at 35 kDa of raw tropomyosin after purification and more significant polymers appeared in the heated protein. Interestingly, obvious changes in the intensity of the circular dichroism signal and 1‐anilino‐8‐naphthalene sulfonate‐binding fluorescence were observed especially in the case of the roasted form, which was associated with an increase in antibody reactivity. The degree of immunoglobulin (Ig)E binding of this treatment was demonstrated in the order roasted > boiled > raw. Furthermore, sequence alignment and amino acid composition revealed that Cra g 1 shared relatively high homology to tropomyosins from other shellfish and was also abundant in lysine that was apt to be modified by reducing sugars during heating.

CONCLUSION

Heated Cra g 1 produces higher IgE reactivity than the raw form as a result of the denaturation and formation of polymers. These findings will benefit the diagnosis and management of potential allergenicity as a result of shellfish. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Residue transfer and risk assessment of carbendazim in tea
Authors: Zhou Li , Jiang Yaping , Lin Qin , Wang Xuan , Zhang Xinzhong , Xu Jie , Chen Zongmao
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

Carbendazim (methyl 1H‐benzimidazol‐2‐ylcarbamate) residue in tea is a public concern. The large gap in the maximum residue limits (MRLs) for carbendazim in tea makes it difficult to conduct pesticide management. Therefore, a systemic evaluation of the residue and the health risk of carbendazim from the tea garden to brewed tea was investigated.

RESULTS

The dissipation of carbendazim in tea shoots followed first‐order rate kinetics, with a half‐life (t1/2) of 2.6 days. In green tea manufacturing, the carbendazim decrease of 2.81–26.74% was concentration‐positive. The infusion factor of carbendazim was > 0.8 from dry tea to brewed tea and this was related to the brewing temperature and the size of the dry tea. All of the risk quotient values were significantly less than 1 in the evaluation of carbendazim residue in real tea samples and MRL.

CONCLUSION

Residue transfer and risk assessment were evaluated for carbendazim in green tea. Carbendazim revealed a less persistent nature in tea plants. Green tea processing played a small role in decreasing carbendazim residue. Almost all of the carbendazim in dry tea leached into the brewed tea. However, the possible health risk induced by residual carbendazim in green tea was not significant. These findings are helpful when reconsidering the MRLs of carbendazim in tea. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Aggregation and conformational changes of silver carp myosin as affected by the ultrasound–calcium combination system
Authors: An Yueqi , Liu Qing , Xie Yaru , Xiong Shanbai , Yin Tao , Liu Ru
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

Ultrasound and Ca2+ have been used separately to increase myosin properties in fish processing. However, little is know about how myosin changes are affected by Ca2+ and ultrasound in combination. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the ultrasound–calcium combination system on aggregation and conformational changes of silver carp myosin.

RESULTS

Ultrasound facilitated a Ca2+‐induced increase in turbidity. As the Ca2+ concentration increased from 0 to 100 mmol L−1, there was an obvious increase in the turbidity, solubility and mean hydrated particle size of myosin after ultrasound treatment compared to without treatment. Moreover, changes of total and reactive SH contents depended on the ultrasound–calcium combination conditions. Under this combination system, myosin surface hydrophobicity significantly increased for the synergistic effect of ultrasound and Ca2+. Furthermore, the ultrasound–calcium combination conditions could affect myosin gelation, with better gelation properties being observed for myosin treated with a combination of 60 mmol L−1 Ca2+ and 9 min of ultrasound.

CONCLUSION

The combination system reported in the present study was beneficial for myosin unfolding, facilitating intermolecular interactions between Ca2+ and myosin. Ultrasound treatment promoted myosin aggregation via the induction of Ca2+ and reduced the critical concentration of Ca2+ required to aggregate myosin. In the fish processing industry, this combination system can enhance the gelation properties of surimi‐based products. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Cowpea: an overview on its nutritional facts and health benefits
Authors: Jayathilake Chathuni , Visvanathan Rizliya , Deen Afka , Bangamuwage Ruksheela , Jayawardana Barana C , Nammi Srinivas , Liyanage Ruvini
Published: April 2018

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) is a legume consumed as a high‐quality plant protein source in many parts of the world. High protein and carbohydrate contents with a relatively low fat content and a complementary amino acid pattern to that of cereal grains make cowpea an important nutritional food in the human diet. Cowpea has gained more attention recently from consumers and researchers worldwide as a result of its exerted health beneficial properties, including anti‐diabetic, anti‐cancer, anti‐hyperlipidemic, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐hypertensive properties. Among the mechanisms that have been proposed in the prevention of chronic diseases, the most proven are attributed to the presence of compounds such as soluble and insoluble dietary fiber, phytochemicals, and proteins and peptides in cowpea. However, studies on the anti‐cancer and anti‐inflammatory properties of cowpea have produced conflicting results. Some studies support a protective effect of cowpea on the progression of cancer and inflammation, whereas others did not reveal any. Because there are only a few studies addressing health‐related effects of cowpea consumption, further studies in this area are suggested. In addition, despite the reported favorable effects of cowpea on diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension, a long‐term epidemiological study investigating the association between cowpea consumption and diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer is also recommended. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Protein oxidation and proteolysis during roasting and in vitro digestion of fish (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)
Authors: Hu Lyulin , Ren Sijie , Shen Qing , Ye Xingqian , Chen Jianchu , Ling Jiangang
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

Roasted fish enjoys great popularity in Asia, but how roasting and subsequent digestion influence the oxidation and proteolysis of fish meat is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of roasting time on lipid and protein oxidation and their evolution and consequence on proteolysis during simulated digestion of fish fillets.

RESULTS

Several oxidation markers (thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS), free thiols, total carbonyls and Schiff bases) were employed to assess the oxidation of fish. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) and the 2,4,6‐trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) assay for free amino groups were used to study the proteolysis during gastrointestinal digestion. The results showed that significant lipid and protein oxidative changes occurring in roasted fish fillets were reinforced after gastric digestion and were much more intense after intestinal digestion. Throughout roasting and digestion, a close interconnection between lipid and protein was also manifested as the levels of total carbonyls and Schiff bases rose while TBARS fell. Furthermore, free amino groups decreased with prolonged roasting time, signifying that protein oxidation before digestion resulted in impaired proteolysis during digestion.

CONCLUSION

This study indicated that the lipid and protein oxidation of fish fillets could be dependent on time of roasting, and the oxidation continued to develop and have an impact on proteolysis during in vitro digestion. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Agritourism and local development: Evidence from two case studies in Greece
Authors: Karampela Sofia , Kizos Thanasis
Published: April 2018

This paper attempts to fill a gap in the international literature by assessing the impacts of agritourism at local level combining different aspects. The primary data were obtained through personal in‐depth interviews with the use of semi‐structured questionnaires. Two destinations in Greece were selected due to their diverse characteristics: an island, Lesvos, and a continental locality, Plastiras Lake. Findings suggest that the differences can be summarized in structure: of agritourism supply; scale: by providing their owners with additional income in pluriactive farm households; and networks: affected by their different geographic characteristics, but are not reflected to the overall results of local development.
Preliminary Results of Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Imaging by Combined Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses for Evaluation of Breast Lesions
Authors: Wang Lin , Wan Cai‐Feng , Du Jing , Li Feng‐Hua
Published: April 2018

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the application of a new elastographic technique, acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging, and its diagnostic performance for characterizing breast lesions.

Methods

One hundred consecutive female patients with 126 breast lesions were enrolled in our study. After routine breast ultrasound examinations, the patients underwent ARFI elasticity imaging. Virtual Touch tissue imaging (VTI) and Virtual Touch tissue quantification (Siemens Medical Solutions, Mountain View, CA) were used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the elasticity and hardness of tumors. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of ARFI for discrimination between benign and malignant breast lesions.

Results

Pathologic analysis revealed 40 lesions in the malignant group and 86 lesions in the benign group. Different VTI patterns were observed in benign and malignant breast lesions. Eighty lesions (93.0%) of benign group had pattern 1, 2, or 3, whereas all pattern 4b lesions (n = 20 [50.0%]) were malignant. Regarding the quantitative analysis, the mean VTI‐to‐B‐mode area ratio, internal shear wave velocity, and marginal shear wave velocity of benign lesions were statistically significantly lower than those of malignant lesions (all P < .001). The cutoff point for a scoring system constructed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of ARFI was estimated to be between 3 and 4 points for malignancy, with sensitivity of 77.5%, specificity of 96.5%, accuracy of 90.5%, and an area under the curve of 0.933.

Conclusions

The application of ARFI technology has shown promising results by noninvasively providing substantial complementary information and could potentially serve as an effective diagnostic tool for differentiation between benign and malignant breast lesions.
Liver Doppler Findings in Pediatric Patients After Total Pancreatectomy and Islet Autotransplantation
Authors: Holm Tara L. , Murati Michael A. , Hoggard Eric , Zhang Lei , Dietz Kelly R.
Published: April 2018

Objectives

This study was intended to establish normal values for velocities in the hepatic artery and portal veins in pediatric patients after total pancreatectomy and islet autotransplantation (TPIAT).

Methods

A retrospective review was performed of liver Doppler studies in pediatric patients after TPIAT over 6 years at an academic children's hospital. Doppler velocities in the liver vasculature and the hepatic artery resistive index were recorded.

Results

Sixty‐five pediatric patients were evaluated. There were no cases of portal vein thrombosis or other hepatic vascular complications. The mean hepatic artery peak systolic velocity was 157.6 cm/s (SE, 60.9 cm/s), with a mean resistive index of 0.57 (SE, 0.09). The mean main portal vein velocity was 31.9 cm/s (SE, 12.9 cm/s).

Conclusions

Portal vein thrombosis is rare in pediatric patients after TPIAT. A wide range of hepatic artery and portal vein velocities are encountered in children immediately after TPIAT without hepatic vascular complications and can be considered normal.
Expert Agreement in the Interpretation of Lung Ultrasound Studies Performed on Mechanically Ventilated Patients
Authors: Millington Scott J. , Arntfield Robert T. , Guo Robert Jie , Koenig Seth , Kory Pierre , Noble Vicki , Mallemat Haney , Schoenherr Jordan R.
Published: April 2018

Objectives

Although lung ultrasound (US) has been shown to have high diagnostic accuracy in patients presenting with acute dyspnea, its precision in critically ill patients is unknown. We investigated common areas of agreement and disagreement by studying 6 experts as they interpreted lung US studies in a cohort of intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Methods

A previous study by our group asked experts to rate the quality of 150 lung US studies performed by 10 novices in a population of mechanically ventilated patients. For this study, experts were asked to interpret them without the clinical context, reporting the presence of pneumothorax, interstitial syndrome, consolidation, atelectasis, or pleural effusion.

Results

The rate of expert agreement depended on how it was defined, ranging from 51% (with a strict definition of agreement) to 57% (with a more liberal definition). Removing cases involving lung consolidation (the most common source of disagreement) improved the rates of agreement to 69% and 86%, respectively.

Conclusions

The frequency of agreement was lower than might have been expected in this study. Several potential reasons are identified, chief among them the fact that ICU patients often develop multiple pulmonary insults, making agreement on a specific primary diagnosis challenging. This finding suggests that the utility of lung US in identifying the main contributing lung condition in ICU patients may be lower than in dyspneic patients encountered in the emergency department. It also raises the possibility that the clinical context is more important for lung US than other imaging modalities.
Documenting the Growth of Ultrasound Research in Emergency Medicine Through a Bibliometric Analysis of Accepted Academic Conference Abstracts
Authors: Prats Michael I. , Bahner David P. , Panchal Ashish R. , King Andrew M. , Way David P. , Lin Stephen , Fox J. Christian , Boulger Creagh T.
Published: April 2018

Objectives

Ultrasound (US) has become an indispensable skill for emergency physicians. Growth in the use of US in emergency medicine (EM) has been characterized by practice guidelines, education requirements, and the number of EM US practitioners. Our purpose was to further document the growth of EM US by profiling the breadth, depth, and quality of US‐related research presented at EM's most prominent annual research conference: the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Annual Meeting.

Methods

We reviewed published research abstracts from the annual Society for Academic Emergency Medicine conferences from 1999 to 2015. Abstracts related to US were identified and examined for the number of authors and rigor of the research design. Designs were categorized as experimental, quasiexperimental, and nonexperimental. Abstract submissions were analyzed by the average rate of change over time.

Results

From 1999 to 2015, we observed a 10.2% increase in the number of accepted abstracts related to US research. This rate compared to a 3.2% average rate of change for all abstracts in general. The number of unique authors engaged in US research increased at a rate of 26.6%. Of the 602 abstracts identified as US related, only 12% could be considered experimental research.

Conclusions

We observed larger increases in the number of US‐related research relative to the total number of abstracts presented at a national conference. The number of investigators engaging in this research has also steadily increased. The research design of these studies was found to be primarily quasiexperimental. To improve the quality of EM's use of point‐of‐care US, more rigorous research with experimental designs is needed.
Island fox spatial ecology and implications for management of disease
Authors: Resnik Jessica R. , Andelt William F. , Stanley Thomas R. , Snow Nathan P.
Published: April 2018

Disease, predation, and genetic isolation resulted in 4 of 6 island fox (Urocyon littoralis) subspecies being listed as endangered in 2004. Potential for disease outbreaks continues to pose a major threat to the persistence of these isolated, endemic populations. We examined how roads influence the spatial ecology of San Clemente Island foxes (U. l. clementae), particularly in regard to spread of disease, to provide management recommendations for preventing or minimizing a disease outbreak on San Clemente Island, California, USA. Home range areas ( = 0.75 km2) and core areas ( = 0.19 km2) of foxes on San Clemente Island were 0.36–1.23 and 2.17 times larger, respectively, than estimates from Santa Cruz Island foxes (U. l. santacruzae). Home ranges and core areas were 78% larger and 73% larger, respectively, for foxes near roads than for foxes away from roads. Home ranges were also largest when foxes were not caring for offspring (i.e., seasons of pup‐independence and breeding). We did not detect any dispersal movements, but foxes living near roads moved 33% farther in 2‐hours periods than foxes not living near roads. Foxes near roads move faster, range more widely, and could more rapidly spread a pathogen throughout the island; therefore, roads might serve as transmission corridors. We recommend reducing this risk by increasing widths of vaccination firewalls (areas where vaccination is used to induce a disease‐resistant or immune population of foxes), ensuring these areas deliberately intersect roads, and vaccinating a higher proportion of foxes living near roads. Disease risk models incorporating these strategies could inform the lowest risk scenarios. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Perspective on Mechanism Development and Structure‐Activity Relationships for Gas‐Phase Atmospheric Chemistry
Authors: Vereecken L. , Aumont B. , Barnes I. , Bozzelli J.W. , Goldman M.J. , Green W.H. , Madronich S. , Mcgillen M.R. , Mellouki A. , Orlando J.J. , Picquet‐Varrault B. , Rickard A.R. , Stockwell W.R. , Wallington T.J. , Carter W.P.L.
Published: April 2018

This perspective gives our views on general aspects and future directions of gas‐phase atmospheric chemical kinetic mechanism development, emphasizing on the work needed for the sustainable development of chemically detailed mechanisms that reflect current kinetic, mechanistic, and theoretical knowledge. Current and future mechanism development efforts and research needs are discussed, including software‐aided autogeneration and maintenance of kinetic models as a future‐proof approach for atmospheric model development. There is an overarching need for the evaluation and extension of structure‐activity relationships (SARs) that predict the properties and reactions of the many multifunctionalized compounds in the atmosphere that are at the core of detailed mechanisms, but for which no direct chemical data are available. Here, we discuss the experimental and theoretical data needed to support the development of mechanisms and SARs, the types of SARs relevant to atmospheric chemistry, the current status and limitations of SARs for various types of atmospheric reactions, the status of thermochemical estimates needed for mechanism development, and our outlook for the future. The authors have recently formed a SAR evaluation working group to address these issues.
Boundary‐Layer Model to Predict Chemically Reacting Flow within Heated, High‐Speed, Microtubular Reactors
Authors: Weddle Peter J. , Karakaya Canan , Zhu Huayang , Sivaramakrishnan Raghu , Prozument Kirill , Kee Robert J.
Published: April 2018

Chen nozzle experiments are used to study the early‐stage unimolecular decomposition of larger molecules and, sometimes, the following chemistry. The nozzle itself is typically a small‐diameter (order millimeter), short (order 20–50 mm), heated (order 1700 K) tube (nozzle) that exhausts into a vacuum chamber where a variety of diagnostics may be used to measure gas‐phase composition. Under typical operating conditions, the velocities are high and the exhaust flow is near sonic. Quantitatively interpreting the measurements requires a model for flow within the nozzle that is coupled with reaction kinetics simulations. The present model shows that the flow can produce significant radial and axial variations in both the thermodynamic conditions and species concentrations. Thus, plug‐flow models may not be appropriate. Results show that using He as a carrier gas produces much more plug‐like flow than is the case with Ar as the carrier gas. The boundary‐layer model provides a computationally efficient approach to modeling detailed chemical kinetics within Chen nozzles. Results are illustrated using acetaldehyde decomposition kinetics.
Survival and growth of 20 species of trees and shrubs on Appalachian surface mines
Authors: Monteleone Alexis , Skousen Jeff , Shuler Jamie , McDonald Louis , Williams Rick , Holaskova Ida
Published: April 2018

The Forestry Reclamation Approach recommends that 2 tree types be planted during reclamation reforestation projects to reclaim the site to a forest ecosystem. Late succession trees such as oaks (Quercus), maples (Acer), poplars (Liriodendron), and pines (Pinus) are planted as crop trees, but understory trees and shrubs of native forests are not often planted or planted in fewer numbers, so less is known of their survival and growth in mine soils. This study evaluated survival and growth of 20 species of small trees and shrubs planted on 4 surface mines in Appalachia. Survival and height were determined at the end of the first year after planting, and then again after 7 or 9 years depending on the site's planting date. Soil properties varied across sites with pH ranging from 3.8 to 7.5 and percent soil material (≤2 mm) ranging from 58% to 82%. Extracted nutrient concentrations (P, K, Ca, Mg, and S) were also variable across sites. Five of the 20 species had survival ≥50% (black chokeberry [Aronia melanocarpa Michx.], black cherry [Prunus serotina Ehrh.], Washington hawthorn [Crataegus phaenopyrum L. f.], nannyberry [Viburnum lentago L.], and hazelnut [Corylus avellana L.]). Eleven species survived from 37% to 47% and 4 species experienced ≤30% survival. Almost all species at least doubled their height and many increased 3 to 4 times above their initial planted seedling height. The species that survived ≥50% are recommended for forestry plantings and those that survived ≥37% may be considered as candidates for planting during forestry reclamation.
Antibiotics and microbial resistance in Brazilian soils under manure application
Authors: Camotti Bastos Marilia , Rheinheimer dos Santos Danilo , Aubertheau Élodie , de Castro Lima José Augusto Monteiro , Le Guet Thibaut , Caner Laurent , Mondamert Leslie , Labanowski Jérôme
Published: April 2018

Animal manure is commonly used in agriculture as fertiliser. This practice could represent, however, a risk of soil degradation through the accumulation of pharmaceutical residues or resistant microorganisms. Thus, 12 pharmaceuticals (11 antibiotics and 1 nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug) were quantified in soil samples from 15 sites regularly fertilised with different animal manures (dairy cow, pig or poultry litter manure) and from forest sites in southern Brazil. This study (a) investigated the impacts of Brazilian animal waste application on antibiotic levels and induced bacterial resistance of soils and (b) determined whether one type of waste is more polluting than others. Three bacterial resistance genes, namely, sul1, qnr A, and erm, were also quantified to determine the impacts of manure application on the resistance of soil microbial communities. The effect of manure application was confirmed by the presence of antibiotic residues (up to 38.3 μg kg−1) and bacterial resistance modifications of the bacterial community (up to 8.97 × 10−3 copies of genes per bacteria) in the studied soils. Soils amended with pig manure presented the highest antibiotic concentrations. However, soils subjected to dairy cow grazing over long periods of time presented the highest concentrations of sulfonamide resistance gene (sul1). Our results lead us to infer that the type of manure can induce a “specific pollution fingerprint.”
Mortierella elongata's roles in organic agriculture and crop growth promotion in a mineral soil
Authors: Li Fang , Chen Lin , Redmile‐Gordon Marc , Zhang Jiabao , Zhang Congzhi , Ning Qi , Li Wei
Published: April 2018

The addition of organic amendments contributes substantially to improvements in soil quality and prevents soil degradation. However, very little is known about the responses of dominant fungal strains to organic fertilizers or their functions in the nutrient transformations and crop growth promotion. Here, soils and maize roots were collected from a 35‐year field experiment treated with composted soybean cake. The fungal communities in the bulk soil, rhizosphere, and endosphere were analyzed by deep amplicon sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer region gene. Overall, the soil fungal community was dominated by the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Zygomycota. Organic amendments changed the fungal community composition, with significant increase in the relative abundances of Mortierella, Fusarium, and Chaetomiceae in the bulk and rhizosphere soils. Mortierella elongata was the most successful fungi responding to organic inputs as seen by the surge in abundance. Genome characteristics of M. elongata indicated that M. elongata possessed the functional capacity to degrade a range of toxic organics, and thereby improve soil health. Furthermore, M. elongata's capacity to compose recalcitrant substances that can contribute to pools of long‐term stable SOM was confirmed. These findings suggest that M. elongata may be mechanistic in sequestering C in soil. Inoculations of M. elongata into soil significantly increased the levels of plant indole acetic acid and plant biomass. Soil phosphatase and β‐glucosidase activities were also improved. Our study suggests that M. elongata can defend against soil degradation, improve soil health, and stimulate production of plant growth hormones.
The Nagoya Protocol: Legal Protections for Genetic Resources and Ramifications for Aquatic Science
Authors: Kumar Dervla Meegan
Published: April 2018

Over the last few decades, there has been a paradigm shift in the regulation of genetic resources. The rapid development of biotechnology and the concomitant rise in the sustainability and conservation movements fueled the political will to protect against the exploitation of biodiversity resources. The Nagoya Protocol was specifically drafted to provide legal clarity on access and benefit sharing procedures to promote the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. It may have an impact on how ASLO members conduct their research as the legislation covers the collection, distribution, and use of a broad class of biological and environmental material. Though the Nagoya Protocol went into effect in 2014, many researchers and institutions are still not aware of its existence or its breadth. This article is intended to provide ASLO members with an overview of the Nagoya Protocol, how it may affect their research, and ways in which to ensure compliance with it.
The Promise and Potential of Continental‐Scale Limnology Using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Lakes Assessment
Authors: Pollard Amina I. , Hampton Stephanie E. , Leech Dina M.
Published: April 2018

While there are many local and regional sampling efforts in lakes across the U.S., it is often difficult to compile this information into a cohesive framework to make national‐ or continental‐scale conclusions. To address this gap, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency partners with States and Tribes to implement the National Lakes Assessment, which is a national‐scale, coordinated lake sampling program. The resulting data include colocated biological, chemical, habitat, and human use measures that are available to the scientific community. We provide a brief overview of the program, describe the data, and discuss some of the ways the results have been used. The availability of a consistent data set of this magnitude is an impressive and unique resource for the limnological community.
Angular Momentum‐Reversible Near‐Unity Bisignate Circular Dichroism
Authors: Ren Haoran , Gu Min
Published: April 2018

Bisignate circular dichroism, originated from the Cotton effect, with opposite signs of the chiroptical response is an indispensable property for protein sensing, drug discovery and design, and liquid crystallinity. However, naturally occurring and artificially synthetic chiral structures with random orientations in a bulk sample often exhibit ensemble‐averaged bisignate circular dichroism in absorption with a magnitude less than 0.01. Even though vertically stacked achiral plasmonic nanostructures could enhance the absorption‐based bisignate circular dichroism, the resonance nature of this approach restricts its magnitude less than 0.5. Here, a novel concept of non‐absorption‐based bisignate circular dichroism is demonstrated through the nonresonant angular momentum mode‐sorting sensitivity of a single nanoring slit enclosed by a concentric plasmonic nanogroove coupler. Quasi‐flat bisignate circular dichroism with a near‐unity magnitude is achieved in the visible and near‐infrared wavelength range. Additionally, the new bisignate circular dichroism reveals complete reversibility when the sign of the orbital angular momentum mode of incident light and of the geometrical topological charge of the nanogroove coupler is changed. This work opens exciting avenues for ultrasensitive angular momentum‐dependent stereochemistry and may find promising applications in integrated photonics harnessing switchable chiroptical devices.
Manipulating the Orientations of the Electric and Magnetic Dipoles Induced in Silicon Nanoparticles for Multicolor Display
Authors: Xiang Jin , Li Juntao , Zhou Zhenpeng , Jiang Shuai , Chen Jingdong , Dai Qiaofeng , Tie ShaoLong , Lan Sheng , Wang Xuehua
Published: April 2018

Artificial control of colors based on plasmonic and dielectric nanostructures is not only interesting for fundamental research, but also important for practical applications. Apart from spatial resolution, chromaticity, angular independence, and dynamical color‐tuning have emerged as the most desirable functions for structural color. Here, it is shown theoretically that the orientations of the electric or magnetic dipoles induced in a silicon nanoparticle can be manipulated by using an evanescent wave excited by s‐ or p‐polarized light, and it is experimentally demonstrated that the scattering light color can be controlled by simply varying the polarization of the illumination light. It is revealed that the excitation of a silicon nanoparticle using an evanescent wave is equivalent to that of using both the incident and reflected light, enabling the manipulation of the scattering light color by controlling the orientations of the electric and magnetic dipoles. In addition, an enhanced scattering light intensity and a completely dark background are achieved by using evanescent wave excitation. More importantly, a color‐tuning display with a spatial resolution close to the optical diffraction limit, and a good chromaticity on an array of silicon nanopillars fabricated on a silica substrate is demonstrated, which are compatible with the current fabrication technology of silicon chips.
The tree property and the continuum function below
Authors: Honzik Radek , Stejskalová Šárka
Published: April 2018

We say that a regular cardinal κ, , has the tree property if there are no κ‐Aronszajn trees; we say that κ has the weak tree property if there are no special κ‐Aronszajn trees. Starting with infinitely many weakly compact cardinals, we show that the tree property at every even cardinal , , is consistent with an arbitrary continuum function below which satisfies , . Next, starting with infinitely many Mahlo cardinals, we show that the weak tree property at every cardinal , , is consistent with an arbitrary continuum function below which satisfies , . Thus the tree property has no provable effect on the continuum function below except for the trivial requirement that the tree property at implies for every infinite κ.
On the universality of the nonstationary ideal
Authors: Cox Sean D.
Published: April 2018

Burke proved that the generalized nonstationary ideal, denoted by NS, is universal in the following sense: every normal ideal, and every tower of normal ideals of inaccessible height, is a canonical Rudin‐Keisler projection of the restriction of NS to some stationary set. We investigate how far Burke's theorem can be pushed, by analyzing the universality properties of NS with respect to the wider class of ‐systems of filters introduced by Audrito and Steila. First we answer a question of Audrito and Steila, by proving that ‐systems of filters do not capture all kinds of set‐generic embeddings. We provide a characterization of supercompactness in terms of short extenders and canonical projections of NS, without any reference to the strength of the extenders; as a corollary, NS can consistently fail to canonically project to arbitrarily strong short extenders. We prove that ω‐cofinal towers of normal ultrafilters, e.g., the kind used to characterize I2 and I3 embeddings, are well‐founded if and only if they are canonical projections of NS. Finally, we provide a characterization of “ is Jónsson” in terms of canonical projections of NS.
Generic at
Authors: Dimonte Vincenzo
Published: April 2018

In this paper we introduce a generic large cardinal akin to, together with the consequences ofbeing such a generic large cardinal. In this caseis Jónsson, and in a choiceless inner model many properties hold that are in contrast with pcf theory in.
Interpenetrated Networks of Nanocellulose and Polyacrylamide with Excellent Mechanical and Absorptive Properties
Authors: Träger Andrea , Carlmark Anna , Wågberg Lars
Published: April 2018

Composites based on interpenetrating networks (IPNs) of cellulose nanofibril (CNF) aerogels and polyacrylamide are prepared and exhibit robust mechanical, water retaining, and re‐swelling capacities. Furthermore, their swelling behavior is not affected by an increased ionic strength of the aqueous phase. These unprecedented IPNs combine the water retaining capacity of the polyacrylamide with the mechanical strength provided by the CNF aerogel template. The CNF aerogel/polyacrylamide composites exhibit a compressive stress at break greater than 250% compared with a neat polyacrylamide hydrogel. Furthermore, the composites retain their wet compression properties after drying and re‐swelling, whereas the neat polyacrylamide hydrogels fail at a significantly lower stress and strain after drying and re‐swelling. These composite materials highlight the potential of CNF aerogels to strengthen the mechanical properties and reduce the number of fracture defects during the drying and re‐swelling of a hydrogel. These composites show the potential of being optimized for a plethora of applications, especially in the hygiene field and for biomedical devices.
Polypropylene/Cellulose Composites for Material Extrusion Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Kaynak Baris , Spoerk Martin , Shirole Anuja , Ziegler Wolfgang , Sapkota Janak
Published: April 2018

The preparation of polypropylene (PP)/microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) composites and their applicability for material extrusion additive manufacturing (ME‐AM) is reported. MCC is modified by grafting onto its surface with different silanes, in particular perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane,n‐octyltriethoxysilane (OTS), or aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The efficacy of the surface modification is confirmed by attenuated total reflectance and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The affinity of the modified MCC to the polar PP matrix is investigated by direct melt‐compounding, and the applicability of the resulting composites for material ME‐AM is accessed by fabrication of filaments and evaluating the relevant property requirements. The surface modification of the MCC improves their dispersibility in PP and enhances the mechanical properties of the composites. Moreover, the OTS‐modified MCC shows the best reinforcement, good surface finish of the filament, and flawless printability.
Recyclable Crosslinked High‐Performance Polymers via Adjusting Intermolecular Cation–π Interactions and the Visual Detection of Tensile Strength and Glass Transition Temperature
Authors: Yang Li , Du Mengqi , Yang Shien , Wei Wenxuan , Chang Guanjun
Published: April 2018

Crosslinked high‐performance polymers have many industrial applications but are difficult to recycle. Visual detection of the physical properties of the crosslinked high‐performance polymers is useful, but is difficult to achieve. The crosslinked high‐performance polymers (SPIN) are constructed by using cation–π interactions. The cation–π interaction between the polymer side chains can be easily installed and removed by aqueous treatments at high or low pH, respectively, which endow the crosslinked polymer with a recyclable behavior. Additionally, the tensile strength and glass transition temperature of the SPIN films could be visually detected by taking advantage of the transparency decreasing effect of cation to an adjacent indole unit.
The Effect of End Group and Molecular Weight on the Yellowness of Polyetherimide
Authors: Cao Ke , Zhang Mingxuan , Liu Guoliang
Published: April 2018

The effects of end group and molecular weight on the yellowness of telechelic polyetherimide (PEI) are investigated. Electron‐withdrawing dianhydride end groups reduce the yellowness and increase the transparency of PEI regardless of the molecular weight. Electron‐donating phenyl, amine, and phthalic end groups increase the yellowness of PEI but the effect depends on the molecular weight. As the molecular weight is increased, the yellowness of PEIs with electron‐donating end groups initially decreases due to a decreasing end‐group density and then increases due to an increasing probability of charge‐transfer complex formation. The systematic study reveals the correlations among yellowness, end group, and molecular weight of PEIs. The correlations can be used for designing highly transparent PEIs and other high‐performance polymers.
A Color‐Tunable Fluorescent Supramolecular Hyperbranched Polymer Constructed by Pillar[5]arene‐Based Host–Guest Recognition and Metal Ion Coordination Interaction
Authors: Li Hui , Chen Wenzhuo , Xu Fenfen , Fan Xiaodong , Liang Tongxiang , Qi Xiaopeng , Tian Wei
Published: April 2018

Fluorescent supramolecular polymers are an important kind of smart material. In this work, a new fluorescent supramolecular hyperbranched polymer (FSHP) is constructed by orthogonal self‐assembly: pillararene‐based host–guest interaction and metal ion complexation interaction. The FSHP exhibits concentration‐controllable fluorescence emissions. The photoluminescence spectra and light‐emitting colors of FSHP can be effectively tuned by changing metal ion types or using mixed metal ions. The fluorescence quenching of FSHP solutions or FSHP‐based films would occur when removing the metal ions from the backbone of FSHP. This study supplies a convenient approach toward the construction of structure‐tunable fluorescent supramolecular materials with different colors.
Melt Electrowriting of Thermoplastic Elastomers
Authors: Hochleitner Gernot , Fürsattel Eva , Giesa Reiner , Groll Jürgen , Schmidt Hans‐Werner , Dalton Paul D.
Published: April 2018

Melt electrowriting (MEW), an additive manufacturing process, is established using polycaprolactone as the benchmark material. In this study, a thermoplastic elastomer, namely, poly(urea‐siloxane), is synthesized and characterized to identify how different classes of polymers are compatible with MEW. This polyaddition polymer has reversible hydrogen bonding from the melt upon heating/cooling and highly resolved structures are achieved by MEW. The influence of applied voltage, temperature, and feeding pressure on printing outcomes behavior is optimized. Balancing these parameters, highly uniform and smooth‐surfaced fibers with diameters ranging from 10 to 20 µm result. The quality of the 3D MEW scaffolds is excellent, with very accurate fiber stacking capacity—up to 50 layers with minimal defects and good fiber fusion between the layers. There is also minimal fiber sagging between the crossover points, which is a characteristic of thicker MEW scaffolds previously reported with other polymers. In summary, poly(urea‐siloxane) demonstrates outstanding compatibility with the MEW process and represents a class of polymer—thermoplastic elastomers—that are, until now, untested with this approach.
In Silico Tracking of Individual Species Accelerating Progress in Macromolecular Engineering and Design
Authors: D'hooge Dagmar R.
Published: April 2018

The beneficial use of computer simulations to track the microstructural evolution of individual species is highlighted in view of macromolecular engineering and design, considering two case studies on catalytic polymerization, and both “low” (<100) and “high” (>100) chain lengths, that is, i) atom transfer radical copolymerization of n‐butyl acrylate and styrene aiming at the synthesis of functional macrospecies of “identical' chain length; and ii) chain shuttling polymerization of ethylene and 1‐octene toward the production of segmented block copolymers with “soft” and “hard” segments. Model parameters are validated and/or tuned based on literature data. The modeling strategy supports the future identification of chemical structure–polymer property relationships and is based on the combination of principles from polymer reaction engineering, chemistry, and physics.