bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Forward osmosis with an algal draw solution to concentrate municipal wastewater and recover resources
Authors: Rood Brent , Zhang Chiqian , Inniss Enos , Hu Zhiqiang 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThis study aimed to concentrate and recover resources from municipal wastewater with a novel forward osmosis (FO) system. The FO system used synthetic seawater as the draw solution (DS) to extract water from the feed solution (FS) (synthetic raw municipal wastewater). Because ammonium passed through the FO membrane from the FS to the DS, we cultivated an algal strain (Chlorella vulgaris) in the DS to remove and recover ammonium. For three consecutive FO cycles, the algal FO system removed 35.4% of the ammonium from the DS, increased the concentrations of COD and in the FS by 43.0%, and achieved a water flux of 11.59 ± 0.49 L m−2 hr−1. Throughout the FO cycles, the algal biomass concentration of the DS stayed at 606 ± 29 mg COD/L due to simultaneous algal growth and DS dilution. This FO process may be feasible to implement for full‐scale applications to concentrate wastewater and recover resources.Practitioner points

A novel forward osmosis (FO) system with an algal draw solution (DS) concentrated municipal wastewater and recovered resources (ammonium).

Ammonium but not organic matter or phosphate diffused across the FO membrane from the feed solution (FS) to the DS.

The algal FO system increased COD/phosphate concentration in the FS by 43.0% and removed 35.4% of ammonium from the DS.

The water fluxes in the algal FO system and the control were 11.59 and 12.02 L m−2 hr−1, respectively.

The novel algal FO process has the potential to improve full‐scale efficiency by concentrating municipal wastewater and recovering nutrients.
Theranostic small interfering RNA nanoparticles in cancer precision nanomedicine
Authors: Chen Zhihang , Krishnamachary Balaji , Pachecho‐Torres Jesus , Penet Marie‐France , Bhujwalla Zaver M. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractDue to their ability to effectively downregulate the expression of target genes, small interfering RNA (siRNA) have emerged as promising candidates for precision medicine in cancer. Although some siRNA‐based treatments have advanced to clinical trials, challenges such as poor stability during circulation, and less than optimal pharmacokinetics and biodistribution of siRNA in vivo present barriers to the systemic delivery of siRNA. In recent years, theranostic nanomedicine integrating siRNA delivery has attracted significant attention for precision medicine. Theranostic nanomedicine takes advantage of the high capacity of nanoplatforms to ferry cargo with imaging and therapeutic capabilities. These theranostic nanoplatforms have the potential to play a major role in gene specific treatments. Here we have reviewed recent advances in the use of theranostic nanoplatforms to deliver siRNA, and discussed the opportunities as well as challenges associated with this exciting technology.This article is categorized under:
Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging
Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease
Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants
Current overview on viroid–host interactions
Authors: Adkar‐Purushothama Charith Raj , Perreault Jean‐Pierre 
Published: October 2019

AbstractViroids are one of the most enigmatic highly structured, circular, single‐stranded RNA phytopathogens. Although they are not known to code for any peptide, viroids induce visible symptoms in susceptible host plants that resemble those associated with many plant viruses. It is known that viroids induce disease symptoms by direct interaction with host factors; however, the precise mechanism by which this occurs remains poorly understood. Studies on the host's responses to viroid infection, host susceptibility and nonhost resistance have been underway for several years, but much remains to be done in order to fully understand the complex nature of viroid–host interactions. Recent progress using molecular biology techniques combined with computational algorithms, in particular evidence of the role of viroid‐derived small RNAs in the RNA silencing pathways of a disease network, has widened the knowledge of viroid pathogenicity. The complexity of viroid–host interactions has been revealed in the past decades to include, but not be limited to, the involvement of host factors, viroid structural complexity, and viroid‐induced ribosomal stress, which is further boosted by the discovery of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). In this review, the current understanding of the viroid–host interaction has been summarized with the goal of simplifying the complexity of viroid biology for future research.This article is categorized under:
RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease
Impacts of genomic research on soybean improvement in East Asia
Authors: Li Man-Wah , Wang Zhili , Jiang Bingjun , Kaga Akito , Wong Fuk-Ling , Zhang Guohong , Han Tianfu , Chung Gyuhwa , Nguyen Henry , Lam Hon-Ming 
Published: October 2019

AbstractIt has been commonly accepted that soybean domestication originated in East Asia. Although East Asia has the historical merit in soybean production, the USA has become the top soybean producer in the world since 1950s. Following that, Brazil and Argentina have been the major soybean producers since 1970s and 1990s, respectively. China has once been the exporter of soybean to Japan before 1990s, yet she became a net soybean importer as Japan and the Republic of Korea do. Furthermore, the soybean yield per unit area in East Asia has stagnated during the past decade. To improve soybean production and enhance food security in these East Asian countries, much investment has been made, especially in the breeding of better performing soybean germplasms. As a result, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea have become three important centers for soybean genomic research. With new technologies, the rate and precision of the identification of important genomic loci associated with desired traits from germplasm collections or mutants have increased significantly. Genome editing on soybean is also becoming more established. The year 2019 marked a new era for crop genome editing in the commercialization of the first genome-edited plant product, which is a high-oleic-acid soybean oil. In this review, we have summarized the latest developments in soybean breeding technologies and the remarkable progress in soybean breeding-related research in China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.
Combining alpha radiation-based brachytherapy with immunomodulators promotes complete tumor regression in mice via tumor-specific long-term immune response
Authors: Domankevich Vered , Cohen Adi , Efrati Margalit , Schmidt Michael , Rammensee Hans-Georg , Nair Sujit S. , Tewari Ashutosh , Kelson Itzhak , Keisari Yona 
Published: October 2019

AbstractDiffusing alpha-emitters radiation therapy (DaRT) is the only known method for treating solid tumors with highly destructive alpha radiation. More importantly, as a monotherapy, DaRT has been shown to induce a systemic antitumor immune response following tumor ablation. Here, immunomodulatory strategies to boost the antitumor immune response induced by DaRT, and the response specificity, were investigated in the colon cancer CT26 mouse model. Local treatment prior to DaRT, with the TLR3 agonist poly I:C, was sufficient to inhibit tumor growth relative to poly I:C or DaRT alone. DaRT used in combination with the TLR9 agonist CpG, or with the TLR1/2 agonist XS15 retarded tumor growth and increased tumor-rejection rates, compared to DaRT alone, curing 41% and 20% of the mice, respectively. DaRT in combination with CpG, the Treg inhibitor cyclophosphamide, and the MDSC inhibitor sildenafil, cured 51% of the animals, compared to only 6% and 0% cure when immunomodulation or DaRT was used alone, respectively. Challenge and Winn assays revealed that these high cure rates involved a specific immunological memory against CT26 antigens. We suggest that DaRT acts in synergy with immunomodulation to induce a specific and systemic antitumor immune response. This strategy may serve as a safe and efficient method not only for tumor ablation, but also for in situ vaccination of cancer patients.
Are There Ideal Small Bowel Limb Lengths for One‐Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB) to Obtain Optimal Weight Loss and Remission of Comorbidities with Minimal Nutritional Deficiencies?
Authors: Ruiz‐Tovar Jaime , Carbajo Miguel A. , Jimenez Jose M. , Luque‐de‐Leon Enrique , Ortiz‐de‐Solorzano Javier , Castro Maria J. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBackgroundIdeal jejunal and ileal lengths in bariatric/metabolic procedures to be left in alimentary continuity still remain unclear. We aimed to evaluate different lengths of biliopancreatic limb (BPL) and common limb (CL) performed in a series of patients submitted to OAGB, and correlate them with weight loss and nutritional deficits.Patients and methodsA prospective observational study of 350 consecutive morbidly obese patients undergoing OAGB was performed. BPL and CL lengths were determined intraoperatively; BPL/TBL and CL/TBL ratios were then calculated. Anthropometric variables, remission of comorbidities and specific supplementation needs were recorded at 1, 2 and 5 years after surgery.ResultsThree hundred patients were included for final analysis. BPL length and BPL/TBL ratio directly correlated with Units of BMI lost (UBMIL). Conversely, CL length and CL/TBL ratio showed an inverse correlation with UBMIL. Establishing a BMI ≤ 25 kg/m2 as ideal, the most accurate AUC, to predict achieving an ideal BMI at 1, 2 and 5 years after surgery, was obtained for the CL/TBL ratio, followed by the CL length at 1, 2 and 5 years. An ideal range was established between 0.40 and 0.43 for the CL/TBL ratio, and 200 to 220 cm for the CL length. Among these ranges, there were no cases of protein or calorie malnutrition.ConclusionTBL measurement is essential to obtain optimal outcomes after OAGB, both in terms of excellent weight loss and remission/improvement of comorbidities, as well as with a low risk of nutritional deficiencies. The CL/TBL ratio, followed by CL length, are the most accurate parameters to predict a 5‐year postoperative BMI ≤ 25 kg/m2.
Concentration and size distribution of microbial aerosol in the historical objects in Kraków as a potential health risk and biodeterioration factor
Authors: Chmiel Maria , Kral Iga , Lenart-Boroń Anna 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Historical facilities such as churches, crypts, libraries and museums are crucial for preserving cultural heritage but at the same time, they are frequently visited tourist objects and working environment. The aim of this study was to assess whether there are differences in the concentration and size distribution of bacterial and fungal aerosol in the mentioned groups of historical objects in Kraków, as well as to determine if there is tendency for seasonal fluctuations of bioaerosol concentrations, and what environmental parameters affect them most significantly. The concentrations of bacterial and fungal aerosol were measured in ten historical objects—churches, crypts, libraries and museums—using a six-stage Andersen impactor. Microbiological analyses were accompanied by measurements of particulate matter (PM10, PM4, PM2.5 and PM1) and microclimatic parameters. The results showed that the studied objects differ in terms of bioaerosol levels, but the differences were not drastic and in terms of bacterial aerosol concentrations the objects can be arranged as follows: churches > libraries > museums > crypts, while for fungal aerosol the order would be: churches > museums > crypts > libraries. The concentrations of bioaerosol did not exceed the safety levels for human exposure, but the levels suggesting possible threat of biodeterioration and the presence of internal source of contamination were exceeded in nearly all sites. The share of respirable fraction of bioaerosol was high (42.1–90.5% for bacteria and 80.7–94.7% for fungi). Bioaerosol concentration was most significantly associated with indoor temperature, and the impact of particulate matter was only moderate.
Extinction risk and conservation gaps for Aloe (Asphodelaceae) in the Horn of Africa
Authors: Bachman Steven P. , Wilkin Paul , Reader Tom , Field Richard , Weber Odile , Nordal Inger , Demissew Sebsebe 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Identification of conservation priorities is essential for conservation planning, especially as the biodiversity crisis develops. We aimed to support conservation prioritisation by addressing knowledge gaps for the genus Aloe in the Horn of Africa. Specifically, we developed a dataset of herbarium voucher specimens and occurrence data to estimate geographic distribution of 88 species of Aloe and used this to estimate extinction risk and establish the major threats to Aloe in this region. The resulting assessments, each published on the IUCN Red List, show that 39% of the species are threatened with extinction, and the principal threats are the expansion and intensification of crop farming and livestock farming, gathering of plants, and unintentional effects of logging and wood harvesting. We review ex situ conservation in botanic gardens and seed banks, revealing gaps in coverage and urgent priorities for collection, with 25 threatened Aloe species currently unrepresented in seed banks. Protected areas in the region offer limited coverage of Aloe distributions and the most recently designated protected areas are increasingly in regions that do not overlap with Aloe distributions. However, we show with a simple optimisation approach that even a modest increase in protected area of 824 square kilometres would allow representation of all Aloe species, although further data are needed to test the area required to ensure long-term persistence (resilience) of Aloe species.
Nitrogen use efficiency of 15N urea applied to wheat based on fertiliser timing and use of inhibitors
Authors: Wallace Ashley J. , Armstrong Roger D. , Grace Peter R. , Scheer Clemens , Partington Debra L. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Improving fertiliser nitrogen (N) use efficiency is essential to increase productivity and avoid environmental damage. Using a 15N mass balance approach, we investigated the effects of five N fertiliser management strategies to test the hypothesis that increasing uptake of applied N by wheat improves productivity and reduces loss of N in a semi-arid environment. Three experiments were conducted between 2012 and 2014. Treatments included urea application (50 kg N/ha) at sowing with and without nitrification inhibitor (3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate, DMPP) and surface broadcast with and without urease inhibitor (n-butyl thiophosphoric triamide, NBPT) at the end of tillering plus an unfertilised control. It was found that deferring fertiliser application until the end of tillering decreased losses of fertiliser N (35–52%) through increasing uptake by the crop and or recovery in the soil at harvest, while maintaining yield except when rainfall following application was low. In this case, deferring application reduced fertiliser uptake (− 71%) and grain yield (− 18%) and increased recovery of N in the soil (+ 121%). Use of DMPP or NBPT reduced N loss where seasonal conditions were conducive to denitrification during winter (DMPP) and volatilisation or denitrification later in the season (NBPT). Their effect on grain yield was less significant; DMPP increased yield (+ 3–31%) in all years and NBPT increased yield (+ 7–11%) in 2 of 3 years compared to unamended urea. The majority of crop N uptake was supplied from soil reserves and as a result, crop recovery of applied N was not strongly related to grain yield response.
Principles of Information Processing and Natural Learning in Biological Systems
Authors: Slijepcevic Predrag 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThe key assumption behind evolutionary epistemology is that animals are active learners or ‘knowers’. In the present study, I updated the concept of natural learning, developed by Henry Plotkin and John Odling-Smee, by expanding it from the animal-only territory to the biosphere-as-a-whole territory. In the new interpretation of natural learning the concept of biological information, guided by Peter Corning’s concept of “control information”, becomes the ‘glue’ holding the organism–environment interactions together. The control information guides biological systems, from bacteria to ecosystems, in the process of natural learning executed by the universal algorithm. This algorithm, summarized by the acronym IGPT (information-gain-process-translate) incorporates natural cognitive methods including sensing/perception, memory, communication, and decision-making. Finally, the biosphere becomes the distributed network of communicative interactions between biological systems termed the interactome. The concept of interactome is based on Gregory Bateson’s natural epistemology known as the “ecology of mind”. Mimicking Bateson’s approach, the interactome may also be designated “physiology of mind”—the principle behind regulating the biosphere homeostasis.
Digital Economy as a Factor in the Technological Development of the Mineral Sector
Authors: Litvinenko V. S. 
Published: October 2019

AbstractThis article describes the impact of the global digital economy on the technological development of the mineral sector in the world. Due to the different specifics of the legislative bases of the investigated regions, such as the USA, China, EU, and Africa, the development of digital transformation is presented on the example of the Russian Federation in the context of world trends. The article presents an analysis of the possibilities of using straight-through digital technology in prospecting, design, development, and use of mineral resources. It describes a structure promoting the development of applied digital technology through research–education centers and international competence centers. This structure would allow forming the new competencies for personnel working in the digital economy. The underfunding of the information and computing infrastructure could be a significant challenge to the digital transformation of the economy. Creating the conditions for a reliable and secure process of generating, storing, and using data is the basis for protection from the cybersecurity hazard that could act as a brake on technology advancement. This article discusses the organizational and technological priorities of the development of the mineral resource sector on the example of the Russian Federation. The challenges for the mineral resource complex resulting from global changes can be taken on through technological changes of the industry. The article gives a thorough description of issues related to technological developments in the raw materials sector, oil refining industry, development of integrated and advanced mineral processing systems, and the use of household and industrial wastes. The research presents basic technology contributing to sustainable development, starting from exploration and production forecasting and up to sustainable planning and distribution of material and energy resources based on real-time data. It also pays special attention to the possibilities of creating digital platforms for the mineral sector. Digital integration, combining research areas, personnel, processes, users, and data will create conditions for scientific and technological achievements and breakthroughs, providing scientific and economic developments in related industries and, above all, in the global mineral and raw materials market.
Predicting plant available phosphorus using infrared spectroscopy with consideration for future mobile sensing applications in precision farming
Authors: Pätzold Stefan , Leenen Matthias , Frizen Peter , Heggemann Tobias , Wagner Peter , Rodionov Andrei 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Phosphorus (P) fertilisation recommendations rely primarily on soil content of plant available P (Pavl) that vary spatially within farm fields. Spatially optimized P fertilisation for precision farming requires reliable, rapid and non-invasive Pavl determination. This laboratory study aimed to test and to compare visible-near infrared (Vis–NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy for Pavl prediction with emphasis on future application in precision agriculture. After calibration with the conventional calcium acetate lactate (CAL) extraction method, limitations of Vis–NIRS and MIRS to predict Pavl were evaluated in loess topsoil samples from different fields at six localities. Overall calibration with 477 (Vis–NIRS) and 586 (MIRS) samples yielded satisfactory model performance (R2 0.70 and 0.72; RPD 1.8 and 1.9, respectively). Local Vis–NIRS models yielded better results with R2 up to 0.93 and RPD up to 3.8. For MIRS, results were comparable. However, an overall model to predict Pavl on independent test data partly failed. Sampling date, pre-crop harvest residues and fertilising regime affected model transferability. Varying transferability could partly be explained after deriving the cellulose absorption index from the Vis–NIR spectra. In 62 (Vis–NIRS) and 67% (MIRS) of all samples, prediction matched the correct Pavl content class. Rapid discrimination between high, optimal and low P classes could be carried out on many samples from single fields thus marking an improvement over the common practice. However, Pavl determination by means of IR spectroscopy is not yet satisfactory for determination of precision fertilizer dosage. For introduction into agricultural practice, a standardized sampling protocol is recommended to help achieve reliable spectroscopic Pavl prediction.
Patterns of Trust and Subjective Well-Being Across Europe: New Insights from Repeated Cross-Sectional Analyses Based on the European Social Survey 2002–2016
Authors: Glatz Christoph , Eder Anja 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
This paper offers elaborate analyses regarding the effects of social- as well as institutional trust as parts of social capital on subjective well-being (SWB) by using data from the European Social Survey, including 36 countries and eight time-points between 2002 and 2016. We analyze (1) The development of trust and SWB on the aggregate level; (2) The effect of trust on SWB on the individual cross-sectional level; and (3) The longitudinal and cross-sectional effect of trust on SWB on the aggregate level while considering control variables based on previous research. We observe a weak positive trend regarding social trust as well as SWB over time, but no significant change in institutional trust. However, trends are far from homogeneous across countries. In accordance to previous studies, we find a positive effect of social trust on SWB. This effect holds on the individual cross-sectional level for every participating country, but also on the longitudinal level. In view of institutional trust, we see a positive effect on SWB on the individual and aggregate cross-sectional level, but not over time. Thus, this study particularly sheds new light on this relation, indicating that it´s cross-sectional relation is due to confounding variables. Moreover, we observe no relation between economic growth and SWB after controlling for unemployment, but a positive effect of decreasing unemployment and inflation on SWB. Our data suggests that establishing an environment with high social trust across Europe would be rewarded with a happy society.