bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
In vitro nucleus pulposus tissue model with physicochemical stresses
Authors: Takeoka Yoshiki , Kang James D. , Mizuno Shuichi 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIntervertebral discs (IVDs) are exposed to changes in physicochemical stresses including hydrostatic and osmotic pressure via diurnal spinal motion. Homeostasis, degeneration, and regeneration in IVDs have been studied using in vitro, ex vivo, and animal models. However, incubation of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in medium has limited capability to reproduce anabolic turnover and regeneration under physicochemical stresses. We developed a novel pressure/perfusion cell culture system and a semipermeable membrane pouch device for enclosing isolated NP cells for in vitro incubation under physicochemical stresses. We assessed the performance of this system to identify an appropriate stress loading regimen to promote gene expression and consistent accumulation of extracellular matrices by bovine caudal NP cells. Cyclic hydrostatic pressure (HP) for 4 days followed by constant HP for 3 days in high osmolality (HO; 450 mOsm/kg H2O) showed a trend towards upregulated aggrecan expression and dense accumulation of keratan sulfate without gaps by the NP cells. Furthermore, a repetitive regimen of cyclic HP for 2 days followed by constant HP for 1 day in HO (repeated twice) significantly upregulated gene expression of aggrecan (P < .05) compared to no pressure and suppressed matrix metalloproteinase‐13 expression (P < .05) at 6 days. Our culture system and pouches will be useful to reproduce physicochemical stresses in NP cells for simulating anabolic, catabolic, and homeostatic turnover under diurnal spinal motion.
Assessment of depth‐dependent microbial carbon‐use efficiency in long‐term fertilized paddy soil using an 18O–H2O approach
Authors: Zhran Mostafa , Ge Tida , Tong Yaoyao , Deng Yangwu , Wei Xiaomeng , Lynn Tin Mar , Zhu Zhenke , Wu Jinshui , Gunina Anna 
Published: July 2020

AbstractActivity of microorganisms and their turnover strongly affect soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation. However, what remains unclear is how long‐term fertilization affects the microorganisms growth strategies, and how they change with the soil depth. Thus, microbial carbon‐use efficiency (CUE) and microbial biomass (MB) turnover in paddy soil were determined using a novel substrate‐independent H218O labelling approach, and the effects of long‐term fertilization (>30 years) with mineral (NPK) or combined (NPK + OM [manure]) amendments in 0–10, 10–20, and 20–30 cm depths were investigated. Long‐term fertilization increased microbial C uptake, CUE, and growth rates, and all indexes were the highest in the NPK + OM treatment. The CUE ranged between 0.07 and 0.23 and showed variable behaviour with depth: it reduced in the control treatment, indicating that more C was allocated to energy production than biomass growth, and increased in fertilized soils, showing the shift of C usage for biomass growth. The highest CUE was observed at 20–30 cm in NPK and NPK + OM, and indicated that microorganisms overcome the nutrient deficiency in deep soil layers by keeping high C uptake rates at a constant CUE. The MB turnover was more rapid in NPK (70–10 d) and NPK + OM (65–40 d) compared to the control (80–90 d) and intensified with the depth. These findings highlight that the decrease in C uptake under long‐term fertilization with soil depth compensated by an increase in CUE. These shifts in the strategies of microorganisms functioning can explain the accumulation of SOC in heavily fertilized paddy soils.
Marked spatiotemporal variations in small phytoplankton structure in contrasted waters of the Southern Ocean (Kerguelen area)
Authors: Irion Solène , Jardillier Ludwig , Sassenhagen Ingrid , Christaki Urania 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn the Southern Ocean, diatom blooms have attracted a lot of attention, while other small nonsilicified phytoplankton groups have been less studied. Here, small phytoplankton (< 20 μm, including small diatoms and nonsilicified small phytoplankton) are focused on in two contrasting areas: the productive Kerguelen plateau and its surrounding low productivity waters. To assess the diversity and spatial structuration of phytoplankton, discrete plankton samples (0–300 m layer) of two size fractions (< 20 and 20–100 μm) were analyzed with 18S rDNA amplicon sequencing in late summer. Phytoplankton seasonal succession was described using flow cytometry, pigments, and environmental data, from two previous cruises (during the onset and decline of the diatom bloom). In the mixed layer, small nonsilicified phytoplankton represented less than 10% of chlorophyll a (Chl a) during the onset and late diatom bloom on the plateau, but they increased on and off the plateau after the bloom (53–70% of Chl a). Phaeocystis antarctica was relatively abundant at all stations after the bloom, but other small phytoplanktonic groups featured marked differences on and off the plateau. Higher concentrations on the plateau appeared to stimulate the presence of Micromonas, while Pelagophytes were enhanced off the plateau. A diverse assemblage of small diatoms was also promoted off the plateau, where silicate concentration was still high. Interestingly, P. antarctica represented up to 25% of all reads at 300 m depth off the plateau in the larger size fraction suggesting a significant contribution to carbon export through aggregation in low productive waters.
Express multi‐element determination in lake sediments by laser ablation mass‐spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS)
Authors: Maslennikova Anna V. , Artemyev Dmitry A. , Shtenberg Mikhail V. , Filippova Ksenya A. , Udachin Valery N. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAnalytical data on major and trace elements concentrations in lake sediments are frequently applied in a wide range of limnological, paleolimnological, and environmental studies. Conventionally applied methods are characterized by time‐consuming, expensive, and (or) hazardous sample preparation. The proposed express method of simultaneous multi‐element determination in lake sediments by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass‐spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) of pressed powdered pellets comprises a minimal sample preparation, special laser sampling, and calibration strategy aimed at overcoming the problems of the sample heterogeneity and application of non‐matrix‐matched external standards. The optimal sampling strategy, providing the best precision results for our simply pressed powdered pellets, was line scanning ablation with a rate of 10 μm s−1, a laser spot size of 110 μm and a fluence of 8–9 J cm−2. Calibration strategy including external and internal standardization ensured the best precision (<5–10% RSD) and accuracy (within 1–20% of reference values) even with non‐matrix‐matched external standards (GSD‐1g, NIST SRM 612). In comparison with solution ICP‐MS, the method recovered significantly higher range of analytes including 10 major and 49 trace elements and ensured a better accuracy of Zr, Hf, Ti, Nb, Ta, Sn, and Sb measurements. Application of the method to the Urals lake sediments (n = 32) showed that LA‐ICP‐MS results for most trace elements where within 1–30% of the solution ICP‐MS data.
The Potential of Electrospinning/Electrospraying Technology in the Rational Design of Hydrogel Structures
Authors: Li Jinlong , Pan Kai , Tian Huafeng , Yin Lijun 
Published: July 2020

AbstractHydrogels are soft materials with 3D cross‐linked networks of polymer chains that can absorb and hold large amounts of water. Hydrogels have attracted great attention of both scientific and industrial communities due to their diverse and fascinating functional properties, as well as their wide range of applications. According to the logic that the “structure determines function,” the structure fabrication plays the key role in hydrogel science. Hence, the rational design of hydrogel structure is a targeted guarantee of functions and applications of hydrogels. Additionally, diverse needs in hydrogel functions and applications require complex, effective, and ingenious hydrogel structures. Hence, in the current review, the potential of electrospinning (E‐spin)/electrospraying (E‐spray) technology in the design of hydrogel structures is comprehensively summarized due to the fact that E‐spin/E‐spray technology has great value for fabricating a wide range of material structures with tunable size and morphologies. This review not only serves as a reference for improving the comprehensive understanding of the structural design ability of E‐spin/E‐spray technology, but also provides forward‐looking ideas for utilizing E‐spin/E‐spray technique to fabricate hydrogels with different structure.
Development of A Thermo‐Responsive Conjugated Polymer with Photobleaching‐Resistance Property and Tunable Photosensitizing Performance
Authors: Xu Qingling , Lv Fengting , Liu Libing , Wang Shu 
Published: July 2020

AbstractA thermo‐responsive conjugated polymer, PFBT‐gPA is synthesized by grafting the poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) to the side chains of a conjugated polyfluorene derivative through atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). PFBT‐gPA undergoes a reversible phase transition in water below and above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) and the process is studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis and UV/vis absorption spectra. PFBT‐gPA shows a good photostability under UV light irradiation especially above the LCST. Moreover, the photosensitizing performance of PFBT‐gPA could be tuned simply by changing temperature. The unique properties of PFBT‐gPA promise its potential applications in sensing and photodynamic therapy.
Biodegradable 3D porous zinc alloy scaffold for bone fracture fixation devices
Authors: Bobby Kannan M , Chappell Jonathon , Khakbaz Hadis , Taherishargh Mehdi , Fiedler Thomas 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn this study, a three‐dimensional (3D) porous zinc alloy (Zn‐Al4) scaffold was produced using counter‐gravity infiltration casting method and its in vitro degradation behaviour was evaluated using an electrochemical technique in simulated body fluid (SBF) for potential applications in bone fracture fixation devices. The porous zinc alloy exhibited porosity of ~60% with interconnected pores, and the pore size was 1–2 mm. The in vitro potentiodynamic polarization results showed that the degradation rate of the porous zinc alloy was 0.16 mm/year, which is ~15% higher than that of the non‐porous pure zinc metal (0.14 mm/year). Highly biocompatible calcium phosphate (CaP) was electrochemically deposited on the porous zinc alloy and its in vitro degradation behaviour was also studied. The micrographs of the CaP deposited porous zinc alloy revealed uniformly coverage of CaP particles on the outer surface of the alloy and partial deposition on the inside of the pores. The morphology of the deposited CaP particles was predominantly spherical‐shaped, but flake‐like particles were also evident on the inside of the pores. Interestingly, the degradation rate of the CaP deposited porous zinc alloy (0.5 mm/year) was three times higher than that of the porous zinc alloy. It can be hypothesized that the restricted SBF flow through the partially blocked pores by the CaP particles have locally raised the pH inside the pores and thus increased the degradation.
Prebiotic Oligofructose Prevents Antibiotic‐Induced Obesity Risk and Improves Metabolic and Gut Microbiota Profiles in Rat Dams and Offspring
Authors: Klancic Teja , Laforest‐Lapointe Isabelle , Choo Ashley , Nettleton Jodi E. , Chleilat Faye , Noye Tuplin Erin W. , Alukic Erna , Cho Nicole A. , Nicolucci Alissa C. , Arrieta Marie‐Claire , Reimer Raylene A. 
Published: July 2020

ScopeAntibiotics in early life disrupt microbiota and increase obesity risk. Dietary agents such as prebiotics may reduce obesity risk. The authors examine how antibiotics administered with/without prebiotic oligofructose, alter metabolic and microbial outcomes in pregnant rats and their offspring.Methods and ResultsPregnant rats are randomized to: 1) Control, 2) Antibiotic (ABT), 3) Prebiotic (PRE), 4) Antibiotic+Prebiotic (ABT+PRE) during the 3rd week of pregnancy and lactation. Offspring were fed a high fat/high sucrose (HFS) diet from 9–17 weeks of age to unmask obesity risk. ABT dams had higher body weight, body fat and leptin during lactation than all other groups. Prebiotics attenuate these outcomes and increase cecal Bifidobacterium. ABT offspring have higher body weight, fat mass, and liver triglycerides after HFS diet, with a stronger phenotype in males; prebiotics attenuate these. At weaning, male ABT offspring have lower Lactobacillus while PRE and ABT+PRE offspring had higher Bifidobacterium and Collinsella. Fecal microbiota transfer of adult offspring cecal matter could not reliably transfer the obese ABT phenotype.ConclusionsAntibiotic use during pregnancy/lactation increases adiposity and impairs post‐partum weight loss in dams. Co‐administering prebiotics with antibiotics in rat dams prevented obesity risk in offspring and is associated with altered gut microbiota.
Different implementations of material independent multi‐order nearly perfectly matched layers for EM simulations
Authors: Wu Peiyu , Xie Yongjun , Jiang Haolin , Niu Liqiang 
Published: July 2020

AbstractTo deal with EM simulations with the low‐frequency evanescent and propagation waves, multi‐order nearly perfectly matched layers (NPML) with complex frequency shifted factor are presented to terminate finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) domains. By incorporating the digital signal processing techniques including the bilinear Z‐transform, matched Z‐transform, and direct Z‐transform methods, the proposals can not only obtain better performance compared with the original NPMLs but also have considerable efficiency compared with other multi‐order PMLs. Meanwhile, these implementations can terminate arbitrary mediums without changing the field‐updated equations in the PML regions. Based upon the multi‐order concept, the proposals can be switched flexibly between the first order and multi‐order according to different EM simulations by changing the optimized parameters. Numerical results indicate that our proposals can not only enjoy higher computational efficiency but also easier to implement according to different mediums in the EM modeling and simulations.
Principles for including conservation messaging in wildlife‐based tourism
Authors: Fernández‐Llamazares Álvaro , Fraixedas Sara , Brias‐Guinart Aina , Terraube Julien 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

There is growing evidence that wildlife‐based tourism can be a valuable pathway to transform the environmental knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of tourists, if complemented by effective conservation messaging and proactive interpretive experiences.

Yet, such conservation messaging is not always a priority for many wildlife‐based tourism operators, who often avoid exposing happy tourists to the daunting biodiversity crisis. In this paper, we argue that failing to encourage tourists to do more on behalf of wildlife represents a missed opportunity for conservation.

Based on a comprehensive review of the academic literature, we show that conservation messaging is virtually absent from many mainstream wildlife‐based tourism operations, often failing to connect global audiences to conservation issues.

We found that the scholarly literature on the effectiveness of different techniques, approaches and contents of conservation messaging in wildlife‐based tourism is meagre at best. Yet, alternative forms of communicating conservation‐related messages are opening new avenues to broaden the conservation potential of wildlife‐based tourism.

We suggest a set of principles for improving the implementation of conservation messaging in wildlife‐based tourism operations in order to maximize their educational potential. We end by calling for further research efforts on the factors implicated in effective conservation messaging in wildlife‐based tours in order to pave the way for a new era of conservation‐oriented tourism.
Melt impregnation of woven glass fabric reinforced composites in situ modified with short glass fibers in the interlaminar free spacing: Morphology, microstructure and static mechanical properties
Authors: Mörl Stefan , Knorr Daniel , Streinz Maximilian , Mörl Michaela , Altstädt Volker 
Published: July 2020

AbstractWoven fabric composites with thermoplastic matrices enable superior mechanical properties with low weight for applications in the field of sports, electronics, aviation, and automotive. In this study, the matrix rich areas of glass fabrics which provide an interlaminar free spacing were modified via in situ melt impregnation of Polyamide 6 (PA6) with varying contents of short glass fibers (sGF). The aim is to effectively use the interlaminar free spacing in a fabric to increase stiffness by filling the matrix rich free spacing with short glass fibers of tailored length distribution. It is shown that 2.6 vol% sGF located in the undulations of the fabric are able to increase the tensile modulus in orientation of the short fibers (sF) by 9% and create an even more pronounced anisotropic enhancement of 14% in compression modulus for both 4.1 and 5.7 vol% sGF and 40% in shear modulus for 2.6 vol% sGF.
Char‐Supported Pd Complex of N‐Heterocyclic Carbene: A Novel Recyclable Catalyst for Coupling Reaction
Authors: Sadjadi Samahe , Koohestani Fatemeh 
Published: July 2020

AbstractFor the first time Salvia officinalis plant was applied as a biosource for the fabrication of hydrochar via hydrothermal process. The resultant char was then utilized as a support for the stabilization of N‐heterocyclic carbene‐palladium complex. To this purpose, hydrochar was magnetized and successively functionalized with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 2,4,6‐trichloro‐1,3,5‐triazine, and 1‐methylimidazole and then reacted with Pd(OAc)2 . The obtained composite was characterized via XRD, TEM, ICP, BET, VSM, EDS, TGA, FTIR and elemental mapping analysis and then applied for catalyzing Suzuki coupling reaction in aqueous media under mild reaction condition. To optimize the reaction, the influences of the reaction parameters were scrutinized. It was found out that low content of the catalyst could promote the reaction of various starting materials to furnish the products in high yields. Experiments also affirmed high recyclability of the catalyst with unremarkable Pd leaching. The study of the nature of the catalysis established that the catalysis was heterogeneous.
Organizational change and the dynamics of innovation: Formal R&D structure and intrafirm inventor networks
Authors: Argyres Nicholas , Rios Luis A. , Silverman Brian S. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractResearch AbstractPrior research has argued and shown that firms with more centralized R&D produce broader innovations, but the organizational mechanisms underlying this relationship are underexplored. This gap limits our understanding of whether and how formal R&D structure can be used as a lever to influence research outcomes. To address this question, we study the relationship between formal R&D structure, internal inventor networks, and innovative behavior and outcomes. We find that centralization of R&D budget authority increases the connectedness of internal inventor networks, which in turn increases the breadth of both innovation impact and technological search. Surprisingly, decentralization does not have the opposite effect. Our results suggest that changes in formal structure influence innovation outcomes through changes in inventor networks, with a lag reflecting organizational inertia.Managerial AbstractDiversified corporations can organize their R&D functions to be more or less centralized. Prior research has shown that this organizational choice is associated with different types of innovative outcomes. But what happens when a corporation changes its level of R&D centralization? This paper suggests that centralization of R&D gradually leads to new patterns of collaboration among inventors, which in turn will be associated with innovations that draw on and influence a wider range of technologies. However, future work is needed to understand why decentralization does not appear to have the opposite effect.
Challenges with effective representations of heterogeneity in soil hydrology based on local water content measurements
Authors: Bauser Hannes H. , Riedel Lukas , Berg Daniel , Troch Peter A. , Roth Kurt 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe description of soil water movement at the field scale requires soil hydraulic material properties. These cannot be measured directly and exhibit an intrinsic multiscale heterogeneity. The estimation of soil hydraulic properties through inverse modeling or data assimilation requires measurements of the state of the system. However, these measurements are typically scarce and do not resolve soil heterogeneity leading to effective material properties with limited predictive capabilities. In a synthetic study at the scale of soil profiles, we explore the possibility to estimate an effective reduced one‐dimensional representation based on only four local water content measurements in a vertical profile located in one‐ and two‐dimensional heterogeneous media. We allow the effective material properties to deviate locally to consider the impact of the small‐scale heterogeneity on the water content measurements. In the synthetic experiments, the estimated reduced one‐dimensional representations predict soil water content and fluxes sufficiently well but can fail to predict the accurate timing and magnitude of infiltration fronts. Cumulative fluxes below the water content measurements were predicted correctly even on short time scales, if evaporation was estimated accurately. However, this proved to be challenging if the local evaporation fluxes above the measurement profile deviated strongly from the average evaporation fluxes of the heterogeneous medium. The one‐dimensional estimation leads to soil hydraulic parameters describing effective material properties that differ from the true material properties to compensate the missing representation of heterogeneity and two‐dimensional flow.
Loop Amplitudes and Quantum Homotopy Algebras
Authors: Jurčo Branislav , Macrelli Tommaso , Sämann Christian , Wolf Martin 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
We derive a recursion relation for loop-level scattering amplitudes of La- grangian field theories that generalises the tree-level Berends-Giele recursion relation in Yang-Mills theory. The origin of this recursion relation is the homological perturbation lemma, which allows us to compute scattering amplitudes from minimal models of quantum homotopy algebras in a recursive way. As an application of our techniques, we give an alternative proof of the relation between non-planar and planar colour-stripped scattering amplitudes.
High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography in children with osteogenesis imperfecta
Authors: Fennimore David J. , Digby Maria , Paggiosi Margaret , Arundel Paul , Bishop Nick J. , Dimitri Paul , Offiah Amaka C. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBone health in children with osteogenesis imperfecta is monitored using radiographs and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, which have limitations. High-resolution peripheral quantitative CT can non-invasively derive bone microarchitectural data. Children with severe osteogenesis imperfecta have fragile deformed bones, and positioning for this scan can be difficult. We assessed the feasibility of high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT in nine children aged 9–15 years with osteogenesis imperfecta and compared results with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and with healthy controls. All nine recruited children were successfully scanned and showed no preference for either modality. It therefore appears feasible to perform high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT in children with osteogenesis imperfecta aged 9 years and older. Future studies should focus on understanding the clinical implications of the technology in this patient cohort.