bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Co‐application of wood distillate and biochar improves soil quality and plant growth in basil (Ocimum basilicum)#
Authors: Becagli Michelangelo , Santin Marco , Cardelli Roberto 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundNowadays, an ever‐increasing attention toward eco‐friendly and sustainable agricultural practices, such as the use of biological fertilizers that do not alter the ecological balance of soil, has been grown worldwide.AimTo evaluate the effect of wood distillate (WD), biochar (B), and their combination (BWD) in increasing soil biomass, soil biological activities, and plant growth in basil (Ocimum basilicumL.) by determination of plant biomass.MethodsPlants of basil were cultivated in greenhouse with three different amendments. WD was applied at a 1% dilution through fertigation. B was applied at a rate of 2% (w/w) corresponding to 34 t ha–1. Organic carbon (OC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), soil microbial biomass carbon (MB‐C), and enzymatic activities (dehydrogenase, phosphatase, arylsulfatase, β‐glucosidase, and urease) were determined at the end of the cultivation period (4 weeks) in bulk soil and in the rhizospheric soil. The alteration index three (AI3), which calculates the balances between three enzymes and potentially allows to quantify in relative terms the differences between soils due to different management practices, was also determined.ResultsWD and B significantly increased OC and MB‐C content, whereas B preferentially retains soil DOC species and the organic substance of the WD in the BWD treatment. Phosphatase and urease activities were the most increased with the combination of the two amendments. AI3 in controls suggests that the application of WD and B at the right doses promotes the activity of soil microorganisms, enhancing the soil biological quality.ConclusionThe presence of the two organic sources increased the availability of nitrogen and phosphorus, with a positive response in terms of basil dry biomass. WD and B have been confirmed as suitable and sustainable amendments for potential application in crops cultivation.
A process to deduplicate individuals for regional chronic disease prevalence estimates using a distributed data network of electronic health records
Authors: Scott Kenneth A. , Davies Sara Deakyne , Zucker Rachel , Ong Toan , Kraus Emily McCormick , Kahn Michael G , Bondy Jessica , Daley Matt F. , Horle Kate , Bacon Emily , Schilling Lisa , Crume Tessa , Hasnain‐Wynia Romana , Foldy Seth , Budney Gregory , Davidson Arthur J. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIntroductionLearning health systems can help estimate chronic disease prevalence through distributed data networks (DDNs). Concerns remain about bias introduced to DDN prevalence estimates when individuals seeking care across systems are counted multiple times. This paper describes a process to deduplicate individuals for DDN prevalence estimates.MethodsWe operationalized a two‐step deduplication process, leveraging health information exchange (HIE)‐assigned network identifiers, within the Colorado Health Observation Regional Data Service (CHORDS) DDN. We generated prevalence estimates for type 1 and type 2 diabetes among pediatric patients (0‐17 years) with at least one 2017 encounter in one of two geographically‐proximate DDN partners. We assessed the extent of cross‐system duplication and its effect on prevalence estimates.ResultsWe identified 218 437 unique pediatric patients seen across systems during 2017, including 7628 (3.5%) seen in both. We found no measurable difference in prevalence after deduplication. The number of cases we identified differed slightly by data reconciliation strategy. Concordance of linked patients' demographic attributes varied by attribute.ConclusionsWe implemented an HIE‐dependent, extensible process that deduplicates individuals for less biased prevalence estimates in a DDN. Our null pilot findings have limited generalizability. Overlap was small and likely insufficient to influence prevalence estimates. Other factors, including the number and size of partners, the matching algorithm, and the electronic phenotype may influence the degree of deduplication bias. Additional use cases may help improve understanding of duplication bias and reveal other principles and insights. This study informed how DDNs could support learning health systems' response to public health challenges and improve regional health.
Influence of plasma nitriding pre‐treatment on the corrosion and tribocorrosion behaviours of PVD CrN, TiN and AlTiN coated AISI 4140 steel in seawater
Authors: Alkan Sabri , Gök Mustafa Sabri 
Published: November 2021

AbstractCrN, TiN and AlTiN coatings were applied by the Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) method on AISI 4140 and plasma nitrided (PN) AISI 4140 steel. The study aimed to investigate the effect of plasma nitriding before PVD on the corrosion and tribocorrosion behaviour of AISI 4140 steel in seawater. The electrochemical corrosion behaviour of the samples was evaluated in natural seawater by the potentiodynamic polarisation method. Tribocorrosion tests were performed against alumina in natural seawater under 5 N load and open circuit potential (OCP) using a ball‐on‐disk tribometer coupled with an electrochemical cell. As a result of the study, plasma nitriding applied before the coating significantly improved corrosion and tribocorrosion resistance of PVD CrN, TiN and AlTiN coatings. Besides, it was concluded that duplex treated low alloy AISI 4140 steel could be a candidate instead of stainless steel in tribocorrosion conditions for the marine environment.
Heavy‐Metal‐Free Quantum Dot‐Based Flexible Electronics
Authors: Zhao Tianshuo , Basu Amrita , Ramasamy Karthik , Makarov Nikolay S. , McDaniel Hunter , Kagan Cherie R. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractApplications of flexible electronics typically depend less on high computational power, instead exploiting the advantages of devices with a high degree of deformation that are lightweight, disposable or degradable, and low‐cost.
High‐efficiency algorithms for simulating metal failure effects under multiaxial repeated loadings
Authors: Zhan Lin , Wang Si‐Yu , Bruhns Otto T. , Xiao Heng 
Published: November 2021

AbstractHigh‐efficiency algorithms are proposed for numerically integrating elasto‐plastic rate equations for the purpose of simulating metal failure effects under repeated loading conditions. Results are obtained with a newly established elasto‐plasticity model which can automatically simulate both low and high cycle fatigue failure effects, with reference to neither damage‐like variables nor ad hoc failure criteria. Novelties are incorporated in a few respects. First, multiaxial loading processes with arbitrarily changing principal stresses and axes can be treated in a broad sense beyond usually treated proportional loading cases. Second, by means of the commonly used ‐invariant of the deviatoric stress, multiaxial loading cases can be directly treated just as in the uniaxial loading case. Third, high cost in time consumption can be considerably reduced in evaluating both low and high cycle failure effects. Numerical examples are presented for simulating uniaxial and multiaxial fatigue failure effects and simulation results are in good agreement with experimental data. Results show that the computation speed with the new algorithms exceeds 600 times faster than usual integration algorithms.
Giving stakeholders a voice in governance: Biodiversity priorities for New Zealand's agriculture
Authors: MacLeod Catriona J. , Brandt Angela J. , Collins Kevin , Dicks Lynn V. 
Published: November 2021

Abstract

Mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society is recognised by international policy as critical to achieving positive conservation outcomes. With ‘participatory governance’ increasingly being applied to achieve collective action in conservation, there are growing calls to critically review such processes to capture their complexity and manage for emergent outcomes.

This paper critically reviews a case study, aiming to give a broad range of stakeholders a voice in setting biodiversity priorities for New Zealand's agricultural landscape, in relation to four principles for knowledge co‐production in sustainability: context‐based, pluralistic, goal‐orientated and interactive.

Aiming to facilitate an inclusive but rapid participation process, while not overburdening those willing to participate, three pathways for engagement were offered. Stakeholder participants were recruited from public, private and civic sectors involved in managing New Zealand's farmland biodiversity.

An initial scoping exercise helped elevate biodiversity groups and management actions distinct to New Zealand's social and environmental context. Online surveys then gave stakeholders, from a diverse range of roles and sectors, a nationwide voice to express their own biodiversity interests and needs; these were reviewed by an advisor panel to reach consensus on final priorities that reflected the biodiversity outcomes that matter most to stakeholders involved in managing New Zealand's agricultural landscape and the management practices they considered most relevant to achieving those outcomes.

This knowledge co‐production process delivered multiple gains that would not have been achieved had a more traditional science‐based process been applied, such as wide stakeholder engagement, identification of a tangible starting point, mitigation of bias or conflict risks, enhanced researcher and practitioner capabilities and a shared understanding of the opportunities and challenges for future development.

Institutes addressing conservation challenges within local contexts need to: be ‘boundary‐spanning’ to manage cross‐scale influences and enable desired conservation behaviours; plan explicitly for the substantial effort required to overcome existing power hierarchies and facilitate transparent and structured decision processes that deliver social justice; better capture the relational values of nature to more successfully leverage peoples’ connection to nature in conservation policies and practices; and incorporate wider environmental (e.g. biosecurity), social, economic and political considerations.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Protected areas and the neglected contribution of Indigenous Peoples and local communities: Struggles for environmental justice in the Caatinga dry forest
Authors: Dawson Neil , Carvalho William Douglas , Bezerra Jakelyne S. , Todeschini Felipe , Tabarelli Marcelo , Mustin Karen 
Published: November 2021

Abstract

Despite evidence about the contribution of Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs) to conservation, prevailing strategies still seek their separation from nature, often triggering conflicts. Current pledges to expand global protected area coverage suggest a need for the critical analysis of governance quality and the way conservation interacts with the well‐being of IPLCs.

We present the case of Catimbau National Park in the Caatinga dry forest of northeast Brazil, where we explored connections between the well‐being of IPLCs and landscape through different values, practices and institutions, and perceptions of how environmentally just the park's governance has been.

The well‐being of IPLCs is inextricably connected with the Caatinga landscape, through multiple place‐based relational values that, although differing between Indigenous and non‐indigenous inhabitants, have in both cases developed over generations. Although often framed as degraders, IPLCs exhibit a strong motivation to conserve, reflected through local institutions including forest gardens, sustainable use regulations, restoration activities and prevention of external encroachment.

The strict form of protected area implemented at Catimbau, instead of a locally led or sustainable use reserve, explicitly targeted the resettlement of IPLCs and livelihood reorientation. These imposed objectives have clashed with a way of life in this peopled landscape and precluded local stewardship on a larger scale. Long‐term conflict arose through governance deficiencies which sparked multidimensional injustices. These include not only the misrecognition of local values and customary institutions but also the lack of procedures for consent or decision‐making influence, plus distributional harms including tenure insecurity and denied development assistance.

Development and conservation strategies must reject narratives about poor, resource‐dependent rural communities and embrace the opportunities that local knowledge and institutions bring for effective conservation. As conservation efforts are expanded post‐2020, the people of the Caatinga and beyond must be recognised as embedded and a key part of any solution.

In strict protected areas like Catimbau, where social conflict constrains their ability to function, seeking legal changes in governance type can be onerous. However, we describe other local‐level actions to build relationships and agency that may foster transitions towards better governance, and just treatment of IPLCs.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Asymmetric distribution of extracellular matrix proteins in seed coat epidermal cells of Arabidopsis is determined by polar secretion
Authors: Lee Yi‐Chen , Dean Gillian H. , Gilchrist Erin , Tsai Allen Yi‐Lun , Haughn George W. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAlthough asymmetric deposition of the plant extracellular matrix is critical for the normal functioning of many cell types, the molecular mechanisms establishing this asymmetry are not well understood. During differentiation, Arabidopsis seed coat epidermal cells deposit large amounts of pectin‐rich mucilage asymmetrically to form an extracellular pocket between the plasma membrane and the outer tangential primary cell wall. At maturity, the mucilage expands on contact with water, ruptures the primary cell wall, and extrudes to encapsulate the seed. In addition to polysaccharides, mucilage contains secreted proteins including the β‐galactosidase MUCILAGE MODIFIED 2 (MUM2). A functional chimeric protein where MUM2 was fused translationally with Citrine yellow fluorescent protein (Citrine) indicated that MUM2‐Citrine fluorescence preferentially accumulates in the mucilage pocket concomitant with mucilage deposition and rapidly disappears when mucilage synthesis ceases. A secreted form of Citrine, secCitrine, showed a similar pattern of localization when expressed in developing seed coat epidermal cells. This result suggested that both the asymmetric localization and rapid decrease of fluorescence is not unique to MUM2‐Citrine and may represent the default pathway for secreted proteins in this cell type. v‐SNARE proteins were localized only in the membrane adjacent to the mucilage pocket, supporting the hypothesis that the cellular secretory apparatus is redirected and targets secretion to the outer periclinal apoplast during mucilage synthesis. In addition, mutation of ECHIDNA, a gene encoding a TGN‐localized protein involved in vesicle targeting, causes misdirection of mucilage, MUM2 and v‐SNARE proteins from the apoplast/plasma membrane to the vacuole/tonoplast. Western blot analyses suggested that the disappearance of MUM2‐Citrine fluorescence at the end of mucilage synthesis is due to protein degradation and because several proteases have been identified in extruded seed mucilage. However, as mutation of these genes did not result in a substantial delay in MUM2‐Citrine degradation and the timing of their expression and/or their intracellular localization were not consistent with a role in MUM2‐Citrine disappearance, the mechanism underlying the abrupt decrease of MUM2‐Citrine remains unclear.
Synthesis of poly(1‐vinylimidazole)‐block‐poly(9‐vinylcarbazole) copolymers via RAFT and their use in chemically responsive graphitic composites
Authors: Migliore Nicola , Araya‐Hermosilla Esteban , Scheutz Georg M. , Sumerlin Brent S. , Pucci Andrea , Raffa Patrizio 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis study reports the synthesis of novel poly(1‐vinylimidazole)‐b‐poly(9‐vinylcarbazole) (PVI‐b‐PVK) block copolymers with varying monomer ratios using reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) polymerization and their incorporation in responsive composite materials. Specifically, non‐covalent exfoliation of two different conductive fillers, multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) or reduced graphene oxide (rGO), was studied. The percolation threshold of the synthesized nanocomposites was dependent on the polymer used for dispersion, showing a better affinity of the fillers for block copolymers with higher relative carbazole content. Resistivity measurements showed selective variation in the resistance signal when the materials were exposed to various organic solvents and acids, providing a good basis for the design of sensing devices.
Decreased mental health, quality of life, and utilization of professional help in cancer patients with unexpressed needs: A longitudinal analysis
Authors: Heß Verena , Meng Karin , Schulte Thomas , Neuderth Silke , Bengel Jürgen , Faller Hermann , Schuler Michael 
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundCancer patients' mental health and quality of life can be improved through professional support according to their needs. In previous analyses of the UNSAID study, we showed that a relevant proportion of cancer patients did not express their needs during the admission interview of inpatient rehabilitation. We now examine trajectories of mental health, quality of life, and utilization of professional help in cancer patients with unexpressed needs.MethodsWe enrolled 449 patients with breast, prostate, and colon cancer at beginning (T0) and end (T1) of a 3‐week inpatient rehabilitation and 3 (T2) and 9 (T3) months after discharge. We explored depression (PHQ‐2), anxiety (GAD‐2), emotional functioning (EORTC QLQ‐C30), fear of progression (FoP‐Q‐SF), and global quality of life (EORTC QLQ‐C30) using structuring equation models. Furthermore, we evaluated self‐reports about expressing needs and utilization of professional help at follow‐up.ResultsPatients with unexpressed needs (24.3%, n = 107) showed decreased mental health compared to other patients (e.g., depression: d T0 = 0.32, d T1‐T3 = 0.39). They showed a significant decline in global quality of life at discharge and follow‐up (d = 0.28). Furthermore, they had a higher need for support (Cramer's V T2 = 0.10, T3 = 0.15), talked less about their needs (Cramer’s V T2 = 0.18), and made less use of different health care services at follow‐up.ConclusionUnexpressed needs in cancer patients may be a risk factor for decreased mental health, quality of life, and non‐utilization of professional help in the long term. Further research should clarify causal relationships and focus on this specific group of patients to improve cancer care.
Surfactant protein D is a biomarker of influenza‐related pediatric lung injury
Authors: Chakrabarti Arindam , Nguyen Allen , Newhams Margaret M. , Ohlson Maikke B. , Yang Xiaoying , Ulufatu Sheila , Liu Shannon , Park Summer , Xu Min , Jiang Jenny , Halpern Wendy G. , Anania Veronica G. , McBride Jacqueline M. , Rosenberger Carrie M. , Randolph Adrienne G. ,   The Pediatric Intensive Care Influenza (PICFLU) Investigators
Published: November 2021

AbstractBackgroundBiomarkers that can risk‐stratify children with influenza virus lower respiratory infection may identify patients for targeted intervention. Early elevation of alveolar‐related proteins in the bloodstream in these patients could indicate more severe lung damage portending worse outcomes.MethodsWe used a mouse model of human influenza infection and evaluated relationships between lung pathophysiology and surfactant protein D (SP‐D), SP‐A, and Club cell protein 16 (CC16). We then measured SP‐A, SP‐D, and CC16 levels in plasma samples from 94 children with influenza‐associated acute respiratory failure (PICFLU cohort), excluding children with underlying conditions explaining disease severity. We tested for associations between levels of circulating proteins and disease severity including the diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), mechanical ventilator, intensive care unit and hospital days, and hospital mortality.ResultsCirculating SP‐D showed a greater increase than SP‐A and CC16 in mice with increased alveolar‐vascular permeability following influenza infection. In the PICFLU cohort, SP‐D was associated with moderate‐severe ARDS diagnosis (p = 0.01) and with mechanical ventilator (r = 0.45, p = 0.002), ICU (r = 0.44, p = 0.002), and hospital days (r = 0.37, p = 0.001) in influenza‐infected children without bacterial coinfection. Levels of SP‐D were lower in children with secondary bacterial pneumonia (p = 0.01) and not associated with outcomes. CC16 and SP‐A levels did not differ with bacterial coinfection and were not consistently associated with severe outcomes.ConclusionsSP‐D has potential as an early circulating biomarker reflecting a degree of lung damage caused directly by influenza virus infection in children. Secondary bacterial pneumonia alters SP‐D biomarker performance.
Health inequalities between Palestinians and Jews in Israel: The role of extreme spatial segregation
Authors: Saabneh Ameed 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis paper examines the significance of how spatial inequality explains the health inequalities between Palestinians and Jews in Israel. Israeli policies have created extreme spatial segregation between Palestinians and Jews that is a defining feature of Jewish–Palestinian relations. Furthermore, spatial segregation of Palestinians constitutes a structural condition that limits chances of individual social mobility and socio‐economic achievements. This paper seeks to encourage consideration of how spatial inequalities contribute to health inequalities by examining gaps in life expectancy between Palestinians and Jews in Israel. The findings show that the highest level of life expectancy in Israel is among Jews living in dominantly Jewish regions, where only small numbers of Palestinians reside. In the space shared by Jews and Palestinians, where most of the Palestinians reside, Jews have higher life expectancy than Palestinians, yet lower than Jews in the dominantly Jewish regions. The lowest life expectancy is observed among Palestinians living in the shared space. The paper concludes that the lower life expectancy among Palestinians relative to Jews is a result, in part, to their confinement to segregated, peripheral places, characterised by a low level of socio‐economic development.
Finite‐time rotation‐matrix‐based tracking control for autonomous underwater vehicle with input saturation and actuator faults
Authors: Zhu Cheng , Huang Bing , Su Yumin , Zheng Yuxin , Zheng Shuai 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis article tackles the finite‐time global trajectory tracking control problem of the autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) in presence of input saturation constraints, actuator faults, unknown dynamics, and external disturbances. First, we describe the orientation of the AUV by rotation matrix instead of classical Euler angle or unit quaternion such that the AUV's dynamics could be globally formulated without singularity and unwinding phenomenon. After that, a smooth dead zone‐based model is introduced here to linearize the actuator model, leaving that the adaptive laws could be suitable for the solution of input saturation and actuator faults. Considering that the difficulty of model dynamic acquirement, together with the complicity of rotation‐matrix‐based representation, would trouble deployment of the controller. The minimum learning parameter technology is thereby utilized to approximated the dynamic nonlinearity of the AUV. On the basis of these, a rotation‐matrix‐based sliding mode control scheme is technically proposed. It is proved that the tracking errors can be stabilized to a small neighborhood of origin within a settling time. Finally, several set numerical experiments are conducted to assess the effectiveness and show the advantages of the proposed control scheme.