bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Shell‐derived chitosan as a green flocculant to harvest microalgae for biofuel production
Authors: Yin Zhihong , Hu Dan , Li Xinzhu , Zhong Yueni , Zhu Liandong 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMicroalgae are considered to be the feedstock for third‐generation biofuels but there are still no commercial applications of microalgae biomass. This is due to the costly harvesting process, resulting from their specific characteristics such as small cell sizes, negatively charged surfaces, and stable dispersion in culture broths. Chitosan derived from crustacean shells, as a highly efficient and non‐toxic flocculant for the harvesting of microalgae, can simultaneously achieve value‐added recycling of shell wastes and efficient flocculation of microalgal biomass. Shell‐derived chitosan is a biopolymer with a high economic value, which might promote shell waste resource utilization. Its application for microalgae harvesting also has no effect on the downstream process for biodiesel production. More than 90% of microalgal biomass can be harvested under certain conditions using chitosan as the flocculant, demonstrating a strong potential for practical application in future. The application of chitosan to flocculate microalgae still has some limitations, and efforts should be made regarding the enhancement of cost‐effectiveness, improvement of harvesting processes, scalability of practical application, and implementation of supporting policies. The contribution of this study lies in the combination of chitosan production from crustacean shell wastes and its application in microalgae harvesting, which can realize the value‐added recycling of shell wastes and efficient flocculation of microalgal biomass. © 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry and John Wiley & Sons Ltd
„Als der algoriſmus ſpricht…” – Indisch‐arabische Zahlen und der Algorismus in der Geometria Culmensis
Authors: Wiesinger Michaela 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe Geometria Culmensis was written around 1400 and is one of the first known mathematical treatises in German. A textbook on land surveying, it not only uses the Hindu‐Arabic numerals throughout the text but also frequently refers to the most influential treatise on these new numbers, the Algorism. Roughly a hundred years before the first German arithmetic books, the Geometria Culmensis tries to educate laymen on the techniques found in the Algorism. This leads to some pertinent questions: How early did the Hindu‐Arabic numerals spread through the vernacular milieu in German‐speaking countries? How important was a mathematical education outside of a scholarly environment (the text refers to the necessity of teaching laymen how to measure and calculate correctly)? What does this early German mathematical language look like, knowing that the author of the Geometria Culmensis had no template from which to copy?
Inexpensive Amorphous FeIII Oxo‐/Hydroxide as Highly Active and Ultradurable Electrocatalyst for Water Electrolysis
Authors: Mathi Selvam , Jayabharathi Jayaraman 
Published: February 2021

AbstractDeveloping highly active, cost‐effective, and robust electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) still remains a crucial challenge for enhancing the conversion of sustainable energy resources. The performances of existing electrocatalysts is restricted by low electronic conductivity and the limited amount of active sites. Herein, newly synthesized FeIIIOH nanoparticles (NPs) are shown to be efficient and durable electrocatalysts for the OER reaction. FeIIIOH NP‐coated nickel foam (FeIIIOH NPs/NF) operates at an overpotential of 300 mV (@10 mA cm−2) with excellent stability even after 30 h and shows higher stability relative to a cell voltage of 1.55 V in alkaline media, which is substantially lower than the commercial electrocatalyst IrO2 (1.61 V). The FeIIIOH NPs/NF overpotential of 300 mV at 10 mA cm−2 is 89 and 127 mV lower than IrO2/NF (389 mV) and NF (427 mV), respectively. The Tafel slope of FeIIIOH NPs/NF (104 mV dec−1) is lower than IrO2/NF (164 mV dec−1) and NF (199 mV dec−1). The calculated turnover frequency (TOF) of FeIIIOH NPs (0.0128 s−1) is approximately five times higher than that of the IrO2 catalyst (0.0089 s−1) at 1.60 V. This reflects that the FeIIIOH NP catalyst is intrinsically active, giving outstanding OER performances and showing satisfactory kinetics to overcome the sluggish water oxidation rate. Solar water electrolysis shows continuous evolution of oxygen and hydrogen gas at the anode and cathode, respectively, at 1.55 V. The amount of hydrogen generated during solar water electrolysis was calculated as 3.22 mmol h−1 cm−2, which is close to the coulombic efficiency at 1.55 V. This demonstration develops the hope for superior exploration of FeIIIOH NPs/NF toward the expansion of real and large‐scale hydrogen production with the lowest price.
Scary black nodes
Authors: Bharti Jyotsna Naresh , Soudamini Arsha B. , Kaushal Darwin 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAnthracosis is associated with smoking, air pollution, tuberculosis infection, and exposure to biomass. Anthracosis commonly involves bronchial trees and rarely lymph nodes. We report an unusual case of a 44‐year‐old female presented with painless supraclavicular swelling for 1 month. A fine‐needle aspiration cytology examination was done from the swelling. The smears were markedly cellular and showed the presence of sheets, clusters, and singly scattered round to oval cells with mild anisonucleosis, fine to coarse chromatin, few with tiny nucleoli, and cytoplasm containing abundant black coarse pigment. At many places, the fibroblasts and lymphocytes were admixed with histiocytes containing pigment. The cell block made showed cell morphology similar to that described above for fine‐needle aspiration smears. The immunohistochemistry on the cell block and special stains helped to ascertain the nature of pigment and cell type. The final diagnosis of the anthracofibrosis lymph node was made. Due to its rarity, its awareness is a must; otherwise, it can be mistaken for metastatic deposits from malignant melanoma and can result in unnecessary surgical intervention and morbidity. However, it shall be considered one of the differential diagnoses of neck nodes in nonsmoker females with a history of domestic wood smoke exposure.
Combining kinase inhibitors for optimally co‐targeting cancer and drug escape by exploitation of drug target promiscuities
Authors: Chen Shangying , Yang Sheng Yong , Zeng Xian , Zhu Feng , Tan Ying , Jiang Yu Yang , Chen Yu Zong 
Published: February 2021

AbstractCancers resist targeted therapeutics by drug‐escape signaling. Multitarget drugs co‐targeting cancer and drug‐escape mediators (DEMs) are clinically advantageous. DEM coverage may be expanded by drug combinations. This work evaluated to what extent the kinase DEMs (KDEMs) can be optimally co‐targeted by drug combinations based on target promiscuities of individual drugs. We focused on 41 approved and 28 clinical trial small molecule kinase inhibitor drugs with available experimental kinome and clinical pharmacokinetic data. From the kinome inhibitory profiles of these drugs, drug combinations were assembled for optimally co‐targeting an established cancer target (EGFR, HER2, ABL1, or MEK1) and 9–16 target‐associated KDEMs at comparable potency levels as that against the cancer target. Each set of two‐, three‐, and four‐drug combinations co‐target 36–71%, 44–89%, 50–88%, and 27–55% KDEMs of EGFR, HER2, ABL1, and MEK1, respectively, compared with the 36, 33, 38, and 18% KDEMs maximally co‐targeted by an existing drug or drug combination approved or clinically tested for the respective cancer. Some co‐targeted KDEMs are not covered by any existing drug or drug combination. Our work suggested that novel drug combinations may be constructed for optimally co‐targeting cancer and drug escape by the exploitation of drug target promiscuities.
Stress‐induced plasma cortisol concentrations in infancy are associated with later parenting behaviors in female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)
Authors: Wood Elizabeth K. , Halter Colt M. , Gabrielle Natalia , Capitanio John P. , Higley James Dee 
Published: February 2021

AbstractFew studies have longitudinally assessed the relationship between infant stress reactivity and future parenting style. Studies show that stress‐induced plasma cortisol concentrations are stable over development and that they can be utilized as a marker for stress reactivity. This study investigates the relationship between stress‐induced plasma cortisol concentrations in infancy and later parenting behavior in a translational nonhuman primate model. We hypothesized that higher stress‐induced cortisol levels in infancy would predict impairments in maternal behaviors in adulthood. Subjects were rhesus macaque females (N = 122; Macaca mulatta), assessed as infants and again as mothers. At 3–4 months of age, subjects underwent a standardized BioBehavioral Assessment during which blood samples were obtained and they were assessed for behaviorally inhibition. Approximately 7 years later, subjects were observed as they interacted with their own offspring for four 300‐s sessions. Typical rhesus monkey mother‐offspring behaviors were recorded, including approaches and leaves and maternal cradling. Results showed that subjects' stress‐induced cortisol concentrations and whether they exhibited behavioral inhibition as infants predicted later maternal behavior, with high cortisol concentrations and behavioral inhibition predicting high rates of offspring approaches and leaves and low rates of maternal cradling. Results also showed that higher stress‐induced cortisol concentrations in infancy predicted higher scores on the Brown Index, an indication that the subjects' offspring, rather than the subject themselves, initiated changes in proximity. Taken together, these results suggest that individuals that exhibit higher stress‐induced cortisol concentrations and behavioral inhibition at 3–4 months of age are at risk for engaging in less sensitive parenting behaviors as adults. To the extent that these findings generalize to humans, they suggest an important link between stress‐induced cortisol concentrations and behavioral inhibition in infancy and behavior later in life, such that early‐life stress reactivity can serve as a marker for later parenting behavior.
Axon–glia interactions in the ascending auditory system
Authors: Kohrman David C. , Borges Beatriz C. , Cassinotti Luis R. , Ji Lingchao , Corfas Gabriel 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe auditory system detects and encodes sound information with high precision to provide a high‐fidelity representation of the environment and communication. In mammals, detection occurs in the peripheral sensory organ (the cochlea) containing specialized mechanosensory cells (hair cells) that initiate the conversion of sound‐generated vibrations into action potentials in the auditory nerve. Neural activity in the auditory nerve encodes information regarding the intensity and frequency of sound stimuli, which is transmitted to the auditory cortex through the ascending neural pathways. Glial cells are critical for precise control of neural conduction and synaptic transmission throughout the pathway, allowing for the precise detection of the timing, frequency, and intensity of sound signals, including the sub‐millisecond temporal fidelity is necessary for tasks such as sound localization, and in humans, for processing complex sounds including speech and music. In this review, we focus on glia and glia‐like cells that interact with hair cells and neurons in the ascending auditory pathway and contribute to the development, maintenance, and modulation of neural circuits and transmission in the auditory system. We also discuss the molecular mechanisms of these interactions, their impact on hearing and on auditory dysfunction associated with pathologies of each cell type.
Alignment of ordinal and quantitative species abundance and size indices for the detection of shifting baseline syndrome
Authors: Lyver Phil O’B. , Timoti Puke , Richardson Sarah J. , Gormley Andrew M. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractLoss of knowledge about historical environmental conditions and species’ abundances threatens how new generations potentially perceive their environment and take action. The intergenerational shift in perceptions of environmental thresholds is a phenomenon frequently termedshifting baseline syndrome(SBS). The goals of this study were (1) to determine relationships between ordinal scores (e.g., few, many) and quantitative measures (e.g., estimates of population size) used by members of a Māori community in New Zealand to score indicators for understanding the abundance of forest resources, and (2) to then analyze these relationships according to people’s age to detect the effects of SBS and the rate that this shift was occurring for each indicator. We detected consistent relationships between the ordinal scores and quantitative measures for six forest indicators provided by community members. However, there was only a high degree of confidence about the direction of the age effect for three abundance indicators (Kererū [New Zealand Pigeon],Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae, 15% increase [CI = 5.1–27.1%] in flock size for any given ordinal category for each decade increase in age; long‐finned eel,Anguilla dieffenbachia, 30% decrease [CI = −45.1% to −11.3%] in the distance (m) walked along a riverbank between observations of an eel for any given ordinal category for each decade increase in age; and Australian brush‐tailed possum,Trichosurus vulpecula, 27% decrease [CI = −38.9% to −13.9%] in the distance (m) walked through forest between observations of possum sign for any given ordinal category for each decade increase in age), but the effect was statistically strong for all three. The decoupling of indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) from their traditional lands and biodiversity by an array of political, environmental, social and economic drivers and feedback mechanisms have contributed to and exacerbated the conditions for SBS. However, the protection of customary practices to engage with the environment, including the harvest of natural resources, community‐based environmental monitoring initiatives, and cultural immersion education programs offer opportunities for IPLC to mitigate the often deleterious effects of SBS.
Seasonal impoundment alters patterns of tidal wetland plant diversity across spatial scales
Authors: Jones Scott F. , Janousek Christopher N. , Casazza Michael L. , Takekawa John Y. , Thorne Karen M. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractUnderstanding patterns of biodiversity is a key goal of ecology and is especially pressing in the current human‐caused biodiversity crisis. In wetland ecosystems, human impacts are centered around hydrologic manipulation including the common practice of wetland diking and impoundment. Constraining how wetland management influences plant biodiversity patterns across spatial scales will provide information on how best to modify actions to preserve biodiversity and ecosystem function in managed wetlands. Here, we compare patterns of plant diversity and species presence, abundance, and community composition at several spatial scales among tidal wetlands along an estuarine salinity gradient and managed wetlands that were formerly tidal. Managed impounded wetlands had decreased alpha and gamma diversity of rare species, with less than 60% of the species richness found in tidal brackish wetlands at several spatial scales. There was little change in the overall pattern of alpha, beta, and gamma diversity for common species in impounded wetlands; however, dominant tidal brackish species, primarily perennial rhizomatous graminoids, were replaced with management target plants and non‐native annual grasses in impounded wetlands. This species replacement led to over 60% of impounded sites being classified as containing novel plant assemblages. An additional 25% of impounded sites were classified as containing tidal saline plant assemblages, suggesting potential soil salinization. Along the estuarine gradient, patchiness and codominance of common plant species drove high diversity and turnover in tidal brackish wetlands, while it remains unclear whether tidal fresh or brackish wetlands maximize rare plant diversity. With reduced species richness, altered functional dominants, and novel or saline assemblages, impounded brackish wetlands may require careful water management to balance native plant biodiversity, associated ecosystem processes, and waterfowl requirements.
Synergistic interactions between detritivores disappear under reduced rainfall
Authors: Joly François‐Xavier , McAvoy Euan , Subke Jens‐Arne 
Published: February 2021

AbstractUnderstanding the consequences of altered rainfall patterns on litter decomposition is critical to predicting the feedback effect of climate change on atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Although their effect on microbial decomposition has received considerable attention, their effect on litter fragmentation by detritivores, the other dominant decomposition pathway, remains largely unexplored. Particularly, it remains unclear how different detritivore species and their interactions respond to changes in rainfall quantity and frequency. To fill this knowledge gap, we determined the contribution to litter decomposition of two detritivore species (millipede and isopod), separately and in combination, under contrasting rainfall quantity and frequency in a temperate forest. Although halving rainfall quantity and frequency decreased topsoil moisture by 7.8 and 13.1%, respectively, neither millipede‐ nor isopod‐driven decomposition were affected by these changes. In contrast, decomposition driven by both detritivore species in combination was 65.5% higher than expected based on monospecific treatments under high rainfall quantity, but unchanged or even lower under low rainfall quantity. This indicates that although detritivore activity is relatively insensitive to changes in rainfall patterns, large synergistic interactions between detritivore species may disappear under future rainfall patterns. Incorporating interspecific interactions between decomposers thus seems critical to evaluate the sensitivity of decomposition to altered rainfall patterns.
Efficacy of transforaminal epidural magnesium administration when combined with a local anaesthetic and steroid in the management of lower limb radicular pain
Authors: Awad Mohammed , Raouf Mina M. , Mikhail Hany K. , Megalla Sohair A. , Hamawy Tamer Y. , Mohamed Ahmed H. 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBackgroundLower limb radicular pain resulting from a herniated intervertebral disc is a cause of functional disability and could lead to increased consumption of opioids. We evaluated the efficacy of epidural magnesium combined with a local anaesthetic and steroid in the management of this pain.MethodsThis was a prospective, case‐control, randomized, double‐blind study. Fifty patients each received 2 ml bupivacaine, 1 ml (40 mg) methylprednisolone and 1 ml saline (0.9%) (group C) or magnesium (200 mg) instead of saline (group M). The primary outcome measure was the improvement in the pain score (assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS)), and the secondary outcome was the improvement in the functional ability (assessed using the Modified Oswestry Disability Questionnaire (MODQ)). The VAS and MODQ scores were assessed before and at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month and 3 months post‐intervention.ResultsThe VAS and MODQ scores were significantly better in group M compared to those in group C at all times post‐injection (p‐value < 0.001). Comparisons within the same group showed that the VAS and MODQ scores were significantly better at all post‐injection time points compared to the pre‐injection scores in both group C and group M (p‐values < 0.0001).ConclusionsAdding magnesium to a local anaesthetic and steroid to be injected in the transforaminal epidural space could improve the pain and the quality of life in patients suffering from lower limb radicular pain due to lumbo‐sacral disc herniation, and this improvement could last for up to 3 months.SignificanceMagnesium is efficient when added to local anaesthetics and steroids for management of lower limb radicular pain.
Study of an Mg90Y7Zn3 alloy (WZ73) in sodium chloride solution — An analysis by correlated polarization and climate chamber testing
Authors: Hornig Robert , Mandel Marcel , Krüger Lutz , Bräunling Sven 
Published: February 2021

AbstractIn the present work, the corrosion behavior of a twin‐roll cast WZ73 magnesium alloy is investigated by potentiodynamic polarization and climate chamber tests in different sodium chloride solutions. The corrosion parameters Ecorr and jcorr are extracted from the polarization curves, and the critical concentration for the initiation of pitting corrosion is thus identified. The critical concentration for the initiation of pitting is confirmed by means of climate chamber tests. As a consequence, the WZ73 magnesium alloy is found to be highly susceptible to pitting corrosion in sodium chloride solutions of concentrations higher than 10−4 mol/L. Moreover, when the NaCl concentration increases, the corrosion mechanism changes from pitting to filiform corrosion, which is attributed to micro‐galvanic effects. At low NaCl concentrations, the corrosion attack remains localized. When the NaCl concentration increases, pitting occurs and, in addition to the pits that form, micro‐galvanic corrosion leads to filiform corrosion attack. This is caused by the electrochemical potential of the long period stacking ordered phase, which is higher than that of the α‐Mg matrix. Consequently, the corrosion attack is focused on the phase boundary between the α‐matrix and LPSO phases.
Hydration reactivity enhancement of calcium oxide–based media for thermochemical energy storage
Authors: Guo Rui , Funayama Shigehiko , Kim Seon Tae , Harada Takuya , Takasu Hiroki , Kato Yukitaka 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe calcium oxide/water/calcium hydroxide system is a promising material system for thermochemical energy storage (TCES). Its high reactivity under various experimental conditions during the cyclic operation of heat storage‐and‐release is a key challenge for practical applications. In this study, we developed a new type of highly durable TCES medium with hydration reactivity enhancement. The composite materials were prepared by heat treatment of a mixture of calcium carbonate and additives, consisting of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and a silane coupling agent, bis(3‐triehoxysilylpropyl) pertetrasulfide (SCA). The kinetic performances of the composites and CaO were compared. It was observed that the additives promoted hydration reactivity at 450°C and 70 kPa, and 0.6 wt% composite exhibited the highest thermal output. Furthermore, it was found that the enhancement in hydration reactivity was affected by the experimental conditions as significant enhancements were observed when the experimental conditions were closer to equilibrium, while almost no enhancement was observed when the conditions were far from equilibrium or at a high vapor partial pressure. Sample characterization via X‐ray diffractometry and scanning electron microscopy revealed that the agglomeration of CaO particle grains was alleviated by pinning effects, and the component that enhanced the hydration reactivity was identified as Ca2SiO4 nanoparticles.