bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of fluopyram for management of Meloidogyne ethiopica and migratory nematodes in commercial tomato greenhouses in the Metropolitan Region of Chile
Authors: Meza Pablo , Elgueta Sebastián , Sagredo Boris 
Published: February 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe nematicidal effects of fluopyram were evaluated for the suppression of Meloidogyne ethiopica and migratory nematodes, Xiphinema americanum s. l., Hemicycliophora spp. and Pratylenchus spp., in two commercial tomato greenhouses in Chile. The effects of fluopyram on plant‐parasitic nematodes, plant vigor and fruit yield were determined.RESULTSFluopyram demonstrated good potential for the management of M. ethiopica and migratory nematodes, especially during the early stages of evaluation (30–60 days after planting). There were also improvements in vigor of treated plants. A general trend in improved fruit quality was also observed, however, no significant differences in total yield were found between treatments.CONCLUSIONSOur study is one of the first evaluations of fluopyram under field conditions against M. ethiopica. The findings suggest that this new nematicide has good potential for the management of M. ethiopica and some migratory nematodes in tomatoes cropped in greenhouses in the Metropolitan Region of Chile.© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry
Grassland conversion to croplands impacted soil pore parameters measured via X‐ray computed tomography
Authors: Singh Navdeep , Kumar Sandeep , Udawatta Ranjith P. , Anderson Stephen H. , de Jonge Lis W. , Katuwal Sheela 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSoil porosity estimated conventionally cannot provide the spatial distribution and geometrical properties of pore networks. This on‐farm study assessed the impacts of grassland–cropland conversion on soil pore characteristics. This study aimed to quantify the microscale changes in pores near the soil surface (0–10 cm) under grasslands converted to croplands managed with a rotation of corn (Zea mays L.)–soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (CS); an integrated crop–livestock system (ICLS) of corn–soybean–oats (Avena sativa L.)–cover crops (CCs), with livestock grazing on corn and soybean residue after harvest and on CCs; and the native grassland (NG). Intact soil cores (diameter: 76.2 mm; length: 76.2 mm) were collected in three replications from CS, ICLS, and NG areas located adjacent to each other. Soil cores were scanned via X‐ray computed tomography (CT) (pixel resolution: 0.226 by 0.226 mm; slice thickness: 0.5 mm). Soils under CS converted from NG significantly decreased CT‐measured macroporosity eightfold. However, it increased sevenfold when CS was converted to ICLS. Higher connected porosity, connection probability, and macroporosity under ICLS and NG enhanced the saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) compared with CS. The soil organic carbon (SOC) stock was increased by 13% at 0‐ to 10‐cm depth, when soils under CS were converted to improved management (ICLS). Significant correlations of CT‐measured pore parameters were found with Ksat. We conclude that CS converted from grasslands degraded SOC, pores, and other hydro‐physical properties, which can be enhanced by integrating CCs and grazing on CCs and crop residues.
Unsupervised random forests
Authors: Mantero Alejandro , Ishwaran Hemant 
Published: February 2021

AbstractsidClustering is a new random forests unsupervised machine learning algorithm. The first step in sidClustering involves what is called sidification of the features: staggering the features to have mutually exclusive ranges (called the staggered interaction data [SID] main features) and then forming all pairwise interactions (called the SID interaction features). Then a multivariate random forest (able to handle both continuous and categorical variables) is used to predict the SID main features. We establish uniqueness of sidification and show how multivariate impurity splitting is able to identify clusters. The proposed sidClustering method is adept at finding clusters arising from categorical and continuous variables and retains all the important advantages of random forests. The method is illustrated using simulated and real data as well as two in depth case studies, one from a large multi‐institutional study of esophageal cancer, and the other involving hospital charges for cardiovascular patients.
Sunlight‐Assisted Photocatalytic Sustainable Synthesis of 1,4‐Disubstituted 1,2,3‐Triazoles and Benzimidazoles Using TiO2−Cu2(OH)PO4 Under Solvent‐Free Condition
Authors: Kiranmye Tayyala , Vadivelu Murugan , Magadevan Deviga , Sampath Sugirdha , Parthasarathy Kannabiran , Aman Noor , Karthikeyan Kesavan 
Published: February 2021

AbstractHerein, we report the facile synthesis of 1,4‐disubstituted 1,2,3‐triazoles and benzimidazoles using TiO2−Cu2(OH)PO4 as an efficient sunlight active nanophotocatalyst under solvent‐free condition. The highlights of the proposed protocol are simple, scalable with a broad substrate scope, short reaction time, excellent regioselectivity and catalyst recyclability. The use of recyclable photocatalyst and solvent‐free condition makes the catalytic system resulted in sustainable and environmental‐friendly procedure.
Facile One‐Pot Synthesis of Magnetic Targeted Polymers for Drug Delivery and Study on Thermal Decomposition Kinetics
Authors: Shi Zhen , Wang Yazhen , Sun Yu , Wu Xueying , Xiao Tianyuan , Dong Shaobo , Lan Tianyu 
Published: February 2021

AbstractMagnetic targeting materials are the hot topic of research in the current study of targeted drug carrier. However, the complexity of the preparation method has hindered its further development. In this paper, a facile one‐pot strategy was developed to synthesize a novel amphiphilic drug carrier (Fe3O4‐PVA@SH). We determined that Fe3O4‐PVA@SH drug carrier with uniform size and excellent superparamagnetic properties can be fabricated on the simultaneous formation of magnetic Polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) polymer‐linked branches of thiohydrazide‐iminopropyltriethoxysilane (TIPTS) by mixing Fe3O4, PVA, and TIPTS in a DMSO alkaline aqueous solution. The Fe3O4‐PVA@SH drug carrier were subsequently characterised by FTIR, XPS, SEM, EDS, size and VSM. It was found that the drug carrier Fe3O4‐PVA@SH could achieve 83 % aspirin loading and 85 % DOX⋅HCl loading. In vitro simulated drug release experiments showed that Aspirin could achieved 86.9 % at pH 7.2 and DOX⋅HCl could achieved 81.6 % at pH 4.7 for 80 h. Additionally, we measured the thermal stability and enthalpy of thermal decomposition of the Fe3O4‐PVA@SH coupling agent using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) and a non‐isothermal decomposition method. This research offers the potential for the industrialization of magnetic drug carriers as a means of increasing its cost‐effectiveness and leveraging magnetic targeted drug carriers for drug delivery and other applications.
Design, Synthesis, and Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activity of 4‐Substituted‐6‐(trihalomethyl)‐2‐methylsulfanyl Pyrimidines
Authors: Da Silva Andreia M. P. W. , Mittersteiner Mateus , Da Silva Fabio M. , D'Avila Fernanda , Nogara Pablo A. , Nogara Karise F. , Rocha João B. T. , Bonacorso Helio G. , Martins Marcos A. P. , Zanatta Nilo 
Published: February 2021

AbstractA chemoselective approach is reported for the synthesis of 4‐(bromo/chloro)methyl‐2‐methylsulfanyl‐6‐trihalomethyl pyrimidines and subsequent nucleophilic substitution of the halomethyl moiety with aminoalcohols. The final compounds were choline derivatives (bearing a pyrimidine ring). These were tested as AChE and BChE inhibitors, and presented IC50 values in the range of 13.8–81.6 μM. Remarkably, the trichloromethyl pyrimidines were the most active compounds. Docking studies and ADMET properties are also reported.
Substrate Engineering for CVD Growth of Single Crystal Graphene
Authors: Huang Ming , Deng Bangwei , Dong Fan , Zhang Lili , Zhang Zheye , Chen Peng 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSingle crystal graphene (SCG) has attracted enormous attention for its unique potential for next‐generation high‐performance optoelectronics. In the absence of grain boundaries, the exceptional intrinsic properties of graphene are preserved by SCG. Currently, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been recognized as an effective method for the large‐scale synthesis of graphene films. However, polycrystalline films are usually obtained and the present grain boundaries compromise the carrier mobility, thermal conductivity, optical properties, and mechanical properties. The scalable and controllable synthesis of SCG is challenging. Recently, much attention has been attracted by the engineering of large‐size single‐crystal substrates for the epitaxial CVD growth of large‐area and high‐quality SCG films. In this article, a comprehensive and comparative review is provided on the selection and preparation of various single‐crystal substrates for CVD growth of SCG under different conditions. The growth mechanisms, current challenges, and future development and perspectives are discussed.
The evolution of democratic tradition and regional variation in resistance in Nazi Germany
Authors: Geerling Wayne , Magee Gary , Smyth Russell 
Published: February 2021

AbstractAre deep‐rooted democratic traditions related to geographical manifestation of resistance to authoritarian regimes? We address this question by studying the regional pattern of the most serious form of resistance experienced in prewar Nazi Germany, namely, those acts of resistance that resulted in arrest for treason and high treason. Specifically, we examine whether spatial variations in participation in one of the significant events of the German Revolution of 1848, the Second Democratic Congress, and voter turnout in the 1924 Reichstag election are associated with precinct‐level variations in arrest for treason and high treason. We also explore whether regional communist traditions are likewise associated with later resistance. We find that each additional precinct delegate at the Congress, the presence of a past communist uprising in the precinct, and each percentage point increase in the voter turnout is associated with 0.40, 4.35, and 6.16 additional unconditional expected charges per 100,000 inhabitants respectively.
Unraveling the Effect of Citric Acid on Microstructure, Rheology, and Structural Recovery of Thermoplastic Potato Starch
Authors: Javidi Zeinab , Nazockdast Hossein , Ghasemi Ismail 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe main objective of the present work is to explore the role of citric acid (CA) on microstructural changes and their impact on the melt rheological behavior, mechanical performance, and shape recovery of thermoplastic starch (TPS). The results of frequency sweep test show a pronounced nonterminal storage modulus (G’) at lower frequencies (high melt elasticity) for TPS, which is found to be greatly reduced in favor of improving the processability through the addition of CA. This could be explained in terms of reduced disentanglements of amylopectin molecules, as a crucial parameter responsible for the 3D‐type interconnected microstructure of TPS, through catalyzing effect of CA on hydrolysis. The results of the temperature sweep test (cooling mode) show a pronounced liquid‐to‐solid transition at ∼136℃ for CA‐modified TPS. This transition could be attributed to the temperature‐driven significant strengthening of the formation of single helical amylose crystalline structure and/or the hydrogen bonds between hydrolyzed amylopectin chains at temperatures below 136℃. The results are found to be consistent with the results obtained from the tensile and DMTA experiments. As expected, the shape recovery of the CA‐modified TPS sample is lower than that of unmodified TPS because of the lower elastic stored energy (stiffness) in the presence of CA, which can be largely compensated by incorporating appropriate nanoparticles.
Entropy based enhanced particle swarm optimization on multi‐objective software reliability modelling for optimal testing resources allocation
Authors: Rani Pooja , Mahapatra G. S. 
Published: February 2021

SummaryThis paper proposes a generalization of the exponential software reliability model to characterize several factors including fault introduction and time‐varying fault detection rate. The software life cycle is designed based on module structure such as testing effort spent during module testing and detected software faults etc. The resource allocation problem is a critical phase in the testing stage of software reliability modelling. It is required to make decisions for optimal resource allocation among the modules to achieve the desired level of reliability. We formulate a multi‐objective software reliability model of testing resources for a new generalized exponential reliability function to characterizes dynamic allocation of total expected cost and testing effort. An enhanced particle swarm optimization (EPSO) is proposed to maximize software reliability and minimize allocation cost. We perform experiments with randomly generated testing‐resource sets and varying the performance using the entropy function. The multi‐objective model is compared with modules according to weighted cost function and testing effort measures in a typical modular testing environment.
Casting position effects on bond performance of reinforcement bars
Authors: Moccia Francesco , Fernández Ruiz Miguel , Metelli Giovanni , Muttoni Aurelio , Plizzari Giovanni 
Published: February 2021

AbstractThe phenomena associated with the consolidation of fresh concrete (bleeding and plastic settlement) are commonly considered significant for the bond performance of reinforcement. However, rules to take care of such influence for design are not consistent amongst design recommendations and may lead to notable differences. With this respect, two failure modes generally govern the bond failure, namely the spalling of the concrete cover (also called splitting failure) and the pull‐out of the reinforcement. In this paper, a detailed investigation is presented on the influence of bleeding and plastic settlement on both failures modes, in an effort to understand their conceptual differences and to clarify how shall consistent design recommendations be formulated. Such investigation is based on a comprehensive experimental programme, comprising 137 pull‐out tests on specimens with different casting conditions, embedment lengths, loading arrangements and concrete covers. On the basis of the test results, the phenomenological differences between pull‐out and spalling failures are clarified, as well as the main influencing phenomena (particularly the potential presence of cracks and voids under the reinforcement and the mechanical properties of concrete). On this basis, a physically‐consistent approach is presented to consider the casting conditions on the bond performance and failure modes.
Seismic behavior of flanged reinforced concrete shear walls with high‐strength stirrup under cyclic loading
Authors: Pinle Zhang , Junxiong Liu , Gan Zhang 
Published: February 2021

SummaryTwelve half‐scale flanged reinforced concrete (RC) shear wall specimens with high‐strength stirrup were tested to failure under cyclic loading. The effects of axial load ratio, aspect ratio, and web confinement on seismic performances were critically examined. All specimens showed an expected flexural‐dominant behavior, with the crushing of the compressed concrete and the buckling of reinforcement at the boundary elements. The axial load ratio was found to have significant effects to the seismic behavior of the shear walls. Higher loading capacity and lower ductility capacity can be achieved with increases in the axial load ratio. The hysteretic curves of the walls were all unsymmetrical, especially in T‐shaped walls. The specimens showed higher strength and stiffness, but lower ductility capacity when the web was in compression. The use of high‐strength stirrups can effetely confine the compressed concrete and postpone bucking of longitudinal rebars in the free web boundary, thus preventing premature failure when web was in compression. The plastic deformation capacity of all the test specimens was all excellent, and the ultimate drift ratio of all specimens greatly exceeded the allowable inter‐story drift ratio value (1/120) of RC shear wall in accordance with the design provisions of Chinese GB50011‐2010 code.
Performance Studies of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells with Different Flow Field Designs – Review
Authors: Marappan Muthukumar , Palaniswamy Karthikeyan , Velumani Thiagarajan , Chul Kim Byung , Velayutham Rajavel , Shivakumar Praveenkumar , Sundaram Senthilarasu 
Published: February 2021

AbstractProton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell (PEMFC) is majorly used for power generation without producing any emission. In PEMFC, the water generated in the cathode heavily affects the performance of fuel cell which needs better water management. The flow channel designs, dimensions, shape and size of the rib/channel, effective area of the flow channel and material properties are considered for better water management and performance enhancement of the PEMFC in addition to the inlet reactant's mass flow rate, flow directions, relative humidity, pressure and temperature. With the purpose of increasing the output energy of the fuel cell, many flow field designs are being developed continuously. In this paper, the performance of various conventional, modified, hybrid and new flow field designs of the PEMFC is studied in detail. Further the effects of channel tapering, channel bending, landing to channels width ratios, channel cross‐sections and insertion of baffles/blockages/pin‐fins/inserts are reviewed. The power density of the flow field designs, the physical parameters like active area, dimensions of channel/rib, number of channels; and the operating parameters like temperature and pressure are also tabulated.
LncRNA MEG3 mediates nickel oxide nanoparticles‐induced pulmonary fibrosis via suppressing TGF‐β1 expression and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition process
Authors: Zhan Haibing , Chang Xuhong , Wang Xiaoxia , Yang Mengmeng , Gao Qing , Liu Han , Li Chengyun , Li Sheng , Sun Yingbiao 
Published: February 2021

AbstractNickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) causes pulmonary fibrosis via activating transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) in rats, but its upstream regulatory mechanisms are unknown. This study aimed to explore the role of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) in NiO NPs‐induced collagen deposition. Male Wistar rats were intratracheally instilled with NiO NPs (0.015, 0.06, and 0.24 mg/kg b.w.) twice a week for 9 weeks. Human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells (A549 cells) were cultured with NiO NPs (25, 50, and 100 μg/ml) to establish collagen deposition model. We discovered that NiO NPs‐induced rat pulmonary fibrosis was accompanied by the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurrence and MEG3 down‐regulation in rat lung tissues. In cell collagen deposition model, NiO NPs also evoked EMT and decreased MEG3 expression in a dose‐dependent manner in A549 cells. By overexpressing MEG3 in A549 cells, we found that MEG3 inhibited the level of TGF‐β1, EMT process and collagen formation. Moreover, our data showed that SB431542 (TGF‐β1 inhibitor) had an inhibitory effect on NiO NPs‐induced EMT and collagen formation. Our results indicated that MEG3 inhibited NiO NPs‐induced collagen deposition by regulating TGF‐β1‐mediated EMT process, which may provide some clues for insighting into the mechanisms of NiO NPs‐induced pulmonary fibrosis.
Tolerance and phytoremediation potential of Calopogonium mucunoides to boron
Authors: da Silva Victor Navarro , Frachia Caroline de Lima , Barbosa Isis Caroline Ferreira , da Silva Mariana Bocchi , de Paiva Wesller da Silva , Souza Lucas Anjos , Justino Gilberto Costa , de Camargos Liliane Santos 
Published: February 2021

AbstractSoil contamination by trace elements (TEs) is a problem of great concern since the industrial revolution. However, not all TEs are essentially toxic, and several micronutrients such as boron (B) play essential roles during plant development and, in this case, B acts in plants as a structural element. Soil B levels above 3.0 mg dm–3 may be toxic to many plants and the greatest input of B to the environment occurs through the anthropic way. An environmentally promising alternative is phytoremediation, in which contaminant‐tolerant plants are used to remove or stabilize TEs in soils. Therefore, this work has been carried out to aim C. mucunoides’ tolerance to increasing B concentrations and its potential as a phytoremediator. We found out that C. mucunoides tolerates B doses up to 480 mg dm−3, the B uptaken is transported at a 1:1 ratio between root and shoot, suggesting that C. mucunoides can be used as a phytostabilizer and phytoextractor due to its potential to be used in phytoremediation techniques because it can tolerate toxic concentrations of B.
A vaccine to prevent initial loss of cognition and eventual Alzheimer's disease in elderly persons
Authors: Fessel Jeffrey 
Published: February 2021

AbstractPrevention is better than cure and prevention of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be possible. In elderly persons who are cognitively normal, synaptic hypometabolism as shown by reduced cerebral uptake of fluorodeoxyglucose (18F‐FDG), provides a premonitory signal of potential, future loss of cognition if those individuals also have present evidence of amyloid deposition seen in the Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography (PIB‐PET) scan for amyloid. Those are the persons who should be targeted if one aims to prevent AD. The synaptic hypometabolism implies that the brain's availability of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is inadequate for performance of all required synaptic functions. This review first describes the basis for asserting that reduced cerebral uptake of 18F‐FDG accurately reflects synaptic hypometabolism; second, explains the basis for asserting that hypometabolism implies inadequate ATP; third, shows that amyloid beta (Aβ) itself, Aβ modified by pyroglutamate to become a molecule termed pE(3)Aβ, and cyclophilin‐D, in concert are the main contributors to inadequate synaptic ATP and that, therefore, reducing all of their levels would neutralize their combined effect and correct the hypometabolism. pE(3)Aβ is more neurotoxic than unmodified Aβ; and cyclophilin D inhibits ATP synthase and reduces ATP formation. Finally, this review describes an mRNA self‐replicating vaccine that will raise brain levels of ATP by reducing Aβ, pyroglutamate‐modified Aβ, and cyclophilin‐D, and thereby—in cognitively normal elderly persons who have synaptic hypometabolism—prevent initiation of the process that terminates in AD.