bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Wetland Plant Biochars on Heavy Metal Immobilization and Enzyme Activity in Soils From the Yellow River Estuary
Authors: Zheng Lidi , Tong Chuan , Gao Jujuan , Xiao Rong 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Estuarine wetlands provide a variety of ecosystem services, including carbon sinks, nitrogen removal, marine habitats, and climate regulation. However, many estuarine marshes are suffering from soil heavy metal pollution, which significantly affects soil enzyme activities that influence the carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles in wetlands. To date, studies on the effects of wetland plant biochars on heavy metal adsorption and enzyme activity in estuarine wetland soil are limited. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of wetland plant biochars on the enzyme activity in heavy metal contaminated soil. The biochars were produced from Phragmites australis (PB), Suaeda salsa (SB), and Tamarix chinensis (TB) under different pyrolysis temperatures and times. The detected pyrolysis products showed that the ash, pH, electrical conductivity, and carbon content of the biochars increased significantly, while the production rate of the biochars decreased with increasing pyrolysis temperature and time. The results of the adsorption experiments indicated that biochar addition could effectively reduce the concentration of Pb and/or Cd in the Pb2+/Cd2+ single or mixed solutions, but the Pb2+ and Cd2+ in the mixed solution indicated a competitive adsorption. A 30-day incubation experiment was conducted using salt marsh soil amended with different biochar application rates to investigate the short-term effects of biochar addition on Pb and Cd immobilization. The PB and SB significantly immobilized Pb within the first 15 days, but Pb remobilized within the next 15-day period. In contrast, TB addition did not significantly fix Pb. Moreover, biochar addition promoted the conversion of Cd from the residue to the less immobile fractions. The addition of three types of plant biochar had no significant effect on the urease activity in wetland soil but significantly increased soil sucrase activity. PB and SB significantly promoted catalase activity, while TB significantly inhibited soil catalase activity.
The Effect of Surface Plasmon Resonances on Spherical Magneto-Plasmonic Fe3O4@Ag Core-Shell Nanoparticles
Authors: Yeneayehu Kinde , Senbeta Teshome , Mesfin Belayneh 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
In this work, the scattering, absorption, and extinction cross-sections of 𝐹𝑒3𝑂4@Ag core/shell spherical nanostructures embedded in a dielectric host matrix are investigated theoretically. Electrostatic approximation and Maxwell-Garnet effective medium theory are employed to obtain the effective electric permittivity and magnetic permeability, as well as the corresponding absorption, scattering, and extinction cross-sections. Likewise, for a fixed size of QDs (of radius 𝑎𝑠 = 10 nm) numerical analysis is performed to see the effect of varying the metal fraction (𝛽) and the permittivity (𝜀ℎ) of the host matrix on the magneto-plasmonic nanostructures. The results show that graphs of absorption, scattering, and extinction cross-sections as a function of wavelength have two sets of resonance peaks in the UV and visible regions. These sets of peaks arise due to the strong coupling of the surface plasmon oscillations of silver with the excitonic state of the semiconductor/dielectric at the inner (𝐹𝑒3𝑂4@Ag) and outer (Ag/host) interfaces. The absorption and scattering crosssections are blue-shifted in the first peak and red-shifted for the second set of peaks as 𝛽 increases. Similarly, the extinction cross-section possesses two sets of resonance peaks which are enhanced for an increase in 𝜀ℎ or decrease of 𝛽; keeping one of these two parameters constant at a time. The results obtained may be utilized in applications that incorporates both the plasmonic and magnetic effects in core/shell nanostructures.
Android Application Design with MIT App Inventor for Bluetooth Based Mobile Robot Control
Authors: TOP Ahmet , GÖKBULUT Muammer 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
In this study, a Bluetooth-based Android application interface is developed to perform a manual and automatic control of a four-wheel-driven mobile robot designed for education, research, health, military, and many other fields. The proposed application with MIT App Inventor consists of three components: the main screen, the manual control screen, and the automatic control screen. The main screen is where the actions of the control preference selection such as manual control and automatic control and the Bluetooth connection between the mobile robot and Android phone occur. When the robot is operated manually for calibration or manual positioning purposes, the manual control screen is employed to adjust the desired robot movement and speed by hand. In the case of the need for automatic motion control, the desired robot position and speed data are inserted into the mobile robot processor through the automatic control screen. At the first stage of the work, the proposed Android application is developed with the design and block editors of the MIT App Inventor. The compiled application is then installed on the Android phone. Next, the communication between the Arduino microcontroller used for the robot control with the Bluetooth protocol and the Android application is established. The accuracy of the data dispatched to the Arduino is tested on the serial connection screen. It is validated that the data from the Android application is transferred to Arduino smoothly. At the end of this study, the manual and automatic controls of the proposed mobile robot are performed experimentally and success of the coordination between the Android application and the mobile robot are demonstrated.
Determinants of Modern Contraceptive Utilization Among Married Women in sub-Saharan Africa; Multilevel Analysis of Recent Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Tesema Zemenu Tadesse , Tesema Getayeneh Antehunegn , Boke Moges Muluneh , Akalu Temesgen Yihunie 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background

Family planning is a low-cost, high-impact public health and development strategy. Planned pregnancies are essential for both the child and mother’s health. However, there is a lack of evidence on modern contraceptive use and determinants in sub-Saharan Africa, hence this study aimed to determine the pooled prevalence and determinants of modern contraceptive utilization across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods

Thirty-six sub-Saharan African countries' demographic and health survey (DHS) data were used for pooled analysis. A total weighted sample of 322,525 married women was included in the study. Cross tabulations and summary statistics were done using STATA version 14 software. The pooled prevalence of modern contraceptive utilization with a 95% Confidence Interval (CI) was reported for sub- Saharan Africa countries. Four models were fitted to select the best-fitted model for the data using Likelihood Ratio (LLR) and Deviance. Model III was selected because of its highest LLR and Smallest deviance.
Results

The pooled estimate of modern contraception use in sub–Saharan African countries were 18.36% [95% CI: 18.24, 18.48], with highest in Lesotho (59.79%) and the lowest in Chad (5.04%). The odds of modern contraception utilization were increased; women living in East Africa (AOR = 1.47 (1.40, 1.54)), urban (AOR = 1.18 (1.14, 1.24)), women primary and secondary and above educational level (AOR = 1.49 (1.44, 1.55)), and (AOR = 1.66 (1.58, 1.74)) respectively, husband primary and secondary and above educational level (AOR = 1.38 (1.33, 1.42)) and (AOR = 1.38 (1.36, 1.47)), wealth status middle and rich (AOR = 1.17, (1.14, 1.21)) and (AOR = 1.29 (1.25, 1.34)) respectively, media exposure (AOR = 1.25 (1.22, 1.29)), Postnatal care(PNC) utilization (AOR = 1.25 (1.22, 1.29)), deliver at health facility (AOR = 1.74 (1.69, 1.79)), and birth order 2–4 and 5+ (AOR = 1.36 (1.31, 1.41)) and (AOR = 1.35 (1.28, 1.43)) whereas the odds of contraception use were decreased among women living in Central, and Western regions (AOR = 0.23 (0.22, 0.24)), and (AOR = 0.46 (0.40, 0.54)) respectively, women decided with husband and husband alone (AOR = 0.90 (0.87, 0.93)) and (AOR = 0.73 (0.71, 0.75)).
Conclusion

The uptake of modern contraception in sub-Saharan Africa is low compared to other developing region. Therefore, family planning program activities need to give attention to the rural resident, illiterate women and low wealth status community.
From Wastes To Functions: Preparation of Layered Double Hydroxides From Industrial Waste And Its Removal Performance Towards Phosphates
Authors: Xiao Liping , Li Yan , Kong Qiaoping , Lan Yunlong 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
To control eutrophication and recover phosphate from wastewater, a calcium carbide slag and red mud composite material (CR-LDH) was prepared using industrial waste as raw material for phosphorus adsorption. The morphology and structure of synthesized CR-LDH was characterized by FT-IR, SEM, EDS and XRD measurements. The experimental data can be well described by pseudo-second-order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm models, suggesting that the adsorption process of CR-LDH with respect to phosphate is a chemical and monolayer process. The theoretical maximum adsorption capacity obtained by Langmuir isotherm model is 16.06 mg·g-1 at 25 oC. The intra-particle diffusion model fitting results indicated that the adsorption of phosphate by CR-LDH was controlled by both liquid membrane diffusion and intra-particle diffusion. Phosphate was bound to CR-LDH via synergistic effect of physical adsorption, ion exchange, anion intercalation and chemical precipitation as evidenced from a combination of microscopic analysis and adsorption mechanism study. The actual phosphate-containing wastewater investigation showed that CR-LDH not only exhibited good removal effect on phosphate, but also could greatly reduce turbidity, COD and ammonia nitrogen, which was suitable for disposal of practical wastewater. These results indicate that CR-LDH can be considered as potential adsorbent for the treatment of phosphate-containing wastewater, which will be helpful to achieve the goal of "treating waste with waste and turning waste into treasure".
Comprehensive Evaluation of Environmental Dimension Reduction of Multi-Type Islands: A Sustainable Development Perspective
Authors: Chen Shaoyang , Liu Na , Xiao Li , Gong Yanwei , Xiao Yun 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
In recent years, the exploration and sustainable development of islands is getting more and more attention around the world. However, the development of China's islands is somewhat disorder and spatial unbalanced. Therefore, we need to conduct a scientific assessment of the islands in order to fully understand the islands. In this paper, We analyze the possible development path of the islands by evaluating the value of the islands. To be specific, we present an extensive evaluate model design based on analysis of the environmental resources conditions, economic values, and existing problems of the seven typical islands in China. This model is applied to evaluate the sustainability levels and development advantages of seven typical islands. The island’s evaluation results are consistent with the island’s actual development level, which proves that the model is believable. Generally, the more indicators involved in the evaluation model, the more accurate the evaluation result will be. However, numerous indicators will cause two problems. One is that some indicators are highly correlated and make the evaluation results inaccurate. Therefore, it is necessary to remove redundant indicators; the other is that the calculation process will be cumbersome. In this study, we used factor analysis to solve the problems, making the evaluation results more accurate. Meantime, the experiment has proved that the model can simultaneously use multiple types of islands as samples for unified evaluation.
CRISPR-Cas-amplified urine biomarkers for multiplexed and portable cancer diagnostics
Authors: Hao Liangliang , Zhao Renee , Ngambenjawong Chayanon , Ko Henry , Fleming Heather , Bhatia Sangeeta 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Synthetic biomarkers, exogenous probes that generate molecular reporters, represent an emerging paradigm in precision diagnostics with applications across infectious and noncommunicable diseases. These methods use multiplexing strategies to provide tools that are both sensitive and specific. However, the field of synthetic biomarkers has not benefited from molecular strategies such as DNA-barcoding due to the susceptibility of nucleic acids in vivo. Herein, we exploit chemically-stabilized DNAs to tag synthetic biomarkers and produce diagnostic signals via CRISPR nucleases. Our strategy capitalizes on disease-associated, protease-activated release of nucleic acid barcodes and polymerase-amplification-free, CRISPR-Cas-mediated barcode detection in unprocessed biofluids. In murine cancer models, we show that these DNA-encoded nanosensors can noninvasively detect and monitor disease progression, and demonstrate that nuclease amplification can be harnessed to convert the readout to a point-of-care tool. This technique combines specificity with ease of use to offer a new platform to study human disease and guide therapeutic decisions.
Interaction Between Insecticide Resistance-Associated Genes and Malaria Transmission in Anopheles Gambiae S. L. During a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial of A “lethal House Lure” in Central Côte D’ivoire
Authors: Wolie Rosine Z. , Koffi Alphonsine A. , Alou Ludovic P. Ahoua , Sternberg Eleanore D. , N’Nan-Alla Oulo , Dahounto Amal , Yapo Florent H.A. , Kanh Kpahe H.M. , Camara Soromane , Oumbouke Welbeck A. , Tia Innocent Z. , Nguetta Prof. Simon-Pierre A. , Thomas Prof. Matthew B. , N’Guessan Raphael 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background

There is evidence that the Kdr L1014F and Ace-1R G119S mutations involved in pyrethroid and carbamate resistance in Anopheles gambiae influence malaria transmission in sub Saharan Africa. This is likely due to changes in behavior, life history, vectorial competence and capacity. In the present study, performed as part of a two-armed cluster randomized controlled trial (CRT) evaluating the impact of household screening plus a novel insecticide delivery system (In2Care EaveTubes), we investigated the distribution of insecticide target site mutations and their association with the infection status in wild An. gambiae s.l populations.
Methods

Mosquitoes were captured in 40 villages around Bouaké by human landing catches (HLC), from May 2017 to April 2019. Randomly selected sample of infected and uninfected An.gambiae s.l. with Plasmodium sp. were identified to species and then genotyped for Kdr L1014F and Ace-1R G119S mutations using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays. The frequencies of the two alleles were compared between An. coluzzii and An. gambiae and then between infected and uninfected groups for each species.
Results

The presence of An. gambiae (49 %) and An. coluzzii (51%) was confirmed in Bouaké. Both species seemed to transmit equally Plasmodium parasites. Over the study period, the average frequency of the Kdr L1014F and Ace-1R G119S mutations did not vary significantly between study arms. However, the frequency of the Kdr L1014F and Ace-1R G119S resistance alleles were significantly higher in An. gambiae than in An. coluzzii (OR [95%CI]: 59.64 [30.81-131.63] for Kdr and OR [95%CI]: 2.79 [2.17–3.60], for Ace-1R). For both species, there were no significant differences in Kdr L1014F or Ace-1R G119S genotypic and allelic frequency distribution between infected and uninfected specimens (p > 0.05).
Conclusions

Either alone or in combination, Kdr L1014F and Ace-1R G119S showed no significant association with Plasmodium infection in wild An.gambiae and An. coluzzii, demonstrating similar competence for Plasmodium transmission in Bouaké. Additional factors influencing competence in natural population and those outside allele measurements contributing to resistance should be consider when establishing link between insecticide resistance and vector competence.
Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Radiation Therapy: Improvement in Survival and Local Control With Adjuvant Chemotherapy Compared To Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy – A Hypothesis Generating Report
Authors: Nittala Mary Roselin , Packianathan Satyaseelan , Shultz Gary L. , Roberts Paul , Mundra Eswar K. , Mehta Divyang , Smith Maria L. , Woods William C. , Weatherall Lacey , McKinney Shawn , Craft Barbara S. , Shumaker Grace G. , Morgan Dennis P. , Berry Scott M. , Vijayakumar Srinivasan 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Background

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) (estrogen receptor (ER) – negative, progesterone receptor (PR) - negative, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) -negative) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that is more common in younger women, carries a poorer prognosis and has a greater metastatic potential than receptor positive subtypes. Radiation therapy’s ability to improve outcomes, especially the overall survival is controversial, more so among African American patients. The objective of this study is to evaluate local control and survival rates of TNBC patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) in our institution with a sizeable cohort of African American women.
Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of 67 TNBCs (2007–2017) at an academic state institution who underwent a lumpectomy and /or mastectomy (surgery) followed by adjuvant irradiation to a median total dose of 50 Gy (range 40.5–50.40 Gy). Chemotherapy was administered in a neoadjuvant (32) or adjuvant setting (35). For all 67 TNBCs, local control (LC), overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The significance of survival variables was analyzed using the Cox univariate and multivariate proportional hazards model. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. The SPSS 24.0 software was used for data analysis.
Results

The baseline characteristics of all 67 TNBCs were measured with median follow up of 58 months (range 10–142 months). Patients were stratified into two groups (neoadjuvant chemotherapy-RT (32) vs. adjuvant chemotherapy-RT (35)). The five-year rates for LC, DFS and OS were 14.8 % vs. 47.9 % (p = 0.002), 24.2% vs. 53.1 % (p = 0.015), and 65.1% vs. 92.2% (0.002) respectively. On Cox multivariate analysis, patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy were associated with statistically improved significant LC (p = 0.002) and OS (p = 0.002). The variables included were: BMI (p = 0.050), distance travelled (p = 0.027), 8th AJCC TNM staging (p = 0.018) and tumor grade (p = 0.022).
Conclusion

In this hypothesis-generating report, among TNBC patients undergoing RT, adjuvant chemotherapy appears to be better than neoadjuvant chemotherapy in determining the clinical outcomes.
Mitochondrial One-Carbon Flux has a Growth-Independent Role in Promoting Breast Cancer Metastasis
Authors: Kiweler Nicole , Delbrouck Catherine , Neises Laura , Pozdeev Vitaly , Soriano-Baguet Leticia , Xiang Feng , Benzarti Mohaned , Haase Lara , Schmoetten Maryse , Jaeger Christian , Noman Muhammad , Vazquez Alexei , Janji Bassam , Dittmar Gunnar , Brenner Dirk , Letellier Elisabeth , Meiser Johannes 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Progression of primary cancer to metastatic disease is the most common cause of death in cancer patients with minimal treatment options available. Canonical drugs mainly target the proliferative capacity of cancer cells, which often leaves slow-proliferating, persistent cancer cells unaffected. Thus, we aimed to identify metabolic determinants that enable cell plasticity and foster treatment resistance and tumor escape.
Using a panel of anti-cancer drugs, we uncovered that antifolates, despite inducing strong growth arrest, did not impact the cancer cell’s motility potential, indicating that nucleotide synthesis is dispensable for cell motility. Prolonged treatment even selected for more motile cancer subpopulations. We found that cytosolic inhibition of DHFR by MTX only abrogates cytosolic folate cycle, while mitochondrial one-carbon cycle remains highly active. Despite a decreased cellular demand for biomass production, de novo serine synthesis and formate overflow are increased, suggesting that mitochondria provide a protective environment that allows serine catabolism to support cellular motility during nucleotide synthesis inhibition.
Enhanced motility of growth-arrested cells was reduced by inhibition of PHGDH-dependent de novo serine synthesis and genetic silencing of mitochondrial one-carbon cycle. In vivo targeting of mitochondrial one-carbon cycle and formate overflow strongly and significantly reduced lung metastasis formation in an orthotopic breast cancer model. In summary, we identified mitochondrial serine catabolism as a targetable, growth-independent metabolic vulnerability to limit metastatic progression.
Topologically Protected Quantum Entanglement Emitters
Authors: Wang Jianwei , Dai Tianxiang , Ao Yutian , Bao Jueming , Mao Jun , Chi Yulin , Fu Zhaorong , You Yilong , Chen Xiaojiong , Zhai Chonghao , Tang Bo , Yang Yan , Li Zhihua , Yuan Luqi , Gao Fei , Lin Xiao , Thompson Mark , O'Brien Jeremy , Li Yan , Hu Xiaoyong , Gong Qihuang 
Published: July 2021

Abstract
Entanglement and topology both portray nature at the fundamental level but in different manners. Entangled states of quantum particles are intrinsically sensitive to environment, whereas topological phases of matters represent natural robustness against environmental perturbations. Harnessing topology physics to protect entanglement thus has a great potential for reliable quantum applications. However, generating topologically-protected entanglement remains a significant challenge, which requires operating complex quantum devices in combined extreme conditions. Here we report topologically-protected quantum entanglement emitters, that emit topological Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entangled state and topological multiphoton entangled state from a monolithically-integrated plug-and-play silicon-photonic chip in ambient conditions. The device emulating a photonic anomalous Floquet insulator allows the generation of up to four-photon topological entangled states at nontrivial edge modes. More importantly, we show that the Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen entanglement emitters can be topologically protected against artificial structure defects, by comparing tomographically measured fidelities of 0.968 ± 0.004 and 0.951 ± 0.01 for the perfect and defected emitters, respectively. Our topologically-protected entanglement emitters may find applications in photonic quantum computation and quantum simulation, and in the study of quantum topological physics.