bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ETV add-on Peg-interferon therapy plays a positive role in reversing hepatic fibrosis in treatment-naïve chronic hepatitis B patients: a prospective and randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yang Jingmao , Chen Liping , Wang Yajie , Lv Bei , Zhao Hong , Shang Zhiyin , Li Jun , Fan Zhenyu , Huang Shaoping , Cheng Jilin 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background and Aim

The efficacy of entecavir (ETV) add-on peg-interferon therapy compared with ETV monotherapy in treatment-naïve hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients remains controversial. We investigated whether adding Peg-interferon to ongoing ETV treatment leads to a better curative effect or not.

Methods

Eligible HBV patients (n=144) were randomly divided (1:1) to receive either ETV monotherapy (n=70) or peg-interferon add-on therapy from weeks 26 to 52 (n=74). Patients were followed-up for 2 years. We evaluated hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion rate, sustained virologic response (SVR), transient elastography value, and histological scores.

Results

At week 26, no patient achieved HBsAg seroconversion in either group. At week 52, one patient in the monotherapy group was HBsAg-negative but there was none in the combination therapy group. The monotherapy group showed significantly better liver function recovery results than the combination therapy group. At week 78, one patient in combination group had HBsAg seroconverted. At week 104, only three patients in the combination therapy group were HBsAg-negative compared with one patient in monotherapy. The mean alanine aminotransferase (ALT)and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and transient elastography values decreased significantly compared with baseline. Both group showed a favorable decrease in alpha fetoprotein(AFP) (monotherapy:23.4±77.3 vs 2.4±0.91, P=0.149; combination therapy: 33.3±96.9 vs 4.3±5.5,P=0.085) and an improved result of liver biopsy examination scores. The combination group showed a better improvement in histology compared with the monotherapy group(mean transient elastography value 7.5±3.4 kPa [SD 1.9] vs. 12.8±13.9 kPa [SD 1.9], P=0.037). But this research didn’t show significant difference in HBsAg conversion rate (1.79% (1/56) vs 4.11% (3/73), P=0.632) as well as HBV-DNA sustained virologic response(93.2% vs 98.5%,P=0.15) between two groups.

Conclusions

Both therapies supported liver function recovery and histology improvement. Combination therapy did not show better antiviral efficacy in HBsAg or HBeAg seroconversion compared with monotherapy. However, combination therapy played a more positive role in reversing hepatic fibrosis compared with monotherapy.
Addressing socio-cultural barriers to family planning and co-designing services to improve utilization: evidence from northern Nigeria
Authors: Oguntunde Olugbenga , Nyenwa Jabulani , Kilani-Ahmadu Sikiratu , Salihu Abdulsamad , Yusuf Issa 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Family planning is a proven cost-effective intervention that has contributed to women empowerment and overall human development. Demand factors and women’s expectations and experiences at health facility for family planning services may influence their uptake and utilisation of these services. Increased awareness and positive community perception and quality of family planning services that meet clients’ expectations may greatly improve utilization. The aim of this study was to identify ways to improve family planning service users' experience at primary health care centres towards improving utilization of family planning services in two northern Nigerian states.

METHODS: This qualitative study was part of a larger operations research that explored married women’s and service providers’ perception of quality of care along the RMNCH pathway to inform improvements in service delivery. The study utilised Experience-based co-design (EBCD) methodology that employed qualitative methods to explore clients and service providers’ experiences of healthcare services. A total of 92 IDIs and 4 FGDswere conducted in two communities each in Kano and in Yobe states. ‘Touch points’ from service providers’ and respondents’ experiences were extracted using thematic analysis. Joint workshops were further conducted with clients and providers to co-design a user-driven service pathway to improve service utilization.

RESULTS: Key 'touch points' from providers’ experiences included stock out of family planning commodities, inadequate equipment and infrastructure and cultural and religious believes that prevent utilization of family planning services. In addition, clients reported challenges securing husband permission to utilize services, poor provider attitude and lack of female providers at health facility as obstacles to service utilization. Co-designing a service improvement plan by service providers and clients that involved increasing community awareness about the benefits of family planning by service providers, improving providers’ attitude, increasing family planning outreach and promoting men involvement in family planning programmes.

CONCLUSION: EBCD provides a platform that make clients active contributors to family planning service improvement plans at the health facility thereby ensuring provision of quality services that meet the need of women.
Spatial Patterns of Tuberculosis and Diabetes Mellitus in Los Angeles County, California
Authors: Rosales Monica , Lan Edward , Guevara Ramon E. , Yumul Josephine L. , Morales Douglas M. , Higashi Julie M. , Chang Alicia H. 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Background Tuberculosis remains a public health problem that disproportionately affects vulnerable populations. The objective of the study was to apply Geographic Information Systems (GIS) methods to identify statistically significant hot spots of tuberculosis (TB) and diabetes mellitus (DM) and identify areas and populations that are disproportionately burdened by TB and DM.Methods Verified cases of TB reported in Los Angeles County (LAC), California between 01/01/2015 and 06/30/2017 were identified from the LAC TB Control Program Surveillance Registry. The addresses for patients residing in LAC at the time of TB diagnosis were geocoded and mapped. Hot spot analyses were performed utilizing the Getis-Ord Gi* statistic to identify statistically significant hot spots of TB and DM.Results Among 389 TB cases with DM, 43% were Hispanic and 50% were Asian. Geographic variations for Hispanic and Asian TB cases were found (p<0.05). Hot spots of TB and DM were identified among Asians residing in the southwestern and southern regions of LAC and among Hispanics residing in south central and northwestern LAC.Conclusions GIS methods are important epidemiological tools for identifying and assessing geographic variations in disease morbidity. These findings highlight opportunities for public health interventions aimed at reducing health disparities in underserved communities.
Cadmium–Bacteria Complexation and Subsequent Bacteria‐Facilitated Cadmium Transport in Saturated Porous Media
Authors: Li Runwei , Zhang Zhiming , Li Simeng , Tang Youneng , Wei Changfu , Chen Gang 
Published: August 2019

Cadmium (Cd) contamination is becoming a significant environmental concern due to its persistency in soil. In the subsurface, the fate and transport of Cd are significantly affected by the presence of organic carriers, including bacteria, which are ubiquitous. In this research, facilitated Cd transport by four different bacterial strains in zeolite was investigated by column experiments under three different Cd introduction scenarios (i.e., a Cd and bacteria mixture, Cd and bacteria introduced separately but simultaneously, and Cd added to the column, followed by bacterial flushing), through which Cd–bacteria complexes formed. In turn, Cd–bacteria complexation affected bacterial transport. Bacteria were least retarded when Cd was pre‐deposited, with mass recovery>90% for all strains. More Cd was recovered when introduced as a mixture with bacteria (i.e., Cd mass recovery ranging from 16 to 25%). Obtained bacteria and Cd breakthrough curves were simulated by the attachment–detachment model in Hydrus‐1D. Damkohler number and reversibility were both found to be suitable to control the mass recovery of Cd and bacteria in all investigated scenarios.Core Ideas
The introduction scenario significantly affected the transport of Cd and bacteria.
Cd was most recovered when Cd–bacteria complexation was fully developed.
Attachment, detachment, and convection competition determines Cd breakthrough.
Sources, Transport, and Management of Phosphorus Loss during the Cranberry Harvest
Authors: Kennedy Casey D. 
Published: August 2019

Wet (flood) harvesting is essential to commercial cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Ait.) production in Massachusetts, where one‐fifth of the US cranberry crop is produced. However, periodic flooding may lead to impaired water quality in lakes that receive harvest flood discharges. In this study, harvest flood inputs and outputs of P were measured to determine the net flux of P (Mnet) from a 19.2‐ha cranberry bog and its five bog units. Results showed that the cranberry bog was a source of dissolved P (DP) (Mnet = 0.32 kg P ha−1) and a minor sink of particulate P (PP) (Mnet = −0.03 kg P ha−1). For the five bog units, values of Mnet were highly variable, ranging from −0.49 to 1.48 kg P ha−1 with a coefficient of variation of 223% for DP. Variation in Mnet was not strongly related to P fertilizer rate, soil test P, or flood holding time, but was inversely related to the water flux from the cranberry bog to the underlying aquifer. Groundwater concentrations of DP were not statistically different before, during, or after the harvest flood, suggesting minimal subsurface leaching of P to shallow groundwater. Collectively, these findings point to soil P retention in some cranberry bogs, as might be expected in natural wetlands. Although there is potential for subsurface P leaching, the use of select cranberry bogs as filter beds of high‐P floodwater may help to curtail surface water export of P from cranberry agriculture.Core Ideas
Wet (flood) harvested cranberry bogs may contribute to water quality problems.
Harvest flood P losses varied from 0.49 to 1.48 kg P ha−1 for five cranberry beds.
Harvest flood P losses were not related to P fertilizer, soil P, or flood length.
Rather, the best indicator of harvest flood P loss was groundwater recharge.
Groundwater recharge may facilitate P sorption and reduce harvest flood P losses.
The Mobility of Silver Nanoparticles and Silver Ions in the Soil‐Plant System
Authors: Saleeb Nadir , Gooneratne Ravi , Cavanagh Jo , Bunt Craig , Hossain A. K. M. Mofasser , Gaw Sally , Robinson Brett 
Published: August 2019

The widespread use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as a bactericide will ultimately result in their increased concentration in soils. We sought to determine the likely mobility, toxicity, and plant uptake of Ag applied to soil as either AgNPs or Ag+. We measured the solubility, toxicity, and plant uptake of both AgNPs and Ag+ in an immature Pallic soil, a Templeton loamy silt (pH = 5.1), and a granular silt loam (pH = 6.0). The sorption of AgNPs by the test soils was significantly greater than Ag+, and both moieties were more strongly sorbed at lower concentrations and higher pH values. Between pH 4 and 8, distribution coefficient (KD) values increased from <10 up to ∼500 L kg−1 for Ag+, and from 100 to 10,000 L kg−1 for AgNPs. There was strong evidence that our citrate‐coated AgNPs were transformed into Ag+ during the course of the plant growth experiments, and plant responses were similar for both the Ag+ and AgNP treatments. Soil concentrations >100 mg kg−1 significantly reduced the biomass of Lolium perenne L. and resulted in foliar concentrations of up to 10 mg kg−1 dry matter. At a soil concentration of 70 mg kg−1, silverbeet [Beta vulgaris L. ssp. maritima (L.) Arcang.] and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) accumulated 5 to 10 mg Ag kg−1, which may present a human health risk. Regarding citrate‐coated AgNPs, the environmental impact of release is largely determined by the equivalent mass concentration of Ag+, into which they will ultimately transform. Given the widespread interest in AgNPs, there is limited knowledge on the behavior of Ag+ in soil and this should be the subject of future research.Core Ideas
Citrate‐coated Ag nanoparticles had greater soil sorption than Ag+.
Sorption of both Ag nanoparticles and Ag+ increased at higher pH.
Silver nanoparticles are ultimately unstable and transform to Ag+.
Phytotoxicity occurs at soil Ag concentrations >100 mg kg−1.
Silver uptake by spinach and silverbeet may present a human health risk.
RNAi‐Mediated Silencing of Endogenous Wheat Genes EIF(Iso)4E‐2 and EIF4G Induce Resistance to Multiple RNA Viruses in Transgenic Wheat
Authors: Rupp Jessica Shoup , Cruz Luisa , Trick Harold N. , Fellers John P. 
Published: August 2019

ABSTRACTWheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lacks sources of effective resistance to the potyviruses Wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) and Triticum mosaic virus (TriMV). Potyviruses use host eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) to facilitate initial translation of their genomes, and many plant virus resistance genes are due to mutations in eIFs. Therefore, we hypothesized that silencing TaeIF(iso)4E and TaeIF4G would provide effective and broad‐spectrum virus resistance. Three transgenic wheat lines with an RNA interference (RNAi) hairpin construct targeting TaeIF(iso)4E and four lines with a hairpin construct targeting TaeIF4G were recovered through wheat transformation. Early generation lines were found to be resistant to WSMV and TriMV, and co‐inoculation of both. The lines were selfed to the T5 generation to insure transgene stability, as well as crossed onto the hard red winter wheat cultivar ‘Karl 92’ to test the RNAi constructs in a more adapted genetic background. Phenotypically, transgenic lines were found to be resistant to WSMV, TriMV, and mixed infections of both, were resistant to Soil‐borne wheat mosaic virus, and demonstrated a significant reduction in Barley yellow dwarf virus infection. The RNAi effectiveness on viral RNA was evaluated using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An 18‐fold reduction in WSMV and TriMV viral RNA was found in the T5 transgenic lines when compared with control plants. Viral RNA reduction was also found in the F1, and BC1F1 crosses to Karl 92. These results demonstrate that a single, endogenously derived transgene in wheat can provide resistance to multiple viruses and provides a proof of concept for future gene editing.
Viscous Flow Approach to “Pushing Out Old Water” from Undisturbed and Repacked Soil Columns
Authors: Bogner Christina , Germann Peter 
Published: August 2019

Core Ideas
Breakthrough of Br is substantially delayed with respect to the wetting front.
Film thickness and specific contact area of infiltrating water are calculated.
Viscous flow approach is successful in both undisturbed and repacked soil columns.
“Pushing out old water” already occurs at the scale of soil columns.
The application of bromide tracer in transient infiltration–drainage experiments on undisturbed and repacked soil columns revealed distinct delays of tracer front arrivals with respect to the wetting front arrivals. A viscous flow approach was matched to the flow data that resulted in the parameters film thickness F and specific contact area L of the mobile water with the stagnant parts of the porous medium. Various combinations of F and L were related to the tracer delays, where the combinations L × F, L × F 3, and L × F 2 increasingly showed the highest correlation. The volume of mobile water was turned over 3.8 to 29.5 times between the arrivals of the wetting fronts and the arrivals of the tracer fronts. The delays and their statistical interpretations in view of the viscous flow approach are considered a significant contribution to the understanding of the phenomenon of “pushing out old water” that is still obscured in the hydrology of hillslopes and catchments. Despite the lack of a satisfying explanation for the high numbers of mobile‐water turnovers, the fact that the phenomenon of “pushing out old water” already occurs in soil columns may stimulate its investigation at the soil profile scale.
Biogas Digestate Application Modifies Solute Transport Conditions in Soils and Increases the Release of Phosphorus
Authors: Koch Stefan , Kahle Petra , Lennartz Bernd 
Published: August 2019

Core Ideas
Severe rainfall events cause increased phosphorus release from soils.
The proportion of DRP increases with increasing rainfall duration.
Digestate application causes a 400‐fold increase in pore water P concentrations.
The DRP fraction is clearly dominant immediately after fertilization.
Digestate application facilitates a flux regime shift with preferential flow pathways.
The application of fertilizers to soils may impair the quality of both surface and subsurface waters. Severe rainfall events that follow fertilizer application can increase P release from soils. In this study, suction plates were installed in a loamy soil with the aim of determining the P transport patterns and processes in the soil before and after the application of biogas digestate. Prior to the application of biogas digestate, the pore water concentrations of dissolved reactive P (DRP) were significantly lower than the total P (TP) concentrations, with DRP/TP ratios increasing from 0.03 to 0.89. After fertilizer application, the TP and DRP pore water concentrations increased 400‐fold. The DRP/TP ratio remained almost constant at 0.83. After 220 mm of precipitation, 4.5% of the P mass applied was leached to below the 50‐cm soil depth, indicating the general mobility of P in soils during high‐intensity rainfall. Brilliant Blue dye tracing experiments revealed that organic‐matter‐rich biogas digestate obviously changes the flow and transport patterns in soils from being homogenous to moderately heterogeneous, including preferential flow. Although the P loading across the flux plane had been equilibrated prior to treatment, after the application it was found to be concentrated in preferred transport regions. The emerging conclusion is that the risk of ground and subsequent surface water pollution with P after fertilization with biogas digestate originates not only from the applied P mass but also from the shift in the flow and transport regime caused by the organic‐matter‐rich slurry.
Dye Tracers Reveal Potential Edge‐Flow Effects in Undisturbed Lysimeters Sealed with Petrolatum
Authors: Williams Mark R. , McAfee Scott J. , Kent Brittany E. 
Published: August 2019

Core Ideas
Effectiveness of petrolatum in preventing edge‐flow was assessed in lysimeters.
Edge flow was observed with dye tracers in both dry and rewetted unsealed lysimeters.
Petrolatum sealed edges but created a new edge where it infiltrated into the soil.
Preferential flow occurred at this new edge in dry and rewetted sealed lysimeters.
Maintenance of soil moisture is critical when sealing lysimeters with petrolatum.
Undisturbed soil lysimeters are widely used to study water and solute transport. During or following lysimeter collection, it is common to implement measures aimed at limiting edge flow at the interface between the soil and the lysimeter casing. The objective of this study was to use dye tracers to evaluate the effectiveness of petroleum jelly in suppressing edge flow in lysimeters. Eight undisturbed square lysimeters (900 cm2) with removable spacers lining the inside of the casing were collected from an agricultural field. Spacers were removed from four lysimeters and liquefied petroleum jelly was poured into the gap created after spacer removal. The lysimeters were air dried for 150 d, after which two sealed and two unsealed lysimeters were resaturated. All lysimeters were then subjected to a 1‐h rainfall simulation (3.3 cm h−1), with dye added to the rainfall. Rewetting both sealed and unsealed lysimeters resulted in less horizontal dye coverage compared with the dry treatments due to reduced matrix–macropore interaction. Dye staining patterns for unsealed lysimeters showed that edge flow was the predominant flow pathway through the soil regardless of soil moisture status. While sealing lysimeters with petroleum jelly largely limited flow between the soil and the casing, shrinkage cracks formed during drying that coincided with the extent of petroleum jelly infiltration into the soil. This new hydrophobic edge served as a preferential flow pathway in the sealed lysimeters under both dry and rewetted conditions. Findings suggest that maintaining adequate soil moisture before and after petroleum jelly addition is critical to avoid preferential flow along the hydrophobic edge in sealed lysimeters.
Prediction of groundwater quality parameter in the Tabriz plain, Iran using soft computing methods
Authors: Jafari Robabeh , Torabian Ali , Ghorbani Mohammad Ali , Mirbagheri Seyed Ahmad , Hassani Amir Hessam 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
Aquifers are one of the largest available freshwater resources. In this paper, total dissolved solids (TDS) of the groundwater aquifer in Tabriz plain is estimated by groundwater physicochemical parameters including Na, HCO3, Ca, Mg, and SO4 in the eastern region of Urmia Lake. For this purpose, four soft computing approaches, namely, multilayer perceptron (MLP), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS), support vector machine (SVM), and gene expression programming (GEP) were used to predict TDS for a period of 10 years (2002–2012). Data were collected from the East Azerbaijan Regional Water Organization, which totaled 1,742 samples. In the application, of the whole data set, 70% (1,220 samples) was used for training and 30% (522 samples) for testing. In the following, the correlation coefficient (R), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) statistics were used for evaluating the accuracy of the models. According to the results, MLP, ANFIS, SVM, and GEP models could be employed successfully in estimating TDS alterations. A comparison was made between these soft computing approaches that corroborated the superiority of the GEP model over MLP, SVM, and ANFIS models with RMSE = 58.93, R = 0.998, and MAE = 5.21.
Adsorption of Ni(II) by a thermo-sensitive colloid: methylcellulose/calcium alginate beads
Authors: Li Zhongmin , Wu Wanwan , Jiang Wenyan , Wei Guangtao , Li Yunshang , Zhang Linye 
Published: August 2019

Abstract
The adsorption of Ni(II) by a thermo-sensitive adsorbent of methylcellulose/calcium alginate beads (CAMCBs) was studied using batch adsorption tests to determine the adsorption process and properties, the effects of adsorbent dosage, initial concentration, adsorption time and temperature. The adsorption process was further investigated using kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamic methods. The kinetics and isotherms studies showed the adsorption of Ni(II) on CAMCBs was fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isothermal adsorption model, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic at lower temperature, and the entropy of the adsorption process was negative. In the study of regeneration, it was confirmed that under the temperature of 60 °C, the desorption agent of CaCl2 with concentration of 3 g·L−1 was more conducive to the desorption of Ni(II) from CAMCBs. Both adsorption capacity and mechanical strength of the used CAMCBs could be basically recovered to the level of fresh CAMCBs after desorption. The prepared CAMCBs had a good property of adsorption of Ni(II) and an excellent regeneration performance.