bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Glyoxal‐Based Solvents for Electrochemical Energy‐Storage Devices
Authors: Heß Lars H. , Balducci Andrea 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIn this work an investigation about the use of the solvents 1,1,2,2‐tetramethoxyethane, also called tetramethoxy glyoxal (TMG), and 1,1,2,2‐tetraethoxyethane [also called tetraethoxy glyoxal (TEG)], which belong to the chemical family of carbonyl derivatives, as electrolyte components for electrical double layer capacitors (EDLCs) and lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) is reported for the first time. TEG and TMG are commercial solvents displaying a good set of properties, a low toxicity, and a low price. Although for EDLCs the use of these solvents does appear particularly appealing, their use in LIBs is certainly interesting. The preliminary results reported in this study indicate that the performance of lithium iron phosphate electrodes in LIBs using electrolytes based on TEG and TMG is promising in terms of capacity, capacity retention at high C rates, and cycling stability.
Synthesis of Grain‐like MoS2 for High‐Performance Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Yao Kai , Xu Zhanwei , Li Zhi , Liu Xinyue , Shen Xuetao , Cao Liyun , Huang Jianfeng 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMoS2 is a promising anode material for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) due to its attractive theoretical capacity and low cost. MoS2 generally presents a sheet‐like structure based on its (002) lattice plane; however, such a structure tends to result in agglomeration and stacking of the sheets that cannot accommodate volume expansion, resulting in poor cyclability. Herein, grain‐like MoS2 particulates (G‐MoS2) are synthesized by sulfiding MoO3 in highly concentrated sulfur vapor, which results in epitaxial growth of MoS2 in (002), (100), and (110) lattice planes, with the product consisting of MoS2 particulates of about 300 nm coated with few‐layered MoS2 nanosheets. The unique G‐MoS2 architecture ensures good dispersion and sufficient distance to accommodate volume expansion during sodiation/desodiation, which effectively prevents stacking of MoS2, maintaining structural stability. When employed as the working electrode for SIB, G‐MoS2 delivers a high reversible capacity of 324 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1, retaining 312 mAh g−1 over 300 cycles with an average coulombic efficiency of 99.8 %. Even when G‐MoS2 is cycled at a high current density (2.0 A g−1), the retained capacity is 175 mAh g−1 after 400 cycles. Comparison with literature reveals that these capacities are among the more promising reversible values reported for pure MoS2.
Fish predators reduce kelp frond loss via a trait‐mediated trophic cascade
Authors: Haggerty Miranda B. , Anderson Todd W. , Long Jeremy D. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractAlthough trophic cascades were originally believed to be driven only by predators eating prey, there is mounting evidence that such cascades can be generated in large part via non‐consumptive effects. This is especially important in cascades affecting habitat‐forming foundation species that in turn, influence associated communities. Here, we use laboratory and field experiments to identify a trait‐mediated indirect interaction between predators and an abundant kelp in a marine temperate reef system. Predation risk from a microcarnivorous fish, the señorita, suppressed grazing by the host‐specific seaweed limpet, which in turn, influenced frond loss of the habitat‐forming feather boa kelp. This trophic cascade was pronounced because minor amounts of limpet grazing decreased the strength required to break kelp fronds. Cues from fish predators mitigated kelp loss by decreasing limpet grazing; we found 86% of this indirect interaction between predator and kelp was attributed to the non‐consumptive effect in the laboratory and 56% when applying the same effect size calculations to the field. In field manipulations, the non‐consumptive effect of señorita was as strong as the total predator effect and most importantly, as strong as the uncaged, “open” treatment with natural levels of predators. Our findings demonstrate that the mere presence of this fish reduces frond loss of the feather boa kelp through a trait‐mediated trophic cascade. Moreover, despite large volumes of water, current flow, and wave energy, we clearly demonstrate a strong non‐consumptive effect via an apparent chemical cue from señorita, suggesting that chemically mediated trait‐driven cascades may be more prevalent in subtidal marine systems than we are currently aware.
Non‐linear shift from grassland to shrubland in temperate barrier islands
Authors: Huang Heng , Zinnert Julie C. , Wood Lauren K. , Young Donald R. , D'Odorico Paolo 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWoody plant encroachment into grasslands is a major land cover change taking place in many regions of the world, including arctic, alpine and desert ecosystems. This change in plant dominance is also affecting coastal ecosystems, including barrier islands, which are known for being vulnerable to the effects of climate change. In the last century, the woody plant species Morella cerifera L. (Myricaceae), has encroached into grass covered swales in many of the barrier islands of Virginia along the Atlantic seaboard. The abrupt shift to shrub cover in these islands could result from positive feedbacks with the physical environment, though the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. We use a combination of experimental and modeling approaches to investigate the role of climate warming and the ability of M. cerifera to mitigate its microclimate thereby leading to the emergence of alternative stable states in barrier island vegetation. Nighttime air temperatures were significantly higher in myrtle shrublands than grasslands, particularly in the winter season. The difference in the mean of the 5% and 10% lowest minimum temperatures between shrubland and grassland calculated from two independent datasets ranged from 1.3 to 2.4°C. The model results clearly show that a small increase in near‐surface temperature can induce a non‐linear shift in ecosystem state from a stable state with no shrubs to an alternative stable state dominated by M. cerifera. This modeling framework improves our understanding and prediction of barrier island vegetation stability and resilience under climate change, and highlights the existence of important nonlinearities and hystereses that limit the reversibility of this ongoing shift in vegetation dominance.
The IL‐33‐ST2‐MyD88 axis promotes regulatory T cell proliferation in the murine liver
Authors: Xu Lei , Li Wei , Wang Xiaofan , Zhang Lina , Qi Qianqian , Dong Liyang , Wei Chuan , Pu Yanan , Li Yalin , Zhu Jifeng , Zhou Sha , Liu Feng , Chen Xiaojun , Su Chuan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractHepatic Foxp3+ Treg cells are crucial for maintaining local immune homeostasis in the liver. However, the environmental cues required for hepatic Treg cell homeostasis are unclear. In this study, we showed that the IL‐33 receptor ST2 was preferentially expressed on Treg cells in the mouse liver, but it was more lowly expressed in the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, and blood. More importantly, we found that IL‐33 promoted the proliferation of hepatic Treg cells through myeloid differentiation factor MyD88 signaling concomitant with increased cyclin‐dependent kinase 4 and cyclin D1 expression. These results suggest that IL‐33 is a potential tissue‐specific factor controlling Treg cell homeostasis via increased Treg proliferation in the liver.
Is school community perception of student weight status a barrier for addressing childhood obesity?
Authors: Marks Jennifer , Barnett Lisa M. , Allender Steven 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIssue addressedSchools are a target for childhood obesity prevention strategies, yet intervention effectiveness may be hindered by school community perceptions (staff and students) and readiness to address the problem. We firstly describe students’ perception of their own weight status. Secondly, we describe school staff perceptions and preparedness to address childhood obesity in their school.MethodsMeasured and self‐report weight status were collected simultaneously from 11‐ to 14‐year‐old students (N = 339/733; RR 46%) recruited from 42 schools in Victoria, Australia. Student objective weight status was compared to self‐report. School community readiness to address childhood obesity data was collected from staff (N = 114) at all participating schools. School readiness survey data were scored and descriptive analyses conducted for further insight of derived readiness scores.ResultsUsing objective assessment, 18% (n = 62) of students were obese, but only 4% (n = 12) accurately identified themselves as obese. School communities were concerned about the problem of childhood obesity in general, yet were assessed at low stages of readiness to take action within their community. Descriptive data identified a strong focus on promoting healthy eating and physical activity through education. Further efforts to target childhood obesity appeared to be hindered by limited support, resources and engagement with the broader community.ConclusionPerceptions of childhood obesity prevalence, low stages of readiness and limited school capacity may hinder prevention strategies.So what?Perceptions of what is normal weight may have implications for prevention. Efforts must be informed by accurate weight data and require a broader community approach beyond the school environment.
Alternative Writing Worlds: The Possibilities of Personal Writing for Adolescent Writers
Authors: Johnson Latrise P. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThrough the teaching of writing, classrooms are potential sites to address personal power, welcome student ideas, and cultivate a culture of writing for many purposes. Writing that is personal invites students to explore and compose what is possible and to make connections between a subject and the self. Such writing requires a reimagining of writing instruction that recognizes the personal nature of all writing and how writing might be used to connect the learner and learning. This article illustrates how inviting students to write their worlds provides many possibilities to not only center the lived experiences of students but also reshape their relationship to writing while writing about what matters to them in the here and now.
Non‐planar projection performance evaluation and projector pose optimization
Authors: Li Dong , Wang Danli , Weng Dongdong 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIn projector applications, the actual display effect is primarily dependent on two aspects: projector performance parameters (intrinsic properties), and projector placement (extrinsic properties). Many studies have been conducted on the impact of the original resolution, illumination, and contrast ratio on projection performance. However, few studies have focused on the influence of extrinsic properties, including the position and orientation of the projector on the projection effect. In this paper, three projection performance evaluation criteria—projection resolution, resolution difference, and projection distance difference—are proposed in terms of extrinsic properties. Based on these evaluation criteria, a projection performance evaluation function was constructed. Through this function, as well as optimization employing the multi‐start and Monte Carlo methods, projector pose parameters corresponding to optimal projection effects can be obtained. Evaluations demonstrated that the proposed projection performance evaluation criteria could correctly describe the impacts of projector placement on projection effects. Projection systems arranged according to the projector pose optimization methods achieved good performance on screens in difference shapes with different numbers of projectors, where the resolution and display improved with no change of projector hardware parameters. The optimal projector poses calculated using these optimization methods can provide theoretical guidance for practical projector placement.
Lung morphometry using hyperpolarized 129Xe multi‐b diffusion MRI with compressed sensing in healthy subjects and patients with COPD
Authors: Zhang Huiting , Xie Junshuai , Xiao Sa , Zhao Xiuchao , Zhang Ming , Shi Lei , Wang Ke , Wu Guangyao , Sun Xianping , Ye Chaohui , Zhou Xin 
Published: May 2018

PurposeTo demonstrate the feasibility of compressed sensing (CS) to accelerate the acquisition of hyperpolarized (HP) 129Xe multi‐b diffusion MRI for quantitative assessments of lung microstructural morphometry.MethodsSix healthy subjects and six chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) subjects underwent HP 129Xe multi‐b diffusion MRI (b = 0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 s/cm2). First, a fully sampled (FS) acquisition of HP 129Xe multi‐b diffusion MRI was conducted in one healthy subject. The acquired FS dataset was retrospectively undersampled in the phase encoding direction, and an optimal twofold undersampled pattern was then obtained by minimizing mean absolute error (MAE) between retrospective CS (rCS) and FS MR images. Next, the FS and CS acquisitions during separate breath holds were performed on five healthy subjects (including the above one). Additionally, the FS and CS synchronous acquisitions during a single breath hold were performed on the sixth healthy subject and one COPD subject. However, only CS acquisitions were conducted in the rest of the five COPD subjects. Finally, all the acquired FS, rCS and CS MR images were used to obtain morphometric parameters, including acinar duct radius (R), acinar lumen radius (r), alveolar sleeve depth (h), mean linear intercept (Lm), and surface‐to‐volume ratio (SVR). The Wilcoxon signed‐rank test and the Bland–Altman plot were employed to assess the fidelity of the CS reconstruction. Moreover, the t‐test was used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the multi‐b diffusion MRI with CS in clinical applications.ResultsThe retrospective results demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference between rCS and FS measurements using the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test (P > 0.05). Good agreement between measurements obtained with the CS and FS acquisitions during separate breath holds was demonstrated in Bland–Altman plots of slice differences. Specifically, the mean biases of the R, r, h, Lm, and SVR between the CS and FS acquisitions were 1.0%, 2.6%, −0.03%, 1.5%, and −5.5%, respectively. Good agreement between measurements with the CS and FS acquisitions was also observed during the single breath‐hold experiments. Furthermore, there were significant differences between the morphometric parameters for the healthy and COPD subjects (P < 0.05).ConclusionsOur study has shown that HP 129Xe multi‐b diffusion MRI with CS could be beneficial in lung microstructural assessments by acquiring less data while maintaining the consistent results with the FS acquisitions.
Preliminary assessment of stable nitrogen and oxygen isotopic composition of USGS51 and USGS52 nitrous oxide reference gases and perspectives on calibration needs
Authors: Ostrom Nathaniel E. , Gandhi Hasand , Coplen Tyler B. , Toyoda Sakae , Böhlke J.K. , Brand Willi A. , Casciotti Karen L. , Dyckmans Jens , Giesemann Anette , Mohn Joachim , Well Reinhard , Yu Longfei , Yoshida Naohiro 
Published: May 2018

RationaleDespite a long history and growing interest in isotopic analyses of N2O, there is a lack of isotopically characterized N2O isotopic reference materials (standards) to enable normalization and reporting of isotope‐delta values. Here we report the isotopic characterization of two pure N2O gas reference materials, USGS51 and USGS52, which are now available for laboratory calibration (https://isotopes.usgs.gov/lab/referencematerials.html).MethodsA total of 400 sealed borosilicate glass tubes of each N2O reference gas were prepared from a single gas filling of a high vacuum line. We demonstrated isotopic homogeneity via dual‐inlet isotope‐ratio mass spectrometry. Isotopic analyses of these reference materials were obtained from eight laboratories to evaluate interlaboratory variation and provide preliminary isotopic characterization of their δ15N, δ18O, δ15Nα, δ15Nβ and site preference (SP) values.ResultsThe isotopic homogeneity of both USGS51 and USGS52 was demonstrated by one‐sigma standard deviations associated with the determinations of their δ15N, δ18O, δ15Nα, δ15Nβ and SP values of 0.12 mUr or better. The one‐sigma standard deviations of SP measurements of USGS51 and USGS52 reported by eight laboratories participating in the interlaboratory comparison were 1.27 and 1.78 mUr, respectively.ConclusionsThe agreement of isotope‐delta values obtained in the interlaboratory comparison was not sufficient to provide reliable accurate isotope measurement values for USGS51 and USGS52. We propose that provisional values for the isotopic composition of USGS51 and USGS52 determined at the Tokyo Institute of Technology can be adopted for normalizing and reporting sample data until further refinements are achieved through additional calibration efforts.
In vitro nematicidal effect of Chenopodium ambrosioides and Castela tortuosa n-hexane extracts against Haemonchus contortus (Nematoda) and their anthelmintic effect in gerbils
Authors: Zamilpa A. , García-Alanís C. , López-Arellano M.E. , Hernández-Velázquez V.M. , Valladares-Cisneros M.G. , Salinas-Sánchez D.O. , Mendoza-de Gives P. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe in vitro nematicidal effect of Chenopodium ambrosioides and Castela tortuosa n-hexane extracts (E-Cham and E-Cato, respectively) on Haemonchus contortus infective larvae (L3) and the anthelmintic effect of these extracts against the pre-adult stage of the parasite in gerbils were evaluated using both individual and combined extracts. The in vitro confrontation between larvae and extracts was performed in 24-well micro-titration plates. The results were considered 24 and 72 h post confrontation. The in vivo nematicidal effect was examined using gerbils as a study model. The extracts from the two assessed plants were obtained through maceration using n-hexane as an organic agent. Gerbils artificially infected with H. contortus L3 were treated intraperitoneally with the corresponding extract either individually or in combination. The results showed that the highest individual lethal in vitro effect (96.3%) was obtained with the E-Cham extract at 72 h post confrontation at 40 mg/ml, followed by E-Cato (78.9%) at 20 mg/ml after 72 h. The highest combined effect (98.7%) was obtained after 72 h at 40 mg/ml. The in vivo assay showed that the individual administration of the E-Cato and E-Cham extracts reduced the parasitic burden in gerbils by 27.1% and 45.8%, respectively. Furthermore, the anthelmintic efficacy increased to 57.3% when both extracts were administered in combination. The results of the present study show an important combined nematicidal effect of the two plant extracts assessed against L3 in gerbils.
Food insecurity and depressive symptoms of older adults living alone in South Korea
Authors: KIM YOUNGMI , PARK AELY , KIM KYEONGMO 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTIn South Korea, the number of older adults living alone is rapidly increasing with the growth of the ageing population. Although there is some evidence of a link between financial strain and depression in this population, there is limited empirical evidence on the relationship between food insecurity and depression in older adults living alone despite the fact that they have a high prevalence of food insecurity and tend to seek food assistance. This study aims to investigate whether food insecurity explains depressive symptoms in Korean older adults living alone. We employed data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study collected from a large-scale national sample in South Korea. Our sample consisted of 815 older adults aged 65 or older who lived alone. Conducting ordinary least square regression analyses, we tested the main effect of food insecurity on depression and the interaction effect of food insecurity and low income. We found that the relationship between food insecurity and depressive symptoms differed by low-income status (b = 6.27, p = 0.047). The association was significant only in the low-income group (b = 1.37, p = 0.04). These findings suggest that protecting access to food may be a promising strategy to lessen depressive symptoms associated with financial strain among older adults living alone.
Are soils under monodominant Gilbertiodendron dewevrei and under adjacent mixed forests similar? A case study in the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Lokonda Michel , Freycon Vincent , Gourlet-Fleury Sylvie , Kombele Ferdinand 
Published: May 2018

Abstract:Soil has been proposed as a driver explaining the development of monodominant forests in the tropics, for example, Gilbertiodendron dewevrei forests (GDF) in central Africa. The aim of this study was to compare the physical and chemical properties of soils under GDF with those under an adjacent mixed forest (AMF), while controlling for topography. To this end, we set up sixteen 0.25-ha plots according to forest type and topography (plateau vs. bottomland), in the Yoko forest reserve, Democratic Republic of Congo. In each plot, we measured litter thickness and collected a total of 80 soil samples at depths of 0–5, 5–10, 10–20, 20–40 and 120–150 cm, for standard physical and chemical analyses. When controlling for topography and soil texture, we found that most of the chemical properties of soils under GDF did not differ from those of soils under AMF, particularly acidity, cation concentration, total N and the C:N ratio. The litter layer was 2.3 times thicker under GDF than under AMF stands, and, for a given texture, soils under GDF had a slightly higher organic C concentration in the 0–5 cm soil layer. This study suggests that G. dewevrei stands modify organic matter dynamics, which may be important in maintaining its monodominance.
NGO grassroots participatory approaches to promoting sustainable agriculture: reality or Myth in Ghana's Upper-West Region?
Authors: Beyuo Alexis 
Published: May 2018

AbstractMany NGOs pride themselves with their ability to use grassroots participatory approaches when working with economically disadvantaged farmers. I asked whether current participatory approaches could be relied on to promote sustainable agriculture among subsistence farmers in Ghana's Upper-West Region. To ascertain this, I employed Arnstein's (2015) ladder of citizen participation as a theoretical basis. A two-phase exploratory sequential mixed method design was also used. Phase one consisted of a qualitative comparative analysis of the various participatory approaches of two purposively sampled NGOs using FGDs and in-depth interviews. In phase two, themes from phase one guided the formulation of a structured questionnaire, which ascertained the differences in grassroots participatory approaches between the two identified NGOs and how these differences influenced the likelihood of their respective beneficiary farmers adopting sustainable agronomic practices using chi-square and logistic regression. Findings show statistically significant associations between grassroots participation and farmers’ adoption of sustainable agronomic practices. The findings suggest that farmers who were engaged in higher levels of Arnstein's (2015) typology of participation were more likely to adopt sustainable agronomic practices than those who minimally participated. This suggests that development interventions can be most beneficial to the grassroots when intended beneficiaries fully participate in them.