bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Public trust and Global Biobank Networks
Authors: Dive Lisa , Critchley Christine , Otlowski Margaret , Mason Paul , Wiersma Miriam , Light Edwina , Kerridge Ian , Lipworth Wendy 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Biobanks provide an important foundation for genomic and personalised medicine. In order to enhance their scientific power and scope, they are increasingly becoming part of national or international networks. Public trust is essential in fostering public engagement, encouraging donation to, and facilitating public funding for biobanks. Globalisation and networking of biobanking may challenge this trust. We report the results of an Australian study examining public attitudes to the networking and globalisation of biobanks in order to determine factors that may contribute to, and threaten, trust. Our results indicate a generally high level of trust in biobanks and in medical research more broadly. Key factors that can reduce perceived trustworthiness of biobanks are commercialisation and involvement in global networking. However, robust ethical oversight and governance standards can both promote trust in global biobanking and ensure that this trust is warranted.
Solitary Fibrofolliculoma of the Upper Eyelid in a 68-year Old Female: A Case Report
Authors: Wang Wenqiu , Cheng Jinwei 
Published: September 2019

Abstract
Background : Fibrofolliculoma is a benign, perifollicular, connective tissue tumor, and it usually arises in the form of multiple lesions, but rarely as a solitary lesion. We report a case of solitary fibrofolliculoma on the eyelid.
Case presentation: A 68-year-old female presented with an asymptomatic mass on the right upper eyelid. The lesion appeared as a flesh-colored, dome-shaped, smooth nodule being the size of 5×5×4 mm, with eyelashes protruding from the surface, and located on the upper lid margin. Shave excision was performed, and the diagnosis of fibrofolliculoma was confirmed finally through histological exam.
Conclusions: Solitary fibrofolliculomas rarely arises on the eyelid. However, it should be suspected when a flesh-colored and doom-shaped lesion of the eyelid is encountered. The benign tumor on the lid margin can be removed by shave biopsy.
Increased Duration of Drying–Rewetting Cycles Increases Nitrate Removal in Woodchip Bioreactors
Authors: Maxwell Bryan M. , Birgand François , Schipper Louis A. , Christianson Laura E. , Tian Shiying , Helmers Matthew J. , Williams David J. , Chescheir George M. , Youssef Mohamed A. 
Published: September 2019

Core Ideas
Nitrate removal in woodchips increased linearly with drying–rewetting duration.
Nitrate removal increased up to 172% in the longest drying–rewetting duration.
Nitrate removal rates increased proportionally with dissolved organic C leaching.
A previously reported experiment showed weekly drying–rewetting (DRW) cycles increase nitrate removal rates in woodchip‐based denitrifying bioreactors. A follow‐up experiment determined the effect of duration of unsaturated conditions on nitrate removal after rewetting. Three different levels of DRW duration were tested in a 105‐d column experiment (n = 2), with woodchips left unsaturated once a week for either 2 h, 8 h, or 24 h. Increasing duration of unsaturated conditions significantly increased nitrate removal rates. The longest DRW duration of 24 h resulted in the greatest increase in nitrate removal rates, relative to constantly saturated woodchips, with mean rate increases reaching 172% by the end of the experiment. Results suggest nitrate removal in denitrifying bioreactors is carbon limited, with labile carbon made available during aerobic periods of DRW cycles the most likely cause of observed rate increases. Both studies show DRW cycles dramatically increase the nitrate removal efficiency of denitrifying bioreactors.
Lasting Effects of Wildfire on Disinfection By‐Product Formation in Forest Catchments
Authors: Chow Alex T. , Tsai Kuo‐Pei , Fegel Timothy S. , Pierson Derek N. , Rhoades Charles C. 
Published: September 2019

Severe wildfires often have dramatic short‐term effects on water quality, although there is increasing evidence that in some catchments their effects can persist for many years. Forest recovery after the 2002 Hayman Fire burned catchments that supply drinking water to over a half million users in Denver, CO, has been extremely slow and has caused persistent water quality concerns. To evaluate whether postfire water quality changes increase the potential to form undesirable by‐products of water disinfection, we compared stream water from eight burned catchments within the Hayman Fire and five adjacent unburned catchments. We tested dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations and the formation of disinfection by‐products (trihalomethanes [THMs], haloacetonitriles [HANs], chloral hydrate [CHD, and haloketones [HKTs]) in stream water monthly during 2014 and 2015. Stream DOC, THMs, and CHD and specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254) were elevated in catchments with a moderate extent of high‐severity wildfire (8–46% of catchment area) relative to catchments that were unburned and those that burned more extensively (>74% of catchment area) 14 yr after the fire. In contrast, formation of highly toxic but unregulated nitrogenous HANs increased linearly with wildfire extent. Although these findings should not raise concern regarding drinking water safety, they highlight the long‐term influences of high severity wildfire on source water C content, composition, and treatability.Core Ideas
Wildfire impacts on source water quality could last over a decade.
Formation of highly toxic nitrogenous DBP precursors increased linearly with wildfire extent.
DBP formation was highest in streams draining moderately burned catchments.
Forage Accumulation, Nutritive Value, and Botanical Composition of Grass–Cicer Milkvetch Mixtures under Two Harvest Managements
Authors: Foster Allan , Biligetu Bill , Darambazar Enkhjargal 
Published: September 2019

ABSTRACTLimited information is available on cicer milkvetch (CMV, Astragalus cicer L.) performance in mixtures with grasses. A field trial was sown at Melfort, SK, Canada, in May 2013 to evaluate forage accumulation, nutritive value, and botanical composition of different mixtures of grasses and CMV under two‐cut and three‐cut harvest management from 2014 to 2017. Thirteen forage mixtures consisted of (i) monocultures of Bromus riparius Rehm. (MB), Bromus riparius Rehm. × B. inermis Leyss. (HB), Agropyron cristatum (L.) (CWG), Agropyron intermedium Beauv. (IWG), and CMV; (ii) binary mixtures of each of the grass + CMV; (iii) a four‐grass mixture (MB, HB, CWG, and IWG) (Mix 4); (iv) Mix 4 + CMV (Mix 5); (v) a six‐grass mixture (Mix 4) + Dactylis glomerata L. and Phleum pratense L. (Mix 6); and (vi) Mix 6 + CMV (Mix 7). The two‐cut system resulted in greater total forage accumulation (10.3 ± 2.8 Mg ha−1) compared with the three‐cut system (8.6 ± 2.3 Mg ha−1) with the exception of 2017. On average, grass mixtures containing CMV and CMV monoculture (11.1 ± 1.7 Mg ha−1) had greater forage accumulation than grass monocultures and grass only mixtures (7.5 ± 2.4 Mg ha−1). Cicer milkvetch dominated in all mixtures (44.0–68.8% of forage mass) in 2016 compared with its initial proportion of 2.1 to 31.2%. Concentration of crude protein was significantly increased with the inclusion of CMV compared with the grass‐only treatments. Acid detergent fiber and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations were similar, but mixtures without CMV tended to have a greater NDF concentration. In conclusion, the inclusion of CMV in forage mixtures increased forage accumulation and protein concentration. Binary CMV–grass mixtures produced similar or greater forage accumulation than more complex CMV–grass mixtures.
Vegetation Restoration Alters the Diversity and Community Composition of Soil Nitrogen‐Fixing Microorganisms in the Loess Hilly Region of China
Authors: Xu Yadong , Zhang Wei , Zhong Zekun , Guo Shujuan , Han Xinhui , Yang Gaihe , Ren Chengjie , Chen Zhengxing , Dai Yinyue , Qiao Wenjing 
Published: September 2019

Core Ideas
Vegetation restoration altered the diversity and structure of the N‐fixing microbial community.
Dominant phyla changed from Actinobacteria in farmland to Proteobacteria in revegetation types.
The N to P ratio was the key environmental factor regarding the composition of N‐fixing microorganisms.
Study data can be a reference for developing N‐fixing microbial fertilizers suitable for this region.
In this study, we determined the variations in the diversity and structure of nitrogen‐fixing microorganisms during afforestation and how this variability correlates with the soil physicochemical factors. Soils were sampled from replicated plots representing three revegetation types (Robinia pseudoacacia L. [Rp], Caragana korshinskii Kom [Ck], and abandoned land) with adjacent farmland as the control at a research site in Ansai District, Yan'an City, Shaanxi Province, China. Using high‐throughput sequencing of the nifH rRNA gene, we found that revegetation significantly increased the Shannon diversity index, and for the richness index Chao1 was highest in Ck and have no significant difference in other three lands. From farmland to vegetation types abandoned land, Ck, and Rp, the dominant phylum of nifH microorganisms changed from Actinobacteria to Proteobacteria. Furthormore, variation in the Chao1 richness index was significantly influenced by pH (p = 0.002), soil organic carbon (SOC; p = 0.025) and total nitrogen (TN; p = 0.015). The Shannon diversity index was significantly influenced by SOC, nitrate nitrogen (NN), C to P ratio, TN, AN, N to P ratio, TP, and sand. The changes of nifH microorganism composition at the phylum level were significantly correlated with the soil N to P ratio, which explained 53.1% of the variation among environmental factors (F = 11.8, p = 0.002). The ratio of N to P (interpretation rate 65.2%, F = 18.8, p = 0.002) was also a key factor that influenced the composition at the genus level. Based on the diversity and composition, Ck was a more advantageous recovery method to increase the capacity for N fixation. This study provides a basis for the study of N‐fixation characteristics in the Loess Hilly Region.
Biochar, Manure, and Sawdust Alter Long‐Term Water Retention Dynamics in Degraded Soil
Authors: Lentz Rodrick D. , Ippolito James A. , Lehrsch Gary A. 
Published: September 2019

Core Ideas
Biochar's long‐term water retention effects on soil are poorly understood.
The temporal effects of biochar, manure, and sawdust on water differed.
Biochar and nonpyrolized organics all had long‐lasting effects on water.
Water retention dynamics were influenced by the repellency and particle size of the material.
Water retention in the first or second years may not reflect the material's long‐term potential.
Biochars are porous but more recalcitrant than nonpyrolyzed organic materials, possibly causing more persistent alterations to soil water dynamics. In this 6‐yr outdoor study, we amended an irrigated calcareous silt loam with a single 1 or 2% dry weight application of hardwood biochar, manure, sawdust, or acidified sawdust; 1% biochar + 2% manure; or a control. Soil water retention and plant‐available water (PAW, g H2O per g dry soil) were measured in spring. Across all years, 1% biochar + 2% manure produced the greatest PAW (0.262), with PAW in the order: 1% biochar + 2% manure > 2% rates > 1% rates > control (0.222). In most years, the 2% treatments increased PAW relative to the control. The PAW ratios (treatment PAW/mean annual control PAW) for the 2% rates varied with amendment and year (P < 0.0001): 2% manure peaked in Year 1, declining to a minimum in Year 3; the other 2% treatments were least in Year 1 and peaked between Years 3 and 5; 1% biochar + 2% manure consistently had a ratio near the maximum. Amendment effects on soil water retention were immediate but the peak benefits were delayed because of the differing hydrophobicity of the original materials and their particle sizes, where greater sizes slowed the removal of hydrophobic surface coatings. Biochar's effects on PAW were no more persistent than those of nonpyrolyzed amendments; however, adding biochar and manure had a mutually stabilizing effect, producing a large, more consistent retention increase over time.
Returning Cotton Stalks to the Field Increases Residual Plastic Film in Oasis Agroecosystems under Long‐term Mulched Drip Irrigation
Authors: Zhang Jinzhu , He Huaijie , Wang Zhenhua , Fan Bihang , Zheng Xurong , Li Wenhao , Lin Henry , Guo Li 
Published: September 2019

Core Ideas
Residual plastic film (RPF) was measured in cotton fields following varied years of mulched drip irrigation.
The amount of large RPF pieces >30 cm2 (or 50–100 mg) at 0 to 15 cm increased by 20% (or 10%) after cotton stalks were returned.
Small film fragments accumulated in the tillage layer as the number of years of drip mulching increased.
Returning cotton stalks to the field benefits yield, but strongly impacted the amount and distribution of RPF.
The difficult recovery of RPF should be taken into account for ensuring sustainable oasis agriculture and reducing soil pollution.
After the long‐term practice of dripping irrigation under plastic film (also called mulched drip irrigation) in Xinjiang, efficient recovery of the residual plastic film (RPF) becomes a grand challenge. This is especially true for cotton fields where RPF amount has significantly exceeded China's National Standard and caused severe soil pollution. Here, we examined the RPF in cotton fields in a typical oasis agroecosystem in Xinjiang with different lengths of time of mulching practice (5, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 19 yr). We documented the amount and distribution of the RPF at 0‐ to 40‐cm depth via six field sampling events in 2016 and 2017, before and after cotton stalks were returned to the field. The density of the RPF of six sampling plots in 2016 was 121.85, 215.85, 250.63, 294.17, 327.83, and 352.38 kg ha−1, rising from 5 to 19 yr of mulched drip irrigation, which further increased by 18.92, 16.75, 16.59, 17.82, 19.25, and 16.95 kg ha−1 in 2017. As years of mulching increased, small RPF fragments accumulated in the tillage layer due to low efficient recovery of the film. In addition, returning cotton stalks to the field intensified the downward movement of RPF to deeper soil depths. The amount of large RPF of 30 cm2 per piece in the 0‐ to 15‐cm soil depth increased by 20% after cotton stalks were returned to the field; those of weight 50 to 100 mg per piece similarly increased by 10%. The fragmentation and accumulation of larger RPF pieces at depth could further challenge film recovery. To mitigate the soil pollution problems caused by the RPF and to ensure the sustainable development of the oasis agriculture, biodegradable film or thicker plastic film are suggested as an alternative of the thin plastic film in mulching practice.
Modeling Inorganic Soil Nitrogen Status in Maize Agroecosystems
Authors: Banger Kamaljit , Nafziger Emerson D. , Wang Junming , Pittelkow Cameron M. 
Published: September 2019

Core Ideas
DSSAT was calibrated for simulating soil N concentration during the maize growing season.
Two‐step validation included research experiments and 49 commercial maize fields.
Model performance was fair in predicting SOM mineralization and N management impacts.
The model captured effects of early season rainfall on soil N variability across sites.
Farmers have limited knowledge of inorganic soil nitrogen (N) concentration during maize (Zea mays L.) growth in the US Midwest, particularly after periods of wet spring weather. The objectives of this study were to calibrate the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) model for predicting inorganic soil N concentration using data from three field experiments in Illinois, to evaluate model performance against three independent sites and additional data from 49 commercial maize fields, and to assess the impacts of rainfall variability on the predicted decrease in soil N concentration early in the growing season. Model calibration included adjustments to soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition parameters based on predicted soil organic carbon concentration (obtained from gSSURGO) and soil drainage rates. Model performance was considered “fair” in predicting SOM mineralization dynamics and the effects of fall vs. spring N fertilizer application across the validation datasets (normalized RMSE, 21.2–25.7%). The model also captured the variability in soil N concentration across 49 commercial fields (R2 = 0.68–0.88; slope, 0.99–1.24), with higher cumulative rainfall from January to July (>800 mm) reducing predicted soil N availability compared with fields receiving less rainfall (500–600 mm). Results suggest that DSSAT has the potential to estimate soil N availability across variable weather patterns, soil properties, and fertilizer management scenarios in Illinois. However, future work is needed to further improve model accuracy, especially if it is to be used as a decision support tool for farmers.
Clinical Applications of Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs): Where do we Stand Now?
Authors: Divyashree Mithoor , Mani Madhu K. , Reddy Dhanasekhar , Kumavath Ranjith , Ghosh Preetam , Azevedo Vasco , Barh Debmalya 
Published: September 2019

:
In this era of multi-drug resistance (MDR), antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are one of the
most promising classes of potential drug candidates to combat communicable as well as noncommunicable
diseases such as cancers and diabetes. AMPs show a wide spectrum of biological
activities which include antiviral, antifungal, anti-mitogenic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory
properties. Apart from these prospective therapeutic potentials, the AMPs can act as food
preservatives and immune modulators. Therefore, AMPs have the potential to replace conventional
drugs and may gain a significant global drug market share. Although several AMPs have shown
therapeutic potential in vitro or in vivo, in most cases they have failed the clinical trial owing to
various issues. In this review, we discuss in brief (i) molecular mechanisms of AMPs in various
diseases, (ii) importance of AMPs in pharmaceutical industries, (iii) the challenges in using AMPs
as therapeutics and how to overcome, (iv) available AMP therapeutics in market, and (v) AMPs
under clinical trials. Here, we specifically focus on the therapeutic AMPs in the areas of
dermatology, surgery, oncology and metabolic diseases.
Effects of Huangkui Capsule on the Expression of SPARC in the Kidney Tissue of a Rat Model with Diabetic Nephropathy
Authors: Yang Xiaoyao , Luo Meng , Jiang Qinghua , Wang Yiwei 
Published: September 2019

Objective:
The objective of the research is to investigate the effects of Huangkui capsule on
the expression of SPARC in the kidney tissues of diabetic nephropathy.

Methods:
SD rats were divided into three groups: normal control group, untreated DN group and
HKC-treated DN group. The therapeutic effects and underlying molecular mechanism of HKC on DN
rats induced by streptozotocin were evaluated by the levels of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen,
24-hour urinary protein and the expression of SPARC. Pathological changes in kidney tissues were
observed through hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining. Moreover, western blot and quantitative real-time
polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were applied to detect the variation of SPARC.

Results:
This study was performed to investigate the effects of HKC on DN in SD rats model and its
molecular mechanism. Our results showed that the rats treated with HKC had an improved general
state and reduced creatinine, blood urea nitrogen and 24-hour urinary protein levels. The deterioration
of renal function was delayed due to treatment with HKC. HE staining was utilized to observe that
HKC can improve histopathological findings in the kidney tissues of DN rats, including kidney fibrosis.
Results of western blot and qRT-PCR showed that HKC can inhibit the expressions of SPARC in
the rat model of DN.

Conclusion:
The present findings demonstrated that HKC inhibited SPARC level and had significant
therapeutic effects on DN.
A Mendelian Randomization Study on Infant Length and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Risk
Authors: Zhuang He , Zhang Ying , Yang Shuo , Cheng Liang , Liu Shu-Lin 
Published: September 2019

Objective:
Infant length (IL) is a positively associated phenotype of type 2 diabetes mellitus
(T2DM), but the causal relationship of which is still unclear. Here, we applied a Mendelian randomization
(MR) study to explore the causal relationship between IL and T2DM, which has the potential to
provide guidance for assessing T2DM activity and T2DM- prevention in young at-risk populations.

Materials and Methods:
To classify the study, a two-sample MR, using genetic instrumental variables
(IVs) to explore the causal effect was applied to test the influence of IL on the risk of T2DM. In this
study, MR was carried out on GWAS data using 8 independent IL SNPs as IVs. The pooled odds ratio
(OR) of these SNPs was calculated by the inverse-variance weighted method for the assessment of the
risk the shorter IL brings to T2DM. Sensitivity validation was conducted to identify the effect of individual
SNPs. MR-Egger regression was used to detect pleiotropic bias of IVs.

Results:
The pooled odds ratio from the IVW method was 1.03 (95% CI 0.89-1.18, P = 0.0785), low
intercept was -0.477, P = 0.252, and small fluctuation of ORs ranged from -0.062 ((0.966 - 1.03) /
1.03) to 0.05 ((1.081 - 1.03) / 1.03) in leave-one-out validation.

Conclusion:
We validated that the shorter IL causes no additional risk to T2DM. The sensitivity analysis
and the MR-Egger regression analysis also provided adequate evidence that the above result was
not due to any heterogeneity or pleiotropic effect of IVs.
Size of the Adult HIV-Infected Population Adjusted for the Unreported AIDS Mortality in the Santa Catarina State, Brazil, 2008-2017
Authors: Tombini Larissa Hermes Thomas , Kupek Emil 
Published: September 2019

Objective:
To estimate the number of 15-79-year-old individuals infected with HIV in the
Santa Catarina state, Brazil, during the period 2008-2017.

Methods:
Three official registers of the HIV-infected individuals were compiled: SINAN for the
HIV/AIDS epidemiological surveillance, SIM for mortality and SISCEL for the HIV viral load and
CD4/CD8 cell count. Their records were linked by a unique personal identifier. Capture-recapture
estimates were obtained by log-linear modelling with both the main effects and interaction between
the registers, adjusted for age, sex and period. An adjustment for underreporting of AIDS-related
deaths used published data on ill-defined causes of death and AIDS mortality.

Results:
After data sorting, 67340 HIV/AIDS records were identified: 29734 (44.2%) by SINAN,
5540 (8.2%) by SIM and 32066 (47.6%) by SISCEL. After record linkage, the HIV population size
was estimated at 45707, whereas the capture-recapture method added 44 individuals. The number of
new HIV/AIDS notifications per year increased significantly in 2014-2017 compared to the period
2011-2013 among 15-34-year-old men and less so for older men and women. Including 1512 unreported
AIDS-related deaths gave an estimated 47263 HIV-infected individuals with 95% confidence
interval (CI) of 47245-47282 and corresponding incidence of 93 (95% CI 91-96) p/100000. Case ascertainment
of 62.9%, 78.5% and 67.8% was estimated for SINAN, SIM and SISCEL, respectively.

Conclusion:
Three major HIV/AIDS registers in Brazil showed significant under-notification of the
HIV/AIDS epidemiological surveillance amenable to significant improvement by routine record
linkage.