bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Microbial regulation of soil carbon properties under nitrogen addition and plant inputs removal
Authors: Wu Ran , Cheng Xiaoqin , Zhou Wensong , Han Hairong 
Published: July 2019

Background
Soil microbial communities and their associated enzyme activities play key roles in carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. Soil microbial communities are sensitive to resource availability, but the mechanisms of microbial regulation have not been thoroughly investigated. Here, we tested the mechanistic relationships between microbial responses and multiple interacting resources.

Methods
We examined soil carbon properties, soil microbial community structure and carbon-related functions under nitrogen addition and plant inputs removal (litter removal (NL), root trench and litter removal (NRL)) in a pure Larix principis-rupprechtii plantation in northern China.

Results
We found that nitrogen addition affected the soil microbial community structure, and that microbial biomass increased significantly once 100 kg ha−1 a−1 of nitrogen was added. The interactions between nitrogen addition and plant inputs removal significantly affected soil bacteria and their enzymatic activities (oxidases). The NL treatment enhanced soil microbial biomass under nitrogen addition. We also found that the biomass of gram-negative bacteria and saprotrophic fungi directly affected the soil microbial functions related to carbon turnover. The biomass of gram-negative bacteria and peroxidase activity were key factors controlling soil carbon dynamics. The interactions between nitrogen addition and plant inputs removal strengthened the correlation between the hydrolases and soil carbon.

Conclusions
This study showed that nitrogen addition and plant inputs removal could alter soil enzyme activities and further affect soil carbon turnover via microbial regulation. The increase in soil microbial biomass and the microbial regulation of soil carbon both need to be considered when developing effective sustainable forest management practices for northern China. Moreover, further studies are also needed to exactly understand how the complex interaction between the plant and below-ground processes affects the soil microbial community structure.
Application of a Community Diagnosis Survey Approach to the Assessment of Adolescent Health at Korle Worko, Accra, Ghana
Authors: Tette Edem M. A. , Yarney Elom , Aluze-Ele Simon , Adomako Michael , Owusu Alex Barimah 
Published: July 2019

Background: Adolescent health has assumed greater significance globally since adolescents bear a considerable proportion of the global disease and injury burden. Thus investing in their health can yield substantial benefit. Community surveys are useful tools for identifying the needs of adolescents and promoting their health.
Objective: This study was part of a medical education programme with the objective of identifying health and social problems of adolescents living in Korle Worko, a suburb of Accra, Ghana.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 using structured questionnaires which were administered to 729 heads of households and 228 adolescents. Weight and height measurements were performed on the adolescents, while key informant interviews were also conducted among community elders and adolescents. Community mapping and pair-wise matrix construction were done. The data was summarized using SPSS and Geographic Information Systems.
Results: The most commonly reported health complaints of adolescents were stomach ache, common cold, skin rashes, sadness or crying a lot, lack of concentration and hearing problems or earache. Asthma was the most common chronic diseases reported. Whereas 22.7% of the females were either overweight or obese, 7.4% of the males were overweight or obese and the difference was statistically significant (p=0.002). The spatial pattern of alcohol use correlates with drug abuse, suggesting that adolescent risky behaviour may be influenced by antisocial behaviour in the community at large.
Conclusion: Over-nutrition, under-nutrition, abdominal, respiratory and mental health problems were prominent findings in this study. Therefore, adolescent health services should target these diseases. Additionally, efforts at preventing lifestyle related risk factors should also target the areas of influence within the community.
Short Term Outcome of Extracorporeal and Intracorporeal Anastomosis in Laparoscopic Colorectal Surgeries – A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Chalkoo Mushtaq , Arsalan Syed Shakeeb , Rather Zahid Mohd , Yousuf Awhad Mueed , Bhat Aabid Rasool , Ganie Imtiyaz Ahmad 
Published: July 2019

Aim of Study: Laparoscopic colorectal surgery has gained popularity around the Globe. Laparoscopic colectomy significantly improves the short term and long term outcomes of patients. The bowel anastomosis after laparoscopic resection of the tumour can be done in two ways - extracorporeal anastomosis and Intracorporeal anastomosis. Our study observed and evaluated the data of the patients who underwent these two techniques.
Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in the department of General Surgery, SMHS hospital of Government Medical College, Srinagar. A total of 32 patients were studied out of which 20 patients had undergone intracorporeal anastomosis and 12 patients had undergone extracorporeal anastomosis. The aims of the study were to assess the operative time, post-operative ileus, length of hospital stay, anastomotic leak and other anastomotic complications,wound infections and extraction site hernias.
Results: The patients in our study were in the range of 30-85 years with a mean age of 59.18 ± 14.92. and 59.4% of patients were males and the rest 40.6% were females, with male/female ratio of 1.46:1. There was no significant difference in mean operative time between the intracorporeal group and extracorporeal group (188±9.78 minutes’ vs.180.3±13.8 minutes). The patients in the intracorporeal group had earlier return of bowel function than extracorporeal group as reflected by earlier appreciation of flatus and tolerance to orals. This had led to the shorter hospital stay of the intracorporeal group than the extracorporeal group of patients (median of 5 days vs. 6.5 days) The wound infection rate was 6.3 percent in our study, 5.0% in the intracorporeal group and 8.3% in the extracorporeal group. Only 1 out of the total 32 patients developed mesenteric twist to the extracorporeal group (1 out of 12 patients). We observed no leak or incisional hernia in either groups.
Conclusion: Intracorporeal anastomosis in laparoscopic colorectal surgeries leads to earlier return of bowel function, earlier resumption of orals and shorter hospital stay than the extracorporeal anastomosis. There does not exist a significant difference between the two modes of anastomosis in terms of anastomotic and wound related complications.
Effects of Fruit Thinning and Main Stem Pruning in Melon Crops
Authors: Silva Gleyce Lacerda da , Queiroga Roberto Cleiton Fernandes , Pereira Francisco Hevilásio Freire , Sousa Francimalba Francilda de , Silva Zaqueu Lopes da , Ferreira Rayana Pereira , Oliveira Odair Honorato de 
Published: July 2019

Objective: This study aimed to assess the productivity and quality of a melon crop treated with fruit thinning and main stem pruning under field conditions.
Experimental Design: The treatments comprised the amount of fruit thinning in the plant (one, two and without thinning) and the period of main stem pruning (35, 40, 45 and 50 days after transplanting - DAT). The crop was set up in a randomized block design factorial of type 3x4, with five replications.
Location and Duration of the Study: The experiment carried out at the Center for Agrifood Science and Technology (CCTA) of the Federal University of Campina Grande (UFCG), Campus Pombal - PB, Brazil, from December 2016 to February 2017.
Methodology: The Hopey King hybrid of the Cantaloupe group was cultivated at a spacing of 2.0 x 0.4 m.
Results: The plants without thinning of fruits provided lower values ​​of leaf area and fruits of lower mass. However, due to their higher quantity per hectare, the crop total productivity was high. On the other hand, plants with fewer fruits had the highest values ​​of soluble solids, total and non-reducing soluble sugars. The leaf area, fruit mass, total productivity, and the concentration of reducing and non-reducing soluble sugars were higher when the plants were pruned at 35 DAT.
Conclusion: The fruit thinning and main stem pruning affected the production and quality of melon fruits significantly. For more demanding markets, we recommend to treat the plants with one or two fruits and prune at 35 days after transplantation, aiming to enhance the quality variables.
Stimuli‐Responsive Scaffold for Breast Cancer Treatment Combining Accurate Photothermal Therapy and Adipose Tissue Regeneration
Authors: Bai Guo , Yuan Pingyun , Cai Bolei , Qiu Xinyu , Jin Ronghua , Liu Shiyu , Li Yan , Chen Xin 
Published: July 2019

AbstractDevelopment of new therapeutic scaffolds to selectively destruct tumors under gentle conditions meanwhile promoting adipose tissue formation would be a promising strategy for clinical treatment of breast cancer. Herein, a stimuli‐responsive scaffold composed of polyacrylic acid‐g‐polylactic acid (PAA‐g‐PLLA) modified graphene oxide (GO) with a cleavable bond in between (GO‐PAA‐g‐PLLA), gambogic acid (GA), and polycaprolactone (PCL) is fabricated and then preseeded on adipose‐derived stem cells (ADSCs) for breast cancer treatment. This GO–GA‐polymer scaffold is able to simultaneously perform pH‐triggered low temperature (45 °C) photothermal therapy to selectively induce the apoptosis of tumor cells and significantly improve ADSCs growth without any photothermal damage. The low‐temperature photothermal therapy of the scaffolds can induce more than 95% of cell death for human breast cancer (MCF‐7) in vitro, which further completely inhibits tumor growth and finally eliminates tumor tissue in mice. Meanwhile, the prepared GO–GA‐polymer scaffold possesses the improved capability to stimulate the differentiation of ADSCs into adipocytes by upregulating adipo‐related gene expression, and significantly promotes new adipose tissue formation whether with or without NIR irradiation. These results successfully demonstrate that the prepared GO–GA‐polymer scaffolds with bifunctional properties will be a promising candidate for clinical cases involving both tumor treatment and tissue engineering.
One‐Pot Synthesis of Unsaturated Polyester Bioelastomer with Controllable Material Curing for Microscale Designs
Authors: Davenport Huyer Locke , Bannerman A. Dawn , Wang Yufeng , Savoji Houman , Knee‐Walden Ericka J. , Brissenden Amanda , Yee Bess , Shoaib Mohammad , Bobicki Erin , Amsden Brian G. , Radisic Milica 
Published: July 2019

AbstractSynthetic polyester elastomeric constructs have become increasingly important for a range of healthcare applications, due to tunable soft elastic properties that mimic those of human tissues. A number of these constructs require intricate mechanical design to achieve a tunable material with controllable curing. Here, the synthesis and characterization of poly(itaconate‐co‐citrate‐co‐octanediol) (PICO) is presented, which exhibits tunable formation of elastomeric networks through radical crosslinking of itaconate in the polymer backbone of viscous polyester gels. Through variation of reaction times and monomer molar composition, materials with modulation of a wide range of elasticity (36–1476 kPa) are generated, indicating the tunability of materials to specific elastomeric constructs. This correlated with measured rapid and controllable gelation times. As a proof of principle, scaffold support for cardiac tissue patches is developed, which presents visible tissue organization and viability with appropriate elastomeric support from PICO materials. These formulations present potential application in a range of healthcare applications with requirement for elastomeric support with controllable, rapid gelation under mild conditions.
Room‐Temperature Phosphorescence and Reversible White Light Switch Based on a Cyclodextrin Polypseudorotaxane Xerogel
Authors: Li Jing‐Jing , Zhang Heng‐Yi , Zhang Yi , Zhou Wei‐Lei , Liu Yu 
Published: July 2019

AbstractThe development of metal‐free room‐temperature phosphorescent (RTP) and white‐light‐emitting supramolecular materials is significant for artificial soft materials. Herein, a polypseudorotaxane xerogel is fabricated by threading a linear brominated aromatic aldehyde polymer into α‐cyclodextrin cavities. The xerogel can be excited to produce not only RTP signals based on the xerogel network structure's strong restriction of phosphor vibrations and suppression of the nonradiative relaxation process but also white‐light emission at room temperature. Notably, the polypseudorotaxane system possesses excellent fluorescence–phosphorescence dual emission properties and is capable of reversible photoluminescence switching between blue fluorescence emission and white‐light emission in the presence and absence of water.
High‐Efficiency As‐Cast Organic Solar Cells Based on Acceptors with Steric Hindrance Induced Planar Terminal Group
Authors: Liu Yahui , Li Miao , Yang Jinjin , Xue Wenyue , Feng Shiyu , Song Jinsheng , Tang Zheng , Ma Wei , Bo Zhishan 
Published: July 2019

AbstractA series of alkyl, alkoxyl, and alkylthio substituted A–π–D–π–A type nonfullerene acceptors (NFAs) IDTCN‐C, IDTCN‐O, and IDTCN‐S are designed and synthesized. The introduction of a lateral side chain at the outer position of the π bridge unit can endow the terminal moiety with a confined planar conformation due to the steric hindrance. Thus, compared with nonsubstituted NFA (IDTT2F), these acceptors tend to form favorable face‐on orientation and exhibit strong crystallinity as verified with grazing‐incidence wide‐angle X‐ray scattering measurement. Moreover, the variation of side chain can significantly change the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy level of acceptors. As state‐of‐the‐art NFAs, a power conversion efficiency of 13.28% (Voc = 0.91 V, Jsc = 19.96 mA cm−2, and FF = 73.2%) is obtained for the as‐cast devices based on IDTCN‐O, which is among the highest value reported in literature. The excellent photovoltaic performance for IDTCN‐O can be attributed to its slightly up‐shifted LUMO level and more balanced charge transport. This research demonstrates side chain engineering is an effective way to achieve high efficiency organic solar cells.
Molecular Bases for Anesthetic Agents: Halothane as a Halogen‐ and Hydrogen‐Bond Donor
Authors: Nayak Susanta K. , Terraneo Giancarlo , Piacevoli Quirino , Bertolotti Federica , Scilabra Patrick , Brown John T. , Rosokha Sergiy V. , Resnati Giuseppe 
Published: July 2019

AbstractAlthough instrumental for optimizing their pharmacological activity, a molecular understanding of the preferential interactions given by volatile anesthetics is quite poor. This paper confirms the ability of halothane to work as a hydrogen‐bond (HB) donor and gives the first experimental proof that halothane also works as a halogen‐bond (HaB) donor in the solid state and in solution. A halothane/hexamethylphosphortriamide co‐crystal is described and its single‐crystal X‐ray structure shows short HaBs between bromine, or chlorine, and the phosphoryl oxygen. New UV/Vis absorption bands appear upon addition of diazabicyclooctane and tetra(n‐butyl)ammonium iodide to halothane solutions, indicating that nitrogen atoms and anions may mediate the HaB‐driven binding processes involving halothane as well. The ability of halothane to work as a bidentate/tridentate tecton by acting as a HaB and HB donor gives an atomic rationale for the eudismic ratio shown by this agent.
1,3‐Difunctionalization of Aminocyclopropanes via Dielectrophilic Intermediates
Authors: Wang Ming‐Ming , Waser Jérôme 
Published: July 2019

AbstractWe report an oxidative ring‐opening strategy to transform acyl, sulfonyl or carbamate protected aminocyclopropanes into 1,3‐dielectrophilic carbon intermediates bearing a halide atom (Br, I) and a N,O‐acetal. Replacing the alkoxy group of the N,O‐acetal can be achieved under acidic conditions through an elimination–addition pathway, while substitution of the halides by nucleophiles can be done under basic conditions through a SN2 pathway, generating a wide range of 1,3‐difunctionalized propylamines. A proof of concept for asymmetric induction was realized using a chiral phosphoric acid (CPA) as catalyst, highlighting the potential of the method in enantioselective synthesis of important building blocks.
Orthogonal Activation of RNA‐Cleaving DNAzymes in Live Cells by Reactive Oxygen Species
Authors: Xiao Lu , Gu Chunmei , Xiang Yu 
Published: July 2019

AbstractRNA‐cleaving DNAzymes are useful tools for intracellular metal‐ion sensing and gene regulation. Incorporating stimuli‐responsive modifications into these DNAzymes enables their activities to be spatiotemporally and chemically controlled for more precise applications. Despite the successful development of many caged DNAzymes for light‐induced activation, DNAzymes that can be intracellularly activated by chemical inputs of biological importance, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), are still scarce. ROS like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hypochlorite (HClO) are critical mediators of oxidative stress‐related cell signaling and dysregulation including activation of immune system as well as progression of diseases and aging. Herein, we report ROS‐activable DNAzymes by introducing phenylboronate and phosphorothioate modifications to the Zn2+‐dependent 8–17 DNAzyme. These ROS‐activable DNAzymes were orthogonally activated by H2O2 and HClO inside live human and mouse cells.
Preparation, activity and photocatalysis mechanism of high‐performance AgBrO3/AgBr photocatalysts
Authors: Zhou Junqing , Song Limin , Zhao Xiaofei , Zhang Shujuan 
Published: July 2019

AgBrO3/AgBr compound photocatalysts were prepared via a precipitation method and characterized by X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffusion spectroscopy, and solid surface fluorescence trials. The photocatalytic performances and mechanism were also investigated. It was found the 2.5 wt.% AgBrO3/AgBr compound photocatalyst was most effective in dye degradation. The AgBrO3/AgBr showed degradation rate up to 94.5% in a 10 mg/L MO (Methyl Orange) solution and was still very stable after five cycles of reuse. The AgBrO3/AgBr photocatalysts could oxidize and decompose methyl orange molecules under visible light irradiation. The compounding largely improved the photocatalytic activity of AgBr. Photocatalytic mechanism experiments showed ·OH was the major active species.
Zirconium catalyzed amide formation without water scavenging
Authors: Lundberg Helena , Tinnis Fredrik , Adolfsson Hans 
Published: July 2019

A scalable homogeneous metal‐catalyzed protocol for direct amidation of carboxylic acids is presented. The use of 2–10 mol% of the commercially available Zr(Cp)2(OTf)2·THF results in high yields of amides at moderate temperature, using an operationally convenient reaction protocol that circumvents the use of water scavenging techniques.
Lignin improves release behavior of slow‐release fertilizers with high content of urea
Authors: Gu Haifeng , Zhang Yuchao , Li Xian , Li Wenzhuo , Huang Shuaiyu 
Published: July 2019

ABSTRACTTo develop a slow‐release fertilizer with high content of urea, lignin was heated with urea–montmorillonite (M/U) extruded composites to synthesize a novel composite‐lignin/montmorillonite/urea (L/M/U). Mechanical test results of the composites showed that the L/M/U exhibited a greater flexure strength and a higher elastic modulus than the unmodified M/U extruded material. Based on the results of the urea release experiments, in the M/U extruded composites, the material with a high urea content exhibited a high urea release rate. By contrast, although the urea content of the 2:1:4 L/M/U formulation was higher than the 2:1:1 and 2:1:2 L/M/U formulations, the former formulation exhibited a lower urea release rate than the latter two formulations. The urea cumulative release (34.6%) of the L/M/U 2:1:4 after 105 h was also lower than that (93.7%) of the M/U 1:1 although the Wurea (57.1 wt %) in the former was higher than the Wurea (50.0 wt %) in the latter. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 48238.
Novel lignosulfonate/N,N‐dimethylacrylamide/γ‐methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane graft copolymer as a filtration reducer for water‐based drilling fluids
Authors: Liu Fei , Zhang Zhaoxiang , Wang Zenglin , Dai Xiaodong , Chen Mengxin , Zhang Jie 
Published: July 2019

ABSTRACTThe redox system consisting of ammonium persulfate and sodium bisulfite was used as initiator, N,N‐dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) and γ‐methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (KH570) were grafted onto sodium lignosulfonate (LS) in aqueous solution as reaction monomers, and a novel LS/KH570/DMAA graft copolymer filtrate reducer was synthesized. The structure of the copolymer was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometer and nuclear magnetic resonance instrument. The result revealed that DMAA and KH570 were successfully grafted onto sodium LS. In addition, the thermal stability of the copolymer was determined by thermogravimetric analyzer and the micromorphology of filter cake of water‐based drilling fluids (WBDFs) containing LS/KH570/DMAA was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. At the same time, the rheological and filtration properties of WBDFs containing copolymer with different concentrations were further evaluated. The results showed that when the copolymer concentration was 3 wt %, the fluid loss of bentonite‐based drilling fluids was only 6.2 mL before aging, and 9.8 mL after aging at 180 °C for 16 h. The fluid‐loss control mechanism of LS/KH570/DMAA was investigated through clay particle distribution analysis and zeta potential measurement of WBDFs. Moreover, the WBDFs containing copolymer exhibit excellent performance in reducing fluid loss under the invasion of calcium salts. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 48274.
Macrophytes promote aquatic insect conservation in artificial ponds
Authors: Briggs Andrew , Pryke James S. , Samways Michael J. , Conlong Des E. 
Published: July 2019

Abstract

Farmland ponds promote regional aquatic biodiversity; however, optimally managing these ponds requires knowledge on how the biodiversity differs between ponds across catchments with different land uses.
This study investigated the response of macrophytes, both those in the pond and on the bank, as well as dragonfly and water beetle species richness, diversity and composition in artificial ponds, to numerous environmental variables in catchments dominated by three land uses: protected areas (as reference sites), sugarcane‐dominated and forestry‐dominated landscapes, across two seasons.
There was a strong association between insect species richness and vegetation cover, particularly sedges (Cyperus spp.) in spring and bulrushes (Typha capensis) in summer. There was also a positive response between insect species richness and sedges up to 70% cover, and bulrushes up to 40% cover, after which there was a decrease. Furthermore, the protected area ponds contained more rare and specialist insect species. Pond size was not a major variable for biodiversity overall.
Although there was generally little congruence in composition among the three taxa, dragonflies were a good surrogate for water beetles and floating macrophytes.
Well‐vegetated ponds, both in the water and along the margin, are the most suited to promoting biodiversity, as long as the vegetation is not too dense, and not dominated by one plant species.
Artificial ponds in production landscapes have great potential for conserving aquatic species, irrespective of land use, as long as there is management for macrophyte density and heterogeneity.