bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification and characterization of a novel carboxylesterase from Phaseolus vulgaris for detection of organophosphate and carbamates pesticides
Authors: Yang Xiao , Dai Juan , Zhao Sujuan , Li Rong , Goulette Tim , Chen Xianggui , Xiao Hang 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBACKGROUNDOrganophosphate and carbamate pesticide residues in food and the environment pose a great threat to human health and have made the easy and rapid detection of these pesticide residues an important task. Discovering new enzyme sources from plants can help reduce the cost of large‐scale applications of rapid pesticide detection via enzyme inhibition.RESULTSPlant esterase from kidney beans was purified. Kidney bean esterase is identified as a carboxylesterase by substrate and inhibitor specificity tests and mass spectrometry identification. The kidney bean esterase demonstrates optimal catalytic activity at 40 °C, pH 6.5 and an enzyme concentration of 0.30 µg mL−1. The kidney bean esterase can be inhibited by organophosphate and carbamate pesticides, which can be substituted for acetylcholinesterase. The limit of detection of the purified kidney bean esterase was two‐ to 20‐fold higher than that of the crude one. The method detection limit meets the detection requirement for the maximum residue limits (MRL) in actual samples.CONCLUSIONThe findings of the present study provide a new source of enzymes for pesticides detection by enzyme inhibition. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry
Separation and determination of the enantiomers of lactic acid and 2‐hydroxyglutaric acid by chiral derivatization combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry
Authors: Ding Xuemei , Lin Shuhai , Weng Hongbo , Liang Jianying 
Published: March 2018

AbstractLactic acid and 2‐hydroxyglutaric acid are chiral metabolites that have two distinct d‐ and l‐enantiomers with distinct biochemical properties. Perturbations of a single enantiomeric form have been found to be closely related to certain diseases. Therefore, the ability to differentiate the d and l enantiomers is important for these disease studies. Herein, we describe a method for the separation and determination of lactic acid and 2‐hydroxyglutaric acid enantiomers by chiral derivatization (with l‐menthol and acetyl chloride) combined with gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The two pairs of above‐mentioned enantiomers exhibited linear calibration curves with a correlation coefficient (R2) exceeding 0.99. The measured data were accurate in the acceptable recovery range of 88.17–102.30% with inter‐ and intraday precisions (relative standard deviations) in the range of 4.23–17.26%. The limits of detection for d‐lactic acid, l‐lactic acid, d‐2‐hydroxyglutaric acid, and l‐2‐hydroxyglutaric acid were 0.13, 0.11, 1.12, and 1.16 μM, respectively. This method was successfully applied to analyze mouse plasma. The d‐lactic acid levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus mouse plasma were observed to be significantly higher (P < 0.05, t‐test) than those of normal mice, suggesting that d‐lactic acid may serve as an indicator for type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Development of a systematic strategy for the global identification and classification of the chemical constituents and metabolites of Kai‐Xin‐San based on liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry combined with multiple data‐processing approaches
Authors: Wang Xiaotong , Liu Jing , Yang Xiaomei , Zhang Qian , Zhang Yiwen , Li Qing , Bi Kaishun 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTo rapidly identify and classify complicated components and metabolites for traditional Chinese medicines, a liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry method combined with multiple data‐processing approaches was established. In this process, Kai‐Xin‐San, a widely used classic traditional Chinese medicine preparation, was chosen as a model prescription. Initially, the fragmentation patterns, diagnostic product ions and neutral loss of each category of compounds were summarized by collision‐induced dissociation analysis of representative standards. In vitro, the multiple product ions filtering technique was utilized to identify the chemical constituents for globally covering trace components. With this strategy, 108 constituents were identified, and compounds database was successfully established. In vivo, the prototype compounds were extracted based on the established database, and the neutral loss filtering technique combined with the drug metabolism reaction rules was employed to identify metabolites. Overall, 69 constituents including prototype and metabolites were characterized in rat plasma and nine constituents were firstly characterized in rat brain, which may be the potential active constituents resulting in curative effects by synergistic interaction. In conclusion, this study provides a generally applicable strategy to global metabolite identification for the complicated components in complex matrix and a chemical basis for further pharmacological research of Kai‐Xin‐San.
Poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate based monolithic capillary columns for the analysis of polar small solutes by capillary electrochromatography
Authors: Vergara‐Barberán María , Mompó‐Roselló Óscar , Herrero‐Martínez José Manuel , Simó‐Alfonso Ernesto Francisco 
Published: March 2018

AbstractMonolithic stationary phases based on poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylates for capillary electrochromatography were developed. Several poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylates (Mn 250, 575, and 700) were used as single monomers and the resulting columns were carefully compared. Methanol and ethyl ether were selected as porogenic solvents, and in all cases ultraviolet radiation was selected as initiation method to prepare polymeric monoliths. The influence of the monomer chain length and ratio monomer/porogen on the morphological and electrochromatographic properties of the resulting monoliths was investigated. Several families of compounds with different polarity (alkyl benzenes, organophosphorous pesticides, benzoic acid derivatives, and sulfonamides) were selected to evaluate the performance of the fabricated monolithic columns. The best results were obtained for poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate 700 monoliths affording efficiencies of 144 000 plates/m for retained polar aromatic small molecules and excellent reproducibility in column preparation (RSD values below 2.5%).
Measuring Aggregated and Specific Combat Exposures: Associations Between Combat Exposure Measures and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Depression, and Alcohol‐Related Problems
Authors: Porter Ben , Hoge Charles W. , Tobin Laura E. , Donoho Carrie J. , Castro Carl A. , Luxton David D. , Faix Dennis 
Published: March 2018

AbstractResearch has shown combat exposure to be associated with negative mental health outcomes. Different combat exposure measures are not composed of the same combat experiences, and few combat exposure measures have been directly compared to another measure. Furthermore, research about the unique associations between specific combat experiences and mental health is lacking. We investigated associations between new‐onset posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), new‐onset depression, and alcohol‐related problems and two commonly used measures of combat among a sample of 20,719 recently deployed U.S. military personnel. A 13‐item measure assessed both direct and indirect combat exposures, and a 5‐item measure assessed only indirect exposures. Both combat measures were associated with all outcomes in the same direction (e.g., PTSD, odds ratio [OR] = 2.97 vs. 4.01; depression, OR = 2.03 vs. 2.42; alcohol‐related problems, OR = 1.41 vs. 1.62, respectively, for the 5‐ and 13‐item measures). The 13‐item measure had a stronger association with some outcomes, particularly PTSD. Each specific item had significant bivariate associations with all outcomes, ORs = 1.43–4.92. After adjusting for other combat exposures, items assessing witnessing abuse, feeling in danger, and knowing someone injured or killed remained associated with all outcomes, ORs = 1.18–2.72. After this adjustment, several items had unexpected protective associations with some mental health outcomes. Results indicated these two combat exposure measures were approximately equally effective for determining risk for negative mental health outcomes in a deployed population, despite having different content. Additional research is needed to replicate and understand how specific combat exposures affect health.
Well‐Being and Posttraumatic Growth Among Syrian Refugees in Jordan
Authors: Rizkalla Niveen , Segal Steven P. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe Syrian War has created a mass exodus of Syrian citizens to neighboring countries and exposed them to many atrocities. We explored factors affecting well‐being and posttraumatic growth (PTG) of refugees residing in Jordan. Participants (N = 250) were surveyed via nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Outcome criteria included a global well‐being rating and the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory. Trauma exposure assessment included The Harvard Trauma Questionnaire (HTQ) and The War Events Questionnaire. Ordinary least squares regression examined associations between potential contributors to refugee well‐being and PTG, including work, age, sex, income, education, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity, physical pain, health, NGO assistance, psychotic/affective mental disorder, and length of residence in Jordan. Mean participant score on the PTSD‐HTQ scale was 2.37 (SD = 0.63; range: 1 [no symptoms] to 3.88 [extremely severe symptoms]). Additionally, 74.6% of participants received NGO assistance and 92.7% experienced war events. Univariate and multivariate results indicated enhancement of well‐being was associated with income, r = .34, β = .26, p < .001; health, r = .35, β = .26, p = .001; and absence of affective disorder, r = −.31, β = −.18, p = .012; and that PTG increased in association with income, r = .28, β = .20, p = .007; NGO assistance, r = .07, β = .14, p = .045; and absence of psychosis, r = −.12, β = −.17, p = .013, and affective disorder, r = −.26; β = −.16, p = .033. Findings suggest sufficient income and humanitarian assistance can contribute to Syrian refugees’ mental health.
A New Model for Birth Weight Prediction Using 2‐ and 3‐Dimensional Ultrasonography by Principal Component Analysis: A Chinese Population Study
Authors: Liao Shuxin , Wang Yunfang , Xiao Shufang , Deng Xujie , Fang Bimei , Yang Fang 
Published: March 2018

ObjectivesTo establish a new model for birth weight prediction using 2‐ and 3‐dimensional ultrasonography (US) by principal component analysis (PCA).MethodsTwo‐ and 3‐dimensional US was prospectively performed in women with normal singleton pregnancies within 7 days before delivery (37–41 weeks' gestation). The participants were divided into a development group (n = 600) and a validation group (n = 597). Principal component analysis and stepwise linear regression analysis were used to develop a new prediction model. The new model's accuracy in predicting fetal birth weight was confirmed by the validation group through comparisons with previously published formulas.ResultsA total of 1197 cases were recruited in this study. All interclass and intraclass correlation coefficients of US measurements were greater than 0.75. Two principal components (PCs) were considered primary in determining estimated fetal birth weight, which were derived from 9 US measurements. Stepwise linear regression analysis showed a positive association between birth weight and PC1 and PC2. In the development group, our model had a small mean percentage error (mean ± SD, 3.661% ± 3.161%). At least a 47.558% decrease in the mean percentage error and a 57.421% decrease in the standard deviation of the new model compared with previously published formulas were noted. The results were similar to those in the validation group, and the new model covered 100% of birth weights within 10% of actual birth weights.ConclusionsThe birth weight prediction model based on 2‐ and 3‐dimensional US by PCA could help improve the precision of estimated fetal birth weight.
Assessment of vessel disturbance to gray whales to inform sustainable ecotourism
Authors: Sullivan Florence A. , Torres Leigh G. 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACTEcotourism is a movement that seeks to sustain local communities by uniting conservation, travel, and education. To minimize effects on animal behavior, ecotourism operations must be carefully managed. Local management efforts that can be tailored to the specific area and animals may be more successful than broad‐scale efforts that may be unknown to users of the environment, or inappropriate for the species. A profitable and growing whale‐watch industry exists in Oregon, USA, but prior to this project, no state guidelines existed to protect animals and maintain sustainability of the industry. This project integrated research and outreach regarding gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) behavioral response to vessels, and translated results into community‐developed vessel operation guidelines. We tracked whales and vessels in summer 2015 using non‐invasive, shore‐based theodolite and photo identification techniques. We monitored 2 sites along the Oregon coast with differing levels of vessel traffic for 4 weeks each. We analyzed tracks of whales using Markov chains to assess behavior state changes relative to location, individual, vessel presence, vessel type, and distance between whale and vessel. We documented significant differences in gray whale activity budgets between control and impact conditions, and between study sites. We did not observe significant differences in individual responses to vessel disturbance. Researchers and stakeholders collaboratively applied these results to create scientifically informed vessel operation guidelines that aim to balance the economic and educational gains of a whale‐watch industry with adequate protection of the exploited whale population to enhance sustainability. © 2018 The Wildlife Society.
Urban soils as hot spots of anthropogenic carbon accumulation: Review of stocks, mechanisms and driving factors
Authors: Vasenev Viacheslav , Kuzyakov Yakov 
Published: March 2018

AbstractUrban soils and cultural layers may accumulate C over centuries and consequently large C stocks may be sequestered beneath cities. Processes and mechanisms leading to high C accumulation in urban soils remain unknown. Data on soil organic carbon (SOC), soil inorganic carbon (SIC), black (pyrogenic) carbon (BC), and nitrogen contents and stocks in urban soils were collected from 100 peer‐reviewed papers. The database (770 data points for SOC, SIC, and BC stocks from 116 cities worldwide) was analysed considering the effects of climate and urban‐specific factors (city size, age, and functional zoning) on C stocks. The processes of C accumulation specific for urban soils were analysed, and C sequestration rates were assessed. For the wide range of climatic conditions, total C content in urban soils was 1.5–3 times higher, and C accumulation was much deeper compared with natural soils, resulting in 3–5 times larger total C stocks. Urban SOC stocks increased with latitude, whereas SIC stocks were less affected by climate. City size and age were the main factors explaining intercity differences in C stocks. The intracity variability of C and N stocks was dominated by functional zoning: Large SOC and N stocks in residential areas and large SIC and BC stocks in industrial zones and roadsides were consistent across all climates and for cities of various sizes and ages. Substantial amounts of SOC, SIC, and N are sequestered in the subsoils, cultural layers, and sealed soils, underlining the importance of these hidden stocks for C assessments. Long‐term С input from outside the cities and associated C accumulation coincided with upward soil growth of ~50 cm per century, and continuous accumulation of 15–30 kg C/m2 per century in urban soils and cultural layers. We conclude that, despite the relatively small area of cities, urban soils are hot spots of long‐term soil C sequestration worldwide, and the importance of urban soils will increase in future with global urbanization.
Legacy issues in post‐pine (Pinus pinaster) restoration environments: Weeds compromise seedling growth and function more than edaphic factors
Authors: Stanbury Kate E. , Stevens Jason C. , Ritchie Alison L. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractRestoration of commercial pine plantations to native ecosystems is increasing globally. This study investigated the abiotic and biotic factors in a postpine (Pinus pinaster) ecosystem that could potentially limit successful restoration of highly biodiverse Banksia woodlands. Soil abiotic conditions were analysed across a 7‐year postpine chronosequence and compared with a reference Banksia woodland soil to assess soil legacy issues. Ten native species were grown in postpine soils and monitored for germination and growth responses. Three species were selected and grown in the presence of an invasive species, Ehrharta calycina, to assess biotic impacts on seedling emergence, establishment, physiology, and drought response. Analysis revealed no differences in soil abiotic conditions along the chronosequence in comparison with the reference soil, apart from increasing organic carbon along the chronosequence (p = .003). Germination was not impeded in postpine soils, but seedling growth responses varied among species and soils. Seedling emergence was not affected by the presence of E. calycina; however, seedling growth measurements were significantly reduced (20%–78% decline). Physiological function (stomatal conductance) of native seedlings prior to drought treatment was not impeded, though when grown with E. calycina under drought 2 species, Banksia menziesii and Corymbia calophylla, exhibited a more rapid loss of physiological function. This case study examines abiotic and biotic limitations to Banksia woodland restoration success in postpine environments, suggesting postpine soils are not a barrier to restoration, and highlight the importance of preventing E. calycina from becoming established.
Retention performances of green roofs worldwide at different time scales
Authors: Hellies Matteo , Deidda Roberto , Viola Francesco 
Published: March 2018

AbstractUrbanization process is rapidly converting forested areas and grasslands to residential, commercial, or industrial spaces, triggering soil degradation and significantly increasing impervious surfaces. Consequently, man‐made environments experience significant decrease of infiltration and groundwater recharge, enhancing the problems related to the management and protection from increased stormwater runoff. Green roofs are structural measures able to mitigate these negative drawbacks due to anthropic transformation, retaining and detaining stormwater runoff, with the main advantage of reducing hydraulic loads on combined storm sewer systems. Hydrological performance of green roofs have been studied in different parts of the world under different climatic conditions, but a comprehensive study that provides global responses, even in an approximate way, is still missing. The aim of this work is to assess the convenience and the feasibility of installing green roofs in any target area of the world, providing a rough indication of geographic regions where green roof installation is possible with good hydrological performance, and feasible in rainfed conditions with low vegetation water stress. To do that, we explored in silico green roofs' hydrological performance worldwide, using climatological forcings from ERA‐Interim database as input for a simple conceptual hydrological model to estimate green roof outputs, in terms of evapotranspiration and runoff.
Soil organic carbon recovery and coffee bean yield following bauxite mining
Authors: Vilas Boas Hiran F. , Almeida Luis F. J. , Teixeira Rafael S. , Souza Ivan F. , Silva Ivo R. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBauxite mining requires the removal of the vegetation and topsoil, thus causing considerable impacts on both natural and managed ecosystems. This is typically the case of agricultural activities across Minas Gerais, South‐eastern Brazil, where bauxite mining often displaces pastures and coffee plantations. In this study, our objective was to assess the effects of chemical and organic fertilizations combined with cover crops on the re‐establishment of coffee plantations following bauxite mining. The experiment consisted of a split‐plot design which main plot received 4 types of fertilization: no fertilization, chemical fertilization (CF), poultry litter (PL), and CF + PL. In subplots, 4 cover crops were cultivated in between the rows of the coffee plantation, including: no cover crops, grass (Brachiaria brizantha [B]), legume (Stylosanthes spp. [S]), and B + S. We had 4 blocks as replicates. Organic and chemical fertilization (PL + CF) combined with cover crops (B + S) led to significant recovery of soil organic carbon (SOC), soil organic nitrogen (SON), and KMnO4‐oxidizable SOC. PL + CF and B + S also led to SOC increments of 14.5 g kg−1 soil (0–10‐cm depth). Based on isotopic data (13C), both cover crops, isolated or combined, contributed to the recovery of SOC. Over 3 consecutive harvests, coffee bean yield was consistently above 1,800 kg ha−1 under PL or PL + CF, except when B was the only cover crop. Managing fertilization and cover crops can determine the recovery of SOC, SON and the capacity of soil to sustain the re‐establishment of coffee plantations following bauxite mining.
Changes in soil organic carbon fractions in response to different tillage practices under a wheat‐maize double cropping system
Authors: Xue Jian‐Fu , Pu Chao , Zhao Xin , Wei Yan‐Hua , Zhai Yun‐Long , Zhang Xiang‐Qian , Lal Rattan , Zhang Hai‐Lin 
Published: March 2018

AbstractTo understand the turnover of soil organic carbon (SOC) and the improvement of soil quality in response to tillage practices, it is important to identify changes in labile SOC fractions, for example, permanganate oxidizable organic carbon (POxC) and particulate organic carbon (POC). Five tillage treatments were initially undertaken in a winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L., mid‐October to early‐June)–summer maize (Zea mays L., mid‐June to early‐October) system in the North China Plain in 2008 with changes being examined in 2012–2013. These treatments included plough tillage with residue removed, plough tillage with residue incorporation, no tillage with residue mulching, subsoiling with residue incorporation, and rotary tillage (tillage with a rotary tiller) with residue incorporation for the winter wheat season; summer maize was only managed with the NTM treatment. The greatest POxC and POC concentrations at the 0–5‐cm depth were observed under RTR and NTM treatments (p < .05), respectively. Both STR and RTR recorded larger POxC and POC concentrations at the 5–10‐cm depth (p < .05). Both POxC and POC concentrations for STR treatment were significantly higher than those under RTR, NTM, and PT0 treatments in the 20–50‐cm soil profile. The POC concentrations in each soil layer of 0–30‐cm showed a significant response to residue amount, temperature, and precipitation; and POxC concentrations did not record similar responses. Therefore, subsoiling with residue incorporation could be a potential tillage practice to manage labile SOC pool in top soil (0–50‐cm) in the North China Plain region.