bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Consistent Risk Assessment Outcomes from Agronomic Characterization of GE Maize in Diverse Regions and as Single‐Event and Stacked Products
Authors: Clawson Ernest L. , Perrett Jamis J. , Cheng Lulu , Ahmad Aqeel , Stojšin Duška , McGowan Yan , Díaz Oscar Heredia , Asim Muhammad , Vertuan Hallison , Quddusi Murtaza , Soares Daniel J. 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTIn commercializing a genetically engineered (GE) crop, agronomic characterization studies that contribute to environmental risk assessment (ERA) may be repeated in different global regions. Likewise, these studies may be done both for single‐event GE products and for traditional breeding crosses that combine GE events (breeding stacks). The objectives of this research were to assess the need for de novo agronomic characterization if previously done in another region or for each event in a breeding stack. Data were obtained for the GE maize (Zea mays L.) products MON 89034 (insect protected), NK603 (herbicide tolerant), and the breeding stack MON 89034 × NK603. The field trials were done from 2004 to 2014 in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan, and/or the United States. Sources of environmental diversity among the regions (i.e., countries) included differences in the prevalent climate classes of their sites. Although values for the agronomic characteristics varied among regions, event × region interactions caused <1% of the total variability for each GE product. Within each region, comparisons of GE products and near‐isogenic conventional controls were largely nonsignificant. When considering agronomic characteristics, a consistent risk assessment outcome—no evidence of increased potential to become a plant pest—was found in each region and for the single‐event products and the breeding stack. The results support ERA policies that provide for (i) acceptance of agronomic characterization data from other regions (data transportability) and (ii) exemption of breeding stacks from agronomic characterization, based on case‐by‐case assessments of plausible risks.
Comparison of Soil‐Freezing and Soil‐Water Characteristic Curves of Two Canadian Soils
Authors: Ren Junping , Vanapalli Sai K. 
Published: June 2019

Core IdeasThe similarity between SFCC and SWCC, and hysteresis of SFCC are reviewed.The SFCC and SWCC of two fine‐grained soils are measured and analyzed.No quantitative similarity is found between the measured SFCC and SWCC.Several concerns regarding the similarity between SFCC and SWCC are discussed.The drying–wetting and freezing–thawing cycles significantly influence the soil pore water in the vadose zone in permafrost and seasonally frozen regions. The soil‐freezing characteristic curve (SFCC) describes the relationship between unfrozen water content and subzero temperature in a soil at frozen condition. Several studies suggest that the SFCC of a frozen saturated soil is similar to soil‐water characteristic curve (SWCC), which describes the relationship between water content and suction for a soil under unfrozen unsaturated condition. In the present study, the similarity between SFCC and SWCC, and possible reasons for the hysteresis of SFCC are succinctly reviewed. The SFCC and SWCC of two Canadian soils were measured and critically interpreted to understand the fundamental behavior of SFCC in comparison with the SWCC. The observed hysteresis of SFCC for the two soils was mainly associated with the supercooling of pore water. The measured SFCC and SWCC of the two soils show quantitative dissimilarity rather than similarity. This may be attributed to the experimental limitations and possible fundamental differences between drying–wetting and freezing–thawing processes. In addition, several concerns regarding the similarity between SFCC and SWCC are discussed. The present study highlights that rigorous investigations are required for better understanding the SFCC to facilitate its use for cold‐region engineering practice applications.
Estimating Near‐Saturated Soil Hydraulic Conductivity Based on Its Scale‐Dependent Relationships with Soil Properties
Authors: Yang Yang , Wendroth Ole , Kreba Sleem , Liu Baoyuan 
Published: June 2019

Core Ideas
Spatial variability of in situ Ks, K−1, K−5, and K−10 was decomposed into different scales using NA‐MEMD.
Scale‐dependent relationships were observed for each K with six soil properties.
Incorporating ANN for small‐scale variability of each K improves the estimation quality.
Soil hydraulic conductivity near saturation (Kns) is affected by various soil properties operating at different spatial scales. Using noise‐assisted multivariate empirical mode decomposition (NA‐MEMD), our objective was to inspect the scale‐dependent interactions between Kns and various soil properties and to estimate Kns based on such relationships. In a rectangular field evenly across cropland and grassland, a total of 44 sampling points separated by 5 m were selected and measured for Kns at soil water pressure heads of −1, −5 and −10 cm. At each point, the saturated conductivity Ks was estimated using Gardner's exponential function, and six soil structural and textural properties were investigated. Decomposed into four intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and a residue by NA‐MEMD, each K was found to significantly correlate with all six properties at one spatial scale at least. The variations in K were primarily regulated by soil structure, especially at the relatively small scales. Multiple linear regression (MLR) failed to regress either IMF1 or IMF2 of each K from the soil properties of the equivalent scales and only accounted for 13.7 to 43.6% of the total variance in calibration for the remaining half of the IMF1s and IMF2s. An artificial neural network was then adopted to estimate IMF1 and IMF2, and the corresponding results were added to the MLR estimates at other scales for which each K was estimated at the measurement scale. This prediction greatly outperformed the MLR modeling before NA‐MEMD and, on average, accounted for additional 74.4 and 73.4% of the total variance in calibration and validation, respectively. These findings suggest nonlinear correlations between K and the soil properties investigated at the small scales and hold important implications for future estimations of Kns and Ks as well as other hydraulic properties.
Challenges for water infrastructure asset management in South Korea
Authors: Kang Hyeongsik 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Most Korean citizens today have access to water services, owing to the enormous investment made in water infrastructure. Recently, however, Korean society is facing issues concerning rapid deterioration and inappropriate management of urban water infrastructure. It has been determined that 72.3% of all water infrastructure will have deteriorated by 2035, which implies that the standard of water services then would be even lower than the current standard. Given the complex institutional system required for urban water infrastructure, the vagueness of management authority, limited maintenance budget, poor information management, and issues with maintenance methods are the high priority issues currently being faced. This paper discusses the challenges that Korean society is facing and proposes the need for a change in cognizance for successful water infrastructure management in the future.
Flavonoids and other Non-Alkaloidal Constituents of Genus Erythrina: A Detailed Account of Phytochemical Review
Authors: Son Ninh The , Elshamymistry Abdelsamed I. 
Published: June 2019

:
Genus Erythrina belongs to family Fabaceae, which widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas, and has been applied in both traditional herbal medicines, and pharmacological uses. Original research articles and publications on overview of alkaloids related to this genus are available, but a supportive systematic review account highlighted phytochemical aspects of other types of secondary metabolites is now insufficient. Utilizing data information from SCI-Finder, Google Scholar, the Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, Chemical Abstracts, ACS journals, Springer, Taylor Francis, Bentham Science and IOP Science, the reliable material sources of this systematic manuscript paper were obtained from the literature published from 1980s to now. A vast amount of data showed that the non-alkaloidal secondary metabolites obtained from genus Erythrina with various classes of chemical structures. Herein, approximately five hundred constituents were isolated comprising of flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, phytosterols, phenols, arylbenzofurans, coumarins, alcohols, ceramides, mono-sugars and fatty acid derivatives. It resembles the previously phytochemical reports on the plants of differential genus of family Fabaceae, flavonoids reached to the high amount in plants of genus Erythrina. Numerous biological researches such as anti-microbacteria, anti-cancer, anti-virus using isolated compounds from Erythrina species suggested that secondary metabolites of Erythrina plants are now becoming promising agents for drug developments.
The Research of New Inhibitors of Bacterial Methionine Aminopeptidase by Structure Based Virtual Screening Approach of ZINC DATABASE and In Vitro Validation
Authors: Boucherit Hanane , Chikhi Abdelouahab , Bensegueni Abderrahmane , Merzoug Amina , Bolla Jean-Michel 
Published: June 2019

Background:
The great emergence of multi-resistant bacterial strains and the low renewal
of antibiotics molecules are leading human and veterinary medicine to certain therapeutic
impasses. Therefore, there is an urgent need to find new therapeutic alternatives including new
molecules in the current treatments of infectious diseases. Methionine aminopeptidase (MetAP) is a
promising target for developing new antibiotics because it is essential for bacterial survival.

Objective:
To screen for potential MetAP inhibitors by in silico virtual screening of the ZINC database
and evaluate the best potential lead molecules by in vitro studies.

Methods:
We have considered 200,000 compounds from the ZINC database for virtual screening with
FlexX software to identify potential inhibitors against bacterial MetAP. Nine chemical compounds of
the top hits predicted were purchased and evaluated in vitro. The antimicrobial activity of each inhibitor
of MetAP was tested by the disc-diffusion assay against one Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus)
and two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli & Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. Among the studied
compounds, compounds ZINC04785369 and ZINC03307916 showed promising antibacterial activity.
To further characterize their efficacy, the minimum inhibitory concentration was determined for
each compound by the microdilution method which showed significant results.

Results:
These results suggest compounds ZINC04785369 and ZINC03307916 as promising molecules
for developing MetAP inhibitors.

Conclusion:
Furthermore, they could therefore serve as lead molecules for further chemical modifications
to obtain clinically useful antibacterial agents.
COX-2 Docking Structural Analysis with Phytochemical Extracts of Rosemary: A Possible Cytotoxicity on Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Line (HEp-2)
Authors: Abd El-Hamid Ihab S. , Mouselhy Yara Y. , El-Shafei Marwa M. , Sayed Marwa M. , Mohamed Aly F. , Farag Doaa B. 
Published: June 2019

Background:
Various phenolic phytochemical extracts have been claimed to exhibit different types
of biological activity, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-carcinogenic activity. Carnosol and
carnosic acid, extracts of rosemary, are among these phenolic compounds.

Materials and Methods:
CHARMm-based molecular docking was performed to estimate the possible molecular
interactions of both carnosic acid and carnosol with the COX-2 active binding site. An MTT assay was used to
evaluate HEp-2 cell viability after incubation for 48 hours with low or high concentrations of carnosol, carnosic
acid or their combination. The levels of COX-2 were measured in cell lysate by the quantitative indirect ELISA
technique.

Results:
Docking revealed favourable negative binding energies as well as binding interactions of both carnosic
acid and carnosol within the binding site of the COX-2 receptor. Carnosic acid showed more favourable binding
potential than carnosol. One-way ANOVA and Bonferroni’s post hoc tests revealed significant differences in
cytotoxicity among cells treated with different concentrations of the rosemary extracts (P< 0.001). ELISA revealed
significant reductions in COX-2 protein levels in HEp-2 cells treated with either carnosic acid (-1.42-
fold) or carnosol (-3.16-fold) compared to control cells.

Conclusion:
Both rosemary extracts, carnosol and carnosic acid, exert potential cytotoxic effects on the HEp-2
cell line via inhibition of the COX-2 pathway. The combination of carnosol and carnosic acid exerts a stronger
cytotoxic effect than either compound alone.
Co-ultraPEALut: Role in Preclinical and Clinical Delirium Manifestations
Authors: Lunardelli Maria Lia , Crupi Rosalia , Siracusa Rosalba , Cocuzza Giorgio , Cordaro Marika , Martini Emilio , Impellizzeri Daniela , Di Paola Rosanna , Cuzzocrea Salvatore 
Published: June 2019

Background:
Delirium is a disorder in awareness, attention and cognition. Pathophysiologically
it is a response to stress. Postoperative delirium (POD) is a usual complication in aged patients
following hip fracture surgery. Neuroinflammation is an important factor linked with the progress of
POD. Though there are no efficient cures for delirium the endocannabinoid system may have a role in
neuropsychiatric disorders.

Objective:
Therefore, we examined the effects of co-ultramicronized PEALut (co-ultraPEALut) in the
LPS murine model of delirium and in elderly hip fractured patients.

Methods:
In the preclinical study, mice were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with Escherichia coli LPS
(10 mg/kg). Co-ultraPEALut (1 mg/kg o.s.) was administered 1h before LPS injection or 1h and 6h after
LPS injection or 1h before LPS injection and 1h and 6h after LPS. In the clinical study, the effects
of Glialia® (co-ultramicronized 700 mg PEA + 70 mg luteolin) administration was evaluated in elderly
hip fractured patients with an interventional, randomized, single-blind, monocentric study.

Results:
Administration of co-ultraPEALut to LPS-challenged mice ameliorated cognitive dysfunctions
and locomotor activity; moreover, it reduced inflammation and apoptosis, while stimulating antioxidant
response and limiting the loss of neurotrophins. In the clinical study, the results obtained
demonstrated that administration of Glialia® to these surgical patients prevented the onset of POD and
attenuated symptom intensity and their duration.

Conclusion:
Therefore, the results obtained enhanced the idea that co-ultraPEALut may be a potential
treatment to control cognitive impairment and the inflammatory and oxidative processes associated
with delirium.
CD123: A Novel Biomarker for Diagnosis and Treatment of Leukemia
Authors: Shi Mingyue , Su Ruijun J. , Parmar Kamal-Preet , Chaudhry Rahman , Sun Kai , Rao Jianyu , Chen Mingyi 
Published: June 2019

:
Leukemia is a group of progressive hematologic malignancies derived from stem cells in
bone marrow which causes a large number of cancer deaths. Even with treatment such as traditional
chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), many
patients suffer from relapse/refractory disease, and the overall survival is dismal. Leukemic stem
cells (LSCs) are induced by gene mutations and undergo an aberrant and poorly regulated
proliferation process which is involved in the evolution, relapse, and drug-resistance of leukemia.
Emerging studies demonstrate that CD123, the interleukin 3 receptor alpha (IL-3Rα), is highly
expressed in LSCs, while not normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and associates with
treatment response, minimal residual disease (MRD) detection and prognosis. Furthermore, CD123
is an important marker for the identification and targeting of LSCs for refractory or relapsed
leukemia. Anti-CD123 target-therapies in pre-clinical studies and clinical trials confirm the utility
of anti-CD123 neutralizing antibody-drugs, CD3×CD123 bispecific antibodies, dual-affinity retargeting
(DART), and anti-CD123 chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cell (CAR-T) therapies in
progress. This review summarizes the most recent progress on the study of CD123 biology and the
development of novel CD123-targeted therapies.
Investigations on Optical, Material and Electrical Properties of aSi:H and aSiGe:H in Making Proposed n+aSi:H/i-aSi:H/p+aSiGe:H Graded Bandgap Single-junction Solar Cell
Authors: J. Fatima Rasheed , Babu V. Suresh 
Published: June 2019

Objective:
This work identifies materials that satisfy refractive index, optical band gap, composition
profile, conductivity, hall mobility, carrier type and carrier concentration to utilize them in making
thin film photovoltaic cells.

Methods:
We fabricated phosphorous doped amorphous silicon (n+ aSi:H), boron doped amorphous silicon
germanium(p+ aSiGe:H) and intrinsic amorphous silicon (i-aSi:H). A detailed and systematic characterization
of the fabricated layers was done. The phosphorous doped amorphous silicon (n+ aSi:H) showed
an optical band gap of 1.842 eV and an electron mobility of 295.45 cm2V-1s-1. The boron doped amorphous
silicon germanium (p+ aSiGe:H) exhibited an optical band gap of 1.74 eV and a hole mobility of
158.353 cm2V-1s-1. The intrinsic amorphous silicon (i-aSi:H) has an optical band gap of 1.801 eV. The
films of n+ aSi:H, i-aSi:H and p+ aSiGe:H can be utilized for fabricating graded band gap single junction
thin film solar cells, as they are semiconducting materials with varying band gaps in the range of 1.74 eV
to 1.84 eV. The tailoring of band gap achieved by the proposed material combination has been presented
using its energy band diagram.

Results:
In this work, we are proposing a single junction graded band gap solar cell with aSi:H and aSi-
Ge:H alloys of varying doping to achieve grading of band gap, which improves the efficiency while keeping
the cell compact and light.

Conclusion:
As a first step in the validation, we have simulated a thin film solar cell using SCAPS1D
simulation software with the measured parameters for each of the layers and found that it successfully performs
as solar cell with an efficiency of 14.5%.
Photosynthesis of Chromium Oxide/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites and its Application in Water Desalination and Purification
Authors: Attia Yasser A. , Attia Sama Y. , Essa Rana , Mohamed Safeya 
Published: June 2019

Introduction:
Clean, safe and potable water with high specifications has been acquired from
the red seawater (Suez, Egypt) by utilizing graphene-based chromium oxide (Cr2O3/r-GO) nanocomposites.

Experimental:
Cr2O3 nanoparticles and Cr2O3/ r-GO nanocomposites have been synthesized from a toxic
source (K2CrO7) using the photochemical reduction method where trimethyl ammonium chloride and
trisodium citrate working as capping and reducing agents under visible light irradiation. The size, morphology
and optical properties have been characterized by Transition Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray
Diffraction (XRD) and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. Water without salts, lethal metals and no recording
micro-organisms were secured in less than 3 hours by utilizing simple distillation in the presence of Cr2O3
nanoparticles with average size 5.0 ± 1.36 nm and Cr2O3/r-GO nanocomposites with average size 3.0 ±
1.69 nm. The evaporation of water was improved due to the productive photothermal change of the Cr2O3
nanoparticles that have two plasmonic bands (423 nm and 576 nm) and the presence of exceptionally
highly efficient thermal capacitor, graphene. These Cr2O3/r-GO nanocomposites demonstrated a high gain
of temperature and high stability after multiple times of recycling processes.

Results:
The antimicrobial action of Cr2O3 and Cr2O3/r-GO nanocomposites was examined against Bacillus
subtilis (gram positive, G+), Escherichia coli (gram negative, G-), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (gram
negative, G-) and Staphylococcus aureus (gram positive, G+). From the results, Cr2O3 nanoparticles
showed higher inhibition zone diameters against these microbes than Cr2O3/r-GO nanocomposites.

Conclusion:
The unique properties, environmental safe, low cost and ease of these composites became
them highly efficient alternative in water desalination technology.
Signcryption-Based Security Framework for Low Computing Power Devices
Authors: Singh Anuj Kumar , Patro B.D.K. 
Published: June 2019

Background:
With technological advancements, the use of many kinds of computing
devices has given birth to a new era of computing. RFID tags, smart cards, and wireless sensors
are the low computing power devices, which are being used massively in sensitive applications.
Therefore, securing these low computing environments has become a great concern.

Proposed Work:
In this paper, an elliptic curve signcryption based security framework for securing
low computing power devices has been proposed which provides mutual authentication, confidentiality,
non-repudiation, forward secrecy, integrity, availability, key privacy, and anonymity. In
addition to this, the proposed security framework has the capability to resist replay attack, desynchronization
attack, impersonation attack, key-compromise attack, location tracking attack, denial
of service attack, and man-in-the-middle attack.

Results:
Results have revealed that the proposed framework is efficient in terms of computational
time as compared to the other related schemes.

Conclusion:
The proposed protocol presented in this paper can be used as a building block in designing
efficient security protocols for all kinds of low computing power devices including RFID,
wireless sensors, and smart cards.