bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of a decontamination method to inactivate Acidovorax citrulli on Cucurbitaceae seeds without loss of seed viability
Authors: Lee Seulgi , Kim Hoikyung , Beuchat Larry R , Ryu Jee‐Hoon 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDAcidovorax citrulli is a plant pathogen causing bacterial fruit blotch in Cucurbitaceae family. Applying high concentration of disinfectants to seeds containing plant pathogen may substantially decrease the germination rate of seeds. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a hurdle technology which can inactivate plant pathogens without decreasing seed viability. This study was conducted to develop a decontamination method to inactivate the plant pathogen Acidovorax citrulli on Cucurbitaceae seeds by sequential treatments with aqueous chlorine dioxide (ClO2), drying, and dry heat.RESULTSThe maximum ClO2 concentration that did not lower germination rates of cucumber, honeydew melon, and watermelon seeds was ca. 100 μg mL−1 of ClO2 for 5 min. Optimal incubation conditions for drying seeds that had been treated with aqueous ClO2 were determined as 25 °C and 43% relative humidity (RH) for 48 h. The maximum dry‐heat temperature that did not reduce germination rates of seeds, which had been treated with ClO2 and dried at 25 °C, was 60 °C at 43% RH for 24 h. When seeds containing A. citrulli (6.4–7.0 log CFU g−1) were treated with aqueous ClO2 (50 μg mL−1, 5 min), dried (25 °C, 43% RH, 24 h), and dry heated (60 °C, 43% RH, 24 h), the pathogen was inactivated to below the detection limit from all three seed types (<−0.5 log CFU g−1).CONCLUSIONThe decontamination conditions to inactivate A. citrullii from Cucurbitaceae seeds without decreasing the seed viability were determined (sequential treatment with ClO2 [50 μg mL−1, 5 min], dried [25 °C, 43% RH, 24 h], and dry heated [60 °C, 43% RH, 24 h]). The results of this study may also be applicable to other plant pathogens on other types of seeds. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Integration of proteome and transcriptome data reveals the mechanism involved in controlling of Fusarium graminearum by Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Zhao Lina , Cheng Yangyang , Li Bo , Gu Xiangyu , Zhang Xiaoyun , Boateng Nana Adwoa Serwah , Zhang Hongyin 
Published: June 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDIt has been reported that antagonistic microorganisms could effectively control the infection of Fusarium graminearum. However, there is limited information on the control of F. graminearum by Saccharomyces cerevisiae, while the possible control mechanisms involved through proteomic and transcriptomic techniques have also not been reported.RESULTSThe results of this study showed that S. cerevisiae Y‐912 could significantly inhibit the growth of F. graminearum Fg1, and the spore germination rate and germ tube length of F. graminearum Fg1 were also significantly inhibited by S. cerevisiae Y‐912. Proteomic analysis revealed that differentially expressed proteins which were made of some basic proteins and enzymes related to basal metabolism, such as glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), phosphoglycerate mutase (PGAM), enolase (ENO), fructose diphosphate aldolase (FBA) and so on, were all down‐regulated. The transcriptomics of F. graminearum control by S. cerevisiae was also analyzed.CONCLUSIONThe control mechanism of S. cerevisiae Y‐912 on F. graminearum Fg1 was a very complex material and energy metabolic process in which the related proteins and genes involved in the glycolytic pathway, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and amino acid metabolism were all down‐regulated. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Multitask bilateral learning for real‐time image enhancement
Authors: Kong Kyeongbo , Lee Junggi , Song Woo‐Jin , Kang Minsung , Kwon Kyung Joon , Kim Seong Gyun 
Published: June 2019

AbstractNowadays, deep neural networks (DNNs) for image processing are becoming more complex; thus, reducing computational cost is increasingly important. This study highlights the construction of a DNN for real‐time image processing, training various image processing operators efficiently through multitask learning. For real‐time image processing, the proposed algorithm takes a joint upsampling approach through bilateral guided upsampling. For multitask learning, the overall network is based on an encoder‐decoder architecture, which consists of encoding, processing, and decoding components, in which the encoding and decoding components are shared by all the image processing operators. In the processing component, a semantic guidance map, which contains processing information for each image processing operator, is estimated using simple linear shifts of the shared deep features. Through these components, the proposed algorithm requires an increase of only 5% in the number of parameters to add another image processing operator and achieves faster and higher performance than that of deep‐learning‐based joint upsampling methods in local image processing as well as global image processing.
Simultaneous determination of five isoflavones in rat plasma by LC‐MS/MS: Comparative pharmacokinetic characteristics of Puerariae lobatae radix in normal and type 2 diabetic rats
Authors: Zhang Hongmin , Hu Xintong , Qiao Miao , Li Yang , Cao Shijie , Ding Liqin , Feng Xinchi , Kang Ning , Zhang Deqin , Qiu Feng 
Published: June 2019

AbstractA rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry method was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of puerarin, daidzin, daidzein, 3′‐hydroxy puerarin, and genistein in rat plasma after oral administration of Puerariae lobatae radix extract. The method of protein precipitation with acetonitrile was used for sample preparation. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C18 column with the mobile phases of acetonitrile/water containing 0.1% formic acid. The analytes were detected by mass spectrometer with an electrospray ionization source operating in the negative ion mode. The linearity, precision, accuracy, dilution reliability, recovery, matrix effects, and stability of the method were within acceptable ranges. The developed method was successfully used to compare the pharmacokinetic characteristics of five analytes in normal and type 2 diabetics rats after oral administration of Puerariae lobatae radix extract. Several pharmacokinetic alterations were observed and this might be caused by the pathological state of type 2 diabetes.
Development and Validation of the Moral Injury Scales for Youth
Authors: Chaplo Shannon D. , Kerig Patricia K. , Wainryb Cecilia 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThis paper describes the development and preliminary psychometric properties of the Moral Injury Scales for Youth (MISY). Although to date, the construct of moral injury has been focused on studies of samples of adult military personnel, the MISY was developed to extend the study of moral injury to interpersonal relationship stressors and transgressions among emerging adults, adolescents, and children. Participants in a validation study included 473 undergraduate students (78.6% female, age range: 18–25 years) recruited from a psychology participant pool at a large university in the Western United States as well as a second sample of 185 students recruited from the same pool, to assess reliability. Results of exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated that the MISY demonstrated a five‐factor latent structure with good internal consistencies. Correlational analyses indicated that the MISY subscales demonstrated good convergent validity, divergent validity, and test–retest reliability. The findings suggest that the MISY is a psychometrically reliable and valid measure of moral injury in emerging adults, with utility for examining moral injury in nonmilitary youth populations.
Factors associated with polyp detection during colonoscopy: A retrospective observational study
Authors: Chen Chun‐Wei , Chiu Cheng‐Tang , Su Ming‐Yao , Lin Chun‐Jung , Hsu Chen‐Ming , Lim Siew‐Na , Yeh Chau‐Ting , Lin Wey‐Ran 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe polyp detection rate (PDR) is an important quality indicator for colonoscopy. Several factors have been shown to be associated with PDR. However, whether the moderate sedation is a factor for polyp detection remains controversial. This study aims to assess factors associated with polyp detection including the moderate sedation factor during colonoscopy. Patients who underwent colonoscopy from June 1, 2014 to May 31, 2015 were enrolled into this retrospective study. Patients with poor colon preparation and failure to reach the cecum were excluded. The clinical factors, including patient's sex, age, midazolam/fentanyl sedation, indications, endoscopist colonoscopy volume, and use of antispasmodic agent were evaluated by multivariate analysis. A total of 3373 patients were included in this study. The mean age was 55.8 years, and 1980 patients (58.7%) were male. Among the 3373 patients, 2513 (74.5%) underwent midazolam/fentanyl‐based sedated colonoscopy. The multivariate analysis showed that male sex, age over 50 years old, midazolam/fentanyl sedation and indications of screening and surveillance were significantly associated with polyp detection. Moreover, when stratified by sex and age, the midazolam/fentanyl sedation was associated with polyp detection in male patients and patients over 50 years old. This study has highlighted the role of midazolam/fentanyl sedation administered by colonoscopists as a modifiable factor that may increase polyp detection during colonoscopy.
Soil enzyme activity and stoichiometry along a gradient of vegetation restoration at the Karst Critical Zone Observatory in Southwest China
Authors: Guo Zhiming , Zhang Xinyu , Green Sophie M. , Dungait Jennifer A.J. , Wen Xuefa , Quine Timothy A. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractThe “Grain for Green Programme” was implemented in the 1990s as a solution to the extreme degradation of karst landscapes that cover one‐third of China, largely caused by decades of poorly managed intensive agriculture. The recovery of soil functions is key to the success of ecosystem regeneration of abandoned croplands where the carbon (C) and nutrient cycles have been severely perturbed by cultivation. However, an ecological ‘tipping point’ beyond which soil functions are unrecoverable in manageable timescales may have been passed in the fragile, subtropical karst ecosystem. The aim of this study was to use the activity of key enzymes for C, nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) acquisition in the soil as a proxy for the biological response to vegetation restoration after agricultural abandonment in a severely degraded karst catchment at the Karst Critical Zone Observatory in Guizhou Province. In 2016, a space‐for‐time approach was used to establish a chronosequence of vegetation recovery: sloping cropland < recently abandoned sloping cropland < shrubland < secondary (regenerated) forest < primary (natural) forest. Soils were sampled from the surface to the bedrock (up to 80‐cm depth) in each recovery phase. The activity of all enzymes in the top 0 to 30‐cm depth increased after abandonment and was positively correlated with soil nutrient and water contents. Nitrogen deficiencies were indicated by the reduced ratios of C‐ relative to N‐hydrolase activity and the increased ratios of N‐ relative to P‐hydrolase activity in the abandoned croplands and shrublands. Phosphorus deficiencies were indicated by the reduced ratios of N‐ relative to P‐hydrolase activity and C‐ relative to P‐hydrolase activity in the soils of the shrubland and secondary forest compared with the primary forest. Our results revealed that near‐to‐natural biological soil function was recoverable as vegetation naturally restored and suggested that the rate of recovery may be accelerated by managed nutrient amendments during the early stages after abandonment. This new information may help to inform the managed regeneration of degraded agricultural land in nutrient‐poor, subtropical environments.
A noniterative method for robustly computing the intersections between a line and a curve or surface
Authors: Xiao Xiao , Busé Laurent , Cirak Fehmi 
Published: June 2019

SummaryThe need to compute the intersections between a line and a high‐order curve or surface arises in a large number of finite element applications. Such intersection problems are easy to formulate but hard to solve robustly. We introduce a noniterative method for computing intersections by solving a matrix singular value decomposition and an eigenvalue problem. That is, all intersection points and their parametric coordinates are determined in one‐shot using only standard linear algebra techniques available in most software libraries. As a result, the introduced technique is far more robust than the widely used Newton‐Raphson iteration or its variants. The maximum size of the considered matrices depends on the polynomial degree q of the shape functions and is 2q × 3q for curves and 6q2 × 8q2 for surfaces. The method has its origin in algebraic geometry and has here been considerably simplified with a view to widely used high‐order finite elements. In addition, the method is derived from a purely linear algebra perspective without resorting to algebraic geometry terminology. A complete implementation is available from http://bitbucket.org/nitro-project/.
Perspectives of ammunition users on the use of lead ammunition and its potential impacts on wildlife and humans
Authors: Newth Julia L. , Lawrence Alice , Cromie Ruth L. , Swift John A. , Rees Eileen C. , Wood Kevin A. , Strong Emily A , Reeves Jonathan , McDonald Robbie A. 
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Recent national and international policy initiatives have aimed to reduce the exposure of humans and wildlife to lead from ammunition. Despite restrictions, in the UK, lead ammunition remains the most widespread source of environmental lead contamination to which wildlife may be exposed.

The risks arising from the use of lead ammunition and the measures taken to mitigate these have prompted intense and sometimes acrimonious discussion between stakeholder groups, including those advancing the interests of shooting, wildlife conservation, public health and animal welfare.

However, relatively little is known of the perspectives of individual ammunition users, despite their role in adding lead to the environment and their pivotal place in any potential changes to practice. Using Q‐methodology, we identified the perspectives of ammunition users in the UK on lead ammunition in an effort to bring forward evidence from these key stakeholders.

Views were characterised by two statistically and qualitatively distinct perspectives: (a) Open to change—comprised ammunition users that refuted the view that lead ammunition is not a major source of poisoning in wild birds, believed that solutions to reduce the risks of poisoning are needed, were happy to use non‐lead alternatives and did not feel that the phasing out of lead shot would lead to the demise of shooting; and (b) Status quo—comprised ammunition users who did not regard lead poisoning as a major welfare problem for wild birds, were ambivalent about the need for solutions and felt that lead shot is better than steel at killing and not wounding an animal. They believed opposition to lead ammunition was driven more by a dislike of shooting than evidence of any harm.

Adherents to both perspectives agreed that lead is a toxic substance. There was consensus that involvement of stakeholders from all sides of the debate was desirable and that to be taken seriously by shooters, information about lead poisoning should come from the shooting community.

This articulation of views held by practitioners within the shooting community presents a foundation for renewing discussions, beyond current conflict among stakeholder and advocacy groups, towards forging new solutions and adaptation of practices.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Comparative Proteomics Analysis of Serum Proteins in Gestational Diabetes during Early and Middle Stages of Pregnancy
Authors: Shen Liming , Zhao Danqing , Chen Youjiao , Zhang Kaoyuan , Chen Xinqian , Lin Jing , Li Cuihua , Iqbal Javed , Zhao Yuxi , Liang Yi , Wei Yan , Feng Chengyun 
Published: June 2019

PurposeThis study is designed to screen serum proteins that may serve as biomarkers for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and clarify the mechanisms of disease.Experimental DesignBy using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation proteomics analysis, serum proteins levels were quantified in pregnant women who subsequently developed GDM (12–16 weeks), GDM patients (24–28 weeks), and their corresponding controls. The strategy of mixing samples is used in proteomic analysis.ResultsThirty‐one and 27 differentially expressed proteins are identified in the serum of pregnant women with developed GDM at 12–16 weeks and GDM patients during 24–28 weeks, respectively. Thirty eight and 28 proteins are identified in 24–28 weeks versus 12–16 weeks controls (24/12 CTR group), and 24–28 weeks GDM patients versus 12–16 weeks women with subsequently developed GDM (24/12 GDM group), respectively. Most of these proteins in the case and control subjects are associated with diabetes and maternal and perinatal short‐ and long‐term complications.Conclusions and Clinical RelevanceThe results highlight the roles of complement system and the blood clotting cascade in the pathogenesis of GDM. Differentially expressed proteins may serve as potential biomarkers for GDM prediction and diagnosis in the future.
Preparing Xanthan‐Chitosan Composites in Glycerol
Authors: Bilanovic Dragoljub , Iliassafov Lubov , Kurzbaum Eyal , Armon Robert 
Published: June 2019

AbstractAnionic xanthan (X) and cationic chitosan (C) form xanthan‐chitosan (X+C) complexes by electrostatic attraction in an aquatic environment where concentration of either of the polysaccharides does not exceed 2.5 wt %. Covalently bonded xanthan‐chitosan (X−C) composites were prepared in dry glycerol with concentration of either of the polysaccharides in the range 0.025 to 50% weight. In dry glycerol xanthan and chitosan formed covalent bonds via condensation reactions. Carboxyl groups donate OH− while amino groups donate H+ to make H2O; water is also condensed in Maillard reactions during crosslinking of both xanthan and chitosan with glycerol. X−C composites were made at xanthan to chitosan ratio in range 0.08 to 26. Porosity of X−C composites decreased with increasing xanthan content and decreasing chitosan content. X−C composites prepared at various xanthan to chitosan ratio showed different H2O absorption, hardness, release and absorption of chemicals, and they differed in other characteristics as well. These results are significant for scientific community, food, material, pharmaceutical, and other fields.
Feeding Ecology of Early Life Stage Razorback Sucker Relative to Other Sucker Species in the San Juan River, Utah
Authors: Pennock Casey A. , Farrington Michael A. , Gido Keith B. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractLow survival of early life stage (ELS) Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus in the Colorado River basin, USA, is thought to cause a recruitment bottleneck. Conversely, two other native sucker species, the Bluehead Sucker Catostomus discobolus and Flannelmouth Sucker C. latipinnis, successfully recruit to adulthood. To explore a potential factor leading to this survival discrepancy among species, we used museum‐catalogued specimens collected from the San Juan River, Utah, to investigate trophic resource use of co‐occurring ELS suckers. We evaluated diet diversity and composition, expecting high overlap in diets among sucker species. All species were significantly different in median SL and varied in the ranges of developmental stages present in collections, with Razorback Sucker generally being the smallest and least developed. Size differences among sampled individuals coincided with a 1.7× higher mean diet richness for Bluehead Sucker and Flannelmouth Sucker compared to Razorback Sucker. The Bluehead Sucker was the only species for which diet richness increased significantly with fish size. Discriminant function analysis was able to distinguish Razorback Sucker from the other two species based on a low frequency of occurrence of all diet items. Nine of twelve diet item categories differed significantly in frequency of occurrence among species. Bluehead Sucker and Razorback Sucker had higher mean carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) relative to Flannelmouth Sucker, and variation in δ13C was high among individual Flannelmouth Sucker across sites. The δ13C and δ15N of Bluehead Sucker decreased significantly with fish size, but no significant relationship was found for Flannelmouth Sucker or Razorback Sucker. The confounding issue of fish size and species identity in this data set prevented us from completely isolating either of these two effects on differences in diet richness, δ13C, and δ15N. Nevertheless, differences in diet item occurrence across sizes and species reflect differences in resource acquisition among ELS suckers that might be related to recruitment bottlenecks.
Water as a weapon and casualty of armed conflict: A review of recent water‐related violence in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen
Authors: Gleick Peter H. 
Published: June 2019

AbstractViolence over water resources has persisted in various forms for thousands of years, driven by complex ideological, religious, economic, and strategic factors. Scarce and valuable freshwater has played a role in conflicts as a contributing factor, a target or tool, or a weapon. The focus of this review is on specific instances of violence around water and water systems conflict in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, where water resources and human‐built water systems have been both weapons and targets of conflict. A new cycle of violence in the region, growing in extent and severity, began approximately three decades ago and is described here in the context of broader regional water challenges and theoretical issues around environmental security. New data and definitions and an analysis of the types of event and sources of information are also provided in the context of international humanitarian law. This assessment confirms and expands upon previous work that evaluates trends toward the weaponization of water and the targeting of water systems in Middle East conflicts. Initial recommendations for reducing these trends are provided.This article is categorized under:
Human Water > Water Governance
Human Water > Rights to Water
Science of Water > Water Quality