bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of pressure, methane concentration, sulfate reduction activity, and temperature on methane production in surface sediments of the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Zhuang Guang‐Chao , Montgomery Andy , Sibert Ryan J. , Rogener Mary‐Katherine , Samarkin Vladimir A. , Joye Samantha B. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractMicrobial methanogenesis is a known source of methane in marine environment, but the factors affecting the production of methane from different pathways remain largely unconstrained. We investigated the effects of pressure, methane concentration, temperature, and sulfate reduction activity on the conversion of methanogenic substrates to methane using radiotracers in nearshore and offshore surface sediments in the northern Gulf of Mexico. The transformation of bicarbonate to methane increased with methane concentrations under quasi in situ conditions of deep‐sea sediment, potentially reflecting, to some degree, enhancement of the enzymatic back reaction under high‐methane conditions. In coastal sediments, a positive effect of both increased methane concentration and inhibition of sulfate reduction by molybdate on 14CH4 accumulation suggests that anaerobic oxidation of methane and methanogenesis occur concurrently. In contrast, methane production from methanol was suppressed by increased methane concentration likely due to the reduced energy yield of methanogenesis at elevated methane concentrations. Temperature could limit hydrogenotrophic and acetoclastic methanogenesis under in situ conditions, as higher rates were observed at 40°C in nearshore sediments. Inhibitor experiments with 2‐bromoethanesulfonate and molybdate indicated that sulfate‐reducing bacteria preferentially utilized acetate, as well as H2. Methanol was a noncompetitive substrate for methanogens in the deep‐sea sediments but was competitively cycled in coastal sediments. An authentic noncompetitive substrate, methylamine, was channeled predominantly to methane production under all conditions tested. The different response of methanogenic activity to substrate availability, metabolic competition, temperature, and pressure between sites suggest variable environmental controls on the methane production in coastal vs. deep‐sea surface sediments.
A General Strategy for Extrusion Bioprinting of Bio‐Macromolecular Bioinks through Alginate‐Templated Dual‐Stage Crosslinking
Authors: Zhu Kai , Chen Nan , Liu Xiao , Mu Xuan , Zhang Weijia , Wang Chunsheng , Zhang Yu Shrike 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe recently developed 3D bioprinting technology has greatly improved the ability to generate biomimetic tissues that are structurally and functionally relevant to their human counterparts. The selection of proper biomaterials as the bioinks is a key step toward successful bioprinting. For example, viscosity of a bioink is an important rheological parameter to determine the flexibility in deposition of free‐standing structures and the maintenance of architectural integrity following bioprinting. This requirement, however, has greatly limited the selection of bioinks, especially for those naturally derived due to their commonly low mechanical properties. Here the generalization of a mechanism for extrusion bioprinting of bio‐macromolecular components, mainly focusing on collagen and its derivatives including gelatin and gelatin methacryloyl, is reported. Specifically, a templating strategy is adopted using a composite bioink containing both the desired bio‐macromolecular component and a polysaccharide alginate. The physically crosslinkable alginate component serves as the temporal structural support to stabilize the shape of the construct during bioprinting; upon subsequent chemical or physical crosslinking of the bio‐macromolecular component, alginate can be selectively removed to leave only the desired bio‐macromolecule. It is anticipated that this strategy is general, and can be readily expanded for use of a wide variety of other bio‐macromolecular bioinks.
Epoxy‐Functional Sterically Stabilized Diblock Copolymer Nanoparticles via RAFT Aqueous Emulsion Polymerization: Comparison of Two Synthetic Strategies
Authors: György Csilla , Lovett Joseph R. , Penfold Nicholas J. W. , Armes Steven P. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractPolymerization‐induced self‐assembly (PISA) is a powerful and versatile technique for the synthesis of a wide range of sterically stabilized diblock copolymer nano‐objects. Recently, PISA has been used to prepare epoxy‐functional diblock copolymer worms and spheres directly in aqueous solution by incorporating glycidyl methacrylate (GlyMA) into the core‐forming hydrophobic block. Herein, the synthesis of diblock copolymer spheres via reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) aqueous emulsion polymerization of benzyl methacrylate is examined, in which the epoxy groups are exclusively located within a non‐ionic poly(glycerol monomethacrylate)‐based stabilizer block. Two synthetic strategies are explored: i) using an epoxy‐functional RAFT chain transfer agent (CTA) to place an epoxy group at the terminus of every stabilizer block and ii) incorporation of ≈1 epoxy group per stabilizer chain via copolymerization of GlyMA with glycerol monomethacrylate (GMA). The epoxy groups conferred by the GlyMA comonomer are significantly more resistant to hydrolysis than those introduced using the epoxy‐functional RAFT CTA. The epoxy‐functional nanoparticles are subsequently reacted with various water‐soluble thiols to modify their electrophoretic behavior. Such nanoparticles are expected to offer potential applications in the context of mucoadhesion.
Relatively favorable prognosis for MLL‐rearranged childhood acute leukemia with reciprocal translocations
Authors: Yang Liu , Ding Lixia , Liang Jianwei , Chen Jing , Tang YanJing , Xue Huiliang , Gu Longjun , Shen Shuhong , Li Benshang , Chen Jing 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundMixed‐lineage leukemia (MLL) with multifarious partner genes leads to aggressive leukemia with dismal outcomes.MethodsUsing panel‐based targeted sequencing, we examined 90 cases with MLL‐rearranged (MLL‐r) childhood acute leukemia, including 55 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 35 with acute myeloid leukemia (AML).ResultsMLL breakpoints and complete rearrangements were identified. A total of 37.8% (34/90) of patients displayed a single direct MLL fusion gene, 15.6% (14/90) carried a single reciprocal fusion, and 27.8% (25/90) had both reciprocal MLL fusion alleles. The remaining 17 MLL‐r cases exhibited complex translocations with homozygous disruptions on chromosome 11 or two breakpoints on the same MLL allele with a deletion of functional regions. A total of 77 patients (45 ALL and 32 AML) received chemotherapy with a median follow‐up of 2.5 years. Unexpectedly, we identified children with reciprocal MLL fusions who exhibited relatively favorable outcomes compared with those in children with complex translocations or a single direct MLL fusion allele (66.1% vs. 24.6% and 27.6%, P = 0.001). Reciprocal MLL fusion may be functionally rescued by a partially truncated MLL protein.ConclusionComprehensive MLL‐r analysis by targeted next‐generation sequencing can provide detailed molecular information and is helpful for precise stratified treatment and clinical prognosis determination.
Evaluation of mobile phone applications to support medication adherence and symptom management in oncology patients
Authors: Jupp Jennifer C. Y. , Sultani Humirah , Cooper Cassandra A. , Peterson Kedra A. , Truong Tony H. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractMobile phone applications (apps), may support pediatric oncology patients with medication and disease management. A scoping review of the literature, a search of the iTunes App and Google Play Stores, was conducted to identify medication and symptom management apps for adult and pediatric oncology patients. Pooled results yielded 28 apps which were assessed for quality using the Mobile Application Rating Scale, with mean overall scores ranging from 2.8 to 4.3. Most apps received low scores in the Engagement domain. Our study assessed the quality of available mobile oncology apps and identified areas for improvement in design and function.
Alkali treatments of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin‐film absorbers and their impact on transport barriers
Authors: Werner Florian , Wolter Max Hilaire , Siebentritt Susanne , Sozzi Giovanna , Di Napoli Simone , Menozzi Roberto , Jackson Philip , Witte Wolfram , Carron Romain , Avancini Enrico , Weiss Thomas Paul , Buecheler Stephan 
Published: June 2018

AbstractWe study the impact of different alkali post‐deposition treatments by thermal admittance spectroscopy and temperature‐dependent current‐voltage (IVT) characteristics of high‐efficiency Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin‐film solar cells fabricated from low‐temperature and high‐temperature co‐evaporated absorbers. Capacitance steps observed by admittance spectroscopy for all samples agree with the widely observed N1 signature and show a clear correlation to a transport barrier evident from IVT characteristics measured in the dark, indicating that defects are likely not responsible for these capacitance steps. Activation energies extracted from capacitance spectra and IVT characteristics vary considerably between different samples but show no concise correlation to the alkali species used in the post‐deposition treatments. Numerical device simulations show that the transport barrier in our devices might be related to conduction band offsets in the absorber/buffer/window stack.
The association between gender and pediatric respiratory morbidity
Authors: Ben‐Shmuel Atar , Sheiner Eyal , Wainstock Tamar , Landau Daniella , Vaknin Flear , Walfisch Asnat 
Published: June 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the association between newborn gender and the risk for later pediatric respiratory morbidity.Study DesignA population based cohort analysis was performed by comparing the risk of long‐term respiratory morbidity (until 18 years of age) according to gender. Respiratory morbidity included hospitalizations involving pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), influenza, and bronchiectasis. Deliveries occurred between the years 1991 and 2014 in a tertiary medical center. Kaplan‐Meier survival curves were constructed to compare cumulative respiratory morbidity. A Cox proportional hazards model controlled for confounders.ResultsDuring the study period 240 953 newborns met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 118 113 were females (49.0%) and 122 840 were males (51.0%). During the 18 years of follow‐up, 13 719 (5.7%) different newborns were hospitalized with respiratory related morbidity. Males had significantly higher rates of respiratory morbidity as compared with females (6.4% vs 4.9% respectively, P < 0.001, OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.28‐1.37). Specifically, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, bronchiolitis, and URTI were significantly more common in males. Males exhibited higher total cumulative respiratory morbidity (log rank P < 0.001), as well as higher cumulative morbidity in several sub‐categories. These sub‐categories included pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, bronchiolitis, and URTI (P < 0.05 in all). The Cox regression model demonstrated male gender to be an independent risk factor for pediatric respiratory morbidity while adjusting for gestational age, birthweight, and other confounders (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.25‐1.34, P < 0.001).ConclusionsMales are at an increased risk for pediatric respiratory morbidity, independent of obstetrical characteristics such as gestational age and birthweight.
Does lung microbiome play a causal or casual role in asthma?
Authors: Di Cicco Maria , Pistello Mauro , Jacinto Tiago , Ragazzo Vincenzo , Piras Martina , Freer Giulia , Pifferi Massimo , Peroni Diego 
Published: June 2018

AbstractAsthma is the most common chronic disease in childhood. The pathogenesis of asthma is multifactorial and is thought to include environmental factors interacting with genetics during pregnancy and in the first years of life. In the last decades, a possible role of gut microbiota in allergic disease pathogenesis has been demonstrated. Next generation sequencing techniques have allowed the identification of a distinct microbiome in the healthy lungs. The lung microbiome is characterized by the prevalence of bacteria belonging to the phylum Bacteroidetes (mostly Prevotella and Veilonella spp) in healthy subjects and to the phylum Proteobacteria in asthmatics (mostly Haemophilus, Moraxella, and Neisseria spp). In asthma, as well as in other diseases, the lung microbiome composition changes due to a disruption of the delicate balance between immigration and elimination of bacteria. The lung microbiome can interact with the immune system, thus influencing inflammation. Early infections with viruses, such as respiratory syncytial virus, may alter lung microbiome composition favoring the emergence of Proteobacteria, a phylum which is also linked to severity of asthma and bronchial hyperreactivity. Lastly, antibiotics may alter the gut and lung microbiota and potentially disturb the relationship between microbiota and host. Therefore, antibiotics should be prescribed with increasing awareness of their potential harmful effect on the microbiota in young children with and without asthma. The potential effects of probiotics and prebiotics on lung microbiome are unknown.
Expiratory muscle strength and functional exercise tolerance in adults with cystic fibrosis: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Gambazza Simone , Turrin Valentina , Speziali Chiara , Brivio Anna , Valmarana Lauretta , Carta Federica , Bulfamante Anna Marta Clotilde , Colombo Carla 
Published: June 2018

AbstractObjectiveA 6‐minute walk work (6MWW), that is the product of distance walked at the 6‐minute walk test (6MWT) multiplied by body weight, has been suggested as an appropriate variable for estimating functional capacity. Under the hypothesis that 6MWW strongly correlates with expiratory muscle strength (PEmax), as found in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), the aim of the study was to determine the degree of this correlation in adults with cystic fibrosis.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was carried out at the Regional Referral Centre for Cystic Fibrosis, where patients with cystic fibrosis attending their regular follow‐up, aged 18 years or older with mild‐to‐normal lung disease, were asked to participate. Dietitians determined nutritional status before subjects performed spirometry and static measurement of respiratory muscles. The 6MWT was performed as the last study procedure. Spearman correlation test was used to correlate PEmax with 6MWW and other study variables.ResultsTwenty‐five cystic fibrosis subjects aged 18–30 years and with FEV1 values ranging from 42.4% to 123.4% predicted completed the study. PEmax strongly correlated with 6MWW (rho .72, p = .0001) whereas it did not correlate with other study variables, including distance at the 6MWT. Distance walked multiplied by body weight (p = .0019) and body mass index (p = .0238) were significantly lower in those with PEmax below the lower limits of normal.ConclusionIncreased functional exercise tolerance is related to higher static expiratory pressure in patients with mild‐to‐normal cystic fibrosis lung disease. Difference in exercise performance might reflect a possible difference in body composition that needs to be further investigated.
Multi‐drug ultraperformance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry method to quantify antimicrobials in feeding stuffs at carry‐over level
Authors: Civitareale Cinzia , Mestria Serena , Gallo Pasquale , Giannetti Luigi , Neri Bruno , Stacchini Paolo , Fiori Maurizio 
Published: June 2018

RationaleCarry‐over is an undesirable contamination from medicated to non‐medicated during the production of feedingstuffs. In 2014 the European Parliament and the Council started working to produce a new regulatory act that will fix tolerable levels of drugs by carry‐over in non‐target feed to have a harmonized practice to evaluate this contamination by veterinary drugs.MethodsWe developed a rapid and effective multi‐analyte method coupling ultraperformance liquid chromatography to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) for the detection of 37 drugs belonging to different classes of antimicrobials (sulfonamides, tetracyclines, macrolides, quinolones, pleuromutilins and streptogramins) in feeds at carry‐over levels. The method was in‐house validated in the concentration range 0.25–2.0 mg kg−1, according to the Regulation (UE) 2017/625 requirements and the guideline included in the Commission Decision 2002/657/EC for official methods.ResultsThe UPLC/MS/MS method allows the determination of the antimicrobials in 15 min, by providing results compliant to the criteria established by the European Commission legislation. All the analytes showed a limit of detection (LOD) in the range 2.0–5.0 μg kg−1 and a limit of quantification (LOQ) at 10.0 μg kg−1; oxytetracycline, doxycycline, spiramycin and virginiamycin have a higher LOD and LOQ (15.0 μg kg−1; 30.0 μg kg−1, respectively). Recoveries were satisfactory ranging from 90.4% to 103.1%.ConclusionsThe method is characterized by an effective clean‐up of all drugs without the use of large sample size and organic solvent extraction.
Temporal changes in the hydrology and nutrient concentrations of a large tropical river: Anthropogenic influence in the Lower Grijalva River, Mexico
Authors: Lázaro‐Vázquez A. , Castillo M. M. , Jarquín‐Sánchez A. , Carrillo L. , Capps K. A. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractDam construction and nutrient loading are among the greatest threats to freshwater ecosystems, altering ecological processes and the provisioning of ecosystem services. Temporal change in hydrology and ambient nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations was studied on the Grijalva, a large tropical river in southern Mexico, where four hydroelectric dams operate and where land conversion has impacted the freshwater environment. Temporal changes in discharge and in river chemistry were examined by analysing long‐term discharge and nutrient data using the software Indicators of Hydrologic Alteration and Mann–Kendall tests. Furthermore, additional water chemistry samples were collected to examine seasonal nutrient dynamics in the lower Grijalva. Long‐term discharge data indicated dam construction has severely altered temporal patterns in discharge and other hydrological characteristics. The lower Grijalva has also experienced increase in nitrate concentrations through time, which may be attributed to the expansion of agricultural and urban areas in the watershed. In contrast, total phosphorus appeared to decline at the sites influenced by dam construction. Lower nutrient concentrations were recorded upstream from the city of Villahermosa, suggesting that inputs from urban areas may have contributed to nutrient loading. Additionally, higher nitrate and total phosphorus concentrations were detected in tributaries draining intensive agricultural and suburban areas. Collectively, the results from the study suggest that dam construction and land conversion in large, tropical watersheds can produce chemical and hydrological changes, which may negatively impact important ecosystem services—such as fisheries and the provisioning of sources of drinking water—and may compromise the integrity of coastal zones.
Fabrication and Characterization of Manganese‐based Self‐assembled Cubic Structures
Authors: Khan Kabeer Ahmad , Ullah Hameed , Bonnet Pierre , Nawaz Mohsan , Irfan Muhammad 
Published: June 2018

AbstractSelf‐assembled cubic structures of manganese‐based nanomaterials were achieved successfully, in case of manganese fluoride, for the very first time. The indirect synthesis of manganese oxide (Mn2O3) and manganese fluoride (MnF2/MnF3) self‐assembly involved an individual two step synthesis protocol. In first step of the protocol, NH4MnF3 self‐assembled cubic structures were fabricated by a simple liquid phase reaction using polystyrene (PS) as structure directing agent (SDA), while manganese nitrate tetrahydrate (Mn(NO3)2.4H2O) and ammonium fluoride (NH4F) as manganese and fluorine sources, respectively. In second step, the NH4MnF3 was transformed by calcination to manganese oxide (Mn2O3) at 450 °C for 5 hours under open atmosphere (air/O2), and individually, to manganese fluoride (MnF2/MnF3) at 350 °C for 5 hours under pure molecular fluorine (F2) environment. The temperature regimes for the transformation reactions were deduced from thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The crystal structures and the compositions of all the samples were established by powder X‐rays diffraction (PXRD). Further, structural characterizations were carried out by spectroscopic analyses. The key objective, preservation of self‐assembled cubic structures in the resulting manganese oxide and fluoride, were confirmed by electron microscopic analyses. The self‐assembly structures formation mechanism was illustrated based on the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results.
Design and evaluation of a high‐accuracy current sensing circuit
Authors: Tian Lei , Li Qinqin , Wang Weiheng 
Published: June 2018

This paper introduces a high‐accuracy current sensing circuit consuming low power. The structure includes five current and voltage transformation stages, and uses resistors to reduce the input offset voltage. By allowing a wide common‐mode input range, the versatility of the proposed topology is greatly widened. The proposed current sensing circuit is implemented with the 0.35‐μm Bipolar‐CMOS‐DMOS (BCD) process with the block area down to 3.68 mm2. The supply current is decreased to 1 μA while still guaranteeing a fast transient response. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Local well‐posedness and blow‐up criterion for a compressible Navier‐Stokes‐P1 approximate model arising in radiation hydrodynamics
Authors: He Fangyi , Fan Jishan , Zhou Yong 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn this paper we prove the local well‐posedness and a blow‐up criterion of strong solutions for a compressible Navier‐Stokes‐P1 approximate model arising in radiation hydrodynamics, provided the initial data satisfy a natural compatibility condition. We do not assume the positivity of initial density, it may vanish in an open subset (vacuum) of .
QTL mapping in diploid potato by using selfed progenies of the cross S. tuberosum × S. chacoense
Authors: Meijer D. , Viquez-Zamora M. , van Eck H. J. , Hutten R. C. B. , Su Y. , Rothengatter R. , Visser R. G. F. , Lindhout W. H. , van Heusden A. W. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractUsually, mapping studies in potato are performed with segregating populations from crosses between highly heterozygous diploid or tetraploid parents. These studies are hampered by a high level of genetic background noise due to the numerous segregating alleles, with a maximum of eight per locus. In the present study, we aimed to increase the mapping efficiency by using progenies from diploid inbred populations in which at most two alleles segregate. Selfed progenies were generated from a cross between S. tuberosum (D2; a highly heterozygous diploid) and S. chacoense (DS; a homozygous diploid clone) containing the self-incompatibility overcoming S locus inhibitor (Sli-gene). The Sli-gene enables self-pollination and the generation of selfed progenies. One F2 population was used to map several quality traits, such as tuber shape, flesh and skin color. Quantitative trait loci were identified for almost all traits under investigation. The identified loci partially coincided with known mapped loci and partially identified new loci. Nine F3 populations were used to validate the QTLs and monitor the overall increase in the homozygosity level.