bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Clinical characteristics, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers, and inflammatory markers in individuals with post-COVID-19 condition in Kenya: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Theuri Martin , Ndombi Eric M. , Thamaini Peris , Ogutu James Opiyo , Onsongo Lister , Madete June K. , Ofula Victor , Gitau Samuel , Mwangi Gladys , Okemo Paul 
Published: July 2024

Background
Post-coronavirus disease 2019 (post-COVID-19) is associated with considerable morbidity and reduced quality of life. However, studies characterizing the post-COVID-19 condition in Kenya are limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition and determine the clinical characteristics, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG titers, and concentrations of inflammatory markers of individuals with post-COVID-19 condition in Kenya.

Methods
This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Kenyatta University Health Unit, Kenya. Demographic and clinical data were collected using a questionnaire. The serum levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, interleukin 6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Independent samples t-test was used to compare the anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IL-6, and CRP levels between the participants with and without post-COVID-19 symptoms. The case definition for post-COVID-19 condition was persistence of acute COVID-19 symptoms or emergence of new symptoms 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis, symptoms lasting for ≥2 months, and absence of any other etiological basis to explain the symptoms.

Results
A total of 189 volunteers were recruited in this study (median age: 21 years, range: 18–71 years; male, 49.2%). Forty participants reported having had at least one COVID-19 positive diagnosis in the past, of which 12 (30%) complained of post-COVID-19 symptoms. Significant differences in the number and duration of symptoms were observed between the individuals with and without post-COVID-19 symptoms (t-statistic = 2.87, p = 0.01; t-statistic = 2.39, p = 0.02, respectively). However, no significant differences in serum levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, IL-6, and CRP were observed between the two groups (P = 0.08, 0.9, and 0.28, respectively).

Conclusion
These findings suggest that post-COVID-19 condition is a health concern even for a relatively young population in Kenya and globally. This condition requires more attention and well-designed studies to better define it and identify clinical chemistry markers that can be used for its diagnosis.
Green manure combined with reduced nitrogen reduce NH3 emissions, improves yield and nitrogen use efficiencies of rice
Authors: Hu Zhongze , Yang Daliu , Feng Yaming , Zhang Shuanglin , Wang An , Wang Qiaozhen , Yang Yayun , Chen Chunying , Zhang Yuefang , Wang Xian 
Published: July 2024

Background
Green manure is an important source of organic fertilizer. Exploring green fertilizer and nitrogen fertilizer reduction is important for agricultural production. However, few studies have been conducted, especially on the effects of different green fertilizers along with reduced nitrogen fertilizer application on soil ammonia volatilization emissions, rice yield, and nitrogen fertilizer uptake and utilization.

Methods
In this study, the effects of different types of green manure and reduced nitrogen fertilizer application on soil ammonia volatilization emissions, aboveground population characteristics of rice, and nitrogen fertilizer uptake and utilization were explored. This study was based on a field-positioning experiment conducted between 2020 and 2022. Six treatments were established: no nitrogen fertilizer application (CK), conventional fertilization in wheat-rice (WR), villous villosa-rice (VvR), vetch sativa-rice (VsR), rapeseed seed-rice (RR), and milk vetch-rice (GR), with a 20% reduction in nitrogen fertilizer application. The amounts of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers remained unchanged. The characteristics of ammonia volatilization loss in rice fields, agronomic traits of rice, yield traits, and nitrogen uptake and utilization were investigated.

Results
The results indicated a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the impact of different treatments on ammonia volatilization emissions from rice in the two-year experiment. Compared with WR treatment, VvR, VsR, RR, and GR treatments reduced the total ammonia volatilization loss by 23.58 to 39.21 kg ha−1, respectively. Compared with the conventional WR treatment, other treatments increased rice yield by 0.09 to 0.83 t ha−1. GR treatment was significantly higher than other green fertilizer treatments, except for VsR (P < 0.05). It increased the nitrogen uptake of rice by an average of 4.24%–22.24% and 13.08%–33.21% over the two years, respectively. The impact of different types of green manure on the nitrogen uptake and utilization of rice varied greatly, indicating that the combination of green manure and fertilizer is a sustainable fertilization model for crops to achieve high yields. In particular, the Chinese milk vetch as green manure was more beneficial for ammonia volatilization reduction in paddy field and stable grain production of rice.
Impact of Silicon Application on Corms and Cormels Growth in Gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus Hort.) cv. ‘White Prosperity’
Authors: Kaur Jasmeen , Thakur Tanya , Nazir Gazala 
Published: July 2024

The objective of present study was to assess the impact of different doses and method of silicon application on growth of underground corms and cormels in gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus Hort.) cv. White Prosperity. The experiment was conductedat Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, Punjab, India during 2021-22. The experiment was designed in split plot randomized block design with three replications. It encompassed five basal doses of silicon (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 kgha-1 as SiO2) along with four foliar sprays at 3rd and 6th leaf stage (water spray, 1%, 2% and 3% as SiO2). The results showed that corm and cormel production was enhanced with linear increase in silicon dose as basal as well as foliar application with maximum at 100 kgha-1(1.40 and 28.74) and 3% (1.42 and 29.42). However, combined application recorded significantly maximum number of corms and cormels per plant (1.80 and 37.12) with 75 kgha-1+ 3% and 100 kgha-1+ 3%. Combined application of silicon @75 kgha-1as basal and 2% as foliar produced maximum corm weight (38.46 g), whereas cormels weight per plant (28.47 g) was observed maximum with 100 kgha-1basal application along with 3% foliar spray. Basal application of silicon dioxide gave more values for corm traits as compared to foliar application. Hence, it was concluded that silicon application at 100 kgha-1as basal along with 3% foliar spray at 3rd and 6th leaf stage could be recommended to improve underground corm and cormel production in gladiolus.
Vergewaltigung – Die Bemessung von Schmerzensgeld und Geldentschädigung im Zivilprozess — Kriterien im Wandel der Rechtsprechung
Authors: Jaeger Lothar 
Published: July 2024

Zusammenfassung
Die Bemessung des Schmerzensgeldes im Zivilprozess ist seit Jahrzehnten unbefriedigend. Das liegt sowohl an den Anwälten der Geschädigten, die zur Höhe des Schmerzensgeldes unzureichend vortragen, als auch an den Richtern, die sich nicht ausreichend bemühen, das Schadensbild, insbesondere zu den Dauerschäden festzustellen und nach tatsächlich vergleichbaren Entscheidungen die Höhe des Schmerzensgeldes eingehend zu begründen. Diese allgemeine Kritik trifft in besonderem Maße auf Entscheidungen zum Schmerzensgeld nach einer Vergewaltigung zu, ein Geschehen, das in den letzten Jahren dadurch eine zusätzliche Dimension erfahren hat, dass nicht nur junge Männer einerseits und Partner in einer Beziehung andererseits als Täter in Betracht kommen, sondern auch Kleriker beider Kirchen, denen tausendfacher Missbrauch an Kindern und Vergewaltigungen an Messdienerinnen, Konfirmandinnen und kirchlichen Mitarbeitern vorgeworfen wird. Zum Missbrauch durch Kleriker gibt es derzeit nur eine Entscheidung des LG Köln, so dass die Entwicklung der Rechtsprechung in diesen Fällen abzuwarten bleibt. Zum Schmerzensgeld nach Vergewaltigungen von Frauen wird dagegen seit Jahrzehnten judiziert, jedoch in einer Weise, die im Folgenden näher beleuchtet werden soll.
Entomology
Authors: Benbow M. Eric , Merritt Richard W. , Pechal Jennifer L. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractForensic entomology is the use of arthropod evidence in legal investigations. Most often, forensic entomologists assist homicide investigations by estimating the time of death using information on the biology and ecology of arthropods. Insects play an important role in the natural decomposition process of carrion and, therefore, are inherently attracted to a decomposing body. Because of this, a decaying body is colonized by a predictable succession of arthropod species, and their developmental rates can be used to make estimates of the postmortem interval, or the time between death and corpse discovery. The succession of necrophagous invertebrates that occupy and use the decomposing resource can be used to make relatively long‐term (e.g., weeks or months) assessments of the postmortem interval. For shorter‐term estimates (e.g., days to weeks), information about life cycle and development of insect species is most often used in forensic entomological applications during a medicolegal investigation. Blow flies are generally the most important group of insects in this process, because they complete their life cycle on a decomposing corpse. By examining insect life stages and using temperature and other climate data for the time period preceding corpse discovery, a forensic entomologist back‐calculates to the time when a body was initially colonized by insects. Because colonization usually occurs shortly after death, this may be a close approximation of the time of death. Environmental factors that may delay insect colonization, such as cold temperatures, darkness, rain, and burial, will affect the estimate of an entomology‐based minimum postmortem interval. Insects also can be useful in providing toxicological and pathological information in an investigation.
Forensic Speaker Recognition
Authors: Meuwly Didier 
Published: December 2013

Abstract

The aim of forensic speaker recognition is to establish links between individuals and criminal activities, through audio speech recordings. This field is multidisciplinary, combining predominantly phonetics, linguistics, speech signal processing, and forensic statistics. On these bases, expert‐based and automatic approaches have been developed to analyze the speaker's utterances on recordings, usually originating from anonymous calls, wiretapping procedures, and covert audio surveillance. Most of the forensic laboratories still opt for either of these two approaches, even though, in many respects, they appear to be complementary. The main requirements for these methods are independence to the text, ability to handle minimal length recordings, and a superior robustness regarding noise, transmission channels, and other variations of the recording conditions. Forensic speaker recognition can be considered a forerunner in the implementation of a logical inference framework to estimate the value of the evidence from the analytical results. The limits of forensic speaker recognition are the absence of a fixed and known number of
highly
discriminatory features in speech, the limited quality of the audio recordings captured in forensic conditions, and the application of recognition approaches in the absence of any known underlying model that accurately represents the speaker‐dependent information.
Respiratory effects of bioaerosols: Exposure–response study among salmon‐processing workers
Authors: Shiryaeva Olga , Aasmoe Lisbeth , Straume Bjørn , Olsen Ann‐Helen , Øvrum Arild , Kramvik Eva , Larsen Merethe , Renstrøm Anne , Merritt Anne‐Sophie , Heldal Kari Kulvik , Bang Berit Elisabeth 
Published: December 2013

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to determine exposure–response relationships in salmon‐processing workers.MethodsCross‐shift FEV1, acute respiratory symptoms, and exposure to total protein, parvalbumin and endotoxin were main variables measured during one workweek. Exposure–response relationships were analyzed by Generalized Estimation Equations of cross‐week data and by multiple regressions of day‐to‐day data.ResultsExposure levels were higher in those workers who reported use of water hose. GEE showed negative coefficients for interaction between TP exposure and time (days) on cross‐week change of FEV1. Multiple regressions showed significant associations between TP levels and cross‐shift change of FEV1 and symptoms (cough, chest tightness) only for Monday shifts.ConclusionsA tolerance effect during the course of a workweek is suggested. Use of water hose is a risk process with regard to the liberation of measured components of bioaerosols. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:276–285, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Metal‐Free Reductive Cleavage of CN and SN Bonds by Photoactivated Electron Transfer from a Neutral Organic Donor
Authors: O'Sullivan Steven , Doni Eswararao , Tuttle Tell , Murphy John A. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractA photoactivated neutral organic super electron donor cleaves challenging arenesulfonamides derived from dialkylamines at room temperature. It also cleaves a) ArCNR and b) ArNC bonds. This study also highlights the assistance given to these cleavage reactions by the groups attached to N in (a) and to C in (b), by lowering LUMO energies and by stabilizing the products of fragmentation.
Copper‐Catalyzed Reduction of Alkyl Triflates and Iodides: An Efficient Method for the Deoxygenation of Primary and Secondary Alcohols
Authors: Dang Hester , Cox Nick , Lalic Gojko 
Published: December 2013

AbstractWe describe an effective method for catalytic reduction of 1° alkyl sulfonates, and 1° and 2° iodides in the presence of a wide range of functional groups. This Cu‐catalyzed reaction provides a means for the effective deoxygenation of alcohols, as demonstrated by the highly selective reduction of 1° alcohols using a triflation/reduction sequence. A preliminary study of the reaction mechanism suggests that the reduction does not involve free‐radical intermediates.
Resonances in the Entrance Channel of the Elementary Chemical Reaction of Fluorine and Methane
Authors: Westermann Till , Kim Jongjin B. , Weichman Marissa L. , Hock Christian , Yacovitch Tara I. , Palma Juliana , Neumark Daniel M. , Manthe Uwe 
Published: December 2013

AbstractExtending the fully quantum‐state‐resolved description of elementary chemical reactions beyond three or four atom systems is a crucial issue in fundamental chemical research. Reactions of methane with F, Cl, H or O are key examples that have been studied prominently. In particular, reactive resonances and nonintuitive mode‐selective chemistry have been reported in experimental studies for the F+CH4→HF+CH3 reaction. By investigating this reaction using transition‐state spectroscopy, this joint theoretical and experimental study provides a clear picture of resonances in the F+CH4 system. This picture is deduced from high‐resolution slow electron velocity‐map imaging (SEVI) spectra and accurate full‐dimensional (12D) quantum dynamics simulations in the picosecond regime.
Sequenzkontrolle in der Polymerchemie mithilfe der Passerini‐ Dreikomponentenreaktion
Authors: Solleder Susanne C. , Meier Michael A. R. 
Published: December 2013

AbstractIn dieser Arbeit wird eine neue Strategie vorgestellt, die Sequenzkontrolle in der Polymerchemie ermöglicht. Der Ansatz basiert auf einer abwechselnden Verwendung der vielseitigen Passerini‐Dreikomponentenreaktion (P‐3CR) und der effizienten Thiol‐En‐Addition. Zunächst wurde Stearinsäure als Ausgangsmaterial gewählt, um ein Tetramer mit einem Molekulargewicht von 1.6 kDa und genau definierter Monomerabfolge zu synthetisieren. Die Aufreinigung nach den einzelnen Reaktionsschritten kann stark vereinfacht werden, indem ein funktionales Polymer mit einer Säure‐Endgruppe als Ausgangssubstanz gewählt wird. Die Produkte konnten durch einfaches Ausfällen erhalten werden, sodass in einer effizienten Synthese ein sequenzkontrolliertes Pentamer hergestellt werden konnte. In diesem neuen Ansatz kann auf den Einsatz von Schutzgruppen verzichtet werden, und darüber hinaus können unterschiedliche Seitenketten mühelos und an definierten Stellen in das Polymerrückgrat eingebaut werden.
Unexpected Room‐Temperature Ferromagnetism in Nanostructured Bi2Te3
Authors: Xiao Guanjun , Zhu Chunye , Ma Yanming , Liu Bingbing , Zou Guangtian , Zou Bo 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThere is an urgent need for the development in the field of the magnetism of topological insulators, owing to the necessity for the realization of the quantum anomalous Hall effect. Herein, we discuss experimentally fabricated nanostructured hierarchical architectures of the topological insulator Bi2Te3 without the introduction of any exotic magnetic dopants, in which intriguing room‐temperature ferromagnetism was identified. First‐principles calculations demonstrated that the intrinsic point defect with respect to the antisite Te site is responsible for the creation of a magnetic moment. Such a mechanism, which is different from that of a vacancy defect, provides new insights into the origins of magnetism. Our findings may pave the way for developing future Bi2Te3‐based dissipationless spintronics and fault‐tolerant quantum computation.
Salt‐Induced Fabrication of Superhydrophilic and Underwater Superoleophobic PAA‐g‐PVDF Membranes for Effective Separation of Oil‐in‐Water Emulsions
Authors: Zhang Wenbin , Zhu Yuzhang , Liu Xia , Wang Dong , Li Jingye , Jiang Lei , Jin Jian 
Published: December 2013

AbstractConventional polymer membranes suffer from low flux and serious fouling when used for treating emulsified oil/water mixtures. Reported herein is the fabrication of a novel superhydrophilic and underwater superoleophobic poly(acrylic acid)‐grafted PVDF filtration membrane using a salt‐induced phase‐inversion approach. A hierarchical micro/nanoscale structure is constructed on the membrane surface and endows it with a superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic property. The membrane separates both surfactant‐free and surfactant‐stabilized oil‐in‐water emulsions under either a small applied pressure (<0.3 bar) or gravity, with high separation efficiency and high flux, which is one to two orders of magnitude higher than those of commercial filtration membranes having a similar permeation property. The membrane exhibits an excellent antifouling property and is easily recycled for long‐term use. The outstanding performance of the membrane and the efficient, energy and cost‐effective preparation process highlight its potential for practical applications.
Carbon Dioxide Capture and Use: Organic Synthesis Using Carbon Dioxide from Exhaust Gas
Authors: Kim Seung Hyo , Kim Kwang Hee , Hong Soon Hyeok 
Published: December 2013

AbstractA carbon capture and use (CCU) strategy was applied to organic synthesis. Carbon dioxide (CO2) captured directly from exhaust gas was used for organic transformations as efficiently as hyper‐pure CO2 gas from a commercial source, even for highly air‐ and moisture‐sensitive reactions. The CO2 capturing aqueous ethanolamine solution could be recycled continuously without any diminished reaction efficiency.
Measuring Corporate Environmental Performance – Stakeholder Engagement Evaluation
Authors: Bhattacharyya Asit , Cummings Lorne 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAs environmental protection has become a critical factor in achieving sustainable development, organizational stakeholders are becoming increasingly interested in corporate environmental performance (CEP). Many organizations evaluate their CEP but few academic studies have sought to evaluate it. This study undertakes CEP evaluation using an environmental performance measurement (EPM) model consisting of four managerial performance indicators (MPIs: organizational system, stakeholder relations, operational countermeasures and environmental tracking) and two operational performance indicators (OPIs: inputs and outputs). Principal component analysis (PCA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) are used to test model reliability and construct validity. The relationship between MPIs and OPIs has also been analysed using correlation coefficients among the six indicators. Results indicate that there were multiple dimensions to measure under an organizational system as opposed to ideally a single factor. No single model can be effectively used due to different geographical locations and differences between companies from various industry sectors. EPM is more dependent on its organizational system and stakeholder relations than operational countermeasures and environmental tracking. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Distinctive Features of Environmental Innovators: An Econometric Analysis
Authors: del Río Pablo , Peñasco Cristina , Romero‐Jordán Desiderio 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThis paper analyzes the main determinants influencing environmental innovators (i.e. firms developing or adopting environmental innovations) in Spain with respect to non‐environmental innovators. Similarly to other contributions in the literature, our results show that Spanish environmental innovators respond to regulatory stimulus in the form of demand‐pull and technology‐push instruments. They have a high internal technological capability and combine internal and external information sources, mostly in cooperation with knowledge institutions. Environmental innovators are more concentrated in mature, traditionally highly polluting sectors, but new firms are not more environmentally innovative than incumbents. Most importantly, in contrast to other environmental innovation studies, mostly carried out in a German context, we have not found evidence of a market pull from either the domestic or international markets. Furthermore, cost savings are not found to be a distinctive driver for environmental innovators. These differential results are possibly related to the special features of Spain regarding its national innovation system and the degree of stringency of environmental regulation and environmental consciousness of its consumers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Highly Modular C1‐Symmetric Chiral (P,N) Ligands with a Stereolabile P Center: Experimental and Theoretical Studies
Authors: Humbert Nicolas , Larionov Evgeny , Mantilli Luca , Nareddy Pradeep , Besnard Céline , Guénée Laure , Mazet Clément 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAn improved synthesis of a novel class of bidentate (P,N) ligands is presented, the structures of which are characterized by three distinct elements of chirality. The stereoselective installation of the elements of central chirality (at the benzylic carbon and the phosphorus atom) depends on the size of the phosphorus substituent. Thermal inversion of the phosphorus center has been studied experimentally and further correlated by DFT calculations. The potential of these ligands and the role of the phosphorus atom in the asymmetric α‐arylation of aldehydes (Pd) and hydrogenation of allylic alcohols (Ir) have also been investigated.
Catalytic and Asymmetric Fluorolactonisations of Carboxylic Acids through Anion Phase Transfer
Authors: Parmar Dixit , Maji Modhu Sudan , Rueping Magnus 
Published: December 2013

AbstractCatalytic fluorolactonisations of aromatic carboxylic acids have been developed. The reactions proceed under mild conditions using the commercially available reagent Selectfluor. A weak phase transfer of the reagent mediated by Na2CO3 allows the reaction to be conducted in non‐polar solvents. Furthermore, by the use of a catalytic amount of (DHQ)2PHAL (hydroquinine 1,4‐phthalazinediyl diether), the first asymmetric fluorolactonisation has been achieved. The corresponding isobenzofuran core can be found in many biologically active molecules.