bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Microbial Biomass and Community Functional Diversity in Temperate Grassland in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: He Yating , Qi Yuchun , Dong Yunshe , Xiao Shengsheng , Peng Qin , Liu Xinchao , Sun Liangjie 
Published: December 2012

AbstractNitrogen (N) fertilization may profoundly affect soil microbial communities. In this study, a field fertilization experiment was conducted in temperate grassland in Inner Mongolia, China to examine the effect of N fertilization on soil microbial properties and the main factors related to the characteristics of soil microbial community. Soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial functional diversity along an N gradient were measured over three months (June to August). The result showed that N fertilization significantly decreased MBC under high N treatment (N200, 200 kg N ha−1 y−1) compared with the control (N0, 0 kg N ha−1 y−1) in the three months. Microbial functional diversity in July and August were significantly increased by low N treatment (N50, 50 kg N ha−1 y−1). Among the three fertilization treatments, microbial functional diversity under N200 in the three months was significantly lower than that of N50. The decrease of MBC and functional diversity under N200 were mainly due to the significant decline of plant belowground biomass under high N treatment. The increase of functional diversity under N50 treatment was due to the higher plant aboveground biomass as a result of the higher soil moisture availability. This finding highlighted that the higher N fertilization (N200) was not suitable for the growth and improvement of functional diversity of the soil microbial community, and that site and plant community play an important role in regulating the characteristics of soil microbial community.
Carbamazepine Removal from Groundwater: Effectiveness of the TiO2/UV, Nanoparticulate Zero‐Valent Iron, and Fenton (NZVI/H2O2) Processes
Authors: Shirazi Elham , Torabian Ali , Nabi‐Bidhendi Gholamreza 
Published: December 2012

AbstractPharmaceutical compounds, widely produced and used all around the world, are partly responsible for the widespread water pollution in the environment. Carbamazepine (CBZ) is an antiepileptic drug that persists in the environment for many years. In the present study, we used the TiO2/UV, nanoparticulate zero‐valent iron (NZVI), and NZVI/H2O2 treatment processes to compare efficiency of CBZ removal from water. Influence of NZVI loading, H2O2 concentration, TiO2 loading, UV lamp power, and the matrix (distilled water and groundwater) on CBZ removal efficiency was evaluated using full factorial design. Results indicated that the NZVI/H2O2 process oxidized CBZ within 5 min. On the other hand, the NZVI process alone did not reduce CBZ concentration after 120 min of process time. The NZVI/H2O2 process was equally effective in CBZ removal from both distilled water and groundwater whereas the TiO2/UV process was less effective due to the presence of ions in groundwater. CBZ removal efficiency of the TiO2/UV process declined 30% when the matrix was changed from distilled water to groundwater. Negative divalent ions, i.e., ${\rm SO}_{{\rm 4}}^{{\rm 2}- } $ and ${\rm CO}_{{\rm 3}}^{{\rm 2}- } $, were the main cause of reduction of CBZ removal efficiency from groundwater. It is likely that these two ions adsorb onto, and consequently prevent the superoxide anion ${\rm O}_{{\rm 2}}^{\bullet - } $ and hydroxyl radical OH• from being generated on, the surface of the TiO2.
Removal of Carbamazepine, Naproxen, and Trimethoprim from Water by Amberlite XAD‐7: A Kinetic Study
Authors: Domínguez‐Vargas Joaquín R. , Gonzalez Teresa , Palo Patricia , Cuerda‐Correa Eduardo M. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe adsorption kinetics of carbamazepine, naproxen, and trimethoprim in aqueous solution by Amberlite™ XAD‐7 has been studied. The influence of adsorbent dose (1–3 g/L), stirring rate (80–240 rpm), pH (2–9), temperature (20–60°C), and initial concentration (25–75 ppm) on the adsorption kinetics has been analyzed. The removal efficiency in the first 2 h reaches 85% for carbamazepine, 60% for naproxen, and 70% for trimethoprim. pH appears to be the most important factor conditioning the removal of these latter solutes, whereas carbamazepine adsorption seems to be independent of the pH of the adsorptive solution. Initial concentration and operation temperature moderately influence the adsorption process. Finally, stirring rate scarcely affects the process. The experimental data have been fitted to four kinetic models, namely pseudo‐first and pseudo‐second order, intra‐particle diffusion and Bangham's. The model providing the best fit is the pseudo‐second order one. Again, pH is the factor that affects the adsorption rate in a more remarkable manner although other parameters such as temperature and stirring rate also contribute to accelerate the removal of the solutes. Under the optimal operation conditions, Amberlite™ XAD‐7 exhibits a promising ability for the removal of the pharmaceuticals under study.
Screening for and Identification of an Anti‐clam Vibrio Marine Bacterium from an Aquaculture Pond in the Yellow Sea
Authors: Sun Xing , Zhao Gengmao , Gu Chenhao , Liu Ling , Zhu Ming , Liu Zhaopu 
Published: December 2012

AbstractThe identification and use of probiotic bacterial stains is a practical approach to protect clams grown in aquaculture farms from disease. The inhibition of the pathogenic bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus was used as a trait to select a candidate probiotic bacterial strain in this study. An ideal bacterial strain, SW‐1, was isolated from seawater from a clam farm. The selected isolate SW‐1 was identified based on its physiological, morphological, and biochemical characteristics and its 16S rDNA sequence. The experiments showed that strain SW‐1 had a high similarity to Pseudoalteromonas piscicida and could inhibit the growth of V. alginolyticus (V.‐MP‐1). SW‐1 also improved the survival of clams following challenge with the pathogenic V.‐MP‐1. The mortality of clams was 100% after infection with 108 CFU/mL of V. alginolyticus, whereas mortality was only 11% when clams were infected with 108 CFU/mL of V.‐MP1 while simultaneously exposed to the same concentration of Pseudoalteromonas SW‐1, indicating that Pseudoalteromonas SW‐1 could be used as a probiotic to protect farmed clams, and thus reduce the effects of antibiotics on aquatic environment.
Microwave‐Assisted In Situ Synthesis of Graphene/PEDOT Hybrid and Its Application in Supercapacitors
Authors: Sun Dong , Jin Li , Chen Yun , Zhang Jian‐Rong , Zhu Jun‐Jie 
Published: December 2012

AbstractA graphene/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (G/PEDOT) hybrid was prepared by the in situ polymerization of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene using the precursor of graphene, graphene oxide, as an oxidant under microwave heating. The G/PEDOT hybrid was characterized by ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of G/PEDOT hybrid electrodes were investigated by cyclic voltammetry and galvanostatic charge–discharge measurements. The G/PEDOT hybrid as a supercapacitor electrode material afforded high specific capacitance and good cycling stability (93 % retention after 10 000 cycles at a high current density of 5 A g−1) during the charge–discharge process. A maximum specific capacitance as high as 270 F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 was achieved in 1 M H2SO4 electrolyte solution. In addition, the energy density of the G/PEDOT hybrid reached 34 W h kg−1 at a power density of 25 kW kg−1.
Phase competition of Cu64Zr36 and its effect on glass forming ability of the alloy
Authors: Cui X. , Zu F. Q. , Zhang W. J. , Wang Z. Z. , Li X. Y. 
Published: December 2012

AbstractIn the present paper, crystallization behavior and glass forming ability (GFA) of Cu64Zr36 bulk metallic glass (BMG) were studied based on the crystal phase competition. Electrical resistivity and X‐ray diffraction results indicate that Cu64Zr36 glass underwent a two‐stage crystallization process, during which Cu10Zr7 and Cu51Zr14 crystals precipitate at first and then there are only Cu10Zr7 and Cu8Zr3 phases at the end of the second stage. Intriguingly, it was found that it is the competing phase Cu10Zr7 that weakens GFA of the Cu64Zr36 alloy, because the Cu10Zr7 precipitate is fully restrained in the cast rod when substituting Zr with 7.5at%Ti and thereby its diameter with fully amorphous structure is enlarged from 1 mm to 2 mm.
Synthesis and Evaluation as Antitubercular Agents of 5‐Arylethenyl and 5‐(Hetero)aryl‐3‐Isoxazolecarboxylate
Authors: Vergelli Claudia , Cilibrizzi Agostino , Crocetti Letizia , Graziano Alessia , Dal Piaz Vittorio , Wan Baojie , Wang Yuehong , Franzblau Scott , Giovannoni Maria Paola 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Preclinical Research

A new series of 5‐aryl and 5‐arylethenylisoxazole carboxylate derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for in vitro activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv. Several compounds exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations in the low micromolar range (2.3–11.4 μM). A variety of substituents introduced around the isoxazole ring allowed the delineation of preliminary SARs for this new series of compounds.
In Vivo Preclinical Evaluation of a Promising Antiarrhythmic Agent, EGIS‐7229
Authors: Drimba László , Nemeth Jozsef , Sári Réka , Di Yin , Kovács Anikó , Szénási Gábor , Szilvássy Zoltán , Peitl Barna 
Published: December 2012

Abstract

Preclinical Research

The basic hemodynamic, electrophysiological, and pharmacological effects of EGIS‐7229 (E‐7229) were evaluated and compared with those of a pure “Class III“ antiarrhythmic drug (GLG‐V‐13) in conscious rabbits. Both compounds decreased heart rate dose‐dependently. Mean arterial blood pressure was not influenced by E‐7229; however, GLG‐V‐13 produced a significant elevation on this parameter. Left ventricular end‐diastolic pressure was gradually increased by E‐7229, while GLG‐V‐13 induced more considerable elevation on that at intermediate doses. QT and QTcb were lengthened by both compounds; however, higher doses of E‐7229 resulted in shortening of the prolonged QT and QTcb. Ventricular effective refractory period (VERP) was significantly prolonged by either drug studied. Threshold doses to produce QT50%, QTmax, VERP50%, and VERPmax were significantly higher for E‐7229 compared with GLG‐V‐13. Significantly higher doses were required for E‐7229 to induce arrhythmias. The safety ratio was comparable for both of the compounds. E‐7229 can exert multiple actions on cardiac ion channels with minimal influence on hemodynamic parameters and reduced proarrhytmic profile in our preclinical model.
Latent autoimmune diabetes in the adults (LADA) in Asia: from pathogenesis and epidemiology to therapy
Authors: Guglielmi Chiara , Palermo Andrea , Pozzilli Paolo 
Published: December 2012

SummaryDiabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder resulting from a defect in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. An effect of this process is chronic hyperglycaemia with disorder of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism and with long‐term complications of diabetes including retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy. Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a type of autoimmune diabetes that resembles Type 1 diabetes (T1D), however, it shows a later onset and slower progression towards insulin necessity. Epidemiological studies suggest that LADA may account for 2–12% of all cases of diabetes in adult population. The epidemiology and phenotypic characteristics of LADA may vary between Caucasian and Asian diabetic patients as lifestyle, food habits and body mass index differ between these two populations. Data on LADA from population‐based studies in Asia are sparse and only few studies have looked at it.A number of attractive therapeutic interventions may be envisaged for prevention of beta‐cell loss in LADA, including hypoglycaemic and immunomodulatory agents. Because the autoimmune process in LADA seems to be slower than in childhood T1D, there is a wider window of opportunities for intervention. In deciding the best therapeutic approach, features of LADA should guide therapy including presence of other comorbidities that may influence the therapeutic choice.
Continuous glucose monitoring: current clinical use
Authors: Kim Hun‐Sung , Shin Jeong‐Ah , Chang Jin‐Sun , Cho Jae‐Hyoung , Son Ho‐Young , Yoon Kun‐Ho 
Published: December 2012

SummaryFour kinds of subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) machines have been currently introduced in clinical practice. These machines exhibit real‐time glucose on the monitor every 5 minutes and have alarms to indicate hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia. However, thus far, there is no clear consensus about the clinical indications for CGM in actual clinical practice. CGM should be an ideal and powerful tool for monitoring glucose variability. Glycaemic variability has become a major concern over the years with growing evidence on its detrimental impact with respect to the risk of diabetic complications. Although the HbA1c level is ubiquitously measures in clinical practice, this level does not adequately represent glycaemic variability. Currently available evidence indicates that CGM aids in lowering the HbA1c level without increasing the incidence of severe hypoglycaemic episodes in patients with type 1 diabetes. Thus far, CGM has not been indicated for preventing severe hypoglycaemia or for treating type 2 diabetes because sufficient supporting evidence has not been obtained. Promising results have been obtained for the use of CGM for pregnant women with diabetes and for patients with hospital hyperglycaemia. Predictions regarding the feasibility of the closed‐loop system have proven to be optimistic. CGM‐integrated communication systems using information technology such as smart phone help controlling blood glucose more easily and effectively.
Do we need anti‐obesity drugs?
Authors: Hainer Vojtěch , Hainerová Irena Aldhoon 
Published: December 2012

SummaryThe increasing global prevalence of obesity urgently requires an implementation of efficient preventive and therapeutic measures. Weight loss and its maintenance should be considered one of the most important strategies to reduce the incidence of obesity‐related co‐morbidities such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle modification focused on diet and physical activity represents the essential component of any kind of weight management. However, only an intensive lifestyle intervention can be efficient in terms of long‐term weight loss. Anti‐obesity drugs affect different targets in the central nervous system or peripheral tissues and improve regulatory and metabolic disturbances that contribute to the development of obesity. Anti‐obesity medications provide modest additional fat loss to that achieved by lifestyle modification alone, reduce visceral fat stores, improve programme adherence, weight loss maintenance, diminish obesity‐related health risks and improve a quality of life. Anti‐obesity drugs do play a role in weight management. Their replacement with placebo is followed by weight regain. Due to adverse events, several anti‐obesity drugs were withdrawn from the market over the past few years and currently only orlistat remains available for long‐term obesity management. Drug withdrawals, failure of clinical trials with several new anti‐obesity compounds as well as inappropriate demands of drug regulating agencies concerning the study protocol led to scepticism about the perspectives in the pharmacotherapy of obesity. However, recently developed anti‐obesity medications such as gut hormone analogues and drug combinations provided encouraging results in terms of weight loss, safety and improvement of cardio‐metabolic health risks.
Second line therapy: type 2 diabetic subjects failing on metformin GLP‐1/DPP‐IV inhibitors versus sulphonylurea/insulin: For GLP‐1/DPP‐IV inhibitors
Authors: Kumar Ajay 
Published: December 2012

SummaryFollowing diagnosis, type 2 diabetic subjects are invariably treated with life style modifications and metformin. However, majority of these subjects require addition of another therapeutic agent singly or in combination; with or without insulin within few months to few years. For several decades, sulphonylureas and insulin have been the second line agent of choice. Clinical practice guidelines also suggest a similar approach. Subsequently thiazolidinediones, alpha glucose inhibitors and other agents were added to therapeutic armamentarium. Unfortunately, none of these treatment options could address the issue of progressive decline in beta cell function. Furthermore, they are responsible for unacceptable incidence of hypoglycaemia, weight gain and other side effects related to individual agents.Type 2 diabetic subjects have great propensity to develop cardiovascular complications. Sulphonylureas, insulin and thiazolidinediones have all been associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in differing magnitude. It has been made mandatory by regulatory agencies to ensure cardiovascular safety of any new anti‐diabetic agent.Glucagon Like Peptide‐1(GLP‐1)‐based therapies have been able to address several of these issues. Incretin mimetics and Di Peptidyl Dipeptidase IV (DPP‐IV) inhibitors cause glucose‐dependent insulin secretion and glucagon suppression from beta and alpha cells of the pancreas respectively. They owe this property to their binding with G‐Protein‐coupled receptors leading to an increased amount of c‐AMP. They do not cause beta cell exhaustion. On the contrary such agents prevent beta cell apoptosis.Clinical trials have established the superiority of incretin mimetics particularly liraglutide against comparators including glimepiride, rosiglitazone and insulin Glargine in terms of efficacy. Furthermore, they have shown evidence towards beta cell protection, significant weight loss, minimal hypoglycaemia and favourable impact on surrogate markers of cardiovascular outcomes. DPP‐IV inhibitors have limited ability to achieve glycaemic targets. However, they are weight neutral, cause minimal hypoglycaemia and have some beneficial effect on beta cell function. Finally, they are very well tolerated.
Melanocortin 3 receptor gene and melanocortin 4 receptor gene mutations: the Asian Perspective
Authors: Lee Yung Seng 
Published: December 2012

SummaryMelanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) deficiency resulting from disruption of one or both MC4R alleles represents the commonest monogenic form of human obesity to date. Human MC4R deficiency was reported to affect 4 and 5.8% of severely obese French and British populations respectively. However, studies elsewhere reported low incidence of MC4R mutations in their obese populations. The significance of MC4R mutations in Asian obese populations has not been adequately examined, though small studies in Japan, China, and Singapore reported few or no pathogenic mutations, suggesting a low prevalence in this part of the world. There were also few common mutations described across populations, suggesting a relative lack of founder effect. The pathogenic role of melanocortin 3 receptor gene (MC3R) mutations in human obesity is not as well described and accepted as MC4R mutations, though it is gradually gaining ground. Two common single nucleotide polymorphisms Thr6Lys and Val81Ile within the coding region were associated with higher body fat and leptin levels in obese children, supported by impaired signaling activity in vitro. There were also reports of missense mutations enriched in obese populations. While MC3R mutations are unlikely to result in an autosomal dominant form of monogenic obesity given the lack of strong co‐segregation in family studies, the studies so far provided evidence that MC3R can be one of the genes which contributes to increased adiposity, and exert an effect on the human phenotype.
Advanced research on risk factors of type 2 diabetes
Authors: Bi Yufang , Wang Tiange , Xu Min , Xu Yu , Li Mian , Lu Jieli , Zhu Xiaolin , Ning Guang 
Published: December 2012

SummaryThe prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing globally and poses a heavy burden on public health and socioeconomic development of all nations. Type 2 diabetes is a multifactorial disease and due to a combination of environmental and genetic risk factors. Many environmental risk factors contribute to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, including lifestyles such as sedentary behaviour, diet, smoking and alcohol consumption, internal environmental factors such as inflammatory factors, adipocytokines and hepatocyte factors, external environmental factors such as environmental endocrine disruptors. This review summarizes current research efforts concentrated on the contributors for accelerated type 2 diabetes epidemic. It also provides a novel prospect for future researches.
Androgen therapy in men with testosterone deficiency: can testosterone reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease?
Authors: Saad Farid 
Published: December 2012

SummaryObesity, hypertension, insulin resistance (IR), dyslipidaemia, impaired coagulation profile and chronic inflammation characterize cardiovascular risk factors in men. Adipose tissue is an active endocrine organ producing substances that suppress testosterone (T) production and visceral fat plays a key role in this process. Low T leads to further accumulation of fat mass, thus perpetuating a vicious circle. In this review, we discuss reduced levels of T and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors by focusing on evidence derived from three different approaches. (i) epidemiological/ observational studies (without intervention); (ii) androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) studies (standard treatment in advanced prostate cancer); and (iii) T replacement therapy (TRT) in men with T deficiency (TD). In epidemiological studies, low T is associated with obesity, inflammation, atherosclerosis and the progression of atherosclerosis. Longitudinal epidemiological studies showed that low T is associated with an increased cardiovascular mortality. ADT brings about unfavourable changes in body composition, IR and dyslipidaemia. Increases in fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and C‐reactive protein have also been observed. TRT in men with TD has consistently shown a decrease in fat mass and simultaneous increase in lean mass. T is a vasodilator and in long‐term studies, it was shown to reduce blood pressure. There is increasing evidence that T treatment improves insulin sensitivity and lipid profiles. T may possess anti‐inflammatory and anti‐coagulatory properties and therefore TRT contributes to reduction of carotid intima media thickness. We suggest that T may have the potential to decrease CVD risk in men with androgen deficiency.