bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing the isotopic biases of soil water from cryogenic water extraction in different soil types in China
Authors: Zhao Pei , Yang Weige , Sun Xiangyang 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe utilization of deuterium (δ2H) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope ratios in cryogenically extracted water from soil samples is a widely employed method in hydrological and ecological research. Nevertheless, an increasing body of research indicates that cryogenic water extraction (CWE) leads to δ2H depletion in soil water. To investigate the widespread existence of this phenomenon, samples from eight physicochemically distinct soils in China underwent rehydration with a reference water at five different water contents and were subsequently extracted using CWE. In comparison to the reference water, significant and inconsistent δ2H depletion was observed in all eight soil samples. The δ18O bias also exhibited variation, ranging from enrichment to depletion. Generally, Z score assessments indicated unacceptable results for all soils. Water content emerged as the most influential variable affecting both δ2H and δ18O biases, while soil properties had different impacts on these biases. Source water, as calculated by a linear regression model, revealed that the isotopic composition of extracted soil water differed from that of the reference water. The cryogenic extraction error in soil water could not solely attributed to fractionation processes during the extraction but resulted from the release of tightly bound soil water into the reference water. Using the influencing factors, correction models for δ2H and δ18O biases by CWE were developed. By these models, the δ2H and δ18O biases were mostly successful corrected. High soil water extraction efficiency (e.g., 99%) was recommended to minimize isotopic biases. These efforts necessitate further testing, particularly in ecohydrological studies involving isotope measurements of soil water through CWE.
Variable soil moisture responses to rainfall events in fields under different management practices
Authors: Ljutic Amila , Moore Jack , Ali Genevieve , Van Eerd Laura , Macrae Merrin L. , Wagner‐Riddle Claudia 
Published: July 2024

AbstractSoil moisture response to rainfall is a key factor that dictates how well a landscape can support crop growth as well as its susceptibility to water runoff and leaching, however, few studies have investigated how agricultural management impacts this important soil function. This study compares two common agricultural soil treatments (cover crops and soil compaction) and their soil moisture response to rainfall in comparison to a control. In a humid temperate climate during March to November, individual rainfall events were delineated over two growing seasons and corresponding soil moisture responses were identified using in situ soil moisture sensors at four soil depths (20, 30, 40, and 60 cm). Results suggest that hydrological responses differed with both event type and management treatment. Not all rainfall events triggered a response: those that triggered responses at shallower soil depths were typically characterized by higher total event rainfall, and higher maximum and average rainfall intensity. In contrast, rainfall events triggering responses at deeper soil depths were characterized by longer event duration as well as higher 10‐day antecedent rainfall (AR). Soil moisture responses for the cover crop treatment were characterized by relatively lower initial and peak soil moisture at shallower depths but higher values at 60 cm depth, whereas soil moisture responses for the control and compacted soil treatments demonstrated the opposite. Matrix flow was most often generated for rainfall events with high magnitude and was not preferentially associated with any particular soil treatment. However, specific conditions were needed to generate vertical preferential flow, namely high total event rainfall for both horizons, or high AR for preferential flow in the Ap horizon, or high rainfall intensity for preferential flow in the Bt horizon. Our findings demonstrate the potential for detailed event‐based soil water process analysis using high‐frequency, multi‐depth soil moisture data.
Therapeutic efficacy of Strobilanthes urticifolia‐infused pectin/polyacrylic acid hydrogel for targeted hepatorenal fibrosis mitigation: A multifaceted biomaterial approach
Authors: Masood Nosheen , Hameed Hajra , Tariq Muhammad , Ahmed Rashid , Khalid Mehwish , Latief Noreen , Hasan Anwarul 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPectin/polyacrylic acid (PPAA) hydrogel is a unique and versatile biomaterial with applications in drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, and agriculture, owing to its tailored properties and multifunctional attributes. This study aims to harness the therapeutic potential of Strobilanthes urticifolia extract within a PPAA hydrogel matrix to attenuate liver and kidney fibrosis through targeted and sustained delivery of biologically active substances. PPAA hydrogel was prepared by free radical polymerization, followed by its porosity and swelling determination. The results depicted the porous nature of PPAA hydrogel and improved swelling properties at pH 7.4, confirming its drug delivery promise. The polyphenolic‐enriched S. urticifolia extracts of leaf and flower were loaded onto PPAA hydrogel, and the loading efficiency was 87% (leaf) and 62.5% (flower). Moreover, slow‐release studies showed controlled and prolonged release of polyphenols for 7 days. The polyphenolic‐enriched hydrogel's microstructure was characterized using SEM, FTIR, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). SEM results revealed a highly porous structure of polyphenol enriched PPAA hydrogel, while FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups such as OH group of carboxylic acid, aliphatic CH2 stretching due to acrylic acid grafting with pectin, CO stretching due to acid linkage with pectin, CH of aromatic ring, and CH of carboxylate salt in PPAA hydrogel. TGA of PPAA hydrogel showed its stability up to 488°C. Additionally, the S. urticifolia extract loaded PPAA hydrogel displayed significant antibacterial properties and minimum inhibitory concentrations against both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. In vivo studies carried out on rats demonstrated that polyphenolic enriched PPAA hydrogel significantly attenuates liver and kidney fibrosis. Therefore, it is concluded from the present study that loading of polyphenolic enriched extract from leaves and flower of S. urticifolia enhanced the biomedical applications of PPAA hydrogel.Research Highlights
The PPAA hydrogel developed in this study exhibits a highly porous structure and improved swelling properties at physiological pH (7.4), making it an excellent candidate for drug delivery systems.
S. urticifolia extracts, rich in polyphenols, were successfully incorporated into the PPAA hydrogel with high loading efficiencies of 87% for leaf and 62.5% for flower extracts.
Loading of polyphenolic enriched extracts of S. urticifolia onto PPAA enhanced its biological activities such as antibacterial, hepatoprotective, and reno‐protective activities as depicted by in vitro and in vivo studies.
Searching for drivers of the patchy distribution of sympatric deposit‐feeding sea cucumbers: A multi‐scale monitoring study
Authors: Pierrat Joséphine , Urbistondoy Léa , Modi Alexandre , Viramoutou Betsy , Frouin Patrick 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThree sea cucumber species, Holothuria atra, Holothuria leucospilota, and Stichopus chloronotus, are patchily distributed within the coral reefs of Reunion Island, exhibiting locally high densities (> 1 ind m−2). Previous studies stated that these sympatric species have thrived for almost four decades; however, factors involved in their distribution and spatiotemporal dynamics are not well understood yet. The aims of this study are to analyze the fine‐scale spatiotemporal dynamics of these sympatric species and identify the key sedimentary factors (substrate composition and cover) involved in their distribution. Sea cucumber populations and sedimentary factors were monitored along back‐reef and shore‐to‐ocean gradients during four consecutive seasons. Meanwhile, feeding behavior was assessed by measuring motility and excretion rates. Each species presents its own dynamic between the beginning and the end of the monitoring: increase of density for H. leucospilota, stability for H. atra, and decrease for S. chloronotus. Distribution of H. atra was closely related to substrate organic features (high organic matter, chlorophyll a, and ∂13C), H. leucospilota with the occurrence of seagrass and S. chloronotus with none. Results on feeding behavior showed that S. chloronotus emerges as a specialist while the two others appear to be generalists. Conspecific attraction or recruitment pattern may drive the high‐density patchy distribution of both Holothuria species, while the drastic decrease of S. chloronotus could be linked to unstudied factors related to predation or climate change. Water flow regime could also have a significant effect on the patchy distribution of these species, therefore, further studies should pay particular attention to this factor.
A Bimetallic Electro‐Sensitizer Improves ROS Therapy by Relieving Autophagy‐Induced ROS Tolerance and Immune Suppression
Authors: Xu Qinqin , Wang Manchun , Zhang Fengling , Chen Gui , Shu Zhilin , Li Lei , Zhang Fang , Wang Yu , Wang Yongxia , Duan Xiaohui , Yu Meng 
Published: July 2024

AbstractReactive oxygen species (ROS)‐dependent monotherapy usually demonstrates poor therapeutic outcomes, due to the accompanied activation of protective autophagy in tumor cells, which results in ROS tolerance and immune suppression. In this study, a bimetallic electro‐sensitizer, Pt‐Ir NPs is constructed, loaded with the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (Pt‐Ir‐CQ NPs), to enhance the effectiveness of electrotherapy by inhibiting autophagy and activating anti‐tumor immune responses. This novel electrotherapy platform demonstrates unique advantages, particularly in the treatment of hypoxic and immunosuppressive tumors. First, the electro‐sensitizer catalyzes water molecules into ROS under electric field, achieving tumor ablation through electrotoxicity. Second, the incorporated CQ inhibits the protective autophagy induced by electrotherapy, restoring the sensitivity of tumor cells to ROS and thereby enhancing the anti‐tumor effects of electrotherapy. Third, Pt‐Ir‐CQ NPs enhance the functionality of antigen‐presenting cells and immunogenic cells through inhibiting autophagy, synergistically activating the anti‐tumor immune responses along with the immunogenic cell death (ICD) effect induced by electrotherapy. This study provides a novel approach for the effective ablation and long‐term inhibition of solid tumors through flexible modulation by an exogenous electric field.
Unveiling the Enhancement of Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution Activity in Ru‐Fe2O3/CoS Heterojunction Catalysts
Authors: Chen Xue , Kong Yilin , Yin Hongfei , Yang Xiaoyong , Zhao Qiuyu , Xiao Dongdong , Wang Zhili , Zhang Yongzheng , Xue Qikun 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe development of highly efficient electrocatalysts for the sluggish anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is crucial to meet the practical demand for water splitting. In this study, an effective approach is proposed that simultaneously enhances interfacial interaction and catalytic activity by modifying Fe2O3/CoS heterojunction using Ru doping strategy to construct an efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution catalyst. The unique morphology of Ru doped Fe2O3 (Ru‐Fe2O3) nanoring decorated by CoS nanoparticles ensures a large active surface area and a high number of active sites. The designed Ru‐Fe2O3/CoS catalyst achieves a low OER overpotential (264 mV) at 10 mA cm−2 and demonstrates exceptional stability even at high current density of 100 mA cm−2, maintaining its performance for an impressive duration of 90 h. The catalytic performance of this Ru‐Fe2O3/CoS catalyst surpasses that of other iron‐based oxide catalysts and even outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art RuO2. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation as well as experimental in situ characterization confirm that the introduction of Ru atoms can enhance the interfacial electron interaction, accelerating the electron transfer, and serve as highly active sites reducing the energy barrier for rate determination step. This work provides an efficient strategy to reveal the enhancement of electrocatalytic oxygen evolution activity of heterojunction catalysts by doping engineering.
Coffee‐Ring Mediated Thinning and Thickness‐Dependent Dewetting Modes in Printed Polymer Droplets Coupled with Assembly of Quantum Dots for Anti‐Counterfeiting
Authors: Torun Ilker , Huang Conan , Kiremitler N. Burak , Kalay Mustafa , Shim Moonsub , Onses Mustafa Serdar 
Published: July 2024

AbstractMolecular transport processes in printed polymer droplets hold enormous importance for understanding wetting phenomena and designing systems in applications such as encoding, electronics, photonics, and sensing. This paper studies thickness‐dependent dewetting modes that are activated by thermal annealing and driven by interfacial interactions within microscopically confined polymeric features. The printing of poly(2‐vinylpyridine) is performed in a regime where coffee‐ring effects lead to strong thinning of the central region of the deposit. Thermal annealing leads to two different modes of dewetting that depend on the thickness of the central region. Mode I refers to the formation of randomly positioned small features surrounded by large hemispherical ones located along the periphery of the printed features and occurs when the central regions are thin. Observed at large central thicknesses, Mode II mediates significant molecular transport from edges toward the center of the printed droplet with thermal annealing and forms a hemispherical feature from the initial ring‐like deposit. The selective adsorption of red, green, and blue emitting quantum dots over the poly(2‐vinylpyridine) results in photoluminescent patterns. The selective assembly of photoluminescent quantum dots over patterned surfaces leads to deterministic and stochastic features beneficial to creating security labels for anti‐counterfeiting applications.
Collaborative Responses to Grand Challenges: The Case of La Scuola Open Source
Authors: Coco Nunzia 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn an era marked by economic, financial, and health-related crises, the concept of “grand challenges” has gained prominence, signifying complex issues with global repercussions that demand innovative solutions. This chapter explores the potential of cooperative initiatives and open innovation strategies as novel approaches to addressing these challenges. Drawing on a case study of “La Scuola Open Source,” a cooperative project situated in a socially challenged context, the chapter delves into the dynamics of crowdsourcing as a strategy to navigate societal transformations. The study highlights the pivotal role played by open practices and design-driven methodologies in nurturing a profound sense of community belonging and drive a community-driven initiative to a formalized cooperative entity. The study provides valuable insights for practitioners and policymakers in the field of social innovation, particularly those striving to address pressing grand societal challenges.
Reception and Perspectives of Experts and Cooperative Members on Austrian Cooperatives During the Corona Crisis: A Qualitative and Quantitative Survey
Authors: Balk Anselm , Schaffhauser-Linzatti Michaela 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis two-stage study examines the perception and perspectives of experts and cooperative members on Austrian cooperatives during the Corona crisis. For this purpose, a Delphi study among experts and an online survey among members of cooperatives were conducted. The findings show that the members and experts perceive cooperatives as well positioned to meet current and future challenges. The most significant potential is seen in the agricultural and energy sectors. However, the members urge that the values traditionally ascribed to cooperatives, such as participation, promotion of the members, and democracy, should be further implemented within their cooperative and better communicated to the public. If this happens, they see a legal form well suited to underpin its advantages, for example concerning the increasing importance of sustainability issues. Members are ambivalent about digitalization. They welcome integrating digital tools if they help improve the efficiency of cooperative’s administration and business operations. However, when it comes to digital decision-making processes or general meetings, members are reluctant because they fear that this reduces direct contact between members. For them, digital tools should primarily be used as a supplement.
Changing the Mindset: Cooperatives and Complexity—Looking into the Future
Authors: Novkovic Sonja 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe chapter highlights the nature of the cooperative enterprise model, its inherent feature to form purpose-driven complex networks, and its potential to impact the socio-economic transformation required for a sustainable system. We revisit the sources of unsustainability identified in the 1970s and explore what role cooperatives can play in setting the stage for the needed transformation. The cooperative model offers the radical imagination required for system transformation—a different mindset placing the enterprise firmly in the social sphere of influence and concern.
Balancing Flexibility and Stability: Leveraging Cooperatives for Organizational Resilience
Authors: Isenring Kata 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis chapter provides an overview of recent developments in resilience research in organization and management studies, with a particular focus on cooperatives. The chapter highlights the importance of moving away from understanding resilience as a defensive and reactive measure and emphasizes the need for organizations to proactively design their capabilities to anticipate and respond effectively to adverse events while reducing overall vulnerability. Cooperatives, owing to their democratic principles, shared ownership, and community engagement, have developed organizational traits that foster resilience. The chapter presents three cases of the cooperative logics that demonstrate how organizations have leveraged their historical and structural factors to build problem-solving and adaptive capabilities that enable them to anticipate and respond effectively to adverse events while reducing overall vulnerability. The chapter concludes by discussing how decision makers across various organizational contexts can gain insights into how to balance flexibility and stability and develop their own resilience-enhancing logics and practices by examining the experiences of cooperatives.
Determination and Application of Excavation Footage in the Shallow-Buried Biased Section of the North-South Road Tunnel in Kyrgyzstan
Authors: Zhang Lu , Feng Hao , Du Yunfeng , Tao Jian , Lun Kangbao 
Published: July 2024

AbstractWhen constructing tunnels in soft rock, improper excavation footage selection can cause instability and collapse. Using Xie Jiajie’s shallow tunnel surrounding rock pressure model, this study expands from 2D to 3D. A formula is deduced to calculate the excavation footage in soft rock, ensuring stability. This formula is used to analyze the excavation footage of Kyrgyzstan's north-south Yueling tunnel using the step method, and combined with numerical simulation analysis, the optimal excavation footage is obtained, which provides a reference for tunnel construction.
Investigation and Analysis of Service Performance of Cable Arch Bridge Structure Under Accidental Lateral Load
Authors: Gao Shilong , Kai Zhuang , Li Tianchong , Sun Wei 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis article investigates the response behavior of such structures under unexpected lateral impact loads, and quantitatively studies the impact of vibration caused by impact on driving performance, pedestrian comfort, and other aspects. Based on parameter analysis methods, explore the impact of impactor quality and speed on the above behavior. The simulation results indicate that as the mass and speed of the impact body increase, the discomfort of driving increases, which is unacceptable to pedestrians.
Study on the Force Transmission Mechanism of Steel-Concrete Composite Segments in Irregular Single-Tower Cable-Stayed Bridges
Authors: Zhang Kai , Wu Xinqiang , Xie Haihui , Ye Musheng , Zhang Haiyang , Chu Genfa , Xuan Fei 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn response to the complex stress distribution challenges in the steel-concrete composite segments of hybrid beam cable-stayed bridges, this study focuses on the steel-concrete composite segments of the Dianbu River Bridge in Anhui Province. A comprehensive spatial model of the entire bridge was established using ABAQUS for an overall static analysis. The analysis aimed to elucidate the stress distribution within the composite segments, including the concrete, steel plates, and rear compression plates, and to identify the specific load-bearing pathways within the structure. The results of the analysis indicate that the primary load-bearing pathways traverse the steel transition segments, the steel plates of the composite segments, the concrete of the composite segments, and the concrete transition segments, by bidirectional load transfer principles. The construction method of the steel-concrete composite segments of the bridge tower is deemed to be rational, ensuring structural safety and reliability.
Study on Improving Crack Resistance of Concrete by Waste Rubber Powder and Its Mechanism
Authors: Meng Yunfang , Ma Xiaoping , Han Li , Huang Yanzhu , Wan Zhiqing 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn this study, we explore the use of an innovative mixture incorporating compound ecological fiber, waste rubber powder, fly ash, and single ore to enhance the cracking resistance of concrete. Through experimental analysis, we investigated the mechanical properties and underlying mechanisms associated with this composite material. The findings indicate that while the inclusion of mixed fiber and waste rubber powder does not significantly impact the compressive strength of concrete, these components notably enhance its toughness and early crack resistance. Specifically, the addition of these materials, along with single ore and fly ash, effectively reduces the brittleness coefficient of concrete, thereby markedly improving its resistance to cracking. This synergy between the materials demonstrates that the crack resistance of concrete can be significantly optimized through their combination.
Key Construction Techniques for Cable Hoisting of Long-Span Steel Pipe Concrete Arch Bridge
Authors: Yang Yan 
Published: July 2024

AbstractLarge span steel tube concrete arch bridges with the characteristics of high construction risk and high technical difficulty are usually constructed by cable hoisting technology. In this parper, the self-balance of the load-bearing main cable and optimized scheme for the main tower and anchor were proposed by conducting an iterative theoretical design calculation on the main cable. The design and key technology of the cable lifting system for large-span concretes filled steel tube arch bridge were investigated. Moreover, the “inverted loading method” was used for simulation analysis, which provides a scientific basis for the construction stage. The engineering practice results show that the optimization and innovation of the cable hoisting system can greatly improve design efficiency, enhance the safety of the cable system, and obtain good economic value.