bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Soil‐solution speciation by MINEQL+4.6 model and plant uptake of Cd and Zn by barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) after application of different phosphate fertilizers
Authors: Mohamed Mahdy Ahmed 
Published: April 2012

AbstractA greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the immediate effect of application of mono‐ammonium phosphate (MAP), single superphosphate (SSP), and triple superphosphate (TSP) fertilizers containing varying concentrations of Cd on (1) chemical speciation of Cd and Zn in soil solution by chemical‐equilibrium calculations (MINEQL+4.6 model), (2) growth of barley plants, (3) concentrations of Cd, P, and Zn in soil solution and plant tissue, as well as total plant accumulation of Cd, P, and Zn, and (4) monitoring pH and element changes during incubation periods following phosphate application. Results show that, in general, the pH of soil solution increased during the first 40 d of incubation, then declined. Also, at the end of incubation period, pH of soil solution was affected by fertilization source and fertilization rate. The concentration of Cd in soil solution changed with time. Phosphate fertilization (p < 0.05) or fertilizer source (p < 0.05) showed consistent effects. Also, the application of phosphate fertilizers with three rates significantly increased Zn concentrations in soil solution during the first half (0–30 d) of incubation period and then decreased but still more than in the control. In general, application of different sources of phosphate at 100 g kg–1 did not change the dominant forms of Cd in soil solution during all incubation time intervals. Speciation of Zn in the control after 30 d of incubation had changed, in comparison to 10 d of incubation, and the dominant forms were Zn2+, ZnOH+, ZnHCO3, ZnCO3(aq), and Zn(OH)2(aq). Adding phosphate fertilizer significantly increased both shoot and root dry weight compared to control, indicating P was a growth‐limiting factor in the control plants. The Zn concentrations in shoot and root were lower in the TSP‐ and SSP‐fertilizers treatment than those in the MAP and fertilizer treatments at all rates of fertilization. Adding phosphate increased the Cd : Zn and P : Zn ratios in the shoot and root tissue, with the effect being greater with increasing fertilization rate. Phosphate fertilization greatly increased the total accumulation of Cd of barley compared with the control plants (p < 0.001), with the effect being greater with increasing fertilization rate. Source and rate of fertilizers, and their interactions had significant effect (p < 0.05) on Cd accumulation in the whole plant.
Zinc priming promotes seed germination and seedling vigor of rice
Authors: Prom‐u‐thai Chanakan , Rerkasem Benjavan , Yazici Atilla , Cakmak Ismail 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe present study evaluated effects of seed zinc (Zn) priming at concentrations from 0 to 25 mM ZnSO4 on seedling vigor and viability in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Zinc priming substantially increased Zn concentration in the husk, but not in brown rice. The movement of primed Zn from the husk into the inner layers of rice seed during germination was suggested by Zn concentration declining in the husk coinciding with the increase in brown rice over time (r = –0.62; p < 1%), which did not happen in unprimed seed. Zinc priming significantly enhanced seedling growth and development up to 5 mM. Germination rate, root number, and dry weight were much higher than in unprimed seed, but higher Zn concentrations (10 and 25 mM) depressed seedling vigor. Priming rice seed with 2.5 mM Zn also improved the germination rate of rice in a Zn‐deficient soil, with or without soil Zn application. The results confirm that priming rice seed with Zn can improve germination and seedling vigor and for the first time show how Zn requirement of germinating rice seed and seedlings can be met by the prime Zn accumulated in the husk.
Suitability of inorganic and organic amendments for in situ immobilization of Cd, Cu, and Zn in a strongly contaminated Kastanozem of the Mashavera valley, SE Georgia. I. Effect of amendments on metal mobility and microbial activity in soil
Authors: Hanauer Thomas , Jung Stephan , Felix‐Henningsen Peter , Schnell Sylvia , Steffens Diedrich 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe aim was to find an adequate, cost‐efficient in situ remediation technique for the Mashavera valley, a mining area in SE Georgia heavily contaminated with Cd, Cu, and Zn. A 12‐month experiment was conducted to test: iron grit, natural zeolite, biochar, and Divergan® (a scavenger) for soil melioration. The amendments were added in different concentrations to the topsoil of a Kastanozem. Mobile metal concentrations decreased with increasing concentrations of amendments in the sequence Divergan® >> iron grit ≈ natural zeolite > biochar. In the same order amendments enhanced activities of soil microbial respiration, alkaline phosphatase, and dehydrogenase; microbial C also followed this trend. A sequential extraction confirmed a shift from easily mobilized to heavily bound fractions. The addition of 2% (w/w) of Divergan® was sufficient to lower mobile trace metal concentrations below German thresholds by chemisorption, and soil microbial activity was significantly increased. The effects of all other treatments were at a much lower level and not found suitable due to needed application rates.
Is it merely a myth that alcoholic beverages such as red wine can be cardioprotective?
Authors: Stockley Creina S. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIt has been suggested that although the negative impact of alcohol consumption varies from person to person, on a global level the adverse effect of alcohol on cardiovascular disease outweighs any protective effect by between two‐ and three‐fold. This is inaccurate. There is a proven positive relationship between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease that is acknowledged by the World Health Organization. For example, moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease by approximately 25%, such that alcohol consumption per se accounts for − 4.7% of the total cardiovascular disease burden in Australia. Correspondingly, cardiovascular disease accounted for 34% of the total number of deaths in Australia in 2008, and 18% of the overall burden of disease in Australia in 2003, with coronary heart disease and stroke contributing over 80% of this burden. Australia is not substantially different from other developed countries having similar demographics to, and the same leading causes of burden as, other high‐income developed countries. This article examines the suggestions and evidence surrounding the relationship between light‐to‐moderate alcohol consumption and benefits to human health. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Tourism and identity‐related motivations: why am I here (and not there)?
Authors: Bond Nigel , Falk John 
Published: April 2012

ABSTRACTThis paper examines past and present literature relating to identity development and identity‐related tourism motivation. It presents a theoretical model of identity‐related tourism motivation that is based on multidimensional rather than unidimensional theories of identity as well as acknowledging both individual and social influences on identity development. It is argued that identity‐related motivations are fundamental to all tourist experiences and vital to understanding not only why individuals engage in tourism but what benefits they derive from the experience, suggesting that tourism is often used by individuals as a means to explore, maintain and even disengage from particular aspects of identity. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Development of Channeled Nanofibrous Scaffolds for Oriented Tissue Engineering
Authors: Sun Chenghui , Jin Xiaobing , Holzwarth Jeremy M. , Liu Xiaohua , Hu Jiang , Gupte Melanie J. , Zhao Yaoming , Ma Peter X. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractA tissue‐engineering scaffold resembling the structure of the natural extracellular matrix can often facilitate tissue regeneration. Nerve and tendon are oriented micro‐scale tissue bundles. In this study, a method combining injection molding and thermally induced phase separation techniques is developed to create single‐ and multiple‐channeled nanofibrous poly(L‐lactic acid) scaffolds. The overall shape, the number and spatial arrangement of channels, the channel wall matrix architecture, the porosity and mechanical properties of the scaffolds are all tunable. The porous NF channel wall matrix provides an excellent microenvironment for protein adsorption and the attachment of PC12 neuronal cells and tendon fibroblast cells, showing potential for neural and tendon tissue regeneration.magnified image
The Glycopolymer Code: Synthesis of Glycopolymers and Multivalent Carbohydrate–Lectin Interactions
Authors: Becer C. Remzi 
Published: April 2012

AbstractGlycopolymers are becoming more and more important in understanding biological interactions due to their unique recognition properties. Macromolecules with different chain lengths, compositions and architectures provide enormous diversity in the formation of primary and secondary structures that have a major effect on multivalent binding to lectins. It is crucial to control the precise structure of macromolecules to achieve specific and selective carbohydrate‐lectin binding. The use of advanced synthesis techniques to prepare well‐defined glycopolymers and selected advanced analytical techniques to study multivalent interactions are highlighted in this Feature Article.
Premotor Parkinson's disease: Concepts and definitions
Authors: Siderowf Andrew , Lang Anthony E. 
Published: April 2012

AbstractParkinson's disease (PD) has a prodromal phase during which nonmotor clinical features as well as physiological abnormalities may be present. These premotor markers could be used to screen for PD before motor abnormalities are present. The technology to identify PD before it reaches symptomatic Braak Stage 3 (substantia nigra compacta [SNc] involvement) already exists. The current challenge is to define the appropriate scope of use of predictive testing for PD. Imaging technologies such as dopamine transporter imaging currently offer the highest degree of accuracy for identifying premotor PD, but they are expensive as screening tools, and abnormalities on these studies would only be evident at Braak Stage 3 or higher. Efficiency is greatly enhanced by combining imaging with a prescreening test such as olfactory testing. This 2‐step process has the potential to greatly reduce costs while retaining diagnostic accuracy. Alternatively, or in concert with this approach, evaluating high‐risk populations (eg, patients with rapid eye movement behavior disorder or LRRK2 mutations) would enrich the sample for cases with underlying PD. Ultimately, the role of preclinical detection of PD will be determined by the ability of emerging therapies to influence clinical outcomes. As such, implementation of large‐scale screening strategies awaits the arrival of clearly safe and effective therapies that address the underlying pathogenesis of PD. Future research will establish more definitive biomarkers capable of revealing the presence of disease in advance of SNc involvement with the promise of the potential for introducing disease‐modifying therapy even before the development of evidence of dopamine deficiency. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society
Identifying prodromal Parkinson's disease: Pre‐Motor disorders in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Postuma Ronald B. , Aarsland Dag , Barone Paolo , Burn David J. , Hawkes Christopher H. , Oertel Wolfgang , Ziemssen Tjalf 
Published: April 2012

AbstractIncreasing recognition that Parkinson's disease (PD) may start outside of the substantia nigra has led to a rapidly expanding effort to define prodromal stages of PD, before motor signs permit classical diagnosis. Many of these efforts center around the identification of clinical non‐motor symptoms and signs of disease. There is now direct evidence that olfaction, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD), constipation, and depression can be present in prodromal PD. In addition, there is suggestive evidence that visual changes, other autonomic symptoms, and subtle cognitive changes may also be present at prodromal stages. A critical issue in utility of these prodromal markers will be assessment of sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. Although these have yet to be fully defined, olfactory deficits, some visual changes, and autonomic symptoms occur in the majority of PD patients at diagnosis, suggesting good potential sensitivity. However, with the exception of RBD and perhaps some specific autonomic measures, specificity, and positive predictive value of these markers may be insufficient to be used alone as identifiers of prodromal disease. The evidence for the utility of olfaction, RBD, autonomic markers, visual changes, mood disorders, and cognitive loss as markers of prodromal PD and the potential sensitivity and specificity of these markers are summarized. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society
The validation of international consultation on incontinence questionnaires in the Greek language
Authors: Stavros Athanasiou , Themistoklis Grigoriadis , Niki Kyriakidou , George Giannoulis , Aristidis Antsaklis 
Published: April 2012

AbstractAimsThe objective of this study was to validate four specific International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaires (ICIQ) modules in the Greek language: (i) the ICIQ‐FLUTS long form (ICIQ‐FLUTS‐LF), (ii) the ICIQ‐FLUTS, (iii) the ICIQ‐FLUTS‐SEX, and (iv) the ICIQ‐Vaginal Symptoms Questionnaire (ICIQ‐VS), originally validated in English.MethodsThe English questionnaires were initially translated into Greek, then back‐translated into English and final modifications were made after testing the questionnaires on a sample of patients. To validate the translated questionnaires, the following tests were undertaken: Content/face validity, internal consistency (reliability) and stability (test–retest reliability).ResultsA total of 122 women participated in the study. Eighty‐nine presented with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and/or urinary incontinece (UI) symptoms and 33 attended an outpatient gynecological clinic without POP/UI symptoms. All modules showed excellent content/face validity (missing values 0–2.5%). Cronbach's alpha test for internal consistency showed satisfactory to excellent reliability (0.876 for ICIQ‐FLUTS‐LF, 0.85 for ICIQ‐FLUTS, and 0.83 for ICIQ‐VS), with the exception ICIQ‐FLUTS‐SEX which was 0.69. The test–retest reliability showed moderate to near‐perfect agreement (weighted kappa value 0.52–0.99).ConclusionsThe Greek versions of the ICIQ‐FLUTS‐LF, ICIQ‐FLUTS, and ICIQ‐VS questionnaires were successfully validated. Our data showed that the ICIQ FLUTS‐SEX questionnaire, as it stands in its current English version, cannot be reliably used to assess sex symptoms in the Greek female population. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:1141–1144, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
RISING WITH THE TIDE WITHOUT FLIPPING THE BOAT — ANALYZING THE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES OF FISCAL CAPACITY BUILDING IN CHINA
Authors: Ho Alfred Tat‐Kei , Niu Meili 
Published: April 2012

SUMMARYWhile many developing countries experience a short period of economic boom and then spiral quickly into periods of deficit, currency fluctuation, and indebtedness, China has been able to sustain rapid economic growth and maintain solid fiscal capacity for the past 30 years, even during the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s and the global recession in the beginning of the 21st century. This article examines three key strategies behind China's fiscal success — its flexibility in adapting tax policies to the changing economic and social conditions, its success in realigning the intergovernmental fiscal relationship in 1994 and forcing subnational governments to become more entrepreneurial in revenue generation, and its pursuit of institutional reforms since the mid‐1990s to improve the government's capacity in budgeting and financial management. The article evaluates the implications of the Chinese experience for other developing countries and discusses the future challenges of fiscal reforms in China. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the phase behaviour of organic semiconductors
Authors: Stingelin Natalie 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe physical organisation, from the molecular to the macroscale, of functional organic matter such as polymer semiconductors can profoundly affect the properties and features of the resulting architectures and their consequent performance when used as active layers in organic optoelectronic devices, including organic thin‐film field‐effect transistors, organic light‐emitting diodes or organic photovoltaic cells. Here, we present a survey on the principles of structure development from the liquid phase of this interesting and broad class of materials with focus on how to manipulate their phase transformations and solid‐state order to tailor and manipulate the final ‘morphology’ towards technological and practical applications. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Quadruple click reactions for the synthesis of cysteine‐terminated linear multiblock copolymers
Authors: Candan Ozlem Aldas , Durmaz Hakan , Hizal Gurkan , Tunca Umit 
Published: April 2012

AbstractSynthesis of cysteine‐terminated linear polystyrene (PS)‐b‐poly(ε‐caprolactone) (PCL)‐b‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/or poly(tert‐butyl acrylate)(PtBA)‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) copolymers was carried out using sequential quadruple click reactions including thiol‐ene, copper‐catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC), Diels–Alder, and nitroxide radical coupling (NRC) reactions. N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine methyl ester was first clicked with α‐allyl‐ω‐azide‐terminated PS via thiol‐ene reaction to create α‐cysteine‐ω‐azide‐terminated PS. Subsequent CuAAC reaction with PCL, followed by the introduction of the PMMA/or PtBA and PEG blocks via Diels–Alder and NRC, respectively, yielded final cysteine‐terminated multiblock copolymers. By 1H NMR spectroscopy, the DPns of the blocks in the final multiblock copolymers were found to be close to those of the related polymer precursors, indicating that highly efficient click reactions occurred for polymer–polymer coupling. Successful quadruple click reactions were also confirmed by gel permeation chromatography. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Proton‐controlled nitroxide mediated radical polymerization of styrene
Authors: Le Du Yann , Binet Laurent , Hémery Patrick , Marx Lucien 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThe pyridyl alkoxyamine, which is composed of the 1‐phenylethyl radical and a pyridyl nitroxide fragments, displays protonation‐controlled CON bond homolysis. Its dissociation rate constant kd value is approximately halved at 100 °C in tert‐butyl benzene when it is protonated by one equivalent of trifluoroacetic acid. Moreover, the bulk polymerization of styrene at 125 °C is performed with a good control over the molecular weight and the dispersity when initiated with this alkoxyamine under its basic and acidic forms but the protonation has induced a strong decreased polymerization rate. In contrast, in the case of n‐butyl acrylate, the control over the polymerization is lost for the protonated pyridyl alkoxyamine because the pyridyl nitroxide is less thermally stable under its acidic form. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Modulating structural stability and acid sensitivity of photosensitive polymer micelles simply via one‐batch UV irradiation
Authors: Tang Yufang , Liu Zhilin , Wu Xuewen , Liu Guhuan , Yang Ke , Li Yaohua , Lu Lican , Cai Yuanli 
Published: April 2012

AbstractThis article describes the photosensitive polymer micelles whose structural stability and acid sensitivity can be widely tuned simply via one‐batch UV irradiation. To this end, the well‐defined poly(5‐ethyl‐5‐methacryloyloxy‐methyl‐2‐styryl‐[1,3]dioxane)‐block‐poly[poly(ethylene glycol) methacrylate] (PEMSD‐b‐PPEGMA) copolymers were synthesized via RAFT polymerization under mild visible light radiation at 30 °C. The results demonstrated that the irradiation of the homogeneous acetone solution with UV light only induced Z‐isomerization of their cinnamyl groups, while irradiating PEMSD chains in the bulky micellar cores only induced dimerization. Moreover, the micelles of previously Z‐isomerized copolymer could be effectively stabilized without changing their acid sensitivity on irradiating for shortly 3 min, while UV irradiation for 30 min could remarkably improve the acid stability of these micelles. These novel properties are of potential applications in controlled drug delivery. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Highly stereoselective coordination polymerization of β‐myrcene from a lanthanide‐based catalyst: Access to bio‐sourced elastomers
Authors: Loughmari Saliha , Hafid Abderrafia , Bouazza Aicha , El Bouadili Abdelaziz , Zinck Philippe , Visseaux Marc 
Published: April 2012

AbstractPolymerization of β‐myrcene with neodymium borohydride‐based coordination catalysts is very efficient, affording poly‐β‐myrcene (polymyrcene, PMy) with high selectivity. With stoichiometric amounts of n‐butylethyl magnesium (BEM) as co‐catalyst, good control over macromolecular data along with cis‐stereoselectivity up to 98.5%, are obtained. In the presence of excess BEM, high level of transfer reactions efficiency between neodymium and magnesium is clearly evidenced whereas the selectivity switches to 3,4‐rich. Combining the neodymium pre‐catalyst with triisobutyl aluminum in the presence of a boron activator affords PMy in good yield, but the polymer material displays low solubility, likely due to the occurrence of crosslinking. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012
Benzodifuran‐containing well‐defined π‐conjugated polymers for photovoltaic cells
Authors: Li Hui , Tang Peng , Zhao Yan , Liu Shi‐Xia , Aeschi Yves , Deng Lijun , Braun Jörg , Zhao Bin , Liu Yunqi , Tan Songting , Meier Wolfgang , Decurtins Silvio 
Published: April 2012

AbstractTwo well‐defined alternating π‐conjugated polymers containing a soluble electroactive benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]difuran (BDF) chromophore, poly(BDF‐(9‐phenylcarbazole)) (PBDFC), and poly(BDF‐benzothiadiazole) (PBDFBTD) were synthesized via Sonogashira copolymerizations. Their optical, electrochemical, and field‐effect charge transport properties were characterized and compared with those of the corresponding homopolymer PBDF and random copolymers of the same overall composition. All these polymers cover broad optical absorption ranges from 250 to 750 nm with narrow optical band gaps of 1.78–2.35 eV. Both PBDF and PBDFBTD show ambipolar redox properties with HOMO levels of −5.38 and −5.09 eV, respectively. The field‐effect mobility of holes varies from 2.9 × 10−8 cm2 V−1 s−1 in PBDF to 1.0 × 10−5 cm2 V−1 s−1 in PBDFBTD. Bulk heterojunction solar cell devices were fabricated using the polymers as the electron donor and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C61‐butyric acid methyl ester as the electron acceptor, leading to power conversion efficiencies of 0.24–0.57% under air mass 1.5 illumination (100 mW cm−2). These results indicate that their band gaps, molecular electronic energy levels, charge mobilities, and molecular weights are readily tuned by copolymerizing the BDF core with different π‐conjugated units. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012