bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reactivity of the Plant Growth Regulator Paclobutrazol (Cultar) with Two Tropical Soils of the Northeast Semiarid Region of Brazil
Authors: Milfont Mônica Lúcia , Martins Jean Manuel Fonseca , Antonino Antonio Celso Dantas , Gouveia Ester Ribeiro , Netto André Maciel , Guiné Véronique , Mas Hélène , dos Santos Freire Maria Betânia Galvão 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe reactivity of paclobutrazol (PBZ, a plant growth retardant) with a Yellow Ultisol and a Vertisol from the semiarid northeast region of Brazil was evaluated through batch sorption experiments and modeling. Although not instantaneous, the sorption kinetic of PBZ (pure and formulated) was fast (a few hours) in both soils. The sorption kinetics were well described by a second‐order () but not by a first‐order model. The sorption isotherms were found to be linear and the calculated KD values were 8.8 ± 0.11 and 7.4 ± 0.2 L kg−1 for pure PBZ in the Ultisol and the Vertisol, respectively. The corresponding KOC values were 1275 ± 34 (logKOC = 3.11) and 1156 ± 49 (logKOC = 3.06) L kg−1, respectively. Considering the very different texture of the two soils and the similar KOC values determined, these results showed that in both soils, the sorption of PBZ is dominantly controlled by organic matter, although some interactions of PBZ with iron oxides (goethite) were observed in the Ultisol. Based on these sorption parameters a low leachability potential of PBZ in soils is anticipated, as they correspond to a groundwater ubiquity score (GUS) ranging from 2.0 to 2.7, i.e., moderately to not mobile, in contradiction with the actual groundwater situation in Brazil. This work stresses the need to evaluate and predict the risk associated with aquifer contamination by this widely used plant growth regulator.
Influence of Prairie Restoration on CT‐Measured Soil Pore Characteristics
Authors: Udawatta Ranjith P. , Anderson Stephen H. , Gantzer Clark J. , Garrett Harold E. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractRestored prairies are expected to improve soil physical properties, yet little is known about the extent of change to soil properties and how rapidly these changes take place. The objective of this study was to compare effects of prairie restoration on computed tomography (CT)‐measured pore parameters. Undisturbed soil cores (76 mm diam. by 76 mm long) from native prairie (NP), restored prairie (RP), conservation reserve program (CRP), and no‐till corn (Zea mays L.)‐soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.; CS) sites were collected with six replicates from the 0‐ to 40‐cm depth in 10‐cm increments. Five CT images were acquired from each soil core using a medical CT scanner with 0.2 by 0.2 mm pixel resolution with 0.5 mm slice thickness, and then images were analyzed. Soil bulk density and hydraulic conductivity (Ksat) were also measured. Soils under NP, RP, CRP, and CS areas had 83, 43, 48, and 26 pores on a 2500 mm2 area, respectively, for the 0‐ to 40‐cm depth. The number of pores, number of macropores (>1000 μm diam.), macroporosity, mesoporosity (200‐1000 μm diam.), and fractal dimension were significantly higher and pore circularity was lower for NP, RP, and CRP than the CS treatment. The CT‐measured mesoporosity and macroporosity of the CS treatment were 20 and 18% of the values for the NP site. CT‐measured number of pores and macropores explained 43 and 40% of the variation for Ksat The study showed that prairie restoration improves CT‐measured soil pore parameters and decreases bulk density which are related to soil water infiltration.
Season and Bedding Impacts on Ammonia Emissions from Tie‐stall Dairy Barns
Authors: Powell J. M. , Misselbrook T. H. , Casler M. D. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractFederal and state regulations are being promulgated under the Clean Air Act to reduce hazardous air emissions from livestock operations. Few data are available on emissions from livestock facilities in the USA and the management practices that may minimize emissions. The objective of this study was to measure seasonal and bedding impacts on ammonia emissions from tie‐stall dairy barns located in central Wisconsin. Four chambers each housed four Holstein dairy heifers (∼17 mo of age; body weights, 427–522 kg) for three 28‐d trial periods corresponding to winter, summer, and fall. A 4×4 Latin Square statistical design was used to evaluate four bedding types (manure solids, chopped newspaper, pine shavings, and chopped wheat straw) in each chamber for a 4‐d ammonia monitoring period. Average ammonia‐N emissions (g heifer−1 d−1) during summer (20.4) and fall (21.0) were similar and twice the emissions recorded during winter (10.1). Ammonia‐N emissions accounted for approximately 4 to 7% of consumed feed N, 4 to 10% of excreted N, and 9 to 20% of manure ammonical N. Cooler nighttime temperatures did not result in lower ammonia emissions than daytime temperatures. Ammonia emissions (g heifer−1 d−1) from chambers that contained manure solids (20.0), newspaper (18.9), and straw (18.9) were similar and significantly greater than emissions using pine shavings (15.2). Chamber N balances, or percent difference between the inputs feed N and bedding N, and the outputs manure N, body weight N, and ammonia N were 105, 90, and 89% for the winter, summer, and fall trials, respectively. Relatively high chamber N balances and favorable comparisons of study data with published values of ammonia emissions, feed N intake, and manure N excretion provided confidence in the accuracy of the study results.
Geochemical Parameters Influencing Tungsten Mobility in Soils
Authors: Bednar A. J. , Jones W. T. , Boyd R. E. , Ringelberg D. B. , Larson S. L. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractThe biogeochemistry of tungsten and its effects on mobility have recently gained attention due to the existence of human cancer clusters, such as in Fallon, NV. Tungsten exists in many environmental matrices as the soluble and mobile tungstate anion. However, tungsten can polymerize with itself and other anions, creating poly‐ and heteropoly‐tungstates with variable geochemical and toxicological properties. In the present work, geochemical parameters are determined for tungstate species in a model soil that describe the potential for tungsten mobility. Soluble tungsten leached from a metallic tungsten‐spiked soil after six to twelve months aging reached an equilibrium concentration >150 mg/L within 4 h of extraction with deionized water. Partition coefficients determined for various tungstate and polytungstate compounds in the model soil suggest a dynamic system in which speciation changes over time affect tungsten geochemical behavior. Partition coefficients for tungstate and some poly‐species have been observed to increase by a factor of 3 to 6 over a four month period, indicating decreased mobility with soil aging.
The Fate of Sulfate in Acidified Pig Slurry during Storage and Following Application to Cropped Soil
Authors: Eriksen Jørgen , Sørensen Peter , Elsgaard Lars 
Published: January 2008

AbstractAcidification of slurry with sulfuric acid is a recent agricultural practice that may serve a double purpose: reducing ammonia emission and ensuring crop sulfur sufficiency. We investigated S transformations in untreated and acidified pig slurry stored for up to 11 mo at 2, 10, or 20°C. Furthermore, the fertilizer efficiency of sulfuric acid in acidified slurry was investigated in a pot experiment with spring barley. The sulfate content from acidification with sulfuric acid was relatively stable and even after 11 mo of storage the majority was in the plant‐available sulfate form. Microbial sulfate reduction during storage of acidified pig slurry was limited, presumably due to initial pH effects and a limitation in the availability of easily degradable organic matter. Sulfide accumulation was observed during storage but the sulfide levels in acidified slurry did not exceed those of the untreated slurry for several months after addition. The S fertilizer value of the acidified slurry was considerable as a result of the stable sulfate pool during storage. The high content of inorganic S in the acidified slurry may potentially lead to development of odorous volatile sulfur‐containing compounds and investigations are needed into the relationship between odor development and the C and S composition of the slurry.
Isotopic Discrimination as a Tool for Organic Farming Certification in Sweet Pepper
Authors: del Amor Francisco M. , Navarro Joaquín , Aparicio Pedro M. 
Published: January 2008

AbstractOrganic farming is a form of agriculture that excludes the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms. These fertilizers have been traditionally overused in conventional farming to avoid lost revenue, but this often not does not take into account the potential contamination of aquifers and river due to nitrate leaching. Transition to organic farming practices could provide an instrument to reduce contamination and increase potential income. It is difficult to determine to what extent those fertilizers could have been used within a complete traceability of the production process. In this experiment, we evaluated the use of 15N/14N isotopic discrimination in sweet pepper plants to test the hypothesis that synthetic fertilizers significantly reduce 15N/14N compared with exclusively organic practices. Therefore, three common types of organic manures (sheep, hen, or horse) were applied at a rate of 8 kg m−2 with or without synthetic fertilizer amendments under fully controlled environmental and irrigation conditions. Results indicate that (i) use of synthetic fertilizers significantly reduced 15/14N2vsN2atm compared with treatments that only received water; (ii) with respect to the plant organs, old leaves and fruits were more sensitive to the synthetic fertilizer additions with reductions in 15/14N2vsN2atm of 24.1 and 27.8%, respectively; and (iii) independently of the organic manure used, no additional fertilization (synthetic or organic) is required before 106 days after transplanting at that dosage because plant fresh weight was not reduced.
Quality of Large Language Model Responses to Radiation Oncology Patient Care Questions
Authors: Yalamanchili Amulya , Sengupta Bishwambhar , Song Joshua , Lim Sara , Thomas Tarita O. , Mittal Bharat B. , Abazeed Mohamed E. , Teo P. Troy 
Published: April 2024

ImportanceArtificial intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs) demonstrate potential in simulating human-like dialogue. Their efficacy in accurate patient-clinician communication within radiation oncology has yet to be explored.ObjectiveTo determine an LLM’s quality of responses to radiation oncology patient care questions using both domain-specific expertise and domain-agnostic metrics.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cross-sectional study retrieved questions and answers from websites (accessed February 1 to March 20, 2023) affiliated with the National Cancer Institute and the Radiological Society of North America. These questions were used as queries for an AI LLM, ChatGPT version 3.5 (accessed February 20 to April 20, 2023), to prompt LLM-generated responses. Three radiation oncologists and 3 radiation physicists ranked the LLM-generated responses for relative factual correctness, relative completeness, and relative conciseness compared with online expert answers. Statistical analysis was performed from July to October 2023.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe LLM’s responses were ranked by experts using domain-specific metrics such as relative correctness, conciseness, completeness, and potential harm compared with online expert answers on a 5-point Likert scale. Domain-agnostic metrics encompassing cosine similarity scores, readability scores, word count, lexicon, and syllable counts were computed as independent quality checks for LLM-generated responses.ResultsOf the 115 radiation oncology questions retrieved from 4 professional society websites, the LLM performed the same or better in 108 responses (94%) for relative correctness, 89 responses (77%) for completeness, and 105 responses (91%) for conciseness compared with expert answers. Only 2 LLM responses were ranked as having potential harm. The mean (SD) readability consensus score for expert answers was 10.63 (3.17) vs 13.64 (2.22) for LLM answers (P &amp;lt; .001), indicating 10th grade and college reading levels, respectively. The mean (SD) number of syllables was 327.35 (277.15) for expert vs 376.21 (107.89) for LLM answers (P = .07), the mean (SD) word count was 226.33 (191.92) for expert vs 246.26 (69.36) for LLM answers (P = .27), and the mean (SD) lexicon score was 200.15 (171.28) for expert vs 219.10 (61.59) for LLM answers (P = .24).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this cross-sectional study, the LLM generated accurate, comprehensive, and concise responses with minimal risk of harm, using language similar to human experts but at a higher reading level. These findings suggest the LLM’s potential, with some retraining, as a valuable resource for patient queries in radiation oncology and other medical fields.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Similar/Dissimilar Resistance Spot‐Welded Aluminum Alloys for Aerospace Applications
Authors: Li Mingyang , Yang Yue , Yu Shibao , Luo Zhen , Gao Zhonglin , Tian Zengtai , Li Yang 
Published: April 2024

2195 aluminum–lithium (Al–Li) and 2XXX series aluminum alloys are joined using resistance spot welding for the first time. The macrostructure, microstructure, element distribution, microhardness, and tensile‐shear property of spot‐welded joints are investigated. The microstructure of the fusion zone of 2195/2195, 2195/2219, and 2195/2A14 joints is fine equiaxed spherical grains. It is found that solute segregation of Cu occurs in the grain boundaries in the fusion zone, forming Al2Cu. The microhardness shows that due to the dissolution of strengthening phase T1, the hardness of the fusion zone of the three types of joints is lower than that of the base material. The 2195/2195 joint has the best mechanical performance among the three combinations, with maximum tensile‐shear force and absorbed energy reaching 16893.7 N and 24.9 J, respectively. The fracture surfaces of all three types of joints exhibit mixed ductile‐brittle characteristics.
LiFT (a Lithium Fiber‐Based Test): An At‐Home Companion Diagnostics for a Safer Lithium Therapy in Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Amirghasemi Farbod , Nejad Sina Khazaee , Chen Ruitong , Soleimani Ali , Ong Victor , Shroff Nika , Eftekhari Tanya , Ushijima Kara , Ainla Alar , Siegel Steven , Mousavi Maral P. S. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis work presents LiFT (a lithium fiber‐based test), a low‐cost electrochemical sensor that can measure lithium in human saliva and urine with FDA‐required accuracy. Lithium is used for the treatment of bipolar disorder, and has a narrow therapeutic window. Close monitoring of lithium concentration in biofluids and adjustment of drug dosage can minimize the devastating side effects. LiFT is an inexpensive, yet accurate and simple‐to‐operate lithium sensor for frequent at‐home testing for early identification of lithium toxicity. The low cost and high accuracy of LiFT are enabled through an innovative design and the use of ubiquitous materials such as yarn and carbon black for fabrication. LiFT measures Li+ through potentiometric recognition using a lithium selective sensing membrane that is deposited on the ink‐coated yarn. A detection limit of 0.97 µM is obtained with a sensitivity of 59.07±1.25 mV/decade for the Li+ sensor in deionized water. Moreover, the sodium correction extended LiFT's linear range in urine and saliva to 0.5 mM. The LiFT platform sends the test results to the patient's smartphone, which subsequently can be shared with the patient's healthcare provider to expedite diagnosis and prevention of acute lithium toxicity.
A 66‐Nuclear All‐Alkynyl Protected Peanut‐Shaped Silver(I)/Copper(I) Heterometallic Nanocluster: Intermediate in Copper‐Catalyzed Alkyne‐Azide Cycloaddition
Authors: Gao Jin‐Ping , Zhang Fu‐Qiang , Zhang Xian‐Ming 
Published: April 2024

AbstractLigand‐protected heterometallic nanoclusters in contrast to homo‐metal counterparts show more broad applications due to the synergistic effect of hetero‐metals but their controllable syntheses remain a challenge. Among heterometallic nanoclusters, monovalent Ag‐Cu compounds are rarely explored due to much difference of Ag(I) and Cu(I) such as atom radius, coordination habits, and redox potential. Encouraged by copper‐catalyzed alkyne‐azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction, comproportionation reaction of Cu(II)X2 and Cu(0) in the presence of (PhC≡CAg)n complex and molybdate generated a core‐shell peanut‐shaped 66‐nuclear Ag(I)‐Cu(I) heterometallic nanocluster, [(Mo4O16)2@Cu12Ag54(PhC≡C)50] (referred to as Ag54Cu12). The structure and composition of Ag‐Cu heterometallic nanocluster are fully characterized. X‐ray single crystal diffraction reveals that Ag54Cu12 has a peanut‐shaped silver(I)/copper(I) heterometallic nanocage protected by fifty phenylacetylene ligands in µ3–modes and encapsulated two mutually twisted tetramolybdates. Heterometallic nanocage contains a 54‐Ag‐atom outer ellipsoid silver cage decorated by 12 copper inside wall. Nanosized Ag54Cu12 is a n‐type narrow‐band‐gap semiconductor with a good photocurrent response. Preliminary experiments demonstrates that Ag54Cu12 itself and activated carbon supported Ag54Cu12/C are effective catalysts for 1,3‐dipole cycloaddition between alkynes and azides at ambient conditions. The work provides not only a new synthetic route toward Ag(I)‐Cu(I) nanoclusters but also an important heterometallic intermediate in CuAAC catalytic reaction.
Alterations in Blood Methylome as Potential Epigenetic Biomarker in Sporadic Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Gonzalez‐Latapi Paulina , Bustos Bernabe , Dong Siyuan , Lubbe Steven , Simuni Tanya , Krainc Dimitri 
Published: April 2024

ObjectiveTo characterize DNA methylation (DNAm) differences between sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD) and healthy control (HC) individuals enrolled in the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI).MethodsUsing whole blood, we characterized longitudinal differences in DNAm between sporadic PD patients (n = 196) and HCs (n = 86) enrolled in PPMI. RNA sequencing (RNAseq) was used to conduct gene expression analyses for genes mapped to differentially methylated cytosine‐guanine sites (CpGs).ResultsAt the time of patient enrollment, 5,178 CpGs were differentially methylated (2,683 hypermethylated and 2,495 hypomethylated) in PD compared to HC. Of these, 579 CpGs underwent significant methylation changes over 3 years. Several differentially methylated CpGs were found near the cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily E member 1 (CYP2E1) gene. Additionally, multiple hypermethylated CpGs were associated with the N‐myc downregulated gene family member 4 (NDRG4) gene. RNA‐Seq analyses showed 75 differentially expressed genes in PD patients compared to controls. An integrative analysis of both differentially methylated sites and differentially expressed genes revealed 20 genes that exhibited hypomethylation concomitant with overexpression. Additionally, 1 gene, cathepsin H (CTSH), displayed hypermethylation that was associated with its decreased expression.InterpretationWe provide initial evidence of alterations in DNAm in blood of PD patients that may serve as potential epigenetic biomarker of disease. To evaluate the significance of these changes throughout the progression of PD, additional profiling at longer intervals and during the prodromal stages of disease will be necessary. ANN NEUROL 2024;95:1162–1172
Analysis of water droplet motion on hydrophobic surfaces with different microstructures
Authors: Zhang Junfeng , Feng He , He Hao , Wang Xiaobei , Chen Liuyang , Xie Atian , Wu Shangquan , Li Jianjun , Xue Changguo 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe influence of material surface microstructure on interface properties is crucial for the preparation and development of special functional materials. In this paper, polydimethylsiloxane‐based superhydrophobic surfaces of varying roughness and surface energy are prepared using the template method and a spraying technique, and the effect of surface microstructure on lateral friction is studied using a lateral friction detection system. The experimental results indicate that as the surface roughness of a sample decreases, it is observed that the water droplets transition from a Cassie state to a Wenzel state. When the roughness changes from 4.619 μm, reduce to 3.512 μm, the maximum static friction force increases from 33.59 μN increased to 51.52 μN. The lateral sliding friction force ranges from 15.87 ± 1.9 μN increases to 40.91 ± 1.2 μN. For a given surface roughness, when the surface energy is reduced, the water droplets on the surface can be seen to transition from a Wenzel state to a Cassie state, the maximum static friction force increases from 19.32 μN dropped to 9.23 μN, and the lateral sliding friction force increases from 15.26 ± 1.6 μN dropped to 3.47 ± 2.1 μN. However, this behavior is distinct from that observed when changing the roughness of the sample. Studying the influence of the surface microstructure on the lateral friction force observed at a solid–liquid interface can provide important insights into novel geometries that may be used in new, advanced functional surfaces.
Output feedback distributed optimization algorithms of higher‐order uncertain nonlinear multi‐agent systems
Authors: Li Guipu , Gao Fangzheng , Rauf Arshad 
Published: April 2024

AbstractOutput feedback distributed optimization problem is studied for higher‐order multi‐agent systems with uncertain nonlinearities, which are assumed to satisfy linear growth conditions. The agents dynamics are permitted to be heterogenous with different nonlinearities. The problem is solved by embedded control approach based output feedback distributed optimization algorithms. First, a first‐order optimal signal generator is designed, of which outputs reach the minimizer of the global cost function. Second, embedding the generator into the feedback loop and taking the outputs of the generator as the reference outputs of the agents, output feedback tracking controllers are designed for the higher‐order multi‐agent systems on the basis of nonseparation principle and feedback domination technique. Under the proposed control algorithms, all the agents outputs asymptotically approach a bounded neighbor region of the global minimizer. Simulations demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed output feedback distributed optimization algorithms.