bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Soil pH and Nutrients: Everything Is Local
Authors: Kish Stacy 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDeveloped more than 80 years ago, the soil pH and nutrient diagram offers a quick reference that growers can use to gauge soil fertility and plant nutrition. At first glance, the relationship between soil pH and nutrient availability makes sense. Soil pH influences the solubility, concentration, ionic form, adsorption, and mobility of important plant nutrients. But this simple diagram hides the complexity of this relationship. Earn 0.5 CEUs in Nutrient Management by reading this article and taking the quiz at https://web.sciencesocieties.org/Learning‐Center/Courses.
Scalable Superhydrophilic Solar Evaporators for Long‐Term Stable Desalination, Fresh Water Collection and Salt Collection by Vertical Salt Deposition
Authors: Huang Xiaopeng , Li Lingxiao , Chen Kai , Zhang Junping 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSolar‐driven interfacial evaporation (SIE) is very promising to solve the issue of fresh water shortage, however, poor salt resistance severely hinders long‐term stable SIE and fresh water collection. Here, we report design of superhydrophilic solar evaporators for long‐term stable desalination, fresh water collection and salt collection by vertical salt deposition. The evaporators are prepared by sequentially deposition of silicone nanofilaments, polypyrrole and Au nanoparticles on a polyester fabric composed of microfibers. The evaporators feature excellent photothermal effect and ultrafast water transport, due to their unique micro‐/nanostructure and superhydrophilicity. As a result, during SIE the salt gradually deposits vertically rather than occupies larger area on the evaporators. Consequently, long‐term stable SIE with high evaporation rates of 2.4–2.1 kg m−2 h−1 for 3.5–20 wt % brine in continuous 10 h is achieved under 1 sun illumination. Meanwhile, the loosely deposited salt can be easily collected, realizing zero brine discharge. Moreover, scalable preparation of the evaporator is achieved, which exhibits efficient collection of high quality fresh water (10.08 kg m−2 in 8 h) via SIE desalination under weak natural sunlight (0.46~0.66 sun). This strategy sheds a new light on the design of high‐performance solar evaporators and their real‐world fresh water collection.
High‐gain W‐band‐printed antenna on flexible substrate
Authors: Biswas Balaka , Karmakar Ayan , Adhikar Vaibhav , Saha Chinmoy 
Published: March 2024

SummaryThis article demonstrates a novel type of series‐fed planar antenna array for a W‐band (70 GHz) application. The proposed architecture is a 5‐element antenna array with 10 numbers of gap‐coupled parasitic patches in microstrip configuration over a thin, flexible and bio‐compatible substrate named LCP (liquid crystal polymer). A detailed design methodology with all fabrication constraints has been elaborated on here. Full wave analysis of the whole structure has been carried out in the FEM‐based 3D electromagnetic (EM) solver ANSYS HFSS Suite V.19.2. Parametric simulations were studied to achieve the optimized values of all design parameters. Further, an empirical electrical equivalent circuit model is proposed for the antenna array, and it was validated with the simulation results obtained from the FEM solver. Two prototypes have been fabricated, and measurements were carried out to fetch all the designed antenna parameters. The proto version of the antenna offers peak directive gain of about 19 dBi with better than 22 dB of return loss and 80% radiation efficiency for the frequency range of 67–85 GHz. Experimental and simulated results closely match each other. Small deviations are attributed to practical imperfections incurred by fabrication tolerances, measurement inaccuracies, testing, assembly‐related issues and so forth. Finally, the current research work is compared with the recently reported literature.
Berberine attenuates inflammation and oxidative stress and modulates lymphocyte E‐NTPDase in acute hyperlipidemia
Authors: Alruhaimi Reem S. , Siddiq Abduh Maisa , Ahmeda Ahmad F. , Bin‐Ammar Albandari , Kamel Emadeldin M. , Hassanein Emad H. M. , Li Chen , Mahmoud Ayman M. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHyperlipidemia is a common clinically encountered health condition worldwide that promotes the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis. Berberine (BBR) is a natural product with acknowledged anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and metabolic effects. This study evaluated the effect of BBR on lipid alterations, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response in rats with acute hyperlipidemia induced by poloxamer‐407 (P‐407). Rats were pretreated with BBR (25 and 50 mg/kg) for 14 days and acute hyperlipidemia was induced by a single dose of P‐407 (500 mg/kg). BBR ameliorated hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and plasma lipoproteins in P‐407‐adminsitered rats. Plasma lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity was decreased, and hepatic 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl CoA (HMG‐CoA) reductase activity was enhanced in hyperlipidemic rats. The expression of low‐density lipoprotein receptor (LDL‐R) and ATP‐binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) was downregulated in hyperlipidemic rats. BBR enhanced LPL activity, upregulated LDL‐R, and ABCA1, and suppressed HMG‐CoA reductase in P‐407‐administered rats. Pretreatment with BBR ameliorated lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide (NO), pro‐inflammatory mediators (interleukin [IL]‐6, IL‐1β, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]‐α, interferon‐γ, IL‐4 and IL‐18) and enhanced antioxidants. In addition, BBR suppressed lymphocyte ecto‐nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (E‐NTPDase) and ecto‐adenosine deaminase (E‐ADA) as well as NO and TNF‐α release by macrophages isolated from normal and hyperlipidemic rats. In silico investigations revealed the binding affinity of BBR toward LPL, HMG‐CoA reductase, LDL‐R, PSK9, ABCA1, and E‐NTPDase. In conclusion, BBR effectively prevented acute hyperlipidemia and its associated inflammatory responses by modulating LPL, cholesterolgenesis, cytokine release, and lymphocyte E‐NTPDase and E‐ADA. Therefore, BBR is an effective and safe natural compound that might be employed as an adjuvant against hyperlipidemia and its associated inflammation.
A species distribution model of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera: Worldwide changes and a focus on the Southeast Pacific
Authors: Gonzalez‐Aragon Daniel , Rivadeneira Marcelo M. , Lara Carlos , Torres Felipe I. , Vásquez Julio A. , Broitman Bernardo R. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWorldwide climate‐driven shifts in the distribution of species is of special concern when it involves habitat‐forming species. In the coastal environment, large Laminarian algae—kelps—form key coastal ecosystems that support complex and diverse food webs. Among kelps, Macrocystis pyrifera is the most widely distributed habitat‐forming species and provides essential ecosystem services. This study aimed to establish the main drivers of future distributional changes on a global scale and use them to predict future habitat suitability. Using species distribution models (SDM), we examined the changes in global distribution of M. pyrifera under different emission scenarios with a focus on the Southeast Pacific shores. To constrain the drivers of our simulations to the most important factors controlling kelp forest distribution across spatial scales, we explored a suite of environmental variables and validated the predictions derived from the SDMs. Minimum sea surface temperature was the single most important variable explaining the global distribution of suitable habitat for M. pyrifera. Under different climate change scenarios, we always observed a decrease of suitable habitat at low latitudes, while an increase was detected in other regions, mostly at high latitudes. Along the Southeast Pacific, we observed an upper range contraction of −17.08° S of latitude for 2090–2100 under the RCP8.5 scenario, implying a loss of habitat suitability throughout the coast of Peru and poleward to −27.83° S in Chile. Along the area of Northern Chile where a complete habitat loss is predicted by our model, natural stands are under heavy exploitation. The loss of habitat suitability will take place worldwide: Significant impacts on marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning are likely. Furthermore, changes in habitat suitability are a harbinger of massive impacts in the socio‐ecological systems of the Southeast Pacific.
Research progress and application of high efficiency organic solar cells based on benzodithiophene donor materials
Authors: Lin Congqi , Peng Ruixiang , Shi Jingyu , Ge Ziyi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn recent decades, the demand for clean and renewable energy has grown increasingly urgent due to the irreversible alteration of the global climate change. As a result, organic solar cells (OSCs) have emerged as a promising alternative to address this issue. In this review, we summarize the recent progress in the molecular design strategies of benzodithiophene (BDT)‐based polymer and small molecule donor materials since their birth, focusing on the development of main‐chain engineering, side‐chain engineering and other unique molecular design paths. Up to now, the state‐of‐the‐art power conversion efficiency (PCE) of binary OSCs prepared by BDT‐based donor materials has approached 20%. This work discusses the potential relationship between the molecular changes of donor materials and photoelectric performance in corresponding OSC devices in detail, thereby presenting a rational molecular design guidance for stable and efficient donor materials in future.
Removal of bentazone using activated carbon from spent coffee grounds
Authors: Rocha Bianca Caroline da Silva , Moraes Luiz Eduardo Zani de , Santo Diego Espirito , Peron Ana Paula , Souza Débora Cristina de , Bona Evandro , Valarini Osvaldo 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDThis study aimed to produce activated carbon (AC) from spent coffee (Coffea arabica) grounds by chemical activation using zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and nitric acid to remove bentazone from aqueous solutions.RESULTSThe fresh spent coffee grounds were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and the AC by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Brunauer–Emmett– Teller (BET), point of zero charge, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the Boehman method. Adsorption experiments were carried out in a batch system. The results showed a 70% efficiency in bentazone removal using ZnCl2 carbon. Kinetic studies indicate that the adsorption rate increased slowly up to 720 min; the first‐ and second‐order models fitted the experimental data at a concentration of 50 mg L−1. The adsorption equilibrium is represented by the Langmuir model with a high adsorption capacity of 279.33 ± 6.29 mg mg−1. The adsorption efficiency was also confirmed by toxicity analysis of the effluent with bentazone at 50 mg L−1, using the Allium cepa bioassay, a high‐sensitivity test for pollutants in water.CONCLUSIONBefore adsorption, the effluent caused significant cytogenotoxicity to onion root meristems. After adsorption, the generated effluent no longer caused toxicity to the test system, and the results obtained were similar to the control with distilled water. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Improvement of the enantioselectivities of Mandyphos‐Pd complexes by introducing groups with different steric and electronic properties
Authors: Liu Xiong , Qin Shuping , Wang Hou , Yang Yanning , Tang Xiang 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDMandyphos‐Pd has been proven to be a good chiral extractant to enantioseparate 3‐chlorophenylglycine enantiomers with a separation factor of 2.64. However, this extractant is not suitable to enantioseparate other amino acids with separation factors of <2.0. The poor versatility has limited its practical application in chiral extraction.RESULTSMandyphos derivatives with different steric and electronic properties were synthesized and their enantioseparation properties toward amino acid and mandelic acid enantiomers were investigated. The results suggested that substituent groups with different steric properties affect the extraction properties, probably by adjusting the angles of tetra‐coordinated palladium complexes. And the substituent groups with different electronic properties affect the extraction properties mainly by adjusting the π‐π interactions/steric hindrance effects between Mandyphos‐Pd and substrates. After optimization, the highest separation factors for phenylalanine, homophenylalanine, 3‐chloro‐phenylglycine, 4‐nitro‐phenylalanine, mandelic acid and 2‐Cl‐mandelic acid were 2.10, 2.77, 3.51, 2.42, 2.24 and 5.19, respectively. The enantioseparation mechanisms revealed that the coordination interactions between metal ions and COO−/NH2, π‐π interactions or steric hindrance effects between aryls are the main forces acting in chiral recognition.CONCLUSIONThe enantioselectivities of the Mandyphos‐Pd complex are improved by introducing groups with suitable steric and electronic properties. Structural modification is a useful method to improve the enantioseparation efficiencies of chiral extractants. The results of this work will supply important theoretical guidance and reference for the design and modification of novel diphosphine ligands in future work. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Analyses of relational coherence and rule following: Consistent liars are preferred over occasional truth tellers
Authors: Alonso‐Vega Jesús , Harte Colin , Barnes‐Holmes Dermot 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe current study explored the influence of different levels of speaker coherence on rule following and speaker preference. In Experiment 1, rules provided by three different speakers were either 100% accurate, 0% accurate, or 50% accurate/inaccurate. Experiment 2 was similar to Experiment 1 except that the speaker's coherence was adjusted to 80% accurate, 20% accurate, and 50% accurate/inaccurate, respectively. Overall, participants tended to follow coherent speaker rules and avoid following incoherent speaker rules during training and testing phases. The results also indicated that following and not following rules provided by speakers may be generalizable to novel stimuli and maintained in the absence of differential reinforcement (i.e., in experimental test phases). Additionally, in a preference test, participants tended to prefer coherent over incoherent and partially coherent speakers. Furthermore, participants tended to prefer the relatively more incoherent speaker (i.e., 0% or 20% accurate) over the 50% accurate coherent speaker in both experiments. Finally, a comparison of the results of both experiments indicated that different levels of relational coherence affected the variability of rule‐following and speaker preference behaviors. These findings are discussed in the context of the complexities that appear to be involved in rule‐following behaviors and speaker preference.
Nutrient consumption patterns of Lactobacillus acidophilus
Authors: Qiao Yali , Yin Boxing , Zhou Wei , Wang Mengrui , Chang Ziqing , Zhou Junping , Yue Mingzhe , Chen Junxia , Liu Fei , Feng Zhen 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDOne of the greatest challenges in using Lactobacillus acidophilus as a probiotic is acid stress. The current research aimed to identify substances that help L. acidophilus resist acid stress; this was achieved through assessing its nutrient consumption patterns under various pH conditions.RESULTSThe consumption rates of alanine, uracil, adenine, guanine, niacin, and manganese were consistently higher than 60% for L. acidophilus LA‐5 cultured at pH 5.8, 4.9, and 4.4. The consumption rates of glutamic acid + glutamine and thiamine increased with decreasing pH and were higher than 60% at pH 4.9 and 4.4. The viable counts of L. acidophilus LA‐5 were significantly increased under the corresponding acidic stress conditions (pH 4.9 and 4.4) through the appropriate addition of either alanine (3.37 and 2.81 mmol L−1), glutamic acid + glutamine (4.77 mmol L−1), guanine (0.13 and 0.17 mmol L−1), niacin (0.02 mmol L−1), thiamine (0.009 mmol L−1), or manganese (0.73 and 0.64 mmol L−1) (P < 0.05). The viable counts of L. acidophilus LA‐5 cultured in a medium supplemented with combined nutritional factors was 1.02–1.03‐fold of the counts observed in control medium under all acid conditions (P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONAlanine, glutamic acid + glutamine, guanine, niacin, thiamine, and manganese can improve the growth of L. acidophilus LA‐5 in an acidic environment in the present study. The results will contribute to optimizing strategies to enhance the acid resistance of L. acidophilus and expand its application in the fermentation industry. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Assessment of iron content of cooking water on bulgur by determining chemical, mineral, colour, textural and thermal characteristics
Authors: Michel Sadiye , Bayram Mustafa 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDBulgur, a whole wheat product, has attracted attention in the world in recent years because of its wide usage possibility in different meals. The basic ingredients in bulgur production are wheat and water. The influence of water composition on bulgur quality has not been investigated. Iron in water can cause discolouration in foods by oxidizing and reacting with phenolic compounds and also by hardening the structure of the foods. Therefore, in the present study, the effects of the iron content of water on the quality of bulgur were examined.RESULTSThe effect of the amount of iron in water on bulgur quality was carried out and examined using water containing iron at three different levels (0, 1 and 2 ppm). Using water containing 2 ppm iron in bulgur production caused a decrease in the L* value and an increase in the YI (i.e. yellowness index), thus negatively affecting the colour of the bulgur. In bulgur prepared with water containing 2 ppm iron, the antioxidant activity was also dramatically reduced.CONCLUSIONThe iron content in the water used in bulgur production did not have a negative effect on bulgur quality up to 2 ppm. The protein, ash, phenolic and mineral amounts and textural characteristics of bulgur were not affected by the concentration of iron in the water. As a result, high iron concentration in cooking water negatively affects bulgur's colour and antioxidant activity. Therefore, it is recommended to use iron‐free water in bulgur production. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Sex‐specific resource use by wild turkeys in response to hunting activity
Authors: Roth Alaina P. , Wightman Patrick H. , Masto Nicholas M. , Cantrell Jay R. , Ruth Charles , Cohen Bradley S. , Chamberlain Michael J. , Collier Bret A. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHunting causes direct mortality and potentially disrupts normal activities of game and non‐game species. As spatial (i.e., selection of hunting areas) and temporal (i.e., only diurnally present) patterns of hunters can become predictable, hunted species may respond accordingly. Risk becomes more dynamic and complex for species that are hunted concurrent with their breeding cycle, and growing literature has noted that wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo spp.) behaviors can be altered by hunting activity. We allocated global positioning system (GPS) units to 1,500 wild turkey hunters and affixed GPS transmitters to 175 wild turkeys during 2014–2018 on the Webb Wildlife Management Area Complex in South Carolina, USA. We evaluated whether wild turkeys shifted resource selection as a function of hunter resource selection during the progression of hunting seasons. Male wild turkeys avoided areas where stationary hunting bouts occurred during the early hunting season (and selected for these areas before hunting began), whereas females were more likely to select those areas avoided by males by the end of the hunting season. For every 15% increase in predicted probability of an area being hunted, male wild turkeys were 4.16 times less likely to select that area, whereas female wild turkeys were 1.08 times more likely to select that area relative to pre‐season periods when hunters were not on the landscape. Hunting activity induced immediate responses by male wild turkeys as they sought refuge away from hunted areas. Coupled with recent research suggesting hunters are more influential than natural predators in reducing the frequency of male vocalizations and eliciting fleeing and avoidance behavior, our results indicate hunting activity could affect distribution and courtship behaviors of male wild turkeys during their breeding season.
Variants in Genes Associated with Hearing Loss in Children: Prevalence in a Large Canadian Cohort
Authors: Wener Emily R. , McLennan Jacob D. , Papsin Blake C. , Cushing Sharon L. , Stavropoulos Dimitri James , Mendoza‐Londono Roberto , Quercia Nada , Gordon Karen A. 
Published: March 2024

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of genetic variants associated with hearing loss in a large cohort of children in Canada using high throughput next generation sequencing (NGS).MethodsA total of 485 children with hearing loss underwent NGS testing with an 80 gene panel of syndromic and non‐syndromic variants known to be associated with hearing loss. Genetic variants were classified as pathogenic, likely pathogenic, likely benign, benign, or variants of uncertain significance (VUS), according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines.ResultsAcross the 80 genes tested, 923 variants, predominantly in 28 genes, were identified in 324 children. Pathogenic variants occurred in 19/80 (23.8%) of the hearing loss related genes tested and confirmed the etiology of hearing loss in 73/485 (15.1%) of children. GJB2 was the most prevalent gene, affecting 28/73 (38.4%) children with confirmed genetic hearing loss in our cohort. Most identified variants (748/923, 81.0%, in 76/80 genes) were of uncertain significance.ConclusionGenetic testing using NGS identified the etiology in approximately 15% of childhood hearing loss in a Canadian cohort which is lower than what is typically reported. GJB2 was the most common genetic cause of hearing loss. VUS are commonly identified, presenting clinical challenges for counseling.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 134:3832–3838, 2024
New Approaches to Using Old Artifacts: Advances in Oceanography‐Archeology Research
Authors: Lecher Alanna L. , Vokhshoori Natasha , Watson April 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCollaborations between archeologists and aquatic scientists are driving forward a whole new subdiscipline of methods to document and understand environmental change. Climate change, food webs, El Niño La Niña oscillations, and alterations to biotic factors such as salinity and stream flow have all been studied via aquatic archeological material. Much of this research is conducted on shell middens, the archeological materials they contain, and substrates they are deposited in. This article provides a primer on the formation of shell middens, procedures of midden archeological excavation, and the recent advances in aquatic environmental change research from analyzing archeological material collected from middens.