bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Denitrification potential of surface soils of constructed wetlands in Newtown Creek, an urban superfund site
Authors: Govinda Nirmela , Groffman Peter M. , Durand Sarah E. , Zarnoch Chester B. , Elkins Willis 
Published: May 2023

AbstractDenitrification, the anaerobic microbial conversion of nitrate (NO3−), a common water pollutant, to nitrogen (N) gases, is often high in the soil of natural wetlands. In areas where natural wetlands have been degraded or destroyed, constructed and restored wetlands have been used to restore ecosystem services like denitrification. Thus, denitrification in restored and constructed wetlands could play an important role in treating anthropogenic N sources such as combined sewer overflow discharges which can be high in NO3−. In this study, we measured denitrification potential using an anaerobic slurry assay and made a suite of ancillary measurements (soil moisture content, microbial biomass carbon [C] and N content, potential net N mineralization and nitrification, soil inorganic N pools, and soil respiration) in four constructed salt marsh wetlands, and a series of wetland habitat basins in Newtown Creek, NY, an urban superfund site. Samples were also taken from natural salt marshes located at Paerdegat Basin, Jamaica Bay, NY. Our results show that constructed Spartina alterniflora marshes in ultra‐urban Newtown Creek support denitrification potential equivalent to rates of natural marshes in Jamaica Bay and reference marshes in other urban estuaries. There were significant positive correlations between microbial biomass C and N content and organic matter content and denitrification potential. Results suggest that constructed wetlands can support wetland vegetation, soils, and microbial life and contribute to N removal under ultra‐urban conditions.
Research progress of piperazine and morpholine derivatives in the discovery of agricultural chemicals
Authors: Zhang Yong , Liu Xing , Zou Yue , Wang Sheng , Song Hongyi , Cai Qingfeng , Peng Ju , Yi Chongfen , Chen Jixiang 
Published: May 2023

AbstractPiperazine and morpholine are important heterocyclic structures, which are widely used in the discovery of agrochemicals. Piperazine and morpholine rings are often used as active substructures or bridges to design and synthesize new agrochemicals. In the past decade, piperazine and morpholine compounds have made rapid progress in the research and development of new pesticides, especially in the discovery of fungicides and antibacterial agents. In the future, more piperazine and morpholine pesticides may be commercialized. However, there is no comprehensive review on the use of piperazine and morpholine derivatives in the creation of new agrochemicals. Therefore, we systematically reviewed the application of piperazine and morpholine active compounds in the creation of new pesticides in the past 12 years. This paper not only summarizes the biological activities of piperazine and morpholine compounds, but also discusses the structure–activity relationship, physiological and biochemical changes, and mechanism of action. This work aims to provide inspiration and ideas for the discovery of new agrochemicals of piperazine and morpholine.
Benefits of using exchangeable copper and the ratio of exchangeable copper in a real‐world cohort of patients with Wilson disease
Authors: Mariño Zoe , Molera‐Busoms Cristina , Badenas Celia , Quintero‐Bernabeu Jesús , Torra Mercè , Forns Xavier , Artuch Rafael 
Published: May 2023

AbstractWilson disease (WD) is a complex disease in which diagnosis and long‐term metabolic copper control remains challenging. The absence of accurate biomarkers requires the combination of different parameters to ensure copper homeostasis. Exchangeable copper and its ratio (REC) have been suggested to be useful biomarkers in this setting. We aimed at introducing these measurements and evaluate their performance and accuracy in our real‐world cohort of WD patients. Exchangeable copper and REC were measured in 48 WD patients and 56 control individuals by inductively coupled plasma‐mass‐spectrometry. Demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. REC was shown to be significantly higher among WD patients compared to controls and useful for WD identification by using the previously established cutoffs: 71.4% of WD patients with a recent diagnosis had REC ≥18.5% and 95.1% of long‐term treated WD had REC ≥14%; only four patients of the cohort presented discordant levels. Moreover, REC values were below 15% in all the control individuals. Exchangeable copper was significantly higher in WD patients compared to controls and tended to be reduced among WD patients who were compliant to medication. This real‐life study confirmed that exchangeable copper and REC are useful serum biomarkers that can be used as complementary tests to ensure WD diagnosis (REC) and copper homeostasis whithin time (exchangeable copper). The desirable target levels for this last objective still needs to be validated in prospective cohorts.
Thunderstorm tracking in Northwest Europe for enhanced hazard preparedness
Authors: Hayward Leah , Whitworth Malcolm , Pepin Nick , Dorling Steve 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe tracking of thunderstorms provides critical information on their frequency and behaviour for early warning, prediction and preparedness. Thunderstorm tracking has previously been constrained by the boundaries of a particular country or has focused on a particular category such as severe thunderstorms and mesoscale convective systems. However, less severe thunderstorms also pose a risk to life and property and occur more frequently and thus warrant inclusion in investigations of thunderstorm behaviour. In this paper, we present a new thunderstorm event catalogue, including all detected thunderstorms with at least three lightning flashes, derived from a tracking methodology applied to Northwest Europe within the bounds of 48° to 65°N and 15°W to 10°E between 2008 and 2018. The catalogue is based on ATDnet lightning flash data which was clustered into thunderstorms using a spatio‐temporal proximity assessment lightning clustering code written in the R coding language. The thunderstorm lightning clusters enabled the production of thunderstorm behaviour statistics such as speed, direction of movement, lightning flashes per minute and duration. This revealed that in winter, thunderstorms are shorter lived and move faster than in summer as well as more typically tracking from the west rather than from the south‐west. Thunderstorm behaviour characteristics were attributed to weather pattern types for the first time, providing probabilistic data that can be attributed to synoptic conditions. This can improve preparedness and early warning. Such results demonstrate how this new thunderstorm event catalogue, which includes all types and severities of thunderstorms unconstrained by political boundaries, can provide additional important information to enhance understanding of thunderstorm behaviour in the region. Our lightning clustering method may be useful for similar studies in other locales.
The knee connectome: A novel tool for studying spatiotemporal change in cartilage thickness
Authors: Cummings Jennifer , Gao Kenneth , Chen Vincent , Morales Martinez Alejandro , Iriondo Claudia , Caliva Francesco , Majumdar Sharmila , Pedoia Valentina 
Published: May 2023

AbstractCartilage thickness change is a well‐documented biomarker of osteoarthritis pathogenesis. However, there is still much to learn about the spatial and temporal patterns of cartilage thickness change in health and disease. In this study, we develop a novel analysis method for elucidating such patterns using a functional connectivity approach. Descriptive statistics are reported for 1186 knees that did not develop osteoarthritis during the 8 years of observation, which we present as a model of cartilage thickness change related to healthy aging. Within the control population, patterns vary greatly between male and female subjects, while body mass index (BMI) has a more moderate impact. Finally, several differences are shown between knees that did and did not develop osteoarthritis. Some but not all significance appears to be accounted for by differences in sex, BMI, and knee alignment. With this work, we present the connectome as a novel tool for studying spatiotemporal dynamics of tissue change.
Antibiotic resistance genes in the subgingival microbiome and implications for periodontitis therapy
Authors: Gager Yann , Koppe Jonas , Vogl Ina , Gabert Jörg , Jentsch Holger 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundAntibiotic resistance is emerging as a global public threat. However, it remains poorly investigated in the context of periodontal therapy. The aim of the study was to investigate the complete diversity of antibiotic resistance genes in a German population.MethodsThirty‐nine volunteers with periodontitis contributed to the present study with one to four periodontal pockets for a total of 124 subgingival samples. Samples were analyzed using shotgun metagenomics.ResultsA total of 19 antibiotic resistance genes from six antibiotic classes were detected in subgingival biofilm. Two thirds of the volunteers (n = 26/39) showed antibiotic resistance genes for at least one of the antibiotic classes used for periodontal treatment in dental practice or research: beta‐lactam, lincosamide, macrolide, nitroimidazole, and tetracycline. Macrolide was the most abundant class detected (21/39 patients).ConclusionsFindings from our study suggest a high prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes in periodontal pockets from German volunteers. We recommend the development and broader use of molecular diagnostic tests for antibiotic resistance in dental practice to ensure treatment success and to minimize antibiotic resistance.
Co‐Occurrence of Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Congenital Heart Disease: Etiologies and Management
Authors: Yang Tengyu , Fan Xinmiao , Fan Yue , Song Wenjie , Liu Xingrong , Wang Jian , Chen Xiaowei 
Published: May 2023

Objectives/HypothesisThe co‐occurrence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and congenital heart disease (CHD) is a rare condition with complex etiologies. The purpose of this study is to assess the etiologies, clinical features, and outcomes of cochlear implant (CI) in this patient population.Study DesignCase series and literature review.MethodsClinical data of children who were diagnosed with SNHL and CHD and received CIs at a tertiary hospital from 2016 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. A literature review was performed to identify patients with SNHL and CHD.FindingsOf the 382 children who underwent cochlear implantation at our center, eight (2.1%) were diagnosed with SNHL and CHD. A literature review identified 1525 patients from 254 studies; the database therefore consisted of 1533 patients. The most common genetic etiologies of co‐occurring SNHL and CHD were CHARGE syndrome (36.3%), Turner syndrome (8.4%), 22q11.2 deletion (3.0%), Noonan syndrome (2.9%), and Down syndrome (2.5%), whereas the most common non‐genetic etiologies were congenital rubella syndrome (22.9%) and SNHL after early cardiac surgery (5.5%). Most of the patients presented with congenital, bilateral, severe‐profound SNHL requiring early rehabilitation. Of the 126 children who received CIs at a median age of 2.5 years, half showed delayed speech development at last follow‐up.ConclusionsCo‐occurring SNHL and CHD is a rare condition with complex etiologies. Timely hearing intervention with long‐term follow‐up and proper timing of heart surgery is essential for these children.Level of Evidence4, case series Laryngoscope, 134:400–409, 2024
Effects of poplar intercropping systems on reducing the concentration of different forms of inorganic nitrogen in the soil profile
Authors: Xu Cheng , Wang Bo , Yang Tao , Lin Zeyang , Tian Di , Qian Zhuangzhuang , Ding Changjun , Tang Luozhong 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThis study focused on understanding how different spacing arrangements of poplar (Populus deltoides)–wheat (Triticum aestivum) agroforestry systems and the processes of the tree and wheat roots in these systems impact the elimination efficiency of inorganic nitrogen from soil. Three planting systems were tested: a monoculture wheat system (control), a widely spaced wheat–poplar system (PWW) and a narrowly spaced wheat–poplar system (PWN). Soil and root samples were collected in four different soil layers (0–20, 20–40, 40–60, and 60–100 cm) at four different sampling sites (PWN: 0, 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 m; PWW: 0, 1.5, 3.5, and 7 m from tree row, respectively). The nitrate–nitrogen (), ammonium–nitrogen (), and nitrite–nitrogen () in the soil samples were analyzed to determine the elimination efficiency of the different systems. The results indicated that the concentration and soil accumulation content reduction of inorganic nitrogen in the two intercropping systems, especially in the PWW system, were encouraging compared to those in the control system. The and concentration reductions and poplar fine root length density (FRLD) were higher at the sampling point near the poplar row, especially in surface soil (p < 0.05), but the distribution of the wheat FRLD decreased with soil depth and proximity to the poplar trunk. Furthermore, the poplar and wheat FRLD had significant positive relationships with the concentration reduction of inorganic nitrogen. In conclusion, poplar–agroforestry systems should be considered as an important method for controlling nonpoint pollution from farmland.
Energie: Schöne neue Atomkraftwelt
Authors: Ehrensberger Christian 
Published: May 2023

AbstractViele Staaten setzen auf klassische Kernenergie, um sich unabhängig zu machen und weniger CO2 zu emittieren. Neue Ansätze wie Mini‐Kraftwerke, Kraftwerke mit integrierter Transmutation und die Kernfusion könnten den Energieträger auch für Skeptiker attraktiver machen.
Blickpunkt Nachwuchs: Der Kern der Flavoenzyme
Authors: Storch Golo 
Published: May 2023

AbstractFlavinabhängige Enzyme aktivieren molekularen Sauerstoff, betreiben Photochemie und mehr. Deren molekulares Herzstück, den Heterocyclus Isoalloxazin, modifizieren Golo Storch und sein Team für die Organokatalyse.
Modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically ill score and mortality in critically ill patients with traumatic brain injury
Authors: Li Ping , Li Sikai , Liu Shanshan , Li Man 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundUnderstanding the relationship between nutrition risk at admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and the prognosis of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) may aid early recognition of high‐risk patients.MethodsWe extracted data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III and the electronic ICU Collaborative Research Databases. Using modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically ill score (mNUTRIC) within the first 24 h of ICU admission, 5153 patients were divided into three groups: low (≤1, n = 1765), moderate (2–4, n = 2574), and high (≥5, n = 814). The primary outcome was 28‐day in‐hospital mortality, and the secondary outcomes were 7‐day in‐hospital mortality, length of ICU stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation.ResultsDuring the median follow‐up time of 6.69 days, 647 deaths occurred in total. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, setting the low mNUTRIC group as a reference, the risk of 28‐day mortality was increased in the high and moderate mNUTRIC groups (hazard ratio [HR]high vs low [95% CI]: 4.21 [2.70–6.58] and 2.84 [1.95–4.14], respectively). Similarly, high and moderate mNUTRIC scores are linked to a higher risk of 7‐day mortality (PTrend < 0.001) and a longer duration of mechanical ventilation (PTrend < 0.001). The effect of mNUTRIC on mortality varied by serum glucose level (PInteraction = 0.01). Lastly, those whose mNUTRIC scores deteriorated within the first 3 days have a 1.46 times greater risk of dying compared with patients with improved mNUTRIC scores.ConclusionsNutrition risk screening by mNUTRIC score at the time of admission to the ICU may improve mortality prediction.
Soil resistivity measurements to evaluate subsoil salinity in rice production systems in the Vietnam Mekong Delta
Authors: Nguyen Van Hong , Germer Jörn , Duong Van Nha , Asch Folkard 
Published: May 2023

AbstractRice is a staple crop in the Vietnam Mekong Delta (VMD) in which more than half of Vietnam's rice is produced. However, rice production in the VMD is threatened by increasing saltwater intrusion due to land subsidence and climate change induced sea level rise. Saltwater intrusion into lowland areas through the canal system or capillary rise of saline water from near surface saline water tables may result in salt accumulation in the topsoil. Therefore, it is important to disentangle the two effects and their relative importance to implement appropriate strategies for water and salinity management for adapting rice production systems of the VMD to climate change. Here, we report on the possibility of using geoelectrical methods to evaluate the potential threat of subsoil salinity to rice production. To evaluate the level of subsoil salinity, we measured soil electrical resistivity using an ARES II to a depth of 40 m in a case study comprising five locations in the VMD. Electrical resistivity measurements were calibrated to soil types, which were identified through evaluating 1 m core sections obtained by drilling down to 40 m depth. The relationship between drilling data and soil resistivity was determined by applying clustering and principal component analysis. Resistivity values smaller than 3 Ω m were clearly identified as indicative for a saline water table. The results show a direct link between the depth of the saline water table and the proximity to the sea, but not to the rice production system (single, double, or triple cropping). This study proved for the first time the applicability of the electrical resistivity tomography method for identifying groundwater tables and evaluating subsoil salinity on an agricultural field scale in the VMD.
An Artemisia scoparia extract attenuates glucocorticoid‐induced lipolysis in adipocytes
Authors: Harvey Innocence , Stephens Jacqueline M. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractObjectivePrescription glucocorticoid (GC) use is widespread across developed countries for the treatment of several inflammatory conditions. Elevated GCs are known to promote lipolysis and metabolic disorders. An extract of Artemisia scoparia (SCO) has been shown to reduce lipolysis and promote metabolic health but has not been investigated in the context of excess GCs. Our aim was to examine the effects of SCO on GC‐induced lipolysis.MethodsMature adipocytes were pretreated with vehicle or SCO, then exposed to either the synthetic GC dexamethasone (DEX) or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα). Medium was collected and assayed for glycerol and fatty acids as measures of lipolysis. The expression of several lipolytic genes and proteins was assessed, and the involvement of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in SCO's effects was also interrogated.ResultsSCO significantly attenuated DEX‐induced lipolysis but did not interfere with DEX‐mediated changes in inflammatory gene profiles in adipocytes. SCO treatment resulted in significant reductions in monomeric phosphodiesterase (PDE) protein levels while elevating PDE multimeric complex formation, but other canonical lipolytic mediators were unaltered. SCO attenuated lipolysis even when GR expression was significantly knocked down. Finally, it was demonstrated that SCO was distinct from rosiglitazone in its antilipolytic effects.ConclusionsSCO attenuates GC‐induced lipolysis independently of GR activity. Future studies are needed to elucidate underlying mechanisms.
Enhancement in the Numerical Simulation of Textile Fabrics by Local Calculation of Stress‐Ratio‐Dependent Material Parameters
Authors: Motevalli Mehran , Balzani Daniel 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn the structural analysis of tensile membranes, the linear elastic model is still a favorable choice for design engineers due to its simplicity and straightforward interpretation of parameters. However, it is well known that such an over simplification of the complex behavior leads to inaccurate or even false response in numerical simulations. In this work, the linear elastic model together with the hyperelastic orthotropic material model proposed for geometrically nonlinear simulation of tensile surfaces is considered as the basis for a new numerical approach leading to more accurate structural simulations. The nonlinear model is able to provide a more precise description of fabric materials and becomes a competitive candidate for realistic structural analysis with only 3 material parameters. In the proposed procedure, the material parameters are estimated based on the stress ratios encountered in structural simulations. Therefore, the material properties are initially identified for each loading scenario of the load‐driven biaxial experiments. This results in a number of sets of different stress‐ratio‐dependent material parameters following the experimentally applied load ratios. In a second identification step, an iterative simulation procedure is employed in which, according to the locally obtained stress ratios in the discretized structural problem, the associated parameter values at each material point will be updated. For new stress ratios that lie between those applied experimentally, an interpolation scheme is implemented that approximates the parameter value accordingly. The iterative simulation is repeated until the total change in the updated parameters at all points becomes insignificant. By employing the proposed method, it is shown that the linear elastic model will be able to more accurately represent the complex behavior of textile membranes.
On the inclusion of plastic material behavior within the thermodynamic topology optimization
Authors: Kick Miriam , Junker Philipp 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAccounting for the real material behavior in topology optimization is essential since it determines the final optimal structure. For considering a plastic material behavior, we propose a surrogate plasticity model within the thermodynamic topology optimization to handle this complex material behavior in a resource‐efficient manner. We model physically correct plastic strains analogously to classic plasticity models but without path‐dependence and hysteresis during the course of optimization. This is verified by comparison to classic elasto‐plastic models. To demonstrate the necessity of accounting for the realistic material model, we present optimization results where the structural changes due to plastic deformations become apparent.
Extension of an In Vitro Spine Test Rig to Track Load‐dependent Biomechanics of the Lumbar Spine under Physiological Conditions
Authors: Brenzel Katharina , Blomeyer Nadja , Johnen Laura , Praster Maximilian , Röhrig Max , Topol Heiko , Brandl Christopher , Markert Bernd , Stoffel Marcus 
Published: May 2023

AbstractLow back pain is a major cause of chronic health problems and is often related to loading history. A test rig was developed at the Institute of General Mechanics, RWTH Aachen University to investigate the influence of duration and intensity of spinal loading using in vitro experiments on spinal cadavers. In this work, several extensions of this spine test rig are presented: (1) a hydraulic cylinder with a force measuring unit was added to apply axial compression; (2) a new follower load principle system was developed to achieve uniform compression of the naturally curved spine; (3) the specimen is immersed in phosphate‐buffered saline with protease inhibitors during the testing period to allow osmotic interactions on the one hand and the investigation of the influence of different loading and rest cycles on the other hand; (4) a fiber‐optic pressure measurement system was added to successfully measure the intradiscal pressure during the test series. The first results obtained using these test rig extensions and the new pressure measurement system show their functionality. The new test rig enables the investigation of a wide range of load scenarios and further measurement parameters.