bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Time of Introduction of Legumes into Cassava on the Productivity of Cassava in Cassava-Legume based Intercropping Systems
Authors: Mansaray Augustine , Babatunde Karim Abdul , Yormah T. B. R. , Conteh Abdul Rahman , Mark Yila Kewoma 
Published: April 2022

Background and Objective: The time of sowing component crops is an important management variable that can improve productivity and increase land equivalent ratio in intercropping systems. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of the time of introduction of legumes into cassava on cassava productivity.
Study Design: The experiment was a factorial randomized complete block design with three replications.
Place and Duration of Study: Field trials were conducted in 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 cropping seasons in three agro-climatic zones.
Methodology: The treatments consisted of seven cropping associations, two cassava architectures, two spatial arrangements of cassava, and two introduction times of the legume. The cassava was grown on flat land and the legumes were inserted in between the rows of the cassava. The introduction of the legumes were done in two stages, namely: simultaneous introduction in which the cassava and the legumes were planted at the same time and late introduction in which, the cassava was introduced four weeks after the cassava was planted.
Results: The result shows that values for both yield and growth parameters of cassava were higher when the legumes were introduced four weeks after the establishment of the cassava. Also, the land equivalent ratios for both times of introductions were greater than one and were higher when the legumes were introduced four weeks after the establishment of the cassava.
Conclusion: For higher productivity of cassava in a cassava-legume-based intercropping system, the introduction of the legumes into the cassava should be delayed for at least four weeks after the cassava is established.
Prevalence and Correlation of Abnormal Atherogenic Cardiovascular and Ankle Brachial Indices with Predicted 10-Year Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Central Uganda
Authors: Lumu William , Bahendeka Silver , Wesonga Ronald , Kibirige Davis , Mutebi Ronald Kasoma , Ssendikwanawa Emmanuel 
Published: April 2022

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of abnormal atherogenic cardiovascular indices, Ankle brachial index and their correlation with the predicted 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk (ASCVD) among type 2 diabetes patients in Central Uganda.
Methodology: Five hundred patients aged 40-79 were consecutively selected. Socio-demographic data was collected with a pre-tested questionnaire. Physical and laboratory measurements were performed. Atherogenic cardiovascular indices such as Atherogenic Index of Plasma (AIP), Atherogenic Coefficient and Casteri Risk Index I& II were determined. Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) was measured. We used the revised Pooled Cohorts Risk Equations to quantify the 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. The proportions and percentages of atherogenic cardiovascular indices, ABI and 10-year ASCVD risk were determined. Pearson chi-square correlation analyses were performed to determine correlation. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.
Results: The prevalence of elevated AIP was 56.45%, Casteri Risk Index I 68.4%, Casteri Risk Index II 32.6 and Atherogenic Coefficient 64.8%. Low ABI of<0.9 was found among 25.4% while 0.6% had an ABI>1.3.Atherogenic cardiovascular indices significantly correlated with 10 year ASCVD risk with Casteri Risk Index I (r=0.185, P<0.001), Casteri Risk Index II (r=0.127, P=0.004), Atherogenic Coefficient r=0.186, P<0.001). AIP was positively but not significantly correlated with ASCVD risk (r=0.053, P=0.241). ABI negatively correlated with the ASCVD risk (r=-0.225, P<0.001).
Conclusion: Prevalence of abnormal atherogenic cardiovascular indices and ABI was high. They correlated with the ASCVD risk. Atherogenic cardiovascular indices and ABI can be used to screen and manage ASCVD in our setting.
Genetic divergence and cluster analysis for bulb yield and related traits in garlic (Allium sativum) accessions at Dorze, southern Ethiopia
Authors: Tesfaye Azene 
Published: April 2022

AbstractDespite the benefits of garlic (Allium sativum L.) in human life, only a little amount of breeding effort has been done so far. The initial stages of a systemic breeding program include the collection and evaluation of genetic variability. As a result, understanding genetic divergence and cluster dispersion between accessions is a great way to improve future crops. This study was aimed to estimate the extent of genetic divergence across 28 Ethiopian garlic accessions using 11 agromorphological traits to identify parent lines for hybridization programs. The experiment was set up with a randomized complete block design with three replicates in Dorze, southern Ethiopia, during the 2017 main harvest season. The cluster analysis revealed the existence of four divergent groups, with the greatest distance among them being between Groups I and IV (D2 = 4.15), and the shortest distance being between Groups I and II (D2 = 2.93). To obtain accessions with high grain yield and early maturing, cross from Clusters I and IV and from III and IV were obtained. Parent material should be produced among clusters rather than within clusters for future hybridization breeding efforts.
Asymmetric Construction of All‐Carbon Quaternary Stereocenters via Organocatalytic α‐Hydroxymethylation of Malonic Diesters Using Aqueous Formaldehyde
Authors: Kanemitsu Takuya , Ozasa Eisuke , Murase Yuria , Sakaue Susumu , Miyazaki Michiko , Nagata Kazuhiro , Itoh Takashi 
Published: April 2022

AbstractAn organocatalyzed α‐hydroxymethylation of α‐monoalkyl malonic diesters using 37% aqueous formaldehyde (formalin) as a one‐carbon electrophilic unit to generate all‐carbon substituted quaternary stereocenters has been developed. In the course of our exploration of catalytic methodologies, a metal‐free cooperative catalytic approach with cinchonidine and squaramide co‐catalysts was found to improve both reactivity and enantioselectivity in this transformation. Our organocatalytic method represents the first example of an enantioselective α‐hydroxymethylation of a malonic diester. The enantioenriched α‐hydroxymethyl products could be recrystallized with high recovery, yielding optically pure materials. Moreover, to demonstrate the utility of this methodology, the all‐carbon substituted α‐quaternary stereogenic malonate was converted to both (S)‐ and (R)‐4,4‐disubstituted oxazolidin‐2‐ones without loss of optical purity.
Atomically Dispersed Dual‐Metal Site Catalysts for Enhanced CO2 Reduction: Mechanistic Insight into Active Site Structures
Authors: Li Yi , Shan Weitao , Zachman Michael J. , Wang Maoyu , Hwang Sooyeon , Tabassum Hassina , Yang Juan , Yang Xiaoxuan , Karakalos Stavros , Feng Zhenxing , Wang Guofeng , Wu Gang 
Published: April 2022

AbstractCarbon‐supported nitrogen‐coordinated single‐metal site catalysts (i.e., M−N−C, M: Fe, Co, or Ni) are active for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) to CO. Further improving their intrinsic activity and selectivity by tuning their N−M bond structures and coordination is limited. Herein, we expand the coordination environments of M−N−C catalysts by designing dual‐metal active sites. The Ni‐Fe catalyst exhibited the most efficient CO2RR activity and promising stability compared to other combinations. Advanced structural characterization and theoretical prediction suggest that the most active N‐coordinated dual‐metal site configurations are 2N‐bridged (Fe‐Ni)N6, in which FeN4 and NiN4 moieties are shared with two N atoms. Two metals (i.e., Fe and Ni) in the dual‐metal site likely generate a synergy to enable more optimal *COOH adsorption and *CO desorption than single‐metal sites (FeN4 or NiN4) with improved intrinsic catalytic activity and selectivity.
Gold Nanostars: Synthesis, Optical and SERS Analytical Properties
Authors: Becerril‐Castro I. Brian , Calderon Irene , Pazos‐Perez Nicolas , Guerrini Luca , Schulz Florian , Feliu Neus , Chakraborty Indranath , Giannini Vincenzo , Parak Wolfgang J. , Alvarez‐Puebla Ramon A. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractInvited for this month′s cover are the collaborating groups of Vincenzo Giannini, at the CSIC, Spain, and the Technology Innovation Institute, Abu Dhabi, Wolfgang J. Parak, at the Universitat Hamburg, Germany and Ramon A. Alvarez‐Puebla at ICREA and the Universitat Rovira i Virgili, both in Spain. The cover picture shows the capability of the gold nanostars to optically detect and classify, through SERS, events in very complex samples as required, for example, in liquid biopsies where the tumoral circulating cells hide in the pool of normal cells More information can be found in the Review by V. Giannini, W. J. Parak, R. A. Alvarez‐Puebla and co‐workers.
Fabrication of novel PNIPAM@GO microspheres loaded with dual drugs featuring on‐demand drug release capability
Authors: Jiang Yulin , Wang Jing , Wang Juehan , Zhuang Yi , Qi Lin , Feng Ganjun , Zhang Li 
Published: April 2022

AbstractIn this research, we successfully prepared a new kind of core‐shell microspheres (PNIPAM@GO) composed of hydrophilic poly (N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) nanoparticles as the core and amphiphilic graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets as the shell through hydrogen bonding and self‐assembly in organic solvent. The temperature‐sensitive behavior of the PNIPAM core made its average size decrease from 888.3 nm to 630.3 nm with temperature increasing from 25°C to 50°C. And the GO shell could give PNIPAM@GO microspheres remarkable photothermal effects in water under NIR laser irradiation (808 nm) for 20 min. Further, doxorubicin (DOX) and 5‐fluorouracil (5‐FU) were loaded into the core and the shell with loading efficiency of 81% and 11%, respectively. By turning on/off NIR irradiation, the PNIPAM@GO microspheres could respond to the heat generated from GO shell by volume shrinkage, thus on‐demand controlling the drug release. The in vitro biological assessment verified that the samples prepared here were biocompatible. The developed platform shows a potential application in chemo‐photothermal therapy of cancers in the future.
Synthesis of a linear controller for a control system with interval parameters on a base of D‐partition in vertices of a coefficient's polyhedron of characteristic polynomial
Authors: Gayvoronskiy Sergey An , Ezangina Tatiana 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe article deals with the technique developed for the parametric design of a robust controller which ensures the desired robust quality indicators in the system with interval parameters. This technique is based on the construction of the D‐partition in the space of controller parameters at vertices of the coefficient polyhedron of a characteristic polynomial. Grounds for this are the fact that the interval system has its minimum degree of stability and maximum degree of oscillation at certain vertices of the specified polyhedron. To determine the minimum sets of those vertices, a new technique has been developed. The developed technique is based on inequalities obtained for outlet angles of the edge branches coming out from system poles, which determine the root indices of robust quality. Applying the developed technique for the vertex D‐partition, the design of the PI controller of the stabilization system for a tethered underwater vehicle has been carried out. The results of the design confirm the efficiency of the developed approach.
Electrolyte Measures to Prevent Polysulfide Shuttle in Lithium‐Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Di Donato Graziano , Ates Tugce , Adenusi Henry , Varzi Alberto , Navarra Maria Assunta , Passerini Stefano 
Published: April 2022

AbstractLithium‐sulfur (Li−S) batteries are recognized as one of the most promising technologies with the potential to become the next‐generation batteries. However, to ensure Li−S batteries reach commercialization, complex challenges remain, among which the tailoring of an appropriate electrolyte is the most important. This review discusses the role of electrolytes in Li−S batteries, focusing on the main issues and solutions for the shuttle mechanism of polysulfides and the instability of the interface with lithium metal. Herein, we present a background on Li−S chemistry followed by the state‐of‐the‐art electrolytes highlighting the different strategies undertaken with liquid and solid electrolytes.
Fe‐doped MOF‐derived N‐rich porous carbon nanoframe for H2S cataluminescence sensing
Authors: Zhou Qin , Yan Shuguang , Zhang Lichun 
Published: April 2022

AbstractMetal‐doped porous carbon matrix composites are considered as outstanding H2S cataluminescence sensing materials for their good sulfur tolerance and high cataluminescence activity. In this work, an Fe‐doped MOF‐derived N‐rich porous carbon nanoframe was successfully fabricated using the pyrolysis of Fe‐doped ZIF‐8 in an Ar atmosphere at a temperature of 900°C, and used for H2S cataluminescence sensing. Along with zinc volatilization, the obtained porous carbon nanoframe not only had high specific surface area and abundant voids, but also had well dispersed Fe species doped in the skeleton. Compared with Fe2O3/ZnO composites derived from the same precursor but different pyrolysis terms, this as‐prepared Fe‐doped N‐rich porous carbon presented a three times increase in the cataluminescence intensity towards H2S, attributed to the porous carbon skeleton that is indispensable for dispersing catalytic active sites and providing more absorptive surface and voids. Comparably, this proposed sensor demonstrated high sensitivity and good selectivity, with the detection range of 1.57–19.58 μg·ml−1 and detection limit of 0.13 μg·ml−1 towards H2S. This work may provide a new pathway for preparing catalysts for cataluminescence sensing with better metal distribution, higher specific surface area, and richer pores than ever before.
Development of a transient inline spiking system for evaluating virus clearance in continuous bioprocessing—Proof of concept for virus filtration
Authors: Malakian Anna , Jung Seon Yeop , Afzal Mohammad A. , Carbrello Christina , Giglia Sal , Johnson Matthew , Miller Corinne , Rayfield William , Boenitz Dave , Cetlin David , Zydney Andrew L. 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe development of continuous/connected bioprocesses requires new approaches for viral clearance validation, both for specific unit operations and for the overall process. In this study, we have developed a transient inline spiking system that can be used to evaluate virus clearance at distinct time points during prolonged operation of continuous bioprocesses. The proof of concept for this system was demonstrated by evaluating the viral clearance for a virus filtration step, both with and without a prefilter upstream of the virus filter. The residence time distribution was evaluated using a previously identified noninteracting fluorescent tracer, while viral clearance was evaluated from measurements of the virus titer in samples obtained downstream of the virus filter. The measured log reduction values (LRV) for ϕX174, minute virus of mice, xenotropic murine leukemia virus, and a noninfectious mock virus particle were all within 0.5 log of those obtained using a traditional batch virus challenge for both model and real‐world process streams (LRV between 2.2 and 3.4 for ϕX174 using a single layer of virus filter). The results demonstrate the effectiveness of transient inline spiking to validate the virus clearance capabilities in continuous bioprocessing, an essential element for the adoption of these processes for products made using mammalian cell lines.
Marine biological macromolecules as matrix material for biosensor fabrication
Authors: Bedi Namita , Srivastava Dhaval K. , Srivastava Arti , Mahapatra Supratim , Dkhar Daphika S. , Chandra Pranjal , Srivastava Ashutosh 
Published: April 2022

AbstractThe ocean covers two‐third of our planet and has great biological heterogeneity. Marine organisms like algae, vertebrates, invertebrates, and microbes are known to provide many natural products with biological activities as well as potential sources of biomaterials for therapeutic, biomedical, biosensors, and climate stabilization. Over the years, the field of biosensors has gained huge attention due to their extraordinary ability to provide early disease diagnosis, rapid detection of various molecules and substances along with long‐term monitoring. This review aims to focus on the properties and employment of various biomaterials (carbohydrate polymers, proteins, polyacids, etc.) of marine origins such as alginate, chitin, chitosan, fucoidan, carrageenan, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, collagen, marine pigments, marine nanoparticles, hydroxyapatite, biosilica, lectins, and marine whole cell in the design and development of biosensors. Furthermore, this review also covers the source of such marine biomaterials and their promising evolution in the fabrication of biosensors that are potent to be employed in the biomedical, environmental science, and agricultural sciences domains. The use of such fabricated biosensors harnesses the system with excellent specificity, selectivity, biocompatibility, thermal stability, and minimal cost advantages.
Quality of life and mood assessment in conservatively treated cavernous malformation‐related epilepsy
Authors: Rauschenbach Laurèl , Bartsch Pauline , Santos Alejandro N. , Lenkeit Annika , Darkwah Oppong Marvin , Wrede Karsten H. , Jabbarli Ramazan , Chmielewski Witold X. , Schmidt Börge , Quesada Carlos M. , Forsting Michael , Sure Ulrich , Dammann Philipp 
Published: April 2022

AbstractBackgroundTo estimate the quality of life, anxiety, depression, and illness perception in patients with medically treated cerebral cavernous malformation (CCM) and associated epilepsy.MethodsNonsurgically treated patients with CCM‐related epilepsy (CRE) were included. Demographic, radiographic, and clinical features were assessed. All participants received established questionnaires (short‐form 36 health survey, SF‐36; hospital anxiety and depression score, HADS‐A/D; visual analogue scale score, VAS) assessing the functional and psychosocial burden of disease. To some extent, calculated values were compared with reference values from population‐based studies. Test results were related to seizure control.ResultsA total of 37 patients were included. Mean age was 45.8 ± 14.4 years, and 54.1% were female. Diagnosis of CRE was significantly associated with attenuated quality of life and increased level of anxiety, affecting physical and psychosocial dimensions. The assessment of illness perception identified considerable burden. HADS was significantly associated with VAS and SF‐36 component scores. Efficacy of antiepileptic medication had no restoring impact on quality of life, anxiety, depression, or illness perception.ConclusionsCRE negatively influences quality of life and mood, independent of seizure control due to antiepileptic medication. Screening for functional and psychosocial deficits in clinical practice might be useful for assessing individual burden and allocating surgical or drug treatment.
Functions and clinical significance of mechanical tumor microenvironment: cancer cell sensing, mechanobiology and metastasis
Authors: Zhou Hanying , Wang Meng , Zhang Yixi , Su Qingqing , Xie Zhengxin , Chen Xiangyan , Yan Ran , Li Ping , Li Tingting , Qin Xiang , Yang Hong , Wu Chunhui , You Fengming , Li Shun , Liu Yiyao 
Published: April 2022

AbstractDynamic and heterogeneous interaction between tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment fuels the occurrence, progression, invasion, and metastasis of solid tumors. In this process, the tumor microenvironment (TME) fractures cellular and matrix architecture normality through biochemical and mechanical means, abetting tumorigenesis and treatment resistance. Tumor cells sense and respond to the strength, direction, and duration of mechanical cues in the TME by various mechanotransduction pathways. However, far less understood is the comprehensive perspective of the functions and mechanisms of mechanotransduction. Due to the great therapeutic difficulties brought by the mechanical changes in the TME, emerging studies have focused on targeting the adverse mechanical factors in the TME to attenuate disease rather than conventionally targeting tumor cells themselves, which has been proven to be a potential therapeutic approach. In this review, we discussed the origins and roles of mechanical factors in the TME, cell sensing, mechano‐biological coupling and signal transduction, in vitro construction of the tumor mechanical microenvironment, applications and clinical significance in the TME.
Status and perspectives of hierarchical porous carbon materials in terms of high‐performance lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Xiang Yinyu , Lu Liqiang , Kottapalli Ajay Giri Prakash , Pei Yutao 
Published: April 2022

AbstractLithium–sulfur (Li–S) batteries, although a promising candidate of next‐generation energy storage devices, are hindered by some bottlenecks in their roadmap toward commercialization. The key challenges include solving the issues such as low utilization of active materials, poor cyclic stability, poor rate performance, and unsatisfactory Coulombic efficiency due to the inherent poor electrical and ionic conductivity of sulfur and its discharged products (e.g., Li2S2 and Li2S), dissolution and migration of polysulfide ions in the electrolyte, unstable solid electrolyte interphase and dendritic growth on anodes, and volume change in both cathodes and anodes. Owing to the high specific surface area, pore volume, low density, good chemical stability, and particularly multimodal pore sizes, hierarchical porous carbon (HPC) materials have received considerable attention for circumventing the above problems in Li–S batteries. Herein, recent progress made in the synthetic methods and deployment of HPC materials for various components including sulfur cathodes, separators and interlayers, and lithium anodes in Li–S batteries is presented and summarized. More importantly, the correlation between the structures (pore volume, specific surface area, degree of pores, and heteroatom‐doping) of HPC and the electrochemical performances of Li–S batteries is elaborated. Finally, a discussion on the challenges and future perspectives associated with HPCs for Li–S batteries is provided.