bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Popular press portrayal of issues surrounding free‐roaming domestic cats Felis catus
Authors: Gow Elizabeth A. , Burant Joseph B. , Sutton Alex O. , Freeman Nikole E. , Grahame Elora R. M. , Fuirst Matthew , Sorensen Marjorie C. , Knight Samantha M. , Clyde Hannah E. , Quarrell Nathaniel J. , Wilcox Alana A. E. , Chicalo Roxan , Van Drunen Stephen G. , Shiffman David S.
Published: October 2021

Domestic cats Felis catus have a complex and contentious history. They fill multiple societal roles (e.g. as pest controllers and companion animals), which has led to a variety of animal welfare, conservation, and human health concerns. Popular press articles play an important role in how people learn about key issues surrounding cats, but they may present some issues more frequently than other issues.

We conducted a global media content analysis of 796 articles in the English‐language media from 1990 to 2018 on issues related to free‐roaming cats, such as their environmental impacts, the threats and welfare issues cats face, and how they are managed. We aimed to determine whether non‐experts learning about the issues around free‐roaming cats exclusively from the popular press would be exposed to multiple stakeholder views or opinions.

Over 95% of articles analysed were from North America. Most of the people interviewed in the popular press were from non‐governmental organizations, mainly from cat welfare or cat rights groups (which are often focused on only one side of the issue). Researchers, shelter organizations, veterinarians, and groups that have different opinions than cat rights or welfare organizations on how to resolve issues surrounding free‐roaming cats were rarely interviewed by the popular press. Most articles focused on cat welfare issues and the management strategies of euthanasia or trap–neuter–release (TNR), whereas less than one‐third of the articles acknowledged that cats have any impact on wildlife or the broader environment.

We found that the popular press often presented an oversimplified picture of issues related to free‐roaming cats and provided unbalanced coverage. We also show evidence of framing by the popular press, including mainly presenting the viewpoints and perspectives from animal welfare and rights groups, focusing on TNR or euthanasia as the only viable cat management strategies when many alternatives exist and often have greater support from experts, and discussing the impacts of cats on birds and small mammals but not reptiles or amphibians.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Turning things around: A discussion of values, practices, and action in the context of social‐ecological change
Authors: Maller Cecily
Published: October 2021

This special feature concerns understanding human‐nature relations through the lens of values to comprehend how values of the natural world connect with wider processes of change, action and transformation in social‐ecological systems.

The relationships between values and action have preoccupied several disciplines and multiple discourses concerned with implementing change, including sustainability and health, and conservation.

Focusing on the conceptual underpinnings of how values, action and change are generally understood, this paper proposes an alternate view informed by more‐than‐human thinking and theories of social practices. In doing so, it aims to closely scrutinise the relationship between values and actions in the context of creating transformative change.

In highlighting this relationship and presenting some different ways to understand it, the paper aims to contribute to deepening understanding of how to relate to, value and act for nature and how this might be encouraged.

One of the most common pathways assumed to generate action is based on the idea that action is driven by values, and that in order to change action, we therefore need to change values. The paper questions the assumed relationship between values and actions and its direction, and instead posits that beginning with actions is a more productive place to start.

To work through these ideas, I introduce more‐than‐human theories, focusing on theories of social practice, to discuss how these theories can change how values and actions are conceptualised, how the relationships between them can be understood, and what these ideas can mean for rethinking how to achieve social‐ecological change.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Chitosan‐PVC conjugates/metal nanoparticles for biomedical applications
Authors: Abdel‐Monem Reham A. , Rabie Samira T. , El‐Liethy Mohamed Azab , Hemdan Bahaa A. , El‐Nazer Hossam A. , Gaballah Samir T.
Published: October 2021

Four chitosan‐poly(vinyl chloride), Cs‐PVC, conjugates were synthesized by primarily reacting amino‐PVC with chloroacetyl chloride to give 2‐chloro‐N‐(2‐aminoethyl) acetamide‐functionalized PVC (PVC‐AcCl) followed by conjugation with chitosan to yield a derivative of acetamide‐functionalized PVC chitosan (Cs‐AcPVC). On the other hand, a one‐pot reaction between PVC‐chloroacetyl chloride, benzimodazole, and chitosan produced benzimodazole‐functionalized PVC conjugates (PVC1). The above one‐pot reaction was repeated with incorporating silver nanoparticles, AgNPs, via in situ reduction of Ag salt to give PVC2 whereas silver treated titanium dioxide (Ag/TiO2)NPs was simply mixed with PVC1 to afford PVC3. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR spectroscopic analyses of all the synthesized materials were studied. Morphological investigation such as scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and thermal gravimetric analysis were also carried out. The antibacterial activities of the synthesized conjugates were investigated against two Gram‐negative (Escherichia coli, and Salmonella typhimurium) and two Gram‐positive (Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes) bacterial strains. The antibacterial assay showed that all PVC‐Cs conjugates exhibited excellent bacterial inhibition (five‐log10 reduction) at a concentration of 500 mg/L after 30 min and almost complete inhibition after 120 min. Minimum inhibition concentration investigation showed that conjugates PVC‐chloroacetyl chitosan and PVC3 were more potent than PVC1 and PVC2 against both Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive strains at 250 mg/L. These results suggested that all four polymeric conjugates might afford a revolutionary antibacterial polymeric material that can be useful in many applications such as water sanitization, food packaging, and biomedical devices.
Anatomic patterns of relapse and progression following treatment with 131I‐MIBG in relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma
Authors: Fishel Ben Kenan Rotem , Polishchuk Alexei L. , Hawkins Randall A. , Braunstein Steve E. , Matthay Katherine K. , DuBois Steven G. , Haas‐Kogan Daphne A.
Published: October 2021

Objectives

Patients with metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG)‐avid relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma after initial therapy may exhibit transient responses to salvage treatment with iodine‐131 metaiodobenzylguanidine (131I‐MIBG). It is unclear whether disease progression following 131I‐MIBG treatment occurs in previously involved versus new anatomic sites of disease. Understanding this pattern of relapse will inform the use of consolidation therapy following 131I‐MIBG administration.

Methods

Patients with relapsed or refractory metastatic MIBG‐avid neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroblastoma, who received single‐agent 131I‐MIBG, had stable or responding disease 6–8 weeks following 131I‐MIBG, but subsequently experienced disease progression were included. MIBG scans were reviewed to establish anatomic and temporal evolution of MIBG‐avid disease.

Results

A total of 84 MIBG‐avid metastatic sites were identified immediately prior to MIBG therapy in a cohort of 12 patients. At first progression, a total of 101 MIBG‐avid sites were identified, of which 69 (68%) overlapped with pre‐treatment disease sites, while 32 (32%) represented anatomically new disease areas. Eight of 12 patients had one or more new MIBG‐avid sites at first progression. Of the 69 involved sites at progression that overlapped with pre‐treatment disease, 11 represented relapsed sites that had cleared following MIBG therapy, two were persistent but increasingly MIBG‐avid, and 56 were stably persistent.

Conclusions

Previously involved anatomic disease sites predominate at disease progression following 131I‐MIBG treatment. Nevertheless, the majority of patients progressed in at least one new anatomic disease site. This suggests that consolidation focal therapies targeting residual disease sites may be of limited benefit in preventing systemic disease progression following 131I‐MIBG treatment of relapsed or refractory neuroblastoma.
Prediction of low‐velocity impact dent for composite laminates based on an anisotropic elastoplastic damage model
Authors: Ouyang Tian , Bao Rui , Tan Riming , Sun Wei
Published: October 2021

In this paper, a three‐dimensional finite element (FE) model based on an anisotropic elastoplastic damage model is established to simulate the impact dent of composite laminates subjected to low velocity impact (LVI) by implementing a user‐defined subroutine VUMAT in Abaqus/Explicit. To validate the FE model, numerical results are compared with the experimental data in terms of impact dent depth, contact force‐time response, and projected delamination shape. The simulation shows that considering tension‐compression asymmetry in the elastoplastic constitutive relation has a significant influence on the prediction of dent depth. Besides, it is found that before the knee point, the formation of the impact dent is mainly related to matrix plasticity and damage; while after the knee point, the significant increase of dent depth is caused by fiber breakage on the impact side. The increase of bending stiffness for thicker laminates can decrease the overall deflection, which leads to less fiber breakage and less visible dent.
Work stress and turnover intention among Chinese rural school principals: A mediated moderation study
Authors: Shen Youtian , Li Xiaoshan , Dong Shenghong , Fu Jianping
Published: October 2021

To test the impact of work stress on Chinese rural school principal turnover intention, 490 rural school principals in the mainland of China were asked to participate in a survey. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that work stress had a positive relation with turnover intention, while achievement motivation and place attachment had negative relations. Additionally, place attachment was a protective factor that could reduce the negative effect of work stress on job satisfaction or the positive effect of work stress on turnover intention. Additionally, the moderating effects of place attachment were mediated by job satisfaction. These findings can enrich our understanding of the relation between work stress and school principal turnover behavior and can provide some suggestions for reducing school principal turnover intention in developing countries such as the mainland of China.
Trends in termination of pregnancy for neural tube defects in England and Wales from 2007 to 2017: Observational prospective study
Authors: Allen Ruth , James Andrew , Sankaran Srividhya
Published: October 2021

Background/Objective

Neural tube defects (NTDs) affect approximately 300,000 pregnancies worldwide each year. Many of these pregnancies are lost to miscarriage or termination of pregnancy. Here, we have analysed the trends of termination of pregnancy for NTDs from the national data for England and Wales.

Methods

Data for all terminations for residents in England and Wales for the period of 2007–2017 were obtained through Health and Social Act 4 (HSA4) submitted to the Department of Health. Using the ICD‐10 codes, terminations for NTDs were selected for analysis. The statistical test Chi‐squared was performed using SPSS‐v25, where appropriate.

Results

In the 11‐year period, there were 28,866 terminations under Ground E; of which 4425 (15.33%) had a diagnosis of NTD. The number of NTD cases increased over the time period from 308 in 2007 to 517 in 2017 (67.9%). Significant results were also seen when analysing the relationship between ethnicity, gestation and terminations where an NTD was diagnosed.

Conclusion

With the availability of routine prenatal ultrasound, the termination for NTDs is on the rise in England and Wales, in spite of the health advice of periconceptional folic acid. This study demonstrates the need for implementation of further programmes to increase public health awareness of folic supplementation and government initiation of fortification to reduce NTDs.
Release of tepary bean TARS‐Tep 23 germplasm with broad abiotic stress tolerance and rust and common bacterial blight resistance
Authors: Porch Timothy , Barrera Santos , Berny Mier y Teran Jorge C. , Díaz‐Ramírez Jairo , Pastor‐Corrales Marcial , Gepts Paul , Urrea Carlos A. , Rosas Juan Carlos
Published: October 2021

Tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius A. Gray) is a drought and high ambient temperature tolerant crop native to the Sonoran Desert, the hottest and driest region in the United States and Mexico. Although tepary bean is an orphan crop with little current commercial production, there was a brief period of larger scale production in the early 1900s in California. Tepary bean has great potential as a novel crop in a warmer world climate and can be introduced as an alternative pulse crop in hot and/or dry regions worldwide. TARS‐Tep 23 (Reg. no. GP‐309, PI 698457) is an improved tepary bean germplasm with wide‐ranging adaptation to tropical and temperate regions experiencing high temperature and drought stress conditions, with broad resistance to bean rust and with resistance to common bacterial blight. It has a flat, mottled black seed type with good seed size, a Type III plant habit, and a short crop cycle of 55–61 d in the environments tested. This germplasm was developed cooperatively by the USDA‐ARS, Zamorano University, the University of California–Davis, and the University of Nebraska. The use of this improved germplasm by farmers in production zones affected by abiotic and biotic stresses, or by breeding programs, can potentially increase seed yields of this climate‐resilient crop.
Recent progress in lactam‐based polymer semiconductors for organic electronic devices
Authors: Park Kwang Hun , Go Ji‐Young , Lim Bogyu , Noh Yong‐Young
Published: October 2021

Numerous polymer semiconductor materials with alternating electron donor–electron acceptor (D–A) structures have attracted immense attention because they exhibit excellent semiconductor performance and solution processability. These materials can be used for the fabrication of various lightweight and flexible electronic devices. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the structural features and important properties of lactams whose performance can be enhanced by introducing an acceptor in the design of D–A‐type polymer semiconductor materials. The focus is on polymer semiconductor materials with lactams in their structures, such as diketopyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole, naphthalene diimide, isoindigo, 2,2‐bithiophene‐3,3‐dicarboximide, and thieno[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐4,6‐dione. The recent advances made in the field in the last 3 years are discussed. In addition, the application of polymers for the fabrication of organic electronic devices and the progress in the field are discussed.
Polymeric materials for solar water purification
Authors: Lei Chuxin , Guo Youhong , Guan Weixin , Yu Guihua
Published: October 2021

Solar‐based desalination or water purification is regarded as one of the promising solutions to global water scarcity as the only energy input is abundant and sustainable solar light. Interfacial solar vapor generation (SVG), which converts natural sunlight into clean water vapor, has attracted extensive research interests due to its high‐energy utilization efficiency and simple implementation. With tunable molecular structures and tailorable physical properties, polymers have demonstrated great potential as candidate materials for solar evaporators. In this review, we summarize the recent progress on polymer materials for solar‐powered water purification. First, we present functional polymers with highly tunable molecular composition and morphology as high‐efficiency solar absorbers. Next, the recent development of various polymeric materials and structural engineering strategies for adequate water supply and efficient thermal management are discussed, along with their excellent desalination and purification performance. Last, we outline the challenges and future directions on the further development of polymer materials for solar water purification technologies.
Psychiatric symptoms mediate the effect of resilience on health‐related quality of life in patients with breast cancer: Longitudinal examination
Authors: Lee Sungwon , Jung Saim , Jung Sanghyup , Moon Jung Yoon , Oh Gyu Han , Yeom Chan‐Woo , Son Kyung‐Lak , Lee Kwang‐Min , Kim Won‐Hyoung , Jung Dooyoung , Kim Tae‐Yong , Im Seock‐Ah , Lee Kyung‐Hun , Shim Eun‐Jung , Hahm Bong‐Jin
Published: October 2021

Objective

Patients with breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy are at increased risk of poor health‐related quality of life (HRQOL). This study examined clinical caseness on depression and anxiety mediate the relationship between resilience and HRQOL in patients with breast cancer.

Methods

A total of 193 patients with breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy completed questionnaires including the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Breast before the first session (T0), before the start of the last session (T1), and 6 months after the end (T2) of chemotherapy. Mediation analyses using a bootstrapping method was performed.

Results

The indirect effect (IE) through T1 depression was significant (IE through depression = 0.043, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.002–0.090]), while IE through T1 anxiety was not significant (IE through anxiety = 0.037, 95% CI [−0.010–0.097]) in the association between T0 resilience and T2 HRQOL.

Conclusions

Clinical caseness on HADS depression subscale during chemotherapy was a mediating factor of the relationship between resilience before chemotherapy and HRQOL after chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Depression during chemotherapy in patients with breast cancer may be a target symptom of screening and intervention to maintain the HRQOL after chemotherapy. Also, patients with low resilience are more likely to develop depression during chemotherapy, and clinicians should carefully monitor whether depression occurs in these patients with low resilience.
Efficient trapping of RONS in gelatin and physiological solutions
Authors: Kutasi Kinga , Tombácz Etelka
Published: October 2021

The work aims to determine the long‐term stability of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS)‐enriched gelatin solutions and of plasma‐activated physiological solutions produced with an atmospheric pressure surface‐wave microwave discharge. It is demonstrated that the , and concentrations are quasi‐stable during 1 month of storage in the 0.5%–2% gelatin solutions prepared with plasma‐activated water, Ringer's (PAR), and phosphate‐buffered saline (PAPBS) solutions, respectively, even at acidic pH 4.5–5.5 conditions. The trapping of RONS is attributed to the protein network developed with gelation. The salt content of the physiological solutions influences the RONS creation and deposition, while stabilizes the 6.5 and 7.2 pH, which ensures the stability of the PAR and PAPBS, respectively, for months.
The Influence of the Level of Load in the Mixer on the Processability and Mechanical Properties of the Solid Composite Propellant
Authors: da Cunha Bruno Cesar Christo , Rocco José Atílio Fritz Fidel
Published: October 2021

The present study evaluated the influence of the level of load in the mixer on the processability and mechanical properties of the solid composite propellant. The mixtures were processed with the same composition and process conditions but using different percentages of levels of the maximum mixing capacity of the mixer. Both vertical and horizontal types of mixers were used to verify the existence of an optimal level of operation and whether it would depend on the type of mixer adopted. Levels of 50 %, 60 %, 70 %, 80 %, and 90 % were adopted in each macerator. In terms of processability, the 70 % level for the horizontal macerator and the 60 % level for the vertical macerator was the most suitable ones. Regarding the mechanical properties, the optimal operating level to obtain propellants with better properties would be 60–70 % in the horizontal macerator and 70 % in the vertical macerator. The results were interesting as they demonstrated the influence of the level adopted on the final grain. In addition, it is necessary to avoid using the mixers close to their maximum capacity. Therefore, the mixer level should be considered in any rocket motor casting project, both in single‐batch and multi‐batch processes.
Association of germline rare pathogenic mutations in guideline‐recommended genes with prostate cancer progression: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Shi Zhuqing , Lu Lucy , Resurreccion William Kyle , Yang Wancai , Wei Jun , Wang Qiang , Engelmann Valentina , Zheng Siqun Lilly , Cooney Kathleen A. , Isaacs William B. , Helfand Brian T. , Lu Jim , Xu Jianfeng
Published: October 2021

Background

Germline mutations in several genes, mainly DNA repair genes, have been associated with prostate cancer (PCa) progression. However, primarily due to the rarity of mutations, statistical evidence for these associations is not consistently established. The objective of this study is to synthesize evidence from multiple studies using a meta‐analysis.

Methods

Genes analyzed were chosen based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommendations (10 genes) and a commonly reported gene (NBN). PCa progression in this analysis was defined as either having metastases or PCa‐specific mortality. We searched PubMed for papers published before April 26, 2021, using selected keywords. Pooled odds ratio (OR) was estimated in all races and Caucasians‐only using both fixed‐ and random‐effect models.

Results

The search identified 1028 papers and an additional five from a manual review of references. After a manual process that excluded noneligible studies, 11 papers remained, including a total of 3944 progressors and 20,054 nonprogressors. Combining results from these eligible studies, mutation carrier rates were significantly higher in progressors than nonprogressors for NBN, BRCA2, ATM (under both fixed‐ and random‐effect models), for CHEK2 (under fixed‐effect model only), and for PALB2 (under random‐effect model only), p < 0.05. Pooled OR (95% confidence interval) was 6.38 (2.25–18.05), 3.41 (2.31; 5.03), 1.93 (1.17–3.20), and 1.53 (1.00–2.33) for NBN, BRCA2, ATM, and CHEK2, respectively, under fixed‐effect model and 2.63 (1.12–6.13) for PALB2 under random‐effect model. No significant association was found for the six remaining genes. Certainty of evidence was low for many genes due primarily to the limited number of eligible studies and mutation carriers.

Conclusions

Statistical evidence for five genes was obtained in this first meta‐analysis of germline mutations and PCa progression. While these results may help urologists and genetic counselors interpret germline testing results for PCa progression, more original studies are needed.
Histologically benign PI‐RADS 4 and 5 lesions contain cancer‐associated epigenetic alterations
Authors: Şeref Ceren , Acar Ömer , Kılıç Mert , Vural Metin , Sağlıcan Yeşim , Saraç Hilal , Coşkun Bilgen , İnce Ümit , Esen Tarık , Lack Nathan A.
Published: October 2021

Background

The detection rate of clinically significant prostate cancer has improved with the use of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). Yet, even with MRI‐guided biopsy 15%–35% of high‐risk lesions (Prostate Imaging‐Reporting and Data System [PI‐RADS] 4 and 5) are histologically benign. It is unclear if these false positives are due to diagnostic/sampling errors or pathophysiological alterations. To better understand this, we tested histologically benign PI‐RAD 4 and 5 lesions for common malignant epigenetic alterations.

Materials and Methods

MRI‐guided in‐bore biopsy samples were collected from 45 patients with PI‐RADS 4 (n = 31) or 5 (n = 14) lesions. Patients had a median clinical follow‐up of 3.8 years. High‐risk mpMRI patients were grouped based on their histology into biopsy positive for tumor (BPT; n = 28) or biopsy negative for tumor (BNT; n = 17). From these biopsy samples, DNA methylation of well‐known tumor suppressor genes (APC, GSTP1, and RARβ2) was quantified.

Results

Similar to previous work we observed high rates of promoter methylation at GSTP1 (92.7%), RARβ2 (57.3%), and APC (37.8%) in malignant BPT samples but no methylation in benign TURP chips. Interestingly, similar to the malignant samples the BNT biopsies also had increased methylation at the promoter of GSTP1 (78.8%) and RARβ2 (34.6%). However, despite these epigenetic alterations none of these BNT patients developed prostate cancer, and those who underwent repeat mpMRI (n = 8) demonstrated either radiological regression or stability.

Conclusions

Histologically benign PI‐RADS 4 and 5 lesions harbor prostate cancer‐associated epigenetic alterations.
Urine volume to hydration volume ratio is associated with pharmacokinetics of high‐dose methotrexate in patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma
Authors: Isono Tetsuichiro , Hira Daiki , Morikochi Aya , Fukami Tadateru , Ueshima Satoshi , Nozaki Kazuhiko , Terada Tomohiro , Morita Shin‐ya
Published: October 2021

High‐dose methotrexate (HD‐MTX)‐based chemotherapy is the first‐line treatment for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL), but is associated with severe adverse effects, including myelosuppression and renal impairment. MTX is primarily excreted by the kidneys. Renal function calculated using serum creatinine (Scr) derived from muscle may be overestimated in elderly PCNSL patients. Therefore, we aimed to construct a population pharmacokinetic model in PCNSL patients and explore the factors associated with MTX clearance. Sixteen PCNSL patients (median age, 66 years) treated with HD‐MTX were included, and serum MTX concentrations were measured at 193 points in 49 courses. A population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using NONMEM. A Monte Carlo simulation was conducted, in which serum MTX concentrations were stratified into three groups of creatine clearance (Ccr) (50, 75, and 100 ml/min) with three groups of the urine volume to hydration volume (UV/HV) ratio (<1, 1–2, and >2). The final model was constructed as follows: MTX clearance = 4.90·(Ccr/94.5)0.456·(UV/HV)0.458. In the Monte Carlo simulation, serum MTX concentrations were below the standard values (10, 1, and 0.1 µM at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively, after the start of the MTX administration) in most patients with UV/HV >2, even with Ccr of 50 ml/min. Conversely, half of the patients with UV/HV <1 and Ccr of 50 ml/min failed to achieve the standard values. The present results demonstrated that the UV/HV ratio was useful for describing the pharmacokinetics of MTX in PCNSL patients.
Family change and variation through the lens of family configurations in low‐ and middle‐income countries
Authors: Castro Torres Andrés Felipe , Pesando Luca Maria , Kohler Hans‐Peter , Furstenberg Frank
Published: October 2021

Using 254 Demographic and Health Surveys from 75 low‐ and middle‐income countries, this study shows how the joint examination of family characteristics across rural and urban areas provides new insights for understanding global family change. We operationalise this approach by building family configurations: a set of interrelated features that describe different patterns of family formation and structure. These features include partnership (marriage/unions) regimes and their stability, gender relations, household composition and reproduction. Factorial and clustering techniques allow us to summarise these family features into three factorial axes and six discrete family configurations. We provide an in‐depth description of these configurations, their spatial distribution and their changes over time. Global family change is uneven because it emerges from complex interplays between the relative steadiness of longstanding arrangements for forming families and organising gender relations, and the rapidly changing dynamics observed in the realms of fertility, contraception, and timing of family formation.
Gourava descriptors of multi‐dimensional flat and stable tri‐hexagonal boron nanotubes
Authors: Shaker Hani , Zobair Mian Muhammad , Mehmood Hafiz Muhammad Asif , Malik Mehar Ali
Published: October 2021

Gourava indices of boron nanotubes (BNT) are used to study the physical and electronic properties of nano semiconductor devices. Gourava indices have an important role in the study of high thermal conductivity and nano‐scale mechanical properties of semiconductors. These indices are also used to study the applicability of BNTs in the field of energy storage, and biomedical medicines. Since BNT like carbon nanotubes have almost the same tubular structure obtained by replacing carbon atoms with boron atoms. Therefore, they require theoretical study to establish structural changes in BNTs. In this paper, we compute the first and second Gourava descriptors, first and second hyper Gourava descriptors, sum and product connectivity Gourava descriptors and general first and second Gourava descriptors for the tri‐hexagonal BNTs.
Recurrent training rejuvenates and enhances transcriptome and methylome responses in young and older human muscle
Authors: Blocquiaux Sara , Ramaekers Monique , Van Thienen Ruud , Nielens Henri , Delecluse Christophe , De Bock Katrien , Thomis Martine
Published: October 2021

Background

The interaction between the muscle methylome and transcriptome is understudied during ageing and periods of resistance training in young, but especially older adults. More information is needed on the role of retained methylome training adaptations in muscle memory to understand muscle phenotypical and molecular restoration after inactivity or disuse.

Methods

We measured CpG methylation (microarray) and RNA expression (RNA sequencing) in young (n = 5; age = 22 ± 2 years) and older (n = 6; age = 65 ± 5 years) vastus lateralis muscle samples, taken at baseline, after 12 weeks of resistance training, after training interruption (2 weeks of leg immobilization in young men, 12 weeks of detraining in older men) and after 12 weeks of retraining to identify muscle memory‐related adaptations and rejuvenating effects of training.

Results

We report that of the 427 differentially expressed genes with advanced age (FDR < 0.1), 71% contained differentially methylated (dm)CpGs in older versus young muscle (FDR < 0.1, M‐value difference >0.4). The more dmCpGs within a gene, the clearer the inverse methylation–expression relationship. Around 73% of the age‐related dmCpGs approached younger methylation levels when older muscle was trained for 12 weeks. A second resistance training period after training cessation increased the number of hypomethylated CpGs and upregulated genes in both young and older muscle. We found indication for an epi‐memory within pro‐proliferating AMOTL1 in young muscle and mechanosensing‐related VCL in older muscle. For the first time, we integrate muscle methylome and transcriptome data in relation to both ageing and training‐induced/inactivity‐induced responses and identify focal adhesion as an important pathway herein.

Conclusions

This preliminary evidence indicates that previously trained muscle is more responsive to training than untrained muscle at methylome and transcriptome level and recurrent resistance training can partially restore ageing‐induced methylome alterations.
A river of names: The multiple voices of an Innu Riverscape
Authors: Manikuakanishtiku  , Gagnon Justine , Desbiens Caroline , Kanapé Éric
Published: October 2021

Uamashtakan. Tekuatepeliu. Manishtikaushipu. Uashaupishkau. Manikuakanishtiku. I am a river of names. Like countless waterways around the world, I have been given a single official denomination—Manicouagan—by the State through the colonial renaming of land. Though the word Manicouagan derives from the original language of my People, the Pessamiulnuat (Innus of Pessamit), it carries a very small piece of my whole history and speaks with a monolithic voice. As an ancestral route connecting families to their hunting territories, each of my swirls and back eddies has something to say, witnesses to a longstanding and ongoing narrative. Going back to the meanings, practices, stories, and values that some of my People's denominations still bear, I wish to make myself heard differently from the voices that are both theirs and mine.
Investigation and preliminary laboratory study on substrate preference of Schizothorax lantsangensis
Authors: Bai Yanqin , Lin Chenyu , Huang Xiaolong , Chen Li , Shi Xiaotao
Published: October 2021

The destruction of fish habitat is one of the most important factors in the decline of fish stocks. Substrate is a major component of fish habitat. We examined the substrate preferences of wild adult Schizothorax lantsangensis using both field investigation and laboratory experiments. Field investigation showed that the substrate of S. lantsangensis habitat in parts of the Lancang River consists mainly of sand, gravel, and pebbles. The substrate was categorized into six types according to the particle size using the modified Wentworth classification: sand and silt (diameter < 2 mm), gravel (diameter 2.1–16 mm), pebble (diameter 16.1–32 mm), cobble (diameter 32.1–64 mm), small boulder (diameter 64–128 mm), and boulder (diameter > 128 mm). The substrate preference of S. lantsangensis was determined in the laboratory, using a single factor test, by comparing the residence times of fish in each of six substrates during different time periods. The results showed that S. lantsangensis preferred pebble and cobble substrates. This study provides a reference for the creation of artificial substrate in habitat restoration in the Lancang River.
At the Heart of Optimal Reading Experiences: Cardiovascular Activity and Flow Experiences in Fiction Reading
Authors: Thissen Birte A. K. , Schlotz Wolff , Abel Cornelius , Scharinger Mathias , Frieler Klaus , Merrill Julia , Haider Thomas , Menninghaus Winfried
Published: October 2021

Fiction reading is a popular leisure activity associated with a variety of pleasurable experiences, including suspense, narrative transportation, and—as indicated by recent empirical studies—also flow. In the context of fiction reading, flow—generally defined as a pleasurable state of mind experienced during an optimally stimulating activity—is specifically related to an optimal balance between text‐driven challenges and the reader’s capabilities in constructing a mental story model. The experimental study reported here focused on the psychophysiological underpinnings of flow in the reading context. Cardiovascular data were collected from 84 participants both during a relaxation baseline prior to reading and during reading. Participants were randomly assigned to read one of three versions of a chapter from Homer’s Odyssey. According to statistical readability indices, these versions were low, intermediate, or high in readability, and hence in cognitive challenge. Flow was measured immediately after reading with a self‐report scale that was tailored to assess reading‐specific flow experiences. Regression analyses revealed that cardiovascular activation patterns measured before reading that are reflective of parasympathetic dominance—that is, an inner state associated with relaxation and cognitive fluency—moderated flow experiences during reading. In line with the stipulations of flow theory in regard to matching challenge levels being the key determinant for flow, this pattern supported subsequent flow experiences only in response to text versions of high or intermediate, but not of low cognitive challenge. Differences in cardiac vagal tone during reading were, however, not sensitive to our experimental modifications and not predictive of flow experiences.
Corporate social responsibility model for a competitive and resilient hospitality industry
Authors: Peña‐Miranda David Daniel , Guevara‐Plaza Antonio , Fraiz‐Brea José Antonio , Camilleri Mark Anthony
Published: October 2021

Despite there was significant increase in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) literature, in the last decade, little attention has been devoted to shed light on strategic CSR practices in the hospitality industry, especially in the context of developing countries. This paper uses a case‐study methodology to investigate the CSR practices of eight hotels in Santa Marta, Colombia. The results show that the hotel companies were implementing different CSR behaviors that can be classified as philanthropic‐reactive, legal‐reactive, and active groups. The findings revealed that their CSR activities were focused on adding value to their economic performance. This contribution implies that Individual improvement plans for each establishment and a CSR management model for the entire industry are proposed. The results have important theoretical and practical implications for academia and the hospitality industry. Future research should take into account more stakeholders and companies from other industries in the study area.
Propensity score methods for merging observational and experimental datasets
Authors: Rosenman Evan T. R. , Owen Art B. , Baiocchi Mike , Banack Hailey R.
Published: October 2021

We consider how to merge a limited amount of data from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) into a much larger set of data from an observational data base (ODB), to estimate an average causal treatment effect. Our methods are based on stratification. The strata are defined in terms of effect moderators as well as propensity scores estimated in the ODB. Data from the RCT are placed into the strata they would have occupied, had they been in the ODB instead. We assume that treatment differences are comparable in the two data sources. Our first “spiked‐in” method simply inserts the RCT data into their corresponding ODB strata. We also consider a data‐driven convex combination of the ODB and RCT treatment effect estimates within each stratum. Using the delta method and simulations, we identify a bias problem with the spiked‐in estimator that is ameliorated by the convex combination estimator. We apply our methods to data from the Women's Health Initiative, a study of thousands of postmenopausal women which has both observational and experimental data on hormone therapy (HT). Using half of the RCT to define a gold standard, we find that a version of the spiked‐in estimator yields lower‐MSE estimates of the causal impact of HT on coronary heart disease than would be achieved using either a small RCT or the observational component on its own.
Set‐regression with applications to subgroup analysis
Authors: Yuan Ao , Wang Lida , Tan Ming T.
Published: October 2021

Regression is a commonly used statistical model. It is the conditional mean of the response given covariates . However, in some practical problems, the interest is the conditional mean of the response given the covariates belonging to some set A. Notably, in precision medicine and subgroup analysis in clinical trials, the aim is to identify subjects who benefit the most from the treatment, or identify an optimal set in the covariate space which manifests treatment favoritism if a subject's covariates fall in this set and the subject is classified to the favorable treatment subgroup. Existing methods for subgroup analysis achieve this indirectly by using classical regression. This motivates us to develop a new type of regression: set‐regression, defined as which directly addresses the subgroup analysis problem. This extends not only the classical regression model but also improves recursive partitioning and support vector machine approaches, and is particularly suitable for objectives involving optimization of the regression over sets, such as subgroup analysis. We show that the new versatile set‐regression identifies the subgroup with increased accuracy. It is easy to use. Simulation studies also show superior performance of the proposed method in finite samples.
Catalytic Production of Methyl Lactate from Fructose‐Based Carbohydrates Using Yttrium Modified ZSM‐5 Zeolite
Authors: Ma Hao , Wen Yi , Yu Chenghua , Qiao Yanhui , Teng Junjiang , Ji Hongbing
Published: October 2021

A yttrium modified ZSM‐5 zeolite (Y‐ZSM‐5) for catalytic production of methyl lactate (MLA) has been prepared through the ion exchange of commercially available H‐ZSM‐5 with yttrium chloride (YCl3) and subsequent calcination procedures. The successful preparation of Y‐ZSM‐5 was characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption‐desorption measurement (BET method). The acid property of Y‐ZSM‐5 was investigated through NH3‐temperature programmed desorption (NH3‐TPD), and pyridine adsorption Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (Py‐IR), demonstrating the introduction of Y3+ species could enhance the acid sites of zeolite. The as‐prepared Y‐ZSM‐5 is an efficient catalyst for the catalytic conversion of fructose‐based carbohydrates into methyl lactate (MLA). Under the optimum conditions, 61.3 % of MLA yield can be afforded from fructose. Furthermore, sucrose and inulin could give 39.6 % and 45.6 % of MLA yield, respectively. Meanwhile, the Y‐ZSM‐5 is structurally stable and reusable, after being recycled 5 times, the catalyst showed no appreciable loss of activity.
Study of the Relationship between Synthesis Descriptors and the Type of Zeolite Phase Formed in ZSM‐43 Synthesis by Using Machine Learning
Authors: Raman Ganesan
Published: October 2021

Small‐pore zeolites possess pores that are constructed of eight tetrahedral atoms. ZSM‐43 is a small‐pore zeolite with two‐dimensional eight‐ring channels. The preparation of ZSM‐43 is influenced by the molar concentration of hydroxide ions, choline based organic structure‐directing agents (OSDA) and inorganic structure‐directing agents (ISDA) such as sodium, potassium and cesium. The synthetic conditions yield a range of products such as ZSM‐43, amorphous, UZM‐15, and other zeolites. There is a significant challenge in relating synthetic descriptors to their implications in zeolite phase formation. As a proof‐of‐concept study, we correlated the type of product formed with the gel molar composition in complex ZSM‐43 synthesis using machine learning algorithms. Seven different supervised machine learning algorithms have demonstrated an accuracy of >95 percent and an F1 score of >95 percent. The decision tree algorithm (DT) demonstrates the relationship between what type of phase is produced by what concentration of ISDA and hydroxide ions, as well as the effects of changing these parameters on phase transformation. DT provides structural and physicochemical insights into zeolite chemistry. From the experimental data of ZSM‐43, it is difficult to obtain detailed information regarding the chemistry of all phase formations. However, machine learning algorithms aid in recognizing hidden patterns in the data, facilitating deeper understanding of zeolite chemistry and phase transformations.
A Novel Cascade Nanoreactor Integrating Two‐Dimensional Pd‐Ru Nanozyme, Uricase and Red Blood Cell Membrane for Highly Efficient Hyperuricemia Treatment
Authors: Ming Jiang , Zhu Tianbao , Li Jingchao , Ye Zichen , Shi Changrong , Guo Zhide , Wang Jingjuan , Chen Xiaolan , Zheng Nanfeng
Published: October 2021

Nanozyme‐based cascade reaction has emerged as an effective strategy for disease treatment because of its high efficiency and low side effects. Herein, a new and highly active two‐dimensional Pd‐Ru nanozyme is prepared and then integrated with uricase and red blood cell (RBC) membrane to fabricate a tandem nanoreactor, Pd‐Ru/Uricase@RBC, for hyperuricemia treatment. The designed Pd‐Ru/Uricase@RBC nanoreactor displayed not only good stability against extreme pH, temperature and proteolytic degradation, but also long circulation half‐life and excellent safety. The nanoreactor can effectively degrade UA by uricase to allantoin and H2O2 and remove H2O2 by using Pd‐Ru nanosheets (NSs) with the catalase (CAT)‐like activity. More importantly, the finally produced O2 from H2O2 decomposition can in turn facilitate the catalytic oxidation of UA, as the degradation of UA is an O2 consumption process. By integrating the high‐efficiency enzymatic activity, long circulation capability, and good biocompatibility, the designed Pd‐Ru/Uricase@RBC can effectively and safely treat hyperuricemia without side effects. The study affords a new alternative for the exploration of clinical treatment of hyperuricemia.
Chiral Nematic Coatings Based on Cellulose Nanocrystals as a Multiplexing Platform for Humidity Sensing and Dual Anticounterfeiting
Authors: Zhao Guomin , Huang Yanping , Mei Changtong , Zhai Shengcheng , Xuan Yan , Liu Zhipeng , Pan Mingzhu , Rojas Orlando J.
Published: October 2021

The need for a precise regulation of the properties of chiral nematic structures in response to external stimuli is addressed. Self‐assembled iridescent coatings are produced under the effect of electrostatic interactions between cellulose nanocrystals and poly(acrylic acid), endowing a high anisotropic dissymmetry (>0.3) and sensitivity to environmental humidity (13.1 nm/1% at 68–75% relative humidity, RH). The phenomena associated with shifts in selective light reflection (green to orange) and polarization, facilitate tunable transmitted colors (blue to orange) at given rotation angles (RA). Such properties are conveniently integrated into a “RH‐RA‐color” ternary code that is introduced as an anticounterfeiting technology, taking advantage of multicolor patterns that conveniently track with changes in RH and RA. The proposed charge‐driven assembly opens new opportunities for chiral nematic materials that enable precise optical sensing and information encryption.
Recent Advances in Pyroelectric Materials and Applications
Authors: Zhang Ding , Wu Heting , Bowen Chris R. , Yang Ya
Published: October 2021

As one important subclass of piezoelectric materials, pyroelectric materials have caused increasing attention owing to the unique pyroelectric effect induced by spontaneous polarization, showing broad promising application prospects due to various electrical responses induced by time‐dependent temperature variation. This review systematically introduces the pyroelectric effect and evaluation of pyroelectric materials and follows by analyzing and concluding the novel properties corresponding to four kinds of main pyroelectric materials. The emphasis of this review focuses on several significant and practical applications of pyroelectric materials in thermal energy harvesting from the external environment, pyroelectric sensing, and imaging, even some electrochemical applications including hydrogen generation, wastewater treatment, sterilization, and disinfection. Finally, the development direction of pyroelectric materials, potential challenges and opportunities in the future are all discussed and proposed. Through systematical conclusion and analysis of the latest research progress in the recent two decades, this review may provide significant guide and inspiration in the development of pyroelectric materials.