bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mental health and offending in older people: Future directions for research
Authors: Parrott Janet M. , Houben Fiona R. , Visser Renske C. , MacInnes Douglas L.
Published: August 2019

Background

The number of older people and their proportion of the prison population in high‐income countries is increasing substantially. This pattern is mirrored by the age profile in forensic hospital services, and both trends seem counter to the age‐crime curve concept. How do we understand this and what are the mental health needs of this growing group?

Aim

The aim of this review is to identify existing research robust enough to inform policy and practice in relation to mental health in older offenders and the knowledge gaps that should drive future research.

Methods

A keyword‐based search strategy of the databases Embase, PsychINFO, Medline, and grey literature 2008–2018. Article selection was limited to empirical research with the potential to inform policy or practice and findings synthesised narratively.

Results

Much of the research in this field focuses on prevalence and the increased psychiatric morbidity of the older offender population. Older prisoners and those older patients in secure hospitals have needs that differ in some respects from their younger counterparts and community‐dwelling older people. There are few studies of interventions for mental health in older prisoners or into the challenges of timely release given their complex needs. Discharge of older individuals from secure settings is also an area where further research is required in order to inform policy and service provision.

Conclusions

The older population in prisons and secure settings is growing, and there is much concern as to how far facilities and services have been able to identify and meet the mental health needs of those of older age. Cooperation between researchers and services and between disciplines will be essential if we are to secure a more robust evidence base in this respect. Engaging service users in such research and considering the whole criminal justice pathway including diversion remains a priority.
Association between patient age at implant and outcomes after transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in the multicenter Melody valve trials
Authors: Armstrong Aimee K. , Berger Felix , Jones Thomas K. , Moore John W. , Benson Lee N. , Cheatham John P. , Turner Daniel R. , Rhodes John F. , Vincent Julie A. , Zellers Thomas , Lung Te‐Hsin , Eicken Andreas , McElhinney Doff B.
Published: August 2019

Objectives

To investigate whether age and valve size at implant contribute to outcomes after Melody transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR).

Background

Patient age and valve size at implant contribute to longevity of surgical pulmonary valves.

Methods

All patients discharged with a Melody valve in the pulmonary position, as part of three prospective Melody valve multicenter studies, comprised the study cohort. Acute and time‐related outcomes were analyzed according to age: children (≤12 years), adolescents (13–18 years), young adults (19–29 years), and older adults (≥30 years).

Results

Successful Melody valve implantation occurred in 49 children, 107 adolescents, 96 young adults, and 57 older adults. Pediatric patients (≤18 years) were more likely to have TPVR for conduit stenosis than adults (62% vs. 44%); children had the smallest conduits. After TPVR, pediatric and adult patients had similar decreases in right ventricular (RV) size by MRI, but adults had improved percentage predicted peak VO2 (58% preimplant to 64% postimplant, p = .02) and FEV1 (69% pre to 71% post, p = .005). Younger age was associated with shorter freedom from RVOT dysfunction, reintervention, and explant. Children had the shortest freedom from endocarditis (p = .041), but all other groups had 5‐year freedom from endocarditis of ≥90%.

Conclusions

Younger age was associated with shorter time to RVOT dysfunction, reintervention, and explant after Melody TPVR. Patients ≥13 years of age were at low risk for endocarditis and explant to 5 years. A better understanding of time‐related outcomes by age will aid in the comparison of therapeutic options for TPVR candidates.

Clinical trial registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00740870 (NCT00740870), https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01186692 (NCT01186692), and https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00688571 (NCT00688571).
H2O2 Tolerance in Pseudomonas Fluorescens: Synergy between Pyoverdine‐Iron(III) Complex and a Blue Extracellular Product Revealed by a Nanotechnology‐Based Electrochemical Approach
Authors: Magro Massimiliano , Baratella Davide , Jakubec Petr , Corraducci Vittorino , Fasolato Luca , Cardazzo Barbara , Novelli Enrico , Zoppellaro Giorgio , Zboril Radek , Vianello Fabio
Published: August 2019

Invited for this month's cover picture is the group of Prof. Fabio Vianello from the University of Padua (Italy). The cover picture shows the proposed hidden mechanism used by P. fluorescens for hydrogen peroxide scavenging. The synergy among bacterial extracellular products were revealed by the combination of electrochemistry and nanotechnology. Read the full text of the Communication at 10.1002/celc.201900902.
Fault detection and classification with feature representation based on deep residual convolutional neural network
Authors: Ren Xuemei , Zou Yiping , Zhang Zheng
Published: August 2019

This paper proposes a novel fault detection and classification method via deep residual convolutional neural network (DRCNN). The DRCNN captures the deep process features represented by convolutional layers from local to global. Unlike traditional methods, this feature representation can extract the deep fault information and learn the latent fault patterns. Besides, a data preprocessing approach is also proposed to transform the shape of original data into the shape available for convolutional neural network. Finally, experiments based on the data set of Tennessee Eastman process (TEP), a chemical industrial process benchmark, show that the proposed method achieves superior fault detection and better classification performance compared with the state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Flavylium Salts: A Blooming Core for Bioinspired Ionic Liquid Crystals
Authors: Forschner Robert , Knelles Jakob , Bader Korinna , Müller Carsten , Frey Wolfgang , Köhn Andreas , Molard Yann , Giesselmann Frank , Laschat Sabine
Published: August 2019

Thermotropic ionic liquid crystals based on the flavylium scaffold have been synthesized and studied for their structure‐properties relationship for the first time. The mesogens were probed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). Low numbers of alkoxy side chains resulted in smectic (SmA) and lamello‐columnar (LamCol) phases, whereas higher substituted flavylium salts showed Colro as well as ordered and disordered columnar (Colho, Colhd) mesophases. Mesophase width ranged from 13 K to 220 K, giving access to room temperature liquid crystals. The optical properties of the synthesized compounds were probed towards absorption and emission properties. Strong absorption with maxima between 444 and 507 nm was observed, and some chromophores were highly emissive with quantum yields up to 99 %. Ultimately, mesogenic and dye properties were examined by temperature‐dependent emissive experiments in the solid state.
The effects of firm size and firm performance on CEO pay in Canada: A Re‐Examination and Extension
Authors: Yang Caroline , Singh Parbudyal , Wang Jing
Published: August 2019

Using insights from academic and practitioners' perspectives and recent data, this paper extends the literature by using pay variables that are typically used by practitioners, including those not studied in previous academic research. Consistent with previous findings, firm size, measured by three‐year average revenues, has strong effects on CEO pay. However, the relationship is not the same for firms of different sizes. Revenue elasticity is strong among small companies and disappears for medium and large companies. Firm performance, measured by accounting‐based measures (return on assets and return on equity), and market‐based measures (total shareholder return and shareholder value), have little effects on CEO cash compensation, but strong positive effects on equity compensation. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Population Pharmacokinetics of Rolapitant in Patients With Chemotherapy‐Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Authors: Wang Xiaodong , Wang Jing , Zhang Zhi‐Yi , Kansra Vikram
Published: August 2019

Population pharmacokinetics of rolapitant and its active metabolite M19 were studied in 482 patients receiving this neurokinin‐1 receptor antagonist in combination with a 5‐hydroxytryptamine‐3 receptor antagonist and dexamethasone for prevention of chemotherapy‐induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). Patients received a single dose of rolapitant (range, 9–180 mg) before administration of moderately or highly emetogenic chemotherapy. Population pharmacokinetic analysis was performed via nonlinear mixed‐effects modeling. Rolapitant pharmacokinetics was best characterized by a 2‐compartment model. Population typical values were estimated to be 0.962 L/h for apparent oral clearance and 214 L for central compartment volume of distribution. The intercompartment clearance and peripheral compartment volume of distribution was estimated to be 2.79 L/h and 164 L, respectively. Metabolite M19 pharmacokinetics was described by a 1‐compartment model with an apparent metabolite clearance of 1.83 L/h. Intersubject variability was moderate for pharmacokinetics parameters. Weight positively correlated with central compartment volume of distribution and peripheral compartment volume of distribution but not with apparent oral clearance. No other demographic, clinical, or pathophysiologic covariates, including liver and renal function, influenced rolapitant pharmacokinetics. A slight positive trend was observed between rolapitant exposure and efficacy (ie, complete response defined as no emesis and no use of rescue medication) in the delayed phase of CINV (>24–120 hours after chemotherapy). This further supports the 180‐mg dose of rolapitant in CINV patients. In summary, this validated population pharmacokinetic model satisfactorily describes pharmacokinetics of rolapitant and M19 in patients with CINV. These results support the recommendation that no dose adjustment for patient variables investigated is necessary.
Photoenzymatic Production of Next Generation Biofuels from Natural Triglycerides Combining a Hydrolase and a Photodecarboxylase
Authors: Ma Yunjian , Zhang Xizhen , Zhang Wuyuan , Li Peilin , Li Yongru , Hollmann Frank , Wang Yonghua
Published: August 2019

A photobiocatalytic cascade transforming natural triglycerides into alkanes/alkenes is proposed. Starting from natural triglycerides, free fatty acids have been obtained using lipases. The free fatty acids were then, in a photoenzymatic step, decarboxylated into the C1‐shortened alkanes using a recently described photodecarboxylase from Chlorella variabilis NC64A. This cascade produced alkanes from various natural (waste) oils in significant amounts (up to 24 g L−1) and may provide a basis for valorisation of waste oils into a next generation of biodiesel.
Appropriate height of dental chairs for effective administration of chest compressions by female dentists
Authors: Nogami Kentaro , Taniguchi Shogo
Published: August 2019

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the appropriate height of a dental chair for the administration of effective chest compressions by female dentists.

Materials and methods

We asked 19 female dentists to perform metronome‐guided chest compressions at a rate of 100 compressions per minute for 2 min on the floor and on a dental chair. We set the height of the dental chair to 76, 73, 70, 67, and 64 cm. We measured the compression depth and proportion of compressions performed at an adequate depth. We then compared the quality of chest compressions between the tall and short (relative to the average body height) groups of participants. We also asked the participants to specify their preferred compression height or condition for chest compression administration.

Results

The participants recorded their maximum chest compression depth (35.0 ± 8.8 mm) at a height of 67 cm. There was no significant difference in chest compression depth between the tall and short groups, irrespective of the compression height. The maximum depth of chest compressions was achieved at a height of 67 cm (from the floor to the compression surface) in both groups, with no significant difference. The participants most frequently identified 67 cm as the most suitable height for the administration of chest compressions.

Conclusion

For female dentists, a height of 67 cm is considered suitable for the administration of chest compressions in the standing position, regardless of physique.
Corruption and sustainable development: The impact on income shifting in European international groups
Authors: Marchini Pier Luigi , Mazza Tatiana , Medioli Alice
Published: August 2019

Corruption is a proxy of low detection of opportunistic behavior and may influence managers' decisions. Considering an international scenario, the study investigates whether income shifting between subsidiaries and parents is emphasized for subsidiaries in less corrupted countries. Data refer to groups with the parent company in France, German, Italy, Spain, or UK. Using financial data, tax rate, and country corruption level, linear regression is carried out to determine the impact of corruption on income shifting process. Using anomie theory, this study offers additional evidence that corruption is a symptom of instability and influences managers' decision‐making processes. Managers tend to shift income towards less corrupted countries and so, high bribery reduces the incentive to attract foreign income. These results are novel given we focus on European international groups and not merely on single firms. They confirm the positive effects of responsible business and the attractiveness of countries that control for corruption.
Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance of WO3‐Based Composite Photoanode Coupled with Carbon Quantum Dots and NiFe Layered Double Hydroxide
Authors: Cao Xiaohu , Xu Chunjiang , Ma Jiarui , Dong Yinjuan , Dong Congzhao , Yue Meie , Ding Yong
Published: August 2019

An attractive photoanode material, WO3, has suffered from its limited visible‐light absorption and sluggish surface reaction kinetics, as well as poor stability in neutral electrolytes. Herein, a NiFe/CQD/WO3 composite photoanode was designed and fabricated, with loading of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and electrodeposition of NiFe layered double hydroxide. The NiFe/CQD/WO3 photoanode obtained a photocurrent density of 1.43 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode, which is approximately three times higher than that of bare WO3. During the test period of 3 h, the stability of WO3 was improved substantially after the loading of cocatalysts. Furthermore, mechanistic insights of the favored band structure and beneficial charge‐transfer pathway elucidate the high photoelectrochemical performance of the NiFe/CQD/WO3 composite photoanode.
Transition Metal‐Catalyzed Directing‐Group‐Assisted C−H Activation of Phenols
Authors: Xu Xing , Luo Junfei
Published: August 2019

Strategies that exploit directing groups to control the site selectivity in the C−H activation of arenes have received much attention during the past two decades. In light of the importance of phenol derivatives in the areas of pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials science, transition‐metal‐catalyzed C−H activation of phenols has proven to be an extremely useful tool in organic synthesis. This Minireview summarizes the current state‐of‐the‐art direct C−H activation of phenol derivatives under transition‐metal catalysis.
Multicriteria decision‐making techniques for avoiding similar task scheduling conflict in cloud computing
Authors: Nayak Suvendu Chandan , Parida Sasmita , Tripathy Chitaranjan , Pati Bibudhendu , Panigrahi Chhabi Rani
Published: August 2019

An efficient task scheduling approach shows promising way to achieve better resource utilization in cloud computing. Various task scheduling approaches with optimization and decision‐making techniques have been discussed up to now. These approaches ignored scheduling conflict among the similar tasks. The conflict often leads to miss the deadlines of the tasks. The work studies the implementation of the MCDM (multicriteria decision‐making) techniques in backfilling algorithm to execute deadline‐based tasks in cloud computing. In general, the tasks are selected as backfill tasks, whose role is to provide ideal resources to other tasks in the backfilling approach. The selection of the backfill task is challenging one, when there are similar tasks. It creates conflict in the scheduling. In cloud computing, the deadline‐based tasks have multiple parameters such as arrival time, number of VMs (virtual machines), start time, duration of execution, and deadline. In this work, we present the deadline‐based task scheduling algorithm as an MCDM problem and discuss the MCDM techniques: AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process), VIKOR (VIseKriterijumska Optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje), and TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) to avoid similar task scheduling conflicts. We simulate the backfilling algorithm along with three MCDM mechanisms to avoid scheduling conflicts among the similar tasks. The synthetic workloads are considered to study the performance of the proposed scheduling algorithm. The mechanism suggests an efficient VM allocation and its utilization for deadline‐based tasks in the cloud environment.
Identify the user presence by GLRT and NP detection criteria in cognitive radio spectrum sensing
Authors: Budati Anil Kumar , Valiveti HimaBindu
Published: August 2019

Spectrum sensing in cognitive radio networks is vital and is used for identifying the user presence or absence in the available spectrum. Energy detection and matched filter detection are the few methods to identify the user presence in the spectrum. There are various authors that proposed their research on spectrum sensing using matched filter detection with fixed threshold and predefined dynamic threshold. In this paper, authors proposed the novel matched filter detection method with dynamic threshold by using generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) and Neyman Pearson (NP) observer detection criteria. Due to which the probability of detection (PD) is increased, probability of false alarm (Pfa) and probability of missed detection (Pmd) has been reduced when compare with the existing methods. The results are simulated using MATLab Software and also plotted the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for estimation of the receiver sensitivity.
Plasma metabolites related to cellular energy metabolism are altered in adults with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Gross Thomas J. , Doran Eric , Cheema Amrita K. , Head Elizabeth , Lott Ira T. , Mapstone Mark
Published: August 2019

Down syndrome (DS) is a well‐known neurodevelopmental disorder most commonly caused by trisomy of chromosome 21. Because individuals with DS almost universally develop heavy amyloid burden and Alzheimer's disease (AD), biomarker discovery in this population may be extremely fruitful. Moreover, any AD biomarker in DS that does not directly involve amyloid pathology may be of high value for understanding broader mechanisms of AD generalizable to the neurotypical population. In this retrospective biomarker discovery study, we examined banked peripheral plasma samples from 78 individuals with DS who met clinical criteria for AD at the time of the blood draw (DS‐AD) and 68 individuals with DS who did not (DS‐NAD). We measured the relative abundance of approximately 5,000 putative features in the plasma using untargeted mass spectrometry (MS). We found significantly higher levels of a peak putatively annotated as lactic acid in the DS‐AD group (q = .014), a finding confirmed using targeted MS (q = .011). Because lactate is the terminal product of glycolysis and subsequent lactic acid fermentation, we performed additional targeted MS focusing on central carbon metabolism which revealed significantly increased levels of pyruvic (q = .03) and methyladipic (q = .03) acids in addition to significantly lower levels of uridine (q = .007) in the DS‐AD group. These data suggest that AD in DS is accompanied by a shift from aerobic respiration toward the less efficient fermentative metabolism and that bioenergetically derived metabolites observable in peripheral blood may be useful for detecting this shift.
Effects of natural vegetative restoration on soil fungal and bacterial communities in bare patches of the southern Taihang Mountains
Authors: Zhao He , Li Xuanzhen , Zhang Zhiming , Yang JianTao , Zhao Yong , Yang Zi , Hu Qili
Published: August 2019

Understanding the distribution and composition of soil microbes in bare patches is a critical step to improving ecological remediation. The effects of different vegetative restoration types on soil microbes within semi‐arid bare patches remain unclear. Here, we evaluated the distribution of soil fungi and bacteria among different ecological restoration types at the southern Taihang Mountains. Analysis of variance showed that the chemical properties of soil with vegetation cover have higher nutrient quality than those of the exposed soil. The results also suggested that vegetative restoration significantly improved the diversity and the richness of the soil fungal and bacterial communities. Sequencing results showed that Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were the main soil fungal communities, whereas Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the main soil bacterial communities. There were significant relationships between the contents of moisture, organic matter and organic carbon and the soil fungal/bacterial communities. Venn and network diagrams indicated that the vegetative restoration types largely influenced the soil fungi and weakly influenced the soil bacteria in the bare patches. This study discusses the importance of vegetative restoration in the ecological remediation of bare patches. These findings provide effective references for soil restorative measures, water conservation, and bare‐spot reduction at the southern Taihang Mountains in future.
Variation in sex allocation plasticity in three closely related flatworm species
Authors: Singh Pragya , Vellnow Nikolas , Schärer Lukas
Published: August 2019

Sex allocation (SA) theory for simultaneous hermaphrodites predicts an influence of group size on SA. Since group size can vary within an individual's lifetime, this can favor the evolution of phenotypically plastic SA. In an emerging comparative context, we here report on SA plasticity in three closely related Macrostomum flatworm species, namely Macrostomum janickei, Macrostomum cliftonensis, and Macrostomum mirumnovem. For each species, we experimentally raised worms in three group sizes (isolated, pairs, and octets) and two enclosure sizes (small and large) in all factorial combinations and studied the effects of these factors on different estimates of SA. In addition, we also evaluated whether isolated worms engage in self‐fertilization. We found that all species have plastic SA, with M. cliftonensis being more plastic than the other two species, as assessed by comparing standardized effect sizes of (a) the presence/absence of mating partners and (b) the strength of sexual competition. Moreover, we found that sperm production rate—but not sperm morphology—is plastic in M. cliftonensis, and that only M. mirumnovem self‐fertilized during our observation period. Our study suggests that both SA and SA plasticity can diverge even between closely related species.
Rapid evolution of Medicago polymorpha during invasion shifts interactions with the soybean looper
Authors: Jack Chandra N. , Friesen Maren L.
Published: August 2019

The Enemy Release Hypothesis posits that invasion of novel habitats can be facilitated by the absence of coevolved herbivores. However, a new environment and interactions with unfamiliar herbivores may impose selection on invading plants for traits that reduce their attractiveness to herbivores or for enhanced defenses compared to native host plants, leading to a pattern similar to enemy release but driven by evolutionary change rather than ecological differences. The Shifting Defense Hypothesis posits that plants in novel habitats will shift from specialized defense mechanisms to defense mechanisms effective against generalist herbivores in the new range. We tested these ideas by comparing herbivore preference and performance of native (Eurasia)‐ and invasive (New World)‐range Medicago polymorpha, using a generalist herbivore, the soybean looper, that co‐occurs with M. polymorpha in its New World invaded range. We found that soybean loopers varied in preference and performance depending on host genotype and that overall the herbivore preferred to consume plant genotypes from naïve populations from Eurasia. This potentially suggests that range expansion of M. polymorpha into the New World has led to rapid evolution of a variety of traits that have helped multiple populations become established, including those that may allow invasive populations to resist herbivory. Thus, enemy release in a novel range can occur through rapid evolution by the plant during invasion, as predicted by the Shifting Defense Hypothesis, rather than via historical divergence.
Site‐specific distribution of oak rhizosphere‐associated oomycetes revealed by cytochrome c oxidase subunit II metabarcoding
Authors: Sapp Melanie , Tyborski Nicolas , Linstädter Anja , López Sánchez Aida , Mansfeldt Tim , Waldhoff Guido , Bareth Georg , Bonkowski Michael , Rose Laura E.
Published: August 2019

The phylum Oomycota comprises important tree pathogens like Phytophthora quercina, involved in central European oak decline, and Phytophthora cinnamomi shown to affect holm oaks among many other hosts. Despite the importance to study the distribution, dispersal and niche partitioning of this phylum, metabarcoding surveys, and studies considering environmental factors that could explain oomycete community patterns are still rare. We investigated oomycetes in the rhizosphere of evergreen oaks in a Spanish oak woodland using metabarcoding based on Illumina sequencing of the taxonomic marker cytochrome c oxidase subunit II (cox2). We developed an approach amplifying a 333 bp long fragment using the forward primer Hud‐F (Mycologia, 2000) and a reverse primer found using DegePrime (Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2014). Factors reflecting topo‐edaphic conditions and tree health were linked to oomycete community patterns. The majority of detected OTUs belonged to the Peronosporales. Most taxa were relatives of the Pythiaceae, but relatives of the Peronosporaceae and members of the Saprolegniales were also found. The most abundant OTUs were related to Globisporangium irregulare and P. cinnamomi, both displaying strong site‐specific patterns. Oomycete communities were strongly correlated with the environmental factors: altitude, crown foliation, slope and soil skeleton and soil nitrogen. Our findings illustrate the significance of small scale variation in habitat conditions for the distribution of oomycetes and highlight the importance to study oomycete communities in relation to such ecological patterns.
Changing the record: Narrative policy analysis and the politics of emissions trading in New Zealand
Authors: Jackson Inderberg Tor Håkon , Bailey Ian
Published: August 2019

Despite extensive debate on the influence of discourse on environmental politics, research has yet fully to reveal how discursive processes affect policy change on issues like climate change. Discourse‐related approaches are also often criticised for critiquing current policy situations but paying limited attention to utilising communication studies to enable policy change. This article explores how narrative policy analysis—a linguistic technique for analysing policy issues where uncertainty and complexity have bred polarisation—can be utilised to recast disputes over climate policy in ways that facilitate compromise and policy change. As a focus, we examine disputes surrounding the New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme, drawing on elite interviews and documentary analysis to analyse contrasting narratives about the scheme's effectiveness in reducing greenhouse‐gas emissions. The first portrays New Zealand as a trade‐exposed country that makes only minor contributions to global emissions to defend cautious and low‐cost policy. Its rival advocates stronger domestic action even if this entails higher costs. Mapping the contentions, assumptions, and characterisations in these narratives, combined with analysis of recent policy developments, reveal important insights on how narrative policy analysis can be used to enhance understandings of policy change, particularly, the difficulties of attacking opponents' “anchoring narratives”; how analysing minor narratives and differences in narrative alliances can assist in overcoming barriers to policy change; how narrative changes and “narrative diplomacy” prepare the ground for policy change; and the importance of examining issues neglected in polarised debates on climate policy.
High‐Pressure Synthesis and Phase Stability of Nickel Pernitride
Authors: Niwa Ken , Fukui Riku , Terabe Toshiki , Kawada Takuya , Kato Daiki , Sasaki Takuya , Soda Kazuo , Hasegawa Masashi
Published: August 2019

The high‐pressure nitridation of nickel was investigated using a laser‐heated diamond‐anvil cell. Marcasite‐type nickel pernitride (NiN2) was synthesized at approximately 40 GPa, and it transformed into the tetragonal phase at approximately 3 GPa along with the decompression. The structural refinement of marcasite‐type NiN2 at 36 GPa gives an N‐N distance of 1.24 Å. The first‐principles calculation reveals that the marcasite‐type NiN2 is a narrow‐gap semiconductor, and high‐pressure in‐situ X‐ray diffraction measurements revealed a zero‐pressure bulk modulus of 172(6) GPa. The axial ratios (c/a and b/a) of marcasite‐type NiN2 are close to the upper‐limit values of marcasite‐type structures, which suggests that the stability of marcasite‐type transition metal pernitrides strongly depends on the d‐electrons.
Superior Cycling Stability and Fast Reaction Kinetics of NaV2.9Mg0.1(PO4)3/C Anode for Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Huang Yunxuan , Wan Xin , Luo Dongxue , Tian Guorong , Xiang Xingde , Sun Molong
Published: August 2019

Developing sodium‐storage electrode materials with fast reaction kinetics and good cycling stability is of much importance for realizing applications of sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) in the field of power devices such as electric vehicles. Herein, an NaV2.9Mg0.1(PO4)3/C nanocomposite is reported as a novel high‐performance anode material for SIBs, which is prepared by using a facile sol–gel approach. Techniques consisting of X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and galvanostatic measurements are used to analyze structural properties and electrochemical performance of the material. Due to the reversible sodium intercalation chemistry and fast reaction kinetics, the material shows excellent high‐rate capability with 148 mAh g−1 at 50 mA g−1 and 86 mAh g−1 at 2000 mA g−1, and outstanding cycling stability with 97% capacity retention after 200 cycles at 100 mA g−1. In particular, full SIBs assembled with NaV2.9Mg0.1(PO4)3/C anode and Na3(VO)2(PO4)2F/C cathode exhibit a remarkable cycling lifetime over 1000 cycles. The finding suggests promising application of the NaV2.9Mg0.1(PO4)3/C anode for power‐type batteries.
Numerical simulation of the influence of fuel temperature and injection parameters on biodiesel spray characteristics
Authors: Geng Limin , Wang Yanjuan , Wang Jue , Wei Youtao , Lee Chia‐fon F.
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of fuel temperature and nozzle length‐diameter ratio (L/D) on biodiesel spray characteristics, under high injection pressure and high ambient pressure, by numerical method. The analysis of spray characteristics is carried out in conjunction with the transient flow inside nozzle. To achieve this, three‐dimensional calculation grids of spray nozzle and spray domain were setup, and the needle movement was achieved by dynamic mesh technique. The reliability of spray models was validated by experimental results. It was established that the variation in spray tip penetration (STP) and Sauter mean diameter (SMD) is similar at different initial conditions. The STP increases at a faster rate initially and then slows down, whereas the SMD gradually decreases with time after the injection. In addition, a sensitivity analysis of the effects of injection parameters on biodiesel spray characteristics was conducted. Compared to the nozzle L/D, injection pressure and fuel temperature have a greater impact on biodiesel spray characteristics. The increase in injection pressure has a significant effect on the velocity distribution, STP and SMD. When the injection pressure is increased from 100 to 200 MPa, the maximum velocity of the spray core zone increases by 33.96%, the STP increases by 27.17%, and the SMD reduces by 14.81%. Furthermore, an increase in fuel temperature mainly affects the concentration distribution and the SMD of atomized droplets. When the fuel temperature is increased from 300 to 350 K, the maximum concentration of axial spray center lowers by 25.41%, and the SMD decreases by 17.19%. However, the increase of L/D chiefly impacts the concentration of axial spray center, but has little effect on other spray parameters. When the nozzle L/D is increased from 4 to 8, the maximum concentration of axial spray center increases by 20.29%.
Analysis of fractures of a hard rock specimen via unloading of central hole with different sectional shapes
Authors: Feng Fan , Chen Shaojie , Li Diyuan , Hu Songtao , Huang Wanpeng , Li Bo
Published: August 2019

Hard rock failure and rockburst hazards under high in situ stresses have been the subject of deep rock mechanics and engineering. Previous investigations employed cubic rock specimens with a central hole for simulation of rock fracturing around deep tunnels at a laboratory scale, while the failure characteristics and crack evolution behavior around different shapes of holes induced by excavation unloading response have been barely considered. A commercially combined finite‐discrete element method (combined FEM/DEM) was used to investigate the failure characteristics and crack propagation process of typical hard rock specimens (marble) via the unloading of central hole with different shapes. Rock heterogeneity was also considered in the model in combination with the engineering reality. The combined FEM/DEM approach was first validated by simulating uniaxial compression and Brazilian tests. Then, the parametrical analysis was conducted in detail on the basis of five different sectional shapes of central holes, including a circle, ellipse, U‐shape, trapezoid, and cube, and two lateral pressure coefficients. Analysis of crack propagation paths, released strain energy, displacement, and average velocity distribution of the monitoring points around the central hole suggests that the failure degree and destruction intensity are strongly related to the sectional shape and lateral pressure coefficients. Hard and brittle rock failure induced by the excavation unloading effect can be classified as stable failure (slabbing failure) and unstable failure (strain rockburst). The cubic, trapezoidal, and U‐shaped holes within the specimen are the most likely to induce unstable failure, while stable failure is the dominant failure pattern around circular and elliptical holes. The lateral pressure coefficient λ was also found to affect failure position and intensity (only for the axisymmetric section) around the central hole. The influence of rock heterogeneity on failure intensity and range around the central hole within the specimen was also discussed. This study emphasizes the importance and necessity of the excavation unloading effect when evaluating surrounding rock failure around deep tunnels.
Quantifying the effect of geomorphology on aeolian dust emission potential in northern China
Authors: Cui Mengchun , Lu Huayu , Wiggs Giles F.S. , Etyemezian Vicken , Sweeney Mark R. , Xu Zhiwei
Published: August 2019

Representation of dust sources remains a key challenge in quantifying the dust cycle and its environmental and climatic impacts. Direct measurements of dust fluxes from different landform types are useful in understanding the nature of dust emission and characterizing the dynamics of soil erodibility. In this study we used the PI‐SWERL® instrument over a seasonal cycle to quantify the potential for PM10 (particles with diameter ≤10 μm) emission from several typical landform types across the Tengger Desert and Mu Us Sandy Land, northern China. Our results indicate that sparse grasslands and coppice dunes showed relatively high emission potentials, with emitted fluxes ranging from 10−1 to 101 mg m−2 s−1. These values were up to five times those emitted from sand dunes, and one to two orders of magnitude greater than the emissions from dry lake beds, stone pavements and dense grasslands. Generally, PM10 emission fluxes were seen to peak in the spring months, with significant reductions in summer and autumn (by up to 95%), and in winter (by up to 98%). Variations in soil moisture were likely a primary controlling factor responsible for this seasonality in PM10 emission. Our data provide a relative quantification of differences in dust emission potential from several key landform types. Such data allow for the evaluation of current dust source schemes proposed by prior researchers. Moreover, our data will allow improvements in properly characterizing the erodibility of dust source regions and hence refine the parameterization of dust emission in climate models. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Quality evaluation of surimi and fish nuggets from Queen fish (Scomberoides commersonnianus)
Authors: Moosavi‐Nasab Marzieh , Asgari Foroogh , Oliyaei Najme
Published: August 2019

The purpose of this study was formulation and evaluation of physicochemical properties of fish and surimi nuggets prepared from Queen fish (Scomberiodes commersonnianus) during 90 days of storage. Chemical analysis showed that surimi nuggets contained less protein, fat, and ash due to washing steps during surimi preparation. The titratable acidity, peroxide, and TBA values for fish nuggets were significantly higher than surimi nuggets during frozen storage (p < .05). Moreover, the textural properties of the products exhibited more firmness of surimi nuggets before cooking compared with fish nuggets (p < .05) and more firmness of fish nuggets after cooking compared with surimi one (p < .05). Furthermore, surimi nuggets were lighter and had lower total bacterial counts rather than fish nuggets during frozen storage (p < .05). SDS‐PAGE of the samples during storage exhibited more intensity of the bands related to α‐actinin, actin, and β‐tropomyosin in surimi nuggets compared with that for fish nuggets. Moreover, the sensory evaluation showed that acceptability of surimi nuggets was more than that for fish nuggets after frozen storage. These results showed that surimi nuggets had higher quality indicators rather than fish nuggets.
Early Palaeoproterozoic structural reconstitution of a suite of rocks from the Mahadevi Layered Complex, Tamil Nadu, India
Authors: Talukdar Moumita , Mukhopadhyay Dhrubajyoti , Sanyal Sanjoy , Sengupta Pulak
Published: August 2019

The Palghat‐Cauvery Shear Zone (PCSZ) of the Granulite Terrane of South India is perceived to be a late Neoproterozoic transcontinental shear zone that develops extensive mylonite and sheath folds. The Mahadevi Layered Complex (MLC), the area of present study, is situated in the eastern part of the PCSZ. The studied area exposes vast expanse of felsic orthogneisses with large enclaves of mafic granulite interlayered with meta‐BIF. Our study records two distinct deformational events (D1–2) that produced E‐W closing regional folds with gently curved fold axis. The curved fold axes results in the regional dome‐and‐basin structure. Kinematic markers suggest that a weak shear couple was accompanied with the D2 deformation. Preponderance of the granoblastic fabric in the rocks, restriction of mylonites only in local conjugate shear zones, and the structures produced during D1–2 deformations are at variance with the view that (a) existence of a sheath fold as previously reported from the area and (b) the PCSZ marks the zone of intense shear deformation. Preliminary petrological information from the studied area shows that D1–2 deformational events were accompanied by high‐pressure granulite‐facies metamorphism that was followed by a steeply decompressive retrograde P‐T path. The U–Pb zircon ages from the felsic orthogneiss fixes the date of emplacement of its magmatic protolith and the regional high‐pressure metamorphism at ≥2,530 and ca. 2,479 Ma, respectively. Integrating all the information it is suggested that the evolution of the MLC occurred in a continent‐continent/arc collisional setting at the dawn of the Proterozoic Eon. This study does not support the existence of a “mega sheath fold” in the MLC as has been published in the recent literature.
Cognitive resilience among APOE ε4 carriers in the oldest old
Authors: Hayden Kathleen M. , Gaussoin Sarah A. , Hunter Jaimie C. , Manson JoAnn E. , Sachs Bonnie C. , Shadyab Aladdin H. , Tindle Hilary A. , Mossavar‐Rahmani Yasmin , Mozhui Khyobeni , Snively Beverly M. , Rapp Stephen R. , Resnick Susan M.
Published: August 2019

Objectives

Relatively few APOE ε4+ carriers survive to old age (age 80+) without cognitive impairment (CI); thus, little is known about distinguishing characteristics of resilient APOE ε4+ carriers. Herein, we describe the sociodemographic characteristics of a large sample of resilient APOE ε4+ women from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) and compare them to noncarriers and APOE ε4+ women who developed CI before age 80.

Methods

Women were recruited for clinical trials evaluating postmenopausal hormone therapy and incidence of dementia. During posttrial follow‐up, cognitive status was adjudicated annually. Among 5716 women, we compared groups by APOE ε4 status using logistic regression, covarying for treatment, demographics, lifestyle, cardiovascular and physical function, well‐being, and self‐rated general health.

Results

Among 557 APOE ε4+ women, those who survived to age 80+ without CI had higher baseline self‐rated general health (odds ratio [OR]: 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01‐1.04) and cognitive scores (OR: 1.18; 95% CI, 1.12‐1.25) than those who did not reach age 80 without CI. Baseline high total cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were similar across APOE ε4+ groups but were higher compared with APOE ε4− women. Among women who survived to 80+ without CI, more APOE ε4+ women had a history of high total cholesterol (P = .003) and LDL cholesterol (OR: 1.01; 95% CI, 1.00‐1.01). There were no differences in hypertension, diabetes, or other vascular risk factors in APOE ε4+ women compared with noncarriers.

Conclusions

Results highlight the importance of baseline cognitive function and general health for late‐life cognition among ε4+ women.
Social network types and cognitive decline among older Korean adults: A longitudinal population‐based study
Authors: Kim Young Bum , Lee Seung Hee
Published: August 2019

Objectives

Social network (SN) has been known to impact on cognitive function in late life. However, knowledge regarding the link between SN of various types and cognitive decline (CD) is limited. This study's aim was to investigate which types of SN are associated with reduced risk of CD 2 years later among community‐dwelling older adults.

Methods

Secondary analysis of data from 1960 cognitively intact adults 65 years of age or older who participated in the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA) was employed. K‐means cluster analysis was conducted to derive SN types using seven common SN characteristics (marital status, living with children, number of children, frequency of contact with children, frequency of contact with friends, frequency of participation in religious activities, and frequency of participation in social groups). Multivariable linear regression analysis regarding the effects of SN type on CD between 2012 and 2014 was conducted, controlling for covariates.

Results

K‐means cluster analyses identified a model with five types of SN as being most optimal, and they were named diverse/couple, diverse/family, congregant, restricted/married, and widowed. The average CD 2 years later was most pronounced in those in the widowed network. Compared with the widowed, older adults in the diverse/couple network and the congregant network at baseline had a lower risk of CD 2 years after initial assessment.

Conclusions

Findings show that older Korean adults embedded in widowed network types are at risk for CD and suggest the importance of having a spouse and religious group activities in maintaining cognitive function in later life.
Metabolomic profiling of blood plasma in patients with primary brain tumours: Basal plasma metabolites correlated with tumour grade and plasma biomarker analysis predicts feasibility of the successful statistical discrimination from healthy subjects – a preliminary study
Authors: Baranovičová Eva , Galanda Tomáš , Galanda Miroslav , Hatok Jozef , Kolarovszki Branislav , Richterová Romana , Račay Peter
Published: August 2019

The brain tumours represent a complex tissue that has its own characteristic metabolic features and is interfaced with the whole organism. We investigated changes in basal blood plasma metabolites in the presence of primary brain tumour, their correlation with tumour grade, as well as the feasibility of statistical discrimination based on plasma metabolites. Together 60 plasma samples from patients with clinically defined glioblastoma, meningioma, oligodendrioglioma, astrocytoma, and non‐specific glial tumour and plasma samples from 28 healthy volunteers without any cancer history were measured by NMR spectroscopy. In blood plasma of primary brain tumour patients, we found significantly increased levels of glycolytic metabolites glucose and pyruvate, and significantly decreased level of glutamine and also metabolites participating in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, citrate and succinate, when compared with controls. Further, plasma metabolites levels: tyrosine, phenylalanine, glucose, creatine and creatinine correlated significantly with tumour grade. In general, observed changes are parallel to the biochemistry expected for tumourous tissue and metabolic changes in plasma seem to follow the similar rules in all primary brain tumours, with very subtle variations among tumour types. Only two plasma metabolites tyrosine and phenylalanine were increased exclusively in blood plasma of patients with glioblastoma. Based on metabolite levels, an excellent discrimination between plasma from patient's tumours and controls was attainable. The metabolites creatine, pyruvate, glucose, formate, creatinine and citrate were of the highest discriminatory power.