bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urban housing: a study on housing environment, residents’ satisfaction and happiness
Authors: Kumar Pankaj , Kumar Parveen , Garg Ramesh Kumar , Garg Rakesh
Published: June 2021

Purpose

This study examines the effect of housing environment on residents’ satisfaction and happiness using the data collected from selected residents of Gurugram, an urban locality in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the convenience-cum-judgmental sampling technique, data was collected from 321 residents of 17 gated private housing estates and tested by performing factor analysis and partial least squares – structural equation modeling.

Findings

The results revealed that maintenance service at housing estates significantly influences residents’ satisfaction followed by social infrastructure, dwelling attributes and residential amenities, whereas the accessibility aspect has no significant impact on residents’ satisfaction and happiness. Results also show a significant impact of social infrastructure on residents’ happiness, and most notably, residents’ satisfaction has a significant influence on their happiness.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this study are likely to provide valuable insight into housing stakeholders (government officials; real estate developers; property and construction professionals, i.e. planners, architects and maintenance managers) to improve the attributes in urban housing setting and neighborhood facilities to upsurge the residents’ satisfaction and happiness level toward the housing estates and townships, which leads to quality and happiness in residents’ life.

Originality/value

According to the authors’ knowledge, the present study is the first to provide an inclusive way toward showcasing the key antecedents of residents’ satisfaction and happiness in the Indian urban housing context. Authors anticipate that future researchers will find present research as a valuable contribution to the residents’ satisfaction and happiness in urban housing planning and revitalization of urban locations.
Crisis information, communication strategies and customer complaint behaviours: the case of COVID-19
Authors: Liu Xinyi , Fu Xiao , Hua Chang , Li Zhiyong
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic plunged global tourism into a huge crisis in 2020. China was confronted with a wave of cancellations by tourism consumers due to COVID-19 and tourist complaints rose dramatically during this period. Although tourism enterprises have quickly introduced measures in response, the effectiveness of targeted policies is expected to be evaluated. Concerned about this phenomenon, this study aims to provide insights into the dim prospects of the tourism industry and to bridge the gap between tourists and enterprises.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study adopts a two-step method that combines automatic and manual content analysis to contrastively analyse 647 complaints from the Sina platform and the measures of five online travel agencies (OTAs) taken to deal with COVID-19.

Findings

The results reveal that the COVID-19-related information and policies issued by official departments had a promoting effect on tourist complaints. OTAs were the main target of complainers, and three themes of complaints were identified, namely, cancellation barriers, refund barriers and customer relationship management. Although tourism enterprises’ policies covered most dimensions of the three themes, more detailed and mutually beneficial policies need to be formulated in the face of a new round of cancellations.

Originality/value

This research attempts to investigate tourism customer complaint behaviours in the case of COVID-19 and to provide tourism enterprises receiving different complaints with practical insights into crisis management. It contributes to simultaneously minimizing business losses and maintaining customer relationships in the service industry, improving the industry’s performance under potential crises in the future.
BP230 IgE autoantibodies in topical‐steroid‐resistant bullous pemphigoid
Authors: Shih Yen‐chi , Yuan Huijie , Shen Jia , Zheng Jie , Pan Meng
Published: June 2021

Background

IgE autoantibodies targeting BP230 can be identified in 38%–68% of bullous pemphigoid (BP) patients, yet the diagnostic and pathogenic value of anti‐BP230 IgE still remains inconclusive.

Objective

We intend to investigate the clinical and immunological characteristics of anti‐BP230 IgE in BP patients.

Methods and Results

Fifty‐four BP patients were divided into two groups based on the responsiveness of a topical steroid. We investigated clinical features and IgE autoantibodies profiles by indirect immunofluorescence, ELISA and western blot between the two groups. BP disease area index (BPDAI) scores, total IgE, peripheral eosinophil counts, and anti‐BP230 IgE level were significantly higher in the topical‐steroid‐resistant group. The majority of topical‐steroid‐resistant patients present with blister/erythematous phenotype (64.3%) and anti‐BP230 IgE (59.5%), which correlates with total IgE levels. ELISAs of domain‐specific BP230 recombinant proteins indicated that IgE in the topical‐steroid‐resistant group can react with all seven domains of BP230 and more frequently with the BP230‐R1 epitope.

Conclusion

Anti‐BP230 IgE is more frequently observed in topical‐steroid‐therapy‐resistant patients and the prefers R1 domain of BP230, which is not included in commercially available testing kits. Our study further suggests the pathogenic role of anti‐BP230 IgE in BP. Performing anti‐BP230 IgE detection can serve as an indicator for initiating systemic steroid therapy.
Citizen Led Policing in the Digital Realm: Paedophile Hunters and Article 8 in the case of Sutherland v Her Majesty's Advocate
Authors: Holmes Allison M.
Published: June 2021

In Sutherland v Her Majesty's Advocate, the Supreme Court unanimously dismissed an appeal which argued that the use of communications obtained by a paedophile hunter group as evidence in criminal prosecution was a violation of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The case raises fundamental questions of the scope of the right to private life as regards to the content of communications and the role played by private actors in the criminal justice process. This note argues that by limiting the protection of Article 8 to private communications which satisfy a contents‐based test, the Court has bypassed the Article 8(2) balancing test to the detriment of the due process rights of the accused. The note concludes that the decision opens up the prospect of the state circumventing the accused's Article 8 privacy rights by lending tacit approval to the proactive investigations of these private ‘paedophile hunter’ groups.
Effect of concentration and hydraulic reaction time on the removal of pharmaceutical compounds in a membrane bioreactor inoculated with activated sludge
Authors: Rios‐Miguel Ana B. , Jetten Mike S. M. , Welte Cornelia U.
Published: June 2021

Pharmaceuticals are often not fully removed in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and are thus being detected at trace levels in water bodies all over the world posing a risk to numerous organisms. These organic micropollutants (OMPs) reach WWTPs at concentrations sometimes too low to serve as growth substrate for microorganisms; thus, co‐metabolism is thought to be the main conversion mechanism. In this study, the microbial removal of six pharmaceuticals was investigated in a membrane bioreactor at increasing concentrations (4–800 nM) of the compounds and using three different hydraulic retention times (HRT; 1, 3.5 and 5 days). The bioreactor was inoculated with activated sludge from a municipal WWTP and fed with ammonium, acetate and methanol as main growth substrates to mimic co‐metabolism. Each pharmaceutical had a different average removal efficiency: acetaminophen (100%) > fluoxetine (50%) > metoprolol (25%) > diclofenac (20%) > metformin (15%) > carbamazepine (10%). Higher pharmaceutical influent concentrations proportionally increased the removal rate of each compound, but surprisingly not the removal percentage. Furthermore, only metformin removal improved to 80–100% when HRT or biomass concentration was increased. Microbial community changes were followed with 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing in response to the increment of pharmaceutical concentration: Nitrospirae and Planctomycetes 16S rRNA relative gene abundance decreased, whereas Acidobacteria and Bacteroidetes increased. Remarkably, the Dokdonella genus, previously implicated in acetaminophen metabolism, showed a 30‐fold increase in abundance at the highest concentration of pharmaceuticals applied. Taken together, these results suggest that the incomplete removal of most pharmaceutical compounds in WWTPs is dependent on neither concentration nor reaction time. Accordingly, we propose a chemical equilibrium or a growth substrate limitation as the responsible mechanisms of the incomplete removal. Finally, Dokdonella could be the main acetaminophen degrader under activated sludge conditions, and non‐antibiotic pharmaceuticals might still be toxic to relevant WWTP bacteria.
EasyDCP: An affordable, high‐throughput tool to measure plant phenotypic traits in 3D
Authors: Feldman Alexander , Wang Haozhou , Fukano Yuya , Kato Yoichiro , Ninomiya Seishi , Guo Wei
Published: June 2021

High‐throughput 3D phenotyping is a rapidly emerging field that has widespread application for measurement of individual plants. Despite this, high‐throughput plant phenotyping is rarely used in ecological studies due to financial and logistical limitations.

We introduce EasyDCP, a Python package for 3D phenotyping, which uses photogrammetry to automatically reconstruct 3D point clouds of individuals within populations of container plants and output phenotypic trait data. Here we give instructions for the imaging setup and the required hardware, which is minimal and do‐it‐yourself, and introduce the functionality and workflow of EasyDCP.

We compared the performance of EasyDCP against a high‐end commercial laser scanner for the acquisition of plant height and projected leaf area. Both tools had strong correlations with ground truth measurement, and plant height measurements were more accurate using EasyDCP (plant height: EasyDCP r2 = 0.96, Laser r2 = 0.86; projected leaf area: EasyDCP r2 = 0.96, Laser r2 = 0.96).

EasyDCP is an open‐source software tool to measure phenotypic traits of container plants with high‐throughput and low labour and financial costs.
Immunophenotypic analysis of the distribution of hepatic macrophages, lymphocytes and hepatic stellate cells in the adult rat liver
Authors: Pervin Munmun , Hasan Imam , Kobir Md. Alamgir , Akter Latifa , Karim Mohammad Rabiul
Published: June 2021

The liver consists of parenchymal hepatocytes and non‐parenchymal cells. Non‐parenchymal cells, Kupffer cells, hepatic stellate cells and cholangiocytes have crucial roles in liver homeostasis and liver pathology. To establish baseline data, this study investigated immunohistochemically the distribution of non‐parenchymal cells in perivenular areas (PV), periportal areas (PP) and Glisson's sheath (GS) of adult rat liver. Liver tissues were collected from the left lateral lobe of rats. CD163‐positive macrophages were seen along the sinusoid of PV and PP areas, indicating Kupffer cells. Double immunofluorescence showed, Kupffer cells partly co‐expressed CD68 and MHC class II antigens in the liver. The numbers of Kupffer cells were significantly high in PP areas as compared with PV or GS areas. CD68‐positive exudative macrophages were highly localized in PP and GS areas and a comparatively low PV area. MHC class II‐positive dendritic cells (activated macrophages) were localized mainly in GS. Granzyme B‐positive NK cells were mainly localized in the Glisson's sheath. CD3‐positive T cells and CD20‐positive B cells were distributed along the sinusoids of the PP and PV areas of hepatic lobules. Vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)‐positive hepatic stellate cells were localized along sinusoids in the hepatic lobules of the liver. Cholangiocytes reacting to cytokeratin 19 were seen on interlobular bile ducts in Glisson's sheath of the liver. This study shows that heterogeneous macrophage populations, liver‐resident lymphocytes and hepatic stellate cells localized in PP and PV areas or GS areas of the liver with cells specific patterns.
Effectiveness and safety of oral anticoagulation treatment beyond 1 year after venous thromboembolism in patients at intermediate recurrence risk
Authors: Johnsen Søren P. , Rasmussen Thomas B. , Falstie‐Jensen Anne Mette , Harboe Louise , Stynes Gillian , Dybro Lars , Hansen Morten L. , Brandes Axel , Grove Erik L. , Münster Anna‐Marie
Published: June 2021

Effectiveness and safety of long‐term anticoagulation treatment are uncertain in venous thromboembolism (VTE) patients at intermediate risk of recurrence. We examined the association between treatment beyond 1 year and outcomes in a Danish nationwide register‐based study. VTE patients at intermediate risk of recurrence, that is, non‐cancer patients with a first‐time unprovoked VTE, who started oral anticoagulation treatment within 30 days and were alive 365 days after the index VTE were included and followed between 2007 and 2015. Exposure was extended (>365 days) or intermediate (91–365 days) treatment. Analyses were done using Cox regression on a propensity score weighted population. We included 18 609 patients with 7232 (38.9%) receiving extended treatment. Mean duration of follow‐up was 2.6 years. Compared with intermediate treatment, treatment beyond 365 days was associated with a lower weighted risk of recurrent VTE (hazard ratio [HR] 0.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.49–0.65) and all‐cause mortality (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.72–0.90) and an increased risk of major bleeding (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.58–2.22). In conclusion, extended anticoagulation treatment (predominantly warfarin) beyond 1 year was in real‐life settings associated with a lower risk of recurrent VTE and all‐cause mortality among VTE patients with an intermediate risk of recurrence. However, an increased bleeding risk should be considered.
Doping, fairness, and unequal responsiveness: A response to Lavazza
Authors: Petersen Thomas Søbirk , Lippert‐Rasmussen Kasper
Published: June 2021

In a thought‐provoking article in Bioethics, Andrea Lavazza defends the view that for reasons of fairness, those who cannot benefit from the use of performance‐enhancing methods such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) should receive compensation for their inability. First, we argue that Lavazza’s proposal to compensate athletes who are non‐responsive to tDCS is practically unfeasible. Second, the compensation principle—which he appeals to in his defense of his compensation scheme—is false, as it is incoherent to focus only on the compensation of athletes who respond less well to tDCS, and not to compensate athletes who respond less well to all other types of enhancers such as mental training and food supplements.
Early Adverse Experiences and Repeated Wheezing From 6 to 30 Months of Age: Investigating the Roles of Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenal Axis Functioning, Child Sex, and Caregiving Sensitivity
Authors: Frost Allison , Bosquet Enlow Michelle , Malin Ashley J. , Bernard Kristin , Wright Rosalind J.
Published: June 2021

This study examined associations among early adversity, diurnal cortisol, child sex, and caregiver sensitivity at age 6 months in relation to wheezing in children (47% male) followed to 30 months. Analyses included 676 mother‐child dyads, 393 of whom completed an observational caregiver sensitivity measure. Participants were primarily ethnic minorities (42.7% Black, 25.4% Hispanic); 22.1% of children had ≥ 1 wheezing episode. Higher adversity was associated with increased wheeze frequency and blunted diurnal cortisol slope. The indirect effect of adversity on wheezing through cortisol slope was significant for females, but not males. Higher caregiver sensitivity was protective against wheezing for males, but not females, with high cortisol. Findings suggest complex associations among adversity, cortisol, child sex, and caregiver sensitivity in predicting wheezing.
Neutrophil degranulation biomarkers characterize restrictive echocardiographic pattern with diastolic dysfunction in patients with diabetes
Authors: Ministrini Stefano , Andreozzi Francesco , Montecucco Fabrizio , Minetti Silvia , Bertolotto Maria , Liberale Luca , Mannino Gaia Chiara , Succurro Elena , Cassano Velia , Miceli Sofia , Perticone Maria , Sesti Giorgio , Sciacqua Angela , Carbone Federico
Published: June 2021

Objective

To investigate the potential association between neutrophil degranulation and patterns of myocardial dysfunction in a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Background

Two distinct phenotypes of diabetic cardiomyopathy have been described: a restrictive phenotype with diastolic dysfunction (restrictive/DD) and a dilative phenotype with systolic dysfunction (dilative/SD). However, the underlying determinants of these two patterns are not yet recognized.

Methods

In this single‐centre, observational, cross‐sectional study, 492 patients were recruited. Ultrasonographic measurements were performed by two experienced sonographers, blinded to the clinical data of the participants. Serum biomarkers of neutrophil degranulation were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent sandwich assay (ELISA).

Results

After adjustment for confounders, resistin, myeloperoxidase, matrix metalloproteinase 8 and matrix metalloproteinase 9/tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 complex were positively associated with the restrictive/DD pattern compared with the normal pattern. Similarly, MPO was positively associated with the dilative/SD pattern compared with the normal pattern, and resistin was negatively associated with the dilative/SD pattern compared with the restrictive/DD pattern.

Conclusions

Neutrophil degranulation is associated with the restrictive/DD echocardiographic pattern in patients with T2DM, but not with the normal pattern and dilative/SD patterns. Neutrophils could have a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of myocardial dysfunction, and particularly diastolic dysfunction, in patients with T2DM.
Propagule pressure rather than population growth determines colonisation ability: a case study using two phytophagous mite species differing in their invasive potential
Authors: Majer Agnieszka , Laska Alicja , Hein Gary , Kuczyński Lechosław , Skoracka Anna
Published: June 2021

1. Colonisation, i.e. the establishment of dispersed individuals in an unoccupied area, is a fundamental biological process that drives the distribution and range dynamics of organisms. It is crucial to understand the basic mechanisms of colonisation, especially in invasive species.

2. In this study, we investigated the importance of dispersal success (the proportion of settlers and founders) and intrinsic population growth rate for colonisation ability in phytophagous mites that spread both passively and actively. We performed laboratory experiments using two eriophyid mite species:Aceria tosichella[wheat curl mite (WCM)] andAbacarus hystrix[cereal rust mite (CRM)]. These are obligate herbivores of economic importance because they feed on cereal plants, including wheat.

3. To test the colonisation ability of WCM and CRM on wheat when dispersed actively by walking and passively when blown by air currents, we estimated the number of individuals that established new populations after dispersal and calculated the intrinsic population growth rate (r) for both species.

4. WCM had a higher colonisation ability on wheat than CRM. This resulted from the higher dispersal success of WCM; however, the two species did not differ inr. This pattern was consistent for both dispersal modes. Moreover, both species had higher colonisation success when dispersing actively, albeit with a very limited spatial range.

5. These results underline the role of successful dispersal in the colonisation ability of species. The knowledge of the colonisation process of WCM and CRM is important for understanding their invasiveness and for predicting their potential geographical distributions.
Unveiling ecological assembly rules from commonalities in trait distributions
Authors: Gross Nicolas , Le Bagousse‐Pinguet Yoann , Liancourt Pierre , Saiz Hugo , Violle Cyrille , Munoz François
Published: June 2021

Deciphering the effect of neutral and deterministic processes on community assembly is critical to understand and predict diversity patterns. The information held in community trait distributions is commonly assumed as a signature of these processes, but empirical and modelling attempts have most often failed to untangle their confounding, sometimes opposing, impacts. Here, we simulated the assembly of trait distributions through stochastic (dispersal limitation) and/or deterministic scenarios (environmental filtering and niche differentiation). We characterized the shape of trait distributions using the skewness–kurtosis relationship. We identified commonalities in the co‐variation between the skewness and the kurtosis of trait distributions with a unique signature for each simulated assembly scenario. Our findings were robust to variation in the composition of regional species pools, dispersal limitation and environmental conditions. While ecological communities can exhibit a high degree of idiosyncrasy, identification of commonalities across multiple communities can help to unveil ecological assembly rules in real‐world ecosystems.
Male secondary sexual traits do not predict female preference in Caribbean livebearing fishes (Limia)
Authors: Spikes Montrai , Huebler Sophia , Schlupp Ingo
Published: June 2021

Female preference is widely described in various taxa, and the underlying mechanisms shaping preferences remain a major focus of sexual selection studies, particularly in species where males contribute minimally to offspring. Female preference is associated with maintaining male secondary sexual traits (SST). However, how male SST impact female preference is less‐understood. We hypothesized the strength of female preference should scale with the expression of male SST. To test this prediction, we compared female preference for male body size (an easily quantifiable trait that scales with other SST) in three species of Limia (Poeciliidae) varying in secondary sexual traits: L. perugiae, L. dominicensis and L. zonata. The degree of SST was assessed based on the amount of ornamentation and the presence of courtship in the species. Limia perugiae, L. dominicensis and L. zonata were designated as possessing high, intermediate and low male SST, respectively. Female preference was quantified as the relative amount of time females associated with males of various size classes: small, intermediate and large. Therefore, we predicted that because L. perugiae males have the most SST, females would associate more strongly with large males. Limia perugiae females were the only species to display female preference in relation to male body size, but they preferred small males. Although preference was observed, the direction of preference was unexpected. Moreover, the lack of preference for large male size and thereby other SST in the species suggests pre‐copulatory female preference is unimpacted by male SST in these species. We suggest cryptic female choice (i.e. preference enacted during or after copulation) may maintain costly male traits. However, future work remains necessary. The present study provides foundational behavioural work on Limia and examines the ubiquity of the evolution of female preference in poeciliids.
Variational autoencoders for anomaly detection in the behaviour of the elderly using electricity consumption data
Authors: Gonzalez Daniel , Patricio Miguel A. , Berlanga Antonio , Molina Jose M.
Published: June 2021

According to the World Health Organization, between and , the proportion of the world's population over will double, from to . In absolute numbers, this age group will increase from million to billion in the course of half a century. It is a reality that most of them prefer to live alone, so it is necessary to look for mechanisms and tools that will help them to improve their autonomy. Although in recent years, we have been living in a veritable explosion of domotic systems that facilitate people's daily lives, it is also true that there are not many tools specifically aimed at this sector of the population. The aim of this paper is to present a potential solution to the monitoring of activity of daily living in the least intrusive way for people. In this case, anomalous patterns of daily activities will be detected by analysing the daily consumption of household appliances. People who live alone usually have a pattern of daily behaviour in the use of household appliances (coffee machine, microwave, television, etc.). A neuronal model is proposed for the detection of abnormal behaviour based on an autoencoder architecture. This solution will be compared with a variational autoencoder to analyse the improvements that can be obtained. The well‐known dataset called UK‐DALE will be used to validate the proposal.
Parental Burnout and the COVID‐19 Pandemic: How Portuguese Parents Experienced Lockdown Measures
Authors: Aguiar Joyce , Matias Marisa , Braz Ana Carolina , César Filipa , Coimbra Susana , Gaspar Maria Filomena , Fontaine Anne Marie
Published: June 2021

Objective

This work aimed to analyze parental burnout (PB) and establish a comparison between the times before (Wave 1) and during (Wave 2) the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic brought additional stress to families. The pandemic could be particularly difficult for parents experiencing parental burnout, a condition that involves four dimensions: an overwhelming sense of exhaustion, emotional distancing from the child, saturation or a loss of fulfillment with the parental role, and a sharp contrast between how parents used to be and how they see themselves now.

Method

A quasi‐longitudinal research design was adopted, comparing two cross‐sectional studies among Portuguese parents (N = 995), with an interval of 2 years between each wave of data collection. Participants were surveyed voluntarily through an online questionnaire located on the institutional web platform of the universities involved in the study. Multivariate analysis of covariance was used to take into account the associations among variables, alongside controlling the possible confounding effects.

Results

Parents have overall higher parental burnout scores in Wave 2 than Wave 1, with increased exhaustion, emotional distancing, and contrast, but decreased saturation. Although parental burnout levels remain higher for mothers across the two Waves, the growth is greater for fathers than for mothers.

Conclusion

Reconciling childcare with paid work is a stressful and new experience for many fathers. However, results suggest that even amid a crisis, some parents had the opportunity to deeply bond with their children.

Implications

We expect this work to encourage stakeholders to consider proper intervention strategies to address potential parental burnout. Also, initiatives that strengthen gender equity within parenting context are needed.
Household Chaos and Early Childhood Behavior Problems: The Moderating Role of Mother–Child Reciprocity inLower‐IncomeFamilies
Authors: Wilhoit Sarah A. , Trentacosta Christopher J. , Beeghly Marjorie , Boeve Jordan L. , Lewis Toni L. , Thomason Moriah E.
Published: June 2021

Objective

The study examined whether mother–child reciprocity across increasingly challenging contexts moderated the association between household chaos and early childhood behavior problems.

Background

Living in a chaotic household is associated with behavioral dysregulation in childhood. An important goal in discordant household contexts is to establish positive aspects of relationships that are associated with more favorable developmental outcomes.

Method

The study analyzed data from 127 mother–child dyads participating in the 3‐year visit in a study of primarily low‐income, African American/Black families in urban areas. Dyads were videotaped during three successive, increasingly challenging, interaction tasks. Multiple regression analyses examined household chaos, dyadic reciprocity, and the interplay of those as predictors of behavior problems.

Results

Greater household chaos was associated with more internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. Moderation analyses indicated that dyadic reciprocity during two challenging interaction tasks (but not during free play) attenuated the association between household chaos and internalizing problems.

Conclusions

Household chaos was not associated with internalizing problems among dyads who had a connected, supportive relationship in more challenging interactive contexts.

Implications

Improving shared positive affect and dyadic harmony in the parent–child relationship may help protect young children against the negative influence of chaotic contexts.
Ultimate ownership and bank competition
Authors: Azar José , Raina Sahil , Schmalz Martin
Published: June 2021

We document substantial time‐series and cross‐sectional variation in branch‐level deposit account interest rates, maintenance fees, and fee thresholds, and examine whether variation in bank concentration helps explain variation in these prices. Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) alone is not correlated with any of the outcome variables. A “generalized HHI” (GHHI) capturing both common ownership (the degree to which banks are commonly owned by the same investors) and cross‐ownership (the extent to which banks own shares in each other), is strongly correlated with all prices, even when we limit cross‐sectional variation in bank ownership to only that predicted by the growth of index funds.
Gelling properties and structure modification of tilapia skin gelatin by the addition of γ‐polyglutamic acid at different pH levels
Authors: Hu Zi‐Zi , Sha Xiao‐Mei , Huang Tao , Yuan Chun‐Hong , Chen Wen‐Mei , Li Xiao‐Xiao , Tu Zong‐Cai
Published: June 2021

Fish gelatin (FG) has similar functional properties to mammalian gelatin and is a potential mammalian gelatin substitute. However, its poor gelling properties limit its application in many fields. Early on, γ‐polyglutamic acid (γ‐PGA) was found to be effective in improving the gel properties of FG. Therefore, the gelling properties and structure of γ‐PGA to FG under different pH levels were further studied in this article. When the pH of the system is 3, γ‐PGA is positively charged; when the pH of the system is ≥5, γ‐PGA is negatively charged, while FG is positively charged, so the change of the pH of the system affects the electrostatic binding ability of FG and γ‐PGA. A γ‐PGA concentration of 0.04% (w/v) and FG at pH 5 yielded the best gelling properties. Moreover, pH affected the formation of helices during gelatin gelation, and it had a significant effect on the nanostructure of FG. The relationship between structure and physicochemical properties was proposed as a schematic model.
Proteins isolated from Ganxet common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landrace: techno‐functional and antioxidant properties
Authors: Aguiló‐Aguayo Ingrid , Álvarez Carlos , Saperas Montse , Rivera Ana , Abadias Maribel , Lafarga Tomás
Published: June 2021

Ganxet protein isolates (GPI) were assessed for antioxidant and functional properties including emulsifying and foaming capacity. The protein content and water activity (aw) value of GPI were 91.08 ± 4.15% and 0.248 ± 0.008%, respectively. The oil‐ and water‐holding capacities of GPI were calculated as 2.76 ± 0.33 and 1.25 ± 0.11 g g−1 of GPI, respectively (P < 0.05). Foaming and emulsifying properties were found to be pH‐dependent (P < 0.05). The highest foaming capacity values were observed at pH 8.0 and 10.0 and were calculated as 86.25 ± 5.30% and 78.75 ± 1.77%, respectively. In addition, the generated emulsions were found to be stable, especially at pH 8.0 and 10.0 with emulsion stability values of 94.1 ± 0.0 and 93.9 ± 0.1, respectively (P < 0.05). Results obtained in the current study demonstrate the potential applications of Ganxet‐derived proteins as techno‐functional ingredients for the development of novel foods.
Discrimination of Kyoho grape (Vitis labruscana) skin, seed and flesh antioxidant activities by solvent extraction: application of advanced chemometrics
Authors: Sridhar Kandi , Charles Albert Linton
Published: June 2021

Grape skin, seed and flesh, a potential source of bioactive compounds, were investigated to discriminate Kyoho skin, seed and flesh antioxidant activities by solvent extraction using chemometrics, including multivariate, discriminant analysis (DA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Multivariate analysis (Wilk's Λ = 0.02 × 10‐4, P < 0.01) explained the discrimination behaviour of phenolics and antioxidants by different solvents. Moreover, DA with three discrimination functions (DFs) and HCA with three well‐defined clusters (clusters 1 to 3) further demonstrated the differences and/or similarities among the solvents. Solvent I (75% ethanol: water) exhibited the different extraction process over the solvents IV (water) and III (acetone: water). Quercetin (39.25 mg kg−1), epicatechin (53.08 mg kg−1) and gallocatechin gallate (1.28 mg kg−1) were the major phenolic compounds in Kyoho skin, seed and flesh extracts, respectively. These further confirmed the chemometric approach that could be used to discriminate solvents. Therefore, these findings suggested the application of chemometrics in extraction studies to understand the role of solvents and high recovery of grape bioactive compounds.
Hot isostatic pressed pyrochlore glass‐ceramics: Revealing structure insides at the reaction interface
Authors: Zhang Yingjie , Wei Tao , Xu Alan , Dayal Pranesh , Gregg Daniel J.
Published: June 2021

As potential waste forms for immobilizing actinide‐rich radioactive wastes, Eu2Ti2O7 (Eu as a surrogate for minor actinides) pyrochlore glass‐ceramics were fabricated via hot isostatic pressing (HIPing) at 1200°C. The structure and microstructure at the reaction interface between the glass‐ceramic waste form and the stainless steel (SS) canister under HIPing conditions were carefully investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and synchrotron single crystal X‐ray diffraction (SC‐XRD). The interactions at the reaction interface led to the formations of a ~10‐µm‐thick Cr2O3 layer as the oxidation front of the SS and a layer of a mixed oxide phase (Eu1.25SiCr0.8Ti1.2O7.5) on the glass‐ceramic side of the reaction interface. The crystal structure of such a unique mixed oxide phase was revealed indubitably with a combination of synchrotron SC‐XRD and TEM assisted with a focused ion beam (FIB) SEM system. The improved structural understanding of the reaction interface will help to support the utilization of HIPing as a versatile hot consolidation process for the treatment of radioactive wastes.
Potential use of essential oils in cosmetic and dermatological hair products: A review
Authors: Abelan Ursulandréa Sanches , de Oliveira Andressa Costa , Cacoci Érica Savassa Pinto , Martins Tércio Elyan Azevedo , Giacon Virginia Mansanares , Velasco Maria Valéria Robles , Lima Cibele Rosana Ribeiro de Castro
Published: June 2021

Background

Essential oils have great interest among the increasing demand for herbal cosmetics in the market. They are natural sources of biologically active ingredients due to the wide application of such compounds as well as their particular chemical composition. Several researches have evaluated the effectiveness of these bioactive ingredients for use in cosmeceuticals, mainly in both hair scalp and shaft hair damage repair. Thus, the amounts and their associations define the properties of these compositions with interest for hair cosmetic use, such as antioxidant, inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities. Because they are complex compounds, their actions on the skin, hair scalp, and shaft are not yet fully understood.

Aims

The purpose of this review is to highlight the relevant researches and findings on essential oils in hair care.

Methods

In order to achieve this objective, the present work comprises an updated bibliographic review related to essential oils used in hair care.

Results

It was possible to observe that cosmeceuticals containing essential oils applied to the scalp are preferable for topical activity. Also, it was noticed that there are few reports regarding their use in hair shaft. However, it was found that some oils are used to intensify the brightness and fix the hair color.

Conclusions

This work demonstrated that the use of essential oils in both cosmetic products (industrial application) and those associated with oils carriers (as individual protocols) may lead to satisfactory results in the treatment of some scalp dysfunctions.
Assessment of clinical efficacy of lidocaine/tetracaine 7%/7% peel cream in fractional microablative laser procedure‐associated pain for facial skin aging treatment. A randomized, controlled, single‐blind trial
Authors: Caprari Elisabetta , Viciguerra Maria Teresa , Milani Massimo
Published: June 2021

Background

Lidocaine/tetracaine 7%/7% peel cream (L/T‐pC) is very effective in reducing pain in several dermatological procedures, such as hair or tattoo laser removal or conventional photodynamic therapy associated pain. Fractional laser resurfacing (FLR) is an effective treatment strategy for facial skin aging. The main drawback of FLR is the procedure‐associated pain. So far, no controlled data are available regarding the efficacy of L/T‐pC in reducing pain during a full‐facial microablative FLR session in subjects with facial skin aging.

Aim

To assess the clinical efficacy of L/T‐pC in reducing pain during microablative FLR treatment in subjects with facial skin aging. We conducted a prospective, randomized, parallel‐group, controlled, single‐blind trial, performed in out‐patients attending to a Laser Clinic for facial skin aging treatment.

Subjects and Methods

A total of 30 subjects (4 men, 26 women; mean age 42 ± 10 years; range 28–57) with mild to moderate facial skin aging (Glogau score ≥2), suitable for FLR treatment, were enrolled after their written informed consent. Participants were randomized to L/T‐pC application (45 min before the laser treatment with the removal of the cream just before the starting of laser session) (n = 20) or to control (emollient cream; n = 10). FLR was performing using a fractional microablative CO2 laser (Smartxide DOT 2 Deka) using a pulse power of 18 W (range 15–20) and pulse duration of 1.5 msec. The primary endpoint was the comparison of the mean visual analogue score (VAS) values between the two groups using a 10‐cm scale (0 = no pain; 10: the most severe pain). The VAS score was measured just after the FLR session. Effective anesthesia (percentage of subjects with a VAS score ≤3) and the assessment of local tolerability and safety of the peel cream were the secondary trial endpoints.

Results

All the enrolled subjects concluded the trial. In the L/T‐pC group, the VAS mean score was 3.0 ± 1.2. In the control group, the VAS mean score was 8.6 ± 0.5, representing a 65% reduction of the VAS score in the active treated group vs. controls. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (p = 0.0001; Mann‐Whitney test) with an absolute difference of −5 ± 0.4 cm; 95%CI of the difference: from −4.6 to −6.4 cm). Adequate anesthesia (VAS score≤3) was reported in 80% of subjects in the active group vs. 0% in the control arm. The cream was very well tolerated. One subject in the active group manifested moderate/severe edema in the cream application area, subsiding in 6 h. No other side effects were reported.

Conclusion

The application of L/T pC 7%/7% peel cream before a fractional laser resurfacing session significantly reduced the procedure‐associated pain with good tolerability and safety profile.
The Cross Section of MBS Returns
Authors: DIEP PETER , EISFELDT ANDREA L. , RICHARDSON SCOTT
Published: June 2021

We present a simple, linear asset pricing model of the cross section of Mortgage‐Backed Security (MBS) returns. MBS earn risk premia as compensation for their exposure to prepayment risk. We measure prepayment risk and estimate risk loadings using prepayment forecasts versus realizations. Estimated loadings on prepayment risk decrease monotonically in securities' coupons relative to the par coupon, consistent with the predicted effect of prepayment on bond value. Prepayment risk appears to be priced by specialized MBS investors. The price of prepayment risk changes sign over time with the sign of a representative MBS investor's exposure to prepayment shocks.
Nonlesional diffusely abnormal appearing white matter in clinically isolated syndrome: Prevalence, association with clinical and MRI features, and risk for conversion to multiple sclerosis
Authors: Holmes R. Davis , Vavasour Irene M. , Greenfield Jamie , Zhao Guojun , Lee Jimmy S. , Moore G. R. Wayne , Tam Roger , Metz Luanne M. , Trablousee Anthony , Li David K. B. , Laule Cornelia
Published: June 2021

Background and Purpose

While diffusely abnormal white matter (DAWM) is a nonlesional MRI abnormality identified in ∼25% of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), it has yet to be investigated in patients at an earlier disease stage, namely clinically isolated syndrome (CIS). The goals of this study were to (1) determine the prevalence of DAWM in patients with a CIS suggestive of MS, (2) evaluate the association between DAWM and demographic, clinical, and MRI features, and (3) evaluate the prognostic significance of DAWM on conversion from CIS to MS.

Methods

One hundred and forty‐two CIS participants were categorized into DAWM and non‐DAWM groups at baseline and followed for up to 24 months or until MS diagnosis. The primary outcome was conversion to MS (2005 McDonald criteria) within 6 months.

Results

DAWM was present in 27.5% of participants, and was positively associated with brainstem symptom onset, receiving corticosteroids, dissemination in space, and T2 lesion volume. DAWM was associated with an increased risk of conversion to MS over 6 months after adjustment for age and disability (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.24, p = 0.004). This association remained at a trend‐level after adjustment for high‐risk imaging features (HR = 1.68, p = 0.10).

Conclusions

DAWM is present in a similar proportion of patients with CIS and clinically definite MS, and it is associated with increased risk of conversion to MS over 6 months.
A disaster always rings twice: Early life experiences and central bankers' reactions to natural disasters
Authors: Aslam Maqsood , Farvaque Etienne , Malan Franck
Published: June 2021

We analyze the impact of natural disasters experienced in the early life of central bankers to assess their reaction to present‐day similar events. We use a panel dataset covering 68 (developed and developing) countries, for the period 2000 Q1 to 2017 Q4, to examine how the very‐short‐run dynamics of inflation is affected by the (actual) natural disasters, and how past experiences affect the immediate reaction of central bankers to these shocks. Our results reveal that the effect of early‐life experiences is significant: central bankers who have been exposed to disasters in early life tend to manage inflation in a more conservative way in the very‐short‐run. The effect disappears over the course of one year, and central bankers with superior voting power have a larger influence on outcomes. Younger central bankers are more conservative than older ones, which may reveal that the early‐life disasters' impact decays over time. The European Central Bank (ECB) appears immune to such influences, in conformity with expectations given the ECB's federal architecture and the size of the area it administers. The behavior revealed by our results thus signifies that central banks tend, on average to avoid any inflationary bias, inducing that the long‐run impact of a disaster suffered in the formative years of an individual can bring socially positive consequences, when such an individual becomes governor of her country's central bank.
Increased visceral sensitivity, elevated anxiety, and depression levels in patients with functional esophageal disorders and non‐erosive reflux disease
Authors: Losa Marco , Manz Salomon M. , Schindler Valeria , Savarino Edoardo , Pohl Daniel
Published: June 2021

Background

Little is known about possible underlying psychological abnormalities and physiology of reflux hypersensitivity (RH) as defined in the recent Rome IV classification. We aimed to assess markers of psychological comorbidity as well as gastro‐esophageal reflux measurements in RH patients compared to controls and also in patients with functional heartburn (FH) and non‐erosive reflux disease (NERD) versus controls.

Methods

Data of 304 patients visiting our Functional Diagnostics Centre from 2016 to 2018 were analyzed. We focused on a psychological assessment using validated questionnaires (visceral sensitivity index; VSI, hospital anxiety and depression score; HADS) as well as multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) and pH‐metry data from the diagnostic work‐up.

Key Results

We found a decreased VSI of 57.8 ± 15.4 points (pts) among RH patients (n = 45) indicating higher visceral sensitivity compared to 85.7 ± 2.0 pts in the control group (n = 31, P < 0.001). Furthermore, a significant difference in VSI was found between the FH (60.8 ± 23.3 pts, n = 59, P < 0.001) and between the NERD (61.9 ± 20.8 pts, n = 67, P < 0.001) both compared to the control group. The HADS also displayed a significant difference between the RH (11.9 ± 6.0 pts, P < 0.001), FH (11.0 ± 7.4 pts, P < 0.001), respectively, NERD (11.3 ± 8.9 pts, P < 0.001) as compared to the control group (2.0 ± 1.4 pts).

Conclusions and Inferences

Increased sensation to visceral stimuli as well as anxiety and depression appears to play an important role not only in reflux hypersensitivity and functional heartburn as defined by Rome IV but also in NERD. These findings are in line with the disease concept of disorders of gut‐brain interaction in which psychological comorbidities and visceral hypersensitivity play a major role.
Attitudes of a geriatric population towards risks about COVID‐19 pandemic: in the context of anxiety and depression
Authors: Yurumez Korkmaz Busra , Gemci Emine , Cosarderelioglu Caglar , Yigit Seher , Atmis Volkan , Yalcin Ahmet , Varli Murat , Aras Sevgi
Published: June 2021

Background

A curfew for elderly people was announced in Turkey to protect the geriatric population during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Although this may have the beneficial effect of preventing infection, psychological distress may also increase with prolongation of the pandemic.

Methods

Geriatric patients were interviewed by telephone due to the ongoing curfew. Demographical characteristics, comorbidities, personal risk perception of COVID‐19, common concerns related to COVID‐19, and experiences of delayed hospital admission due to the pandemic were recorded. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess psychological distress, anxiety, and depression.

Results

Participants (n = 136; 82 females, 60.3%) had a mean age of 73.4 ± 5.9 years. The most common comorbidity was hypertension (75%). Approximately 80% of the participants reported a decrease in physical activity during the curfew period. The HADS scores indicated rates of anxiety as 25.7% and depression as 16.9%. Anxiety was significantly more common in females than males (P = 0.002). Sleep problems (P = 0.000), fatigue (P = 0.000), and hopelessness (P = 0.000) were more common in participants with depression and anxiety. Logistic regression analyses showed an association between a delay in hospital admission and the presence of depression (P = 0.0029, R2 = 0.146). Personal risk perception of COVID‐19 was statistically significantly higher among patients with anxiety (P = 0.0027, R2 = 0.157).

Conclusion

Decreased adaptation to external and internal factors among older individuals may facilitate unfavourable outcomes of the pandemic. These results indicate that the geriatric population was mentally and physically affected by the restrictions and isolation.