bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exposure to Sexually Explicit Materials and Feelings after Exposure among Adolescents in Nine European Countries: The Role of Individual Factors and Social Characteristics
Authors: Lebedíková Michaela , Mýlek Vojtěch , Subrahmanyam Kaveri , Šmahel David
Published: August 2022

Research on adolescents’ sexual exposure has mostly focused on negcative outcomes using a risk-based lens, and there is little work on the factors that may predict exposure, as well as youths’ emotional responses to sexual content. Using a cross-national sample, the present study examined the associations of individual (sensation seeking and emotional problems) and social characteristics (the quality of family environment, including active and restrictive parental mediation) with adolescents’ exposure to sexually explicit materials and their feelings after exposure. The survey included 8,820 11- to 16-year-olds (Mage = 13.36 years, SD = 1.62, 48.0% male) from nine European countries (Czech Republic, Finland, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland). The results revealed that although there were differences in the prevalence of youths’ sexual exposure by country, there were also similarities in the characteristics underlying exposure and subsequent feelings across different country contexts. No significant relationship was found between active parental mediation and exposure in most countries, and the findings regarding restrictive parental mediation were mixed. Although the majority of the participants reported neutral feelings, there were gender differences in feeling happy and upset after exposure. Overall, the results suggest that exposure may not be as distressing to youth as prevalent risk-focused narratives have suggested.
Element stoichiometry and nutrient limitation in bog plant and lichen species
Authors: Wieder R. Kelman
Published: August 2022

Ombrotrophic bogs receive new inputs of elements solely through atmospheric deposition, except for N where inputs are predominantly through N2-fixation, at least in low N deposition environments. At various locations across the globe, including the Athabasca Oil Sands Region (AOSR) of northern Alberta, Canada, element atmospheric deposition has increased as a result of anthropogenic activities. Regional and/or global deposition gradients offer an opportunity to examine questions related to nutrient limitation and element stoichiometry, i.e., the maintenance of relatively constant element ratios in bog lichen/plant tissues despite differing element deposition/availability. Using a dataset of tissue element concentrations in eight lichen/plant species in six AOSR bogs, supplemented with literature data from other sites globally, this synthesis asks: is there evidence of element stoichiometric homeostasis in lichen or plant species in AOSR bogs; if so, do stoichiometric homeostasis relationships extend globally beyond the AOSR, and; do element ratios provide insight into element limitation for the eight species? Mean element ratios and their coefficients of variation, ternary NPK and CaMgK plots, and scaling coefficients revealed widespread evidence of stoichiometric homeostasis. Stoichiometric relationships generally were unaffected by differences in element deposition among the AOSR bogs. Stoichiometric relationships sometimes extended to a species globally, but sometimes did not. Element ratios and ternary diagrams suggested a combination of N-, P-, and K-limitation, both within and beyond the AOSR bogs. Regionally high atmospheric N deposition may have shifted some species from N-limitation prior to the Industrial Revolution to P- or K-limitation today.
Silica nanostructures against fungal growth: design and preparation of antifungal cotton fabrics
Authors: Liu Ming , Granados Albert , Reyes-Mesa David , Arosemena-Angulo E. Leonardo , Calvo-Torras María Ángeles , Pleixats Roser , Vallribera Adelina
Published: August 2022

The preparation of antifungal-functionalized silica nanoparticles by covalent attachment of several silylated derivatives based on the topical antifungal agent Micozanole is described. Grafting and co-condensation procedures are used to obtain mesoporous or dense nanoparticles. Cotton fabrics have been coated with these antifungal-functionalized silica nanoparticles under ultrasonic conditions. The characterization of the functionalized nanoparticles and coated cotton fabrics is performed by microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. The antifungal activity of all the modified cotton textiles is tested against Trichophyton mentagrophytes CECT 2783, Aspergillus brasiliensis CECT 2091, Penicillium chrysogenum CECT 2307 and Candida albicans CECT 1001, resulting to be highly dependent on the microorganism. Remarkably, all of the modified fabrics are active against Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophytes, with up to 75 and 90% effectiveness, respectively. High expectations arise for topical cutaneous applications in wound dressings (bandages, gauzes, strips).

Graphical abstract
G﻿lobal phylogeography of ridley sea turtles (Lepidochelys spp.): evolution, demography, connectivity, and conservation
Authors: Vilaça Sibelle Torres , Hahn Anelise Torres , Naro-Maciel Eugenia , Abreu-Grobois F. Alberto , Bowen Brian W. , Castilhos Jaqueline C. , Ciofi Claudio , FitzSimmons Nancy N. , Jensen Michael P. , Formia Angela , Limpus Colin J. , Natali Chiara , Soares Luciano S. , de Thoisy Benoit , Whiting Scott D. , Bonatto Sandro L.
Published: August 2022

Globally distributed marine taxa are well suited for investigations of biogeographic impacts on genetic diversity, connectivity, and population demography. The sea turtle genus Lepidochelys includes the wide-ranging and abundant olive ridley (L. olivacea), and the geographically restricted and ‘Critically Endangered’ Kemp’s ridley (L. kempii). To investigate their historical biogeography, we analyzed a large dataset of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences from olive (n = 943) and Kemp’s (n = 287) ridleys, and genotyped 15 nuclear microsatellite loci in a global sample of olive ridleys (n = 285). We found that the ridley species split ~ 7.5 million years ago, before the Panama Isthmus closure. The most ancient mitochondrial olive ridley lineage, located in the Indian Ocean, was dated to ~ 2.2 Mya. Both mitochondrial and nuclear markers revealed significant structure for olive ridleys between Atlantic (ATL), East Pacific (EP), and Indo-West Pacific (IWP) areas. However, the divergence of mtDNA clades was very recent (< 1 Mya) with low within- clade diversity, supporting a recurrent extinction-recolonization model for these ocean regions. All data showed that ATL and IWP groups were more closely related than those in the EP, with mtDNA data supporting recent recolonization of the ATL from the IWP. Individual olive ridley dispersal between the ATL, EP, and IN/IWP could be interpreted as more male- than female-biased, and genetic diversity was lowest in the Atlantic Ocean. All populations showed signs of recent expansion, and estimated time frames were concordant with their recent colonization history. Investigating species abundance and distribution changes over time is central to evolutionary biology, and this study provides a historical biogeographic context for marine vertebrate conservation and management.
Velvet antler polypeptide combined with calcium phosphate coating to protect peripheral nerve cells from oxidative stress
Authors: Mao Renqun , Du Dalian , Zhu Xiaodi , Li Wenqing
Published: August 2022

Functionalizing biomaterial substrates with biological signals shows promise in regulating cell behaviors through mimicking cellular microenvironment. Calcium phosphate (CaP) coating is an excellent carrier for immobilizing biological molecules due to its non-toxicity, good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and favorable affinity to plenty of molecules. In this study, we reported the adhesion, the viability and proliferation behaviors after oxidative stress injury of Schwann cells RSC96 on CaP immobilized with the Velvet Antler Peptide (VAP) isolated from velvet antler through coprecipitation process in modified Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline (DPBS) containing VAP. This approach provided well retention of functional molecules up to 28 days, and supported the adhesion and proliferation of RSC96 after oxidative stress injury without cytotoxicity. The simple and reproducible method of coprecipitation suggests that CaP is an ideal carrier to functionalize materials with biological molecules for peripheral nerve repair-related applications.
‘Bush kinders’: developing early years learners technology and engineering understandings
Authors: Speldewinde Chris , Campbell Coral
Published: August 2022

Developing a knowledge of design and construction technology and engineering is often overlooked in favour of ‘digital’ technology such as tablets and computers. By taking children outdoors into nature, removing tablets and computers as well as artificial and synthetic materials and replacing them with only what nature provides, children become attuned to developing STEM knowledge through play with natural materials. This knowledge often develops through teacher support and at times by default, as children experience the constantly changing landscape of the natural environment. The development of children’s understandings of ‘nature’s’ technology and engineering provides an opportunity for further investigation of nature-based early childhood education and care settings. Through research conducted at four Australian bush kindergartens, this paper presents data from photographs, interviews and observations undertaken of twelve teachers and over one hundred and twenty children. It responds to the research question, how do early years learners develop their understanding of technology and engineering by engaging in nature-based learning? The research was undertaken using ethnography, a useful method in nature settings as the approach enables a deep understanding of how children develop their understandings of applying technology and engineering over time. The data demonstrate the benefits preschool children can gain from learning and being ‘in’ and ‘with’ nature and the important role bush kinders play in supporting children’s technological and engineering literacy. Findings reveal that through their participation in bush kinder, children can develop technological and engineering knowledge.
Shutting the studio: the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on architectural education in the United Kingdom
Authors: Grover Robert , Wright Alexander
Published: August 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic instigated a rapid shift to remote learning in schools of architecture in the United Kingdom. Through the largest survey of its kind of architectural students and tutors in the UK, this research compares experiences in the physical design studio and its remote equivalent. The context of the pandemic provided a unique opportunity to survey a range of cohorts, at different stages in their architectural education to compare these two modes of studio delivery. The findings show a fall in student satisfaction after the move to remote learning in every metric assessed. Peer interaction and support were particularly effected. More formal teaching interactions, such as reviews, crits and tutorials, also suffered but to a lesser extent. For teaching staff, some small improvements in the working environment were observed as well as organisational factors. However, these small gains were outweighed by the negative changes. The research suggests that despite the replication of teaching activities digitally, the situated learning of design education and the facilitation of informal learning scenarios are critical components of design education. This research contributes to the ongoing characterisation of architectural education’s signature pedagogy and suggests that for effective remote learning, design studio education must be reconceptualised, and alternative pedagogies embraced. This can direct educators looking to develop remote design studio learning as well as highlighting areas in which the traditional model of architectural education may be enhanced.
The Needs and Experiences of Parents with Psychosis: A Qualitative Interview Study
Authors: Radley Jessica , Barlow Jane , Johns Louise C.
Published: August 2022

Over a third of individuals diagnosed with a psychotic disorder are also a parent. The symptoms of psychosis and side effects of antipsychotic medication can impact on parents’ awareness of the needs of their children and, at times, the parent may be emotionally and practically unavailable to their child. This study assessed the expressed emotion of parents with psychosis and used qualitative methods to investigate their needs and experience in order to identify how best to support this parent group. Twelve parents with a diagnosed psychotic disorder and with a child aged between 3 and 11 years took part in semi-structured interviews. The majority of parents displayed high levels of warmth and low levels of negativity towards their child. Four themes were generated using reflexive thematic analysis: (1) the impact of psychosis on parenting, (2) the need to protect their child, (3) the need to feel normal, and (4) the impact of parenting stress on psychosis. These results showed how parents want to protect their children and feel normal despite experiencing psychosis. They also highlighted the cyclical relationship between parenting stress and psychotic symptoms, whereby psychotic symptoms can impact on a parent’s capacity to care for their child and parenting stress can exacerbate psychotic symptoms.
Smart retrofitting in maintenance: a systematic literature review
Authors: Sanchez-Londono David , Barbieri Giacomo , Fumagalli Luca
Published: August 2022

The last decade saw the rise of digitalization and data-supported decision making in the manufacturing industry: the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This trend, also known as Industry 4.0, allows manufacturing enterprises to discover manufacturing uncertainties and measure their real manufacturing capability. One of the ways in which Industry 4.0 trends have been exploited is in the improvement of maintenance, which went from following planning-focused paradigms to more proactive-focused stances. Enabling the Industry 4.0 vision for maintenance purposes has historically required companies to either replace or upgrade their existing legacy devices. It is through the latter course of action that Smart retrofitting in maintenance (SRM) intends to bring value to enterprises. This work aims to present a systematic literature review on SRM, utilizing the oft-cited PRISMA methodology. Through this analysis, a definition of SRM that reflects the current state of the art is proposed. Furthermore, the research in SRM applied in the context of different maintenance strategies is assessed (i.e. reactive, planned, proactive and strategic maintenance), and the most common drivers and challenges in SRM are presented. Finally, a roadmap for the implementation of SRM is proposed. The analysis of the SRM literature reveals that there are important research opportunities in the exploitation of SRM for strategic maintenance and asset management. The authors hope that this document leads to the consolidation of a new research area that aims to add value to maintenance in enterprises through the application of smart retrofitting in preexisting legacy devices.
Unraveling the temperature-dependent plastic deformation mechanisms of polycrystalline Ta implants through numerical analysis of grain boundary dynamics
Authors: Kardani A. , Montazeri A. , Urbassek H. M.
Published: August 2022

Nanostructured tantalum (Ta)-based dental implants have recently attracted significant attention thanks to their superior biocompatibility and bioactivity as compared to their titanium-based counterparts. While the biological and chemical aspects of Ta implants have been widely studied, their mechanical features have been investigated more rarely. Additionally, the mechanical behavior of these implants and, more importantly, their plastic deformation mechanisms are still not fully understood. Accordingly, in the current research, molecular dynamics simulation as a powerful tool for probing the atomic-scale phenomena is utilized to explore the microstructural evolution of pure polycrystalline Ta samples under tensile loading conditions. Various samples with an average grain size of 2–10 nm are systematically examined using various crystal structure analysis tools to determine the underlying deformation mechanisms. The results reveal that for the samples with an average grain size larger than 8 nm, twinning and dislocation slip are the main sources of any plasticity induced within the sample. For finer-grained samples, the activity of grain boundaries—including grain elongation, rotation, migration, and sliding—are the most important mechanisms governing the plastic deformation. Finally, the temperature-dependent Hall–Petch breakdown is thoroughly examined for the nanocrystalline samples via identification of the grain boundary dynamics.
Expenditure on Paid-for Gambling Advertising During the National COVID-19 ‘Lockdowns’: An Observational Study of Media Monitoring Data from the United Kingdom
Authors: Critchlow Nathan , Hunt Kate , Wardle Heather , Stead Martine
Published: August 2022

Changes in gambling advertising during national COVID-19 ‘lockdowns’, when stay-at-home rules restricted participation in certain gambling activities, provides important context to variance in gambling behaviour during these periods. This study describes expenditure on paid-for gambling advertising during three national lockdowns, compares expenditure to pre-pandemic estimates, and compares changes in expenditure by subsector. Data come from an observational study of weekly expenditure on paid-for gambling advertising in the United Kingdom (n = 135 weeks; beginning 2019 to mid-2021), focusing on three COVID-19 lockdowns: (1) March-May 2020; (2) November-December 2020; and (3) January-March 2021. We descriptively analysed how total advertising expenditure in each lockdown (£GBP, inflation-adjusted) compared to the same time points in 2019, both overall and by subsector (bookmakers, lotteries, online bingo, online casino and poker, gaming, pools, mobile content). Gambling advertising expenditure during lockdown one was 38.5% lower than 2019 (£43.5 million[m] vs. £70.7 m, respectively), with decreases across all subsectors (range: -81.7% [bookmakers] to -2.8% [online bingo]). Total advertising expenditure in lockdown two was 49.3% higher than 2019 (£51.7 m vs. £34.6 m), with increases for 5/7 subsectors (range: -31.6% [mobile content] to + 103.8% [bookmakers]). In lockdown three, advertising expenditure was 5.9% higher than 2019 (£91.2 m vs. £86.1 m), with increases for 4/7 subsectors (range: -92.4% [pools] to + 49.2% [mobile content]). Reductions in advertising expenditure in lockdown one are congruent with self-reported reductions in overall gambling also observed during this period. Further research is needed to determine whether increased advertising expenditure in lockdowns two and three correlates with increased gambling, overall and for specific subsectors.
Radionuclide metrology: confidence in radioactivity measurements
Authors: Pommé Stefaan
Published: August 2022

Radionuclides, whether naturally occurring or artificially produced, are readily detected through their particle and photon emissions following nuclear decay. Radioanalytical techniques use the radiation as a looking glass into the composition of materials, thus providing valuable information to various scientific disciplines. Absolute quantification of the measurand often relies on accurate knowledge of nuclear decay data and detector calibrations traceable to the SI units. Behind the scenes of the radioanalytical world, there is a small community of radionuclide metrologists who provide the vital tools to convert detection rates into activity values. They perform highly accurate primary standardisations of activity to establish the SI-derived unit becquerel for the most relevant radionuclides, and demonstrate international equivalence of their standards through key comparisons. The trustworthiness of their metrological work crucially depends on painstaking scrutiny of their methods and the elaboration of comprehensive uncertainty budgets. Through meticulous methodology, rigorous data analysis, performance of reference measurements, technological innovation, education and training, and organisation of proficiency tests, they help the user community to achieve confidence in measurements for policy support, science, and trade. The author dedicates the George Hevesy Medal Award 2020 to the current and previous generations of radionuclide metrologists who have devoted their professional lives to this noble endeavour.
Queueing and risk models with dependencies
Authors: Boxma O. J. , Mandjes M. R. H.
Published: August 2022

This paper analyzes various stochastic recursions that arise in queueing and insurance risk models with a ‘semi-linear’ dependence structure. For example, an interarrival time depends on the workload, or the capital, immediately after the previous arrival; or the service time of a customer depends on her waiting time. In each case, we derive and solve a fixed-point equation for the Laplace–Stieltjes transform of a key performance measure of the model, like waiting time or ruin time.
Validation of the EQ-5D-5L and psychosocial bolt-ons in a large cohort of people living with multiple sclerosis in Australia
Authors: Campbell Julie A. , Ahmad Hasnat , Chen Gang , van der Mei Ingrid , Taylor Bruce V. , Claflin Suzi , Henson Glen J. , Simpson-Yap Steve , Laslett Laura L. , Hawkes Kirsty , Hurst Carol , Waugh Hilary , Palmer Andrew J.
Published: August 2022

Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory, neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system which results in disability over time and reduced quality of life. To increase the sensitivity of the EQ-5D-5L for psychosocial health, four bolt-on items from the AQoL-8D were used to create the nine-item EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial. We aimed to externally validate the EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial in a large cohort of people with MS (pwMS) and explore the discriminatory power of the new instrument with EQ-5D-5L/AQoL-8D.

Methods

A large representative sample from the Australian MS Longitudinal Study completed the AQoL-8D and EQ-5D-5L (including EQ VAS) and both instruments health state utilities (HSUs) were scored using Australian tariffs. Sociodemographic/clinical data were also collected. External validity of EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial scoring algorithm was assessed with mean absolute errors (MAE) and Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Discriminatory sensitivity was assessed with an examination of ceiling/floor effects, and disability severity classifications.

Results

Among 1683 participants (mean age: 58.6 years; 80% female), over half (55%) had moderate or severe disability. MAE (0.063) and the distribution of the prediction error were similar to the original development study. Mean (± standard deviation) HSUs were EQ-5D-5L: 0.58 ± 0.32, EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial 0.62 ± 0.29, and AQoL-8D: 0.63 ± 0.20.N = 157 (10%) scored perfect health (i.e. HSU = 1.0) on the EQ-5D-5L, but reported a mean HSU of 0.90 on the alternative instruments. The Sleep bolt-on dimension was particularly important for pwMS.

Conclusions

The EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial is more sensitive than the EQ-5D-5L in pwMS whose HSUs approach those reflecting full health. When respondent burden is taken into account, the EQ-5D-5L-Psychosocial is preferential to the AQoL-8D. We suggest a larger confirmatory study comparing all prevalent multi-attribute utility instruments for pwMS.
Sex differences in quality of life of patients following percutaneous coronary intervention in Vietnam
Authors: Vu Hoa , Norman Richard , Pham Ngoc M. , Nguyen Hoai T. T. , Pham Hung M. , Nguyen Quang N. , Do Loi D. , Reid Christopher M.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Data regarding the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in men and women after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in low-and-middle incomes countries remains scarce. To investigate sex difference in the HRQoL at 30 days and 12 months post PCI in Vietnam.

Methods

We used data from a single percutaneous coronary registry established in the Vietnam National Heart Institute. The HRQoL was measured using the EQ-5D-3L instrument via telephone interviews, and information about demographics, clinical presentation and procedures was obtained through face-to-face interviews and medical records. The HRQoL between men and women were compared using independent samples t tests, the Mann–Whitney U test or univariate/multivariate logistic regression.

Results

There were 866 patients included in this cohort, with the proportion of women being nearly half of men (32.1 vs 67.9%). Women were 3.5 years older, had lower income and educational levels but greater prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. At 30 days, women significantly had more problems in mobility, personal care and pain/discomfort compared to men. At 12 months, women had more problem than men in usual activity. The geometric means of HRQoL was lower in women at 30 days, but not in 12 months. From 30 days to 12 months after discharge, women showed better recovery in mobility compared to men, but not in other dimensions.

Conclusions

In this first insight of sex differences in HRQoL following PCI in Vietnam, women appeared to have worse quality of life, especially at 30 days after discharge but they showed better recovery in mobility at 12 months compared to men.
Percolativity of Porous Media
Authors: Hilfer R. , Hauskrecht J.
Published: August 2022

Connectivity and connectedness are nonadditive geometric functionals on the set of pore scale structures. They determine transport of mass, volume or momentum in porous media, because without connectivity there cannot be transport. Percolativity of porous media is introduced here as a geometric descriptor of connectivity, that can be computed from the pore scale and persists to the macroscale through a suitable upscaling limit. It is a measure that combines local percolation probabilities with a probability density of ratios of eigenvalues of the tensor of local percolating directions. Percolativity enters directly into generalized effective medium approximations. Predictions from these generalized effective medium approximations are found to be compatible with apparently anisotropic Archie correlations observed in experiment.
Triple-renewable energy system for electricity production and water desalination
Authors: Abdelsalam Emad , Almomani Fares , Alnawafah Hamza , Alrashed Radi
Published: August 2022

This work presents a novel triple-renewable energy system (TRES) that is based on integrating the photovoltaic panels (PVPs), conventional solar chimney (CSC), and cooling tower (CT) in one structure. The ultimate objective of the proposed TRES system is to produce electrical power (Pelc), desalinated water (Dw), and if required cooling utilities. The components of the system include a chimney tower, collector, base, PVPs, water pool, bi-directional turbine, and water sprinklers. The TRES system can be operated as CSC during the daytime and CT at night providing 24-h operation. The PVPs were integrated within the structure to increase the Pelc production and enhance the process performance by heating the air inside the system. The TRES structure increased the efficiency to 0.860% in comparison with the CSC (0.313%). The annual Pelc production from the TRES system was found to be 792 MWh compared with only 380 MWh generated by the CSC achieving 2.1 folds overall improvement. The CSC-PV and CT contributed to 47% (494 MWh) and 24% (253 MWh) of the Pelc production, respectively. The annual Dw production was found to be 1.2-fold higher (163,142 tons) higher than the CSC (139,443 tons). The newly developed TRES system offers a great potential to produce Pelc and Dw and save fossil fuel consumption while reducing the emissions of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) to the atmosphere.
Ice Lenses Beneath Hummocks in a Temperate Rich Fen
Authors: Jabłońska Ewa
Published: August 2022

The study documents a process of ice lenses persistence under hummocks during spring snowmelt in a rich fen in Poland. Air temperature, as well as the temperature under vascular plant litter, Hamatocaulis vernicosus mat, Tomentypnum nitens hummocks and Sphagnum teres hummocks, was measured from December to March using temperature data loggers. The Capital Asset Pricing Model was adapted to analyse relationships between air temperature and temperature under litter and mosses. Sphagnum teres best insulated the temperature of the upper peat layer from changing air temperatures and maintained frozen peat under its hummocks the longest (for about a month after the frost had stopped). Tomentypnum nitens insulated similarly effectively in winter, also maintaining the ice lenses under its hummocks, but less effectively in warmer spring, which may be due to differences in hummock structure between the two species. The observed phenomenon may soon disappear due to global warming, which may affect the fen functioning.
Noninvasive Assessment of Sex Differences in Arterial Load in Healthy Adults
Authors: Lu Jing , Yin Lixue
Published: August 2022

Background

Women have higher risk of heart failure than their male counterparts. Although the mechanical inefficiency of myocardium against an excessive afterload is an important reason of heart failure, little attention has been paid to the sex differences in arterial load and its clinical relevance.

Results

The effective arterial elastance index (EaI), total arterial compliance index (TACI), and systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) were determined using transthoracic echocardiography combined with cuff-measured brachial blood pressure in 460 healthy adults (230 men). The sex differences in these arterial load indexes were analyzed. No statistical difference was found in the age, heart rate, and stroke volume index (all P < 0.05). After adjustment for the cuff-measured blood pressure; the estimated marginal means (95% CIs) of the EaI was higher in women than in men [0.972 (0.952–0.991) vs 0.743 (0.724–0.763) mmHg m2/mL, P < 0.001], the TACI was lower in women than in men [0.924 (0.905–0.944) vs 1.055 (1.036–1.075) mL/mm Hg m2, P < 0.001], and no statistical difference was found in the SVRI between sexes (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

For any given cuff-measured blood pressure, greater integrated and pulsatile arterial load are imposed on left ventricle in women than in men, which is a piece of evidence that women have higher risk of heart failure than their counterparts.
The Political Economy of NGO Service Provision
Authors: Springman Jeremy
Published: August 2022

The share of basic services that NGOs deliver has grown dramatically in developing countries due to increased receipt of aid and philanthropy in these countries. Many scholars and practitioners worry that NGOs reduce reliance on government services and, in turn, lower demand for government provision and undermine political engagement. Others argue that NGOs prop-up poorly performing governments that receive undeserved credit for the production, allocation, or welfare effects of NGO services. Using original surveys and a randomized health intervention, implemented in parallel to a similar universal government program, this article investigates the long-term effect of NGO provision on political attitudes and behavior. Access to NGO services increased preferences for NGO, relative to government, provision. However, political engagement and perceptions of government legitimacy were unaffected. Instead, the intervention generated political credit for the incumbent president. This study finds that citizens see NGOs as a resource that powerful government actors control, and they reward actors who they see as responsible for allocation of those resources.
The final frontier? Why we have been ignoring second language attrition, and why it is time we stopped
Authors: Schmid Monika S.
Published: August 2022

Instructed foreign language knowledge – that is, language skills acquired exclusively in the classroom without the benefit of any significant immersion experience – remains a vastly neglected area of studies on language learning in general and language attrition in particular. There is also little consideration of foreign language attrition and maintenance as a problem for policy or pedagogy.

The present talk will give an overview of what is and what is not known about second language (L2) attrition at the present time. It will then present the results from a pilot project that will hopefully serve as the foundation for larger studies of instructed L2 attrition in future years.
FORTE Measurements of Global Lightning Altitudes
Authors: Peterson Michael
Published: August 2022

While multiple lightning detection systems provide geographical locations of lightning events across the globe, robust lightning altitude measurements on a global scale have proven elusive. Space‐based platforms have an advantageous viewing geometry for making these measurements, but prior studies with the Fast On‐orbit Recording of Transient Events (FORTE) satellite were limited to a few thousand events. In this study, we apply the same technique for calculating source altitude from the previous efforts to a large catalog of hundreds of thousands of global FORTE in‐cloud lightning events that were coincident with flashes geolocated by its lightning imager between 1997 and 2003. We use this new data set to document global variations in lightning altitude. As in previous studies, we find that FORTE primarily resolves sources from the upper (positive) charge layer at ∼11 km altitude in normal thunderstorms. However, sources are also recorded from other charge layers in the storm and from leaders developing between layers. In particular, we note a pronounced increase in source altitude in the first 20 ms of FORTE flashes from the negative leader developing upward into the upper positive charge layer. Regions known for wintertime and/or stratiform lightning have increased contributions from low‐altitude sources, while tropical regions particularly around Panama and the Maritime Continent have the greatest concentrations of high‐altitude sources.
Application of Recurrent Neural Network to Modeling Earth's Global Electron Density
Authors: Huang Sheng , Li Wen , Shen Xiao‐Chen , Ma Qianli , Chu Xiangning , Ma Donglai , Bortnik Jacob , Capannolo Luisa , Nishimura Yukitoshi , Goldstein Jerry
Published: August 2022

The total electron density is a fundamental quantity in the Earth's magnetosphere and plays an important role in a number of physical processes, but its dynamic global evolution is not fully quantified yet. We present an implementation of a specific type of recurrent neural network (encoder‐decoder), which is distinct from previous models, to construct global electron density based on the multiyear data from Van Allen Probes. The history of geomagnetic indices is first encoded into a hidden state H, then together with auxiliary information (satellite location), they are decoded into the quantity of interest (total electron density in this study). In this process the input of historical geomagnetic indices is detangled from the satellite location and is processed chronologically by the encoder. As a result, time evolution of geomagnetic indices is explicitly embedded in the structure and the encoded hidden state H can be viewed as the representation of the inner magnetospheric state. The magnetospheric state is then decoded to predict global electron density evolution. Our results show that the model can capture the dynamical evolution of total electron density with the formation and evolution of stable and evident plume configurations that roughly agree with global observations. Our findings demonstrate the importance of applying recurrent neural networks to specify the inner magnetospheric state in a novel way, which will potentially improve our fundamental understanding of wave and particle dynamics in the Earth's magnetosphere.
Sensitivities of General Circulation and Waves to Horizontal Subgrid‐Scale Diffusion in Long‐Term Time Integrations of a Dynamical Core for Venus
Authors: Yamamoto M. , Takahashi M.
Published: August 2022

Super‐rotation and waves are sensitive to horizontal subgrid‐scale fourth‐order diffusion in long‐term time integrations of a dynamical core under a Venus‐like condition. The rigid‐body rotation component of the super‐rotation intensifies as the diffusion strengthens, and the fluid dynamic similarity of the nondimensional winds is found among the different diffusions. In the experiments with weak diffusion, the super‐rotation is weak in the presence of strong poleward eddy heat flux, enhancing the downward angular momentum transport by the Eliassen–Palm (E–P) flux. In contrast, the strong super‐rotation is developed, and both the poleward eddy heat and vertical E–P fluxes are weak in the strong horizontal diffusion experiments. Because the waves with high zonal wave numbers and poleward heat fluxes are strongly dissipated, the vertical E–P fluxes become weak and the contribution of subgrid‐scale vertical diffusion becomes large in the momentum budget. As the horizontal diffusion strengthens, the phase velocities of the equatorial waves increase due to the faster background zonal flow (i.e., mean zonal flow). Although strong empirical diffusion produces strong super‐rotation, it is still unknown whether it is valid. Thus, we must carefully assess the robustness of the super‐rotation in the long‐term simulation based on the sensitivity test of horizontal diffusion.
High dose androgen suppresses natural killer cytotoxicity of castration-resistant prostate cancer cells via altering AR/circFKBP5/miRNA-513a-5p/PD-L1 signals
Authors: Tang Min , Sun Yin , Huang Chi-Ping , Chen Lei , Liu Bianjiang , You Bosen , Wang Zengjun , Chang Chawnshang
Published: August 2022

Most advanced prostate cancer (PCa) patients initially respond well to androgen deprivation therapy, but almost all eventually develop castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Early studies indicated the bipolar androgen therapy via a cycling of high dose and low dose of androgen to suppress PCa growth might be effective in a select patient population. The detailed mechanisms, however, remain unclear. Here we found the capacity of natural killer (NK) cells to suppress the CRPC cells could be suppressed by a high dose of dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Mechanism dissection indicates that transactivated AR can increase circularRNA-FKBP5 (circFKBP5) expression, which could sponge/inhibit miR-513a-5p that suppresses the PD-L1 expression via direct binding to its 3ʹUTR to negatively impact immune surveillance from NK cells. Preclinical data from in vitro cell lines and an in vivo mouse model indicate that targeting PD-L1 with sh-RNA or anti-PD-L1 antibody can enhance the high dose DHT effect to better suppress CRPC cell growth. These findings may help us to develop novel therapies via combination of high dose androgen with PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitors to better suppress CRPC progression.
Imaging Cu2O nanocube hollowing in solution by quantitative in situ X-ray ptychography
Authors: Grote Lukas , Seyrich Martin , Döhrmann Ralph , Harouna-Mayer Sani Y. , Mancini Federica , Kaziukenas Emilis , Fernandez-Cuesta Irene , A. Zito Cecilia , Vasylieva Olga , Wittwer Felix , Odstrčzil Michal , Mogos Natnael , Landmann Mirko , Schroer Christian G. , Koziej Dorota
Published: August 2022

Understanding morphological changes of nanoparticles in solution is essential to tailor the functionality of devices used in energy generation and storage. However, we lack experimental methods that can visualize these processes in solution, or in electrolyte, and provide three-dimensional information. Here, we show how X-ray ptychography enables in situ nano-imaging of the formation and hollowing of nanoparticles in solution at 155 °C. We simultaneously image the growth of about 100 nanocubes with a spatial resolution of 66 nm. The quantitative phase images give access to the third dimension, allowing to additionally study particle thickness. We reveal that the substrate hinders their out-of-plane growth, thus the nanocubes are in fact nanocuboids. Moreover, we observe that the reduction of Cu2O to Cu triggers the hollowing of the nanocuboids. We critically assess the interaction of X-rays with the liquid sample. Our method enables detailed in-solution imaging for a wide range of reaction conditions.
Circularly polarized light-sensitive, hot electron transistor with chiral plasmonic nanoparticles
Authors: Namgung Seok Daniel , Kim Ryeong Myeong , Lim Yae-Chan , Lee Jong Woo , Cho Nam Heon , Kim Hyeohn , Huh Jin-Suk , Rhee Hanju , Nah Sanghee , Song Min-Kyu , Kwon Jang-Yeon , Nam Ki Tae
Published: August 2022

The quantitative detection of circularly polarized light (CPL) is necessary in next-generation optical communication carrying high-density information and in phase-controlled displays exhibiting volumetric imaging. In the current technology, multiple pixels of different wavelengths and polarizers are required, inevitably resulting in high loss and low detection efficiency. Here, we demonstrate a highly efficient CPL-detecting transistor composed of chiral plasmonic nanoparticles with a high Khun’s dissymmetry (g-factor) of 0.2 and a high mobility conducting oxide of InGaZnO. The device successfully distinguished the circular polarization state and displayed an unprecedented photoresponsivity of over 1 A/W under visible CPL excitation. This observation is mainly attributed to the hot electron generation in chiral plasmonic nanoparticles and to the effective collection of hot electrons in the oxide semiconducting transistor. Such characteristics further contribute to opto-neuromorphic operation and the artificial nervous system based on the device successfully performs image classification work. We anticipate that our strategy will aid in the rational design and fabrication of a high-performance CPL detector and opto-neuromorphic operation with a chiral plasmonic structure depending on the wavelength and circular polarization state.
Movable type printing method to synthesize high-entropy single-atom catalysts
Authors: Rao Peng , Deng Yijie , Fan Wenjun , Luo Junming , Deng Peilin , Li Jing , Shen Yijun , Tian Xinlong
Published: August 2022

The controllable anchoring of multiple isolated metal atoms into a single support exhibits scientific and technological opportunities, while the synthesis of catalysts with multiple single metal atoms remains a challenge and has been rarely reported. Herein, we present a general route for anchoring up to eleven metals as highly dispersed single-atom centers on porous nitride-doped carbon supports with the developed movable type printing method, and label them as high-entropy single-atom catalysts. Various high-entropy single-atom catalysts with tunable multicomponent are successfully synthesized with the same method by adjusting only the printing templates and carbonization parameters. To prove utility, quinary high-entropy single-atom catalysts (FeCoNiCuMn) is investigated as oxygen reduction reaction catalyst with much more positive activity and durability than commercial Pt/C catalyst. This work broadens the family of single-atom catalysts and opens a way to investigate highly efficient single-atom catalysts with multiple compositions.
Formation of a super-dense hydrogen monolayer on mesoporous silica
Authors: Balderas-Xicohténcatl Rafael , Lin Hung-Hsuan , Lurz Christian , Daemen Luke , Cheng Yongqiang , Cychosz Struckhoff Katie , Guillet-Nicolas Remy , Schütz Gisela , Heine Thomas , Ramirez-Cuesta Anibal J. , Thommes Matthias , Hirscher Michael
Published: August 2022

Adsorption on various adsorbents of hydrogen and helium at temperatures close to their boiling points shows, in some cases, unusually high monolayer capacities. The microscopic nature of these adsorbate phases at low temperatures has, however, remained challenging to characterize. Here, using high-resolution cryo-adsorption studies together with characterization by inelastic neutron scattering vibration spectroscopy, we show that, near its boiling point (~20 K), H2 adsorbed on a well-ordered mesoporous silica forms a two-dimensional monolayer with a density more than twice that of bulk-solid H2, rather than a bilayer. Theoretical studies, based on thorough first-principles calculations, rationalize the formation of such a super-dense phase. The strong compression of the hydrogen surface layer is due to the excess of surface–hydrogen attraction over intermolecular hydrogen repulsion. Use of this super-dense hydrogen monolayer on an adsorbent might be a feasible option for the storage of hydrogen near its boiling point, compared with adsorption at 77 K.
Tumor immune contexture is a determinant of anti-CD19 CAR T cell efficacy in large B cell lymphoma
Authors: Scholler Nathalie , Perbost Regis , Locke Frederick L. , Jain Michael D. , Turcan Sarah , Danan Corinne , Chang Edmund C. , Neelapu Sattva S. , Miklos David B. , Jacobson Caron A. , Lekakis Lazaros J. , Lin Yi , Ghobadi Armin , Kim Jenny J. , Chou Justin , Plaks Vicki , Wang Zixing , Xue Allen , Mattie Mike , Rossi John M. , Bot Adrian , Galon Jérôme
Published: August 2022

Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) is an anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy approved for relapsed/refractory large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) and has treatment with similar efficacy across conventional LBCL subtypes. Toward patient stratification, we assessed whether tumor immune contexture influenced clinical outcomes after axi-cel. We evaluated the tumor microenvironment (TME) of 135 pre-treatment and post-treatment tumor biopsies taken from 51 patients in the ZUMA-1 phase 2 trial. We uncovered dynamic patterns that occurred within 2 weeks after axi-cel. The biological associations among Immunoscore (quantification of tumor-infiltrating T cell density), Immunosign 21 (expression of pre-defined immune gene panel) and cell subsets were validated in three independent LBCL datasets. In the ZUMA-1 trial samples, clinical response and overall survival were associated with pre-treatment immune contexture as characterized by Immunoscore and Immunosign 21. Circulating CAR T cell levels were associated with post-treatment TME T cell exhaustion. TME enriched for chemokines (CCL5 and CCL22), γ-chain receptor cytokines (IL-15, IL-7 and IL-21) and interferon-regulated molecules were associated with T cell infiltration and markers of activity. Finally, high density of regulatory T cells in pre-treatment TME associated with reduced axi-cel–related neurologic toxicity. These findings advance the understanding of LBCL TME characteristics associated with clinical responses to anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy and could foster biomarker development and treatment optimization for patients with LBCL.
Pilot study of responsive nucleus accumbens deep brain stimulation for loss-of-control eating
Authors: Shivacharan Rajat S. , Rolle Camarin E. , Barbosa Daniel A. N. , Cunningham Tricia N. , Feng Austin , Johnson Noriah D. , Safer Debra L. , Bohon Cara , Keller Corey , Buch Vivek P. , Parker Jonathon J. , Azagury Dan E. , Tass Peter A. , Bhati Mahendra T. , Malenka Robert C. , Lock James D. , Halpern Casey H.
Published: August 2022

Cravings that precede loss of control (LOC) over food consumption present an opportunity for intervention in patients with the binge eating disorder (BED). In this pilot study, we used responsive deep brain stimulation (DBS) to record nucleus accumbens (NAc) electrophysiology during food cravings preceding LOC eating in two patients with BED and severe obesity (trial registration no. NCT03868670). Increased NAc low-frequency oscillations, prominent during food cravings, were used to guide DBS delivery. Over 6 months, we observed improved self-control of food intake and weight loss. These findings provide early support for restoring inhibitory control with electrophysiologically-guided NAc DBS. Further work with increased sample sizes is required to determine the scalability of this approach.